iStock/Thinkstock(SEOUL) -- South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, is expected to fly to Pyongyang for the first time next week in hopes of accelerating international efforts to denuclearize North Korea.



"At this stage, I believe it is most important to put a complete end to military tensions between North and South, or possibility of military conflict, or war threat," Moon told reporters Thursday.



It will be the third summit this year between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The first two meetings -- in April and May -- took place at Panmunjom, which separates the two Koreas.



Moon and the South Korean delegation will fly directly to Pyongyang using the Western air route, Moon's office said, adding that an advance team will take the land route to Pyongyang on Sunday for preparations. Next week's summit is set to take place from Tuesday to Thursday. Key parts of the three-day trip will also be broadcast live.



At the top of the agenda is defusing military tensions, Moon said during a meeting Thursday with his special advisers.



Moon is also eager to mediate differences between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in order to bring the denuclearization process back on track. The third inter-Korean summit has been planned as denuclearization discussion between the United States and North Korea have faltered.



"I believe finding an intersecting point to restart the dialogue and let denuclearization to take place promptly, is the role [South Korea] must serve in the middle," Moon said.



Moon Chung-in, an adviser in the South Korean presidential office, also explained during a briefing with foreign journalists that the president will want his North Korean counterpart to seek "bold and imaginative approaches" that go beyond just freezing of the North's nuclear program and involve a declaration, inspection and verification process.



"President Moon will be placing the utmost impetus on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, he will try to play role of a facilitator or a mediator between Pyongyang and Washington," the top adviser told reporters.



Next weeks summit will mark the fifth inter-Korean meeting. The late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il invited South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to Pyongyang in 2000 and Roh Moo-hyun in 2007.



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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) on Thursday said he has no reason to dispute the official Hurricane Maria death toll in Puerto Rico, hours after President Donald Trump accused Democrats of fabricating the numbers.

Despite the federal governments widely panned response to the devastating storm, Ryan on Thursday claimed no one could be blamed for the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the aftermath of Maria.

Casualties dont make a person look bad, Ryan told reporters. This was a horrible storm.

He added: Casualties mounted for a long time. ... This is a devastating storm that hit an isolated island. And thats really no ones fault. Its just what happened.

Trump was met with swift backlash earlier Thursday when he denied nearly 3,000 people died after back-to-back hurricanes ravaged Puerto Rico in September 2017, as estimated by a government-commissioned study last month. Citing no evidence, he claimed Democrats made up the numbers to make him look as bad as possible.

Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello raised the official death toll from 64 to 2,975 following the release of a study that was conducted by researchers at George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Experts have pointed to a lack of government preparedness as one reason for the massive loss of life in Puerto Rico. For weeks  and in some cases, for months  many Puerto Rican households were without access to medical services, water, cell phone coverage and electricity.

That caused a number of issues, Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute, told USA Today last month. Its fairly striking that you have so many households without electricity for so long. Thats unusual in the U.S. after a disaster.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Thursday that he would like to see a congressional hearing into the federal governments response to Maria.

Theres no doubt in my mind that mistakes were made, Graham told reporters. If I were in the committees of jurisdiction Id like to have a hearing on Puerto Rico. How many people died? Where did the response fall short locally? Where did it fall short federally? And what can we learn here?

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Eighty percent of Puerto Ricans rate Trumps response to Hurricane Maria negatively, according to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll published Wednesday. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz was one of the most vocal critics of the federal governments rescue and recovery efforts. She repeatedly begged the president during TV appearances to send additional aid to Puerto Rico.

People died on your watch, Cruz tweeted in response to Trumps death denial Thursday. YOUR LACK OF RESPECT IS APPALLING!

Still, as Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas, Trump has described the federal governments response to the storms in Puerto Rico as unappreciated and an unsung success.

Igor Bobic contributed reporting.

Related Coverage

As Hurricane Florence Nears, Trump Calls Puerto Rico Response An 'Unsung Success'

Donald Trump Denies That 3,000 People Died In Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

San Juan Mayor Responds To Trump's 'Appalling' Denial Of Puerto Rico Deaths

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The world isn't feeling so hot  emotionally, that is.

A new survey of people's daily emotions found that, worldwide, reports of negative emotions  including sadness, worry and stress  have increased over the last decade, reaching a record high in 2017.

What's more, reports of positive emotions dipped slightly in 2017 compared with the previous year, according to the survey, from Gallup, the analytics and advice company.

The survey also revealed that, based on reports of positive emotions, the "happiest" country in 2017 was Paraguay, marking the third year in a row that the South American country has claimed the top spot. The least happy country was Afghanistan. [11 Tips to Lower Stress]

Feeling worried and stressed

For the survey, researchers interviewed more than 154,000 people in 147 countries throughout 2017.

Participants were asked whether they had certain positive or negative emotions or experiences the day before. For example, for positive experiences, they were asked whether they felt well rested, were treated with respect, smiled or laughed a lot or enjoyed themselves the day before. For negative experiences, they were asked whether they felt worry, sadness, stress, anger or physical pain on the previous day.

Gallup then used these responses to create an "index score" of positive and negative experiences for each country and for the world overall. The score has a cap of 100.

The 2017 survey found that, overall, people all over the world had a negative-experience score of 30, which is the highest negative-experience score measured by Gallup since the company began conducting the survey in 2006. (For comparison, in 2016, the global negative-experience score was 28; and in 2006, it was 24.)

"Collectively, the world is more stressed, worried, sad and in pain today than we've ever seen it," Mohamed Younis, Gallup's managing editor, said in the report.

The increase was driven by an uptick in reports of worry, stress, sadness and physical pain.

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At a country level, most countries with high negative-experience scores were grappling with war or other turmoil in 2017.

The country with the highest negative-experience score, the Central African Republic (CAR), experienced renewed fighting between armed groups that forced thousands of people from their homes in 2017, Gallup said. CAR's score of 61 is the highest such score Gallup has recorded in the last decade. Other countries with high negative-experience scores include Iraq, with a score of 59; South Sudan, with a score of 55; and Chad, with a score of 54.

The United States had a negative-experience score of 32, which is slightly higher than the global average. Among high-income countries that are members of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), the U.S. had the fourth-highest negative-experience score, tied with two other countries (Chile and Turkey). About 49 percent of Americans said they had been feeling "stressed a lot" the previous day, which is higher than the global average of 37 percent.

Positive emotions

The global score for positive experiences in 2017 was 69 out of 100, which is down slightly from a score of 70 in 2016 and 71 in 2015. However, 2017's positive-experience score "is not out of line for scores in the past decade," Gallup said.

At a country level, Paraguay ranked first with a score 85, followed by Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala, which all tied with a score of 82. Gallup noted that Latin American countries tend to dominate the list of "happiest" countries, which may partly be due to "the cultural tendency in the region to focus on life's positives," Gallup said.

The U.S. had a positive-experience score of 78, which is above the global average. That score places the United States fourth among OECD members, tied with Finland.

About 82 percent of Americans said they had "smiled or laughed a lot" the day before and 92 percent said they were treated with respect.

"Regardless of where a country may fall on the Positive or Negative Experience Indexes  all leaders need to be monitoring the emotional temperature of the people they lead," Younis said. "Leaders cannot effectively lead their societies, seek better opportunities for their citizens and ensure that future generations will live better lives than previous ones without closely tracking how citizens evaluate their lives and understanding the local realities they face."

Original article on Live Science.

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The lawyer for the family of the Dallas man fatally shot by a police officer in his own apartment says police are trying to discredit the victim. Botham Shem Jean, 26, died on Sept. 6 after off-duty officer Amber Guyger walked into his apartment, allegedly thinking she was in hers (which is located one floor below) and shot him twice.
By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday turned back an aggressive challenge from actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in the race for the Democratic nomination for November's general election. The New York Times and Associated Press called the race for Cuomo, who held a two-to-one lead on Nixon after a bitter race that saw Cuomo spend about $18 million. More than 1.4 million people voted in the primary, doubling the race in 2014. The win makes Cuomo, who is seeking his third term, the heavy favorite headed into the Nov. 6 election against Republican Marc Molinaro. Nixon is best known for her role on HBO's "Sex and the City" and was seeking office for the first time. She had trailed in polls by more than 30 points throughout the campaign. She ran on issues like voting reforms and fixing New York City's subways, and accused Cuomo of poor governance. "We took on one of the most powerful governors in America. It wasn't easy," said Nixon, in remarks delivered to supporters in Brooklyn after conceding the loss. "We had to fight just to get on the ballot. We had to fight just to get a debate. We started with nothing, and we earned every single vote," she said. Left-wing candidates have rung up a series of victories in nominating contests, with more liberal candidates being nominated in governor's races in Georgia and Florida. But knocking off incumbent governors is harder, particularly one with Cuomo's cash. Earlier this campaign season, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley both upset long-serving Democratic incumbent congressmen in nominating races in New York and Massachusetts, promising more vigorous liberal policies and highlighting their opposition to Republican President Donald Trump. It was the latest attempt by candidates from the party's energized left wing to gain a further hold on the Democratic party as Democrats seek to regain control of the U.S. Congress and bolster their ranks in state governments across the country in the Nov. 6 elections. Cuomo, 60, controls the party's state machinery and secured endorsements from members of the party establishment. He has drawn ire from left-wing activists in the state who believe he has been too willing to negotiate with state Senate Republicans. He was considered potentially vulnerable to a challenge after his former campaign manager and several other lawmakers were convicted in a corruption trial. However, Cuomo ran on his efforts to fund higher education, and highlighted his support for gun control, gay marriage and paid-family leave, and he shifted to the left by softening positions on marijuana legalization and on felony voter rights. "The Governor ran an active campaign highlighting his experience and policy achievements, which may have overcome voters' concerns about corruption or his liberal bona fides," said Daniel Lewis, associate professor in political science at Siena College. Cuomo this year also ended an arrangement between a group of Democratic state senators who decided years ago to caucus with the Republicans, handing them control of that chamber. Several of those Democrats were defeated in primary challenges on Thursday. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; additional reporting by David Gaffen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Peter Cooney and Muralikumar Anantharamana)
By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Russia on Friday of actively working to undermine international sanctions on North Korea and said the enforcement of the steps was essential to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. "Russia has actively attempted to undermine the U.N. Security Council resolutions, the work of the ... committee at the U.N. that evaluates compliance with sanctions," Pompeo told a news briefing at the State Department. Pompeo spoke after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Moscow on Thursday of seeking to cover up breaches of U.N. sanctions on North Korea by Russians by pushing for changes to an independent report on sanctions violations. Pompeo said he hoped the U.N. sanctions committee would "publish the original document that they intended to publish which shows clear activities related to sanctions and sanctions violations." "The United States is as committed as ever to continuing to enforce those U.N. Security Council resolutions. We believe they are central to President Trumps efforts to convince Chairman Kim that full, final denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is necessary," he said. Pompeo added that the United States was continuing to have "many conversations" with the North Koreans about "how to effectuate achieving all of the commitments made" at a June 12 summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader. The Russian U.N. mission and the North Korean U.N. mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Pompeos remarks. The U.N. Security Council will meet on Monday over the implementation of sanctions on North Korea at the request of Washington. The report submitted to the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee last month said Pyongyang had not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and was violating U.N. sanctions on exports. Diplomats said Russia pressured the independent sanctions monitors to amend the report. One diplomat said the amended report removed some references to Russians accused of breaching sanctions on North Korea. The Security Council has to agree by consensus on whether to publish the report and the United States objected to releasing the amended document. Russia and China have suggested the Security Council discuss easing sanctions after the Trump-Kim summit, while Washington and other council members have said there must be strict enforcement of sanctions until Pyongyang acts. On Thursday, Washington imposed sanctions on a China-based technology firm, its North Korean chief executive and a Russian subsidiary, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Lesley Wroughton and Eric Beech in Washington; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has ordered an investigation of an American bishop accused of sexual misconduct with adults and accepted his resignation, deepening a worldwide clerical abuse scandal. The Vatican and U.S. Church officials announced the investigation on Thursday as the pope was meeting U.S. Catholic Church leaders to discuss a scandal that has shaken his papacy. The Vatican said the pope had appointed Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore to run the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, West Virginia, until Bishop Michael J. Bransfield is replaced. There were no details on the specific allegations against Bransfield and neither he nor his legal representatives could immediately be reached for comment. The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, deeply damaging confidence in the Church in the United States, Chile, Australia, and Ireland where the scandal has hit hardest, and elsewhere In the United States alone, the Church spent about $4 billion in compensation and other costs related to the priest sex abuse crisis between 1950 and 2015, according to the National Catholic Reporter. The advocacy group BishopAccountability.org says Church data shows that 6,721 clerics have been "not implausibly" or "credibly" accused of sexually abusing minors in the United States between 1950 and 2016 and that there were about 18,500 victims. In Germany, a Church study published in a magazine on Wednesday showed 1,670 clerics and priests had sexually abused 3,677 minors, mostly males, in the country between 1946 and 2014. PAPAL ORDER On Thursday, the archdiocese of Baltimore's website said the pope had ordered the archbishop to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of adults by Bransfield. "My primary concern is for the care and support of the priests and people of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston at this difficult time," Lori said in a statement. "I further pledge to conduct a thorough investigation in search of the truth into the troubling allegations against Bishop Bransfield and to work closely with the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop," he said. The announcement of Bransfield's resignation came while the pope was meeting Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, and Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles. In a statement afterwards, DiNardo said they told the pope of "our situation in the United States -- how the Body of Christ is lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse." He called the meeting "a lengthy, fruitful, and good exchange". DiNardo had asked for the meeting after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano last month accused the pope of knowing for years about sexual misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and of doing nothing about it. In July, McCarrick became the first cardinal to resign in nearly 100 years after American Church officials said allegations that he had sexually abused a 16-year-old boy almost 50 years ago were credible and substantiated. DEMANDING ANSWERS McCarrick has said that he had "absolutely no recollection" of the alleged abuse of the teenager but has not commented on the other allegations against him. DiNardo has called for the Vatican to launch an investigation, known as an "apostolic visitation," into how McCarrick could have risen steadily through the ranks of the U.S. Church although many people knew that he had engaged for years in sexual misconduct with adult male seminarians. In the 11-page statement published on Aug. 26, Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador to Washington, launched an unprecedented broadside by a Church insider against the pope and a long list of Vatican and U.S. Church officials. DiNardo has said Vigano's accusations "deserve answers that are conclusive and based on evidence". (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Jon Boyle)
With the family of his accuser looking on, a graduate of an elite New England prep school who was convicted in 2015 of sexually assaulting his female classmate as part of a game of sexual conquest took his bid for a new trial to the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Thursday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo easily won the Democratic primary on Thursday night. (Photo: Kevin Hagen via Getty Images)

BROOKLYN, N.Y.  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo survived a primary challenge on Thursday night, but his once impregnable political machine sustained heavy damage across the state as progressive insurgents threw out conservative incumbents down-ballot.



In a state Democratic primary with national implications, Cuomo cruised to a double-digit victory over actor Cynthia Nixon as machine-backed incumbent Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul fended off New York City Council member Jumaane Williams. A wide-open race for the party nomination for attorney general  one of the most closely watched contests in the country on the American left  ended in victory for another machine candidate, New York City Public Advocate Letitia Tish James.



But after getting hammered in the states marquee races, progressives dominated contests in the state legislature. Left-wing primary challengers effectively ended the Independent Democratic Conference  a coalition of Democrats who conferenced with Republicans to block Democratic control of the state legislature with Cuomos tacit consent.

Fearing Nixons challenge, Cuomo brokered a deal to disband the IDC in April, but activists wanted to punish the lawmakers for their betrayal and ensure they never again left the fold.

Prior to election night, prominent progressives privately hoped that three or four ex-IDC members would lose. Six of the eight ex-IDC members lost their seats on Thursday night, while, in another closely watched state senate race, Democratic Socialist Julia Salazar emerged victorious over the big-money favorite, state Sen. Martin Dilan.

Cuomo survived a primary season in which two of his top aides were convicted on corruption charges amid widespread anger over New York Citys dysfunctional subway system and discontent with the states criminal justice system. His notoriously corrupt political machine relies on money from real estate developers and Wall Street banks, which enabled him to out-fundraise Nixon more than 14 to 1, en route to a 2-to-1 margin of victory  roughly equal to his showing four years ago against Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout.



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Teachouts defeat in Thursdays New York attorney general race is a hard loss for the American left, which recognized her candidacy as its best opportunity for a victory of national significance. By investigating New York-based businesses  including the Trump Organization  Teachout promised to clean up politics in both Albany and Washington while serving as a regulator of last resort, countering the Trump administrations deregulatory agenda.



James is a longtime leader in New York City progressive circles. She won a seat representing Brooklyn on the New York City Council in 2003 running exclusively on the progressive Working Families Partys ballot line. She subsequently became one of the WFPs big success stories, winning the citywide public advocate post in 2013, and she has used all of the offices political muscle to fight for the citys most vulnerable residents.



But in her run for attorney general, James decided that she wanted to work with Cuomo and his considerable donor network, rather than against it. When Cuomo demanded that James snub the WFP as the price of his support, James acquiesced  alienating progressives but opening Cuomos gilded Rolodex. As her candidacy progressed, James started to seem like she was embracing the centrist ideology of Cuomos wing of the party.



Its really critically important that I not be known as the Sheriff on Wall Street, James told The New York Times in August.



Although James later sought to clarify that she meant she would not focus on Wall Street to the exclusion of other targets, critics saw evidence of Cuomos influence. In its endorsement of Teachout, the New York Times editorial board focused on what they believed would be James lack of sufficient independence from Cuomo.



Ms. James has for decades been a standout fighter for tenants, children and other vulnerable New Yorkers, the Times wrote. But she has embraced political contributions from donors to Mr. Cuomo, who held a fund-raiser for her earlier this summer.



Regardless, James is sure to be a thorn in the side of President Donald Trump. And, more important, her victory blocks the election of Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, whom New Yorks powerful real estate and financial industries sought desperately to elect.



The sweetest victory for progressives was the absolute wipeout of members of the IDC. Together with another rogue Democrat, state Sen. Simcha Felder, the breakaway faction ensured a Republican Senate majority since 2013. The unusual alliance blocked progressive legislation, which had sailed through the Democratic-controlled Assembly, to protect womens reproductive rights, modernize voting rules, shift the state to renewable energy and enact single-payer health care.



New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris, now chairman of the Senate Democratic conference, played the lead role in recruiting challengers to IDC members (though he subsequently remained neutral).

He has a lot of political courage, Alessandra Biaggi, the candidate who would ultimately unseat former IDC chairman Jeff Klein, told HuffPost in August.

But perhaps no group deserves more credit for knocking off the ex-IDC members than the Working Families Party, which provided the principal institutional backing for the challenges and made it a central theme in its campaign against Cuomo as well. The WFP invested about $400,000 in electing the state Senate challengers, providing crucial in-kind staffing and media support.

The destruction of the IDC is also a victory for the Resistance grassroots, not least an upstart group, No IDC NY, which raised $250,000 for the anti-IDC candidates from an email list of 20,000 people.



Tonight in New York we saw that the grassroots really matter, said Jim Casteleiro of No IDC NY. These things dont die. But it does mean the machine now has to pay attention to the people.

But the results at the top of the ticket showed the enduring power of corruption in Democratic Party politics. Ever since the 2016 election, Democratic pundits have been wondering how Republican voters allowed themselves to be misled by a con man who cares more about lining the pockets of his friends and family than he does about his constituents. On Thursday night, New York Democrats proved the spirit is not a uniquely Republican phenomenon.

This article has been updated with information on the role of the Working Families Party.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
After news broke on Friday that President Donald Trumps pick for the Supreme Court has been accused of attempted sexual assault while in high school, some Republican lawmakers hoping to confirm Brett Kavanaugh rushed to his defense.

As The New Yorker first reported, Kavanaugh allegedly held a woman down as a high school student in the 1980s and tried to assault her. From that publication:

The allegation dates back to the early nineteen-eighties, when Kavanaugh was a high-school student at Georgetown Preparatory School, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the woman attended a nearby high school. In the letter, the woman alleged that, during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her. She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself. Although the alleged incident took place decades ago and the three individuals involved were minors, the woman said that the memory had been a source of ongoing distress for her, and that she had sought psychological treatment as a result.

I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation, Kavanaugh said in a statement to The New Yorker. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.

On Thursday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged she had received a letter from the accuser and shared it with the FBI.

Top Republican lawmakers are already jumping to Kavanaughs defense. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, released a letter signed by more than 60 women who have known the nominee.

We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983, the letter said. For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.

Story continues

The women describe the young Kavanaugh as an outstanding student and athlete with a wide circle of friends.

As the Me Too movement has repeatedly pointed out, treating some people well does not mean an individual did not sexually abuse another.

The sheer number of signatures also led some observers to question whether Grassleys office had known of the accusation before reports about the letter to Feinstein surfaced. Grassleys office denied this, and one of the women who signed the letter tweeted on Friday that she only found out about it the night before.

This is absurd. I signed the letter. I learned of it last night. https://t.co/hTnxOvYNU6  virginiahume (@virginiahume) September 14, 2018

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) defended Kavanaugh while admonishing Democrats for bringing up the allegation. He also mentioned that 65 women have come to the judges defense.

I do not intend to allow Judge Kavanaughs confirmation to be stalled because of an 11th hour accusation that Democrats did not see fit to raise for over a month, Hatch said in a statement. The Senator in the best position to determine the credibility of these accusations made the conscious decision not to take action on them, and the authorities to whom the accusations have been referred have decided not to take action either. Judge Kavanaugh has denied these accusations categorically, the only other potential witness has no recollection of the alleged event, and now 65 women who knew Brett in high school have come forward as witnesses of his strong character.

Orrin Hatch on the Kavanaugh nomination. pic.twitter.com/z40U2BtM0e  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 14, 2018

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), another member of the Judiciary Committee, responded to the accusation dismissively by retweeting someone who had posted REO Speedwagons Take It on the Run. The lyrics include this line: Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another youve been messing around.

Theme song for this #BreakingNews yesterday:

"Heard it from a friend who, heard from a friend who, heard it from another....." #Kavanaugh #Feinstein https://t.co/0Pzl3yYvsy  Ronda Kay Moreland (@ProducerRondaK) September 14, 2018

HuffPost has reached out to Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), who could ultimately be the swing votes on Kavanaughs confirmation.

This story has been updated with comment from Hatch.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
At least one person was killed and 10 injured in a series of gas explosions and related fires in three Massachusetts town on Thursday, September 13.

Massachusetts State Police warned of at least 70 gas-related explosions, structure fires, and leaks across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, in Merrimack Valley, on September 13.

Police announced that Residents in the affected towns of Lawrence/North Andover/Andover who have gas service from Columbia Gas should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not already done so.

Local media, quoting Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera, said that over-pressured gas valves were the cause of the explosions.

This video, shared on September 13, shows evacuating residents stuck in traffic jams in Lawrence. Credit: Will S via Storyful
Philippe Senderos did not enjoy coming up against Didier Drogba

One of Philippe Senderos former Arsenal team-mates has revealed that the defender would panic before coming up against Chelseas Didier Drogba.

William Gallas has lifted the lid on Senderos pre-match habits, where he sweated and looked like a nervous man.

The Swiss international never convinced at Premier League level and Gallas admitted he failed to show his true ability on the pitch, despite never looking out of place on the training pitch.

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While Drogba was far from the only player he struggled against, Gallas picks him as the one he remembers Senderos genuinely fearing before a game.

I knew Philippe Senderos, before a match he would need to speak a lot, you could see that he was sweating, that he did not feel good, he told French radio station RMC

Especially against certain players. I saw him against Chelsea, against Didier Drogba, where he would genuinely panic, like he was going through his match before playing it.

And unfortunately, when you saw him on the pitch, he lost his playing abilities, he didnt play well. But against his own team-mates, he played better.
By Michael Shields ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's intelligence agency said on Friday it had worked with British and Dutch counterparts to foil a Russian plot which, according to newspaper reports, was targeting a Swiss laboratory testing nerve agents such as Novichok. Earlier on Friday a Swiss and a Dutch newspaper reported that authorities from the three countries had teamed up in an operation which resulted in the Netherlands expelling two suspected Russian spies in March. Citing unnamed sources, the Tages-Anzeiger and NRC Handelsblad reported that the suspected agents were heading for the Spiez laboratory near Bern which analyses chemical and biological weapons, including nerve agent Novichok. Britain says Moscow used Novichok to try to kill former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury in early March and last week charged two Russian men in absentia with attempted murder. "Swiss authorities are aware of the case of Russian spies identified in The Hague and expelled from there," the Swiss NDB intelligence agency said in a statement. "The NDB took active part in this operation together with its Dutch and British partners. The NDB has thus contributed to preventing illegal activity targeting critical Swiss infrastructure." It did not elaborate. The Russian embassy in Bern dismissed the Swiss account. "We consider such false statements simply absurd and nothing other than another attempt to stoke an anti-Russian atmosphere," it said. The newspapers said the two suspects expelled from the Netherlands were not the same as the two men charged by British prosecutors in the Skripal case last week. The Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Dutch government announced on March 26 that it would expel two Russian "intelligence agents" who worked at the Russian embassy in The Hague, without giving further details. A spokesman for the Spiez laboratory declined to comment on the NDB statement, but said the government facility had previously been the target of cyber attacks. In July the Spiez lab said hackers had circulated a malware-loaded document purporting to be a factsheet linked to a scientific workshop the lab organized, but that it was unaware of any direct attacks on the lab itself. British authorities tested the Novichok found in Salisbury at Porton Down, a defense facility nearby, but have not said where else the substance might have been analyzed. The newspaper reports said the alleged Russian plot had gone beyond cyberattacks and that authorities found "equipment used for espionage" during their operation against the suspected spies. In the weeks after the Skripal poisoning, Britain and dozens of other countries have kicked out scores of Russian diplomats, and Moscow has responded tit-for-tat in the biggest East-West wave of expulsions since the Cold War. (Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Guy Faulconbridge in London; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

Fox viewers wont see the Kansas City defense try to sack Aaron Rodgers on Sunday. Before the games began, however, Fox viewers got a chance to see a quartet of Hall of Famers verbally give him the business, from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Terry Bradshaw had the most pointed critique of Rodgers, who someday [more]
As Hurricane Florence makes landfall along the coast of North Carolina with winds raging at more than 90 miles per hour, shelters across that state and others are preparing for whatever damage comes next.

On Friday, the storm surge knocked out the power for a half-million homes and businesses as it barreled into the East Coast. For thousands of people who didnt have the means or opportunity to flee, shelters offer a welcome respite  if they arent full.

North Carolina has approximately 12,000 evacuees staying at 126 shelters across the state, CBS reports. One mega-shelter with the capacity to house 1,000 people was already 75 percent full by Thursday morning, according to the Citizen-Times.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper encouraged those in the path of the storm to take immediate action.

Dont relax. Dont get complacent, hed said Thursday morning.

A man using a respiratory machine sits in a shelter run by the Red Cross in Grantsboro, North Carolina, on Sept. 13, 2018. (Photo: Eduardo Munoz / Reuters)

In South Carolina, a shelter at Goose Creek High School in Charleston County was similarly full by Thursday night. Those at the shelter  primarily the homeless and poor  described a lack of bedding and low-quality food, the Post and Courier reported.

Currently, South Carolina has 61 shelters in place and nearly 5,000 residents who have sought shelter.

Cuthbert Langley, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross in South Carolina, told HuffPost that the organization has more than 1,500 disaster response volunteers spread across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

We want people to know they have a place, have a roof over their heads, Langley said. Were working with our partners to provide food, water and snacks. Were really just here to provide an escape from the storm. Were all gonna get through this together.

He stressed that people needed to put a plan in action and evacuate or seek shelter immediately.

This is a dangerous storm and its expected to bring a lot of weather-related issues to the state, he said. People need to heed evacuation warnings and leave their homes.

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For those not affected by the hurricane, Langley urged them to volunteer, donate money or give blood.

Related...

Seth Meyers Shreds President Trump Over His Hurricane Preparations And Response

Despite Warnings, States In Florences Path Continued Coastal Development

Hoaxes Run Amok On Social Media As Hurricane Florence Moves Inland

Also on HuffPost

A volunteer from the Civilian Crisis Response Team carries a child out of the floodwaters in James City on Friday.

Rescue personnel remove a man from a home that a large tree fell on that had three people trapped after Hurricane Florence hit the area on Friday.

A father and daughter learn that friends were injured and later died when a tree fell on their house during landfall of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

A fallen tree is shown after it crashed through the home where a woman and her baby were killed in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

High winds and water surround a house as Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro, North Carolina on Friday.

Russ Lewis covers his eyes from a gust of wind and a blast of sand as Hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach on Friday.

People survey the damage caused by Hurricane Florence on Front Street in downtown New Bern, North Carolina on Friday.

A fallen tree lies atop the crushed roof of a fast food restaurant after the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

High winds and water surround buildings as Hurricane Florence hits Front Street in downtown Swansboro, North Carolina on Friday.

A view looking east down Fifth Street at the flooded downtown area in Washington, North Carolina on Friday.

Residents at Trent Court Apartments wait out the weather as rising waters get closer to their doors in New Bern on Thursday.

A tree uprooted by strong winds lies across a street in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

The roof of a gas station is destroyed from strong winds as Hurricane Florence passes over in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

Vehicles drive through water from the White Oak River flooding Highway 24 as Hurricane Florence hit Swansboro, North Carolina on Friday.

A motorist navigates away from a fallen tree blocking a road after the arrival of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

A car is destroyed from falling bricks as Hurricane Florence passes over Wilmington, North Carolina on Friday.

Flood waters rise up from the Neuse River in New Bern, North Carolina on Friday.

Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City on Friday.

Waves slam the Oceana Pier and Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, on Thursday.

Men pack their belongings after evacuating their house after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded their street during Hurricane Florence in New Bern, North Carolina, on Thursday.

A pedestrian crosses the street during the heavy rain of outer bands of Hurricane Florence in New Bern on Thursday.

High winds and storm surge from Hurricane Florence hits Swansboro on Friday.

Winds from Hurricane Florence damaged an awning in Myrtle Beach on Friday.

Rescue workers from Township No. 7 Fire Department and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team use a truck to move people rescued from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence in James City on Friday.

Ocean water rushes down Cape Hatteras Pier Drive in Frisco, North Carolina, as the effects of Hurricane Florence reach the area on Thursday.

Michael Nelson floats in a boat made from a metal tub and fishing floats after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded his street in New Bern on Thursday.

The outer bands of Hurricane Florence led to flooding in New Bern on Thursday. The full hurricane is expected to arrive on Friday.

Students Samantha Levine, Megan Boles, Aaron Newns, Dana Pawlowski and Isaiah Goham, of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class, use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern on Thursday.

Cars go through a flooded street during the heavy rain of outer bands of Hurricane Florence in New Bern on Thursday.

The outer bands of Hurricane Florence hit New Bern on Thursday.

The flooded Union Point Park Complex in New Bern on Thursday.

Ocean water breaches the dune line and rushes down Highway 12 in Frisco on Thursday.

Heavy rain floods a street as the outer bands of Hurricane Florence hit New Bern on Thursday.

A U.S. Army member walks near the flooded Union Point Park Complex as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern on Thursday.

Water rolls up Atlantic Beach as the outer edges of Hurricane Florence begin to affect the coast on Thursday.

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Geneva (AFP) - The UN warned Friday that shelling and air strikes in Yemen's Hodeida province have targeted humanitarian workers and infrastructure, threatening its ability to feed 3.5 million "very hungry people."

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hodeida city these past few days in and around deconflicted sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen", describing the situation as "alarming".

The UN agency warned that "the conflict (is) threatening the continuity of humanitarian assistance to the city and surrounding areas where needs are among the highest in the country."

Fighting has raged in recent days close to the rebel-held port city, a crucial entry point for aid that the Saudi-led coalition alleges also serves as a key conduit for arms to the Iran-backed Huthis.

Alongside the threat of combat, civilians also face severe shortages of food, water and medicine in Hodeida province, according to the UN.

In August, WFP said it had provided emergency food assistance to some 700,000 of the around 900,000 people in the province considered to be at severe risk.

Agency spokesman Herve Verhoosel decried that a number of security incidences had been reported since Wednesday, including at the Red Sea Mill Silos, which mill a quarter of the agency's monthly wheat requirements in Yemen.

"The ongoing clashes could jeopardise the shipments of 46,000 tonnes of wheat expected to arrive to Hodeida within the next ten days," Verhoosel told reporters in Geneva.

Clashes near the mill "could impact our ability to feed up to 3.5 million very hungry people in northern and central Yemen for one month," he warned.

He said that a mortar shell launched by an unidentified armed group had also hit a WFP warehouse in Hodeida city "holding enough food to assist 19,200 very hungry people."

That attack injured a guard at the warehouse, he added.

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Fighting has also been reported "in extremely close proximity" to WFP's offices and housing, Verhoosel said.

This, he said, "could potentially compromise the safety and security of 33 WFP staff in Hodeida city currently working round the clock to assist Yemenis suffering from acute hunger and malnutrition."

He said the agency was doing everything possible "to ensure the safety and security of our staff".

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's conflict since 2015, when the Saudi-led alliance intervened in support of the government.
In a cool move for Star Wars fans, Solo screenwriter Jon Kasdan has stuck 52 facts about the film onto Twitter, in the absence of an audio commentary.

Theres plenty to get your teeth into, but one major highlight is related to one of our favourite actors  River Phoenix.

Han pulling the eel out of his pants was a nod to River Phoenix who worked with Lawrence Kasdan on I Love You To Death and was the first attempt at the daunting task of of playing a younger version of an iconic Harrison Ford character, Kasdan said.

Thats the kind of easter egg its basically impossible for geeks to guess at for themselves, so its nice to have it confirmed, and, as massive fans of Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, we think they chose wisely to include it.

Kasdan also revealed that Solo has the same inspiration as The Dark Knight, a little known Michael Mann film we like to call Heat. We wanted Beckett to be cut from the same cloth as Neil McCauley. We wanted Beckett to embody a kind of moral cynicism that Han would, later in his life, outwardly project, but never really possess.

And we like that a confirmation of a fairly obvious Return Of The Jedi reference was thrown in there too. OF COURSE Han told Leia the story of how he an Qira broke out of the den of the white worms and thats what gave Leia the idea to use a real thermal detonator when disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh in Jabbas Palace in Return Of The Jedi.

Check out all the other entries below, theres plenty of fun stuff to be found in there.

In honor of the digital release of #SoloAStarWarsStory & in lieu of a commentary, here are 53 random factoids & notes about the making & writing for anybody who's interested. If you haven't seen the movie yet maybe watch it before reading? Anyway, enjoy the movie & #MTFBWY pic.twitter.com/wHy1seDuoL  Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) September 14, 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story will be released on DVD and Blu-ray September 24.

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Read more

Solo will have 8 deleted scenes

Disney wont be experimenting for Stars Wars any more

Chewbacca actor recalls trying to save Harrison Ford
Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Three Palestinians, including a 12-year-old, were shot dead by Israeli fire in new clashes along the Gaza border on Friday, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said.

The ministry said 12-year-old Shadi Abdel Aal was shot east of Jabalia in northern Gaza.

It had previously said he was 14 and a medical source had named him as Mustafa Abed Rabbo.

Two 21-year-olds, Hani Afana and Mohammed Shaqqura, were also shot dead in separate incidents near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and Al-Bureij in the centre of the coastal enclave, the ministry said.

At least another 50 people were wounded, the ministry said, as Palestinians again demonstrated in different spots along the border.

An Israeli tank also struck an observation point belonging to Islamists Hamas east of Gaza City, a security source in Gaza said.

The Israeli army said an estimated 13,000 people were involved in "riots" at different locations, some of them burning tires and throwing Molotov cocktails.

Mass protests and clashes broke out in Gaza on March 30 and have continued every week since.

Over that period, at least 179 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, the majority during demonstrations.

One Israeli soldier has been killed.

Protests have waned in recent months.

Israel maintains a crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip it says is necessary to isolate Hamas, with whom Israeli forces have fought three wars since 2008.

Rights groups say the blockade amounts to collective punishment of the impoverished territory's two million residents.

Israel fully reopened the only people crossing with Gaza on Thursday after a week following violent demonstrations that damaged it.

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said the opening of border crossings is conditional on calm.
Heres a look at some of the companies the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

More trouble at Sears. The retailer reported sales slid 26% last quarter and revenues plunged by more than a billion dollars. The CEO, Eddie Lambert, says they will continue to close unprofitable stores, and are hoping for stability in the near future.

Could Amazon have its eyes on a German supermarket chain? Reuters says theres growing speculation that Amazon could be looking to buy Real hypermarket stores from German retailer Metro. The price-tag could top $1B. Key competitor Walmart gave up on the German market back in 2006, when it took a $1B loss on its stores there.

New questions today for Google over its plans in China. A bipartisan group of House members have sent a letter to the tech giant expressing, serious concerns. They want to know if Google plans to comply with Chinese censorship and surveillance rules. Google has said its exploring a return to China, but any decision is not yet close.

Todays the day, Apple fans. Pre-orders are now open for the newest iPhone models. However, good luck getting your hands on the Xs or Xs Max. Many have already sold out, with pre-orders promising delivery well into October. The new phones officially launch next Friday.
A demonstrator places an empty pair of shoes outside the Capitol building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during a June 1, 2018, protest against the government's reporting of the death toll from Hurricane Maria. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Researchers calculate that almost 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria due in part to lackluster rescue efforts. President Donald Trump has rejected any suggestion that the federal government had failed. Earlier this month he touted rescue efforts on the island as fantastic.

On Thursday morning, he went further, posting a tweet in which he outright lied about the death toll.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Obviously, the main purpose of Trumps tweet was to shirk responsibility for his failures. As president, he is responsible for federal disaster relief efforts and the fact that so many people died in Puerto Rico reflects poorly on him. So he lies about it.

In doing so, he echoes those who have long denied acts of genocide, including Holocaust deniers and deniers of the Armenian genocide. Its true that the deaths in Puerto Rico werent intentional and therefore dont rise to the horrific level of genocide. But denying them can still serve many of the same purposes as denying planned atrocities.

First, denying the deaths in Puerto Rico functions as a kind of boast. Trump is insisting that he can get away with saying anything. This is a common tactic used by fascist leaders. Their propaganda is marked by its extreme contempt for facts as such, Hannah Arendt wrote in the classic Origins of Totalitarianism. For in their opinion, fact depends entirely on the power of man who can fabricate it.

Jason Stanley, author of the recent book How Fascism Works, explains that signing onto the leaders lies functions as a loyalty oath. Lying about the victims in Puerto Rico, in particular, turns a nonpartisan discussion about human life and how best to prevent its loss into a purely partisan question of fealty to the president. Caring about those people over there who are not us (never mind that these particular dead were Americans too) and admitting they suffered becomes a sign of weakness and disloyalty.

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A sign that says "genocide" in Spanish is displayed next to empty shoes as part of the June 1, 2018, protest outside the Capitol building in San Juan. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In this way, genocide denial also strengthens nationalist identity and in-group loyalty. This is why, as Lancaster University politics professor Sossie Kasbarian said, the denial of the Armenian genocide is a foundation of the Turkish state and a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Erasing atrocities can function as especially strong fuel for nationalist sentiment by affirming the virtues of the in-group and denying the humanity, or even existence, of the out-group.

Sharing such a big, obvious lie ties loyalists together in the belligerent celebration of a mystical, guiltless past. It fits with Trumps slogan of Make America Great Again. In this view, the United States should always be proud of itself, and the deaths of people of color, in the past or the present, are irrelevant or nonexistent.

Denying violence isnt just a way to stoke nationalism, though. Its also a way to extend violence. This is why Gregory Stanton of George Mason University described genocide denial as the last stage of genocide, the final stage that lasts throughout and always follows a genocide. Adam Jones, author of Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction adds that people often distort and recast genocide as a heroic or defensive narrative. By doing so, they are often paving the way for future genocides and abuses.

President Donald Trump tosses rolls of paper towels to people at a hurricane relief distribution center in San Juan on Oct. 3, 2017. (Jonathan Ernst / Reuters)

Denial enables further atrocities in part because denial is, by its nature, conspiratorial. If the Holocaust didnt happen, then someone is trying awfully hard to distort the truth and present Jewish people as victims. Holocaust denial is anti-Semitic not just because it erases the reality of Jewish suffering, but also because it blames Jewish media for supposedly inventing the genocide in the first place. The Holocaust itself becomes an excuse for hating and scapegoating Jewish people.

Trump, who has long embraced conspiracy theories, did the same in his denial. After his first tweet, the president claimed that the death count for Maria was invented by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list.

That is not merely a falsehood to gain immediate political advantage. Trump is calling for people to vote against Democrats, but beyond that, hes trying to delegitimize Democrats. If Democrats were lying about death tolls for political advantage, they would be violating the norms of democracy and decency. In that case, they should be treated not as a loyal opposition but as enemies.

Whats most frightening about genocide denial is that its not really denial. Its a threat. If you can murder thousands or millions of people and then simply say it never happened, then you can murder thousands again, and again, on and on, as often as you like. Genocide denial is a way of saying, We dont care that we hurt you, and we will hurt you more if we feel like it. Neither human feeling nor facts will stop us.

Again, the deaths in Puerto Rico were not a genocide. But Trumps casually vindictive indifference to them is still a warning. If another hurricane headed toward Puerto Rico, he is telling us, he would do nothing differently. To him, the lives  and deaths  of people of color do not matter. Hes willing to lie about 3,000 dead. Who knows what else hes willing to do?

Noah Berlatsky is the author most recently of Nazi Dreams: Films About Fascism.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Brett Kavanaugh has denied allegations he attempted to force himself on a fellow high school student more than 30 years ago.

I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time, the US Supreme Court nominee said, responding to a report detailing allegations from a woman who reportedly attended a high school near his in the 1980s.

The woman reportedly sent a letter describing her allegations to senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, weeks before the judges Senate confirmation hearing began. According to the New Yorker, the woman felt moved to take action after Donald Trump nominated Mr Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in July.

Ms Feinstein initially kept the letter private, but revealed its contents to the other Democrats on the committee on Wednesday, amid mounting questions from reporters and other members of Congress.

On Thursday, the senator released a statement saying she had received information on Mr Kavanaugh from a source who requested to remain anonymous, and had referred the matter to federal authorities.

Republicans in Congress quickly leapt to Mr Kavanaugh's defence.

Let me get this straight: this is [a] statement about [a] secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right, senator John Cornyn tweeted in response to Ms Feinsteins statement.

On Friday  the same day the New Yorker published its report  judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley released a letter from 65 women who knew Mr Kavanaugh in high school. The women wrote that he had behaved honourably and treated women with respect during that time.

Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity, the women wrote. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.

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But the news also sparked outcry from a number of women's rights groups, including Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-choice America, and UltraViolet, who urged the judge to withdraw his nomination.

A womans identity should not have to be revealed to take her story seriously and pursue justice on her behalf," NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement.

She added: "The charge of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh is disqualifying and we call on him to immediately withdraw his nomination for the Supreme Court."
(Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters)

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps false claim Thursday about Hurricane Marias death toll won rare public rebukes from Republicans, at least the ones running for the top elected offices in Florida, where some 100,000 Puerto Ricans fled after the devastating 2017 storm.

Ron DeSantis  who during the primary campaign dressed his infant son in a Make America Great Again onesie for a TV commercial to show his adoration of Trump  released a statement disagreeing with Trumps assertion that 3,000 people did not die because of the storm and that the number was the work of Democrats.

He [DeSantis] doesnt believe any loss of life has been inflated, said a statement from campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson. Ron is focused on continuing to help our Puerto Rican neighbors recover and create opportunities for those who have moved to Florida [to] succeed.

Gov. Rick Scott, who in 2016 led a super PAC supporting Trump but this year has been edging away from him as he runs for the Senate, put out an even more direct repudiation.

I disagree with @POTUS an independent study said thousands were lost and Gov. Rossello agreed, Scott wrote on Twitter, referring to Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello. Ive been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic; the extent of lives lost as a result of Maria is heart-wrenching. Ill continue to help PR.

Whether those statements will be enough in an election that is shaping up to be all about the president is unknown. In addition to offending the million or so Floridians who have moved there from Puerto Rico in recent decades, Trumps comments are sure to anger Latinos generally as well as dismay many independent voters who like the current performance of the economy but who dislike Trumps temperament, lack of attention span and serial dishonesty.

I dont see any scenario where those tweets are helpful to anyone on the Republican ticket, said David Johnson, a longtime GOP consultant and former executive director of the state Republican Party.

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At 8:37 a.m., not long after CNN aired a segment mentioning the 2,975 death toll, Trump wrote in a statement on Twitter: 3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000....

Twelve minutes later, Trump added: .....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!

In fact, the 2,975 estimate comes from an exhaustive George Washington University analysis of fatalities on the island that included people who died for lack of medical care, for example, because so much of Puerto Rico remained without electricity for many months. Maria hit on Sept. 20, walloping the island just 14 days after Hurricane Irma had struck a glancing blow. Many on Puerto Rico criticized the analysis as too conservative in its approach, and believe the actual death toll was even higher.

Adam Goodman, a Republican consultant who supported Trump before the election and early in his presidency but has now become a critic, said the comments are certain to anger voters already inclined to vote Democratic in November. The best way to energize a base is to offend them, he said, adding that Republican candidates need to actively distance themselves from Trump. All those who enable it through silence are as responsible as the one with the megaphone.

It is unclear whether Trumps claims were actual lies or whether he genuinely believed his falsehoods. The White House would not provide HuffPost any information regarding where Trump may have picked up those false ideas or why he chose to broadcast them to his tens of millions of Twitter followers.

For the past year, Trump has bragged about his administrations response to Maria and how few people died compared to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed more than 1,800 in and around New Orleans.

Scott is finishing his second term as governor and is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. He has made outreach to Puerto Rican voters, who have historically voted for Democrats in Florida, a key part of his campaign. He has visited the U.S. island territory seven times since Maria hit last autumn.

DeSantis, who resigned from Congress this week after nearly three terms representing the wealthy Jacksonville suburbs, has also sought to attract the support of Puerto Rican migrants. He visited the island in August.

Yet while Scott has been putting some distance between himself and Trump of late  he avoided a Tampa rally Trump staged in late July  DeSantis may not have that luxury. His support was in the single digits across the state when he entered the governors race against establishment GOP favorite Adam Putnam in January. His entire campaign was centered around his endorsement by Trump, which was based on the numerous Trump-boosting appearances DeSantis has made on Fox News in recent years.

Months ago, when he still trailed Putnam in the polls by double digits, his campaign had accepted the necessity of sticking with Trump in the general election should he win the nomination, for better or worse, for fear of losing Trumps hardcore base.

Scotts and DeSantis Democratic opponents, meanwhile, were quick to condemn Trumps statement.

The presidents comments on the nearly 3,000 American lives lost in Puerto Rico are shameful. We deserve and expect more from someone who holds the highest office in our country, Nelson wrote on Twitter  and shortly thereafter released the identical statement in Spanish.

Democratic nominee for governor Andrew Gillum also responded to Trump on Twitter: No death is partisan and our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico deserved better from @realDonaldTrump before, during, and after the hurricane.

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Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump lashed out at former secretary of state John Kerry for his meetings with Iran's foreign minister after the Obama-appointee had left office.

"John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people," Trump said on Twitter late Thursday.

"He told them to wait out the Trump Administration!" he said, ending his Tweet with the word "BAD!"

Kerry, who negotiated the 2015 Iran nuclear deal which Trump scrapped this year, said during a tour to promote his new book "Every Day is Extra" that he had met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "three or four times" since he left office and Trump had entered the White House.

Without commenting on the legality of such meetings, the current US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, accused his predecessor of "actively undermining US policy."

"What secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented," said Pompeo, who is seen as an anti-Iran hawk.

"This is a former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest State sponsor of terror and according to him... he was telling them to wait out this administration."

A spokesman for Kerry said there was nothing improper about his conduct.

"Secretary Kerry stays in touch with his former counterparts around the world just like every previous Secretary of State," the spokesman said in a statement.

"And in a long phone conversation with Secretary Pompeo earlier this year he went into great detail about what he had learned about the Iranian's view."

"No secrets were kept from this administration," the statement said, accusing Kerry's successor of "political theatrics."

- Straight talk -

Asked by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday if he had offered Zarif advice on how to deal with Trump's decision to withdraw from the pact, he replied: "No, that's not my job.

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"What I have done is tried to elicit from him what Iran might be willing to do in order to change the dynamic in the Middle East for the better.

"I've been very blunt to Foreign Minister Zarif, and told him look, you guys need to recognize that the world does not appreciate what's happening with missiles, what's happening with Hezbollah, what's happening with Yemen," he added, echoing the current administration's denunciation of Tehran's "malign" influence.

Conservative commentators immediately leapt on the act as evidence of "treason," with some calling for Kerry to go to prison.

Asked by a Republican lawmaker during a congressional hearing about the so-called shadow diplomacy, Manisha Singh, an assistant secretary of state, said Thursday: "It's unfortunate if people from a past administration would try to compromise the progress we're trying to make in this administration."

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert added: "I've seen him brag about the meetings that he has had with the Iranian government and Iranian government officials. I've also seen reports that he is apparently providing, according to reports, advice to the Iranian government.

"The best advice that he should be giving the Iranian government is stop supporting terror groups around the world."
President Donald Trump on Thursday morning questioned the recent findings that estimated the death toll in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria's devastation last September was near 3,000 people.

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," Trump tweeted. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..."

Trump blamed the high death toll number on Democrats, who he claimed were seeking to make him look bad.

"....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!"



3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Earlier this week Trump said "I think we did a fantastic job in Puerto Rico," and "we're still helping Puerto Rico."

An independent report published by researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University in late August, estimated that there were there were 2,975 excess deaths in Puerto Rico.

The new report's findings analyzed death certificates and other mortality data for six months from September 2017 and February 2018. The new death toll is 22 percent greater than the number of deaths that would've been expected during that period in a year without the deadly hurricane, according to the report.

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The report was commissioned by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello, in light of mounting evidence that the low figure was a "gross misrepresentation" of the fatalities that had occurred, Vox reported.

"The results of our epidemiological study suggest that, tragically, Hurricane Maria led to a large number of excess deaths throughout the island," said Carlos Santos-Burgoa, M.D., MPH, Ph.D., the project's principal investigator and a professor of global health at GW Milken Institute SPH, adding in a press release that lower-income citizens and the elderly faced the highest risk.

The study showed that the risk of death during the period from September 2017 to February 2018 was greatest - 60 percent higher than expected - for those living in poorer communities and that the elevated risk persisted beyond February.

Prior to the release of the report, the Puerto Rican government had maintained an official storm death toll of 64 people.

However, even prior to the release of the George Washington report, Puerto Rico officials had quietly acknowledged that the number of 64 was not accurate.



trump puerto rico

In this Oct. 3, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump walks with FEMA administrator Brock Long, second from right, and Lt. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, right, during a tour of an area affected by Hurricane Maria in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

This past spring, researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, concluded that between Sept. 20 and Dec. 31, 2017, there were 4,645 "excess deaths." The findings were published this past May in the New England Journal of Medicine.

According to the Associated Press, Rossello said in a Facebook post Thursday that "the victims of Puerto Rico, and the people of Puerto Rico in general, do not deserve to be questioned about their pain."

House Democrats responded to the president's Twitter comments with a strong rebuttal.



President Trump won't acknowledge the thousands of Americans who died on his watch.



And even worse, Republicans have no interest in holding this administration accountable and ensuring that Congress is prepared to respond to these disasters. https://t.co/9qktMZyJGc  House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) September 13, 2018

Carmen Yulin Cruz, mayor of San Juan, also took to Twitter to respond to Trump's comments, saying the storm response was about saving lives, not politics.


Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected the official death toll from last year's Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, saying it had been inflated to almost 3,000 as part of a ploy to make him look bad.

The true human cost of Maria, and the chaotic federal response to the storm, triggered a year-long controversy, which Trump revived this week even as another powerful hurricane, Florence, bore down on the East Coast.

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," Trump tweeted early Thursday. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths."

"Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..." he said, going on to claim: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico."

"If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list."

Hurricane Maria killed 2,975 people in Puerto Rico, a long-awaited independent investigation into the 2017 storm concluded last month. It was initially said to have killed just 64 people.

After nearly a year of controversy over the figures, the governor of the US island territory said the new estimate would now be considered the official death toll.

Hurricane Florence is the first major test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency since its much-criticized response to Maria, which caused devastation when it struck Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm a year ago.

A US government report published this month concluded that the federal response in Puerto Rico was hampered by a lack of trained staff as well as by major logistical challenges.

But Trump has continued to boast about the handling of Maria, calling it "an incredible unsung success" as he warned residents of the Carolinas not to take chances with Florence.

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"I'm sorry, Sir, shame on you," San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz retorted on CNN, calling the federal disaster response in the US territory a "despicable act of neglect."

"If he thinks that 3,000 people dying on his watch is a good news story or is an unsung success... nobody's going to be singing his praises," she said.

"If (Trump) doesn't learn from his mistakes, he's going to make them again and people are going to continue to die."

- Death toll -

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello also criticized Trump for not providing additional federal funds still needed for emergency housing and debris removal.

Rosello is a leader of the island's pro-statehood New Progressive Party, which aligns with Republicans, while Cruz is from the Popular Democratic Party, whose members affiliate with the Democratic Party.

Maria destroyed the island's electricity grid, leaving it largely without power for weeks and crippling its health care system.

Despite the low initial official death toll, outside studies showed that the impact on mortality in the three months after the storm was far greater.

A Harvard University study released in May estimated that more than 4,600 people may have died as a result of the hurricane.

Then on August 28, an epidemiological study by George Washington University commissioned by the island's government concluded that 2,975 people were killed as a result of the storm.
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected the official death toll from last year's Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, saying it had been inflated to almost 3,000 as part of a ploy to make him look bad.

Trump's controversial remarks sparked a rare bipartisan backlash, with even some members of his own party echoing the condemnation from Democratic opposition leaders.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a veteran Republican congresswoman from Florida, said Trump "has a warped mind that would turn this statistic into fake news."

"It might be a new low," she said. "How could you be so self-centered and try to distort the truth so much?"

The true human cost of Maria, and the chaotic federal response to the storm on the US island territory, triggered a year-long controversy, which Trump revived this week even as another powerful hurricane, Florence, bore down on the East Coast.

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," Trump tweeted early Thursday. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths."

"Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..." he said, going on to claim: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico."

"If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list."

- Death Toll -

Hurricane Maria killed 2,975 people in Puerto Rico, a long-awaited independent investigation by George Washington University into the 2017 storm concluded last month. It was initially said to have killed just 64 people.

After nearly a year of controversy over the figures, the island's governor said the new estimate would now be considered the official death toll.

George Washington University stood by the science behind its findings, calling the figure of 2,975 deaths "the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date."

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Another study carried out by Harvard University and published in May estimated the death toll from the hurricane and its aftermath could have been higher than 4,600.

Hurricane Florence is the first major test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency since its much-criticized response to Maria, which caused devastation when it struck Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm a year ago.

A US government report published this month concluded that the federal response in Puerto Rico was hampered by a lack of trained staff as well as by major logistical challenges.

But Trump has continued to boast about the handling of Maria, calling it "an incredible unsung success" as he warned residents of the Carolinas not to take chances with Florence.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority leader, said Trump owed an apology to the 3,000 families for "the shameful attack on deceased fellow Americans."

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz called the president's comments "delusional, paranoid and unhinged from any sense of reality."

"Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. It is not," she said on her official Twitter account.

"Damn it, this is not about politics, this was always about saving lives," she told NBC television. Cruz had earlier described the federal disaster response in the US territory a "despicable act of neglect."

"If (Trump) doesn't learn from his mistakes, he's going to make them again and people are going to continue to die," she told CNN television.

In Florida, which was badly hit by Hurricane Irma last year and which received thousands of Puerto Ricans fleeing the devastation of their homes, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis -- who has built his campaign around his adherence to Trump's politics -- tried to distance himself from the president's words.

DeSantis "doesn't believe any loss of life has been inflated," his campaign said in a statement.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello also has criticized Trump for not providing additional federal funds still needed for emergency housing and debris removal.

Rossello is a leader of the island's pro-statehood New Progressive Party, which aligns with Republicans, while Cruz is from the Popular Democratic Party, whose members affiliate with the Democratic Party.

Maria destroyed Puerto Rico's electricity grid, leaving the island largely without power for weeks and crippling its health care system.
Donald Trump has claimed that nearly 3,000 people did not die in Puerto Rico due to the impact of Hurricane Maria, despite the islands government putting the official death toll at up to 2,975.

The president wrote on Twitter that Democrats inflated the death toll to make him look as bad as possible in the wake of criticism over his handling of the response to the disaster.

The official toll had been given as 64, before the release of findings from researchers from George Washington University that lifted the total dramatically in a study commissioned by the US commonwealths government. While that number is an estimate, which could rise or fall, it is clear that the number of people killed is far in excess of the 6 to 18 deaths Mr Trump claimed when he left the island having visited.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths, the president tweeted. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico, the president continued. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

He added: I love Puerto Rico!

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The president has spent the week celebrating his administrations efforts to combat the destructive impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, calling it an unsung success and adding in a televised statement to reporters in the White House, If you ask the governor, hell tell you what a great job was done.

That caused governor Ricardo Rossello to release a statement criticising the president and correcting his claims.

No relationship between a colony and the federal government can ever be called successful because Puerto Ricans lack certain inalienable rights enjoyed by our fellow Americans in the states, the governor said in the statement. This was the worst natural disaster in our modern history. Our basic infrastructure was devastated, thousands of our people lost their lives and many others still struggle. Now is not the time to pass judgement; it is time to channel every effort to improve the lives of over 3 million Americans in Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Florence is churning towards the US coastline as a Category Two storm, with an increasing potential for rainfall and storm surging at catastrophic levels, according to the National Weather Service.

Mr Trump has described the oncoming storm as tremendously big and a tremendously wet hurricane.

They havent seen anything like whats coming at us in 25, 30 years, maybe ever, he said during a White House briefing on how his administration is planning relief efforts surrounding Florence. It could very well be very similar to Texas in the sense that its tremendous amounts of water ... Probably more water than weve ever seen in a storm or a hurricane.
Medenine (Tunisia) (AFP) - Surrounded by other people's belongings piled high on beds, Georgie Ndab wants to leave Tunisia's only migrant centre and take her baby to Europe.

"I spent eight months in prison in Libya. I want to go to Europe to guarantee my son a good education," said Ndab, a 21-year-old from Cameroon.

Sitting in a small room in suffocating heat, she pours talcum powder on baby Moses in an effort to relieve the eight-month-old's irritated skin.

"I thank Tunisia, but the situation here isn't good, and my direction is Europe, France," added Ndab, who travelled through Nigeria and Niger to reach North Africa.

She is one of 247 people, including 15 children, living at the Red Crescent centre in the southern town of Medenine.

The facility is the only one in Tunisia to host migrants who reached the country illegally, either being picked up by authorities near Libya or in waters off the country's coast.

The three-storey building is overcrowded, with just half the number of beds needed and three kitchens and bathrooms for everyone.

Francis Lele, a fellow Cameroonian, said each person receives a kilo of rice, three tins of sardines and a bottle of milk per week.

"Tunisia does not properly take care of migrants," said the 32-year-old, who told AFP he was enslaved in Libya and forced to work in construction before boarding a boat for Europe.

The Red Crescent centre opened in 2013 and after losing some of its funding earlier this year is struggling to raise the 320,000 dinars ($114,000, 100,000 euros) needed to cover its annual costs.

But despite the cuts, centre head Mogni Slim said the food allowance is sufficient.

"It's not a great luxury but we offer food in accordance with the normal calorie intake," he said.

- Rejecting European plans -

While Tunisia is striving to manage its migrant population, the European Union has suggested the country could play host to a "disembarkation platform" to process those rescued at sea.

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The proposal made to North African countries by the EU in June was swiftly rejected by Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.

At the end of July, Tunisia said it would take in 40 migrants rescued by a commercial vessel but -- wary of setting a precedent -- said it was only for humanitarian reasons.

A number of those saved by the Tunisian-flagged "Sarost 5" ship were taken in by the Medenine centre.

Romdhan Ben Amor, from the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, said Tunisia cannot become a reception country while it "does not guarantee the rights of migrants".

Even for sub-Sahara African migrants who move to Tunisia by legal means, it is incredibly complicated to obtain a residency permit which is essential for daily life in the country.

When it comes to those who have entered Tunisia illegally with the aim of travelling onwards to Europe, the United Nation's migration agency said the country is ill-equipped to manage these arrivals.

"Tunisia has neither the legal framework nor the humanitarian infrastructure nor the economic development necessary," said Lorena Lando, from the UN's International Organization for Migration.

At the Red Crescent centre, residents have 60 days to decide whether to voluntarily return to their home countries or to stay in Tunisia.

The centre head said around a third choose to go home, often worn out by experiences in neighbouring Libya. The remainder opt to remain in Tunisia, with the ultimate aim of travelling onwards to Europe.

But it is not only migrants from elsewhere who take the perilous sea journey across the Mediterranean, in rickety smugglers' boats.

With an unemployment rate of 15 percent and struggling public services such as healthcare, Tunisia is seeing its own residents leave the country.

So far this year Tunisia was the fourth country after Syria, Iraq and Guinea for nationals crossing into Europe, accounting for seven percent of arrivals, according to figures from the UN refugee agency, or UNHCR.

Back at the Medenine centre a 26-year-old Egyptian, Ali Ibrahim Nadi, said they share the same plight: "They want to leave their country, so do we, we want to depart for Europe."
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, officials said, amid rising international concern over a looming Syrian government assault on a rebel-held province bordering Turkey.

"President Erdogan will meet with Mr Putin on Monday," Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a televised press conference on Friday.

The meeting will take place in the Russian resort city of Sochi, a senior Turkish official told AFP.

Russia-backed forces of the Syrian regime have massed around the Idlib province in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion.

UN agencies and relief organisations have warned repeatedly that such an assault could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of Syria's seven-year war.

Turkey has intensified negotiations with Russia to avert a possible attack, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire.

However last week Erdogan and Putin failed to agree on a ceasefire at a three-way summit in Tehran which also involved Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Russia and Iran are key allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Turkey however backs opposition fighters seeking the ouster of the Syrian leader, and has said a large-scale offensive against the rebels could trigger a mass exodus towards its border.

Cavusoglu on Friday said Turkey was ready to cooperate with anyone in the fight against terror groups in Syria, but criticised the Damascus regime for using the presence of jihadists groups to legitimise a possible operation in Idlib.

"We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct," he said.

"We cannot bring peace that way."

Idlib's most powerful armed faction is the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which Ankara officially designated a "terrorist" group last month.
By Humeyra Pamuk and Tom Perry ISTANBUL/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey said on Friday it was talking to all parties in the Syrian conflict to prevent a government offensive on Idlib ahead of talks between Russian and Turkish leaders, who support rival sides in the looming battle for the rebel-held region. Ankara failed last week to win agreement for a ceasefire from Russia and Iran, President Bashar al-Assad's main backers, but there has been a recent lull in air strikes and a pro-Damascus source indicated a ground attack may not be imminent. Rebels also said some pro-Assad forces had left frontlines in northwest Syria in recent days. Turkey has reinforced a dozen military posts inside the Idlib region, which lies across its southern border and is controlled by Turkey-backed rebels and jihadist fighters, trying to forestall a government assault. Chief of Staff Yasar Guler visited military positions on the border and was briefed by commanders stationed in the Idlib region, Turkey's armed forces said. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey had also contacted foreign ministers of several countries and was in touch with "all actors in Syria". "We are making an effort for a ceasefire in Idlib," he said, repeating Turkey's call for targeted operations against jihadist militants, including the Tahrir al-Sham alliance, instead of an indiscriminate onslaught. "We are ready to cooperate with everyone to fight terrorist organizations. But killing everyone  civilians, women, children  like this in the name of fighting terrorist organizations is not right and is not humane," he said on a visit to Pakistan. GRAPHIC: Syria's Idlib assault - https://tmsnrt.rs/2NHAqh3 The United Nations has warned that an offensive in Idlib could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in an area where 3 million people live. Turkey, already hosting 3.5 million Syrians, says it cannot take in another wave of refugees. RUSSIA TALKS Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin said after talks with Russian, German and French officials in Istanbul that they agreed the consequences of an attack on Idlib would be severe and a refugee wave would impact not just Turkey but Europe too. "Our expectation is to maintain the current status in Idlib, protecting the civilians and not creating a humanitarian crisis," Kalin told reporters. President Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks in Russia on Monday with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Syrian crisis, 10 days after similar talks in Tehran, Turkish and Russian officials said. Despite the deadlock at the Iran meeting, calm has largely prevailed in northwest Syria this week following a wave of air strikes which killed several dozen people and generated speculation of an imminent ground offensive. A pro-Assad source in Syria said: "There is patience and repositioning currently. The operation is not canceled, but we have time." A second source, an official in the regional alliance that supports Assad, said there was a "political tug of war" over Idlib, accompanied by air strikes on militants from Tahrir al-Sham. Two rebel sources in the northwest said some government forces have been observed withdrawing from frontlines in the Hama region, which adjoins Idlib, this week. "It appears that the Russians and the Assad regime have temporarily looked the other way," said one of the sources, Colonel Mustafa Bakour, a commander in the Jaish al-Ezza rebel group. He added that several hundred pro-Assad forces had withdrawn from frontlines in the northern Hama countryside. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said calm mostly prevailed again on Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would keep bombing militant targets in Idlib if need be, but would also open humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee, the Interfax news agency reported. Lavrov, who was speaking in Berlin, was cited as saying that the Russian air force would strike what he called terrorist weapons-making facilities as and when it found out about them, but would also encourage local reconciliation deals. Kalin said it was too soon to talk about humanitarian corridors until attacks in Idlib were halted. Putin also discussed the situation Idlib with members of Russia's Security Council on Friday, telling them he was concerned by militant activity there, the RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying. (Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn and Katya Golubkova in Moscow, and Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Editing by Dominic Evans and Catherine Evans)
Kaesong (North Korea) (AFP) - North and South Korea opened a joint liaison office in the Northern city of Kaesong on Friday as they knit closer ties ahead of President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang next week.

"A new chapter in history is open here today," South Korean unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon told a ceremony, according to a pool report.

"This liaison office is another symbol of peace jointly created by the South and the North."

The building includes separate Northern and Southern offices and a joint conference room, and is intended to facilitate cross-border exchanges following the Panmunjom Summit between Moon and the North's leader Kim Jong Un, the unification ministry said.

Seoul and Pyongyang have sought to pursue joint projects in multiple fields since their April summit in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, even as US efforts to secure concrete progress towards North Korea's denuclearisation have stalled.

Moon is due in the North's capital on Tuesday for a three-day visit, his third summit with Kim this year after he orchestrated a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula and brokered June's Singapore summit between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump.

There Kim backed denuclearisation of the "Korean peninsula", but no details were agreed and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since over what that means and how it will be achieved.

The North was "willing to denuclearise", Moon said Thursday, while the US was willing to "end hostile relations" and provide security guarantees, "but there is a blockage as both sides are demanding each other to act first".
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday asked Alphabet Inc's Google <GOOGL.O> if it will re-enter the Chinese search engine market and if it would comply with China's internet censorship policies upon its return.

Sixteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, said in a letter they had "serious concerns" about the potential step and asked Google if it would agree to restrict certain words, terms or events in China. The company did not immediately comment on Thursday.

Reuters reported last month Google planned to launch a version of its search engine in China that will block some websites and search terms, two sources said.

Representative David Cicilline, a Democrat and signer of the letter, wrote on Twitter that "Google should not be helping China crack down on free speech and political dissent."

Other signers include Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee.

The letter asked if Google would take steps "to ensure that individual Chinese citizens or foreigners living in China, including Americans, will not be surveilled or targeted through Google applications."

The reported plans, which has been criticized by human rights advocates, come as China has stepped up scrutiny of business dealings involving U.S. tech firms including Facebook Inc <FB.O> and Apple Inc <AAPL.O>, amid intensifying trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Google, which quit Chinas search engine market in 2010, has been actively seeking ways to re-enter China where many of its products are blocked by regulators.

Googles main search platform has been blocked in China since 2010, but it has been attempting to make new inroads into China.

In January, the search engine joined an investment in Chinese live-stream mobile game platform Chushou, and earlier this month, launched an artificial intelligence (AI) game on Tencent Holdings Ltds social media app WeChat.

Facebooks website is also banned in China but the company has also signalled its interest to enter the market.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Steve Orlofsky)
Rome (AFP) - UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi on Friday appealed for the creation of a clear mechanism for European states to share out the burden of migrants rescued at sea rather than work on a case by case basis.

Those arriving "must be shared around Europe. There must be a foreseeable mechanism. We cannot deal on a boat by boat basis," the UN refugee chief told a news conference after two days of talks with authorities in his native Italy.

Italy has closed its ports to NGOs rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean and has been increasingly reluctant to take in those brought to shore in its own vessels, making reception conditional on those brought to shore being offloaded to other EU states.

"We are not talking about incredible figures -- if Libya can deal with a million refugees then Europe can manage a few tens of thousands," Grandi said.

He added that between 80 and 90 percent of the estimated 68 million refugees globally according to UNHCR figures were "in poor countries or have few resources".

Grandi added that Europe faced a "long battle" in reaching common ground on how to deal with the migrant issue but should cooperate in so far as possible and use the expected drop in numbers over the winter to draw up a coherent strategy.

In the meantime he added that the priority should be ensuring migrants reached the "nearest safe port".

That could not, he stressed, be Libya given that conditions in some reception camps there were "abominable, unacceptable".

Grandi said he was also concerned at the lack of rescue boats of Libya, be they humanitarian or military which meant not just less people brought ashore but also "more deaths".

Grandi further warned against politicians using intemperate language when discussing the migrant issue, urging that "the language of politics must not a create a space for abuse and violence of a racist character".

On Monday, new UN rights head Michelle Bachelet announced a new team would be heading to Italy to monitor "a signalled strong increase" in racist violence, something which Italy's far right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini denied.

Salvini said that Italy had in recent years accepted 700,000 immigrants, "including many illegals, and never got any help from other European countries".
Sanaa (AFP) - The UN's Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths has met the country's Huthi rebels in a push for new peace talks, as fighting continued Friday around the strategic port city of Hodeida.

Griffiths travelled to the Omani capital Muscat to meet the rebels after they refused to attend negotiations in Geneva last week.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of the Huthi delegation, and fellow rebel official Abdelmalak al-Ajri discussed the reasons for their absence from Geneva with the United Nations envoy, the rebel-run Saba news agency said.

The first negotiations between Yemen's warring sides in two years were scheduled to start last Thursday, but a Yemeni government delegation left after the Huthis decided not to attend.

The rebels had accused the UN of failing to guarantee the return of their delegation from Switzerland to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

This Thursday's discussions also covered the "necessary measures" needed for fresh talks set for "as soon as possible", Saba reported.

Hamid Assem, a member of the Huthi delegation, told AFP on Friday there had been no breakthrough.

"There has not been progress regarding the discussions while we have not received the guarantees," he said by phone.

Griffiths is also scheduled to visit the Yemeni capital Sanaa, held by the Huthis, and Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition against the rebels.

- Dozens killed in fighting -

The last talks between the Huthis and the Yemeni government, led by President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, took place in Kuwait in 2016.

Those negotiations faltered over power-sharing and the rebel withdrawal from key cities including Sanaa.

They collapsed after 108 days and the rebel delegation was subsequently stranded in Oman for three months due to a coalition air blockade.

After the failure of the Geneva talks, deadly clashes resumed around the Huthi-held port city of Hodeida, a vital entry point for aid to a country teetering on the edge of famine.

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Sixteen rebels died in a coalition air strike in the far south of the city on Thursday evening, according to military and medical sources in the province.

Three pro-government fighters were killed the same evening when a military vehicle was hit by a shell to the east of Hodeida city.

Over 60 people have died in fighting around Hodeida since Wednesday, when Yemeni government forces said they seized two major supply routes into the port city.

The Huthis launched a counter-offensive on Thursday to retake the roads, which link Hodeida to Sanaa, military sources told AFP.

"Sporadic fighting took place in Friday in various areas around the city," said a government military source.

Separately, in Yemen's Mahra province of Mahra, two coalition soldiers died Friday morning when their helicopter crashed due to a technical fault.

The pilot and co-pilot were killed during an operation targeting "terrorists", the coalition said.

- Imams appeal to worshippers -

Facing intense pressure in Hodeida, the rebels have used their Al-Masirah television channel to implore their supporters to fight for the city.

At Sanaa's Dhi al-Nourain Mosque, popular with Huthi supporters, an imam leading Friday prayers made an appeal: "Hodeida cries out to everyone, Hodeida belongs to all Yemenis, it must be defended."

Religious leaders called on worshippers to help civilians who had fled the fighting.

The UN said Friday the situation around Hodeida was "alarming" and threatened aid deliveries.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hodeida city", saying they affected "sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen."

In August, WFP said it had provided emergency food assistance to some 700,000 of the around 900,000 people in the province considered to be at severe risk.

But the United Arab Emirates, which is a key part of the Saudi-led coalition, has indicated the military operations would continue.

"The liberation of Hodeida is the key to the solution in Yemen," the UAE's foreign affairs minister Anwar Gargash wrote on Twitter.

"The noose is tightening" on Hodeida, he added.

Since Riyadh and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015, around 10,000 people have been killed in a conflict which has sparked a grave humanitarian crisis.
NEAR AS-SUSAH (Syria) (AFP) - Fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces sing for courage as they ready for battle, this time for an assault on the Islamic State group's last stronghold in the country's east.

The US-backed SDF and their American advisers have been grouped on the outskirts of the village of As-Susah on the east bank of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor province.

As pick-up trucks loaded with fighters of the joint Kurdish-Arab force skid along snaking dirt roads, coalition forces have been firing rounds of mortar fire and rockets at jihadist positions.

After a salvo of outgoing fire, thick columns of smoke rise from As-Susah, which along with the town of Hajin and other nearby villages make up IS's last enclave in eastern Syria.

"Daesh has strong fortifications. We're seeking to break the defences and bring its presence east of the Euphrates to an end," said an commander, Ibrahim al-Dairi, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The SDF has been closing in on the pocket for months and it officially launched its offensive on Monday.

Heavy clashes have since killed 53 jihadists and 37 SDF fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

The most recent IS ambush on Friday left at least 20 SDF fighters dead.

Jihadists attacked the force during a sandstorm, launching explosives and opening fire, the Britain-based Observatory said.

The coalition battling IS has said the offensive "will clear remnants of (IS) from northeastern Syria along the Middle Euphrates River Valley toward the Syria-Iraq border".

"The battle is fateful for us and for Daesh too," said Dairi, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group.

He expects the remaining jihadists to "fight to the death".

The SDF estimates IS has some 3,000 fighters in its besieged holdout, a large portion of them foreigners.

- 'Eliminate them here' -

After having declared a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014, IS now controls less than three percent of Syria following a string of military defeats inside the country and neighbouring Iraq.

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The group once held nearly all of Deir Ezzor, but separate offensives last year by the SDF and Russian-backed regime forces left the jihadists with a just small besieged pocket near the Iraqi border.

IS slogans such as "the caliphate remains" mark the walls of homes in towns and villages from which IS has been expelled.

A few kilometres away in the desert hills along Syria's border with Iraq, the SDF and coalition leaders are charting the offensive.

"We're committed to the campaign and we will win," Zaradasht Kobani, another Kurdish commander, told AFP after speaking with fighters who were cleaning their weapons shortly after returning from the front lines.

"Even though Daesh has taken a lot of (defensive) measures... we will end its presence east of the Euphrates," he said.

"This is the last bastion for Daesh's mercenaries," Kobani said. "We will eliminate them here."

- 'Defeat terrorism' -

While IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's whereabouts are unknown, the SDF believes other "major leaders" are hiding out in the pocket, according to Deir Ezzor military council chief Ahmad Abu Khawla.

"Most of the frontline commanders in this pocket are Iraqis," he added.

The US coalition is backing up the SDF's push with artillery support and air cover.

Kobani stressed that the coalition's involvement was important for SDF morale. "We will end this campaign together," he said.

Like in other battles that the SDF has waged against IS, booby traps and mines planted by the jihadists pose the biggest challenge.

As artillery fire pounded jihadist positions, yellow military bulldozers worked to clear roads for fighters.
Myrtle Beach (United States) (AFP) - With Hurricane Florence downgraded on Thursday from a Category Four to a Category Two storm, and then once again, around fifty people left the evacuation shelter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

That was a bad idea, said Avair Vereen, a local nurse who had sought safety in the shelter with her seven children.

"They say if you stay (home), it's at your own risk," she said, noting that emergency services personnel said they could not risk their lives rescuing anyone who had disregarded official evacuation notices.

"It is scary. When somebody tells you something like that, it's my cue to get out. There's nothing like being in the street knowing that nobody is coming," she said, rocking her eight-month-old baby in her arms.

The shelter had been set up in a school and was offering temporary refugee from the elements to around 400 people on Thursday, although it had a capacity for up to 1,200 in the popular seaside resort.

"We're recommending people to stay here. It's not safe to go back," said Rebecca Torriani, a Red Cross spokeswoman.

Vereen was taking that recommendation at face value -- she and her children live in a mobile home in an open field, with nothing to protect it from the hurricane.

"If we lose the house, oh well, we can get housing. But can't replace us, so we decided to come here," said the 39-year-old.

"A lot of people left this morning, because they said it was down to Category Two but a Two can still do a lot of damage," she said, noting that even in the lower classification, Florence's winds would be buffeting at 100 miles per hour (161 kilometers per hour).

"I wouldn't risk it. It can still change. It can go back up," she said.

- Staying safe -

A few yards down the hallway, huddled in blankets, Tony Winborne echoed her concern about those who decided to leave the shelter.

"I hope they made the right decision. We could be here and it actually turns out not to be that bad, but it is better safe than sorry," said the 37-year-old tailor.

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Meteorologists and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were warning residents not to let their guard down, since, even with lessened wind speeds, Florence could still dump massive amounts of rain and a storm surge of more than nine feet (three meters) on the exposed coastline.

"The storm surge forecast with this storm has not changed," warned Brock Long, the head of FEMA.

He said the massive rains meant that even areas away from the coast would be affected.

"The infrastructure is going to break," he said. "The power is going to go out. It could go out for a number of days, it could go out for weeks. It's very hard to say at this point."

Even so, many residents of Myrtle Beach proudly recalled how they had weathered a number of storms in the past and were confident they could ride out Florence too.

None more so than Adam Williams, a 38-year-old security guard watching his 17-year-old son surf the first big waves as the storm approached.

"If it was a Category Four and we were going to get a direct hit, yes, we wouldn't be here. But we're going to be okay," he said.
Olivia Munn (Credit: Getty Images)

The woman at the centre of the scandal surrounding the new Predator movie has said that shes eternally grateful to actress Olivia Munn for speaking out about it.

Director Shane Black employed a personal friend, Steve Wilder, who had appeared in a number of his other movies, for a small role playing a jogger.

However, it later emerged that Wilder is a convicted sex offender who had groomed a 14-year-old girl online, and served six months in prison.

On discovering Wilders past, Olivia Munn informed the films studio Fox, who eventually cut his scene out of the film.

But Munn has since said that she had to follow up her complaint against him after nothing appeared to be being done about it, and was later chastised for not keeping quiet.

Now the victim at the centre of the scandal, Paige Carnes, now 24, has spoken to the Los Angeles Times in the wake of the scandal, in order to reclaim my identity.

Sexual abuse makes people uncomfortable. It should make you uncomfortable. This discomfort is nothing compared to the psychological and physical suffering of those who have dealt with it, she said.

Steve Wilder(Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for National Geographic)

I was not able to speak for myself when I was 14. The consequences of this abuse are profound and permanent for some. When the abuse takes place with a child, it is even harder to overcome. You lose trust in everyone around you, and mainly yourself. Your abuse does not define you. With support from others and strength from within, you can overcome the label of victim and reclaim your identity.

Support can come in many forms. Sometimes all it takes is one person speaking up for you, acknowledging your worth as a human being. I am extremely fortunate to have a Father and Mother that love me unconditionally. My Father has supported me in my healing and growth in ways I cannot thank him enough for

I am also eternally grateful for Olivia Munns action. She spoke up for me. She took a stance for me. In turn she stood for all who have suffered like I have. To be acknowledged by a stranger, on a public platform about this issue is incredibly empowering. The positive feedback from social media towards Olivia Munn is uplifting and feels incredibly supportive for me personally.

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In a tweet, Munn said she was speechless after reading the statement.

Wow. Speechless Paige Carnes shows so much bravery and strength by stepping out from behind the Jane Doe title.  https://t.co/t8Ce6w69Ty  om (@oliviamunn) September 13, 2018

In an interview on Ellen this week, she said: When I did call my costars, I got chastised the next day by the studio for telling them and Why am I just not keeping it quiet? Its all going to be okay. It got deleted. Whats the big deal? And I said, Well, it happened.

I think that people expected me to be quiet because its my movie, but the truth is I dont care. I dont care if this movie gave me all the money in the world and all the power. If it cost one persons life, they can take it. I dont want this career.

Black, who has said that he was misled by Wilder as to the nature of his criminal history, has since said that he has taken full responsibility for the matter.

I made an error in judgment thats irresponsible  Im not just a kid, he told AP on the red carpet of the movies premiere.

I was the captain of that ship  its my job to make sure that those things dont happen. And I failed. And I may have, I did cause pain to people in the cast. Thats unacceptable. I take full responsibility. I am very deeply sorry.

Becoming emotional, he added: It really bothers me that this movie, which could have been these beautiful people on a beautiful night with only this, has been overshadowed in some ways by a stupid decision that I made.

Read more

Justice League star offers Cyborg update

Why Arnie turned down The Predator

Cameras roll on Downton Abbey movie




Did Trump blink?

Hed never admit it, but it appears President Trump is reluctant to escalate his trade war with China, as threatened.

Trumps plan to impose 25% tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports has cleared procedural hurdles, so Trump could impose those tariffs at any time. But so far he hasnt. Instead, his Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, has proposed a new round of negotiations with the Chinese, who have agreed. Presumably, there will be a meeting.

Until there is, it seems unlikely Trump would pull the trigger on the new set of tariffs. Trump has already hit $50 billion worth of Chinese imports with tariffs, and China has done the same thing to a like amount of U.S. exports to China. If Trump goes ahead with the next set of tariffs, it will quintuple the amount of Chinese imports subject to new tariffs from $50 billion to $250 billion. Prices would rise for a broad variety of consumer products, including electronics, clothing and appliances. Markets may be unprepared.

Trumps tariffs are unpopular, and with the midterm elections just two months away, its a lousy time to escalate his trade war. Farmers are struggling in many states, thanks to retaliatory tariffs on crops such as soybeans and corn, which are locking U.S. exporters out of some Chinese markets and pushing commodity prices down. Free-trade centrists could ditch Trumps Republican party in the midterms, giving Democrats control of part or all of Congress.

Nobody knows if Trump would really slap tariffs on everything China imports to the United Stateswhich would total around $510 billion worth of importsor if hes just making dangerous-sounding threats as a negotiating ploy. This weeks development suggest its a ploy. For that reason, this weeks Trump-o-meter readers MEDIOCRE, our third-best rating.

Source: Yahoo Finance

The Trump-o-meter would point further to the right if Trump took more tangible steps to resolve his trade war with China. Tariffs are taxes that fall largely on consumers, cause economic inefficiencies and slow growth. Trump is right about various ways China abuses its trading partners, but tariffs punish American consumers as much as China. A better way to force Chinese reforms would be to work with allied nations to demand new procedures at the World Trade Organization, which regulates global trade but is poorly equipped to demand changes in Chinas trade practices.

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A pause in the Trump trade wars certainly doesnt mean theyre over. Trump needs to be able to declare victory, which means China would need to make meaningful concessions he can point to. Chinese leaders, for their part, dont want to seem weak or bullied by Trump. So the result of any further negotiations could be a prolonged impasse.

Meanwhile, Trump is haggling with Canada to get it to join a new version of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump says he can make a new deal with Mexico alone, without Canadas participation, but key members of Congress disagree, and Congress would have to pass a law authorizing any new version of NAFTA. The de facto deadline for a deal with Canada is Sept. 30, so pressure is mounting on Trump to find a breakthrough.

As Election Day in November draws closer, the risks intensify for Trump, if he does decide to impose new tariffs. Hed be raising taxes on voters right before they head to the polls, and giving farmers and business operators even more to complain about. Its also likely the stock market would drop if there are new tariffs.

If Trump can broker a trade-war truce, on the other hand, stocks might rise, and voters would feel better. All in all, it might have been better for Trump to wait until after the 2018 midterms to start fighting his trade wars. Instead, he has just eight weeks or so to turn a losing hand on trade into a winning one.

Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Click here to get Ricks stories by email.

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Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman
President Donald Trump on Thursday denounced a George Washington University study that attributed 2,975 deaths to Hurricane Maria, suggesting that the estimate  which is far higher than the 64 deaths initially reported  was politically motivated. In response, representatives from the GWU Milken Institute School of Public Health said they stand by their science, and are confident that the number  2,975  is the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date.

But how can a death toll jump from 64 to nearly 3,000? The answer hinges on one fundamental question: What constitutes a disaster death?

You have to think of [64 and 3,000] as two different indicators, says Carlos Santos-Burgoa, one of the GWU reports authors and a professor of global health at the school.

The 64 comes from death certificates that have stated that the death is related to the hurricane, such as those caused by drowning, falling buildings or projectile debris, Burgoa explains.

Meanwhile, the number highlighted in the GWU report, which was based on an analysis of death certificates filed between September 2017 and February 2018, represents deaths in excess of what would have been predicted if there had not been a hurricane, regardless of if a physician says it was related or not, Burgoa says. This could include deaths caused by dangerous conditions encountered while evacuating, for example, or by disruptions to medical care stemming from widespread, lasting power outages in Puerto Rico, for example.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines say that these indirect deaths should be counted in disaster totals, but the GWU report found that many physicians were not oriented in the appropriate certification protocol and that most physicians have no formal training in completing a death certificate and thus are not aware of appropriate death certification practices. Add in challenges like impaired communications and transportation, which may affect normal reporting processes, and its easy to see how, by GWUs estimates, some 2,911 deaths that should have been counted as storm-related were not.

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(After the storm, in October 2017, the CDC pushed out more detailed information about what qualifies as a disaster-related death and what does not.)

An earlier study of Hurricane Maria deaths, published in July by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found an even wider margin of error. Harvards report, which was based on systematic household surveys throughout Puerto Rico, reached a estimate of 4,645 storm-related deaths between September and December 2017, many as a result of delayed or interrupted health care. Household surveys are often used to estimate death counts when regular reporting channels are unavailable or nonexistent.

This number may be higher than GWUs, Burgoa says, because it used select households to extrapolate the total number of deaths. Burgoa likens the process to political polling, which can capture trends but may not be totally accurate.

When you do political campaigns, you do surveys. But at the end, there is a result, he says. We had the result because we had the total universal deaths.

These calculation complications are nothing new. Determining death counts after Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, was a similarly convoluted process. A study published in 2014, almost a full decade after the hurricane left huge swaths of New Orleans flooded and hospitals without power, attributed 1,170 deaths to Hurricane Katrina  184 more than a widely cited 2008 study on the subject, thanks to new availability of autopsy data. Both of these numbers, however, were considerably lower than an initial estimate from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which initially cited the death toll at 1,833.

Death tolls were much lower after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in 2012, but calculations vary there, too. The National Hurricane Center said at least 87 deaths were directly or indirectly caused by Hurricane Sandy, while the CDC, using Red Cross data, tallied 117 deaths tied to the storm.

The CDC has strengthened its guidance around what counts as a disaster-related death in the years since Sandy and Katrina, but Burgoa says theres still work to be done in clarifying and disseminating those policies. But more importantly, he says exact death counts are not the most meaningful piece of information to be gleaned from studying disasters.

Our goal is to provide a way to move forward, to get away from the controversy of numbers and move into, what can we do to protect and prevent [deaths] in the future? Burgoa says. That is what is important for public health: What are the needs of the population?
China Aviation Daily | Sep. 14, 2018

The busiest passenger air routes on earth have been revealed in a new study published by Routes, organiser of the world's leading aviation network development conferences and events.

With more than 13.4 million people travelling on the short-haul domestic service, the 450 km journey from Seoul's Gimpo Airport to the island of Jeju off the coast of the Korean Peninsula has once again claimed the title as the most in-demand air route in the world.

The route has an average of 180 scheduled flights per day - that's one every 8 minutes - transporting mainly leisure travellers from South Korea's dense capital city to the island, famed for its white sandy beach resorts and volcanic landscape.

A total of 13,460,305 passengers flew between Seoul and Jeju in 2017, an increase of 9.4% on the previous 12 months when the route was also ranked as the busiest in the world. It carried a staggering 4,369,364 more people than the second busiest, Melbourne - Sydney Kingsford Smith.

Although the United States remains the world's largest aviation market, the analysis by Routes found that air services in the Asia-Pacific region dominate the top 100 busiest routes by passenger numbers, accounting for more than 70% of the total.

Hong Kong - Taiwan Taoyuan is the busiest international route and features as the 8th most popular overall, with 6,719,029 passengers flying the 802 km in 2017. Hong Kong, the home hub for Cathay Pacific, features in six of the top ten international routes.

The study also found that the Thai domestic route of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi - Chiang Mai is the fastest-growing route in the top 100. Two-way passenger numbers grew by 36% year-on-year to almost 2.4 million.

The research has been released as 3,000 aviation professionals prepare to gather at World Routes 2018, taking place from 15-18 September in Guangzhou, China. The event is a global meeting place for airlines, airports and tourism organisations to discuss new market opportunities and the evolution of existing services.

Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: "This research backs up forecasts that the Asia-Pacific region will be the biggest driver of passenger demand over the next 20 years. Such staggering aviation growth means it is the perfect time for World Routes to return to China.

"The event will bring together senior decision makers from across the world to plan new air services and discuss increasing the frequency and capacity of the existing routes that are popular with passengers. The negotiations in taking place in Guangzhou could pave the way to the busiest routes of the future."

The busiest routes in the world were calculated by using OAG Schedules Analyser to find the top 500 routes by overall seat capacity in 2017. The routes were then ranked by passenger numbers using data provided by Sabre Market Intelligence.

Contributed by UBM
A woman is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempting to sexually assault her by locking her in a room and forcing himself on her at a party while they were both in high school.

Kavanaugh, in a statement to The New Yorker, which broke the details of the encounter, denied the claim.

I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation, he said. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.

The woman, whose identity is still not public, sent Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) a letter in the summer, after Kavanaugh was nominated, sharing her concerns about him.

From The New Yorker:

The allegation dates back to the early nineteen-eighties, when Kavanaugh was a high-school student at Georgetown Preparatory School, in Bethesda, Maryland, and the woman attended a nearby high school. In the letter, the woman alleged that, during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her. She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself. Although the alleged incident took place decades ago and the three individuals involved were minors, the woman said that the memory had been a source of ongoing distress for her, and that she had sought psychological treatment as a result.

The classmate who was reportedly with Kavanaugh said he has no recollection of the incident.

CNN also reported that Kavanaugh allegedly tried to remove the womans clothes and that she later sought medical treatment:

Both men were drunk, she said, and Kavanaugh attempted to remove her clothes. At one point, Kavanaugh was on top of her laughing as the other male in the room periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh held his hand over her mouth at one point, and she said she felt her life was inadvertently in danger. She said she was able to leave the room and go into a hallway bathroom. After Kavanaugh and the other male began talking to others in the house, she went home. There is no indication the woman reported the incident to law enforcement at the time, but she said she has received medical treatment regarding the alleged assault.

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Rumors of this letter and sexual misconduct allegations have been swirling for weeks on Capitol Hill, with reporters and other Democratic senators pressing Feinstein, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, to share the information.

On Thursday, Feinstein finally acknowledged she had received a letter but did not want to give more details because the subject did not want to go public. She said she referred the matter to the FBI.

Sources close to Feinstein say she was acting out of concern for the privacy of the woman. But The New Yorker reports that Feinstein conveyed to other Democratic members offices that the incident was too distant in the past to merit public discussion, and that Feinstein had taken care of it. She also thought Democrats should focus on legal issues with Kavanaugh, rather than personal ones.

Republicans dismissed the revelation about the letter on Thursday. And on Friday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) retweeted someone who was mocking it as a game of telephone.

Theme song for this #BreakingNews yesterday:

"Heard it from a friend who, heard from a friend who, heard it from another....." #Kavanaugh #Feinstein https://t.co/0Pzl3yYvsy  Ronda Kay Moreland (@ProducerRondaK) September 14, 2018

Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also released a letter Friday morning from 65 women who said they supported Kavanaugh.

The offices of Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who are considered possible no votes against Kavanaugh, did not immediately return a request for comment.

The White House put out a statement on Thursday, calling the controversy an 11th hour attempt to delay Kavanaughs confirmation. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh on Sept. 20.

This piece has been updated with a more descriptive definition of the Kavanaugh allegations.

Arthur Delaney and Shirish Date contributed reporting.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A small rock flake no larger than a house key is covered with a colossal surprise: the first known drawing ever made by a human.

Some human or humans (Homo sapiens) used a red-ochre crayon to draw a hashtag-like design on a rock flake in what is now South Africa about 73,000 years ago, said the researchers who analyzed the doodle.

It's unclear what the crisscrossed lines mean, but similar designs have been found at other early human sites in South Africa, Australia and France, said study senior researcher Christopher Henshilwood, director of the Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour at the University of Bergen in Norway. [See Photos of the Ancient Drawing]

"It seems to be part of the human repertoire of producing signs," Henshilwood told Live Science.

Archaeologists discovered the 1.5-inch-long (3.8 centimeters) rock flake in Blombos Cave, an archaeological site on the coast of South Africa, about 185 miles (300 kilometers) east of Cape Town. The cave is famous for its Middle Stone Age artifacts  including shell beads and engraved stone tools  that were left by humans who lived there between 100,000 and 70,000 years ago.

Study co-researcher Luca Pollarolo, a technical assistant in anthropology and African archaeology at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, made the actual discovery in 2015, when he was going through sediment samples in the lab, which excavators had painstakingly "removed millimeter by millimeter" from the cave, Henshilwood said.

The flake was covered with ash and dirt, but a quick wash revealed the red crosshatch lines, Henshilwood noted. The ancient drawing includes six parallel lines that are crossed by three slightly curved lines, the researchers said. (Go here to see a 3D video of the ancient drawing.)

In other words, the piece of abstract art "is a hashtag," said Henshilwood, who added that the drawing predates other known early human drawings by at least 30,000 years.

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Is it real?

As any skeptic would, the researchers wondered whether the drawing was made naturally or if it was created by H. sapiens. So, they reached out to study co-researcher Francesco d'Errico, a professor at the University of Bordeaux, who helped them photograph the artifact and determine that the lines had been applied to the rock by hand.

The research team members even tried making their own designs with ochre on similar pieces of stone. The original artist (or artists) first smoothed the stone and then used an ochre crayon that had a tip between 0.03 to 0.1 inches (1 to 3 millimeters) thick, they found. (Ochre is a clay that can vary in hardness and can leave behind a mark similar to a crayon's.)

Moreover, the sudden termination of the red lines suggests that the pattern originally covered a larger surface. For this reason, the researchers suspect the flake was once part of a larger grindstone, Henshilwood said. Archaeologists are currently searching for more pieces of the grindstone, but they haven't found anything yet, he said. [Gallery: Europe's Oldest Rock Art]

The people who drew the hashtag were hunter-gatherers who excelled at catching big game, including hippos, elephants and 60-lb. (27 kilograms) fish, Henshilwood said. Given their proficient hunting skills, "they probably had a lot of free time to sit around the fire and talk and make things like jewelry," he said.

However, art isn't exactly new to early humans. The oldest known engraving, for instance, is another piece of abstract art: a zigzag line that Homo erectus carved onto a shell 540,000 years ago in Indonesia, Live Science previously reported.

The discovery of the ochre drawing is exceptional but not unexpected, said Emmanuelle Honore, a fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge in England, who wasn't involved with the study. That's because, in addition to other discoveries of early art, such as the carved shell, the study's authors published a study in 2001 about a bone fragment from Blombos Cave that has "comparable engraved lines in the same archaeological level," she said.

The design on the bone fragment, as well as the newly analyzed ochre drawing, provides insight into our ancestors' abilities to create abstract art and signs, she said.

"It contributes to evidence of the development of what we can call the 'early symbolic behavior' or more largely the 'symbolic mind' of our species, Homo sapiens," Honore told Live Science in an email. "It also shows how fast prehistoric studies are evolving: 50 years ago, we would never have suspected such a degree of intellectual refinement for such ancient ('primitive' was the term rather used at that time) societies."

The study was published online today (Sept. 12) in the journal Nature.

Original article on Live Science.

Editor's Recommendations
By Dean Arrindell

Nearly a year ago, Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm, knocking out all power and devastating the islands 3.3 million inhabitants. Based on data from a recent study commissioned by the Puerto Rican government, the official Hurricane Maria death toll was raised in August from 64 to 2,975.

This number has been questioned as the one-year anniversary of the hurricane approaches, and as another storm, Hurricane Florence, threatens the lives of Americans. This week, President Trump said his administration did a good job in handling the response to Hurricane Maria. And I actually think it was one of the best jobs thats ever been done with respect to what this is all about.

The president also tweeted that he did not believe the new death toll was accurate, and claimed that Democrats were behind the revision.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

..This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Why did the death toll change? And how was it calculated? Yahoo News explains.

Two days after Maria hit the island, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said 13 people died in the hurricane, based on reports from mayors on the island. After President Trump visited the island in October, the governor announced the death toll had risen to 34. In December, three months after Maria struck Puerto Rico, the official toll climbed to 64. This number included deaths that were indirectly related to the storm.

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Also in December, Gov. Rossello asked the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University to conduct a study into how many people were killed by Hurricane Maria. The team began working in February and published the results in August, estimating that 2,975 people had died between September 2017 and February 2018 from Hurricane Maria.

The team, which worked independently of the Puerto Rican government, looked at death certificates, spoke to funeral home directors and interviewed doctors, health officials, hospital directors and forensic pathologists to reach their conclusion. The study also examined mortality rates during the period after Hurricane Maria, and compared them to the same time period over the previous seven years.

The report concluded that the original count was low because doctors and forensic pathologists in Puerto Rico didnt have guidance from state or federal officials to accurately count those who died.

In response to President Trumps tweet, the Milken Institute released a statement saying they stand by their study, calling the 2,975 death toll number the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date.

When it was released, Gov. Rossello said the Milken study is an approximation, not a list of names. It used the best science available, he said, but they will continue to study deaths from Maria and revise the number if necessary. The truth is there is a lot of work to do, he said.
New Yorkers are heading to the polls in a highly anticipated primary election, as a wave of progressive newcomers take on several establishment Democrats.

Among the pack of left-wing newcomers include Cynthia Nixon, whose gubernatorial campaign against Democratic incumbent Andrew Cuomo has garnered national media attention and introduced the firebrand activist to the political arena.

She has endorsed several progressive candidates vying for positions in Thursdays election, including Zephyr Teachout, who is running for state attorney general, as well as Jumaane Williams, who is running for lieutenant governor.

The states Democratic governor has sought to battle back against the progressive wave, with a 41-point lead against Ms Nixon in the latest polls. Still, progressive first-time candidates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have secured unprecedented victories, with the Democratic Socialist unseating 10-term Democratic incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley in a primary held earlier this summer. The 28-year-old was trailing 35 points behind the top House Democrat before her surprise upset victory.

The Democratic Partys primaries will certainly take most of the focus for the day, with just one Republican vying for the governors seat. Marc Molinaro, a Dutchess County executive and former member of the New York State Assembly, has also criticised the two-term Democratic incumbent over his handling of the citys subway system and other major issues.

Follow along with The Independents live updates throughout the day, as New Yorkers decide the outcome of the crucial 2018 primaries.

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Hezbollahs Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah burst into tears in front of thousands of people on Tuesday while delivering a speech during an annual Ashura ceremony.

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The speech, which was given by the terror movements leader in the Dahieh suburb south of Beirut, criticized the custom among Shiite believers of cutting the faces of children during mourning services.

Nasrallah shedding tears

X

Nasrallahs remarks were made in reference to the practice among Shiite Muslims to self harm until drawing blood as a way of repentance and showing remorse for their sins.

The whole world sees what is happening here today and I ask you all to restrain yourselves and to distance yourselves from anyone who seeks to create a negative impression about us, he said before breaking down into tears.

For Shiite Muslims, Ashura is a day of mourning commemorating the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala.

During the mourning period, many zealous Muslims engage in self harm, and it has become a commonly adopted custom to whip each other and inflict other damage on each others bodies for their sins.

Hassan Nasrallah bursts into tears

Nasrallah also spoke about the ISIS terror movement in his speech, condemning their actions and accusing them of harming the Islamic religion.

ISIS leaves an impression that causes the most harm to us. Islamic scholars condemn them, he said.

We say to Husayn, peace be upon him, as our imams and sages have said throughout history: To the small trifles of the world, all in the hands of Allah, he continued.
US President Donald Trump slammed Friday former US Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with foreign diplomats, including Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister, after he left the State Department.

John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people. He told them to wait out the Trump Administration! Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? BAD!" Trump tweeted.
The Trump administration is prepared for Israeli criticism of elements of its coming Middle East peace plan, the US envoy to the region said, even as Washington faces growing Palestinian accusations that it will be heavily tilted in favor of Israel.

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In an interview with Reuters, Jason Greenblatt, a chief architect of the long-awaited peace initiative, said US negotiators had entered the "pre-launch phase" of the plan, despite a boycott by Palestinian leaders.

But he declined to specify a time frame, except to say it would not be announced at the UN General Assembly gathering in New York later this month, or offer any details of a proposal that has drawn deep skepticism even before its unveiling.

PA President Abbas, President Trump and PM Netanyahu (Photo: AFP)

Pushing back against widespread perceptions among Palestinians, Arab officials and independent analysts who say that the peace plan is likely to be decidedly pro-Israel, Greenblatt made clear that both sides can expect parts they will like and dislike.

"We're going to have to defend the plan to Israelis and Palestinians. We are ready for criticism from all sides, but we believe this is the best path forward for everyone," he said as the administration moved to finalize the initiative, which is led by President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

But there was no immediate explanation of what might disappoint Israelis, who have been largely pleased with President Donald Trump's Middle East policies but have at times been rattled by suggestions he might ask them for significant concessions

Greenblatt said, however, that the United States will recommend compromises but will not seek to impose a deal.

"The parties will need to decide if they think the plan works for them and will make their lives better," he said. "The parties are the only ones who can make these compromises, and there are no compromises on Israel's security needs."

Doubts have mounted over whether Trump's administration can secure what he has called the "ultimate deal" after it cut off aid to the Palestinians and ordered the PLO's office in Washington shut , further angering Palestinian leaders and reinforcing their refusal to engage in US-led diplomacy.

The Palestinians have refused to participate in the US effort since December when Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and then moved the US embassy there

Jason Greenblatt with PM Netanyahu (Photo: Kobi Gidon/PMO)

In late August, Trump hailed the embassy move as a success but said, without elaboration, "in the negotiation Israel will have to pay a higher price because they won a very big thing."

Trump's aides later played down his comments

It is unclear how the US plan would deal with the sensitive issue of Jerusalem. Palestinians want the city's eastern part as their future capital. Israel insists it is the undivded capital of the Jewish state.

Arab world's role

The Trump administration hopes Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies will support its peace plan once it is released but does not expect them to "try to push the Palestinian people into a deal that the Palestinians don't want," Greenblatt said in the interview on Wednesday.

Some US officials have privately said they were counting on Arab states to use their influence with the Palestinians to convince them to come to the negotiating table.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman recently has reassured other Arab countries and the Palestinians it will not endorse any plan that fails to address key Palestinian concerns.

The Trump administration has signaled it is unlikely to be deterred from rolling out the plan even if the Palestinians continue their boycott.

With the "political component" of the plan at the point where it covers all core issues of the decades-old conflict, "We do have to get the economic portion of the plan finished," Greenblatt said. "A successful economy is critical for the Palestinians."

That is widely expected to include international funding proposals for the impoverished Gaza Strip.

US officials have also been non-committal about whether the plan would endorse the creation of a Palestinian state, as the Palestinians have long demanded.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said earlier this week that "we will not succumb to US threats and bullying."
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A pipe bomb was thrown at a group of IDF soldiers overnight Thursday near the Gaza border, prompting the troops to respond with live fire on three Palestinians seen crawling along the security fence.

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No soldiers were injured in the incident and it was not immediately clear whether any of the Palestinians suspectes were wounded as a result of the gunfire.

The incident is the latest offensive in a series of violent attacks along the Gaza border in the past few days, and comes one day after the IDF neutralized an explosive device located near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.

Video footage of the border fence in the northern Gaza Strip was released Thursday afternoon, showing several Palestinians breaking through and setting parts of it on fire.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that no attempted arson had been observed on an IDF post during the day.

Planted bomb (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Earlier on Thursday, IDF soldiers neutralized an explosive device located near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the IDF Spokespersons Unit, the terror squad that planted the bomb had "planned to injure the soldiers and disrupt the activity of the forces operating in the area.

"The planting of the explosive device by the terrorist cell under the guise of a violent demonstration is further evidence that the Hamas terror group is working to maintain the conflict in the fence area and to injure IDF soldiers, while using residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields and as cover for terrorist activities," the statement said.

"The army is prepared to act against terrorism that seeks to harm its forces and defense infrastructure," it stressed.

Video posted on Thursday shows Palestinians break through the border fence

X

The incident early Friday and the planting of the explosive device Thursday are a continuation of several violent incidents reported in the past few days along the Gaza border.

On Monday, hundreds of Palestinians gathered on the beach in the northern Gaza Strip where they reportedly set afloat on rafts dozens of burning tires, in an attempt to reach Israels maritime border. IDF forces were deployed and prevented any attack.

In addition, dozens of Palestinian boats tried to approach the border with Israel, prompting the navy forces to fire warning shots in their direction, which resulted in an immediate retreat by the Palestinians.

Explosive device near the border fence (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Gaza's Health Ministry says 10 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire along the territory's coast and a Palestinian cameraman in a "Press" vest was shot in the leg.

Israel's military said forces shot next to the vessels and at Palestinians on land who threw an explosive device and rolled burning tires at soldiers.

On Saturday, the Palestinians released footage allegedly showing 16-year-old Ahmad Abu Tayoor being shot to death by Israeli forces during violent border clashes.

Alleged shooting of 16-year-old Ahmad Abu Tayoor

The footage shows Abu Tayoor throwing rocks at the border fence and shouting at soldiers who were observing the incident from their position on the Israeli side of the border.

In response, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that the incidents will be investigated by the relevant command levels. The cases regarding the two Palestinians who were allegedly killed will be transferred to the IDF's General Staff for further investigation.
Two years ago a senior journalist and former colleague of David KeyesPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign media spokesmanwarned the Israeli ambassador in Washington that Keyes poses a risk to women, the New York Times reported Friday.

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On Thursday, Keyes announced that he has decided to step down from his position in view of the multiple sexual abuse allegations being leveled against him.

David Keyes

"In light of the false and misleading accusations against me and in order not to distract from the important work of the prime minister, I have asked to take time off to clear my name. I am fully confident that the truth will come out, read a statement by Keyes.

The affair began after New York state Senate candidate Julia Salazar revealed that she was sexually assaulted by the prime minister's spokesman in 2013.

The New York Times published new details regarding the sexual harassments claims made against Keyes, saying that Bret Stephens, the deputy edtoe of the Wall Street Journals opinion section, informed Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, in November 2016 that Keyes posed a risk to women in Israeli government offices.

In an interview with the newspaper, Salazar said that Keyes contacted her when she was a student at Columbia University and a member of "J Street U", a left-wing political lobbying group that claims to be pro-Israela claim disputed by many Israelis in the Right camp.

Salazar said she felt flattered by his interest in her. Afterwards, she claimed, they went to a coffee shop, and then to his apartment.

In hindsight I wish Id left, but I had no reason to think hed do anything inappropriate or aggressive. I was kind of naive. I was 22. I just thought, Im an adult and I can just leave when I want to. It turned out that that wasnt true, Salazar elaborated.

Julia Salazar (Photo: AFP)

Earlier this week, the Senate candidate claimed she resisted the prime minister's spokesman' advances. I said no at least a dozen times. I was really not interested in any physical contact with this guy, and after I objected to stay in his apartment, he physically forced himself upon meand only after I yielded to him did he let me leave the apartment," she claimed.

Salazar won the primaries of the US Democratic Party in the State of New York on Thursday night, defeating Democratic Senator Martin Dilan, who was running for his ninth term.

On Wednesday, Wall Street Journal reporter Shayndi Raice tweeted that she too had a terrible encounter with Keyes and that said she fully believes Salazar's allegations.

Shayndi Raice

In a series of tweets, Raice wrote that Keyes "had absolutely no conception of the word 'no.' No matter how often I said no, he would not stop pushing himself on me." She added that she was able to get away from him "quickly and it was a very brief and uncomfortable moment but I knew as I walked away I had encountered a predator."

"I repeatedly said no, multiple times. He repeatedly ignored me. He was basically trying to bully and pressure me into having sex with him, Raice claimed in an interview.

According to the New York Times, Keyess conduct towards young women resulted in steps being taken against him. He was partially barred from writing in the Wall Street Journals opinion section after four employees claimed he approached them with indecent propositions.

Bret Stephens, called the spokesman a disgrace to men and a disgrace as a Jew, and barred him from the office without scheduling an appointment in advance.

Keyes apologized to some of the newspaper's employees in at least two emails for "being less than gentlemanly."

One of those employees, Kate Havard, was a Wall Street Journal intern at the time. Havard claims the prime minister's spokesman sent her late night text messages, offered her a job, and invited her to his apartment to discuss matters in detail. When she declined his proposition, Keyes said he would have to find someone else for the job.

Another employee claimed that Keyes attacked her, pulled her to his bed, and tore off her pants after leading her into his apartment in November 2012. "He tried to take off my clothes while pulling me to bed with one arm," she said.

Between 2012 and 2014, Keyes was barred from an internship at one of his own organizations.

A former employee in one of these organizations said that the spokesman routinely made lewd comments about women, their bodies, and attractiveness, and frequently asked interns out on dates to the point that some of the interns decided to quit.



As a result, a female manager in the organization established a new system under which interns reported to her, not to Keyes, said a former employee.

Prior to being appointed to the position, Keyes successfully passed a polygraph examination, in which he was asked whether he had harmed women.

Friends of Keyes rebuffed Salazar's charges claiming that they constitute an attempt at "political assassination" by a young woman known to be active in the BDS organization.

They also stated that she had been denied entry to Israel in the past after she was arrested during a demonstration against the state. "This is an anti-Zionist young woman; there is a clear motive for political revenge here."
Turkey's foreign minister said Friday that his country is still working for a peaceful solution for Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.

Speaking during a visit to Pakistan on Friday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. ... We will continue our efforts on international platforms as well." His comments were broadcast live on Turkish television.

At a meeting in Tehran last week, the leaders of Russia and Iran backed military operations in Idlib despite pleas from Erdogan for a cease-fire.

Turkey fears a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, which straddles Turkey's borders and is home to more than 3 million people.
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syria's rebel-held Idlib with members of Russia's Security Council on Friday, the RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying.

Putin told the Security Council he was concerned by militant activity in the last major rebel-held stronghold in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited as saying.
Russia is ready to consider a request by British investigators to come and interrogate the two men accused of poisoning a former spy, the Kremlin said Friday.

Britain charged Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov last week with trying to kill double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok. The Skripals survived the March 4 attack in Salisbury, but a local resident later died after apparently having contact with the poison.
My father disappeared.

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Ron Arad is my father. He is not a furniture designer or a scientist in genetic engineering as he wanted to be. Nor is he a father of four as he promised my mother. He never got the chance to be. On 16 October 1986 a technical malfunction in a phantom jet which he was flying caused the plane to explode and my father abandoned it in the skies above Lebanon before falling into captivity. He was 28 years old and I was one year and three months old.

Ron Arad

I grew up with a father in a photo album but in the clear knowledge that one day he would come out of the album and become a real father. For years I would receive presents from him which I would collect from the post office with my mother on the Ramat David Airbase. There, in family housing, we waited for him to return. With the passage of the years I realized that the presents were my mothers trick. The trick was, if you will, a metaphor of unfulfilled love between a father and his daughter. With the passage of time I understood what my mother had been praying for years would not happen. I realized my father would remain a memory.

No one has ever said conclusively that my father is no longer alive and I have learned to live with the fact that he has disappeared. It is an enigma of a kind that cannot be cracked. I learned that great efforts were undertaken to secure his release while at the same time realizing that opportunities had been missed, especially in the first years after his abduction.

When I grew up I read the letters that he wrote in captivity to my mother and to his family. I could see he was a wise and loving man who was considerate and who missed his family. At a certain point, he seemed to understand that there was a possibility that he would not return and that we as a family would not be reunited again. But most of the time, he tried to maintain his optimism. In one of the letters to my mother he wrote:

I sometimes dream about you but I try not to think during the day so as not to be depressed  My hand is slowly improving but it will be ok the day I return to full activity (if God and our leaders want this to happen). I pray every day for hours and hope that you do as I do  I hope that you and everyone else are ok. Dont give up. There will be better days. "I try not to give up, and hold my breath, fingers crossed. I love you, Ron."

Today I am a mother of two and can only imagine the suffering he experienced when he was deprived of any contact with us. I struggle to imagine how a parent copes with the longing for his one-year-old baby who he would normally feed, make a bath for, tell stories to every night before bed. But he sent letters, some of which arrived 20 years later and my mother sent him letters that we will never know if he received them.

As a girl I thought I had a heroic father, a soldier who carried out his mission. I was raised in the complexity of the situation of a mission that began with an attack on terrorists in Lebanon and which continued with the impossible return home of my father. I grew up with the notion known as price, and not the kind that is paid in a supermarket. My father was a price tag. The tag that was placed on him was as if he was an expensive collectible. It was too expensive for decision makers at the time. In other words, he was too expensive for the state. I realized that later on they were prepared to pay almost any price for him, but it was too late since it was during a stage when there was no one to pay. It was too late. My father had disappeared.

My personal history makes it difficult to cope with the issue of prices attached to human beings in what is often referred to as prisoner swaps. The notion of buying and selling people is belongs to the dark period of the slave trade.

In the enlightened world is difficult to say that every man is equal but the value of life is not acceptable as a negotiating or bargaining chip. In this way of thinking, soldiers in war or civilians in confrontations get caught up in situations in which they become objects sold by the two sides. And this is where the state comes in. Every country has its own rules. For us, young 18 year olds are obligated to enlist except those who receive exemptions, and they are many and are growing in number.

In my view, there is a contract between the soldier, the state and the IDF, especially in combat units. In an case in which someone falls into captivity, the contract says that the soldier cannot be put up for auction. The state must do everything within its abilities in order to bring him home. My father believed in that. Things, during the 70 years of our existence here, have turned out differently. Families of kidnapped soldiers realize that if they do not act themselves, if they do not campaign and rally the public behind them, their sons will not return home.

I assume that my father was not aware of this side of the missions when he was sitting in the cockpit. My mother was exposed to her mission the day after the world came crashing down on her. The entire family went about their efforts and throughout the years the public showed support for my father. The campaign was successful. The public voted for my father, but my father did not return.

It was too late. My grandmotherRons motherbelieved that there is no price for life but she was realistic and courageous. Before she passed away, she asked that if my father turns out not to be alive that he be left to rest where he is, that no price is paid in order to bring back his body. She said that whoever harms my father should not be awarded a prize. She died and we as his family feel committed to her will.

People in captivity are considered heroes if they choose to end their lives rather than give up state secrets. People who are alive in captivity who return home pay a high price. The state pays for them as if there were any other choice. The moral obligation of the state to captives is being eroded with the years. I see a danger here. A state that sends its soldiers on missions which pose a threat to their lives and which does not commit to returning them whether they have fallen on the battlefield or fallen into enemy hands is a state that sends them to their suicide mission.

I do not know if my father answers all the criteria of being a hero. He paid with his life for the "privatization" of prisoners, for the fact that prisoner swaps is now a part of the public discourse and not just a national mission in the hands of those entrusted with such tasks.

The campaign for the release of those who fell captive, followed by the deal known as the "Jibril Agreement," in which thousands of terrorists were released, sealed my fathers fate.

My father was meant to come back home. He was captured alive, and from that point no one knows what had happened to him but there are a lot of theories of what might have. What we have left of our father are a few pictures and letters. What he wrote to us has been accompanying me all throughout my life.

"To my dearest Tami and Yuval, I am trying to forget you because the memory of you makes me choke up but know that I love you and that is probably the only reason that prevents me from thinking about the worst possible scenario. I want you to be healthy and happy so that I when Ill come back, Ill know that Im coming back to a healthy and happy family  Yuval, just do not forget me ... Show her my pictures and tell her about me and how much I love her.

Unfortunately, I did not know the father who loved me with all his heart. What I have left is my commitment to him, not to give up looking for him. Not to let him disappear from the world without knowing where he is. Dead or alive, I want to know.
LONDON - The US will find it difficult to cut Iran's oil exports completely as the oil market is already tight and rival producers cannot make up the shortfall, a top Iranian official said on Friday.

Washington is seeking to cut Iranian oil exports to zero by November as it reimposes sanctions, and is encouraging other producers such as Saudi Arabia, other OPEC members and Russia to pump more to meet the shortfall.

Even so, the expected loss of Iranian oil, declining supply from another OPEC member Venezuela and other outages are boosting crude prices, which this week hit $80 a barrel, the highest since May.

Iran's OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, said in comments to Reuters that a "supply shortage" meant that the United States would not be able to meet its zero export target.
The Jerusalem District Court ruled on Thursday that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is directly responsible for the deaths of Gadi and Tzipi Shemesh, who were murdered in a suicide attack on Jerusalems King George Street in March 2002.

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The court's decision was part of a tort suit filed by the victims' orphan daughters and other family members.

This is the first time that an Israeli court rules that the Palestinian Authority is directly responsible for a terrorist attack.

Gadi and Tzipi Shemesh (Photo: the Family)

"From the point of view of the family, we have come full circle, since that terrible day in which we lost our loved ones. We wanted to bring to justice not only the perpetrators of the attack, but also those who encouraged uninhibited and bloodthirsty incitement, and openly called for the murder of Israelis," Yigal Shemesh, Gadi's brother said.

"To our delight, the court showed courage, placed the blame on the Palestinian Authority, and ruled that it is directly responsible for this despicable act of murder," Shemesh added.

The couple, Sergeant Major Gadi Shemesh, and his wife, Tzipi, were on their way home from an ultrasound test for Tzipi, who was five months pregnant with twins, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in Jerusalem. Tzipi was killed on the spot, and Gadi was critically wounded and passed away a few hours later. Yitzhak Cohen, a father of six from Modi'in, was also killed in the attack, and about 80 people were wounded.

The couple left behind two daughters, who were raised by Gadi's sister.

16 years ago, the family filed a lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The family claimed that the perpetrators were Palestinian terrorist operatives who acted according to the PA's policy of using violence against innocent Israelis.

(:  )

According to the family, the PA's institutions have, to this date, been providing compensation and various benefits to the families of the suicide bomber and the families of the accomplices, which points to their involvement and encouragement of the perpetrators.

The Palestinian Authority claimed, through attorneys Yosef and Yonatan Arnon, that the family's claims were too broad and not fit to try. According to the PA, the issues raised by the family in the trial are historical and complex, and it is not appropriate to bring them before the court, rather it should be left to historians.

Regarding the payments to the families of the terrorists, the PA claimed that in a state of conflict, it is accepted that each side bears its damage and takes care of its victims, and that the payment to the families of terrorists is part of the PA's concern for its victims and should not be considered as a confirmation of their actions.

The ruling was based on the opinion of Lt. Col. (res.) Alon Eviatar, a former adviser on Arab affairs to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, who analyzed the involvement of members of the Palestinian Authority in the attack.

It was revealed that Muhammad Khashika, the suicide bomber, was detained by the PA and released upon a request by Abd al-Karim Awis, an officer in the General Intelligence Services of the PA, in order to carry out the attack.

The explosives used to prepare the explosive belt were taken from the office of the chief of the General Intelligence Service, Tawfiq Tirawi, who himself paid NIS 1,200 to Nasser Shawish, who was involved in the attack and drove the terrorist.

Tirawi, who was subordinate to Yasser Arafat, was the number one wanted man at the height of the second intifada, because of his active involvement in carrying out terror attacks.

Another Palestinian who was involved in the attack was senior Fatah official Hussein al-Sheikh, who met the suicide bomber and two other operatives and gave them money and two hand grenades to carry out the bombing.

Al-Sheikh currently serves as Minister of Civil Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, responsible for relations with Israel. In addition, PA officials transferred money to carry out the attack and to the families of the terrorists.

In recent years, a number of claims have been filed against the Palestinian Authority by families whose loved ones were either killed or wounded during the second intifada.

Last year, the district court ruled that the Palestinian Authority would compensate the Ben Shalom family, who lost their parents Sharon and Yaniv Ben Shalom in a shooting attack on Road 443, due to the PA's negligence, which did not prevent the attack.

Sharon and Yaniv Ben Shalom (Photo: Yedioth Ahronoth Archive)

In another case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Palestinian Authority would compensate the family of Amit Amos Mantin, who was murdered in the attack in Baka al-Garbiyeh in 2003. Mantin worked as a Bezeq technician and was sent to repair an electrical malfunction in the city where he was shot dead by a 15 year old Palestinian with a pistol.

Terrorist who murdered Amit Mantin (Photo: Yaron Brenner)

The terrorist was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment. During his trial it emerged that ten days before the attack he had completed a period of "physical and weapons training" at a Palestinian Authority camp in Jericho.

In the suicide bombing that killed the Shemesh couple, it was proven that the PA security forces were directly involved and therefore the judge, Irit Cohen, placed responsibility for the attack on the Palestinian Authority.

In the coming months, the amount of compensation that the court will award the Shemesh family will be determined.
Gaza's Health Ministry said on Friday that two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed by an IDF fire in the Gaza Strip during weekly riots along the border fence.
Gaza's Health Ministry claimed on Friday that three Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed and at least 30 had been wounded by the IDF fire in the northern Gaza Strip during weekly riots along the border fence.

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The IDF said in response it used force necessary to prevent border breaches by some 13,000 Palestinians who massed at several points near the fence, some of them hurling rocks and fire bombs at troops under cover of smoke from burning tires.

Gaza protests (Photo: AFP)

The IDF Spokespersons Unit also said that an attempt to breach the border had been thwarted earlier in the day.

"IDF forces identified nine suspects who crossed the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip, which prompted the suspects to immediately retreat, said the statement.

Two Hamas outposts were also attacked by an IDF aircraft and a tank in response to a number of grenades and explosive devices thrown at IDF soldiers during the riots along the security fence, which lightly wounded one IDF officer who required medical treatment, the statement stressed.

The spokesperson concluded the statement by holding Hamas responsible for the ongoing border violence.

The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for the events in and out of the Gaza Strip. IDF soldiers will continue to thwart attempts to harm Israeli civilians and troops in order to protect the borders of the State of Israel," it said.

Gaza protests (Photo: AFP)

Earlier, security forces neutralized an explosive device that was found earlier this week next to the Gaza border.

It is the second explosive device to have been discovered in one week on the border.

Also on Friday, a bunch of balloons were discovered in a childrens playground in Kiryat Gat which were affixed with what appeared to be a combustible thread that did not burn.

Police believe that the balloons were sent from Gaza.

It was the second incident in one day involving incendiary balloons, with several which were connected to an explosive device being found in Eshkol Regional Council near the Gaza Strip.

Hamas continues to try and harm the defensive infrastructure of the security forces along the security fence while using civilians in the strip as shields and as cover for acts of terror, the IDF said in a statement.

Gaza protests (Photo: AFP)

In addition, a pipe bomb was thrown at a group of IDF soldiers overnight Thursday near the Gaza border, prompting the troops to respond with live fire on three Palestinians seen crawling along the security fence.

Earlier on Thursday, IDF soldiers neutralized an explosive device located near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.

The string of incidents raise fears among Israelis in the south of a creeping return of tensions on the border, which were reduced in recent weeks as Israel engages in indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, said Friday during a meeting with religious military cadets that when given a 'blatantly illegal order' by their superiors they have no choice but to disobey it.

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Eisenkot was joined by the head of the IDF Manpower Directorate, a senior IDF Spokesperson's Unit official, the Chief Military Rabbi and the Chief Reserve Officer, as the chief of staff visited the Har Etzion Yeshiva in Alon Shvuta well established and prestigious institution of the religious Zionist movementas well as its sister institution, the women's Migdal Oz Academy, and met with their rabbinic staff.

Ten officer cadets who are students of the yeshiva also attended the meeting.

In light of recent claims by rabbis that the religious rights of soldiers are being violated during their service, especially in officer training school, the cadets told the officers they do not feel that way and their values and beliefs are not being compromised.

The Chief of Staff with religious cadets (Photo: Ido Cohen)

In response to a question about a soldier who is commanded to carry out an order that negates his ideals and beliefs, the Chief of Staff Eisenkot said: "When there is a blatantly illegal order, the soldier must not obey the order."

During my 40 years of service, I have encountered only a few cases in which illegal orders have been issued, Eisenkot continued.

When a soldier is convinced that the order he received from his commander is clearly illegal and contradicts his values, the soldier must refuse to obey the order. The soldier must know that the order will be investigated and if he was right and it was in stark contrast to his values and beliefs, he will be cleared, but if not, he will have to face the consequences, the chief of staff exclaimed.

Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot (Photo: Ido Cohen)

At the girls academy, the senior officer delegation met with religious students who are on track to enlist, as well as some already serving in the IDF. Military service for women is a matter of controversy not only within the religious community but between rabbis and the army as well.

During the visit, Eisenkot spoke with the yeshiva students at the study hall, and expressed his gratitude for their service.

"Naturally, there are public debates in Israeli society, therefore I am especially happy to hear from cadets who are graduates of the yeshiva that they are successful in preserving their values alongside the friendships they foster with their fellow soldiers who come from other segments of Israeli society," Eisenkot stressed.

Eisenkot speaks with yeshiva rabbi (Photo: Ido Cohen)

The spirit of the IDF derives from the tradition of the Jewish people and its first priority is striving for victory and carrying out missions, immediately followed by the values of human dignity and friendship," he added.

(Photo: Ido Cohen)

"I am concerned that only two-thirds of potential enlistees choose to enlist," added Eisenkot. "My message to young people in Israel is to seek the most meaningful service possible and serving as a combat soldier is the most significant form of service," the chief of staff concluded.

The meeting was part of an effort to maintain trust and good relations between the IDF's top brass and members of the religious Zionist community.

(Photo: Ido Cohen)

Rabbi Yaakov Medan, one of the heads of Har Etzion Yeshiva, who was an important partner in the dialogue between the chief of staff and religious Zionist rabbis, spoke during the meeting of the military's importance.

"The army plays a very important role in creating cohesion in Israeli society and we should all dedicate ourselves to ensure that this ambition is realized, he exclaimed.

In the ten days of repentance (between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) we have to do our soul-searching and thank the people who have chosen to dedicate their lives to the security of the state. I thank the Almighty that he appointed Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot at this time to head the army, the rabbi concluded.
The IDF Spokesman said that nine Palestinians crossed the border from southern Gaza infiltrating into Israel Friday, before immediately returning to the Gaza Strip.

Some 13,000 protesters are rallying along the border fence and several grenades were tossed at IDF forces; there were no Israeli casualties.
Its time to drop the idea that Sydney market is weakening. While it may be true in some parts of the city, Western Sydney is bucking the trend. In fact, a recent study showed that Western Sydney is well and truly booming.

The Future City Minds report, commissioned by specialist recruitment agency Michael Page, found that 64% of Australian professionals believe that, in the next five years, the area has the potential to progress economically to the level of the CBD areas of Sydney or Melbourne. 91% of Australian professionals in the region, meanwhile, would like to change their jobs to work closer to home, given the right opportunity.

The research also noted that Western Sydney is already Australias third largest economic region and is home to 47% of Sydneys population and up to 70 nationalities.

The region was also projected to have a 1.9% population growth each year for the next 20 years, and this, consequently, will likely provide 200,000 new jobs by 2020, according to Michael Page.

Even better: Growth in sectors across property, infrastructure and construction, manufacturing, sales and service-related industries are already expected.

To further guide interested investors, Your Investment Property (YIP) chatted with Scott Timbrel (ST), Director of Western Sydney for Knight Frank, few weeks ago.

YIP: What kind of properties can investors look at in Western Sydney?

ST: The market in Western Sydney is extremely strong currently, with assets being sold for record yields across both the commercial and industrial sectors. Great demand and lack of quality stock are driving this activity, and many vendors are looking to take advantage of this upswing in property prices.

YIP: Any advice for investors planning to capitalise in the area?

ST: Research the asset class and particular area you are looking to invest in thoroughly. There is a huge amount of money being spent on infrastructure in the region and with this comes new land zoning changes and potential to increase land values as a result. The savvy investor/ developer will understand all of these changes and know how to best to capitalise on these.

YIP: If the investor is just starting, how can he/she maximise the potential of the region?

ST: It would depend in which sector they are starting to invest in i.e. industrial, commercial residential development etc. However, the same rule would apply  do your research on the region and asset class you are interested in thoroughly. Start small for your first investment, to see how it performs over time, and then look to expand or divest into other sectors once you are comfortable with the area.

YIP: When is the best time to start investing in the area?

ST: In [the] Parramatta CBD, the best time to invest would be now. Commercial assets are on the rise, and we are seeing a number of assets come to the market that were being very tightly held in the past few years. There is a lot of new development happening in the CBD, which is driving growth in the city and interest from outside investors.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - The Yuma Police Department was awarded several grants from the Arizona Governors Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grant money will be used to purchase new equipment and cover overtime costs for Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs and DUI / Impaired Driving Enforcement Details.

The Governors Office of Highway Safety awarded the Yuma Police Department a total of $47,000.00 in grant funding for equipment. The department used this money to purchase a new patrol vehicle that will be dedicated to DUI / Impaired driving enforcement.

The Yuma Police Department was also awarded a total of $35,000.00 in grant funding to cover the cost of officers overtime expenses for Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs and for DUI / Impaired Driving Enforcement details.

The Yuma Police Department takes a strong proactive approach to enforcing DUI /impaired driving and traffic law violations. With the assistance of the Governors Office of Highway Safety, the Yuma Police Department can continue to make our community a safer place to travel in.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - The City of Yuma welcomes the following announcement, a joint statement by the involved parties:

Arizonas statewide network of defense industry assets attracts the aerospace industry with its compatible needs for resources and capabilities. AQST Space Systems Group, LLC has announced the relocation of their facilities to Arizona with headquarters in Mesa and secured manufacturing in Yuma. AQST provides strategic planning to the space and defense industry in the areas of satellites, space systems, artificial intelligence and robotics. AQST was looking to relocate from Puerto Rico to Arizona. In their search, they reviewed the full assets of the entire State of Arizona, from Mesa to Flagstaff to Yuma.

In June, AQST opened their Mesa headquarters citing their confidence in the local higher education system. Then in August, AQST found their secured manufacturing site at the Yuma County Airport Authoritys Defense Contractor Complex. Arnaldo Soto, Jr., the Chairman and CEO stated, The AQST Team visited Yuma in early August to meet with Yumas leadership, military representatives, higher education, economic development and airport officials. The Team was very pleased to learn about Yumas friendly business environment, turn-key facilities and infrastructure and the support available at the airport, with veteran transition program for employment and opportunities to develop degrees programs in support of our operations.

AQST is taking advantage of the existing Joe Foss Hangar in the Defense Contractor Complex (DCC) created by the Yuma International Airport. The airport currently provides facility support to NASAs CPAS Team testing the parachutes for the Orion Space Program at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG). YPG, while providing 70 years of testing services for the military, also provides custom testing for other agencies, governments and private companies developing defense and space-related technologies like the re-entry capabilities of the Orion Capsule. AQST is following in NASAs footprints at the DCC.

Airport Director Gladys Brown shared, The airport built the Defense Contractor Complex to encourage businesses such as AQST to come to Yuma and take advantage of the resources available within this region of the state.

The Arizona-wide focus of meeting all the needs of the defense and space industry brings the various communities across the state into a complementary network. Mesa Mayor John Giles expressed this focus as, This is the way Arizona does business. Building upon each communities strengths across the state makes Arizona an intensely strong competitor for any high-tech company like AQST.

AQST signed a 10-year lease at the DCCs Joe Foss Hangar and is projected to begin operations at the end of 2018. We are excited to have AQST here in Yuma while working with our partners in Mesa. This is a recipe of success for AQST as well as the whole state, affirmed Mayor Douglas Nicholls, City of Yuma.
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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.

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Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

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iShares MSCI Chile ETF's stock was trading at $25.05 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, ECH stock has increased by 6.1% and is now trading at $26.57.

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Samsung electronics is a well established company in the digital media. It is the manufacturer of various gadgets and appliances including mobile phones, televisions, home theatre systems, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, DVD players, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners. Samsung Ghana provides innovative and reliable products and services and thus all Samsung users are served by talented people who offer exemplary customer service. Below is a list of Samsung Ghana contact details.

Samsung has established itself as a leading smart-phone brand in Africa. It would be impossible to walk into a room and find that there is no no one with a Samsung device. So that you are able to comfortably contact any Samsung customer store for assistance with your device it is important to familiarize with the Samsung Ghana contacts.

This posts lists all the Samsung Ghana service centers and the respective contacts.

Samsung Ghana head office contact

Call center number: 0800100077

Contact number 1: 0577717178

Contact number 2: 0577717179

Email address: gh.serviceatsamsumg.com

P.O BOX: AN 5433, Accra North, Ghana, West Africa.

Facebook: Samsung Ghana Limited

Twitter: @Samsung_Ghana

Head office physical address

2nd Floor Millennium Height Building,

Airport city, Accra

Ghana, West Africa.

Samsung Ghana store customer service centers

1. Hand held products: Samsung Ghana Adabraka contact

Itsalat International Ghana Limited

Opposite former Dans bar, Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Adabraka Accra

Contacts

Contact number: (+233) 0244338551

Call center number: 0800100007

2. Itsalat International Ghana Limited

Ahodwo Roundabout, Ahodwo, Kumasi, Ghana.

Contact

Phone number 1: (+233) 0235677176

Phone number 2: (+233) 0265677177

3. Consumer electronics:

Electroland Ghana Limited, Spintex, Accra, Ghana.

Contact

Phone number 1: (+233) 0303817555

Phone number 2: (+233) 0263687811

4. Double Gamma

Aflao Road, Opposite TT Brothers Traffic Light, Near Free Zone, Tema

Contact

Phone number: 0800-100077

5. All products: Mega World Center

13, Nana Nketsia Street, Apremdu, Takoradi, Ghana

Contacts

Phone number 1: (+233) 312023478

Phone number 2: (+233) 0504076060

6. Itsalat GH

Stanbic Height

Airport City, Accra, Ghana

Also deals in Samsung mobile phones

7. Itsalat GH Osu

Samsung SES, Opposite Barclays Bank, Oxford Street

Osu, Accra- Ghana

Deals in Samsung mobile devices

8. Sparrow Technologies

34 Spintex Road, Opposite Energy Commission

Deals in Air Conditioners

9. Proxynet Ghana

House 1 Lucky Estates. Mile 7, Achimota, Accra

Deals with Samsung Television sets

10.Double Gamma

Aflao Road, Opposite TT Brothers Traffic Light, Near Free Zone, Tema

Deals in all Samsung electronic appliances.

11. Electracom

E&J Plaza, Circle Phone Market, Heart Lane, Near Odo Rice, Circle Accra Ghana

Deals in mobile devices.

12. Electroland

Kaase Railway Crossing, Near Guinness Junction, Kaase, Kumasi, Ghana

Deals in Audiovisual, Television , REF: Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Mobile, Airconditioner

Samsung stores according to regions

Below is the list of Samsung stores according to the regions in Ghana:

Ashanti Region

1. Jolly Phones

Adum opposite A life Super Market

24 Nsenie Road, Kumasi.

Contact

Phone number: 0246823630

2. Telefonika

Ahodwo Opp. Melcom Plus

Contact

Phone number: +233 54 011 1864

Central Region

1. Frank A Phones 2

Near Regional Hospital Junction, abura

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 479 8045

2. Etus Phones

Opp. Procredit Bank Mankessim

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 276 3069

3. Ankogan Phones 1

Close to Kotokraba Market

Contact

Phone number+233 24 321 2828

4. Analiza GH

Opposite Kotokraba Market

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 479 8045

5. Electroland VIP

Adisahel, Opp. Old WAEC Junction

Contact

Phone number: +233 26 549 6113

6. Black berry Phones

Opp. Old License Office, Winneba

Contact

Phone number: +233 20 879 2796

7. Franko Phones

Adjacent Central Mosque

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 479 8045

READ ALSO: Radio Stations in Accra and their Frequencies

Shatta Wale hold up a Samsung device to the crowd at the launch of Galaxy S8

Source: UGC

Eastern Region

1. Ultimate Phones

Koforidua, Antartic Plaza

Contact

Phone number: +233 26 748 5000

2. All Class Plus Ltd. 2'

Suhum, Opp. Wopesa Drug Store

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 236 3409

3. Happy Electronics Holding Company Ltd

Former Coca-Cola Depot, Opp. Agartha Market

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 236 8952

4. Franko Trading Enterprise Koforidua

All Nations University

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 315 9160

5. Debagio Phones

Opp. Nkawkaw Old Station

Contact

Phone number: +233 26 849 3080

Greater Accra Region

1. Tema, Franko Trading Ltd

Ghana Water Works Comm.1, Opposite stadium road

00233- Tema, Accra, Ghana.

2. Compu-Ghana Ltd: Samsung Ghana Accra mall contact

Accra mall

Contact

Phone number: +233 55 374 7400

3. Compu-Ghana Ltd

Adabraka, Kojo Thompson Road, Coral House.

Contact

Phone number: +233 553747400

4. Compu-Ghana Ltd

Weija, West Hills Mall.

Contact

Phone number:: +233 24 54 4111181

5. In Achimota

Address: Mile 7, Sonnidom Plaza.

Phone number: +00233541678511

6. Telefonika

Melcom Plus, Tema

Contact

Phone number: +233 54 011 1857

Western Region

1. Casino Phones

Opp. Bogoso GN Bank, near GPRTU Station

2. Henkoq

Osu

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 492 4981

3. Franko Trading

Takoradi Beside Joecat Travel & Tours

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 315 9160

4. Papa Andoh Phone Shop

Opp. Stanbic Bank

Contact

Phone number: +233 27 819 6925

Volta Region

1. Sampson Phones

Near Rite Aid, Ho Market

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 870 9778

2. Alinco Phones

Hohoe Zongo, near SK-Park

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 510 2102

3. St Peters Phones

BIT 9 Junction, Aflao

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 474 4947

4. Wisdom Creation

Opposite Ola SHS School Main Gate, Ho

Contact

Phone number: +233 20 820 7132

5. Vision Phones

Opposite Abii National, Aflao

Contact:

Phone number: +233 24 257 8753

6. Elidec Shoprite

Opp. Sephem Oil

Contact

Phone number: +233 24 448 3725

Accra

1. Madina

Address: Opposite Madina Taxi Rank

Phone: 00233302254288

2. Industrial Area, Electroland2, Accra

Swan Lake Main Road, Industrial Area

Contact

Phone number: 00233243576804

3. Spintex Road

Compu Gh, Spintex  Main Road  Opp. Sneda Motors

Conatct

Phone number: (00233) 249 999 988

4. Ring Road Central, Electroland 1, Accra

Opp. Busy Internet, Ring Road Central, Accra

Contact

Phone number: 00233249656283

5. Melcom Plus Shopping Mall Electroland 3

Plus shopping Centre, Accra.

Contact

Phone number: 00233241820584

Samsung Ghana company services

Samsung Ghana offers the full range of Samsung electronics including hand-held devices, audio visual devices, home appliances, smart-phones and IT products, TV and AV, PCs and office cameras and camcorder and storage gadgets.

Samsung Ghana also offers repair and maintenance services for its customers. Contact any of the service centres using the Samsung Ghana contact details above for enquiries.

READ ALSO: Joy FM contact numbers

Source: Yen.com.gh
One of the first gifts a parent gives their child is a name. This is something that your child will have for the rest of their lives, so it is important to pick something that sounds beautiful and has a beautiful meaning. Choosing baby names is perhaps one of the most exciting parts of being expectant parents. A lot of time and consideration is required to ensure that you pick the right one. If you are looking for great names, these Taiwanese female names are a great place to start.

Photo: canva.com (modified by author)

Source: UGC

In Taiwans naming convention, ones surname comes before their given name. Most common Taiwanese last names are made up of one syllable, and the first names generally have two syllables. Taiwanese first names can also be English. The first name can be chosen for aesthetic purposes, but mostly, they are a direct translation of the Taiwanese names.

In the culture, naming is usually patrilineal. A patrilineal naming system is where children take the surname of their fathers as their own. It is also common for women not to take their husbands names when they get married.

Taiwanese names and meaning

In the culture, naming is usually patrilineal. A patrilineal naming system is where children take the surname of their fathers as their own. It is also common for women not to take their husbands names when they get married.

Cool Taiwanese girl names

Here are some of the cute baby names that you will frequently hear a parent calling her daughter. They are excellent choices for any new or expectant mother who is looking for a great name.

Akemi  the beauty of dawn.

Annya  peace and sustenance.

Chia-Jung  good and beautiful.

Chi-Ling excellent and beautiful.

Hsiai-Han  dwarf bamboo

Ing-Wen  the English language

Shu-Ching pure, virtuous, and clear

Su-Wei  pure and clear

Yi - Hsuan  joy, pleasure and harmony

Yu-Ting  star, jade structure, building, and house

Hachi  eight

Chia-Hao  orchid (a plant that has beautiful flowers with stripes and spots)

Chia-Wei  light, power, lofty

Da-Xia  long summer

Guan  Yin  the Chinese Bodhisattva Goddess of mercy and kindness

Hui -fang  pleasant fragrance (the name is of Chinese origin)

Hui-Feng  benefit or phoenix

Jiya-Ling  good and beautiful

Mei-Ling  beautiful and delicate

Shu-fen  charming fragrance

Shu-Hua  deliberate beauty

Akina  relations/ spring flower

Ayako  beautiful silk

Ayame  iris flower

Daitan  daring / bold one

Daruma  famous Buddhist

Eiko  prosperity

Emiyo  beautiful generation

Ena  a gift from God

Eshima  true blessed intention

Ezume  pure water

Gen  spring

Gin  silver

Hama  shore

Hana  blossom/flower

Hanako  flower child

Hanami  beauty/flower

Hanan  flower child

Haneen  flower child

Haru  spring

Harumi  spring/ beauty

Common Taiwanese names

Baby first steps walking in bedroom with arms out with good balance. Photo: @patrickfraser

Source: Getty Images

Most female names in Taiwan originate from either China or Japan since the regions are close. Taiwanese names are unique, beautiful and meaningful. This hits the trifecta of what every parent wants their childs name to have.

There are a lot of beautiful Taiwanese female names, making it difficult for one to choose the best one. Here are some more great Taiwan female names you may find interesting:

Hayami  a rare beauty

Heiwa  peace

Hekima  wisdom

Hideya  excellence

Himeko  princess child

Hiriko  generous

Hiromi  full of beauty

Hisa  long-lasting

Hoshi  star

Humiya  history

Ishi  rock

Kagami  mirror

Kana  talent and skill

Kane  two right hands

Kei  reverent

Kiaria  fortunate

Kibo  hope

Kiku  beautiful flower

Kimi  the beauty of the century

Kiriko  the girl of the mist

Kishi  long and happy life

Koko  stork

Kosame  fine rain

Koto  beautiful harp

Kuma  bear/ mouse

Kumiko  girl with pretty braids

Kuniko  a child from the farm

Leiko  arrogant

Maeko  honest child

Majime  earnest one

Manami  love of beauty

Mariko  pure knowledge

Masami  truth/ correctness

Michiko  righteous child

Mika  new moon

Mikia  flower stem

Mio  three times as strong

Misumi  pure beauty

Miyo  beautiful generation

Morina  forest town

Nami  wave

Nanami  wave man

Narumi  seed/ beauty

Niji  rainbow

Nori  law or tradition

Nyoko  gem/treasure

Oki  middle of the ocean

Orino  workers field

Raeden  thunder and lightning god

Raku  pleasure

Ran  water lily

Reiko  grateful

Rikona  intelligence

Rippina  brilliance/ light

Rui  affectionate

Ruri  emerald

Ryo  dragon

Sada  chaste

Beautiful Taiwanese girl names

Baby laying on back holding feet smiling. Photo: @siristafford

Source: Getty Images

Giving your child a beautiful name is something they will be grateful for once they grow older. A memorable name will turn heads wherever they go and make them noticeable. Taiwan women names are a great way to achieve this whether you are Taiwanese or not.

Sato  sugar

Seki  wonderful

Sumiko  bright mind/ smart

Taka  honoured

Takane  mountain peak

Tama  jewel

Tamika  child of the people

Tanima  valley

Toki  hopeful

Tomiya  wealthy person

Tomoko  two friends

Tora  tiger

Tori  bird

Umeko  child of the sea

Umi  the ocean

Umika  the fragrance of the ocean

Uta  song/ melody

Utaka  dignity

Utano  field of songs

Wakana  plant

Wakumi  spring of water

Washi  eagle

Wattan  homeland

Yasu  resting/ calm

Yei  flourishing

Yoki  bluebird

Yoko  sunshine/ bright

Yolanda  violet flower

Yoselin  joyous

Yoshi  good/ respectful

Yoshika  good fragrance

Yoshima  good luck

Yoshimasa  correctness/ good luck

Yovela  joyful heart

Yucala  hope

Yulene  youthful

Yumena  famous

Yumi  a friend of the ocean

Yuri  lily

Yvanna  God is gracious

Which of these Taiwanese female names with meanings fascinated you the most? Choose a Taiwanese name for your child and watch her spring into the character that the name possesses.

Are you looking for the best Drow names for the dark elves in Dungeons & Dragons? Yen.com.gh has a list of names that you could give to dark elves when playing Dungeons and Dragons.

One of the most common problems that players have when playing non-human characters is finding a suitable name for them. Since there are no examples to pull from, this list may come in handy.

Source: Yen.com.gh
Ethiopian Airlines is arguably one of the busiest airlines in Africa. It is no surprise that they also have offices in Ghana. Ethiopian Airlines Ghana contact are therefore important for people who wish to travel using the airline. Considering the number of countries the airline traverses, it is therefore normal for them to have a good customer service program. They offer different modes of communication channels you can use to reach them.

In this article we have given all their contacts and even the office location. Keep scrolling.

Ethiopian Airlines Ghana office location

The Ethiopian Airlines Ghana office location in Accra is in the Kotoka International Airport. The Ethiopian Airlines Ghana working hours is from 8:00 to 12:00 and they are open from Monday to Friday.

Ethiopian Airlines Ghana contact

For you to get in touch with them, you have to have the Ethiopian Airlines Ghana airport office contact which is as indicated below;

Telephone: (233 302) 775168/778993/(233 302) 775168/778993

Email address; accapt@EthiopianAirlines.com

Website Ethiopian Airlines Ghana

READ ALSO: List of all domestic airlines in Ghana

Ethiopian Airlines customer care

The Ethiopian Airlines also have a customer care desk. They use the customer care desk as a means of communication between the airline and their customers or potential customers. The customer care deals with the following queries;

People who want to book flights

Customers who wish to cancel their flights

Customers who want to reschedule flights

They also offer visa services

They also deal with issues on baggage allowance

They give customers flight information

They also deal with issues of airport lounges

They deal with issues of in flight meals

They deal with the problem of missing baggage

They also inform passengers of delayed flights

They also help with immigration services

The customer care number provided by the airlines is +251116656666. You should also note that when calling the number, international charges apply.

Now with all this issues being handled by customer care, you now see the importance of to the Ethiopian Airlines Ghana contact customers.

Source: Yen.com.gh
Popular Tanzania actress, Wema Sepetu, has disclosed that she prefers to be with a man who would beat her up once in a while.

According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Pulsegh.com, beautiful Sepetu said she could not spend years with a man who would not beat her.

She added that, at least, she must not be denied a slap by her man.

Wema Sepetu

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Fans accuse Fella Makafui of wearing fake hips in latest photo

Wema Sepetu was reported to have made this revelation in an interview with a Tanzanian newspaper, Ijumaa Wikienda, at the birthday celebration of her manager, Neema Ndepanya, in Salasala.

She is quoted as saying: Napenda mwanaume anipe kipigo kidogo siyo mwanaume mnaishi miaka yote, halafu hata kukupiga kofi kidogo hakupigi, to wit: I like a man who beats me up occasionally, not one Id to spend several years without hitting me, even just a slap.

Her revelation may come as a surprise to many people, especially feminists, in this time and age where domestic violence is being preached against.

READ ALSO: You married your "big sister" because of money - Counselor Lutterodt exposes top musician

While some women are fleeing from their hostile marriages and others dying in silence because of constant physical abuses from their spouses, Wema has proven by her revelation that she is a different kind of woman.

Meanwhile, a lot of actresses, including Nigerias Chika Ike, Ini Edo, Tonto Dike, have all been reported to have tasted domestic violence and ended their marriages as a result.

Ghanas own Afia Schwarzenegger and others are not left out.

Afia revealed how her ex-husband, Lawrence Abrokwa, subjected her to physical abuse on many occasions, prompting her to find comfort in the arms of another man.

Afia's relationship with the unidentified other man culminated in her being caught in bed with the man, leading to a divorce with Abrokwa.

READ ALSO: DNA test proves Boxer Emmanuel Tagoe is not father of his 14-yr-old child

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Shut up - Sarkodie fires at Shatta Wale

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Source: Yen News
Former UBS banker, Kweku Adoboli, and alleged rogue trader in the United Kingdom (UK), has said he prefers being jailed in the UK over being deported to Ghana.

The suspect is set to be deported to Ghana after he was found guilty of illegally trading away US$2.3 billion while he was with Swiss investment bank UBS.

Although his imminent deportation has been appealed by some 114 MPs and MSPs, the UK government appears reluctant to renege on its decision.

READ ALSO: PURC orders 10% reduction of water tariffs

Speaking to the Guardian, Mr. Adoboli said deporting him to Ghana is a worse punishment than being jailed in the UK.

I did four years in prison for a non-violent act, he said in an interview with the Guardian from the detention centre, Mr. Adobolo, who is currently at the detention centre, said.

Ive served my time, but Im being given an extra punishment  a banishment  and just because I didnt get around to becoming a citizen. This punishment is so much worse than being in prison.

In 2015, he was released from prison on probation after serving half of a seven-year sentence.

Mr. Adoboli is expected to arrive in Ghana on September 18, 2018 having been transported to Colnbrook immigration removal centre, close to Heathrow.

Adoboli has lived in the UK since he was 12.

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Heartbreaking photos from Kofi Annans funeral

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Source: Yen.com.gh
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on the death of former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan who passed away in his sleep in Switzerland aged 80.

The news of his death was followed by storms of messages of condolence coming from all corners of the world, with many Ghanaians taking to social media to mourn the great loss.

On September 10, the mortal remains of the former UN Boss was flown to Ghana and was received by President Akufo-Addo and other top government officials.

The body of the Ghanaian diplomat was then laid in state for public viewing at the Accra International Conference Center.

READ ALSO: Man narrates how he met and fell in love with a jilted visually-impaired lady

During the public viewing, however, many Ghanaians complained about the closed casket they were made to file past instead of the normal practice of opening up the casket for people to see the face of the dead.

The government, however, came out to explain why the casket was closed and urged the public to understand that it was in modesty that the casket was closed.

The funeral proper which took place on September 13, saw many international figures and top officials in the country throng the Conference Center to bid late Kofi Annan a final goodbye.

Judging by how high Kofi Annan raised the flag of Ghana by serving in the high office of Secretary General, some Ghanaians have pushed for him to be immortalised by naming some state facilities after him.

One of such measures to immortalise the late diplomatic icon is that a new breed of sweet potato will be named after him.

READ ALSO: Emmanuel Tagoe reveals why he took the DNA test proving his 14-yr-old son is not his

YEN.com.gh brings you five things that government can do in order to give late Kofi Annan a lasting memory.

1. His image can be put on Ghanas currency

Ghanaians would have a lasting impression of the late former UN Secretary General if he is made part of our daily lives and has his image embossed on a note of our currency. Ghanas currency has images of great men who have served the country and it would not hurt to honor Kofi Annan the same way.

2. Name him after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building

Judging by the fact that late Kofi Annans role was chiefly outside Ghana, it would be expedient for him to be named after the building that sees more foreign interaction in Ghana than any other  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In so doing, both foreigners and Ghanaians alike would have his name etched in their minds and hearts forever.

3. Name the late former UN chief after the new terminal at Kotoka International Airport

The airport is one place that sees a lot of traffic be it from citizens and foreigners. In order to create a lasting memory of the late former UN chief, the new Terminal Three, which was started by former President Mahama, can be named after late Kofi Annan.

4. A monument must be put up in his honour

As was done for Kwame Nkrumah and some other great men who served the country, a statue of late Kofi Annaan can be put up in his honor. The statue can be put up at a place that sees a lot of activity so that people would see him and always remember how well he served his country and the world.

5. Major streets must be named after him

Even though some streets are named Kofi Annan inAccra, it would be expedient to replicate it in other regions so that most major streets across the country would have the name of the late former UN chief to honor his memory.

READ ALSO: Photos: Twin sisters with same first name set to marry two different guys with same first names on same day

Watch: Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

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Artiste manager Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog, says there would be no need for the country to go begging for a $50 billion loan from China if only government is ready to turn back on its witch-hunting ways.

According to him, Zylofon Media and Menzgold boss Nana Appiah Mensah alone could provide that kind of money through his numerous businesses.

Bulldog was speaking in relation to an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to have Menzgold shut down all its gold trading activities.

READ ALSO: Deporting me to Ghana worse than being jailed in UK  Adoboli

The A&R manager believes the move is a deliberate attempt to collapse Menzgold, while accusing the government of failing the youth.

He also hit hard on President Akufo-Addo for the decision to go in for a 100-year $50 billion loan facility from the Chinese.

According to him, although the money involved is huge, it could be generated right here in Ghana by Nana Appiah Mensah if government allows him to work.

That [the $50 billion centenary loan] is an amount of money a young man like Nana Appiah Mensah can make easily, an angry Bulldog lamented in a Facebook love video.

It is easy through trading. You just for sit the man down make he teach you. You talk talk talk about Ghana beyond aid The same aid you go and collect? Which aid? he added in pidgin.

READ ALSO: PURC orders 10% reduction of water tariffs

Meanwhile, a statement from Menzgold on Thursday indicated that the company has temporarily halted its collectables and any new business related to its gold vault market with immediate effect.

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Heartbreaking photos from Kofi Annans funeral

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- KNUST authorities have revealed that they are fearful of the executives of the University and Unity halls

- According to the university's Public Relations Officer, Kwame Osei Yeboah, the authorities are aware students can resort to the courts and the media to frustrate the efforts of the authorities

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kwame Yeboah Jnr, has revealed that the universitys authorities are scared of the executives of the University and Unity halls.

According to a report by MyNewsGH.com, he said that some of the illegal acts attributed to students of the university are executed by outsiders.

Speaking with Angel FM, he added that some hall executives have been denied access into the halls because they are working to impede the progress of the university.

KNUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwasi Obiri Danso Source:Supplied

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 9 heartbreaking photos from Kofi Annan's burial

Kwame, we are scared of the executives; they are the people who have taken us to court, and you know they will stop at nothing to ensure they emerge victorious.

They have informants, who at a point warned a female student to not step out of the hall as they were going to pelt them with stones, he revealed.

He explained that this impedes the plans the authorities of the university have, with respect to making it a peaceful place for academic work.

Yeboah Jnr went on to say that some students have taken to social media, as well as other media platforms to hamper the efforts of the university authorities.

We are scared of them and we have every right to be. You see, staying in the hall as a hall executive is a privilege and not a right, and that privilege can be withdrawn by the university if it deems fit, and that is exactly what we have done. I dont think we have faulted in doing so, he argued.

Yeboah Jnr, further assured parents who have their wards in the school to be calm and remain rest assured as their children are being effectively protected.

KNUST was recently in the news as it sought to implement a policy with respect to the gender balance in two of its halls of residence, Unity and University halls.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that police officials arrested three students of the university as they participated in a secret meeting.

The universitys authorities however claimed they had no knowledge of the arrests.

READ ALSO: Okyeame Kwame gets sweet beatings from his wife in a new photo

Ghana News: President Akufo-Addo Receives Remains of Kofi Annan | #Yencomgh

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Ghanaian actress, Jasmine Baroudi, has exposed a fan who has been sending her their nudes.

The budding actress angrily took to social media to warn some fans who have been sending their nude photos through her DM.

She took to her Instagram to express her frustration with respect to guys who have disturbing her with their nudes..

READ ALSO: Shatta Wale replies Stonebwoy for the second time

However, in her post, she mentioned one fan called William who has decided not to put a stop to the sending of nudes.

She wrote: "All you Assholes dirty boys who are sending me their ugly tiny small dicks pics be warnedstop this shit else I will put u on blast!! Fools ah, Herh William or whatever you call yourself, you better vanish from my DM. #s3k3yel0 kwasia #mpissed.

YEN.com.gh checks revealed Jasmine has deleted the post from her page.

READ ALSO: Moesha Boduong wows social media with latest photos

In other news:

Ghanaian boxer Emmanuel Tagoe has uncovered through DNA test that a 14 year-old boy he has been fathering is not his.

According to Tagoe, he suspected a conspiracy and blackmail from his baby mama and her family.

He said, the boys mother always made 'abnormal' demands of him, including forcing him to take the boy to the school attended by Asamoah Gyans children, even when she knew he could not afford.

READ ALSO: Anas set sights on the music industry in Ghana

Tagoe revealed further that he was paying GH 500 every month for the upkeep of the boy, but became suspicious when the mother started demanding more money.

Ghana News Today: Ghana-China Agreement - Ghanaians Reaction | #Yencomgh

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PZ Cussons Ghana Limited, one of the country's major manufacturers of personal healthcare products and consumer goods, has launched a new and exciting promotion, which has been duly dubbed, 'Camel Fly and Buy Promotion'.

The promo which was launched at the headquarters of the company in Tema, on September 13, according to top officials, was in line with their commitment to reward consumers with fantastic experiences.

The main objective of the 'Camel Fly and Buy Promotion' is to reward lucky consumers with an all-expense paid trip for two to Dubai.

'Camel Buy and Fly' Promotion Launch

Source: Original

The promo is expected to run for two weeks with one lucky winner announced on live radio after a raffle is held.

Aside the all-expense paid trip, consumers also stand the chance of instantly winning hampers and airtime of various denominations.

The launch of the 'Camel Fly and Buy Promotion' was chaired by Mr. David Afflu, the business unit director of PZ Cussons Ghana Limited.

'Camel Buy and Fly' Promotion Launch

Source: Original

During the launch of the promo, Mrs. Hafsa Arthur, the head of brand development and activation indicated that, "The Camel and Carex brands have always championed the the health of the consumer. We believe health goes beyond physical health. Our consumers should also have some relaxation time to improve their overall well-being and this is what inspired a national consumer promotion which rewards 12 consumers and their partners with a fun and relaxing holiday. Our phrase 'Say Yes to life' simply means Camel ensures that families can go out there and have fun and know that Camel has got them protected."

Mrs. Hafsa Artthur during the 'Camel Buy and Fly' Promotion Launch

Source: Original

Mrs. MaryAnn Boaten, the category manager for personal care for PZ Cussons Ghana, revealed in her address that the lucky winner of the trip to Dubai together with their partner would have the chance to visit beautiful sights and attractions of Dubai, including the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, during the one week stay in the country.

Mrs. MaryAnn Boaten during the 'Camel Buy and Fly' Promotion Launch

Source: Original

The promo launch was attended by staff of PZ Cussons Ghana Limited, members of the Midwives Association of Ghana, CEOs of Pharmaceutical Companies, the general public and staff of the Travel and Tour company that partnered with PZ Cussons Ghana Limited to fly two people to Dubai for the next 12 weeks.

According to Mrs MaryAnn Boaten, the first winner of the promo would be announced on live radio on September 21, 2018. Among the named radio stations to tune in to are Joy FM, Adom FM and Luv FM.

During the launch, many patrons got the chance to win a hamper after answering a question from the category manager for personal care for PZ Cussons Ghana Limited and it added more colour to the event.

One Hamper winner during the promo launch

Source: Original

The MC for the promo launch was Ghana comedian, DKB, who left the people gathered laughing out loud over his jokes about Dubai and their way of life.

Mrs. Hafsa Arthur revealed that the trip to Dubai was also going to cover the ultimate winner and 1st runner up of the current season of TV3's 'Ghana's Most Beautiful'.

Another hamper winner

Source: Original

To enter the 'Camel Buy and Fly' promotion, consumers have to purchase any Camel antiseptic liquid or Carex hand-wash with a scratch panel and text the number revealed to short code 1393 free of charge.

A cross-section of patrons during the promo launch

Source: Original

Camel is the leading brand in the personal care portfolio of PZ Cussons Ghana. Camel products include the leading antiseptic liquid in Ghana as well as antiseptic bar soap. Camel antiseptic liquid now holds 68% of the total antiseptic market share.

Camel now comes from Carex which is the leading brand in the healthcare industry worldwide. The current Carex range offered by PZ Cussons Ghana is Carex hand-wash and Carex hand gels.

Watch: Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

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The head of the family of the late Kofi Annan said he did not believe Ga chiefs needed an invitation to attend the late diplomat's burial service.

The family of the late UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, through its head, has expressed disappointment with Ga chiefs for not attending the funeral and burial service of the late diplomat.

The head, Nana Kofi Brewuo II, was speaking on the burial of Annan in an interview, as reported by Kasapafmonline.com. He said that owing to the fact that the ceremony took place on Ga land, the Ga chiefs needed no invitation.

Brewuo II who is also a special sub-chief of the Asantehene, said that there were many reasons for the Ga monarchs to have considered Annan as one of their own. For instance, he said, the late diplomat owned a house in Accra.

READ ALSO: Jasmine Baroudi warns fans who have been disturbing her

The head of the family was further quoted as saying: We were shocked and sad that not a single Ga Chief attended the funeral service when the event was held on their land. The Chiefs didnt need a special invitation to attend the funeral.

It was open to all, apart from where the Heads of State sat which was strictly by invitation, there was enough space to accommodate other dignitaries, but no Ga chief showed up.

Kofi Annan always resided in Accra whenever he was in Ghana, even if the organizers did not invite the Ga chiefs, they could themselves being the custodians of the land ask why they were not invited when the event was to be held on their land."

READ ALSO: My man must beat me to show he loves me  Tanzanian actress

Kofi Annan,a two-term top scribe for the UN, died early in August of 2018 in Switzerland. He was buried in at the Military Cemetary in Accra on Thursday, September.

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

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- A man who attempted to commit suicide by jumping in front of the presidential convoy, Seth Nana Amowi, has been granted bail

- The bail has been set to the tune of GHC20,000 with one surety to be justified

- The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 around the Ako Adjei interchange

A man who tried to commit suicide by jumping in front of President Akufo-Addos convoy, has explained the reason behind his action.

According to Seth Nana Amowi, he tried to petition the president but failed, and therefore decided to jump in front of the presidents convoy.

Amowi added that he had a letter which contained suggestions with regard to the challenges facing Ghana, but was unable to send it to the president.

READ ALSO: I have 2 weeks experience in cosmetic surgery - Dr. Obengfo

In the letter, he suggested that churches as well as private cars should be taxed in order to raise money for the country.

The Accra High Court however granted him bail to the tune of GHC20,000 with one surety to be justified.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Amowi attempted suicide as he sought to jump in front of the presidents convoy on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 around the Ako Adjei interchange.

He had reportedly hidden close to the Jubilee House, awaiting the Presidents convoy and acted as soon as it showed up.

In court, the prosecution argued that Amowi started hitting the Presidents car and lay on the bonnet, and it took the security a great effort to get him off the way.

He is scheduled to reappear before the court on 26th September.

READ ALSO: We are scared of Conti and Katanga hall executives - KNUST PRO

Top 3 Ghana Richest Women: Who Are They? | Yen.com.gh

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Controversial actress, Rosemond Brown, has put her "raw" body on display in a new trending photo, YEN.com.gh can report.

The actress was captured wearing a netted dress, which exposed her brassier and pant. But for the netted dress, her "raw" body would have been visible for all to see.

The photo, which was seen on the page of a Facebook user, sparked a debate online, with people expressing mixed feelings over it.

READ ALSO: 8 clear signs you are a side 'chick', not marriage material

Some of them, especially the males, believed there was nothing wrong with the photo and described it as nice.

The females, on the other hand, expressed disgust at the photo.

One Facebook user, Akosua, wondered why Rosemond Brown would want to expose her raw body just for fame.

READ ALSO: You married your "big sister" because of marriage - Counselor Lutterodt exposes top musician

Shadrack saw nothing wrong with the post and said he liked it.

Maxwell also nothing wrong with the photo.

To Atswei, however, the actress looked like a snake in the photo.

READ ALSO: My man must beat me to show he loves me  Tanzanian actress

Rosemond Brown has been in the news for mainly controversial reasons.

She was in the news for claiming that she slept with some popular actors including Prince Yawson, popularly called Waakye, and Fred Amugi.

She was also in the news for accusing rapper Medikal of attempting to rape her, but she later made a U-turn on her claim, saying the accusation was false and that it was a publicity stunt.

READ ALSO: Emmanuel Tagoe reveals why he took the DNA test proving his 14-yr-old son is not his

Rosemond Brown became popular after wearing a skimpy dress to this years Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), which became topical on social media.

In an interview monitored by YEN.com.gh on the Delay Show, she revealed that constantly wading into the controversies of others was a strategy on her part to earn fame.

She has nicknamed herself Akuapem Poloo.

READ ALSO: Shut up - Sarkodie fires at Shatta Wale

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: 5 things Ghana can do as a country to honor Kofi Annan

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Concurs de granturi adresat COMUNITATILOR (APL) pentru sporirea rezilientei lor la schimbarile climatice si FEMEILOR ANTREPRENOARE in vederea dezvoltarii unor afaceri prietenoase mediului
Question: Regarding my posts about the terrible perversion of Torah and halacha that Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky has engineered with his prod...

Important!! email - yadmoshe@gmail.com
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Ukraine and Russia have been battling it out in English courts over whether Ukraine must repay a $3 billion Russian loan from 2013. The loan was unusual both in structure and in substance . For example, although essentially a bilateral loan, it was structured as a tradable Eurobond and held by the Russian sovereign wealth fund. The indenture trustee has been suing to enforce the loan. In March 2017, the High Court of Justice granted summary judgment for Russia. Although Ukraine had a number of plausible defenses to enforcement of the loan, the judge rejected them all. Here's Bloomberg, with coverage of that decision and of the ensuing appeal. Today, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision, sending the case back for discovery and a trial. Here's the decision , which Russia will appeal according to this Financial Times report.

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the appeal is why Ukraine won. Among other arguments, Ukraine argues that the loan was the product of duress--an argument that requires it to show that the loan resulted from illegitimate pressure applied by the Russian government. I have been skeptical of this argument, in part because my sense is that national judges would prefer not to rule on the legitimacy of Russia's conduct with regard to Ukraine. And indeed, in granting summary judgment for Russia, Mr. Justice Blair ruled that this question was non-justiciable. However, the Court of Appeal disagreed, sending the case back for trial on the duress issue, seemingly with directions to judge Russia's conduct against standards supplied by international law:

It is true that Russia and Ukraine are sovereign states, which means that the test for what might count as morally or socially unacceptable in the context in which they interact with each other is not the usual one appropriate to relations between private parties... Although moral and social standards are more attenuated in the relations between states on the international plane than is the case in a purely domestic commercial context, international law sets out reasonably determinate standards of conduct applicable between states on the international plane. In our view, there is no reason why the law of duress should not treat these as providing an appropriate test of illegitimate pressure in the present case (par. 160).

A couple of other noteworthy aspects of the Court of Appeal's opinion:

On whether Ukraine, if ultimately successful, must pay restitution : A party who avoids a contract on the basis of duress may have to return any benefits it received from the contract. This isn't always required, however, and there are substantive reasons why it might not be required here, given Russia's conduct. In a seemingly-offhand, but pointed, comment, the Court of Appeal added a procedural reason for denying restitution. Russia had not "brought an alternative restitutionary or unjust enrichment claim to recover the US$3 billion which was paid to Ukraine, should it transpire that the Notes are vulnerable to being avoided as a contract on grounds of duress."

: A party who avoids a contract on the basis of duress may have to return any benefits it received from the contract. This isn't always required, however, and there are substantive reasons why it might not be required here, given Russia's conduct. In a seemingly-offhand, but pointed, comment, the Court of Appeal added a procedural reason for denying restitution. Russia had not "brought an alternative restitutionary or unjust enrichment claim to recover the US$3 billion which was paid to Ukraine, should it transpire that the Notes are vulnerable to being avoided as a contract on grounds of duress." The no set off clause : The loan contract forbids Ukraine to set off amounts owed by Russia against the $3 billion due under the bonds. The Court of Appeal correctly noted that this clause would not apply if Ukraine wins on its duress argument, implying that, because of this, it wouldn't do Russia much good to assert a claim in restitution anyway. (Even if it owed restitution, Ukraine could use one of its many claims against Russia as a set off.)

: The loan contract forbids Ukraine to set off amounts owed by Russia against the $3 billion due under the bonds. The Court of Appeal correctly noted that this clause would not apply if Ukraine wins on its duress argument, implying that, because of this, it wouldn't do Russia much good to assert a claim in restitution anyway. (Even if it owed restitution, Ukraine could use one of its many claims against Russia as a set off.) Potential for a stay : If the Court of Appeal's decision is upheld on appeal, the dispute will go back for a trial. That means judicial proceedings related to the case will continue for a long time, potentially years. But we could be in for a long delay even if Russia successfully appeals the duress ruling. That's because of a separate ruling by the Court of Appeals (beginning at par. 182 in the linked opinion). The court concluded that, if English courts indeed lacked power to adjudicate Ukraine's duress defense, then the right thing to do would be to stay further proceedings. After all, it isn't very sporting for Russia to argue that English courts must enforce its contract rights while refusing to consider Ukraine's defenses. That's especially so when there are alternate forums available in which all of the issues could be resolved together. The two states could agree, for instance, to submit the dispute to the ICJ.

Anyway, the decision is big news. If nothing else, it buys Ukraine additional time, potentially a lot. And it paves the way for a sensational trial, in which the key issue will be whether Russia acted unlawfully in making the loan. I suspect it also marks the last time we will see government-to-government loans structured as ordinary Eurobonds enforceable in national courts. In a sense, Russia is getting exactly what it asked for: a loan treated like any other commercial loan. But of course, that's not really what Russia wanted. What it wanted was to have the benefits of both official and private creditor status, without the downsides of either.
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IGP Pujith Jayasundara today handed over the investigations to the CID over the allegations levelled against the DIG in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) Nalaka de Silva, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

IGP Jayasundara yesterday ordered the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to launch an investigation into the incident.

SP Gunasekara said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had also requested for a report into the incident from the IGP.
In 1981 on the editorial page of the New York Times I wrote a column showing that the mass atrocities against the Indian population of Guatemala were carried out under the direct orders of the then president, Fernando Lucas Garcia. His former vice-president, Francisco Villagran Kramer, had given me information that was incontrovertible evidence of the murders.



I also showed how close was the relationship, financially and militarily, between the Guatemalan government and President Ronald Reagans government. At the time Regan was considered to be the Teflon President. No scandal stuck to him. Certainly not the evidence of a column in the New York Times. The reaction in Washington was zero. A brief while later Amnesty International published a long report documenting an act of genocide.



After a number of changes of government in Guatemala, President Efrain Rios Montt came to power. Reagans Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Elliott Abrams, wrote that President Efrain Rios Montts rule had brought considerable progress on human rights. He also declared that the amount of killings of innocent civilians is being reduced step by step. In fact it was the reverse.



It was not until 1996 under President Alvaro Arzu that the death squads run by the army and the government were finally dismantled. Nearly 40 years later, in 2013, Montt was convicted in court of genocide and sentenced to prison for 80 years. It was the first time that a former head of state had been found guilty of genocide by a court in his own country. Prosecutors said that he had presided over the wars bloodiest phase.



Under Reagan, embassy officials had trekked up to the scene of massacres and reported back to Washington the armys line that the guerrillas were doing the killing. According to de-classified diplomatic cables, over the next two years US$15 million in vehicles, spare parts and arms from the US reached the Guatemalan military. There was military training too. Congress re-imposed the ban (the first was done by Jimmy Carter) in 1990 but clandestine aid continued unknown to President Carter. More military aid came from such allies as Taiwan, Israel, Argentina and Chile. (The latter two ruled by military dictatorships that were carrying out terrible human rights abuses themselves.)



Progress has been made, yet most of the time at a snail-like pace. The murder of Indians has stopped. However, other problems abound. Only last week President Jimmy Morales, who was not involved in the genocide, said that the head of a UN anti-corruption mission (partly funded by the US) would not be allowed back into Guatemala. For some time allegations of corruption have swirled around Moraless family. As recently as this May seven human rights activists were murdered, although it is not suggested that Morales is behind them.



The first real turning point was the work of President Alvaro Arzu. The second was the appointment of Claudia Paz y Paz as Attorney-General, by President Alvaro Colom, the countrys first left-leaning president in 53 years. A former human rights lawyer, aged only 44, she was a no-nonsense woman who put a number of notorious drug dealers and human rights criminals behind bars, and indicted Rios Montt. Her rigorous policies helped lower the horrendous crime rate, one of the worlds three worst. Forbes magazine described her as one of the five most powerful women changing the world.



She was helped by the total turn around of Washingtons long-time policy, thanks to President Bill Clinton. In March 1999 on a visit to Guatemala Clinton made a public apology: For the United States, it is important that I state clearly that support for military forces and intelligence units which engaged in violence and widespread repression was wrong. It led the Washington Post to editorialize, We Americans need our own Truth Commission.



She was also helped by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that had ruled in 2004 that genocide had occurred and that the Rios Montt regime was responsible for it. Also an international arrest warrant had been issued by a Spanish judge in 2006. Both these events had helped change the political and judicial atmosphere.

Surprisingly, Rios Montt barely mentioned the United States when he put forward his arguments in his defence. But, as the New York Times reported , Washingtons alliance with him was not forgotten in the giant vaulted room where the current American ambassador, Arnold Chacon, sat as a spectator in a show of support for the trial. (Chacon was appointed by the Administration of Barack Obama.)



Under President Donald Trump very few appear to be concerned about Guatemala. That doesnt mean nothing is going on between Washington and Guatemala. It just means that the media seemed to have lost interest until last weeks story. Will the Trump Administration support the cause of law and anti-corruption or will it just let things be?



Over the years, as a foreign affairs columnist of the International Herald Tribune, I have made four visits to Guatemala. Please see my website: jonathanpowerjournalist.com e-mail:jonatpower@aol.com
SEOUL (Reuters), SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 - North and South Korea opened a liaison office on the Norths side of their heavily militarized border on Friday, setting up a permanent channel of communication as part of a flurry of efforts to end their decades-old rivalry.



Steps by North and South Korea to improve their relations are running parallel to a bid by the United States and its allies to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.



The opening of the joint liaison office at Kaesong, just inside the North Korean side of the border, comes days before North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are due to hold their third meeting this year.



The two sides are now able to take a large step toward peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula by quickly and frankly discussing issues arising from inter-Korean relations, said Ri Son Gwon, the head of North Koreas delegation at the opening ceremony.



The two Koreas previously communicated by fax and special telephone lines, which were often severed when their relations took a turn for the worse.
JERUSALEM AFP Sept13, 2018 -Israel reopened its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, more than a week after shutting it following a destructive Palestinian protest.



The reopening follows several days of relative calm, as Egyptian and UN officials attempt to broker a long-term truce between Israel and Gazas Islamist rulers Hamas.



A spokeswoman for the Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees the Erez crossing confirmed it had reopened on Thursday.



On September 5, the army said that hundreds of rioters had vandalised the Gaza side of the crossing, and that it would remain closed until the damage was repaired.



Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross.



An average of around 1,000 Gazans cross through Erez each day, mostly those in need of medical care but also businesspeople, students and others, Israeli authorities say.



A second crossing with Israel, Kerem Shalom, is for goods only.
In one of the largest related party deals in the Colombo Stock Exchange, Janashakthi PLC, the investment arm of Sri Lankas Schaffter family controlled businesses yesterday bought 31.14 percent stake in Dunamis Capital PLC, another firm controlled by the same family for Rs.1.4 billion as the group is bringing its different businesses under one umbrella.



Janashakthi PLC bought a total of 38.3 million shares of Dunamis Capital from Next Ventures Limited and Dinesh Schaffter who held 19.2 million and 19.05 million shares respectively at Rs.36.60 a share.



It appears that the deal has gone at a substantial premium to the trading price of the Dunamis share.



Dunamis Capital share ended at Rs.35.10 at yesterdays close which was Rs.16.60 or 89.73 percent higher.



With the acquisition of shares, Janashakthi PLC now holds 50.6 million shares or 41.14 percent stake in Dunamis Capital.



Even after the yesterdays deal, Dinesh Schaffter still has 26.25 percent stake in Dunamis Capital being the second largest shareholder in the company after Janashakthi PLC.



Hinting on possible mergers and acquisitions in the future, Janashakthi PLC Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Schaffter said the deal would become a good springboard for a range of other strategic alliances in the future.



The transaction will function as a launch pad for a range of strategic partnerships in future, which the company is confident it will attract, given its current structure and growth prospects, he said in a statement issued after the deal.

In a separate disclosure, Janashakthi PLC said the company would make a mandatory offer to purchase the remaining shares of the company as yesterdays acquisition of shares breached the single shareholder limit of 29.9 percent one party could hold without offering to buy the remaining shares.



Janashakthi PLC said they are looking at absolute control over Dunamis Capital with over 90 percent stake in the latter after the end of the mandatory offer period.

They expect Dinesh Schaffter and Manjula Mathews who together controls another 47.85 percent in Dunamis Capital will accept the mandatory offer.



Dunamis Capital controls its two subsidiaries, First Capital PLC, a fully fledged investment bank and Kelsey Developments PLC, a property developer.



After the mandatory offer, Dunamis Capital will become a subsidiary of Janashakthi PLC and the First Capital and Kelsey Development will become sub-subsidiaries.

For the quarter ended in June 30, 2018, Dunamis Capital reported a net loss of Rs.201.1 million compared to the net profit of Rs.163.7 million in the same period in 2017.



Yesterdays deal plus the sale of the general insurance arm of the Janashakthi Insurance in a blockbuster deal in February this year mark the attempts by the Schaffter family to build a leading financial services conglomerate under the umbrella of Janashakthi PLC consisting of insurance, investment banking, asset management, stock brokering and non-banking finance companies.



In February 2018 Janashakthi Insurance sold its fully owned general insurance subsidiary, Janashakthi General Insurance Limited to the local unit of the German insurer, Allianz S.E. for a mammoth Rs.16.4 billion with a gain of Rs.7.08 billion to the group.
Late Mr. Kandiah Pathmanathan Easwaranathan hails from Karainagar Jaffna. He did his schooling at Royal College, Colombo. Having completed his schooling at Colombo Royal his ambition was to join the banking industry.



He was very keen on joining Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and he applied to Commercial Bank and did well in the interviews. Without any influence he joined the Bank in December 1982.



His first appointment was at the Head Office where he gained experience in all sectors of banking during his initial tenure of 6 years from 1982 to 1988.



In 1988 he was transferred to the Wellawatte branch. There were only two State Banks and two Private Banks at Wellawatte, when he assumed duties.

During his tenure of 11 years at Wellawatte from 1988 to 1999, he was able to work efficiently in all areas with the experience he gained at the Head Office.

He was very cordial and friendly with the customers and guided the junior staff whenever they needed help



However now there are 18 banks alone as well as other finance companies, foreign currency exchange offices, pawning centres, etc. amounting to 20 outlets, thus totaling 38 units.



During his tenure of 11 years at Wellawatte from 1988 to 1999, he was able to work efficiently in all areas with the experience he gained at the Head Office. He was very cordial and friendly with the customers and guided the junior staff whenever they needed help.



Then in 1999 he was transferred back from Welawatte branch to Corporate Branch of Commercial Bank. There he was able to gain more experience in areas he had not worked earlier and he also worked as Manager in some Divisions in the Corporate Branch.



He worked there from 1999 to 2011 again for another 11 years and then he was transferred back to Wellawatte Branch in the capacity of Senior Manager in 2011.

When he took office as Senior Manager at Commercial Bank, Wellawatte, the customers and the staff were very happy with his return and the business flourished. He was the only person as a Senior Manager amongst the other Senior Managers who held office, to have this special rapport with both customers as well as staff and it was during his period that the new 7 storey building of Commercial Bank was opened in Wellawatte in December 2016 having extended working hours till 8.00 pm and housing three Regional offices, Digital banking, Development credit banking and other facilities.



He was also very close with the board of directors and helped in achieving the target for the branch until his retirement in mid March 2017.



His retirement came voluntarily backed by the intention of giving opportunities to the younger generation to grow further.



His father, Mr. Kandiah Pathmanathan, was also a retired state banker.



On 25th July 2018, he went to Commercial Bank Head Office to wish Mr. Jegan Durairatnam, who was retiring as MD/CEO and to congratulate Mr. Renganathan who was taking over that position and participated in the events of the day. The same evening he suffered a heart attack and passed away.

May his soul rest in peace.

A.K. Gnanakanthan
Martin Wickramasinghe was born on May 29, 1892. According to the era he lived in, it was surprising that he criticised witchcraft. He believed that witchcraft was misleading people and leading them on to a gloomy path. He said that people shun medical consultations for their dreadful diseases. What was appealing to them was the work of witch doctors, because science was not much popular in every nook and corner of the country during that period unlike today.

People believe in witch doctors and their rituals. Wickramasinghe showed the correct path by opening their eyes through his first novel Leela. It was published in 1914. He argued with these witch doctors. In is novels Wickramasinghe explores the human mind. His arguments were very strong and to the point. He was a free-thinker not an extremist. The readers get a taste of what true love is by reading about characters like Soma, Seetha, Iranganee, Rohini, Miriguwa, Unmada Chithtra. After gaining scientific knowledge what the reader should read is works like Sathva Sanththiya and Grameeya Vidya Praveeshaya. These are useful for students who study biology.

Reality is Wickramasinghes main theme in his writings. He has stayed away from what cant be believed. Wickramasinghe introduced scientific thinking for writers associated with Sinhala Literature



His novel, Viragaya, is one of the most critical novels produced by a Sri Lankan. Even a qualified psychiatrist may not be able to write a novel like Viragaya. It includes psychological facts. Wickramasinghe conveyed details about some morals to readers. These were associated with the human body and mind. He presented them scientifically and artistically in Viragaya. The main character in Viragaya, Aravinda, fell in trouble and at last he died owing to his unnatural neutralised behavior patterns, which highlighted his sedentary life. He disregards normal customs, ethics in the human life.



His world was confined to himself. Aravinda was confined to bed and he did little physical exercises. His death was linked to a biological result. Being unable to take a decision regarding his love. Depicting Aravindas character, Wickramasinghe has underscored significant psychological theories. Wickramasinghe proved his genius by inventing characters with subtle feelings.



Gamperaliya, Kaliyugaya and Yuganthaya highlight the social changes in the Sri Lankan society. Piyal in Gamperaliya is a symbol of manifesting the feudal society into capitalist Society. That is the conversion of feudal era to capitalist era. Wickramasinghe predicted the social changes to take place in Sri Lanka.



Reality is Wickramasinghes main theme in his writings. He has stayed away from what cant be believed. Wickramasinghe introduced scientific thinking for writers associated with Sinhala Literature.

On principle Wickramasinghe excluded dishonesty, fake and falsehood from his scripts. In Apegama, he severely criticised fake and dishonest people



He wrote some books in English like Buddhist Jataka Stories, Aspects of Sinhalese Culture, Buddhism and Culture, Revolution and Evolution, Buddhism and Arts and Mysticism of Lawrence.



On principle Wickramasinghe excluded dishonesty, fake and falsehood from his scripts. In Apegama, he severely criticised fake and dishonest people by criticising characters in the likes of Notharis Appu and Daniel Veda Mahattaya for deceiving an innocent person like Koranelis Appu.



Pavukarayata Galgaseema, Wahallu, Magulgedara, Ape Vitthi, Mage Kathawa, Hada Sakki Keema are some of his short-story books. In Pavukarayata Galgaseema, the writer suggests that there should be sympathy for the sinner and not to attack him, but attack the sin.



His excellent philosophical knowledge helped Wickramasinghe write Budusamaya Saha Samajadarshanaya, Buddhadarshanaya Saha Margaya Bavatharanya, etc. They included themes in Buddhist philosophy. His philosophy revolved around ideological materialism and not idealism.



He is a philosopher. It is indisputable. He wrote Bavatharanaya at the age of 83. Wickramasinghe travelled on a different path from his contemporary writers. That is reality.



All his works of art highlight morals and and offer valuable lessons to the present society.

(The writer is a Registered Pharmacist in Galle)
Daily Mail, Sept 13 2018 -South Koreas foreign minister said Thursday that making progress on denuclearisation talks with North Korea is a daily concern, as she called for fresh momentum at a joint Korean summit next week.



The meeting will be the third between the leaders of North and South Korea this year and comes as talks between Washington and Pyongyang over dismantling the Norths nuclear arsenal have stalled.



US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for a historic Singapore summit in June and pledged to denuclearise the Korean peninsula.



However, no details were agreed, and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since on what that means and how it will be achieved. Last month, Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang in a major setback.



The new US envoy for the North, Stephen Biegun, said in August Kim had promised final, fully verified denuclearisation at the Singapore summit.



But Pyongyang has slammed Washington for its gangster-like demands for complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.



South Koreas Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha Thursday urged progress on the talks and said the issue was a central issue for Seoul.
I have read with much interest the recent article where Dr. Romesh Bandaranaike has shared his unique insights of Sri Lankas plantations.



At the outset, I totally disagree with Dr. Bandaranaikes contention that privatization was necessary as the plantations were the biggest source of political patronage in the country. While some political interference did exist, this was not of any magnitude whereby the administration and or management of the plantations were seriously affected or virtually paralyzed as insinuated.



Dr. Bandaranaike appears to have conveniently forgotten that during the period J. R. Jayawardena was President of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation (SLSPC) and the Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB) were directly under his purview and thereafter, under the purview of of Gamini Dissanayake and General Ranjan Wijeratne who were the Ministers of Plantation Industries. It would be obvious to all that none of these gentlemen would have permitted undue political influence, which would have affected the administration and or management of the plantations, to have been prevalent.



Ignorant of the situation



Dr. Bandaranaike appears to be ignorant of the situation that affected the industry as well as the country at that time. Up to around 1986, the two organizations fared well but since 1986 were affected by a severe decline in world market prices.



To add to these woes, plantations were probably the worst affected with the insurrection in the country following the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord in 1987. Numerous factories were burnt, many planters, estate staff and workers were brutally murdered for no other reason other than refusing to accede to the demands of the insurgents; yet they steadfastly continued to perform their duties amidst all odds and safeguarded the assets of estates which were in their custody.

The armed insurrection also resulted in the stoppage of work on estates for extended periods of time  on occasions, even up to 3 months, with workers returning for work only after they were provided the necessary protection to do so.



The problems detailed in the preceding paragraph naturally resulted in a serious drop in revenue to both the SLSPC and JEDB. However, both the SLSPC & JEDB rose magnificently to the occasion and, despite their revenues dropping drastically, continued to pay the staff and workers, even though at times no work was performed by them, purely to ensure their existence as well as continued to supply them with basic foodstuffs which were in very short supply in the plantation districts. The situation that existed was so serious that there was an instance that cash for workers wages for estates in the Badulla district had to be airlifted to Badulla as all banks in the Uva district were not functioning.



It must be re-iterated that hardly any planters, estate staff or workers abandoned post but continued to perform their duties to the best of their ability, despite their lives being continually in danger due to the volatile situation that prevailed. It was this dedication displayed by the planters, estate staff and workers that ensured an industry was yet in existence at the end of the insurrection. Many of those who resided in the comparative safety of cities, such as Dr. Bandaranaike, may not have been aware or probablywerenot interested in what the planters, estate staff and workers were harrowingly subjected to during this period.

The armed insurrection also resulted in the stoppage of work on estates for extended periods of time  on occasions, even up to 3 months



Rebuilding the morale



This volatile situation continued till early 1990 after which began a time of rebuilding the morale of the planters, staff and workers, reconstruction of the buildings destroyed and the resumption of the agricultural practices / development which had been severely disrupted. It would be necessary to emphasize that all of this could not be done overnight and took around 12 months to complete.



Around this time rumors of privatization were in the air, and I quote below an extract of the speech made by the then Minister of Plantation Industries, Ranjan Wijeratne, as Chief Guest at the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Planters Society in September 1990, where he refuted the rumors of privatization;

We dont have management skills in Colombo to manage the plantations any more. They have to be built up from grass roots. I am not prepared to hand over the plantations to Whittalls, George Steuarts, Carsons and so forth. They are all dead ducks now. So we have to create new ducks and I have given the opportunity to a set of Regional Board Directors to prove their mettle. After three years we will make an assessment of their work and if it is possible for us to rely on them as private sector managers, then management will be privatized and given to you all and not outsiders. We dont require foreigners, expatriates to come and manage our plantations. It is a disgrace. It is we who went to Indonesia and resurrected the Indonesian plantations. There is no need to bring foreigners here. I was told that foreign elements were waiting to barge into the plantations to manage them. Never will I allow them to come this way. We have the skills here and we shall throw up the real leaders to be the private sector managers of the plantations.



Therefore, based on Wijeratnes views, which he expressed as the Minister of Plantation Industries, it is evident that he was not in agreement with plantations being privatized!



It would also be necessary to state that the Chairman and Directors of the SLSPC and JEDB Central and Regional Boards were planters who had worked on private sector managed plantations prior to nationalization in 1975 and were appointed to these posts purely on their ability and dedication as planters. Therefore, it would be evident that the Ministers in charge of the SLSPC and JEDB as well the Chairmen & Directors of the Central & Regional Boards of the organizations were highly respected and dedicated personalities who successfully resisted all attempts of excessive political interference. If Dr. Bandaranaike disagrees with my contention, I hope he will namethose who, in his opinion, were not suitable to hold the posts they held.



Unfortunately, Ranjan Wijeratne was assassinated on 02nd March 1991 and once again the rumors of privatization of plantations became rampant, with privatization eventually becoming a reality in June 1992.



The main reason for privatization of plantations, as stated by the government of the day, was to relieve themselves of the burden of managing the massive industry (they were the single largest plantation owner and manager in the world) as well as to re-introduce private sector management styles and dynamism, which were prevalent and were extremely successful in the pre-nationalization era, back to the plantation industry. Therefore, Dr. Bandaranaikes contention that the Management was not allowed to operate freely and were often forced to hire political appointees, transfers and disciplinary actions were also frequently interrupted resulting in that even when people were caught being crooked, they were still retained and also that numerous individuals with influence were attempting to profit off these plantations, and encroachments on these lands were becoming the norm, are baseless, distorted and in any event furthest from the truth! Further, with the Government, consisting of the very same politicians whom Dr. Bandaranaike refers to as those who were subjecting the plantations to much political interference and were attempting to profit off these plantations, I doubt these politicians would have agreed to the privatization of plantations, if there was even the slightest iota of truth in what Dr. Bandaranaike has stated! In fact, what Dr. Bandaranaike has stated is indeed an insult to all those  ministers, chairmen, directors, planters, estate staff and workers - who served the industry at that time, which they did with dedication and much personal sacrifice to life and limb.



I can state with conviction that plantations in the country were in excellent condition with much needed development such as replanting, infilling of vacancies, factory modernization being done. Therefore, the plantations that were subjected to privatization were in excellent condition and probably needed only minor fine-tuning necessary to make them extremely profitable ventures.



Despite this being the case, bureaucracy prevailed and the privatization of plantations proceeded as planned. The Plantations Restructuring Unit (PRU) was established, to handle all matters on the privatization of plantations,with Dr. Bandaranaike as its Chief Executive Officer and public face in the whole exercise.



Creation of RPCs



The PRU initially created 22 Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) consisting of estates of the SLSPC and JEDB. Some estates, of the SLSPC in the Kandy / Matale District and the JEDB in the Kandy District, were excluded as these estates, which had previously been managed by the Usawasama and other Co-operative Societies, were not considered suitable for privatization and remained with the SLSPC and JEDB.



Interested companies were requested to forward their expressions of interest to manage these RPCs, initially for a period of five (05) years, and in June 1992, the PRU selected 22 Companies, from amongst those who had responded, to which the RPCs were handed over.



John Keells Limited, a leading corporate conglomeratein Sri Lanka too had expressed their interest to manage RPCs. In fact, the interest John Keells had in the management of plantations was so great, that one year prior to the actual privatization taking place, they recruited a very senior, respected, efficient and dedicated planter, who was Chairman of a Regional Board of the JEDB, to set up their plantations division. Despite all this John Keells were rejected  for no conceivable reason. I hope Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike, who headed the PRU at that time, can enlighten us on how this catastrophe occurred and whether it was politically motivated.



In July 1993, the PRU created a 23rd RPC. This RPC comprised of 09 estates of the SLSPC in the Matale Region which had been found unsuitable for privatization just one year earlier in June 1992. Two divisions of Kallebokke Estate, an estate not included in the 23rd RPC, consisting of mature Eucalyptus timber valued at over Rs 10 billion, were divested from Kallebokke Estate and included in this 23rd RPC! The management of this RPC, was handed over to a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Group for a period of five (05) years, without following the procedure adopted previously in selecting Managing Agents. It is hoped that Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranayke will enlighten all on the necessity to create this 23rd RPC especially when its estates were considered not suitable to be included in any RPC one year earlier, why the very valuable eucalyptus extents were divested from Kallebokke Estate and included with this RPC and why a Managing Agent was chosen without adhering to the procedure followed earlier in the selection of Managing Agents.



The land on the RPCs continued to be owned by the SLSPC and JEDB which would be evident in that the Indentures of Lease signed with the RPCs were signed on behalf of the SLSPC and JEDB by Directors of the respective organizations.



It would also be interesting to know, whether the Boards of the SLSPC and JEDB had in fact resolved that their Directors sign such Indentures of Lease on the conditions stipulated in such Indentures of Lease as the concessionary conditions provided to RPCs in the Indentures of Lease were not available to the SLSPC and JEDB (the owners of the estates) prior to or even after privatization!



In fact, if such concessions were available to the SLSPC and JEDB prior to privatization, there would have been no necessity for the organizations to obtain any financial support from the Treasury, which was another reason given by Dr. Bandaranaike as to why privatization was necessary!



In 1995, three years after the management of plantations had been privatized, Managing Agents who had run the RPCs assigned to them profitably were given the option of purchasing a 51 percent stake  amounting to 10,200,000 shares  at the par value of Rs. 10. No investigation whatsoever was done by the PRU  headed by Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike  as to whether the profit declared by these RPCs had been derived through the reduction of inputs, stripping of assets or any other extraordinary circumstances that resulted in such profits.



Be that as it may, if my memory is correct, seven (07) RPCs were identified as profit makers and 51 percent of the shares of these RPCs, amounting to 10,200,000 shares, were offered to the Managing Agents at the par value of Rs 10 per share. The income the GOSL derived on this sale was Rs. 714 million.



The first two profit making RPCs in which a controlling interest was sold to the Managing Agents were Bogowantalawa Plantations Limited whose Managing Agents were a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Group and Kotagala Plantations Limited whose Managing Agents were a subsidiary of George Steuarts.



George Steuarts having purchased the controlling interest of Kotagala Plantations for a mere Rs 102 million, sold,virtually overnight, its entire shareholding in Kotagala Plantations to a Malaysian investor, at a profit reported to be around Rs. 90 million. Dr. Bandaranaike would be aware of the exact amount for which Kotagala Plantations was sold the Malaysian investor.



It is also surprising, or should I say shocking, that the share and debenture certificates on the sale of the controlling stake of Kotagala Plantations, which should have been handed over to George Steuarts, were handed over personally by Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike to a Mary Ong, supposedly the wife of the Malaysian investor, apparently on the request of representatives of George Steuarts who had been present at the ceremony. It is also a matter for much concern that Dr. Bandaranaike, with the intelligence that he possesses, did not realize that things did not seem to be right when he was requested to hand over the certificates by the representatives of George Steuarts to an unknown entity such as Ong when in fact he should have handed them over to George Steuarts who had made the required payments!! The ceremony had been photographed and a photograph of Dr. Bandaranaike handing over the certificates to Mary Ong even appeared in the press!

It is also pertinent to state that Scott Direckze when interviewed on George Steuarts re-sale of Kotagala Plantations, his response had been:



We had long-standing liabilities which we were able to settle with these funds. When the government nationalized plantations we lost 90 per cent of our business and we had a very difficult time after this. We received no compensation at the time. Recently we also suffered due to the Central Bank bomb. We were not insured against terrorist acts. We were also not covered against consequential loss.



Therefore, while it would be obvious that Kotagala Plantations was sold at a price much lesser than it was worth, with Scott Direckzes response above, indicating the poor financial state of George Steuarts, leaves one to wonder whether George Steuarts should have even been considered suitable to be awarded a management contract to manage a RPC!



Confirmation of all that stated above is available in the article headed Kotagala Capers published in the Sunday Times of 16th June 1996 available on the link given below, commencing with the article Ong issue: a simple explanation had I been asked  Romesh hits out and the further information available by clicking on Continue to the News/Comments Page 2which appears at the bottom left corner of the first page - http://www.sundaytimes.lk/960616/newsm.html.

The shares of Kotagala Plantations purchased by the Malaysian investor were subsequently resold to Lankem Ceylon, again at a profit of some Rs. 100 million.

Based on these sales, it would be evident that the correct value of Kotagala Plantations was around Rs 292,000,000, which was the price paid by the eventual

purchaser, Lankem.



The non-profit making RPCs were not offered to the Managing Agents on concessionary terms as in the case of the profit making RPCs and their shares were offered for sale on the Colombo Stock Exchange realizing an average of around Rs. 35 per share.



All this will indicate that the PRU, headed by Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike, having sold the seven (07) profit making RPCs for a total price of Rs 714 million (based on Rs 10 per share) caused a massive loss to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), as based on the price for which Kotagala Plantations was eventually sold to Lankem and the average price per share realized for the non profit-making RPCs with their sale on the Colombo Stock Exchange, the shares in the profit making RPCs wouldalso have attracted at least Rs 35 per share. Based on this, the resultant loss to the GOSL would amount to approximately Rs 1.8 billion!

The RPCs were handed over to the Lessees debt free and the Indentures of Lease signed between the SLSPC / JEDB and the Lessees/RPCs, gave concessions to them, neverheard of in any privatization venture, two of which are;



1.The Lessee was entitled to sub-lease, ceding, assigning or mortgaging in part or in whole its rights of the estate/s and using the demised premises as a freehold owner would be entitled to use provided that all reasonable precautions were taken by the Lessee to protect the rights and interests of the Lessor.



2.The ability of the Lessee to create any charge, mortgage including pledge, lien, hypothecation over the Lessees rights for the purpose of obtaining financial accommodation from any financial institution.



Based on the concessions above, it is surprising that the PRU, headed by Dr. Bandaranaike, who was instrumental in drafting and finalizing the Indentures of Lease, appears to have completely overlooked the fact that all the assets of an RPC yet continued to be owned by the SLSPC or JEDB as well as that the concessions given to the RPCs were not available to the SLSPC and JEDB prior to or even after privatization!

The PRU initially created 22 Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) consisting of estates of the SLSPC and JEDB



Need to invest own funds



I also wish to refer to that stated by Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranayake - After some years of private management on a profit share basis without direct investment it became clear that the private sector needed to invest its own funds into the estates to get the best out of them.



I am indeed surprised that Dr. Bandaranaike appears to be completely unaware or chooses to be unaware that the private sector has not invested its own funds into the plantations. In fact, all funds used in the management of estates wereobtained by using the concessions available to the private managers in the Indentures of Lease and as per details in their last Annual Reports, are a staggering Rs. 16.4 billion!



It would also be necessary to point out that some lessees have borrowed funds pledging the assets of the RPC as security and invested these funds in ventures, at times even overseas, when the RPC itself was struggling for existence. Most of these ventures have failed resulting in these investments being written off thereby resulting in the RPC having to bear the loss of these failed investment!



The Indentures of Lease between RPC and the SLSPC or JEDB, besides the unbelievable concessions given to the Lessees, also had no clear standard specified in them on how the RPC should be managed / maintained.



This has resulted in vast extents of cultivated land being abandoned, replanting of tea having virtually come to a halt, no infilling of vacancies being done, soil conservation practices such as draining forgotten and other basic necessary agricultural practices such as forking and application of fertilizer not being done in some RPCs. Further, the maintenance of assets such as factories, bungalows, other buildings and vehicles are deplorable, here again in some RPCs.



I would also refer to the views of Nihal Sri Amarasekera contained in Pages 31 to 37 of his memorandum Privatization of previously nationalized plantations. Amarasekera has not only confirmed that stated by me on the profit making RPCs being given preferential treatment and the Kotagala deal but also stated numerous other irregularities that prevailed in the privatization of the plantations.



Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike continued with the PRU and subsequently the Plantation Management Monitoring Division (PMMD) until 31st December 1995 when his contract expired and was not renewed by the then Minister of Plantation Industries, Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.



It is ironical that Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike was thereafter employed by the Metropolitan Group, initially as Chief Executive Officer of their Hydro Power subsidiary - Eco Power (Pvt) Limited - and also as a Director of Metropolitan Resource Holdings (the owning company of Bogowantalawa Plantations) as well as Bogowantalawa Plantations until April 2010. Confirmation of Dr. Bandaranaike having served as a Director of Metropolitan Resource Holdings and Bogowantalawa Plantations is available on the link - http://www.island.lk/2010/05/02/business7.html.



From that stated previously it would be evident that the Metropolitan Groupwas afforded preferential treatment in being awarded the management contract of the 23rd RPC created in July 1993 to which the very valuable timber extents of Kallebokke Estate had been included as well as the RPC they were awarded the management of in June 1992  Bogowantalawa Plantations  being among the first RPCs in which the controlling interest was sold on preferential terms.



Therefore, with such preferential treatment extended to the Metropolitan Group by the PRU, of which Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranaike was Chief Executive Officer, one wonders whether Dr. Bandaranaike taking up employment with the Metropolitan Group was ethical!! Further, this could also lead to insinuations in the light of the preferential treatment given by the PRU to the Metropolitan Group!!



Despite the many flaws that existed in the process of privatization of plantations, as detailed above and for which Dr. Romesh Dias Bandaranayake, as Chief Executive Officer of the PRU, would be responsible, he is today a member of the Plantations Reforms Committee, established by the present Government to identify the shortcomings prevalent in the management of RPCs!!! Though this Committee had arranged for both an Agricultural Audit to be done on some estates of each RPC and a Financial Audit done on each RPC itself, the reports of these audits have yet to be publicized. While it is strange that these reports not being made public as yet, I will not be surprised if the delays are due to irregularities on the part of some RPCs being highlighted in these reports. It is hoped that at least Dr. Bandaranaike, who is bound to have copies of these reports, makes them public so that all would be aware of their contents.



With the exercise of privatization of plantations leaving much to be desired and even resulting in a loss of revenue to the State amounting to a staggering Rs. 1.4 billion by the arbitrary sale of the profit-making RPCs, it is hoped that, at least at this very late stage, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry is appointed to go into every aspect of the privatization of plantations and those found guilty of irresponsibility, abuse of authority, unethical or dubious behavior and dishonesty are suitably dealt with according to the laws of the land.



I would also wish to emphatically state that my desire in not to see the plantations brought back under state control but to ensure this industry, which is so essential for Sri Lanka, is placed in the hands of efficient private sector managers who will effectively manage and develop the industry to attain and even surpass its obvious potentialso that both they and the country would benefit. This has in fact been successfully achieved by some Lessees of RPCs so far.



In conclusion, I wish to state that I considered this response necessary as the procedure adopted in the privatization of plantations, even resulting in a colossal loss of revenue to the GOSL, should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet and forgotten, slanted or mischievously misconstrued by those who do so, attempting to cover up their misdemeanors!

(The writer was a Planter and a Superintendent with the SLSPC in 1992 at the time of the initial stage of privatization. He was also at that time Deputy President of the Ceylon Planters Society and was actively involved in the identification and resolution of issues planters, of both the SLSPC and JEDB, could have faced after privatization. He also served as General Manager  Plantations of Carsons Agro Services Limited.He could be contacted on devakaw@sltnet.lk)
Another option is to announce a candidate acceptable to all

The 19th Constitutional amendment reversed the 18th constitutional amendment by restricting the Presidential terms of office to two

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksas interview to the influential Indian English daily The Hindu has caused quite a splash among political circles in Sri Lanka. The ex- president was interviewed by Suhasini Haidar and Amit Baruah for the newspaper which has acquired a reputation over the years of being the most authoritative voice on Sri Lanka related issues in the Indian media. Incidentally Suhasini Haidar is the daughter of maverick Indian politician Dr. Subramanian Swamy who displays consistent interest in the affairs of the Island nation. She is the diplomatic affairs and deputy resident editor of The Hindu in New Delhi. Suhasini whose forte is international relations has frequently complemented the efforts of Meera Srinivasan the current Colombo Correspondent of The Hindu in reporting on Sri Lanka. Amit Baruah too is an old Sri Lanka hand having worked as the newspapers Colombo correspondent earlier. He is now the resident editor of The Hindu  in New Delhi. It could be seen therefore that the Mahinda Rajapaksa interview was conducted by high-powered journalists who were well-informed about Sri Lanka.



Just as the sting of a scorpion is in its tail, the explosive impact of the interview was at the tail-end. Though the detailed interview possessed many interesting dimensions, what stirred the Sri Lankan political imagination were the two questions and answers at the end of the interview pertaining to the forthcoming presidential elections and the choices before Mahinda Rajapaksa, the questions and answers were as follows:



Q Who will lead the SLPP into elections in 2019, given that you have completed two terms and according to the 19th Amendment that is the limit?

(MR) I will lead the SLPP. There is a view that despite the Amendment I can fight elections and then fight it out in court.

But I still have to decide whether to take that risk. Another option is to announce a candidate acceptable to all.



Q Will it be a member of your family, or would you consider someone outside it?

(MR) My son [Namal Rajapaksa] cant be a presidential candidate since they have now raised the minimum age to 35 years, instead of 30, so he cant be considered in 2019. My brother is certainly a contender, but the party and the coalition will have to decide who the people want.



Mahindas Mindset

Mahindas response to the queries revealed the present mindset of the man known as the Medamulana Machiavelli on the crucial question of who would be fielded as the joint opposition candidate at the next presidential elections. Since consistency is not necessarily a virtue in politics and also because politics is always regarded as the art of the possible these views may very well change at a different time. At present however the answers encapsulate Mahindas thoughts on the matters concerned. The essence of his answers can be broken down and placed in perspective in the following manner.



Firstly Mahinda Rajapaksa would lead and spearhead the electoral campaign on behalf of the Sri Lanka PoduJana Party (SLPP). An answer to an earlier question indicates that there would be no partnership with the Maithripala Sirisena-led Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The only seemingly available option for Sirisena-led SLFP is to join up and merge with the SLPP.



Secondly Mahinda is yet undecided on whether he should contest presidential elections notwithstanding the 19th Constituional Amendment. There are some in the Mahinda camp who opine that the ex-president could contest again. The two options being toyed with are either to seek an early ruling from the Supreme Court on this issue or to wait for the poll, be nominated as a candidate and then fight it out in courts seeking a favourable decision from the judiciary. This however amounts to political brinkmanship and Mahinda faced with a Hamlet-like dilemma keeps pondering on whether to take the risk or not. Mahinda makes it clear that the decision will be his and his alone.



Thirdly there is the other choice of nominating another person as the candidate. Given the very solid opinion expressed by several reputed legal eagles that the 19th Amendment conclusively debars Mahinda from throwing his hat into the presidential poll ring, this alternative choice could be perceived as virtual Hobsons choice. Interestingly Mahinda places a caveat. He says Another option is to announce a candidate acceptable to all. What this means is that the candidate should be acceptable to all shades of opinion within party folds as well as the voting constituency. What is left unsaid here is that a controversial person who is unacceptable to a broad spectrum and may cause divisions cannot be the candidate.



Fourthly is the reply to the query as to whether the prospective candidate would be a member of the (Rajapaksa) family or someone outside it. Mahindas answer has many layers to it but what is of great significance is what he did not say. He simply ignored the part about a potential candidate outside the family. What this implies is that whatever the problems or squabbles within the Rajapaksa clan, the ultimate choice would be a family member. This rules out the potential candidacy of joint opposition leader Dinesh Gunawardena and the political hallucination of Maithripala Sirisena that he could be the common candidate of a joint opposition SLPP-SLFP combine.



Fifthly it appears that Mahindas first thought is of Namal Rajapaksa alone when the question of a family member being a candidate is posed to him. Mahinda the brother does not think of his siblings first but Mahinda the father first thinks of his eldest son only. He laments the fact that the 19th Constitutional Amendment has raised the age limit of a presidential candidate to 35. Namal born on April 10, 1986 will only be 33 in 2019. This rules out the eldest son and political heir-apparent Namal Rajapaksa as a presidential candidate. Since the other two sons Yoshita and Rohitha are even more younger than Namal there is no way that the presidential candidacy could be given to a son of Mahinda. The next choice therefore is a brother of Mahinda.



Contender Brother

Sixth is the question of a brother of Mahinda being a contender. Mahinda says in the interview My brother is certainly a contender, but the party and the coalition will have to decide who the people want. This brings up the question of who the contender brother is because no name is specifically mentioned Since former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is already in the running for the presidential candidacy stakes it has been automatically assumed that the reference was to Gota. Doubts were raised in circles hostile to Gota that Mahinda had referred to his elder brother Chamal as the contender because both younger brothers Gotabaya and Basil are dual citizens with US citizenship and are therefore ineligible to contest under the 19A.



In order to clarify this point I contacted Suhasini Haider who along with Amit Baruah interviewed Mahinda in New Delhi. I asked her whether Mahinda had mentioned the name of any one explicitly when saying my brother is a contender. Suhasini replied I dont think so, but everyone assumed the conversation was about Gota. She kindly checked her recording of the interview and reverted back to me. Suhasini said that in her question she had mentioned your brother to which Mahinda had replied my brother is certainly a contender. It appears therefore that neither the journalists nor Mahinda had specifically named any brother but it was implicitly understood by both parties that the brother reference was to Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

In order to clarify this point I contacted Suhasini Haider who along with Amit Baruah interviewed Mahinda in New Delhi. I asked her whether Mahinda had mentioned the name of any one explicitly when saying my brother is a contender



Seventh and finally is the question of Gotabaya Rajapaksa being a contender for the presidential candidacy. As stated earlier no name was specifically mentioned but it is understood and accepted that the brother contender reference is to Gota. What is important to note is that Mahinda does not endorse Gota or anyone else for that matter and instead lays down what could be termed as conditions. He says, My brother is certainly a contender, but the party and the coalition will have to decide who the people want. In replying to the earlier question Mahinda said, Another option is to announce a candidate acceptable to all.



What this means is that the prospective candidate must be acceptable to a broad constituency and that the decision on a candidate must be endorsed by the Pohottuwa party and the joint opposition coalition. It is illuminating that Mahinda steadfastly refrains from publicly naming his ex-defence secretary sibling as the candidate despite strenuous efforts by the pro-Gota lobby. In this instance the stipulated conditions are double-edged as far as Gotabaya Rajapaksa is concerned. Will Gota be endorsed by all shades of opinion in the SLPP and joint opposition? Gota may be acceptable to a large number of Sinhala Buddhists but will he be acceptable to substantial segments of the religious and ethnic minority communities in the Island? If the answers are positive then the presidential candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a certainty. If the answers are negative then there can be no firm decision on Gota being the chosen candidate. This prolongs the state of uncertainty. The result can only be compounded confusion.



Medamulana Dynasty

All this brings us back to the succession stakes issue within the Ruhunu Rajapaksa clan. The Medamulana Dynasty in this clan comprises the family members of former State Councillor and Parliamentarian Don Alvin (DA) Rajapaksa namely Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers Chamal, Basil and Gotabaya along with Mahindas son Namal and Chamals son Shasheendra. Although the Ruhunu Rajapaksa family has been in politics for several decades starting from the days of the State Council, its ascendancy to the pinnacle of power came only in the new millennium. This became possible only after Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, known to his country and the world at large as Mahinda Rajapaksa, became Sri Lankas fifth Executive President on November 18, 2005.



Thereafter, the Rajapaksas established themselves rapidly as the numero uno family in Sri Lankan politics. Apart from Mahinda Rajapaksa as President, family members and extended family members monopolised plum positions. Various posts in different spheres -- from Defence Secretary to diplomatic representative -- were held by the clan. Some were elected to office while others were appointed. Some proved their capability by efficiently discharging their duties while others failed miserably demonstrating the negativity of nepotism.



During the days of the Rajapaksa regime it was an open secret that no major enterprise or project could be undertaken in the island without the blessings of at least one Rajapaksa. In those days most movers and shakers in Sri Lankan society derived their power and energy from the Rajapaksa generator. Opposition members alleged then that nearly 70% of the National Budget was controlled directly by the Rajapaksa siblings. Family bandyism was a way of life under the Rajapaksa dispensation.



Mahinda Rajapaksa was an MP from 1970 to 77 and 1989 to 1994. He first tasted ministerial office in 1994. The 1994 elections saw the Peoples Alliance forming a government. Chandrika Kumaratunga became Prime Minister and later President. Mahinda was first appointed as the Labour Minister and later Fisheries Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle. In 2001, the UNP formed the government while Chandrika continued to be President. Mahinda Rajapaksa became leader of the opposition. In 2004, the UPFA formed the government and Mahinda became Prime Minister. In 2005, the presidential election was announced. Despite many intra-party obstacles, Mahinda Rajapaksa secured nomination as the presidential candidate in the November 2005 elections. The Tiger  enforced boycott in the North and the East in 2005 helped Mahinda defeat Ranil in the presidential poll.



Thereafter the Rajapaksa regime pursued the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with ruthless determination. After many deaths and much displacement, destruction and despair, the war ended with the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. The Rajapaksas cleverly converted the war-victory euphoria into political victories in the 2010 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The Ruhunu Rajapaksas perceived as the first family in Sri Lankan politics began ruling the roost in an authoritarian mode. With the 18th Constitutional Amendment being passed, the two-term limit for contesting Presidential elections was removed. It appeared that the politically-invincible Mahinda Rajapaksa was set to rule Sri Lanka for life as President.



Maithripala Sirisena

When presidential elections were called ahead of time, party secretary and senior Cabinet minister Maithripala Sirisena defected and became the common opposition candidate. The January 2015 Presidential poll resulted in Maithripala Sirisena (51.28%) defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa (47.58%). A UNP-led coalition government was formed with Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and Maithripala Sirisena as President. The 19th Constitutional Amendment re-imposing the two-term limit for the Presidency was passed. With Mahinda Rajapaksa being Constitutionally-debarred from contesting the presidency again, it appeared that the political fortunes of Ruhunu Rajapaksas were on the wane. A number of inquiries probing the alleged corruption and abuse of power by various Rajapaksa family members were initiated. Cases were filed in court and a few Rajapaksas like Basil and Namal were even imprisoned for short periods. Gotabaya Rajapaksa continues to wage many legal battles to ward off arrest and potential detention.



In such a situation, many political observers felt that the writing was on the wall politically for the Ruhunu Rajapaksas. But that did not happen. Despite the adverse setbacks, the political stock of Ruhunu Rajapaksas continues to remain on par with Medamulana Mahinda continuing to retain his position as the single-most popular political leader in the seven provinces outside the North and the East. Moreover, the newly-formed Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) which revolves around Mahinda Rajapaksa has got the better of both the UNP and SLFP and emerged as the leading victor at the local authorities elections.



Against that backdrop the Mahinda-led opposition seems confident that the days of the government are numbered and that the political resurgence and return to power of the Ruhunu Rajapaksas is inevitable. The Rajapaksa camp asserts boldly that either Mahinda or a suitable person nominated by him would be at the helm of Sri Lankan affairs soon. Speculation is rife that Gotabaya Rajapaksa endorsed and supported by Mahinda would contest and win the presidency. In spite of these rosy expectations the ground reality within the Rajapaksa camp was troubling. The main reason being the triple blows dealt by the 19th Constitutional amendment.



The 19th Constitutional amendment reversed the 18th constitutional amendment by restricting the Presidential terms of office to two. Since Mahinda Rajapaksa had served two terms as President he was disqualified from contesting the Presidential elections again. This was the first blow. The 19th Amendment also debarred dual citizens from contesting Presidential and parliamentary polls. This rendered Mahindas brothers Basil and Gotabaya ineligible to contest. This was the second blow. 19A also raised the age limit to be President. Earlier it was 30 but now it was 35. Mahindas eldest son Namal Rajapaksa was born in 1986. As such he would only be 33 next year and therefore cant seek the presidency even if he wanted to. This was the third blow.



Still there were many silver linings in the dark clouds. Chamal stated that he was not interested in the presidency. Basil indicated that he was not willing to give up his US citizenship thus ruling himself out of the presidential candidacy race. Gotabaya however was willing to renounce his US citizenship and contest the presidential poll if nominated as a candidate. Some of Mahindas political minions began exploring the possibility of making Mahinda Prime Minister with executive powers. With the newly formed SLPP winning splendidly at the local authority polls it appeared that any candidate with Mahindas backing could romp home the winner in the presidential stakes,



House of the Rajapaksas

This rising tide of optimism within the Rajapaksa camp also started ebbing with distressing news of simmering tensions within the Rajapaksa extended family. Much of this was due to the 19 A ill- effect it was felt. In the absence of Mahinda who among the Rajapaksas could contest the presidential elections? was the 18 Billion Dollar question. Sri Lankans with political animal instincts began indulging themselves in the engaging pastime of Rajapaksa watching. Real or imaginary movements within the house of the Rajapaksas caused quite a buzz. Speculation was rife and the rumour mills began working overtime.The political grapevine began humming with sensational dollops of news about dissension and divisions. It was as if the Rajapaksa family was tearing itself apart over the Presidential candidacy stakes.



It was against this gloomy backdrop that the Pater Familias of the DA Rajapaksa family initiated a proactive move to resolve differences and forge unity. Though Mahinda is the most powerful and influential member of the family he is not the head of the family according to socio-cultural norms. In the absence of parents that honour goes to the eldest son in the family. Chamal Jayantha Rajapaksa born on October 30, 1942 is the eldest of Don Alvin and Dona Dandina Rajapaksas nine children comprising six boys and three girls. Mahinda is the third child.

the Mahinda-led opposition seems confident that the days of the government are numbered and that the political resurgence and return to power of the Ruhunu Rajapaksas is inevitable



Chamal Rajapaksa arranged for a meeting of the Rajapaksa siblings in late March this year. The meeting was held at the residence of one of DA Rajapaksas daughters . The Rajapaksa brothers and sisters converged at the venue without their spouses or offspring being present. The objective of the family conclave was to unanimously select an alternative to Mahinda to contest the Presidential elections. The selected candidate would contest polls and hopefully win the elections. Thereafter he would take steps to transfer power back to Mahinda Rajapaksa. The methodology for this would be devised at the appropriate juncture depending upon the prevailing political circumstances and environment. Until such a transfer of power is effected the chosen candidate would abide by Mahinda and be guided by him.



Chamal Rajapaksa declined to be the chosen candidate. Basil also opted out. This left Gotabaya who like the Dickensian Barkis was willin. Gota said that he would renounce his US citizenship in due course and that the entire process would not take more than two to three months at the most. Basil also extended his support to Gota and said that he would help him run the Govt if elected. It was agreed that Mahinda would remain head of the party while Gotabhaya would be the presidential candidate.Mahinda also said that it would be premature to announce the candidacy now and said he would do so when the time was conducive. This was agreed upon.



Gotabayas Candidacy

Thereafter the Rajapaksa family demonstrated through their actions that they were closing ranks. Mahinda and Basil visited Gotabayas Viyathmaga office publicly. Gota reciprocated by visiting the SLPP party headquarters officially. The Rajapaksa siblings also re-iterated in media interviews that there was no dissension among them. Everything seemed hunky-dory and it seemed to be only a matter of time before Mahinda would officially announce Gotabayas presidential candidacy.



But then as the Scottish poet Robert Burns observed, The best laid plans of men and mice and men often go awry. Likewise something seemed to have gone wrong with the Rajapaksa family plans and there was soon discord. The family consensus on a presidential candidate does not appear to be valid any more.It appears that Gotabhaya is being opposed within family circles.Mahinda Rajapaksas interview with The Hindu newspaper strengthens this impression further. What then could have caused this state of affairs? The possible answers to this question would be explored in a forthcoming article.

D.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com
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The late Siri Egodage considered it a rare honour to teach at Mahinda College-his alma mater- for 20 long years

Born on September 22, 1926 in Meddawatte, Galle, Siri Egodage completed his secondary education at Mahinda College Galle and later graduated from both Colombo and Peradeniya Universities.



After the graduations, Mr. Egodage joined the tutorial staff of Richmond College and served the institute for a brief period. He then joined Mahinda College as a graduate teacher and considered it a rare fortunate to serve this school for 20 long years.



He was able to complete his life by marrying Indrani Samaranayake- a teacher herself. Indrani was from a noble leading family from Kottawa.



The couple was blessed with two sons, Chaminda and Samantha. Their sons are now rendering a yeoman service to the country.



After his golden years at Mahinda College, he took over duties at Sri Medhananda Vidyalaya Deepangoda in Homagama as its Principal. Serving for 13 years as its Principal, he was not only hailed as a good administrator, but also as a preferred teacher in the classroom.



He studied Pali in English medium during his university days at the Peradeniya University. He gave lectures on Buddhism for his students with his chargers vouching for the fact that these sessions were interesting.



He served as both a Dhamma and an English teacher voluntarily at Sri Gauthama Dhaham Pasala in Galawilawatte, Homagama after his retirement as a principal from government service.



One of his profound deeds during his voluntary service was to establish a library for the Nisansala Punyodana Samithiya. He also donated valuable books to Brahmanagama Duva Purana Viharaya. His religious conduct was immaculate. His dress and speech were exemplary. His two doctor sons are excelling in their professions. Dr. Chaminda Egodage is in Australia while Dr. Sanath Egodage serves at the Army Hospital in Colombo.



Siri Egodage was my Principal/ teacher for several years and I was blessed to obtain much valuable advice during my close association with him. He passed away three months ago on June 2, 2018. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.



Dr. Ven. Mambulgoda Sumanarathana Thero,

Deputy Director General,

National Institute of Education,

Maharagama
Diversifying relations with other economic powerhouses highlighted as vital

Told to be cautious of easy money offered by China

Say country has potential to become the Switzerland in Europe

By Nishel Fernando

Sri Lanka is urged to adopt a scrutinised strategy in engaging with China while utilising on balancing and enhancing measures such as FTAs to diversify relations with other economic powerhouses such as Japan and India to leverage on the islands geostrategic positioning to establish itself as trade and finance hub, as similar to Switzerland in Europe.



Delivering the keynote speech at Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2018 themed On the Fast Track to a Turnaround, KPMG India, Chairman and CEO, Arun M. Kumar, who was also served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service during the President Barack Obama administration, asserted that though leveraging the islands geostrategic positioning can be a game-changer for economic growth, it will be a delicate balancing game which requires a well-informed strategy. Sitting in the middle of the Indian Ocean off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka occupies an enviable strategic position, a blessing that, with careful and thoughtful handling and long term vision, and a commitment to openness, can be leveraged to its advantage,

he said.



Drawing attention to Chinas increasingly active role in the island nations economy, Kumar stressed that Sri Lanka needs to be fully aware of Chinas interests.

The recent expansion of Chinas economic and military reach has caught international interest  given Chinas principle of active defence and history of self-interest. Sri Lanka should of course be fully conscious of this, he stressed.



However, Kumar acknowledged that large economies in Asia such as India and Japan are not in a position to fund Sri Lankas large infrastructure projects fully, and this has drawn Sri Lanka closer to China.

But often, this easy money which is offered comes with strings attached  unsustainable debt (as has been in the news lately), decreased transparency, restrictions on market economics and a loss of control over natural resources.



Internationally, the Bridge and Road Initiative, into the designs of which Sri Lanka falls, has been viewed with suspicions by some that this global investment and lending programme leads to a debt trap for vulnerable countries around the world, fuelling corruption and autocratic behaviour in struggling countries, he pointed out.

Sri Lanka recently partnered with Chinese State-owned firms to jointly operate the Hambantota port and to setup a connected industrial park while the two countries have also partnered up to develop the Colombo Port City, which are seen as key developments in Sri Lankas ambition to become a regional trade and financial hub.

Access to an industrial park in Sri Lanka and management of the Hambantota Deep Sea Port and International Airport are seen as signs of China asserting itself at the international high table. These are also perceived as indications of Chinese designs to buy influence by creating logistics bases globally and alongside lock up access to strategic resources.



Port City Colombo, financed by China, promises to be a game-changer for Sri Lanka, and the government hopes its development would help Colombo to become an enhanced trading hub between Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.



The port will also be a finance centre accessing the Indian subcontinents rapidly developing markets, hopefully attracting overseas investors and increasing employment, Kumar said.



While lauding the proposed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between Sri Lanka and regional powerhouses, he emphasised that these FTAs would be desirable as balancing and enhancing measures, particularly the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) with India.



The Sri Lankan governments turn towards broader engagement with East Asia recognizes the countrys pivotal position as a strategic asset to both India and China, he said.



Kumar reiterated that its essential for Sri Lanka to take a well-informed approach and to also engage with the rest of the economies in the region.



He highlighted that if Sri Lanka was successful in bringing these economic powerhouses to work together, it possesses the potential of becoming the Switzerland of Asia.



Asia and the world will have a better future when the large economies work together, being sensitive to each others interests. What would it take for Sri Lanka to be that Switzerland of Asia where the major countries work together? he asked.



Kumar noted that global investors and trade delegations have identified Sri Lankas geographic location and access to regional markets as top reasons for their interest in the countrys economy.



The U.S. too is not far from considering Sri Lanka a strategic bulwark, he said.



He also spoke on factors such as export diversification, policy consistency, reforms of SOEs as well as reforms to ease the business environment and trade, which are vital to achieving Sri Lankas ambition of becoming a trade and finance hub.



While noting that the government is moving in the right direction in terms of making the country more open to the world and becoming an attractive place to do business, Kumar advised the government to focus on execution as a sustained commitment which is required to see reforms through.

Public sector reforms should be next Presidents top priority: Eran

Public sector reforms have to be the top priority of the next President of Sri Lanka, which requires a new Constitution, a top minister said.



Participating in a panel discussion at the National Economic Summit 2018 organised by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) yesterday, State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne said, The number one mandate for the new president has to be public sector reforms. Sri Lanka has nearly a 1.4 million in public sector and defence forces. Thats the single largest reform that we have to undertake.

He asserted that a new Constitution not only requires to address the ethnic issue, but also resolve more crucial issues such as the unproductive public sector.

The State Minister insisted that public sector reforms have to come from the top level of the government.



We need a new Constitution, because we need to claim that we have just 25 ministries and these ministries should be stated in the Constitution. No political leader in the country should be given any discretion to decide what the ministries of this country are, he asserted.



Wickramaratne also proposed to define the State agencies that fall under the ministries in the annexure.
Police Special Task Force (STF) Commandant Senior DIG M. R. Latheef said he would discuss with IGP Pujith Jayasundara regarding the investigation into the allegations levelled against the DIG in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).

During a media briefing in Kandy on Wednesday, Anti Corruption Force Director Namal Kumara revealed that DIG in charge of TID Nalaka de Silva had allegedly tried to use him to frame STF Commandant Senior DIG M. R. Latheef.

The Commandant said yesterday that he was in discussion with the Police Headquarters to take further action as his name was mentioned in the conversation.

He said he would have a discussion with the IGP on the possibility of handing over the investigation to the CID, instead of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). (Darshana Sanjeewa)
Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday robustly defended the jailing of two Reuters journalists who were reporting on the Rohingya crisis, as she hit back at global criticism of a trial widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the free press.



The countrys de facto leader acknowledged that the brutal crackdown on the Muslim minority, which the United Nations has cast as genocide could have been handled better, but insisted the two reporters had been treated fairly.



They were not jailed because they were journalists but because the court has decided that they had broken the Official Secrets Act, she said.



Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were each imprisoned for seven years last week for breaching the countrys hardline Official Secrets Act while reporting on atrocities committed during the military crackdown in Rakhine state.



Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has come under intense pressure to use her moral force inside Myanmar to defend the pair.



Challenging critics of the verdict, including the UN, rights groups who once lionised her, and the US Vice President, to point out where there has been a miscarriage of justice, Suu Kyi said the case upheld the rule of law.



The case was held in open court... I dont think anybody has bothered to read the summary of the judge, she said during a discussion at the World Economic Forum, adding the pair still had the right to appeal.



Her comments drew an indignant response from rights groups who have urged the Nobel Laureate to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters.Daily Mail, 13

September 2018
Former Defence Secretary and brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya, got a hint that he could be the next possible candidate from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for future elections.



Former President Rajapaksa told The Hindu in an interview that though he will lead the SLPP there was the likelihood that his brother could be a candidate from his newly formed party at future elections. Going by the context of elections and whats been spoken of about his family and future elections this reference to a brother has to be about Gotabaya.



Now we know for certain of one name in terms of who could be a possible SLPP candidate at future elections. But before his name was mentioned, Gotabaya, fondly known as Gota, went on promoting himself and the Viyathmaga programme he initiated to cement his place in politics.



Gota officially entered politics just few months ago. Those who appose him will count this period in days; which for a fact is not much. But the people who oppose him know that he is made of substance and can present something impressive at a discussion. The problem would be that fact that this man has a reputation of getting about his work regardless of whether his plan inconveniences others or not. Thats the Gota we knew of when Rajapaksa was Sri Lankas president.



Fast forward the time to 2018 and we now have a Gota who is talking about economic development and the need to work closely with business professionals. Is this change in approach to work now real because earlier, in the role of a government servant, he was used to ordering people around.



At a Viyathmaga forum held in May, Gota was quoted in newspapers saying that he wanted people to love their country and play their part in the future. These words are impressive, but detractors would say that this man once migrated abroad after quiting his job in the Sri Lanka Army.



If anybody has thoughts of loving Gota or wants him as the next president, they are backed by the history associated with this person. Some would question whether a war expert is the ideal choice for the task of helping a nation release itself from its debt burden.



Also Gota is one person questioned regarding the abduction of Keith Noyahr and the killing of Lasantha Wickremetunga, both who were career journalists in Sri Lanka.

Gota is still to be officially announced as SLPPs candidate for future elections. For this he has to receive the greenlight from both the party and the coalition, thats backing Mahinda Rajapaksa.



Gotas patriotic talk will not be taken seriously by the wise voter unless he openly says that he would relinquish American citizenship and puts the interest of the country first.



At this forum he had also stressed on the fact that economic growth and law and order went hand in hand. But others would recall that he once ordered a law enforcement officer in the capacity of a DIG to withdraw when he went to check on a protest which featured Wimal Weerawansa.



Gota is credited by many for making Colombo beautiful through some mind-boggling development work. But that is his soft side accompanied by the taskmaster he is.
The UNP yesterday questioned as to whether former President Mahinda Rajapaksa opposed the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and the Public Private Partnership deal with regard to the Mattala Airport during his visit to India in the same way he opposed them in Sri Lanka

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna told a media briefing that it was funny not to hear reports which said the former President had opposed the proposed deals which the Sri Lankan government is planning to get into with India when he met the Indian Prime Minister on Wednesday. We have seen the former President opposing the proposed deals with Indian whenever he is in Sri Lanka. However we did not see such a behavior from him when he visits India, MP. Rajakaruna said.

Mr. Rajapaksa had actually stated he had not discussed the Mattala Airport deal when he met the Indian Prime Minister but had only said that he has an issue with the privatization programme of Maithripala Sirisena's government. Why has he not opposed the deal the way he does in Sri Lanka? Why did not he express his objection on the deal when he met Prime Minister Modi? Mr. Rajakaruna questioned.

UNP MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena who also participated in the news conference said MP Wimal Weerawansa should ask the people to hoist black flags to oppose the former Presidents meeting with the Indian Prime Minister.  Mr. Weerasana asked the people to hoist black flags when Prime Minister Modi was visiting Sri Lanka for the International Vesak festival. He should ask the people to do the same when former President returns to the island after meeting the Indian Prime Minister, he said.

Both MPs said former President should have opposed the proposed deals between the Indian and the Sri Lankan government if they were genuinely opposing them.

The MPs also responded to the statement made by the former President that one of his brothers will contest for the presidential elections next year questioning as to whether there is no one else to contest for the post other than the Rajapaksas. They also said Mr. Rajapaksa should mention as to which brother of his is going to get the candidature at the next presidential election. (Yohan Perera)

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FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA
MEDIA  To use its own members words, Delaware County Council was abound in testiness Wednesday as the issue of campaign contributions and contracts came up again.

First, it was on the consideration of a $483,093 contract with Remington & Vernick Engineers for the construction, inspection and documentation of services for the West Seventh Street bridge in Chester.

There is significant campaign contributions that came from Remington & Vernick  $4,000 for Friends of Dave White in 2017 and another $2,575 to the Republican Finance Committee, Councilman Brian Zidek, a Democrat, said. Again, I think these things should be made public and people can make with that information what they will.

To that, Republican County Council Chairman John McBlain asked if the engineering firm had made contributions to any other candidates. Zidek replied he didnt know.

Is that how we vote now, dependent upon who gives what campaign contributions to whom? McBlain asked. Thats how you seem to govern, based on campaign contributions.

I said I want it out there on the public record, Zidek said. Is there a reason we dont want people to know about this?

All five county council members voted in favor of the contract.

The issue appeared again during consideration of a lease with TWP Properties II Inc. for offices at 212 W. Front St. in Media for $3,100-a-month for the county Office of Intercommunity Health. That office will move to the Front Street location so the Park Police can move into their Government Center location. The Park Police had previously been in the Toal Building, which was shut down in July after a wall in the adjacent garage collapsed.

Zidek abstained from that vote as council had been using the services of Media Real Estate to help find an appropriate location. Zidek abstained as the family of the chairman of his campaign committee owns Media Real Estate.

Oh, Republican County Councilman Michael Culp said, I guess I should now switch my vote on this because there was a Democrat that would receive the benefit because of Media Real Estate or should I just continue to vote in the best interest of Delaware County residents, which Ive been doing since Ive been up here for four years, which I will continue to do?

I hope you would, Mr. Culp, Zidek said.

And then, at the end of the meeting during the portion set aside for council to make remarks, the dissonance sounded again.

County Councilman Kevin Madden, a Democrat, said he understood the defensiveness of his colleagues.

If I were in your shoes, Id probably feel the same way, he said. The reason I think its important to raise such issues is precisely so we dont have meetings like we had today.

Culp disagreed with the characterization of being defensive, as he went on the offense.

It was more of a hypocritical statement because if were really looking at transparency  wouldnt (the Democratic county council members) have looked into whether Republicans or Democrats gave donations? he said. They didnt.

When they asked, Culp said his Democratic counterparts said they didnt look into it and told them to do so themselves.

If thats not of a political nature, then I dont know what is and its not transparency, he said. They should stop hiding behind transparency if theyre not actually going to be transparent.

McBlain looked at a former contract council approved with the law firm involved with a class-action suit against lead paint manufacturers.

He said Zidek and Madden presented the idea as well as Anapol Weiss as the firm to do it without going through a request for proposal process.

If I were to play games like other people have played, Id pointed out Anapol Weiss is a huge donor to Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia and other places, McBlain said. And, if you want to be nefarious about it, Id point out Anapol Weiss and their partners gave tens of thousands of dollars to Joe Torsella, the treasurer of Pennsylvania.

Joe Torsella employs the Democratic leader of Haverford Township, who is a close campaign associate of the members of county council that are Democrats, he said.

However, McBlain said he approved Anapol Weiss because of itsr ability as a class-action law firm.

On county council, we need to measure, no matter whether somebody has contributed to a Democrat or a Republican  if what is being offered is in the best interest of the county, he said.

Madden, who said he received no money from Anapol Weiss but did not know if the county Democratic Party had, shared a similar sentiment.

I do think its important that campaign contributions are known  particularly when it relates to a vendor thats receiving a bid that impacts the county, Madden said as he called for considering placing caps on such donations. Whether you wear a Republican or Democratic hat, I think its important to acknowledge that campaign funding is the lifeblood of a candidates race to public office. I think its important that we examine transparency and potential restrictions on campaign contributions so that the public can be aware of how their elected officials are elected.
UPPER DARBY  A month after areas of the county were flooded from torrential downpours, and days before a hurricane may touch the Philadelphia region, a state emergency manager toured creek ways in the eastern end of the county to evaluate proactive responses to prevent future weather damage.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agencys Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation Director Chris Evans toured notable areas of water retention and creek beds throughout Upper Darby on Wednesday with township officials and state lawmakers. Darby Creek and Naylors run were two waterways that were observed. Flooding there contributed to millions of dollars in damage in Upper Darby, Springfield and Darby Borough back in August.

Historically we know that these are problem areas, and what can we do ahead of time to alleviate damage to help mitigate so those areas dont choke up with flooding, it backing up and flooding residential and commercial areas, said Evans. We have the second most river systems in the country, so its always an ongoing problem. The stream debris that goes into it, making sure that we have proper storm water management so that water is held verses putting bends into the creeks are all things were looking at.

Wednesdays tour started at the Quarry Center in Havertown which houses a large stormwater retention system under the premises that slowly releases water out to control the flow of accumulating water back into the community. Other stops included Naylors Run Park and the Baltimore Avenue bridge over Darby Creek at the Lansdowne and Clifton Heights borders.

As Evans looked for more proactive approaches, Upper Darby Mayor Tom Micozzie, state Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, and state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, have been proposing more regional control to be able to do what needs to be done to clean up waterways that collect shrubbery, trash and other debris that causes flooding. The three leaders brought that idea to Gov. Tom Wolf directly when he toured flood damaged areas in Upper Darby last month. He agreed with the notion.

When youre saying Naylors Run Dam or Manor Road they know the districts, but they dont know the intricacies of our alarm system, said Micozzie about regional control. We can give them the tools necessary to help us when theyre having that dialogue with Harrisburg.

At present, approval is sought by the state Department of Environmental Protection to get clearance to do such work, but with the state of emergency declaration the governor made last month, it alleviates that bureaucratic step which would otherwise take two to three weeks for approval.

We all need to work together, we need to start working upstream in Radnor, Haverford and those areas because its coming down and hitting Upper Darby, Clifton Heights, and Darby gets the brunt of it, said McGarrigle. We want to see what resources are available from the state to do preventive maintenance. The governor has been great since the (August) storm and we want to see whats available so Jamie and I can fight for it for Delaware County to do the services that we can get.

Micozzie said Wolf has sent them post-flood resources to help with residential cleanups and housing vouchers for families that sustained damage in their homes.

Santora said he isnt naive to how storms hit and any cleanup that ensues afterward, but he wants to minimize it as much as possible the use of resources by acting ahead on the front end.

Santora added the suggestion of using chainsaw gangs that are deployed to clear out large tree trunks and other arborous items that crowd the flood banks and backup the flow of water to be used before torrential storms come.

Its actually less dangerous for them to be cutting before the storm than it is after the storm, McGarrigle noted of chainsaw gangs.

The state lawmakers are championing a hotline through the county dedicated solely to handle calls dealing with areas on water banks that should be cleaned up before a storm to prevent the stuff from being swept up and damming up downstream.

In all of the work weve done in expanding our trail systems we got more and more people now to report it, said county Emergency Services and Management Director Tim Boyce about the hotline item.

Aside from the state and municipal response, PEMAs Evans encouraged homeowners to get flood insurance whether they live in flood-prone areas or not. He said it was a part of the preparedness of having a family plan.
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TEL deepens collaboration with customers to embrace opportunities in AI era

The emergence and convergence of AI, IoT, cloud, and autonomous driving technologies have brought tremendous opportunities to the semiconductor industry. However, as the process technology moves towards 7nm/5nm nodes, heterogeneous integration, and 3D structures, there are many challenges in the industry to be resolved.

At this year's Semicon Taiwan, Akihisa Sekiguchi, deputy division general manager of Corporate Innovation Division at Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL), a leading semiconductor equipment company, gave a speech on the topic of "Semiconductor Equipment in the Era of Internet of Cognitive Entities," sharing his views on the latest trend. He stressed that TEL will strengthen cooperation with customers to overcome various technical challenges, so that the industry can continue to enjoy the cost reduction benefits at advanced nodes and to realize the vision of smart life in the AI era.

Opportunities and challenges coexist in the semiconductor industry

With the spread of IoT technology, the age of AI/big data has begun. A large amount of data generated by each node needs to be stored, processed, transmitted and analyzed, therefore pushing up the demand for various semiconductor devices, including memory, logic, sensors, and the emerging AI chips. It is expected that the trend will drive the long-term growth of the overall industry, and for this year, the semiconductor production equipment market has set a new record of US$60 billion.

"From the computer to the mobile era, by process scaling, the industry has been able to keep growing and meet consumers' demands for smaller, cheaper, and better products," Sekiguchi said. "But now we are at a turning point. If we want to continue this successful model in the AI era, we need new breakthroughs in both chip design and process technology."

First of all, in terms of chip design, so far the AI function is mainly used in the cloud. But the long-term growth brought by AI cannot be made possible if the deep learning/inference functions are not prevalent across every IoT nodes.

At present, many companies are investing in GPU, FPGA, and ASIC chips for this. In addition, a brand new kind of neuromorphic chip, which adopts non-Von Neumann architecture, has been actively developed. This is a new revolution for the existing CMOS circuits and CPU architectures, in a bid to accelerate the realization of AI applications by providing several orders of magnitude enhancement of performance, cost and power efficiency.

This is because different AI algorithms require different hardware solutions, and the traditional way of making processors faster is no longer enough. New architecture, integration and system optimization are required to meet the different needs of cloud and edge devices. Therefore, a variety of new AI-optimized chips/devices will show up in the market. And TEL is working with multiple partners to address the AI development needs.

In addition, in terms of process technology, DRAM, NAND and logic devices are all facing the increasingly difficult challenge of process scaling, which must be solved by adopting new materials and moving to 3D architecture.

For DRAM, scaling has become increasingly difficult as the capacitor aspect ratio increases to be over 50 at D16 node. As for NAND, the implementation of 3D structure has enabled continued scaling. "But we are now talking about over 100 layers of different materials stacking. How to keep dimension consistency from the top to the bottom, it's a daunting task," said he.

"For logic scaling, thanks to the progress of lithographic technology, we are able to keep scaling as EUV is ready to be used at 7nm node. But in terms of process complexity, we have to deal with the problems from planar to FinFET, high-K, and to nanowire and nanosheet at 5nm below."

When fabricating these tiny 3D structures, maintaining the uniformity and consistency of operation is very important. From the capability side of equipment, atomic level control of processing is a must at leading edge technology nodes.

Winners are those who can keep driving down the cost

Scaling capability limitation and growing demand for devices occurring at the same time means the cost is an issue. Though the industry can always get the performance required by utilizing innovative technologies and new materials. But now the question is that is it the end of cost scaling?

Sekiguchi is optimistic about this, saying, "We don't believe that it is the end of cost scaling but it is true that cost is a big factor. FinFET is a performance requirement and as we have progressed through several nodes of its development, production issues are being ironed out. If anything, the introduction of EUV can have a positive effect in terms of reducing the manufacturing cost by making EUV plus dual patterning the solution for patterning instead of SAQP for example. To some effect, the dependence is on EUV throughput and cost effectiveness. Of course, for 3D NAND, the dependence is not on lithography, rather it is on how many device layers we can stack. There it is deposition and etch productivity that will determine cost scaling."

"Though it's hard, the problems can be solved, provided that the industry as a whole works together to solve it systematically. And the winners in the future will be those who can still enjoy the benefits of cost-effectiveness at advanced nodes, who are the end users of our products," he stressed.

"As process technologies get increasingly complicated, every customer may have different requirements. We need to collaborate with each customer to provide the specialized solution they need, and the commodity tools can't fit anymore. In particular, new materials and its chemistry play an important role in creating these tiny structures. From the front-end process of devices build all the way to contact, wiring, to the back-end packaging, the considerations for processes are all different. Therefore, equipment vendors should understand all these issues. And for that we need to understand integration better, just like our customer needs to understand our tools' capability better as well."

On the other hand, tool efficiency is also a key factor to the cost scaling. In order to improve equipment productivity, it's an inevitable trend to migrate to smart manufacturing by adopting AI and data analytics. "The ability to analyze vast amounts of data is important and critical. By implementing smart analysis of information, scheduling of events within the semiconductor device fabrication factory can be optimized and production performance improved. On the equipment side, the concept of tool health monitoring and predictive maintenance coordination are fairly well known, and we continue to work on these solutions on a customer-by-customer basis to meet their specific requirements."

Finally, he stressed that the competition in the semiconductor production equipment market is very fierce. "We need to help customers reduce the cost of operations. Therefore, we aim to keep competitiveness in the market by responding to diversity, constantly pursuing higher efficiency, and deepening cooperation with customers."

Akihisa Sekiguchi, deputy division general manager of Corporate Innovation Division, TEL

Photo: Grace Lee, Digitimes, September 2018
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By LINDSEY BAHR

AP Film Writer

There's a where are they now at the end of White Boy Rick, an astonishing true story about a teenager in a rough part of Detroit in the 1980s who became an undercover FBI informant, that might have served the movie better had the audience been aware from the beginning.

This kid, Richard Wershe Jr., ended up being arrested and sentenced to life in prison for possessing eight kilograms of cocaine under a controversial Michigan drug policy, the so-called 650-lifer law.





. . .
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KIRKLAND  An office building at 5808 Lake Washington Blvd. N.E. has sold for little over $39.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was SC Lake Washington Park Inc., associated with BlackRock, which acquired the property in 2007 for $32.75 million.

The buyer was CLPF Lake Washington Park LLC, which is associated with Clarion Partners and its Clarion Lion Properties Fund of New York.





. . .
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BELLEVUE  The Sunset Village Apartments, at 12839 S.E. 40th Place, has sold for just over $7.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was Trimark IX LLC, which acquired the property in 2016 for $6.2 million.

The buyer was ELUFA LLC, which is associated with two private investors in Bellevue. Public records indicate a loan from Umpqua Bank.





. . .
Before the grass has even begun to grow on John McCains grave, Republicans have gone back in time and pulled footage of him challenging Elissa Slotkin during her confirmation hearing 2014.

The McCain family is rightfully disgusted:

The family is disappointed that Johns image is being weaponized this election cycle so soon after his passing, and they had hoped there would be a more appropriate amount of time for people to think about his final message before they began to politicize him.

The ad was put out by the National Republican Congressional Committee which is freaking out that their incumbent candidate, Mike Bishop, is heading toward being unseated by Slotkin who is running a stellar campaign.

The ad came out the same week that Slotkin, who served three tours in Iraq, picked up key endorsements from several high-profile national security figures:

U.S. House hopeful Elissa Slotkin racked up four high-profile national security endorsements this week, including three from Republicans. A former defense official in the Obama administration, Slotkin received endorsements from former Obama Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; the first-ever national intelligence director, John Negroponte; and Stephen Hadley, national security adviser under President George W. Bush  all Republicans who praised Slotkins service to the country. Slotkin also got the endorsement of Lt. Gen. Doug Lute, former deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan and former U.S. permanent representative to NATO, who said he hired Slotkin to work for Bushs White House in 2007.

Former Senator Carl Levin also defended Slotkins qualifications and service:

I fully endorse Elissa Slotkin for #MI08. I knew Elissa to be truthful and honorable including the many occasions she briefed the Senate. I loved John McCain but disagreed w/him at times & his opposition to Elissa was one such time.  Senator Carl Levin (@SenCarlLevin) September 12, 2018

In response to the NRCCs ad, Slotkin was frank:

Slotkin last week praised McCain, who died in August, as an American hero and an advocate for U.S. service members. During my confirmation hearing, Sen. McCain was doing his job. He was asking tough questions about the administrations policies and our militarys posture in Iraq, Slotkin said in an interview. And I was doing my job. I was representing the decisions of the commander in chief and keeping my best professional advice to the president in confidence. Slotkin added: To be frank, my personal opinions differed from the presidents at the time, but I took my obligations to my role very seriously.

Slotkin released an ad herself this week, a raw look into her life with her mother who died from ovarian cancer in 2011. Her mother went without health insurance for a time because, as a survivor of breast cancer, her preexisting condition made insurance unaffordable.

Its a powerful ad that holds Mike Bishop accountable for his votes to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and end protections for people with preexisting conditions:

Slotkins race shouldnt even be close but shes turned it from a solid Republican seat into a toss-up. With YOUR help, she can send Mike Bishop back to being a pocket lint wrangler for millionaire Matty Moroun. Make a donation HERE.

UPDATE: I just noticed that the ad attacking Slotkin uses our very own podcast The Sit and Spin Room (now called The GOTMFV Show) as a source though its unclear what its actually a source of:

That interview with Elissa is HERE.
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Romania requests EU funding to aid African swine fever crisis



Premier VioricaDancila, Romania's prime minister sought the European Union for financial help, on Thursday,to deal with the serious outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).



Premier Dancila made the request to the EU's agriculture commissioner, Phil Hogan, on the basis that Romania needs the money "to reduce the unfortunate impact" the disease has had on Romanian farmers.



In response, Hogan said the EU would evaluate Romania's request however, he added that the situation was logistically difficult given the high number of pigs that were kept by farmers in their backyards, insinuating that it would be easier for officials to disburse funds to large-scale pig farms.



Hogan explained that 75% of all "backyard" pig farmers in the EU were in Romania and that the EU had already allocated 2 million euros (US$2.3 million) to help veterinary services handle the outbreak.



The Veterinary Health and Food Safety Authority stated 900 outbreaks have been reported since and that 230,000 pigs have been culled, deeming the southeast as the worst affected region.



It said it was processing some 3,100 claims totalling 47.6 million lei (US$11.9 million), with 500,000 lei (US$125,991)compensation already paid to farmers.



Dancila later said the government would pay 500 lei (US$126) monthly to people who lost jobs in the pig industry due to the outbreak.



Source: Hastings Tribune




African swine fever hits Belgium

Europe's African swine fever (ASF) crisis escalated drastically when Belgium confirmed the disease had spread to the west of EU on Thursday.

The arrival of the epidemic is feared by many in the pork industry, partly because it would possibly be followed by import bans from key non-EU markets.

According to Belgium's food safety agency AFSCA, it had detected two boars carrying ASF around the southern village of Etalle.

In immediate response, France announced a warning of the high economic stakes of the outbreak in Belgian and had called on regional officials to ramp up controls to stop the disease from spreading across the border.

The Belgian authorities said they were working at various levels of government to prevent the possible spread of the disease to pig farms.

When it was discovered at Europe's second-largest farm in Romania in late August, authorities culled about 140,000 pigs.

Germany has adopted extraordinary measures to contain the disease, even seeking experts to help advise eastern countries on how best to stop the disease from spreading.

Denmark announced plans to build a fence along its border with Germany to keep African swine fever out, despite its southern neighbour not recording any cases so far.

"In case of an outbreak of African swine fever, the export to non-EU countries will shut down," Danish Environment and Food Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said in June.

Source: POLITICO
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Cuomo won but time is up for his IDC allies



Cuomo's establishment Dems won across the board at the top of the ticket in New York yesterday-- he, himself (the avatar for corruption), Kathy Hochul (a hair away from being a Republican), and Letitia James (his hand-picked candidate, chosen to keep his criminal activities as governor from being investigated by Zephyr Teachout). Cuomo won with 975,552 votes (65.6%) against Cynthia Nixon (34.4%). Jumaane Williams did better, winning decisively in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but losing to Hochul 731,459 (53.3%) to 640,530 (46.7%). In the 4-way Attorney General race Letitia James led the field with 578,412 votes (40.6%) to Teachout's 442,567 (31%), Sean Patrick Maloney did his job for the establishment by splitting the upstate vote with Teachout. He wound up third with 356,702% (25%). If he kept her out of Cuomo's hair, there is at least the satisfaction of knowing he will probably lose his House seat in November.





NY Times, "at a group of Democratic state senators who had collaborated with Republicans boiled over on Thursday, as primary voters ousted nearly all of them in favor of challengers who had called them traitors and sham progressives." But lower down the ballot... nirvana! "Years of anger," according to the, "at a group of Democratic state senators who had collaborated with Republicans boiled over on Thursday, as primary voters ousted nearly all of them in favor of challengers who had called them traitors and sham progressives."





Blue America has been working for years to help oust IDC leader Jeffrey Klein. Yesterday, with help from the SEIU, Alessandra Biaggi beat him, 53-47%. 6 of the 8 IDC assholes were defeated-- as well as the entrenched and powerful Marty Dilan who has been playing footsie with the IDC for years.

SD 11 (Queens)- John Liu beat Tony Avella

SD 13 (Queens)- Jessica Ramos beat Jose Peralta

SD 18 (Brooklyn)- Julia Salazar beat Marty Dilan

SD 20 (Brooklyn)- Zellnor Myrie best Jess Hamilton

SD 31 (Manhattan, West Side)- Robert Jackson beat Marisol Alcantara

SD 34 (Bronx)- Alessandra Biaggi beat Jeffrey Klein

SD 53 (Syracuse)- Rachel May beat David Valesky





Normally a member of the legislature in New York has to be found guilty of a crime-- or at least be indicted-- to lose reelection. To see 6 of the most conservative Democrats in the state Senate all go down at once is miraculous. Mayor de Blasio helped Myrie to beat Hamilton and , shockingly, Gillibrand endorsed Biaggi against Klein. All the victors had taken inspiration from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.





The only IDC creeps left are Diane Savino (Staten Island north shore, Brooklyn south shore) and David Carlucci (Rockland County + Ossining). We will not tolerate the same old way of doing politics, said Alessandra Biaggi, who defeated Mr. Klein. Enough.





Democrats must still pick off at least one Republican seat this fall to seize the State Senate majority. But if they do, the party will be represented by a drastically different cast of characters.



Some of the elements that wont be around anymore were sources of division, said Senator Michael Gianaris of Queens, who feuded with Mr. Klein. It should be more unified.

If you'd like to help these progressives win in November, please consider clicking on the 2018 state legislative ActBlue thermometer right above. Some may even face the opponents they beat yesterday running on third party slates. Others will have to beat back Republicans. All of them can use some help.
Cavusoglu: US should reconsider its alliances in Syria

In an opinion letter to The New York Times, Mevlut Cavusoglu warns that U.S.- backed YPG has forged an alliance with Assad.

Turkeys Foreign Minister said early Friday that Washington should reconsider its alliances in Syria as the Assad regime prepares to launch a bloody offensive on northwestern Idlib province.

In a letter to The New York Times titled 'A Looming Disaster in Syria', Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that the YPG terrorist group has struck an alliance with Bashar al- Assad and is sending troops to help him recapture Idlib from the rebels.

"IT'S TIME FOR WASHINGTOM TO ASSESS WHO ITS REAL ALLIES"

The alliance has grown deeper since senior leaders of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, spearheaded by the YPG, held formal talks with the Syrian regime to carve out a place for themselves in the new Syria, he said.

"Having YPG forces operating from Syria, just miles from the border of Turkey, is untenable. Its time for Washington to assess who its real allies in the region are." Located near the Turkish border, Idlib province is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.

THE WORST HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups. As a result, Turkey has been reinforcing its military presence on the border with Syria. The UN has warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".

Cavusoglu also emphasized in the letter that the YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK, which has led a violent terror campaign in Turkey for more than 30 years and that Turkey, the U.S. and the EU have listed the PKK as a terrorist organization. In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people.
Turkey deploys more military equipment to Syrian border

Armored vehicles, Firtina (Storm) howitzers, tanks, construction equipment reach border units in two southern provinces

Military reinforcements arrived at the Syrian border in Turkey's southern Hatay and Kilis provinces on Thursday, including tanks, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter who visited the frontier.

FIRTINAS GOING TO BORDER

Armored vehicles, Frtna (storm) howitzers, tanks, and heavy construction equipment were deployed at border units after reaching Hatays Reyhanli district and central Kilis.

Military reinforcements arrived at the Syrian border in Turkey's southern Hatay province, including tanks, according to reports from the ground.

IDLIB OPERATION

Turkey has been reinforcing its military presence on the border with Syria as the Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by Assad forces.

The UN warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".


Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Reciprocity must be the basis in EU-China relations, according to EP report

The European Parliament (EP) today approved a report from ECPM MEP Bas Belder on the state of play of relations between the EU and China. The report analyzes and assesses recent developments in the People's Republic of China on political, economic and social issues and makes recommendations to both Chinese and European authorities.

Under the absolute leadership of President Xi Jinping, the People's Republic of China is developing very dynamically internally and externally. "Accurate tracking and interpretation of this complex process is necessary for a realistic European approach to the close relationship with Beijing. This report wants to make a responsible contribution to this, " says Bas Belder.

A crucial principle for solid EU-China relations is reciprocity in all areas. For example in terms of market access, but also in terms of press freedom and other human rights. " Reciprocity builds mutual trust and forms a firm foundation for a strategic partnership between the EU and China ", says Belder, who continues: " This reciprocity is an ideal image ". The report leaves no doubt about the raising concerns and criticism from the European perspective on the autocratic Chinese Communist Party policy. Speaking of Tibet, Xinjiang , the sinification of all religions, the social credit system , the militarization of the South China Sea, the law on international NGOs, the raising of tensions in the relationship with Taiwan, exactly these are the sensitive issues subject to Chinese censorship.

Belder: " With this open, factual view from the European Parliament on EU-China relations, the intention is to promote the well-being of citizens of the People's Republic as well as the promotion of European interests ".

The report also encourages self-criticism in the European ranks. China's dynamism worldwide and therefore also across Europe and in Europe ( for example the development of the Belt and Road Initiative ) urgently requires a well-considered European strategy. To name just one big challenge: Beijing is now thinking of northern and southern copies on our continent, following the controversial 16+ 1 format in which no fewer than eleven EU member states from Central and Eastern Europe and five Balkan countries cooperate with China.

Finally, the report underlines the need for a strong promotion of our knowledge of China through substantial support for independent think tanks of a high scientific level.
By CLAUDIA ASSIS

Shares of Nio Inc., a Shanghai-based electric-car maker, fell more than 4% in their trading debut Wednesday, after the company priced its initial public offering a squeak above the low end of its range, raising money for an expansion that includes launching a smaller electric SUV to broaden its customer base.

Nio sold 160 million American depositary shares priced at $6.26 each, barely above the low end of its price range of $6.25 to $8.25. The company raised $1.00 billion and could raise up to $1.15 billion if all the options granted to underwriters to buy additional shares are exercised.

The deal is among the larger U.S. IPOs this year, behind Axa Equitable Holdings EQH, +0.27% $3.16 billion, PagSeguro Digitals PAGS, -0.31% $2.6 billion, and iQIYI Inc.s IQ, -2.04% $2.4 billion.

The company has listed its ADS on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NIO. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan were among the underwriters.

Entities affiliated with Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent Holdings Ltd. 0700, +1.91% have a 15% stake in Nio, and those affiliated with investment powerhouse Hillhouse Capital another 7.5%, according to the companys prospectus. Founder and Chief Executive Bin Li holds a 17% stake.

The company will compete with Tesla Inc. TSLA, -0.15% in the luxury electric-car market, and mentioned the potential U.S. rival 13 times in its prospectus.

Here are five things to know about Nio:

Its name means blue sky coming

Nios Chinese name, Weilai, translates as blue sky coming. Li founded the company in 2014, then named NextCar Inc. It changed its name to Nio three years later.

Nio first introduced a super car, the EP9, in 2016. It launched its first volume-produced car, the ES8, in December 2017, with deliveries starting in June of this year.

The ES8 is a 7-seater all-aluminum body electric SUV that the company boasts is cheaper in China than Teslas Model X.

Currently we believe no premium BEV is available to Chinese consumers at competitive pricing and the ES8 is expected to face limited competition initially from premium BEVs, NIO said in the prospectus.

As of the end of July, Nio had delivered 481 ES8s and had unfulfilled reservations for more than 17,000 ES8s with deposits, according to the prospectus.

Nio plans to launch its second vehicle, the ES6, by the end of 2018, and start deliveries in the first half of next year. The ES6 is a 5-seater, high-performance premium electric SUV, set at a lower price point than the ES8 to target a broader customer base, NIO said in the filing.

Nio had a fairly standard warning about the ES6 in the filing, saying it may not successfully develop the ES6. Our vehicles may not meet customer expectations and our future models, including the ES6, may not be commercially viable.

No revenue until this year

Nio has more in common with Tesla than ambition: it also has lost massive amounts of money and burned through piles of cash  part of the reason it plans to go public.

We have negative cash flows from operation, have only recently started to generate revenues and have not been profitable, all of which may continue in the future, it warned.

Nio began showing revenue this year, reporting $6.7 million in vehicle sales and $7 million in total revenue for the first six months of 2018, when net losses topped $502 million. The company reported a net loss of $758.8 million for all of 2017.

Through June, Nio had burned through $549 million in cash to operate, compared with $691 million for all of 2017. Capital expenditures hit $163 million in the first six months of this year, compared with $168 million for all of last year.

The company estimates that its capital expenditures for the next three years will reach about $1.8 billion. That includes money for improvements and installation of equipment at a plant in Shanghai, as well as for research and development and the expansion of its sales and service network. It expects to incur about $600 million of that in the 12 months starting July 2018.

Nios total borrowings, as of June, reached $189.9 million, mainly bank loans and a loan from its investors, said the prospectus.

Limited experience in making cars

There is no dearth of risks listed in Nios prospectus, and such risks are familiar to anyone who has spent any time reading about Tesla: Our ability to develop and manufacture a car of sufficient quality and appeal to customers on schedule and on a large scale is unproven and still evolving, it said of risks relating to business.

Nio admits it has limited experience so far in high-volume manufacturing of electric vehicles.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop efficient, automated, cost-efficient manufacturing capability and processes, and reliable sources of component supply that will enable us to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and production standards, as well as the production volumes required to successfully mass market the ES8 and future vehicles, it said.

Then there are the suppliers. The ES8 uses more than 1,700 purchased parts which Nio buys from more than 160 suppliers. Many of those are single-source suppliers for these components, and the company is expecting that this will be similar for the ES6 and any other future vehicle it may produce.

The supply chain exposes us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages, says the prospectus.

The company is also highly dependent on government incentives and policies that are favorable for electric vehicles.

Its business could be affected by trade wars

Nio said its business could be adversely affected by trade tariffs or other trade barriers, including U.S. tariffs imposed in March on steel and aluminum and additional tariffs targeting Chinese goods.

Nio does not export any products to the U.S. and it is not yet clear what impact these tariffs could have. It intends to sell its cars only in China at least in the near future, but tariffs could potentially impact raw-material prices, it said.

Unusualand riskycorporate structure

Like many Chinese companies with listings outside of China, Nio is a variable-interest entity, or VIE, a structure created in the 1990s as a workaround for Chinese companies that are not allowed to have direct foreign ownership.

Under the VIE structure, the Chinese company creates two entities, one in China that holds the permits and licenses needed to do business there and the other an offshore entity, in this case in the Cayman Islands, in which foreign investors can buy shares. The Chinese entity, which is usually owned by top executives, pays fees and royalties to the offshore company in contractual arrangements.

The biggest example of a VIE is Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., in which the Chinese entity is wholly owned by its founder and chairman, Jack Ma.

The risk with this setup is that foreign investors dont actually own stock in the company, and local management or even the Chinese government could decide or force a split with the listed company, leaving U.S. investors high and dry.

It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide, the company warns in its prospectus.

As an emerging growth company, Nio has to follow fewer reporting and other requirements.
The latest batch of Irish tourism businesses to complete Failte Irelands Get China Ready programme have received their certificates from the national tourism development authority. Among those receiving certification were the Guinness Storehouse, Dublins Marker Hotel, Corks Castlemartyr Resort, the InterContinental Hotel in Ballsbridge and Limericks Strand Hotel. Also receiving accreditation were the first restaurants in Ireland to undertake the programme, Dublins Fire Restaurant & Lounge and Sole Seafood & Grill. The China Ready Programme is aimed at educating Irish tourism businesses about the opportunities available from the Chinese tourist market and is part of Failte Irelands work to assist tourism businesses with market diversification and reduce the risks currently posed by Brexit. The Programme is an initiative of Failte Ireland in cooperation with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.



Presenting the certificates, Paul Keeley, Director of Commercial Development at Failte Ireland said that Irish tourism businesses are beginning to see an increase in the number of Chinese visitors since direct flights from China started in June 2018. He emphasised:



China is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world with numbers predicted to grow to 200 million by 2020. Last year, an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors travelled to Ireland but with the advent of the new direct flights from Beijing and Hong Kong that number is expected to substantially increase. The aim of the China Ready Programme is to ensure that the Chinese visitor is warmly welcomed to Ireland and that tourism businesses are prepared and culturally aware of the requirements of our Chinese visitors.



Paul Carty, Managing Director, The Guinness Storehouse said:



The Guinness Storehouse is delighted to be Dublins first Visitor Attraction to receive Failte Ireland China Ready accreditation. The Guinness Storehouse has been active in the Chinese market for almost 8 years and in that time, the market has grown from virtually 0 to almost 50,000 visitors. The Failte Ireland China Ready training programme has given our team a deeper and highly practical understanding of the cultural differences and needs of the Chinese visitor. For us, engaging with China is a long term commitment and this excellent training programme ensures we can continue to extend a warm and personal welcome to our Chinese visitors.



Ciara Hanley, Director of Sales and Marketing for the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin emphasised:



I am delighted that the hotel is now the first five-star hotel in Ireland on the Failte Ireland China Ready Programme. We are looking forward to the coming months and welcoming a new market to Ireland.



Stephen O Connor, General Manager of the Strand Hotel in Limerick added:



Over the last number of weeks the team at the Limerick Strand Hotel have worked very hard to achieve this special accreditation and we are delighted to be the first hotel in Limerick to do so. This programme has been a fascinating journey for our team and we really delighted to gain an understanding of the cultural needs of our Chinese guests so that they have a wonderful experience but also a great opinion of Ireland as a tourism destination. This also coincides perfectly with the EU-China Year of Tourism 2018 initiative, for which we are delighted to offer our support. Recent data released by Failte Ireland has shown us how important the Chinese tourism market is becoming and the Limerick Strand Hotel is fully ready to welcome our Chinese guests.



Aisling McCormick, Business Development Manager at Castlemartyr Resort said:



We really enjoyed taking part in the China Ready Programme by Failte Ireland and are particularly proud to be the first Hotel in Cork to do so, were excited to use these tools, put positive changes in place and welcome more Chinese guests to Castlemartyr Resort in the future.





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THE CBH shed at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days was packed out last Wednesday afternoon when the Public Silo Trail was officially opened by the State Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

More than 150 people gathered for the opening, to hear speeches from CBH Group chairman Wally Newman, the Federal Member for OConnor Rick Wilson and Ms MacTiernan, who flew in to officially open the field days.

It was highlighted that Australias first painted silo was completed in WA in 2015 and since then six communities have been part of the new tourist attraction available for the world to see.

FORM project manager Rhianna Pezzaniti, who oversaw the silo painting project, conducted the opening and said the works at Northam, Merredin, Katanning, Pingrup, Newdegate, Ravensthorpe and Albany were unique to the communities and towns where they featured.

The Pingrup project was still to be completed but was well underway.

They spread light on each community, Ms Pezzaniti said.

We hope they spark more opportunities including tourism to the towns.

Mr Newman said the silo project had been a great project although a challenge, with some of the silos standing 38 metres high.

We are proud of the artists that have participated from all over the world, Mr Newman said.

He wasnt shy in pointing out that Newdegate is the best so far, much to the delight of the local crowd.

We hope it generates a lot of conversation and brings life to the rural communities, Mr Newman said.

Mr Wilson said it had been a pleasure and privilege for the government to commit $280,000 through its Building Better Regions fund to the project, and grey nomads had already included the trail on their to visit list.

Ms MacTiernan said all the different ideas had been great and the State government would continue finding the funds to do it, while she encouraged everyone to buy lottery tickets to keep funding it.

The State government will work closely with local governments to make the most of the development of the tourism trail, Ms MacTiernan said.

The Public Silo Trail is sponsored by CBH Group, the Australian Government and Lottery West.

To view the silos and plan a trip visit publicsilotrail.com.
THE CONTROVERSIAL ban on the use of the herbicide glyphosate in South Americas agricultural powerhouse Brazil has been overturned.

Last week an appeals court lifted the suspension on all glyphosate products which was imposed last month by a Federal Court judge who wanted a toxicology re-evaluation of the weed-killer before it was allowed to be used.

Brazils farmers are heaving a sigh of relief at the news.

Brazil is one of the worlds largest users of glyphosate, especially in its soybean producing systems, with the majority of soybeans produced in the Latin American nation being genetically modified and having the Roundup Ready (RR) trait, allowing in-crop glyphosate application.

The decision to ban glyphosate was slammed by the appeals court, which ruled that it was unjustified and did not consider the massive economic impact it would have on the Brazilian agriculture sector.

The appeal was lodged by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and a number of agriculture industry bodies and also covers the chemicals thiram and abamectin which were also to be banned under the initial ruling.
WA No-Tillage Farmers Association (WANTFA) held its Canola Spring Field Day last week, coinciding with AusCanola 2018 that was held in Perth.

The trial day took place north of Cunderdin where local growers and industry professionals had the chance to hear the latest in canola development.

With WA being the countrys biggest canola producer, seed producers made a point of focussing their research on the local climate and growing areas.

Close to 100 growers stood through drizzly showers to listen to researchers discuss the latest information and trial data.

Topics included the latest control options for sclerotinia, seeding rate and seed size to compete against annual ryegrass, new Carinata lines for biofuel, TruFlex crop safety, new canola seed treatments and effective control of stacked volunteers and the canola varieties available for the 2019 season.

TruFlex made the day a chance for growers to take the first step in their accreditation for the new TruFlex technology, soon to be implemented in canola varieties.

The new trait from TruFlex is looking at ways to produce higher yields in canola with Nuseed, BASF and other seed producers showing their support in the new technologies.

The new TruFlex technology is yet to be implemented into canola varieties and is awaiting the approval for the product to be regulated in China.

TruFlex regional business manager Hugh Trenorden said TruFlex was looking at new varieties and protocols to see how it shaped up to Roundup Ready canola.

The new product hopes to get problem weeds out of canola fields so crops can maximise growth and provide its highest yield potential, Mr Trenorden said.

TruFlex canolas enhanced trait technology gives improved crop safety, which preserves yield potential.
FAMILY and friends have nick-named Jamie Nykiel, 22, the sheep queen after her studies redirected her from the beach towards the bush.

She is in her third-year at Murdoch University studying science and hopes to follow that up with a doctorate, meaning Jamie is potentially one of the sheep industrys next generation of researchers.

Her passion is science  her particular interests are microbiology, epidemiology and disease research  and its practical application and commercial impact in the producer-to-consumer supply chain.

Like many science undergraduates at universities around Australia now looking to agriculture to provide a career path, Jamie does not come from a rural background.

She grew up on the Gold Coast in Queensland rather than on a WA Wheatbelt or Great Southern sheep farm and is more adept at applying sunscreen than backline lousicide.

Instead of farm succession planning, family discussions about her future generally involve her father trying to convince her to pursue a career in music rather than one with animals.

Jamie has played violin for more than 13 years and teaches the instrument, as well as tutoring mathematics and working part-time in a store selling sneakers, to help fund her studies.

The violin is a notoriously difficult instrument to learn to play well and the fact she teaches it gives an insight into her tenacity.

You get to a point where (playing the violin) stops sounding like a dying cat and it becomes a really personal challenge to improve your ability, then its exciting  Im super competitive and the violin is the perfect instrument for that, I like challenging myself, Jamie said.

She moved to WA on her own to pursue a dream of becoming a veterinarian when a position was not available at the University of Queensland (UQ), but quickly realised most students doing a science degree at Murdoch were heading down a similar path.

So as her studies progressed into a second year, Jamie broadened her outlook to livestock rather than domestic pets and to research possibilities rather than retail veterinary practice as logical moves to broaden her career options.

Part of her methodical approach was applying to attend a Sheep Industry Business Innovation (SIBI) sheep camp in May last year.

I originally did the SIBI sheep camp because I didnt know anything about sheep, Jamie said.

I thought theres probably a good opportunity to learn about sheep over here (WA).

Queensland is cattle country and I grew up on the beach  theres no sheep on the beach.

The more I learned about the (sheep) industry and livestock in Australia, the less I wanted to be a vet.

Its very competitive to get into so you kind of need a back-up plan anyway.

I happen to be doing well in this industry (sheep) so it would be stupid to turn my back on it, she said.

Jamie was judged top student at the sheep camp resulting in a chance to be an associate judge in the Merino section at last years Perth Royal Show  she enjoyed it so much she asked to be an associate judge again this year and will be back there later this month.

The judging ring introduced her to some of WAs top Merino breeders and her enthusiasm, enquiring mind and willingness to learn opened farm gates for her.

We have to do farm placements for my degree anyway, she said.

I spent a week on a sheep stud and then it became a weekend thing where Id just go out and help if a farmer would ring me up or Id go to sheep shows and hold rams for different studs  I was at Wagin (Woolorama).

Ive been out to Ingle (Merino stud) at Brookton for one of my uni placements.

They (Ashley and Lucille Hobbs who run Ingle) were lovely and theyre into ASBVs (Australian Sheep Breeding Values) and theyre really smart with their genetics.

That was interesting because a lot of studs dont use ASBVs and theyre (Ingle) really at the forefront of the innovations and technology, so that was cool.

We learn about the breeding values at uni and you think of course, ASBVs but then you go out to sheep shows and ask the winners if they use ASBVs they all say no.

Im doing an assignment on it, comparing farmers and why ASBVs are and arent adopted.

Ive asked some of the farmers why they dont use them and their reasons made a lot of sense, so I do see their side of it.

I can also see areas where ASBVs still need to greatly improve and that kind of comes down to us at Murdoch University.

You want your best flock and if a stud breeder is seeing more success not using ASBVs than with using them, then we need to establish why.

This year Jamie attended a sheep meat value chain training program run by UQ which introduced her to the complexities of international marketing, another area of the industry which intrigued her.

She attended the National Merino Challenge in Adelaide in May  Murdoch teammate Madison Carter placed third in the tertiary division award  and in June joined a 14-day Murdoch New Colombo study tour of China.

That was very interesting, their consumers are completely different to ours, Jamie said.

So when we export meat to them we have to export based on what the Chinese consumer wants, not simply just more of what we produce for our own domestic markets based on what our consumers want.

Jamie used what she learned on the China tour as the basis for an essay on the potential of exporting chilled sheep meat into China, the worlds largest sheep meat importer and how Australias potential to overtake New Zealand  Chinas biggest sheep meat supplier  was hindered by a lack of accredited abattoirs.

That essay and personal presentations to judges at the LambEx 2018 industry convention in Perth recently saw Jamie named as one of three conference Young Guns selected from a field of nine finalists

The China stuff was interesting because my LambEx presentation came up at a time when the attention was on live export and this (accrediting more abattoirs and building a chilled lamb export industry into China) is something that we could possibly do instead, if we have to get rid of live export, Jamie said.

But live export is so important to WA, I dont think it can be totally replaced by chilled or boxed lamb and if it eventually could, it would take so long to build up to the same value level.

New Zealand is doing it very well and we are capable of being first (in lamb export volumes into China), you just have to fight for it (market share).

(The long-term future of live export) is concerning though, because people only see one small section of an industry that contributes billions to our economy.

(City) people dont realise that sheep producers usually are not just in sheep, they also produce grain.

If you affect one side of their enterprise you affect the whole enterprise, you affect all of agriculture which then affects the Australian economy, which flows on to trade laws and other export products.

Because I come from a place where we have no idea where our food comes from, I think I can understand what sheep producers are up against.

For example, for city-bred people who dont know, the term lamb conjures up images of cute, fluffy little new-borns, not a 40 kilogram animal or a 23kg carcase.

Somewhere between breeding and raising sheep on farm for the wool clip, or exporting as live animals, or slaughtering and processing for either domestic or export markets  with eating quality and value very much at the forefront  is where Jamie sees her future.

She is not sure exactly where just yet, but she is sure it will probably involve sheep and research.

I see research as my space, no matter what you do thats always going to be part of the industry, she said.

I guess my resume is slowly building, doors keep opening, Im kind of seeing where its leading me.
Buenos Aires, Sep 14 (EFE).- President Mauricio Macri inaugurated on Friday a biogas-fueled electric plant in the Argentine province of Cordoba that he said will supply energy to 12,000 households and generate "quality jobs."

"A country can't grow without energy," he said during the ceremony at the plant in Rio Cuarto, which he described as one of 150 renewable-energy projects under way nationwide..

Within a few years, Macri said, Argentina will be able to export gas and oil while benefiting from "affordable energy to add value" to commodities.

"This is the country we all want, a country that grows from creating quality jobs," the president said.

Before inaugurating the Rio Cuarto plant, Macri visited a new wind farm in Achiras, 70km (43mi) away, equipped with 15 turbines generating 48 MW of power, enough to supply energy to 47,000 homes.
Specifically designed for use on soft soils, tight headlands and difficult slopes, the 3000 litre HELLIOS has already proven popular with European growers.

HARDI Australias chief executive officer Bill Franklin said the local business had invested considerable time and expertise to tailor the European concept to local farmers requirements.

We are acutely aware that local spraying needs are unique, Mr Franklin said.

Thats why we build our sprayers here.

A distinctive feature of HELLIOS is its front-mounted aluminium boom, offered locally in widths from 24 to 36 metres.

The arrangement gives operators a panoramic forward view of their spray application from a high and comfortably-furnished Category 4 cab.

Mr Franklin said HARDI Australias substantial know-how in setting up aluminium booms gave HELLIOS even better performance on the regions farms.

We have been working with aluminium booms for many years, he said.

HARDI Australia has unmatched expertise in integrating aluminium boom wings with advanced boom centres to deliver the best ride, height control and durability.

Our experience and HARDIs sophisticated AutoHeight control means the HELLIOS boom will spend far more time at an optimum height above the crop or soil  and that means more effective application.

HARDI Australia will offer HELLIOS with the fixed track width of 1.8m favoured by many local growers, as well as wider 2m and 3m options.

Four-wheel steering is also available, giving the machine superb manoeuvrability in tight headlands.

By using a sophisticated hydro-mechanical drive system, HELLIOS manages the power and torque output of its 104 kilowatt (140 horsepower) Deutz diesel engine to optimise performance and traction.

The system allows the sprayer to excel on a lighter and more economical power plant, saving weight and fuel.

Another unique HARDI technology on HELLIOS is the ActivAir nozzle control system, which maintains pressure in the fluid system for instantly accurate spray rates as soon as nozzle sections are activated.

Other features include a 35 litre graduated induction hopper, multi-layer airbag suspension, and a sophisticated Matrix Pro GS 840 controller.

From its factory in Adelaide, HARDI can further configure each HELLIOS to suit individual customer requirements.

The company also has announced the release of its PARAGON AL aluminium boomsprayer brand in Australia and New Zealand.

According to Mr Franklin, the aluminium booms offer many advantages over steel booms and especially rival aluminium booms.

The new branding will allow HARDI PARAGON AL booms to stand out from more recent market entrants by exemplifying our unique competencies, he said.

HARDI PARAGON AL booms are offered in widths from 24m to 48.5m, for the brands trailed and self-propelled sprayers.

By integrating aluminium booms with HARDIs advanced boom centres and movement dampeners, the company is able to optimise each booms performance and longevity under a wider range of conditions.

Theres a lot more to a successful aluminium boom installation than just the wings, Mr Franklin said.

Our experience and HARDIs unique AutoTerrain technology means theres virtually zero chance of a ground strike when using HARDI PARAGON AL booms.

And the superior terrain-following technology complements HARDI AutoHeight, which automatically maintains an optimum nozzle height above the crop or the ground.

HARDI Aluminium booms have been around for a long time and are well proven in Australia and throughout the world.

HARDI PARAGON AL booms can also integrate H-SELECT application rate management  the only system for controlling both droplet size and rate through the broad speed range experienced on booms over 36m (120ft).

More information: HARDI.com.au, info@hardi-aus.com or phone 8343 9999.
A Texas-based businessman who paid bribes to win work in Venezuela, and the corrupt official who took the bribes, pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston.

Juan Carlos Castillo Rincon (Castillo), 55, of Conroe, Texas, was the former manager of a Houston-based logistics and freight forwarding company.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Castillo admitted bribing an official at Venezuelas state energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. or PDVSA.

The official who took the bribes, Jose Orlando Camacho (Camacho), 46, of Miami, pleaded guilty in July 2017 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. His plea was unsealed Thursday.

Both are scheduled to be sentenced in Houston on February 21, 2019.

As part of their plea deals, Castillo and Camacho each agreed to forfeit the proceeds of their criminal activity.

The DOJ has now charged 18 defendants in the PDVSA bribery case. Fourteen have pleaded guilty.

The defendants include both vendors and former PDVSA officials.

The vendors are mostly charged with FCPA-related offenses while the former PDVSA officials generally face money laundering charges.

___

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
The Securities and Exchange Commission reduced a whistleblower award to $1.5 million Friday because the whistleblower was culpable and delayed reporting the misconduct for a year.

The whistleblower provided vital information and ongoing assistance that proved important to the overall success of an enforcement action.

But the SEC said in Fridays award order (pdf) the whistleblower delayed his or her report and benefited financially during the delay.

The reduced award underscored the need for individuals to come forward without delay, according to Jane Norberg, chief of the SECs Office of the Whistleblower.

The SEC said the whistleblower was culpable and only reported after learning of the SECs ongoing investigation.

During the delay investors were being harmed, the SEC said.

The SEC didnt say how much the whisltleblower award could have been.

Earlier this month the agency awarded $39 million to one whistleblower and $15 million to another in the same case.

In March this year, two whistleblowers from Merrill Lynch shared a $50 million award from the SEC. In the same case another Merrill Lynch employee was awarded $33 million, according to their lawyer.

The SECs whistleblower program has now awarded $322 million to 58 individuals since the first award in 2012.

Awards are paid out of penalties the SEC collects from securities law violators.

Whistleblowers can be eligible for an award when they voluntarily provide the SEC with original, timely, and credible information that leads to a successful enforcement action.

Awards can range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the money collected when penalties are more than $1 million.

By law, the SEC protects the confidentiality of whistleblowers and doesnt disclose information that might reveal a whistleblowers identity.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Bird Office, a Paris, France-based provider of a meeting room booking platform, raised 5M in funding.

Backers included Raise Ventures, Caphorn Invest, followed by BNP Paribas Developpement and Michael Benabou.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Created in 2013 by Arnaud Katz and Michael Zribi, Bird Office provides a space booking platform for training, seminar, conference, or workstation. The automated service allows people to find and book the ideal place from a wide choice of available spaces made available via exclusive partnerships with key players in the professional real estate sector. The platform offers a complete solution service, allowing each company which organizes a meeting, a seminar, a training session, a creativity session or a conference, to book a room, a complete catering service (breakfast, lunch, cocktail, etc., ) and other ancillary services.

The company currently has an online catalog of 8,500 places to organize seminars, meetings, trainings and company evenings in France, and aborad, mainly in Belgium, Switzerland and London.

FinSMEs

14/09/2018
Glasswall Solutions, a London, UK-based file regeneration technology company, closed a 15m strategic funding round.

The round was led by UK entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael Spencer through IPGL, his personal investment vehicle.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to drive innovation and accelerate development of its portfolio of Glasswall FileTrust products and to scale its sales and marketing to grow its customer base across the US, Canada and Europe.

Led by Greg Sim, CEO, Glasswall Solutions has developed a patent-protected Deep-File Inspection, Remediation and Sanitisation Technology  d-FIRST  an innovative methodology for the prevention of malware and understanding of organisational risk from file-borne cyber-attacks.

The forensic data that Glasswall provides delivers an insight into threats already within networks and through its Glasswall FileTrust ATP for Email security platform and SDK, provides insight into unknown and as yet undetected cyber threats.

Currently, Glasswall has customers in the UK, US and Canada, spanning multiple industries in both the private sector and government.

The company has offices in London, Chelmsford and across the United States.

FinSMEs

14/09/2018
Golden Gate Ventures, a Southeast Asian venture capital firm, raised its 3rd fund, at US$100M.

Golden Gate Ventures Fund III is anchored by existing investors which include Temasek, Hanwha, Naver, and EE Capital. New investors include Taizo Sons Mistletoe, Mitsui Fudosan, IDO Investments, CTBC Group, Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC), and Ion Pacific.

The fund focuses on investing at the Series A stage of consumer internet and mobile startups in Southeast Asia.

Led by Jeffrey Paine and Vinnie Lauria, Golden Gate Ventures uses Slack to keep in close touch with founding teams across the portfolio, while letting founders connect with each other, uses CRM software to track more than 1,000 deals/year across over 450 funds, along with proprietary in-house databases for investment tracking, follow-on financing, and relationship management of over 21,000 contacts.

To date, the firms first two funds have had distributions of cash (DPI) of 1.56x and 0.13x, resulting in IRRs of 48% and 29%, respectively. Golden Gate Ventures Fund 1 is a top performing fund globally, beating Cambridge Associates Top 5% benchmark of 0.85x DPI for a 2012 vintage.

Breakout companies include:

Carousell (Mobile Classifieds 3.0),

Alodokter (HealthTech),

Carro (Auto Marketplace),

Funding Societies (P2P Lending), and

Omise (Payment Processing).

FinSMEs

14/09/2018
Kando, an Israeli startup that develops a SaaS platform which monitors wastewater collection systems in real-time, raised a Series A round of financing.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The Israel  Colorado Innovation Fund and other investors participated.

The company intends to use the funds for product and business development as the company continues to improve its monitoring and big data analytics tools.

Founded in 2011 by CEO Ari Goldfarb, Kando has specialized in developing end-to-end wastewater smart management solutions that combine expert service from dedicated professionals with hardware and software. The company monitors wastewater in real-time through a cloud-based software solution that tracks and monitors key wastewater quality parameters.

The team is made up of 20 industry veterans in the areas of environmental engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, project management and software development.

FinSMEs

14/09/2018
.       ,          ,           2024...
There is growing concern in Bahrains Diraz over the fate of six minors who were detained following a police raid on the village earlier this week.



AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): There is growing concern in Bahrains Diraz over the fate of six minors who were detained following a police raid on the village earlier this week.



Since September 10, Bahraini authorities have failed to release any information regarding the location, charges, or physical well-being of the youngsters.



Among those arrested was 14-year-old Ali Al-Sayed Mahdi.



Mahdis grandfather headed a delegation last month that visited the Bahraini monarch Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and demanded the release of political prisoners.



The number of Bahraini minors detained without cause or an arrest warrant has risen substantially since last October with rights groups warning that children are being subjected to ill-treatemnt in detention.





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Arizona lawmaker Paul Mosley has pleaded not guilty to a charge of excessive speeding, two months after a police bodycam was released that showed him bragging about driving 120 mph.

The Republican representative was pulled over in March for driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone, but wasnt ticketed on the scene after claiming legislative immunity.

Arizona law protects legislators from civil process for some violations while the legislature is in session, but speeding isnt one of them.

Three weeks after apologizing for the video, in which he claimed he often drove at triple-digit speeds and that his Lexus sedan can do 140 mph, Mosley was given a citation for the March incident by the Cochise County Attorneys Office.

A warrant for Mosleys arrest was then issued on Sept. 6 after he failed to appear at a scheduled court date, but The Arizona Republic reported that it appears he never received the summons for the hearing. News of the warrant broke on Wednesday, which led to Mosley heading to court Thursday afternoon.

Mosley was released without bail ahead of his next court appearance on Oct. 18. He faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine if convicted.

Records show that Mosley has been pulled over at least seven times while in office. The scandal contributed to the first-term legislators primary loss in August.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Hojjatoleslam Kazzem Seddiqi lauded last week's missile strikes by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on the KDP-I terrorist group's positions in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.



AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Hojjatoleslam Kazzem Seddiqi lauded last week's missile strikes by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on the KDP-I terrorist group's positions in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.



Addressing a large and fervent congregation of the people in Tehran on Friday, Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi said, "The IRGC's powerful missile attack on the gathering of KDP-I was precise and indicated Iran's intelligence dominance over the terrorist groups."



He hailed the IRGC forces' deterrence and defensive power.



Seddiqi's remarks came after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in a statement confirmed the Saturday missile strikes against the headquarters of Kurdistan Democratic Party  Iran (KDP-I) terrorist group in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, vowing harsher response if terrorist attacks continue.



The statement said on Sunday that the missile strikes were launched after the terrorist group launched attacks on bordering areas in Iran, fomented insecurity and conducted sabotage acts in West Azarbaijan, Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces in Western Iran.



"The IRGC Aerospace Force's missile unit in cooperation with the IRGC Ground Force's drone unit targeted the headquarters and a meeting of the leaders of a filthy and criminal grouplet and a center for training affiliated terrorists with 7 short-range ground-to-ground missiles yesterday (Saturday)," it added, noting that the center was destroyed and tens of leaders and key agents of the grouplet were killed and wounded.



The statement underlined that the missile attacks were launched after the ringleaders of the terrorist groups neglected the serious warnings of the Iraqi Kurdistan region officials about the Islamic Republic's determination to remove their bases and end their aggressive and terrorist acts against Iran.



It underlined the Iranian security and Armed Forces' vigilance to safeguard the country's territories, warning the terrorist groups that there will be more crushing response if they risk to resume attacks on the Islamic Republic.



On Saturday morning, Iranian missiles targeted the headquarters of the KDP-I and the Democratic Party of the Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) terrorist groups in Koya.



The missiles specifically targeted the KDP-Is political bureau, the PDKIs training center, and a Peshmerga complex.



According to the KDP-Is statement, the bombardment killed 14 members of the two parties and injured 40 more. The Secretary of KDP-I, Mustafa Mawludi, and his predecessor, Khalid Azizi, were also among those wounded during the attack.



The party also revealed the identities of the fallen members, which were: Karim Mahdawi (Karim Saqzi), Ibrahim Ibrahimi (Braim Zewayi), Nasrin Hadad, Rahman Piroti, Suhaila Qadri, Hashim Azizi, Osman Osmani, Karim Rasulzada (Mam Sherko), Hawre Karsaz (Hawre Shekhani), Peshawa Said Omar, Jamal Akbari, and Mansour Akbaripur.



The statement mentioned that two Peshmerga members of the other party, the PDKI, were also killed and their names are yet to be announced.



The KDP-I added that two other members of its party are yet to be found, and are believed to be trapped under the rubble of buildings hit by missiles.





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Elon Musks Tesla electric cars are designed to help clean the outside air, but he also has a project that could mean youll never have to breathe it again.

The Boring Company, Musks cutely-named tunneling startup, has received permission to pursue the construction of a car elevator connecting the garage of a small, single-story home it purchased in Hawthorne, Calif., to the fanciful high speed subterranean Loop transportation system it is constructing under the street in front of it. Blueprints submitted to the city council describe how it plans to pull this off within the densly-packed neighborhood.

The Loop is being developed to use high speed sleds to carry various vehicles at speeds of up to 150 mph. Along with the 2-mile-long test tunnel outside Musks SpaceX headquarters, The Boring Company is looking to build one that connects Dodger Stadium with western Los Angeles and another that runs from Chicagos OHare airport to downtown.

Referencing the elevator project, Musk tweeted that @theboringcompany will transport your car all the way into your garage. The suggestion is that anyone who lives next to a Loop line will be able to install one in their home and enter the system without ever having to go outside. Streetside public elevators are also envisioned.

The Boring Company hasnt said when the elevator will be finished and ready to demonstrate, but the main test Loop is scheduled to be completed sometime this year.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX NEWS AUTOS
Ariana Grande has broken her silence on Mac Miller's death.

On Friday, the 25-year-old shared a video on Instagram featuring the late rapper. In the post, Miller, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick, was caught off guard by Grande recording him.

"Baby," he says while trying to cover the camera before breaking into laughter and hiding his face inside the hood of his sweater.

"It makes me happy," Grande is heard saying in the background. "I'll tell you the story as many times as you want," replies Miller.

"i adored you from the day i met you when i was nineteen and i always will," Grande, who dated Miller for nearly two years before they split in May, captioned the video.

"i cant believe you arent here anymore," she continued. "i really cant wrap my head around it. we talked about this. so many times. im so mad, im so sad i dont know what to do. you were my dearest friend. for so long.

"above anything else. im so sorry i couldnt fix or take your pain away. i really wanted to. the kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. i hope youre okay now. rest."

Earlier this week, Grande also shared a captionless black-and-white photo of Miller on Instagram.

AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON RAPPER MAC MILLER, MORE TESTS NEEDED, SAYS LA COUNTY CORONER

Last Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed in a statement to Fox News that Miller was found unresponsive in his Studio City, Calif. home, and was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:51 a.m. He was 26.

RAPPER MAC MILLER DEAD AT 26

"Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed away at the age of 26," Miller's family said in a statement obtained by Rolling Stone at the time.

"He was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers. Please respect our privacy. There are no further details as to the cause of his death at this time."
Asia Argentos alleged sex abuse victim once was accused of stalking an ex-girlfriend and threatening her with nude photos, according to reports.

Jimmy Bennetts alleged checkered past was revealed in court filings that show his ex-girlfriend tried to obtain a restraining order against him on July 17, 2015.

The young woman, an actress, indicated that shed gone to the Los Angeles Police Department to press charges against Bennett for unlawful sex with a minor, stalking and child pornography.

When I was 17 and Jimmy was 18, he talked me into having sex with him. I had never had sex before, she said in the 14-page handwritten court document obtained by the Daily Beast. He continued to talk his way into my life and manipulate me into doing things like smoke. His constant attempts at calling and texting with things like please talk to me, I need help etc. caused me to answer in the past. One time he told me that he was being abused by his parents and needed a place to stay. He was 17 at the time.

The LAPD wouldnt confirm whether it took her report.

The ex-girlfriend said she feared the potentially violent Bennett might confront her mother or her ex-boyfriend, with whom shed gotten back together.

Bennett, she alleged, also threatened her with naked photos he forced her into taking.

When I was 17 and he was 18, he manipulated me into sending him naked photos of myself then caused me emotional harm by texting them via Snapchat, she wrote.

The court filing details Bennetts alleged obsessive behavior toward her. She wrote that he would often drop by her apartment and call and text her that he was there  even though she told him she didnt want to see him.

He has a drug use history and after we broke up when I was 17 and he was 18, he wouldnt stop harassing me via phone calls and other forms of contact, her complaint continued. Both my mother and I felt in danger of our safety. Jimmy has lied, manipulated, and stole (allegedly) from me because my family is in a very poor financial condition, having recently gone through 2 foreclosures and bankruptcy.

The young womans petition for a restraining order was tossed, however, after she failed to appear in court for a hearing.

Reps for her and Bennett, now 22, didnt return requests for comment by the Daily Beast. Her mother couldnt be reached and her father declined to comment.

Argento, an Italian actress and director, became one of the most vocal #MeToo advocates after accusing Harvey Weinstein of forcing oral sex on her.

But in a twist last month, Bennett came forward with his own allegations against the X Factor Italy judge, claiming she sexually assaulted him in 2013, when he was 17 and she was 37.

Argento admitted her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain secretly paid off Bennett  but said it was because the celebrity chef was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such [a] person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us.

Shes publicly denied having sex with Bennett  who played her young son in the 2003 movie The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things  but told a friend otherwise.

The horny kid jumped me  It wasnt raped but I was frozen. He was on top of me. After, he told me I had been his sexual fantasy since was 12, she texted model Rain Dove.

TMZ reported last week that Bennett finally decided to file a formal police report against Argento.

This article originally appeared on Page Six.
Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, newlyweds?

After multiple outlets reported that the lovebirds tied the knot Thursday in New York City after they were spotted at the Marriage Bureau earlier that day, Baldwin took to Twitter to put the rumor to rest.

"I understand where the speculation is coming from, but Im not married yet!" she wrote.

A source told ET at the time that while Bieber and Baldwin did register for a marriage license, they were only getting a license and did not have a marriage ceremony.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Register For Marriage License at NYC Courthouse

Additionally, TMZ is reporting that Bieber and Baldwin are most likely getting married out of the country, as early as next week and possibly in Canada, where the pop star recently purchased a new home.

The marriage license Bieber and Baldwin obtained becomes valid after 24 hours and remains valid for another 60 days anywhere in the state of New York. Should the lovebirds want to get married overseas, they would have to have a civil service in the state first to make it legal.

Justin Bieber Hangs With Hailey Baldwin's Dad Stephen -- Pics!

"Justin and Hailey are still planning to have a wedding or celebration with their closest friends and family," another source tells ET. "However, Justin is very spontaneous. [He] keeps Hailey and everyone on their toes."

Fans of Bieber also speculated that rumors of the marriage were true when his mother, Pattie Mallette, took to Twitter early Friday morning. "Love is unconditional," she wrote.

This news comes just two months after Bieber proposed to the model while they were vacationing together in the Bahamas. The couple was friends first, meeting nearly 10 years ago and briefly dating in 2015 and 2016.

Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber Attend Their First Fashion Show Together as an Engaged Couple

However, the feelings between Bieber and Baldwin "never really went away," according to a third source, which is why it wasn't alarming when they rekindled their romance this summer.

"Justin has always been in love with Hailey and is looking forward to being married," the source told ET earlier this month. "Justin has been in the spotlight for a long time, and his childhood was accelerated. After years of ups and downs, Justin took some time to evaluate everything in his life, took time off his tour [and] music and got to enjoy a more simple life."

"With that time, Justin knew he wanted to spend his time with Hailey and have a future with her," the source added.
Actor Harrison Ford gave an impassioned speech on Thursday to urge voters to stop letting science-averse politicians into office.

Stop giving power to people who dont believe in science, or worse than that, pretend they dont believe in science for their own self-interest, he said.

Ford, 76, delivered the speech at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. The actor did not mention any names during his speech but said, They know who they are; we know who they are.

The Indiana Jones star warned attendees that the future of humanity was at stake due to climate change.

HURRICANE FLORENCE CAUSES HGTV TO HALT HOUSE HUNTERS PRODUCTION AS SOUTHERN CHARM STARS EVACUATE IN CAROLINAS

We are all, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, we will all suffer the effects of climate and ecosystem destruction, Ford said. And we are facing what is quickly becoming the greatest moral crisis of our time. Those least responsible will bear the greatest costs.

The actor called on everyone to shut off [their] phones, roll up [their] sleeves and kick this monsters a--.

The Star Wars alum has been outspoken about the importance of recognizing climate change. In November, he slammed President Trump's administration in a speech while accepting an award from Conservation International.

SARAH SILVERMAN BLASTS US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, BRETT KAVANAGH SCOTUS HEARING: ITS NOT VERY AMERICAN

We face an unprecedented moment in this country. Today's greatest threat is not climate change, not pollution, not flood or fire. It's that we've got people in charge of important s--- who don't believe in science, he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Last year, Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Nearly 200 nations, including the U.S. under former President Barack Obamas administration, agreed in 2015 to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to combat climate change.


One week after Jim Carrey suggested we "say yes to socialism," a Venezuelan journalist is speaking out against the actor's suggestion.

We have to say yes to socialism  to the word and everything, Carrey, whos among the richest in Hollywood, said last week on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher show. We have to stop apologizing.

In an article published in the Venezuelan outlet Runrunes, columnist Laureano Marquez argued that socialism is the root cause of the country's current state of crisis.

JIM CARREY SAYS 'STOP APOLOGIZING' AND 'SAY YES TO SOCIALISM'

"Dear Jim, I admire you a lot, but sometimes it seems that the inability of Hollywood stars to understand politics is directly proportional to their talent," Marquez began his column.

"I read that...you said: 'We have to say yes to socialism, to the word [socialism] and to everything.' Perhaps for you, as for all humanity, the word 'socialism' sounds beautiful," he continued.

The journalist then went on to explain that while many define socialism as "the antithesis of selfishness, synonym of concern for others...support for the weakest and their needs, of seeking health and education for all," in reality Marquez believes socialism today has "deep threats."

JIM CARREY SAYS HE WANTED TO 'DESTROY' HOLLYWOOD, EXPLAINS HIS DISAPPEARANCE FROM SPOTLIGHT

"[In] Venezuela, what we find is just that our regime is not  for Gods sake  the antithesis of selfishness," he wrote Wednesday. "In Venezuela, dear Jim, from what I have just told you, there is no equitable distribution of wealth; wealth is concentrated, as rarely before in our history, in very few hands."

Marquez explained that people in Venezuela are "at God's mercy" and are fleeing the country "however way they can" as they do not have access to medication, food or other basic needs.

"[This is] a tragedy that is compounded by the denial of a regime that claims that the population has never been better."

A rep for Carrey did not return Fox News' request for comment.

The United Nations says that more than 1.6 million Venezuelans have left their country since the start of 2015, generating an international migrant crisis that has set off alarms in South America and recently led to violent confrontations between migrants and local populations.

Venezuela's socialist government denies there is a migrant crisis, with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez recently declaring that images of desperate migrants walking across Colombia were staged by Venezuela's enemies to justify an intervention.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Taco Bell employee in Florida who refused to serve a woman in the drive-thru line because she wouldnt speak Spanish has been fired.

The incident took place Wednesday night in Hialeah, a predominantly Spanish-speaking town, when Alexandria Montgomery tried to place an order in English, the Miami Herald reports.

Video of the argument between Montgomery and the employee who identified herself as Luisa was shared on social media.

MICHAEL KORS ACCUSED OF 'STEALING' TRADITIONAL MEXICAN SWEATER DESIGN FOR SPRING 2019 COLLECTION

In it, Montgomery can be heard asking for a manager, but the employee says in Spanish that she is in her house sleeping and there is no one available to take her order, according to the Herald.

Can you move please? I have an order behind you. There is no one who speaks English, Luisa continues.

Despite Montgomerys persistence, the employee still wont take her order and eventually closes the drive-thru window. Montgomery then has to leave without any food.

She told el Nuevo Herald she contacted the manager to tell her what happened, but all she did was apologize and say thank you and the call was disconnected.

A spokesperson for Taco Bell Corp. said Luisas actions do not meet their customer service expectations and that the employee, whose real name is unknown, had been fired, the Herald reports.

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We have worked quickly to resolve with the customer to ensure this doesnt happen again, the spokesperson said.
It's a story thats so shocking it beggars belief, and has resulted in a man being awarded $3.3 million in compensation.

Ilija Loncar was employed as a waiter onboard the Norwegian Breakaway when he developed flu-like symptoms including nausea. But when the 30-year-old, from Serbia, made what should have been a simple visit to the ships doctor for some relief, he never could have predicted the events that were to follow.

The doctor, Sebastian Campuzano, had been hired by the cruise line just a few months prior, and was described as a young, inexperienced, Columbia-trained physician.

According to documents tabled in a Florida court, Dr Campuzano prescribed the antihistamine promethazine, which was injected by nurse Marco Oracion in a huge dose over a short period of time. This lead to an intense reaction that plunged the crewmate into a catastrophic situation that resulted in his arm being amputated.

Loncars lawyer Thomas B. Scolaro, from Miami-based company Leesfield Scolaro, alleges the medication wasnt even suitable for the workers illness and that the anti-nausea drug Zofran would have been a better option.

NAVY VETERAN, 93, SURVIVES FLESH-EATING BACTERIA

The drug had also allegedly been injected intravenously into Loncars arm, instead of intramuscularly in his buttocks which is the recommended technique.

(Dr Campuzano) gave the wrong medication, the wrong dosage by the wrong route through the wrong injection site, and it was administered over the wrong time and by the wrong method, Mr Scolaro said.

They gave (Mr Loncar) the most dangerous type of medication they could give to treat this very simple, common problem that can be treated with a very light and easy medication  Zofran. Its all they needed to do.

Its like taking a Howitzer to destroy something when all you need to do is take a little BB gun and it would do the same thing. The Howitzer will destroy everything in its path. It was overkill.

He claims that the 25 milligram dose that was administered was well above the usual amount prescribed, the Miami Daily Business Review reports of the March 2016 incident.

All the medical data out there strongly suggests six and a quarter milligrams is a perfectly therapeutic dose. Campuzano orders it by intravenous injection when there is a pill, theres a suppository, theres a syrup.

  He orders it by IV injection into the vein when  if you are going to order this medication through the injectable method  theres a FDA black box warning on IV promethazine, which says the preferred route is deep intramuscular, which is a shot in the tush.

MISSISSIPPI GIRL, 3, WON'T LET RARE BONE DISORDER STOP HER FROM DANCING

Even when Loncar reported a reaction, the medical staff werent alarmed.

As soon as the medication went in he immediately reported burning, Scolaro said. All the warnings out there say when there is a reported burning, you stop.

The court document also claim that: The FDA issued the warning because the caustic drug tends to overwhelm vascular walls and cause severe damage to surrounding tissue. Intravenous and intra-arterial injection of promethazine has led to many publicised amputations for unfortunate patients  it was completely unnecessary.

  Oracion missed the median cubital vein altogether and instead injected the drug into the ulnar artery in that forearm  Whereas intravenous administration of promethazine is merely improper and dangerous, shooting 25 milligrams of promethazine into an artery is never medically indicated, is extraordinarily reckless, and is nearly certain to cause catastrophic vascular damage.

A few hours later, Loncars right forearm turned black and blue. But instead of immediately evacuating him from the ship via helicopter, an expensive exercise, the medical staff massaged the affected area for 24 hours and waited until the ship reached the next dock.

As a result of the series of events he developed Compartment Syndrome, where pressure builds up due to internal bleeding and swelling. This required the amputation of his right arm  once he finally reached hospital it was too late to save his gangrene-ravaged arm.

A few days later, after emergency operations, the arm was amputated at the elbow. Now, he has a nub for a right arm, his life is forever changed.

Loncar also suffered mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, loss of future earning capacity, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, inconvenience, humiliation, scarring, and disfigurement.

All, Scolora alleges, because of wilful, wanton, and outrageous violations in the form of medical errors and the failure to evacuate him in a timely manner.

The defence argued that Loncar had a venous anomaly which made him vulnerable to the reaction he suffered.

In an arbitration case at a Florida court, Loncar was awarded $3.34 million for past and present pain, medical expenses and loss of earning capacity.

News.com.au has contacted Norwegian Cruise Lines for comment.

Read the original article on news.com.au.
A Florida veteran is making a strong recovery after contracting flesh-eating bacteria in his leg last month while on his daily walk on the beach.

Roy Haase, 93, typically starts every morning at Delanor-Wiggins Pass State Park, where he watches the sunrise and says his prayers at Wiggins Pass, according to a Facebook post by Robb Stan, Haases close friend.

The WWII and Korean War Navy veteran has been using crutches to navigate the sand lately, and, according to Stan, a screw from one of the crutches left a small puncture wound on his left knee near the end of July. Haase allegedly placed a band aid on the wound and continued with his morning swim in the Gulf of Mexico for the following two weeks.

3 DIE OF BREAST CANCER AFTER RECEIVING ORGANS FROM SAME DONOR

Well, almost overnight, things took a horrible turn, according to Stans Southwest Florida Television Facebook post.

Stan said that he got a call from a park ranger on Aug. 2 reporting that Haase had been found passed out on the beach and was being transported to a local hospital.

After spending the night in the ER and a couple days in the hospital, it was determined that Roy came in contact with fresh (sic) eating bacteria, vibrio vulnificus, Stan posted. The doctor said that Roy was in septic shock, and if he had laid there much longer he might have died.

REGULATORS FLAG SECOND POTENTIAL CARCINOGEN IN CHINA-MADE HEART DRUG

Virbriosis causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the U.S. each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to exposing a wound to warm sweater, patients may contract the infection by eating raw or undercooked seafood. Preventative measures include washing hands thoroughly after handling raw seafood and staying out of brackish or salt water if you have open wounds.

Haase, author of How I Lived Healthy & Happy to bealmost100, did not lose any limbs in the harrowing ordeal, but was left with a severe wound and lost tissue in his left leg. He has been regaining strength at Solaris Healthcare Imperial, where they continue to monitor his wound.

Roys leg is getting better every day, Stan posted on Sept. 13. A month ago this was a very deep, open wound. You could see bone and tendons. Roy is fortunate to still have his leg. Flesh-eating bacteria is not a joke. Most people arent even aware of it. Take the time to educate yourself about vibrio vlunificus.

Stan shared that Haase has been receiving get-well cards from supporters at:

Roy Haase

718 95th Ave. N

Naples, FL 34108.
A 3-year-old girl born with a rare bone disorder often referred to as brittle bone disease has won the hearts of thousands across the country with her singing and dancing videos, which her mother regularly shares on Facebook.

CynNiah Burton, also known as a Little Cee Bitty Bee to her followers, is gearing up for her first surgery late this month to insert telescoping rods in her legs to help her bones grow and gain strength in the hopes that one day she can stand on her own.

CynNiah, whose official diagnosis is osteogenesis imperfecta type 3, was born with several broken bones and spent the first month of her life in the NICU, her mother, Destini Jackson, told Good Morning America. She is unable to walk or crawl on her own, but that hasnt stopped her from developing a love of music.

Shes absolutely the sweetest, funniest, inspirational baby Ive ever laid eyes on, Jackson told the news outlet. She automatically captures your heart and you can see the determination in her. Shes so bubbly and even when shes in pain, shes constantly smiling and never lets anything keep her down.

FLORIDA VETERAN, 93, SURVIVES FLESH-EATING BACTERIA

Osteogenesis imperfecta type 3 is the most severe form of the disorder, according to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. Newborns typically have mildly shortened and bowed limbs, small chest and a soft calvarium at birth. Infants may suffer respiratory and swallowing difficulties. Adults typically reach a maximum height of 3-feet, 6 inches, and may have spine curvatures or compression fractures of the vertebrae.

Jackson has started a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of CynNiahs surgery and follow-up care.

I want [CynNiah] to know, Youre a little special, but it doesnt mean youre not like every other child, she told Good Morning America. If she keeps the same attitude, then she will go above and beyond of what people think she could do.

Jackson said she hopes her daughters videos help educate others about the condition.
Senior Aide to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari said that Saudi-led coalition should accept that war is not a solution for Yemens crisis.



AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Senior Aide to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari said that Saudi-led coalition should accept that war is not a solution for Yemens crisis.



He made the remarks in an interview with IRIB on Thursday night when he was briefing about results of his three-day trip to Geneva.



As long as the Saudi-led coalition gambles on victory in the Yemen war, there is no practical way to exit this crisis, he highlighted. There is no possibility of their gaining a victory in the war, the Iranian diplomat said, adding that political and serious dialogue among Yemeni sides is the only solution. We continue our efforts in this regard.



Elsewhere in his remarks he touched upon his meetings with European External Action Service Helga Schmid as well as representatives of German, British, French, and Italian foreign ministries, saying that latest developments of the region were discussed and all sides conferred on ways to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.



Jaberi Ansari went on to say that he had also briefed the European diplomats on the outcome of the recent talks between, Iran, Russia and Turkey on the ongoing process to bring back peace to Syria.





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Authorities in Australia on Thursday said they had four confirmed incidents of contaminated strawberries after an individual reportedly discovered a needle inside a berry after taking a bite.

Queensland Police Service, who have launched an investigation into the potentially hazardous findings, revealed that affected brands include Berry Obsession and Berry Licious, according to an update on the agencys Facebook account.

The confirmed cases happened in Queensland and Victoria, police said, adding that the brands are sold at locations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Police have liaised with retailers to ensure that all stock is removed from sale," police said. "The contamination relates to what appears to be needles inserted in strawberries.

CHINESE RESTAURANT CHAIN LOSES $190 MILLION AFTER PREGNANT WOMAN CLAIMS TO FIND RAT IN SOUP

An update on the investigation was released amid what authorities said was thought to be a copycat incident and provided a photo in relation to it.

The suspected copycat incident, reported at a supermarket in Gatton, involves the discovery of a thin metal object in a punnet of strawberries, police said.

Police began looking into the potentially dangerous berries after a Facebook user on Saturday wrote that their friend took a bite of a strawberry and ate half a sewing needle, according to the Palm Beach Post. The individual ultimately received medical care, the Facebook post said.

Amid the contamination, the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association on Wednesday said they suspected that the culprit was possibly a disgruntled former employee.

TENNESSEE PARENTS UPSET BY SCHOOLS RESPONSE AFTER STUDENTS FIND MAGGOTS IN CAFETERIA FOOD

In a follow-up statement released on Facebook Thursday, the group said the strawberries were seemingly interfered with between the time they were packed and the time they were purchased.

"Retailers have ensured that all stock at risk has been removed from sale," the Facebook post said. Regretfully, preventing random acts of extremism, sabotage and simple maliciousness from people with a grudge appears to be an increasing challenge across our society."

People in possession of the brands in question should refrain from using them and strawberries from other companies should be cut up for safe measure, police said in the update, quoting Queenslands Chief Health Officer Dr. Jeannette Young.

For other brands, our advice is all strawberries should be cut up before they are eaten, Young said. Strawberries are a great fruit, and people should continue to buy them, but everyone should simply cut them up.
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Two things, if you plan to wait out a hurricane. There is gas madness until there is no gas and do not even think about sandwiches because there is no bread. You have not lived until you see people load 10 loaves of bread into a shopping cart five days before a hurricane hits. Bread hysteria. I said to some fellow shoppers, "Folks, I am actually here to get hot dog buns for dinner tonight, who wants to relinquish one of their eight loaves?" Sure enough, a woman gave me her hot dog buns. People can be awesome.

If you ask me why I didnt evacuate Wilmington, North Carolina in the eye of Hurricane Florence, I will say, "waves and hurricane parties." This is true too. I've rode some great waves and done some hurricane drinking this week. But really, I feel compelled to stay and help out in any way I can in the aftermath of the storm.

I have a chainsaw, trailer, and a 4x4 Suburban. Myself and other members of the Cape Fear Rugby Team have banded together and plan to start limbing trees and dragging debris just as soon as the storm passes.

The other reason I plan to wait out this hurricane is to remain close to my home and look after my property if Florence crushes it. You see, if you flee it can be very hard to return because of the flooding and storm damage. So if your house gets a massive hole in it while you are displaced, then it will get rained on for two weeks and be raided by wildlife. You got to defend your home. As my friend Mark put it while we were sitting in Waterline Brewery drinking Mango Kolschs yesterday, "Death before Dishonor."

When I stocked up for the storm, I got four 80-packs of water, three 12-packs Stellas, 2 bottles Dublin Cool Muscadine wine, a 40-pack of pudding cups, granola bars, dried fruit, Gatorade, meat to freeze for grilling, a case of Chef Boyardee snap top ravioli, two big bags of charcoal, and bug spray. Then I filled every container and bucket I could find with water to use. I can live for days without power and water and beer cures all.

I have a beautiful wife, Alison, and four kids, ages 13, 10, 7 and 6. So once it became apparent that Florence was not to be taken lightly, we knew above all else the children had to get to safety. So the decision was made to separate for the hurricane.

I boarded up the house, tightened up the yard and got the kayak ready so I can get mobile if it floods like crazy. At 5 a.m. Wednesday, Alison and the children evacuated and drove up to her very awesome mom's house in Williamson, West Virginia. The National Hurricane Center had updated Florence about an hour before as approaching Category 5 status and set to make landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina.

There was a lot of uncertainty when we said goodbye, but we were upbeat and positive and the kids were happy to be on a road trip and out of school. It's possible we will be separated for a week or more, but lets hope they can get back Sunday or Monday.

As I'm typing this, Hurricane Florence is just beginning to land and it is starting to sound intense out there. Last I heard about an hour ago, it was going to make landfall soon and was currently a Category 2 with sustained 100 mph winds. I hope that it slows down a bit. That's way stronger than any storm I've ever been through so its going to be an experience hunkering down and riding this thing out. I do not plan to sleep tonight. A lot of other folks are doing the same thing.

Whatever your decision may be, stay safe out there.
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Mainstream candidates defeated far-left insurgents for the top three statewide elected offices in New Yorks Democratic primary Thursday, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul were renominated and New York City Public Advocate Letitia James captured the partys nomination for attorney general.

The victories by the three  who supported each other in the primary  were a setback for those who want to move liberal New York state government and the national Democratic Party further to the left.

Despite their differences, all of the Democratic primary candidates were united in sharp criticism of President Trump and his polices.

Republicans seeking statewide office in New York faced no primary opponents.

The New York primary was the last of the state primaries across the nation before the Nov. 6 midterm elections. No Democratic senator or governor who sought re-election was defeated in a party primary this year.

Attesting to his dominance of New York politics and his fundraising prowess, Cuomo spent about $25 million to win an overwhelming victory against former Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon. A first-time candidate, Nixon raised only about $2.5 million and positioned herself well to Cuomos left in a bitter campaign.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Cuomo had 66 percent of the vote and Nixon picked up 34 percent.

Cuomo was endorsed by the states most powerful Democratic elected officials, party leaders and unions. He is now the overwhelming favorite to win a third term in the heavily Democratic state and follow in the footsteps of his late father, three-term Gov. Mario Cuomo.

Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro will face Cuomo in November as the GOP candidate. Several minor party gubernatorial candidates will also be on the ballot.

As the nominee of the far-left Working Families Party, Nixon can challenge Cuomo once again in November if she wishes. She must now decide whether to withdraw from that minor party line, and if she does the party  which has been critical of Cuomo  must decide whether to give him its spot on the ballot. Candidates in New York can run with the support of more than one party.

Cuomo suffered a lot of negative publicity during the last week of the campaign. The unveiling of the new Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River -- which Cuomo had renamed for his father -- had to be delayed after the governor claimed prematurely that it was ready. Supporters of Cuomo also sent out a mailer implying that Nixon was anti-Semitic, even though her children are Jewish.

But none of that mattered. Cuomos victory margin was four points higher than his primary victory four years ago over far-left law professor Zephyr Teachout.

Teachout, who supported Nixon against Cuomo, went down to defeat Thursday in her effort to win the Democratic nomination for attorney general. She could have caused Cuomo problems if she had become attorney general, launching investigations against his administration.

Letitia James won the Democratic nomination for attorney general with 41 percent of the vote, to 31 percent for Teachout, 25 percent for U.S. Rep. Sean Maloney and 3 percent for Leecia Eve.

James is expected to be elected attorney general in November, and if she is she will be the first black woman to be elected to statewide office in New York history. Her Republican opponent will be Keith Wofford.

New York has filed several lawsuits against President Trumps policies and his charitable foundation, so James will gain national prominence in pursuing those cases.

Cuomos handpicked lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, beat back a challenge from New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, another far-left candidate who ran with the backing of Bernie Sanders supporters. Hochul won 53 percent of the primary vote to 47 percent for Williams.

Hochul, who is white, showed clear weakness with minority voters, whose support allowed Williams, who is black, to carry New York City. But Hochul won easily upstate to stave off Williams' challenge. The GOP candidate for lieutenant governor is Julie Killian.

The one area where the left did well in the primary was in challenging members of the Independent Democratic Caucus, a group of moderate Democratic state senators who in recent years have joined forces with Republicans and kept that chamber in GOP hands.

A series of well-funded challenges succeeded in toppling a majority of the eight IDC senators running for re-election. The odds are that after November, Democrats will finally control both the governorship and both houses of the New York Legislature for the first time in decades.
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Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina Friday morning and was battering the state with devastating wind, rain and storm surge. The storms nonstop rain and deadly flooding is expected to continue in the region for days.

As a disaster expert, I have seen this before. In addition to supporting the Harris County, Texas emergency operations center during Hurricane Ike in 2007 and Hurricane Harvey last year, I managed the New York City emergency operations center during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.

Florence is doing what these other hurricanes did in years past  taking over, transforming the landscape and propelling people out of their orderly and familiar reality into a frightening new reality that is unearthly and strange  a parallel universe.

The most important work in the parallel universe is done by police officers, firefighters and rescue workers all across the disaster zone. This is known as the tactical level, or teeth, of the response.

My thoughts are with the men and women gathered in and around operations centers, supporting the teeth of the response with critical information and resources and solving the problems that cant be solved on the ground. Already they have been working non-stop for over a week, with no rest anywhere in sight. Indeed, the hard part starts now.

Florence is disrupting critical infrastructure  power, water, food, medicine, sanitation and housing  meaning that things will not return to normal for quite a while.

While many in the media are focusing on Florences effect on barrier islands and coastal cities, a bigger concern is the inland areas, where even a massive response will be hindered by poor infrastructure and challenging geography.

Millions of people are being impacted. As the fabric of society unravels, fear seeps in to replace the destroyed rhythm of daily life. Many are doing what people always do in these situations: nothing. They are hunkered down, trapped in Florences parallel universe until someone comes along to help them.

Emergency managers have the hardest job in the world because its not enough for them to do a lot of things very quickly. Because human needs cannot wait, the emergency manager have to be able to do everything all at once. As Florence surges in, they must surge too. They need to get big enough fast enough to manage the tsunami of issues that are emerging now.

The managers have spent the past week pulling people and teams away from their day jobs in other governments, the private sector, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. People are coming together with a unity of purpose into one incident organization to collaborate, solve problems and act in the moment.

Over the coming days and weeks dozens, perhaps hundreds, of teams will focus on different aspects of the disaster  search and rescue, damage assessment, sheltering, logistics, debris removal, disaster assistance, fatality management, feeding, and on and on.

People think that governments have some innate ability to respond to disasters. Nothing could be further from the truth. Governments are slow-moving creatures of habit, ill-suited to the demands of the parallel universe.

The emergency managers are the antidote. They create the instant bureaucracy that supercharges the government-led response.

Over the coming days the emergency managers will beg, borrow and steal everything they need to get the job done. And we must help them.

Florence is not just a disaster for the Carolinas. It is our disaster, with all of us inside its parallel universe. We are all on the hook for this. We are all duty-bound to assist our fellow human beings in their time of greatest need, with dignity and respect.
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Were taking all bets  put your money down now: Will Republicans hold their U.S. Senate majority after the Nov. 6 midterm elections? My bet is that they do. But the odds that Im wrong keep going up.

Ever the master of the political expectations game, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wouldnt answer yes or no when asked this week if he thinks his party will hold the Senate come November.

Instead, McConnell said the midterms are going to be very challenging for his party and then added that Senate races have turned into a knife fight in an alley!

If you believe McConnell, there are dead even Senate races taking place in Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee, Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia and Florida.

It's just a brawl in every one of those places," McConnell said.

Even if McConnell is spinning to get bigger campaign contributions for his candidates, there is a real question here. Do the Democrats really do have a shot at taking back control of the Senate when voters go to the polls?

It wasnt that long ago when a Democratic takeover of the upper chamber seemed pie-in-the-sky unlikely. But with less than eight weeks to go before Election Day, things really do seem to be breaking the Democrats way.

How did we get here? The Democrats, after all, are still defending 24 seats  including 10 in states that Donald Trump carried in 2016.

To my mind, the tide turned with the surprise victory of Democrat Doug Jones in the special election to fill the Senate seat from Alabama formerly held by Republican Jeff Sessions, who is now attorney general. Republicans now hold a 51-49 Senate majority because they lost that seat.

Moreover, the Jones victory re-energized a Democratic base still depressed over Trumps victory in the 2016 presidential election. It also showed how a credible, moderate Democrat could overtake a flawed Republican candidate even in the reddest of red states.

Democratic senators once thought to be headed for political death are now somehow full of new life.

Indianas Joe Donnelly, West Virginias Joe Manchin, Montanas Jon Tester, North Dakotas Heidi Heitkamp and Missouris Claire McCaskill are all polling ahead or within the margin of error of their Republican opponents, according to the latest Real Clear Politics averages.

At this juncture, what once seemed like a sure thing has turned into a question mark. That means the GOP is spending time, money and resources in places once thought to require no attention to win.

In short, the GOP is now playing defense rather than offense to protect its incumbents. Republicans are defending a president with historically low approval ratings and combatting the daily drip-drip-drip of negative headlines about him.

The negative headlines deal with stories about hush-money payments to women who claim they had affairs with Trump (claims he denies); guilty verdicts against former Trump advisers investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller; and best-selling books accusing the president of corruption, having a limited intellect, and suffering from mental instability. President Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and attacked negative books about his presidency as fiction.

The Democrats need to pick up only two seats to win control of the Senate. Here are four races where they could do it:

Tennessee

Popular former Democratic Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is polling within three points with his Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. Blackburns 47-44 percent lead is within the polls margin of error.

Bredesen is focusing on his own moderate, center-right record as governor and vowing to work in a bipartisan manner in the best interests of his state. He is avoiding mentioning President Trump.

By contrast, Blackburn has become Trumps most outspoken female supporter in Congress. She is a frequent guest on cable news shows, talk radio and conservative media. The fact that she has not been able to pull ahead of Bredesen in a state that Trump won by 26 points has Republicans nervous, for good reason.

Texas

Texas is the biggest surprise on the midterm horizon. And it is forcing establishment Republicans in Washington to hold their noses and try to save one of their partys biggest in-house headaches  Sen. Ted Cruz.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., once famously remarked if you killed Cruz on the floor of the Senate and had a trial with only his fellow senators serving as jurors, nobody would vote to convict his killer.

During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Trump branded Cruz Lyin Ted and suggested the senators father could have been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

But Cruz has remained a supporter and reliable vote for President Trump in the Senate. His Democratic opponent in his re-election race  U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke of El Paso  is getting a ton of national media exposure and reported an impressive fundraising haul earlier this month.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn told Politico that Cruz is in a tight race, explaining that were not bluffing, this is real, and it is a serious threat. Real Clear Politics shows Cruz leading ORourke by just three points in polling.

Nevada

Republican Sen. Dean Heller is running for re-election in a state that went for Hillary Clinton and elected a Democratic Latina to the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Heller tries to portray himself as a moderate on immigration issues. But his association with President Trump and the party of build the wall is doing him no favors in a state with a 28 percent Hispanic population.

Hellers opponent  popular Democratic U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen  is leading by one point according to a Suffolk University poll last week. The political machine of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the strong political influence of unionized workers in Las Vegas and Reno will make it very difficult for Heller to hold on.

Arizona

The Republican Senate candidate, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, survived a brutal GOP primary against firebrands former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and hard-right former state Sen. Kelli Ward. Polls show McSally tied with a popular, moderate Democratic U.S. Rep. Krysten Sinema.

Trump carried Arizona by less than four points in 2016, down from the nine-point margin of victory for Republican Mitt Romney over President Obama in 2012. This is a seat now held by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake  a stand-out GOP critic of Trump  who is retiring from Congress to avoid having to run as a critic of his partys troubled leader.

For two years, the question in Washington has been: What will it take for Republicans to turn on Donald Trump?

If Republicans lose control of the U.S. Senate because of the presidents political toxicity  even in reliably red states  that could do it.
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Just when you think those on the left cant possibly sink any lower into the gutter with attacks filled with vitriol and desperation, they surprise you again. This time the target of liberal anger is moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine  who is being threatened if she dares vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court.

In the latest example of bullying by the left, a crowdfunding site has been set up to raise money to defeat Collins, should she run for re-election in 2020, if she casts her vote in coming weeks to seat the extraordinarily qualified Kavanaugh on the nations highest court. Kavanaugh has served for the past 12 years on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

The liberal organizations Mainers for Accountable Leadership and the Maine Peoples Alliance are using the crowdfunding site in an effort to strong-arm Collins into voting no on Judge Kavanaugh.

Under terms of the fundraising deal, donors pledge money with a credit card. If Collins votes yes on Kavanaughs nomination, the cards will be charged and all donations will go to Collins opponent in 2020  whoever that may be.

However, if Collins votes no on Kavanaughs confirmation the cards wont be charged and no donations will be given to her opponent. No harm, no foul.

Collins said of these scheme: Its offensive. Its of questionable legality. And it is extraordinary to me that people would want to participate in trying to essentially buy a Senators vote.

To date the crowdfunding site has raised more than $1.2 million from more than 45,000 pledges. Not only is it extraordinary that so many people are willing to essentially try to buy a vote. It is remarkable that people are willing to give money to a Democratic candidate not even selected two years before the 2020 election.

What will the unknown candidates positions be on issues of concern to Maine voters? What qualifications will he or she have? Will the mystery candidate have something in his or her past that will trouble voters? No one ones this  yet thousands of people are willing to give this person more than $1 million.

This is where Trump Derangement Syndrome has led us.

If you think this whole fundraising campaign sounds shady, youre not alone.

While Collins stressed that this wont influence her vote, she wasted no time calling out this effort, saying: I consider this quid pro quo fundraising to be the equivalent of an attempt to bribe me to vote against Judge Kavanaugh.

The law could be on her side, though she hasnt decided if she is going to pursue any legal action.

I have had three attorneys tell me that they think it is a clear violation of the federal law on bribery, Collins said. Actually, two told me that; one told me its extortion.

The left-wing rage is also being unleashed on the senators personal office. Shes received vulgar harassment calls, as well as a rape threat against one of her staffers, which has been reported to law enforcement.

Collins has worked alongside both Democrats and Republicans and she can hardly be considered partisan, yet her colleagues on the left are sitting in stone-cold silence. Not a single Democrat has come out and condemned these tactics.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, blasted his Democratic colleagues for not calling out such abhorrent behavior against Collins and her staff, tweeting: Every Democrat should be condemning these antics in Maine  attempting to bribe Senator Collins to vote against Judge Kavanaugh and threatening sexual violence against staffers if she votes for him is absolutely disgusting.

One would think blatantly attempting to swing a senators vote and threatening sexual violence against another person would be something all decent human beings could be united against. Apparently not.

Opponents of Kavanaughs nomination are clearly looking to test Collins and see how far they can push her, because theyre desperate and need her vote if they have any hope of sinking Kavanaughs nomination.

The senator should do her best to tune out the blatant bullying from the activist liberals and the silent bullying from Democrats condoning this shameful behavior by refusing to condemn it.

Collins has yet to say how she will vote, but she had pretty strong words for those trying to see if they could own her vote. Collins voted for Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor  nominated by President Obama  because she believed they were well qualified. She should do the same for Kavanaugh for the same reason.
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Should an unaccountable United Nations court, created by a treaty to which the United States is not a signatory, and that the Senate has not ratified, be allowed to investigate, try and imprison American citizens?

Unfortunately, this is no longer a theoretical question. In November, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Fatou Bensouda, announced she was seeking a formal investigation into alleged war crimes committed by U.S. military forces and CIA officers in Afghanistan. Bensouda -- a Gambian lawyer who is answerable to no government or institution -- claims unbridled power to investigate, charge and prosecute American citizens, no matter what the U.S. government says. A pretrial chamber of the court, made up of judges from Hungary, France and Benin, reportedly will approve her request in the coming days.

Who gave these foreign magistrates the right to try U.S. citizens, whose government never assented to the court's jurisdiction through our own democratic institutions? No one. And, yet, they are preparing to exercise this supranational power for the first time.

That will not happen if the Trump administration has anything to say about it. In a speech this week to the Federalist Society, national security adviser John Bolton delivered a stark warning to the ICC: "If the court comes after us ... this administration will fight back to protect American constitutionalism, our sovereignty, and our citizens. No committee of foreign nations will tell us how to govern ourselves and defend our freedom." Should the court act against U.S. citizens, Bolton said, the United States will bar ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the country, sanction their funds in the U.S. financial system and prosecute them in the American criminal-justice system.

I know something about the ICC, because I was present at its creation. In 1998, as a staff member for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I attended the Rome conference where the treaty was negotiated. The committee's chairman, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) warned that, unless checks were placed on the ICC prosecutor's unfettered discretion to prosecute U.S. citizens -- including a U.N. Security Council "screen" that would permit the United States to veto cases going forward -- the Rome treaty would be "dead on arrival" in the Senate. When those protections were rejected, Helms introduced the "American Servicemembers' Protection Act" to bar U.S. cooperation with the ICC and to punish the court for any efforts to prosecute Americans. The measure was approved in 2002 by a bipartisan 75-to-19 vote. So not only has the Senate not ratified the ICC treaty, it has explicitly authorized the president to use "all means necessary" -- including military force -- to shield American citizens from ICC prosecution.

We were told back then that all of this was unnecessary, and that the idea a rogue ICC prosecutor would ever go after Americans was ridiculous. The court would focus on grievous human-rights abuses by the world's tyrants, not on democracies with robust and transparent legal systems capable of policing their own citizens. That was a lie.

Not only is the ICC threatening Americans, it has our democratic ally, Israel, in its crosshairs. In 2015, Bensouda opened a preliminary investigation of Israel for actions defending itself against Palestinian terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Gaza -- despite the fact that the court has no jurisdiction because Israel is not a party to the treaty, and because Palestinian territories cannot be a "state party" to the treaty considering they are not a "state." In May, the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, traveled to The Hague to hand over a criminal referral against Israel and to urge the court to indict and prosecute Israeli officials.

The ICC is not just a threat to U.S. citizens and our democratic allies -- it is a hindrance to democratic change. Since the end of the Cold War, almost every peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy has involved some form of amnesty. The existence of the ICC makes it more difficult to convince dictators to step down, because the option of safety in exile has effectively been eliminated. Without a credible guarantee that they will remain unmolested abroad, dictators may well decide they are better off holed up in their palaces. The lesson to tyrants such as Venezuela's Nicol s Maduro, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, or Iran's ayatollahs is clear: If the people rise up, it is safer to fire on the crowds than to flee.

By taking on the ICC, the Trump administration is not just protecting U.S. citizens and American sovereignty -- it is striking a blow for democracy across the world.
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo soundly defeated insurgent progressive Cynthia Nixon in Thursday's gubernatorial primary, denying far-left liberals a victory they had long sought against the establishment Democrat.

And incumbent Kathy Hochul defeated Jumaane Williams, another so-called "resistance" candidate, in the race for lieutenant governor. Hochul, a former congresswoman from Buffalo, now moves on to the November general election as Cuomo's running mate.

Rounding out the day's key races, Cuomo-backed New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, 59, won a four-way Democratic primary for attorney general, triumphing over progressive law professor Zephyr Teachout.

Teachout had campaigned with Nixon against Cuomo, and pledged to make fighting state corruption a priority. She had said she'd use the "law as a sword, not just a shield" in cracking down on President Trump.

Teachout had run unsuccessfully against Cuomo for governor in 2014, claiming more than 30 percent of the vote in a surprisingly strong showing.

The losses were a one-two-three punch for so-called "resistance" Democrats seeking to defy polls -- and better-funded opponents -- to upend the New York party establishment.

Still, there was some good news on the night for supporters of democratic socialist U.S. House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Julia Salazar, a democratic socialist whose campaign for a seat in the state Senate was overshadowed by a series of bizarre revelations about her past, unseated a 16-year incumbent in Thursday's Democratic primary.

And the evening could end up making history. James, who would become the first black woman to hold statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election for attorney general, might soon see the president in court. New York has filed several lawsuits against Trump's policies and his charitable foundation.



The current attorney general, Barbara Underwood, was appointed in May when Eric Schneiderman resigned after he was accused of physically abusing women. Underwood declined to run for election.

The results, on the whole, were mostly expected, even if this primary season has shown that upsets are almost the new normal. Williams, the lieutenant general candidate, had reportedly faced significant financial troubles and was found guilty of obstructing an emergency vehicle after he blocked an ambulance at an immigrants' rights rally last month.

OPINION: CUOMO, AMERICA'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT -- AND MY ANCESTORS WERE SLAVES!

Williams was impeding an ambulance carrying his friend, an immigrant rights activist who had been informed he would be detained, and then fainted. Williams also was booked for blocking traffic outside Trump Tower in the wake of the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

The state's gubernatorial race commanded most of the fanfare on the evening. Nixon, a former "Sex and the City" co-star, was widely predicted to lose the race, even as she insisted polls were underestimating her support. She had sought to mirror the success of Ocasio-Cortez and capitalize on a series of missteps by Cuomo, who was roundly mocked last month for saying America "was never that great."



DEEP DIVE: WHERE DO NEW YORK'S KEY CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES?



With nearly half of precincts reporting, though, Nixon was trailing Cuomo by more than 30 percentage points -- putting her more in line with the dismal performance of Bernie Sanders' son Levi in New Hampshire earlier this week.



Nixon had received the endorsement of the Working Families Party (WFP), an influential, progressive third party in New York. She was seeking to join the handful of insurgent liberal candidates who have sent shockwaves through the Democratic political establishment by unseating party favorites ahead of November's midterm elections.



The race had featured bitter attacks, with Nixon calling Cuomo a "bully" and Cuomo's campaign dismissing her as "unhinged."

Both Cuomo and Nixon sought to make the election about Trump. "Together, we can show the entire country that in the era of Donald Trump, New Yorkers will come together and lead our nation forward," Nixon wrote Wednesday evening in a final message to supporters.

Cuomo, for his part, spent millions on ads to argue that he's the most qualified candidate to push back against the White House. He also touted liberal accomplishments such as gun control, free public college tuition and a higher minimum wage.

Cuomo is set to face Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, an independent, in the November general election.

In an unusual move, Cuomo was a no-show at his own election night victory party and instead celebrated his win at the governor's mansion in Albany.



Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Nicole Darrah and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Irans ambassador to Iraq held a ceremony to open a new consulate building in southern city of Basra after last week attack on the old diplomatic mission.



AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Irans ambassador to Iraq held a ceremony to open a new consulate building in southern city of Basra after last week attack on the old diplomatic mission.



Irans ambassador Iraj Masjedi inaugurated the new consulates building and hoisted the flag of the Islamic Republic at the site of the new consulate in a ceremony attended by Iraqi officials and journalists.



On September 7, a mob of angry protestors stormed into the Iranian consulate in Basra, destroyed the diplomatic missions properties, took down the flag of Iran and torched the building.



The consulates building was not the first to be set on fire. The angry demonstrators had earlier set government buildings ablaze as well. The buildings included the headquarters of the local government, the ruling Dawa Party, the Supreme Islamic Council and the Badr Organization.







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Former President Jimmy Carter has some advice for fellow Democrats looking to end Republican control of American government: Dont go too far to the left.

Independents need to know they can invest their vote in the Democratic Party, Carter said Tuesday, during his annual report at his post-presidential center and library in Atlanta.

Carter stressed that Democrats nationally must appeal to independents, who are souring on the current administration.

President Trumps job approval rating, according to Gallup, has dipped to 40 percent, mostly because of declining support among independents.

Carter alluded to arguments from self-identified progressives that Democrats will sacrifice votes on the left if they dont embrace the liberal base: I dont think any Democrat is going to vote against a Democratic nominee, Carter said.

He also insisted that hes not asking the left to sacrifice its goals, only to see that winning elections is necessary to accomplish any of them.

There is some historical irony to Carters analysis.

He came to the White House in 1976 from the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, and he clashed with party liberals, drawing a spirited primary challenge in 1980 from Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. Carter prevailed, but he was wounded, abandoned by Kennedys most liberal supporters and unable to win over independents who helped deliver a landslide for Republican Ronald Reagan and end Carter's hopes for a second term.

Carter and his wife live a modest life in Plains, Georgia, where the former president was born and raised. Following his presidency, he wrote books about his faith and career before starting the Carter Center.

Carter also costs U.S. taxpayers less than any other ex-president in terms of allowances and office staff, the General Services Administration reported.

As an elder statesman, he does like to dip back into the political scene, now and again.

These days, he said, he sees little hope for the U.S. to change its human rights and environmental policies as long as Trump is in the White House.

However, he offered a caution about the political consequences of a Democratic shift to a very liberal program, like universal health care.

Thats delicate  and, Carter admitted, even contradictory  advice coming from the 93-year-old former president, and it underscores the complicated political calculations for Democrats as they prepare for the midterms and look ahead to 2020.

Rosie and I voted for Bernie Sanders in the past, Carter noted.

He was referring to his wife, Rosalynn, and their support for the Vermont senator, an independent who identifies as a democratic socialist, over establishment favorite Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

Carters latest handicapping comes near the conclusion of a midterm primary season that has seen Democratic voters nudge the party to the left.

In some states and districts, that means nominating full-throated advocates of single-payer health care, a $15 minimum wage and the abolition or overhaul of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In other races, it means nominees who back more cautious moves to the left, such as background checks before certain gun purchases, a public option health insurance plan to compete alongside private insurance policies, step raises for the minimum wage and an immigration overhaul that offers legal status to some immigrants in the country illegally.

Carter did not delve into those distinctions, instead offering a sweeping condemnation of his latest successor to remind Democrats of the stakes.

He denounced the administrations latest environmental policy proposal to make it easier for energy companies to release methane gas that contributes to climate change. At another point, he pointed to Californias environmental policies  limits on carbon emissions, stiffer fuel-efficiency standards  as the model for combating climate change.

He singled out Trumps policy of separating immigrant families at the border, including those seeking asylum.

America is inherently committed to human rights, and I think in the future we will let that prevail, Carter said, but for the next two years, I cant predict the imprisoned children are going to be any better off  unfortunately.

Carter has previously criticized Trump for his repeated falsehoods, and he has chided the incumbent for his hard-line support for Israel over Palestinians.

Yet Carter has found common ground with Trump on other foreign policy fronts, and did so again Tuesday.

While avoiding any mention of the special counsels investigation into whether Trumps presidential campaign coordinated with Russia in the 2016 elections, Carter said he has engaged for years with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the ongoing Syrian civil war.

I have his email address, said Carter, adding that he and Putin share the same Russian river as their favorite spot for salmon fishing.

That friendship, Carter said, means when Russia and other nations hold multilateral talks about the Syrian conflict, quite often they invite the Carter Center. ... They do not invite the U.S. government.

Carter also praised Trump for meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Carter repeated his frustrations with the last Democratic president, Barack Obama, for not engaging more directly with the insular Asian nation. Carter said hes not sure Trump has made real progress yet with North Korea, but he endorsed calls for the U.S. to declare formally an end to the Korean War and normalize relations with Pyongyang.

Let them be part of the community of nations, he said. I think that would be enough in itself to bring an end to the nuclear program in North Korea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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More than five dozen women came forward Friday to defend Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh against an alleged high school incident, calling President Trumps pick for the high court a good person.

The 65 women, who claim to have known Kavanaugh for more than 35 years, penned a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee to vouch for his character.

We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983. For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect, the letter read. We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.

The women wrote that while Kavanaugh attended Georgetown Preparatory School, an all-boys high school in Bethesda, Maryland, they knew him through social events, sports, church, and various other activities.

Many of us have remained close friends with him and his family over the years. Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity, they wrote. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.

They added: The signers of this letter hold a broad range of political views. Many of us are not lawyers, but we know Brett Kavanaugh as a person. And he has always been a good person.

The letter comes amid a controversy ignited by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who released a statement this week saying that she turned information about Kavanaugh over to the FBI. She did not detail the accusation, and Republicans accused her of trying to orchestrate a last-minute smear.

I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Feinstein said in a surprise statement. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.

Fox News confirmed that the letter involved an allegation about Kavanaugh while in high school in the 1980s. A woman who was also in high school at the time, accused Kavanaugh of holding her down and trying to force himself on her during a party, before she got away. The details were first reported by The New Yorker.

The woman also claimed Kavanaugh was joined at the time by a friend who turned up music to conceal her protests. The unnamed classmate, quoted in the New Yorker article as having "no recollection of that," is Mark Judge, Fox News confirmed. His identity was first reported by The Weekly Standard.

"It's just absolutely nuts. I never saw Brett act that way," Judge said, adding that he still does not know the identity of the woman who made the allegations.

Kavanaugh denied the allegations Friday.

I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time, Kavanaugh, 53, said in a statement.

The White House blasted the charges on Thursday.

Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new information about him, White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec said in a statement.

The accusations come after Kavanaughs Capitol Hill confirmation grilling, and ahead of the committee vote on sending his nomination to the full Senate.

The FBI conducts background checks on all major government appointees, including Supreme Court nominees.

Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaughs background file, as per the standard process, the FBI said in a statement.

Fox News has learned that the White House would need to request that the bureau follow up on the letter for the matter to be investigated further.

Despite the controversy, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said there is no plan to delay Kavanaughs confirmation.

Grassley set the panels vote on Kavanaugh for Sept. 20 and Republicans hope to confirm him by the start of the new court session on Oct. 1.

Fox News Alex Pappas, Mike Emanuel, John Roberts, and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
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Michael Bloomberg, the self-made billionaire and former New York City mayor, is reportedly making plans to run for president as a Democrat in 2020.

The Times of London, citing an unnamed source, reported Thursday that Bloomberg has been having the discussion with his inner circle. The former Republican mayor -- whose net worth is reportedly $52.2 billion -- would be able to bankroll his own campaign while other candidates have to knock themselves out, the source said.

It was previously reported that Bloomberg planned to spend at least $80 million to help the Democratic Party in the upcoming November elections.

Bloomberg told the Washington Post earlier this summer that Republicans have not delivered results while controlling both the House and Senate, and he argued that a change in power was necessary for members of Congress to reach across the aisle to solve the issues plaguing the country.

Bloomberg supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, and reportedly called Trump a dangerous demagogue.

Trump says he wants to run the nation like hes run his business, Bloomberg said in 2016. God help us. Im a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one.

Corey Lewandowski, the former Trump aide, said in August that he believed Bloomberg would be a serious threat to Trump if he ran due to his vast fortune, name recognition and reputation as a job creator.

Mike Bloomberg created tens of thousands of jobs over the course of his lifetime, Lewandowski told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast in Washington, the New York Post reported. That is a story the American people like -- and hes an outsider. I think it would be a very competitive race.

Trump, who ran as an outsider in 2016, appeared to draw new attention to business leaders as potential political leaders. Starbucks' Howard Schultz is reportedly considering a presidential run and Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan, appears to enjoy saying he is not running for office.

Dimon said earlier this week that he could beat Trump if the two went head-to-head.

"I think I could beat Trump," Dimon said Wednesday, according to CNBC. "Because I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is. I would be fine. He could punch me all he wants, it wouldn't work with me. I'd fight right back."

He later said he should not have said it and he is not running for president, but Trump could not resist responding on Twitter.

"The problem with banker Jamie Dimon running for President is that he doesn't have the aptitude or 'smarts' & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess," Trump said.

Fox News' Ben Brown contributed to this report
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As momentum builds in the battle for the Texas Senate seat, a significant amount of money is being funneled to help both candidates in what is quickly becoming one of the countrys most expensive races.



A new poll released Tuesday by Crosswind Media and Public Relations shows Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz leading his Democratic challenger, Congressman Beto ORourkes, 47 to 44 percent.



This campaign will be a war. Its going to be very interesting, said University of Houston-Downtown political science professor David Branham.

Cruz and ORourke both have amassed over $23 million so far, but the senator is trailing behind with cash on hand. Cruz has $9.3 million while ORourke has nearly $14 million.



Despite the fact that he is hard, hard left, hes the No. 1 Democratic fundraiser in the country, and he is outraising our campaign substantially, Cruz said Saturday during a campaign event at Tin Roof BBQ in Atascocita, about 40 minutes outside of Houston.

The money has helped make ORourke a household name. The El Paso congressman, whos sworn off PAC money, has attracted national attention. But Cruz, who ran for president in 2016 and is popular in his party, is also well-known across the country.

Branham said campaign dollars, though sizable, will only go so far.

Each dollar that you get, and each dollar you spend has a diminishing return, once youve spent $20 million, theres not much more than $25 million can buy you. So, hes going to have to win this race on the issues.

ORourke said his campaign wants to have a lasting impact.

I think this year and this election is not about [what] party we might belong to or who we voted for in the last election, he said during a campaign rally in Houston last weekend. Its about the future of this country, the big things we want to do.



The cost over the race has ballooned to nearly $48 million, making it the second most expensive Senate race in the country, according to nonpartisan non-profit, Center for Responsive Politics. While the high number in what has traditionally been seen as a red state may surprise some, Branham said he is not shocked.



This state is huge. Were looking at 30 million people being in the state of Texas sometime during the term of this elected senator, so the moneys coming here because thats whats needed to overturn a state like this, he said.



Recent media reports, including CNBC and the New York Times, have said the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund are taking a closer look at the Lone Star State.

"We are keeping eyes on the race," Chris Pack, a spokesperson for the Senate Leadership Fund, said in a statement. "We think Senator Cruz will be just fine, but well be there for him if he needs us. At the end of the day, Texas voters arent going to pull the lever for some far-left liberal like Congressman O'Rourke."

The NRSC and O'Rourke's campaign team have not responded to requests for comments.

Republican lawmakers are jumping in to help Cruz. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is planning to hold a fundraiser for Cruz in October.

We welcome support from anyone and everyone. We understand that this is a competitive race, and we are using all resources we have to compete and win, said Catherine Frazier, Cruzs spokesperson.



Diverting money to help Cruz, however, could lead to less funding for candidates in other battleground states, potentially compromising their outcomes.



The one state I think about is Tennessee, right? Thats a pretty close race. But, all the money going into this race, it would seem that youre spending a lot of money on one thing and leaving a lot of other things vulnerable, Branham said. But I think the calculation is this is a seat thats worth saving for the Republicans.
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Paul Manafort's prison stay was extended Wednesday  nearly a week after he was sentenced to 47 months on bank and tax fraud charges in a separate case. The former Trump campaign chairman is now slated to spend a total of 81 months in prison.

He was given extra prison time at his second sentencing in connection with his guilty plea related to foreign lobbying and witness tampering.

In August, Manafort became the first Trump campaign associate to be found guilty by a jury as part of Special Counsel Robert Muellers long-running probe. He was convicted of eight bank and tax fraud charges at that time.

PAUL MANAFORT SENTENCED ON FOREIGN LOBBYING AND WITNESS TAMPERING CHARGES

Manafort has been the subject of an investigation over his dealings in Ukraine several years ago  he didnt file as a foreign agent until June 2017. But Mueller has incorporated that investigation into his probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with Trump associates.

Manafort was convicted on multiple counts of financial fraud last year in connection with his Ukranian work, and is in prison. In November, Mueller accused Manafort of lying "on a variety of subject matters" since his plea deal, thus violating that agreement.

Read on for a look at Manafort's work with the Trump campaign and how he is connected to the Russia investigation.

What kind of foreign work did Manafort do?

A GOP operative who worked for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Manafort reportedly began his work in Republican politics in the 1970s.

Eventually, Manafort was hired by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a controversial pro-Russia politician who was ousted from power twice. After Yanukovych was elected president in 2010, Manafort reportedly stayed on as an adviser and worked on other projects in Eastern Europe, including the Party of Regions political party.

Manafort also worked for Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. In 2005, Manafort allegedly came up with a plan to influence U.S. politics, business dealings and the media in order to greatly benefit the Putin government, according to The Associated Press.

Deripaska is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and signed a $10 million annual contract with Manafort in 2006; they maintained a business relationship until at least 2009.

Financial records obtained by The New York Times indicated that Manafort was in debt to pro-Russian interests by up to $17 million prior to joining Donald Trumps presidential campaign.

He also took more than a dozen trips to Moscow and frequently talked to Putin allies over a period of about 10 years, McClatchy reported. He traveled to Kiev at least 19 times in 20 months after the February 2014 removal of Ukraines pro-Russia leader.

How was Manafort involved with Trump's campaign?

Manafort joined Trump's presidential campaign in March 2016 to help wrangle delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention in Ohio, something he'd done for former President Gerald Ford.

Just two months later, Manafort became Trump's campaign chairman.

Manaforts resignation from the campaign was announced on August 19, 2016, after The Times reported that he'd received $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from Yanukovychs pro-Russian party between 2007 and 2012.

Manafort and Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, met with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016. She reportedly was said to have damaging information on Trumps campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, which was "part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump."

What was Manafort charged with?

Along with his former business associate Rick Gates, Manafort was initially indicted in October 2017 on multiple counts that included: conspiracy against the U.S., conspiracy to launder money, false statements and failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

Nearly four months later, in February 2018, the pair were hit with additional tax evasion and bank fraud charges. These charges involved much of the same conduct Manafort and Gates were initially accused of, but the amount of money Manafort said to have laundered through offshore accounts increased to $30 million.

In June 2018, Mueller's team brought additional charges of obstruction of justice against Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, an associate. The charges against Manafort and Gates dont relate to allegations of misconduct during Trumps campaign.

Mueller also accused Manafort of secretly paying former European politicians to lobby on behalf of Ukraine.

Manafort was found guilty of eight counts in August in the first trial victory for Mueller's team. The judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

In September, Manafort pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with Mueller's team ahead of his second trial. According to Politico, the plea deal includes a 10-year cap for how long Manafort will be in prison. It also includes allowing Manafort to serve his time for both trials concurrently.

He received a nearly 4-year prison sentence on March 7 after a federal jury in Virginia convicted him on eight counts of bank and tax fraud last year. A week later, on March 13, he received an additional three and a half years on foreign lobbying and witness tampering charges.

Manafort previously maintained his innocence despite all of the charges brought before him  but he has since expressed remorse for his actions.

"I am sorry for what I have done and all the activities that have gotten us here today," Manafort said in a written statement in March, begging a judge for mercy.

Fox News' Ann Schmidt, Jake Gibson, Alex Pappas, Matt Richardson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Winning re-election as a Democrat in a state President Trump won in 2016 is a math problem for Sen. Joe Donnelly, R-Ind.

My voting record is: I voted 62 percent with Donald Trump, Donnelly said.

Thats a failing grade in this state Trump carried by nearly 20 points, according to Donnellys Republican challenger, Mike Braun.

On every important piece of legislation, he votes 100 percent against Donald Trump and the conservative agenda, Braun said.

Braun leads Donnelly 45 to 43 percent, according to a new Fox News poll, and Donnellys willingness to work with the president is a central campaign issue.

Now Donnelly, one of 10 Democratic senators seeking re-election in a state Trump won, is now defending his no votes on big-ticket items like tax reform and Obamacare repeal.

On things like trying to take away coverage from pre-existing conditions, Ill pass, Donnelly said. Hoosiers dont want a copy machine  they want a senator.

Undecided voters at a recent Donnelly campaign in Bremen arent so sure.

Sid Shafer, a grain and chicken farmer who voted for President Trump but is leaning against supporting Donnelly, cites his recent record as a reason for concern.

This is fairly much a Trump state, Shafer said. And yet he dont vote for him.

Agricultural tariffs are tilting some other undecided farmers toward Donnelly, including another Trump voter, soybean farmer Charlie Houin.

Eighty percent of my decision is gonna be made up on how the candidates are gonna affect agriculture and how theyre gonna support me, Houin said.

Braun argues the tariffs are necessary to apply pressure to trading partners, and supports them as long as disagreements about imports and exports can be resolved quickly.

Farmers tell me theyre with President Trump, they just dont have the capacity for this to drag on, Braun said.

Donnelly disagrees, and claims he told the president he blames him for disproportionately affecting constituents in farming communities.

I talked to him specifically about this issue and said Mr. President, theres a better way to do this, theres a better way to handle this where so many wonderful people who voted for you and supported you are now at risk of losing their farms, Donnelly said.

Braun is confident that Donnellys failure to work more with the Trump administration will cost the incumbent in November.

Hoosiers still want to see the system redone, Braun said. And they know that if you keep sending politicians from the farm system of politics, expect the same.
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No one likes to talk politics amid natural disasters. But like it or not, no firewall exists between politics and natural disasters.

Such is the case with Hurricane Florence (at press time, now downgraded to a tropical storm, but still wreaking havoc in the Carolinas).

Its too early to assess damage from the storm. But lawmakers are already discussing the need for a supplemental spending bill to pay for the cleanup.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., says Congress stands ready to assist. He notes that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is already flush with cash to combat what the speaker called rolling averages.

However, Ryan added that sometimes big storms exceed those averages. And then we appropriately respond.

I think its reasonable to assume that theres going to be additional resources that are necessary, said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Were going to need more money, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Congress cleaves federal spending into 12 uneven pieces. Each of the 12 slices represents a single appropriations bill, funding one section of government. The Pentagon slab is the largest, consuming more than 50 percent of the federal pie. The legislative branch is the smallest.

However, when disaster strikes, Congress often crafts a 13th appropriations bill. That's called a supplemental measure, or a supp, in the parlance of Congress. Supplemental measures can cover hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, droughts, forest fires, volcanoes, blizzards, ice storms -- you name it. Congress also deploys supplemental spending packages to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to combat terrorism. Sometimes the measures cost just a few billion dollars. But they frequently rocket into the tens (if not hundreds) of billions.

Superstorm Sandy walloped New York City and the northeastern U.S. in the fall of 2012. Yet Congress struggled to approve a supplemental spending bill to boost relief efforts. The biggest problem came in the House.

The House finally approved the Sandy supplemental spending package on Jan. 15, 2013, by a vote of 241-180. Republicans held the majority in the House at the time. But a scant 49 GOPers voted yea. Many Republicans who represent the areas now flattened by Florence voted nay.

Congress didnt wrestle as much with emergency bills after a series of hurricanes last year that hit the Gulf Coast and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

There were things in the Sandy bill that a lot of members didnt think deserved to be in a disaster relief bill. Those bills have been cleaned up since then, said Ryan, who voted nay on the Sandy legislation. I think were in a much better place than we were back in the days of Sandy.

When asked about Florence, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said his state is better prepared for this storm than others in recent memory. However, Meadows said it seems like Congress always starts with the usual 12 spending bills and tacks on a 13th or 14th to address disasters.

If we do another big funding bill, it begins to become the norm, said Meadows.

In other words, Congress ignores reality when it limits itself to just 12 spending bills when in truth, lawmakers usually grapple with more.

Its fake math, said Meadows. We might as well budget for it.

All money Congress plows onto an emergency supplemental package adds to the deficit  unless offsets are developed elsewhere. Its unclear if Congress could try to write disaster relief bills without contributing to the deficit  and cutting from other programs.

Florence is pummeling the Carolinas right now. Yet President Trump ignited a firestorm about last years storms, which lashed the Caribbean. Mr. Trump tweeted that 3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. The president added that Democrats had concocted the number in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico.

But even Republicans turned on the presidents assessment.

I have no reason to dispute those numbers, replied Ryan. when asked about the veracity of the death toll. Those are just the facts.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) is a native of Puerto Rico. Despite the presidents effort to gaslight our nation and deflect blame, the Puerto Rican people know the truth, she said. This is the type of emotional abuse that the people of Puerto Rico cannot take any more.

Its so sad to add salt in the wounds, said Pelosi.

Throwing paper towels is not an answer. Denying death is not an answer, said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

Democrats have heaped criticism on the Trump administration for how it addressed storm recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some argue that South and North Carolina will be fine after Florence because theyre states and not territories.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. served one term as the District of Columbias shadow senator. Shadow senators are elected positions. But they dont keep offices on Capitol Hill and hold no special status in Congress. They cannot vote.

Jackson said he thinks that helps explain why Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands received short shrift.

If Puerto Rico had two senators and four congressmen, itd be all the difference in the world, said Jackson. If youre at the table with two senators and four congressman, you can bargain and negotiate leverage. Puerto Rico has no leverage. It can only make moral appeals.

But Velazquez disagreed with Jacksons distinction between states and territories.

It has nothing to do with representation, said Velazquez, who places the blame on the administration. They were ill-prepared.

There will be much scrutiny in the coming days about the federal response to Florence. In fact, President Trumps tweets about Puerto Rico could magnify scrutiny. There will be debates on Capitol Hill about an additional spending package to help the region recover. Some in Congress will claim hypocrisy if lawmakers in the Carolinas demand aid when some opposed the federal package following Sandy.

Those in the Caribbean will continue to question the response to last years storms.

It may be not be a time to talk politics amid this latest natural disaster. But its impossible to disconnect the two.
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Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty in federal court Friday as part of a plea agreement that involves cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and allows him to avoid a second trial.

I plead guilty," Manafort, 69, told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman in Washington.

Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann told the judge that Manafort's deal includes a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, who are investigating whether any Trump associates played a role in Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. That could include interviews with prosecutors and testifying in court.

A defense attorney for Manafort told Fox News the deal includes "full cooperation."

But the president's team downplayed the significance of Manafort's plea.

Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign," Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said in a statement to Fox News. "The reason: the president did nothing wrong."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday that Manafort's decision is "totally unrelated" to the president.

Manafort, in a trial set to begin Sept. 24, had been facing seven counts of foreign lobbying violations and witness tampering in federal court in Washington.

In August, in a separate trial in Virginia, a federal jury found Manafort guilty on eight counts of federal tax and banking crimes.

Manafort faces up to 10 years on these charges in Washington. He still faces sentencing for his guilty verdict in Virginia.

As part of this agreement, Manafort has forfeited multiple bank accounts and several properties in New York. However, he will keep his properties in Florida and Virginia, where his family live.

Manafort attorney Kevin Downing told reporters after the court hearing it was a tough day for his client, who has accepted responsibility. He said Manafort wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life.

The case was brought by Mueller's team, which is probing potential crimes related to the 2016 election. But Manafort has not been charged with anything related to the campaign.

In August, Manaforts bank and tax fraud conviction made him the first campaign associate of Trump found guilty by a jury as part of Muellers probe.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort, Trump told reporters after the August verdict, adding that it had "nothing to do with Russian collusion." The president has called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt."



Trump also said he had such respect for Manafort and called him a brave man. In comments interpreted to mean he was open to pardoning Manafort, Trump commended Manafort, saying he refused to break and make up stories in order to get a deal.

In the Virginia trial, prosecutors said Manafort hid income earned from political work overseas from the IRS while fraudulently obtaining millions in bank loans. Manafort had pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The prosecutions star witness, Rick Gates  Manaforts former business partner who struck a plea deal to cooperate with the government -- testified during the trial that he and Manafort committed bank and tax fraud together.

Downing, Manafort's attorney, suggested after the guilty verdict in August that Manafort was open to striking a deal before the second trial.

He is evaluating all of his options at this point, Downing said of Manafort.

Fox News' Catherine Herridge, John Roberts and NuNu Japaridze contributed to this report.
Saudi Arabia and its allies are positioned to attack food storage facilities in Yemeni port town of al-Hudaydah, the Houthi Ansarullah Movement has warned.



AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Saudi Arabia and its allies are positioned to attack food storage facilities in Yemeni port town of al-Hudaydah, the Houthi Ansarullah Movement has warned.



The warning came as the Saudi-led coalition this week intensified its military campaign to take over the strategic port.



Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, revealed in a Twitter post on Thursday that Riyadh had plans to attack food storage facilities and silos across Hudaydah - which is the main conduit for food supplies into the war-torn country - under the false pretext that they were being used to store weapons.



He also warned that the coalition was going to target Hudaydah's populated areas with "blind strikes."



Houthi said the decision came amid a media campaign by the aggressors to justify their atrocities in the city.



The warnings followed the resumption of relentless attacks by Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the United Arab Emirates, against Yemen after UN-brokered talks between warring parties failed in Geneva last week.



The talks were aborted after the UN failed to meet conditions set by Yemens Ansarullah movement that included transferring Yemenis who had been wounded as a result of the Saudi-led war to hospitals and also providing guarantees over the safety of the Yemeni delegation attending the talks.



Ansarullah also accused Saudi Arabia of planning to strand the Yemeni delegation in Djibouti, where their plane was to make a stop en route to Geneva.



On Wednesday night, Saudi-led aircraft ended the truce by bombing Hudaydah's Kilo 16 district, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more.



Saudi Arabia and its regional allies launched the devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of reinstating former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and crushing the Houthi movement.



Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the start 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.



The Saudi-led offensive to wrest control of Hudaydah began in June, with the aim of stopping continued missile strikes by Yemen's army and the Houthis.



Despite effectively putting Hudaydah under an extensive aerial and maritime siege, the Saudis insist that the only way to stop what they call a flow of arms and missile parts to the group is by taking the whole city under control.



However, the offensive has been far from successful. In fact, the extent of civilian casualties has put the coalition under growing international pressure to end the onslaught.



The battle has even prompted reactions from the US and the UK, who have been providing Riyadh with unconditional arms and intelligence support over the course of the war.





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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is renewing President Barack Obama's so-called war on coal by backing a radical initiative to shut down more than a third of U.S. coal plants by 2020 -- a line of attack that spectacularly backfired for Hillary Clinton in 2016.



Under President Obama, we went on to pass the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act in the House. But we were stopped in the Senate by the coal industry, Pelosi said in remarks Thursday to the Global Climate Action Summit in California, according to a video obtained by the NTK Network -- an outlet backed by the right-wing America Rising PAC.

For this and other reasons, Im so grateful to [Former New York City Mayor] Michael Bloombergs Beyond Coal initiative working with the Sierra Club. It is so essential.



The "Beyond Coal" website describes coal as an outdated, backward, and dirty 19th-century technology.



The Beyond Coal campaigns main objective is to replace dirty coal with clean energy by mobilizing grassroots activists in local communities to advocate for the retirement of old and outdated coal plants and to prevent new coal plants from being built, the website says.



It advocates retiring a third of the nations coal plants by 2020, replacing most retired coal plants with clean energy solutions such as wind, solar, and geothermal and keeping coal in the ground in places like Appalachia and Wyomings Powder River Basin.



Its the latest in a series of such statements for Pelosi, who hailed her own efforts to kill off coal initiatives last month.



We had to fight some Democrats. Senator Byrd had a coal powered plant fueling the Capitol, you know I was speaker and thats gonna go, she said. With all due respect to West Virginia, were not gonna have a coal power plant floating around.

PELOSI DIG IN AGAINST COAL AS TRUMP ROLLS BACK OBAMA EMISSIONS RULE



Republicans and the coal industry had accused the Obama administration of waging a war on coal via environmental regulations that limited emissions.



An aggressive stance on coal hurt 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who had to apologize in West Virginia when angry residents confronted her about remarks she made about putting coal companies out of business.



Because were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies outta business, she bragged at a Democratic debate, before adding that we dont want to forget those people.



"I don't know how to explain it other than what I said was totally out of context from what I meant because I have been talking about helping Coal Country for a very long time," Clinton later told an unemployed coal miner.


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New York voters on Thursday cast ballots in the second installment of the states primaries ahead of the general election in November, selecting candidates for state and local races. Here are the results:

New York

Gubernatorial primary results:

Democratic incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo easily beat back a primary challenge from the actress and activist Cynthia Nixon on Thursday with 65.6% percent of the vote. During the campaign, Cuomo seldom mentioned Nixon by name, instead touting his experience, achievements in two terms as governor and his work to push back against President Donald Trump.

There were indications that the former "Sex and the City" actress pushed the incumbent governor to the left on several issues, including legalizing marijuana and addressing crumbling public housing in New York City.

With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans more than 2 to 1 in New York, Cuomo becomes the automatic front-runner in Novembers matchup with Republican Marc Molinaro, who secured the GOP nomination uncontested.

GOP Primary  Marc Molinaro Uncontested

Dem Primary  Andrew M. Cuomo Votes 975,552 Vote Percentage: 65.6%

Lieutenant Governor

In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, incumbent and Cuomo running mate Kathy Hochul defeated challenger Jumaane Williams, a New York City councilman who had promised if elected to serve as a check on Cuomo.

Hochul, a former congresswoman from Buffalo, spent much of the campaign touting her role in the Cuomo administration. Cuomo first picked her as his running mate in the 2014 election. Hochul will face GOP challenger Julie Killian in November.

GOP Primary  Julie Killian Uncontested

Dem Primary  Kathy Hochul Votes: 731,459 Vote Percentage: 53.3%

Attorney General

Cuomos pick for attorney general, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, won a four-way Democratic primary with more than 40 percent of the vote. James told her supporters in Brooklyn on Thursday that President Donald Trump cant go a day without dividing us and that theyre in the middle of a fight to save our democracy.

James would be the first black woman to hold statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election. She was heavily endorsed by Cuomo and several influential unions and will be heavily favored in the November general election.

The Republican candidate is Keith Wofford, a little-known Buffalo native whos worked as a lawyer in private practice for two decades. Wofford attacked James as a career politician who will uphold the status-quo.

Wofford has pitched himself as an independent outsider who will do whats in the states best interests and an alternative to the political establishment.

GOP Primary  Keith Wofford Uncontested

Dem Primary  Letitia James Votes: 578,412 Vote Percentage: 40.6%

State Senate primary results:

Democratic socialist and first-time candidate Julia Salazar, 27, handily defeated eight-term incumbent Sen. Martin Dilan in New Yorks 18th District with 59 percent of the vote, joining the ranks of progressive insurgents nationwide who have knocked out mainstream Democrats.

Salazar faced criticism during her campaign for saying she was a poor immigrant from Colombia who struggled financially growing up when she was born into a wealthy family in Florida. She was also scrutinized for her apparent religious conversion while at Columbia University from an anti-abortion Christian Republican to a hard-left Jewish Democrat.

There was no Republican candidate running in the district which virtually guarantees Salazar a seat.

District 18: Dem Primary  Julia Salazar Votes: 20,603 Vote Percentage: 59.0%

GOP Primary  No candidate

Salazars victory came on a night when primary voters also took their revenge on a splinter group of Democratic state senators who broke with the party to join a group that supported Republican control of the chamber. Despite a political deal earlier this year to end the schism, six of the eight members of the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference were ousted in party primaries Thursday.

Among those losing their races was Bronx Sen. Jeff Klein, the former IDC leader and current No. 2 in the state Senate. Klein lost to Alessandra Biaggi, an attorney who has worked for Cuomo's and Hillary Clinton's campaigns.

But voters also decided to support another breakaway Democrat, Brooklyn Sen. Simcha Felder. Felder was not an IDC member but also voted with the Republicans, letting them remain in control even though Democrats outnumbered them in the Senate by one seat. Felder beat challenger Blake Morris in the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh vigorously denied claims involving an alleged high school incident made in an undisclosed letter and turned over to FBI by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time, Kavanaugh, 53, said in a statement Friday.

Feinstein ignited controversy Thursday by releasing a statement saying she turned information about Kavanaugh over to the FBI. She did not detail the accusation, and Republicans accused her of trying to orchestrate a last-minute smear.

I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Feinstein said in her surprise statement. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.

Fox News confirmed that the letter involved an allegation about Kavanaugh while a student at Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland in the 1980s. A woman, who was also in high school at the time, accused Kavanaugh in the letter of holding her down and trying to force himself on her during a party, before she got away. The details were first reported Friday by the New Yorker.

The woman also claimed Kavanaugh was joined at the time by a friend who turned up music to conceal her protests. But that unnamed classmate reportedly told the New Yorker, I have no recollection of that.

Meanwhile, the Judiciary Committee on Friday received a letter from 65 women who said they knew Kavanaugh from high school and vouched for him as a good person. The letter was addressed to Feinstein and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983, the letter, obtained by Fox News, reads. For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the committee at this time.

The White House blasted the charge on Thursday as a last-minute gambit.

Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new information about him," White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec said in a statement.

The accusation comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee already grilled Kavanaugh and other witnesses and prepares to vote on sending his nomination to the full Senate.

A source familiar with the confirmation proceedings told Fox News that Feinstein received the letter back in July, but did not make its existence known publicly until Thursday.

The letter reportedly was given to Feinstein by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., but has not been publicly disclosed by senators who have seen the document.

Feinstein met privately with Kavanaugh on August 20 and also questioned him repeatedly in open and closed session during the Judiciary Committee hearings on his nomination last week. There is no indication that the matter came up in either the private meeting or the closed committee session.

The FBI conducts background checks on all major government appointees, including Supreme Court nominees.

Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaughs background file, as per the standard process, the FBI said in a statement. Fox News has learned that the White House would have to request that the bureau follow up on the letter for the matter to be investigated further. It was not clear whether the White House had done so as of Thursday evening.

The woman referenced in the letter has yet to be identified, but is being represented by Debra Katz, a whistleblower attorney who works with #MeToo survivors, according to The Intercept.

Despite the turmoil over the letter, a spokesperson for Grassley said there is no plan to delay Kavanaughs confirmation.

Grassley set the panel's vote on Kavanaugh for Sept. 20 and Republicans hope to confirm Kavanaugh by the start of the new court session Oct. 1.

Fox News' Jake Gibson, Mike Emanuel and John Roberts contributed to this report.
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President Trump and John Kerry entered into a war of words on Twitter Friday, with the president suggesting the former secretary of state had "illegal meetings" with the Iranian regime, and Kerry suggesting the commander-in-chief should be more concerned with the Russia investigation.

John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people. He told them to wait out the Trump Administration! Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? BAD! Trump tweeted Thursday night.

The presidents tweet came amid Republican criticism for Kerrys shadow diplomacy with Iran. Kerry admitted to having multiple meetings with Iranian officials behind the backs of Trump administration officials. Some of the meetings were in regards to the scrapped Iranian Nuclear Deal.

Kerry, later Friday, hit back, suggesting the president should be more concerned about the Russia investigation than his diplomatic meetings.

"Mr. President, you should be more worried about Paul Manafort meeting with Robert Mueller than me meeting with Iran's FM. But if you want to learn something about the nuclear agreement that made the world safer, buy my new book, Every Day is Extra," Kerry tweeted with a link to the Amazon page to the volume.

He added: "PS- I recorded the audio version, not Omarosa."

The tweet appeared the be a sarcastic reference to former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman's practice of recording conversations in the White House.

JOHN KERRY SLAMMED FOR 'SHAMEFUL' SHADOW DIPLOMACY AFTER ADMITTING TO MEETINGS WITH IRAN

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a disclosure statement that requires a person acting as an agent of a foreign principal in a political or quasi-political capacity to make public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal.

Kerrys meetings do not appear to violate FARA, but some have suggested they could be in violation of the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating on behalf of the U.S. government without authorization, though no one has ever been successfully prosecuted under the law.

A spokesman for Kerry also defended the former secretary of state's actions.

"Let's cut through the distractions and talk about real facts, not alternative facts. Secretary Kerry stays in touch with his former counterparts around the world just like every previous Secretary of State, and in a long phone conversation with Secretary Pompeo earlier this year he went into great detail about what he had learned about the Iranians view," the Kerry spokesman said in a statement to Fox News. "No secrets were kept from this administration. Like Americas closest allies, Kerry believes it is important that the commitments Iran made under the nuclear agreement, which took the world years to negotiate, remain effective. He was advocating for what was wholly consistent with US policy at the time."

The spokesman added: "Theres nothing unusual, let alone unseemly or inappropriate, about former diplomats meeting with foreign counterparts. Secretary Kissinger has done it for decades with Russia and China. What is unseemly and unprecedented is for the podium of the State Department to be hijacked for political theatrics."

Kerry, the former Massachusetts senator who worked as the nations top diplomat in the Obama administration, made the comments about his interactions with Iran as he promotes his new book, Every Day Is Extra.

During an appearance on Hugh Hewitts radio show Wednesday, Kerry acknowledged meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif three or four times since leaving office, admitting to discussing the scrapped nuclear deal, among other issues.

What I have done is tried to elicit from him what Iran might be willing to do in order to change the dynamic in the Middle East for the better, Kerry said.

TRUMP SLAMS JOHN KERRY AS 'FATHER' OF IRAN DEAL AMID 2020 SPECULATION

Later Wednesday, during an appearance on Fox News The Daily Briefing, Kerry did not deny the suggestion he told Iranians to wait out Trump until the next Democratic president.

I think everybody in the world is talking about waiting out President Trump, Kerry said.

Kerry ran for president, unsuccessfully in 2004, and has not ruled out a 2020 bid.

Reports that Kerry met with Zarif first surfaced in May. The Boston Globe called the meeting an aggressive yet stealthy mission to put pressure on the Trump administration to keep the Obama-era nuclear deal in some form.

Trump, though, moved to scrap the deal, declaring the pact failed to halt the countrys nuclear ambitions. The Treasury Department last month restored sanctions against Iran.

Trump blasted Kerry for his possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy earlier this year.

Kerry, though, denied his meetings were inappropriate.

Every secretary of state, former secretary of state continues to meet with foreign leaders, goes to security conferences, goes around the world, Kerry said on The Daily Briefing. We all do that. And we all have conversations [about] the state of affairs with the world in order to understand them.

Fox News Rich Edson and Alex Pappas contributed to this report.
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Advisers to President Trump are making the case to him that he should keep Emmet Flood in his current position as in-house counsel on the Mueller investigation, and not elevate him to White House counsel, sources tell Fox News.

The advisers have high praise for Flood, laud him as a terrific lawyer and say he is eminently qualified to be White House counsel.

But, according to sources, the advisers believe he is so important to the president on the Mueller investigation that to move Flood and bring in a new attorney at this point in the investigation would be an unforced error that is not necessary. If a new attorney were to be brought in to take over for Flood, that person would take some time to get the depth of knowledge Flood has about the case. Advisers to the president fear that could cause the investigation to drag on for perhaps another year.

One source also points out that Flood possesses top secret security clearance, and is involved in the ongoing Situation Room discussions about the declassification of FISA documents. A replacement for Flood may not possess the same clearance.

Last month, Trump announced that White House Counsel Don McGahn plans to leave the Trump administration after the upcoming confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

According to sources, advisers are telling the president it is vital that Flood finish what he is doing. One source told Fox News that Flood is a battlefield general you need on the front lines to win the fight.

However, sources outside the White House say there is no reason that Flood could not continue his work on the Mueller investigation if he becomes White House counsel. The reason attorneys Ty Cobb  and later Flood - were brought in was because McGahn was a witness in the Russia investigation, and as such, could not do the work necessary to satisfy requests for document production and interviews from the Special Counsels office.

While taking on the job of White House counsel would substantially increase Floods workload  and diversity of issues, sources familiar with the position say there is nothing to preclude him from doing it all.

MCGAHN TO LEAVE JOB AFTER KAVANAUGH CONFIRMATION VOTE, TRUMP SAYS

It is believed that the hunt to replace McGahn is down to two people  Flood and Pat Cipollone, an attorney with a high-powered D.C. law firm who has handled numerous cases involving the federal government. Cipollone has been a low-key adviser to the president and helped with debate prep during the campaign. Sources tell Fox News Cipollone is also helping draft the Trump legal teams rebuttal to any report Special Counsel Robert Mueller writes.

Cipollone is well-respected by many people in the Trump orbit  and Trump is said to be a big fan, but sources tell Fox News there is some internal White House resistance to bringing him in.

Supporters of Cipollone describe him as not as much a DC player as other candidates who have been floated, but those supporters say that is a good thing. They describe Cipollone as incredibly smart  a great lawyer who would bring a calm demeanor to the White House. As to whether Cipollone would be enough of a pit bull for the Trump White House, one acquaintance of Cipollone described him as a killer with a velvet glove.

It is unclear which way Trump is leaning at this point. Sources tell Fox News there are two differing camps  one that is encouraging Trump to make a swift decision to bring in Cipollone to replace McGahn as soon as the Kavanaugh confirmation process is over  and another that is urging the president to slow down and examine a broader list of candidates.
As the southeastern coast braces for the impact of Hurricane Florence, a powerful Category 1 storm, those who live further inland should expect to experience treacherous weather conditions as well.

Florences winds and rains continued to batter the Carolinas Friday morning. Forecasters warned as the storm continues to widen  and it is likely to linger along the coast for days  the hurricane will bring seawater surging onto land along with torrential downpours.

Those who live more inland could experience flash flooding, potential tornadoes and mudslides, forecasters said.

TRACK HURRICANE FLORENCE HERE

Just because youre not on the coast doesnt mean you wont get some big impact.  Ken Graham, National Hurricane Center

Up to 10 inches of rain is predicted as far west from the Atlantic Ocean as Charlotte, N.C., the NHCs Ken Graham said Thursday. And 15 counties in North Carolina were under a tornado watch by Thursday morning, including: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Greene, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington Counties.

Just because youre not on the coast doesnt mean you wont get some big impact, Graham said.

Just inland in North Carolina, the hurricane is pushing water up the sounds and rivers, Joel Cline, a tropical storm program coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told Fox News. And in the Outer Banks, there are only three inlets, creating a bottleneck effect holding water upstream for an extended period of time.

As the storm continues to track toward western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, heavy rains in the mountains could trigger mudslides due to the regions topography, Cline added.

The hurricane brings an impact that can potentially put your life at risk, so you need to plan for it, Cline said.

AS HURRICANE FLORENCE NEARS, LIVE SURF CAM VIDEOS SHOW IMPACT ON CAROLINAS

Janey Camp, a research associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, said the biggest concern for those not along the coast is the deluge of precipitation that comes with hurricanes.

Hurricanes dont move through like typical storm events; they are these massive events with a lot of rainfall, and sometimes they move fairly slowly once they make landfall and drop a lot of rain on communities that may not have infrastructure prepared to handle that, Camp told Fox News.

She also said residents dont need to live next to a river or creek to experience catastrophic flooding in their basements. Soil can become so saturated with all the rain from the hurricane that flooding can still occur, Camp said.
The temporary closure of a New Mexico observatory last week sparked wide-ranging theories, especially after reports that federal authorities were involved.

The Sunspot Solar Observatory, located near the Sacramento Mountains, closed over an unspecified security issue, the facility said in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday.

Sunspot apologizes for the continued closure of the facilities, the statement said. The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is addressing a security issue at the National Solar Observatory facility at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure.

AURA, which manages Sacramento Peak with funding from NSF (National Science Foundation), is working with the proper authorities on this issue. We have no further comment at this time.

Otero County Sheriff Benny House told the Alamogordo Daily News last week the sheriffs office was asked to stand by and mentioned that the FBI was involved.

The FBI is refusing to tell us whats going on, House told the newspaper. Weve got people up there (at Sunspot) that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. The FBI were up there. What their purpose was nobody will say.

House said there were a lot of unanswered questions over Sunspots closure.

But for the FBI to get involved that quick and be so secretive about it, there was a lot of stuff going on up there, House told the newspaper. There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything.

It was unclear when the observatory was going to re-open and workers decided to evacuate the facility as a precautionary measure, AURA spokeswoman Shari Lifson told the Alamogordo Daily News. Lifson couldnt comment as to whether the FBI was involved.

Frank Fisher, an FBI spokesman, couldnt confirm or deny the agencys involvement, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

The mysterious nature of the closure sparked all kinds of speculation on the internet.

When the aliens invade we have nowhere to evacuate to anyway; the truth will be our destiny, Gene Alexander wrote on the observatorys Facebook page, according to the Kansas City Star.

"There was a Blackhawk helicopter, a bunch of people around antennas and work crews on towers but nobody would tell us anything."  Otero County Sheriff Benny House

Maybe a celestial body that we have not encountered in a long while for thousands of years is finally making its way back into our solar system, John Pleites-Sandoval hypothesized.

Whatever is happening at the observatory, one employee told the Albuquerque Journal they werent too concerned just yet because they didnt have enough information.

Thats what happens when you do something and dont tell anybody why, the employee said.
A man has been charged in Australia following the deaths of at least 137 wedge-tailed eagles, according to news reports.

The man allegedly used poisoned baits to kill the birds of prey in the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia, according to the BBC. Citing a spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Weekly Times reports that the mass poisoning occurred between October 2016 and April 2018.

The wedge-tailed eagle, or Aquila audax, is Australias largest bird of prey. The eagles, which have wingspans up to 7.5 feet, are a protected species in Australia.

MASSIVE PYTHON SLITHERS UP AUSTRALIAN MAN'S HOME IN SHOCKING VIDEO

Authorities have not discussed a possible motive.

On June 6, police posted on Facebook that DELWP-authorized officers and other agencies were investigating the death of a number of wedge-tailed Eagles and four other protected species of bird on farmland in East Gippsland, Victoria.

On June 12, DELWP Victoria confirmed that the carcasses of 136 wedge-tailed eagles were found hidden throughout the property in bushland and scrub. We believe numbers may be higher than what we seized, officials said.

SCARY NEW VENOMOUS SNAKE DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA

Australian authorities have taken steps to prevent other attacks on protected species such as the wedge-tailed eagle.

We've doubled the number of front line forestry and wildlife compliance officers to crack down on any criminal acts and protect our threatened species, tweeted Lily DAmbrosio, Australias Minister for Energy, Environment & Climate Change this week.

Wedge-tailed eagles are protected under Australias Wildlife Act of 1975 and deliberately killing the birds carries a maximum penalty of 7,928.50 Australian dollars ($5,677), and or up to six months imprisonment, and an additional penalty of 792.85 Australian dollars ($567.7) for each bird destroyed.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
SpaceX is set to announce the first private passenger to fly around the Moon on one of its spacecraft, the company tweeted Thursday.

"SpaceX has signed the worlds first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehiclean important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space," the Elon Musk-led company wrote in a tweet. "Find out whos flying and why on Monday, September 17."

It followed that up with a subsequent tweet, writing: "Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history. No one has visited since the last Apollo mission in 1972."

SPACEX BFR: FLY ANYWHERE ON EARTH IN UNDER AN HOUR

On Twitter, Elon Musk was asked who the passenger is and simply responded with an emoji of the Japanese flag. Speculation swirled following the tweet, leading some to believe it might be SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.

In 2017, Japanese internet conglomerate SofBbank, which runs the $93 billion SoftBank Vision Fund, invested in satellite broadband provider OneWeb, a business which SpaceX is also interested in, according to leaked documents obtained by Quartz.

On Monday, ahead of the announcement, Musk showed off two new pictures of the BFR.

History of space tourism

Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, space tourism has happened before.

In 2009, space tourist Guy Laliberte flew to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-16, leaving from Kazakhstan. Laliberte was the seventh and last space tourist, prior to SpaceX's announcement on Monday.

Other non-astronauts that have flown into space include inventor Gregory Olsen, and multimillionaire Dennis Tito, the first tourist in space, after he paid $20 million to spend 8 days on the ISS in April 2001.

Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson, is also working on developing commercial spacecraft to provide "suborbital spaceflights to space tourists," according to its website. And Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is also working with his company, Blue Origin, on getting tourists to space.

WEIRD SOLAR SCIENCE: HOW NASA'S PARKER PROBE WILL DIVE THROUGH THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE

SpaceX's BFR

The BFR (also known as the Big Falcon Rocket) is SpaceX's upcoming two-stage reusable spaceship system that will weigh 9.7 million pounds and be capable of taking a 330,000 pound payload to Mars and lower-Earth orbit (LEO). The BFR, announced in September 2017, will eventually replace SpaceX's other launch vehicles, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, as well as its Dragon spacecraft.

In April, Musk posted a picture to Instagram (since removed) of what he described as the main body tool for his companys BFR interplanetary spaceship.

In an interview in March, Musk said the ship was currently being built, adding "I think we'll probably be able to do short flights, short sort of up-and-down flights, probably sometime in the first half of next year."

Shortly after his successful Falcon Heavy Launch, Musk said he expected a full-scale test of the massive rocket within the next few years.

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE PREPS FOR THE RETURN OF MANNED SPACE MISSIONS FROM CAPE CANAVERAL

Musk described a slightly scaled-down 348-foot-tall rocket in September 2017 and announced that the private space company aimed to launch two cargo missions to Mars in 2022. He called the goals at the time aspirational.

Two more cargo missions would follow in 2024 to provide more construction materials, along with two crewed flights, according to earlier reports. The window for launching to Mars occurs every two years.

This story has been updated from Sept. 14 to include pictures of the new BFR.

Fox News' Edmund DeMarche and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia
The U.S. Army is preparing to more fully unveil its fast-moving strategic shift toward Multi-Domain Operations in coming weeks as part of a long-term effort to further operationalize joint-warfare techniques and tactics.

Senior Army strategists tell Warrior Maven this emerging strategic shift, which is expected to fully roll out at the upcoming annual Association of the U.S. Army Symposium, represents a key next step in the strategic evolution beyond the often discussed Multi-Domain Battle initiative.

The advent of long-range sensors and precision fires on the part of potential near-peer adversaries has reinforced the need for the U.S. military to operate in real-time across air, sea and land domains. Furthermore, the emergence of converging newer domains, such as cyber, space and the electromagnetic sphere are naturally an indispensable element of this push to operationalize cross domain warfare.

The nuances of this shift toward operationalizing cross-domain fires are further explained in an essay by Training and Doctrine Command Commander Gen. Steven Townsend called Accelerating Multi-Domain Operations: Evolution of an Idea.

Published by the Modern War Institute at West Point, Townsends essay delineates the Armys transition into a more complex, joint warfighting environment characterized by fast changing high-tech threats, escalating risks of cyber and electronic warfare attacks - and rapid connectivity between air, land, sea and cyber domains.

In battles, combatants can win time and space and they allow one side to take ground but they do not win wars. The world we operate in today is not defined by battles, but by persistent competition that cycles through varying rates in and out of armed conflict, Townsend writes.

Townsends essay explores the unambiguous reality that modern warfare is by no means restricted to kinetic attacks or linear mechanized formations - but rather a mix of interwoven variables across a wide spectrum of conflict areas.

Winning in competition is not accomplished by winning battles, but through executing integrated operations and campaigning. Operations are more encompassing, bringing together varied tactical actions, Townsend writes.

As part of the Armys pursuit of these strategic aims, the Army and Navy have been operating together in the Pacific over the course of this past year. The services have been collaborating to fire Army artillery from Navy ships, send targeting data to land weapons from Navy sensors and use coastal land rockets to destroy enemy ships at sea, service leaders said.

The Army is looking at shooting artillery off of Navy ships. Innovation is taking existing things and modifying them to do something new, Maj. Gen. John Ferrari, Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, G-8, told Warrior Maven in an interview earlier this year.

Ferrari explained that experimental teams are combining air defense units, ground combat units, cyber units and artillery units and putting them together in operations.

Part of what we do is integrate with the Navy. The Naval threat for the Pacific is one of the major threats, so the Army is doing multi-domain battle. The Pacific is inherently Joint. There is very little that we do that is not done with other services, Ferrari said.

Much of the ongoing work involves integrating combat units which have historically operated in a more separated or single-focused fashion. Combing field artillery, a brigade headquarters, air defense, Navy assets and ISR units into a single operation, for instance, represents the kind of experiments now underway.

Instead of having three battalions of artillery, you will have pieces of these things  then go out and use it, Ferrari said.

Tactically speaking, firing precision artillery from surface ships could possibly introduce some interesting advantages. The Navy is now exploring weapons such as long-range precision-guided ammunition for its deck-mounted 5-inch guns, ship-fired offensive weapons such as the advanced Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), Maritime Tomahawk and an over-the-horizon weapon for the Littoral Combat Ship and Frigate.

Something like an Army Tactical Missile Systems rocket, Multiple Launch Rocket Systems or GPS-guided Excalibur 155m artillery does bring the possibility to supplement existing ship-fired Navy weapons systems.

One senior US military official explained that bringing Army artillery to surface ships to complement existing Navy weapons could bring new dimensions to the surface attack options available to commanders. Tomahawk and LRASM, for instance, can fly lower and somewhat parallel to the surface to elude enemy defensive systems -- something which could potentially be fortified by land-fired weapons.

Land-fired artillery could also lend combat support to extensive layered defensive weapons on Navy ships such as SeaRAM, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and Rolling Airframe Missile, among others. These interceptors, it seems, could be strengthened by the potential use of land-fired weapons on Navy ships.

"Mixing all presents multiple dilemmas for the enemy," a senior official told Warrior.

Navy commanders have been all in on this as well, previously using F-18s to identify targets for land weapons in exercises in recent years such as Noble Eagle in Alaska, senior military officials have described.

As part of the cross-domain effort, the Army and Navy are looking at improving ways to connect their respective networks; senior Pentagon leaders often say that joint effects in combat can be challenged by a lack of integration between different services tactical ISR, target acquisition and fire control systems.

For example, the Navys integrated sensor network known as Cooperative Engagement Capability connects targeting and ISR nodes across the force. The emphasis now is to connect these kinds of systems with, for instance, Army weapons such as ground-fired Patriot missiles and Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense weapons.

In addition, the Armys Integrated Battle Command Systems is itself a comparable combat theater sensor network where various radar, command and control and weapons nodes are networked to expedite real-time data sharing. Part of the maturation of this system, according to Army and Northrop Grumman developers, is to further extend IBCS to cue Air Force and Navy assets operating in a given theater of operations.

One senior Army weapons developer told Warrior - its about target acquisition and ranges. Maybe target acquisition comes from a ship and I do surface fires on land. We need to experiment with sensors.

In a previously written Army paper titled Multi-Domain Battle: Evolution of Combined Arms for the 21st Century 2025-2040, former TRADOC Commander Gen. David Perkins writes:

It (Multi-Domain Battle) expands the targeting landscape based on the extended ranges and lethality delivered at range by integrated air defenses, cross-domain fire support, and cyber/electronic warfare systems. We must solve the physics of this expanded battlespace and understand the capabilities that each domain can provide in terms of echelon, speed, and reach.

Perkins and other senior Pentagon strategists have explained Multi-Domain Battle - which is now leading to Multi-Domain Operations -- as a modern extension of the Cold War AirLand Battle Strategy which sought to integrate air and ground attacks to counter a Soviet attack in Europe.

AirLand Battle started developing the concept of extended battlefield. Multi-Domain battle endeavors to integrate capabilities in such a way that to counteract one, the enemy must become more vulnerable to another, creating and exploiting temporary windows of advantage, Perkins writes in Multi-Domain Battle: Joint Combined Arms Concept for the 21st Century.

Army  Air Force

The Army and the Air Force have been working on a new, collaborative war-gaming operation to assess future combat scenarios and, ultimately, co-author a new inter-service cross-domain combat doctrine.

Operating within this concept, Army and Air Force senior commanders are launching a new series of tabletop exercises to replicate and explore future warfare scenarios  the kind of conflicts expected to require technologically advanced Army-Air Force integration.

In a Pentagon report, the joint wargaming effort is described as something which will turn into a doctrine and concept that we can agree on.

--- To Read Warrior' Previous Story on this Army-Air Force Effort CLICK HERE ---

The F-35 is doing ISR and could possibly deliver a weapon on the same flight. We can then use what they can generate on the ground, fusing sensors and target acquisition with land-based assets that can deliver effects, a senior defense official told Warrior.

More Weapons and Technology - WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE)--
Virtual kidnapping scams that attempt to dupe victims into paying a quick ransom are on the rise, a new FBI bulletin says.

The virtual aspect of the scam involves staging a scene either on the phone or via social media in an attempt to convince the victim that a loved one has been kidnapped, the FBI Albuquerque Division said in a community outreach note released this week. The criminals then demand a ransom.

Criminals attempt to quickly dupe people before the scam is exposed. They coerce victims to pay a quick ransom before the scheme falls apart, according to the FBI in Albuquerque, which has assisted local law enforcement in New Mexico with several recent cases.

AI-GENERATED FAKE VIDEOS MAY BE A SECURITY THREAT, LAWMAKERS WARN

The success of any type of virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and fear. Criminals know they only have a short time to exact a ransom before the victims unravel the scam or authorities become involved, the FBI said.

A victim may also be contacted by text or social media and then a request will be made for a call-back via cell phone, the FBI said.

The scam may go something like this, according to a more detailed report about virtual kidnapping released by the FBI last October:

NORTH KOREAN HACKERS SUSPECTED OF CREATING MAC-BASED MALWARE

A victim, when they answer the phone, hears a female voice screaming, Help me! The victim, in shock and thinking the voice to be their own child, might blurt out the childs name such as "Mary." Then a person on the other end, now knowing the child's name, confirms that "Mary" is being held as a hostage and a ransom needs to be paid immediately or the child will be harmed.

In cases that occurred in New Mexico, the scammers try to keep victims on the phone so they would not have the opportunity to verify their loved ones whereabouts or contact law enforcement, according to this weeks FBI outreach.

Luckily, the victims often figure out its a scam and hang up, said FBI Los Angeles Special Agent Erik Arbuthnot, writing in the October report.

COULD HACKERS STEAL YOUR DNA AND SELL IT?

This fraud only worked when people picked up the phone, they had a daughter, and she was not home, Arbuthnot said. But if you are making hundreds of calls, the crime will eventually work.

Los Angeles is also seeing an uptick in these scams. In April, a woman got a call  with screaming in the background  from a man claiming to have kidnapped her son, the Los Angeles Times reported. The man threatened to kill the child and demanded ransom, the report said.

"The perpetrators of these crimes are becoming more sophisticated. They are using social media and social engineering to dupe people," the FBI said, in its recent note.
The Pentagon is making a massive push to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence to ships, tanks, aircraft, drones, weapons and large networks as part of a sweeping strategy to more quickly harness and integrate the latest innovations.

Many forms of AI are already well-underway with US military combat systems, yet new technologies and applications are emerging so quickly that Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has directed the immediate creation of a new Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense directed the DoD Chief Information Officer to standup the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in order to enable teams across DoD to swiftly deliver new AI-enabled capabilities and effectively experiment with new operating concepts in support of DoD's military missions and business functions." DoD spokeswoman Heather Babb told Warrior Maven.

Pentagon officials intend for the new effort to connect otherwise disparate AI developments across the services. The key concept, naturally, is to capitalize upon the newest and most efficient kinds of autonomy, automation and specific ways in which AI can develop for the long term -- yet also have an immediate impact upon current military operations.

AI performs a wide range of functions not purely restricted to conventional notions of IT or cyberspace; computer algorithms are increasingly able to almost instantaneously access vast pools of data, compare and organize information and perform automated procedural and analytical functions for human decision-makers in a role of command and control. While AI can of course massively expedite data consolidation, cloud migration and various kinds much-needed cybersecurity functions, it is increasingly being applied more broadly across weapons systems, large platforms and combat networks as well.

Rapid data-base access, organizing information and performing high-volume procedural functions are all decided advantages of AI applications. Algorithms, for example, are increasingly able to scan, view and organize ISR input such as images or video  to identify points of combat relevance of potential interest to a commander.

AI enabled technology can perform these kinds of procedural functions exponentially faster than humans can, massively shortening the crucial decision-making timeframe for combat decision makers. At the same time, many experts, developers and military leaders recognize that the certain problem-solving faculties and subjective determinations unique to human cognition - are still indispensable to decision making in war.

For this reason, advanced AI relies upon what developers refer to as human-machine interface or easing the cognitive burden wherein humans function in a command and control capacity while computer automation rapidly performs a range of key procedural functions.

AI & IT

This AI-driven phenomenon is of particular relevance when it comes to data systems, IT as a whole and advances in cybersecurity. For instance, Air Force developers are using advanced computer automation to replicate human behavior online  for the specific purpose of luring and tracking potential intruders. Also, AI can be used to perform real-time analytics on incoming traffic potentially containing malware, viruses or any kind of attempted intrusion. If the source, characteristics or discernable pattern of an attempted intrusion are identified quickly, cyber defenders are better positioned to respond.

When high-volume, redundant tasks are performed through computer automation, humans are freed up to expend energy pursuing a wider range of interpretive or conceptual work.

For example, the Army is working with a private firm called NCI to establish a certification of worthiness for a specific AI-enabled program designed to streamline a number of key tasks.

The NCI-developed program enables account creation, account deletion, background checks and other kind of high-volume data analysis.

You can log into 10 different websites simultaneously, rather than having a person do that. A machine can go through and gather all the information for a person, Brad Mascho Chief AI Officer, NCI, told Warrior Maven in an interview. Humans can focus on higher priority threats.

At the same time, big data analytics can quickly present new challenges for a variety of key reasons; a larger data flow can make it difficult for servers to flex as needed to accommodate rapid jumps in data coming through. Therefore, AI-empowered algorithms such as those engineered by NCI are needed to organize incoming data and identify anomalies or potential intrusions.

There is also a growing need for more real-time monitoring of activity on a message bus, because standard analytics methods based on probability and statistical probability often detect intrusions after the fact and are not always reliable or 100-percent accurate, cybersecurity experts and analysts explain.

AI & Cyber Defense

Algorithms calling upon advanced AI are being used to quickly access vast pools of data to perform real-time analytics designed to detect patterns and anomalies associated with malware.

Every day, the Defense Department thwarts an estimated 36 million e-mails containing malware, viruses and phishing schemes from hackers, terrorists and foreign adversaries trying to gain unauthorized access to military systems, Babb told Warrior Maven earlier this year.

One particular technique, now being developed by CISCO systems, seeks to address a particular irony or cybersecurity paradox; namely, while much DoD network traffic is encrypted for additional safety, encryption can also make it more difficult for cyber defenders to see hidden malware in the traffic.

CISCO is now prototyping new detection methods as part of an effort to introduce their technology to the US military services.

We have the ability to read and detect malware in encrypted web traffic. Even though the data is encrypted there is still a pattern to malware, Kelly Jones, Systems Engineer for CISCO Navy programs, told Warrior Maven.

AI & Large Combat Platforms, Tanks & Fighter Jets

Real-time analytics, informed by AI, has already had much success with both Army and Air Force Conditioned-Based Maintenance initiatives. The Army used IBMs Watson computer to perform real-time analytics on sensor information from Stryker vehicles and tactical trucks.

Drawing upon seemingly limitless databases of historical data, Watson was able to analyze information related to potential engine failures and other key vehicular systems. Properly identifying when a given combat-vehicle system might malfunction or need repairs helps both combat and logistical operations. Furthermore, the Army-IBM Stryker proof of principle exercise was able to wirelessly transmit sensor data, enabling AI to compare new information gathered against a historical database in seconds.

The Army is also working with IBM to test AI-enabled autonomy kits on tactical trucks designed to enable much greater degrees of autonomous navigation.

Advanced computer algorithms, enhanced in some instances through machine learning, enable systems such as Watson to instantly draw upon vast volumes of historical data as a way to expedite analysis of key mechanical indicators. Real-time analytics, drawing upon documented pools of established data through computer automation, can integrate otherwise disconnected sensors and other on-board vehicle systems.

We identified some of the challenges in how you harmonize sensor data that is delivered from different solutions. Kevin Aven, partner and co-account lead, Army and Marine Corps, IBM Global Business Services, told Warrior Maven in an interview earlier this year.

Watson, for example, can take unstructured information from maintenance manuals, reports, safety materials, vehicle history information and other vehicle technologies  and use AI to analyze data and draw informed conclusions of great significance to military operators, Aven explained.

When created, IBM stated that, "more than 100 different techniques are used to analyze natural language, identify sources, find and generate hypotheses, find and score evidence, and merge and rank hypotheses," according to IBM Systems and Technology.

Working with a firm called C3IoT, the Air Force is doing something similar with F-16s. On board avionics and other technologies are monitored and analyzed using AI-enabled computers to discern when repairs or replacement parts are needed.

Applications of AI are also credited with enabling the F-35s sensor fusion technology which uses computer algorithms to autonomously gather and organize a wide-range of sensor data for the pilot.

It goes without saying that targeting data is of critical importance when it comes to mechanized ground warfare. With this in mind, Army combat vehicle developers are prototyping AI-enabled sensors intended to combine sensor information essential to identifying targets. If long-range EO/IR or thermal imaging sensors are able to both collect and organize combat data, vehicle crews can attack enemy targets much more quickly.

Some near-term applications, senior officials with the Army Research Laboratory say, include increased air and ground drone autonomy. It is an example of an area where AI is already having a large impact and is anticipated to figure prominently over the long-term as well.

We know there is going to be unmanned systems for the future, and we want to look at unmanned systems and working with teams of manned systems. This involves AI-enabled machine learning in high priority areas we know are going to be long term as well as near term applications, Karl Kappra, Chief of the Office of Strategy Management for the Army Research Lab, told Warrior Maven in an interview earlier this year. We also know we are going to be operating in complex environments, including electromagnetic and cyber areas.

For instance, Kappra explained that sensor-equipped micro-autonomous drones could be programed with advanced algorithms to send back combat-relevant images or provide attacking forces with key interior dimensions to a target location.

We are looking at micro-electrical mechanical systems and image-based systems to fly through a building autonomously and show you where walls and threats are inside the buildings, Kappra said.

Also, Army combat vehicle developers consistently emphasize manned-unmanned teaming with wing man drone robots operating in tandem with manned vehicles to carry ammunition, test enemy defenses, identify targets and potentially fire weapons. Some senior Army weapons and technology developers have said that most future combat vehicles will be engineered with some level of autonomous ability or manned-unmanned teaming technology.

Increased computer automation also performs a large function on the Navys emerging Ford-Class aircraft carriers. The new carriers use advanced algorithms to perform diagnostics and other on-board maintenance and procedural tasks independently. This, Navy developers say, allows the service to reduce its crew size by as many as 900 sailors per carrier and save up to $4 billion dollars over the life of a ship.

Warfare, Ethics & AI

Interestingly, debates about the future of AI, especially when it comes to autonomy, continues to spark significant controversy. Current Pentagon doctrine specifies that there must always be a human-in-the-loop when it comes to making decisions about the use of lethal force. However, the technology enabling an autonomous system to track, acquire and destroy a target by itself without needing human intervention  is already here.

In a previous interview with Warrior Maven, an Air Force scientist made the point that the current doctrine is of course related to offensive strikes of any kind, however there may be some instances where weapons are used autonomously in a purely defensive fashion. For instance, AI-enabled interceptors could be programmed to knock out incoming enemy missile attacks  without themselves destroying anything other than an approaching enemy weapon. In this instance, AI could serve an enormously valuable defensive function by performing intercepts exponentially faster than having a human decision maker involved.

Naturally, this kind of technology raises ethical questions, and some have made the point that even though the U.S. military may intend to maintain a certain ethical stance  there is of course substantial concern that potential adversaries will not do the same.

Also, while often heralded as the future of warfare and technology, AI does have some limitations. For example, problems presented in combat, less-discernable nuances informing certain decisions, determining causation and the analysis of a range of different interwoven variables  are arguably things best performed by the human mind.

Many things in warfare, naturally, are often a complex byproduct of a range of more subjectively determined factors  impacted by concepts, personalities, individual psychology, historical nuances and larger sociological phenomena. This naturally raises the question as to how much even the most advanced computer programs could account for these and other somewhat less tangible factors.

More Weapons and Technology - WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE)--
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted that the social media giants staffers who have right-leaning political views dont feel comfortable to speak up because of the companys ultra-liberal work environment.

We have a lot of conservative-leaning folks in the company as well, and to be honest, they dont feel safe to express their opinions at the company, Dorsey told New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen in an interview published on Friday by Recode.

They do feel silenced by just the general swirl of what they perceive to be the broader percentage of leanings within the company, and I dont think thats fair or right, he added. We should make sure that everyone feels safe to express themselves within the company, no matter where they come from and what their background is. I mean, my dad was a Republican.

GOOGLE IS FINED $5B BY EU IN ANDROID ANTITRUST CASE

Dorsey said that Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity were on the radio all the time during his childhood but his mother was on the opposite end of the spectrum politically.

I always felt safe to challenge both of them, especially my dad, and so it was definitely a privilege, but if were creating a culture that doesnt enable people or empower people to speak up or not, were gonna be able to do that for our service, he told the esteemed NYU professor.

The Twitter CEO recently told Fox News Radio that he understands why many conservatives are suspicious of the large tech companies, given the liberal-leaning culture of Silicon Valley.

Just last week, Dorsey laid out his companys defense to allegations of anti-conservative bias on its platform and denied that the San Francisco-based company is biased.

Twitter does not use political ideology to make any decisions, whether related to ranking content on our service or how we enforce our rules. We believe strongly in being impartial, and we strive to enforce our rules impartially, he said in prepared testimony to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce obtained by Fox News.

GOOGLE PRESSURED BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS TO ABANDON CENSORED SEARCH IN CHINA

Dorsey also denied shadow banning anyone based on political ideology  something Twitter has been accused of in the past. But while Dorsey has denied that the liberal views of his staffers dont impact Twitter as a product, his latest comments suggest that conservatives have a reason to be skeptical.

I think its more and more important to at least clarify what our own bias leans towards, and just express it Id rather know what someone biases to rather than try to interpret through their actions, Dorsey told Rosen.

Fox News James Rogers contributed to this report.
At least seven people were injured on Thursday after part of a cliff overlooking a popular beach in Greece came crashing to the sand.

Footage of the incident, which took place at Navagio Beach on the isle of Zakynthos, shows tourists fleeing as the large sheet of rock breaks away from the cliff face.

Officials were initially worried that some beachgoers had been buried in the rubble, but no one has been reported missing. However, authorities conducted searches out of an abundance of caution.

TRIPADVISOR USER SENTENCED TO 9 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR POSTING FAKE REVIEWS

So far, we havent found any trapped people but we will continue searching, said one official with the local fire brigade, Reuters reported.

In total, seven people suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the rockslide, including a 34-year-old Czech woman who was hospitalized with a spinal injury, the Associated Press reported. Her husband and two children were also hospitalized with minor injuries, along with three other beachgoers who were treated and released.

WATCH: TOURISTS BANNED FROM MALAYSIAN MOSQUE AFTER WOMEN FILMED DANCING PROVOCATIVELY OUT FRONT

Two small boats just off Navagio beach  nicknamed Shipwreck Beach, after a freighter shipwreck in 1980  also capsized as a result of the rockslide.

"There was a noise and a small piece of rock fell, then a second bigger and finally a third big piece of rock that during the fall created a sea whirlpool that overturned the boats," a witness told the BBC.

Officials have closed off the area to boats  which is the only way to access the beach  until further notice.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Zakynthos, the Western Greek island where the incident occurred, has long been a popular destination for travelers, but also for rowdy party-goers, leading authorities to crack down on bad behavior following the death of 22-year-old American tourist Barkari Henderson, who was beaten to death outside a Zakynthos bar in July 2017.

Locals have also been critical of the islands disorderly tourism industry and sex-fueled attractions, following incidents such as the death of a 17-year-old English tourist outside a bar in 2008, and the arrest of 21 British and Greek citizens following an oral sex competition held on the islands Laganas beach, also in 2008.
At least one person was killed and more than 20 were injured in Massachusetts Thursday after a series of gas explosions tore through several communities outside Boston, officials said.

Leonel Rondon, 18, was inside his car when a chimney from a house explosion fell on his vehicle, the Essex County District Attorneys office said. Rondon was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At least 13 patients were taken to Lawrence General Hospital as a result of the gas fires. The hospital said one critical patient was taken to a trauma center, while the other injuries ranged from minor smoke inhalation to blast trauma.

Later, FOX station Boston 25 reported that more than 20 people had been injured.

Preliminary numbers estimate that between 60 and 100 homes in the Merrimack Valley caught fire in the towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Methuen Police Chief Joseph Soloman said.

Massachusetts State Police (MSP) confirmed on Twitter that at least 70 locations were affected by fires, explosions and "investigations of gas odor."

Residents in the aforementioned towns that are serviced by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts "should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not already done so," police advised. Gas service was shut down by the company to roughly 8,000 customers.

"Numerous evacuations of neighborhoods where there are gas odors are underway," MSP tweeted. Columbia Gas was working to depressurize its gas lines, which "will take some time," while National Grid cut electricity to the three towns "to limit spark-started fires."

Solomon  who noted there were no fires in Methuen but the town's first responders aided areas in need  said that in Lawrence alone, there were roughly 20 to 25 homes on fire. He said there were so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

In the town of Andover, firefighters responded to 38 fires total  all of which have been extinguished. "At peak, 18 fires were burning at the same time," city police said.

Local officials said at least one firefighter and two civilians were injured in the "gas-related fires."

The North Andover Police Department advised residents with gas service in their homes or businesses to "please exit the building until further notice."

Some residents were evacuated from their homes to senior centers and middle schools as officials investigated the situation, police said.

Merrimack College, which is located in North Andover, advised that "in an over abundance of caution," students and faculty needed to evacuate all buildings on campus, but later said all buildings were "safe for re-entry."

Gov. Charlie Baker's office said the governor was "actively monitoring the situations in the Merrimack Valley and is communicating with first responders and public safety officials."

The Columbia Gas company announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not immediately comment.

Fox News' Stephen Sorace and Andrew Fone and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Minnesota deputy took an arrow to one arm on Thursday after a suspect fired at him with a bow during a wild pursuit, officials said.

The Stearns County Sheriffs Office was pursuing a stolen black pickup truck about 10 a.m. when the suspect, an as-yet unnamed 31-year-old, drove the vehicle through multiple backyards and smashed into parked vehicles.

According to authorities, the man ran into a home through an unlocked door after crashing through a garage on the 700 block of 10th Street S. in Sauk Centre.

Law enforcement from multiple agencies attempted to clear the home; the suspect appeared from the second floor and fired at Deputy Paul Orvis, striking him in the left forearm with an arrow.

The authorities fired repeatedly at the suspect, who was hit in the left shoulder, the buttocks and had a grazing wound to one of his hands.

After two hours of negotiations, the suspect came forward, was hit with a stun gun and apprehended. He was taken to a hospital, then airlifted to another facility for further treatment.

Orvis was sent to surgery to remove the arrow and treat a possible broken arm. He was listed in good condition by the hospital.

The St. Cloud Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal investigation will look into the episode.

Police say the compound bow belonged to the homeowner, not the suspect.
Few places in South Carolina are more worried about the possibility of disastrous inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's heavy rain than the town of Nichols.

When Hurricane Matthew dumped a foot (30 centimeters) of rain on the area two years ago, the town 40 miles (65 kilometers) inland from the coast lost almost 90 percent of its 261 homes.

Forecasters say Florence could bring more than 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain to Nichols and the surrounding area, touching off severe flash-flooding.

Nichols Mayor Lawson Battle says his town is better prepared this time, but he strongly recommended everyone get out because he can't guarantee it won't flood.
The governor of Massachusetts declared a state of emergency on Friday after a series of gas explosions killed a teen and injured 25 others in an area just north of Boston.

Gov. Charlie Baker made the announcement at a press conference, adding that he was placing Eversource Energy, another utility company, in charge of the response.

This is something the mayor and the lieutenant governor and I have talked about, over the course of the last hour. We determined that in fact we have the authority to do it and were going to do it.

He said that placing a different utility company in charge will make a big difference in terms of getting information about the situation and acting to get people back to their homes.

An estimated 8,000 people were displaced after a series of natural gas explosions set off fires in 60 to 80 homes. There were evacuations in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover  just north of Boston.

Leonel Rondon, 18, died after an explosion caused a chimney to topple onto his car. He was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The state Registry of Motor Vehicles said Rondon had been issued his driver's license only hours earlier.

The utility company that serviced the affected homes, Columbia Gas, announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday.

Officials were forced to shut off the gas and electricity to entire neighborhoods.

Baker said state and local authorities were investigating but it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

The Massachusetts' gas pipeline system is among the oldest in the country -- up to 157 years old in some places -- according to the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The dozens of gas explosions that rocked communities in the Boston area Thursday  killing at least one person and injuring more than 20  may have been caused by over-pressurization of lines belonging to a local utility, according to industry experts and state officials.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts announced Friday morning that its crews still need to go through the properties of each of the 8,600 affected customers in the cities of Lawrence, Andover, North Andover and Methuen who had their gas shut off yesterday afternoon after buildings and homes there began catching fire.

Massachusetts State Police said at least 70 locations were affected by fires, explosions and "investigations of gas odor"  and those tasked with figuring out the cause are zeroing in on the possibility that there were higher levels of gas pressure in the utilitys lines than normal.

It will be a long time before we know for sure but that is the initial focus, Jennifer Mieth, a spokesperson for Massachusetts' Department of Fire Services, told Fox News on Friday.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also sending a team to the area to investigate and will review the company's pipelines, maintenance work and safety record.

The utility said it needs to conduct a safety inspection at each property and is working with the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident in order to understand its cause.

We expect this will be an extended restoration effort, and we will work tirelessly to restore service to the affected customers, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts said in a statement.

The Associated Press reported that 18,000 customers in the region had their electricity shut off in response to the explosions, and many who were forced to evacuate the cities headed to local shelters for the night.

We have now created an all-clear list, a list of specific streets where residents, if they go on the town's website or they go onto social media, are able to find that list they realize they can return to their homes, North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor told reporters Friday. We're trying as quickly as possible to return those folks who can come back into their normal lives, get ready and prepare for what happens over the weekend and beyond.

One gas industry expert told the Boston Globe that theres no question that there was over-pressurization.

The question is how it happened, said Mark McDonald, president of NatGas Consulting.

The morning of the explosions, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts had announced that it would be upgrading natural gas lines throughout the state that would lead to benefits such as enhanced safety features and less future maintenance work in your neighborhood.

But according to McDonald, something happened Thursday that caused gas pressure to remain high in the communities.

He explained to the Boston Globe that gas is delivered to customers through high-pressure mains that get re-routed through a substation that drops its pressure from around 60 pounds per square-inch to a quarter of a pound.

Experts interviewed by the newspaper said too much or too little gas is unlikely to trigger a fire, but just the right amount  presumably, a different level than what was previously being delivered to the affected properties  can turn household items like light switches and telephones into sources of danger.

If you have the right amount of gas, every pilot light could become a blowtorch, Bob Ackley, president of Gas Safety USA, told the Boston Globe.

The newspaper said a similar incident happened in Lexington, Mass. in 2005, when KeySpan employees followed an erroneous work order and connected a high-pressure line to a low-pressure one, blasting apart one home.

Fox News' Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.
Dallas police investigators sought evidence to discredit a black man who was shot dead by a white, off-duty officer, the attorney for the victims family said Thursday.

Police executed multiple search warrants at Botham Jeans apartment in the aftermath of the killing, and investigators said they found several items, including a small amount of marijuana, FOX 4 News reported.

Lee Merritt, the attorney for Jeans family, blasted the search at Jeans apartment, saying it highlights just sort of the nefarious nature of their investigation.

They went in with the intent to look for some sort of criminal justification for the victim, Merritt said, according to USA Today. It's a pattern that we've seen before...we have a cop who clearly did something wrong. And instead of investigating the homicide  instead of going into her apartment and seeing what they can find, instead of collecting evidence relevant for the homicide investigation  they went out specifically looking for ways to tarnish the image of this young man.

Two bullet casings, a police backpack, a lunch box, a laptop computer, a marijuana grinder, two electronic keys and two packages of medical aid were also found in Jeans apartment, according to USA Today, citing the search warrant. Details of the warrant were released after Jeans funeral.

Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was charged with manslaughter after she entered the wrong apartment last week and shot and killed Jean, 26. An arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News said Botham allegedly ignored Guygers verbal commands before she opened fire.

Guyger had ended a 15-hour shift last Thursday when she returned in uniform to the South Side Flats apartment complex. She parked on the fourth floor, instead of the third, where she lived, according to the affidavit filed for the officers arrest warrant, possibly suggesting that she was confused or disoriented.

She said she entered the apartment after realizing the door was unlocked and slightly ajar and then saw a figure in the darkness. Guyger allegedly gave verbal commands, because she believed her apartment was being burglarized, and then drew her weapon and fired twice, the affidavit said.

When she turned on the lights, she realized she was in the wrong unit, according to the affidavit, which appeared to be based almost entirely upon the officers account.

Jeans family disputes Guyger's version of events. Lawyers for Jeans family also questioned why it took three days for Guyger to be charged and why Guyger was so quick to use deadly force in her encounter with Jean.

Fox News Katherine Lam and Frank Miles and the AP contributed to this report.
Move over, Pharma Bro. A new CEO is in the running as the pharmaceutical industrys most despised executive after claiming he has the moral right to raise the price of a crucial antibiotic.

Nirmal Mulye, chief executive of drug company Nostrum Laboratories, is facing fierce backlash after telling the Financial Times this week that he has a moral requirement to charge as much money as possible for lifesaving drugs.

Nostrum, a Missouri-based company that claims its mission is to market competitively priced quality products that offer maximum benefits to patients, has come under scrutiny for quadrupling the price of an antibiotic drug from $474.74 to $2,393 per bottle.

'PHARMA BRO' MARTIN SHKRELI SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING INVESTORS

The drug, nitrofurantoin, is listed by the World Health Organization as essential medicine for basic healthcare systems. Its been on the market since 1953 and is used to treat bladder infections.

Mulye compared his decision to inflate the price to an art dealer who sells a painting for half a billion dollars and said he was in the medicine business to make money.

If that wasnt infuriating enough, he went one further when he defended the actions of Martin Shkreli, the smirking Pharma Bro who jacked up the price of a lifesaving cancer drug, was convicted on an unrelated fraud charge and ended up crying in court when he was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

I agree with Martin Shkreli that when he raised the price of his drug he was within his rights because he had to reward his shareholders, Mulye declared.

But he has been slammed for his tone-deaf comments.

TRUMP VOWS TO LOWER US DRUG PRICES BY ENDING 'GLOBAL FREELOADING', TAKING ON INDUSTRY

Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who tweeted: Theres no moral imperative to price gouge and take advantage of patients.

Gottlieb says the FDA will push for competition so those with no regard to public health consequences cant take advantage of patients who need medicine.

Despite the online outrage, there hasnt been much progress made by the Trump administration to rein in price gougers.

Shortly after he was elected, President Trump claimed he was just the guy who would put big pharma in its place.

Theyre getting away with murder, he said in January 2017.

While hes managed to shame some drug makers on social media, promises made to delay or roll back efforts have been mostly cosmetic.

Michael Rea, founder and CEO of RX Savings Solutions, told Bloomberg Radio one way to push back on price hikes is for consumers to know what they are paying for and what options are available to them.

He adds that price increases arent always on specialty drugs and have started affecting generic drugs as well.

A recent analysis from RX Savings Solutions found six triple-digit price increases on medication between August 30 to September 7, including one on a generic drug.

Mulye, meanwhile, has walked back some of his comments. During a telephone interview with CNBC, he claimed he was not defending Shkrelis controversial tactics but instead was shedding light on the inefficiencies at the FDA.

What I said was the conditions under which Shkreli could do what he did were created by the FDA. That is the real story.
A former Disneyland princess whose ex-fiance is on death row for a bizarre double murder has been found guilty of being an accessory after the fact.

Rachel Buffett, 31, was convicted on Wednesday in Orange County, Calif., and ordered jailed immediately. She could face more than 3  years behind bars when shes sentenced in November.

Prosecutors said Buffett lied to police when they were investigating her then-fiance, Daniel Patrick Wozniak. Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy alleged Buffett lied, dodged questions and changed her story while being interviewed by detectives who believed Wozniak was involved in two slayings.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED IN STABBING DEATH OF 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL, REPORT SAYS

She lies repeatedly, Murphy said. There are little lies and big lies.

Prosecutors said Wozniak, 34, a former actor, killed and dismembered Samuel Eliezer Herr, 26, of Costa Mesa in 2010 in order to steal his money to pay for a wedding and honeymoon with Buffett. Wozniak had planned on stealing $62,000 from Herr, who had saved up the cash from when he served in the Army in Afghanistan. Murphy said Google searches from Wozniaks computer in 2010 showed queries like how load shotgun and how to hide a body.

Authorities said Wozniak also shot Herrs friend, Julie Kibuishi, 23, then tried to frame the dead man for her murder by making it seem like he killed her and vanished.

A few days after the slayings, Wozniak was arrested at his bachelor party in Huntington Beach, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Authorities said Wozniak confessed to the killings and was convicted in December 2015 of two counts of murder and was later sentenced to death.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MOTIVE INVESTIGATED IN CALIFORNIA RAMPAGE

Buffett, a former actress and Disneyland princess, told NBCs Dateline after her ex-fiances arrest that she was innocent, People reported.

Im innocent and thats what hurts me most in this whole situation is theyre trying to say Im something Im not, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hurricane Florence -- weakened, but still powerful -- inched closer to land Friday morning, battering the Carolina coast with 60 mph winds and heavy rains that officials fear could cause catastrophic flooding.

The dangerous Category 1 hurricane was about 10 miles east of Wilmington, N.C., and about 80 miles east-northeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., at 6 a.m., the National Hurricane Center said.

Emerald Isle, N.C. recorded 6.3 feet of storm surge "inundation," according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A 5.5 foot surge of water near Morehead City was also recorded, the National Weather Service reported.

Authorities in the coastal city of New Bern, N.C., were working with federal responders to rescue at least 150 residents who reported themselves stranded in Florence's storm surge.

"Don't relax, don't get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality."  Roy Cooper, North Carolina governor

State officials were bracing for the worst. A tattered American flag seen flying on a live surf camera at Frying Pan Tower in North Carolina was evidence of the strong wind gusts pounding the coast.

Even though Florence's winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 140 mph earlier in the week, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper maintained his warning.

"Don't relax, don't get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality," Cooper said.

Hurricane-force winds extended 80 miles from its center, and tropical-storm-force winds up to 195 miles.

Florence was moving west-northwest near 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, the update said.

"On the forecast track, the center of Florence will approach the coasts of North and South Carolina later tonight, then move near or over the coast of southern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina in the hurricane warning area on Friday," the update said. "A slow motion across portions of eastern and central South Carolina is forecast Friday night through Saturday night."

The storm is likely to bring significant rain to the Carolinas, where some places could see upwards of 20 inches, the update said. This is expected to cause "catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding."

North Carolina has more than 372,000 power outages across the state as of early Friday morning, officials said.

HURRICANE FLORENCE'S PATH: TRACK THE STORM HERE

The hurricane agency said a mix of storm surge and tides could result in flooding from rising water levels. Cape Fear to Cape Lookout, N.C., could see as much as 7 to 11 feet of water, according to the update.

Storm surge and hurricane warnings were in effect for South Santee River, S.C., through to Duck, N.C., as well as Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds in North Carolina, the agency said.

"The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come," Cooper said. "Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience."

Cooper requested additional federal disaster assistance in anticipation of what his office called "historic major damage" across the state.

As the storm began buffeting the coast, and more than 12,000 people were in shelters.

Areas from Edisto Beach to South Santee River in South Carolina were under both a storm surge and hurricane watch, while areas located north of Duck, N.C., to the state's border with Virginia were under a storm surge watch, according to the NHC update.

AS HURRICANE FLORENCE NEARS, LIVE SURF CAM VIDEOS SHOW IMPACT ON CAROLINAS

Schools and businesses as far south as Georgia were closed, about 1,200 flights and counting were canceled, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied out.

If you're getting ready for Florence, you can read about steps to prepare for the storm here and find emergency contacts here.

Fox News' Elizabeth Zwirz, Lucas Tomlinson, Zoe Szathmary and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
With Hurricane Florence barreling toward their home near Wilmington, North Carolina, Allison Hales Jordan and her husband boarded up their house, packed up their car and headed to Walt Disney World in Florida with their two teenage children.

"When we decided where to go, everybody was going west, but we decided we should go as far south as possible, which is weird since Florida gets hurricanes," said Jordan who works as a preschool director in Burgaw, North Carolina.

Long accustomed to its residents evacuating north or to other parts of the state when hurricanes threaten, Florida was in the unusual position this week of accommodating diverted cruise ships and hotel-room seekers hoping to escape the wrath of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall Friday morning in North Carolina.

State emergency officials said Thursday they had no way of tracking how many residents from the Carolinas had escaped to Florida this week. But Florida hotels were offering special discounts for hurricane evacuees and Florida ports were opening their terminals to cruise ships making unexpected ports of call.

Port Canaveral along Florida's Space Coast had two ships visiting unexpectedly when Hurricane Florence made it impossible to stop in Bermuda.

New York-based Norwegian Escape and its 4,200 passengers stopped at the port Tuesday. Royal Caribbean's Baltimore-based Grandeur of the Seas and its 2,000 passengers was diverted to Port Canaveral on Wednesday and was set to leave on Friday. Passengers on both ships took excursions to theme parks in Orlando, local beaches and the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

The reversal in fortunes in a state that was ravaged by Hurricane Irma last year and threatened by Hurricane Matthew the previous year wasn't lost on Port Canaveral CEO John Murray.

"For the last two years, we've had our ships going to other ports, but this year it's just the opposite for us," Murray said.

Hotelier Harris Rosen was offering steep discounts at his nine hotels in the Orlando area for Hurricane Florence evacuees. The prices ranged from $59 to $79 a night, depending on the hotel, and all pets were welcome. Rosen has been offering the hurricane discounts for decades, but they typically are used by Floridians escaping the coasts.

"I get more hugs and kisses during hurricane season," Rosen said.

From a monorail heading to the Magic Kingdom, Jordan said by telephone that it was weird going to "the most magical place on Earth" when she didn't know what was in store from Hurricane Florence.

"I feel guilty but we're trying to make the best of the situation," Jordan said. "We're trying to find some Disney magic, even when we don't know what we are going to find when we go back and we don't know when we will go back home. We're here even though are hearts are in North Carolina."

___

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP .

___

For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes
A Florida sheriffs office is offering big bucks for anyone who can track down Ziggy.

Authorities in Volusia County say they are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information on the whereabouts of 30-year-old Zachary "Ziggy" Dreiling, who's wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of shooting into a vehicle stemming from an incident in Deltona in August.

To help spread the word, the county sheriffs office plastered Drielings face on a mock $1,000 bill and tweeted the currency.

This isnt real money but the reward is, the bill says.

Police say Dreiling is considered armed and dangerous and anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS.
Thousands of Boston-area residents forced to evacuate their neighborhoods after Thursday's gas explosions and fires had no clear timeline on when they could return, officials said.

The explosions, which killed at least one person, leveled a number of homes and set off as many as 70 fires, affecting residents of Lawrence, North Andover and Andover, communities in the Merrimack Valley north of Boston, the Massachusetts State Police said.

At least 20 people were injured, FOX station Boston 25 reported.

Andover resident Don Bradley told Bostons WBZ-TV that upon hearing the news of gas explosions he immediately evacuated his home, but had to convince his millennial son, who wanted to grab his iPad and Macbook, to leave the devices behind.

Its a gas explosion, were going. Weve got to go. This is not negotiable.  Don Bradley, Andover resident, recalling a conversation with his son

Its a gas explosion, were going, Bradley said he told his son. Weve got to go. This is not negotiable.

Manuel Cabrera told the Boston Globe he was forced to shelter at an elementary school with other residents.

I probably would have found another place to wait it out, but they shut off the power in the city, he said. Hopefully, well all be able to go home soon.

The three affected communities total more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

Volunteer firefighters and residents equipped with monkey wrenches were reportedly going from house to house shutting off gas lines to prevent more explosions and fires.

As fires raged, some neighborhoods were filled with heavy smoke and fleeing residents.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. "There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Andrew Flanagan, town manager of Andover, where firefighters responded to 38 fires, told Springfield-based newspaper the Republican that there is no clear timeline on when evacuated residents could go back to their homes.

We're going through a process with the utility identifying which areas of town that this most impacted in order to provide and accurate timeline of when people may be able to return to their homes, Flanagan told Bostons WFXT-TV.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera told the station that there was no expectation that people would be able to return to their homes Thursday.

"Some explosion took place about two streets down from where I live, so this is affecting me personally because my entire neighborhood now has been evacuated," Lawrence City Councilor Marc LaPlante told the station.

Columbia Gas, the utility that serves the communities, said earlier in the day that it would be "improving natural gas service" in the area, but was unclear on when and where the work would begin, MassLive reported.

After the explosions occurred, the utility issued the following statement:

Columbia Gas crews are currently responding to reports of multiple fires in Lawrence. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by todays incident.

The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community by supporting first responders and completing safety checks on our system and in the surrounding area.

We appreciate the response of local emergency responders and their coordination with our teams.

The company told customers that if they smell natural gas, to immediately leave the area and call 911 and their emergency number: 1-800-525-8222.

It also listed measures customers should take if they smell natural gas.

"Dont turn off gas to your house or to any appliances," the statement said. "Dont try to find the leak yourself or operate pipeline valves; dont light a match or candle, or operate anything that could cause a spark, including home phones or cell phones, lights, appliances, flashlights, power tools, etc; and dont open the windows and doors in an attempt to ventilate."

Gas service was shut down by the company to roughly 8,000 customers.

Fox News Nicole Darrah and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Slow-moving and powerful Hurricane Florence is "wreaking havoc" across the Carolinas as the Category 1 storm continues to dump massive amounts of rain that could trigger catastrophic floods inland.

Once a Category 4 hurricane, a weakened but still-dangerous Florence is now making its way south along the Carolina coast at about 6 mph with sustained winds of 80 mph  pushing life-threatening storm surges miles inland, ripping down parts of buildings and knocking out power to more than a half-million homes and businesses early Friday.

HURRICANE FLORENCE'S PATH: TRACK THE STORM HERE

Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday that Florence is "wreaking havoc," and he expressed concern that "whole communities" could be wiped away. He said parts of the state have seen storm surges as high as 10 feet.

"Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless," he said. "It's an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave."

Wilmington Police confirmed that a mother and infant were killed during the storm after a tree fell on their home. The father sustained injuries and was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington for medical care, police said.

Earlier Friday, the Wilmington Police tweeted that they were responding.

In a separate occurrence on Friday morning, a medical-related fatality occurred in the midst of the storm, according to Pender County Public Information Officer Tammy Proctor. The deceased was an unidentified woman whom emergency responders could not reach due to a downed tree, Proctor said.

At a hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, about 60 miles northwest of Wilmington  about 70 occupants, including an infant and other children, were evacuated from the Triangle Motor Inn after hurricane-force winds collapsed portions of the hotels roof.

Elsewhere hundreds more had to be rescued from rising waters, with some residents having to climb up to their roofs to escape danger.

"WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU," the city of New Bern tweeted earlier Friday. "You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU."

The center of Florence made technical landfall about 7:15 a.m. on Friday near Wrightsville Beach. As of 2 p.m., the storm was about 35 miles west-southwest of Wilmington, and about 35 miles east-northeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C

Florence's storm surge and the prospect of 1 to 3 feet of rain were considered a bigger threat than its winds, which dropped off from an alarming 140 mph earlier in the week. Forecasters said catastrophic freshwater flooding is expected well inland over the next few days as Florence crawls westward across the Carolinas all weekend.

SHIRTLESS MAN STARES DOWN HURRICANE WITH FLAG IN HAND: 'JUST BEING FREE AND AMERICAN'

Forecasters said the terrifying onslaught would last for several hours, because Florence was barely moving along and still drawing energy from the ocean. They said "catastrophic" freshwater flooding was expected along waterways throughout the Carolinas.

Officials said Friday they expected the same amount of rainfall seen during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. However, instead of rainfall spread over 14 days, Florence will dump it all in three days.

"Twenty-four to 36 hours remain of significant threat from heavy rain and heavy surge," said Jeff Byard, an administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Those citizens who did not heed evacuation warnings, its time to stay where you are, do the best that you can to protect yourself."

Preparing for the worst, about 9,700 National Guard troops and civilians were deployed with high-water vehicles, helicopters and boats that could be used to pluck people from the floodwaters.

"(Its) very eerie, the wind howling, the rain blowing sideways, debris flying," Sandie Orsa of Wilmington, told the Associated Press, from a hotel lobby lit by emergency lights after the power failed.

US FLAG SEEN SHREDDED BY HURRICANE FLORENCE OFF NC COAST TO BE REPLACED WITH DONATED OLD GLORY

More than 600,000 people had already lost power by 1 p.m. Friday, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety reported.

Duke Energy said in a tweet that they anticipate between 1 to 3 million outages across the Carolinas, adding that restoration in the hardest-hit communities could take weeks.

The National Hurricane Center said Florence will eventually make a right hook to the northeast over the southern Appalachians, moving into the Mid-Atlantic states and New England as a tropical depression by the middle of next week.

Soon after Florence made landfall, President Trump touted the work from FEMA and first responders.

"Incredible job being done by FEMA, First Responders, Law Enforcement and all. Thank you!" he wrote.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF HURRICANE FLORENCE

Officials said some 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it's unclear how many did. The homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos, Elizabeth Zwirz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A New Jersey man charged in the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old girl was reportedly in the U.S. illegally at the time of the alleged crime.

Bryan Cordero-Castro, 20, was charged with murder, weapons possession and attempted escape in connection with the stabbing death of Madison Wells. Cordero-Castro is a Guatemalan native who was living in the U.S. illegally after overstaying his visa, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Friends told WABC that Cordero-Castro and Wells had been dating for about a year before the teens death.

One friend described the pair to the Asbury Park Press as being inseparable.

They used to hang out every day, Hafett Barrates, 18, told the newspaper. Barrates added he didnt know what could have led to the stabbing.

Wells, a Long Branch native, had lived for a time in Florida before moving back to New Jersey in 2014. She was just starting her junior year at Long Branch High School at the time of her death.

Wells was wounded but alive when she was found by Long Branch police officers responding to a report of a stabbing Saturday night. She was taken to Monmouth Medical Center, where she died about an hour later, police said.
A licensed gun owner was hailed Thursday for his role in helping police in suburban Chicago stop a suspect who was firing an automatic weapon, officials said.

Officials commended the unnamed civilian for his actions as they stood outside a hospital where Cicero police Officer Luis Duarte, 31, was undergoing surgery for four gunshot wounds suffered during the shootout, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

We were lucky enough to have a citizen on the street theres whos a concealed-carry holder, and hes also engaged in gunfire, said Cicero police Superintendent Jerry Chlada Jr.

We were lucky enough to have a citizen on the street theres whos a concealed-carry holder, and hes also engaged in gunfire.  Superintendent Jerry Chlada Jr., Cicero (Ill.) police

The chaos erupted just after 5 p.m. when Duarte, a four-year-veteran of the department, and his partner tried to pull over a vehicle in Cicero for a routine traffic stop. The driver instead took off onto a ramp leading to Interstate 55, in Chicagos city limits.

The officers boxed the vehicle in traffic and the suspect got out and began firing the automatic weapon at them as he fled on foot, Fox 32 Chicago reported. The officers returned fire.

The concealed-carry owner then got out of his vehicle and began shooting at the suspect.

He got out and started helping the police, which is something Ive got to be proud of, Cicero town President Larry Dominick told the Sun-Times.

He got out and started helping the police, which is something Ive got to be proud of.  Cicero town President Larry Dominick

The suspect was hit once but it was not clear if the bullet came from the officers or the concealed-carry holder.

Duarte suffered wounds to an arm, a leg and his abdomen, but was talking and alert ahead of surgery, officials said.

The suspect was taken to a hospital and listed in serious condition. His weapon was found at the scene.

Illinois State Police are investigating the officers use of force.
A Mexican national who was previously accused of raping his teenage daughter was caught trying to illegally enter the U.S. at the Texas border on Tuesday, WKRN-TV reported.

Border agents found Rusbel Zamorano-Calderon, 39, near the Ysleta Port of Entry, about 14 miles south of El Paso. The agents said they caught up with Zamorano-Calderon, who was among a group of people, according to a press release.

After taking him into custody, agents discovered Zamorano-Calderon was previously deported and had an outstanding warrant for three counts of raping his 15-year-old daughter in Polk County, Tennessee.

A release said agents discovered a restraining order in place to protect Zamorano-Calderons daughter.

This most recent arrest serves as another prime example of the importance of maintaining vigilance along our nations borders, and the important role the Border Patrol Agents play in helping keep our communities safe, said a Border Patrol spokesman in a news release, cited by KTSM-TV.

Authorities said Zamorano-Calderon is in the custody of the El Paso County Sheriffs Office awaiting extradition to the Polk County Sheriffs Office to face charges.
A Mexican citizen on Thursday pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2016 presidential election, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Laura Janeth Garza, 38, pleaded guilty to the charges of voter impersonation and ineligible voting, both of which are felonies, according to the attorney generals office. Garza was sentenced to 10 years in jail and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. She will be deported after serving her sentence.

According to a joint investigation by Texas authorities, Garza stole identification documents of a U.S. citizen and registered to vote in Harris County, which is in the southeastern part of the state. Authorities said Garza used the alias Angie Yadira Zamora to cast ballots in 2004, 2012, and 2016.

Law enforcement discovered Garzas scheme after a U.S. citizen attempted to obtain a passport but discovered Garza had already obtained one with the citizens identity, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Election integrity is a top priority for my office, and arrestees and convictions like this clearly demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that Texas elections remain free and fair, said Paxton.

Garzas voter fraud comes on the heels of an initiative by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot to toughen penalties for voter fraud.
The two Portland State University campus police officers who fatally shot a U.S. Navy veteran and father of three who was trying to break up a fight outside a bar in June wont be indicted, a grand jury ruled Thursday.

Officers Shawn McKenzie and James Dewey were cleared of criminal charges in the shooting death of Jason Washington, 45, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Washingtons widow, Michelle, said that the family was disappointed the officers wouldnt be charged.

"We want those responsible for the death of my husband to be held accountable, she said in a statement obtained by the Oregonian. We will always remember and love Jason and know he was needlessly killed while attempting to keep the peace."

"We want those responsible for the death of my husband to be held accountable. We will always remember and love Jason and know he was needlessly killed while attempting to keep the peace."  Michelle Washington, Jason's widow

McKenzie and Dewey, who became sworn officers in 2016, were taken off paid administrative leave and assigned to desk duty following the ruling, the paper reported. Both will still carry firearms while not on patrol.

Washington's gun dropped when he intervened in a fight, which reportedly began over a racial slur, witnesses told Oregon Public Broadcasting in June. Officers were heard shouting, Drop the gun! several times, before firing their weapons.

Washington was a licensed gun owner with a concealed carry permit, OPB reported.

McKenzie, who has been with campus public safety since 2002, and Dewey, since 2014, were both wearing body cameras during the shooting, the Oregonian reported. The university told the paper the footage will be released at a later date.

PSU President Rahmat Shoureshi told OPB that the university, which passed the controversial ruling to allow some campus officers to carry guns in 2014, has hired two independent consultant firms. One will review campus safetys policies and procedures, while the other reviews the shooting.

The schools student union is expected to hold a rally Sept. 24, calling on the university to disallow campus police from carrying firearms, according to the Oregonian.



Fox News Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
A shirtless man disregarded warnings from local authorities and walked out to a street in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday morning to stare down a powerful hurricane -- for the third time.

Despite officials urging evacuations or, at the least, safely battening down the hatches at home, Lane Pittman was captured on film holding an American flag while headbanging to heavy metal music as Florences 85 mph winds and rain pelted him.

"Just being free and American. I don't let nothing oppress me, especially no dang, freaking hurricane," he told Fox Business Network reporter Kristina Partsinevelos, who caught up with him after his stunt...as he tried to fix a flat tire.

When asked if he was doing this to go viral, he responded: Ive already been viral.

HURRICANE FLORENCE'S PATH: TRACK THE STORM HERE

Pittman, who is from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, became Internet famous in 2015 after Fox News wrote about Neptune Beach Police issuing Pittman a citation for breaching the peace when he played a raucous guitar rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner -- and a verse of Ted Nugents Stranglehold" -- during a July 4 celebration.

His pride in the American flag carried over to 2016, when he stared down Category 2 Hurricane Matthew without a shirt on and while holding the flag -- headbanging the entire time to Slayer hit Raining Blood. His ginger locks flowed behind him in the fierce winds that, at times, reached 40 mph.

Had a request for some hair action during the cane. I granted it, he wrote on Facebook at the time in a post that has been viewed more than 27 million times.

Pittman returned for Hurricane Irma last year, posting a video showing him again jamming out to heavy metal music on the beach and holding the American flag.

This year, Pittman started a GoFundMe page to pay for gas and coffee as he drove from Florida to South Carolina. He raised $190 in less than a day.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF HURRICANE FLORENCE

Hurricane Florence made landfall as a powerful Category 1 storm at around 7:15 a.m. Friday morning, near Wrightsville Beach, N.C. A few hours after landfall, forecasters said the hurricane was slowly making its way south along the coast with sustained winds of 80 mph.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A man in Denton County, Texas was arrested Thursday after he allegedly damaged nine American flags at the local courthouse, authorities said.

The man, identified as Matthew Emerson Reynolds, 29, allegedly ripped the flags from a display outside of the courthouse on Sept. 10, just one day before the 17th anniversary of 9/11.

TEXAS BIOLOGY TEACHER ON LEAVE FOR ALLEGEDLY BULLYING PRO-TRUMP STUDENT

Reynolds was caught on camera riding a bike to the courthouse before removing the flags from the display and throwing them into the street, CBSDFW-TV reported.

The public helped the Denton County Sheriffs Office identify Reynolds after the sheriffs office posted to Facebook announcing they were looking for him. After he was identified, authorities announced he turned himself in.

Matthew Emerson Reynolds turned himself in to Denton County Sheriffs Office Investigators. The Denton County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the public for their assistance in helping to identify Reynolds, the sheriffs office wrote in a statement on Facebook.

EVERGREEN STATE APOLOGIZES FOR USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PROTEST FAMILY FARM

I think its completely disrespectful to the country as a whole and everything that every single person out here stands for, Ben Marsh, a local resident, told Fox 4 of the mans alleged actions.

Reynolds is now facing a criminal mischief charge, according to CW33-News.
A police officer in Texas was arrested this week on charges of child sexual assault, according to a local report.

Laurance Martinez, an officer with the Uvalde Police Department, was arrested Thursday by Texas Rangers, according to the Uvalde Leader-News.

TEXAS BIOLOGY TEACHER ON LEAVE FOR ALLEGEDLY BULLYING PRO-TRUMP STUDENT

The 23-year-olds arrest comes after the Uvalde Police Department launched an investigation into Martinez after receiving a tip from a local school district, the newspaper reported. It also said the alleged victim is 15.

After looking into to the tip, officials with the police department determined that there was enough evidence to arrest Martinez, the publication reported.

His employment with the police department was terminated upon his arrest.

EVERGREEN STATE APOLOGIZES FOR USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO PROTEST FAMILY FARM

Prior to his arrest, the Uvalde Leader-News reported he had been with the police department since 2014.
A Texas police officer was in the fight of his life after being critically wounded in a shootout with three robbery suspects in Fort Worth early Friday, authorities said.

The undercover officer was rushed to a hospital by police vehicle as his fellow officers worked to keep him alive, Forth Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said. Police tweeted the officer was courageously fighting as he remained in ICU in critical condition.

One of our heroes was struck down tonight and we are praying for him, Fitzgerald said.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said the officer was in the fight of his life and asked for citizens to pray for him, his family and his fellow officers.

The officer was shot while trying to stop the suspects, who were attempting to rob a bar at gunpoint while patrons were still inside, police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said. One suspect was killed at the scene when police returned fire, and the two others were taken into custody.

Sgt. Chris Britt said a team of at least 10 officers had been conducting surveillance on three suspects Thursday night. The trio were believed to be responsible for a string of robberies in the Fort Worth area, he said.

The team followed the suspects to a bar, which they attempted to rob at gunpoint, police said. When police confronted the suspects, at least one suspect fired and struck the undercover officer.

Officers returned fire, killing a male suspect believed to have fired shots. It was unclear how many shots had been fired. No patrons inside the bar were injured.

A female suspect was arrested at the scene, while a second male suspect ran away. Officers later found and arrested the male, police said.

Officials said the suspects were being investigated for at least 15 robberies in Fort Worth, adding that more may have been committed outside the city.
The Frying Pan Tower American Flag that millions of people saw being shredded by Hurricane Florence as it approached North Carolina will be replaced with a new, donated Old Glory.

A live stream Thursday showed the storm battering the flag as it flew over an old Coast Guard station, 34 miles off the North Carolina coast, which has now been converted into a B&B run by Richard Neal, and is reachable by helicopter or boat in less treacherous conditions.

Flag retailer Flag and Banner has offered to donate a replacement, WMAZ-TV reported Friday.

HURRICANE FLORENCE MAKES LANDFALL IN NORTH CAROLINA AS CATEGORY 1 STORM

"Many many thanks for FLAG sponsor https://flagandbanner.com/ who is stepping up to help the tower with new flags," Neal said on the B&B's Facebook page.

Neal told Fox News Friday that hell replace the tattered flag as soon as he can.

We should have helicopter access to the tower Wednesday or Thursday, he said from Charlotte, N.C., where he is riding out the storm.

HURRICANE FLORENCE LASHES CROLINAS, RESIDENTS SHARE FIRST, HARROWING VIDEOS OF STORM'S FURY

He told the Charlotte Observer that he fielded some angry calls from veterans viewing the live stream.

They told me, this is disrespectful, and that I need to get out there and replace it right thenin the hurricane, Neal said.

Neal said the flag represents who we are as America.

We get beat up, battered during hard times, but we stay up, stay at it through the storm, he told the paper.

HURRICANE FLORENCE'S PATH: TRACK THE STORM HERE
It's about the water, not the wind, with Florence making an extended stay along the North Carolina coast. Forecasters say "it cannot be emphasized enough that the most serious hazard posed by the slow-moving storm is extremely heavy rainfall, which will cause disastrous flooding that will be spreading inland." Officials also have confirmed the hurricane's first known fatalities.

BY THE NUMBERS

Storm deaths: 4 fatalities confirmed

Intensity: Florence came ashore with top winds of 90 mph (145 kph), below the 111 mph (178 kph) threshold for a "major" hurricane but still extremely dangerous. It was downgraded Friday afternoon to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph (110 kph) before its core slogged into coastal South Carolina hours later.

Still big: tropical-force winds extending out up to 175 miles (280 kilometers) from the center.

Heavy rains: Up to 18 trillion gallons falling on seven states over seven days, as much water as there is the entire Chesapeake Bay

So far: roughly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain have fallen north of Swansboro, North Carolina, and it's only going to get worse

Storm surge: up to 13 feet (nearly 4 meters), and seawaters could push inland 2 miles (more than 3 kilometers), depending on how long Florence lingers

Stalled: Florence was nearly at a standstill Friday afternoon, moving at just 3 mph (6 kph)

In the dark: about 890,000 outages, mostly in North Carolina, as of Friday evening, with Duke Energy anticipating 1 million to 3 million homes and businesses losing power

Protected: More than 19,000 people in shelters in North Carolina, 6,400 in South Carolina and 400 in Virginia

Populated coastline: 11 million Americans live in areas that were under storm watches and warnings

Grounded: nearly 2,400 flights canceled

Potential losses: estimated $10 billion to $60 billion in economic damages

Rescued: more than 400 people needed help in high waters in New Bern and Jacksonville, North Carolina

FACES OF FLORENCE

Images captured by Associated Press journalists show last-minute preparations to secure homes and businesses and families settling into storm shelters as rain and storm surge began.

STORM DEATHS

Police in Wilmington, North Carolina, tweeted that a mother and infant died when a tree fell on their house; the baby's father was injured. Officials also said one person was electrocuted in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator in the rain, and a man died after being blown to the ground while checking on his hunting dogs.

BUSY TROPICS

Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the Philippines, ripping off tin roof sheets and knocking out power in an agricultural region of flood-prone rice plains and landslide-prone mountain provinces. In the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores could get gusty winds and heavy rains from Tropical Storm Helene this weekend, while Isaac regained tropical storm strength after earlier weakening in the Caribbean Sea.

STAGGERING STATS

Picture the entire state of Texas covered with roughly 4 inches (10 centimeters) of water: that's Florence's rainfall forecast over a week. Meteorologist Ryan Maue of weathermodels.com estimates Florence could dump about 18 trillion gallons (68 trillion liters) of rain. That's still less than the 25 trillion gallons (95 trillion liters) Hurricane Harvey dropped last year in Texas and Louisiana.

FEMA RUMORS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a "rumor control" website to quash false information in Florence's wake. The page says service animals aren't barred from evacuation shelters, beaches shouldn't be used for sand bags, and evacuation orders aren't enforced by FEMA. It also responds to criticism about money diverted from FEMA to federal immigration authorities.

SHIFTING SANDS

If Florence doesn't wipe out oceanfront homes on stilts along the Carolinas coast, rising sea levels will . Florence lashed low-lying barrier islands that experience some of the fastest rates of sea level rise observed anywhere in the world, nearly an inch (2.5 centimeters) a year.

DAMAGE REPORTS

The city of New Bern, North Carolina , reported more than 1,200 911 calls in a 12-hour span, and roughly 4,300 residences and 300 commercial buildings damaged. That count is expected to rise significantly.

TO THE RESCUE

"WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU"  that's what the city of New Bern, North Carolina, tweeted after hundreds of people needed rescue from rising waters from the Neuse River, and a TV station had to evacuate its newsroom in the middle of its hurricane coverage. The National Weather Service measured storm surge in New Bern at 10 feet (3 meters) deep.

THE POWER OF WATER

Scientists can't say  yet  that climate change helped make Florence worse. But previous research has shown that the strongest hurricanes are getting wetter, more intense and intensifying faster due to human-caused warming. Sea level rise also adds to storm surge damage : When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, a study found sea-level rise over the 20th century caused more than $2 billion in additional damage in New York City due to the "extra" storm surge it generated.

ESCAPING TO FLORIDA

Hurricanes usually drive people away from Florida, but Florence is making the Sunshine State into a refuge for people from the Carolinas. Cruise ships have diverted to Florida away from the storm's path, and some hotels are offering special discounts for evacuees. What could be better than riding out a hurricane at Walt Disney World ?

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For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes
Mr. Salvado Valdes Mesa and delegates visit the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi city. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)





It was part of activities marking 45 years since leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated area in the South of Vietnam in September 1973.

During the visit, the hospitals leaders said that after over 40 years of use of the precious present from the Cuban Party, Government and people, efficiency in medical check-ups and treatment for local and surrounding residents has been reported. So far, it has been recognized as a category-1 hospital under the management of the Ministry of Health, with nearly 500 sick-beds.

At present, the Cuban Health Ministry is assisting the hospital in training doctors and sending talented experts to assist medical treatment as well.

Talking with the hospital staff, Mr. Salvado Valdes Mesa highlighted the great significance of the visit to Quang Tri province by Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1973, where he made the famous saying For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood. On the way to Quang Tri, the Cuban leader dropped in Quang Binh, and decided to present Quang Binh provinces people a general modern hospital.

He also expressed his hope that the cooperation between the two countries would be increased all areas, including in healthcare./.
Prosecutors in El Salvador are investigating the alleged diversion of some $10 million in funds donated by Taiwan and purportedly used to pay for political campaigning by the governing party.

Prosecutor Douglas Melendez said Thursday in a TV interview that the money came from $38 million that Taipei gave to the Foreign Ministry for various projects.

Melendez alleged the funds were diverted to the presidency and "apparently used in a partisan campaign" under then President Mauricio Funes in elections won by current President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, an FMLN party ally of Funes.

Melendez said ex-Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez has been questioned because it was under his watch that the money was allegedly passed to the presidency.

Martinez is the party's candidate for the presidential election next year.

The FMLN party political commission issued a statement calling the accusations "baseless" and accusing Melendez of "attacking our candidate and our party in a slanderous and irresponsible way."

Martinez said in a press statement that he wasn't in the foreign ministry during the time period mentioned. "I am not prepared to allow my reputation to be sullied with irresponsible statements based on electoral politics," he said.

Recently El Salvador switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to mainland China, though there was no suggestion of any link between that change and the investigation.

Earlier this week, former President Tony Saca of the Arena party was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement and money laundering along with several associates who also pleaded guilty.

Melendez said these investigations show that "nobody wears a crown in this country. Nobody is above the law."

Funes was president from 2009 to 2014. He and multiple former officials and family members are accused of corruption.

He is currently in Nicaragua, where he was granted asylum. He denies wrongdoing.
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Steven Reece pulls a shield over his face, takes a weed whacker in hand, and begins trimming tall grass in an overgrown, tick-infested Jewish cemetery in western Ukraine where tombstones lie toppled and broken.

For years now, Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister from Texas, has been cleaning Jewish cemeteries and erecting memorial plaques at mass grave sites in Poland, and recently Ukraine. The region, once Europe's Jewish heartland, saw millions of Jews shot and gassed by Nazi German forces during World War II, sometimes with the help of local collaborators.

The 63-year-old American says cleaning up old cemeteries is his way, as a Christian, of honoring Holocaust victims while supporting the surviving Jewish communities here.

He also hopes his mission can help alleviate the bitterness and misunderstanding that still festers sometimes between Christians and Jews. Reece explains that he is troubled by the failure of European Christians who mostly stood by passively as the Nazis marginalized, then persecuted and killed their Jewish neighbors.

"To me it means simply bringing together people who are separated by distance, by space, by conflict," Reece said, taking a break during a recent clean-up operation in Rohatyn, Ukraine, which before the war was part of Poland.

"I saw the Jewish cemetery as a way to bring Jew and Christian together in a common place where they could work together with one another."

Outside Ukraine, Reece and his team cleaned seven cemeteries in Poland this summer, including one in Oswiecim, the town where Nazi Germany ran the Auschwitz death camp.

Reece, who grew up in Texas and is now a resident of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, says he is driven by a desire for justice that has been with him since his boyhood in the American South, where the mistreatment and segregation of Black Americans was instituted in law.

"I was in the seventh grade when Martin Luther King was assassinated. That made a tremendous impact upon me," Reece said during an interview in Warsaw. "And when I encountered the issue of Jewish Polish history, due to what happened here, I saw that there is a great injustice."

Part of his mission involves encouraging diaspora Jews to work with local volunteers in Polish towns to continue the cemetery maintenance work. In 2010 he founded an Atlanta-based charity, The Matzevah Foundation, which takes its name from the Hebrew term for headstone. The foundation brings volunteers to Europe from the Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee to help him with his work and to engage with Jewish descendants.

Since 2012, his organization has carried out 28 projects in 14 different locations with the help of nearly 1,000 volunteers, including some 250 Americans, but also Israelis, local Poles and Ukrainians.

The recent work in Rohatyn was organized by Jewish Rohatyn Heritage, an organization run by an American couple, Marla Raucher Osborn and Jay Osborn, who have been gathering Nazi-damaged headstones scattered in the town and bringing them to the cemetery in Ukraine.

Reece first came to the region in the late 1980s when he was on assignment in Poland as a photo reporter. He later served for 12 years as a pastor in Otwock, near Warsaw, learning Polish and gaining a deeper understanding of what happened in Poland during WWII.

The country was invaded from the west by Adolf Hitler's forces and from the east by Soviet forces. More than 5 million were dead by war's end. Under the German occupation thousands of Christian Poles risked their lives to help Jews, but many did not act, and some joined the plunder and destruction.

Reece, no longer a minister, says he wants to help local Jewish authorities struggling to maintain 1,400 cemeteries across Poland  a legacy of a country once home to the largest Jewish community in the world. That population has dwindled from 3.3 million on the eve of Germany's invasion, to 20,000 today.

Mass grave sites continue to be discovered, and the challenge is made more difficult as Poland's economy grows and construction booms across the country.

Reece said some in the Jewish community at first wrongly suspected he was seeking converts.

"I don't deny who I am  I am a follower of Jesus  but that's the not the point of what I do," he said. "The point of what I do is to reconcile."

Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich said that initially, some were puzzled by Reece. "Steven is so unique, we're not used to people like that," he said.

"But as soon as I met him I realized that he was the real thing," Schudrich added. "There are special, unique, saintly people in the world. It transcends religion, nationality, and ethnicity. Steven Reece is one of them."

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Gera reported from Warsaw. Randy Herschaft in New York contributed.
In cities and towns across Syria's last opposition-held province, Idlib, residents poured into the streets on Friday to demonstrate against President Bashar Assad's government in defiance of an expected offensive to retake the territory.

In the provincial capital, Idlib city, and in towns including Kafranbel, Dana, and al-Bab, demonstrators filled the streets after noon prayers and chanted against Assad, raising the tri-color green, white and black flag that has become the banner of Syria's 2011 uprising, activists said.

The demonstrations were reported on the activist-run sites Aleppo Media Center, Orient News, and other social media pages.

Fridays have become the customary day for protests throughout the Arab world since the 2011 uprisings that swept through the region.

Assad's government and its backers, Russia and Iran, say Idlib is ruled by terrorists, and have threatened to seize it by force.

Wissam Zarqa, a university teacher in Idlib, said demonstrators were flying the tri-color flag to rebut the government line that Idlib is dominated by the al-Qaida linked Levant Liberation Committee group.

The province, population 3 million, is now the final shelter for close to 1.5 million displaced Syrians that fled fighting in other parts of Syria. Many say they will not return to government-ruled areas.

Government and Russian forces bombed towns and villages in the province earlier this week, killing more than a dozen civilians and damaging two hospitals. But the strikes eased on Wednesday amid talks between the opposition's main regional sponsor Turkey, and Russia and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are slated to meet Monday, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. ... (and) on international platforms as well," said Cavusoglu in comments carried live on Turkish television.

Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.

Turkey has warned strongly against military action, saying it would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe. Its military and defense chiefs visited border areas on Friday to inspect troop reinforcements sent to its Hatay and Gaziantep provinces.

Turkey has 12 military posts inside Idlib province, and activists reported on Thursday that Turkish reinforcements crossed over into Syria to fortify the installations.

The United Nations said that in the first 12 days of September, over 30,000 people have been internally displaced by an intense aerial bombing campaign. Most of the displaced headed toward the border with Turkey, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, packing already overcrowded camps there.

The U.N.'s World Food Program said it, alongside partners, were already delivering monthly food rations for nearly 600,000 people. It said it was prepared to deliver emergency food assistance for up to 1 million people.
The Latest on developments related to the war in Syria (all times local):

1:15 p.m.

The Kremlin says that President Vladimir Putin could meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that preparations are under way for Putin's meeting with Erdogan in Sochi on Monday. He wouldn't elaborate on the meeting's agenda, but the two leaders are likely to discuss the tensions in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

The Syrian army, backed by Russia and Iran, is preparing for a military offensive to reclaim control over Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold on the border with Turkey. Turkey strongly warned against the military action, saying it would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.

Russia has urged Turkey to persuade rebels in Idlib to sever ties with al-Qaida linked rebels in the area.

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1:10 p.m.

Turkey's military and defense chiefs have visited areas bordering Syria where the country has reinforced troops amid fears of a looming Syrian government offensive on Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Chief of Military Staff Yasar Guler on Friday inspected troops in the border provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep.

Turkey has been reinforcing the border in recent weeks. Syrian activists meanwhile said new military reinforcements had arrived to beef up Turkish observation points inside Idlib.

The state-run Anadolu Agency reported late Thursday that commando units as well as howitzers, tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavy work machines were sent to the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province as reinforcements

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12:20 p.m.

Turkey's foreign minister says his country is still working for a peaceful solution for Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.

Speaking during a visit to Pakistan on Friday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. ... We will continue our efforts on international platforms as well." His comments were broadcast live on Turkish television.

At a meeting in Tehran last week, the leaders of Russia and Iran backed military operations in Idlib despite pleas from Erdogan for a cease-fire.

Turkey fears a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, which straddles Turkey's borders and is home to more than 3 million people.
Mexican government officials say they're evaluating a proposal by the United States to pay for the deportation of foreign migrants in Mexico to their home countries.

The offer would help return mainly Central Americans to their homelands but no agreement has been reached, Mexicos Interior Department said Thursday.

The Mexican government has not accepted this proposal either verbally or in writing, the department said.

Many Central Americans use Mexico as a jumping-off point to cross illegally into the U.S. In the first seven months of 2018, Mexico deported more than 57,000 Central Americans, mainly by bus.

The Interior Department did not say how much the U.S. has offered, only that it was evaluating the proposal according to applicable laws, and in accordance with the priorities of Mexico's own immigration policies."

But the New York Times reported this week that the Trump administration told Congress it planned to shift $20 million in foreign assistance funds toward helping Mexico pay for the deportations.

The money will move from the State Department to the Department of Homeland Security, and then to Mexico, the report said, with the deportations affecting about 17,000 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Typhoon Mangkhut retained its ferocious strength and slightly shifted toward more densely populated coastal provinces on Friday as it barreled closer to the northeastern Philippines, where a massive evacuation was underway.

More than 4 million people are at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center categorizes as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category 5 Atlantic hurricane.

It was initially expected to hit the northern tip of Cagayan province early Saturday, but it's now likely to make landfall farther south and closer to Isabela province then cut across the northern breadbasket, Philippine state forecaster Chris Perez told The Associated Press. The change won't make much difference because of the typhoon's massive size, he said.

A huge raincloud band 900 kilometers (560 miles) wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, means the typhoon will bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods. Warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.

The typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said. The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.

Mangkhut was tracked on Friday about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph), Philippine forecasters said.

After the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts Mangkhut will plow into the Chinese mainland early Monday morning south of Hong Kong and north of the island province of Hainan. Though it will weaken from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, it will still be packing sustained winds of 175 kph (109 mph).

The observatory warned of rough seas and frequent heavy squalls, urging residents of the densely populated financial hub to "take suitable precautions and pay close attention to the latest information" on the storm.

The gambling enclave of Macau, next door to Hong Kong, suffered catastrophic flooding during Typhoon Hato last August that left 10 dead and led to accusations of corruption and incompetence at its meteorological office.

On the Chinese mainland, the three southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are coordinating preparations, including suspending transport and moving people to shelter inland, the national meteorological agency reported.

Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub, has set up 3,777 shelters, while more than 100,000 residents and tourists have been moved to safety or sent home. The province has recalled more than 36,000 fishing boats to port, while train services between the cities of Zhanjiang and Maoming have been suspended and all ferry services between the Guangdong and Hainan have been put on hold.

Fujian province to the north of Guangdong is also closing beaches and tourist sites and preparing other measures depending on conditions, the agency reported.

Philippine Office of Civil Defense chief Ricardo Jalad told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte that about 4.2 million people in Cagayan, Isabela and outlying provinces are vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoon's 125-kilometer (77-mile) -wide eye. Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials.

Across the north, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces and moved fishing boats to safety.

Duterte asked Cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work if needed, and told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid.

"It would depend on the severity of the crisis," Duterte said. "If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help."

Officials said other northern provinces had started evacuating residents from high-risk areas, including in northern mountain provinces prone to landslides.

Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over 5 million in the central Philippines in 2013.

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Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report.
Slovenia's new prime minister used to make people laugh. Handling the disparate demands of his five-party coalition government is unlikely to leave much time for jokes.

Once a satirist who impersonated prominent politicians, Marjan Sarec has taken the helm of a largely centrist government  a rare phenomenon, at least recently, in Central Europe where populists have been on the march from Italy to Poland.

Sarec, who has become Slovenia's youngest ever premier at 40, will face a tough job keeping the minority government afloat. After all, the government's majority in parliament is slim and the right-wing opposition is not going to give Sarec a honeymoon in office.

Enacting too many reforms is not going to be easy in that environment and that could potentially lead to disgruntlement in a country of just 2 million people.

The tight parliamentary arithmetic was evident Thursday when the new government was narrowly endorsed. Only half the 90-member backed the government, just enough to keep away from power the anti-immigrant allies of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Analysts warned it is too early to say whether the elevation of a moderate government spells a turning point in the region.

"At stake now is Europe, more than Slovenia," said Janez Markes, an analyst for the Delo newspaper. "Slovenia at this moment, I hate to say it, is not part of the problem."

The success of the new government could depend heavily on whether Sarec, who gave up a successful acting career when he first entered politics, proves he is up to the task.

Sarec served twice as the mayor of his native Kamnik, in central Slovenia before gaining prominence when he forced a presidential runoff vote last year against veteran politician Borut Pahor.

"It is easier to observe from the side and criticize than to do something," Sarec said Thursday in parliament. "It is time to start working now."

One of the mainstays of Sarec's act was impersonating former prime minister, Janez Jansa, who is now his main right-wing opponent.

With a group of young artists, Sarec hosted a satirical radio show dubbed 'Radio Ga Ga' that was popular throughout Slovenia in the 1990s. Some of his performances show Sarec altering his voice to mock politicians' accents, singing or screaming with a kitchen cloth on his head as an alternative poet.

Saso Hribar, a journalist who worked with Sarec, says he remembers the new prime minister as highly professional and considers him thoroughly prepared for his any of his roles.

"Sarec blew up a good private business when he gave up acting," Hribar quipped.

As the new prime minister, Sarec is certain to face strong opposition from Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party, which won most votes at June 3 election, but not enough to form the government.

Linked to Hungary's Orban, Jansa "will try to do anything to subvert this government," said Darko Strajn, the head of Alternative Academy think tank.

However, Strajn said Sarec is a political "personality in the making," and his readiness to compromise and his negotiating prowess to form the 5-party coalition, should serve him well.

___

Ali Zerdin contributed to this report.
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The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday announced a rebuff to the leader of the worldwide Orthodox community, saying it would not participate in events headed by the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate due to a dispute over control of the church in Ukraine.

The church also announced at a meeting of top priests that it would not even remember Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in its prayers.

The meeting was called in order to respond to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's decision last week to allow the Orthodox Church in Ukraine to be autocephalous  ecclesiastically independent. The Russian church, the world's largest Orthodox communion, fiercely opposes the decision.

Church spokesman Metropolitan Ilarion insisted that Friday's response by the leaders of Russian orthodoxy "do not mean a complete break of the Eucharistic communion."

However, it is a significant show of resistance to the authority of Bartholomew, who is considered the "first among equals" among Orthodox leaders.

According to the Interfax news agency, Ilarion warned of a split in the church if efforts to move the Ukrainian church beyond Russian authority continue.

"We will be forced to completely break the Eucharistic communion and this will mean Constantinople patriarch, who often positions himself as the head of the planet's 300 million Orthodox, will no longer be its head," he said.

The church in Ukraine has been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate for hundreds of years, although many parishes have split off over the past two decades to form a schismatic church.

Calls for self-government have increased since Moscow's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and its support for pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill strongly condemned the dispatch of the envoys while opening Friday's meeting of the Holy Synod. He compared the move to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's actions during the split in the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1920s.

Metropolitan Onufriy, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that answers to Moscow Patriarchate, told the Holy Synod via a video call that the bishops sent by Bartholomew I had already arrived in Ukraine and had established contacts with the heads of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has urged the Istanbul-based Patriarchate to grant Ukrainian Orthodox clerics full ecclesiastical independence from Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters Friday that "worrying information about possible decisions regarding the church in Ukraine causes concern."

Peskov noted that "the state can't interfere in the church affairs," but added that "preservation of the Orthodox unity is the only preferable scenario for Moscow, as well as for the entire Orthodox world."
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Spanish Prime Minister Pablo Sanchez published his doctoral thesis online Friday to deflect any doubts over its existence and refute allegations of plagiarism raised by media and the political opposition.

A day earlier Sanchez, a Socialist, wrote on Facebook that he considered the plagiarism allegations a "personal attack" by opposition parties in the absence of a "solid political project."

He also threatened to take legal action against ABC newspaper and other media that published stories arguing that passages of his "Spain's Economic Diplomacy, 2010-2012" dissertation had been copied from other researchers' works.

Doctored or exaggerated resumes have backfired in Spanish politics in the past, but academic misdeeds uncovered by the media have led to political turmoil and a string of high-profile resignations in recent months.

They include the conservative former president of the Madrid region and a health minister in Sanchez's cabinet, who both stepped down amid allegations that they had obtained master's degrees at the same private public policy institute in Madrid without apparently showing up for classes or by copying passages of their papers.

Courts in Madrid have opened an investigation and the Supreme Court is separately probing the degree obtained by the current opposition leader, the Popular Party's Pablo Casado, who graduated from the same university.

Media lined up at the library of Sanchez's alma mater in Madrid on Wednesday shortly after another opposition leader, Citizens' Albert Rivera, dared the prime minister to publish his thesis to dispel "reasonable doubts" over its existence. The journalists found a single printed copy that the university wouldn't allow to be copied, and also learned that Sanchez had not authorized online copies.

Amid mounting pressure, the thesis was finally uploaded on Friday to an Education Ministry online directory for academic researchers. The prime minister's office also issued a statement saying the thesis had passed plagiarism tests of two specialized pieces of software used by academics.

Sanchez surprised observers of Spanish politics in June when he succeeded in ousting his predecessor with a vote of no confidence. While he won early praise for leading a cabinet with a majority of women, opening ports to migrants and offering an olive branch to the strong separatist movement in Catalonia, a cabinet member resigned within a week of taking the oath after an undisclosed tax fine emerged.

Sanchez's minority government, with only 84 Socialist lawmakers in the 350-seat lower house of the parliament, has also been marred by erratic policies and increasing criticism, reversing decisions to accept migrants crossing from Morocco, to authorize a sex workers union and, just this week, to halt arm sales to Saudi Arabia.

He lost his second cabinet member on Tuesday when Health Minister Carmen Monton resigned over irregularities found in the way she obtained her master's degree, including chunks of the final thesis copied from websites and other works.

Monton's resignation, and Sanchez's move to publish his dissertation, seemed also aimed at exerting pressure on Casado, whose own degree is under investigation. The PP leader has said he doesn't fear the results of the probe.

A government spokeswoman said on Friday that both Casado and Rivera  whose official resume on the parliament's website had shrunk overnight  "should rise to the challenge" and respond with "transparency" to Sanchez's move. Isabel Celaa, who is also the Education Minister, said the scandal shouldn't stain the name of the country's higher education, stressing that it affects one single institution.
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Syria is sharply criticizing an upcoming event on the U.N. investigative body that is assisting in documenting serious crimes committed during the seven-year Syrian conflict, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, said in a letter to General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak circulated Friday that the Sept. 27 event is another "destructive" action by its sponsors, Qatar and Liechtenstein.

The event will take place on the sidelines of the 193-member assembly's annual gathering of world leaders.

The U.N. missions of Qatar and Liechtenstein did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ja'afari reiterated Syria's claim that the investigative body established by the General Assembly in December 2016 is illegal and violates the U.N. Charter. He said any evidence it collects "will be ineligible for future criminal proceedings."

The resolution adopted by the assembly said the body, known as the "International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism," would help collect and analyze evidence of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law "to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings."

It called for the body "to closely coordinate" with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which was established by the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council. The commission has alleged that Syrian government and rebel forces committed war crimes and it accused the government of using chemical weapons.

When the resolution was adopted, Ja'afari called the resolution "a flagrant interference in the affairs of a U.N. member state." He said it was "a direct threat to a solution" to the Syrian conflict, which has killed at least 400,000 people, according to monitoring groups.

In the letter circulated Friday, Ja'afari said the situation in Syria "is now at a delicate stage" and the political process led by U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura "is moving forward, but with caution and fragility."

This is because "some governments that have supported chaos and terrorism in Syria" are pressuring the government and its allies "in their war on global terrorism," he said.

Ja'afari accused the U.N. of abandoning its neutrality and responding to "political and financial pressure and the polarization practices of some member states," especially those supporting the investigative body.

Syria "has the full capability, with its legal and judicial institutions, to achieve justice and accountability without external and destructive interference," he said.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA)



The Party chief expressed his delight at the special solidarity relations between the two countries, which have been developing in a practical and effective manner across various sectors.

He spoke highly of the cooperation between the two governments, asking them to join hands to direct relevant ministries, agencies, localities, and businesses to carry out the cooperation programmes and agreements inked.

They should work to remove bottlenecks and enhance all-round collaboration - especially in economy, trade, and investment - and make meticulous preparations for the 41st meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Furthermore, he congratulated Laos on the countrys achievements in internal and external affairs after two years implementing the resolution adopted at the 10th Congress of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

Expressing his sympathy over the losses caused by the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam in the southern province of Attapeu and the damage caused by heavy rain and flood in various localities, Party General Secretary Trong believed that under the leadership of the LPRP, local residents would soon be able to stabilise their lives and recover production.

Thongloun Sisoulith, for his part, complimented Vietnam on the nations successful organisation of the WEF ASEAN 2018, and thanked the neighbour for its timely support for Laos in the recent time, especially material assistance following the dam collapse earlier this year.

He agreed to coordinate with the Vietnamese Government to effectively realise all signed deals between the two Parties and Governments, as well as gear up for the upcoming meeting of the intergovernmental committee./.
The Trump administrations stern warnings against plans by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his allies  namely Iran and Russia to wipe out the opposition-held stronghold of Idlib have at least temporarily kept the expected attack from moving forward, Syrian opposition activists tell Fox News.

The offensive is certainly on hold, and that is in large part a result of the renewed commitment from the United States to establish consequences should Russia and the regime continue with reckless bombing of Idlib, said Kenan Rahmani, Advocacy Manager at The Syria Campaign.

President Trump this week joined the voices of his entire foreign policy team - Vice President Mike Pence, U.N Ambassador Nikki Haley, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and new Syria envoy James Jeffrey - in issuing grim warnings to the Syrian government and its allies regarding the fate of Idlib, a city near the Syrian-Turkish border, where the remaining forces of Syrian opposition are holding out.

Rahmani on Thursday noted that in the previous 24 hours, air strikes from Russian aircraft in rebel-held areas significantly decreased, and lowered in intensity, a sign that America's renewed commitment to standing up to powers in Moscow and Damascus  accompanied by the Turkish government's deployment of more military equipment to the region  has brought a temporary reprieve.

Russia and the regime have a long history of testing red lines and seeing what they can get away with, but there is a sense this time that this isnt just rhetoric from the U.S, this is an actual policy, Rahmani continued. And the policy is that the U.S will absolutely not allow mass killings and mass atrocities.

A Pentagon official confirmed the U.S. has seen a recent decrease in Russian airstrikes - though the situation remains dire.

"Last week, despite warnings from the United States, United Nations, and U.S. allies - Russian Forces backing the Syrian regime extensively used airstrikes and barrel bombs, accompanied by regime rocket and artillery fire, in Idlib. In the last two days, however, we have seen some reduction in these attacks, and we welcome and encourage any lessening of violence, particularly in vulnerable civilian areas," said Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesperson.

"We have engaged the Russian government and military at the most senior level to make clear that the U.S. and its partners would respond to any verified chemical weapon use in Idlib or elsewhere in Syria in a swift and appropriate manner," Robertson added. "We encourage Russia to make this point clear to Damascus. Syria, Russia and Iran should know that the United States and the rest of the world are watching very closely, and will take appropriate action if there is a new slaughter in Idlib."

Ayman Abdel Nour, founder of the pro-opposition humanitarian aid organization Syrian Christians for Peace, agreed the clear message from the Trump team was not only welcomed, but had a quick impact on regime and Russian behavior.

The U.S is still the biggest player on the world stage, and when they raise the doors it matters, he said. Assad cant do anything without Russia, and the second day after the Trump tweet warning them the Idlib operation was paralyzed. Russia used to caution that Idlib would be cleaned out by the end of September, now they are saying end of year which at least gives more time for a diplomatic deal.

Jeffrey acknowledged last week the U.S had deliberately started using new language, moving from threats that not only would a suspected chemical weapons attack not be accepted, but that the U.S. would not put up with any attack in Idlib period.

Any offensive to us is objectionable as a reckless escalation, he said, stressing the creation of a refugee flow or attack on innocent civilians would be met with consequences.

Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian government diplomat and co-founder of the D.C-based Middle East think-tank People Demand Change INC (PDC), said the new administration tone has altered both Russian behavior on the ground, softened their diplomatic speak, and allowed more time for a diplomatic solution.

U.S defense insiders have said massive bombing packages are being drawn up by the Pentagon, should Assad defy warnings and go ahead with a chemical attack in Idlib. One defense specialist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized that large-scale regime strikes would likely be retaliatory rather than pre-emptive, though adding that Syrian chemical weapons depots have already been identified.

The U.S. just isnt going to tolerate it, the source added.

Retired Col. James Williamson, founder of OPSEC  a non-partisan advocacy organization focused on protecting national intelligence assets  concurred that the tough talk, for now, appears to be forestalling a Syrian offensive, but that warnings will need to be backed up with a potent military response if need be.

When diplomacy fails, you set a red line and then you act decisively when and if it is crossed. I have no doubt this president will do just that, Williamson said.

The Syrian government, along with Russia and Iran, have consistently and vehemently denied ever having used chemical weapons in the protracted civil war, despite U.N assertions they have been deployed at least a dozen times.

Hisham al-Skeif, deputy head of the political bureau of the prominent opposition group, known as the Peace Brigades, emphasized that major powers coming together has had a sizeable impact.

The position of the United States and Trump is very powerful, with Europe standing by their side and Turkey too standing a strong stance has helped postpone the offensive, he noted. Turkey and the U.S need to continue their cooperation, they can restrain Russia.

Turkey, the main international backer of the rebels, has reportedly been working to reach a peace deal with Russian and Iranian officials. Turkeys own envoy, Feriddun Sinirlioglu, this week appealed to the international community to vocally and actively support a ceasefire in Idlib.

SYRIANS IN IDLIB BRACE FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK, GROUND INVASION BY ASSAD FORCES

MORE IRANIANS 'BUYING' PASSPORTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO EVADE US TRAVEL BAN, SANCTIONS

However, the fear of both a barrage of chemical weapons and all-out barrel bombing is still very palpable through the overcrowded streets of Idlib.

Turkey has secured borders; it is very scary. There are more than three million people here with nowhere to go, Walid Ased, a 31-year-old mathematics teacher in Idlib, told Fox News in a telephone interview. Trump is time trading with the harsh statements about chemicals, but Assad kills us every day with explosives and barrel bombs and missiles and no one cares for that.

Former Syrian Brig. Gen. Zaher al-Sakat  once the Assad regimes chemical weapons chief in charge of such operations before defecting to Europe in 2013  concurred it is only a matter of time.

There will be another chemical attack, it is clear from Russian speeches they are claiming in advance that the rebels have chemical weapons, which means that Russia and the regime will use chemicals and then blame it on others, he told Fox News. Even if a group like al-Qaeda had chemical weapons, they dont have the equipment to use it.

U.N investigators announced on Wednesday they had chronicled at least three more uses of banned chlorine weapons by Syrian government forces that amounted to war crimes, and called on world leaders to take definitive steps to fend off a massacre in Idlib.

Assad takes Trumps threats seriously that there will be a price to pay. Nevertheless, I dont think the U.S. will be able to dramatically alter the course of the Idlib offensive and the humanitarian disaster that will ensue, added Raphael D. Marcus, a research fellow at the Department of War Studies, King's College London.

But the announcement that they plan to keep U.S. troops on the ground in Syria is an effort to minimize, at least slightly, Iran and Russian influence and attempt to shape the aftermath.
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Many families with starving children in an isolated pocket of northern Yemen have no food except the boiled leaves of local wild vine, a sign of how some are falling through the cracks of international relief efforts trying to prevent widespread death from famine around the country.

The main health center in Aslam district was crowded with emaciated children during a recent visit by the Associated Press. Excruciatingly thin toddlers, eyes bulging, sat in a plastic washtub used in a make-shift scale as staff weighed each one. Their papery skin was stretched tight over pencil-like limbs and knobby knees.

At least 20 children are known to have died of starvation already this year in the province that includes the district. The real number is likely far higher, since few families report their children's deaths when they die at home, officials say.

"We are in the 21st century, but this is what the war did to us," said the health center's chief, Mekkiya Mahdi.

Yemen is more than three years into a civil war that has wrecked the country's already fragile ability to feed itself. The war pits Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who hold the north, against a Saudi-led coalition, armed and backed by the United States. The coalition has sought to bomb the rebels into submission with an air campaign in support of Yemeni government forces.

Around 2.9 million women and children are acutely malnourished; another 400,000 children are fighting for their lives only a step away from starvation.

At least 8.4 million of Yemen's 29 million people would starve if they didn't receive international aid, a number that grew by a quarter the past year, according to U.N. figures. It is likely to jump by another 3.5 million because the currency's tumbling value leaves more people unable to afford food, the U.N. said.

Humanitarian officials warn that in the face of unending war, hunger's spread is outstripping efforts to keep people alive.

When AP approached U.N. agencies with questions about the situation in Aslam, they expressed alarm and surprise. In response to the AP's questions, international and local aid groups launched an investigation into why food wasn't getting to the some families, a top relief official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of issues involved in operating in the war-ravaged country.

As an immediate response, the official said, relief agencies are sending over 10,000 food baskets to the district, and UNICEF Resident Representative Dr. Meritxell Relano said the organization is increasing its mobile teams in the district from three to four and providing transportation to health facilities.

In first six months of this year, Hajjah province, where Aslam is located, recorded 17,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition, higher than in any full year, said Walid al-Shamshan, head of the Health Ministry's nutrition section in the province.

"It's a steady deterioration and it's scary," al-Shamshan said. Even after treatment, children often deteriorate once again when they go home to villages with no food and contaminated water.

Aslam is one of Yemen's poorest districts, located in the Houthi heartland. Its population of 75,000 to 106,000 includes both local residents and growing numbers of people displaced by fighting elsewhere.

It saw one of Hajjah province's highest jumps in the number of reported children suffering from severe acute malnutrition: From 384 cases in January, an additional 1,319 came in over the next six months. That comes to around 15 percent of the district's children.

There appeared to be multiple reasons why aid was not reaching some of the starving, beyond the rapid increase in those in need.

The lion's share of assistance goes to displaced people, with 20 percent going to the local community, said Azma Ali, a worker with the World Food Program. Agencies' criteria give priority for help to the displaced and households without a breadwinner, though local residents also struggle to find food.

Under heavy pressure from Houthi authorities, international agencies like WFP and UNICEF and their Yemeni partners are required to use lists of needy provided by local officials.

Critics accuse those officials of favoritism. That especially works against the local population in Aslam, where many belong to the "Muhammasheen," Arabic for the "Marginalized," a community of darker-skinned Yemenis shunned by the rest of society and left to work as garbage collectors, menial laborers or beggars. The Marginalized have no weight with officials to ensure aid goes their way.

One humanitarian coordinator in Hajjah said local Houthi authorities distribute aid unfairly.

"The powerful hinder the work of the humanitarian agencies and deprive of aid those people who are in most need," he said. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of problems with the authorities.

Some residents said local officials demand bribes to get on food lists  the equivalent of around 15 U.S. cents, but still too much for many.

Food deliveries come irregularly or are too small or are missing items, residents and aid workers said.

People in Aslam have become increasingly reliant on leaves from the local Arabian Wax Leaf vine, known in Yemeni Arabic as "halas."

In the village of al-Mashrada, a 7-month-old girl, Zahra, cried and reached with her bony arms for her mother to feed her. Undernourished herself, her mother is often unable to breastfeed her. She can't afford formula.

Zahra was recently treated at the health center but is dwindling away again. Her parents can't afford to hire a car or motorbike to take her back to the clinic. If they don't, Zahra will die, said Mahdi.

Zahra's mother said only "the big heads"  the better-off and well-connected  end up with international aid.

"We only have God. We are poor and we have nothing."

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The Associated Press reported this story with help from a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

___

AP writer Lee Keath in Beirut contributed to this story.
For A Good Cause: Ways you can help others
Artist Thu Huyen performs at the program (Photo: baotintuc.vn)

The program aims to preserve and promote the national traditional cultural features among the Vietnamese community in the country.

Artist Thu Huyen said that she was moved when performing before the overseas Vietnamese community because she always receives their warm sentiment.

The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic desired that the Government of Vietnam regularly sends art troupes, especially famous artists and craftsmen, to the Czech Republic to perform so that they have opportunity to enjoy the national art and preserve Vietnams traditional cultural features, especially as the government of the Czech Republic has recognized it as the 14th ethnic minority community.

Besides, the traditional cultural features also help local people and international friends understand more about Vietnams special cultural values./.
Sports event in the Rheinaue : 10,500 runners participate in Business Run

Bonn Thousands of employees participated in the company run at the Rheinaue. But it wasnt about speed, it was all about team spirit. Some firefighters worked up a big sweat, running with all their gear, while others ran in tutus.

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Time is not a factor in the Bonn Business Run at the Rheinaue. No clock is running and the fastest runners dont get rewarded. There are other categories where teams can score. Take, for example, the size of the group: With 416 runners, the Stadtsprinter were way ahead. The Bonn city administration had given city employees the opportunity to run for free, with the starting fee and matching shirts covered by the health department. The event took place Thursday evening at the Rheinaue.

Natalie Widmann from the health department had prepared well, albeit unintentionally. "I just like to run, also in my free time," she said. But the company run offered the opportunity to take part in a sport with co-workers, instead of just sitting opposite one another in the office. And sometimes the executive floor also showed its silly side. Men and women from the Schlumberger sparkling wine company in Meckenheim squeezed themselves into pink tutus. "Earlier I had a suit on, now we are all elves," said office manager Andres Contreras with a glass of champagne in his hand. Yes, even before the start, there was a toast.

Running connects people, says organizer Burkhard Weis. He is at the event for the twelfth time and calls it Bonns largest company party. The number of participants was not quite as high as last year, but there were more than a hundred team tents, in which the runners celebrated until 11pm. There were bands to provide for a good mood along the 5.7 kilometer route, and aerobic dancers for the mass warm-up.

The fact that team spirit was the most important benchmark of the competition was evident at the finish line at the very latest. If an athlete got left behind in the confusing field of participants, the rest waited. Florists from Blumen Koppler in Beuel even schlepped their boss Stefanie Elsner over the entire distance: She broke her foot a few days earlier during their training together and instead of leaving her on the sidelines cheering with her crutches, the team rigged up a wagon with padding and decorations, and brought her along the route.

The only runners with a heavier load to carry were probably the firefighters from the Bonn Fire Department. Normally, they run into burning houses with all their gear, but this time they ran the 5.7k with all their equipment and of course the other runners. Firefighters from the Rhein-Sieg district used the run as an opportunity to advertise for another event: The Siegburg City Run which will benefit victims of the devastating fire along the railway.

Orig. text: Nicolas Ottersbach
Bonn city center : Man accused of molesting woman turns himself in

Bonn After police released a search photo to the public, a man who allegedly molested a young woman at a fast food restaurant has turned himself in.

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The man accused of molesting a young woman on August 19 in the ladies restroom of a McDonalds on Poststrae/Maximilianstrae has turned himself in to police. The police announced on Thursday, that the man turned himself in at a police station after they had released a search photo to the public on Wednesday.

As reported, the man is said to have followed the young woman into the restroom at around 7am. As she tried to leave, he held her back, kissed her and touched her inappropriately. When the woman fended him off, he left her and exited the restaurant. The investigation against the man continues, but police gave no further information. The police search using the photo has ended.

Orig. text: rik
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing on Thursday, vowing to promote cooperation in various fields.

Next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 100th anniversary of work-study program in France, which will be of special significance for China-France relations, Wang said.

"China is willing to strengthen communication with the French side in building the Belt and Road and explore new ways of cooperation," Wang said, calling on the two sides to make contributions to maintaining multilateralism, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and development.

Le Drian said France is willing to advance cooperation with China in all areas and to explore ways of cooperation mode in construction of the Belt and Road.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
felicilin at 14-09-2018 04:21 PM (3 years ago) (f)

Work on the second Niger Bridge linking Asaba in Delta and Onitsha in Anambra, has reached 50 per cent completion, Mr Wkscont Ajani, Federal Controller of Works, Anambra, has said.

Work on the second Niger Bridge linking Asaba in Delta and Onitsha in Anambra, has reached 50 per cent completion, Mr Wkscont Ajani, Federal Controller of Works, Anambra, has said. Ajani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday that 310 out of the 615 piles in the project had been driven in addition to one pipe culvert and four box culverts.

He said that seven pile caps at 100, 110, 120, 290, 300, 310, and 320 had also been completed.

At the Asaba end, abutment has been completed while preparation of reinforcements for the piles, pile caps, pier stems and box culverts are in progress at the Onitsha main yard, he said.

Ajani who did not state the current cost of the project said it was awarded to Julius Berger construction firm in 2014 at the initial cost of N200 billion.

The federal controller of works said that the contract had four years duration and was awarded under Public-Private-Partnership.

He noted that the first Niger Bridge was constructed in 1965 to achieve Federal Governments policy of expansion and upgrading of transport facilities.

He said that the bridge was built to support the nations development and economically link the then regions.

However, since the construction, commuters and vehicles travelling on roads in the South-East have increased as a result of population growth, increased income and urbanisation, he stated.

Ajani said because the existing Niger Bridge could no longer sustain the increasing volume of traffic, government decided to construct a second one.

The federal controller of works said the new bridge would form an important link within the key national transportation corridor.

He said it would provide a strategic access point for people of the south-east and the south-south zones in particular, and Nigeria in general.

The benefits of the bridge include reduction in the strain on the current bridge infrastructure and easing traffic flow.

It will improve safety and security in the area by potentially reducing traffic congestion; and improve the commercial viability of the immediate states and the country.

Local residents will have opportunity to work on site during the construction phase, thereby improving their economic prospects.

This will improve capacity building for young Nigerian engineers in different areas of engineering, especially highway engineering, he said.

Ajani said the bridge would go a long way in improving the local content during its construction.

He also said that on completion, farmers in the area would have more access to a larger market within a reduced time frame.

The construction firm has commenced building of a new site yard at Ogbaru in Anambra to ensure ease of work.

However, the heavy rains recorded in the area in recent the weeks have slowed down work on the project.

A staff of the company who pledged anonymity told NAN at the project site that work stopped around 12 noon on Wednesday due to the rain which started as early as 6.00.

He said that the water level in the river was on the increase and added as soon as the water level reduces, full work will continue.

We are working on some access roads while the federal ministry is still negotiating with land and building owners over compensation, he said.

Meanwhile, the people of the riverine communities of Amakom and Oko-Analu in Delta have appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the project.

According to them, the slow pace of work on the project is not desirable and disappointing.

Mr Uzoma Achidike, a teacher at Amakom Primary School, said the pace of work was a major source of concern to the people because they had expected government to give it priority attention.

Ajani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday that 310 out of the 615 piles in the project had been driven in addition to one pipe culvert and four box culverts.He said that seven pile caps at 100, 110, 120, 290, 300, 310, and 320 had also been completed.he said.Ajani who did not state the current cost of the project said it was awarded to Julius Berger construction firm in 2014 at the initial cost of N200 billion.The federal controller of works said that the contract had four years duration and was awarded under Public-Private-Partnership.He noted that the first Niger Bridge was constructed in 1965 to achieve Federal Governments policy of expansion and upgrading of transport facilities.He said that the bridge was built to support the nations development and economically link the then regions.he stated.Ajani said because the existing Niger Bridge could no longer sustain the increasing volume of traffic, government decided to construct a second one.The federal controller of works said the new bridge would form an important link within the key national transportation corridor.He said it would provide a strategic access point for people of the south-east and the south-south zones in particular, and Nigeria in general.he said.Ajani said the bridge would go a long way in improving the local content during its construction.He also said that on completion, farmers in the area would have more access to a larger market within a reduced time frame.The construction firm has commenced building of a new site yard at Ogbaru in Anambra to ensure ease of work.However, the heavy rains recorded in the area in recent the weeks have slowed down work on the project.A staff of the company who pledged anonymity told NAN at the project site that work stopped around 12 noon on Wednesday due to the rain which started as early as 6.00.He said that the water level in the river was on the increase and added as soon as the water level reduces, full work will continue.he said.Meanwhile, the people of the riverine communities of Amakom and Oko-Analu in Delta have appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the project.According to them, the slow pace of work on the project is not desirable and disappointing.Mr Uzoma Achidike, a teacher at Amakom Primary School, said the pace of work was a major source of concern to the people because they had expected government to give it priority attention. Quote Here in the community, we have expected that government would take this project very seriously by ensuring prompt provision of logistics and strict supervision to enable the contractor deliver.

Regrettably, the reverse is the case here. As you can see, the whole place is just sand and sand pilling every day. There has been no major work going on here.

For instance, the slow pace of the sand-filling is presently causing a huge pain to us because it has caused heavy flooding in our communities.

Flood has sacked many people in Amakom and Analu, and many of them, mostly farmers, have abandoned their farms to seek refuge in either Asaba or Onitsha, Achidike said.

Also Mr. Boniface Okelue, a youth leader in Amakom, said the pace of work had not been encouraging.

Okelue said that the locals had expected quick action on the project to solve the perennial traffic problem on the 53-year old first Niger Bridge.

We had thought by now massive work will be going on here, but that has not been the case over the past two years.

Go and see people suffering at the old bridge every day due to heavy traffic. Sometimes people sleep there till the next day, Okelue said.

A farmer, Mr. Donatus Ebenuwa, said work on the road connecting the bridge to Oko mainland had been slow.

The work is very slow; the sand-filing job is not even going on regularly. When you see them today, you will not see them again for the next three days.

Our roads and primary school have been over-flooded; government should ensure that the project is completed quickly, Ebenuwa said.

When NAN visited the Asaba end of the project site, only security men guarding the heavy equipment including cranes, cabins, corrugated metal pipes, culvert rings and tractors, among others, were seen.

Okelue said.A farmer, Mr. Donatus Ebenuwa, said work on the road connecting the bridge to Oko mainland had been slow.Ebenuwa said.When NAN visited the Asaba end of the project site, only security men guarding the heavy equipment including cranes, cabins, corrugated metal pipes, culvert rings and tractors, among others, were seen.

Post Reply Posted: at 14-09-2018 04:21 PM (3 years ago) | Hero
Wang Zhenjie paints a Monkey King head mold. (Photo by Tan Youming)

Monkey King, Kung Fu Panda and Captain America all appeared in a hospital in southwest Chinas Chongqing on Tuesday, Sept. 11. This is no cosplay show, but instead an ingenious way to make young patients more comfortable while receiving cancer treatment.

Every oncology inpatient has to wear a white head mold made of sturdy materials while undergoing three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The mold is created in advance according to the specific size and shape of each head, to keep the patient as still as possible during treatment.

Such treatment is more accepted by adults, who understand the procedure and are therefore calmer, but some children find the experience terrifying, said Chen Ping, the head nurse of the oncology department of the Xinqiao Hospital, affiliated to the Third Military Medical University.

Wang Zhenjie shows the Monkey King head mold she paints.

Previously, the medical team tried different ways to guarantee the smooth treatment of young patients, such as introducing tranquilizers or putting them under anesthetic. However, loud equipment always made the young patients feel on edge again as soon as they woke up.

A nurse named Wang Zhenjie decided, on a whim, to paint cartoon characters onto the white head molds. She bought paints and downloaded some pictures from the Internet, and then spent two hours completing the first cartoon head.

Chen said child patients loved the new head molds, thus reducing the fear of treatment. Additionally, the characters painted onto the molds are all well-known heroes to the children on the ward. Therefore, young patients become more confident, as they believe that their favorite characters are with them during treatment.

This idea is to be developed further, said the head nurse, and the next stage is to apply for the patent and promote the practice to a broader audience to help more children confidently fight their illness.

[ Editor: zyq ]
Driving ASEAN entrepreneurship

In response to the practical needs of ASEAN countries in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), the WEF ASEAN 2018, hosted by Vietnam under the theme ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has received the attention and support of many countries in the region and around the world.

The Government of Vietnam was represented by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers. There were seven heads of state, more than 1,000 delegates from 43 countries, representatives of businesses, arts and scientific organisations, societies and media in attendance at the event, showing the strong popularity of the WEF ASEAN 2018, as well as the prestige of Vietnam among international friends. The exciting atmosphere was maintained throughout all of the sessions.

The opening ceremony of the WEF ASEAN 2018 was attended by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, heads of the participating States, and delegations from regional countries and around the world. In his speech, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted ASEAN's opportunities and challenges in Industry 4.0; proposed priorities for ASEAN to continue to affirm its central role in the region, such as digital connectivity, data sharing, harmonising the business environment, promoting the formation and connection of innovation incubators, seeking and tapping into talents, and forming an ASEAN education network and the lifelong learning systems. The proposals made by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc were highly appreciated by the delegates. They also emphasised ASEAN's united effort to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Industry 4.0, thereby contributing to the realisation of the 2025 Vision of building a strong, united and cohesive ASEAN Community.

During the three-day event, approximately 60 sessions and seminars were organised, presenting an opportunity for delegates to discuss issues of common concern related to Industry 4.0. The sessions' themes were diverse and practical, meeting the needs of all participants, such as Asia's geopolitical outlook, cyber security, orientation of self-strengthening capacity, office 4.0, among others. At a session themed A new Vision for Mekong Region, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other leaders agreed that the Mekong countries should work harder to promote their internal strengths and market advantage as well as the abundant young workforce to take advantage of the opportunities and benefits of Industry 4.0 for more sustainable development. The forum, themed ASEAN4.0 for All, was developed to give students, entrepreneurs, young professionals and the general public an opportunity to discuss what their future might look like as technological disruption shapes the ASEAN region. In the framework of the WEF ASEAN 2018, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc had many meetings with senior leaders of countries and the worlds leading economic groups. The PM expressed his wish that nations and international businesses will support ASEAN, including Vietnam, in their process of development and international integration.

The Vietnam Business Summit (VBS) 2018 is an initiative of Vietnam to introduce the potential market of Vietnam to foreign investors. The VBS attracted about 1,200 enterprises, focusing on conveying the message that Vietnam is a serious and reliable potential partner who always treasures connectivity and creativity. Addressing the VBS, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the factors that have made Vietnam an attractive investment destination for international friends, such as its stable political situation, a young and industrious workforce, trade relations with many countries and territories, and the efforts made by Vietnamese enterprises in innovation and development.

A thoughtful and professional host nation

Commenting on Vietnam's preparations for the WEF ASEAN 2018, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said he was very pleased with the effective coordination among the WEF and Vietnam in organising this event. Delegates from all walks of life also shared their views and ideas to contribute to promoting regional integration. This shows the efforts of the host country to bring multi-dimensional voices to the event. Of the more than 1,000 participants, there were about 50 delegates from the media, academia, and about 80 young leaders. At the sessions, ASEAN and international delegates recognised that Vietnam was a dynamic and open country with many achievements in socio-economic development. The Government of Vietnam has taken many measures to make better use of the opportunities offered by Industry 4.0 as well as to overcome the challenges posed by this revolution.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse hosted a gala celebration of Vietnamese culture, a special event to welcome heads of state, country leaders and corporate executives to the WEF ASEAN 2018. The PM and participants gave a toast to a world of peace, stability and development and an ASEAN community of solidarity, unity and prosperity. Guests were treated to UNESCO-recognised music performances such as Hue royal court music, Bac Ninh love duets, choi singing, as well as performances of chamber and jazz music by Vietnamese artists of global renown. Music and dance performances by artists from the ASEAN Community were also staged. They also had a chance to enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

With its increasing position, strength and international integration experience accumulated over many years, Vietnam has contributed positively and effectively to the development of ASEAN and to the common flow of the world. The success of the WEF ASEAN 2018 is an important milestone for Vietnam, contributing to the integration of ASEAN in the Industry 4.0 era for peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and around the world.
The father of a high school girl kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria is pleased by Christians' support but said he has yet to hear from government officials.



Nathan Sharibu, father of Leah Sharibu, told Morning Star News by phone that no one from the government has called the Christian family since the abduction of his daughter in February, nor since the release of an audio recording by Leah last month.



"Unfortunately, since the abduction of our daughter, no government official in Nigeria has contacted us or even let us know the effort the government is making towards the release of my daughter," he said. "However, Christians across the world have been supporting us and praying with us. It has not been easy bearing the pains of missing our daughter, but the Lord has been gracious through His unmerited grace to us."



Because she refused to convert to Islam, Muslim extremists from Boko Haram declined to include the 15-year-old Christian girl among more than 100 kidnapped girls the terrorist group released in March. In an audio recording released by a local journalist on Aug. 27, Leah says in her native Hausa that she wants the Nigerian government and "people of goodwill" to rescue her.



She and the other girls were kidnapped on Feb. 19 from Government Girls Science and Technical Secondary School, Dapchi, in northeast Nigeria's Yobe state.



"When I heard Leah's voice in that audio message and her photo as shown, I was highly elated, knowing that she was still alive," Sharibu told Morning Star News.



He thanked all individuals and organizations, including his Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation, who have stood with his family in their ordeal.



The Rev. Yunusa Nmadu Jr., ECWA general secretary, told Morning Star News that Boko Haram likely released the audio recording to bolster its chances of negotiating her release.



"I think that that recording was released to reassure the government of proof of life, because usually when you're negotiating things like these, the other party would ask for proof of life," Nmadu said. "So I'm suspecting that that recording and photo are proof of life."



The Christian leader said the church has relentlessly pressed for her release.



"We have been trying as much as possible, working with other organizations in and outside the country, to raise the tempo of the campaign for her release," Nmadu said. "One such organization is Christian Solidarity Worldwide [CSW], and the office in the U.K. marked the 200-days campaign, which was held in front of the office of the Nigerian High Commission in the U.K."



CSW persuaded parliamentarians in the United Kingdom to advocate for her release among "very notable" persons, he said, an effort that is now circulating in social media.



"We're also trying to get in touch with some top government officials to plead, further plead the case of Leah, and to say that, please, whatever the government can do in order to get her released, it should do that," Nmadu said.



ECWA officials have visited the Sharibu family, including some from the ECWA's Evangelical Missionary Society and leadership of the Yobe District Church Council, along with members of other ECWA congregations.



"I visited the father and had discussions with him," Nmadu said. "Her mother too, was invited here at the ECWA headquarters [in Jos], and she had the opportunity to speak to a women's fellowship group who were attending a conference here. So, we have done what we can do to be with her family in solidarity, as we await the release of Leah, and we are confident that she will be released."



He appealed to the Nigerian government to intensify efforts for her release.



"We once again are appealing that the government should speed up the efforts to get Leah released, because it's torturing to her parents and to all of us who are related to Leah, as she's still left there as the only girl, the only victim in fact, out of those that were abducted," he said. "And you can imagine that the narrative is that [she is yet unreleased] because she is a Christian. This goes a long way not to help the image of the government at this time."



Sharibu said he wanted to thank Christians who have prayed for his family and was particularly grateful for the support and advocacy of his ECWA church congregation.



"We appreciate all Christians across the world and appeal that they continue to pray for us and urge the Nigerian government to intensify efforts towards getting Leah released," he said. "I also want to thank your organization, Morning Star News, for widespread publicity about the plight of Leah, which has moved many Christians across the world to be praying for me and my family."



Boko Haram has kidnapped more than 1,000 children in Nigeria since 2013, according to CNN.



About 100 of 276 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from the town of Chibok, in Borno state, in 2014 are still missing.



Boko Haram, whose name is loosely translated as, "Western education is a sin," has fought for nine years to impose sharia (Islamic law) on all of Nigeria, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing more than 2 million. Boko Haram militants reportedly warned parents of the returned Dapchi girls not to send their daughters back to school.



In 2015 the Nigerian military began taking back most of the territory Boko Haram had controlled, but many areas remain, and the terrorists are still mounting isolated attacks. Jubilee Campaign reports that, according to figures from the Stefanos Foundation, Boko Haram in 2017 took responsibility for attacks that claimed more than 650 lives.



At the same time, attacks by Fulani militant herdsmen have increased in the past three years, according to Jubilee Campaign.



"Since the beginning of 2018, the violence is again spiking with reported deaths attributed to Fulani militant herdsmen climbing to at least 1,860 people, with an additional 300 plus victims claimed by Boko Haram," Jubilee reported earlier this year. "Again, most of these victims are Christians from small ethnic minority communities in the northeastern states."



Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigeria's population, while Muslims living primarily in the north and middle belt account for 45 percent.



Nigeria ranked 14th on Open Doors' 2018 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.


In recent months weve seen a rash of incidents, often captured on video, of police being called on black people going about normal everyday activities, such as two men sitting in a Philadelphia Starbucks waiting for a business associate or a Yale student falling asleep in the lounge of her dorm. These incidents have come to be characterized as examples of the hazards and frustrations of living while black and endemic racism.Other than a lot of hand-wringing, I havent seen much of a public policy response to this issue. But there is one that clearly works: pursuing racial integration as a policy goal. As Elizabeth Anderson, author of the 2010 book, told me, a lot of research suggests that racial prejudice is triggered when blacks are tokens -- that is, when whites see blacks in places where they dont usually see them. Its pretty much impossible, Anderson says, to exaggerate the extent to which racist behavior is motivated by fear. On the other hand, steady racial contact has positive effects in diminishing the stereotypes that prompt these fears.Andersons argument -- that its an illusion that racial justice can be achieved without integration -- makes sense to me, and I am surprised by the absence of any discussion of it when we talk about how to achieve racial equity. Perhaps that is because people see integration as impractical or unworkable.The residents of Oak Park, Ill., know otherwise. Rob Breymaier, the chief operations officer of the Chicago-area nonprofit Heartland Housing, has worked in Oak Park for years; Anderson refers to him as the world expert on how to pull off successful neighborhood integration. Oak Park adopted a strategy of promoting integration in the 1970s. Initially met with acrimonious debate and opposition, it has changed the culture of the community.Embracing integration, Breymaier says, is not only about building acceptance of diversity and calming racial fears, but also about driving prosperity by supporting a strong housing market, among other economic benefits. Thats particularly important in an era of major demographic change, with people of color making up an increasing percentage of the population. For central cities and inner-ring suburbs like Oak Park, embracing integration is a competitive advantage because African-Americans know they will be well treated and accepted.There are clear strategies that communities can adopt to promote integration, including educating landlords and training real estate agents to look at the larger community. In marketing itself, Oak Park stresses not only its traditional amenities, such as the quality of its schools and its business climate, but also its standing as one of the most inclusive communities.In a speech in 1962, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declared that desegregation was only a means and that integration is the ultimate goal of our national community. If we want to do something more than bemoan living while black incidents, we need civic leaders to reclaim racial integration as a policy goal.
RATING D-HELD R-HELD I-HELD TOTAL Lean Republican 0 4 1 5 Tossup 3 6 0 9 Lean Democratic 2 3 0 5 Total 5 13 1 19

Shifts Toward Republicans

Shifts Toward Democrats

As the primary season came to a close, more gubernatorial races became competitive, and the Democrats remain in a better position than Republicans to gain ground this fall.In our latest handicapping of the nation's 36 races for governor, we're shifting the ratings for 10 of them: six in the Democrats' direction and four in the Republicans'.The six seats moving in Democrats' favor are in Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. And the four seats shift toward the GOP are in Alaska, Maine, Oregon and Rhode Island.Currently, we rate 19 races -- more than half -- as being competitive, meaning that they are either tossups or leaning to one party or the other. That's up from 16 competitive races in our July analysis. Our rating categories are safe Republican, likely Republican, lean Republican, tossup, lean Democratic, likely Democratic and safe Democratic.The Republicans have more seats at risk. The GOP currently holds 13 of these 19 competitive seats, compared to just five for the Democrats and one by independent Alaska Gov. Bill Walker.Of those 19 competitive seats, nine are tossups, which is one more than in July. The tossup category is dominated by states with Republican governors; they hold six of those seats (Florida, Iowa, Maine, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin) compared to just three by the Democrats (Colorado, Connecticut and Rhode Island).Three GOP-held seats currently lean Democratic -- Illinois, Michigan and New Mexico. By contrast, no Democratic-held seat leans Republican.Here's the current breakdown of competitive races:Overall, the GOP today holds a 33-16 edge in gubernatorial offices and has more seats to defend this year -- 26 to the Democrats' nine.In a neutral political environment, Democrats should be able to gain perhaps three governorships. But if the political winds prove to be in the Democrats' favor, their net gain could be as high as five to seven seats. For the first time since 2006, the GOP will control the White House and Congress during a midterm election -- a balance of power that historically helps the party not in office.For an interactive version of our ratings map, and the latest news in each race, click here We are shifting two states from lean Democratic to tossup:andIn Maine, where Republican Gov. Paul LePage is leaving office, the general election field includes a Democrat, Attorney General Janet Mills; a Republican, businessman Shawn Moody; and two significant independents, policy researcher Alan Caron and state Treasurer Terry Hayes. This complicates the math for Mills, who might otherwise benefit from pro-Democratic momentum after eight years of LePage's outspoken approach to governance. Both independent candidates are considered somewhat to the left of center and therefore are expected to take votes from her.An August poll by Suffolk University had Mills and Moody each taking 39 percent, Caron and Hayes combining for 7 percent and about 15 percent undecided. (While Maine has adopted ranked-choice voting for federal races this fall, it will not be offered in the gubernatorial race.)Meanwhile, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, prevailed against a primary challenge from the left by former Secretary of State Matt Brown. She now faces a rematch against Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, with several third-party candidates also in the race, including former Trump campaign state chair Joe Trillo. Polling has shown that the Raimondo-Fung matchup is close.We've also movedfrom tossup to lean Republican. Here, too, a three-way race poses complications for the incumbent.Walker, an independent, won office in 2014 after he joined forces with a Democratic running mate and defeated then-Republican Gov. Sean Parnell. Now, though, Walker's approval ratings have sunk, and a credible Democrat -- former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich -- is in the race.In the GOP primary, voters selected Mike Dunleavy, a well-funded education administrator and former state legislator who is considered conservative enough to energize Republican voters. With Alaska's non-conservative vote poised to be divided between Walker and Begich, Dunleavy has an easier path to victory.And finally, in, we've moved Democratic Gov. Kate Brown's reelection bid from likely Democratic to lean Democratic, based on a recent poll showing the race close between Brown and Republican Knute Buehler, who's considered a stronger-than-usual Oregon Republican candidate.That said, we're not convinced this will remain a competitive seat, considering the edge Democrats have in this solidly blue state and the pro-Democrat environment nationally.Probably the most significant shift in the Democrats' favor is happening inand, which, respectively, we're moving from tossup to lean Democratic and from lean Republican to tossup.For Democrats, few things would be sweeter than defeating Republican Scott Walker. In the primary, Democrats gave state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers a convincing victory, allowing him to turn his attention to Walker, who's seeking a third term in a more difficult national environment than he's faced previously. Every poll in July and August has Evers either even or ahead.In Michigan, Democratic nominee Gretchen Whitmer has consistently led Republican Bill Schuette in recent polls by a high single digits or more. The winner would succeed retiring Republican Rick Snyder, who became closely associated with the Flint water crisis.We're also shifting two states from likely Republican to lean Republican --and. While these races are looking competitive, each of them remains a difficult lift for Democrats, given the historically red hue of those states.In Georgia's open-seat contest, primary voters tapped Democrat Stacey Abrams to face off against Republican Brian Kemp, rejecting more moderate rivals and producing a general election matchup with a sharp ideological contrast. While history suggests that Republicans will remain the favorite, Abrams' history-making nomination as an African-American woman has attracted national attention and could energize minority voters in greater numbers than before.And in Oklahoma, businessman Kevin Stitt won the Republican runoff and will face former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, the Democrat. Stitt is a relative unknown and is polling about even with Edmondson, who is a more familiar name. But with lots of undecided voters, Stitt has room to grow.The election could hinge on whether dissatisfaction with outgoing Republican Gov. Mary Fallin -- who recently polled at an anemic 19 percent approval -- convinces enough Republicans and independents to take a chance with a Democrat. We'd be surprised if Stitt doesn't win, but it's not off the table.We're also moving theopen-seat race from tossup to lean Democratic. After competitive primary contests on both sides, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz is leading his Republican opponent, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, by single-digit margins in recent polls.And last, in's open-seat race, we're shifting it from safe Republican to likely Republican. One poll by a Democratic firm had Democratic state Sen. Billie Sutton trailing Republican U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem by just four points. But the state hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 1974, so don't hold your breath.
Public advocate and endorsed Democrat Letitia "Tish" James won the Democratic primary for New York State attorney general, making her the favorite to win the seat in the general election in November.Thursday's outcome marked the end of a competitive, four-way race for the seat, with James capitalizing on high name recognition and party support in New York City, where she garnered half of all votes cast by city residents.Her early lead was eroded by Fordham law professor and 2014 gubernatorial candidate Zephyr R. Teachout, but not enough to overcome a near 10-point gap.The attorney general's race is always viewed with interest since it's often a stepping stone for higher office, particularly for governor. But this primary was noteworthy for how it came to be -- the resignation of previous officeholder Eric Schneiderman -- and for its diversity. The candidates included three women, including two women of color, and an openly gay man."Tonight, we rewrite the history of generations of New Yorkers who have been treated differently simply because of their gender, the color of their skin, the language they speak, the God they pray to, the people they love, or the ZIP code they come from," James said on Twitter.She now faces off in the November general election against the Republican candidate, Buffalo native Keith Wofford, a Harvard Law School graduate, Manhattan lawyer and the first African-American nominee to the seat.If James defeats Wofford in November's general election, she will become the first elected woman to occupy the state's top legal post.The four-way race came down to a competition between James and Teachout. Trailing on the ballot were:--Sean Patrick Maloney, a three-term congressman from the lower Hudson Valley who held top positions with former President Bill Clinton as well as former governors Eliot L. Spitzer and David A. Paterson. He had 24 percent of the vote statewide, though he ranked first in Erie County.--Leecia R. Eve, a former top staffer for Sens. Joe Biden Jr. and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was also economic development adviser to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Eve, the daughter of longtime Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve, carried only 4 percent of the vote statewide and ranked third among Erie County voters despite her Buffalo roots."I knew this was going to be a tough battle, not being the party's nominee," Eve said Thursday night, "but I'm proud of the effort we had reaching out to voters across the state."This hotly contested race came to be following a New Yorker magazine article that reported the accounts of several women who said that then-attorney general Schneiderman physically abused them in their intimate relationships. His resignation created an opportunity for four candidates to vie for the post.Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo, said the attorney general's race is another indicator of how favorable the political climate is for female and minority candidates, especially in light of the #MeToo and anti-Trump movements."I think it's really tapping into what's going on nationally," he said.Similar to her three fellow candidates, James said she would continue efforts launched by Schneiderman and his interim successor, Barbara R. Underwood, to take on Trump and his "threatening" policies."I will never be afraid to challenge this illegitimate president when our fundamental rights are at stake," she said.James' campaign asserted that it had conducted the broadest statewide campaign of any of the candidates with more than a dozen visits to Upstate New York, though she came in last among Erie County voters.Cuomo endorsed her, and the Democratic Party he controls supplied its backing at its May state convention. That included strong support from Mayor Byron W. Brown, the state Democratic chairman. She enjoyed huge name recognition in New York City, where as public advocate she occupies one of three citywide positions.Teachout ranked second despite key newspaper endorsements and her book on "Corruption in America." She emphasized her independence from other politicians and political parties.Maloney was the first attorney general candidate to buy broadcast television time in Buffalo. The congressman touted his experience as a lawyer, as a White House senior staffer, and his six years in Congress.Eve, a graduate of Harvard Law School, had the backing of the Erie County Democratic Party, thwarting the will of Cuomo, Brown and the rest of the state establishment.
(TNS)  Less than two months before Georgia votes for a new governor and a state officials, a federal judge is weighing a request that Georgia ditch electronic ballots and conduct this election with paper ballots that voters can verify with their own eyes.If thats not enough drama, consider that the Republican gubernatorial nominee is Brian Kemp. Hes the sitting secretary of state, Georgias top election official and one of the defendants in the case, which was brought by the nonprofit Coalition for Good Governance and several Georgia voters.A conversion to paper ballots so close to election day would damage and disable election security, said attorney John Salter, representing the state government  defendants in the federal courtroom of U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg in Atlanta on Wednesday.Over hours of testimony, witnesses including former Secretary of State Cathy Cox as well as the election director for Georgias most populous county outlined how they think switching to paper could cause problems, including disenfranchising people. Their concerns include things such as discouragingly long lines at polling places on election day, voter confusion over the new format and finding enough machines to scan what would presumably be ballots with ovals for voters to fill in beside candidate names.But Georgia has been frozen in time, said attorney David Cross, whos representing some of the plaintiffs in this suit, including voter Donna Curling. Thats a reference to the states circa-2001 voting machines. The plaintiffs say that including paper in the process is the wave of the future, especially in the light of concerns over foreign hacker interest in elections.Cross said that Georgias system doesnt include a way to do a real audit  a check of whether each vote that was cast was counted.A pair of professors who testified said that theyre not convinced Georgias system is fully secure.For example, Richard DeMillo, a professor of computing at Georgia Tech, said that Georgias machines depend on a notoriously insecure operating system, Windows CE.Georgia is only one of five states that rely on paperless machines for voting statewide, according to a tally from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University law school. Georgia does also use paper ballots in some limited circumstances, such as absentee voting.What voters see at polling places are DREs, or direct-recording electronic voting machines. Those send the voters choices from touchscreens to memory cards and not to paper. The other 45 states use paper in some way, such as ballots with fill-in areas beside candidate names, or machines that print paper receipts for each voter.While theres no evidence of outside tampering with Georgias election results, it is true one reason why Virginia ditched DREs is worries about the risk of interference.And several recent cases dont do much to reassure Georgians who are worried about election integrity. Before the 2016 election, a cyber security researcher found that a database containing voter records had been left open on the internet by Kennesaw State Universitys Center for Election Systems, which was then helping run state elections. DeKalb and Habersham counties have recently corrected the registration of hundreds of voters inadvertently assigned to the wrong districts.If theres anything that pretty much everyone agrees to, its that Georgia does need a new system  but the difference lies in when.Kemp himself has established a commission to study the options out there and recommend something to the state Legislature that could be set up in time for 2020 elections.But a shift to another system in under eight weeks would amount to costly chaos, the defendants argue.Some Georgians are worried enough about election integrity that theyre requesting absentee ballots in an effort to generate a paper trail. Those are paper ballots that the voter returns to their local election office by mail or by hand.Totenberg said she plans to issue a ruling by Friday or Monday.
(TNS)  Despite a mandatory evacuation ordered Tuesday, Craven County, N.C., emergency crews reported rescuing multiple residents from Hurricane Florence floodwaters through the early morning Friday.New Bern officials reported on Twitter at 11:27 p.m. Thursday that about 150 people were waiting to be rescued, and two Federal Emergency Management Agency teams were in the area. New Bern Mayor Dana Outlaw said in an interview around 5 a.m. that about 200 people had been rescued so far.Outlaw couldnt confirm whether there are injuries or fatalities, he said.Weve planned for this. We knew it was coming, and were working very hard to keep our citizens safe. We were able to evacuate quite a few; some did not go, he said.The city has been placed under a 24-hour curfew until further notice, New Bern spokeswoman Colleen Roberts said in an interview just before 7 a.m. Citizen groups are helping with the rescue efforts, she said, and the city is not turning away anyone who offers help.Individuals and groups who want to help should meet at the New Bern Fire Department, located at 1401 Neuse Blvd., Roberts said.The rescues began around 4 p.m. Thursday, Craven County spokeswoman Amber Parker said.Parker said emergency crews were doing their best to reach areas that were just too dangerous because of extreme flooding, storm surges, and winds of 40 mph to 50 mph.Most of the swift-water rescues were being made in areas along the Neuse River, including portions of New Bern, Fairfield Harbour, Adams Creek and Township 7, Parker said.Local officials were seeing at least 8 inches of water across Adams Creek Road by 11 a.m. Thursday, Parker said. Water levels by early Friday morning already had exceeded what the area got from Hurricane Irene in 2011, she said. The National Hurricane Center was reporting over 10 feet of inundation in New Bern.Parker said the water in places had topped mailboxes, and in low-lying places filled the first and second floors of homes.This storm has been hovering over us for a while, and we expect it to continue to hover over us, she said. Lots of water, lots of wind, lots of storm surge.Residents reached out for help through the night by phone and on social media.Tom Ballance, who lives about 250 feet uphill from the Neuse River, told The Weather Channel in a 5:30 a.m. phone interview that he was able to get to the second floor of his house so Im not gonna die.The water came up quick, Ballance said. Hes lived in New Bern since 2003 and has stayed put in every hurricane, he said. His neighbors also stayed, he said.Nobody was expecting this, nobody, Ballance told The Weather Channel. We were fools.Even as a little boy, when Hurricane Hazel hit in 1954, it was not that bad, he said.I have a business on Middle Street and in all the years, nothings ever flooded Middle Street, Ballance said. Thats the one street. And even though I havent made it downtown Ive been listening to the police radio and it sounds like Middle Streets underwater. So its a double whammy here.Parker noted that 839 people had sought to stay at one of five inland shelters in Craven County. Just more than a hundred people had been evacuated to a shelter in Sanford, and others were directed to a mega-shelter at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, she said.The most important thing we need right now is for people to shelter in place and stay off the roads, to watch out for dangerous conditions, including downed power lines, and flooding water, she said. If water gets into peoples homes, we need them to call our emergency management line at 252-636-6608.A map sent out by the city of New Bern showed just how widespread the flooding had become. The North Carolina Department of Transportations Ferry Division reported a 10-foot high storm surge above the normal water level at the Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal in Havelock, which is located in Craven County.Interactive map showing the high water areas in New Bern so far. Unfortunately this will get worse, the citys account tweeted around 9 p.m.New Bern sits at the intersection of the Neuse and Trent rivers. The map showed the Trent River had overflowed as well. The Neuse flows into the Pamlico Sound, which is separated from the Atlantic by the Outer Banks.The city said more than 17,000 customers were without power Thursday night. WCTI, New Berns ABC affiliate, was forced to evacuate its building Thursday night, a development it noted while giving updates on the weather.Outlaw said the winds had reached 50 mph to 60 mph as rescue crews attempted to retrieve people stranded in their houses, on rooftops and in cars.They will begin to assess the damage once the storm subsides, he said.Were not going to be satisfied until the last resident is rescued and in a shelter, and then we can assess damages and go from there, Outlaw said. Were a resilient community, we work well together, well get through this.2018 The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.)Visit The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.) at www.heraldsun.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LL
Speaking at the forums launch, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh said that from the beginning of the year, the ministries, branches, localities and enterprises of the two countries have closely coordinated and implemented important cooperation activities in all fields of politics, economics, culture, national defense, security, people exchange; helping to promote the friendship, tradition and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

He said that Vietnam has become one of Cambodia's leading economic partners.

Currently, Vietnam has about 206 investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of US$3.02 billion, placing it among the top five foreign direct investment countries in Cambodia. On the Cambodian side, there are 18 investment projects in Vietnam with a total value of US$58.1 million

Speaking at the forum, the Mao Thora, secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, said that Cambodia has focused on simplifying procedures and welcoming investors. Currently, tourism, production for export, construction and agriculture are the areas that the government encourages businesses to invest in.

At the forum, representatives from the Council for the Development of Cambodia and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce affirmed that economic, trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam is a priority for Cambodia. As a country with an open policy on trade and investment within ASEAN, Cambodia wishes to promote cooperation and increase bilateral trade with Vietnam.

At the forum, the organising board presented campaign medals to 11 Vietnamese businessmen who contributed to the community and gave certificates to many organisations and individuals, who have ranked among the top 100 Asian enterprises in 2018.
States renewable energy mandates vary considerably, typically ranging from 10 to 50 percent of a states electricity production. But energy companies have been able to meet them in almost every case. Just two of the 29 states havent come within 5 percent of their mandate for their most recent compliance year. (Another eight states have goals rather than required standards.)Renewable portfolio standards are credited with spurring half the growth in renewable energy production since 2000. Factors besides state mandates that have driven renewable energy growth include federal tax credits, cost declines and corporate renewable energy goals.The design of standards is key, according to a study published in July in the journal Nature Energy. The most effective renewable mandates have been stringent and mandatory, the study found. States that have a conducive economic climate and good resources  such as strong wind or abundant sun  also were found to achieve greater success.This year, lawmakers in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey voted to increase the amount of electricity that must come from renewables. In November, voters in the sun-drenched states of Arizona and Nevada will weigh in on similar initiatives.The debate over the controversial Arizona measure exemplifies the nationwide split on renewable standards. The measure would raise the amount of energy that must come from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030, up from the 15 percent by 2025 standard set in 2006.At the time, utilities said, Well never achieve that. Its crazy. Youre burdening us with a mandate well never be able to achieve, said DJ Quinlan, spokesman for Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, which is pushing the ballot measure. And then of course it turns out to be really easy for them.Arizona Public Service Co., the largest utility in the state, is on track to meet the states current renewable energy target, but it has also been the chief backer of Arizonans for Affordable Electricity, which opposes the measure, saying it would increase consumers bills.Matt Benson, a spokesman for the group, said the measure would make the states nuclear plant vulnerable to a shutdown  if the state gets too much energy from renewable sources, it wont be cost-effective to keep the plant running.Quinlan said Arizona, which boasts an average of nearly 300 sunny days a year, doesnt take full advantage of one of its most valuable resources, getting only 5 percent of its energy from solar power in 2016.But the more ambitious plan has hit roadblocks. The states utility regulatory body first put the current 15 percent standard in place. This year, Arizona lawmakers lowered the penalties for any utility that doesnt meet the standard to no more than $5,000. Under prior law, the states utility regularity board could force them to comply.Arizona Public Service asked lawmakers for help in thwarting the renewable energy standard, and the $5,000 penalty law passed shortly thereafter, according to the Arizona Republic. The utility also sued to keep the renewable energy measure off the ballot, arguing it lacked enough signatures, but lost that case in court.For a company that made $488 million last year, thats obviously the change under the couch cushion, Quinlan said of the utility.State Sen. Sonny Borrelli, the Republican legislator who sponsored the penalty legislation, did not respond to a request for an interview.Nationwide, in 2016 and early 2017, lawmakers introduced 181 bills on renewable portfolio standards, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report said. Only 13 were enacted, seven of which strengthened the standards and six of which were considered neutral; none weakened the mandates, the report said.Galen Barbose, a research scientist and the author of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, said regional differences matter. In the Midwest, states have not relied as heavily on standards to drive growth in the wind industry. Once modest standards were met, the report said, the industry continued to grow on its own. But in the mid-Atlantic and up the coast to New England, growth in wind energy has more closely tracked timetables set by the state.Specifically, in 2016, between 70 and 90 percent of renewable energy additions in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West served demand created by renewable energy portfolio policies, the report said.Texas, by contrast, reached its mandated level of new renewables in 2008, seven years ahead of schedule, and the next year surpassed its 2025 goal. It has never extended its mandate. When you think about how renewables cost is declining over time, in some states you may see what is happening in Texas, where its just becoming the lowest-cost resource that utilities want to buy, said Jenny Heeter, a senior energy analyst with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, also funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.Only one state, Kansas, has succeeded in repealing its standard  instead making it voluntary  but utilities had already surpassed the 20 percent renewables target. In other cases, efforts to stifle renewable energy bills have failed.Last year, Maryland lawmakers overturned a veto by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of a standard that requires 25 percent renewables by 2020. While Hogan lauded that goal, he said the bill represented a tax increase that will be levied upon every single electricity ratepayer in Maryland.Heeter said few bills would scrap the requirements altogether. Instead some bills would undermine the requirements either by reducing penalties, like in Arizona, or including hydroelectricity as a renewable despite the environmental impacts of large dams, Heeter said. But most states are setting more ambitious standards.Its not an even split by any means, she said. Most states are expanding them.Utility companies, however, say the standards are at times too ambitious, sparking reliability and affordability concerns.Many of our members feel that they want a balanced portfolio. They dont want to just get renewables for the sake of renewables, said Paul Zummo with the American Public Power Association, which represents publicly owned utilities. They want to make sure to maintain reliability and ensure that the services they are providing are affordable. So theyre careful to not make promises or promise goals that may impact reliability and rates.Many observers, however, argue utilities cant be entrusted to embrace renewable energy, even though it has become cheaper.I think were seeing a lot of opposition driven by the utility companies holding on to this antiquated business model and doing everything they can, frankly, to keep using dirty energy for as long as possible, said Ben Hellerstein, state director for Environment Massachusetts, which advocated for the state to adopt more ambitious renewable requirements than ultimately passed this year.Sam Sankar, executive director of the Environmental Council of the States, which represents state environmental regulators, said the mandates help push growth in technology to make them more affordable. While prices have dropped, he added, it hasnt been enough to spark sufficient renewable energy. Were not there yet.
(TNS)  SAN JOSE, Calif.  Anyone who flies a drone above a wildfire zone or jail facility in Santa Clara County can now be charged with a misdemeanor under a new ordinance aimed at stopping drones from interfering with firefighting efforts and dropping contraband on jail grounds, officials announced Thursday.The county public-outreach campaign comes after Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed SB 1355, a statewide law authored by state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, that outlaws flying a drone above California prisons, jails, juvenile halls, camps and ranches.The county ordinance, which was adopted in June, goes further than the new law, which deals with violations as infractions subject to a $500 fine. The ordinance entails maximum fines of $1,000, a possible $2,500 nuisance abatement penalty, and potential criminal prosecution.Its common sense. Public safety is first and paramount, county Supervisor Mike Wasserman said at a news conference Thursday, adding that there is no place for a drone to be in the way of firefighting operations.In two separate incidents last year, drones frustrated firefighters battling wildland blazes. Air operations were temporarily grounded in October during the Bear Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and three months earlier in Saratoga, authorities confiscated a drone flying over the Eden Fire Wasserman and Supervisor Cindy Chavez first pushed for the drone ordinance last November after the Bear Fire episode and the discovery of a drone carrying meth that crashed on the grounds of the Elmwood jail complex last October.We started to see our own risks and incursions, Chavez said. It becomes of particular importance as it relates to jails and this explosion of wildfires in our area.As of 2016, 4,587 drones had been registered in the county.That confiscated drone from the Eden Fire was on display at the Thursday news conference outside the county headquarters, with county Assistant Fire Chief John Justice holding it up as he detailed how it interfered with firefighting at the time.There was a drone that came into one of the flanks, Justice said. We immediately ordered our aircraft to abort.Justice also repeated a now-common firefighting mantra about drones  If you fly, we cant  and redirected his attention to the culprit drone in the Eden Fire.This drone right here, if it impacts a helicopter or airplane, it can have catastrophic consequences, he said.Jim Crawford, county division chief for the statewide Cal Fire, added that while drones might be slight in stature compared to aircraft, even the slightest shift in aerodynamics in a helicopter rotor or airplane wing or fuselage from a drone strike forces the automatic grounding and inspection of an aircraft.Its a risk were not willing to take, Crawford said.Sheriff Laurie Smith estimated that staff at the jail facilities she oversees have discovered between five and 10 drones, primarily at Elmwood, which has an open-air design.More dramatic instances have popped up across the country: In 2015, someone smuggled two cell phones into a federal prison in Victorville, the same year that a prison-yard riot erupted at a state prison in Mansfield, Ohio after a drone dropped a package containing tobacco, marijuana and heroin.In August 2017 at a state prison in Ionia, Michigan  between Grand Rapids and the capital city of Lansing  three people were arrested after allegedly using a drone to drop drugs and a cell phone in a prison yard. It was later revealed that a drone already made two undetected contraband drops at site months earlier.To Smith, the ordinance would ideally be a deterrent from something even worse being introduced into the county jails.Contraband is one thing, but were more fearful of weapons being dropped, she said. We now have the ability to take action against people.
Many of the methods we use to identify ourselves are remarkably flimsy, the prime example being the Social Security Card: a small, easily smudged piece of cardboard (banknote paper if you were born after 1983) tucked away in filing cabinets and dresser drawers across the United States. Technically, the flimsiness is a design feature according to the SSA , it makes tampering easier to detect, and laminating the card is prohibited for the same reasonbut the design choice assumes that the holder has a safe, fixed place to keep it. This puts many people, particularly people experiencing homelessness, in a tricky spot: What do you do, for instance, if your only bag is stolen, or if your Social Security Card gets wet and falls apart?The answer is as obvious as it is frustrating: reapply, reapply, reapply. For many people experiencing homelessness, this process of losing and reapplying for important documents becomes a damaging cycle, each iteration chipping away at their patience and trust for the very services that aim to help them.The city of Austin, Texas, believes there is a better way. Over the past year, the MyPass Initiativea partnership between the city of Austin, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, and Dell Medical School at the University of Texashas been working to develop a blockchain-powered ID system for people experiencing homelessness. The Initiative is funded by a $100,000 grant from The Mayors Challenge, a competition sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies that awards grants to innovative cities, and the planned end-product is a platform that gathers digital copies of an individuals records and IDs under one cellphone number or email address, rendering physical copies redundant.According to Anjum Khurshid, the Director of Data Integration for Dell Meds Department of Population Health, the idea came from similar programs implemented in refugee camps, such as World Food Programme Building Blocks in Jordan, which keeps family accounts on a permissioned, or private, variant of the Ethereum blockchain. Khurshid became interested in such use cases because the problems they addressed were analogous to one of the biggest in the world of population health infrastructure, namely the widespread fragmentation of health data. This fragmentation is exacerbated in the case of individuals who use emergency services frequently while lacking the IDs necessary for threading their history togethera common occurrence among the homeless population.Blockchain technology offers a relatively simple and cost-effective solution to this problem. Instead of storing data across a number of individually-managed databases, all of a persons interactions with different services could be recorded on a single ledger using a blockchain, with a validated body of agencies and individuals verifying each interaction as it occurs (e.g., the RMV verifies your drivers license, your doctor verifies your list of prescriptions, etc.). Ultimately, control of the data would remain with the individual, who portions out access in a manner they deem appropriatefor example, allowing employment offices access to their work history, and so on.Ironically, blockchain also presents some of the biggest stumbling blocks to MyPasss implementation. The concept of blockchain is difficult to understand (partly because there is no agreed-upon definition ) and is inextricably linked to the wild-west reputation of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. According to Kerry OConnor, the citys Chief Innovation Officer, participants in a current pilot project are enthusiastic about digital alternatives to traditional forms of identification, but are hesitant about using blockchain itself. However, after some testing, members of the Initiative found that a simple metaphor involving a padlock and a notepad was enough of a foothold to facilitate an understanding of the technology and its potential benefits.Another challenge that remains is similar to the one presented by physical documents: What do you do if you forget your password, or if you lose your phone? To answer this question, the MyPass Initiative held a service design week, in which designers were invited to consult with members of the homeless population, apparently to great success. They started solving problems we didnt think could be solved, said OConnor. One of the solutions they come up with was a mobile truck to provide storage and charging for phones.And at the end of last month, the City of Austin and Dell Medical School held a hackathon weekend with members of the Austin blockchain community to tackle some of the challenges involved in the development of the actual MyPass platform. The hackathon had four goals, one of which was to demonstrate a minimum viable product that was capable of delivering a low-friction user experience, with particular emphasis put on low friction. To this end, participating teams tested their prototypes with members of the homeless community for usability, and both the first and second-place teams received particular commendation for their efforts to listen to feedback and insight from potential users.All these user testing efforts hopefully compose the foundation for an ideal, seamless system, in which people walk into clinics and employment offices without any concern for missing paperwork or IDs. The problem with old forms of identity authentication is that they condition access to services on a persons ability to keep track of an assortment of pieces of papera nettlesome task even for those with homes. This practice emerges out of good intentionspractical concerns like the prevention of identity theft and the verification of medical recordsbut at the end of the day, the lived experience of people experiencing homelessness is an endless parade of barriers and closing doors. MyPass offers a step in the right direction.
(TNS)  OAKLAND, Calif.  For eight months last year, Bay Area Rapid Transit collected some riders license plate information and sent it to a database ICE can access, employing surveillance technology the BART board had declared should not be used, according to documents obtained through a public records request.BART police continued to transmit photos of cars from the MacArthur parking garage even after the board passed a sanctuary policy that appears to have banned those actions. ICE wouldnt say Wednesday whether it viewed the data.The controversy comes as BARTs board later this month revisits a sweeping plan to increase surveillance at its stations in the wake of several violent encounters. BART delayed acting on those plans after riders and privacy advocates objected to the lack of a surveillance policy  which the board will consider Thursday  that would govern how the transit agency collects, stores and shares information about its riders.The issue with the plate collection dates to April 2016, when BARTs elected leaders told staff to delay a pilot program to use license plate readers that already had been installed without public notice at the MacArthur station in late 2015.Somehow, the license plate readers were turned on anyway. BART spokesman Chris Filipi said it was an accident. Board directors Lateefah Simon and Debora Allen said they hadnt been briefed on the situation until a reporter brought it to their attention.From at least January through August of last year, BART sent pictures of 57,632 license plates to the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC), which partners with ICE and other federal agencies, according to public records that Mike Katz-Lacabe, a San Leandro resident and privacy advocate, obtained in November and later shared with this news organization.It kept sending that data even after BARTs board, in June 2017, adopted its Safe Transit policy, which mirrors Sanctuary City policies throughout the state and prohibits the districts employees, including its police officers, from using the agencys resources to help enforce federal immigration laws.BART police didnt realize they had sent the license plate data until Katz-Lacabe and Brian Hofer, chairman of the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission, brought it to the attention of BART police Chief Carlos Rojas in November, Filipi said. Rojas had the license plate readers uninstalled within two weeks, Katz-Lacabe said.Intentional or not, Juan Prieto, spokesman for the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, said he wasnt surprised BART had shared license plate data with federal agencies because he doesnt trust government to follow through on its promises to protect undocumented immigrants.The word sanctuary has lost a lot of its strength, Prieto said. Trusting any state agency to fully support the undocumented community through sanctuary farces is something we are no longer gambling with.Those lapses of trust, however, are what privacy advocates want to avoid with a surveillance use policy BARTs board will consider adopting Thursday. The timing couldnt be more critical as BART seeks to expand its use of surveillance in light of recent violent crimes on the system, including the July stabbing death of 18-year-old Nia Wilson, said Shahid Buttar, director of grassroots advocacy for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.(The documented lapses) demonstrate that police and law enforcement agencies are not effectively able to oversee themselves, Buttar said. Thats why civilian oversight is so important.That is, if the public is given any legal teeth for effective oversight in this policy, he said.The proposed policy requires staff to present any new surveillance technology to the board before it is deployed, detailing what data will be collected, how long that data will be stored and which other agencies will be able to access it. The policy also requires the district to draft an annual report explaining how the surveillance technology is being used.The actual impact is really enormous, said Hofer, who helped BART draft the policy. The number of people (this policy) will protect is huge.But unless the board agrees to adopt the proposal as an ordinance, which would allow members of the public to sue the district for violations, it will remain a policy on paper only.And without effective enforcement, such a policy is less likely to be followed, Matt Cagle, an attorney with the ACLUs Northern California chapter, said in a letter Wednesday to BARTs board. He urged the board to adopt procedures that allow community concerns to first be heard by BART and, if the violations continue, to be challenged in court.This will not invite unnecessary litigation, he wrote. Rather, it will ensure that members of the public have a clear procedure by which they can raise legitimate concerns and seek a remedy for non-compliance without litigation.If adopted, the policy will be put to use right away, Hofer said. The district already is trying an advanced surveillance system at Lake Merritt that uses computer analytics to track passengers movements. But its unclear how the district is using that system since it was installed without public notice, he said.BART initially denied a public records request from this news organization for documents related to the Lake Merritt pilot program. The district subsequently provided invoices showing the agency purchased $156,025 in surveillance software between June 2016 and July 2017 for use through June 2019. Representatives from BART did not answer questions about how the technology is being used.Where is the data going and how long are they retaining it and where are they sending it? Hofer asked. Thats the point of the surveillance policy the board is voting on.The board will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday on the third floor of the Kaiser Center, located at 2040 Webster St. in Oakland.
Haas will announce its entire driver lineup for the 2019 season in one hit.

In recent days, it has been rumoured that while Kevin Magnussen's place at the American team looks safe, Romain Grosjean could be ousted.

"Nothing is announced yet, but it's close," Dane Magnussen is quoted by BT newspaper in Singapore.

The latest rumour is that Frenchman Grosjean, having earlier struggled in 2018, will now also be retained by Haas.

Team boss Gunther Steiner said in Singapore: "I think we will announce everything in the next two weeks.

"The last details are being discussed, but it will not take long. We will announce both drivers rather than do it twice and avoid unnecessary questions about who the second driver is," he added.

Steiner admitted that Charles Leclerc had been an option for 2019 until he was signed up by Ferrari.

"Charles was wanted by many teams, but unless Ferrari released him from his obligations, I couldn't do anything," he said.

(GMM)
Lance Stroll is giving nothing away about his immediate future.

It is strongly rumoured that, after Sunday's Singapore grand prix, the Williams driver will oust Esteban Ocon at Force India.

That Silverstone based team has just been bought by Stroll's billionaire father, Lawrence.

But Lance said in Singapore: "I'm still with Williams, and I'm racing one race at a time.

"I put on my helmet and go on the track. That's all," he told La Presse.

Many have lamented Ocon's predicament, believing that the talented Frenchman arguably deserves a place more than the well-funded Stroll.

"That does not bother me," Stroll insisted.

"Formula one is a business, and there are several teams in formula one. He has a management team and people around him like all the other drivers.

"But he's obviously talented and it would be sad if he's not here," he added.

(GMM)
Max Verstappen thinks Stoffel Vandoorne struggled to get a fair go at McLaren.

Belgian Vandoorne has been ousted by the British team for 2019, after apparently struggling to shine alongside Fernando Alonso.

But Verstappen is quoted by the Dutch publication Formule 1: "I never thought he had a good chance with Fernando.

"I really like Stoffel. He's a very good driver. Fernando has the same car, but I think he always had newer parts.

"That's a shame, because with such a large team as McLaren you would expect they would always have two versions of something new.

"I don't think he had a very good chance against Fernando and of course you pay for that," the Red Bull driver added.

Verstappen said it will "not happen" that Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso will now snap up Vandoorne and rescue his career.

"No. Maybe I know who is going there," the Dutchman smiled.

(GMM)
The US Department of Energy awarded $2.5 million to a team led by the University of California San Diego for battery research in advanced vehicle technologies. The project is one of 42 projects totaling $80 million of investment from the DOE (earlier post) announced earlier this month.

The project is aimed at developing cobalt-free cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Shirley Meng, a professor of nanoengineering and the director of the Sustainable Power and Energy Center at UC San Diego, is the lead investigator on the project. The team includes ultracapacitor manufacturer Maxwell Technologies.

The work builds on a study published recently in the journal Materials Today, in which Mengs team collaborated with researchers led by Kang Xu at Army Research Lab to develop a lithium-ion battery electrolyte that performs well throughout a wider voltage range than other lithium-ion battery electrolytes.

The new electrolyte can withstand more than 4.8Vothers decompose at voltage levels below thismaking it the first one to be compatible with both a graphite anode and a high-voltage cathode material, LNMO spinel (lithium, nickel, manganese and oxygen), especially at elevated temperatures (55 C).

The findings bring researchers a step closer to designing lithium-ion battery materials that operate at high voltage levels, an attribute that is crucial for batteries used in electric vehicles.

Meng and her team are collaborating with Maxwell Technologies to combine the synergy between this novel electrolyte with advanced dry coated thick LNMO spinel cathodes to ultimately industrialize a completely cobalt-free, high energy density lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles.

Resources
The decoration was made in recognition of Sons excellent achievements in culture.

Addressing the award ceremony held in Warsaw on September 13, Director of Fredric Chopin Institute Artur Szklener spoke highly of Dang Thai Sons contributions to popularising Chopins music works to the world as well as his efforts in developing music in Poland, especially his participation to the ongoing first international Chopin contest in classical music instruments in Warsaw as a jury member.

Son thanked Poland for the recognition, while recalling special memories of the European country, especially the competition in 1980 he had joined and won the first prize. He said Chopis music is a part of his life and is also a language that helps him show his emotion and thinking.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Vu Dang Dung congratulated Son and his family on the award, while thanked Poland for awarding the highest distinction to a Vietnamese citizen on the occasion of the 73rd National Day of Vietnam and 100 years of Polands independence.

He believed that with the ward, Son would continue making more contributions to the worlds music and helping promote the culture of Vietnam and Poland.

Dang Thai Son, born in 1958, won the first prize at the tenth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1980. It was also the first time an Asian artist had won this top international contest.

Gloria Artis is a departmental decoration of Poland in Arts awarded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland to persons and organisations for distinguished contributions to or protection of the Polish culture and national heritage.
NVIDIA is opening up the DRIVE Constellation simulation platform to work with partners to integrate their world models, vehicle models and traffic scenarios. By incorporating a variety of partners, DRIVE Constellation will become even more comprehensive, enabling diverse and complex testing elements.

According to RAND Corporation, to drive even 20% better than a human requires 11 billion miles of validation. That translates to more than 500 years of nonstop driving in the real world with a fleet of 100 carsan impossible task.

Simulation presents a powerful solution to what has been an insurmountable obstacle. By tapping into the virtual world, developers can safely and accurately test and validate autonomous driving hardware and software.

A simulated test environment is more than just a virtual car on a virtual road. It takes model building as intensive as those for movies, and as detailed and accurate as the blueprints for the city roads and highways the car will eventually drive on.

Not only does this world need to look realistic, it must also also obey laws of physics. DRIVE Sim is designed to virtually test any potential environment and driving situation, with the ability to ingest world, vehicle and traffic scenario models.

By opening DRIVE Sim to partners, the depth and flexibility of the platform is magnified. The ability to integrate world, vehicle and traffic models increases the effectiveness of AV testing and validation.
Yamaha Motor Co. has selected NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier as the development system to power its upcoming lineup of autonomous machines.

The Japanese manufacturer plans to make Jetson AGX Xavier the brain for a broad portfolio of intelligent machines, including unmanned agriculture vehicles, last-mile vehicles and marine products.

The worlds first computer created for AI, robotics and edge computing, Jetson AGX Xaviers massive computing performance can handle the odometry, localization, mapping, vision and perception, and path planning critical to next-generation robots.

Automating processes with smart machinery is critically important due to Japans aging population, particularly in the agricultural sector, where the average worker is 66.6 years old and the workforce has declined more than 30% from 2010, according to the Japan Ministry of Agriculture.

Yamaha Motor will develop Jetson AGX Xavier-powered unmanned ground vehicles and drones to efficiently spray farmland, pick fruits, and transport harvested crops and equipment. The company expects to begin testing these devices in 2019, with the goal of a public launch shortly afterward.

Yamaha Motor will also add Jetson AGX Xavier to create a fleet of autonomous last-mile vehicles to transport people, from shoppers to the elderly.

These vehicles will be targeted for use cases such as rural regions where taxis and buses are not readily available. Some 7 million shoppers there require regular transportation, and that number is increasing annually, according to the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Yamaha Motor is one the worlds largest suppliers of marine vehicles. The company plans to expand its presence with Jetson AGX Xavier to create autonomous vehicles for use cases such as deep-sea exploration robots and automated sailing of boats.
Opinion

British dream: We need a bold new type of NHS

At some point, we are going to have to admit that the British dream has failed. If the American dream is about the equality of opportunity based on individual goals, its British equivalent is our addiction to homeownership and the way in which
Salvador Valdes Mesa is on a working visit to Vietnam and attending activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castros visit to the liberated zone in the south of Vietnam amidst the war of Vietnamese people against US imperialists.

During the reception for the Cuban official in Hanoi on September 13, President Quang expressed his pleasure at the comprehensively consolidated and developed relations between Vietnam and Cuba, and congratulated the Cuban Party and people on their important reform efforts. He expressed his belief that Cubas updated socio-economic development model will help the country achieve more important socio-economic achievements in the time to come, thus raising its position in the region and the world.

Cooperation mechanisms between the two countries  such as the Intergovernmental Committee, the political consultation between the two foreign ministries, and the dialogue between the two defence ministries  have been performed regularly and effectively, he said, adding that the two sides have maintained close cooperation and mutual support in international organisations and multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

President Tran Dai Quang praised the close coordination between the two sides in organising the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castros visit to the liberated zone in South Vietnam (September 1973). He suggested both sides increase high-level meetings, exchanges of delegations at all levels, and experience sharing, particularly in State leadership and socio-economic management.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms should be maintained to match the fine political relations between the two countries, he said, adding that economic connection should be expanded on the basis of fully tapping potential and strengths of each country, focusing on petroleum, telecommunications, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, education, construction, service, biotechnology, pharmaceutical production, consumer goods, and IT.

The Vietnamese leader urged the two counties ministries and sectors to effectively implement the cooperation agreements signed and continue to promote negotiations to sign new agreements on the economy, trade, investment, agriculture and telecommunications, aiming to perfect the legal framework and ensure stronger cooperation. He stressed the need for Vietnam and Cuba to bolster mutual support and closer coordination at international forums where both of them are members  especially in the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement  and to promote multilateral cooperation.

For his part, Salvador Valdes Mesa appreciated the solidarity and friendship between the two nations, expressing his great admiration for Vietnams significant achievements in all aspects. The Cuban delegations visit to Vietnam aims to learn from the Southeast Asian nations reform experience, he said. Salvador Valdes Mesa said his country always respects and treasures the solidarity and consistent support Vietnam has given to Cuba in recent years, affirming that Cuba will continue to back Vietnam at international forums.




Haiti - Politic : Arrival in Haiti of the new Representative of the UN





Helen Meagher La Lime, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Haiti (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Support of Justice in Haiti (Minujusth) arrived Wednesday in Port-au-Prince. La Lime succeeds her compatriot Susan D. Page at the head of Minujusth until February 2018.



Appointed by Secretary General Antonio Guterres on 1 August https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25129-haiti-politic-new-special-representative-of-the-un-in-haiti.html she has since conducted consultations at headquarters in New York and participated in the presentation of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Haiti to the Security Council on 6 September, together with the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bintou Keita https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25481-icihaiti-un-no-mission-change-in-haiti-before-october-2019.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25459-haiti-flash-un-warns-of-high-risk-of-major-unrest-in-haiti.html



In his report, Antonio Guterres expressed his gratitude to his Deputy Special Representative, Mamadou Diallo of Guinea, who has been Acting Head of Minujusth since last February.



Learn more about La Lime :

La Lime has had a distinguished career in the US Foreign Service, having held several high-level diplomatic posts. From 2014 to 2017, she was US Ambassador to Angola and, from 2001 to 2013, Director of Public Outreach at US Africa Command in Germany.



From 1996 to 2011, she held several positions in the State Department, including Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in South Africa from 2008 to 2011; Consul General in Cape Town, from 2006 to 2008; Ambassador in Mozambique, from 2003 to 2006; Deputy Chief of Mission in Morocco, from 2001 to 2003 and in Chad, from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2003, she was Director and Deputy Director of the Office of African Affairs of the State Department.



La Limbe is a graduate of the Washington National Defense University and holds a degree in Linguistics and Linguistics from Georgetown University. In addition to English, she is fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25481-icihaiti-un-no-mission-change-in-haiti-before-october-2019.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25459-haiti-flash-un-warns-of-high-risk-of-major-unrest-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25129-haiti-politic-new-special-representative-of-the-un-in-haiti.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Some of the responses have been along the lines that the only impactful thing to do is to withdraw the bill, but thats something the government wont do, he said in the Parliament on Thursday.

Jari Lindstrom (BR), the Minister of Employment, says he has sat down with labour market organisations to discuss a bill that would make laying off easier for small businesses, but stresses that the government has no intention whatsoever to scrap the controversial bill.

Ive stated earlier that the governments objective is to lower the threshold for hiring and reduce the risks of hiring for small companies. We dont want a fight and were ready to talk about things, but if the starting point is that theres no compromise to be found, then the situation is naturally difficult, he said.

The Finnish Industrial Union and Trade Union Pro declared one day earlier that they will introduce an overtime ban in protest of the bill, which would allow businesses with no more than 20 employees to make lay-offs on personal grounds.

The overtime ban is to begin on Monday, 17 September.

The Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava) and the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK) have similarly voiced their opposition to the bill.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi Suomi
During the meeting, the Vietnamese Government leader again warmly congratulated the victory of the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) during the election of the sixth National Assembly on July 29. He stressed that the victory highlights the belief of Cambodian people in the countrys fate led by the CPP and that it will motivate the new government to continue implementing policies towards building a peaceful, stable and prosperous nation.

PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnams leaders and people sincerely wish that the Cambodian people will continue to achieve great milestones, contributing to raising the countrys role and position in the region and across the world.

For his part, PM Hun Sen warmly congratulated Vietnam on the success of the WEF ASEAN 2018, and expressed his appreciation of Vietnams great achievements in national defence and construction. He stressed that the strong growth of Vietnams economy in the recent past has created a spillover effect, contributing to promoting Cambodias development as well.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation, especially in the field of economy and trade, while stressing the necessity to sign the Vietnam-Cambodia border trade agreement as soon as possible. They applauded efforts made by both sides in implementing the border demarcation and marker planting, and agreed to direct the Joint Committee for Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting to increase meetings in order to solve difficulties, towards an early completion of this important work.

PM Phuc highlighted that the two countries authorities have made great efforts in licensing legal documents to Vietnamese Cambodians, proposing that the Cambodian side apply flexibly relevant regulations to practically support Vietnamese Cambodians and thus helping them live stably in Cambodia.

The leaders unanimously agreed to closely coordinate in organising activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cambodias victory over the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime (January 7, 1979-2019), aiming to raise awareness of the two countries people of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia combatant solidarity and the significance of this historical event.

PM Phuc took the occasion to invite his Cambodian counterpart and spouse to pay an official visit to Vietnam. Cambodian PM Hun Sen thanked and happily accepted.
The Cuban delegation was in Vietnam to attend activities marking 45 years since leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated area in the south of Vietnam in September 1973.

At the meeting, Mesa highlighted the significance of Fidel Castros visit to Quang Tri province in 1973, noting that the trip became a symbol for the special Cuba-Vietnam relations. On behalf of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Cuban State and people, he affirmed the wish and resolve to realise the last teachings of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh in enhancing the traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries Parties, States, and people.

He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for actively cooperating with his country in developing economy, trade, and investment as well as for being ready to share experience in different fields. He also appreciated Vietnams coordination in joint activities to intensify the two countries special ties.

General Secretary Trong said the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castros visit is an occasion for the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to pay tribute to the late leader and their Cuban counterparts. It is also a chance for the countries to honour their exemplary fraternity, time-tested friendship, all-round cooperation, and faithful solidarity. He thanked Cuba for sincerely and wholeheartedly supporting Vietnam over the decades. He welcomed bilateral cooperation programmes and plans in economy, trade and investment as well as experience sharing, calling on both sides to continue working closely together and backing each other at multilateral and international forums.

The Party chief underlined that the special Vietnam-Cuba relations, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, is a priceless asset that the two Parties, States, and their people need to make utmost efforts to protect, nurture, and hand down to future generations, for the sake of the Vietnamese and Cuban people and the two Parties revolutionary causes. Fidel Castros immortal saying For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to devote its blood is forever in the heart of each Vietnamese and has become a sacred symbol of the special solidarity and friendship between the two nations, he added.

At the event, General Secretary Trong sent an invitation to visit Vietnam to First Secretary of the PCC Central Committee Raul Castro. He voiced his belief that under the PCCs clear-sighted leadership, the Cuban people will soon weather all challenges to continue harvesting even greater victories in their revolutionary cause so as to build on a prosperous and sustainable socialism.
Chairwoman Ngan said the visit to the liberated area in Quang Tri province by Fidel Castro in 1973 showed the Cuban peoples solidarity and precious support for Vietnams struggle for national reunification. Back then, it became a symbol of the faithful and forever young Vietnam-Cuba relations, as well as international support for Vietnam.

Highlighting the significance of the visits 45th anniversary, First Vice President Mesa repeated the immortal saying For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to devote its blood of Fidel Castro during his trip regarding his nations sincere wish to help with Vietnams rebuilding efforts.

He also spoke highly of the growing parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, which can been seen in the regular mutual visits at all levels, including an official trip to Vietnam by President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez in 2017. He took this occasion to thank his host for organising so many activities to enhance the unity with and support for Cuba.

Mesa added that during the visit, he met with leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam to discuss issues of shared concern, including the implementation of signed agreements, as well as to propose fields for cooperation to be expanded such as aviation, health care, pharmaceuticals, solar energy, and agriculture.

At the meeting, Chairwoman Ngan expressed her delight at the important achievements Cuba had attained, in particular updating the economic model in such areas as education and health care. She also applauded the countrys amendment of its constitution and supported her guests proposal that Vietnam will share its lawmaking experience with Cuba.

The visiting official also agreed with the Vietnamese legislative leader that for the time ahead, the two sides should maintain and improve the effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms and theoretical and experience exchanges, while reinforcing collaboration at international organisations and multilateral forums, thereby strengthening the countries solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.
2015 was the last year that Temple B'nai Brith families were allowed to use bread at the traditional tashlich ceremony at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse in Somerville, Mass.

SOMERVILLE, Mass. (JTA)-On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz led her congregation on a walk to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse on the Mystic River for tashlich, a centuries-old ritual when Jews symbolically discard their sins from the past year into a moving body of water.

But instead of the customary bits of stale bread, breadcrumbs or even bits of matzah saved from last Passover, congregants tossed small pebbles.

Members of Temple B'nai Brith, a non-affiliated congregation in this Boston suburb with historic ties to the Conservative movement, have likely been tossing bits of bread into the Mystic during tashlich for well over a century.

The congregation, which has been this reporter's Jewish home for more than a quarter-century, was founded in 1904 by immigrants from Eastern Europe who settled in Somerville's Winter Hill neighborhood, less than one mile uphill from the river.

The recent shift in the tashlich practice from bread to pebbles follows the city's new environmentally friendly rules that no longer allow bread to be tossed into the river, a measure to protect river wildlife and address other concerns.

"Yes, our congregation is environmentally conscious and this was an appealing reason [to change] something we care about on a social justice level," Jacobowitz said.

The challenge of creating an environmentally friendly tashlich is emerging beyond this city. An article in Reform Judaism magazine last year highlighted newer practices, including one congregation in Ontario using untreated wood chips instead of bread.

Whatever they use, congregants aren't meant to think that the ritual is a substitute for the hard work of teshuvah, or repentance, which extends from Rosh Hashanah (it starts this year on Sunday night) to Yom Kippur (Sept. 18-19).

In Somerville, the subject was first raised three years ago when its Parks and Recreation Department notified the synagogue that tossing bread violated guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency and local efforts to protect the environment. The city said feeding wildlife is harmful to their nutrition, leads to poor water quality and disrupts the ecosystem.

In addition to the potential harm to birds, feeding animals brought "an unintended invitation for animals around the boathouse, including issues with geese on the docks," Jill Lathan, the Parks and Recreation director, wrote in a recent email to JTA.

At the time, efforts to clean up the river from decades of relentless pollution from industry, development and storm drainage were paying off. In 2017, the river scored an A-minus for water quality from the EPA, up from a D 11 years earlier. The success story was the result of years of collaboration between Somerville and other local communities, the EPA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the nonprofit Mystic River Watershed Association.

The 7-mile-long Mystic River flows through 22 towns just north and west of Boston. From Somerville, it goes downstream through the Amelia Earhart dam through Everett, Charlestown and into Boston Harbor.

The appropriately named Blessing of the Bay boathouse where Temple B'nai Brith holds tashlich services is named after a 17th-century wooden ship, the first oceangoing vessel built in Massachusetts, according to the Mystic River Association.

In September 2015, before the start of the High Holidays, the city granted a one-year waiver to the synagogue, acknowledging its longstanding tradition of using bread during the tashlich ceremony. The congregation assured the city that it would educate members about the issue and evaluate environmentally acceptable options ranging from birdseed to earthworms to small pebbles.

After some rabbinical consideration, Jacobowitz concluded that for tashlich, small pebbles had greater resonance than birdseed. Pebbles will sink to the bottom of the river, an echo of the last verses of the prophet Micah (7:19), that is the textual basis for the tashlich ritual, she explained: "God will take us back in love; God will cover up our iniquities. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

The change brought mixed emotions.

"There was a bit of communal grief," acknowledged Jacobowitz, who was ordained in 2010 at the pluralistic Hebrew College rabbinical school.

Many people had a strong attachment to the bread tossing, she said, and a few synagogue members have a tradition of saving bits of matzah from Passover for tashlich.

"There was this element of planning" long in advance, the rabbi said.

In a touch of irony, Jacobowitz pointed out that in her native Israel, bread is not used during tashlich. She said Israelis more commonly stroll to the sea or other body of water and turn their empty pockets inside-out, reflecting the idea that "you are not bringing your sins with you" into the new year.

As a resident of Somerville, Jacobowitz said the environmental improvements along the river in the past few years are noteworthy.

"It's lovely. The water is better," she said. Sometimes she visits the area to think about her High Holiday sermons and "I see that it is being transformed."

Amid the challenge to create an environmentally friendly tashlich, Jacobowitz has created a new tradition for Temple B'nai Brith's younger tashlich-goers: She brings a bed sheet to the river and invites them to write something that they are sorry for and hope to change in the new year. They use pens with ink that dissolves after 24 hours. She returns the sheet to the synagogue on Yom Kippur and the kids see that their regrets have disappeared.

"From the perspective of modeling what we want to see in the world, I do feel proud of our community for taking that step, especially in the [High Holiday] season when we are thinking of how we can do better in the world," Jacobowitz said.

After much reflection, the rabbi has concluded that "This is not about bread versus pebbles," but rather about exchanging a ritual that has content with another that is just as compelling. Over time, she anticipates the newer ritual will take hold in a meaningful way.

"It's about replacing the spiritual experience with another practice that will feel equally spiritual," she said.
He was loved and respected...

I wrote briefly about the late Senator John McCain in last week's column when I first heard about his passing. (I write well in advance of publication). What I want to add is that he was a true hero and I want him to be remembered in history as Winston Churchill, Presidents Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, etc., are remembered. I want my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, etc., to learn about him. Though a life-long Republican, I still admired his service to our country and his honesty. I want him never to be forgotten.

Also, never to be forgotten by my family...

Cousin Alan Feinberg who died in the collapse of one of the Twin Towers in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was a firefighter, a devoted husband, wonderful father and a hero!

A country full of Nazis and infidels?...

I read this recently in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest High Holiday edition:

"Ninety percent of Argentinian Jewish leaders, and 65 percent of Latin American Jewish leaders overall, fear their community could be targeted in another terrorist attack, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the Latin American Jewish Congress, a WJC affiliate.

Argentina has already suffered two terrorist attacks: in 1992 on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 29 and injured 242, and in 1994 on the AMIA Jewish Center in Buenos Aires, which killed 84 and injured more than 300."

And in spite of that disturbing news, I think I should bring you greetings from Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER, president of WJC.

He wishes everyone "L'Shanah Tovah." And adds, "May the New Year bring you and your loved ones happiness, health and peace."

That is his wish for all the Jewish people around the world and he is hoping for a much better year as this one was marked by too much tragedy, violence, fear and continued uncertainty for the global Jewish community.

A Jewish Pavilion Mensch...

A real mensch, JASON MENDELSOHN is a Jewish Pavilion board member who has done a remarkable job in spreading the word about all the good the Pavilion does.

Raised in Altamonte Springs with his brother and twin sisters, and married for almost 22 years to RONNI (who also grew up in the area... they met as kids at Temple Israel!)

Jason is a tireless "Ambassador" for the Pavilion's mission and accomplishments. "I love the concept of the Pavilion," said Jason. "It's volunteers giving of their time to care for people who otherwise could be forgotten. They bring these seniors the Jewish experience."

Jason will be honored at the Jewish Pavilion's Gems & Jeans 2018 Gala on Oct. 28 at the Hilton Orlando North along with outgoing board president and longtime board member and volunteer, PAUL STENZLER.

Come celebrate their achievements and help support the Jewish Pavilion by attending the Gala.

Phone 407-678-9363 or go to for more information.

Wiggle and Giggle...

(I can't help it. That's the way I walk!)

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., there will be a free concert for babies, toddlers, young children, and their families. It is called "Wiggle and Giggle." It is sponsored by the Jewish Academy of Orlando and will be held at the Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, 851, N. Maitland Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751

Please contact KAREN DUNCAN at 407-645-0923 for details.

(Babies, toddlers, young children? What about old ladies?????)

JCC 39ers Meet & Mingle Mondays...

On Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Maitland JCC in the Senior Lounge, there will be daily exercise for seniors presented by BRENDA BOYD.

(Oooh, that sounds more like it, especially because they follow the exercise with tasty refreshments and social time. All 39ers and JCC members are welcome. (The chocolate cake is mine!)

A nice surprise!...

The other day in the mail I received a terrific magazine that I had never seen nor heard of before. It's called "Challah Connection" and it's filled with High Holiday ideas and gifts, etc.

Alan Feinberg

You can receive one too. Just phone 866-242-5524 or on the internet, go to .

One for the road...

Shlomo and Moshe are out hunting in the woods of New Jersey when Moshe suddenly collapses. Shlomo rushes over to him but he doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are all glazed. Shlomo is in a panic. He takes out his phone, calls emergency services and shouts, "Help, please help me. My friend Moshe is dead! What on earth should I do?"

The operator tells Shlomo, "Sir, please calm down. I can help you. First of all, let's make sure he's really dead."

After a short silence, the operator hears a shot. Then Shlomo gets back on the phone, "OK, now what?"
More than 40 years ago a small group of Christians, under the leadership of Pastor Ken Garrison, chose to step away from traditional Baptist practices and began to learn about the biblical feasts found in Leviticus, and to be a support to Israel by following the calling to comfort His people.

Over the years, Fellowship Church in Winter Springs, has led Passover seders to teach fellow Christians about how Christian beliefs tie into the celebration that the Jewish people have observed for more than 2,000 years. Church members, now under the leadership of Pastor Roger Diaz, observe Shabbat and hold services on Friday nights as well as on Sunday-the first day of the week.

There are sprinklings of churches across the country that observe the festivals in part, coming away from staunch Christian traditions. Organizations such as Christians United for Israel and the International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem have enlightened Christians about the importance of supporting Israel; and at Sukkot, millions of Christians flood Jerusalem to celebrate the feast.

This year, Fellowship Church will present the Feast of Tabernacles in a unique way in order to teach Christians the significance of Sukkot. The church members will erect a nearly-full-sized model of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25, and running through Saturday, Sept. 29, tours of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness will be led by two men of the congregation dressed as Aaron the high priest. Elder Larry Dorcik, dressed as Moses, will give introductions.

Explaining the purpose of the tours, Dorcik said, "The purpose of this program is to first, be biblical. Fellowship church serves the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and we make no distinction between Torah, prophets and the Christian gospels and letters. Our position and actions are based on whole biblical truth, not long-standing church teachings, doctrine or structure. G-d has shown His great plan of redemption for the whole earth through all of the biblical writings. Jesus, Paul and the early church observed all of G-d's festivals and we count it as a joyful service to G-d to observe them as well."

In addition to the tours, Fellowship will offer a wide range of activities: a special Friday evening service followed by an outdoor celebration complete with food, fellowship around a campfire and camping; a special brunch on Saturday followed by tabernacle tours and other Sukkot-themed activities, ending with a special dinner, procession and worship service.

Why does Fellowship want to do this? "We want to share the truth and joy of celebrating G-d's festivals with other local churches and the Jewish community," Dorcik stated, explaining that there is a real need, in the church at large, "to recapture our Hebraic roots and allign ourselves with G-dly, biblical principles."

Dorcik explained that through this Sukkot festival the church will draw closer to G-d and learn to properly identify with the people of Israel and local Jewish communities so that His great purposes will be fulfilled.

Although Fellowship Church's Sukkot 2018 is geared toward teaching Christians about the festival, this event is open to everyone.

Reservations are required for the camp-out, Saturday brunch, dinner buffet and celebration in the Tent of David. For information about costs, please call the church office at 407-699-1011.
Each year for the High Holidays, the plaintive, soul-stirring sound of the shofar rings out in synagogues all over the world, and congregants are moved by that ancient tie to their ancestors. For the past several years, Jewish Pavilion volunteer Susie Stone has made sure that Jews in area senior living facilities are not left out.

In many Jewish homes, a shofar is proudly displayed on a shelf or mantle, more an object of Judaica than an instrument used during High Holiday prayer. Maybe once or twice a family member picks it up and tries to get a sound from it. It isn't easy to do, and most people soon give up. Then it goes back to its place, moving only when it's time to dust.

Stone had a shofar like that in her Longwood home, a long and gracefully twisted kudu horn from the Yemenite tradition. Many years ago, she had asked Cantor Allan Robuck of Congregation Ohev Shalom to bring her back a shofar from a trip to Israel and was surprised and pleased by the beauty of the one he chose.

Stone gave her new shofar a place of prominence in her home for all to see. And there it sat for years. Then one day about seven years ago, for reasons she can't quite explain, Stone picked up the shofar and tried to get a sound from it. To her amazement, a sound came out, much like the soulful shofar sounds she knew so well from decades of High Holiday services.

"I could never play an instrument in my whole life other than a little bit of piano," Stone recalled. "I said, 'Wow! I can do this!'" So she got out her High Holidays prayer book and started practicing the various calls: Tekiah! Teruah! Shevarim! And the extended blast of Tekiah Gedolah!

Then she showed her new skill to Mark, her husband of 46 years, and to others. "I was astounded, because Mark tried to do it and he couldn't do it, and I tried giving it to my friends and nobody could do it," said Stone, "And I said, 'This is easy! There's nothing to it!'"

Stone knew that she could use her newfound skill to do some good in the world. She had been volunteering with the Jewish Pavilion since Mark's parents moved to Westchester of Winter Park Assisted Living in 2010. She joined the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion soon after, so she was well aware that the Pavilion hosts High Holidays events in about 30 Orlando-area senior living facilities and is always in need of volunteers who have the rare skill of shofar blowing.

Now, depending on scheduling, Stone blows shofar at four to six Jewish Pavilion High Holiday events every year. Most of the Jewish residents she serves have no other opportunity to observe the holidays and hear the sound of the shofar.

"It brings tears to a lot of people's eyes," Stone said. It is especially moving to see the reactions of seniors who may be ailing or memory-impaired. "It brings them a touch, knowing that the High Holidays are here, and it's something that they remember."

Stone, an Orlando resident since 1984, volunteers year round at Westchester and several other facilities the Pavilion serves. She has an upbeat and warm presence and quickly wins the hearts of the people she meets, and the seniors look forward to her visits.

As a Friends of the Pavilion member Stone has co-chaired several Pavilion galas, and she and Mark have been past gala honorees. The couple is originally from Baltimore, Md., where they met when Susie was on Thanksgiving break as a student at University of Maryland.

Her father-in-law, Sy Stone, passed away several years ago, but her mother-in-law, Sylvia Stone, is still at Westchester and is nearing 92. Stone makes sure that she brings her shofar each year to the Pavilion's High Holiday celebration at Westchester so Sylvia has an opportunity to hear its sounds.

Said Stone, "I can remember my mother-in-law, when she first heard it, I saw tears coming out of her eyes. To me, to do that, and touch them, and bring that happiness to them for the High Holidays, it's pure joy."

Volunteers-with and without shofar-blowing skills-are always needed during the Jewish Pavilion's busy High Holiday season. And your generous donation will help the Pavilion make the holidays special for Jewish seniors in living facilities. For more information, call the Jewish Pavilion at 407-678-9369 or go online at JewishPavilion.org.
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Princeton Lyman, the Jewish American diplomat who played a critical role in organizing Operation Moses, the stunning 1984 airlift of Ethiopian Jews, has died at 82.

Lyman died Friday at his home in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, the Washington Post reported. He died of lung cancer.

The Post obituary celebrated the role of Lyman in helping to midwife the transition in South Africa from apartheid to democracy in the early 1990s when he was the U.S. ambassador to the country. Lyman had the trust of F. W. DeKlerk, the last apartheid president of the country, and Nelson Mandela, who led the African National Congress.

But he also played a critical behind-the-scenes role a decade earlier, when he was deputy assistant secretary of state for Africa, in organizing the airlift from Sudan to Israel of thousands of Ethiopian Jews who had fled their famine-ravished country only to face indifference and starvation in Sudan.

In a 1999 oral history for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Lyman said he was one of only two U.S. diplomats who was fully apprised of the operation, involving secret flights from Sudan to Israel. He helped coordinate logistics between Israel and Sudan, which did not have diplomatic relations, and strove to keep at bay Ethiopian Jewry advocacy groups in the United States who were scrambling for information, as well as the media.

"We had to keep the press quiet," he said in 1999. "The Boston Globe, the Washington Post, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal all had the story. Peter Jennings at ABC had the story. I had to go to every single one of them to beg them to sit on the story. I told them that if the operation were to go public, the Ethiopians would be in serious danger. I must say that every one of the media outlets suppressed the information they had; I don't think that today that would be possible."

It was an Israeli official, Arieh Dulzin, the chairman of the Jewish Agency, who revealed the operation at a press conference, and it was Israeli media that made it public.

"Unfortunately, the Israeli media was not so disciplined" as the U.S. media, Lyman said. Once the word was out in Israel, a Washington Jewish newspaper reported the story-ignoring Lyman's pleas-and the U.S. media felt free to publish. Sudan suspended the operation after 9,000 Jews had arrived, leaving 500 stranded. Vice President George H.W. Bush then got involved.

Bush "went to Khartoum to see [Sudanese President Gaafar] Nimeiri and to tell him that we wanted the last few hundred Ethiopians taken out," Lyman said. "Nimeiri agreed, but it too was to be a secret operation. So American C-130s were to fly from Europe to the Sudan, take them on board, fly them up through the Red Sea, avoiding Egyptian radar, and deliver them to Israel. That was done. It was a magnificent operation which I monitored from the Pentagon 'war room' listening to the radio broadcasts as the planes landed and took off."

In a 2007 account of the rescue, "Blacks, Jews and Other Heroes," Howard Lenhoff said other U.S. officials eagerly seized credit for the operation. "Lyman remained silent," Lenhoff reported. "Always the consummate professional, Princeton Lyman is an unsung hero of the Ethiopian Jews."

Lyman was born in 1935 to immigrant Jewish parents from Lithuania. Asked to explain his unusual first name, he explained in 1999 that he had brothers named Yale, Harvard and Stanford.

"I guess it was an extraordinary example of immigrant parents determined that their children would go to universities," he said. "Of course, being very practical, we all ended up in the University of California, not the expensive schools we were named after."

He added: "My brother Elliott, who was the only son not named for a university, indeed did not go to college."

Lyman was married for 50 years to the former Helen Ermann, who died in 2008. He is survived by his second wife, Lois Hobson, and three daughters, Tova Brinn of Israel, and Sheri Laigle and Lori Bruun, both of Maryland.
The Atlanta-based Center for Israel Education and the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel invite Jewish 10th- and 11th-graders to apply to attend the Teen Israel Leadership Institute during the weekend of Oct. 26 to 28.

The institute will feature a series of learning activities to expand students' knowledge and understanding of Israel and Zionism while they experience Jewish life on a college campus (Emory University) and forge friendships with peers from across the country.

The inaugural Teen Israel Leadership Institute was held in April and drew 24 Jewish teens from nine states plus Israel. The students learned about Israeli history, politics, innovation and culture, the Israeli-Arab conflict, and Zionism. They participated in Shabbat services and had Friday dinner at the Emory Hillel house. They visited the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. They discussed what Israel means to them and had a "Chopped"-style food competition with hummus.

Aliza Reinstein, 17, of Potomac, Md., now a senior at Wootton High School, said the hummus competition was her favorite part of a weekend that enriched her understanding of modern Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Hearing from both sides and different perspectives was one of the best things I got out of the program," she said, praising the impartial presentations and adding that the civil rights center provided an "overall human perspective."

Perhaps most important, the institute showed students how to apply their knowledge to the benefit of their home communities. The teens at the October retreat will work on educational projects they can bring back to their schools, synagogues or other organizations.

The cost of $100 for the three-day program includes double-occupancy lodging and kosher food. Travel subsidies of up to $200 are available.

The institute is part of a year-old, national CIE initiative to provide more impactful education on Israel to Jewish teens. Leading the program are CIE President and ISMI Director Ken Stein, who has taught the modern Middle East at Emory since 1977; CIE Vice President Rich Walter, a former director of Hebrew high schools in New Haven, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island, who was the New England regional director of March of the Living for a decade; and Steve Kerbel, an educational consultant in the Washington area who spent 14 years as a synagogue education director.

Partners in the institute include Emory Hillel and the North American Association of Community & Congregational Hebrew High Schools. A grant from the Legacy Heritage Fund is supporting the program.

The deadline to apply for the institute is Oct. 1. Each applicant must describe a proposed Israel learning project-a course, a teen program for Yom HaAtzmaut, a film series, a website-and include a letter of support from a rabbi, an educator or another person who can explain why the student would be a good fit for the program.

More information and the online application can be found at israeled.org/teens.

"Everyone should apply," Aliza said. "I got so many awesome experiences out of it. It was amazing."

Find more comments from institute participants and their parents at israeled.org/educators/youth-and-teen-israel-enrichment-programs/youth-program-comments.
Israels Channel 10 News published a report on Tuesday based on comments from a senior Fatah official demonstrating Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas intense hostility toward any potential deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip.

According to the report, the Fatah official told Channel 10 that Abbas was furious with the Egyptians for mediating the agreement, which the PA chief referred to as treachery and defiance against the leadership.

The official also claimed that Abbas acknowledged that the supposed reconciliation process between his party and Hamas was disintegrating.

Abbas apparently made his position on the ceasefire clear, commenting An agreement between Hamas and Israel, over my dead body!

Among Abbas complaints with regard to any future agreement involving Hamas is the illegitimacy of the terror groups rule over the Gaza Strip, which was achieved via a violent coup through which the PA was ousted from the coastal enclave.

Regardless of Abbas comments, senior Hamas officials claimed that the ceasefire agreement could be concluded in the near future, after a break in negotiations due to the Eid al-Adha holiday.

With Hamas officials issuing statements regarding the terror groups intention to maintain its arsenal and militaristic capabilities, and their contention that prisoner exchanges would be addressed separately, the ultimate fate of the ceasefire remains to be seen.
(JNS)-For five months now, since March 2018, Israeli communities bordering Gaza have sustained ongoing terrorism and arson from hundreds of rockets and incendiary devices, causing constant stress and chaos for the 50,000 people who call this region home. Residential and commercial damage, along with some 10,000 acres of land, including forests and agricultural plots, have been destroyed.

Just as the worst seemed to be over, this month more than 200 rockets struck the Eshkol and Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Councils-a vast area sharing 37 miles of border with the Gaza Strip, also known as the "Gaza Envelope." There was no mistaking that families and children were being targeted, as rockets landed within feet of the new JNF playground in Sderot, an Israeli town located less than a mile from Gaza that has been in the crosshairs for decades.

Jews from around the world have been sending prayers and thoughts to the families living amid the terror. But for Jewish National Fund-USA, the escalation of violence prompted a call to action.

"What can we do for these kids, right now?" asked JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson. In the span of a few hours, JNF took action by declaring a Yom Kef, or "day of fun," for children in the Gaza-area communities.

Except that wasn't enough. JNF decided to turn one day of fun into two weeks, providing a much-needed respite for these kids-a chance just have fun, as all children should during their summer vacation.

Mobilizing its network of partners across Israel, more than 1,000 children and parents from the Gaza Envelope were bused to Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem to kick off the events. A renowned historical site, the area boasts sprawling green lawns and a built-in recreational campus.

'It's just such a gift to us'

"This summer has been especially challenging," said Einat Eliyashir, a mother of three from Moshav Yesha. "To go out from the Gaza Envelope, suddenly these concerns fade away. It warms our hearts to know that there are so many JNF supporters who are thinking about us and helping us to have such an incredible day of fun for the whole family. I don't have enough words to explain how much this means to us."

For Eliyashir's 11-year-old daughter, Meitar, this break made all the difference in the world.

"This summer has been a little scary," she said. "This is our summer vacation, and if I want to go outside to play, I always have to be close to the bomb shelters.

"It is so important to all of us to be able to get out and have fun during our summer break, and it is amazing that there are people who care about us to give us this opportunity and understand our situation," continued Meitar. "It is so much fun to be able to come to a safe place and enjoy ourselves for a day."

Clowns, balloons, games, climbing walls, obstacle courses, zip lines, live music, food and drink, and many other activities served as a way to relieve the stress these families face. Kids were also offered a VIP tour through the site by Israel Defense Forces' veteran soldiers who fought in the Ammunition Hill battle during the 1967 Six-Day War.

With their faces covered in face paint and hands grasping balloon animals, the children had time to be ... children.

"It's fun to come out to a place like this," said Shay Sagiv, one of the girls from Kibbutz Sufa. "I've known about donors supporting us in the past, but not like this. It's just such a gift to us to have a day like today."

Gal Beinart, a mom from Moshav Sde Nitzan, explained that she has four boys between 5 and 14, and moved to the region 12 years ago for its strong sense of community. "The only thing is that life can be stressful," she acknowledges, "but we are so lucky to be out here on this beautiful day with our boys, and participating in all the activities and sports."

Her 12-year old son, Roi, said, "Our summer has been fun, but there were a lot of alarms and bombs that have made it very difficult. We appreciated being able to come out to places like this to just have fun. This feels normal, and it's awesome."

Maayan Nochomovitz, a mother from Moshav Ein Hasof, said it's not good for the kids "to hear the rockets all the time and to run for the shelters. The kids always ask if they are able to go outside or what to do in an emergency; it's not an easy situation at all."

Amid stories of what the families endured back home, the smiles on so many faces didn't go unnoticed by the executives, staff and volunteers managing the event.

"This right here is the spirit of the Jewish people, of the Jewish nation," said Eric Michaelson, JNF chief Israel officer, as he looked across the field packed with children. "In good times and bad, we are there to stand with and support them."
He made the statement while hosting a reception for the Cuban delegation, led by First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Salvado Valdes Mesa. The delegation was in Vietnam to attend activities marking 45 years since leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated area in the south of Vietnam in September 1973.

PM Phuc said that Fidels visit to Vietnam is an important milestone in their bilateral relations, which need to be preserved by generations of both peoples.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people have always kept a close watch on Cubas development, he said, believing that the American nation will reap further achievements in the socio-economic development.

Lauding the efforts of both nations to consolidate bilateral ties in the past, with various cooperative mechanisms having been effectively implemented, PM Phuc said that the two countries need to maintain sound political relations, bolster economic collaboration, and develop traditional ties in a deeper and more practical manner.

He suggested enhancing delegation exchanges at all levels, saying that the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Meeting should take place by the end of this year to review cooperation content and look for new collaborative orientations that focus on all-round cooperation and support for each other at the international forums.

On behalf of the Cuban Party, State and people, Salvador Valdes Mesa congratulated Vietnam on the nations socio-economic achievements in recent years, affirming that Cuba has always attached great importance to the traditional relations between the two countries.

Cuba has given priority to developing its friendship with Vietnam, he said, adding that the official visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong is a historical one, opening up new chapters in bilateral relations and setting up new cooperation sectors between the two sides.

Currently, Cuba is carrying out agreements inked during General Secretary Trongs visit to boost collaboration in economy, trade, investment, and finance, he said.

They can work together in pharmaceuticals which Cuba holds an enormous strength in, he underlined, stating that Cuba has been interested in aviation cooperation with Vietnam to increase the number of flights connecting Cuba and other American countries.

Also, Cuba wants to set up a joint venture with a Vietnamese enterprise to foster tourism activities. Thus, it needs the support and collaboration of Vietnamese banks, he said.
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump told Jewish leaders that the Palestinians would not receive any more aid from the U.S., unless they made a deal with Israel.

Trump made the remarks during a conference call placed in anticipation of the Jewish New Year in which the president communicated with a number of American Jewish leaders.

Trumps remarks arrive on the heels of his administrations decision to cut funds both to the Palestinians dedicated UN agency, UNRWA, and direct aid to the Palestinians. To that end, Trump noted during the conference call that the funding would only be reinstated if the Palestinians reach an agreement with the Jewish state.

What I will tell you is I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders, Trump said in a recording of the call aired by Israels Channel 10.

The United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money. And I say, Youll get money, but were not paying until you make a deal. If you dont make a deal, were not paying, Trump explained in the recording.

In response to a question posed by legal expert and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, Trump responded, I dont think its disrespectful at all to use aid as a tool to incentivize the Palestinians to negotiate. I think its disrespectful when people dont come to the table, he added, according to a transcript published by Jewish Insider.

When Dershowitz asked if the Jewish community should feel optimistic that [Trump] could help bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict that we all pray for all the time, Trump replied, I think the answer to that is a very strong yes. I really do believe we are going to make a deal. I hope so. It would be a great thing to do.

On a personal note, Trump added, I am a very proud father of a Jewish daughter, Ivanka, in addition to referring to the calls host, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a senior adviser.
Recently, JTA reported that a Reform congregation won a legal battle to build a synagogue building in the central Israeli city of Hod Hasharon, a wealthy city located several miles north of Tel Aviv. Former Orlando resident Lori Stein Erlich and her Israeli husband, Moshe Erlich, are members of this congregation.

Back in 2014, the Erlichs visited the Heritage office to share their vision of having a building for their Reform/Conservative congregation, Kehilat Yonatan (see the article titled "They have come-it's time to build" in the Sept. 26, 2014 issue of Heritage). The couple was in town visiting Lori's parents, Arnold and Nira Stein. The trip wasn't meant to become a fund raising campaign. However, after talking with Rabbi Steven Engel, they decided to share their community's need for a building.

After four years, the Lod District Court ordered the municipality of Hod Hasharon to halt delays on the project and to allow the synagogue to build on the parcel of land initially allocate to it in 2013 after repeated requests for a parcel of land on which to build the synagogue and education center.

"The Court ruled in our favour! The Judge (an Orthodox Jew himself) criticized the mayor and the town council. In his ruling he stated: 'I am saddened by the behavior of the town's representatives, including that of the mayor, who tried to avoid fulfilling their duty, primarily that of behaving decently,'" stated a congregant on Kehilat Yonatan's website.

The court also ordered the municipality to pay about $8,500 in legal fees to the synagogue.

Kehilat Yonatan was founded in 2001 as an independent Progressive congregation. It is named after the son of its spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Boyden, who moved with his family to Israel from England in 1985. Israel Defense Forces paratrooper Yonatan Boyden was killed in 1993 in southern Lebanon.

The congregation was represented by the Israel Religious Action Center, the Israel advocacy arm of the Reform movement. It alleged that the project had been subjected to excessive red tape because it involved the Reform movement, according to Haaretz. It first submitted a request for land for a synagogue building 15 years ago.

Hundreds of area residents attend High Holiday services at the synagogue and thousands attend lectures and other programs throughout the year, Haaretz reported.

"We provide a home for thousands of Jews who want to develop a modern Jewish lifestyle in a country crying out for religious pluralism and alternatives. Our educational campus, unlike any other in the area, attracts Israelis not only from Hod Hasharon but from all over the region. Through our creative approach we have been successful in connecting old and young, families and singles with their heritage," the congregation says on its website. It says that it has raised $1 million of the $2 million needed to build and furnish the 13,000 square-foot synagogue.

Christine DeSouza contributed to this article.
(JNS)Perhaps more than any other issue in the Middle East today, the situation in Gaza under the control of Hamasa designated foreign terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel and aspiring to the genocide of world Jewryis one of the greatest obstacles to regional peace, security and prosperity.

Since Israels unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, and after Hamas brutally seized control from its Palestinian rival Fatah in 2007, conditions for residents have dramatically worsened. Hamas has stolen vast amounts of money, humanitarian goods and building supplies designed to aid Gaza and repurposed them for weapons like rockets, terror tunnels and kite bombs that Hamas has used to terrorize Israeli civilians, and burn lands, nature preserves and forests.

Rightly so, current proposals from the White House focus on Gaza First. U.S. President Donald Trumps senior adviser Jared Kushner, special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman wrote a July 19 op-ed in The Washington Post, condemning Hamas for needlessly prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and calling for Hamass leadership to renounce terrorism or relinquish control of Gaza.

Hamas responded to the White House: Hamas (which is the Islamic Resistance Movement) ramped up its terror attacks, launching hundreds of rockets at Israel from Gaza, many of which landed in or near kindergartens, summer camps and homes in southern Israel. Yet the world focused on Israels response rather than Hamas terror. Little attention was paid to the plight of those living in Gaza or Israel, who are subjected to Hamass reign of terror. The world must stop treating Hamas, which uses residents of Gaza, including children, as human shields, differently than it treats other terrorists. No country would tolerate hundreds of rockets being launched into its sovereign territory. Israeli families were again forced to huddle in bomb shelters, an unacceptable and unconscionable condition ignored by the world media.

Although Hamas and Israel have agreed on a one-year ceasefire that will allow humanitarian relief to flow into Gaza, the question must be asked: Will Hamas use the money and aid for the people of Gaza, or will they continue syphoning resources to rebuild their arsenal for their next round of terror launchings against the Israeli people? It must be remembered that Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the continued rejection of Israel as a member of the family of nations.

In spite of these factors, the Jewish state appears ready to begrudgingly accept Hamas as the de facto leaders of Gaza, but only as long as Hamas terrorism can be constrained.

The Kushner, Greenblatt and Friedman op-ed called for Hamas to stand down and for the Palestinian Authority to resume control over the administration of Gaza. Gaza needs a governing body dedicated to a better future. It is questionable if the P.A. can, or even has the will, to do so.

At the United Nations, UNRWA, which utilizes bloated numbers to classify Palestinian refugees, has failed in its educational responsibilities, and can no longer be vested or trusted with the authority to monitor education to ensure the children of Gaza are taught a hate-free curriculum.

It is essential to establish a terror-free government for Gaza that can assume responsibility for education while helping create jobs and providing welfare to those who are desperately in need, giving the people of Gaza the chance for a new future. Israel can be an important ally to a terror-free Gaza by sharing its desert conversion technologynot only to make the desert bloom, but also to ensure a 24/7 flow of stable electricity, gas, clean water, irrigation and economic development.

Moreover, as Gaza is located on the Mediterranean between Israel and Egypt with its southern border adjacent to Egypts sparsely populated Sinai Peninsula, parts of the Sinai could be leased or acquired from Egypt to alleviate the population density in the coastal strip. This land could be used for new construction of housing and community institutions for the people of Gaza as a terror-free government works to rebuild Gazas crumbling infrastructure. Justly compensating and supporting Egypt, while ensuring that radicals do not expand into that country, is crucial to enabling the international community to begin rebuilding neighborhoods and perhaps even a New Gaza City as they work towards helping Gaza become governable, democratic, free and no longer a terror threat to any of its neighbors.

Expanding Gaza into the Sinai and establishing a government supported by democratic countriesfree of Hamas terror and controlcould help push Gaza into being part of the solution in truly establishing a terror-free region and achieving a durable peace, stability and economic development.

Richard D. Heideman is senior counsel of Heideman Nudelman & Kalik, P.C., which represents American Victims of Terror; author of The Hague Odyssey: Israels Struggle for Security on the Front Lines of Terror and Her Battle for Justice at the United Nations; and is president of the American Zionist Movement. The opinions expressed in this article are his own and not attributable to any organization.
(JNS)A demonstration last month in Washington consisting of two-dozen right-wing extremists set the world on its head. The event on the anniversary of last years Charlottesville rally by neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan was a pathetic flop, but it still generated massive coverage from the mainstream media. Many pundits, especially those from the Jewish community, urged us not to be deceived by the proof of their insignificance. After a year-and-a-half of touting the notion that the radical right was gaining influence, nothing could be allowed to distract from the narrative that these extremists posed a genuine threat to the American Jewish community.

But many of the same people barely noticed when one of the countrys leading anti-Semites was on stage at the nationally televised funeral service for music legend Aretha Franklin.

The honoring of the Nation of Islams Louis Farrakhan in this fashion generated virtually no coverage in the mainstream media. The fact that a man who leads an extremist hate group with a mass followingand who has spewed hate against Jews throughout his careersat on the stage as cameras rolled largely escaped notice on the networks that either broadcast the service/concert or played excerpts later. Nor was there much commentary about why former President Bill Clinton thought there was nothing wrong with sharing the stage and shaking hands with Farrakhan, who was seated alongside Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, two prominent political activists with their own histories of anti-Jewish incitement.

Many loved Franklin, and the event served as a feast for music lovers of a variety of genres. But the fact that few thought it odd or inappropriate for Farrakhan to be there next to music stars and political luminaries was more than just a misjudgment by the organizers and a bizarre faux pas on the part of President Clinton. It illustrates the double standards about anti-Semitism in this country, as well as the foolish complacency about certain kinds of Jew-hatred by those who sound the alarm about far more insignificant threats because their partisan loyalties blinds them to other problems.

The torchlight parade of right-wing extremists in Charlottesville chanting anti-Semitic slogans last year deeply frightened Jews and seemed straight out of our nightmares from the Nazi past. But as deplorable as that event, which led to the death of a counter-demonstrator, wound up being, it was still a mistake to treat the extremists as if they were a mass movement that represented a significant trend in American politics or culture. President Trump erred greatly with his ambivalent reaction when he conflated those who opposed the removal of Confederate statues with Nazis. But the idea that their views had any influence in his administration or that we are living in the moral equivalent of the last days of the Weimar Republic was an absurd and profoundly mistaken analysis of events.

Yet while so many Jews, as well as much of the mainstream media, are straining to connect the dots between Trump and hatemongers that have no real connection, open Jew-hatred from another far more popular and potent source doesnt seem to bother the same people very much.

Unlike the Nazis and the Klan, Farrakhans Nation of Islam is not an isolated or tiny band of nutcases. It has a mass following in the African-American community that, when you count his many sympathizers, may number in the hundreds of thousands.

Moreover, as the Franklin funeral demonstrated, Farrakhans fans are notas is the case with the alt-rightisolated. Their leader is feted and applauded by members of Congress, the leaders of the anti-Trump resistance Womens March group and other sectors of society, and treated as a celebrity by many in the arts. A documentary about Farrakhan that was made by his son and which celebrated him as an amateur musician included appearances by many prominent musicians, including Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder, both of whom sang at the service for Franklin.

When a man who speaks about the synagogue of satan and who routinely spews hate against Jews is treated as not merely a celebrity but one worthy of honor, there is something seriously wrong about American society. Normalizing or excusing hate diminishes everyone. That applies not just to Clinton, who should have known better, but for every artist who consented to appear with him on the same stage.

Farrakhan is no different from former KKK leader David Duke, except for the fact that he has many more followers. Still, you dont need much of an imagination to know what the reaction would be (and rightly so) from the same media that ignored Farrakhan at the Franklin funeral if Duke were embraced by prominent figures in another music genre or wound up sharing the stage with a former president. The outrage would be immense and immediate, as well as completely justified.

Anti-Semitism of any kind is not to be ignored. But the fact that so many prominent cultural and political figures, including the mainstream media, failed the Farrakhan test while going overboard about marginal figures on the right illustrates a serious problem with our thinking about the issue.

Ours is a time when Farrakhan is treated as a legitimate leader, and anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism and hate for Israel has become an endemic problem on American college campuses. It is also starting to be tolerated by some on the left wing of our political spectrum. Yet mainstream media talking heads and many in the Jewish community still prefer to obsess about a tiny right-wing movement with no influence because they think they can establish a false connection to Trump. We can and should oppose hate whether it comes from the right, the left or a minority community. But inflating one threat while ignoring another far more important one is not merely foolish, its a dangerous game whose potential consequences shouldnt be underestimated.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNSJewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at: @jonathans_tobin.
There is perhaps no more personal issue than religion, and there are few things that Americans will defend more passionately than their right to believe as they choose. Freedom of religion is the first right guaranteed in the Bill of Rightsbefore freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

While Americans cherish this right, there is wide disagreement about where, exactly, the line between church and state belongs. American History looks at the origins of an issue that is central to our national character but remains divisive to this day.

Roger Williams challenged the Puritans and struck a blow for freedom of conscience Roger Williams does not stand tall among Americas Founding Fathers. Compared with John Smith, William Bradford or John Winthrop, he is but a shadow. He receives none of the high esteem reserved for Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Yet Williams waged a one-man battle for what would become a fundamental right for all Americans: the freedom to worship without government intrusion. Especially over the past decade, religious freedom in the United States has been fiercely disputed and debated. While Americans enjoy freedom to worship as great as any other nation, many today seem willing to dispense with the separation of church and state that Williams advocated and to prefer instead a government that fully promotes Christian values and Protestant piety. For Williams, any hint of a combination of church and state was evidence of an insidious corruption that placed what he called soul liberty in extreme jeopardy. Forced worship, he wrote, stinks in Gods nostrils. Nothing in Williams background or his early life in England foretold his later experiences as one of Americas great dissenters. His origins were commonplace. He was born in London, the son of a merchant, about 1603. During his teens, Williams experienced a spiritual awakening that moved him to join the ranks of Puritan dissenters who opposed the ecclesiastical policies of the Church of England and King James I; his religious fervor, however, caused a falling out with his father, James, a stalwart supporter of the Anglican Church. Under the auspices of Sir Edward Coke, one of Englands most prominent jurists, Williams was educated at Cambridge, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in January 1627. But, for unknown reasons, he abruptly left the school sometime between December 1628 and February 1629 while studying for a masters degree.

In the winter of 1629 he accepted employment as family chaplain in the household of Sir William Masham in the parish of High Laver, Essex. There, Williams gained the acquaintance of influential members of several landed Puritan families, including the Barringtons, Whalleys, Crom wells and Winthrops. His radical religious views, however, were already setting him apart from the beliefs of many other Puritans. On his way to an important meeting in Sempringham in the summer of 1629, Williams rode in the company of two noteworthy Puritan ministers, Thomas Hooker and John Cotton, and boldly pointed out their error in using the Church of Englands Book of Common Prayer. Williams probably had not fully embraced separatism, but he was on his way toward rejecting the elements of religious conformity that were to be found in both the Anglican Church and among its dissenting Puritan congregations.

Although his living at the Masham estate was secure, Williams sought to chart a course that would satisfy his own ambitions. Sometime prior to the spring of 1629, he had contemplated emigrating to New England; according to his own testimony, he had received a call to accompany other Puritan emigres there, but he had turned it down. Williams married Mary Barnard in December 1629, and a year later the young couple sailed from Bristol to New England. It is not certain why Roger and Mary Williams decided to quit the Old World, although Williams in later life claimed that William Laud, the archbishop of Canter bury and fierce persecutor of Puritans, pursued me out of this Land. It is unlikely, however, that Laud was waging a personal campaign against Williams, who was a relative unknown among the Puritan clergy; Williams probably regarded Lauds generally harsh policies toward Puritans as threatening enough. Williams also said many years after his emigration that he had longed to deliver the gift of Christianity to the Indians, but his career as a missionary never panned out.

Williams and his wife arrived in Massachusetts Bay aboard Lyon on February 5, 1631. John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay, praised Williams as a godly minister, but Williams godliness would soon become a severe test of strength and endurance for Winthrop and the other leaders of Massachusetts Bay. In Boston Williams received an offer to teach in the church, but he declined it, saying that he dared not officiate to an unseparated people, by which he meant that the Boston Puritans were not as religiously pure as they might like to think, having failed to separate themselves fully from the Church of England.

Over the next five years, Williams separatism would be a painful thorn in the side of the colonists. Even after Williams moved from Boston to Salem, and from Salem to Plymouth, and from Plymouth back to Salem, each relocation designed to avert confrontation with the authorities in Boston, he nevertheless found himself repeatedly at the center of controversy.

In Plymouth, William Bradford observed that Williams fell into some strange opinions, and from opinions to practice, which caused some controversy between the church and him. As pastor of the Salem church, a position he officially occupied after the regular pastor died in the summer of 1634, Williams defiantly preached against the validity of royal land patents, oaths of submission to the colony and the right of magistrates to punish breaches of Gods first four commandments: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, orbow down thyself to them, nor serve them.Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.Remember the sabbath and keep it holy.

His arguments, which rested on the very firm foundation of his own sense of personal integrity and public honesty, were unrelenting in their bitter rebuke of Puritan practices. Some writers, particularly Cotton Mather, regarded the idealistic streak in Williams to be quixotic. There was a whole country in America, wrote Mather years later in a condemnation of Williams, like to be set on fire by the rapid motion of a windmill, in the head of one particular man. While the words were meant to be uncomplimentary, the sentiment summed up Williams rather neatly: He was a man whose ideas could churn and grind until they set the world on fire.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to silence him, the General Court finally lost all patience. In October 1635, the court voted to banish him from Massachusetts, declaring: Whereas Mr. Roger Williamshas broached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions against the authority of magistratesand yet maintains the same without retraction, it is therefore ordered that the said Mr. Williams shall depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks now ensuing. Williams fell ill, however, so the court delayed the enforcement of the sentence until the following January, when the magistrates dispatched a sheriff to arrest him and forcibly place him on board a ship bound for England. But Williams was warned of his impending arrest by Winthrop, who suggested that he flee to the Indian country near Narragansett Bay. He took Winthrops advice, escaped from Salem during a raging blizzard and followed the Indian trails to the village of Massasoit, a sachem of the Pokanoket (or Wampanoag) Indians. There he spent the winter.

By banishing him from the colony, the General Court defined the course of the remainder of Williams life. Williams suffered gladly as a persecuted witness of Christ, for he believed that faith was truly forged by such suffering, but he also bitterly resented the harshness of the sentence that had been imposed on him. For the rest of his life, Williams bore the scar of what he called the dry pit of banishment like a soldiers wound, his own peculiar badge of courage. In his writings he never let his readers forget the misery he and his family had endured. Neither did he let his persecutors forget their despicable act of unkindness toward him.

As winter turned to spring in 1636, his family and several followers from Massachusetts joined Williams among the Indians. On a parcel of land along the eastern shore of the Seekonk River, Williams and the others set about planting and erecting shelters. In short order, however, the settlers were warned that they were within the jurisdiction of the Plymouth colony and must vacate the land immediately. Acquiring a gift of land from the Narragansett Indian sachems Canonicus and Miantonomo, Williams and his small party crossed to the western bank of the Seekonk and established permanent homes at the headwaters of Narragansett Bay, a place Williams named Providence in recognition of Gods merciful providence unto me in my distress.

Reluctantly, Williams became a political leader of the fledgling community, struggling with the uncertainties of how best to organize the settlement into a functioning government. Before much could be accomplished, however, war broke out between the Puritan colonists and the Pequot Indians of Connecticut. Williams provided invaluable assistance to the military campaign against the Pequots by persuading the Narragansett Indians not to ally with their Connecticut brethren and by supplying the Massachusetts leaders with authoritative intelligence of enemy plans and movements.

Williams became a true friend to the Narragansetts. He recognized that the survival of the English colonies required a policy of peaceful coexistence, and he firmly believed that the Indians should not be treated as savages but as members of the brotherhood of man. Nature knows no difference, he wrote, between European and American [Indian] in blood, birth, bodies, etc. His close ties with the Narragansetts, however, became another sore point in his dealings with Massachusetts. John Winthrop thought that Williams was naive about Indian treachery, and that he preferred to accept the word of an Indian over that of a fellow Englishman.

There were other factors that kept Massachusetts at odds with Williams. Providence became a haven for dissidents who sought to live beyond the jurisdictional reach of the Puritan colonies. Williams own brand of religious thinking, especially his belief in the utter necessity of soul liberty and separation of church and state, became the hallmark of the Providence settlement. During its first few years, the inhabitants decided that no man should be molested for his conscience.

Williams took personal advantage of this broad liberty. In 1639, having grown disenchanted with separatism, he embraced the Baptist faith long enough to help found the first Baptist church in America. Four months later he abandoned the Baptist congregation in Providence and left organized religion behind. For the rest of his life, he would pray with his wife, but in his heart he was a congregation of one.

He steadfastly maintained that religion was something personal, something defined by an individuals relationship with his or her god. It could notshould notbe coerced by anyone, especially kings, magistrates or the decree of governments. Forcing someone to worship according to the Christian faith was antithetical to Christs own teachings. It was, he wrote, impossible for any man or men to maintain their Christ by their sword, and to worship a true Christ!

By 1643 four different communities of the religiously oppressed and the politically unwanted had been established around Narragansett Bay. Their Puritan neighbors, watching the growth of the settlements from afar, realized that these heretical denizens had built their homes on some of the richest land in southern New England. To check the heretics geographic spread, the Massachusetts authorities laid claim to the territory around Narragansett Bay in an effort to create a contiguous jurisdiction of Puritan colonies from Boston to Hartford. Perceiving the threat, the Narragansett Bay towns quickly dispatched Roger Williams to England to defend their sovereignty. He did better than that. With the assistance of Sir Henry Vane the Younger and other prominent Puritans in Parliament, Williams obtained a patent, dated March 14, 1644, that united the four settlements into the colony of Providence Plantations. Implicit in the patent was an endorsement of Williams concept of soul liberty.

In England, Williams spent a good deal of his time writing and published his two best-known works: A Key into the Language of America (1643), a dictionary of the Narragansett Indian language and a commentary on the culture and customs of the southern New England Indians; and The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution (1644), a sweeping condemnation of Massachusetts intolerance and a manifesto defending the right of each individual to decide, according to his own conscience, how best to worship God without interference from any civil authority. The Christian church, he asserted, does not persecute; no more than a lily does scratch the thorns, or a lamb pursue and tear the wolves, or a turtle dove hunt the hawks and eagles, or a chaste and modest virgin fight and scratch like whores and harlots.

With patent in hand, Williams returned to Providence in September 1644 to organize a central government despite the fierce political rivalries and petty jealousies among the settlers of Narragansett Bay. Williams served for more than three years as chief officer of the colony, but the internal dissension did not abate. To John Winthrop, Williams was forced to admit that our poor colony is in civil dissension. Winthrop privately noted, with some satisfaction, that at Providencethe devil is not idle. Soon William Coddington, a leader of a political faction on Aquidneck Island, received a parliamentary commission making him governor of the colony for life, much to the apparent dismay of Williams and others who believed in representative government and the use fulness of elections. In 1651 Williams again sailed for England, accompanied by Newport clergyman John Clarke, to challenge the Coddington claim and obtain a confirmation of the 1644 patent.

Williams second mission to England was less successful than the first, although he issued another spate of controversial writings, including The Bloody Tenent Yet More Bloody (1652), and debated religion and politics with Oliver Cromwell and John Milton. He saw to it that Coddingtons commission was nullified, but he could not get the affirmation of the patent that he so desperately wanted. In the spring of 1654 he returned to New England, leaving Clarke in London to carry on the colonys work.

That autumn Williams was elected president of Providence Plantations, but the colony was in almost complete disarray, torn asunder by factions and special interests that refused to work together in the name of the commonweal. In a land of his own creation, where individualism was valued above anything else, Williams realized that the duty of each citizen to his neighbors needed to be clarified.

He did so in what has become his most famous letter, an epistle written to the town of Providence in January 1655. In the letter, Williams defended his belief that religion and conscience should not be restrained by civil supremacy, but he also recognized that individualism sometimes had to be restricted for the sake of the com mon good.

He compared society to a ship, where the captains authority extended only to the actions of the crew and passengers, not to their religious beliefs. Nonetheless, captain, crew and passengers all had to work together to keep the ship on course. Therefore, if any on board refused to help, the commander or commanders may judge, resist, compel, and punish such transgressors, according to their deserts and merits.

Williams letter did not stop the dissension in Providence or the rest of the colony. In fact, during the remainder of the 1650s strife over land and boundaries was added to the political conflict that already existed, in some cases grafting land lust, as Williams called it, onto the political factions.

When not embroiled in the flames of religious and political contention, Williams spent his time raising livestock and trading with the Indians. He set up a trading post near Narragansett Bay and made the business into a prosperous concern; according to his own report, one year he earned 100 pounds sterling, considerably more than he could have made as a vicar in England. Often he retreated to the solitude of his trading post, where he could avoid the din of controversy, cultivate his friendship with the Indians and write long letters to friend and foe alike.

In 1663 Charles II granted John Clarke a charter for the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations that explicitly extended soul liberty as a right to every inhabitant. No person within said colony, declared the charter, at any time hereafter, shall be any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any differences in opinion in matters of religion. Despite the liberality of the charter and its provisions that fostered a lively experiment in freedom, Rhode Island was mired in the strife that had plagued it from its beginnings.

Throughout the 1660s Williams withdrew more and more from the political scene, partly because of the political ascendancy of the Quakers, who first arrived in the colony during the mid-1650s. Even though he shrank from politics, he did not refrain from speaking his mind. The Quakers troubled him both politically and religiously, especially because he was convinced that they elevated themselves above Scripture and paid no heed to conventional manners and morality. In 1672 he debated the Quakers in Newport and Providence, and later he wrote a long account of his experience, George Fox Diggd Out of His Burrowes (1676). His encounter with the Quakers was not his most glorious moment. In the debate he came perilously close to abandoning his cherished principle of soul liberty, although to his lasting credit he never tried to enforce any actual limitation on the Quakers form of worship or personal behavior.

During the 1670s his dealings with the Narragansett Indians also took a turn for the worse. Canonicus and Miantonomo, the two sachems who had given him the Providence lands, had died in the 1640s, and their descendantsthe new generation of Narragansett leadersfelt no special affinity for Williams or any other white man. Over the years, threats of war, expropriation of lands and spreading white settlements had taken their toll on the Indian way of life. When King Philips War broke out between the Puritan colonists and the Indians of southern New England in June 1675, Williams could not keep the Narragansetts from allying with Metacom (Philip), a Pokanoket sachem, and the other tribes that had taken up arms. Williams suffered another personal and diplomatic defeat in March 1676 when a band of Indians, including a number of Narragansetts, attacked Providence and burned his house to the ground as he was negotiating with Indian leaders on the outskirts of town. Eventually the blood that flowed in New England left an indelible stain. Williams himself joined a militia company and, after the war ended in the summer of 1676, participated with other Providence men in rounding up and selling Indian captives into slavery.

As one might expect, the last years of his life were not spent in quiet repose. Williams was an outspoken man, and he kept on writing and talking until the very end. Mostly he wrote about spiritual concerns, about matters of faith and soul, but he also became increasingly nostalgic in his later years, remembering the events and the people that had helped shape his life in New England. King Philips War had nearly laid waste to Rhode Island, but as his own demise approached Williams remembered mostly the early days, the happy recollections of his friendship with Canonicus and Miantonomo. His banishment from Massachusetts remained a bitter memory, an unhealed wound that he revealed time and time again. His neighbors opinions of him differed greatly. He was held in high esteem by some, but many regarded him as a busybody, someone who took himself far too seriously, andin the words of William Coddingtona mere weathercock, constant only in unconstancy.

When Williams died in the winter of 1683, he was buried with military honors in a grave located somewhere in the boundaries of his house lot in Providence. Eventually no one could quite remember where Rhode Islands founding father had been laid to rest, and he became a forgotten hero. Not until after the American Revolution did Williams begin to gain a historical reputation as a progenitor of religious liberty.

His faults were many, to be sure. Often he expressed himself with great modesty and pronounced deference, but he was just as frequently bold and rash. He was also argumentative, brutally honest and charitably fair. People reached startlingly opposite conclusions about him: He was a saint or the devil incarnate. He was, of course, neither. Cotton Mather, the Puritan divine, called him idealistic and dangerous, but he also admitted that Williams had in him the root of the matter. Nor was Williams the weathercock that Coddington had claimed, for if anything it was his belief in his role as one of Christs wit nesses that kept him steady and surprisingly consistent throughout most of his life. Rather, Williams was a bellwether. He showed his fellow Rhode Islanders how to prosper without the fetters of conformity or coercion, and he led them into an uncharted territory where church and state were divided by a strict wall of separation. Tho mas Jefferson borrowed this phrase in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, and it has become the definition of the Bill of Rights Establishment Clause: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Williams is not well remembered as an American hero. His greatest causesthe separation of church and state and the necessity of individual religious freedom remain controversial and spark emotional, rather than rational, responses by Americans, just as they did in Williams time. Williams wall is not nearly as high, nor nearly as impregnable, as he always thought it should be. In the end, we are left to work out for ourselves how matters of religious conscience should be decided. Perhaps that is what Williams really was after: the individuals freedom to decide his own mind and heart, without any one telling him that he must worship with those who hold the power in society, or those who intimidate others and, as Williams put it so well, maintain their Christ by their sword.

Originally published in the April 2007 issue of American History. To subscribe, click here.
In 1914, at the outbreak of World War I, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. But Irish republicans had long been pushing for independence, and tensions ran high in the Emerald Isle. Thus, when the British introduced conscription in 1916, they exempted the Irish. Yet many Irishmen still volunteered to serve in the British army. Those from the pro-British north largely enjoyed community support, while those from the republican south faced suspicion and hostility. Among the latter, Michael John OLeary earned the Victoria Cross early in the war and to this day ranks among the great heroes of the British army.

OLeary was born in 1890 into a republican, Catholic farming family from County Cork. At 16 he joined the Royal Navy, serving ashore for several years until medically discharged. Having little patience for farming, OLeary managed to enlist in the Irish Guards, in which he served another few years. After his 1913 discharge he immigrated to Canada and joined the Royal North-West Mounted Police, a forerunner of the present-day Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

When war broke out, OLeary was granted a leave of absence to return to Britain and re-enlist in the Irish Guards. During his first few months in combat in France he earned mention in dispatches and promotion to lance corporal. Then, on Feb. 1, 1915, near Cuinchy on the La Bassee Canal, elements of OLearys company were sent forward to bolster a combined force of Coldstream Guards and Irish Guards that had taken heavy casualties.

After consolidating their forces, the British resumed their attack against German positions. When a machine gun in the foremost enemy trench pinned down his unit, OLeary moved out alone and killed the gun crew with five well-aimed shots. Advancing 60 yards farther to the second German line, he engaged a second machine gun, also killing its crew. Though out of ammunition, he then captured two more Germans at bayonet point.

Promoted to sergeant and awarded the Victoria Cross, OLeary was heralded as one of Britains first heroes of the war. King George V himself decorated the Irishman at Buckingham Palace on June 22, and two weeks later thousands of Londoners gathered at Hyde Park to fete OLeary. Subsequently detached on recruitment duty, he appeared on one of the best-known British recruiting posters of the war.

Initially, his countrymen widely sang OLearys praises. But all that changed, especially after the April 1916 Easter Rising, when many came to regard him as a turncoat for fighting for rather than against the British. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw even jabbed at OLeary in a satirical one-act play titled OFlaherty, V.C.

In 1916 OLeary redeployed as a lieutenant in the Connaught Rangersanother Irish regimentserving through wars end in the Balkans, where he contracted malaria. Discharged in 1921, he returned to Canada for another stint as a policeman. Personal setbacks prompted his return to Britain, where he found himself in the run-up to World War II. In 1939 he returned to active duty, as a captain in the Middlesex Regiment, and crossed the channel with the British Expeditionary Force. But a recurrence of malaria forced his evacuation home before the Battle of France. He spent much of the war in command of a POW camp in southern England and ultimately retired as a major in 1954.

Irish-born British hero Michael OLeary died in Greater London in 1961, his funeral attended by an honor guard of the Irish Guards.
WEF President Borge Brende delivered a speech at the event, expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome.

For his part, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Long noted Quang Ninh is continuously calling for domestic and foreign investment, expressing his hope that investors attending WEF ASEAN will be interested in the locality.

Quang Ninh is committed to providing the best support to investors, he affirmed.

The province is promoting its potential and advantages, especially conserving and upholding the value of the World Natural Heritage - Ha Long Bay, as well as its historical and cultural relic sites and natural tourism destinations, towards turning it into a tourist center of the world.

Long stressed that after the WEF ASEAN 2018, Quang Ninh will implement the commitments of the Vietnamese Government, aiming to truly become a growth pole of Vietnam and attract more investors.

Quang Ninh is located 130 km northeast of Hanoi. It is described as the most important and vibrant trade gateway of Vietnam with China, and other ASEAN member nations. The locality is identified as a growth momentum of the north.

In recent years, Quang Ninh has mobilised resources to invest in three strategic breakthroughs, focusing on modernizing socio-economic infrastructure; accelerating administrative reform and e-Government development; and improving the quality of human resources to meet the provinces development strategy.

As scheduled, WEF ASEAN 2018 delegates will visit Ha Long Bay on September 14 as part of their activities in Quang Ninh.
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On behalf of the State President, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong presented the decoration to the EMWF at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 13.

Phong lauded the EMWFs operation in Vietnam in the past three decades, and expressed his hope that the organisation will run more activities to help the country improve local wellbeing and living standards, alleviate poverty, and boost socio-economic development.

EMWF Chief Executive Officer Lynn Foden said it is an honour of the organisation to receive the order and thanked Vietnams public agencies and organisations, including the VUFO, for their assistance for EMWF projects in the country.

She unveiled that based on previous outcomes, the EMWF will continue designing and implementing projects in education, health, and community development, as well as natural disaster and poverty alleviation.

The EMWF was founded in 1988 by Vietnamese American Ly Le Hayslip, and is based in Oakland, California, the US. It aims at the improvement of wellbeing and social welfare for disadvantaged communities in Asia through sustainable solutions to clean water, environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, health and education.

Currently, the NGO has been licensed to establish a representative office in Hanoi and a project office in Da Nang. During 30 years operating in Vietnam, it has to date channelled more than US$113 million into projects on building hospitals, schools, and charity houses; improving sanitation in society; organising educational and career guide programmes, summer camps and IT courses; granting scholarships; and carrying out free health check-ups and heart surgeries.

The EMWF has also run a number of small but effective projects on anti-human trafficking, natural disasters aid, and climate change adaptation, among others.


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BMI Has Record Year, Revenue Tops $1B, Digital Up 32%

BMI has reported record revenue of $1.199 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30th. The PRO distributed and administered a record $1.118 billion in royalties to its songwriters, composers and publishers, an increase of $95 million, or 9% higher than the previous year.

The $1.118 billion in total distributions includes domestic and international royalties, as well as royalties from direct deals that BMI administers on behalf of its publishers. Distributions from these direct deals totaled $53 million, a $17 million increase over the previous year, account for about 5% of the PROs total distribution for the period.

BMIs revenue growth was driven primarily by the digital sector, as well as increases in general licensing and international revenues. Revenue from digital was up to $215 million (32%) through new deals with Amazon, Apple Music, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, SoundCloud and Spotify. Digital now represents 24% of the companys total domestic revenue.

During the period, BMI also struck new deals with social media companies such as Facebook, who has been eyeing the music streaming business.

Total domestic revenue, which is comprised of digital media, traditional television and radio, cable and satellite, and general licensing, grew to a record $880 million, up 5% over the prior year.

Thanks to the incredible creativity of our songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI was once again able to generate record revenue and distributions on their behalf. While we are proud of achieving these results, we will always strive to do better. BMI will continue to advocate for our affiliates, ensuring that all songwriters and composers can continue to earn a living creating the music that is loved all over the world, BMI President & CEO Mike ONeill said.

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iciHaiti - Politic : Another UN mission after Minujusth





At the request of the UN Security Council, Minujusth has created a mechanism to monitor progress in implementing a two-year exit strategy, with objectives for the passage to a United Nations presence in Haiti other than a peacekeeping operation.



In collaboration with the United Nations country team and Haitian stakeholders, the United Nations has continued to collect and analyze data on 46 indicators that show progress in achieving the 11 goals of the Minujust are uneven.



Minujusth is aware of the need to "redouble efforts to ensure that the goals are achieved and provide a solid foundation for strengthening the rule of law, consolidating stability and moving towards sustainable development. "



To follow the progress of the 11 objectives of the Minujust visit : https://minujusth.unmissions.org/%C3%A9tat-des-lieux-tout-sur-la-mise-en-%C5%93uvre-du-mandat-de-la-minujusth

iciHaiti - Securite : 307 accidents en 2 mois (IMG ?)



IH/ iciHaiti


















* Cuban hero Rodriguezs paintings and poems displayed in Hanoi

* Grand meeting in Cuba marks Fidels historic trip to Vietnam

While visiting Vietnam earlier this year, Cuban Hero and President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando Gonzalez, affirmed that the Vietnam-Cuba relationship is a historic one that has been built based on the two sides efforts to overcome difficulties. Wishing to see the fierceness of the battlefield and the brave and indomitable fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people with his own eyes, President Fidel Castro, who served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Commander-in-chief of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces at that time, paid a visit to the Quang Tri fire frontline. After his historic visit in September 1973, the Cuban leader took two more trips to Vietnam in 1995 and 2003.

With the noble ideal of fighting imperialism for peace, national independence, democracy and progress around the world, the Cuban leaders visit left deep impressions and sentiments in the heart of each Vietnamese person and the Quang Tri locals in particular. The park named after Fidel Castro in Dong Ha city has been completed on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Fidels visit to Quang Tri, showing the special sentiments of the people in Quang Tri, as well as throughout Vietnam, to the Cuban leader. In Cuba, a series of events celebrating the 45th anniversary of Fidels historic Vietnam visit are currently taking place in many provinces and cities.

The State visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Nguyen Phu Trong, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation in late March 2018 reiterated the warm, intimate and respectful sentiments that the Vietnamese people are always willing to offer to the Cuban people. First Vice-President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Salvador Valdes Mesa, is paying a visit to Vietnam coinciding with the 45th anniversary of Fidels first arrival in the Southeast Asian country. The practical activities to mark such a special event have contributed to opening up a new stage in the relations between Cuba and Cuba.

At the recent Hanoi launch of a Vietnamese edition of his poetry collection, the Cuban hero, painter and poet, Antigua Guerrero, shared a famous saying by leader Fidel Castro, Cuba is willing to devote its blood for Vietnam, saying that it remains as true as ever. Forty-five years after the Cuban leaders visit to Vietnam, such a spirit of sharing continues to inspire generations of people in the two countries. The connection between the past and the present strengthens the special trust and sincere solidarity between the two brotherly nations.

In 2018, Cubas parliament, Council of State and Council of Ministers for the new term have been officially announced. The revision of the Constitution, the most important document in the history of Cuba, is currently being implemented, aiming to speed up the process of updating the economic model, and inheriting and promoting the revolutionary legacy. Meanwhile, Vietnam is forging ahead with its comprehensive reforms and international integration, rising to become a modern industrialised country with a strong and sustainable rapidly growing economy. In the new period, the two brotherly nations maintain similarities in their positions on many international issues, unanimously support each other at multilateral forums, and believe in each others path of successful development.

The 45th anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castros visit to Vietnams liberated zone is an important event, helping to reaffirm the special friendship and close solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, while helping the two countries people, especially the younger generations, get a better understanding of the history of the Vietnam-Cuba relations, which have been nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, leader Fidel Castro, and generations of the two sides leaders and people.
In a recent letter to Interim Town Manager Theresa Murphy, South Kingstown Conservation Commission chairman David Flanders asked town officials to step up enforcement of a plastic reduction ordinance that was first passed in June 2018 before being temporarily suspended for a three-month period at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Flanders specifically pointed to Shaw's Supermarket in Wakefield as a business which continues to offer plastic bags at all of its checkouts despite the ordinance being reinstated more than 15 months ago. The commission argues that continued distribution of plastic bags confuses consumers and retailers, and risks undermining the ordinance. Furthermore, it creates an uneven playing field among retailers if most are complying but one of the largest and most visible is not, again running he risk of undermining the integrity of the ordinance, Flanders said. Do you believe towns should fine businesses that dont comply with bans on single-use plastic bags? Let us know in this week's poll question.

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We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing.
September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The New York Times, on September 11, 2013, accommodated Russian President Vladimir V. Putins desire to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders about recent events surrounding Syria.

Putins op-ed in the Times appeared under the title: A Plea for Caution From Russia. In it, he warned that a military strike by the United States against Syria will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syrias borders  and unleash a new wave of terrorism.  It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Three weeks before Putins piece, on August 21, there had been a chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was immediately blamed. There soon emerged, however, ample evidence that the incident was a provocation to bring direct U.S. military involvement against Assad, lest Syrian government forces retain their momentum and defeat the jihadist rebels.

In a Memorandum for President Barack Obama five days before Putins article on September 6, the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) had warned President Barack Obama of the likelihood that the incident in Ghouta was a false-flag attack.

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Despite his concern of a US Attack, Putins main message in his Op-Ed was positive, talking of a growing mutual trust:

A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged in the past few days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international community must take advantage of the Syrian governments willingness to place its chemical arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama, the United States sees this as an alternative to military action. [Syrias chemical weapons were in fact destroyed under UN supervision the following year.]

I welcome the presidents interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria. We must work together to keep this hope alive  and steer the discussion back toward negotiations. If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust  and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.

Obama Refuses to Strike

In a lengthy interview with journalist Jeffrey Goldberg published in The Atlantic much later, in March 2016, Obama showed considerable pride in having refused to act according to what he called the Washington playbook.

He added a telling vignette that escaped appropriate attention in Establishment media. Obama confided to Goldberg that, during the crucial last week of August 2013, National Intelligence Director James Clapper paid the President an unannounced visit to caution him that the allegation that Assad was responsible for the chemical attack in Ghouta was not a slam dunk.

Clappers reference was to the very words used by former CIA Director George Tenet when he characterized, falsely, the nature of the evidence on WMD in Iraq while briefing President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in December 2002. Additional evidence that Ghouta was a false flag came in December of 2016 parliamentary testimony in Turkey.

In early September 2013, around the time of Putins Op-ed, Obama resisted the pressure of virtually all his advisers to launch cruise missiles on Syria and accepted the Russian-brokered deal for Syria give up its chemical weapons. Obama had to endure public outrage from those lusting for the US to get involved militarily. From neoconservatives, in particular, there was hell to pay.

Atop the CNN building in Washington, DC, on the evening of September 9, two days before Putins piece, I had a fortuitous up-close-and-personal opportunity to watch the bitterness and disdain with which Paul Wolfowitz and Joe Lieberman heaped abuse on Obama for being too cowardly to attack.

Five Years Later

In his appeal for cooperation with the US, Putin had written these words reportedly by himself:

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States policy is what makes America different. Its what makes us exceptional. It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lords blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

In recent days, President Donald Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, has left no doubt that he is the mascot of American exceptionalism. Its corollary is Washingtons right to send its forces, uninvited, into countries like Syria.

Weve tried to convey the message in recent days that if theres a third use of chemical weapons, the response will be much stronger, Bolton said on Monday. I can say weve been in consultations with the British and the French who have joined us in the second strike and they also agree that another use of chemical weapons will result in a much stronger response.

As was the case in September 2013, Syrian government forces, with Russian support, have the rebels on the defensive, this time in Idlib province where most of the remaining jihadists have been driven. On Sunday began what could be the final showdown of the five-year war. Boltons warning of a chemical attack by Assad makes little sense as Damascus is clearly winning and the last thing Assad would do is invite US retaliation.

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, with remarkable prescience has already blamed Damascus for whatever chemical attack might take place. The warnings of direct US military involvement, greater than Trumps two previous pin-prick attacks, is an invitation for the cornered jihadists to launch another false-flag attack to exactly bring that about.

Sadly, not only has the growing trust recorded by Putin five years ago evaporated, but the likelihood of a U.S.-Russian military clash in the region is as perilously high as ever.

Seven days before Putins piece appeared, Donald Trump tweeted: Many Syrian rebels are radical Jihadis. Not our friends & supporting them doesnt serve our national interest. Stay out of Syria!

In September 2015 Trump accused his Republican primary opponents of wanting to start World War III over Syria. Give me a break. You know, Russia wants to get ISIS, right? We want to get ISIS. Russia is in Syria  maybe we should let them do it? Let them do it.

Last week Trump warned Russian and Syria not to attack Idlib. Trump faces perhaps his biggest test as president: whether he can resist his neocon advisers and not massively attack Syria, as Obama chose not to, or risk the wider war he accused his Republican opponents of fomenting.

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. He was an Army Infantry/Intelligence officer and then a CIA analyst for a total of 30 years, and was a Presidential briefer from 1981 to 1985.

This article was originally published by " Consortium News " -

==See Also==

While President Trump & VP Pence give 9/11 speeches about how much they care about the victims of al-Qaedas attack on our country, they are simultaneously acting as protectors of AQ in Syria/Idlib, threatening Russia and Syria that if they attack al-Qaeda, we will punish them.  Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) September 11, 2018

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U.S. Again Cries Chemical Warfare in Syria

Officials still can't confirm there was a gas attack in April. So on what grounds do they predict a new one?

By Scott Ritter

September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Authors Update 9/12/18: The Syrian government, backed by Russian airpower and Iranian advisors, is preparing to undertake a major offensive designed to retake the province of Idlib from opposition forces. The newly appointed State Department Special Representative for Syria, Jim Jeffreys, claims that there is Lots of evidence that Syria is preparing to use chemical weapons, specifically chlorine gas, in support of the Idlib operation.

For its part, Russia claims to have specific intelligence that al Qaeda affiliates, working in conjunction with the White Helmet organization, is preparing to stage a chlorine gas attack designed to look like it was done by the Syrian government. The U.S. has warned that it would launch a major military strike against not only the Syrian government, but also Russian and Iranian targets in Syria, if chemical weapons were used in Idlib.

The issue of provenance is as relevant today as when this article was originally written, with the OPCW still assessing information to determine how the chlorine canisters discovered at Douma got there, and who was responsible for their use. The Douma incident stands as a case study against the rush to judgment when it comes to the attribution of blame, and is even more relevant today, when the mere allegation of chemical weapons use in Syria could lead to a major escalation in the fighting:

This summer the international monitoring organization tasked with investigating an alleged chemical weapons incident in the Damascus suburb of Douma on April 7 quietly published an interim report listing its preliminary findings.

Interestingly, the report, issued by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Nobel Peace Prize-winning agency mandated to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, noted that no organ phosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products were detected on the scenemore simply put, there was no evidence of Sarin nerve agent present at the incident site, despite wide speculation otherwise at the time of the incident.

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In fact, this speculation, for which the Trump administration insisted it had evidence, was used as an excuse for the U.S., France, and the UK to launch a coordinated bombing campaign against the Syrian government on April 12.

The report also notes that various chlorinated organic chemicals were detected, along with traces of high explosives. The chlorinated organic chemicals listed by the OPCW are commonly found in residential environments; several are by-products of chlorinated drinking water. The OPCW report does not provide any information about the concentrations of these chemicals, nor their physical location in relation to the victims alleged to have been killed or injured in the incident. The OPCW is continuing to assess these findings for their significance before reaching any conclusion about their relevance and meaning.

These interim findings are a far cry from the statements made by various American officials in the aftermath of the Douma incident, for which they blamed the Syrian government. On April 13, 2018, Secretary of Defense James Mattis briefed the press following the strike on Syria. In attacking Douma, Mattis said, the Syrian government decided to again defy the norms of civilized people, showing callous disregard for international law by using chemical weapons to murder women, children and other innocents. Mattis later added that we have the intelligence level of confidence that we needed to conduct the attack, noting, were very confident that chlorine was used. We are not ruling out sarin right now.

In the same briefing, Mattis was joined by General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who elaborated on the nature of the targets struck, noting that they were specifically associated with the Syrian regimes chemical weapons program, including one that was the primary location of Syrian sarin and precursor production equipment.

The specificity of language used by Secretary Mattis and General Dunford, declaring Syria to have a chemical weapons program with a storage facility containing sarin nerve agent precursor production equipment, and that target modeling was conducted that took into account chemical-specific information in order to mitigate collateral damage, implied a degree of certainty backed by intelligence information that the OPCW findings simply do not support.

While the military attack on Syria in the aftermath of the Douma allegations represents the ultimate manifestation of poor intelligence, the genesis of the Douma intelligence failure did not begin with the Pentagon, but at the Headquarters of the OPCW in The Hague, Netherlands. There, the OPCW maintains an information cell within a situation center tasked with, among other things, collecting all-source information relating to the use of chemical weapons, providing initial assessments of all information with respect to its credibility, and then drafting reports based upon this analysis for use by the OPCW.

According to the OPCW interim report, the information cell monitored media reports about an alleged chemical weapons incident in Douma on April 7 and initiated a search of open-source information to assess the credibility of that allegation. The major sources of information used by the information cell in this task included news media, blogs, and the websites of various non-governmental organizations. The information cell assessed the credibility of the allegation as high, and as such the director-general of the OPCW ordered an investigation.

The OPCW has not detailed the methodology used by the information cell regarding its assessed findings. The sources of the images and initial information coming out of Douma, however, were known to be closely affiliated with the Jihadist group Jaish al-Islam, which controlled Douma during the time of the alleged chemical attacks. The media association run by Jaish al-Islam, claims that media is a soft power through which social pressure is practiced, a statement that should have guided the analysis of any product derived from sources affiliated with that entity. Jaish al-Islam was, at the time of the alleged chemical weapons attack, on the verge of being annihilated by the Syrian Army (indeed, the very next day, April 8, Jaish al-Islam agreed to a ceasefire arrangement which led to the evacuation of thousands of its supporters and their families from Douma.)

Another important factor is the medical findings published by the NGO Syrian-American Medical Society, or SAMS. On April 8, SAMS, in association with Syrian Civil Defense (better known as the White Helmets), released a press statement reporting that the day before, more than 500 casesthe majority of whom are women and childrenwere brought to local medical centers with symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent. Patients have shown signs of respiratory distress, central cyanosis, excessive oral foaming, corneal burns, and the emission of chlorine-like odor.

The SAMS/White Helmet press release went on to note that, During clinical examination, medical staff observed bradycardia, wheezing and coarse bronchial sounds, adding that, The reported symptoms indicate that the victims suffocated from the exposure to toxic chemicals, most likely an organophosphate element.

Organophosphate is a buzzword for sarin nerve agent. And the SAMS report makes clear that its evaluation of the clinical symptoms present among the Douma victims are also linked to chlorine exposure. The problem with the SAMS/White Helmet narrative is that sarin and chlorine dont mix, a fact known to chemical warfare experts and duly documented in a U.S. Army study. In short, chlorine serves as a catalyst that promotes the decomposition of sarin nerve agent, meaning that if both substances were either combined or released together, the sarin would rapidly decompose.

Moreover, there seems to have been no effort on the part of the OPCW information cell to postulate alternative explanations about what could have caused the casualties that were depicted in the Douma videos. French intelligence, relying on an analysis of the same open-source information used by the OPCW information cell, noted that the symptoms observed in the images and videos are characteristic of a chemical weapons attack, particularly choking agents and organophosphorus agents or hydrocyanic acid.

Two observations emerge from that statement. First is that the French have sustained the flawed predicate that chlorine and sarin were used together (choking agents and organophosphorus agents), which is an impossibility due to the inherent incompatibility of the substances. Second, the French had assessed that the symptoms observed were characteristic of exposure to hydrocyanic acid, a solution of hydrogen cyanide in water. Hydrogen cyanide is not associated with either chlorine or sarin nerve agent. It is, however, commonly linked to smoke emanating from structure fires. Eyewitness accounts from Douma indicated that there had been dozens of victims from the aerial bombardment that was ongoing, including many who died of asphyxiation in basements filled with smoke from fires ignited by the bombing.

That the OPCW information cell did not at least consider the possibility of a structure fire as the source of the victims observed in the images is indicative of a myopic approach toward analysis when it comes to the issue of alleged chemical weapons use in Syria.

This narrow-mindedness is in large part derived from the history of the OPCW in Syria, and the close operational bonds that organization has developed with anti-regime organizations such as SAMS and the White Helmets. The OPCWs investigation of an alleged use of sarin nerve agent in the village of Khan Shaykhun in April 2017 revealed that it had provided training to the White Helmets on chemical sampling. It had also developed a working relationship with SAMS and the White Helmets concerning the identification of alleged victims of chemical weapons incidents, and the collection of medical samples used in investigating alleged chemical weapons events.

The front-loading of analytical conclusions by the OPCW information cell in the Douma case infected everything that followed. The State Department issued a statement on April 8 noting that The Duma victims symptoms, reported by credible medical professionals and visible in social media photos and video, are consistent with an asphyxiation agent and of a nerve agent of some type. While the statement is ostensibly sourced to SAMS, the White Helmets, and Douma Revolution, had the OPCW not endorsed these conclusions, but instead provided a more balanced assessment derived from logic (i.e., chlorine and sarin dont mix) and the consideration of other possibilities (structure fires), perhaps the State Department would have been more measured in its own assessment.

Instead, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, drawing upon the same imagery used by the OPCW, made an emotional case that chemical weapons were used by the Syrian government in Douma. I could hold up pictures of survivors, she told the Security Council on April 9. Children with burning eyes. Choking for breath. I could hold up pictures of first responders. Washing the chemicals off of the victims. Putting separate respirators on the children. Families lying motionless with babies still in the arms of their mothers and fathers.

I can hold up pictures of all of this killing and suffering for the council to see. But what would be the point? she added. The monster who was responsible for these attacks has no conscience. Not even to be shocked by pictures of dead children.

Haleys melodrama was matched by President Donald Trump, who tweeted Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Five days later, the U.S.-French-British bombing commenced.

That the U.S. diplomatic and intelligence communities allowed themselves to be manipulated in such a fashion should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with their respective records regarding Iraqi weapons of mass destruction or Iranian nuclear weapons. At the end of the day, however, the decision to use military force should be based on something more than intelligence assessments driven by incomplete and possibly misleading informationthere should be a concerted effort to ascertain the truth before acting.

In the case of Douma, truth (i.e., a factual determination as to whether chemical agent was used) was the domain of the OPCW, and in particular the inspectors of the Fact-Finding Mission organized and mandated to carry out inspections of alleged chemical weapons usage inside Syria. The assessments conducted by the OPCW information cell, however flawed, resulted in the director-general ordering an investigation to be conducted into the Douma allegation. Rather than supporting the OPCWs efforts in this regard, however, the United States began to attack the credibility of any findings that might accrue from such an investigation by pushing a narrative that held that the Syrian government and their Russian allies were deliberately delaying the access of OPCW inspectors to the Douma site in order to allow evidence of their guilt to degrade.

Syrian regime forces and their allies are denying international monitors access to the site of the alleged chemical attack in Douma, the State Department proclaimed on April 8. President Trump ran with this, declaring in a tweet that the area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. Interestingly, these announcements pre-dated the initial request of the OPCW to send inspectors to Syria by two daysa request which was made at the same time both Syria and Russia were formally requesting the OPCW to come to Syria to investigate the Douma allegations.

However, the OPCW report clearly shows that both the Syrian and Russian governments fully cooperated with the OPCW to provide secure access to Douma, and that any delays that occurred were due to legitimate security issues impacting inspector safety.

Now it looks like the reason the Americans and others accused Russia and Syria of delaying the work of the OPCW inspectors is that they suspectedno matter how much argued to the contraryconclusive evidence wasnt there to justify the April 12 military strikes. The United States laid out a military campaign predicated in large part by the notion that Syria continued to possess stocks of deadly sarin nerve agent and was using them against its own people. If one accepted at face value that sarin nerve agent was, in fact, used against Douma, then it automatically followed that there could be sarin-affiliated targets inside Syria worthy of attack.

But if the underlying assumption that sarin nerve agent was used has been proven false, then what does that say about the quality of the intelligence information and associated analysis used to justify American military action? Was the intelligence assessment regarding sarin precursor production equipment based on intelligence independent of the allegations of sarin use put forward by SAMS and the White Helmets, or colored by that erroneous conclusion?

American intelligence is currently being used to bolster charges of malfeasance in North Korea and Iran, and to sustain the potential use of military force if either situation deteriorates further. In a world where the memory of the WMD fiasco in Iraq is still fresh, one would hope that the U.S. intelligence community would attempt to avoid the mistakes of the past, where intelligence was shaped to conform to a political decision developed independent of facts. Given what the OPCW report has revealed, it appears that in the case of Douma, this lesson was forgotten or ignored. Going forward, it is essential that this not be the case, if for no other reason that a war with either North Korea or Iran will be far more consequential than a one-time missile attack against Syria.

Scott Ritter spoke out against the case being made by the US government for war with Iraq. After the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Ritter spoke out against the war. He continues to do so today, offering critical analysis of American foreign and national security policy.

This article was originally published by " The American Conservative " -

==See Also==

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September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The Israel Project, a major advocacy group based in Washington, is running a secret influence campaign on Facebook.

This is revealed in The Lobby  USA, an undercover Al Jazeera documentary that has never been broadcast due to censorship by Qatar following pressure from pro-Israel organizations.

The video above, exclusive to The Electronic Intifada, shows the latest excerpts to leak from the documentary.

Earlier leaked footage published by The Electronic Intifada and the Grayzone Project has already revealed underhanded tactics by anti-Palestinian groups planned and executed in collusion with the Israeli government.

In the newest clips, David Hazony, the managing director of The Israel Project, is heard telling Al Jazeeras undercover reporter: There are also things that we do that are completely off the radar. We work together with a lot of other organizations.

We produce content that they then publish with their own name on it, Hazony adds.

A major part of the operation is the creation of a network of Facebook communities focused on history, the environment, world affairs and feminism that appear to have no connection to pro-Israel advocacy, but are used by The Israel Project to spread pro-Israel messaging.

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Secretive thing

In a conversation also revealed in the leaked video excerpts, Jordan Schachtel, who worked for The Israel Project at the time, tells the undercover Al Jazeera reporter about the logic and extent of the covert Facebook operation.

The undercover reporter, known as Tony, was posing as an intern at The Israel Project.

Were putting together a lot of pro-Israel media through various social media channels that arent The Israel Projects channels, Schachtel states. So we have a lot of side projects that we are trying to influence the public debate with.

Thats why its a secretive thing, Schachtel adds. Because we dont want people to know that these side projects are associated with The Israel Project.

Tony asks if the idea of all the rest of the non-Israel stuff is to allow the Israel stuff to pass better.

Its just that we want to like blend in everything, Schachtel explains.

One of these Facebook pages, Cup of Jane, has almost half a million followers.

Cup of Janes About page describes it as being about Sugar, spice and everything nice.

But there is no disclosure that this is a page run for the purpose of promoting Israel.

The About page does identify Cup of Jane as being a community launched by TIPs Future Media Project in DC.

There is however no direct and explicit mention of Israel or indication that TIP stands for The Israel Project.

The Electronic Intifada understands that even this vague acknowledgment of who is behind the page was only added after The Israel Project learned about the existence of the Al Jazeera undercover documentary and presumably anticipated being exposed.

The Israel Project also added an acknowledgment on its own website that it runs the Facebook pages. However its website is not linked from the Facebook pages themselves.

There is no evidence in the Internet Archive of the page existing before May 2017  months after Tonys cover was blown.

According to Schachtel, The Israel Project is putting considerable resources into producing Cup of Jane and a network of similar pages.

We have a team of like 13 people. We are working on a lot of videos, explainers, he tells Tony in Al Jazeeras documentary. A lot of it is just random topics and then maybe like 25 percent of it would be like Israel or Jewish-based.

Al Jazeera states in the documentary that it approached all those featured in this program. None of the pro-Israel advocacy organizations or individuals working for them responded to our allegations.

Fake progressives

Cup of Jane tries to establish progressive credibility by posting pictures and quotations from such Black female icons as Maya Angelou and Ida B. Wells, whom the page honored on her birthday as a revolutionary thinker, writer and activist.

There are also posts about groundbreaking environmentalist Rachel Carson and Emma Gonzalez, who along with classmates launched a national campaign for gun control after surviving the February 2018 high school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

Woven into the stream of progressive-flavored fluff are attacks on actual progressive movements, such as Chicagos Dyke March, whose organizers faced an Israel lobby smear campaign after asking pro-Israel provocateurs to leave their march in 2017.

And a posting in October 2016, soon after the Cup of Jane page was launched, attempted to portray Israeli militarism as cute and empowering for women.

The Israeli Airforce has painted fighters pink in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. How cool is that? the post states, accompanied by a photo of an Israeli fighter jet. This is fierce. Women, by the way, need an air force all their own, Cup of Jane adds, along with a smiley face.

Other pages identified by the censored Al Jazeera documentary as run by The Israel Project include Soul Mama, History Bites, We Have Only One Earth and This Explains That.

Some have hundreds of thousands of followers.

History Bites does not reveal its affiliation with The Israel Project, not even with the vague formula used by Cup of Jane and the other pages.

History Bites simply describes itself as conveying The awesome of History in bite-sized chewable pieces!

That page re-posted Cup of Jane posts presenting Golda Meir, the Israeli prime minister who implemented racist and violent policies against indigenous Palestinians, and viewed Palestinian women giving birth as an existential threat, as a feminist hero.

A 2016 This Explains That video spreads false Israeli claims that the UN cultural agency UNESCO erased Jewish and Christian reverence for holy sites in Jerusalem.

History Bites reposted the video last December stating that it seems to support President Trumps declaration today that Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish state of Israel.

The video has received almost five million views.

Another video posted by History Bites attempts to justify Israels June 1967 surprise attack on Egypt, launching the war in which Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Egypts Sinai Peninsula and Syrias Golan Heights.

The video describes Israels military occupation of East Jerusalem as the city being reunified and liberated.

Israels toxic brand

The Israel Projects resort to a spoonful of proverbial sugar to try to make pro-Israel messages go down more easily is an acknowledgment of what a tough sell an apartheid state can be.

As Ali Abunimah, one of the authors of this article, states in the Al Jazeera documentary, The Israel brand is increasingly toxic, so you cant sell Israel directly. You have to have other hip stuff thats just very innocuous, fun and then from time to time youre going to slip something about Israel in.

The Israel Projects attempts to co-opt progressive sensibilities in the service of Israel, even though its own policies are on the hard right, fit into a wider Israeli strategy, which seeks to divide the left and weaken Palestine solidarity.

Run by Josh Block, a former Clinton administration official and former senior strategist at the Israel lobby powerhouse AIPAC, one of The Israel Projects top goals was to scupper the international nuclear deal with Iran.

The Israel Projects covert Facebook campaign is manipulative on its face, but is even more cynical given that its mastermind is Gary Rosen.

For years Rosen ran a virulently homophobic and Islamophobic Twitter account called @ArikSharon  the nickname of the late Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, who was responsible for Israels 1982 invasion of Lebanon and the massacres at the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila that same year.

Homophobic bigot and racist @ArikSharon is really top @SaatchiLA exec @thegaryrosen.  Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) May 25, 2013

In transcripts of a recording made by Al Jazeeras undercover reporter seen by The Electronic Intifada, Rosen acknowledges operating @ArikSharon as a secret account.

Rosen was employed at the global advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi, but in November 2013 joined The Israel Project, where he is responsible for digital strategy.

Rosen deleted many of the most offensive tweets from the @ArikSharon Twitter feed after he was exposed in 2013 by one of the authors of this article as the person running the account.

But while operating covert Facebook pages attempting to normalize support for Israel among progressive audiences, Rosen continues to use the @ArikSharon Twitter account to spread right-wing, pro-Israel messaging.

Anonymous ads exposed

This is not the only covert effort by the Israel lobby to use Facebook to achieve its goals.

A joint report by The Forward and ProPublica reveals that the Israel on Campus Coalition ran anonymous Facebook ads smearing Remi Kanazi, a Palestinian American poet, in advance of his appearances on US campuses.

Israel on Campus Coalition, a DC group funded largely by right-wing mega donors, anonymously set up Facebook pages to attack my events in 2016. https://t.co/motLHIbPni  Remi Kanazi (@Remroum) September 12, 2018

The Electronic Intifada was the first to report the Al Jazeera films revelations about how the Israel on Campus Coalitions efforts to smear and harass Palestine solidarity activists are covertly coordinated with the Israeli government.

A Facebook spokesperson told The Forward and ProPublica that the Israel on Campus Coalition ads targeting Kanazi violate our policies against misrepresentation and they have been removed.

In 2012, The Electronic Intifada exposed a scheme by Israels government-backed national student union to pay students to spread pro-Israel propaganda on Facebook. However the current covert effort run by The Israel Project appears to be far more sophisticated.

Since the 2016 US presidential election, Facebook has been accused of allowing its platform to be used for manipulative Russian-sponsored propaganda aimed at influencing politics and public opinion.

Despite the hype, these allegations have been grossly overblown or unsubstantiated.

Nevertheless, Facebook has partnered with the Atlantic Council in an effort to ostensibly crack down on fake accounts and disinformation.

The Atlantic Council is a Washington think tank that has been funded by NATO, the US military, the brutally repressive governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, European Union governments, and a whos who of investment firms, oil companies, arms makers and other war profiteers.

As the apparent result of this partnership, a number of completely innocuous social media accounts with few or no followers were recently taken down.

More worryingly, pages run by leftist news outlets focusing on countries targeted by the US government, such as Venezuela Analysis and teleSUR, were suspended, though later restored.

Now with solid evidence of The Israel Projects well-resourced and extensive influence campaign on Facebook, it remains to be seen if the social media giant will act to ensure that unwitting users are aware that what they are being exposed to is propaganda designed to boost and whitewash the Israeli state.

In response to a request for comment, a Facebook spokesperson told The Electronic Intifada the company would look into the matter.

This article was originally published by " Electronic Intifada " -

==See Also==

Pro-Israel Group Secretly Ran Misleading Facebook Ads To Target Palestinian-American Poet

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Addressing a reception for visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser in Hanoi on September 14, PM Phuc highly appreciated Estonias e-government model, stating that Vietnam welcomes Estonian experts who could support the process of building its own e-government.

The leader applauded the effective coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums, calling on Estonia to facilitate the European Unions signing of its free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam.

Bilateral trade revenues remain modest, he said, voicing his hopes that after the visit, Estonia would review and strengthen measures to accelerate two-way trade turnover and open up new avenues of cooperation between the two sides.

Estonian FM Sven Mikser said he hoped that his visit would create a new impetus for the enhancement of bilateral ties as the potential for cooperation remains huge, especially in e-government building and e-governance.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Estonian FM Sven Mikser at the meeting. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

Such digital technology will help the Vietnamese government speed up the building of an e-government, strengthen transparency, and save on the budget, he said, affirming that Estonia is willing to share its experience in the field.

Emphasising Estonias support of the free trade trend, the minister pledged Estonias efforts to encourage the EU to accelerate the signing of its FTA with Vietnam, adding that Estonia will be one of the first countries to ratify the document.

Both the host and the guest agreed that all countries need to respect international law and United Nations conventions.

Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Phuc emphasised Vietnams consistent stance of ensuring peace, stability, and maritime and aviation freedom, as well as its compliance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

* On the same day, Estonian FM Sven Mikser held talks with Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh, during which the two sides agreed to strengthen the exchange of all-level delegations; maintain political consultation and coordination between the two foreign ministries; and continue completing the legal framework to boost bilateral cooperation across all spheres, especially economics, trade, and investment.

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (right) and Estonian FM Sven Mikser. (Photo: VGP)

They reached consensus on creating favourable conditions for the exports activities between the two countries; expanding cooperation in the potential areas of education-training, agriculture, culture-tourism, and security-defence; and maintaining close coordination at multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and other multilateral forums to which Vietnam and Estonia are signatories.

The two officials also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concerns, highlighting the significance of peace, stability, security, and maritime safety and freedom.

The Estonian side affirmed support for the viewpoints of Vietnam and ASEAN in peacefully resolving disputes in the East Sea on the basis of respecting international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Estonian FM Sven Mikser emphasised that Estonia supports Vietnams strengthening all-around cooperation with the EU, including the prompt signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU FTA.
September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Twenty-five years ago this month, on the White House lawn, the lives of a generation of Palestinians changed forever when the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, shook hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. That handshake marked the start of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, with promises of a new era of peace, freedom and prosperity.

25 years later, Palestinians are no closer to freedom, as Israel has further entrenched, rather than lessened, its now 51-year military occupation.

Like countless others at the time, I was optimistic that the negotiations would finally lead to Palestinian liberty as promised and based on this, I decided to move to the West Bank to work as a legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team. During that period, I met with countless diplomats, worked on scores of proposals and even began a house-to-house campaign to speak to Israelis about ending Israels military rule.

But while I and others worked to end occupation others worked to entrench it, including the Israeli government and its settlers: within the first seven years after the negotiations began, Israel used incentives to nearly double its settler population. Today, the settler population is more than three times the size it was in 1993, with nearly 700,000 settlers living in the West Bank.

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Back in 1993, settlements were, for the most part, confined to hilltops, with Israeli settlers considered to be fringe. Far from being ostracized, today, some Israels largest cities are settlements, settlers have taken over homes in the heart of Palestinian towns and settlers command positions on the Israeli cabinet and on the Supreme Court. In short, settlers are the norm, not the exception. Today, Israeli settlers speak openly about annexing the West Bank or expelling Palestinians.

I am often asked why the negotiations process failed. It is easy to point to the rise of right-wing Israeli governments, poor leadership or weak or uninterested U.S. presidents. But the real reason for failure lie beyond these factors.

It is because the parties should not have started negotiating in the first place.

To demand that Palestinians - living under Israeli military rule - negotiate with their occupier and oppressor is akin to demanding that a hostage negotiate with their hostage taker. It is repugnant that the world demands that Palestinians negotiate their freedom, while Israel continues to steal Palestinian land. Instead, Israel should have faced sanctions for continuing to deny Palestinians their freedom while building illegal settlements.

Twenty-five years later, rather than living the joys of freedom, we mark each day, by thinking about how to maneuver the maze of Israels more than 500 checkpoints, put in place to accommodate Israeli settlements, just to be able to get to work or to school. A 25 year-old in the West Bank has likely never been able to visit the sea - a few miles away - while a 25 year-old in Gaza has never been able to leave the Gaza Strip, to visit friends and family in the West Bank and Jerusalem or even abroad.

It isnt just movement of people that is affected. Palestinians have not been able to take advantage of technological progress for "security reasons" for example, as cancer treatment advances throughout the world, Palestinian hospitals are barred from acquiring radiation equipment. Even our postal system remains hostage to Israels whims.

But, rather than recognize the mistake of negotiations, the world continues to demand that we continue the facade even though negotiations irrevocably broke down more than a decade ago. The negotiations process has, in effect, served as cover for the world to do nothing - while giving Israel the cover to build and expand settlements.

If peace is to be achieved, it must entail costs - and this time, not shouldered by the Palestinians. Rather, Israel must receive the strong message, the first in its history, that settlements will no longer be tolerated but rather reversed, and that Palestinians must be free.

I am under no illusions that the Trump Administration will put into place such sanctions. While previous administrations tried to maintain a semblance that they were helping "both sides," Trump has come decidedly in support of Israels right-wing pro-settler movement.

Whether by declaring Jerusalem as Israels capital or by attempting to extinguish the right of return, President Trump has shown that his "deal of the century" will undoubtedly accommodate Israeli settlements, take away Palestinian rights and reward Israeli wrongs. The closure of the PLO office in Washington D.C. this week is yet another check on Israels wish list.

For Israel and its supporters, the past 25 years have been a victory. With Trump at the helm, Israels settlers are at an all-time high, Palestinians are confined to bantustans and the U.S. is cracking down on Palestinians for demanding their freedom.

But this short-term fix has long-term implications. While Oslo changed the lives of a generation of Palestinians, this generation and the next have certainly learned its lessons: that negotiating is futile, and that our rights cannot be compromised. With this, it is only a matter of time before we begin struggling for equal rights in a single state, rather than press for statehood.

Diana Buttu is a Ramallah-based analyst and activist, and a former adviser to Mahmoud Abbas and the negotiating team of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Twitter: @dianabuttu
By Craig Murray

September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Like many, my first thought at the interview of Boshirov and Petrov  which apparently are indeed their names  is that they were very unconvincing. The interview itself seemed to be set up around a cramped table with a poor camera and lighting, and the interviewer seemed pretty hopeless at asking probing questions that would shed any real light.

I had in fact decided that their story was highly improbable, until I started seeing the storm of twitter posting, much of it from mainstream media journalists, which stated that individual things were impossible which were, in fact, not impossible at all.

The first and most obvious regards the weather on 3 and 4 March. It is in fact absolutely true that, if the two had gone down to Salisbury on 3 March with the intention of going to Stonehenge, they would have been unable to get there because of the snow. It is therefore perfectly possible that they went back the next day to try again; and public transport out of Salisbury was still severely disrupted, and many roads closed, on 4 March. Proof of this is not at all difficult to find.

This image is from the Salisbury Journals liveblog on 4 March.



Those mocking the idea that the pair were blocked by snow from visiting Stonehenge have pointed to the CCTV footage of central Salisbury not showing snow on the afternoon of 4 March. Well, that is central Salisbury, it had of course been salted and cleared. Outside there were drifts.

So that part of their story in fact turns out not to be implausible as social media is making out; in fact it fits precisely with the actual facts.

The second part of their story that has brought ridicule is the notion that two Russians would fly to the UK for the weekend and try to visit Salisbury. This ridicule has been very strange to me. Weekend breaks  arrive on Friday and return on Sunday  are a standard part of the holiday industry. Why is it apparently unthinkable that Russians fly on weekend breaks as well as British people?

Even more strange is the idea that it is wildly improbable for Russian visitors to wish to visit Salisbury cathedral and Stonehenge. Salisbury Cathedral is one of the most breathtaking achievements of Norman architecture, one of the great cathedrals of Europe. It attracts a great many foreign visitors. Stonehenge is world famous and a world heritage site. I went on holiday this year and visited Wurzburg to see the Bishops Palace, and then the winery cooperative at Sommerach. Because somebody does not choose to spend their leisure time on a beach in Benidorm does not make them a killer. Lots of people go to Salisbury Cathedral.

There seems to be a racist motif here  Russians cannot possibly have intellectual or historical interests, or afford weekend breaks.

The final meme which has worried me is if they went to see the cathedral, why did they visit the Skripal house? Well, no evidence at all has been presented that they visited the Skripal house. They were captured on CCTV walking past a petrol station 500 yards away  that is the closest they have been placed to the Skripal house.

The greater mystery about these two is, if they did visit the Skripal House and paint Novichok on the doorknob, why did they afterwards walk straight past the railway station again and head into Salisbury city centre, where they were caught window shopping in a coin and souvenir shop with apparently not a care in the world, before eventually returning to the train station? It seems a very strange attitude to a getaway after an attempted murder. In truth their demeanour throughout the photographs is consistent with their tourism story.

The Russians have so far presented this pair in a very unconvincing light. But on investigation, the elements of their story which are claimed to be wildly improbable are not inconsistent with the facts.

There remains the much larger question of the timing.

The Metropolitan Police state that Boshirov and Petrov did not arrive in Salisbury until 11.48 on the day of the poisoning. That means that they could not have applied a nerve agent to the Skripals doorknob before noon at the earliest. But there has never been any indication that the Skripals returned to their home after noon on Sunday 4 March. If they did so, they and/or their car somehow avoided all CCTV cameras. Remember they were caught by three CCTV cameras on leaving, and Borishov and Petrov were caught frequently on CCTV on arriving.

The Skripals were next seen on CCTV at 13.30, driving down Devizes road. After that their movements were clearly witnessed or recorded until their admission to hospital.

So even if the Skripals made an invisible trip home before being seen on Devizes Road, that means the very latest they could have touched the doorknob is 13.15. The longest possible gap between the novichok being placed on the doorknob and the Skripals touching it would have been one hour and 15 minutes. Do you recall all those experts leaping in to tell us that the ten times deadlier than VX nerve agent was not fatal because it had degraded overnight on the doorknob? Well that cannot be true. The time between application and contact was between a minute and (at most) just over an hour on this new timeline.

In general it is worth observing that the Skripals, and poor Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, all managed to achieve almost complete CCTV invisibility in their widespread movements around Salisbury at the key times, while in contrast Petrov and Boshirov managed to be frequently caught in high quality all the time during their brief visit.

This is especially remarkable in the case of the Skripals location around noon on 4 March. The government can only maintain that they returned home at this time, as they insist they got the nerve agent from the doorknob. But why was their car so frequently caught on CCTV leaving, but not at all returning? It appears very much more probable that they came into contact with the nerve agent somewhere else, while they were out.

I shall write a further post on these timing questions shortly.

Craig Murray is an author, broadcaster and human rights activist. He was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from August 2002 to October 2004 and Rector of the University of Dundee from 2007 to 2010. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk

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UN Chief Urges Talks to Avoid Idlib Bloodbath, NATO Threatens War to Defend Terrorists By Finian Cunningham September 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres this week decried a Russian-backed Syrian offensive to retake militant-held Idlib province. But the fact is, terrorist groups need to be eradicated, and the NATO powers are backing them.

The UN secretary general urged a redoubling of the Astana talks process initiated by Russia, Iran, and Turkey to end conflict in Syria. This is while Turkey has reportedly stepped up supplies of weapons to militants in Idlib, the northwest province under the control of extremist factions. Furthermore, the US and other NATO powers, Britain and France, are threatening to launch large-scale military strikes on Syria in the event of the Assad government forces moving ahead with a planned offensive. Guterres warned the military operation to wrest control of the area from illegally armed groups would cause a bloodbath. He urged a non-military solution to the conflict. He needs to get real. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter This amounts to the UN using a call for diplomacy to tie the Syrian Armys hands behind its back. Surely, the priority for Guterres is to condemn the use of violence by the US, Britain, and France against a sovereign nation, which has the legal right to assert control over its territory being held by foreign-backed terrorist groups.

Vasily Nebenzia, Russias ambassador to the UN, says that the Syrian Army and Russian allies are trying to ensure minimal civilian casualties. But, he added, there can be no peaceful settlement to the conflict until all extremist groups are eliminated.

Recall that any time the Syrian Army moves to liberate cities and towns under the siege of militants, UN bureaucrats always join the gallery of Western governments and media depicting the operations as wanton violence against civilians.

What the UN, the US, and its allies are doing is a cynical media maneuver to delegitimize the Syrian government and its sovereign right to eradicate armed groups. The militants are not moderate rebels as the Western media pretend. They are the most heinous terrorist brigades which have held civilian populations under a reign of terror.

A medley of names  Al-Nusra, Hayat Tahrir al Sham, Ahrar al Sham, Jaysh al Islam, Islamic State, and so on, cannot hide the fact that they are all affiliated with the original Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Recall, too, the decisive battle for East Aleppo in December 2016. When the Syrian Army and its Russian allies were moving to recapture Syrias second major city, the Western media was screaming denunciations of supposed war crimes, barbarity, and even Nazi-like genocide against civilians. Again, UN officials were lending credence to claims by Washington, London, and Paris that the Syrian-Russian offensive on East Aleppo was going to lead to a bloodbath.

Fortunately, the Syrian and Russian authorities ignored the histrionics and proceeded to liberate East Aleppo in short order. Thousands of civilians rejoiced at their release from years-long siege by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists who subjected them to unspeakable cruelty.

Those Western-media-friendly rebels fled to what is now their last remaining stronghold, Idlib.

There are estimated to be 10,000 fighters among a civilian population of three million.

As Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova points out, many civilians are held hostage as human shields by the terrorist brigades, as in earlier sieges, such as East Aleppo. It is therefore a moral, legal, and military imperative for the Syrian Army to salvage its civilians from criminal captivity.

Several UN Security Council resolutions mandate the elimination of the terrorist groups in Syria. Doublethink or duplicity, some of those organizations are even proscribed as terrorists by Western governments.

The criminal gangs are making their last stand, refusing to lay down their weapons. Syrian government forces are therefore entitled to vanquish those militants who have run amok for the past eight years, destroying millions of families, centuries of cultural heritage, and reducing the once-developed republic to ruins.

Nikki Haley, the insufferably arrogant US ambassador to the UN, this week said: Russia, Iran and [Bashar] Assad are demolishing Idlib and asking us to call it peace.

Alexander Lavrentiev, Russias envoy to Syria, rebutted such claims as overblown because, he said, an offensive is not even underway. A view supported by other independent reports.

Hysterical Haley doesnt have any shame lecturing others when her countrys air force obliterated the Syrian city of Raqqa last year, indiscriminately killing thousands of civilians. The alleged purpose of defeating terrorists wasnt even a success because it is believed many of them ended up in Idlib, given safe passage by the Americans.

What US forces  illegally present in Syria  did in Raqqa was to simply destroy more of the countrys infrastructure, as they have done by blowing up bridges in Eastern Syria. In that way, the US is on the same side of the terrorists for the objective of regime change against President Assad.

The intervention of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah on the side of the Syrian Army is a wholly different category from that of the US and its NATO allies bombing Syria. Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah are legally mandated by request of the Syrian government to help liberate the country from the criminal US-led forces, both overt as in warplanes, and covert in the form of the Al Qaeda-linked terrorist brigades doing Washingtons dirty work on the ground.

What is pathetic is the mealy-mouthed duplicity of the United Nations. Its leadership is indulging the charade of the US and its allies of distorting the violence in Syria as some kind of struggle between government forces and moderate rebels.

Now that the rebels are seen for what they are  at last, despite massive Western media deception  the UN bureaucrats are playing the humanitarian card. Secretary General Guterres claims that for Syria there is no military solution. He wants Syria and Russia to call off their offensive on Idlib. What for? To buy time in order to give the terrorists an escape route to some other country?

Would the UN honcho make such a preposterous proposal to the United States if, say, Oregon were somehow taken over by illegally armed groups, ones that were composed of foreign jihadists backed by foreign governments?

Panning away from Syria, it is evident that international security conditions are heading for a potentially disastrous breakdown, in particular between the US and Russia. In this situation of lawlessness and rogue state conduct, the United Nations is appearing like the toothless, effete League of Nations in the run-up to World War II.

What the world needs is the UN to fulfill its role of upholding international law and calling out criminal states. The US and its NATO allies are the rogues in todays world without a doubt. What they have done, and are doing, to Syria, covertly and overtly, is a monumental violation of laws, morality and truth.

There seems to be no point in engaging with deluded liars. Syria, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah should proceed to liberate the people of Idlib, put an end to the war, and eradicate the terrorist disease that Washington and its criminal cronies infected the country with.

Finian Cunningham

This article was originally published by " RT " -

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Home Search ICH Americas False History By Paul Craig Roberts September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - David Ray Griffin writes books faster than I can read them. Therefore, I am going to borrow Edward Curtins review of Griffins history of the United States: The American Trajectory: Divine or Demonic? which Curtin suggests should have been titled: A Diabolic False Flag Empire. Griffins book is a humdinger and will certainly upset brainwashed American super-patriots, but it throughly documents how Washingtons aggression toward other lands is covered up by politicians, media, and court historians with moral verbiage. In my view the hubris, arrogance, and ignorance of American exceptionism has the world locked on a trajectory to its extinction in nuclear Armageddon. Curtin points out that Griffin makes an extraordinary mistake, unusual for a scholar as careful as Griffin, in his assessment of President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy was the president who tried to move Americas trajectory off of its demonic path and was murdered by his own government for his attempt. But as I have said, none of us knows everything. We often have to rely on others, and others, also, make mistakes. An omission in Griffins account of Washingtons wars of aggression, or perhaps just unmentioned by Curtin in his review, is Washingtons aggression and war crimes against the Confederacy. The Unions aggression included warring against civilians and the intentional destruction of their livelihoods. It was the same for its time as the US and British firebombing of German cities and Washingtons destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima with atomic bombs. Washington has never let morality stand in the way of its empire. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Washington has never permitted treaties and domestic laws to stand in its way either. For example: The Cheney/Bush regime violated the Non-Detention Act passed by Congress in 1971 and signed by President Nixon. The Cheney/Bush regime violated The Convention Against Torture, ratified by the Senate in 1994 and bolstered by a US law that prohibits US officials anywhere in the world from torturing anyone. The Cheney/Bush regime unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-ABM Treaty. The Trump regime unilaterally withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Agreement. The Obama regime dismissed the due process protection in the US Constitution and arbitrarily assassinated US citizens without indictment, trial, and conviction. The above examples merely scratch the surface. Just think of all of the treaties with the various American Indian tribes that Washington dishonored. As Washingtons word means nothing, it is a puzzle that Iran and Russia make worthless agreements with Washington. The answer must be that hope prevails over experience. A Diabolic False Flag Empire By Edward Curtin September 08, 2018 " Lew Rockwell " - The past is not dead; it is people who are sleeping. The current night and daymares that we are having arise out of murders lodged deep in our past that have continued into the present. No amount of feigned amnesia will erase the bloody truth of American history, the cheap grace we bestow upon ourselves. We have, as Harold Pinter said in his Nobel address, been feeding on a vast tapestry of lies that surrounds us, lies uttered by nihilistic leaders and their media mouthpieces for a very long time. We have, or should have, bad consciences for not acknowledging being active or silent accomplices in the suppression of truth and the vicious murdering of millions at home and abroad. But, as Pinter said, I believe that despite the enormous odds which exist, unflinching, unswerving, fierce intellectual determination, as citizens, to define the real truth of our lives and our societies is a crucial obligation which devolves upon us all. It is in fact mandatory. No one is more emblematic of this noble effort than David Ray Griffin, who, in book after book since the attacks of 11 September 2001, has meticulously exposed the underside of the American empire and its evil masters. His persistence in trying to reach people and to warn them of the horrors that have resulted is extraordinary. Excluding his philosophical and theological works, this is his fifteenth book since 2004 on these grave issues of life and death and the future of the world. In this masterful book, he provides a powerful historical argument that right from the start with the arrival of the first European settlers, this country, despite all the rhetoric about it having been divinely founded and guided, has been more malign that benign, more demonic than divine. He chronologically presents this history, supported by meticulous documentation, to prove his thesis. In his previous book, Bush and Cheney: How They Ruined America and the World, Griffin cataloged the evil actions that flowed from the inside job/false flag attacks of September 11th, while in this one  a prequel  he offers a lesson in American history going back centuries, and he shows that one would be correct in calling the United States a false flag empire. The attacks of 11 September 2001 are the false flag fulcrum upon which his two books pivot. Their importance cannot be overestimated, not just for their inherent cruelty that resulted in thousands of innocent American deaths, but since they became the justification for the United States ongoing murderous campaigns termed the war on terror that have brought death to millions of people around the world. An international array of expendable people. Terrifying as they were, and were meant to be, they have many precedents, although much of this history is hidden in the shadows. Griffin shines a bright light on them, with most of his analysis focused on the years 1850-2018. As a theological and philosophical scholar, he is well aware of the great importance of societys need for religious legitimation for its secular authority, a way to offer its people a shield against terror and lifes myriad fears through a protective myth that has been used successfully by the United States to terrorize others. He shows how the terms by which the U.S. has been legitimated as Gods chosen nation and Americans as Gods chosen people have changed over the years as secularization and pluralism have made inroads. The names have changed, but the meaning has not. God is on our side, and when that is so, the other side is cursed and can be killed by Gods people, who are always battling el diabalo. He exemplifies this by opening with a quote from George Washingtons first Inaugural Address where Washington speaks of the Invisible Hand and Providential agency guiding the country, and by ending with Obama saying I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being. In between we hear Andrew Jackson say that Providence has showered on this favored land blessings without number and Henry Cabot Lodge in 1900 characterize Americas divine mission as manifest destiny. The American religion today is American Exceptionalism, an updated euphemism for the old-fashioned Gods New Israel or the Redeemer Nation. At the core of this verbiage lies the delusion that the United States, as a blessed and good country, has a divine mission to spread democracy and freedom throughout the world, as Hilary Clinton declared during the 2016 presidential campaign when she said that we are great because we are good, and in 2004 when George W. Bush said, Like generations before us, we have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom. Such sentiments could only be received with sardonic laughter by the countless victims made free by Americas violent leaders, now and then, as Griffin documents. Having established the fact of Americas claim to divine status, he then walks the reader through various thinkers who have taken sides on the issue of the United States being benign or malign. This is all preliminary to the heart of the book, which is a history lesson documenting the malignancy at the core of the American trajectory. American imperialism is often said to have begun in 1898, when Cuba and the Philippines were the main prizes, he begins. What was new at this time, however, was only that America took control of countries beyond the North American continent. The divine right to seize others lands and kill them started long before, and although no seas were crossed in the usual understanding of imperialism, the genocide of Native Americans long preceded 1898. So too did the manifest destiny that impelled war with Mexico and the seizure of its land and the expansion west to the Pacific. This period of empire building depended heavily on the other great crime against humanity that was the slave trade, wherein it is estimated that 10 million Africans died, in addition to the sick brutality of slavery itself. No matter how brutal the methods, Americans were instruments of divine purposes, writes Griffin. And, he correctly adds, it is not even true that Americas overseas imperialistic ventures only started in 1898, for in the 1850s Commodore Perry forced the haughty Japanese to open their ports to American commerce through gunboat diplomacy. Then in 1898 the pace of overseas imperial expansion picked up dramatically with what has been called The Spanish-American War that resulted in the seizure of Cuba and the Philippines and the annexing of Hawaii. Griffin says these wars could more accurately be termed the wars to take Spanish colonies. His analysis of the brutality and arrogance of these actions makes the reader realize that My Lai and other more recent atrocities have a long pedigree that is part of an institutional structure, and while Filipinos and Cubans and so many others were being slaughtered, Griffin writes, Anticipating Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfelds declaration that we dont do empire, [President] McKinley said that imperialism is foreign to the temper and genius of this free and generous people. Then as now, perhaps mad laughter is the only response to such unadulterated bullshit, as Griffin quotes Mark Twain saying that it would be easy creating a flag for the Philippines: We can have just our usual flag, with the white stripes painted black and the stars replaced by the skull and cross-bones. That would have also worked for Columbia, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, and other countries subjugated under the ideology of the Monroe Doctrine; wherever freedom and national independence raised its ugly head, the United States was quick to intervene with its powerful anti-revolutionary military and its financial bullying. In the Far East the Open Door policy was used to loot China, Japan, and other countries. But all this was just the beginning. Griffin shows how Woodrow Wilson, the quintessentially devious and treacherous liberal Democrat, who claimed he wanted to keep America out of WW I, did just the opposite to make sure the U.S. would come to dominate the foreign markets his capitalist masters demanded. Thus Griffin explores how Wilson conspired with Winston Churchill to use the sinking of the Lusitania as a casus belli and how the Treaty of Versailless harsh treatment of Germany set the stage for WW II. He tells us how in the intervening years between the world wars the demonization of Russia and the new Soviet Union was started. This deprecation of Russia, which is roaring at full-throttle today, is a theme that recurs throughout The American Trajectory. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. Wilson called the Bolshevik government a government by terror, and in 1918 sent thousands of troops into northern and eastern Russia, leaving them there until 1920. That the U. S. invaded Russia is a fact rarely mentioned and even barely known to Americans. Perhaps awareness of it and the century-long demonizing of the U.S.S.R./Russia would enlighten those who buy the current anti-Russia propaganda called Russiagate. To match that divine act of imperial intervention abroad, Wilson fomented the Red Scare at home, which, as Griffin says, had lasting and incalculable importance because it created the American fear of radical thought and revolution that exists to this very day and serves as a justification for supporting brutal dictators around the world and crackdowns on freedom at home (as is happening today). He gives us brief summaries of some dictators the U.S has supported, and reminds us of the saying of that other liberal Democrat, Franklin Roosevelt, who famously said of the brutal Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, that he may be a son-of-a-bitch, but hes our son-of-a-bitch. And thus Somoza would terrorize his own people for 43 years. The same took place in Cuba, Chile, Iran, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc. The U.S. also supported Mussolini, did nothing to prevent Francos fascist toppling of the Spanish Republic, and supported the right-wing government of Chiang-Kai Shek in its efforts to dominate China. It is a very dark and ugly history that confirms the demonic nature of American actions around the world. Then Griffin explodes the many myths about the so-called Good War  WW II. He explains the lies told about the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor; how Roosevelt wished to get the U.S. into the war, both in the Pacific and in Europe; and how much American economic self-interest lay behind it. He critiques the myth that America selflessly wished to defend freedom loving people in their battles with brutal, fascist regimes. That, he tells us, is but a small part of the story: This, however, is not an accurate picture of American policies during the Second World War. Many people were, to be sure, liberated from terrible tyrannies by the Allied victories. But the fact that these people benefited was an incidental outcome, not a motive of American policies. These policies, as [Andrew] Bacevich discovered, were based on unflagging self-interest. Then there are the conventional and atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nothing could be more demonic, as Griffin shows. If these cold-blooded mass massacres of civilians and the lies told to justify them dont convince a reader that there has long been something radically evil at the heart of American history, nothing will. Griffin shows how Truman and his advisers and top generals, including Dwight Eisenhower and Admiral William D. Leahy, Trumans Chief of Staff, knew the dropping of the atomic bombs were unnecessary to end the war, but they did so anyway. He reminds us of Clintons Secretary of State Madeline Albrights response to the question whether she thought the deaths of more than 500, 000 Iraqi children as a result of Clintons crippling economic sanctions were worth it: But, yes, we think the price is worth it. (Notice the is, the ongoing nature of these war crimes, as she spoke.) But this is the woman who also said, We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall Griffin devotes other chapters to the creation of the Cold War, American imperialism during the Cold War, Post-Cold War interventions, the Vietnam War, the drive for global dominance, and false flag operations, among other topics. As for false flag operations, he says, Indeed, the trajectory of the American Empire has relied so heavily on these types of attacks that one could describe it as a false flag empire. In the false flag chapter and throughout the book, he discusses many of the false flags the U.S. has engaged in, including Operation Gladio, the U.S./NATO terrorist operation throughout Europe that Swiss historian Daniele Ganser has extensively documented, an operation meant to discredit communists and socialists. Such operations were directly connected to the OSS, the CIA and its director Allen Dulles, his henchman James Jesus Angleton, and their Nazi accomplices, such as General Reinhard Gehlen. In one such attack in 1980 at the Bologna, Italy railway station, these U.S. terrorists killed 85 people and wounded 20 others. As with the bombs dropped by Saudi Arabia today on Yemeni school children, the explosive used was made for the U.S. military. About these documented U.S. atrocities, Griffin says: These revelations show the falsity of an assumption widely held by Americans. While recognizing that the US military sometimes does terrible things to their enemies, most Americans have assumed that US military leaders would not order the killing of innocent civilians in allied countries for political purposes. Operation Gladio showed this assumption to be false. He is right, but I would add that the leaders behind this were civilian, as much as, or more than military. In the case of Operation Northwoods, it was the Joint Chiefs of Staff who presented to President Kennedy this false flag proposal that would provide justification for a U.S. invasion of Cuba. It would have involved the killing of American citizens on American soil, bombings, plane hijacking, etc. President Kennedy considered such people and such plans insane, and he rejected it as such. His doing so tells us much, for many other presidents would have approved it. And again, how many Americans are aware of this depraved proposal that is documented and easily available? How many even want to contemplate it? For the need to remain in denial of the facts of history and believe in the essential goodness of Americas rulers is a very hard nut to crack. Griffin has written a dozen books about 11 September 2001, trying to do exactly that. If one is willing to embrace historical facts, however, then this outstanding book will open ones eyes to the long-standing demonic nature of the actions of Americas rulers. A reader cannot come away from its lucidly presented history unaffected, unless one lives in a self-imposed fantasy world. The record is clear, and Griffin lays it out in all its graphic horror. Which is not to say that the U.S. has not done both good and bad things, so it could not sensibly be called purely divine or purely demonic. Questions of purity are meant to obfuscate basic truths. And the question he asks in his subtitle  Divine or Demonic?  is really a rhetorical question, and when it comes to the trajectory of American history, the demonic wins hands down. I would be remiss if I didnt point out one place where Griffin fails the reader. In his long chapter on Vietnam, which is replete with excellent facts and analyses, he makes a crucial mistake, which is unusual for him. This mistake appears in a four page section on President Kennedys policies on Vietnam. In those pages, Griffin relies on Noam Chomskys terrible book  Rethinking Camelot: JFK, the Vietnam War, and US Political Culture (1993), a book wherein Chomsky shows no regard for evidence or facts  to paint Kennedy as being in accord with his advisers, the CIA, and the military regarding Vietnam. This is factually false. Griffin should have been more careful and have understood this. The truth is that Kennedy was besieged and surrounded by these demonic people, who were intent on isolating him, disregarding his instructions, and murdering him to achieve their goals in Vietnam. In the last year of his life, JFK had taken a radical turn toward peace-making, not only in Vietnam, but with the Soviet Union, Cuba, and around the globe. Such a turn was anathema to the war lovers. Thus he had to die. Contrary to Chomskys deceptions, motivated by his hatred of Kennedy and perhaps something more sinister (he also backs the Warren Commission, thinks JFKs assassination was no big deal, and accepts the patently false official version of the attacks of 11 September 2001), Griffin should have emphatically asserted that Kennedy had issued NSAM 263 on October 11, 1963 calling for the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam, and that after he was assassinated a month later, Lyndon Johnson reversed that withdrawal order with NSAM 273. Chomsky notwithstanding, all the best scholarship and documentary evidence proves this. And for Griffin, a wonderful scholar, to write that with the change from Kennedy to Johnson that this change of presidents would bring no basic change in policy is so shockingly wrong that I imagine Griffin, a man passionate about truth, simply slipped up and got sloppy here. For nothing could be further from the truth. Ironically, Griffin makes a masterful case for his thesis, while forgetting the one pivotal man, President John Kennedy, who sacrificed his life in an effort to change the trajectory of American history from its demonic course. It is one mistake in an otherwise very important and excellent book that should be required reading for anyone who doubts the evil nature of this countrys continuing foreign policy. Those who are already convinced should also read it, for it provides a needed historical resource and impetus to help change the trajectory that is transporting the world toward nuclear oblivion, if continued. If  a fantastic wish!  The American Trajectory: Divine or Demonic? were required reading in American schools and colleges, perhaps a new generation would arise to change our devils into angels, the arc of Americas future moral universe toward justice, and away from being the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today, as it has been for so very long. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . Dr. Roberts ask that your support his work. ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
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September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Since we last appealed to readers a year ago, you responded with tremendous support to Information Clearing House. We thank you!



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In recent weeks, the war agenda pushed by the corporate-controlled media has become even more deranged. Misinformation about chemical weapons in Syria is leading the world to a dangerous confrontation, possibly a global conflagration between the United States and Russia.



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ICH grew out of frustration and anger at the failure of traditional commercial media to inform the American public, especially as it relates to US foreign policy. The propaganda spewed up by our government has enabled it to manipulate public opinion through psychological manipulation (social engineering) using main stream media and has in many instances converted citizens into Zombies who prefer to applauded our politicians as the stand on the bodies of millions around the world who have been killed because of our lack of awareness and concern.

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This has to STOP , we have to work to prevent further killing, suffering and torture because as John Adams said "Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people." American - President October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826

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By Eric Zuesse

September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Theres plenty of proof that the U.S. Government protects Al Qaeda in Syria. Right now, America is protecting Al Qaedas main center throughout the world, which is the province of Idlib in Syria. This protection is part of a bigger picture, no merely isolated phenomenon.

For example: the key point of difference between the Obama Administration in America and the Putin Administration in Russia, regarding the establishment of a cease-fire in the Syrian war, was that Obama refused to allow Al Qaeda in Syria to be bombed during the proposed ceasefire, but Putin insisted that both Al Qaeda in Syria and ISIS in Syria must continue to be bombed during the ceasefire. Obama was protecting Al Qaeda in Syria, but Putin insisted upon bombing Al Qaeda and not only ISIS during any ceasefire there. (See the proof at that link, and you will also understand why Obama was protecting Al Qaeda in Syria.)

Right now, the U.S. Government and some of its allies are threatening to go to war against Russia if Russia will bomb the worlds highest concentration of Al Qaeda terrorists. Those terrorists are located in the only province of Syria that has always preferred Al Qaeda and ISIS to the Government of Syrias secular President, Bashar al-Assad. Thats Idlib province, which now is Al Qaeda central, like Afghanistan used to be before 9/11 (and for which the U.S. bombed Afghanistan right after 9/11).

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A 30 July 2017 speech makes this clear. The speech wasnt given by an opponent or critic of the U.S. Government, but by a high official of the U.S. Government who speaks for the President of the United States on Syria and who has been doing this not only under Trump, but under Obama. This official is the neoconservative and rabidly anti-Assad and anti-Iranian and pro-Saudi and pro-Israeli Brett McGurk, who is U.S. President Trumps Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, at the U.S. Department of State. He publicly acknowledged that Idlib province is the largest Al Qaeda safe haven since 9/11, tied directly to Ayman al-Zawahiri.  Leaders of Al Qaeda who make their way to Idlib province often do not make their way out of there. He acknowledges there that Idlib is like the pre-9/11 Afghanistan was. McGurk, who consistently supports Sunni Saudi Arabia against Shiite Iran, blames Shiite Iran for Al Qaeda, and for everything that Al Qaeda does. He gives as his reason for blaming Iran, Irans having been insufficiently hostile toward Al Qaeda members. (One can say the same about any Muslim-majority nation, but especially regarding Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni-Muslim ones, particularly because Al Qaeda is itself an intensely Sunni organization, not at all Shiite.)

Likewise, the neoconservative scholar Kyle Orton wrote on 21 July 2017 (just days before that U.S. official, McGurk, spoke) saying that Al Qaeda threatens to apply terrorism against Iran if Iran goes too hard against Al Qaeda, and yet Orton also said that Iran is to blame for what Al Qaeda does.

In other words: Iran is in fear of Al Qaeda, and yet (according to Orton and the U.S. Government, including McGurk) Iran is responsible for Al Qaeda  thats actually the official U.S. viewpoint, crazy though it sounds (and it can be understood only by understanding the broader picture).

The fact that Al Qaeda is totally a Sunni operation, and the fact that Al Qaeda believes that all Shia should be killed, are simply being ignored by U.S. officials. 9/11 is instead blamed on Shiites, though its perpetrators (other than Bush, Cheney and their friends) were almost entirely fundamentalist-Sunni Saudis, and none at all were Shiites, from anywhere.

Orton cites the Obama-Trump Administrations McGurk as providing support for his view that Iran needs to be conquered, and that, as the Trump Administration says and the Obama Administration had said, Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world today. Not Saudi Arabia, but Iran (which the Saud family have sworn to destroy). The U.S. Government blames Iran, regardless of the evidence, and blames it for everything bad in and from the Middle East. The U.S. Government know better, but lies.

Putin, Erdogan, and Rouhani, met in Tehran on September 7th to discuss the threat by Trump (from condemnation backed not only by Trumps allies but by the humanitarian agencies of the U.N.), the Trump Administrations threat to go to war against Russia for humanitarian reasons if Russia assists Assads effort to exterminate the jihadists in Idlib. Russia didnt want World War III, and so this meeting in Tehran occurred. TIME magazine headlined on September 7th, Presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran Meet to Plot Future of Syria Ahead of Battle for Last Rebel Stronghold and reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a cease-fire and an end to airstrikes in the northwestern province of Idlib, something that wasnt immediately accepted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

No public announcement was made of what had been agreed-to at the conference. On September 9th, the Wall Street Journal reported that, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has approved the use of chlorine gas in an offensive against the countrys last major rebel stronghold, U.S. officials said. So, the Trump Administration was continuing its planned false-flag operation to have its terrorists in Idlib unleash an Idlib chemical-weapons attack thats been set up to be blamed against Assad as an excuse for the U.S. and its allies to launch WW III against Syria, Iran, and Russia in order to protect civilians in Idlib.

On September 10th, I headlined Prelude to World War III and argued why, Unless Syria will simply hand its most heavily pro-jihadist province, Idlib, to adjoining Turkey, which claims to have 30,000 troops there and is planning to add 20,000 more, World War III will probably happen soon. I argued there that:

The way for the plan to avert that outcome to be carried out would be:

Assad and Putin both will announce that due to the complaints from the U.S. Government and from the United Nations and from the Turkish Government, Syria will give up Idlib province, and will construct on the border between it and the adjoining areas of Syria, a DMZ or De-Militarized Zone, so that not only will the residents in Idlib be safe from any attack by Syria and its allies (such as America and its allies have been demanding), but Syrians  in all the others of Syrias provinces  will likewise be safe against any continued attacks by the jihadists that have concentrated themselves in Idlib.

This way, Turkeys President Erdogan can safely keep his 50,000 troops in Idlib if he wishes; Americas President Trump can claim victory in Syria and finally fulfill his long-promised intention to end the U.S. occupation of (most of the jihadist-controlled) parts of Syria (which theyve occupied), and maybe WW III can be avoided, or, at least, postponed, maybe even so that people living today wont be dying-off from WW III and its after-effects.

Also on September 10th, Erdogan headlined a WSJ op-ed, The World Must Stop Assad: If the Syrian regime attacks Idlib, the result will be a humanitarian and geopolitical disaster. He argued from Trumps standpoint. Erdogan now had 50,000 Turkish troops in Idlib. And yet, Russia had already begun a very limited bombing campaign in Idlib. But Turkeys troops werent being hit. Nor were the jihadists being hit that were in place awaiting their camp to be bombed and that had set up the chemical weapons to go off there and so to serve as Trumps excuse for WW III to begin in Syria.

It was now several days after the September 7th meeting, and yet Trumps plan for WW III still couldnt yet be exercised; the excuse for it was still not present. For some reason, a limited cease-fire appears to have been occurring in Idlib.

Evidently, Erdogan had persuaded Putin (if he even really needed persuading  given Trumps threat, Putin himself might have come up with this plan) that Turkey was going to assume responsibility for Idlib. Russias minor bombings in Idlib were just for show, so as not publicly to reveal that Erdogans proposal (if it originated with him, instead of with Putin) had won out at the September 7th meeting. If that plan had been publicly first espoused by Putin, then the U.S. side would far more likely have condemned it; but, coming from NATO member Turkey, the U.S. side would be able to present implementation of Turkeys position as being a win for The West.

But what was the September 7th agreement that was reached in Tehran, really? What was the plan that Putin, Rouhani, and Erdogan, agreed-to?

Clearly, Assad was opposed to it  at least in public. My argument that it would help him and Syria was not publicly shared by him, at all. Whatever the Tehran plan was, with 50,000 Turkish troops now in Idlib, Syria might now, indeed, ultimately have to cede Idlib (the worlds highest-intensity jihadist center) to Turkey.

On September 11th, Peter Korzun at the Strategic Culture Foundation (which favors Russia and its allies, including Syria), argued

Syria needs Idlib  the last stronghold of the jihadists and the shortest route from Latakia to Aleppo. The M5 international highway crosses Idlib, linking Turkey and Jordan through Aleppo and Damascus. Control of the province would greatly facilitate the negotiations with the Kurds and strengthen Syrias position at the UN-brokered Geneva talks. If the negotiation process succeeds, the only territories left to liberate would be the zone controlled by the US, such as the al-Tanf military base and the surrounding area, the northern parts of the country under Turkish control, and small chunks of land still held by ISIS.

On that same day, SyriaNews.cc (another pro-Syrian site) poured forth venomously against Erdogan for his statements. Linking to this, that commentator said:

objecting to a major operation there because it would likely cause a major exodus of refugees across the border, with extremists potentially sneaking in with refugees.

Double whammy to have you keeled over with laughteror should that be tears.

Concerns for refugees??!! Erdogan steals their organs. Refugee camps in Turkey became harvesting centers for it.

The U.S. alliance is, indeed, now referring to not only Al Qaeda in Idlib but also ISIS in Idlib as being rebels and refugees; and Erdogan does, too. Thats the U.S. sides propaganda. That SyriaNews commentator was correct to be appalled at it. Erdogan and the U.S. side are accurately represented there. But this does not necessarily mean that Russia and its allies (especially Syria) cannot win with this strategy thats being condemned by Assad, and by Strategic Culture Foundation, and by Syria News. If that strategy turns out to be the one that I proposed on September 10th, I think that they will win with it. Certainly, for Syria to retain Idlib would be horrible both for Syria and for Assad (who has always been loathed by the residents there, who see him as being either a Shiite or an atheist).

And Erdogan is in both camps  Americas and Russias  and playing each side against the other, for what he wants. But he could turn out to be the biggest loser from his success here.

If he exterminates Idlibs jihadists, then the U.S. side will condemn him for it. But if he instead frees those jihadists to return to their home-countries, then both sides will condemn him for having done so.

The biggest apparent winner from all this, Erdogan, could thus turn out to be the biggest real loser from it. And the biggest apparent loser from it, Assad, could turn out to be the biggest real winner from it.

NEWS UPDATE: On Friday, September 14th, Turkeys Yeni Safak newspaper bannered Idlib locals flee to Turkish-controlled areas for safety, and reported that, The locals of Syrias Idlib have started to flee as fears of a looming offensive by the Assad regime and his allies grip the province. They also headlined Turkey deploys more armored vehicles to Syrian border, and reported that, More military reinforcements including tanks, according to reports from the ground arrived at the Syrian border in Turkeys southern Hatay province. These reports are consistent with the plans being for Turkey to segregate-out the active jihadists in Idlib so as for Russia and Syria to slaughter those. Another headline there was from Reuters, Turkeys Erdogan, Russias Putin to meet in Sochi on Monday, and this suggests that there is extremely close coordination between Putin and Erdogan on the plan as it proceeds forward. Russian intelligence knows where the al Qaeda and U.S. chemical weapons are located. Presumably, the goal is to kill all the other jihadists first, and then to leave till the end the killing of the ones who are operating the Al Qaeda and U.S. false-flag event. Idlib will remain in Syria. Erdogan doesnt want it.

Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of Theyre Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRISTS VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.

==See Also==

Tucker Carlson: More than 10k rebels in that province are believed to be allied with Al-Qaeda. So that would mean that 17 years after 9/11, America could soon find itself bombing a country to protect Al-Qaeda sympathizers. Why would we do that? #Syriapic.twitter.com/ciz6IV9v3f  Walid (@walid970721) September 13, 2018

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On the Censorship of Michael Hoffman's Books by Amazon The Saker September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A couple of months ago I did an interview with one of the foremost scholars of rabbinical Judaism, Michael Hoffman. The occasion was the release of his latest book The Occult Renaissance Church of Rome. At the time I did not expect to have to ask for a follow-up interview with him, but when I learned that Amazon had censored his books (please see Hoffmans own account of this here). Specifically, the ban is on three of his books. A complete ban (Kindle + printed book) on Judaisms Strange Gods: Revised and Expanded, as well as The Great Holocaust Trial: Revised and Expanded, while his textbook, Judaism Discovered, has been removed from the Kindle. I felt that I had to talk to him again and he kindly agreed to reply to my questions. I submit to you the full text of our Q&A which I will follow-up with a short commentary. * * * The Saker: Please summarize what happened to your books and Amazon and tells us what specific explanations were given to you. Did Amazon ever offer you a page and paragraph list of offending passages? Do you have any means of knowing exactly what your book is being banned for? Hoffman: Whether it is Facebook, Google or Amazon, the excuse most often cited for suppression is content guidelines violation. Amazon notified us on August 13 that two of our titles, which they have been selling for years and in thousands of copies, Judaism Discovered, our 1100 page textbook published in 2008, and Judaisms Strange Gods: Revised and Expanded, published in 2010  were being permanently removed after review by the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) unit of Amazon. A facsimile of the KDP notice can be viewed here: https://www.revisionisthistory.org/page8/page8.html In their e-mail they told us that we found that this content is in violation of content guidelines. In studying their content guidelines one encounters a vague, generic statement about not permitting that which is offensive. There is no guidance as to what offense has suddenly arisen after these books were sold on Amazon for several years. Like the Red Queen in Wonderland who declared to Alice that, A word is anything I say it is!  that which offends is anything Amazon says it is. A third book, The Great Holocaust Trial: The Landmark Battle for the Right to Doubt the Wests Most Sacred Relic, was also forbidden. Does Amazon have the chutzpah to publicly categorize these books as hate speech or some other alibi for censorship that could be contested? No, they do not. They leave authors and publishers twisting in the wind, making it more difficult to appeal the decision and report to the public on the tyranny. Although since they allow no appeal, its a moot point. Personally, I have no doubt concerning why my books were censored. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The Saker: What is, in your opinion, the true intent behind the ban on the sales of your book? What is Amazons interest in this? Hoffman: I dont believe Amazon has much interest in this. It is more likely that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is the interested party. Last August 7 the New York Times online published a revealing piece by David French in which he wrote: We live in a world where the Southern Poverty Law Center, a formerly respected civil-rights organization, abuses its past trust to label a host of mainstream organizations (including my former employer, the Alliance Defending Freedom) and individuals as hate groups,based sometimes onoutright misreadings and misrepresentations of an individuals beliefs and viewsAmazon recently booted Alliance Defending Freedom from its AmazonSmile charity program because of the centers designation. At around the time in 2017 that the SPLC was trying to interfere with the business operations of people such as myself, by intimidating banks and credit card processors into refusing to process payments for books, Paypal notified us that due to the contents of our website (www.RevisionistHistory.org) we were an embarrassment to their brand and they were terminating our account. As long as Paypal was owned by libertarians, all was well and we had a high customer satisfaction rating for our integrity and dependability. The original Paypal mainly cared about whether you were a responsible seller. A politicized administration eventually took over Paypal and in 2017 we were terminated, very likely on the advice of the SPLC. To return to Amazon, CEO Jeff Bezos founded it in 1994. It was very much a libertarian book operation from the start. From 1994 until a year or two ago, Amazon only refused to sell hard core pornography and books that constituted direct appeals to violence or law-breaking, which is how it should be. Every other type of book was sold, without censorship, which is one reason for Amazons early success and increasing market share. Then last year, after Mr. Bezos had reached the status of one of the worlds wealthiest persons, and Amazons total value was beginning to approach that of Apple and Google, Amazon staged a huge purge and eliminated more than a hundred World War II revisionist history books published by Germar Rudolfs CODOH organization (books smeared as Holocaust denial). This year it was my turn. Next year it might be any author not part of the university press syndicates or the major houses. Such is the heedless power and immunity of Amazon. Its important to note that the thought police who removed three of my books were based in the digital division of Amazon, where the electronic Kindle books are marketed and managed. A Kindle permits anyone connected to the Amazon website to read approximately the first thirty pages of any Kindle book free of charge. Consequently, my Judaica scholarship was on display around the world and therefore it was much harder to lie about me and mischaracterize my Talmud and Kabbalah research under those circumstances. We were also beginning to sell ever increasing numbers of these Kindle books to people in Asia, particularly India and Japan. Its my hunch that Big Brother is not half so worried about printed books as the digital kind. Removing the three books from the Kindle was the primary objective. To be banned by Amazon is not equivalent to being banned by any other private business. Most publishers will admit that Amazon has replaced Bowker Books in Print as the industrys authoritative guide to what books in English have been printed in the past and what is in print now. Amazon is currently the reference source. For a book to be forbidden by Amazon renders it largely invisible. It is equivalent to burning the book. So this is not a matter of Amazon exercising the prerogative of private enterprise. Amazon is a monopoly. It has no rival. If your book doesnt exist on Amazon, then for most people who are not research specialists, your book doesnt exist. The consequences for the pursuit of knowledge are ominous. There is a problem here for Amazon as well. The more Amazon excludes books that embody facts and ideas that constitute radical dissent, the more it becomes a narrow censors aperture rather than a reliable bridge to the entire range of the Republic of Letters. Apologists for censorship of radicals and authentic conservatives often claim that no First Amendment rights are violated when Amazon bans books, therefore it is not a civil rights issue, merely an inconvenience of the capitalist system. In the 1950s however, when the privately-owned movie studios banned certain directors, actors and screen-writers judged to be Leftists or Communists, that action on the part of private enterprise was inscribed in the rolls of the culture wars as the infamous Blacklist, and we are still reading and weeping over it sixty-five years later. So it depends on whose ox is being gored. My Judaica studies are free of Jew hate, as anyone who peruses the sections in both books titled To the Judaic Reader knows. There we state that the books are dedicated to pidyon shevyuim (redemption of the captive), i.e. rescuing those Judaic persons who are in bondage to the Talmud and the Kabbalah. Our enemies easily turn to their advantage books containing hatred of The Jews. What they absolutely have no credible answer to is a critique predicated, as our books are, on a sincere foundation of true Christian love. Boundary-breaking scholarship united to compassionate concern for the welfare of Judaic people is almost unprecedented in this field. This approach makes my studies of Judaism among the most powerful and effective because they are free of the hate speech which is the pivot upon which turns the machinery of liberal-approved censorship. For that reason, making Judaisms Strange Gods: Revised and Expanded, and Judaism Discovered available on the Kindle undercut decades of hatred and libel. Therefore those volumes had to be suppressed. The Saker: Since this ban was put in place  what reactions have you heard? who has spoken in defense of your scholarship and right to be heard? has anybody taken your defense or spoken up for you? Hoffman: Ron Unz allowed me to publish a note on the ban at unz.com and you, the Saker, have taken an interest. Our many friends, readers and subscribers have expressed outrage on Twitter and in e-mail. Meanwhile we have contacted everyone from a columnist for Takis website to the legacy media, to no discernible effect thus far. The Washington Post, which is owned by Mr. Bezos, has as its motto, Democracy dies in darkness. Yet it is in that very darkness where Amazons book-banning dwells, due to the apathy of the media and the American Library Association. To ban books by a vulnerable independent scholar is not exactly a daring move in this age where hate speech is anything that offends someones cherished myth. The definition is so loose it functions as an inquisitors sword. On the positive side, we have seen an uptick in orders to our own online store for the printed books which Amazon has banned [https://truthfulhistory.blogspot.com/2016/02/judaica-books-and-resources.html]. There is no replacement for the banned Kindle editions, however. The Saker: What do you believe could be done to resist this state of affairs? what can we all do to put a stop to this kind of censorship? Hoffman: In a general, the supporters of the lies of the Overlords wage spiritual and psychological warfare with far more dedication, commitment and self-sacrifice than the purported allies of Gods truth. The Cryptocracys defenders are 24/7 militants resolved to contend with their perceived foes with every ounce of their being. Whereas on the side of Christian conservative renewal, with honorable exceptions, I find mainly armchair warriors and folks so enormously distracted by the choices offered by the Internets deluge of words and images, that they are nearly paralyzed by the spectacle. Compare the reception Judge Kavanaugh received in the Senate hearings with that of recent Supreme Court nominees Kagan and Ginsburg. The Republicans were too cowed to seriously confront those ladies. Maintaining decorum was the chief concern of the timid GOP at the time, while Kavanaugh faced a near riot in the visitors gallery and extremes of withering interrogation and contempt from defiant Democratic senators. When CODOHs books were banned we reported the case extensively online and in our printed newsletter. We contacted an executive with the American Library Association to elicit his response and express our outrage. We did what we could even though we have almost no relationship with CODOH. We would do the same for any person of good will who is denied the right to advance human learning with suppressed facts and ideas. This was formerly a truism in America, up until the rise of the punks of social media who seem to be more like a branch of Antifa than an intellectual class invested in discovery and enlightenment. Advances in human knowledge are achieved on the basis that error has rights, for the reason that enshrined dogmas are often wrong and demonized dissidents are sometimes the bearers of rare discoveries. But the epigram of our time is Error has no rights, which was the doctrine of the fiery Inquisition, of the head-chopping French Revolution and of the Bolsheviks and Maoists. If error has no rights then neither does truth, in that what is denounced as hateful error by the mob is sometimes a destabilizing, necessary and even cosmic truth. * * * Reading Hoffmans words I thought that what happened to him is so typical of the Orwellian world we live in where the what I call the Skripal rules of evidence (aka highly likely) have replaced even basic evidentiary notions, a world in which false flag attacks are announced weeks in advance, a world in which the Planetary Hegemon has declared urbi et orbi that nothing in the body of international law applies to the indispensable nation (or to the parasitic host feeding off it) and where might makes right has become the motto by which everybody lives. Of course, the censorship of a book cannot be compared to the initiation of a war of aggression (which is the supreme international crime under international law: this was the conclusion of the Nuremberg Trial on this topic: To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole). Still, there is something uniquely devious and evil about the censorship of Hoffmans books by Amazon, several things in fact: What is attacked in not a person or even a group, but ideas, arguably the most precious attribute of mankind. This is therefore not only an attack on a human being, but an attack on the very notion of humanity as such While the method is different, the intention here is no different from the book burnings of the Nazis or the Papacy except that in these latter cases it was obvious who ordered the burning of putatively degenerate or heretical books. Thus the ideological motive of the Nazis and Papists was always clear whereas in the case of Hoffman this ideological motive is hidden (even if obvious with anybody with a modicum of intelligence). The ultimate hypocrisy lies in the fact that most so-called libertarians (from the Left to the Right) have nothing to say about this because this is not a case of censorship by government but the action of a corporation which has the right to do as it wishes, nevermind that the result is still a clear de-facto infringement of Hoffmans First Amendment rights and the freedom of academic scholarship. The US government and Congress, by allowing monopolistic corporations such as Amazon to have that kind of power are basically engaging in what I would call censorship by proxy which is to be expected from a deep state which now does almost everything by proxy in order to bypass fundamental US and international laws (extraordinary renditions anybody?). Unlike the government which does have to produce at least some evidence before it can censor an individual or organization, a US corporation does not even have to justify itself by a single word. This is viewed as a triumph of deregulation by mindless libertarians who would gladly surrender all their freedoms as long as it is not to the state. In the real world, of course, they still end up handing over their freedoms to the state, except that the state is hiding behind their beloved corporations. It is also pretty obvious that those who might, at least in theory, have something to say about this kind of censorship by proxy remain silent because, at least according to them, Hoffman is an anti-Semite (which, having read many of his books, I can attest is a total falsehood; by way of evidence here are sample pages from his book: Using hate speech accusations to suppress irrefutable facts, the troglodyte book-banning lobby pressured Amazon to suppress Judaisms Strange Gods: Revised and Expanded containing documentation that advances human learning. Amazon complied, preferring censorship to knowledge. pic.twitter.com/YjHJxU9lAK  Michael Hoffman (@HoffmanMichaelA) September 10, 2018 and thus he is undeserving of support. So-called anti-Semites are, along with the pedophiles, the consensus villains of the day (I explain that in detail here) but what the anti-anti-Semites fail to realize is that each time a consensus villain is deprived from his rights, this sets a precedent for everybody else. This is why Yehuda Bauer warned us when he wrote: Thou shalt not be a victim, Thou shalt not be a perpetrator, And above all, Thou shalt not be a bystander. To no avail, alas: we live in society of silent bystanders apparently! And when YouTube decides to silence all the Syrian state channels to better prepare for a false flag chemical attack, everybody looks away  aint my problem We all know that in Europe (and in Russia) you can be jailed and your books banned if a court finds them to be revisionist or anti-Semitic or hateful and the like. But at least in Europe (and in Russia), you get your day in court and you can defend yourself against accusations which the state has to prove. In Russia, just last week, a man accused of rehabilitating National-Socialism (for reprinting an article by another author!) was found non guilty by a majority of jurors (5 to 3) (the punishment he was facing was a fine and several years in jail). Thank God, in the home of the brave no such thing could happen, right?! True, Hoffman does not risk jail (yet!). But in terms of crushing crimethink, I submit that the US system is much more effective because it allows the deep state to hide behind the veil of corporate malfeasance. There have been plenty of revolutions against a state, but I dont know of any revolutions against the corporate dictatorship. You tell me: which is worse, the absence of freedom or the illusion of freedom? Personally, I find the latter much worse. I never expected the corporate presstitutes to really care about our freedoms, ditto for the libertarians and the progressive Left. They are all too busy with their narrow ideological agenda. As for the US academic world, it has shown its true face when it allowed the persecution of Professor Norman Finkenstein. But I have to say that I am shocked by the fact that the blogosphere and the so-called alternative media has remained so silent in the face of such a blatant censorship by proxy by the deep state against one of the foremost US historians. I urge all those reading these lines to speak up on Hoffmans behalf and to support him by purchasing his superb and censored books. This is how every one of us can resist the Hegemon and his rule! This article was originally published by " UNZ Review " - ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy
Editorial

September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - In a time of hypocrisy, duplicity and hysterics, lets keep focused on the right thing to do. Which is for the Syrian government and its Russian ally to end the war, by finally defeating the terrorist gangs holding out in their last stronghold of Idlib province.

The Syrian government of President Assad has the sovereign legal and moral right to vanquish the terror groups that have marauded and brutalized Syria for the past eight years. These militants are not some kind of pro-democracy uprising that the Western governments and their news media have been absurdly lionizing. The last rebel-held area, is a lie that Western media continue to spin, albeit with ever-increasing transparency as a lie.

Such spinning is a travesty of the truth. The militants in Idlib are the assorted terrorist gangs that the Western powers, primarily the United States, have been arming as their criminal proxies to overthrow the Syrian government. There are no moderate rebels; the militants are vile terrorist mercenaries, who nearly succeeded in turning Syria into another failed state for the sordid satisfaction of Western powers and their imperialist machinations in the Middle East.

The principled military intervention by Russia three years ago to aid the Syrian state averted the catastrophic fate that befell other countries where the US and its allies have despoiled for regime change. The Syrian army is now in a position to finally eradicate from its country the Western-backed jihadists.

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Syria and its Russian ally must now proceed to finish the task of ridding the country of the terrorist disease that Washington and its criminal partners infiltrated. All the sound and fury from the US, Britain and France, amplified by the Western media, should be ignored with contempt. Their protests against the looming offensive to retake Idlib is rank hypocrisy.

Washington and its allies are decrying a humanitarian crisis ahead of the Syrian offensive. This grotesque hypocrisy is uttered by Western powers which have fomented a covert war by weaponizing terror groups. Their weasel words also come as US-backed Saudi warplanes relentlessly carry out a slaughter of civilians in Yemen.

The double-think and moral duplicity is astounding. And should be repudiated. The criminal Western governments have no authority whatsoever to pontificate to Syria and Russia about humanitarian casualties.

In any case, the Syrian and Russian forces have operated to relieve humanitarian suffering in Syria by breaking siege after siege imposed by heinous terror groups holding civilians under a reign of terror.

The clearest example of this so far was in the liberation of East Aleppo in December 2016. Tens of thousands of civilians were relieved from the head-chopping moderate rebels when the Syrian and Russian forces retook Aleppo. Today, the people of Aleppo have begun to repair their lives in peace.

Prior to the liberation of Aleppo, Western governments and media were hysterically condemning the Syrian army and the Russian air force for war crimes and creating a bloodbath. That hysteria was shown to be lie. Aleppo, like many other cities and towns, was liberated and restored to peace. The Western governments and media say nothing now about Aleppo because the reality totally disproves their deceitful posturing.

The same lies are being spun today about Idlib. Although there is a sense that the Western powers know their mendacious narrative of bloodbath is wearing thin. Syria and Russia would do well to shun the hypocritical protests, and proceed to do the right thing, which is to destroy the last remaining terrorist bases in that country, and thus permit a comprehensive peace to be established.

It is incumbent to mention the odious role of the United Nations here. UN chiefs have indulged the Western powers by talking up the charade of humanitarian concern. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, and his special envoy Staffan de Mistura have been deploring the planned Syrian offensive. They are calling for talks. This is while Turkey is this week reportedly increasing the supply of weapons to the militants in Idlib, and while the US, Britain and France are threatening military attacks on Syria.

Guterres and the other UN bureaucrats would be better off making unequivocal condemnations of the US-backed genocide in Yemen. But on that charnel house they seem to have little to say in the way of specific condemnation.

All the pious, double-dealing concern about Idlib is in reality a reprehensible attempt to buy time for the terrorist gangs holed up in the province.

Why arent the mealymouthed UN chiefs calling the US, British and French threats to attack Syria what they are, which is a crime of aggression against a sovereign nation?

There are US media reports that the Trump administration is considering launching air strikes on Syrian army and Russian military positions in Syria if there is an escalation. What for? To protect civilians? To protect rebels? No, the NATO powers are willing to go to war in Syria to protect remnants of the terror army they deployed covertly over the past eight years for criminal regime change.

Washington and its allies, the Western media and the UN leadership are a disgrace. They have no moral authority. Not a scintilla.

The US seems willing to start World War III if it attacks Syria and its Russian ally in order to defend terrorists in Idlib province. Former presidential candidate Ron Paul has openly condemned the Trump administration for siding with Al Qaeda. This is in the same week that the US commemorated 17 years after the 911 terror incidents in New York City.

How despicable is that? World War III to support head-chopping terrorists?

Syria and Russia must not be deflected, intimidated or blackmailed by Western governments, their media and UN flunkies  who are no better than the terrorists whom they are, in effect, aiding and abetting.

The task to defeat the arrayed nefarious forces assaulting Syria is a righteous one, and must be courageously completed.

This article was originally published by " Strategic Culture Foundation " -

==See Also==

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Peace and joy
By Craig Murray

September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - I was caught in a twitterstorm of hatred yesterday, much of it led by mainstream media journalists like David Aaronovitch and Dan Hodges, for daring to suggest that the basic elements of Boshirov and Petrovs story do in fact stack up. What became very plain quite quickly was that none of these people had any grasp of the detail of the suspects full twenty minute interview, but had just seen the short clips or quotes as presented by British corporate and state media.

As I explained in my last post, what first gave me some sympathy for the Russians story and drew me to look at it closer, was the raft of social media claims that there was no snow in Salisbury that weekend and Stonehenge had not been closed. In fact, Stonehenge was indeed closed on 3 March by heavy snow, as confirmed by English Heritage. So the story that they came to Salisbury on 3 March but could not go to Stonehenge because of heavy snow did stand up, contrary to almost the entire twittersphere.

Once there was some pushback of truth about this on social media, people started triumphantly posting the CCTV images from 4 March to prove that there was no snow lying in Central Salisbury on 4 March. But nobody ever said there was snow on 4 March  in fact Borisov and Petrov specifically stated that they learnt there was a thaw so they went back. However when they got there, they encountered heavy sleet and got drenched through. That accords precisely with the photographic evidence in which they are plainly drenched through.

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Another extraordinary meme that causes hilarity on twitter is that Russians might be deterred by snow or cold weather.

Well, Russians are human beings just like us. They cope with cold weather at home because they have the right clothes. Boshirov and Petrov refer continually in the interview to cold, wet feet and again this is borne out by the photographic evidence  they were wearing sneakers unsuitable to the freak weather conditions that were prevalent in Salisbury on 3 and 4 March. They are indeed soaked through in the pictures, just as they said in the interview.

Russians are no more immune to cold and wet than you are.

Twitter is replete with claims that they were strange tourists, to be visiting a housing estate. No evidence has been produced anywhere that shows them on any housing estate. They were seen on CCTV camera walking up the A36 by the Shell station, some 400 yards from the Skripals house, which would require three turnings to get to that  turnings nobody saw them take (and they were on the wrong side of the road for the first turning, even though it would be very close). No evidence has been mentioned which puts them at the Skripals House.

Finally, it is everywhere asserted that it is very strange that Russians would take a weekend break holiday, and that if they did they could not possibly be interested in architecture or history. This is a simple expression of anti-Russian racism. Plainly before their interview  about which they were understandably nervous  they prepared what they were going to say, including checking up on what it was they expected to see in Salisbury because they realised they would very obviously be asked why they went. Because their answer was prepared does not make it untrue.

That literally people thousands of people have taken to twitter to mock that it is hilariously improbable that tourists might want to visit Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge, is a plain example of the irrationality that can overtake people when gripped by mob hatred.

I am astonished by the hatred that has been unleashed. The story of Gerry Conlon might, you would hope, give us pause as to presuming the guilt of somebody who just happened to be of the enemy nationality, in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Despite the mocking mob, there is nothing inherently improbable in the tale told by the two men. What matters is whether they can be connected to the novichok, and here the safety of the identification of the microscopic traces of novichok allegedly found in their hotel bedroom is key. I am no scientist, but I have been told by someone who is, that if the particle(s) were as the police state so small as to be harmless to humans, they would be too small for mass spectrometry analysis and almost certainly could not be firmly identified other than as an organophosphate. Perhaps someone qualified might care to comment.

The hotel room novichok is the key question in this case.

Were I Vladimir Putin, I would persuade Boshirov and Petrov voluntarily to come to the UK and stand trial, on condition that it was a genuinely fair trial before a jury in which the entire proceedings, and all of the evidence, was open and public, and the Skripals and Pablo Miller might be called as witnesses and cross-examined. I have no doubt that the British governments desire for justice would suddenly move into rapid retreat if their bluff was called in this way.

As for me, when I see a howling mob rushing to judgement and making at least some claims which are utterly unfounded, and when I see that mob fueled and egged on by information from the security services propagated by exactly the same mainstream media journalists who propagandised the lies about Iraqi WMD, I see it as my job to stand in the way of the mob and to ask cool questions. If that makes them hate me, then I must be having some impact.

So I ask this question again  and nobody so far has attempted to give me an answer. At what time did the Skripals touch their doorknob? Boshirov and Petrov arrived in Salisbury at 11.48 and could not have painted the doorknob before noon. The Skripals had left their house at 09.15, with their mobile phones switched off so they could not be geo-located. Their car was caught on CCTV on three cameras heading out of Salisbury to the North East. At 13.15 it was again caught on camera heading back in to the town centre from the North West.

How had the Skripals managed to get back to their home, and touch the door handle, in the hour between noon and 1pm, without being caught on any of the CCTV cameras that caught them going out and caught the Russian visitors so extensively? After this remarkably invisible journey, what time did they touch the door handle?

I am not going to begin to accept the guilt of Boshirov and Petrov until somebody answers that question. Dan Hodges? David Aaronovitch? Theresa May? Anybody?

Craig Murray is an author, broadcaster and human rights activist. He was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from August 2002 to October 2004 and Rector of the University of Dundee from 2007 to 2010. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk

==See Also==

Skripal turned off phone GPS during missing four hours : The move could have allowed Sergei Skripal, 66, a former Russian military intelligence officer, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, to keep a clandestine meeting

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Peace and joy
President Muhammadu Buhari met with HRM King G.N.K. Gininwa (JP) OFR, Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and President Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and members of his delegation earlier at the State House, Abuja.

Buhari also received a delegation of traditional rulers from Abia State, led by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba. According to Buhari, Our meeting provided an opportunity for me to reiterate our administrations commitment to the development of the State, and especially the city of Aba.

The president who submitted his nomination form at the All Progressives Congress(APC) national secretariat on Thursday, as the sole presidential candidate, is leaving nothing to chance to woo the appropriate quarters towards his reelection bid.

More photos
The hospital is one of the five works that Cuban leader Fidel Castro decided to present to the Vietnamese people during his visit to the province in September 1973 to serve the needs of the locals and soldiers from the Southern battlefield.

Construction of the hospital commenced in May 1974 and was completed in September 1981, becoming one of the most modern hospitals in Vietnam at that time.

Director of the Vietnam-Cuba Hospital, Duong Thanh Binh, expressed his deep gratitude to leader Fidel Castro and the Cuban people for their special affection for the people of Quang Binh and expressed his delight at the visit of the Cuban delegation.

He said that over the past 45 years, local people and hospital staff always remember the simple image of the leader Fidel Castro when he visited Quang Binh province, noting that the hospital is an invaluable present for the people of Quang Binh and a symbol of the solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, Salvado Valdes Mesa, highlighted the significance of Fidel Castro's visit to Quang Tri in 1973 while expressing his wish to strengthen the solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the area of health.

The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital Dong Hoi has a 500 bed capacity and is operated by the Ministry of Health. The Cuban Ministry of Public Health currently help the hospital with the training of medical staff and has sent a number of Cuban experts to the hospital to provide health examinations and treatments for the people.
A Nigerian man accused of masterminding a $3 million email fraud scam from inside a detention centre has been arrested, Dailymail UK reports.

Fisayo Oluwafemi allegedly ran the con from inside Sydneys Villawood Detention Centre, where police seized 16 mobile phones, numerous SIM cards, identification information, and various electronic storage devices on Thursday.

The 43-year-old is allegedly the ring leader of a crime ring that targeted not only businesses, but women looking for love, police claim.

Under the alleged scam, emails were sent out from falsified or spoofed email addresses encouraging recipients to reveal personal details such as credit card numbers, account names and passwords, officers said.

The emails also allegedly urged people to send money in exchange for love or goods.

On Thursday, Oluwafemi was taken to Bankstown Police Station after Strike Force Woolana investigators, assisted by Australian Border Force, searched the Villawood detention centre.

Strike Force Woolana was established to investigate organised criminal syndicates involved in fraudulent activities.

Oluwafemi was then charged with knowingly directing activities of criminal group, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, and possessing identity info to commit indictable offence.

Police will allege in court he directed the scam and the group, which allegedly included two women and one man, all of African descent.

The funds were allegedly sent to Nigeria.

Oluwafemi was refused bail and is due to appear in Bankstown local court on Friday.

Harriette Bangura, 36, who is accused of working with Oluwafemi, was arrested by the strike force on September 4. She has been charged with 11 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Further raids led to the arrest of a man and woman on September 5, both 20, at the Chester Hill property. The pair are accused of working with Mr Oluwafemi.
Nigerians were thrown into shock after news broke that Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has resigned from her position.

Sources quoted her as saying, she had to go because the alleged forgery of her National Youth Service Corps Certificate made her position as Minister untenable.

Many Nigerians have hailed the former minister for taking the path of honour and resigning while others are saying resigning isnt enough. Many have taken to social media to ask that she be prosecuted by the appropriate authorities according to the rule of law.

See reactions below

https://twitter.com/DrJoeAbah/status/1040577251769819136

https://twitter.com/gimbakakanda/status/1040566976257638401

https://twitter.com/Osi_Suave/status/1040567198404812805

https://twitter.com/itschigbo/status/1040582443785510912

https://twitter.com/Earlobi/status/1040581767349108736

FLASH: I have just received news that Kemi Adeosun, @HMKemiAdeosun has resigned. Please confirm this @PremiumTimesng. If truly she has resigned, she must refund all the salary she has received serving as minister of finance with forged certificate.  Oluyemi Fasipe (Igbalode Pastor) (@YemieFASH) September 14, 2018

Just as Kemi Adeosun should face the full wrath of the law if she's indeed guilty, all those in @nassnigeria who were exploiting her should also face the full wrath of the law. Their party affiliation should not matter in the least.  Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) September 14, 2018

https://twitter.com/MrAbuSidiq/status/1040584008915197953

Thanks PMB For Not Sacking Kemi Adeosun. Loyalty in Politics is Everything. Go Well Kemi, You Can, Saw & Made us Proud.  Retson Tedheke (@retsonbiz) September 14, 2018

https://twitter.com/CACCOT1/status/1040578886688534528

https://twitter.com/cbngov_akin1/status/1040579098630926336

Professor Itse Sagay should 'resign' too. He justified the crime of forgery committed by Kemi Adeosun and claimed that the Oluwole Minister of Finance was too indispensable to be sacked. He should hide his face in shame!  Emmanuel Ugwu (@EmmaUgwuTheMan) September 14, 2018

As Kemi Adeosun resigns , ICPC and other relevant agencies should prosecute her for forgery without further delay; only then can we say kudos to this admin that is known for giving soft landing to corrupt friends and family. Babachir Lawal is Adamawa Campaign DG.  Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) September 14, 2018
Daily Times

as PDP lawmakers approves it for Fayose Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of Ekiti State House of Assembly numbering 14, on Thursday considered and approved the N10 billion supplementary budget request of Governor Ayo Fayose.

Leadership

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has waded into the face-off between youths in the state and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) over the planned relocation of the oil firms supply base at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, to Lagos State.

Daily Trust

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged threat to his life and those of his family members regarding his decision to contest the 2019 presidency.

The Nation
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As an attorney, Rettig has specialised in tax planning, litigation and controversy. He has 36 years of experience in private practice, serving as principal at Hochman Salkin Rettig Toscher & Perez in Beverly Hills. Rettig will replace acting IRS chief David Kautter, who took office when John Koskinen stepped down in November 2017.

Kautter was EYs national director for 10 years and later joined RSM US as the firms national tax leader. Kautter has overseen the first steps to provide guidance on US tax reform, including the rules on Section 965 and foreign earnings.

The interim period was meant to last for 120 to 190 days, but it has stretched across 11 months since Koskinen stepped down. The first hearing on Rettig's nomination was in June, though the Democrats set out to block his confirmation over concerns that the Trump administration was concealing the identity of their donors.

The decision to appoint Kautter was not uncontroversial at the time either. During Kautters tenure as EYs national director, the Big 4 firm faced a scandal over claims it was running illegal tax shelters for 200 clients. It should be noted that Kautter was never implicated in any wrongdoing.

The confirmation of a new commissioner brings this long transition to a close. Kautter will continue to serve as the US Treasurys top tax policy adviser.

The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws.  2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ.

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Going by social media, it appears like the iPhone XR was the most popular iPhone among the three that was unveiled by Apple on Wednesday. A new report coming out of Chinese media sources suggest that the company is ramping up production in anticipation of the expected demand. It is said that the Chinese media was granted permission to tour the Foxconn premises to get a better understanding of the situation.

The report claims that Foxconn is capable, in theory, of producing 303,000 units of the iPhone XR each day. However, accounting for a failure rate of 7% (with 93% yield), the number comes down to about 281,000. Moreover, 590 iPhone XRs are produced per hour across Foxconns 27 plants.

Given the expected demand, Foxconn is believed to have shifted the majority of its workforce to its assembly unit in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, which not surprisingly, is also known as iPhone City. If the data is to be believed, nearly 32,000 single shift employees are involved with the production of the iPhone XR assembly in some capacity.

Strangely, months before the iPhone XR was unveiled, there were reports of Japan Display getting low yields for the LCD panels that are required for the iPhone XR. So this could well be a marketing ploy by Foxconn to divert attention from any talk about supply issues.

Starting at $749, the iPhone XR is just as good as the iPhone XS and the XS Max, but with an LCD panel instead of the OLED panel that the latter phones use. The rest of the hardware, however, for the most part, remains unchanged. This means that customers are more likely to get the iPhone XR instead of the exorbitantly priced iPhone XS or XS Max.

Initial reports mention that the iPhone XS Max models have almost sold out with Apples website now pegging a tentative shipping date of 1-2 weeks. The same cant be said about the iPhone XR, however, as it wont be available for purchase until October. This is a reverse of the situation from last year when Apple launched the cheaper iPhones first, followed by the iPhone X in November.

If youre still torn between the iPhone XS and the XR, this post might help you make the choice.

[Via Winfuture.de
At a reception for Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Hanoi, the PM said as the agency in charge of coordinating Japans ODA to Vietnam, JICA has made remarkable contributions to cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam has used the capital for right purposes and manage it effectively, he said, adding that the quality of ODA projects has also been ensured.

He called on Japan to continue its ODA supply for Vietnam, focusing on high-quality infrastructure, personnel training, climate change response, administrative reform, the utilisation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, business environment improvement, and experience exchange in high-quality agriculture.

Talking about the Vietnam-Japan University, the PM said leaders of the two countries will continue to coordinate in seeking suitable mechanisms in support of its development.

PM Phuc expressed his belief that with the fruitful development of the bilateral ties, Vietnam and Japan will overcome difficulties to address issues regarding ODA and non-refundable aid.

The leader highlighted the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership and urged the two sides to maintain and uphold the relationship for both present and future generations.

In any circumstances, Vietnam-Japan relations still develop strongly and firmly, he said.

For his part, Shinichi Kitaoka expressed his delight at Vietnams socio-economic development over the past 30 years, which was recorded with the role of Japans ODA.

He informed PM Phuc that JICA has implemented many cooperation projects with Vietnam this year, focusing on infrastructure development, improvement of values of the industry and production, environmental protection, climate change and natural disaster combat, and human resources development.
The event was co-organised by the provincial Peoples Committee and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), with the attendance of a high-level Cuban delegation led by First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Salvado Valdes Mesa, along with senior Vietnamese officials.

The photos, taken by several generations of VNA journalists in different periods, also feature the development of Quang Tri province since its time as a war-torn locality.

The same day, the Cuban delegates toured the Hien Luong-Ben Hai special national historical relic site, the relic site of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, and the blockhouse in Dong Ha city where Fidel had visited in September 1973.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003.

He was the first foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the anti-US resistance war. He was also a national leader who took the initiative in international movements to support Vietnams struggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process of national development and defence.

With all his great contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.
They agreed on the need to intensify all-level delegation exchanges, maintain political consultation and coordination between the two foreign ministries, and continue to complete the legal framework in order to enhance cooperation in all spheres, especially economy, trade, and investment.

The two sides also consented to creating favourable conditions for Vietnams major exports  such as agro-forestry products, garments-textiles and wood products  to access the Estonian market and other Baltic countries, and for Estonias key items  such as IT, wood, and foodstuff products  to penetrate Vietnam and the ASEAN.

Deputy PM and FM Minh lauded the signing of the agreement on double taxation avoidance by Vietnam and Estonia, and suggested the two countries soon negotiate to reach the signing of an agreement on economic cooperation, thus facilitating bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties.

The officials consented to strengthening and expanding partnerships in areas with potential, such as education-training, agriculture, culture-tourism, and national defence and security.

The two sides spoke highly of effective bilateral affiliation at international forums and organisations, and concurred to continue with their close coordination at multilateral institutions and within the United Nations, the ASEM, and other multilateral forums at which both Vietnam and Estonia are members.

FM Sven Mikser affirmed that Estonia supports Vietnam in boosting comprehensive cooperation with the EU, including the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

Host and guest noted with pleasure the active developments in bilateral relations since Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansips visit to Vietnam in 2011.

They also talked about regional and international issues of shared concern, stressing the significance of peace, stability, security, and navigation safety and freedom.

Estonia backs the standpoint of ASEAN and Vietnam on handling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Sven Mikser said.

The Estonian FM paid an official visit to Vietnam from September 13-14 at the invitation of Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh.
Addressing the event, Tran Quoc Vuong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committees Secretariat, said Fidels trip to the liberated zone brought solidarity and valuable support of Cuban people to Vietnam.

His presence in the zone amidst dangers and hardships was a great source of encouragement to southern residents and soldiers, as well as Vietnamese people during the anti-US resistance war, the official said.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam will always keep in mind the sentiments of Cuba and international friends to the country both in the past and at present, he affirmed, expressing their determination to work together with their Cuban counterparts to preserve and cultivate the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Vietnam always stands side by side with Cuba and supports Cuban peoples just cause, Vuong said.

In his remarks, First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Salvado Valdes Mesa recalled Fidels historic visit 45 years ago and his appeal to Cuban people to support Vietnams national reconstruction.

Cuba will never forget Vietnams solidarity, he said, recalling the countrys backing for the lift of economic and trade embargo imposed on Cuba by the US.

He took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on achievements the country has recorded in reform, improving peoples living standards and maintaining national stability.

Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Tri province, said over the past decades, Cuba and Fidel Castro have become a symbol of revolutionary heroism, undaunted spirit and aspiration for freedom and happiness, citing the Cuban leaders statement: For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.

He expressed his wish that the Cuban Party and State will design more cooperation projects with Vietnam and Quang Tri in such potential areas as tourism, health care and education-training.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003.

With all his great contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.
The first case was a 61-year-old Korean man, who was diagnosed on September 8 with the viral disease one day after returning home from Kuwait.

The patient had been on a business trip to the Middle East country from August 16 to September 6. He reportedly suffered from diarrhea before arriving at the Incheon International Airport. He directly moved by taxi to the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.

The patient has been in an isolation ward at the Seoul National University Hospital.

It marked the first time since July 2015 that the infectious disease case was reported in the RoK. The potentially fatal disease swept the country in the year, infecting 186 people and claiming the lives of 38 patients.

At the time, RoK became the most MERS-infectious country outside the Middle East.

MERS is a respiratory illness caused by a new type of corona virus and carried by camels. There is no known vaccine or treatment for the viral disease, which can be transmitted from human to human.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) tested 21 people, who came in close contacts with the first MERS patient, again Thursday as half of the two-week incubation period went by. They will get another test a week later before being released.

The number of people believed to have contacted the first confirmed patient was 431 as of Thursday, but they had a low possibility to have been infected.

Eleven people, who showed symptoms of MERS such as coughing and fever, have all tested negative for the disease.

The number of foreign travelers, who were believed to have contacted the confirmed patient but were not located by the health authorities, reduced to four after peaking at about 50.

The health authorities had difficulties tracking down the foreign tourists, most of whom did not have local phone numbers.
* The United States has yet to be ready to unveil its Middle East peace plan, a long-awaited proposal that had already been rejected by the Palestinians, said the US State Department on September 13.

* Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that the Palestinian people are still committed to making just peace with Israel.

* Berlin and Rome have reached an agreement whereby the latter will take back asylum seekers who arrive in Germany after having previously been formally registered in Italy, German interior minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) announced on Thursday.

* Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on September 13 announced the formation of a new government of 21 federal ministries.

* The Slovenian new cabinet led by Prime Minister Marjan Sarec were sworn in following endorsement by the National Assembly on September 13 as Slovenia's 13th government since independence, the first minority cabinet to date.

* The interior ministers of European Union (EU) member states and southern European states signed an agreement on the expansion of police cooperation in the Western Balkans at a conference in Vienna on September 13.

* Austria plans to keep its border protection measures in place until effective protection of the European Union (EU) outer borders is implemented, interior affairs minister Herbert Kickl said on September 13.

* A conference for the interior ministers of the European Union (EU) as well as Southern European states was held in Vienna on Thursday (September 13), with asylum centers in the Western Balkans a key topic on Thursday's agenda.

* The European Union (EU) Delegation to Libya on September 13 said it is ready to hold accountable the violators of the UN-brokered ceasefire deal in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

* A two-day summit of the presidents of 13 European Union member states, who form the so-called Arraloios group, kicked off in Latvia on September 13. The presidents of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia have discussions on the future of Europe on their agenda, the Latvian president's office said.

* The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on September 13 said that Hurricane Florence is likely to affect energy infrastructure throughout the southeastern region of the United States.

* The African Union (AU) and Turkey have signed framework cooperation agreement ahead of the 2nd International Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum to be held next month in Istanbul, Turkey.

* Egyptian and Pakistani naval forces conducted on Thursday drills in the Mediterranean Sea, official news agency MENA reported. "The drills meant to exchange expertise in order to promote maritime security and stability in the region," Egyptian armed forces said in a statement.

* The Tunisian navy rescued 25 illegal Tunisian immigrants attempting to reach the Italian coast, the defense ministry said Thursday.
Bryan Wevers is shown with the buoys that appear to have been illegally placed in Okanagan Lake in front of the property owned by wine baron Anthony von Mandl.
A brief court appearance is expected today in provincial court in Vancouver for the man accused of the first-degree murder of a 13-year-old girl. RCMP Cpl. Daniela Panesar places a photo of Marrisa Shen, 13, next to a map indicating where her body was found in Central Park, during a news conference in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Edgar Posadas, spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said "preemptive evacuation" is in effect in areas that will likely face the brunt of typhoon Mangkhut, the most powerful and the 10th storm that hit the Philippines this year.

Authorities urged Filipinos living in the path of the storm to take shelter in evacuation centers, adding the typhoon has the potential to cause large-scale damage, flash floods and landslides.

NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said they are targetting to evacuate around 824,000 people from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

The slow moving typhoon, locally named Ompong, continues to threaten the northern and central provinces of the Philippine main Luzon Island particularly in the Cagayan and Isabela provinces.

The typhoon is forecast to unleash extreme storm surge, flooding, landslide and damaging winds.

The typhoon was located 575 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes province with maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gust of up to 255 kph and it is moving west at 25 kph, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- A head-on collision on Highway 99 near Junction City sent two drivers to the hospital Friday morning.

Oregon State Police said one driver was headed northbound around a curve in the highway. They said the driver was not paying close enough attention to the road and went into the oncoming lane. That driver then collided head-on with a vehicle heading southbound.

One car rolled over, and the other went off the road. Officials said both cars are likely totaled.

Both drivers were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries has not been released at this time.

Police said alcohol or speed don't appear to be factors in the crash.

"Just pay full attention to the roadway," trooper Todd Larsen said. "Yesterday I was out here on 99 as well for another crash -- a single-vehicle rollover just a few miles up the road. Just make sure you are paying attention to the road and are being safe."

Officials from Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, Junction City Police, Lane County Sheriff's Office and Lane County Fire Authority all responded.
EUGENE, Ore. -- A recent national report reveals how long you live can depend on which neighborhood you live in.

The United States Small-Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP) report shows that even if you are just miles apart in the same city, opportunities for people to live healthy lives are not equal.

KEZI 9 News spoke with Martin McKeown, who lives near Hendricks Park, the neighborhood with the longest life expectancy in Eugene at about 88 years.

McKeown's not surprised that his neighborhood is among the top considering who his neighbors are.

"Most of the people are or were professors, or lawyers or docs or other professionals who didn't ravish their bodies with hard labor," McKeown said.

That's not the case for Pamela Lehanseigel, who has lived in the Bethel area near Northwest Expressway for more than 20 years. The report shows it has the lowest life expectancy at 70.

"I know that this isn't considered an upscale neighborhood necessarily, Lehanseigel said. I lived here for 26 years. I find it to be just fine for me."

She said there are many exceptions to the report like her next-door neighbor who is in his 90s. At the end of the day, she said will continue to enjoy living in her neighborhood.

"I'm not going to get all depressed about it, Lehanseigel said. But my neighbors and I will ban together, and we'll find out what's going on and we'll support each other."

According to the report, the highest life expectancy in Oregon was just northwest of Portland at about 89. The lowest was in central Medford at about 66.

USALEEP is a joint effort of the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Health Statistics, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report is the first step toward updating Oregon's State Health Improvement Plan that will guide state and local public health interventions. It took into consideration factors such as housing affordability, food insecurity and educational outcomes.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspects the State Administration for Market Regulation in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed fairness in market regulation to create a level playing field for businesses.

Efforts should be made to improve the business environment, reduce institutional transaction costs and keep business confidence stable, Li said during an inspection tour Tuesday at the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

Market regulation should be strengthened and improved to better unleash market vitality, unlock domestic demand potential and enhance development momentum, Li added.

At the SAMR, Li enquired about product qualification rates, especially the quality of children's products. He said product quality is key to China's upgrade of the manufacturing and service sectors, and market regulators should take advantage of the internet in the supervisory process to ensure the quality and safety of products and services.

Li said China should deepen the reform of the business system, further broaden market access and let market entities have more development opportunities.

He stressed the key role of market regulation in the creation of a fair market environment, saying that market regulators should innovate their supervisory methods and take tailored measures to regulate different kinds of products and services.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hurricane Florence started to hammer U.S. East Coast on Thursday, with formidable wind, rain and storm surge.

DANGEROUS AS EVER

Though it was downgraded on Wednesday night to a Category 2 hurricane, U.S. meteorologists have repeatedly warned the storm is still very dangerous and destructive.

"Do not focus on the wind speed category of #Hurricane #Florence!" the National Hurricane Center tweeted. "Life-threatening storm surge flooding, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are still expected."

Storm surge of up to 13 feet will be "life threatening" and rainfall of up to 40 inches will mean "catastrophic" flooding, the National Hurricane Center warned.

The hurricane, whose wind field size is now larger than North Carolina and South Carolina combined, is expected to make landfall on the Carolinas early Friday. Winds are expected to be onshore in North Carolina late Thursday at more than 80 mph.

"The storm surge. This is the most dangerous part of the storm," said NBC News forecaster Al Roker, "Do not pay attention to the category. That's not the important thing."

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Brock Long warned at a press conference Thursday morning that inland flooding could be deadly and the cleanup will take time and patience.

"The infrastructure is going to break," Long said. "The power is going to go out. It could go out for a number of days, it could go out for weeks. It's very hard to say at this point."

"Don't play games with it. It's a big one", President Donald Trump said at the White House.

LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS

On Thursday, nearly 600 flights were canceled with more than 500 already grounded for Friday, data from flight tracking site FlightAware.com showed. Operations at airports along the Carolina coastline have also been suspended.

Boeing evacuated several new 787-10 Dreamliner jets from its factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, flying them across the country to its main facility in northwestern state Washington, said a CNN report.

Home Depot and Lowe's, the two U.S. major hardware chains, said they sent around 1,000 trucks of generators, trash bags and bottled water and other items to their stores in the region as emergency response, according to local media reports.

In South Carolina, governor Henry McMaster said more than 300,000 people had fled the storm, urging residents living in low-lying areas to evacuate, even if they are not in a mandatory evacuation zone.

More than 1,600 people spent Tuesday night in 36 shelters across the Carolinas, and dozens of more shelters were opened Wednesday, local media reported.

On Thursday, Gregory Lusk, the adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard, said 6,400 guardsmen were on active duty between North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The hurricane is also predicted to pass directly over two nuclear power plants in North Carolina, the Brunswick nuclear plant 30 miles south of Wilmington and the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in New Hill, a town farther inland. They are owned and operated by Duke Energy.

Both power plants have also been ordered to shut down their nuclear reactors 12 hours before the hurricane hits their region, Roger Hannah, a spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told Reuters. They have also prepared their backup diesel generators.

Governors of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, joined by Washington D.C. mayor on Tuesday.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, there are 5.25 million residents in areas under hurricane warnings or watches, and 4.9 million in places under tropical storm warnings or watches.
MASON CITY, Iowa - If you're an Alliant Energy customer and wanting to save money on energy costs, you may be interested in this.

The company is partnering with the Iowa DNR and the City of Mason City for "Operation ReLeaf", offering shade trees, conifers and ornamentals to shade your home in the summer and block the winter wind. The goal is to reduce energy use for heating and cooling.

Beth Enright is the Grant Administrator with the city, and says the $25 per tree is a bargain.

"A lot of them are valued at $75 and more, if you were just to buy them, so it's a nice savings for Alliant customers."

Since it started as a pilot program in Linn County in 2001, more than 200 Operation ReLeaf events have been hosted in Iowa, with more than 70,000 new trees planted.

Trees available for purchase include River Birch, Northern Pecan, Star Magnolia, Hackberry, Bigtooth Aspen, Black Hills Spruce, Kentucky Coffeetree, Silver Linden, Dawn Redwood, Swamp White Oak, Serviceberry, Bur Oak, and Eastern Redbud.

Customers have until September 28th to order a tree, with the city asking customers to print and fill out an application, and to pay by check payable to City of Mason City. Trees must be picked up between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on October 6th at Norris Park in Mason City, and customers are allowed to order up to two trees. Customers who don't reside in Cerro Gordo County are welcome to purchase a tree at event as long as they're Alliant customers. Mail the completed form and payment to:

City of Mason City

10 First Street NW

Mason City, IA 50401
FARIBAULT, Minn.  Law enforcement says its made the single largest meth seizure in Minnesota history.

It happened Tuesday in Minneapolis as agents of the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force seized 170.98 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested four men. An investigation that began in Rice County in January eventually led agents to a home in the 3600 block of Dupont Avenue North, where a search found 39 packages, each containing about two kilograms of meth. Additional smaller packages of meth were also discovered, along with a sawed-off shotgun, 1.1 ounces of tar heroin, and several thousand dollars in cash.

Arrested and charged in Hennepin County District Court are:

- Fernando Ramos Meza, age 33

- Peter Martin, age 34

- Javier Lopez, age 46

- Juan Daniel Valdez Mendoza, age 23

Methamphetamine is still big business in Minnesota and Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) bring meth to major metropolitan hubs like Chicago and Minneapolis then break down the product for mid-level dealers, says Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen. Eventually the drug continues to spread and ends up in all communities across the State. I want to thank the Minnesota Office of Public Safety and the Office of Justice Programs that support these collaborative Violent Crime Enforcement Teams across our State and the hard work done by each team every day to keep our communities safe.

Authorities say the meth seized in this investigation would have had a street value of $7.7 million.

Rice County Sheriff/CRDVOTF chair Troy Dunn commented, Our officers and deputies on the task force did an outstanding job during this investigation, says Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn. They continued to work leads in an attempt to locate sources of these drugs that come back into our communities. These agents worked extremely hard in this case, which resulted in this significant seizure and multiple arrests. We also appreciate and thank the Minneapolis Police Department SWAT team, the Homeland Security Investigations unit, and the Hennepin County Attorneys Office for their assistance.

Law enforcement says the supply of meth has increased so much the price per pound has dropped in ten years from $15,000 to $20,000 to just $4,000.

The Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force covers Rice and Le Sueur Counties, and consists of agents from the Rice County and Le Sueur County Sheriffs Offices and the Faribault and Northfield Police Departments.
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP)  A series of gas explosions one official described as "Armageddon" left at least six people injured and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and turn off gas and electric lines to prevent further damage.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. "There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

"This is still very much an active scene," he said. "There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why."

Hours after the explosions, the utility's parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident," Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement. "The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community."

Baker previously said authorities hadn't heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the company's response "adequate."

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires. Schools in all three communities were canceled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.

"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated."

With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbor's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating six victims with injuries related to the fires, including two in critical condition.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighborhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

"It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe."

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante was warning residents in the Colonial Heights neighborhood to evacuate but said traffic had become a problem.

"People need to get out of this area safely," he said at the time. "It's really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous."

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

"Lawrence is a very resilient community. We're going to get through this together," Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.

Gas explosions have claimed lives and destroyed property around the U.S. in recent years.

A buildup of natural gas triggered an explosion and fire that killed seven people in apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2016.

In 2014, a gas explosion in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood killed eight people and injured about 50. Consolidated Edison later agreed to pay $153 million to settle charges after the state's Public Service Commission found Con Ed violated state safety regulations. A gas leak had been reported before that blast.

A 2011 natural gas explosion killed five people in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and that state's largest gas utility was fined by regulators who called the company's safety record "downright alarming."
China, Russia and Mongolia conclude this week's "Vostok-2018" strategic drills with a military parade on Thursday at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal region. PAN MENGQI/CHINA DAILY

China and Russia vowed to further deepen military ties and improve their troops' combat abilities to respond to various security threats, as they formally concluded the "Vostok-2018" strategic drills with a military parade on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe inspected the troops at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal region, where the exercise was held.

Wei said the drills reflect China and Russia's confidence and determination to jointly safeguard regional peace and security, and the exercise enhances the two militaries' ability to respond to multiple security threats.

The two sides should further strengthen their strategic cooperation and continuously promote the development of their military relations, Wei added.

Putin said in his opening speech before the parade that Russia will continue to enhance international military cooperation with other countries and strengthen its armed forces to counter different security threats.

He praised Russian and Chinese troops who participated in high-level drills in which they demonstrated their capability to counter potential military threats.

In the parade, the Russian army rolled out many of its latest and mightiest pieces of military hardware, including Iskander missiles, T-80 and T-90 tanks, and Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets.

The People's Liberation Army displayed its Type-99 main battle tank, ZBD-08 infantry fighting vehicle, WZ-9 and WZ-19 attack helicopters, Mi-171 helicopters and the JH-7A fighter-bomber.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets a Chinese soldier during the parade. ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/TASS

The drills, which began on Tuesday, were the largest of their kind in modern Russia's history and involved nearly 300,000 Russian troops.

China dispatched 3,200 soldiers, along with over 1,000 pieces of weaponry and 30 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to participate.

Shao Yuanming, vice-chief of staff at the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission and Chinese chief commander at the drills, said the two militaries deepened their friendship, improved mutual trust and fostered cooperation. The exercises also enhanced the ability of both armies to respond to various regional security threats, he said.

The two nations will continue their military cooperation and explore new possible ways to boost their combat abilities, he said.

During three days of strategic drills, the troops simulated a classic anti-invasion campaign at the training range in eastern Siberia.

Beijing said the drills were not aimed at any third party.

Chinese troops' participation was reported to be their first large-scale overseas military activity since PLA military reforms started in 2016. It also marked the largest military event since Moscow's "New Look" army reform started in 2008.

The two militaries formed a joint operational command system during the drills. Li Weiya, a commander at the Chinese operational command headquarters, said the event has historical significance because it fully demonstrated the new cooperative form and level of the two armies.

He said China's participation shows Moscow and Beijing are now cooperating in all areas.
ALBERT LEA, Minn.  Its probation for a former Mason City man convicted of child porn in Freeborn County.

Isaiah Jon Homan, 22 and now living in Montevideo, received 10 years of probation Friday, along with 43 days in the Freeborn County Jail, 40 hours of community service, and must pay $224.96 in restitution for pleading guilty to use of a minor in a sexual performance.

Homan was arrested in November 2016 and accused of using a cell phone to send naked pictures of himself to a 14-year-old female and get naked photos from her.

As part of a plea deal, a charge of solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct was dismissed.
ALBERT LEA, Minn.  After 56 years in Albert Lea, Sterling Pharmacy is closing its doors.

In a public statement, Sterling Pharmacy President Sam Ewing says the financial pressures over the past year have been more than our family-owned business could withstand. Ewing says changes in the healthcare system, retail, and rural populations all contributed to the decision to close in Albert Lea.

Ewing says instead of blaming anyone, hes asking people to support their local businesses.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  An accused mail thief is pleading not guilty.

Nicole Jeanne Thorson, 21 of Rochester, is charged with theft of a controlled substance, two counts of mail theft, and 5th degree drug possession. Rochester police say she was seen going through a group of mailboxes on May 8 and took a bottle of prescription drugs.

Officers say when she was arrested, Thorson said she didnt know her grandmothers address and was trying to find where she lived.

Thorsons trial is scheduled to being on February 19, 2019.
(Adds detail on executive succession, strategy, M&A targets, deal history)

By Susan Taylor

TORONTO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Canada's Lundin Mining Corp is on the hunt for copper mines and projects and willing to spend up to $3 billion on mergers and acquisitions, its incoming chief executive officer said in an interview on Thursday.

But Lundin will stick with its strategy of disciplined bids and a focus on low-risk jurisdictions, Marie Inkster said at the company's Toronto head office.

The base metal miner was recently outbid by China's Zijin Mining Group in its hostile takeover offer for Nevsun Resources . "We want to get more copper. We want to get more mines. We want good prospects," said Inkster, who will take over as CEO when Paul Conibear retires later this year.

The change of guard, announced one day before the Nevsun hostile bid in late July, caught some investors and analysts off guard. Inkster, Lundin's Chief Financial Officer since 2009, said the news should not have surprised those who know the company, noting that Conibear had named her as his successor at an internal meeting two years ago.

Aiming for board and executive stability, with no strategic "sudden right turns," Inkster said she will direct her exploration team and new head of corporate development, Peter Rockandel, to chase down "all avenues" for M&A.

Lundin's last major acquisition, in 2014, was a $1.85 billion purchase of Freeport-McMoRan's 80-percent stake in the Candelaria copper mine in Chile.

To finance that deal and a debt restructuring, Lundin raised $2.2 billion, coming close to its market capitalization. Inkster backed the "big bite" transaction, structured to minimize risk by combining up-front stream financing, high-yield debt, and equity for the asset, which had a cash flow that supported debt.

Lundin's chairman said earlier this year that he would now be prepared to spend as much as $3 billion on a base metal asset.

The likelihood of a deal of that size "would be dependent on the availability of the asset rather than our willingness," said Inkster. "We would be willing to do that for an asset that would support its debt with cash flow," she said.

Inkster said an ideal acquisition would be a mine that would operate for 10-years-plus in low-risk areas. Lundin has operations in Chile, Portugal, Sweden and the United States.

Lundin has done well wringing better results from mines sold by debt-loaded global miners, but there are fewer such opportunities now.

"Perhaps the next wave of assets that shake free is where there is a change in strategy ... a company which suddenly decides that certain assets are non-core," Inkster said.

Lundin could also spend up to $150 million to buy a promising exploration company, and would consider staged investments in small miners that are tied to exploration results, she added.

(Reporting by Susan Taylor Editing by Leslie Adler and Rosalba O'Brien)

Messaging: susan.taylor1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))


LUANDA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Anglo American , one of the world's largest commodities miners, has written to Angola's government requesting permission to explore three areas for base metals, the country's mineral resources ministry said on Friday. London-listed Anglo, which operates diamond, copper and platinum mines around the world, submitted a letter of intent to invest in the southern African nation's mining sector, the Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources and oil said.

(Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer; Writing by Mfuneko Toyana and Mark Potter) Messaging: mfuneko.toyana.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Messaging: mfuneko.toyana.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinas export-dependent cities and provinces are scrambling to provide relief to exporters, stabilize employment and avert the possibility of social unrest as an intensifying trade dispute with the United States threatens to further erode business.

Guangdong, Chinas biggest province by gross domestic product, this week offered to cut corporate taxes, slash electricity prices and reduce transport and land costs as additional U.S. tariffs since July exposed Chinese manufacturers to the prospect of empty order books.

The tariffs have come at a particularly bad time for the southern province, which is in the midst of an economic restructuring as it tries to move away from low-end, labor-intensive manufacturing.

The shift has already led to job losses.

Fujian, another big-exporting province on the coast, unveiled a similar package of measures in August to soften the blows of the trade war.

The plight of the provinces is just a taste of what could come if the United States carries out its threat to impose additional tariffs on all of its Chinese imports.

All-out U.S. retaliation would scuttle Chinas plan to pivot away from basic industries to higher-value manufacturing, and could result in job losses in the hundreds of thousands, according to one private estimate.

To some, this is a microcosm of what could happen to other export-dependent provinces should Trump roll out the full tariffs, said Jonas Short, head of Beijing office at brokerage Everbright Sun Hung Kai.

Its also structural - cost rises due to land usage, as well as social security and funding pressures. But also the shock of these tariffs acted as a double whammy.

CITIES UNDER SIEGE

Guangdongs exports fell 2 percent in the first seven months from a year earlier, with shipments of machinery - accounting for more than half of its exports - up only 2.2 percent.

Three Guangdong cities - Zhongshan, Foshan and Shenzhen - are racing to meet criteria for a program under which exporters, both domestic and foreign-owned, are exempted from a value-added tax of 16 percent.

Small firms with no export licenses can also bundle their products with trading firms that have permits.

Zhongshan, which shares the Pearl River Delta with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, is especially vulnerable, being one of the Chinese cities most dependent on U.S. customers.

Directly in the line of fire is Zhongshans Guzhen district, the largest production base of lighting fittings in China.

U.S. tariffs have already hit makers of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The Trump administration is readying more duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports that will include most lighting products.

The finance ministry said last week it would raise tax rebates on more than 300 products including LEDs, semiconductors and machinery.

The trade war is partly to be blamed for the declining exports, said a businessman who runs a trading company in Zhongshan who only gave his surname Xu.

The Zhongshan government is applying for the program because of the fall in exports.

Xu said he expected Zhongshan to join the program in September or October.

Zhongshans exports slumped 21.3 percent in the first half with the customs agency attributing that to factors including the trade tension, which started to flare in March. Exports to the United States slumped 19 percent.

The Zhejiang city of Yiwu - the largest wholesale market for general merchandise exports - was the first to join the program, in 2013. It has helped double the citys exports that year, according to official data.

But there is no guarantee.

Guangzhou joined the program last year, and exports grew 9.1 percent in 2017. Since then, its exports have fallen. Shipments declined 8.8 percent in the first seven months of this year.

The Zhongshan government said the commerce ministry had not yet approved its application to join the program.

The cities of Wenzhou and Quanzhou, in the provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian, are also looking to join the program, with Wenzhou aiming to boost its exports by $2 billion annually.

JOB CONCERNS

JPMorgan estimated China could lose 700,000 jobs if the United States imposes 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese exports, and if China were to retaliate by devaluing its currency by 5 percent and adding to levies on U.S. goods.

In January-July, the number of jobs at Guangdongs industrial firms fell 4.5 percent from a year earlier to 13.15 million, Guangzhous statistics bureau told Reuters.

Xu Yangneng,general manager at an LED firm in Foshan city in Guangdong, said his company stopped its export business after the tariffs in July as profits were being squeezed, and would focus on the domestic market instead.

Business at many factories in Foshan whose biggest market is the U.S. is quite slow, Xu said.

Some just put their workers on holiday or simply lay them off.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that he would find a compromise to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula in his upcoming summit with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.

Moon made the remarks during a meeting with senior advisors on the peninsula affairs, including former unification ministers and DPRK experts, according to the presidential Blue House.

The South Korean president said he had a positive view over the denuclearization as leaders of the DPRK and the United States confirmed their trust to each other by exchanging letters and confirmed their willingness toward the denuclearization and the end of hostile relations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Citing the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore on June 12 and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Pyongyang three times, Moon said the DPRK-U.S. dialogues have been going on at a faster speed than anticipated.

Moon also mentioned the DPRK's suspension of any provocation since November last year, and the dismantlement of its main nuclear test site and its missile engine test site, saying South Korea and the United States halted annual joint war games in response.

He said the DPRK has demanded the U.S. measures corresponding to its further steps of denuclearization, such as the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, materials and facilities Pyongyang currently owns.

Under such situations, Moon said South Korea can suggest a compromise to end the standoff and expedite dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, which would speed up the denuclearization process.

During his upcoming summit with the DPRK leader, Moon planned to focus on eliminating any possibility for military tensions or conflicts between the two Koreas, while completely ending any threat of armed conflicts in border areas on land, in waters and in the air.
Chinese tech giant Huawei, the Spanish CRIS Cancer Foundation and two-time World figure skating Champion Javier Fernandez on Thursday presented a three-way agreement to fight against cancer in children.

At an event held in the Palacio de Hielo (Ice Palace) ice-rink in Madrid, they explained that for every sale of Huawei's P Smart Plus smartphone, the company would make a donation to raise funds for the investigation and improved treatment of cancer in children.

The P Smart Plus phone was promoted by a campaign #lascosasnosonloqueparecen (Things are not as they seem) and Pablo Wang, the Director of Huawei's Consumer Deportment in Spain said Huawei was "very happy to form part of such a good and, sadly, necessary cause".

He added the most important thing about the P Smart Plus was that "it helps with a part of the cost of investigating cancer in infants".

Javier Fernandez is the face of the campaign and has donated his earnings from promoting it to the CRIS Foundation.

"I am proud to be able to lead this wonderful and human project. Thanks to Huawei will be able to help a lot of children and find a cure for cancer. I am certain it is the start of a marvelous project," commented the skater.

Lola Manterola, the Vice-President of the CRIS Foundation and herself a cancer sufferer, told those present that her organization "promotes key investigation projects", and explained that 40 percent of cases "do not currently have a cure".

She said the best way to beat cancer was by "investigation" allowing the "advances to get to the patients as quickly as possible".

She thanked both Javier Fernandez and Huawei "for believing in investigation and supporting CRIS in one of the most innovative of projects".
By Park Si-soo



The English version of the Panmunjeom Declaration circulated to United Nations member countries is causing a controversy because its critical phrase is different from the original text.



The original text released by Cheong Wa Dae shortly after the first summit between South Korean Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un on April 27 states that the two Koreas "agreed to actively pursue" the end of the Korean War "during this year" through trilateral meetings involving the two Koreas and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the two Koreas, the U.S. and China.



But the version submitted to the U.N. firmly states that the two Koreas "agreed to declare the end of war this year."



The two Koreas jointly submitted the controversial version of the declaration to the U.N. on Thursday.






China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB)'s Singapore Branch issued 300 million Singapore dollars (SDG) of Belt and Road Initiative Infrastructure bonds Thursday to be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, the bank said.

The 300-million-Singapore-dollar two-year bonds were priced at a coupon of 2.643 percent, attracting investors from different countries and regions, including sovereign funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and fund managers.

The issue received orders in excess of 600 million Singapore dollars.

Including the previous 1 billion RMB bond (about 200 million Singapore dollars), CCB Singapore has raised in aggregate more than 1 billion Singapore dollars equivalent in the local market. S&P has granted "A" rating for this bond issue.

This is CCB Singapore Branch's second SGD bond issuance in the local debt markets as well as the third bond issuance within "The Belt and Road Initiative" Infrastructure bond series, another response to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and an important step for the bank to take root in Southeast Asia.

CCB Singapore Branch was established in 1998 and this year marks its 20th anniversary. To date, the branch has participated in more than 20 projects with total contracts signed or services rendered amounted to approximately 10 billion U.S. dollars, covering Singapore and more than 10 countries and regions.
President Moon Jae-in, front row third from left, salutes while participating in the launch ceremony of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine at Okpo Shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Defense Minister Song Young-moo, left, and a group of ranking military and government officials joined the event to commemorate the launch of the nation's first 3,000-ton submarine. / Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



GEOJE, South Gyeongsang Province  The nation's first 3,000-ton submarine was launched Friday on this southeastern island city, featuring an increase in parts localization ratios and improved underwater sound propagation systems.



The vessel is named after Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, one of the nation's most respected independence activists during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) manufactured the next-generation underwater fleet. Dosan's grandson, Ahn Robert Alan, was also invited to the launch ceremony.



The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed the submarine manufacturing contract with DSME in 2012, in a bid to enhance the nation's naval combat prowess by introducing the mid-sized submarine.



The vessel belongs to the first batch of the Korean Submarine (KSS)-III project. Starting from 2020, the Navy will start introducing nine Ahn Chang-ho submarines to replace existing smaller vessels, according to DAPA.



A group of high-ranking officials  including President Moon Jae-in and Defense Minister Song Young-moo  participated in its launch ceremony.



"The launch of the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine displays our capabilities for national defense, and starting with the event, our defense industry will take a big leap forward," Moon said in a speech while joining the launch ceremony, Friday.



Of note is that the latest submarine has achieved a 76-percent parts localization ratio, a whopping growth from 33 percent during the 1990s when the KSS-I project was underway.









"We are on track to increase the localization ratio for the submarine manufacturing project," a DAPA official said. "Korea can now manufacture most of the key submarine components  including the sound navigation and ranging (Sonar)  without the help of overseas technologies. For upcoming projects, we are going to increase the ratio to hold tighter grip on naval defense capabilities."



Sonar systems are the most critical and high-tech part of submarines, serving as an ear of underwater fleets. The Navy's submarines here and abroad use the systems to detect enemy objects or underwater mines.





Seen above is the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine manufactured by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Core parts for the 3,000-ton underwater fleet were designed and manufactured by domestic technologies. / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
Yemeni asylum seekers leave the immigration office on Jeju Island after receiving humanitarian stay permits, Friday. / Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun



Jeju Island granted, Friday, one-year residence permits to 23 Yemenis who applied for refugee status.



However, the Jeju Immigration Office decided not to recognize them as refugees.



Hundreds of Yemenis arrived on Jeju Island earlier this year and they applied for the refugee status. The local immigration office conducted interviews with 484 asylum seekers and gave stay permits to 23 of them.



The authority said they were mostly pregnant women, injured people or minors who fled the ongoing war in their homeland or forced conscription by Houthi rebels.



Ten of the 23 Yemenis granted stay permits are under 19 and seven of them are with parents or spouses. Three are without parents or guardian.



"We will keep an eye on the situation in Yemen, and if things get better there we will not extend their stay permit or will cancel it. Also, if they break any law here, we can cancel their residency status," an immigration official said.



The 23 Yemenis were not granted refugee status because they did not belong to any of the five persecution circumstances defined by refugee law and conventions. Asylum seekers can acquire refugee status if they are under oppression for their race, religion, nationality, political stance or position in a particular social group.



The Yemenis were only given a stay permit here for possible infringement of personal liberties if they would be imprisoned or arrested during the ongoing civil war.



The Jeju immigration office said it went over strict qualification procedures on the 23 Yemenis involving identification, a drug test and their criminal record history in and outside of the country. No significant abnormalities were found.



The 23 Yemenis are also allowed to leave the island but can stay there as they wish.



The arrival of the Yemeni refugees sparked controversy, not only on Jeju Island but throughout the whole country over concerns of an increase in crime and other social problems.



Many also claimed some Yemenis could have faked their identification as asylum seekers to find jobs or enjoy economic advantages on the island.



The justice ministry promised to screen out any fake asylum seekers by revising the Refugee Act and speeding up their deliberation on refugee applications.



The United States has been limiting immigration of asylum seekers from eight nationalities including Yemen since last September.



However, it has decided to grant humanitarian stay permits and "temporary protection status" to 1,250 Yemenis considering the civil war going on in their country.


Army colonel Cho Yong-geun, right, South Korea's chief envoy to inter-Korean working-level military talks, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Col. Om Chang-nam before the 40th military meeting at the Panmunjeom truce village on Thursday. Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense



President to fly to Pyongyang via western air route



By Kim Yoo-chul, Park Ji-won



The two Koreas agreed some military de-escalation measures Friday including a plan to demilitarize the Joint Security Area and continue joint recovery operations (JRO) of war dead in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in a step to relax military tensions ahead of the upcoming Pyongyang summit from Sept. 18 to 20.



Cheong Wa Dae announced later the same day President Moon Jae-in will fly directly to North Korea by using a direct western air route for his third inter-Korean summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"The two Koreas agreed to demilitarize the JSA, operate the JRO to search for the remains of troops killed but unaccounted for during the Korean War and pull back their guard posts within the DMZ on a trial basis," a government official said.



The two Koreas started working-level military talks on Thursday morning at the North side of the truce village of Panmunjeom and continued discussions for 17 hours to narrow differences on specifics towards easing military tensions.



South Korea's defense ministry confirmed the two Koreas reached a "comprehensive military agreement," mandating Seoul and Pyongyang to abide by a timeline for agreed-upon military de-escalation measures.



"President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will officially sign the agreement at the upcoming summit to be held next week in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang," the official said.



Specifically, both sides plan to withdraw up to 10 guard posts each all the way through the DMZ on a trial basis and increase the numbers to be dismantled, according to another official who is knowledgeable about the issue.



The main sites for the joint operation to excavate the remains of fallen soldiers during the Korean War would be cities in Gangwon Province as the province remains directly affected by the war with the DMZ dividing the province between North and South.






By Kim Hyun-bin



SsangYong Motor and its labor union have agreed to reinstate all its employees who were fired in 2009 in restructuring programs, the carmaker announced, Friday.



The agreement was reached during a press conference at the office of the Economic, Social and Labor Council in Seoul, attended by representatives from the car manufacturer's management and labor union as well as those from the presidential advisory body and the Korean Metal Workers' Union's SsangYong branch.



Under the deal, the Pyeongtaek-based company will rehire 60 percent of the 119 workers by the end of this year and the remaining 40 percent by the first half of next year.



"For an early solution to reinstate the people who were fired, reduce societal tensions, and enhance the company, we have agreed to the terms," the four sides said in a press conference.



SsangYong has been in a long dispute with the workers who were forced to leave the company in 2009 after it was placed under court receivership, which laid off 1,800 workers. At the time, 900 workers who launched a strike at the company's Pyeongtaek plant were forced to choose between unpaid leave and voluntary retirement. Those who did not decide were later fired.



In 2013, 454 workers who chose unpaid leave were all reinstated.



After a series of negotiations, management agreed in 2015 to reinstate the remaining fired workers gradually, which brought back to the company 40 workers in 2016, 62 in 2017 and 26 in 2018  although 119 fired workers were excluded from the list.



The recent agreement to reinstate the rest of the 119 fired workers has put an end to SsangYong's decade-long labor dispute, which had plagued the nation's smallest carmaker.



"It is meaningful that through societal dialogue we are able to come to a close on the decade-long dispute of reinstating fired workers," Ssangyong CEO Choi Johng-sik said. "SsangYong Motor will do its upmost to resolve the problem and we request the government's support for and social interest in our efforts."




By Jhoo Dong-chan



KB Financial Group will launch an asset management unit through KB Asset Management in China next week as part of efforts to strengthen its foothold abroad, an industry source said Thursday.



"KB Asset Management will establish a corporate body in Shanghai in a week or so," said a source close to the matter asking for anonymity.



"KB Financial and its subsidiaries have eagerly looked for opportunities abroad. KB Asset Management's move to expand its foothold into China is part of such efforts," the source added.



KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo
By Jhoo Dong-chan



Shinhan Financial Group is strengthening its non-banking sector in Vietnam, laying the groundwork to become a comprehensive financial group in the Southeast Asian country.



According to Shinhan Financial Group, Shinhan Card decided to give 216.4 billion won ($195.1 million) in credit to Prudential Vietnam Financial Company (PVFC), its capital subsidiary in the country.



In a bid to improve the group's non-banking business there, Shinhan Financial spent 161.4 billion won to acquire PVFC specializing in retail loans from Prudential Group in January.



PVFC was launched in 2006 by the U.K.-based group as the first foreign non-bank financial institution licensed for consumer financing in Vietnam. It was also the country's fourth-largest consumer finance company by outstanding loan balance.



Shinhan Financial plans to improve PVFC's financial soundness through the capital offering.



Using the money, Shinhan Card plans to shift high interest loans carrying double-digit rates PVFC borrowed from Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited, another Prudential Group's subsidiary, into low interest loans with single-digit rates.



"Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byung aims to strengthen not only the banking sector but also the non-banking sectors in Vietnam to amplify synergy between its subsidiaries there," said a Shinhan Financial official said.



"PVFC will be a valuable asset in Shinhan's business network _ it will greatly contribute to the group's earnings in the country."



PVFC has seen stable earnings growth for three years, posting 63.7 billion won in 2015, 77.2 billion won in 2016 and 82 billion won last year. Its market share has reached nearly 10 percent.



The move is also believed to be seeking to widen the gap in its fierce competition against other Korean card firms.



Lotte Card was approved by the Vietnamese government to acquire Techcom Finance, another local Vietnamese financial firm specializing in retail loans, in March.



Hana Card also concluded an MOU with the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) and payment solution provider Alliex to expand its payment settlement services business in the month.



Although facing tough challenges from peer Korean financial firms, Shinhan is still said to be the most influential foreign financial firm in Vietnam.



The group's banking subsidiary Shinhan Bank established its local corporate body Shinhan Vietnam Bank in 2009, and in the retail finance sector acquired Australian-based banking firm ANZ Vietnam under Cho's leadership last April.



Shinhan Vietnam Bank is now the largest foreign bank there with assets worth a combined total of $3.3 billion. It also has about 900,000 customers.


Fan Bingbing at the Cannes Film Festival this year. AFP-Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan



Chinese actress Fan Bingbing reportedly sought political asylum in Los Angeles following months of her whereabouts being unknown and a tax evasion charge involving millions of dollars.



Fan, a leading actress in China and well-known internationally, appeared at the immigration office in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, according to Singapore's The Strait Times, citing a Hong Kong news outlet. The report suggests that the actress, 36, might have fled China to evade prosecution for alleged tax evasion.



Chinese actor Jackie Chan reportedly assisted Fan in moving to the U.S. The actor, best known for his martial arts stunts, advised her to seek refuge to avoid the tax situation, according to the Singaporean daily, citing a Twitter. But Chan's company told Chinese news site ETtoday that reports that he was involved were "nonsense."



Fan stayed under the radar in June after veteran Chinese host Cui Yongyuan accused her of the charge in late May. He reportedly implied that when she was filming "Cell Phone 2," she signed two contracts known as "yin and yang" contracts. This allowed her to prepare one official copy of a contract for the authorities and another for herself and the movie's production company. Consequently she was to receive 60 million yuan, but would be taxed only for 10 million yuan.



Fan denied the claims and Cui later withdrew his allegation. But China's State Administration of Taxation in early June, several days after Cui's allegations, ordered its local bureau in Jiangsu province  where Fan's film studio is based  to investigate the tax evasion issue within the film industry.



Zhejiang Talent, a production company involved in the Chinese TV drama "The Legend of Ba Qing," in which Fan that stars, released a report on Aug. 29 no release date had been set because of the allegations about Fan, the Straits Times said.



Fan's social network account on Weibo, which she used to update almost daily, has been dormant since June 2.



Fan's husband Li Chen, also an actor, has remained silent about the matter.


By Gwynne Dyer



Is there really such a thing as a global culture? Consider gay rights.



Last Thursday the Indian Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality. Last April a court in Trinidad and Tobago found colonial-era laws banning gay sex to be unconstitutional. And late last year, Australia became the umpteenth state to legalize same-sex marriage. There is a slow-motion avalanche going on.



Yes, 35 of the 63 Commonwealth countries, mostly in Africa or the West Indies, still make homosexual acts a criminal offence. Yes, some countries, including Nigeria and Uganda, have even tightened their anti-gay laws. And in the ultra-conservative Malaysian state of Terengganu last week, two women were lashed six times with a cane and fined $800 for 'trying to have sex' (whatever that means) in a car.



Change was never achieved easily, and it still isn't. Section 377, the 19th-century law that made a same-sex relationship in India an "unnatural offence" punishable by a 10-year jail term, was struck down by the Delhi High Court in 2009. The Indian gay community, as big as anywhere else but more oppressed than most, celebrated, and many people came out of the closet, especially in the big cities.



Some of them paid a high price when the Indian Supreme Court then reinstated Section 377 in 2013, saying that only parliament could change the law. This year the very same court reviewed that decision and reversed it. Why did it do that? After all, the Indian Constitution hadn't changed in the meantime.



Nobody on the Indian Supreme Court will admit this in public, but the real reason for the about-face was that the consensus global definition of human rights has expanded far enough to make its previous ruling untenable. No grown-up country that is fully engaged with the rest of the world wants to be embarrassed by laws that make it look medieval.



Conservative religious and political leaders in developing countries often condemn the repeal of anti-gay laws as an unwelcome import from the West, somehow contrary to the local culture, but they should (and often do) know better. It was Western countries that imposed anti-gay laws on their empires in the first place, in the 19th century, and it's local activists, not foreign gays, that are struggling to get rid of them.



This is not to say that the situation of gays outside the West was good before the rise of the European empires. On the contrary, very few cultures, Western or otherwise, have ever accorded gays the same rights and respect as the rest of the population. The activists are breaking new ground in the West as much as they are in the developing world.



What we are really seeing here is the halting but probably unstoppable emergence of a global standard on human rights. It has been underway for at least 250 years and it may have another century to go, but gay rights belongs to the same category of social innovation as the end of slavery, the rise of feminism, and the abolition of the death penalty.



None of these changes are happening because they correspond to some natural law. They are being consciously created by people who want there to be more justice and more equity in the world. The activists are a small minority, but they are making progress because their ideas resonate with a much larger group in every society who share their ideals if not their energy.



This may sound overly optimistic at a time when there is a racist president in the White House, a cynical manipulator in the Kremlin, and a saner version of Chairman Mao running China. All of them trade in gutter nationalism, and none of them gives a damn about justice or equity. Not only that, but they are all quite popular at home.



Never mind. Progress is usually two steps forward, one step back, and we may be in for a slow decade in terms of progress on human rights, or even some back-sliding. But do you really think that people as shallow as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin can turn the clock all the way back? (Xi Jinping may be a longer-term problem, but not for gays. There are no anti-gay laws in China.)



This is long-wave change. The rise of democracy was part of it. Decolonization was part of it. The struggle against racism is part of it. The goal is equality of rights, and this decade is turning out to be the decade when the gays get it.



Or rather, it's the decade when they get in legal terms, although they will have to wait a while longer before sexual orientation becomes a completely neutral attribute like hair color. Basically, they have to wait until the older generation dies off. Most of the urban young get it already.



Meanwhile, you might like to note that with the change in India, five-sixths of the world's people now live in countries where homosexuality is not a crime.





Gwynne Dyer (gwynne763121476@aol.com) has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. His new book is "Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)."


Joint liaison office will hopefully boost inter-Korean ties



Friday's opening of a joint liaison office in Gaeseong is a follow-up to an agreement reached by the leaders of the two Koreas during their summit at the truce village of Panmunjeom on April 27. The office, the first of its kind since the division of the Korean Peninsula, will serve as a communication channel between the South and the North.



The opening came at a critical juncture. President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to hold his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next week. Moon and Kim are likely to discuss how to boost inter-Korean cooperation as well as start the North's denuclearization process.



Moon is required to play an active mediator's role to break the deadlock between Pyongyang and Washington over the lack of progress in the North's commitment to scrapping its nuclear and missile development programs. We hope the launch of the liaison office will serve as a positive factor in reviving the stalled nuclear talks and getting the Kim regime to take a sincere step toward denuclearization.



In fact, the opening ceremony took place at a delicate time. The U.S. wanted the two Koreas to delay the opening, citing little progress in dismantling the North's nuclear arsenal. The Trump administration has taken a firm stance that inter-Korean detente should keep pace with the denuclearization process.



That's why Washington has expressed concern that Seoul and Pyongyang are improving ties too rapidly although Kim has yet to take any steps to make good on his commitment to "complete denuclearization" of the peninsula. Even some hawkish U.S. officials have argued that the construction and opening of the liaison office might violate the U.S.-led international sanctions against the Kim regime.



Despite such concerns, the Seoul government has begun to operate the office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This shows Moon's strong will to end animosity between the Koreas and move toward peace, coexistence and co-prosperity.



However, Pyongyang has yet to disclose a concrete timetable for its denuclearization. It is disappointing for the North to drag its feet in dismantling its atomic weapons and long-range ballistic missiles. Instead, the Kim regime is calling on the U.S. to formally declare the end of the Korean War which came to a halt not with a peace treaty but with an armistice in 1953.



The North also seems to be more interested in pushing for economic cooperation with the South than giving up its nuclear program. Of course, extracting economic aid from Seoul is more than necessary to rebuild the impoverished North Korean economy. But Kim and his top aides should realize that any economic assistance and projects to reconnect severed railroads and roads are not possible without denuclearization.



The Moon administration should not send any misleading signals to Pyongyang. It must make sure that inter-Korean detente and reconciliation go hand in hand with the North's denuclearization. We hope the joint liaison office will help build trust between the two sides and mark a turning point in the peace and denuclearization process.




Habib House is the U.S. ambassador's residence in downtown Seoul. Yonhap



By Oh Young-jin



What if it had been a terrorist?



That must be what crossed the mind of U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris.



About 10 p.m. on Sept. 3, an intruder was caught prowling Habib House, the U.S. ambassador's residence in downtown Seoul.



It is said Harris is not happy with the intrusion and the lack of adequate follow-up measures by Korean police.



The intruder proved to be a Korean-Chinese woman who arrived in Korea two days before the break-in.





U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris. Korea Times
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing on Thursday, vowing to promote cooperation in various fields.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing on Thursday, September 13, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 100th anniversary of work-study program in France, which will be of special significance for China-France relations, Wang said.

"China is willing to strengthen communication with the French side in building the Belt and Road and explore new ways of cooperation," Wang said, calling on the two sides to make contributions to maintaining multilateralism, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and development.

Le Drian said France is willing to advance cooperation with China in all areas and to explore ways of cooperation mode in construction of the Belt and Road.
By Jun Ji-hye



SK Telecom has picked Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Ericsson as preferred bidders for its fifth-generation (5G) network equipment ahead of the launch of the world's first commercial 5G service next March, Korea's top mobile carrier said Friday.



Huawei, the Chinese 5G network equipment maker, was excluded from the Korean firm's plans to construct nationwide commercial 5G infrastructure amid growing concerns over its network security in the United States, Japan and other countries.



"SK Telecom selected Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Ericsson as preferred bidders to supply 5G equipment in order to realize the world-class 5G quality and vitalize the 5G ecosystem," an SK Telecom official said. "SK Telecom has concluded the three companies possess the capability of leading relevant technologies amid cutthroat competition worldwide in taking the leadership in the 5G market."



SK Telecom became the first company among the three Korean mobile carriers to select 5G equipment partners. The firm said it will finalize remaining procedures as soon as possible and do its best to construct 5G commercial networks.



The telecom company stressed it made the decision after comprehensive consideration on various factors, such as financial element.



Though the Korean firm denied speculation that it excluded the Chinese company due to security concerns, the decision is drawing keen attention as it came amid moves made by several governments _ the United States, Australia and Canada _ to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks.



The decision made by the top mobile carrier is expected to affect the selection of its two domestic rivals' 5G equipment partners.



Korean telecommunication companies have faced a dilemma on whether to adopt Huawei's equipment as it is known to be 20 percent to 30 percent cheaper for advanced technologies compared to others, but is subject to security concerns, initially raised by the U.S. government, a major ally of Korea.



U.S. agencies have long suspected the Chinese government or military may have installed backdoors in Huawei equipment for surveillance, citing Huawei's founder is a former officer in the People's Liberation Army.



The U.S. congressional report also stated in 2012 that Huawei equipment could be used in espionage activities, and in accordance with the government's negative position, AT&T gave up its plan to release Huawei's smartphones in the U.S. market.



But SK Telecom said it has placed great importance on whether 5G equipment is compatible with long-term evolution (LTE) networks, as it is inevitable 5G will have to interwork with LTE networks in the initial phase of 5G commercial services.



The top mobile carrier did not use Huawei's equipment in building LTE networks, either.



Meanwhile, KT, Korea's second-largest mobile carrier, and LG Uplus, the smallest player, said they have yet to decide on 5G equipment suppliers, noting that they are considering every possibility.








By Jun Ji-hye







Samsung SDS will apply its blockchain platform to set up the world's first blockchain-based export customs clearance system in a project led by Korea Customs Service, the company said Friday.







Korea Customs Service signed an agreement with 48 relevant government offices and companies, such as shipping and insurance firms, earlier in the day to implement the project.







In July, Korea Customs Service selected Samsung SDS as a major company in the project to establish the advanced export customs clearance system as part of efforts to adopt cutting-edge technologies for its customs administration in response to growing trade and e-commerce volume.







The IT arm of the nation's top conglomerate Samsung Group will use its "Nexledger," a blockchain platform developed for corporations, to build such a system.







The Nexledger allows users of mobile devices to gain access to various services safely through encryption of biometric certification information, the firm said.







The company noted that the new logistics system will enable institutions and companies, related to exports, to quickly and easily share a variety of documents, ranging from customs declarations to delivery, with each other.







The system also fundamentally prevents forgery or falsification of documents.







Samsung SDS said its Nexledger platform is capable of dealing with a large quantity of transactions in real time and offering a smart contract function, which bolsters security and convenience.







The firm has already applied the platform to diverse industries including financial, manufacturing and logistics businesses.







"We will enhance our leadership in the logistics blockchain area by implementing the project successfully and contribute to raising the nation's competitive edge in logistics," said Kim Hyung-tae who leads the logistics business unit at Samsung SDS.







The firm added it will continue to develop its blockchain technology by combining it with other future technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud, big data and internet of things in a bid to lead IT innovation.


Chung Eui-sun



By Park Jae-hyuk



Hyundai Motor Group heir Chung Eui-sun, who currently manages the group's automotive business, will assume a greater role overseeing its construction, steelmaking and other units as well, Korea's second-largest conglomerate said Friday.



According to the nation's largest automotive group, the newly appointed executive vice chairman will direct the comprehensive management of the group, as an aide to his father, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo.



The group consists of Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation and subsidiaries in charge of steelmaking, construction, auto parts manufacturing and finance.



The executive vice chairman has been considered to understand the group's overall businesses well, as he has also served as a director of Kia Motors, Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Steel.



"Chairman Chung Mong-koo made the decision on the recent appointment, in order to enhance the group's ability to cope with the changing business environment, amid the intensifying global trade war and emergence of new competitors in the market," a Hyundai Motor Group official said.



"The decision is also a part of our group's efforts to secure the new growth engine and to enhance our competitiveness during the turning point in the industry, following the Fourth Industrial Revolution."



The recent appointment is the first promotion of the chairman's only son in nine years, since he was promoted as vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Company in 2009.



The 47-year-old faces a daunting task, as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of hefty tariffs on cars, auto parts and steel products imported to the country. The executive vice chairman should also recover sales of Hyundai cars in the U.S., China and emerging markets.



His broad network in the global market is expected to help him overcoming the crisis.



After graduating Korea University Business School in 1993, he took a master of business administration from the University of San Francisco in 1997. Then, he worked at Japanese trading company Itochu's New York office.



Since he began working for Hyundai Motor Company in 2009, after serving as the president of Kia, he has visited various countries where Hyundai sells its cars. He also participated in the Consumer Electronics Show and the North American International Auto Show.



Earlier this month, the heir-apparent visited India to deliver a keynote speech at the Move Global Mobility Summit.



"We are actively transitioning from a car manufacturer to a smart mobility provider," he said at that time.



To secure the group's future growth engine, Chung has also made investments in prospective global startups, including the U.S. on-demand ride app Migo, the Singapore-based ride-hailing app Grab and the U.S. self-driving car startup Aurora.



His company has scouted global experts in the automotive industry as well, since it hired Peter Schreyer as head of design in 2006. Hyundai said Friday former Volkswagen brand marketing expert Cornelia Schneider will also join the company on Monday.


Korail CEO Oh Young-sik



By Park Jae-hyuk



Korail has been grappling with growing allegations that it has forced its employees to pay money to sponsor certain lawmakers, according to company employees Friday.



The Political Fund Law prohibits employers from asking their employees for donations to politicians.



The National Election Commission said it will investigate this matter to check whether the rumor is true.



A user of Blind, an anonymous chat app for verified employees, wrote on the app last month that a public corporation has forced its employees to raise funds to sponsor lawmakers.



"To flatter lawmakers belonging to a standing committee that supervises my company, my employer ordered each department to send money to each lawmaker via private accounts without the name of the company," the user who claimed to be a Korail employee said.



Korail, a state-run railway operator, is subject to a National Assembly audit by lawmakers belonging to the standing committee of land, infrastructure and transport. The lawmakers are also authorized to draw up budgets for Korail.



Right after the revelation, Korail had denied the claim, emphasizing the company's incorruptibility.



The Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission selected Korail in February as an excellent public corporation in terms of incorruptibility. Back then, Korail CEO Oh Young-sik said the achievement resulted from the efforts of Korail employees, adding the employees will continue to do their best to lead other public corporations to fight against corruption.



However, Korail changed its attitude after disclosure of an email it sent to its employees.



According to KBS, the railway operator explained the method of payment in detail. Each department was assigned to give money to each lawmaker of the standing committee and was ordered to report the results of sponsorship.



The local news outlet reported Korail sent three emails regarding this matter within one month.



Korail said it will discover whether the rumor is true, after carrying out an internal inspection.



The recent scandal is expected to weigh on Oh, who is waiting for his first National Assembly audit next month, after his inauguration in February.



Before his inauguration, the former lawmaker also drew criticism from those who raised questions about his qualifications.



If the rumor turns out to be true, the chief executive will likely face fiercer criticism against his leadership and morality.



In 2009, K-water was embroiled in a similar controversy, as governmental agency for comprehensive water resource development allegedly urged each of its employees to give 100,000 won ($89) to lawmakers who supervise it.


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Nice, well see in London on Oct. 16! said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group on Chinese social media platform Weibo, shortly after Apple released new models on Sept. 13, Beijing time, expressing confidence in Huaweis new model  the Mate 20 series, which is set to be released next month in London.

Apple unveiled four products at this years launch event, including the anticipated iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and iPhone XR. However, compared with previous generations, these new models failed to meet the high expectations of the public.

At a time when many say that Apple is on a downward trend when it comes to innovation, the Huawei Mate 20 series is igniting peoples passion.

Based on what has already been leaked on the Mate 20 series, Yus post showcased nothing but confidence.

The Mate 20 series will be the first Huawei phone to be powered by the firm's new Kirin 980 chipset. This latest chipset is expected to make the series the most powerful model released in the second half of 2018.

No matter what, Apple will face the challenge of the Mate 20 series. Lets wait and see what happens at Huaweis launch event on Oct. 16.
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It is widely believed that the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), first attended by a Chinese head of state, signifies that China-Russia economic and trade relations have been lifted onto a new height and come to a new chapter.

Cross-border e-commerce, two-way investment, construction of the Belt and Road, and regional economic cooperation become focus of attendees at the EEF running from Tuesday to Thursday.

Chinas information technology development provides a broad space for globalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said Director of the China International Electronic Commerce Center (CIECC) Zhu Xiaoliang, adding that e-commerce is developing rapidly and is mature in China.

Zhu believes that China can help Russias SMEs better develop cross-border e-commerce, explore the international market and achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation by giving full play to its advantages in e-commerce and the role of overseas Chinese as a bridge.

General Director of Russian Post Nikolay Podguzov told Peoples Daily that Russia, stretching across the Eurasian continent, enjoys a unique geographical advantage.

With construction of the Belt and Road, commodity and cargo transportation between Asia and Europe will be much more convenient, he added, hoping Chinese suppliers could increase use of his companys logistics system in the future.

It is noticed that investment in transportation infrastructure related to Belt and Road construction helps to improve the economy of Central and Eastern European countries, Professor Vladimir F. Pecheritsa at Far Eastern Federal University noted.

China and Russia have a unique prospect for cooperation on co-building a Polar Silk Road in Arctic, said the professor, adding that the two sides, with complementary advantages, can open the Arctic sea routes to shorten the shipping distance between Asia and Europe.

Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chair of the Boao Forum for Asia, pointed out that the governments need to attract more social capital into construction of the Belt and Road by effectively promoting cooperation between financial institutions in the future.

The governments should also encourage direct financing and settlement in the currency of the host country in construction of Belt and Road projects, Zhou said, adding that project managers should reasonably price and efficiently manage finished projects to cut unnecessary costs and increase returns.

The EEF and the dialogue between China-Russia local leaders held on the sidelines of the EEF were attended by the highest level of Chinese delegation ever recorded, including delegates from Chinas northeastern provinces that border Russia, and coastal areas in south and east China such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces.

Chinese and Russian regional leaders put forth various measures to deepen bilateral economic and trade relations at the forum.

For example, northeast Chinas Jilin province pledged to implement a large number of high-quality projects in Russia, of Chinas First Automotive Works (FAW), Jilin Forestry Industry Group and other companies.

Russias Irkutsk Oblast, with rich experiences in cooperating with China, plans to further strengthen cooperation with China in two-way investment in environmental protection, tourism development at the Lake Baikal, and trade of industrial products.

Amur Oblast of Russia also announced at the forum to facilitate customs clearance at its ports to boost trade and economic exchanges between China and Russia.

Chinese President Xi Jinpings attendance at the forum is beneficial for China-Russia economic and trade cooperation, especially for development of the Far East, Ugra Development Fund CEO Roman Genkel told Peoples Daily.

China has capital, technologies, and experiences. I believe people in the Far East would like to do business with China, he noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russian port city of Vladivostok on Tuesday, the same day he arrived in the city for the Fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) at the invitation of Putin.

The two heads of state agree that regardless of the changes in the international situation, China and Russia will unswervingly promote their ties and steadfastly safeguard world peace and stability.

China and Russia enjoy stable and mature country relations. Both sides take care of each others interests and concerns, and support each others efforts in safeguarding core interests.

They share a great deal of consensus on global governance and adopt a positive attitude toward building a new type of international relations. China-Russia ties have transcended the bilateral scope.

What are the secrets to the friendship between China and Russia?

China-Russia relationship continues to progress. Both as major countries in the world, the two sides have upgraded their ties all the way from friendly neighbors in early days to todays most important comprehensive strategic partners of coordination.

Giving priority to each other in their diplomatic layout, China and Russia have developed a high-level and special relationship characterized by comprehensive spheres, strategic coordination, equality and mutual trust.

China-Russia relations have firm legal basis. The Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation serves as one of such foundations for the continuous development of their ties.

The China-Russia relationship, which is characterized by non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, also sticks to the concept of ever-lasting friendship.

Such characteristics and concepts have been made into laws and treaties. To earnestly uphold and implement the Treaty gives a strong impetus to the further development of bilateral relations.

The relationship between China and Russia is a comprehensive one which is testified by cooperation in various fields such as politics, economy, culture, ecology, science and technology and education.

For instance, their economic cooperation, which is grounded on their deeply converged interests, has stretched to finance, aerospace, high-speed rail, high technology, energy, agriculture and other sectors. Over the past 15 years, their two-way trade has increased by ten-fold.

The two countries has continuously expanded cooperation fronts to fields like joint research and production, and joint work on major strategic projects. Their efforts are cementing the material basis for their national development.

In addition, expanding local cooperation is also a new highlight of China-Russia cooperation.

Both 2018 and 2019 mark the years of China-Russia local cooperation and exchange. Xis attendance of the Eastern Economic Forum will further promote the mutually beneficial cooperation between Northeast China and the Far East of Russia, and enlarge cooperation for bordering areas.

At present, the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by China has gradually aligned with Russia-proposed Binhai 1 and Binhai 2 international transport corridors, forming a cross-national land and maritime transport channel.

Projects such as road and railway bridges across the Heilongjiang River and China-Russia-Europe freight trains are also under progress.

China-Russia local cooperation has become a new starting point for bilateral relationship.

The cooperation mechanisms to coordinate the development in regions along China's Yangtze River and Russia's Volga River, as well as China's northeast region and the Russian Far East set a good example for China-Russia sub-national cooperation.

Certainly, the China-Russia relations are a result of the close friendship between the top leaders of the two countries. Such personal friendship is fully revealed by the two heads of states attendance of big events hosted by the other country.

It is believed that the increasingly comprehensive China-Russia relations will bring tranquility and stability to the whole world, despite the complex international situation.

(Xing Guangcheng is a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)
A dialogue between local leaders from China and Russia was held on Tuesday in Russia's Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok, during which senior officials from 9 Chinese provinces and 13 Russian federal subjects discussed the prospects for sub-national cooperation of the two countries.

Both the wide-ranging attendance and the fruitful discussion during the meeting testify that sub-national cooperation between the two countries is moving forward in full swing.

From January to July 2018, Heilongjiang province in northeast China reported 63.73 billion yuan ($ 9.3 billion) of trade value with Russia, up 51.1 percent from the previous year. Its imports from Russia stood at 59.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 66.5 percent, ranking the first among all Chinese provinces and autonomous regions.

Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which are adjacent to Russia have strengthened cooperation and enhanced interconnectivity with the latter thanks to their geographical advantages, according to the meeting.

The geographical advantages have also been taken by Russia to speed up cooperation with China. China is the major source of foreign investment for Russia's Amur Oblast whose trade with China accounts for 90 percent of its foreign trade. The oblasts trade of non-raw materials and non-energy products is on a rise in recent years.

Amur governor Vasily Orlov disclosed that the cross-border port being built in the region has already attracted many investors.

Russias Primorsky Krai established cooperation with China on economy, science and technology and people-to-people exchanges years ago, and more than 200 Chinese enterprises have already invested or established businesses there.

The place is carrying out large-scale national projects, including the Vladivostok Free Port, and 4 areas of priority socio-economic development. The favorable tax policy has drawn many Chinese companies.

Starting from Nanjing, the China-Europe freight trains could arrive in Moscow in 15 days, said Secretary of Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee Lou Qinjian, adding that the freight train service has pulled China and Russia closer.

China-Russia regional cooperation is achieving targeted alignment by deep exploration of complementary advantages and focusing on local features. With a strong manufacturing industry, Jiangsu eyes a booming economic and trade relationship with Russia, though it is far away from the latter.

For instance, Xuzhou Construction Machine Group (XCMG), a representative manufacturer in Jiangsu, provided cranes for transporting the submarine for scientific investigation under the Lake Baikal. Jiangsu Shuangliang Group Co. Ltd helped design and build Europes most advanced energy center at Pulkovo St. Petersburg Airport.

Interconnectivity has enhanced people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia. The Nizhneleninskoye-Tongjiang Railway Bridge and Blagoveshchensk-Heihe Road Bridge across the Heilongjiang River will both be opened to traffic the next year, Heilongjiang Party chief Zhang Qingwei disclosed, adding that marked results have been made from the land transportation port on the Heixiazi Island as well.

Zhang, who is also chairman of the Chinese side of the local cooperation council of China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, suggested that the two countries make good use of the current mechanisms and platforms for China-Russia local cooperation, renovate China-Russia regional cooperation model, as well as improve business environment and consolidate people-to-people exchanges for China-Russia cooperation.
A doctor treats Zhao Xuecheng at the Third Hospital of Wuhan after removing bandages. [Photo/China Daily]

A man in Wuhan, Hubei province, who has lived for 23 years with a face disfigured by burns as an infant, finished his eighth and final surgical procedure on Tuesday and is ready to start a new life.

After the surgery, 90 percent of the scars on Zhao Xuecheng's face are essentially gone, with only some remnants of surgical incisions remaining.

"After a year and a half of treatment, I was relieved of a great burden. I became much more relaxed after each surgery. I want to find a job now and take a good look at the world," Zhao said.

Li Xianyu and Zhao Liniu, Zhao Xuecheng's foster parents from Xiangyang, Hubei province, now in their 60s, adopted him as a baby after finding him, disfigured by burns and abandoned in bushes, in January 1995.

Though struggling to make ends meet by planting and selling vegetables and having little savings, the couple decided to look after Zhao. They took the boy to a hospital but could not afford the cost of plastic surgery, which would have been tens of thousands of yuan.

As the couple grew older, they worried about the future of their son, who couldn't find a job because of his disfigurement. Using up their entire savings of 30,000 yuan ($4,400), they took Zhao to Chongqing for surgery in 2017. The results weren't as good as expected, and there was no more money left.

They turned to the burn department of the Third Hospital of Wuhan. Because of the difficulty of the surgery, the hospital provided a detailed "face-changing" surgical plan and helped secure a donation of 200,000 yuan through the Hubei Charity Federation.

Since March 2017, Zhao had eight operations. The most recent one should be the last.

The department director, Xie Weiguo, said: "We have always encouraged Zhao to step out into society. Even if his appearance does not recover to the level of ordinary people, he should embrace his life courageously. We all hope he will gain knowledge and learn new skills, adapt to society and make significant achievements. We also hope that everyone will have more tolerance and understanding for people like him."

For the first time, Zhao saw a clear face of his own in the mirror. It is a new beginning.

"My parents used to worry that I wouldn't be able to make a living by myself in the future," Zhao said. "But I am now confident that I can have a wonderful life, even if I am alone."
King Long buses are currently in use in almost 130 countries, and the company has so far exported over 80,000 buses globally.

A fortnight back I embarked on a trip to the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China. We decided to use the famed number 877 bus, which is run by the Beijing Public Transport authority. Hailing from a country where public transport facilities still require improvement, both my wife and I agreed, after our comfortable two-hour ride, that the world has a lot to learn from China regarding both the quality of buses and the way the country runs its public transport system.

We subsequently checked and found that we had been traveling on a King Long bus. Fifteen days later I had the privilege of visiting King Long United Automotive Industrys manufacturing base in Xiamen, where many of the public transport buses I have taken during my five-month stay in China were assembled.

An assembly line for buses at the King Long bus manufacturing base.

One of the first things that you notice on reaching the plant is its massive size. Spread over nearly 400,000 square-meters, the plant can produce almost 20,000 large and medium-sized buses alongside around 30,000 vans every year.

The plant contains an advanced automotive production line for stamping, welding, electrophoresis, paint coating and final assembly.

According to officials at the base, it takes nearly 17 days to manufacture each bus. In 2016, the company is said to have sold almost 32,000 buses, with a revenue of around 8.66 billion yuan.

According to Chen Yuxin, manager of the Asian Section, Overseas Sales Department of Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry, nearly a third of company revenue comes from selling their products on the international market. King Long buses are currently in operation in almost 130 countries, and the company has exported over 80,000 buses around the world so far.

While King Long has a global reach, what was impressive to see was that it sustains itself in extremely competitive markets by offering world-class products. It produces these sturdy vehicles by putting them through a strenuous quality verification process in its vehicle test center, including a power chain bench and road simulation testing room.

A model of an electric van that the company is producing.

Another important aspect of the visit was to see the company's constant product improvements. It has created a smart control system for its vehicles which adjusts power, torque, and speed of the vehicle based on road conditions. This automatic system not only guarantees power but also reduces fuel consumption. Another innovation is a panoramic system which helps drivers assess the conditions outside the vehicle, helping them to avoid blind spots. It's clear to see the technological breakthroughs that are being carried out to improve both driver and passenger comfort in China.

The most thrilling part of the visit was getting to see the driverless vehicles that King Long is currently developing. The blue autonomous minibus can seat 14 people and may become a regular sight on Chinese city streets in the near future. Seeing the driverless van moving around the plant on its own with no human control was quite a sight.

The visit gave an insight into how Chinese companies like King Long are independently innovating to build manufacturing advantages for China, but also for the rest of the world.

The author is an Indian journalist and currently a fellow at the China Asia Pacific Press Center.
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It's been the most tumultuous year in USC's recent history.

To recap:

The medical school dean was removed after he was found to have been a meth user.

The campus' former gynecologist is facing criminal charges and lawsuits alleging he abused patients during exams.

And longtime president Max Nikias left under intense pressure from both his faculty and student body.

And it's that departure that has the prestigious university searching for its next leader.

On Thursday, faculty, staff and students had the opportunity to say what they wanted in a new president in the the first of three forums planned for this month.

Those who attended (reporters were not allowed in the room) said later it was basically a listening session for those doing the presidential search.

USC Board of Trustees Chair Rick Caruso called it "a monumental search."

At stake, he said: "The future of the university... we're going to listen to what everyone has to say."

People who attended said everyone was given just one minute to comment but some took more.

NOTHING SHORT OF A CULTURE CHANGE

Over more than a century, USC's presidents have been white men. That needs to change, several people said. The desire for culture change was one of a number of clear themes that emerged from interviews before the event.

USC law school professor Ariela Gross is a leader of the Concerned Faculty of USC. That group drafted a petition that led Max Nikias to announce his resignation in May.

"The really important thing is that we have somebody to come here and make change in the culture," she said. "Somebody who has experience running a great university."

Currently the university is being run by Wanda Austin, an African American woman and a member of the board. After Nikias resigned, the trustees picked her to serve as interim president.

Michele Medina, a faculty affairs coordinator on campus, said who ultimately gets the job could send an important signal.

"I would like to have a woman [of color] president. It's important because with all the scandals that have been happening I think it would send a message to everyone," Medina said.

Another theme? Complaints that university policies and practices were unclear and sometimes ignored.

"There needs to be more straightforward communication," said Debra Lawler, an associate dean at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

The issue of transparency played a major role in the scandals involving both Tyndall, the former OB-GYN, and Carmen A. Puliafito, the former medical school dean who the L.A. Times reported had a history of drug use and troubling relationships.

The alleged abuse of patients by Tyndall, in particular, looms large on the selection process.

"While I do not hold the former president responsible for that," Lawler said, "I just think we need to get better systems in place to catch this stuff sooner."

Nikias' resignation came after a faculty forum in which professors raised the warning that the administration's failings were putting students at risk.

"I think the number one job overall is to take care of the students," said sophomore Serena Allen. The outcome of the presidential search, she said, is a high stakes process for both students and staff.

"I think for a lot of faculty here at USC, this experience for them is a 9-5 job that feeds their families," Allen said. "For undergraduate students here, it's our entire lives for four years."

Some in attendance praised board chair Caruso for creating a process that includes more input than previous presidential searches.

"One recurring theme in the comments was that the next president should put people before buildings and should put people before fundraising," Gross said.

Besides the two other forums scheduled this month, trustees said there would be other, private "listening sessions," with student groups, staff, alumni and leaders from the neighborhoods surrounding the campus south of downtown Los Angeles.

The trustees, faculty and administrators on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee will take input from these meetings and give them to Isaacson Miller and Heidrick & Struggles, the search firms hired by USC to find candidates for the job. Caruso said he wants the board to pick a new president by the Spring.

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Most Californians have a narrow view of Texan cuisine. Tell a fellow Angeleno you're bound for the Lone Star State and they'll probably congratulate you on all the barbecue, queso and breakfast tacos you're about to eat. Those are all great things but your friends probably won't mention a certain Tex-Czech item that Texans have been enjoying for more than a century. We're talking about the kolache.

Pronounced by Texans as "ko-LAH-chee," this is a dense, almost brioche-like bread with assorted fillings, which native Texans often take for granted -- until we leave the state. That's what I did three years ago. Kolaches are cheap, easy to eat on-the-go and available just about everywhere in the nation's Czech Belt, from mom-and-pop bakeries to artisanal joints to Whole Foods. I'd often pick them up at gas stations on weekend road trips.

Midwesterners like my grandma Sharon, descended from the wave of Czech immigrants who began arriving in the United States in the mid-1800s, will tell you, loudly and emphatically, that kolaches just ain't what they used to be. They decry the inclusion of eggy, meaty ingredients, which have become popular across the Lone Star State. Technically, they're right. These savory versions aren't really kolaches, they're klobasneks, although it's a distinction that's probably too late to correct.

Kolaches at Weikel's Store and Bakery in Texas, circa 2009. (Photo by Whitney In Chicago/Flickr Creative Commons)

The kolaches those early immigrants brought with them were sweet and filled with fruit. By the turn of the century, the Bohemian treat had become popular in cities like Omaha, Chicago, St. Louis and wherever else Czech immigrants settled in large numbers. But kolaches didn't make it in mass to the West Coast.

How many Czech restaurants or bakeries have you seen around Los Angeles? Longtime Angelenos may remember a few long-closed spots like Little Prague on Hollywood Blvd. and Matuszeks on Sunset, and South Bay residents may have stopped in at Czech Point in Redondo Beach, but it's been slim pickings.

That may be changing thanks to the increased number of Texans and Californians swapping states with regularity, bringing their favorite dishes and cuisines with them. Apparently, those "Welcome to Austin: Don't Move Here" signs aren't having much of an impact. I've seen Californians crying tears of joy at In-N-Out's arrival in Texas and countless articles have been written about Californians driving up housing prices in Texas. On the California end, have you seen the line for breakfast tacos and queso at HomeState in Silver Lake?

Kolaches haven't been left out of the culinary cross-pollination. If you know where to look, you'll find options.

Kolaches from Morning Boys. (Photo by MACCOLLUM.COM/Courtesy of Morning Boys

Morning Boys

Kolaches were a weekend thing for brothers Mark and James Morales, founders of Morning Boys. Growing up in Texas, they used to eat them after church. After moving to L.A. they couldn't find many places offering the Texan staple so they took matters into their own hands -- and their own kitchens. By 2014, they were in business delivering kolaches around town. A few years later, they started hosting pop-ups and taking orders on their website. They sell a lot of sausage kolaches but vegetarians will also find a soyrizo option alongside traditional sweet kolaches. These days, they're working on finding a location for a brick-and-mortar location while expanding their menu, which might feature other Texas favorites. Check their website for their weekly schedule or to place an order. On certain days, you can also find their kolaches at the businesses below.

Home Brewed Bar: 39 N. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena; 626-397-2887.

Hi-Lo Liquor: 8582 Washington Blvd., Culver City; 424-298-8443.

Kolaches from the Kolache Factory in Tustin, California. (Photo by Virginia Yapp for LAist)

Kolache Factory

There are a ton of Kolache Factory locations in Texas but only one on the West Coast, for now. Kathy Skaff, a native Houstonian, brought the franchise to Tustin nearly five years ago. She says she and her husband want to open up two or three more in the next few years. "Once we hit the two-year mark, we saw a significant increase in business," she says. In the early days, part of the challenge was explaining what kolaches are. In the first year, transplanted Texans made up a major chunk of their customers. Now, kolaches are officially a hit in Orange County. The store's menu is robust. Walk up to the counter and you'll be greeted with an array of dozens of flavors, ranging from classics like cherry and cream cheese to the best-selling Ranchero (scrambled eggs mixed with ground ham, picante sauce, cheese and jalapenos).

14091 Newport Ave., Tustin; 714-730-2253.

Daily Donuts

Tiny Daily Donuts in South L.A. is about as old-school as you can get. Located next to a storefront church on the corner of Manchester and San Pedro, this family-owned, 24-hour bakery is easy to miss. Hidden among its regular assortment of donuts and twists, you'll find sausage-cheese-and-jalapeno kolaches for $1 apiece.

8524 S. San Pedro St., Watts; 323-752-4429.

House of Bread

Valley residents looking to sate their kolache craving need look no further than Chatsworth's. This outpost of the San Luis Obispo-based bakery offers almost every kind of fresh bread you can imagine. It has been selling ham-and-cheese kolaches for a couple of years now.

20507 Devonshire St., Chatsworth; 818-885-0209.

Marshall Donuts

Marshall Donuts is an unlikely place to find Czech pastries but one of the first things you notice when you walk up to the entrance is a giant poster of a klobasnek. The place refers to them as both "sausage rolls" and "kolaches," a smart idea since "kolache" doesn't mean much to Californians -- yet.

3144 N. E St., San Bernardino; 909-886-1053.

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SYDNEY, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Current international and local artists will feature at Australia's biggest art fair, Sydney Contemporary, which opened on Thursday and will continue over the weekend, displaying and selling thousands of world class creations.

Among the more than 70 galleries represented at the fair is Vermillion Art.

Located on Walsh Bay near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Vermilion is the first commercial gallery focused on contemporary Chinese art to have opened in Australia.

Gallery owner Yeqin Zuo told Xinhua that while contemporary Chinese art is highly regarded and has featured at public galleries and festivals in Australia for decades, she saw a lack of availability of the style for private purchase.

"We have 500 commercial galleries around Australia but none of them focus on contemporary Chinese art," Zuo said.

"I thought there should be a gallery for contemporary Chinese art, which is currently being recognised internationally more and more."

In the three years since opening Vermilion gallery, Zuo found that the reaction of not just Chinese buyers in Australia, but also local collectors, was immediately positive.

"From the beginning we were interested in engaging both Australian as well as Chinese communities," Zuo explained.

"The result is that we have mainstream Australians who are more established collectors, they used to collect Australian art but when they see some good art from China like what we're showing here they didn't hesitate to start collecting."

One of the artists being displayed by Vermillion at Sydney Contemporary is Jason Phu who is of Chinese and Vietnamese descent.

Phu, who speaks fluent Mandarin, said that the mixed influences of his heritage as well as being brought up in Australia have led to an integrated style, incorporating a broad range of cultures and ideas.

"You know especially how my parents raised me in terms of what they told me before I went to bed it was a range of kids books from western to eastern kids books, to a range of stories from their childhoods in Vietnam and China."

As well as Asian art, Sydney Contemporary features modern Australian, European works, and works by artists from North and South America.

Now in its fourth year, Sydney Contemporary is expected to draw thousands of visitors over the weekend and millions of dollars worth of sales for the artists.

But aside from sales, for Zuo the fair is an occasion to display a unique style of art which she loves and share it with the Australian, and global art community.

"Vermilion Art is the only gallery among 90 galleries in Sydney Contemporary focused on contemporary Chinese Art, we feel privileged and proud to be part of it," Zuo said.
A selection of cant miss books coming out this fall.

SEPTEMBER

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

In the fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series, Strike and Robin Ellacott, now his partner, pursue a twisting through London and Parliament. The bestselling Galbraith is the mystery-writing alter ego of J.K. Rowling. (Little, Brown)

Who Is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz

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Ovitz tells the story of his rise from the mail room to top Hollywood power broker as head of Creative Artists Agency, then president of the Walt Disney Co. He tells his own story in this no-holds-barred memoir. (Portfolio)

OCTOBER

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Womens Anger by Rebecca Traister

From the suffragettes to Anita Hill and beyond, Traister explores the history of female anger as political force in America. She points out how differently anger is read when it comes from men and women. (Simon & Schuster)

Killing Commandatore by Haruki Murakami

Murakamis new 700-page epic is about a painter drawn into a surreal world that encompasses Nazis, a mysterious bell, an adolescent girl and a businessman across the way, in homage to The Great Gatsby. (Knopf)

The Portraits of Beowulf Sheehan by Beowulf Sheehan

Sheehan has breathed new life into literary photography. His first book has an introduction by Salman Rushdie and portraits of Roxane Gay, Donna Tartt, Zadie Smith, Toni Morrison and 200 additional writers. (Black Dog and Leventhal)

Riddance: Or: The Sybil Joines Vocational School of Ghost Speakers and Hearing-Mouth Children by Shelley Jackson

The wildly creative Jackson, known for her story-in-tattoos Skin, spins a fragmented, Gothic murder mystery in which a girl who hopes to cure her speech impediment may communicate with the dead. (Black Balloon)

Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson

The science-fiction writer imagines a future 30 years hence when we have colonized the moon. But all is not well, as the daughter of a Chinese official, a celebrity journalist and the witness to a killing soon discover. (Orbit)

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

For the first time, Connelly puts the retired Harry Bosch together with young LAPD Det. Renee Ballard. They investigate the cold case of a 15-year-old runaway who was killed in Hollywood. (Little, Brown)

Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, Glory Edim, editor

This essay collection is the first book from Edim, the recipient of the 2018 L.A. Times Book Prize Innovators Award; it celebrates black female readers and writers. (Ballantine)

Elevation by Stephen King

The master of horror has looked deep into our nations heart and come up with a story in which the people of Castle Rock hold prejudices against a married lesbian couple in town  until a mysterious ailment draws them together. (Scribner)

NOVEMBER

The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem

The former New Yorkers first detective novel since Motherless Brooklyn is set in the desert communities east of Los Angeles, as an unlikely duo search for a missing young woman. (Ecco)

Becoming: A Memoir by Michelle Obama

The former first lady writes of her youth in Chicago, her career, the journey with Barack Obama to the White House and what she did there  raise two daughters, advocate for women and girls and bust the occasional move. (Crown)

The End of the Earth: Essays by Jonathan Franzen

The bestselling novelists recent nonfiction essays  about birds, Edith Wharton, traveling to Antarctica, rules for writing and more birds  are collected for the first time. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com

@paperhaus
Theres no doubt in Richard Lams mind: When he takes the wheel of his Tesla Model 3, hell be thrilled with it. I hear that owners, once they get their cars, are very happy, said Lam, 31, an electrical engineer from Diamond Bar.

Getting it is the problem. Lam has been waiting more than two months. Hes already paid Tesla for the highest-end Model 3 available, which costs $79,500. Hes paying principal and interest on his loan. But for now hes left driving a 1999 Mustang, a loaner from his brother.

Im not very happy with the current situation, he said.

Hes not alone. Complaints about Tesla taking peoples money while they wait weeks for the cars, often with no firm delivery dates, are all over Twitter, Facebook and the Tesla Motors Club user forum. Owners who try to contact delivery representatives say voicemail boxes are full, and calling around to different Tesla numbers yields conflicting information.

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Teslas service issues go beyond delivery glitches. Many of those who have cars complain that repairs can take weeks or months, and email and phone inquiries often dont get returned.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk acknowledged the depth of the customer-service problems Wednesday in a tweet: Due to a large increase in vehicle delivery volume in North America, Tesla customers may experience longer response times. Resolving this is our top priority.

A Tesla spokeswoman declined to make a company executive available to discuss what Tesla is doing to resolve the problems. She did say, however, that she spent Wednesday volunteering at one of the delivery centers. She declined to elaborate.

Lam said that since he was promised a specific Model 3, two delivery dates have been broken. On Aug. 8, he was told 45 minutes before scheduled pickup that the car wasnt available. Then, on Aug. 30, one Tesla representative told him his car hadnt yet been put on the delivery truck, and another told him the car had not yet been built.

The Aug. 8 delivery was canceled, Lam was told, because the car hadnt passed quality inspection. Social media is filled with customers complaining about Model 3 quality, including paint bubbles, dents, dirt, dead batteries, broken bumpers and cars delivered in the wrong color.

Tesla had cranked up production volume in late June, bent on meeting Musks goal of 5,000 cars a week, even though the company was still working to repair bottlenecks on the Model 3 line caused by installation of robot-heavy technology that didnt work as planned. A new assembly line was built under a tent in the parking lot of the companys Fremont, Calif., factory to handle the load.

Business Insider in August revealed an internal Tesla document that said 80% of the 5,000 cars built in the Model 3s burst week in June required rework. Tesla reminded the news site the document was confidential, Business Insider said. Tesla also said that rework can include minor repairs, and that our goal is to produce a perfect car for every customer.

What percentage of currently produced Model 3s require rework is unknown outside Tesla.

Lam figures the rework disrupted delivery logistics.

Their production hell has translated into delivery hell, essentially, he said, referring to Musks production hell description of the manufacturing push. Musk insists that situation is being resolved, in large part by abandoning the aggressive automation effort that Musk had said was intended to make Tesla the best manufacturer on Earth.

Due to a large increase in vehicle delivery volume in North America, Tesla customers may experience longer response times. Resolving this is our top priority.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 12, 2018

While some paid-up customers wait for their vehicles, thousands of Model 3s are being stored on huge lots, including one near the Burbank airport. The company has said thats part of a normal logistics process. Some industry observers say it also reflects quality issues that require repair, and lack of demand for some versions of the Model 3.

My guess is demand is a tiny fraction of what they thought it was going to be, said former General Motors Vice Chairman and frequent Tesla critic Bob Lutz. The key question is how many deposits have they had to refund.

Tesla, which once promised to be making Model 3s at a 400,000-a-year pace by now, said it delivered 18,440 in the second quarter with an additional 11,166 in transit. Musk recently said the third quarter would see double the number delivered. As of the end of June, Tesla reported it had delivered a total of 28,390 of the cars since Model 3 production began in July 2017.

The company said earlier this year it had reservations for 420,000 Model 3s, but it has not updated the number in months and has never revealed refund statistics.

A sales representative at a Southern California Tesla retail store said big fixes in the delivery system are needed, but employees are reeling from constant change and inconsistent messages from management.

Weve grown too fast, said the rep, who asked not to be named to protect his job. The company requires workers to sign nondisclosure agreements that bar them from speaking to the media.

Every quarter we have a meeting to figure out how were going to make delivery work this time, and it never does, he said. By the time we actually come up with a plan, the plan is outdated. They change their mind all the time.

Asked whom he meant by they, he said, Elon.

I do believe in the company and its mission, but the execution is very poor, the employee said.

Like many Tesla employees, he had pinned his hopes on Jon McNeill, the highly regarded head of global sales and service who many considered a potential successor to Musk. McNeill left Tesla in February to become chief operating officer at Lyft. In June, Karim Bousta, head of worldwide service at Tesla, also quit.

Now the executive in charge is Dan Kim, head of global sales and delivery. He joined the company in January after leaving Solera Inc., an automobile insurance data company, where he worked as global head of innovation.

Kim must find fixes for problems such as those encountered by Anandhi Bharadwaj, a professor of information systems and operations management at Emory University in Atlanta.

Bharadwaj said she wired Tesla about $60,000 early Aug. 22 to pay for a Model 3. She was told the car was ready for pickup that day; a few hours later, though, she was told her car wasnt ready after all but would be delivered Sept. 9. That delivery was canceled as well.

It was extremely difficult to get hold of anyone, and even when I did, I never got the same story, Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj, whose papers about innovation appear in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, put down a $1,000 deposit in 2016, when Musk was describing the Model 3 as a $35,000 car. Earlier this year, though, he tweeted that Tesla would lose money and die if it tried to make a $35,000 car before mass production was humming. The company has focused on producing more expensive, and more profitable, versions. (The floor price on a Model 3 is now $50,000.)

Bharadwaj said she was willingly upsold to a more expensive version. She had grown anxious waiting because her three-year lease on a Lexus was about to run out Wednesday. But when she called Lexus, it gave her a 10-day grace period.

Im a departing customer but they [Lexus] are still being very nice, she said. Im a new customer at Tesla. Youd expect the red-carpet treatment.

Late Tuesday, after The Times began making inquiries at her Tesla retail store, the company contacted Bharadwaj to say it had found another vehicle that fit her specifications. She picked it up Wednesday.

The car had a small rip in the rear seat, Bharadwaj said. Her Tesla rep told her shed need to bring the car in to have the seats replaced. No timeline was given.

russ.mitchell@latimes.com

Twitter: @russ1mitchell
Callers seeking treatment from StemGenex, a La Jolla medical clinic offering stem cell therapies for Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis and other serious ailments, were hoping to hear encouraging news. For many, thats what they got.

Plaintiffs allege in depositions filed in a federal court lawsuit that they were told the clinic had a 90% success rate in treating its patients. Indeed, as they could tell from the StemGenex website or from promotional material sent them, the clinic had a 100% patient satisfaction rating. Hundreds of customers were treated from December 2013 through February 2017, according to a list the clinic provided to the plaintiffs. The clinics standard fee was $14,900 per treatment, not including travel.

As it turned out, however, the success rate they cited was inaccurate, according to former executives. The patient satisfaction rating had nothing to do with whether the treatments worked medically, the clinics co-founder and chief administrative officer, Rita Alexander, said in a deposition, but referred only to features such as the hotel accommodations the patients received. The rating was the product of a questionnaire filled out by patients the day after their procedures, typically while they were still recovering from surgery and while a clinic employee stood by.

This stem cell clinic was being driven primarily by the goal of getting more customers by painting an overly rosy picture of how their past customers fared. Paul Knoepfler, UC Davis

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The plaintiffs, who are seeking class certification, allege that all that was part of an effort by StemGenex and its officers to use false and misleading advertisements to induce disease sufferers into paying for treatments that have no basis in scientific fact.

The documents were filed last month in federal court in San Diego by lawyers for five StemGenex patients who say they failed to receive any significant benefit from their procedures at the La Jolla facility. The lawsuit initially was filed in state court but moved to federal court in 2016.

The filings include excerpted depositions of Alexander and former executives and medical staff at the clinic. Also included are statements from 49 dissatisfied former patients. Most sought treatment for multiple sclerosis, an incurable, disabling disease of the central nervous system; others sought treatment for diabetes, Parkinsons, joint problems or arthritis. They say they would join the class action if its approved by a judge.

StemGenex has denied that it made any misrepresentations to customers or that it offers patients any promises or guarantees of results.

A response to the filings isnt due from StemGenex until mid-November. A hearing on the motion for class certification has been scheduled for Jan. 31. StemGenex didnt respond to a request for comment on the documents or the lawsuit.

The filings open a window into how people can be enticed into undertaking an expensive treatment unapproved by medical regulators or insurance underwriters and lacking conclusive scientific support. Put simply: Theyre desperate. StemGenex, the plaintiffs allege, targets vulnerable individuals mostly suffering from terminal, incurable, and often painful diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Parkinsons disease.

Weve reported before on clinics offering unproven stem cell treatments and specifically on StemGenex. Typically, the clinics extract fat cells from a patient by liposuction, purportedly extract stem cells from the fat, and inject them back into the patient, sometimes at the site of an injury. The procedure takes less than a day. StemGenex includes in its fee the cost of a nearby hotel stay spanning the day before and the day after the operation, plus meals and transport between the hotel and its clinic. Most of its patients come from outside California and have to pay for their own travel.

Many of these clinics capitalize on the publics impression that stem cells have become some sort of medical miracle. The Food and Drug Administration hasnt approved any stem-cell therapies except treatment of blood conditions with cells derived from umbilical cord blood, which isnt offered by StemGenex. Dont believe the hype, the agency said in November in a consumer warning against hawkers of unapproved and unproven stem cell treatments. StemGenex acknowledges on its website that stem cell therapy is not FDA approved and is not a cure for any medical condition.

Claims like this, asserting 100% patient satisfaction, are at the heart of a lawsuit against StemGenex. This and other such charts were removed from the clinics website after the lawsuit was filed. (StemGenex)

In my opinion, the new court documents suggest that this stem cell clinic was being driven primarily by the goal of getting more customers by painting an overly rosy picture of how their past customers fared, says Paul Knoepfler, a stem cell biologist at UC Davis who has been bird-dogging this noisome corner of the healthcare world. Knoepfler unearthed the filings from the court docket and reported about them on his laboratory blog this month.

Its rare to get as close a look inside a clinics operations as the documents filed in the San Diego lawsuit afford. The material covers the period from December 2013 through 2017, when more than 1,000 patients were seen, according to a roster produced by StemGenex in court.

Deposition testimony from former StemGenex employees indicates that the staff fielded complaints from patients who hadnt experienced any improvement in their health even months after the treatment. Some were told not to expect improvement for months more. Some demanded their money back, only to be told the fee was nonrefundable. Some were encouraged to sign up for further treatments, sometimes at a cut rate.

At least one patient from Pennsylvania who threatened to post a negative internet review if his money wasnt refunded got a stern letter from StemGenex lawyers denying his request and warning they would pursue a claim for any damages unlawfully caused to StemGenex or its good reputation.

StemGenexs witnesses were unclear about how many patients complained. Andre Lallande, its former medical director, testified that the figure was as low as 10% after 12 months. But Joseph Perricone, a supervisor of patient advocates in 2014 and 2015, testified that his impression was that half the patients reported very little or no response at all to the treatments.

StemGenex staff told customers that its success rate was 90% or better  implying that 90% of patients experienced improved health. There were no empirical grounds for that figure. It was something that  kind of snowballed, that number, Perricone testified. I think one rep started saying it  and then another one started saying it, and then everybody started saying it, until it was used on probably every call.

Alexander was aware of the practice, Perricone said, and allowed it to continue. Asked by a plaintiffs lawyer if there was any scientific basis to make the claim, he answered, There is none. Alexander, in her deposition, said that she was unaware of any instructions addressing how patient representatives should respond if they were asked for the clinics success rate. Perricone, who is now an executive at a Chicago-area stem cell treatment center, declined to comment on his deposition. According to information posted on the government website ClinicalTrials.gov, StemGenex studies of the quality of life of its customers with multiple sclerosis or Parkinsons began in mid-2014 and wont be completed until mid-2019.

The plaintiffs are more concerned in their lawsuit with the patient satisfaction statistics, which StemGenex promoted heavily  until the lawsuit was filed in 2016 questioning them and they were removed from the clinics website. The statistics were generally offered in pie charts indicating 100% patient satisfaction. The plaintiffs  and many of the other patients who filed declarations with the court  say they interpreted the charts as indications of treatment success.

In fact, the statistics referred only to the patients personal experience with car service, staff, hotel, Alexander testified. It has to do with their experience in being picked up at the airport and having service at a hotel and being treated kindly  but it has nothing to do with their treatment outcome.

At least one staff member questioned the propriety of asking patients to complete the forms while still in recovery on StemGenex premises. Franca Gardner, a former nurse, testified that she raised the issue with Lallande. I just said, You know, its kind of intimidating to hand these out. They just had surgery. They dont feel well. And we are standing there while they are filling it out.

StemGenex also pondered a strong response to negative publicity it began to receive in 2016. The clinic sought advice from reputation management firms on how to suppress online criticism. According to an email exchange filed with the court, a California firm called the Reputation Group asked for $19,500 to try to force the removal from search indexes of at least three troubling online posts  two linking to a critical investigative news clip from San Diego Channel 10, and another posted by the states stem cell program, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) based on the Channel 10 report  or at least to make them show up less prominently in searches.

Whether StemGenex ever hired a reputation firm isnt known. The CIRM posting remains live; although the clip is no longer accessible via the Channel 10 website, that may be the result of its age. A CIRM spokesman says StemGenex never reached out to us or threatened us.

The bigger issue is how to prevent businesses from offering unproven, expensive nostrums to the public. This fits a disturbing larger pattern with the more than one hundred stem cell clinics in California and hundreds more across the U.S., Knoepfler told me. The clinics regularly make unproven medical claims, use stem cells that have neither a solid scientific foundation nor proper FDA approvals, and push back against critics, all it seems to me in an effort to generate more profits by taking advantage of vulnerable patients.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.
The Trump administration on Friday asked the court for another chance to delay an Obama-era policy meant to boost protections for students defrauded by for-profit schools.

The request came two days after the court ruled that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos move to freeze the regulation known as Borrower Defense was arbitrary and capricious. That decision dealt a severe blow to her efforts to ease regulations on the for-profit college industry.

Adam Pulver, an attorney with advocacy group Public Citizen, said defrauded students are facing continuing everyday harm and asked the court that the delayed regulation be enforced immediately. The case was brought by Public Citizen and by Democratic attorneys general from 19 states, including California, and the District of Columbia.

But lawyers for the Department of Education asked Judge Randolph Moss to give the department a chance to correct the mistakes the court identified in how the delay was put in place. It also asked that if the court rules the Obama regulation must take effect, it grant the department 60 days to prepare.

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Moss did not say when he would issue a ruling.

Toby Merrill  a litigator at Harvard Universitys Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents defrauded students  said that if Moss rules that the regulations must take effect, students would win some important protections: not having to sign away their right to sue the school, getting loans automatically discharged if their school was closed mid-program and if they were unable to transfer their credits to a similar program, and being eligible for forbearance when applying for loan discharges.

The Obama administration went hard after the for-profit sector, tightening regulations and spending more than $550 million to forgive the loans of defrauded students. DeVos said that system was unfair to taxpayers and set out to rewrite those rules.

Critics accused DeVos of looking out for industry interests. They point to the fact that she has hired for-profit-school insiders to top positions at the Education Department.

But Rick Hess, director of education policy at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said DeVos is trying to strike a healthier balance between protecting students and ensuring that taxpayers dont get ripped off.

DeVos also put in place a new system of compensating defrauded students for their losses. In a break with the Obama administrations practice of fully forgiving student loans, DeVos in December rolled out a new tiered relief system, in which student loans are forgiven based on the borrowers earnings, regardless of whether they were able to find jobs in the fields they had studied.

That tiered relief system was frozen as part of a separate lawsuit. It was uncertain whether Wednesdays court ruling would have any effect on it.
New York has sued the United States over a decision to allow financial technology companies to apply for special national banking charters, saying the move is lawless and ill-conceived and will destabilize financial markets that are more effectively regulated by the state.

Maria Vullo, superintendent of the states Department of Financial Services, filed the lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in federal court in Manhattan on Friday, asking a judge to declare that the move exceeds the authority of the office and to block it from proceeding.

The office in late July invited fintech companies to apply for special national charters, which could potentially allow online lenders, payment firms and some cryptocurrency ventures to operate without relying on a bank, a move that has long been opposed by the financial industry and state regulators.

The move puts New York financial consumers  and often the most vulnerable ones  at great risk of exploitation by federally chartered entities improperly insulated by New York law, Vullo said in the lawsuit. The OCCs reckless folly should be stopped.

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The government has sought to encourage more competition in banking and to streamline the process that forces companies to navigate a 50-state hodgepodge of watchdogs.

The agency is confident in its authority to grant national bank charters including special purpose national bank charters to companies that are engaged in the business of banking, meet the qualifications for becoming a national bank, and apply to conduct business as part of the federal banking system, Bryan Hubbard, a spokesman for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, said in an email. The agency will vigorously defend that authority, but will not comment on pending or potential litigation.

The idea to bring financial technology companies into banking began under former OCC head Thomas Curry in 2016 and was met with lawsuits, including one from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. That case was dismissed in federal court because the OCC hadnt yet set up its chartering policy.

New Yorks chief financial regulator said she would challenge special charters if the OCC moved forward. Earlier this week, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors gave the green light to renew litigation against the move.
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said Friday it has elevated Mary C. Daly, its vice president and research director, to the top job, making the economist a key regulator and player on national monetary policy.

Daly, who has worked at the regional Fed bank for more than two decades, takes over for John C. Williams, who departed in June to become president of the powerful Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

She will be the first openly gay woman to lead a regional Federal Reserve bank.

Daly now becomes the top Fed official on the West Coast, with an important role in helping regulate large banks headquartered in California and eight other western states. Among them is San Francisco-based financial services giant Wells Fargo & Co.

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As president and chief executive officer of the bank starting on Oct. 1, she will participate in the Feds monetary policy meetings in Washington and will immediately take a rotating voting seat on the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Mary C. Daly to the position of president and chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2018. Read more: https://t.co/6DLCWX4jHr | #sffedsearch pic.twitter.com/NW1fI81nKP  San Francisco Fed (@sffed) September 14, 2018

In addition to her profound knowledge of economics and monetary policy, Mary is one of our nations leading authorities on labor-market dynamics, said Alex Mehran, the San Francisco Feds chairman, who led the national search.

Her research in this area reflects her deep commitment to understanding the impacts of monetary and fiscal policy on communities and businesses at a local, regional and national level, he said.

The selection was made by a subset of the banks board of directors  those unaffiliated with regulated financial institutions  and approved by the Feds Board of Governors in Washington. The choice does not need Senate confirmation.

Daly took an unusual route to the Fed.

She dropped out of high school in Missouri amid family problems and then worked at doughnut shops and  Target to try to cobble together a full-time salary, she said in an interview for a podcast on Women in Economics by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. She went on to earn a GED and later a masters degree and doctorate in economics.

Daly joined the San Francisco Fed in 1996 as a research economist. Since then, she has held several positions, most recently becoming vice president and research director in 2017.

Daly will be the third woman among the 12 regional Fed bank presidents and the second to head the San Francisco region.

The first was Janet L. Yellen, from 2004-10. She went on to become the first woman to head the Feds Board of Governors in Washington until stepping down in 2018 after President Trump decided not to renominate her for another four-year term as chairwoman.

Democratic lawmakers and liberal activists have complained in recent years about a lack of diversity among the Feds top leadership. They were not pleased when Williams was chosen for the New York Fed job and have advocated for the San Francisco Fed to conduct a search with diverse candidates.

Shawn Sebastian, field director of Fed Up, a campaign by labor, community and liberal activist groups that wants the Fed to enact pro-worker policies, released a statement Friday saying he was disappointed in the choice of Daly.

By choosing their own research director (and longtime heir apparent to the position) as the new president, the San Francisco Fed proved again that the Fed is an insular institution that shuts out perspectives of outside voices, especially people of color, he said. The last three vacancies at Federal Reserve Banks have gone to three white candidates from within the Fed system or from the financial industry.

Daly has written about her sexual orientation and has advocated for more diversity at the Fed  which she acknowledges has been difficult to achieve.

As a gay woman working in a male-dominated profession, Im acutely aware of the need for diversity and the importance of being included. And yet, Ive made excuses, she wrote in a post on the Medium website in 2016.

She led an effort at the San Francisco Fed to encourage more women to apply for research associate jobs, acknowledging that many applicants thought of the Fed as a boys club.

The San Francisco Fed said it hired Diversified Search, the largest female-founded and owned firm in the search industry, to help develop a pipeline of qualified candidates from a broad, diverse candidate pool.

The banks search committee reached out to 4,000 stakeholders, and the search firm contacted 283 prospective candidates. A third were women and a third were minorities, the bank said.

Former USC Professor Raphael Bostic made history in 2017 when he was chosen as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, becoming the first African American to lead one of the Feds 12 regional banks. Bostic also become the first openly gay person to be a regional Fed president.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera
Some Southern California seniors are receiving booklets in the mail that paint a stark picture of Social Security, which is said to be in grave danger as immoral and dishonest politicians squander it away, basically bankrupting it.

Will you help President Trump  a champion for senior Americans  enact new, no-nonsense legislation that would prohibit politicians in Washington from ever reducing the amount of your Social Security check? the booklet asks.

All you have to do is answer a handful of survey questions about legislation called the Social Security Guarantee Act to let the president and Congress know where you stand.

And send some money.

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If you can write a check today for $100, $200 or as much as $500 it would be fantastic and would help us enlist millions of others to this unprecedented cause, the booklet says.

The only thing unprecedented here is how this mailer combines Trump, Social Security, Christianity and traditional values to dupe people into contributing cash.

The booklets are from the Virginia-based Coalition to Guarantee Social Security, which is identified as a project of the Christian Seniors Assn., which is itself a division of the Traditional Values Coalition.

Since 2010, the Southern Poverty Law Center has listed the Traditional Values Coalition as a hate group based on its consistent spreading of lies about LGBT people. In recent years, the center says, the coalition evolved to include peddling the anti-Muslim creeping Shariah myth.

The booklets bear the signature of Jim Lafferty, executive director of the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security.

The coalitions website says Lafferty served as press secretary for former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who in 2009 competed on Dancing With the Stars and a year later was convicted of money laundering. The conviction was overturned on appeal.

Long active in the fight to secure Americas Judeo-Christian heritage, Jim is also chairman of and founder of the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force, a community-based grassroots network in opposition to the expansion of radical Islam across America, the site says.

It says he sits on the board of a group called Stop the Islamization of America and serves as an advisor to citizen groups opposed to mosque construction in California and elsewhere.

I tried to reach the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security, but the phone number in the booklet and on the website had been disconnected.

However, I did manage to reach Louis P. Sheldon, the controversial former Presbyterian minister (now Anglican priest) who founded the Traditional Values Coalition in 1980. He told me the organization currently is run by his daughter, Andrea, who is Laffertys wife.

Sheldon, 84, an Anaheim resident, said he had no knowledge of the booklet and no recent dealings with his daughter or her husband.

I think theyre trying to steal our glory, he said.

That is perhaps an apt metaphor.

The booklet says prominently that every dollar sent to the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security WILL BE USED WISELY! But the fine print tells a different story.

It says all contributions are combined to help pay Traditional Values Coalition expenses, which are necessary before Traditional Values Coalition may engage in its other important activities.

The coalitions 2015 tax return, the most recent available, says the organization received $1.7 million in revenue that year, almost all from contributions.

Meanwhile, it incurred $2.3 million in expenses, including more than $875,000 paid to outside firms for direct marketing and fundraising, and $208,000 in employee compensation.

The Traditional Values Coalition reported an annual loss of more than $650,000.

I dont want to rush to judgment, but it might appear to some that any money donated to the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security will be consumed by the Traditional Values Coalition.

I managed to reach Lafferty on his cellphone. He said he wasnt familiar with that fine print about the Traditional Values Coalition, which is run by his wife, having first dibs on any donations to the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security, which he runs.

Most of the letter is written by someone else, Lafferty acknowledged, although it probably is true that all donations to his group are channeled through the Traditional Values Coalition.

He was unable to say how much of every dollar donated in fact makes it to the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security.

He also was unable to comment on how the Traditional Values Coalition and its affiliated organizations stay afloat when they spend more than they take in.

The booklet from the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security urges passage of the Social Security Guarantee Act, which it says would ensure that anyone 50 or older would receive in benefits at least as much as they paid into the program  that is, Congress couldnt reduce their monthly payments.

One small problem: There is no Social Security Guarantee Act.

Legislation bearing that name was introduced in 2016 by Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.) but it went nowhere. The bill had no co-sponsors.

A spokeswoman for Jones said he hasnt introduced any followup legislation.

This raises questions, to say the least, about the Coalition to Guarantee Social Security soliciting funds for what it says is the NEW Social Security Guarantee Act being proposed to the U.S. Congress.

It says the poll included in the booklet is intended to help President Trump pass the new Social Security Guarantee Act.

Will you make a contribution to help us fund this critical nationwide Straw Poll project to provide Members of Congress, President Trump and his top advisers with a tidal wave of hard evidence that the majority of Americans want the Social Security Guarantee Act passed quickly?

Lafferty told me that although there is no bill pending in Congress called the Social Security Guarantee Act, his group has written draft legislation that it hopes to one day share with a lawmaker.

Its a bill we want proposed, he said. Its a bill we would like to see passed.

I pointed out that some readers of his booklet could be misled by language referring to a NEW Social Security Guarantee Act being proposed to Congress. They might interpret that as indicating such a bill actually exists.

Lafferty replied that the bill does exist, in draft form, in his office, so the booklet is correct.

You and I disagree that something becomes legislation only when it is introduced by a member of Congress, he said.

Social Security isnt going bankrupt but it is struggling to accommodate millions of baby boomers. Unless lawmakers raise taxes for the program  perhaps by eliminating the earnings cap that limits contributions by the wealthy  benefit cuts may be inevitable.

This is a serious matter, worthy of serious discussion.

What doesnt help is a dodgy group like Laffertys spooking nervous seniors with dubious claims.

Passing the new Social Security Guarantee Act being proposed to the U.S. Congress would save your benefits from the budget ax, his booklet says. So please  write a check for the most generous donation you possibly can.

No. Dont.

And tell your friends not to either.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those...
German readers have recently embraced a series of translated Chinese sci-fi novels, leading to their appearance on several bestseller lists and becoming a hit in Germany.

Chinese sci-fi bestseller "The Three-Body Problem I" by author Liu Cixin won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel, while two years later its sequel, Deaths End, was also chosen as one of the Best Novel finalists, provoking a keen interest in Chinese science fiction on the international market.

German sinologist Martina Hasse translated the first novel of the trilogy. In Feb. 2017, it ranked fourth in the paperback fiction bestseller list on Der Spiegel, a German weekly news magazine.

Last March, the German version of the second novel, Dark Forest, was published and soon also appeared on the bestseller list.

German translator Marc Hermann showed no surprise that the Three-Body Problem series had become so popular in Germany, saying that any Hugo Award winner would easily open up the global market.

Hermann explained that the Three-Body Problem started a craze of Chinese science fiction translation in Germany. However, he added that only about 10 translated Chinese novels enter Germany annually, most of which are from renowned writers such as Liu Cixin.

Before the recent craze, German readers knew very little about Chinese science fiction writing. For German readers, cultural differences are a major barrier to accepting and understanding Chinese sci-fi. For example, in the Three-Body Problem, a considerable amount of information relates to Chinese history and culture, causing gaps in understanding for those that live outside of China.

Chinese literature has, so far, been moving overseas at a slow and steady pace, but is sure to embrace a bright future as translation and foreign introduction speed up, said Xu Zechen, a writer and editor at Peoples Literature magazine.

Xu added that going forward, Chinese literature is set to expand to a broader audience, rather than be limited to a small circle of elite readers and researchers.
Among the shows playing in Los Angeles bustling smaller theaters this week are two Pulitzer Prize drama finalists, one receiving its West Coast premiere, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Gloria, the other an old favorite, Neil Simons Broadway Bound. Also on the bill is a new company that reaches out to military veterans and a mini-festival of new work by women writers.

Gloria by Echo Theater Company

What: Sweat at the Mark Taper Forum depicts the territorialism that has gripped the United States as blue-collar jobs vanish. Jacobs-Jenkins 2015 play Gloria, presented by Echo Theater Company, looks at the phenomenon in the white-collar world, taking the audience into the office of a Manhattan magazine, where ambitions and rivalries are dog-chasing-its-tail distractions in the midst of the print industrys collapse.

Why this? Although cloaked in zippy banter, Gloria is a stinging study of the U.S. toxic stratification, in offices and far beyond. Then something happens  youll hear no spoilers from me  that sends this incisive cultural critique in a whole new direction. At the storys core, says Chris Fields, the Echos artistic director, is the very real and difficult struggle to maintain our humanity. Repeatedly plunging into such fraught topics as race and class, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Jacobs-Jenkins, 33, has delivered such works as the skeletons-in-the-closet family drama Appropriate, seen at the Taper in 2015, and the satiric Neighbors, presented at the Matrix in 2010. He was named a MacArthur Foundation fellow in 2016.

Details: Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. Previews Friday and opens Saturday. 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, 4 p.m. Sundays; ends Oct. 21. $20 and $34. (310) 307-3753, www.EchoTheaterCompany.com

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A 60s Trilogy by Veterans Repertory

What: Veterans Repertory, a branch of the L.A.-based United States Veterans Artists Alliance, is introducing itself with A 60s Trilogy  three short plays by Tommy Carter. Two of the pieces address race relations in the 1960s; the third convenes at the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to ponder service and sacrifice.

Why this? The groups artistic director is David Fofi, a highly regarded director who led the former Elephant Theatre Company. He is also a Navy veteran. Veterans Repertory engages vets in theaters creative and therapeutic aspects, Fofi says. That might mean participating in a writing or acting class, or it could be lower-key, sitting among the audience at a military-themed play and being reminded that were keeping them in our thoughts, Fofi says, that theyre not forgotten. Some of the actors in this presentation are veterans; all are professionals.

Details: New American Theatre, 1312 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood. 8 p.m. Friday, 9:15 p.m. Saturday, 8 p.m. Thursday and Sept. 21, 3 p.m. Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Sept. 23; ends Sept. 23. $20 and $25. www.Plays411.com/trilogy

The Vietnam memorial section of A 60s Trilogy, with, from left: Mark Adair Rios, Lorna Duyn, Scott Krinsky, Tony Williams and Laurence Dillard. (Joel Daavid / USVAA)

Broadway Bound by West Coast Jewish Theatre

What: In 1949 Brooklyn, brothers Eugene and Stanley Jerome  stand-ins for Neil Simon and his older brother, Danny  navigate personal and family dramas while on the brink of a breakthrough as a comedy-writing duo.

Why this? The obituaries and appreciations accompanying Simons death on Aug. 26 put theater lovers in the mood to see his plays again, and this one, in my opinion, is his best. The central mother-son relationship is particularly touching, one moment in particular, for the beauty and simplicity with which it depicts two lives moving perfectly in step, however briefly. Broadway Bound, the third in a trio of particularly personal plays, depicts a young man coming into his own. It was a finalist for the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for drama, although Simon wouldnt receive that honor until 1991, for Lost in Yonkers. Howard Teichman, who is directing for West Coast Jewish Theatre, has studied the Simon canon deeply, having staged several of the playwrights works.

Details: Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. Previews Friday and opens Saturday. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, also 8 p.m. Oct. 11, 18 and 25; ends Oct. 28. $25-$40. (323) 821-2449, www.wcjt.tix.com

Josh Reiter, left, and Matthew Nye in Broadway Bound by West Coast Jewish Theatre. (Michael Lamont)

Hot Off the Press by Los Angeles Womens Theatre Festival

What: Excerpts from new solo works by four Los Angeles women writers are being presented as part of the Los Angeles Womens Theatre Festivals first Hot Off the Press event on Sunday. Three pieces are performed by their authors, with Heather Dowling contemplating motherhood in Fertile, Pam Levin mulling the complexity of parenting in The Untraditional Present and Amy Witry navigating organ donation in Once Upon a Kidney. Juliette Jeffers Kasturba, performed by Aishveryaa Nidhi, studies Mohandas Gandhis wife and partner in activism.

Why this? The festival, established in 1993, presents programs year-round, giving voice to women and the many, myriad stories they have to share, says co-founder and executive producer Adilah Barnes. Hot Off the Press is designed to provide writers much-needed audience feedback. For those in the seats, its a chance to participate in a shows creation. Plus, theres always something to be learned. We call what we do edu-tainment, Barnes says.

Details: Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 7 p.m. Sunday only. $10. (818) 760-0408, www.lawtf.org

Aishveryaa Nidhi will perform in Kasturba, part of the Hot Off the Press program. (Munish Khanna)

The 99-Seat Beat appears every Friday. Our reviewers shortlist offerings with an emphasis on smaller venues. Some (but not all) recommendations are shows weve seen; others are based on the track record of the company, playwright, director or cast. Comprehensive theater listings are posted every Sunday at latimes.com/arts.

daryl.miller@latimes.com

Twitter: @darylhmiller
Once there was a rigid demarcation line at Hollywood Bowl between Classical Tuesdays and Thursdays and so-called pops concerts on the weekends. Nowadays, though, that line is often gone.

Indeed, Thursday nights affair  the last Classical Thursday of the summer  felt like a pops concert as Placido Domingo, the multitasking musical phenomenon who knows no rest and doesnt want it, led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an enjoyable, tuneful, informal survey of Spanish music.

It was the sort of program that would have been at home in another age when classical pops consisted of an assortment of short, melodious, audience-friendly symphonic pieces. Yet the event didnt feel old-fashioned or staid, for mores are changing in the venerable yet ever-evolving Bowl.

Some in the close-to-capacity crowd whooped it up for the performers, breaking out in spontaneous applause in the middle of solos. The sound system ballooned the volume on the soloists, augmented by glamorous close-ups on the giant video screens.

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Along the way, Domingo generously devoted much time to accompanying three soloists whose specialties could not have been more diverse. The most unusual performer of the three  Lucero Tena, 80, a Mexican/Spanish dancer who became a virtuoso of the castanets  was also the most wildly acclaimed by the crowd. She was front and center for Geronimo Gimenezs Intermedio from La Boda de Luis Alonso  a fun piece that imagines what Johann Strauss Jr. and Rossini would have sounded like had they been Spanish  and Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos highly colorful orchestration of Albenizs Castilla, clicking away with exuberant intricacy.

Violinist Joshua Bell, a frequent Bowl performer and a draw on his own, was in showman mode with the slurping portamentos and cut-and-thrust attacks, but in this populist program, the context was right. He dashed through Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso  whose only connection to Spain is the dedication to Pablo de Sarasate  with undeniable brilliance, especially in the coda. Sarasates own Carmen Fantasy was less neatly played, yet still effective.

Guitarist Pablo Sainz Villegas performs music from Spain with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz Villegas has been a collaborator with Domingo as of late; their duo CD of Iberian and Latin American songs, Volver (Sony), is due out in October. He made a virile impression in Rodrigos Concierto de Aranjuez  the perennial No. 1 on the guitar concerto hit parade  strumming with authority, sporting a big, outgoing tone quality with much vibrato in the famous Adagio, conveying confidence and swagger to go with his sex-symbol looks on the screens.

Working hard, eyes usually glued to the scores, Domingo powered the LA Phil through Chabriers Espana with a jaunty quality despite the somewhat slow tempo, surveyed Ruperto Chapis Prelude to the zarzuela La Revoltosa, and passionately led Fallas Three Dances from The Three-Cornered-Hat as the last word. Or so we thought, for Tena came back with a brief solo encore on the castanets dedicated to the tireless Spanish maestro.

Placido Domingo conducts music from Spain with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

See all of our latest arts news and reviews at latimes.com/arts.
Jose Riveras The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona earns points for imaginative audacity. A good many more, unfortunately, are deducted for clumsy execution.

The playwright (Marisol, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter (The Motorcycle Diaries) has long enjoyed blending the real with the surreal. But in his new comedy, which opened Wednesday at the Geffen Playhouse in a world premiere production directed by Jo Bonney, the flight of fantasy never reaches cruising altitude.

The play deals with death, grief and the afterlife. But Rivera cant seem to decide whose story hes telling. As a consequence, there isnt enough emotional fuel for the journey. Its not simply that the adventure is cockamamie. Its that the play doesnt give us enough incentive to care about its careening twists and counterintuitive turns.

In the opening scene, Abril leaves a voicemail message on her sisters phone before jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Nikki, Abrils twin sister (Onahoua Rodriguez plays both characters), next appears at the Brooklyn office of A Better Orpheus, a service that connects grief-stricken loved ones with dying patients who are willing to deliver messages once they reach the hereafter.

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Nikki, who teaches classics and knows all about Orpheus botched mission to the underworld, is understandably dubious. But her guilt about not answering her sisters final phone call propels her to meet a terminally ill man that Maren (Cate Scott Campbell), the twitchy proprietor of this occult operation, has found for her.

The hospital room meeting between Orlando (Ricardo Chavira) and Nikki doesnt go exactly as planned. Orlando is younger and better looking than Nikki expected. She rebuffs his smooth-talking advances, but she is moved by his plight. While pondering whether to go through with the arrangement, her heart begins to stir.

By the time intermission arrives, it seems reasonable to assume that the play belongs to its title character. Rodriguez brings out the luster in Nikkis appealing melancholy. The first half has some misbegotten moments, including a ranting scene between Orlando and his imperious sister, Noelle (Zilah Mendoza), that fills in some blanks in Orlandos background. But its Nikkis brooding sensitivity that captures our imagination.

For some reason, Rivera ditches Nikki and makes the second act all about Orlandos corny Dante-esque escapades in the land of the dead. He is guided by Lisandra (Campbell), a cartoon Southerner who lived like a recluse in a cabin writing anti-government screeds before a can of spoiled peaches did her in (in the off-chance you were wondering).

But Orlando doesnt seem particularly committed to delivering Nikkis message to Abril, and the dopey encounters he has with deceased relatives dont exactly deepen our interest in his spiritual path. (Why would they? We hardly know the dude.)

Cate Scott Campbell, left, Ricardo Chavira and Zilah Mendoza star in the world premiere of Jose Riveras The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona at the Geffen Playhouse. (Darrett Sanders)

Rivera has a knack for literalizing flamboyant metaphors (such as a bathtub of tears), but his quirky tone strains for effect. The actors arent able to ballast the high jinks with credible feeling. Chavira is a charismatic presence, but theres nothing he can do to redeem the second act, which does indeed feel like an eternity.

Bonney has a superb track record with new plays, but her production is a misfire.

Hana S. Kims projections lend some kick to Myung Hee Choos murky sets, but the play is as boring to look at as it is grating to listen to.

The supporting cast members, which include Juan Francisco Villa in a number of underdeveloped roles, overplay their hands. Mendoza raises her volume when she wants to show conviction, but none of her characters has any. Campbell rampages for laughs as Maren and Lisandra but earns only a squint from me.

Theres a seed of something special in the farfetched concept of Nikki Corona, and Rodriguez and Chavira do what they can with the half-baked material. But Rivera should go back to the drawing board.

Its good to see the Geffen taking risks on new work. But this play needs a workshop, not the scrutiny of a paying public.

          

The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona

Where: Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends Oct. 7

Price: $30 to $120 (subject to change)

Info: (310) 208-5454 or www.geffenplayhouse.org

Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

charles.mcnulty@latimes.com

Follow me @charlesmcnulty
After Olivia Munn speaks out, The Predator costars drop out of scheduled interviews

 The Predator stars Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes and Augusto Aguilera address the controversial casting of a registered sex offender in the movie.

Actress Olivia Munn says shes experiencing blowback for speaking out during the promotional tour of her film The Predator.

Its a very frustrating feeling to be treated like youre the one who went to jail for a crime against a child when all I did was the right thing, Munn said in a speech at the Creative Coalition dinner in Toronto on Saturday night.

Munn said the feelings began Thursday, when The Times published a report that The Predator director Shane Black had cast his longtime friend  a man he was aware was a registered sex offender  in a small role. The actor, Steven Wilder Striegel, was in one scene opposite Munn. Fox cut that scene last month after Munn discovered Striegels background and alerted the studio.

As the actress told Vanity Fair during an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, Its like I stumbled upon something and now Im being chased by everyone and isolated.

The isolation Munn spoke of seemingly came to a head during the Toronto press tour when several cast members canceled interview commitments, and Munn was left entirely alone for one interview.

As Munn told the Hollywood Reporter, its a very lonely feeling to be sitting here by myself when I should be sitting here with the rest of my cast.

Though Black issued a public apology following The Times story, he has since avoided press at the film festival, where the sci-fi franchise sequel had its world premiere Thursday evening.

The next day, Munn called in sick for a scheduled press junket. She was able to return to the promotional tour Saturday, when cast including Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key, Augusto Aguilera, Trevante Rhodes, Thomas Jane and Jacob Tremblay completed group interviews as scheduled with Variety (where the topic of Striegel was discussed), Entertainment Weekly (where the topic was not discussed) and The Times.

After an emotional on-camera interview with Munn, Rhodes and Aguilera at The Times TIFF studio, the remaining cast members (who were not present for the taping) were ushered out of the studio, with a studio rep citing scheduling and time limitations.

Munn continued to the Hollywood Reporter, where she was solo for what had been scheduled as a group interview, and the IMDb studio, where the only other actor to show up as scheduled with Munn was 11-year-old Tremblay. (Key and James were not scheduled for further interviews.)

A source close to the situation who requested anonymity because of the possibility of professional repercussions said their outlet was told that the guys became uncomfortable with the way the interviews were going and decided to back out.

Representatives for Holbrook, Aguilera and Rhodes declined or did not respond to requests to comment for this story.

In a statement late Saturday, Fox said: Each of our cast members fulfilled their promotional obligations and attended their interviews today in line with our expectations. There are always last-minute scheduling shifts.

Overnight, Sterling K. Brown, who also costars in The Predator but could not make the trip to TIFF due to scheduling conflicts with his NBC series This Is Us, tweeted his support of Munn.

Im sorry youre feeling so isolated, my dear, he began in part of a longer thread. And Im sorry youve been the only one to speak up publicly. I was not at #TIFF so I didnt have an opportunity to be there with you.
James Baldwin means different things to different people.

To some, Baldwin is the prototype of the artist as activist, his writing an example of how to battle injustice and prejudice against black people in America. To others, hes one of the foremost purveyors of the black experience, his mastery of language precisely capturing what life was, and is, like for African Americans in an oppressive society.

Those two aspects are forcefully represented in Baldwins 1974 novel If Beale Street Could Talk, noted Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of Moonlight, and a reason why he wanted to adapt the book for the screen.

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Mr. Baldwin has many different modes, Jenkins said. One of those modes is the protest, the anger. And then theres the lush, the romantic, the hopeful. I think with If Beale Street Could Talk, you find the best pairing and balancing of those two things. It was a challenge worth undertaking.

I did think that it was going to be something really potent about seeing two dark-skinned black people loving each other the way they do in this film. Barry Jenkins

FULL COVERAGE: 2018 Toronto International Film Festival 

Beale Street is a love story centered on a young Harlem couple, Tish and Fonny, played, respectively, by newcomer KiKi Layne and Stephan James (Selma, Race). When Fonny is arrested after being falsely accused of rape, a newly pregnant Tish, along with her family, scrambles to prove his innocence.

Regina King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Aunjanue Ellis and Brian Tyree Henry also star in the picture that will hit U.S. theaters Nov. 30.

The Times sat down with Jenkins after the films world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss Beale Streets early reception, how he secured the rights to the Baldwin book before his Moonlight breakout and how a number of pivotal scenes might be received by audiences in the #MeToo era.

Why Beale Street, of all of Baldwins work?

A friend who I really trusted gave me the book and said, Have you read this? I was shocked that I hadnt. And she said, as a person I trust, You should read it, and I think you should make a movie of it. Now, people say that all the time  even back then [before Moonlight], when I didnt have any real access. But I read it and I thought she was right. There was something about the love between Tish and Fonny that just grabbed me, and how that rhymes with the love between Sharon [played by King] and Joseph [played by Domingo] and, of course, all this [stuff] that Tish and Fonny have to go through. It just seemed really rich. And I thought, If I was going to tackle Baldwin, this is the one thing I could do now with my skills.

Baldwins estate is notorious for saying no to everyone who wants to adapt James Baldwin. But you got them to say yes.

Actually, Jake Gyllenhaal is kind of one of the reasons this happened. Hes a big Baldwin fan, and he had been talking to the estate, went through the channels and got them to respond to his queries about another project. And then I just happened to write them a letter, literally, the next day. And a woman at the estate  not Baldwins sister Gloria Karefa-Smart, who runs it  but the woman who runs all the official documentation, she said, Well, I felt kinda bad because we were listening to Jake Gyllenhaal and we dont ever want to be the kind of estate that only listens to famous people  I was nobody at the time  so when your package came through, we were like, We might as well listen to this guy named Barry Jenkins. And here we are.

Because you had written the Moonlight script and this script at the same time, so this was before all the craze and the Academy Awards.

Way, way back in the day. What I love about Mrs. Karefa-Smart is that shes pretty adamant about saying it was Medicine for Melancholy for her. At that point, I hadnt made Moonlight and had sent them samples of my work  the short films, the feature, other scripts that I had written and the script for Beale Street.

What do you think it was about you and the script that made them say yes?

Baldwins legacy is very rich and, I would say, important, justifiably so, and so, instead of coming to them and pitching about what I was going to do, I just handed them the script. It was really clear what I was planning to do and the adaptation was more or less faithful [to the book]. I cant speak for Gloria, but she watched Medicine for Melancholy and saw something in it that translates well to Baldwin.

Talk to me about your decision to cast KiKi Layne and Stephan James as the leads. Some have already questioned James, saying hes too attractive when compared to the character in the book.

I get where theyre coming from. The way Tish and Fonny are described in the book is different than how they look on-screen, especially Fonny. Hes light-skinned in the book  theres this dynamic of colorism that we went away from because Stephan James was the best actor who came through the door. But when Im writing characters, I dont see the actor. Im hoping an actor will walk in and reveal the character to me. Both KiKi and Stephan did that. They both taped, and in their tapes, I saw. It started to make sense to me, and I wasnt concerned with whether Stephan was cute or not cute. He just seemed to be Fonny.

I really wanted Tish to be a dark-skinned woman. That was important to me. And trying to honor the text, I wanted Fonny to be a light-skinned man, because thats how hes written. But Stephan came in and his work was so strong and I thought, If youre going to flip this one way, its kind of OK to flip it this way, because we so rarely flip it this way. Its often the other way, where the character is written dark-skinned and we cast them lighter, often for the same reason where a light-skinned actor comes in and just crushes it. But it felt like the right thing to do.

I did think, once we made the decision, that it was going to be something really potent about seeing two dark-skinned black people loving each other the way they do in this film.

Stephan James, left KiKi Layne in a scene from If Beale Street Could Talk. (Tatum Mangus / Annapurna Pictures)

Were you setting out to have younger, newer folks that audiences arent as familiar with?

When you build a cast, all the pieces, all the components add up to a whole. I always like, if its possible, to give unknowns an opportunity, to give people who maybe havent yet broken through the opportunity to show me they can do this or that. It worked to great effect on Moonlight, and I feel on this one it functions the same way.

Baldwin has a particular grasp of language in how he captures the human experience, and, in particular, the black experience. Pre-premiere, you told me that the blackest scene of the movie involves the women of the film saying a lot of things that some might say are graphic or distasteful.

They are saying a lot of things, things that were written by James Baldwin. [laughs]

And you kept them in, despite how audiences might respond to them. Why?

I wasnt interested in trying to translate the script from the 70s to present day. I also wasnt interested in curbing Baldwins words, the language. I felt like the things he was speaking to were authentic to the time, and authentic to today, to be honest. Ive sat around with my family and seen some arguments pop off and heard things said very similar to whats said in this book and film. Ive never seen a scene like that. Ive never directed a scene like that, and I felt like it was a great challenge for both myself and the actors to take the language, make it feel real and lived in, but also build a scene.

That scene is immediately preceded by an instance of domestic violence, but it plays in a comedic way to audiences. It felt real to me, but was confounding to some.

Its almost like watching Friday, when [Chris Tucker as Smokey] says, You just got knocked the ... out! [laughs] And look, Baldwin wrote this, and I think he knew what he was doing. I think he knew where the language was going, and honestly, when youre on set, people arent laughing But I think its totally OK and totally fine for the audience to go, Thats ridiculous and That ... is hilarious and Oh, no, she didnt! There is nothing wrong with that, and Im actually quite proud that that sequence plays the way it does and then we come right back

Its funny because my cinematographer [James Laxton] was watching it at one point and he said, This movie gives me a feeling and Ive not been able to articulate until just now. He goes, As a white man, I dont know what its like to be going about my day and its going beautifully and then one thing happens and now my day has completely turned. And then the next moment, the day turns again. He goes, Watching this film, I cant help but have that feeling. Its a whole new thing for me, and I dont know how to process that.

I think the waves of drama and comedy and then some of the more heavy procedural and social justice stuff, the way it keeps coming in these wavelengths reflects what its like to be black in America, at least in my experience. For example, youre sitting at the after party for this program put on by the Academy [of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences] and somebody calls you a nigger.

You shared that story  how your driver referred to you that way at the height of your visibility for Moonlight  for the first time onstage after the premiere. What compelled you to share that story?

I had never shared it, but when the question came from the audience about a moment on set where I felt like what we were doing was on the right path, it was that scene with Brian [Tyree Henry] and Stephan and it wasnt about the movie we were making in front of me but the things [making that scene] was triggering.

Somehow, I remember on set thinking back to that moment because  look, what happened at the Oscars is probably going to be with me forever. Im always going to have some residual PTSD or whatever the hell you want to call it tied to that moment. Every now and again it comes back, and it did when we were filming and even us being on set, knowing that we were creating something, it triggered that memory. When the question came from the audience, I dont know why, but it just came back to me. When Im up there, I just start talking. [laughs]

Director Barry Jenkins, from the film If Beale Street Could Talk, photographed in the L.A. Times Photo and Video Studio at the Toronto International Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

You mentioned the scene with Brian Tyree Henry as Fonnys friend Daniel Carty, which I find to be one of the least talked about so far, but perhaps the most beautiful. To see these two black men being intimate with each other, we still dont see that a lot.

That scene could be 15 minutes if it wanted to be. Right now, its like 11 or 12 minutes. But we filmed it over the course of a day, and to me, its about how Daniel has already been through the experience that Fonny, theoretically, is going through over the process of the film. I think, sometimes, when two men meet  and Ill go down further and say when two black men meet  you always have to present that youre good. But most often, were not good. I love that over the course of this day, you see these two young men negotiate each other and slowly start to reveal themselves and let their guards down to the point where they are so comforted by each others compassion that they can reveal their full selves.

I felt that it was important to see those layers peel away organically because, and Ill speak to me in my personal life, its a difficult thing to do. But if someone gives you the space and the time and the care and compassion, you can get there. That stretch is about Brian Tyree Henry  such an amazing actor, bless his heart  going from on the sidewalk cracking jokes to essentially being paralyzed with fear over the course of 10 damn minutes. Its one of my favorite stretches in the film.

And then theres the rape story line. The rendering of it in the film, as it is in the book, is complex. Considering the film is coming out as were having all of these #MeToo-related conversations, did that give you any concern?

It did and it didnt. We shot this film in October and November of last year, so it was right when all the Harvey Weinstein stuff was happening. But with everything in the adaptation, it was about a fidelity to the source material. I felt like Baldwin had done such a great job of also showing compassion for that character, Victoria Rogers. He couldve very easily made her a Caucasian woman. Instead, he made her a Puerto Rican woman, I think, because how close can you get to the American dream but not have it be your dream, one you can obtain, than being Puerto Rican?  as we saw with the president going down there after the hurricane and shooting paper towels as a sign of help.

I just wanted to hew very closely to what was in the book as far as how we dealt with that. And what I really wanted to do was give Emily Rios, who plays Victoria, a chance to look the audience right in the eyes so the audience has to realize that there is someone here who has been victimized and she is not the antagonist in this film.

In a way, the system is the antagonist in this film, because whoever did assault this woman is still out there somewhere, and because this ... cop has it in for Fonny, were never going to know who that person actually is. I think its a film where everybody is allowed to present themselves and nobody is judged, not by the film or Mr. Baldwin at least.

Everyone seems to have, and have had, expectations based off of Moonlight. Was there any pressure or nervousness for you?

No. I wrote these at the same time, and so theyve always been a pair to me, and the process of making them has been in motion for so long. I actually hoped to make this before Moonlight. Theyre separate but the same, and I think this is not a reaction to Moonlight. Its a reaction to that time when I was obsessed with both of these stories. I dont know what people expected or are expecting. The movie is a thing unto itself and, I tried to make it in the voice it demanded to be made.

Is there a reason why you wanted to adhere so closely to the book?

Part of it was one, a respect for Mr. Baldwin and, two, this was the first adaptation in the English language of his work and only the second adaptation ever, the first one set in America, first one set in New York. I felt a responsibility to hew close to the text, and I felt like it would still give me enough freedom to do what I do while also being respectful of the work Mr. Baldwin did. I fell in love with the novel and felt like it was the right path to go down.

Youve said before that you make movies for black people. Is there a different thing you think black audiences and other audiences will take away from Beale Street.

Yeah yeah. [laughs] But, its not that were hiding things from nonblack folks in this film. Its just Baldwin, and theres certain things that are at the root, that are in the soil of the novel that are in the soil of peoples lives if they come from the background that we come from or from the background Mr. Baldwin came from. Ive seen it and sat in screening rooms with audiences that [black] people are just connecting and clicking with something that is unspoken, a certain kind of energy, a certain kind of spirituality that doesnt have to be spoken or articulated; its just felt. I think thats the case with this film.
Eerie and haunting without ever being outright scary, Dont Leave Home is different enough from current trends in horror to be of at least some interest to hardcore genre buffs. Taking cues more from the psychological horror of Roman Polanski and especially Nicolas Roegs Dont Look Now, this latest film from indie director Michael Tully (Septien) falls somewhere between a dream and a nightmare.

The film opens strong with an elegantly constructed prologue depicting the pivotal disappearance of a little girl in 1980s Ireland. A priest had painted a portrait of her while she was praying to a statue of the Virgin Mary. The next morning she vanished from both her bed and the painting, becoming one of the countrys most inexplicable mysteries.

Years later an American artist (Anna Margaret Hollyman) finds herself drawn to the story and plans to include a diorama of the incident in her upcoming show. When the show earns a negative early review, she travels to Ireland, meets the now older priest (Lalor Roddy) and the enigmatic woman (Helena Bereen) who tends to him. Faster than you can say true crime cult, the situation devolves into a cryptic series of unnerving incidents.

Tullys filmmaking remains polished throughout but the narrative never fully clicks. This is a film designed to withhold crucial information, even when viewers reach the climax, and that approach doesnt quite work when theres not enough to keep us invested in the mystery.

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Nevertheless, horror buffs can do a lot worse and thanks to the rise of video on demand, the title perfectly describes the ideal viewing experience.

--------------

Dont Leave Home

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 26 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood

geoff.berkshire@latimes.com

@geoffberkshire
Hulus eight-part drama The First begins as a space exploration drama on its way to Mars, but the show, like the mission it depicts, never quite lifts off the ground.

The British-American production by House of Cards Beau Willimon and starring Sean Penn has all the right ingredients of another breakthrough drama series from the streaming service that gave us The Handmaids Tale. But it becomes so entangled in the human drama of its troubled characters here on Earth that it loses momentum soon after blast off.

The First is more about the cost of scientific exploration rather than the exploration itself, and the currency is both monetary and emotional.

The series, available in its entirety Friday, follows Dr. Thomas Hagerty (Penn), a veteran astronaut whos been to the moon and back. He, like the series, lives in a not-so-distant future where VR glasses are the norm, cars drive by voice command and homes are semi-automated.

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We meet the widower and single father at what appears to be another low period in his life. He was chosen to command the first mission to colonize Mars only to be relieved of his duty by the head of the project, Laz Ingram (Natascha McElhone). Shes an Elon Musk-type whose scientific exploration operation Vista relies partly on government funding. We dont learn in the first three episodes reviewed here why she pulled Hagerty from the mission, but it is clear that hes a rebel who moonwalks to his own tune.

Hagerty watches from his home in New Orleans as the astronaut team he assembled for the operation are killed when the rocket explodes shortly after liftoff. Its a riveting series start, and it all happens inside of episode one.

Its clear from the outset, however, that The First isnt the next action-packed step in film and TVs reach for the stars, or ratings. Unlike Apollo 13 or Netflixs Mission to Mars, the cerebral Hulu series is more interested in the emotional and monetary price of space travel rather than the interstellar drama of incoming asteroids, oxygen leaks, alien stowaways, etc.

The impact of the failed mission has scarred the families of the astronauts and the public who watched the rocket explode in real time, but its also called into question the validity of such risky ventures. Are they vanity projects of Musk types or sacrifices for the greater good?

There are several scenes in which the embattled Vista corporation argues its case before Congress. They explain why space exploration is critical to human advancement while senators argue that funding and energy is better spent here on Earth for things such as education. Set our sights on a new planet, or fix the planet were on? That is the question.

The problem with The First, however, is not the divisive debate. Its the slow-paced examination of all the personal dramas attached to the Mars program.

Hagerty is a brooding, conflicted figure who lost his wife and is trying not to lose his daughter, recovering addict Denise (Anna Jacoby-Heron). She is still grappling with her mothers death while her internalizing father avoids the subject at all costs.

Meanwhile, Ingram has forfeited her emotions and relationships with her kids in pursuit of bigger, better technological advancements. She and Hagerty clash  its her corporate drive and capitalistic instincts versus his love affair with space and humanity.

That dynamic underpins their search for a new team to man another launch, and now she wants Hagerty back in as commander. For viewers, it means that the final frontier of space will have to wait. This series is a journey through every other characters personal sub-plot and back story, and its no trip to the stars.

Astronaut Aiko Hakari (Keiko Agena) will leave behind her family and a mother with Alzheimers if that rocket ever leaves the launchpad. Kayla Price (LisaGay Hamilton) has conflicts with Hagerty and her own fraught past that keep her awake at night.

Viewers will spend lots of time hearing about the characters problems over dinners, business meetings and on the sidelines of a karaoke get-together. If only theyd spent more time in the training module, or even those grueling exercises through the Louisiana swamps.

The First is a beautiful and haunting sensory experience thanks to imagery by cinematography Adam Stone and music by Colin Stetson. But the meandering series can also feel navel-gazing and pretentious thanks to intermittent, spoken-word narration and weird interludes about the cicadas lifespan, or something. Theres also the out-of-character bohemian lifestyle that disciplined astronaut Hagerty leads: He was married to a tattoo artist and lives in an arty loft space. His daughter listens to Perfume Genius  on vinyl.

As for the mission to Mars: What mission? The faraway planet never gets any closer as The First dives deeper and deeper into galaxies worth of human strife here on Earth.

The First

Where: Hulu

When: Any time, starting Friday

Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17)

lorraine.ali@latimes.com

@lorraineali
Cole Haan, the 90-year-old accessories brand known for classic design and a practical sensibility, is going Hollywood thanks to a new collaboration with three celebrity stylists known for their work with A-list clients and their own signature fashion points of view.

This month, the footwear brand, which is based in New York and Greenland, N.H., released a collection of limited-edition womens shoes re-imagined by Erin Walsh (known for styling Sarah Jessica Parker and Lily Aldridge), Simone Harouche (Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus) and Karla Welch (Tracee Ellis Ross and Justin Bieber). The styles from the Cole Haan Stylist Collaboration collection range from a slip-on with a mesh top and sneaker sole to an ankle bootie, sleek pump and hefty hiking boot.

The footwear assortment, which includes the brands 3.Zerogrand (an oxford), Vesta (a pump) and GrandExplore All-Terrain (a hiker), is priced from $170 to $270 and available online at www.colehaan.com and at Cole Haans Westfield Century City store. Styles will roll out through October.

Shoes from the new Cole Haan Stylist Collaboration collection were designed by three top Hollywood stylists. (Cole Haan)

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David Maddocks, chief marketing officer and general manager of business development at Cole Haan, said the shoe silhouettes in the collection were chosen to accommodate a variety of lifestyles  from work to weekend. The goal was for these stylists to take these silhouettes and really make them their own  transcending the everyday [and] integrating both functionality and style, he said.

The stylists individual interpretations took shape in footwear ranging from whimsical to edgy. Walsh festooned the top of the Vesta pump with a velvet and bejeweled bow, while Welch re-fashioned the block-heeled Blair boot in a beautiful ox-blood-colored leather.

Walsh, a former fashion editor known for a playful and polished aesthetic, said, Throughout the process, I continuously asked questions like, Is there consistency in color? Is there an interesting texture play? Whats the juxtaposition here? And most importantly, Is it surprising? Do you think when you look at it, Gosh, I really need that? I wanted to design shoes that played within the masculine and feminine, whimsical and refined, and I think we were able to do that.

For Harouche, it was the opportunity to add a modern edge to a rugged boot such as the GrandExplore All-Terrain. I love the idea of a true fashion spin on a rugged boot, she said. The boot itself is the most amazing forest green color, and the cuffs are speckled in this incredible wool, which makes them so comfortable.

GrandExplore All-Terrain hiker boot from Cole Haans Stylist Collaboration collection. (Cole Haan)

Considering fashions current fascination with stylish, almost futuristic-looking sneakers and work boots, the hiker and 3.Zerogrand oxford are right in step with fall 2018 shoe trends.

Its about making the elevated seem attainable, Walsh said, and giving the customer new ways to dream and new ways to think about how they [can] wear classic ideas.
The Los Angeles Times has announced the lineup for its inaugural Taste OC food festival, which will debut in Costa Mesa next month.

Held over three nights starting Oct. 19, the Taste OC will feature unlimited bites and sips from dozens of Orange County chefs and restaurants. It will be held at the Met, a sprawling office campus in Costa Mesa.

This marks an expansion of one of The Times most popular food events and will be hosted by the papers Food staff. Until now, the 9-year-old Taste had only been held in Los Angeles, on the Paramount Pictures backlot, every Labor Day weekend.

With the addition of a sister event in Orange County one month later, the Taste will better serve the papers large swath of readers across Southern California and highlight restaurants south of L.A.

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Tickets are $100, and a $10 discount is available to Times subscribers.

Here are some highlights:

On Friday, Oct. 19, the event kicks off with a night focused on classic flavors and cultural mash-ups. Chef Linda Johnsen of Filomenas Italian Kitchen will share her Italian roots during a demo, and Santa Ana-raised chef Hop Phan of Dos Chinos will discuss the artistry behind his collaborative Vietnamese-Mexican cooking.

Restaurants include Bluegold, Gunwhale Ales, LSXO, MFK by Aysee, Puesto, Silver Trumpet Restaurant & Bar, Tabu Shabu, Toast Kitchen & Bakery and Tokyo Table.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, chef Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria will take the stage to showcase his seasonal, Mexican-influenced cooking. Wing Lam of Wahoos Fish Taco and Kelly Lam of the Whole Purpose will do a joint demo, and Geeta Bansal of Clay Oven will provide a glimpse into how traditional and modern techniques make the most flavorful Indian dishes.

Restaurants include ADYA, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, Cucina Enoteca, Georgias Restaurant, Habana, L.A. Brisket, Outpost Kitchen, Supatras Thai, Ten Asian Bistro and Water Grill.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, Taste festivities continue with an afternoon event. Restaurants include Blackmarket Bakery, Chunk-N-Chip, Clay Oven, Electric City Butcher, Haven Gastropub, Irenia, Leatherbys Cafe Rouge, Pie-Not and Tackle Box.

andrea.chang@latimes.com

Twitter: @byandreachang

Instagram: @byandreachang
Were launching our own damn satellite  Gov. Jerry Brown says California will go to space to fight climate change

California Gov. Jerry Brown is shown at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco on Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Gov. Moonbeam is finally sending California into space.

Jerry Brown closed his climate summit in San Francisco on Friday with a dramatic announcement: California will launch its own satellite into orbit to track and monitor the formation of pollutants that cause climate change.

With science still under attack and the climate threat growing, were launching our own damn satellite, Brown said in prepared remarks. This groundbreaking initiative will help governments, businesses and landowners pinpoint  and stop  destructive emissions with unprecedented precision, on a scale thats never been done before.

After decades of being unable to shake the moniker Gov. Moonbeam  which columnist Mike Royko branded Brown in 1976  the governor has come to embrace it in a big way. Brown suggested around that time that California should launch its own satellite for emergency communications. At the time, the governor was in his 30s and full of ideas for the state that critics dismissed as flaky. Some were put into law and established California as a pioneer on various policy fronts, others were put on the shelf.

The governors Global Climate Action Summit  and the Trump administrations reluctance to pursue robust climate research  opened the door wide open for the governor to pull the satellite vision out of the archives.

The state will develop the satellite with the San Francisco-based Earth-imaging firm Planet Labs, a company founded by former NASA scientists in 2010. The state may ultimately launch multiple satellites into space, according to the governors office. The California Air Resources Board is in the process of developing the monitoring technology used by the satellite. No date has been set for the launch; the process is expected to take several years.

Officials at the air board discussed the possibility of the satellite at their meeting in July, when they expressed concern that the Trump administration had mothballed its plans to use the innovative technology to monitor pollutants from above. The state officials said at the time that they hoped to launch within a few years.

Robbie Schingler, co-founder of Planet Labs, said the project will inform how advanced satellite technology can enhance our ability to measure, monitor, and ultimately, mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The state hopes to put the satellite to use in pinpointing the sources of climate pollutants, which could enable it to refine its regulatory approach and better understand how to mitigate warming. Data from the satellite would be made available to the public through a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund.

Browns announcement came in quickly delivered remarks at the close of the three-day gathering and received a standing ovation from many in the audience. Two activists who stood up on their seats saying Brown is not a climate leader were carried out of the auditorium by security.

Los Angeles Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report.
Farmers watch rams do battle in Dangshan county, Anhui province, on Wednesday. The event was held to mark the harvest of pears. Pears and small-tailed sheep are specialty products of the county. CUI MENG/FOR CHINA DAILY

China will host more than 100 activities nationwide to celebrate the first Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry has selected 100 villages, 100 rural cultural events, 100 types of food, 100 agricultural products and 100 rural travel routes that urban dwellers can follow to the countryside to celebrate with farmers, Qu Dongyu, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said at a news conference in Beijing.

The festival, the first created especially for farmers, reflects the high priority the central government places on rural areas and agriculture, as well as its determination to develop a thriving agricultural industry, beautiful countryside and well-off farmers, Qu said.

Farmers deserve a special festival since they have made great contributions to the livelihoods of the people. And setting up the festival will improve the status of farmers, increase their self-esteem and create an environment that respects and values them, he said.

Most of the celebrations will take place at a local level with activities derived from local customs, Qu said.

The nation will celebrate its first Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival on the autumn equinox on the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls this year on Sept 23, a Sunday, one day before Mid-Autumn Festival.

Autumn equinox is one of the 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar and marks the midpoint of autumn.

Han Changfu, minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said at a news conference in June that as a major agricultural country China has the largest number of farmers in the world, and annual grain production reaching 600 million metric tons for five consecutive years.

Although climates and crops differ in various parts of China, most crops mature in autumn, which is why the government chose to celebrate harvest festival at the autumn equinox, he said, adding that extravagance and waste should be avoided in the celebrations.
Ever since five current and former California coastal commissioners were found guilty this spring of breaking rules designed to ensure fairness and transparency, one question has remained unanswered.

Whos going to pay for their sins?

We now have the answer.

Any guesses?

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Walk over to a mirror, take a good look and reach for your wallet.

We just got stuck with a bill of roughly $1 million because five people chose not to follow easily understandable rules meant to ensure that their private meetings were fairly and fully reported before they voted on beach projects. And if thats not insulting enough, try this:

There was never any doubt as to who would pay if they were found guilty, not that anyone let us in on that little detail.

And heres the irony:

In a lawsuit over conversations that took place out of public view, a pretrial decision was made by the Coastal Commission  also out of public view  to indemnify the commissioners against liability for payment if they lost.

The law entitles the commissioners to representation by the State absent malice, fraud or corruption, said a Coastal Commission statement released late Thursday afternoon by spokeswoman Noaki Schwartz. This Commission earlier agreed to indemnify the defendants to the full extent provided by law.

The thinking behind that decision was that the commissioners, who claimed they did no wrong, were just trying their best to do their jobs as public servants, so defending them should be a public expense.

But a judge didnt buy their claim of total innocence. So former commissioners Steve Kinsey, Wendy Mitchell and Martha McClure were fined $30,300, $7,100 and $2,600, respectively, by a San Diego County Superior Court judge in a case that went to trial early this year and has just concluded.

They wont pay a nickel.

Current commissioners Mark Vargas and Erik Howell were fined $13,600 and $3,500.

They wont pay a dime.

The judge also tapped them for $959,000 in attorneys fees and court costs.

But were picking up that bill, too.

This is unbelievable, former Coastal Commission lawyer Ralph Faust said.

With indemnification going in, Faust said, the accused commissioners couldnt lose.

They got a defense on the theory they were innocent, he said, and indemnification in case it turned out they were guilty.

Oh, what a charade, said Kathryn Burton, a retired attorney and president of Spotlight on Coastal Corruption, which filed suit against the commissioners in 2016 alleging hundreds of rules violations. This means that this could be done for anyone, not just coastal commissioners, and it sets a horrible precedent. And I really question the legality of it.

The suit came about because in California, decisions on coastal development and land use are a game of money, power and access. Although the coastal commissioners perform quasi-judicial duties, theyre allowed to have private conversations with parties prior to ruling on projects. Most of these conversations are with proponents of projects rather than opponents, often through well-paid and politically connected lobbyists.

Theres an easy way to avoid shady business. Just outlaw these private communications. But powerful forces have managed to keep them in place, even though its not always possible for the public to know precisely what was discussed over dinner or drinks.

The Times exposed dozens of cases of commissioners failing to make full accounts of conversations, turning in the reports late, not turning them in at all or letting lobbyists write the accounts of what was discussed.

And I dont buy the defenses argument that the real problem was a lousy filing system and no clear education on the rules of private, or ex parte, meetings.

By early indications, the $1 million in costs could get carved out of an already tight Coastal Commission budget of about $28 million. If so, that could mean layoffs and less protection of the coast. In other words, we just keep getting sand kicked in our faces. The only good to come of this was that commissioners have been put on notice, going forward, that were watching their every move. And some better commissioners have filled the seats of those who left.

From the beginning, the decision to defend the accused commissioners was controversial because they, not the agency they served, were sued as individuals. Faust, the former agency lawyer, questions the attorney generals decision to defend the commissioners at all.

It seemed to me they should have walked away from this in the first place, Faust said. If commissioners were violating the law, they were doing so not as commissioners, but outside the scope of the law.

Cory Briggs, Spotlights attorney, said Thursday he never imagined anyone but the commissioners would be held accountable for fines and fees assessed against them as individuals. He sued them, not the state agency. Briggs argued from the beginning that the accused commissioners knew the rules and chose to ignore them.

In a head-slapping development last week, the lawyer arguing the case for Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra seemed to agree that the defendants were not public officials, but private citizens.

Here, the Attorney Generals office was representing private individuals sued in their personal capacity, the deputy attorney general wrote in a convoluted attempt to have Spotlight cover the states defense costs of $649,000.

Like I said in my Wednesday column, if they were private individuals, the attorney general shouldnt have been defending them on our dime.

The states justification for asking defense costs to be paid by Spotlight was that this was a victory for the commissioners, not a loss, since most charges were dismissed and millions in potential fines were avoided. And the attorney general has already appealed, so we could get stuck with more bills.

This was no victory.

This was a dark chapter in Coastal Commission history and a rebuke of arrogant commissioners who didnt take seriously their duty to protect the coast and the public.

The final insult was sticking us with the bill.

A legendary protector of Californias beaches is now branded a traitor over access fight 

Hollister Ranch access agreement is a wipeout and a sellout, hundreds of beach lovers scream 

Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Friday barring the Trump administration from imposing requirements that local jurisdictions cooperate with immigration agents to receive anti-gang funds.

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real issued the injunction against the Department of Justice in response to a lawsuit filed by the city of Los Angeles in July seeking to prevent the government from awarding federal police grants based on cooperation with immigration enforcement.

Fridays ruling was another setback in the administrations campaign to crack down on illegal immigration and require cities like Los Angeles, whose police department does not provide information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to comply.

The Courts action is a win for public safety in Los Angeles, and once again confirms that our nations system of checks and balances works, said Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer.

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The Justice Department annually doles out funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to states and cities to support law enforcement efforts against gangs. Since 1997, Los Angeles has annually received more than $1 million in such funds, including $1.8 million in 2016. The city was eligible for about $1.9 million in 2017, but Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions announced in July of that year that under an executive order, all of the anti-gang grant money would hinge on new immigration compliance requirements.

Judge Real found that the Justice Department had no authority to place such conditions on the grant money.

To further show that the program is not to be administered according to the Attorney Generals discretion, Congress structured the Byrne JAG program as a formula grant, Real wrote in his decision. As stated above, the authority granted to the Attorney General with the Byrne JAG statute regarding distribution of funds is extremely limited and leaves little room for discretion.

The ruling echoes a permanent injunction Real issued in April that imposed a nationwide ban on a Justice Department policy that gave preferential consideration to obliging police departments applying for a separate Community Oriented Policing Program grant. Feuer cited that ruling as a precedent to end controls on the anti-gang monies.

Federal officials called that decision overbroad and inconsistent with the rule of law.

The Justice Department has argued it has the lawful discretion to give funds to jurisdictions that promise to cooperate with federal immigration authorities seeking information about illegal aliens who have committed crimes.

Los Angeles and other cities have sought a share of the anti-gang funds to bolster neighborhood policing and intervention programs to reduce gang violence. The Los Angeles Police Department has used the funds to battle the MS-13 gang that has its roots in the city and is often cited by the Justice Department as illustrating the need for strong immigration and crime policies.

Fridays decision is the latest in an ongoing legal struggle between L.A. and the administration. In the last year, immigration agents have dramatically ramped up the number of people they arrest and deport.

President Trump and Sessions have been infuriated by so-called sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles that, to varying degrees, refuse to help federal authorities enforce immigration laws because of legal and moral concerns over cooperating. Sessions, after initially publicly shaming objectors, is now seeking to withhold funds.

The LAPD for many decades has abided by rules that sharply restrict an officers ability to inquire about a persons immigration status. Officials argue that in a city with a large population of immigrants living in the country illegally, the rules are necessary to assure immigrants that they can report crimes without fear of being questioned about their status.

Since Trump took office, former LAPD chief Charlie Beck and current Chief Michel Moore have been particularly assertive on the need for the department to build trust with the citys immigrant communities.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes
In the fight against climate change, government and industry have traditionally been adversaries, as regulators try to force polluters to take costly steps to cut planet-warming emissions.

But at Gov. Jerry Browns global climate summit this week, some of the worlds biggest companies are in the spotlight as partners in tackling global warming. The private sector has emerged as a growing player in the alliance of cities, states and other institutions pledging to uphold emissions cuts of the Paris climate agreement, which has been disavowed by President Trump.

Industry giants such as McDonalds, Walmart and Levi Strauss & Co. are rallying behind climate action, announcing plans to expand their use of renewable energy and establish science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gases to help the nation reach its goals under the Paris pact.

It used to be that you expected government to lead and then investors and business to follow said Mindy Lubber, chief executive of Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit that works with companies and investors. It is completely turned on its head right now. The leadership on moving climate policy is coming from everywhere but the federal government.

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Corporate environmental efforts have been met with some skepticism, including questions of whether they mark an exercise in eco-friendly branding  greenwashing, as some call it  more than a true transformation in practices.

But business leaders argue that the scale of their operations is large enough to help achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris deal, in which President Obama promised to cut the United States emissions at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025.

So far, nearly 500 companies have adopted science-based emissions targets in line with the Paris pledge, according to the global nonprofit Business for Social Responsibility.

A flurry of new ones came as the summit kicked off. Tech companies announced commitments to reduce carbon emissions by running more of their energy-gobbling data centers with renewable electricity. Kaiser Permanente revealed a plan to shift to renewable energy that will allow it to become carbon neutral by 2020. Banks and investors publicized shifting money out of coal and into renewables and other low-carbon portfolios. Retailers and restaurateurs said they would work with suppliers to squeeze greenhouse gas reductions from farmers and manufacturers.

Proponents of such pledges argue they are happening because theres an increasingly clear business case for climate action. Companies are seeing more impacts to their operations and supply chains from extreme weather and other shifts driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions. Theyre facing mounting pressure from consumers and investors to factor climate risks into their business decisions. In short, theyre realizing that tackling climate change, even if it clashes with U.S. federal policy, is good for business.

Reputation really matters, and matters increasingly, said Christina Herman, a program director for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of institutional and faith-based investors.

Some financial experts see in the corporate action a parallel with other politically controversial issues, such as same-sex marriage and immigration. Shifting public opinion has meant that some large companies have taken positions at odds with state or federal government  whether its to help their bottom line, generate publicity or protect their image with consumers.

Ironically, it was the Trump administrations turn against the Paris agreement that spurred the American private sector to action, said Brian Deese, head of sustainable investing for BlackRock and a former Obama administration advisor on climate change. That includes large investors, who he said have shown growing interest in climate-friendly portfolios over the last 18 months.

Industry pledges on the environment havent held the same significance as government commitments because they dont have the teeth of laws, regulations or treaties  meaning companies wont face fines or sanctions if they fail to deliver.

But businesses point out that their commitments arent on the honor system either. Instead, they are subject to strict monitoring and oversight by scientists who measure how their operations affect global warming, and guide the actions they must embrace to ratchet down their emissions.

Walmart did the math on what it would take for the company to meet the Paris targets and used it to set a target of reducing its emissions 18% by 2025 while working with hundreds of its suppliers to reduce a billion metric tons of greenhouse gases by 2030.

Executives at McDonalds, which has signed on to the We Are Still In coalition pledging to meet the Paris climate goals, said the companys decision to commit to slashing greenhouse gas emissions from restaurants, franchisees, offices and suppliers was motivated by climate-driven shifts already impacting its supply chain, from coffee bean growers, fishing vessels catching cod and farmers raising beef. The company will seek to achieve those targets both by using cleaner energy and equipment at restaurants and working with ranchers to adopt more sustainable grazing practices and address deforestation.

Climate change is the biggest environmental issue of our time, and we cant have a credible sustainability strategy if we dont address it, said Francesca DeBiase, the companys chief supply chain and sustainability officer.

A contingent of activists protesting outside the Global Climate Action Summit dismissed the corporate pledges as climate capitalism that serves only to polish the images of big, polluting companies.

Its nothing but a glorified trade show, said Angela Adrar, executive director of the Climate Justice Alliance. Those inside of the summit are saying that corporations can save the planet. But there is no smooth economic transition that can solve the climate crisis. We need a just transition that centers on workers and the communities that are most impacted.

Herman said she understands those who are skeptical about companies motivations in adopting such emissions targets, but said they are difficult to dismiss.

Its really a rigorous process of setting targets and having them vetted by people who know what theyre talking about, that are going to be meaningful, she said. It is in the self-interest of the companies that are making these pledges to actually follow through, and investors are watching, she added.

The number of companies agreeing to disclose their climate impacts has surged in the year since Trump quit the Paris agreement, said Paul Simpson, chief executive of CDP, a nonprofit that runs a global system tracking such information. Annual disclosures are important tools because they are one way companies can be held accountable for their pledges to act on climate.

The Americas Pledge initiative, backed by former New York Mayor and United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, counts more than 3,000 cities, states and companies committed to stay in and work to reach the Paris goal. If that consortium were a country, Bloomberg said, it would have the worlds third-largest economy.

Even at that large scale, the actions arent enough for America to reach its Paris targets on time, but it will get the nation within striking distance, an assessment this week found.

We have enormous economic clout, we have the market forces at our back and we have public opinion on our side, Bloomberg told reporters at the summit. So I like our chances.

tony.barboza@latimes.com

@tonybarboza
Earlier this year, dozens of Bird scooters appeared on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, parked in front of coffee shops, clustered at bike racks and left leaning against the walls of businesses up and down the Venice neighborhood.

When Ron Rosenthal discovered a knot of scooters tucked beneath the picture window of his cobalt-blue bungalow, which houses an antiques store, he called Bird with an explicit request: Keep your scooters off this property.

One call was all it took, Rosenthal said. The scooters vanished.

The antique store, The Perfect Piece, is one of more than 40 locations across Los Angeles County where Bird has asked riders not to park or ride their newly ubiquitous rental scooters.

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The restricted areas, sometimes called no-ride zones, are shown in the Bird apps interactive map as translucent red shapes that trace city boundaries and property lines. As the scooters have begun to feel less like a fad and more like reality, the zones have spread.

Some ask riders to avoid entire cities  including Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, which have passed scooter bans  and some government property, including the infamously congested terminal area of Los Angeles International Airport.

Scooter no-ride zones dot the Westside like chicken pox, covering parks, schools, neighborhoods and single-family homes. (Bird)

Other zones dot Los Angeles like chicken pox, overlaid on tiny bungalows in Santa Monica and apartment buildings in Mid-Wilshire, next to barber shops and bakeries, and along quiet residential streets in the beach cities where Bird launched last year.

If they want to make a profit on city sidewalks, thats up to them and up to the city, Rosenthal said. But they cant do it on my property.

Rides cost $1, plus 15 cents per minute. Users sign up through the Bird app, connect to Bluetooth, and use the apps interactive map to find and rent a scooter nearby. The map shows the red zones, too, but doesnt explain the restrictions unless users click for more details.

Creating no-ride areas is common practice for Bird, spokeswoman Mackenzie Long said, because the company works hard to be responsive to requests from our cities and communities.

For Rosenthal, the red zone did make a difference. The scooters never reappeared, but scooters from Lime, Birds main competitor, are still appearing on his property despite more than two dozen calls, texts and emails, he said. He has hung a cardboard sign in his front window that reads: No Lime scooters allowed.

For other neighborhoods and areas, whether the red zones make a difference is less clear. The app doesnt bar users from parking in no-parking areas, and doesnt notify riders when they scoot into a no-ride zone.

That may soon change. In a 135-page document submitted to the city of Santa Monica in August, Bird Chief Executive Travis VanderZanden said the company is working on technology that could notify riders when they enter a restricted zone by sending a push alert to their smart phone or automatically slowing their scooters.

California law prohibits motorized scooters on sidewalks, including the narrow pathways along the Venice canals. Bicycles, skateboards and scooters are also prohibited on the arched pedestrian bridges over the waterways. Earlier this summer, Bird added a red zone there.

That hasnt stopped riders from zipping down pedestrian-only pathways and revving over the arched bridges, trying to go fast enough to catch air on the other side, said Josie Scibetta, president emeritus of the Venice Canals Assn.

I see Birds literally flying in the air, as fast as they can, and the kids are like, Yay! Scibetta said. People arent paying attention to the red in the canal area, just as they dont pay attention to the rules that you have to have a helmet and you have to be 18.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center banned riders from parking or riding on its property in July after hospital employees watched riders zip in from nearby Beverly Grove and abandon their scooters on the sidewalk.

The riders were creating tripping hazards and obstructing our patients pathways, particularly for patients using walkers and wheelchairs, Cedars-Sinai spokeswoman Sally Stewart said in an email.

Burton Chace Park, a smooth expanse of grass near the boat slips in Marina del Rey, has long banned motorized vehicles on the narrow paths. Children and busloads of elderly residents walk on those paths, said Carol Baker, a spokeswoman for the county Department of Beaches and Harbors.

Its basically not safe to have Bird scooters there, Baker said. Fortunately, they got it.

Bird sent someone to the park to remind riders to dismount, Baker said. If they hadnt, she said, the county would have started ticketing. Since August, she said, no problems have been reported.

Rather than hire full-time staff members to collect the thousands of scooters left strewn across Los Angeles at night, Bird offers a bounty to anyone who can hunt them down. The company typically pays $5 for every scooter that is collected, charged and returned to a sidewalk by 7 a.m. the next day.

The independent contractors who hunt down the scooters and return them to the street receive direction from the company on where to leave them, in areas marked on the app as drop zones.

Not long after that program began, Ricky Hirschfield noticed extension cords running out the windows of his 1913 apartment building a few blocks from Venice Beach. The cords ran down the shingled building and into the yard, where tenants had plugged in a cluster of Bird scooters.

They were everywhere, Hirschfield said. Its an old property. Im worried about the building catching fire.

Hirschfield fired off an angry message to Bird and said he never received a response. But something had earned him a label, unique in Los Angeles, in the scooter app:

Property owner request[s] no drop zone on his property.

In other areas, the impetus is less clear.

Officials with Venice High School were not aware that Bird had asked users not to park or ride scooters there, and neither the Los Angeles Unified School District nor high school employees were involved in creating the restriction, said Los Angeles Unified School District spokesman Sam Gilstrap.

There are a lot of activist organizations in Venice, so it could have been generated just about anywhere, Gilstrap said.

Wheeled vehicles are banned on many LAUSD campuses, but other schools do not have a no-riding or no-parking restriction in the Bird app. Bird bans riders younger than 18, but the scooters are wildly popular with teenagers who use their friends and parents accounts.

Along Grand View Boulevard in Mar Vista, Bird has asked riders not to park or ride past a 98-cent discount store, a bar, a restaurant, a yoga studio and a barbershop. But yoga students frequently ride scooters to class, an instructor said, shaking her head.

They can be a nuisance, said Miriam Zlotolow, the owner of the shopping area, as she cleared tables after the lunch rush at the Grand View Market. But I didnt contact them.

Across the street from CBS Television City on Beverly Boulevard, a pet shop, a music school, a barbershop, a carpet store and a handful of other storefronts are listed as a no-riding zone, to the surprise of the tenants.

Are we really? said Neal Lester, the owner of Lesters Carpet, as he looked at flooring samples with a customer from Kansas City. We havent had any issues.

Lester said he manages the building for his father, the owner, and handles issues for the buildings tenants. None had complained, he said. The barbers found the scooters fun. The tailor shrugged.

A cashier at the Cake Monkey Bakery pointed to a sandwich board just outside the bubblegum-pink front door. It sits atop a jagged crack in the sidewalk that has tripped up pedestrians in the past, she said  maybe Bird wanted to alert its riders, too?

Thats a nice thought, said customer Claudia Barragan, as she left holding a chocolate chip cookie. But if Bird were blocking out areas with damaged sidewalks, there wouldnt be many places to ride around here.

laura.nelson@latimes.com

Twitter: @laura_nelson


The Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted Thursday to endorse the sprawling project known as Crossroads Hollywood, a campus offering 950 new apartments and a 308-room hotel on or near Sunset Boulevard.

The panel, made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti, recommended the project to the City Council despite warnings that it would flood the neighborhood with thousands of additional cars and result in the demolition of dozens of rent-controlled apartments.

The $1-billion Crossroads project calls for nine new structures, including a 26-story hotel and two residential towers  one at 30 stories, the other 31. It would also add 190,000 square feet of commercial space, including a new movie theater, to the 8.3-acre site.

Opponents said such a huge development would have serious impacts on traffic, historic preservation and other neighborhood issues.

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Its going to turn Sunset Boulevard into a parking lot, said Doug Carstens, a lawyer who represents Livable L.A., one of the groups that oppose the project. Theyve got four major intersections on Sunset with what they call unavoidable impacts. But theyd be avoidable if they reduced the size of the project.

Crossroads of the World on Sunset Boulevard, where the proposed development would go up. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Planning officials said Crossroads Hollywood will be in an area served by several bus routes and a Metro Red Line subway station. Because it is so close to so many forms of public transit, and because of the way it is designed, Crossroads Hollywood will result in 36% fewer vehicle miles traveled when compared with another development of the same size, said Kyndra Casper, an attorney for Harridge Development Group.

Planning Commissioner David Ambroz said Crossroads Hollywood would go up in a part of the city where high-density housing makes sense. He accused the projects opponents of misusing the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, and said his time had been wasted reading through the paperwork they submitted.

They once again abuse CEQA to delay and deny people the right to develop property, Ambroz said. It would be nice to sit up here one day when I saw CEQA used to help the environment, as opposed to extort developers.

Supporters of Crossroads Hollywood say it would create much-needed housing and inject new life into a part of Hollywood in need of revitalization. They praised Harridge for seeking to preserve some of the buildings on the site, including those that make up Crossroads of the World  which opened in the mid-1930s as an outdoor shopping area and is known for its rotating globe.

Foes of the development said those preservation efforts did not go far enough, arguing that additional structures should have been protected. They criticized Harridge for seeking to demolish 82 rent-controlled apartments on the site, saying such a move would accelerate gentrification in Hollywood.

Were not a fan of the Disneyfication of Sunset, said Ged Kenslea, spokesman for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which opposes the Crossroads project. Theyre destroying one community to create another community.

Kenslea also called Ambrozs comments disrespectful to the public.

An artist rendering shows the Crossroads project, which includes a 26-story hotel and two residential towers and 190,000 square feet of commercial space. (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP)

Representatives of Harridge said their project will set aside 105 apartments for very low-income residents, those who earn up to 50% of the L.A.-Long Beach areas median income. The company also agreed to allow the roughly 40 people who still live on the site to move into Crossroads Hollywood once it is completed  at nearly the same rent they are paying now, Casper said.

Some commissioners, concerned about the loss of rent-controlled units, pushed unsuccessfully for Harridge to increase the number of subsidized apartments on the site. But commission President Samantha Millman opposed that move, saying the developer had gone a long way to make sure every single resident of this project is taken care of.

Commissioner Karen Mack commended Harridge for working closely with the surrounding community. But she acknowledged having lingering worries about the traffic congestion that would accompany the project.

Angelenos, she said, are dreaming of a future when the city will have several new rail lines, where we dont have to get in a car and we can hop on the Metro.

In the meantime, she said, youre sitting in traffic. And you hate living in L.A. at that moment.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @DavidZahniser
Los Angeles moved one step closer Thursday to imposing new rules on renting out rooms or entire homes for short stays, a phenomenon that has boomed with the rise of Airbnb and other online platforms.

The Planning Commission, whose members are appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, voted to back a proposed law that would limit Angelenos to renting out their own primary residence to short-term guests  a rule meant to stop corporate entities from buying up housing and running it like a hotel.

But the commission balked at another proposed restriction that had gotten traction at City Hall: Banning such rentals in any housing that falls under rent stabilization rules, which cap annual increases for tenants.

Why are we excluding people who are in rent stabilized housing as a class? asked commissioner David Ambroz. Its almost as if we pick people of lower economic means and say, You do not get to participate in the future economy.

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The decision is the latest turn in the lengthy debate over how Los Angeles should regulate such rentals. More than three years have passed since Councilman Mike Bonin and Council President Herb Wesson first vowed to impose new regulations on the industry, arguing that the city needed to rein in the practice to protect its rental housing.

The debate has pitted Airbnb, which has mobilized its hosts and lobbied at City Hall, against a politically muscular coalition that includes tenant activists, neighborhood advocates and the hotel industry, along with the members of Unite Here Local 11, an influential hotel workers union that has scored previous victories at City Hall.

Tenant activists have grown increasingly frustrated by the delay in imposing new rules, arguing it has exacerbated the housing crisis as more and more apartments are taken off the market for ordinary tenants. At Thursdays hearing, they urged the city to ensure such rentals are barred in rent stabilized units, describing them as a precious and endangered pool of housing.

It is vital to keep [rent stabilized] units available for low-income families who have no need to rent out extra rooms, because they have no extra space, said Cynthia Strathmann, executive director of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, a nonprofit that works with poor families.

Strathmann said after the hearing that rent stabilized housing is not supposed to provide an economic windfall for people who can afford to live in larger spaces than they need.

Airbnb and its hosts, in turn, argued that the proposed rules and fees were too hard on homeowners who rely on such rentals to make ends meet, and charged it would be unfair to exclude apartments that fall under rent stabilization.

Several said the rooms they rent out to travelers would never be suitable for longtime tenants. And many argued that proposed caps on such rentals could put them in financial jeopardy.

This is not a hobby for us, said Ed Colman, a Venice resident who said he relied on renting out his guest room after he lost his job five years ago. This is our livelihood.

Under the proposed rules approved Thursday, hosts could rent out their homes to short-term guests for up to 120 days annually.

If they have a clean record with no violations from the city, or can make a successful case to planning officials that it would not harm the area, they would be able to exceed that cap and rent them out to travelers all year. Exceeding the 120-day cap would not be an option, however, for rent stabilized housing.

The latest version of the rules still must be vetted and approved by City Council before it can become law. If approved, it would go into effect in July.

The new law would also require rental hosts to register with the city. Online platforms such as Airbnb or HomeAway could be fined if they advertise illegal listings or refuse to hand over addresses of scofflaw rentals.

Earlier this year, Councilman Gil Cedillo floated the idea of another ordinance to allow vacation rentals  short-term rentals of properties that are not the primary residence of the host  but that plan has yet to be taken up at City Hall.

Samantha Millman, who heads the planning commission, recused herself from the Thursday discussion because her husband had done work for the California Hotel and Lodging Assn., which has lobbied the city on the proposed rules.

Two other commissioners, Renee Dake Wilson and Dana Perlman, disclosed that they had met and listened to representatives of the hotel industry ahead of the meeting.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlpertReyes
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who is facing a historic runoff challenge, has been endorsed by a union representing about 6,000 of his employees.

The Professional Peace Officers Assn., composed of sergeants and lieutenants as well as civilian custody assistants and crime analysts, said Thursday that it chose McDonnell in part for his experience in high-level law enforcement positions.

The announcement by PPOA underscores a divide among Sheriffs Department employees over who they want to be their next leader. The Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, a union of rank-and-file deputies, endorsed challenger Alex Villanueva last month, saying the retired lieutenant could better relate to deputies.

Low morale has been a recurring complaint by the unions and by members of the department, which has struggled to fill hundreds of empty spots in its 9,400-officer force. In 2017, PPOA issued a report card for the department, giving it a D+ on morale.

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PPOAs internal poll of its members, which includes some retirees, also reflected a split. Of 7,389 ballots mailed, 394 members chose McDonnell, 365 voted for Villanueva, and 115 selected neither candidate, according to numbers provided by the union.

Lt. Brian Moriguchi, the president of PPOA, said despite morale problems brought on by employees being forced to work overtime, the choice by the groups 22-member endorsement committee hinged on the candidates qualifications.

Alexs very limited experience as a low-level manager played heavy in our decision in the endorsement, Moriguchi said. Choosing him would be like asking a drive-through teller at a fast-food restaurant to be the CEO of the company.

Villanueva, 55, defended his experience as a watch commander at the Sheriffs Department, saying its one of the most important roles in the agency. He retired in February after serving in the department for three decades, including years as a street cop in East Los Angeles.

Despite being outspent 16 to 1 by McDonnell, Villanueva scored 33% of the vote in the June 5 primary, with McDonnell falling shy of a majority with 48% of votes. The result pushed the incumbent sheriff into a runoff  an event thats happened in the county only four times in the last century.

The son of a Puerto Rican father and a Polish American mother, Villanueva, a Democrat, drew most of his support from heavily Latino areas such as Southeast Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and Pomona, according to a Times analysis of votes by precinct. Hes backed by the countys Democratic Party and labor groups.

McDonnell, a former Long Beach police chief who rose to high ranks within the LAPD, says hes not affiliated with a political party, though hes been a registered Republican in the past. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey, County Supervisor Hilda Solis and the California Peace Officers Assn. have endorsed his candidacy.

McDonnell, 59, said in a statement he was honored by PPOAs endorsement.

I look forward to continuing our work together on the progress well underway at the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, he said.

Villanueva is scheduled to appear at a candidate forum held by the ACLU of Southern California on Saturday. McDonnell said Thursday he would not attend.

maya.lau@latimes.com

Twitter: @mayalau
The clerical sexual abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church hit home Thursday, as the Diocese of San Diego added eight priests to the list of those believed to have molested children.

This is a response to the terrible moment we are in, said Bishop Robert McElroy, citing a recent Pennsylvania grand jury report that found 1,000 children there had been molested by Pittsburgh-area priests, and the resignation of Theodore McCarrick, who is accused of sexually assaulting altar boys, seminarians and priests.

The cascade of emotions that this causes the survivors of the abuse, as well as other people in the pews, has caused a tumult of anger, grief, upset, incomprehension, disillusionment, McElroy said.

The new names  the Revs. Jose Chavarin, Raymond Etienne, J. Patrick Foley, Michael French, Richard Houck, George Lally and Paolino Montagna, plus Msgr. Mark Medaer  were released in piecemeal fashion, with critical details missing.

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This list extends the roster of alleged predator priests established by a landmark legal case that was concluded 11 years ago. On Sept. 7, 2007, the diocese settled 144 claims of child sexual abuse by 48 priests and one lay employee. The payments totaled $198.1 million, the second-largest settlement by a Catholic diocese in the United States.

Thursdays announcement was prompted by the Pennsylvania grand jury report, the McCarrick case and other recent revelations that have called into question the churchs moral authority and its willingness to honestly address this scandal.

There is a broad call for transparency, McElroy said. When we looked at it, we wanted to meet that as best we could.

The newly listed priests were accused of abuse since the 2007 settlement, or reported to the diocese earlier in files that had been tucked away or mislaid. They were overlooked until, the bishop said, a recent review of records.

They never kept good records on this stuff until recently, McElroy said. They kept records, but not in a very systematic way.

The move came the same day the Diocese of San Jose announced that it, too, would release the names of priests credibly accused of sexually abusing minors by mid-October. San Jose Bishop Patrick J. McGrath also said the diocese had retained a consulting firm to review its sexual abuse records.

Advocates for victims said that revealing the identities of accused predators is a valuable step.

It makes them more accountable, said Dr. Marianne Benkert, a La Jolla-based psychiatrist who, with her husband, the late Richard Sipe, studied clerical sexual abuse. And there are still some victims of these priests here in San Diego. It will give those victims some comfort to see their abusers exposed.

Some dioceses are trying to do proactive disclosures, which is great  disclosures are super important, said Tim Lennon, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. But its not because of the goodness of their hearts. They want to protect themselves as much as they can.

This crisis is worldwide, a fact underscored Thursday, when Pope Francis and several top American bishops conferred on McCarricks case. The day before, the Vatican announced that the pontiff will convene the worlds bishops for a February 2019 meeting on the protection of minors.

In San Diego, McElroy will embark on a listening tour of the diocese, stopping at eight parishes between Oct. 1 and Nov. 5.

Ive met with a number of victims, McElroy said. They are looking for  they are really looking for the perpetrator to say it to them, but often the perpetrator is dead  so they are looking for the church to say we are truly sorry for this.

This week, the diocese and other sources issued some details on the eight clerics added to the roster:

The Rev. Jose Chavarin. A native of Mexico, he served at Mary Star of the Sea in La Jolla from 1986 through 1991, while also working as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadelupe in Calexico (1989-1990) and associate pastor at Lemon Groves St. John of the Cross (1990-1991).

On June 20 and 23, 2008, the diocese received reports that Chavarin  then working in San Francisco  had sexually abused three boys while in San Diego. The incidents involved two brothers in 1986 or 87, and an unrelated boy who was abused between 1985 and 1988.

Confronted with these accusations, Chavarin denied any wrongdoing, then fled to Mexico.

Chavarins current whereabouts are unknown.

The Rev. Raymond Etienne. A priest of the Society of the Divine Word, Etienne was an associate pastor at San Bernardinos St. Anthony parish from 1980 through 1988. He also worked at the Society of the Divine Word seminary in Riverside in the 1960s, where he allegedly sexually assaulted seminarians.

Etienne is deceased, the diocese reports, although officials there could not confirm when or where he died.

The Rev. J. Patrick Foley. Although attached to the San Diego diocese, Foley has been living in Northern California since 1991. In 2010, he was suspended from ministry pending a church trial on charges that he had abused two Sacramento-area boys, whose parents had been friends of the priest.

The canonical trial ended in January 2011 without a clear verdict. He wasnt guilty, said Rodrigo Valdivia, the San Diego dioceses vice-moderator of the curia, but thats not to say he was innocent. His priestly faculties were restored until McElroy removed them in August 2015.

That hasnt stopped Foley from advertising on his website as an Itinerant Papist Preacher, offering retreats and spiritual counsel. His most recent posting, dated May 18, 2017, is a personal reflection under the heading Love  and then do as you will.

This July, he led a cluster mission at St. Joseph the Worker in Dubuque, Iowa.

Foley did not return a reporters phone call Thursday.

The Rev. Michael French. In 2003, the diocese was alerted that French had abused a boy in 1980. French, who died in 1995, came to San Diego in 1973 to pursue doctoral studies at the California School of Professional Psychology.

In 1975, he was a chaplain at the Benedictine Convent for Perpetual Adoration in San Diego.

A director of Catholic Community Services and diocesan director for Worldwide Marriage Encourage, French met his alleged victim at a social occasion in his parents home. There were several reported instances of abuse. The diocese paid a settlement to the alleged victim, who did not press charges in court.

The Rev. Richard Houck. In his long career, Houck served as an assistant priest, an associate pastor, pastor and priest in residence at a series of local parishes  St. Vincent de Paul, St, Charles Borromeo, Our Lady of Angels, St. Charles, St. Didacus and Immaculate Conception, all in San Diego; Most Precious Blood in Chula Vista; and Our Lady of Light in Descanso.

In 1968, he assisted at St. Vincent de Paul, serving alongside another priest whom the diocese would list as a sexual predator in 2008, the Rev. Hugh John Sutton.

While at Most Precious Blood in 1977, he molested a 10-year-old altar boy, according to the diocese. When the victim reported this abuse in 2004, the diocese paid a settlement and the victim did not pursue the matter in court.

Houck died in February 2002.

The Rev. George Lally. As associate pastor at St. Mary in El Centro between September 1970 and February 1972, Lally allegedly molested a boy. A 2002 diocesan report refers to a 1971 agreement to pay college costs for the victim.

As compensation for having been victimized, said Valdivia.

The Union-Tribune reported that a man identified as Ralph S. sued the diocese, alleging that Lally had abused him when he was an altar boy at St. Mary. Ralph S. told reporters that he had reported the crime to St. Marys pastor, and Lally was then transferred.

Lally, who left the priesthood in 1979, is married and living in San Clemente.

His wife, a former nun and longtime Catholic administrator and educator, was hired in 1983 as principal of Holy Family School. Within a month, she was terminated. She sued the diocese.

That case was dismissed in 1990.

Msgr. Mark Medaer. While pastor of Our Lady of Guadelupe in Calexico, Medaer allegedly molested a boy in 1982. Roughly 20 years later, the victim reported this abuse to the diocese, which agreed to pay for his counseling.

Diocesan records show the counseling began in March 2002 and continued at least through November 2002.

Medaer died in June 1993.

The Rev. Paolino Montagna. Attached to the diocese for less than three years, Montagna was the associate pastor at El Centros Our Lady of Guadalupe (August 1972-October 1973) and then held the same position at a parish in Calexico with the same name, Our Lady of Guadalupe (October 1973-January 1975).

He was accused of molesting two girls. The diocese was unable to say when or where.

Montagna, who left the diocese in January 1975, is believed to be dead.

The new revelations were dismissed by SNAPs Southern California liaison, Esther Miller, as so much smoke and mirrors. Benkert, the La Jolla psychiatrist and a former nun, said the scandal seems to be kind of unending.

People can understand to what lengths the church has gone to try to protect itself as an institution, she said.

McElroy, though, argued that new measures taken by the diocese  including a civilian review board for sexual abuse complaints, and a prevention program in Catholic school curriculum  have been effective, to a point.

Ive been here as bishop three and a half years and in that time we have not had a live case of a priest abusing minors, he said.

But at the same time, weve had four cases involving lay persons.

Yet others are sure that more reports of clerical abuse will be forthcoming.

Theyre telling me that there are now 56 priests who are credibly accused of sexual abuse in San Diego? asked Patrick Wall, a former priest who now investigates clerical sexual misconduct for a Minnesota law firm, Jeff Anderson and Associates. I believe that number to be extremely short.

Times staff writer Christine Mai-Duc contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

5:25 p.m., Sept. 15: This article was updated with plans by the San Jose diocese to release names.

This article was originally published at 6:25 a.m. on Sept. 14.
The participants depart from Lyon.

Participants from 10 countries recently concluded the Lyon-Guangzhou Sun Trip, riding their solar bicycles 12,000 kilometers over two and a half months.

The event, co-hosted by the French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition (MTES) and the Chinese Embassy in France, was organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of friendly relations between the cities of Lyon and Guangzhou.

The activity, which has been held every other year since 2013, promotes green energy and commuting.

Riding in China is amazing and unforgettable, said Herman Segers from Belgium, who finished in 6th place.

He recalled that it was raining when he first arrived in Urumchi, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. His Chinese contact immediately got in touch and arranged a hotel for him.

The participants tale a photo in Guangzhou.

The friendliness and hospitality of his new Chinese friends was touching, Segers noted.

The activity conforms to the green Belt and Road and sustainable development plan, French Minister of MTES Nicolas Hulot noted, adding that the Sun Trip will not only enhance China-France people-to-people exchanges, but will also promote energy and environmental cooperation between the two countries.
Authorities uncovered and seized an assault rifle along with dozens of handguns, other rifles and explosives from the home of a University Heights man suspected of shooting a city employee who was working to restore water to his home on Labor Day, the city attorneys office announced Friday.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department bomb squad found and took the cache Sept. 7 while serving what is known as a gun violence restraining order against the homeowner and accused shooter, 79-year-old Nathan Brogan, officials said.

The weapons stockpile included an AR-15 with a 200-round drum magazine, 34 additional rifles and 21 handguns from Brogans home, the city attorneys office said.

The bomb squad also removed 75,000 rounds of ammunition as well as explosives, among them a smoke grenade and 4.5 pounds of loose black powder.

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In announcing the stockpile seizure, the city attorneys office noted that the home sits about five blocks from an elementary school.

Brogan has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed in lieu of $1-million bail.

On the day of the shooting, a San Diego Public Utilities Department crew was in the vicinity trying to restore water service to the area.

A 55-year-old supervisor  wearing an orange vest and safety gear  approached Brogans home to check that service had been restored.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Matthew Greco has said the employee saw Brogan in the home and tried to call out to him, identifying himself in the process.

But Brogan disappeared, Greco said.

The prosecutor said Brogan soon came out of the home carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. The victim again identified himself.

Brogan said, I dont care who you are with and shot the worker, Greco said. The victim was struck in his chest and arm.

The resident later told police that he thought the worker was trying to break into his house, authorities said.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

Figueroa writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Hurricane Maria drove him from Puerto Rico -- and straight into the path of Hurricane Florence

Edwin Sanchez at a shelter in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

Hurricane Florence drove Edwin Sanchez, 33, from his apartment and job in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where hes a housekeeper for an oceanfront resort, to a shelter at an elementary school on Friday.

He moved here seven months ago after Hurricane Maria destroyed his home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his livelihood as a chef and bartender. The month before, Hurricane Irma drove his ex-wife to leave the island for Pennsylvania with their 10-year-old daughter, Jenniflyan.

He had called them the day before to say he was subject to mandatory evacuation and was at the shelter, which had already filled, 480 people hoping their homes would survive storm surge and inland flooding. More evacuees showed up Friday, and staff sent them to a handful of other nearby shelters, which were also rapidly filling.

PHOTOS: Hurricane Florence batters the Carolinas

Four local hospitals had evacuated, and some of the ill were being cared for by two nurses the American Red Cross had stationed at the school. School staff came to clean and cook three meals a day.

Evacuees were a mix of young families, immigrant workers and elderly couples with vacation homes.

At least were good, weve got a place to stay, food. There are many people outside whove got it worse, Sanchez said.

He tried to flee to a nearby shelter during Hurricane Maria, but it was full. He spent more than a month living on the streets of San Juan with just a backpack of possessions, begging for help from emergency officials at the convention center, at times wanting to die.

Nobody helped, he recalled, his gray-green eyes tearing. Finally, a staffing company on the mainland offered to pay his way to Myrtle Beach, and Sanchez decided to start a new life. He found an apartment close enough to walk to his job at Wyndham Ocean Boulevard and Shore Crest Vacation Villas.

As he sat in Palmetto Bay Elementary Schools outdoor walkway in sweats and flip flops, trying to keep his cigarette alive in waves of windblown rain, Sanchez reflected on the storms that drove him from his home and family. They also taught him to do without, to become resilient, to hope, he said. And because of that, when he looked at the rain pelting the schoolyard and surrounding forest of spindly pines, he saw not just impending destruction, but recovery.

Maybe I can help and get a little work, he said.
When Defense Secretary James N. Mattis declared last month that he had no plans to cancel future joint military exercises with South Korean forces, it brought him a very public rebuke from President Trump.

There is no reason at this time to be spending large amounts of money on joint U.S.-South Korea war games, Trump fired back the next day in a tweet he labeled Statement from the White House. He underscored that only the President could restart the exercises he had abruptly suspended after his June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The dispute highlighted Mattis precarious standing with Trump. The president once reveled in the 68-year-old retired Marine generals reputation as a battle-hardened warrior  calling him Mad Dog, to Mattis distress  but recently appears to have wearied of him.

Current and former Pentagon officials who have observed the relationship firsthand cite growing signs of discord that raise questions about how much longer Mattis, long seen as a steadying force in the Trump Cabinet, will remain at the Pentagon.

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More than specific policy disagreements, the growing estrangement stems from Trumps belief that Mattis is secretly dismissive of him and constantly trying to outmaneuver him, officials say.

He thinks Mattis isnt loyal in the way Trump wants all his people to be loyal  publicly, unquestioningly and completely, said a national security official who has observed the relationship and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic.

On the other side, associates say Mattis frustration at Trumps often impetuous style and penchant for blindsiding the Pentagon with major policy announcements could eventually prompt him to quit.

Once-frequent phone calls between the two after Trump took office last year have dwindled to occasional conversations. Policy clashes that once unfolded in private are increasingly surfacing publicly, often because Trump seems determined to send a message to Mattis that he is in charge.

They have been at odds over Trumps demand to bar transgender recruits from the military, his call to create a new armed service called the space force, his verbal attacks on NATO allies, his suggestions that he may cut U.S. troop levels in Europe and Asia, and the timetable for removing U.S. troops from Syria.

National security advisor John R. Boltons hard-line approach to Iran and other issues meshes better with Trumps disruptive instincts than Mattis often more strategic approach, according to the officials.

Asked Wednesday at the Pentagon to describe his relationship with Trump, Mattis replied, No problem. Its been the same all along.

Pressed on whether he intended to serve out the rest of Trumps first term, Mattis replied, This is not a day Im going to go further into politics, and shortly thereafter ended the questions.

Secretary Mattis is laser-focused on doing his job  ensuring the U.S. military remains the most lethal force on the planet, Pentagon Press Secretary Dana W. White said Friday. There is no daylight between the secretary and president when it comes to supporting our service members and their mission.

Journalist Bob Woodward wrote in a book released Tuesday that Mattis had told associates that Trump had a fifth- or sixth-grader understanding of the challenge on the Korean peninsula, and that Mattis once disregarded a presidential directive to assassinate Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Mattis described the account as fiction. In a rare public defense of Trump, he said in a statement that the contemptuous words about the President attributed to me in Woodwards book were never uttered by me or in my presence.

Trump responded that he was very happy with Mattis, and called his condemnation of the book the nicest quote about me I think Ive ever had.

But in private, Trump has started referring to Mattis as Moderate Dog, a mocking reference to the nickname that Mattis disdains and to his attempts to rein in White House ideas, according to Politico.

Mattis was never a seamless fit with Trump.

He rose to top Pentagon and North Atlantic Treaty Organization commands in the last two decades with a reputation as a fierce battlefield commander. He was also known for his colorful quips, such as his advice to Marines in Iraq to be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.

Mattis swagger initially enthralled Trump. The president pushed Congress for a far bigger military budget and granted the Pentagon greater leeway to carry out airstrikes and counter-terrorism raids in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa without prior approval from the White House.

Trump had campaigned on the idea of unleashing the military to quickly defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and to end the long-running war in Afghanistan. His ideas resonated with a Pentagon that often chafed under tight restrictions imposed by the Obama administration.

As a four-star general at U.S. Central Command from 2010 to 2013, Mattis had sometimes-tense relations with Obama aides over his proposals to keep military pressure on Iran. That led to fears at the White House of an inadvertent clash just as President Obama was starting to seek a diplomatic deal to block Tehran from building a nuclear bomb.

The Iran nuclear deal was completed in 2015, but Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing from it.

When Obama had Mattis replaced at Central Command several months before his normal rotation was up, he learned about the decision from the media  a snub he bitterly resented, former officials say.

But having returned to the Pentagon as a civilian, Mattis has more often been the voice of military restraint, not the hard-liner he was seen as under Obama.

When Trump vowed massive reprisals against Syria in April for its use of chemical agents against civilians, Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided a narrow target list that minimized the risk that Russian troops in Syria might be casualties of U.S. airstrikes, which could spark a wider war.

Mattis also has maneuvered Trump away from an abrupt withdrawal of the roughly 4,000 U.S. troops in eastern Syria.

He joined others on the national security team  Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and lately Bolton  in making an argument to Trump: If U.S. troops are pulled out too soon, Islamic State militants might recover and again threaten Iraq, strengthening Iran.

But Mattis has had to absorb Trumps frustration at the lack of quick, highly visible military victories.

The tensions have taken a toll on Mattis relationship with Trump, some current and former officials say.

The Pentagon chiefs refusal to air differences with the White House in public has kept him mostly out of the crosshairs in Trumps tweets. But his aversion to lavishing praise on Trump publicly the way other Cabinet members have has not gone unnoticed.

Mattis is certainly operating on the less-is-more strategy when it comes to the White House, said Derek Chollet, a senior official in the Obama administration who worked with Mattis. Its not surprising that to some extent he is losing altitude.

Trump is fighting back against the Pentagons practice of slow-rolling or even ignoring White House ideas it opposes. Instead of fuming in private, Trump has staged public events aimed at forcing the Pentagon to get in line.

He did so last month at the Pentagon, where Vice President Mike Pence outlined the White House plan for creation of a space force, forcing Mattis, who had previously questioned the idea of a separate armed service for outer space, to backtrack.

I was not against setting up a space force, Mattis told reporters later. What I was against is rushing to do that before we define those problems.

Most of the Pentagon was blindsided when Trump abruptly announced, after meeting Kim in Singapore on June 12, that he was halting long-planned, large-scale military exercises with South Korea. Mattis knew Trump was considering the idea but had no advance warning he would do it, officials said.

At the Pentagon, officials again sought to contain the damage. They formally canceled only pending exercises, not those scheduled for next year, and emphasized that unit-level training was unaffected.

Previous presidents have temporarily suspended exercises as part of diplomatic outreach to North Korea. But for Mattis, the decision directly challenged one of his most deeply held beliefs  that American troops must be ready to fight at all times.

Privately, senior officials warned that the readiness of U.S. forces would be harmed if exercises do not resume by next spring, when a new U.S. commander and new military personnel will have rotated in to South Korea.

Even after Trumps reminder that the president would decide whether to resume exercises, Mattis didnt entirely back down. He issued his own pointed statement, repeating that no decisions have been made about suspending any future exercises.

david.cloud@latimes.com

Twitter: @davidcloudLAT

UPDATES:

3:10 p.m.: This article was updated with response from the Pentagon.

This article was originally published at 12:54 p.m.
Investigators worked Friday to pinpoint the cause of a series of dramatic natural gas explosions that killed a young man who had just gotten his drivers license and was sitting in his car, injured at least 25 others and left dozens of homes in smoldering ruins.

Authorities said an estimated 8,000 people were displaced at the height of Thursdays post-explosion chaos in three towns north of Boston that were rocked by the disaster. Most were still waiting  shaken and exhausted  to be allowed to return to their homes.

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to help investigate, saying pipelines are within its jurisdiction.

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions that one official described as Armageddon ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity.

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Gas and electricity remained shut off Friday in most of the area, and entire neighborhoods were eerily deserted.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital and pronounced dead there Thursday evening.

Rondon, a musician who went by the name DJ Blaze, had just gotten his drivers license, grieving friends and relatives told the Boston Globe. Its crazy how this happened, said a friend, Cassandra Carrion.

The state Registry of Motor Vehicles said Rondon had been issued his drivers license earlier Thursday.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in the three communities to evacuate. Some 400 people spent the night in shelters, and school was canceled Friday as families waited to return to their homes.

Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities were investigating, but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

John Fluegge said he came home Thursday to find a note on the door of his apartment building saying everyone had to leave. A police officer directed him to North Andovers high school, where he slept on a cot.

Fuegge, 58, called the situation confusing more than frightening.

You dont know if your house is going to go up or your apartment, he said. It happened all of a sudden, no one knew how it started and everything.

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

It looked like Armageddon, it really did, said Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized, but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was taking place there Thursday.
A series of gas explosions one official described as Armageddon killed a teenager, injured at least 10 people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died Thursday after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover serviced by Columbia Gas to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

It looked like Armageddon  it really did, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

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Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities were investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

This is still very much an active scene, he said. There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why.

(Los Angeles Times)

Early Friday, the utility issued a statement saying its crews need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection.

Additional support is being provided by crews from several affiliated Columbia Gas companies and other utilities, the statement said. We expect this will be an extended restoration effort, and we will work tirelessly to restore service to the affected customers.

Baker previously said authorities hadnt heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the companys response adequate.

By late Thursday, all the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and power companies cut electricity to prevent further blazes. Schools in all three communities were canceled for Friday; some were being used as shelters for residents.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the citys high school trying to decide what to do next.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch-black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw that the house two doors down had been leveled by an explosion.

I couldnt imagine if that was my house, said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. Its total destruction. Id be completely devastated.

With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said hed head to his mothers home a few towns over for the night.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire said he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam said he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said, he heard a loud boom from his neighbors house and the ground shook. He said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but its basement was on fire.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia Gas had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Some local officials reached by phone described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering whether their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town Selectman Phil DeCologero said his entire neighborhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

Its definitely a scary situation at the moment, he said. Its pretty severe.

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to have been torn apart by blasts. The top of a brick chimney on one house had crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante was warning residents in Colonial Heights to evacuate, but he said traffic had become a problem.

People need to get out of this area safely, he said at the time. Its really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there were so many fires you cant even see the sky.

The three communities, which have more than 146,000 residents total, are about 26 miles north of Boston, near the New Hampshire state line. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority-Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

Lawrence is a very resilient community. Were going to get through this together, Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.

Gas explosions have claimed lives and destroyed property around the U.S. in recent years.

A buildup of natural gas triggered an explosion and fire that killed seven people in apartments in Silver Spring, Md., in 2016.

In 2014, a gas explosion in New York Citys East Harlem neighborhood killed eight people and injured about 50. Consolidated Edison later agreed to pay $153 million to settle charges after the states Public Service Commission found Con Ed violated state safety regulations. A gas leak had been reported before that blast.

A 2011 natural gas explosion killed five people in Allentown, Pa., and that states largest gas utility was fined by regulators, who called the companys safety record downright alarming.

UPDATES:

6:40 a.m. Sept. 14: This article was updated with news of the death of a teenager and the utilitys statement.

9 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details throughout.

This article was originally published at 4:55 p.m. Sept. 13.
Californians have been lucky over the past two decades that a number of tough-minded, dedicated and creative people have served as state treasurer, from Phil Angelides to Bill Lockyer to, most recently, John Chiang (who opted to run for governor this year instead of seeking reelection). They worked with Govs. Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown to help guide the state through the energy crisis at the beginning of the millennium, a serious budget shortfall in 2002 and, of course, the devastating 2008-2009 recession. This is a big and important job, and we believe Democrat Fiona Ma is best suited to take it on.

Ma currently sits on the Board of Equalization. She served as member of the state Assembly from 2006-2012, where she was speaker pro tempore under Speaker John Perez, and, before that, was on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her background is in accounting  shes a CPA who worked for Ernst & Young before starting her own accounting practice in San Francisco. As a member of the Board of Equalization, she (along with Controller Betty Yee) was instrumental in sparking an investigation into a scandal involving nepotism and improper use of civil servants for political purposes by her fellow board members. The scrutiny culminated in a 2017 law that stripped the Board of Equalization of nearly all of its duties and staff, leaving it with only the core duties required under the state Constitution. Ma also has joined the call for a voter initiative to disband the outdated board entirely, a perfectly fine idea.

Ma is clear-eyed about the states financial condition and its investment needs.

So what does the treasurer do? The job is essentially to serve as the manager of the states financial assets. A common comparison is that the state treasurer watches after the governments savings account while the state controller is in charge of its checkbook. Among other things, the treasurer manages the states Pooled Money Investment Account which invests state, local and agency money to stabilize cash flow, and sits on a wide range of boards and commissions, including those overseeing the states two largest public pensions funds.

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Mas opponent, Greg Conlon, is a retired CPA who spent most of his career at the Arthur Anderson accounting firm, which no longer exists. He sat on the Public Utilities Commission, including a stint as chairman, during Gov. Pete Wilsons administration, a time when the PUC was less consumer friendly than it ought to have been. This is Conlons third try for the treasurers job, and he has never exceeded 40% of the vote in those attempts. He also ran in the 2016 primary to replace Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate but received only 3% of the vote. California voters have had plenty of chances to elect him and have persistently opted not to.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Ma wants to offer closer guidance to local governments on their investments. She also suggests scheduling outreach workshops around the state to help local governments and members of the public understand some of the states less-known financial programs, including the ScholarShare 529 college savings plan, and state grants and tax credits. She intends to work closely with the Legislature to ensure that its members know the states financial condition as they consider legislation (Chiang has had a rocky relationship with the Legislature since he withheld legislators pay during a budget dispute), and will follow Chiangs relatively conservative investing approach. She supports greater transparency about the states finances, including a website tracking the states investment health.

As part of the Democratic Party establishment, Ma will need to maintain independence and distance to properly look out for the states fiscal stability. Were persuaded that shell be able to do that even as she works closely with Yee  presuming Yee wins reelection  to oversee public money. She has floated the intriguing idea of releasing her own recommendations for the annual budget to offer guidance to both the executive and legislative branches as they negotiate spending plans. She also intends to press the state and local governments to increase payments to the pension funds to try to reduce unfunded liabilities. Ma is clear-eyed about the states financial condition and its investment needs, and were confident that she would continue the policies that have done well for California taxpayers.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Talk about an unhappy anniversary. Ten years ago Saturday, one of the countrys most influential Wall Street firms  the investment banking giant Lehman Bros.  declared bankruptcy, triggering a collapse in credit markets that tanked not just the U.S. economy, but those throughout the industrialized world. The result here was the deepest recession in eight decades, one whose effects are still felt by many Americans today.

Some people argue that federal regulators could have found a way to keep Lehman alive. But even if they had, the problems caused by toxic housing-finance investments  subprime loans that were packaged and repackaged into securities of increasingly dubious and obscure value, along with derivative securities and vital short-term financing arrangements pegged to those packages  were large and metastasizing. The credit markets were bound to crumble eventually.

Plus, its worth remembering that public sentiment at the time was running strongly against the federal government bailing out Lehman the way it had rescued Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier that year. The Times editorial board was among the voices praising the decision to let Lehman go under, writing the day after the filing: The hands-off response sent the market a badly needed signal that mortgage brokers and lenders wouldnt be the only big losers in the downturn. [T]he bailouts of Bear Stearns, Fannie and Freddie only reinforced the notion that big financial firms would be spared the consequences of the ensuing meltdown because they were just too big to fail.

The importance of political will is one of the biggest lessons from the decision to let Lehman fail, but its the hardest one to learn.

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But Wall Street needed more than a signal. First, it needed an influx of capital to contain the damage and prevent the country from sinking into depression. That help came largely from the Federal Reserve.

Next, it needed new financial incentives that would deter companies in the future from becoming too big to fail and from gambling with government-insured deposits. It needed more transparency to help measure investment risk. It needed regulators with a new focus on the financial system in its entirety, along with new tools to help stop problems from spreading among deeply interconnected companies.

The Dodd-Frank financial reform law in 2010 provided all that and more  too much more, in some respects. And there remains a risk that, in seeking to roll back some of the overreaction, lawmakers will leave the industry underregulated again.

So far, however, the most important new pieces of Dodd-Frank remain in place. Mortgage lenders now have a strong incentive not to make loans that a borrower probably cant repay  a near 180-degree shift from the reckless lending of the housing bubble. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides at least some protection against predatory lenders. Regulators have new powers to liquidate big firms in an orderly way, reducing the need to bail them out. Its up to the administration to use these powers appropriately, and the Trump administrations actions so far havent instilled much confidence on that front (see, for example, how it has handicapped the CFPB).

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Still, just as every big financial crash has taught different lessons, so too have they typically been set off by different forces. Thats why its a mistake to keep looking in the rearview mirror for clues to the next big downturn  and why its so hard for regulators to identify potentially ruinous practices or asset bubbles until after the damage has been done.

Nevertheless, the last recession may well play a role in the next one.

The U.S. economy has grown steadily since the downturn, with low unemployment finally starting to boost wages. But the gains made during the recovery, like much of the growth in the 21st century, have flowed disproportionately to the wealthiest Americans. Making matters worse from the publics point of view, no top executives at Wall Street firms were prosecuted for their role in weaponizing mortgages against unsophisticated consumers. Thats why the steps that the Fed and the Treasury took to revive the credit markets before and after the Lehman bankruptcy continue to rankle much of the country.

As unpopular as those interventions may be, we would be in much worse shape today if Washington had done nothing. But in the face of an even bigger backlash today, would the Trump administration and Congress have the fortitude to take necessary but politically poisonous steps to avert a depression? The importance of political will is one of the biggest lessons from the decision to let Lehman fail, but its the hardest one to learn.

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This week marked 10 years since the harrowing descent into the financial crisis  when the huge investment bank Lehman Bros. went into bankruptcy, with the countrys largest insurer, AIG, about to follow. No one was sure which financial institution might be next to fall.

The banking system started to freeze up. Banks typically extend short-term credit to one another for a few hundredths of a percentage point more than the cost of borrowing from the federal government. This gap exploded to 4 or 5 percentage points after Lehman collapsed. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke  along with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Bank of New York President Timothy Geithner  rushed to Congress to get $700 billion to bail out the banks. If we dont do this today we wont have an economy on Monday, is the line famously attributed to Bernanke.

The trio argued to lawmakers that without the bailout, the United States faced a catastrophic collapse of the financial system and a second Great Depression.

Neither part of that story was true.

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Still, news reports on the crisis raised the prospect of empty ATMs and checks uncashed. There were stories in major media outlets about the bank runs of 1929.

No such scenario was in the cards in 2008. Unlike 1929, we have the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC was created precisely to prevent the sort of bank runs that were common during the Great Depression and earlier financial panics. The FDIC is very good at taking over a failed bank to ensure that checks are honored and ATMs keep working. In fact, the FDIC took over several major banks and many minor ones during the Great Recession. Business carried on as normal and most customers  unless they were following the news closely  remained unaware.

The prospect of Great Depression-style joblessness and bread lines was just a scare tactic used by Bernanke, Paulson and other proponents of the bailout.

Had bank collapses been more widespread, stretching the FDIC staff thin, it is certainly possible that there would be glitches. This could have led to some inability to access bank accounts immediately, but that inconvenience would most likely have lasted days, not weeks or months.

Following the collapse of Lehman Bros., however, the trio promoting the bank bailout pointed to a specific panic point: the commercial paper market. Commercial paper is short-term debt (30 to 90 days) that companies typically use to finance their operations. Without being able to borrow in this market even healthy companies not directly affected by the financial crisis such as Boeing or Verizon would have been unable to meet their payroll or pay their suppliers. That really would have been a disaster for the economy.

However, a $700-billion bank bailout wasnt required to restore the commercial paper market. The country discovered this fact the weekend after Congress approved the bailout when the Fed announced a special lending facility to buy commercial paper ensuring the availability of credit for businesses.

Without the bailout, yes, bank failures would have been more widespread and the initial downturn in 2008 and 2009 would have been worse. We were losing 700,000 jobs a month following the collapse of Lehman. Perhaps this would have been 800,000 or 900,000 a month. That is a very bad story, but still not the makings of an unavoidable depression with a decade of double-digit unemployment.

The Great Depression ended because of the massive government spending needed to fight World War II. But we dont need a war to spend money. If the private sector is not creating enough demand for workers, the government can fill the gap by spending money on infrastructure, education, healthcare, child care or many other needs.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

There is no plausible story where a series of bank collapses in 2008-2009 would have prevented the federal government from spending the money needed to restore full employment. The prospect of Great Depression-style joblessness and bread lines was just a scare tactic used by Bernanke, Paulson and other proponents of the bailout to get the political support needed to save the Wall Street banks.

This kept the bloated financial structure that had developed over the last three decades in place. And it allowed the bankers who got rich off of the risky financial practices that led to the crisis to avoid the consequences of their actions.

While an orderly transition would have been best, if the market had been allowed to work its magic, we could have quickly eliminated bloat in the financial sector and sent the unscrupulous Wall Street banks into the dust bin of history. Instead, millions of Americans still suffered through the Great Recession, losing homes and jobs, and the big banks are bigger than ever. Saving the banks became the priority of the president and Congress. Saving peoples homes and jobs mattered much less or not at all.

Dean Baker is senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the author of Rigged: How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer.

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A week ago, the Los Angeles City Council adjourned in honor of Joe, a 56-year-old man who died in late August after spending five months living in a tent in Koreatown, near the apartment he had been evicted from earlier this year. It was a somber moment  a moment of recognition for one of the hundreds of people who die on the streets while homeless every year.

It was also a recognition that L.A.s progress toward building housing had come too late for Joe, and that it would be too late for far too many others. But what was missing was an acknowledgement that, in the same chambers where Joes life was honored, the City Council has repeatedly passed laws that made Joe a criminal because he had no place to go other than the street.

I met Joe at a presentation I did in Koreatown on the criminalization of homelessness. He told the gathering about his experiences with the Los Angeles Police Department. He had lost all of his belongings in one of the countless sweeps of homeless encampments that take place every day in L.A. He just didnt see a posted notice announcing the cleanup. He left his property for the morning, and when he came back, it had been thrown away.

The reality is that people will be living in tents on our streets for years to come.

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In the weeks before he died, Joe was caught up in more than one of these sweeps. The city justifies its actions in part by pointing out that people who are homeless are breaking the law. And they are right. Every day Joe lived on the streets of Los Angeles, he was breaking any number of laws that criminalize homelessness.

When I visited Joe in Koreatown, he was in violation of city ordinances at least five times over. His makeshift shelter, which replaced the tent that had been taken by LA Sanitation the month before, was unlawfully tied to a nearby tree. It was impermissibly up during the day, to provide some relief from the 90-degree heat. He had a cart to carry his belongings  a forbidden bulky item and it looked like he had more than would fit in a 60-gallon trash can, the amount allowed by law.

Each of these actions is prohibited by Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.11. And as we sat on the sidewalk and talked about his experiences, we were both in violation of Municipal Code Section 41.18(d), which outlaws sitting, sleeping and lying on the sidewalk.

Joe had set himself up within a short distance of the citys proposed Koreatown bridge housing shelter for the homeless. As he honored Joe last week, Council President Herb Wesson told the crowd at the City Council meeting that had Joe survived, he would have been one of the first to get a bed in the shelter, which is part of the mayors attempt  a program called A Bridge Home  to put up a new temporary shelter in every council district.

I dont know if Joe would have been one of the few people admitted to the new Koreatown shelter. I do know the mayor is also promising increased enforcement of laws like Municipal Code 56.11 and 41.18(d) around the bridge shelters, to placate neighbors who oppose them. So if Joe had not gotten a bed, he likely would have been subjected to that increased enforcement: weekly sweeps and daily harassment intended to drive him from the neighborhood where he had lived for more than a decade and where he had a support system.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

I was in the City Council Chambers in 2015 and 2016 when the ordinance that limits the amount of property the homeless can have was debated and passed, and when dwelling was prohibited in vehicles on most L.A. streets. The council members discussions focused almost solely on addressing the visible signs of homelessness  tents, sleeping bags, cars  rather than the needs and lived experiences of the people whose existence they were about to regulate. For every encampment swept away or car towed based on those ordinances, there is a person who relied on that tent or car to survive.

Over the past few years, L.A.s elected officials have finally begun to acknowledge that people are homeless because of decades of failed policies, because the city is plagued by an affordable housing crisis, because there are simply not enough homes here for the nearly 23,000 people who are unsheltered every night. A Bridge Home opened its first shelter, at El Pueblo, three days after the City Council recognized Joes death. If every bed proposed for the program were available tomorrow, there would still be more than 20,000 too few beds to accommodate every homeless person in L.A.The reality is that people will be living in tents on our streets for years to come.

It does not honor Joe for the City Council to, on the one hand, recognize his death  and how the city failed him  and, on the other, to continue to invest in policing and sanitation strategies that treat encampments like trash and punish people simply for being homeless.

Shayla R. Myers is an attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.

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A baby finless porpoise and its mother.

The second artificially bred finless porpoise F7C celebrated its first 100 days on Sept. 10, at a research hydrobiology institute in central Chinas Wuhan, xinhuanet.com reported on Tuesday.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is now the only freshwater dolphin in the Yangtze River, after the worlds last known captive Yangtze River dolphin Qiqi died in 2002, leading experts to conclude the extinction of the species.

Fishermen caught Qiqi in 1980, after which the dolphin spent more than two decades in an artificial breeding program under the Institute of Hydrobiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, leaving a wealth of information for dolphin research and protection.

Early in 1986, there were fewer than 300 Yangtze River dolphins on earth, making it a critically endangered species. They were assumed functionally extinct until 2006 when large-scale scientific research found no traces of the rare species.

From 1986, scientists from the Institute kept proposing a protection strategy that combined in-situ and ex-situ conservation and artificial breeding.

Associate researcher Hao Yujiang said that the original research undertaken on the Yangtze River dolphin provided a basis for advanced porpoise protection.

Now, the population of endangered finless porpoises living in the wild has reached 1,012, according to the latest 2017 survey data, achieving the short-term goal of curbing rapid species decline.

The researchers said that protecting finless porpoises from the same fate as the Yangtze River dolphin remains their ultimate goal.
To the editor: As a one-time employee of a state regulatory agency and a lawyer for nearly 40 years, I am appalled by the inconsistent explanations by our attorney generals office and the apparent lack of accountability of our California Coastal Commission members for improper and undisclosed ex parte communications with wealthy coastal property owners and developers.

How the attorney generals office can say it is defending the commissioners individually for actions taken in their official capacity, then pin the blame on the commission and not the commissioners who were found guilty of these improper contacts, and then seek legal fees against the watchdog group that was protecting the publics interest, is beyond understanding.

Whether I ever cast another vote for Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra will depend entirely on whether he is able to sort this mess out and remember that the public is his client, not wealthy coastal developers.

Gordon J. Louttit, Manhattan Beach

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To the editor: The two commissioners who are still serving should resign for their unethical conduct, and all five of the current and former commissioners who must pay fines should also have to pay the legal fees of the organization that sued them in the publics interest. Taxpayers should not have to cover these costs.

When I called Becerras office months ago about this case, I was told it does not discuss pending litigation. It was a terrible response, and I told them so. Now, I am disappointed that the attorney generals office is is pursuing an appeal.

I like Becerra and have voted for him many times, but I am not going to vote to reelect him in November. If the actions of his office make taxpayers responsible for covering the legal fees in question, how is that any better than whats happening in Washington?

Loren Mark, Los Angeles

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Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom  then mayor of San Francisco  contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook

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Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook

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California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook

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Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook

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Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook

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New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook

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California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook

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Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook

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State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California  the fifth-largest economy in the world  having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook

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California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American  workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors  so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook

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California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts  the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure  its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook

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Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe  they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities  to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook

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Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook

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Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin  young, vibrant  taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of

Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ  Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook

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As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion  a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave  from six weeks to six months  according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook

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Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion  along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit  and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook

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Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook

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Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook

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California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook

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Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook

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Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook

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California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year  the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes  and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook

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How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook

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Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan  $1.5 billion  would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years  a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus  those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California  especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook

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A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules  business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook

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Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession  more than 100 cases  longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook

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Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook

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Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page  they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook

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Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history  a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook

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California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen. Facebook

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California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook

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California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law  and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook

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Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law  if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court  will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook

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Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook

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Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook

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Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election  mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook

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New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken  thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook

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Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly  the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook

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For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook

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Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook

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Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously
Senate Republicans said Friday that an allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of improper behavior during his high school years wont deter his confirmation from moving forward.

Republicans continued to question why the allegation came to light days after his lengthy, often testy public confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. They circulated a letter signed by 65 women who knew Kavanaugh in high school attesting that he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect.

After vague details of the allegation circulated in Washington this week, the New Yorker published a fuller account on Friday morning. It reported that a woman who has declined to go public has alleged that while he was a student at Georgetown Preparatory High School in Bethesda, Md., just outside Washington, and she was also in high school, Kavanaugh held her down at a party and attempted to force himself on her.

Kavanaugh denied the incident in a statement distributed by the White House.

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I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time, he said.

The allegation  and how Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) handled it since she received the womans account and turned it over to the FBI  has further inflamed the already high tensions surrounding President Trumps nominee.

So far, the allegation appears unlikely to derail Kavanaughs confirmation by the Republican-controlled Senate. Democrats have been more focused in recent days on pressing their complaint that Kavanaugh has repeatedly misled the Senate, under oath, about his role in the George W. Bush administration in several controversies.

The test, however, will be whether the accusation influences the votes of the two most moderate Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

They are considered to be swing votes given their support for abortion rights, an issue that opponents have put at the center of their campaign to prevent Kavanaughs confirmation. Both senators have faced a barrage of calls and advertisements against Kavanaugh in their respective states; Collins has even reported threats.

On Friday, Collins held an hourlong phone call with Kavanaugh, a conversation that was planned before the allegation became public. Her office declined to reveal what was discussed.

Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday referred the allegation to federal law enforcement officials. She refused to share the details of the letter with other senators on the panel, to their frustration, citing the accusers request for confidentiality. Committee Democrats largely declined to talk about the letter or the debate about it within their party.

Republicans suggested Democrats had been pushing Feinstein to make the issue public. They also questioned why the allegation surfaced after the confirmation hearing and after Democrats had an opportunity to question Kavanaugh in a closed-door committee session designed to address the nominees standard background investigation.

Feinstein did not attend the session because she wasnt feeling well, according to her spokesman. She took the allegation seriously and believed it should be public, he added, but the woman in question made it clear she did not want this information to be public.

It is critical in matters of sexual misconduct to protect the identity of the victim when they wish to remain anonymous, and the senator did so in this case, said the aide, who declined to be identified speaking about the controversy.

Republicans denounced the allegation and the attempt to make it public.

I do not intend to allow Judge Kavanaughs confirmation to be stalled because of an 11th-hour accusation that Democrats did not see fit to raise for over a month, said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, a senior member of the committee.

Referring to Feinstein, he said, The senator in the best position to determine the credibility of these accusations made the conscious decision not to take action on them, and the authorities to whom the accusations have been referred have decided not to take action either.

In a year in which Feinstein is facing reelection in California, her rival  a fellow Democrat from the partys progressive wing, Kevin de Leon  seized on the issue to criticize her leadership.

The American people deserve to know why the Ranking Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee waited nearly three months to hand this disqualifying document over to the federal authorities and why Sen. Feinstein politely pantomimed her way through last weeks hearing without a single question about the content of Kavanaughs character, De Leon said in a statement.

The latest from Washington 

jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com

@jenhab
Early in his remarkable rise, some people saw President Trumps Twitter rampages as evidence of political mastery  a carefully planned strategy of distraction.

This weeks tweet denying the hurricane death toll in Puerto Rico made clear how wrong that view is. Trumps tweets dont stem from careful strategy, he just cant help himself. He often says things that hurt his position more than they help.

The tweets about Puerto Rico came just hours after good economic news that another White House might have focused on for days. The incident highlighted several weeks of bad political news for the GOP as crucial midterm elections approach.

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THE STORM

Trumps tweet denied the now-official death toll of nearly 3,000 people from the hurricanes that swept over Puerto Rico last year, insisting that only 6 to 18 deaths were recorded.

In keeping with his penchant for conspiracy theories, the president blamed the higher numbers on Democrats acting to make me look as bad as possible.

In fact, Puerto Ricos government, headed by a governor who is allied with Republicans, commissioned a study by George Washington University public health experts who pegged the death toll at roughly 2,975, which is now the official number.

Trumps words caused widespread outrage in all the usual quarters, but as Noah Bierman and Paloma Esquivel wrote, the political impact was especially focused in one place  Florida.

Florida voters could decide control of the Senate in just over seven weeks: The race between Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson and Rick Scott, the states Republican governor who is seeking the Senate seat, is among the closest in the country.

Both parties have been courting the large number of Puerto Ricans who have settled in the state, especially in the Orlando area.

So while most Republican officials in Washington avoided comment on Trumps remarks, Scott expressly disavowed them.

I disagree with@POTUS  an independent study said thousands were lost, he tweeted.

THE WARMING CLIMATE

As the global climate gets warmer, extreme weather becomes more common. That includes powerful hurricanes like Maria, which hit Puerto Rico, and Florence, which is currently battering the Carolinas.

Trump in the past has taken multiple positions on climate change. But since becoming a presidential candidate, he has adopted the position of his partys right wing  calling global warming a hoax designed to justify increased environmental regulation.

By coincidence, just as he plunged into new controversy over the toll of powerful storms, his political opposite in California, Gov. Jerry Brown, was hosting an international conference aimed at combating climate change.

As Evan Halper wrote, the central question for the conference was how far California and its allies can push the nation  and the world  despite the federal governments current indifference.

The point is to get people to think about doing more, and then to join with others who have gone through that process and, through that encounter with others, to up the general commitment of the world, Brown said in an interview.

As the climate summit got underway in San Francisco, one deadline overshadowed all the others  the states timetable for phasing out the internal combustion engine, Halper wrote.

But the effort to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that cause global warming will have an impact on nearly all major industries.

That includes agriculture, and since the meeting was in San Francisco, it was inevitable that the citys socially conscious food mavens would get in on the action, as well.

Can climate-friendly cuisine help save the planet? It could help more than you might expect.

THE POLITICAL STORM

The past few weeks have brought a steady stream of bad news for Republicans, much of which involved the chaos surrounding Trump.

Vice President Mike Pence, for example, over the weekend felt he needed to deny a claim in a new book by Bob Woodward that Cabinet members had talked of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.

As Halper wrote from Philadelphia, GOP candidates in close races have adopted divergent strategies for dealing with the president and his controversies. Especially in suburban districts where Trump is unpopular, Republican incumbents are torn over whether to run with Trump  or from him.

Democratic candidates, meantime, are embracing help from Trumps predecessor. President Obama hit the campaign trail in California over the weekend and implored Californians to rise up against what he called the anger and division of Trump and the GOP, Michael Finnegan and Christine Mai-Duc wrote.

The state features a half-dozen highly competitive congressional districts this year. As Mark Barabak wrote, thats at least partly the result of California voters decision to adopt a non-partisan redistricting system. Unlike many political reforms, that one has largely performed as advertised, leading to more contested congressional races in the state.

THE PORN STAR

Trump has often threatened litigation to try to silence critics, although his threats have often proved hollow.

In February, his lawyers tried to bring an arbitration action against Stormy Daniels, the porn actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, accusing her of violating a non-disclosure agreement relating to her claims that she and Trump had an affair.

Now, as Michael Finnegan wrote, Trump has backed down, waiving millions of dollars in claims as he tries to fend off a suit pushed by Daniels lawyer, Michael Avenatti.

Having trouble keeping track of all the players in the Trump-Stormy Daniels saga? Finnegan and Barabak have this summary of what a porn star, a combative lawyer and a reality-TV contestant all have in common.

KAVANAUGH CONTROVERSY

Sen. Dianne Feinstein has asked the FBI to review a letter involving Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

As Jennifer Haberkorn wrote, that request, which Feinstein confirmed publicly on Thursday, is the latest twist in Kavanaughs bumpy road toward the high court.

The letter reportedly involves an incident when Kavanaugh was in high school, and its not at all clear that it will have any impact on his nomination. But its generated considerable controversy in the Senate.

Republicans have accused Democrats of engaging in a smear campaign against the nominee. Some Democrats, meantime, have been frustrated that Feinstein did not make more of a public issue of the letter.

Nearly all senators have announced their positions on the nomination, but a crucial handful have not yet declared themselves: Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

Kavanaugh needs the support of at least one of those five, plus the rest of the Republicans in the Senate, to gain confirmation. A vote is likely by the end of the month.

TARIFFS, E-CIGS and NORTH KOREA

The economy hasnt felt much impact from Trumps widening trade war, but many U.S. firms at home and in China are feeling pain from tariffs, Don Lee wrote. The problems those firms have started to face  rising prices and disruptions in their supply chains  could be an indicator of broader trouble ahead, some economists say.

The Food and Drug Administration has threatened to get tough on e-cigarette makers, Melissa Healy wrote. In a speech, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb warned against an epidemic of nicotine addiction and said the regulatory agency would conduct a sustained campaign to monitor, penalize and prevent e-cigarette sales in convenience stores and other retail sites to minors.

Congress is once again racing to avert a government shutdown, Haberkorn wrote. This year, however, they may actually achieve their goal.

But as Sarah Wire wrote, lawmakers seem likely to miss a deadline to reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act. Letting the law lapse would be politically risky for Republicans in tight congressional races, and they are putting pressure on the GOP leadership to negotiate a deal with Democrats.

The State Department ordered Palestinians to close their Washington office in the latest sign of the administrations frustration over stalled peace talks, Tracy Wilkinson wrote.

Meantime, Eli Stokols wrote, despite all the evidence that North Korea has done little, if anything, to move toward ending its nuclear weapons program, Trump is claiming progress and is planning a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

LOGISTICS

That wraps up this week. Until next time, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics.

Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

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David.lauter@latimes.com

@davidlauter
Paul Manaforts agreement to plead guilty and cooperate with the special counsel marks a milestone in the investigation led by Robert S. Mueller III. Here are several key elements:

Mueller knows more than we do

The public doesnt know what Manafort has agreed to tell the special counsels investigators. The White House may not know, either. But Mueller and his prosecutors have a pretty clear idea.

Before accepting a plea agreement, prosecutors typically receive whats known as a proffer  a statement by defense lawyers summarizing what their client can deliver. Prosecutors in Manaforts case have not given specifics about what hes agreed to tell them, but they did confirm that his lawyers gave the special counsel a proffer.

President Trumps lawyers may have some indication of what Manafort could say. For months, they had a joint defense agreement with Manafort  a common tactic in white-collar criminal cases that allows defense teams to share information.

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It would be unusual, however, for Manaforts lawyers to have told Trumps lawyers everything they were sharing with prosecutors.

Manafort is in position to know a lot

Trump likes to say that Manafort worked for him for only a short period. Thats true, but the period in which he served as campaign chairman, from mid-May through mid-August 2016, were key weeks for any investigation into whether Trump campaign figures colluded with Russian efforts to sway the presidential election.

Manafort was present for the meeting at Trump Tower in June 2016 that Donald Trump Jr. held with a Russian lawyer who, he was told, would provide dirt on Hillary Clinton.

His time at the campaign also overlapped with the first release by WikiLeaks of emails and other information taken from Democratic National Committee computers. Mueller has charged Russian intelligence agents with stealing that information.

Manaforts cooperation with Mueller limits the chance of a pardon

Trump has suggested that he would consider pardoning Manafort, and he still could. But those hints all came before Manafort agreed to cooperate.

After Manafort was convicted last month in federal court in Alexandria, Va., the president praised him for refusing to cooperate with Mueller. Prosecutors applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break  make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man! Trump wrote.

That respect likely has now waned.

Moreover, Trump has little incentive to pardon Manafort once hes already begun to cooperate.

Even before his sentencing, Manafort is losing a lot

Manafort could face roughly 10 years in prison, although his lawyers likely will argue for less.

But in addition to that eventual sentence, he has agreed as part of the plea deal to give up five properties in New York worth millions of dollars, including his apartment in Trump Tower, and several bank accounts. Prosecutors say all that property was tainted by his illegal activities.

Mueller is compiling a long list of victories

Although Trump frequently refers to the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt, the special counsel has now won convictions of or secured guilty pleas from six defendants, including Trumps campaign chairman, his deputy campaign chair and his first national security advisor.

A seventh defendant, Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to charges brought by federal prosecutors in Manhattan who were acting on a case that Mueller referred to them.

Get the latest news from the nations capital on Essential Washington >> 

David.Lauter@latimes.com

For more on Politics and Policy, follow me @DavidLauter
It was equal parts theater, venting session and business meeting where stuff got done.

At Gov. Jerry Browns climate summit Thursday, there were no sweeping agreements struck as there were in Paris in 2015. Statements of defiance against Washington and boasts of progress made so far overshadowed actual new commitments. Protesters shouted from the outside  and the inside  that the state, city and business leaders assembled from around the globe are not confronting the climate problem aggressively enough.

But still, there was forward momentum. Alliances were born, goals were set, and notable and influential new leaders showed up to join the coalition of governments and companies determined to carry the world toward meeting the Paris agreement President Trump has disavowed.

That was enough for organizers to declare the day a success. By the time the conference ends Friday, they can argue they have succeeded in getting the figurative boulder a few feet farther up a mountain Brown likes to compare to Mt. Everest.

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If you have any kind of a meeting that is big enough to create a social and political splash, you end up with the question of did it accomplish enough, said Jonathan Pershing, who was U.S. special climate envoy during the Obama administration. The myriad incremental measures put on the table in San Francisco, he said, will add up.

The largest manufacturer of tractors in the world, an Indian company, vowed to cut its emissions consistent with the Paris goals. An Australian state snubbed the countrys leader by committing to phase out coal. Virginia joined the group of U.S. states aggressively defying the federal government by placing new restrictions on methane emissions.

There are things that are happening that werent happening before, and some of them are a big deal, Pershing said. We now have a group of big tech companies refusing to go into places that wont give them 100% renewable power. That leaves places like Ohio grappling with how to get more renewable power because they want the business. That is a big deal.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloombergs group unveiled a new study mapping out the path for cities, states and businesses committed to carrying the U.S. to the Paris goals, pushing for progress on pledges to more reliably be accounted.

But the policies were often less of a highlight than the political positioning and drama around them.

Actor Harrison Ford drew cheers as he demanded voters stop giving power to people who dont believe in science. Or worse than that, pretend they dont believe in science for their own self-interest. He ended on a line the crowd assembled at San Franciscos Moscone Center adored: Lets roll up our sleeves and kick this monsters ass.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee seemed to be on an audition for the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. We have given people what they need in a dark time, he said of the alliance of governors pushing to meet the Paris goals.

Bloomberg, who was twice elected mayor of New York as a Republican before becoming an independent, announced that he will be putting his vast fortune behind electing Democrats to Congress.

Brown was Brown, in vintage form at an event where he was undeniably the biggest star.

The governor was asked how history will remember Trump. On the path he is now? the governor said. Liar. Criminal. Fool. Pick your choice.

Still, a raucous crowd outside the summit had sharp criticism for Brown, demanding he take a firmer stand against the expansion of oil production in California. One group carried a large yellow banner telling the governor that he has a last chance to choose between fossil fuel or our future. Many were part of a group that has challenged Brown throughout the year for what they see as having too close of a relationship with the oil industry.

When asked about the protests, Brown responded with characteristic annoyance.

You know that politics runs on money, said Brown, who once ran for president on a platform of getting big money out of politics and demanding candidates take no more than $100 from any donor.  In the world of dreams, you can do a lot of things. In the world of practicality, there is a way it works.

Bloomberg took a more bemused view of the protests.

America is a wonderful country, he said with a grin. Here we have environmentalists protesting an environmental conference.

Times staff writer John Myers contributed to this report.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Twitter: @evanhalper
In an ancient seaside cave on the South African coast, archaeologists have found what may be the earliest known drawing created by a human.

This ancient piece of art is about 73,000 years old, its discoverers say. Its on the smooth, concave side of a grindstone tool thats only 1.5 inches long, and experiments in a French laboratory suggest it was created with a pointed piece of ochre.

The markings are not much to look at it. They consist of six relatively straight lines that are intersected by three wavy lines to form a rough crosshatch pattern.

But the simple red drawing predates any other known abstract or figurative drawings from Africa, Europe and Indonesia by 30,000 years, according to a report this week in the journal Nature.

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Francesco dErrico, an archaeologist at the University of Bordeaux in France who worked on the study, said the find came as a surprise to the research team.

It adds a new dimension to what these people were doing and reinforces the hypothesis that they had a symbolic culture, he said.

The drawing was discovered as part of the excavation of Blombos Cave, which lies 190 miles east of Cape Town on the southern coast of South Africa. Teeth found in the cave indicate that it was used as a temporary residence by early modern humans as far back as 100,000 years ago.

An interior view of the Blombos Cave. (Magnus Haaland)

The grindstone was found in sedimentary layers that have been dated to between 77,000 and 73,000 years ago. These layers also contained 67 shell beads, including some that had been colored with ochre.

Archaeologists had also found evidence that visitors to the cave were processing ochre to create a liquid pigment and storing it in abalone shells as much as 100,000 years ago.

However, the drawing still came as a surprise.

It was first spotted by Luca Pollarolo, an archaeologist and honorary research fellow at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Pollarolo had already examined thousands of flakes pulled from the cave as part of his work to better understand the technology used to produce stone tools. The markings on this particular flake looked odd to his trained eye, so he passed it along to the leaders of the dig  Christopher Henshilwood and Karen van Niekerk of the University of Bergen in Norway.

The researchers first step was to determine whether the lines were just part of the stone tool or if they had been put there by humans. Microscopic and chemical analyses confirmed that the lines were chemically different from the rock, and that they were made of ochre.

Next, the researchers wanted to know how the ochre lines had gotten onto the rock. Was it painted? Was it drawn?

To answer this question, they brushed rocks with ochre paint and drew on rocks with ochre crayons (pieces of ochre that have been sharpened to a point on one end).

It was painstaking work.

It may appear as a fun activity to an outsider, but in reality it is a time-consuming endeavor in which you alternate experiments with a lot of time at the microscope, DErrico said.

Ultimately, the team determined that the ochre lines were almost certainly made by drawing, not by painting.

Finally, the authors wanted to know whether the pattern was deliberately drawn to convey meaning or it was simply the result of processing ochre. Previous work had shown that these ancient people also used ochre as a glue additive and perhaps as a sunscreen.

To test this, they tried grinding ochre in a way that would match the pattern on the grindstone, but this produced less than one milligram of ochre powder  hardly worth the effort. This led them to the conclusion that there was not a utilitarian purpose to the lines.

Scientists at work in the Blombos Cave interior. (Magnus M. Haaland)

Reaction to the study has been mixed among the archaeological community.

Adam Brumm, an archaeologist at Griffith University in Australia, said the authors claim was premature.

To make this argument they would need to find and date more such artifacts, not just one among several thousand other unmarked stones, he said.

Brumm added that there are other explanations for how the lines could have gotten there.

For example, the red lines could simply be from sharpening an ochre crayon on the grindstone, he said.

His colleague Maxime Aubert, an archaeologist and geochemist at Griffith University, shared his skepticism. Although the study authors have shown that the ochre was applied to the stone on purpose, the reason for it remains unclear, he said.

To me, it fails to demonstrate that the crosshatched patterns were intentionally made by humans as a sign of symbolic representation, he said.

However, Pat Shipman, a retired professor of anthropology at Penn State, said the authors made a convincing case that the drawing was deliberately made.

The hashtag or crosshatched shape often appears in rock art and quite similar shapes have been scratched into pieces of ochre from the same cave, Shipman said. Though they have, so far, only the one piece, I would not be surprised if more are discovered since the one they have recognized so far is part of a larger object.

Indeed, the researchers report that each red line ends abruptly at the stones edge, suggesting that the drawing is a small part of a bigger  and perhaps more complex  pattern.

This is not the first controversy to originate from Blombos Cave. Researchers are also divided on whether several pieces of engraved ochre demonstrate symbolic thinking by the caves ancient inhabitants.

As excavations at the cave continue, future finds may shed more light on the murky world of ancient art.

deborah.netburn@latimes.com

Do you love science? I do! Follow me @DeborahNetburn and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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For all the political chatter about the human toll of hurricanes, one lesson of past monster storms is clear and increasingly urgent: Hurricanes claim lives and erode health before, during and after the water, wind and rain hit.

To reduce the short-term and long-term health consequences of these ever more frequent storms, emergency planners need to anticipate how the threats unfold  and get ahead of them.

They may even use such disasters as opportunities to boost communities health after a storm has passed.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set up a roughly 50-person Emergency Operations Center at its headquarters in Atlanta to trace the arc of dangers to affected populations.

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Working through medical communities and with state and federal disaster relief agencies, the CDC says it is executing a campaign to prevent injuries, detect and respond to the emergence of disease, and foster the physical and mental health of those affected by Hurricane Florence.

There are definitely behavioral patterns we recognize, said Donna Knutson, the CDCs incident manager for the Hurricane Florence response.

People evacuate without all their prescription medicines, she said. They cut themselves trudging through floodwaters tainted by industrial and household debris and pollutants. They take their chances on dicey stored food, inviting gastrointestinal misery, and use generators too close to their homes, risking asphyxiation. They stay too long in residences contaminated by mold and, in their urgency to regain their sense of normality, may overlook a family members gnawing despair.

These threats to life and health are preventable, Knutson said. But it takes more than drills and exercises to prepare first responders and medical personnel to prevent them. Where frequent firsthand experience may be missing, the CDC can provide expertise in what to expect, she said.

In the run-up to Hurricane Florences arrival in the Carolinas, the CDC issued injury-prevention messages, warning people in flooded areas not to take refuge in their attics, touch downed power lines or drive into moving water  one of the most frequent causes of drowning.

Its public health experts have calculated the safe ratio of shelter-seekers to bathroom facilities in public buildings, and briefed hospitals and first responders on the types of injuries theyre likely to see, and when.

Theyve lined up booster shots against tetanus for evacuees with open wounds and pneumonia inoculations to offer at shelters. Knutson said that the CDC is dispatching flu vaccine to many shelters to save people the trouble of finding it later.

As waters subside, evacuees returning to homes that have been submerged for more than 48 hours will get detailed instructions in how to clean to prevent mold, which can cause and exacerbate respiratory and allergic reactions.

Hurricane Florence as it appeared in a satellite image before making landfall. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

The CDC is also readying environmental health officers to assess mold, drinking water threats and the escape of hazardous materials. Epidemiologists will be ready to detect exploding populations of rodents and mosquitoes, as well as outbreaks of the diseases they carry.

Knutson said the CDC will be vigilant for outbreaks of plague, transmitted when rat populations surge and people get bitten by rodent fleas carrying the Yersinia pestis bacterium.

Plague we still get from squirrels in downtown Denver, said Knutson. The likelihood that this now-treatable ancient scourge could reemerge from rat infestations of sodden debris is hardly inconceivable, she said. Infected patients experience a sudden onset of fever, headache, chills and weakness and one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes.

The Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) that spread West Nile virus are likely to thrive in the wet conditions that linger after a storm, facilitating the spread of a disease that can cause potentially fatal brain inflammation in 1 in 150 of people stricken.

North Carolina has also had outbreaks in recent years of the chikungunya virus, spread by the Aedes egyptii mosquito species that is considered very likely to live and reproduce in the Carolinas. Fever and joint pain, as well as headache, rash and joint swelling, develop three to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.

Knutson said the CDCs task force on flying and walking disease vectors expects more nuisance mosquitoes than virus-carrying ones. The Carolinas salt-marsh mosquitoes are vicious biters and could cause no end of misery for those engaged in cleanup efforts. But Knutson said the CDC will be watchful for evidence that disease-carrying mosquito populations are proliferating.

Finally, the CDC has made plans to recruit community members to conduct behavioral health checks in their neighborhoods as the rebuilding begins. In doorstep conversations, survey takers would ask residents about their anxieties, fears and levels of hope as they confront the significant task of rebuilding their homes and neighborhoods.

Its a really good way to get a handle on what an entire community feels, Knutson said. The CDC would then analyze the information it collects, and share it with state and local community managers.

Hiring local residents to make door-to-door visits is the best way to gauge the mental health of a community, she added: People want to open their door and talk to someone theyve seen in the supermarket.

melissa.healy@latimes.com

@LATMelissaHealy

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Eight Burbank Unified secondary schools will be dividing up $240,000 thanks to a science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, grant provided by the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation.

Foundation creator Chuck Lorre, an executive producer and co-creator of the CBS-distributed comedy series Young Sheldon, enrolled actor Jim Parsons, who plays older Sheldon on the long-running comedy series The Big Bang Theory, fellow show co-creator Steven Molaro, Warner Brothers Television Group and CBS to fund a set of two-year Young Sheldon STEM Initiative grants.

During the first round of two-year grants, a total of $600,000 was awarded to 19 schools elementary, middle and high schools in California and Texas that have a connection to the sitcom.

When the education of a child is supported, there is no limit to what that child might eventually achieve, Lorre said in a statement. We hope that, in some small way, this program gives these public schools more STEM educational tools in the classroom for teachers to nurture and ignite the curiosity of students who will ultimately become our future leaders and scholars.

Along with the money, each school received a certificate and a personalized congratulations video from the Young Sheldon cast. California students and teachers will also visit NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, where older Sheldon works in the Big Bang Theory.

Young Sheldon has two connections to the Media City. In addition to being filmed in Burbank, Molaro has a son who attends Burbank High.

Grant money was distributed to Burbank, Burroughs and Monterey high schools, Burbank Community Day School, the Independent Learning Academy as well as Luther Burbank, David Starr Jordan and John Muir middle schools.

Its really exciting, Burbank Unified Supt. Matt Hill said. When [the Lorre Foundation] came to talk to us about this, they liked our approach for STEM in our schools.  It will give a big boast to what weve been trying to implement in our secondary schools.

Hill tapped Sharon Cuseo, the districts assistant superintendent of instructional services, to reach out to teachers in order to find what was needed and how grant money could support their current projects.

Hill listed a few of the ways the money would be spent, including the purchase of Chromebook laptops for high school engineering classes, a makerspace science lab and workshop at Monterey High and robotic kits for the middle schools.

We were really pleased to work with the Chuck Lorre Foundation and Warner Bros., Hill said. They asked us what we were doing already and then they worked with us to identify our needs.

The money breaks down to $15,000 per school over the life of the first two-year grant.

The good news for all recipients is that they can apply for continuation grants when the two-year period ends.

Each school will be available to submit a review on what impact was made through the grant, said Trisha Cardoso, a spokeswoman for the Lorre Family Foundation. They can list how they will continue to elevate existing STEM programs.

The only other California school to receive money was Van Nuys High School in the Los Angeles Unified, where Young Sheldon is frequently filmed.

Ten Texas schools also received funding. In Young Sheldon, the title character and his family live in Texas before older Sheldon moves to California.

andrew.campa@latimes.com

Twitter @campadresports
Four Newport Beach planning commissioners drew cards Thursday to determine who would review and potentially green-light a major condominium project.

The random drawing was intended to create a quorum of commissioners to review the proposed Koll Center Residences. The city made the unusual move after four of the commissions seven members declared conflicts of interest with the project, which typically would require them to recuse themselves.

The Planning Commission needs to vote on the matter before the City Council does, and it needs at least four participating members to hold a vote.

A section of the California Code of Regulations requires participation by the smallest number of officials with a conflict that are legally required in order for the decision to be made. A random means of selection may be used to select only the number of officials needed.

Thus, the four commissioners with declared conflicts  Kory Kramer, Lauren Kleiman, Peter Zak and Lee Lowrey  selected playing cards as a projector beamed the process onto a large screen over the dais to show who pulled cards from a black suite or red suite.

Youre seeing something that rarely ever happens, Commissioner Peter Koetting told the audience at Thursday nights meeting.

The winner was Zak, who pulled the four of diamonds.

Zaks conflict is that he owns a business neighboring the Koll Center Residences site at Von Karman Avenue and Birch Street, near John Wayne Airport.

Kramers conflict is tied to income from a business within 500 feet of the site.

Kleimans husband has a contractual relationship with the project developer, Irvine-based Shopoff Realty Investments.

Lowrey is a member of the neighboring Pacific Club.

The Koll Center Residences proposal has been on hold since January, when the city and Shopoff learned of the commissioners conflicts.

The project would group 260 luxury condos in three 13-story buildings in an area that is currently an office park. It also would include 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, a parking garage and a 1.17-acre public park.

The commission will resume discussions on the matter later this year.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
Susan Skinner wants Newport Beach to know she isnt a drooling dog.

Skinner, a local activist and outspoken critic of several members of the City Council, took to the sidewalk on Balboa Island on Thursday evening with a handful of her supporters to protest a letter written by area political donor Bob McCaffrey and recently published by some local news outlets.



For the record: This article originally stated incorrectly that the candidates forum Tuesday at the Oasis Senior Center would be for Newport Beach City Council candidates. In fact, it is for candidates for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board.

The letter  which the Daily Pilot did not publish  compared Skinner, council candidate Joy Brenner and others to Pavlovs dogs. The reference is to dogs used in experiments by Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov in which they adopted a conditioned response (salivation) to sounds associated with being fed.

Skinner and others took offense to McCaffreys letter, saying it was degrading to women.

The protesters picketed on Marine Avenue not far from McCaffreys home, where he was holding a fundraiser for Brenners opponent in the District 6 council race, incumbent Scott Peotter.

More local candidate forums on tap

Residents in area cities will get several chances to hear candidates for various offices debate hot-button topics during election campaign forums in coming days and weeks:

A Feet to the Fire forum featuring the candidates for Costa Mesa City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Robert B. Moore Theatre at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

The Newport Beach Womens Democratic Club will present a forum for Newport-Mesa Unified School District board candidates from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Oasis Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona del Mar.

The Newport Beach City Council edition of the Feet to the Fire forum series will start at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Robert B. Moore Theatre at Orange Coast College.

A Laguna Beach City Council candidates forum presented by resident advocacy organization Village Laguna will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the council chamber at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

Another Laguna council forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Womans Club of Laguna Beach, 286 St. Anns Drive. Admission is $20, with proceeds going toward Tune In, Drop Out and Vote, a public awareness campaign on local radio station KX/93.5 FM encouraging voter registration and participation. The station also will broadcast the forum live.

Group of former Newport mayors endorses Brenner and Stoaks for council

Six former Newport Beach mayors are throwing their support behind Joy Brenner and Tim Stoaks for Newport Beach City Council.

Evelyn Hart, Rush Hill, John Cox, Keith Curry, Mike Henn and Don Webb endorsed Stoaks in his race against incumbent Marshall Duffy Duffield in District 3 and Brenner in her campaign against incumbent Scott Peotter in District 6.

Tim and Joy are longtime community activists who have worked for decades on projects like Oasis, the Corona del Mar library/fire station, Santa Ana Heights improvements like the fire station, trails and parks and our new animal shelter, the group said in a statement. They have been in the lead on reducing airport noise and they will represent the interests and values of residents.

Faith-based coalition sets congressional candidates forum in Costa Mesa

A coalition of churches and civic and community groups is sponsoring a 48th Congressional District candidates forum in Costa Mesa next week, though organizers said incumbent Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) has not yet responded to an invitation to participate.

Rohrabacher is running for reelection against Laguna Beach Democrat Harley Rouda.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mesa Verde United Methodist Church, 1701 Baker St. The district includes Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.

For more information, email 48thforum@gmail.com.

Congressional Feet to the Fire forum canceled

The Feet to the Fire forum meant to feature the two candidates in the 48th Congressional District race has been canceled after incumbent Dana Rohrabacher declined to attend, according to organizers.

The forum had been scheduled for Sept. 22.
Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we head into a quiet weekend of racing.

The road to the Kentucky Derby officially starts this Saturday with the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs. What, you say? We thought you said the road started with the Del Mar Futurity? Yes, I did.

Truth is, this Saturday actually starts with the races that have a point total associated with them. And, winning one of these only gets you about a quarter of the way to qualifying. Generally, you need about 40 points to get into the Derby. With injuries and scratches, you can make it in with 30-something points.

Last year, Justify ran only one qualifying race, the Santa Anita Derby, which along with the Louisiana Derby, UAE Derby, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby are worth 100 points and a free pass to Louisville.

In fact, if you win the Risen Star, Fountain of Youth, Gotham, San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, Rebel or Sunland Derby you get 50 points and another ticket to Churchill Downs. Now, if no horse wins two of those races (unlikely) youve already got 13 spots filled. If you throw in the two qualifying paths from Europe and Japan, you have 15 of the 20 spots.

What all that means is the Derby is filled with horses who are peaking at the right time, near the first Saturday in May. After the Iroqious, the next points race, worth 10-4-2-1, is the American Pharoah (formerly the FrontRunner) at Santa Anita on Sept. 29.

There are 35 points races in the U.S. (and Dubai), with Santa Anita and Aqueduct hosting the most with five. Oaklawn has four, Churchill, Keeneland, Fairgrounds and Gulfstream get three with Tampa Bay getting two. The tracks that get one race are Los Alamitos, Golden Gate, Belmont, Remington Park, Turfway, Sunland and Meydan in Dubai.

Now, even though we made the case that none of these early leadup races really mean anything, it doesnt mean were going to ignore them. We need to keep you interested until we get to Jon Whites highly popular weekly rankings in the early spring.

One more thing, who were the last five winners of the Iroquois? The Tabulator, Not This Time, Cocked and Loaded, Lucky Player and Cleburne. Nuff said.

With three races worth $40,000 it was difficult to determine the feature. But even more difficult was figuring out when Los Alamitos has show betting. The first race had five horses and there was show betting. The second race had five horses and there was no show betting. We think we know the answer but have asked Los Al for ts thinking on it. We hope to get their response for tomorrows newsletter.

So, Croatian won a hard fought stretch drive over Trojan Spirit to win the maiden special weight for horses going a mile for a purse of $40,000. Joe Talamo got the horse up in time. Croatian paid $10.60, $5.80 and $4.60 for trainer Bob Baffert .

Finally, Convince won the other maiden special weight, for fillies and mares going a mile for $40,000. She paid $6.20, $3.40 and $2.80 for jockey Mario Gutierrez . Peter Eurton is the trainer.

Friday brings an eight-race card starting at 2 p.m. The field sizes are about the same as on Thursday but this card has an allowance. The feature is the fifth, an allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares going a mile. It only has five starters.

The favorite is Whirling, at 2-1. She has won one of her four starts and her last two starts were in allowance races at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Martin Garcia rides the Richard Mandella filly. The second favorite, at 5-2, is Just a Smidge for Baffert and Assael Espinoza . She is one ofr seven lifetime, having won her first race. They had high hopes for her as shes run two Grade 1s, one Grade 2 and Grade 3, although she didnt win any of them.

She didnt break all that sharp, was rushed up to duel along the rail through some swift fractions and was able to hold on for third in a better-than-looked effort as the second biggest price on the field. I like that she has speed, I like that she has a win over this track and I like that Evin Roman was aboard for the win two starts back. Her main rivals in this field appear to be closers and im hoping Chickatini is able to shake away with a big lead entering the stretch.

Jose Contreras is an excellent handicapper and well known on social media and familiar to racing fans watching on TVG. You can follow him on Twitter at @losponies or check him out at his website .

This weekly segment is in the hands of Orlando Gutierrez , marketing and media maven at Los Al. So, the floor is yours, Orlando.

The top 2-year-old quarter-horse filly of 2017 and the top 2-year-old filly of 2018 will both be in action this weekend at Los Alamitos. J Fire Up, the AQHA champion 2-year-old last year, will look to avenge her fourth place finish in the Governor's Cup Derby final when she faces the Derby winner Black Fryday and runner-up Chance To Fire in the second of three trials to the $152,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Saturday.

It was a rare loss for J Fire, who entered the Derby final having won eight of her first 10 career starts. The Kiddy Up filly was bumped at the start and from there it was too tall a mountain to climb against fast starts from both Black Fryday and Chance To Fire. J Fire Up enters her 400-yard trial after a strong turn and work of 12.20 seconds at 220 yards. Jose Nicasio will ride the the Kiddy Up filly from the eight.

 Ron Hartley's Black Fryday came into the Governor's Cup Derby in great form after hitting the board in his six previous starts. On Derby night, the Favorite Cartel gelding ran the best race of his career, breaking sharply from the nine on the way to a 1 1/4 length win. For jockey Eddie Garcia , the win helped him become the first jockey at Los Alamitos to reach 150 career stakes wins. Garcia will ride Black Fryday for trainer John Cooper from the two.

 Abigail Kawananakoa's Chance To Fire ran second in the Derby final, which matched his runner-up effort to J Fire Up in last year's Governor's Cup Futurity. A top three finisher in eight of nine career starts, the Walk Thru Fire gelding is not the quickest out of the gate, but he accelerates fast and often displays strong finishes. Cody Jensen will ride for trainer Chris O'Dell . The PCQHRA Breeders Derby final is Oct. 5.

On Sunday night, Jeff and Kim Pitchers undefeated filly Wave Her Down is the marquee name in the trials to the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. The First Down Dash filly won the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity in her last start and is three for three in her career. The exciting filly is a full sister to champions Ocean Runaway and Wave Carver, each a winner of the prestigious Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos. A total of 50 juveniles will be in action in Sundays trials with the 10 fastest qualifiers returning for the final on Oct. 6.

Fridays eight-race program will be headed by eight sophomore fillies squaring off in the Girl Secrets Handicap. The field will include Grade 1 stakes finalists Matilda Czech, Remember To Dash and SC Vapor Trail.

This sophomore filly has really improved in last three outs and her early quickness is a huge plus at the 300-yard distance of this overnight handicap. She was only beaten a head when third in a 350-yard stakes two outs ago and scored a 1 -length maiden victory at 300 yards three races back. Matilda Czech, the 5-2 morning-line favorite who lost a nose photo in last years Golden State Million, looks vulnerable after a six-month layoff. Matilda Czechs last three wins have come at 400 yards.

If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter you can click here and sign up . Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Tell your friends, or even people you dont like that much.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com . You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa.

Los Alamitos Race Course Charts Results for Thursday, September 13. Copyright 2018 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 4th day of a 12-day meet. Clear & Fast

FIRST RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000. Time 23.62 47.43 1:12.98 1:26.62 1:40.17

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Easy Keeper 117 2 5 5 41 31 36 12 Figueroa 0.90 3 Red Clem 117 3 1 1hd 1 24 22 2 Espinoza 8.10 4 R B Eye 122 4 3 2hd 2 1 1hd 316 Roman 4.10 5 Flashy Shaq 122 5 2 31 31 43 42 41 Pena 13.10 1 No New Friends 122 1 4 4hd 5 5 5 5 Fuentes 2.30

2 EASY KEEPER 3.80 2.80 2.10 3 RED CLEM 4.80 2.60 4 R B EYE 2.20

$1 EXACTA (2-3) $7.40 $1 TRIFECTA (2-3-4) $17.50

WinnerEasy Keeper B.c.2 by Oxbow out of Indy Jazz, by A.P. Indy. Bred by Calumet Farm (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill. Owner: Calumet Farm. Mutuel Pool $63,076 Exacta Pool $27,747 Trifecta Pool $20,181. Scratchednone.

EASY KEEPER was bumped leaving the gate, settled off the rail, tracked leaders three wide, came out further around last bend, reeled in leaders from well off the rail, led past sixteenth marker and cleared late. RED CLEM set pressured pace from the inside, briefly lost lead in upper stretch, fought back along the rail, exchanged light bumps with rival in the drive and gamely gained second. R B EYE between foes early, forced the pace then dueled outside rival, gained brief lead entering the stretch, exchanged light bumps with same foe in the drive and was out finished for second. FLASHY SHAQ caught three deep into first turn, remained off the rail stalking the pace then weakened in the stretch. NO NEW FRIENDS broke out bit and bumped rival, was bit rank into initial bend, chased inside then gave way in the final quarter.

SECOND RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $22,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $25,000-$22,500. Time 24.29 47.82 1:12.12 1:24.14 1:36.32

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Impression 124 1 1 11 11 12 13 13 Pedroza 1.20 5 Jersey's Heat 120 5 3 41 4 2hd 24 210 Delgadillo 4.50 3 Gracida 117 3 5 31 3 45 32 35 Gutierrez 1.00 4 Accreditation 124 4 2 5 2hd 31 48 414 Fuentes 12.50 2 Stylistics United 116 2 4 21 5 5 5 5 Figueroa 43.60

1 IMPRESSION 4.40 2.60 5 JERSEY'S HEAT 3.60 3 GRACIDA

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-1) $7.60 $1 EXACTA (1-5) $6.60 $1 TRIFECTA (1-5-3) $10.60

WinnerImpression Ch.g.5 by Smart Strike out of Mon Belle, by Maria's Mon. Bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). Trainer: William E. Morey. Owner: Guelfo, Gene, Lindstrom, Frank and Martin, James. Mutuel Pool $58,104 Daily Double Pool $17,340 Exacta Pool $32,364 Trifecta Pool $33,040. Scratchednone.

IMPRESSION established the lead in the run to the first turn, set the pace off the rail down the backstretch, maintained a clear advantage in the lane, was kept to his task in midstretch and was clear to the wire. JERSEY'S HEAT stalked between horses on the backstretch, angled in on the second turn, came out in the stretch, could not catch the winner but was clearly second best. GRACIDA stalked off the rail on the backstretch and inside rivals on the second turn, remained inside in the stretch, weakened but held third to the wire. ACCREDITATION stalked three deep around the first turn and down the backstretch, came into the stretch four wide and weakened. STYLISTICS UNITED pulled into the first turn, stalked inside the winner on the backstretch, fell back on the second turn and gave way.

THIRD RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds and up. Time 23.39 46.45 1:11.31 1:24.00 1:36.87

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Croatian 120 2 2 1hd 21 2 1 1hd Talamo 4.30 1 Trojan Spirit 124 1 6 2hd 1hd 11 21 24 Franco 8.90 4 Irish Spirit 120 4 3 5 51 31 33 34 Conner 8.40 5 Sellwood 120 5 4 61 4 42 42 43 Delgadillo 1.10 6 Mr Classical 119 6 1 4 3hd 53 52 52 Espinoza 21.60 3 Cold Brew Kid 120 3 5 3hd 61 61 66 617 Mt Garcia 95.70 7 Capall 115 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Figueroa 2.30

2 CROATIAN 10.60 5.80 4.60 1 TROJAN SPIRIT 6.40 4.60 4 IRISH SPIRIT 6.20

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-2) $28.60 $1 EXACTA (2-1) $34.70 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-1-4-5) $50.21 $1 TRIFECTA (2-1-4) $217.80

WinnerCroatian B.c.3 by Medaglia d'Oro out of Red Barchetta, by Seeking the Gold. Bred by Nancy S. Dillman (KY). Trainer: Bob Baffert. Owner: Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul. Mutuel Pool $88,392 Daily Double Pool $10,126 Exacta Pool $40,539 Superfecta Pool $24,662 Trifecta Pool $30,875. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (2-1-2) paid $24.10. Pick Three Pool $22,324.

CROATIAN was sent up outside foe leaving first turn, dueled outside foe, drifted out some entering the lane, hooked up in stretch-long battle, exchanged light bumps with rival and gamely prevailed. TROJAN SPIRIT contested the pace from along the rail then slightly off the fence, exchanged light bumps with winner through the stretch and narrowly missed. IRISH SPIRIT tucked in behind dueling leaders, tracked top pair from the inside into the stretch, had rider lost his whip nearing eighth marker and weakened some late while drifting out. SELLWOOD settled off the pace, chased off the rail then four wide to the second bend, continued on same path and weakened in the drive. MR CLASSICAL caught four wide into first turn, stalked from off the rail, was three deep passing half-mile marker then between foes and also weakened. COLD BREW KID prominent early from between rivals, dropped back leaving the back stretch, came out in upper stretch and faded. CAPALL broke out and bit slow, raced five wide early, later angled over and found the fence but was no late threat.

FOURTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 21.81 45.17 57.34 1:04.06

Pgm Horse Wt PP St  3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Hotitude 122 5 4 22 1hd 13 15 Pedroza 0.50 4 Blueberry Princess 122 4 6 4 3 33 27 Quinonez 5.40 3 Superhotamolly 122 3 3 1hd 22 21 3hd Hernandez 18.50 6 The Pet 122 6 2 31 43 45 41 Fuentes 14.90 1 Perfect Ice Storm 122 1 7 7 7 5 54 Gutierrez 4.70 2 Cause Why 122 2 5 66 64 7 6hd Pereira 19.70 7 Queen Carmelita 117 7 1 51 5hd 6 7 Espinoza 12.80

5 HOTITUDE 3.00 2.40 2.10 4 BLUEBERRY PRINCESS 3.60 2.80 3 SUPERHOTAMOLLY 3.60

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-5) $22.00 $1 EXACTA (5-4) $3.90 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-4-3-6) $12.36 $1 TRIFECTA (5-4-3) $24.20

WinnerHotitude B.f.2 by Heat Shield out of Lovefromafar, by Pleasantly Perfect. Bred by Kristin Mulhall (CA). Trainer: Kristin Mulhall. Owner: Twilight Racing LLC and Taub, Steve. Mutuel Pool $81,438 Daily Double Pool $11,007 Exacta Pool $35,851 Superfecta Pool $17,861 Trifecta Pool $26,499. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (1-2-5) paid $29.20. Pick Three Pool $11,036.

HOTITUDE bumped with outside foe leaving the gate, had speed outside, forced three wide, gained advantage later on the turn, kicked clear from off the rail in the stretch and proved best while well in hand late. BLUEBERRY PRINCESS tracked pace while outside foe, remained two wide into the stretch, surged past inside rival in mid stretch and drew clear for the place. SUPERHOTAMOLLY sped to short lead early, dueled inside around the turn, could not match the winner through the lane and weakened in the final eighth. THE PET bumped with winner at the start, stalked three wide then outside runner-up on the turn and lacked needed late punch. PERFECT ICE STORM hopped and hesitated to be off well behind the field, trailed from along the rail, came out some in mid stretch and passed tiring rivals. CAUSE WHY reserved from the inside, saved ground throughout and lacked needed response. QUEEN CARMELITA chased from the outside, continued four wide on the turn, came in slightly leaving the bend and also in the stretch while no late factor.

FIFTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $17,000. Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Prices $12,500-$10,500. Time 21.86 45.46 57.57 1:03.98

Pgm Horse Wt PP St  3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Zippy Groom 120 3 6 7 7 5 11 Roman 14.90 4 Our Tiger's Boy 122 4 1 31 31 11 21 Fuentes 6.30 5 Fender Bender 120 5 7 4 4 2 32 Pena 4.20 7 Nova 120 7 3 5 5hd 3hd 4 Ceballos 5.00 1 Mr Cruze 120 1 4 21 1hd 42 53 Maldonado 3.00 2 Bob's All In 120 2 5 63 64 7 61 Delgadillo 1.70 6 Hollywood Dancer 124 6 2 1 21 6 7 Gomez 31.50

3 ZIPPY GROOM 31.80 8.20 4.40 4 OUR TIGER'S BOY 6.80 4.40 5 FENDER BENDER 3.80

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3) $45.60 $1 EXACTA (3-4) $104.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-4-5-7) $221.47 $1 TRIFECTA (3-4-5) $546.30

WinnerZippy Groom Grr.g.3 by City Zip out of Mama Ruth, by Runaway Groom. Bred by H & E Ranch (AZ). Trainer: Robert B. Hess, Jr.. Owner: Hale, Jr., Richard, Lambert, Jeffrey and Montgomery, Ronald. Mutuel Pool $89,624 Daily Double Pool $7,354 Exacta Pool $48,147 Superfecta Pool $21,742 Trifecta Pool $27,551. ClaimedBob's All In by Troy Onorato. Trainer: John Martin. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (2-5-3) paid $194.00. Pick Three Pool $11,523. $1 Pick Four (1-2-5-3) 4 correct paid $249.90. Pick Four Pool $46,703. 50-Cent Pick Five (2-1-2-5-3) 5 correct paid $382.90. Pick Five Pool $196,160.

ZIPPY GROOM unhurried while bit off the rail, angled four wide on the turn, came out further in upper stretch, roused then closed strongly to inhale inside rivals and be along in time. OUR TIGER'S BOY prominent from off the rail early, bid three wide approaching the stretch, reached the front inside quarter marker, inched away in the drive, drifted out some nearing the wire and could not stave off the winner. FENDER BENDER stalked from between rivals or off the fence, came three wide into the lane, angled out bit further, loomed nearing eighth marker but was out finished. NOVA bumped with inside rival at the start, tracked pace while three wide, came four wide into the stretch and angled in some through the drive. MR CRUZE forced the early issue from along the rail, continued inside and gained advantage later on the turn, continued inside and weakened bit in the late going. BOB'S ALL IN chased from the inside, hugged the rail around the turn and through the stretch while never menacing late. HOLLYWOOD DANCER broke out slightly and bumped foe, sped to the front, set pace from off the rail, lost control nearing the stretch and weakened through the lane.

SIXTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Time 23.07 46.17 1:12.26 1:24.56 1:37.25

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 2 Convince 120 2 1 21 21 1hd 13 13 Gutierrez 2.10 3 Journal Entry 120 3 4 31 42 42 31 2ns Elliott 18.10 5 Sensible Thoughts 120 5 3 6 6 2hd 21 3 Fuentes 5.10 1 Tequila Sunrise 115 1 5 52 55 54 512 44 Espinoza 2.40 6 Now Blessed 124 6 2 12 12 31 4hd 525 Talamo 3.00 4 She Fox 120 4 6 44 31 6 6 6 Conner 6.60

2 CONVINCE 6.20 3.40 2.80 3 JOURNAL ENTRY 12.00 5.80 5 SENSIBLE THOUGHTS 4.20

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-2) $105.00 $1 EXACTA (2-3) $46.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (2-3-5-1) $55.81 $1 TRIFECTA (2-3-5) $253.60

WinnerConvince B.f.3 by Liaison out of Dakota Sis, by Eddington. Bred by Y-Lo Racing Stables, LLC (FL). Trainer: Peter Eurton. Owner: C R K Stable LLC. Mutuel Pool $117,226 Daily Double Pool $9,070 Exacta Pool $64,188 Superfecta Pool $29,172 Trifecta Pool $41,423. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (5-3-2) paid $79.50. Pick Three Pool $12,664.

CONVINCE stalked the leader off the rail down the backstretch, bid for the lead on the second turn, took a clear lead approaching the furlong marker and held the advantage to the wire. JOURNAL ENTRY stalked between horses on the backstretch, came out for the stretch turn, raced three deep at the furlong marker, and gained the place on the wire. SENSIBLE THOUGHTS chased off the rail on the backstretch, angled in on the second turn, remained inside through the lane and was edged for second on the wire. TEQUILA SUNRISE chased off the rail, moved up three deep on the second turn, came into the stretch five wide and lacked the needed rally in the final furlong. NOW BLESSED took the lead leaving the first turn, opened a clear advantage on the backstretch, was challenged from both sides at the top of the lane and weakened between horses in the final furlong. SHE FOX stalked off the rail on the backstretch, came into the lane three deep, weakened and was eased through the final furlong.

SEVENTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $18,000. Starter Allowance. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 22.15 45.21 1:09.86 1:16.53

Pgm Horse Wt PP St   Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Lambo Luxx 124 6 3 2hd 11 1 1hd Franco 4.30 5 Fast Pass 124 5 1 5hd 4hd 2hd 21 Fuentes 2.60 7 New Karma 119 7 2 61 52 31 3ns Figueroa 2.00 1 Monterey Shale 124 1 4 31 3hd 43 42 Gonzalez 10.50 4 Tasunke Witco 124 4 7 7 6 5 5 Pereira 3.50 2 Stormin Monarcho 124 2 5 4hd 7 64 619 Sanchez 13.00 3 Isee It in Hiseyes 120 3 6 1 21 7 7 Delgadillo 22.90

6 LAMBO LUXX 10.60 6.20 3.40 5 FAST PASS 3.80 2.40 7 NEW KARMA 2.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (2-6) $53.20 $1 EXACTA (6-5) $21.70 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-5-7-1) $19.71 $1 TRIFECTA (6-5-7) $47.90

WinnerLambo Luxx B.g.6 by Vronsky out of Cantaloupe, by Runaway Groom. Bred by Donald Warren (CA). Trainer: George Papaprodromou. Owner: Davis Racing LLC. Mutuel Pool $117,530 Daily Double Pool $17,418 Exacta Pool $64,567 Superfecta Pool $34,145 Trifecta Pool $40,005. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (3-2-6) paid $433.80. Pick Three Pool $11,441.

LAMBO LUXX forced the early pace outside, gained lead past three-eights marker, edged away from off the rail, dug in when challenged in deep stretch and lasted under right hand urging. FAST PASS stalked from between foes, came four wide into the stretch, closed gap on winner under strong asking nearing the wire and narrowly missed outside winner. NEW KARMA tracked pace while three deep and outside runner-up, was fanned five wide entering the stretch, remained outside same rival in the drive and got up in final strides to grab third. MONTEREY SHALE forced the early issue from the inside, shifted out on the turn, was three wide exiting the turn and inside the runner-up, came in some through the drive and was out finished for third. TASUNKE WITCO reserved from off the rail, chased three wide around the turn then four wide into the stretch and came out further through the lane while no threat. STORMIN MONARCHO stalked from slightly off the lane, remained on two wide path and lacked needed response. ISEE IT IN HISEYES rushed up from between foes to grab brief lead, relinquished control on the turn, gave way steadily from the inside in the stretch, was eased in he late going and walked off.

EIGHTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $15,000. Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $8,000-$7,000. Time 24.15 48.12 1:11.43 1:25.29 1:38.34

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Princess Leia 124 2 2 21 2hd 1hd 1 11 Elliott 14.40 6 If You Like It 119 5 4 31 31 34 2hd 21 Figueroa 1.50 1 Sought More Pep 122 1 1 1 1 2hd 35 34 Maldonado 1.90 4 Dizzy Diva 119 3 3 41 42 41 42 43 Espinoza 3.70 5 Zuzanna 124 4 5 52 51 51 51 51 Quinonez 4.60 7 Callie Mesa 115 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 E Garcia 55.70

3 PRINCESS LEIA 30.80 10.80 4.80 6 IF YOU LIKE IT 2.80 2.20 1 SOUGHT MORE PEP 2.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-3) $316.20 $1 EXACTA (3-6) $45.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-6-1-4) $32.85 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (3-6-1-4-5) $378.10 $1 TRIFECTA (3-6-1) $152.20 $2 CONSOLATION DOUBLE (6-2) $13.00

WinnerPrincess Leia B.f.4 by Awesome Again out of Twisted Sis, by A.P. Indy. Bred by George Bolton & Charles Bolton (KY). Trainer: Rafael Becerra. Owner: Martin, Craig and Yamamoto, Gregory. Mutuel Pool $107,528 Daily Double Pool $35,175 Exacta Pool $48,277 Superfecta Pool $19,606 Super High Five Pool $5,432 Trifecta Pool $28,307. ClaimedIf You Like It by Librado Barocio. Trainer: Librado Barocio. ClaimedSought More Pep by John Martin. Trainer: John Martin. ClaimedZuzanna by Lambert, Jeff, Rodriguez, Larry and Toland, Robert. Trainer: Robert Hess, Jr. ScratchedGenerous Pour. $1 Pick Three (2-6-3) paid $778.20. Pick Three Pool $71,029. $1 Pick Four (3-2-6-3) 4 correct paid $22,841.80. Pick Four Pool $121,863. 50-Cent Pick Five (5-3-2-6-3) 5 correct paid $13,967.75. Pick Five Pool $74,514. $2 Pick Six (2-5-3-2-6-3) 5 out of 6 paid $856.20. Pick Six Pool $22,844. Pick Six Carryover $11,989. $1 Consolation Pick Three (2-6-2) paid $21.30.

PRINCESS LEIA forced or stalked from slightly off the rail, moved up and bid between foes on the second turn, drifted out bit entering the lane, gained advantage a quarter from home and turned back foes from both sides under left hand urging. IF YOU LIKE IT tracked pace from the outside, challenged three abreast midway on the last turn, was fanned out a bit into the lane, continued outside and held the place. SOUGHT MORE PEP stepped to the front, set pace from the inside, resisted when challenged on the second turn, remained inside and weakened bit late. DIZZY DIVA stalked while bit off the fence, chased four wide into the lane and did not threaten. ZUZANNA reserved early, angled over, saved ground thereafter and did not rally. CALLIE MESA unhurried early while taken to the rail, chased from the inside to the stretch and also failed to menace late.
Fare: From LAX, $681, including all taxes and fees, round trip to Bucharest, Romania, on Austrian Airlines.

Restrictions: You must buy your ticket, subject to availability, by Nov. 13. It is for travel next year: May 7-Sept. 15 and Dec. 13-23.

Info: Austrian Airlines, (800) 843-0002

Source: Airfarewatchdog.com

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It was no ordinary robbery attempt.

Two men and one woman, waving Kalashnikov rifles and a grenade launcher, ambushed an armored security van outside a northern German supermarket on a warm Saturday afternoon in June three years ago. The lightly armed guards inside the cash-filled truck refused to open the door, even as the attackers fired shots that pierced the fortified windows and front tire.

Quickly aborting their foiled strike, the robbers fled empty-handed. But they left their DNA behind in the escape vehicle  and it led to a surprise. The would-be robbers were linked to Germanys most notorious postwar terrorist organization: the anarchist Baader-Meinhof gang, also known as the Red Army Faction.

Decades after its bloody heyday, the gang was back.

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It is hard to overestimate the degree to which the Red Army Faction struck terror through the heart of Europe, beginning in the 1970s. The organization formally disbanded in 1998, but only after killing 34 people, including a number of prominent business leaders, and injuring more than 200 in the name of overthrowing the capitalist West German government and battling American imperialism.

By then, most of its members had either been captured, killed or turned themselves in to police. At least four onetime Baader-Meinhof members disappeared or went underground rather than go to jail. Three of the four fugitives were never seen or heard from again  until the botched robbery in the town of Stuhr, near Bremen, in 2015.

The DNA discovery helped solve a riddle about the suspects behind the intermittent robberies since 1999. It also led investigators to later conclude that the handful of remaining Red Army Faction fugitives might not be primarily motivated by political goals. Instead, they appeared to be engaged in a far more mundane pursuit: making a living.

We believe that their reason for these robberies is simply their need for sustenance, said Marius Schmidt, a spokesman for the Lower Saxony state police department that has been tracking the trio and their trail of robberies  most of which since 2011 have been in his northern German state. The trio allegedly got away with about $700,000 in 1999 in what police only later realized was the first of a dozen or so armed robberies in Duisburg, where a bazooka was used.

The suspects  Ernst-Volker Staub, 63; Daniela Klette, 59; and Burkhard Garweg, 50  have come to be called Raeuber Rentner (robber pensioners) by the German news media.

Markus Heusler, a state prosecutor in the town of Verden near Bremen who has been leading the investigation since 2015, said that the DNA found at the Stuhr robbery matched that of the three suspects. Its assumed that the funds are being used to finance their life in the underground, he said in an interview. Based on that and prior crimes, the three are wanted on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and robbery and for membership in a terrorist organization.

In July, police found DNA evidence linking the three to two more attempted robberies, one in 2006 and one in 2009. Authorities are actively looking for them and are waiting to see if they strike again.

Investigators have estimated that the $700,000 taken in the 1999 robbery could have sustained the three suspects, living modestly, for about 12 years. They then struck nine times from 2011 to 2016, netting at least $500,000 more.

Federal prosecutors have had an arrest warrant out for Staub, Garweg and Klette on suspicion of involvement in the bombing of a prison in Weiterstadt, near Frankfurt, in 1993. They are also wanted in connection to the deaths of industrialist Detlev Karsten Rohwedder (1991) and Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Alfred Herrhausen (1989).

Among the earlier Red Army Faction assassination attempts was a 1979 bomb attack in Belgium against Alexander Haig, then commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and later U.S. secretary of State. Haig was not hurt, but the explosion injured three of his bodyguards. Prominent West Germans believed to have been killed by the group include federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback (1977), industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer (1977), Dresdner Bank Chairman Juergen Ponto (1977), and Siemens executive Karl-Heinz Beckurts (1986).

The faction used to rob banks to raise funds for their terror attacks, Butz Peters, a Dresden lawyer and expert on the group, said in an interview. Peters, who has written four bestselling books on left-wing terrorism in Germany, calculated that the Red Army Faction collected about $3 million in 31 bank robberies before 1998 to purchase weapons and finance its attacks.

But I dont think these three are actively planning anything. Theyve just run out of money, he said.

Most of the estimated 80 or so Red Army Faction members active from the 1970s to 1990s went to jail, were killed in battles with the police or committed suicide. The last member convicted, Birgit Hogefeld, was released from jail in 2011 after serving 18 years of a life sentence for murder. Many former members were trained for ordinary jobs and resocialization while in jail, later entering careers as photographers or authors.

Its one of the great ironies of history that many of the [Red Army Faction] terrorists are now drawing welfare or pension payments from the hated state that they tried so very hard to overthrow, said Wolfgang Kraushaar, a political scientist in Hamburg who has studied the group.

Peters, the lawyer in Dresden who estimated that the factions attacks caused about $300 million in damage, believes the three suspects are probably either living somewhere outside Germany, where their wanted posters are not seen, or being protected underground in Germany by left-wing anarchists or squatters in a large city such as Hamburg or Berlin.

Its remarkable that theyre still out there and havent been caught yet, he said.

With police methods and tactics improving over the last two decades, Peters and others believe the chances of finding them are increasing.

Its just a question of time until we catch them, said Lower Saxony states interior minister, Boris Pistorius, who warned they are extremely dangerous and should be considered anything but amateurs. I feel were getting closer and closer all the time.

Kirschbaum is a special correspondent.
David Keyes, the foreign press spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has left his post after several women this week accused him of sexual assault or harassment.

The first accusation was made by Julia Salazar, a Democratic candidate for the New York state Senate who on Tuesday acknowledged being the author of an earlier anonymous post saying Keyes forced her to perform oral sex on him after meeting to discuss Middle East politics in 2013.

Hours later, Shayndi Raice, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, tweeted that she survived a terrible encounter with Keyes and called him a predator whose mistreatment of women is an open secret.

The man had absolutely no conception of the word no,  she wrote.

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Keyes issued a statement calling the accusation by Salazar yet another example of her dishonesty, a reference to recent doubts about her claims to be working class, Jewish, an immigrant and a graduate of Columbia University, which has said she never earned a degree there. He did not address the claim by Raice.

The next day, the Times of Israel reported that 10 more women  whom it did not name  accused Keyes of assault or aggressive behavior. The report said he had written letters to six of them apologizing for being less than gentlemanly.

Israels Channel 10 news reported similar accusations from two more women, whose identities were also shielded.

All of those women told the news outlets that the misconduct by Keyes occurred before his 2016 appointment to Netanyahus team.

On Thursday, Keyes met with Netanyahu and announced afterward that he was taking a break.

In light of the false and misleading accusations against me and in order not to distract from the important work of the prime minister, I have asked to take time off to clear my name, he said in a statement. I am fully confident that the truth will come out.

He is not expected to return to his post.

Keyes, who is 34 and originally from Los Angeles, has been the principal advocate of Netanyahus controversial media strategy of circumventing traditional outlets by posting short videos on official social media accounts to broadcast Israels message.

Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent.
Three Palestinians, one of them a 12-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli fire Friday as thousands of protesters gathered along the Gaza Strips perimeter fence with Israel, health officials said.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that at least 80 Palestinians were wounded by gunfire and that six of them were in serious condition.

The Israeli military said about 13,000 protesters massed at several points along the fence, some burning tires and hurling rocks, grenades and firebombs. An Israeli officer suffered light wounds from pipe bomb shrapnel.

At nightfall, two tank shells hit a watchtower that had been set up by Hamas, the Islamic militant group in control of Gaza. The tower was about half a mile from one of the protest camps near the fence, and protesters left in a hurry as they heard the thud of the shells.

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The Israeli military said in statement that aircraft and a tank struck two Hamas positions in response to the explosives thrown at troops on the border.

Gazans have staged demonstrations on a nearly weekly basis near the fence since late March, in part to protest a border blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt since 2007 when Hamas seized the territory. Hamas has led and organized the protests, but turnout has also been driven by growing despair over blockade-fueled hardship, including lengthy power cuts and soaring unemployment.

Israeli soldiers have killed at least 131 Palestinians during the protests since March, including 27 minors, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. A Palestinian sniper also fatally shot an Israeli soldier.

Israel contends that its defending its border and accuses Hamas of using the protests as a screen for attempts to breach the border fence to attack civilians and soldiers. Human rights groups have accused Israeli troops of excessive and unlawful use of force against unarmed protesters.

Hamas and Israel came close to serious conflict earlier this summer as violence soared along the border.
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Purchase a ticket for the American Business Womens Association Palms of Edisonia Fashion Show to help raise money for women looking to further their education.

ABWA Palms of Edisonia Corresponding Secretary Mary Ann Logue said they hold events throughout the year as fundraisers for their educational grants and scholarships.

Its not always a fashion show. Sometimes they are different events. It depends on membership votes, she said.

The ABWA Fashion Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Palmetto Pines Country Club, 1940 SW 9th Court. The show will also feature lunch with the choice of salmon, or roast beef, with roasted potatoes and vegetable medley.

The last opportunity to purchase tickets, $35 a person, is Saturday, Sept. 22. For tickets, call (239) 770-2663, email p.w.kluge@gmail.com, or visit www.abwa.org/chapter/palms-of-edisonia.

The show will showcase fashions from Christopher & Banks, a store located at the Sanibel Outlets. Fashions modeled will be available for purchase.

The event will also feature raffles, baskets and a 50/50.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to become a member of ABWA if they are not already. Logue said they are always looking for new members.

We will have a membership table there that day. You can sign up that day if you wish, she said, adding that the membership is $140 for the year.

The national chapter of ABWA began 70 years ago.

We provide educational grants and scholarships to women to pursue educational goals, (as well as) continuing professional development, Logue said.

She said they have different online classes that women can take for free.

If you are a teacher and want to continue for a higher degree, you can go online and take classes and continue your ongoing education, Logue said.

Logue became a member of the chapter 30 years ago after moving from St. Louis, Missouri in 1982.

Since her sister was involved in the ABWA chapter in St. Louis, she directed her to a chapter in Fort Myers.

A retired bank professional of 45 years, she said she attended spring conferences every year in such areas as Daytona, Little Rock, Fort Lauderdale and Memphis.

Most of them are really motivational and really uplifting. In management it helped me on time. You set a time frame for your meetings. If you have discussions with your employees, what to say and what not to use. It was always inspirational and educational and very informative. I was always delighted to go. A lot of times my boss supported me and provided me the funds to go, Logue said.
Units from the Egyptian and Pakistani naval forces carried out transcontinental maritime training in the Mediterranean during the recent visit of Pakistan's vessel, SAIF PNS, to Egypt. This comes as part of the General Command's plan to strengthen military cooperation relations between the two friendly countries.

The training included implementation of sailing formations, inspection of suspect vessels, training on the take-off and landing of helicopters on top of joint naval units, as well as night navigation exercises.

The training aims to standardise operational concepts, and enable the transfer and exchange of expertise with the purpose of supporting efforts to achieve stability and maritime security in the region.

Alongside the training, a number of Egyptian crew members and the Pakistani military attache placed a wreath on the tomb of a fallen unknown soldier in Alexandria.

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This content is from: Copyright

The questions to the CJEU concern whether YouTube has primary liability for videos uploaded without the permission of right holders, with the German judges also suggesting the platform acts as a neutral intermediary for the purposes of copyright
This content is from: Trademarks

The USPTO has appealed to the Supreme Court to allow it to control immoral and scandalous trade mark registrations. Review and reversal of In re Brunetti seems unlikely because a similar issue was addressed in Tam
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday pronounced its judgment on a plea by former space scientist Nambi Nayaranan to prosecute senior police officials for framing him in the notorious ISRO spy scandal.

In the verdict, a three judge bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the Kerala government to pay the scientist Rs 50 lakhs as compensation. Pointing that the arrest of the scientist was unnecessary and needless, the court also ordered a judicial probe into the investigation officers in the espionage case.

The High Court had earlier directed a payment of 10 lakhs for Mr Narayan. Meanwhile, the senior scientist expressed the contentment over the verdict. Nambi Narayan was booked on charges of engaging in espionage at ISRO, where he was working, but was later given a clean chit by CBI and discharged of the charges by a chief judicial magistrate court in 1996.
Two people were injured when mobs ransacked and looted five homes in Minyas Dimshau Hashim village on Friday. Scores of Islamist extremists attacked the houses after rumours circulated that Christian villagers were planning to build a church.

Churches continue to be built illegally in Egypt due to complicated administrative procedures. A law passed in 2016 regulating the construction and restoration of churches failed to end the phenomenon.

Following the attacks the Reconciliation Council in Minya, in cooperation with the Rapprochement and Peace Association, affiliated to the Ministry of Social Solidarity, released a statement calling on the Coptic Church and security bodies to attend an unofficial reconciliation session which was held in Dimshau Hashim to maintain stability and unity.

Anba Macarius, the bishop of Minya, said the Church firmly rejects holding informal sessions to solve the Copts problem in Minya.

We will not acknowledge the sessions results and we denounce pressuring simple people into attending them. They waste rights. We stand in support of the rule of law.

Security forces intensified their presence at Ezbet Sultan and Damshau Hashim villages and at places of worship. Checkpoints were set up on roads linking villages in the area in anticipation of further attacks. Special forces and police vehicles were heavily deployed.

A Down with the Reconciliation Council campaign began on social networks to object to the unofficial sessions organised by the Reconciliation Council. Many posters condemned the statement released by the Rapprochement and Peace Association calling for the unity and security of the nation.

Some Copts initiated a petition to call on President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to intervene in Dimshau Hashim and allow villagers to build a church.

Repeating the mistakes of the past by accepting informal reconciliation instead of applying the law will increase sectarian incidents, says journalist Suleiman Shafik.

Legal procedures have already started with the arrest of 19 suspects. The guilty should be punished and those affected should be compensated. That is the role of the state in dealing with its citizens.

It will be dangerous if this informal rapprochement takes place.

The problems cannot be solved with sugar-coated words or pressing Coptic villagers into attending the sessions in return for their safety and to avoid future attacks. Punishing the criminals, compensating those affects and setting up a church for the villages Copts is the way to go, says Shafik.

Fadi Youssef, founder of the Coalition of Egypts Copts, called for the reconciliation sessions to be cancelled.

We support the rule of law. The victims should take back what is rightfully theirs, and then they can choose whether they want reconciliation or not.

The so-called Reconciliation Council, which sides with the stronger party, should not intervene in sectarian incidents except after the victims regain their rights. When they are compensated and safe the council can then proceed to hold its rapprochement sessions, said Youssef.

The state should end these informal sessions and uphold the rule of law and the constitution.

A Church source said calm had been restored in Al-Zanika village in Esna where security forces dispersed crowds gathered in front of the Virgin Mary Church. An application to license the church had been submitted to the cabinet, said the source.

Raafat Samir Habib, head of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights in Upper Egypt, said all unlicensed churches in Luxor have applied to legalise their status. Their files are currently in the hands of the cabinet. Law 80/2016 for legalising churches states that until licences are decided no church can be closed.

The Committee for Listing Unlicensed Orthodox Churches was promised licensing procedures would be accelerated, says committee vice president Pastor Mikhail Antoin, yet only 212 churches and buildings were licensed in the past year.

There are an estimated 2,600 unlicensed churches across Egypt, he said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Apply the rule of law

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Regional security will top the agenda of the Egyptian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly later this month

Senior military officials from Egypt, Jordan, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the US were scheduled to meet yesterday in Kuwait on Wednesday to discuss a preliminary plan for military coordination.

The plan, said an informed Egyptian official source, will address security issues in the Gulf, the Red Sea and maybe elsewhere in the Arab Mashreq.

Although the Egyptian source would not reveal details of the plan or whether or not it is making progress, a Cairo-based Western diplomat said the US is pushing its Arab allies to agree to share responsibility for regional security as Washington seeks to reduce its intervention in the region.

The source said the subject has been discussed in bilateral talks between the US and its Arab allies for a while now and some progress on a formula has been made.

The Kuwaiti military meeting is being held at the same time as the Bright Star drills. The military exercises began this week and included military units from all the states attending the Kuwaiti meeting.

There are serious regional security issues that we share with these countries. Despite growing tensions we are not anticipating a military show-down between Iran and the US but Gulf security remains a major concern, the Egyptian source said. He added that there are deep concerns over Red Sea security, given the failure of diplomatic attempts to kick-start a political process that might end the four-year war in Yemen in which Saudi Arabia and Iran are both heavily engaged.

And of course there is the situation in Syria with a heavy non-Arab military presence, including Iran, along with militant groups.

Issues related to regional security and stability were also up for discussion during the regular autumn Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon, as Al-Ahram Weekly was going to press.

While the ministerial meeting was not scheduled to examine any regional security arrangements it was expected to issue a statement underlining the concern of member states over instability in the region, and to call on parties to the many regional conflicts to end their disputes.

An informed Arab diplomat said the Palestinian issue remained central for the Arab ministerial meeting.

It is very clear there will not be an agreement any time soon ending the Palestinian conflict, he said.

Despite the continued obstacles faced by Egyptian mediators as they try to encourage reconciliation between Palestinian factions, sources say Cairo remains committed to pursuing an agreement.

Cairo, they add, has secured the cooperation of Hamas and most other factions and has been using the intervention of Riyadh, Amman and other capitals to persuade Mahmoud Abbas to show more flexibility towards Egyptian attempts to broker a partial re-connect between Gaza, which has been under the unilateral control of Hamas for over a decade, and Ramallah, under the control of the Fatah-dominated PA.

So far Abbas has not changed his position despite the US decision, announced earlier this week, to close down the Palestinian Authoritys diplomatic mission in Washington, seen by many commentators as a crude attempt to punish the PA for refusing ideas that the US, in cooperation with its regional allies, is floating to end the Palestinian-Israeli struggle.

A PA source said that Abbas will not change his position. He does not find Cairos ideas compatible with a united Palestinian front; neither does he find the initial US peace plan compatible with the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the PA source said, Abbas will underline his views on what it will take to move forward on the path of Palestinian reconciliation and restart the long stalled Middle East peace process.

Closing down the Palestinian mission in the US capital after having moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, suspending the US contribution to UNRWA and having a US diplomatic team that issues orders and pressures regional players to push the PA towards embracing ideas that it finds detrimental to the peace process rather than engaging in talks is not what is needed to fix the situation, the PA source said.

The US has so far failed to offer its supposedly comprehensive plan to end the Palestinian-Israeli struggle and it is expected that the issue will be subject to wide-ranging debate during the UNGA meetings that open next Tuesday at the New York headquarters of the UN.

Of course it will be there, especially given the different views the US and most of its European allies hold on the matter, but it will not top the regional agenda. It will play second fiddle to Iran, Syria, Libya and Yemen, says a Cairo-based European diplomat.

Egypt has always maintained that it cannot compromise its border with Gaza and will refuse anything other than a closed border policy as long as Hamas has no stable truce with Israel or a reconciliation plan with the PA.

During his talks in New York President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, scheduled to head the Egyptian delegation, is expected to ask all concerned interlocutors to move forward on a plan to improve the economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Al-Sisi will also discuss regional security ideas already brought up in the Kuwait meeting. Egypts president has repeatedly said no chances can be taken when it comes to the Gulf or Red Sea security.

During his meetings with regional and world leaders Al-Sisi, who has long advocated the need to prioritise security and the central role of strong national armies in the management of both Syria and Libya, is also expected to press Cairos take on its troubled neighbours, ie support for hands-on rulers Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

The ability of strong national armies to bring stability to Libya and Syria is questioned in many world capitals and has been treated with scepticism by the UN envoys to both states.

Members of the delegations of both envoys say the UNGA will offer a venue for a new round of consultations on disturbing developments as fears grow of a bloody attack by Russian/Iranian supported Assad forces on Idlib and inter-militia fighting in Libya continues, with both Haftar and his rival Fayez Al-Saraj unable to bring stability back to war-torn Libya.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Pursuing regional stability

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The Galala Mountain plateau is shaping up as an ambitious touristic and investment destination

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi this week inspected a number of development projects in Galala, located between Ain Al-Sokhna and Zaafarana on the Red Sea.

Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said the Galala Mountain projects aim to create a new urban area including residential, commercial, educational and tourism facilities.

These projects provide more than 150,000 direct and indirect job opportunities in different fields. More than 100 Egyptian companies and 10 engineering consultancy offices are involved in the projects.

The town of Galala is 700 metres above sea level. The temperature is 10 degrees less than surrounding areas, making it a perfect site for resort developments.

A 1,000 feddan resort area has been earmarked at Ras Abu Al-Darag on the Gulf of Suez. It will include two hotels, one on the mountain, the second on the coast.

The mountain hotel will include 300 rooms and 40 chalets and the beach resort 300 rooms and 60 chalets. A modern mall and a marina for yachts will also be constructed.

Rich with marble quarries, including the beige-coloured Galala marble, the area will include an LE40 million marble factory.

The positive impact on investment movement, tourism and industry make it essential to finish these projects quickly, said Al-Sisi.

Al-Sisi also visited the site of the King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz University, 7km away from the city. The university will be built over 100 feddans and will comprise 13 faculties, including medicine, agriculture and mining.

The planned city will include an international medical centre and an Olympic village where sporting events will take place. The distinctive mountainous and coastal environment, say tourist operators, gives the new resort wide appeal.

Mohamed Mahdi, marketing manager of Amer Group, the owner of Porto resorts which operates in Ain Sokhna, says the Galala project represents a qualitative leap in tourism services by integrating all the elements of a resort, with hotels, villas, chalets, water parks, commercial, leisure and commercial activities.

The setting of Al-Galala mountain city will appeal to local and foreign tourists, says Mahdi.

Tourism will strongly return to the Red Sea area and we have high hopes in the city as a new touristic destination.

Aliaa Al-Mahdi, a professor of economics at Cairo University, says the site is very attractive to investors and its sea level location will offer a healthy environment for residents and tourists. She also notes that access roads to the town will facilitate additional urban and industrial development.

The main Galala road includes three lanes in each direction and industrial and commercial areas have already been designated, she says.

The road network will link touristic, industrial, agricultural and commercial projects to ports that are being built within the framework of the Suez Canal development project.

Also this week, Al-Sisi inaugurated the Nile Axis and Tama corridor and three bridges in Qous, Burg Al-Arab and Balteem.

The new roads are part of Egypts massive infrastructural development that includes the northwest portion of the ambitious regional ring road.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Road to development success

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Earn extra income while helping your community. The Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count.

http://www.2020census.gov

or management type jobs including Tribal Partnership Specialist, use the following web address:

http://www.census.gov/fieldjobs

For recruiting assistants, office staff, supervisory staff, clerical, etc., use the following web address:

http://www.2020census.gov/jobs

As the 2020 Census draws nearer, we will have many job opportunities that will come open so I urge you to keep these web addresses handy to be able to respond to employment inquiries that you will undoubtedly be getting.

***

Down for the count? Census changes prompt worries in Montana http://www.matr.net/article-82157.html

How much do you think each person counted in the upcoming census will be worth to Montana in Federal funding? http://www.matr.net/article-79149.html

Is that really the U.S. Census calling you? Its vitally important to Montana that you talk with them and are counted. http://www.matr.net/article-81164.html

Pockets of Rural America at Risk of Being Undercounted in Census http://www.matr.net/article-80628.html

Montana is 1 of 7 states that could get another seat in Congress after 2020 census http://www.matr.net/article-80550.html

With 2020 Census Looming, Worries About Fairness and Accuracy http://www.matr.net/article-80284.html

Governor Bullock to Congress: "Steer clear of political games" on 2020 Census http://www.matr.net/article-82805.html
Nesmahar Sayed reports on a campaign to encourage the enrolment of children with disabilities in schools

Handicap Internationals (HI), an international non-governmental organisation which aims to make comprehensive, high quality community-based rehabilitation available to people with disabilities by providing support and training to national authorities and local service providers, launched a week-long awareness campaign in Egypt.

Education for All was conducted under the auspices of All Citizens Together (ACT)  Maan in Arabic  which is funded to the tune of 350,000 euros by the EU.

Part of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), ACT began work in the summer of 2016. Its projects are scheduled to end in December this year, says ACT project manager Safaa Sayed.

Education for All was organised in cooperation with civil society associations and Terre des hommes, Asmae Egypt, the SET Centre and Caritas Egypt.

Celine Abric, head of Handicap Internationals mission in Egypt, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the Education for All campaign aims to encourage the parents of out-of-school children to enrol them for the 2018-2019 school year.

HI has supported the creation of a network of eight organisations working with disabled people from five governorates  Assiut, Minya, Beni Sweif, Giza and Cairo  analysing the situation of children with disabilities and defining a common position the network can push in its advocacy with education authorities.

Meetings included staff from the involved organisations, parents of children with disabilities and representatives of the education authorities who discuss the situation of children with disabilities and what can be done to ensure they can access schools.

The week-long campaign, which ended on Monday, involved a bus that toured governorates.

Awareness sessions, says Abric, were implemented by people with disabilities who joined the bus in each governorate. They organised two sessions, one for children and the other for parents, explaining the importance of allowing marginalised children to enrol in school.

Parents of children who do not attend school were encouraged to register their kids and children to welcome their peers whatever their differences.

Parents of children with disabilities are often afraid their children will be abused at school and those who have girls fear their daughters will be unsafe, says Abric.

There is also a lack of information among parents of their childrens rights to schooling, and concerns among some parents that standards will fall because of the presence of children with special needs in the class.

The campaign confirmed that there is a need for more awareness among parents and communities but also for the school staff. It emphasised the need for more field visits before and during the school year to know what are the obstacles that children and the families face during the school year and how they evolve, says Abric.

We believe that change will come through the dialogue that was created during the past two years through the network from the five governorates who have developed a roadmap for education and access to work, says Abric.

The project cannot achieve this alone. There is a need for more cooperation between all the NGOs in the community, the education authorities and school staff to complete each other and provide effective support to the children and the families, she says.

The main aim of the campaign, says Sayed, is to allow all children to enjoy their right to education.

Education plays a very important role in spreading tolerance, accepting the other and supporting the concept of equality according to gender.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Education for all

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Concerns for road safety lead to decision to ban heavy trucks on the Ring Road

Egypt is set to implement a heavy truck ban on the Greater Cairo Ring Road starting Saturday, the official state news agency MENA reported on Friday.

The ban will be enforced between 6am and 12am, and will affect trucks with loads of more than four tonnes of cargo.



The heavy trucks can use the country's massive regional road as an alternative to the ring road. The regional road connects several major districts of the city, and is a key route for commuter traffic.

The ring road is a common site of traffic accidents. Heavy trucks are often blamed for major deadly accidents around the country's highways.

In a recent meeting, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the decision, which was made earlier this September, would contribute in a lowering of traffic pressure on the Ring Road, by an estimated 30 to 35%.

He added that both the police and the army would coordinate to ensure that the new decision is implemented, and would not allow violations which threaten the safety of roads to occur.

Deadly road accidents take place on a near daily basis in Egypt, a country that is unfortunately notorious for inadequate road safety, poorly maintained infrastructure, and loosely applied traffic regulations.

The country's official statistics agency said in April that more than 11,000 road accidents took place in Egypt in 2017, down from around 15,000 accidents in the previous year.

The government has recently issued new traffic laws to enforce safer driving practices.

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The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) held on Friday its second seminar themed "Terrorism and Human Rights in Egypt: compensating the victims of terrorism and the supporting role of Qatar."

The remarks were made on the sidelines of the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The seminar was a continuation of the first seminar held on Wednesday by EOHR on forced disappearances in Egypt, during which they sought to refute such accusations.

Friday's seminar was attended by a number of diplomats, journalists and rights activists, and included the attendance of the President of EOHR, Hafez Abou Seada.

In his speech, Abou Seada said that it was necessary that the international community works closely with countries that are fighting terrorism, like Egypt, as part of an implementation of a resolution by the Security Council obliging countries to cooperate in the exchange of information and increase funding, all while preventing the movement and accommodation of terrorism leaders.

He said that EOHR took on the cases of terrorism victims, filing lawsuits for their rights in compensations from countries supporting terrorism, including Qatar. He said Qatar had been proven to fund terrorist organizations active in Egypt, and this has lead to a huge number of casualties.

Egypt is among a number of states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, who have severed diplomatic and transport links with Qatar since 5 June 2017, accusing the oil-rich state of supporting terrorism and meddling in internal affairs. This resulted in one of the worst diplomatic disputes in the region in years. Qatar continues to deny the charges levelled against it.

Abou Seada added that EOHR keeps calling for a commitment to human rights and maintaining the sovereignty of state, as well as fair and just trials - even if defendants are charged with terrorism-related offenses.

Last week, an Egyptian court sentenced 75 people to death earlier this week, including prominent leaders of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group, in a mass trial over 2013's dispersal at Rabaa' Square.

Commenting on the recent death penalty sentences, he clarified that the defendants still have the right to challenge the sentences handed by court. The sentences received heavy international criticism, and were denounced by the European Union; a condemnation which was described by Egypt as "subjective" and failing to respect the rule of law.



EOHR's Secretary-General Essam Shiha said that according to a report by the Australian Institute for Economics and Peace, Egypt was ranked 11th place in the international terrorism index in 2017.

Furthermore, the report outlined that terrorist attacks had risen in Egypt in 2016 and 2017, a nine-fold increase as compared to previous years.

He added that the number of terrorism victims had reached more than 1500 people, particularly as a result of attacks by local terrorist groups Hasm and Ansar Beit El-Maqdis.

He said that the international community should simply stop countries from supporting terrorist organizations, as it is a more effective way to combat terrorism.

Salah Salam, a member of the National Council of Human Rights, said terrorism in Sinai did not only target Egyptian Copts, but was also aimed at public figures and people cooperating with the armed forces.

According to Salam, victims of terrorist attacks in Sinai had reached 850 civilians; around 315 people were killed in a major attack which targeted worshippers in a mosque in North Sinai in November 2017.

He said that despite challenges to undermine Egypt's economy and infrastructure, the country still ranked well in major economic indicators based on reports by companies such as Moodys and Standards & Poors, as well as Egypt's position as a growing hub for gas export and production.

Alaa Shalaby, Secretary General of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights (AOHR), said that revolutions across the Arab World had started out as peaceful, however the arming of several revolutions lead a collapse of states and propelled an emergence of terrorism.

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Foreign Minister attends African Union (AU) Commission in Ethiopia and seeks to strengthen ties with Eritrea

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry returned to the country on Friday, arriving from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, after attending meetings for the African Union (AU) Commission. He followed up the meetings with a visit to Eritrea.

Shoukry was in Addis Ababa for a ministerial retreat on 12 and 13 September, where the participating members discussed the monetary and administrative review processes of the commission for 2016 and 2017.

His later visit to Eritreat's capital of Asmara was undertaken with the intent to discuss means of boosting bilateral relations between the two nation-states, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Abu Zeid highlighted that the Egyptian foreign minister delivered a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to his Eritrean counterpart, President Isaias Afwerki, on strengthening bilateral relations across all domains.

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Israeli occupation troops killed three Palestinians and wounded at least 30 others taking part on Friday in weekly protests at the fortified Gaza Strip border, Palestinian medical officials said.

Friday's dead, one of them a boy whom medics said appeared to be around 14 years old, brought to 177 the number of Palestinians killed since the sometimes violent protests were launched on March 30 to press several demands against Israel.

The period has also seen occasional shelling exchanges between Palestinians in Gaza and Israel. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper.

Israel's tactics against the protests have drawn foreign condemnation, though Washington has backed its ally.

Early on Friday, several Palestinians crawled to the fence to throw a pipebomb at troops, who fired back, the Israeli occupation army said.

The protesters want rights to lands Palestinians lost during the 1948 war of Israel's foundation, as well as the easing of a crippling blockade that Israel has placed on Gaza to isolate Hamas and deny it weaponry.

U.N. and Egyptian mediators have been trying to reach a deal to calm Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars 2008, 2012 and 2014, in the last decade.

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*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
[September 13, 2018] Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) Receives 2018 Top 10 Power Products Award from Electronic Products China Magazine / 21iC Media Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has successfully completed automotive AEC Q101 qualification for EPC2202 and EPC2203 gallium nitride devices, opening a range of applications in automotive and other harsh environments. BEIJING, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Efficient Power Conversion Corporation's AEC Q101-qualified EPC2202 and EPC2203 have been honored with an Electronic Products China / 21iC Media's "Top 10 Power Products -- Technology Breakthrough Award". The award presentation was announced on September 13th, 2018 in Beijing, China during 21iC Power Conference 2018. Electronic Products China / 21iC Media under the global Aspencore Group -- a leading trade publication for electronic design engineers -- evaluated a significant number of products launched from July 2nd, 2017 to July 1st, 2018. The winning products were selected on the basis of innovative design, significant advancement in technology or its application, as well as the substantial achievement in the products' price and performance. eGaN technology has been in mass production for over eight years, accumulating billions of hours of successful field experience in automotive applications, such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and radar for autonomous cars, 48 V - 12 V DC-DC converters, high intensity headlamps for trucks and ultra-high-fidelity infotainment systems. EPC2202 and EPC2203 are the first two EPC products which completed AEC Q101 qualification testing. The EPC2202 is an 80 V, 16 milliohm enhancement-mode FET with a pulsed current rating of 75 A in a 2.1mm x 1.6mm chip-scale package. The EPC2203 is an 80 V, 73 milliohm part with a pulsed current rating of 18 A in a 0.9mm x 0.9mm chip-scale package. These eGaN FETs are many times smaller and achieve switching speeds 10 - 100 times faster than their silicon MOSFET counterparts. "We are very proud that the panel of judges of Electronic Products China / 21iC Media has recognized our AEC 101-qualified EPC2202 and EPC2203 eGaN FETs for their qualification for automotive applications, enabling autonomous driving, as well as improving fuel economy and safety. This 'Top 10 - Technology Breakthrough Award' substantiates that eGaN technology is the performance leader in efficient power conversion," said Alex Lidow, CEO and Co-founder of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation. 2018 marks the 16th annual Electronic Products China's "Top 10 Power Product Awards," which recognizes the best products in the semiconductor industry

(http://www.21ic.com/wz/CRXDQWHFA/20180827/20180827.htm) About Electronic Products China and 21iC Electronic Products China is China's leading magazine for the electronics marketplace. Featuring 100% product-related editorials, Electronic Products China introduces products with cutting-edge technology. Its veteran editors, who share great technical insights and knowledge with readers, have vast experience in the industry. 21iC.com was founded in 2000. It has become China's largest vertical portal in the industry. 21iC.com provides the most comprehensive, valued contents for engineers, covering industry's news, products, applications, and technology trends in 15 application channels. The 21iC.com's engineering community reach in Mainland China is unsurpassed by any other media platform. About EPC EPC is the leader in enhancement mode gallium nitride-based power management devices. EPC was the first to introduce enhancement-mode gallium-nitride-on-silicon (eGaN) FETs as power MOSFET replacements in applications such as DC-DC converters, wireless power transfer, envelope tracking, RF transmission, power inverters, remote sensing technology (LiDAR), and class-D audio amplifiers with device performance many times greater than the best silicon power MOSFETs. Visit our web site: www.epc-co.com.cn eGaN is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation, Inc. Contact Efficient Power Conversion Corporation:

Joe Engle ([email protected])

Winnie Wong ([email protected]) SOURCE Efficient Power Conversion Corporation

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[September 14, 2018] MaxLinear and NewVasTek Announce Breakthrough Wireless Gigabit Data and Power Solution MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for wireless and wired infrastructure, industrial, the connected home and multimarket applications, and NewVasTek, a leading provider of customized solutions for wireless power transfer based in Taiwan, today announced a joint reference design that combines MaxLinear's AirPHY multi-gigabit modem technology with NewVasTek's customized AirFuel resonant wireless power technology. The joint solution is able to provide up to 60W of wireless power from an indoor unit (IDU) to an outdoor unit (ODU) with 5G modem and phased array antenna, while also transferring up to 2.5Gbps through a wireless AirPHY link. It solves a critical problem for 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) providers that use millimeter wave (28-60GHz) radio frequencies to deliver multi-gigabit broadband services to consumers and businesses. The 5G millimeter wave signals are not able to effectively penetrate structural walls or energy-efficient windows with low-emissivity (low-E) metallic coatings, which forces service providers to install the wireless receiver on the outside of a home or building. Existing solutions for bridging power and data from outside to inside the home require drilling a hole through the wall and running Ethernet cabling to the indoor router or gateway. A total wireless solution is much more attractive to both homeowners and service providers as it reduces installation costs, eliminates the need for holes and wires, and enables the potential for a self-installation model, where consumers can easily install the indoor equipment without scheduling a service call or opening their home to installers. NewVasTek has developed AirFuel resonant power transmitter units (PTU) and power receiver units (PRU). These wireless power products build on NewVasTek integration and development capabilities and its proven history of developing low- and high-power solutions compliant with the AirFuel Alliance (AFA) standards for resonant wireless charging. Beyond the existing AirFuel Alliance standard, NewVasTek has upgraded its 6.78MHz-based resonant power transfer distance to eight inches (20cm) so the 60W of wireless power can now penetrate solid walls. Multi-gigabit data throughput is provided by MaxLinear's MxL210x family of AirPHY data modems that operate within unlicensed radio frequency bands and below the FCC and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI (News - Alert)) limits for radiated emissions. The MxL210x enables wireless data throughput of up to 2.5Gbps while penetrating nearly all construction materials up to 1 meter (~3 feet) in thickness. AirPHY technology is capable of avoiding over-the-air interference and modulating its performance for maximum speed and robustness. "Wireless power is evolving very quickly - from charging applications to now remote powering of customer premise equipment. NewVasTek was founded to focus on the developmet of AirFuel resonant wireless power, as we believe it's the only wireless power technology able to transfer enough power across a certain distance. And unlike other low frequency wireless power technologies, its frequency doesn't heat most of the metal objects, so the application scope is much broader. Our core technology is quite suitable for this emerging application, and we're excited to demonstrate this at Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) Americas," said Fang Ming Liang, President of NewVasTek. "We searched for the right 5G technology for this application and found that MaxLinear's AirPHY is the only one to combine the ultra-broadband speeds with the ability to penetrate almost any building to pair with our wireless power with the ability to penetrate both windows and solid walls." "Adding wireless power to our AirPHY technology is a great consumer feature and gives broadband service providers many new options for easily deploying 5G fixed wireless services," said Will Torgerson, Vice President and General Manager of MaxLinear's Broadband Group. "This joint solution is a big step toward AirPHY serving as a complete and competitive last mile access technology." Demonstration at MWCA A demonstration of the integrated AirPHY and wireless power solution will be held during Mobile World Congress Americas, from Sept. 12-14, 2018, in Los Angeles. For reservations, please contact [email protected] or Thomas Lin at [email protected]. About NewVasTek Corp. NewVasTek, based on Taiwan, is a provider of wireless power professional services and solutions. The company specializes in both power transmitter units (PTU) and power receiver units (PRU) for OEM and ODM markets. The company also provides PRU resonator customization engineering services. NewVasTek develops chips, modules and end products that are AirFuel and FCC (News - Alert)/CE certified. More information is at http://www.newvastek.com. About MaxLinear, Inc. MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the connected home, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com. MxL and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, in particular statements relating to NewVasTek's use of MaxLinear's AirPHY multi-gigabit modem technology. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot predict whether or to what extent we will realize revenues from our relationship with NewVasTek. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as "will be," "will," "expected," "anticipate," "continue," or similar expressions and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: intense competition in our industry, particularly in our broadband markets; the ability of our customers, including NewVasTek, to cancel or reduce orders; uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop; our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; and the potential for intellectual property litigation, which is prevalent in our industry. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including risks and uncertainties identified in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005097/en/

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Egypt's Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli oversaw the signing of a protocol of cooperation on Wednesday between the Internal Trade Development Authority and the Egyptian Tax Authority. The protocol of cooperation was signed with the purpose of establishing national IDs for economic enterprises in order to link them within the government services system, according to an official statement by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The move aims at achieving an integrated government system that includes accurate information about companies that is easily accessible through a unified national numbering system.

The protocol of cooperation comes in line with the strategic plan of Egypt 2030, particularly its first axis of economic development, and its fourth axis of transparency and efficiency of government institutions. The purpose of which is to achieve efficient governmental administration that provides high quality services, ensures the satisfaction of Egyptian citizens, contributes strongly to the achievement of the state's development goals and raise the status of the Egyptian nation, the statement said.

In a press conference following the signing, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Al Moselhi said that the protocol ought enhance the electronicc integration of information and exchange of data and documents between the system of Commercial Registry and the system of Tax Authority, as well as establishing a unified central database for commercial and economic enterprises of Internal Trade Development Authority.



According to the statement he added that it is efficient to have a unified national numbering system for commercial and economic enterprise, and for this to be used in dealing with all authorities as it should shorten the time of registration and form an accurate database of registered business activities available for official authorities and decision makers.

Egypt's Minister of Finance Mohamed Mait said that it is important to agree on the technical aspects in this regard, and to facilitate the task of each party until the completion of the information integration process through the system of exchange of government data. He also said that it is important to develop the plan necessary for coordinating between the Commercial Registry system and the system of Tax Authority, without affecting confidentiality and data security.

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LANSDALE  Talks are continuing on Lansdale's 2022 budget, and at least part of council is nearing a consensus. "We have a gap. And there was a proposal put on the board to make up some of that gap," said councilman Leon Angelichio. In October council started talks on the town's 2022 budget, and heard a preview from Finance Director...
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
September 14, 2018

Syria - Al-Qaeda And Turkey Stage "Peaceful Civilians" Events

Turkey and other supporters of the terrorists in Syria arranged for fresh Friday demonstrations by "civilians" in Idleb governorate. These are supposed to show the 'western' public that the population of the al-Qaeda controlled province is still in favor of the anti-Assad "revolution".

Some tweets from yesterday make clear that these demonstrations are a highly choreographed propaganda exercise:

TM CT @TomtheBasedCat - 17:34 utc- 13 Sep 2018 Supposedly, an array of European press agencies with security will enter Idlib city tomorrow to cover some demonstrations there.

Idelb is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), an internationally banned al-Qaeda organization. Turkey, which has friendly relations with al-Qaeda in Syria, will have arranged for the security of the foreign media.

Some prominent people also spoke about the event:

Harald Doornbos @HaraldDoornbos - 19:08 utc - 13 Sep 2018 Interesting. Son of Al-Qaeda co-founder Abdullah Azzam, Huthaifa Azzam, calls on opposition in Idlib not to raise black/jihadi flags during tomorrow's protest but only revolution flags because there are international journalists on the ground reporting on the protests.

For once al-Qaeda does not want its flag to be seen. The demonstrations must only show "peaceful civilians".

Sam Heller, now with Crisis Group, caught two voice recordings that were distributed via Telegram. It is not completely clear that these are legit, but they make sense:

Below are translations of two voice recordings purported to be of Tahrir al-Sham emir Abu Akramah al-Urduni, via anti-Jabhat al-Nusrah/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group JAN Violations. The voice messages are notable for their apparently acute sensitivity to the optics of Idlibs protests and those protests portrayal in foreign media ..

The first message is an advise similar to the one given by the son of al-Qaeda co-founder Abdullah Azzam: Do not let any HTS/al-Qaeda flags appear in the choreographed demonstrations. It seems that HTS fears that these could be used against it:

Brothers, a very important issue: We dont want it to be come out in the Western media that the people opposes us, and that the people brought down our banner and stomped on it. Pay attention: If the banner is raised, there will be people placed just to pull away the banner and stomp on it. And it will appear in the Western media that they stomped on the Hayahs banner. This is a big issue, brothers. It means that the battle will be against us, in the future. Theyll say that the people is ready now to announce the battle in these protests. Because these protests are what, the people, the public. If the people and the public pull away our banner in front of the media and stomp on it, that means the battle is ready against us now.

The second message is an order to accompany the demonstrations and to take care that everyone behaves:

Peace and Gods blessings be upon you, something very important to say: Coordinate with those responsible for these protests and say to them, Were with you, your brothers, and whatever you need, well walk with you. And for your protection. Talking is free, brothers. Why not speak to them kindly. Theyll say, God reward you, we dont need anything. Tell them, Okay, well walk with you. Were Muslims, too, and we demand the toppling of the regime.

The demonstrations, arranged for the media, took place as ordered.

Now the regime change propagandists are out to promoted the first videos from these staged events:

Thomas van Linge @ThomasVLinge - 12:41 utc - 14 Sep 2018 Once again protests against the #Assad regime have erupted all over rebel-held #Idlib and northern #Aleppo.

Syrians in the town of #Kafranbel sing "we want freedom!"

The demonstrations are similar to those staged in 2011-2013. Green-white-black French-colonial Syria flags and a few Turkish ones get waved -all new it seems- and a few dozens men and young boys, no women or girl in sight, chant some sectarian slogans:

"Let the Nusayriah [Alawites] hear, we are people who drink blood." Protesters: "Allah Akbar"

No black and white HTS/al-Qaeda flags is visible and no weapons are in sight. The video shots are tightly controlled and concentrate on the civilian clothed men and children. Where a wider frame is shown fighters in camouflage can be seen at the edge of the crowds.

The intended message of these stunts:

"Do you see us? There are only peaceful civilians in Idelb. No fighters are here. We are not terrorist. We only want freedom!"

The message is false.

Idleb governorate is completely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (vid). HTS, foreign Jihadis, as well as 'moderate' Islamists affiliated with Turkey. These are terrorist who prevent civilians from leaving and oppress the population:

In the northern Syrian town of Harem, militants last week erected a gallows in a public square, saying it was for frogs, or traitors.

...

[O]pposition fighters linked to al-Qaeda are seeking to head off the kind of negotiated surrender that has sealed the fate of other opposition areas. The gallows, which the militants publicized on their official news website, was set up to intimidate the traitors that worked on reconciliation agreements to the regime, so that they know that in the end their fate is death, said an activist in the town, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. The purpose of its construction is to strike fear.

Al-Qaeda has not vanished from Idleb. It still terrorizes the population. What would have been the punishment for not following the orders for these demonstrations. The gallows? A customary beheading? Or just some whipping of the soles of ones feet?

These videos of demonstrations are propaganda clips directed by the Turkish president Erdogan, in co-production with al-Qaeda, to delay the liberation of Idleb.

No one should fall for them.

Posted by b on September 14, 2018 at 15:52 UTC | Permalink

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Goats gathered on people for an original yoga experience on Saturday, Sept. 8 in San Martin.

Thats right. The Original Goat Yoga has finally come to the South Valley.

Lainey Morse, founder and CEO of Goat Yoga, said she came up with the idea in 2016.

Its something that just kind of developed by accident, she said.

Going through a rough patch, Morse said she would spend a lot of time outdoors with her goats, and eventually she began inviting her friends to join her.

A friend and yoga instructor encouraged Morse to allow her to host a yoga class and the rest, as they say, is history.

With its first San Martin event debuting last month, Goat Yoga includes 30 minutes of Goat Yoga followed by Goat Happy Hour.

For more information, visit sfbay.goatyoga.net and stay tuned South Valley magazine for an upcoming story on the ORIGINAL Goat Yoga.
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His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, bestowed upon Ambassador of Egypt to Abu Dhabi Wael Gad, the First Class Order of Independence. The ambassador received the prestigious award in recognition of his efforts during his tenure which contributed to the enhancement and boosting of friendly ties between the two countries.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, officially conferred the Order to Gad on Tuesday during a meeting at his office at the ministrys headquarters.

Sheikh Abdullah formally congratulated the ambassador and commended the role he played in strengthening the relationship between UAE and Egypt and wished him all success in his future endeavours.

The Egyptian Ambassador thanked Sheikh Khalifa, and said he appreciated his wise policy decisions and the pioneering role he is plays at regional and international levels.

He also thanked all the government entities for their support and cooperation that made his job a success, and supported the deepening of the links between the UAE and Egypt.

In this respect, Head of the Federal National Council (the Parliament) Amal Al-Qubaisi praised the distinguished bilateral relations between Egypt and the UAE.

During her meeting with Ambassador Gad at the councils headquarters, she stressed that Egypt is gaining exceptional importance resulting from the special relations between the two countries. This is a relation that goes back in history to even before the establishment of the UAE's glorious federation by Sheikh Zayed, who reserved for Egypt and its people a special place in his heart that reflects his recognition of Egypts strategic value and status.

For his part, the Egyptian ambassador praised the role of the Federal National Council in enhancing relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of parliamentary diplomacy, and the progress achieved by the UAE in enabling citizens to contribute to comprehensive development processes.

Photo: courtesy of Sherif Ahmed Shafiq

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Global and regional powers are increasingly looking to Africa to source development and investment projects on which they hope to reap significant profits

Everyone is in the scramble for Africas abundant natural resources. In addition to copious amounts of oil, gold and precious metals, there is the vast consumer market of 1.2 billion people, which is expected to reach a quarter of the number of consumers in the world by 2050 while continental GDP is expected to double by 2030.

However, every country has its approach to Africa through their packages of aid and offers of support. China, this year, has retained the title, for the ninth year running, of Africas number one trading partner.

The large volume of China-Africa trade, which currently stands at $170 billion, is the fruit of Chinas flexible trade policies, the affordability of its products in African markets, and its ability to win infrastructure development contracts that will reap some $440 billion for Chinese firms by 2025.

Such success has lured British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel into undertaking African tours in the same week.

This came soon after similar trips by French President Emmanuel Macron, former US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Before this, in March, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman undertook a four-day tour. On his return, he said, Africa has huge potential If Israel doesnt seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation, then others, in particular the Iranians, will do so in our place.

In the last China-Africa summit, Beijing pledged $60 billion in aid and loans to African nations over the next three years. Of this, $15 billion will come in the form of non-repayable aid and no-interest loans.

Chinas focus is on fundamental sectors such as industry, infrastructure development, trade facilitations and the development of environmentally friendly economies.

It has already given around $125 billion in facilitated loans to African nations between 2000 and 2016, and it used this to finance and carry out numerous infrastructural projects such as roads, bridges, ports, railroads and dams. Beijing has $40 billion in African investments.

These are expected to yield 30,000 kilometres of roadworks, port capacity of 85 million tons a year, 20,000 megawatts of electricity, nine million tons a day of clean water and 900,000 job openings in countries that are desperately short of the roads, ports and electricity needed for development and for the longed-for united African market.

This is a region, moreover, in which 75 per cent of the populace lives without electricity, more than 50 per cent lacks access to potable water, and the majority of the people  in some places as high as 90 per cent of the population  is unemployed.

The difference between China and Western countries is that the formers assistance comes without attached strings calling for democratisation, respect for human rights, uprooting corruption and conflict resolutions.

In addition, Chinese experts and laypersons work on African development projects side-by-side with Africans. The American and Europeans, by contrast, issue orders from air-conditioned offices and take home huge salaries that are deducted from aid packages.

Theresa May, who visited South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, pledged over $5 billion in aid to Africa on top of $54 billion worth of investments.

She also promised an essential shift in the focus of spending from short range poverty relief to long range security and economic challenges.

While in Nigeria, she signed a defence and security agreement with Abuja to fight Boko Haram and pledged $16 billion for the schooling of 100,000 students whose education had been interrupted by warfare.

She signed a similar agreement with Kenya to fight the Somali Shabaab Movement, as well as another agreement to help repatriate assets and moneys acquired and smuggled out of the country through corrupt deals and business practices.

Merkel called on Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria where she offered Berlins support for economic reforms and combatting illegal migration.

She simultaneously promised to increase the opportunities for legitimate immigration to Germany and to increase openings for Nigerian students in German schools and universities.

As for the US which, in 2016, had $57 billion in investments in Africa and a trade volume of only $53 billion, Africa is the future, to quote former secretary of state Rex Tillerson.

While in Africa, Tillerson said that his countrys strategy for Africa was based on fighting terrorism, achieving development and promoting sound governance. He pledged to support Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Ethiopia and Kenya in the fight against extremists and terrorists.

Macron, for his part, pledged another $5 billion Euros a year to Africa in aid, bringing the total up to $49 million. Most of this is invested in Frances former colonies.

Japan is another competitor for the African pie. In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a $30 billion aid package to Africa over three years.

The Russian case is interesting in that it had to abandon its projects in Africa and suspend its aid programmes there in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Today, it is staging a return to Africa, looking for new partners and trying to rebuild ties with old ones.

This summer, President Vladimir Putin visited Algeria, South Africa and Morocco while Vice President Medvedev called in on Angola, Namibia and Nigeria, offering trade cooperation projects.

Moscow also sent arms and trainers to the army of the Central African Republic and arms to Cameroon, and it signed military agreements with DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Angola. It is working with Sudan in the field of nuclear energy and with Zimbabwe and Guinea in the mining industries.

However, the levels of Russian aid and assistance to Africa are still relatively low.

India, with a volume of bilateral trade with Africa of $72 billion, recently announced that it would open 18 new embassies in order to bolster its presence in the continent.

In addition, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to boost his countrys investments in Africa, which totalled $14 billion in 2016, and to keep Indian markets open to Africans.

Turkey has $6 billion invested in Africa, while the Turkish-African volume of trade stood at another $6 billion in 2016.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The rush to Africa

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Many of the challenges that face Egypts tourism sector have not yet been solved

Tourism for Egypt is not just a breath of fresh air that adds a bit of revenue or a touch of elegance. Instead, it is and always will be the backbone of the Egyptian economy and the livelihood of millions of Egyptians.

Many people in Egypt have been severely hit over the past seven years, with all their turbulence, acts of terror and efforts made by the Muslim Brotherhood group and its supporters to send a message to the outside world that Egypt is an unsafe place.

The straw that really broke the camels back came in November 2015 when a Russian plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people on board.

The significant drop in the number of tourists arriving in Egypt from 14.7 million in 2010 to 5.4 million in 2016 meant annual revenues falling from $12.5 to $3.8 billion.

Some 12 per cent of Egypts workforce was working in tourism in 2010. Unofficial estimates point to a similar percentage of those working in the informal job market related to tourism losing their jobs as papyrus vendors, camel and horse owners, bazaar workers and so on.

Some of these millions have switched to working as taxi or Uber drivers, street-vendors, underpaid daily workers and other similar jobs that are here today and probably gone tomorrow.

However, tomorrow, which millions of Egyptians dream of as seeing the country once again getting its fair share of tourists, starts today. The many challenges that face Egypts tourism sector have not yet been confronted, let alone solved.

While the most dangerous problem facing the tourism industry has been dealt with to a great extent, namely terrorism, there is still much to tackle.

Travel and tourism experts say that the three pillars of a successful tourism industry are security, safety and comfort.

The most difficult and demanding pillar, security, has been dealt with by Egypts security personnel, including in Northern Sinai.

However, now is the time for a revision in attitudes among some of those working with tourists in their jobs, or among regular citizens who come across tourists in public places. Shop-keepers, street-vendors, taxi-drivers, passengers on public transport, and passers-by  all of these must remember that it is not necessarily nice to be stared at.

It is not cool to pose for pictures with female tourists. If the latter are looking for male friends, they will let this be known. In the meantime, they should be left to themselves.

The safety of tourists remains difficult to measure. Whereas the official advice given by some countries to nationals visiting Egypt remains that there are some concerns, the experiences of actual tourists are different.

Harassment remains a problem that has to be tackled, but pretending that some tourists are sitting on the edges of their chairs throughout their stay in Egypt would be a huge exaggeration.

The unfortunate death of a British couple in Hurghada in August saw the UKs tabloid newspapers investigating food-poisoning, air-conditioning, and hygiene at Egypts hotels and resorts just hours after the announcement of their deaths.

Pictures of what was said to be raw chicken served to guests in some hotels were circulated, and this was claimed as having contributed to the deaths.

The feelings of loss and grief at such an incident can be appreciated, and one also fully appreciates the efforts made by the media to uncover what can be uncovered to help people to understand what happened.

However, in this case some of the British media took the chance to hit hard where it hurts most without even waiting for the final autopsy reports to be released.

Likewise, the hasty and unplanned announcement of Red Sea Governor Ahmed Abdallah that the British couple died of natural causes, also without waiting for the results of further investigations or the autopsies, was ill-advised.

The British tabloids strongly hinted that the couple had died due to an error made by the resort, and the governor jumped to his conclusions in an attempt to clear Egypts reputation.

Marring Egypts reputation as a tourist destination by sending messages saying that either the food, the air, the people or all together are detrimental to tourism is an extremely harmful thing to do for the countrys economy.

Likewise, officials dealing with tourist issues or accidents as if they were addressing people in the Middle Ages when everybody simply believed the voice of authority is equally harmful.

However, despite such unfortunate accidents, there has been much good news. According to a recently released UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report entitled Tourism Highlights, Egypt has recovered from years of political unrest and is now seeing a growth of 55.1 per cent in international arrivals over previous years.

The report goes on to say that visitor numbers to Egypt have rebounded from both traditional markets in Western Europe and emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The recovery is due to promotional efforts and a return of confidence, it says.

Confidence is not built overnight, and it is also cannot be taken for granted. It is a feeling born of investing effort in work, education, and adaption to change, as well as the will and ability to face ones own problems.

Yet, the problems that some people see as petty are actually huge when it comes to travel and tourism in Egypt: road accidents, reckless driving, the absence of regulations, street-vendors, getting rid of rubbish properly, harassment, extra fares, and last but not least underestimating the countrys capacity are just some of the problems that need to be dealt with.

Egypt is top of the list of the worlds up-and-coming tourist destinations, its growth seeing a 55. 1 per cent between 2016 and 2017 increase followed by Togo (46.7 per cent), San Marino (31.1 per cent), Vietnam (29.1 per cent), Georgia (27.9 per cent), the Palestinian Territories (25.7 per cent), Niue (25.4 per cent), Nepal (24.9 per cent), Israel (24.6 per cent) and the Northern Mariana Islands (24.3 per cent).

Please make the best of this while it lasts.

* The writer is a journalist at Al-Hayat.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Tourism, people and problems

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Stonebwoy and I are not as ...
Is democracy in global recession? Will chauvinism drown out universalism? The age-old debate on the nature of the future world order continues

Where is the world order headed, as the result of recent developments? The debate that governs the answer has evolved between two theories.

The first is the Clash of Civilisations theory espoused in 1991 by Harvard University professor Samuel Huntington who attempted to forecast the nature of global conflict following the end of the Cold War that brought the victory of the US and capitalism over the Soviet Union and socialism.

Since the world order had to be characterised by a dominant dialectical conflict of some sort, what would constitute the new dialectical poles?

Huntington suggested that a contest would unfold not just between two, but between seven world faiths/civilisations among which were not just the Islamic civilisation, but also the Hindu civilisation and faith (which brought the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in India) and the Buddhist civilisation and faith (in which zone there have emerged various forms of violence and fanaticism from Sri Lanka to Myanmar).

The second theory was propounded soon after the first by Francis Fukuyama who is now a Stanford University professor. It posits the End of History, not in the sense of historical events but in the sense of the dialectical battle between grand ideas, after democratic liberalism came to prevail in the world as a comprehensive ideological frame of reference for the international community in the context of a process known as globalisation.

In Globalisation Versus Clash of Civilisations, which was published by the General Egyptian Book Organisation in 2002, I attempted to differentiate between Huntingtons and Fukuyamas ideas which, in popular Arab thought, had merged into one and were reduced to a product of Western civilisation and its antagonism to everything different.

In fact, the two theories were not entirely divorced from each other. Huntington did not deny evident phenomena since the emergence of what he termed the third wave of democracy (the first occurring after World War I and the second after World War II).

Occurring between the mid-1970s and the end of the 20th century, the third wave led to the rise of democratic countries in the world from 35 to 115.

He also acknowledged the impact of global information, communications and transportation technologies on the international markets for goods and services and how they contributed to the evolution of what he called Davos Man. Named after the Swiss town where political and intellectual leaders from around the world gather to deliberate and solve major global issues, the Davos Man is the cosmopolitan world citizen who is comfortable with flying from continent to continent and settling in this country or that.

However, in his theory, Huntington brought culture and civilisation centre stage as the fundamental components of the impending global conflict and, moreover, he made religion the backbone of these components.

Thus, Protestant ethics and especially the Protestant work ethic became the foundation for modern Western civilisation in conjunction with Lockean philosophical concepts that emphasise the role of the individual as a citizen, producer and a consumer.

Fukuyama, for his part, did not refute the influence of civilisation or religion on the state of the world order. In one of his most important works, Trust, he discussed culture as a form of social cement that enables societies to achieve security and exchange benefits.

He elaborates further in Identity, in which culture comes into play as an adhesive that binds different social groups.

However, to Fukuyama such phenomena as culture, civilisation, religion and identity were in a permanent state of dynamism in which internal conflicts were no less influential than external ones and were influenced by a broad and complex range of interwoven economic, social, environmental and technological factors all of which fluctuated in accordance with rates of economic growth and social and political developments.

In a lecture commemorating Huntington, Fukuyama spoke of the change that enabled Catholicism to accept democracy, negating the political difference between it and Protestantism, while conflict was intensifying in Somalia and Afghanistan in spite of the prevalence not just of a single faith but of a single sect of that faith, and while the common Eastern Orthodoxy of Russia, Georgia and Ukraine failed to prevent conflict between these countries.

Nevertheless, beneath the headline Huntingtons Legacy in the last edition of American Interest, Fukuyama confesses, at the moment, it looks like Huntington is winning because the world has entered a phase in which the democratic wave has gone into reverse.

Moreover, as democracy has gone into recession quantitatively and qualitatively, big authoritarian powers like Russia and China have grown self-confident and aggressive.

He then wonders whether the current democratic recession will turn into a full-blown depression, marking a more fundamental shift in global politics towards some alternative regime type, or whether it is more like a stock market correction.

In other words, he is asking whether current socio-political developments are a corrective response to policies and behaviours that caused the uneven and inequitable distribution of the results of globalisation and, simultaneously, that contributed to the massive tide of migration from the countries of the South to North America and Europe, precipitating waves populism, national chauvinism, Islamophobia and, in general, xenophobia and hatred of the other of all sorts.

The answer to the question as to whether or not liberalism and democracy are headed for a great depression and whether or not mankind is fated to live in separate islands of different faiths, cultures and identities, depends on whether mankind can actually summon the resolve to live in accordance with common universal values based on civil liberties, human rights and the peaceful rotation of authority.

The answer is also contingent on how deeply entrenched the current recession has become. The economy is no longer the single-most important determinant and the traditional left-versus-right partition has fallen by the wayside.

The dominant factors, today, are identity and ultranationalist populism, or what has been called Trumpism which has spearheaded a rebellion against the liberal elites in the US and elsewhere, and which has inspired similar types of leaderships in Europe and elsewhere.

Trumpism has reverberated so broadly because of the USs position in the international order. However, the phenomenon actually preceded Trump and his election as US president, and its manifestations have been seen in Poland, Hungary, Brexit, and the rise of the ultra-right in Austria, Germany and Italy.

It has also been manifested in the decline in popular support in European countries for the EU, which is one of the most important expressions of globalisation and one of globalisations most sophisticated projects in liberal and democratic political engineering.

Still, Fukuyama has not despaired. While he has gone on record as saying that Huntington is winning, he believes that something deeper resides behind identity and religious affiliation: human dignity.

Harm or offences to this can be remedied by economic development, political participation, social equality and the rise of transnational solidarity movements of women and youth which carry universal messages.

* The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The great old/new debate

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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: All states must allow uninsured vehicles involved in accidents to be auctioned, to pay compensation to the victims, the Supreme Court ordered on Thursday. The states were given 12 weeks to amend their rules under the Motor Vehicles Act to this effect.

The auction's proceeds should be deposited with the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), as per the order. Currently, Delhi is the only state that follows this rule.

Under the MACT Act, compensation is awarded after determining factors like the income of the deceased, the deduction to be made towards the personal living expenses of the deceased, and the multiplier to be applied with reference to the age of the deceased.

Last month, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India made long-term third-party insurance mandatory, following an apex court order for both two and four-wheelers. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, third-party insurance is mandatory.

The order came on a plea by an accident victims wife, who contended that the Motor Vehicles Act made third-party insurance mandatory for vehicles, and it was an offence to drive an uninsured vehicle.

The advocate appearing for the petitioner, Usha Devi, contended that the mandate behind the law was that the families of those killed or injured in accidents must not be made to litigate for years to get compensation from the owner/driver of the vehicle involved.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: After accusing elder brother Malvinder on multiple grounds and dragging him and ex-Religare chief Sunil Godhwani to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Shivinder on Thursday filed an appeal to withdraw his case.

Shivinder, in the application, informed that their mother has requested that her sons engage in mediation led by family elders and settle the issues inter se.

That out of respect for their mother, the parties have already started mediation and as per the request of the mediators to constructively progress the mediation, the petitioners wish to withdraw the captioned petition, without prejudice to their rights and contentions, the withdrawal application said.

Shivinder had earlier this month filed a complaint before NCLTs Delhi bench, alleging oppression and mismanagement of RHC Holding, Religare Enterprises and Fortis Healthcare. Shivinder alleged that collective and ongoing actions of Malvinder and Godhwani led to a systemic undermining of interests of the companies and their shareholders. He also accused Malvinder of forging his wife Aditi Singhs signature and conducting illegal financial transactions.

Shivinders counsel Ranjana R Gawai said the petition is not withdrawn yet, but is in the process. Passing an interim order over Shivinders earlier plea, the NCLT principal bench, on September 6, had directed to maintain a status quo over the shareholdings and composition of RHC Holding Board. The NCLT has posted the matter on October 9 for next hearing.

Fingers pointed

The Fortis brothers have lost management control over Fortis and Religare. They are also accused of siphoning money from Fortis Healthcare without consent of the Board and are facing heat from Japanese drug maker Daichii Sankyo, which is trying to enforce a C3,500 crore arbitration award it got from a tribunal in Singapore.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Steel Ministry has asked the Finance Ministry to scrap import duty on coking coal, as it is increasing the input cost of domestic steelmakers and cutting their profit margins.

We are pursuing a cut with the Finance Ministry. We want to make it zero. It cannot be 2.5 per cent to 2 per cent. It will help the sector, Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Thursday.

Rising prices of coking coal, which is a key input material for steelmakers, have been a matter of concern for the sector. Currently, import duty on coking coal is 2.5 per cent and many steel companies are dependent on imported coking coal as the quality of domestic coal is not suitable for the steel industry, due to higher ash content. In the last one year, coking coal imports rose 13 per cent and steelmakers had been complaining about the 2.5 per cent import duty.

The request had been pending since January and the Steel Ministry is once again pushing it.

India is the third largest steel producer in the world and the sector contributes to over 2 per cent to Indias GDP.

The Steel Ministry on Thursday gave away Secondary Steel Sector Awards to 26 mini steel companies in recognition of their contribution to the nations economy. At present, Indias steel sector has a capacity of 134 million tonne (MT) and consumption of steel has almost touched 70 kg per capita in the country.

Currently, secondary steel sector contributes to more than half of the total steel production in the country. The secondary industry contributes 57 per cent to the total domestic steel output. It is claimed that when the capacity would be 300 MT, their share would increase to 70 per cent. It is an important sector and is being awarded for the first time, Singh explained.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Issues including increasing protectionism, challenges to promote global commerce and new industrial revolution would figure in the meeting of G-20 trade and investment ministerial meeting in Argentina today, an official said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu will participate in this meeting at Mar del Plata in Argentina.

"We want to ensure that we reform WTO but keep it as an engine for global trade. Looking to work with all important countries for a most agreeable, forward-looking reform agenda. Will use the G20 forum for taking this idea forward. All efforts now on achieving these goals in mission mode," Prabhu said in a tweet.

"Some of the key issues that would be discussed in the meeting include global value chains in agriculture, new industrial revolution, challenges to the global multinational trading system in the wake of protectionist measures by some countries," the official said.

The meeting assumes as countries including the US has significantly raised customs duties on products including steel and aluminium.

It has triggered a trade war kind of situation, which is impacting the global trade.

The G20 members include India, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, UK and the US.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Thursday bagged three posts, including that of the president, in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections.

The NSUI, the student wing of the Congress, won only one seat.

ABVP's Ankiv Basoya won the presidential post with a margin of 1744 votes while party's candidate Shakti Singh was declared as the vice president after he won with a margin of 7673 votes.

NSUI's Akash Choudhary won the secretary's post while ABVP's Jyoti emerged victorious on the joint secretary post.

Basoya got 20467 votes while his rival NSUI's Sunny Chhillar got 18723 votes.

Singh received 23046 votes against NSUI rival Leena's 15373 votes.

Choudhary, the lone winning candidate of the NSUI, alleged that fair elections were not conducted and data of seven EVMs were missing.

The Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi Thursday clarified that the EVMs used in DUSU elections have not been issued by the Election Commission and it seems to have been procured privately.

The counting had to be suspended for few hours following glitch in the EVMs but was resumed in the evening amid heavy police deployment.

The NSUI demanded fresh polling, while the ABVP demanded resumption of counting.

"There are only 8 candidates so how is it possible that votes were cast to a 10th candidate? All machines were fine yesterday. Police and administration are involved in this," Fairoz Khan, NSUI president, alleged.

Later, all candidates came to an agreement on resumption of counting.

Celebrations broke out with bursting of crackers and loud cheering at the Kingsway camp counting venue as the results were announced.

The supporters lifted the victorious candidates on their shoulders and posed for photos flashing the 'victory' sign.

While the battle for DUSU has mainly been the contest between the NSUI and the ABVP for years, the Left-affiliated AISA and Aam Aadmi Party's CYSS entered into an alliance and also vied for the central panel posts this time.

Amid heavy police presence and some last-minute wooing of voters, DUSU polls were held yesterday with a voter turnout of 44.46 per cent.

Polling took place at 52 centres in the colleges.

There were as many as 23 candidates in the fray.

DUSU is the representative body of the students from most colleges and faculties.

Apart from DUSU, which is an umbrella council, each college also has its own students union for which they hold separate elections.

Though Delhi University officially does not recognise any political outfit, students who contest the polls are backed by different parties.

The polls have been keenly contested over decades and are seen as a stepping stone to mainstream politics.

Union minister Arun Jaitley, Congress leader Ajay Maken, former Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, Union minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel are some of the prominent politicians whose journey into mainstream politics began from DUSU.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday created a green corridor to facilitate a heart transplant for a patient admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Green corridors are routes especially cleared out by the police and the administration for ambulances carrying harvested organs. Such corridors have frequently been used to transport human organs within and between cities. In some cases, the people in needing of urgent medical care may be taken through green corridors.

On Thursday, the corridor was provided by the city traffic police from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to the AIIMS for a heart transplant, reducing the time on the 14km stretch from 40-45 minutes to just 12 minutes, according to the police.

The heart was flown from Surat to the IGI Airport, Delhi. The flight landed in Delhi at 9.55am and the organ started its journey at 10.05 am for the AIIMS, which is at a distance of 14km from the IGI Airport, said Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

The normal travel time taken to cover this distance on this route is 40-45 minutes, but the meticulous planning and coordinated execution by the staff of the Traffic Unit of Delhi Police made it possible to reduce it to 12 minutes.

The heart was successfully transplanted on a 32-year-old recipient from Uttar Pradesh, Dr Aarti Vij, Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation in charge at the AIIMS said. The patient was undergoing treatment at the AIIMS since February, she said.

(With Agency inputs)
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Department of Revenue Intelligence at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport arrested a passenger Shahid Ajmal Khan, 24 of Marthandam in Tamil Nadu for smuggling in 1.1 kg of gold valued at `3o lakh.

The accused, who flew in from Dubai on an IndiGO airlines flight from Dubai had concealed the gold by turning it into beading in his check-in baggage. The arrest followed a tip-off, a senior officer told Express.
By PTI

BHOPAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city on Friday, officials said.

Modi will meet Saifuddin at the Saifi Nagar mosque in the city, where the head of Dawoodi Bohra community is holding a nine-day religious discourse since Wednesday, the officials said.

The prime minister is expected to arrive in Indore at around 11 am.

In view of the prime minister's visit, security has been ramped up in the district, Indore range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) H C Mishra said.

Police would employ drone cameras to keep an eye over the city along with 150 CCTV cameras, the DIG said. About 3,500 policemen have been deployed in the city, Mishra added.
By PTI

BENGALURU: Amid bickering in the Congress in Karnataka casting a cloud on its coalition government with the JDS, BJP chief Amit Shah has asked the saffron party state unit "not to create any confusion" and instead stick to playing the role of the opposition sincerely.

Rejecting charges by Congress leaders that the BJP was trying to topple the coalition government, the party's Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa said "there is no need to doubt our motives."

BJP MLAs have been instructed not to give statements on the current political developments pertaining to turmoil in the Congress, he said.

"BJP national president Amit Shah, with whom I spoke today, has instructed us not to create any confusion. We should not give any statements about the political developments taking place in the state. Instead, we should stick to playing the role of opposition sincerely," Yeddyurappa added.

Shah's advice to the party unit comes amid allegations that BJP was trying to take advantage of the internal tussle in the Congress and poach on its MLAs to unseat the government.

Some senior congress leaders have blamed the BJP for the recent discontent in their party.

The Jarkiholi brothers--municipal administration minister Ramesh and his MLA brother Satish--are locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar, casting a shadow over the coalition government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.

The tussle has spilled into the open with the brothers assertion about the support of eight MLAs and that they were in touch with the BJP fuelling speculation about the stability of the H D Kumaraswamy government.

The brothers, whose dissident activities have caused trouble to the three-month old Congress-JDS coalition, have camped in Bengaluru meeting senior party leaders.

Asked about the flurry of activities at his residence since this morning with BJP MLAs making a beeline, Yeddyurappa clarified that the legislators came only to greet him on the occasion of Lord Ganesha festival.

Some senior congress leaders have accused the BJP of trying to poach on their MLAs to come to power.

They have reportedly warned BJP that they would not keep quiet if BJP tried to destabilise the government.

When asked about a Congress leader claiming that at least 10 BJP MLAs were in touch with them, Yeddyurappa said, "Why just 10 MLAs? Let them be in touch with all the 104 MLAs."
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Following its decision over the early release of the founder of Bhim Army Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan, the Uttar Pradesh government freed the Dalit leader in the wee hours at 2:37 am from a Saharanpur jail on Friday almost two months prior to his scheduled release on November 1, 2018, on humanitarian grounds.

According to highly placed sources, the district magistrate of Saharanpur was directed by the home department to release Chandrashekhar, who was accorded a warm welcome by thousands of his supporters gathered in front of Saharanpur jail. After his release from the jail, the Dalit leader was escorted in a police vehicle which was followed by his supporters on bikes chanting slogans. However, calling his release the victory of justice, Chandrashekhar appealed to his supporters to maintain peace.

Notably, Chandrashekhar had been in jail since his arrest in June last year. He was arrested after caste clashes in western Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, which left at least two persons dead and many injured. After his arrest on charges of inciting violence and rioting, National Security Act was also invoked against him and five of his accomplices. He has been released was to be released in November.

ALSO READ: Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar arrested

In a release issued to media on Thursday night, the home department had claimed that the decision for early release of the Dalit leader was taken in view of repeated pleas of his ailing mother and the changed circumstances.

The Bhim Army was set up around three years ago in Saharanpur and has its network across seven states of the country with considerable popularity among members of the Dalit community. The Bhim Army also runs some 300 pathshalas for community children. However, the emergence of Bhim Army in western UP has been seen as an alternative by those members of the Dalit community who stand disenchanted with Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

Notably, Azad was arrested jointly by Saharanpur police and a special task force of UP police from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh on June 8, 2018. He had been incarcerated for his alleged role in Saharanpur caste violence case and was charged under the draconian National Security Act. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the caste violence in Saharanpur in August filed the charge sheet against Chandra Shekhar and 110 others. He was charged with 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon) and 153A of the Indian Penal Code among others.

The Allahabad HC had granted him bail on November 2, 2017, in four cases but the state government had immediately slapped NSA on him on the recommendation of Saharanpur District magistrate thus extending his stay in jail. According to highly placed sources, legal aides and top leaders of Bhim Army were contacted by the UP government on Thursday afternoon and given the information about his early release. Two of Azad's aides, whose jail terms were till October 14, will also be released early along with him, the government statement said.
(T-B) Sudha Bharadwaj was arrested in Faridabad, Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, Writer Vara Vara Rao from Hyderabad, Journalist Gautam Navlakha from New-Delhi and 61-Year old Vernon Gonsalves from Mumbai. (File | Agencies)

By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Some of the activists arrested in the Bhima-Koregaon case observed a day-long hunger strike on Thursday at the Yerawada Central jail to commemorate the martyrdom of freedom fighter Jatin Das, their friends and well-wishers claimed.

But, the jail authorities maintained that they had no knowledge about the stir. We have not received any intimation regarding any such agitation, a senior official said.

Incidentally, about 200 jail inmates had threatened to proceed on hunger strike against the changes in parole rules about 10 days ago.

Advocate Surendra Gadling, writer-editor Sudhir Dhawale, and activists Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson participated in the strike.
By PTI

THRIUVANANTHAPURAM: Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan said Friday the espionage case filed against him by the Kerala police was "fabricated" and welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that he was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty".

He insisted the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

Narayanan said he would take "rest" after fighting the legal battle for 24 years.

"The Supreme Court has clearly stated that it was an illegal arrest. It also identifies and acknowledges the suffering and humiliation I have gone through."

"The highest court of the country has accepted what I said. They (Kerala police) fabricated the case. The technology they said I stole and sold did not even exist then," he said responding to the order.

The Supreme Court while ordering a probe into the role of the Kerala police Wednesday awarded Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty and asked the state government to pay it to him within eight weeks.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Mishra, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe the framing of Narayanan in the case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

"Till the age of 53, I worked for the organisation (ISRO). After that, for 24 years, I worked for this case. I am now going to take rest," Narayanan told PTI, calling the court battle a "tough fight" where he was "alone".

The scientist said he would now devote himself to his family, which he neglected all these years.

When asked if he had got justice with the Supreme Court's order, he said it was "very difficult" to answer the question.

"If somebody asks me are you happy that you have received Rs 50 lakh as compensation. Even with Rs 50 crore I cannot be happy. You cannnot buy my happiness with money. I will be happy with just Rs 5. So, I cannot equate my happiness with this money, I cannot equate my torture with this money," he said.

The espionage case pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

Narayanan said he felt "better now than earlier" and demanded that there be a deadline for the Supreme Court- appointed panel to complete its probe.

He said the officials responsible for his illegal arrest should be made to pay him the Rs 50 lakh compensation awarded by the Supreme Court.

Former DGP Sibi Mathew, who headed the Special Investigation Team that investigated the case and arrested Narayanan, refused to comment on the SC verdict.

Narayanan had to spend close to two months in jail before the CBI concluded the allegations against him were false.

The case had a political fallout in Kerala with a section of Congressmen rallying against the then chief minister late K Karunakaran.

They claimed Karunakaran was shielding Raman Srivastava, an IG rank officer whose name also cropped up in the case.

Karunakaran had to step down in March 1995 and A K Antony succeeded him.

Srivastava later retired as the state's police chief and is now advisor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on police matters.

Reacting to the SC order, K Muraleedharan, Congress leader and son of Karunakaran, said his father was the "only victim" in the espionage case who did not get justice.

The conspiracy behind the case would be known when the judicial panel questions the officers involved in it, Muraleedharan, a former state Congress president, said.

He alleged P V Narasimha Rao, the then prime minister, "betrayed" his father and used the case to oust him.

Karunakaran's daughter K Padmana, also a Congress leader, said she would "reveal" the names of those who hatched the conspiracy to the judicial commission.
Ramananda Sengupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday played down Nepals refusal to join the military exercise being hosted in India under the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical & Economic Cooperation) banner.

In what was widely seen as a direct snub to New Delhi, after earlier declining to take part in the anti-terror drill now underway in Pune, Nepals newly appointed Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa cited other engagements to excuse himself from the army chiefs conclave at the conclusion of the exercise. Reports that Nepal would take part in Sagarmatha Friendship-2, another scheduled joint anti-terror military exercise with China from September 17 to 28 in Chengdu added further fuel to the controversy.

It is not a snub, only recently a person has taken charge (as Army Chief). There are some protocol and non-protocol customary things that I am told they do before they get into nitty-gritties and these are all fixed. As a result of that, he has legitimately excused himself, defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told a daily in an interview printed Thursday.

Another official pointed out that BIMSTEC worked on a consensus basis, and Nepal had every right to refuse for whatever reason it sees as relevant, and one should not turn into a needless controversy.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday restored the pride of rocket scientist S Nambi Narayanan, twenty-four years after he was unnecessarily arrested, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty in an espionage case. The apex court awarded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to him on account of loss of reputation and mental agony.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra further directed for constitution of a committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge D K Jain, to investigate the involvement of Kerala police officers, who played a pivotal role in implicating the former ISRO scientist in the spying case. The Centre and State will nominate a member each to the committee.

SC constitutes committee headed by retired judge D K Jain to probe the role of Kerala police officials in the arrest of Nambi Narayan @NewIndianXpress  kanusarda (@sardakanu_TNIE) September 14, 2018

The former ISRO scientist expressed happiness over the Supreme Court's verdict. Rather than compensation, Nambi Narayanan is keen on taking action against the officials.

However, Narayanan refrained from commenting on the verdict for now. "I would respond to the verdict in detail, after going through the verdict," he said.

76-year-old Nambi Narayanan, while functioning as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, was arrested on November 30, 1994. Later, Narayanan told the court that the entire probe in the ISRO case was found to be "malicious" and the CBI had filed a closure report which was accepted by the magistrate.

The apex court was hearing the plea of the Narayanan who sought action against former DGP Siby Mathews and others who were part of the Special Investigation Team in Kerala in 1994, which had probed the case in which he was framed.

Kerala government had said that during the investigation, it has found no role could be attributed to the police officers for false implication.

The former ISRO scientist had filed an appeal against the judgement of the division bench of the Kerala High Court which had said no action needed to be taken against the police officials.

Later, he had approached the NHRC claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture suffered by him and had awarded an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.
By PTI

CHENNAI: DMK Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should explain on what transpired between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Vijay Mallya during their 'meeting' before the fugitive liquor baron left India or else sack him from the cabinet.

In a tweet, DMK President M K Stalin alleged that the claim by Mallya about meeting Jaitely 'proved' that the BJP was "a puppet" in the hands of corporate leaders.

"The Prime Minister should reveal what the secret discussions were, else he should dismiss him (Jaitley)", Stalin said.

ALSO READ: I'm a political football, scapegoat, says Vijay Mallya as Arun Jaitley rubbishes claims of meeting him

Mallya, facing charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs 9,000 crore, had Wednesday claimed in London that he had met the finance minister before leaving for the United Kingdom.

However, Jaitley rejected the claim, saying he never gave him any appointment after becoming a minister in 2014 but the businessman misused his privilege as an MP to accost him once in Parliament.
Ramananda Sengupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Rafale row took another twist on Thursday following Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharamans remark that the government procured only 36 Rafale jets from France because IAF lacked necessary infrastructure and other technical requirements for more.

Every time you induct one squadron, there is requirement for a lot of other paraphernalia. Given a set of parameters, if you quickly want to induct, two is the ideal, because in ready, flyway condition, that is all you can induct, she told a daily.

Her remarks come a day after Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, defended the Rafale deal saying, ..the government is strengthening the IAF to counter the shortfall of our depleting numbers of aircraft.

The Opposition Congress, which had been negotiating for 126 Rafales under the MMRCA deal while in power, was quick off the mark, accusing Sitharaman of lying and once again demanding a JPC probe into the deal.

Defence Minister is caught lying again on the number of fighter aircraft required by IAF, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told the media. Her claim that IAF does not have the infrastructure like parking place, maintenance facility to fly 126 Fighter aircraft is preposterous and goes against the grain of national security requirements, he said.

Can the government and IAF not create parking space maintenance facility in the 6-8 years during which the aircraft will be delivered? Can the creation of parking space maintenance facility be a ground for compromising air superiority and national security? he asked.

Accusing Sitharaman of also lying on the non-disclosure of Rafale prices which she had agreed to publicly disclose in a Press conference last year, he said, Let the Prime Minister and Defence Minister own accountability and submit to a JPC probe instead of lying to nation.

Strategic analyst Nitin Gokhale, however, disagrees. Any new induction of fighter or transport aircraft needs massive infrastructure back up. That expense is in-built in the total cost of acquisition. To that extent, what the Raksha Mantri says is true, said Gokhale, who is also the editor in chief of sniwire.com.

One should also look the past precedence, when the IAF first inducted just two squadrons of other fighter jets before adding numbers. So two Rafale squadrons are par for course, he said.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: A day after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in a terror funding case, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the order.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said it would hear the matter on September 26.

The order came on a plea filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the Delhi High Court's order, saying that it has ignored the evidence against Watali.

Appearing for the NIA, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the apex court that there were "very serious charges" against the businessman and he should not have been granted bail.

The Agency further contended that documents recovered from the premises of Watali's accountant have showed that money had been received from Pakistan-based terrorist leaders Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin and the Pakistan High Commission which was distributed to Hurriyat leaders to finance terror activities.

Forensic analysis of Watali's signature proved his involvement, but the high court ignored the documents as a "piece of paper", the NIA told the apex court.

A counsel appearing for Watali said he was 75-years-old and has been in jail for months and there were no grounds for the NIA to make a case against him.

Watali, arrested for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Saeed, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Thursday, directing him to not leave the country without permission.

He had challenged the trial court's June 8 order rejecting his bail plea.

Watali was arrested on August 17, 2017, and was charge-sheeted by the NIA on January 18 along with Saeed Salahuddin, seven Kashmiri separatist leaders and others in the case.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday stayed the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submissions of National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the release of Watali would cause grave harm to the ongoing probe in the terror-funding case.

The NIA was represented by Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh.

The bench has now fixed the plea of NIA filed against the Delhi High Court verdict for hearing on September 26 and asked the accused businessman to file his response in the meantime.

The high court had Thursday said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the NIA.

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswans hopes for an easy victory in his pocket borough of Hajipur in next years Lok Sabha polls may be dashed as one of his daughters is getting ready to contest against him as an RJD candidate.

Asha Devi, the daughter of Paswan and his first wife Raj Kumari Devi, said on Friday that she would join the poll fray against the Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution. I am going to contest against him (Paswan) if I get an RJD ticket, she said.

Accusing Paswan of discriminating against his daughters and promoting his brothers and his son Chirag Paswan, who is currently the LJP MP from Jamui and the partys parliamentary board chief, Asha said she aims at defeating her father in the polls in the interests of the countrys Dalits.

Her husband Anil Kumar Sadhu, who quit LJP in March and joined RJD, said his father-in-law had cheated both his family and the Dalits of the country for his personal gains. Sadhu, who used to be the president of Dalit Sena when he was with LJP, said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is his leader and that he would spend his energies in securing the RJD-led grand alliances victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.

Sadhu is himself keen on contesting the Lok Sabha polls on an RJD ticket. We (he and wife) are all ready to contest against Ram Vilas Paswan and Chirag Paswan. Our aim is to defeat them in the polls. They have deceived the countrys Dalits by allying with the anti-Dalit BJP, said Sadhu, whose father, Punit Rai, had represented Fatuha assembly constituency for five consecutive terms from 1980 onwards.

Ram Vilas Paswan divorced Raj Kumari Devi in 1981 and married Reena Sharma, who hails from Amritsar in Punjab, in 1983. He had two daughters  Asha and Usha  with Raj Kumari Devi, who has been living an obscure life in Bihars Khagaria. Paswan and Reena have a son, Chirag Paswan, and a daughter.

The LJP chief has won the LS polls from Hajipur eight times since 1977, losing thrice  in 1984, 1996 and 2009. His victory in 1977 with a margin of 4.24 lakh votes had earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a bid to reach out to the backward sections of society ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh has ordered early release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan who has been in jail since June 2017 over his alleged role in the Saharanpur caste violence, in which four persons were killed.

The prison stint of Azad, slapped with National Security Act, was scheduled to end on November 1, 2018 but the state government said he would be set free two months prior to his scheduled release.

The government said the decision for his early release was taken on humanitarian grounds in the wake of the repeated pleas of his ailing mother and prevailing circumstances.

The decision comes at a time when the ruling party is trying all the tricks up its sleeves to woo Dalits to bolster its performance in the election next year.

As part of a larger strategy, the saffron party has been organising caste meets to keep the deprived sections in good humour to counter the challenge posed by prospective SP-BSP alliance in the state.

During Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll, Azad had appealed to the Dalit communities to support the joint opposition candidate. The BJP lost the seat.

According to highly placed sources, legal aides and top leaders of Bhim Army were contacted by the UP government on Thursday afternoon and given the information about his early release.

Two of Azads aides, whose jail terms would last till October 14, will also be released early along with him, a government release said.

Who is Azad?

Azad, a self-styled patron of Bhim Army, calls himself an epitome of Ravan. With his army spread across seven states besides UP, he is known to adopt any path, including violence, to respond to the brutality perpetrated by upper castes every now and then.
By PTI

RAJKOT: Police Thursday said that the ganja seized from the house of a woman Wednesday weighed 357.5 kilograms, making it the biggest seizure of the contraband in Rajkot.

Madina Juneja (45) was arrested Wednesday, and a huge quantity of ganja seized after the city's Special Operations Group (SOG) and Bhaktinagar police station personnel raided her house in Jungleshwar area here, an official said.

A senior official Thursday said that three persons from Juneja's family have also been arrested in connection with the raid and seizure.

"The police has seized 357.5 kg ganja having a market value of about Rs 21,45,582. We have also arrested Madina's husband Usman Juneja (49), their daughter Afsana (25) and a minor boy," Rajkot Police Commissioner Manoj Agrawal said Thursday.

He added that a revolver and two live cartridges have been recovered from Juneja's house.

Agrawal said that the quantity of ganja seized in this case, at 357.5 kgs, is the bigger haul of the contraband in the city.

He claimed that several members of the family had cases of drug peddling registered against them previously.

"Madina's mother Amina was arrested on August 20 with over 1 kg ganja. Madina's son Nawaz is serving jail in Jamnagar," the commissioner said.

He said that the police would soon obtain custody of Nawaz to interrogate him.
By PTI

INDORE: Praising the Dawoodi Bohra community for its honesty in trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the world is one family, gives India an identity different from all other countries.

The prime minister was speaking at a function held at the Saifee Mosque.

The community's spiritual head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, felicitated Modi on his arrival at the mosque for the event, 'Ashara Mubaraka', which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

"The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," the prime minister said in his address.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Modi explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said.

The prime minister highlighted the GST (Goods and Services Tax) roll-out and other economic reforms carried out by his government and said members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these steps as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras, a sect within Shia Islam known for their trading and business acumen, for their efforts in making the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close.

During the Dandi Yatra, Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the prime minister said.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched on September 15 and will culminate on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

Modi lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

The prime minister was received by Chouhan and others on his arrival at the Devi Ahiyabai Airport here.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The trajectory of Chinese actions suggest that there could be more Doklam-like incidents in the future and the Indian Army needs to build infrastructure in vulnerable border areas to prepare for it, two former top military commanders said Friday.

Lt Gen (retd) Praveeen Bakshi, who was heading the Army's eastern command when India and China were involved in standoff in Doklam, said he was grateful to the government as it gave him a free hand to take action as he deemed appropriate to stop the Chinese.

Talking about Doklam, Chumar and Demchok standoffs between the Indian and Chinese troops over the last few years, Lt Gen DS Hooda (retd), who is a former Northern Army Commander, said the three incidents were different and the motivations behind them may also be probably different, but there was some common pattern emerging.

While both countries have been carrying out patrolling in these areas to show their claims, what is increasingly being seen in these incidents are the Chinese attempts at use of force to reinforce their claims, he said at a panel discussion at the India International Centre titled 'Doklam revisited'.

"The trajectory that we are seeing, we will see more of these incidents. It happens now, one month, two months, three months (that is not known). We certainly haven't seen the last of it," Hooda said.

"To me the big worry is, if it happens where infrastructure is not as well built up as in Ladakh and even in Sikkim. Arunachal Pradesh is a huge worry," he said.

Bakshi concured with Hooda's opinion saying, "We will see more of it perhaps. We should be prepared for more such (incidents)."

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road in the disputed tri-junction by the Chinese army.

Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam and both the countries have been holding talks to resolve the issue.

Former Indian Ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha said Doklam should not be looked upon as an isolated incident but part of a large pattern of behaviour on the part of China.

"Chinese did not seem to anticipate forceful action taken by us," he said.

Hooda said there was a definite upping of the ante on the part of China and the peace protocols that have been agreed to by them with India, have been completely ignored by them.

He said there was preplanning for the Chinese incursions and it was not as if they did just stumbled into some situation that escalated.

Bakshi said in the Doklam incident, military action lasted about 100 hours and nothing changed on ground till August 28.

He said the Indian Army leveraged the absence of Indian media's reporting at the start of the Doklam incident to its advantage.

"We were confident it was not going to break into an all-out war. We were prepared for a long haul," he said.

Bakshi said the lessons that need to be learnt from the incident are that the network of roads in border areas needs to be strengthened and better coordination is needed between the Army and the border guarding forces.

He also called for more synergy between the three forces.

V P Haran, former Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, said it was important to ensure that Bhutanse students get into good Indian educational institutions so that their special bond with the country continues.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: The picture of an Army man dragging the body of a militant, killed in an encounter, with chains tied to his leg, on a road in Katra in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has caused outrage with human rights activist terming it as "barbaric".

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed by security forces in a seven-hour gunfight at Dhiriti Village in Reasi district of Jammu province on Thursday. At least 12 security men including three officers were injured in the gunfight with the terrorists.

The encounter ended after bodies of all three militants, who according to police had infiltrated from Samba sector on Wednesday morning and fired on policemen in Jajjar Kotli, were recovered and security forces called off the operation.

The picture has gone viral on social media and drawn strong reactions, with many criticising the Army for not showing respect to the body of a dead terrorist.

Human rights activist Khurram Parvez termed the incident as "barbaric" and tweeted, This explains Indian Army's human rights conduct."

Despite repeated attempts, Defence spokesman in Jammu Lt Col Devender Anand could not be reached for army version on the incident.

However, Defence analyst and TV host Major Gaurav Arya defended the Army in his tweet.

"Before dying, a terrorist will remove the pin of a grenade and suppress the lever with his body, effectively booby trapping his own body. When dead body is moved, lever disengages and grenade goes off, killing security forces. This is why body is pulled with rope. It's common sense," he tweeted.

Senior Kashmiri journalist Ahmed Ali Fayyaz also took to Twitter to express his dismay over the incident.

"To the best of our knowledge, no law, no international protocol does permit security forces to drag a dead militant's body this way. This is why sometimes killing of one militant leads to induction of 2 fresh militants and the cycle goes unending. It's illegal and condemnable".
T J S George By

Indias biggest achievement since independence is its march to leadership ranks in space technology. In June last year, the national space organisation, ISRO, put into space a rocket as heavy as 200 fully grown elephants, making it a major player in the satellite launch industry alongside the US, France and Russia.

The pioneers who prepared the ground for this great leap forward were Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, men of impeccable scientific credentials. Bhabha pioneered nuclear research while Sarabhai focussed on space and rocketry. Both had the nuclear bomb at the back of their minds, according to Ready to Fire, the important and moving book by Nambi Narayanan, the ISRO scientist who pioneered cryogenic technology in India at great personal cost.

Sarabhai had developed close contacts, says Nambi, with Armin Dadieu, the German rocket engineer. (Germanys V-2 rocket, symbol of its space technology leadership, had stunned Britain in World War II). He also knew Itokawa, specialist on Japans pencil rocket. Nambi writes: With faith in the Japanese wisdom on onboard-control systems and the German mastery over fabrication, both not allowed by the US to be put to use by those countries, Sarabhai was trying to forge a deadly brotherhood. The US was ostensibly unhappy.

Then, at 56, Bhabha died in an air crash in Switzerland in 1966. At 52, Sarabhai died in a hotel room in Trivandrum in 1971 for no apparent reason. In 1994, when ISRO was close to mastering cryogenic technology on its own after having been obstructed by the US, Nambi Narayanan and Sasikumar were arrested, tortured and virtually destroyed by Kerala Police in the notorious ISRO spy case. Nambi, a man of almost superhuman willpower, went through it for four years before he could go to the Supreme Court, which declared him and others as innocent.

It all started with a Kerala Police inspector eyeing a six-foot Maldivian woman. Spurned by her, he set out to get her tied up in legal knots, then found an opportunity to file spying charges against her. The case quickly became a cause celebre used by multiple agencies for multiple purposes. The end result, as summed up by Kumar Chellappan in a 2013 article, was that the case not only finished the careers of Indias two exceptionally brilliant space scientists, but also put the countrys cryogenic engine development on hold for more than 19 years.

Nambi Narayanans account of the drama, subtitled How India and I survived the ISRO spy case, fills us with equal parts of pride and shame. Sarabhais vision and the dedication of his team of scientists make up an inspiring episode of recent history. It makes us feel that we are a people who can achieve anything if only the dreamers are given a free hand. The next moment, though, reality makes us feel ashamedthe reality that we will never do well because of the dishonesty and crookedness of those who are in positions of power.

Kerala Police, known for its love of third-degree methods and the selfishness of some of its officers, played a dastardly role in the spy case. The CBI itself rejected all its findings and case diaries which reflect adversely on the methods and intentions of the investigating officers of the Kerala Police.

One bows in awe before Nambi Narayanan, who withstood the cruelties of the sadistic police which Sasikumar could not. The first blow landed when they asked him to give the name of a Muslim friend and he, quite honestly, gave the name of his colleague APJ Abdul Kalam. For more than 30 hours he was made to stand, answering questions, taking beatings. When he asked for water, the answer was: You third-rate criminal, you want water?

This astonishing man gathered strength by telling himself I cannot let down Sarabhai, my father, my gurus and myself. As he puts it: I took deep breaths and stood my ground. I spoke. You guys are committing a big crime, and you will be punished for this.

It is sickening to learn that a scientist working on a nationally important project became a victim of cunning politicians (Congress leader Oommen Chandy used the ISRO case to get rid of the then Congress chief minister), and scheming police officers (a DGP used the case to malign another officer who stood in the way of his promotion). Nambi Narayanan lost his career, but recovered his honour. May his tribe increase and may he succeed in getting just desert for those police tormentors found guilty by the CBI itself.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Reacting to the Non Bailable Warrant(NBW) issued by a Maharashtra court against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Telugu Desam Party(TDP) leaders on Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing government agencies for

political gains.

Senior TDP leader E Peddi Reddy speaking to media, said that his leader N Chandrababu Naidu would be delivering a talk on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in the US on September 24, and attempts are being made to thwart the same.

Telangana TDP president L Ramana submitted a representation to the state Chief Secretary on the issue. Former Lok Sabha MP Nama Nageswara Rao also accused the BJP-led central government of abuse of

power and misuse of government agencies against the TDP.

Reddy said, "Looking at the timing and under the circumstances in which the warrant has been issued after eight years of the incident occurring, people have doubts that this is a conspiracy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He could not digest the fact that a Chief Minister has been invited by the United Nations to speak in the General Assembly, whereas he has not been invited."

The UN has invited Naidu to speak on the title 'Financing Sustainable Agriculture: Global Challenges and Opportunities' on September 24, on the sidelines of UN General AAssembly in New York.

The court order dated July 5 was issued by the Dharmabad court in Nanded district against Naidu and 15 others.

The case dates back to 2010 when Naidu, the then leader of Opposition in United Andhra Pradesh had tried to visit the Babli project in Maharashtra, across the river Godavari to protest against it but was

arrested by the police.

Reddy added, "The warrant, which directs that Naidu and other accused persons should be arrested and produced in the court by September 21. The date was also changed from August 16 to September 21. This clearly shows that the court has been misused to ensure that Naidu's schedule should be disturbed and he should not be able to speak at the UN General Assembly meeting."

He also said that the NBW by Dharmabad court is a conspiracy by BJP to affect the political fortunes of TDP and Congress coalition in Telangana through this move.

Reddy further said, "It was in June 2010 when we were stopped by the Maharashtra police from visiting the Babli project site. We were lathicharged, locked up in a poultry farm for five days and were thrashed

by the police in Aurangabad. After that when the Maharashtra police dropped us back at midnight in Hyderabad, they told us there is no case filed against us. How did the case come up suddenly after eight

years now?"

He further said, "We are not afraid of the Non Bailable Warrant. We respect the court and will submit our reply to the notice."
By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: A man from Vadakara near here has lodged a complaint with the police alleging Kirmani Manoj, convicted of the murder of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan, has married his wife.

The complainant claimed he was still legally married to the woman with whom Kirmani Manoj tied the knot the other day. He also demanded the custody of his two children who are currently staying with his wife.

Kirmani Manoj, lodged in Viyyur Central prison and out on parole, married the woman at a temple in Puducherry on Wednesday. The complainant, who works in Bahrain, lodged a complaint with the Vadakara DySP which was later handed over to Vadakara SHO Madhusoodanan Nair T for verification. We have received the complaint and are verifying its veracity, said the Vadakara SHO.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR:Even as expulsion of former minister Damodar Rout from Biju Janata Dal evoked no response from the party leaders, the senior lawmaker launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for getting rid of Biju Patnaiks loyalists one after another.

The Chief Minister, however, dismissed the remarks against him by Rout as ridiculous. Dama babu has been making irresponsible statements. His allegations are ridiculous, Naveen said after his return from New Delhi. On Wednesday night, Naveen had expelled the seven-time MLA from the party on charges of anti-party activities.

Naveen also made light of speculations over formation a new political outfit and said it will have no impact. It is their business. But a new political party will have no impact on the political scenario of the State, he said. The meeting between former BJD leader Baijayant Panda and Rout at the latters residence had stirred speculations about formation of a new political party. However, as the day advanced, there seemed to be no development in this regard. The two leaders met for about 20 minutes.

Launching a direct attack on Naveen, Rout said the BJD president changed the partys ideology to safeguard his political interest, which is contrary to the ideals of his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik.

A section of BJD leaders are now looting Odisha in the name of Biju Patnaik. This must be hurting the soul of the legendary leader. It will be good for the people of Odisha if the Chief Minister is unseated at the earliest, he said. Rout had embarrassed the BJD by raising allegations of corruption in agriculture and cooperation departments. He also alleged that an officer, whom he described as the Godfather, and three MLAs are now running the BJD.

The 75-year-old Rout dismissed any possibility of joining either the Congress or the BJP or even the Left parties following his expulsion from the BJD. However, he did not make it clear if he has plans to float a new political outfit ahead of the elections.

I can assure you that I am not joining the Congress, BJP or Left parties. However, I will contest next elections as the people of Paradip want me to, Rout said and added, I will reveal next course of action in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said expulsion of Rout from the BJD is an internal matter. But, the allegations of scams made by Rout should be probed and truth must come out. Let the Government say that Routs allegations are false, he said.
By Express News Service

KRISHNAGIRI: As many as 11 people were arrested on Tuesday in Sanamangalam village, near Bagalur, in connection with incidents of violence between Dalits and caste Hindus on Monday, but only on Thursday did details of the matter come to the notice of the public elsewhere.

While six of those arrested are caste Hindus, five are Dalits. All 11, booked under IPC sections 147, 294 (b), 323, 324 and 506 (i) and 4 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, have been remanded and lodged in the Salem Central Prison.

Besides those arrested, another 11 people wanted in the case - five caste Hindus and six Dalits - are absconding.

The incidents began with some caste Hindu youths allegedly abusing Harish (20), a Dalit youth, using filthy words and the caste slur, for allegedly driving his motorcycle rashly through the village. The altercation escalated, and from then, shops refused to sell provisions, milk and even medicines to Dalits, sources said. They have been living in fear since then.

A number of police personnel have been posed in Sanamangalam. When Express asked Special Sub-inspector Kuppusamy about the incident, he said he was unaware of the issue. He did not know for what purpose he was sent there, but was only orders from higher officials, Kuppusamy added.

In fact, Express found that most of the villagers were afraid of saying anything about the incident. They are even hesitant to go to the local provision store to buy necessities. The village has about 250 caste Hindus families and around 30 Dalit families.

A shop owner, Gopi, a caste Hindu, first refused to say anything but later said he had closed his shop on Monday and Tuesday, fearing caste Hindus. He started giving provisions to Dalits on Wednesday afternoon, after Express visited the village.

Abused using caste slur

The incidents began with some caste Hindu youth allegedly abusing Harish (20), a Dalit youth, using filthy words and the caste slur, for allegedly driving his motorcycle rashly through the village. The altercation escalated, and from then, shops refused to sell provisions, milk and even medicines to Dalits, sources said
By Express News Service

MADURAI: Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan said that the `20 rupees currency tactics of Deputy General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) T T V Dhinakaran would not work in the forthcoming Thiruparankundram by-elections.

He said this while addressing a cycle rally campaign for the bypolls headed by the state secretary of AIADMK Amma Peravai and Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar at Thanakankulam in Madurai on Thursday. As many as 5,000 party cadre participated in the cycle rally from Thanakankulam to Silaiman.

The minister said that the `20 currency trick employed by Dhinakaran in R K Nagar by-election would not work out in the forthcoming by-elections. Stating that AIADMK would definitely win, Srinivasan also said that the opposition parties would vanish after the by-elections.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the event, AIADMK party deputy coordinator R Vaithilingam said the cycle rally, organised at Thiruparankundram would be helpful to campaign about the achievements of the government and to strengthen the party. He said Thiruparankundram was AIADMKs fort and it would definitely win the by-poll with a margin of at least 1 lakh votes.

Several ministers including Cooperation Minister Sellur K Raju, Information Minister Kadambur Raju, Electricity Minister P Thangamani, Milk and Dairy Development Minister K T Rajendra Balaji participated in the event.

Opposition will vanish

Dindigul C Srinivasan said that AIADMK would definitely win the bypoll and the opposition parties would vanish thereafter
By AFP

NEW YORK: Mass evacuations from US towns north of Boston were underway Thursday after dozens of fires and suspected gas explosions erupted, police said, leaving at least 10 residents injured, one critically.

Massachusetts State Police said they had responded to 70 reports of fires, explosions and the smell of gas in a widespread zone encompassing the east coast towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

"Gas lines are currently being depressurized," police tweeted, adding that "it will take some time."

"Numerous evacuations of neighbourhoods where there are gas odours are underway," police said. "Far too early to speculate on the cause. A joint investigation will be conducted when the situation is stabilized."

People cover their faces to protect themselves from heavy smoke from a fire on Bowdoin Street in Lawrence, Mass., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. The company that owns Columbia Gas says its crews are performing safety checks after a series of fires and explosions erupted in three communities north of Boston.

Authorities were to cut power to thousands of meters, police said, and residents in all three towns with utilities service from Columbia Gas had been asked to evacuate immediately.

In a release dated Thursday the company had said it would "be upgrading natural gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state."

The mayor of Lawrence requested that all those living in the southern zone of his town leave their homes ahead of the planned power shutdown.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 patients injured in the gas explosions, one in critical condition and another in serious condition.

Firefighters battle a house fire, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, on Herrick Road in North Andover, Massachusetts, one of the multiple emergency crews responding to a series of gas explosions and fires triggered by a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several communities north of Boston.

"Cases range from smoke inhalation to traumatic blast injuries," the hospital said, adding that one patient had been taken to another hospital. Red Cross centres were open to shelter evacuees while Lawrence-area schools were to shutter Friday.

A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board was to head to the scene Friday morning, the federal agency tweeted.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement he was "actively monitoring the situation," urging residents to heed instructions from local officials.
By AFP

QAMISHLI: Kurdish fighters in northern Syria detained an alleged Italian member of the Islamic State group as he was trying to flee across the border to Turkey, they said Thursday.

The People's Protection Units (YPG) have captured several foreign IS fighters since the jihadists' so-called caliphate collapsed nearly a year ago.

"On August 27, a mercenary called Semir Bogana was captured as a result of a special operation conducted by our Anti-Terror Units, when he was trying to flee to Turkey," said the YPG.

It said Bogana -- an Italian citizen known also as Abu Hureyre al-Muhajir or Abu Abdullah al-Muhajir -- was responsible for weapons shipments to IS.

The YPG makes up the bulk of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance of Kurds and Arabs that spearheaded the fight against IS.

The detained Italian was currently being interrogated and "his fate will be determined at the end of the investigation," an SDF source told AFP.

"We are coordinating with the international coalition, which includes Italy, about all the Daesh detainees," he added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

At the peak of its "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq, IS attracted thousands of foreigners to join it.

But it has since lost almost all of its territory, including its de facto capital in Syria, the northern city of Raqa.

Since then, US-backed forces have been detaining foreign IS members in both Syria and Iraq.

Among their most infamous detainees are Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee el-Sheikh, two survivors of a four-man IS unit that saw foreign journalists and others tortured and beheaded.

They had been dubbed "The Beatles" because they were British.

French IS members were also arrested in the months after Raqa's fall, including Adrien Guihal, Emilie Konig, and Thomas Barnouin.

The fate of the foreigners, including whether they are handed over to their national authorities, is a controversial topic as some countries appear unwilling to accept extradited nationals who fought with IS in Syria.

Last month, Washington said two Americans accused of supporting IS had been handed over to US authorities by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Lebanese members of IS have also been transferred to Beirut.
By IANS

THIMPHU: Bhutan will vote in a primary round of the third general election on Saturday, officials said.

The general election will be held on October 18. Prior to that, the primary round would be held between four aspiring political parties. After that, only two parties will be selected to compete for the general round, according to the Election Commission.

The polling for the primary round will start from 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

As per the poll body, there are 438,663 voters on the electoral roll, of which at least 60 per cent are expected to cast their votes during the primary round.

To facilitate the voters, the Election Commission had set up postal ballot facilitation and mobile booths across 20 districts of Bhutan from September 7-9.
By Associated Press

BERLIN: A German teenager has been arrested on suspicion he was planning an Islamic extremist bombing attack in the Frankfurt area, prosecutors said Thursday.

Frankfurt prosecutors' spokesman Sinan Akdogan told The Associated Press the 17-year-old was arrested by Hesse state police September 1 and ordered held by a judge on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence.

The information leading to the arrest, provided by the United States, indicated the suspect was planning to attack a gay nightclub in Frankfurt and a Catholic church in the city, according to an official with access to intelligence information, who discussed it on condition of anonymity.

Akdogan would not comment on the target or the source of the information, citing the ongoing investigation, but said state police had been acting on information received through Germany's domestic intelligence agency.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect had instructions on how to make explosives known as TATP and was trying to procure chemicals online, Akdogan said.

It was not clear how advanced the preparations were but Akdogan said small amounts of chemicals were found during a search of the suspect's home in Florstadt, northeast of Frankfurt.

The suspect's name was withheld for privacy reasons and Akdogan said he could not give further details on the planned attack.

Germany has previously had success with American intelligence information helping thwart plots, most notably in 2007 in stopping a plan to bomb the US Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany.

In that case, following a tip from the US, German officials put under surveillance four members of the radical Islamic Jihad Union and covertly replaced the hydrogen peroxide they had collected to use for their bombs with a diluted substitute that could not have been used to produce an explosive.

That allowed them to build a case over time and four men were eventually arrested and convicted of terrorism-related charges.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: A week after the successful 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration.

Doval, who is held in high esteem by the Trump Administration, is scheduled to meet the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department on Friday.

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is likely to meet officials from the Department of Defence and from the think-tank community.

However, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Doval's visit and his meetings.

"India is a very close friend of the United States," the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. She had accompanied Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the two-plus-two Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations," she said in response to a question.

The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time, she said.

"So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to do more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have," Nauert said.

During the meetings, discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak region, in particular, those related to counter-terrorism.

It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the groundwork for the potential visit of the US President Donald Trump to India.

Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India.

The two sides are currently looking at various dates including Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2019.

Responding to a question on Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government.

Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognizing that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder.

"And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone," she said.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in India in recent decades, "eroding" its secular nature, a US Congressional report has claimed, as it warned that social media platforms provide "both tacit and overt sanction" for rising incidents of "majoritarian violence" in the country.

In its report, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) -- an independent and bi-partisan research wing of US Congress -- mentioned specific areas of alleged religiously-motivated repression and violence, including state-level anti-conversion laws, cow protection vigilantism and perceived assaults on freedom of expression and operations by non-governmental organisations that are seen as harmful to India's secular traditions.

The CRS' reports are neither an official report of the US Congress nor reflect the view of Congressmen.

They are prepared by independent experts for the lawmakers to take informed decisions.

The report titled 'India: Religious Freedom issues', said, "Religious freedom is explicitly protected under its Constitution. Hindus account for a vast majority (nearly four-fifths) of the country's populace. Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in recent decades, by many accounts eroding India's secular nature and leading to new assaults on the country's religious freedom."

A copy of the report dated August 30 was made available to PTI on Thursday.

Authored by South Asian Specialist Alan Kronstadt, the report was prepared for members of the US Congress ahead of the Indo-US 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi on September 6.

Several lawmakers had urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to raise the issue of religious freedom with Indian leaders during the 2+2 talks.

Running into more than 20 pages, the report warned that India's social media platforms provide both tacit and overt sanction for rising incidents of majoritarian violence in the country.

The report said the 2014 national election victory of the BJP brought newly-acute attention to the issue of religious freedom in India.

The BJP has since gone on to win control of numerous state governments, including in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state with more than 200 million residents, one-fifth of them Muslim, it said.

The CRS report said perceived "abuses" have produced friction in the US-India relationship, including within the US Congress.
By PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will seek "concessions" from the UN, including a special request to the drop war crime charges against its troops during the civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said Friday.

Sirisena, who will lead a delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, will address the general debate on September 25.

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the civil war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Relatives of the missing Tamil people allege that the Lankan state - particularly its army, navy and police - were behind most of the disappearances.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Addressing the media persons here Friday, Sirisena said he would use his address at the UN general assembly later this month to make a case for removal of war crimes charges.

"I will make a special request at the UN," he said, adding that "I will also make a written request to the (UN) human rights council to settle this issue of war crimes.

" "I want to tell them to remove these charges and give us some concessions to resolve this issue.

" Since 2013, Sri Lanka faced three UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions for the alleged human rights abuses during the last phase of the conflict.

The UNHRC resolutions demanded Colombo to set up a credible international investigation.

It also condemned the government troops and the LTTE for alleged war crimes.

The resolutions were adopted during the regime of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Following the defeat of Rajapaksha in 2015 general elections, Sri Lanka was given an extension to implement the mechanisms prescribed by the UNHRC.

The government had set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMPs) and also introduced a bill of reparations for the victims of the three-decade-old armed conflict.

President Sirisena also said that some pro-LTTE and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were making various allegations regarding human rights violations.

He said that his government was able to avoid Sri Lanka's isolation in the UNHRC, which had prevailed before it came to power and succeeded in fostering friendship.
By PTI

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, officials said, amid rising international concern over a looming Syrian government assault on a rebel-held province bordering Turkey.

"President Erdogan will meet with Mr Putin on Monday," Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a televised press conference on Friday.

The meeting will take place in the Russian resort city of Sochi, a senior Turkish official told AFP.

Russia-backed forces of the Syrian regime have massed around the Idlib province in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion.

UN agencies and relief organisations have warned repeatedly that such an assault could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of Syria's seven-year war.

Turkey has intensified negotiations with Russia to avert a possible attack, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire.

However last week Erdogan and Putin failed to agree on a ceasefire at a three-way summit in Tehran which also involved Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Russia and Iran are key allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Turkey however backs opposition fighters seeking the ouster of the Syrian leader, and has said a large-scale offensive against the rebels could trigger a mass exodus towards its border.

Cavusoglu on Friday said Turkey was ready to cooperate with anyone in the fight against terror groups in Syria, but criticised the Damascus regime for using the presence of jihadists groups to legitimise a possible operation in Idlib.

"We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct," he said.

"We cannot bring peace that way.

" Idlib's most powerful armed faction is the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which Ankara officially designated a "terrorist" group last month.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
A look inside the Urbana Landmark Hotel that Developers are looking to turn into a Tapestry Collection by Hilton Hotel.
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Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
They Handed Their

Baby Over the

Fence. 2 Months

Later, No Word
(Newser)  Addressing a conference in Malmo, Sweden, home of many immigrants, the Dalai Lama said Europe was "morally responsible" for helping refugees who are in dangerbut that ultimately those refugees should return to their homelands. "Receive them, help them, educate them ... but ultimately they should develop their own country," he said, per the Local. "I think Europe belongs to the Europeans," and that refugees "ultimately should rebuild their own country," he added. The 83-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner fled Tibet as Chinese communist troops took over the area in 1959, and settled in India, where he was granted asylum, the Daily Caller notes. (Read more Dalai Lama stories.)
(Newser)  Our sci-fi future is here, and in this version, US service members can make and receive calls through their teeth. That's the gist of Molar Mic, a communications device detailed in a new $10 million Pentagon contract with a California company, Defense One reports. Smithsonian Magazine and CNET lay out how the Sonitus Technologies device works: With a transmitter that's worn around the neck and a tiny custom-fit microphone clipped to a user's upper back molars, the Bluetooth-like system is able to sync up with a telephone, walkie-talkie, or other communications method, and the user will be able to take in communications through his or her jaw and skull bones. "You can hear through your head as if you were hearing through your ear," says Sonitus CEO Peter Hadrovic. He says it's akin to how you hear yourself when you chomp down on crunchy foods.

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The mic allows for discreet communications, and can also help individuals stay in communication with team members while in hazardous situationswhile they're parachuting out of a plane, say. Prototypes of the device have already been tested in Afghanistan deployments, as well as in rescue efforts in Texas after last year's Hurricane Harvey, per a press release. A Sonitus rep tells Gizmodo it won't extend Molar Mic beyond military use until the Pentagon contract is fulfilled, and there's no timeline yet for when that might be. The Air Force is set to be the first military branch to get a crack at the device, with other branches expected to follow. Sonitus says Molar Mic could have further application down the road for first responders, industrial workers, and security personnel. (Another potential weapon for the military: lasers that can mimic human voices.)
(Newser)  The brothels seemed to have an uncanny ability to sidestep trouble in undercover stings, and a slew of arrests in New York City might explain why. Prosecutors say a former vice detective familiar with the department's ways ran the operation, reports the New York Post. But more than that, he allegedly hired at least seven active-duty cops to tip him off to raids and even provide muscle as bouncers, reports the New York Times. One detective got $500 a week for letting kingpin Ludwig Paz, 51, know when to expect a raid, sometimes when he himself was outside a building as part of it, say prosecutors. Other deals were smaller: Another detective got half-off discounts on $40 sexual encounters in exchange for information, according to the charges.

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Theyve ruined their own careers and reputations," says police commissioner James P. ONeill. "More importantly, they have diminished the great work of tens of thousands of honest, honorable, and ethical cops." Police arrested three sergeants, two detectives, and two officers, along with 26 civilians. The operation also involved gambling run through nail salons in Queens, and it pulled in $2 million in profits over 13 months, say prosecutors. One way Paz allegedly used his own knowledge to his benefit: Knowing that undercover officers are not allowed to expose their genitals, he insisted that any new customers strip before they were allowed to talk business. (Read more NYPD stories.)
(Newser)  Anyone who's ever been so furious with their boss that they feel like exacting revenge really needs to listen to Lindie Liang. The Wilfrid Laurier University professor of business and her colleagues found that abusing a virtual voodoo doll instead of your boss will make you feel better without getting you fired or thrown in jail, a study that earned them a 2018 Ig Nobel, the annual prize sponsored by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research for comical but practical scientific discovery. "We wanted to understand why subordinates retaliate when it's bad for them," Liang says. "We all know yelling at our boss is bad for your career. So what's the function of retaliation? Why do people keep doing it?"

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Obviously, Liang couldn't ask people to beat their bosses. Instead, they were shown an online voodoo doll with their supervisor's initials. They then had the option to use pins, pliers, or fire on the virtual doll. The bottom line: People felt better after abusing the doll, or as Liang put it, "their injustice perceptions are deactivated." But Liang, who specializes in workplace aggression, suggests that instead of littering workplaces around the world with voodoo dolls, we should just have more civil workplaces to start with. Other winners:

Cannibalism calories . James Cole, a lecturer in archaeology at Britain's University of Brighton, earned his Ig Nobel for a study on cannibalism that found that if you want a high-calorie meal, human flesh probably isn't the way to go. "We're not super nutritious" compared to other animals, says Cole, who used a formula to determine body part calorie counts based on weight and chemical composition.

. James Cole, a lecturer in archaeology at Britain's University of Brighton, earned his Ig Nobel for a study on cannibalism that found that if you want a high-calorie meal, human flesh probably isn't the way to go. "We're not super nutritious" compared to other animals, says Cole, who used a formula to determine body part calorie counts based on weight and chemical composition. Kidney stone rollercoaster. After one of Dr. David Wartinger's patients at the Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine returned from a trip to Walt Disney World minus some of his kidney stones, Wartinger discovered that the Big Thunder Mountain ride, unlike Space Mountain and others, was an effective way of removing some kidney stones because of the way it rattles the rider, the BBC reports.

After one of Dr. David Wartinger's patients at the Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine returned from a trip to Walt Disney World minus some of his kidney stones, Wartinger discovered that the Big Thunder Mountain ride, unlike Space Mountain and others, was an effective way of removing some kidney stones because of the way it rattles the rider, the BBC reports. Self-colonoscopy. Dr. Akira Horiuchi, a pediatrician at Showa Inan General Hospital in Komagane, Japan, won for his self-colonoscopy study in which he used a colonoscope designed for children and sat upright rather than lying in the traditional supine position. Horiuchi isn't recommending that you give yourself a colonoscopy in the comfort of your home. He said via email that many people are afraid of getting a colonoscopy, and he just wanted to show how easy it can be.

(Read more Ig Nobel Prizes stories.)
(Newser)  Newly downgraded to a Category 1 storm, Hurricane Florence was already wreaking havoc on North Carolina as the gigantic storm crept slowly ashore early Friday, with hundreds of people already rescued. The storm is packing winds of 90mphmuch lower than once fearedand is moving at 6mph, reports NPR. Authorities stress that even with the lower wind speed, the storm is extremely dangerous and could still kill "a lot of people," with inland flooding posing the biggest risk, the BBC reports. The National Hurricane Center said Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, NC, about 7:45am.

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Authorities say Florence is bringing "catastrophic" flooding to a large area of the Carolinas, and at least six tornadoes have been spotted in eastern North Carolina. the AP reports. The Guardian reports that North Carolina's Department of Public Safety says more than 320,000 homes in the state are without power. The coastal city of New Bern, which sits at the intersection of two rivers, tweeted that 150 people were awaiting rescue from out-of-state FEMA teams, the News & Observer reports. Mayor Dana Outlaw said around 200 people had been rescued earlier. He could not confirm whether there were fatalities. Authorities in Jacksonville, around 30 miles south of New Bern, say 70 people had to be rescued from a hotel that was in danger of collapsing. (Read more Hurricane Florence stories.)
(Newser)  Back in 2012, a new law in North Carolina caused Stephen Colbert to do a double-take: "If your science gives you a result you don't like, pass a law saying the result is illegal," he said at the time. "Problem solved." That law is now back in the headlines, along with Hurricane Florence, reports the Guardian. In 2010, the state's Coastal Resources Commission put out a report predicting sea levels would rise 39 inches over the next century, with "multiple indicators" putting the blame on a warming global climate, per the Washington Post. The report, written mainly by scientists and engineers at state universities, said the warning should guide the state's "policy development and planning purposes" along the coast. In 2012, however, state lawmakers passed a law ordering agencies to ignore the recommendations, saying they were alarmist and far-fetched.

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"We were ready to step up to the plate and take a hard look at this long-term problem," Stanley Riggs, a retired East Carolina University professor who helped author the report, tells the New York Times. "And we blew it." One critic at the time, GOP state Rep. Pat McElraft, said the scientists "used one model, the most extreme in the world," adding that "they need to use some science that we can all trust when we start making laws in North Carolina that affect property values on the coast." Coastal development in general is booming, with the region's population and economy growing by half in 20 years, per the Times. "We've seen a catastrophic destruction of all the rules and regulations that this state was known for," says Riggs. Another retired prof, Orrin Pilkey of Duke, wrote an op-ed describing state strategy: "Wait until the situation is catastrophic and then respond." (Read more Hurricane Florence stories.)
(Newser)  Reports out of three Aussie states have strawberry lovers checking their fresh fruit carefully. The BBC and ABC Australia report that sewing needles have been found embedded in strawberries, from six different brands, that came out of supermarkets in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, per NSW police. Queensland Health said in a Thursday tweet that "consumers should cut up strawberries before consuming them," even if they're not from one of the six named makers. Three brandsDonnybrook Berries, Berry Licious, and Berry Obsessionhave been taken off the shelves completely.

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Among the reports cited by the BBC are a 9-year-old boy who's said to have bit into a strawberry with a needle (he didn't swallow it) and a 21-year-old man who reportedly went to the ER after he ingested half a needle and experienced "severe abdominal pain." A rep from the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association tells the BBC she thinks it was "sabotage," and in a statement, the QSGA says it has "reason to suspect" that an ex-supermarket employee is behind it all, per ABC. (Read more Australia stories.)
(Newser)  A mother and infant were killed Friday when a tree fell on their home in Wilmington, North Carolina, making them two of the first fatalities connected to Hurricane Florence, Fox News reports. In a tweet announcing the deaths, police also said that the father was taken to a hospital with injuries. In Pender County, a woman died of a heart attack, WRAL reports. The woman called 911, but responders were unable to reach her because of downed trees strewn across the road, per WWAY. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, more than 16 inches of rain have fallen in southeast North Carolina and another 20 to 25 inches are expected, the AP reports. (The storm is barely moving, which is bad news.)
New Delhi:

Farm equipment to aerospace conglomerate Mahindra group on Friday said it aims to become carbon neutral by 2040 with focus on energy efficiency and usage of renewable power.

The commitment was announced by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, who is also the co-chair of the Global Climate Action Summit currently underway in San Francisco, a statement by the group said.

Initially, Mahindra had pledged that only its flagship company Mahindra & Mahindra would become carbon neutral by 2040.

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However, after listening to leaders speak at the summit, he upped the ante on his commitment by extending that pledge to the entire group, it added.

We are doing our part in the global fight against climate change with this ambitious new target. Mahindra will leverage the latest technological advances and its recently announced Carbon Price to work towards being carbon neutral by 2040, he said.

The group will work on its carbon neutrality commitment with international non-profit organisation Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

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It will focus on energy efficiency and the use of renewable power to achieve this target. Residual emissions will be addressed through carbon sinks, the statement added.

M&M is a signatory of the science-based targets initiative which provides companies with a clear pathway for reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreements goal of limiting global warming to well below 2-degree C above pre-industrial levels, it added.

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New Delhi:

Elections for the four crucial posts in Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) is currently underway where eight JNU candidates are in the fray for the prestigious posts of president, vice president, secretary and joint secretary.

The first phase of the JNUSU election, which will test the electoral fortunes of the candidates, has ended at 1:30 pm. The second phase of polling will resume at 2:30 pm and will culminate at 5:30 pm.

Elaborate security arrangements have been done for the JNUSU polls, keeping in mind the aftermath of various controversial incidents which rocked the politically active campus.

Parties and candidates which are in the fray in JNUSU elections 2018:

The All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and All India Students' Federation (AISF) have joined hands to form the United-Left alliance. The alliance has picked N Sai Balaji from the School of International Studies as its presidential candidate.

Read | DUSU Elections 2018 Results Updates: ABVP bags three posts, NSUI one; Ankiv Baisoya is DUSU president

DSF's Sarika Chaudhary is contesting for the post of vice president while SFI's Aejaz Ahmad Rather has been chosen to contest for the post of general secretary. ASIF's Amutha Jayadeep is in fray for the joint secretary's position. The trio is currently studying in the School of Social Sciences.

Talking about the candidates of the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Vikas Yadav of the School of International Studies is contesting for the president's post. Lijy K Babu has been fielded by the School of Life Sciences to contest for the post of vice president.

While Md Mofizul Alam is eyeing for the post of secretary, Ngurang Reena of the School of International Studies is fighting for the post of joint secretary.

The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has fielded Lalit Pandey for the president's post while Geetashri Boruah is fighting for the post of vice-presidents. Ganesh Gurjar and Venkat Choubey are in the fray for the post of general secretary and joint secretary respectively.

Read | DU students to beautify properties defaced during DUSU polls: DMRC to HC

Besides the routine campaigning, the JNU candidates also took part in the presidential debate and answered several questions in an attempt to woo voters. The sought-after event witnessed a fiery debate with candidates alleging that "anti-national" elements were present on the institute's campus and the country was turning into "lynchistan".
New Delhi:

After Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Asaram Bapu like incidents shook the collective conscience of the nation, another self-styled godman Ashu Maharaj has been detained by Delhi police on charges of rape in late Thursday night. The Maharaj, also known as Ashu Bhai has been sent to three-day police custody for allegedly gang-raping a woman and her 16-year-old daughter at his Hauz Khas ashram in the national capital.

"Delhi: Self-styled baba Ashu Bhai sent to 3 days police custody for allegedly gang-raping a woman and her 16-year-old daughter at his ashram in Hauz Khas," the news agency ANI reported.

#Delhi: Self-styled baba Ashu Bhai sent to 3 days police custody for allegedly gang-raping a woman and her 16-year-old daughter at his ashram in Hauz Khas.  ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018

The Crime Branch of the Delhi police also arrested Samar Khan, the son of the self-styled godman for raping the woman.

Both Ashu and his son were questioned for a couple of hours in connection with the case, which is another incident of a godman in evil disguise was playing with the emotions of hundreds of his female disciples.

In her complaint to police, the woman had claimed that she was raped several times by the self-styled godman, his friends and his son between 2008 and 2013. The victim also alleged that the Maharaj even asked her to bring her minor daughter to him and then raped her.

Read | Asaram's audio clip from Jodhpur jail goes viral; self-styled godman says his time behind bars is short-lived

The woman told the police that in 2013 she had gone to wish him Diwali at the Rohini Ashram when he along with his associate sexually assaulted her. Ashu's manager Ravi Shankar gave her water laced with sedatives following which she lost consciousness. When she woke up she told the accused that she would narrate her ordeal to everyone but the accused told her that he would eliminate her entire family.



Narrating her ordeal in her complaint to the police the woman further said the Maharaj "kept on threatening me and exploited me. Not just him his friends as well. In 2016, on one occasion his son Samar and his friend Saurabh who are builders by profession also assaulted me. I had informed the same to Guruji and he responded by saying 'If I am eating my son will also eat'".

"He called me to the Hauz Khas Ashram and I went there along with my daughter. He moved his hands on my daughter's cheeks, lips and felt her. I also went to speak to him later but he threw me out of the Ashram and left in the car," the woman added.

Read | Delhi: Self-styled Godman Rampal's followers die cleaning septic tank in Ashram

The police have registered a case under section 376 D (gang-rape), 354 ( sexual harassment), 506 (criminal intimidation) and POCSO act in the Hauz Khas Police Station and transferred the probe to the Crime Branch Sunday.
Los Angeles:

"The Handmaid's Tale" star Elizabeth Moss has said that she studied the documentaries on the lives of Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and Marilyn Monroe to prepare for her role in the film "Her Smell". The 36-year-old actor plays Becky Something, a self-destructive punk rocker who struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.

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"I watched any music documentary I could get my hands on, honestly," Moss told IndieWire. "All the usual suspects, 'Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck', which I'd already seen but now I've seen a million times, 'Amy', the Amy Winehouse documentary. And also things on Marilyn Monroe, like that kind of thing, just to get a grasp of that fame and that addiction. Anything I could find about somebody who was incredibly famous or successful, but also dealing with addiction, was very helpful," she added.

Also Read | Bohemian Rhapsody reveals everything about Freddie Mercury



The film, directed by Alex Ross Perry, had its world premiere at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival.

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New Delhi:

A 19-year-old student, who was given the President's award for excelling in the CBSE board exam, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by four to five people at Kanina in Haryana's Mahendergarh district on , the police said on .



The police said the accused had kidnapped the woman in a car and took her to a secluded place where they offered a drink laced with sedatives before raping her. They later left her near a bus stop in Kanina.

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An official of Women Police station in Rewari told news agency PTI that a 'zero FIR' was lodged on the complaint of the woman, and the probe was being conducted by the Mahendergarh police as the incident occurred in the area under their jurisdiction. A zero FIR can be filed in any police station, irrespective of place of incident or jurisdiction and the same can be later transferred to the concerned Police Station.

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Reports suggest she had topped the CBSE board exam.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Indore on and addressed the community members.

"The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam gives a distinct identity to India from the rest of the world and the Bohra community is an example of it," Modi said.



Here are things to know about Dawoodi Bohra community:



Dawoodi Bohras, a sub sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, are traders hailing predominantly from Gujarat.

They are a business community reputed for their image of being wealthy, progressive and incredibly close-knit.

Also Read | At Indore mosque, PM Modi praises Dawoodi Bohra community for its contribution to Mission of Vikas

Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in Madhya Pradesh, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.

The Bohra population in India is estimated to be more 5 lakh with an equal number of diasporic members settled across the world.



Why PM Modi addressed them?



The prime minister's visit here also assumes significance as Assembly polls are due in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh by year-end.

Mufaddal Saifuddin, the current Syedna, and son of the former spiritual leader of the community -- the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin who died in  has close ties with Modi, and ever since the BJP came to power at the Cemtre he has been asking community members to support Modi in his initiatives.

Also Read | Former TERI chief RK Pachauri to be tried in sexual assault case, says Delhi's Saket Court

Scroll.in had earlier reported that it was the Syednas warmth towards Modi and talk of development that led to a change in perception within the community.

Thousands of community members have arrived here from various parts of the world to hear their religious head's sermons.

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New Delhi:

Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, the founder of Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission (Bhim Army) who has been granted an early release from Saharanpur jail late Thursday night, was once at a centre of faith for millions of lower castes people and other marginalised sections in the society. The Bhim Army chief hails from Saharanpur village located in Western part of Uttar Pradesh.

Early life and social activity:

Chandrashekhar, popularly known as Ravan is a social activist and refers to himself as 'Great Chamar' (Tanner or shoemaker). The Uttar Pradesh activist, who established Bhim Army in collaboration with Vinay Ratan Arya in 2016, works for the emancipation of minority section through education in India. Ravan also runs more than 300 free schools for backward classes in Uttar Pradesh.

Detention in connection to Saharanpur violence:

However, the situation took a violent turn in 2017 after caste clashes became very frequent in Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested Azad for allegedly spreading violence across the state. The social activist was imprisoned under the National Security Act (NSA) which allows the arrest of anyone under "preventive detention" at Saharanpur.

Azad's detention came on the heels of the Saharanpur Caste Violence incident, which took place on May 11, 2017, leaving one dead and several others injured.

Read | Bhim Army supporters hit Delhi streets, demand Chandrashekhar Azads release

Protest rallies opposing the politically motivated move:

Post that, several big rallies had been organised at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi where thousands of lower caste people gathered under the banner of Bhim Army, protesting against the atrocities they continue to face. Their demands include the release of their chief Chandrashekhar Azad.

Though the Allahabad high court later granted Azad bail, saying that the arrests were politically motivated, the Bhim Army chief continued to be imprisoned by Uttar Pradesh government under a clutch of false charges in defiance of the court's order.

Expressing his ideas and thoughts on the politically motivated imprisonment, Azad once said, "My greatest desire is to work for society, but the BJP will make sure I never leave prison. I cannot appear to be despondent or break down before someone with tears in my eyes for the simple reason that the spirit of my community has been broken so often that there is only one option left for us now  of struggle".

Granted early release:

On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh government decided to release the Bhim Army chief after going through the representation of his mother. However, under the NSA, Chandrasekhar was to be detained till November 1.

Read | Chandrasekhar is no threat, Bhim army not integrated enough: BSP

The NSA was invoked against Chandrashekhar and five others in the Saharanpur violence case. While three people were released earlier, Chandrashekhar, Sonu and Shiv Kumar continued to be imprisoned till the time. According to reports, Sonu and Shiv Kumar will also be released anytime soon.

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New Delhi:

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday embarked on a three-nation tour of Serbia, Malta and Romania aimed at enhancing cooperation in economy, environment, trade and culture.

During his week-long visit, he is scheduled to interact with heads of states of all the three countries and witness signing of agreements. As the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, he will hold delegation-level talks with his counterparts and address their respective parliaments.

The Vice President is accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla and MPs Prasanna Acharya, Raghav Lakhanpal, Saroj Pandey, and Vijila Sathyananth.

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The visit is expected to help the countries exchange expertise and share knowledge in economy, environment, trade and culture, an official statement said.

Vice President Naidu will first visit Belgrade, Serbia where he is likely to interact with the Indian diaspora.

He will attend the official welcoming ceremony hosted by Serbia on Saturday and proceed to Serbia Palace to hold a meeting with the President of Republic of Serbia Aleksander Vucic.

Both the leaders will witness the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and release commemorative stamps on Nikola Tesla and Swami Vivekananda.

The Vice President is also scheduled to attend India-Serbia business forum meeting and later join the banquet hosted by Aleksander Vucic.

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Naidu will hold delegation-level talks with the Speakers of the National Assembly of Republic of Serbia Maja Gajkovic and later address the special Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia before attending the presentation on the Belgrade Waterfront Project.

On Sunday, Naidu will offer floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi bust and proceed to Mt Avala for the wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Later Ana Branbic, the prime minister of Republic of Serbia, shall host lunch. He will later depart for Malta.

The Vice President will attend the Indian community reception hosted by the High Commissioner of India to Malta.

On September 17, he will hold delegation-level talks with the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and witness signing of MOUs on mutual cooperation before attending the lunch hosted by her.

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The Vice President, who is also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, will participate in a meeting with Anglu Farrugia, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta and hold delegation level talks.

He will also hold delegation level talks with the acting Prime Minister of Malta Evarist Bartolo. Later in the evening, he is scheduled to attend India- Malta Business Forum Meeting where President of Malta shall also participate.

In Romania, Naidu will hold delegation level talks with Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the President of the Senate of Romania and witness signing of MoUs. He is scheduled to hold talks with the President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis and later proceed to Parliament to address the members of Senate.

He will also hold talks with the Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dancila and Nicolae-Livi Dragnea, President of the Chamber of Deputies. He will also interact with the India- Romania Business Forum Meeting.

On the last day of his trip, he will address the Indian community in Romania at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of India to Romania, statement from the vice presidents office said.

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New Delhi:

Without making any specific reference to Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on said his government has sent out a clear message over the last four years that business should be done within the purview of rules and laws.

"In the last four years, our government has been able to deliver a clear message that the business should be done within the purview of the rules and laws," Modi said while addressing an event organised by the Bohra Muslim community to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain -- the grandson of Prophet Mohammad-- at a mosque in Indore.

The 'Ashara Mubaraka' programme was held at the Saifee Mosque where Modi shared dais with the Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The Bohra community is a sect within Shia Islam known for trading and business acumen.

Also Read | RK Pachauri, former TERI chief, to be charged in molestation case: Delhi court



"Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and Bankruptcy law," Modi added.



His comment came against the backdrop of alleged scams and loan-default cases involving businessmen Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya.



The prime minister highlighted his government's initiatives such as 'Make-in-India' programme and 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', and said honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Bankruptcy law.



Modi said the government was eyeing double-digit growth for the country and expressed confidence that it would be achieved "despite all the challenges".

Also Read | Who are Dawoodi Bohras, why PM Modi met them in Indore?

"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.



Talking about the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', the PM said he looked forward to see the country being declared 'open-defecation free'.

"When I became the prime minister four years back, there were toilets in 40% households. We can think of difficulties faced by our mothers and sisters. Now, the households having toilets have reached 90 per cent within a short span of time," he said.

Highlighting the 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme', Modi said the national health protection scheme has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people of poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.



(With PTI inputs)

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Manama : A comparison of the human rights and womens empowerment in Bahrain, Egypt and Qatar reveals that Bahrain and Egypt are at the front-line of womens empowerment while Qatar lags behind, according to top human rights experts in the region. A seminar on the sidelines of the 39th Session of the International Council for Human Rights in Geneva, which compared human rights in Bahrain, Egypt and Qatar, revealed that the former two countries fared well while the latter failed in women empowerment.

Qatar, on the other hand, failed to make progress in womens empowerment and continues to discriminate against women, the seminar chaired by Maya Morsi, a prominent Arab activist for female empowerment, said. According to experts, women in Qatar remains under-represented while Egypt and Bahrain have made positive strides in ensuring participation of women in various areas including governmental and non-governmental sectors.

One of the panel members at the session, Rabha Fathy, Chairperson of the Association of the Egyptian Female Lawyers (AEFL), said: The Kingdom of Bahrain has participated in conventions that ensure womens rights since the 1990s. The nations leadership has undertaken various initiatives and programmes to encourage the participation of women. This has helped women in Bahrain to be represented at all levels.

Maya Morsi added that Egypt has also taken many measures to ensure womens protection and empowerment. Morsi said that in 2017, the 2030 Womens Development Strategy was implemented after 100 civil society organizations participated in its development.

64pc graduates women

Official statistics of Bahrain obtained by Tribune reveals that Bahrains efforts to empower women have borne fruit. Impressively, 64 per cent of tertiary level graduates are women. Statistics also revealed that 53 per cent of the government employees are women. The average life expectancy of women in the Kingdom is now at 77 years. Apart from free primary health care, Bahraini women enjoy free access to free and mandatory primary and secondary education.

National efforts to empower woman and girls in Bahrain included monitoring mechanisms, national gender balance reports, national gender balance indicators observatory, national audit court and equal opportunities committee. The Supreme Council for Women recently gave a presentation in Belgium, highlighting Bahraini womens achievements and the councils and the nations efforts in empowering them. The presentation compared Bahrains progress in woman empowerment when compared to Belgium.

According to the presentation, Bahrain has a higher percentage of lawyers, doctors and board of directors when compared to Belgium while Belgium has more academics and judges. Bahrain has more government employees who are female as 53pc are female; it is a similar trend in Belgium with 52pc women in the government sector. Forty per cent of the female government employees in Bahrain are holding senior executive positions, while it is 43pc in Belgium.
Russian helicopters enter the exercise area for mobile defense after the start of the actual-combat phase of the Vostok-2018 strategic joint military exercise at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal on September 13.

TSUGOL, Sept. 14 (ChinaMil) -- Major General Shao Yuanming, director of the Chinese side participating in the Vostok-2018 strategic military exercise and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of Chinas Central Military Commission (CMC), introduced the achievements made by the Chinese participating troops from the drill and provided prospects for deepening pragmatic and friendly cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries after the combined actual-combat phase of the Vostok-2018 strategic joint military exercise and the military parade on the afternoon of September 13, 2018.

Maj. Gen. Shao said that the exercise was a huge success. At present, under the strategic guidance and promotion of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has witnessed a more positive development momentum and entered a new era of high-level and great development.

China and Russia have actively played the role and assumed the responsibility of major powers. China and Russia have established a new model of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, and made important contributions to safeguarding world peace, said Shao.

Shao said that the two militaries have held a number of joint military exercises within bilateral frameworks and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework in recent years. Such joint drills have been normalized and have become an important part of the annual exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries.

Chinese troops are reviewed in field during the military parade of the Vostok-2018 strategic joint military exercise at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal on September 13. .

Shao also mentioned that Chinas participation in the Vostok-2018 was the specific measure to implement the consensus reached by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Russian President Vladimir Putin and to promote pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, aiming to inject strong momentum to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia.

Shao said, the participating troops of the two armed forces have further deepened friendship, strengthened mutual trust, promoted cooperation and safeguarded peace through joint operations. They have also further enhanced the capability to jointly operate and respond to various security threats.

The exercise is also an important test of the Chinese troops combat readiness. The Chinese participating troops completed the drills well and received praise from their Russian counterparts, Shao added.

Russian military has rich combat experience and strong combat capability. Russian commanders, staff officers and troops have demonstrated professional quality and excellent style during this joint drill, Shao said, adding that the useful experience of Russian military operations and training is worth learning, and the Chinese armed forces will further strengthen real combat training so as to improve strategic battle command and actual combat capabilities.

This exercise is a success and has achieved its desired goals. In the new historical period, the joint drill has positive significance for deepening the pragmatic cooperation in military security between the Chinese and Russian armed forces, said Shao.

He added that the two sides will consolidate and deepen the SCO Peace Mission Exercise and the Russian-Chinese naval exercise Joint Sea and explore the establishment of a new mechanism for pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries.

China, Russia and Mongolia conclude the "Vostok-2018" strategic drills with a military parade on September 13 at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal region.
Manama : The Supreme Council of Women (SCW)s Secretary-general Hala Al Ansari has held a meeting with Claire Joyride the Secretary-general of the French High Council for Equality between Men and Women in the presence of Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bahrains Ambassador to Belgium Dr. Bahia Al Jishi.

Al Ansari highlighted the SCWs progressive strategies, efforts and initiatives led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty, and its adoption of the best international practices and standards in terms of gender equality and equal opportunity. She cited Bahraini experience in this field that grants an international dimension to it and qualifies the Kingdom to enter into reciprocal partnership with international institutions.

Al Ansari briefed the progress of women since the inception of SCW, the National Strategy for Revitalisation of Bahraini Women launched in partnership with the community, the inclusion of women in the Government Action Plan and the National Model for Inclusion of Women Needs in Sustainable Development which led to accelerating the progress of women and bridging the gap in various fields, including health and education.
Manama : Simon Martin, the UK ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, has said that his countrys government is monitoring the situation in front of the Bahraini embassy in London and is trying to resolve the issue through legal and peaceful means without any political complications. The British ambassador said during his meeting with MP Jamal Bu Hasan, that the actions of some (Outside Bahraini embassy in London) will not harm the relations between the two countries because of their power and strength. The British Ambassador praised the close relations between Bahrain and Britain, saying that these relations are growing day-by-day at all levels and in all fields.

MP Jamal Bu Hasan conveyed to the British ambassador, the Bahraini peoples condemnation of what is happening in front of the Bahraini embassy in London, by a group of mobsters, most of whom are wanted in Bahrain or are asylum seekers (under observation) in Britain. Ali Mushaima is trying to get his father, Hassan Mushaima, who is accused of being a terrorist, to leave Bahrain and go abroad for treatment. He claims that the latter is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. All these are untrue. All that he wants is to smuggle out Hassan Mushaima, Jamal Bu Hasan told the Tribune.

Bu Hasan added that what is currently being practised in front of the Bahraini embassy in London, by a group of outlaws, is road terror, and not a peaceful demonstration. The MP pointed out that this mob in London is harassing Bahraini citizens - students, patients and others who have certain benefits at the embassy, because of their stay in Britain. During his meeting with the British ambassador, MP Jamal Bu Hasan called for support from Britain to get Bahrain membership in the Human Rights Council.

The MP said that British support is important, and is of utmost importance to the Bahraini human rights issues, given the Kingdoms commitment to the noble principles of human rights. MP Jamal Bu Hasan praised the deep-rooted Bahraini-British relations, historical ties extending to more than 200 years of friendship and love.
Seoul : North Korea is willing to denuclearise and the US is prepared to end hostile relations, President Moon Jae-in said yesterday as he struck an upbeat tone ahead of his third meeting with Kim Jong Un next week. The summit will be the third between the leaders of North and South Korea this year and comes as talks between Washington and Pyongyang over dismantling the Norths nuclear arsenal have stalled. Moon conceded there was a blockage and both sides needed to compromise to make progress on the controversial subject.

North Korea is willing to denuclearise and therefore willing to discard existing nuclear weapons... and the US is willing to end hostile relations with the North and provide security guarantees, Moon said. But there is a blockage as both sides are demanding each other to act first and I think they will be able to find a point of compromise. Moon, who helped broker the June summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump and has called for a follow-up meeting between the two sides, added South Korea would help mediate contacts between Washington and Pyongyang to speed up the denuclearisation process.

Trump and Kim Jong Un pledged to denuclearise the Korean peninsula at their historic Singapore meeting. However, no details were agreed, and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since over what that means and how it will be achieved. Last month, Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang. The new US envoy for the North, Stephen Biegun, said in August Kim had promised final, fully verified denuclearisation at the Singapore summit. But Pyongyang has slammed Washington for its gangster-like demands for complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.

South Koreas Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday that making progress on denuclearisation talks with North Korea is a daily concern. Getting traction on the denuclearisation and peace process that is very much now in motion -- its a daily concern to get movement on this, she told a regional economic forum in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi. Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Kang called for openness from the North about their weapons programme and added a second Trump-Kim summit should deliver concrete results.
Japanese government officials are working on a plan to make the market for solar electricity more competitive. They say they will auction off a greater number of contracts for solar projects in a bid to push down prices.

Japanese utilities are required by law to buy solar electricity generated by businesses and households. They currently pay some of the highest prices in the world.

In a bid to lower those prices, the government introduced an auction system.

It forces businesses to put in the lowest possible bid for the right to build big solar power stations with outputs of over 2,000 kilowatts per hour.

Industry ministry officials say they will expand the so-called "reverse auctions" to include smaller projects.

The aim is to push down prices for solar electricity provided by businesses from about 16 cents to 8 cents for a kilowatt per hour. They hope to do that by 2022 at the earliest.

The officials expect that by 2025, the price of solar electricity from households will fall from 23 cents to 10. - NHK
The Navy plans to build nine 3,000-ton class KSS-III submarines for deployment in 2020, it said Thursday. The government has set aside W2.7 trillion (US$1=W1,104) for the project.

"Submarines have to be at least 3,000 tons if they are to execute seaborne operations efficiently," said a Navy officer. "We decided to boost our submarine capacities to strengthen strategic deterrence and mobility."

The Navy also plans to boost its procurement target for 1,800-ton class subs to nine by 2018 in order to protect cargo ships and assist in naval operations. At present, Korea has 10 submarines in the 1,200-ton and 1,800-ton class.

The Navy also wants to increase its procurement target for 7,600-ton Aegis destroyers from three to six and build six to nine more next-generation KDDX naval destroyers after 2023.

"According to a study by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, we would need at least three naval task force units in order to deal with a conflict in Dokdo and Ieo Island," said one Navy source. "We have to bolster our naval capacity to meet these needs."

One naval task force unit consists of two Aegis destroyers, two Korean-type destroyers, two 3,000-ton subs, one transport vessel, 16 helicopters, three aerial surveillance aircraft and one logistics ship. At present, Korea has only one such unit.

According to IHS Jane's Defense weekly, Korea's naval warfare capacity is equivalent to only 16 percent of China's and 33 percent of Japan's. This could rise to 22 percent of China's and 49 percent of Japan's by 2020.

"We urgently need to bolster our naval warfare capacity, but the problem is money," said one government official. A 3,000-ton class sub costs around W1 trillion. DAPA projects it would cost at least W8.4 trillion to build three naval task force units.

Navy Chief of Staff Choi Yoon-hee told a National Assembly audit on Thursday it would take 10 to 20 years to put together three to four such units.

The Navy also projects a shortfall of around 3,400 sailors and has asked the Defense Ministry to bolster its manpower in stages until 2030. But the ministry apparently believes the Navy should maintain troop strength at the current 41,000.
A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has promised to tackle insecurity in the country, if elected the president in 2019.Kwankwaso gave this promise on Friday in Makurdi, when he led other members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement to pay a congratulatory visit to Gov. Samuel Ortom.Newsmen report that Ortom recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).The presidential aspirant said that the country had enough funds to use for the protection of its citizens.He added that he would eliminate insecurity in all its forms across the country and return Nigeria to the path of prosperity.My desire is for us to continue to live in peace. It is only when there is peace that development will thrive in any society.I will ensure that the security agencies are trained and retrained to be abreast of current security techniques, so as to effectively tackle insecurity.We came to congratulate Ortom for defecting from the APC to his former party, the PDP.You did the right thing for defecting. Everyday people learn new things as events unfold; today PDP is wiser than it was years past.The party is aiming to achieve success. It has learnt its lesson.I encourage you my members to give the PDP maximum support in order to clinch all the elective positions in the state and at the federal level.Membership of my political movement cut across all the political divide of the country because they believe in my antecedents both at the state and federal level, he said.Responding, Ortom said that Kwankwaso had offered to serve the country that was heavily divided.According to him, Nigeria is a country, where a cow is preferred to human beings.I want to assure you that if the PDP will give you nomination, you may not need to come to Benue for campaigns because the state is now PDP.Kwankwaso is a tested and trusted politician, who had cut his teeth in the political theatre, he said.The governor said that in 2019, some politicians would have to retire from politics because they do not have good intentions for the state.He said that the party was working hard in order to get a leadership that would unite the people.Earlier, the Coordinator, Kwankwasiyya Movement in Benue, Mr Nathaniel Alaaga, said that the movement had registered 650,000 in the state.
Officials from the two Koreas are holding working-level talks to discuss agenda, protocol, and other details on Friday, four days ahead of the third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sept. 18-20.

With the summit just days away, only the size of the South Korean delegation -- about 200 officials -- has been decided. No other details, including the itinerary and accommodations, have even been discussed yet.

"It's not only unusual, but also against diplomatic protocol to rush things just a few days ahead of a summit," a foreign affairs expert said. "Without proper preparation, it would be difficult to expect any achievements from the summit," he added.

Upon his return from a trip to Pyongyang last week, national security adviser Chung Eui-yong said, "There will be working-level talks between the two Koreas in the truce village of Panmunjom to prepare for the summit." But nothing had been announced until Thursday morning as the North was slow in responding, delaying the preparations.

The two sides have apparently done nearly nothing to fine-tune the agenda of the summit.


Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said yesterday, he was still consulting on his political future, contrary to reports that he had defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.Dogara spoke in Abuja while addressing hundreds of his supporters from Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency of Bauchi State who presented him with PDP nomination and expression of interest forms and urged him to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.Addressing the mammoth crowd, the speaker said: I have listened to you and I want to say that I am not a novice in politics. So, even if they do not regard us, they should know that we are in full control of our five senses. We know what looks like justice and what is not justice, we also know if you want to humiliate or honour us.We built the APC in Bauchi and with time, left the PDP and entered the APC. I was the first and only lawmaker from Bauchi State that left the PDP then and we knew why we left. We also know what we promised the people of Bauchi State then.But I must thank you all. This is not the first time we would face these kinds of threats and betrayal.Our only fault is that we have chosen not to take side with injustice or wrong. We always voice out when we see that we are beginning to derail from our election promises to the people and that is why some people said they will retire us from politics and have even started celebrating that they have buried us politically.But throughout all this, I remained unperturbed because I knew that we had our people with us.He also recalled how his supporters were denied forms during the last APC congress, despite making payments on time, adding that the new leadership of the party failed to live up to its assurance that all states that had issues with their congresses would be allowed to hold direct primaries, thereby depriving them of any hope that their supporters would have the opportunity to vote for their choice.Dogara, further said: Truly, I have decided that I will not seek election again. They said they will give me ticket in APC but that I must go and beg for it. I said I do not need the ticket. In politics, I have never gone to anybodys house to beg for ticket. My ticket is my people. I have assured them that even if I run under zero party, my people will vote for me. So long as it is Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa, even if we run under zero party; we will win by Gods grace.We have thrived well in many political battles in the past and this one too, we shall overcome it. Nobody can threaten us or tell us that we cannot contest election in a political party we spent our resources to establish, only God can stop us. I have heard your voices and the voice of the people is the voice of God.We are in politics to serve and not to be served. As I said, if it were for myself, I will quit because truly I am tired and even thought of stepping aside. But we must run election so long as our people say so.I have seen the forms you brought. I dont know how you got it but I must thank you for this sacrifice. Left for me; I will appeal that you give me sometime to go and consult further. I have a lot of supporters in the APC but I have not told any of them what I intend to do or where I will go because I was not given the opportunity but I will assure you that wherever you want me to go or whatever you want me to do I will obey you because you have been with me. This is leadership.Even when they were talking about reconciliation in APC, we told them that even if I will be given free ticket in APC, so long as they do not do justice to Senator Sulieman Nazif, Senator Isa Hamma Misau, Ahmed Yerima, Aminu Tukur, Maryam Bagel and others, I will not accept it. I even said that if they will do justice to these people, I will be satisfied.You have now given us another opportunity to correct the greatest mistake we did in politics, which was to bring this present government in Bauchi State. This is one of the reasons we must run for election and do away with this plague, chase these termites from Bauchi State.I will not disobey you but before I fill these forms, I will have to inform all my supporters in the APC about the decision taken by my constituents since all politics is local.About 1000 supporters of the speaker had thronged his Abuja residence, saying they decided to present him the PDP forms because of high level injustice meted on them by the APC.Mohammed Aminu Tukur, Alhaji Adamu Jambil and Mrs. Amina Saleh, who led the delegation and spoke on behalf of the of the constituents, said their new political platform was Dogara Peoples Party as they will follow him wherever he went..Aminu Tukur told the speaker that the APC was now plagued by injustice and dictatorship, contrary to their expectations that under President Muhammadu Buhari, the party will be fair to all.The day Buhari joined partisan politics in 2002, I was the only person from Bauchi that travelled and I have been with him since then. Mr Speaker, I swear to almighty God thatHe spared my life. I and our people will vote for you and we urge you to heed to our cries and accept this form. We pray that God returns you to your seat. APC is not a religion as it is neither Islam nor Christianity, Aminu Tukur said.On his part, Alhaji Adamu Jambil, who is a former deputy chairman of Tafawa Balewa local government, said: The people have sent us to you with these forms. Bauchi State today is retrogressing. They have not constructed 30 kilometres of roads but they are busy lying that they have done 500 kilometres.Our people have sent us to tell you that they will not allow anybody to humiliate you. They love you and will not allow APC to embarrass you and turn around to beg you to remain in their party.On her part, Mrs. Amina Saleh, from Dass local government, said women in the constituency sent her to inform the speaker that they will be with him at all times.She said: You told us to join APC and we did. We worked for the party but they have betrayed us and that is why we said instead of building another house, it is better we return to our former home where we are more welcome.They are already celebrating that we are here to present these forms to you. Please our leader, we appeal to you to accept it and wipe away our tears.
Supporters of Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, presented nomination and expression of interest forms of the Peoples...

Supporters of Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, presented nomination and expression of interest forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to him on Thursday, urging the speaker to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).





The constituents thronged Dogaras Abuja residence, saying they decided to present the PDP forms to the speaker as a result of injustice meted on them by the APC.





Aminu Tukur, a member of the delegation, told the speaker that the APC is now plagued by injustice and dictatorship.





The day Buhari joined partisan politics in 2002, I was the only person from Bauchi that travelled and I have been with him since then, he said.





Mr Speaker, I swear to almighty God that He spared my life. I and our people will vote for you and we urge you to heed to our cries and accept this form. We pray that God returns you to your seat. APC is not a religion as it is neither Islam nor Christianity.





Adamu Jambil, a former deputy chairman of Tafawa Balewa local government, said, The people have sent us to you with these forms. Bauchi state today is retrogressing. They have not constructed 30 kilometres of roads but they are busy lying that they have done 500 kilometres.





Our people have sent us to tell you that they will not allow anybody to humiliate you. They love you and will not allow APC to embarrass you and turn around to you beg you to remain in their party. They said we should tell you that as their son, they are not giving you any option but directing you to accept these forms and leave the APC.





They said time has gone so they will not give you any option and if you refuse to listen to them, they will desert you. But we know you are an obedient child and you will listen to your parents. Whether you like it or not, you must leave the APC. This is the message from our people to you.We have seen all the good works you are doing and they have sent us to tell you that they will not allow you to rest.





Amina Saleh from Dass local government said women in the constituency have sent her to inform the speaker that they will be with him: come rain, come shine.





You told us to join APC and we did. We worked for the party but they have betrayed us and that is why we said instead of building another house, it is better we return to our former home where we are more welcome, she said.





They are already celebrating that we are here to present these forms to you. Please our leader, we appeal to you to accept it and wipe away our tears.





Responding, the speaker said: I have listened to you and I want to say that I am not a novice in politics. So, even if they do not regard us, they should know that we are in full control of our five senses. We know what looks like justice and what is not justice, we also know if you want to humiliate or honour us.





We built the APC in Bauchi and with time left the PDP and entered the APC. I was the first and only lawmaker from Bauchi state that left the APC then and we knew why we left. We also know what we promised the people of Bauchi state then.




Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the headquarters of Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos on Friday. ...

Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the headquarters of Standard Chartered Bank in Lagos on Friday.





A source at the bank confirmed this, saying some customers were escorted out of the premises located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, during the operation.





Olasupo Shasore, former commissioner for justice in Lagos, said EFCC operatives were at the bank to arrest Bola Adesola, managing director of the bank.





Shasore announced this in tweets, saying the private sector is under siege.





Armed agents to arrest MD of international Bank for commercial dispute @SCB HQ Victoria Island happening now private sector under siege, he tweeted.

Armed agents to arrest MD of international Bank for commercial dispute @SCB HQ Victoria Island happening now private sector under siege

Disturbing news 20 Efcc agents at standard chartered bank HQ to arrest MD Mrs Bola Adesola happening now!

 Olasupo Shasore, SAN (@suposhasore) September 14, 2018



But Wilson Uwajaren, spokesman of the EFCC, said there was no attempt to arrest Adesola.





He also denied that the agency was involved in the raid.





I dont think people should be dwelling on speculations, because nothing of that sort happened, he said.





Shasore, who is also a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), later tweeted that the bank MD was not arrested.

Yes I have confirmed she wasnt arrested, he replied a twitter user.



Yes I have confirmed she wasn't arrested



 Olasupo Shasore, SAN (@suposhasore) September 14, 2018

Commenting on the operation, Standard Chartered Bank said the agency had no basis to enter its premises.





We can confirm that law enforcement officials entered our head office building on 14th September 2018, the bank said in a statement.





We are clear there was no basis for this entry, and the law enforcement officials left the building shortly afterwards.





On August 29, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicted Standard Chartered alongside three other banks for allegedly issuing irregular certificates of capital importation (CCIs) on behalf of some offshore investors of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.





The bank received the highest fine of N2.4 billion but defended its action, insisting that no offence was committed.





Dayo Aderugbo, head, corporate affairs, brand and marketing, Standard Chartered Bank, said the institution did not enter into any illegal deal with MTN.




A group in support of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Ambodemania Movement/Support Worldwide, on Friday staged a rally in Lagos to celebrate what they called good governance in Lagos.Mr Olawale Oyeboh, the Founder and President of the group, led hundreds of members in the rally that commenced at Freedom Park, Ojota and terminated at the Lagos State Government House, Ikeja.The rally comes as the governor is contending with two other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the partys ticket in the 2019 governorship election in the state.Reports indicated that Ambode was having problems with the national leader of the party, Sen. Bola Tinubu, which may threaten his chances, but the governor has come out to dismiss them, saying the claim is untrue.Oyeboh said at the rally that it was aimed at supporting and celebrating good governance in Lagos.Ambodemania Movement Support Worldwide is a non-political movement, non-religious, non-partisan and non-governmental movement for the support and celebration of good governance in Lagos.We dont do politics. It is because we love Ambode as a person thats why we called ourselves Ambodemania. A good man deserves better position. He should continue and we will stand by him.We see Ambode as a unique man; he has the love of the masses at heart. He is not behaving like a politician. Politicians have failed us in Nigeria that is why we members of the public across Lagos State stand by him, Oyeboh said.He said that the governor had shown that he loves Nigerians and Lagosians, which encouraged members of the group to contribute for the movement.Ambode has shown us love and we have to support him for the governor to do more. Ambode must continue for good. He will get there again and move forward because the public are more than the politicians.We mobilised ourselves from far distance because we love a distinct man, a man of honour, a legend and someone that has the love of the masses. I want Nigerians to support this man, Oyeboh said.According to him, the group is made up of no fewer than 500, 000 professionals, market men and women, who are not politicians, but admirers of Ambode.Mr Tosin Ilesanmi, the groups coordinator in Ajeromi-Ifelodun said that the rally was a sympathy rally to show that the people were behind Ambode.He urged the ruling party to support continuity of Ambode as governor and beyond.Ilesanmi said that Ambodes sterling performance in the last three years left no one in doubt of his capability to further change the face of the state, if given another term.Addressing the group at the entrance to Lagos Government House, Mr Benjamin Labinjo, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ambode on Civic Engagement, commended the members, saying that the party would resolve all issues around their concern.The group danced and sang solidarity songs, while also sharing fliers to people to throw their weight behind the governor.
Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, says he was asked to beg for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (A...

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, says he was asked to beg for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).





Dogara said this when he played host to some of his supporters at his Abuja residence on Thursday.





The supporters had presented 2019 forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to him, urging him to pull out of the ruling party.





But Dogara, who said he does not need the APC to be reelected, appealed to the people to give him more time for consultation.





Truly, I have decided that I will not seek election again. They said they will give me ticket in APC but that I must go and beg for it. I said I do not need the ticket. In politics, I have never gone to anybodys house to beg for ticket.





My ticket is my people. I have assured them that even if I run under zero party, my people will vote for me. So long as it is Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa, even if we run under zero party; we will win by Gods grace. We have thrived well in many political battles in the past and this one too, we shall overcome it. Nobody can threaten us or tell us that we cannot contest election in a political party we spent our resources to establish, only God can stop us.





I had heard your voices and the voice of the people is the voice of God. We are in politics to serve and not to be served. As I said, if it were for myself, I will quit because truly I am tired and even thought of stepping aside. But we must run election so long as our people say so.





I have seen the forms you brought. I dont know how you got it but I must thank you for this sacrifice. Left for me; I will appeal that you give me sometime to go and consult further.





I have a lot of supporters in the APC but I have not told any of them what I intend to do or where I will go because I was not given the opportunity but I will assure you that wherever you want me to go or whatever you want me to do I will obey you because you have been with me. This is leadership.





Dogara also narrated how he gave the APC the condition to pacify some federal lawmakers before he could reconcile with the leadership of the party.





Even when they were talking about reconciliation in APC, we told them that even if I will be given free ticket in APC, so long as they do not do justice to Senator Sulieman Nazif, Senator Isa Hamma Misau, Honourable Ahmed Yerima, Hon. Aminu Tukur, Hon. Maryam Bagel and others, I will not accept it. I even said that if they will do justice to these people I will be satisfied, he said.





You have now given us another opportunity to correct the greatest mistake we did in politics, which was to bring this present government in Bauchi State. This is one of the reasons we must run for election and do away with this plague, chase these termites from Bauchi State.




Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, under the aegis of Movement for Transparent Elections, MTE, yesterday, gave the leadership of the National Assembly a five-day ultimatum to reconvene and pass the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2019 general and presidential elections or face their wrath.The CSOs said at the expiration of the five-day warning on September 18, they would embark on nationwide protest should Senate and the House of Representatives fail to call back their members from annual recess to consider the budget.The coalition of CSOs, led by Abiodun Ajijola, yesterday marched with placards bearing different inscriptions and chanted anti-lawmaker songs from the Unity Fountain, Abuja, to the Police gate at the National Assembly.The protesters noted that if there was any further delay beyond September 18, they would be compelled to mobilise Nigerians from all walks of life, particularly from the constituencies of the lawmakers, to embark on a sustained protests daily and simultaneously nationwide until the budget of INEC and the security agencies are passed.We would also let Nigerians know those who are causing these delays, Ajijola said.According to them, the actions of the legislatures is inimical to stability and progress.When they were not allowed into the National Assembly complex by security officers, they presented letters addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, advising the duo to use their positions to save Nigeria from anarchy.
The Sit-at-Home directive by the Indigenous People of Biafara, IPOB, witnessed total compliance in Onitsha and Nnewi as Schools, markets, banks transport companies, governments offices, artisans shops and other business activities including street shops and markets remains under locks and keys.There was no vehicular and human movements as early as 6.30 am, but the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Nave Hilux and other trucks were seen with officers and me patrolling, the streets of Onitsha.Officers and men of the Nigeria Army were not seen patrolling like the Police and Navy, but they were seen at their 302 Artillary Regiment gate and junction, while those that normally stay at the Onitsha and Asaba ends of Niger Bridge Head during similar Sit-at-home, were not sighted at those check points.However, soldiers from the 302 Artillery Regiment that stays by late Dim Chukwu Odumegwu Ojukwus plaque near Niger Bridge head were in their tents bit were not mounting any road block.Grail Message/Living Christ Mission Area of Onitsha Enugu express way, near Upper Iweka looking deserted.Some of the residents who spoke with Vanguard but pleaded anonymity said the Army may have withdrawn from the road to avoid being accused of any killing like in the past when they were accused of being behind any casualty during similar exercise.At Upper Iweka five white coloured Police vans full of officers and men were sighted patrolling from the Onitsha Enugu Expressway service lane Upper Iweka to Niger Bridge Head area, while officer and men of Okpoko Police Station mounted six pick up vans at Obodo Ukwu road junction, but were not disturbing anybody.However Policemen from Awards Police station mounted their own four pick up vans at Awards by Tarzan junction area of Onitsha Owerri road almost directly opposite Obodoukwu road.Speaking with Vanguard at Lagos Park, Upper Iweka, Prince Johnson Etodike a transporter with one of the major transport companies at Lagos park Upper Iweka, said they are not surprised that people will totally obey and observe the sit at home directive by IPOB.We must respect whatever is the reason the IPOB, called for the sit at home, we understand that the treatment meted in Owerri IImo State by ignoring women demand the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu was one of the reasons.Do you know that everyday we receive more than 200 night big and small buses from Lagos here in Lagos park Onitsha, but today we received only three that were not fully loaded, many transport companies did not receive night travelers from Lagos and other states into Onitsha.As you can see we are not loading any passenger because nobody is coming and we are not even interested, the people you are seeing that are waiting for the passengers that are not coming are greedy Igbo men, but they are disappointed that passengers are not coming and they are locking up their parks.We have made statement with this sit-at-home and we expect Federal Government to address the grievances being expressed by IPOB.On the other side of Lagos, Park Upper Iweka, the Okpoko by Nigerian Customs office, service lane, where hundreds of lorries, mini buses and small buses usually load passenger and goods bought from Ogbaru Main Market, youths turned the place to playing field and no single vehicle was sighted there.Vanguards investigations revealed that this is the most observed and complied Sit-at Home since the emergence of IPOB as schools, markets, banks, transport companies , government establishments and other business outfit joined in obedience and compliance.
Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, resigned her appointment so as not to be a baggage to President Muhammadu Buharis re-election bid,...

Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, resigned her appointment so as not to be a baggage to President Muhammadu Buharis re-election bid, her associates revealed.





Daily Trust broke the news of her resignation on Friday following a report by Premium Times that she presented a forged NYSC exemption certificate as part of her credentials.





But we learnt that she was still working in her office as at noon on Friday, casting doubts on her resignation.





However, two of her close associates revaled that she toed the path of honour by choosing to step down so that her NYSC issue will not be used against the president and the party in the 2019 electioneering.





Posterity will judge her for going the honourable thing by resigning, one of the associates said.





The presidency is yet to officially confirm her resignation.





Calls to her spokesperson rang out.





Adeosun graduated from the Polytechnic of East London in 1989, at 22. According to her curriculum vitae, she was born in March 1967.





Nigerians who graduate after 30 years of age get exempted from NYSC.




Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders from Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency, yesterday, rejected an automatic ticket for Senator Dino Melaye, even as their meeting with PDP National Working Committee, NWC, over the issue once again ended in stalemate.The meeting, held at legacy House Abuja, had Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman of PDP and other National Working Committee members of the party in attendance.The delegation from Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency, led by Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said PDP in Kogi West senatorial district already had an arrangement on the Senate seat for the district.Senator Ogbeha, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said members of PDP in the district asked that a level-playing field be allowed for free and fair primaries, rather than an automatic ticket.The leaders warned against imposition, saying it would affect the rebuilding process currently ongoing by the party in the state, and consequently affect the chances of the party.Earlier, Prince Secondus said the meeting was an ongoing consultation with stakeholders from Kogi West on its plans to give automatic ticket to Senator Melaye, following the MoU signed by the PDP and rAPC.The National Chairman begged the stakeholders from the district to have an understanding and yield to the request of the NWC in the spirit of give and take.The NWC is expected to meet with the stakeholders from the Yagba federal constituency tomorrow.
As the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, pushes for implementation of a new minimum wage in the country, the Federal Government has assured that it would soon come out with a definite figure that will be payable by both the governments and the private sector.But the government said the figure may not be above N25,000, explaining that the benchmark was being considered in order not to cause unemployment as pegging minimum wage beyond the figure may result in many workers in the private sector losing their jobs.Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who dropped the hint at a news conference in Abuja, yesterday, also flayed the labour union for its latest ultimatum to the Federal Government.He also noted that the National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the Federal Government was still working within its timelines.The minister said the latest ultimatum handed the government by the leadership of the NLC was a blackmail.Ngige said he and chairman of the committee on the new minimum wage and former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms Amma Pepple, will brief President Muhammadu Buhari today on the progress so far made by the committee.Ngige, who was reacting to the two weeks ultimatum issued by organised labour accusing the government of stalling negotiation, said the ultimatum issued by the labour leaders was unnecessary as the committee was working within the time frame it set for itself, pointing that he regarded the ultimatum by labour as a subtle threat.He said the various conventions of the International Labour Organisation that has to do with minimum wage and other forms of negotiations do not allow partners to issue threats as the other partner will be regarded as negotiating under duress.He said the work of the committee, including a draft bill to be sent to the President and subsequently to the National Assembly and all other work of the committee, were ready except the issue of a particular figure to be agreed upon.He disclosed that while it was easy for organised labour to agree on a figure, it was not that easy for the government as it must put into consideration the economic situation in the country and the ability of the various state governors to pay the agreed figure.He said while organised labour first made a presentation of N56,000 as its demand, only to withdraw it and made another presentation of N65,000, the organised private sector made a presentation of N42,000 and later withdraw it for lower presentation of N25,000.Ngige said with all the presentations, the government need to look at everything that has been presented before arriving at a figure, which can be paid by all, saying: If we arrive at a figure that is not implementable, what then is the essence of negotiation.He explained that at the last meeting of the committee, he requested for two weeks to consult with members of the Economic Management team, most of whom were out of the country with the President, adding that the committee was inaugurated by the president because of his personal interest on the matter.We dont want people to renege on the agreement when we finally come up with something. That is why the President insisted that the governors must be part of the process. They had complained that they were not part of the last process,he said.While accusing organised Labour of trying to over heat the polity, Ngige said the Buhari government was a worker friendly government , adding that no worker has been sacked since the inception of the present government while also putting in place several palliatives for workers.He said that the federal government spent about N70 billion last year in settling the backlog of workers emoluments, while encouraging the private sector to grow and employ more workers.
The U.S., with the help of South Korea and other allies, is preparing to "name and shame" Pyongyang by more publicly exposing the regime's violations of international sanctions, CNN reported on Wednesday.

Until recently, the U.S. has only exposed sanctions violations by the North when announcing a new round of sanctions, in consideration of denuclearization negotiations.

North Korea regularly employs "deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions," CNN quoted U.S. defense officials as saying. "The U.S. and its allies are days away from launching a new effort to more publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions."

"The plan to 'name and shame' Pyongyang comes as negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program appear to have reached a standstill and U.S. President Donald Trump raises the possibility of a second summit with leader Kim Jong-un," CNN said.

"The new effort will make more public U.S. and allied military efforts to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea, particularly the monitoring of ships performing illicit transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean oil tankers in the East China Sea," it reported.

It could also reveal illicit exports of North Korean coals and agricultural and fishery products by deceiving the country of origin to look as if they came from third countries like China and Russia.

"The U.S. has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt these activities, but has not been very public about its actions until now, partly to avoid irritating Pyongyang in the midst of negotiations over its nuclear program," CNN reported.

"U.S. allies Japan, Australia and New Zealand are expected to make announcements about their own monitoring and surveillance efforts, also part of the effort to disrupt illicit North Korean smuggling. Canada, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom are also involved in coordinating these efforts," the cable news network said.

Asked whether those efforts included military activity, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, "I generally don't talk about upcoming operations, as you know. But we have seen from Japan and Canada, from New Zealand and Australia, theyre -- there's a lot of nations contributing to this."

Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser John Bolton and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats cited North Korea as a possible country that could intervene in U.S. elections.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigeria will seat on a demographic time-bomb unless critical stakeholders support governments effort at building an economy that will support the nations fast-growing population.He stated this on Thursday while speaking at the Religious Leaders Consultative Forum on Harnessing Demographic Dividend for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of Muslim Religious Leaders in Abuja.Osinbajo stated that the relevant demographics showed the prospects and potential of a prosperous future for Nigeria if appropriate and timely actions were in place.The VP noted that Nigerias population size was currently estimated at over 198 million, the largest in Africa. He, however, pointed out that no fewer than 63 per cent of the population was under the age of 25 years, 33 per cent between 10 years and 24 years, and 54.8 per cent of working age between 15 years and 64 years.He said 51 per cent of the female population was in their reproductive ages-15 years to 49 years.Osinbajo said: Of course, the reverse side of Nigerias rich demographic potential is the much-talked-about population time bomb, or as some would say demographic threats.Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has remained high over the last three decades and currently stand at 5.5 births per woman; modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPRm) is very low at 10 per cent with 16 per cent unmet need for Family Planning (FP). Twenty-three percent of our adolescents (ages 15-19 years) have commenced childbearing and Child Marriage still persists at 18 percent.These figures vary across the North and the South, for example, TFR is lowest in the South West (4.5) and highest in the North East (6.3) and North West (6.7), respectively with Bauchi at 8.1 and Sokoto at 7.0.To avoid the time-bomb scenario, we must act with urgency to build an economy that can support that population, provide jobs and economic opportunity, education, and healthcare, hope and optimism.To that end, Osinbajo said achieving demographic dividend required sustainable multi-sectorial investments in health, education, young people, employment, women and girls, trade and industry, economic growth, and governance.He therefore called on religious leaders to support governments effort at job creation, providing economic opportunities, education, healthcare, hope and optimism.He said they had specific roles to play toward influencing their followers to understand the importance of government programmes that aim at improving the health and economic status of the country.On what the government has been doing to achieve demographic dividend, he said the federal government has since 2015 begun to bring out large number of people out of poverty. It is investing in critical human development issues especially healthcare, education and employment.We have now employed directly under Npower programme 500,000 graduates and we are given micro credits to over two million petty traders in every state of Nigeria. We are also targeting our cash transfer to over 400,000 of the poorest Nigerian farmers.Speaking also, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said that available data indicated that working with religious leaders to improve maternal, new born and child health was an important cost effective and sustainable strategy for disseminating information on Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) across a large population.He therefore reiterated the importance of religious leaders to persuade members of their communities and sects to change established negative behaviours and attitudes.The Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNFPA and other numerous partners is calling on all religious leaders to help in making the change that would translate into positive contribution to Nigerias economic development through investment in Youths and Young people that will fast track our harnessing the Demographic Dividend. Adewole said.In his remark, the UNFPA Regional Director West and Central Africa, Mr. Mabinggue Ngoma represented by Acting Country Reps, UNFPA, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy described religious leaders as the most important personalities in the societies as they provide information, counseling, guidance to groups and individuals.He said the information provided by religious leaders saved as moral frame work for the demand of social services, such as healthcare, education amongst others at both individual and family level.
Immediate past Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has declared intention to run for president on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2019 general elections.Dr. Mimiko, who made the declaration at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja, promised that his administration will prioritise security, restructuring and youth empowerment if voted into power.According to him, There comes a moment in the life of a nation when every patriot must stand up to be counted. At such a moment, no person worthy of a place in history can afford to remain ensconced in their comfort zone.When the totality of our being, and the very essence of our humanity are in violation, patriots must advance to recapture the present; and commit to re-defining the future. For our country, Nigeria, the moment is now!, Mimiko told a gathering of party leaders and stakeholders at his declaration at the Labour Party National Secretariat, in Abuja.It is time to all march out and recall our past, take charge of the present, and launch out into greatness, as one inclusive, cohesive family. It is within the foregoing context that I situate myself. It is the reason why I find it so compelling to humbly declare today, my decision to seek election into the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019.He said, I am running because like many Nigerians, I am sick and tired of seeing our country become the butt of jokes everywhere you travel to around the world. I am running because I know we can do better; and we will do better.I know this because anywhere Nigerians find themselves, no matter the situation, we always rise above adversity. We dont just survive, we thrive. It is high time we replicated over our country, that indomitable spirit of Nigerians, that spirit of accomplishment, which has made stars of individual Nigerians all over the world.The only way to do this is by electing capable hands. It is by electing a great president, that can drive this national vehicle to greatness.He medical doctor turned politician in his declaration speech, highlighted some of his major achievements in health, education, agriculture and security as Ondo Governor, which earned his government laurels across the world.Mimiko, who has never hidden his stand on restructuring, has been one of the leading advocates for the restructuring of Nigeria. He said I once again, hereby commit wholeheartedly to leading the process of restructuring Nigeria. I say this not as a cliche.Rather, this is a commitment that derives from a deep conviction that there is really not much we, as a people, can do even in the best of times, to place our country on the global cutting edge of development, for as long as it remains shackled and ensnared by a centralized governance structure that is the 1999 Constitution. It is indeed only in the context of a restructured system that the hope for a strong, stable and functional Nigeria lies.As governor of Ondo State for eight years, I saw first hand what limitations the federating units are confronted with, in the unitary system of government that we operate, which we wrongfully refer to as federalism. From security administration, through taxation, to investment in infrastructure, many of the things taken for granted in several federal climes, the basis of their vitality, are denied under our 1999 Constitution (as amended).This makes it practically impossible for state governments to be anything other than pitiable adjuncts of an overbearing central government. It is from the anvil of such practical experience that my commitment to Restructuring was further sharpened. It is noteworthy that the redeeming cry now is, restructure and safe the nation!On insecurity and wanton killings across the nation, Mimiko said there is also no denying the fact the centrifugal forces that seek to tear our nation apart have been greatly strengthened in the past few years. One cannot but mention in this regard, ongoing killings all over the country, but especially in the Middle Belt. The attendant devaluation of life is constantly expressed in unmistakable cheapening of human life in our cities, towns, and villages.Nigerians have now almost completely lost their sense of outrage over the taking of human lives, as we can see in the heightened but evil commitment to ritual killings, kidnapping-related killings, unprecedented violent robberies, and sundry activities of emergent street gangs.We must also fully interrogate the nature of the ongoing massacres in the Middle Belt and elsewhere across the country. It is particularly worrisome that a systematic demographical reconfiguration is underway in our country. The class content of the massacres must also not be lost on us.Annoyed by the high level of neglect of Nigerian youths, Mimiko, who recorded remarkable success in youth inclusion in government and empowerment, assured of his commitment to mobilizing the youths of Nigeria for education, providing opportunities for them to be productively engaged; and elevating them into leadership through a careful process of acculturation.It is the type of mobilization that has never been seen in this jurisdiction, but which in other climes had been boldly undertaken to change the trajectory of national development for good.As governor of Ondo State, I ensured that every one of my programmes was either decidedly youth focused, or came with an unmistakable youth content. In addition, a preponderance of my aides, including members of my cabinet, were young men and women. I, therefore, without any equivocation whatsoever, say to the youths of Nigeria, you have a partner as no other, in me!He said he joined the race to become Nigeria President because he believes that working together, we can restructure and redesign our country in such a way that it would mean for all of us, young and old, male and female, North and South, Christians and Muslims, farmers and herders, a golden door to lasting individual and collective prosperity.Mimiko disclosed that the manifesto detailing his plan of action will be made public soon.Before contesting as Governor of Ondo State in 2007, Mimiko had served as a Minister under the Obasanjo administration, Secretary to Ondo State Government and a two time Commissioner for Health in Ondo State.The former Governor enters the race with an outstanding profile of achievement and landmark success in health sector, education sector and other sectors while he was Governor of Ondo State for 8 years.The Abiye Safe Motherhood programme of his government, which drastically reduced infant and mortality rate in Ondo state, became a global reference point in good governance; and a demonstrable path to universal health coverage, attracting laurels at home and abroadIn his reaction to the declaration, National Chairman, Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdusalam (Paladin Paiko) said Nigeria can restore its glory and reclaim its greatness if Mimiko is given the opportunity to lead Nigeria.He expressed his confidence in the ability and passion of the Presidential hopeful to set new narratives for the country.Abdulsalam said until Nigeria was able to provide basic amenities for the people, and take care of its population, the country cannot be called the giant of Africa.Mimikos declaration received a bipartisan support across the country, and had in attendance leaders of several political parties, including Chief Peter Ojonugba Ameh who doubles as the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council and Chairman Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Chairman of National Conscience Party, Tanko Yunusa, the Chairman of Alliance of Social Democrats, Dr. Emeka Okengwu.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 8 to hear a suit asking it to sack the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, from office...

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 8 to hear a suit asking it to sack the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, from office for not possessing a valid discharge certificate issued by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

The Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, has assigned the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/712/2018, to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu for expeditious hearing.





A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Francis Obalim, had approached the court, praying for an order quashing and setting aside Mrs. Adeosuns appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari, same being an act done in circumvention of a condition precedent and in contravention of mandatory Sections 12, 13 and 14 of the NYSC Act which is an integral part of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.





He maintained that Adeosun, who was cited as the 1st defendant in the matter, was not qualified to be employed by the Federal Government of Nigeria either as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or in any other capacity whatsoever, without first presenting a valid discharge certificate issued by the NYSC.





The plaintiff also wanted the court to restrain FG from further according a Ministerial status to the 1st defendant, until she presents a valid certificate of discharge regularly issued by the NYSC.





He wants the court to compel the 1st defendant to refund forthwith to FG, through the Treasury Single Account domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria, all the salaries, emoluments, allowances and such other benefits she has enjoyed since her resumption as a Minister in 2015.





Other defendants in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Clerk of the Senate.





The lawyer prayed the court to determine, Whether upon an intimate reading and complete understanding Sections 12, 13 and 14 of the National Youth Service Corp Act which is an integral part of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the 1st Defendant is qualified to be employed by the Federal Government of Nigeria either as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or in any other capacity whatsoever without first presenting a valid discharge certificate issued by the National Youth Service Corp?




The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said it would welcome Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode into its fold if he ...

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said it would welcome Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode into its fold if he decided to dump the All Progressives Congress. (APC).





The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taofeek Gani, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.





Gani spoke following reports that Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Training and Establishments in the state, had been adopted by the APC leaders to succeed Ambode.





The APC chairman in Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun had told newsmen on Wednesday that the governorship ticket of the party was open to all aspirants.





Former Commissioner for Works, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, is another aspirant seeking the job of Ambode with Sanwo-Olu.





The PDP spokesman said that the party would be glad to receive Ambode into its fold if he decided to leave APC for whatever reason.





Gani said: Any forward-looking party would not have rejected its main opponent joining it, especially a big personality like Ambode.





We are ready to welcome him (Ambode) to our party, if he decides to join for any reason. We are very ready to accept him, if he decides to join us.





You see PDP is a party for all, so far value will be added. We cannot turn down our opponents, especially a big personality like Ambode.





Therefore, he is welcome. His joining us will definitely add value and boost our chances to win the state.




Former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has reacted to the report that Kemi Adeosun has resigned her position as...

Former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has reacted to the report that Kemi Adeosun has resigned her position as Minister of Finance.

Writing on his verified Twitter page, Omokri urged President Muhammadu Buhari, not to sweep her forgery case under the carpet.





I commend @HMKemiAdeosun, for resigning. I only wished she had done this earlier. But nevertheless, it took great courage for her to resign.





I urge President @MBuhari not to sweep her forgery under the carpet. She must be treated how he treats @OfficialPDPNig members, he wrote.




A different song was sang on Friday by Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central, when a good number of Nigerians flayed and criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for replacing the acting Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Mathew Seyeifa with Yusuf Bichi.Sani who listed seven points agenda for the new DG DSS, admonished him to be wary of politicians who would as a matter of his recent appointment befriend him. He told Bichi to use gloves for them which literary means to guard himself intellectual and otherwise before intimating with any of them.Among the agendas given to Bichi include, to be professional, respect the rule of law and obey court orders, end kidnapping and rescue abductees, avoid partisanship, Improve welfare of operatives, asphyxiate and annihilate terror groups.His words, Congrats to Yusuf Magaji Bichi;7 Agenda for the New DSS Boss; Professionalism, Respect for rule of law & Obey Court orders, End kidnappings & rescue abductees, Avoid partisanship, asphyxiate & annihilate terror groups, Improve welfare of operatives, Use gloves when shaking politicians.Recall that the Southern, M- Belt leaders had rejected Bichis appointment as new DSS D-G, noting that the President who approved his appointment does not care a hoot about the unity, cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.The president went ahead to deep himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment. It shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity, cohesion and oneness of Nigeria, part of their statement read.Others, who equally criticized the appointment, include the senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray Bruce, Former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Pastor Reno Omokri, Donald Duke, presidential aspirants for the forthcoming 2019 election and whole lots of other Nigerians.For them Buhari is tribalistic, nepotistic and has dishonored the principle of Federal character as enshrined in the constitution.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday vowed that his administration would do everything possible to protect the sovereignty of the country.The Presidents avowal came on the day the pro-Biafran agitators led by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, ordered a sit-at-home in the South East and some pSouth-Southth South.This is as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has called the Federal Government to do something on the dilapidated roads of South East and South South, describing the roads as death trap.Speaking when he received traditional rulers from Abia State led Eze Isaac Ikonne, President Buhari reiterated that the APC-led government would continue to do its best to maintain the sovereign integrity of Nigeria while protecting the livelihoods of its hardworking and honest citizens.He also told elder statesmen, leaders, parents and patriots to continue to guide youths on the path of peace and prosperity while eschewing hateful and diversionary rhetoric.He said, We must not shy away from this responsibility. We only have one Nigeria. And we must ensure we hand over a better Nigeria to the next generation.He expressed optimism that new investment commitments coming into Nigerias textile sector, of which Aba is a major beneficiary, will be actualized within the shortest possible time.He also assured the monarchs that the issue of unstable electricity and other basic infrastructure in Ariaria market, a major trading hub in West and Central Africa, would soon be a thing of the past.Reaffirming his administrations commitment to rapidly industrialize the country through projects that promote import substitution, the President said the investments in the textile industry would create thousands of jobs for youths in Aba.According to him, Just last week, I was in China to attend the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. During that visit, I personally met with executives of one of the largest cotton and garment companies in the world who will soon establish operations in Aba.This is following a joint effort of attracting this investor by both the Federal and Abia State Government.The proposed investment will create thousands of jobs for the vibrant and creative youths in Aba.I am very excited about this project. I have directed the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure this investment is actualized within the shortest possible time.On Ariaria market, the President recounted that during his visit to Aba in 2015 as a presidential candidate, he was warmly received and walked through parts of the market where he observed the lack of electricity and other basic infrastructure for its over 40,000 shops.He said, As a government, we issued a presidential mandate to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Rural Electrification Agency to energise the market.In June 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission granted an electricity generation licence as well as a distribution licence for the market. This will enable the generation and distribution of 9.5 Megawatts of electricity within the market.The project is moving smoothly and I have been assured the market will be fully electrified soon. We are working closely with the State Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers, Market Associations and the community on this project to ensure this goal is actualized by the end of the year.In his remarks, Eze Ikonne lauded the President for successes recorded so far since he assumed office in 2015, particularly in the fight against corruption, agricultural revolution, infrastructure development and security.A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina quoted Ikonne as saying, Mr President, I thank you for the massive federal roads rehabilitation going on in the South- East; like the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway, Port Harcourt-Elele-Owerri road, Enugu-Onitsha expressway.These roads were death traps for 16 years before you came into office, but today they are wearing new solid looks, though not completed but relief is already there with the level of work done so far.Meanwhile President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke has lamented over bad condition of roads in the South South and South East, describing the roads in the two geopolitical zones as death trap and appealed to the government to rise up to her responsibilities.In his remarks at the 34th National Executive Council, NEC, at Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Ugwoke told the government to rise up to its responsibilities and reduce the agony Nigerians that ply through the roads pass through.He also frowned at the inability of the Federal Government to implement the judgement on Staff Schools, stressing that the union may be forced to drag the government to court over contempt of court.
Gu Ha-ra, a former member of girl band Kara, has been accused of assaulting her boyfriend.

Police said that a 27-year-old hairdresser filed a report claiming that Gu assaulted him at her home in Nonhyun-dong, Seoul, just after midnight on Thursday following an argument.

A police officer said, "We need to conduct an investigation, but when officers arrived at the scene, Gu also claimed to have been assaulted by her boyfriend." Police plan to question both of them soon.

Gu's management agency said it is trying to clarify the situation but has been unable to reach her.

There were rumors earlier this month that Gu had been hospitalized after overdosing on drugs in an apparent suicide attempt. But the agency said at the time of the incident that she was hospitalized briefly after taking medication to treat a sleep disorder from which she has suffered for some time.


Chun was sued by the families of victims after claiming in his memoirs that an activist priest was lying when he said he witnessed soldiers firing at citizens from helicopters during the bloody suppression of the democratic uprising.

Former President Chung Doo-hwan was fined W70 million by a Gwangju district court on Thursday for defaming the victims and families of the massacre in the southwestern city on May 18, 1980 (US$1=W1,123).

The judge ordered Chun to pay W15 million to each of the civic groups commemorating the Gwangju Uprising and W10 million to the heirs of the priest, Cho Chul-hyun, who died in 2015. Korea recognizes a charge of defaming the dead.

The judge also banned the memoirs from being sold or reissued until the offending passages are expunged.

The judge said, "Chun defamed the victims by writing accounts that differ from what really happened by relying only on unfounded accounts that military officers gave at the time and contradict the historical record of the pro-democracy protest."

"As Chun writes, assessment of the May 18 massacre can change as time passes and everyone is free to express their views, but these views must be based on objective and accurate information," the court added.

Chun faces a separate criminal trial for defaming the priest. He did not show up for his trial last month because he suffers from dementia, according to his wife.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 46F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 46F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
The Unification Ministry said Thursday it will provide W122.8 billion in aid to 95 South Korean companies that suffered financial losses when relations with North Korea deteriorated (US$1=W1,123).

The government has previously provided these companies with some support along with low-interest loans to help them stay in business, but this is the first state-funded compensation for their losses.

The Lee Myung-bak administration halted tours to Mt. Kumgang after a South Korean tourist was shot to death by a North Korean soldier in July 2008. South Korea then halted trade with North Korea except the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in May of 2010 following the North's sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan.

The ministry said the support measures are part of efforts to fulfill the state's "responsibility to compensate the companies for difficulties following sudden policy changes."

However, when a South Korean company filed a lawsuit against the government in 2011 for financial losses caused by the government-led inter-Korean projects, a court ruled that the state cannot be held responsible. This has prompted critics to accuse the Unification Ministry of flouting the law.

The Unification Ministry said the measures would help those businesses engage in future inter-Korean projects, as relations with North Korea are expected to improve. Kim Seung, a former Unification Ministry official, said, "This could be a sign of the full-fledged resumption of cross-border economic cooperation."

South Korean businesses that claim to have suffered losses due to the halted tours to Mt. Kumgang and the cross-border trade ban have persistently demanded compensation from the government. But one former Unification Ministry official said, "Inter-Korean economic projects are largely monopolistic in nature, and generate guaranteed revenues when cross-border relations are good, but they must bear the risks as well when doing business with North Korea."

Some suspect that the measures, which were announced just a few days before the leaders of the two Koreas prepare to hold another summit, could be a sign of fledgling cross-border economic cooperation with North Korea. Nam Sung-wook at Korea University said, "The latest measures send private businesses the wrong message that the government will compensate them for any losses they suffer."

Others say it is unfair for businesses hurt while doing trades with other countries. One diplomatic source said, "The government has not compensated businesses that struggled after U.S. sanctions against Iran. It is simply absurd that taxpayers' money is being spent in this way, without any clear guidelines."


The growth of the mobile app market in Korea has seen a rise in the number of consumers seeking compensation for poor services.

The Korea Consumer Agency said on Thursday it received some 572 complaints relating to mobile apps lodged by consumers from 2015 to 2017. The figure has risen by 40 to 60 percent each year, from 122 in 2015 to 278 in 2017.

The most common cause of complaints -- 304 cases or 53.2 percent -- was refusal of cancellation or refunds, followed by system errors, with 64 cases or 11.2 percent.
Belt, Road Initiative ushers in future growth for China, world

From:ChinaDaily | 2018-09-14 03:33

A world-renowned economist from the United Kingdom said he expects the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping, will play an increasingly important role in global trade, which has been buffeted by growing protectionism and unilateralism.

"The BRI is possibly the most important thing for the future of world trade," said Jim O'Neill, who had coined the acronym BRIC (now BRICS) for the group of emerging economies.

O'Neill, former British commercial secretary to the Treasury, listed the BRI as one of the priorities for China in coming years for the country's new round of reform and opening-up. O'Neill spoke on Thursday in London at the fifth edition of Vision China, an event with the theme "40 Years On  China and the World", hosted by China Daily.

O'Neill has urged China to encourage more countries to "guide" the initiative, which is in the same vein as the Chinese government's statements advocating "joint efforts" from various global players to enrich the colossal connectivity project.

To continue its success, O'Neill said, China needs to continue to increase the share of consumption in its economic output, control pollution and protect the environment, open its financial sector wider and become bolder in reforming the household registration  hukou  system.

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, called the BRI one of the "three big opportunities" China will bring to the world as a result of its firm commitment to the new round of reform and opening-up.

In September and October of 2013, when Xi made overseas visits in Asia, he proposed the BRI as a way to boost connectivity among countries.

Liu added that China will continuously drive global growth and expand market scale.

More reform and opening-up packages are expected to be announced this year when China celebrates the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up.

Other speakers at the event included Fu Xiaolan, professor of technology and international development, and founder of the Technology and Management Centre for Development at Oxford University; Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Plc; and Martin Jacques, author of the international best-seller When China Rules the World.

The guests shared their thoughts and observations on the achievements of China's reform and opening-up during the past 40 years.

The event drew about 200 guests, including Neil Davison, former advocate general for Scotland, representatives of British government departments, the media, think tanks, international organizations and transnational corporations as well as businesspeople and Chinese embassy officials.

Followers of China Daily's social media platforms worldwide also were able to participate in brainstorming elements of the discussion.

Speaking at the London event, China Daily Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Zhou Shuchun said President Xi has stated that China will remain committed to advancing reform in all respects, and the Chinese people will see the reform through.

"We are honored to have with us five heavyweight guests ... to offer their thoughts on where China and the world are heading," Zhou said.

"We are convinced that further efforts by China to reform and open-up, in its continued 'second revolution', will not only usher in a new era of development for the country, but also bring peace, progress and prosperity to the world," he said.

Fu said innovation will be the most important driver of how China changes in the future. It will drive the transformation of the Chinese development model, enhance the quality of growth, and also help other countries upgrade through knowledge transfers and the spillover effects of trade and foreign direct investment.

"As the US retreats from its post-globalization leadership role, China has to come forward, be it willing or not willing, ready or not fully ready," she said. "Stronger innovation capacity will make China more capable and more confident to play a more important role."

Rathi said China is a vast and significantly increasing market, adding that innovative financing tools could help facilitate implementation of the BRI.

"Green finance is not just a commercial opportunity, it is an existential issue  you only need to look at the statistics around the impact on health, from pollution and ... climate change, and China has chosen to play a leadership role on this agenda," Rathi said.

Rathi said the world is seeing progress through the internationalization of the renminbi. "Just in the last six weeks we have had 14 RMB bonds on our market in London from all over the world," Rathi said. "It is not just Chinese institutions that are coming, it's Australian, Canadian and European  a range of institutions using the currency as an asset class of its own."

Jacques also shared his observations on the role that China's reform and opening-up plays in global development, saying China's rapid growth since 1978 has not only created an economic miracle for China but also provided a new development model for other emerging economies to look to.

"China is going to be a very different kind of great power," he said. "The Belt and Road Initiative is a powerful example of China trying to find a new development model. This notion is very different from Western colonial thinking."

He said China's rise has given the developing world an alternative place to look, for development and for inspiration.

"The rise of China has opened up entirely new possibilities for the 85 percent of the world's population that lives in the developing world," Jacques said.

Rupert Li, global chief operating officer and senior partner of the King & Wood Mallesons law firm, said: "China has come a long way. While our achievements are commendable, many attributed our success to a host of reasons. China's nascent rule of law has been a principal factor in ensuring the success" of its opening-up policy.

King & Wood Mallesons was China Daily's partner for the London event.

Li said China commands the best record in investment protection of foreign investors compared to other developing countries in general and BRICS countries in particular.

"Without the respect for the spirit of contracting, China couldn't have been a major trading partner to a host of countries," Li said.

China Daily, a media organization that has effectively entered the international mainstream market, officially unveiled Vision China early this year, seeking to make full use of its international, all-media, multilingual and multiplatform advantages, to allow China's voice to be better heard by an international audience through innovative narrative speeches.

By selecting Chinese topics of global significance and inviting world-class opinion leaders to debate the issues face-to-face, each event responds to global concerns about China's major talking points and significant propositions from global perspectives.

Vision China has successfully held sessions in Beijing (twice), Hangzhou and Johannesburg using themes that focus on Chinese topics with global value.

Contact the writers at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
Fresh out of college in the early 1990s, Cecil Scheib was one of three like-minded Stanford graduates to found an ecovillage in the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, on a plot chosen for its affordability, fertility, and lenient zoning restrictions. They wanted to show that small collectives could change the world, that people could live an ecologically sustainable lifestyle that was also comfortableand happy. While I was there I got to build houses, install off-grid power systems, run village-scale composting, grow my own food, and a million other life skills that amazingly still come in handyeven in New York City, he says. And Scheib and his co-founders made their way without the aid of government agencies or corporations. We all vote with our dollars, and we chose to spend our dollars on solar panels and seeds instead of utility bills and plastic-wrapped produce. It worked: each Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage resident reduced their impact by an average of 90%, compared to the typical American consumer, and the village has been featured in The New York Times and on Morgan Spurlocks FX TV series 30 Days.

But Scheib realized that larger-scale organizational leadership was ultimately necessary for widespread progress. I dont think we have time to persuade and educate every individual and hope that they change their behavior, he notes. So today Scheib is a New York State licensed engineer, LEED-accredited energy manager, and NYUs assistant vice president for sustainability. And to further his goal of grand-scale impact, Scheib recently played a key role in compiling a comprehensive set of recommendations for energy consumption in New York City. The 80x50 Buildings Partnerships Blueprint for Efficiency was a collaborative effort by 40 of the citys leading building and energy stakeholdersincluding NYU. It brought together groups as diverse as the Environmental Defense Fund and New York Working Families as well as commercial realtors and developers. The name "80x50" refers to its goal of cutting 80 percent of the citys emissions by 2050.

Recognizing that buildings account for 70 percent of the citys greenhouse gas emissions, the partnership focused on how existing structures can adapt to lower the citys overall carbon footprint. Those exceeding 25,000 square feet are of particular concern, especially considering that 2 perent of the citys buildingsincluding the Empire State Building, the Woolworth Building, and the Williamsburg Savings Bankaccount for half of the citys energy consumption. Its on that scale that New York City began its approach to regulation, says Scheib, who was instrumental in crafting the reports recommendation to implement efficiency credit trading, which will allow owners who exceed energy-savings targets to sell their credits to those who reduce less.
14/09/2018 - Canada has shown a renewed engagement in global development in the last few years. This now needs to translate into concrete action to increase aid flows and ensure that development co-operation is effective and coherent, according to a new OECD Review.





The latest DAC Peer Review of Canada commends the creation of a new department, Global Affairs Canada, from the merger of the former aid agency with the department of foreign affairs and trade. Global Affairs is working to make Canadian aid more responsive and innovative, and is improving the way it conducts evaluations of development assistance.





The Review also praises Canadas focus on empowering women and girls in developing countries, from addressing gender-based violence to improving institutional capacity and supporting local organisations that are working to advance womens rights.





More efforts are needed, however, to increase Canadas official development assistance (ODA) which, despite robust economic growth, has declined from 0.31% of its gross national income (GNI) in 2012 to 0.26%  or USD 4.27 billion  in 2017. The federal governments allocation of an extra CAD 2 billion (around USD 1.5 billion) for foreign aid for the next five years is not enough to restore ODA to 2012 levels, much less to the internationally agreed target of 0.7% of GNI. As a comparison, the average ratio of ODA to GNI for DAC donors was 0.32% in 2016, and five DAC members have now reached a UN target of 0.7%.





The creation of the Global Affairs department has made Canadas approach to foreign policy, trade, development, peace and security much more coherent. Canada is also proving to be a central actor in pushing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to now set out a path to increase aid volumes to add weight to Canadas global advocacy role, said OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Chair Charlotte Petri Gornitzka.





The Review found that Canada increased its spending on resettling refugees inside its borders by 89% in 2016, without diverting funds from existing aid commitments.





The top five recipients of Canadian aid in 2016 were Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan and Haiti. Around half of Canadas bilateral ODA went to least-developed countries. However a goal to direct 90% of country programmable aid to 25 priority countries was not met, with 63% going to 132 countries in 2015-16, and the rest unallocated by country.





The Review says Canada fully implemented nine and partially implemented another 12 of 24 recommendations in a 2012 Peer Review. Recommendations not fully implemented include ones on maintaining aid levels and strengthening capacity for monitoring and analysis.





Each DAC member is reviewed every five years in order to monitor its performance, hold it accountable for past commitments and recommend improvements. Reviews use input from officials in the review country and partner countries  Tanzania for this Review  as well as civil society and the private sector. Read more on DAC Peer Reviews.





Read the DAC Peer Review of Canada.





For further information journalists are invited to contact the OECD Media Office (+33 1 45 24 97 00).

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
Forum calls for new schools for autistic children

From:Shanghai Daily | 2018-09-14 02:29

DISABILITY advocates and medical experts called for schools built specifically for autistic children at a forum held in Jingan District yesterday.

Mainstream schools are unable to provide personalized classes and meet the demands of autistic children, a headache for many families with these children, many of whom are forced to home school.

At the First Shanghai International Forum on Autism Research, experts said autistic children are educable but that they need their own schools and to receive tailor-made classes, befriend similar peers and learn how to get involved in society.

The State Council pointed out in 2015 that schools for autistic children are encouraged, but so far, we dont have any, said Cao Xiaoxia, who was recently granted the Magnolia Silver Award in recognition of her contribution to the city.

Cao, also known as Konatsu Ishiwata as she married a Japanese man, has been dedicated to the education of autistic children for more than a decade.

As the head of Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra, she gave autistic children a platform to show themselves to the world through music. This year, she opened a coffee shop for them, where the children act as baristas.

After so many years, we have proved that they are educable. We have to improve our environment to offer educational support to them, she said.

At the forum, some children played music and showed off their coffee brewing skills. They said they were happy to work in the coffee shop and that they hoped Cao would open a school for autistic children as soon as possible.

When I first meet autistic children, their parents told me not to touch them as they cant control their emotions. But today they hug me often, which is a big gift to me, said Caos father Cao Peng, a renowned conductor.
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Birgunj, September 14

Claiming his party exerted undue pressure on the local government, the Mayor of Birgunj Metropolitan City in Parsa district, Bijaya Sarawagi, has announced his resignation from the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal.

Sarawagi, who is known as a trader more than a politician, says he quit the party after the party tried to interfere with the Citys activities.

He has sent the resignation message to the party leadership via WhatsApp, and is going to meet the top leaders in person soon, according to sources.

The Mayors decision follows the decision of partys Birgunj Municipal Committee to submit a five-point memorandum to the Mayor drawing his attention to carry out the local governments activities as per sentiments of the Madhesh movement.

Party leaders in the city say the Mayor denied implementing their recommendations about staff appointment and the partys participation in infrastructural development works.

Sarawagi, however, says he cannot work under pressure. Though I was elected as a member of the party, I have to be responsible for all citizens of the city. I have to give them justice.
Kathmandu, September 14

The government has started a process to select the Executive Director of state-owned fuel distribution monopoly, Nepal Oli Corporation, through an open competition.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has published a notice on Friday calling applications for the position from qualified candidates.

The position is vacant since the government removed Gopal Bahadur Khadka in September last year after he was found to be involved in irregularities while purchasing the land to build petroleum storage facilities.

Since then, Sushil Bhattarai has been taking charge of the Corporation and he is also preparing to contest for the position.

Candidates meeting all required criteria shall file their applications to the Ministry within next 15 days. Information about the application procedure and the application form can be downloaded from the Ministrys website.

Meanwhile, the candidates are also required to submit a business action plan, in maximum 5,000 words, that will reflect their vision for the Corporation.
Home  Just In  Kailali grocer murdered inside own house

Dhangadhi, September 14

Police in Kailali district of Province 7 say a local grocer has been found murdered inside his own house in Joshipur of the district on Thursday night.

The victim has been identified as Ram Prasad Ojha (35), the owner and operator of Ojha Grocery Shop at Tikapur Road.

Chief of local Bhajani Area Police Office, Inspector Rajendra Chand, suspects he might have been strangled as there are bruises on the neck. The official says police have launched an investigation.

Ojha was in the grocery business for last 10 years. He had also provided Indian currency exchange facility to locals.

The victims wife has been residing in Tikapur along with two sons.

Locals have informed police that Ojha had returned home at 11 last night after attending a dance event nearby.
Home  Just In  Supreme Court verdict bars doctors from shutting down services

Kathmandu, September 14

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order in the name of government, doctors and health professionals that emergency services including treatment of patients cannot be shut down in the name of protests and strikes.

A single bench of Justice Deepak Raj Joshee issued a verdict in response to a writ filed by advocate Bishnu Timilsina on behalf of a consumer rights organisation.

The organisation had moved court after Nepal Medical Association, the umbrella organisation of Nepali medical doctors, announced shutting down the services in protest of recently implemented criminal code after it introduced stricter provisions against medical negligence.

The organisation, however, has already withdrawn its protests now after the government addressed to meet their demands in an amendment to the new law.

Before this, the Association had frequently shut downs services except the emergency ward when they extended solidarity with the protest of medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC.
#relief funds Finance chief reiterates opposition to cash handouts to all people Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Monday renewed his opposition to the provision of emergency relief funds to all people, saying it is more effective to support vulnerable people hit...

#BTS BTS to perform 'Butter' remix with Megan Thee Stallion at AMAs K-pop superstars BTS will hit the stage with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a joint performance of "Butter" at the 2021 American Music Awards. BTS and Megan Thee Stalli...
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Laura Dern's son is the latest to join the ranks of Hollywood kids making it big on the runways of Fashion Week. Joining the likes of the Hadids, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, and both Gerber children, Ellery Harper has just been announced as signing with IMG models, after walking in the Calvin Klein show during New York Fashion Week. It's fitting this season, as it was also the debut show of Kaia Gerber just last year.

In an interview with WWD six months ago, Harper actually shared that Creative Director Raf Simons "originally asked me to walk, but my dad had different opinions." With Dern adding, "Really I'm attending with Ellery who has a great love of Raf and is an invited guest of Raf  they have a beautiful connection." Clearly after six months of persuasion, Dern and her son convinced the rest of his family that it was time to make an official debut on the runway this September.

Harper is just 16 years old, just making the cut for models' age to walk during official New York Fashion Week events, so it's a big season for the high school-age teen. While he only participated in the one show this past week, it was a massive one to debut in, suggesting a very bright future for the newest addition to IMG's family.
Hedi Slimane is now at the helm of Celine, designing his first collection for the fashion house to be debuted at this month's Paris Fashion week. That said, one of his first orders of business was creating a new bag  sure to quickly become a coveted "it" design. After all, one already sits in Lady Gaga's closet, so why not ours? WWD reported that handbags make up a whopping 65% of the company's business, with collections already rife with must-have shapes and styles.

Simane's debut handbag is a top-handle, structured lady bag shape which he has called "the 16." The number comes from the location of Celine's headquarters in Paris, which is 14 rue Vivienne. When speaking with WWD about this iconic launch ahead of the show, Severine Merle, CEO of the fashion house, shared, "The 16 handbag is the ultimate symbol of Hedi Slimane's vision for Celine: it emphasizes our knowledge of incredible craftsmanship." While the bag took six months to be perfected and physically created, it was actually drawn by Slimane on the day he arrived at the fashion house.

Though Gaga might already have a black version in her possession, the bag doesn't officially go on sale until November 12. It will at that time be available in a range of colors and three different sizes.
According to a new report this afternoon, Apple has made a new senior hire for its health team: M. Osman Akhtar, a chief operating officer of a nonprofit network of hospitals in Minnesota.

Akhtar will be reporting to Sumbul Desai, a senior employee on the health team who's been staffing up Apple's employee health clinics, called AC Wellness. Akhtar will work with Desai on the medical clinics, according to people familiar with the hire, although he may also be involved in other projects.

Akhtar has been responsible for running operations for Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis since July of 2017. Before that, he worked for almost 8 years at Sutter Health, a hospital system in the Bay Area. He started his career in health administration at Stanford University, where Apple has made many of its prominent health hires including Desai.





Apple's health team has ballooned in recent years as it has brought on doctors, technologists and regulatory experts to help it bolster its medical features on the Apple Watch. On Wednesday, the company announced a new EKG sensor for the next generation of its Apple Watch, which will be be released later in the year. For more on this read the full CNBC report here.





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Samsung has sent out a mystery teasing invite to an event taking place next month. The invitation notes that "Samsung's newest Galaxy device is bringing more ways to express yourself than ever before. Capture the fun with Samsung as the company celebrates the launch of the new device with A Galaxy Event on October 11, 2018."

Live streaming of the event will be available at:

www.samsungmobilepress.com and

www.samsung.com/galaxy





What new Galaxy device could Samsung deliver just in time for Christmas? Could it be smartglasses, a dual display smartphone, or a new mid-range smartphone that they said would be coming to market this fall aimed at millennials?

With Apple's 'entry level' iPhone XR starting at US $749, will Samsung strike a chord with millennials at a breakthrough price with high specifications? This is a new trend sweeping the globe but has yet to land in North America. The new Pocophone F1 from Xiaomi has Android fans super buzzed.

For US$300 it packs a punch for the price conscience. The review of the phone by Marques Brownlee will let you in on this trend that perhaps Samsung is thinking of bringing to market in October.

Of course Samsung's mystery device could end-up being an all new-to-market product beyond a smartphone and we'll know for sure on Thursday October 11th. Microsoft and Google events are on tap for October as well, so it's going to be an event filled month aimed at trying to rock Apple's world.

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Let My Daughter See Her Sick Father, Pleads Mother Of Jailed Iranian Activist Narges Mohammadi

09/13/18

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

The mother of imprisoned human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has urged Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi to allow the ailing political prisoner to go on furlough (temporary leave) so she can visit her ailing father and receive medical treatment.



Narges Mohammadi

"Why aren't you agreeing to her furlough?" Ozra Bazargan wrote in her letter to Dowlatabadi. "How far will you go in treating my daughter unjustly?"

"If you insist on denying furlough to my daughter, at least let your agents bring her to see her worried, sick, old father for just an hour," she added.

Bazargan's 85-year-old husband has suffered three major brain seizures in the past year, according to her letter.

Mohammadi, 46, has been repeatedly hospitalized since being imprisoned in May 2015, most recently in August 2018. She suffers from a neurological disorder that causes muscular paralysis.

The undated letter was published by the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which has been operating in exile since 2009 when it was banned in Iran. Mohammadi was a spokesperson for the center before she was arrested.

Furlough, temporary leave typically granted to prisoners in Iran for a variety of familial, holiday, and medical reasons, is routinely denied to political prisoners as a form of additional punishment.

Mohammadi has been serving a 16-year prison sentence for her public advocacy of women's and human rights under the charges of "membership in the [now banned] Defenders of Human Rights Center," "assembly and collusion against national security," and one year for "propaganda against the state." She will be eligible for release after serving 10 years.

Since Mohammadi's incarceration in Tehran's Evin Prison, her parents, who live 207 miles away in the city of Zanjan, have only been able to see her four times due to the difficulty of travelling to the prison. She has also not seen her two children and husband, who live in exile in France, for more than two years.

"We are both sick and we don't have the strength to go to Tehran to visit our loved one," Bazargan wrote.

"I'm tired of fighting against injustice in this country," she added. "I object to the injustice you have brought unto my innocent daughter and I want the authorities who have imposed a heavy sentence on her to at least agree to her furlough," said Mohammadi's mother.

Mohammadi was previously incarcerated in 2009 and sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of "assembly and collusion against national security," "membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Center," and "propaganda against the state." Upon appeal, her sentence was reduced to six years behind bars and she was released in 2013 on medical grounds.
Following his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Reverend Father Professor A. Afful-Broni, PhD has received a goodwill message from the Vice Chancellors of Public Universities congratulating him for his appointment.



In the same vein the body reminded him of the high expectations required of him and entreated him to uphold same



You are no doubt unaware of the challenges that the University has gone through in recent times. You thus, have a daunting task ahead since expectations are high. This definitely should translate into the quality of relationships as well as the nature of teaching, learning and research that will be carried out by faculty and students in the University, part of the letter read.



Professor A. Afful-Broni was appointed Vice Chancellor after Professor Mawutor Avoke and four others were recently dismissed based on recommendations by the governing council of the university.



A letter signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh and addressed to the Secretary of the President Nana Asante Bediatuo notes that the day for the investiture is set to be Monday, September 17, 2018 with President Akufo-Addo being the guest of honour.



Below is the letter from the Vice Chancellors Ghana



GOODWILL MESSAGE



ISSUED BY VICE CHANCELLORS GHANA



Vice Chancellors of the Public Universities, under the umbrella of the Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG), wish to extend a hand of congratulations and warmth to you personally and to your Governing Council for appointing you to assume the mantle of Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba. You are assuming office as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, which attests to the confidence the Governing Council has in you to lead the University.



You are no doubt unaware of the challenges that the University has gone through in recent times. You thus, have a daunting task ahead since expectations are high. This definitely should translate into the quality of relationships as well as the nature of teaching, learning and research that will be carried out by faculty and students in the University.



As an appointed Man of God elevated to this high office of Chief Executive Officer of the University of Education, Winneba, let us humbly remind you to be mindful of the role the University should play and can play in ensuring the success of the governments educational reform policies, especially on the implementation of the double track system which requires professionally trained teachers that your University should continue to produce to ensure its success. You should also not be oblivious of the growing numbers who will access university education with the introduction of the free SHS policy; it will be your duty to expand infrastructure and build capacity in human capital.



We wish to reiterate that you should be guided by the admonition of St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians in 1Cor 13:4-7. Carry everyone on board your administration.



We also ask all staff in the University to pool their resources together to ensure that the University picks up its pieces and move forward to develop today into a prosperous peaceful tomorrow. Let love lead you. Once again, congratulations!!!



Issued by Chairman,



Vice Chancellors Ghana

Source: Ghana Web









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The government of Ghana has thanked well wishers from around the world who joined Ghanaians to celebrate and bury an illustrious son and astute global diplomat, Kofi Annan.



It is our hope that the values exhibited by the former United Nations Secretary General, which include excellence, humility and peace will become subjects of our attention in the aftermath of his passing, a statement signed by deputy Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah read in part.



The former U.N. Secretary-General was laid to rest on Thursday (September 13) in a state funeral ceremony attended by African leaders and international dignitaries. His burial in Ghana brought to an end three days of national morning.



Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among the dignitaries in attendance. Guterres said Annan had only returned home and that his absence was going to be sorely missed.



At the funeral Annans son, Kojo Annan paid tribute to his father in a moving eulogy calling him his daddy and hero. Annan led the UN from 1997 to 2006, becoming the first person from sub-Saharan Africa to do so.

Source: Africanews.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.

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No court conviction just a legislative debate and a deputy minister in Liberia was sentenced to two-days in jail for rude behaviour.



Deputy Information Minister Eugene Fahngon spent his first night in cells on Wednesday and is expected to be released on Friday.



He is serving his term at the Monrovia Central Prisons, after the lower house of parliament found him guilty of abusing two members of the House of Representatives, the BBC reporter in Liberia said.



Described as tough talking, Minister Fahngon honoured an invitation from the lawmakers to explain the scuffle that led to his insulting comments on the lawmakers.



But when he appeared before the house, he said he was not interested in explaining the viral contents but that the lawmakers could act on the comments as they wished.



The speaker, Bhofal Chambers, subsequently announced the sentence after which he was handcuffed and sent to jail. He said the House was informing the executive that the erring minister was a non-governmental material.



Radio stations in the West African country have also repeatedly broadcast his insulting comments. The George Weah government has yet to officially comment on the incident.



Liberia has an upper house of parliament that is the Senate. Until his election earlier this year, Weah served as a Senator for the Montserrado County.

Source: Africanews.com









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President of Namibia, Hage Gottfried Geingob has paid glowing tribute to the late former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, attributing the success of the diplomat to his exceptional work ethic.



It is a great honour to recount the exceptional work-ethic and perseverance which allowed Annan to transform the organization, the Namibian leader said in a tribute to Mr Annan.



President Gottfried Geingob who joined many Presidents and heads of governments and dignitaries around the globe in Ghanas capital, Accra to pay their last respects to the man they so loved, credited Kofi Annan with introducing reforms at the UN which made the body more effective and less bureaucratic.



Among his most notable achievements was the introduction of numerous reforms aimed at making the United Nations less bureaucratic and more effective. Today, as Africa continues to demand greater reforms at the United Nations, we pay tribute to Kofi Annan, whose outstanding diplomatic skill enabled him to establish himself as a global diplomatic icon and humanitarian par excellence, he said.



President Geingob while a diplomat at the United Nations met and worked with Mr Annan. According to him, Annans road towards international diplomatic accomplishment began in 1974, when he became chief civilian personnel officer in the UN Emergency Force in Cairo, Egypt. It was around the same time when I had also joined the United Nations as a Political Affairs Officer, and came to know him, he said in his tribute to the Ghanaian.



Relating the sentiments of the people of Namibian to Ghana, Mr Geingob said Mr Annans life was an inspiration to many and lived out the true meaning of a Black Star.



In Namibia, we say that we are Africans before we are Namibians. We say so because Namibia is a child of Pan-African and international solidarity, midwifed by the United Nations. For this reason, we are honoured to pay tribute to this Black Star, who lived an admirable life, defined by a love for humanity, dedication to work and a never say die mentality, he observed.



His widow, Nane Maria Annan delivering her tribute said Mr Annan always believed that his inner strength and sense of hope came from his deep roots here and I want to thank Ghana for giving us such an extraordinary human being.



The UN Secretary-General who was also in attendance, said the late Kofi Annan led new ideas and initiatives including the Millennium Development Goals.



Kofi Annan was a guiding force for the good. During the tumultuous era in which he led the United Nations, he combined compassion, commitment and diplomatic skill to bring the organisation closer to the worlds peace, build the foundations of peace and give life to the values of the Charter.



He described Mr Annan as a global leader, who brought the UN closer to the people.



Ama Annan described his father as a man of generosity of spirit, who dedicated his life to others, put himself at their disposal and was one of the most loving people I know. He always made you feel welcome and listened attentively to everything you had to say.



Ghanas President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo speaking at the funeral service on Thursday said he was poorer for Mr Annans death as hes lost a great advisor. According to him, he gave me sensitive, deeply appreciated advice when I became President of the Republic.



Mr Annan died on August 18, 2018 in Switzerland. Family sources said he passed on peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his wife Nane Maria and children. He was buried at the military cemetery in Accra.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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CUSTOMERS of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region are being overbilled due to incorrect meter readings.



As a result, customers have challenged GWCL and the company has accepted responsibility for the anomaly.



The company complained of newly installed computers to improve efficiency which give wrong readings of figures keyed in, and that was part of the problem. According to the Sunyani District Manager, Gabriel Maayabe, about 8-10 per cent of the population is being adversely affected by overbilling.



Regional Production Manager, Hadisu Alhassan, said management had taken notice of the problem and were taking steps to rectify it. He called on customers who have noticed abnormal rise in their bills to report to GWCL office.



This came to light after a customer at Sunyani Berlingtop, Kwame Osahene, reported to DAILY GUIDE that his bill for August had ballooned from GH36 in July to GH146 in August.



Regional Production Manager, Hadisu Alhassan, attributed the problem partly on dew blurring reading which, according to him, is normal occurrence as regards meter reading.



He explained further that because the company installed new computers to improve efficiency in their operations, the new computers, instead of working with the immediate past month consumption, rather went back to read the previous two months and billed customers accordingly.



He gave assurance that his outfit was preparing to compensate customers who had been affected by the anomaly. He appealed to consumers in the municipality who have problems with the current bills to report to the office for redress.

Source: Daily Guide









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The late Mr Kofi Annan, a former United Nations Secretary-General, was a great blessing and an inspiration to all of us, Dr Lawrence Tetteh, a renowned International Evangelist, has said.



He said the late Mr Kofi Annan had proved that one could be gentle, polite and be very enlightened to bring the world together.



And as a matter of fact, he was fit in every pair of shoes that was given to him. He is a great example of humility and I pray that all of us in our prominence will really emulate him, Dr Tetteh said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the State Funeral for the late Mr Annan at the Accra International Conference Centre.



Dr Tetteh said the late Mr Annan had brought honour not only to Ghana but to all black communities around the world.



I have known him personally and he was one of the few who encouraged me to study international relations, he said.



He made us realise that anybody at all in spite of the background can be part of the UN. And for me Im so grateful that I had the chance to even serve at one stage as the Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Ghana United Nations Association, Dr Tetteh added.



Mr Annan passed away on August 18, in the Swiss city of Bern after a brief illness.



He was laid to rest at the New Military Cemetery at Burma Camp in Accra.



He and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.



Born in Kumasi, he joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organisations (WHO) Office in Geneva.



He then went to serve in various capacities at the UN Headquarters, including; serving as Under Secretary-General for peacekeeping from March 1992 to December 1996.



He was appointed the UN Chief in December 1996 by the Security Council and later confirmed by the General Assembly, becoming the first office holder to be elected from the UN staff itself.



Mr Annan was re-elected for a second term in 2001 and was succeeded by South Koreas Ban Ki-moon on January 01, 2007.



As Secretary-General, he worked to reform the UN bureaucracy, combat the deadly HIV spread, especially in Africa and launched the UN Global Compact.



He also initiated the Millennium Development Goals towards improving the lots of the poor around the world.



After serving out his term, he formed the Kofi Annan Foundation in 2007 to work on international development, peace and humanitarianism and was also the Chairman of The Elders, an international organisation founded by Nelson Mandela.



In 2012, Mr Annan became the UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria, to aid efforts at resolving the bloody conflict there, but quit over his frustration with the lack of progress with regard to conflict resolution.



He was appointed to lead a UN Commission to investigate the Rohingya crisis in September 2016.



Mr Annan studied Economics at Macalester College, International Relations from the Graduate Institute Geneva and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).



He is survived by his wife Nane Marie Lagergren and their children, Ama, Kojo and Nina.

Source: GNA









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The rise of Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General to the high office in 1997 was the moment the glass ceiling was smashed for all Africans in the United Nations.



A Ghanaian serving officer in the United Nations told the Ghana News Agency in a telephone interview on Tuesday that, prior to his emergence in that high office, Africans could not rise to high positions no matter how hard working and dedicated they were.



The officer, who pleaded anonymity, said It was clear Mr Annans nomination was approved in order to see him fail and make the point we told you so African cant do it but Mr Annan excelled as Secretary General.



To the youth, he said, Mr Annans story is enough assurance that hard work ultimately pays, adding that the final reward may delay but when the time comes the end is sweet



Professor Philip Kwashi Atiso Ahiaku, Lecturer University of Zululand, South Africa also eulogised Mr Annan for his integrity, selflessness and love for mankind.



He said in the hues of arm inspection in Iraq after the war, he stood his ground though newly appointed and waiting for his permanent appointment, he defies the US orders at the detriment of his own appointment as substantive UN Secretary General.



He said: Had it not been his intervention there would be blood bath.



Whatever we do as young leaders lets ask ourselves who benefits. If no one except us, its not a wise thing to do. As future leaders, lets be guided by selflessness approach to leadership as exhibited by Mr Kofi Annan in his dealing with Iraq and United States.



He could have sided with the US knowing very well his bid to becoming next substantive UN Secretary General depended largely on the support of the United States of Americahis question was who benefits from my action, he said and urged the youth to learn from this great son of the land.



Mr Reynolds Ofosu Tenkorang, General Secretary of Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), said besides Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Mr Annan was one Ghanaian who raised the image of Ghana high and called on the youth and all humanity to listen to his attributes in the tributes and emulate them.



Mr Annan passed away on August 18, 2018 in the Swiss city of Berne after a brief illness. He and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.



He is survived by his wife Nane Marie Lagergren and their Children, Ama, Kojo and Nina.

Source: GNA









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Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hannah Bisiw, has backed John Dramani Mahama to become the National Democratic Congress (NDC)s presidential candidate for the 2020 elections and go on to defeat Nana Akufo-Addo and become President once again.



Hannah Bisiw, who served under John Dramani Mahama in the previous administration, has thrown her weight behind Mr. Mahama following the declaration of his intent to contest the NDCs presidential ticket.



According to her, despite losing the 2016 presidential elections to Nana Addo, John Mahama has triumphed over the current President before in 2012, and will do so again in 2020.



When asked by Eyewitness News host Umaru Sanda Amadu whether she will support Mr Mahama, Hannah Bisiw replied, Of course.



For me, I did not resign as his deputy Minister. I worked with him. He gave me the opportunity and I worked because I believed in his vision. I am a principled person, if I didnt like John Mahama, I wouldnt have worked with him. I believe in the vision that he had and I believe in his leadership qualities. President Mahama once defeated Nana Addo, Nana Addo came to defeat him and he will defeat him back.



Hannah Bisiw, who is also a National Womens Organiser aspirant of the NDC stated that, Ghanaian voters who supported the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016 have become disillusioned with the NPP government due a host of unfulfilled promises and a number of unresolved economic challenges.



I know that will happen because go to Abossey Okai, today, the spare parts dealers are crying. [The NPPs] own Kennedy Agyapong says hes turned all his cedis into dollars because the cedi isnt working well. Today the market women are crying and the taxi and trotro drivers have been deceived. Petrol is very expensive. Today the taxes are so high that importers cannot clear their goods from the ports.



Im from Brong Ahafo. The people were promised that their monies would be paid. Today theyve not seen the money. For all the promise and fails and for the deceit that came through the campaign, Im sure John Mahama will win.



Mahama declares intent to contest



The former President in announcing his interest to run again for the high office, forwarded a letter of intent to the NDC, to contest the partys primary expected to take place in December 2018.



The announcement has been met with mixed reactions, with members of the NDC, in particular, backing him firmly.



But critics of the decision are of the view that since Mahama has gone through the structures of the political ladder, his experience will be more beneficial now as a statesman and not a President.



Support from Regional Chairmen, MPs



The ten Regional Chairmen of the NDC also backed the candidature of Mr. Mahama for election 2020 before he had even made an announcement.



The ten regional chairmen, after a meeting at the time, issued a communique in which they urged the former President to consider running for the 2020 polls.



Ninety-four NDC MPs out of the Minority Caucus of 106 also endorsed Mr. Mahama as the flagbearer for the 2020 polls before his announcement.



Mahama not marketable for 2020



Meanwhile, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ken Dzirasah has said the former Krowor Member of Parliament, Prof. Joshua Alabi who is also in the race to lead the NDC into 2020 is the best candidate to represent the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections.



According to him, it will be potentially difficult for the NDC to market the former President John Mahama who lost the 2016 elections.

Source: citinewsroom









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Ghanaian actor of Liberian ancestry, Eddie Watson has revealed how sowing a seed in church with his television set years ago changed his life.



Eddie Watson opened up in a conversation with JoyNews MzGee on an act of faith he embarked on several years ago when he was a member of the Hosanna Temple of International Central Gospel Church, Teshie, Accra.



That was one of the toughest periods in my life. I was at a point where I needed to break through, I needed something extraordinary to happen to my life and I had to do something beyond my capacity.



The television was the most valuable asset I had and when I couldnt get the money to sow, I took the television to church, he told MzGee at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in Lagos, Nigeria.



In 2014, Eddie received his first Ghanaian Movie Award for the film he wrote, directed and produced titled Ebola.



The Somewhere in Africa, 4Play Reloaded and House of Gold actor told MzGee that, his conviction that the seed will transform his life materialised.



I mean everything. It started little but I mean everything. God just set on a path that has been an upward trajectory. I am not going to say there hasnt been any challenge or that there are no challenges but He sustains me at a point and He takes you further up. I still do the same thing, I still sow seeds. I still pay my tithe. I havent forgotten my roots, he added.



In the video attached, the actor narrates how he began with just a role here in Ghana and through the recommendation of colleagues like Majid Michel and others, Eddie Watson is now a household name in Nigeria.



Watch the video below:







Source: myjoyonline









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France is set to strengthen its defences against African swine fever, following the discovery of the virus in neighbouring Belgium.

The confirmation today of the presence of the virus in Belgium represents a new progression of the disease which requires an answer to the height of the considerable economic stakes for the French agri-food chains, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement on its website.

Stephane Travert, Minister of Agriculture and Food, has asked the authorities in the regions bordering Belgium  Ardennes, Meuse, Moselle and Meurthe and Moselle  to implement the strengthened action plan specific to this disease , under the coordination of DGAL (General Directorate of Food) to prevent the introduction of the virus into France.

He has requested that zoning measures, restrictions of certain activities such as hunting and enhanced surveillance of livestock and wildlife. The plan also includes the strengthening of biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of the virus into pig farms and slaughterhouse surveillance measures.

The Minister demanded that this action plan be applied with the utmost rigour.

Mr Travert reminded the public of the importance of protecting French livestock. Entry onto farms must be authorised by the farmer and in compliance with all the hygiene and biosecurity measures required.

This health alert of maximum level, requires a collective mobilisation, particularly of breeders and hunters, to prevent the introduction or spread of this disease on our territory, he said.

The Netherlands is also on high alert. Dutch agriculture minister Carola Schouten said: This is a serious situation for Belgium. We are keeping a close eye on the situation and will check if we have sufficient preventative measures in place. But there is no increased risk in the Netherlands.

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After nearly three years of on-again, off-again negotiations and contretemps, the city of Cape Coral and its electric services provider, have reached a tentative franchise agreement.

At times, the talks were ugly, with lawyers getting involved to the tune of more than $1.5 million, meaning city residents were not only paying for power, but also for the attorney fees for both sides.

Now there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

During Mondays regular Cape Coral City council meeting, the new agreement will be introduced to the council for its consideration, with a vote scheduled for Sept. 24.

If city council agrees to the proposal, the board of directors at LCEC will decide Thursday whether to accept the new agreement, which will replace the 30-year franchise that expired in 2016.

Mayor Joe Coviello said he and LCEC Executive Vice President & CEO Dennie Hamilton got together and put together what he thinks is a fair and equitable agreement.

We expressed what we wanted to see in the agreement and had a mutual respect for where we were going with this. I got some give and take and Im happy with what I was able to put together, said Coviello, who was tapped by council to act as the citys negotiator in the latest talks.

Coviello said the best thing is that it eliminates the expense of attorneys on both sides. Coviello said the city has spent a half-million dollars on lawyers and staff time while LCEC has spent more than $1 million, which the ratepayers and taxpayers (all one in the same) have paid for.

I hope we can put that to rest and council likes what it sees and gives us its stamp of approval, Coviello said.

Karen Ryan, spokesperson with LCEC, said the last thing the co-op wanted was continued expenditures to be paid by city taxpayers and rate payers.

It would have been all that time and money for the same result, Ryan said. We commend city leaders for considering these options and looking for the best interests of the city.

Among the items in the agreement is:

n 20-year term with an automatic 10-year renewal unless either side wishes to amend or terminate the agreement 180 days in advance of the extension.

n The franchise fee to be paid by the utility and passed through to customers will be locked in at 3 percent for five years, after which the city will have the option to raise it to a maximum of 4.5 percent. After the 10th year, the maximum rate would be to 6 percent.

n The city will also have the option to purchase electricity from a third party, provided LCEC is notified in writing. LCEC will have 90 days to match the offer.

n As far as technology, which was a sticking point for both sides, LCEC will monitor new and emerging technology developments to operate as efficiently and effectively as is financially justified, according to the agreement.

n LCEC will also offer customers with qualified renewable energy systems the opportunity to sell excess energy back to LCEC.

Its hard to work with technology because much of what happens 10 years down the road we dont know what it is, Coviello said. I never thought I could put my cellphone on a pad and it would get charged.

Since well before the original agreement expired, the parties couldnt hammer out an agreement, with Hamilton, Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag, and third parties including Cape Coral Council For Progress members Brian Rist and Joe Mazurkiewicz making varied efforts.

The election-reconfigured council took a different approach and Coviello was able to get LCEC back to the table.

Ryan said if both sides agree to the terms, Hamilton will be given approval to sign the agreement.

Ryan said she is happy they are so close after so much acrimony.

This is the closest weve been. I am very optimistic about it because its close to the original agreement, Ryan said. It got ugly and I cant explain why. We have always been willing to negotiate in good faith and not everyone was agreeable to that.

Ryan said the work Rist and Mazurkiewicz did was immeasurable, even if it didnt result in a deal, as they had the interests of everyone in mind.

In negotiations, everyone is out for their own interests. As a co-op, our interest is our members interest, Ryan said. They sought what would be the best for everybody. They made some ground even though they didnt get an agreement.

LCEC is an not-for-profit electric cooperative that serves Cape Coral, Marco Island, Sanibel and Captiva, North Fort Myers, Immokalee, and parts of Lehigh Acres. With 200,000 members, Cape Coral represent nearly 40 percent.
In Washington and Ottawa this week, much attention has been on the heated renegotiations of the North American free trade agreement (NAFTA). The customarily rock-solid relationship between Canada and the United States has recently been shaken.

On 7 September, down the street from the NAFTA meetings in Washington D.C., the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a meeting of many thought leaders from both countries to discuss a parallel point of uncertainty in the Canada-United States relationship: collaboration in space. The title of the day-long meeting in Washington was Over the Horizon: A New Era for Canada-U.S. Space Cooperation? -- emphasis on the question mark.

Canada and the United States have a long history together in space. Canadas first satellite, Alouette 1, launched on an American rocket. The Apollo 11 lander touched down on the surface of the Moon on Canadian-made legs. The International Space Station (ISS) could not function without its Canadian robotic components, and Canadas astronauts would have nowhere to go if it werent for the ISS.

The future of the Canada-U.S. space partnership is uncertain. NASA is moving forward with plans to send humans to the Moon and eventually on to Mars, but Canada has yet to decide whether or how it will participate. Canadas investment in space has been declining for years, allowing our space industry to lose people and companies to the U.S. and other countries with more thriving space sectors. As many nations are increasing their investments in space, Canada risks falling behind the rest of the worlds progress.

At the Wilson Center meeting in Washington D.C., top-level U.S. space leaders -- including National Space Council Executive Secretary Scott Pace -- clearly stated that the United States wants to maintain our collaborative relationship in space. The U.S. is still holding a place at the table for Canada to join the Gateway station in lunar orbit and other major international exploration missions. We just need to step up.

There is still time, and there is still hope that Canada wont be left out. The Canadian space community is rallying around the common message that the Government of Canada must take steps to support the space program in the interest of our economy, sovereignty, pride, and international relationships. And the newly appointed Science Advisor to the Canadian Space Agency has echoed this call, advocating for a billion-dollar increase of the space programs budget over the next 10 years.

With decisions about the next federal budget being made in the coming months, The Planetary Society will continue to advocate for space. With a strategy and a healthy budget, Canada can take its place in the future of space exploration, both as a partner and as a leader in our own right.
A Cicero, IL, police officer was shot Thursday evening near the Cicero Avenue exit of I-55, investigators say.

"Cicero getting off I-55, I've been shot, I've been shot several times," Officer Luis Duarte said over the radio, calling in his own injury Thursday evening.

Officers were trying to pull over a car with California plates that had been reported stolen, according to investigators. "The vehicle refused to stop, our officers were able to box the vehicle in right at the entrance ramp at I-55 and Cicero Avenue where the subject immediately exited his vehicle and began shooting multiple rounds at our officers," said Cicero Police Department Supt. Jerry Chlada, Jr.

Officials say Duarte, 31, was shot four times, in his leg, stomach and twice in the arm.

Cicero police say after Duarte was shot the suspect ran away and started shooting at another officer that tried to chase him, ABC7 reports.

"We were luckily (sic) enough to have a citizen on the street who's a concealed carry holder and he also engaged in gun fire with this offender who was struck one time and was taken to Cook County Hospital," Supt. Chlada said.
KDH Defense Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of American-made, high-performance protective solutions, announced it has been awarded a competitive, multiple-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Contract for ballistic body armor from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Under the terms of this award (15DDHQ18D00000014), KDH will manufacture and deliver both concealable and tactical vests, as well as hard armor plates to the DEA. The contract covers one base year with four one-year options, with a maximum value that shall not exceed $2.9 million.

For the past several years, KDH Defense has supported the DEAs body armor requirements and we are honored again, to have been selected as their protective solutions company, stated Dave Herbener, president of KDH.

Jim Henderson, chief executive officer of the holding company that owns both Armor Express and KDH Defense Systems, stated, Between Armor Express and KDH, we now service most of the pre-eminent Federal agencies. Our goal is to continue to expand our reach, enhance our solutions and deliver the best service that our customers mandate. We stand ready to support the DEAs mission-critical requirements and look forward to building on our partnership in the years to come.

Manufacturing will be performed at the Companys state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Eden, NC. All body armor will be delivered, inspected, and accepted at the DEA headquarters and regional division offices located throughout the 50 United States and overseas.

For more information, visit www.kdhdefensesystems.com.
A Fort Worth, TX, officer remains in critical condition Friday afternoon after he was shot in the head as police confronted a group of men while they were reportedly robbing a bar early Friday morning.

Garrett Hull, a 17-year veteran of the department, was critically wounded and the man who shot him was killed when police tried to stop the robbery, police said.

Hull, was with at least 10 other police who were conducting surveillance on a group of people suspected in a series of robberies around Fort Worth, Sgt. Chris Britt said.

The officers confronted the three male suspects who fled on foot after unsuccessfully trying to get into a vehicle.

At least one of the three fired at police, striking Hull in the head. The officers returned fired, fatally shooting the gunman, who was later identified as Dacion Steptoe. The two other suspects tried to flee but were captured, police told the Dallas News.

Hull, who has a wife and two daughters, was part of a task force made up of uniformed and plainclothes officers, Fitzgerald said.

The suspects in Friday's robbery were believed to be responsible for at least 15 robberies in Fort Worth and some in other cities, Fort Worth PD said.
SIMPLE AND PRECIOUS

... Water ... is a very simple and precious element, yet access to it is, sadly, for many people difficult if not impossible. Nonetheless, "access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and ... is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world owes a great social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity" (Laudato Si', 30).

"SISTER WATER"

... I feel the need to give thanks to God for "Sister Water", simple and useful for life like nothing else on our planet. Precisely for this reason, care for water sources and water basins is an urgent imperative... We urgently need shared projects and concrete gestures that recognize that every privatization of the natural good of water , at the expense of the human right to have access to this good, is unacceptable.

PURIFICATION AND LIFE

For us Christians, water represents an essential element of purification and of life.

FOLLOWING JESUS

Jesus ... promised a water capable of quenching human thirst for ever. He prophesied, "If any one thirst, let him come to Me and drink (Jn 7:37). To drink from Jesus means to encounter Him personally as the Lord, drawing from His words the meaning of life. May the words He spoke from the cross "I thirst" (Jn 19:28) echo constantly in our hearts.

JESUS THIRSTS

The Lord continues to ask that His thirst be quenched; He thirsts for love. He asks us to give Him to drink in all those who thirst in our own day... To give to drink in the global village, does not only entail personal gestures of charity, but also concrete choices and a constant commitment to ensure to all the primary good of water.

LITTERED SEAS

We cannot allow our seas and oceans to be littered by endless fields of floating plastic... Our active commitment is needed to confront this emergency. We need to pray as if everything depended on God's providence, and work as if everything depended on us.

PRAYERFUL HOPE

It is my prayerful hope that Christian communities may contribute more and more concretely helping everyone to enjoy this indispensable resource, in respectful care for the gifts received from the Creator, and in particular rivers, seas and oceans.

(Source: Message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, 9/1/2018)
An unlocked 2018 GMC Yukon rental vehicle was stolen out of Dearborn during the early morning hours of Sept. 5.

Police responded to the 8700 block of Gary Street at 9:30 a.m. on a call of a stolen vehicle.

When they arrived, the person who rented the Yukon told police he parked it and left it unlocked at 2:30 a.m. after returning home from the airport.

At about 9:20 a.m., he noticed it was stolen.

He told police he had the only set of keys in his possession.
Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards are presented each year to companies that are predicted to encourage significant growth in their industries, have identified emerging trends before they became a marketplace standard, and have created advanced technologies that will catalyze and transform industries in the near future.

"Our Awards program has now been in existence for more than fifteen years," said Jeff Frigstad, Global Sr. Vice President, Best Practices, Frost & Sullivan. "These Awards come from the rigor used by our talented team of 2,000 thought leaders from over 50 global offices working with more than 200,000 clients to locate the best."

Awarded companies include:

Afrique Telecom - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Communications Services Enabling Technology Leadership Award

Brown Button Foundation - 2017 African Sterilized Childbirth Kit Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

EmptyTrips - 2018 South African On-demand Logistics New Product Innovation Award

Enviro Loo - 2017 Southern African Dry Sanitation Company of the Year Award

Fidson Healthcare - 2018 Nigerian Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

Gemalto - 2018 Middle Eastern & African Smart Cards Customer Value Leadership Award

Guidepost - 2018 South African Diabetes Management Services Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award

Kiara Health - 2018 African Health Product and Technology Distributor Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

NuRAN Wireless - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Tower Infrastructure Enabling Technology Leadership Award

RedCloud Technologies - 2017 Sub-Saharan African Enterprise Software for Financial Services Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

redPanda Software - 2017 South African Enterprise Software for Retail Customer Value Leadership Award

Rift Valley Energy Tanzania - 2017 East African Renewable Energy Development and Distribution Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

SqwidNet - 2018 South African LPWAN Enabling Technology Leadership Award

Utility Systems - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Smart Water Management Solutions Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

Vodacom - 2018 African IoT Technology Innovation Award

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices.

For further information about the Awards Banquet, please contact a member of the Best Practices Team.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, collaborates with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that could make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

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Service standardization is critical due to the presence of a large number of MNCs in the region

SINGAPORE, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A booming construction market and the desire among the private and public sectors to build world-class infrastructure has added thrust to the integrated facilities management (IFM) market in the developing economies of Asia-Pacific. These countries, however, tend to be conservative spenders and the demand for high-value IFM services is limited to MNCs, large corporations, and the public sector. The more developed nations, such as Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia, are major markets for high-end IFM services due to the governments' and consumers' emphasis on smart or energy-efficient buildings. Green commissioning services and green FM service solutions that allow clients to maintain their green certification have given a huge added boost to IFM in mature markets.

"Asia-Pacific has traditionally been late adopters of integrated concepts, and the lack of standardization in IFM technologies has further hindered market growth in developing nations," said Janice Wung, Program Manager, Energy & Environment.

"On the other hand, there is continuous demand of IFM in mature markets due to contract renewals and upcoming sectors signing long-term partnerships with IFM providers, as in the case of Australia," she added.

Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Asia-Pacific Integrated Facilities Management Market, Forecast to 2022, analyzes market drivers, restraints, forecasts, trends, and the competitive landscape of the overall FM and IFM market. It covers the verticals of commercial, energy & resources, education, healthcare, public sector, and industrial in the countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2rj

"As cost management and quality continue to be key concerns for many businesses in the region, IFM service providers have been striving to offer service standardization as well as significant cost, energy, and ultimately, operational efficiencies. Standardization is especially important to MNCs as they have facilities in multiple sites," noted Wung.

IFM and FM service providers looking to make optimal use of the immense growth opportunities in Asia-Pacific need to refine their business strategies in line with the following market and technology trends:

Cost efficiency : Budgetary pressures and the slowdown in end-user industries such as mining has intensified the need to achieve economy-of-scale, particularly for larger-scale contracts with single clients.

: Budgetary pressures and the slowdown in end-user industries such as mining has intensified the need to achieve economy-of-scale, particularly for larger-scale contracts with single clients. Value-added services : Service providers with single services have to enhance their service offerings. Value-added solutions like integrated services will help them provide businesses with a single point of contact.

: Service providers with single services have to enhance their service offerings. Value-added solutions like integrated services will help them provide businesses with a single point of contact. Building long-term partnerships : Build capacity in terms of portfolio and workforce for managing critical environment facilities and ensuring long-term relationships. Strong partner relationship with companies in the supply chain is necessary to win long-term contracts such as public-private partnerships .

: Build capacity in terms of portfolio and workforce for and ensuring long-term relationships. Strong partner relationship with companies in the supply chain is necessary to win long-term contracts such as . Service standardization : Develop strong in-house expertise in managing multiple sites while maintaining service quality. Gaining regional and global expertise through knowledge sharing and case studies will further sharpen their competitive advantage.

: Develop strong in-house expertise in managing multiple sites while maintaining service quality. Gaining regional and global expertise through knowledge sharing and case studies will further sharpen their competitive advantage. Internet of Buildings: Incorporate software solutions that enable interoperability, Big Data Analytics, and the concept of Innovating to Zero. Invest in technologies and equipment such as sensors and platforms to engage with clients in real time.

Asia-Pacific Integrated Facilities Management Market, Forecast to 2022 is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Homes & Buildings Growth Partnership Service program.

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Asia-Pacific Integrated Facilities Management Market, Forecast to 2022

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HYDERABAD, India, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

 MEIL will maintain the Oncology building for next three years

 Our Social service programmes are continuously going on, says MEIL Chairman P. P. Reddy

"Amenities provided by Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) at the newly constructed Medical oncology block at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) are better than corporate hospitals," said Telangana IT Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao during the inauguration ceremony. The facility was inaugurated by Honorable IT Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao and Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy on Thursday.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/744277/MEIL_NIMS_Inauguration.jpg )



On the occasion, while speaking to the gathering, Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao said, "Only CSR activities coupled with advanced technologies will reach the common man. NIMS provides expensive surgeries at low cost to poor people. I am happy with what NIMS have done - 1,084 kidney transplantation surgeries, 7 liver transplantation surgeries and above hundred bone marrow surgeries. The Telangana government is also initiating a lot of programmes in the health sector. Recently, we started 'Kanti Velugu', a mega eye screening programme, and it has received a good response from the people," K. Taraka Rama Rao said.

On the occasion of Vinayaka Chavithi, after the inauguration, Ministers K. Taraka Rama Rao and C. Laxma Reddy conducted a puja. Later, the ICU, male and children wards were opened by Ministers K. Taraka Rama Rao, C. Laxma Reddy, NIMS Director Manohar and MEIL Chairman P.P. Reddy. The female ward was opened by MEIL Managing Director P.V. Krishna Reddy and his sons P.V. Pranav Reddy and P.V. Manas Reddy. Minister KTR then interacted with cancer-afflicted children. While addressing the gathering, Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao appreciated MEIL Chairman P.P. Reddy and Managing Director P.V. Krishna Reddy for providing better amenities to oncology patients.

P.V. Krishna Reddy announced that MEIL will maintain the new oncology building for next three years and promised to renovate the old oncology building. MEIL spent approximately Rs. 10 crores to create the modern facility, equipping it with 50 beds for oncology patients. He suggested that every corporate company should come forward and participate in social service programmes like Megha Engineering.

Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy praised the MEIL social service initiatives. "We thank the MEIL management for providing such astounding facilities," C. Laxma Reddy said.

Our CSR Programs will continue: MEIL Chairman P.P. Reddy

"Our social service programmes under corporate social responsibility will continue in future also and our CSR activity is a continuous process to build a better society," said MEIL chairman P. P. Reddy. "With a budget of Rs. 10 crore, we created the best Oncology facilities at NIMS on the official's request. We have provided ICU and separate wards for male, female and children. We will renovate the old oncology building too. We are providing free midday meals at several hospitals and providing basic amenities in several villages of both Telugu speaking states," P.P. Reddy added. Later, MEIL Chairman P.P. Reddy was felicitated by IT Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao.

About MEIL

Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL) established in 1989, is one of the fastest growing infra companies in India. Over the years, MEIL has constructed numerous structures like large civil constructions, oil and gas pipelines, pump houses, large water treatment plants, dams, reservoirs, power transmission lines, power generation units, tunnels - and all of them have an important role to play in improving the quality of life of the common man for many years into the foreseeable future.

For more information, please visit: http://meil.in/

Media Contact:

SV Rao

[email protected]

+91-9100032262

MEIL

SOURCE Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL)
SINGAPORE, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Surbana Jurong Capital, the newly established financial services arm of Surbana Jurong, and Mitsubishi Corporation today signed an agreement to set up a fund management company (FMC). The FMC will be a 50:50 joint venture between the two companies and will be jointly managed by both partners.

The FMC will set up an Investment Fund (Fund) to invest in urban development projects in emerging Asia, primarily in Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. Such projects may include transit-oriented developments (TOD) such as aviation or rail-related developments, affordable housing, as well as other urban-related infrastructure.

The partners will each contribute up to US$250 million to seed the Fund, and the FMC will also raise and manage funds from other accredited or institutional third-party investors.

According to Asian Development Bank's (ADB) estimates, developing Asia will need to invest at least US$1.7 trillion per year in infrastructure until 2030 to maintain its growth momentum. However, there remains a huge gap between the demand for such infrastructure and the region's access to financing.

The FMC will seek out commercially-viable urban infrastructure projects which are in an advanced feasibility stage or in the early phases of construction, and provide equity investment to support such projects. Qualifying projects will need to meet sustainable environmental, social and corporate governance metrics. Institutional investors seeking to participate in the sustainable growth of the region can therefore do so through the Fund.

The FMC will leverage both partners' unique strengths to deliver optimum long-term risk-adjusted returns for the Fund. Surbana Jurong, as one of the largest Asia-based urban and infrastructure consultancies, has direct exposure to project opportunities in the region. It has over 70 years of successful project deliveries and technical teams in over 40 countries to provide insights on the risks of such projects. Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business enterprise with diverse business operations, has experience in investments and financial products, and has been investing in real estate projects in ASEAN countries since 2013 totalling JPY250 billion.

Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group Chief Executive Officer of Surbana Jurong, said, "Emerging countries in Asia continue to see rapid economic and population growth, which drives the demand for urban infrastructure projects including transit-oriented developments and affordable housing. For project owners looking for funding, and investors looking for long-term sustainable returns, Surbana Jurong and Mitsubishi Corporation's new FMC will provide that capital bridge. Our JV will tap both partners' know-how across financing and investing, as well as technical and risk analysis to deliver sustainable returns. This JV is also timely, as Singapore positions itself as the regional infrastructure hub."

Surbana Jurong Capital

Surbana Jurong Capital, as the financial services arm of Surbana Jurong, will source, invest, plan, develop and manage infrastructure and real estate projects, generating long-term sustainable returns for its stakeholders. It will draw on its ability to plan and manage the risks of development stage projects, seeking to bring together existing market liquidity with appropriate opportunities, providing risk-adjusted returns for investors.

Mr Wong commented, "Surbana Jurong Capital will augment Surbana Jurong Group's complete value-chain of solutions. Through Surbana Jurong Capital, we are now able to provide equity investment and long-term financing solutions to our global clientele, further enhancing the value-add we bring to our partners."

About Surbana Jurong

Surbana Jurong is one of the largest Asia-based urban and infrastructure consulting firms. Leveraging technology and creativity, Surbana Jurong provides best-in-class consultancy solutions across the entire value chain of the urbanisation, industrialisation and infrastructure domains.

Headquartered in Singapore, the Surbana Jurong Group has a global workforce of over 14,000 employees in more than 120 offices across over 40 countries in Asia, Australia, UK, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, and an annual turnover of around S$1.5 billion.

Surbana Jurong has a track record of close to 70 years, and has built more than a million homes in Singapore, crafted master plans for more than 30 countries and developed over 100 industrial parks globally.

Surbana Jurong's motto 'Building Cities, Shaping Lives' reflects its belief that development is more than just steel and concrete. Surbana Jurong creates spaces and designs infrastructure where people live, work and play, shaping cities into homes with sustainable jobs where communities and businesses can flourish.

About Mitsubishi Corporation

Mitsubishi Corporation is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates business across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business.

Mitsubishi Corporation's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Surbana Jurong

Jackie Yu

Director, Group Communications

T: +65-6839-7326 M: +65-9688-4269 E: [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.surbanajurong.com



SOURCE Surbana Jurong Private Limited
MUMBAI, India, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Celebrating 260 years, Cox & Kings Ltd., the oldest and leading tour operator with operations in 22 countries won the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in Marketing Media - Consumer Travel Brochure category. Cox & Kings' entry 'Experiential Showcase of the Indian Journeys' was chosen of the numerous nominations, by an esteemed Jury Panel consisting of the travel industry's luminaries. The award ceremony that took place at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), Langkawi, Malaysia recognised 32 outstanding entries from the travel and tourism industry.

Peter Kerkar, Group CEO, Cox & Kings said, "Customer engagement means a great deal to us and we are always looking at innovative ways to showcase and promote our offerings to the discerning travellers. Our Travel brochure was designed in a way that not only exhibited the vibrant offerings and experiences of India but also provided a comprehensive and informational guide to help travellers plan their trip better. We are very honoured that our innovative marketing initiatives are being recognised at a global platform like PATA."

Cox & Kings Ltd. ('C&K') is a leading leisure and education travel group with operations in 22 countries across four continents. It is one of the most experienced travel companies in the world, having been in operation since 1758. Headquartered in India, C&K has over the last three decades transformed itself into a diversified, multinational travel conglomerate with a focus on the new-age global consumer.

C&K operates in three key verticals; Leisure, Education, Hybrid Hotels.

Cox & Kings' tremendous contribution to the country's travel industry is known to all. With innovations like 'Enable Travel' - unique holidays for the disabled travellers to specialist brands such as ' Trip 360' for adventure enthusiasts, 'Getaway Goddess' for women travellers and 'Self Drive 365' that is set to change the realm of self-drive tours in India and elsewhere, Cox & Kings has reinvented the space.

For further details on this release, please contact:

Thomas C. Thottathil

Head - Corporate Communications,

Cox & Kings Ltd.

T: +91-22-22709100

E: thomasct@coxandkings.com



SOURCE Cox & Kings Ltd.
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Medicover has signed an agreement to acquire the centre for genetic diagnostics of Dr. Klein, Dr. Rost and colleagues as well as its affiliate IMGM, both located in Martinsried, near Munich, Germany. The laboratory has a strong position within genetic testing, pathology, transfusion medicine, microbiology and virology and will accordingly enhance Medicover's offering within these areas. The acquisition will as well create a platform for further expansion in southern Germany.

Revenue for the laboratory amounted to around 17 million euro in 2017 with a total number of employees of 160. The transaction is subject to merger control clearance and regulatory approvals with closing expected in January 2019.

For further information, please contact:

Paula Treutiger, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Director

+46-733-666-599

paula.treutiger@medicover.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/medicover/r/medicover-acquires-leading-genetics-laboratory-in-germany,c2617563

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/15662/2617563/908959.pdf Meicover acquires leading genetics laboratory in Germany

SOURCE Medicover
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Ex-Russian senator Pugachev asks Supreme Court to overturn $1 bln ruling against him

 RIA Novosti, Vitaliy Shayfulin

10:56 14/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 13 (RAPSI)  Ex-Russian senator and Mezhprombank beneficiary Sergey Pugachev has filed a claim with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn a ruling to recover 75.6 billion rubles ($1 billion) from him and other ex-managers of the bank, the court records read.

In July, the Moscow District Commercial Court upheld lower courtsrefusal to reconsider the case upon discovery of new facts.

Earlier, the claimants press-service has stated that neither Pugachev, nor his French lawyer due to participate in the hearings had been properly notified about the time of the hearings held on October 19, 2017, therefore, according to Pugachev, the court passed a clearly unlawful decision without the presence of the claimant and his defense.

According to the claimant, the new evidence in the case was that on September 15, 2016, a court of appeals found out that from July 9, 2012 till July 15, 2015 the Moscow Commercial Court reviewed motions and claims related to the case in an unlawful manner.

On April 30, 2015, the Moscow Commercial Court ruled in favor of the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) in a lawsuit filed to declare Pugachev and other Mezhprombank executives guilty of knowingly bankrupting the bank, primarily through the transfer of liquid assets. The court decided to debit 75.6 billion rubles from former managers of the bank.

The Moscow Commercial Court in late October granted DIA the right to forcibly collect 75.6 billion rubles from former Mezhprombank staff, including 68.5 billion rubles from Pugachev and Marina Illarionova, the last CEO of Mezhprombank, and 7.16 billion rubles from two former chief executives, Alexander Didenko and Alexey Zlobin.

In 2014, DIA filed a lawsuit with a UK court to collect the assets which Pugachev allegedly embezzled from Mezhprombank. In July 2014, Londons High Court granted an injunction to seize $2 billion worth of Pugachevs assets in various countries. Pugachev appealed the decision, but in December 2014 Londons High Court refused to release his assets. On October 11, 2017, the High Court of Justice in London recognized trusts owned by ex-Russian senator Sergey Pugachev as sham.
Moscow court extends detention of Rosgosstrakh banks former vice-president

 Fotolia/ Irochka

14:55 14/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 13 (RAPSI)  The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has extended detention of former Rosgosstrakh group vice-president Sergey Khachaturov, a defendant in an embezzlement case, until November 17, the press-service of the court has told RAPSI.

Another defendant in the case is head of Legion Finance company, ex-shareholder of Rosgosstrakh bank Nadezhda Klepalskaya charged with embezzlement committed by an organized criminal group or the one committed on especially large scale. Currently, she is being held under house arrest.

Earlier it was reported that Khachaturov is charged with appropriation of Rosgosstrakhs shares. Until 2017, the group of companies was controlled by the brother of the defendant Danil Khachaturov and was later transferred to Otkritie financial company. According to media reports, losses of the company that year reached over 55 billion rubles ($814.8 million).

The defendants attorney Alexey Melnikov told RAPSI that in fact, during a lawful stock trade, Khachaturov sold shares of Rosgosstrakh to Trust bank. The lawyer noted that the deal, found to be illegal by investigators, was supervised by the Central Bank of Russia.

In May, Khachaturovs defense asked Russias ombudsman for business rights Boris Titov to provide assistance against unlawful detention and prosecution of their client.
Indictment to be approved in high-profile theater embezzlement case

 RIA Novosti, Ramil Sitdikov

16:34 14/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 14 (RAPSI)  A high-profile embezzlement case involving the Gogol Center theater director Kirill Serebrennikov has been forwarded to prosecutors for approving indictment, the press service of Russias Investigative Committee reports Friday.

Investigators have collected a sufficient body of evidence in the case, the statement reads.

Serebrennikov was arrested in late August 2017 and then placed under house arrest. In early November, Moscows Basmanny District Court seized assets belonging to Serebrennikov including apartment, car, and money in the amount of more than 360,000 rubles ($5,300), over 60,000, and $4,000.

Investigators believe that he was an organizer of the budget money embezzlement. He allegedly created Seventh Studio stage company to actualize the Platforma project for promotion of art and called alleged accomplices into the organization. He pleaded not guilty.

Other defendants in the case are ex-head of Seventh Studio stage company Yury Itin, ex-general producer Alexey Malobrodsky, and former Seventh Studio chief accountant Nina Maslyayeva, ex-official of Russias Culture Ministry and current director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater Sophia Apfelbaum. Producer Yekaterina Voronova, has been put on the international wanted list and arrested in absentia as part of the case.

According to investigation, the defendants have embezzled 133 million rubles ($2 million) of 214 million rubles ($3.2 million) allocated from the budget to Seventh Studio for promotion of Russian contemporary art.

Investigators claim that Itin, Malobrodsky, and Maslyayeva were falsifying data for the Platforma projects plans in 2011-2014 on the theater directors request. This data was provided to the Ministry of Culture as the rationale for financing from the state budget.

Maslyayeva has testified against Serebrennikov. She said that Serebrennikov, Malobrodsky and Itin organized embezzlement of money allocated for a cultural event. Serebrennikov and Malobrodsky cashed the money with the assistance of Maslyayeva. The woman also said that she entered falsified data in financial reports.

Apfelbaum, according to investigators, signed contracts on state grants in the amount of more than 214 million rubles with Serebrennikovs stage company on behalf of the Russian Culture Ministry, and provided further agreement of received reporting documents, which contained overstated information on quantity and cost of the held events, thus abetting the embezzlement.

Apfelbaum admitted that she controlled the movement of cash but denied involvement in the crime.
Posted by Philip on at 06:55 AM CST

Bidding will be available online, by phone or in person. Online bids are already being taken.You can register to bid now at www.propstore.com Details on the jacket provided by Prop Store follow. It's an interesting read for anyfan.Lot #: 463 MHan Solo's (Harrison Ford) JacketSTAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)Han Solos (Harrison Ford) jacket from Irvin Kershners Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The Empire jacket was a subtle update of Solos vest from the original film, maintaining a similar pocket configuration and cut, with the addition of sleeves and a collar.This exact jacket Solo jacket was used for sequences on Cloud City and screen matches numerous shots in the film. Unique identifiers include the placement, sizing and fold lines of the pockets, as well as a specific internal stitch-line within the collar that is visible in a close-up shot of Ford. At least one other jacket was used for filming and the jackets can be differentiated by their pocket placement.Designed by Academy Award-winning costume designer John Mollo, the jacket was manufactured by the small, independent tailor Caledonian Costumes, a firm started by former Bermans & Nathans employee Victor Somkowick.Made of a cotton-woollen blend with a polyester satin lining, it features a mandarin collar, pockets on both sides at the chest and waist, a large pocket on the rear, a faux-pocket on the left arm, shoulder panel detailing and visible stitched detailing at the upper arm, elbow and cuffs. It shares several styling and cut details with Luke Skywalkers (Mark Hamill) jacket worn on Dagobah and in Cloud City, notably the stitched detailing on the arms.Several colours were considered before the final design was selected, in consultation with George Lucas and director Irvin Kershner. Although it appeared navy blue in the film, the jacket is deliberately a blue-grey colour. Designer Mollo stated that blues tend to appear black on film, and for that reason a garment intended to read as blue needed to be made in a lighter colour.The jacket does not display any fasteners as it was designed to be worn open, as with Solos vest in A New Hope. Lucas famously did not want any visible fasteners on the costumes of Star Wars as he felt they were too close to the styling of modern-day Earth. The creator of Star Wars also did not want the costumes to stand out in the film; Mollo stated that Lucas instructed him to avoid making them appear spacey.The cynical smugglers costume remained largely unchanged throughout the original trilogy. Mollo, who won one of his two Oscars for his work on Star Wars: A New Hope, described Han Solos look as a mixture of a cowboy and a more orthodox space sort of thing. The straightforward garb spoke to George Lucass description of the character in the fourth draft of Star Wars: A mercenary in a starship, simple, sentimental and cocksure of himself.The jacket is the only significant Han Solo costume piece from the original trilogy ever to come to public auction. It featured prominently on marketing materials and consumer products relating to the film, including the famous Gone With the Wind-style theatrical poster featuring artwork by Tom Jung. Countless pieces of merchandise have been created featuring the jacket, ranging from drinking glasses to action figures. It is the embodiment of one of the most revered characters in cinema.The Empire Strikes Back remains a high-point of the Star Wars saga. A 2014 Empire magazine poll of greatest movies, as voted by fans, listed it as the greatest motion-picture ever made. It was the highest grossing film of 1980, earning nearly twice as much as the number-two earner, and at that time was the third-highest grossing film in history, behind only the original Star Wars and Jaws. The film also has the honour of being selected to be archived by the U.S. Library of Congress.Academy-Award nominated Harrison Ford is one of the worlds most beloved actors, having portrayed Han Solo in addition to George Lucas other heroic creation Indiana Jones, as well as many other timeless characters. Ford received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2000, and in 1997 was ranked by Empire magazine as number one on a list of The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time.This historic piece has been conserved by noted textile conservationists Janie Lightfoot & Co. and displays only minor instances of loose threading and minimal wear as a result of production use. It is presented on a bust display and remains in excellent condition. Included with the jacket are several 8x10 reference photos, comprising production stills and screen captures. Dimensions (displayed): 58 cm x 68 cm x 167 cm (22  x 26  x 65 )500,000 - 1,000,000
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, to emphasise the need for peace and justice, as he visited a mosque in Indore to attend an event organised by the Bohra Muslims.

Modi shared the dais with the Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the 'Ashara Mubarak' event, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, at the Saifee Mosque in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

According to a spokesman of the Bohra community, it is the first time that a prime minister has attended the 'Ashara Mubarak' programme of the community held annually during the first 10 days of the Shia calendar, coinciding with the Moharram.

Addressing a gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community members, Modi said, Imam Hussain had sacrificed his life for the sake of peace and justice. He had raised his voice against injustice and arrogance.

He added that these teachings of Imam Hussain were more important today than those times.

The prime minister, who was felicitated by Saifuddin on his arrival at the mosque, showered praise on the Bohra Muslim community for globally spreading the message of co-existence.

The concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work, Modi said.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said at the event which was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his address, the prime minister spoke about his government's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (cleanliness campaign), 'Make-in-India' programme and rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said the members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these initiatives as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

At the same time, he added, all five fingers of a hand are not equal. Some people consider fraud as business.

He said his government, over the last four years, has sent out a message that the business should be done within the purview of the rules and law.

Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and Bankruptcy law," Modi said.

The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras for their efforts to make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched on Saturday and will culminate on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the 'Dandi March', Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the prime minister said.

Referring to the 'Make-in-India' programme, Modi said, the confidence of investors across the world has increased in India. The production of mobiles phones, vehicles and other goods is increasing due to the record investment.

He said that in the last quarter of the current fiscal, the country has achieved the growth rate of more than eight percent.

We are eying the double digit. I believe that the country can reach to the goal despite all the challenges," the prime minister said.

Modi also said that his government has given priority to health and nutrition sectors and that it was being done for the first time in the country's history.

The facilities of cheap treatment and medicines are being expanded exponentially, he added.

He said the 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme' (national health protection scheme) has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people of poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.

Modi also said that the government is working to provide a house to every homeless poor in the country by 2022. Under this scheme, more than one crore people have been given the houses so far, he said.

He also lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

All photographs: @PIB_India/Twitter
Dozens of explosions triggered by a natural gas pipeline rupture rocked three communities near Boston on Thursday, killing 1, injuring at least six people and prompting the evacuation of hundreds, local officials said.

IMAGE: Firefighters inspect a home after gas explosions in North Andover, Massachusetts. Gas explosions in three communities north of Boston have left multiple homes on fire. Photograph: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Bay State officials say there are up to 70 fires burning in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover after problems with the natural gas system.

The Massachusetts State Police said in a tweet that residents in the affected areas who have gas service from Columbia Gas should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not done so.

They updated the tweet to say that Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera is asking all residents of South Lawrence to evacuate their homes.

This is addition to evacuation of all Columbia Gas customers in Lawrence/Andover/North Andover, state police said. Utility cos shutting off several thousand metres.

IMAGE: Officials have asked people in the three communities to evacuate houses, fearing more explosions. Photograph: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Fire investigators suspect over-pressurisation of a gas main led to the series of blasts and fires, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said at a news conference.

This has been an overwhelming event, Mansfield told reporters, saying that fire companies responding to blazes were putting one house fire out only to discover another house on fire as they finished their work.

IMAGE: A sign marks the Columbia Gas of Massachusetts facility after dozens of explosions apparently triggered by a natural gas pipeline rupture in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

This event is not over tonight. This event will probably go on... probably another week, a week and a half, he said.

Massachusetts State Police said a total of 70 fires, explosions or investigations of gas odour had been reported. Some 50 fire departments responded to the emergency, said John McArdle, fire chief of Plaistow, New Hampshire, which sent a tower ladder and engine crew to the scene.
Having declared democracy in danger at a famous press conference in January, the newly sworn-in chief justice's stint of 1 year and 44 days will be keenly watched for what he does to defend this ideal, notes M J Antony.

IMAGE: Justice Ranjan Gogoi, right, with now retired Supreme Court Justice Jasti Chelameswar at the January 12, 2018 press conference in New Delhi where the judges said that 'democracy was in danger'. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

The misgivings of the legal profession and the cynics over the past eight months of turmoil in the country's highest court came to nothing.

Despite all the angst following his famous 'rebel' press conference with three other judges in January this year, Justice Ranjan Gogoi was not sidelined.

Instead, Chief Justice Dipak Misra, against whom the protest presser was organised, stuck to convention by elevating the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court to the nation's highest judicial pedestal.

This decision, which the government is traditionally bound to accept, exorcised the ghost of two past instances when convention was flouted to wreak vengeance on the judiciary for passing inconvenient judgments -- or in Justice Gogoi's case, highlighting inconvenient facts.

Speculators had enough cause to worry about the return of the supersession syndrome of the Indira Gandhi era. After all, Justice Gogoi was among the four senior-most judges who staged an unprecedented revolt against the chief justice and warned that democracy was in danger.

He joined the three rebels to allege that sensitive cases were being assigned to benches of the chief justice's choice without any apparent criterion.

When the storm broke after the January 12 presser, Justice Gogoi assured the public that all differences would be sorted out within the institution.

What he predicted has now come true. There are no festering wounds to be healed, apparently.

Since Justice Gogoi had raised such an alarm over the danger to democracy from the judicial front, his administrative performance during the term of one year and 44 days will be watched with keen interest.

He has not explained in detail how democracy is in danger. So his deeds in the coming months would be the only clue to back up the allegation. He is the administrative head of the nation's judiciary, and it cries out for reforms.

The Supreme Court wrote last month that the subordinate courts are on a 'ventilator' and are starved for funds for even basic necessities.

The situation in the appellate courts is no better.

Two CJIs in recent times compared the ambience in the Supreme Court to that of a fish market. It would take herculean efforts to reverse the state of affairs and tackle the insurmountable arrears.

Justice Gogoi will soon have a new collegium to assist him, especially to steer him through the sticky distance between judiciary and the executive.

On the judicial front, he has more than a handful of crucial issues, touching upon the future of the polity. The Ayodhya case is before the court just as the general elections approach.

Justice Gogoi was also on the bench that asked the government to move forward on the National Register of Citizens. He is also seized of the delay in the appointment of Lokpals.

Since he will take up public interest cases, according to the roster laid down by Dipak Misra, he will have to hear more petitions with a political colour in the coming months.

Clearly, he is rowing towards turbulent waters.

However, the judge has proved to be made of sterner stuff. He was on the bench when Justice C S Karnan of the Calcutta high court was convicted for threatening judges.

When a former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju blogged his doubts about the IQ of Supreme Court judges, he was summoned and made to apologise.

It was a Gogoi bench that banned ads with politicians' photos except those of the President, the prime minister and the CJI.

The judge generally writes short judgments devoid of frills. He ruled that under the Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, upon the death of a Hindu man, his widow became entitled to a share in the joint family property.

He recently laid down norms for raising ordinary lawyers to 'senior advocate' level, an issue that had divided the bar. He has also delivered significant judgments on trademarks, income tax and sick industries.

In a case involving mega star Amitabh Bachchan and his income from the Kaun Banega Crorepati shows, his bench quashed a Bombay high court order that rejected the revenue authorities' power to re-assess income.

The judge has a political background -- his father was once chief minister of Assam. However, it is recorded in a recent book that Keshab Chandra Gogoi did not want his son to be a chief minister, but the chief justice of the country.

This dream has now come true.

Justice Gogoi's simple habits seem to have travelled with him. He was reportedly seen buying fish from a Delhi market.

It is also said that he owns no car, nor a big house. His mother, a social worker, gave him her house. He is one of the few judges to disclose his assets on the court Web site.

Born in 1954, he started practice in the Gauhati high court after graduating from St Stephen's College, Delhi, and the law faculty there. He was elevated as a judge in the high court in 2001. He later became the chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court.

In 2012, he joined the Supreme Court and will retire in November next year. He is the first CJI from the north east.

Since Justice Gogoi is a man of few words and rarely seen in public platforms, what he did say recently offers some clue to his mind: 'Independent journalists and sometimes noisy judges are democracy's first line of defence'. In the same Delhi speech, he batted for a more pro-active judiciary.

These reassuring words come when there is nationwide anxiety that other institutions are failing.
Azerbaijan: Security procedures prior to boarding an international flight; whether authorities require a list of passengers for international flights (2015-September 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 14 September 2017 Citation / Document Symbol AZE105989.E Related Document(s) Azerbaidjan : information sur la procedure de securite avant l'embarquement pour un vol international; information indiquant si les autorites exigent la liste des passagers des vols internationaux (2015-septembre 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Azerbaijan: Security procedures prior to boarding an international flight; whether authorities require a list of passengers for international flights (2015-September 2017), 14 September 2017, AZE105989.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b5df64.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Aviation Security in Azerbaijan Airports

The information in the following paragraph is from the website of Azerbaijan Airlines, a Baku-based airline originally founded as an Azerbaijan state aviation body in 1992 (Azerbaijan Airlines n.d.a):

The Aviation Security Administration [Aviasiya Thluksizliyi Idarsi (ATI)], was created in 1996 as a division of Azerbaijan Airlines, and "is the entity that bears direct responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the State Aviation Security Program and the Aviation Security Assurance Regulations". The ATI operates at the following airports within Azerbaijan: Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Ganja International Airport and Yevlakh Airport, Zabrat Airport and the Pirallahi Heliport, Zagatala Airport, Lankaran Airport, and Gabala Airport. The Aviation Security Service is a "functional structural division" of the ATI, and works "to ensure the security of civil aviation". The Aviation Security Service is responsible for the following functions regarding airport security:

Security screening of passengers, crew, personnel, and other persons, using state-of-the-art equipment

Inspecting carry-on bags

Performing profiling, passport control of passengers on international flights, and other special procedures

Performing security inspections of aircraft

Performing security inspections of checked baggage

Performing security inspections during the preparation and delivery of food and supplies to the aircraft

Performing security inspections of cargo and mail. (Azerbaijan Airlines n.d.b)

2. Security Procedures Prior to Boarding an International Flight

Information on security procedures for departing passengers on international flights in Azerbaijan was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Without providing further information, the website of the Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan states that "[p]re-flight examination at the [a]irport is carried out by the employees of Aviation Security Service, Customs Service, Border Service and Migration Service from the entrance door of the airport premises to clearance area" (Nakhchivan International Airport n.d.).

The website of Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku indicates, without providing further information, that "inspection of all incoming persons, as well as all their items, is conducted when entering the terminals of the Heydar Aliyev International Airport" (Heydar Aliyev International Airport n.d.).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a "trade association for the world's airlines, representing some 275 airlines or 83% of total air traffic" that "support[s] many areas of aviation activity and help[s] formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues" (IATA n.d.a), indicates on its website, without providing further information, that the "[c]ustoms declaration must be handed over on departure" at airports in Azerbaijan (IATA n.d.b).

3. List of Passengers

Information on whether authorities require a list of passengers for outgoing international flights could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to a document prepared by the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Administration, "the central executive body, exercising control, state policy and regulation in the sphere of civil aviation" (Azerbaijan n.d.), the following passenger information must be included on a landing permission request form for aircraft operators landing in Azerbaijan: "[n]umber of passengers, full names and passport details (incl. hosting party) - for business flights; [n]umber of passengers, full names and hosting organization - for passenger flights" (Azerbaijan Feb. 2012, 3).

According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Terrorism 2016, "Azerbaijan security services effectively share information within the government and with other countries. Collection of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Records on commercial flights occurred on some flights" (US 19 July 2017).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Azerbaijan. February 2012. State Civil Aviation Administration. "Aerodrome/Heliport Charges." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2017]

Azerbaijan. N.d. State Civil Aviation Administration. "About Us." [Accessed 12 Sept. 2017]

Azerbaijan Airlines. N.d.a. "History of CJSC Azerjaijan Airlines." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2017]

Azerbaijan Airlines. N.d.b. "Security." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2017]

Heydar Aliyev International Airport. N.d. "Security & Customs." [Accessed 6 Sept. 2017]

International Air Transport Association (IATA). N.d.a. "About Us." [Accessed 6 Sept. 2017]

International Air Transport Association (IATA). N.d.b. "Azerbaijan Customs, Currency & Airport Tax Regulations Details." [Accessed 31 Aug. 2017]

Nakhchivan International Airport. N.d. "Pre-Flight Examination." [Accessed 5 Sept. 2017]

United States (US). 19 July 2017. Department of State. "Azerbaijan." Country Reports on Terrorism 2016. [Accessed 12 Sept. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Azerbaijan  Embassy in Ottawa; International Organization for Migration  Azerbaijan.

Internet sites, including: Azerbaijan  Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Customs Committee, State Migration Service; Azerbaijan Business Center; Azeri-Press Agency; BBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; Lufthansa; Reuters; Trend News Agency; Uzbekistan Airways.
Azerbaijan: Whether individuals are required to replace identity documents that include an address, such as identity cards, driver licenses, military cards, and work books, after a change of address; consequences for not replacing these documents (2017-February 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 23 February 2018 Citation / Document Symbol AZE106064.E Related Document(s) Azerbaidjan : information indiquant si les gens sont tenus de faire remplacer des pieces d'identite comportant une adresse, telles que les cartes d'identite, les permis de conduire, les cartes d'identite militaires et les carnets de travail, a la suite d'un changement d'adresse; information sur les consequences de l'omission de faire remplacer ces documents (2017-fevrier 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Azerbaijan: Whether individuals are required to replace identity documents that include an address, such as identity cards, driver licenses, military cards, and work books, after a change of address; consequences for not replacing these documents (2017-February 2018), 23 February 2018, AZE106064.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b5f0f4.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Identity Card

The 1996 Law of Azerbaijan Republic on Registration According to the Place of Residence and Sojourn (Law on Registration) provides the following:

Article 3. Documents on definition of the residential place

The residential place is verified according to the following documents:

relating to the national of Azerbaijan Republic - only the identification card of the national of Azerbaijan Republic; relating to the alien who lives in Azerbaijan Republic more than 30 days - the certificate on his/her registration; relating to the stateless persons who live in Azerbaijan Republic permanently - the special identification card.

It cannot be demanded any other document (reference) from the person in order to verify his/her residential place. (Azerbaijan 1996)

Sources indicate that individuals in Azerbaijan who change their place of residence must, within one month following the change, replace their identity card with a new one (Azerbaijan 1994, art. 4; Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a senior partner for a Baku-based law firm specializing, among others, in immigration, employment and tax laws, stated that article 5 of the 1996 Law on Registration provides that within 10 days of a change of residence, a citizen has to apply "to the relevant state authority for registration of such change" (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). Article 5 of the 1996 Law on Registration provides the following:

Article 5. Registration of the national I [sic] the residential place

The national is registered in the residential place when he/she gets the identification card of the national of Azerbaijan Republic in [sic] the first time

The national who changes his/her residential place is to apply to the appropriate state body for the registration not later than 10 days from the coming to a new residential place. The appropriate state body is to register the national immediately and is to issue the identification card according to the law of Azerbaijan Republic 'On identification card of the national of Azerbaijan Republic" within 10 days.

The national is to submit the following documents together with the application form in order to be registered in the residential place:

identification card or certificate on [sic] birth; document which entitles the movement to the residential place (registration certificate of the ownership right (title document), rent or lease agreement or other documents specified in the legislation of Azerbaijan Republic) or the application of the person who presents the residential place to the national. (Azerbaijan 1996)

The Senior Partner confirmed that it takes a maximum of 10 days for individuals to receive their new identity card after a change of place of residence, after submission of the application and the required documents (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018).

The Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network (ASAN) website of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan further explains that the documents required for replacing an identity card due to a change of residence are the following:

An application form;

The identity card;

Proof of payment of state fee;

2 colour photographs;

Documents indicating the place of residence (registration card, etc.);

Letter of consent of the relevant bank if the real estate is in collateral at the bank;

Document entitling the applicant to move into the place of residence;

Military card or arbitration certificate (Azerbaijan n.d.a).

According to the same source, the amount to be paid for replacing an identity card, including a replacement due to a change of residence, is 35 Azerbaijan Manat (AZN) [approximately C$26] for delivery in one working day, 25 AZN [approximately C$19] for delivery in three working days, and 5 AZN [approximately C$4] for delivery in 10 working days (Azerbaijan n.d.a). The Senior Partner stated that

[r]efugees, internally displaced [persons], citizens [who are less than] 16 years old, those permanently residing in the Republic of Azerbaijan but holding no citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan [who are less than] 16 years old and Azerbaijani nationals living abroad, are all exempt from the state fees. (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018)

1.1 Consequences for not Replacing the Identity Card

Sources indicate that an individual who does not have an identity card for longer than one month will be subjected to a written warning or a fine of 20 AZN [approximately C$15] (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018; Azerbaijan 2015, art. 565). The Senior Partner explained that, in practice, "authorities do not follow up on any failure by citizens to replace their identity cards" (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). According to the Senior Partner, it is "very difficult" to know when individuals change their place of residence if they do not themselves disclose the fact that their place of residence has changed (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). The same source noted that the penalty "would normally be applied" if individuals fail to replace their card at the ages of 25, 35, and 50 years old, as specified by the law (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Driver's Licences

The website of the State Traffic Police Department of Azerbaijan, through a document that defines the rules pertaining to, among others, replacement of driver's licences, indicates that the grounds for changing one's driver's licence are the following:

Expiration of the date of validity;

Change in the name, surname or patronymic of the bearer;

"[I]naccuracy in writing";

"[B]ecoming ineligible";

The driver's licence was lost;

The country adopted a new model for driver's licences (Azerbaijan n.d.b).

The Senior Partner stated that according to the Azerbaijani legislation, individuals are not required to replace their driver's licences after a change in their place of residence (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018).

3. Work Books and Military Cards

Information on the replacement of work books and military cards in Azerbaijan was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to the Senior Partner, individuals do not have to replace their work book or military card when their residence changes (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). The same source stated that "persons with military liabilities" shall register their "actual" place of stay when they change their place of residence for more than three months; "[r]egistration is made through a written note on the military card approved by the relevant stamp afterwards" (Senior Partner 7 Feb. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Azerbaijan. 2015 (amended 2017). Inzibati Xtalar Mcllsi (Code of Administrative Offences). [Accessed 9 Feb. 2018]

Azerbaijan. 1996 (amended 2013). Law on Registration According to the Place of Residence and Sojourn. [Accessed 7 Feb. 2018]

Azerbaijan. 1994 (amended 2013). Azrbaycan Respublikas vtndasnn sxsiyyt vsiqsi haqqnda (Law on Identification Card of the Citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan). [Accessed 8 Feb. 2018]

Azerbaijan. N.d.a. Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network (ASAN). "Issuance and Replacement of Identity Cards." [Accessed 8 Feb. 2018]

Azerbaijan. N.d.b. State Traffic Police Department. "Taking Examinations from People who Want to Get Driving License Giving the Right to Manage the Auto Motor Transportation Means and their Harnesses, Rules of Issuing Driving Licenses and their Replacements." [Accessed 9 Feb. 2018]

Senior Partner, Law Firm in Baku. 7 February 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network; Embassy in Ottawa; International Organization for Migration  Mission in Azerbaijan; 2 law firms in Baku.

Internet sites, including: Azerbaijan  State Migration Service; ecoi.net; European Union  European Asylum Support Office; International Organization for Migration; Kessing's Reference System; UN  Refworld; World Bank Group.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Voter cards, their appearance, security features and uses; requirements and proceduresfor obtaining a voter card (2014-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 17 July 2018 Citation / Document Symbol COD106123.FE Related Document(s) Republique democratique du Congo : information sur la carte d'electeur, y compris son aspect, ses elements de securite et ses fonctions ; information sur les exigences et la marche a suivre pour obtenir la carte d'electeur (2014-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo: Voter cards, their appearance, security features and uses; requirements and proceduresfor obtaining a voter card (2014-July 2018), 17 July 2018, COD106123.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b60894.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. General Information about Voter Cards

The website for the Independent National Electoral Commission (Commission electorale nationale independante, CENI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) indicates that it is the institution responsible for identifying and registering voters and that it determines the start and end dates of those operations (DRC 29 Mar. 2017). Sources indicate that voter cards are delivered when the voter is registered on the voter list (US n.d.; DRC n.d.; OIF [29 May 2017], 21). According to the Reciprocity Schedule published by the US Department of State about the DRC, the voter card remains valid only until the next nationwide election (US n.d.).

Sources state that a process to register voters began on July 31, 2016 (Radio-Okapi 31 July 2016, Justice et Paix Congo/CENCO Nov. 2017, 60). According to sources, that process ended in January 2018 (Actualite.cd 31 Jan. 2018, Kinshasa Times 1 Feb. 2018, Jeune Afrique 9 Feb. 2018).

2. Information about the Appearance of Voter Cards and their Security Features

The final report of an assessment and electoral support mission in the DRC conducted between April 20 and May 14, 2017, by the International Organization of la Francophonie (Organisation internationale de la francophonie, OIF) indicates that the card is signed by the president of the Registration Centre (Centre d'inscription, CI) where the voter is registered (OIF [29 May 2017], 21). According to the report, the voter card includes the following identifying elements:

[translation]

a photograph of the voter's face (portrait);

the voter's basic information: family name, traditional name, first name, sex, date and place of birth, father's name, mother's name;

address: including the province, territory or city; sector or chiefdom or commune;

origin indicating the province, territory or city; sector or chiefdom or commune;

the Registration Centre's code and name;

the voter's National Identification Number (Numero d'identification national, NIN);

the card's serial number;

the location and date it was issued;

name of signatory (OIF [29 May 2017], 21).

The report also indicates that a single-direction bar code containing the card number is printed on the card, as is a watermark [translation] "with various designs" including the flag and a map of the DRC (OIF [29 May 2017], 21). The same source reports that the back of the card contains the coats of arms and a representation of the 26 provinces in the country, and that the card is laminated (OIF [29 May 2017], 21). The Reciprocity Schedule indicates that the card is blue (US n.d.). An image of the front and back of the voter card, taken from the final report on the OIF mission, is included with this Response (document 1, attached).

3. Voter Card Uses

Sources indicate that the voter card is considered a piece of identification in the DRC (US n.d.; OIF [May 2017], 32; RFI 29 May 2017). According to the Reciprocity Schedule on travel and identity documents, the voter card is "the sole national identity card available" in the country (US n.d.).

4. Process for Obtaining a Voter Card

4.1 In the DRC

Sources state that the card is issued on-site once citizens are registered on the voter list (US n.d.; OIF [29 May 2017]). CENI's website indicates that citizens must go to the CI that has jurisdiction over their primary residence (DRC 17 Nov. 2016). According to an electoral observation report concerning voter registration in the DRC written by the organization Justice and Peace Congo (Justice et paix Congo) [1], the CI is the operational structure where applicants go to be identified and registered and it issues the voter card (Justice et paix Congo/CENCO Nov. 2017).

Article 8 of the law titled Act No. 04/28 of 24 December 2004 concerning the identification and registration of voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as amended and supplemented by Act No. 16/007 of 29 June 2016 (Loi no 04/28 du 24 decembre 2004 portant identification et enrolement des electeurs en Republique democratique du Congo telle que modifiee et completee par la loi no16/007 du 29 juin 2016) indicates that in order to be registered on the voter list, the applicant must fulfill the following conditions:

[translation]

be a Congolese national; be 18 years old on the date of the last poll of the electoral cycle; be in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the time of identification and registration; be eligible for civil and political rights (DRC 2016).

Article 10 of the same Act stipulates that applicants may use the following as a means of identification and to prove their age:

[translation]

a certified true copy of their birth certificate, an excerpt of the certificate,; or an act of notoriety supplementary to the birth certificate, registered by the relevant jurisdiction; a certificate of nationality or attestation in lieu; their 2010-2011 voter card, issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission; a valid Congolese passport; a valid national driver's licence; a valid student card; an Order of the President of the Republic conferring citizenship by naturalization; a Congolese pension booklet issued by the public organization responsible for social security (DRC 2016).

The same article states that if [translation] "none of those items can be produced, consideration will be given to a written statement from three individuals, of the age of majority, who are already registered on the voter list and who are from the same Registration Centre and signed, free of charge, by the chief of the neighbourhood or village where the Centre is located" (DRC 2016).

Radio Okapi, the UN radio station in the DRC, reported that in the chiefdom of Bwito in Rutshuru, insecurity has slowed down registration for voters looking to obtain a voter card (Radio Okapi 3 Jan. 2017). The same source indicates that in Shabunda, South Kivu, insecurity has prevented voters in certain areas from being registered (Radio Okapi 16 Jan. 2017). Radio France internationale (RFI) indicates that in Ituri, Katanga, and in Haut-Katanga, police are charging for access to Registration Centres, and in the province of Tanganyika, armed groups confiscated the electoral kits (RFI 15 Jan. 2017).

4.2 From Abroad

Legislation concerning the identification and registration of voters stipulates, at Article 8, that citizens who meet conditions 2 and 4 and also hold [translation] "a valid identity card or passport" may go to "a registration centre in an embassy or consulate general in their area of residence" in order to provide identification and be registered (DRC 2016).

According to Article 10 of that same Act, candidates who live abroad and are being identified and registered must present one of the following documents:

[translation]

a valid Congolese passport; a consular card (DRC 2016).

In addition, individuals must present [translation] "either a valid residency card or statement" (DRC 2016).

According to the Electoral Calendar  Presidential, provincial, urban, municipal and local elections (Calendrier du processus electoral - Elections presidentielle, provinciales, urbaines, municipales et locales) published on the CENI website, registration of Congolese citizens living abroad is scheduled to take place between July 1 and September 28, 2018 (DRC 5 Nov. 2017). However, sources indicate that on June 8, 2018, members of the Congolese National Assembly voted on two bills that would strip Congolese nationals living abroad of the right to register on voter lists (AFP 10 June 2018; RFI 10 June 2018; L'Avenir 11 June 2018).

5. Fraud

Sources report that on August 20, 2017, the private secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs was arrested at the Mbuji-Mayi airport after he was found to have voter cards in his possession (Afriwave 22 Aug. 2017; Matininfos.net 24 Aug. 2017).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] The organization Justice et paix Congo is an organization that falls under the umbrella of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Conference episcopale nationale du Congo, CENCO) (JPC Asbl n.d).

References

Actualite.cd. 31 January 2018. "RDC : Fin de l'operation d'enrolement des electeurs sur le territoire". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Afriwave. 15 June 2015. "RDC-ELECTIONS: Tentative d'une vaste fraude a la carte electorale dans la province de Sankuru". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Agence France presse (AFP). 10 June 2018. "RDC : Pas d'elections pour les Congolais de l'etranger". [Accessed 18 June 2018]

L'Avenir. 11 June 2018. "A l'issue du vote de cinq lois ce vendredi a l'Assemblee nationale : Ni enrolement ni vote pour les Congolais de l'etranger". Factiva. [Accessed 18 June 2018]

Jeune Afrique. 9 February 2018. Olivier Liffran. "RDC : des doutes autour des chiffres de l'enrolement des electeurs". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Justice et paix Congo Asbl / Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO). Novembre 2017. "Rapport d'observation electorale sur l'inscription des electeurs en Republique democratique du Congo". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Justice et paix Congo Asbl (JPC Asbl). N.d. "A propos". . [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Kinshasa Times. 1 February 2018. "CENI : Fin d'enrolement en RDC et 46 millions d'electeurs enregistres". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Matininfos.net. 24 August 2017. " (Des milliers de cartes d'electeurs saisies chez son Parsec) She Okitundu pris la main dans le sac de la fraude electorale". [Accessed 24 Aug. 2017].

Organisation internationale pour la francophonie (OIF). [29 May 2017]. Mission d'evaluation et d'assistance electorale en Republique democratique du Congo. 30 avril - 14 mai 2017. Rapport final. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Radio France Internationale (RFI). 10 June 2018. "RDC : le vote des Congolais de l'etranger repousse". [Accessed 19 June 2018]

Radio France Internationale (RFI). 29 May 2017. "RDC: l'operation de revision du fichier electoral de Kinshasa a commence". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Radio France Internationale (RFI). 15 January 2017. "RDC: des problemes lors de l'enrolement des nouveaux electeurs". [Accessed 15 June 2018].

Radio Okapi. 18 January 2017. "Debut de l'enrolement des electeurs a Shabunda". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Radio Okapi. 3 January 2017. "Rutshuru : l'insecurite retarde l'enrolement des electeurs". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Radio Okapi. 31 July 2016. "Nord-Ubangi : debut de l'operation d'enrolement des electeurs a Gbadolite". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Republique democratique du Congo (RDC). 27 November 2016. Commission electorale nationale independante (CENI). "Devenir electeur". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Republique democratique du Congo (RDC). 2016. Loi no 04/028 du 24 decembre 2004 portant identification et enrolement des electeurs en Republique democratique du Congo telle que modifiee et completee par la Loi no 16/007 du 29 juin 2016. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

United States (US). N.d. Department of State. "Democratic Republic of Congo Reciprocity Schedule". [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Democratic Republic of Congo  Embassy in Ottawa, Embassy in Washington.

Internet sites, including: Agence congolaise de Presse; BBC; Democratic Republic of Congo  La primature; ecoi.net; European Union  PRADO; Keesing Reference Systems; Le Phare; La Prosperite; United Nations  Refworld.

Attachment

Organisation internationale pour la francophonie (OIF). [29 May 2017]. "Carte d'electeur". Mission d'evaluation et d'assistance electorale en Republique democratique du Congo. 30 avril-14 mai 2017. Rapport final. [Accessed 15 June 2018]
Democratic Republic of Congo: The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la democratie et le progres social, UDPS), including its political agenda, structure and leaders; documents issued to members; relations with the government and treatment of members by the authorities (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 24 July 2018 Citation / Document Symbol COD106124.FE Related Document(s) Republique democratique du Congo (RDC) : information sur l'Union pour la democratie et le progres social (UDPS), y compris sur son programme politique, sa structure et ses dirigeants; les documents remis aux membres; information sur ses relations avec le gouvernement et le traitement reserve a ses membres par les autorites (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo: The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la democratie et le progres social, UDPS), including its political agenda, structure and leaders; documents issued to members; relations with the government and treatment of members by the authorities (2016-July 2018), 24 July 2018, COD106124.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b61824.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. The UDPS

Sources describe the UDPS as the most prominent opposition party in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (RFI 31 Mar. 2018; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017; Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018). According to sources, the UDPS took 41 of the National Assembly's (Assemblee nationale) 500 seats in the last election, which was held in 2011 (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018; The Carter Center 28 Nov. 2011, 67).

Sources report that the UDPS is part of the opposition platform Rally of Political and Social Forces for Change in the DRC (Rassemblement des forces politiques et sociales de la RDC acquises au changement [also known simply as "Rassemblement" or "Rassop"]) (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2018, 19; International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 2). According to sources, the Rassemblement was created in June 2016 (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 2; Rassemblement 10 June 2016). For information on the Rassemblement, its political agenda and the events from 2016 to July 2017 in DRC, see Response to Information Request COD105815 of July 2017.

1.1 Structure and Leaders

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a deputy representative of the UDPS Federation of Canada (Federation du Canada de l'UDPS, UDPS-Canada) stated that the party has [translation] "national bodies," such as the president and secretary general, and [translation] "base bodies," such as federations, branches and cells (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). He also indicated that the UDPS has base bodies within the country (federations, branches and cells), as well as outside the country (called [translation] "representations" and made up of branches) (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). According to the same source, UDPS headquarters are in Kinshasa, DRC (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

Sources indicate that Etienne Tshisekedi, founding leader of the UDPS, passed away on 1 February 2017 (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to sources, he was also the head of the Rassemblement's [translation] "Council of Elders" (RFI 3 Mar. 2017; Radio Okapi 23 Feb. 2017). For information on the death of Etienne Tshisekedi, see Response to Information Request COD105815 of July 2017.

The UDPS-Canada deputy representative stated that, as of June 2018, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was president of the UDPS (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). Sources indicate that Felix Tshisekedi, son of Etienne Tshisekedi, was elected president of the UDPS between 30 and 31 March 2018 (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13; RFI 31 Mar. 2018).

Sources report that Jean-Marc Kabund [Kabund-A-Kabund] is secretary-general of the UDPS (UDPS-Canada 9 June 2018; Actualite.cd 6 June 2018; L'Avenir 8 Feb. 2018). IRIN indicated in October 2017 that Rubens Mikindo is the deputy secretarygeneral of UDPS (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to Actualite.cd, a Congolese information portal, on 15 May 2018, the UDPS president appointed 7 deputy secretariesgeneral, 22 national secretaries and 63 deputy secretariesgeneral (Actualite.cd 15 May 2018).

1.2 Events of 2017-2018

Sources report that the death of UDPS leader Etienne Tshisekedi on 1 February 2017 left the party divided by infighting (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6-7; IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). According to International Crisis Group, the UDPS [International Crisis Group English version] "split into several factions, some of which rejected the transfer of leadership to Etienne's son Felix" (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 6-7).

According to sources, in April 2017, President Kabila appointed Bruno Tshibala, a former member of the UDPS who had been evicted from the party the previous month, as prime minister of the transitional government (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 7; Germany 10 Apr. 2017). Sources indicate that this appointment was contrary to a political agreement signed on 31 December 2016 (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017; Germany 10 Apr. 2017) between the government and the opposition on sharing power (Germany 10 Apr. 2017). According to the German Federal Office for Migration and Asylum (Bundesamt fur Migration und Fluchtlinge), the Rassemblement was supposed to choose the prime minister and had insisted on Felix Tshisekedi for the position, which President Kabila rejected (Germany 10 Apr. 2017). According to the International Crisis Group, [International Crisis Group English version] "[b]y choosing Tshibala, Kabila avoided flagrantly appointing a supporter while clearly violating the agreement's principles, which required that the Rassemblement itself nominate the prime minister" (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 7). According to sources, this appointment was seen as an attempt by the government to exploit tensions within the UDPS (African Arguments 15 June 2017) or the opposition (Germany 10 Apr. 2017).

Freedom House reports that this appointment exacerbated tensions between the government and the opposition, and that in September 2017, Felix Tshisekedi refused to continue the national dialogue (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018) IRIN also reports that, during an interview, Rubens Mikindo excluded the possibility of any further dialogue with Kabila (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017). The same source indicates that the UDPS then called for a new bout of civil disobedience (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017).

Sources indicate that elections in DRC are scheduled for December 2018 (Human Rights Watch 29 June 2018; International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, i; Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018). According to International Crisis Group, the opposition is repositioning itself because of the prospect of elections: the Rassemblement is fragmenting while Felix Tshisekedi's UDPS [International Crisis Group English version] "is going its own way" with regard to other smaller opposition parties (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13). Sources indicate that Felix Tshisekedi was chosen by the UDPS on 31 March 2018 as a potential candidate for the presidential elections in December 2018 (International Crisis Group 4 Apr. 2018, 13; RFI 31 Mar. 2018; AFP 31 Mar. 2018). On the website of the DRC National Independent Electoral Commission (Commission electorale nationale independante, CENI), among the country's 599 political parties, 4 use the UDPS appellation: UDPS/Tshibala, UDPS/Renove, UDPS/Kibassa and UDPS/Tshisekedi (DRC 2018).

2. Treatment of Members by the Authorities and Security Forces

Sources report that the UDPS headquarters were attacked during an outbreak of violence in Kinshasa on 19 and 20 September 2016 (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; Germany 26 Sept. 2016; UN 22 Sept. 2016). Several opposition political parties were affected (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; UN 22 Sept. 2016), as well as some government coalition parties and some elements of the state (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; Germany 26 Sept. 2016; UN 22 Sept. 2016). According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016, violence broke out during demonstrations to protest the government's failure to organize elections in accordance with the constitution (US 3 Mar. 2017, 25). Sources indicate that the attack on the UDPS headquarters was committed by government security forces (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26; UN 22 Sept. 2016). According to US Country Reports 2016,

[security forces] killed as many as 11 civilians in the attack on UDPS headquarters, including seven burned to death, possibly after being tortured and hacked with machetes. Eyewitnesses reported SSF [state security forces] blocked efforts to extinguish the fires and prevented civilians burned during the attack on UDPS headquarters from seeking medical attention. (US 3 Mar. 2017, 26)

Sources indicate that Bruno Tshibala, then deputy secretary-general of the UDPS, was arrested by authorities on 9 October 2016 at Kinshasa's airport (Human Rights Watch 16 Nov. 2016; Jeune Afrique with AFP 10 Oct. 2016), when he was supposed to leave on an [translation] "'official mission for the party'" (Jeune Afrique with AFP 10 Oct. 2016). According to Human Rights Watch, he was detained and [Human Rights Watch English version] "accused of plotting to commit a massacre and acts of pillage and destruction" (Human Rights Watch 16 Nov. 2016).

According to a report of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), human rights violations were committed during peaceful demonstrations by the opposition, including the UDPS, to protest against President Joseph Kabila's remaining in office beyond the end of his term, which was to end on 19 December 2016 (UN Feb. 2017, para. 9). According to this report, between 20 and 22 December 2016, two UDPS members [UN English version] "were arrested in the Katuba commune by ANR [Agence nationale de renseignement] agents, who accused them of being the main organizers of the 19 and 20 December demonstrations" and who detained them and charged them with rebellion and robbery (UN Feb. 2017, para. 57). According to the same source, three UDPS militants were also arrested on 21 December 2016 in Kasumbalesa because one of them was wearing a tshirt bearing the image of the UDPS national president; they were charged with [UN English version] "rebellion and public order offense," and were still in detention and awaiting trial in February 2017 (UN Feb. 2017, para. 58). Information on their trial could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Human Rights Watch, there were clashes on 1 February 2017 between the crowds that had gathered outside the home of Etienne Tshisekedi and the UDPS headquarters, following Tshisekedi's death in Brussels (Human Rights Watch 2 Feb. 2017). The same source states that the crowds threw rocks and shouted slurs against President Kabila and that the police responded with tear gas (Human Rights Watch 2 Feb. 2017). The UN Secretary General states that disagreements between the government and the UDPS about plans to repatriate and bury the remains of Etienne Tshisekedi prompted tense standoffs between security services and UDPS supporters at the headquarters of the party in April 2017 (UN 30 June 2017, para. 6).

According to US Country Reports 2017, in June 2017, the UDPS Youth League President, David Mukeba, was arrested in Kisangani for criticizing the voter registration process, and the ANR held him incommunicado until 31 August 2017, when he was released (US 20 Apr. 2018, 9).

According to sources, the government arrested UDPS members in October 2017, prior to Felix Tshisekedi's visit to Lubumbashi (Freedom House 28 Mar. 2018; RFI 23 Oct. 2017). According to US Country Reports 2017, "the SSF stormed the UDPS party office in Lubumbashi and reportedly arrested 32 party members for planning to hold an unauthorized public meeting," and more people were arrested and teargassed while trying to welcome Mr. Tshisekedi at the airport (US 20 Apr. 2018, 25-26).

Sources indicate that the passport of Jean-Marc Kabund was confiscated at the Kinshasa airport in November 2017, which prevented him from leaving the country (US 20 Apr. 2018, 28; Mediacongo.net 23 Nov. 2017).

However, sources indicate that a UDPS rally was authorized in Kinshasa on 24 April 2018 (Jeune Afrique 25 Apr. 2018; AFP 25 Apr. 2018). According to sources, it was the first authorized party rally since September 2016 (Jeune Afrique 25 Apr. 2018; AFP 25 Apr. 2018). Amnesty International reports that [Amnesty International English version] "the rally took place without incident" (Amnesty International 18 May 2018, footnote 13). According to AFP, the United Nations saluted the decision of the Congolese authorities to authorize the meeting (AFP 25 Apr. 2018). However, sources indicate that authorities banned another UDPS rally, which was to take place on 6 May 2018 in Uvira, South Kivu (Amnesty International 18 May 2018, footnote 13; RFI 7 May 2018). According to Radio France internationale (RFI), the authorities gave security reasons as grounds to ban the rally (RFI 7 May 2018). However, sources report that the party still held its meeting (RFI 7 May 2018; Forum des As 9 May 2018).

For information on the treatment of failed UDPS refugee claimants and asylum seekers returning to the DRC, see Response to Information Request COD105818 of July 2017.

3. Documents Issued to UDPS members

In correspondence dated 11 August 2017, the UDPS indicated that a new biometric party card was to be officially launched on 12 August 2017 (UDPS Canada 11 Aug. 2017). News portal Mediacongo.net reports that the UDPS officially launched the sale of biometric cards on 18 September 2017, stating that [translation] "the UDPS had already launched this biometric card, several months ago  but that it is now officially selling them" (Mediacongo.net 19 Sept. 2017). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the representative and federal president of UDPS-Canada noted that the biometric card will gradually replace the paper card issued in 2015 and that the paper card remains valid until members have received the new biometric card (UDPS-Canada 18 July 2018).

According to Mediacongo.net, the new biometric card costs 6,000 Congolese francs (CDF) [approximately C$5], and the member must pay a supplementary fee of 1,000 CDF for [translation] "the form to complete" and provide two passport photos (Mediacongo.net 19 Sept. 2017). An article in La Tempete des tropiques, a Congolese newspaper, adds that the card costs [translation] "25 [e]uros for Congolese individuals living in Europe, and US$35 for those in the United States" (La Tempete des tropiques 14 Aug. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

A copy of the front and back of a UDPS member card is attached to this Response (Attachment 1).

According to the deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, the cards are issued to the base bodies by the party's general secretariat, and the biometric card files are registered at the cell and branch levels (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018). The same source described the process as follows:

[translation]

To obtain a card, you must first register as a member at the base level of the party (cell or branch) and then meet the statutory requirements. The procedure is the same from inside and outside the country; Once registration is completed in accordance with the statutes, the membership form is sent to the general secretariat for the card to be issued (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

A sample membership form is attached to this Response (Attachment 2).

The representative and president of UDPS-Canada noted the following:

[translation]

[A]ny UDPS member may request and receive from his or her local branch a membership certificate, a document by which the local branch of the holder recognizes that the individual is a regular member of the UDPS. Initiated by the branch, the membership certificate will be signed by the representative or deputy representative. (UDPS-Canada 18 July 2018)

A sample membership certificate is attached to this Response (Attachment 3).

In subsequent correspondence with the Research Directorate, the representative and president stated that the certificate is further proof that the member is known locally and that, together or separately, the membership card and certificate attest to membership of UDPS-Canada (UDPS-Canada 20 July 2018).

The deputy representative indicated that, in Canada, in addition to the card or membership file, each member is supposed to have the statutory instruments of the party (UDPS-Canada 22 June 2018).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Actualite.cd. 6 June 2018. Stanys Bujakera Tshiamala. "RDC : Apres les partisans de Katumbi, l'UDPS a son tour pose des conditions pour participer aux elections." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Actualite.cd. 15 May 2018. Stanys Bujakera Tshiamala. "RDC : mise en place du directoire de l'UDPS avec un nouveau porte-parole." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

African Arguments. 15 June 2017. Kris Berwouts. "Trench War : The Factions That Make Up DR Congo's Fragmented Landscape." [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 25 April 2018. "Manifestations de l'opposition en RDC : l'ONU optimiste mais prudente." [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 31 March 2018. "Presidentielle de decembre : Felix Tshisekedi, candidat potentiel de l'UDPS." [Accessed 21 June 2018]

Amnesty International. 18 May 2018. "RDC. Un espace civique toujours reprime malgre le discours officiel." (AFR 62/8395/2018) [Accessed 20 June 2018]

L'Avenir. 8 February 2018. Bernetel Makambo. "Faisant des revelations troublantes sur F. Tshisekedi, V. Mubake, Kabun jette le pave dans la mare." (Factiva) [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2018. "Congo, DR." Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) 2018 Country Report. [Accessed 23 July 2018]

The Carter Center. 28 November 2011. Elections presidentielles et legislatives - Republique democratique du Congo : Rapport final. [Accessed 9 July 2018]

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 2018. Commission electorale nationale independante (CENI). "Listes des partis politiques en RDC." [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Forum des As. 9 May 2018. "Attendu au mois de juillet prochain a Kinshasa : Antonio Guterres face a un agenda pour la RDC." [Accessed 21 June 2018]

Freedom House. 28 March 2018. "Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa)." Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 13 June 2018]

Germany. 10 April 2017. Bundesamt fur Migration und Fluchtlinge. "Briefing Notes." [Accessed 5 July 2017]

Germany . 26 September 2016. Bundesamt fur Migration und Fluchtlinge. "Briefing Notes." [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 29 June 2018. "RD Congo : La repression perdure tandis que la date limite fixee pour les elections approche." [Accessed 5 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 2 February 2017. Ida Sawyer. "Congolese Mourn Death of Prominent Opposition Leader." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 16 November 2016. "RD Congo : Prisonniers politiques en detention." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

International Crisis Group. 4 April 2018. Poker electoral en RD Congo. Rapport Afrique n 259. [Accessed 12 June 2018]

International Crisis Group. 4 December 2017. Vers une action concertee en RDC. Rapport Afrique n 257. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

IRIN. 5 October 2017. Philip Kleinfeld. "Kabila Sits Tight as Congo Crumbles." [Accessed 13 June 2018]

Jeune Afrique. 25 April 2018. "RDC : Felix Tshisekedi a l'offensive pour le premier meeting de l'UDPS depuis 2016." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Jeune Afrique with Agence France-Presse (AFP). 10 October 2016. "RDC : arrestation de Bruno Tshibala, secretaire general adjoint de l'UDPS." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Mediacongo.net. 23 November 2017. "Jean Marc Kabund empeche de voyager, mercredi, a l'aeroport de N'djili." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Mediacongo.net. 19 September 2017. "L'UDPS lance la vente des cartes biometriques a ses membres." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 7 May 2018. "RDC : Malgre l'interdiction, l'UDPS tient son meeting a Uvira." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 31 March 2018. "RDC : Felix Tshisekedi elu a la tete de l'UDPS, en marche pour la presidentielle." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 23 October 2017. "RDC : avant l'arrivee de Tshisekedi, des opposants arretes a Lubumbashi." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 3 March 2017. "RDC : le Rassemblement de l'opposition choisit ses leaders." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Radio Okapi. 23 February 2017. "Le Rassemblement de l'opposition definit le profil du successeur d'Etienne Tshisekedi." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Rassemblement des forces politiques et sociales de la RDC acquises au changement (Rassemblement). 10 June 2016. "Acte d'engagement des forces politiques et sociales, Genval." [Accessed 21 June 2018]

La Tempete des tropiques. 14 August 2017. "Pour affronter les futures elections : l'UDPS lance sa carte biometrique." [Accessed 20 June 2018]

Union pour la democratie et le progres social - Federation du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 20 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative and federal president to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la democratie et le progres social - Federation du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 18 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative and federal president to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la democratie et le progres social - Federation du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 22 June 2018. Correspondence from a deputy representative to the Research Directorate.

Union pour la democratie et le progres social - Federation du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 9 June 2018. "Meeting du secretaire general Jean-Marc Kabund a Mbuji Mayi." [Accessed 19 June 2018]

Union pour la democratie et le progres social - Federation du Canada (UDPS-Canada). 11 August 2017. Sylvain Kalombo Mfunyi. "Lancement de la carte de membre biometrique." [Accessed 14 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). 30 June 2017. Security Council. Rapport du Secretaire general sur la mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Republique democratique du Congo. (S/2017/565) [Accessed 15 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). February 2017. United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO). Rapport sur les violations des droits de l'homme en Republique democratique du Congo dans le contexte des evenements du 19 decembre 2016. [Accessed 22 June 2018]

United Nations (UN). 22 September 2016. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR). "RDC : Zeid met en garde contre une deterioration de la situation et reclame des comptes pour les heurts meurtriers." [Accessed 15 June 2018]

United States (US). 20 April 2018. Departement of State. "Democratic Republic of the Congo." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 21 June 2018]

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Departement of State. "Democratic Republic of the Congo." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 15 June 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: UDPS  Federation of South Africa; UDPS  Federation of Belgium.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Political Handbook of the World; UN  Refworld.

Attachments

Union pour la democratie et le progres social (UDPS). N.d. Front and back of a UDPS membership card. Sent to the Research Directorate by a deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, 9 July 2018. Union pour la democratie et le progres social (UDPS). N.d. Sample UDPS membership card. Sent to the Research Directorate by a deputy representative of UDPS-Canada, 22 June 2018. Union pour la democratie et le progres social (UDPS). N.d. Sample certificate. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative and federal president of UDPS-Canada, 18 July 2018.
Democratic Republic of Congo: The Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement, including its political agenda, structure, offices and documents issued to members; relations with the government and with other political parties; treatment of members by the authorities (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 20 July 2018 Citation / Document Symbol COD106125.FE Related Document(s) Republique democratique du Congo : information sur le mouvement Bundu dia Kongo (BDK), y compris sur son programme politique, sa structure, ses bureaux et les documents remis aux membres; information sur ses relations avec le gouvernement et avec les autres partis politiques; information sur le traitement reserve a ses membres par les autorites (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo: The Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement, including its political agenda, structure, offices and documents issued to members; relations with the government and with other political parties; treatment of members by the authorities (2016-July 2018), 20 July 2018, COD106125.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b62894.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. The BDK Movement

The BDK is described by various sources as a [translation] "politico-religious sect" (VOA Afrique 30 Jan. 2018; RFI 7 Aug. 2017) or a [translation] "politico-mystic-religious organization" (RFI 14 Feb. 2017), as well as a secessionist (RFI 14 Feb. 2017) or separatist group (IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017). Sources state that the expression Bundu dia Kongo means [translation] "Union of the Bakongo people" (RFI 7 Aug. 2017) or [translation] "Kingdom of Kongo" in the Kikongo language (IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017). An article from the British edition of the International Business Times (IBTimes), an international news portal headquartered in New York, indicates that the leader of that organization has campaigned for greater independence for the "generally ethnically homogeneous" Kongo Central region (IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017). According to International Crisis Group, ethnic mobilization is one of the ways the BDK mobilizes members (International Crisis Group 4 Dec. 2017, 18). Sources designate Kongo Central (formerly Bas-Congo) as the stronghold of the BDK (IFRI Mar. 2018, 22; Le Potentiel 1 Feb. 2018). Some sources call followers of the BDK makesa (Jeune Afrique 19 Aug. 2017; ADIAC 16 Feb. 2017). For information on the BDK prior to 2011, see Response to Information Request COD103713 of April 2011.

1.1 The Bundu dia Mayala (BDM) Party

Sources report that in 2009 or 2010, after being banned or dissolved, the BDK reconstituted itself into the BDM political party (BBC 18 May 2017; UN Mar. 2018, 5). The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) indicate that the government withdrew its approval of the BDM before the 2011 elections and gave it back in 2015 (UN Mar. 2018, 5). The Institut francais des relations internationales (IFRI) [1] notes that [translation] "the BDK is the religious branch" of the BDM and that "in practice, it is difficult (and probably unnecessary) to make a distinction between the BDK and the BDM" (IFRI Mar. 2018, 23).

1.2 Political Agenda

According to sources, the BDK's main objective is to revive the ancient Kongo kingdom (IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017; BBC 18 May 2017). Radio France internationale (RFI) indicates that the BDK agenda has two components: [translation] "the elimination of the borders created by colonialism" and "the rehabilitation of the spiritual and historical heritage of the great ancestors," and that it falls under "a broad federalism rooted in ethnicity" (RFI 14 Feb. 2017).

The OHCHR and MONUSCO mention that the BDK/BDM wants to [translation] "'expel'" Rwandans from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (UN Mar. 2018, 5). In stating that the leader of the BDK/BDM incited violence against the [UN English version] "Rwandans," a report from the UN Security Council explains that that is what Ne Muanda Nsemi calls "Kinyarwanda speakers from the Hutu and Tutsi communities" (UN 29 Sept. 2017, para. 30).

According to sources, the BDK/BDM is opposed to President Joseph Kabila staying in power (UN Mar. 2018, para. 7; VOA Afrique 30 Jan. 2018).

1.3 Leader

The leader of the BDK is Ne Muanda [Mwanda] Nsemi (ADIAC 4 Apr. 2018; IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017; RFI 14 Feb. 2017). He is also the founder (BBC 18 May 2017; RFI 14 Feb. 2017). According to sources, Ne Muanda Nsemi is also leader of the BDM (RFI 14 Feb. 2017; BDM n.d.). The BDM website indicates that Ne Muanda Nsemi is the [translation] "supreme leader" of the BDK and the "national president" of the BDM (BDM n.d.). Sources report that he was elected to parliament in 2006 (IFRI Mar. 2018, 23; BBC 18 May 2017) and in 2011 (IFRI Mar. 2018, 23). Jeune Afrique mentioned in August 2017 that he was the member of parliament for the Funa district in Kinshasa (Jeune Afrique 19 Aug. 2017).

Further information on the structure of the BDK could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.4 Offices

The BDK website indicates that the movement's headquarters are in the DRC and that it has academies and zikuas [initiation, practice and spiritual teaching centres] throughout Africa and the world (BDK n.d.a). The same source mentions zikuas based in Birmingham and London, in the United Kingdom (BDK n.d.b).

Further information on the offices of the BDK or information on the number of BDK/BDM members and the documents issued to them could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

2. Relations with the Government and Treatment of Members by the Authorities

Sources report that there was a brief reconciliation between Ne Muanda Nsemi and Joseph Kabila around 2015 (IFRI Mar. 2018, 24; IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017; RFI 7 Aug. 2017). According to RFI, at that time, the leader of the BDK/BDM supported keeping Kabila in power beyond his constitutional mandate (RFI 7 Aug. 2017).

According to the International Federation for Human Rights (Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme, FIDH), tension in Kongo Central between the BDM and the authorities has grown considerably since 2016 (FIDH Dec. 2017, 23). According to RFI, the BDK/BDM's discourse changed [translation] "drastically" after it obtained only one deputy minister nomination when the new government was formed [in late 2016] (RFI 7 August 2017). Sources indicate that Ne Muanda Nsemi then resumed his verbal attacks against Joseph Kabila and his calls for insurrection (RFI 7 Aug. 2017; IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017).

At the beginning of 2017, the BDK clashed with security forces in Kongo Central (ACLED Mar. 2017, 11; IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017) and in Kinshasa (IBTimes 16 Feb. 2017). The UN reports that clashes between the BDM, the national police and the Armed Forces of the DRC (Forces armees de la RDC, FARDC) in January 2017 resulted in the death of two presumed BDM supporters and one police officer (UN 10 Mar. 2017, para. 24).

Sources report that in February 2017, the Congolese police besieged the home of Ne Muanda Nsemi in Kinshasa for two weeks (UN 4 Sept. 2017, para. 15; BBC 18 May 2017; Reuters 4 Mar. 2017) and clashed with BDK supporters (Reuters 4 Mar. 2017). According to the UN, the authorities accused the BDK leader of sedition (UN 10 Mar. 2017, para. 24). RFI also indicates that the BDK was accused of causing unrest in the west of the country (RFI 14 Feb. 2017). The UN reports that two BDM members were killed, a number of civilians were injured, and 22 people were arrested (UN 10 Mar. 2017, para. 24). According to Reuters, at least six BDK members were killed (Reuters 4 Mar. 2017). The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) [2] reports that during January and February 2017, clashes between the BDK and the Congolese security forces resulted in dozens killed, "primarily" BDK members (ACLED Mar. 2017, 11). According to Human Rights Watch, in January and February 2017, 20 people were killed by security forces during a "violent crackdown" on members of the BDM movement in the Kongo Central province and in Kinshasa (Human Rights Watch 1 June 2017).

Sources indicate that Ne Muanda Nsemi was arrested by the Congolese authorities at the end of the siege on his house in early March 2017 (UN 4 Sept. 2017, para. 15; Reuters 4 Mar. 2017; ACLED Mar. 2017, 11). According to the UN, [UN English version] "one police officer and three BDM elements were killed" and the police "arrested 307 people, 170 of whom were released the same day" (UN 10 Mar. 2017, para. 24).

According to sources, Ne Muanda Nsemi escaped from [Makala] prison in Kinshasa in mid-May 2017, during an attack allegedly carried out by his supporters, during which some 50 to 4,000 detainees escaped (ACLED 20 June 2018; UN 4 Sept. 2017, para. 15; BBC 18 May 2017). Sources report that dozens of people were killed in the violence (The New York Times 19 May 2017; BBC 18 May 2017).

According to the OHCHR and MONUSCO, [translation] "starting on May 25, Ne Muanda Nsemi and his followers called on the population to mobilize on 7 August 2017 to demand the departure of President Kabila and 'expel Rwandans from the Democratic Republic of the Congo'" (UN Mar. 2018, 5). IFRI also reports that [translation] "shortly after his escape, the BDK leader reappeared on [YouTube] and called for insurrection against the government on 30 June 2017, the DRC's day of independence, and on August 7" (IFRI Mar. 2018, 25).

According to RFI, violent clashes between the BDK/BDM and Congolese security forces broke out on 7 August 2017 in Kinshasa and in the cities of Matadi and Boma, in Kongo Central (RFI 7 Aug. 2017). According to the UN, the BDK/BDM attacked strategic facilities and Congolese security forces (UN 29 Sept. 2017, para. 30). Sources indicate that the BDK/BDM protested to demand the departure of President Kabila (IRIN 5 Oct. 2017; UN Mar. 2018, para. 7) and the organization of elections (UN Mar. 2018, para. 7). According to Freedom House, "[s]ecurity forces fired live ammunition at the protesters, and at least 27 people were killed" (Freedom House 2018). According to the UN, the violence in Kinshasa and Kongo Central resulted in the death of 70 people (UN 29 Sept. 2017, para. 30). The OHCHR and MONUSCO also indicate that in March 2018, [translation] "according to the UNJHRO [United Nations Joint Human Rights Office], at least 17 people were killed, 58 were shot and at least 52 were arbitrarily arrested or illegally detained by the security and defence forces" (UN Mar. 2018, para. 56). The same source states the following with respect to BDK/BDM supporters during the 7 August 2017 protests:

[translation]

Although some were armed with sticks and brooms and adopted a violent attitude toward Congolese state agents, most of the supporters, joined by local populations, began peaceful marches and chanted antigovernment slogans. These actions were violently repressed by security services and defence forces, resulting in dozens of deaths. (UN Mar. 2018, para. 7)

Human Rights Watch notes that, during the violent incidents from January to August 2017, [Human Rights Watch English version] "[s]ome of the BDK members also used violence, killing at least five police officers" (Human Rights Watch 18 Jan. 2018).

In October 2017, according to the UN, [UN English version] "two senior police officers were convicted for the murder of members of the [BDK/BDM] movement, in connection with their responsibility in the repression of a protest held in February 2017" (UN 5 Jan. 2018, para. 30).

The Congolese media state that at the end of January 2018, after being absent for several months following his escape, Ne Muanda Nsemi reappeared in an online video broadcast criticizing the sociopolitical situation in the DRC (Top Congo Info 31 Jan. 2018; VOA Afrique 30 Jan. 2018).

Sources reported in March 2018 that 5 or 7 alleged members of the BDK/BDM were sentenced to death for insurrection and 11 were sentenced to 10 years in prison following clashes between the police and the BDK in Kongo Central in January and February 2017 (Actualite.cd 10 Mar. 2018; Radio Okapi 8 Mar. 2018).

The Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale (ADIAC) reports in April 2018 that the leader of the BDK is still in hiding and continues to broadcast videos on social networks in which he [translation] "threaten[s]" to attack the government, but the article also states that "no one knows exactly what became of him" and that he has "not been seen alive" (ADIAC 4 Apr. 2018).

ADIAC indicates that BDK followers are [translation] "on the radar" of the Congolese authorities and that they are being sought by the security services, forcing some to live in hiding (ADIAC 4 Apr. 2018). Similarly, the Congolese daily Le Potentiel reports that BDK/BDM followers are mistreated by security services, including [translation] "arbitrary" arrests and torture (Le Potentiel 1 Feb. 2018). The same source states that this is the situation in Kinshasa and in the Kongo Central province (Le Potentiel 1 Feb. 2018).

3. Relations with Other Political Parties

Information on relations between the BDK/BDM and other political parties in the DRC could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The Institut francais des relations internationales (IFRI) is [translation] "the main independent centre for research, information and debate on major international issues" in France; it is a recognized association of public utility that brings together policy makers and experts at the international level (IFRI Mar. 2018).

[2] The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which receives financial support from the US Department of State and the European Research Council (ERC), is a project that collects the dates and locations of all reported political violence and protest events across Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and the Middle East (ACLED n.d.).

References

Actualite.cd. 10 March 2018. Dany Kinda-N'Zita. "Proces ex-Bundu Dia Kongo : 15 acquittements, 5 condamnations a la peine de mort a Matadi." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale (ADIAC). 4 April 2018. Alain Diasso. "Vie et murs: Ou sont passes les adeptes de Bundu Dia Kongo?" [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Agence d'information d'Afrique centrale (ADIAC). 16 February 2017. Ya Kakesa. "Bundu-Dia-Kongo : Muanda Nsemi recherche par la justice." [Accessed 13 July 2018]

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). 20 June 2017. Matt Batten-Carew. "Democratic Republic of Congo - May 2017 Update." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). March 2017. Real Time Analysis of African Political Violence, March 2017. Conflict Trends No. 56. [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). N.d. "About ACLED." [Accessed 13 July 2017]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 18 May 2017. "'More than 3,000 Escaped' Makala Jail in DR Congo." [Accessed 7 July 2018]

Bundu dia Kongo (BDK). N.d.a. "Mazikua." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Bundu dia Kongo (BDK). N.d.b. "B.D.K in U.K." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Bundu dia Mayala (BDM). N.d. "Mfumu Muanda Nsemi." [Accessed 9 July 2018]

Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH). December 2017. Massacres au Kasai ; des crimes contre l'humanite au service d'un chaos organise. [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Freedom House. 2018. "Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa)." Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 10 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 18 January 2018. "Republique democratique du Congo." Rapport mondial 2018. [Accessed 10 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch . 1 June 2017. "DR Congo: EU, US Sanction Top Officials." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Institut francais des relations internationales (IFRI). March 2018. Jean Battory and Thierry Vircoulon. 2017, une annee non electorale : cartographie analytique des "points chauds" de la Republique democratique du Congo. Notes de l'IFRI. [Accessed 13 July 2018]

International Business Times (IBTimes). 16 February 2017 (updated 22 February 2017). Elsa Buchanan. "Who Are the Bundu Dia Kongo Sect that Wants to Establish the Kingdom of Kongo?" [Accessed 6 July 2018]

International Crisis Group. 4 December 2017. Vers une action concertee en RDC. Rapport Afrique No. 257. [Accessed 12 July 2018]

IRIN. 5 October 2017. Philip Kleinfeld. "Kabila Sits Tights As Congo Crumbles." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Jeune Afrique. 19 August 2017. Tresor Kibangula. "RD Congo : Ne Muanda Nsemi reste introuvable." [Accessed 11 July 2018]

The New York Times. 19 May 2017. Kimiko de Freytas Tamura and Steve Wembi. "An Unfortunate Record for Congo: Thousands Flee Cells in Biggest Jailbreak." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Le Potentiel. 1 February 2018. Olivier Kaforo. "Situation securitaire au pays - les adeptes de Ne Mwanda Nsemi dans le viseur du regime." [Accessed 13 July 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 7 August 2017. "RDC : La police attribue les violences au parti Bundu dia Mayala." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 14 February 2017. "RDC : Bundu dia Kongo, une secte mystico-religieuse aux lointaines racines." [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Radio Okapi. 8 March 2018. "Kongo-Central : peine de mort pour sept membres de BDK accuses d'insurrection." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Reuters. 4 March 2017. "Congo Police Arrest Separatist Cult Leader After Violent Standoff." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Top Congo Info. 31 January 2018. "'Ne Muanda Nsemi est vivant' (Bundu dia Mayala)." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). March 2018. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Recours illegal, injustifie et disproportionne a la force lors de la gestion des manifestations publiques en Republique democratique du Congo de janvier 2017 a janvier 2018. [Accessed 11 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 5 January 2018. Security Council. Rapport du Secretaire general sur la Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Republique democratique du Congo. (S/2018/16) [Accessed 11 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 29 September 2017. Security Council. Rapport special du Secretaire general sur l'examen strategique de la Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Republique democratique du Congo. (S/2017/826) [Accessed 12 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 4 September 2017. Human Rights Council. Situation des droits de l'homme et activites du Bureau conjoint des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme en Republique democratique du Congo. (A/HRC/36/34) [Accessed 7 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 10 March 2017. Security Council. Rapport du Secretaire general sur la Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en Republique democratique du Congo. (S/2017/206) [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 30 January 2018. Eddy Isango. "Le leader de Bundu dia Kongo interpelle la CPI sur les massacres en RDC." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Bundu dia Kongo  Birmingham, London; Bundu dia Mayala.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; DRC  Assemblee nationale, Commission electorale nationale independante; ecoi.net; Factiva; Political Handbook of the World; US  Department of State.
India: Surveillance by state authorities; communication between police offices across the country, including use of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS); categories of persons that may be included in police databases; tenant verification; whether police authorities across India are able to locate an individual (2016-May 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 25 June 2018 Citation / Document Symbol IND106120.E Related Document(s) Inde : information sur la surveillance par les autorites de l'Etat; la communication entre les bureaux de police a l'echelle du pays, y compris l'utilisation du Reseau de suivi des crimes et des criminels (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems - CCTNS); les categories de personnes pouvant figurer dans les bases de donnees policieres; la verification des locataires; information indiquant si les autorites policieres partout en Inde sont en mesure de trouver une personne (2016-mai 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: Surveillance by state authorities; communication between police offices across the country, including use of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS); categories of persons that may be included in police databases; tenant verification; whether police authorities across India are able to locate an individual (2016-May 2018), 25 June 2018, IND106120.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b64034.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Surveillance

According to sources, surveillance schemes have been implemented in India in order to tackle crime and terrorism (openDemocracy 10 Feb. 2014; Privacy International Jan. 2018). Sources indicate that the Central Monitoring System (CMS) is a surveillance programme in India (The Wire 2 Jan. 2018; CIS 14 June 2018).

1.1 CMS

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) [1] stated that the CMS is a

Central Government project to intercept communications, both voice and data, that is transmitted via telephones and the Internet to, from and within India.  It must be clearly understood that no public documentation exists to explain the scope, functions and technical architecture of the CMS. (CIS 14 June 2018)

According to Human Rights Watch, the Indian government launched the CMS in April 2013 to "monitor all phone and Internet communications in the country," provide "centralized access to [India's] telecommunications network[,] and facilitate direct monitoring of phone calls, text messages, and Internet use by government agencies, bypassing service providers" (Human Rights Watch 7 June 2013). According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), an Indian news agency, regional monitoring centres (RMCs) in New Delhi and Mumbai have been operationalized (PTI 4 May 2016). The same source cites the Minister of Telecommunications as stating in 2016 that "central and regional [monitoring] centres  will help central and state level law enforcement agencies in lawful interception and monitoring in serious desirable cases of national security and allied matters" (PTI 4 May 2016). The CIS representative provided the following information:

From what we understand from publicly available information, prior to the CMS, all service providers in India were required to have Lawful Interception Systems installed at their premises in order to carry out targeted surveillance of individuals by monitoring communications running through their networks. However, in the CMS era, all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in India are required to integrate Interception Store and Forward (ISF) servers with their pre-existing Lawful Interception Systems. Once ISF servers are installed on the premises of TSPs in India and integrated with Lawful Interception Systems, they are then connected to the RMCs of the CMS. Each RMC in India is connected to the CMS. In short, the CMS involves the collection and storage of data intercepted by TSPs in central and regional databases.

In other words, all data intercepted by TSPs is automatically transmitted to RMCs, and subsequently automatically transmitted to the CMS. This means that not only [does] the CMS authority have centralized access to all data intercepted by TSPs all over India, but the authority can also bypass service providers in gaining such access. This is due to the fact that, unlike in the case of so-called "lawful interception" where the nodal officers of TSPs are notified about interception requests, the CMS allows for data to be automatically transmitted to its data centre, without the involvement of TSPs. (CIS 14 June 2018)

2. CCTNS

In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a US-based professor of political science, who specializes in the contemporary politics of South Asia and has published on India's national security, stated that "the only police database that exists is the CCTNS" (Professor of political science 15 May 2018). According to the CIS representative, the CCTNS replaces the Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) (CIS 14 June 2018). The same source explained that the CIPA

was a multilingual, non-plan scheme which was initiated in 2004 by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) [2]. It was done to automate the processes at primary sources of data, i.e. police stations, to build a crime and criminal information system  and to provide an efficient way of organizing crime records for generating queries/reports and crime analysis for decision support. (CIS 14 June 2018)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources report that the CCTNS was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (Razdan 6 Oct. 2017; India n.d.a; MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017) in 2009 (Razdan 6 Oct. 2017; MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017). According to sources, the CCTNS is a database with information on crime and criminals that interconnects police stations across the country (Kanth and Associates 24 Apr. 2018; PTI 26 July 2015; The New Indian Express 1 Oct. 2017). According to the website of the NCRB, the CCTNS "aims at creating  a nationwide networking infrastructure for [the] evolution of [an] IT-enabled-state-of-the-art tracking system around [the] '[i]nvestigation of crime and detection of criminals'" (India n.d.a). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Managing Partner of Kanth and Associates, a New Delhi-based law firm whose practice areas include criminal litigation and real estate litigation, stated that the "CCTNS aims to integrate all the data and records of crime  The project involves [the] training of police personnel and setting up of [a] citizen portal to provide services to citizens" (Kanth and Associates 24 Apr. 2018). Sources indicate that the MHA launched the Digital Police portal under the CCTNS project, which will allow for:

online passport verification (The Better India 22 Aug. 2017; MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017);

online registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) (MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017; PTI 12 Feb. 2018); and

advanced search capabilities for police authorities (MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017; India n.d.b).

The website of the Digital Police portal states that

[t]o protect privacy of individuals concerned and for [n]ational security reasons[,] the [c]rime and [c]riminal data and reports can be searched by authorized [p]olice officers only. Citizens who seek criminal antecedent verification services will be provided responses through email. (India n.d.b)

According to a press release by the MHA, in March 2018, the NCRB launched the Citizens Services mobile app, which enables citizens to register a police complaint and access an FIR, except those categorized as "'[s]ensitive'" (India 14 Mar. 2018).

2.1 Implementation Status

A press release by the MHA cites the Union Home Minister as stating that "out of 15,398 [p]olice [s]tations under the CCTNS project, 14,284 [p]olice [s]tations are using CCTNS software. Out of these 14,284 [p]olice [s]tations, 100% [of] FIRs are being generated under this software in 13,775 [p]olice [s]tations" (India 21 Aug. 2017). According to the same source, the Union Home Minister said that "the pace of implementation of the CCTNS project is satisfactory in all [s]tates" (India 21 Aug. 2017). The minister further indicated that connectivity is enabled at 13,439 out of 15,398 police stations in India, and that 35 of the 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) are sharing the CCTNS database, which contains 70 million records, including 25 million FIRs (India 21 Aug. 2017).

According to an article written by Deepak Razdan [3] that was posted by the Government of India's Press Information Bureau (PIB), "[t]he total number of FIRs registered using CCTNS leapt from less than [150,000] in March 2014 to about [12.5 million] before June" 2017 (Razdan 6 Oct. 2017). According to PTI, "15,023 of the 15,580 police stations covered under the crime and criminal tracking network project have started using the core software to feed and transmit data relating to crimes and criminals" (PTI 2 Jan. 2018). Without providing further information, PTI cites the Minister of State for Home Affairs as saying that "secured data connectivity, as part of the CCTNS project, was available at 14,363 police stations" (PTI 2 Jan. 2018). According to the website of the CCTNS, the status of the CCTNS, as of 31 January 2018, is that 91 percent of police stations across India are connected to the State Data Centre [4], 94 percent of police stations across India have CCTNS hardware deployed, and 93 percent of police stations across India have "complete [s]oftware" deployed (India 31 Jan. 2018).

According to the Managing Partner of Kanth and Associates, CCTNS "presently spreads across 29 states and 7 UTs of India" (Kanth and Associates 24 Apr. 2018). The CIS representative indicated that "there are varying levels of implementation of the CCTNS project in different states" and that "all states except Bihar and Rajasthan have made substantial progress" in the implementation of the CCTNS (CIS 14 June 2018). Other sources indicate the implementation of CCTNS across various states of India as follows:

The Hindustan Times, a daily Indian newspaper, reports that the police in Sanjauli [in Himachal Pradesh] were the "first police post" in India to be connected with CCTNS in March 2017 and that the "CCTNS project has linked 114 police stations, 14 control rooms, 13 district headquarters, 26 sub-divisional police officers, three range offices, zone offices, state crime record bureau and police headquarter besides a few other sites" (Hindustan Times 15 Mar. 2017).

PTI indicates that, according to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Punjab launched the CCTNS in February 2018 (PTI 12 Feb. 2018). The same source cites the Chief Minister of Punjab as stating that the state of Punjab "was among the few states in the country to have launched CCTNS" (PTI 12 Feb. 2018).

However, according to an October 2017 article in The New Indian Express, a daily Indian newspaper,

the verification of crime records and criminals is still in its infancy. Sources said the difficulty in interlinking all police stations into a single network and dearth of funds have led to the inordinate delay in implementation.



Though the police sources claim the FIR registration process is being done through CCTNS, a large part of the system is yet to be implemented. (The New Indian Express 1 Oct. 2017)

According to a study on the CCTNS by Shivangi Narayan [5], "[p]olice stations in India still work in silos as far as criminal information is concerned" and despite being connected to CCTNS, "police officers on duty still continue with their old ways for registering complaints and FIRs on paper" (Narayan 4 Sept. 2017). According to the same source, "the deadline for the [CCTNS implementation] completion was the year 2012. However, even after its second extended deadline of March 2017, most of its scheduled tasks were incomplete and a new deadline for completion [was] set for March 2018" (Narayan 4 Sept. 2017). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Indiana University, whose research areas include criminal justice policy issues and the Indian police, and who has worked with India's NCRB, stated that "all FIRs will be recorded into the CCTNS," but that the "CCTNS is yet to become functional across the country" (Associate Professor 16 May 2018). Similarly, the Professor of political science stated that

[i]n principle, the CCTNS is accessible by police authorities across states and UTs; however, in practice, probably not, as the implementation of the CCTNS leaves much to be desired. There are apparently approximately 15,000 police stations using the CCTNS, however, this is probably not the case, as a result of the institutional slackness that exists in India. While some states are complying with the implementation of the CCTNS, others may have a lackadaisical attitude. As such, the government of India cannot be terribly intrusive, because it just does not have the capacity. (Professor of political science 15 May 2018)

In a follow-up correspondence with the Research Directorate, the same source provided the following information regarding the recording of FIRs in the CCTNS:

FIRs are supposed to be recorded in the CCTNS. Whether and how they are actually recorded depends on the professionalism of the police station and its capacity, which can vary from state to state. There is great disparity between the efficiency of police stations from state to state, for example, between Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh  the latter state includes parts that are poorly governed. While all police stations in India are supposed to be equipped with computers, this is not always the case. There are days when the electricity is gone, which prevents the recording of complaints in the electronic database. As such, across India, FIRs are not entered systematically or uniformly into the CCTNS. (Professor of political science 16 May 2018)

Likewise, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a US-based professor of sociology, who specializes in criminology and criminal justice and program evaluation and who has written on crime and justice in India, stated that

the overall goal of the CCTNS [is for all FIRs across India to be recorded in the CCTNS]. However, it is highly idiosyncratic as to what actually gets done.  [T]he Government of India is investing heavily in implementing this across the country, but it is still far from complete. Thus, there is no systematic way to figure out which crimes are likely to be transferred to the CCTNS and which are not. (Professor of sociology 15 June 2018)

3. Information Included in FIRs

According to the Professor of political science, FIRs are like police reports, which are filed at a local police station (Professor of political science 15 May 2018). The Professor of sociology stated that the FIR is "usually" the "official first record of a criminal complaint made by a victim" and that it "serves to activate a police investigation of the incident" (Professor of sociology 15 June 2018).

According to the Professor of political science, FIRs "specify the nature of a crime, the individuals involved, including the alleged perpetrator, and the location of the incident. It will include the contact information of the complainant, such as their cell phone number and where they live" (Professor of political science 15 May 2018). According to the Professor of Sociology, "[a]ll available information regarding the crime, the alleged perpetrator and related circumstances of the incident (e.g. witnesses) are supposed to be recorded" in the FIR (Professor of sociology 15 June 2018). The CIS representative similarly stated that the following information is "typically" recorded in an FIR:

Name, Aadhaar number, phone numbers, email addresses and postal address of complainant;

Date, time and location of the incident reported;

An account of the incident as it occurred;

Nature of offence;

Names and descriptions and any other details of the persons involved in the incident;

Information about witnesses, if any. (CIS 14 June 2018)

According to the Associate Professor, "FIRs record the information about criminal victimization and the offender's name, if given by the complainant" (Associate Professor 16 May 2018).

For further information on when FIRs are registered and for blank copies of FIRs, see Response to Information Request IND105779 of May 2017.

4. Tenant Verification

According to The Hans India, an English-language newspaper published across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, "the tenant verification programme is a free service provided by the police department" and "[a]ny citizen can approach the police by filling a form, which is available at all police stations and also on [the] police website" (The Hans India 7 June 2017). According to The Indian Express, an English-language Indian newspaper,

[a] police verification is done whenever a property, commercial or otherwise, is rented out. A form is filled by both the owner and tenant, and has details like name, photograph and residential address of both. It also has copies of proof of identity and residence of both.

The police goes through the documents and checks the background of the tenant. They then sign and declare the property verified. (The Indian Express 11 Dec. 2017)

Sources report on the ability of police verification of tenants across various states of India as follows:

According to The Hans India, the tenant verification programme exists in Karimnagar, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thane, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab (The Hans India 7 June 2017).

According to The Tribune, a daily Indian newspaper, the "Patiala police have started a special tenant verification drive" (The Tribune 23 Aug. 2017). According to the same source, the district police [of Patiala] have conducted surveys of over 200  houses" and warned the owners of consequences if they did not register their tenants (The Tribune 23 Aug. 2017). The same source explained that

the Patiala Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate had passed written orders for verification of tenants from outside the district at the nearest police station within 15 days. However, implementation of the order has remained ineffective. Following this, the police  decided to check all such houses housing tenants without informing the authorities. (The Tribune 23 Aug. 2017)

According to The Hindu, an Indian daily newspaper, the Cyberabad police have put in place a tenant verification system (The Hindu 21 July 2015).

The Times of India reports that, according to Kolkata police, all landlords have to "fill up a form giving all the details of their tenants. The form should be submitted to the officer-in-charge of their respective police stations" and "[n]on-compliance of the order might put the landlord behind bar[s]" (Times of India 25 June 2016).

According to The Hindu, police in Hyderabad have asked "house owners to register their tenants through the Hawk Eye App" (The Hindu 21 July 2015). According to sources, the Hawk Eye App is a mobile app launched by the Hyderabad police (The Hindu 11 Jan. 2017; Hyderabad n.d.) that has approximately 3.5 million users (The Hindu 11 Jan. 2017). According to the website of the Hyderabad police, one of the features of the Hawk Eye App is the registration of tenants with the police (Hyderabad n.d.). According to The Hindu, "[t]he App has [the] facility to upload the photographs and other details of the tenant. Once the details are uploaded[,] they form part of a database of the city police and can be checked at any point of time" (The Hindu 21 July 2015).

According to the Hindustan Times, the CCTNS facilitates police verification of tenants (Hindustan Times 15 Mar. 2017). Further information on the use of the CCTNS during tenant verification procedures could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources indicate that the Digital Police portal allows for tenant information verification (MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017; India n.d.b). Further information on the use of the Digital Police during tenant verification procedures could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Indian Express cites a Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner as stating that "it is impossible for the police to actually verify the identity of all those who rent property" in Navi Mumbai and that "the police force is not equipped to personally go and check all new tenants" (The Indian Express 11 Dec. 2017). The Indian Express cites the same Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner as stating that the police does not "'have enough men to do thorough checks on each verification form that comes to [them]. [They] can ensure checks against fake documents by asking for multiple documents proof, but that's about it'" (The Indian Express 11 Dec. 2017). The Indian Express cites a lawyer as stating that the entire process of tenant verification "has several loopholes" and cites him as stating that

"police verification, in theory, is meant to ensure that if a criminal or terrorist is seeking tenancy, the police know and keep an eye. It also ensures the safety of the property owner, who can escape  allegations of complicity in a crime, in case a crime is committed, by saying that he had informed the police. However, the cops are often unfamiliar with the rules of the tenancy act. While a stamp duty of  750 [Indian rupees (INR)] [approximately C$14.45] is minimum for tenancy, sometimes the police accept a stamp paper of  100 [INR] [approximately C$1.93]. They don't even do spot checks, taking the written document as the final word, which generally leads to discrepancies." (The Indian Express 11 Dec. 2017)

The Indian Express cites the same lawyer as explaining that the "'police force is just ill-equipped and short-staffed to actually carry out such verifications when they get over 50 forms daily'" (The Indian Express 11 Dec. 2017). According to the Associate Professor, "[i]nformation about tenants is very limited and Delhi/Mumbai and a few other metropolises have intermittently tried to develop a database and verify the information. To the best of [his] knowledge, this is very inadequate and not updated regularly" (Associate Professor 18 Apr. 2018).

5. Categories of Persons That May Be Included in Police Databases and Ability of Police Authorities to Track Persons of Interest

According to the Associate Professor, his "personal impression is that [the CCTNS] is still unfolding. It is yet to become operational in the sense that the police are still not able to trace a person based upon information collected under this project" (Associate Professor 18 Apr. 2018). In another correspondence, the same source also stated that "[i]nformation about persons of interest is not recorded into the CCTNS but in classified databases" (Associate Professor 16 May 2018). According to the same source, "[p]olice surveillance databases are classified and not shared across states. Concerned officers can seek information through normal official channels" (Associate Professor 16 May 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the Professor of sociology,

[s]ome tech-savvy officers and the local agencies they lead [use the CCTNS to record information on persons of interest,] while others may not be familiar with the system or too set in their ways. Rather than using online resources, the latter are likely to contact police in cities and villages where the persons of interest may be suspected of having gone to by phone or by deputing an officer to travel there. (Professor of sociology 15 June 2018)

According to the Associate Professor, the "[t]racking of persons of interest is difficult and police have a mixed record of success" (Associate Professor 16 May 2018).

According to the Professor of political science,

[i]f they put their minds to it, police authorities in India are able to track and locate persons of interest, depending on the heinousness of the crime and the pressure received from political authorities. For example, it is possible [for them] to locate a person of interest in cases of rape, murder or armed robbery. Social class also plays a vital role: the likelihood of prosecution is much greater if a case involves the murder of a politician's daughter versus the murder of a slum dweller. (Professor of political science 15 May 2018)

In an article published in The Wire, an online Indian news publication, Prashant Reddy T., "an assistant professor at the National Academy for Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad," indicates that "metadata[,] such as location data or IP [Internet Protocol] addresses[,]" have been used as a form of surveillance by police in India (The Wire 2 Jan. 2018). The same source provided the example that "the police can determine the location of a person by asking the [TSP] to triangulate the location of the mobile phone using cell phone towers or by securing details of the [IP] of an email account" (The Wire 2 Jan. 2018). According to Scroll.in, an Indian online news source, "[c]all data or phone records compris[ing] information held by mobile phone companies with details of the numbers called, the duration of the calls and their frequency" are accessible to police authorities with the sanction of [Deputy Commissioner Police (DCP)]-level officers for the "purposes of criminal investigation" (Scroll.in 11 Apr. 2018).

Sources indicate that the Aadhaar number can be used as a tool of surveillance (The Wire 2 Jan. 2018; Daily O 9 Jan. 2018). For further information on the Aadhaar number and whether it can be used to track individuals, see Response to Information Request IND106095 of May 2018.

Further information on categories of persons that may be included in police databases and the ability of police authorities to track a person of interest could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The CIS is a "non-profit organisation that undertakes interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies from policy and academic perspectives. The areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, openness (including open data, free and open source software, open standards, open access, open educational resources, and open video), internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. The academic research at CIS seeks to understand the reconfiguration of social processes and structures through the internet and digital media technologies, and vice versa" (CIS n.d.). The CIS has offices in Bengaluru and Delhi (CIS n.d.).

[2] The NCRB is an office attached to the MHA that "compiles and publishes [n]ational [c]rime [s]tatistics" (MediaNama 22 Aug. 2017).

[3] Deepak Razdan is a senior journalist and editorial consultant at the Indian newspaper The Statesman (Razdan 6 Oct. 2017).

[4] The State Data Centre is an "important element of the core infrastructure for supporting [India's] e-Governance initiatives" and helps states to "consolidate services, applications and infrastructure to provide efficient electronic delivery of  services" (India n.d.c).

[5] Shivangi Narayan is a PhD research scholar at the Centre for Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and "[p]rior to joining the research program at JNU, she was the technology correspondent" for GovernanceNow (CIS 31 Oct. 2016), which is a "multi-media initiative for participatory reportage and analyses related to governance of all institutions and processes that are vital to public life in India" (GovernanceNow n.d.).

References

Associate Professor, Indiana University. 16 May 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Associate Professor, Indiana University. 18 April 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

The Better India. 22 August 2017. Lekshmi Priya S. "Police Verification Got You Waiting? Govt Goes Online to Speed Up Passport Process." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). 14 June 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). 31 October 2016. Shivangi Narayan and Sarvpriya Raj. "IRC17, Bengaluru, March 03-05, 2017." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 18 June 2016]

Daily O. 9 January 2018. Javed Anwer. "Aadhaar Is Surveillance Technology Masquerading as Secure Authentication Technology." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

GovernanceNow. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

The Hans India. 7 June 2017. "Tenant Verification Programme Launched in Karimnagar." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

The Hindu. 11 January 2017. Sumit Bhattacharjee. "Hyderabad Police App Hawk Eye Gets Gold." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

The Hindu. 21 July 2015. Asif Yar Khan. "Tenants Under Police Radar." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

Hindustan Times. 15 March 2017. "Sanjauli Police Post Becomes First in India to Be Linked with CCTNS." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 7 June 2013. "India: New Monitoring System Threatens Rights." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Hyderabad. N.d. Hyderabad City Police. "Hawk Eye - Empowering Public to Be Citizen Police." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

India. 14 March 2018. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). "NCRB Launches Mobile App Useful for Citizens on Its 33rd Inception Day." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

India. 31 January 2018. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). "Present Status of CCTNS." [Accessed 24 Apr. 2018]

India. 21 August 2017. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). "Union Home Minister Launches the Digital Police Portal Under CCTNS Project." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

India. N.d.a. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). "Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS)." [Accessed 17 Apr. 2018]

India. N.d.b. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). "Digital Police." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

India. N.d.c. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. "State Data Centre." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

The Indian Express. 11 December 2017. Gargi Verma. "Impossible for Cops to Personally Verify All Tenants: Navi Mumbai Top Cop." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

Kanth and Associates, New Delhi. 24 April 2018. Correspondence from the Managing Partner to the Research Directorate.

MediaNama. 22 August 2017. Rashi Varshney. "Govt Launches Police Portal Under CCTNS: Makes FIR, Passport Verification & More Online." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

Narayan, Shivangi. 4 September 2017. "What Ails Smart Policing in India?" Zenodo. [Accessed 26 Apr. 2018]

The New Indian Express. 1 October 2017. Krishnachand K. "Years On, Crime Tracking Project Remains Off Grid." [Accessed 30 Apr. 2018]

openDemocracy. 10 February 2014. Maria Xynou. "Big Democracy, Big Surveillance: India's Surveillance State." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 12 February 2018. "CCTNS Project Rolled Out in Punjab." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 2 January 2018. "Secured Data Connectivity in Over 15,000 Police Stations: Hansraj Ahir." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 4 May 2016. "Government Setting Up Centralised Monitoring System For Lawful Interception: Ravi Shankar Prasad." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 26 July 2015. "Bengaluru to Become First City to Start Online Police Verification for Passport." [Accessed 24 Apr. 2018]

Privacy International. January 2018. "State of Privacy India." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Professor of Political Science, United States. 16 May 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Professor of Political Science, United States. 15 May 2018. Telephone interview with the Research Directorate.

Professor of Sociology, United States. 15 June 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Razdan, Deepak. 6 October 2017. "CCTNS Digital Police Portal Launched to Fast-Track Criminal Justice System in the Country." Government of India. Press Information Bureau (PIB). [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

Scroll.in. 11 April 2018. Bhavya Dore. "Private Detectives Walk a Thin Legal Line in India, Even When Not Stealing Phone Records." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

The Times of India. 25 June 2016. "Got Tenant? Submit Details or Face Jail." [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

The Tribune. 23 August 2017. "Police Initiate Special Tenant-Verification Drive." [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018]

The Wire. 2 January 2018. Prashant Reddy T. "Until It Shines Light on Nature of Mass Surveillance, India's Data Protection Committee Will Fail to Do Its Job." [Accessed 10 May 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Academics specializing in Indian criminal justice issues; Amnesty International; Centre for Security Studies; Human Rights Watch; India  Digital Police, Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless, embassy in Washington, DC, high commission in Ottawa, Indian Police Service, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Crime Records Bureau, National Investigation Agency, Police Division; The Indian Law Institute; Indian Police Foundation and Institute; International Crisis Group; lawyers specializing in Indian criminal law; lawyers specializing in Indian real estate law; lawyers specializing in landlord and tenant disputes in India; National Human Rights Commission; National Insitute of Advanced Studies  International Strategic and Security Studies Programme; National Law University, Delhi  Centre for Criminology and Victimology; National University of Advanced Legal Studies; Public Affairs Centre; United Federation of Residents Welfare Associations.

Internet sites, including: BiometricUpdate; Business Standard; ecoi.net; The Economic Times; The Independent; India Today; New Delhi Television; The New York Times; Smart Cities Council; UN  Refworld; Washington University Global Studies Law Review.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Ahmadis

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date July 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Ahmadis, July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b65787.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Bangladesh's Ahmadiyya originated in the early twentieth century and today there are an estimated 100,000 followers in the country. While the community regard themselves as Muslim, certain doctrinal differences have led some extremists to condemn their beliefs as heretical.

History

The community has been subjected to increasing hostility since the early 1990s as militant organizations have mobilized against them, aided by the increasing influence of Islam in the country's politics and the ascent of the BNP to power in 1991. Following an anti-Ahmadi conference in December that year calling for a ban on the Ahmadi faith, similar to that imposed in Pakistan, a series of major attacks were carried out against the community. These included the looting and arson of the Bahshkibazar Ahmadiyya complex in Dhaka in October 1992 by a crowd of more than 1,200 people, as well as numerous other attacks across the country against Ahmadi mosques, offices and homes, culminating in the bombing of a mosque in Khulna in October 1999 that left six dead and several others seriously injured.

This violence formed part of a broader effort by extremists to pressure authorities to declare the community non-Muslim. In 2004, the government, led by the BNP in coalition with Jamaat-e-Islami, responded to threats to dismantle Ahmadi mosques if action was not taken against the community by banning the production, sale and distribution of Ahmadi publications - a decision justified by the government 'in view of objectionable materials in such publications that hurt or might hurt the sentiments of the majority Muslim population of Bangladesh'. This measure failed to mollify extremists within the country and further entrenched a climate of impunity for those targeting the community.

Importantly, it also established a precedent for the restriction of Ahmadi beliefs in the name of security. In a number of instances, the government has imposed Section 144 (an emergency measure) in districts where threats have been made against the Ahmadiyya community. On 19 May 2006, for instance, Brahmanbaria district headquarters imposed Section 144 following threats from anti-Ahmadiyya preachers, resulting in the eventual cancellation of the Ahmadiyya annual convention that month. Alleged security concerns have also been used on occasion by law enforcement agencies and government officials as a pretext to prevent the community from practising their rituals. In March 2007, for example, the Ahmadiyya Regional Jalsa was brought to a halt by the district authorities in Shalshiri village, Ponchogarh District, on security grounds, despite taking place in an area with a large Ahmadi population. The local community, though it approached the district authorities twice to secure permission, were reportedly not allowed to go ahead with their gathering.

Current issues

Ahmadi community leaders have highlighted that, while the community has struggled against a backdrop of continued violence, few of these incidents are reported in national media. Discrimination against the community has become part of daily life for its members. This is reflected in the fact that many of the attacks carried out against the community are not perpetrated by isolated extremist cells but by crowds of locals, in many cases mobilized by preachers or politicians. In February 2013, the destruction of a venue scheduled to host the centenary celebrations of the Ahmadi community in Bangladesh, for instance, was carried out by a mob reportedly numbering as many as 20,000 people. Ahmadi leaders complained that police failed to adequately protect the site from attack.

Indeed, extremist movements within the country have at times enjoyed clear signs of wider support among some Bangladeshis. On 6 April 2013, for instance, demonstrations staged by the group Hefazat-e-Islam saw at least half a million supporters take to the streets in Dhaka with a series of demands that included the hanging of atheist bloggers, the imposition of an anti-blasphemy law with the death penalty and the designation of Ahmadis as 'non-Muslims'.

More recently, a suicide bombing of an Ahmadi congregation in Bagmara on 25 December 2015 left three worshippers injured, with ISIS claiming responsibility for the attack. An attack in May 2017 saw three assailants armed with machetes attack an Ahmadi place in Khanpur in northern Bangladesh, leaving a cleric seriously injured. While in these cases the attackers were fewer in number, the established pattern of larger-scale assaults was resumed in March 2018, when a mob of 70-80 people attacked an Ahmadiyya mosque in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur district. The attackers had just been practicing their Friday prayers in a local mosque nearby. Twenty-two Ahmadis were injured.

Updated July 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Christians

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date July 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Christians, July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b68e37.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Bangladesh's Buddhists, who represent less than 1 per cent of the national population, are mostly concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and northern areas of the country. The Chittagong Hill Tracts are home to 11 culturally and ethno-linguistically diverse indigenous peoples, collectively referred to as the Jumma. Of those who make up the Jumma, the Chakma and Marma represent the majority of those who identify as Buddhists.

History

Historically, sectarian clashes between Buddhists and the country's majority Muslim population have been rare. However, Buddhists have long been subjected to discrimination, violence and displacement due to ongoing tensions over land and political participation, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

However, violence against the country's indigenous communities is also widespread elsewhere. In the north and north-eastern plains, for example, according to figures compiled by the National Adivasi Forum, more than 140 indigenous people have been killed, dozens of women raped and an estimated 10,000 forced to migrate to India.

Since 2012, targeted attacks against Buddhists in Bangladesh have increased, with the alleged perpetrators ranging from members of the armed forces to locals, both members of the ruling Awami League and Islamic parties. Jumma and the growing Bengali population have taken on increasingly charged religious dimensions, too. In this regard, the attacks that took place on 29 September 2012 in Ramu were notable not only for their intensity, but also for the strong religious dimensions to the violence. The attacks began after a rumour spread that the image of a burnt Qur'an had been posted by a local Buddhist youth - though a subsequent investigation found that the person in question had not been involved. In the ensuing violence, more than 20 Buddhist temples and 40 homes were reportedly torched and looted before authorities restored order.

The incident undermined intercommunal harmony in Ramu to such an extent that, even eight months on, Ramu residents were reportedly living in fear and trust between communities had yet to be restored. Media reports also suggested that the police had allegedly detained innocent people rather than arresting those actually responsible for the attacks, making tensions worse. Witnesses were apparently afraid to submit depositions to the courts and those who did attend the court claimed not to have seen anything. While the government quickly ordered damaged properties and places of worship to be rebuilt, investing around US$2.5 million in reconstruction efforts - an important signal of support to the victims - the perpetrators nevertheless largely managed to evade justice. While 19 criminal cases were filed in the wake of the violence, as well as 364 indicted by police on related cases and 193 arrests made, the central investigation failed to progress and the major culprits reportedly remained free. In September 2015, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief reported that 'none of the perpetrators of the Ramu violence have been brought to justice as of now'.

A further round of violence occurred between 29 July and 3 August 2013 in Taindong, when a number of attacks were launched by Bengali Muslims against various Buddhist villages, allegedly with the aim of grabbing indigenous lands. As with previous attacks, the violence appeared to be part of a premeditated plan to secure control of indigenous territory. Many of those who fled lost their land as a result. Nevertheless, two Buddhist temples were also actively targeted, reinforcing the communal nature of the violence. Indigenous community leaders blamed the widespread culture of impunity for enabling the violence, arguing that the lack of concrete measures against settlers who had carried out previous attacks had acted as a major catalyst for the violence. Indeed, Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel have often contributed to violence against the community. On 10 June 2014, for instance, at least 18 people, including a number of women, sustained injuries in Khagrachari in violence between local indigenous peoples and members of the BGB triggered by the BGB's proposal to establish a headquarters in Dighinala Upazila, on what the indigenous community regarded as ancestral land.

Current issues

In many areas of Bangladesh, land grabbing has devastated indigenous Buddhist communities as their ancestral territory has been seized by powerful local actors. In Kuakata, for example, land donated by the state to the indigenous Rakhine community was subsequently seized illegally and used to build a shopping complex. Residents in the area have struggled to maintain their spiritual traditions as cremation grounds, sacred waterways and temples have been damaged or looted. While there were no fewer than 19 Buddhist temples in the area as of 1906, today only one remains.

Human rights monitoring groups have highlighted how predominantly Buddhist indigenous communities continue to be vulnerable, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), to targeted attacks, sexual violence and land appropriation. For example, the Kapaeeng Foundation documented at least 13 extra-judicial killings of indigenous community members during 2015, the torture and physical mistreatment of at least 134 others and the looting, vandalization and burning of many indigenous homes in the CHT and the plains.

Updated July 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.
Ukraine: Whether a victim of a crime can request that the Public Prosecutor's Office or another public agency initiate an investigation into the alleged crime if the police have failed to act (January-November 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 27 November 2017 Citation / Document Symbol UKR106023.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information indiquant si la victime d'un crime peut demander au Bureau du procureur public ou a un autre organisme public d'ouvrir une enquete relativement a un crime presume si la police n'a pas agi (janvier-novembre 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Whether a victim of a crime can request that the Public Prosecutor's Office or another public agency initiate an investigation into the alleged crime if the police have failed to act (January-November 2017), 27 November 2017, UKR106023.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b69394.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Judicial Reform and Status of the Prosecutor's Office

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a program director at the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU), an independent non-partisan organization that describes itself as "the largest association of human rights organizations in Ukraine, which brings together 29 human rights NGOs with the purpose of human rights protection" (UHHRU 4 Apr. 2016), stated the following:

In the course of judicial reform, on June 2, 2016, significant changes were made to the Constitution of Ukraine. For example, Section V "Prosecutor's Office" was excluded. The Constitution was supplemented at the same time by Article 131-1, in which the functions of the prosecutor's office were substantially cut off. In particular, the prosecutor's office has lost the function of general oversight of observance of "human and civil rights and freedoms, observance of laws on these issues" by all state authorities [and] their officials .

According to Art. 131-1 of the Constitution, the prosecutor's office carries out: "the organization and procedural guidance of the pre-trial investigation, the resolution of other issues during criminal proceedings, the supervision of secret and other investigators and investigations of the law-enforcement bodies."

In accordance with clause 3 of Part 1 of Art. 2 of the Law of Ukraine on the Prosecutor's Office, this function is worded as "supervision of observance of laws by the bodies conducting operative search activity, inquiry, pre-trial investigation." (UHHRU 13 Nov. 2017)

According to an article regarding the passing of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in 2016 by CMS Law-Now, a service offered by the CMS international law firm, which "delivers expert commentary and updates" on legal issues (CMS n.d.),

[t]he amendments abolish the wide general supervisory authority of the prosecutor's office and limit its functions to the following:

Organization and leadership of pretrial investigations; Support of public prosecution in the courts; and Representation of the state's interest in the courts, according to the law. (CMS 9 June 2016)

2. Complaints Against Decisions and Actions of Police

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a consul at the Embassy of Ukraine to Canada stated the following:

According to p.5. Part 1 of Art. 23 of the Ukrainian Law on National Police, the police must answer in time to a report of criminal or administrative offenses or events. The procedure for submitting a claim to the prosecutor's office or the police is regulated by the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine [CPC].

In accordance with Part 1 of Art. 214 of the CPC of Ukraine, the investigator immediately, not later than 24 hours after the submission of such a report, is obliged to put the information in the Register of pre-trial investigations and start an investigation. In accordance with Part 4. Art. 214 CPC of Ukraine a refusal to accept and register a report of a criminal offense is not allowed.

In practice, it happens when the police or the prosecutor's office refuse to start investigation stating that there is no criminal offense. In such a case, within ten days, a person should file a claim to the local court against the inaction of the investigator or the prosecutor in accordance with the procedure provided for in Art. 306 of [the CPC]. (Ukraine 20 Nov. 2017)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a legal expert at the Centre of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR), an organization that supports "the implementation of the institutional reforms [that will provide] democracy, rule of law and proper governance in Ukraine" (CPLR n.d.), indicated that:

There are 4 types of situations when decisions, actions or omissions (acts) of the police can be appealed in the Ukrainian legal system:

Appeals against decisions and actions of the police as an administrative act may be carried out on the basis of a complaint to the higher police chief in the general procedure established by the Law on the National Police of 2015. Such a complaint can be filed by any private person or official.



Also, administrative acts of the police may be appealed by the interested person by submitting an administrative claim to the administrative court not later than 6 months from the date of the relevant act in accordance with the procedure established by the Code of Administrative Proceedings of 2005. In October 3, 2017, the Parliament adopted a new edition of the Code of Administrative Procedure, which awaits the signature of the President.



Appeals against decisions and actions of a police officer as a disciplinary offense shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the Disciplinary Regulations of the Internal Affairs Bodies of Ukraine of 2006. A disciplinary complaint against the actions or omissions of a policeman can be filed by any person. Disciplinary punishment is imposed by the higher police chief only on the basis of the results of the internal investigation.



Appeals against decisions and actions of the police officer as procedural violations during the pre-trial investigation is conducted in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of 2012. According to Article 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the prosecutor as a procedural head of the investigation is authorized to cancel any decision of the police investigator during the entire investigation period on the basis of information obtained from him or herself or from other sources.



According to Article 303 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, private persons can appeal against the decisions or actions of the police investigator in court. The Code limits the list of decisions for appeal to 8 types, for example, the refusal of the police to initiate an investigation of crime, stop investigation, close an investigation, etc. The period for appeal is 10 days from the moment of the commission of actions, decision-making by the police.



The investigation of the decisions and actions of the police officer as a crime is also conducted in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of 2012. Any person who has become aware of the facts of a possible crime has the right to file an application for a criminal infringement, which is subject to automatic registration in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations and should be investigated (Article 214 of the CPC). The allegations of police offenses are investigated by the investigative units of the prosecutor's office.



Since November 20, 2017, these cases had to be investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation, but it has not been created yet. (CPLR 14 Nov. 2017, italics in original)

According to the article regarding the passing of Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in 2016 by CMS Law-Now,

[t]he amendments also provide that the many of the current functions of the Prokuratura [State Prosecutor's Office] will be transferred to other state authorities, some of which are only in their nascent stages of development. In particular, the function of operational pretrial investigation is to be vested, inter alia, in the National Anticorruption Agency and the State Investigation Agency. (CMS 9 June 2016)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the program director at UHHRU stated the following:

In accordance with Part 4 of Art. 216 and Part 1 of the Transitional Provisions of the Criminal Code of Procedure of Ukraine, [a crime] committed by a police officer [is] investigated by the investigating authorities of the prosecutor's office.

Consequently, in connection with the loss of the functions of general supervision by the prosecutor's offices, we can conclude that not every inactivity of the police officer may be subject to appeal to the prosecutor, but only that containing the content of the criminal offense (crime). These may be crimes provided for, for example, Article 364 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power) or Article 367 (negligence).

In this case, in particular, if the result of the inactivity of the police officer was a serious harm to the "rights protected by the law, or the interests of individual citizens, or public interests or interests of legal persons," we recommend contacting the prosecutor with a statement (report) about the crime. (UHHRU 13 Nov. 2017)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Insight, a Ukrainian LGBT organization with a team of civil activists, lawyers, psychologists and journalists (Insight n.d.), indicated the following:

The procedure for appealing decisions, actions or omissions of an investigator or prosecutor during a pre-trial investigation is determined by Chapter 26 of [the Criminal Procedure Code]. ... The list of decisions, actions or inactivity of the investigator or the prosecutor during the pre-trial investigation is determined by Article 303 list [of the Criminal Procedure Code]. In particular, the inaction of the investigator, the prosecutor, which consists in the failure to provide information about a criminal offense to the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations after the receipt of the application or notification of a criminal offense, may be appealed. [The] information must be submitted within 24 hours after receipt by the authorized body of the application or notification of a criminal offense.

[Within] ten days the person has the right to apply to the investigating judge with a complaint about the decision, action or inaction of the investigator or prosecutor (Article 304 of the Criminal Procedure Code): if the complaint meets the requirements of the law, the judge opens the proceedings and decides on the appointment of the complaint to the court. The complaint should be considered not later than 72 hours from the moment of its receipt in court (with the exception of the complaint about the decision to close the criminal proceedings). For the consideration of a complaint against a decision to close a criminal proceeding, the law sets a five-day time limit (Article 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code). According to the results of consideration of complaints about the decision, action or inaction of the investigator, the prosecutor is issued: 1) a ruling to cancel the decision of the investigator or prosecutor in case of recognition of it as unlawful; 2) a commitment to terminate an action if it is declared unlawful; 3) an obligation to perform a certain act in the event of a declaration of inactivity to be illegal; 4) refusal to satisfy the complaint. (Insight 17 Nov. 2017)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor at the University of Toronto, specializing in post-Soviet politics and in the politics of law and courts in various countries including Ukraine, indicated that

[a] crime victim whose report did not lead to registration in the "unified register of crimes" (edinnyi reester) - a novelty in the new [Criminal Procedure] Code - has the right per Article 303 of the [CPC] to complain about "inaction by the investigator or prosecutor." The article does not mention to whom or how, but a knowledgeable informant in Ukraine tells me that it is an "investigative judge" (sledstvennyi sudia) who hears the complaint. Of course, if a crime has not been registered, then no investigation or inquiry has begun, there is no particular investigative judge already assigned to the case. Maybe, a particular one in a given location is assigned to hearing such complaints, perhaps on rotation. Or it may be a matter of who is free. To make the complaint, however, is not simple. The victim must file a procedural document that specifies all the details about lack of police activity and how it violates the law, and this normally is prepared by a lawyer (advocate). The Investigative judge does have the right to order the opening of an investigation or inquiry. There is a further gap in the law. Notice that Article 303 refers to inaction by an "investigator," a legal officer in charge of developing a case file (who could work for the MVD [Ministry of Internal Affairs] or the prosecutor's office, inter alia). It does not mention inaction by police operatives of any kind, including detectives, or the ordinary police officers whom a crime victim would normally approach. If such a police person were to fail to take the steps needed to register a crime, even informing an investigator (say in a domestic dispute or a harassment situationthe typical response), then it is not clear how the victim should proceed. My guess is that there might be an intermediate stage, the need to complain first to a superior police officer and to get an investigator to decline to overrule the ordinary policeman - before the complaint could be filed with the investigative judge. But this may also be a matter of local practice.

Complaining to the prosecutor's office [is] always an option (as it was before 2012) because prosecutor's supervision of the police remains in the 2014 Law on the Public Prosecutor's Office, but not necessarily a promising one. Prosecutors have a lot of new criminal work to occupy their time in addition to trials, including approval of plea and settlement agreements (two innovations in the new Code, which require consent of victims). They must also handle cases of real police misconduct (e.g., claims of torture or illegal arrest), so while they have the legal power to require the investigation of a crime, they are not inclined to second guess police in decisions about charging and investigation, unless circumstances force them to so do (e.g. publicity about the incident in the media, traditional or social). In theory, complaining to the prosecutor's office does not require legal assistance, and a handwritten document produced at a prosecutor's office meets the legal requirement. But this might not prove effective.

[Review] of a complaint either by an investigative judge or a prosecutor does not usually mean a hearing, but rather an office review of the documents submitted. So the provision of evidence of police inaction is crucial.

The new [CPC] reads well from the vantage point of the victim, and provides many rights (e.g., access to information about the investigation and trial) once a full investigation has been launched. From a legal point of view, the victim becomes a player in the process. But this legal status does not begin until a crime has been registered (decision one) and a formal investigation (or inquiry for lesser offenses) has been launched (decision two). Because of this, the victim does not have much of a legal position at the time of reporting a crime even though the police are supposed to enter the reports in the Register. They tend not to do so, if there is no obvious suspect or the evidence is weak or the offense is something that they do not consider criminal (e.g. domestic abuse).

 [C]riminal procedure law in Ukraine does a lot for victims' rights, but its impact is limited by the attitudes and conduct of police. Moreover, the popular view of police remains skeptical at best, and many in Ukraine believe that complaining to and about the police is futile. (Professor 20 Nov. 2017)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Centre of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR). 14 November 2017. Correspondence from a legal expert to the Research Directorate.

Centre of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR). N.d. "About CPLR." [Accessed 14 Nov. 2014]

CMS. 9 June 2016. Law-Now. "Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine Passed: Ukraine Takes a Major Step Towards a European System of Justice." [Accessed 9 Nov. 2017]

CMS. N.d. Law-Now. "About Us." [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017]

Insight. 17 November 2017. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Insight. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 20 Nov. 2017]

Professor, University of Toronto. 20 November 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Ukraine. 20 November 2017. Embassy of Ukraine to Canada. Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU). 13 November 2017. Correspondence from a program director to the Research Directorate.

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU). 4 April 2016. "Our Mission and Background." [Accessed 14 Nov. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Amnesty International Ukraine; Associate Professor specializing in Comparative Judicial Politics at McGill University; Centre of United Actions; Council of Europe  Office in Ukraine; EU  European Commission; Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group; Lawyer at Kyiv City Council of Lawyers; OSCE  Office in Ukraine; Transparency International Ukraine; Ukraine  Commissioner for Human Rights, Embassy to the United States, Prosecutor General's Office; Ukraine Democracy Initiative; Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation; UN  United Nations Information Centre in Ukraine.

Internet sites, including: Al Jazeera; Amnesty International; Anti-Corruption Action Centre; BBC; Carnegie Europe; Council of Europe; ecoi.net; EU  External Action Service; Factiva; Freedom House; Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group; Kyiv Post; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Reuters; Transparency International; Ukraine  Commissioner for Human Rights, Prosecutor General's Office; UN  OHCHR, Refworld, UNHCR; US  Department of State.
Ukraine: Whether Ukrainian nationals who served in the Soviet Union's military could be mobilized in Ukraine (2015-March 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 26 March 2018 Citation / Document Symbol UKR106088.E Related Document(s) Ukraine : information indiquant si les ressortissants ukrainiens qui ont servi dans l'armee de l'Union sovietique pourraient etre mobilises en Ukraine (2015-mars 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Whether Ukrainian nationals who served in the Soviet Union's military could be mobilized in Ukraine (2015-March 2018), 26 March 2018, UKR106088.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b6acd4.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Sources indicate that Ukraine reinstated mandatory military service in 2014 and that Ukrainians up to the age of 60 could be called up during mobilization (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018; WRI 3 Mar. 2015).

According to sources, there have been six waves of ["partial" (France and Austria Mar 2017, 28)] mobilization since 2014 (France and Austria 2017, 28), or in 2014-2015 (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018). A January 2015 update to a document titled "International Protection Considerations Related to Developments in Ukraine" indicates that, in 2014, three decrees on partial mobilization were issued on 17 March, 6 May and 22 July (UN Jan. 2015, para. 19). According to a September 2015 update to the same document, three further waves of partial mobilization took place in January 2015, in April 2015 and in June 2015 (UN Sept. 2015, 13).

A July 2014 article by Liga, a Ukrainian news agency, quotes the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council (NSDC)'s Secretary, Andriy Parubiy, as stating the following in 2014:

"I emphasize that during partial mobilization those who have already undergone military service are summoned to serve - reserve officers and people with military experience. And only those that have specialties that individual units need. We do not summon 18-year-old boys. Also we will not summon breadwinners from low-income families." (Liga 22 July 2014)

Similarly, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Legal Hundred, "an NGO that supports veterans of Ukraine's Anti-Terror[ist] Operations (ATO) in understanding and protecting their rights" (EED n.d.), explained that

when the war started, the government introduced the mobilization draft. All men who have ever served in the military and had a military title (sergeant, soldier, colonel, etc.) could be mobilized to serve in the military. It did not matter whether the person served during Soviet times or in the Ukrainian military. The main criteria was whether a person had a military title or not. Anyone over 18 could be mobilized and up to the age of 60. (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018)

According to a joint fact-finding mission report on Ukraine by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Office francais de protection des refugies et apatrides, OFPRA) and Austria's Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (Bundesamt Fur Fremdenwesen und Asyl, BFA), the Military Advisor of the EU Delegation in Ukraine stated, in an interview with OFPRA's and BFA's officials in June 2016, that "'[i]nitially they took people who were militarily skilled[,] then specialists, like tank drivers[,] artillerymen, anti-aircraft personnel, etc.; that was what they were looking for, but not infantry'" (France and Austria May 2017, 28). The same source reports that, in June 2016, representatives from Ukraine's Ministry of Defence and the military advisor of the EU Delegation in Ukraine stated that individuals aged 25 to 46 could be mobilized (France and Austria May 2017, 28).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the representative of Legal Hundred stated that the last mobilization wave was "demobilized" on 31 October 2016 and that, since then, "the Ukrainian army has been contract-based" (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018). Similarly, a 2016 article by Interfax-Ukraine, a Kyiv-based news agency that belongs to the Interfax Group, a provider of "critical information on Russia, China and emerging markets of Eurasia" (Interfax Group n.d.), reports that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko "said that the sixth wave of demobilization was completed by the beginning of November [2016]" (Interfax-Ukraine 2 Nov. 2016). An April 2016 news article, also by Interfax-Ukraine, explains that a "sharp increase" in volunteers signing military service contracts made the suspension of the seventh wave of mobilization possible (Interfax-Ukraine 25 Apr. 2016). The joint OFPRA and BFA report states that according to an interview with representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, "[t]ermination of the seventh call-up for partial mobilization was confirmed in June 2016" (France and Austria May 2017, 31). Information on further partial mobilizations could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

A note published by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence on 27 May 2017, and available on the Ministry of Defence's website, indicates that, in 2017, [translation] "commissioned officers" under the age of 43 who completed the "full program of military training under the reserve officer training curriculum (graduated from universities' military departments)" are subject to the call-up in 2017 provided that they have a university degree not lower than a bachelor's degree and that they were awarded the "primary officer rank" (Ukraine 27 May 2017). The same source states that officers will not be involved in the ATO in the east of Ukraine "without their personal consent and the conclusion of the corresponding contract" (Ukraine 27 May 2017).

The Legal Hundred representative further explained that, in 2017, the Ukrainian government introduced "an 18-month draft for the officers" (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018). The same source stated the following:

This means that anyone who has received an officer military title (any title above sergeant) but has not served in the military is subject to be drafted to serve in the military. So for example, if the person did military studies in university where they just attended training once a week and went on a 4-week training course, they graduated with an officer title, but they would not have actually gone to the military for service. Such people are subject to the draft as of 2017. And this includes the category of men and women up to the age of 43. (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018)

The Legal Hundred representative also stated the following:

Persons who have served in the [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] army were subject to mobilization, since they hold a military title. A lot of them served in the ATO. They are generally not likely to be subjected to any of the drafts. If mobilization is reintroduced they would be subjected to mobilization. (Legal Hundred 15 Mar. 2018)

Article 336 of Ukraine's 2001 Criminal Code provides that "avoidance of mobilization, - [sic] shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term two to five years [sic]" (Ukraine 2001). The September 2015 update to the UNHCR report titled "International Protection Considerations Related to Developments in Ukraine," citing the Ukrainian Law No. 3543-XII of 21 October 1993 on Mobilizational Preparedness and Mobilization, states that there is no "clear provision on alternative service arrangements for individuals drafted through emergency mobilization" (UN Sept. 2015, para. 36). The joint OFPRA and BFA report, citing Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), indicates that, in 2015, a resident of Starobilsk in the Luhansk region, who was 40 years old and who evaded a mobilization draft after having been noticed twice, was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment "in appliance of article 336 of the Criminal [C]ode" by the Starobilsk district court (France and Austria May 2017, 39). According to a 2015 article published in War Resisters' International (WRI), a "pacifist and antimilitarist network" of 90 groups in 40 countries (WRI n.d.), draft-dodgers, subject to mobilization, could be arrested at border checkpoints if they attempt to leave the country and could face five years in prison (WRI 3 Mar. 2015).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

European Endowment for Democracy (EED). N.d. "Legal Hundred." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

France and Austria. May 2017. Office francais de protetion des refugies et apatrides (OFPRA) and Bundesamt Fur Fremdenwesen und Asyl (BFA). Fact Finding Mission Report Ukraine. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2018]

Interfax Group. N.d. "About Interfax." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

Interfax-Ukraine. 2 November 2016. "Poroshenko Ends 6th Wave of Demobilization, Calls for Contract Soldiers." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

Interfax-Ukraine. 25 April 2016. "Poroshenko Suspends Seventh Wave of Mobilization." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

Legal Hundred. 15 March 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Liga [in Ukranian]. 22 July 2014. "Partial Mobilization: Why Is It Necessary and Who Should Await Summons." Translated by Mariya Shcherbinina. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

Ukraine. 27 May 2017. Ministry of Defence. "Clarification Regarding Some Provisions of the Commissioned Officers' Call-up for Active Military Service in 2017." Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]

Ukraine. 2001 (amended 2017). Criminal Code of Ukraine. [Accessed 22 March 2018]

United Nations (UN). September 2015. Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). International Protection Considerations Related to Developments in Ukraine - Update III. [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018]

United Nations (UN). January 2015. Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). International Protection Considerations Related to Developments in Ukraine - Update II. [Accessed 20 Mar. 2018]

War Resisters' International (WRI). 3 March 2015. "Propaganda, Ukrainian Desertion and Conscription in Lithuania." Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

War Resisters' International (WRI). N.d. "About War Resisters' International." [Accessed 16 Mar. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Faculty member specializing in military affairs, military history and Russian history at the University of Ottawa; Kharkiv Human Rights Group in Ukraine; Representative at the Ukrainian Centre of Policy and Legal Reform; Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

Internet sites, including: Council of Europe; ecoi.net; Factiva; International Crisis Group; Ukraine  Ministry of Defence; US  Department of State.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Shi'a

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date July 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bangladesh : Shi'a, July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b6c077.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Though their exact numbers are unknown, Shi'a make up a sizeable minority of Bangladesh's Muslim population alongside the Sunni majority.

History

Until recently, however, they enjoyed similar rights to other Muslims and attacks on Shi'a Muslims were rare. Sectarian violence against Shi'a Muslims had been almost unheard of in Bangladesh, but on 24 October 2015 three bombs exploded during the Shi'a Ashura procession in Dhaka, killing one and injuring dozens. The procession had reportedly been conducted peacefully for four centuries until the attacks.

ISIS subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack, though the government has repeatedly denied its presence in the country and instead attributed the attacks to local militant groups, including JMB.

Current issues

The attack against the Ashura procession was the first of a number of brutal attacks against Shi'a. Following the incident, the European Parliament passed a resolution on 26 November 2015 urging Bangladesh's government 'to offer sufficient protection and guarantees to minorities such as Shi'a Muslims, Ahmadiyya, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians'. It also called for the government and religious leaders to support efforts at reconciliation. However, the very same day another attack against Shi'a civilians took place when militants attacked worshippers at a Shi'a mosque in Bogra, killing the muezzin and wounding three others. ISIS announced it was behind the attacks, a claim again denied by the authorities who blamed the attacks on local militants.

Attacks against the Shi'a community have persisted since 2015, including a deadly attack in March 2016 where a Shi'a preacher who worked as a homeopathic doctor was murdered with machetes in Jehnaidah. ISIS claimed responsibility for the killing.

Updated July 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Cambodia : Indigenous peoples

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date November 2017 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Cambodia : Indigenous peoples, November 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9b75bf7.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Like much of South-East Asia, Cambodia has indigenous hill communities (referred to by the government using the assimilatory term Khmer Loeu, literally 'upper Khmer'). Numbering between 18 and 24 distinct groups, there is no consensus concerning the number or even classifications of the various hill tribes, although a UN estimate in 1992 noted six larger tribes numbering over 10,000 and twenty smaller groups of less than 3,000, perhaps in total numbering about 120,000 people, though some estimates suggest that today's population may be closer to 200,000. Cambodia's last census, in 1998, gave a figure of 101,000, though this was based on language affiliation and was undoubtedly an underestimate at the time. It is believed that there are as many as 400,000 (2-3 per cent of the population) in the country today.

The largest indigenous communities are the Kuy, Mnong, Stieng, Brao, Tampuan, Pear, Jarai and Rade. The first five speak Mon-Khmer languages, whereas Jarai and Rade are both languages of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

Cambodian hill tribes mainly inhabit the isolated north-east mountainous regions of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, and the mountainous areas of Koh Kong Province in the south-west.

Many of them continue to practise swidden (i.e. 'slash-and-burn') subsistence farming. Traditionally they are not Buddhists, and most have retained their local animist religions.

Historical context

Cambodia's indigenous peoples were apparently part of the migration of groups of people throughout the region thousands of years ago; it is this ancestry that explains why they are considered indigenous to Cambodia. The Mon-Khmer-speaking groups, including the Khmer, came from the north-west, while it is likely that the Austronesian-speaking peoples came west from the coastal parts of Vietnam.

During the French colonial period, for the most part, the authorities did not interfere directly in the internal affairs of indigenous communities. This began to change drastically with independence as the Cambodian authorities in the 1960s embarked on efforts to assimilate hill tribes: schools were built where indigenous children were educated only in Khmer; resettlement programmes were put into place (both to bring ethnic Khmers into indigenous regions, and to settle the latter in communities closer to Khmer centres); and other steps taken so that they would learn and adopt the ways of life of lowland Khmers and abandon their traditional customs. These policies resulted in rebellions in the 1960s by some indigenous communities against these and other unpopular measures.

Communists in the 1970s were able to use this discontent to recruit some indigenous persons into their ranks against the then-government of Cambodia, eventually assisting in the final victory of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. The overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 by the Vietnamese Army led to the establishment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. Policies towards hill tribes during the ensuing period could be said to have been, at least in theory, fairly generous, and included for example commitments to eliminate illiteracy and calls for each indigenous language to be respected, as well as for indigenous communities to be allowed to write, speak, and teach in their own language. The country's indigenous peoples were also recognized as Cambodian citizens, and thus avoided some of the disadvantages and discriminatory measures affecting minorities like the Chinese and Vietnamese.

Ironically, the establishment of a more democratic Kingdom of Cambodia after 1993, despite the stronger commitment to human rights generally in the country's new Constitution, did not necessarily entail a greater specific commitment towards respecting the rights of indigenous peoples.

Most state schools in the areas where hill tribes are concentrated continue to teach exclusively in Khmer. Because many if not most indigenous children do not speak or understand this language fluently, there results in their case a much higher than average drop-out rate. In general, indigenous communities remain poorly served with regard to education, and there is a lack of easily accessible state schools in many parts of the north-east after grades 2 or 3.

The movement towards local government structures and decentralization of authority in Cambodia has led to local council elections since 2002. While these are positive steps for the country, they have not been so favourable for indigenous peoples, who in effect are excluded or seriously disadvantaged because of highly restrictive language requirements. Legislation requires that any candidate for local council - or any other elected position - must be able to read and write Khmer. As most indigenous peoples do not satisfy this requirement, the majority of them are in effect excluded from direct participation in this aspect of the political process. Ethnic Khmer tend to occupy local governments, and in turn encourage the in-migration of other ethnic Khmer, while indigenous peoples are becoming ever more vulnerable and disempowered because of this discriminatory language preference.

The issue of collective landownership, and loss of access to their traditional and agricultural lands, has been an ongoing and increasingly important one for indigenous peoples. Despite a 2001 Land Law and other regulatory measures to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples, and other steps such as the establishment of a National Strategic Development Plan and, more recently, the establishment of a National Authority for the Resolution of Land Disputes, these positive steps often remain mere window-dressing. Regulations that are crucial to enforce some aspects of this legislation are still not approved, with the result that indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to land conflicts, and to finding themselves being evicted, threatened or even victims of violence in order to make them abandon lands which they have occupied for generations. In the case of Cambodia's hill tribes, the scale of privatization, evictions, logging permits and other development projects is so vast that, unless concrete steps are taken soon, the country's indigenous communities will have hardly any land left to register because they will have lost most of it already. Mining and even tourism concessions by the government of Cambodia also seem to be given without regard for indigenous peoples' rights over the lands concerned.

Current issues

The government recognizes community land titles (CLTs) through the Land Law of 2001, but the titles have been difficult to obtain. However, corruption and inefficiency among government officials have served to delay CLT issuance. The complexity and high costs of a communal land application - amounting to US$70,000 for each title - are also major barriers. The authorities have, however, taken some steps against illegal logging, which once again is particularly affecting the north-east region inhabited by indigenous communities. Nevertheless, it is thought that illegal logging has reduced the country's forest cover from 13.1 million hectares in the 1973 to 8.7 million hectares in 2014. Sadly, the process appears to be accelerating: based on satellite imagery, the rate of forest clearance increased by 30 per cent in 2016 compared with the year before. Those defending their rights to land and a healthy environment are also under threat of targeted violence: Cambodia is one of the most dangerous places to be an environmental rights defender, with many killed for their work in recent years, including indigenous activists. The government regularly targets environmental defenders through arbitrary detention and judicial harassment.

The Lower Sesan 2 dam in Stung Treng province, one of the biggest dam projects in the country was completed in 2017 and has displaced some 5,000 people including indigenous Bunong and ethnic Lao since its operations began. As with other megaprojects, it has caused widespread devastation to local environments, livelihoods and cultural traditions, with some communities completely uprooted as a result of flooding.

Updated November 2017

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Ecuador : Sapara

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date May 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Ecuador : Sapara, May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bb4bf7.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Sapara live on a 365,000-hectare territory in Pastaza province in the middle of Ecuador. Due to their relative isolation in a difficult-to-access region of the Amazon, Sapara have maintained a strong connection with their traditional culture which places a strong emphasis on dreams and the spiritual world. Estimates of the Sapara population vary between 300 and 600 people.

Historical context

The first writings about Sapara are from the mid-19th century, however descriptions of them are unreliable. The Sapara population was greatly reduced following the Ecuadorian rubber boom in the early twentieth century. In addition, the late 1890s saw increased colonization of the Amazon sponsored by the Ecuadorian government. It was at this point that Sapara ended their nomadic lifestyle. The border war with Peru, which ended in 1942, disrupted Sapara life and ceded much of their land to the Peruvian state.

This tumultuous history caused many Sapara to integrate into other indigenous communities as well as the wider population, leading many in the 1990s to believe that there were no Sapara left. Since then, they have been able to revitalize their culture, and in 2001, UNESCO recognised Sapara as part of the 'intangible heritage of humanity,' in recognition of their unique cultural traditions, including oral history, arts, and social and spiritual practices. Only a few Sapara elders are able to speak the traditional Sapara language.

Current issues

Sapara have proposed that the Ecuadorian government fully recognise and implement the constitutional rights of nature by incorporating a plan they devised, called Naku ('forest'). Naku recognises not only the rights of indigenous peoples but also the rights of other beings in the forest.

In November 2012, the Ecuadorian government allowed exploration and exploitation that would affect all of Sapara land. This was done without adequate free, prior and informed consent of Sapara communities. There has been an increase in violence between Sapara and authorities, the most serious of which occurred in February 2013 when a 13-year old Sapara boy was murdered three days after a protest by Sapara that resulted in threats. Since 2009, Sapara women have organized under the Association of Sapara Women of Ecuador (Asociacion de Mujeres Saparas de Ecuador, ASHINWAKA), in order to resist resource extraction activities on their land and document evidence of the killings of Sapara.

In January 2016, the Ecuadorian government sold oil exploration rights to Andes Petroleum Ecuador - a consortium of two Chinese firms, Chinese National Petroleum Company (CNPC) and SINOPEC (China Petrochemical Corporation) - in a deal said to be worth US$80 million. The rights cover a 500,000-acre expanse that overlaps Sapara territory and borders upon the Yasuni National Park. Later in 2016, Sapara community groups turned to the UN for urgent assistance, citing intimidation and harassment by police as well as security linked to the Chinese oil presence. On 2 May 2017 Sapara leaders delivered a letter to the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China at the UN asking them to abandon extraction efforts on their land.

Updated May 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.
Hungary: Community support organizations that assist Roma in Miskolc in accessing social services, including healthcare, education, housing, employment assistance and social protection programs (2016-December 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 16 January 2018 Citation / Document Symbol HUN106041.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur les organismes de soutien communautaire qui viennent en aide aux Roms a Miskolc en leur facilitant l'acces aux services sociaux, y compris aux soins de sante, a l'education, au logement, ainsi qu'aux programmes d'aide a l'emploi et de protection sociale (2016-decembre 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Community support organizations that assist Roma in Miskolc in accessing social services, including healthcare, education, housing, employment assistance and social protection programs (2016-December 2017), 16 January 2018, HUN106041.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bcd054.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Organizations that Assist Roma in Miskolc in Accessing Social Services

Information on community support organizations that assist Roma in Miskolc in accessing social services was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to information provided to the Research Directorate by the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa, the State Secretariat for Social Affairs and Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary stated that, "[i]n general terms, national human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide assistance to Roma and non-Roma citizens in case they experience a breach of their rights" (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018). The same source stated, without providing further details, that

family and children service centres are available in the entire territory of the country, and provide specialized individual and group services and programs tailored to the needs of the children, including legal clinics and psychological counselling... (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Hungarian Anti-Poverty Network (HAPN) [Magyar Szegenysegellenes Halozat], whose "goal is to represent people living in poverty and social exclusion" (HAPN 2015), stated that the family and children service centres are institutions that are able to provide "constant help," although these centres are "seriously overburdened and state-led" (HAPN 12 Jan. 2018). According to the same source, "the most personal, and efficient, help for Roma people comes from NGOs, but most of them work on [a] project basis and sometimes have problems with finances" (HAPN 12 Jan. 2018).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Legal Officer of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) [Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert, TASZ], a Hungarian human rights NGO founded in 1994 (HCLU n.d.a), stated that "there are just a few organizations that support the Roma community members in Miskolc" and they "work with low capacity" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). The same source indicated that because NGOs in Miskolc are "weak," "Roma people face obstacles in soliciting assistance, especially legal assistance" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). However, in contrast, the State Secretariat for Social Affairs and Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary stated that "[t]here are no obstacles to the Roma population's access to support services in Miskolc and its vicinity" (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018). Without providing further details, the same source further stated that "legal remedies are in place" and that "those concerned have recourse to them by themselves or with the assistance of NGOs, and [that] the authorities act according to the law" (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018).

Without providing further details, the HAPN Representative stated that key NGOs that raise awareness about poverty issues may face pushback from politicians in Miskolc (HAPN 12 Jan. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.1. Advocacy Organizations

1.1.1 Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)

According to the Legal Officer of HCLU, HCLU is based in Budapest, but has connections with NGOs in Miskolc (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). HCLU's website indicates that, through its Roma Program, HCLU carries out strategic litigation and legal advocacy activities to address institutional discrimination (HCLU n.d.b). Without providing details, the Legal Officer of HCLU stated that HCLU has an ongoing actio popularis anti-discrimination lawsuit, representing the interests of the Roma population in Miskolc (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). Sources report that HCLU interceded in a housing dispute in Miskolc that started in 2014 in which discrimination against Roma was alleged (Housing Rights Watch 8 Dec. 2016; Hungary 12 June 2015, para. 1). For further information on the housing situation in Miskolc, see Response to Information Request HUN105586 of 11 August 2016. For further information on support provided to those evicted in Miskolc, see Response to Information Request HUN105743 of 11 May 2017.

According to its website, HCLU "provides free legal aid assistance in more than 2000 [human rights] cases per year" (HCLU n.d.a). The Legal Officer of HCLU indicated, without providing further details, that HCLU provides legal aid to the Roma population in Miskolc, by helping them with filing complaints against discrimination to the Equal Treatment Authority [Egyenlo Banasmod Hatosag] (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). For further information on the Equal Treatment Authority, see Response to Information Request HUN105743 of 11 May 2017.

1.1.2 National Ethnic and Minority Protection Institute (NEKI)

Sources report that the National Ethnic and Minority Protection Institute (NEKI) [Nemzeti es Etnikai Kisebbsegi Jogvedo Iroda] interceded on behalf of Roma during the Miskolc housing dispute that started in 2014 (Housing Rights Watch 8 Dec. 2016; Cronkite News 11 July 2016; Amnesty International 18 May 2015). Sources indicate that the HCLU and the NEKI filed a lawsuit against the municipality of Miskolc, the mayor's office and the municipality police for discriminatory measures against Roma in Miskolc (HCLU 17 Mar. 2017; Hungary 12 June 2015, para. 1). Further information, including the status of the lawsuit and services offered by NEKI, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.1.3 European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)

According to its website, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Budapest-based "Roma-led international public interest law organisation working to combat anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma through strategic litigation, research and policy development, advocacy and human rights education" (ERRC n.d). Sources report that the ERRC interceded on behalf of Roma during the Miskolc housing dispute that started in 2014 (Housing Rights Watch 8 Dec. 2016; Hungary 15 June 2015, para. 1).

1.2 Community Support Organizations in Miskolc

When asked about community support organizations in Miskolc, the Legal Officer of HCLU identified the organizations described in the following sections (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018):

1.2.1 Roma Minority Self-Government Miskolc

HCLU indicated that the Roma Minority Self-Government Miskolc [Miskolc Megyei Jogu Varos Roma Nemzetisegi Onkormanyzata] is the "best-known body in Miskolc" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). According to HCLU, the Roma Minority Self-Government Miskolc is not an NGO, but supports the Roma population in Miskolc, for example, by filling out forms and giving advice, and provides assistance, including with administrative procedures and with job-searching (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). Further information on services offered by the Roma Minority Self-Government Miskolc could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2.2 Regina Foundation Miskolc [Regina Alapitvany Miskolc]

According to sources, Regina Foundation Miskolc [Regina Alapitvany Miskolc] works with Roma women in and around Miskolc (Regina Foundation Miskolc 25 June 2016; HAPN 9 Jan. 2018), including in Halmaj (Regina Foundation Miskolc 25 June 2016). According to HCLU's Legal Officer, Regina Foundation Miskolc "deals with community organizing, educational activities for Roma children, trainings for adults, particularly Romani women, [and] organizing sensitizing campaigns" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2.3 One For All, All For One Association [Egy mindenkiert, mindenki egyert Egyesulet]

According to HCLU's Legal Officer, the One For All, All For One Association [Egy mindenkiert, mindenki egyert Egyesulet] deals with "community organizing, summer camps for Roma children, support in administrative procedures, trainings/education for adults, [and] job searching" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). The same source added that, the association also gives "advice and basic help in discrimination cases" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2.4 Roma Civil Right Movement Miskolc

According to HCLU's Legal Officer, the Roma Civil Right Movement Miskolc provides legal aid services to Roma in Miskolc, but its capacity is "low" (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.2.5 Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta

According to the website of the Order of Malta, a "lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113" (Order of Malta n.d.a), the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta [Magyar Maltai Szeretetszolgalat] is a "major welfare organisation" in Hungary and a "trusted partner of Hungarian institutions" with "350 branches, 130 local volunteer groups, 220 institutes, and 2,200 employees" (Order of Malta 21 Dec. 2017).

According to a statement by the Hungarian government, presented during a working session of a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in September 2016, "the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta - in cooperation with the Municipality of Miskolc - established a social housing agency in Miskolc" (Hungary 28 Sept. 2016). According to the same source, "[t]his agency helps to facilitate the housing situation of those families whose houses were unbuilt" (Hungary 28 Sept. 2016). According to the State Secretariat for Social Affairs and Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta carries out a programme in close cooperation with the local city council of Miskolc in Lyukovolgy (Lyuko Valley), in the Avas residential district, and in the Numbered Streets area called "Presence" [Jelenlet] (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018). According to the same source, the programme, whose budget is provided by the Municipality of Miskolc, is based on "the day-to-day presence of social workers of the charity service on site, enabling them to draw up the social diagnose and offer assistance tailored to individual needs" (Hungary 8 Jan. 2018).

Similarly, the HCLU's Legal Officer stated that the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, which is based in the Numbered Streets [Szamozott utcak] area in Miskolc, provides support to Roma in the area of housing (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018). According to the same source, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta has a contract with the Miskolc municipality and receives financial support from it (HCLU 5 Jan. 2018).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 18 May 2015. "Hungary: Supreme Court Finds Forced Evictions in Miskolcto be Unlawful." (EUR 27/1672/2015) [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Cronkite News. 11 July 2016. Sean Logan. "Local Government Evicts 'Numbered Streets' Families." [Accessed 27 Dec. 2017]

European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). N.d. "Who We Are." [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Housing Rights Watch. 8 December 2016. Feher Boroka. "Evictions and Harassment of Miskolc Residents Declared Unlawful and Anti-Constitutional by Ombudsman." [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Hungarian Anti-Poverty Network (HAPN). 12 January 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Hungarian Anti-Poverty Network (HAPN). 9 January 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Hungarian Anti-Povery Network (HAPN). 2015. "Hungarian Anti-Poverty Network." [Accessed 12 Jan. 2018]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 5 January 2018. Correspondence from a Legal Officer to the Research Directorate.

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 17 March 2017. "Anti-Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Leadership of a Hungarian City." [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). N.d.a. "About us." [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). N.d.b. "Roma Rights Advocacy." [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017]

Hungary. 8 January 2018. Ministry of Human Capacities. State Secretariat for Social Affairs and Social Inclusion. Information provided to the Research Directorate by an official at the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa.

Hungary. 28 September 2016. "Statement of the Delegation of Hungary. Working Session 15: Tolerance and non-discrimination II. HDIM, 28. September 2016. Warsaw." [Accessed 5 Jan. 2018]

Hungary. 12 June 2015. Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary. Information Presented by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary. (A/HRC/29/NI/1) [Accessed 27 Dec. 2017]

Order of Malta. 21 December 2017. "Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta Is Beneficiary of 2017 Christmas Drive of Hungarian State TV." [Accessed 5 Jan. 2018]

Order of Malta. N.d.a. "About the Order of Malta." [Accessed 5 Jan. 2018]

Regina Foundation Miskolc. 25 June 2016. "Tastes of Danube - Baking Day, Halmaj (HU)." [Accessed 10 Jan. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Amnesty International; Chance for Children Foundation; European Roma Grassroots Organization Network; European Roma Information Office; European Roma Rights Centre; Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Hungarian human rights advocate and attorney-at-law; Hungarian Maltese Charity Service; Hungary  Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights; Lengyel Allen & Overy Ugyvedi Iroda; Miskolc  The Mayor's Office; National Ethnic and Minority Protection Institute; Open Society Foundations Roma Initiatives Office; OSCE  Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; Rakoczi Ferenc Megyei es Varosi Konyvtar; Roma Activist in Miskolc; Roma Minority Government of Miskolc; Romedia Foundation; Rotary Club Miskolc; UN  Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Researchers in labour law and social law at the University of Miskolc.

Internet sites, including: Agencia EFE; Al Jazeera; Autonomia Foundation; BBC; Borsod Online; Budapest Beacon; Daily News Hungary; De Volkskrant; Deutsche Welle; ecoi.net; EU  Equinet Secretariat, European Asylum Support Office Country of Origin Portal; European Roma Grassroots Organization Network; European Roma Information Office; The Globe and Mail; The Guardian; Foreign Policy; Human Rights Watch; Hungarian Anti-Poverty Network; Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid; Hungarian Free Press; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Hungarian Maltese Charity Service; Hungary  Embassy in Ottawa, Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights; Lengyel Allen & Overy Ugyvedi Iroda; IRIN News; Minority Rights Group International; Miskolc  The Mayor's Office; The New York Times; NOS Journaal; Open Society Foundations Roma Initiatives Office; Radio France internationale; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Rakoczi Ferenc Megyei es Varosi Konyvtar; Reuters; Romedia Foundation; Rotary Club Miskolc; UN  OHCHR; US  Department of State.
Hungary: Identity cards and address cards for nationals and non-nationals, including requirements and procedures to obtain the cards; description of the cards, including information on the cards (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 10 August 2018 Citation / Document Symbol HUN106146.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur les cartes d'identite et d'adresse pour les ressortissants et les non-ressortissants, notamment les exigences et la marche a suivre pour les obtenir; la description des cartes, notamment l'information qu'elles renferment (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Identity cards and address cards for nationals and non-nationals, including requirements and procedures to obtain the cards; description of the cards, including information on the cards (2016-July 2018), 10 August 2018, HUN106146.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bcd8f7.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

The website of the Hungarian Central Office for Administrative and Electronic Public Services (Kozigazgatasi es Elektronikus Kozszolgaltatasok Kozponti Hivatala, KEKKH) indicates that, on 1 January 2016, Hungary introduced a personal identification card (Szemelyazonosito igazolvany) [personal ID card] that includes an "electronic storage unit" (Hungary n.d.a). According to the KEKKH website, there are two types of "personal identification cards" issued in Hungary: the permanent and the temporary ID cards (Hungary n.d.a).

An information leaflet sent in 2016 by the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa to the Research Directorate with samples of permanent ID cards issued to citizens and foreign residents in Hungary since January 2016, along with an explanation of their security features, is attached to this Response (Attachment 1). Samples of various identity documents delivered by Hungary are also attached to this Response (Attachment 2).

In a 2018 correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Hungarian embassy in Ottawa confirmed the accuracy of the information leaflet and indicated that the ID card's issuing authority is the Hungarian Ministry of Interior (Belugyminiszterium) (Hungary 10 July 2018).

2. Requirements and Procedure to Apply for Personal ID Cards

The information in the following paragraph was taken from the KEKKH website:

The persons eligible to apply for [personal] ID cards are Hungarian citizens and "immigrants, established persons, refugees or persons with subsidiary protection." As of January 2016, Hungarian citizens living abroad are also entitled to apply for an ID card. Eligible applicants for ID cards who do not have an official document certifying their identity at the time of application are issued a temporary ID card, but no temporary ID card can be issued by a "participating authority or consular official" to someone who applies for a permanent ID card. It is mandatory for immigrants or "established persons, refugees and persons with subsidiary protection" to apply for a permanent ID card, though a refugee or a protected person who has been granted "an established status" has no obligation to apply for a new personal ID card (Hungary n.d.a).

According to the Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO) of the EU, the ID card's period of validity is age-dependent:

Age Maximum Validity of the ID Card 0-12 years old 3 years, or until the holder reaches 12 years of age (EU n.d.a) 12-18 years old 3 years (EU n.d.a) 18[-65 years old (EU n.d.b)] 6 years (EU n.d.a) 65 years old and above 60 years (EU n.d.b)

The Hungarian government portal's webpage on [personal] ID cards states that applications for permanent ID cards must be processed within 20 days and that, [translation] "with certain statutory exceptions," applicants must appear in person (Hungary n.d.b).

According to the KEKKH website, applicants for a permanent personal ID card can apply in person at the following locations:

any district office,

the Budapest Metropolitan Government Office (designated government office),

an official body in charge of a register (in case the citizen lacks any other official document suitable for certifying their personal identity or if s/he applies for a personal ID card with a storage unit for the first time),

a consular official (only in the case of applicants with Hungarian citizenship),

the notary with competence at the place of permanent or temporary residence (if the applicant is unable to apply personally due to health restrictions),

penitentiary facilities (in the case of applicants in detention). (Hungary n.d.a)

According to the same source, an application for a permanent personal ID card for a new-born infant can be made by a legal representative at the registrar that registers the birth (Hungary n.d.a).

The Hungarian government portal's webpage on personal ID cards indicates that, except for applications for ID cards with an indefinite period of validity issued to persons aged 65 or above, applicants receive, in a sealed envelope, an activation personal identification number (PIN) and a registration code, which serves to create a PIN for the permanent ID card, as well as a personal unlocking key (PUK) (Hungary n.d.b). According to the same source, should a temporary ID card be issued during the application process or should applicants remain in possession of an earlier permanent ID card that is still valid, the permanent ID card must be delivered to the [translation] "district office, the designated government office or the agency handling registration"; otherwise, at the request of the applicant, the ID card can be sent through registered mail (Hungary n.d.b).

The Hungarian embassy representative indicated that the fee for applying for a personal ID card is of 3,000 Hungarian forint (HUF) [approximately C$14] (Hungary 10 July 2018). The same source stated that no fees are charged in the following cases:

First application in every year (a second one in the same year is subject to a fee)

Name change due to a change of marital status

Replacement of a stolen ID card

The applicant is under 18 years of age. (Hungary 10 July 2018)

2.1 Documents Required to Apply for Personal ID Cards

The information in this section was taken from the KEKKH website:

A permanent personal ID card, "or any other valid document certifying  personal identity," that is either valid or was valid in the year preceding the date of application, must be provided with an application for a personal ID card. Applicants who do not have such documents may instead provide the following:

if they wish to use a doctor title and this doctor title is not registered in the personal data and address register, a document certifying entitlement to use the doctor title and, in the case of a doctor title awarded abroad, an official document certifying its naturalisation, or authentic copies of the former;

in the case of Hungarian citizens returning from abroad with the intention to settle in Hungary or Hungarian citizens living abroad, official documents certifying their [PIN] and place of residence[;]

in the case of immigrant or refugee applicants or those with subsidiary protection or established status, the immigration permit, the document certifying the refugee or subsidiary protection status or the established status, as well as the official document certifying the [PIN] and the place of residence[;]

in the case of applicants with a refugee or subsidiary protection status - if it is the first personal ID card that is applied for - a photograph on the back of which the immigration authority shall specify the number of the authority decision recognising the person concerned as a refugee or a person granted subsidiary protection and certifying the fact that the photograph is identical with the person recognised as a refugee or protected person by a seal and a signature.

If an applicant lacks a valid personal ID card or any other document proving identity, a birth [or] marriage certificate should be provided with the application. Should applicants whose birth and/or marriage were registered in Hungary be unable to produce their birth or marriage certificate, the "administering authority" will contact the relevant registrars.

Applicants who live abroad and who acquired Hungarian citizenship "by naturalization or re-naturalization" must submit with their first application for an ID card a statement regarding their "natural personal identification data," especially the name displayed on the official document, "certifying [that] their [PIN] and place of residence" is identical to the "name entered in the register or the naturalization certificate including their name change."

"[I]ncapacitated applicants" may, in addition to the above documents, provide the court's final decision establishing guardianship and must provide the "legally binding decision of the guardianship authority certifying representation before the law," along with documents certifying the identity of the legal representative.

If the applicant is an "incapacitated" minor and only one of the parents is present at the moment of application, a statement made by the other parent or legal representative consenting to the issuance of a personal ID card for the applicant must also be provided. The statement of approval must either be issued in a "private document of probative value" or be made before:

a notary public;

a "district (metropolitan) office acting on behalf of the municipal and county government office in child protection and guardianship issues";

the head of a penitentiary facility;

a consular official;

"the designated government office"; or

"the body keeping the register or a district office."

The authority responsible for issuing the personal ID card may request the applicant's PIN, as displayed on the official document "certifying the [PIN] and place of residence" (Hungary n.d.a).

3. Information Appearing on the Personal ID Card

The information leaflet indicates that the following information about the card holder appears on the personal ID card: name, place and date of birth, nationality, mother's name, sex, "facial portrait/image," signature (if the card holder is 12 of age or older), date of expiry of the card, "identifier/document number of the identity card," date of issuance, and the name of the issuing authority (Hungary n.d.c). The same source states that the ID card also contains a code number, or "CAN number," and a "data storage code, which specifies the document number/identifier of the citizen's identity card as well as the electronic unique identifier" (Hungary n.d.c).

4. Information Stored in the Personal ID Card

The information leaflet states that, in addition to the information visually displayed on the ID card, the personal ID card also electronically stores the following:

the card holder's fingerprints, unless the holder is under 12 years of age, or the holder refused to have fingerprints captured, or the holder is physically unable to give fingerprints;

the holder's social security [identification] number;

the holder's tax [identification] number; and

the ID card's "electronic unique identifier" (Hungary n.d.c).

According to the KEKKH website, the card holder may request that the following also be stored on the ID card: the "data required for creating an electronic signature," his or her "signature certificate" and up to two telephone numbers to be called in case of emergencies (Hungary n.d.a). The same source states that applicants who do not have a tax or social security identification number may still apply for a personal ID card (Hungary n.d.a). The same source warns that the personal ID card is not a replacement for the social security card or the tax card "yet, but it does offer a new way of certifying the social security and the tax identification numbers" (Hungary n.d.a).

The KEKKH website explains that the "data specifying the card holder's nationality" is a three-letter code that appears on the ID card, and that the ID card also contains a machine-readable zone (MRZ) code that allows the identification of the card holder and of "personal identification cards" (Hungary n.d.a). According to the same source, permanent personal ID cards issued to foreign citizens or stateless persons do not have an MRZ code; instead, there is an indication that the card holder is not entitled to travel abroad (Hungary n.d.a). The same source states that ID cards issued to immigrants, "established persons," refugees or "persons with subsidiary protection" are visually different from those issued to Hungarian citizens (Hungary n.d.a). The information leaflet attached to this Response (Attachment 1) includes samples of IDs issued to foreign citizens or stateless persons.

5. Address Card

The embassy representative stated that the format of the address card (lakcimkartya) has not changed since the publication of Response to Information Request HUN105199 of 22 July 2015 (Hungary 10 July 2018). A sample of an address card is attached to this Response (Attachment 2, Item 9).

The Hungarian government portal's webpage on the address card indicates that it is issued [translation] "ex officio" in cases in which:

it happens as part of the process of issuing a personal ID, and so that the citizen is replacing the old type of personal ID containing the address too, and the citizen has not received an official ID, yet; it happens as part of the process related to the issuing or modification of the personal ID or as part of the process related to the registration of the naturalized citizen or the registration of residency; the issuing of the official certificate happens due to the correction of incorrectly entered data or the faulty manufacturing of the official certificate; the Hungarian citizen announces their intent to leave the territory of Hungary in order to settle down abroad; it is done because of an address change not involving moving, due to the change of address items entered into the central address registry; the citizen electronically reports the termination of their residency without establishing a new residency. (Hungary n.d.d)

The same source states that the issuance of an address card can be requested in the following cases:

When the change in the holder's personal information does not involve a change in the holder's personal ID card (such as change of name or mother's name);

When the holder [translation] "does not have an official ID because it is not in their possession anymore," such as in cases of loss, theft, or destruction of the ID card;

The holder's official ID card was damaged;

The holder's address changed;

When a legal representative requests modifying, adding or deleting their name and telephone number from a minor's official ID card (Hungary n.d.d).

5.1 Requirements and Procedure to Obtain the Address Card

The Hungarian government's portal indicates that the documents required to process the issuance of an address card are documents certifying the card holder's identity, e.g. personal ID card, passport, driver's license, the old address card (in case of a replacement), and documents proving that the card holder has a right to dispose of the place of residence, such as a land title or a purchase contract, a rental contract, or the consent of the home's owner to use the home (Hungary n.d.d). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) [1] indicated that an application form (lakcimbejelento lap) must also be filled out (HCLU 9 July 2018).

The Hungarian government's portal indicates that issuance of the address card can be requested from the following:

[translation]

The competent notary and the district office pursuant to the address or residency of the affected citizen in case of change of data with the exception of the withdrawal or cancellation of the personal ID, as well as in a process related to registration or reporting an address; The district office, the appointed government office and the organization handling the registration in the case of the process of issuing a personal ID, as well as in the case of correction of information incorrectly entered on the official certificate, or in the case of faulty manufacturing of the official certificate; The organization managing the registration

of Hungarian citizens as Hungarian citizen living abroad,

in a process related to the withdrawal or cancellation of a personal ID; The organization proceeding in citizenship matters, as well as in a process related to the registration of Hungarian citizens living in the territory of Hungary; The registration organization appointed to conduct the registration in Hungary in cases determined by law, as well as in a process related to the registration of the information of Hungarian citizens living in the territory of Hungary; The competent district office depending on where the process was initiated, in a process initiated with the consular officer, the competent district office pursuant to the address or residency of the citizen in question in a procedure regarding leaving the territory of Hungary with the intention to settle down abroad, as well as in a process related to issuing an official certificate as a result of registering a Hungarian citizen settling abroad as a Hungarian citizen living abroad; The competent district office pursuant to the place of birth in cases determined by the law; The appointed government office

in procedures related to registering the information of people possessing the right to freely move and stay, as well as

in a process related to the registration, data change, lost, stolen, destroyed or useless official certificate of naturalized citizens and Hungarian citizens living abroad not having a Hungarian residency. (Hungary n.d.d)

Without providing further details, the HCLU representative indicated that there are no fees incurred by the issuance of an address card and that the processing time for issuance is "just a few days" (HCLU 9 July 2018). The same source stated that, although it is not mandatory to have an address card, it is "very useful," as the card is needed to "have a job, to buy a car, etc." (HCLU 9 July 2018). According to the same source, the "permanent" address card "has no validity period," (HCLU 9 July 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) is an NGO that "monitors legislation, pursues strategic litigation, [and] provides free legal aid assistance," as well as training and "awareness raising media campaigns" (HCLU n.d.).

References

European Union (EU). N.d.a. Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO). "Document: HUN-BO-05001." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

European Union (EU). N.d.b. Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO). "Document: HUN-BO-05003." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 9 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 27 July 2018]

Hungary. 10 July 2018. Embassy in Ottawa. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Hungary. N.d.a. Kozigazgatasi es Elektronikus Kozszolgaltatasok Kozponti Hivatala (KEKKH). "In English: Personal Identification Cards." [Accessed 6 July 2018]

Hungary. N.d.b. Ugyintezes Kormanyzati Portal. "Szemelyazonosito igazolvany (Identity Card)." Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 10 July 2018]

Hungary. N.d.c. "Magyarorszag Szemelyazonosito Igazolvanyai: Personal Identity Cards of Hungary." Sent to the Research Directorate by the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa, 31 March 2016.

Hungary. N.d.d. Ugyintezes Kormanyzati portal. "Lakcimkartya (lakcimigazolvany) es a szemelyi azonosito (Address Card (Address Card) and Personal Identification Number)." Translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 10 July 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Hungarian Association for Migrants.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Hungarian Civil Liberties Union; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Hungary  Ministry of Interior; Keesing's Reference System; UN  Refworld.

Attachments

Hungary. N.d. "Magyarorszag Szemelyazonosito Igazolvanyai: Personal Identity Cards of Hungary." Sent to the Research Directorate by the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa, 31 March 2016. European Union (EU). N.d. Council of the European Union. Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO). Compilation of samples.
Hungary: Jobbik Party [The Movement for a Better Hungary, Jobbik Magyarorszagert Mozgalom] and the Our Country Movement (Mi Hazank Mozgalom), including impact on the government and paramilitary groups; relationship with the Roma community, including incidents of violence and discrimination; state response (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 1 August 2018 Citation / Document Symbol HUN106147.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur le parti Jobbik [le Mouvement pour une meilleure Hongrie, Jobbik Magyarorszagert Mozgalom] et le Mouvement Notre patrie (Mi Hazank Mozgalom), y compris leur incidence sur le gouvernement et les groupes paramilitaires; leur relation avec la communaute rom, y compris les incidents de violence et de discrimination; l'intervention de l'Etat (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Jobbik Party [The Movement for a Better Hungary, Jobbik Magyarorszagert Mozgalom] and the Our Country Movement (Mi Hazank Mozgalom), including impact on the government and paramilitary groups; relationship with the Roma community, including incidents of violence and discrimination; state response (2016-July 2018), 1 August 2018, HUN106147.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bd0c84.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Sources indicate that the Jobbik Party arrived second in the Hungarian parliamentary elections held on 8 April 2018, winning 26 of the 199 seats, with the coalition between Fidesz and the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) winning 133 seats (OSCE 27 June 2018, 30; Politico 9 Apr. 2018; FPRI 10 July 2018). Sources note that in the last parliamentary elections [in 2014 (Politico 9 Apr. 2018)], Jobbik won 23 of the 199 total seats (Politico 9 Apr. 2018; FPRI 10 July 2018). According to sources, the leader of the Jobbik party, Gabor Vona, resigned following the party's defeat (Reuters 10 Apr. 2018; Bloomberg 9 Apr. 2018; MTI 10 Apr. 2018), and gave up his parliamentary seat (Reuters 10 Apr. 2018; MTI 10 Apr. 2018).

2. The Jobbik Party and Its Impact on the Government

According to sources, the Jobbik party, previously known for xenophobic and anti-Semitic views, has shifted to the centre of the political spectrum (FP 6 Apr. 2018; Reuters 22 Mar. 2018). Foreign Policy (FP), a US-based magazine, explains that Jobbik, which started in the early 2000s as a "radical nationalist student movement" known for its "extreme rhetoric" directed at Jews and Roma, has, since 2013 and throughout the campaign for Hungary's 2018 parliamentary elections, abandoned its anti-Semitic views to pitch itself as the centrist, "'people's party'" alternative to Viktor Orban's Fidesz party (FP 6 Apr. 2018). Sources indicate that Jobbik has proposed to tackle social inequalities in Hungary and reduce the flow of workers leaving Hungary for elsewhere in Europe, and that it has attacked corruption in Hungary (FP 6 Apr. 2018; Reuters 22 Mar. 2018). FP also reports that the party has "soften[ed] its stance" on the European Union (EU), stating that it does not want to leave it, but "supports working with the EU and reforming it from within" (FP 6 Apr. 2018). Without providing further details, Reuters adds that Jobbik has "steadily" abandoned its far-right views on Europe and immigration (Reuters 22 Mar. 2018).

Reuters reports that, while Jobbik has moved to the centre of the political spectrum, Hungary's ruling Fidesz party has "moved sharply to the right" (Reuters 22 Mar. 2018). Similarly, the Globe and Mail, noting that Jobbik is aiming for the "centre-right," states that "Fidesz and Jobbik have traded places" (The Globe and Mail 6 Apr. 2018). Katherine Kondor, a doctoral fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right (CARR) [1] who specializes in Hungary's radical right, indicates that, since its re-election in 2014, Fidesz has, among others, harboured Holocaust-revisionist tendencies, militarized Hungary's southern border, campaigned against migrants, and "countenanced the paramilitary activities of radical-right groups" (Kondor 4 Apr. 2018). The same source states that, following a recent defeat in the mayoral by-election in Hodmezovasarhely [in south-eastern Hungary] and in what many believe was an attempt to attract Jobbik's "disenchanted voters," Fidesz "turned its attention to migrants and gypsies (with Orban publicly drawing connections between the two)" (Kondor 4 Apr. 2018).

Jobbik indicates on its website that it elected, on 12 May 2018, Tamas Sneider as its new leader; he was opposed by Laszlo Toroczkai (Jobbik 13 May 2018). Sources report that approximately 54 percent of the vote went to Sneider, and the rest to Toroczkai (FPRI 10 July 2018; Budapest Times 27 June 2018). Agence France-Presse (AFP) notes that Sneider was, in the early 1990s, a leader of a "skinhead group" (AFP 6 May 2014). According to the Budapest Times, an English-language Hungarian weekly newspaper, Sneider stated that Jobbik's goal was to be a "socially sensitive people's party" that wanted to "remedy social injustices" and that his leadership would not detract Jobbik from its "people's party course" (Budapest Times 27 June 2018).

Sources indicate that Toroczkai formed a platform within the party to return Jobbik to its former ideology, and said the party could split if Jobbik leaders refused the platform (Reuters 22 May 2018; Budapest Times 27 June 2018). According to the Budapest Times, Toroczkai said that the platform would welcome those who had left Jobbik or could not identify with the party's strategy of the two previous years (Budapest Times 27 June 2018). Reuters reports that an "end to immigration" and "a tough line on Hungary's Roma minority" are among the goals the platform sought to restore (Reuters 22 May 2018). The same source adds that Toroczkai said that the [now defunct] Hungarian Guard, "a uniformed vigilante group that Jobbik founded and used to carry out intimidating patrols in Roma-populated towns," could serve as a model for the future of Jobbik, and it quotes Toroczkai as stating that "'[t]here is definite demand from voters to deal with Roma-Hungarian co-existence problems. We will see what options we have. We will revisit these towns but this time in suits'" (Reuters 22 May 2018). Reuters further explains that, according to a Jobbik spokesman, the party considers Toroczkai's platform "'illegitimate'," quoting the spokesperson as stating that Jobbik's congress decided that the party "'would continue on a path that led us to try and represent the widest possible cross-section of Hungarian society, regardless of political right or left, as a socially sensitive patriotic people's party'" (Reuters 22 May 2018).

Sources indicate that, in early June 2018, Jobbik expelled Toroczkai from the party after a disciplinary committee concluded that he had violated the party's bylaws with his platform (FPRI 10 July 2018; MTI 8 June 2018). Without providing further details, an article published by the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), a non-partisan, non-profit think tank (FPRI n.d.), adds that Dora Duro, a former Jobbik spokesperson, was excluded from the party's parliamentary group and denied her parliamentary seat (FPRI 10 July 2018). Magyar Tavirati Iroda (MTI), the Hungarian state news agency (Reuters 29 June 2018), reports that, on 8 June 2018, Duro announced she would leave Jobbik (MTI 8 June 2018).

2.1 Our Country Movement

FPRI indicates that Toroczkai founded the Our Country Movement (Mi Hazank Mozgalom, MHM) [Our Homeland Movement], a "new radical nationalist political force," and that it emerged from a "fractured" Jobbik (FPRI 10 July 2018). The same source states that Duro joined the MHM after she was excluded from Jobbik's parliamentary group (FPRI 10 July 2018). Similarly, Magyar Idok, a Hungarian newspaper associated with Fidesz (BBC 26 June 2018), reports that MHM was founded by Duro and Toroczkai, both "expelled from Jobbik" (Magyar Idok 25 June 2018).

The FPRI articles indicates that "Jobbik's footprint is shrinking, flanked now to the right by MHM and to the center by Mr. Orban [current prime minister, representing Fidesz]," and, citing a Hungarian news site, notes that "many see the MHM as 'a very small rightwing extremist group'" (FPRI 10 July 2018). Without providing further details, the same source states that, according to a June 2018 survey conducted by Magyar Idok, 35 percent of Jobbik voters support MHM and 49 percent think that Jobbik should align itself with Toroczkai's "radical" platform (FPRI 10 July 2018). Yet, the same source also asserts that Toroczkai "poses little real electoral threat, save perhaps to Jobbik's increasingly frantic leaders" (FPRI 10 July 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Activities and State Response

Sources report that Toroczkai is the mayor of Asotthalom [a village of around 4,000 inhabitants on Hungary's southern border with Serbia (Hungarian Free Press 29 Nov. 2016)], and that, in November 2016 [while he was a member of Jobbik], the town introduced decrees that prohibited Muslims from wearing "Islamic" attire in public, forbade the opening of mosques in town, banned the construction of minarets, and forbade the promotion of same-sex marriage in public (Hungarian Free Press 29 Nov. 2016) or "'any kind of propaganda activity' which presented marriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman" (Hungary Today 12 Apr. 2017). The Hungarian Free Press, an Ottawa-based, English-language online newspaper (Hungarian Free Press n.d.), explains that a fine of 150,000 Hungarian forints (HUF) [approximately C$713] would be given to "[a]nyone 'apprehended' promoting gay rights in public or wearing traditional Islamic garb" (Hungarian Free Press 29 Nov. 2016). Sources indicate that Hungary's Constitutional Court invalidated the decrees as unconstitutional (Hungary Today 12 Apr. 2017; The Independent 13 Apr. 2017), ruling that local authorities cannot introduce regulations that affect basic rights (Hungary Today 12 Apr. 2017). The Globe and Mail reports that the two Muslim families who were living in Asotthalom have since left (The Globe and Mail 6 Apr. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to sources, Hungary built fences along its border with Serbia to keep migrants out of Hungary (The Globe and Mail 6 Apr. 2018; NBC 2 May 2018). The Globe and Mail reports that it was Jobbik who initially thought of the fence, and that Toroczkai [then a member of Jobbik] called for the fence in 2014 (The Globe and Mail 6 Apr. 2018). NBC News describes Toroczkai as "one of the loudest voices" that "convinced" Hungary's government to build the fence at the border, consisting of "two parallel 10-foot-high razor-wire electric fences" (NBC 2 May 2018).

Without providing further details, FPRI reports that, according to a May 2018 article published by Magyar Idok, Toroczkai addressed the issue of "Roma criminality" and is quoted as saying the following:

"I'm a believer in zero tolerance  in this area. If need be, they must be dragged away in front of their own community and tossed into a paddy wagon to be sent away for a very long time, applying the 'three strikes' rule or even banishing them from Roma society." (FPRI 10 July 2018)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. Relations with Paramilitary Groups

4.1 The New Hungarian Guard (Uj Magyar Garda)

According to sources, the New Hungarian Guard was founded a few weeks after the dissolution of the Hungarian Guard in 2009 (Kondor 14 May 2018; Budapest Institute 9 July 2015, 7). Sources indicate that the Hungarian Guard was disbanded by a court order because it threatened minority groups (BBC 2 July 2018), or after it paraded in Tatarszentgyorgy [near Budapest] in a Roma settlement and "'threatened the rights of Roma'" (Budapest Institute 9 July 2015, 7). In 2015, the European edition of the American news publication Politico described the New Hungarian Guard as the paramilitary wing of Jobbik (Politico 27 July 2015).

On 28 January 2017, activists belonging to the New Hungarian Guard staged a demonstration at Jobbik's "year-opening event," protesting against Jobbik's new political direction away from the right and demanded that [then] party president Gabor Vona "hand back his [Hungarian Guard] vest" (Hungary Today 30 Jan. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sean Lambert, a former English-language journalist for MTI whose blog documents "the rise of illiberal democracy in Hungary" (Lambert n.d.), indicates that the New Hungarian Guard has become "largely inactive" since the "deradicalization" of Jobbik (Lambert 24 June 2018). However, according to Kondor, the New Hungarian Guard has chapters in most Hungarian counties (Kondor 14 May 2018).

Lambert indicates that some attendees at MHM's inauguration in June 2018 wore the uniform of the New Hungarian Guard (Lambert 24 June 2018). Hungarian Spectrum, a blog that features "daily analyses of news from Hungary" and whose "editor and primary pundit" is Eva S. Balogh, former professor of East European history at Yale University (Hungarian Spectrum n.d.), states that members of both the New Hungarian Guard and the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement (Hatvannegy Varmegye Ifjusagi Mozgalom) were in attendance at the MHM inauguration (Hungarian Spectrum 25 June 2018).

4.2 Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement

Sources state that the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement was founded by Toroczkai in 2001 (Kondor 14 May 2018; Hungarian Spectrum 25 June 2018). The same sources describe the group as a far-right irredentist group (Hungarian Spectrum 25 June 2018) or a "'national radical'," revisionist and irredentist group (Kondor 14 May 2018). The BBC similarly describes the group as an "anti-Semitic and Hungarist revisionist sect" (BBC 2 July 2018). According to Kondor, the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement is active in the Hungarian regions of neighbouring countries, "especially in the eastern part of Transylvania in Romania" (Kondor 14 May 2018).

4.3 Outlaws' Army [Outlaw Army, Army of Outlaws] (Betyarsereg)

The Athena Institute, a Budapest-based independent research organization on security matters in Europe (Athena Institute n.d.), indicates that Toroczkai, together with Zsolt Tyirityan, founded the Outlaws' Army in 2008, and describes it as a "hate group [that] defines itself as a 'self-defense army'" (Athena Institute 7 July 2014a). According to Kondor, the Outlaws' Army is "by far the most violent non-marginal radical right group in Hungary," and it "provides security for radical right demonstrations" in Hungary (Kondor 14 May 2018). The BBC similarly notes that the group is "a violent, masked neo-Nazi movement" (BBC 2 July 2018). Without providing further details, the Budapest Institute, a research organization focused on policy research and analysis (Budapest Institute n.d.), explained in 2015 that the group, counting approximately 60 members who "bear arms and engage in activities meant to intimidate the Roma," is "illegal" (Budapest Institute 9 July 2015, 8).

4.4 Impact of Paramilitary Groups

The BBC reports that, when asked in a 29 June interview whether MHM would cooperate with the Hungarian Guard, the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement or the Army of Outlaws, Duro stated that MHM would "work closely with far-right paramilitary-style groups in the future" and that these groups have "a lot to contribute to society" (BBC 2 July 2018). The Budapest Institute notes that

apart from organising street demonstrations against Roma, Jews and homosexuals, the [Hungarian Guard and later the New Hungarian Guard] ha[ve] been involved in various social activities, such as charity or humanitarian disaster management, where the state has either failed or been present only marginally. This type of activism has greatly contributed to the positive popular image of the movement. (Budapest Institute 9 July 2015)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on incidents of violence involving paramilitary groups associated with Jobbik or MHM and members of the Roma community could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4.5 State Response

According to Lambert, citing Hungarian-language news sources, on 12 April 2016, the Kesckemet Court of Appeals upheld a fine for 100,000 HUF [approximately C$469] imposed on New Hungarian Guard Captain Istvan Meszaros for violating Hungary's law on assembly when he "organized and directed gatherings of the New Hungarian Guard" (Lambert 24 June 2018). The Athena Institute lists Meszaros as a "presumed" leader of the New Hungarian Guard and indicates that, in 2013, the "prosecutor's office" of Hungary suspected he had been "'abusing the freedom of assembly'" (Athena Institute 7 July 2014b).

Without providing further details, MTI reports that, on 5 July 2017, an appeals court in Hungary sentenced a man to three years in prison for "verbally and physically assaulting participants in the Budapest Pride march" in July 2013; 20 to 30 "radicals" found to belong to the New Hungarian Guard attacked 3 men while shouting "'you are faggots, you are Gypsies'" (MTI 5 July 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

MTI reports in 2017 that a Hungarian parliamentary national security committee [2] stated that "[e]xtremist paramilitary organisations in Hungary have been 'suppressed' and pose no national security risks" (MTI 21 Nov. 2017). The Budapest Beacon, an online news publication reporting on events in Hungary, states that the committee's head identified the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement and the Outlaws' Army, among others, as paramilitary organizations to be examined for infringement of the rule of law (The Budapest Beacon 10 Nov. 2017). According to MTI, a Jobbik member, Adam Mirkoczki, said that these groups have not committed any crimes (MTI 21 Nov. 2017). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The Centre for the Analysis of Radical Right (CARR) is a "specialist-led website and research collective" that aims to be "the leading information aggregator and knowledge repository on the radical right" (CARR 1 Apr. 2018).

[2] The Parliamentary Committee for National Security (Orszaggyules Nemzetbiztonsagi Bizottsaga), or National Security Committee, is a parliamentary committee that oversees the "authorisation procedure of the Minister of Justice," and of the National Security Services and that controls the "classified activities" of the Military National Service; its chairman is always to be a member of the parliamentary opposition (Hungarian Helsinki Committee 26 Sept. 2014, 6).

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 6 May 2014. "Former Neo-Nazi Gets Top Hungary Parliament Post." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Athena Institute. 7 July 2014a. "Outlaws' Army." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Athena Institute. 7 July 2014b. "New Hungarian Guard." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Athena Institute. N.d. "About the Institute." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Bloomberg. 9 April 2018. Marton Eder. "Leader of Hungary's Radical Jobbik Party Resigns from Parliament." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2 July 2018. . "New Hungary Party to Cooperate with Far-Right Militant Groups." BBC Monitoring European. (Factiva) [Accessed 18 July 2018]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 26 June 2018. Nick Thorpe. "Billy Elliot 'Gay Propaganda' Row Exposes Purge in Hungary." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

The Budapest Beacon. 10 November 2017. Justin Spike. "National Security Committee to Discuss Extreme-Right Groups, Azeri Money-Laundering Scandal." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Budapest Institute. 9 July 2015. Gabor Csomor. Right-Wing Extremism in Hungary. [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Budapest Institute. N.d. "BI Background." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Budapest Times. 27 June 2018. "Jobbik Split Brewing." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Centre for the Analysis of Radical Right (CARR). 1 April 2018. "Director's Welcome." [Accesssed 1 Aug. 2018]

Foreign Policy (FP). 6 April 2018. Emily Schultheis. "How Hungary's Far-Right Extremists Became Warm and Fuzzy." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). 10 July 2018. John R. Haines. "A New Political Movement Emerges on Hungary's Far Right." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI). N.d. "Foreign Policy Research Institute: Fact Sheet." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

The Globe and Mail. 6 April 2018. Lorraine Mallinder. "In Hungary Election, Voters Putting Their Faith in the Fence." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungarian Free Press. 29 November 2016. Christopher Adam. "Asotthalom  The Hungarian Town that Banned Muslims and Gays in Public." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungarian Free Press. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungarian Helsinki Committee. 26 September 2014. "Hungary." National Intelligence Authorities and Surveillance in the EU: Fundamental Rights Safeguards and Remedies. [Accessed 23 July 2018]

Hungarian Spectrum. 25 June 2018. "Unfurling the Flag: A New Right Radical Party Is Born." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Hungarian Spectrum. N.d. "About." [Accessed 25 July 2018]

Hungary Today. 12 April 2017. "Hungarian Constitutional Court Annuls Local Ordinances Banning Muslim Practices, 'Homosexual' Propaganda in Southern Hungarian Village Asotthalom." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungary Today. 30 January 2017. "Hungarian Far-Right Jobbik Party Holds Year-Opening Conference." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

The Independent. 13 April 2017. Caroline Mortimer. "Hungarian Court Overturns Village's Ban on Islamic Symbols and 'LGBT Propaganda'." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Jobbik. 13 May 2018. "Tamas Sneider Elected as Jobbik's New President, Marton Gyongyosi Becomes Executive Vice-President." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Kondor, Katherine. 14 May 2018. "Mapping the Radical Right in Hungary." Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right (CARR). [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Kondor, Katherine. 4 April 2018. "Jobbik: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?" Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right (CARR). [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Lambert, Sean. 24 June 2018. "The New Hungarian Guard/For a Better Future Hungarian Self-Defense." The Orange Files. [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Lambert, Sean. N.d. "Author/Contact." The Orange Files. [Accessed 25 July 2018]

Magyar Idok. 25 June 2018. "Brand New Far-Right Party Emerges from the Ashes of Jobbik." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Magyar Tavirati Iroda (MTI). 8 June 2018. "Jobbik Expels Toroczkai." [Accessed 18 June 2018]

Magyar Tavirati Iroda (MTI). 10 April 2018. "Gabor Vona Won't Take Up Jobbik Parliament Seat; Nezopont Institute Says the Party May Split." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Magyar Tavirati Iroda (MTI). 21 November 2017. "Update - National Security Cttee Says Extremist Organisations 'Suppressed' (Adds Details, Jobbik)." (Factiva) [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Magyar Tavirati Iroda (MTI). 5 July 2017. "Radicals Assaulting Gays, Roma Sentenced to Prison." (Factiva) [Accessed 19 July 2018]

National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). 2 May 2018. Alastair Jamieson. "Far-Right Mayor Hails Success of Hungary-Serbia Border Fence." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 27 June 2018. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Hungary. Parliamentary Elections: 8 April 2018. [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Politico. 9 April 2018. Lili Bayer. "Orban Wins Landslide to Secure Third Straight Term." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Politico. 27 July 2015. Dalibor Rohac. "Hungary's Hard Right Turn." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Reuters. 29 June 2018. "Hungarian Military to Buy 20 New Helicpters: MTI News Agency." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Reuters. 22 May 2018. Marton Dunai. "Hardliners in Hungary's Jobbik Demand Return to Far-Right Roots." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Reuters. 10 April 2018. "Hungary's Nationalist Jobbik Leader Quits Parliament." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

Reuters. 22 March 2018. Marton Dunai. "Hungary's Jobbik Eyes Election Gains After Ditching Far-Right Views." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; EU  Agency for Fundamental Rights; Council of Europe  European Court of Human Rights; European Network Against Racism; Freedom House; Human Rights First; Human Rights Watch; Policy Solution; Political Capital; UN  Refworld; US  Department of State.
Chad: Military service, including age of recruitment, the registration process and length of service; whether conscripts receive a notice from a recruitment office (bureau de recrutement); grounds for exemption and the possibility of alternative service (2016-May 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 1 May 2018 Citation / Document Symbol TCD106106.FE Related Document(s) Tchad : information sur le service militaire, y compris l'age de recrutement, la procedure d'inscription et la duree du service; information indiquant si les conscrits recoivent un avis d'un bureau de recrutement; les motifs de dispense et la possibilite d'effectuer un service de remplacement (2016-mai 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Military service, including age of recruitment, the registration process and length of service; whether conscripts receive a notice from a recruitment office (bureau de recrutement); grounds for exemption and the possibility of alternative service (2016-May 2018), 1 May 2018, TCD106106.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bd3044.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Legislation

The Constitution of the Republic of Chad (Constitution de la Republique du Tchad) provides the following:

[translation]

Article 51:

The defence of the country and of the integrity of the national territory is the duty of every Chadian.

Military service is obligatory.

The conditions for fulfilling this duty are determined by law. (Chad 1996)

Law No. 012/PR/2006 of 10 March 2006 to Reorganize the Armed and Security Forces (Loi n 012/PR/2006 du 10 mars 2006 portant reorganisation des Forces armees et de securite) provides the following:

[translation]

Article 27: Military service is mandatory for all Chadian citizens, except in cases of duly established medical unfitness.

Article 28: Recruitment in the armed and security forces is done through:

Drafting;

Reenlistment following completion of legal military service;

Enlistment, exceptionally, for highly skilled technical specialists.

Article 29: Legal military service is mandatory for everyone. Individuals who have been convicted of a crime or a very serious offence are excluded. Exemptions are subject to specific provisions determined by Order.

Article 30: The legal length of military service is eighteen (18) months. Soldiers released from active duty are classified in the reserve class until the age of fifty (50). They may be called back to serve the country.

Article 31: Armed and security forces personnel to be recruited are determined annually by decree of the Council of Ministers.

Article 32: The legal age of recruitment is set at the age of twenty (20) years for members of the contingent and at a minimum of eighteen (18) years and a maximum of thirty-five (35) years for enlisted soldiers.

Young members of the contingent who are fit for duty are classified into two (2) groups:

Only the first group whose personnel is determined each year by decree is in fact recruited and subject to active duty;

The second group remains at the disposal of the military authorities for active duty for two (2) years. It may also be called on to perform work in the community by order of the Government of the Republic. (Chad 2006)

2. Application of Legislation

In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a military and defence attache at the Embassy of Chad in Ottawa indicated the following:

[translation]

[A]t the moment, military service is voluntary in the Republic of Chad. The only citizens who are currently subject to mandatory military service ranging from 45 days to 3 months are students graduating from professional schools such as the National School of Administration (Ecole nationale d'administration, ENA) and the National Graduate School of Public Works (Ecole nationale superieure des travaux publics, ENSTP). Upon completion of their military training, they are given the title of "reservists," but are not employed by the army. (Chad 20 Apr. 2018)

According to the World Factbook of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), "18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service," there is "no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian," there is a three-year service obligation and "women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age 21" (US 10 Apr. 2018). The same source states that "while provisions for military service have not been repealed, they have never been fully implemented" (US 10 Apr. 2018).

3. Recruitment

The military and defence attache at the Embassy of Chad in Ottawa explained that military service is [translation] "open to both male and female Chadians who enjoy their full rights as citizens, are single and have no dependent children. Officers and non-commissioned officers are recruited through competitions and rank and file members are recruited through drafts" (Chad 20 Apr. 2018).

African media articles from 2015 mention recruitment operations conducted by the Chadian authorities encouraging young people to sign up (Alwihda Info 15 June 2015; Cameroon Tribune 15 June 2015; APA News 13 June 2015). According to Alwihda Info, an Internet site covering Chadian and African current affairs, [translation] "opening the army up to young people, without any regional or ethnic restrictions, has encouraged numerous young people, who have been quick to add their names to the open list and register to be among those who will make up the future battalions of the Chadian army" (Alwihda Info 15 June 2015). Other sources report on a recruitment activity carried out over a two-month period intended to attract 10,000 young people to the army (Cameroon Tribune 15 June 2015; APA News 13 June 2015). According to the Agence de presse africaine (APA News), a news portal, this campaign [translation] "is aimed at recruiting 10,000 young people, girls and boys, aged 18 to 25, from all Chadian regions, in 2015" (APA News 13 June 2015).

4. Conscientious Objection

The Constitution of the Republic of Chad provides the following:

[translation]

Article 54:

One may not invoke religious beliefs or philosophical opinions to avoid an obligation dictated by the national interest. (Chad 1996)

In a 2016 report, the Observatory of Religious Freedom (Observatoire de la liberte religieuse) [1] states that [translation] "article 54 limits  the right to conscientious objection" (ACN 2016). In its International Religious Freedom Report for 2016, the US Department of State indicates the following about Chad:

[US English version]

The constitution states military service is obligatory and prohibits invoking religious belief to "avoid an obligation dictated by the national interest." The government does not enforce conscription, however. (US 15 Aug. 2017, 3)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] Reports by the Observatory of Religious Freedom are published every two years by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), an [translation] "international Catholic charity" (ACN n.d.). The 2016 report assesses the [translation] "situation regarding religious freedom in 196 countries in the world" and was prepared by "24 independent journalists, academics and authors, based mainly in the area concerned" (ACN n.d.).

References

Agence de presse africaine (APA News). 13 June 2015. "Recrutement dans l'armee nationale tchadienne." (Factiva) [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). 2016. Observatoire de la liberte religieuse. "Tchad." Rapport 2016. [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). N.d. Observatoire de la liberte religieuse. "Guide d'utilisation du rapport 2016." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]

Alwihda Info. 15 June 2015. Abu Adil. "Tchad : un recrutement a ciel ouvert dans l'armee." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Cameroon Tribune. 15 June 2015. "10 000 jeunes a recruter dans l'armee au pays." (Factiva) [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Chad. 20 April 2018. Embassy in Ottawa. Correspondence from a military and defence attache to the Research Directorate.

Chad. 2006. Loi n 012/PR/2006 portant reorganisation des Forces armees et de securite. [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]

Chad. 1996. Constitution de la Republique du Tchad. [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]

United States (US). 10 April 2018. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Chad." The World Factbook. [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]

United States (US). 15 August 2017. Department of State. "Tchad." Rapport 2016 sur la liberte de religion dans le monde. [Accessed 20 Apr. 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Chad  Honorary Consul in Montreal; educator-researcher in political science interested in the profession of arms in Chad.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; BBC; Chad  official site of the presidency, official site of the primature, official site of the government; Child Soldiers International; ecoi.net; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Journal du Tchad; Le Monde; Political Handbook of the World; Radio France internationale; UN  Refworld, UNICEF; War Resisters' International.
Hungary: Domestic violence, including in Roma communities; legislation, including implementation; state protection and support services, particularly in Miskolc, Debrecen and Budapest (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 22 August 2018 Citation / Document Symbol HUN106144.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur la violence familiale, y compris dans les communautes roms; la loi, y compris sa mise en oeuvre; la protection offerte par l'Etat et les services de soutien, particulierement a Miskolc, Debrecen et Budapest (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Domestic violence, including in Roma communities; legislation, including implementation; state protection and support services, particularly in Miskolc, Debrecen and Budapest (2016-July 2018), 22 August 2018, HUN106144.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bd7c24.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

According to a report produced by the UN Human Rights Council working group on discrimination against women, following a mission conducted in Hungary in May 2016, domestic violence "remains a serious issue" in the country (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 83).

Information on recent statistics about domestic violence in Hungary was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Nok a Nokert Egyutt az Eroszak Ellen (NANE), a non-profit women's rights organization in Hungary, indicated, in a report sent to the Research Directorate [1], that, "[a]ccording to the data from the Investigation Authorities' and Prosecutor's Office's Unified Crime Statistics System," between 2013 and 2017, 1,275 cases, of which 1,172 related to women and 103 to men, were registered as domestic violence in Hungary; cases are registered once the investigation authority has completed its procedures (NANE Aug. 2018). The same source added that "[t]he number of registered cases  is considered to be low in light of the scale of the phenomenon" (NANE Aug. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In a 2015 interview published by PassBlue, a digital publication that provides independent coverage of the UN, Judit Wirth, a founder of NANE, explains that the prevalence of domestic violence in Hungary is "'[v]ery similar' to other European countries," with a prevalence of one in every four or five women (PassBlue 30 Apr. 2015). Similarly, according to a 2014 European Union (EU) Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey based on interviews in Hungary, since the age of 15, 21 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current and/or previous partner; in comparison with 22 percent of women in the EU (EU Mar. 2014, 28-29). However, according to the same source, Hungary "stands out among the countries surveyed" in the following way:

According to the interview alone, 19 % of women in Hungary have experienced physical violence by a partner since the age of 15, but the prevalence of this form of violence reaches 33 % if the experiences indicated in the self-completion questionnaire are added to those experiences shared during the interview. (EU Mar. 2014, 33)

The report produced by the UN Human Rights Council working group on discrimination against women indicates that, according to information provided by the Hungarian authorities, in 2015, approximately 88 women died from domestic violence, and that this number represents 43 percent of all murders in 2015 (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 83). According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU (EU n.d.), in Hungary, 24 women were victims of intentional homicide by an intimate partner in 2016 (EU 10 July 2018). According to NANE's report, based on data provided by the Ministry of Interior, between 2013 and 2017, 208 men and 281 women died of homicide committed by a relative; of the 281 female victims, 150 were killed by their intimate partner (NANE Aug. 2018). In the 2015 interview, NANE's co-founder Judit Wirth explains that "'Hungary has about six times the rate of domestic-violence murders of women than in Sweden, which is about the same [size] in [terms of] population'" (PassBlue 30 Apr. 2015).

1.1 Roma Communities

A 2016 report by the Council of Europe indicates that women within Roma communities in Europe are "particularly" exposed to domestic violence (Council of Europe 2 Mar. 2016, 5). Similarly, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) explains that in Hungary, Roma face problems, including "gender-based domestic violence" (MRG Jan. 2018).

According to sources, data on domestic violence by ethnicity are not available for Hungary (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018; NANE 12 July 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a senior lecturer in sociology at the Malardalen University in Sweden, whose areas of expertise include gender, Roma people and Hungary, stated that Roma women are "not more victimized" than non-Roma women (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). However, the same source stated that "Roma women have a much lower employment rate" in Hungary, compared to women in general, and that "[w]omen with no independent means [tend to] stay in violent relations due to a lack of resources  [therefore] Roma women have fewer ways out" of situations of domestic violence (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). Similarly, according to MRG, Roma women are at risk of domestic violence "as a result of poverty and the patriarchal values of their community" (MRG Jan. 2018). According to NANE, based on their experience working with Roma and non-Roma women, the difficulties faced by women in situations of domestic violence are the same (including "fear,  and lack of outside support and legal remedies"), whether Roma or non-Roma, although the differences "are most likely to stem from the general social and economic exclusion, deprivation and isolation of Roma people in Hungary," and that they "seem to see even fewer chances of getting out of domestic violence" (NANE Aug. 2018). The same source further explained that Roma women, "being usually in [much] worse economic situations," face difficulties in making arrangements related to their escape or relocation ("transportation, housing, [and access to adequate food] without the contribution of their partner") or even to contact the police, "as they are less likely to possess mobile phones of their own, [or] even a landline [in their home]" (NANE Aug. 2018). Because "some of the procedures cost money," for example for the issuance of medical certificates regarding injuries, they are also "less likely to be able to access legal remedies and redress, or even to initiate criminal proceedings against the perpetrator" (NANE Aug. 2018). NANE also mentioned that when Roma women have children, it may be "difficult" for them to relocate due to "general prejudices and growing public sentiment against Roma children in schools" (NANE Aug. 2018).

2. Legislation

According to sources, domestic violence is prohibited in Hungary (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 81; Freedom House 2018; US 20 Apr. 2018, 29), as is spousal rape (US 20 Apr. 2018, 28; Freedom House 2018). According to a 2017 submission by Hungary to the UN, section 212/A of the Criminal Code refers to the crime of "'relationship violence'" (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 123). Section 212/A of the Criminal Code, on domestic violence, provides that:

Any person who, on a regular basis:

seriously violates human dignity or is engaged in any degrading and violent conduct, misappropriates or conceals any assets from conjugal or common property, and thus causing serious deprivation, against the parent of his/her child, or against a family member, former spouse or domestic partner living in the same household or dwelling at the time of commission or previously, against his/her conservator, person under conservatorship, guardian or person under guardianship is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not exceeding two years, insofar as the act did not result in a more serious criminal offense. Any person who commits:

battery under Subsection (2) of Section 164 or slander under Subsection (2) of Section 227 against a person defined in Subsection (1) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment not exceeding three years; battery under Subsections (3) and (4) of Section 164, or violation of personal freedom or duress under Subsection (1) of Section 194 against a person defined in Subsection (1) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment between one to five years. Banishment may also be imposed against persons found guilty of domestic violence. The perpetrator of the criminal offense defined in Subsection (1) shall only be prosecuted upon private motion. (Hungary 2012, Sec. 212/A)

In the report submitted to the UN in 2017, Hungary explains the following regarding the Criminal Code provisions on domestic violence:

The Criminal Code punishes violent behaviours that do not reach the level of physical violence, yet severely injure the victim's human dignity, or cause economic impossibility. At the same time, the new criminal conducts ensure criminal law protection in such an early stage, that the investigative authority may only take action on the basis of a private motion - as only the victim of the conflict can judge whether or not he/she requires intervention from the authorities. Otherwise, initiating criminal proceedings is still not conditional on filing a private motion in case of conducts that qualify as a more severe form of the new criminal offence.

 [T]he list of victims that could fall under the concept of relatives  include[es] former spouses, former life-partners, custodians, persons under custody, guardians and persons under guardianship.

For realizing the commission of the crime, besides belonging to this special group of victims, the Criminal Code requires cohabitation or former cohabitation with regard to defencelessness and vulnerability of people resulting from cohabitation. Nevertheless, cohabitation is not required should the concerned persons have a child. An additional condition, for similar reasons, is that the committal must happen on a regular basis. In case of qualified form of the offence no private motion is needed. (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 123-125)

The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 indicates that, in Hungary, NGOs advocating for women's rights criticized the law pertaining to domestic violence "for not placing sufficient emphasis on the accountability of perpetrators" (US 20 Apr. 2018, 29). According to the UN Human Rights Committee, the Hungarian Criminal Code "does not fully protect women victims of domestic violence" because it does not "explicitly refer to sexual offences as a form of domestic violence" and because it imposes the following requirements for "violent behaviour that does not reach the level of battery": "(a) that the victim file a private complaint; (b) that the victim and the abuser were or are in cohabitation or have joint children; and (c) that at least two separate instances of domestic violence occurred within a short time frame" (UN 9 May 2018, para. 25). A professor at Lafayette College, in Easton, Pennsylvania, whose research interests include women's movements in Hungary, gender equality, and the role of women's organizations in post-communist countries, similarly indicated that, "[d]espite the legal modification since 2013, the conditions have not yet improved regarding domestic violence," emphasizing that the offense of "violence within relationships," as provided by the Hungarian Criminal Code, excludes "'non-cohabitating partners'" and that intervention requires "'repeated abuse'" (Professor 30 July 2018).

According to sources, laws and regulations related to domestic violence are "improper[ly]" applied in Hungary (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43), or their application "remained problematic" (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 83). Sources note that prosecution of domestic violence in Hungary is "limited" (Amnesty International 22 Feb. 2018, 189) or is "rare" (NANE Aug. 2018). NANE indicated that although battery cases involving "light bodily harm - defined by the injury healing within eight days" are punishable with imprisonment by law, in practice, perpetrators "only" receive fines that "are usually paid by the common household budget" (NANE Aug. 2018).

2.1 Restraining Orders

According to sources, Act No. LXXVII of 2009 introduced a system for the issuance of restraining orders (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 82; Wirth [2015], 6) in cases of violence among relatives (Wirth [2015], 6); this includes "former spouses, former registered - same sex or heterosexual - partners and those being in trusteeship and guardianship relation" and excludes "former common law spouses, and current and former intimate partners not living in marriage or common-law marriage" (Wirth [2015], 10). US Country Reports 2017 indicates that "police called to a scene of domestic violence may issue an emergency restraining order valid for three days in lieu of immediately filing charges, while courts may issue up to 60-day 'preventive restraining orders' in civil cases, without the option to extend" (US 20 Apr. 2018, 29). The report produced by the UN Human Rights Council working group on discrimination against women indicates that "government interlocutors" in Hungary "regretted that restraining orders issued by the police were only valid for 72 hours and could be extended by a court for a maximum of 60 days" (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 82). In a report on protection orders in Hungary, NANE's co-founder Judit Wirth explains that restraining orders are issued by the police or the court upon the request of the victim or their relatives, or by the police (ex officio or upon referral to the court) (Wirth [2015], 8).

According to NANE's report, and based on "yearly reports of the National Police Headquarters on the implementation of police tasks regarding the temporary preventive restraining [order] applicable for violence between relatives," 1,410 "temporary preventive restraining orders" were issued by the Hungarian police in 2016, and 1,427 were issued in 2017 (NANE Aug. 2018). According to the same source, based on information from the Hungarian National Office for the Judiciary, there were 2,701 cases of "[p]reventive restraining order[s]" before the courts of first instance in Hungary in 2016, and 2,526 cases in 2017 (NANE Aug. 2018). NANE explained that there is no information on the "merit of the case[s]," including "whether or not the restraining order was issued" (NANE Aug. 2018).

The same source also noted that "[b]ecause of lengthy court procedures," restraining orders are "typically" issued after "several weeks of delay," during which the victim is exposed to the perpetrator (NANE Aug. 2018). NANE indicated that restraining orders "are not effectively used in practice," that the police "find ways" to not use them, and that it is "usual" for protection orders to be issued "in cases where the violence and injury would legitimate taking the perpetrator into custody (i.e. restraining [orders] [are] used instead of [taking into custody])" (NANE Aug. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. State Protection

According to the report produced by the UN Human Rights Council working group on discrimination against women, awareness of domestic violence "has increased [in] recent years" in Hungary (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 81). The report submitted by Hungary to the UN in 2017 indicates that a media campaign entitled "'Notice it!'," intended to raise awareness about signs of domestic violence and to encourage victims to get help, was carried out in 2015 and 2016 by the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, with financial support from the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 121). However, the Senior Lecturer indicated that there is "low awareness" of domestic violence in institutions in Hungary (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018).

According to Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE), a network composed of European women's NGOs (WAVE n.d.), Hungary does not have "a specific national action plan" to address violence against women (WAVE Mar. 2018, 65). Similarly, US Country Reports 2016 indicates that, according to NGOs, "a comprehensive prevention, protection, and prosecution approach was missing from the state's response to domestic violence" in Hungary (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43).

3.1 Police

The report submitted by Hungary to the UN explains that, among the measures to combat violence against women, a program called "Peacekeeping in local communities" for the training of law enforcement personnel was implemented, and guidelines for best practices for police departments were published (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 127). In contrast, according to the report produced by the UN Human Rights Council working group on discrimination against women, "gender-sensitive training for law enforcement actors was inexistent, resulting in inefficient and ineffective response to cases of violence against women" (UN 21 Apr. 2017, para. 83). Similarly, sources report that, in regard to domestic violence, there is a lack of systematic training for professionals (US 3 Mar. 2017, 48; NANE Aug. 2018), such as for justice and law enforcement personnel who do not receive "obligatory[,] adequate and meaningful training programs" (NANE Aug. 2018).

According to the UN Human Rights Committee, domestic violence is "underreported" in Hungary and police response is "inadequate" (UN 9 May 2018, para. 25). NANE indicated that women often "think they filed a [police] report" after calling the police to the premises and explaining to the officers that "they want to start a case, and then it turns out that the police did not consider that to be an official report" (NANE Aug. 2018). According to the same source, the police are "often biased" and "often question the victim's credibility" in cases of domestic violence (NANE Aug. 2018). Similarly, a 2017 commentary posted on NewsMavens, a website that aims to provide the perspective of women journalists on news in Europe, reports that, according to an article published by Nepszava, a Hungarian newspaper, women in Hungary are "reluctant" to report abuse and that in police stations and courts, they are "often confronted with a hostile environment. There is a culture of victim-blaming from both authorities and social circles" (Korosi 28 Nov. 2017).

3.1.1 Roma Victims

NANE indicated that Roma victims they interacted with "seem be to reporting the same initial obstacles as non-Roma [victims], regarding [a] lack of response from the police" (NANE Aug. 2018). However, the same source also noted that there is "well-documented discrimination and hostility of law-enforcement agencies  against Roma people," which is "likely" to negatively impact Roma victims' decision to contact the police (NANE Aug. 2018). The Professor also indicated that, due to a "highly discriminatory social and political environment, few if any Roma would reach out to the police for help" (Professor 30 July 2018). MRG explains the following:

Despite the passing of a law in July 2013 specifically criminalizing domestic violence for the first time, human rights groups have highlighted the ongoing protection gaps for women in Hungary, particularly Roma women, who are especially at risk  due to their exclusion and mistrust of police and the judiciary. (MRG Jan. 2018)

Similarly, in 2013, Human Rights Watch reported that for Roma women, in particular, a "[l]ack of confidence in the police  impedes reporting" of domestic violence (Human Rights Watch Nov. 2013, 3). According to a 2013 country report on Hungary, published by the European Parliament, in "only" 20 percent of cases in which Roma women experienced domestic violence, the victim sought police assistance and the police responded "effectively" in "only 1 out of 7 cases" (EU Sept. 2013, 34).

NANE stated that, based on its experience providing training to police officers regarding domestic violence, "[t]he general view is that it is common and 'normal' for Roma women to accept abuse and for Roma men to be regularly abusive," and that it is not "uncommon to meet stereotyping (even profiling) attitudes among police regarding Roma women and men in general, and domestic violence in Roma communities in particular" (NANE Aug. 2018). The same source noted that, during a training session, a police officer stated that beating up a woman three to four times a day, "'like those gypsies'," would be considered "'regular'" abuse; NANE explained that "'[r]egularity' has a legal relevance since it is a condition for the criminal offence of domestic violence" (NANE Aug. 2018).

NANE also noted that when Roma women contact the police, the reaction of the police "does not seem to be fundamentally different," in comparison with non-Roma women, although "economic status appears to be more of a determining factor, [and] a higher economic status  often seems to be working in favour of the perpetrator" (NANE Aug. 2018). According to the same source, "[p]rejudices against Roma men  may result in easier short term arrests [although]  it does not appear to lead to more investigations and/or convictions of Roma men [based] on domestic violence charges than  for non-Roma men" (NANE Aug. 2018).

The Senior Lecturer indicated that in Hungary, mothers who are victims of domestic violence might fear that their children will be "institutionali[zed]" if they seek protection, and that Roma children are "taken from their families" to a "higher degree," compared to Hungarian children in general (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). Similarly, the Professor stated that Roma are "threaten[ed]" by "the government child-support agency that has regularly removed children from their birth families, citing abuse or [an] unsanitary environment and placed them in orphanages/foster care" (Professor 30 July 2018).

3.2 Judiciary

According to a 2016 report [2] by PATENT Association (PATENT), a Hungarian women's rights organization that provides legal aid and psychological assistance to victims of violence against women (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 5), "many" judges are not trained to deal with cases of domestic and intimate partner violence and "often have prejudices that make them blind to the reality of battered women" (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 6). The same source indicates specific instances in which judges:

were "attentive and helpful when dealing with victims of violence";

were "considerate and asked more questions than usual" in cases that were not "'simple'," for example when the perpetrator was a foreign national, a drug user, or committed sexual assault against the perpetrator's daughters;

"often [held] women equally responsible for the abuse committed by men";

showed "bias, prejudices and neglect[ed] abuse";

were "nervous and impatient with victims of violence";

"urged the parties to 'make peace'" in criminal cases of physical abuse;

"criticized battered women for going back to the batterer";

"neglected [domestic violence] or blamed the victims" (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 12-16).

The same source indicates that according to interviews with 15 clients of PATENT's Legal Aid Service who had to deal with "different authorities and courts," problems were encountered, including the following:

refusal to consider making reports to the police;

"neglect [of] issues of battering even in cases [of] serious physical injuries";

"procedural harassment" where judges "try to persuade them to 'make peace' with the batterer and drop charges";

"judges who do not let women speak about battering";

judges who "let the legal representative of battering husbands degrade and humiliate the woman";

recorded summaries of women's statements that are "inexact"; and

judges who see battering as "a conflict between equal parties" (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 21).

Similarly, according to an informational pamphlet prepared by NANE, "[o]fficials and practitioners in the criminal justice system (including attorneys, judges[,] etc.), the law enforcement and health care professions show little sympathy or understanding for the victims, as well as virtually no knowledge of the realities of violence against women" (NANE n.d.). NANE, in its report sent to the Research Directorate, also indicated that judges "discretionar[il]y" decide whether or not to send copies of court orders or decisions to victims of domestic violence and that victims "have not been warned before the perpetrator is released from jail" (NANE Aug. 2018).

The PATENT report adds that another problem outlined by clients they interviewed was in regard to "forced visitation rights; even though the children are terrified of the battering father, women are threatened with high penalties and told to take the children to a psychologist to prepare them for spending days with the batterer" (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 21). Similarly, US Country Reports 2016 indicates that, according to NGOs, "courts and child protection authorities generally failed to recognize and take into account domestic violence in custody and visitation cases and forced visitation remained a widespread practice in the case of children with abusive parents" (US 3 Mar. 2017, 42).

4. Support Services

According to sources, in Hungary, there is a 24-hour toll-free number operated by the government that provides information to victims of domestic violence (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 130; US 20 Apr. 2018, 29; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64), and that coordinates immediate placement of victims in shelters (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 130; US 20 Apr. 2018, 29); it is called the National Crisis Telephone Information Service (OKIT in Hungarian) (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 130). The Professor stated that the "government-sponsored hotline (which is run by an ecumenical Christian organization) is poorly advertised and few people would be able to access it" (Professor 30 July 2018). According to US Country Reports 2016, 2,067 calls were made to the hotline in 2015 (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43). Sources indicate that there were 256 cases of institutional placement in 2015 (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 130), affecting 759 individuals, including 252 women, 3 men and 504 children (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 130).

Sources indicate that NANE runs a free helpline for victims of violence against women and children (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64; NANE n.d.) that is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week (NANE n.d.). According to NANE, the objective of the service is to provide "emotional support" to callers, provide them with information about legal options, and refer them to other services (NANE n.d.). The same source explains that they have 15 trained volunteers to operate the line and that they receive approximately 60 calls per week (NANE n.d.). According to the Professor, NANE's helpline has become "much less accessible due to now a decade-long struggle for funds," and its ability to "offer legal help" has also "dramatically" declined due to insufficient funds (Professor 30 July 2018). PATENT indicates on its website that they offer legal aid and psychological information to women victims of "relationship violence"; the service is available "via telephone from 4 pm until 6 pm every Wednesday and from 10 am until 12 pm every Thursday," as well as "non-stop" via email (PATENT n.d.).

According to sources, there are state-run shelters [also called crisis centres] in Hungary for victims of domestic violence (US 20 Apr. 2018, 29; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 128). Sources specify that there are 15 shelters in Hungary (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 128; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64) for victims of domestic violence, including their children (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 128). Sources indicate that they provide accommodation and "complex care" for 30 days, which "can be extended for an additional 30 days" (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 128) or for up to 90 days (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43). According to sources, there is also a "Secret Shelter House" (US 20 Apr. 2018, 29; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 129; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64) for victims of domestic violence whose lives are in danger (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 129; US 20 Apr. 2018, 29); clients are referred to this shelter "exclusively" through the National Crisis Telephone Information Service (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 129). According to sources, the shelters in Hungary include a combined total of approximately 127 to 140 beds (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64; NANE Aug. 2018). According to sources, having children is not a condition to access shelter services (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 128; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64). WAVE explains that shelters are located in all regions and offer 24-hour access (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64). According to US Country Reports 2016, 996 individuals benefited from the shelters in Hungary in 2015; during that year, the Hungarian government "increased funding for shelters by 50 percent and for the secret shelter house by 100 percent" (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43). According to sources, the Hungarian government operates six "halfway houses" that offer long-term accommodation (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 131; WAVE Mar. 2018, 64), for a maximum of five years, and professional reintegration assistance to prevent secondary victimization (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43; Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para 131) as well as "legal and psychological help" (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para 131). Without providing further details on their current operational status, NANE indicated that, based on information provided by the Hungarian government, 5 new crisis centres and 11 new halfway houses were contracted in 2017 (NANE Aug. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to sources, services offered to victims of violence in Hungary are limited in terms of availability (US 20 Apr. 2018, 29; NANE n.d.) or access (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64; Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). According to Freedom House, in Hungary, "NGOs describe government responses to violence against women as inadequate" (Freedom House 2018). The Senior Lecturer said that support services for victims of domestic violence are "poor" in Hungary (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). The UN Human Rights Committee reports that "access to shelters remains insufficient" in Hungary (UN 9 May 2018, para. 25). WAVE reports that Hungary does not meet the minimum standards of the Istanbul Convention in terms of shelters and that 843 beds are missing (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64). According to NANE, and based on calls they receive from victims, "many times, no place is available" and there is "often" a waiting list and, "in cases where the danger is not imminent, women often wait to get a place" (NANE Aug. 2018).

Based on information provided on the website of a Budapest-based non-profit organization, NANE noted that a new type of service called a "crisis ambulance" has been offered since 2018 in Kaposvar; the service is planned to be offered in Mosonmagyarovar, Szolnok, Miskolc and Oroshaza (NANE Aug. 2018). According to NANE, this service provides "walk-in consultation without accommodation for domestic violence cases" (NANE Aug. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

US Country Reports 2016 indicates that, according to NGOs advocating for women's rights, there is a lack of transparency in regard to services offered to survivors of violence against women in Hungary (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43). WAVE indicates that there is no cooperation between state services and NGOs working to prevent violence against women in Hungary (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64). According to sources, there are no women's NGOs that run shelters in Hungary (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64; NANE Aug. 2018), and that instead, they are operated by "[other] NGOs, faith-based organizations [and] social organizations" (WAVE Mar. 2018, 64) or by charity organizations, either church or non-religious, or by local municipalities (NANE Aug. 2018).

According to a July 2017 article published on the website of the School of Global and International Studies (SGIS) at Indiana University, Marty Pack, whose master's thesis was on domestic violence in Eastern European countries, indicated that "[d]omestic sources of funding are inadequate to support many Hungarian educational and social welfare organizations  including NANE - the country's oldest domestic violence agency - which faces closure as a result" (SGIS 6 July 2017). Similarly, the Professor stated that the "few" independent women's rights NGOs that exist in Hungary, including NANE, "struggle to survive" (Professor 30 July 2018). Following its February 2018 visit in Hungary, the European Parliament's Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee notes "the difficult conditions in which independent [NGOs] and individual experts on gender rights operate" in Hungary (EU 22 Feb. 2018).

4.1 Budapest

The report submitted by Hungary to the UN in 2017 explains that the Secret Shelter House is located in Budapest and that it offers services such as "confidential accommodation, [a] full range of physical assistance, [and] complex crisis management" (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 129). Sources explain that the Secret Shelter House allows for a stay of up to six months (Hungary 7 Feb. 2017, para. 129; US 3 Mar. 2017, 43) and has a capacity of 29 beds (US 3 Mar. 2017, 43).

4.2 Outside of Budapest, Including in Miskolc and Debrecen

The Senior Lecturer explained that the conditions related to the protection of victims of domestic violence are "poorer" outside of Budapest and that "generally," small municipalities "lack facilities" to accommodate women and mothers with children who are victims of domestic violence (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). The same source further explained that the location has a significant impact on the victim's ability to seek or obtain support services; those services are "least accessible in socially and/or spatially remote areas" (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on support services in Miskolc was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to a 2016 article written by Daniel Ritter, an architect who designed a "mothers' home" in Miskolc, there are three mothers' homes in Miskolc (ArchitectForum.eu 16 Apr. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The same source explains that a "[m]others' home is a residential shelter which provides a safe haven for women in crisis" (ArchitectForum.eu 16 Apr. 2016), while NANE indicated that "mother's homes" accommodate "women with children" (NANE Aug. 2018). NANE explained that mothers' homes "require a small fee," that some only accept applicants from the same city or county, and that, based on work with NANE's clients who had previously stayed in this type of shelter, these facilities "are neither safe nor particularly well trained to support domestic violence victims, although some try their best" (NANE Aug. 2018).

Information on support services in Debrecen could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4.3 Roma Communities

Sources indicated that there are no support services for domestic violence that aim to serve the Roma community in particular (NANE Aug. 2018; Professor 30 July 2018). According to the Senior Lecturer, accessing help in Roma communities is "multiply hindered" because their "networks are limited to the segregated community"; Roma women lack resources and victims of violence fear being excluded from the community if they report violence, as they could be seen as "shaming their communities [and/or] relatives" (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). The Professor noted that "social and economic networks between Roma families are binding (in part to support survival)" (Professor 30 July 2018).

The Senior Lecturer indicated that Roma NGOs and minority self-governments "seldom raise" issues related to domestic violence as these are "male dominated" and fear it would "stigmatize Roma at large" (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). The same source added that Roma women's organizations "are also cautious," although help to individual victims does occur (Senior Lecturer 12 July 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The information provided by NANE comes from a report prepared by a policy officer at NANE, with the collaboration of a legal expert, also affiliated with NANE (NANE Aug. 2018).

[2] The report published by PATENT includes volunteers' observations and evaluations of the treatment of victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, as well as the treatment of the issue by judges; it is based on 117 monitoring sheets of volunteers who attended 85 court hearings (60 in Budapest and 25 in other cities; 45 were criminal cases and 40 were civil cases) (PATENT 11 Apr. 2016, 10).

References

Amnesty International. 22 February 2018. "Hungary." Amnesty International Report 2017/18: The State of the World's Human Rights. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

ArchitectForum.eu. 16 April 2016 (published 18 October 2016). Daniel Ritter. "Mother's Home and Daycare Center Miskolc." [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 2 March 2016. Thematic Action Plan on the Inclusion of Roma and Travellers (2016-2019). [Accessed 9 July 2018]

European Union (EU). 10 July 2018. Eurostat. "Intentional Homicide Victims by Victim-Offender Relationship and Sex - Number and Rate for the Relevant Sex Group." [Accessed 13 July 2018]

European Union (EU). 22 February 2018. European Parliament. "Parliament's Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee Visited Hungary." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

European Union (EU). March 2014. Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Violence Against Women: An EU-Wide Survey. Main Results. [Accessed 10 July 2018]

European Union (EU). September 2013. European Parliament, Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Country Report on Hungary - Empowerment of Romani Women Within the European Framework of National Roma Inclusion Strategies. [Accessed 20 July 2018]

European Union (EU). N.d. Eurostat. "Overview." [Accessed 24 July 2018]

Freedom House. 2018. "Hungary." Freedom in the World 2018. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch. 18 January 2018. "European Union." World Report 2018. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Human Rights Watch. November 2013. Unless Blood Flows: Lack of Protection from Domestic Violence in Hungary. [Accessed 20 July 2018]

Hungary. 7 February 2017. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant Pursuant to the Optional Reporting Procedure: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Sixth Periodic Reports of States Parties Due in 2016: Hungary. (CCPR/C/HUN/6) [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Hungary. 2012. Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code. [Accessed 20 July 2018]

Korosi, Ivett. 28 November 2017. "Hungarian Government Unwilling to Take a Stand Against Gender Violence." NewsMavens. [Accessed 13 July 2018]

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). January 2018. "Hungary - Roma." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Nok a Nokert Egyutt az Eroszak Ellen (NANE). August 2018. Domestic Violence in Hungary - The State Response and Protection of Victims. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative, 16 August 2018.

Nok a Nokert Egyutt az Eroszak Ellen (NANE). 12 July 2018. Correspondence to the Research Directorate from a representative.

Nok a Nokert Egyutt az Eroszak Ellen (NANE). N.d. "NANE Women's Rights Association Hungary." [Accessed 12 July 2018]

PassBlue. 30 April 2015. Dulcie Leimbach. "Hungarian Women Perceive Threats From Intensifying Patriarchy." [Accessed 13 July 2018]

PATENT Association (PATENT). 11 April 2016. Bea Sandor. Monitoring How Courts Treat Domestic Violence in Hungary: A Court Watch Program. A Summary of the Research Conducted by Patent Association in 2015-16. [Accessed 9 July 2018]

PATENT Association (PATENT). N.d. "Legal Aid." [Accessed 13 July 2018]

Professor, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. 30 July 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

School of Global and International Studies (SGIS), Indiana University. 6 July 2017. Yael Ksander. "Filmmaker Explores Domestic Violence in Europe's Emerging Democracies." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Senior Lecturer. 12 July 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

United Nations (UN). 9 May 2018. Human Rights Committee. Concluding Observations on the Sixth Periodic Report of Hungary. [Accessed 19 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 21 April 2017. Human Rights Council. Report of the Working Group on the Issue of Discrimination Against Women in Law and in Practice on its Mission to Hungary. (A/HRC/35/29/Add.1) [Accessed 3 July 2018]

United States (US). 20 April 2018. Department of State. "Hungary." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Department of State. "Hungary." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 4 July 2018]

Wirth, Judit. [2015]. Mapping the Legislation and Assessing the Impact of the Protection Orders in the European Member States (POEMS). National Report Hungary. [Accessed 24 July 2018]

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE). March 2018. The Situation of Women's Specialist Support Services in Europe. WAVE Country Report 2017. [Accessed 9 July 2018]

Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE). N.d. "WAVE Network." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Advocates for Human Rights  Stop Violence Against Women; assistant professor of Romani studies in Hungary; Colourful Pearls Association for Southerner Roma Women; European Roma Rights Centre; Hungarian Women's Lobby; Junior Research Fellow who does research on gender equality and minority rights in Hungary; PATENT Association.

Internet sites, including: The Advocates for Human Rights  Stop Violence Against Women; Equinet; European Roma Rights Centre; European Union  European Institute for Gender Equality; Hungarian Spectrum; Hungarian Women's Lobby; Hungary  Government; International Women's Health Coalition; UN  Refworld.
Hungary: Police response to complaints lodged by Roma citizens; procedures to lodge a complaint against a police officer; alternate complaint mechanisms for human rights violations, including complaints submitted through the Roma Police Officers Association (2016-July 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 17 August 2018 Citation / Document Symbol HUN106145.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur les mesures prises par la police en reponse aux plaintes faites par des citoyens roms; marche a suivre pour deposer une plainte contre un policier; les autres mecanismes de plainte concernant les violations des droits de la personne, y compris les plaintes deposees aupres de l'Association des agents de police roms (Roma Police Officers Association) (2016-juillet 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Police response to complaints lodged by Roma citizens; procedures to lodge a complaint against a police officer; alternate complaint mechanisms for human rights violations, including complaints submitted through the Roma Police Officers Association (2016-July 2018), 17 August 2018, HUN106145.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bd95e4.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Police Response to Complaints Lodged by Roma Citizens

A 2018 report by the UN Human Rights Committee indicates that in Hungary, there is a "prevalence of hate crimes and  hate speech targeting minorities," including Roma, and states that "police often fail to investigate and prosecute credible claims of hate crimes and criminal hate speech" (UN 9 May 2018, para. 17). For information on legal provisions regarding hate crimes and recourse available to victims, see Response to Information Request HUN105742 of March 2017.

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) reports that Roma face "continued hostility" from police forces in Hungary, which includes a "failure to protect" them from attacks (MRG Jan. 2018). Amnesty International indicates that the state's response to violence against Roma "has been feeble" and that the police "regularly" treat hate crimes against Roma as "ordinary crimes" (Amnesty International 25 Jan. 2017). The same source describes a crime in 2015 that was recorded as "merely 'illegal entry'" by the police, although the assailants broke into the house of a Roma family and shouted "'Filthy Gypsy, you will die'" (Amnesty International 25 Jan. 2017). Similarly, according to a January 2017 article by the Budapest Beacon, a news website on Hungary, representatives from the Hungarian Helsinki Committee [1] explained the following:

If the police report is lacking in indicating a racial motive, then the police and prosecutors will avoid pursuing charges along those lines.

The work of police is evaluated based on successful investigations, and prosecutors are judged based on the number of guilty verdicts. They are more likely to pursue what sticks, for example, assault and battery, instead [of] trying less certain charges related to hate crimes simply because they're concerned about their own professional advancement. (The Budapest Beacon 28 Jan. 2017)

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) indicates, in a submission prepared for three Hungarian cases before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), that it "survey[ed] recent evidence that the national bodies in Hungary responsible for protecting Roma against violence suffer institutional racism, particularly institutional anti-Gypsyism" (ERRC [2015], para. 3). The same source explains that "'institutional racism'" is defined as "'the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin'" (ERRC [2015], para. 3). Similarly, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) [2] explained that in Hungary, Roma "face prejudices and stereotypes" that are "very often present in law enforcement bodies[,] affecting the procedures in which Roma are involved" (HCLU 24 July 2018). According to the same source, it can be said that, for Roma citizens, complaint mechanisms "might be even less accessible and effective than for non-Roma" (HCLU 24 July 2018).

1.1 Statistics

A 2017 survey by the European Union (EU) Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), based on a sample of 1,171 Hungarian Roma respondents (EU Dec. 2017, 119), indicates that on a scale from 1 to 10, Roma respondents in Hungary indicated a 5.0 level of trust in the police (EU Dec. 2017, 101). The same source reports a "[l]ow" level of trust among Roma respondents in member states surveyed, although for Hungary, it is "almost the same as among the general population" (EU Dec. 2017, 100). A survey conducted by the Equal Treatment Authority (Egyenlo Banasmod Hatosag, EBH), a Hungarian "autonomous administrative body" (Equinet n.d.a), reports an increase of two percent, between 2013 and 2017, in discrimination events involving the police, one of the areas in which discrimination increased "the most" (Hungary 2017a, 13), in comparison with other areas such as workplace recruitment, dismissal, education, medical care, administration of social benefits and transport, among others (Hungary 2017a, 33).

1.2 Court Decisions

In an October 2017 decision, the ECHR established that the Hungarian authorities "failed to conduct an effective investigation" into allegations of ill-treatment of a Roma citizen by the police and that the authorities also "failed to investigate possible racist motives behind the incident" (Council of Europe 31 Oct. 2017a, 14, 19). Regarding this case, the ECHR explains in a press release that, in 2010, the applicant "lodged a criminal complaint alleging that he had been the victim of police brutality and that he had been repeatedly insulted on account of his Roma origin" (Council of Europe 31 Oct. 2017b, 2). According to the same source, in 2010, the prosecuting authorities did not address "[h]is allegation of a racist motive being behind his ill-treatment" and did not pursue the investigation because his version was deemed "not plausible" (Council of Europe 31 Oct. 2017b, 2). In a 2012 "substitute private prosecution," charges were dropped against three of the defendants and five others were acquitted "due to lack of evidence"; the applicant "was subsequently found guilty of false accusation" (Council of Europe 31 Oct. 2017b, 2).

In a January 2017 decision, concerning two applicants, both of Roma origin, who "alleged that the [Hungarian] police had failed to protect them from racist abuse during [a] demonstration and to properly investigate the incident," the ECHR established that the authorities conducted "limited" investigations into the incident and that "the specific context of the abuse" had not been taken into account, which resulted in "shortcomings" (Council of Europe 17 Jan. 2017, 1). The ECHR "was concerned that this could be perceived by the public as the State's legitimisation and/or tolerance of such behaviour" (Council of Europe 17 Jan. 2017, 1).

In April 2016, regarding a complaint concerning the Hungarian authorities' failure to carry out an effective investigation into allegations of verbal violence directed against the applicant (Council of Europe 12 Apr. 2016, para. 40), a Roma citizen, the ECHR established that the applicant was not provided "adequate protection" and that the criminal-law mechanisms were implemented in a "defective" manner (Council of Europe 12 Apr. 2016, para. 91).

Sources report that the Hungarian Supreme Court established, in a February 2017 judgment, that the local police in Gyongyospata failed to protect Roma against harassment by extremist groups (US 20 Apr. 2018, 36; HCLU 17 Feb. 2017) "that organized illegal patrols, marching through the Roma rows of the village for several weeks, intimidating local residents" in the spring of 2011 (HCLU 17 Feb. 2017). According to the HCLU, in its February 2017 judgment, the Supreme Court of Hungary "ruled that the failure to protect the Roma from racist harassment amounted to harassment under the [Equal Treatment Act]" (HCLU 17 Feb. 2017).

2. Procedures to Lodge a Complaint Against a Police Officer

Sources indicate that complaints against police officers can be filed according to the Police Act [XXXIV of 1994] by those whose fundamental rights have been violated (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018; Lawyer in Gyor 23 July 2018; HCLU 24 July 2018). Other sources specify that complaints can be filed by anyone who "was harmed by the acting police officer due to violating his/her obligations according to the act, due to his/her actions or failing to carry out activities or by the use of compelling force by the police officer" (Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018), or by anyone "placed under a police action," or whose interests "were violated because the police d[id] not act," or if "the police applied unlawfully coercive means, and the person feels that his/her fundamental rights were violated or restricted by the police" (Hungary n.d.a).

According to sources, the procedure to file a complaint is standard across the country (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018; Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018; Lawyer in Gyor 23 July 2018). Sources explained that complaints against police officers can be filed directly with the police force in question [3] (Lawyer in Gyor 23 July 2018; Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018; HCLU 24 July 2018). According to sources, the complaint must be submitted within 30 days of the action (or omission) (Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018; Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer in Budapest, whose areas of practice include criminal law, indicated that the chief constable has 30 days to decide on the complaint (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018). The same source added that "[a]n appeal may be lodged against the decision of the chief constable to their superior" and that an appeal is not possible if "the first instance decision was rendered by the National Chief of Police," although a judicial review may be sought (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018).

2.1 Independent Police Complaints Board (the Board)

According to sources, complaints against police officers in Hungary can also be submitted to the Board (Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018; Hungary 12 Feb. 2016, para. 19; HCLU 24 July 2018), "an independent, parliament-elected body" (Hungary 12 Feb. 2016, para. 19). According to sources, complaints filed with the Board must be submitted within 20 days of the police action [or omission] (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018; Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018; Hungary n.d.a), or at a later date calculated from the date the complainant "became aware of the infringement" (Hungary n.d.a). The Board's website indicates that complaints can be submitted in person during office hours, by an "authorized person" or a legal representative, by mail (the complaint has to be signed by the complainant), by fax, by email, or through the online form, available on the Board's website (the complaint, with the complainant's signature, must be sent later by mail, fax or email) (Hungary n.d.a). The same source adds that there is no fee for the complaint process (Hungary n.d.a). The website of the Board also indicates that the decision can be requested at the National Police Headquarters, free of charge, after the Board's examination and legal conclusions (Hungary n.d.a).

According to the HCLU representative, the Board "does not hold hearings, it only works [based on the] documentation [provided] and if the victim and the police contradict each other, it concludes that it cannot decide on the dispute" (HCLU 24 July 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, another lawyer in Budapest whose areas of expertise include civil and criminal law explained that complaints filed with the Board are examined by the Board and, if it is established that there was a violation of the complainant's basic rights, "the leader of the involved police department/organization is entitled and obliged to resolve on the complaint" (Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018). The first lawyer in Budapest specified that the Board has 90 days to conduct an inquiry and render "its position paper" to the relevant decision-making body (the National Chief of Police, the Director of Internal Affairs or the Director of the Anti-Terrorist Agency) (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018). The same source added that the decision-making body then decides within 30 days on the complaint and that reasons are given when the decision differs from the Board's position (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018). According to sources, the Board's positions are not binding for the police (Hungary n.d.a; HCLU 24 July 2018). The HCLU representative further explained that the Board adopts opinions that are transferred to the police, who decide whether the police violated the rights of the complainant or not (HCLU 24 July 2018). According to sources, a judicial review of the decision taken by the police may be sought (HCLU 24 July 2018; Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018).

A 2016 report prepared by the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities indicates that the Board "can make recommendations to the Head of the National Police General Directorate," but that these recommendations "are followed in a minority of cases" (Council of Europe 12 Sept. 2016, para. 105). The HCLU representative stated that the "HCLU believes that the police complaint mechanisms are not effective in Hungary" (HCLU 24 July 2018).

According to the website of the Independent Police Complaints Authorities' Network (IPCAN), an "informal network of exchange and cooperation amongst independent structures [from about 20 countries] in charge of external control of security forces" (IPCAN n.d.a), including the Board in Hungary (IPCAN n.d.b), the Board received 235 complaints in 2016 concerning mainly "the right to fair proceedings (39,1 %), the right to human dignity (23,7 %), [and] personal freedom (15,7 %). The most frequently violated fundamental rights were in [2017]: the right to fair trial (31,1 %), the right to human dignity (28,1 %) and personal freedom (21,5 %)" (IPCAN n.d.c).

3. Alternate Complaint Mechanisms

3.1 Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (the Office) [Ombudsman]

According to sources, the Office is composed of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, as well as two Deputy-Commissioners, including one responsible for the rights of national minorities (Hungary n.d.b; US 20 Apr. 2018, 28). Sources explain that the Office reports to Parliament (Hungary n.d.b; US 20 Apr. 2018, 28). On its website, the Office provides the following information regarding its proceedings:

Anyone may turn to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, if in his/her judgement, the activity or omission of the public and/or other organs performing public duties  infringes a fundamental right of the person submitting the petition or presents an imminent danger. When the person reporting has exhausted the available administrative legal remedies, not including the judicial review of an administrative decision, or if no legal remedy is available to him or her. (Hungary n.d.b)

"[L]aw-enforcement organ" is included on the list of organs against which a complaint can be submitted (Hungary n.d.b). Similarly, the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 indicates that the Office can "initiate proceedings to defend the rights of citizens from abuse by government authorities and entities providing public services" (US 20 Apr. 2018, 28). According to the Office's website, complaints can be submitted in writing or orally, as well as via email; it further explains that an appointment has to be made in order to file a complaint in person (Hungary n.d.b).

According to a report published by the Office, there were 200 minority rights-related complaints submitted to the Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner for National Minorities in 2016, "lodged mainly by Roma complainants," and the Deputy Commissioner conducted approximately 300 proceedings "in her field of responsibility" during the same period (Hungary [2017]b). According to the Council of Europe, the Deputy Commissioner for National Minorities is "restricted" in terms of "competences and the freedom to act" (Council of Europe 12 Sept. 2016, 1). The same source adds that the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has the right to inquire into alleged violations, and that the Deputy Commissioner "is limited principally to observation, evaluation and awareness raising" (Council of Europe 12 Sept. 2016, para. 45). The European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet), a network of European organizations [including the Hungarian Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (Equinet n.d.a)] that works against discrimination (Equinet 10 Apr. 2012), states that the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights' decisions on complaints are "[n]ot legally binding" (Equinet n.d.b). The same source adds that 5,440 cases were handled in 2015, 5,454 cases were handled in 2014, 7,631 cases in 2013, and 7,861 cases in 2012 (Equinet n.d.b). According to the UN, the Office "lacks the human and financial resources necessary to carry out its mandate effectively" (UN 9 May 2018, para. 13). Equinet indicates that the operating budget for 2014 was approximately 4.1 million euros (Equinet n.d.b).

3.2 EBH

The website of the EBH indicates that it is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination based on different grounds, including ethnic origin, and that complaints may be submitted against law enforcement bodies, among others (Hungary n.d.c). According to the same source, procedures can be initiated by victims or by the EBH itself, among others (Hungary n.d.c). Equinet describes EBH as "an independent and autonomous administrative body" (Equinet 27 Mar. 2018).

According to Equinet, in 2015, 407 cases were handled by the EBH, by 10 staff members (Equinet n.d.a). A 2015 report prepared by Hungary and submitted to the Council of Europe indicates that 95 percent of the complaints submitted to the EBH by members of minority groups are from Roma citizens or NGOs representing Roma (Hungary 7 Apr. 2015, 76). According to the same source, 128 complaints of Roma-related issues were submitted to the EBH in 2010, 118 in 2011, 81 in 2012, and 58 in 2013 (as of 31 October 2013) (Hungary 7 Apr. 2015, 76-77). Among the complaints on Roma-related issues submitted, the EBH established that the law had been violated in 6 cases in 2010, in 6 cases in 2011, in 4 cases in 2012, and in 3 cases in 2013 (Hungary 7 Apr. 2015, 76-77). The Council of Europe notes that the number of complaints received by the EBH has decreased in recent years, "possibly due to the lack of trust in the system, as violations are established by the [EBH] only in less than 10% of cases" (Council of Europe 12 Sept. 2016, para. 38). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. Roma Police Officers Association

Information on the Roma Police Officers Association and whether an individual can submit a complaint to this association could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The Hungarian Helsinki Committee is a human rights organization that provides "help to refugees, detainees and victims of law enforcement violence" through "legal and public activities" (Hungarian Helsinki Committee n.d.).

[2] HCLU is an NGO that "monitors legislation, pursues strategic litigation, [and] provides free legal aid assistance," as well as training and "awareness raising media campaigns" (HCLU n.d.).

[3] According to sources, a complaint can be filed with the "acting police force" (Lawyer in Gyor 23 July 2018); with the "police department the police officer is part of" (Lawyer 2 in Budapest 23 July 2018); with the "relevant police constabulary" (Lawyer 1 in Budapest 24 July 2018); or with the "competent police office" (HCLU 24 July 2018).

References

Amnesty International. 25 January 2017. Barbora Cernusakova. "A Drop of Hope in the Sea of Fear: Tackling Hate Crimes Against Roma in Hungary." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

The Budapest Beacon. 28 January 2017. "Masked Men Attacked the Roma Laborers Just as the Police Officer Had Advised." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 31 October 2017a (final decision dated 5 March 2018). European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). M.F. v. Hungary. Application no. 45855/12. [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 31 October 2017b. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Registrar. "Judgments of 31 October 2017." [Accessed 30 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 17 January 2017. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Registrar. "Hungarian Authorities Failed to Protect Roma Against Racist Abuse During Anti-Roma Domonstration." [Accessed 25 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 12 September 2016. Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Fourth Opinion on Hungary Adopted on 25 February 2016. (ACFC/OP/IV(2016)003) [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Council of Europe. 12 April 2016 (final decision dated 12 September 2016). European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). R.B. v. Hungary. Application no. 64602/12. [Accessed 19 July 2018]

European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet). 27 March 2018. "Latest Publications by the Equal Treatment Authority (ETA)." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet). 10 April 2012. "Equinet at a Glance." [Accessed 19 July 2018]

European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet). N.d.a. "Hungary: Equal Treatment Authority." [Accessed 30 July 2018]

European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet). N.d.b. "Hungary: Commissioner for Fundamental Rights." [Accessed 25 July 2018]

European Union (EU). December 2017. Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey - Main Results. [Accessed 17 July 2018]

European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). [2015]. Written Comments of the European Roma Rights Centre Submitted Pursuant to Article 36  2 of the Convention. [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 24 July 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 17 February 2017 "Supreme Court: The Police Discriminated Against the Roma of Gyongyospata." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 3 Aug. 2018]

Hungarian Helsinki Committee. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 3 Aug. 2018]

Hungary. 2017a. Egyenlo Banasmod Hatosag (EBH). Legal Awareness of the Right to Equal Treatment 2017: Survey Findings. [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungary. [2017]b. Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. Activities of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights and his Deputies. [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungary. 12 February 2016. National Report Submitted in Accordance with Paragraph 5 of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 16/21 - Hungary. (A/HRC/WG.6/25/HUN/1) [Accessed 19 July 2018]

Hungary. 7 April 2015. Fourth Report Submitted by Hungary Pursuant to Article 25, Paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. (ACFC/SR/IV(2015)002) [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungary. N.d.a. Independent Police Complaints Board. "The Competence and the Procedure of the Board." [Accessed 23 July 2018]

Hungary. N.d.b. Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. "About the Office." [Accessed 18 July 2018]

Hungary. N.d.c. Egyenlo Banasmod Hatosag (EBH). "Important Information on the Procedure of the Equal Treatment Authority." [Accessed 17 July 2018]

Independent Police Complaints Authorities' Network (IPCAN). N.d.a. "Who We Are." [Accessed 7 August 2018]

Independent Police Complaints Authorities' Network (IPCAN). N.d.b. "Members." [Accessed 8 Aug. 2018]

Independent Police Complaints Authorities' Network (IPCAN). N.d.c. "Independent Police Complaints Board." [Accessed 31 July 2018]

Lawyer 1 in Budapest. 24 July 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Lawyer 2 in Budapest. 23 July 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Lawyer in Gyor. 23 July 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). January 2018. "Hungary - Roma." [Accessed 16 July 2018]

United Nations (UN). 9 May 2018. Human Rights Committee. Concluding Observations on the Sixth Periodic Report of Hungary. (CCPR/C/HUN/CO/6) [Accessed 19 July 2018]

United States (US). 20 April 2018. Department of State. "Hungary." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017. [Accessed 3 July 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: 4 lawyers in Hungary; European Roma Rights Centre; Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Nemzeti es Etnikai Kisebbsegi Jogvedo Irodat; Roma Rendorok Orszagos Egyesulete.

Internet sites, including: Hungary  National Police Headquarters; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Romea.cz; United Nations  Refworld; Working Group Against Hate Crimes.
India: Socio-economic profile of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai, including population, demographics and economy; tenant registration requirements (2016-April 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 25 May 2018 Citation / Document Symbol IND106101.E Related Document(s) Inde : information sur le profil socioeconomique de Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana et Mumbai, y compris la population, les donnees demographiques et l'economie; les exigences en matiere d'enregistrement des locataires (2016-avril 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: Socio-economic profile of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai, including population, demographics and economy; tenant registration requirements (2016-April 2018), 25 May 2018, IND106101.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bda574.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Bengaluru

The city of Bengaluru is located in the state of Karnataka (India [2011]a), of which it is the capital (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017; India Today 2011, 75). According to sources, Bengaluru was formerly known as Bangalore (BBC 31 Oct. 2014; The Times of India 1 Nov. 2014). According to provisional reports from India's census, the population of Bengaluru was 8,443,675 as of 2011 (India [2011]a). Other sources report that Bengaluru has a population of 10.5 million people (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016) or 10.6 million people (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017) or 11.5 million people (PRI 6 May 2016).

According to the book India Today. An Encyclopedia of Life in The Republic, Bengaluru is a "demographically diverse city" (India Today 2011, 75). Information on the ethnic composition of Bengaluru could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to provisional reports from India's 2011 Census, 78.87 percent of Bengaluru's population follows Hinduism, while 13.9 percent follows Islam, 5.61 percent follows Christianism, 0.97 percent follows Jainism, 0.15 percent follows Sikhism, 0.15 percent follows Buddhism, 0.01 percent follows another unspecified religion, and 0.44 percent follows no particular religion (India [2011]a). Sources indicate that the languages spoken in Bengaluru include the following: Kannada (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017; BBC 31 Oct. 2014; India Today 2011, 75), Hindi, English, Telugu (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017; India Today 2011, 75), Urdu, Tamil (India Today 2011, 75), Konkani and Malayalam (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017).

India Today states that Bengaluru is "the fastest growing major metropolis in India" and that it is a "major economic and cultural hub" (India Today 2011, 75). Other sources indicate that Bengaluru is referred to as "India's Silicon Valley" (BBC 21 Oct. 2014; PRI 6 May 2016; World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016). Information on employment rates in Bengaluru could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources report that there are landlords in Bengaluru who require potential tenants to show their Aadhaar card (Bangalore Mirror 11 May 2017; Asianet News Online 10 May 2017) in order to "process rental agreements" (Bangalore Mirror 11 May 2017). For further information about the Aadhaar card, see Response to Information Request IND106095 of May 2018.

2. Chennai

The city of Chennai is the capital of the Tamil Nadu state (India [2011]b; India Today 2011, 679). According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Chennai is "India's fourth largest city, by economy and population" (India n.d.a). According to provisional reports from India's census, the population of Chennai was 4,646,732 as of 2011 (India [2011]b). Other sources indicate that Chennai has a population of 7 million people (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017) or 10.2 million people (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016).

According to provisional reports of India's 2011 Census, 80.73 percent of Chennai's population follows Hinduism, while 9.45 percent follows Islam, 7.72 percent follows Christianism, 1.11 percent follows Jainism, 0.06 percent follows Sikhism, 0.06 percent follows Buddhism and 0.04 percent follows another unspecified religion (India [2011]b).

According to India Today, Chennai is the "center of a vibrant cultural life based around Tamil culture and language" (India Today 2011, 680). Sources indicate that Chennai is a demographically diverse city (Yatra n.d.a; The Hindu 19 Dec. 2011), that is "home to over 30 different communities" (The Hindu 19 Dec. 2011). Information on the ethnic composition of Chennai could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Sources indicate that while the official language of Chennai is Tamil (Yatra n.d.b; India Today 2011, 679), the following languages are also spoken in Chennai: English (Yatra n.d.b; India Today 2011, 679); Telugu and Malayalam (Yatra n.d.b).

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Chennai has a "diverse array of economic sectors and is known for its automobile industry" and information technology sector (India n.d.a). Information on employment rates in Chennai could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Information on tenant registration requirements could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Delhi

Sources indicate that New Delhi is one of several districts that are part of the city of Delhi (The Diplomat 29 Sept. 2016; India Today 2011, 502). According to The Diplomat, an international affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region,

[t]he entire city of Delhi ... is a Union Territory under the Indian constitution, officially known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This region is jointly administered by a local government and the central government of India. Central government buildings are concentrated in New Delhi and the central government  of India has paramount jurisdiction over these buildings - thus over most of New Delhi. (The Diplomat 29 Sept. 2016)

According to provisional reports from India's census, the population of Delhi was 11,034,555 as of 2011 (India [2011]c). According to other sources, the population of New Delhi is more than 18 million people (India Today 2011, 502; CNN 10 Nov. 2017). Information on the ethnic composition of Delhi could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to provisional reports of India's 2011 Census, 80.21 percent of Delhi's population follows Hinduism, while 12.78 percent follows Islam, 0.96 percent follows Christianism, 1.39 percent follows Jainism, 4.43 percent follows Sikhism, 0.12 percent follows Buddhism, 0.02 percent follows another unspecified religion, and 0.08 percent follows no particular religion (India [2011]c).

According to India Today, "[n]umerous languages are spoken in Delhi, although the predominant languages are Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and English" (India Today 2011, 502).

Information on employment rates in Delhi could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.1 Tenant Registration in Delhi

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a PhD research scholar at the Centre for Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi stated that

[t]enant registration is currently compulsory in Delhi and every tenant needs to be verified [by] the police.  [T]he tenant needs to sign an agreement on a notarized certificate with the landlord in the presence of two witnesses. After police verification, they are allowed to lease and move into the premises. (Research scholar 2 May 2018)

The same source explained that "[w]hile it is compulsory that tenants be verified by the police before they move in the premises, this is not always the case" (Research scholar 2 May 2018). Press Trust of India (PTI), a New Delhi-based Indian news agency, cites a police officer as stating that "Delhi's south-west district police have registered 46 [First Information Reports (FIRs)] against landlords, who failed to comply with tenant verification rules" in January 2018 (PTI 23 Jan. 2018). The same source cites the police officer as further stating that tenant verification is "'a must, especially in the capital'"(PTI 23 Jan. 2018).

4. Hyderabad

The city of Hyderabad is located in Telangana state (Encyclopaedia Britannica 27 Apr. 2018; Telangana n.d.). The Encyclopaedia Britannica explains that Hyderabad serves as the capital of both Telangana and Andra Pradesh states and that it is "Telangana's largest and most-populous city" (Encyclopaedia Britannica 27 Apr. 2018). According to provisional reports from India's census, the population of Hyderabad was 6,731,790 as of 2011 (India [2011]d). Other sources state that Hyderabad has a population of 8.4 million people (The New Indian Express 23 July 2017) or 9.7 million people (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017). Information on the ethnic composition of Hyderabad could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to provisional reports of India's 2011 Census, 64.93 percent of Hyderabad's population follows Hinduism, while 30.13 percent follows Islam, 2.75 percent follows Christianism, 0.29 percent follows Jainism, 0.25 percent follows Sikhism, 0.25 percent follows Buddhism, 0.04 percent follows another unspecified religion, and 1.56 percent follows no particular religion (India [2011]d). According to India Today, "[s]ome 40 percent of the population [in Hyderabad] is Muslim, and the city has traditionally been the heartland of Muslim culture in the south [of India]" (India Today 2011, 336). According to the same source, "[t]he large number of Muslim residents in the 'Old City' of Hyderabad gives rise to communal tensions, and violence between Hindus and Muslims breaks out from time to time" (India Today 2011, 338). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The same source states that "Telugu and Urdu are the principal languages spoken, although English is widely used in the city's administration and among the educated class" (India Today 2011, 338). According to the same source, Hyderabad is "an industrial center with notable [information technology], media and pharmaceutical companies" (India Today 2011, 338). Other sources indicate that Hyderabad is an information technology hub and a tourism centre (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016; Encyclopaedia Britannica 27 Apr. 2018). Information on employment rates in Hyderabad could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

For information regarding tenant registration requirements in Hyderabad, see Response to Information Request IND106120 of June 2018.

5. Kolkata

The city of Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal (India [2011]e; Encyclopaedia Britannica n.d.). Sources indicate that Kolkata was formerly known as Calcutta (Yatra n.d.c; NPR 2 Sept. 2016; Encyclopaedia Britannica n.d.). According to India's 2011 Census, the population of the Kolkata metropolitan area is 14,035,959 people (India [2011]e). Other sources report that Kolkata has a population of 14.7 million people (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017) or 15 million people (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016). Information on the ethnic composition of Kolkata could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Sources indicate that the languages spoken in Kolkata include Bengali, English and Hindi (Yatra n.d.d; Ghosh Jan. 2005, 52).

According to sources, Kolkata is a "commerce hub" (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016; Encyclopaedia Britannica n.d) and a city of transport and manufacturing (Encyclopaedia Britannica n.d.). Information on employment rates in Kolkata could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on tenant registration requirements in Kolkata could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

6. Ludhiana

The city of Ludhiana is located in the state of Punjab (Encyclopaedia Britannica 5 Mar. 2018; India n.d.b) and "is the largest city in [Punjab] in terms of area and population" (India n.d.b). According to provisional reports from India's census, the population of Ludhiana was 1,618,879 as of 2011 (India [2011]f). Information on the ethnic composition of Ludhiana could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ludhiana is an "important pilgrimage center for Sikhs" (India n.d.b). According to provisional reports from India's 2011 Census, 65.96 percent of Ludhiana's population follows Hinduism, while 28.75 percent follows Sikhism, 2.81 percent follows Islam, 1.05 percent follows Jainism, 0.68 percent follows Christianism, 0.62 percent follows no particular religion, 0.11 percent follows Buddhism and 0.03 percent follows another unspecified religion (India [2011]f).

Media sources report instances of targeted killings in Ludhiana (Hindustan Times 9 Oct. 2017; PTI 16 Oct. 2017; The Tribune 14 Feb. 2018), including "a series of high-profile murderous attacks on activists belonging to religious or right wing organisations" (PTI 17 Oct. 2017). For further information on targeted killings in Ludhiana, please see Response to Information Request IND106097 of May 2018.

Sources indicate that Ludhiana is an industrial centre (Encyclopaedia Britannica 5 Mar. 2018; India n.d.b). Other sources indicate that Ludhiana is the industrial hub of Punjab state (PTI 25 Aug. 2014; The Indian Express 13 July 2017). Information on employment rates in Ludhiana could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Information on tenant registration requirements in Ludhiana could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

7. Mumbai

The city of Mumbai is located in the state of Maharashtra (India [2011]g; Yatra n.d.e). Sources indicate that Mumbai was formerly known as Bombay (Yatra n.d.e; PTI 11 Feb. 2016). According to provisional reports from India's census the population of Mumbai was 12,442,373 as of 2011, while its "urban/metropolitan" population was 18,394,912 (India [2011]g). Other sources report that Mumbai has a population of 20.8 million people (World Atlas 25 Apr. 2017) or 21.4 million people (World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016). Information on the ethnic composition of Mumbai could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to provisional reports of India's 2011 Census, 65.99 percent of Mumbai's population follows Hinduism, while 20.65 percent follows Islam, 3.27 percent follows Christianism, 4.10 percent follows Jainism, 0.49 percent follows Sikhism, 0.49 percent follows Buddhism, 0.40 percent follows another unspecified religion, and 0.26 percent follows no particular religion (India [2011]g). Sources indicate that the languages spoken in Mumbai include English, Hindi (Yatra n.d.f; Forbes Travel Guide 11 Aug. 2017), Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Konkani, Dangii and Varhadii (Yatra n.d.f). According to The New York Times, "most of the people in [Mumbai] can read English but not Marathi" (The New York Times 16 Feb. 2011). According to sources, Mumbai is India's financial centre (NDTV 6 May 2018; World Economic Forum 5 Oct. 2016; Yatra n.d.e). Information on employment rates in Mumbai could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

For information regarding tenant verification in Mumbai, see Response to Information Request IND106120 of June 2018.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Asianet News Online. 10 May 2017. "Renting a Home in Bengaluru? Landlords Will Now Demand Aadhaar Card." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Bangalore Mirror. 11 May 2017. "Bengaluru Landlords Have a New Demand: Aadhaar." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 31 October 2014. "Bengaluru: India's Bangalore City Changes Name." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Cable News Network (CNN). 10 November 2017. Huizhong Wu. "Delhi Pollution Crisis Prompts City-Wide Emergency Measures." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

The Diplomat. 29 September 2016. Akhilesh Pillalamarri. "India's Capital City: Should We Call It Delhi or New Delhi?" [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Encyclopaedia Britannica. 27 April 2018. "Hyderabad." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Encyclopaedia Britannica. 5 March 2018. "Ludhiana." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Encyclopaedia Britannica. N.d. Swapna Banerjee-Guha and N.K. Sinha. "Kolkata." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Forbes Travel Guide. 11 August 2017. "Your Essential Mumbai Guide." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Ghosh, Aditi. January 2005. "Language in Urban Society: Kolkata and Bengali." South Asian Language Review. Vol. XV. No. 1 [Accessed 9 May 2018]

The Hindu. 19 December 2011 [updated 26 July 2016]. "The Magic of Melting Pot Called Chennai." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

The Hindu. 19 July 2016. Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar. "Delhi Is Now World's Second Most Populous City." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Hindustan Times. 9 October 2017. "Ludhiana Pastor Murder: Three Months On, Cops Fail to Crack Case, 'Withdraw' Kin's Security." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

India. [2011]a. Census 2011. "Bangalore (Bengaluru) City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

India. [2011]b. Census 2011. "Chennai City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

India. [2011]c. Census 2011. "Delhi City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

India. [2011]d. Census 2011. "Hyderabad (Greater Hyderabad) City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

India. [2011]e. Census 2011. "Kolkata Metropolitan." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

India. [2011]f. Census 2011. "Ludhiana City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

India. [2011]g. Census 2011. "Mumbai (Greater Mumbai) City Census 2011 Data." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

India. N.d.a. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. "City: Chennai (M.Corp)." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

India. N.d.b. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.. "City: Ludhiana." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

The Indian Express. 13 July 2017. Raakhi Jagga. "GST Confusion Hits Industrial Production in Ludhiana." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in The Republic. Vol. 1. 2011. Edited by Arnold Kaminsky and Roger D. Long. ABC-Clio: Santa Barbara.

National Public Radio (NPR). 2 September 2016. Sandip Roy. "Why Is Calcutta Now Kolkata? What Other Names in India Are Changing?" [Accessed 8 May 2018]

New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV). 6 May 2018. Imtiyaz Abdullah Samnani. "Mumbai Officials Say They Have Plan to Lose World's 4th Most Polluted Tag." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

The New Indian Express. 23 July 2017. Mithun MK. "By 2030, City's Population Will Be Too Much for ts Transport System." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

The New York Times. 16 February 2011. Manu Joseph. "India Faces a Linguistic Truth: English Spoken Here." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 23 January 2018. "Delhi Police Files 46 FIRs Against Landlords, for Violation of Tenant Verification Rules." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 17 October 2017. "Killing of RSS Leader Is Eighth Murderous Attack Since 2016." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 16 July 2017. "Pastor Shot Dead in Ludhiana." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 11 February 2016. "Why UK Daily Decided to Use 'Bombay' and not 'Mumbai'." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 25 August 2014. "Ludhiana Offers Maximum Employment: Economic Survey." [Accessed 11 May 2018]

Public Radio International (PRI). 6 May 2016. Mary Kay Magistad. "India's 'Silicon Valley,' Bangalore Is Fast Becoming a Serious Global Player." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University. 2 May 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Telangana. N.d. The Official Website of Hyderabad District. "General Info." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

The Times of India. 1 November 2014. "It Is Official: Bangalore Becomes Bengaluru." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

The Tribune. 14 February 2018. "'Arm Supplier' Held in RSS Leader Ravinder Gosain Killing Case." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

World Atlas. 25 April 2017. Serguei Shcheglov. "The Biggest Cities in India." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

World Economic Forum. 5 October 2016. Simon Torkington. "India Will Have 7 Megacities by 2030, Says UN." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.a. "Language Chennai." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.b. "People of Chennai." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.c. "A Travel Guide to Kolkata." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.d. "Language Kolkata." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.e. "A Travel Guide to Mumbai." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Yatra. N.d.f. "Language Mumbai." [Accessed 8 May 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Al Jazeera; Business World; DailyO; Deccan Chronicle; Deutsche Welle; ecoi.net; The Guardian; The Hindu Business Line; Scroll.in; The South China Morning Post; UN  Refworld.
Mexico: Societal norms on gender identity expressions, including in indigenous communities (2016-May 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 25 May 2018 Citation / Document Symbol MEX106111.E Related Document(s) Mexique : information sur les normes sociales touchant l'expression de l'identite et de genre, y compris au sein des collectivites autochtones (2016-mai 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Societal norms on gender identity expressions, including in indigenous communities (2016-May 2018), 25 May 2018, MEX106111.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bdb404.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Sources indicate that in Mexican culture, there are traditionally two primary gender roles: machismo [1] and marianismo [2] (Kulis 1 July 2011; Englander July 2012, 65). Sources cite the Mexican President as stating on International Women's Day 2017 that a machista culture exists in Mexico (The New York Times 23 Apr. 2017; El Financiero 8 Mar. 2017). Other sources similarly indicate that machismo attitudes are prevalent in Mexico (The Guardian 1 Aug. 2014; BBC 20 May 2016). In a report on sexual orientation and human rights in the Americas, Andrew Reding [3] states that

[i]n Mexico,  the confluence of two cultures  Spanish and indigenous  that idealized the hyper-masculinity of the warrior has produced a popular culture that is particularly hostile to any sign of the feminine in a man, and, to a lesser degree, of the masculine in a woman. Spaniards and Aztecs alike were [d]raconian in their treatment of sexual nonconformists. (Reding 2003, 58)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an academic at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, UNAM), who is an independent researcher and has published on sexual diversity, stated that in Mexico, [translation] "children are taught that they must adhere to characteristics and behaviours according to their biological sex" and that any deviation from this norm is "pointed out or even punished" (Academic 7 May 2018). According to the same source, the notion that [translation] "that which is masculine is superior to that which is feminine continues to be socially important" (Academic 7 May 2018).

2. Societal Norms on Gender Identity Expressions

Sources indicated that even though anti-discrimination legislation exists for sexual minorities (Academic 7 May 2018; Researcher 3 May 2018; Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. 6 May 2018), including in the areas of health care, education and the workplace, "the reality is different" (Researcher 3 May 2018). According to sources, homophobia is prevalent across Mexico (Researcher 3 May 2018; Academic 7 May 2018), including in the major cities of the country, such as Mexico City (Academic 7 May 2018). According to the academic, homophobia is translated into acts against those who are gender non-conforming, and these acts range from insults and lewd comments to physical violence and murders, including of minors (Academic 7 May 2018). The same source indicated that

[translation]

in Mexico, gender expression is taken as a point of reference for a person's sexual orientation. As such, women who are perceived to be too masculine or men who are perceived to be too feminine are more likely to be victims of violence and discrimination. (Academic 7 May 2018)

The academic explained that, in contrast, if a man or a woman of a diverse sexual orientation shows traits socially assigned to their gender, they are more tolerated (Academic 7 May 2018).

A global survey [4] conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) on attitudes on "sexual, gender and sex minorities" provides the following results for Mexico:

When asked whether equal rights and protections should be applied to everyone, including people who dress, act or identify as one sex although they were born as another, respondents indicated the following:

Number of Respondents Percentage - weighted Strongly agree 772 59% Somewhat agree 179 14% Neither agree or disagree 243 16% Somewhat disagree 51 3% Strongly disagree 110 7% Total 1355

When asked if one's neighbour is believed to be one sex, but dresses, acts or identify as another, respondents indicated that they would:

Number of Respondents Percentage - weighted Affirm and support them 267 18% Accept them 845 65% Spend less time with them 84 6% Publicly distance oneself 73 5% Try to change them 99 6% Total 1368

When asked whether adults who dress, act or identify as one sex although they were born as another should be granted full legal recognition of the identity they declare, respondents indicated the following:

Number of Respondents Percentage - weighted Strongly agree 560 43% Somewhat agree 249 18% Neither agree or disagree 368 26% Somewhat disagree 74 6% Strongly disagree 114 7% Total 1365

When asked whether it is possible to respect one's own culture and be accepting of people who dress, act or identify as one sex although they were born as another, respondents indicated the following:

Number of Respondents Percentage - weighted Strongly agree 675 52% Somewhat agree 207 16% Neither agree or disagree 295 20% Somewhat disagree 66 5% Strongly disagree 120 7% Total 1363

When asked whether it is possible to respect one's own religion and be accepting of people who dress, act or identify as one sex although they were born as another, respondents indicated the following:

Number of Respondents Percentage - weighted Strongly agree 677 51% Somewhat agree 215 16% Neither agree or disagree 308 20% Somewhat disagree 72 5% Strongly disagree 116 8% Total 1388

(ILGA 2017)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the LGBT Coordinator of Legal Support for Human Rights (Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos, ASILEGAL, A. C.) [5] explained that the situation of gender non-conforming individuals in Mexico varies and that experiences of discrimination or violence are aggravated according to other social conditions such as gender, socio-economic status, immigration status, indigenous background, and roles such as being a human rights defender (ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018).

2.1 Indigenous Communities

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a researcher from the Mexican National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica), who has worked on sexual and reproductive health and rights internationally and in Mexico, stated, while speaking on his own behalf, that "classism and racism are very strong in Mexican society, maybe even more than LGBTphobia. That means that indigenous LGBT people will definitely experience more challenges in all spaces" (Researcher 3 May 2018). Other sources similarly indicate that in Mexico, indigenous persons are marginalized (Academic 7 May 2018; ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018), and that being indigenous in Mexico brings with it a [translation] "series of negative perceptions," and even more if the person is a sexual minority (Academic 7 May 2018). The academic explained that there is [translation] "institutional prejudice" against indigenous persons and there is a lack of knowledge among indigenous persons in terms of defending their rights (Academic 7 May 2018). Sources indicate that gender non-conforming indigenous persons may experience [translation] "double discrimination" (Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. 6 May 2018; ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018).

When asked how gender non-conforming individuals are regarded and treated in indigenous communities and whether they face any challenges, the researcher stated that "[i]t depends," and explained that "zapotecos and some groups in Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero are quite open to sexual diversity, but that [this] is not the case in all the communities in those states and in other indigenous groups" (Researcher 3 May 2018). According to the academic, sexual diversity within indigenous communities is a subject that has been scarcely researched and little is known about the situation of sexual minorities within indigenous communities (Academic 7 May 2018). According to ASILEGAL, A. C., it is difficult to generalize the experiences of sexual minorities in indigenous communities, given that there are 68 recognized indigenous communities in Mexico, which vary in population and geography (ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018). The academic stated, however, that [translation] "within indigenous groups, there are homophobic acts against LGBT men and women, as well as discriminatory notions that sustain the men-women, masculine-feminine binary" (Academic 7 May 2018). The academic stated that, in the case of women, they are subject to acts of rape as a way to [translation] "'cure'" them from what is considered "unnatural," and in the case of men, they are subject to sexual activities with women in order for them to "'become men'," while physical violence can occur in other cases (Academic 3 May 2018). According to the academic, when [translation] "'correcting'" their conduct is not successful, social pressure forces them to leave their communities for the cities (Academic 7 May 2018). The researcher similarly indicated that, while research on this area shows that LGBT indigenous people have to migrate to big cities in order to live "openly," "the problem is the context of small towns and not necessarily culture" (Researcher 3 May 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Director General of the Support Centre for Trans Identities (Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C.) [6] indicated that in the majority of indigenous communities, trans persons are rejected and excluded due to machismo and misogyny, causing them to move to urban areas (Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. 6 May 2018). According to the academic, the experiences of indigenous persons who live in cities can be diverse, depending on their motives for moving to the city and whether their families had moved to the city generations ago (Academic 7 May 2018).

2.2 Muxes

Sources indicate that the muxes are considered a "third-gender" (Reuters 12 Sept. 2017; Culture Trip 1 Dec. 2017; Vice Media 26 Nov. 2016). Sources describe muxes to be born biologically as men, who display a feminine identity (Reuters 12 Sept. 2017; Culture Trip 1 Dec. 2017; Vice Media 26 Nov 2016). The Guardian reports, however, that "[b]eing muxe is often confused with being transgender" and that "the muxe identity has more in common with being non-binary [7]" (The Guardian 27 Oct. 2017). An article on muxes published by Vice Media, similarly states that muxes do not "consider themselves cross-dressers or transgender" and that they "identify neither as men nor as women" (Vice Media 26 Nov. 2016). According to the National Public Radio (NPR), a Washington-based multimedia organization, some muxes "are men who live as women, or who identify beyond a single gender" (NPR 5 June 2012).

According to The Guardian, the muxe identity is specific to the Oaxaca region and the indigenous Zapoteca culture (The Guardian 27 Oct. 2017). Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that, according to Melendre, a civil society organization that advocates for the Zapotec culture, of the 75,000 inhabitants of Juchitan, approximately 5,000 are muxes and that muxes are also present in villages like Niltepec and Ixtepec (AFP 6 Oct. 2017). Reuters reports that, according to residents in Juchitan, there is a muxe in every Juchitan family and that they are known for their "dedication to family" (Reuters 12 Sept. 2017). Sources indicate that muxes are caregivers of their elderly mothers (Reuters 12 Sept. 2017; Culture Trip 1 Dec. 2017; NPR 5 June 2012). Sources indicate that muxes are generally accepted in Juchitan (Reuters 12 Sept. 2017; Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans A. C.; The Guardian 27 Oct. 2017). According to the NPR, in Juchitan, there are some Catholic priests who hold services for muxes (NPR 5 June 2012). The Mexican daily newspaper La Jornada cites Letra S, a Mexico City-based NGO specializing in health and sexuality (Letra S n.d.), as stating that [translation] "muxes are completely adapted in their families" and that mothers are generally more accepting of muxes than the fathers, as a result of machismo (La Jornada 6 June 2013).

Sources indicate, however, that muxes in Juchitan face discrimination (AFP 10 June 2017; Academic 7 May 2018) and can still be subject to violence (Academic 7 May 2018). The Guardian reports that "life outside Juchitan is not always easy" for muxes (The Guardian 27 Oct. 2017). Further information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Support Services

Sources indicate that there are "[v]ery few" organizations in Mexico that provide support for gender non-conforming individuals and that they face financial and resource constraints (Researcher 3 May 2018; ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018). According to the researcher, "most LGBT organizations in the country work on advocacy or provide HIV services, but there are very few spaces that provide a more comprehensive approach" (Researcher 3 May 2018). The researcher indicated the following organizations that provide support to gender non-conforming individuals: Colectivo 41, in San Miguel de Allende; ProDiana, in Mexico City; Comunidad Metropolitana, A. C., in Monterrey; Vida Plena, in Puebla; and Cohesion de Diversidades para la Sustenabilidad, A. C., in Guadalajara (Researcher 3 May 2018). According to ASILEGAL, A. C., there are various organizations, all in Mexico City, that promote and defend the human rights of sexual minorities, including ASILEGAL, A. C.; Letra S; Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C.; Fundacion Arcoiris, A. C.; El Closet de Sor Juana, A. C.; Almas Cautivas, A. C.; and Cuenta Conmigo Diversidad Sexual Incluyente, A. C. (ASILEGAL, A. C. 6 May 2018).

The information in the following paragraph was provided by the academic in correspondence with the Research Directorate:

Assistance for indigenous sexual minorities in Mexico [translation] "is a subject that has not received the attention it requires" and it remains "unclear." Many government programs intended for indigenous populations are focused on agricultural activities and, in terms of health care, the focus of the assistance is on reproductive health and birth control. Since indigenous languages are generally not spoken by those responsible for health care programs, indigenous individuals prefer not to solicit help. Indigenous sexual minorities in cities do not receive adequate attention. LGBT organizations have little concern for the indigenous population and their inclusion is not evident. Within the LGBT community, indigenous persons are discriminated against and segregated due to, among others, their poverty, physical traits, way of dressing, and speech manner (Academic 7 May 2018).

For further information about the situation of sexual minorities in Mexico, including state protection and support services, see Response to Information Request MEX105953 of February 2018.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "machismo" is defined as "[s]trong or aggressive masculine pride" (Oxford English Dictionary n.d.a).

[2] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "marianismo" is defined as a "pattern of behaviour that is regarded as conforming to a traditional or archetypal female role" (Oxford English Dictionary n.d.b).

[3] Andrew Reding is a senior fellow at World Policy Institute and Director of the Project for Global Democracy and Human Rights (Reding Dec. 2003). The World Policy Institute is a New York-based think tank that "identifies critical emerging global issues in an interdependent world and gives voice to compelling new global perspectives and innovative policy solution" (World Policy Institute n.d.a). The Project for Global Democracy and Human Rights "explores issues of democracy and human rights in the context of globalization. It identifies problems and points to solutions, with an emphasis on multilateral approaches" (World Policy Institute n.d.b).

[4] The sample of the survey was around 116,000 respondents in 75 countries, including Mexico (ILGA Oct. 2017, 8).

[5] ASILEGAL, A. C. is a Mexico City-based NGO that works for the defence and promotion of the human rights of groups in a situation of "vulnerability," including indigenous communities, youth, women and sexual minorities (ASILEGAL, A. C. n.d.). ASILEGAL, A. C. provides legal support and carries out research and educational training for young human rights defenders (ASILEGAL, A. C. n.d.).

[6] Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. is a Mexican civil society organization founded in 2011 that works for the defence and promotion of the human rights of the trans population (Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. 6 May 2018).

[7] Non-binary "is a term used by those whose identities do not fit into a strictly male/female binary" (CBC 20 Jan. 2018). "It encompasses  those who identify as neither male nor female, those who identify as both, those who are gender-fluid and identify periodically more as feminine or masculine" (CBC 20 Jan. 2018).

References

Academic. 7 May 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 6 October 2017. "Usar vestidos tradicionales, el nuevo estigma de los Muxes." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos, A. C. (ASILEGAL, A. C.). 6 May 2018. Correspondence from the LGBTI Coordinator to the Research Directorate.

Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos, A. C. (ASILEGAL, A. C.). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 23 May 2018]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 20 May 2016. Katy Watson. "Making a Noise About Machismo in Mexico." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 20 January 2018. Sara Fraser. "10 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Being Non-binary but Were Afraid to Ask." [Accessed 14 May 2018]

Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans, A. C. 6 May 2018. Correspondence from the Director General to the Research Directorate.

Culture Trip. 1 December 2017. Lauren Cocking. "A Brief History of Muxe, Mexico's Third Gender." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

El Financiero. 8 March 2017. Eduardo Ortega. "Pena Nieto llama a erradicar Machismo." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

Englander, Karen, Carmen Yanez, and Xochitl Barney. July 2012. "Doing Science Within a Culture of Machismo and Marianismo." Journal of International Women's Studies. Vol. 13, No. 3.

The Guardian. 27 October 2017. "Muxes: Gender-fluid Lives in a Small Mexican Town." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

The Guardian. 1 August 2014. Nina Lakhani. "Mexico's Machismo Culture Has Forced Me to Change the Way I Dress." [Accessed 23 May 2018]

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). October 2017. Minorities Report 2017: Attitudes to Sexual and Gender Minorities Around the World. [Accessed 2 May 2018]

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). 2017. The ILGA-RIWI Global Attitudes Survey on Sexual, Gender and Sex Minorities, 2017, in Partnership with Viacom, Logo and SAGE. [Accessed 2 May 2018]

Kulis, Stephen, Flavio F. Marsiglia, and Julie L. Nagoshi. 1 July 2010. "Gender Roles, Externalizing Behaviors, and Substance Use Among Mexican-American Adolescents." Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Vol. 10, No. 3.

La Jornada. 6 Junio de 2013. Leonardo Bastida Aguilar. "Muxes: entre la tradicion y el cambio." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Letra S. N.d. "Historia." [Accessed 4 May 2018]

National Public Radio (NPR). 5 June 2012. Padmananda Rama. "In Mexico, Mixed Genders and 'Muxes'." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

The New York Times. 23 April 2017. Paulina Villegas. "Where Machismo Is Entrenched, Focus Moves to the Trenches." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

Oxford English Dictionary. N.d.a. "Machismo." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

Oxford English Dictionary. N.d.b. "Marianismo." [Accessed 3 May 2018]

Reding, Andrew. December 2003. Sexual Orientation and Human Rights in the Americas. [Accessed 1 May 2018]

Researcher. 3 May 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Reuters. 12 September 2017. David Alire Garcia. "In Mexican Town, Women and 'Muxes' Take Charge After Massive Quake." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

Vice Media. 26 November 2016. Luis Cobelo. "Cooking with Muxes, Mexico's Third Gender." [Accessed 25 Apr. 2018]

World Policy Institute. N.d.a. "Mission." [Accessed 1 May 2018]

World Policy Institute. N.d.b. "Global Democracy and Human Rights." [Accessed 1 May 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Academics specializing in indigenous issues and gender identity in Mexico; ARC International; Arcus Foundation; Asociacion Internacional de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersex para America Latina y el Caribe; Association of Women in Development; Catolicas por el Derecho a Decidir, A. C.; Centro Comunitario de Atencion a la Diversidad Sexual; Ciudadanos Yucatecos por la Diversidad; Colectivo Leon Gay, A. C.; Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos; Comunidad Metropolitana, A. C.; Genero, Etica y Salud Sexual, A. C.; ILGA; independent researcher specializing in sexual orientation and gender identity issues in Mexico; Investigaciones Queer, A. C.; Letra S; Organization of American States - Rapporteurship on the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Persons; Outright Action; Transgender Law Center; UN  Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; World Policy Institute.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ARC International; Arcus Foundation; Asistencia Legal por los Derechos Humanos; Catolicas por el Derecho a Decidir, A. C.; ecoi.net; Fusion; Human Rights Watch; La Izquierda Diario; OutRight Action; UN  Refworld; University of Toronto  International Human Rights Program.
Chad: Strike and demonstrations organized by teachers, including the demonstration of 25 January 2017 in N'Djamena; student participation in the strike and demonstrations; treatment of participants by the authorities (2016-December 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 8 December 2018 Citation / Document Symbol TCD106028.FE Related Document(s) Tchad : information sur la greve et les manifestations organisees par les enseignants, y compris la manifestation du 25 janvier 2017 a N'Djamena; participation d'etudiants a la greve et aux manifestations; le traitement reserve aux participants par les autorites (2016-decembre 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Strike and demonstrations organized by teachers, including the demonstration of 25 January 2017 in N'Djamena; student participation in the strike and demonstrations; treatment of participants by the authorities (2016-December 2017), 8 December 2018, TCD106028.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bdd374.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Sources report that Chad has been affected since September 2016 by a [translation] "public sector strike" (Amnesty International 22 Feb. 2017; RFI 28 Dec. 2016) or a [translation] "general strike" (APA News 11 Jan. 2017).

International Crisis Group explains the following:

[T]he rise in military spending along with mismanagement of oil revenues has come at a cost. ... [T]he government has introduced drastic budget cuts, affecting allowances for civil servants, parliamentarians and police, student scholarships and the staffing size of state agencies. The government has accumulated arrears in payments of salaries, allowances and pensions.

This situation has caused waves of strikes by teachers and other public sector workers. (International Crisis Group 8 Sept. 2017)

Sources indicate that the three main labour unions forming the platform of striking unions are the Union of Trade Unions of Chad (Union des syndicats du Tchad, UST), the Independent Confederation of Trade Unions of Chad (Confederation independante des syndicats du Tchad, CIST) and the National Union of University Teachers and Researchers (Syndicat national des enseignants-chercheurs du superieur, SYNECS) (Le Pays 2 Feb. 2017; L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017; APA News 11 Jan. 2017).

Sources note that a teacher strike started in Chad in September 2016 (RFI 28 Dec. 2016; AFP 13 Dec. 2016). Sources report that the teacher strike is part of a broader protest movement in civil society against an austerity campaign introduced by the government to deal with the fiscal crisis caused by low oil prices (Freedom House 12 July 2017; AFP 13 Dec. 2016). According to sources, the teachers are protesting against arrears in their salary payments (AFP 13 Dec. 2016) and the reduction of their benefits (RFI 28 Dec. 2016).

Freedom House reports that the students are also taking part in the protest movement (Freedom House 12 July 2017). Sources indicate that they are demanding payment of their scholarships, which were eliminated by the government (Freedom House 12 July 2017; VOA Afrique 28 Feb. 2017; RFI 14 Dec. 2016).

1. Strike Actions from December 2016 to January 2017

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that, in December 2016, as a result of the teachers' strike, three million public school students found themselves with nothing to do (AFP 13 Dec. 2016). According to the same source, the government called upon the teachers to go back to work and threatened to take legal action against them (AFP 13 Dec. 2016). Sources report that President Idriss Deby also threatened, in December 2016, to dissolve existing Chadian labour unions (Freedom House 12 July 2017; L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017).

On 27 December 2016, according to sources, the Minister of National Education ordered classes to resume by 3 January 2017 (TchadConvergence 28 Dec. 2016), and the Chadian government announced that, as of January 2017, striking workers would no longer be paid (RFI 28 Dec. 2016). Radio France internationale (RFI) reports that on 30 December 2016, parliament approved the government's decision to stop paying workers for days they are on strike, in accordance with the bill providing that [translation] "'salaries for days not worked shall be at the expense of the unions, unless the reason is a generalized delay in the payment of salaries or attributable to the state. And in that case, the strike shall not continue for more than three days'" (RFI 31 Dec. 2016). Similarly, the French newspaper L'Humanite reports that, [translation] "[a]dopted on 30 December 2016, a new law directly challenges the right to strike, in violation of Conventions 87 [Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948] and 98 [Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949] of the International Labour Organization (ILO)" (L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017). Amnesty International adds that "[a] new decree obligates unions to pay strike pay for lost days by government workers and creates a new list of essential services for which strikes can be banned" (Amnesty International 14 Sept. 2017, 7).

Sources report that the strikers, on 3 January 2017, refused to give in to the government's demand (RFI 6 Jan. 2017; DW 3 Jan. 2017). According to TchadConvergence, a movement describing itself as [translation] "the citizen awakening portal advocating for citizen involvement in the struggle against bad governance and poverty in Chad" (TchadConvergence n.d.), classes had not yet resumed and the only people present in public education institutions were administrators (TchadConvergence 4 Jan. 2017). The same source appends to its article a copy of a communique from the Chadian teachers' union (Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad) announcing that it would be engaging in civil disobedience that day and urging members to continue the strike, while inviting the government to dialogue (Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad 3 Jan. 2017).

2. Treatment of Participants

Referring to the strikes and demonstrations that took place in Chad in fall 2016, Freedom House indicates that the Chadian authorities "repressed or banned" them and that these activities were met with "repression and violence" (Freedom House 12 July 2017). Similarly, International Crisis Group reports that the Chadian government reacted to the striking teachers and other public sector workers "with repression and a clampdown on civil liberties" and that reports of "harassment, arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and torture of journalists, civil society activists and political opponents have increased" (International Crisis Group 8 Sept. 2017). An article in L'Humanite from 12 January 2017, reporting on the refusal by the Chadian authorities to grant visas to French unionists who wanted to travel to Chad to support the protesters, states the following:

[translation]

The government's response boils down to one word: repression. For example, on 6 December [2016], as women demanding payment of their salaries were preparing for a demonstration in the capital, with the support of the unions and civil society organizations, the labour exchange (Bourse du travail) was cordoned off by soldiers deploying heavy weapons. (L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017)

The same source indicates that, in January 2017, the union platform's base was [translation] "exhausted by the repression, pressure and intimidation from the authorities" (L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017). According to sources, in December 2016, parents called upon by pressure groups to come and demonstrate in front of two schools in N'Djamena to support the teachers did not respond to the call out of fear of the authorities (RFI 14 Dec. 2016; AFP 13 Dec. 2016).

3. Suspension of the Strike from January to March 2017

Sources report that SYNECS leaders met with the Minister of Higher Education on 9 January 2017 and, threatened by the Chadian authorities with dissolution if they did not end their strike action and suspend their president, who had joined the Citizen Awakening Movement (Mouvement d'eveil citoyen, MECI) [1], abandoned their strike and called for academic activities to resume (Amnesty International 14 Sept. 2017, 30; VOA Afrique 10 Jan. 2017).

According to several sources, the union platform then announced that it too would be suspending the general strike for one month (BBC 13 Jan. 2017; L'Humanite 12 Jan. 2017; APA News 11 Jan. 2017). According to a press release dated 11 January 2017 and published on the TchadConvergence news website, the platform announced its [translation] "decision to suspend the strike throughout the whole territory for a 30-day period starting 12 January 2017" in order to "give the government the opportunity to make every effort to find adequate responses [to their] demands" (Union platform 11 Jan. 2017).

On the official website of the president of Chad, in the news summary for the week of Friday, 13 January 2017, it is indicated that [translation] "[t]he Chadian Teachers' Union (SET) is pleased that the platform has temporarily suspended the strike and urges the government to start a frank dialogue around the specific demands as soon as possible in order to lead the country out of this crisis once and for all" (Chad 13 Jan. 2017).

The Chadian newspaper Le Pays described the situation as follows on 12 January 2017:

[translation]

At the University of Farcha (Faculty of Pure and Applied Science), some students are circulating between classrooms and the main entrance. Some offices have remained closed, but in some departments the courses have partially started. "Teachers and students are having classes while others are still trying to figure out when classes are going to resume officially," says a teacher. The University of Toukra is totally deserted. The doors are closed, only a few department heads are present. No teachers, no students. Not even a sign of a potential resumption of classes. The amphitheatres closed, no electricity. "The white guy started up the generator yesterday, but there aren't any students and teachers, so he decided to shut it back down and wait until Monday," a guard tells us.

At the University of Ardep-Djoumal, teachers and students jostle in the courtyard. The classrooms are crowded with people. However, in the big high schools of the capital, one notices the presence of administrators, teachers and a few pupils. The same is true in most of the institutions we visited, where only a few employees will come in to the office. Many are department heads. (Le Pays 12 Jan. 2017, italics in original)

Sources report that the government and the unions were in negotiations between 12 January 2017 and 12 February 2017 (La Tribune Afrique 13 Feb. 2017; RFI 12 Feb. 2017; Le Pays 11 Feb. 2017). According to some sources, the National Committee for Social Dialogue (Comite national de dialogue social, CNDS) acted as a mediator in the negotiations (Tchadinfos.com 3 Mar. 2017; RFI 12 Feb. 2017).

On 11 February 2017, according to some sources, the platform decided to continue suspending the strike for three more weeks, until 6 March 2017 (Tchadinfos.com 3 Mar. 2017; La Tribune Afrique 13 Feb. 2017; Le Pays 11 Feb. 2017). On 6 March 2017, according to other sources, a memorandum of understanding extending the suspension of the general strike was signed by the Chadian government and the union platform to allow both parties to agree on two unresolved bargaining items (RFI 8 Mar. 2017; APA News 6 Mar. 2017).

Sources report that the negotiations between the government and the unions continued until July 2017, at which point the latter decided to withdraw (RFI 12 July 2017; Zaman 11 July 2017). Press articles from November 2017 refer to new threats of strike action by the teachers (Journal du Tchad 7 Nov. 2017; DW 2 Nov. 2017).

4. Teacher Demonstration on 25 January 2017 in N'Djamena

Information on a demonstration organized by teachers in N'Djamena on 25 January 2017 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Student Demonstrations

Sources indicate that students continued to demonstrate during this period:

Articles from January 2017 refer to a student-led [translation] "burn your diplomas" operation in front of the national assembly in N'Djamena to protest the lack of jobs (BBC 31 Jan. 2017; Africanews 31 Jan. 2017; DW 30 Jan. 2017);

On 14 February, demonstrating students from the Toukra campus in N'Djamena expressed their anger at the government, which was still refusing to pay their scholarships (VOA Afrique 14 Feb. 2017; Tchadinfos.com 14 Feb. 2017);

On 25 February 2017, several dozen students were arrested for disrupting a visit by the Minister of Higher Education and his Senegalese counterpart to the University of N'Djamena (VOA Afrique 28 Feb. 2017; APA News 28 Feb. 2017; Alwihda Info 25 Feb. 2017);

In late February-early March, a demonstration was violently repressed over a period of two days at the Lycee de Walia in the 9th district of N'Djamena (Alwihda Info 2 Mar. 2017; VOA Afrique 28 Feb. 2017).

Sources from October 2017 described an uncertain return to school (Journal du Tchad 16 Oct. 2017) and reported that the Chadian government was trying to avoid another strike (VOA Afrique 12 Oct. 2017). Information on whether Chadian students are continuing their protests could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] The Citizen Awakening Movement [translation] "br[ought] together civil society organizations, unions and political parties and  was described as 'unnatural' and 'without any legal basis' by the Minister of Territorial Administration in January 2017" (Amnesty International 14 Sept. 2017, 7).

References

Africanews. 31 January 2017. "Tchad : exasperes par le chomage, des etudiants brulent leurs diplomes." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 13 December 2016. "Chad's Empty Schools Force 3 Mn Pupils to Fill the Time." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Alwihda Info. 2 March 2017. Djimet Wiche Wahili. "Tchad : colere contre les violences policieres et cours suspendus au Lycee de Walia." [Accessed 28 Nov. 2017]

Alwihda Info. 25 February 2017. Djimet Wiche Wahili. "Tchad : une quarantaine d'etudiants arretes et plusieurs blesses apres une emeute." [Accessed 27 Nov. 2017]

Amnesty International. 14 September 2017. Entre recession et repression : le cout eleve de la dissidence au Tchad. [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Amnesty International. 22 February 2017. "Tchad." Amnesty International - Rapport 2016/2017 : la situation des droits humains dans le monde. [Accessed 27 Nov. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA News). 6 March 2017. "Tchad : poursuite des negociations sur fond de suspension de la greve generale." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA News). 28 February 2017. "Perturbation visite ministerielle : 69 etudiants tchadiens condamnes un mois ferme." [Accessed 27 Nov. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA News). 11 January 2017. "Tchad : la greve generale suspendue pour un mois (syndicats)." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 31 January 2017. "Tchad : des etudiants brulent leurs diplomes." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 13 January 2017. "Fin de la greve au Tchad." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Chad. 13 January 2017. La Presidence. "Synthese du vendredi, le 13 janvier 2017." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 2 November 2017. Carole Assignon. "Tchad, menace d'une nouvelle greve des enseignants." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 30 January 2017. Blaise Dariustone. "Les jeunes tchadiens brulent leurs diplomes." [Accessed 28 Nov. 2017]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 3 January 2017. Blaise Dariustone. "Les enseignants tchadiens continuent de faire l'ecole buissonniere." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Freedom House. 12 July 2017. "Chad." Freedom in the World 2017. [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

L'Humanite. 12 January 2017. "Au Tchad, 'les syndicalistes ne sont pas les bienvenus'." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

International Crisis Group. 8 September 2017. "In Backing Chad, the West Faces Moral Hazards." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Journal du Tchad. 7 November 2017. "Education: les enseignants de N'Djamena menacent de grever." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Journal du Tchad. 16 October 2017. "La rentree academique 2017-2018: les inscriptions dans les universites sont desormais payantes." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Le Pays. 11 February 2017. Bishop Saturnin. "La plateforme prolonge sa suspension de greve de trois semaines." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Le Pays. 2 February 2017. Madjiasra Nako. "L'imperatif du dialogue." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Le Pays. 12 January 2017. Djimnayel Ngarlenan. "Les travailleurs tchadiens reprennent le chemin des bureaux pour un mois." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Plateforme syndicale. 11 January 2017. "Communique de presse N8/UST-CIST-SYNEOCS/2017." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 12 July 2017. "Mecontentement dans la fonction publique au Tchad : pas d'accord en vue." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 8 March 2017. "Grogne sociale au Tchad : protocole d'accord entre gouvernement et syndicats." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 12 February 2017. "Tchad: les grevistes donnent trois semaines de plus au gouvernement." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 6 January 2017. "Grogne sociale au Tchad : les syndicats suspendent le service minimum." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 31 December 2016. "Tchad : les journees de greve ne seront plus payees." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 28 December 2016. "Greve des enseignants au Tchad : le gouvernement monte au creneau." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Radio France internationale (RFI). 14 December 2016. "Greve des profs au Tchad: des organisations appellent a 'sauver l'ecole'." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad. 3 January 2017. Mahama Djibrine Saleh. "Communique de presse N001/SET/BEN/SG/2017." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

TchadConvergence. 11 January 2017. "Crise sociale au Tchad : les syndicats accordent un repit d'un mois au gouvernement pour 'trouver des reponses adequates' a leurs revendications." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

TchadConvergence. 4 January 2017. "Rentree scolaire au Tchad : le Syndicat des enseignants maintient la greve et denonce une 'derive dictatoriale' du gouvernement." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

TchadConvergence. 28 December 2016. "Tchad : le ministre de l'Education nationale decrete la fin de la greve des enseignants au mepris des syndicats." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

TchadConvergence. N.d. "A propos." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Tchadinfos.com. 3 March 2017. "Gouvernement-Syndicats : intenses negociations pour eviter une greve le 6 mars prochain." [Accessed 22 Nov. 2017]

Tchadinfos.com. 14 February 2017. "Tchad : grogne des etudiants du campus universitaire de Toukra." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

La Tribune Afrique. 13 February 2017. Didier Assogba. "Tchad : les Centrales syndicales prolongent la suspension de la greve." [Accessed 23 Nov. 2017]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 12 October 2017. Andre Kodamdjingar. "Le gouvernement tchadien tente d'eviter les greves pour la nouvelle annee universitaire." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 28 February 2017. Andre Kodmadjingar. "69 etudiants condamnes pour 'outrage a l'autorite de l'Etat' au Tchad." [Accessed 27 Nov. 2017]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 14 February 2017. Andre Kodmadjingar. "La grogne des etudiants tchadiens continue." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique. 10 January 2017. Andre Kodmadjingar. "Un syndicat abandonne la greve nationale dans l'enseignement au Tchad." [Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

Zaman. 11 July 2017. "Tchad : les syndicats menacent de rompre la treve sociale." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad; teacher-researcher, Universite de N'Djamena; Union des syndicats du Tchad.

Internet sites, including: Chad  Government; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Organisation regionale africaine de la Confederation syndicale internationale (CSI-Afrique); Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad; UN  Refworld; US  Department of State.
Mexico and Venezuela: Residence status of Venezuelan refugees and transiting migrants in Mexico, including requirements and procedures to apply for residence status; rights and obligations associated with residence status; documents issued (2016-May 2018)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 1 June 2018 Citation / Document Symbol ZZZ106112.E Related Document(s) Mexique et Venezuela : information sur le statut de resident des refugies venezueliens et des immigrants en transit au Mexique, y compris les exigences et la marche a suivre pour demander le statut de resident; les droits et obligations lies au statut de resident; les documents delivres (2016-mai 2018) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico and Venezuela: Residence status of Venezuelan refugees and transiting migrants in Mexico, including requirements and procedures to apply for residence status; rights and obligations associated with residence status; documents issued (2016-May 2018), 1 June 2018, ZZZ106112.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b9bddb34.html [accessed 9 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

The website of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados, COMAR), the government agency responsible for adjudicating refugee claims made in Mexico, provides the following statistics on Venezuelan refugee claims:

Venezuelan Refugee Claims in Mexico Refugee Claims Filed Refugee Claims Adjudicated Recognized as Refugees Complementary Protection Rejected 2014 56 56 9 4 43 2015 57 53 26 8 19 2016 361 342 340 2 0 2017 4,042 912 907 0 5

(Mexico 6 Oct. 2017)

2018 sources indicate that [translation] "most" Venezuelans are recognized as refugees in Mexico (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Sin Fronteras 14 May 2018).

2. Refugee Status

Sources indicate that, in Mexico, Venezuelan citizens, like any other foreigner, can apply for refugee status (SMR 11 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Mexico 2012, Art. 8). Sources indicate that a refugee claim must be filed within 30 working days of entering the country (Mexico 2011, Art. 18; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). If a refugee claim is filed after 30 days, the claimant must explain the reasons for the delay (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Sin Fronteras 14 May 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights (Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos, CMDPDH) [1] indicated that Mexican authorities waive this time limit for Venezuelan citizens because they are considered refugees "sur place" due to deteriorating country conditions in Venezuela (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources indicate that COMAR has 45 working days to render a decision on a refugee claim (Mexico 2012, Arts. 38, 45; Asylum Access 14 May 2018). However, sources indicate that due to the earthquake in September 2017 in Mexico City, COMAR suspended the time limit to adjudicate cases (Mexico 17 Nov. 2017; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Scalabrinianas Mision con Migrantes y Refugiados (SMR), a Mexican NGO dedicated to supporting migrants, refugees, and human rights defenders (SMR n.d.), stated that the adjudication can take longer than 90 days (SMR 11 May 2018). According to the CMDPDH representative, some cases can take up to 11 months to be adjudicated by COMAR (CMDPDH 11 May 2018).

The CMDPDH representative indicated that a refugee claim can be filed at one of COMAR's offices (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). COMAR's offices are located in Mexico City, Chiapas, and Veracruz (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Mexico n.d.a). In places where there are no COMAR offices, refugee claims can be filed with the National Institute for Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migracion, INM) (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; SMR 11 May 2018; Asylum Access 14 May 2018). The INM is the government agency responsible for immigration matters (Mexico n.d.b). In Mexico City, COMAR assigns 15 spots per day from Monday to Thursday in order to file a refugee claim (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). According to the CMDPDH representative, refugee claimants have to line up in the early morning in order to secure a spot (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). When a person files a refugee claim, COMAR issues a document to the claimant that indicates that a refugee claim has been initiated (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; SMR 11 May 2018). The refugee claimant is required to report every week at the COMAR office and sign a log book (SMR 11 May 2018) in order to demonstrate their ongoing interest in the case (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Sin Fronteras 14 May 2018). The website of the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaria de Gobernacion, SEGOB) indicates that, until COMAR adjudicates the case, a refugee claimant cannot move to other states within Mexico without COMAR's authorization (Mexico 17 Nov. 2017).

2.1 Detention

Sources indicate that individuals who are detained by the INM are sent to a "migration station" (estacion migratoria) for removal (SMR 11 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Those who are refused entry by the INM at airports are also sent to a migration station for removal (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Sources indicate that asylum seekers who are detained at a migration station can indicate to the INM that they wish to file a refugee claim (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; SMR 11 May 2018). The CMDPDH representative indicated that, in this situation, the INM notifies COMAR and the person is placed in [translation] "alternative detention," meaning that he or she is released while the refugee case is adjudicated (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). The SMR representative indicated that, in coordination with the UNHCR, those in "alternative detention" are placed in shelters for migrants where they can continue with their refugee application (SMR 11 May 2018). The CMDPDH representative indicated that alternative detention is available only in Mexico City and is not necessarily available for detained persons in other parts of the country (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources indicate that Venezuelan citizens face challenges when arriving at international airports in Mexico and some of them have been refused entry and removed (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Animal Politico 4 Mar. 2018) including, in one case, after requesting refugee status (Sin Fronteras 14 May 2018). Sources report cases in which Venezuelan citizens who were refused entry at international airports were denied the opportunity to make a phone call or to contact the Venezuelan embassy while they were awaiting removal (Animal Politico 4 Mar. 2018; PanAm Post 21 Mar. 2018). In an interview with Animal Politico, a Mexican news source, and Newsweek, an INM representative indicated that [translation] "'only those who do not meet the requirements set out by law to enter the country are refused entry at the airport'" (Animal Politico 4 Mar. 2018). The INM representative also indicated that [translation] "'[i]f a foreigner requests refugee status from the INM as soon as he or she arrives at the airport, the INM will direct the person to the competent authority, which is COMAR. However, [some foreigners] are not clear in their declarations'" (Animal Politico 4 Mar. 2018). According to statistics produced by the SEGOB for the year 2017, 80 out of 80,353 removals were of Venezuelan citizens (Mexico Jan. 2018, Table 3.2.1).

Further information on Venezuelan migrants transiting through Mexico could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Documents

For information on documents issued to migrants transiting through Mexico, including exit permits, see Response to Information Request ZZZ106056 of March 2018.

3.1 Visitor's Provisional Document with Permission to Engage in Paid Employment

Sources indicate that when a person has been detained by the INM and is placed under alternative detention upon filing a refugee claim, the INM provides the person with a document called Visitor's Provisional Document with Permission to Engage in Paid Employment (Documento Provisional de Visitante con Permiso para Realizar Actividades Remuneradas) [hereafter called the Visitor's Provisional Document] (Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018), which is valid for 45 days, is renewable, and allows the person to remain in Mexico (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). A copy of the Visitor's Provisional Document provided by the CMDPDH representative is attached to this Response (Attachment 1). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of Sin Fronteras, IAP (Sin Fronteras), a civil society organization based in Mexico that promotes the rights of migrants and those under international protection (Sin Fronteras n.d.), indicated that the Visitor's Provisional Document is renewable for as long as COMAR adjudicates the refugee claim (Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018). However, the same source indicated that in order to renew the Visitor's Provisional Document, the person must obtain a certificate from COMAR that states that the refugee claim is pending and, given the suspension of time limits after the September 2017 earthquake, COMAR takes longer to issue these certificates and sometimes does not issue them at all (Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to the CMDPDH representative, the refugee claimant who received the Visitor's Provisional Document is required to report every week at the INM to sign a log book, in addition to their weekly signature of a log book at COMAR (CMDPDH 11 May 2018).

3.2 Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons Card

Sources indicate that once a person files a refugee claim with COMAR, he or she can apply for a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons (Visitante por Razones Humanitarias) card while COMAR adjudicates the case (SMR 11 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). A copy of a sample card is attached to this Response (Attachment 2). The INM website indicates that refugee claimants must provide the following documents in order to obtain the Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card:

passport or the document used to enter Mexico;

valid visitor's card (Forma Migratoria Multiple, FMM); and

a copy of the document issued by COMAR that indicates that a refugee claim has been filed (Mexico 19 May 2016).

The same source indicates that the card is valid for up to one year and can be renewed as many times as necessary while the case is being adjudicated (Mexico 19 May 2016). According to the SEGOB, Venezuelan citizens rank fourth among those who received a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card in 2017, with 1,626 recipients, following Haitians (2,552), Hondurans (2,013), and Salvadorans (1,713) (Mexico Jan. 2018, Table 2.10.1).

Sources indicated that holders of a Visitor's Provisional Document are not eligible to apply for a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; SMR 11 May 2018). The SMR representative explained that since the person has a detention record and an administrative process for removal on hold until COMAR adjudicates the case, he or she will not be able to apply for the Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card (SMR 11 May 2018).

4. Rights and Obligations

Sources indicate that holders of a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card are eligible to engage in paid employment (Mexico 19 May 2016; SMR 11 May 2018) and access public education and health care (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Holders of a Visitor's Provisional Document are also eligible to the same services (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Sources indicate, however, that holders of a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card or a Visitor's Provisional Document experience barriers accessing employment (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; SMR 11 May 2018). Sources also indicate barriers to accessing education and health care (Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). According to the CMDPDH representative, CMDPDH has documented cases of holders of a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card who have been denied access to health services for not having a Population Registry Code (Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion, CURP) [2] (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). The same source also indicated that some schools do not formally approve the school year for children of Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons card holders until they produce their CURP (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). Sources indicated that, in such cases, local NGOs have to intercede before public institutions in order to obtain services (CMDPDH 11 May 2018; Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018). Information on the impact of local NGOs' intervention could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Sources indicated that holders of a Visitor's Provisional Document experience more barriers in accessing services as that document is a "printed paper," which confers it less credibility (Sin Fronteras 16 May 2018; CMDPDH 11 May 2018). According to the CMDPDH representative, employers are wary of this document because they do not know it (CMDPDH 11 May 2018). According to the SEGOB website, if a refugee claimant needs to access health care services in Mexico City or has experienced problems enrolling their children in schools, he or she may contact COMAR to receive assistance (Mexico 17 Nov. 2017). Additional information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

5. Permanent Residency

Sources indicate that when a person is granted refugee status or complementary protection, he or she can apply for permanent resident status and, with this status, apply for a CURP (Mexico 17 Nov. 2017; SMR 11 May 2018).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The CMDPDH is a civil society organization with consultative status at the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) that works on advocacy, research, and the promotion of human rights in Mexico (CMDPDH n.d.).

[2] The CURP is an 18-digit alphanumeric code card issued to people residing in Mexico, whether Mexican citizens or foreigners, as well as Mexican citizens abroad (Mexico 14 Dec. 2015).

References

Animal Politico. 4 March 2018. Manu Ureste. "Venezuela huye del hambre y busca refugio en Mexico." [Accessed 15 May 2018]

Asylum [Access. 14 May 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos (CMDPDH). 11 May 2018. Telephone interview with a representative.

Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los Derechos Humanos (CMDPDH). N.d. "Quienes somos?" [Accessed 15 May 2018]

Mexico. January 2018. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Unidad de Politica Migratoria. Boletin mensual de estadisticas migratorias 2017. [Accessed 10 May 2018]

Mexico. 17 November 2017. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (COMAR). "Preguntas frecuentes sobre el impacto de la supsension de plazos y terminos en las solicitudes de reconocimiento de la condicion de refugiado." [Accessed 22 May 2018]

Mexico. 6 October 2017. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (COMAR). Estadisticas COMAR 2013-2017. [Accessed 10 May 2018]

Mexico. 19 May 2016. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM). "Preguntas frecuentes para solicitar el cambio a visitante por razones humanitarias." [Accessed 7 May 2018]

Mexico. 14 December 2015. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB). "Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion: CURP." [Accessed 15 May 2018]

Mexico. 2012. Reglamento de la Ley sobre Refugiados y Proteccion Complementaria. [Accessed 16 May 2018]

Mexico. 2011 (amended 2014). Ley sobre Refugiados, Proteccion Complementaria y Asilo Politico. [Accessed 28 May 2018]

Mexico. N.d.a. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (COMAR). "Oficinas y delegaciones de la COMAR en Mexico." [Accessed 15 May 2018]

Mexico. N.d.b. Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM). "Que hacemos?" [Accessed 1 June 2018]

PanAm Post. 21 March 2018. Orlando Avendano. "Venezolanos denuncian maltratos y deportaciones de Mexico." [Accessed 9 May 2018]

Scalabrinianas Mision con Migrantes y Refugiados (SMR). 11 May 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Scalabrinianas Mision con Migrantes y Refugiados (SMR). N.d. Facebook. "About." [Accessed 28 May 2018]

Sin Fronteras, IAP (Sin Fronteras). 16 May 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Sin Fronteras, IAP (Sin Fronteras). 14 May 2018. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Sin Fronteras, IAP (Sin Fronteras). N.d. "Quienes somos?" [Accessed 15 May 2018]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Mexico  Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados, Instituto Nacional de Migracion.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; El Espectador; El Tiempo; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Keesing's Documentchecker; NOTIMEX; US  Department of State; Venezuela  Embassy in Mexico City; Washington Office on Latin America.

Attachments

Mexico. N.d. Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM). "Documento Provisional de Visitante con Permiso para Realizar Actividades Remuneradas." Sent to the Research Directorate by the CMDPDH representative. Mexico. 8 November 2012. "Anexo 2: Documento Migratorio." Circular referente a los documentos migratorios y los formatos de solicitud de tramite y estadisticos del Instituto Nacional de Migracion. [Accessed 15 May 2018]
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Investec plc (INVP.L) said that it expects operating profit the six months ending 30 September 2018 to be ahead of the prior period. Revenue is expected to be moderately ahead of the prior period. Recurring income as a percentage of total operating income is expected to be approximately 78% compared to 76% last year.

The first half of the group's financial year continued to see macro challenges in its key operating geographies. The South African entered into a technical recession with pressures on household spending and dented confidence due to continued policy uncertainty. In the UK, Brexit related uncertainty has persisted, however the UK economy has remained resilient.

Against this backdrop, the Asset Management business is expected to report results ahead of the prior period, while the Wealth & Investment business is expected to report results behind the prior period. Both divisions have benefitted from higher levels of average funds under management supported by favourable equity and sound net inflows.

The Specialist Banking business is expected to report results ahead of the prior period. The UK Specialist Banking business is expected to report results well ahead of the prior period, while the South African Specialist Banking business is expected to report results in line with the prior period in Rands.

Overall group results have been negatively impacted by the depreciation of the average Rand against Sterling exchange rate of approximately 3.5% over the period.

Following the Group's announcement on management succession made in February 2018, the Joint Chief Executive Officer (Designates, Fani Titi and Hendrik du Toit, have been working closely with the Investec Board) and current members of the Group executive (Stephen Koseff, Bernard Kantor and Glynn Burger) in order to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. In conjunction with this process, the Board together with the executive directors, have conducted a strategic review of the Group to ensure that it is positioned to enhance the long-term interests of shareholders, clients and employees.

The Board has further concluded that it is now appropriate to demerge and publicly list IAM. The Investec Specialist Banking and Investec Wealth & Investment businesses will remain part of the Group's current Dual Listed Companies structure. The Board believes that this Transaction simplifies the Group and focuses IAM and the remaining Group on their respective growth paths, which will enhance the long-term prospects and potential of both businesses for the benefit of their shareholders, clients and employees.

The remaining Group comprises a specialist bank and wealth manager, with an attractive mix of client franchises and a sound balance sheet.

Fani Titi and Hendrik du Toit will become Joint CEOs of the Group on 1 October 2018. Kim McFarland will also become an executive director of the Group Board on that date. Ciaran Whelan will assume his role as Global Head of Risk on 1 April 2019.

Stephen Koseff and Bernard Kantor will step down from their roles as CEO and Managing Director, respectively, on 1 October 2018. From that date they will continue to serve as executive directors with primary responsibility for assisting the incoming Joint CEOs until completion of the Transaction.

Following the implementation of the Transaction, Fani Titi will lead the remaining Group and Hendrik du Toit will lead IAM. The structure and composition of the Boards of the remaining Group and IAM will be determined in due course as part of the Transaction implementation.

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A Connecticut court sentenced the former chief executive officer of a defunct cryptocurrency mining firm to 21 months in jail after he was found guilty to fraudulent mining and sale of virtual currency.

Josh Garza, the CEO of GAW Miners, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 21 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, including home confinement in the first six months.

In a fraud that began in 2014, GAW Miners launched Paycoin, its failed crptocurrency project that was pitched as having a price value of $20.

The company also sold miners, and the right to purchase Paycoin, as well as 'hashlets.' A hashlet entitled an investor to a share of the profits that GAW Miners or its division ZenMiner would purportedly earn by mining virtual currencies.

To generate and attract potential investors, Garza made multiple false statements related to the scheme. He told investors that Gaw Miners' parent company purchased a controlling stake in ZenMiner for $8 million and that ZenMiner became a division of GAW Miners. In fact, there was no such transaction.

Garza also claimed that the market value of Paycoin would not fall below $20 per unit because the company had a reserve of $100 million. No such reserve existed, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) found in an investigation.

During the ponzi scheme, Garza used the money he raised from new hashlet investors to pay older investors. It has been estimated that through this scheme, Garza embezzled $9,182,000 from hundreds of people around the world.

In July last year, Garza pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Judge Chatigny ordered Garza to re-compensate the investors he cheated. He was released on bond, and ordered to report to prison on January 4, 2019.

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Brazilian retail giant Via Varejo said it partnered with blockchain payment service Airfox to provide financial services to its customers powered by blockchain .

The exclusive partnership with Via Varejo, the owner of home appliance and furniture chain Casa Bahia, will enable Airfox to provide mobile financial services to 60 million Brazilian consumers across Varejo's near 1,000 retail stores and e-commerce websites. Via Varejo stores serve 68% of Brazil's population.

The Airfox digital banking platform will provide consumers an easy, fast, and cost-free way to complete daily financial tasks such as buying goods, paying bills, transferring money, and recharging public transit cards using their mobile phones, all using a single app.

The Airfox app will enable customers to deposit and withdraw money at any Casas Bahia store as well as over 200,000 other offline locations, including post-offices, banks, and ATMs.

Airfox will also help customers to easily pay back their in-store loans provided by Casas Bahia using the app. These in-store loans are used to purchase large-ticket items like furniture, electronics, and appliances. Via Varejo issues roughly 300,000 new in-store loans per month, with the current outstanding at $1 billion.

The partnership with Via Varejo will allow Airfox to extend its mobile digital wallet to Via Varejo's national customer base and drive mainstream adoption. The wallet is already accessible in the Brazilian market nationwide.

Airfox app also provides additional features such as access to microloans, user authentication by biometric facial recognition, QR code charge and payment features, advanced machine learning to assess credit risk from smartphone data, and more.

The Airfox app, available on Android, eliminates the need for traditional financial institutions and enables unbanked users, without credit, access to critical financial services.

The Airfox lending platform runs on the AirToken platform (AIR), an ERC-20 token built on the Ethereum blockchain. The native digital utility token facilitates the transfer of mobile airtime, data and currency, as well as payments for goods and services, with minimal friction and fees.

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'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon's bid for New York governor ended at its primary stage as she failed to win the Democratic party nomination against incumbent Andrew Cuomo.

Cynthia conceded defeat after she could win only 35 percent of the vote while Cuomo gained 65 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting.

Responding to the result on Twitter Thursday night, Nixon said she is not discouraged, but inspired.

"We have fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state," according to the 51 year old New Yorker and progressive activist. Cynthia said she could bring to the forefront "issues of racial and economic justice" during the campaign.

At the time of launching her gubernatorial campaign, Cynthia said she is contesting the election to stop Cuomo from selling New York off to the highest bidder. Cuomo has been the state's governor since 2011

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Manafort appeared in federal court on Friday to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the U.S. and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The plea deal was described as a "cooperation agreement," with other charges against Manafort to be dropped following his "successful cooperation" with Mueller's probe.

Manafort had been facing seven charges in Washington, including money laundering, tax fraud, and making false statements to the Department of Justice.

The lobbyist, who ran Trump's presidential campaign for several months, was previously convicted of eight counts of bank and tax fraud in Virginia.

The announcement of the plea deal comes just three days before jury selection for Manafort's second trial was set to begin on Monday.

In a statement responding to the news, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders claimed the agreement has nothing to do with Trump.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," Sanders said. "It is totally unrelated."

Trump has repeatedly described Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt," although Manafort's cooperation could shed further light on allegations of collusion between the campaign and Russia.

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To the Prime Minister

Government of Samoa

Dear Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi,

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you and Samoa for showing inspirational political courage and leadership on the catastrophic consequences of Climate Change.

Your voice is an inspiration to us all.

I am the Australian Director of the Scientist Warning initiative. Scientists Warning is a global independent network of concerned citizens and organizations committed to the wellbeing of humanity and the planet. Our mission, protection and preservation of Life on Earth.The World Scientists Warning to Humanity  Second Notice was published as an article in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal BioScience.

The article which is one of the most discussed pieces of scientific research ever is a wake-up call to humanity has been co-signed by more than 22,000 scientists from 184 countries.

I would like to invite you to endorse the World Scientists Warning to Humanity which will help change civilizations current trajectory.

After exploring the website and conferring with your associates, perhaps you would see fit to do the Organizational Endorsement and upload your logo. You and your colleagues are also more than welcome to do the Individual Endorsement of the Warning.

http://www.scientistswarning.org/join/organizational-endorsement-form/

http://www.scientistswarning.org/join/individual-endorsement-form/

It would a great honour to have the endorsement of a great fighter of Climate Change like yourself and the nation of Samoa.

I thank you for your time and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Steven Sklifas

Scientists Warning

National Director  Australia

Writer and Photographer

Phone: +61 417 513 517
A retired Australian Geologist has alleged excavation work on the rugged side of a volcano in Savaii triggered Mondays deadly landslide that claimed three lives.

Tuapou Warren Jopling, an Australian Geologist who had a career in oil exploration in Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia and retired to Savaii in 1983, said Tafua is the largest of the islands 450 volcanic cones and it appears the landslide occurred when the men were allegedly digging on the southern side of the volcano.

Tafua is Savaiis only volcano located on a shoreline. I was not surprised there was a landslide, part of the problem is that they were excavating the southern part of the volcano."

Simple reason, they were excavating and digging it deep I think too deep. Im pretty sure the excavators underwent a problem of trying to cut through the rock face which caused instability, he said, in an interview with Samoa Observer.

The Ministry of Police have released the bodies of the three men to their families with a coronial inquiry now set for mention on Wednesday, October 24. The Police have identified the deceased as: 34-year-old Meki Matau of Tafua and Puipaa, 37-year-old Fogalefatu Tiatia of Gataivai and 42-year-old David Laloata from Tafua.

Tuapou published a book last year titled Visitors Field Guide to Savaii, which he said targeted tourists and included a brief summary of the islands geological history.

According to the book, there is an abundance of tuff  a rock that forms through volcanic eruption  within the vicinity of the Tafua-Tai village and is quarried by the villagers.

Marine tuff can be seen in quarries on either side of Tafua-Tai village and along the plantation road that encircles the volcano. It is compact in outcrop but crumbles into sand under pressure and can be mixed with cement to make concrete flooring, he said.

Repeated efforts to get comments from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Acting C.E.O. Asuao Malaki Iakopo have been unsuccessful.
The inaugural farmers forum is not just talk.

On Wednesday, farmers from across the Pacific sat down with local farmers to exchange ideas and skills on issues ranging from nutrition to seed banking.

The morning was spent rotating groups of local farmers between guests from Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands: members of the Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (P.I.F.O.N.).

The guests are farmers whose achievements are featured in the new P.I.F.O.N. publication: Impact Stories, which highlights the ways farmer organisations have joined together with donors and governments to implement meaningful agriculture projects.

Reading those impact stories is one thing, but having a chance to meet the people in person is quite another.

Program Manager at P.I.F.O.N., Lavinia Kaumaitotoya said with these discussions, they can often be so engaging the facilitator needs to get quite pushy to get the groups to rotate to the next speaker.

Groups of five or six farmers will sit with each guest to hear their story, learn from them but also share their own experiences.

It really is an intimate discussion going on between the farmers and their participants, she said.

Sharing information this way is key to tapping into the broad marketplace available to strong farmers.

One of the reasons P.I.F.O.N. was formed was that we found out there is a big market out there, and in order to get into that market you need to learn and share.

The market is too big for all Pacific farmers to meet, she said. So farmers may as well work together.

Ms. Kaumaitotoya said unfortunately that market can drive farmers to hesitate before sharing their knowledge with people they consider their competition.

She said for lone farmers, it can be tough and a struggle, but when united, farmers can learn a lot from each other.

You have the power to learn and exchange technical information, learn how to grow a crop in the right way so you can get a better yield.

Once you get a very good crop, and very good yields, then people start taking notice of you.

Through joining P.I.F.O.N., Ms. Kaumaitotoya said she has learned the skills to start a coconut farm.

By visiting farms, like the site visits the farmers forum conducted on Tuesday, she was able to ask farmers about their work and apply those lessons to her own land.
September 2018 will go down in the history of the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) as the day that sets a pathway, for a more collaborative working relationship with an important partner to S.V.S.G. and its child protection work.

It was when the focal government ministry for child protection work in Samoa, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, visited the Campus of Hope at Tuanaimato for the first time since S.V.S.G. was established in 2009.

Led by the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Afamasaga Faauiga Mulitalo, she was accompanied by the management team.

The C.E.O. acknowledged with gratitude the existence of a safe place to support, to help and to care for the abused children of Samoa.

Visiting the Campus enabled the Management of the Ministry and myself to appreciate the magnitude of S.V.S.Gs work, and now we are in a much better position to help out, despite the visit being long overdue, she said.

To the children, Afamasaga appealed to them as a mother, reassuring them that their being at the Campus, is not their fault.

S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang thanked C.E.O. Afamasaga and the management team of the Ministry for taking time out to visit the children at the Campus.

S.V.S.G. has been looking forward to establishing this partnership with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for a long time now, and we are glad at the way things are now progressing for child protection work in Samoa, she said.
Kalinda Salia from Brisbane, Australia is a first timer to Samoa and the island has surpassed her expectation.

For a different and more authentic experience, she chose Samoa for a relaxing getaway with her partner and two-year-old son, Louis Zorko.

Kalinda said the island offers enough activities for tourists to enjoy

There is a lot to do and see as well on the other island, she said.

Kalinda came to know about Samoa through her friends who have visited the island before.

The clear blue water is what attracted her attention, saying it is beautiful and crystal.

It is definitely less touristy than Fiji for example and the water is way clearer and I actually love the marine life. The people, on top of that, are really friendly. I find people in the Pacific lovely and helpful.

When people greeted us at the airport playing the guitar it made us feel really welcomed. The airport itself, I think, just suits the island, they did a really good job, Kalinda said.

I think not a lot of people know about Samoa, so when I told them, they were asking where it is. I feel like in a way that it is a good thing because when place get overpopulated, the marine life starts to die, she shared.

She also commented on the various structures she saw on her from the airport.

It is amazing to see there are so many fales and so many churches, Kalinda said.

Learning a bit about the culture is definitely a part of our visit, everyone has been really open to share, she said.

They plan to spend five nights in Samoa before returning to their home.

Kalinda said she would recommend Samoa to any tourist and if she is to return, then her choice of accommodation is Taumeasina Island Resort.
Think a minuteA woman who had been married 20 years was missing the passion in her marriage, so she asked her husband why he did not tell her that he loved her more often. He replied: I told you on our wedding day that I love you. If I change my mind, Ill let you know!

Years ago the rich and famous movie star Grace Kelly sacrificed it all and left her home in America to live the rest of her life in a different countryall for the love of a man.

King Edward of England gave up his throne and kingdom for the woman he loved. Listen to these words from his speech that was broadcast around the world: You all know the reasons which have driven me to renounce my throneBut you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy responsibility as king without the help and support of the woman I love.

The movie, The Passion of the Christ, had a powerful impact on people as it brought to life the historical facts of Jesus brutal death and His resurrection that is one-of-a-kind in all of history.

Gibsons film was the first time millions actually understood and saw an accurate picture and portrayal of the unjust trial, suffering and torture Jesus experienced and endured when he was executed as the worst of criminals.

Crucifixion was designed by the Romans to be both the most shameful, humiliating and painful death a human being could suffer. Jesus was not even given the dignity of clothing. He was stripped completely naked on the cross.

So why did God allow Himself to be mocked and murdered like that? Only one reason: He passionately loves you and me. He knew it was the only way that the full penalty for all our wrong hearts and living could be paid with complete justice.

It was the only way our perfectly pure Creator could be reunited with us rebellious, sinful creatures to share His abundant, everlasting life with us. That is real love! That is passion in action.

There is nothing more God can possibly do to prove to us how much He loves us! And all He wants is for us to love Him in return by living each day with Him.

So once and for all, wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for your all of your sins and living your own way? If you surrender every area of your heart to Him, you can start passionately living His way and enjoying your new life with Him to the fullestjust as He planned for you from the beginning.

Just think a minute
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, introduced a bill early this month that would tax companies with 500 or more employees an amount equal to federal benefits received by their low-wage workers. The bill is designed to discourage large companies from paying their workers so little that they end up relying on federal benefits, such as food stamps, to make ends meet.

Q: If passed, would the Sanders bill be good for taxpayers? (Yes or No)?

Phil Blair, Manpower

NO: There seems to be an assumption that some companies choose to pay their employees a lot and some choose to pay them little. The real issue is high-paid employees have developed talents and skills that demand a higher wage, no matter where they work. Low-skilled workers are paid less for their services because of low productivity and the high supply of people with limited skills that they are competing with. Qualcomm needs highly skilled employees and has to pay a lot to attract and keep them. Its not a choice of management to choose to pay little. The reverse is true at a Walmart. In Sanders example, a Qualcomm should get a refund for the benefits it pays its high-earning employees.

Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research

Not participating this week.

David Ely, San Diego State University

NO: This bill will incentivize companies to avoid hiring workers they suspect qualify for federal assistance and to minimize financial penalties by outsourcing work to small contractors. Few companies will respond to the bill by increasing pay for all low-wage earners since it will be less expensive to pay the penalties for just the employees receiving federal assistance. If Congress wants to shift the expenses of federal assistance to large employers, more efficient approaches exist.

Gina Champion-Cain, American National Investments

NO: Only the convoluted nature of our governance could extend hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits to companies like Amazon while threatening a separate tax penalty for being a major employer. Sanders "Bezos" plan would subject employers to a tax directly tied to their ability to employ low-skill workers. Penalizing providers of work for the unskilled is a misguided notion sure to accelerate job loss and harm all taxpayers.

Alan Gin, University of San Diego

YES: By increasing taxes on companies that pay their employees low wages, the bill brings in additional tax revenue that can help offset the cost of federal programs that these employees are utilizing. Whether that is good for the economy is another question. It sets a high threshold (500+ employees) for the companies that would be affected, so not enough companies and employees are involved. Something like raising the minimum wage would be a better approach as more workers would be impacted.

James Hamilton, UC San Diego

NO: Whether an individual qualifies for benefits depends not just on the wage but also on how many hours the person works, working status of the spouse, and number of children. When the government makes it more costly to hire individuals with certain characteristics, companies will hire fewer of those people. If someone is not working, it costs the taxpayers even more in benefits and we lose the FICA contributions that their employers pay if they are working.

Gary London, London Moeder Advisors

NO: I have no problem with the Senate putting pressure on companies to take better care of their employees. If the threat of a tax on them encourages better behavior, good. However, rather than a tax, wouldnt it would be better if our legislators would get their heads out of the sand and work on universal health care and other life essential protections so that businesses would not have to bear the exclusive and excessive burden, and so that workers can flexibly work  and be protected  in a rapidly changing working environment?

Norm Miller, University of San Diego

NO: Sanders makes the same mistakes as many politicians that presume a static world that does not react to new rules. Show me a rule like this imposed on a firm of 1,500 employees and I will show you some new alliance with three or more separate sub-500 worker companies. There are many examples of perverse economics where good intentions create negative impacts and do not solve the problem for which they were intended, i.e., rent controls.

Jamie Moraga, IntelliSolutions

NO: Its counterproductive. We should focus on maintaining a strong economy, creating more jobs, getting more people employed, and supporting programs like the earned income tax credit. Levying more taxes on businesses could drive them overseas, accelerate their plans to shift to automation which reduces jobs, or lead them to avoid hiring employees that may trigger this tax. Those results wouldnt be helpful to workers, taxpayers, or our economy.

Austin Neudecker, Rev

YES: Although I appreciate the intention (clearly it would save billions, but would we lower taxes?), the way it is worded has the potential for eliminating many gig or part-time opportunities. For those affected, they would go from 'under-employed' to relying fully on our safety nets. I am confident there are better ways to increase wages and reduce the dependence on government support. I am a fan of a more severe change in this direction: Universal Basic Income.

Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates

NO: Any increase in costs to business gets passed on to consumers. This sounds like the typical Sanders wealth transfer attempt from wealthy and middle-class to the poor. His legislation would give employers a choice: Either pay better or pay the government back for what your workers receive in public assistance. At the end, everyone including the poor, will be paying more money for supplies and services. This legislation is bad for all taxpayers.

Lynn Reaser, Point Loma Nazarene University

NO: If lower income workers are paid more, either other workers will be paid less over time or profits will be reduced. That would mean lower income or profits for taxes. The more likely outcome would be a decrease in the number of low-skill workers as firms seek to automate more of their operations. That could mean an even greater burden on taxpayers as the newly unemployed become more reliant on government assistance.

John Sarkisian, Motion Ventures

NO: Bernie Sanders bill, while I would hope is well intended on his part, is misguided at best. There is a minimum wage law in place at both national and state levels. If Senator Sanders believes people are not earning enough he should focus his efforts at again raising the minimum wage. Adding another tax based on employees personal circumstances and living decisions which may lead them to seek out additional government assistance looks like a bad idea.

Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health

NO: Taxpayers could benefit if taxes were lowered, but I doubt that will happen. Shifting the cost of programs to employers could help taxpayers by lowering the cost of government. But most will benefit more from this strong economy, with supply and demand driving competitive wages and benefits. And perhaps eliminating some of the costly regulations placed on employers could free up more resources for employees.

Have an idea for an EconoMeter question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com.

Follow me on Twitter: @PhillipMolnar
The historic mansion in Coronado that local magnate John D. Spreckels once called home has sold to a Los Angeles hotel company for $39 million. Over 100 years ago, the landmark six-bedroom ocean property was built for a few zeros less: $35,000.

The extravagant island property  now called The Glorietta Bay Inn  today includes 89 contemporary rooms and suites. It was sold to Kamla Hotels, a family-owned company that owns a mix of boutique and branded hotels in California.

The historic property didnt come cheap. At $39 million, Kamla paid nearly $400,000 per room.

Its a high price, but its a phenomenal and irreplaceable location, said local hotelier Robert Rauch, CEO of RAR Hospitality. No one can build more hotels in Coronado. When you have a location thats protected, the barriers to building are not only deep and significant, but virtually impenetrable.

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In its early history, the Coronado mansion stood out for its lavish details, including a brass cage elevator and a marble staircase with leather-wrapped railings. The building included six bedrooms, three baths, a parlor, dining room, and library when it was first commissioned.

Spreckels is best known for building a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego. During an economic downturn in the late 1800s, he stepped in to keep the regions famous destination  Hotel Del Coronado  above water. He offered loans to the hotels owners at a time when lenders had largely bailed on San Diego, eventually assuming full ownership of the property until his death in 1926.

In the years since, Spreckels personal mansion was converted into a B&B property and later, The Glorietta Bay Inn. For the past 42 years, it was owned by La Jolla venture capitalist Ralph Buzz Woolley Jr.

Atlas Hospitality Groups president Alan Reay, who brokered the sale, said Woolley sold the property because he wanted to retire.

The inn stands out in Kamlas current portfolio as the only historic property, with mid-range brands including Best Western and Fairfield Inn & Suites dominating its current investments.

Dev Patel, Kamlas chairman and CEO, says The Glorietta is not the first historic property the company has owned, however. It recently sold a portfolio of independent historic properties in Northern California.

Our portfolio is a good mix of independent and franchise hotels, Patel said in an email. We feel the Glorietta Bay Inn fits perfectly within our plans now and in the future. We are tremendously excited to have it as part of our growing portfolio in San Diego.

The hospitality group has been ramping up efforts locally, Patel said. Kamla Hotels recently purchased Travelodge La Jolla, which it plans to convert to a higher end boutique with a top-to-bottom renovation. The new property, to be called the Shoal La Jolla Beach, will be launching shortly, he said. Kamla also bought beachfront property Pacific View Inn in Pacific Beach, which will receive a major renovation this winter.

Patel said Kamla has no immediate plans for renovating the Glorietta Bay Inn.

We will evaluate the existing business and make improvements to the marketing efforts based on our expertise, and move the business itself forward first, Patel said.

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brittany.meiling@sduniontribune.com 619-293-1286 Twitter: @BrittanyMeiling
The first round wasnt even close.

Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas received 62 percent of the vote in Junes mayoral primary election. That turned out to be 24,572 votes  more than three times as many as her distant runner-up, Hector Gastelum.

Only 6,676 people voted for him.

Despite the landslide victory in June, both Salas and Gastelum will face off again in Novembers general election.

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Novembers campaign unofficially began Monday night, when the Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association hosted the campaign seasons first candidates forum at the South Chula Vista Public Library.

During the forum, Gastelum portrayed himself as the Donald Trump of the South Bay. Hes running as a pro-business, America First conservative who is for the rule of law, against sanctuary cities, and wants to get rid of Planned Parenthood.

He also doesnt like marijuana.

Were a conservative city and I dont want it full of pot heads, he said.

Salas painted herself as an experienced and level-headed leader who wants a second term to finish what she started in the last four years. She touted progress made in building the Bayfront development, bringing a university to the South Bay, revitalizing downtown Chula Vista, and generating tax revenues with more hotels on the east side.

Her family has been in Chula Vista for nearly 100 years and Salas has a deep connection to the South Bay.

I really know this city and I really love it, she said.

Gastelum, who serves on the Otay Water District and was officially censured last year for Islamophobic tweets and refuses to apologize for them, hopes to overcome his primary defeat by portraying the citys finances as a sign of poor leadership.

During the forum, he repeatedly mentioned Chula Vistas projected budget deficits  $26 million in fiscal year 2023  and said hed try to increase revenues by attracting businesses to Chula Vista.

Were going to make Chula Vista business-friendly again, he said.

Gastelum didnt go into details of how that would happen.

During the forum, Gastelum criticized the citys marijuana ordinance and the Measure A sales tax increase.

Even though state law and the ordinance prohibit selling recreational marijuana to anyone under 21, Gastelum said he worried about the children. He also said the sales tax increase, Chula Vistas second since 2016, is unfair to taxpayers.

Ive always felt that I want government to be more accountable to the taxpayers, he said.

Salas defended the recreational marijuana ordinance, saying it was written in such a way that the council can quickly revise it as issues come up. The mayor also said the tax measures were necessary for much-needed infrastructure projects and to hire more police officers and firefighters.

I know a lot of people dont like that Ive been the mayor that passed two tax measures in the time that Ive been in office, she said. But I really believe that the benefit thats conferred to the community is well worth it.

Salas said Chula Vista is heading toward the right track as all of the long-talked-about projects, like the Bayfront development and downtown redevelopment, are finally coming to fruition.

Were doing a lot in the city to improve economic development and Im really proud of that, she said.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
The San Ysidro school board on Thursday approved an agreement to settle a lawsuit against former Superintendent Manuel Paul, who spent time in prison for requesting political contributions from contractors who wanted to be considered for work on district projects.

The settlement represents the end of a 3-year-old court case in which the school district sued Paul to recover more than $200,000 he received as a payout when he resigned in 2013 amid pay-to-play allegations.

The settlement was approved unanimously behind closed doors, with trustee Rodolfo Linares absent. The board did not release details of the agreement.

A district spokesman said the agreement was missing signatures and not yet finalized.

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Trustee Marcos Diaz said he believes the resolution in the case against Paul allows the district to close a chapter and focucs on other matters.

We needed to put it behind us, he said in an interview. I think it was one of the many issues that kept us from moving forward.

Asked if he was pleased with the settlement, he said: As can be under the circumstances. Im just glad that its behind us.

He added that he considered settling the lawsuit the best option, saying legal fees led to diminishing returns.

Paul, who led the district of about 5,000 students for six years, spent two months in prison in 2015 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in San Diego federal court.

In a plea deal, Paul admitted he demanded campaign contributions from contractors as a price for them to be considered for work on district projects.

In 2010, two months before school board elections, the superintendent accepted $2,500 in cash from a contractor in Pauls Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot of a steak house.

He admitted he spent the money at a print shop in Tijuana on campaign signs for trustee Yolanda Hernandez.

The political contribution first came to light in 2012, when Paul admitted to the transaction in a deposition for a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the district over a solar panel project.

Paul, who attended San Ysidro schools and worked for the district for more than 30 years, resigned in 2013 after he was indicted in a wider corruption probe by the District Attorneys Office. The case involved 15 educators and contractors across South County.

In that case, Paul pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to probation, community service and fined.

The district, which serves some of the poorest students in the county, brought its lawsuit against Paul a month after he was sentenced to federal prison. The district sought to recover the $211,247.22 paid out to Paul as part of a severance agreement, the salary he was paid while on administrative leave for six months, and other damages, as well as attorney fees.

Filed on Feb. 2, 2015, in San Diego Superior Court, the lawsuit cited state law that requires public officials who are convicted of a crime linked to their positions to reimburse pay related to the termination of their employment contracts.

Pauls attorney, Dennis Grady, has said the statute does not apply because the severance pay approved by the school board was part of a retirement agreement, not an employment contract.

Grady did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

Paul, who was named superintendent in 2007, has been blamed for financial problems that were so dire the district was at risk of being taken over by the state.

According to court records, the district put forward a draft settlement agreement on July 9. In the weeks that followed, the parties in the case engaged in discussions about the settlement and actively revised the agreement.

The districts lawyer, William Trejo, said in Aug. 15 court documents the proposed settlement agreement included a provision for the case to be dismissed permanently.

Superintendent Gina Potter, who stepped into the position in May, released a statement Thursday night in response to the approved settlement.

Our district is diligently working to bring resolution to issues of the past, so we can move forward and rebuild our district with a keen focus on providing our children with the best education possible, Potter said.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez

UPDATES:

10:15 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Superintendent Gina Potter and trustee Marcos Diaz. This article was originally published at 7:50 p.m.
Comedy director Paul Feig tries a thriller on for size with the juicy A Simple Favor, a suburban Connecticut murder mystery thats Gone Girl meets The Stepford Wives. Based on the novel by Darcey Bell, adapted by Jessica Sharzer, the consciously campy A Simple Favor is as bright and bracing as an ice-cold gin martini with a lemon twist, and just as satisfying.

Anna Kendrick stars as Stephanie, a mommy vlogger raising her son, Miles (Joshua Satine), on her own after her husbands death in a car accident. Shunned by the other parents (a gloriously catty trio played by Andrew Rannells, Aparna Nancherla and Kelly McCormack), she takes up with the glamorous, elusive and mysterious Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), mostly because their kids want a play date. Thirsty for attention, Stephanie agrees to slurp down afternoon martinis.

As the sexy, stylish Emily, Lively is at her best. The role offers her a chance to try on a deliciously naughty performance while playing on her flair for fashion. Decked from head to toe in three-piece suits, Emily cuts a seductive and serpentine figure. She snares Stephanie into her web the same way she snagged her husband, the dashing novelist Sean (Henry Golding), with a potent mixture of sensuality and secrets.

Kendricks shtick  her self-consciously dorky rapid-fire delivery  has started to wear thin, but in A Simple Favor it suits her character perfectly, as the ever-chipper, can-do Stephanie, who has a penchant for Peter Pan collars and pompoms. When Emily goes missing, leaving her son Nicky in the care of Stephanie, her new best friend of a few weeks, she pours all her energy into caring for Emilys family and searching for her missing friend. When it comes to solving mysteries, leave it to a mom. Stephanie is the ultimate uber-organized Nosy Nellie perfect for the job.

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Golding slides easily into his role as bewildered but easily distracted husband Sean. A Simple Favor proves his performance in Crazy Rich Asians wasnt a fluke  Goldings got the goods, especially when it comes to playing dashing charmers at the mercy of overbearing women. A stellar supporting cast buoys the duo of Kendrick and Lively, including Bashir Salahuddin as a suspicious detective; Rupert Friend as Emilys boss, the severe fashion designer Dennis Nylon; and Linda Cardellini as a tortured artist who knew Emily back in the day (and painted a truly outre portrait that hangs in their home). But the film wouldnt work without the one-two punch of Kendrick and Lively, stepping into roles that play on their personas while allowing them to color outside the lines.

Soundtracked by super-cool 60s French pop, A Simple Favor keeps it light. There isnt too much social commentary, despite the touchstones like The Stepford Wives and Gone Girl, which are thematically much richer. Although theres a flicker of parody to the mommy vlogger videos Stephanie uploads while searching for Emily, theyre an integral part of the plot too.

A Simple Favor twists and turns like a flag whipping in the wind, and by the end it teeters on the brink of incomprehensibility while plunging into full ridiculousness. But thats exactly what you want for this brand of soapy, stylized, sexy, female-driven thriller. Its about as deep as a champagne coupe, but the performers, slick execution and pop-art style make it a delightfully fun and kitschy ride.

Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

-------------

A Simple Favor -- 3 stars

Rating: R

When: Now playing

Where: Wide release

Running time: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Bryna Turners Bull in a China Shop may be a fact-based story about a pair of college educators from the early 20th century, but forget that dry description: The plays title should tell you this is no mild-mannered docudrama.

In fact, the humor-laced piece about two pioneers of both womens education and sexual liberation is very rock n roll, says Diversionary Theatre executive artistic chief Matt M. Morrow.

And its speaking to everything were going through now, in a very powerful and brave way.

Diversionary is staging the San Diego premiere of the play, which made a splash when it landed off-Broadway in 2017 as Turners first produced play.

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Bull in a China Shop tells the story of Mary Woolley and Jeannette Marks, whose decades-long romantic bond paralleled their progressive work at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where Woolley was longtime president and the younger Marks was an English professor.

Turner, a Mount Holyoke grad herself, was inspired to write the play after reading letters spanning decades between Woolley and Marks; in a script note, she describes the piece as an excavation of queer history.

When Morrow was scouting plays to program for the LGBTQ-centered companys 33rd season  which now opens with Bull  he was impressed by how Turners work didnt feel like a stodgy sort of biopic about these two lesbians at the turn of the century.

Its really about how these women incited a revolution inside the suffrage movement, and inside womens education.

And frankly, how they were just pioneers for long-term relationships between women, living openly.

Morrow tapped the accomplished director and Diversionary returnee Kim Strassburger to direct the show; in turn, she has fielded a diverse cast, something that Turner urges for all productions of the piece.

The way the play upends expectations was a big part of the draw for Morrow: I like unconventional plays, I like plays that surprise me, he says. And this one is no different.

But it was Turners touch for humor that really helped the piece bull its way into the opening slot in the University Heights theaters 2018-19 lineup.

Its unusual to find a play thats really resonant right now  that packs a wallop, socially and politically  but is also really funny, Morrow says.

And this play is that.

Bull in a China Shop

When: In previews. Opens Sept. 22. 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 14.

Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights.

Tickets: $15-$55

Phone: (619) 220-0097

Online: diversionary.org

Whats next at Diversionary

A look at the rest of the companys 2018-19 season:

This Beautiful City, Nov. 8 to Dec. 9 (opens Nov. 17): A 20th-anniversary celebration of the funny and ferocious John Cameron Mitchell/Stephen Trask rock musical, which finally made it to Broadway in 2014. Diversionary artistic chief Matt M. Morrow directs.

The Hour of Great Mercy, Jan. 31 to March 3, 2019 (opens Feb. 9): The world premiere of newcomer Miranda Rose Halls play about a gay Jesuit priest reconnecting with family and reconciling the past; Rosina Reynolds directs. Morrow says the play may become part of a rolling series of premieres in partnership with other theater companies.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, March 21 to April 21, 2019 (opens March 30): This is both the 10th anniversary and the San Diego premiere of the musical by the investigative theater company The Civilians, based on their interviews with citizens of Colorado Springs (a center of the Evangelical movement) on the topics of faith and gay rights. (The shows composer, the much-admired Michael Friedman, died last year at age 41 of complications related to HIV/AIDS.) Morrow directs.

Significant Other, May 23 to June 23, 2019 (opens June 1): Its the San Diego premiere of this comedy by the rising Joshua Harmon, whose work Bad Jews had a memorable recent staging at Cygnet Theatre here. Significant Other landed on Broadway last year.

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @jimhebert
Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, pleaded guilty Friday to federal conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate in special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race, prosecutors said Friday, marking a stunning about-face for the former Trump deputy.

The plea deal, unveiled in federal court in Washington, will allow Manafort, 69, to avoid a second trial on charges stemming from his lucrative work for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine before he joined the Trump campaign and his subsequent attempts to tamper with witnesses in the case.

As part of his plea deal, Manafort agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Andrew Weissmann, one of the lawyers on Muellers team, said in court that Manafort already had participated in at least one sit-down with them.

That cooperation, Weissmann said, has led us to today. The precise nature of that cooperation wasnt spelled out in court papers or during the hearing. The plea deal requires Manafort to answer prosecutors questions and provide requested documents to federal investigators.

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Manafort, wearing a dark suit and purple tie, spoke in subdued tones during the hourlong hearing before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson. The gravity of the moment was made plain when he said simply, I plead guilty after being asked how he wanted to proceed on charges of conspiring against the United States and obstructing justice.

The move was an abrupt turn for Manafort. His legal team had long indicated the political operative had no plans to plead guilty or cooperate with Mueller. He had already waged an expensive legal battle that culminated last month with a federal jury in Virginia finding him guilty on eight charges related to a long-running tax and bank fraud scheme.

As part of Fridays plea, the remaining charges in the two indictments he faced  including 10 counts that jurors deadlocked on during the last trial  eventually will be dropped.

No sentencing date was set. When it does take place, Manafort is likely to face a stiff prison term that legal experts predicted could be around 10 years. Under the deal, he must also forfeit several properties worth millions of dollars, including his apartment in Trump Tower.

Manafort is the fourth Trump campaign worker or administration official to plead guilty in Muellers probe. All four, including former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, have agreed to cooperate as part of their deals.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment after the hearing.

Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Manafort, said his client had accepted responsibility for his actions. He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life, Downing said.

Trumps personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, issued a statement that said once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the president did nothing wrong.

Although Manafort served only a few months as Trumps campaign chairman in 2016, he could prove to be a key witness in Muellers investigation of potential links between the presidents associates and the Kremlin. Manafort has ties to Russian oligarchs and politicians; as campaign chairman he oversaw Trumps long-shot presidential bid during a key period.

Prosecutors are sure to zero in on Manaforts attendance at a meeting of campaign officials in June 2016 aimed at obtaining derogatory information from a Kremlin-linked lawyer about Hillary Clinton, the Democratic partys presidential nominee. Among those who also attended that gathering in Trump Tower were the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., and son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Mueller may also be interested in exploring the altering of language in the Republican Party platform just before the 2016 convention that was critical of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The plea agreement does not limit Manaforts cooperation to Muellers team. He may have information of interest to other investigators; federal prosecutors in New York, for example, recently secured a plea deal with Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who admitted to violating campaign finance laws. At his plea hearing, Cohen said that Trump directed him to arrange payments to buy the silence of two former paramours, including the porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump is sure to be displeased by Manaforts cooperation. The president last month praised Manafort for refusing to buckle under legal pressure.

One of the reasons I respect Paul Manafort so much is he went through that trial, Trump told Fox News last month. He told reporters at the time that Manaforts trial doesnt involve me, but its a very sad thing.

He has consistently called the Mueller probe a witch hunt, and criticized Cohen after he pleaded guilty.

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you dont retain the services of Michael Cohen! he tweeted. He told Fox News he thought that flipping ought to be outlawed.

Democrats praised the plea deal. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, called it another victory for Mueller but noted that Trump has not ruled out issuing a pardon to Manafort and others convicted in the investigation.

We must reserve judgment on the value of his cooperation, given hes had joint defense agreement with Trump, hopes for a pardon and has admitted to obstructing justice, Schiff said in a tweet.

Manafort was scheduled to stand trial in Washington on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, making false statements and obstruction of justice.

In last months trial in Virginia, Manafort was found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud related to his extensive political work in Ukraine from 2006 through 2014. Prosecutors alleged that Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars in income from the U.S. government that he used to fund a lavish lifestyle. When his lucrative Ukrainian business dried up, Manafort began lying on bank loan applications to keep the cash flowing, prosecutors said.

The indictment in Washington dealt with many of the same underlying financial frauds, including Manaforts laundering $30 million to buy property, personal goods and services, and allegations he cheated the U.S. government out of $15 million in taxes. The case also focused heavily on Manaforts decision to disguise his lobbying for Ukraine, his failure to register with the Justice Department as a foreign agent and attempts to mislead the department about his work.

Manafort admitted that he viewed shrouding his foreign ties as integral to the effectiveness of the lobbying offensive he orchestrated for Ukraine, according to court papers. Registering with the Justice Department, he admitted, would have thwarted his efforts to influence U.S. politicians and the public.

The obstruction of justice charge stemmed from an effort by Manafort and a former business associate in Ukraine, Konstantin Kilimnik, a dual Russian and Ukrainian citizen, to influence, delay and prevent the testimony of two witnesses in the planned second trial. Muellers prosecutors have alleged in court papers that Kilimnik has ties to Russian intelligence services.

Since being appointed in May 2017 after the abrupt firing of FBI Director James B. Comey by the president, Mueller has been working at a brisk clip. He obtained a guilty plea from Richard Gates, a Manafort business associate and his deputy on the campaign, to charges of conspiring against the United States and making a false statement. Gates testified against Manafort at his trial.

George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy advisor to President Trumps campaign, was sentenced last week to 14 days in jail after pleading guilty to lying to federal agents. His suspicious conversations with a foreign diplomat in 2016 triggered the FBIs initial probe into potential links between the campaign and Kremlin.

Flynn, the former national security advisor, also pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents. He has not yet been sentenced.

Mueller has also obtained indictments of a dozen Russian intelligence officers on charges of hacking Democratic Party organizations and making sure the stolen information became public. He also has charged three Russian companies and 13 Russian citizens in a widespread effort to wield social media messages, fake online personas and staged rallies to sow discord in the United States.

UPDATES:

2:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on Manaforts cooperation agreement, his possible sentence and background on his previous conviction.

9:40 a.m.: This article was updated with reaction from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and details from court proceedings.

9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from the White House and the presidents lawyer.

8:50 a.m.: This article was updated with Manaforts agreement to cooperate with the special counsel investigation.

7:55 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details from the plea deal

6:40 a.m.: This article was updated with filing of new criminal charges, indicating that a deal has been reached.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
A man suspected of killing another man and injuring a woman at a La Quinta home led police on a high-speed chase that ended in Ontario on Thursday, officials said.

Before 9 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to the 54700 block of Avenida Vallejo for a death investigation, according to a tweet by the Riverside County Sheriffs Department. A spokesman said a man died at the scene and a woman was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A person of interest in the homicide investigation then fled, starting a high-speed chase that ended with him shooting himself. The suspect was taken to a hospital.

Later the same day, the house where the homicide occurred caught fire, the sheriffs department said in a tweet. It was unclear what caused the fire.

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A spokesman said he did not have further information at this time.

Email Reyes-Velarde at alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com or tweet her at @r_valejandra.
While flying the Boeing 747-400 over the mountainous terrain near Ukiah, Calif., the pilot didnt notice the hill along the planes flight path.

Unaware that the plane went from flying 361 feet above the ground to 190 feet, the pilot released gallons upon gallons of pink fire retardant into the forest below, flying only about 100 feet above the treetops.

The retardant fell with such force that it uprooted a nearly 90-foot Douglas fir. As the tree fell, it killed 42-year-old Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett of the Draper City Fire Department in Utah.

The retardant also sheared off the top of an 89-foot tall Douglas fir, hitting a fire captain and breaking his ribs. Two other firefighters were hit with falling branches. The three survived.

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Burchett died Aug. 13, less than two weeks after arriving in California with his crew to help fight the Mendocino Complex fire, the largest fire in modern state history. The fire burned 459,123 acres, destroyed almost 160 homes and killed one person  Burchett.

Stephen Pyne, one of the nations preeminent fire historians, said more firefighters are dying from falling trees, vehicle and aircraft accidents, and  especially among volunteer firefighters  heart attacks.

Pyne said the way Burchett died seemed like a fluke.

Most drops are high enough and wide enough, the stuff just filters down  its like being coated with Pepto-Bismol, said Pyne, a professor at Arizona State University and author of more than 30 books, mostly on the history and management of wildland and rural fire.

Thats the point. Its not a body blow. Its not intended to smash a line. Its intended to coat it, he said. But in this case, it was a really large plane with a really large load, and apparently, there was this hill, and those guys were there.

This has been a hard year for firefighters in California.

A Redding firefighter, a bulldozer operator and a Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker died during the Carr fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Shasta County. Two more firefighters died while battling the Ferguson fire in Yosemite. Additionally, a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection mechanic assigned to the Carr fire died in a vehicle crash in Tehama County.

And its not even October, when Santa Ana winds notoriously stoke large fires across Southern California.

A report by Cal Fire outlines what happened the day when Burchett was killed.

Burchett, a firefighter for 20 years, arrived Aug. 2 with his crew to battle the Mendocino Complex fire.

On the morning of Aug. 13, he attended the standard morning meeting, an operational briefing during which fire leaders outline the days plan. He then went to a smaller breakout session in which he would have learned more about the plan for the specific region where he and his crew would spend the day. During that session, a division safety officer discussed the hazards associated with air tanker retardant drops while working on the line, the Cal Fire report notes.

Burchett and his crew were assigned to work northeast of the town of Ukiah, along the northernmost section of the middle mountain range. The days job entailed reinforcing bulldozer lines and laying hose for a planned firing operation.

When fighting a large fire, bulldozers and firefighters working by hand create a boundary, or fire line, with hopes that the fire will not cross it because theyve removed grass and other fuel that would feed the flames. Placing retardant close to the fire line makes it even harder for flames to spread past the boundary. This was the strategy used Aug. 13.

At 1 p.m., an inversion layer  which traps smoke and makes it unsafe to fly  lifted. Fire leaders requested that the aircraft drop retardant next to the fire line.

At 3:40 p.m., a division leader radioed the division leader trainee and said air tankers would soon start making retardant drops. Shortly thereafter, the trainee broadcast a message: Clear the area out. But only one strike team leader acknowledged hearing the message.

Within the next hour, two large air tankers made one drop each in the area of the Mendocino fire where Burchett and his crew were.

At 4:44 p.m., a drop was made about 300 feet from Burchetts group. But the retardant landed too far from the fire line. A division leader asked that the next drop be snugged up closer to the line.

At 5:25 p.m., the aircrafts pilot was given a drop path. But because of thick trees and dense brush, the pilot didnt realize there was a rise in elevation along the flight path, according to the report.

Soon thereafter, Burchett was dead, his fellow firefighters bleeding and bruised. The report does not say how soon advanced life support arrived. The injured firefighters were taken to a hospital.

The report said supervisors must ensure all fire line personnel are notified, and acknowledge, news of impending aerial drops. It also suggests that firefighters have started using their cellphones to take video of aerial retardant drops, and that this might be distracting them from the inherent danger of the drops.

Late Friday, Global SuperTanker Services said via email that one of its planes made the drop that killed Burchett. The tanker crew made the drop upon the request of aerial supervisors and after being advised that the line was clear.

Were heartbroken for the families, friends and colleagues of Capt. Burchett and the other brave firefighters who were injured. As proud members of the wildland firefighting community, we, too, have lost a brother.

Pyne, who has studied fires across the U.S. for decades, said California has a historically high firefighter fatality rate  346 of the 1,128 wildland firefighter deaths reported from 1910 to 2016  not only because the state has explosive fires in tricky terrain, but also because California has a tradition of fighting fire aggressively.

This is an intrinsically difficult environment, Pyne said. What justifies them being there? In other words, why are you building the line there? Why not back off further?

jaclyn.cosgrove@latimes.com

@jaclyncosgrove

UPDATES:

8:10 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details, including a statement from the firm whose plane made the drop that killed Burchett.

This article was originally published at 11:15 a.m.
San Diego has laid the groundwork to appeal the state Supreme Courts ruling against the citys 2012 pension overhaul to the highest court in the land, contending a free speech issue is at stake.

Is it?

City Attorney Mara Elliott believes so, as does her predecessor, Jan Goldsmith, who devised the legal strategy in the citys defense of Proposition B.

Ann Smith, the attorney for the union that led the legal challenge, says the case is not about First Amendment rights and that the state court ruling did nothing to infringe upon them.

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The focus of the case is whether then-Mayor Jerry Sanders had the right to help draft and promote the pension initiative without negotiating with the municipal unions about the pension overhaul.

The unions contend that as the citys lead labor negotiator, Sanders could not simply pursue an initiative to circumvent the meet and confer process that otherwise would have been required for such policy changes. The city maintained Sanders was exercising his right of free speech as a private citizen and therefore didnt need to enter into negotiations.

The California Public Employment Relations Board agreed with the unions, the state Fourth District Court of Appeal sided with the city and the California Supreme Court on a 6-0 vote overturned that ruling. The high courts opinion did not address the merits of the pension changes, but ruled the city engaged in an illegal process that put the initiative on the ballot.

Now Elliott has asked the state Supreme Court for a rehearing, a request likely to be denied but a necessary move in order to appeal the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. For the latter step to be taken, the City Council also must sign off.

In June 2012, nearly 66 percent of city voters approved Proposition B to replace guaranteed pensions with 401(k)-style retirement plans for all newly hired municipal employees except police officers. The ballot measure was a response to the citys exploding pension deficit. San Diego remains the only city in California that discontinued pensions for new hires.

Sanders and his staff were involved in shaping the ballot measure, gathering signatures and campaigning to pass it.

If I had it to do all over again  and if I had better advice  we probably would have done meet and confer, Sanders told the Union-Tribunes David Garrick after the state Supreme Court ruling last month.

Goldsmith continues to standby his legal opinion that Sanders and the city acted within the law. In a commentary published by the Voice of San Diego, Goldsmith said the state high court did not address a key issue in the case. He supports appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Although the city raised First Amendment arguments at every stage of the legal proceedings and the Court of Appeal justices concluded that Sanders support for pension reform was protected speech, the Supreme Court justices simply ignored the constitutional issue in overruling the Court of Appeal, he wrote. Silence, however, does not overrule the U.S. Constitution.

The state Supreme Court ruled Sanders violated the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act requiring him to negotiate with the unions because he wasnt merely speaking out, but was intimately involved in writing the changes that should have been subjected to the meet-and-confer process.

He consistently invoked his position as mayor and used city resources and employees to draft, promote and support the Initiative, Justice Carol Corrigan wrote in the ruling released Aug. 2. The citys assertion that his support was merely that of a private citizen does not withstand objective scrutiny.

Smith, attorney for the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, said Goldsmith was misrepresenting the court ruling.

Nothing in the California Supreme Courts opinion establishing that the city acted unlawfully when putting the Prop. B pension initiative before voters in 2012 without bargaining has any impact on the exercise of free speech rights by any elected official, she wrote in a letter to the Voice. (Her emphasis included.)

Elliott argued Sanders position and his involvement in the initiative should have no bearing on the case.

The First Amendment protects the speech rights of elected officials and private citizens equally, said the city attorneys petition for a rehearing.

Therefore, it is irrelevant whether Mayor Sanders was speaking as a private citizen or as the Citys Mayor. Under either scenario, the First Amendment protected his right to participate in a citizens initiative process and set forth his views on a matter of significant public concern  pension reform.

The City Council eventually will decide whether the case goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. None of the current council members was involved in the decisions many years ago that led to the citys pension crisis  increasing benefits while reducing payments to the pension fund. But theyll have to help put things back together if the state court ruling stands. Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who was a leading supporter of Proposition B, would have a major role in implementing whatever solution the courts come up with.

Faulconer doesnt have a vote in the closed council session where the decision on whether to appeal will be made, but he will preside over it.

There are arguments for ending the matter now: Litigation has gone on for years, the state high court decision was unanimous and winning the appeal is probably a long shot. Critics could say its delaying the inevitable, a waste of money and that pensions still are being illegally denied thousands of employees.

On the flip side, a potential win keeps a voter-approved policy intact and avoids the messy and potentially expensive process of having to unwind Proposition B. Also, Elliott and Goldsmith contend this case could have broad impact on free speech rights of elected officials in the future.

As a political matter, even those council members who didnt support Proposition B might be loath to face almost certain attacks that they failed to go the distance to defend a highly popular initiative.
Jose Luis Nunez Torres is a meth addict, a thief and a dealer in drugs and guns, his attorney told an El Cajon Superior Court jury.

But he is not a murderer, defense lawyer Michael Hawkins said in court on Wednesday.

On Thursday, a jury began deliberating whether to convict Torres, 23, of murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft, evading officers, driving under the influence of methamphetamine and other charges.

The District Attorneys Office also filed special circumstances charges, alleging Torres committed murder during a burglary, robbery and while lying in wait for the victim.

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A prosecutor said Torres persuaded an acquaintance, Jaen Avila, to drive him to Leticia Arroyos Santee home to buy drugs, then shot her in the head and stole one or more bags of her meth on Oct. 4, 2016.

Hawkins argued that it was just the other way around: his client stayed in the car as the getaway driver while Avila went inside and killed Arroyo, 34.

Avila pleaded guilty to a charge of being an accessory after the fact in the murder case, admitting he was the getaway driver. He is to be sentenced Nov. 9, facing up to three years in prison.

His attorney, Gloria Collins, said there was no way Avila would have shot Arroyo.

He was just a kid at the time  21  and it scared him so, he never spoke about it, Collins said in an interview. DNA was taken from him and there was no match, no evidence that he was ever in the victims home.

Judge Evan Kirvan presided over Torres week-long trial.

A jury of seven men and five women began their deliberations about 10 a.m. Thursday. They soon asked for some testimony to be read back, a process that was expected to take much of the day, Deputy District Attorney James Koerber said.

Jurors were expected to resume deliberations on Friday.

In closing arguments, Koerber laid out the case against Torres, saying he had a secret plan to ambush (Arroyo) and steal drugs from her. It was a plan he had for several days.

Torres had bought drugs from Arroyo before, and they texted each other to arrange a deal, Koerber said.

The prosecutor said Torres had a stolen Honda sedan and asked several people to drive him to Arroyos house. Avila agreed without knowing fully what he was getting into, Koerber said.

He said that after shooting Arroyo in the head, Torres scooped up some bagged meth and headed to the Honda, dropping one bag on the sidewalk. Investigators later found drops of Arroyos blood on the walkway and Torres pant leg.

Sheriffs deputies found several more packages of drugs and cash inside the victims house.

Torres also is accused of breaking into a La Jolla house on Oct. 12 with accomplice Gustavo Ceron, 26, and robbing the resident. The victim, in his 60s, testified that he heard a noise in the night, found two men in his kitchen and one put a gun to his head, demanding cash.

The robbers took $20 and some credit cards, which later were found in Torres motel room in National City, Koerber said.

He said Torres told Ceron about shooting a woman to get her drugs. Ceron later pleaded guilty to the La Jolla robbery and faces up to seven years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 9.

Torres is charged with a third residential break-in in which nothing was taken.

He also faces charges of personally using a firearm during the robberies and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Koerber said the robberies and homicide occurred while Torres was out of jail on bail stemming from charges that he had evaded officers in a stolen car and then failed to appear in court. Torres led police and the California Highway Patrol on three separate pursuits, the prosecutor said.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
San Diego Countys infant mortality rate was flat in 2016, but significant disparities continue for African American babies, according to newly-released data from the county Health and Human Services Agency.

There were 3.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016, the most recent year for which numbers are publicly available, compared to a rate of 3.7 in 2015 and 3.8 in 2014, records show.

While tragic, infant deaths are rare. In 2016, the county recorded 159 deaths in the first year of life, totaling 0.37 percent of the 42,654 live births tallied that year.

Though recent infant mortality results reveal a recent plateau in the number of local infants who die before their first birthdays, the long-term trend is positive. According to county records, the rate was 4.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006 and the closely-watched indicator reached 5.9 in 2000.

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The state rate, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was 4.2 in 2016 with the national rate at 5.9.

The U.S. infant mortality rate compares unfavorably to other industrialized nations with about 3 more deaths per 1,000 births than nations such as Japan, Iceland and Scandinavian nations such as Norway and Finland.

A 2016 study that compared European infant mortality rates with those in the U.S. found that disparities tend to be a factor of differences in socioeconomic status and access to preventive health care. European programs that extend services to mothers and their babies before and after birth, such as in-home nurse visits, seemed to contribute to lower mortality rates.

The county has tried just such an approach for those at highest risk, creating a Black Infant Health Program, which operates in certain economically disadvantaged zipcodes to increase assess to health services.

But that intense focus has not yet erased a persistent gap in infant mortality rates long observed between different races and ethnicities.

In 2016, the infant mortality rate for African American residents was 10.8 per 1,000 live births in San Diego County compared to a rate of 2.9 for white infants, 3.2 for Asian infants and 4.2 for Hispanic infants.

San Diegos results were better than the nations as a whole which, according to the CDC, posted a rate of 11.4 per 1,000 births for African Americans in 2016 compared to a rate of 4.9 for white infants, 3.6 for Asian infants and 5 for Hispanic infants.

Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life

paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson
President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to provide testimony to special counsel Robert Mueller III as part of a plea deal that could answer some of the most critical questions about whether any Americans conspired with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election.

The decision to cooperate with Mueller in hopes of a lesser prison sentence is a stunning development, signaling Manaforts surrender to criminal charges that he cheated the Internal Revenue Service, violated foreign lobbying laws and tried to obstruct justice while opening a new potential legal vulnerability for Trump.

I plead guilty, Manafort told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson at a hearing Friday morning in federal court in the District of Columbia. As part of his plea, Manafort admitted to years of financial crimes to hide his money from the IRS and promised to tell the government about his participation in and knowledge of all criminal activities.

Flipping Manafort gives Mueller a cooperating witness who was at key events relevant to the Russia investigation - a Trump Tower meeting attended by a Russian lawyer, the Republican National Convention and a host of other behind-the-scenes discussions in the spring and summer of 2016.

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This is a big win for Muellers team. Gaining Manaforts cooperation has always been viewed as the Holy Grail of this investigation, said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. It now remains to be seen what Manafort can provide, but it is unlikely that prosecutors would have been willing to strike this deal unless they were already convinced that he has valuable information.

Court papers indicate Manafort was talking in detail to prosecutors at least as early as Monday - making multiple statements and a written proffer to investigators as the two sides worked toward a deal.

In return for his cooperation, Manafort hopes to have years shaved off a potential 10-year prison sentence and see his family hold on to some property.

Kevin Downing, an attorney for Manafort, gave a brief statement outside the courthouse after the hearing. He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life, Downing said of Manafort. He has accepted responsibility.

When asked whether the deal with Muellers team is a full cooperation agreement, Downing replied, It is. He did not respond to questions about whether Manafort has been interviewed by Muellers team or whether Manaforts defense team remains in a joint defense agreement with Trumps attorneys.

Manaforts defenders have long insisted that he would not cooperate with Mueller and that he does not have information that would incriminate the president.

Manaforts cooperation was first revealed by prosecutor Andrew Weissmann at the outset of the hearing.

Jackson noted that Manafort had agreed to cooperate fully and truthfully with the investigation conducted by the office of special counsel, including participating in interviews and debriefings, producing any documents in his control, testifying, and agreeing to delay sentencing until a time set by the government.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort faces a possible maximum prison sentence of about 10 years, though that does not include any likely sentence for his conviction last month in Virginia. His attorneys may seek a lower sentence, and prosecutors did not agree to recommend any sentence.

Before Manafort pleaded guilty, Weissmann spent about 40 minutes describing in detail Manaforts criminal conduct - from a 10-year scheme to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, to hiding millions of dollars he earned from that work, and then, when investigators were on his trail, trying to tamper with witnesses in the case.

After a year of denying the charges and fighting them at every stage of the investigation, Manafort admitted Friday that he did what prosecutors had long said - cheat the IRS out of $15 million and lie repeatedly to try to cover his tracks. While he pleaded guilty to just two of the seven charges he faced at trial, prosecutors forced him to admit to the broad scope of his financial and secret lobbying schemes.

I believe its fair to say thats probably the longest and most detailed summary that ever preceded this question, but is what the prosecutor said a true and accurate description of what you did in this case? Jackson asked Manafort.

I did. It is, Manafort said, resting both hands on the lectern before him.

The deal will preempt Manaforts trial scheduled for this month. Manafort pleaded guilty to two charges - conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a brief statement after the announcement. This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign, she said. It is totally unrelated.

Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: The president did nothing wrong.

A criminal information - a legal document filed by prosecutors to detail the criminal conduct to be admitted by the defendant - was filed in advance of the plea.

The document is a laundry list of Manaforts admitted criminal conduct, including funneling millions of dollars in payments into offshore accounts to conceal his income from the IRS. Manafort cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes, the document states.

The filing also offers new details about the various ways in which Manafort sought to surreptitiously lobby the U.S. government and influence American public opinion toward Ukraine.

In 2012, Manafort set out to help his client - Ukraines then-president, Viktor Yanukovych - by tarnishing the reputation of Yanukovychs political rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the document. Manafort stated that '[m]y goal is to plant some stink on Tymo,  according to the document. At the time he made that statement, he was trying to get U.S. news outlets to print articles saying Tymoshenko had paid for the murder of a Ukrainian official, according to the criminal information.

The document also says Manafort orchestrated a scheme to have, as he wrote in a contemporaneous communication, '[O]bama jews put pressure on the administration to disavow Tymoshenko and support Yanukovych. Manafort set out to spread stories in the United States that a senior U.S. Cabinet official was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko, according to the document.

At one point, Manafort wrote to an associate: I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom. The document does not identify the then-Cabinet official, and it was not immediately clear whether such an article was published.

As part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize five properties worth millions of dollars, including Manaforts apartment in Trump Tower. The deal also calls for forfeiture of a handful of financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

The guilty plea is another reversal for Manafort, who has fought vociferously - but unsuccessfully - against Muellers investigation. The 69-year-old political consultant was convicted last month in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court on charges of bank and tax fraud.

Manaforts cooperation with Mueller could provide investigators new evidence or leads to chase; the guilty plea, however, will prevent weeks worth of headlines about the trial in the month before congressional elections.

The longtime lobbyist resigned from his position as Trump campaign chairman in August 2016 amid increasing scrutiny of his work in Ukraine.

Over a 40-year career, Manafort redefined and expanded Washingtons influence industry domestically and internationally, parlaying successful campaigns into lobbying opportunities. But by the mid-2000s, there were signs that his consulting career had slumped, and at times his finances appeared to be shaky. It was in Ukraine that he revived both - in ways prosecutors say violated the law.

Both cases brought against Manafort by the special counsel stemmed from his work in Ukraine. The jury in Virginia found that Manafort hid millions of dollars he made there to avoid paying taxes and then lied to get loans when the political party that was paying him was ousted from power and the funding dried up.

In the trial scheduled in Washington, Manafort faced charges of conspiring against the United States, money laundering, failing to register as a lobbyist, making false statements and conspiring to obstruct justice by trying to influence witnesses.

Manafort had the choice to consolidate both cases into one but declined. He had been jailed since June as a result of the witness-tampering charges.

He has yet to be sentenced in Virginia, where legal experts say he faces eight to 10 years in prison under federal guidelines on the eight of 18 counts on which he was convicted. A mistrial was declared on the remaining 10 charges after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

In the months leading up to the plea deal, law enforcement officials had come to suspect that Manaforts legal strategy rested in part on hoping to win a pardon from the president, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Trump has sought advice from attorneys on the possibility of pardoning Manafort and other aides accused of crimes, Giuliani previously told The Washington Post, and was counseled against pardoning anyone involved in the Mueller probe. Trump agreed to wait at least until the investigation ends, Giuliani has said.

Manaforts decision to cooperate and provide evidence to Mueller may make a pardon less likely.

Several defendants have cooperated or pleaded guilty in connection with the special counsels probe, including Manaforts former right-hand man Rick Gates; former national security adviser Michael Flynn; and former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was sentenced to 14 days in jail last week after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

The decision by Trumps onetime personal attorney Michael Cohen to plead guilty last month in a federal investigation in Manhattan particularly angered the president, who denounced him as a flipper and praised Manafort for being a brave man who would not break under pressure from prosecutors.

The Washington Posts Rosalind S. Helderman, Tom Jackman, Philip Rucker and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.
Whipping winds and surging ocean waters wont be the only threats from Hurricane Florence, which is expected to make landfall in North Carolina on Friday.

Rain and rising floodwaters could swamp coal ash basins and hog waste lagoons, washing the byproduct of the states industries into rivers and lakes. Environmentalists warn of toxic chemicals, bacteria and other dangers.

If that happens, some of the damage from this natural disaster would have a distinctly man-made component, echoing problems from previous storms.

During Hurricane Floyd in 1999, flooding breached the open-air lagoons where farmers dump waste from their hogs. The runoff can cause havoc in the ecosystem, creating algae blooms and killing fish.

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The industry said its been preparing for Florence. Because the manure can be used as fertilizer, the North Carolina Pork Council said hog farmers have been tracking storage levels to ensure they could handle inundation from the storm.

The preparations for a hurricane began long before the past few hours or days, Brandon Warren, the councils president, said in a post on the organizations website. Our farmers take hurricane threats extremely seriously.

Many lagoons can handle at least 25 inches of rain, Warren said. But that capacity will be tested given forecasts for unusually heavy rainfall and the potential for additional flooding.

Environmentalists said coal ash presents another threat.

Although North Carolina doesnt have coal mines of its own, it relies on electricity generated by burning coal. The process creates coal ash that Duke Energy, the states dominant utility, has traditionally mixed with water and dumped into unlined basins.

Some of those are near rivers that could overflow or in floodplains that could become inundated, said Frank Holleman, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

This ash is stored primitively, and in the most risky way, he said. Its sitting there, ready for catastrophe if something hits it.

Holleman said the company is dragging its heels in addressing the problem, a criticism rejected by Paige Sheehan, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy. Two of the companys 31 coal basins have already been excavated and shut down, she said, and theyre phasing out the rest. The seven largest basins, which hold 70% of the companys ash, will eventually be capped.

We got a head start on a lot of the industry, Sheehan said. We think that positions us well going into the storm.

Duke Energy pleaded guilty in 2015 to criminal violations stemming from a spill that dumped 39,000 tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of slurry into the Dan River. But that wasnt related to a hurricane, and Sheehan said the company is prepared for Florence.

There are four sites considered at risk from the storm, and together they hold roughly 17 million tons of coal ash. Because the company has already started closing down the basins, she said, water levels are lower and can handle the heavy rainfall that Florence is expected to drop on the state.

Staff and equipment have been positioned at coal basins near the coastline, and inspections will be conducted on foot, from boats and from the air with drones.
A Missouri woman has been charged with stealing her dying 20-year-old daughters medication.

Carol Ballweg was charged Wednesday with four counts of stealing a controlled substance and two counts of abusing an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person, according to police in Troy.

Ballweg was the primary caregiver for her daughter, who was receiving hospice care and prescribed Fentanyl and Oxycodone for pain.

After early drug refill requests and an ongoing probe by the Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services, doctors requested Ballwegs daughter  identified as CM  to have her urine tested.

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CM was also found to have bed sores.

The urine screen came back negative of the daughters prescribed drugs, which prompted a search warrant to be executed on Sept. 11. at Ballwegs home.

Ballweg revealed she had been taking her daughters oxycodone to fuel her opioid addiction, police said.

Her bond is set to $100,000 cash and she is not allowed to contact her daughter.
An Oklahoma police chief, who knew of an applicants links to white supremacist groups, defended his decision to hire him as a reserve officer anyway.

Christopher Watson, the police chief of Achille, Okla., a small town with a population of about 500 on the northern Texas border, claimed Bart Alsbrook, the man he hired, wanted to break away from skinhead groups he admitted belonging to.

Alsbrook was the the coordinator for Blood & Honor, a white supremacy group the Southern Poverty Law Center calls an international coalition of racist gangs, reported TV station KXII.

He was involved in some kind of group (in the past), and wanted out, explained Watson. And the only way he figured he could get out would be to move far away.

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The station previously reported it had discovered Alsbrook was connected to ISD Records and NS-88 videos, websites that sell memorabilia appealing to skinheads.

When confronted with the allegation, Alsbrook claimed skinheads stole his wallet during a concert in the 1990s and perpetrated identity theft.

In the two years that I have known him, he has done nothing but contribute, vouched Watson.

In August 2017, Alsbrook was named interim police chief of Colbert, a town near Achille, but resigned just a week later after admitting links to neo-Nazi organizations.

Watson says the police department does not tolerate racism in any form.

None. None, because that is an ignorant way of thinking, said Watson. So there would be no tolerance of that.
The 17-year-old girl accused of stabbing a fellow straight-A student was smiling and laughing as she chased her classmate around a classroom at their Michigan high school, police said.

Tanaya Lewis was charged with one count of first-degree murder Friday afternoon in the death of her onetime friend, Danyna Gibson. Prosecutors said the teens were between classes at Fitzgerald High School when Lewis approached Danyna with a kitchen-style steak knife and stabbed her twice in the chest  once directly in her heart  Wednesday morning.

The 16-year-old victim attempted to flee but fell to the ground, where Lewis began punching her and stabbing her, also puncturing Danynas lung, Warren Police Detective Donald Seidel told the court.

A teacher managed to push the suspect away, but Lewis attempted to get around the adult, allegedly shouting Im going to kill her as she continued to lunge at the victim.

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A school resource officer, already stationed at the Warren school, arrived on the scene within seconds and performed CPR until first responders arrived. Danyna was rushed to St. Johns Oakland Hospital where she was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

Tanaya Lewis has been charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Danyna Gibson (pictured). (Handout)

Authorities have said they believe the fight was over a boy.

Police Commissioner William Dwyer said Lewis became upset with Danyna because she believed her classmate was telling her 17-year-old boyfriend that shed been unfaithful and cheated on him, according to the Detroit Free Press. The officer noted that there were texts between Lewis and the male student, but declined to elaborate on them further.

Dwyer added investigators also recovered information to suggest the suspect drove with her boyfriend to school the morning of the incident.

During her arraignment Friday, Lewis was ordered to be held without bail. She is facing the possibility of life behind bars without parole. She will return to court Sept. 27.

The second-floor classroom where the incident occurred remained a sealed off as crime scene on Friday. The stabbing was the first homicide to occur inside a school in Macomb County.
Many insects die within several months, but this Bug survived nearly 70 years.

Volkswagen confirmed on Thursday that its sending the iconic Beetle to the proverbial scrap yard in 2019  nearly seven decades after it first hit first American highways and byways.

The German-based automaker blamed declining sales for pulling the plug on the Bug. The company sold just over 15,000 of the famous model in 2017, down 3.2 percent from the previous year. The desire for larger vehicles was also cited by experts as a factor.

In this environment, the business case for cars in general, and small cars in particular, becomes increasingly difficult to justify, said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Anyone surprised or disappointed by this announcement better prepare themselves. In the months to come more automakers will be announcing more iconic model cancellations.

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As part of its long-term plan, VW is focusing on producing electric cars and SUVs.

While the company hasnt ruled out reinstating the model at some point in the future, Beetle aficionados yearning for one last brand-new vehicle will have two special models to choose from  the Final Edition SEL and Final Edition SE. Both will be available in convertible and coupe versions and will range in price from $23,045 for the coupe to $27,295 for the convertible.

The loss of the Beetle, after three generations over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetles many devoted fans, stated Volkswagens U.S. CEO Hinrich Woebcken.
Two Yonkers firefighters were caught on tape doling out two beatings  one at a popular bar and the other outside a strip club in the Westchester County city, authorities said.

Yonkers Fire Lt. Christopher Mitchell, 41, and former firefighter Bogdan Kosilov, 25 were locked up for the two brawls on June 11, but the city just released videos of the violence.

In the first clip, inside Rory Dolans Restaurant and Bar on McLean Ave. shows a shoving match, that ended with a stool being smashed over a mans head just before 1 a.m.

A second video, recorded two hours later outside the City Lights gentlemens club on Yonkers Ave. shows a man walking down the sidewalk, then backtracking, to approach a group of men. That man  which lohud.com reports is Pennsylvania resident Keith Lowell  confronts a firefighter, who knocks him out cold.

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Lowell was sprawled out on pavement for five minutes before anyone helped him, the footage shows. He was later rushed to a hospital with head and brain trauma.

Yonkers Firefighters (L to R) Fire Lt. Christopher Mitchell and former firefighter Bogdan Kosilov

Mitchell and Kosilov face assault charges, according to the state court system.

Mitchell has been a firefighter since 2003, while Kosilov, hired in September of last year, was still on probation and fired after his arrest.

Lowells attorney filed a claim against the city and the Yonkers Fire Department last week alleging he was harassed and assaulted by Mitchell, Kosilov and two other fire department members. Lowell says the city was negligent in the supervising of its employees.

The alleged criminal conduct that the Firefighter and Lieutenant engaged in occurred while they were off duty; therefore the City of Yonkers has no liability in this circumstance and we are confident that our position will prevail in court, Yonkers spokesman Vincent Parise told the Daily News.

The City of Yonkers will not defend and indemnify either individual in any civil action brought on by the alleged victims, Parise added. The probationary Firefighter was terminated and the disciplinary process against the Lieutenant is moving forward.
The trial of Botham Jean is officially underway.

Despite being gunned down in his own apartment  by an off-duty police officer now charged with manslaughter  the 26-year-old Dallas resident is now shamefully being tried in the court of public opinion, experts and activists contend.

Authorities on Thursday revealed that a search warrant executed in Jeans apartment uncovered, among other things, two fired cartridge casings, a black backpack with police equipment and paperwork  as well as 10.4 grams of marijuana.

The marijuana was the focus of a widely panned tweet by Fox 4 News in Dallas  DEVELOPING: Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jeans apartment after deadly shooting  which by Friday evening had 40,000 comments, but only 1,400 retweets and 3,100 likes.

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As someone pointed out-Did anyone check HER apartment? Drug test HER? She killed HIM! actress Patricia Arquette wrote.

DEVELOPING: Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jeans apartment after deadly shooting https://t.co/ISSGgxgt34 pic.twitter.com/iE6IsnNUUX  FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 13, 2018

Dr. Heather Thompson, professor of history, Afro-American and African studies at the University of Michigan, blasted the release of drug evidence in particular as disgraceful and questioned its coverage by media.

This is what always happens, which is to blame the victim of police violence, she said. There are many facts that one can report  we could have reported his religion, we could have reported how many times he was married. We could have reported on how many degrees he had.

Instead the focus shifted to the marijuana found on the kitchen table, which Vincent Southerland, the executive director for New York Universitys Center on Race, Inequality and Law Enforcement, dismissed as completely irrelevant.

The bottom line is this man was executed in his own home and there is no set of facts or piece of evidence that will undermine or contradict that fundamental fact, he said. He was sitting at home, not doing anything, living his life  to expect not to survive that kind of situation is insane.

Jean was fatally shot on Sept. 6 by Dallas County Police Officer Amber Guyger, who said she mistakenly entered the wrong apartment unit, thinking it was her own, and fired two shots at Jean, who she believed to be a burglar.

Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger gets emotional after turning herself in Sunday, Sept. 9 (/ AP)

Southerland said the shootings aftermath speaks to the broader problem of how we view people of color, specifically our willingness to conflate black and brown skin with criminality.

He likened the Dallas shooting to other incidents that involved deadly force from a police officer. When Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, there was a lot focus on whether or not he was involved in a fight beforehand and if there had been marijuana in his system, Southerland pointed out.

The immediate presumption is that people of color are criminals, Thompson said. Theres no question that when the victim is a person of color, there is an immediate dive into whether they had a criminal record or not. The presumption is that theyre guilty of something, and that is used to mitigate police shootings.

When the victim is white however, there is not the same search for justification in similar confrontations, Southerland said. Theres a collective effort to explain how this happened from the officers perspective, and far too often it happens that the perspective of the person being harmed by law enforcement is completely overlooked.

Southerland wonders if the issue of tying criminality to race played a factor in Guygers reaction to Jean when he spotted him inside the apartment.

Why is it that the officer felt like she had to shoot him in the chest? Southerland said. Why couldnt she have backed out? Why couldnt she fire a warning shot?

Brandt Jean, center left, brother of shooting victim Botham Jean, hugs his sister Allisa Charles-Findley, during a news conference outside the Frank Crowley Courts Building on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, in Dallas. (Tom Fox / AP)

The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain murky. The arrest affidavit, written by Officer David L. Armstrong of the Texas Rangers, and the arrest warrant written on Sept. 7 offer contradicting accounts of the deadly confrontation.

According to the affidavit, based primarily on Guygers account, the officer inserted a unique door key, with an electronic chip, into the door key hole. The door, which was slightly ajar prior to Guygers arrival, fully opened under the force of the key insertion. She then entered the apartment and twice opened fire when she spotted Jean inside.

The warrant, written before Guyger was interviewed, alternatively said Jean confronted the officer at the door, according to the Star-Telegram. A neighbor stated he heard an exchange of words, immediately followed by at least two gunshots.

Evidence collected from Jeans apartment does support Guygers account that she stood across the room when she fatally shot the Harding University graduate. Its still unclear though, whether or not the door was unlocked, according to the Dallas Morning News.

For as many unanswered questions that still remain, Southerland said there is no doubt Jeans life was cut far too short.

The reality is, he could have been the worst person on the face of the earth, he said, (but) there is nothing that could justify his death.
Ramona Gonzalez did not drown when Hurricane Maria drenched Puerto Rico. She did not die in the tempest, or from destruction wrought by the storms 154 mph winds.

Instead, this disabled, 59-year-old woman died a month later, from sepsis  caused, says her family, by an untreated bedsore.

In all, the storm and its aftermath took the lives of unfortunate people such as Gonzalez and thousands of others, many of whom could have been saved with standard medical treatment. This was a slow-motion, months-long disaster that kept Puerto Ricans from getting the care they needed for treatable ailments, even as President Trump lauded his administrations response.

A year after Maria roared across the Caribbean, reporters for The Associated Press, the news site Quartz and Puerto Ricos Center for Investigative Journalism have put together the most detailed portrait yet of the agonizing final days of victims of the storm. In coming days, the Daily News will showcase some of their interviews with the 204 families of the dead.

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Hundreds of families share how their loved ones died after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. 

Trump cast doubt on the storms widely accepted death toll Thursday, tweeting that 3000 people did not die when Maria hit after a near-miss by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. He said the death count had been inflated by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible, by adding unrelated deaths to the toll from causes like old age.

But the joint investigation reflects how Puerto Ricos most vulnerable fell victim to the dire conditions created by the storms. Disabled and elderly people were discharged from overwhelmed hospitals with bedsores that led to fatal infections. Medical oxygen ran out. People caught lung infections in sweltering private nursing homes and state facilities. Kidney patients got abbreviated treatments from dialysis centers that lacked generator fuel and fresh water, despite pleas for federal and local officials to treat them as a higher priority, according to patient advocates.

Critics say many could have been saved by better preparation and emergency response.

Police lift the coffin of fellow officer Luis Angel Gonzalez during his funeral at the cemetery in Aguada, Puerto Rico in September 2017. Gonzalez died when he tried to navigate a river crossing in his car during the passing of Hurricane Maria. (Ramon Espinosa / AP)

I was looking for help and no one came, said Maria Gonzalez Munoz, who spent 30 days after the storm caring for her sister in her blacked-out home.

Maria and her brother took Ramona to a hospital twice, and tried to get her aboard a Navy medical ship in San Juan harbor, but couldnt save their ailing sister.

No one was asking after us, no one from the government, said Gonzalez Munoz, 66.

The hurricanes true death toll has fueled debate since the first days of the storm, in large part because of the near-unique nature of the disaster.

Largely due to decades of neglect and years of fiscal crisis, the Puerto Rican electrical grid collapsed into the United States longest-ever blackout after Maria hit on Sept. 20, 2017. That spawned a long and deadly tail for the storm, with hundreds of deaths coming long after the first weeks of the storm, as medical equipment failed and sick people weakened in the suffocating heat.

Researchers from George Washington University estimated last month that 2,975 people had died because of Maria in the six months after landfall, a number Puerto Rico accepted as official.

Both the local and federal governments have been heavily criticized for inadequate planning and post-storm response. The GWU report found that Puerto Rico had no plan for communication with its citizens in a crisis. The Center for Investigative Journalism found in May that the islands health department had no emergency response plan for hospitals and other medical facilities.

Deteriorated U.S. and Puerto Rico flags fly on a roof eight months after the passing of Hurricane Maria in the Barrio Jacana Piedra Blanca area of Yabucoa, a town where power was knocked out by the storm. (Carlos Giusti / AP)

More than half of federal emergency personnel in Puerto Rico were not qualified for their assigned tasks as of October 2017, a month after landfall, according to a Sept. 5 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Puerto Rican officials did not respond to request for comment.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has endorsed Republican John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe for governor, the campaign announced Friday.

We need to reform Sacramento so its working for us again, Faulconer said in a news release from the Cox campaign. Millions of forgotten Californians face unaffordable housing, struggling schools and the worst poverty rate in the country. Its time for new ideas to turn Sacramento around, and John Cox is the best choice for the job. He will never stop fighting for our communities.

The endorsement was issued despite Faulconer and Cox having taken different approaches to the Republican Party and its standard bearer, President Donald Trump.

Faulconer is a Republican mayor of a Democrat-dominant city who was once considered a possible GOP contender for governor until he announced last summer that he would not seek the post. He has campaigned and governed largely as a moderate and has been reticent to tie himself to Trump.

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Cox moved farther to the right during the primary, taking more conservative positions on issues and embracing Trumps support of his candidacy  even though he did not support Trump in 2016.

Trumps endorsement of Cox is viewed by many as having helped propel Cox out of the June primary and into the general election to face Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the November general election.

California has a rare opportunity to turn things around and solve its high crime, high tax, problems  along with so many others, Trump tweeted in May. On June 5th., vote for GOP Gubernatorial Candidate JOHN COX, a really good and highly competent man. Hell Make California Great Again!

Cox replied, End the Sanctuary State, Repeal the Gas Tax & Stop the crazy train - Proud to have @realDonaldTrumps support. Lets Make CA Great Again.

Cox has expressed support for reversing a state law that limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration officials, repealing a state gas tax increase and loosening environmental restrictions on development.

Faulconer is a fiscal conservative, viewed by many as a moderate because of his positions on social issues and his leadership on climate change. He has been less supportive of Trump.

He did not endorse Trump, telling The San Diego Union-Tribune in May 2016, I am not endorsing Mr. Trump. I reject his divisive rhetoric, including that toward women and Latinos. We need to be building bridges and bringing people together. Thats how we do things in San Diego. Mr. Trump has not earned my vote.

Since the president took office, Faulconer has been less critical of the man  although he has taken issue with Trumps policies. For instance, he has issued statements opposing the separation of immigrants from their children.

As the mayor for the busiest port of entry in the United States, I know firsthand we need a safe and secure border, but I am against separating parents and children, Faulconer said in June. Families shouldnt be used as bargaining chips in the fight over how to repair our broken immigration system.

Faulconer cant run for re-election in 2020 because of term limits and hasnt announced his career plans moving forward.

Its a somewhat risky move for Kevin Faulconer who has stayed as far as he can from the governors race and the national brand of the Trump Republican party, said Thad Kousser, professor of political science at the University of California San Diego. But its one of those things you do to be a good soldier.

He added, however, that unless John Cox mounts the comeback of the year, I dont think it would loom large in the memories of many Californians.

Jack Pitney, political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, said Faulconers endorsement is not unexpected given Cox is of the same party and isnt likely to carry negative consequences for the mayor.

I guess critics will try to tie him to Trump through endorsement, but there are too many degrees of separation, Pitney said. Most people will understand it is party loyalty and it [the endorsement] is unlikely to make any kind of difference in the general.

Pitney said that failing to endorse the Republican candidate for governor could have created friction for Faulconer within his own party going forward.

For Cox, the endorsement fits into a general election effort to appeal to more moderate voters. He also announced an endorsement this week from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Faulconer is viewed widely as carrying support even among non-Republican voters, which is the kind of support Cox needs as he attempts to close the gap with Newsom, the heavy favorite to be Californias future governor.

There are also indications that Cox may be distancing himself from Trump, who lost California by millions of votes in 2016.

As recently as June, Cox wholeheartedly embraced Trump and welcomed his support in the general election.

Gavin Newsom is going to make this race all about President Trump, Cox said at a Republican Party of San Diego County meeting in Mission Valley in June. Well, you know what, I welcome it.

President Trump is going to come here and campaign for me and for you, Cox continued.

Now, Cox appears less eager to have Trump join him on the campaign trail.

When asked whether he would welcome Trump appearing at one of his rallies by Elex Michaleson on Fox Los Angeless political show The Issue is, Cox responded, Were both businessmen, but my opponent is going to make the president an issue.

The instance was just one of three separate occasions during the interview in which Cox avoided directly answering whether he wants the president to appear at one of his rallies.

Pitney, the political science professor, said a decision to not have Trump appear at any of Coxs rallies would probably be a wise one.

It would be nuts for any Republican running for statewide office to invite Trump to a rally, Pitney said. He is extremely unpopular in the state Any benefit from motivating the Republican base would be greatly outweighed by alienating voters in the middle.
The owner of a four-door pickup reported it stolen in Rolando Friday by a thief who got into a police pursuit, then was arrested near San Diego State University fraternity and sorority houses.

The owner told police the keys were in the truck and the engine was running outside a Union bank on El Cajon Boulevard at 60th Street. A man with long brown hair hopped inside and drove it away about 10:35 a.m., San Diego police Sgt. Michael Stirk said.

The white truck disappeared north on 60th, but an officer spotted it moments later going south on College Avenue from University Avenue, Stirk said.

Police went in pursuit of the truck, whose driver wound around several streets before heading north on College at speeds of 65 mph.

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He turned into College Place, a short cul-de-sac lined with sorority and fraternity houses south of Montezuma Road. The pickup struck a parked car before the driver stopped. Officers had him cornered in a parking lot, with a police helicopter overhead, about eight minutes after starting the pursuit.

The suspected thief sat in the vehicle for another 10 minutes, at first ignoring officers shouted commands to step out with his hands up. He eventually surrendered without further incident and was arrested, Stirk said.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard
A former teacher at La Jolla Country Day School, who had been recently hired to teach at a school in San Jose, was arrested this week on suspicion of sexual misconduct with an underage student in San Diego County two years ago.

Jonathan Sammartino, 35, was arrested in Santa Clara County on suspicion of statutory rape and two counts of sex crimes involving a child under the age of 18, all felonies, a spokesman with the San Diego County District Attorneys Office said.

According to an arrest warrant filed by San Diego police, Sammartino had an unlawful relationship with a 17-year-old girl between April 2016 and September 2016  during a portion of the girls senior year at La Jolla Country Day and after her graduation.

Sammartino, then-33 years old, was her teacher, the document says.

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He and the girl met on multiple occasions, including in Sammartinos car and at his home, to engage in sexual activity. Occasionally, the girl would sneak out of her home to meet with Sammartino, according to the warrant.

She told police that Sammartino used no force or fear to get her to engage in the sex acts. She told a friend about one of their encounters in June 2016, and then in July of this year she filed a police report in Northern California, where she attends college.

Investigators listened to an Aug. 22 a phone call between Sammartino and the former student. During the recorded call, Sammartino acknowledged the past sexual relationship, and that he had known she was 17 at the time, the document says.

San Diego police obtained the arrest warrant Tuesday, a day after a criminal complaint was filed against him. Sammartino was arrested on Wednesday, booked into a Santa Clara County jail and he posted bail that day, court records show.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in San Diego on Oct. 23.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sammartino taught at La Jolla Country Day from 2012 to 2016 and then taught at the French American International School in San Francisco.

His online biography also says he worked as a lecturer at UC San Diego from 2011 to 2016.

In a letter to La Jolla County Day School alumni, Head of School Gary Krahn wrote that school officials began a conversation with law enforcement and informed our community immediately after being notified of the allegations against Sammartino. No other former students are involved in the case.

First and foremost, our heart goes out to the member of our community who has come forward, the letter reads. It is our responsibility at the school to keep our children safe.

As a community rooted in trust and dignity, I am profoundly sorry that this incident has occurred with a person in a position of trust. Plese know that the safety and well being of all of our students, past and present, is our paramount concern.

We are urging community members who have information related to this matter to reach out immediately.

Sammartino had just finished his first week as a new teacher at the Harker School in San Jose, teaching AP Psychology, when he was arrested, according to a statement released by the school. He is now on administrative leave pending the investigation.

We have no information that Sammartino behaved in any inappropriate manner during his brief tenure at Harker, the school said.

Staff writers Pauline Repard and Dana Littlefield contributed to this report.

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
Violent crime in San Diego hit a four-year high the first half of this year, but violent crime in the region remains near all-time low levels and far beneath the peak rates of the early 1990s, according to a mid-year crime report released Thursday by the San Diego Association of Governments.

According to SANDAGs Criminal Justice Research Division, between January and June of this year there were 5,507 violent crimes reported  or 30 per day  which was 79 more than the same period last year, 146 more than 2016 and 177 more than 2015.

The increase amounts to a 3.3-percent bump in mid-year violent crime reports over the past four years, but violent crime was down 19 percent the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2008.

If the rate remains steady through the end of December, 2018 is on track to be the fifth-safest year since 1980, with a crime rate thats less than a third of its peak in 1992.

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Its amazing to me how low the violent crime rate is in San Diego County, said Cynthia Burke, the director of SANDAGs applied research division.

Especially surprising is the low number of homicides  40 in San Diego County between January and June  considering the unprecedented violence in neighboring Tijuana, Burke said.

A record 1,744 homicides occurred in Tijuana in 2017, compared to 80 in San Diego County. Tijuanas homicide number almost double from the previous record of 910 homicides set in 2016, and San Diegos neighbor to the south is expected to set a new record again this year.

Mexican officials say organized crime groups are to blame for the surging murder rate south of the border, and Burke guessed it was the drug trade in San Diego County that was to blame for the record 278 murders here in 1991.

Now though, the region is on pace for 80 homicides in 2018, which would match the number for 2017.

Burke said she never wants it to sound like theres no crime out there, but a slight uptick in violent crimes is also no reason to make it sound like the sky is falling, she told the Union-Tribune in a phone interview Thursday evening.

Rising violent crime rates can also mean that more people are reporting crimes, and Burke points to changes in Californias definition of rape as a reason reports of rape have spiked in recent years, reaching a mid-year peak this year of 604.

California law enforcement broadened the definition of rape in 2015 to include male victims, sodomy, penetration with any body part or object, and no longer requires force, Burke said.

As a result, some crimes that would have been classified as aggravated assaults are now considered rapes and some crimes that would not have been considered violent crimes are now captured in these statistics, Burke said in a statement.

Failing to report crimes can cut both ways, however; Burke said some big cities are seeing recent trends that show victims of property crimes failing to report those crimes.

That could help explain that while reports of violent crimes have inched higher over the past four years, reports of property crime in San Diego County fell from 30,447 in 2015 to 27,727 in 2018, a decrease of nearly 9 percent, according to the report.

Heres a breakdown of violent crimes in San Diego County for the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017:

The 40 reported homicides were down from 42 in 2017, a decrease of 5 percent.

Reported robberies, of which there were 1,346, were down 7 percent from 2017.

Rapes were up 13 percent compared to 2017.

Aggravated assaults were up 3 percent, from 3,412 last year to 3,517.

Residential burglaries were down 14 percent, while non-residential burglaries were down 12 percent.

All categories of property crime fell by at least 3 percent, except for larceny over $400, which rose 8 percent.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

8:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reporting and statistics.

This article was originally published at 3:20 p.m.
Authorities seized an assault rifle along with dozens of handguns and other rifles and explosives from the home of a University Heights man suspected of shooting a city employee who was working to restore water to his home on Labor Day, the City Attorneys Office announced Friday.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department bomb squad found and took the cache Sept. 7 while serving what is known as a gun violence restraining order against the homeowner and accused shooter, 79-year-old Nathan Brogan, officials said.

The weapons stockpile included an AR-15 with a 200-round drum magazine, 34 additional rifles and 21 handguns taken from Brogans home, the City Attorneys Office said.

The bomb squad also removed 75,000 rounds of ammunition as well as explosives, among them a smoke grenade and 4.5 pounds of loose black powder.

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Authorities found the guns in rooms, cabinets and storage areas inside Brogans home. In his garage, they found the black powder, the ammunition, a reloading bench and equipment used for homemade ammunition.

The City Attorneys Office noted that the home sits about five blocks from Alice Birney Elementary School.

The District Attorneys Office has charged Brogan with attempted murder, assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, all felonies. He has pleaded not guilty, and remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

An AR-15, seen here, was among dozens of guns authorities seized from the University Heights home of a man accused of shooting a city worker on Labor Day. (Photo courtesy San Diego City Attorneys Office)

On the day of the shooting, a San Diegos Water Department crew was in the vicinity of Meade Avenue and New Jersey Street, trying to restore water service to homes in the area.

A 55-year-old supervisor  wearing an orange vest and safety gear  approached Brogans home to check that service had been restored.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco has said the employee saw Brogan in the home and tried to call out to him, identifying himself in the process.

But Brogan disappeared, Greco said.

The prosecutor said Brogan soon came out of the home carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. The victim again identified himself.

Brogan replied, I dont care who you are with, then shot the worker, Greco said. The victim was struck in his chest and arm.

The resident later told police that he thought the worker was trying to break into his house, authorities said.

Using what is known as a gun violence restraining order, authorities seized roughly 75,000 rounds of ammunition from the home of a University Heights man accused of shooting a city worker on Labor Day. (Photo courtesy San Diego City Attorneys Office)

City Attorney Mara Elliott issued a statement Friday that the gun violence restraining orders likely prevented an even greater tragedy.

Our Police Department was rightly concerned that the suspect, if released on bail, would have immediate access to weapons concealed in his house, Elliott said. Their instincts were confirmed when, after our office obtained a GVRO, they searched his residence and uncovered a deadly arsenal.

Gun violence restraining orders  available in California since 2016  allow close family members, roommates and law enforcement to ask a court to force a person to surrender or sell their firearms. The orders also bar them from possessing guns or ammunition for a year.

Under the law, the court must find the person poses an immediate and present danger to themselves or others.

The City Attorneys Office said it has obtained 56 gun violence restraining orders thus far on behalf of the San Diego Police Department. The orders led police to seize more than 190 firearms, including a dozen AR-15s, from people whom the court found to be a threat to themselves or others, the office said.

The office announced in February that it had adopted an aggressive strategy of obtaining such restraining orders against people who present serious risk of harm.

The approach was developed by the City Attorneys Office and then-Assistant police Chief David Nisleit, who now leads the Police Department.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
The clerical sexual abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church hit home Thursday, as the Diocese of San Diego added eight priests to the list of those believed to have molested children.

This is a response to the terrible moment we are in, said Bishop Robert McElroy, citing a recent Pennsylvania grand jury report that found 1,000 children had been molested by Pittsburgh area priests there, and the resignation of Theodore McCarrick, who is accused of sexually assaulting altar boys, seminarians and priests.

The cascade of emotions that this causes the survivors of the abuse as well as other people in the pews, has caused a tumult of anger, grief, upset, incomprehension, disillusionment, McElroy said.

The new names  the Revs. Jose Chavarin, Raymond Etienne, J. Patrick Foley, Michael French, Richard Houck, George Lally and Paolino Montagna, plus Monsignor Mark Medaer  were released in piecemeal fashion, with critical details missing.

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This list extends the roster of predator priests established by a landmark legal case that was concluded 11 years ago. On Sept. 7, 2007, the diocese settled 144 claims of child sexual abuse by 48 priests and one lay employee. The payments totaled $198.1 million, the second-largest settlement by a Catholic diocese in the United States.

Thursdays announcement was prompted by the Pennsylvania grand jury report, the McCarrick case and other recent revelations that have called into question the churchs moral authority and its willingness to honestly address this scandal.

There is a broad call for transparency, McElroy said. When we looked at it, we wanted to meet that as best we could.

The newly listed priests were accused of abuse since the 2007 settlement, or reported to the diocese earlier in files that had been tucked away or mislaid. They were overlooked until, the bishop said, a recent review of records.

They never kept good records on this stuff until recently, McElroy said. They kept records, but not in a very systematic way.

Advocates for victims said that revealing the identities of accused predators is a valuable step.

It makes them more accountable, said Dr. Marianne Benkert, a La Jolla-based psychiatrist who, with her husband, the late Richard Sipe, studied clerical sexual abuse. And there are still some victims of these priests here in San Diego. It will give those victims some comfort to see their abusers exposed.

Some dioceses are trying to do pro-active disclosures, which is great  disclosures are super important. said Tim Lennon, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. But its not because of the goodness of their hearts. They want to protect themselves as much as they can.

This crisis is worldwide, a fact underscored this week. On Thursday, Pope Francis and several top American bishops conferred on McCarricks case. The day before, the Vatican announced that the pontiff will convene the worlds bishops for a February 2019 meeting on the protection of minors.

In San Diego, McElroy will embark on a listening tour of the diocese, stopping at eight parishes between Oct. 1 and Nov. 5.

Ive met with a number of victims, McElroy said. They are looking for  they are really looking for the perpetrator to say it to them, but often the perpetrator is dead  so they are looking for the church to say we are truly sorry for this.

This week, the diocese and other sources issued some details on the eight clerics added to that roster:

The Rev. Jose Chavarin. A native of Mexico, he served at Mary Star of the Sea in La Jolla from 1986 through 1991, while also working as associate pastor at Our Lady of Guadelupe in Calexico (1989-1990) and associate pastor at Lemon Groves St. John of the Cross (1990-1991).

On June 20 and 23, 2008, the diocese received reports that Chavarin  then working in San Francisco  had sexually abused three boys while in San Diego. The incidents involved two brothers in 1986 or 87, and an unrelated boy who was abused between 1985 and 1988.

Confronted with these accusations, Chavarin denied any wrongdoing, then fled to Mexico.

Chavarins current whereabouts are unknown.

The Rev. Raymond Etienne. A priest of the Society of the Divine Word, Etienne was an associate pastor at San Bernardinos St. Anthony parish from 1980 through 1988. He also worked at the Society of the Divine Word seminary in Riverside in the 1960s, where he allegedly sexually assaulted seminarians.

Etienne is deceased, the diocese reports, although officials there could not confirm when or where he died.

The Rev. J. Patrick Foley. While attached to the San Diego diocese, Foley has been living in Northern California since 1991. In 2010, he was suspended from ministry pending a church trial on charges that he had abused two Sacramento-area boys, whose parents had been friends of the priest.

The canonical trial ended in January 2011 without a clear verdict. He wasnt guilty, said Rodrigo Valdivia, the San Diego dioceses vice-moderator of the curia, but thats not to say he was innocent. His priestly faculties were restored until McElroy removed them in August 2015.

That hasnt stopped Foley from advertising on his web site as an Itinerant Papist Preacher, offering retreats and spiritual counsel. His most recent posting, dated May 18, 2017, is a personal reflection under the heading Love  and then do as you will.

This July, he led a cluster mission at St. Joseph the Worker in Dubuque, Iowa.

Foley did not return a reporters phone call Thursday.

The Rev. Michael French. In 2003, the diocese was alerted that French had abused a boy in 1980. French, who died in 1995, came to San Diego in 1973 to pursue doctoral studies at the California School of Professional Psychology.

In 1975, he was a chaplain at the Benedictine Convent for Perpetual Adoration in San Diego.

A director of Catholic Community Services and diocesan director for Worldwide Marriage Encourage, French met his victim at a social occasion in his parents home. There were several instances of abuse. The diocese paid a settlement to the victim, who did not press charges in court.

The Rev. Richard Houck. In his long career, Houck served as an assistant priest, an associate pastor, pastor and priest in residence at a series of local parishes  St. Vincent de Paul, St, Charles Borromeo, Our Lady of Angels, St. Charles, St. Didacus and Immaculate Conception, all in San Diego; Most Precious Blood in Chula Vista; and Our Lady of Light in Descanso.

In 1968, he assisted at St. Vincent de Paul, serving alongside the Rev. Hugh John Sutton. (In 2014, the Diocese of Fort Worth received reports of Sutton sexually abusing minors while working there as a teacher and chaplain between 1984 and 1992. Sutton died in 2004.)

While at Most Precious Blood in 1977, Houck molested a 10-year-old altar boy, according to the diocese. When the victim reported this abuse in 2004, the diocese paid a settlement and the victim did not pursue the matter in court.

Houck died in February 2002.

The Rev. George Lally. As associate pastor at St. Mary in El Centro between September 1970 and February 1972, Lally allegedly molested a boy. A 2002 diocesan report refers to a 1971 agreement to pay college costs for the victim.

As compensation for having been victimized, said Valdivia.

The Union-Tribune reported that a man identified as Ralph S. sued the diocese, alleging that Lally had abused him when he was an altar boy at St. Mary. Ralph S. told reporters that he had reported the crime to St. Marys pastor, and Lally was then transferred.

Lally, who left the priesthood in 1979, is married and living in San Clemente.

His wife, a former nun and longtime Catholic administrator and educator, was hired in 1983 as principal of Holy Family School. Within a month, she was terminated. She sued the diocese.

That case was dismissed in 1990.

Msgr. Mark Medaer. While pastor of Our Lady of Guadelupe in Calexico, Medaer allegedly molested a boy in 1982. Roughly 20 years later, the victim reported this abuse to the diocese, which agreed to pay for his counseling.

Diocesan records show the counseling began in March 2002 and continued at least through November 2002.

Medaer died in June 1993.

The Rev. Paolino Montagna. Attached to the diocese for less than three years, Montagna was the associate pastor at El Centros Our Lady of Guadalupe (August 1972-October 1973) and then held the same position at a parish in Calexico with the same name, Our Lady of Guadalupe (October 1973-January 1975).

He was accused of molesting two girls. The diocese was unable to say when or where.

Montagna, who left the diocese in January 1975, is believed to be dead.

The new revelations were dismissed by SNAPs Southern California liaison, Esther Miller, as so much smoke and mirrors. Benkert, the La Jolla psychiatrist and a former nun, said the scandal seems to be kind of unending.

People can understand to what lengths the church has gone to try to protect itself as an institution, she said.

McElroy, though, argued that new measures taken by the diocese  including a civilian review board for sexual abuse complaints, and a prevention program in Catholic school curriculum  have been effective, to a point.

Ive been here as bishop three and a half years and in that time we have not had a live case of a priest abusing minors, he said.

But at the same time, weve had four cases involving lay persons.

Yet others are sure that more reports of clerical abuse will be forthcoming.

Theyre telling me that there are now 56 priests who are credibly accused of sexual abuse in San Diego? asked Patrick Wall, a former priest who now investigates clerical sexual misconduct for a Minnesota law firm, Jeff Anderson and Associates. I believe that number to be extremely short.

Reporter Pauline Repard and research manager Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report.
A letter reportedly alleging a decades-old incident involving Brett Kavanaugh has been referred to the FBI for review  the latest blow in the partisan and bitter battle over President Trumps nominee to the Supreme Court.

The letter originally was given to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She declined to release it publicly, and its details remain unclear.

I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Feinstein said in a statement. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.

Late last week, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee privately expressed frustration that Feinstein was refusing to share the contents of the letter even with them, according to several sources. The referral to the FBI was seen as a way to address the issue without violating the confidentiality that Feinstein sought to protect.

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Several Democrats on the committee declined to talk about the contents of the letter on Thursday after a hearing in which a vote on Kavanaughs nomination was slated for Sept. 20. It was unclear whether they had seen it.

Anyone can make a referral to the FBI and it does not mean Kavanaugh is under federal investigation. Kavanaughs nomination is under intense scrutiny by Democrats who argue he would be the fifth solid conservative justice on the Supreme Court, a lock for Republican priorities such as scaling back abortion rights.

Republicans pledged that a committee vote on Kavanaugh would move forward as planned next week and a White House official blasted the referral as an 11th-hour attempt to delay his confirmation.

Throughout his confirmation process, Judge Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators  including with Sen. Feinstein  sat through over 30 hours of testimony, addressed over 2,000 questions in a public setting and additional questions in a confidential session. Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new information about him, said White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec.

Kupec said the FBI has repeatedly vetted Kavanaugh dating back to 1993 for his White House and judicial roles.

An FBI spokesperson confirmed that the bureau had received the referral on Wednesday evening and included it as part of Kavanaughs background file as per the standard process.

The existence of the letter was first reported by the Intercept, an online news publication. It said the letter apparently describes an incident involving Kavanaugh and a young woman while they were in high school, but included no details.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) is aware of the referral but hasnt seen the letter, a spokesman said.

Theres no plan to change the committees consideration of Judge Kavanaughs nomination, Grassley spokesman Taylor Foy said.

The letter was given to Feinstein by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Menlo Park), who got it from a college professor who wrote about the incident, according to Democratic sources. A spokesperson for Eshoo declined to comment on what she called a constituent matter.

The latest from Washington 

jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com

Twitter: @jenhab
Opening yet another legal battle over the Affordable Care Act, a coalition of patient advocates and other healthcare groups is going to court to try to block the Trump administration from expanding the availability of short-term health plans that dont offer a full set of benefits.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Washington, seeks to blunt one of the signature moves by the administration to weaken patient protections enacted through the 2010 healthcare law, often called Obamacare.

It accuses Trumps Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services secretaries of jeopardizing access to life-saving medical care for millions of Americans with serious medical conditions, including mental illness, cancer and HIV/AIDS.

It will be more expensive, and perhaps impossible, for some individuals with preexisting conditions to obtain healthcare and health insurance coverage  undermining the purpose of, and congressional plan embodied in, the ACA, the lawsuit argues.

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The administration finalized new regulations last month designed to allow insurance companies to sell more short-term plans. That fulfilled a pledge by the president to loosen insurance rules that Republicans say have driven up premiums for consumers who dont get health coverage through an employer or a government health program such as Medicare or Medicaid.

The controversial move  which came on the heels of the unsuccessful campaign last year by congressional Republicans to repeal the healthcare law  will allow people who buy skimpier short-term plans to keep them for as long as three years, up from the previous limit of three months.

Administration officials have billed these plans as what Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called a much more affordable option for millions of the forgotten men and women left out by the current system.

But the short-term plans have been almost universally panned by patient advocacy organizations, leading physician and hospital groups, health insurers and many state regulators. They have warned that skimpier plans, while possibly less costly, will not provide consumers with the coverage they need if they get sick.

Expanding short-term plans also risks driving up costs for Americans with preexisting medical conditions who need more comprehensive benefits.

A central goal of the 2010 healthcare law was to guarantee coverage to Americans even if they were sick. It ended the long-standing practice by health insurers of charging higher premiums to consumers with preexisting medical conditions.

An important tool in ensuring equal treatment for all consumers was mandating that health plans cover a basic set of benefits, including prescription drugs, mental health services and maternity care.

Most patient advocates believe short-term plans undermine those key protections.

This rule change rolls back the clock on Congress bipartisan efforts to ensure patient protections and fair insurance coverage of mental illness  and will start a downward spiral that leaves people with mental health conditions right back to where we were, excluded from life-saving healthcare, said Mary Giliberti, chief executive of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of seven organizations that filed the lawsuit.

The other plaintiffs are the Assn. for Community Affiliated Plans; Mental Health America; the American Psychiatric Assn.; AIDS United; the National Partnership for Women and Families; and Little Lobbyists, a group that represents families of children with serious illnesses.

Earlier this year, a Los Angeles Times analysis of official comments filed with federal agencies before the final regulation was issued found more than 98%  or 335 of 340  of the healthcare groups that commented on the proposal criticized it, in many cases warning that the rule could gravely hurt sick patients.

A second Trump administration proposal to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to band together to form so-called association health plans  which also dont have to offer a full set of health benefits  was similarly panned.

More than 95% of the 279 healthcare groups that filed comments about that proposal expressed serious concern or opposed it.

Among the groups that have opposed the Trump administrations moves are virtually every leading patient advocacy organization in the country, including the American Lung Assn., the American Heart Assn., the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the March of Dimes, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Susan G. Komen, AARP and the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society.

The Trump administration finalized the association health plan regulation earlier this summer.

A group of 12 Democratic attorneys general, including Californias and New Yorks, is suing in another federal court to try to stop that regulation.

Opponents of the law are also in court, as 20 Republican governors and state attorneys general have filed a suit that seeks to invalidate the entire healthcare law.

The Trump administration has elected not to defend the law against that legal challenge, instead backing an argument by the GOP plaintiffs that core consumer protections in the law, including the ban on insurers turning away sick consumers, should be scrapped.

A federal judge in Texas heard arguments in that case earlier this month.

Obamacare 101: A primer on key issues in the debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. 

The latest from Washington 

More stories from Noam N. Levey 

noam.levey@latimes.com

@noamlevey
President Trump gazed out at the cheering men and women  steelworkers in orange, yellow and white hard hats  and declared his solidarity.

I look at the faces of you people. I could be one of you, he told them.

That unlikely message weeks ago at a newly reopened steel plant in Granite City, Ill., a town outside St. Louis that has long struggled with declining industrial activity, is one that Trump has cultivated since his presidential campaign. That populist appeal helped him carve out support from rank-and-file union members who felt ignored or insulted by Hillary Clinton and other traditional Democratic allies.

Now Trump seems close to fulfilling one of his biggest campaign promises to labor voters, a deal revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Few issues have galvanized organized labor as much as its antipathy toward NAFTA, and Trumps frequent denunciations of the quarter-century-old pact, along with his attacks on China trade and promises of protectionism, have found resonance especially among white working-class men.

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Despite his hard-hat rallies and other intermittent attempts to woo unions, however, Trump has had little success in loosening Democrats grip on organized labor, according to polling data and interviews with people who follow the movement closely.

While he could still make inroads, Trumps apparent failure so far has contributed to his overall unpopularity and to his partys risk of losing its congressional majorities in the November midterm elections. As a candidate in 2016, Trump eked out wins in such traditional labor strongholds as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which proved critical for his victory. But hes gained no ground since, and his party is on the defensive there and elsewhere.

Polls indicate Trumps approval rating with union households has not changed significantly since his election and stands about where it is with the general population  generally low.

An August survey by Pew Research Center showed that just 40% of union households approved of Trumps job performance, identical to his support in non-union households; 58% disapproved. Gallup and other nonpartisan polls have found similar results, while Trump has done better in monthly tracking surveys taken by Reuters/Ipsos.

Nonetheless, labor leaders have tried to show an openness to Trump, recognizing that in some unions  those for industrial and construction workers, for example  the president has greater support from the rank and file, boosted in part by strong economic growth and solid employment gains.

Trump has invited union leaders into the White House and keeps in regular contact with 230 local, national and international union representatives, said Justin Clark, director of the presidents office of public liaison.

This is probably the most engaged Republican administration with labor in the last 50 years, Clark said. He described the message to union leaders as, Were not going to agree with everything, but we are going to key you in the minute we know information, with good news or bad news.

Clark cites several policies as pro-labor, including on trade and cutting regulations to expedite public works projects, while conceding that unions have been frustrated with aspects of the administrations agenda.

Indeed, union leaders and their allies in progressive groups have been keeping a scorecard and, after a year and a half, it shows that the bulk of the presidents policies have been detrimental to workers. Those include tax cuts that benefit the wealthy, reversals of Obama-era rules favoring the right to organize, a Supreme Court appointee  Neil Gorsuch  who cast the decisive vote for a ruling that undermined public sector unions, and a recent pay freeze for federal employees.

Trump in every way has run an anti-worker administration, said Rich Yeselson, a longtime writer and researcher in the labor movement.

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, labors umbrella organization, has gone to the White House several times and served on the presidents jobs council for several months. He resigned last year, along with corporate representatives on the council, after Trump failed to forcefully denounce white nationalists who rallied violently in Charlottesville, Va.

When he was elected, I said I would call balls and strikes, Trumka said in a Fox News interview just before Labor Day. When he did something that was good for workers, wed support him. When he did something that was bad for workers, we would oppose him.

Unfortunately, to date the things that hes done to hurt workers outpace what hes done to help workers, Trumka said.

As examples, he said Trump had broken a campaign promise to spend $1 trillion on job-creating infrastructure projects, killed a rule on overtime pay and regulations for workers health and safety, and allowed lax enforcement of other job-safety rules.

Trump, in his characteristic style, snapped back on Twitter, and did so on Labor Day  typically a holiday when Republicans as well as Democrats pay respects to unions.

Trumka represented his union poorly on television this weekend, Trump wrote. Some of the things he said were so against the working men and women of our country, and the success of the U.S. itself, that it is easy to see why unions are doing so poorly. A Dem!

Whether the exchange will mark an inflection point in labors conflicted relationship with Trump, union leaders are likely to maintain their communication with the White House, if only to avoid Trumps divide-and-conquer strategy of splitting them from some of their members.

For a wealthy Republican who played hardball with unions at his casino-hotels in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Trump has fared remarkably well with organized labor.

That in part reflects the movements declining clout  fewer than 11% of all workers are union members, down from 20% in 1983. But Trump also has exploited longstanding cultural and policy divisions  on immigration and gun rights, notably  to win support from older, more conservative and mostly white workers, especially in the building trades, steel and mining industries and law enforcement.

The bulk of the labor movement, however, is now made up of government and service-sector workers. They are much more diverse and include many Latino workers, who have felt targeted by Trumps anti-immigration and racially charged rhetoric. Public employees, who account for almost half of all 14.8 million union members, have been angered over his attacks on their pay and organizing rights.

We have this notion in our mind of hard-hatted, stereotypically white male union members and they still exist but in dramatically declining numbers, said Jake Rosenfeld, a sociology professor at Washington University in St. Louis who chronicled the diminishing clout of organized labor in his book, What Unions No Longer Do.

He speaks to a labor force that is half a century gone in many ways, Rosenfeld said.

Yet Trump still has a chance to make gains, he added, in large part because of trade policies and shifts in the global economy that left a giant gaping hole where the Democratic Party never really filled in what was going to help out the workers.

Exit polls from the 2016 election showed that Clinton beat Trump by only 8 percentage points among union households, the smallest gap between the two major parties nominees since Ronald Reagans 1984 defeat of Walter Mondale. That helped Trump in the key swing states with strong manufacturing sectors: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Trumps strength, though, mostly reflected Clintons weakness. His share of union support was only 3 points higher than Republican Mitt Romneys in 2012 against President Obama. Many would-be Democrats either skipped the 2016 election or chose a third-party candidate.

The Democratic Party is kind of split between the more Wall Street-friendly wing and the [Bernie] Sanders wing, said Gordon Lafer, a political science professor at the University of Oregons Labor Education & Research Center. Part of the Trump question is also the question of What are the Democrats offering?

That has left Trump with an opportunity, if an uncertain one.

He is counting on rewriting NAFTA to get a big boost with labor. But it remains to be seen whether labor unions, and their Democratic allies in Congress, will back the renegotiated pact, which could be completed by the end of this month.

While talks are continuing with Canada, the preliminary agreement with Mexico includes substantive changes that should benefit labor, including tighter rules on auto production and wages, as well as strengthened labor protections for Mexican workers to curb the exodus of U.S. companies seeking low-wage employees.

But people who have reviewed the incomplete texts of the tentative deal say they havent seen details of how these new rules and standards would be implemented and enforced.

And as important as NAFTA may be to Trumps message of economic populism, the proposed changes are unlikely to have a broad effect on American industries and workers. Most labor watchers dont see it as a game changer for Trump, either for his relations with union leaders or his efforts to broaden his support among the rank and file.

Will there be gains? Probably, said Thea Lee, a former AFL-CIO executive who is now president of the Economic Policy Institute, which is closely aligned to the labor movement.

Yet, she added, NAFTA re-negotiations are to a large extent symbolic. People look to the Trump administration to deliver across-the-board gains for workers.

Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington 

noah.bierman@latimes.com | Twitter: @noahbierman
Paul Manafort, the criminally convicted chairman of President Trumps 2016 campaign, reached a tentative plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday, all but ensuring he wont have to face a second trial later this month, according to a report.

The deal is expected to be announced in court on Friday, three people familiar with the matter told ABC News. Manafort and his attorneys agreed to the deal after spending more than four hours in discussions with the special counsels team, the sources said.

It was not immediately clear if the deal includes a cooperation component or if Manafort is simply agreeing to plead guilty in order to avoid his upcoming trial in Washington, D.C., on counts of money laundering and illegal foreign lobbying. That trial is supposed to start Sept. 24.

A spokesman for Manafort did not return a request for comment. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment.

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The 69-year-old longtime GOP operative was convicted on bank and tax fraud charges in Virginia last month. He has yet to be sentenced in that case, but guidelines stipulate he spend seven years behind bars based on that conviction alone.

Manaforts indictments stem from shadowy lobbying work he did for pro-Kremlin political forces in Ukraine.

He has been in jail since a judge revoked his bail in June after Mueller alleged he had attempted to secure false testimony from witnesses in the Russia investigation.

Michael Caputo, a longtime friend of Manafort who also worked on the Trump campaign, said he doubts Manafort will cooperate with Muellers investigators.

Paul has said all along he will never provide false and fabricated evidence of non-existent Russian collusion the special counsel wants, Caputo told the Daily News. I certainly dont think hes going to start now.

Manaforts refusal to budge to the special counsels requests for cooperation has resulted in speculation hes expecting a pardon from the President.

I dont want to comment on pardons, Caputo said when asked whether Manafort is holding out for one.

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps top lawyer in the Russia probe, has repeatedly raised the possibility that Trump will pardon Manafort and other political allies targeted by Mueller once his investigation is over.

The President continues to paint Muellers investigation as a baseless and partisan witch hunt  even though it has already secured nearly 40 indictments against Trump associates and Russians.

Democrats welcomed the latest Manafort development.

This tentative guilty plea deal for Paul Manafort, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif) tweeted, confirms again the following: MOST SUCCESSFUL WITCH HUNT IN US HISTORY.
Patrick Walders, the director of choral studies at San Diego State University, has dropped his lawsuit against a former music student he claimed defamed him in connection with an alleged affair with a student.

Walders, who is married, sued the former student, Michael Sakell, along with another former student, Jess Barrera, in April. Walders claimed the two had harmed his reputation and cost him professional opportunities by spreading misinformation alleging an extramarital affair between Walders and a female music student in 2016 and 2017, according to court records.

Walders, who started working for SDSU in 2011, has been on paid suspension from his teaching duties at the school for more than a year, pending the outcome of the universitys investigation and administrative proceedings. He dropped his lawsuit against Sakell without prejudice, which means he could revive the litigation at a later date, according to court records. Filings in the lawsuit do not indicate there was a settlement agreement.

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Walders is pursuing a default judgment against Barrera, who allegedly failed to respond to the lawsuit, according to court records.

Walders attorney, Matthew English, told The San Diego Union-Tribune this week that his client had dropped the lawsuit against Sakell without prejudice so Walders could concentrate on concluding administrative proceedings at the university. English declined to comment on the administrative proceedings.

Sakells attorney, Nicholas Moore, provided a statement noting that Walders was scheduled to be deposed on Aug. 9.

On the day of the deposition, rather than defend his allegation that Michael Sakell defamed him, Dr. Walders filed to dismiss his lawsuit against Michael Sakell without condition or settlement, the statement said. We believe this result conclusively demonstrates Michael Sakell to be an honest person who spoke truth to power.

Sakell argued in court records that the facts he shared with members of the choral community and others about the alleged affair were supported by evidence and findings in an investigation school officials conducted in response to a complaint made last year under a civil rights law known as Title IX.

Title IX sets standards for investigating allegations of gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment and misconduct at colleges and universities that receive federal funds.

After the investigation, depending on the outcome, the school may begin administrative proceedings to determine possible disciplinary action.

Sakell included in court filings for Walders lawsuit copies of letters from school officials to parties in the investigation regarding university officials findings.

One of the letters in the court files, dated March 6, 2018, said the final outcome of the investigation, after Walders numerous appeals, was a finding that he violated school policies governing sexual harassment and consensual relationships between faculty and students.

University policy governing consensual sexual relationships between employees and students forbids such relationships when an employee exercises or influences significant academic, supervisory, administrative or other specified authority over the student or fellow employee with whom they are sexually involved.

Findings of fact included in the universitys letters about the Title IX investigation described the affair, which allegedly started in fall 2016 while the student was in four of Walders music classes and a graduate assistant under his authority. The correspondence said they had sex in Walders office at the school.

Walders was responsible for assessing the female students academic merits in graduate hearings, according to the document.

The student felt that she could not say no to the relationship and felt that Walders conduct was intimidating, according to the findings of fact in the universitys letter.

During an encounter at a hotel in San Diego in December 2016, Walders gave the student  who he later said appeared drunk  cannabis products he had obtained using his medical marijuana card, according to the unversitys correspondence.

The letters say the affair continued until Sakell walked in on Walders and the female student during an intimate moment they were sharing in a sauna on an SDSU-sponsored trip to a seminar in Austria in February 2017.

Walders awarded the female student a non-competitive scholarship to attend the seminar to Austria, in part because she helped plan the trip, according to findings of fact in one of the letters.

After Sakell walked in on the couple, the student cut short her trip and returned to the United States six days ahead of schedule, according to the letter.

School officials found in the course of their investigation that there was sufficient evidence that Walders sexual advances were unwelcome and that the student felt they affected her ability to participate in or benefit from services, activities and opportunities the university offered its students, the letter said.

Asked about the investigative findings and the status of the lawsuit, La Monica Everett-Haynes, a spokeswoman for the university, provided a statement, saying, San Diego State University does not comment on personnel matters. As of Sept. 11, the university can confirm Patrick Walders has been a (member of) San Diego State Universitys faculty since 2011. However, he is currently not overseeing the choirs nor conducting.

Walders is paid about $81,000 a year by the university, according to a database kept by the group Transparent California.

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morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com
As a 5-year old girl fighting for her life against leukemia, Jennifer Auger wrote an encouraging letter to another sick youngster: Karen, an orangutan at the San Diego Zoo.

A quarter century later, Auger, now healthy and a student nurse at Rady Childrens Hospital San Diego, got the letter back Thursday evening from the Zoos Georgeanne Irvine. Auger looked stunned, then smiled as Irvine handed it back.

The letters return was one of the highlights at a launch party for a new book publishing venture of San Diego Zoo Global, the zoos conservation arm. It has established a publishing division to produce childrens books to tell inspirational stories like Karens. The orangutan recovered from open heart surgery and can still be seen at the Zoo.

There will also be books for adults on themes such as leadership.

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Headed by Irvine, San Diego Zoo Global Press is initially releasing five books  three for children and two for adults. Karens recovery from heart surgery is told in Karens Heart: The True Story of a Brave Baby Orangutan. The other childrens books are, Fabulous Floyd: The True Story of a Flamingo Who Never Gave Up, and Ruuxa & Raina: A Cheetah and Dogs True Story of Friendship and Miracles.

Irvine wrote all three of the childrens books.

We really think that through our books, we can inspire people, children and adults to care about wildlife in the long term., Irvine said.

The new publishing division is mainly intended to advance the conservation message of San Diego Zoo Global, Irvine said. Any proceeds from the sale of the books will go back to San Diego Zoo Global.

By purchasing a book, youre also supporting our organization, she said.

The books can be purchased at the zoo or online at https://shopsandiegozoo.com. For the holidays, the books will be available through book retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

More books are planned in coming years. Next years batch includes a biography of the Belle Benchley, who led the Zoo from 1927 to 1953, becoming the first female director of a major public zoo.

Among the animal inspiration stories, there will be a tale about the return of the California condor. Its to be released in 2020.

The recovery took many years and hard work. In the 1980s, the condor population dropped to 22, bringing it very close to extinction. Now there are more than 500, of which 300 are living in the wild.

We want it to be the type of book that even if you, whether you like condors or not, youre going to say, oh my gosh, what a good read, Irvine said. So its the behind-the-scenes story of how San Diego Zoo Global and our partners saved the California condor.

San Diego Zoo Global has long been familiar with book publishing, having produced guidebooks and a two-volume edition for the zoos 2016 centennial. But its never had its own publishing division.

Printing is handled by a local company, Southwest Publishing Group.

We oversee the process for all the books, Irvine said. Its our copyright. We hire the writers, we control all aspects of the books. But we partner with (Southwest) because they are experts in the production aspect of it.

The San Diego Zoo has recently been selling the childrens books in its two gift shops near the exit as part of a soft launch, Irvine said. At Safari Park, the books are for sale at the Bazaar gift shop located next to the Thorntree restaurant.

Overall demand has been strong enough that the first printing of 3,000 each has been followed by a second printing, for a total of 6,000 for each book. Each costs $14.95.

Also for sale: plush animals matched to the books, including Karen the orangutan, Ruuxa and Raina, and Floyd the Flamingo.

The two adult books are being printed in smaller quantities, of about 2,000 each. A quarter of the run goes to hardcover versions for $24.95, soft covers sell for $16.

One addresses the role of servant leaders, who inspire from the bottom up, written by Don Janssen. The other describes the zoos strategic plan to end extinction, written by Beth Branning.

And thats just the beginning.

Right now were in our infancy, Irvine said. We would like to see us coming out with at least five to six different books per year to begin with.

To write the books, Irvine has taken deep plunges into the zoos history, helped by her organizational skills and foresight. The letter returned to Jennifer Auger had been saved by Irvine.

I was very excited to include this letter in the book, Irvine said at Thursdays launch party. And then my editor said to me, Georgeanne, you really have to get permission from Jennie and her family.

So what do I do? I plug into Google, and the first thing that came up was LinkedIn, Jennifer Auger, nurse, Rady Childrens Hospital. And her biography said, When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with leukemia.

Accepting her letter on Thursday, Auger thanked Irvine and reminisced about how she learned from her mother about Karen the orangutan. Being concerned about another being helped the young girl deal with her own illness.

It was an act of caring from me to Karen, and from my mom to me, Auger said. Its amazing how this has all come full circle.
Q&A with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Associated Press photo

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, is being challenged by State Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board interviewed each of the candidates. Here is a transcript of the Feinstein interview.

Editor's note: Twice during this on-the-record interview, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board agreed to let Sen. Dianne Feinstein go off the record, once while discussing a former staffer and the Chinese government and later to discuss the U.S.-Mexico border. Two other times, she said she'd like to go off the record but no agreement was reached to do so and the conversation continued.

Union-Tribune: One of the things thats changed since you were last here is the Democratic Partys Executive Committees vote for your opponent, right? So theyre endorsing Kevin [de Leon]. That doesnt seem a surprise, but I want to ask you, in the coverage of that, one thing that came up was a vice chair of the DNC saying that you have no relationship with labor and no relationship with the Latino community. How do you respond to that and what do you say to that?

FEINSTEIN: Well that thats really not true. Ive had a good relationship with labor, with police and fire unions, with the building trades. You have to remember, Id been mayor for 10 years in San Francisco, too, so Ive had a relationship there and I suppose SEIU maybe I dont have as close a relationship as I do with some of the others, but I just had lunch with the head of the building trades not a few weeks ago.

So I mean the life of a senator isnt necessarily a relationship. Its what I do. Its the votes I cast. Its the programs I bring about and nothing Ive ever done has received a negative from labor that I know of. No vote. No program. I think some unions prefer my opposition, but thats not a surprise to me. I mean where he was in the in Sacramento, unions are close up and personal. Its a little different back in Washington.

Union-Tribune: How about the Latino community?

FEINSTEIN: Pardon me?

Union-Tribune: The Latino community?

FEINSTEIN: I I dont understand that. I won his district. I won every district, including his, and we do fine, so its hard for me to understand what hes talking about.

Union-Tribune: Let me ask you a big issue now with these wildfires in California. What can be done to lessen the likelihood of these fires? Are we just living in a new normal? And specifically on forest management, where are you on that issue?

FEINSTEIN: Yes. Well I just came back from Tahoe where we did our 22nd Tahoe Summit. President Clinton came there 22 years ago. We launched an effort, which is the rehabilitation of Tahoe, and I can give you some information on that and we have a large number of projects, if youll see from my remarks there, at the Summit. This was given when? When did I do it?

FEINSTEIN AIDE: Tuesday.

FEINSTEIN: Tuesday. Youll see the amount of money and where it comes from. Fire is a big and continuing problem for California, and weve got drought, weve got invasive species. We have to begin to get rid of some of the dead, dying and down timber. We have 17 big fires going now, and its been this way for a few years. It doesnt get better. It gets worse and the Carr Fire and I think the size of that fire Ive watched them drop retardant.

As a matter of fact, was able to get seven planes seven C-130s, two of which are now fighting fires in California. Theyll need retrofitting, but theyre fighting fires and I keep in close touch with the head of Cal Fire. As a matter of fact, we just had a meeting day before yesterday up at Tahoe and fire came up. Congressman oh

FEINSTEIN AIDE: McClintock.

FEINSTEIN: McClintock gave his whole speech on fire. I gave some of my speech on fire and this is a bi-state meeting between Nevada and California, and we do it every year. Ive done it for 22 years now, and weve built a team of people. Instead of fighting were working together. We follow the Summit with a lunch of 40 people, and these are all the leaders in the planning organizations police, fire organizations, forestry organizations, et cetera to see that we have a plan that were working together and I think everything that we can do were doing and were open to doing more. Im an appropriator. Im going to get whatevers required.

Fire crews work at right as flames engulf a stand of trees during a firing operation on the ridge between Mount Manuel and the Coast Ridge Road while fighting the Soberanes Fire near the village of Big Sur on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. David Royal/The Monterey County Herald via AP

Union-Tribune: Should the federal government be thinning more forests?

FEINSTEIN: I beg your pardon?

Union-Tribune: Should we be thinning more forest with the governments help?

FEINSTEIN: More what?

Union-Tribune: Forests more of the dried trees that have been, you know, through either invasive species or drought left there to be tender boxes.

FEINSTEIN: Well this is an interesting thing. Up at Tahoe there was a fire a year ago at Emerald Bay, and it swept right down the hill in the most beautiful area, went right over the highway and down. I think it took with it 13 homes up from Cascade and down and they were going to leave the trees up because I asked why and they said a certain bird. Well theres plenty of bird habitat there.

So I was talking with the Nevada Forest Service and spent time on the phone yesterday with (Dez) Marsolais of California Forestry about getting some equipment that you could do vertical harvesting on, they can harvest off of sheer drops and Emerald Bay that whole one side is now dead and burned wood. So this is a big problem. I have thought that if we could begin to chip if we we need more to clear forest. We need to take that wood, chip it, sell it, move it out, China will take some, and Ive been trying to encourage that over the years, but you know, fire is so sensitive, but when it comes to whats happening in the size and the takeout of homes last year Senator Harris, the governor and I went up to the Sonoma-Napa fire, and we stood at the Coffey subdivision, and Ive never seen anything like it.

Its a huge block that maybe had 300, 400 homes around it. There was not a thing left except one metal piece in the center of the block. Not a stove. Not a refrigerator. The cars around the edges were burned out so completely that nothing but some metal left. Ive never seen a fire that hot and Ive talked to the head of Cal Fire about it, and heres what he told me.

The winds were so high, they change so quickly, they outrun us the winds outrun us and we cant move line fast enough. So that puts everything on a fire drop from ahead from over from above, and thats why these new planes are so important and Im trying to expedite the other five now. Two are in service, but theyre going to have to be worked on. Theyre C-130s and well try and get more because the only way you can attack this and I watch this happening in the Bay Area is drop retardant and I watched it and it was interesting because it was in the Oakland Hills, and I was curious as whether the retardant would work and lets say this is the fire and its moving this way. Theyll drop the retardant here and, believe or not, the fire wont cross it.

So that was very good for me to see, but it has to be wide enough that the wind cant blow it over. So firefighting is hard right now, and I guess weve lost nine firefighters so far this year.

Union-Tribune: We get a lot of letters from people wondering why the White House hasnt sent somebody out why the President hasnt come and considered this a big enough emergency to come and speak to the fire victims. Do you think its time for that?

FEINSTEIN: I cant answer that. Absolutely. I came out. President Bush used to do it. He was the one that I remember doing it the most and I came he would ask us to come out with him and we rode on Air Force One, came out with him and he stood there and he shook I watched him shake 2,000 hands of firefighters. So I think it means a lot when the president comes out, but it also means a lot when the president gets equipment and weve got Australian and New Zealand I was told the other night firefighters coming in now.

Union-Tribune: The Brown administration has approved regulations that allow for much more thinning of forests on state land, but when I read up on the issue for an editorial I wrote it seemed kind of pointless given that theres 10 times as much federal land federal forested land. So this seems like an issue where the federal government needs to be pressured to do its thinning. State efforts alone cant do enough.

FEINSTEIN: Yes and Im an appropriator so Im in a pretty good position. At the Summit, we had Lisa Murkowski addressed it and McClintock and the senator from Nevada and the new senator and myself and well do everything we can to get whatever we can get and thats what weve been doing so the numbers are going up, but you cant always predict where its going to happen.

Union-Tribune: Since we talked the internal rift in the Democrat Party seems to be getting bigger debates over ICE, over identity politics, over what are acceptable things to call white people have all sprung up. Senator Harris gave a speech last week in which he strongly defended identity politics and says its a source of morality and justice in America, but theres others who see this and wonder what what the democrats are doing. Thomas Edsall, a famous political scientist reporter

FEINSTEIN: Well, youd have to defend identity politics. I mean you have to define them to me. I dont know.

Union-Tribune: Well, to the left identity politics means celebrating diversity, et cetera. To the right, identity politics means singling out certain groups for opprobrium that you would never single out minority groups for. So obviously, the definition is what matters.

FEINSTEIN: Well, Ive never used the word identity politics, never. I dont practice it and I dont believe in it, so I dont know what else I can say.

Union-Tribune: But on specific issues like ICE, though  progressives didnt do particularly well. In Democratic primaries across America moderate liberals seemed to do much, much better and yet you have the progressive wing of the party increasingly saying things like we should abolish ICE. Are you worried that your party is headed is blowing an opportunity that Trump presents to reclaim the kind... of middle of the road?

FEINSTEIN: Well you havent heard that from me and Im the senior member of Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, so Im ranking. That is not before us, I dont believe it will be before us, and it its not going to happen. I say that with a fair amount of certainty.

Union-Tribune: Are you concerned at all about splintering of the party at this point with with some of the people who are winning primaries pulling very hard to the left?

FEINSTEIN: Well heres the thing. Weve always been a big party of some many hats, and thats been the rhetoric you know, were a big tent party, everybody belongs, everybody come on in. At times I think it probably gets a little bit difficult, but I think I happen to be a Democrat. I come from my father was a Republican and I took a course at Stanford in the History of American Political Thought taught by a man by the name of Professor Graebner and it was a very important course to me because it gave me a certain identity as a Democrat, and so I became my Party I became a Democrat in a university that had mainly Republicans.

Now, you could say it was contrarian on my part, but it stuck with me for a lot of decades. My father used to laugh. Can I say something off the record? Dianne and five other Democrats are having a meeting in a dark street in Stanford somewhere. But of course that wasnt true.

President Donald Trump tours the border wall prototypes near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego County on March 13, 2018. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/ San Diego Union -Tribune) K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune

Union-Tribune: Senator, the president not long ago threatened or suggested shutting down the government if he doesnt get satisfaction on the border wall funding. Do you think he will do that in the near future?

FEINSTEIN: I think itd be a huge mistake.

Union-Tribune: Why is that?

FEINSTEIN: You cant run the government this way. You cant I mean we weve been there for a while. We know what good policy is and we know what bad policy is and we can have our differences, but the this is terrible policy and I theres not support for it, even in the Republican Party that I see back there.

Union-Tribune: Brian Schatz 

FEINSTEIN: And you have to get it through the Senate. I dont see it happening.

Union-Tribune: The common analysis is that it does hurt politically that it would hurt the Republican candidates or the Republican Party coming into this midterm election. Do you agree with that or is there a concern for Democrats that somehow people are misjudging this? That everybody thinks its

FEINSTEIN: I think

Union-Tribune: It would be his problem and the Republicans problems, but

FEINSTEIN: I think there are very strong groups for Trump. I dont happen to think theyre in California. I think in California the Republican Party is a much bigger party in terms of who it covers. Its not just an isolated small group and I think the Trumpians are here an isolated small group. I could be wrong, but thats my feeling from moving around and talking to people. Ive never run into a Trump supporter in California.

Union-Tribune: They dont understand your functions, eh? Im shocked. Thank you. Brian Schatz, your colleague in the Senate has written speeches recently and given speeches in which he basically says when people tells us not to go for Medicare for all or college tuition for all and they raise the price tag, thats a phony argument because Republicans never care about the cost of their tax cuts. I can see why Schatz would say what he does, but it sounds like a 12-year-old.

What do you say to people in America who worry that both Republicans and Democrats simply dont care about the national deficit and running up the credit card if were on track to have the third biggest item in the budget be interest on the debt in 10 years?

FEINSTEIN: Well, I do care. As a matter of fact, let me I dont know where it is.

FEINSTEIN AIDE: I handed it to you.

FEINSTEIN: Let me give you something because we put this together and I just had it. I wanted to bring it here and so Sean, do you remember where I put it?

FEINSTEIN AIDE: It was in a red folder.

FEINSTEIN: Sean had it reproduced. Let me just keep one and well if you

Union-Tribune: Oh, thats all right. We can share.

FEINSTEIN: Is that all right? Okay.

Union-Tribune: Oh, yeah, thats the study I was just talking about.

FEINSTEIN: This is 2018. This these are total outlays. Total outlays are everything the federal government spends. A lot is not in the budget. As a matter of fact, the red called entitlements, theyre not in the budget. This is Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans benefits. Everything if youre entitled to it, you get it. Its not part of a budget. So this year we spend $2.55 trillion dollars on entitlements.

That is 61 percent of the expenditure, interest on the debt pretty clear. Then you have discretionary defense 15 percent and non-defense. Now, the defense is Army, Navy, et cetera, discretionary non-defense is everything else. Every other thing that the federal does falls within 16 percent and then this is projection and weve been doing this for 10 years and Ive gone to the floor with it and Ive made speeches on it and we adjust it every year and you can see, if we follow where were going, where we are in 2028.

Entitlements go up 3 percent, interest on the debt goes from 8 to 13 percent, discretionary defense goes down to 11 percent, thats in the budget and non-discretionary defense goes down 4 percent. So weve got a problem and this is what I say, that things we budget, which are in the blue and the green, are going down and the things which we entitle people to are going up and, of course, interest on the debt is going to continue to go up. So absence some changes, this is the picture for the next 10 years.

Union-Tribune: So where exactly would these changes be coming from then because

FEINSTEIN: Well they would have to come from changes in program and particularly you see and this is very sensitive. If somethings an entitlement youre entitled to it, no questions asked, and I think thats going to have to get a bit of refinement.

Now, youre going to say with how? And I cant answer that right now, but what I can say is I am looking at this and we are going to try to noodle it to see what we might be able to do thats doable, that doesnt start a big partisan fight to deal with what is a 10-year situation and you have to get this information. Now, its been I have been to the floor, I think, three times with this and do it the charts. Its about time for I havent done it in 18, so I will go down to the floor and I will make a speech and I will use these charts and itll go in the record and probably nothing will happen, but its very difficult because of the way everything is put together by the party in power and the party in power controls so its and Im an appropriator and have been for over 20 years, and so I have some seniority and its hard stuff and, you know, you now have people wanting to make health care an entitlement and talk about single payer.

I had a group of nurses in, and they were young and they all wanted single payer and I said how would you pay for it? And I pointed out what happened in Vermont where it had been tried and was cancelled because they found it would have bankrupted the state. How do you pay for it? Thats not our problem. Its your problem meaning me. I dont know how to pay for it.

Union-Tribune: Twenty years ago when you had Pete Peterson and you had Bob Dole and you had some Democrats, it seemed like there was an obvious kinda deal to be cut on entitlement reform and budget reform. You reformed the tax code to take out all the loopholes that are used to reduce taxation.

FEINSTEIN: Thats right.

Union-Tribune: And then you means test or do other things on the margins, but if you just change things a few percent on the margins you could rapidly get to a more tenable situation, but now it doesnt seem like theres any appetite for the kind of grand bargain. Everything seems to be the equivalent of a fight over at the Supreme Court where its all harsh partisans against harsh partisans. Is there any hope for a grand bargain?

FEINSTEIN: You see? I mean this is the problem, and then its just very hard. Im not on any of those committees. This is really Finance Committee. This is where this discussion belongs and I dont know they sort of have a possessive interest, so and theres a lot of talk, you know.

The they tried on Obamacare in the House to repeal and replace 60 times and failed and they tried four times in our House and failed and so the questions comes with health care looming out there as this huge issue, which I think we should not turn over our health care system to the government, but maybe therere some things we should look at to do like lowering the age to Medicare to 55 and allowing people to buy in, like developing a public option that we are told would save money I think $158 billion over 10 years and Im interested in pursuing that and its just these numbers are very hard to deal with.

Union-Tribune: Is are

FEINSTEIN: And theres nobody you know, theres no big outside cognoscenti that you can really turn to that will give you good advice because everybodys got their own point of bias.

Union-Tribune: Well theres a lot of legislation thats pushed forward all the time. Why arent these things given a higher priority? Why arent they talked about more and from the people? It it seems like most of what the public watches on television or reads in the newspaper are issues that are not necessarily related to what begin to look like existential threats to our economy.

FEINSTEIN: Yeah.

Union-Tribune: Why arent these the things that are

FEINSTEIN: Well this is interesting.

Union-Tribune: put forward?

FEINSTEIN: Now, Elizabeth Warren has a bill, and it has a public option in it. I went on that bill because I support the public option. Whether she could move a bill like that I dont know and I actually think that on something like health care its helpful if a suggestion should could come from the conservative side because then you can work around it. If a suggestion comes from the liberal side all the conservativesoh, no. So

Union-Tribune: Would the conservatives argue the opposite of that? Would they say that their bills dont get the attention that they deserve?

FEINSTEIN: Well they havent put any forward.

Union-Tribune: Right.

FEINSTEIN: But I think they should and a public option they say would save 100 I think its $158 million a year. I have it somewhere here. Here is something you might this is just Ill just turn this you can take it or leave it, whatever you want immigration, but I thought I had another paper with numbers on it. Oh, I can also give you a list of accomplishments. They can go in the wastebasket.

Heres the picture in California. 18 million are covered by their employer, 13 million are covered by Medicaid and the Childrens Health Improvement Program that includes five million children six million are covered by Medicare, 1.4 million through Covered Californiathats Obamacare three million Californians are uninsured that includes 1.8 million undocumented who arent eligible for any federal health care program. Now, thats a pretty good list of coverage because most people have coverage. You got right here 40 million have 18 plus 13 plus 6 plus 1.4 they have coverage between their employer, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare and Covered California.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in during his US Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing to be an Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 4, 2018. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Union-Tribune: Let me on another issue thats going to occupy most of the summer Kavanaugh your opponent says that we need to shut the Senate down over this nomination. Whats going to happen?

FEINSTEIN: Well look Ive sat on 10 nominations for the Supreme Court. Eight have made it through. The first part is you have to do your due diligence. You have to get documents and in this case with Kavanaugh, when he served in the Bush White House there is a belief on the committee that he lied about his participation in the torture program. So we are trying to get those documents from the White House, and theres a bit of a fuss going on and we want documents that we are able to obtain to be made public, and right now the Republican side doesnt want them made public.

They want them committee confidential from the White House, so were trying to work that out. Hopefully well be able to and get the necessary documents, go through them, and then we could ask questions about when he participated in the White House during the Bush Administration on some of the key things Enron, torture oh, what was the third one?

FEINSTEIN AIDE: Wiretapping.

FEINSTEIN: What?

FEINSTEIN AIDE: Wiretapping.

FEINSTEIN: And wiretapping, yeah. So that work is going on now. Were having a beef with the archivist. This is where the records come from and the archivist said theyll provide them to the chairman, but again, make it committee confidential and we want these documents to be released. I believe very strongly that when youre considering these positions and the record is looked at the record should be public. Thats where if somethings wrong somebody comes forward and tells you, but if somethings wrong and no one else sees it you never know that its wrong and so enabling the public to see records is important and there is a belief that, for example, Kavanaugh is not for outlawing assault weapons.

He takes a different position on the Second Amendment, tradition in history and so we want to flush this out and know exactly what were dealing with in terms of a background here and the document hunt is the nitty gritty of this and Ive sat now I said 10 and every Republicans do just that, too. Theyre looking for the documents, so

Union-Tribune: So is this done as a good government tactic or is there some

FEINSTEIN: Its a good well

Union-Tribune: Others will say its delaying, youre trying to push it past the election.

FEINSTEIN: No. No.

Union-Tribune: Some of it, right?

FEINSTEIN: No, were not. Im not. Oh, I can answer for myself. Im not, but I am forgetting that information and, as you know, I particularly care about assault weapons. So I want to know is he for it or against it.

Union-Tribune: In past appointments and confirmation hearings and so forth, have those documents been available publicly the way you want them now or is this different?

FEINSTEIN: These some have, yes. Its hard. You have to go to the specific, and I cant probably answer the question on the specific here.

Union-Tribune: I guess the question Im asking is is what youre seeking a unique thing to get

FEINSTEIN: No.

Union-Tribune: the documents in the way

FEINSTEIN: No, its not a unique

Union-Tribune: that Democrats want

FEINSTEIN: unique thing. We do this with everybody.

Union-Tribune: Yeah, Kavanaugh just had a unique role in the Bush White House. Right. Theres not many nominees who had that kind of

FEINSTEIN: Thats exactly right.

Union-Tribune: paper trail roll. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is now run by Trump appointees, and so that has a lot of us wondering why the California Legislature and the governor of California is so interested in promoting this regional power grid idea under which California and 13 other states would share a grid because then we would give away the Cal ISO authority over our own energy grid to the Trump Administration and so I just cant get my mind around why at a time when we care so much about climate change why would we surrender control of our grid to a potential hostile administration?

FEINSTEIN: See, I dont know this. I dont know this. I can find out

Union-Tribune: Well the governor is pushing

FEINSTEIN: and give you a call.

Union-Tribune: for this regional power grid. Okay.

FEINSTEIN: Let me do that. Will you take that down?

Union-Tribune: The FERC thing, okay.

FEINSTEIN: And a name and a number and we will call and I will let you know. I just dont know.

Union-Tribune: Onto another California issue. The California High Speed Rail Authority put out a business plan earlier this year that envisions the now $78 billion dollar project being funded to a great extent by the federal government, another thing that we just find baffling. As your chart shows domestic discretionary spending is just keeps going down and down and down. How realistic is it for California to think Congress would help it significantly paying for the bullet train?

FEINSTEIN: I think not very.

Union-Tribune: Do you think its time to pull the plug on this project? If you cant get investors and you cant federal money, how is it going to get paid out?

FEINSTEIN: Well thats a problem and the only I have no control. The only thing I can figure is they need to get one part if its going to go done and show it can work because if you cant show it can work and then particularly get in off of the Valley rail into LA and off of the valley rail into the San Francisco Bay Area I mean you dont have anything. So as they say, its a long way to Tipperary still.

Union-Tribune: Governor Jerry Brown is as admired now as maybe hes been in his whole life. People dont even remember how controversial

FEINSTEIN: I think thats right.

Union-Tribune: Should he consider running for president? Hes got the energy and hes got the sharps. Why would he say no no interest for me? Would you been interested in him running for president?

FEINSTEIN: Well my husband and I we know Jerry and Anne pretty well and, you know, they bought this place up in

Union-Tribune: Colusa County.

FEINSTEIN: If youve seen picture of it, it is really bare and theyre building a house and an outhouse, and they are determined to live there and I say youre good for less than a year there, but they also have an apartment in San Francisco. So I think the puddings in the making. Well see.

Union-Tribune: So if not

FEINSTEIN: I find it very hard because hes sharp, hes able and you know what happens when you go up and read maybe 10, 20, 30 books and then you say oh, my god, you know, I havent seen anybody for a month? Its hard for those of us who that are used to being gregarious and mixing it up, but Jerrys a little different. I mean remember because he was going to be a priest, and he went into hibernation there and it wasnt for him. He came out and well see.

Union-Tribune: If not if not Jerry Brown, who do you see as some of the rising stars in the Democratic Party right now?

FEINSTEIN: I tend to go to mayors. I see Eric Garcetti as a rising star. I see Kamala [Harris] as a rising star. I see yeah, I dont really think that way. Those are really the two that I would say.

Union-Tribune: When you say rising star, do you mean 2020 presidential candidate? No.

FEINSTEIN: I think thats going to be determined by Biden. If Joe runs, Joe packs a big wallop in our party. I mean people really like him. Hes a peoples person, and hed be very hard to beat in a primary, I think. I dont know about a general.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. is surrounded by reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. The Associated Press

Union-Tribune: Let me ask about your positions. One of the things thats interesting to me in this last year is that youve moved to the left on a couple of major issues. You no longer support capital punishment.

FEINSTEIN: Oh, that happened before. I just didnt

Union-Tribune: Didnt say it, right?

FEINSTEIN: Didnt say it.

Union-Tribune: So it came out in the campaign.

FEINSTEIN: But you know, look. These

Union-Tribune: But that and just to put it on record

FEINSTEIN: It came out.

Union-Tribune: no longer opposing legal marijuana, which was part of this campaign, correct?

FEINSTEIN: Oh, Im opposed to marijuana. I always have been, but it passed, so now I think it has to be well regulated. I mean you know, Im not I cant chop off my head and shove it in a hole and say I lost, you know, but Im just not a great one for pushing drugs and thats the way I am.

Union-Tribune: Are there other positions you can see yourself evolving on over the course of six more years in Congress as the party shifts on some of these issues or people embrace them more?

FEINSTEIN: Well a lot of this is life experience and particularly the death penalty. As you get older you watch with more sensitivity. What drove me to accept the death penalty was I walked into a robbery of corner drugstore a long time ago when the proprietor had been shot and killed, the woman his wife had been shot and killed and, for good measure, their dog was shot and killed and I kinda thought the death penalty was too good for them, but thats what that was the instant case that did it for me and then, you know, as life goes on and see more things and you see an impropriety, a misuse, you see how racial definitions define people and you become, I think, more considered when it comes to absolutism. You know, you its just not as simple anymore.

Union-Tribune: The federal government is being encouraged to take a much stronger role in regulating social networks and regulating Google and Facebook and other California-based

FEINSTEIN: Regulating Facebook did you say?

Union-Tribune: Or yeah, social networks and the idea that

FEINSTEIN: Yeah, well

Union-Tribune: that these networks on both vulnerability on intelligence grounds, but also that theyre encouraging the kind of more hostile culture where people are meaner meaner to each other. Is this something where you think the federal government has a role in trying to push social networks towards being more constructive and perhaps less open to foreign interference or is this something we just need to let play out and not presume we know whats best?

FEINSTEIN: There was one incident that with respect to tech it made a big difference for me and I dont know whether to tell you about it because it would have to be off the record... , and I dont know whether I trust you to well Ill Ill be make it anonymous. After the San Bernardino shooting, the FBI called and said we have found the device. There are filaments on it that make us believe that there may be others involved, and we need to get into the phone and we cant.

So I called the head of the company, and I told them that and I said could you open the phone so that the FBI could get into it? The answer 14 people were killed San Bernardino. The answer was no, and that told me something. So the FBI had to retain a hacker. It cost them $900,000 to hack into the phone, but they got it and there wasnt. So I thought a lot about that, but and the whole subject of back door has come up and its been belittled and its not moved forward, but I think you know, Ive served on Intelligence now for a very long time almost, I guess, 20 years and these companies, I increasingly believe, have should have responsibility for their platforms.

They are not benign. They consider themselves like a telephone. Its not like a telephone and I am not that sophisticated computer-wise, but the people that are sure can do a lot with their devices, and you saw Russia come in. You saw Russia get into 21 states and their electoral systems, and thats not a game. The Russians dont play games. Thats aimed at control, and theyre in again.

So we have a problem and I think you know, now theres a lot of exposure to manipulation on the Internet to turning one group against another. Black [Lives] Matters is a program there, which they turn people against each other and so our position has been that the platforms have a responsibility, and that is to see that they foster you know, this is the hard part things that arent destructive to our country or to the fact that were a democracy or to the fact that we are a diverse population and respect differences in race.

I mean I think there are a number of criteria there that are really important because people become inflamed and bad things happen. Not I mean Im not really very sorry coherent, but theres a lot I cant say, but this is going to be with us for a long time, and so were spending time in Intelligence trying to really understand it, having real pros come in and discuss it, and I think thats very helpful.

Union-Tribune: Russia gets a lot of attention. China has grand ambitions, too. Can you shed some light on this story that surfaced in Politico two weeks ago and then the Chronicle and other outlets about your Chinese spy driver? What happened?

FEINSTEIN: Well

Union-Tribune: What did you know and

FEINSTEIN: Its very much exaggerated. This is a young man. He worked for Alan Cranston. He was the business manager of the San Francisco office. I kept him on and when I was here he drove me back and forth and one day the FBI came in Ed Joyce who was the operational head and sat down with me and said I just want you know that we have somebody on your staff that we think has been approached by the Chinese. Now, the way this stuff works can we be off the record or Ill just stop now?

Union-Tribune: Well for for this I will allow it to go off the record and well cut it from the audio and the transcript when we publish. Okay. Thank you. Back back on the record.

FEINSTEIN: Yeah. Okay.

Union-Tribune: Thank you. Back to Russia. We have high level members of the presidents staff and cabinet just about a week and a half ago discussing the Russia attacks on the election system and admitting across the board that its still going on. Do you think enough is being done to thwart these efforts or is this

FEINSTEIN: Be specific. What efforts?

Union-Tribune: Well we dont know what efforts because we dont exactly know what were talking about.

FEINSTEIN: Well then how can I know?

A view of the Russian Embassy December 29, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US fired back at Moscow for meddling in the presidential election, imposing tough sanctions on Russia's top two intelligence agencies, expelling 35 agents and shutting down two Russian compounds on US soil. Getty Images

Union-Tribune: Exactly. So what do we know about what the Russians are doing? And what efforts are we making to

FEINSTEIN: We do know that the Russians have what are called active measures, and they are in our systems and I dont know the particulars, to be honest, of how or exactly where or any of that, but weve got agencies that deal with this and I think its it has to be, in my view and no ones told me this on Putins order or this wouldnt be happeningand probably the GRU, but we just have to be very careful and the president, you know, has made a friend out of Putin.

Russias not our friend and we I dont know where Russia is going with the Ukraine, but I really believe and Ive studied Russian history that Russia tends to be an expansionist power if it can. It took the Crimea. Of course, the Crimea is 80 percent Russian speaking and thats been a long at Stanford I took Russian history, and a part of the Russian history book was how much Russia wanted to get the Crimea back, and that was a long time ago and Putins a killer, no question.

Union-Tribune: After the U.S. left Vietnam in 19

FEINSTEIN: And Bill Browder whom I do you know? He wrote Red Notice. Are you familiar with him. Well I sat down with him, talked to him, heard his story, and, you know, they killed his lawyer Magnitsky.

Union-Tribune: After 1974 and the Vietnam debacle, the United States foreign policy seemed to go through a couple of decades where it was like careful and it tried not to make big mistakes, but this century weve seen Iraq and Afghanistan wars that never end, we saw this disastrous idea of letting Libya collapse and become the worlds biggest terrorist base. Why is it that America seems to be getting these big decisions wrong on how to use or not use our influence abroad?

FEINSTEIN: Why do we get things wrong? How am I supposed to answer that?

Union-Tribune: Well youve been a politician you know, a natural politician for 26 years, and so you were there and

FEINSTEIN: Yeah, but Ive never run a White House.

Union-Tribune: But youve been a witness to the Clinton White House, the Bushes and not the first Bush, but Clinton, Bush, Obama and now Trump.

FEINSTEIN: Well Ive observed and people make mistakes and people get sucked in and these are hard things and you think you can accomplish something within agreement and everything will be fine, and six months goes by and its not fine. So and both parties make mistakes. Its not one or the other. The worlds a hard place right now and Russias determined not to have a power vacuum and you got a lot of concern over Brexit in different parts of Europe and the UK. You have China galloping along and both Russia and China have superior intelligence forces, really.

Union-Tribune: More so than ours? More superior?

FEINSTEIN: Well different.

Union-Tribune: Different, okay.

FEINSTEIN: Russians are brutal and Chinese managed to very hard to get an asset in China.

Union-Tribune: On this race specifically, when you visited us in May we asked if there would be a debate in the general and you said yes, but there hasnt been one scheduled with your opponent. Do you expect to have a debate?

FEINSTEIN: I dont know about that, probably, but not until October. Not til we get out.

Union-Tribune: Do you even know what your schedule is with the Kavanaugh hearing?

FEINSTEIN: No.

Union-Tribune: So so is there a chance there will not be a debate?

FEINSTEIN: I just dont know. I just dont know. Well wait and see.

Union-Tribune: Okay. Did it occur to you this spring

FEINSTEIN: I mean I dont think a debate makes that much difference.

Senate Intelligence Committee Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaks to witnesses during a committee hearing on foreign influence operations and their use of social media on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Union-Tribune: If you ran a few a few ads (Overtalk) when youre ahead by 20 points. Sorry.

If you run a few ads this spring criticizing your Republic opponent for being for guns you could have guaranteed that he made the fall primary and you wouldnt have the agitation of running against another Democrat. Its what Newsom did with John Cox. Did it ever occur to you that you might want to be a little Machiavellian and pick your opponent this fall by propping up a Republican?

FEINSTEIN: I wish I were that smart. No.

Union-Tribune: Thank you for coming in.

FEINSTEIN: Thank you.

Union-Tribune: Is there anything you want to touch on, closing thoughts?

FEINSTEIN: I think and Id say this to any newspaper I was in. I think theres never been more of a need for fair and open journalism than there is today. I think so much is happening and we have a very let me just put it this way a very difficult president. Ill say this.

What we depend on is stability. Its important that those of us in the Senate can regard the White House and know that its stable and that theyre going to do the right thing and, regardless of party, that the people there are good and that the president tells the truth and he doesnt, and thats really hard because basically and we have, you know, the White House and both Houses controlled by one political party and when that happens, right or wrong, the Party whichever party it is tends to congeal in support.

I mean you know, to control the presidency, the House, the Senate, the big deal, you get done what you want to get done. The minority party has great difficulty stopping it and Im not saying it cant, but its hard and so the dependence for truthfulness and proper espousal of issues is really important. I mean look at this separation of children issue been all over the map.

Look at what who would have ever thought that we treat children that way? And the original purpose, until it got beaten down, was to separate families and my guys (in the car) had been going to the centers here and looking in El Centro, at the border patrol centers where they house children, and just on a sort of drop-in basis theyre going again and again so that the border patrol knows there are people looking over their shoulder and, you know, Ill tell you something else that I dont know if its this way now, but it was a couple of years ago may I say something off the record?

Union-Tribune: Sure.

Let me ask you on on the record. You talked a little about fake news and the presidents kind of truthfulness or problem with that. Alan Miller whos the head of a group called the Media Literacy Project says that this fake news crisis were having is the equivalent of a public health crisis. Do you see it that way?

FEINSTEIN: What do you I dont understand what that means.

Union-Tribune: Hes saying

FEINSTEIN: The fake?

Union-Tribune: that the fake news that the inability for the public to determine whats real from whats incorrect and people pushing false agendas (overtalk).

FEINSTEIN: By the president calling everything fake news.

Union-Tribune: By the president, but by many politicians and many

FEINSTEIN: Yeah. Right.

Union-Tribune: Americans. Do you think that were in a public the equivalent of a public health crisis?

FEINSTEIN: No, I dont.

Union-Tribune: Do you see it that way?

FEINSTEIN: I dont and from what I see, the presidents fake news comments I mean Im not a big Fox listener so maybe it happens on Fox, but it doesnt on other channels. I mean I the president has to tell the truth. Thats a problem. Youve got weve got to be able to trust what he says on major issues. Putin big friend, you know have a meeting, nobody knows what was said, this is our number one possible problem that has serious dimensions and the presidents in a meeting and no one knows what was said. Thats very dangerous and the good thing is I dont think hell be able to do that again. I think there will be from the news media a yell and a cry.

Union-Tribune: Well there was going to be a meeting at the White House, right? Putin was going to come here. Thats not going to happen any time soon.

FEINSTEIN: Well that will have observers and there will be press conferences, so thatll be done a little differently, I hope. Anyway, thank you. It was nice of you

Union-Tribune: Thank you. Thank you for coming in. I we could talk all day, so I appreciate it.

FEINSTEIN: Yup and, you know, you could always call. Well always respond.
Re San Diegos appeal of Prop. B ruling is worth a shot (Sept. 5): Nothing in the California Supreme Courts opinion concluding that the city acted unlawfully when putting Proposition B before voters in 2012 without bargaining has any impact on the exercise of free speech rights by any elected official. It is irresponsible for The U-T Editorial Board to mislead the public into believing that this ruling poses a dangerous limitation on the speech rights of elected officials.

The citys mayor is not just an elected official. The mayor serves as chief executive officer  the person who runs the city as an employer. The city charter entrusts the mayor with the duty to be chief labor negotiator and to assure compliance with the states collective bargaining laws. Under these circumstances, the high court held, the mayor can speak all day long about the need for pension reform or other matters affecting policy and budget. What the mayor cant do is make a decision to change terms and conditions of employment using a citizens initiative to avoid the citys obligation to bargain with its unions.

The mayor cannot take an oath to do a particular job for the city  as Mayor Jerry Sanders did here  and then claim he has a First Amendment right to use his office and his city staff to dodge that jobs obligations. No rational person would conclude otherwise.

Settled law provides no support for the citys continued waste of resources  its own and the courts  chasing the lie that our high court has trampled any elected officials First Amendment rights.

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Smith has represented the San Diego Municipal Employees Association for 33 years. She served as lead counsel in all Proposition B-related proceedings before PERB and the court.

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
We saw a lot of captions involving the man in the cartoon requesting the hit song Despacito. Congratulations to Josiah Sagawa for winning the top spot! He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Thanks to all those who participated.

Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck!

Finalists

Its 2:30 p.m. Time to get ready for dinner. Wayne Zucker, Rancho Penasquitos

Unfortunately, this virtual assistant does not give fashion advice. Sara Mationg, Imperial Beach

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We have to stop meeting this way ... its not appropriate. Brenda Crandell, Hillcrest

Your fun days are over. Youre stuck with wisdom. Karen Farrington, Alpine

You keep asking. Yes, hes still president. J. Zamora, online submission

If youre happy and you know it clap your hands ... Mark Menas, La Mesa

I have to say no, but Im flattered you asked me to be your shuffleboard partner. Dennis Kar, San Diego

There is no dating service for 100-plus. Gene Basye, San Diego

As a reminder, your dentures are in the bathroom, your toupee is in your room and your glasses are sitting on your nose. Noah Mationg, Imperial Beach

K-12

Im sorry, Dave, Im afraid I cant do that. Joey Sasion, sixth grade, Muirlands Middle School

No need to repeat yourself, there is an Echo in here. Jacob Mationg, eleventh grade, Olympian High School

Actually, now that I think about it, youre right. I do look like a pepper shaker. Mahogany Storey, sixth grade, Monroe Clark Middle School

I am a robot, not your wife. Jonathan Hernandez, sixth grade, Monroe Clark Middle School

Please, for the last time, I am not a soda. Ciaran Thomas, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

Interesting question, Alfred the Great. Alex Hill, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

Playing My Taylor Swift Jams. Liam Cannavino, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

Sorry, I dont play vinyl. Harry Pearce, sixth grade, Muirlands Middle School

I know you like Siri better. Joey Saisan, sixth grade, Muirlands Middle School

Self-destruct sequence starting in 5, 4, 3, 2 ... Tyler Kinnear, seventh grade, Correia Middle School

Next weeks cartoon

(Steve Breen)

To enter, email entries to cartooncontest@sduniontribune.com by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. View last weeks winners.
Violent crime rose in the first half of the year in San Diego County for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report released Thursday by the San Diego Association of Governments.

According to SANDAGs Criminal Justice Research Division, the mid-year number of violent crimes in the county was 5,507, up from 5,428 last year, 5,361 in 2016 and 5,330 in 2015. The four-year increase amounts to a 3.3 percent bump in violent crime.

However, reports of property crime fell from 30,447 in 2015 to 27,727 in 2018, a decrease of nearly 9 percent, according to the report.

The mid-year violent and property crime rates in 2018 pale in comparison to those in 2008, when the city received 6,201 violent crime reports and 42,402 property crime reports. The main reason for the 11.2 percent drop in violent crime can largely be traced to a decline in the number of robbery reports made to the city, from 1,969 to 1,346, according to the SANDAG report.

Reported property crimes fell 34.6 percent overall from the 2008 high and show decreases in every category from then to 2018, but the drop is most noticeable for motor vehicle theft, which fell from 10,186 to 4,681, the report found.

Reports of rape have spiked in recent years, reaching a peak of 604 this year, more than double the countys low of 298 reports in 2011. However, the increase is somewhat deceiving, as California law enforcement broadened the definition of rape in 2015 according to SANDAG Division Director of Criminal Justice Dr. Cynthia Burke.

Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

Property crimes include burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.

According to the report, San Diego law enforcement has received an average of30 reports of violent crime and 153 reports of property crime per day during 2018s first half.

Email: editor@pomeradonews.com
For surfers, the ocean hides an unseen, powerful magnet that keeps luring them back.

That is the only explanation for why 68-year-old Ron Greene straps a 9-foot-8 longboard to his bike nearly every day at his house in Pacific Beach and pedals four blocks to the water.

Four times over the last 14 years, Greene has suffered heart attacks while surfing. The most recent was last December, and the worst came five years ago this month, when Greene collapsed on his board while competing in the OMBAC Classic longboard contest.

He drowned that day and had no pulse when lifeguards revived him on the beach.

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Yet Greene keeps on surfing and will be among the competitors when the 25th edition of the OMBAC competition is held Saturday, beginning at 7:30 a.m., on the north side of Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.

Maybe Im an idiot. Maybe Im a fool, the affable Greene said. I just want to keep living and enjoying it. There is an immensely good feeling after surfing.  I force myself to go out there sometimes just for the exercise and the feeling afterwards.

Believe me, now that Im older, I dont like surfing crap. I like to go out when the conditions are nice. But sometimes, you just have to go.

Ron Greene, 68, is among the top competitive surfers for his age group in Southern California. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Greene, who has owned a San Diego auto storage business for 45 years, can recount his heart attacks with little emotion and great clarity.

He suffered his first, at the age of 54, in 2004 while surfing the spot called Church on Camp Pendleton.

I got there with friends and I wasnt feeling too good, Greene said. I paddle out and theres a nice little set, and then  boom!  its like an elephant is sitting on your chest. Its super painful.

Greene managed to paddle to shore, called his doctor and drove himself to the hospital. A blood test diagnosed a heart attack and Greene went into surgery the next day to receive seven stents. On the table, he said he suffered cardiac arrest.

Im waking up, and theyre asking me to cough, he recalled. I look forward, and theyve got these orange pads on my chest. They said we had to defib you back. Your heart stopped.

Greene went seven years without any issues. Then in February 2011, he was surfing at La Jolla Shores and felt a similar pain to the first time. Again, he drove himself to the hospital and received his eighth stent.

The next crisis would be far more serious and frightening.

Greene reached the semifinals of the 13 OMBAC contest and was in the water for his set when a heart attack came without any warning.

No pain. No discomfort. Nothing, Greene said.

He fell into the water, and the observers on the beach didnt realize what was happening. Beyond suffering the heart attack, Greene was drowning.

A friend of Greenes, who was watching from Crystal Pier, began screaming at lifeguards for help, and they eventually raced out to get him.

Ironically, Greenes son, Alex, was a San Diego lifeguard for 11 years, but he wasnt there that day. Neither was Greenes other son, Kevin, or his wife, Cecelia.

Celia Hoffman, a longtime friend from the PB Surf Club, saw the commotion, realized the victim was Greene, and rushed to his side.

He was bluish-gray. I was thinking he was gone, Hoffman recalled.

It was just horrifying to see this very fit, healthy man (in that state). It was shocking to me.

The lifeguards worked frantically, first having to clear water from Greenes lungs. Then, after cutting off his wetsuit, they were able to use a defibrillator to restart his heart.

They were working on him, and Im telling him, Hang on, Ron, youve got this. Youre not going anywhere,  Hoffman said.

Then I heard them say that they had a heartbeat and he was responding. I knew he was going to be fine. Hes just too much of a stubborn fighter. Hes not a crotchety old man, but he doesnt take any BS from anybody.

Of the care he received on the beach that day, Greene said, If I had been at Sunset Cliffs or somewhere else, I wouldnt havent survived.

At the hospital, Greene was put into a cold induced coma, and after he was awake and recovering, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

The thoracic surgeon who had my heart in his hand said, You have a very strong heart, but your plumbing is bad. Were going to fix that and youre going to be back doing what youre doing,  Greene said.

Greene was back in the water two months later  a month ahead of doctors orders.

One year later, in September 2014, Greene traveled to Malibu, where hed grown up surfing, and won two events in an invitational. At the awards ceremony, he took the microphone and counted his blessings.

There arent too many people who have won both in any age bracket, Greene said, and after having heart issues the year before.

Greene said his most recent heart attack came in December at Swamis. Hed been off his blood-thinning medication for several days due to an upcoming test. He was in the water, felt some discomfort in his chest and made his way to the beach. This time, he didnt drive himself, but had a lifeguard call the paramedics.

Greene got two more stents at the hospital. Now he has 10.

In speaking about his trauma, he hopes to prod others into getting checkups.

I have surfer friends who never go to the doctor, Greene said. Theyre afraid to go. And a basic blood test can tell you a lot. If you get it checked early and they find something, they can fix it. If we can save some people, thats what its all about.

Not to be lost in all of Greenes medical issues is that he is a very accomplished competitive surfer. The current president of the PB Surf Club, he has collected dozens of trophies  dust collectors, he calls them  since the mid-1990s.

Greene has won Legends Division events this summer at Tourmaline and Malibu.

Hes skilled and hes consistent, said Alex Greene, 30, who has been surfing with his dad since he was 6. For being 68, hes an incredible surfer. Hes always one of the top five guys in the water. He still swings the board around really well, throws it over the top.

Some surfers are just fine surfing for the fun of it. Ron Greene loves competing.

Im a Type A, very competitive, Greene said. Sometimes, everything comes together. The ocean cooperates, and your mind and body are in a good place. Most of the time, its a dog fight. Youre fighting with five other guys for 15 minutes.

Its difficult, but I get off on it. I enjoy it. Im backing off a little bit, though some wouldnt say that.

Greenes family and friends marvel at his love of surfing, but they cant ever completely block out that hes had four heart attacks in the water.

Hoffman said she still gets chills at the memories anytime shes near Crystal Pier.

Considering the possibility of another emergency for Greene, Hoffman chuckled and said, Ive told him, if he does, Im walking out. Our friendship is over.

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On Friday, Sept. 14, the Office of the Governor pays tribute to guitar virtuoso Bruce Dunlap, bronze sculptor Curtis Fort, ceramist Jody Naranjo, and painter Jerry West, who receive awards in the Individual Artists category. Those who are given the distinction of Major Contributors to the Arts this year include writer and activist Lucy Lippard, the Meow Wolf art collective, and Santa Fe Opera donors Dan and Ashlyn Perry. Internationally recognized glass artist Dale Chihuly receives an award in the category of Leadership in the Arts.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/14/2018 -- Egypt demonstrates one of the most progressive telecom markets in North Africa, backed by unified license system which diversified both fixed line services as well as mobile services, an essential breakthrough in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband services market. Market Research Hub (MRH) in its newly added telecom insider report titled, 'Egypt - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses' offers clear insights on recent developments and their implications on the growth prospect of the market.



Egyptian Government Initiates Foreign Investment for Superior Telecom Services



To catalyze novel growth prospects in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband market, Egyptian government is keen on investing significantly on the development of new technology advancements for wider broadband availability, expected to entice foreign investment, which otherwise demonstrates inadequacy. Rising consumer preferences for OOT services, significant endeavors have been rendered to facilitate next-gen network infrastructure. However, in the light of recently launched LTE services in the country, Egypt telecom, mobile, and broadband services are expected to register new growth ratios. Ongoing joint ventures between industry stalwarts are expected to augment fiber network infrastructure in the near future.



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Telecom Egypt Unrolls WE as the Latest Operator in Egypt Telecoms, Mobile, and Broadband Market



In a significant development, incumbent, Telecom Egypt and Etisalat Misr have jointly announced their decision to initiate alterations in national roaming agreement that will enable Telecom Egypt's voice and data traffic on Etisalat's network system. With this collaboration, Telecom Egypt is expected to slate new breakthroughs in service offerings thereby ensuring improved mobile services. Further, the telecom behemoth has also launched a new mobile network, WE to prompt advancement in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband market. The network supports 2G, 3G, and 4G network, resonating with lurking consumer demands for high speed internet.



Thorough research elements included in the report enable readers to delve deep into various market segments and factors prevalent in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband market. Besides enlightening readers on historical overview, market definition, and dynamics, this section of the report highlights dominant factors and segments associated with surged market growth, besides allowing readers to identify the segment acknowledged as largest growth enabler in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband market. Additionally, the report entails veritable details on various marketing schemes and marketing practices administered by core market players across regions and their impact on market growth as well as consumer response.



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Competition Deep Dive: Egypt Telecoms, Mobile, and Broadband Market



On the basis of through research findings encapsulated in the report, this section of the report entails crucial business highlights on effective marketing schemes formulated by leading players across regions and their effectiveness in incurring favorable end-user response such as their purchase preferences. Core market players operational in Egypt telecoms, mobile, and broadband market consist of Etisalat Misr, Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt, and Telecom Egypt amongst others.



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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/14/2018 -- The global roofing market was valued at US$ 92,430.94 Mn in 2017 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new report titled 'Roofing Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 20182026,' published by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The global roofing market is driven by expansion in the global construction industry. Asia Pacific accounts for major share of the global roofing market, led by the increase in construction activities and rise in awareness about sustainable construction materials in the region.



Expansion in Global Construction Industry to Drive Market



The construction industry is a significant end-user of roofing materials. It is expanding steadily in developing countries and sub-regions such as India, China, ASEAN, GCC, and Africa. The rate of urbanization is on the rise in these countries and sub-regions due to the improvement in standard of living. The roofing market is expanding rapidly with industrialization and growth in residential and commercial developments. Significant expansion in the construction sector in developing countries and technological advancements have boosted the adoption of quality roofing systems. The construction industry in India and the Middle East has expanded at a rapid pace in the last few years. This trend is expected to continue in the near future. Robust expansion in the construction industry in the UAE and Qatar due to the increase in government expenditure on commercial and industrial projects is anticipated to drive the roofing market in these countries. This is estimated to create significant opportunities for roofing manufacturers, primarily in the industrial sector. Increase in re-roofing activities for existing buildings, typically in the U.S., Canada, and Germany, is estimated to boost the demand for roofing materials during the forecast period. Additionally, increase in reconstruction activities in Asia Pacific in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, and Sri Lanka is also projected to drive the market during the forecast period.



Rise in Demand for Metal Roofing Likely to Offer Attractive Growth Opportunities



Metal roofing, especially steel roofing with galvanized iron or ZN-Al coating, has been gaining momentum in commercial and industrial applications of the roofing market since the last few years. It is also becoming increasingly popular in residential projects including multi-story apartments, complexes, and single-family homes. Currently, metal roofs have become a rapidly developing innovation in the home remodeling applications, they are durable and offer exceptional protection and high longevity. These roofing materials are recyclable and are available in a wide range of shapes, colors, and finishes. Metal roofing is proving attractive to many homeowners as it is designed to last for 50 years. Metal roofing can accommodate green technologies such as solar harvesting panels and water harvesting systems. For instance, the Government of India is planning to introduce tax benefits for house owners who install metal roofs. Rise in demand for energy-efficient metal roofs with built-in solar panels is expected to provide lucrative opportunities to roofing manufacturers.



Volatility in Raw Material Prices Anticipated to Hamper Roofing Market



The global roofing market is prone to fluctuations in prices of raw materials such as acrylic acid. Constant volatility in prices of raw materials is adversely affecting the roofing market. Bitumen or asphalt is the major raw material used in the manufacture of bituminous roofing materials, which is the leading product segment of the roofing market. Quality and availability of asphalt is a challenge for manufacturers of roofing materials. Gasoline is a key raw material for bitumen. Demand for gasoline is still declining. This has adversely affected the supply of bitumen and asphalt. Furthermore, high cost of manufacturing techniques such as the oxidation process have raised the production cost of bituminous roofing. Additionally, high prices of polymer and fiber cement are estimated to hamper the roofing market during the forecast period.



Bituminous Segment to Dominate Global Roofing Market



The global roofing market has been segmented based on product, application, and region. Based on product, the market can be divided into bituminous, metal, elastomeric, tiles, and others. Bituminous is the dominant segment of the roofing market. Bitumen roofing can be applied for hot as well as cold applications. It provides superior waterproofing protection to buildings and is highly durable. It possesses high tensile strength and is unlikely to form cracks compared to its counterparts. Rise in demand for modified bitumen roofing systems is driving the demand for bituminous roofing.



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Asia Pacific Dominates Global Roofing Market



In terms of region, Asia Pacific accounted for major share of the global roofing market in 2017. Countries such as India, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia are expected to provide lucrative opportunities to manufacturers of roofing owing to the increase in disposable income, growth in population, expansion in construction industry, and rise in demand for residential complexes and industrial warehouses. Demand for retrofitting of residential complexes is significantly high in the U.S. and Europe. This is estimated to boost the roofing market in these regions during the forecast period. Middle East & Africa is expected to provide lucrative opportunities to the roofing market during the forecast period due to the rising investment in the construction sector, which consists of commercial establishments, public infrastructure, and utilities, in the region. Increase in government expenditure on commercial and industrial projects typically in the UAE and Qatar due to government efforts to reduce its reliance on oil revenues is expected to drive the market in these countries. These factors are driving the global roofing market.



High Degree of Competition among Established Players



Key players profiled in the report are Owens Corning, CertainTeed Corporation, GAF Materials Corporation, TAMKO Building Products, Inc., Carlisle Companies Incorporated, Atlas Roofing Corporation, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, Sika AG, Monier Building Group, and IKO Industries Ltd. The top five players  Owens Corning, Carlisle Companies Incorporated, Braas Monier Building Group Services S.A., Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Johns Manville), and CertainTeed Corporation  cumulatively accounted for more than 10% share of the market in 2017. These companies consistently develop new global strategies to expand their capacity and product portfolios of roofing products through joint ventures and research & development activities. For instance, in 2017, Tamco Building Products Inc. launched a new series Heritage Designer Ridge asphalt shingle for western, southwest, and central U.S.



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Phoenix, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/14/2018 -- With the increasing number of privacy breaches throughout the world, and increasing privacy regulations, there are many security & privacy concerns related to business process outsourcing (BPO) in general, and to contracting call/contact centers in particular. The Data Privacy Asia conference in Manila, Philippines, Sept 19 & 20 will provide advice for how to effectively address those issues. A major goal for the event is to provide the tools and information to the Philippines BPO industry to support their goal of becoming the global world BPO industry leader in privacy and information security.



"We started the Data Privacy Asia conference back in 2015, recognizing that data protection, privacy and cybersecurity has moved from the periphery to the center for Asia. There is also now a greater need for privacy pros to comprehend cybersecurity to better protect customer data and similarly, cybersecurity pros must recognize their role in data privacy. By bringing these professionals together in one room, the conference hopes to foster greater understanding, mutual collaboration and a stronger community. This year, we want to emphasize the need for action with the theme 'Supercharge Your Data Privacy and Cyber Security Program' and thought leaders from the U.S., Europe and Asia will provide the anticipated 400 attendees with practical implementation guides to address the key issues businesses are facing," stated Wei Chieh Lim, CEO at Data Privacy Asia.



Rebecca Herold, host of Data Security & Privacy with The Privacy Professor, will be delivering a keynote on September 19 at the Data Privacy Asia conference entitled "Beyond Compliance: Ethics, Technology and Trust." She will also provide a workshop on September 20 entitled, "Using Data Mapping to Understand Your Data Flows and Risks."



Rebecca recently discussed the growing BPO industry in the Philippines, and in particular the actions being taken to put the Philippines at the forefront as the recognized leader in protecting data and privacy in not only Asia, but throughout the world, on her September 4 episode of Data Security & Privacy with The Privacy Professor. Her guests, Espie Bulseco, Senior Director for Business Excellence at Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), Ltd. & Learning Series Task Force Lead of the Contact Center Association of the Philippine (CCAP) Security Council, and Tonichi Parekh, Country Manager at Voxpro and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Director discussed their actions to reach their goal to be a security and privacy world leader.



Rebecca Herold, aside from hosting Data Security & Privacy with The Privacy Professor, is CEO of The Privacy Professor consultancy, established in 2004, and President of SIMBUS, LLC, established in 2014.



Ms. Herold has built a loyal and growing listenership for her radio show over the past 8 months in part due to the wide variety of high-profile information security and privacy experts she has as guests.



Data Security & Privacy with The Privacy Professor airs new shows every Tuesday at 2:00pm Pacific Time. The episode discussing the Data Privacy Asia conference, along with the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines, first aired on 4 September, at 2 PM PT on Data Security & Privacy with The Privacy Professor on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. This show is now available for listening on demand.



Ms. Herold can be reached at the following:

Rebeccaherold@rebeccaherold.com

http://www.privacyguidance.com

http://www.SIMBUS360.com

http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2733/data-security-and-privacy-with-the-privacy-professor



Mr. Lim can be reached at the following:

secretariat@dataprivacyasia.com

http://www.dataprivacyasia.com
A cross-hatched pattern drawn with an ochre crayon on a small piece of siliceous rock (silcrete) is 73,000 years old. It pre-dates the earliest previously known abstract drawings by at least 30,000 years and demonstrates the ability of early Homo sapiens to produce graphic designs on various media using different techniques. The find is described in a paper published this week in the journal Nature.

Although abstract and figurative representations are generally considered conclusive indicators of the use of symbols, assessing the symbolic dimension of the earliest possible graphisms is tricky.

Symbols are an inherent part of humanity. They can be inscribed on our bodies in the form of tattoos and scarifications or cover them through the application of particular clothing, ornaments and the way we dress our hair.

Language, writing, mathematics, religion, laws could not possibly exist without the typically human capacity to master the creation and transmission of symbols and our ability to embody them in material culture.

Substantial progress has been made in understanding how our brain perceives and processes different categories of symbols, but our knowledge on how and when symbols permanently permeated the culture of our ancestors is still imprecise and speculative.

Before our discovery, archaeologists have for a long time been convinced that unambiguous symbols first appeared when Homo sapiens entered Europe, about 40,000 years ago, and later replaced local Neanderthals, said Professor Christopher Henshilwood, from the University of Bergen, Norway, and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Recent archaeological discoveries in Africa, Europe and Asia support a much earlier emergence for the production and use of symbols.

Professor Henshilwood and colleagues found the silcrete flake with the 73,000-year-old drawing in Blombos Cave, South Africa.

Blombos Cave is situated on the southern Cape coast, about 300 km east of Cape Town, they said.

The site contains well-stratified Middle Stone Age deposits dating to between 100,000 and 72,000 years ago.

According to the team, the Blombos drawing consists of three red lines cross-hatched with six separate lines.

Realizing that the lines on the flake were unlike anything that we had come across from the cave before, we set out to answer the questions it posed, the archaeologists explained.

Were these lines natural, or a part of the matrix of the rock? Were they, perhaps, made by humans living in Blombos Cave 73 000 years ago? If humans made the lines, how did they make them, and why?

We examined and photographed the piece under a microscope to establish whether the lines were part of the stone or whether it was applied to it.

We also examined it by using RAMAN spectroscopy and an electron microscope.

After confirming the lines were applied to the stone, we experimented with various paint and drawing techniques and found that the drawings were made with an ochre crayon, with a tip of between 1 and 3 mm thick.

Further, the abrupt termination of the lines at the edge of the flake also suggested that the pattern originally extended over a larger surface, and may have been more complex in its entirety.

The archaeological layer in which the Blombos drawing was found also yielded other indicators of symbolic thinking, such as shell beads covered with ochre, and, more importantly, pieces of ochre engraved with abstract patterns.

Some of these engravings closely resemble the one drawn on the silcrete flake.

This demonstrates that early Homo sapiens in the southern Cape used different techniques to produce similar signs on different media, Professor Henshilwood said.

This observation supports the hypothesis that these signs were symbolic in nature and represented an inherent aspect of the behaviorally modern world of these African Homo sapiens, the ancestors of all of us today.

_____

Christopher S. Henshilwood et al. An abstract drawing from the 73,000-year-old levels at Blombos Cave, South Africa. Nature, published online September 12, 2018; doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0514-3
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a spectacular image of Abell 370, a massive galaxy cluster embedded among nearly thousands of previously unseen distant galaxies.

The immense mass of giant galaxy clusters like Abell 370, mainly composed of the mysterious dark matter, bends and magnifies the light of these faraway objects, turning these clusters into natural telescopes.

A clusters mass bends and magnifies light from more distant objects behind it, uncovering objects otherwise too faint for even Hubbles sensitive vision.

Using this cosmological trick  known as strong gravitational lensing  Hubble is able to explore some of the earliest and most distant galaxies in the Universe.

The most stunning demonstration of gravitational lensing in Abell 370 can be seen just below the center of the cluster.

Nicknamed The Dragon, this feature is a combination of five gravitationally lensed images of the same spiral galaxy that lies beyond the cluster.

This image of Abell 370 and its surroundings was made as part of the new Beyond Ultra-deep Frontier Fields And Legacy Observations (BUFFALO) survey.

This project was designed to succeed the successful Frontier Fields project. 101 Hubble orbits have been dedicated to exploring the six Frontier Field galaxy clusters. These additional observations focus on the regions surrounding the galaxy clusters, allowing for a larger field of view.

BUFFALOs main mission, however, is to investigate how and when the most massive and luminous galaxies in the Universe formed and how early galaxy formation is linked to dark matter assembly.

This will allow astronomers to determine how rapidly galaxies formed in the first 800 million years after the Big Bang.

Driven by the Frontier Fields observations, the BUFFALO survey will be able to detect the most distant galaxies 10 times more efficiently than its progenitor program.

BUFFALO will also take advantage of other space telescopes which have already observed the regions around the clusters. These datasets will be included in the search for the first galaxies.

By expanding the area that we map around each of these clusters, we will significantly improve our estimate of the clusters magnification, a mandatory step for studying the distant galaxies that BUFFALO will discover, said BUFFALO project leader Dr. Mathilde Jauzac, an astronomer in the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy at Durham University, UK.

Plus, BUFFALO will allow us to map precisely the distribution of dark matter in these massive clusters, and thus trace their evolutionary history, a missing piece of information in todays evolution theories.

BUFFALO represents an amazing opportunity to understand how dark matter assembles, interacts, and evolves in the most massive structures present in our Universe.
Astronomers at Breakthrough Listen, a scientific program in search for signs of intelligent life in the Universe, have applied machine-learning techniques to discover 72 new pulses from FRB 121102, a mysterious source some 3 billion light-years from Earth. The new results will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious and rarely detected bursts of energy from space.

These events have durations of milliseconds and exhibit the characteristic dispersion sweep of radio pulsars.

They emit as much energy in one millisecond as the Sun emits in 10,000 years, but the physical phenomenon that causes them is unknown.

Theories range from highly magnetized neutron stars, blasted by gas streams near to a supermassive black hole, to suggestions that the burst properties are consistent with signatures of technology developed by an advanced civilization.

Discovered by Arecibo Observatory astronomers in November 2012, FRB 121102 is the only one known to repeat. More than 200 high-energy bursts have been observed coming from this source.

Not all discoveries come from new observations. In this case, it was smart, original thinking applied to an existing dataset. It has advanced our knowledge of one of the most tantalizing mysteries in astronomy, said Dr. Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives.

In search of a deeper understanding of this intriguing object, the Breakthrough Listen astronomers observed FRB 121102 for five hours on August 26, 2017, using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.

Combing through 400 TB of data, they found a total of 21 bursts. All were seen within one hour, suggesting that the source alternates between periods of quiescence and frenzied activity.

They subsequently developed a new machine-learning algorithm and reanalyzed the 2017 data, finding an additional 72 bursts not detected originally. This brings the total number of detected bursts from FRB 121102 to around 300.

This work is only the beginning of using these powerful methods to find radio transients, said Gerry Zhang, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley.

We hope our success may inspire other serious endeavors in applying machine learning to radio astronomy.

The teams results have helped put new constraints on the periodicity of the pulses from FRB 121102, suggesting that the pulses are not received with a regular pattern (at least if the period of that pattern is longer than about 10 milliseconds).

Just as the patterns of pulses from pulsars have helped astronomers constrain computer models of the extreme physical conditions in such objects, the new measurements of FRBs will help figure out what powers these enigmatic sources.

This work is exciting not just because it helps us understand the dynamic behavior of FRBs in more detail, but also because of the promise it shows for using machine learning to detect signals missed by classical algorithms, said Berkeley SETI Research Center Director and Breakthrough Listen Principal Investigator Dr. Andrew Siemion.

_____

Yunfan Gerry Zhang et al. 2018. Fast Radio Burst 121102 Pulse Detection and Periodicity: A Machine Learning Approach. ApJ, in press; arXiv: 1809.03043
The Porto de Sergipe I power plant is a 1,516 MW combined cycle, natural gas-fired design located in the state of Sergipe in the north-east of Brazil. A floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) positioned 6.5 km offshore will receive the LNG from tankers and supply gas to the plant via a submarine pipeline. Due to begin operations in January 2020, it will be the largest gas-fired power plant in the region.

Damen said that the DOP150 submersible dredge pump is now in operation, creating an access channel into the sea for a new power plant currently under construction. The access channel is for a critical pipeline for the plants cooling system and when completed it will extend 600m out into the sea. Over the course of the project the DOP150 is expected to remove around 30,000 cubic metres of material.

The Damen DOP150 is being used to extract sand in the surf zone, varying in density from loose to medium fine. Working in such a dynamic marine environment presents challenges when it comes to delivering the flat, even surface required for the pipeline. Cables and other obstructions in the area also need to be worked around. The dredge pump is mounted on the boom of a 30-tonne excavator, itself mounted on tracks running along a pier. Concrete walls are being added to the access channel as the work proceeds to protect the piping.

This particular model of Damen submersible dredge pump was selected due both to its ability to run off the excavators hydraulic power plant and the ease and speed with which the sand mining head can be exchanged for the cutter unit when the density of the material requires it to be broken up. An additional factor is its low assembly weight.

The DOP150 is the smallest in Damens range of submersible dredge pumps with an hourly capacity of 600 cu m of mixture. The DOP150 was delivered with both a jet water-assisted sand production head to be used in free-flowing sand, and a cutter unit to be used in compacted sand. The exchange between the heads can be done swiftly due to the practical identical mounting flange. The six-model range extends up to the DOP 450L, which can move 4,000 cu m an hour via a 450mm pipe. All are valued in the industry for their heavy-duty construction and high efficiency and can be found in operation all over the world.

Id like to say that BELOV is very satisfied with the performance of the DOP150 pump with sand production head and jet water, said Guilherme Falcao, civil engineer for Port Projects at BELOV. All the stages of the integration with the excavator, the commissioning and assisted operation were successfully attended by Endratech, starting at our yard and continuing up to the start of work on site. Since then the DOP150 has been performing well with productivity even higher than expected.
MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

At least one person died and thousand of residents in three Merrimack Valley communities were urged to evacuate from their homes after a series of gas explosions ignited fires in the area.



The affected communities are Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.



Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney from a house explosion fell on the car he was in on Chickering Road, the Essex County district attorney's office said in a statement late Thursday.



About 20 other people, including at least one firefighter, were injured and being treated at local hospitals as a result of the explosions or fires.



...As of late Thursday, it remained unclear what exactly caused the blasts. The state fire marshal's office had said the fires followed a high pressure gas main explosion. State emergency management officials said that "possible gas line over-pressurization" could be the source of the explosions. However, state police officials said in a tweet Thursday evening that it is "far too early to speculate on [a] cause."

[Content Note: Death; injury; explosions.]Yesterday in Massachusetts, there was a very strange and troubling series of explosions in three communities, leaving one person dead, 20 injured, and many people displaced from their homes after officials called for widespread evacuations. Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said there were so many fires "you can't even see the sky."Lisa Creamer and Benjamin Swasey at WBUR report It may be too early to speculate on a cause, but I will tell you what Ithat it was: I fear that it was the first significant cyberattack on our utility grid.We know that Russia has been planning an attack on U.S. utilities , and that hackers have already reached "the control rooms of U.S. electric utilities." We know that Russia has been using Ukraine as a testing ground for cyberattacks , including on utility companies. And we know that Russian diplomats, presumed to be Russian intelligence agents, have been "waging a quiet effort to map the United States' telecommunications infrastructure, perhaps preparing for an opportunity to disrupt it."We also know, coincidentally, that Russia is currently staging its "biggest military maneuvers since the fall of the Soviet Union" in Siberia and in the Bering Sea, which separates Russia from Alaska. NATO is concerned enough to be closely monitoring the drills, which involve "300,000 troops, over 1,000 military aircraft, and two naval fleets," and during which Vladimir Putin delivered a speech to soldiers, vowing "to strengthen the Russian army and supply it with new generation weapons and equipment."We also know, coincidentally, that Energy Secretary Rick Perry arrived in Russia on September 11, and that Russia state media has announced he's meeting with sanctioned Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom while he's there.And we also know, coincidentally, that Special Counsel Bob Mueller struck a plea deal with Paul Manafort late yesterday , and it is still unclear as of this writing whether he was given the deal without any promise of cooperation with the Russia probe. Spencer S. Hsu and Devlin Barrett at the Washington Post note : "People familiar with the plea discussions have previously said that Manafort has no intention of cooperating with Mueller, so it's possible any prospective agreement could allow him to admit guilt without providing information to investigators."So, those are the things I'm thinking about at the moment, and why I fear that the explosions in Massachusetts represented the first significant cyberattack on our utility grid.I also fear that, even if that is indeed the case, we may never get confirmation of it from officials, who feel obliged to conceal it out of some misplaced belief in maintaining public safety by lying to us. (And/or because they are themselves compromised.)It's frankly very concerning to me, as well, how little national coverage this story has gotten, even despite coverage of the hurricane.Anyway. Here we are.My condolences to the family and friends of Leonel Rondon. I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts remain with the people who were injured; I hope they have access to the resources they need to recover. I also hope that people whose homes were damaged or destroyed will be treated well by their insurance companies, and get back to something resembling regular life with as few barriers as possible.
New Zealand sheep and beef farm profits are expected to decline in the coming year as higher spending outweighs a lift in revenue from the products they sell.

The average farm is expected to earn a pre-tax profit of $129,700 in the June 2019 year, down 2.8 percent from a pre-tax profit of $133,500 in the 2017/18 year, according to industry group Beef+Lamb New Zealand.

Beef+Lamb forecasts farm revenue will lift 0.7 percent to $545,900 in the coming year, driven by increased revenue from sheep. It expects sheep revenue, which contributes 48 percent of farm revenue, will lift 1.2 percent to $263,600 driven by strong farmgate prices. Wool revenue is expected to increase 5.3 percent to $37,600 as a lift in prices offsets a decline in volumes. Cattle revenue is seen dropping 3.7 percent to $142,500 due to softer average beef cattle sale prices, the organisation says in its New Season Outlook published today.

On the other side of the ledger, average farm expenditure is expected to rise 1.8 percent to $416,200. Beef+Lamb said spending was expected to rise in all parts of farm businesses except for repairs and maintenance, interest costs and feed and grazing. Prices for inputs used on sheep and beef farms are expected to increase 3.2 percent, following a 2 percent increase last year. Spending on fertiliser, lime and seeds is expected to rise 1.9 percent as an increase in volume offsets a slight decrease in on-ground prices.

The organisation forecasts beef, lamb, and mutton prices to remain firm at historically high levels, helped by the weaker New Zealand dollar and strong export demand.

We forecast slight increases in farm-gate prices for lamb and mutton in 2018/19, as prices are expected to remain relatively steady in New Zealands main export markets and benefit from an expected easing of the New Zealand dollar, said Beef+Lamb chief economist Andrew Burtt. This follows the exceptionally strong average farm-gate prices for lamb, mutton, and beef in the 2017/18 season.

Burtt said the value of the New Zealand dollar has a large bearing on the sectors outlook.

The New Zealand dollar is expected to ease as the economies of our major trading partners strengthen in 2018/19  principally against the US dollar in which over 70 percent of red meat exports are traded, he said.

The forecasts assume the New Zealand dollar will be worth an average 67 US cents over the 2018/19 season, down from 70 US cents last season. It was at 65.70 US cents earlier today.

Lamb meat exports are expected to earn a total of $3.11 billion in the coming year, after breaking the $3 billion mark for the first time last season. Beef exports are forecast to drop 4 percent to $3.42 billion as volumes and values weaken, Beef+Lamb said.

Meat is the country's second-largest export commodity behind dairy products.

(BusinessDesk)

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Australian racing expert John Messara considered privatising and listing the TAB but didn't recommend it given the lack of appetite among ministers and the wider industry.

Racing Minister Winston Peters wants feedback on Messara's report offering a series of recommendations to revive the ailing industry. Among Messara's suggested remedies is the outsourcing of TAB's betting service to an international player. That's triggered speculation in Australian media that ASX-listed Tabcorp was in the box seat to buy the operating rights for at least A$1.5 billion. TAB and Tabcorp already have arrangements to commingle certain betting pools

The New Zealand Racing Board has already hired Investec and Cameron Partners to gauge interest for fully outsourcing the TAB's operations. However, Messara said privatisation and a local listing wasn't on the cards and didn't recommend it.

"There is no appetite within the industry or within government to pursue this option," the report said. "With privatisation, a significant proportion of the economic benefits of outsourcing would be diverted from the racing industry to third-party shareholders."

Messara said the Racing Board's lack of scale was insurmountable. Capital demands to meet technology upgrades and anti-money laundering rules made it hard to meet increasing customer expectations, especially given New Zealand's small population and modest appetite for gambling relative to Australia.

When releasing the report last month, Peters said Cabinet will need to consider what legislation is needed to change TAB licensing. Submissions close on Oct. 19.

"The review delivers a blunt appraisal and concludes the New Zealands racing industry is in a state of serious malaise," Peters said. "It is important that those most vested in the industry have the opportunity to provide feedback on the recommendations."

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand may have to consider changing its wholesale electricity market as increasing volumes of solar and wind energy make it harder to fund traditional large-scale generation, an Auckland academic says.

The falling cost of wind and solar technology, which already have very low operating costs, may undercut the wholesale power prices New Zealand generators have traditionally relied on to fund investment in new plants.

Stephen Poletti, a senior lecturer in energy economics at the University of Auckland, says it may be time to consider moving to the capacity payments that many other countries use to ensure sufficient new plants are built to meet long-term demand. In those markets, government or regulators auction long-term contracts for new generation.

Poletti says New Zealands energy-only market gives the major generators too much power to set prices that are well above their operating costs. They in turn argue the higher prices are needed to fund on-going investment, he said in an interview with BusinessDesk.

Either theres no market power, or we need market power to get investment.

Poletti says that disparity will only get more pronounced as more solar and wind  which can be bid into the market at very low marginal cost  is developed here. That will make it harder to fund more costly generation sources from what such plants can earn on the spot market for wholesale electricity.

We do need to think about what the market might look like in 20 to 30 years as well.

Poletti is planning to submit on the topic to the independent electricity review the government has initiated. There is no evidence of excessive profits in the sector, the review panel said in an issues paper earlier this week.

Poletti today released a study suggesting that in the six years through 2016 the countrys generators had pocketed $5.4 billion more than would have been possible in a competitive market.

The work built on the widely discredited 2009 study undertaken by Stanford University professor Frank Wolak for the Commerce Commission. He found generators extracted market rents of $4.3 billion in the seven years through 2007.

That study, which the commission took no further, was widely criticised for not reflecting the critical role that the pricing of hydro storage plays in the New Zealand system. Nor did it recognise the impact of transmission constraints, thermal fuel costs and availability, and the general complexity of energy supply in an island nation with a relatively small number of players.

Treasury noted that Wolaks claimed excess profit was implausible, given it would have accounted for more than 90 percent of the after-tax profits earned by the major generators in those years.

Polettis modelling has attempted to improve that work by reflecting the changing value of hydro storage over time and tie that to pricing.

While the simulated lake levels and prices did not follow exactly the same path, they were similar to actual events, showing the model was not simply dispatching more hydro plant at the cost of storage.

The end-of-year lake levels in both the competitive benchmark model and the computer simulations were also very similar.

The agreement is very good considering that the real world is considerably more complex than this model, Poletti says in the 55-page paper.

The study suggested wholesale market revenue exceeded what a competitive market would have delivered by up to 19 percent in 2010 and 2011. That excess then jumped to more than 40 percent for the remaining years.

Poletti said that may reflect the volume of low-cost wind and geothermal that entered the market during those later years, and the closure of the more expensive gas-fired Otahuhu and Southdown plants in 2015.

He acknowledged that analysing market power in hydro-dependent systems is notoriously difficult and that the model treats storage at the national level. Accordingly, it may not accurately reflect scenarios, such as during the past two years, when South Island storage was typically very low, but North Island storage was unusually high.

The model could also be further improved by recalibrating it, given the changes in the generation market during the study period, and the role that the increasing volume of hedge contracts plays in the market, he said.

(BusinessDesk)

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Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ)*1 announces the completion of a mega solar power plant in Zamyn Uud, Dornogovi Province, Mongolia. The project was a collaboration with Shigemitsu Shoji Co., Ltd.*2 and Mongolian energy company Solar Tech LLC*3.

The new plant has an output of approximately 16.5 MW-dc, with annual power generation capacity estimated at 31,162 MWh/year. The output from this facility is expected to allow avoided greenhouse gas emissions of 24,836 t-CO 2 per year.

Mongolias government is aiming for 25% of its power generation capacity to come from renewable sources. Back in December 2016, Sharp, in collaboration with Shigemitsu Shoji and others, completed a large-scale 10 MW-dc solar power plant. This was the first solar facility of its kind in Mongolia. Sharp remains committed to spreading renewable energy around the world.

Completed solar power plant Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh (4th from left) attends completion ceremony on June 21, 2018

Overview Country State of Mongolia Location Zamyn Uud, Dornogovi Province Output (module capacity) Approx. 16.5 MW-dc Annual power generation capacity (estimate) Approx. 31,162 MWh/year Avoided greenhouse gas emissions (estimate) Approx. 24,836 t-CO 2 /year Start of operations Mid of September, 2018 (plan)
SHEPHERDSTOWN  For Tamara Cole, of Martinsburg, raising her first puppy for Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been a learning experience. Cole spoke about her year of raising Zipper during the First Tuesday Speaker Series at Christ Reformed United Church of Christ on Sept. 4.

According to Cole, Zipper will soon go on to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a school in Yorktown Heights, New York that raises guide dogs and trains blind people how to use them, providing the dogs and training to blind people for free.

Zipper and I just celebrated one year together. In November, he will be considered a young adult, and will be mature enough to go to college, as they call it, Cole said about the yellow Labrador, whom she has cared for since he was two-months-old.

Cole first heard about Guiding Eyes for the Blinds need for puppy raisers through social media, and soon after that decided she wanted to try out puppy raising herself.

Somebody shared something through social media about needing puppy raisers, and I said, Im going to try this,' Cole said, mentioning the organization covers all puppy expenses.

Wagging his tail, Zipper sat patiently beside Cole, as she described her training process with Zipper. Although puppy trainers are volunteers, they do go through local, regularly-scheduled classes with Guiding Eyes for the Blind, to make sure they are on top of teaching their puppies basic obedience and good house manners. Part of good house manners is teaching puppies to navigate large buildings and climb steps, which Cole has been able to do by training Zipper for many months at CRUCC and around Shepherdstown.

Its an awful lot of training for your puppy and your puppy raiser, Cole said about her first year in the Successive Training & Enrichment Program. He still has a lot of puppy behaviors in him.

When Zipper goes off to college, he will be tested at the school to see if he will be a good guide dog for the blind, or if he would be better suited as another type of guide dog or in security work. If he is best suited as a guide dog for the blind, Zipper will be trained by the schools professional dog trainers for at least six months and matched with a blind person, whom he will become the companion of when he is about two-years-old.

According to Guiding Eyes puppy raiser of 20 years Kathleen McAllister, of Kearneysville, GEB breeds its puppies from its top Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds, which ensures about half of all the puppies are capable of becoming excellent guide dogs for the blind. Currently, McAllister is raising her 25th and 26th puppies, Ike and Frodo, along with occasionally babysitting Zipper for Cole.

McAllister said she also enjoys training her dogs in Shepherdstown, and appreciates how dog-friendly the towns businesses are.

Our dogs have been to Lost Dog and the Sweet Shop, to start learning manners in a restaurant, McAllister said. I always joke that when I begin training a pup, I need a cookie and iced tea.

To learn more about becoming a GEB puppy raiser, visit guidingeyes.org or call 866-GEB-LABS.
SHEPHERDSTOWN  On Sept. 17, 1862, the Confederate and Union armies converged in Sharpsburg, Maryland, to wage the Battle of Antietam. Over 23,000 men died in what is now known as the bloodiest day in American history.

The George Tyler Moore Center, Antietam National Battlefield and the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College partnered together to feature Remembering the Violence of Antietam, a day-long workshop on Saturday focusing on the culture of commemoration, violence and memorialization occurring after the Battle of Antietam.

Featuring six professors and Civil War historians, the mornings three lectures were held at the Robert C. Byrd Center and the afternoons three lectures were held in the theater of the Antietam National Battlefield Visitors Center. Community members, Shepherd University students and Gettysburg College students attended the free event.

The Civil War era is interesting to me. I want to major in it, so thats why Im here, said Shepherd University freshman and history major Kaelyn Day, of Parkersburg.

According to Gettysburg College Professor Peter Carmichael, who gave the morning lecture Where is the Blood? Imagination, Violence, and the Sunken Lane, discussing Civil War soldiers need to connect emotionally through letters with their spouses can dispel the false assumption that Civil War soldiers didnt struggle psychologically as a result of the Battle of Antietam. Carmichael compared soldiers letters with photographs of the battle, showing how the letters reveal soldiers gruesome depictions of the battle, which the photographs, sometimes intentionally, avoided showing.

The point is, the famous Antietam photographs did not have the profound impact that people have assumed. The photographs, when published in a New York newspaper, show how the violence was softened for the publics sensibilities, Carmichael said. The letter was probably the most powerful source in shaping how people saw the war, because it attacked all of the senses.

In On this Field Died Slavery: Remembering and Reconciling at Antietam, University of Virginia Professor Caroline Janney discussed how the American people found reconciliation after the Civil War by ignoring details about why the Civil War was fought.

According to Janney, after the Civil War ended, many Union soldiers who fought at the Battle of Antietam rightly viewed themselves as responsible for President Abraham Lincolns issuance of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862. The Union soldiers sense of pride and Confederate soldiers anger at losing the war led to elitist behavior on both sides, which is revealed in Antietam Battlefield itself, where the majority of monuments  all but two  are Union monuments. Janney said that elitism has held strong in the U.S. for many years, but as those who were personally involved with the Civil War have died off, viewpoints on the war have begun to change in American culture.

Memory changes over time. Were standing right in the middle of another shift in how we view the Civil War, Janney said.
SHEPHERDSTOWN  Punk rock music blasted from a band warming up on the low stage in the Town Run Tap House and Community Pub on Saturday, as visitors swarmed booths selling a wide variety of goods, during the first Four State Punk Rock Flea Market.

The market was also a fundraiser for Let There Be Rock School in downtown Martinsburg, an after-school program and music studio, teaching guitar, drum, bass, keyboard, DJ, vocal and record engineering lessons in a supportive, community environment. Designed to provide a safe place for students to socialize with their peers, students can socialize, do homework or practice music on their own or in a band while at the school.

In July 2018, the school announced its need to raise $200,000 to buy the building it has been renting, which its owner plans to auction off at an unknown time in the future. The school remodeled some of the buildings interior in previous years, so retaining the building would be ideal for the school. However, if the school cannot raise enough money to buy its building, it will use the money to secure another location. Saturdays event was one of many fundraisers that have been held to match the schools need.

This event is helping to raise money for Let There Be Rock School in Martinsburg, said podcaster Chris Lumzer, of Martinsburg, as he manned the events donation table.

Lumzer said he is friends with the events organizer, which is why he volunteered to help with the event.

When he does events like this, he does them well, and I like to help him whenever I can, Lumzer said of event organizer Matt Burns, of Martinsburg.

According to Burns, who also runs the Four State Comic Con in Hagerstown, Maryland, hosting the event in Shepherdstown was a no-brainer.

This is the type of thing I like to bring to the area  Im tired of having to go to Baltimore or Washington, D.C. for something like that, Burns said, mentioning seven or eight bands would be playing throughout the event, which extended from daytime into the evening.

At least a hundred people have visited, and we still have a ways to go, since its an all-day event. Everybodys pitching in and buying food and drinks, Burns said. Burns said about a dozen vendors were selling everything punk rock to event attendees, including art, clothing, steam punk items and comics.

Having known LTBRSs owner for many years, Burns said he hoped the event would raise enough money to make sure the school would not have to leave it location.

I have been friends with Butch, the head of Let There Be Rock School, forever, and we just want to make sure Martinsburgs kids have a safe place to go, and keep the arts and music alive, Burns said.

FATGIRL media graphic designers Dani Ward and Chris Henry, both of Hagerstown, Maryland, said this was the first event they have ever sold at.

This is our first vending event ever. We came here specifically because we found out about this at another festival, Ward said, mentioning they were enjoying meeting people at the event.

To donate to LTBRS, visit its Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/LTBRS.
SHEPHERDSTOWN  Page-Jackson High School, Jefferson Countys first publicly funded school for African Americans students, may no longer exist, but the schools memory still lives on in the hearts of its alumni and their descendants.

For the children of alumnus Helen Branson, honoring their mothers appreciation for education and love for her alma mater was always important. As children, Bransons three daughters attended the majority of Page-Jackson events with their mother. Even after their mothers passing in 2009, they continued to be involved with the Page-Jackson Alumni Association.

Some of these Page-Jackson members are in their 70s, 80s and older, but theyre trying to keep it alive, said Bransons oldest daughter, Barbara Thomas, of Shepherdstown. All of the parents are getting old, so its important for us, the kids, to keep up this project, so it doesnt die.

Part of keeping the alumni association and their mothers memory alive, is by funding an annual $1,000 scholarship for the relative of any Page-Jackson alumni. For three years now, the Branson family has banded together with their friends to raise funds for the scholarship, which the alumni association officially named the Helen Branson Memorial Fund this year.

According to Bransons youngest daughter, Susan Berry, of Shepherdstown, her mother impressed upon all of her children the value of education, which is one of the reasons why the family prioritizes offering the scholarship.

She was adamant about education, Berry said. We thought it was a good idea to give back, because she always gave back to her alma mater. So we decided to do the same, and give back in her name.

On Saturday afternoon, Berry, Thomas, their middle sister Agnes Luckett, of Martinsburg, and several friends and family members were serving up take-out containers full of soul food  fried fish, fried chicken, potato salad, green beans, macaroni and cheese, macaroni salad, rolls, cakes and brownies  out of the War Memorial Buildings kitchen. After customers ordered from Thomas, Berry and family friend Dennis Johnson, of Martinsburg, would dish up the orders. Johnson, who owns the Martinsburg-based catering company Denny Dos, kept busy in between orders, breading and frying the fish and chicken.

Its cooked and seasoned with love, Johnson said of his food. Johnson grew up attending the same church as Branson and her family, Asbury United Methodist Church, and his friendship with Branson is why he has helped cook during every Fish and Chicken Fry the family has held.

I knew their mom. Miss Helen, she was comical, to me she was really fun. And she always had something to say to somebody, Johnson said.

Following in her mothers shoes as a nurses aid in Martinsburgs Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Berry said she hopes the family will be able to add on a second scholarship in the future, in honor of her mothers vocation.

We want to give another $1,000 to a nursing student, Berry said, mentioning the scholarship  the details of which have not yet been finalized  would be available for the same nursing student to get every year until graduation, as long as the student remained in the major and retained a high GPA.
SHEPHERDSTOWN  Statehouse reporter Eric Eyre was surprised when he walked into his newspaper office one day and was handed the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting, for his Charleston Gazette-Mail Painkiller Profiteers series.

According to a written announcement from the Pulitzer Committee, Eyre received the awarded (f)or courageous reporting, performed in the face of powerful opposition, to expose the flood of opioids flowing into depressed West Virginia counties with the highest overdose death rates in the country. While writing the series, Eyre faced opposition from both drug companies and the state government.

According to Eyre during the Path to the Pulitzer: Journalism and the Informed Citizen Sept. 6 discussion at the Robert C. Byrd Center, that opposition resulted in a lawsuit being filed against the Charleston Gazette-Mail, which was eventually overturned. Eyre hadnt imagined his investigative journalism would draw so much attention, and said his intention in writing the series was to raise awareness of the strong grip the opioid epidemic holds in West Virginia.

Ive never had that [winning the Pulitzer Prize] as my purpose for writing a story, Eyre said. I hope bringing these issues to light will have some effect. We get distracted so easily.

When Eyre received his Pulitzer, the West Virginia Humanities Council took note. And, soon after, WVHC Program Director Mark Payne contacted Eyre about headlining the now-completed three-stop Path to the Pulitzer tour, at Marshall University, West Virginia University and Shepherd University.

We wanted to present Eric in a series of public forums where he talked about his work, Payne said, mentioning the series fulfilled this years Federation of Humanities Councils directive, to feature Pulitzer works and writers.

Each stop featured a moderated panel discussion between Eyre and a second acclaimed journalist, which was followed with a public question-and-answer period. Shepherd University Communications Staff Writer Cecelia Mason, formerly of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, moderated the Byrd Center discussion, featuring Eyre and National Public Radio News Giles Snyder, of Martinsburg.

According to Snyder, the event was an opportunity to discuss the importance of local journalism.

I think local journalisms important because a lot of stories, they begin as local stories and go national, Snyder said, mentioning Eyres work has encouraged more journalists to discuss the nationwide opioid epidemic. The opioid crisis is being reported on across the nation.

Mason agreed with Snyder, and said she hoped the event attendees understood the part they need to play with local journalism.

I hope that they gain an understanding of how journalism works from this event, and I hope that they gain an understanding of the importance of keeping up with the news in their communities, Mason said. People need to be educated, they need to vote, they need to know whats going on in their communities and they need to get involved. I want people to be understood, and I want people to be engaged. And part of being engaged is being informed.
Page Content

Five members of the Council of Ministers on St. Maarten led by Prime Minister the Honourable Leona Marlin-Romeo visited the National Institute for Professional Advancement NIPA institute in Cay Hill on Wednesday morning for an exclusive tour of the facility.





During the tour, the Ministers also received an update on developments at the facility including the progress of the training programmes. The group was met by Deshaun David Manager, Macoya Workforce Development Centre for MIC Institute of Technology in Trinidad, along with Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson from the board of NIPA. David, who is amongst five instructors providing specialised training to members of the community in the area of Masonry, Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical Installation, and General Property Maintenance, provided information on the progress being made with regards to training.





He explained that while they intend to introduce a Welding program, some safety issues have to be resolved to ensure the protection of staff and students and the facility. Once all precautionary measures are in place, the Welding programme can commence. Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin commended the instructors and Board of NIPA on their successful operation of the institution. She said out of chaos there is an opportunity noting that the NIPAs special Technical Vocational Education programmes were increasingly important based on the need for skilled workers to help St. Maarten rebuild following the Islands devastation by Hurricane Irma in 2017.





The Ministers took a keen interest in several of the programmes participants both men and women, who were engaged in training in the field of Masonry work. They also got a walkthrough of the kitchen where students were being trained in the culinary area.





The MIC instructors are also teaching local instructors, as the goal is to ensure that the programme can be locally run by qualified individuals. According to the MIC Institute of Technologys website the organisation, formally known as Metal Industries Company Limited MIC, is a multi-functional institution with a commercial operations component conducted under the aegis of the Industry Services Division."





"Over the past forty (40) years of the companys existence, our products and services have aided in the transformation of the industrial sector both locally and regionally, catering to evolving technical and training needs. They specialise in the development of Vocational, Technical and National competencies through training, innovation, manufacturing and engineering products and services. MIC follows the German Dual System of Technical Vocational Training and uses the Factory Training Concept to develop theoretical and practical skills. MIC founded its National Skills Development Programme in 1994 in Trinidad and Tobago, and to today the organisation has several training facilities throughout the country.




ABSTRACT

In recent years, Web GIS has been widely applied in mapping and sharing spatial data. This paper introduces a Web GIS solution has been applied to establishing The Mekong Delta Geographic Information SystemsMGIS. The development and implementation of a web-based MGIS are a suitable technology for monitoring and managing the natural resources and environment that aims to achieve sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region. The proposed solution shows that Web GIS can be applied effective to for integrating and sharing data among administration agencies in order to provide fully integrated information of updated on the status of land cover changes and analyzing the trend of forest-cover changes in this region. Results of this study illustrate the MGISs applications in sharing of regional data that allows multiple users to use tools for displaying spatial distribution of forest-cover in the period from the year 1990 to 2015 and analyzing the trend of changes.

Keywords:

Geographic Information System, Web-Based GIS, Forest-Cover Change, MGIS, Mekong Delta

1. Introduction

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a powerful set of tools for collecting, storing, analyzing, integrating and sharing spatial data among administration agencies. Adnan et al. (2010) have demonstrated that an important part of every web-based GIS application is its mapping or visualization technology, which makes it possible to show data in the form of maps [1] . Odil Kurbanov (2015) has discussed how to provide a way to allow the staff of law enforcement agencies to easily manage the data using open source web GIS platform enabling users to access, visualize and interact with the data online within a web browser [2] . However, these have not been the case for the project MGIS The Mekong Delta Geographic Information Systems which is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam. The project is established to rely on integrating and sharing data among administration agencies of the 12 provinces and a city in order to meet the requirements of supporting local leadership in decisions maker in planning and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region. At present, the People Committee of 12 provinces and a city in this region are unable to undertake comprehensive and coordinated land use planning based on the state of the environment and natural resources and future development needs. Many agencies have deployed GIS as a tool to modernize their management and to strengthen their administrative machinery. Some provinces have been undertaking projects on specific purposes, related to the applications on the integrity of remote sensing and GIS technologies (such as land use management, forest resource analysis). Due to the spontaneity of agencies in deploying GIS technology, some problems emerge: duplication in data collection effort among organizations, different geographic data themes for an area, and difficulties in sharing information among organizations because of both mechanisms of management and technology.

Therefore, MGIS database management system must be established based on the technical conditions of each province so that ensures the efficiency of investment in providing data from a variety of sources. The choice of an appropriate database management model in the development a web-based GIS plays an important role in sharing and updating data synchronization. The Web GIS applications must be created by the user interfaces that provide online tools that allow specified users to display in the form of thematic maps, to edit data and to create solutions for supporting local leadership in decisions maker for planning and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region. In addition, all end users can get the Web GIS applications based on integration of multiple different databases and agencies and flow logic to arrive at the desired result with minimal time and without expert GIS knowledge.

This paper introduces the development and implementation of a web-based GIS that can be used as a tool for planning socio-economic development, natural resources and environmental management at different levels in the region. The proposed method shows that Web GIS can be applied effective to for integrating and sharing data among administration agencies in order to provide fully integrated information of updated on the status of land cover changes and analyzing the trend of forest-cover changes in Mekong Delta region.

2. Study Area

Mekong Delta has been selected as the research area as it is identified as significantly vulnerable to climate change. Mekong Delta is a region having very high risk of inundation. If sea-level rises 100 cm, approximately 38.9% of Mekong River Delta would be at risk of flooding [3] . The Mekong Delta region with total land area about 39,000 km2 comprises a city of Can Tho and 12 provinces of Tien Giang, Long An, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, An Giang, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.

The main MGIS project goal is to design and implement comprehensive information system tools which support regional and provincial government agencies in the Mekong Delta in their planning processes to develop the region and adapt to climate change in the context of sustainable development. MGIS has been divided into two phases in Figure 1. In the first project phase (2015-2017) a prototypical Geographic Information System was developed and implemented and a centralized database was created for sharing and updating data synchronization based on Web GIS applications: 1) to establish an suitable model to provide information for planning and development of regional socio-economic, 2) to build an appropriate database management system in sharing and updating data synchronization, in order to create Web GIS applications and 3) to provide general solutions for Can Tho, Vinh Long and An Giang in building GIS database in order to develop MGIS to easily connect databases with the remaining 10 provinces. The MGIS Information System is the central access point for all MGIS data products integrated from by project disciplines like hydrology, geochemistry, socio-economics, geography, and earth observation and generated by the project in the provinces of Vinh Long, An Giang and Can Tho city. If results of the first phase are checked to meets all demands of the users, it will be extended in the second phase (2018-2020) for generating and integrating data of the remaining provinces.

3. Methodology

3.1. Database Management System of MGIS

MGIS database management system must be established so that can provide exact data when is required from a variety of sources. Base map (topographic maps), thematic maps (cadastral maps, land use maps) and remote sensing data are available can be used in different situations. A mixed-scale approach involving the integration of data was applied. All data were change in data format and projection (Datum: VN2000) for integrating and sharing data in response to different user requests.

Base map of Mekong Delta region has been generated from topographic map at 1:250,000 scale includes 7 basic layers: Mathematical basis, Boundary, Elevation, Transportation, Hydrology, Urban areas, Vegetation as shown in Figure 2. It serves as general base information to made thematic map at regional level. Topographic map of each province at 1:50,000 scale is also used to generate base map at the provincial level that have been shared as geospatial data services. This solution allows multiple users to access the same data at the same time via an intranet and/or the internet in a safe and high secure manner and avoids duplication of work, inconsistencies of data, delays, confusion and waste of resources.

Figure 1. Location of the Can Tho city, Vinh Long and An Giang province in Mekong Delta region.

Figure 2. Topographic map at 1:250,000 scale of Mekong Delta region.

Thematic maps have been established from the previous projects such as vegetation, transportation and hydrology networks, land use change, river bank change, as well as remote sensing data includes all image of the fact of floods and salinity intrusion. The thematic database is established to provide data layers that create useful information for supporting local leadership in decisions maker in planning and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region.

The database standard of MGIS is an important key for sharing among 12 provinces and a city in Mekong Delta region. Because base maps can be used to develop GIS applications by administration agencies and also allows multiple users and integrate information as management requirements at the macro level in order to display in the form of thematic maps based on Web GIS applications. Therefore, the National Geospatial Standards of Vietnam have been applied for building MGIS to serve operation and management that aims to avoid wasteful overlapping investment and to create GIS database based on the technical conditions of each province to serve for sustainable development of this region. MGISs geospatial data consist of base maps and thematic maps of different scales in Figure 3: for regional level at 1:250,000; for provincial level 1:50,000; for district 1:10,000; and for commune 1:500 or 1:2000.

3.2. Choosing the Appropriate Web GIS Solution for Serving MGIS

MGIS database management system must be established so that can provide exact data when is required from a variety of sources. The Web GIS applications will be created mainly for sharing and updating data synchronization and providing online tools that allow specified users to display in the form of thematic maps, to edit data and to create solutions for mapping and monitoring the natural resources changes in order to support management. The MGIS system architecture follows a client-server architecture in Figure 4. The MGIS applications was designed and developed based on the current open source software applications in Table 1 in order to reduce installation costs and permit further adaptations to meet necessary project requirements. The .NET Core and ASP.NET Core framework were used for server side programming, that are fully open source and available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and can be used in device, cloud, and embedded/IoT scenarios [4] . In the MGIS information system, all data were stored in a PostgreSQL database. PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database management system that can store geospatial data with Post GIS geospatial extensions [5] . Map services were created using GeoServer, which is an open source platform for publishing geospatial data and interactive mapping applications [6] . The client web-based geographic application as the user interface, was developed using Open Layers APIs library which was originally based on the Prototype JavaScript Framework [7] .

The MGIS information system implements a three-tier architecture as shown in Figure 5 to serve different user requests indicates the response time of the database management system of MGIS for natural resources management. The user interface is on the 1st tier that data and maps can be presented on a web browser (website: https://mgis.vn) without the need for any additional software. All web-based GIS applications lie on the 2nd tier implements the functionality of MGIS with an application framework that can be used to build other applications such as user management, menu systems. MGIS database lies on the 3rd tier and is managed by PostgreSQL software that users can download or upload data to contribute content of MGIS database. GeoServer is used for dealing with spatial and attribute data available inside of MGIS database and provides service in connecting to database of other provinces that content can be requested to open other layers outside of MGIS through Web Feature Service (WFS) standard, or the Web Map Service (WMS) protocols.

Table 1. Open source software applications used.

Figure 3. The different scales in database management of MGIS.

Figure 4. The MGIS information system architecture.

Figure 5. Three tiers architecture of MGIS Information System.

4. Results and discussion

4.1. Web GIS for Sharing Data of MGIS

The MGIS information system hosted on the https://mgis.vn in Figure 6. Database of the MGIS includes various data sources and satellite images to support for monitoring of changes in natural resources, environmental and socio-economic. Sharing of regional data allows multiple users to use the same data at the same time via the internet in a safe and can bring more value on understanding the regional level situation. Web GIS application is a good opportunity for 12 provinces and a city to share data for managing and supporting the sustainable development in Mekong Delta region.

4.2. Web GIS for Investigating the Spatial Distribution of Forest-Cover Change

Thematic data group of MGIS includes forest-cover thematic maps of Mekong Delta in the period from the year 1990 to 2015 in Figure 7 and the total area of forest-cover of 12 provinces and a city show in Table 2.

The online mapping application was developed that is mainly composed of data handling tools for analyzing the trend and displaying spatial distribution of forest-cover change. The result in Table 3 shows that the total area of the forest-cover has decreased with the average cover rate from 10.4% of the natural area at the year 1990 to 4.1% of the area in 2015. Almost the forest-cover area of Hau Giang province has been converted to non-forest land cover.

Web GIS demonstrated an efficient solution for visualization of a very large amount of thematic data of MGIS that show the area of the forest-cover has decreased with the average cover rate.

The result in Table 2 also shows that in 2 provinces of An Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho city of the projects phase 1, the highest loss of forest cover was from 1990 to 2015 with a significant decline of 11,713 ha forest loss in An Giang. The Figure 8 shows the spatial distribution of forest cover for the year 2015 in An Giang. The administration agency of An Giang can visualize and interact with forest-cover thematic map and find out due to causes of fire damage or human impacts.

Table 2. The total area of forest-cover of 12 provinces and a city in Mekong Delta region.

Table 3. The trend of forest-cover change in Mekong Delta region from 1990 to 2015.

Figure 6. Home page of MGIS at https://mgis.vn/.

(a) (b) (c) Figure 7. The forest-cover thematic data of Mekong Delta (a) in 1999; (b) in 2005; and (c) in 2015.

Figure 8. The forest-cover thematic data of An Giang province in 2015.

Web GIS solution for integrating and sharing data among administration agencies on the status and changes in forest-cover rate opens up a new way of developing GIS applications whereby the GIS server produces the thematic maps and then specialists of administration agencies can add some more information to it. This can assist the researchers and operational analysts to undertake further analysis regarding natural resources management that aims to achieve sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region.

5. Conclusion

MGIS plays the important role in sharing and integrating database among administration agencies with framework that can be used to build other applications that aims to achieve sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region. The proposed solution with standards of technology concerned with the actual development of the MGISs applications that can apply efficiently for developing GIS of 12 provinces and a city in this region. Database of MGIS can be shared and presented within a web browser, without the need for any additional software, to provide information quickly for state management that ensures the efficiency of investment. This solution can bring more value on understanding the regional level situation and analyzing the trend of forest-cover change of each province. The development a web-based MGIS also contributes to create good opportunity for international organizations to undertake further analysis regarding land cover/land use change in this region.

Acknowledgements

This project has received funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnams Science and Technology for the sustainable development of Mekong Delta region program (KHCN-TNB/14-19), under grant agreement No. KHCN-TNB.T/14-19/C03.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Van Trung, L. and Tam, D.M. (2018) Web GIS Solution for Monitoring the Forest-Cover in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Journal of Geographic Information System, 10, 491-502. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2018.105026

References
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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95fefe0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95e5188)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95fefe0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95e5188)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd9603dd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95e5188)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95e5188)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb90d0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd95d1ad8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd95d1ad8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd96008e0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95a2228)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd96008e0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95a2228)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95f5da0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95a2228)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95a2228)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cba070)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd90a9c28)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd90a9c28)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd949a0b0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95c8330)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd949a0b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95c8330)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95c8750)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95c8330)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd95c8330)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb8db8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd94a74c0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd94a74c0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95873a0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd962ac68)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95873a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd962ac68)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd95868c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd962ac68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd962ac68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd8cb8db8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9435f50)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9435f50)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Amazon's Jeff Bezos unveils $2 bn philanthropic fund



Washington, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the richest person on the planet, announced Thursday he was creating a philanthropic fund to help homeless families and launch preschools in low-income communities, committing an initial $2 billion.

Bezos made the announcement on Twitter a year after asking for ideas on how he could use his personal fortune -- now estimated at more than $160 billion -- for charitable efforts.

The "Bezos Day One Fund" created by Bezos and his wife MacKenzie will focus on two areas: helping "existing nonprofits that help homeless families" and funding "a network of new, nonprofit, tier-one preschools in low-income communities," he wrote.

Later, Bezos told a Washington gathering that the $2 billion was only a start and that he would likely expand his philanthropic efforts.

"I've seen small things get big and it's part of this 'day one' mentality," Bezos told an Economic Club of Washington dinner.

"The Day One foundation is going to be like that," he added, noting that the mission could evolve. "We'll wander a bit, too."

For the homeless, grants will be given to organizations "doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the needs of young families," Bezos said on Twitter.

The fund will also seek to launch and operate "a network of high-quality, full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities," he wrote.

He told the Washington dinner later: "I'm very excited about that because I'm going to operate that."

Bezos said early childhood education is a critical area and that "the money spent there is going to pay gigantic dividends for decades."

He said the schools would "use the same set of principles that have driven Amazon" and that "the child will be the customer."



- Early steps on charity -



The $2 billion initiative, while significant, is far less than the philanthropic efforts of other billionaires including Microsoft's Bill Gates, who has donated tens of billions to his foundation, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, who has pledged to donate 99 percent of his shares in the social media giant to an organization focused on public good.

It also falls short of the "giving pledge" initiative launched by Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who have encouraged wealthy individuals to pledge half their fortunes for philanthropy.

Bezos's fortune comes mainly from his stake in Amazon, the diversified online firm which briefly hit $1 trillion in market value this month and is the second most valuable company after Apple.

He also operates the private space exploration firm Blue Origin and owns The Washington Post.

Despite his fortune, Bezos has not been a major philanthropic donor and Amazon has been criticized in its home of Seattle, Washington, for its perception as doing little to address problems of the growing homeless population.

Last year, he donated $33 million to fund scholarship for "dreamers," the name given to undocumented children of immigrants who face legal obstacles in attending college or university.

He has also made donations for cancer research and to Princeton University, his alma mater.



- 'A mission' -



Bezos said he selected these two areas after getting thousands of ideas from an appeal he launched on Twitter last year.

"People are interested in trying to help the world in so many different ways," he said.

But declined to offer specifics on how much of his fortune he would donate, suggesting that he may address societal problems through philanthropy or profit-making businesses like his Blue Origin space firm.

"I don't know how much I'm going to give away," he told economic club president David Rubenstein. "I start with a mission (to address a problem) you can do it with government, you can do it with nonprofit or you can do it with for-profit."

Bezos's personal wealth has soared with the value of Amazon, whose stock price has doubled over the past year with its expansion into new sectors and geographies.

Launched in 1994 as an online bookseller, Amazon has become a retail powerhouse operating globally, and has expanded into streaming video, music, cloud computing and other segments, and last year acquired the Whole Foods grocery chain. Amazon's digital assistant Alexa has helped drive its hardware sales and is used on smart devices ranging from cars to refrigerators.
Bezos calls Trumps attacks on media 'dangerous'



Washington, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post newspaper, warned Thursday that President Donald Trump's attacks on media are dangerous for the country.

Bezos, during a question-answer session at a dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, said Trump's attacks risk eroding protections and social norms important for democracy.

"It's dangerous to demonize the media," Bezos said.

"It's dangerous to call the media lowlifes. It's dangerous to say they are the enemy of the people."

He added that "we live in a society where it's not just the laws of the land that protect us... it's also the social norms that protect us. It works because we believe the words on that piece of paper."

Bezos said Trump and other public figures should expect public and media scrutiny, which he called "healthy."

The comments appeared to be the first direct, public rebuke of Trump by Bezos, a frequent target of attacks by the president.

"I do defend the Post," he said. "I don't feel the need to defend Amazon."

But he paraphrased Washington Post editor Martin Baron as saying that "the adminstration may be at war with us, but we are not at war with the administration."

Despite his concerns with Trump, Bezos said that he was not overly concerned about the future of the news media.

"We are so robust in this country. The media is going to be fine," he said during the conversation with economic club president David Rubenstein.

Bezos, whose Amazon fortune has made him the world's richest person, added that he has had "a couple of conversations" with Trump but declined to say what was discussed.
Samsung sets new Galaxy device launch for October



San Francisco, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Samsung sent out invitations Friday for an October 11 event to launch a new mobile device under its Galaxy line.

The invitation offered few details but the mention of "4x fun" led to speculation the about a new smartphone with four cameras or possibly a foldable handset.

The South Korean electronics giant, the world's leading smartphone maker, unveiled its latest flagship Galaxy Note 9 in August.

Samsung and other device makers are looking for ways to boost momentum in a sluggish smartphone market.

Research firm IDC expects worldwide smartphone shipments to decline 0.7 percent in 2018 to 1.455 billion units, with growth likely to resume as 5G devices become available.

Despite its leadership position, Samsung saw a 22 percent drop in mobile technology sales in the second quarter.

The news from Samsung comes days after Apple unveiled a new lineup of iPhones focusing on the premium smartphone segment at prices starting between $749 and $1,099 for US customers.

Apple recently slipped to third place in the smartphone market behind Huawei, even though the Chinese firm's sales in the United States are limited.

Google, which is looking to gain ground in the premium segment with its own branded handsets, has scheduled a media event October 9 expected to unveil its updated Pixel handsets.

jc/rl/mdo

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

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Iraq PM announces new Basra initiatives ahead of key vote



Baghdad, Sept 13 (AFP) Sep 13, 2018



Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday announced a new series of public works initiatives for the southern city of Basra, hit by a wave of deadly protests last week.

The move comes just two days before a key parliamentary meeting that could allow the premier's political rivals to form a government without him.

Abadi made the statement following a cabinet meeting, delayed by two days as he visited oil-rich Basra where violent demonstrations last week saw 12 protesters killed and government buildings torched.

Basra has been at the epicentre of protests that broke out in July in the southern province before spreading to other parts of the country, as demonstrators railed against poor services and condemned corruption among Iraqi officials.

Anger in Basra flared early last week over a growing health crisis, after more than 30,000 people were hospitalised by pollution in the city's water supply.

On Thursday, Abadi said a team of advisers would "assure the immediate implementation" of new water pumping, routing and filtration projects -- but did not provide a budget or a timetable.

The announcement came as the parliament prepares to elect a new speaker on Saturday.

It also comes on the heels of an emergency meeting in parliament at the weekend that threw Abadi's ability to hold onto his role into question, as the top two parliamentary blocs call on him to step down over the crisis in Basra.

Firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose bloc won the May 12 elections, distanced himself from his one-time ally Abadi, while a rival alliance of pro-Iranian former paramilitary fighters led by Hadi al-Ameri said it would work with Sadr to form a new government that excludes the premier.

Just a day later, Abadi said that he was "not set on a second term".

The results of Saturday's vote will give a concrete indication as to which bloc will be able to form the future cabinet.

On Wednesday, Sadr hosted Ameri in the southern city of Najaf, but the two leaders did not put out any statement.

In what appeared to be a head nod Thursday to the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, Abadi said the government had decided to increase its fighters' salaries and make them "equal to that of the armed forces".

Formed in 2014, the Hashed al-Shaabi played a key role in pushing back the Islamic State group.
Frenchmen charged over plot to kill Congo govt critic: source



Lyon, Sept 13 (AFP) Sep 13, 2018



Two French ex-intelligence agents were charged Thursday over the planned assassination of an opponent of the government of the Republic of Congo, a source close to the probe told AFP.

The men, in their fifties, were indicted by officials in the southern city of Lyon for the crimes of participating in a criminal conspiracy and possession of explosives, the source said.

Both are former employees of the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE), the French foreign intelligence service.

A third man was granted witness status.

The three were arrested on the island of Corsica, in the eastern French region of Haute-Savoie, and in Orleans in the country's centre, respectively.

The indictment relates to plans to kill "in the coming weeks" a political opponent, resident in Paris, of the Congolese government.

The target's identity was not divulged.
Washington approves plane, missile sale to S.Korea



Washington, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



The United States on Thursday approved a new arms sale to South Korea worth $2.6 billion, with denuclearization talks stalled between Washington and the North.

Six Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft worth $2.1 billion form the bulk of the sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

A second contract covers 64 Patriot missiles and support worth $501 million, the agency said.

Congress has 15 days to oppose the sale but that would be unlikely given the close relationship between Seoul and Washington, which stations tens of thousands of its troops on South Korean soil to defend against the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

The P-8A Poseidon, made by Boeing, can be used for intelligence and reconnaissance as well as for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

"The proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing Korea's naval capabilities to provide national defense and significantly contribute to coalition operations," the agency said.

The Patriots, to be made by Texas-based Lockheed-Martin, are designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other airborne threats.

South Korea will use the system "to improve its missile defense capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats to regional stability," the statement said.

"The proposed sale of this equipment and support does not alter the basic military balance in the region."

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pledged at a historic June summit to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

However, no details were agreed, and Washington and Pyongyang have sparred since over what that means and how it will be achieved.

sl/it/ft

LOCKHEED MARTIN
Pentagon protests after intercept of Russian bombers



Washington, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



The Pentagon has protested after US fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers west of Alaska, in the latest incident of its kind.

F-22 Raptor fighters from NORAD intercepted and visually identified the long-range Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bombers overnight Tuesday, said the joint US-Canadian command, charged with aerospace warning and control for North America.

The four-engine Cold War-era turboprop bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, were escorted by two Russian Su-35 fighters, NORAD said in a statement Thursday, adding that the Russian planes stayed in international airspace and never penetrated the US or Canadian zones.

NORAD jets followed the Russians until they left the air defense identification zone, a perimeter in which the military surveils air traffic, and which extends for about 200 miles (320 kilometers) off Alaska.

The incident took place during Russia's largest-ever military drills, Vostok-2018 with nearly 300,000 troops and all types of military equipment in eastern Siberia.

NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said he did not see the air incident as "directly part of Vostok although it is very much related to it."

In May, US fighter jets also intercepted two Russian Bear bombers in international airspace off western Alaska.

In April 2017, NORAD and the Pentagon said Tu-95 bombers were spotted in international airspace on three occasions -- twice near the Aleutians and once near mainland Alaska and Canada.

That was the first sighting of such Russian long-range bombers around Alaska in about two and a half years, a Pentagon spokesman said at the time.

Tensions between Russia and the United States and its NATO allies are running at levels not seen since the Cold War.
Thailand eases four year old ban on political activities



Bangkok, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Thailand partially eased its ban on political activities, the ruling junta announced Friday, allowing political parties to recruit new members for the first time in four year as the countdown begins for a much-anticipated national poll.

After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities.

This included a ban on any public gatherings of more than five people.

On Friday, the junta said in a statement published in the Royal Gazette there would be a "relaxation" on the ban.

Parties will now be permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members.

However, campaigning -- including holding public gatherings -- is still forbidden.

"Political parties can communicate with their members electronically, but that type of communication must not be considered as campaigning," the statement said.

The junta and the Election Commission would decide if any communications was "disrupting public order".

The junta has repeatedly postponed elections, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn this week endorsed two bills that cleared bureaucratic hurdles to a much-anticipated poll.

An election is required to take place by May.

Senior military leaders have floated a February 24 election date.
Thailand relaxes political activity ban ahead of polls



Bangkok, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Thailand partially eased its ban on political activities, the ruling junta announced Friday, allowing political parties to recruit new members for the first time since 2014 ahead of polls slated for next year.

Sweeping restrictions on political parties and campaigns were imposed after the military took power in a coup four years ago.

On Friday, the junta said there would be a "relaxation" on the ban in a statement published in the Royal Gazette.

Parties will now be permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members, establish branch offices and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members.

But a ban will remain on political campaigns and gatherings of more than five people.

"Political parties can communicate with their members electronically, but that type of communication must not be a considered as a form of political campaigning," the statement said.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- the junta's formal name -- and the Election Commission will have the authority to rule on whether any political communications were "disrupting public order".

The junta has repeatedly postponed elections, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn this week endorsed two bills that cleared bureaucratic hurdles to a much-anticipated poll.

An nationwide vote is required to take place by May and senior military leaders have floated a February 24 election date.

Opposition parties said the NCPO should never have introduced the ban in the first place.

Pannika Wanich, the spokesperson of the upstart Future Forward party -- which has set Thailand's political scene abuzz with its pro-democracy platform -- said her party would not adhere to the ban's restrictions.

"We declared a long time ago that we will not accept any unjustified laws," Pannika said, adding that her party expects to be officially certified by the Election Commission next week.

"We will do whatever a political party can do," she said. "We are not waiting for the NCPO to ease off the ban."



- 'Political bullying' -



Pichai Natipthaphan, a member of the now-toppled Puea Thai Party and former minister in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, said the remaining constraints on political activities were "not practical".

"It restricts the rights of people and it could lead to political bullying," he said of the new rules.

The Shinawatra clan, a powerful and wealthy family, has won every Thai general election through its affiliated parties and proxies since 2001.

But coups have pushed Yingluck and her older brother Thaksin -- another former prime minister -- out of power and into self-exile to avoid jail terms from corruption charges.

The military has long hated the Shinawatras, accusing them of harnessing a toxic brand of populist politics.

Junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has insisted that he has no interest in politics, but critics claim the military's protracted rule since Yingluck's 2014 ouster is evidence of his future electoral ambitions.

In recent months, the gruff former general has been showcasing a softer side through public appearances and photo opportunities.

Earlier this week he met with Japanese girl pop sensation "AKB48" at Government House, waving a neon glow-stick as they performed.
Dutch soon to pull fighter jets striking IS targets



The Hague, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Dutch F-16 fighter jets will end bombing missions against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria at the end of the year, the Netherlands government said Friday.

"Cabinet has decided not to prolong the use of F-16's in the fight against IS past December 31," the Dutch cabinet said in a statement.

Four Dutch F-16s have been pounding the jihadist group in Iraq since October 2014 and operations were expanded when the planes flew their first missions into Syria in early 2016.

"The end of the military battle against IS is in sight," Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday.

"At the same time IS in Iraq has transformed itself into an underground organisation that primarily focuses on (terror) attacks," he told journalists during his weekly press conference.

The Dutch input in Iraq will shift from offensives against IS to strengthening safety across Iraq "in order for people to safely return home and get on with their lives", the government said.

A maximum of 50 Dutch troops will be deployed to northern Iraq to "train to keep areas safe that have been liberated from IS".

Three to a dozen Dutch special forces will stay in Baghdad to continue training Iraqi forces.

A further 20 military and civil experts will remain part of NATO's capacity-building mission in Iraq, which focuses "on the strengthening of the Iraqi security sector", the government said.
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Fueling the Populists Why Did EU Commission Chief Go Silent in Border Dispute?

The president of the European Commission is ignoring his own legal staff's advice to issue a position statement in the long-simmering border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia. Has he gone quiet to help the Croatian prime minister, who is a member of the same political party?
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Index of turnover in industry 2021, September

Published: 14 September 2018

Turnover in manufacturing grew by close on 6 per cent in the second quarter

According to Statistics Finland, turnover in manufacturing in the April to June period was 5.6 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of the year before. Domestic sales grew by 2.9 per cent and export turnover by 7.5 per cent from one year ago.

Three months' year-on-year change in turnover in manufacturing (C) sub-industries (TOL 2008)

Turnover went up from the corresponding period of the previous year in nearly all manufacturing (C) sub-industries . Growth was strongest in the chemical industry, 7.5 per cent, in the forest industry, 7.3 per cent, and the metal industry, 5.1 per cent. Output increased least in the electrical and electronics industry, by 0.6 per cent year-on-year. Turnover fell from the previous year in the food industry by 0.1 per cent and in the textile, clothing and leather industry by 0.5 per cent.

Three months' year-on-year change in turnover in main industrial categories (TOL 2008)

The turnover of all main categories of manufacturing industries grew year-on-year. Turnover grew strongest in the industry of mining and quarrying, by 15.2 per cent. Turnover in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 6.1 per cent, and in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 5.8 per cent from one year before.

The index of turnover in industry describes enterprises whose main industry is manufacturing. The calculation of the indices is based on the Tax Administrations self-assessed tax data which are supplemented with data obtained with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnovers of manufacturing enterprises can vary considerably, especially in the metal industries. The variation is mainly due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major machinery deliveries and projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the delivery had required the work of several months or years.

Source: Index of turnover in industry 2018, June, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Kirsi-Maaria Manninen 029 551 2681, Maija Sappinen 029 551 3348, myynti.teollisuus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (360.6 kB)

Updated 14.9.2018

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover in industry [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-596X. June 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 9.11.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tlv/2018/06/tlv_2018_06_2018-09-14_tie_001_en.html
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: International trade in goods and services 2021, 2nd quarter

Published: 14 September 2018

International trade in services growing in the second quarter of 2018

Service exports continued growing in the second quarter of 2018, up by seven per cent year-on-year. Service imports also grew by seven per cent. Service exports increased particularly due to the growth in exports of construction and project deliveries, transport and other business services. Sweden was the most significant country of exports for Finland in both goods and services in 2017 and in the first half of 2018. The data appear from Statistics Finland's statistics on international trade in goods and services, which are part of balance of payments.

Imports and exports of services

The combined exports of goods and services grew by six per cent and imports by five per cent in the second quarter of 2018 compared with the corresponding quarter in 2017. In balance of payments terms, goods exports grew by six per cent and goods imports by three per cent.

International trade in construction and project deliveries grew considerably

Exports of both construction and project deliveries and other business services grew by around EUR 200 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to one year ago. Exports of construction and project deliveries went up by 43 per cent and those of other business services by 17 per cent.

Exports of other business services grew mostly on account of an increase of over EUR 100 million in the sub-item professional and management consulting services, which include such as legal services, accounting, auditing, bookkeeping and tax consultancy services, and advertising, market research and public opinion polling.

Exports of only one service item decreased significantly. The item in question, telecommunications, computer and information services (ICT services), was nevertheless the biggest service item of exports. Exports of ICT services went down by seven per cent from the corresponding period one year earlier. Exports of ICT services thus fell by over EUR 100 million.

Service imports grew by seven per cent in the second quarter of 2018. The growth in service imports was particularly due to the increase in construction and project deliveries, transport services, travel and ICT service imports. Thirty-seven per cent more construction and project deliveries were imported and 13 per cent more ICT services.

Travel still in deficit for Finland

The level of travel exports (travel to Finland) did not change in the second quarter of 2018 compared to one year ago. The value of travel expenditure abroad from Finland, which is included in the statistics as travel imports, grew by 11 per cent from the year before.

More travel services are imported than exported. Finland received income from travel services to the value of EUR 0.6 billion in the second quarter of 2018. Expenditure abroad from Finland amounted to EUR 1.4 billion. Finlands trade in travel services is thus in deficit.

Exports of services by service item

Sweden is still Finlands most important country of exports for both goods and services

Swedens share of Finlands service exports was 14 per cent and of goods exports in balance of payments terms 12 per cent in 2017. Sweden was thus Finlands most important country of exports in 2017. The corresponding shares of the second most important country of goods exports, Germany, were eight per cent in services and nine per cent in goods.

In balance of payments, goods exports is based on change of ownership, not on border crossing. In that case, goods sent abroad for processing in Finland do not increase Finland's goods exports if the owner of the goods does not change. Goods sent abroad for processing in Finland are visible in Finland's service exports.

The value of goods exported to Sweden was EUR 1.8 billion higher than to Germany in 2017. Exports of goods to Sweden went up by nine per cent and to Germany by seven per cent in 2017 compared with the previous year.

In balance of payments terms, the value of goods exported to Sweden was EUR 0.9 billion higher than to Germany in January to June 2018. Germany did not thus overtake Sweden as concerns goods exports, although goods exports to Germany were exceptionally big in the second quarter of 2018. A single significant goods item raised goods exports to Germany.

Exports of manufacturing services to Germany grew by almost 70 per cent

More services were also exported to Sweden than to Germany in 2017, but service exports to Germany increased by 18 per cent from 2016 to 2017. The corresponding growth figure for Sweden was seven per cent. Exports of manufacturing services to Germany grew by as much as 68 per cent, while they grew by just two per cent to Sweden in 2017 compared with the previous year.

Exports of goods and services in balance of payments terms by area

Statistics on international trade

The statistics on international trade in goods and services are part of balance of payments. The statistics comprise breakdowns of goods and services on a more detailed level. The guidelines and recommendations of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6) applied to balance of payments are consistent with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). National Accounts are published on quarterly and annual levels . Finnish Customs publishes data on trade of goods across borders. Goods trade published by Finnish Customs is used as source data for the statistics on international trade in goods and services. Removals and additions caused by definitions are made to them to achieve goods trade in balance of payments terms.

Finnish Customs statistical service, tilastot@tulli.fi, +358 29 552 335.

Source: International trade in goods and services 2018, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Risto Sippola 029 551 3383, Terhi Tulonen 029 551 3604, globalisaatio.tilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

Publication in pdf-format (267.6 kB)

Updated 14.9.2018

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): International trade in goods and services [e-publication].

ISSN=2343-4244. 2nd quarter 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 9.11.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tpulk/2018/02/tpulk_2018_02_2018-09-14_tie_001_en.html
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
The U.S. Navy is spending nearly $200 million to design a second batch (Flight II) of its San Antonio class LPDs (Amphibious Transport Dock). These LPD 30 class ships will be built without some of the more troublesome and expensive features of the first (Flight I) LPD-17s. The new design is supposed to get the cost per ship down to an average of about $1.5 billion and be capable of performing a wider variety of duties. The first of these special jobs is replacing aging command ships. The basic LPD 30 design will thus accommodate 400 crew (including specialists for other duties like a command ship) and carry only 500 Marines and fewer landing craft. A lot of the space normally devoted to Marines and their equipment (vehicles, landing craft and aircraft) is to be redesigned so they can quickly be switched to other tasks, including embarking more missiles or electronic equipment. In effect, the Navy wants Flight II of the San Antonios to use the same hull and basic features of the LPD 17s but with a number of economical and practical changes. At least that is the goal and the new design is to be completed by 2020. At that point, the Navy and Congress (who has to provide the cash) have to approve the Flight II design and decide how many to build. The original plan was to build 13 of the Flight II ships but a lot depends on how much the Navy and Congress trust the plan, which will be carried out by a new generation of shipbuilders who have an opportunity to show they learned from the mistakes with the Flight I LPD-17s, or not.

The 25,400 ton Flight I San Antonio class ships were something of a disaster. The original design was created in the 1990s and sought to avoid the growing number of problems American warship builders were experiencing. The LPD 17 design incorporated a lot of new features that made the ships stealthier and easier to operate and live in (for both crew and Marines). There were a lot problems with building them and a lot of changes and repairs were required on the first few ships. The original cost of $800 million each ballooned to $1.6 billion with the last two costing about two billion dollars each. The eleven already built entered service between 2006 and 2017 with another two (under construction) appearing in the early 2020s. All these LPDs are expected to serve until the 2050s and replace 41 other ships comprising four classes of amphibious ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LST 1179 and LKA 113).

The lead LPD 17 ship was supposed to enter service in 2002 but encountered so many problems that had to be fixed that it was not until early 2006 that the San Antonio (LPD-17) was accepted into service. There were also some problems with subsequent ships, but not as severe as with LPD 17. A lot of the blame went to poor management at the shipyard and ineffective supervision by the Navy. The Flight II LPDs are an attempt to learn from those mistakes and not repeat them. Sometimes that works, sometimes not.

The original San Antonio class ships are 208 meters (684 feet) long, have a crew of 361 and carry 700 Marines and all their equipment. There is 2322 square meters (25,000 square feet) for vehicle storage. The hospital has two operating rooms and the ability to expand from the normal 24 beds to 124 beds in an emergency.

Onboard weapons include two Bushmaster II 30mm Close In Guns and two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launchers to defend against anti-ship missiles. The ship is designed to carry and use two LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle), and 14 of the new amphibious assault vehicles. The MV-22 (Osprey tiltrotor aircraft), as well as current helicopters, can operate off the ships flight deck. The flight deck can handle two MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft once and the ship can carry up to five MV-22s.

The Flight IIs will use the same hull design as the Flight I ships and will look very similar from the outside. Inside Flight II will be quite different. Details to follow when the Flight II design is finished.
The Indian government, responding to questions in parliament about the extent of security forces deaths while fighting leftist rebels in Eastern India, released data for all deaths (from mid-2016 thru mid-2018) among the 80,000 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) para-military police deployed to deal with the Maoists in Eastern India. There were 85 deaths from combat operations against the Maoist rebels. It was also pointed out that during the same period nearly 1,300 CRPF troops died from non-combat causes. Over half these deaths were from accidents while the rest were from health related problems. About ten percent of deaths were from heart attacks and nearly four percent from suicide. In other words, nearly 95 percent of CRPF deaths are from non-combat causes (especially vehicle accidents.) This is not unusual for a paramilitary force conducting an irregular warfare campaign against small groups of armed opponents.

CRPF is the principal national police organization dealing with terrorists and rebels. Founded in 1939, and retained when India became independent in 1947 CRPF kept getting larger over the decades. By 2010 the CRPF had nearly 200,000 personnel organized in 70 battalions and smaller units. This included seven rapid action battalions that could be quickly sent to any part of the country to deal with outbreaks of violence. CRPF personnel are basically trained to operate as light infantry as well as riot police and often just police. The CRPF has always been heavily involved fighting Maoists. Since 2010 the CRPF has been expanded 50 percent with most of the new battalions (of about 1,100 police each) going to eastern India for use against Maoist rebels. An expansion was announced in 2015 that is adding 17 new battalions to the CRPF. The new battalions are mainly for operations in Kashmir (five battalions) and eastern India (12 battalions.) This expansion includes the first female CRPF troops, to be used mainly for combat intelligence (interviewing females, who are more likely to speak freely to other women).

The CRPF casualty experience is not unique. Since 2001 most of the American casualties, even in places like Iraq and Afghanistan have been non-combat. Actually, in that time less than 30 percent of deaths in the American military were from combat and most of the other deaths did not take place in a combat zone but back in the United States. During the period of most intense combat (2001-2009) accidents, disease and stress (physical and mental) problems accounted for 81 percent of those troops flown out so they could get more advanced care. There are about ten of these evacuations for every soldier killed (combat or non-combat). Only 19 percent of those "medical evacuations" were for combat injuries. Thus, in the military hospitals (both in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as back in the United States), the vast majority of combat zone casualties are not there because of combat injuries.

By 2009 American troops in Iraq had more to fear from accidents, disease and stress than enemy action. Less than half the troops who died were combat casualties. This was a trend that had been growing for several years. Actually, while not caused by combat, a lot of the "non-combat" injuries were the result of combat operations. For example, ten percent of those evacuated had musculoskeletal system problems. Since the 1990s American infantry has had to carry more weight (sometimes a 45 kg/a hundred pounds or more), more often and for longer periods. No one else in the combat zone had to deal with that. Back and muscle problems are still common.

The combat troops are also out and about more, and more likely to catch exotic local diseases. Thus it's not surprising that in places like Iraq and Afghanistan for a long time at least ten percent of the medical evacuations were for "ill-defined conditions." This was first discovered when thousands of American troops were stationed in the Persian Gulf during World War II. Before that, the British warned, from their World War I experience, that Iraq was a nasty place (from a disease standpoint) to hang out in. Afghanistan has proved to have its own extensive collection of exotic, and often unrecognized (by Western medicine) afflictions.

While most of the deaths (as opposed to casualties) in Iraq and Afghanistan were from combat, many were not. Of the 7,000 or so U.S. troops that died in Iraq and Afghanistan through 2018), nearly twenty percent of those fatalities were from non-combat causes. Most of the non-combat deaths were from accidents and disease. One of the major categories of non-combat death is vehicle accidents. In 2007, over fifteen percent of the non-combat deaths were from vehicle accidents. But in 2008, overall deaths declined by two thirds (from 904 in 2007 to 312 in 2008), and vehicle accident deaths went from 37 to 19. Over time better driver training, improved vehicle design and experience, in general, made driving less lethal.

The U.S. Army expected vehicle accidents to decline even more in 2008 because the number of terrorist incidents went down by 80 percent. Many vehicle accidents were the result of the fast driving tactics troops were encouraged to use to get away from roadside bombs and ambushes. Ask the NCOs, and they will often complain that the sharp reduction in combat has removed the incentive to stay sharp and pay attention. Not a unique situation in a combat zone, and despite the energetic exhortations of the NCOs, too many troops did not stay alert enough to avoid accidents. Ask the troops, and they will (correctly) complain about the heavier traffic. In 2009, with peace breaking out all over central Iraq, and the economy continuing to boom, more Iraqis have cars. Iraqis drive like they're from Boston, with abandon and indifference. Not much different in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, military experts around the world are still trying to make sense of how the United States has kept its casualties so low in Iraq and Afghanistan. To put it in simple terms, you were three times more likely to be killed or wounded in Vietnam (or World War II), compared to U.S. troops serving in Iraq. And then there is the mystery of higher non-combat deaths in Afghanistan. In Vietnam and Iraq, 19 percent of the deaths were from non-combat causes (accidents, disease, for the most part.) During World War II, 25 percent of the dead were non-combat. In Afghanistan, 29 percent of the deaths were non-combat, although that is rapidly changing as combat deaths increase. Afghanistan does have a greater variety of diseases, and nasty terrain (including the atrocious roads, many of them roads in name only).

What the U.S. did was put in well trained, led, armed and motivated troops and then supported them lavishly. Civilians were hired to do a lot of the menial jobs. Much effort was put into getting to know the local culture, and avoiding civilian casualties. That eventually won over enough Iraqis to undercut support for Islamic radicals (mostly Sunni Arabs angry at no longer being in charge, and minority Shia groups keen on setting up a Shia religious dictatorship).

But while the diseases and safety situation in the Middle East improved enormously since 2003, improvements came more slowly in Afghanistan. The many diseases, bad roads, hills and mountains remain a major hazard. Afghanistan will remain a dangerous place, even if no one is shooting at you. This is similar to what the Indian CRPF encounter in eastern India because the Maoists tend to maintain their bases in remote rural areas where most of the people are tribal.
A Marine fires an FGM-148 Javelin, a shoulder-fired anti-tank missile, at a target during a live-fire demonstration near At Tanf Garrison, Syria, Sept. 7, 2018. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Lopez

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Military reforms, which have been underway since the 1990s (modernization began in the 1980s) are gradually having an impact. China now has a larger, better equipped and better trained force than India or Russia (the two neighboring major powers) and is on track to catch up with and surpass the United States in the 2030s. It all depends on the current government (a communist police state coexisting with a market economy) that is still threatened by economic mistakes from its communist (corrupt command economy) past. That includes massive pollution in urban areas, continued debilitating corruption in the communist bureaucracy and, most dangerous of all, a banking system still trying to deal with the remaining financial problems (large, uncollectible debts, unreliable economic data and frequent market manipulation) that emerged as the economy transformed itself from communist to free market. Another risk is the use of nationalism, especially claims on neighboring territory (South China Sea and parts of India for now) and publicizing the growth of Chinese military power. The nationalism angle counteracts, to some extent, the popular anger against the pollution, corruption and police state.

Combining a communist police state with a market economy is a unique situation that is inherently unstable. The Chinese communists believe they have no other choice, especially considering the damage the communists have done. There is no popular support for returning to the imperial system (which the current government is quite similar to, just another dynasty and all that) and democracy would destroy the wealth and power of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). So in addition to all the changes China is going through there is the problem that the current situation has no precedent and the leaders are hoping for the best as they continue to navigate unfamiliar territory.

Chinese leaders cannot ignore these things they try to hide from local and international mass media. This is especially true of public protests inside China. The government will negotiate and make deals with the larger and more persistent groups of protestors (after the usual tactics of buying or scaring off the leaders doesnt work.) The most recent protest nightmare involves military veterans who are, by custom and law revered in China. There over 55 million veterans, ranging from those who fought in the Korean War (1950-53) to those involuntarily dismissed during the 2015 round of personnel reductions. The problem is not that many veterans are victims of corrupt local officials but that the Internet, despite heavy government censorship, has enabled the veterans to get in contact with each other and organize large demonstrations in the capital. For the government, this type of protest is the most embarrassing and while the government has not had one of those since 2017 the veterans are organizing larger and more frequent demonstrations in provincial capitals. The veterans complaints are basically the same as most other Chinese; corruption, broken promises and officials who appear to ignore legitimate complaints. Since the government has been going to great lengths to ensure the loyalty of the military to the CCP (over anything else) angry veterans have to be handled carefully. In part, this is because the veterans know more than the average Chinese how things really operate inside the military.

For example in 2015 many veterans noted that over 4,000 senior (colonel or general) officers have been audited in the previous two years and five percent were found guilty of some misbehavior and punished. Sometimes this meant a demotion or just a written reprimand. Many military veterans knew that the percentage of dirty officers is higher so the corruption is obviously surviving in the military. Few really high ranking officers have been prosecuted. It is believed that more corrupt senior officers are being caught but most of them have the ability (evidence of bad behavior by even more senior officials) to demand and get little punishment. Usually, that means no jail time but they do get removed from jobs that enable them to steal and are often forced to retire. This sort of thing angered many veterans who had personal experience with corrupt officers and were not happy about how the government allowed many of these bad officers off with little or no punishment.

Corruption, in general, has become an increasingly publicized issue. Its not just Chinese people pressuring the government to clean up corruption but Chinas trading partners as well. That is one of the reasons for the current trade war between China and the United States. Doing business with China means putting up with a lot of illegal (or at least unethical) issues. Case in point was the recent Chinese decision to clean up the corruption in its national credit rating industry following some major scandals as large Chinese firms with excellent credit ratings suddenly collapsed because of hidden financial problems. A growing number of Chinese individuals and organizations as well as foreigners are buying stock in Chinese companies or otherwise investing in these firms. It is now clear that a good credit rating can be obtained via bribes and that is making it more difficult for all Chinese firms to raise capital. Over the last few years, China has been trying to get provinces and state-owned firms to provide accurate economic data. Turns out, as many foreign economists long suspected, a lot of Chinese economic data was false. It is still difficult to go after all known corruption in China. People who are loyal and powerful supporters of president Xi still tend to be untouchable.

Coping With Iran

China is obtaining a larger economic presence in Iran by helping Iran deal with the return of sanctions. The economic problems in Iran are partly the result of the Americans resuming most of the sanctions in November, which includes bans on buying Iranian oil. Already Iran is offering discounts to its customers to entice them to defy the Americans. China will seek, and pro-American Asian nations will get exemptions The United States announced this decision in March and that set off a financial panic in Iran, which was already suffering from massive government corruption and decades of mismanagement of the economy.

Even China and India, two major customers who said they would defy the sanctions, have cut orders because sanctions will increase shipping costs and also increase the risk of Iran going to war. Sanctions mean the cost of insurance rises and fewer shipping companies are willing to provide tankers to move sanctioned oil. China remains on good terms with Arab oil states and both Iran and the Arabs will sometimes call on China to help set up secret talks between Iranians and Arabs. China has a way of seeing problems (like Iran getting hit by sanctions once more) as opportunities. China is willing to break international law, use bribes, and generally entertain just about any proposition.

Immunity From Islamic Indignation

The Islamic world is quick to criticize any non-Moslem nation that is seen to be persecuting its Moslem minority. There is one exception to this; China. Currently, China has sent several hundred thousand of its Moslems to re-education camps because China considers Islamic conservatism or radicalism a mental disease that can be cured by re-education. The Moslem world is silent on this, in large part because it is a known fact that China will ignore any such criticism and seek to punish (economically or diplomatically) any Moslem country that would criticize China. Many Moslem majority nations depend on China for economic, diplomatic and military support. That is important but not as much as the fact that China simply ignores any criticism about how it treats its own Moslems.

Meanwhile, local officials in Xinjiang have been praised by the national government for policies that resulted in no terrorism related deaths during 2017 and (so far) in 2018. The national officials have demanded that all local opposition to Chinese (Han) culture and control be eliminated. Local officials were given authority to try anything and that has resulted in severe hardship for the original occupants and rulers of this region; the Turkic Uighurs. Xinjiang has become a test area for whatever government monitoring and control measures local officials want to try and eventually widely implement throughout China. That is the reason for the sharp reduction in terrorism or separatist activity in Xinjiang. The most obvious examples have been the introduction of a lot more new technology for monitoring the population. This includes thousands of vidcams and a very effective facial recognition system. This is in addition to a growing list of methods used to collect data on the non-Han Chinese population, especially anything related to ethnic separatism or Islamic terrorism. This helps the government select those who will be sent to re-education camps (for a few weeks or six months or more.) There are currently over 100,000 Moslems (most of them Uighur, ethnic Turks who used to be the majority in Xinjiang) in the re-education camps. That is out of the nine million Uighurs in the province. Uighurs are a shrinking minority as more and more Han Chinese move in.

The re-education camps contain very few Han Chinese and apparently include even more experiments including the use of new drugs to induce uncooperative Uighurs to undergo an attitude adjustment. A new generation of security analysis software and hardware is replacing a lot of the older manpower intensive data collection methods. This is used to identify seemingly cooperative Uighurs, especially those working for the government, and send them to the camps for treatment.

The Big Brother methods that worked in Xinjiang are showing up in Tibet, even though Tibet was never as violent as Xinjiang. But many ethnic Tibetans are still separatists and China considers that dangerous and subversive thought that must be adjusted.

North Korea

North Korea has hoped that China would ultimately back its old ally and protege of North Korea but that is not happening. Despite the current trade war the Americans and China are involved in, China is not going to change its mind on the need for North Korea to get rid of its nukes. Chinese officials are also trying to make Kim Jong Un understand that the Americans have the edge in the current trade war because Chinese banks are vulnerable, largely because of the large number of state-owned firms that have not been privatized and survive only because of cheap, and often uncollectable, loans from state-owned and (under government pressure) private banks. China is more dependent on exports to America than the U.S. is to receiving those exports.

Kim Jong Un is not stupid. Moreover, he was educated in Western (Swiss) schools where he learned the basics of Western economics. This Western economic model is what China has followed, with great success, since the 1980s and is demanding that North Korea emulate that. The Chinese are urging Kim Jong Un to learn from the Chinese experience, including mistakes the Chinese made and are in the process of fixing. The Chinese leader Xi has established a personal relationship with Kim Jong Un, something rare in Chinese-Korean history. This includes doing personal favors for Kim, like quietly shipping two generators (together producing 200,000 kw) to North Korea by ship, where they were quietly moved (without going through customs) to the North Korean capital, where they filled in for failing generating equipment that North Korea cannot afford to replace. Xi had said he would enhance this relationship further on September 9th with a visit the North Korean capital as a guest at the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea. The presence of Xi would have been a big deal for Kim Jong Un and would have put Kim even more in debt to his powerful patron. But at the last minute, Xi canceled and sent the number three man in China as a replacement. Kim still considered this a mark of respect because the man Xi sent was widely known and China and Koreas as a powerful and influential official. Besides Kim met with Xi three times this year, an unprecedented situation for relations between the two nations. At this point, China has the best chance of getting North Korea to enact economic reforms and shut down the nuclear weapons program. That effort is not moving along as the Chinese would like. Despite that, the Chinese see this personal relationship as the best way to bring Kim Jong Un around and the last minute Yi cancellation was a reminder of that. In this part of the world, that is how things are done. China had been loosening up on sanctions enforcement since last March had North Korea had not responded as China expected.

The biggest problem Kim Jong Un faces is his own economic problems, which are getting quite desperate. The North Korean economy is crumbling after several years of stabilizing and even growing (because of allowing some free market activity). Why this irrational and self-destructive behavior by North Korea? It is most likely that the long-simmering disagreements about economic reforms and relationships with China are at the heart of it. China has long complained about the chaotic and self-destructive North Korean leadership. Its not just the ruling Kim family (who are quite odd but so are many politicians), but the whole paranoid, dysfunctional, unpredictable atmosphere in North Korea. China is particularly critical of the unpredictability and has been demanding more discipline and, to put it bluntly, obedience. Lacking that, there will be consequences. More Chinese troops have been moved to the North Korean border, and China is less discreet about its network of spies and agents in North Korea. The rumors of a ruthless "China faction" in the North Korean leadership have been given some official recognition by the Chinese. Thus the Chinese are attempting to use the "offer you can't refuse" gambit. It may work and bring about much needed reforms. Otherwise, the Chinese threaten to pull the plug on all aid and political support and perhaps order the China Faction to take action, with help from Chinese troops, special operations forces and secret police. This would be an admission of failure by the Chinese although they could put a positive spin on it by referring to past interventions to deal with troublesome Korean rulers. At that point, China would have the primary responsibility for rebuilding North Korea. China could appeal to South Korea, Japan and the United States to join in. That would not attract much help because it would be understood that North Korea had come under Chinese rule. China would endeavor to make the North Korea economic recovery effort pay for itself by insisting that Chinese investments be respected along with growing Chinese ownership of North Korean economic assets. That would generate anger in North Korea but as far as the Chinese are concerned that is normal when it comes to China-Korean relationships.

China and other foreign states know that the situation is getting desperate in North Korea, both for the people in general (less food, electricity and so on) and the government. The growing list of enforced sanctions have shut down or reduced most legal and many illegal sources of foreign currency. This can be seen from the chatter on the black market, where North Korea is less active because they have not got the cash. North Korea has no credit when it comes to legal or illegal purchases from foreign suppliers. There are still North Korean smuggling operations underway but these generally involve basic goods (like oil and items required to maintain or repair things back in North Korea). To raise cash North Korea is leaning on its foreign workers and taking a larger cut of their pay. This policy has its limits because if you take too much the workers realize the job is not sustainable (not enough to send back home to keep kin alive). That will mean more foreign workers trying to defect and fewer suitable candidates for the foreign jobs.

China showed its approval of North Korean efforts at improving relations with South Korea and the Americans by allowing North Korean female workers back into China as well as relaxing its enforcement of sanctions when it came to sending all North Korea workers home. But North Korean workers are no longer allowed to wander around when not working. Most of these workers live in dormitories on factory property and now the North Korean workers are restricted to the factory/dormitory property. The North Korean security personnel who accompany groups of exported workers cooperate with local Chinese police to prevent anyone from leaving the compound. Anyone caught doing so is sent back to North Korea. These restrictions make it easier for Chinese police (and the few North Korean secret police working in China) to detect and arrest defectors. A growing number of the arrested defectors have tried or succeeded in committing suicide before they could be sent back to North Korea. Meanwhile back in North Korea Chinese visiting on business (from truck drivers to technical and management personnel) are complaining about growing harassment by North Korean secret police (who, among other things, keep an eye on foreigners) in the form of accusing the Chinese of minor offenses and demanding the immediate payment of fines. While this may have some legal basis in North Korea the Chinese see it as another questionable method of extracting more cash from visitors. Since these are commercial visitors a growing number are complaining to their bosses back in China and, as in the past, this eventually reaches senior officials who then demand that North Korea deal with the problem before China retaliates (which it has done with increasing frequency and ferocity since the late 1990s). Finally, there is the fact that the Kim family has used Korean nationalism (which is traditionally hostile to China more than Japan, the United States or anyone else) to maintain loyalty. The Chinese and North Koreans do not like each other very much, something which should always be kept in mind by outsiders.

September 13, 2018: President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela arrives for a four day visit to China. There is already a team of Maduro loyalists in China discussing terms for Chinese aid so there is already some agreed upon deals (involving China extended more credit and developing oil and gas projects). China is the only country willing to put up cash and personnel to fix the Venezuelan economy but that is also because Venezuela still owes China as much as $20 billion and most of it is supposed to be repaid in oil. China is not optimistic but apparently believes Maduro is desperate enough to give the Chinese a free hand to bring in their own engineers, management and skilled workers. Maduro may not agree with all the Chinese terms (like the priority in paying off Chinese debt via increased production and giving China a percentage of Venezuelan oil assets), but he has to realize that no one else is willing to do the job and there are few countries that can. China has already coerced Maduro to pay off most of the Chinese debt. China is also interested in helping Venezuela diversify its economy but that would only be possible if Maduro eliminated a lot of the price and other economic controls he has imposed. These controls destroyed the economy (by forcing firms to sell goods for less than they cost to produce). Maduro has steadfastly refused to acknowledge his role in destroying the economy and perhaps a Chinese economic development deal would give him a way to do what some of his economic advisors have been suggesting for years.

China has already made concrete aid offers. In early July China agreed to invest as much as $5 billion in an effort to repair and restore oil production but has only delivered a few hundred million dollars worth so far and made it clear that more cash was dependent on how cooperative Maduro and his associates are. This may have led to the current Maduro visit. Apparently, China is not optimistic but sees the situation as worth a try. China has worked with a lot of dysfunctional governments and rulers worldwide and knows how to measure the odds. Venezuela appears to be a longshot, even though it has the largest oil reserves in the world. Venezuela has brought in some foreign contractors (mainly Chinese) to help repair the damage to the oil industry but the Chinese have discovered that the economic infrastructure, in general, is collapsing and operating in Venezuela is even more dangerous and difficult than in chaotic and violent parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and Afghanistan where the Chinese have succeeded (some of the time) to adapt to a violent neighborhood and minimal local infrastructure. Another role China can fill is as a powerful ally. Venezuela has no wealthy and heavily armed patron. China has come, looked and said: lets talk. Russia and Iran are broke and under heavy sanctions meaning that these two countries have their own problems obtaining needed equipment and tech to keep their oil exports going.

At the same time Maduro was headed for China, a Chinese hospital ship (the Peace Ark) was headed for Venezuela to treat some of the many Venezuelans suffering from the recent collapse of the national health system. In late 2011 the first Chinese Navy vessel (a Hospital Ship) to ever visit Cuba arrived for a working visit while on a world tour. The newly built (in 2010) Peace Ark has continued making short goodwill visits all over the world. Meanwhile, an American hospital ship will arrive in neighboring Colombia, where it will stay longer and treat Venezuelan refugees. Venezuela refuses to accept medical aid from the U.S., or any kind of emergency aid because the Venezuelan government insists there is no emergency.

September 12, 2018: The Philippines is negotiating a treaty that could allow China to share, with the Philippines oil and natural gas revenue from portions of the South China Sea where China claims control of areas that are Filipino according to current international agreements. This deal is unpopular with a lot of Filipinos as well as with neighboring countries also being pressured by China. Malaysian leaders warn that Chinese offers of massive investments come with too many strings and have proved to be more about enriching China and not the country receiving these investments. Any agreement with China on who gets what in Filipino parts of the South China Sea will have to be approved by the Filipino legislature and that is where the Chinese will probably encounter the most opposition.

September 9, 2018: North Korea held its parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea. There were no ballistic missiles in the parade this year. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has indicated that North Korea will not give up its nuclear weapons. China does not want that and continues to pressure Kim to agree.

September 7, 2018: China is participating, for the first time, in the biannual Australian Exercise Kakadu. This international exercise involves Pacific nation navies so they can familiarize themselves with each other in case there is a need for cooperation to handle a disaster or confrontation. This year the exercise involves 23 warships that will continue working together until the 15th. In April three Australian navy ships conducted a FONOP in the South China Sea. China challenged the Australian ships but were ignored.

September 6, 2018: China has agreed to establish multiple hotlines along their mutual border with India and also between the defense ministries of both nations. This revives previous efforts to establish a hotline. In 2016 China and India have worked out and agreed to details of a hotline for commanders on both sides of the LAC (Line of Actual Control). Also known as the MacCartney-MacDonald Line the LAC is the unofficial border between India and China. The LAC is 4,057 kilometers long and is found in the Indian States of Ladakh, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Arunachal. On the Chinese side, it is mostly Tibet. China claims much territory that is now considered part of India. There have been hundreds of armed confrontations over the last few years as one side or the other accuses foreign troops of crossing the LAC. The agreement fell apart when India went ahead, despite Chinese protests, and expanded its military ties with the United States. China has a history of expecting nations to do China an extra favor if they want a hotline arrangement. In the case of South Korea, the hotline agreement did not go into effect until after South Korea cut some of its military ties with Taiwan. A hotline is nothing new for China. There has been one with North Korea since the 1950s. This enabled senior Chinese military leaders to pick up a phone and call their North Korean counterparts to quickly deal with any mutual problems. In 2008 China and the United States approved an agreement for a communications hotline followed in 2011 by a similar agreement between China and South Korea. A hotline like this is quicker and more accurate than waiting for the usual diplomatic channels to be used (and having to depend on the mass media in the meantime.)

September 5, 2018: China was accused of allowing increased trade with North Korea starting in May as satellite photos and ship tracking data showed over 30 North Korean cargo ships visiting a Chinese port in May and June and unloading coal. China would not comment but did accuse the United States of not following through with denuclearization talks with North Korea. Meanwhile, the U.S. is imposing sanctions on hundreds of Chinese, Russian and North Korean firms for violating the North Korean sanctions.

August 31, 2018: In the South China Sea a British warship conducted a FONOPS through waters China claims to control. A Chinese warship and warplanes showed up but did not try to intervene. The British ship did, however, stay at least 22 kilometers from any islands (natural or manufactured) China occupied.

August 29, 2018: In the South China Sea a Filipino frigate went aground on Half Moon Shoal. The ship did not suffer serious damage and was free by the 31st. China claims this area as part of the South China Sea but did not interfere in this situation and praised itself for that.

August 20, 2018: Pakistan has agreed to build a walled and restricted residential area near the port of Gwadar to house half a million Chinese working in Pakistan. The Chinese construction work on the new Pakistani Gwadar port facilities are visible to anyone on the ground or flying by and in 2017 it was noticed that some features of the new port and airport facilities are clearly intended for military use. India has long accused China (despite denials) was planning to use Gwadar as a base for Chinese warships and naval aircraft. Pakistan never had a problem with Chinese military using Gwadar as it helps keep local troublemakers out. Pakistan has assured China that there would be no terrorist violence against Chinese working on upgrading the port of Gwadar and land links north to China. Pakistan is willing to pay a high price to get CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) done because it means Pakistan has an ally against Iran and even Western powers that might have some violent disagreement with Pakistan. Best of all China is picking up most of the $55 billion cost. In early 2017 China and Pakistan finally signed the agreement that granted China a 40 year lease on new facilities China is building in the southwestern port of Gwadar. The lease grants China most (over 80 percent) of the revenue brought in by port and free trade zone operations. China usually imports its own workers from China to do most of the work on projects like this. By 2022 China expects to have about half a million Chinese in Pakistan, some of them with their families. The easiest way to provide protection is to have most of them live in a heavily guarded and restricted access area.

Gwadar is a key part of CPEC and it has the misfortune of being in a province (Baluchistan) that does not want to be part of Pakistan. China and the Pakistanis try to ignore this by not reporting on non-Islamic terror attacks on CPEC construction projects. The government has long been accused of suppressing news of tribal separatists in Baluchistan attacking government targets and especially those related to CPEC. The separatists claim they regularly carry out attacks on CPEC construction projects, but most of their attacks are still directed at Pakistani security forces and government facilities.

August 19, 2018: Japan continues to increase its defense budget, now planning to spend $48 billion in 2019. This is an increase from $45 billion for 2017 and is the seventh year in a row Japanese defense spending increased and much of the additional money is going towards ballistic missile defenses and additional ships to patrol offshore areas that China is aggressively claiming. Unlike Taiwan and South Korea, which continued to be threatened by China and North Korea, Japanese defense spending declined after the Cold War ended in 1991. But in 2013 that changed and every budget since then has increased. By 2015 Japan had its highest ever defense budget ever ($42 billion) it kept growing. Most of the recent increases have been to buy new weapons and upgrade existing ones to improve defense again Chinese or North Korean attack. South Korean spending is putting more emphasis on missile defense. Currently, this includes more F-35 stealth fighters, beyond the existing 42. The additional 20 F-35Bs would be for Japanese helicopter carriers and made in the United States. The first 42 are being assembled in Japan. South Korea has ordered 40 F-35As modified slightly for South Korean use. The first of these will arrive in South Korea in 2018 and all will arrive by 2021. South Korea is considering buying another twenty.
If classic cars are your thing Hatton Country World was the place to be on Sunday as the venue hosted two special shows celebrating the Triumph Dolomite and the Austin 7.

Organised by the Triumph Dolomite Club, Sundays event saw the worlds largest gathering of Coventry-made Dolomite and Toledo Cars.

The show also included a rare display of Dolomite Sprints, the worlds first 16 valve production saloon car.

Marshall Stephenson, Coventry and Warwickshire area organiser for the Triumph Dolomite Club, said: We had a healthy turnout, there were 60 cars with the furthest coming all the way from Glasgow, I was very impressed by the standard of the cars on display.

The Dolomite is a nice car to drive, it can keep up with modern traffic and it was very fast for its era. I like that it is an everyday car, its not exotic, its a car that lots for people drove and grew up with and at every event we hold theres always people who come up and say I used to work in the factory or I learnt to drive in one of those.

This is the biggest meeting of Dolomites and its a chance for owners to catch up with friends they might only meet up with once a year, and talk about a shared interest.

Sunday wasnt all about Triumphs though as the Birmingham-based Midlands Austin 7 Club met for the second time at Hatton Country World for its MA7C End of Season Rally.

Bob Prophet, secretary of the Midlands Austin 7 Club, said: We had 19 cars there on Sunday, we were only expecting 12 so it was a good turnout. A lot of the national Triumph Dolomite Club wondered over to have a look too, and vice versa with our members, it was a nice friendly atmosphere.

The Austin 7 is a wonderful little car, it was the first car I ever had and when I retired I knew I wanted to get another, theyre very simple, even for a novice like me.
Most people recognize the phrase Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, but how many people know what Amendment addresses religion, freedom of speech and the press in one phrase, or where legislative powers are granted?

In 2016, the tenth annual Constitution Day Survey from ConstitutionFacts.com found knowledge of the Bill of Rights as one of the highest scoring areas of the survey. The survey also found that while knowledge of the Bill of Rights remains high, other areas of the Constitution are less

consistent. Questions answered correctly least often regarded powers of the federal government.

Constitution Week is designated to recognize the US Constitution and to encourage education about the Constitution.

In 1787, 39 delegates from the 13 American states came together and signed the Constitution.

In simple terms, the Constitution defines the shape of the government, what it can and cannot do. It starts with the Preamble that describe the intent and focus of the Constitution.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The United States Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights. It is the written testament supporting those inalienable rights claimed by the new country.

Celebrating the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution when the DAR petition Congress in 1955 to set aside Sept. 17-23 to be dedicated to the observance of Constitution Week. The enactment was signed into law on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The focus of the celebration is to preserve the Constitution

Members of the Fort Sidney Chapter of the DAR have placed displays at the Sidney Public Library as well as in businesses in Sidney.

Constitution Week is the perfect opportunity to read and study this great document which is the safeguard of our American liberties, said DAR President General Lynn Forney Young. We encourage all citizens across the country to take time this week to reflect on our heritage of freedom and come together to celebrate America.

The DAR has served the U.S. for 125 years.
The Sidney City Council Tuesday approved a street improvement project for the north side of Sidney.

Tuesdays city council meeting included discussion on projects in the North Sidney neighborhood following a community meeting. The meeting was held May 3 between North Side residents, City Manager Ed Sadler and Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard. At issue was if the residents wanted to invest some of their funds in community improvements or continue to save for a bigger project. The LB840 funds received by the City includes $50,000 allocated for North Side projects. The North Side currently has a balance of about $200,000, according to a memo from Norgard to the city council.

Norgard said the discussion generated five priorities: 1) Paving Elm Street from 13th Avenue to 17th Avenue, 2) New sidewalk from Sky Manor to 16th Street, 3) Improve the walkway at the 13th Street underpass, 4) Build walkway over the Union Pacific railroad tracks at 19th Avenue or 5) Utilize funds to incentivize new businesses to locate on the North Side.

She said after residents voted, a new sidewalk from Sky Manor to 16th Street was chosen as the top priority. A request for bids (RFP) was issued July 30. Wieser Construction submitted the only bid for the project. According to Norgards memo, the initial estimate for a four-foot wide sidewalk, curb and gutter was $95,000. Weisers bid came in at $85,000. She said because it is under $100,000, no engineering contract is necessary. She added the agreement includes the project being scheduled for next spring.

In other business, Sadler reported the trash pickup changes are going better than expected. He said five receptacles have been removed from downtown alleys already.

This is really an issue of shared dumpsters, Sadler said, and we share from about the Chamber (of Commerce location) to Safeway. It really got its intended results.

He said 85 percent of downtown businesses are reducing the frequency of trash pickup.

We may not be generating as much income, but we will make up for it with costs we save, he said.

Andrew Sherm Sherman said the library completed cost reductions. The Sidney Public Library is reducing hours of operation by one hour per day, and reducing one part-time position. Sherman said that will allow the Library to retain the experienced staff.

The city council also approved a request to close Highway 30/Illinois Street on Dec. 1 for the Citys Parade of Lights Christmas Parade. As a state highway, the request has to be forwarded to the State department of highways as well.

The council also approved changes to Ordinance 1801 adopting changes to the 2018-2028 LB840 funds. Norgard said the changes do not result in more taxes for Sidney residents. Instead, it allows the City to receive funds from sources other than LB840, such as local, state or federal grants.

Sadler also announced that Oktoberfest is scheduled for October 5-7.
Flight paramedic and SIM-NE instructor Robby Rhembrandt explains how the female manikin is "treated" during a class for nurses. The SIM-NE (Simulation In Motion-Nebraska) is a 44-foot long truck with a simulated ambulance and a simulated emergency room to train medical staff on how to treat patients in various conditions.

Rural life has its advantages, but those advantages seldom include top-level medical services.

A mobile training lab is helping to address the issue.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a 2016 custom truck that offers a training center capable of meeting medical staff at their location instead of depending on them traveling sometimes several hours for a workshop. The program, Simulation In Motion Nebraska (SIM-NE), includes 44-foot long dual-axle truck with two simulation labs; one stages an ambulance scene and the second an emergency room. The truck comes with an onboard generator and a mobile wifi hotspot. It has an 80-gallon fuel tank, an air compressor that assists with lifelike responses from the manikins and comes with a $500,000 price tag.

The program is based in Scottsbluff and operates within the Mountain Time Zone of Nebraska. The SIM-NE program is capable of staging numerous scenarios, but primarily focuses on training needs of the local facility. The program conducts five to six training sessions per month. SIM-NE was in Sidney Tuesday to offer training for Sidney Regional Medical Center's nursing staff.

Robbie Rhembrandt, an instructor for the SIM-NE program, said the program teaches medical professionals to know their assets and recognize how to use them for the patient's benefit.

"What I really want the students to take away is you're not alone," Rhembrandt said Tuesday.

He said success with an emergency situation is about knowing your staff resources and the facility's mechanical/technological resources.

The vans are equipped with manikins that can mimic many human reactions. They are not limited to a rising chest in relation to conducting CPR, but varying blood pressure, pregnancy and delivery, mild strokes, and flu symptoms.

"When they (students) do CPR on her (pregnant mother manikin), we can tell how effective it is on the computer," Rhembrandt said.

The teaching labs in the truck are equipped with male and female, infant and child manikins. When a class is held, the students are instructed on how the patient arrived, for example 31-year-old male traffic accident victim with slurred speech and complaining of chest pains. The nursing students would be encouraged to use their resources to determine the best course of treatment for the patient, from arrival in the "ambulance" to procedures in the emergency room.

Following the exercises, the teaching team debriefs the students on their performance, discussing what went well and how things could go better. Rhembrandt said they can design scenarios according to the need of the local facility.

In addition to being part of the SIM-NE mobile staff and Western Region coordinator, he is also a flight paramedic.

"I've been teaching EMS for about 10 years," he said.

Working with Rhembrandt is Bob Kentner, Quality and Infection Control Manager at Sidney Regional Medical Center.

The truck is funded by a grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The grant funds the program for three years; 100 percent in the first year, 66 percent in the second year and 33 percent in the third year. The training is offered at no cost to the hospital or medical staff. Rural emergency medical service agencies and critical access access hospitals can schedule trainings by emailing unmc.edu/SIM-NE or call 402-559-4863.
The travels of the bell from the parish church in Guadalcanal (Seville) would delight any detective, especially knowing that there is a happy ending. This ancient item left its church to be restored by a workshop in Jaen; they sent it to another specialist in Germany, but then it suddenly disappeared.

A few weeks after sending it to Germany, the workshop in Jaen received the box which supposedly contained the repaired bell, but it was empty. Luckily, the bell has been recovered in the Netherlands thanks to cooperation between the police in several countries. It is now on its way back to Germany to finally be repaired.

The National Police in Jaen explained this week that they are working with Europol to clarify whether the bell had been lost or stolen, but the initial hypothesis is that some of the people who participated or were involved in moving it realised that it was extremely valuable and there would be a buyer for it on the black market. For that reason the investigations are continuing, trying to identify the person or people involved in the thwarted robbery.

The bell was manufactured at the end of the 17th century for the Convento de la Concepcion in Guadalcanal, although it later became part of the belltower of the parish church of Santa Maria, which is its present location. Restoration works carried out on the tower showed that four of the bells were damaged, so it was decided to send them to the Rosas Bells and Clocks workshop in Torredonjimeno (Jaen), one of the few companies remaining in Spain which restores items such as these.

It was the first journey the bells had taken in 350 years. The experts at the workshop analysed them and decided that three could be repaired there, but the fourth was more badly damaged and needed to be sent to the only specialist in the world capable of repairing it without losing any of its qualities, so that it could continue to be rung to call worshippers to Mass and prayer.

What is known for certain is that the bell left Jaen on 31 July, and at the end of August the workshop received a package which they believed would contain the repaired bell. "It was a cardboard box with nothing in it except some boards to give it weight," they say.

The police have managed to ascertain that the bell went to Barcelona and from there to Belgium, but that is where the clues come to an end. A spokesman says the company which was supposed to transport the bell from Belgium to Germany had no idea where it was. Finally, it was found in the Netherlands, in a warehouse used to store merchandise or items which could not be delivered.

Once safely recovered, the bell was returned to the parish priest in Guadalcanal, Genaro Escudero, who says everyone had been very worried when it disappeared. "It wasn't just because of the bell's artistic or even financial value; it has great sentimental value for our community," he explains.

He says the bell has some "very serious" damage because an unsuitable clapper had been fitted to it in the past. Despite the recent scare, the priest and the company in Jaen are now making new arrangements to send it to the German workshop where it was due to be repaired in the first place, but never arrived.
When the Franco dictatorship began after the Spanish Civil War in 1939, trade unions were banned, their assets were confiscated and militants were jailed, executed or repressed. In place of the unions, the regime created what were known as 'Sindicatos Verticales', or 'vertical unions', which all business owners and workers were obliged to join. Salaries were decided by the regime and announced by decree, which meant there was no such thing as collective negotiation. Under these conditions, the union movement in Spain practically disappeared from the scene altogether.

However, by 1947 there was growing unrest in the country and in that year workers at a metal factory in Vizcaya bravely went on strike, the first to take place during the dictatorship. It marked the start of a new era, because it was organised in spite of repression from the authorities, and it resulted in a new workers' movement which then continued to grow.

Another historic year in the incipient union movement was 1951, when there were strikes and demonstrations in Barcelona, Madrid and the Basque Country in the early part of the year. These were mainly spontaneous, although the clandestine unions which had grown up since 1947 did support and take part in them. An important role was also played by the Spanish Communist Party PCE, and Roman Catholic workers' groups.

In many places, the workers began to elect the more vociferous and active among them to form commissions to try to negotiate better conditions with the authorities. These were to be the origins of the Workers' Commissions, or Comisiones Obreras, which some years later developed into the CC.OO union.

With increasing support for the demand for better conditions, these commissions had an effect and in 1958 the first Law of Collective Negotiation came into force. It was very restrictive, but it encouraged the expansion of the new union movement and gave workers the confidence to hold more strikes and demonstrations.

This was taking place in a context of socio-economic change in Spain in the late 1950s, as industrialisation accelerated and there was a significant growth in the Spanish working class. In 1962 miners and industrial workers began to hold strikes all over the country.

By 1964, the CC.OO had transformed from a clandestine and spontaneous movement into an organised group of commissions and it largely coordinated the entire workers' movement in Spain despite the Franco regime. It extended almost simultaneously in Madrid, with the Comision Obrera Metal to represent metal workers, in Barcelona with the Comision Obrera Central and in parts of the Basque Country.

These days, what began as an underground anti-Franco movement designed to defend workers' rights has become Spain's largest trade union, with over one million members and more than 122,000 delegates who are democratically elected by employees in companies with more than six workers.
Police are keeping an open mind as to who is behind the explosive device that was found on Tuesday afternoon in Marbella and what, or who, the intended target was.

Officers in charge of the investigation are trying to establish if it is linked to terrorism, or, as they suspect, it has more to do with score settling by an organised criminal gang.

The alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon on Calle Lavanda, part of Alto de los Monteros, a luxury residential area on the hills behind Marbella's Hospital Costa del Sol. A maintenance worker came across the device by chance noticing a strange package inside a street litter bin.

A bomb disposal team was sent from Malaga who carried out a controlled explosion. Officers say the bomb was wrapped in bags and was designed, and ready, to be remotely detonated, although it wasn't primed to explode when it was discovered.

Foreign made

Sources said that the explosive device appeared to have been home- made from parts sourced outside Spain.

The size and nature of the bomb leads officers to believe it wasn't part of a planned mass attack and was to be used selectively against a specific target. Indications are that it was only in the bin temporarily, perhaps while somebody came to collect it.

While police initially thought it was part of a terrorist plot, officers are now looking at connections to organised criminal gangs, or the possibility that it was a planned attack related to a specific business activity in the resort.
Extraordinary details of Monday's fatal shootout in an aparthotel outside Estepona between police from Marbella and a wanted 39-year-old British man have emerged.

The heavily-built suspect opened the door without looking, and surprised to see on his doorstep the three police officers who had been looking for him since midday, took the worst way out he could.

"Go, go, go!" Sean Hercules accompanied what police at least believe were those words with a hand gesture that they understood as an invitation for them to go inside.

Once inside, Hercules turned his back and went down the passage of room 21 of the Autosole aparthotel in the Cancelada area of Estepona, towards Marbella.

What followed was a hail of gunfire. Sources say up to 60 spent bullets were found afterwards. On some walls, forensic teams couldn't measure the diameter of each shot as they were so close together they had merged into one bigger hole in the plasterboard dividing the different rooms inside the small apartment.

According to first investigations, Hercules had got ahead of the two officers in the apartment's hallway -one officer waited by the door-, and run into the bedroom at the end. Police caught sight of two pistols and spare bullets magazines on the white sheets.

Sean was wanted not for his criminal record for drugs and firearms offences in the UK, but because of an incident earlier on Monday in Puerto Banus. After a car accident, he had been spotted getting out of a car with a gun and fleeing the scene. His documentation and a bullet were found inside. By 5pm police were outside his apartment.

The two officers in the passage knew to be ready but Hercules got to his guns on the bed first and started firing indiscriminately at them. Some bullets hit the ceiling bringing down the plasterboard. The two officers took cover behind kitchen furniture, firing back. The third ran into the bathroom.

Some 60 shots were fired and Hercules, reportedly, emptied two of the four magazines in the bedroom.

Silence

After a few moments, the man stopped firing but none of the officers approached him for fear he could start again. It was left to members of an armoured rapid reaction team to enter with shields and confirm Hercules's death.

A woman which the man had been linked to and who wasn't present at the time has told officers that he had been taking a lot of cocaine in the days leading up to the dramatic events on Monday. There was talk of paranoia. Apparently, a few months ago, Hercules had jumped from a second floor flat in Estepona for no apparent reason.

The three officers were slightly wounded. One was grazed by a spent bullet cartridge that bounced off a wall and suffered a burn on his forehead. Another had a bullet scrape his back and risked serious injury by a few millimetres, sources said. The phrase most heard from their colleagues afterwards was "congratulations for still being alive".

Police had already warned other residents in the hotel to stay inside ahead of entering the apartment, knowing the occupant could be armed. One youngster in a neighbouring apartment had a panic attack as the events unfolded.
Cranes and building sites are a common sight on the Costa del Sol but the construction of a Russian Orthodox church is not. Work has been going on for about two months now in the Las Canas area to build the first orthodox church in Andalucia and the third in Spain.

The highest religious authority in the Russian Orthodox church in Europe, Paris-based, Nestor Sirotenko, blessed the works which were instigated by the Fundacion Iniciativa Ortodoxa Costa del Sol.

The foundation have been looking for a site to build the church for several years and had previously tried and failed to get the original four-million-euro project off the ground in Marbella and in Benahavis.

The bishop in his speech acknowledged that "in this day and age the construction of a church is a rare occurrence" and that the new church would "add beauty to an already marvellous place". He added that the building would be "open to all Christians and to the inhabitants".

The church will be called the Templo de la Ascension de la Ortodoxa Rusa and will include the temple, a social and cultural centre and a park, constructed on a 5,844 square metre plot. The budget for the project has been reduced substantially to 1.1 million euros.

The style of the building will be a contemporary interpretation of a traditional orthodox church with a golden dome, according to the architect Diego Tobal. It will accommodate 500 people and will have a bell tower nine metres high. The cultural centre will be horseshoe-shaped and will have classrooms, offices, multiple-use areas and an interior patio. In all the buildings will cover 1,400 square metres and the rest will be a park with lots of trees and greenery. The works are due to be finished next year.
Almost one year after a divisive referendum on Catalan independence, Catalans are once again calling for a split from Spain. On Tuesday, around a million people filled the streets of Barcelona to celebrate "La Diada", the region's commemorative day; bearing Catalan flags and banners bearing slogans such as "Let's build the Republic", they used the occasion to pump new life into the secessionist drive.

As was the case in the run-up to the chaotic vote of 1 October 2017 (1-0), uncertainty about the economic impact of Catalan secession is surfacing again. But unlike last autumn, there's no need to rely on theorising about the consequences. We now have precedents - and they don't tell a happy story about the cost to Catalonia of breaking from Spain.

Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spanish GDP, has been hit hard by its separatists' efforts to divorce the motherland. Since last autumn's vote, more than 3,000 companies have moved their headquarters from the region, led by bosses fearing the possible economic shockwaves of secession.

Leading the exodus were Catalonian banking giants Caixabank and Sabadell, whose share values plummeted 6.8% and 6.3% respectively in 1-O's immediate aftermath (in the days after 1-O, the Ibex 35 - Spain's benchmark Index - also fell, to below 10,000 points for the first time since 2015). Whether Catalonia can support such a substantial capital outflow, or how it would fare if another 3,000 companies fled Barcelona, are questions up for debate; but even posing them casts doubt on the secessionists' claim that an independent Catalonia would be economically stronger than it is now.

Tourism in Catalonia, the most visited and wealthiest region of Spain, has also taken a hit since last autumn. Just a month after 1-O, industry lobbying group Exceltur reported that bookings in the region were down 20%. In the same period, the amount of property on sale in some beach resort towns south of Barcelona increased by 50%. A Catalan hotel trade group has said that the region's hotels saw revenue drop by 14% this summer.

The precedents suggest, then, that if another independence referendum were to be held in Catalonia, there would be an instant and negative economic impact on the north-easterly region. But secessionists have either forgotten about what's happened since last October, or they're more confident now because Constitution-wielding Mariano Rajoy is no longer their "negotiating" partner.

New Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez has stated that he's open to "dialogue" with the secessionists, but only a dialogue that results in Catalonia remaining part of Spain (he's every bit as committed to the Spanish Constitution as Rajoy). In fact, the secessionists face a government just as opposed to their project as the one that was in office last autumn - one reason why few Spaniards will relish the prospect of a renewed battle between Madrid and Barcelona.
The catwalk for the most important fashion show in Spain, part of the Larios Malaga Fashion Week, measures over 300 metres in length and is the longest haute couture cat walk in Europe.

The fashion show starts tonight at 8pm and finishes on Saturday evening. It attracts over 15,000 spectators a day and designers from all over the world.

Audiences can expect to see collections from Mona Almansouri from the United Arab Emirates; Spanish designers Sandra Rojas Novias, Abraham Zambrana, Rafael Urquizar, Angel Palazuelos, Gemma Mele and Juan Segovia; and the French company Livia Montecarlo, among many others.

Around 80 professional models will be walking the runway, showing off the beautiful gowns, wedding dresses, luxury-themed collections and ready-to-wear items provided by the designers.

This year the Alfiler de Oro (Golden Pin) award will go to Malaga designer Javier Alcantara in recognition of his 20 years work in professional haute couture.
Malaga is fast becoming celebrated as a city famed for its art and its reputation will be boosted this weekend when the city hosts the fifth edition of the Malaga Tattoo Convention. Held in the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos in Malaga, from Friday (today) until Sunday, the event is expected to attract hundreds of tattoo and body piercing fans from around the world.

The convention, which has become a popular gathering of European tattooists and piercing specialists, will also offer live music and dance, workshops and body painting for children. There will also be a competition with categories such as black and grey, traditional, tribal, oriental and realism.

Tickets for the event, which is sponsored by Alkimia (specialists in tattoo and body piercing supplies), cost 15 euros. Two and three-day passes are available for 25 and 40 euros, respectively.
Office hours changing at MICA Family Centers

At MICA, the last year has reinforced to us that families need our flexibility now more than ever in how they access our services. Fortunately, we have made changes to meet that need, including virtual visits, curbside pickup, and more. We have evaluated how we can use the lessons from this last year to better serve the needs of families, and that has resulted in making some changes at our Family Development Centers. Effective 11/1, MICAs Tama County Family Development office hours will change to Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. These hours are intended to be available ...
Essberger Tankers inks GAC agency deal

Under a new agreement, GAC is to handle between 600-800 port calls a year for Essberger Tankersfleet of vessels, which carry a wide range of high-grade chemicals in the Scandinavian region.

This deal comes after more than 20 years of managing Essbergers port calls in Finland. GACs ability to deliver the same level of support from its expanding network of offices in Sweden, Denmark and Norway was a key factor in the contract being agreed. sealed. The benefits of improved business processes are already evident, the company claimed and continuous review will ensure GAC maintains its levels of support to give Essberger the most cost-effective and efficient ship agency operations. Peter Osterman, GACs Scandinavian commercial manager, said: This contract with Essberger is testament to the breadth of support GAC can provide in the area, and is a clear sign that our strategy of staff investment, continuous improvement and a wide network of offices is working. Essberger Tankers are known for their first-rate service and they demand the same from their suppliers. GAC is proud and privileged to be appointed their ship agency partner throughout Scandinavia,he said. GAC UK has also announced the appointment of four General Managers to strengthen its core services and commercial focus. Herman Jorgensen, Managing Director of GAC UK, said: Each of the General Managers brings a wealth of experience to their respective role. The new structure evidences our commitment to providing the best possible products and service to the oil, gas and renewables, shipping, freight, marine leisure and events sectors we serve and heralds in an exciting new era for GAC UK. Jeremy Troughton has been brought in continue to grow the GAC Pindar marine leisure business and to develop the companys growth in new associated sectors and events. General Manager - Shipping is Wynne Raymond. Based in GAC UKs Grangemouth, Scotland, headquarters, he has been with GAC for five years. In addition to continuing to build relationships with GAC UKs key clients, his focus is on increasing the companys geographic footprint, as well as growing market share in the tanker and other sectors, including terminal and marine services. General Manager  Oil, Gas and Renewables (OGR) is Adrian Henry who has worked with GAC UK for 17 years, the last four of which as manager of the OGR team, based in the Shetland Islands. Mark Horton has been appointed general manager- freight services based in Manchester.




Liberia renews China agreement

On 5th September, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Liberia renewed their maritime agreement for another five years.

Under the renewal agreement, Liberian-flag vessels will continue to enjoy their preferential rate for tonnage dues when visiting a Chinese port. These savings - a 28% port dues reduction - can translate to an effective net increase in TCE rates of $1,000 per day based on a 100-day voyage. Furthermore, it has been agreed to establish a technical co-operation committee so that both countries can collaborate in areas, such as port state control, crew training and future maritime regulatory policy. In addition, the recent maritime law amendments introduced by Liberia, which allow a financing charter to be recorded as a mortgage are likely to strengthen still further the high level of mutually beneficial co-operation which exists between Liberia and its Chinese partners. The agreement was signed by Chinas Minister of Transport, Li Xiaopeng and Liberian Maritime Authority Commissioner, James Kollie. Minister Li said that renewal of the agreement will further strengthen co-operation in the shipping, maritime, port and transport infrastructure sectors, as well in the training and education of seafarers. Commissioner Kollie said the renewal of the maritime agreement underlines the strong friendship which exists between the two countries and further promotes the strengthening of their pragmatic levels of co-operation, resulting in mutual and tangible benefits for all concerned. Renewal of the agreement, he concluded, takes relations between the two countries to a new level.




Sovcomflot orders LNG-powered Aframaxes at Zvezda

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF) has signed a set of agreements with Rosneft, Zvezda Shipbuilding and VEB Group.

The agreements have resulted in SCF placing orders with Zvezda for two LNG powered Aframaxes. VEB-Leasing will finance their construction, whilst subsequently, a 20-year timecharter was agreed with Rosneft. Each vessel will have a deadweight of 114,000 tonnes and will be built to A/1B Ice Class, which enables them to operate all year round in areas with difficult ice conditions, including sub-Arctic seas and Russian ports in the Baltic region. The vessels technical specification was designed by an SCF team with the close involvement of the Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Centre (FESRC) and Hyundai Heavy Industries, a technological partner of Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Sergey Frank, SCF President and CEO, said: We welcome the plans of the Russian shipbuilders, from Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex, to create modern large-capacity vessels using natural gas-based bunkers (LNG) as their primary fuel. Im sure that it is with such vessels that the future of merchant shipping lies. Sovcomflot is the world leader in the Aframax tanker segment, with our vessels serving the needs of the largest oil and gas companies for safe transportation of crude oil in the Baltic, North Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. I am confident that the experience gained in the technical and commercial operation of SCFs next generation tankers will be in demand both with our customers and Russian shipbuilders, helping to consolidate the leadership of Russian companies in the implementation of green technologies in maritime transport. Sovcomflot is grateful to Rosneft for its decision to use next generation LNG-fuelled tankers in its export programme. This project builds on the positive experience of interaction with Vneshekonombank in financing the construction of unique Mikhail Ulyanov series of Arctic shuttle tankers at the Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg, he said. In addition, it has been announced that Zvezda shipyard and Samsung Heavy Industries are setting up a joint venture to produce 42,000-120,000 dwt tankers at the Zvezda shipbuilding complex. The joint venture is due to be set up by the end of this year. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has also reported that the keel laying ceremony for an Aframax took place on 11th September, 2018 at Zvezda. Saint-Petersburg is the first of a series of 10 tankers being built to RS class. The Aframaxes will be dual fuel able to burn gas, as well as oil. In another move, SCF has entered into a co-operation agreement with the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) and VEB Leasing to progress shipbuilding projects. Under the trilateral agreement, which was signed on 12th September, 2018, the parties will jointly participate in the implementation of shipbuilding projects at Russian shipyards and import substitution projects. The deal also provides for the possibility of financial support for the implementation of innovative and advanced technologies, as well as improvements to the energy efficiency of vessels built at domestic shipyards. The three companies previously co-operated in the construction of two Arctic shuttle tankers, Mikhail Ulyanov and Kirill Lavrov, built for SCF at the Admiralty Shipyards in St Petersburg. In a separate move, SCF has also signed a co-operation agreement with the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources to help ensure environmental safety and to preserve the natural environment of the Russian Arctic area. This agreement provides for the development of proposals for the implementation of comprehensive measures to stimulate the use of new environmentally friendly types of marine fuel, primarily LNG, the development of other green technologies, as well as information exchange and joint activities to prevent substandard navigation in the Arctic seas. Strengthening the interaction between business and government agencies to protect the fragile environment of the Arctic is becoming critically important amidst increasing traffic along the Northern Sea Route, Frank said.




Tanker flows - what matters

In the tanker market, there are many factors not directly related to shipping but which could still have a major impact on shaping up both crude and product tanker flows, the US shale oil revolution being a prime example.

The resulting surge in US crude production not only enabled a spectacular growth in short and long haul crude tanker trade but also supported the ongoing strength in seaborne exports of US clean products. Large scale pipeline infrastructure projects is another good example. For instance in Russia, a successful completion of the first stage of the East Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline, including the link into mainland China, limited Russian crude export flow from the Baltic and Black Sea ports while boosting demand for Aframax tonnage in the Far East. Once the second stage of the ESPO line is completed, due in 2020, this will translate into even more barrels being exported from the Russian port of Kozmino, located in the Sea of Japan. In contrast, a looming pipeline crunch in the US from the Permian basin to the US Gulf threatens to slow the growth in US crude exports in the short term. However, several pipeline projects are scheduled for completion in late 2019/early 2020; which, once online, are likely to offer a big boost to crude tanker trades out of the US. Changes in regional refining capacity is also a critical factor that should never be ignored. In the Middle East, Saudi Aramco aims to start its new 400,000 barrels per day Jizan refinery later this year, while in Kuwait a new 615,000 barrels per day Al-Zour plant is due to come on stream in 2020. Once these projects are fully operational, product exports are expected to increase substantially, as they did back in 2015/16 when number of new regional refineries came online. This, however, also poses a threat to the Middle East crude exports, if barrels are diverted from export markets into domestic refineries. Will this be the case? Gibson asked. Refining capacity in Asia continues to grow, supporting incremental demand for crude both from the Middle East and from further afield. We also are seeing a trend of national oil companies (NOCs) looking at refining projects in other countries, trying to secure the market for their crude. Last week, Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco plans to deliver the first crude oil cargo to its joint-refinery project (RAPID) with Petronas in Malaysia next month. RAPID will include a 300,000 barrels per day refinery and a petrochemical complex, with refinery operations set to begin next year. According to the newswire, Aramco will supply 50% of the refinerys crude oil, with the option of increasing it to 70%. As the Middle East oil companies build their presence in the downstream sector overseas, this suggests that the negative impact on regional crude exports, following new refinery start-ups could be limited. In contrast, the future trade dynamics are likely to be very different in West Africa, following the start-up of Nigerias giant 650,000 barrels per day Dangote oil refinery. This refinery is officially planned to start operations in 2020, however, a recent Reuters report said that the project could be delayed until 2022. Once the refinery comes on stream, it will have double negative implications for the tanker market. Crude exports will likely come under downward pressure and as Nigeria is a large importer of products, this trade is also likely to decline. Of all the factors described above, the new refinery in West Africa represents perhaps the biggest threat to tanker trade. Nonetheless, as US crude exports are expected to continue to grow in the medium term, this will help to mitigate the threat to dirty trades, and possibly offset it completely. West African product flows are still likely to change dramatically. However, Gibson concluded, if the Dangote Oil refinery proves to be a success, could we also witness see a change in direction of the trade, with the surplus of Nigerian products being exported both regionally and across the Atlantic? In the US/China tit-for-tat trade war, oil products have been targeted with 0.5 mill tonnes worth of seaborne trade tariffed from 23rd August with a further 0.7 mill tonnes in the line of fire of the $200 bill US list. The Chinese $16 bill list came into force on the same day, which was modified compared to the original publication, with the removal of crude oil an important development, BIMCOs Peter Sand said in a presentation in London this week.




Super Typhoon Mangkhut smashes into Philippines



Tuguegarao, Philippines, Sept 14 (AFP) Sep 14, 2018



Super Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the northern Philippines on Saturday with violent winds and torrential rains, as authorities warned millions in its path of potentially heavy destruction.

The massive storm, which forecasters have called the strongest typhoon this year, blew in windows, hurled debris and knocked out power lines when it made landfall on the island of Luzon in the pre-dawn darkness.

It packed powerful gusts of up to 255 kilometers (160 miles) per hour and sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour while heading west across the disaster-prone archipelago towards China.

"As much as possible, stay indoors," Chris Perez, a forecaster for the state weather service, warned the roughly four million people in the path of the storm after it landed at 1:40 am (1740 Friday GMT).

An average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year, killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty.

Thousands of people fled their homes in high-risk areas ahead of the storm's arrival because of major flooding and landslide risks.

Authorities hiked the storm alert on Friday to its second highest level in northern Luzon provinces and mobilised rescue teams.

The elevated warning level carried risks of "very heavy" damage to communities hit by the typhoon and a storm surge that was forecast to hit six meters in some areas, the weather service said.

Residents started lashing down their roofs and gathering supplies days before the arrival of the storm that forecasters said is the most powerful of 2018.

- 'We are terrified' -



"Among all the typhoons this year, this one (Mangkhut) is the strongest," Japan Meteorological Agency forecaster Hiroshi Ishihara told AFP on Friday.

"This is a violent typhoon. It has the strongest sustained wind (among the typhoons of this year)", he added.

After blasting the Philippines, Mangkhut is predicted to hurtle towards China's heavily populated southern coast this weekend.

"They (authorities) said this typhoon is twice as strong as the last typhoon, that's why we are terrified," Myrna Parallag, 53, told AFP after fleeing her home in the northern Philippines.

"We learned our lesson last time. The water reached our roof," she said, referring to when her family rode out a typhoon at home in 2016.

The country's deadliest on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013.

Poor communities reliant on fishing are some of the most vulnerable to fierce typhoon winds and the storm surges that pound the coast.

"The rains will be strong and the winds are no joke... We may have a storm surge that could reach four storeys high," Michael Conag, a spokesman for local civil defence authorities, told AFP.

The storm is not forecast to directly hit Hong Kong, though it will feel Mangkhut's wind and rain through Sunday.

However, the Hong Kong Observatory warned that the massive typhoon will pose a "severe threat" to China's southern coast before moving on to northern Vietnam.

burs-mm/jm/aph
Jeff Taylor amfAR

Jeff Taylor, incoming Co-chair of the Community Advisory Board of the amfAR Institute for HIV Cure Research, has been living with HIV for 35 years. A longtime HIV research advocate and cancer survivor, he has served on many community advisory boards, including currently the National Cancer Institute's AIDS Malignancy Consortium and the Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE). He produces a monthly education series on HIV treatment issues for HIV patients and providers, serves on the regional Ryan White Planning Council, and is director of the HIV+Aging Research Project-Palm Springs to study aging in HIV. In observance of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day on September 18, amfAR spoke with Mr. Taylor about the constellation of issues that affect older Americans living with HIV. amfAR: How did you become involved in community advocacy? Jeff Taylor: I did it out of self interest. When I was infected in 1982 there was no reliable test and the diagnosis was considered a death sentence. So in 1988, when there was talk of AZT being a treatment, I got tested and was told I had two years to live and to start making arrangements. By that time my T-cell count was below 200. The first thing I did was to buy a lifetime membership to a gym because I had watched people waste away as they died, looking like concentration camp victims. So I thought, "Whatever I can do to keep that from happening, I will." And the second thing I did was sign up for a clinical trial at the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) at Northwestern University in Chicago. I got into one of the first AZT trials for people without a formal AIDS diagnosis, which at that time required symptoms of either Kaposi sarcoma or pneumocystis pneumonia. After that I continued enrolling in clinical trials to get access to drugs to stay alive. Until the effective drug "cocktails" were approved in 1996, I got nearly all my drugs through clinical trials. I also started going to informal community meetings of HIV advocates to share what little information there was. That group later developed into the Test Positive Aware Network (which publishes Positively Aware magazine), and has been a force in the field ever since. In 1989 I decided I couldn't survive another Chicago winter and I moved to San Diego because they had one of the best ACTG sites in the country, headed by Doug Richman, still a leading virologist in the field. I began participating in their studies and was asked to start the group's Community Constituency Group, now called the Community Scientific Liaison Subcommittee. amfAR: More than half of people living with HIV in the United States are age 50 and older, and is projected to be more than 70% by 2020. What would you say are the biggest challenges facing people living with HIV as they get older?

Taylor: Many long-term survivors who tested one drug after another developed resistance and are on what we call "kitchen sink" salvage regimens, where they kind of throw everything at the virus. These people are taking a lot of pills, some very toxic. For a smaller subset, even that's not working and they are struggling to put together an effective regimen. There's also a subset whose CD4 counts have not rebounded, even though their viral load is suppressed. So they're still in that under-200 danger zone and fighting to stay healthy. People are still dealing with the toxicity of the drugs over the years. For example, a lot of people who were on tenofovir have kidney damage and bone mineral loss with resulting fractures that restrict their mobility. So they are often physically 10-15 years older than their HIV-negative counterparts and are having to struggle with their health all the time like they did before the cocktails came out. They're also dealing with the effects of polypharmacy, from having to take other drugs to manage aging-related comorbidities like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Aside from the medical issues, many people experience what has been dubbed the "AIDS Survivor Syndrome" -- the psychological effects of having been fighting an epidemic for the last 35, almost 40 years now. When people who were able to cope for a long time start to watch their friends die again, or to get heart attacks and cancer at higher rates than others their age, they begin having the same grief reaction they had earlier in the epidemic. Many get depressed, some commit suicide, stop taking their drugs, or just completely isolate and have a horrible quality of life. Back when there was no hope and no cure there were a lot of support programs, and monies were dedicated to them. When the new drug "cocktail" came out in '96 the whole thrust -- as it should have been -- was to get people on the drugs, but we've lost sight of people's psychosocial needs. amfAR: Are there ways that research programs could better serve older Americans living with HIV? Taylor: Absolutely. The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), now partnered with the Women's Interagency Health Study, has been an invaluable resource since the beginning of the epidemic. MACS initially enrolled both HIV-positive men and other gay men of the same age to see what was causing people to seroconvert. These people are now in their 50s and 60s, and we know there has been accelerated or accentuated aging. But we don't know what happens when they get even older.

We need novel ways to get people out of their isolation and depression. As importantly, we need to find ways to provide culturally competent care.

Palm Springs, where I now live, is unique in that we have a very high proportion of older people with HIV. I've been working on forming a community-based research collaboration with local providers called the HIV and Aging Research Project, Palm Springs, to look at people longitudinally over time. We have a cohort of people that's missing elsewhere -- people in their 70s, 80s and 90s -- and we hope this group can fill the data gaps. We need to get a handle on inflammation. Aging is a disease of inflammation; and HIV disease, even if it's fully controlled, causes chronic low-level inflammation. I think that's what's driving a lot of the age-related comorbidities like increased cancer rates, increased rates of cardiovascular disease, bone mineral loss, kidney disease, and diabetes that we're seeing exacerbated in the HIV population. We need novel ways to get people out of their isolation and depression. As importantly, we need to find ways to provide culturally competent care. Staff in AIDS service organizations are very well-meaning, but often weren't even alive when the epidemic was raging. They're taught, "control their HIV, get CD4 back up and they should be fine," but they may have no idea what their older patients have lived through, so they're unaware of the psychosocial factors that are causing most of their problems. amfAR: About one in six new HIV diagnoses in the US are among people aged 50 or older, and older Americans are more likely to receive the diagnosis later in the course of their infection. What could be done to improve HIV prevention and testing rates in this population? Taylor: First and foremost, we need to recognize that older people have sex. There seems to be a real taboo in our society about talking about this. There have been a lot of campaigns for opt-out testing but it's not mandated. Providers need to have frank conversations with their patients about whether and how they are having sex, and if they are using condoms. Many people who were long married and are suddenly finding themselves single think, I don't have to worry about getting pregnant so there's nothing to worry about; and that couldn't be further from the truth. Even in the gay community where people have been getting the safe-sex message for years, there is a lot of complacency now that we have effective treatment. There is much more unprotected sex happening due to the successes of treatment as prevention with the U=U [undetectable = untransmittable] campaign, as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP]. But not everybody is on those therapies and so people are definitely at risk.

Rob Newells and Jeff Taylor, amfAR Institute for HIV Cure Research Community Advisory Board Co-Chairs, at amfAR's 2017 World AIDS Day HIV Cure Summit, November 28, San Francisco amfAR

Also, the only approved PrEP regimen right now, Truvada, contains the old HIV drugs that cause kidney damage and bone mineral loss. So if you have any of those issues you shouldn't be on Truvada. There is currently some research being done on less toxic PrEP regimens, but I think we're still a few years away from any getting FDA approval. Many people radically changed their sexual practices out of fear in the '80s and '90s, but some, once they get older, decide to cut loose and have unsafe sex. There are also a disturbing number of people in their 60s and 70s turning to methamphetamine use. HIV clinicians have told us that their number one complaint is that they have patients who are out partying. They tell them the risks, but their attitude is, "I missed out on this. I'm not happy the way I am. I want to go out with a bang and have some fun, consequences be damned." So once again, we can't ignore the psychosocial aspects of what the epidemic has meant for the entire community, not just those who are HIV positive. amfAR: What issues do you address in your monthly education series for HIV patients and providers?

Providers need to have frank conversations with their patients about whether and how they are having sex, and if they are using condoms.

Taylor: I first surveyed our population to find out their needs and then started bringing world-class researchers and providers from UCSC and UCLA to speak. We discuss the newest drugs and if they will work for older treatment-experienced people, and we provide practical information on healthier living. People are also anxious to hear the latest about a cure. And then we talk about how to live a good life with HIV. We formed a Palm Springs chapter of Let's Kick Ass, a social group started in San Francisco by Matt Sharp and Tez Anderson. People get together for coffee, pot lucks, pool parties, movie outings, and other activities. We also do a series called the Reunion Project, begun by Test Positive Aware Networks in Chicago. We've extended these seminars around the country, both to provide information and to reunite long-term survivors who feel isolated and marginalized in their own communities. amfAR: Have you seen attitudes towards HIV and people living with HIV evolve over the years? Taylor: It's just night and day. Back in the '80s it was an ugly, ugly time. We had a hostile presidential administration, and Congress was not very supportive either. President Reagan didn't say the word AIDS until 1987. And of course, we all remember people like Pat Robertson and William F. Buckley Jr. saying things like that gay men with HIV should be tattooed on the buttocks and put in concentration camps. There was a lot of fear, hysteria, and discrimination. So of course that's changed thanks in no small part to the work of activists, including groups like ACT-UP, who channeled and retooled the gay liberation political activities of the '70s. And they were helped by many in the lesbian community who fought alongside the gay men to force these changes. Then when the AIDS cocktail became available in '96 that was a complete game changer. People stopped dying, and that tremendously reduced the hysteria. But even today in places like the U.S. rural South and Washington DC, we have new infection rates that are worse than those in South Africa. So HIV has become like so many things in this country, a disease of the poor and disenfranchised, and racial minorities are being disproportionately affected.

Jeff Taylor at amfARs 2017 World AIDS Day HIV Cure Summit with (from left) Drs. Paul Volberding, Peter Hunt, Nadia Roan and Satish Pillai amfAR

The successes of treatment as prevention and PrEP have also reduced stigma. It used to be really hard for HIV-positive men to date; they were considered sexual pariahs. But PrEP's benefits have only been seen in communities with access, which tends to be gay white men in most parts of the country. Access to PrEP in the South remains limited, especially among younger black MSM, who have a one in two chance of becoming infected with HIV over the course of their lifetime. The downside is that a lot of people think AIDS is solved since we've got effective medication. So they don't see any urgency, or a need to devote time and resources to finding a cure. Many don't realize that there are 40 million people living with HIV worldwide -- many of whom don't currently have access to these lifesaving medications, which furthers the epidemic's spread And the irony is that we could stop the AIDS epidemic right now if we tested everybody, put them on treatment if they're HIV positive, and put everybody at risk on PrEP. There would then be no new infections. But we can't manage that in this country because we don't have the political will or a functional healthcare system. And the problems are worse elsewhere, so that's not going to happen. We can't treat our way out of this disease. We have to find a cure, otherwise HIV/AIDS will always be with us. amfAR: What do cure studies such as those being conducted at the amfAR Institute mean to you personally? How would the lives of people who have been living with HIV for many years be changed if there was a cure?

It's a testament to the incredible altruism of so many in the HIV community that they are willing to keep putting themselves on the line for cure trials that have no direct benefit to themselves.
Desert AIDS Project (DAP) marks its beginning in 1984, the year it received official non-profit status. It's an important milestone and represents the dedication and true grit of the founders who came together to help members of their community die with dignity through compassionate hospice care. But for founding member and first executive director George Sonsel, DAP was born five years earlier.

"It was a very difficult thing to get this agency off the ground," he said.

Back in 1979, Palm Springs wasn't nearly the gay travel destination it is today, although gays were starting to buy up old motels and resorts in earnest. According to Sonsel, there were about ten gay-owned establishments at the time, and the vision of an international gay destination was burgeoning. During the summer season, the city had the highest concentration of gays in California.

These and other business owners, about 30 gay men and women, knew that because their interests were aligned, they would be stronger together. They formed the Desert Business Association, which is still around today. The unassuming name was purposely created to protect its members from homophobic reprisals by cloaking their common bond.

George Sonsel was already well established in Palm Springs as a director of social work and other related roles at area hospitals and with the County of Riverside. He had made his favorite vacation destination his home and was starting a private psychology practice on the side. But then his friends and clients began dying horrible, sudden deaths, and doctors were baffled as to why.

That first year alone, Sonsel and his former partner lost 30-to-35 friends.

"Our friends kept dying in front of our eyes," said Sonsel. "We no more than acknowledged their passing than we began to prepare for the death of another."

This went on for about three years until Sonsel and his associates, made up of infectious disease doctors, oncologists, and the director of nurses at Desert Hospital (now called Desert Care Network) started accepting that this would not be a short epidemic.

For those who had access to government records, there was enough public health data now to make informed assumptions about the seriousness of the epidemic. This was before the Internet, and information traveled a lot slower if there was no community to spread the message or demand a dialogue.

Considering President Reagan would wait until the spring of 1987 to utter the word AIDS publicly, and never provided supportive leadership, American media and society itself were given free reign to ignore the suffering of AIDS patients and their loved ones. And as White House communications director Pat Buchanan called AIDS "nature's revenge on gay men," outright hostility towards those suffering was normalized.

The panic caused in many hospitals by lack of information and the seemingly random nature of the infection perpetuated stigma by medical staff across the country. Many who were suffering from AIDS avoided going to the hospital out of fear of how they would be treated.

One of those motel owners called Sonsel and his partner one day, asking if they could come quickly.

"He's dying," their friend said. A male couple who was staying at the motel had come to Palm Springs so that one of them could die. They were too afraid to go to the local hospital after reading about how it was mistreating AIDS patients.

Despite urgings to accept care, they would not relent. Because of Sonsel's state credentials, he was able to declare the dying man a threat to himself or others (aka 51/50) and had him forcibly transported to that very hospital, where the man died shortly after. The man's partner left and went back to whatever part of the U.S. they came from.

This became commonplace for George Sonsel, his partner, and their network of friends and colleagues. These are the people we now call community activists, humanitarians, and heroes. Sonsel has a much more sobering viewpoint.

"We were taking care of our friends, and so it didn't feel like we were doing anything tremendous," he said. "We were just doing what we felt we needed to do what we should do."

Those early years (1979-1984) were mostly without any information for those like Sonsel who were working to save their communities as health care workers and advocates. Today's roadmap for community health that was created during the first years of the AIDS crisis was carved out by people who were too busy helping others to focus on their own broken hearts, even as the pangs of survivor's guilt would taunt them.

"At times, I imagined my experience to feel like standing in the midst of a forest fire, somehow not personally consumed in flames, trying to extinguish an overwhelming inferno while watching in fear, desperation, and all-consuming guilt over your comrades being consumed or, at best, severely scarred for life by the flames," said Sonsel.

There was no social safety net in place to absorb the cost of caring for those suffering with AIDS, and many of the early founders spent so much time caring for the sick and dying that they had to leave the careers that were supporting them. Also, it was common for doctors and nurses to avoid administering care out of fear of catching the mystery illness and giving it to their families.

The idea to establish non-profit status came from the desire to continue the vital work to care for the sick, but it took years. According to Sonsel, they had no hope of paying an attorney to assist them, but by doggedly pursuing and pleading with the Secretary of State's office, eventually, they succeeded in 1984. It was around that time that he accepted a position at AIDS Project Los Angeles.

The co-founding of amfAR in 1983 by Elizabeth Taylor and the tragic loss of Rock Hudson two years later marked a turning point for many. Celebrities started talking about the need for compassion, research, and the fundraising that was required to pay for this mission. Thank goodness for them.

But our celebrity icons were not the first ones to roll up their sleeves to fight AIDS. In the late '70s, unsung heroes across our country were doing what the government and many in the medical community would not. And many times it cost them their ability to support themselves financially.

George Sonsel survived that forest fire he described and is living contentedly with his husband Sven in the EU.

"Today my heart and soul feel at ease, and that initial sense of urgency and desperation has been calmed," he said. "That foundation we worked so hard to construct held and persevered."

Bringing an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains the top priority for DAP But the organization has learned a lot in 34 years, and it wants to respond to the unmet needs of its neighbors struggling to find health and a path out of poverty, regardless of their HIV status.

The organization is in the middle of its largest expansion yet. By 2020 it will care for twice the number of patients and clients as today, increasing from 4,000 to 8,000. This will add more than 20,000 square feet to its campus footprint and includes 60 additional housing units.

Please visit dapvision2020.org or desertaidsproject.org to find out more.

[Note from TheBody: This article was originally published by AIDS United on Sept. 14, 2018. We have cross-posted it with their permission.]
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 08:20 1152 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772d9055 4 Editorial #Editorial,vaccine,rubella,anti-vaccine,halal-certificate,MUI,health-care,Muslim,conservatism,immunization Free

By the end of this month, 95 percent of children should have received the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in the second phase of the national immunization program. Alarmingly, national coverage for the 32 million infants has barely reached 43 percent according to the governments latest figures. At least 95 percent coverage is required to achieve herd immunity against the diseases.



Because of the low coverage, authorities have warned us to brace for an outbreak, as anyone coming into contact with a carrier of measles will likely be infected, doctors say. They warn it could be fatal to those who have not received the vaccine, particularly with complications such as diarrhea, pneumonia and meningitis.



Similarly, rubella poses a risk to women in the early stages of pregnancy, as exposure can lead to fetal death or defects of several organs. In the last five years, 70 percent of rubella cases have been children under 15 years old, the Health Ministry says.



At a Wednesday meeting of diverse ministries at the Executive Office of the President, a deputy, Yanuar Nugroho, said the government would step up its campaign involving local officials, governors and religious local leaders, among others, clearly as a last-ditch effort to meet the target. Though late  with Acehs coverage dangerously low at below 5 percent  it seems to be the only measure available.



In Jambi, a newborn reportedly died because of the rubella virus; in the same regency of Batanghari, 57 cases of rubella had been recorded over the past 20 months. South Kalimantan has reported suspected rubella outbreaks.



While vaccination programs evidently require special efforts to serve remote areas, authorities look unprepared for resistance to the latest program, though similar problems had plagued the program for diphtheria.



While one obstacle has been parents fears of negative health effects of the vaccines on infants, another has been the recent fatwa of at least one chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Riau saying the MR vaccine is haram. Actually, MUIs fatwa says that although the vaccines contain a haram substance derived from porcine, they are allowed as an emergency against a health threat. Once halal vaccines are available, todays products will be ruled haram.



Such a fatwa has helped Indonesias largely successful vaccination programs for decades. Our success or failure regarding immunization is a contributing determinant of national and regional public health.



Authorities say they may need the polices help to avoid an epidemic, citing one incident where health workers faced a machete-wielding civilian who resisted vaccinations. Emphasis should nevertheless be on public education of the risks of failure of the immunization program. Indeed, the New Orders family planning program was an international model of success, sanctioned by ulema, but also remembered for its iron-fist approach. Today, electoral politics with religious colors overshadow well-intended efforts, including public health actions.



For the sake of infants lives and health, the government must push on as hard as possible while appealing to the sensibility and wisdom of all local leaders and parents.
Google has partnered with Samsung to help further spread the use of a new text-messaging standard, which may replace short messaging service.

The partnership is meant to accelerate the adoption of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) system as the new standard for communication among device users, according to a statement.

This newly created partnership will also help ensure that the Android Messages and Samsung Messages will work seamlessly through RCS.

Read also: Nine social media, messaging apps agree to combat fake news

RCS features include the ability to chat over Wi-Fi, see typing indicators, share high-resolution photos and videos, and create group chats. Such features are already available through third-party apps like Facebook Messenger, but still require a download and installation on the part of the user. Google instead wants to make the features readily available on Android smartphones as part of the standard functionality.

Smartphones that will benefit from this partnership will start from the existing Galaxy S8 and S8+ line from Samsung. Newer Android devices from the Korean smartphone maker will then support RCS as a native function.
Actors Emma Stone and Jonah Hill join the list of Hollywood stars turning to television with Netflix's "Maniac", a dark comedy mini-series looking at human connection.

Oscar winner Stone and "The Wolf on Wolf Street" star Hill play Annie and Owen, two strangers with personal problems who take part in a pharmaceutical drug trial.

A trailer shows the two characters in multiple, sometimes fantastical, settings during the experiment where they are told by the doctor leading the trial that "pain can be destroyed, the mind can be solved".

"It seemed like a great opportunity to dive into this world that was sort of different from ours but talking about a lot of the themes that we deal with today in modern society," Stone told Reuters at the show's red carpet premiere on Thursday.

"Disconnection from each other and trying to fix problems in a certain way and realising that human connection really is a balm for all of us."

The show, which premieres on the streaming service on Sept. 21, is directed by Cary Fukunaga, known for "Beasts of No Nation" and his work on the series "True Detective".

"The biggest challenge of the show is that it reinvents itself each episode, that puts a lot of pressure on everybody," writer Patrick Somerville said. "We just had to make new worlds over and over again."

Stone and Hill, who worked together on 2007 comedy "Superbad", both starred in television shows earlier in their careers, but "Maniac" proved a different project for both actors, who are also executive producers on the series.

"I thought that it would be an exciting challenge to get to explore a character, in this case five characters, over five, six hours," Stone said.

Read also: Emma Stone tops list of best paid actresses

"That's not something I've gotten to really do very much of. I did some TV at the beginning but never in this long form of 10 episodes...It was a really fun process."

The actors are the latest major stars picking leading roles on the small screen. Recent examples include Amy Adams in HBO's "Sharp Objects" and Julia Roberts in Amazon Studios' upcoming "Homecoming".

"Everybody is turning to TV and the stuff that they're producing it's...critically-acclaimed, winning Emmys so it's proving to be incredibly fruitful for them," Alex Ritman, UK correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter said.

"And off the back of that...being a big name on TV is beneficial to your film career. I don't think we live in a world where you're one or the other anymore."
London Fashion Week opens Friday with all eyes on Victoria Beckham, who debuts at the event on the 10th anniversary of her label's launch, and on Burberry's new star designer Riccardo Tisci.

The ex-Spice Girl, celebrating a decade since her brand's 2008 unveiling in New York, has since defied the naysayers and won the respect of her peers.

The Briton now heads a fashion empire valued at 100 million ($131 million) by the industry press, but will be presenting at the country's premiere fashion gathering for the first time.

"Ten years ago, when Victoria Beckham started, many saw her as just another example of a celebrity wanting to have a fashion range with no formal fashion training," University of Westminster Professor Andrew Groves told AFP.

"Through hard work and determination she has proved those early critics wrong."

'VB' on Piccadilly

Ahead of her homecoming of sorts the 44-year-old mother-of-four recently featured on London's legendary Piccadilly Circus advertising screens, fulfilling a childhood dream.

"When I was a kid my parents would always drive us up to London and show us around Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, and... Piccadilly Circus," Beckham told The Daily Telegraph newspaper this week.

"I remember looking up, thinking 'wow, how cool would that be, to literally see your name in lights.'

The designer's show, scheduled for Sunday, is expected to attract a host of VIPs, starting with the Beckham tribe -- her husband David and their four children.

British Vogue magazine, which features them on its October cover, is hoping some former bandmates may also attend.

"Fingers crossed for some Spice Girls on the front row," it wrote.

The other big highlight of London's week, dedicated to the spring-summer 2019 collections and which ends on Tuesday, will see Tisci present his much anticipated first collection for Burberry.

The Italian designer, formerly of Givenchy, replaced Christopher Bailey as chief creative officer of the luxury British fashion house in March and will showcase on Monday.

Read also: Designers ditch fur for London Fashion Week

He was credited with reviving Givenchy during his 12-year tenure there by cultivating links with celebrities.

His arrival at Burberry is intended to reinvigorate the brand following disappointing profits in recent years.

Burberry is relying on Tisci, praised for his ability to blend streetwear with high fashion, to re-energise its high-end presence.

"Riccardo's creative vision will reinforce the ambitions we have for Burberry and position the brand firmly in luxury," chief executive Marco Gobbetti said in a statement.

No fur

Naomi Braithwaite, senior lecturer in fashion marketing and branding, Nottingham Trent University, told AFP that Tisci "seems a perfect choice for Burberry."

"His tendency to not be afraid to take creative risks and innovate (are) characteristics that have underpinned Burberry's philosophy in the last few years," she said.

Originally from Taranto, a port city in southern Italy, Tisci trained at Central Saint Martins, a top arts and design college in London.

He has already started to make his own mark on the venerable British brand since arriving, recently unveiling on Instagram a new company monogram.

A white "B" is interwoven with red ribbons to form the initials of Thomas Burberry, who founded the fashion house in 1856.

London Fashion Week will also offer up its usual legion of young talent, starting with Jonathan Anderson on Saturday.

The artistic director of luxury leather goods firm Loewe, considered one of the biggest talents of his generation, will showcase the latest offering from his own J.W. Anderson brand.

Fashionistas are also expected to be out in force Saturday for the debut collection of British It-Girl Alexa Chung, a Swiss Army knife of talents -- from modelling to TV presenting to designing.

With no animal furs on display during the five days of parades, animal rights activists are not expected to repeat past protests, highlighting the evolution of the industry away from the use of fur.
Cynthia Nixon, the left-leaning "Sex and the City" actress turned education activist, lost her dream of becoming New York governor Thursday, trounced in the Democratic Party primary by the two-term incumbent.

Andrew Cuomo, 60, in office since 2011 and who commanded a huge war chest from powerful donors, batted aside her insurgent bid at 66-34 percent, US media projected not long after the polls closed.

The result puts him on course to win a third term as chief executive of America's fourth most populous state, which leans heavily Democrat, in the general election on November 6.

The 52-year-old mother of three dived into the race in March, in a bid to become the first woman and first openly gay governor, demanding change and supporting a raft of left-of-center hot-button issues.

Neither Cuomo nor Nixon made any immediate public comment after US media called the race.

Lower down the ticket, the candidate Nixon endorsed as lieutenant governor, Jumaane Williams, a 42-year-old city councilman from Brooklyn, was narrowly ahead of incumbent Kathy Hochul in a race that was considered too close to call by US media.

"He is an experienced man and she is totally inexperienced," explained Cuomo voter Jack Buchanan, 87, on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

"We already have a totally inexperienced guy in the White House, so why put one in Albany?" he added in reference to the state capital and President Donald Trump, who is hugely unpopular in the city.

"I don't think she's qualified," Nixon voter Jill Vexler told AFP in Union Square, confessing it had been "more of a sympathy vote."

"I don't think she has enough strategy to get the money to do what she wants to do, but I do like what she wants to do."

Nixon had hoped to ride the crest of other upset victories by political first-timers in Democratic Party primaries for congressional seats in places like New York and Boston.

Read also: Cynthia Nixon keeps NY gubernatorial dream alive for now

'Voters pumped'

The public school advocate and LGBT activist campaigned hard for universal healthcare, rent controls and fixing the decrepit subway.

Yet she headed into Thursday's vote trailing Cuomo in every single demographic group, the governor leading 63-22 percent, up from 60-29 percent in late July, according to the latest poll from Siena College.

Winning state-wide is a much tougher gambit than a congressional seat, especially for a first-timer up against the well-oiled and well-funded machinery of a sitting governor.

"To break through, that requires a lot of money and organization," said Michael Miller, professor of political science at Barnard College. "A lot of people would be surprised if she did pull it off," he told AFP.

Cuomo, the son of a governor who married a daughter of Robert F Kennedy and had three children before they divorced, traded hard on his record on gun control, gay marriage and the minimum wage.

Said to harbor presidential ambitions, he is a long-time political operator who served as a cabinet secretary under Bill Clinton at the tender age of 39.

"Andrew Cuomo has outspent us 10 to one which says to me that he is really scared," Nixon told supporters in Union Square earlier on Thursday, where queues formed to take a picture with her.

"Our voters are really pumped to get out and vote today and to get everybody they know out to vote, and in the end that's what counts."

The final home stretch of the race degenerated into ugly spats. She denounced as a smear campaign a Democratic Party mailer that implied she was anti-Semitic, to which Cuomo pleaded ignorance.

Then she sailed into controversy and free column inches of her own with a bagel order that incensed almost everyone, an incongruous lox, cream cheese, tomatoes and capers -- on a cinnamon and raisin bun.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 07:35 1152 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772d5b94 1 National Yulianus-Rettoblaut,Mami-Yuli,Education,waria,transgender,human-rights Free

An organization is seeking to raise Rp 100 million (US$6,736) via kitabisa.com for Yulianus Rettoblaut, better known as Mami Yuli, 57, to become the first openly transgender person in Indonesia to finish her doctoral degree on Constitutional Law.

The Indonesian Waria Communication Forum (FKWI), of which Yuli is a leader, took to the crowdfunding campaign website for donations to assist the transgender activist in completing her studies since she faced financial difficulties. Waria, a portmanteau of the words wanita (woman) and pria (man), refers to transgender people.

Yuli is currently undertaking her doctoral studies at Jayabaya University's Law School in Jakarta. However, she needs to secure at least Rp 100 million to hold her public defense or presentation for her thesis, which is a requirement for her to complete her degree, the FKWI wrote on kitabisa.com.

Mami Yuli wants to be living proof for her community that transgender [women] have the capability and are able to make achievements, like herself, the FKWI said.

There is only one more step [for Yuli] to achieve her doctoral degree, which will be the pride of the transgender women's community in Indonesia," the organization said.

Yuli, who achieved her master's degree in criminal law with cum laude distinction at Tama Jagakarsa University in Jakarta in 2015, has said her academic achievement was a way of fighting discrimination and violence against transgender people.

She was also the initiator of the establishment of Rumah Singgah Waria (Transgender Shelter), which the FKWI said has been internationally recognized as the worlds first transgender nursing home.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post in 2015, Yuli said she wanted to fight ill treatment against transgender people with positivity, such as by proving that they can also be intellectuals like other people.

Yuli aimed to take her lawyer accreditation and become the first transgender lecturer in Indonesia, an ambition that she hoped could inspire fellow transgender people to follow in her footsteps.

When you pursue education, people look at you differently, because you will have improved your ability to present yourself and speak to the public, as well as enabling you to live in a better environment, Yuli said at the time.

As of Thursday afternoon, a total of Rp 2.4 million has been raised via the website. The fundraising is scheduled to end in 57 days. (evi)
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Linkedin Adisti Sukma Sawitri (The Jakarta Post) San Francisco  Fri, September 14, 2018 12:18 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772e4e35 1 National climate-change,environment,global-climate-action-summit,Paris-Agreement,greenhouse-gas Free

Thousands of government and business leaders, as well as environmentalists flocked to San Francisco on Thursday to attend a global climate summit held by California Governor Jerry Brown.

Inspired by the governor and dozens of other American mayors and governors who have stood against the President Donald Trump administration, which has backtracked from the Paris Agreement, summit attendees are scheduled to trumpet successes and share experiences on what has been done to reduce emissions at the grassroots level.

United Nations special envoy for climate action Michael Bloomberg said real action was happening in cities, states and the private sector because the most important decisions for climate were not made by national governments but by those at the local level.

[The decisions] are made by CEOs who want to save money and capitalize a new business created by advanced technology. And they are made by citizens who want to breathe in fresh air and drink clean water that otherwise that will make them sick, he said in his opening remarks at the Global Climate Action Summit.

Bloomberg and Brown rounded up support last year from dozens of mayors, governors and business leaders in the US and launched Americas Pledge initiative, in which they recorded and quantified the actions of non-national actors in the country in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of the Trump administration.

The former New York mayor said over the past year, with no help from Washington, US emissions held their lowest levels in 25 years.

During the conference this week, hundreds of companies, local governments and foundations have followed suit. Among the new initiatives that have come forward is the Japan Climate Initiative, a network of local governments, organizations and NGOs in the country that have organized themselves to create a low-carbon society.

Read also: Philanthropic groups siphon US$459 million to protect forests, indigenous peoples

All of the new initiatives are expected to rejuvenate formal talks among countries to develop guidelines to implement the Paris Agreement ahead of the annual UN climate change conference, COP24, in Katowice, Poland, in December.

A series of meetings to prepare the guidelines to implement the agreement have collapsed as nations still disagree on mechanisms and support of technology and financing for developing countries.

Thursdays conference also saw hundreds of protesters circling the Moscone Center, the building where the summit took place.

The various groups had their own environmental concerns.

Antonio Gonzales from the American Indian Movement said he wanted to remind people of the urgent need to begin sustainable living to protect future generations.

Indigenous peoples are rising. Our voices are rising. The world is listening. We are in a very critical time, but a very good time to live and to share our knowledge and experiences with people so we can have more sustainable living, he said.

Another protestor, William Callahan, raised concerns about the growing use of solar panels, a popular energy alternative to fossil fuels.

You have to do all the mining and the processing of minerals [to produce the panels]. We really just need to cut back our consumption, he said.

Earlier, an alliance of philanthropic organizations pledged to allocate US$459 million to save forests and protect the land rights of indigenous peoples.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Fri, September 14, 2018 12:21 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772e51d9 2 World #DonaldTrump,#Media,DonaldTrump,media,public-enemy Free

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post newspaper, warned Thursday that President Donald Trump's attacks on media are dangerous for the country.

Bezos, during a question-answer session at a dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, said Trump's attacks risk eroding protections and social norms important for democracy.

"It's dangerous to demonize the media," Bezos said.

"It's dangerous to call the media lowlifes. It's dangerous to say they are the enemy of the people."

He added that "we live in a society where it's not just the laws of the land that protect us... it's also the social norms that protect us. It works because we believe the words on that piece of paper."

Bezos said Trump and other public figures should expect public and media scrutiny, which he called "healthy."

The comments appeared to be the first direct, public rebuke of Trump by Bezos, a frequent target of attacks by the president.

"I do defend the Post," he said. "I don't feel the need to defend Amazon."

But he paraphrased Washington Post editor Martin Baron as saying that "the adminstration may be at war with us, but we are not at war with the administration."

Despite his concerns with Trump, Bezos said that he was not overly concerned about the future of the news media.

"We are so robust in this country. The media is going to be fine," he said during the conversation with economic club president David Rubenstein.

Bezos, whose Amazon fortune has made him the world's richest person, added that he has had "a couple of conversations" with Trump but declined to say what was discussed.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 10:40 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772de498 4 Business Alipay,WeChat,payment,Tourist,bali,bank-indonesia,statement,cashless-payment,fintech Free

Bank Indonesia has said that foreign consumer payment applications, like China's Alipay and WeChat that Chinese tourists reportedly used in Bali, are not approved for local use.

The central bank said the applications did not comply with regulations, in particular because they did not have a cooperation with local payment systems.

BI payment system policy executive director Onny Widjanarko said in Jakarta on Thursday that all foreign payment applications, including Alipay and WeChat, were required to comply with Indonesian regulations. Any payment system should be adjusted to existing regulations, he said.

Under the National Payment Gateway (GPN) system, any foreign principles involved in retail transactions are required to cooperate with local switching companies.

Onny said foreign payment applications must meet two requirements to be approved for conducting transactions in Indonesia: establish cooperation with a local switching company and be connected to major Indonesian banks.

So far we have found two cases. [The foreign payment apps] have cooperated with local switching companies, but they are neither connected to nor are cooperating with Book 4 [major] banks, Onny said as quoted by kompas.com. He also stressed that all transactions in the country were required to use the rupiah.

He said BI had halted any transactions made through foreign payment apps that did not have a cooperation with local companies.

Onny said the central bank would monitor the situation to ensure that all transactions were made through local switching companies in compliance with regulations. (bbn)
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Fri, September 14 2018

After the Danish government officially cut its funding to Hutan Harapan (Forest of Hope) in Jambi this year, PT Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia (REKI), a private company established to manage the forest, needs to find another way to fund its operations.

Since 2011, Denmark had been the main donor of Hutan Harapan, the oldest ecosystem restoration concession (ERC) forest in Indonesia, through a joint project called Environmental Support Program Phase 3 (ESP3).

The Danish government had provided up to US$12.7 million in financial support, as well as technical assistance to manage the forest, which was channeled to REKI via non-governmental organization Burung Indonesia. This year will be the last year of ESP3 since the government intends to channel the fund to other countries in need.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands  Fri, September 14, 2018 07:07 1152 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772d4c49 2 World #religion,#Buddhist,Dalai-Lama,meeting,sex-abuse,victims,#Netherlands Free

The Dalai Lama will Friday meet a dozen victims of alleged sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers in what is believed to be the first such gathering with Tibet's spiritual leader.

The victims launched a petition Monday asking to meet the Dalai Lama who is on a European tour, to share their experiences.

The meeting will be in The Netherlands where the Dalai Lama is to give two days of lectures in the southwestern port city of Rotterdam.

"We found refuge in Buddhism with an open mind and heart, until we were raped in its name," the victims said in their petition, which has garnered nearly 1,000 signatures.

The Dalai Lama's office responded by saying he will talk to the victims during a "short audience" on Friday afternoon.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama was saddened to learn of the sexual abuse suffered by students of Buddhist teachers," an official in his office wrote.

The Dalai Lama "has consistently denounced such irresponsible and unethical behaviour," Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa said, adding "such misbehaviour was intolerable and must stop."

However, if these warnings were ineffective, the Dalai Lama made it clear that "students would have no other recourse than to publicise such disgraceful conduct, criticising perpetrators by name."

Victims will also have a chance to hand the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate written testimonies and is expected to discuss some thoughts on how to deal with the issue.

Starting Friday, the 83-year-old Dalai Lama will be in the Netherlands for four days, before heading to Germany.

Churches around the world have been rocked in recent years by sex abuse scandals, most notably the Roman Catholic Church where Pope Francis is battling to make amends to victims who feel they have been badly let down by the authorities.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 16:57 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772f29ac 4 City graft,graft-suspect,Depok,Depok-administration Free

Investigators of the Depok Police anticorruption division questioned graft suspect Nur Mahmudi Ismail for 13 hours on Thursday evening before deciding not to detain the former Depok mayor.

Nur Mahmudis attorney IIm Abdul Halim said he previously asked that the police not detain his client, to which the police agreed.

The reason is that my client has been cooperative in the investigation, he said on Thursday as reported by tempo.co.

Nur Mahmudi and former city secretary Harry Prihanto were named suspects in a Rp 10 billion (US$ 672,675) graft case related to a road-widening project on Jl. Nangka, a popular alternative route for motorists who travel from Jl. Raya Bogor to the Jagorawi toll road.

The former mayor's visit to the Depok Police came after a second summons. He did not respond to any questions from the press after the questioning concluded.

Nur Mahmudi, the former chairman of the Islamic-based Justice Party, which is now known as the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), served as Depok mayor for two terms between 2006 and 2016.

Depok Police chief Sr. Comr. Didi Sugiarto said land acquisition on Jl. Nangka should had been covered by the Green Lake View Apartment developer, according to a permit issued by Nur Mahmudi in 2012.

The Depok administration allegedly allocated Rp 10.7 billion in 2013 for the land acquisition. (ami)
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Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 13:30 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772e8a8b 1 National ICW,women-empowerment,general-assembly-meeting,Yogyakarta,Rini-Soemarno Free

International Council of Women (ICW) president Kim Jung-sook highlighted the role of women in transforming society with their feminine qualities during the ICWs 35thGeneral Assembly, which kicked off in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

As the gender that bears, gives birth and nurtures life, women can transform society through caring and loving leadership. Now it is time that we, the women of the world, make all-out effort to transform society through womens empowerment, ICW president Kim Jung-sook during her speech.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, who gave a keynote speech at the event, said the Indonesian government, through SOEs, continued to support women, especially those involved in small and medium enterprises.

She also said Indonesia had a long history with womens rights that had resulted in womens active participation in politics.

There are eight women ministers in President Joko Jokowi Widodos Cabinet. This is the highest number of women in a Cabinet ever recorded in Indonesias history, she said.

As many as 150 delegates from 18 countries are attending the event that will be held until Sep. 18. Besides the members, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Lyudmila Vorobieva, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Roya Rahmani and Ambassador of the Fiji Republic Seleima Veisamasama also attended the event. (ris/swd)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14 2018

Democratic Party patron and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is planning to hit the campaign trail for presidential contender Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo announced Yudhoyonos intention following a meeting between the two retired generals at the latters house on Wednesday.

[Yudhoyono] wants to be a campaigner, the Gerindra Party chairman said as quoted by kompas.com.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 18:00 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772f3e8f 1 City land-acquisition,public-cemeteries,budget Free

The Jakarta City Councils budget committee agreed on Thursday to provide the Jakarta Forestry Agency with Rp 104 billion (US$7 million) in funds for the expansion of public cemeteries and to add more cemetery facilities.

Land availability and land procurement have long been core issues surrounding many city projects, resulting in a "cemetery crisis" in the city.

The forestry agency had thus far found 22 hectares of available land that it would use to build a new cemetery in Rorotan subdistrict, Cilincing district, North Jakarta, agency head Djafar Muchlisin said.

The budget approved in the meeting on Thursday at the City Council building comprised Rp 100 billion for land procurement and Rp 4 billion for facilities and funeral procession subsidies for poor families.

Jakartas "cemetery crisis" is due to the fact that residents tend to flock to more strategically located cemeteries, such as Karet Bivak and Menteng Pulo in Central Jakarta and Pondok Kelapa in East Jakarta. Cemeteries on the outskirts of the city, such as Pondok Ranggon, Tegal Alur and Serengseng, have space available.

Djafar estimated that 120 residents pass away per month, leaving the city with enough burial space for about two more years.

The city previously issued a policy that states that only city residents or those who died in the city can be buried in public cemeteries. (nor)
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Johor Bahru, Malaysia  Fri, September 14, 2018 15:44 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772ef941 1 Business Johor,tourism,Asita,cooperation Free

Indonesia is the second-largest contributor of tourists to Johor, Malaysia, and the state is aiming to attract more visitors from the archipelago, according to Johor Tourism Board steering head Abdul Malik Ismail.

Last year, 1.3 million Indonesian tourists visited the state, while 10.6 million came from Singapore. In total, 14.4 million people traveled to Johor in 2017.

Malik said the Johor Tourism Board wanted to cooperate with the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) to boost tourist arrivals in the state.

We want to invite more Indonesian tourists to come here, Malik said Friday in Johor Bahru on Friday.

Indonesia is expected to contribute 3-4 million tourists to the total target of 17 million visitors in 2019, he added.

To realize the target, the state has introduced a number of programs, including medical tourism, for Indonesians. Additional destinations and facilities to open next year include Hard Rock Hotel in Desaru, an integrated tourist area in the west part of Johor.

We will also open more direct flights from Indonesian cities to Johor, he told The Jakarta Post.

ASITA chairman Asnawi Bahar said the Johor Tourism Board signed an agreement with members of ASITA to provide incentives to tour and travel agencies that could send more Indonesian tourists to the state.

Asnawi said he had also called on the board to help Indonesia boost tourist arrivals from the state because ASEAN was still a major market for Indonesian tourism, in addition to China and European countries. (bbn)
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar  Fri, September 14, 2018 08:11 1152 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772d87f0 1 Business Makassar-New-Port,construction,complete,October,Budi-Karya-Sumadi Free

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has said the construction of the Makassar New Port on 60 hectares of reclaimed land in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar had reached the finishing phases and would soon be completed.

Technically, the construction of the port reached 90 percent. Currently it is in the finishing phase and can be completed in October, Budi said while inspecting the project recently, adding that the port was expected to be operational next year.

Accompanied by state-owned port operator PT Pelindo IV president director Doso Agung, Budi said when the project was completed, it was expected to gear up economic activities in the eastern Indonesian province.

The port is being developed to expand its capacity to make more efficient loading and unloading activities to boost exports and imports. It will help industries in the province develop more, Budi said, adding that Pelindo should collaborate with industries to optimize the function of the new port.

The Makassar New Port, whose construction cost reached Rp 1.6 trillion (US$108 million), will be integrated with a bonded zone logistics center and with a 150-kilometer railway network from Makassar to the town of Parepare, which is now under construction.

Initially, the railway project was set to be completed next year, but the government missed the target due to financial shortage. Up to September, only 40 km of railway tracks have been built.

Budi said many projects in other provinces also faced similar problems for similar reasons. (bbn)
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Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14 2018

Galih Pambudi, 34, suffered injuries to his mouth, throat and vocal chords in a motorbike accident back in 2005. After the accident, he developed a speech impediment and became depressed because of his inability to communicate as smoothly as before.

To cope with my situation, I started to learn sign language, he told The Jakarta Post over the telephone on Thursday.

At first he learned American Sign Language (ASL) through lessons with Ade Wirawan, an expert in sign language and prominent deaf figure. He also learned ASL independently through YouTube videos.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 14, 2018 12:22 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772e55ba 1 National police,security,WorldBank,IMF-WB-meeting,IMF,#IMFWBG Free

At least 5,823 police personnel will be deployed to secure the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) Meeting, slated to be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from Oct. 8 to 14, the Bali Police have said.

"More than 5,800 police personnel from the Bali Police and the National Police will be deployed to secure the IMF-WB meetings," Bali Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. I Wayan Sunartha said as quoted by Antara on Thursday.

A total of 189 member countries of the World Bank and IMF are slated to attend the meetings, with an estimated number of attendees of between 15,000 and 20,000, comprising high-ranking state officials, businesspeople, academics and representatives of civil society organizations.

Aside from ensuring security for VIP guests, the Bali Police also established a sub-task force to improve safety in certain areas prior to the meetings.

Over 600 closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems connected to the Bali Police headquarters command center have also been installed across the island.

Traffic restrictions will also be imposed, particularly during the events dinner reception at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park on Oct. 12 which 2,500 delegates are expected to attend.

The route from hotels in Nusa Dua to the GWK is a busy, one-way street, Sunartha said.

"We must be on alert [of possible traffic jams] and we have also run a simulation [in anticipation]," he said. (afr/swd)
Sixteen-year-old victim of human trafficking Entin Suntini (left), cries as she meets her mother at the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) in Jakarta on Thursday. Entin was found in Selangor, Malaysia, after she was reportedly trafficked from her hometown. The police said it had uncovered two human trafficking syndicates, identified as Moroccan and Malaysian networks, and arrested eight suspects. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)(left), cries as she meets her mother at the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) in Jakarta on Thursday. Entin was found in Selangor, Malaysia, after she was reportedly trafficked from her hometown. The police said it had uncovered two human trafficking syndicates, identified as Moroccan and Malaysian networks, and arrested eight suspects. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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Linkedin Andrew Beatty (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia  Fri, September 14, 2018 12:42 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772e6270 2 World #Australia,#Media,#racism,Australia,media,Racism,Serena-Williams Free

Australia is by most measures one of the world's most successful multicultural societies, but a controversial cartoon of Serena Williams has rekindled accusations it is also inveterately racist.

Australia should be a poster-child for diversity: One-in-two Australians has a parent born abroad. The economy has been growing for 27 straight years. Crime is barely a worry. Melbourne and Sydney dominate rankings of the best places in the world to live.

Visit any medium-size human habitation on the mind-bendingly large continent and it's obvious that Australia is the proverbial melting pot -- Kiwis, Chinese, Irish, Filipinos, Brits, Vietnamese, Italians, Indians, Greeks and Lebanese at every turn.

But this racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity contrasts sharply with a lingering image of Australia as an angry white country stuck in the past.

It was an impression underscored by foreign outrage about an Australian cartoonist's depiction of a fat-lipped and masculine Serena Williams, and the collective shrug it prompted Down Under.

After the drawing was published, a CNN opinion piece described Australia as "the nicest racist country you will ever see" and the New York Times thundered that "Australia has never fully confronted its own history of racism."

Many Australians admit there is a problem.

The legacy of European settlers terrorising Aboriginal communities looms large, and inequality between the two groups remains staggering.

Racial epithets are still tossed around in a way that makes visitors' jaws drop. A "White Australia" immigration policy, only fully dismantled in the 1970s, and more recently off-shore migrant detention centres have also done much to frame the modern image of Australia abroad.

But many Australians also believe the problem can be overstated.

"There is an element in Australian society that is racist," said John Blaxland, a professor of International Security at the Australian National University. "But every country has them. Name a country that doesn't."

He insists the reality of modern Australia is a "vibrant, booming, multicultural society" that integrates almost 200,000 migrants a year -- the equivalent of the United States taking three million people.

"Australia is a success story!" he insisted. "We're really hopeless at selling that message. People are dying to get here, literally and metaphorically. It is such a coveted place to be, why is that so? It's not because of racism."

- Powerful white men -

As real as the problems in race relations are, popular stereotypes have also played their part framing Australia as a racist nation.

Ask any foreigner to name a famous Australian and they are likely to cite the endearing yet uncultured "Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee" -- well before indigenous rights activist Eddie Mabo or pioneering social reformer Edith Cowan.

Today experts point to a coarsening of Australia's politics and a powerful right-leaning media that has turbocharged the impression of a country that is socially tone-deaf.

Duncan McDonnell, a professor at Griffith University's school of governance, sees immediate roots of that politics in the Liberal Party's decision to co-opt right wing messages in the 1990s, giving the politics of prejudice a mainstream platform.

Figures like populist firebrand Pauline Hanson, once on the fringes, found their ideas firmly at the centre of public debate.

The strategy was "on one hand to shoot the messenger and on the other hand steal part of their message."

"They started being much more explicitly harsh on immigration and also on issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders."

Creaking infrastructure and stagnant wages growth have helped give populist messages more purchase.

- 'Monetisation of racism' -

That hard-line message has been amplified by Australia's conservative press -- on Sky News and in print media outlets like the Herald-Sun which printed the Serena cartoon not once, but twice.

Both are owned by Rupert Murdoch and like his properties in Britain and America, simultaneously channel populist sentiment and steer it further to the right.

Australia's former race discrimination commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, describes what he sees a "monetisation of racism."

Some Australian media -- which is still overwhelmingly male and white -- have embraced hard-line views as a business model to counteract shrinking audiences, he told AFP.

"You only need to look at the Herald-Sun's response to get an indication of how that works. You try to take advantage of the outrage, you try to run with it as your front page and that's your coverage for the next two days."

Data from the Australian National University suggests Australians have -- with some ebbs and flows -- actually become markedly more tolerant over the last three decades.

Its tracking of public opinion on key issues since 1987 has found that attitudes toward indigenous Australians and asylum seekers have softened dramatically.

Soutphommasane insists racism is a serious problem, but Australia's media and her politicians, which garner so much attention, "do not reflect the multicultural character of Australia."
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Bangkok, Thailand  Fri, September 14, 2018 18:06 1151 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308772f5616 2 World #Thailand,#military,Thailand,junta-government,sedition,T-shirt Free

Thailand's military has charged four people with sedition after seizing T-shirts allegedly promoting republicanism, a legal aid group said Friday, the latest crackdown on political activism as the kingdom prepares for long-delayed elections.

The arrests began September 6 when authorities found one woman in possession of 400 T-shirts promoting the "Thai Federation" movement that seeks to turn the constitutional monarchy into a republic, according to a representative from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group.

Republicanism is a taboo topic in Thailand where even perceived criticism of the monarchy can lead to 15 years in prison under draconian lese majeste laws.

Political activity has also been banned since a 2014 military coup deposed the civilian government and as the countdown begins for the kingdom's first election in four years, authorities have ramped up pressure on activists.

Three of those arrested have been released on bail, according to a representative from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

"All four suspects are charged with sedition and illegal association," said lawyer Pawinee Chumsri. "These offences each carry a maximum prison term of seven years."

The three released will be summoned to a court where a prosecutor will decide if they are to be indicted or freed.

The Thai Federation movement has no on-the-ground presence in Thailand and appears to be mainly active online, with support from Thais living overseas.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said earlier this week the group is based in Laos and is affiliated with an activist who fled the country because of lese majeste charges.

Prawit also played down the group's importance, saying that the group "doesn't carry any weight and they are just trying to incite people on social media to think of separatism to create a new republic."

Human Rights Watch's Sunai Phasuk said he does not know much about the group, but since the suspects have not engaged in violence, their actions are considered "peaceful".

"The government should exercise restraint and they should not be pressing serious charges against them like sedition," Sunai said.

Defense Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said the authorities are investigating the Thai Federation's purpose and the people involved in it.
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Linkedin Mounir Mahjoubi (The Jakarta Post) Paris  Sat, September 15 2018

My presence in Jakarta on Sept. 17 is the third visit of a French minister to Indonesia in the last two years only, and this does not include the state visit of former president Francois Hollande last year. This particular attention demonstrates the strong interest France is putting to its strategic relationship with Indonesia, which we recognize for what it is: the largest economy of Southeast Asia, a global economic power, a strong partner within the G20 but overall a friend with which to discuss a broad range of issues crucial for the future of our economies, our societies and our planet.



As a minister for digital affairs, I am of course particularly keen to understand better the sheer magnitude of the transformation undergoing in Indonesia thanks to the widespread use of digital tools: a more diversified economy, an improved productivity, new financing tools and better inclusion of the informal sector, for instance.



The Indonesian startup ecosystem plays a major role in this remodeling of what we must stop calling the new economy: we are already living in the digital era. I had the pleasure to meet with fantastic, young, brilliant and dynamic representatives of Indonesian startups during the Vivatech fair in Paris, and I am looking forward to meeting more entrepreneurs during my visit here, especially while visiting the Kibar incubator.



I will also have the privilege to get to know more about the fabulous Indonesian unicorn Go-Jek, which I have heard so much about. The potential for more startups, more unicorns, more growth, is there, and France wishes not only to understand how the ecosystem works, but is also dedicated to play a major role in its development.



The French government, through the French Development Agency of the French Treasury tools of financing made available to Indonesia, is a staunch supporter of Indonesia to achieve its ambitious infrastructure strategy. Our companies, world leaders in the telecommunications, digital and satellite sectors, stand ready to cooperate to participate in this endeavor.

But along these fantastic opportunities lies a compelling challenge of responsibility.
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Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, September 15 2018

Indonesia has formally proposed a joint ground force exercise during a trilateral meeting with Malaysia and the Philippines in Manila on Friday.

The meeting discussed regional security cooperation especially the handling of terrorism and radicalism, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said all three countries have conducted maritime and air patrols before and would continue with land exercises.
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Linkedin Vela Andapita (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali  Sat, September 15 2018

For Jimas Ifandy Baskara, attending an international youth camp on tobacco issues was a new experience. On Friday morning, the 18-year-old tobacco control activist presented a campaign idea to support a tobacco control movement that was initiated by his team, which comprises youths from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India.

He flew all the way from Padang, West Sumatra, and joined 50 other youngsters from 15 countries to attend the camp, which was held alongside the 12th Asia-Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT) in Nusa Dua, Bali.

We proposed an idea to establish an antitobacco youth alliance in the region. This is important to ensure that the movement against the tobacco industry continues for years to come, he told The Jakarta Post after his
You have likely heard about the high profile victors in yesterdays New York State Primary Election.

Governor Andrew Cuomo easily defeated challenger Cynthia Nixon, Tish James won the race for Attorney General on the Democratic side and incumbent Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul barely squeezed out a win against Jumaane Williams. Meanwhile, six members of the Independent Democratic Conference, state senators who collaborated with Republicans, went down to defeat.

But what about our Lower East Side hyperlocal races?

Local activists poured a lot of energy into the contest for a civil court judgeship in District 2. According to unofficial results from the citys Board of Elections, Wendy Li was victorious over Robert Rosenthal 51.9% to 47.7%. There were more than 20,000 votes cast in that race.

In the 65th Assembly District, Christopher Marte won a state Democratic Committee seat. He beat Joseph Garba 64.5% to 34.8%. Marte has, of course, become a familiar name in the past couple of years, having narrowly lost a primary election against City Council member Margaret Chin last year.

Local members of the State Legislature didnt have much to worry about last night. Assembly member Yuh-Line Niou (65th AD) did not have a challenger. Assembly member Harvey Epstein (74th AD) was victorious with 62% of the vote.
Jamel Brinkleys debut short story collection, A Lucky Man, which made the National Book Award Longlist in Fiction, was published by Graywolf Press in May of this year. Brinkley, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, returned to Iowa this past Thursday, where he gave a roundtable discussion and reading at the College. Brinkley sat down with The S&Bs Mira Braneck to discuss the roles of place, intimacy, and gender in his book.

You said at the round table today that this collection is united by place, and the South Bronx and Brooklyn are so consistent and theyre so present in these stories. I was wondering what role place plays in your writing.

Yeah, I think in order for place to be a real thing in my writing it has to be a real thing to the characters. Meaning, I didnt want the Bronx or Brooklyn to be these cardboard cutouts of like, skyscrapers or brownstones or housing projects. I wanted each of these places to exert some force on the characters, whether its a house party in Brooklyn, whether its a tiny apartment in the Bronx, whether its a swimming pool in the suburbsall of these places are doing things to my characters and shaping the way that they think and act and respond to each other.

You also mentioned earlier today that people tend to say that this is a book about masculinity, but that its about a lot of other things as well, so I was wondering what are some of these other things that the book is about.

I think the book is, in addition to masculinity, I think its about brotherhood, its about parent-child relationships, I think its about vulnerability and intimacy. And of course that has to do with masculinity, right, so theres a certain version of masculinity that can only conceive of vulnerability as equaling weakness, as opposed to openness of some kind. Or theres a certain form of masculinity that can only conceive of intimacy as being about sex, right, as opposed to other kinds of closeness that you could have with another person. So with my characters I think I was looking at the way that people are with each other and these relationships and what it means to be vulnerable with someone or intimate with someone, that arent about those other ideas but, you know, about genuine human connections. That was really important for me to write about.

I was about to ask about intimacy in this book, and how you see the different kinds of intimacies operating, and what role they play.

Yeah, I think that the opening story in the collection, the idea that the guys have at the very beginning is intimacy as sex with women, and by the end of that story, you know, theres a very different kind of intimacy, where theyve been undressed. Theyve been literally undressed, but also metaphorically undressed in front of each other, they see each other in a new way and they see themselves in new ways. But you know, hopefully from there the collection tackles intimacy in different ways, how you could have intimacy with a stranger, the way that Freddy does with Arlene, in I Happy Am, or the way that someone who is your more or less platonic best friend can be the love of your life, the way that we see it with Curtis and Marvin in A Family. So I think Im just interested in sort of interrogating or piercing through these set notions about what relationships are, and illuminating the various ways that people of all kinds can be intimate with each other.

Yeah, its really refreshing to see different types of intimacy, whether it be sexthere are different types of sex in this book, and then you really explore how sex means different things to different people. But then also, how intimacy is a lot more than sex, and how its inherent in all parts of our lives.

Yes.

Its really refreshing to see that play out, amongst and between men as well.

Yeah, that was important to me. When I was a kid, one thing I remember from elementary school, middle school, high school, is that the only acceptable form of touch between boys, males, was fighting. To hit. And it wasnt until later, in college and after college, that I really remember embracing my male friends and having it not be something you give a second though to, or that you sort of shrink from. Just sort of being comfortable around each others bodies, first of all, I think is important, but then talking to each other, revealing your emotions, your thoughts, your fears, that kind of intimacy, I think is also something that I did not see when I was very young. Youre supposed to withhold that stuff, right. Youre supposed to pretend you dont even have those things. Whereas a lot of the friendships that have meant the most to me with other men have been ones in which were not afraid to be intimate and vulnerable with each other.

Ive heard that you need five positive touches a day.

Oh!

Yeah, so for young men, especially young men that are between [the age of] being parented in a physical way and [partaking in] how we typically view romantic relationships, as involving touchingI cant even imagine how they must not get touched, in positive platonic ways.

Yeah, exactly. And the interesting thing is you see it in very little kids, very little kids are not afraid to touch each other.

Theyll climb all over you.

Yeah. And its great! We sort of get away from that when we get socialized into roles and stuff like that, and of course, you want every touch to be a safe touch.

Yeah.

But its striking how much those walls get build up between people, especially between men.

Can you talk about, and theres a lot of different women in this book, but can you talk about the women in this book?

Yeah, Id love to talk about them. With the exception of Rhonda, in Wolf and Rhondashes the only point-of-view character in the book who is a woman, really. You get little hints of Lena in A Family. So in that sense, they dont get point-of-view privilege, in that sense, the women are a little peripheral in a weird way. And Ive thought a lot about that, when I was writing and putting together the collection, because even though the collection focuses mainly on men, I wanted the women to be memorable and not be objects of desire or these sort of mannequin figures, you know? So how do you do that, how do you write in these women who are being looked at or observed by these men but not have them be reduced to how the men are viewing them. And for me the important thing with the women was to see around the limitations of the main characters, and try to present the women in moments, because theyre peripheral, but present them directly to the readers, so you sort of see them for who they are. So one example that comes to mind is Infinite Happiness. Cody is desired by both of the male characters in that story, in a sexual way, but it was important for me to try to get a sense of her inner life. So theres one point where shes talking about books, and the library, and how much she reads or the music that she listens to. And it was important for me to get that little glimpse of her, aside from the way that the narrator is looking at her or the way that the other male character is looking at her. So in other words, any opportunity that I had for those women to take the stage, I tried to take full advantage of it. Which was challenging technically, because the book is primarily about men, but I tried to take advantage of the moments where you see them other than the men are seeing them.

Two of the women that I found most fascinating were Sybil and Noamie, from  No More Than a Bubble.  That first story, it caught me off guard in the best way, and it totally hooks the reader. Im just so curious, where did the inspiration come from, and for those women? If youre willing to divulge.

The basic inspiration came from experiences Ive had throwing house parties, like the ones that those guys when to in Brooklyn, and  much like that party, tons of people would show uppeople we knew, people we didnt know who just heard about it. It would be all these really interesting beautiful people who would show up. And at that ageI was young, I was just out of college, and it was just the most exciting thing in the world to me. You would fall in love every party, that kind of thing. But the inspiration for those two women, the way I sort of see their journey in the story is first, they walk in, theyre seen visually, and the guys like how they look. Then they start listening to them, and they dont understand what the women are saying. Which they take as a judgement on the women, like oh, these women are loopy, or whatever. But really every friend group has its own private language, right? And those two guys have their own private language, actually. So one thing I want to suggest to the reader is even though were getting mostly these guys impression of these women, the women are as rich and as complicated as the two guys themselves, or at least as the narrator.

If not more so.

If not more so. Yeah! Right, exactly, at least as complicated if not more so. And then theres a sense of guys being on the prowl, which would suggest prey, predator and prey. But these women are in control the entire time, you know? And it just slowly dawns on them that these women are in control. And thats often what, when I was younger, especially, thats often when my relationship with women I liked felt likelike they were in control and I wasnt. And I liked that! I liked that, because there are so many instances where thats not the case. Or where depictions of women are such that its not the case. I wanted them to be powerful, I wanted them to exert control, I wanted them to sort of force these two guys into a situation that they didnt foresee, that was really important to me.

Yeah, its funny, because theyre college age, and like you said, its the depiction of women. A lot of my woman friends, especially who are in heterosexual relationships, are totally in control the whole time.

Yeah! Yeah, yes.

And were totally portrayed as not being in control. It fascinates me, because its so transparent that, especially at this age.  But the age that [the characters] are, its so funny to watch.

Right, and part of the power comes from we, [as in] the women, know exactly what you guys are thinking. Its so see-through, we know it. So that knowledge, that awareness, the awareness that women have to have, just walking around, is one that it grants power, it makes you powerful.

Thats refreshing. So you said at the round table that this book coheres through obsession. So what are some of your obsessions?

Some of my obsessions are definitely brother relationships. I have a younger brother, and like some of the characters, the brothers, in this book, theres a bit of an age gap between us, and its been difficult to always bridge that gap. Weve sort of gone in and out of times of being close, of being not that close. So just the nature of brotherhood is one of the things that obsesses me. Also, sons and their parents. Fathers, I think, are maybe more prominent in this book, but mothers too. Those relationships. So having father figures, not having father figures, having surrogate father figures, those kinds of things.

Yeah, its so prevalent. I was really fascinated by the different types of fathers, like you just described. Its not just one way.

Yeah, its not just one way, which I think is maybe the most important thing. Sometimes we have this very limiting notion about what a family is. The nuclear family. It has to be a mom and it has to be a dad and it has to be kids. And of course we know that actual families look all kinds of ways. It could be mom-mom, dad-dad, it could be a single parent, you know, whatever.  So, just sort of thinking through what it means to have a father or not have a father or have surrogate fathers, I think was super important to me.

What are you reading right now?

Oh, what am I reading right now? Im finishing a novel called The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon, which is great. I just finished a novel called There, There by a writer called Tommy Orange. Both of which are probably going to be on the National Book Award Long List tomorrow, when it comes out. And Im reading a lot of poetry, I read a lot of poetry, so I always have poetry in the rotation. Terrence Hayes new collection, is really important to me.
By Marnie Monogue

monoguem@grinnell.edu

Grinnell College recently hired a handful of new faculty and staff members, many of whom began working in August.

Mollie Ullestad, the new International Student Adviser, arrived on campus in June, and has already had time to adapt to life in Grinnell and plan for her future time here.

One of my big goals this year is learning [about] the students, and  figuring out what the Grinnell student is like, said Ullestad. But were also starting a new program called the Cultural Ambassadors, which Im a big part of  were sending international students into the local Grinnell schools to facilitate some cultural experiences, which should be really great. Give U.S. kids some experiences with all these different cultures.

Ullestad applied for her current position at Grinnell specifically because of the Colleges high percentage of international students.

My masters is in geography with a focus on international education, so I was looking for [an] environment that  could provide me with a career in that, she said. And, also, Grinnell is such a great school! I just felt it was the best of all worlds.

Ullestad has already adjusted well to life in the town of Grinnell, partly because she is a native Iowan.

Originally, Im from a small town called Jewell, which is about 20 miles north of Ames. Its a very rural community  like, 1,500 people, Ullestad said. Coming from small-town Iowa, you know, growing up, theres not a lot of diversity. And so, a lot of times in order to experience cultural diversity you have to either travel outside of Iowa or go to some of the biggest cities.

Having experienced a lack of cultural diversity growing up, Ullestad recognized an opportunity for greater cultural experience in Grinnell.

Here in Grinnell  Id love to help people get those cultural experiences that maybe they wouldnt have otherwise if it werent for our international students, Ullestad said. I just think theyre such a good resource  I hope Cultural Ambassadors will help [with cultural experiences] within the community, and also maybe make the international students feel, you know, more welcome in this environment, even though it is very welcoming. But, you know, its just different, coming to this place from, say, Asia or Africa.

Newly-appointed Dean of Students Ben Newhouse, who, according to his staff biography, is a native Texan, says his own transition to life in Grinnell has been much like any other.

Its interesting to be the new guy again, or the new person on campus, and to work to get to know the student community. In many ways, it feels like being a first-year student all over again, where you leave an environment that youre well-known and trusted in the role that you serve to seek to find ways to build those relationships and rapport with students, said Newhouse. So, a great joy of my time was to wander around the Organization Fair and introduce myself and get to know students and the really wonderful things theyre doing to contribute to the campus-life experience.

Newhouse applied for his present position at the College for a variety of reasons. I had been the Dean of Students at another college very similar to Grinnell for about six years and really loved serving and supporting students and the community as a whole in that capacity. And, for me, Grinnells role allowed me to expand responsibilities and serve the student community in a slightly, you know, different way, Newhouse said. For me, it was about taking on a challenge, working with a new student population that I found to be incredibly committed to their education, and seemed really wonderful to work with. So, it was a community that I wanted to be a part of. Im excited about the opportunity.

Newhouse emphasized that he found his greatest joy in engaging with students. He enjoys [helping] students figure out what they care about and how they will make that real for themselves and the world both here on campus and beyond that.

According to Newhouse, his biggest goal for his time at Grinnell is to support the educational mission of the institution, both at the most global level possible, but also at the very individualized level.

I value that as the Dean of Students I get to know students one-on-one, sometimes in some really difficult moments, Newhouse said. Ive seen students tackle some really tough stuff across their educational experience and do so with incredible strength and grace and dignity.

Both Newhouse and Ullestad encouraged students to stop into the Student Affairs offices at any time, even to say hello.
By Esther Hwang

hwangest@grinnell.edu

The 2018 national prison strike, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 9, was an important continuation of our societys progress towards prison abolition. Organizers across 17 prisons held work strikes, hunger strikes, sit-ins and protests. Their demands call for an end to modern day slavery.

This strike was a feat of immense grassroots organizational power, and symbolism is tied to the very dates of the strike. The first day of the protest, Aug. 21, commemorates the 47th anniversary of the killing of jailed African American activist George Jackson. The last day, Sept. 9, commemorates the 1971 Attica prison riots in New York, eventually leaving more than 40 people dead when police stormed in to re-take the facility, according to an article from USA Today.

In case anyone wants to support prisoners involved in this national strike, I recommend you read the demands and USA Today article, research about the prison abolition movement in general and, in Iowa, make contacts with organizations, organize a phone zap or fundraise/raise awareness! Even reading and having conversations about what you learn is a form of activism.

Activists right next door to us in Des Moines protested in front of the Iowa Prison Industries office in support of the national strike. Unfortunately, there was no large organized action at Grinnell in support of strikers, but that does not mean there were no amazing Grinnell-affiliated activists working behind the scenes on their own projects. There are people helping prisoners through the Liberal Arts in Prison program. Theres a group of professors who just received a grant to make a school-to-prison coalition. Last fall, Gina Clayton won the Grinnell Prize for her organization the Essie Justice Group which harnesses collective power of women with incarcerated loved ones, and there are many other people doing personal or community work related to supporting the humanity and health of communities affected by mass incarceration.

I didnt really know about prison abolition until a few summers ago when I interned at Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa (now called Monsoon Asian Pacific Islanders in Solidarity), where I had access to an amazing book collection filled with radical female warriors. One of my coworkers lent me his copy of Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis, the queen. Heres a basic rundown of the book, since you probably dont have time to read the actual book:

Prison abolition argues that racism is so deeply interwoven into the fibers of the prison system that the only solution is to abolish it entirely. This does not necessarily mean burning down prisons but restructuring how we think about punishment, especially when the punishment system is so explicitly racist (police are stationed in poor Black communities to arrest them for petty crimes). The reality is that the existence of prison systems paired with a militarized police state is physical and psychological warfare on communities of color. The system is based on punishment rather than restoration, and those released from prisons are thrown back into society with a criminal record that marks them for life  not to mention the toll on family members and communities most affected by mass incarceration (Black and Brown communities).

To no surprise, prisons proliferated under Reagans administration. The first prison in California was built in San Quentin, California in 1852. Within the next century, eight more were built. Reagan became president and prioritized the expansion of the prison industry. Nine prisons were built between 1984 and 1989. Twelve more opened in the 90s. Today, we have 102 federal prisons, not to mention 1,719 state prisons, 942 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,283 local jails and 79 Indian Country jails.

The 2018 prison strike is a big deal, but I didnt hear many people talking about it. I hope this article raises some awareness on the amazing work community organizers are doing, and I hope to see more involvement in the future from the Grinnell community in the prison abolition movement and prison studies in general.

In the words of Max Horkheimer, The Revolution wont happen with guns, rather it will happen incrementally, year by year, generation by generation. We will gradually infiltrate their educational institutions and their political offices, transforming them into Marxist entities as we move towards universal egalitarianism.

P.S. Fuck the prisons.  Malcolm Davis 21.

Prison and reform are two words that sound good together on purpose. The prison industrial complex is itself [a] site of slavery reform after all.  Jin Chang 19.
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MBABANE  Is the much-talked about state capture in SA also existent in the Kingdom of Eswatini?



African Alliance Partner Sthofeni Ginindza has hinted that it would be folly to assume that state capture has been taking place only in neighbouring South Africa.



He warned that Eswatini could also be faced with the same problem.

The reputable economist advised the country to undertake self introspection and not look further from home so as to avoid being captured.

Ginindza strongly warned against state capture tendencies, noting that they could greatly hinder development of the country from being a First World country by 2022 as envisioned by His Majesty King Mswati III.



Emaswati have a misconception that state capture has only been happening in South Africa. Eswatini could also be facing the same problem, hinted Ginindza, during the re-launch of Ligcebesha Fund convened at Royal Swazi Spa Gigis Restaurant on Wednesday evening.

Wikipedia defines state capture as a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a states decision-making processes to their own advantage.



The term state capture was first used by the World Bank to describe the situation in central Asian countries making the transition from Soviet communism. Specifically, it was applied to situations where small corrupt groups used their influence over government officials to appropriate government decision making in order to strengthen their own economic positions; these groups would later become known as oligarchs.



Allegations of state capture have led to protests against the government in Bulgaria in 2013-2014 and Romania in 2017, and have caused an ongoing controversy in South Africa beginning in 2016.



Providing examples on scenarios that make institutions and governments vulnerable to capture, Ginindza said capturing was likely to happen when the chief executive officer, board of directors or government were about to leave office.



He said senior executives and government leaders who were about to vacate office tended to be vulnerable to corruption because they either wanted to safeguard re-appointment or accumulate enough funds and resources to sustain their livelihood.



However, Ginindza clarified that this was not to suggest that the government whose term of office recently came to an end or company executives who have left office recently were captured. Corruption is the biggest threat to development, not only in Eswatini but the rest of Africa and the world. If we were to monetise the benefits accrued from corrupt activities, it would run into millions, said Ginindza.



Further, Ginindza also advised the nation to mutate the country into a First World country, there needs to be a change of mindset among the populace. He said for as long as the people of Eswatini do not embrace innovation, it would be challenging to attain the vision.



The biggest factor which will propel the country into First World status is how the people think and react, which will prompt massive development, added Ginindza.
SITEKI  The marriage of a prominent local pastor is on the rocks following that his wife has filed for divorce.



Thomson Mfanimpela Hlanze, who is also a teacher at Siteki Nazarene Primary School, has been served with divorce papers by lawyers of his wife, Futhi Brightness Hlanze (nee Dlamini).



The couple wedded through civil rites on July 29, 2000 at KaLanga in Siteki but the wife now wants out of the marriage.

In the divorce papers filed at the Siteki Magistrates Court, Futhi cites adultery as a ground for the divorce action. The defendant is currently in an adulterous relationship with an adult married Swazi female of Lukhula to whom he witnessed and blessed her wedding (to her husband) as he was their pastor, alleges Futhi in the court papers.



She alleged to the court, through the divorce papers, that her husband (pastor) had fathered a child out of wedlock with the married church member, with whom they are in an adulterous relationship. This is despite numerous attempts from her (female church member) husband which included verbal and physical confrontation, even at the defendants current workplace, Futhi alleged in her particulars of claim.



She further alleged that during the course of the marriage, her husband (pastor) would confess to having adulterous affairs. He (pastor) continually and persistently ignored to show affection, respect and care to the plaintiff...stating that he (had) no affection to the plaintiff in the process and further expressed his desire to settle with somebody else, further read the wifes court papers.



The wife further submitted, through the court papers, that conjugal rights had since seized between the two parties due to the breakdown of their marriage.

As such, she submitted to the court that her prayers included a final decree of divorce, custody of their minor child, forfeiture of the benefits from the marriage and costs of suits. Pastor Hlanzes attorneys have not yet filed responding papers.



Meanwhile, when the matter appeared before Lubombo Principal Magistrate Dumisani Magagula, attorneys for the wife applied for a trial date. Trial is set for Thursday, stated the magistrate.






MBABANE  The State has abandoned prosecution in the rape matter against well-known private Investigator Hunter Shongwe.



This comes after the Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi dismissed the application by the Crown to declare the minor child as a hostile witness.

The State moved the application after the minor told the court under oath her father never raped her as alleged in the charge sheet.



The minors evidence left the Crown with the impression that she was changing the facts as her testimony was allegedly contrary to what she said during the interview.



As a result, the Crown moved the application to have the child declared a hostile witness. However, the defence counsel from Robinson Betrams objected to the application.



The judicial officer postponed the matter. She stated that she wanted to do a thorough research about a hostile witness.

When the matter resumed yesterday, Magistrate Nhlabatsi dismissed the Crowns application. The judicial officer further advised the Crown to abandon prosecution as the minor was the complainant in the matter.



Shongwe was charged with the offence three years after the matter was reported to the police. He spent some time in custody after he was denied bail during his first appearance.



A doctors report which was presented in court as part of evidence reflected that it was compiled eight months after the matter was reported to the police. The report confirmed that the minor was sexually active; however, it was not linked to Shongwe.



The matter was postponed to November 15, 2018 for the continuation of the other charges which included the contravening of the Immigration Act.


















MBABANE  Talk about money! The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) declared that it had about E532 million profit for the financial year ended in March 2018.



The 2017/2018 profit shows an increase of E388 million compared to the previous year where the company recorded E144 million in profits.

This was announced by EEC Board Chairman Sthofeni Ginindza during a media briefing held at the companys conference room yesterday.



Ginindza said this money would come in handy during the predicted drought period expected to hit the country later this year. He explained that the company could not apply for another tariff hike at this point, so it had to rely on its funds to ensure that it did not have to apply measures such as load-shedding.



Ginindza said these were unqualified accounts. He said the money might look sizable, though it would be used during the drought period. He stated that they were not ignorant of the issue of electricity affordability and were trying to find ways of making electricity affordable.

We are working towards affordability, Ginindza said.



Clarifying the millions of Emalangeni in profits, EEC Managing Director Meshack Kunene said this figure included assets, adding that it was possible that the actual monitory profit after deductions was around E3 million.



Expanding on the drought, Kunene said they were keeping tabs on weather predictions, as that had an effect on their business. He said the weather contributed to their predictions as to how much tariff hike they would apply for next year from Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (EERA). He explained that the likelihood of rain informed them how much electricity they were likely to produce.
MANZINI  A chiefdom councillor (Bucopho), together with his family members, were left critically ill after being exposed to an unknown poisonous substance.



Mduduzi Mndzebele, who contested and won as Bucopho under Mafutseni Constituency during the Primary Elections held over two weeks ago, was rushed to Mkhiwa Clinic after he collapsed in town last week Tuesday.



He said he had left his home in Mafutseni on the same morning as he had to drop off some documents at the Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) Office.

Before I left, I drank some water from the outside tank, which the whole family utilises. When I got to town, I felt weak and decided to go to a pharmacy to get some medication.

I was given a few tablets and before I knew it, the situation became worse. I was vomiting, shaking and sweating at the same time. I was told that I collapsed, however, I found myself admitted to hospital. Before I knew it, my whole family, being my wife, brother, grandmother and three-year-old child, were all admitted in hospital with the same symptoms, Mndzebele said.



It was gathered that medical doctors confirmed that Mndzebele and the other family members had ingested a poisonous substance. It is suspected that the poisonous substance was put in the water tank.



When asked if he had any suspects in mind, Mndzebele said he had no idea and did not want to speculate.

My whole family uses the water, we could not have been poisoned through food. I suspect that the culprits opened the water tank from above and poured whatever substance inside, he said



One of Mndzebeles relatives, who was found at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital where his grandmother, Carolina Tfwala is still admitted, revealed that some people were not comfortable with the fact that her niece had once again won as the areas Bucopho.

This will be his second term as Bucopho of the area.

The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was not informed about the incident.
NHLANGANO  Some schools were found with empty classrooms. This, after thousands of teachers abandoned work to vote for the authorisation of a mass strike action proposed for next week.

The teachers joined other civil servants, who started the balloting process for the authorisation of the industrial action, which marks a hectic negotiation season for their employer.



Government is currently at loggerheads with its employees over a cost-of-living adjustment dispute.

Yesterdays voting process follows the uncertainty which marked the first day of schools, as parents had not been sure of whether to release children, as by the end of last week, there were already rumours doing rounds that teachers would not be going to work.



While the day began with empty classrooms for some, other schools had their lessons disrupted as teachers locked themselves in meetings behind closed doors in their staffrooms immediately after the morning prayer sessions.



This was where the decision to release the pupils was eventually taken.

Thereafter, all roads led to the different centres across the country where the teachers held their vote. The plan to go ahead with a mass strike action countrywide gained momentum over the past week after negotiations over the cost-of-living adjustment with government deadlocked.



This was after government offered a zero per cent increase for the civil servants salaries, citing economic hardships. Public servants unions, including teachers under the banner of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), subsequently proposed the strike authorisation vote.



Our hands are still open for a better offer from the employer. But as things stand, the negotiation didnt yield any positive result, which resulted in where we are today, explained SNAT Secretary General Zwelithini Mndzebele, when called upon to elaborate on the balloting process.



Mndzebele said details on the outcome of the vote could be expected early next week, after the completion of the counting process with CMAC.

The situation, once again, throws a deep pall of uncertainty over whether pupils would be able to go back to class, with parents being the most worried as some of the children especially those writing external exams  are expected to sit for their papers in a few weeks time.
The number of visitors to Greece's famed archaeological sites and museums grew by 18.2 percent in May this year compared to last, official figures published on Friday showed.

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), free-admission visits rose 20.2 percent year-on-year, while takings from tickets increased 18.7 percent.

Visits to archaeological sites in May rose 21.5 percent, with free-admission visitors up by 28.8 percent and ticket takings by 18.5 percent. Museum visits, meanwhile, grew 18.2 percent, with a 20.2 percent increase in free-admission entries and 19.7 percent in takings.

During the first five months of 2018, archaeological sites performed better than museums, with visits to the former rising 19.4 percent (15.1 pct free-admission and takings 20 pct) and to the latter 9.2 percent (5.5 pct free-admission and takings 14.3 pct).

Read more at ekathimerini.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
The Cohen Group, a global business advisory firm, has announced plans to launch a Saudi Arabia office.

Located in Riyadh, this new office will serve as the hub for the firm's operations in the region.

"Our decision to open a permanent Middle East office in Riyadh signifies our continued commitment to providing the highest level of support to our clients across all sectors," said The Cohen Group's chairman and CEO, former US senator and Secretary of Defence Bill Cohen.

The office will be led by Allison Nour, a senior director at the firm. An Arabist with deep experience living and working in the region, she has played an integral role in helping The Cohen Group's clients navigate and develop their business in the region since she joined the firm in 2015.

Nour previously worked at the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Democratic Institute, the US Senate and in Egypt in academia.

The work of the Middle East Regional Office will continue to draw on senior leaders in The Cohen Group with deep experience in the Middle East and around the world. In addition to Secretary Cohen, these include:

 General Joseph Ralston, former Nato Supreme Allied Commander and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

 Ambassador Marc Grossman, former US Ambassador to Turkey, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and former US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan;

 Ambassador Nicholas Burns, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and US Ambassador to Nato and Greece;

 General Paul Kern, former Commander of the Army Materiel Command and the Senior Adviser for Army Research, Development and Acquisition;

 Lord George Robertson, former Nato Secretary General and Defense Minister of the United Kingdom.

Formed in 2001, The Cohen Group comprises more than 60 professionals with many decades of combined experience working in top-level positions in Congress, the White House, the State Department, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community, other federal agencies, and in European and Asian governments, international organisations and the private sector.

With offices in Washington, London, Beijing, Tianjin, New Delhi, and Brisbane, The Cohen Group provides its clients the insights and intelligence needed to better understand and shape the business, political, legal, regulatory, and media environments in which they operate. This includes both developing strategic business plans to help clients achieve their objectives, and actively participating with clients in the execution of those plans.

The Cohen Group practice groups include Aerospace & Defense; Homeland Security; Middle East; China; India; Telecommunications and Information Technology; Energy & Resources; Transportation & Logistics; Health Care & Life Sciences; Financial Services & Investment; and Real Estate, serving clients in North America, East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa and Latin America. - TradeArabia News Service
FlexTrade OMS Heads 'Down Under'

Sydney, September 10, 2018  FlexTrade Systems (@FlexTrade) announced it is working with Australian-based, online broker Bell Direct to use FlexOMS to facilitate Smart Order Router Algo strategies for the Australian market (ASX and Chi-X Australia).

According to Lee Muco, COO of Bell Direct, choosing FlexTrade was a strategic choice. We needed a system that would cater to our existing workflow while also considering the new workflow requirements of the Australian markets.

FlexTrades technology fit the bill on all counts and matched our commitment to provide clients with the best in brokerage services, added Muco.

We are thrilled to partner with Bell Direct, said Dan Enstedt, Vice President of Business Development for FlexTrades Sydney-based operations covering Australia and New Zealand. It is a premier online brokerage service for the region and we look forward to a long-term relationship in which FlexTrades cutting-edge technology empowers both firms to grow and expand in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Designed as a global, multi-asset platform, FlexOMS provides sell-side institutions with a complete end-to-end solution across multiple desks, trading styles and regions, and streamlines the trading process from receipt of client orders to the post-trade analytics of execution.

Muco continued, One of our primary concerns was finding a firm that would be there for us as our trading requirements change and increase. FlexTrades platform is scalable, and its exceptional technical expertise and development capabilities in smart order routing and algo trading were key factors in our decision to move forward with the system deployment.

According to Sandeep Subramani, Pre-Sales and Technical Adviser for FlexTrade, the flexibility of FlexTrades smart order router allows Bell Direct to fully control the routing sequence they want to target across both dark and lit venues.

Different routing configurations can be applied at any level, allowing for different end-client execution requirements to be met, said Subramani. In addition, we are also excited with plans to provide Bell Direct with access to international markets as well as increasing its algorithmic trading capabilities.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Campaigner Tuenjai Deetes has devoted her life to improving the lives of stateless hill tribe communities in northern Thailand.  UNHCR/Rachapon Riansiri

Natee grew up with no nationality, like thousands of hill tribe children in northern Thailand. Statelessness can compound poor living conditions, preventing access to health services and education, leading to discrimination and, often, a lifetime of uncertainty.

Natees life was transformed with the help of Tuenjai Deetes, who came to her village as a volunteer in 1973 to teach the Thai language.

Tuenjai helped everyone in my village, and other hill tribe communities, Natee says. She helped us to acquire Thai nationality, to have basic rights that everyone is entitled to.

Tuenjai has been nominated as the regional finalist for Asia in the 2018 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. The annual award celebrates those who have gone to extraordinary lengths to support refugees and asylum seekers, stateless persons, and the internally displaced.

It is named in honour of Norwegian explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen, the first High Commissioner for Refugees appointed by the League of Nations in 1921.

I dreamt of an inclusive society where diversity is embraced.

Tuenjai was 20 when she began her work with poor hill tribes in Chiang Rai province. Over the next four decades, she came to understand the severe difficulties they faced because of their lack of nationality, and worked to overcome them.

When I first started working, around 40 years ago, there were not many people in Thailand who understood the issue and gave importance to resolving statelessness successfully, Tuenjai, now 66, told UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

Tuenjai Deetes, Asia region finalist for the 2018 Nansen Refugee Award (Kathryn Porteous, producer / Shi Han Liu, editor / Rachapon Riansiri, videographer)

I dreamt of an inclusive society where diversity is embraced, and all people can fully exercise their rights and develop their potential.

She co-founded the Hill Area Development Foundation (HADF), which works to develop self-reliant communities, promoting education, sustainable agricultural practices and leadership.

Since then, she has received numerous awards and accolades. She was elected as a senator for Chiang Rai Province in 2000 and then appointed as a member of the National Legislative Assembly in 2006.

I had education, health care, and I felt safe when I travelled.

As a legislator, she has worked to implement two vital laws concerning nationality and civil registration. This paved the way for hundreds of thousands of stateless people in Thailand to apply for nationality.

Formerly stateless women from the Lisu hill tribe chat to Tuenjai Deetes, 2018 Nansen Award finalist for Asia.  UNHCR/Rachapon Riansiri

Natee, a formerly stateless woman from the Lahu hill tribe, shows a photograph of her university graduation  UNHCR/Rachapon Riansiri

A formerly stateless man from the Lisu hill tribe shows his ID card in northern Thailand. He was supported by 2018 Nansen Award finalist for Asia, Tuenjai Deetes, in applying for citizenship.  UNHCR/Rachapon Riansiri

At least 10 million people worldwide are denied a nationality. As a result, they often are not allowed to attend school, visit a doctor, get a job or even marry. However, over the years, statelessness in Thailand has declined considerably and, since 2008, more than 90,000 people have acquired nationality. Thanks to Tuenjai, Natee is one of them.

If we dont have Thai nationality, we dont have rights, we are invisible, says Natee, now aged 42. After I acquired nationality, I had rights like others do, I felt confident, I was no longer disadvantaged. I had a better quality of life, I had education, health care, and I felt safe when I travelled.

Tuenjai became a National Human Rights Commissioner in 2015 and continues to campaign for the stateless, working to improve conditions for hill tribe communities.

See also: Nansen Award finalist gives girls in Jordan a sporting chance

German mayor sets example of how to welcome refugees

Women of the World helps refugees adjust to life in US
Rohingya crisis, one year on: Ensuring lifesaving support for mothers and children

In the four days it took her family to flee from violence in Myanmar to safety in Bangladesh, 25-year-old Tahara endured a journey plagued by monsoon rains, armed forces and lack of food. When she crossed the border, UNHCR met her most urgent needs, including health care and nutrition for her four-month-old daughter Shahana.
Hospital fire claims 3 kids 09 Nov 2021 | 12:50 AM Bhopal, Nov 8 (UNI) Three minors died in a blaze caused by a short circuit on Monday within the childrens ward at the government-run Kamla Nehru Hospital here.

Expressing grief over the loss of life, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, Additional Chief Secretary Mohammed Suleman will conduct an inquiry. My condolences to the kin. I wish the injured a rapid recovery.



Chaos prevailed at the hospital here after the fire erupted at about 2100 hrs. see more..

Nashik: 4 killed in bike-truck collision 09 Nov 2021 | 12:29 AM Nashik, Nov 8 (UNI) Four persons including three girls were killed on the spot when a motor-cyce in which they were travelling was dashed by truck on ghoti-Mundhegan road Near Ghoti in Igatpuri taluka of the district on Monday evening. see more..

Stolen proclain machine traced after three months using IT 09 Nov 2021 | 12:19 AM Kakinada, Nov 8 (UNI) A procline machine which was stolen while it was parked at a village deity temple in Kotapadu village along the ADB road on August 12, has at last been traced by the police, using the information technology after nearly three months intensive investigation ,police said. see more..
New Delhi, Sep 14 (UNI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday embarked on a three-nation, week-long

visit to Serbia, Malta and Romania which culminates on September 21.

Besides strengthening Indias bilateral ties with these three countries, the eight-day visit will help the countries

to exchange expertise and share knowledge in the fields of economy, environment, trade and culture, an

official release here said.

In the first leg of his visit, the Vice President will reach the Serbian capital of Belgrade where he will address members of the Indian diaspora the same evening.

He is scheduled to interact with the heads of states of all the three countries and witness the signing of

MoUs. As Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, he scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with his counterparts

and address their respective Parliaments.

He is accompanied by Union Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla and Members of Parliament

Ms Vijila Sathyananth, Prasanna Acharya and Ms Saroj Pandey, all Rajya Sabha MPs and Raghav

Lakhanpal, Lok Sabha MP.

In Serbia, Mr Naidu will attend the official welcome ceremony on Saturday and proceed to Serbia Palace

to hold a tete-a-tete meeting with Serbain President Aleksander Vucic. Both the leaders will witness signing

of MoUs and release commemorative stamps on Nikola Tesla and Swami Vivekananda. A joint press statement

will follow the event.

He is also slated to attend the India-Serbia Business Forum meet and later join the banquet hosted by Mr

Vucic. The Vice President will hold delegation level talks with the Speaker of the National Assembly of

Republic of Serbia Ms Maja Gajkovic and later address the special session of the National Assembly before

attending the presentation on the Belgrade Waterfront Project.

MORE UNI SD SHK1522
United Kingdom, 14 September 2018

RAK Petroleum plc, the Oslo-listed oil and gas investment company, today released its Half-Year Financial Report for the period ended 30 June 2018. A copy is attached and is available at http://www.rakpetroleum.uk/Investor-relations/Reports-and-presentations/Financial-reporting/Annual-reports.

*****************

For further queries, please contact:

Kevin Toner, Managing Director

RAK Petroleum plc

Email: kevin.toner@rakpetroleum.uk

RAK Petroleum plc is an Oslo Brs listed oil and gas investment company established under the laws of England and Wales as a public limited company. Its principal holdings are 40.45 percent of DNO ASA and 33.33 percent of Foxtrot International LDC held through Mondoil Enterprises, LLC. Founded in 1971 and listed on the Oslo Brs since 1981, DNO ASA is a Norwegian exploration and production company focused on the Middle East and the North Sea with interests in oil and gas blocks in various stages of exploration, development and production, both onshore and offshore. Foxtrot International LDC is a privately-held company active in West Africa whose principal asset is a 27.27 percent interest in and operatorship of Block CI-27 offshore Cote d'Ivoire.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the soft-spoken, senior-most Supreme Court Judge will be sworn-in as the next Chief Justice of India on October 3, 2018.

Born in Assam on November 18, 1954, Justice Gogoi enrolled as an advocate in 1978 and practiced taxation and company matters at the Gauhati High Court. He was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court on February, 2001.

On February 2011, he was appointed as Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Gogoi was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court on April 23, 2012.

He is the son of former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Keshab Chandra Gogoi.

Justice Gogoi will be the Chief Justice for about 13 months, till he retires on November 17, 2019.

Known for his deep and wide knowledge on legal and constitutional matters, Justice Gogoi was one of the four Judges, who conducted a press conference, for the first time in the history of the apex court, bringing up the issue of assigning sensitive cases and other matters related to the Supreme Court.

Justice Gogoi pronounced the famous judgement, banning the use of politicians' photos in the government advertisements, saying tax payers' money should not be used for political gains.

The Court also ruled that only the President, the Prime Minister and the CJI's photos were to be used in the advertisements.

Later, Justice Gogoi's bunch modified the judgement and allowed to use the Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors and state Ministers in government advertisements.

Justice Gogoi monitored the progress made by the government on the appointment of Lokpal.

He is also monitoring the sensitive Assam NRC case.

His judgement against the Uttar Pradesh State Law, which allowed former Chief Ministers to retain their bungalows, staff and perks, forced several former Chief Ministers in the state to vacate the bungalows, they continued to occupy after quitting office.

Another important matter heard by Justice Gogoi's bench was the appeals filed by the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, for remission of their life sentence.

His recent statement on democracy, 'independent journalists and sometimes noisy judges' in today's context, was widely discussed.

UNI KNA RJ 1016
VFS encouraging new business ideas & entrepreneurship

Kolkata, Sep 14 (UNI) Dr. Kuldeep Maity, MD & CEO, VFS, was being invited as a jury

panellist during the final round of pitching and showcasing of business ideas in Y4BIZ

(Youth For Business) Program Finale recently.

This initiative in collaboration with the American Center, Kolkata and Nexus Incubator;

New Delhi is supporting promising and early stage entrepreneurs from eastern India to

develop their business ideas.

Y4BIZs is created with a goal to create an ecosystem for nurturing entrepreneurship

and encouraging youth to take it as their preferred career and life choices.

Promising entrepreneurs, selected through an on-line business idea contest from

West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar were taken through a specially designed

online capacity building program run by the IC Institute, University of Texas, Austin

followed by a business skill development program delivered by The Strategy Academy.

A 4 day long residential boot camp was held in May 2018 and 15 participants were

shortlisted for the Y4BIZ Program Finale. The business ideas include technology

enabled services, health and education, food, lifestyle, energy and others.

The participants were awarded on basis of the most promising business idea, the

most innovative business idea and the most impactful business idea

The US general consulate was also one of the Jury members with Dr Kuldip Maity.

The US general consulate has appreciated & acknowledged the contribution and

work that VFS have made in rural India.

UNI XC BM
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WELCOME ADDRESS BY SIMONETTA DI PIPPO

DIRECTOR

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

First United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy

11-13 September 2018

Moscow, Russian Federation



Your Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, it is my honor to welcome you to our First United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy. We present this event in cooperation with the Government of the Russian Federation and with sponsorship from ROSCOSMOS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the ROSCOSMOS Academy.

I would particularly like to thank the moderators, speakers and rapporteurs of each theme, who have decided to give us their time and expertise to ensure that we all get the most out of this Conference. I would also like to extend my deep appreciation to the Government of the Russian Federation for their generosity in assisting us in holding this remarkable event.

Distinguished Participants,

Since 2002, the Office for Outer Space Affairs has been organizing a series of capacity-building workshops on space law and policy. 10 workshops have been successfully held in cooperation with the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Brazil, Nigeria, Ukraine, Islamic Republic of Iran, Thailand, Argentina, China, and at the UN premises in Vienna, Austria.

The Office is now starting a new expanded phase in its capacity-building efforts, through a new series of dedicated United Nations Conferences on Space Law and Policy. This first Conference will focus on the topical issues of concern to the broader space community, such as peaceful uses of outer space and capacity-building in space law and policy.

Distinguished Participants,

Over decades, the United Nations General Assembly, in its annual resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, has reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing international law, including international space law. International space law is essential for governing international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The annual resolution also reaffirms the importance of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space.

The General Assembly, through this resolution, also recognizes that all Member States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

The General Assembly further requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes.

The General Assembly agrees that the Committee should continue to consider the broader perspective of space security and associated matters instrumental for the safe and responsible conduct of space activities, including ways to promote international cooperation, including regional and interregional cooperation, to that end.

Each year, since 2015, the General Assembly, in its resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, also encourages the Office for Outer Space Affairs to conduct capacity-building and outreach activities associated with space security and transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities, as appropriate, and within the context of the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

In this context, the Office, together with its partners, is pleased to be the organizer of this Conference on space law and policy. This Conference will contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 16 which is devoted to "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".

Distinguished Participants,

I would also like to highlight the outcomes and successes of the UNISPACE+50 event, which we organised in Vienna this past June. UNISPACE+50 brought together the international community to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and set out the future course of global space cooperation. At UNISPACE+50, Member States endorsed a dedicated resolution on space as a driver of sustainable development that calls for Member States to develop a "Space2030" agenda and implementation plan, to strengthen the contribution of space to the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Distinguished Participants,

The themes of this Conference meet those overarching objectives. In the coming days, we will discuss topics such as promoting responsible, peaceful and safe use of outer space; legal aspects of space debris mitigation and remediation; space resources exploration, exploitation and utilisation; space traffic management as a part of global governance; and the strengthening of capacity-building in space law and policy.

This Conference will also provide an overview of the legal regime governing the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space. It will examine and compare various aspects of space security in a global space governance perspective. Also, it will address space law and policy in the context of UNISPACE+50 and beyond. Therefore, we wish to achieve the following objectives:

First, to promote awareness and knowledge of the legal and policy aspects and implications, both current and anticipated, of activities in outer space. Second, to draw attention of the authorities and decision makers to issues of progressive development of international space law; Third, to increase public awareness of the existing and possible challenges and threats in the area of outer space activities; Fourth, and lastly, to promote international cooperation in space-related areas in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the work of the "Space2030" Working Group.

Distinguished Participants,

Before closing my welcome address, I would like to recall that the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-building Measures in Outer Space Activities, recommended that coordination be established within the United Nations system on matters related to TCBM in outer space activities, and emphasized the importance of outreach activities.

Thus in 2015 and 2017, the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Office for Disarmament Affairs organized a joint meeting and a joint panel discussion, respectively, of the General Assembly's First and Fourth Committees on possible challenges to space security and sustainability. I'm very proud to underline that these were milestone events delivered by the two Offices as a ONE UN.

Distinguished Participants,

In the coming days, we will have many opportunities to discuss topics connecting legal and policy matters with areas such as governance of space activities. We will also discuss and review how space science, technology, law and policy relate to and influence space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy. I sincerely hope that this event will be useful to our common path towards "Space2030".

On behalf of my UNOOSA Team to this event - Welcome!
Newport Beach, CA, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DPW Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW), a diversified holding company (the Company), announced it has filed a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a continuous public offering of up to 1,000,000 shares of its newly designated 10% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the Series A Preferred Stock) carrying liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. The Company expects to realize up to $23.5 million in net proceeds, prior to payment of estimated expenses of the offering payable by the Company, assuming all shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are sold in the Offering. The 10% Series A Preferred Stock dividend will be paid ratably on a monthly basis.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay existing indebtedness, to fund future acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes. There is currently no public market for the Series A Preferred Stock. The Company intends to apply to list the Series A Preferred Stock on the NYSE American under the symbol DPWP; however, there can be no assurance that a listing will be achieved or, if it is, when any such application will be approved.

The Company presently expects that the offering of Series A Preferred Stock will terminate when all 1,000,000 shares offered shall have been sold.

To obtain a copy of the prospectus supplement relating to this offering, please contact: Invest@DPWHoldings.com , (888) 753-2235, or by visiting www.monthlyinterest.com.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About DPW Holdings, Inc.

DPW Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, the company provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including defense/aerospace, industrial, telecommunications, medical, crypto-mining, and textiles. In addition, the company owns a select portfolio of commercial hospitality properties and extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. DPW Holdings, Inc.s headquarters is located at 201 Shipyard Way, Suite E, Newport Beach, CA 92663; www.DPWHoldings.com
UW Researcher Makes Discoveries in Dune Habitat Trends of Wyoming Endangered Plant Species

Blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii Wats.) is Wyomings only endangered plant and is found only in the Ferris Dunes northeast of Rawlins. Bonnie Heidel, lead botanist and associate research scientist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at UW, is lead author of a paper on its habitat that was published in the June issue of Western North American Naturalist. (Bonnie Heidel Photo)

A University of Wyoming researcher headed a research project that reconstructs the 70-year past to set the stage for the future of a rare plant species in Wyoming.

Bonnie Heidel, lead botanist and associate research scientist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD), teamed with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) colleagues on monitoring Penstemon haydenii Wats., better known as blowout penstemon. After walking many miles of dunes during census work, they noticed landscape differences from one year to the next, and evidence that population trends are tied to habitat trends. They sought a birds-eye habitat picture using aerial photograph sets and digital imagery across the Ferris Dunes and over a nearly 70-year timespan from 1946-2015.

The resulting habitat information provides a missing link in understanding the population information produced in our monitoring studies, Heidel says. It indicates that blowout penstemon-occupied habitat has been continuously available over past decades. It will contribute directly to a newly launched U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service status review process announced last month.

Heidel is lead author of a paper, titled Dune Habitat Trends of an Endangered Species, Penstemon haydenii Wats. (blowout penstemon), in Carbon County, Wyoming, that was published in the June issue of Western North American Naturalist. This peer-reviewed scientific journal focuses on biodiversity and conservation of western North America.

Samuel Cox and Frank Blomquist, from Wyomings BLM state office and Rawlins field office, respectively, co-wrote the paper.

Blowout penstemon is Wyomings only endangered plant species and an herbaceous perennial that is restricted to unvegetated or sparsely vegetated sand dunes. Following widespread habitat loss, the species was thought to be extinct when it was only known from the Nebraska Sandhills.

Blowout penstemon was first discovered in Wyoming in 1996, in the Ferris Dunes of Carbon County, by Blomquist, a UW alumnus. There, the species occupies three main groups of dunes.

Blowout penstemon is a pioneering plant that helps stabilize the dunes. The plant is favored food for Wyoming big game, as well as pollinators -- including 26 species of bees and a bee-impersonating wasp -- that feed on the plants pollen and nectar.

The plant is shaped by landscape conditions and, in turn, may be a barometer of those conditions, Heidel says.

This study was supported by the U.S. Department of the Interior BLM and WYNND, whose mission is to collect, synthesize and distribute information about plant and animal species of conservation concern, and their habitats in Wyoming. WYNDD botanists are leaders in collecting essential data and researching Wyoming threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species as needed for management and recovery, and in collecting the data to document what is not rare.
Wyoming Conference on Aging Oct. 2-4 at UW

Up-to-date information on a variety of topics important to older adults and the professionals, family and friends in their lives will be shared during the 2018 Wyoming Conference on Aging at the University of Wyomings Conference Center.

The conference includes national and regional speakers, interactive and panel sessions, vendor exhibits and breakout sessions. Topics to be discussed are healthy aging/community aging projects throughout Wyoming, dementia/Alzheimer's, opioids and medication safety, and hoarding, plus support presentations for caregivers.

The conference will increase awareness of current and emerging challenges around aging in Wyoming, according to the events organizers.

The conference will help to develop an aging network of providers and partners who advocate to realign and modernize current aging programs and networks; to train providers in becoming more efficient and effective in their performance that will meet the future needs of baby boomers, while improving services to current older adults; and to increase awareness of aging programs and services on regional and national levels.

Cost is $50 per day Oct. 3-4, or $100 for both days. A preconference training for health care/professional services providers will be offered Tuesday, Oct. 2, at a cost of $35.

The conference also will be offered through host sites around the region. For more information, or to register, visit the conferences website by clicking here.

For more information, call UWs Wyoming Center on Aging at (307) 766-2829 or email wycoa@uwyo.edu.
TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over 20 provincial ridings will see local actions on Saturday, September 15, kicking off the 15 Week Countdown to Ontarios $15 minimum wage, coming into effect on January 1, 2019.



Residents, community groups, and labour councils will be delivering a message to local MPPs asking them to stand with the people of Ontario against the attempt by corporate lobbyists to rollback Ontarios new labour laws.

Despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Ontarians (66%) support a $15 minimum wage -- including 62% of small business owners -- Big Business is leading a campaign to cancel the $15 minimum wage and roll back the 2 paid sick days and other laws that came into effect this year.

The corporate campaign to repeal Bill 148, The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act is spearheaded by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, whose members include UBER, Loblaws Inc. (which recently confessed to price fixing), the Canadian Franchise Association which lobbies on behalf of multi-national companies like Tim Hortons, McDonalds, Pizza Pizza, etc., as well as international temp agencies like ADECCO, ACSESS and Randstad corporations.

Actions are taking place in the following locations:

Ajax

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- Starbucks by Chapters, 90 Kingston Road

Together with Durham Region Labour Council well be doing an outreach blitz to talk with Ajax residents. Help us send a strong message to MPP Rod Phillips.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Aurora

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- 238 Wellington St. East, Suite 203

Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. Residents of Newmarket-Aurora support $15 & Fairness and expect their representative to be a decent work champion.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Barrie

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM -- Barrie Farmers Market (Collier & Mulcaster St)

Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to local MPPs Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Belleville

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- MPP Todd Smiths Office, 5503 Hwy 62 South

Quinte Labour Council and $15 & Fairness Kingston are hosting this joint outreach to talk to constituents in Bay of Quinte. Come and help us collect petitions to be delivered to MPP Todd Smith.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Brampton (South)

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- 7690 Hurontario St (Near Hurontario & Ray Lawson)

Were meeting in front of McDonalds at 10:45 am! Come and help us collect petitions to deliver to MPP Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Brampton (West)

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- 15 Bovaird Dr. East (Near Hurontario & Bovaird)

Were meeting in front of Tim Hortons at 1:45 am! Help us deliver a strong message to MPP Amarjot Sandhu by collecting signatures in support of $15 & Fairness.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Cambridge

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Ainslie St. Transit Terminal, 35 Ainslie St. S

Join Waterloo Regional Labour Council in sending a message to MPP Belinda Karahalios. Cambridge residents want and support $15 & Fairness.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Cobourg

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM -- Outside MPP David Piccinis office, 513 Division St, Unit 7

Join Northumberland Labour Council to raise awareness about our new workplace rights. Lets call upon MPP David Piccini to be a decent work champion and ensure that our fairer labour laws are protected and extended.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Etobicoke

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM -- Humber Bay Shores Farmers Market, 2240 Lake Shore Blvd W

Meet us in front of the Pizza Plus store on the north east corner of the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd West at Legion Rd. Well be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christine Hogarth.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.



Guelph

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- Guelph City Hall

Let's assemble at City Hall to talk about our new rights at work and why they may be at stake. MPP Mike Schreiner signed the $15 & Fairness pledge to be a decent work champion during the election, we will collect petitions for him to read into the legislature.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click her e to share on Facebook.

Hamilton

11:00 AM - 12:00PM -- Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main Street W

Join Hamilton & District Labour Council for a rally and solidarity action. Lets call upon the new government to prioritize our need for decent work over corporate interests.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Lindsay

11:00 AM  1:00 PM  Farmers Market, 4 Victoria Ave. between Kent St. and Peel St.

Come out and join us as we talk to our neighbours about our new rights at work. Lets send a message to local MPP and Minister of Labour Laurie Scott that HaliburtonKawartha LakesBrock wants and supports decent work!

Click here to let us know youll be there!

London / St. Thomas

10:00 AM  12:00 PM -- Horton Farmers Market, 10 Manitoba St,  Block North of Talbot St

Join us to do community outreach and spread information about our new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to deliver to MPP Jeff Yurek in the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London.

Click here to let us know youll be there!

Mississauga

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Morning Star Dr and Goreway Dr (South East side of Westwood Square)

Join Peel Regional Labour Council for a neighbourhood outreach in Mississauga-Malton. Together we can send a message to MPP Deepak Anand.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

North Bay

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM -- Main St W and Ferguson St

Join Nipissing Decent Work for a downtown petition canvass in North Bay, followed by a 5:00 PM neighbourhood BBQ party. Help us collect signatures to demonstrate to MPP Vic Fedeli, our communities expect a $15 minimum wage by January 1, 2019.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Oakville

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- Oakville Farmers Market (240 North Service Road West)

Join us to talk to our neighbours about their rights, collect signatures on our petition and remind people to contact Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford and Oakville North Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Oshawa

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM -- East side of the Oshawa Centre Mall, 419 King St W

Meet We Are Oshawa to do outreach on the east side of the Oshawa Centre Mall (by the bus loop). We will be connecting with Durham and Oshawa residents to ask them to contact their MPPs. Please call Lucian Mailloux at 289-685-7393 for more info.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Ottawa

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM -- 2249 Carling Avenue (Near Carling & Fairlawn)

Help us take our message straight from the streets to MPP Jeremy Roberts. Meet us in the parking lot outside the MPPs office and join a postering and canvassing blitz in the neighbourhood.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Scarborough Centre

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- 2063 Lawrence Ave E (Near Warden & Lawrence)

Let's talk to our fellow workers and community members in Scarborough to let them know what is at stake with our new rights at work. Well be collecting petitions to deliver to MPP Christina Mitas!

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Scarborough (Rouge Park)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM -- #105-8130 Sheppard Avenue East (Near Sheppard & Morningside)

Help us spread the word in the neighbourhood to deliver a strong message to MPP Vijay Thanigasalam!

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

Toronto (Eglinton-Lawrence)

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM -- 2882 Dufferin St (Near the Glencairn Ave & Dufferin St intersection)

Join us outside the office of MPP Robin Martin to let all our neighbours know about their new rights as workers. We will also be collecting signatures to ask our provincial representative to speak out for $15 & Fairness.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

York Simcoe (Holland Landing)

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM -- 45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 8 (West of Grist Mill Park)

Join us in doing a delegation visit to local MPP Caroline Mulroney. Residents of York-Simcoe expect the new government to protect and extend our fairer labour laws.

Click here to let us know youll be there! Click here to share on Facebook.

To arrange interviews prior to the Day of Action or for more information, please contact:

Nil Sendil

Communications Coordinator

Fight for $15 & Fairness

info@15andfairness.org l 647-710-5795

Rob Halpin

Executive Director

Ontario Federation of Labour

rhalpin@ofl.ca l 416-707-1094

cope343
Star Ferries power through Victoria Harbour as clouds loom over the skyline of Hong Kong on Sep 13, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Anthony Wallace)

With winds that may gust up to 240km/h, Mangkhut is expected to be more powerful than the Super Typhoon Wanda that resulted in heavy casualties in 1962 and the Super Typhoon Hato, which triggered the highest level typhoon warning signal last year.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No 3 typhoon signal on Wednesday as winds gathered strength with the tropical storm Barijat. All the warning signals related to Barijat were cancelled early Thursday, but officials warned of a much greater threat from Mangkhut.

According to the observatory, Mangkhut is forecast to move towards the Philippine island of Luzon on Friday and Saturday. Around 10 million people in the Philippines are in the storm's path, and millions more in heavily populated coastal China.

Philippine authorities have started to evacuate thousands of people from coastal areas as winds bore down on the country's main island.

It will be the strongest of 15 storms to have hit the Philippines this year.

"Its track and wind strength near the centre may change under the influence of the terrain of Luzon, but it is expected to remain in the category of super typhoon after entering the South China Sea," wrote the Hong Kong Observatory on its website.

"Although there are still uncertainties in the subsequent track of Mangkhut and its distance from Hong Kong, Mangkhuts extensive circulation will bring significantly deteriorating weather to Hong Kong on Sunday with frequent heavy squally showers.

"Seas will be very rough with swells and low-lying areas may be affected by storm surge," it added.

BAD WEATHER PLANS IN HONG KONG

The Hong Kong government convened Wednesday afternoon an inter-departmental meeting that involved 30 government bureaus, departments and organisations.

They discussed response plans, preventive measures and logistics support, among other things.

Security Secretary John Lee has directed all emergency response departments to have their deployment and response plans ready.

Social media users and radio commentators in Hong Kong said they were stocking up on food and supplies after the observatory warned residents to prepare for the storm, saying it posed a "considerable threat".

Local media reported a price surge on everyday items in Hong Kong as residents began preparing for the worst.

Ms Phoebe Wong, 47, a field sales supervisor at Procter & Gamble said her family has stocked up on some food in preparation of the typhoon.

"We have stocked up on some food but not much as some shops will still be open," Ms Wong told Channel NewsAsia.

"My sister has also placed the tape across her windows to prevent the glass from shattering everywhere if it does break," she added.

Shoppers were stocking up on fruits and vegetables, as well as fish and meat, with many stores selling out their wares earlier than usual, according to the South China Morning Post.

The newspaper also reported residents planning flood barriers such as sandbags, boards and brick walls to protect their homes and shops.

Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday its flight operations "will likely deteriorate, with flight delays and cancellations expected this coming weekend".

"Service resumption will possibly be slow after Typhoon Mangkhut passes through," its website stated. "We strongly request passengers travelling on these dates, and whose bookings were made on cathaypacific.com or our mobile app, to rebook their journey."

Several other Hong Kong-based airlines have announced a waiver for rebooking fees.
Dutch Green MEP Judith Sargentini, seen after the contentious vote, wrote the report which voiced concern over judicial independence and corruption in Hungary, as well as freedom of expression, academic and religious freedom and minority rights. (Photo: AFP/Frederick Florin)

Some European lawmakers, or MEPs, say the vote means it is now inevitable the European People's Party (EPP), which gathers political movements from several countries, will oust the Fidesz group of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

But others voice fears the EPP would be shooting itself in the foot by expelling a party that could boost support for populists in the May parliament elections.

Still others accuse major players like French President Emmanuel Macron of trying to exploit the rift within the EPP to benefit pro-European centrists and liberals.

The parliament on Wednesday mustered the two-thirds majority needed to push for unprecedented sanctions against Orban's government because most EPP members lined up behind it.

EPP members are focusing on the immediate consequences for them, as the Article Seven process the parliament invoked is a long one.

The move is seen as unlikely to ever lead to unprecedented sanctions that would strip Hungary of its European Union voting rights, which any member state could veto.

The EPP, which holds 218 of the 750 seats in parliament, voted 115 for the move to punish Orban's government to 57 against, with 28 abstentions.

EPP leader Manfred Weber, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, threw his weight behind the vote even if he did not instruct colleagues to follow suit.

Dutch Greens MEP Judith Sargentini praised Weber's "very responsible" example for swaying the vote in favour of the motion she sponsored.

She said he did the right thing to trumpet European values as he runs for the head of the executive European Commission, a position which will be vacant after next year's parliamentary elections.

Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister who heads the liberal ALDE group, had been blunt in calling for the EPP to no longer compromise with Orban.

"Please, stop this nightmare," Verhofstadt said.

French Greens MEP Philippe Lamberts warned the EPP that it should "realise what is at stake, which is even its identity."

But the group could opt to continue working with Orban because, as Lamberts put it: "He may be a son of a bitch but at least he's our son of a bitch."

'POLITICAL MANIPULATION'

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who once jokingly greeted Orban with: "Hello dictator!" at an EU summit, suggested he might back tougher action against Hungary.

Juncker told a group of journalists Wednesday he had "long had a problem with Viktor Orban's membership" of the EPP, which he also belongs to.

Weber wants to succeed Juncker, but a source within the party told AFP the 46-year-old Bavarian is "not pleading to ban Mr. Orban."

"It's not for fear of losing seats in the parliament but his big fear is to see Fidesz deputies join a bloc of Eurosceptic deputies from the east," the source said.

Franck Proust said he was one of dozens of EPP members to vote against the Hungary motion, not because he disagreed with it but because he was protesting "political manipulation" from leftist foes.

"We don't often hear the left denounce problems in Malta and elsewhere in Europe," said the leader of the French caucus in the EPP.

"So is it not strange this obsession with Hungary and the EPP?" Proust asked.

Some in the centre right accuse Macron, who had urged the EPP to "clarify" its position toward Orban, of exploiting the rift to bolster centrist support.

Macron tells the EPP "to clean house, but we do not often hear him speaking about Hungary during European summits," a source within the EPP told AFP.

Macron's office welcomed Wednesday's vote as proof of lawmakers grouping "around values" that extend beyond parties.

The Hungary issue could be discussed at a EPP meeting in the Austrian city of Salzburg next Wednesday, and then at a party convention in Helsinki in November that will nominate a candidate for the commission presidency.
Rooftop solar power installations, be they on private homes or industrial buildings, are on the rise in Vietnam

Solar power in Vietnam has become hotter than ever, said Nguyen Quang Minh, deputy chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV). Minh said ERAV has taken steps to shape a policy for both small roof-top solar power installations with a net-metering mechanism in households and for large roof-top installations at industrial zones. The boom started when the Vietnamese governments Decree No.11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms for encouraging the development of solar power in Vietnam was released a year ago.

Heating up the market

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) recently released impressive figures indicating that the total output of solar power projects approved to be added to the Power Development Plan VII is quite large. The ministry approved more than 70 new projects to be put into operation before June 2019, with the total designed capacity of over 3,000 megawatts (MW). This amount far exceeds the estimated solar power output of 1,000MW by 2020 in the original Plan VII.

Some are calling this a gold rush. The list of renewable energy projects registered by both foreign and domestic investors in Vietnam has been growing consistently, including well-known companies such as Tata Power, Sunseap Group, InfraCo Asia Development Pte., Ltd., ACWA Power, SY Panel Group, AIN Group, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and Gulf Energy Development.

The central province of Ninh Thuan has the greatest potential for solar power generation, attracting about 140 projects, followed by the neighbouring provinces of Binh Thuan (around 100 projects), Daklak (13 projects), and Khanh Hoa (12 projects).

The MoIT has reported that, as of July, 748 solar roof-top projects had been installed, with the total capacity of 11.55 megawatt-peak (MWp). The installed capacity connected to the grid is dominated by a small number of medium-sized roof-top systems, including the installations of Intel Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City (220 kWp), Big C Green Market in the southern province of Binh Duong (212 kWp), PUMA/Avery Dennison in the southern province of Long An (100kWp), Deutsche Bekleidungswerke (DBW) in Long An (165 kWp), the National Conference Hall in Hanoi (154 kWp), the UN Building in Hanoi (119 kWp), the new National Assembly in Hanoi (50 kWp), and the MoIT Building in Hanoi (22 kWp).

SolarBK, one of the leading manufacturers specialised in researching, developing, and providing products and solutions for renewable energy in Vietnam, has installed and commissioned 75 solar roof projects with the total capacity of 3 MWp. SolarBKs BigK solar programme, with its international-standard quality guarantee and reasonable prices, has delivered more than 40 solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop systems with capacity of 150 kWp in just under a year.

Nguyen Thanh Son, director of Tan Cang-Song Than ICD, Vietnams first solar-powered green logistics centre, said, The trend of green logistics has been developing globally for many years, and customers increasingly attach environmentally friendly clauses to business contracts.

He added that the solar model is not only economical, but also contributes to environmental protection, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by 518.5 tonnes a year.

The percentage of households with a solar PV system is quite modest. However, it is a good signal as rooftop solar panels have never been more affordable for homeowners and they are now more aware of using solar energy, especially since the issuance of Decision 11 on mechanisms for encouraging the development of solar power, with an approved feed-in-tariff (FiT) rate of 9.35 US cents, said a SolarBK representative.

Vietnams potential for solar power generation is great, with 1,600-2,700 sunlight hours per year and an average direct normal irradiance of four-to-five kilowatt-hours (kWh) per square metre, comparable to Thailand, the Philippines, Spain, and Italy.

However, the solar PV market in Vietnam is still in its early stages. Its projected potential, in the best scenario, might be 2-5 gigawatts (GW) for residential and commercial rooftops, and 20GW for solar PV plants.

Solar power systems on the roofs of houses in Vietnam help households reduce their bills for monthly power consumption by 50 per cent, all the while contributing to protecting the environment. By spending VND100 million ($4,424) on six solar panels with a lifetime of 20-25 years, a household can save VND1.5 million ($66.37) each month.

Tran Viet Ngai, chairman of the Vietnam Solar Energy, said that commercial and industrial solar PV rooftop applications have great development potential and promise interesting investment opportunities for the private sector. Exploiting the substantial potential of solar energy at production sites would help the manufacturing sector in Vietnam improve the reliability of power supply.

He added that this would also help the commercial and industrial sectors reduce its significant expenses on electricity consumption due to high tariffs during peak hours and cross-subsidisation policies that move funding from large consumers to smaller ones. As well as this, developing solar PV in the Vietnamese commercial and industrial sectors would significantly contribute to the countrys green growth strategy and related efforts to reduce emissions.

Unlocking possibilities

The Vietnam Business Forums Power and Energy Sub-working Group noted, Additional policies or modifications can be clarified to establish a better investment environment, creating opportunities for the solar power sector to grow in the near future. This is the best way for Vietnam to reduce its over-reliance on coal-fired power  which is putting the country in a dangerous situation due to environmental concerns  and to build a sustainable and strong economy.

While there is huge potential in the solar power sector in general and rooftop solar in particular, there are a number of challenges to be tackled, including unbankable power purchase agreements (PPAs), uncertainty regarding the legal and administrative framework, access to financing, additional funding sources, and grid connection, as well as the absence of a competitive power market, with state-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) being the only authorised buyer of electricity in the country.

Lawyer Duong Anh from law firm VILAF stressed the key factors in structuring a successful energy development deal. In greenfield investments, foreign investors usually have clear insights into current policy through their legal consultants and are willing to take the risks.

Anh added that in brownfield investments, it is very important to choose the right business partner and consultants to provide legal and technical support and to overcome challenges including obtaining financial support, land clearance, and PPA negotiations with EVN. Given the tight timeline to achieve commercial operation by June 2019 in order to enjoy the FiT 9.35 cents per kWh, it is even more difficult for all the parties to be involved in the transaction.

The outlook remains conservative, but an upward adjustment of the PPA would ensure that Vietnams solar power advantages dont go to waste, said Rainer Brohm, consultant for German development agency GIZ.

He suggested that while project financing may be difficult to secure from international banks, solar power projects may present new financing opportunities for local banks. Also, the growth of solar power manufacturing in Vietnam means that solar panels for projects can be locally sourced. With a clear regulatory framework now in place, the stage has been set for the future development of the solar power sector in Vietnam.

The SolarBK representative said that the company is trying to co-operate with local banks and insurers offering opportunities for rooftop solar. The co-operation scheme being explored is an equity model under long-term payment schemes, with the scope to work around the grey areas in regulation and build the trust of customers.

The company showed its ambition at its 2018 annual general meeting, when its subsidiary IREX announced a goal of reaching Tier 1 on the Bloomberg New Energy Finance ranking system by 2020. A Tier 1 solar panel is a panel that is expected to produce power for the entirety of its roughly 25-year lifespan. One of Bloombergs criteria is that only solar panel manufacturers that own their manufacturing facility can be included for review.

Tier 1 is IREXs next target to participate fully at a global level. This is not IREXs final purpose but merely our proof that the skills and Vietnamese technology are equivalent to international quality. Tier 1, in brief, is only a standard placed by one organisation, which may be appropriate for now, but nothing can assure its impact in the future given that technology is constantly changing, said Nguyen Thuy Ngan, brand director of SolarBK.

Ngan added that this is a promising strategy for Vietnamese renewable energy brands in general and IREX in particular. Based on Vietnams solar energy starting point in terms of conditions, policies, and environment, achieving goals means huge efforts not only for our company but also for domestic financial counterparts, Ngan said.
As the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF ASEAN 2018) came to a close, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh urged businesses and citizens to use their entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to national development in the digital era.-VNA/VNS Photo Lam Khanh

He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government is resolved to be constructive and focus on growth.

The deputy PM called WEF ASEAN 2018 a success, with participants forming many potential solutions to the regions challenges. It was clear that they should equip citizens with the skills needed to succeed in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), which will bring unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

Vietnam and fellow ASEAN countries are to enhance co-operation and promote self reliance while working with partners from outside the region.

The deputy PM asked WEF to support Vietnam and ASEAN as a whole as they attempt to realise the ideas discussed at the forum. Together, he said they can work toward a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia.

International delegations expressed high hopes for the regions growth. They were confident that by working together ASEAN countries can overcome regional issues.

Global managing partner of McKinsey & Co. Kevin Sneader said ASEAN countries are among some of the most attractive destinations for international investors.

Moving forward, the region must train its labour force to improve productivity. ASEAN countries will continue using trade agreements to strengthen their connection to the rest of the world.

Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of Plan International, said WEF ASEAN 2018 offered an opportunity for international organisations to openly discuss shared issues, especially the challenges of the Industry 4.0 and the goal of lifting everyone out of poverty.

She said Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have invested in education, laying a strong foundation for the regions economic and social development. This model will serve as an example for other regions, and could help promote gender equality and unlock the full potential of women.

Vietnams acting Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said Industry 4.0 will require a different way of thinking. As technology evolves to make life easier, we must find new ways to adapt and master technology instead of just being consumers.

WEF ASEAN 2018, titled "ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution," concluded on Thursday in Ha Noi. Nearly 1,000 delegates from ASEAN countries and some of the worlds leading businesses gathered to discuss a wide array of issues relevant to Southeast Asia.
View of a Puerto Rican flag placed on a pair of shoes among hundreds displayed in memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria in front of the Puerto Rican Capitol, in San Juan on Jun 1, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Ricardo Arduengo)

Trump's controversial remarks sparked a rare bipartisan backlash, with even some members of his own party echoing the condemnation from Democratic opposition leaders.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a veteran Republican congresswoman from Florida, said Trump "has a warped mind that would turn this statistic into fake news."

"It might be a new low," she said. "How could you be so self-centred and try to distort the truth so much?"

The true human cost of Maria, and the chaotic federal response to the storm on the US island territory, triggered a year-long controversy, which Trump revived this week even as another powerful hurricane, Florence, bore down on the East Coast.

"3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico," Trump tweeted early Thursday. "When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths."

"Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000 ..." he said, going on to claim: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico."

"If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list."

DEATH TOLL

Hurricane Maria killed 2,975 people in Puerto Rico, a long-awaited independent investigation by George Washington University into the 2017 storm concluded last month. It was initially said to have killed just 64 people.

After nearly a year of controversy over the figures, the island's governor said the new estimate would now be considered the official death toll.

George Washington University stood by the science behind its findings, calling the figure of 2,975 deaths "the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date."

Another study carried out by Harvard University and published in May estimated the death toll from the hurricane and its aftermath could have been higher than 4,600.

Hurricane Florence is the first major test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency since its much-criticized response to Maria, which caused devastation when it struck Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm a year ago.

A US government report published this month concluded that the federal response in Puerto Rico was hampered by a lack of trained staff as well as by major logistical challenges.

But Trump has continued to boast about the handling of Maria, calling it "an incredible unsung success" as he warned residents of the Carolinas not to take chances with Florence.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority leader, said Trump owed an apology to the 3,000 families for "the shameful attack on deceased fellow Americans."

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz called the president's comments "delusional, paranoid and unhinged from any sense of reality."

"Trump is so vain he thinks this is about him. It is not," she said on her official Twitter account.

"Damn it, this is not about politics, this was always about saving lives," she told NBC television. Cruz had earlier described the federal disaster response in the US territory a "despicable act of neglect."

"If (Trump) doesn't learn from his mistakes, he's going to make them again and people are going to continue to die," she told CNN television.

In Florida, which was badly hit by Hurricane Irma last year and which received thousands of Puerto Ricans fleeing the devastation of their homes, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis - who has built his campaign around his adherence to Trump's politics - tried to distance himself from the president's words.

DeSantis "doesn't believe any loss of life has been inflated," his campaign said in a statement.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello also has criticized Trump for not providing additional federal funds still needed for emergency housing and debris removal.

Rossello is a leader of the island's pro-statehood New Progressive Party, which aligns with Republicans, while Cruz is from the Popular Democratic Party, whose members affiliate with the Democratic Party.

Maria destroyed Puerto Rico's electricity grid, leaving the island largely without power for weeks and crippling its health care system.
Passengers stranded at Kansai International Airport by Typhoon Jebi line up outside the airport as they wait for the arrival of a special bus service to transport them out of the area in Izumisato, Japan, Septtember 5. Photo voanews.com

Vietnam Airlines said Kansai Airport in Osaka was being repaired after damage by the typhoon so that it only received a limited number of flights from September 18 to 20. The carrier will re-open the route between HCM City and Osaka with one flight per day by Boeing 787 aircraft. After September 20, the company will work with Kansai Airport to restore flights between Ha Noi and Osaka with the frequency one trip per day.

In order to meet the needs of passengers traveling between Vietnam and Japan while the Kansai Airport is being upgraded, Vietnam Airlines will put into operation a Boeing 787 aircraft, which have a higher number of seats, replacing Airbus A321 on the route between Ha Noi - Nagoya from September 18. The airline also plans to operate a Boeing 787 aircraft instead of Airbus A321 on the route between HCM City and Nagoya from September 21.

Earlier, typhoon Jebi hit Osaka and caused great damage to Kansai Airport. Vietnam Airlines had to cancel all its 56 flights to this airport from September 4-17. In order to ensure passengers could complete their travel plans, Vietnam Airlines quickly introduced flexible solutions such as free passenger transfer to other airports operating in Japan using Airbus wide aircraft A350 and Boeing 787 with more seats on flights between Ha Noi and HCM City and Nagoya.

The Vietnam Airlines flight schedule will continue to be updated in future newsletters. Passengers planning to travel to and from Osaka during this period should follow information on the website www.vietnamairlines.com.
GIZ estimates that the technical potential of wind power in Vietnam is able to replace a large share of future planned thermal (coal and gas) generation. - Photo courtesy of GIZ

The statement was made by Tobias Cossen, project director of the Support to Up-Scaling of Wind Power in Vietnam project under the German international development agency (GIZ)s Energy Support Programme.

On September 10, Vietnams Government approved an amendment and revision of the wind tariff defined as per Decision No 37/2011/QD-TTg on the support mechanism for the development of wind power projects in Vietnam.

Under the revision, the feed-in tariff (FIT) will be increased from 7.8 to 8.5 US cents per kWh for onshore and 9.8 US cents per kWh for offshore wind power projects.

GIZ applauded the Governments adjustment, considering it a significant signal for all market actors to further invest in the wind power market in Vietnam, which currently only accounts for 200MW of installed capacity (with 100MW under construction).

Due to Vietnams growing need for energy and excellent wind power resources, many developers have considered the market for quite some time.

However, the tariff published in 2011 and other issues rising during the development process have slowed projects due to the commercial risks perceived by investors and financing entities.

Now, with the clear signal from the Vietnamese Government to increase the tariff, we expect many projects to push through and be implemented, said Cossen.

Defining feed-in tariffs is always a complex and sometimes emotional topic. The revised tariff will give investors and financial institutions which provide long-term capital the security they need. At the same time, the tariff is still lower than in other Southeast Asian markets, Cossen added.

GIZ estimates that the technical potential of wind power in Vietnam is huge  at about 27 gigawatts  and able to replace a large share of future planned thermal (coal and gas) power generation.

Even if renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are intermittent, Vietnams power system is still able to include large shares and with further expansion, adaptation and upgrading of the grid network towards smart grids  integrate even higher shares of renewable energy, in accordance with the political targets of the Power Development Plan (for example, 6,000MW wind and 12,000MW solar by 2030).
DRAPER, Utah, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is pleased to announce a new Cologuide presentation from their strategic Partner, Haemoband Ltd. as Haemoband readies for the commercial launch of the product. The Cologuide, utilizing patented Bend Sensor technology, can be used with almost any make of colonoscope and uses Bluetooth wireless technology to send the data from the procedure.



Haemoband Surgical identified Flexpoint technology as the appropriate technology for this application. Because of their unique expertise in bend sensor technology, Flexpoint was subsequently appointed as the principle subcontractor for the project and has enjoyed working in a collaborative effort with Haemoband on this and other medical applications for the past several years.

Cologuide can be safely used in patients with cardiac pacemakers as well as pregnant women. Some of the benefits of the system with the sensor are:

The product provides help with massive reduction in colonoscopy procedure time with less effort

Allows greater comfort to the patient

Helps experienced clinician by demonstrating what they need to know

Has a positive effect on refining colonoscopy skills of the clinician

Is an effective aid in training of new clinicians

Once activated, the sensor shows on the screen and is then placed into the colonoscope device. Once the colonoscopy device is inserted the sensor is displayed on the screen and indicates the positioning of the colonoscope as it is advanced to the other end of the large intestine. In the demonstration, the cameras are set simultaneously to show what is happening to the colon inside the abdomen, what the Cologuide screen shows, and what the clinician does. The link to the demonstration is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ma1olRXE50&t= and gives a visual presentation of the product.

We are extremely pleased that our Bend Sensor technology is able to assist Haemoband as they work with the medical community with this new revolutionary product, commented Clark Mower, CEO of Flexpoint. We believe this product will be beneficial to both companies and will add significant revenue to the future growth of our company, Mower further stated.

About Haemoband Surgical, Ltd.

Haemoband Surgical, Ltd. was founded in 2005 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Essam Ghareeb and Colin Foster. Mr Ghareeb's profession as a lower gastrointestinal surgeon, and Mr Foster's experiences in the medical marketplace and in bringing products to a global market, led to the design, development and launch of Haemoband, the first automatic multi-action, pre-loaded, disposable ligator onto the global market. Haemoband Surgical works to the highest levels of quality possible and has achieved many quality certifications. The most recent of which is a FDA 510k clearance. For further information please visit www.haemobandsurgical.com .

About Flexpoint

Flexpoint Sensor Systems (FLXT) is a leading supplier of thin film sensing technology to many industries, including automotive, medical, industrial controls, and consumer products.



Flexpoint manufactures a patented new flexible sensor that has also proven to be an extremely durable switch. The single layer Bend Sensor product allows for the measurement of mechanical movement, air flow, water flow, or even vibration. In addition, it has been tested to over 35 million cycles without failure. It can be used as a range of motion sensor, or as a very durable, very reliable switch in most harsh environments. The breadth of applications for our sensor is limited only by one's imagination.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.

Flexpoint Sensor Systems

Clark Mower, President

801-568-5111

Brokers and Analysts:

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, former chief of staff of Mahmoud Ahmadinejads cabinet, has just been sentenced to five years in prison for plotting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, one year for propaganda against the regime and six months for insulting persons vested with the authority of the state. That comes to a total of six and a half years in jail.

In 2013, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (right in the photo) presented Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei (left in the photo) as his successor. However the Council of the Guardians of the Constitution had rejected his candidacy, calling him a bad Muslim.

The daughter of Mashaei married Ahmadinejads eldest son.

Ahmadinejad and Mashaei are both supporters of the anti-imperialist revolution of Imam Khomeiny and, as did he, they clashed with the Iranian Shiite clergy. Before returning triumphantly in February 1979, the Ayatollah had been rejected by the high clergy who had supported Shah Reza Pahlevi banning him.

As for Ahmadinejads former vice president, Hamid Baghaie, in March 2018 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on secret charges and on the conclusion of proceedings shielded from the public eye. In 2017, with the support of Ahmadinejad, he tried in vain to stand for President of the Republic. His candidacy was rejected by the Council of the Guardians of the Constitution that supported the decision of Shah Reza Pahlevi to expel him from Iran.

Former President Ahmadinejad was placed under house arrest following the anti-government riots of December 2017.

In this way, the administrations and allies of Sheikh Hassan Rohani have completely rejected bright lines being drawn between political institutions and religious ones.
The Arab Press has reported that an Israel system of protection against short term grenades and rockets, the Iron Dome, was sold to Saudi Arabia. The United States probably facilitated the transaction.

The Iron Dome was conceived by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It has been operational since 2011 along the Gaza Strip and from 2017 it was installed on several ships at sea. Its cost, normally prohibitive, is being taken care of by the United States. The Israeli lobby in the US Congress is fighting to purchase the Iron Dome in order to protect South Korea and the states bordering Russia.

This Israeli system includes the following features: a 3-D radar with an electronic sweeper, a computer for war and arms management and missile launchers. The radar had already been sold to nine states but there is no international market for protection when confronted by rockets at short range. Romania is the only country to have bought the entire system in May 2018.

It seems that Saudi Arabia has bought an iron dome to protect its borders from shots from short range projectiles coming from Yemen. However this system will not protect Riyadh from medium range missiles. A Swiss daily, Basler Zeitung, has reported that transactions would have begun in January 2018.

In any event there has been a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel since 2009. At the time we were the first to announce that Riyadh had financed the Israeli attack on the people of Gaza [1]. In November 2013, the New York Times reported that President Shimon Peres participated in a meeting of the Gulf Security Council [2]. From January 2014, Israel and Saudi Arabia have led secret negotiations for 17 months in several third states [3]. Finally Stratfor has indicated that in 2015, they established a joint staff in Somaliland to supervise the war against Yemen.

The facts indicated that the former alliances that had been established in the Middle East are in the throes of radical changes. Such is attested by Turkey, which while a member of Nato, is purchasing the Russian anti-air defense system S-400.
On 11 May 2013, two cars that had been wired, exploded in Turkey at Reyhanl (which borders with Syria), causing 51 fatalities and leaving 140 people injured. The Turkish government immediately accused Syria of organizing the attack and the AKP organized pogroms in the city against Syrian immigrants.

However Syria denied any involvement and the documents of the Turkish police published by the RedHack hackers provided evidence that the operation had been mounted under a false flag by the Turkish government.

Five years later, on 12 September 2018, the Turkish government showed on public TV a Turkish citizen, 34 years old, by the name of Yusuf Nazik (photo), who had allegedly been kidnapped at Latakia (Syria) by the Turkish Secret Services (MIT). This man declared that he had carried out the attack at Reyhanl on behalf of the Syrian Secret Services.

RedHack is a Leninist-Marxist group established in 1990. It has been particularly active since 2012. It has attacked a number of Turkish and Israeli public web sites and has revealed a number of official documents. Until now all the documents that it has published have been held to be authentic and confront the Turkish Authorities with their lies and contradictions. When RedHack published the documents on the attack on Reyhanl, the then Prime minister and today President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused it of betrayal. He categorized the group as terrorist and tried to dismantle it by a series of arrests. However nothing came of it.

On 11 September 2018 Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey, launched an international campaign against the anti-terrorist operation of the Syrian Arab Republic at Idleb. Notably, he published an article on this subject in the Wall Street Journal [1]. MITs announcement on Reyhanl aims at taking up the defence of the Al-Qaeda terrorists at Idleb by trying to make us think that Syria too is turning to terrorism.
Admiral William H. McRaven has handed in his resignation from the Advisory Council of Innovation to the Defence Secretary.

It was the US Defense Secretary, Ash Carter, that set up this council in 1996. The motive was to pull the best talent in Silicon Valleys innovation industries. The Council brings together those with expertise in the intricacies of the Internet and high rank military officials.

Admiral McRaven entered into a head-on conflict with President Trump when Trump withdrew the former CIA Directors, John Brennans, Secret Defence Security Clearance. To express his solidarity with Brennan, McRaven published an article requesting that he too be deprived of his security clearance. The Washington Post published this text [1] on the same day that former senior Intelligence officials also published a text supporting Brennan [2].

After an anonymous article was published in the New York Times [3], this time attributed to a high ranking official in the White House, McRaven was invited to hand in his resignation from the Council that he was sitting on.

Admiral McRaven achieved fame as the leader of Operation, Neptunes Spear. It is asserted that he assassinated Osama Bin Laden in his dwellings in Abbottabad, Pakistan. This operation had been set up by President Barack Obama and was robustly challenged by Pakistan on two grounds. First, because it was executed in violation of Pakistans sovereignty and second, because Osama Bin Laden was not living in Abbottabada, but had died in Afghanistan in 2001. Admiral McRaven had then led the Special Forces (US SoCom). In this regard, he had been heard by the Congress and proudly revealed his practice of political assassinations in 78 countries in the world. President Obama had tasked McRaven with establishing a network with Allied Special Forces in order to be able to assassinate anyone, wherever they might be in the world, in less than 48 hours [4].

John O. Brennan enjoyed a long career at the CIA and worked his way up to the top of the organization (2013-17). He added much muscle to the Agencys Drone Assassination Programme, working closely with Admiral McRaven to achieve this. In contrast, he clashed with General Michael T. Flynn, Head of Military Intelligence. Once Flynn became the top adviser of National Security of President Trump, he immediately had Brennan removed and tried to reorganize the CIA around its missions of gathering human intelligence, steering it away from liquidating its enemies. Wasting no time, Brennan led the political fight against Flynn and Trump, accusing them of being Russian agents. His secret-defence accreditation was revoked on 15 August 2018.
A Simple Favor Photo: Lionsgate

The type of contemporary movie that gets called noir nowadays doesnt bear much resemblance to the films of the genres golden era. For one thing, they tend to be a lot less funny. Classics like The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity are shadowy and sordid, but they never brood  the characters that inhabit them talk and crack wise till the sun comes up (if it ever does). This occurred to me while watching A Simple Favor, Paul Feigs salty, soapy little whodunit, and while trying to decide what qualifier to attach to the noir categorization  mommy noir, pastel noir  I realized I had it all wrong. Despite its sunny Connecticut suburb setting, its a straight-ahead noir, in its chatty, perverse, popcorn-y original recipe.

It was easy to not know what to expect of A Simple Favor going in, which had one of the more inscrutable marketing campaigns of any film in recent years. (From the darker side of Paul Feig ) But in many ways, the film, adapted from a novel by Darcey Bell, seems like the movie he has perhaps always had in his back pocket, waiting for its moment amid the franchises and Ferdinands. With a script by L Word alum Jessica Sharzer, the story is a classic femme fatale story, with a lesser fatale femme filling in as the infatuated gumshoe.

The story begins with the unlikely friendship between Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively), the former a busybody mommy blogger, the latter a glamorous publicist with a fancy city office and a hot novelist husband (Henry Golding). Fellow parents at the school their sons attend suspect that Emily is just using Stephanie as a free, convenient after-school nanny, but the two also bond quickly, with the help of more than a few gin martinis (straight up with a twist, obviously). The seductively confident Emily reveals her and her husband Seans money troubles, Stephanie tells Emily about the death of Stephanies late husband, as well a particularly taboo secret from her adolescence. Then one day, Emily calls Stephanie to ask her to pick up her son from school, and then disappears without a trace.

The truth about Emily and her disappearance, as Stephanie makes it her business to find out, is a convoluted spiderweb of dark pasts, secret identities, and a dash of arson that would feel a little hoary if it wasnt executed with such a dedicated sense of humor. (The film nears the two-hour mark, and certainly feels longer.) Kendrick is all hand-wringing and nervous giggles, not much we havent seen from her before, but a reliable engine to make this thing zoom along through every hairpin turn. But Lively (who is hitting some kind of brilliant stride between this and last years underappreciated All I See Is You) is a caustic and magnetic revelation; Feig has found a way to truly weaponize the breezily enviable charm that has been a check that Lively hasnt always been able to cash. With her foul mouth and dapper-butch array of suits, she seems to be channeling the kind of huckster pickup artist every woman must learn to avoid at some point, but in a softer, more elegant (and probably more dangerous) guise. Golding, as in last months Crazy Rich Asians, is an immensely watchable, inoffensive hunk.

Those guessing that some kind of Ripley-esque action is on the horizon after Emilys disappearance arent far off the mark, though the intersection of the two womens lives is less Persona swap and more Rebecca. With its martini-swilling leads and swingy French pop soundtrack, A Simple Favor seems to yearn for a bygone era of nail-biter, but rather than wallow in pastiche, it comes up with something truly contemporary feeling. Its a thriller in which two women are the centrifugal force of the intrigue, and unlike their pensive noir contemporaries, the sum total of all human nature doesnt hang in the balance  just one womans mommy vlog.
Bojack Horseman BoJack The Feminist Season 5 Episode 4 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: NETFLIX

Episodes of BoJack Horseman have taken on social issues before. Last seasons gun control episode stands out as a shining example, and the show has always had the ability to cut to the bone. Like most good satire, the show will often state the darkest, most plain-faced version of the truth with a big, bright smile. And here, BoJack Horseman sets it sights on the pervasiveness of assault and horrible behavior from male stars. This time, its mostly explored through the introduction of a new character, Vance Waggoner, who basically works as an amalgamation of every horrible star in show business (but mostly Mel Gibson). But of course, the episode is about how quickly this behavior is just swept over by Hollywoods business-as-usual mantra. As I write this recap, Louis CKs return to stand-up and Matt Lauers purported eventual return to TV are in the news.

Needless to say, this is an evergreen issue, particularly stars getting to play off their problematic personas. Thus, Princess Carolyn comforts Vance  The apology tour can be a hassle!  as she tries to woo him into joining the cast of Philbert, which puts everyone else in a horrible position. Carolyn has no problem with hiring Vance because she defines her feminism by her own individual success. And when challenged on that notion by Diane, she says just chalks it up to the messed-up nature of the industry. But Diane wont go easy  Im not talking to the industry, Im talking to you  because she knows such practices live and die by the choices we make and she simply wont accept passing the buck on this. Shes going to call out the problems. Which, of course, immediately becomes her thankless job when, with one weird smell of a cheese, BoJack stumbles into finding himself as a feminist ally in this particular fight against Vances hiring.

BoJack, of course, immediately begins buying his own bullshit  Im a male feminist, youre welcome society!  which obviously taps into the ugly Catch-22 of the importance of mens speaking out: other men will actually listen to him. As BoJack triumphantly declares, It turns out the problem with feminism all along was that it wasnt men doing it! But, of course, he doesnt understand the real issues. Diane has to explain the concept of how media depictions can normalize behavior. There are good ways, like how dancing Ellen makes Middle America less afraid of gay people. And there are bad ways, like what Jack Bauer did for torture and what Jimmy Fallon did for lip-syncing.

But Dianes just exhausted by all of it. Shes tired of having to explain. Shes tired of people getting away with it. Shes tired of people letting other people off the hook. Shes tired of being put through the ringer and being called horrible things online. When BoJack has to do a big interview because Vance calls out his show for being problematic, she becomes especially tired of his myopia. BoJack shouts, Ill look like a hypocrite, which will be really bad for women everywhere! But Diane presses back, This is not fun for me! Being a woman is not a hobby. Or a pet interest of mine. Its her day-to-day life, fraught with daily horrors and abuse. And so BoJack has to go at his complicated interview alone.

But thats when BoJack has a change of heart. As he starts to defend the show, he finds himself talking about how youre not supposed to agree with it, that its just art and not condoning bad behavior. Hes using all the talking points we hear so often. But then he realizes hes maybe normalizing a behavior he doesnt want to normalize. Dianes words ring in his ear  so he suddenly leaves the interview and goes back to Diane, telling her she has to come help make the show better as a supervising producer. Diane tries to say no, I cant change anything! But in a rare moment of earned catharsis, BoJack declares, You changed me. And in that moment, its true. So she agrees. But its true in a way that doesnt lead to more catharsis. Dianes position becomes largely a token gesture, so people can see a woman worked on this show. And the sadness of the cosmic joke goes on.

Theres a meta subtext to all of this that is absolutely worth noting, and that is how the show is examining its own issues. After all, this is a show whose primary source of humor is the selfish, drunk, lascivious behavior of its protagonist. But to BoJack Horsemans credit, it has always brought the pathos of BoJacks worst behavior to the main stage without minimizing it. And this episode turns out to be no different. In the last scene, we learn that Ana Spanakopita somehow has a recording of BoJack and Diane dicsussing the second-season event in which he almost had sex with the underage daughter of his old flame. With the last haunting words of the recording, we hear him ask, How do you make something right when youve made it so wrong you can never go back?

Its the driving question of the episode, which doesnt provide any answer. There is only the pained paralysis of Dianes face. There is only the truth: These problems are inexorable. Not just because our mistakes are written in ink  theres only what we write next  but because these issues are woven into our lives on the most fundamental level. I know how many men insist on distinguishing between good men and bad men, but we have to examine our own complicity, culpability, and participation at every moment. I think about it constantly, because there is no opting out. We all learn from the same systems of toxic masculinity. Its in the air. And thus, there is only the endless reflection of and on the dark hearts of men.

And that will be true for BoJack most of all.

Best Jokes & Other Notes

 Thats the kind of story I would share without reading, which for our business purposes is better than actually reading.

 Do you mean NCIS?

 I love everything about Mr. Peanutbutter trying to be tough.

 Once again, hero BoJack will clean up everyone elses mess! Which is interesting, because its actually more true this season than it normally is?

 I thought you would never ask, because I had no idea this was happening to you.

.

 I love the running gag of Dianes painting falling.

 Best Bit-Part Animal: the Rhino Smoker and his sweet, sweet kiss.

 This Weeks Actual Mean-Joke Targets: the ever-deserving target of Mark Wahlberg, who, in case you were unaware, committed literal hate crimes and violently blinded a Vietnamese man in a racially motivated attack. And theres the typical, more innocent kind of ribbing common to the show: Im gonna go watch a Wes Anderson movie and see if I can perceive any depth in it!

 Moment That Made Me The Happiest: Mr. Peanutbutters leather ensemble.
TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Becker Milk Company Limited (the Company) (TSX-BEK.B) is pleased to report the results for the three months ended July 31, 2018.



HIGHLIGHTS

Total revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2018 were $769,250 compared to $894,428 for the same period in 2017;

Net operating income for Q1 fiscal 2019 was $625,269 compared to $764,803 in fiscal 2018;

Net income for Q1 fiscal 2019 was $ 0.07 per share, compared to $0.27 per share in fiscal 2018.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Net operating income for the three months ended July 31, 2018 decreased $139,534 compared with the previous year to $625,269, as a result of decreased revenue, resulting from the sale of properties.

Three months ended July 31 2018 2017 Property revenue $750,064 $889,476 Finance income 19,186 4,952 Total revenues $769,250 $894,428 Property revenue $750,064 $889,476 Property operating expenses (124,795) (124,673) Net operating income $625,269 $764,803 Adjusted funds from operations $243,581 $365,356 Net income attributable to common and special shareholders $133,350 $484,748 Average common and special shares outstanding 1,808,360 1,808,360 Income per share $0.07 $0.27

Components of the $351,398 decrease in net income for the three months ended July 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended July 31, 2017 are:

Changes in net income - Three months ended July 31, 2018 compared to three months July 31, 2017 Decrease in net operating income ($139,534) Decrease in fair value adjustment (279,976) Increase in administrative expenses (23,564) Decrease in current taxes 41,573 Increase in recovery of deferred taxes on investment properties 26,046 Increase in finance income 14,234 Decrease in loss on disposal 7,470 Decrease in strategic expenses 2,353 Decrease in net income ($351,398)

ADJUSTED FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

For the three months ended July 31, 2018 the Company recorded adjusted funds from operations of $243,581 ($0.13 per share) compared to $365,356 ($0.20 per share) in 2017.

Three months ended July 31 2018 2017 Funds from operations $269,675 $369,647 Items not affecting cash: Straight line rent - 0 Expenses related to strategic review (1,938) 4,291 Sustaining capital expenditures (24,156) 0 Adjusted funds from operations $243,581 $365,356 Adjusted funds from operations per share $0.13 $0.20

STRATEGIC REVIEW

Since 2014 the Board of Directors has been evaluating strategic directions for the Company and has engaged in discussions with potential acquirors. None of those discussions are active at this time. During this period a programme of divesting less desirable sites has resulted in the sale of 15 investment properties. The Company continues to review its strategic alternatives and will update the market as appropriate, and as required.

DIVIDEND

The Directors of the Company have declared the regular semi-annual dividend on Class B Special and Common Shares of 40 cents per share. This dividend of 40 cents will be paid to those shareholders of record as of September 21, 2018 and payable on October 01, 2018.

The dividends for Canadian tax purposes will be considered as an eligible dividend.

The Companys interim financial statements for the three months ended July 31, 2018, along with the Managements Discussion and Analysis will be filed with SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned that although the terms Net Operating Income, and Funds From Operations are commonly used to measure, compare and explain the operating and financial performance of Canadian real estate companies and such terms are defined in the Managements Discussion and Analysis, such terms are not recognized terms under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Such terms do not necessarily have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by the other publicly traded entities.

For the Board of Directors

G.W.J. Pottow, President

Tel: 416-698-2591
Photo: FX

The 70th Emmy Awards air Monday, September 17, and all this week, Vulture TV critic Jen Chaney and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz are breaking down the major categories with Emmy predictions for variety series, limited series, comedy, and drama. What will win? What actually should win? Thats what were here to determine.

Todays focus: Drama series.



Outstanding Drama Series

 Game of Thrones (HBO)

 Stranger Things (Netflix)

 The Americans (FX)

 The Crown (Netflix)

 The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

 This Is Us (NBC)

 Westworld (HBO)

Westworld improved on its freshman season, but its still so conceptually dense and narratively complex that its hard to imagine Emmy voters handing it the top prize. Watching it probably feels too much like work for some voters. Every other nominee in this category has had better (in some cases, much better) seasons, particularly Game of Thrones (a global phenomenon heading into its final season) and The Crown (which has comparable sweep, but without all the savage fantasy violence).

This Is Us, Stranger Things, and last years winner A Handmaids Tale all struggled to equal or top nearly perfect freshman seasons, and in the case of Handmaids, there were complaints that the show was rubbing the audiences nose in misery rather than finding new notes to strike. But theres still a strong chance that any of the three (or any of the other ongoing series, for that matter) could take the top prize anyway, because shows that have won Emmys are exponentially more likely to continue winning Emmys.

The Americans, meanwhile, had one of the most consistently outstanding final seasons in recent memory, and notched one of the best-ever finales, but the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hasnt shown it much love in the past, so it would count as a minor miracle if it decided to give it a going-away present of this magnitude (acting or writing awards seem more likely, though theyre still long shots).

The Emmy should go to  The Americans. For the finale alone, but really for all of it.

The Emmy will to to  Probably A Handmaids Tale  or perhaps The Crown, because its very English, plus a good many Emmy voters would prefer that everything be on Netflix because its just easier that way.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

 Jason Bateman, Ozark (Netflix)

 Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX)

 Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us (NBC)

 Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC)

 Jeffrey Wright, Westworld (HBO)

 Ed Harris, Westworld (HBO)

Jason Bateman is adept, likable, and unnerving on Ozark, a.k.a. Discount Breaking Bad, and has enjoyed real success as a big-screen comedy lead this year. He mightve been the obvious front-runner in this category, were it not for his abject failure (along with other male co-stars of Arrested Development) to properly side with Jessica Walter in a notorious New York Times interview that illustrated how men tend to reflexively close ranks and protect other abusive men without realizing theyre doing it. The show is still widely liked (at least it seems that way to me anecdotally; almost everyone who asks me about my job wants to discuss it), so he could win anyway; its just not a sure thing.

Matthew Rhys and Jeffrey Wright are the most technically impressive performers nominated in this category, playing multiple iterations of the same character in the same episodes, and inhabiting every version so full that its as if none of the others existed. And both have a powerful emotional component if youre willing to tune into the shows somewhat analytical wavelengths and get past the fact that the characters arent really likable in any conventional TV sense; but Emmy voters have proved consistently unwilling to do this, which is why it took The Sopranos James Gandolfini and Mad Mens Jon Hamm so unconscionably long to win prizes in this category. (Rhys could sneak in if The Americans unexpectedly beats the odds and wins a bunch of major awards to create a mini-sweep, especially if his onscreen and offscreen mate Keri Russell wins Best Actress; but its never happened in the past, so why would it happen now?)

Milo Ventimiglia is wonderful on This Is Us, but his nomination seems entirely a function of This Is Us finally giving us all the details about his character after dancing around them for a season and a half. If he wins on that basis, itll seem kind of fluky. Sterling K. Brown deserved it last year and deserves it again this year, and has been such a star presence across media (in films and on variety and talk shows) that he might have the necessary presence to take the prize again as if by right. Ed Harris is as accomplished and uncompromising a presence as has ever appeared on any screen, small or large, but his incarnation of the Man in Black is still so opaque and chilly (even after that wrenching episode starring Peter Mullan as his father-in-law) that itd be a shock if he got compensated for his Westworld work. His co-star Wright has a slightly better shot, and even thats a long shot, because somehow you never sense the effort that mustve been involved in his performance(s), and in situations like this, actors who make it look easy tend not to reap rewards (unless its just his time  and wouldnt it be great if it were?).

The Emmy should go to  Rhys. For the parking-garage scene in the finale alone  what an acrobatic display of tone-shifting that was!

The Emmy will go to  Probably Brown, because hes great, hes royalty, because he won last year, and the character is beguiling.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

 Sandra Oh, Killing Eve (BBC America)

 Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)

 Claire Foy, The Crown (Netflix)

 Keri Russell, The Americans (FX)

 Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

 Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld (HBO)

Tatiana Maslany wasnt any less awesome in her final year of Orphan Black than she was in any of her other years, but she finally won an Emmy in 2016 for her performance as multiple characters on the series, and that was such an unusual occurrence in itself (given the sort of series it was) that its hard to imagine her repeating two years later. Claire Foy is masterly as young Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, the sort of production that seems tailor-made for these kinds of contests, and was even more impressive in her second outing than in her first. Last years winner, Elisabeth Moss, could repeat because of Academy reflex and the deserved admiration she commands (she was nominated for Top of the Lake and multiple times for Mad Men), though the slight pushback against season two of The Handmaids Tale could hurt her chances. Wood was movie-star material in season two of Westworld, but the same shift that made her character more dynamic (a vengeful-action-heroine role with lots of scenes where she got to threaten people) paradoxically gave her fewer subtle shadings to play.

Keri Russell would have been a deserved winner in any year for her work as the fiercely maternal, patriotic, brutally violent spy on The Americans, arguably even more so for her final outing, a season in which the chickens come home to roost for the Jennings family. But here, as in other categories, its hard to imagine a voting membership that had never warmed to her character before suddenly doing so. Her main competition could be Sandra Oh, a well-liked industry veteran who got the role of her life as the title character in a great series (though one that was regrettably not nominated in the top category), and gets to be screwball-funny as well as sexy and dark. Shes also a history-maker as the first Asian woman nominated in the category.

The Emmy should to to  Russell, because shes been excellent but subtle throughout her stint on The Americans, and this is her last chance in the role.

The Emmy will go to  Oh, even though shell have many more chances, because shes just as impressive, and because of the historic nature of her nomination.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones (HBO)

 Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (HBO)

 Matt Smith, The Crown (Netflix)

 Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO)

 David Harbour, Stranger Things (Netflix)

 Joseph Fiennes, The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage continue to be superb on Game of Thrones, and as a two-time winner in this category, its always possible that Dinklage could repeat. But the series has struggled a bit creatively in its second season without George R.R. Martins source material to adapt, and the characters felt a bit thinner this time around. Patinkin, a four-time Emmy nominee for Homeland and seven-timer overall, could benefit from the sentiment factor (plus the excellence of his submitted episode, Species Jump, which is built around an investigation, a situation where his character tends to shine).

Dashing as he is as Prince Philip on The Crown, Matt Smith might be too subtle to take this one (John Lithgow won last year for playing Winston Churchill, a far showier part). Joseph Fiennes is uncompromisingly un-self-aware as Commander Waterford in season two of The Handmaids Tale, a Good German role that resonates with current events, but that could just as easily be a minus as a plus. Repeat nominee David Harbour is far and away the most crowd-pleasing choice here, and even though Stranger Things was unsteady in its second season, he got some of his best material, playing opposite the preternaturally assured Millie Bobby Brown (also a repeat nominee for the series) as her characters guardian.

The Emmy should go to  Patinkin. After an early burst of affection, the Academy largely seems to be over the show, though it continues to nominate it in certain categories; but Patinkin is a wily pro who was at the top of his game this season.

The Emmy will go to  Harbour, because who doesnt love this character, and this performance? As the characters name, Hopper, suggests, its got a touch of Dennis Hoppers smart-alecky hard edge in 1980s supporting performances, but also the broad-shouldered leading-man magnetism that Harrison Ford brought to American cinema during that same decade. Plus, hes acting opposite Eleven, which makes him look even better than he mightve already.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

 Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (HBO)

 Vanessa Kirby, The Crown (Netflix)

 Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things (Netflix)

 Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

 Ann Dowd, The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

 Alexis Bledel, The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)

 Thandie Newton, Westworld (HBO)

With three out of seven slots claimed, this category is either The Handmaids Tales to lose or the category it cant win because of vote-splitting. Ann Dowd has the best shot because she won last year, though as strong as she and Yvonne Strahovski were, my sentiments are with Alexis Bledel, whos giving something reasonably close to an old-fashioned silent-movie performance where its all in the eyes.

Lena Headey is up for the fourth time in this category for playing Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, but if the Academy didnt give it to her for her walk of shame year, or the year when her character settled all family business in a kinetic and ultimately explosive montage a la Michael Corleone, its hard to see why theyd finally hand her the statuette for this last season, except to make up for past opportunities to honor her.

Millie Bobby Brown had slightly juicier material this year than in season one of Stranger Things, even though the series was weaker overall, and her character even got a stand-alone episode that felt like a dry run for an Eleven-centric spinoff, but shes so young that voters might figure, Whats the rush?

Thandie Newton might deserve it most, purely because of the technical precision demanded of every recurring character playing a lead role as a synthetic person on Westworld. Like her colleague Jeffrey Wright, whos up in the Lead Actor category for the same series, shes essentially playing several parts in the same drama (if you consider the different iterations of self-awareness plus the characters memories of herself in flashbacks as separate but related performances, and I do). But it never seems like a purely theoretical exercise because of the emotional transparency that Newton has brought to pretty much every role shes played in the past, on film and in television.

The Emmy should go to  Newton. There isnt a single frame of her performance on Westworld that isnt both impeccable and affecting. And the extra-dramatic factor of her being one of the most famous voices in the #MeToo movement might give voters one more reason to mark her name on the ballot.

The Emmy will go to  Dowd again.

Outstanding Direction

 Game of Thrones, Beyond the Wall, Alan Taylor (HBO)

 Game of Thrones, The Dragon and the Wolf, Jeremy Podeswa (HBO)

 Ozark, The Toll, Jason Bateman (Netflix)

 Ozark, Tonight We Improvise, Daniel Sackheim (Netflix)

 Stranger Things, Chapter Nine: The Gate, The Duffer Brothers (Netflix)

 The Crown, Paterfamilias, Stephen Daldry (Netflix)

 The Handmaids Tale, After, Kari Skogland (Hulu)

This is the Go big or go home category, and has been ever since Game of Thrones staged its first big battle episode; nobody should be surprised if Thrones wins here, because the only thing more impressive than the sight of HBO burning through incredible piles of money is when they do it with real showmanship, as was definitely the case in both The Dragon and the Wolf and Beyond the Wall.

The latter is jaw-dropping in its audacious enormity, which is really saying something, considering what series were talking about here. Its clearly the episode to beat, although Chapter Nine of Stranger Things  the one where all hell finally breaks loose after eight hours of buildup  could pull an upset, particularly if enough Emmy voters treat watching the series as a parent-child bonding experience (as is the case in the Seitz household).

Its a shame that sweep and volume tend to drown out the comparatively subtler pleasures to be had in this categorys representative episodes of The Crown (no slouch in the production-value department, and with Oscar nominee Stephen Daldry behind the camera); Ozark (featuring the star directing himself, always a favorite Emmy activity); and especially The Handmaids Tale. After is the only nominated episode in this category directed by a woman, Kari Skogland, and in sheer lyrical horror, it equals or exceeds anything involving dragons, zombies, or extra-dimensional creatures.

The Emmy will go to  Alan Taylor for Beyond the Wall, because damn.

The Emmy should go to  Kari Skogland, for an episode with images that owe as much to real-world photojournalism as they do to dystopian sci-fi.

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

 Game of Thrones, The Dragon and the Wolf, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (HBO)

 Killing Eve, Nice Face, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (BBC America)

 Stranger Things, Chapter Nine: The Gate, The Duffer Brothers (Netflix)

 The Americans, Start, Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg (FX)

 The Crown, Mystery Man, Peter Morgan (Netflix)

 The Handmaids Tale, June, Bruce Miller (Hulu)

The only two contenders Im really bullish on in this category are the series finale of The Americans (Start) and the pilot of Killing Eve (Nice Face). The former, written by series creators Joel Weisberg and Joel Fields, was one of the best series-enders in years, an episode that shouldve been up for direction as well. Not only did it pull off that impossible trick of surprising die-hard fans with events that they didnt see coming and that were as good or better than what theyd imagined, it functioned equally well in several different modes, including the borderline stage play (the parking-garage scene) and the extended montage (the final section was nearly wordless, and at times had the sustained emotional intensity of a late-period silent film).

Phoebe Waller-Bridges Nice Face, on the other hand, was pure pop delight in comparison to The Americans inky Russian tragedy. Ive watched it four times now and would gladly watch it one more time, because its note-perfect. Just remembering that razor-edged opening scene puts a grin on my face.

The Emmy should go to  Either The Americans or Killing Eve. The end or the beginning.

The Emmy will go to  Killing Eve, because its so much damned fun, and because Emmy voters know from industry meet-and-greet events how charismatic and hilarious Phoebe Waller-Bridge is (even if theyve never seen a frame of her excellent Amazon star vehicle Fleabag) and will want to see her absolutely kill up there onstage.
Grace Park. Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

In 2017, Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim left CBSs Hawaii Five-O reportedly over salary offers that did not match their white co-stars pay. While Kim discussed the reasons behind his departure at the time, saying that the path to equality is never easy, Park remained silent until now. In an interview with EW promoting her role in ABCs A Million Little Things, Park talked about leaving Five-O for the first time, saying it was due to a number of factors spanning the show, seemingly not limited to pay. Im grateful for the lessons learned, but I chose what was best for my integrity, Park said. I know that people are always trying their best, and everyones coming from their own backgrounds, she added. Throughout the whole series, I kept trying to see the best in everybody Would I do it all over again? I wouldnt be so quick to say yes. Im still figuring stuff out. Sometimes people are just really good at burying stuff, and I think Im like that.

At the time, CBS said it had offered Park and Kim a significant salary increase  though not enough to match the pay of Alex OLoughlin and Scott Caan  and it was reported that Park and Kim also negotiated separately, with Park receiving a lower offer. At the time, the shows executive producer Peter Lenkov tweeted that Park had been away from her family filming for seven years, implying that played a part in her decision, though Park told EW that was inaccurate. I let him know, That wasnt cool that you made a statement on my behalf, Park said. I know he did it to be helpful, and I care about Peter as a person, but I didnt leave for that reason.

Later in EWs story, Park complimented the positive, group-oriented mentality of her new series A Million Little Things, noting that though everyone doesnt have the same salary starting out, they could be at parity a few seasons in. Im good leaving the boys club, and Im hopeful for the future, Park said. I just look at this time as something that I went through. I didnt understand it while I was going through it, but  You cant always get back what you lost, but if you made it through, right now is the best time to watch the old structures fall.
Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen in the surprising Forever. Photo: Colleen Hayes/Amazon Prime Video

The first thing that Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard knew about Forever, their new Amazon series, was that it would be a show starring Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen. From there, the co-creators, who previously worked together on Parks and Recreation, built an eight-episode first season steeped in mystery, metaphysical comedy, and so many surprises that, with Amazons blessing, the shows premise has been kept entirely under wraps so as not to spoil the experience of discovering its twists and turns.

In a phone interview earlier this week, Yang and Hubbard spoke about developing some of those twists and turns, the films and television series that provided inspiration for Forever, and how a Catherine Keenertype character wound up being played by the actual Catherine Keener. (Needless to say, there are spoilers aplenty in this Q&A so do not proceed if you havent watched Forever yet and want to go into it without knowing too much.)

The first thing I want to ask about is the genesis of the idea. What inspired the show?

Alan Yang: I sat down and had breakfast with Maya [Rudolph] and Fred [Armisen] about a year-and-a-half ago, and they were just interested in working together on something. They were a big inspiration, so I called Matt up and we started talking about ideas, and then we sent them some ideas. One of the ones they responded to was a half-idea that simply said: Maya and Fred are ghosts who dont haunt people. We thought that was kind of funny. At that point we decided, Well, thats not really an idea, but what if we came up with an emotional spine that really worked with that idea? What we came up with was the idea of a show about marriage, and this eternity being a metaphor for what it can sometimes feel like to be in a long-term relationship or marriage. That was the genesis of it.

How many other ideas did you pitch?

Matt Hubbard: There were a lot. Boy, I think there was one where they were in charge of a preschool in Silver Lake. We were all over the place. This was the one we kept coming back to because it was bringing up a lot of the questions, obviously, that people have about who your soul mate is, what a marriage is, what a long-term relationship is, regrets you have, and the path not taken. It just was the fullest area to explore.

AY: It was so tonally a premise that was unlike stuff that I had worked on previously, so I was very interested in doing that.

At what point did you decide to kill Freds character at the end of the first episode, and then kill Mayas character at the end of the second episode? Was that pretty early on?

AY: Very early on. In fact, when we went in to pitch the show, we essentially just pitched the first three episodes in their entirety, just beat-by-beat what happened. What ended up being made was very similar to our pitch, so we already knew that going in. One of the things that made us the happiest about the idea was how slow it takes to develop. I think the trend now is for everything to be fast, fast, fast, speed it up, get through the narrative. But to slow play that was one of the few remaining surprising things you can do.

I was surprised a lot by this. One of the joys for me was that it just kept changing with every episode.

AY: We ended up getting a lot of cliffhangers in there, which was really fun. Again, we hadnt worked on a lot of shows that did that in the past. As we were breaking these episodes we were like, Man, some of these endings are really cool.

MH: The other thing we had going for us was we knew, obviously, that Maya and Fred were going to be in the show. We felt like, Okay, well most people just like them enough and its cool enough that theyre in the show together that we can get [the audience] to watch, and it will be hopefully something you arent expecting. Amazon was completely onboard with hiding the ball, which is a real credit to them.

Whats interesting to me about this show is that its about people being resistant to change. Yet the show itself changes. It almost changes genres, especially in the third episode. I was wondering if that was part of the point, too, to shake viewers out of their comfort zone. Is that completely nuts or is that what you were thinking?

AY: Its not only not completely nuts, its completely accurate. In a landscape where there are 3.4 million television shows  I looked it up, its actually the accurate number  why not mix things up and really throw the audience off their game? Why not have as many surprises as possible? Ive never shot anything like the end of [episode eight], and Ive never written or directed anything like [episode six]. Thats another genre change in the middle of the entire season. To me, episode one would be a show that I would watch, episode two is a totally different show that I would also watch, and episode three is a totally different show that I think I would watch. I thought that was really fun and exiting. It was a huge risk. Hopefully, we pulled something off.

In terms of the afterlife that you create, obviously theres a lot of detail involved and theres certain rules about how it operates. How did you decide what it would look like and how it would function?

MH: We had many, many conversations that were like, Should the lamps be plugged in? When you do this world-building stuff, you gotta deal with a lot of that. But I will say, on a macro level, we wanted to convey a feeling of isolation, especially that these two were really in this world alone. So we tried to find a street  that we did find in Simi Valley  where the houses were very similar and there were not a lot of trees. We took out the cars, we covered up the mailboxes, and we had those nice eerie mountains in the background. In our use of extras, other ghosts walking around was very spare and judicious. We wanted to really feel that there was a lot of space in this world, because sometimes when youre in a marriage with someone, you feel like you are just alone in the world with them. Thats scary, but also, the other person is someone you need to hold onto. We wanted to convey that in this world.

AY: As far as the visual language goes, I put together a document of references to send out to the team  our cinematographer and production designer and our directors  which included images from some really great directors, like David Lynch, and Wim Wenders, [Krzysztof] Kieslowski, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Luis Bunuel. Not all of those translated one-to-one, but certainly we took inspiration from a lot of these great films and tried to imbue the show with some of that feeling, whether a literal representation or an emotional representation.

Do you remember which specific films you were looking at?

AY: Oh, absolutely. From Lynch, a lot of Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive. Theres one scene, I wont say which one, thats essentially kind of a comedy version of a Mulholland Drive scene. Then Wim Wenders, we took inspiration from Wings of Desire, which I forced Matt to watch very early on. Theres a walk that Fred does in episode seven thats very much inspired by a walk that Harry Dean Stanton does in Paris, Texas. Theres a shot that I ripped off from a Kieslowski movie called Blue, part of the Trois Couleurs trilogy. You know, you gotta steal from the best.

There were elements of the show that also reminded me of Lost. Am I off base or did that enter your heads at all?

MH: It totally did. I think one thing that was such a good engine in Lost was that they did not know what was going on. They didnt know why there was a tiger  or whatever it was  in the pilot.

AY: Polar bear.

MH: Yeah, a polar bear. All this stuff kept coming at them. For us, story-wise, when you got to the afterlife, we both decided that theres no guy whos telling you whats going on. Theyve just been planted there and they dont know whats going to happen to them, they dont know what the rules are, they dont know if theyre being lied to, and they dont know if theres God. That feeling that Lost evoked of not knowing your place in the world that is something that I enjoyed in that show and a little bit tried to put into this one.

AY: I dont know that much about Lost. I didnt see all of that show, but it definitely had amazing cliffhangers and they were geniuses at world-building, so hopefully this is some kind of comedy analogue, maybe? But I dont know enough about it to say that we ripped off that show that much. [Laughs.]

Id say its an homage. In the first episode of Lost, Jack was originally supposed to die, and they ended up not doing that. The fact that Oscar and June died felt to me like, Were going to actually do what Lost didnt dare to do.

AY: Youre saying we have way more confidence than those guys! [Laughs.]

I didnt say that. Dont ever tell Damon Lindelof I said that. Theres another thing that really struck me after I watched the whole show, too  so many good shows have come out the relationships created through Parks and Recreation.

AY: Yeah, thats a really good writing staff! [Laughs.]

And none of the series are really the same. This show reminds me of The Good Place in certain ways, but theyre all different. Im just wondering, what was it about Parks and Recreation? Obviously everybody was talented but it seems like there was a special chemistry there.

AY: Mike [Schur] and Greg [Daniels] hired great people, I think thats number one. Number two, they cultivated and fostered a very, very friendly, decent, humane, fun atmosphere where people got along. I cant stress enough how important that is. I feel like Ive been incredibly fortunate because on that show, on Master of None, and on Forever, those were three incredibly fun writers rooms. Just  we had a great time. On this show, we did our best to work 10 to 5, work really hard when were there, let people go home and see their families and live relatively normal lives, but work hard when were there and just be civil, normal human beings.

MH: Those guys are just such class acts. They just show you how to run a show, how to treat people, how to be prepared, how to be decisive when you need to be, and how to listen to people when you need to. It can be a miserable job, but Mike and Greg know how to make it civil and are also unbelievably talented. You also just learn a lot from them.

AY: You learn a lot about working hard, but also having humility. Whats great about those guys is, you know, the best idea wins in the room. Its not about your ego, its not about anything like that. Its lets do whats best for the show, lets listen to everybody, lets make sure that no one is screaming. Im very proud of the fact that our writers room was fun. Were all buddies, and thats how I felt on this show, on Master of None, and on Parks.

For the world-building aspect, did you talk to Mike Schur at all? Because he had to go through that same process with The Good Place.

AY: No. It was really funny, because Mike and I share an office on the Universal Studios lot and when he was coming up with The Good Place, he was pitching it to me a little bit. I ended up working on that show briefly and then directing an episode, too. It was really fun. We love that show. Basically, all I did was shoot Mike a text, like, Hey man, were doing a show and two people die in it, but its going to be as different from your show as humanly possible. Early on, Maya was like, I think Im going to guest on The Good Place, is that okay? I was like, Its totally fine. Because the tone on this show is so radically different from The Good Place, I wasnt worried at all. Our shows slower paced and its moody and all these things that The Good Place  which has a very, very strong voice of its own  is not. The shows have this tiny Venn diagram intersection of content, but in execution, tone, performance, all that stuff, its just so different.

Do you know whether there will be a second season? Have you given thought to whether theres more story to tell?

AY: We have talked about potential ideas for season two because were crazy people and we like working and we love these characters, so we have some interesting ideas. But it remains to be seen. If we get the green light to do some more, it could be fun.

I spoke to Catherine Keener about that recently, and she said she didnt know. I told her Id find out for her.

[Yang and Hubbard laugh.]

When you were writing Kase, did you have her in mind?

AY: We definitely did. She was our number-one choice, the only choice. In the writers room, we were like, Kase is this mysterious, cool neighbor who really entices June, and shes like the coolest person in the world. Its a Catherine Keener type. In the writers room, we just started calling [the character] Keener. Then we went to Maya and said, What about Catherine Keener for this role? Shes like, Oh, shes a friend of mine. Maybe we could get her. We sent Catherine the script and we wrote her a letter, and she was very, very, very into the script. She called us back and said she wanted to do it. It was a relief and it was awesome.

MH: Keener is amazing. We had a table read early on, where we read all of the episodes.

AY: All eight episodes!

MH: Her first line is Hello. Literally, she says hello when she opens the door. During the table read, she said it and everyone just started laughing, because you just so got her [in the role].

AY: I think it might have been hi? It was two letters! Two letters, one syllable.

MH: You have to be very good to get that reaction from the word hi.

I imagine there are some rules about the afterlife that you know about but that havent shared in the show yet. Is that a fair assumption?

AY: We certainly had very wide-ranging discussions. You wouldnt believe the stuff we talked about for episode eight. You wouldnt believe the stuff that we thought [Peter Wellers character] the Traveler might be able to do. We had all of these ideas. With any show, its like an iceberg, where the stuff onscreen is 10 percent above the surface, then all of the discussions you had are 90 percent below the surface that youve built up on.

MH: It was like, Okay, what powers does a ghost have? There were times where it was like, What if they touched someone and they can see their memories? It just started to become like they were gods, so it was all about restraint. It was all about making sure that they could do certain things that living people couldnt do, but were also still human in that they werent Zeus or something.

As far as Oceanside is concerned, how did you create that world? I found it a little disturbing for reasons I cant even put my finger on.

AY: We wanted to create a world that was kind of what they wanted but also a little horrifying. This is a very strange reference, but we talked about the strange party that Tom Cruises character finds in Eyes Wide Shut and how off-putting it is. Obviously, that ones for very clear reasons. But this, we wanted it to be a little bit stilted and a little bit odd. It doesnt mean that its a bad place, because I think Oceanside is the right place for some of these people, but its the wrong place for Oscar and June. We wanted to toe that line.

I just want to give a special shout-out to Obba Babatunde and Julia Ormond, who play two very strange characters that they probably have never had to play before. Theres a scene that actually got cut out, I believe, where Mayas character just flies a kite with Julia Ormonds character on the beach. They just fly a kite together.

MH: It was like, Is this Burning Man? What is this place? We eventually came upon, the people there are forgetting who they were when they were alive, which we thought was interesting. I think thats weird and eerie, and hopefully it came across.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Jersey Shore Family Vacation Frenemies Season 2 Episode 5 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next Photo: MTV

This very special Jersey Shore Family Vacation dispatch is brought to you from Vultures satellite recap bureau on the actual Jersey Shore, where  given that its mid-September  everything is gray and damp, and the vibe is more Everyday is Like Sunday than Surfin U.S.A. (To be clear, I am having a great time.) While the gorilla juiceheads may have entered hibernation, the Wawas, blissfully, remain plentiful.

Far away in Las Vegas, Seaside Heights own Anastasia Romanov has returned to the royal court to assume her rightful mantle as the gangs bratty, pants-pooping scamp of a little sister. Jenni, whos barely acknowledging Angelinas existence, is irritated with Nicole both for inviting her and being friends with her at all; Nicole is frustrated with Angelina, her guest, for coming in so hot; Angelina is, well, coming in extremely hot, and if you take a drink every time you hear the phrase coming in hot on this television show, I will be sure to send flowers to your grave, because you will be dead.

Like Jenni, I was under the impression that theyd made up in Miami; unlike Jenni, I am not convinced that such an obvious pun as Jersey Whore is the gravest insult in the history of human communication, even if it was objectively uncalled for. Their beef remains unsquashed, and if it continues to be stored at these warm temperatures, deeply unsanitary.

Angelina finally semi-apologizes for slapping Vinny, more or less only because she cant abide having two roommates despise her at once. It was a fun slap, she objects. It wasnt anything crazy. Ron suggests that Vinny and Angelina have one more hate-bang to get out (dedicated students of Jersey Shore will recall that our resident Staten Islanders had sex way back in season two, during which time Angelina was dating Jose, who bought her a Fossil watch, can you believe) which he predicts will occur within the next 36 hours. But Angelina is engaged now, and more pressingly, as she tells Vinny, Honestly, I dont remember your dick. This is the closest Jersey Shore will ever come to Don Draper telling Ginsberg, I dont think about you at all. Vinny compares his member to an eggplant, a can of spray paint and AriZona iced tea, but fails to refresh her memory.

In the all-girls car on the way to a (sure) Giada de Laurentiis restaurant, Angelina maintains her Jersey Whore volley was in response to Jenni calling her a dirty hamster, and also that her frenemy was, in fact, acting like a fucking whore. This launches a debate about the important semantic distinctions between whore and bitch, until Angelina relents. Youre a mother, she says. So youre not a whore. Youre a bitch, there you go. This is as close as were going to get to a ceasefire.

Over dinner, Angelina enters full hyper goofball mode, which I personally find charming, perhaps because I am watching it on TV and not sitting next to her wondering if shes going to get us all kicked out of the restaurant. Were booby sisters and sex sisters, Angelina says of Nicole, realizing that theyve both patronized the same cosmetic surgeon as well as Vinnys penis. Then she sets her sights on the artist formerly known as JWoww. Show me your tits! she chants over and over again, until Jenni gets up from her seat and takes a spare chair among strangers at a nearby table.

At the club, Jenni dodges Angelina when she tries to sit on her lap and when she tries to snap a selfie with her. Inspired by Nicole shoving ice down her own cleavage, Angelina decides to play the prank (well, if you can call it a prank) forward on Jenni, who flees the moment Angelina starts reaching for her boobs. Angelina chases Jenni across the dance floor, until finally  to the delight and confusion of the cheering clubgoers surrounding them  theyre locked in a standing jiu-jitsu match, made all the more surreal by the big smiles plastered on their faces throughout. Jenni emerges the victor by no small margin, trapping Angelina in a headlock before releasing her with a half-hearted backhand to the cheek. Jenni, who apparently believed Angelina was trying to expose her boobs by force, tells Mike, Bring me home or Im gonna go to jail.

Early the next morning, a producer wakes Vinny up to give him the very sad news that his Uncle Sal has passed away (I know what youre thinking, and no, different uncle). He leaves for home, missing Pauly, who returns to Vegas shortly thereafter. The human prank that is Angelina pays off when he flips the lights on his room to find her nestled (or, in Nicoles words, marinating) in his bed. Who pranks the prank-war champion? Nicole does, apparently, but I dont want him to get me back, because I hate pranks. For now, at least, Pauly is otherwise occupied, summoning guest services to change out his mattress and dump the bedding into a red hazmat disposal bag.

Whether her eating a burger and fries on the toilet last night was the cause or a symptom, Nicole is feeling off. Her secondhand tension with Jenni doesnt help, either. And so she decides to invite her best friend Joey, who proves his compatibility with this group by seemingly answering her FaceTime call naked, to come to Vegas. He gleefully accepts.

This, for Jenni, is the last straw in the novelty oversize fishbowl cocktail that is this vacation. She wanted family time; instead, she got Angelina and now Joey (no offense, Joey). And so she announces to the group that shes going home tomorrow. In response, Nicole storms out of the room. I hate it when Mom and Mom fight!
overnights

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Recap: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait After the chaos last week, it should feel good that nearly every couple has a joyous reunion, but it all rings hollow.
Matthew McConaughey, Jimmy Fallon, and the Roots Tariq Trotter on The Tonight Show. Photo: NBC

Late nights biggest strength and greatest weakness is the fact that something has to go on air every night. Okay, not literally every night, but many nights. So when the head of your network is ousted, or tonights guest says some problematic shit, the show must indeed go on. There are two options: acknowledge or avoid. I hesitate to say one is unilaterally a better choice, but obviously acknowledging the problem is a better choice. Its certainly braver to address things head-on, if less tactful. Avoiding awkward conversations on your comedy show is entirely justified. Jimmy Fallon shouldnt feel the need to make his show a forum for the great debates of our time, unless those debates also take place while trying to shove through a door in a fat suit or some such nonsense. People come to these shows to laugh and unwind. Confronting harsh truths isnt relaxing. To quote Mr. Show, TV must be nice, for the nice people.

This week was full of late nights niceness being interrupted by the truly batshit times in which we live. When Les Moonves left CBS after a new round of sexual-assault/harassment allegations against him, both Stephen Colbert and James Corden acknowledged it. Corden went for a heartfelt these truths must be told, support the survivors speech. Colbert, on the other hand, guessed that Moonves will be back in nine months, just like Louis C.K.

Meanwhile on the avoidance tip, The Tonight Show canceled Norm Macdonalds appearance after the backlash to an interview he gave to The Hollywood Reporter. Macdonald said that he was glad #MeToo was slowing down, and that his close friends Roseanne Barr and Louis C.K. had suffered in a way that their victims had not. There are very few people that have gone through what they have, losing everything in a day, he said. Of course, people will go, What about the victims? But you know what? The victims didnt have to go through that.

When it was brought to his attention that their victims were denied the opportunity to acquire everything, Macdonald apologized on Twitter. However, The Tonight Show decided they didnt need that heat. The day after he was bumped, Macdonald attempted to apologize for his actions by telling Howard Stern that youd have to have Down syndrome to not feel sorry for the victims of #MeToo. Macdonald apologized for that comment, too. It would appear that Fallon dodged a bullet by not having him on. I would honestly rather see a rock block of Matthew McConaughey than Norm Macdonald apologize for apologizing poorly.

McConaughey was delightful Tuesday night. He rolled with the punches like a true Zen master and kept supplying anecdotes about airstream trailers. McConaughey has lived more while camping than I have in my entire existence.

Its not surprising that Colbert acknowledged his networks problems while Fallon avoided his. When Bill Clinton made a total dingus of himself on The View, Colbert addressed it on his show the following night. When Alex Trebek grew a similar beard, Colbert addressed it. Its a compulsion. Kimmel is a similarly compulsive lampshade hanger. Hell ask Kanye about Donald Trump, hell ask Kim about Kanye, he dont give a fuck. Christina Aguilera stopped by Jimmys show Wednesday, and he had to make her whole interview about the Cardi B/Nicki/Rah Ali fight. A fight that took place at Xtinas show is more interesting than anything she might be promoting, and Kimmel is not going to pretend otherwise.

All late-night hosts can be categorized as avoiders or acknowledgers. Colbert, Kimmel, Samantha Bee, and John Oliver are all acknowledgers. Seth Meyers is on the cusp; he goes either way or lets Amber Ruffin do the acknowledging for him. Fallon and Corden are really only here to have a good time. They dont bring dark stuff up if they can help it. Its against their brands, and Corden is too British to state anything too obviously. His silence on Beat the Meatles is deafening. He never stops talking about Sir Paul. Just a day before the news broke, he and Rob Lowe were trading Beatles stories.

The man spent hours in a car with his idol, and soon after a huge story about mutual masturbation breaks, and Corden says nothing?! This is the one time when speaking out is a moral imperative. The whole world is watching, Mr. Corden.
Photo: Courtesy of TIFF.

The newest sequel to Predator, The Predator  the definite article helps, unlike David Gordon Greens confusingly named sequel to Halloween, Halloween  is Shane Blacks enthusiastic attempt to relaunch this particular series with a bit more family-friendly color and context. Thats not hard, given that John McTiernans 1987 original was cold, Spartan, and devoid of much beyond the premise of a huge, dreadlocked extraterrestrial hunting a bunch of muscular Special Forces operatives led by Arnold Schwarzeneggers Dutch in the jungles of Central America. (The alien seemed a lot less outlandish than the idea of Schwarzenegger playing someone nicknamed Dutch.)

By family friendly, I dont mean its a PG-13 (though good luck keeping your 10-year-old boy from seeing it)  it still has plenty of splatter and eviscerations. I mean it features a little-kid genius (Jacob Tremblay, of Room), a bunch of lovably nutty reject soldiers prepared to die to save our planet, and a Johns Hopkins biochemistry professor (Olivia Munn) able to leap off bridges onto barreling buses while firing automatic weapons. It has a domesticated predator pooch. Theres something for Dad, Mom, and Sis, as well as fans of zesty B sci-fi pictures like Battle Beyond the Stars, which was The Magnificent Seven in space.

Its too bad theres more enthusiasm than skill in how Black sets The Predator up. He opens with a spaceship either fighting or having rough sex with a larger spaceship and then fleeing or being blown into a black hole or rift  or maybe just a break into the clouds  and careening to Earth, where its Predator inhabitant is either killed or badly wounded or has knocked over a large pitcher of kale-celery-cucumber juice. The crash stops a Special Forces assassin, Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook), mid-assassination. Maybe as payback he steals the Predators giant weaponized helmet and does what anyone else would do: He mails it home to his little kid (Tremblay). For safekeeping. Or something. The kid, Rory, snaps the thing on, it promptly starts emitting signals, and suddenly Predators, spaceships, and government planes are punching in new coordinates for Smalltown, U.S.A.

The movie is great fun when the whole galaxy converges on that kid. First theres the Predator; then theres a much bigger, hybridized (long story) Predator; and then theres a busload of institutionalized vets led by Quinn, among them characters played by Moonlights Trevante Rhodes (with a cigar), Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Keegan Michael Key, and Munns Casey Bracket. (The inmates bus is the one she leaps off a bridge onto while firing an automatic weapon.) The most disconcerting aspect of The Predator is that the U.S. government  led here by Sterling K. Brown with the weaponized name Traeger  wants Quinn, Rory, Casey, and the rest of the Predator-fighters liquidated on the grounds of national security. This is something to remember if you think about heading off to see whats going on at New Mexicos Sunspot Observatory, which was recently  mysteriously  closed due to security issues. (Perhaps aliens are finally coming to help us with our wee climate-change problem.)

The U.S. governments attempts on our heroes lives is so disconcerting because Tremblays scenes in The Predator evoke Spielbergs sci-fi fantasies, and no one tried to take out little Elliot. At the movies world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, co-writer Fred Decker said that he and Shane Black wanted to make a film that recalled early Spielberg in addition to Predator and The Dirty Dozen. (He could easily have thrown in the 1987 Monster Squad, which he wrote with Black.) Theyve succeeded to a degree, although theres no way that Predator and E.T. could ever comfortably coexist. The delicate mood of the latter would be wrecked by exploding viscera.

Not that you always know whose (or whats) viscera is exploding. Black doesnt seem to have given his editor enough to work with  some of the fights are shot from angles that are a tad oblique. And I never quite understood what Quinn kept of the Predators weaponry, seeing as how he goes in and out of invisibility. But The Predator throws enough at you to keep you distracted from seeing all the marks its not quite hitting. Rhodess pop-top vet is amusing and scary in equal measure, and little Jake Tremblay is as good as youd hope, especially when his Rory mouths off to the Machiavellian Traeger on the subject of reverse psychology. One of the films traumatized ex-soldiers has Tourettes, which is always good to have when a scene hits a dead patch. He says the damnedestfuckingshitbitchfucking things.

Probably you also want to know about what The Predator doesnt have, having read that the studio quickly lopped off a scene featuring another sort of predator, an actor friend of Blacks convicted of soliciting sex online from a 14-year-old girl. It was Munn who blew the whistle, a particularly selfless act given that (according to a colleague who saw an early screening) it was her first scene in the movie and set up her character beautifully. She told interviewers that no one in the cast except Tremblay would talk to her  which sent them all frantically scrambling to show their support. Id like to think the big, Rasta-looking Predator said, Good going, Munn.
See, you cant imprison a man because you have a crush on his ex and also feed him gluten, thats just unfair. You, the Lifetime series that sends up gentrified New York and also has Penn Badgley stalk women and imprison their terrible boyfriends, is getting even more bonkers in its coming episode, as you can see from the above clip. Joe (Badgley) has trapped Benji (Lou Taylor Pucci) in his creepy book preservation slash torture room, and hes trying very hard to be nice, even if hes depriving Benji of the sushi and/or Bareburger hed like to be eating right now. Now, we can agree Benji definitely doesnt any of this, but also, what a douche.
The Better Business Bureau wants you to be aware scammers are pretending to accept donations for hurricane relief with Hurricane Florence on the way. The BBB says they've sadly seen this time and time again, when a weather related disaster strikes, so do scammers.

"One of the things that scammers do is in general that they play on our emotions and this is of course a perfect time to do just that very successfully," Elizabeth Garcia said, the President of the BBB in North Alabama. She says when it comes to charity scams, nobody is safe.

"Well generally relating to disasters, they will target everybody," Garcia said.

With Hurricane Florence impacting people throughout the east coast, Garcia wants people to be aware of who they are donating money to, because far too often, the money you could be donating won't go toward anything at all. Shanice Zeigler says she plans to donate to the relief efforts.

"You gotta put yourself in the same situation if it was just your family or something like that and you lost everything you would want someone to help you as well," Ziegler said.

She says scammers try and get to her online.

"Most of the time it will be on social media, so they have pop-ups or they try to send a friend request."

The BBB wants people to keep these things in mind when looking to make a donation: Be aware of emails, text messages, phone calls, and social media posts. They recommend you do not click on any of the links they provide in emails or websites. The BBB also recommends if you choose to donate, pick a well-established organization and if a company starts to use any strong-arm tactics or becomes aggressive, they are most likely a scammer.

Zeigler says she'll be smart about who she gives her money to and wants everyone to do the same.

"You actually have to do your background history when it comes to stuff like that."

For more information on how to avoid scammers you can visit the BBB Scam Tips page here: https://www.bbb.org/scamtips/
Two local American Red Cross volunteers are heading to the east coast to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The category one hurricane made landfall over the Carolina Coast Friday morning.

The volunteers loaded up a vehicle with water and snacks to distribute. Their first stop is in Macon,Georgia, where they will then be given their exact deployment location. A Red Cross spokeswoman says the local Huntsville chapter was contacted to send the volunteers.

While on site, the volunteers could do a number of things, from feeding people to serving as case workers. One volunteer said he hopes to give people impacted by Florence a sense of comfort.

"In the limited number of disasters I've been associated with, mostly people want to talk. And to be able to listen to their story, to give them hope," said Herbert Cleveland Sr., a Red Cross volunteer heading to the East Coast.

The deployment will last two weeks. Additional local volunteers could also be deployed depending on the need in the coming days.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the Red Cross, the North Alabama chapter of the Red Cross is hosting "Learn and Serve" sessions. The informative sessions will be held at the Red Cross chapters in Lawrence County, Morgan County, Madison County, Jackson County and Etowah County.

The sessions are Monday, September 17th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. All Red Cross volunteers have to complete extensive training to serve on disaster response teams.
Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After more than 20 years of global experience in the design and execution of award-winning brand recognition, product positioning, and revenue building strategies for some of the worlds most esteemed businesses, California-based Adriana Lynch is the latest fractional Chief Executive to join Chief Outsiders ranks.

Lynchs appointment empowers companies expanding into new markets to understand and meet the unique needs of international citizens, and especially the Hispanic consumer. Now that this group has more purchase power in the United States than ever, consumer-focused businesses in industries such as healthcare, health and wellness, food and beverage, hospitality, and skincare can leverage the multicultural marketing savants expertise to better communicate and position their products and services.

In addition to serving as the Director of Strategic Brand Management at The Walt Disney Corporation, Lynch also held roles as the VP of Family Meals and Multicultural Marketing at ConAgra Foods, SVP of Marketing & Corporate Communications at St. Joseph Health System, and SVP and CMO of both Arbonne International and Isagenix.

Throughout her career, Lynch has forged successes for several favorite consumer brands, including leading Pillsbury Internationals marketing team in the expansion of Old El Paso, Green Giant, Pillsbury, and Haagen-Dasz, into Greece, the Middle East, Israel, and Russia. She also spearheaded the development and launch of the Haagen-Dasz Dulce de Leche flavor, which became the second best-selling product in the ice cream colossuss portfolio.

When consumer products companies search for new ways to reach loyal customers and maintain profitability, they often need guidance in finding a niche and establishing an international presence, said Karen Hayward, Managing Partner of Chief Outsiders Western team. Adriana provides immeasurable value to enterprises in high-touch industries that require an insiders vision and functional expertise to achieve continuous success.

Lynch earned her B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Finance from Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is also a Harvard Business School MBA graduate. She speaks fluent English, Portuguese, and Spanish, and is a past recipient of the CMO Maverick of the Year Silver Stevie Award. She also provides her leadership and insights as CEO of HearAid Foundation.

About Chief Outsiders

Chief Outsiders, LLC is a nationwide "Executives-as-a-Service" firm, with more than 60 part-time, or fractional, Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) engaged from coast-to-coast. Unlike other strategic marketing and management consulting firms, each CMO has held the position of VP Marketing or higher at one or more operating companies. Chief Outsiders have served on the executive team of over 700 client companies to drive growth strategy and execution plans for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive.

Because of its market-based growth plans, quality of leadership, and experienced team, Chief Outsiders has been recognized for the past five years by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies in the US, and was recognized in the Houston Business Journal's Fast 100. Chief Outsiders CEO Art Saxby and Principal Pete Hayes are the co-authors of The Growth Gears: Using a Market-Based Framework to Drive Business Success, an Amazon #1 best-seller for business owners and CEOs. For additional information about the companies who trust Chief Outsiders as their premier source for business growth acceleration, click here.

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A man accused of killing two people in North Courtland last year was in court today where he filed paperwork to be considered for youthful offenders status. Kevin Deloney, Jr. was 19 at the time of the crime which makes him eligible for youthful offender status. WAAY 31 was in the courtroom today and learned what this means for the case.

Deloney signed the document while in court today. If granted the status he will waive his right to a jury trial and will have a bench trial instead, which means he will face only the judge. WAAY 31 talked to the county district attorney, Errek Jett who said Deloney will then either enter a guilty or non-guilty plea. If found guilty he could face three to six years in prison. Once he's out his records will be confidential. If the judge denies his request he will then go to an arraignment hearing.

Deloney is accused of killing James Madden and Jimmy Bolding in July of 2017. His next court date is November 20th where the judge will decide whether to grant him youthful offender status.
Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project, a sub- regional workshop of the Master Trainers Programme on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 10- 14 September 2018.

This workshop is the first in a series of activities to be undertaken by the five countries in East Africa, namely Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, to enhance their capacity on the implementation of PCA under their Trade Facilitation and Border Control Project that is jointly supported by the WCO and JICA. The Master Trainer Program or MTP is a program that has been implemented under the WCO/JICA Joint Project to develop sustainable and self-contained training capacity within the Customs administrations by 1) developing a pool of well-experienced trainers and (2) regionally featured training materials and program to be used by these trainers.

In total, twenty (20) Customs officials nominated by the respective Revenue Authorities in East Africa participated in this workshop. During the workshop, each Revenue Authority shared its issues and challenges it is facing in the implementation of PCA as well as efforts in strengthening customs control without jeopardizing trade facilitation measures. Invited experts from the WCO, East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and Japan Customs shared their knowledge and expertise on PCA from global, regional and national perspectives and contributed to the improvement of the knowledge and expertise of participants to be quality trainers. At the end of the workshop, participants jointly developed their collective work plan to achieve the two objectives of the MTP for the progressive activities to be followed and jointly supported by the WCO and JICA.

Both WCO and JICA welcomed the strong ownership and commitment clearly demonstrated by the participants during the workshop and reaffirmed their support to the continuous efforts of Customs administrations in East Africa to ensure sustainable capacity development.
AACHEN, Germany, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MainConcept, a leading provider of video codec technology, today announced that it has added support for ingesting HEVC 4:2:2 files generated by the brand-new Canon XF 705 camera to its HEVC/H.265 Decoder SDK.



With the XF 705 camera, introduced at today's IBC in Amsterdam, Canon is the first to leverage the higher compression efficiency of HEVC/H.265 to store data and allow simultaneous recording of HDR and SDR without doubling storage space requirements. Canons decision to package 4:2:2 10-bit HEVC/H.265 into an MXF container allows existing workflows to support the same metadata as with current, AVC/H.264-based broadcast formats.

MainConcept has worked closely with Canon to ensure interoperability and reliable ingest of files recorded by Canon XF-HEVC capable cameras. Editing and Media Asset Management applications can easily ingest or playback the new format natively by integrating MainConcept HEVC/H.265 Decoder SDK version 10 which is being released at IBC 2018. This SDK includes components for video and audio decoding as well as MXF demultiplexing.

MainConcept has a long history of successful collaboration with professional camera manufacturers, said Thomas Kramer, VP Product Management for MainConcept. Being the select partner for Canons release of their XF camera line is yet another important milestone in enabling native ingest workflows in our customers applications. Canons appreciation for HEVC/H.265 as a recording and production format underlines the importance of this most efficient codec in the professional production space.

We are proud to work with MainConcept as our software partner, said Edakubo Hiroo, Deputy Chief Executive at Canons Image Solutions Business Operations. They provide the most reliable codecs and great interoperability that companies require when ingesting recorded content. Many of the broadcast software vendors in the market rely on MainConcept SDKs and can now enable their workflow applications with ingest and playback support when we launch our new camera at IBC.

The MainConcept HEVC/H.265 SDK and other codec packages are available for immediate testing now. Please fill out our online ENDA to request a free evaluation trial .
English French

TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) today offered the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) its recommendations on title reform for securities registrants.



IFIC believes that determining consistent, clear titles for registrants will improve investor understanding of and confidence in the investment funds industry, said Paul Bourque, President & CEO, IFIC. The objective of our proposal is to pro-actively offer the industrys practical suggestions on how to create clarity for consumers in this challenging area.

IFICs submission, which includes specific title recommendations, is grounded in three guiding principles: that titles describe the functions of the person providing the service; that the provision of advice is properly and fully reflected; and that titles are clear to the average investor.

In its submission, IFIC also encourages the CSA to work with other financial services industry regulators to harmonize titles for service providers across all financial services.

To view the IFIC proposal , please visit IFIC.ca.

About IFIC

The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canadas investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canadas savers to Canadas economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation. The organization is proud to have served Canadas investment funds industry and its investors for more than 50 years. To learn more about IFIC, please visit www.ific.ca .

For more information please contact:



Lisa Hall

Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

lhall@ific.ca

416-309-2317
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.
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By Mike Cooper

Sep. 13, 2018 | PADUCAH

By Mike Cooper Sep. 13, 2018 | 08:48 PM | PADUCAH

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser Thursday evening at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah fed over 325 guests. Many that attended were from out of town, in Paducah for the Quilt Show.



The dinner, sponsored by the St. Paul Men's Club, helped to raise funds for church member and McCracken County High School senior, Tyson Asher, who needs a kidney transplant. The cost of the operation exceeds what Tyson's insurance will pay.



Tyson will have the kidney transplant on October 9th at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville. His mother, Jenny Asher, will donate the kidney. The theme for Tyson during this time is "Tyson Tough".



Tyson commented on the large crowd. "It's really amazing seeing all the support and the number of people that came out. It's truly a blessing." He added, "thank you, that's all I've got to say, just thank you. It means a lot."



Tyson's mother, Jenny Asher, a nurse with Baptist Health in Paducah, also commented. "It's very humbling to see all of this and see the support, and the love that friends, and friends of friends, and people that we've never met before, too the time come out and have a good dinner, and support us. It's been wonderful."



She also wanted to thank everyone for the love, support, and prayers. She said that the prayers are what is getting them through this, and asked that everyone keep them in your thoughts and prayers over the next few months.
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By The Associated Press

Sep. 14, 2018 | OWENSBORO

By The Associated Press Sep. 14, 2018 | 06:33 AM | OWENSBORO

A former Kentucky police officer has been sentenced to roughly three years in prison for arresting a man who complained about him.



The U.S. Attorney's Office says in a release that former Providence police Sgt. William Dukes Jr. was sentenced after he was convicted this summer of violating the civil rights of the man. Evidence presented at trial showed that Dukes was angered over the complaint and drove to the man's house at 1 a.m.



Evidence says Dukes then shocked the man with a stun gun, sprayed him with pepper spray and punched him in the face.



A jury in July found that Dukes arrested the man while knowing he didn't have probable cause to believe the man had committed any crime.
English French

NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA

Paris, 14 September 2018

LVMH hereby informs the holders of the $750 million cash-settled synthetic convertible bonds due 2021 (ISIN code FR0013113073) (the  Bonds ):

that it has received on 12 September 2018 a notification which triggers the procedure provided under 7.1(v) of the Terms and Conditions of the Bonds (the  T&C), to determine if the Trading Condition (as such term is defined in the T&C) is met during a period of 10 Scheduled Trading Days (the  Reference Period  as per 7.1(v) of the T&C).

Accordingly :



the Reference Period runs from 13 September 2018 (included) until 26 September 2018 (included);





runs from 13 September 2018 (included) until 26 September 2018 (included); as per 7.1(v) of the T&C, if the Trading Condition is met, LVMH will inform the Bondholders on the second Scheduled Trading Day following the end of the Reference Period, i.e. on 28 September 2018;





is met, LVMH will inform the Bondholders on the second Scheduled Trading Day following the end of the Reference Period, i.e. on 28 September 2018; if the Trading Condition is met, Bondholders may exercise their Exercise Right (as defined under the T&C) for a period of 10 Scheduled Trading Days starting from 28 September 2018 (included).





NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA

DISCLAIMER

Available information

The issue of the Bonds is not subject to a prospectus approved by the French Financial Market Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) (the "AMF"). Detailed information on LVMH (the "Company"), including its business, results, prospects and related risk factors are described in the Company's reference document, the French version of which was filed with the AMF on 22 March 2018 under number D.18-0166, which is available together with all the press releases and other regulated information about the Company, on LVMH's website (http://www.lvmh.fr).

Important information

This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for or to sell securities to any person in Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States of America or South Africa or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer is unlawful, and the offering of the Bonds is not an offer to the public in any jurisdiction, including France. This press release may not be published, distributed or released directly or indirectly in Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States of America or South Africa. The distribution of this press release may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes, should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

No communication or information relating to the offering may be transmitted to the public in a country where there is a registration obligation or where an approval is required. No action has been or will be taken in any country in which such registration or approval would be required. The issuance or the subscription of the Bonds may be subject to legal and regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions; none of the Company or the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners assume any liability in connection with the breach by any person of such restrictions.

The information contained in this press release is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this press release or its accuracy or completeness. The information in this press release is subject to change.

The Bonds will be offered only by way of a private placement in France to persons referred to in Article L.411-2-II of the French monetary and financial code (Code monetaire et financier) and outside France (excluding the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa), without an offer to the public in any country (including France).

This press release does not constitute a recommendation concerning the issue of the Bonds. The value of the Bonds and the Ordinary Shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional adviser as to the suitability of the Bonds for the person concerned.

European Economic Area

In each of the various Member States of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (the "Relevant Member States"), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the Bonds requiring the publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result, the Bonds may only be offered in Relevant Member States:

(a) to qualified investors, as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

(b) to fewer than 150, individuals or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive); or

(c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this paragraph, (i) the notion of an "offer to the public of Bonds" in any Relevant Member State, means any communication, to individuals or legal entities, in any form and by any means, of sufficient information on the terms and conditions of the offering and on the Bonds to be offered, thereby enabling an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Bonds, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive, (ii) the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 4 November 2003 as amended, and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

These selling restrictions with respect to Member States apply in addition to any other selling restrictions which may be applicable in the Member States who have implemented the Prospectus Directive.

France

The Bonds have not been and will not be offered or sold or caused to be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Any offer or sale of the Bonds and distribution of any offering material relating to the Bonds have been and will be made in France only to (x) persons providing investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties (personnes fournissant le service d'investissement de gestion de portefeuille pour compte de tiers), and/or ((y) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) acting for their own account, and/or (z) a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d'investisseurs), with the meanings ascribed to them in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 and D.411-4 of the French Code monetaire et financier and applicable regulations thereunder.

United Kingdom

This press release has not been approved by any authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") and is only directed at (i) persons who are not located in the United Kingdom, (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"); (iii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth entities, non-incorporated associations, etc.) of the Order, or (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA in connection with the issue or sale of the Bonds and, if any, the Shares (together being referred to as the "Securities"), may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons mentioned in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). The Securities are only available to Relevant Persons, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be addressed or concluded only with Relevant Persons. Any person that is not a Relevant Person must abstain from using or relying on this press release and the information contained therein.

This press release does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of, and has not been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority or by another United Kingdom regulatory authority falling within, Section 85 of the FSMA.

United States of America

This press release does not constitute any solicitation to purchase or an offer to purchase or to subscribe the Bonds in the United States of America. The Bonds have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Bonds will be offered or sold only outside of the United States of America in offshore transactions in accordance with Regulation S of the Securities Act. The Company does not intend to register all or any portion of the offering of the Bonds in the United States of America or to conduct a public offering of the Bonds in the United States of America.

Australia, Canada, Japan and South Africa

The Bonds may not and will not be offered, sold or purchased in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. The distribution of this press release in certain countries may constitute a breach of applicable law.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 13, 2018 | 06:46 PM | FRANKFORT

September is National Preparedness Month and thanks to a Rochester, NY-based law enforcement safety group, Kentucky State Police troopers and officers will now be equipped with a simple, proven device designed to help save lives.

The Spirit of Blue Foundations Trooper Cameron Ponder Memorial grant provides $83,970 to the Kentucky State Police Foundation (KSPF) for the purchase of tourniquets and duty-belt cases for all of the agencys troopers and officers. The grant is named after KSP Trooper Cameron Ponder, who was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 13, 2015.

On behalf of the Kentucky State Police, I would like to thank The Spirit of Blue Foundation for this very generous grant, said KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders. This grant will allow every officer to have immediate access to an effective tool which may save a life of an officer or citizen.

Tourniquets are quickly becoming one of our most granted pieces of equipment, explained Ryan T. Smith, executive director of the Spirit of Blue Foundation. The reason is because they are more affordable than most safety equipment and, sadly, officers need this type of lifesaving device more as threats to their lives, and others, become more prevalent.

Tourniquets are vital pieces of medical equipment that law enforcement officers can use in the event of a traumatic injury to an extremity. When only precious minutes exist to treat such an injury, tourniquets are able to be applied individually or on a fellow officer to prevent excessive blood loss until that individual can be placed into medical care. As a secondary benefit, officers who carry a tourniquet are also able to use it to treat a member of the community who may have experienced a similar type of injury.

In addition to KSPF, which applied for and will administer the grant, KSP Sgt. Clint Collins and Brenda Tiffany, the mother of fallen KSP Trooper Cameron Ponder, were instrumental in obtaining the funding.

According to Tiffany, this memorial grant is a very fitting way to help remember her son on the third anniversary of his death. This is the first time I have looked forward to Sept. 13th, she said. Its such a positive contribution on his behalf.

Eleven 10, a Westlake, Ohiobased manufacturer of self-aid gear for law enforcement officers, and North American Rescue, a Greer, S.C.-based company, also partnered with the Spirit of Blue Foundation to create the tourniquet/duty belt case package.
Embed from Getty Images

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has let slip that Kevin De Bruyne is potentially up for sale and all it would cost you is the entire GDP of a developing tropical island nation.

The Belgian midfielder is currently eight months into a vast six-year contract extension which, when signed in January, saw him elevated to Citys highest earner on wages potentially topping out beyond 300,000-a-week mark.

Still, while has Guardiola insisted that De Bryune is central to his long-term plans and is therefore not for sale, he also mentioned in passing that there is a release clause inserted into the small print of the 27-year-olds mega-deal.

Indeed, any club anywhere in the world could open a transfer dialogue with De Bruyne with a bid of a just 250million  thats one quarter of a De Brillion euros, or 223million in old money.

Speaking on Bein Sport, Guardiola is quoted as saying:

Kevin is an incredible boy. The clause is 250million. Im sorry, hes not for sale. Hes very good. Hes a very dynamic player. De Bruyne does everything and everything well, but still has room to grow. I recently met his parents and understood a lot about why he is a fantastic guy.

Bargain. After all, how do you put a price on perfection?

Weirdly, you may care to note that when asked to extrapolate his comment at his City press conference on Friday, Guardiola played a different tune entirely.

Guardiola denies he has any knowledge of Kevin De Bruynes alleged 250m release clause, inserting he doesnt think the Belgian has a release clause.  City Watch (@City_Watch) 14 September 2018

Good grief. Who to believe? Thursday Pep or Friday Pep?

Its a minefield out there.
BILOXI, Miss., Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On September 12, the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) participated in a panel discussion on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on The Security Impacts of IUU Fishing. The Stimson Center and the Ocean Caucus Foundation sponsored the panel to engage stakeholders on IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing issues.



In particular, the panel focused on H.R. 3400, the Maritime (SAFE) Act (S-3400) legislation co-sponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Chris Coons (D-DE). The Maritime (SAFE) Act (S. 3400) bill promotes a unified, comprehensive approach to addressing and combatting IUU fishing. Panelists included ASPA Executive Director Dr. David Veal, Rear Admiral Meredith Austin, United States Coast Guard, and Vice Admiral Mike Franken, United States Navy (retired).

Dr. Veal noted after the presentation, that ASPA strongly supports the Maritime (SAFE) Act and this bipartisan effort to comprehensively identify and address IUU efforts. IUU fishing is not only an environmental and ecological threat to our oceans, but a real national security threat to our country.

Rear Admiral Austin and Vice Admiral Franken painted a dire picture of IUU efforts that reach beyond environmental challenges to direct national security threats. Dr. Veal stressed during the panel that IUU fishing also has food safety and economic security consequences.

The United States has a staggering seafood trade deficit, climbing to more than $16 billion in 2017.

IUU fishing is the poison pill that taints the entire imported seafood chain, from catch to plate, noted Dr. Veal. Seafood trade is a major source of income for many developing countries where IUU efforts thrive. The economic interests of our seafood industry are seriously undercut by IUU activities, not just what happens on the water but what occurs during production, distribution and sale. IUU fishing and seafood fraud undercut the livelihoods of honest fishermen and seafood businesses all over the world, and we strongly support legislative efforts to address these issues.

More information on the efforts of ASPA and its members can be accessed via www.americanshrimp.com.

About the American Shrimp Processors Association: The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), based in Biloxi, Mississippi, was formed in 1964 to represent and promote the interests of the domestic, U.S. wild-caught, warm water shrimp processing industry along the Gulf and South Atlantic with members from Texas to North Carolina. We are the collective voice of the industry, and our focus is to promote the interests of shrimp processors, other segments of the U.S. domestic wild-caught warm water shrimp industry and the general public. More information is available at http://www.americanshrimp.com

Media Contacts:

David Veal, Executive Director

director@americanshrimp.com

(228) 806-9600

Edward Hayes, Legal Counsel

ehayes@leakeandersson.com

(504) 717-9787
WESTCHESTER, Ill., September 14, 2018 - Today, the Board of Directors of Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.625 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on October 25, 2018, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 1, 2018. This is the fourth consecutive year that Ingredion's Board has approved a quarterly dividend increase in the third quarter.

"Our Board and management team are confident in the company's long-term ability to generate solid cash flows and deliver value to shareholders," said Jim Zallie, Ingredion's president and CEO. "We intend to continue to leverage our strong balance sheet to invest in growing our specialties portfolio and we remain committed to strengthening our business model and returning cash to shareholders."

About the Company

Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With annual net sales of nearly $6 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables and other plant materials into value-added ingredients and biomaterial solutions for the food, beverage, paper and corrugating, brewing and other industries. With 27 Ingredion Idea Labs innovation centers around the world and more than 11,000 employees, the company develops ingredient solutions to meet consumers' evolving needs by making crackers crunchy, yogurt creamy, candy sweet, paper stronger, and adding fiber to nutrition bars. For more information, visit ingredion.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for such statements.

Forward-looking statements include, among other things, any statements regarding the Company's prospects or future financial condition, earnings, revenues, tax rates, capital expenditures, expenses or other financial items, any statements concerning the Company's prospects or future operations, including management's plans or strategies and objectives therefor and any assumptions, expectations or beliefs underlying the foregoing.

These statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward looking words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "assume", "believe," "plan," "project," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "continue," "pro forma," "forecast," "outlook," "propels," "opportunities," "potential," "provisional" or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. All statements other than statements of historical facts in this release or referred to in this release are "forward-looking statements."

These statements are based on current circumstances or expectations, but are subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Although we believe our expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, investors are cautioned that no assurance can be given that our expectations will prove correct.

Actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by these statements, based on various factors, including the effects of global economic conditions, including, particularly, economic, currency and political conditions in South America and economic conditions in Europe, and their impact on our sales volumes and pricing of our products, our ability to collect our receivables from customers and our ability to raise funds at reasonable rates; fluctuations in worldwide markets for corn and other commodities, and the associated risks of hedging against such fluctuations; fluctuations in the markets and prices for our co-products, particularly corn oil; fluctuations in aggregate industry supply and market demand; the behavior of financial markets, including foreign currency fluctuations and fluctuations in interest and exchange rates; volatility and turmoil in the capital markets; the commercial and consumer credit environment; general political, economic, business, market and weather conditions in the various geographic regions and countries in which we buy our raw materials or manufacture or sell our products; future financial performance of major industries which we serve, including, without limitation, the food, beverage, paper and corrugated, and brewing industries; energy costs and availability, freight and shipping costs, and changes in regulatory controls regarding quotas; tariffs, duties, taxes and income tax rates; particularly recently enacted United States tax reform; operating difficulties; availability of raw materials, including potato starch, tapioca, gum arabic and the specific varieties of corn upon which some of our products are based; our ability to develop or acquire new products and services at rates or of qualities sufficient to meet expectations; energy issues in Pakistan; boiler reliability; our ability to effectively integrate and operate acquired businesses; our ability to achieve budgets and to realize expected synergies; our ability to achieve expected cost savings under our Cost Smart program; our ability to complete planned maintenance and investment projects successfully and on budget; labor disputes; genetic and biotechnology issues; changing consumption preferences including those relating to high fructose corn syrup; increased competitive and/or customer pressure in the corn-refining industry; and the outbreak or continuation of serious communicable disease or hostilities including acts of terrorism. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. If we do update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections. For a further description of these and other risks, see "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K

###

CONTACT:

Investors: Heather Kos, 708-551-2592

Media: Becca Hary, 708-551-2602
Wits Team eFundanathi and eZone in Learning Idols

A lecturer in the Wits School of Therapeutic Sciences was in the top three vying in Learning Idols at the Learning Innovation Africa Conference 2018.

The Learning Idols at #LIA2018 displays technological innovation in teaching and learning.

Dr. Paula Barnard-Ashton, manager of eFundanathi [learn with us] and the eZone at Wits, vied for Learning Idol against Lebogang Lekoma from Sea Monster and Ricky Hinde from Cell C. Barnard-Ashton ultimately placed second after Lekoma.

The eZone has been transforming the way lecturers in the School of Therapeutic Sciences engage in teaching and learning activities, by bringing 21st Century learning and technology into the classroom, says Barnard-Ashton, who leads the team at Wits who won the Vice-Chancellors Teaching and Learning Award (team category) in 2017.

As part of her presentation at #LIA2018, Barnard-Ashton included an example from Physiotherapy of how learning spaces in higher education need to move away from rigid, fixed desk lecture theatres. eFundanathi demonstrated a video app that the students could use in the eZone to practically learn clinical skills.

After trying it with our second-year students, I will never go back to the traditional teaching methods I used before. It has reignited my passion for teaching, and the students eagerly participated. We all had fun! says Vaneshveri Naidoo, a lecturer in Physiotherapy at Wits.

The eZone enables real blended learning and student collaboration by bringing together technology and flexibility of space. Professor Andrew Crouch, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, who supported Barnard-Ashton during the group session rounds of Learning Idols, reinforces the importance of redesigning learning spaces in his statement:

Wits University has committed to developing five innovative, technology-rich learning spaces similar to the eZone across Wits campuses over the next two years.

Barnard-Ashton says that a top three placement in Learning Idols emphasises that university initiatives like the eZone and eFundanathi can compete on an intellectual and innovation level against private businesses as hubs of excellence.

It is very rewarding, she says.
Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A report by the Center for Immigration Studies analyzes new data from the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS), released by the Census Bureau Thursday, showing the nations immigrant population (legal and illegal) has reached 44.5 million  the highest number in U.S. history. Growth was led by immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico, as well as Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The number from Mexico, Europe and Canada either remained flat or declined since 2010. The Census Bureau refers to immigrants as the foreign-born population.

American continues to experience the largest wave of mass immigration in our history. The decline in Mexican immigrants has been entirely offset by immigration from the rest of the world. By 2027, the immigrant share will hit its highest level in U.S. history, and continue to rise, said Steven Camarota, the Center's director of research and co-author of the report.

Excel tables are available upon request.

The full report will be posted next week.

Key findings:

 As a share of the U.S. population, immigrants (legal and illegal) comprised 13.7 percent or nearly one out of seven U.S. residents in 2017, the highest percentage since 1910.

 The number of immigrants hit a record 44.5 million in 2017, an increase of nearly 800,000 since 2016, 4.6 million since 2010, and 13.4 million since 2000.

 There were also 17.1 million U.S.-born minor children of immigrants in 2017, for a total of 61.6 million immigrants and their young children in the country  accounting for one in five U.S. residents

 Between 2010 and 2017, 9.5 million new immigrants settled in the United States. New arrivals are offset by roughly 300,000 immigrants who return home each year and natural mortality of about 300,000 annually. As a result, the immigrant population grew 4.6 million from 2010 to 2017.

 The 9.5 million new arrivals since 2010 roughly equals the entire immigrant population in 1970.

 Of immigrants who have arrived since 2010, 13% or 1.3 million came from Mexico  by far the top sending country. However, because of return migration and natural mortality among the existing population, the overall Mexican-born population actually declined by 441,190.

 The regions with largest numerical increases since 2010 were East Asia and South Asia (each up 1.1 million), the Caribbean (up 676,023), Sub-Saharan Africa (up 606,835), South America (up 483,356), Central America (up 474,504), and the Middle East (472,554).

 The decline in Mexican immigrants masks, to some extent, the enormous growth of Latin American immigrants. If seen as one region, the number from Latin America (excluding Mexico) grew 426,536 in just the last year and 1.6 million since 2010.

 The sending countries with the largest increases in the number immigrants since 2010 were India (up 830,215), China (up 677,312), the Dominican Republic (up 283,381), Philippines (up 230,492), Cuba (up 207,124), El Salvador (up 187,783), Venezuela (up 167,105), Colombia (up 146,477), Honduras (up 132,781), Guatemala (up 128,018), Nigeria (up 125,670), Brazil (up 111,471), Vietnam (up 102,026), Bangladesh (up 95,005), Haiti (up 92,603), and Pakistan (up 92,395).

 The sending countries with the largest percentage increases since 2010 were Nepal (up 120%), Burma (up 95%), Venezuela (up 91%), Afghanistan (up 84%), Saudi Arabia (up 83%), Syria (up 75%), Bangladesh (up 62%), Nigeria (up 57%), Kenya (up 56%), India (up 47%), Iraq (up 45%), Ethiopia (up 44%), Egypt (up 34%), Brazil (up 33%), Dominican Republic and Ghana (up 32%), China (up 31%), Pakistan (up 31%), and Somalia (up 29%).

 The states with the largest increases in the number of immigrants since 2010 were Florida (up 721,298), Texas (up 712,109), California (up 502,985), New York (up 242,769), New Jersey (up 210,481), Washington (up 173,891), Massachusetts (up 172,908), Pennsylvania (up 154,701), Virginia (up 151,251), Maryland (up 124,241), Georgia (up 123,009), Michigan (up 116,059), North Carolina (up 110,279), and Minnesota (up 107,760).

 The states with the largest percentage increase since 2010 were North Dakota (up 87%), Delaware (up 37%), West Virginia (up 33%), South Dakota (up 32%), Wyoming (up 30%), Minnesota (up 28%), Nebraska (up 28%), Pennsylvania (up 21%), Utah (up 21%), Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Florida, Washington, and Iowa (each up 20%). The District of Columbia's immigrant population was up 25%.





Data Source. On September 13, the Census Bureau released some of the data from the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS). The survey reflects the U.S. population as of July 1, 2017. The immigrant population, referred to as the foreign-born by the Census Bureau, is comprised of those individuals who were not U.S. citizens at birth. It includes naturalized citizens, legal permanent residents (green card holders), temporary workers, and foreign students. It does not include those born to immigrants in the United States or those born in outlying U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico. Prior research by the Department of Homeland Security suggests that 1.9 million immigrants (legal and illegal) are missed by the ACS.

Attachment
Several local people have made the trek to the Carolinas to help the American Red Cross during Tropical Storm Florence, which was downgraded from a hurricane on Friday.

A nurse from Hamilton is working with the Disaster Health Services team. Mary Carol Yoshino is in North Charleston, South Carolina, where shes working at a shelter house located in a high school. She says about 150 people are staying there.

RELATED: Local volunteers headed south to help during Florence

Im actually anticipating to see more residents coming into our shelter, Yoshino said. There are a few that left this morning, a few more than came in this morning. And I think thats gonna be the story because  some of them have actually been here since Tuesday when the shelter opened.

There are about a dozen other volunteers from eastern New York who are assisting the Red Cross during the storm. Theyll be in North Carolina and South Carolina for about two weeks.
WHITESBORO  Residents in the village of Whitesboro will see a change in their garbage pickup for next week.

Village officials say that due to Hurricane Florence, the manufacturer of the villages yellow garbage bags, which is based in South Carolina, hasnt been able to ship to the stores.

Stores such as Fastrac and Byrne Dairy that typically carry the yellow bags still have some, but in the event that they run out and residents are unable to get a yellow bag, they will be able to put their garbage out in regular white trash bags next week.

Whitesboro Deputy Mayor Vincent Malagese says hes also concerned that Hurricane Florence could have an even bigger impact on the local area.

I was keeping a close eye on it and Im also worried about  because of how big it is and the track  Im worried about our area with the rain, Malagese said. So Im keeping a close eye on it.

Village officials say they hope to have more bags from the manufacturer within a week, and they expect to return to the village bags the week of Sept. 25.
WKTV Back to Work Job Orders for September 17  September 21, 2018

Contact your local Working Solutions office:

Herkimer County: 315-867-1400

Madison County: 315-363-2400

Oneida County  Utica: 315-793-2229

Oneida County  Rome: 315-356-0662

Monday, September 17, 2018

Job Title: Plating Technician City: Utica, NY

Summary: Oversee the Waste Treatment System, including: Maintain process solutions; add and remove chemicals, Identify and perform proactive maintenance tasks Prepare test samples for outside testing, Inventory, order, receive, store and deliver plating chemicals as appropriate. Candidates must have plating experience.

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1269725

___________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, September 17, 2018

Job Title: Job Fair City: New Hartford, NY

A local Mall located at 8555 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford will host a Community Job Fair on September 18th from 10am to 2pm at Center Court and at locations throughout the Mall. Job seekers can connect with their favorite stores along with various companies within the Mohawk Valley that are currently hiring. On-site interviews are expected, candidates are encouraged to come prepared with resumes and dress in business attire.

Pay: Varies Job Order # DE4349827

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Job Title: Administrative Assistant City: Vernon, NY

Administrative Assistant needed for a busy office in Vernon. Summary of duties: Duties: answer phones, filing, schedule appointments, take and record customer payments, clean office, etc. Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Word & Excel. Interested applicants to email a resume to ryan.leogrande@labor.ny.gov

Pay: $10.40-$12/hr Job Order # NY1268659

_________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Job Title: Multiple Openings City: Boonville, NY

Openings for Electro-mechanical Technicians, Maintenance Technicians, Lumber Stackers, Lumber Graders, Machine Operators, Forklift Operators, Warehouse Workers and Finish Line employees. Days and Hours: 1st Shift 6 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Thursday; 2nd Shift 4PM-2:30AM Monday-Thursday. High School diploma or the equivalent required. Knowledge of hardwood species and high school.

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1269444

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Job Title: Machine Operators/Assemblers City: Ilion, NY

Summary: full time positions for Herkimer County's largest and America's longest operating firearms and ammunition manufacturer. Now under new ownership, the business is growing. Under the new leadership, investments are being made in capital and infrastructure improvements at the Ilion, NY facility. Business is great and we need workers to learn the craft of firearms manufacturing. Apply today!

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1265371

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Job Title: Multiple Openings City: Rome, NY

A large retail store in Rome has multiple openings for Cashiers, Personal Shoppers, and Auto Service Techs. They offer prior experience credits which increase starting wages and benefits for part time associates. Some available after hire and some after waiting period- Opportunities for FT and Career Advancements. Looking for applicants with strong attendance records and work ethic, along with great customer service skills. Prior retail or food experience a plus.

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1268824

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Thursday, September 20, 2018

Job Title: Machine Operators City: Rome, NY

Immediate full-time and part-time openings for Machine Operators on our 2nd & 3rd shifts. The successful candidates will have the ability to safely set-up and run equipment while performing required quality checks. No previous experience required, however auto, HVAC, mechanical or manufacturing experience is a plus. Up to $22 per hour to start with previous wire drawing, stranding or bunching experience! Excellent benefits and additional incentives offered for employee referrals and attendance.

Pay: $16-$22/hr Job Order # NY1269865

____________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Job Title: Finish Sprayer City: Frankfort, NY

Summary: performs any of a variety of functions involved with the finishing of wood products, including sealing, staining and painting with the goal of manufacturing a quality part according to Work Order specifications while meeting quality and production standards. Specific duties may vary depending on assigned department. This position flexes in relation to the production demand.

Pay: Varies Job Order # NY1263856

____________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, September 21, 2018

Job Title: Chef De Parti City: Morrisville, NY

This position maintains one specific station in the kitchen, yet possesses the ability to assist in all areas and other departments as needed. The Chef de Parti emphasizes quality while maintaining company and food service standards. Performs tasks associated with Friturier, Grillardin, Saucier and Garde Manger. Ensures departmental standards are met with regard to product quality and presentation; prepping all line areas and collecting required supplies to prepare menu for service.

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1266185

____________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, September 21, 2018

Job Title: Clerk City: New York Mills, NY

Clerk needed for the UPS Store in New York Mills. Summary: scan packages in, handle money drawer, have good customer relations, computer knowledgeable, lift heavy packages, open and close store when necessary, honesty a must. Notary Public a plus.

Pay: Not specified Job Order # NY1269723
Hurricane Florence, the powerful category 2 storm, continues to churn towards the North Carolina and South Carolina border and a local woman is stuck in the storm's path.

Most people are trying to leave North Carolina as Hurricane Florence starts to move in, but Heather Foster, of Litchfield, went visit her daughter, Jazzmyne Constable, who lives in Wilmington.

Constable is 20-weeks-pregnant and is unable to evacuate because of her job at a nursing home.

"Being in the medical field, they have where you can stay there, but being 20 weeks pregnant it just makes it hard for me to sleep on the floor," Constable said. "They have a team where one will being there during the storm and they had me put on the team to come on after. So being medical field we don't really have a choice, I mean we have a choice, but we knew it we signed up for getting into it."

Constable said she's prepared for the worst.

"We have lots of water, we've got lots of food, lots of canned food, non-perishable food," she said. "We have made sure the dogs are taken care of, we got a waterproof box for all of our stuff just in case we have to get out of here, we filled up a tub's just in case."

She said she expects to be without power for up to two weeks.

Foster said she doesn't want to leave, when her daughter needs her the most.

"I'm not leaving my child," Foster said. "There is no way I'm leaving my child in the middle of a hurricane, there's no way, if she's going I'm going."
Do you suffer from neck, back or nerve pain?

There is a health information night planned for Wednesday, September 19th. Dr. Nicholas Qandah is a board certified neurosurgeon and medical director of the Neurosurgical Services at Rome Memorial Hospital. He joined Don Shipman for Newstalk on Wednesday to talk about his lecture. Several doctors will be on hand to talk about spine treatment options to relieve pain and restore function.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at MVCC in Rome. Room 119. Advance registration is encouraged for planning purposes. For more information or to make a reservation, call (315) 337-5309.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Some neighbors in the Bar Barry Heights neighborhood are ready to fight to keep a residential lot from being rezoned as commercial.

The lot in question is at the corner of Kent and Salisbury Streets.

Heman Lawson Hawks accounting firm, located adjacent to the south of the lot, bought the property in 2012. According to the Area Plan Commission report, they say their intention is to expand on their current storefront to the east and then use the lot for additional parking.

Documents show the new owner obtained a demolition permit to tear down the house in 2017.

Neighbors say the new owner let the house that once stood here become a run down eye sore before it was torn down.

Many neighbors, including Michael Hancock, have already signed a petition to stop the rezoning.

We moved into this neighborhood over 35 years ago with the intention of it being residential and not going into a retail or industrial type atmosphere, he said.

Hancock said he's worried allowing this could cause more commercial businesses to encroach on the neighborhood. The city also has the same concerns based on the report.

The Partlowe family said they are going on 37 years in the neighborhood. They want to see this neighborhood stay family oriented.

You know this is a neighborhood, this is a family neighborhood, said George Partlowe as his wife, Janet stood by in agreement. We really dont need a commercial business. That's all along the parkway and that's fine over there.

According to staff comments on an Area Plan Commission report, they would need a more accurate and scalable site plan before determining if the standards of the ordinance can be met.

Most residents are against the change, but a few have voiced indifference or support for rezoning the lot commercial.

Local attorney Joseph Bumbleberg is representing the accounting firm. He could not be reached for a comment.

The lot is on the Area Plan Commission agenda as the second case listed under the Rezoning Activities section. That meeting is scheduled for the September 19th at 6 p.m. in the the Tippecanoe Room of the County Office Building.

The neighbors say they plan to be there to show support to keep the neighborhood residential at the meeting.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  A juvenile has been waived to adult court to face charges in the fatal shooting of an Indiana University doctor and educator last year.

Online court records say 16-year-old Tarius Blade faces three felony burglary charges in the Nov. 20, 2017, slaying of Dr. Kevin Rodgers.

Blade was arrested in December along with Ka'Ron Bickham-Hurst, then 18. Court records show Bickham-Hurst has agreed to plead guilty to three burglary charges.

Two other men were arrested last month. Eighteen-year-old Nehemiah Merriweather was charged with felony murder and two counts of burglary and 17-year-old Devon Seats was charged with murder, felony murder and two counts of burglary.

The 61-year-old Rodgers was the program director emeritus of the emergency medicine residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)- The trees at the fairgrounds have officially come down.

The trees are believed to have stood for more than 200 years.

When the fairgrounds took over the land of wood, it caused damage to the tree's growth. Now these trees are being re purposed to teach us some history of the land.

Mike Saunders is a hardwood expert and Natural Resource Professor at Purdue.

He says its sad that the trees had to come down but hes making this a positive situation by using it to look at what may have happened years ago on the land.

"I think there's a story to tell both scientifically and to the public on what these trees are here and how they came into being and give them their life story of the trees," said Saunders.

Saunders uses a scanner that can determine the lands history by looking at the length and width of each ring. "We can look at what past climate was. We can also determine whether or not the trees grew in a closed canopy forest or if it grew out in the open based on the patterns we see in the growth in the rings," said Saunders.

Some community members have expressed sadness seeing these trees go. But Saunders said the neck of woods just down the road by Central Catholic are similar trees still standing. He says those are worth preserving.

The tree reading process can take months. But Saunders plans to share all his findings in one way or another.

"It would be nice to put up a sign out here at some point to talk about what happened with these trees and how old the stand was," said Sanders.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  If you're living in a newly built neighborhood, you probably can't see if there are any sex offenders living nearby. That's because the mapping system is only updated once or twice a year. But that's about to change.

Like any mother, Erin Walsh just wants her kids to be safe.

"I have three boys and I let them play in the yard and stuff," said Walsh. "So, yeah, I want to know who is around us."

She'd like to check the state's sex offender registry, but since her neighborhood is so new, it's not listed yet.

"We've had a lot of new neighbors come into this area so yea, not having that on there is a big concern," said Walsh.

We brought this issue to the person in charge of the 186 sex offenders in the county. Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Detective Jason Morgan. It's a lot for one person to manage. He said the offenders are updated daily but the maps are only changed once or twice a year.

"Since speaking with you, I've since gotten in contact with them and we are going to start doing a quarterly review of the maps just to make sure we have all of the schools and parks in the correct spots and any new neighborhoods that pop up," said Morgan.

Detective Morgan said not a lot of people know that there are only certain types of sex offenders who can't live close to schools or parks.

"Ones that are classified as offenders against children or sexual violent predators will have that stipulation," said Morgan.

But that doesn't apply to those convicted more than 12 years ago. Since the law didn't go into effect until 2006, those sex offenders can live where ever they want.

"Did not know that at all," said Walsh.

"So, knowing that information, does that make you want to check it even more?" asked News 18's Kayla Sullivan.

"Yes, yes it does," said Walsh.

The good news is, since her neighborhood doesn't show up on the registry, she's probably not living close to an offender. Detective Morgan said he would have noticed the address wasn't in the system if a sex offender tried moving there. But it's still important to get your home on the map. There's a way to sign up for alerts if an offender moves close to you within a certain mile radius.

"That is good cause then if my kids want to walk to school I'll know who they're passing and yeah, that would be a big help," said Walsh.

Detective Morgan said if you can't find your neighborhood on the registry, you can call or email him at the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (Saturn or the Company) (TSX.V: SOIL) (FSE: SMK) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a USD $20 million senior secured revolving note facility (the "Notes") with Prudential Capital Energy Partners, the middle-market energy mezzanine fund business sponsored by Prudential Capital Group. Under the terms of the Notes, Saturn has elected and qualified for an initial issuance of Notes equal to approximately USD $4.6 million. The remaining balance of Notes issuable under the facility is subject to Saturn's satisfaction of applicable terms and conditions thereunder.



The Notes offer a combined average coupon rate of approximately 15% per year, payable monthly in arrears, and will mature on September 14, 2022. Saturn may, at its option, elect to satisfy up to 2% of the coupon interest of the Notes by way of issuance PIK Notes, which notes shall be substantially similar to the Notes in all material respects.

The Company has also agreed to issue Prudential Capital warrants (the Warrants) to purchase 30,505,122 common shares of the Company. The warrants are exercisable at a price per common share of $0.235, which is equivalent to the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on September 13, 2018.

Saturn intends to use the majority of the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes to rapidly expand their development of their Viking light oil and Success heavy oil assets in west-central Saskatchewan. In addition, a portion of the net proceeds of the initial Note issuance will be used to retire certain of the Company's existing and higher interest debt.

Prudential Capital Group is the $81.4 billion private capital arm of PGIM, the $1 trillion global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) (Prudential).

John Jeffrey, CEO of Saturn, commented, We would like to thank Prudential, our new lending partner, for their commitment and support. This financing provides us the instrument to aggressively develop our light and heavy oil assets while continuing to strengthen our asset base.

To know more about Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. and their operations, please visit our website www.saturnoil.com.

About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc.

Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSX.V: SOIL) (FSE: SMK) is a public energy Company focused on the acquisition and development of undervalued, low risk assets. Saturn is driven to build a strong portfolio of cash flowing assets with strategic land positions. De-risked assets and calculated execution will allow Saturn to achieve growth in reserves & production through retained earnings. Saturn's portfolio will become its key to growth and provide long-term stability to shareholders.

To learn more, please contact the Company at 1 (306) 955-9946 or visit: www.saturnoil.com

About Prudential Capital Group

Prudential Capital Group has been a leading provider of private placements, mezzanine debt and equity to companies for more than 75 years, managing a portfolio of more than $81 billion as of June 30, 2018. Prudential Capital offers senior debt, mezzanine financing, leveraged leases, project financing, credit tenant leases as well as asset financing to companies worldwide. The global regional office network has locations in Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Frankfurt, Germany; London; Los Angeles; Milan; Minneapolis; New York; Newark, New Jersey; Paris; San Francisco and Sydney.* For more information, please visit prudentialcapitalgroup.com.

*Operates through PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

SATURN OIL & GAS INC.

John Jeffrey, MBA  CEO & Chairman

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.




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Photo taken on Sept. 13, 2018 shows a forum themed "40 Years on: China and the World" in London, Britain. Some of the most renowned British scholars on Thursday spoke highly of China's reform and opening up policy which, initiated 40 years ago, continues to transform the county itself and impact the world at large. [Xinhua/Stephen Chung]

Some of the most renowned British scholars on Thursday spoke highly of China's reform and opening up policy which, initiated 40 years ago, continues to transform the county itself and impact the world at large.

China's reform and and opening up initiated in 1978 was "one of the most important events in the 20th century," said Martin Jacques, a professor at Cambridge University, during a forum here themed "40 Years on: China and the World".

It led to "not only the transformation of China, but the beginning of the transformation of the world," and "No one could have imagined where China would be 40 years later," said Jacques.

The reform and opening up policy, initiated by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, required a new mentality back then under enormous conservative pressure and unleashed profound intellectual and political energy which led to where China is today, said the scholar.

China, with its new perception of socialism, has offered "a new example" and "a new possibility" to the world, he said.

"At the heart of Deng's reform policy is innovation," a policy that China prioritizes today, said Jacques.

Meanwhile, Jim O'Neill, chairman of renowned British think tank Chatham House, said China has had the most astonishingly long period of very high economic growth, something the world has never seen before.

To continue its success, O'Neill, former Goldman Sachs chief economist known for coining the acronym of BRIC in 2001, said China needs to continue to increase the share of consumption in its GDP, further control pollution of the environment, and continue, slowly, the opening of its financial sector.

The Belt and Road Initiative is "possibly one of the most important thing for the future world trade," he said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange Plc, said China is one of the most exciting capital markets in the world, and is on track to be among the largest.

"We are embarking at the London Stock Exchange and with our friends in Shanghai, under the umbrella of China-UK governmental cooperation, on the Shanghai-London Stock Connect. We are looking forward to further milestones on that project this year. This is a project which will allow global investors to benefit from China's growth through London, and UK-listed companies will be able to access Chinese investors directly," said Rathi.

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming, among the dignitaries attending the forum, said China has made great achievements thanks to its down-to-earth approach, undaunted courage, and an open and inclusive attitude.

"It was a hard lesson from recent history," said the ambassador, referring to the seclusive and closed-door policies China adopted during the Qing Dynasty which led to its backwardness and ultimately aggression by foreign powers.

The ambassador reiterated China's determination to continue its reform and opening up efforts, against tides of protectionism.

"Without reform and opening-up, China could not have achieved so much today; without further reform and opening-up, China will not have a bright future," he said.

He said China's reform and opening-up will provide the world with a powerful engine for growth, a big market, policy and market opportunities.

In particular, China will strive to increase imports to meet demand of Chinese consumers and promote global trade, he said.

The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai in November. As an upgrading consumption sector reshapes China's economic and trade structure, the CIIE is expected to give new impetus to such a transition and make China's market more accessible than ever.

China has been the world's second largest importer of goods for nine consecutive years and made up 10.2 percent of global imports last year. Chinese authorities expect the country to import goods worth 24 trillion U.S. dollars in the next 15 years.

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming speaks during a forum themed "40 Years on: China and the World" in London, Britain, on Sept. 13, 2018. [Xinhua/Stephen Chung] Jim O'Neill, chairman of renowned British think tank Chatham House, speaks during a forum themed "40 Years on: China and the World" in London, Britain, on Sept. 13, 2018. [Xinhua/Stephen Chung]

(Source: Xinhua)
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the September 2018 cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute monthly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on September 21, 2018, will receive per-unit cash distribution payable on September 28, 2018.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows:

Fund Name

Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit ($) PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PMIF 0.03690 PIMCO Investment Grade Credit Fund (Canada) IGCF 0.05239

The Manager, PIMCO Canada administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC, (PIMCO), to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. With our launch in 1971 in Newport Beach, California, PIMCO introduced investors to a total return approach to fixed income investing. In the 45+ years since, we have continued to bring innovation and expertise to our partnership with clients seeking the best investment solutions. Today we have offices across the globe and 2,150+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose. PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations Phone: +212 597.1054

Email: agnes.crane@pimco.com
HMP Berwyn prison officers join widespread walk out over unprecedented levels of violence

This article is old - Published: Friday, Sep 14th, 2018

Update: Sky News have reported at 12:51pm protests have been called off.

The Prison Officers Association says the protest has been called off and everyone will be going back into work at 1.00pm and docked half a days pay  Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) September 14, 2018

Original information below

Prison officers at Wrexhams HMP Berwyn have joined prisons across England and Wales in a walkout over unprecedented levels of violence and overcrowding.

Dozens of staff members at the prison walked out at 7am this morning after the Prison Officers Association (POA) called for members to take protest action outside their workplaces from 7am until instructed otherwise.

The decision comes as a result of the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarkes letter to the Secretary of State issuing an urgent notification notice at HMP Bedford following a catalogue of failure.

The POA say that the unprecedented levels of violence and the failure of this government and employer to provide safe prisons has been headline news for some considerable time.

Steve Gillan, general secretary of the association, said: The POA has engaged with the employers and ministers in an attempt to resolve issues, but they are paying lip service to the health and safety of my members, their human rights, that of other workers in prisons and of course the prisoners in our care.

Earlier this year the POA commenced legal proceedings due to the Governments failure to provide safe prisons. Bedford with other prisons was placed into Special Measures and commitments made to this union from Government and HMPPS.

These commitments were not met and we have issued a further Pre-Action Protocol Letter as part of the Judicial Review process because of their failings to provide safe prisons.

We will now be demanding that the Government provide safe prisons, meet our demands to improve Personal Protective Equipment, reduce levels of violence and overcrowding as set out by Lord Justice Woolf in his report into the riots of 1990.

However the POA has been called irresponsible: for encouraging members to take part in in this unlawful action, by Prisons Minister, Rory Stewart.

Mr Stewart said: Prison officers do vital and important work and we urge them to return to their duty stations, in line with their obligations to the law and the prison service.

Its irresponsible for the POA to encourage their members to take this unlawful action. We are deploying our contingency plans but, by not turning up for work, these prison officers are putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk.

Yesterday we doubled the prison sentence for anyone who assaults prison officers. Weve also increased pay, provided tools such as body-worn cameras to increase security on the landings, and are investing 40 million to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem which is fuelling much of the violence. And weve now got 3,500 new officers to help ease the burden.

We are taking the action that needs to be taken.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Danske Bank A/S (Danske Bank or the Company) (OTCMKTS: DNKEY) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.



On December 21, 2017, it was reported that Danske Bank was fined 12.5 million Danish crowns for violating anti-money laundering rules. On July 18, 2018, Danske stated that it intends to waive income generated from suspicious transactions in Estonia. According to a press release, Danske plans to make the gross income from such transactions available to the benefit of society, for instance through supporting efforts to combat financial crime. Following this news, Danske Bank shares fell from a close of $15.24 on July 17, 2018, to a close of $13.81 the following day.

Then on September 4, 2018, Reuters reported that Danske Bank had handled up to $30 billion of Russan and ex-Soviet money via its Estonian branch in 2013 alone. Then on September 7, 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that $150 billion that flowed through the Estonian branch was being studied. To obtain additional information, go to:

https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/danske-bank-a-s-loss-form?wire=3

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Satellite-tagged hen harrier disappears near Ruabon Mountain

This article is old - Published: Friday, Sep 14th, 2018

An appeal for information and potential sightings has been launched following the disappearance of a satellite-tagged hen harrier near Wrexham.

The RSPB say Heulwen, who was born on a nest in the Gwynedd area, is amongst three across the country to have gone missing in recent week.

After she left her nest, Heulwen travelled through north Wales, across Snowdonia and eastwards towards Wrexham. Her satellite was transmitting regularly until it suddenly and inexplicably stopped.

Her last known fix on 29th August show she was within the vicinity of Ruabon Mountain.

Satellite tagging technology is commonly used to follow the movements of birds and tags continue to transmit regularly, even when the bird dies, and until the tag reaches the end of its lifespan.

The tags were all providing regular updates on the birds locations, so the sudden and unexpected ending of transmissions is suspicious and could suggest criminal interference.

Hen harriers are one of the UKs rarest birds of prey with only nine successful nests recorded in England in 2018 despite sufficient habitat for over 300 pairs. It is widely understood that the main reason for their low numbers is illegal killing associated with intensive management of driven grouse moors.

Dr. Cathleen Thomas, project manager for the RSPBs Hen Harrier LIFE project said: Just a few weeks ago we were celebrating the breeding success of hen harriers in the UK, but already these young chicks are disappearing in suspicious circumstances when they are just a few months old.

Its devastating for those of us involved in watching and protecting these chicks and terrible news for a birds of prey species that is continuing to decline.

While we dont know yet what has happened to these birds, we do know that the main factor limiting the hen harrier population in the UK is illegal killing associated with the intensive management of grouse moors.

If anyone has any information about the disappearance contact the police on 101  or alternatively call the RSPBs confidential Raptor Crime Hotline 0300 999 0101.

Top picture: Heulwen, photo by Guy Anderson
Welsh Water extremely sorry after major pollution incident at Five Fords wastewater treatment works

This article is old - Published: Friday, Sep 14th, 2018

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has apologised for a major pollution incident which led to the death of a large number of fish in a Wrexham river last week.

The company say that the incident at its Five Fords wastewater treatment works was caused by a temporary release from one of its storm water tanks into the River Clywedog.

At the time Natural Resources Wales said a stretch of about nine kilometres of the river has been affected, leading to a massive loss of fish  mainly brown trout but also bullhead, lamprey, stone loach, salmon parr, chub, eel, bullhead, stickleback, perch and minnow.

The company has since issued an apology and confirmed that an internal investigation into the incident is also taking place.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: While carrying out essential maintenance work on our outfall chamber at our Five Fords wastewater treatment works in Wrexham last week, a pollution incident occurred following a temporary release from one of our storm water tanks into the River Clywedog.

This caused conditions in the river that led to fish dying and we are extremely sorry for this.

We are currently working closely with Natural Resources Wales to fully investigate the incident. We are also carrying out a full internal investigation into the incident and exploring options to make good the damage done.

Safeguarding our coastal waters and rivers from pollution caused by our network is one of our most important responsibilities at Welsh Water.

On this occasion we failed, and for this, we sincerely apologise.
Workers at Detroit Manufacturing Systems, a low-wage auto parts supplier, greeted coldly the news that Andra Rush, the companys majority owner and founding CEO, sold all her shares and stepped down in early August.

The new buyer is Bruce Smith, co-owner and CEO of sheet metal tooling company BTM Co. LLC of Marysville, Michigan. No sale price was disclosed.

In a statement Rush said she had a new chapter in my life to pursue. Rush had founded DMS, now with $1 billion in annual sales, in a joint venture with giant French auto parts supplier Faurecia in 2012. That deal saw Faurecia take over a former Ford Visteon plant in Saline, Michigan.

DMS opened with much fanfare, being touted as a sign of a revival of manufacturing in the Detroit. However, the truth is that DMS is typical of the sweatshop conditions prevailing in the auto parts industry, with new workers hired in making as little as $11 or $12 an hour. Despite these poverty wages, workers are still required to pay dues to the United Auto Workers.

There are currently about 1,000 DMS employees in Detroit and 200 in Toledo. The company is the third largest firm on Crains list of minority owned businesses. The Detroit facility builds instrument panels for the best selling Ford F-150 pickup truck and other Ford vehicles. The newly opened Toledo plant builds components for the Jeep Wrangler.

Rush, a member of the Mohawk Native American tribe in Ontario, Canada, was brought in to head DMS as part of a deal by Ford in relation to its Supplier Diversity Development (SDD) program that sets quotas for parts purchased from women-owned and minority-owned enterprises. She was featured at President Obamas 2014 State of the Union speech as an example of the recovery of the auto industry.

She will maintain her ownership of Rush Group LLC, Dakkota Integrated Systems LLC, Rush Trucking and Rush Supply Chain Management.

She made her billion and now shes moving on, one DMS worker told World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter reporters as he drove home.

Another worker on the way in for second shift said, They told us the news at a so-called family meeting we have every month. I dont like them saying workers are part of the family, The minute you are perceived as doing something wrong, you are to blame. I dont know any family like that.

The meetings are just for the company. The union has no independent role. They are just sycophants that nod in agreement. Its just a psychological game to promote their agenda.

It came as a surprise. Business has been expanding, we used to only make parts for Ford, but now we have an account with Maytag plus there is a new plant in Toledo for Chrysler. But she said she is starting a new chapter in her life.

They said the new owner is Bruce Smith. I guess he is connected with Vinnie Johnson from Piston [Group, another auto parts manufacturer in metro Detroit.]

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter explained that from the beginning Rush was largely a figurehead handpicked by Ford to meet supplier diversity requirements. It is possible that her services as a Native American female CEO are needed elsewhere.

The status of DMS as a minority-owned business will remain intact as Smith is African American. This fact, however, means nothing to the workers at DMS who know from everyday experience that the race or gender of the CEO does not have any effect on wages or working conditions.

Why are we making tier 2 pay when we are a tier 1 supplier?, asked a worker with five years seniority, adding, The conditions are terrible. We are sweating and they dont have air conditioners.

A young worker agreed: There are only fans that blow dust all over everything. We pay the union thousands and they dont do anything for us. I can see how the corruption goes to the top. The bigger union officials only come through when it's time for an election.

There is no reason to believe that Bruce Smith will improve any of these concerns voiced by the workers. The DMS web site calls Smith a manufacturing industry expert, but a review of his work history shows that he is not so much an expert at making things but rather at extracting profits from the workers.

At Piston Group he was CEO for two years and oversaw the turnaround from a $600,000 loss to $8 million profit. That company is now the second largest minority-owned business in Michigan. Smith also cites experience in the field of private equity as part of his resume. Private equity firms are notorious for buying troubled companies, cutting jobs, wages and benefits, stripping their assets and then reselling them at a profit.

DMS ranks fourth on the list of largest minority-owned businesses in Michigan. While it is profitable, revenues have fallen by 6 percent from 2016-2017. Smith has been brought in as s hatchet man to keep things in check.

As workers at DMS enter the last year of their contract they must prepare for a fight now and not wait for the servile management lackeys in the United Auto Workers leadership. They should take the initiative by building rank-and-file committees to advance their independent interest ahead of the push by Smith and Faurecia to increase productivity and cut wages and benefits even further.

The author also recommends:

Detroit Manufacturing Systems and the new face of auto parts production

[17 November 2017]
The Trump administration Tuesday proposed to roll back environmental safeguards on the oil and gas industry. The action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would relax requirements to monitor for leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from new oil and gas drilling operations. The agency admits the changes would lead to higher emissions not only of the warming gas but also other co-pollutants that directly harm public health.

The proposal is another step by the Trump administration to weaken or rescind climate change regulations issued by the Obama administration. It is the third climate-related move by acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler in a little over two months since taking over for the scandal-plagued Scott Pruitt. In July, Wheeler proposed freezing fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for automobiles. Last month, the EPA released a plan to allow coal power plants to emit more carbon dioxide emissions.

The new proposal would delay mandatory leak self-inspections to once a year from every six months, and allow double the amount of time to repair those leaks60 days rather than 30. It would also exempt equipment in certain applications from leak monitoring and permit compliance with state rules in lieu of federal ones, even if the state standards are less stringent.

With Tuesdays announcement, the Trump administration is continuing to reverse the environmental strategy pursued under the Obama administration, which sought to promote illusions of incremental progress in addressing climate change while ensuring that the long-term profit interests of industry were protected. The current administration is not satisfied with such half measures. Instead it openly seeks to remove regulatory barriers to profit, whatever the costs to health and the planet.

Obamas methane rule addressed the third largest source of greenhouse gases in the countryoil and gas extraction. In the face of an extraordinary global climate crisis, it stands out only as one of the most miniscule possible responses. A decade into the rapid expansion of drilling in the US, the federal government refused to put in place any comprehensive set of controls to limit the environmental destruction and human health consequences of drilling.

The 2016 rule required little more than full implementation of common leak-monitoring industry practices. Janet McCabe, who headed up the EPA air pollution office under the Obama administration, highlighted its limited scope in an email to E&E news, published yesterday. Theres nothing ground-breaking about the technologies or activities called for in the 2016 rule, she wrote.

Methane is the main component of natural gas. When it is released into the atmosphere unburned, it is 80 times more potent as a warming agent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time span. The high potency means that even low rates of leakage can have significant impacts on climate. The Environmental Defense Fund, which has coordinated an effort with scientists and industry to measure methane leakage, estimates that at just a three percent leakage rate, natural gas is as harmful to climate change as coal.

In an assessment published this year in the journal Science, researchers estimated that the current leakage rate from the oil and gas system in the United States is 2.3 percent. The estimate called into question EPAs previous assessment, which concluded leakage is 60 percent lower.

The rule change proposed by the Trump administration will ensure that no meaningful action is required to better control these leaky systems.

EPA made clear in its release of the plan that this is just an initial step in a broader deregulation of the oil and gas industry. The agency continues to consider broad policy issues in the 2016 rule, including the regulation of greenhouse gases in the oil and natural gas sectors. These issues will be addressed in a separate proposal at a later date, a fact sheet accompanying the proposal stated. Alongside EPAs proposal, the Bureau of Land Management is expected to make final a rule to remove restrictions on methane flaring and venting on public lands.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has published a damning report showing successive governments ignored its warnings about building cladding systems nearly 20 years before the entirely avoidable fire that killed 72 at Grenfell Tower last year.

The Grenfell Tower Fire: Background to an Atrocity was launched at a meeting in Parliament this month and outlines the fatal impact of decades of deregulation of the fire service.

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack drew attention to the June 11, 1999 fire at the 14-storey Garnock Court block of flats in North Ayrshire, Scotland, in which William Linton was killed and five others injured.

After the fire, the FBU warned a House of Commons Select Committee investigation that cladding a tower block could provide a vehicle for assisting uncontrolled fire spread up the outer face of the building. The fire could re-enter the building through windows and thus pose a threat to the life safety of the residents above the fire floor.

Actually, thats a prediction of what happened at Grenfell Tower, said Wrack, adding, the scandal that lies behind it is nobody has actually acted on that warning that was given after a fire in 1999.

After the Garnock Court fire, Scottish building regulations were strengthened to reduce the fire risks, but not in England and Wales.

Wrack said the union now wanted to see real change as a result of the Grenfell Fire tragedy. It is not enough, he said, to keep talking about learning lessons: Many of the lessons were already known, the question was that they were not being applied.

The FBU report covers the development and then erosion of fire safety regulations after the 1947 Fire Services Act, which established a national fire safety framework under the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council (CFBAC). Following serious fires in the 1950s and 1960s, safety provisions were further strengthened and centralised.

The FBU identify this general trend as having ended with the Thatcher government of 1979, which began a programme of deregulation and cuts that have continued to the present day, no matter the nominal affiliation of the government.

The most extensive deregulation was carried out by the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown (1997-2010). They abolished national standards of fire cover and the CFBAC, and eroded fire certification and its enforcement. When the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was first introduced, the FBU warned that simply requiring its implementation without providing either a duty to carry out inspections, or to develop an enforcement programme to do so would not maintain the existing levels of public safety.

The undermining of fire safety intensified with the election of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010. It imposed savage cuts in central funding for fire and rescue services, leading to the loss of nearly 12,000 jobs and slashed safety regulations under the cover of cutting red tape. Further central funding cuts are planned up to 2020.

A 2015 National Audit Office report estimated central funding was cut by 28 percent in real terms between 2010/11 and 2015/16. There was also considerable variation between different fire and rescue authorities, with reductions ranging from 26 to 39 percent for that period. The union say that government oversight of fire and rescue was lacklustre for a number of years before the Grenfell Tower fire.

The coalition governments slashing of regulations was particularly pronounced in the construction industry. Then Fire Minister Brandon Lewis spoke repeatedly against legislation for sprinkler provision arguing, for example, that the part sprinklers play in any fire safety strategy should be determined by the findings of the owner or occupiers assessment of risknot blanket regulation.

A 2012 report by the Department for Communities and Local Government advocated scrapping local building acts in order to save money. It noted, for example, that up to 357,400 could be saved in each tower block over 35 years by not installing or maintaining sprinklers, and up to 600,000 could be saved by not installing smoke extractors.

The same disregard for public safety is apparent in the attitude to the retrofitting of older tower blocks. Most obviously, this involved the dangerous cladding used at Grenfell Tower and the failure to fit smoke alarms and sprinklers, but it also meant undermining existing safety systems and mechanisms in older buildings.

The FBU report proves that every aspect of fire safety had failed at Grenfell Tower long before the fire broke out. It reveals why there has been a concerted move by the ruling class and its media to try to shift responsibility onto the firefighters who were faced with the devastating results of years of deregulation and cuts on the night of the fire.

The complacency in ruling circles with which the FBU report was met is summed up in the response of Communities Secretary James Brokenshire. He blithely claimed the governments reaction to Grenfell Tower was to establish a comprehensive building safety programme, [we] issued clear guidance to building owners and committed to a full review of the building regulatory system.

Brokenshire said the government intends to ban the use of combustible materials on the exterior of tower blocks. That they have not done so already gives the lie to any claims that any justice or amends can come from an inquiry organised by those responsible for Grenfell in the first place.

In opposition to Brokenshire, the bereaved and survivors of Grenfell are demanding action now. Michael Mansfield QC, who is representing a number of them at the inquiry, has submitted a list of urgent recommendations to ensure safety, including an immediate ban on cladding systems containing materials not classed as non-combustible.

The FBU is critical of, but not opposed to, the governments public inquiry into the fire. The union declares its long view is aimed at addressing the culture of cuts and deregulation that have led up to this point, and it rightly demands accountability all the way to the topno scapegoating of those on the frontline.

It is correct for the FBU to point the finger at successive deregulation by Tory and Labour government alike, but how has this been possible?

The cuts and deregulation that the FBU correctly criticises were not the product of subjective mistakes or misjudgements. They are the logical result of a system of production for profit over social need.

In 2002, when firefighters came out on strike for a wage rise, with the Blair government using the military as a scab force, the FBU worked might and main to call off the dispute. Then FBU General Secretary Andy Gilchrist remained loyal to Labour. The resulting Bain Review linked any wage rise to modernisation and risk management measures, further accelerating the deregulation process. This continued right up to the end of Labours administration in 2010.

For all that the current FBU report dates the assault on fire regulations to the Thatcher government, the previous Labour administration under James Callaghan had also deployed the military to break an FBU wages strike. The TUC refused to support the firefighters, and the FBU voted to put the original pay offer with only minor amendments to its members in order to end the dispute.

In 2010, the union called off a strike by London firefighters threatened with sacking unless they agreed to new rosters and confronting a state-sanctioned scabbing operation. The betrayal was so abject the Independent headlined their coverage First blood to the coalition.

While the FBU advocates national authorities and standards in fire safety, it has failed to unite disputes across regional fire services. Other fire services had already implemented the roster changes that triggered the 2010 London dispute. In 1998, the FBU isolated a strike against job cuts in Essex, despite national support from other firefighters and the fact that adjacent services were facing similar attacks.

The Grenfell Fire Forum demands:

Justice for Grenfell means no cover-up and no inquiry whitewash!

Arrest the political and corporate criminals responsible!

Stop the scapegoating of firefighters!

Quality public housing is a social right!

For an emergency multibillion-pound programme of public works to build schools, hospitals, public housing and all the infrastructure required in the 21st century!

The author recommends:

The political issues raised by Britains firefighters strike

[23 November 2002]

Britain: Blair declares class war against firefighters

[29 November 2002]
It took the state five years to bring to trial the three nationalist skinheads implicated in the June 5, 2013, murder of anti-fascist student Clement Meric. Two face charges of voluntary violence involuntarily leading to death, a less serious charge than that of involuntary homicide initially demanded by the Paris prosecutor, a third of having participated in the fight. The trial started on Tuesday and is expected to close today.

Last week, outside the Judicial Palace in Paris, anti-fascist demonstrators called for official recognition of the political character of the murder. A friend of Meric told Liberation: Clement was killed because he was an anti-fascist. It was not a fight between rival gangs, as the defense has been claiming since the beginning.

The state and the media are, for their part, giving political cover to the killers of Meric and to the broader neo-fascist milieu. As the ruling class seeks to de-demonize neo-fascists like Marine Le Pen and similar politicians across Europe, a veil of silence is drawn over the fact that, as in the 1970s, the ruling class is preparing in neo-fascist circles a layer of thugs to attack or kill left-wing youth.

They attacked Meric, a student at the Political Sciences school and member of the Solidarity-Student union and Antifascist Action-Paris Suburbs, and his comrades outside near a metro station. In a clothing store, his friends had previously encountered skinheads with swastika tattoos and sweatshirts bearing Nazi slogans, including White Power and Blood and Honor. Clement Meric, who had arrived later, died after being violently struck in the face.

The exceptionally long, five-year delay between a homicide that was recorded on video and the beginning of the trial can be explained only by political considerations. Several far-right groups tied to the neo-fascist National Front and French intelligence are implicated in the killing, which took place as Francois Hollandes Socialist Party (PS) government was moving closer to the neo-fascists and preparing to invite Le Pen to the Elysee presidential palace.

The intelligence and police forces were under no real pressure to develop the inquiry and proceed to trial. Indeed, the three youth implicated in the killing were members of the Third Way group and its security organization, the Nationalist Revolutionary youth (JNR), founded by Serge Ayoub and dissolved after Merics death. But many sources have reported that Ayoub is closely linked to French domestic intelligence.

Indeed, the presiding judge had to suspend the trial on the first day due to the absence of one of the two principal accused, Samuel Dufour. It emerged later that police had met with Dufour, supposedly to check his identity papers, and thus prevented the trial from starting at the scheduled time.

At the trial, the defense largely had a free pass to downplay the neo-fascist politics of the accused. Though they had pictures of Hitler on their phones, the defense tried to portray them as youth who were politically lost and ignorant. One of them, Esteban Morillo, claimed he did not know that the Vichy regimes slogan Work-Family-Homeland, which he has tattooed on his body, is linked to the Nazi collaboration.

The proceedings have focused since on whether Morillo was wearing brass knuckles when he struck the fatal blow against Meric. The dubious judicial rationale is that if the neo-fascists did not wear brass knuckles to kill Meric, the fight was just a violent dispute.

According to Morillos lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, For us the use of brass knuckles is the issue. My client, Esteban Morillo, immediately admitted that he struck two blows to Clement Meric including the one that made him fall down, but he has always denied having had a weapon. And if he was fighting bare-handed, it was simply a fight and not a punitive expedition. That changes the nature of the affair, both of the two groups would then be defending themselves.

This echoes positions advanced by police over the last several years in legal proceedings to keep Murillo and Dufour from coming to trial. The technical police analyzed a video of the fight that shows Murillo punching Meric, but it declared from 2013 on that it is too fuzzy to show whether Murillo had brass knuckles.

Police ignored eyewitness reports who said Murillo was wearing brass knuckles, as well as text messages found in 2014 on the neo-fascists phones boasting that they had used brass knuckles to hit Meric.

They had also been in contact with Serge Ayoub just before killing Meric. Remarkably, however, the courts gave Ayoub a medical dispensation so he would not have to appear at the trial. This extraordinary decision highlights the abnormal character of the trial and the political cover the courts are giving the neo-fascists.

Contacted about his medical dispensation by vice.com, Ayoub reportedly replied by vociferously shouting insults and cussing at a high decibel level, telling the journalists: Go f*ck yourselves. Youre an as*hole. On your gravestone, it will be marked As*hole. The online magazine added, Rumor has it that he is an informant for the security services. This rumor is widely echoed by the anti-fascist milieu, without ever having been proven. A former policeman confirmed it to us, anonymously. But again he did not provide proof.

This trial highlights the reactionary character of the political forces promoted by the previous PS governments state of emergency and then by current President Emmanuel Macron. By suspending democratic rights and giving free rein to police, inviting Le Pen to the Elysee, and proposing to inscribe the Vichy policy of deprivation of nationality, implicated in the Holocaust, in the French constitution, the PS was sending a signal to the far right. The ruling class considers now that their political and historical positions are legitimate and politically necessary.

This toxic atmosphere allowed the ruling class to impose the reactionary PS labor law and Macrons related labor decrees, brutally repressing anti-labor law protests in 2016, to fund a major increase in military spending. Now, these measures serve as a pseudo-legal foundation for imposing in France the austerity and militaristic agenda that the ruling class is implementing across Europe.

The ruling class also could depend on the cowardly role of the organizations that oversaw Merics political activity. At the Political Sciences school and elsewhere, many youth remember Merics murder; during this springs university occupation, his school was briefly renamed the Clement Meric Institute. But the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA), the party affiliated to the Solidarity student group where Meric was a member, treated the murder differently.

Despite the broad media coverage given to the NPAs presidential candidate Philippe Poutou last year, the party did not campaign to bring Merics killers to trial or expose the fascist danger his murder revealed. Thus, the NPA and its allies adapted themselves to the bourgeoisies campaign to promote the neo-fascists.

Coming after the murder of anti-fascist protester Heather Heyer in Charlottesville and the exposure of the far-right NSU murders in Germany, Merics death is a warning to the workers in France and internationally. Macron and the police will not stop the rising far-right violence, in which they are complicit and from which they profit politically. The way forward is to mobilize a movement of the working class, independently of the bankrupt pseudo-left groups, against fascist reaction, austerity and militarism.
Houston, Texas, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Belmont Village Senior living is hosting an Open House at its newly opened Information Center Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 22912 Pacific Park Drive, Suite E, in Aliso Viejo. Belmont Village Aliso Viejo, currently under construction at 300 Freedom Lane, will be the companys 29th Senior Living community and is projected to open early 2019. This will be the first community Belmont Village has built in Orange County.



Guests are invited for a sip and see with the Belmont Village team to get a project update and learn more about the programs and services coming soon to Aliso Viejo. Members of Belmont Village leadership and the Aliso Viejo team will be on hand to meet guests and answer questions.



"Were so pleased to join the Aliso Viejo community. Weve spent a good deal of time learning whats important to residents and determining how best to maintain our high standard of design, amenities and care while also being a contributing neighbor, said Patricia Will, Belmont Village founder and CEO. I think working together we have come up with a beautiful complement to the area that our future residents will be proud to call home.



Belmont Village Senior Living in Aliso Viejo is approximately 123,000 square feet and will have 148 private apartments for Assisted Living and Memory Care upon opening in 2019. The Mediterranean-style building will offer expansive common areas and signature amenities, including a professionally managed fitness center for wellness and therapy programs, a full-service salon, an outdoor heated swimming pool and a theatre. Residents will enjoy chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and transportation services, enrichment and social activities, award-winning memory programs and support from a well-trained staff, including a licensed nurse on-site 24/7. The rate structure is a monthly fee, with no buy-in required.



The Belmont Village Info Center is currently open 7-days-a-week to provide leasing and reservation information and to answer questions about the services, care and amenities that will be available for residents. For more information or to reserve an apartment at Belmont Village Aliso Viejo, please call 949-643-1050 or visit the Information Center. Additional information about Belmont Village Senior Living is available at www.belmontvillage.com. ###

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Twenty-one distillery workers, one fifth of the workforce, at a Whyte and Mackay whisky distillery in Invergordon, Scotland, have been offered an ultimatum: Accept a 10,000 pay cut as part of a modernisation of the plant or lose your jobs.

The huge pay cut was backed by a threat to close the entire plant if it was not accepted. Ian Mackie, production director at Whyte and Mackay Invergordon, claimed the plan allows us to continue employing approximately 100 people from the local community and contributing 6 million to the local economy.

Invergordon, near Inverness, is a particularly deprived area of Scotland. With a population of only 3,788, it ranks within the lowest 15 percent of deprived zones in Scotland, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Workers in the areas are mostly employed by the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, distilleries or the oil industry.

Whyte and Mackay are owned by Emperador, the worlds largest brandy producer and a subsidiary of the Philippines multinational Alliance Global Inc. (AGI). Emperador also own Emperador Brandy, Fundador Pedro Domecq, and Harveys, among other companies.

AGI is a holding firm owning shares in the gambling industry, hospitality, real estate and food and drink production, and even owning the rights to McDonalds in the Philippines through the Golden Arches Development Corporation.

The company is owned by Andrew L. Tan, whose net worth is $5 billion. In 2014, Tan was found to be the fourth richest man in the Philippines by Forbes magazine.

The GMB trade union has been pushing for the modernisation for some time, effectively functioning as an enforcer for management and a regional investment agency. The union pressured the local authority, Highland Council, into ignoring complaints by local residents over environmental concerns associated with the distillery.

In February 1, 2017, GMB Scotland organiser Liz Gordon promoted the plant upgrade as providing a 6 million a year wages dividend provided by the site and described the proposal as good for jobs, good for the economy, good for the environment and good for Invergordon. Gordon made clear her primary concern was the business competitiveness of the local area and the interests of the regional economy.

Responding to the massive pay cut, Gordon admitted she had anticipated cuts or job losses, but claimed that the size of the redundancies came as a surprise. She confessed to being blindsided by the scale of the cutbacks and We anticipated a small number, but this is a fifth of the workforce. ...
On Monday, a ThinkProgress article posted on Facebook was labeled as false by right-wing magazine the Weekly Standard, a third-party fact checker for Facebook, and effectively censored on the site. The Weekly Standard, dubbed a redoubt of neoconservatism and as the neo-con bible, is one of only five organizations approved as fact-checkers by Facebook.

As a result of the Weekly Standards fact-checking, the ThinkProgress story, entitled Brett Kavanaugh said he would kill Roe v. Wade last week and almost no one noticed will be accompanied by a companion article from the Weekly Standard: Fact Check: Has Brett Kavanaugh Stated Hed Overturn Roe v. Wade?

The original ThinkProgress article notes, Kavanaugh believes that the way to determine whether the Constitution protects a particular unenumerated right is to apply the test the Supreme Court laid out in Glucksberg [a 1997 Supreme Court decision holding that the Constitution does not protect a right to physician-assisted suicide]. And the judge also thinks that even a first-year law student could tell you that Roe is inconsistent with Glucksberg. ThinkProgress continued, It doesnt take the brains of a fourth-term United States senator from Maine to figure out what this means if Kavanaugh is confirmed. Judge Kavanaugh will be the fifth vote to kill Roe if he joins the nations highest Court.

The Weekly Standard, replying to this article, simply declares, Has Brett Kavanaugh stated hed overturn #Roe? No. The Weekly Standards claim hinges on a sophistry: it interprets the word said to imply a direct quote, as opposed to the implications of his arguments.

Any article deemed false by Facebooks fact-checkers has its traffic significantly reduced. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently wrote in the Washington Post, we demote posts rated as false, which means they lose 80 percent of future traffic.

As part of the drive to censor voices critical of the US political establishment, Facebook has partnered with a small group of organizations to label users postings as fake news. In addition to three fact-checking web sites (Factcheck.org, PolitiFact, and Snopes.com), Facebook also partners with the Associated Press and the Weekly Standard. Notably, there is not a single left-wing website on Facebooks list of fact-checkers. The Weekly Standard was added to Facebooks list of fact-checkers at the end of last year, prompting widespread outrage. To become a fact-checker, an outlet must pass a verification process and meet standards established by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute.

However, last November the IFCN determined that the Weekly Standard was only in partial compliance with its standards. The IFCN said the Weekly Standard would eventually meet its standards. The Weekly Standard heavily promotes its right-wing ideology above factual reporting. As ThinkProgress reported, the site ran an article in 2017 labeling climate science Dadaist Science, and promoted that article with the phrase look under the hood on climate change science and what you see isnt pretty.

Facebooks decision to partner with an outlet that promotes such reactionary talking points reveals the right-wing character of the drive to censor the internet.

A source familiar with Facebook told Quartz that Facebooks partnership with the Weekly Standard was part of an effort to appease all sides.

Kavanaughs anti-abortion stance is a well-known fact. In 2017, he gave a speech to a conservative think tank applauding Justice William Rehnquists dissent in Roe v. Wade, and wrote an opinion piece arguing that the Trump Administration could temporarily imprison undocumented women seeking an abortion.

In an exchange with Senator Ted Cruz, Kavanaugh specifically stated that Washington v. Glucksberg, a 1997 decision holding that the Constitution does not protect a right to physician-assisted suicide, should determine the scope of enumerated rights, such as abortion, in the Constitution. Chief Justice Rehnquists opinion in Glucksberg claimed that the question of which unenumerated rights are protected by the Constitution should be answered by asking which rights are deeply rooted in this Nations history and tradition.

The crusade to excise the free exchange of information on the internet, spearheaded by giant tech and social media corporations, has raged on for two years. The largest technology monopolies, working with the intelligence agencies and the two US big-business parties, have adopted self-imposed roles as judges of fake news and authoritative content, effectively blacklisting any viewpoints outside the pre-circumscribed norm of the US political establishment.

The World Socialist Web Site and other left-wing websites have already been heavily targeted in the drive to censor the internet. Traffic to the WSWS from Google dropped by 70 percent after the search engine introduced new algorithms, and material published on Facebook has consistently been demoted by the social media platform.

Allowing any publication to have the power to demote news it does not deem credible is a direct attack on the freedom of speech and press. Over one billion people log in to Facebook daily.

The censorship of the internet represents a serious danger. The power of social media has been confirmed over and over by workers using Facebook to coordinate statewide and nationwide strikes. The ruling class knows the threat posed to it by allowing freedom of expression on the internet and is attempting to destroy this basic democratic right.
Europe

Ryanair cabin crew across five European countries set to strike

On Friday, unions in five countries announced that cabin crew employed by Ryanair are set to strike September 28. The strikes will involve Ryanair employees in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The decision follows a 24-hour strike by German Ryanair staff Wednesday, involving 400 members of the VC (Cockpit) union and 1,000 cabin crew in the Verdi union. The strike led to the cancellation of 150 out of a scheduled 400 flights.

Cabin crew and ground staff are seeking a pay increase, improved working conditions and for Ryanair to offer agency workers the same conditions as permanent staff. The unions are calling for an end to the situation in which German employees, along with all other non-Ireland-based Ryanair staff, are employed under Irish legislation rather than in the country where they are based.

Further strikes by rail workers at two UK rail franchises

Rail conductors at Arriva Rail North will hold a further 24-hour strike on Saturday with two further strikes planned for the next two weekends. Arriva North runs services in northern England. Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members are opposed to plans by Arriva to introduce driver operated only (DOO) trains, which would downgrade the role of guards and threaten jobs.

On Saturday, RMT members at South Western Railways will hold the last of three 24-hour strikes over the DOO issue. They recently voted by nearly 90 percent to continue taking action over DOO.

The RMT has limited action to regional, short-term strikes in order to isolate and dissipate struggles, without fundamentally affecting rail operations. It has sealed deals with rail franchises such as ScotRail, Merseyrail and Greater Anglia over DOO.

Rally in support of care workers in Birmingham

A rally and demonstration are set to be held tomorrow in Victoria Square in the UKs second largest city, Birmingham, in support of striking care workers.

The 250 care workers employed by Labour-controlled Birmingham City Council have staged 17 days of strikes so far. Workers are opposing the councils workforce reductions and plans to cut working hours and privatise parts of the service.

The Unison members work for the enablement team, which supports vulnerable people newly discharged from hospital. They are due to strike for five days from September 24 and again from October 5.

Estates staff at three hospitals in southeast England to strike

Around 50 estates staff working at three hospitals in the county of Kent are due to strike for five days beginning September 24. Members of the Unite union voted by 85 percent to oppose the plans by hospital management to shift their employment from the National Health Service to a wholly owned subsidiary. They fear the move, which will give the subsidiary a tax advantage, will lead to the erosion of pay and conditions.

Demonstration outside Amazon fulfilment centre in English midlands

Workers took part in a demonstration outside the Amazon depot in Rugeley in the English midlands on September 6. The facility is known as one of the most dangerous places to work in Britain, with 115 ambulance calls recorded over the last three years for major traumas, pregnancies, strokes, electric shocks and other emergencies. According to the GMB union, a pregnant worker was required to stand for 10 hours after being refused a reassignment to a more appropriate role.

Strike by food couriers in Glasgow, Scotland

Around 60 couriers working for food delivery service Uber Eats in Glasgow struck Monday. The couriers are members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union, and are protesting changes to the calculation of payments for deliveries, which has left some of them earning below the national minimum wage. Further strikes have been threatened.

Strike threat by migrant camp staff on Greek island of Lesbos

Staff working at the Moira migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos have threatened to strike from September 17 to oppose overcrowding and other inhuman conditions. Built to house around 3,000 migrants, Greeces most notorious camp now holds more than 8,000 men, women and children. The migrants, many who are refugees from the Syrian civil war, are held in squalid conditions for many months while their asylum claims go through the bureaucratic process.

A statement released by a committee representing the staff about the conditions faced by migrants read, The situation is fraught with dangers, whether it be risk of epidemics, of deaths caused by inclement weather, suicides or mutinies. Several NGOs and the UN High Commission for Refugees have criticised conditions in the camps.

Protests at staff shortages at two Irish hospitals

Hundreds of nurses held protests outside Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick on Tuesday to oppose the lack of plans by management to cope with expected patient increases over the winter and staff shortages.

The Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation claims CUH has 50 nursing vacancies, while Cork University Maternity Hospital has 30. This is part of 2,000 nationwide nursing and midwife vacancies.

Strike threat by Irish medical consultants

Irish medical consultants are being polled on strike action. The vote, organised by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), is in response to growing pay inequities depending on when consultants were appointed.

In 2012, the Irish health service (HSE) introduced a two-tier wage system as part of the governments austerity measures, which followed the bailout of the financial elite in the wake of the global economic meltdown.

The gap in pay between consultants appointed before and after 2012 has grown to as much as 50,000. The IMO claims this has led to recruitment problems, with around 500 consultant posts currently unfilled.

Workers at Irish food packaging plant to strike

Workers at the Rapid Action Packaging (RAP) plant in Gweedore, in County Donegal, have voted to strike for 16 hours on September 24. The workers are members of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU).

SIPTU called the strike in response to factory owners refusal to recognise the union in collective bargaining negotiations, despite the Labour Courts recommendation to do so. Workers at the plant, which employs around 200, produce specialised packaging for food products. SIPTU said it would mount pickets but remains available for discussion.

Maltese disability support staff industrial action

Beginning Monday, staff comprising social workers, care staff and occupational therapists, working for Agenzija Sapport on the island of Malta, took industrial action. The agency provides support to physically and disabled people and those with mental health problems at 12 centres across Malta and Gozo.

The UHM union members are refusing to work with clients, attend meetings and file reports. The job action takes place after talks between the agency and UHM failed to agree on a new collective agreement after the old one expired in 2016. One of the disagreements is over 12 workers who, UHM says, should be on a higher pay grade.

Africa

Nigeria labour congresses call warning strike over unpaid wages

Nigerias labour bodies have announced a further seven-day strike notice for Osun state, after a previous three-day warning strike elapsed. Public sector workers have been protesting over 35 months of unpaid wages, pensions and other agreed allowances. These go back beyond December 2017, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the state government.

The co-signers of the 2017 agreement, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, are asking for half payments of the outstanding wages to be paid immediately together with all pension debts.

Nigerian oil union threatened by military calls off strike

On September 9, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) called off a strike begun three days earlier. NUPENG brought its members out in the Delta oil-producing area over union rights and the intervention of the military.

Armed soldiers were dispatched by the Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Producing Company and its drilling partner, British Oil and Gas Limited. The military expelled workers from the rigs and workplaces and compelled them to sign papers rejecting union membership. Three thousand workers were sacked after demanding the constitutional right to be in a union, a demand the companies have consistently opposed.

The government was brought in to oversee a dealclaiming the companies had accepted workers rights and agreed on union organisation. In exchange for this worthless promise NUPENG called off the strike.

Nigerian teachers in Edo begin strike

Primary school teachers in Edo state will begin an indefinite strike Friday over the states refusal to pay the minimum wage of N25,000, which was approved for all state employees last May. The state government has already ignored one 21-day strike notice issued by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

As in every country, school teachers have been using their meagre salaries to buy instructional materials like chalk, markers, diaries, registers for their students.

Nigerian polytechnic staff rebuffs management council threats

Academic workers at Oke-Ogun Polytechnic in Saki, Oyo State, are continuing their strike, which began on August 28. Staff are striking for payment of almost two years of unpaid wages and many months of un-submitted remittances.

Polytechnic managers, who are calling for the suspension of the Academic Staff Union of the Polytechnic, threatened the workforce with the sack if they had not reported for work by Monday. Workers, however, say they will not be intimidated by the polytechnic counsel and are demanding an upfront payment of all the money owed to them while they continue to strike. Workers at other polytechnics in the state and across country are on strike for similar reasons.

Three killed as South African fire fighters pay price of austerity

Three South African firefighters died on September 5, attempting to put out a fire at the Bank of Lisbon Building in Johannesburg city centre. The building houses the departments of health, human settlements and cooperative governance. The fire was the third this year at the building.

South Africas National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) claims shop stewards were sacked when they raised safety issues going back to 2014. It was also reported that the building was only 21 percent compliant with safety regulations. NEHAWU instructed its members to stay at home until the government provides another building.

Other firefighters have been suspended in Ekurhuleni Municipality, Gauteng, over complaints about their working conditions. Forty-eight female firefighters, members of the South African Municipal Workers Union, (SAMWU), were suspended for demonstrating in their uniforms.

The workers were protesting the disparity between the time they work and the hours they are paid, an ongoing complaint in the fire service. Workers are paid for an 8-hour day, although they are in attendance for up to 13 hours. The suspended firefighters are not being replaced, management said, regardless of the impact this will have on the fire brigades ability to respond.

Vanadium miners strike over changed conditions in South Africa

South African Vanadium miners held a wildcat strike at Bushvelt Minerals Limited (BML) last week, causing a shutdown of operations. Production at the mine has increased 20 percent since being taken over by BML, but working conditions for the miners have steadily deteriorated. Management are in discussions with unions and say they want an immediate return to work.

South African steelworkers strike

Workers at Fortune Steel in Ekurhuleni Municipality South Africa have been out on strike since September 7 over wages and conditions. A blast furnace exploded in April injuring seven workers who had no medical coverage.

The National Union of Metalworkers accuses the Indian company of flouting health and safety regulations and the countrys labour laws.

Workers have come out for a R50 (US$3.34) basic hourly rate as opposed to minimum wage rate of R20 (US$1.34). They also want a 40-hour week and 70 percent company-paid medical coverage. The union says the company is refusing to consider their demands, with workers saying they will strike until they do so.

Ethiopian air traffic controllers arrested for striking

Nine Ethiopian air traffic controllers were arrested for joining a strike that ended last week. Some of the striking workers were only being allowed back to their jobs if they submitted a letter of apology to the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

The controllers work at the Bole International Airport and are demanding a pay increase, overtime payment and improvements in their working conditions.

Bole International Airport is Ethiopias busiest hub. The Kenyan Air Traffic Controllers Association commented on the risk to neighbouring countries air space, saying, aircraft operating in and out of Addis Ababa are in grave danger as the situation continues to deteriorate.

Teachers and nurses strike and demonstrate in Eswatini over pay adjustments

Around 400 teachers across Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) ignored threats from the minister of education and attended union meetings to plan a strike rather than providing instruction in their classrooms. The strike is proposed for September 19, according to the Swaziland National Association of Teachers.

The principal secretary, who had issued the threat, said schools in the Lubombo region were being monitored to assess which teachers had stayed away. As the teachers prepared to strike, 500 medical and psychiatric nurses were demonstrating in Mbabane last Wednesday, where they submitted a petition to the government demanding a cost-of-living adjustment.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - We now know what the 2nd suspect in an attempted murder case looks like.

Zavius King was arrested two days ago in Louisville, Kentucky.

Terre Haute Police have charged him with attempted murder.

That charge stems from an incident one week ago on Elm Street in Terre Haute.

Police say a man was shot several times.

Another suspect was arrested the day of the shooting.

Michael Dixon remains behind bars for maintaining a common nuisance.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- A 20-foot deep sinkhole opened up in downtown Terre Haute Wednesday. After a Terre Haute Fire Truck drove over the spot at the intersection of 4th and Ohio streets.

The sinkhole was big enough to fit a full sized car.

Thursday, workers started to repair and fill the massive hole. They were getting debris out and digging down further to find the pipes underneath, trying to figure out the root of the problem.

We spoke to city leaders to see what caused it in the first place.

"It gets to the point where there's enough of a void underneath the pavement that the pavement can't hold itself anymore," said Brad Utz, Director of inspection for the department of engineering. "That's when the sinkhole happens."

Officials said that the cause may be because of the more than 100-year-old sewage lines.

They say something needs to be done, and soon.

"If you get to close to it, it could collapse and take people with it," Utz said.

No one wants to see this bizarre occurrence, turn into a dangerous accident.

"There are places where the pavements, there's nothing under it still, right now," he said.

Workers and officials are trying to figure out how long it will take to repair the damage"

"It's dependent on what is causing it, how big the hole is and whether there are any peripheral issues," Utz said.

This isn't the first sinkhole that Terre Haute has seen and workers told us, they can tell from the foundation that this particular area has been repaired many times.

Now, officials are trying to figure out if there is a way to prevent this from happening in the future. Utz said, as of right now, they don't have a foolproof plan.

"I mean what do we do? Just drive the whole city? I mean we can't see through the pavement," Utz said.

He says anyone, can help to identify a sinkhole.

"Sometime they'll start sinking a little bit and then we can see it and keep an eye on it and catch it before it actually happens like this," he said.

He explains that they look like perfectly round dips in the road. They will continue to grow until they collapse.

For now, the intersection of 4th and Ohio is closed to all traffic. Utz said it will take at least a week to repair and open up the roads.

He said that everyone should stay away from the sinkhole until they get it repaired.

All of the businesses around the intersection are still open and accessible.
The once-desolate marketplace of Shaalan has sprung back to life. Shops shuttered for years have reopened their doors, glitzy new restaurants spill onto sidewalks and the traffic jams that were once a main feature of the Syrian capital have returned with a vengeance.

For years, the red beams of tracer bullets streaked the skies of Damascus. The rattle of guns and bangs of explosions were staples of the city's soundscape. Residents who had been known to pass long hours on balconies retreated into the corridors of their homes.

Continents and regions Damascus Middle East Middle East and North Africa Syria Unrest, conflicts and war Africa Armed forces Bashar al-Assad Libya Military Northern Africa Political Figures - Intl Syria conflict

"I lived in constant fear of losing my loved ones," says the Damascus native Mohammad Hassan. "We felt that we aged by two decades."

In 2012, Syria's rebels took over large swaths of the Damascus countryside. Government forces pounded the suburbs with airstrikes. Rebels launched rockets into the city.

This past May, the last of the fighters that once surrounded Damascus either surrendered or withdrew to northwestern Syria, after government forces laid siege to the rebel strongholds and shelled them incessantly for over a month. The withdrawal of the fighters relieved the capital of a nearly six-year rebel chokehold, though Damascus is now encircled by wastelands of rubble, and thousands of people have flocked to nearby displacement camps.

In all of Syria today, only the province of Idlib remains in rebel hands, and the Syrian government has already declared victory.

Yet much of the country -- which CNN is visiting with the permission of the government -- is in tatters.

The government of President Bashar al-Assad is cash-strapped, and its prospects of rebuilding are dim thanks to Western sanctions slapped on the regime for the war crimes it has been repeatedly accused of. The government also leaves behind it a blood-stained history that took a toll on nearly every Syrian family. Now, Damascus faces a reckoning. Syrians are picking up the pieces and, they say, the country will never be as it was before the war -- nor should it.

"I feel happiness mixed with pain," says Hassan, an actor, as he takes a drag from his cigarette. "I'm happy that it's over, but I'm sad for all the people that didn't survive to see us finish this phase," he says.

"I feel victorious on a personal level. I didn't lose. I stayed in the country and believe in it ... it turns out that my choice wasn't wrong," he says. "Did you know that we got to a point where we thought God was against us?"

'I want rule of law'

As the rebels recede, the political landscape of Syria appears to be changing. Several political parties calling themselves the new "opposition" have cropped up in recent years, typically tight-lipped Damascenes debate among themselves about the problems of the state, social media posts alleging corrupt practices are not uncommon and taxi drivers will complain to anyone who cares to listen about government maltreatment.

"Look! They let the Iranians in before us!" one Syrian journalist protests loudly in front of security forces as the crowd outside the Damascus International Fair, a decades-old commercial exhibition, turns into a virtual mosh pit.

And the renewed candidness on the streets can also be found on media outlets staunchly supportive of the regime. Last week, well-known Syrian TV anchor Nizar al-Farra chastised the government for a newly placed travel ban on Syrian men who could not produce papers proving they had served in the army. The ban was partially lifted days later.

"How do the government agencies that made this decision see citizens? Just a flock of sheep? ... If they're harmed by this ban, then who cares?" said Farra in a 10-minute tirade on government-aligned Sama TV.

In 2011, the first year of the Syrian uprising, Assad's government decreed that political groups other than his own Baath party would be allowed to register, ostensibly ending decades of single-party rule in Syria. The decree was part of a series of reforms passed by Assad in an apparent attempt to quell the uprising.

Anti-government protesters dismissed the move as a sham -- nonviolent protests were being met with brute force, demonstrators were targeted in mass arrests. Thousands are believed to have died in prison, according to rights groups.

Still, several members of civil society inside Damascus say that they have been able to win more wiggle room amid the carnage of war, and that the current landscape is a far cry from the iron fist that Assad and his father before him have typically wielded over the country.

But Abdel Latif al-Binni, a founding member of a new political party called Syria First, says the moves he's seeing will hardly suffice, and that Syria must undergo democratic transition.

"Some things have changed, but the mindset has not changed," he says. "Today, I want rule of law. I want a true multi-party system. I want a real separation of powers. I want a true and peaceful political transition.

"I want to be like any country that wants its political situation to evolve."

These days, the government in Damascus must reckon with a war-hardened people who are more "empowered," argues one parliamentarian.

"We stood still. We're resilient. We stood still not to have Syria ruled by a one-party system," says Fares Shehabi, who represents Aleppo in the Syrian parliament.

"We didn't pay this price just to sit and see things go backwards. We gave all this sacrifice -- our army gave the biggest sacrifice -- civilians gave sacrifices, and in economy and in our infrastructure and in our futures, to see a better Syria," says Shehabi.

Actor Hassan agrees. "Today we are in pain and our pain needs to speak," he says. "We need to keep speaking until we can uncover what happened in these eight years."

'Pyrrhic victory'

Shehabi is an outspoken Syrian-American businessman from Aleppo who has been under sanctions from the European Union since 2011 for being an important financial supporter of the Assad regime -- which he denies.

Instead, he says, he tried to keep Aleppo alive economically in the early days of the civil war, while keeping jihadi extremism out.

He insists that Syrians today are angry with the West for backing armed, predominantly Islamist, rebels that tried to topple the Syrian government.

He argues that the central government's triumph over them saved Syria from the fate of Libya, which seven years after its uprising-turned-armed conflict began remains in the throes of war, and Iraq, which has been rocked by violence for 15 years.

"(The West) chose the wrong horse. And I'm telling you we are not Libya. We don't want to be like Libya. We don't want to be like Iraq also," says Shehabi.

Syria, he says, is winning a "Pyrrhic victory." Today the government presides over 6.1 million internally displaced people, large expanses of Syria are in ruins and the cost of rebuilding the country is $388 billion, according to UN estimates. No country, including the government's main ally, Russia, has yet offered to help pay for the reconstruction.

And hundreds of thousands of people perished in Syria's war. Many thousands have also been wounded and, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, more than 81,000 people have disappeared.

"On both sides, we have no choice but to ask for people to forgive to the best possible degree, and to ask for accountability to a reasonable degree," says al-Binni. "If we wanted to hold everyone accountable, all of Syria would have to go to the gallows."

Living with the wreckage

At this year's Damascus International Fair, Prime Minister Imad Khamis spoke of "the good tidings of victory by the Syrian Arab Army." While a rebel mortar hit the fair's gates at last year's festival, this one opened with great fanfare, the flags of 48 participating countries flying near the entrance.

But just outside the sprawling exhibition of some 1,700 local and international companies, the wreckage of Syria's former rebel-held suburbs stretches for miles. Not a building has been left unscathed and there is not a construction crane in sight.

Hussam Ghaboura shovels the rubble inside his small inner courtyard in the former rebel town of Douma.

"It would be better for me to tear this down and rebuild ... but I can't afford that," he says.

The government, he adds, has not provided support.

And few here can refurbish their homes as Ghaboura has. Barely scraping together enough money for a daily meal, many make do in damaged apartments with no electricity and running water.

Outside, the marketplace buzzes with flies and dust fills the air. A muezzin issues a crackling call to prayer from the all but destroyed Grand Mosque of Douma.

Vendor Alaa Abu Fares places vegetables chosen by a customer on a weighing scale, and furtively opens the bag to reveal wilted eggplants. "You see, people here can only afford to buy bad food," says Alaa.

"And that's all we can afford to sell."
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - A judge has sentenced a Vice Lord gang member in Columbus to 10 years in federal prison following two gang-related shootings.

The U.S. attorney's office says the sentence comes after Darmarcus Fisher pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition.

According to prosecutors, the ammo came from a gun fired on March 7, 2016, when those two shootings happened.

They say the shootings were between the Vice Lords and the Black Gangster Disciples.
Commentary by Paul Meinema, National President

United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada)

OTTAWA, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If ultra-conservative politicians and pundits had their way, wed all be cheesed off at Canadas supply management system. They would have Canadians believe that milk in the Great White North is a rip-off, and the only way to fix our dairy supply system is to trade it in for something more akin to a model used south of the border.

But the unpasteurized truth is that supply management is a good thing. It protects Canadian food sovereignty , the national food supply, and, yes, the interests of consumers, who are also tax payers, workers, farmers, and the beneficiaries of universal services like healthcare.

The critics, in trying to sour Canadas dairy system, claim that the retail cost of milk is a lot more in Canada than it is in countries with deregulated dairy markets like the United States. When telling us that, the critics rarely if ever acknowledge that Americans pay twice for the same carton of milk. They pay once at the grocery store as consumers, and then they pay again as tax payers.

Thats because American dairy farmers have come to rely on tax dollars to survive. In fact, American dairy farmers receive more than $4-billion in public subsidies every year. Its a lot of money that could be used for healthcare, education, retirement security, and childcare.

The Canadian government, on the other hand, spends no money on dairy subsidies.

And if we take the argument head on, cost differences at the grocery store are not what the detractors would have us believe. According to a recent Nielson report , the average price for cheddar cheese in Canada is $13.98/kg (2017), slightly lower than the American average of $14.81/kg. Its the same story for butter, $9.34/kg in Canada while Americans pay an average of $10.77/kg. And as far as milk goes, Canadian paid between $4.00 to $6.00 for a four-litre bag last year, while Americans paid $1.12 a litre ($1.64 if they seek rbGH-free labelled milk).

And in China, New Zealand and Australia, consumers pay $2.58, $1.83, $1.57 per litre for milk respectively.

In addition to saving us money as Canadian citizens and residents, our dairy system also makes a massive contribution to our economy. In seven of 10 provinces, dairy is one of the top two agricultural industries, and overall, the dairy sector contributes more than $20-billion annually to Canadas GDP.

And as the leader of Canadas food workers union, I can tell you that the dairy sector provides good jobs to more than 220,000 hard-working people across the country. Many of those folks are proud union members, with strong wages and benefits, who spend their earnings at small businesses in their local communities.

But this is more than an economic argument. Our sovereignty as a country is also at stake here. Because of ultra-conservative ideology, weve already lost key infrastructure  like highways  to foreign consortiums based in Europe. We allowed the Harper Conservatives to meekly sit on the sidelines as private interests based in Brazil took our nickel mines. Ask yourself: would the Americans sell their mines to a foreign power?

We cannot allow another important national resource, this time our dairy sector, to be weakened or lost because of reckless ideology. And if the supply management system is undermined for dairy, then the poultry sector will certainly be next.

As Canadians, our food system is our greatest resource, and we cannot allow ideologues and professional blusterers to play chicken with our dairy sector. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to send a strong message to the Canadian government and its NAFTA negotiators that our dairy sector is not up for grabs.

Paul Meinema is the national president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada, www.ufcw.ca), representing more than a quarter-of-a-million workers in every aspect of the food chain, as well as healthcare, security, and other key economic sectors across Canada.

Contact:

Derek Johnstone

UFCW Canada

416-679-3417

derek.johnstone@ufcw.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a0d9bed-ef49-49fd-a41c-32332565fce7
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Police say a Florida inmate sent threatening letters to a Leon County public defender and circuit judge, demanding that they free him from prison.

Frito Jean-Jacques, 31, an inmate at the Florida State Prison, sent the two victims handwritten letters that resulted in his being charged with two counts of written threats and two counts of corruption by threat.

He was booked into the Leon County Detention Center on Thursday and remained there Friday.

The letter to Victim 1 was dated June 25 and included a Leon County court case number corresponding with an armed robbery with a deadly weapon arrest of Jean-Jacques for a June 19, 2012 offense.

The letter discusses the "dummy God" and said his trial was a mistrial, according to a probable cause document.

To the attorney with the Leon County Public Defender's Office, Jean-Jacques wrote that if you do not file a motion for me for illegal sentencing "when I get out of prison, I'm going to kidnap you and your husband, also, I'm going to rape you in front of him."

But the torture won't end there, he wrote, adding that he would make the prosecutor and the prosecutor's spouse consume his bodily wastes.

"It's your choice, pick your poison and live with your results," he wrote.

Documents say the Tallahassee Police Department impounded the letter as evidence.

To the judge in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, Jean-Jacques sent a similar letter dated April 9, saying the judge should file a motion for illegal sentencing or face death.

Jean-Jacques said he was offering "you guys an opportunity to turn things around by doing the right thing. The next time we meet you will not get a second chance."

The letter to the judge concluded with a warning that the judge would be a fool to ignore the letter, documents show.

"This motion is the only way I can get out of prison as soon as possible," said the letter to the judge. "Do the right thing, this is the only way you save your life and your family's life."

In a telephone interview, Jean-Jacques admitted to a TPD investigator that he wrote the two letters, the court documents said, and said they were not threatening. He said he wrote the letters because he was illegally sentenced and wanted each person to file a motion on his behalf.
LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - This week is National Lifeline Awareness Week and Leon County wants to make sure residents know about the resources they can use to get help.

The Lifeline Assistance Program provides discounts to anyone who can't afford a phone line or broadband.

This is to make sure everyone can contact help during emergencies.

The Florida Public Service Commission hosted an information session Thursday for residents to learn about the Lifeline Assistance discounted telephone and/or broadband service program.

"It helps low income residents stay connected to their families more importantly, connected to the community and emergency services," said Cindy Muir.

There are some eligibility requirements for the program.
MIDWAY, Fl. (WTXL) -- Hurricane Florence is bearing down on North Carolina. In addition to Florence, three other tropical cyclone are still active in the Atlantic: Tropical Storm Helene, Tropical Depression Isaac, and Tropical Storm Joyce.

Florence: The Category 1 hurricane has been inching closer and closer to landfall near Wilmington, North Carolina. As of the 5:00am advisory, maximum sustained winds were at 90 mph, and the center of the hurricane was located about 10 miles east of Wilmington, North Carolina. While North Carolina is receiving the worst of the rain, winds, and storm surge right now, South Carolina and inland section of both states will see conditions deteriorate this weekend. For more information on the Hurricane, visit the National Hurricane Center's website here: nhc.noaa.gov.

Helene: The former hurricane continues to accelerate north in the eastern Atlantic, located about 760 miles SW of Lajes Air Base in the Azores. The tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. The storm will approach the Azores, and a TROPICAL STORM WARNING is in effect for the all of the Azores islands.

Isaac: The weakening tropical depression is expected to move west to west/northwest as a depression. It is forecast to stay weak and disorganized due to persistent wind shear in the Caribbean Sea. Further intensification is not anticipated at this time.

Joyce: Now a tropical storm, Joyce (located 1090 miles WSW of the Azores) continues to move SSW. It is expected to turn northeast and speed up into the far northern Atlantic, likely not threatening anyone.

You can catch the forecast on ABC 27 News starting at 5:00 each weekday morning, as well as ABC 27 News at Noon. First Alert Chief Meteorologist Casanova Nurse has your forecast at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 11:00 this evening.

Remember to follow WTXL First Alert on Social Media.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WTXLFirstAlert/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/WTXLFirstAlert
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 01:23:28|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing on Thursday, vowing to promote cooperation in various fields.

Next year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 100th anniversary of work-study program in France, which will be of special significance for China-France relations, Wang said.

"China is willing to strengthen communication with the French side in building the Belt and Road and explore new ways of cooperation," Wang said, calling on the two sides to make contributions to maintaining multilateralism, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and development.

Le Drian said France is willing to advance cooperation with China in all areas and to explore ways of cooperation mode in construction of the Belt and Road.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 02:23:40|Editor: yan

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VIENNA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A conference for the interior ministers of the European Union (EU) as well as Southern European states was held in Vienna on Thursday, with asylum centers in the Western Balkans a key topic on Thursday's agenda.

Austrian interior minister Herbert Kickl acknowledged that negotiations have taken place with Western Balkans countries on this issue, but did not wish to divulge further details, Austrian Press Agency reported.

The countries in question, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro have not however appeared open to the suggestion.

Albanian interior minister Fatmir Xhafaj was diplomatic in his response, however, saying his country seeks better and "more pro-active" support from the EU, though is willing to cooperate to "solve difficult problems".

The conference, titled "Security and Migration -- Promoting Partnership and Resilience", is to run for two days, with many interior ministers as well as other officials reportedly only planning to attend in person on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 03:08:54|Editor: yan

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ZAGREB, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- During the peak tourist season from June to September, 170,000 tourists used Uber service at Croatia's Adriatic coast, almost 50 percent more compared to the same period last year, the ride-hailing company said on Thursday in a statement.

"The fact that 94 percent of tourists already had Uber application is a clear indication that foreigners expect Uber to be available in our country and that they like to use it," general manager of Uber for Southeastern Europe Davor Tremac said in the statement.

"The results of this tourist season have once again confirmed the importance of the new Road Transport Act, which makes it easy for everyone to travel across the country," Tremac said.

In April, the Croatian government confirmed the new law that legalized Uber services in the country.

The majority of tourists who were using Uber came from Britain and the U.S. (14 percent), as well as Australia and France (5 percent).

The mostly traveled trips were those of less than five kilometers (84 percent), while the longest run was a 550 kilometers ride from the coastal city Pula to Osijek in eastern Croatia, the press release says.

Last summer the company launched the boat transfer service UberBOAT. This summer it was used several hundred times, most often on excursions to the islands close to Split, Dubrovnik, and Sibenik.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 03:18:56|Editor: yan

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VALLETTA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Maltese people were most likely to have come across hate speech when browsing the internet among EU nationals, a Eurobarometer survey on illegal online content has revealed.

In this survey, all respondents were asked what type of illegal content they came across. In most countries they said fraud, but in Malta and then other countries they said hate speech.

Of all the countries that said hate speech, Malta was the highest with 55 percent, followed by the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Some 40 percent of Maltese respondents also claimed to have come across counterfeit goods most often, while 12 percent claimed to have been accidentally exposed to terrorist material.

Among the survey's key general findings was the fact that some 65 percent of all respondents across the EU did not agree that the internet is safe for its users, with 90 percent agreeing that efforts should be made to halt its spread.

The survey also found that Maltese and Danish people were the most likely in the EU to be using social media with 63 percent, followed Sweden and Cyprus. People in Poland reported using social media the least, at 35 percent.

About 81 percent of Maltese felt that arrangements need to be in place to limit the spread of illegal content, behind Cyprus and Greece. Finnish people were the least likely to be concerned with illegal content at 46 percent.

According to Maltese law, hate speech is a threat or insult directed at a member of a recognized minority group.

Several internet users have over recent months been charged in court over threatening comments aimed at public figures on social media in Malta.
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of NiSource Inc. (NiSource or the Company) (NYSE: NI) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.



On September 13, 2018, dozens of gas explosions destroyed homes in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen. Andover's Fire Chief subsequently announced that investigators suspected over-pressurization of a gas main belonging to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a unit of NiSource. Following this news, NiSources stock price fell sharply during intraday trading on September 14, 2018. To obtain additional information, go to:

https://www.zlk.com/pslra-1/nisource-inc-loss-form

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 03:59:12|Editor: yan

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by Xinhua writers Xu Jing and Miao Zhuang

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A high-speed and precision 5-axis machinery center was placed at a prominent position in the exhibiting stand of Beijing Jingdiao Group Co. Ltd., with some visitors surrounding the machine tool and watching carefully.

This is the second time for the Beijing-based Chinese high-tech and innovative corporation to attend the International Manufacturing Technologies Show (IMTS) being held in Chicago during Sept. 10-15. The 5-axis machinery center on display represented the company's highest technical level.

Founded in 1994, Beijing Jingdiao focuses on research and production of high-speed and precision machining centers. Among its more than 5,000 employees, 800 are research and development (R&D) staff. It produces more than 12,000 high-speed machining centers of various specifications every year, with annual output value exceeding four billion yuan (about 584 million U.S. dollars).

The Chinese manufacturer mainly aimed at Southeast Asian markets when it kicked off exports in 2007. It opened a service center in the United States in July this year.

"We have lots of large customers in China, who have opened R&D centers here in the United States," David Fan, vice president of Beijing Jingdiao, told Xinhua. By opening this service center in the U.S. state of Illinois, Beijing Jingdiao can be close to them and assist them in the R&D of new products, he explained.

"We have just started on the U.S. market, and have only some sporadic customers," Fan said.

U.S. manufacturing technical level is another factor Beijing Jingdiao has taken a fancy to. Though there are only a few machine tool manufacturers in United States, the country still represents the world's highest manufacturing level.

"The biennial IMTS in Chicago is always putting on display the world's leading and the latest achievements of computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing industry," Fan said, adding that "there are a lot of things we need to learn."

"Price-performance ratio is our competitive edge," Fan said.

Pratic, a Chinese CNC R&D and manufacturer based in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, displayed an extra-long CNC machine in its exhibit stand.

Established in 2008, the Chinese manufacturer is ready for the world market after 10 years of development. "We have already established distributors in Germany, in Japan, in Australia, in India, and now we're into North America," Pratic international business director Chan Mokseng told Xinhua. "We are taking the opportunity with the IMTS to introduce our extra-long travel machine."

Chan is confident that his products can help customers, operators and manufacturers in the North American market be competitive, reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase output.

"At the same time they can find that the operation is so easy; maintenance is easy; setting up is easy and the machines are very user-friendly with low loading table," Chan said.

"We are very sure that with the experience of our existing customers and users, customers in North America will have the same experience," Chan added.

What made Chan happier is that the company's first customer in North American has come to the exhibit stand, promising that if the machine on displace is not sold during the exhibition, they will buy it as their second machine from Pratic.

Pratic does not sell machines only. "We provide solutions very often. We have customers who send us drawings, and we would come up with solutions. We will match the machine type, the spinner power and all the other configurations to make sure that the customers actually come up with the products for their clients that are competitive," Chan said.

"We pride ourselves not to be a machine seller only," Chan said. "We help customers grow their business, and we grow. This is the center of achievement that we have in the past 10 years."

Chan admitted that "having more savings on production cost, in fact, is the reason why the very first customer wants a second machine now."

Gaoyou Yongfa Machinery Co., Ltd. from east China's Jiangsu Province mainly produces small machine tools. The company was launched for exporting purpose solely, and this is the second time for it to attend the IMTS.

"We are here to consolidate existing customers and develop new customers," Zhu Enquan, general manager of Gaoyou Yongfa, told Xinhua, with the latest products of his company on display behind. Annual sales of the company stand around 150 million yuan.

The ongoing IMTS 2018 features 2,400 exhibitors, including more than 20 from China. In addition, there are nine conferences and two emerging technology centers. The biennial event offers practical solutions, machine deals on the floor and a look at the future of advanced manufacturing.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 04:04:13|Editor: yan

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ABUJA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new head of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement, Buhari described the new secret police chief as "a core secret service operative" and said the appointment takes effect from Friday.

"The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter-intelligence and protective operation and human resources management," the statement said.

Before his appointment, the new secret police chief served as head of various units of the secret police in Nigeria.

On Aug. 7, the Nigerian president fired Lawal Musa Daura, the former director-general of the DSS, after a siege on the parliament building by masked security operatives.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 04:24:21|Editor: Liangyu

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by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Through a series of mid-sized measures, the 100-day-old Italian government is starting to make major changes to the country's labor market, analysts told Xinhua.

Italy's labor market has historically been among the least flexible in the European Union, with relatively generous benefits and strict rules limiting a company's power to fire most workers.

In recent years, however, economists have argued that a lack of flexibility in labor markets made Italian companies less nimble, acting as a drag on economic growth.

Under the previous two governments -- led by Prime Ministers Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni, respectively, between 2014 and 2018 -- Italy worked to make labor markets more flexible. But the government of Giuseppe Conte, in power since June 1, has begun the process of reversing some of the new policies.

On the new government's agenda: weakening some of Article 18 of the labor code, which created incentives for companies to take on new workers in part by making it easier to fire them when needed; the so-called "dignity decree" that restricts the use of temporary workers' contracts and increases penalties for companies that unfairly dismiss workers; changes to the public pension system; and plans to establish a basic minimum income not connected to work for all Italians.

In the latest move, Luigi Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement, said the government would pass a law that will prohibit stores in large commercial centers from opening on Sundays. The 2019 government budget, due to be released next month, could include additional measures, analysts said.

"I agree that Italy's labor markets need reform, and I even agree with some of the steps the new government is taking," Tania Scacchetti, national secretary for the CGIL trade union, told Xinhua. "But these steps seem to be haphazard, made for political reasons and not as part of a comprehensive reform plan."

For example, Scacchetti said CGIL has been in favor of reducing store hours on Sundays as a way to give workers time off, to boost smaller stores that do not operate in commercial centers, and to increase consumer demand for products during the rest of the week.

"But a change like that cannot be effective on its own," she said. "It has to be in a context of stronger economic growth, tax reform, and it should be phased in."

Patrizia Tullini, a professor specializing in labor law at the University of Bologna, said it is essential these kinds of reforms strike a balance.

"The secret is equilibrium between the needs of workers, of commercial leaders, and of consumers," Tullini said in an interview. "But it's not wise to put pressure on job markets when unemployment is already too high, or on production when economic growth remains slow."

Tullini concluded: "The way debate takes place in Italy favors extreme solutions one way or the other when what is needed is a long-term strategy and an understanding of the way markets work. I can't help think that what is being done now includes too little thought about the impacts months or years later."
A still image taken from a video footage and released by RT international news channel on September 13, 2018, shows two Russian men with the same names, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, as those accused by Britain over the case of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, during an interview at an unidentified location, Russia. (RT/REUTERS)

MOSCOW, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two individuals claiming they were the suspects in the former Russian spy poisoning case appeared on television Thursday denying they were guilty.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said last week that the British police and intelligence agencies identified two Russian nationals they believe were responsible for a nerve agent attack against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March in the British city of Salisbury.

Pictures of the two individuals were widely published in the media.

The two men reached RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan by mobile phone to tell their story, Simonyan said in the footage of the interview.

The two confirmed their names, but said that they did not work for Russia's secret services and denied any involvement in the poisoning incident.

They said they were involved in the fitness business and visited Britain as tourists wishing to do some sightseeing in Salisbury.

The two said they hoped the British police would find the guilty and present apologies.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a plenary session of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum in the city of Vladivostok that the two suspects had been found and identified.

He said that he hoped the two civilian men, who had nothing to do with the poisoning, would explain everything to the media.

The poisoning case triggered a diplomatic row, in which Russia and some Western countries expelled a large number of each other's diplomats.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 07:14:59|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of explosions and fires hit across three communities north of Boston, the U.S. state of Massachusetts, on Thursday, prompting numerous evacuations of neighborhoods, state police said.

No injuries were immediately reported.

The Massachusetts state police said on Twitter that 39 explosions and fires were confirmed so far, adding that the number will grow.

It was too early to speculate about a cause, the police said.

Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon told media there were so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

He estimated that 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence, about 30 miles north of Boston.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 08:15:07|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of suspected gas explosions and fires hit across three communities north of Boston, the U.S. state of Massachusetts, on Thursday, prompting numerous evacuations of neighborhoods, state police said.

At least four people were injured in the blaze, according to a local hospital.

Massachusetts State Police said they were currently responding to 70 fires, explosions, investigations of gas odor.

The fires and explosions "spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence," it said via Twitter.

It was too early to speculate on a cause, the police said, ordering the evacuations of all residents in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who have Columbia Gas.

The police said the power company will shut off power to all of the three communities.

The large scale fire erupted after the pressurized subterranean gas lines reportedly burst, local media said.

Lawrence General Hospital said in a statement that it had treated four fire-related victims and was prepared to treat more after activating its emergency management plan.

Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon told media there were so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

He estimated that 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence, about 30 miles north of Boston.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 09:04:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Photo taken on Sept. 10, 2018 shows a United Nations Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for more efforts from member states to fight corruption. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 10:05:26|Editor: Liangyu

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Jerry Brown said Thursday that California will continue to work with China in reducing carbon emissions as China is directly involved in developing carbon trading systems and building regulations in addressing climate change.

Speaking at a press conference at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that opened in downtown San Francisco, Brown said California will continue its partnership with China and place much hope on China in the fight against climate change.

"China is promoting zero emission vehicles in a very, very important way and it is the biggest market" of electric cars in the world, he said.

"As the biggest market, China keeps ratcheting up requirements for electric cars and hydrogen cars. The American auto industry ought to do that," he added.

While the Trump administration has pulled the United States out of the hard-fought Paris accord, Brown has been known for his commitment to advancing cooperation between California and China on climate change. On Wednesday he attended the China Pavilion, an affiliate event held on the sidelines of the 2018 GCAS.

He said that California would like to develop zero-emission cars and "wants at least 5 million electric cars."

China currently has about 1.5 million electric cars running on the streets, Brown added.

At Thursday's press conference, Brown said the U.S. Congress has appropriated about 700 billion U.S. dollars in defense budget for the U.S. military, and the worldwide spending weapons could be in trillions.

If a small proportion of that money is converted, "we could generate funds to invest in places that lack capital to do what's needed," Brown said.

The 2018 GCAS gathers more than 4,500 representatives from states, regions, cities, businesses as well as investors for discussions on policy and measures to bring down emissions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 10:55:40|Editor: Liangyu

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San Francisco, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs Xie Zhenhua on Thursday reaffirmed the Chinese central government's commitment to supporting the local governments in developing the green economy and reducing carbon emissions.

Speaking at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that opened in San Francisco Thursday, Xie said China appreciates the efforts of California and its Governor Jerry Brown in advancing the cooperation between the U.S. and China to jointly address the climate change challenges.

Xie spoke highly of the contributions of local governments, enterprises, research institutions and public organizations to the fight against climate change.

He called for support for the initiative of Global Action on Climate Change sponsored by Chinese non-profit organizations.

Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angles, one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, echoed Xie's remarks at a panel discussion on cooperation between U.S. and Chinese local governments and cities in promoting low carbon economy.

Delivering a keynote speech at the event, which is part of the three-day China Pavilion held on the sidelines of the 2018 GCAS, Garcetti said Los Angles has always been looking to China as a partner in building green and sustainable economy.

Los Angeles hosted the first U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit in 2015, when U.S. and Chinese big cities came together to work for emission reduction.

"It was there Beijing and Guangzhou set their cap emissions by 2020 instead of 2030," Garcetti said.

Kate Meis, executive director of California's Local Government Commission, a non-profit organization founded in 1980, said the leadership of mass campaigns often starts at the local level.

"Many of California's ambitious state goals started in cities first. The city of Los Angeles went 100 percent renewables, smaller cities like Lancaster and Santa Monica went renewable before the state," she said.

"Often we see that cities will be really innovative and at the forefront that gives political backing to the state and the state can pass legislation and executive order. That will take the leadership to scale," she said.

She noted that the important role local governments can play is to run the pilots and innovate them.

A representative from Shenzhen, a pioneer city in southern China, shared the city's experience in developing its low carbon economy. The city has more than 30,000 energy-efficient cars and 16,000 electric buses in public transportation, making it a world leader in terms of electric vehicles.

The panel discussions on Thursday, attended by officials from both U.S. and Chinese cities and social organizations, were devoted to the theme of Chinese Provinces and Cities in action: pathways to low-carbon development.

The U.S. and China have focused their collaboration on vehicles and buildings that could be globally transformative, which enable cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions in both countries. They are also working on cutting the cost of zero-emissions technologies for lower-income countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 12:40:58|Editor: zh

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The recently held 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation helps usher in a new stage of the South-South cooperation, an Ethiopian scholar said on Thursday.

"South-South Cooperation between China and Africa is resolute to move forward to an even stronger community in the 21st century" with the help of the outcomes of the recently held FOCAC summit, Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), told Xinhua on Thursday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping revealed during the FOCAC Summit, which had its latest summit in Beijing earlier last week, that China will implement eight major initiatives with African countries in the next three years and beyond, covering fields such as industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges and peace and security.

Noting the friendship between China and Africa has been "persistently built on the shared destiny that can be traced to the common past and mutual support during their struggle for political independence," Costantinos further advised that the South-South cooperation be built on the basis of the outcomes of the FOCAC summit as well as the major global modalities, mainly the UN and African Union (AU) platforms.

"China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty; and the Chinese leadership needs to advance the cooperation with Africa within the coordinated and transparent framework of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and individual countries' development plans," he said.

"China-Africa partnership in structural transformation is an important input in production and there is a close link between infrastructure, economic growth and consumption," he added.

He also noted that FOCAC, from its inception, has been "serving as the key platform for the collective dialogue and cooperation between the two sides."

According to the expert, the Chinese-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could be a major platform in transforming the South-South cooperation and beyond.

The BRI "coming from the China, a developing nation in its own right ..., is a welcome opportunity for Africa to emulate China's development," he said.

"China' investment in African infrastructure and services are creating new jobs, opportunities, and opening up new trading routes to boost bilateral trade further, which has averaged annual growth of around 30 percent since 2008," the expert said.

Costantinos, also professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, stressed that the eight major initiatives from the summit, if well implemented, would further bring a "win-win cooperation and reciprocal benefits for both parties (Africa and China)."

The initiatives targets in human security and capacity development were also praised by the expert as vital in order to uplift the China-Africa partnership, eventually contributing to Africa's overall development.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starcore International Mines Ltd. (TSX :SAM) (the Company or Starcore) has filed the results for the first quarter ended July 31, 2018 for the Company and its mining operations in Queretaro, Mexico and toll processing operations in Matehuala, Mexico. The full version of the Company's Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.starcore.com , or SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.



This quarter we have seen the results of our mine development efforts returning to positive earnings from mining operations, reported Robert Eadie, President of the Company. We will continue to improve our operating income by improving grade and being vigilant on controlling costs.

Financial Highlights for the three-month period ended July 31, 2018 (unaudited):

Cash and short-term investments on hand is $3.2 million at July 31, 2018;

Gold and silver sales of $10.6 million;

Loss of $0.4 million, or $(0.00) per share;

EBITDA(1) of $749;

The following table contains selected highlights from the Companys unaudited consolidated statement of operations for the quarters ended July 31, 2018 and 2017:

(in thousands of Canadian dollars)

(unaudited) Quarter ended

July 31, 2018 2017 Revenues $ 10,623 $ 8,095 Cost of Sales (9,950 ) (8,474 ) Earnings (loss) from mining and toll processing operations 673 (379



) Administrative Expenses, interest and foreign exchange (1,065



) (600



) Income tax recovery 11 685 Net income $ (381 ) $ (294 ) (i) Income (loss) per share  basic $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) (ii) Income (loss) per share  diluted $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 )





Reconciliation of Net income to EBITDA(1) For the three months ended July 31, 2018

2017 Net Loss $ (381 ) $ (294 ) Income tax recovery (11 ) (685 ) Interest 88 26 Depreciation and depletion 1,053 1,396 EBITDA $ 749 $ 443 EBITDA MARGIN(2) 7.0 % 5.5 %





(1) EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is a non-GAAP financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another Corporation. The Corporation uses this non-GAAP measure which can also be helpful to investors as it provides a result which can be compared with the Corporations market share price. (2) EBITDA MARGIN is a measurement of a companys operating profitability calculated as EBITDA divided by total revenue. EBITDA MARGIN is a non-GAAP financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another Corporation. The Corporation uses this non-GAAP measure which can also be helpful to investors as it provides a result which can be compared with the Corporations market share price.



Production Highlights for the three month period ended July 31, 2018:

Equivalent gold production of 4,268 ounces;

Mine operating cash cost of US$997/EqOz;

All-in sustaining costs of US$1,215/EqOz;

The following table is a summary of mine production statistics for the San Martin mine for the periods ended July 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the previous year ended April 30, 2018:

Actual Results for Unit of measure 3 months ended

July 31, 2018 3 months ended

July 31, 2017 12 months ended

April 30, 2018 Mine Production of Gold in Dore thousand ounces 3.3 3.7 11.9 Mine Production of Silver in Dore thousand ounces 72.7 15.2 102.1 Gold equivalent ounces thousand ounces 4.3 3.9 13.2 Silver to Gold equivalency ratio 78.5 74.9 78.2 Mine Gold grade grams/tonne 1.53 1.97 1.62 Mine Silver grade grams/tonne 49.0 12.6 21.3 Mine Gold recovery percent 88.1% 85.0% 84.5% Mine Silver recovery percent 59.6% 51.2% 55.2% Milled thousands of tonnes 77.4 69.8 269.6 Mine operating cash cost per tonne milled US dollars 55 59 61 Mine operating cash cost per equivalent ounce US dollars 997 1,052 1,237

About Starcore

Starcore International Mines is engaged in precious metals production with focus and experience in Mexico. This base of producing assets is complemented by exploration and development projects throughout North America. The company is a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility and advocates value driven decisions that will increase long term shareholder value. You can find more information on the investor friendly website here: www.starcore.com .

ON BEHALF OF STARCORE INTERNATIONAL

MINES LTD.

Signed Gary Arca

Gary Arca, Chief Financial Officer and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

GARY ARCA EVAN EADIE Telephone: (604) 602-4935 Investor Relations Facsimile: 1-604-602-4936 Telephone: (604) 602-4935 x 230 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935





The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility

for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 12:51:00|Editor: Yamei

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HAVANA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among the Cuban population continue to climb every year, according to the Cuban Nephrology Society (SCN) on Thursday.

"We have seen an increase of patients with CKD in the primary health care service, in the number of dialysis patients and patients needing kidney transplants," said Dr. Jorge Francisco Perez-Oliva Diaz, president of the SCN.

The doctor said that the prevalence of patients needing kidney dialysis in 2002 was 120 persons per million inhabitants.

However, an average annual growth rate of 4 percent has pulled this number up to 295 persons per million inhabitants, according to the Cuban daily Granma.

"Demographic and epidemiological transformations in the 21st century have led to a huge increase in the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD), including the CKD," he said.

He added that diabetes and pulmonary arterial hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, are the leading causes of 70 percent to 80 percent of CKD cases.

Obesity, smoking, dyslipidemia and other cardiovascular diseases are other major causes, he said.

Cuba's aging population is also likely to contribute to the rise of the country's CKD rates, where more than 20 percent of the population is aged over 60.

According to U.S. health organization the National Kidney Foundation, between 8 percent and 10 percent of the global population have health problems connected to the CKD.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 12:51:00|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has tentatively agreed to a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, according to media reports on Thursday.

The deal is expected to be announced Friday in federal court in Washington D.C., ahead of his second trial scheduled to begin later this month, said an ABC report, quoting sources familiar with the negotiation.

However, it remains unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors or is simply conceding to a guilty plea, which would allow him to avoid the upcoming trial, according to the report.

A CNN report said though a deal was expected, its sources warned that the two sides have been close before.

Last month, Manafort was found guilty on eight out of 18 criminal charges of bank and tax fraud at the federal court in northern Virginia.

Five of the guilty verdicts were for filing false tax documents, and the other three involved foreign bank account registration and bank fraud.

These charges largely stem from Manafort's time working for a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine before the 2016 U.S. elections. However, the first trial did not specifically address any alleged collusion between Trump associates or officials and the Russian government.

A 69-year-old veteran lobbyist, Manafort joined Trump's campaign team in March 2016 and spent three months as Trump's campaign chairman until mid August 2016. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Mueller probe, saying it is a "rigged witch hunt."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 12:56:01|Editor: Yamei

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MINSK, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian-Chinese car maker BelGee said Thursday that it is considering increasing its capacity and expanding into new markets in Eastern Europe and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The company's Acting Director General Gennady Svidersky said that the joint venture expects to export one third of its output to the markets of neighboring countries such as Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia by 2020. Negotiations have been held with Moldova and Kazakhstan, too.

The company has produced about 5,000 cars since the beginning of the year. About 3,000 were sold in Russia and 1,800 in Belarus.

Svidersky said the company intends to expand its production capacity to 1,400 cars per month by the end of this year in view of the strong demand.

At present, BelGee makes about 1,000 cars per month.

Svidersky said BelGee's localization of production has reached 50 percent. Power units, radiators and seats have already been produced in new factories built near BelGee. Tires are supplied by Belarusian tire producer Belshina and batteries by Belarusian and Russian producers.

BelGee is the result of cooperation between Chinese and Belarusian firms led by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and dump-truck manufacturer BelAZ. The idea was floated in December 2011. Construction on a 118-hectare factory between Borisov and the industrial city of Zhodino began in March 2015. The plant is designed to make 60,000 cars a year when fully operational.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 12:56:01|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and Cuban officials met in Washington on Thursday to discuss the "acoustic attacks," said the U.S. State Department.

U.S. medical experts attended the meeting with visiting Cuban officials at the State Department to discuss "some of the medical issues" that the U.S. diplomats have allegedly experienced, said the department spokesperson Heather Nauert at a daily briefing.

Nauert refused to provide any details about the meeting.

"We still don't know the cause, we still don't know what or who is responsible for health attacks that took place that affected our personnel in Cuba," she said.

Washington has claimed earlier that at least 25 U.S. diplomats working in the U.S. Embassy in Havana had been affected by the alleged "acoustic attacks" starting from November 2016. The incidents led to the partial closure of the U.S. embassy in Havana and an expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats who worked at the embassy in Washington.

Cuba, rejecting the accusation from the beginning, has initiated an investigation and urged the United States to present evidence of the alleged attacks.

A senior Cuban official on Tuesday called the U.S. allegations as fabricated. The official told state daily Granma that Cuban and American experts investigating the matter support what authorities in Havana have said from the beginning: the attacks never happened.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 13:41:07|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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KABUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 Taliban militants have been killed when Afghan Air Force launched air strikes against Taliban positions in restive Ghazni province, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Friday.

"The airstrikes were conducted after intelligence tips confirmed militants' presence in the targeted hideout in Muqur district late Thursday," the ministry said in a statement.

One militants' vehicle and two 82 mm recoilless guns were also destroyed after the raid.

In early August, Taliban overran the provincial capital Ghazni city and scores of civilians, security force and militants were killed or injured during the five days of clashes.

Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as the country is preparing for parliamentary and district council elections slated for Oct. 20.

The militant group has yet to make comments on the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 14:01:12|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Explosions triggered by natural gas leaks hit three towns near Boston on Thursday evening, killing at least one person and injuring more than 10 others, local police and hospital officials said.

Leonel Rondon, aged 18, was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital about 8:30 p.m. local time (0030 GMT on Friday), the Essex District Attorney's Office said.

Local media said he was killed when a chimney from a house explosion fell onto a car he was sitting in.

Lawrence General Hospital said on Twitter that at this hour, the hospital has received 13 patients as a result of the gas fires, adding that one patient in critical condition was transported to a Boston trauma center.

"Injuries range from minor to smoke inhalation and blast trauma," the hospital added. Lawrence is about 30 miles (48 kms) north of Boston.

In Andover, town officials said in a statement that at least one firefighter and two civilians have been injured and then treated in hospital.

It is unclear whether the dead and those wounded in Andover are part of the victims receiving treatment at Lawrence General Hospital.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 14:46:20|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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AYBAK, Afghanistan, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- About eight police personnel were killed and 18 others wounded after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Afghanistan's northern province of Samangan Thursday night, a local official said Friday.

"The clashes erupted when scores of militants stormed Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoints with guns and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), in Daykundi village of Dara-i-Suf district at midnight, triggering heavy clashes lasting for hours," Makhdom Sahidzada, deputy district chief, told Xinhua.

The government established the ALP, or community police, in 2010 to protect villages and districts around the country where army and police have limited presence.

The injured were shifted to a hospital in the district, located in southwestern part of provincial capital.

Without providing details, the official noted that several militants were also killed and injured after the clashes.

The district has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban and security forces recently and the fighting and insecurity in Dara-i-Suf has displaced scores of villagers.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 15:11:26|Editor: mmm

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People transfer an injured person to a hospital in India-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 14, 2018. At least 15 people were killed and 19 others injured on Friday after a mini-bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Xinhua/Stringer)

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and 19 others injured on Friday after a mini-bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The accident took place near Thakrie in Kishtwar district, about 217 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"We have retrieved 15 bodies from the spot and removed 19 people to the hospital in injured condition," deputy police commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told Xinhua.

"Teams of police and disaster response force personnel are on spot."

According to police, the mini-bus was carrying local passengers on an intra-district route.

Reports said no sooner the news about accident spread, locals as well as police officials rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work.

Police officials said the mini-bus was crowded with passengers at the time of mishap.

The cause of accident was not immediately known, officials said.

"A case has been registered in this regard and investigations ordered to ascertain the cause of accident," Rana said.

Deadly road accidents are common in India often due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 15:31:30|Editor: xuxin

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Yu Jianhua (1st, L in back), head of the Chinese Mission to the UN office at Geneva, speaks on the sidelines of the UN session, which was titled "The Eradication of Poverty and the Promotion, Protection and Fulfillment of All Human Rights, Including the Right to Development" in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept. 13, 2018. Senior diplomats from several countries on Thursday stressed the importance of poverty reduction in protection and promotion of human rights in Geneva during the 39th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

GENEVA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Senior diplomats from several countries on Thursday stressed the importance of poverty reduction in protection and promotion of human rights in Geneva during the 39th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

They voiced their opinions on the sidelines of the UN session, which was titled "The Eradication of Poverty and the Promotion, Protection and Fulfillment of All Human Rights, Including the Right to Development."

Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN office at Geneva, said that ending poverty is the primary goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and an important way to promote and protect human rights.

"Nearly 800 million people globally are still struggling in poverty, and in Africa this number is 400 million," he said, adding that poverty, along with the diseases and social conflicts it breeds, pose grave challenges to human rights protection in developing countries.

According to Yu, in the past five years alone, more than 68 million people have grown out of poverty in China, accounting for over 70 percent of the world's total and making China one of the first to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty.

"China has seen continued progress in early-age care, education, employment, medical and old-age care, housing, and social care for the vulnerable, creating yet another miracle in the course of global human rights development," he said.

Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, permanent representative of South Africa to the UN office at Geneva, said that as former South African president Nelson Mandela had said, overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, "it is an act of justice, it is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and the right to a decent life."

"The beautiful thing about working with our colleagues from China is that they understand our narratives, and the articulation of agreements that carry important things for developing countries," she said.

"Let's not forget, freedom from poverty is a Human Right too," said Farukh Amil, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN office in Geneva.

"We believe that we can build an inclusive society free of hunger and poverty by ensuring 'human dignity' which requires human development," he said.

"Balanced development of all human rights including right to development is important. However, poverty alleviation must be given prime importance due to its direct impact on the realization of all other human rights," he stressed.

Pedro L. Pedroso Cuesta, permanent representative of Cuba to the UN office at Geneva, said that without achievements of the sustainable development goals, particularly in the eradication of poverty, economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights will not be able to be fully implemented.

Some 80 diplomats from more than 30 countries, including Russia, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Nigeria, Algeria, Venezuela and Argentina, as well as representatives of relevant international organizations, participated in the event, which was co-sponsored by China and South Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 15:41:34|Editor: xuxin

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South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon (L) shakes hands with Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), after signing an agreement in DPRK's border town of Kaesong, Sept. 14, 2018. South Korea and the DPRK have opened a joint liaison office Friday for round-the-clock communications between the two sides. (Xinhua/Joint Press Corps)

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have opened a joint liaison office Friday for round-the-clock communications between the two sides.

The opening ceremony was held at about 10:50 a.m. local time (0150 GMT) outside the liaison office building in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, according to a pool report from South Korean reporters.

About 50 government officials and experts from the two sides attended the ceremony, including officials in charge of inter-Korean affairs and experts on the Korean Peninsula affairs.

The office was a follow-up measure on the agreement reached by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit on April 27 at the border village of Panmunjom.

The two leaders agreed to hold their third summit in the DPRK's capital Pyongyang for three days from Sept. 18.

"(The joint liaison office) is a symbol of peace created by both the South and the North," South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said in a congratulatory speech.

Cho said the office will become a round-the-clock communications channel between the two Koreas under a new era of peace.

"It is more meaningful to launch the joint liaison office ahead of the historic summit meeting in Pyongyang between the leaders of the North and the South," said Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) of the DPRK in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

Cho and Ri signed an agreement on how to run the joint liaison office at a meeting room on the third floor of the four-story building. South Korean and DPRK officials would use the second and fourth floors each of the building.

South Korea will station some 20 officials in the office, while the DPRK will deploy a similar number of officials there.

South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung will serve as a co-chief of the office, together with Jon Jong Su, vice chairman of CPRF of the DPRK. The co-chiefs will visit the joint liaison office once a week for a regular meeting.

In the office, the two sides were expected to discuss issues on inter-Korean cooperation, including ways to modernize and connect roads and railways of the two Koreas, in accordance with a progress in talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In addition to it, South Korea and the DPRK would discuss various peninsula issues through the liaison office channel as it is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

"(The joint liaison office) is an inter-Korean channel that opens 24 hours a day and 365 days a year," Moon Chung-in, special advisor to the South Korean president for unification, foreign affairs and national security, told a press conference with foreign correspondents here Thursday.

The special advisor called the office a "very positive change and development" in inter-Korean relations as South Korea can directly approach the DPRK at any time.

Kim Eui-keum, spokesman for the South Korean presidential Blue House, told reporters earlier in the day that it will become a strong bridge linking the two Koreas under the still uncertain situations on the peninsula.

The spokesman said the picture of the officials from South Korea and the DPRK harmoniously staying in the same office was anticipated to spread to the entire peninsula.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enthusiasm has returned to the legal cannabis space in Canada and PUF Ventures Inc. (CSE: PUF) (OTC: PUFXF), a late stage ACMPR license candidate, appears to be in perfect position to take advantage of the publics renewed interest. PUF has a proven track record of creating shareholder value through the pursuance of niche market opportunities, and in burgeoning sectors, such as the legal cannabis industry, niche market opportunities remain both innumerous and profitable. The rekindled enthusiasm in the space will begin to drive these niche markets, especially as the effective date of legalization (October 17, 2018) draws nearer, and PUF will be one of the few organizations already engaged in the unique and untapped market opportunities that currently exist.



Causes for Enthusiasm

Several events have signalled the return of enthusiasm to the legal cannabis market in Canada. Investors have been once again rallying behind the most popular companies in the space, causing the price of the Canadian Marijuana Index to increase nearly 100% in the last month. Continued regulatory reform has also increased confidence in the industry as Health Canada has made significant strides in the last two months, loosening the restrictions on hemp plant use. Finally, the Canadian cannabis market is starting to receive substantial investment from powerful international entities. Constellation Brands, probably best known in Canada for producing Corona, recently decided to invest an additional $5 billion into cannabis bellwether, Canopy Growth Corp. When Fortune 500 companies such as Constellation begin pouring billions of dollars into a burgeoning market, you can be certain that there is both spirited interest and immeasurable potential.

Identification of Emerging Trends and Track Record of Value Creation for Shareholders

The team at PUF Ventures has proven time and time again that they are exceptionally skilled at identifying emerging trends and harnessing them in a manner that creates considerable value for their shareholders. Late last year, PUF initiated a spin-out of its wholly owned subsidiary Cannvas Medtech, a leading business technology company within the health sciences space, and provided PUF shareholders with one MTEC share for every seven shares of PUF that they already owned. MTEC is now publicly traded as a stand-alone company and, as of the date of this release, possesses a market cap of more than $14 million and a share price of $0.38.

PUF has also expanded their pursuance of niche and emerging trends to markets outside of Canada. In 2017, PUF purchased a sizeable ownership stake in Solaris Nutraceuticals Pty. Ltd. Solaris Nutraceuticals is building a 1.2 million square foot greenhouse operation on a 27-hectare parcel of land near the town of Casino in northern New South Wales, Australia. When complete, the greenhouse will be one of the most technically advanced and environmentally sustainable medical cannabis operations in the world. It will include large-scale greenhouse, manufacturing, processing and office facilities for the cultivation, production and manufacture of medical cannabis and associated products in Australia. The first phase of the project will cover approximately 300,000 square feet, making it the largest medical cannabis greenhouse in Australia.

In recent months, PUF has also initiated another spin-out with its subsidiary Natures Hemp, a biotechnology and consumer products company focused on unlocking the true value of hemp for both B2B and B2C markets. The Natures Hemp spin-out will provide PUF shareholders with one share of Natures Hemp for every 3.3665 shares of PUF owned as of June 18th, 2018.

Looking Ahead - Potential Cultivation Expansion

This past summer PUF secured a highly enviable potential expansion opportunity for large scale cannabis cultivation. PUF solidified a deal, via a 50/50 joint venture, granting them an exclusive 15-year license to a state of the art 2.2 million square foot greenhouse facility in Delta, BC. Further to the securement of this facility license, PUF also engaged industry consultants, Cannabis Compliance Inc., to aid them in preparing for the necessary regulatory-driven upgrades that the facility will need to undergo in order for large scale industrial cannabis cultivation to begin. This is a crucial component of the new endeavour as it means that PUF is well prepared to begin operations if, and when, they are awarded an ACMPR license.

This expansion potential grants PUF near term access to a facility that would otherwise take years and upwards of $100 million to build. In a market that is rapidly growing and evolving, this mechanism for cultivation expansion could indeed prove fruitful.

It is clear that PUF is in prime position to take advantage of the publics renewed enthusiasm in the cannabis space. They are continually seeking out new niche market opportunities and, while doing so, consistently creating value for their shareholders.

About PUF Ventures



PUF Ventures Inc. is a growth oriented and diversified company focused on the international cannabis industry. It has ownership in several cannabis companies: AAA Heidelberg, Solaris Nutraceuticals Pty Ltd., and Natures Hemp Corp., and is actively pursuing other opportunities within the industry. PUF has an option to purchase 100% of AAA Heidelberg Inc., a private Ontario company and advanced applicant for an ACMPR license. Solaris Nutraceuticals is building the largest medical cannabis greenhouse in the Southern Hemisphere. For more information please visit: www.puf.ca.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Derek Ivany, President & CEO

For additional information:

PUF Ventures Inc.

E: ir@puf.ca

T: (800) 783-6056



No stock exchange or securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Issuer's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Issuer or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Global Objective Marketing

Do you want the same kind of exposure that PUF Ventures Inc. is receiving here? Contact Global Objective Marketing and we will produce professionally written press release content for your business and distribute it to any market that you wish to reach. For more information, please visit https://www.globalobjectivemarketing.com/.

This piece was written and distributed by Global Objective Marketing (GOM). All of the information contained within was produced using publicly available information and any opinions about individuals, companies or industries expressed within this release belong solely to GOM. The opinions expressed by GOM should not be considered as complete, accurate, or current investment advice. Any investment decisions made by readers are theirs and theirs alone. To ensure that you are making investment decisions that serve your own best interests, we recommend that you utilize the services of a professional financial planner or advisor. In order to comply with Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities Act, GOM discloses that it was paid a sum of two thousand dollars CAD to write this content for PUF Ventures.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 16:06:41|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), will lead a CPC delegation to pay official good-will visits to Belarus, Laos and Vietnam from Sept. 20 to 29.

The announcement was made Friday by a spokesperson of the CPC Central Committee's International Department in Beijing.

Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was invited by the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam, said the spokesperson in a press release.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 16:16:43|Editor: Li Xia

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HOHHOT, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Bolger, a 40-year-old entrepreneur of the Mongolia ethnic group, jumped onto a truck and counted the number of Mongolian yurt parts that would be sent to Shanghai.

In his 100-square-meter yard are various styles and sizes of Mongolian yurts, each with an informational pannel out front.

"This is one of the most traditional Mongolian yurts. Instead of using steel nails, it is made out of wood and ropes. The one next to it is a modern one, which is easier to make by using steel and concrete," he said.

Bolger came to Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner in the city of Baotou, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 10 years ago when tourism on the grassland had just begun.

At first, he played head-horse fiddles, a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument, at scenic spots to earn money. However, with more and more tourists coming, he realized that there was a lack of Mongolian yurts to accommodate the influx of visitors.

In 2014, he decided to open a Mongolian yurt factory. "We make the yurts ourselves at home. When I was little, I helped my parents when they added the felt covers to the yurts," he said. "I still remember those techniques, so I started to make yurts myself. I also went back to my hometown to learn more. My parents came and joined me as well."

In the beginning, they made yurts the traditional way, but it took half a month to make one, which was far from meeting the market's need. "A yurt's size was also restricted by the length of the wood," he said.

In 2016, Bolger turned to modern Mongolian yurt designers for help and changed the building materials and methods. He started to make yurts with steel and concrete, added windows and laid floors to make yurts as comfortable as hotel rooms.

"In the past, few yurts had bathrooms, but recently, we are designing yurts with bathrooms," he said.

Bolger sells over 40 yurts a summer and receives more than 100 orders every year from other provinces and cities in China as well as countries such as Mongolia and Japan.

"Last year, customers from Mongolia and Japan started to order yurts at my factory. Some young people from Mongolia even came to learn the technique," he said.

Now, Bolger not only uses yurt-making as a way to earn money but more importantly, a way to pass on the tradition and culture of the Mongolia ethnic group.

"The traditional yurt came into being under nomadic life, so it needed to be easy to disassemble and carry," he said. "But today, people's requirements have changed, as they want the structure to be more firm and comfortable and go with modern life. That's why we decided to make modern-style yurts, and I believe it is also one way to inherit the yurt-making technique and pass on traditional culture."

Bolger is also working with students from the College of Ethnic Arts, Inner Mongolia Normal University to re-design some daily articles in Mongolians' nomadic life and make them more suitable for today's modern life. "I want to bring those old household items back to the grassland again," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 16:41:51|Editor: Li Xia

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NANNING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- In a few years, former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Somsavat Lengsavad envisions that people from the landlocked country at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula will be able to travel to China by high-speed train.

As of July, over a third of the 414-km-long high-speed rail linking the two countries has been built. It is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2021.

"The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is changing the geographic status of Laos and boosting infrastructural construction along the railway," Somsavat said at the ongoing China-ASEAN Expo in the south Chinese city of Nanning.

Like Laos, member states of the regional bloc -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- have benefited over the past years from cooperation projects within the framework of the China-proposed BRI.

In Brunei, partnering with local network providers, Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has helped build the country's first 3G and 4G mobile networks, providing services to more than 400,000 locals.

In Cambodia, China Datang Corporation has invested and built a hydropower plant and a 230-kV power transmission project.

"As Cambodia develops, we have a surging need for power consumption," Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at a roundtable discussion with Chinese executives. "We appreciate the contributions Chinese companies such as Datang have made to the development of our country's power grid."

Seeing a synergy between the BRI and development plans of the region, Southeast Asian countries have welcomed China's contribution toward furthering ASEAN connectivity and integration through various transport and infrastructure projects.

"The enhanced cooperation between ASEAN and China under the BRI has not only benefited people's wellbeing in the region but also elevates the global status of ASEAN," said Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

Noting the natural link between the BRI and the Philippines' Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, Arroyo said the Southeast Asian country is eager to strengthen cooperation with China in technology, talent exchange and construction projects.

"China has always put cooperation with ASEAN high on its diplomatic agenda," said Zhai Kun, a professor of international relations at Peking University. "The BRI is conducive to elevating ASEAN to the central role in regional cooperation."

The magnetic effect of the BRI has also attracted countries outside the region to seek cooperative opportunities with China and member states of ASEAN.

Businesses from 19 countries along the Belt and Road, including Germany, Australia and Tanzania, have set up booths and showcased their products at this year's expo.

"It is a great honor for Tanzania to join the expo as a special partner," said Seif Ali Iddi, second vice president of Zanzibar, Tanzania, noting the huge potential of investing in his country.

"We hope enterprises from China and ASEAN can invest in Tanzania and jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," Iddi said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 16:46:52|Editor: xuxin

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Threatened by an aggressive wildfire, authorities of the U.S. state of Utah on Thursday issued a mandatory evacuation order for three communities with more than 5,000 residents.

The fire, dubbed "Pole Creek Fire," was caused by lightning on Sept. 6 inside the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and bolstered by recent high wind, scorching to 20,000 acres (80.9 square kilometers) Thursday evening from 400 acres (1.6 square kilometers) on Wednesday.

According to the press release from the local government, more than 200 crews were assigned to fight the fire, which was reported to converge with another 5000-acre (20.2 square kilometers) wildfire, but high winds hindered fire officials from using air resources like helicopters and planes to fight the blaze.

The Utah Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox tweeted on his official page Thursday, calling the wildfire situation "a true emergency" for people living in the area and asking them "Please heed all evacuation warnings. Do not take any chances."

Cox also criticized the U.S. Forest Service's response to the fires on Twitter, saying officials made an "inept" decision by managing the fire and letting them burn "during one of the worst droughts in recent history," instead of trying to suppress them.

A press release from fire officials earlier this week said they planned to "confine and contain" the fire and let it burn through heavy vegetation in the area so as to "minimize risk to firefighters" and "enhance wildlife habitat."

Besides of evacuations, several major roadways in the area were forced to close Thursday night, including parts of U.S. Highway 89 and U.S. Highway 6.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 16:56:55|Editor: xuxin

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SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday that his country will keep peace through strength as its security strategy amid the thawing ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Moon made the remarks at the launching ceremony for the country's first homegrown 3,000-ton submarine, named Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, a prominent South Korean independent fighter during the 1910-45 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

"Peace through strength is a security strategy our government unswervingly pushes for," Moon said at the ceremony to commission the diesel-electric air-independent propulsion submarine that is 83.3 meters long and 9.6 meters wide.

Moon said the road to peace will not be blocked only when strong military and defense capability go together.

The ceremony was held at the Okpo shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, a local shipbuilder which designed and built the submarine, in the country's southern island of Geoje.

The submarine, which is a part of the Navy's project to indigenously build 3,000-ton submarines, is capable of carrying 50 crew members and operating underwater for up to 20 days without surfacing. It is equipped with six vertical launching tubes that can fire submarine-to-ground ballistic missiles.

Moon said peace can never be earned by itself, but made and protected by people of the country, noting that his country launched and was creating a new path to the denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

President Moon was scheduled to visit Pyongyang for three days from Sept. 18 for his third summit with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

Moon said he would focus on issues on the denuclearization and the eased military tensions in border areas during his summit with the DPRK leader.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 17:27:00|Editor: xuxin

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WUHAN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have developed high-precision temporal gravity field solutions to monitor groundwater.

Researchers from the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have independently developed the software with gravity field inversion and satellite gravity applications.

The software is secured by intellectual property rights.

The satellite gravity survey, having broad applications in hydrology and climate change studies, such as groundwater monitoring, is used to measure the Earth's gravity field and its changes.

The survey is conducted by two satellites more than 400 km above the Earth's surface, with the satellites being over 200 km apart.

Due to gravity field changes caused by the Earth's surface, mass transport and redistribution, the distance between the two gravity satellites changes.

By measuring distance changes between the two gravity satellites, researchers can estimate the Earth's gravity field changes and surface mass variations.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 17:27:00|Editor: xuxin

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- One hundred people killed, 143 injured and 1,964 families were affected in different parts of the country due to the monsoon-induced disasters in recent months, Nepali Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa said on Thursday.

At a parliament session in the capital, the home minister said that the government conducted rescue and relief operations as well as rehabilitation of affected people by mobilizing local government officials and security agencies following 1,584 monsoon-triggered disasters in the country.

"One hundred people killed, 143 injured and 1964 families were affected due to the monsoon-induced disasters in different parts ofthe country in recent months," Thapa said.

In the latest disaster-related incident, four people killed, 10 injured, and three have gone missing due to landslides triggered by rainfalls at Besisahar Municipality and Marshyangdi Municipality of Lamjung district in western Nepal, the minister said.

Floods and landslides wreak havoc in mountainous and Terai regions of Nepal every year with thousands of families getting displaced and huge loss of properties, livestock and crops.

Monsoon rains begin in June and continue through September.

They are vital for farmers in Nepal but cause loss of life and property damage every year.

Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has been forecasting rainfall, urging all to maintain high alert to cope with disasters, almost every day in recent months.

The department has been sending early warning flood alert messages in the disaster-prone districts.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 17:37:03|Editor: xuxin

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SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in will directly fly across the western maritime border to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the upcoming summit with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, the presidential Blue House of South Korea said Friday.

Kwun Hyuk-ki, director of the Blue House press center Chunchugwan, told a televised press briefing that President Moon and his delegation will visit Pyongyang on a direct flight across the western inter-Korean sea boundary.

It came after senior officials from the two Koreas held preparatory talks earlier in the day for the Moon-Kim summit, scheduled to be held in the DPRK's capital Pyongyang on Sept. 18-20.

A South Korean advance team for the summit will be dispatched to the DPRK on Sept. 16 on a land route.

The two sides agreed to broadcast live the first gathering in Pyongyang of the two leaders and their major summit schedules.

The preparatory talks lasted for five hours through 2 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) without a break at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Details on the dialogue agenda between Moon and Kim and the exact list of the delegation accompanying Moon were not disclosed yet.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 17:47:07|Editor: xuxin

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MADRID, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cured Spanish Iberian ham (jamon in Spanish) produced from black acorn-fed pigs which have run wild through oak woodland is without doubt the jewel in the crown for Spanish gastronomy and it is becoming very popular with Chinese consumers.

According to the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade, China is a "market where people appreciate good things," as shown by the fact that 2017 saw 150 tons of "jamon" exported to the country.

In order to protect the image of one of its most famous products, Spain's Inter-professional Association for Iberian Pigs (ASICI) has launched a campaign to ensure every Iberian ham carries a ticket authenticating its origin.

ASICI's Technical Director Manuel Gonzalez explained the tickets allowed consumers "to know exactly where the pig has come from and what it has eaten."

Spain has around 80 slaughterhouses and some 500 companies dedicated to the production of "jamon".

Jose Andres, director of one of those companies, told Xinhua that the work of ASICI to protect the image of "jamon" has been important, especially abroad.

"It's logical that it sells well in other countries; everyone values things that are good and in this case it has been our best kept secret," added Andres.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 17:52:07|Editor: Liangyu

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English teacups and saucers of teacup collector June Gao are seen in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Liang Sen)

by Evan Duggan

VANCOUVER, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- June Gao stood proudly by her dining room table covered entirely with English teacups and saucers.

There were more than a hundred delicate, ornate cups laid out in tidy rows on the table. A nearby coffee table in Gao's spacious home was also covered by what turned out to be just a tiny selection of her massive china teaware collection that would be worthy of the world's largest tea party.

Gao said she prefers Chinese tea but loves English china teaware. She figured that she has about 400 teacup sets and more than 2,000 individual pieces including the cups, saucers, plates, ceramic figurines and dinner bells, a collection built over the past 15 years.

"My family is very supportive," she said. "As it (the collection) got bigger, my family members started to like it as well."

Her collection has pieces that date back decades and features brands such as Royal Albert, Aynsley and Paragon. Most of the cups were made in Britain, but now many are made in Indonesia, she said.

"When we arrived in Canada, I found that these English tea cups are more delicate and sophisticated," Gao said. "I've always liked ceramic cups."

She purchased most of them at second-hand shops, flea markets and online.

"I never use them," she said. "I just collect them."

Displayed in prominent glass cabinet in her kitchen is a 1960s-era Royal Albert "Old Country Roses" set. Bought at a second-hand shop in 2006, the set is her favorite.

The complete and iconic set of cups, saucers, dessert plates and teapots are adorned with orange, red and purple roses. The cup handles and cup rims are trimmed with gold.

She's not finished collecting but needs to find more room and more time.

"I have no time to organize these," she said, opening another cupboard in her kitchen, revealing yet another set or two of her collectibles.

"I expect in the future I will convert a bigger room, or maybe another house, to store the cups like a museum," she said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) - (TSXV: AGZ) announces a conference call with management to discuss the Companys current operations and future development plans.

The call will be hosted by Tim McCutcheon (CEO) and Paul Klipfel (COO) on Tuesday, September 18th at 11:00am Pacific Daylight Time (2:00pm Eastern Daylight time). To ask questions at the end of the call, participants will need to log-in to the Readytalk Q&A Platform.

Online access and dial-in numbers are as follows:

Readytalk Q&A Platform (at the time of event):

* http://www.readytalk.com/join

* Access code: 5147677

Dial-In Numbers:

* Canada: +1-647-722-6839

* United States: +1-303-248-0285

* Access Code: 5147677

ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD

Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company that targets projects where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how. The Company is driving forward its 100%-owned Kossanto East project in Mali on the prolific Kenieba Belt of Mali, which hosts such deposits as Loulo, Fekola and Sadiola. Ashanti is also working to advance, together with its earn-in partners, the Anumso project and the Ashanti Belt project in Ghana, which are near-adjacent to the Akyem deposit.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

ASHANTI GOLD CORP.

"Tim McCutcheon"

Tim McCutcheon

CEO

For further information, please contact:

Ashanti Gold Corp.

2300  1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3

Phone: 604-638-3847

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information



NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.




Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 18:07:10|Editor: xuxin

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GABORONE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's participation at the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing summit has got all the ingredients of promoting its tourism development, different players in the tourism industry said Thursday.

Government officials and private players in the southern African country's tourism industry expressed high optimism that FOCAC will promote tourism development.

Thabang Botshoma, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said the recent achievements Botswana made at FOCAC will play a significant role in tourism development.

"FOCAC contained a lot of ingredients that spoke of the hope and mutual benefit between China and Africa," said Botshoma.

According to Botshoma, Botswana is quite excited about the outcome of the interactions during the Beijing Summit held on Sept. 3-4.

"As a country, we are really looking forward to now implementing the agreements that were signed during the summit. And it is our hope that the country's tourism industry will benefit immensely from the summit," he said.

During a state visit to China, President Mokgweetsi Masisi agreed with his Chinese counterpart to extend a loan for rail and road infrastructure.

According to Masisi, the grant will be used to construct road connectivity in the northern part of the country so as to better promote the development of tourist attraction areas.

"This is a move in the right direction for the country's tourism industry," Botshoma told Xinhua in a telephone interview. Botshoma said tourist arrivals decreased by almost 3 percent in 2017 when compared to arrivals in 2016.

"A total arrival in 2017 for the purposes of tourism is 484, 717 while arrivals in 2016 were 499, 259 showing a decline of 3 percent," explained Botshoma. He said investigations made by the government to establish why tourist arrivals are on a decline suggested that poor road network in the northern part of the country is the major contribution.

The Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) spokesperson Keitumetse Setlang said her organization took advantage of FOCAC and marketed the country's tourist attraction sites in the country.

According to Setlang, BTO will be going back to China for marketing purposes in order to take full advantage of China's tourist market.

Mothusi Tshukudu, an entrepreneur in the tourism industry and was part of the delegation, said he is quite happy about the outcome of the summit.

"I am personally looking forward that my business will derive benefits from the FOCAC summit," said Tshukudu, who runs a tour guide company in Maun, some 900km northwest of the country's capital city.

He said the agreements achieved at the summit will benefit Botswana immensely if the government fully implements them. Tshukudu said Botswana is a beautiful country with sights such as the magnificent Okavango Delta and the Chobe River.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 18:17:12|Editor: xuxin

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SAO PAULO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese investment is very important for Brazil's burgeoning solar energy sector, according to an industry leader.

The Brazilian photovoltaic solar power industry can serve as a springboard for Chinese companies looking to expand in Latin America, said Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO of the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association (ABSolar).

What makes Brazil's solar power industry attractive is that it is poised to grow with an expansion plan from now to 2030, he said.

The goal is to generate some 30 gigawatts (GW) of energy from the sun, a target that will require 12 years of substantial investment in the field, Sauaia has told Xinhua at his office in Sao Paulo.

Last year, the industry generated 1.1 GW, and this year it is expected to generate 2.4 GW, enough to power 1 million middle-class households.

"Chinese investment in photovoltaic solar power is very important to the development of projects and manufacturing, because China is a model and Brazil has much to learn about the sector," said Sauaia.

Today, at least 20 Chinese firms are operating in Brazil's solar segment, where they have all the conditions to transform themselves into the industry standard in Latin America, said Sauaia.

PV solar power currently accounts for barely 1 percent of Brazil's renewable energy output, while hydroelectric plants provide 60 percent while wind farms generate 7.5 percent.

"For us this is a very interesting figure, because the photovoltaic solar power scene is going to change in a few years," he said.

A typical Brazilian household that makes the switch by installing rooftop solar panels will begin to see the cost benefits after four to seven years, estimates Sauaia.

But the savings will be substantial, with energy bills falling up to 80 percent, he said.

Nine out of 10 Brazilians want to power their homes with renewable energy and photovoltaic solar energy, said Sauaia, citing a survey made by Brazilian polling firm IBOPE Intelligence.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 18:52:20|Editor: Li Xia

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should strengthen its ties with China and court more Chinese investment to spur development, experts said on Thursday.

"China is in the process of transforming its economy," said Luis Rubio, president of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, "that's where new opportunities lie for Mexico."

He made the remarks during a presentation on China-Mexico relations at the China-Mexico Studies Center of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Rubio said that Mexico needs to prepare by planning ahead and learning more about China to make the most of stronger ties with the Asian country.

"I think we should take a moment to reflect on how the Chinese see us, and recognize the enormous ignorance that exists in political and economic circles," he said.

Eugenio Anguiano Roch, twice ambassador to China (in the 1970s and again in the 80s), also believed his country should strengthen relations with China in diverse areas, from trade to productive capacity, to make their comprehensive strategic partnership "more extensive and beneficial."

Mexico should also take advantage of China's willingness to work with Latin American countries as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to boost global infrastructure and international trade, he said.

China "will take the right path, not just to becoming the leading economic powerhouse, but also for the benefit (of) the rest of the world," said Anguiano.

Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole need to pursue greater cooperation with China "in a comprehensive way," he added.

Economist Jorge Eduardo Navarrete, who has served as ambassador to numerous countries, including China, described cooperation between the two countries as "indispensable."

"Mexico can take advantage of China's interest (in the region) and, departing from there, establish mechanisms that meet the needs ... of both nations equally," said Navarrete.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 18:57:21|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU conservative sister parties both suffered losses of voter support following a series of far-right marches in Chemnitz, according to the Politbarometer opinion poll published on Friday by public broadcaster ZDF.

According to the regular and closely-watched survey, only 30 percent (minus one percentage point) of Germans would cast their ballot for either the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) or the Christian Social Union (CSU) if federal elections were to be held next Sunday.

It was the worst ever Politbarometer reading recorded for the two parties which currently form a "grand coalition" government in Berlin with the German Social Democrats (SPD).

By contrast, the SPD and Greens (Gruene) appeared to benefit from ongoing debates over resurgent right-wing extremism in Germany with monthly increases in voter support to 20 percent (plus two percentage points) and 16 percent (plus two percentage points) respectively.

The Left party was stagnant in the poll at eight percent, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party fell by two percentage points to 15 percent and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) declined by one percentage point to seven percent.

As a consequence, the only other political alliance which would achieve a legislative majority in the German parliament aside from the "grand coalition", would still be a so-called "Jamaica" coalition between the CDU, CSU, FDP and Greens.

The findings were based on a representative telephone survey of 1,339 voters between Sept. 11 and Sept. 13.

Respondents were also questioned about their trust in German institutions in light of the alleged murder of a German by two asylum seekers and subsequent episodic violence against foreigners and security officers by protestors in Chemnitz.

The police (81 percent) and courts (58 percent) in Germany were hereby found to enjoy the trust of large majorities of voters.

However, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), whose president Hans Peter Maasen has been criticized for stoking far-right conspiracy theories in relation to the Chemnitz marches, was only trusted by 38 percent of respondents.

Majorities of voters further expressed their greater dissatisfaction with the asylum policies of Chancellor and CDU leader Angel Merkel, as well as the combative interior minister and CSU leader Horst Seehofer compared to earlier Politbarometer findings from late June.

Some 55 percent (plus five percentage points) said that Merkel was doing a bad job in the issue area. Seehofer's role was viewed even more critically, with 65 percent (plus 14 percentage points) giving the interior minister a negative rating.

Just under half (47 percent, up from 23 percent in September 2017) of German voters now expected the AfD to establish itself successfully as a political party in the country in spite of its involvement in Chemnitz protests and related calls for its links to right-wing extremists to be monitored by the BfV.

At the same time, 77 percent of respondents voiced their belief that right-wing extremist views were common or very common in the AfD.

Such right-wing extremist views were identified as significant threat to German democracy by 79 percent of voters. Respondents were more relaxed about the potentially corrosive effects of left-wing extremism on Germany's constitutional order, which was only flagged by 48 percent as noteworthy risk in this context.

Aside from domestic politics, the Politbarometer poll included a question about whether voters were in favor of a German participation in a military strike against the Syrian government of president Bashar Al-Assad in response to a hypothetical chemical attack on the rebel-held Idlib region.

Such a use of force, openly mulled by the United States and some other NATO members, was rejected by 63 percent of respondents.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 19:07:24|Editor: Liangyu

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Li Zhanshu (R), chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu Friday called on China and Venezuela to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks during a meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Li said under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Maduro, the two countries enjoyed high-level political mutual trust, supported each other on international issues and achieved fruitful results on practical cooperation.

China firmly supported the Venezuelan people's efforts on safeguarding their national sovereignty and dignity as well as the country's choice on the development path that conformed to its own national conditions, Li said.

He called on the two countries to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and jointly promote the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity.

For his part, Maduro said his visit to China aimed to work with President Xi to chart the future course for bilateral ties and deepen practical cooperation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 19:12:26|Editor: xuxin

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JAKARTA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesia government has brought down consumption of cigarette, indicated by the creeping down of the sales of the products.

Directorate of the country's tax and custom office said on Friday that the sales volume of cigarette went down 5.5 percent to 272 billion pieces from January to June year over year.

The figure has been subdued since 2013, acting director of technical and custom facilities of the office Nugroho Wahyu said.

"The fact is that the sales of cigarette drastically drift down," Wahyu was quoted by Bisnis media as saying in Nusa Dua on Bali resort island.

The decrease in the sales, the official said, indicates the dropping number of smokers.

Last year, the consumption of cigarette edged down 1.6 percent to 336 billion cigarettes from the expectation, according to the office.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 19:37:33|Editor: Liangyu

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Member of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Mladen Ivanic talks to the journalist during an interview in Sarajevo, BiH, on Sept. 12, 2018. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) brings economic, cultural, and societal interconnectedness in the modern world, promoting stability, Mladen Ivanic has said. (Xinhua/Haris Memija)

SARAJEVO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) brings economic, cultural, and societal interconnectedness in the modern world, promoting stability, Member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) Presidency Mladen Ivanic has said.

"BRI is of a great importance to Europe, Asia and Africa. I am glad to see that Europe and China are connecting again, which would definitely bring to a global stability," Ivanic said in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.

As part of the 16+1 mechanism, a cooperative platform between 16 Central and Eastern European countries and China, Ivanic said he "thinks BiH will have tremendous benefits" and BiH can use the mechanism to build its infrastructure and attract investors.

He mentioned the significance of construction of thermal power plant "Stanari" located some 175 kilometers northwest of the capital Sarajevo, highlighting the trust the Chinese have in BiH partners.

"It is a very positive and economically sustainable project, and it showed that it is capable to withstand the competition on the market," Ivanic explained the project's importance.

He also highlighted another project, the Block 7 Thermal Power Plant Project in Tuzla, some 120 kilometers northeast of Sarajevo.

China will be one of the most important economic, political and civilizational actors in the following centuries, and it is in BiH interest to take the maximum effort for economic cooperation with China to be brought on a higher level, Ivanic added.

BiH could be a special place where the Chinese goods could be transported to the West and vice versa, Ivanic said, highlighting BiH strategic geographical position.

After China's agreement on a mutual visa-free regime with BiH took effect on May 29 this year, BiH saw a sharp increase of tourist arrivals, and economic benefits as well.

"I think the abolishment of visas is of a tremendous importance for the cooperation and BiH will have a special benefit from it," the official said.

He added that the real effects of the visa abolition will come next year, and predicted that after the third year, more than 100,000 Chinese tourists will visit BiH annually.

Proposed in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 19:52:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

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KAMPALA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health and that of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries have dispatched teams of experts to contain anthrax outbreak in western, northwestern and eastern regions, a top health official said on Friday.

Sarah Opendi Achieng, minister of state for health, told Xinhua by telephone that the health and veterinary experts have been sent to the districts of Arua, Kween and Kirihura to contain the outbreak following new cases of the disease.

"We have a national joint taskforce. We have jointly sent a team. The ministry of agriculture is providing vaccines for the treatment of the cattle and ministry of health has availed the necessary antibiotics for handling infected persons," said Opendi.

"The ministry of agriculture is going to import drugs for treating the animals. We shall continue with the public sensitization to avoid eating meat of the dead animals. They should bury them," she said.

Tom Aza Alero, the West Moyo legislator on Thursday told parliament that the disease caused by a bacteria, bacillus anthracis has left two people dead, 28 infected and over 1,000 affected in the northwestern region.

"The anthrax outbreak is affecting the social and economic livelihood of the people of West Nile. The concerned ministries should move and act on the outbreak," said Aza.

In May, Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of health, told Xinhua by telephone that the anthrax outbreak at Rhino Refugee Settlement in Arua, Kween and Kiruhura had been put under control with no suspected cases reported.

The World Organization for Animal Health, an intergovernmental authority responsible for improving animal health worldwide, said in a report on May 18 that the disease had killed at least three people and 24 head of cattle in Arua, Kween and Kiruhura.

Anthrax primarily affects herbivorous mammals, although other mammals and some birds have been known to contract it.

Humans generally acquire the disease from infected animals or as a result of exposure to contaminated animal products, according to the World Health Organization.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 19:57:36|Editor: Liangyu

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Li Zhanshu (R), chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Uruguay's Vice President Lucia Topolansky, also president of the General Assembly and president of the Senate, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Friday called on China and Uruguay to enhance cooperation on agriculture, trade, tourism, and sports.

Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks during a meeting with Uruguay's Vice President Lucia Topolansky, also president of the General Assembly and president of the Senate.

He said the bilateral relations have entered the best period in history since Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez jointly announced to establish the strategic partnership between the two nations in 2016.

Noting that Uruguay is the first country of the Southern Common Market to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with China to jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said the two countries faced new opportunities to enhance relations.

He called on China and Uruguay to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system as well as protect the common interest of developing countries.

China's NPC stood ready to work with the General Assembly of Uruguay to strengthen friendly exchanges, he said.

For her part, Topolansky said Uruguay was willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road construction and promote bilateral ties.
The roundtable meeting of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2018. (Xinhua)

NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) had achieved phenomenal successes that are mutually beneficial and long-lasting, a Kenyan expert said.

Gerishon Ikiara, an economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said this year's FOCAC summit injected vitality in the diplomatic, economic and trade ties between Beijing and its partners in Africa.

He noted that a large turnout of African leaders who made positive speeches at the FOCAC Beijing summit was a confirmation it had become a crucial platform to promote the continent's development agenda.

At the summit, China announced to extend 60 billion U.S. dollars of financing to Africa in the form of government assistance as well as investment and financing by financial institutions and companies.

Ikiara said the announcement was a clear indication that China-Africa economic and trade cooperation will continue to grow in the coming decades.

The former permanent secretary for transport and communications of Kenya hailed China's pledge to expand two-way trade with Africa while supporting the continent's industrialization agenda.

He was optimistic about the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative that has been embraced by many African countries, saying it will catalyze the continent's economic take-off through enhanced trade and connectivity.

"Effective implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to transform African economies by uplifting their participation in the global trade," said Ikiara.

"This initiative is already playing an important role in strengthening China-Africa links in many dimensions," he added.

Ikiara noted that the FOCAC has delivered immense benefits since its establishment.

"The Chinese policy of cooperating with Africa and other developing countries without political, economic or other ties has continued to establish cooperation with strong roots based on friendship and mutual respect to help create a conducive environment for a mutually better shared future in terms of socioeconomic benefits," Ikiara said.
English French

MONTREAL, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beaufield Resources Inc. (Beaufield or the Corporation) (TSX-V: BFD) announces the resignation of Ronald W. Stewart, effective immediately, as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Beaufield in order to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Stewart will continue in his role as Director of the Corporation.



The Corporations Chairman, George N. Mannard commented: I would like to thank Ronald for his contribution to the Corporation during the past year and wish him all the best in his future endeavor. The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Mannard as interim President and CEO.

About Beaufield:

Beaufield is a mineral exploration company with its exploration activity focused in Quebec and Ontario. Please refer to Beaufield's website at www.beaufield.com to view the Beaufield's properties in Urban, Eleonore-Opinaca, Tortigny, Hemlo and Launay.

For further information about Beaufield please contact

George N. Mannard, Interim President and CEO : Tel: (514) 842 3443

Web: www.beaufield.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 20:27:44|Editor: xuxin

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PRAGUE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Czech police have accused a young man who supports radical Islam of preparing a bomb terrorist attack, reported local media on Friday.

The man is a Slovak origin and converted to Islam in 2015. He went to mosques in Prague. It is reported that the accused was dressed like a soldier and used the erect index finger as a greeting, which is a symbol of devotion of the Islamic State fighters.

During the search of the man's home, police found chemicals, manuals for making bombs and instructions on how to attach them to the body and a car.

The man claimed it was material for producing fireworks to celebrate New Year, but the explanation was not accepted by police.

The prosecuted man said the former Prague imam was "his sheikh", that is his role model in practicing Islam.

The police previously accused the former imam of support for terrorism. The imam at large is prosecuted for aid to his brother and sister-in-law who took part in the fighting in Syria in a sister terrorist organisation of Al-Qaida, according to the police.

The Slovak man was arrested by Czech police on Nov. 16, 2017 and was remanded in custody by the Prague 5 District Court.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 20:47:47|Editor: Li Xia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with delegates to the seventh national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 14, 2018. The congress opened in Beijing Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The seventh national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) opened in Beijing Friday.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as other Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, and Zhao Leji joined more than 600 delegates across the country at the opening ceremony of the congress.

Han Zheng delivered a speech at the opening ceremony on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

Noting the historic progress and significant achievements since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Han called for the adherence to the values and principles of social assistance towards the disadvantaged.

The well-rounded development and common prosperity of the disabled should be promoted in the process, so that people with disabilities can lead happier lives in the course of realizing the Chinese Dream, Han said.

He also asked Party committees and governments at all levels to highly value programs for the disabled, and asked the whole society to join hands with the disabled to create a better future, while calling on disabled persons' federations at all levels to fully implement their duties.

People with disabilities should take the initiative to integrate their aspirations with the Chinese Dream, so as to break new ground in the development of the programs for the disabled in the new era, Han suggested.

The CDPF Chair Zhang Haidi delivered a work report at the congress Friday on behalf of the federation's sixth presidium.

Around 3,000 people attended the opening ceremony.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 20:52:49|Editor: xuxin

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NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has begun distribution of seeds, farm implements and veterinary drugs to victims of March-May rains that resulted in severe floods.

Gabriel Rugalema, FAO Representative in Kenya, said that the agricultural inputs valued about 500,000 U.S. dollars will be distributed in Tana River and Kilifi counties in Kenya.

"The money will also be used to repair agricultural infrastructure damage to irrigation schemes, canals, pipes, pumps and irrigation station chambers in Turkana County in East Western Kenya," he said during the official launch of the distributions in Kilifi County.

The official noted that FAO is responding following a rapid stakeholder consultations that was conducted in June in order to technically identify the extent of the problem and determine immediate course of action.

Rugalema said that the damage by the floods along the rivers caused a negative impact on food and nutrition security to majority of farmers.

"The donation is aimed at enabling farmers go back to their farms and start improving their lost sources of income," he said, adding that the UN food agency has secured resources to support capacity development in disaster needs assessment.

"We plan to train government officials in a detailed methodology in assessing and quantifying the damages and losses incurred as a result of disasters," Rugalema said.

The official observed that for Kenya to attain food security there is need to invest in mechanization of agriculture to be able to produce food for consumption and sale.

The UN official also noted that FAO is keen on the promotion of blue economy, adding that a team of experts has been identified to come on board and help Kenya reap from the sub sector.

According to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC), the June floods affected 13 counties where around 800,000 people were directly affected while 186 lost their lives countrywide.

The heavy rains also affected road infrastructure while several areas suffered from massive environmental degradation caused by the soil erosion.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 20:57:50|Editor: xuxin

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by Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Since President Donald Trump took office last year, his administration has adopted an isolationistic foreign policy representing its retreat from international bodies and commitments.

Washington withdrew from the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in October last year, then it abandoned the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in June and finally announced in late August to stop funding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

The three moves have been made in favor of Israel, as announced by Trump's administration that accused the UN agencies of being biased against the U.S. number one regional ally.

Trump's administration has recently threatened to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) that seeks to try U.S. soldiers over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

ISOLATIONIST POLICY

The "America First" theme raised by Trump indicates isolationist tendencies that are reflected on the general U.S. foreign policy under his rule, undermining multilateralism and joint international cooperation.

Mohamed Fayez Farahat, a political expert and researcher at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that such U.S. policies negatively affect unilateralism and globalization that have long been adopted by the United States.

"This U.S. attitude is related to Trump's general disbelief in institutional structures, not only internationally but domestically as well," Farahat told Xinhua, citing that Trump had confrontations with some U.S. departments like the Department of State, which ended up with sacking former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

In December 2017, the United States vetoed the UN draft resolution that aims to protect the status of the disputed city of Jerusalem and halt Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Although vetoed by Washington, the draft resolution was backed by all other 14 members of the UN Security Council, indicating Washington's isolationism and declining role as the main peacemaker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"U.S. sponsorship of Israel is one of the main factors that affect Trump's policies," Farahat noted.

Trump's moves are not only politically motivated but are manifested in his approach of economic organizations and trade agreements to which Washington has always been committed.

Commercially, withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement was one of the U.S. administration's big moves upon Trump taking office in January 2017.

But the U.S. president seems to have realized it was not in Washington's favor, so he made a U-turn and proposed rejoining the TPP later in April.

The United States has also been waging trade wars against world economic partners, imposing exaggerated tariffs on the commodities imported to the United States and threatening to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) over anti-U.S. bias claims.

"Trump's skepticism about world organizations in general has become stronger, reflecting his unilateral understanding of the international system and its structures," said the researcher.

IMPEACHMENT THREAT

Trump's administration is facing several domestic challenges that are threatening his post as president after some voices raised demands for his impeachment and removal from office over Russia's involvement in the latest presidential elections that brought him to the White House, besides other issues.

However, since the pro-Trump Republicans dominate both the House and the Senate, Trump's impeachment seems remote.

Noha Bakr, professor of political sciences and international relations at the American University in Cairo, believes that Trump's policies are meant for propaganda to divert the U.S. public opinion to other issues pressuring him.

Trump's recent attitude against the ICC coincides with his closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington.

"It also precedes the upcoming U.S. Congress midterm elections that will be held in November, in which if the Republicans manage to maintain control, Trump's removal will be almost impossible," Bakr told Xinhua.

"The U.S. president is currently mobilizing for securing a majority of votes for the Republicans to have the White House in one hand and the Congress in the other," said the professor.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:02:51|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Uruguay's Vice President Lucia Topolansky, also president of the General Assembly and president of the Senate, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Uruguay agreed to strengthen cooperation in Beijing on Friday.

The pledge was made between Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and Uruguay's Vice President Lucia Topolansky, who is also president of the General Assembly and president of the Senate.

In 2016, the two countries established their strategic partnership during Uruguayan President Vazquez's visit to China.

This repositioning of bilateral ties has injected new impetus into the two countries' ever-widening cooperation, Wang said.

China sticks to socialism with Chinese characteristics with full confidence in this path, Wang said, adding that China also supports people of Uruguay and other Latin American countries to follow development paths suited to their national conditions.

Saying China champions building a community with a shared future for the humanity, Wang called on both sides to enhance cooperation at all levels, deepen mutual understanding and trust, so as to achieve win-win results and benefit the two peoples.

For her part, Topolansky said Uruguay is impressed by China's remarkable development and attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties.

She expressed her willingness to enhance Uruguay's cooperation with China, including the Belt and Road construction, ocean exploration, trade, agriculture, education, and culture.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:12:55|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Germany's federal government will fight right-wing populism with visible policies to reassure citizens about their social security, labor minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) announced on Friday.

Addressing delegates in the federal parliament (Bundestag), Heil warned that "political charlatans" were trying to stoke and capitalize on popular fears about immigrants and falling living standards. "Whoever wants to prevent this must ensure that people can rely on a strong welfare state," the German Social Democrat (SPD) politician said.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) delegate Matthias Zimmer, whose party forms a "grand coalition" government together with the SPD, and Christian Social Union (CSU), similarly warned about the risk posed by resurgent right-wing extremism to Germany's constitutional order. He emphasized that this development was already scaring off foreign investors and threatening the security of jobs as a consequence.

While welcoming attempts to combat the rise of right-wing extremism, the Left (Linke) and Green (Gruene) parties both lamented in response to Heil's speech on Friday that Berlin was not yet doing enough to reduce child poverty and poverty in old age. Left party leader Katja Kipping urged the government to demonstrate "courage to transition to fundamentally-different alternatives" in their legislative approach to prevent an erosion of societal cohesion.

By contrast, AfD delegate Uwe Witt accused labor minister Heil of pursing a "crazy left-wing ideology." He argued that Germany was in the midst of a crisis of its identity and very existence which could only be overcome with a further tightening of asylum policy.

Witt's intervention was countered by CDU social policy spokesperson Peter Weiss who highlighted that the AfD was always eager to complain about perceived domestic problems but had little to offer in the way of concrete proposals for a social-, labor- and pensions policy of its own. Weiss noted that the government was already planning to lower the tax burden shouldered by citizens by reducing contributions to national unemployment insurance.

"The economic success (of Germany) is already directly benefiting its citizens," Weiss said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:17:55|Editor: Liangyu

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Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, speaks at the seminar between the Tibetan cultural exchange delegation and Japanese lawmakers in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 14, 2018. A Tibetan cultural exchange delegation dispatched by China's State Council Information Office has informed Japanese lawmakers, press and religious groups about the latest development of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

TOKYO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Tibetan cultural exchange delegation dispatched by China's State Council Information Office has informed Japanese lawmakers, press and religious groups about the latest development of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

During the visit that kicked off on Wednesday, the delegation held seminars with Japanese lawmakers, religious groups, and reporters from major Japanese media and introduced the achievements made by Tibet in recent years in economic and social development, improvement of people's living standards, environmental protection, and inheritance and protection of traditional culture.

Hao Shiyuan, head of the delegation and member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at a seminar with Japanese lawmakers on Friday that Tibetan culture is an important part of Chinese culture, and it is an important task for China to protect and develop Tibetan culture while promoting social and economic development.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, said that as Japan-China relationship returns to normal track, it is hoped that more such activities could be held to help Japanese people enhance understanding of the Tibetan culture and to promote bilateral friendship.

The delegation also answered questions from the Japanese audience on daily life of the Tibetan people, collection and preservation of Tibetan religious books, and inheritance of Tibetan culture.

The Japanese lawmakers said that they felt Tibetan culture interesting after the seminar and that they hoped to have the opportunity to visit Tibet in the future.

The delegation visited the Chotaiji Temple in Tokyo and exchanged views with religious groups on Thursday morning. They had a seminar with reporters from major Japanese media on Thursday afternoon.

The visit to Japan is the first stop of an overseas exchange agenda of the delegation. The delegation will leave Japan on Saturday for Mongolia and South Korea.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:17:55|Editor: xuxin

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PARIS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- A man drove his car into crowds in the southeastern French city of Nimes in the wee hours of Friday, wounding two people, a regional radio reported.

According to France Bleu, the car plowed into revellers who were celebrating feria, an annual local festival, in Nimes at around 1:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT on Thursday) before being stopped by the anti-attack barriers.

The 36-year-old driver, known to police services for previous petty crimes, suffered "mental confusion" when he was arrested. He was then transported to the Nimes University Hospital for treatment.

There was no indication that the incident was terror related, the report said, adding that regional judicial police department has opened an inquiry into "attempted murder."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:22:58|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (R) meets with Chile's Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with Chile's Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero here Friday and the two sides expressed willingness to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

China supports people of Latin American countries to follow the development paths suited to their history, culture and national conditions, Wang said, stressing that China views Chile as an important partner in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang said China is ready to have closer exchanges at various levels with Chile, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen synergy of strategies, jointly construct the Belt and Road, so as to achieve win-win cooperation.

He called on both countries to have more people-to-people exchanges and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The two countries established their comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.

Ampuero said Chile admires China's development achievements, expressing the hope to enhance Chile's cooperation with China, and make continuous achievements in the Belt and Road construction and people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with Ampuero on Friday.

Ampuero is paying an official visit to China from Sept. 13 to 15.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:22:59|Editor: xuxin

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ULAN BATOR, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian Foreign Ministry issued a warning on Friday, asking citizens not to travel to South Korea as the first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was found in South Korea since the outbreak in July 2015.

Mongolian citizens are not recommended to go to South Korea unless absolute necessity, the ministry said.

A 61-year-old South Korean man was diagnosed last Saturday with the viral disease one day after a business trip to Kuwait.

MERS is a respiratory illness caused by a new type of corona-virus and carried by camels. The first case was recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease.

South Korea is one of the most popular destinations for Mongolians.

According to data of the National Statistical Office, out of the total 144,500 Mongolian citizens living and working abroad, over 36,000 are in South Korea.
CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX:PEY) ("Peyto") confirms that the monthly dividend with respect to September 2018 of $0.06 per common share is to be paid on October 15, 2018, for shareholders of record on September 30, 2018. The ex-dividend date is September 27, 2018.



Dividends paid by Peyto to Canadian residents are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North Americas most exciting energy companies. The website also includes the Presidents monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact:

Darren Gee

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (403) 237-8911

Fax: (403) 451-4100

Certain information set forth in this document, including management's assessment of Peyto's future plans and operations, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties' control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Peyto's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:28:02|Editor: mmm

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- An international climate leadership group said Thursday that 27 of the biggest cities in the world have reached their peak of greenhouse gas emissions while their populations and economies continue to grow.

C40 Cities, an emissions reduction advocacy group connecting more than 90 of the world's greatest cities, said the 27 cities have seen emissions fall over a five-year period and are now at least 10 percent lower than their peak.

These cities represent over 650 million people and one quarter of the global economy, and their emissions continued to drop by an average of 2 percent every year since their peak, while their populations grew by 1.4 percent per year and their economies by 3 percent per year on average, C40 Cities said during the on-going 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that opened earlier Thursday in San Francisco.

The cities include Spain's Madrid and Barcelona, London in Britain, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, as well as Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C. in the United States.

A C40 research revealed in 2015 said that the world greatest cities need maximize their efforts to deliver on the goal of the Paris Agreement -- to limit the global temperature increase to only 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"To prevent the worst impacts of climate change, we have to cut greenhouse gas emissions even as the population grows," said Michael Bloomberg, president of the C40 Board, who is also UN Special Envoy for Climate Action.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed also asserted the city's pledge to lead in the fight against climate change, though U.S. President Donald Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing from the landmark 2015 Paris accord.

California Governor Jerry Brown Thursday took a stab at Trump for retreating from global warming, saying that it "borders on criminality."

He said the Trump administration's attempt to weaken regulation of the heat-trapping gas methane is "a major assault on the well-being of the people of California in America and the world."

C40 said the world's leading scientists have calculated that global greenhouse gas emissions should peak at the latest by 2020 and subsequently sharply drop.

The 2018 GCAS, hosted by the U.S. state of California, attracted more than 4,500 representatives from states, regions, cities, businesses as well as investors for discussions on policy and measures to bring down emissions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:28:03|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications on Friday publicized several major cases concerning illegal publications and online content that could affect juveniles.

In one case in central China's Hunan Province, more than 10 million copies of illegal publications that are deemed harmful to juveniles were confiscated, with a total market price of 114 million yuan (16.7 million U.S. dollars).

Chinese authorities launched a campaign earlier this year to foster a healthy cultural environment for children.

Three cases of spreading child pornography and 19 cases concerning copyright infringement were also disclosed by the office.

More than 2 million web links to harmful content were eliminated. In addition, 15 online short video apps were closed or removed from app stores.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:33:05|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi asylum seeker in Germany who has been remanded in custody for suspected murder denies his involvement in the recent killing of Daniel H. in Chemnitz, the public broadcaster NDR reported on Friday.

According to NDR, the suspect told the legal division of the Iraqi embassy that he had stood away several meters from the violent brawl at the Chemnitz City Festival in late August during which Daniel H. sustained deadly injuries.

The incident sparked a series of widely-publicized far-right marches in the east German town. A witness to the fight also told NDR that the suspect in question was standing a good distance away from the scene and that he had already provided a corresponding testimony to security officers thereafter.

Neither police nor state prosecutors have so far offered any detailed information on the exact events which led to the death of Daniel H. All that is known so far is that the German citizen with Cuban roots died from knife wounds in which at least three asylum seekers are being treated as primary suspects.

Speaking to NDR, Ulrich Dost-Roxin, the attorney for the Iraqi suspect who denies his involvement, complained that the arrest warrant against his client included "no evidence whatsoever" to demonstrate his culpability for the murder. Dost-Roxin criticized that his client should never have been remanded in custody and announced that he would file a legal request for the asylum seeker to be released again.

The Chemnitz State Prosecution Office was unable to comment on an ongoing investigation. However, the judicial authority confirmed that it had received a request for the release for one of two purported murders currently imprisoned and awaiting trial. A third suspect whose whereabouts are unknown is still wanted by police.

Violent reactions by far-right groups to the murder case, as well as statements defending the marches issued by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), have been condemned by senior German politicians and international organization.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 21:53:13|Editor: xuxin

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by Misbah Saba Malik

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Majeed Khurrami had to sneak into Pakistan with his elder siblings and grandfather after the Taliban killed his parents on one dark night in a suburban area of Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul.

"I was one at that time, and I don't remember anything, but by elder siblings and grandfather told me that our house was later demolished in an airstrike, dashing our hopes to move back and live in my homeland. I don't even have the documents of my father's home there, I have never even visited their graves, so moving back and getting settled there is just out of the question for me at the moment."

Khurrami and other Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan for about four decades and according to the United Nations, 75 percent of the refugees in the country are the second or third generation of Afghans who left their country during the soviet invasion in the 1970s to seek temporary refuge in Pakistan.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that 1.4 million registered refugees are currently living in Pakistan, making the country the second largest host of a refugee population in the world. Pakistani official estimates show that more than 2.5 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees are living in the country.

A large number of locals view the refugees as a burden on the already weak economy of Pakistan, and are quite vocal about their stance. The country's government also seems determined to send the refugees back to their native lands at the end of the day, as they are only given an extension to stay in the country on an interim basis.

In mid-August, around the swearing in time of the new Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, the country's foreign office said that they are developing a time-repatriation plan for the early and complete return of the refugees.

In a weekly briefing, the foreign office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said that they are engaged in mapping out the repatriation plan for the refugees.

The refugees, however, regard Pakistan as their homeland as they were born and bred on Pakistani soil. Some of them have even married with locals and have become deeply integrated into Pakistani society.

As the interim three-month stay extended by the care taker Pakistani government in June this year is coming to an end in September, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has visited Pakistan recently and met the country's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Acknowledging Pakistan's generosity for hosting a large number of refuges, the UNHCR chief said that Pakistan is being a good host to the refugees who have been staying in the country for decades.

He also called upon the Afghan government to facilitate the settlement of Pakistan-based refugees by creating a conducive environment for peace and stability.

Majeed Khurrami, who recently completed a six-month vocational workshop organized by the UNHCR, told Xinhua that despite having a certificate he cannot find a job anywhere.

"I've got a certificate in automobile repairing, but it is of no practical use as repair shop owners will not give me job because they think that I cannot acquire the skills for the job in such a short period of time. Some shop owners agree to let me work in their shops as an unpaid intern."

He said that he met the UNHCR chief during his visit to Islamabad and shared his concerns with him. "He told me to wait. I don't know how long I have to wait, we refugees have been waiting for 40 years, but the international community is not taking any serious steps to resolve our crisis."

"If Imran Khan doesn't extend the date of our stay, where will we go? The Pakistani government has repeatedly extended the date of our stay here, but only for a few months. They don't want to keep us here, we don't want to be a burden' on them either, but where should we go? If we go back, we will die of either hunger or militancy and if we stay here, the fear keeps looming that they may tell us to leave at any moment."

Younas Karimi, an Afghan refugee working as a laborer in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, told Xinhua that they are not allowed to drive, buy property or even have mobile phone sim cards in the country.

"Forget about sim cards, some times we even face trouble in burying our dead as locals in some areas do not allow us to have a funeral and burial of our relatives in their cemeteries."

"Pakistanis as a whole are good people, but they themselves are poor, how can they feed us if they cannot feed themselves?" Karimi told Xinhua.

Karimi said that international community should come forward to help them. He is hopeful that the current visit of the UNHCR chief to the country will bring positive results.

Afghan refugees said that they are hopeful that the Pakistani government will extend their stay in the country, albeit temporarily, but maintain it should also show some leniency in the job sector for the refugees as they cannot get jobs even in private companies despite being born in Pakistan.

The UNHCR said on its website due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the number of refugees choosing to go home has declined this year.

The UNHCR chief reiterated in his recent visit that the solution of the refugee crisis lies in improving security in Afghanistan. He added that the continued militancy must be resolved so as to make Afghanistan a peaceful and prosperous country.

"We have to hope for a more stable period and then we have to invest in Afghanistan," he said.
File Photo: A driver charges his electric car at a charging station in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Jerry Brown said Thursday that California will continue to work with China in reducing carbon emissions as China is directly involved in developing carbon trading systems and building regulations in addressing climate change.

Speaking at a press conference at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that opened in downtown San Francisco, Brown said California will continue its partnership with China and place much hope on China in the fight against climate change.

"China is promoting zero emission vehicles in a very, very important way and it is the biggest market" of electric cars in the world, he said.

"As the biggest market, China keeps ratcheting up requirements for electric cars and hydrogen cars. The American auto industry ought to do that," he added.

While the Trump administration has pulled the United States out of the hard-fought Paris accord, Brown has been known for his commitment to advancing cooperation between California and China on climate change. On Wednesday he attended the China Pavilion, an affiliate event held on the sidelines of the 2018 GCAS.

He said that California would like to develop zero-emission cars and "wants at least 5 million electric cars."

China currently has about 1.5 million electric cars running on the streets, Brown added.

At Thursday's press conference, Brown said the U.S. Congress has appropriated about 700 billion U.S. dollars in defense budget for the U.S. military, and the worldwide spending weapons could be in trillions.

If a small proportion of that money is converted, "we could generate funds to invest in places that lack capital to do what's needed," Brown said.

The 2018 GCAS gathers more than 4,500 representatives from states, regions, cities, businesses as well as investors for discussions on policy and measures to bring down emissions.
File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, on May 22, 2017. (Xinhua/JINI/POOL/Marc Israel Sellem)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States has yet to be ready to unveil its Middle East peace plan, a long-awaited proposal that had already been rejected by the Palestinians, said the U.S. State Department on Thursday.

"Not ready to unveil it just yet," Heather Nauert, the spokesperson of the department, told reporters at a daily briefing on Thursday afternoon when asked if the new U.S. peace deal was ready to be presented.

"We will unveil it when we are ready to unveil it," the spokeswoman added, refusing to reveal any details of the initiative or setting any timetable for its release.

Jason Greenblatt, a senior U.S. diplomat who had been closely involved in the proposal-making process, told media that the U.S. negotiators had entered the "pre-launch phase" of the plan.

Even before its disclosure, the U.S.-drafted plan, about which Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a senior White House advisor, was a key architect, has drawn doubts and been rejected by the Palestinian side, as Washington's neutral stance as a mediator has been seriously questioned following its pro-Israel moves.

On Monday, the Trump administration announced its decision to close the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s office in Washington, a new move to step up pressure on the Palestinians.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a string of U.S. funding cuts against the Palestinians to push them back to the negotiating table.

In December last year, the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, an unconventional step announced by Trump himself that sparked global outcry and an absence of the furious Palestinians in talks mediated by Washington.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:03:15|Editor: xuxin

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PRETORIA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Africa like in the past will continue to put African issues on the BRICS agenda, said the country's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.

Ramaphosa said this in Pretoria while addressing members of the diplomatic corps. South Africa has always said its membership to multilateral institutions is guided by its pursuit of putting the African continent first.

"Since joining BRICS, South Africa has sought to strategically position Africa on the agenda of BRICS and will continue to garner support from the BRICS partners for African industrialization and infrastructure development," said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa said, "One of the most significant achievements of the first decade of BRICS was the establishment of the New Development Bank and its Africa Regional Center, which fills a critical gap in project funding. As we enter the second decade of BRICS cooperation, we are determined to further expand the Bank's role in economic and social development."

Ramaphosa mentioned that the 10th BRICS summit was attended by some African countries and other developing countries of the South in the BRICS-Plus format. He stated that it is vital to ensure that the countries of the South continue to shape the agenda of every significant global formation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:03:15|Editor: xuxin

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France met in Istanbul on Friday, as global and regional powers are wrestling over how best to deal with rebels from their last major stronghold in the Syrian province of Idlib.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, German chancellor's foreign policy adviser Jan Hecker and French president's diplomatic adviser Philippe Etienne joined the meeting hosted by Turkish presidential advisor Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey's state-run broadcaster TRT Haber said.

According to the broadcaster, the main agenda of the meeting, also attended by technical experts from the four states, is setting the program and other details of a summit meeting of leaders of the four countries in the upcoming days.

Earlier in the day, local media reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday over Idlib in Russia's sea resort city of Sochi.

Now hosting over 3.5 million Syrian refugees on its soil, Turkey fears that a military offensive against Idlib by the Syrian army and its allies, namely Russian and Iranian forces, would trigger another mass flow of refugees into its border and pose fresh threat to its security.

Turkey is trying all it can to thwart an assault on Idlib, an effort being supported by its Western allies.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:03:16|Editor: mmm

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BERLIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- German foreign minister Heiko Maas told press on Friday that he will appeal to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to prevent a major offensive of Syrian government against the rebel-held Idlib region.

"We all know what is at stake. We must prevent the worst possible outcome, namely a new humanitarian catastrophe," Maas said ahead of a meeting with Lavrov in Berlin.

The northern Syrian Idlib region on the border with Turkey is the last stronghold of Islamist rebels in the country. Maas warned on Friday, however, that an action against the militants did not justify putting the lives of three million inhabitants at risk who are currently caught in the cross fire.

Earlier, German chancellor Angela Merkel said that it was "naturally right to fight these radical forces" while urging the Syrian government to ensure that civilians were protected.

International aid groups have highlighted that a major offensive is likely to lead to chaos in the Idlib region and attempts by hundreds of thousands of refugees to escape the conflict by fleeing over the border to Turkey.

Maas emphasized that Germany was only willing to heed Russian calls to support the reconstruction of Syria as long as certain conditions were met to ensure long-run stability and peace in the war-torn country.

"As long as there is a political solution in Syria which leads to free elections, we are ready to take responsibility during the reconstruction effort," the minister said.

Lavrov is currently visiting the German capital to mark the ceremonial conclusion of a year-long initiative to forge partnerships between cities in Russia and Germany. Additionally, both foreign ministers have announced plans to take first steps towards closer cooperation in the fields of higher education and research on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:08:16|Editor: xuxin

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua)--Mayor of Ethiopia's capital city Addis Ababa, Takele Uma on Friday warned the government will take legal measures against "conspirators" as tensions rise in the city.

A large delegation led by Dawud Ibsa, leader of the previously banned rebel group Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa on Saturday to the cheers of thousands of supporters.

However, the expected arrival of Ibsa and other OLF leaders has raised tension in the city, as some residents of Addis Ababa clashed on Wednesday and Thursday with supporters of OLF, who mostly came from ethnic Oromo villages surrounding Addis Ababa and beyond.

The clashes involving sticks and stones, left several people injured and unspecified property damage.

OLF supporters entered the city with OLF flags, which is seen by non-Oromos as a flag that symbolizes a desire to split Ethiopia's largest region Oromia from the rest of Ethiopia.

Many ethnic Oromos, who make up about a third of Ethiopia's estimated 100 million people, see OLF and the flag as resistance against decades of discriminatory practices of non-Oromo elites based in Addis Ababa.

In a press statement, Uma said the Addis Ababa city administration is making preparations to host the arrival of Ibsa, but warned that "unspecified" forces are plotting to disrupt the homecoming event for the OLF leader and the city administration is ready to take legal action against these forces.

Speaking to media outlets on Thursday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, called for calm as clashes over the hosting of OLF flag, left the normally politically calm city shaken. Ahmed urged Ethiopians to tolerate each other's freedom of expression including flag of their own liking.

Ahmed warned that unspecified "forces" want to incite violence under the guise of the flag controversy.

The government will not tolerate such provocations, the prime minister said, urging people to refrain from acts that can incite violence.

Also on Thursday, Ethiopia Federal Police Commissioner Zeynu Jemal, called on citizens to respect each other's freedom of expression, including holding and waving flags of their own choice.

However, Jemal warned, police would not tolerate acts of vandalism such as graffiti-painting over public spaces. He urged all involved to refrain from such illegal acts.

Once designated as a terror group, the OLF was delisted in June as part of political reforms undertaken by the Ahmed administration, which assumed office in April.

The tensions in Addis Ababa also has another layer of controversy as the multiethnic city has dramatically expanded in size, taking large chunks of land from the surrounding Oromia regional state, the principal homeland of ethnic Oromos.

Some Oromos believe the capital, a chartered city completely surrounded by Oromia, should be part of the region though the city is home to a range of ethnicities from across Ethiopia, Africa's second most-populous country.
TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American Palladium Ltd. ("NAP" or the Company) issues the following statement on the conclusion of the coroners inquest into the 2014 death of Pascal Goulet, an employee of the Company who died while working at Lac des Iles mine.



Everyone at NAP was impacted by the death of Pascal Goulet. We continue to extend our condolences to Melanie Goulet and the entire Goulet family, whose lives have been altered forever as a result of this tragic event. We will always mourn the loss of one of our own. None of our employees should ever go to work and not get home safely to their families, said Jim Gallagher, President and CEO of North American Palladium.

On behalf of NAP, I would like to acknowledge the Coroner, Dr. Michael Wilson for his professionalism and leadership during the proceedings, as well as members of the jury for their insightful recommendations and careful consideration of the testimony. We also wish to extend our appreciation to members of the Crown, the Ministry of Labour and the United Steelworkers Local 9422, all of whom share our interest in preventing something like this from ever happening again, continued Mr. Gallagher.

NAP will carefully review and consider all recommendations from the jury, and will focus on incorporating the recommendations into the Companys actions moving forward. This review, coupled with the three recommendations and five process improvements that were implemented following the joint investigation with the United Steelworkers in 2014, will help make the Companys operations safer all employees.

About North American Palladium Ltd.

North American Palladium Ltd. (TSX: PDL) (OTC PINK: PALDF) is a Canadian company with over 25 years of production at Lac des Iles mine, located northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. North American Palladium is the only pure play palladium producer in the world. With over 600 employees, Lac des Iles mine features a unique world class ore body, modern infrastructure, including both an underground mine and an open pit mine, and a world class exploration portfolio.

SOURCE: North American Palladium Ltd.

For Further Information
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:13:19|Editor: xuxin

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by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Migration flows to Greece this summer almost doubled compared to the same period in 2017, making the situation at the reception centers for incoming refugees and migrants on the Greek islands difficult, Greek migration policy minister Dimitris Vitsas said on Friday.

"In Moria (the largest reception center on Lesvos island in the Aegean Sea) about 3,500 people left and 5,500 arrived from the opposite coast," he noted speaking to local Real FM radio station, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.

Although Greece has taken measures to accommodate more people on the mainland and speed up asylum, return and relocation procedures, the influx from the Turkish shores is a decisive factor for the overcrowded camps on the islands, the Greek official argued.

More than 1 million people have landed on Greek shores, risking their lives on the Aegean Sea seeking refuge to Europe from warzones and poverty, since 2015.

After the closure of the borders along the Balkan route to central Europe and the launch of the EU-Turkey agreement to stem the flows in March 2016, the numbers decreased significantly for several months. However, new arrivals are still recorded every day mainly on the northern Aegean islands, such as Lesvos.

Under the 2016 agreement, all newcomers must stay on the islands until their asylum bids are assessed, but the procedure is lengthy and the reception centers are overpopulated.

According to the latest official data provided by the Citizen Protection ministry on Friday, there are currently about 60,000 refugees and migrants in Greece, including about 20,000 on the islands, while capacity for their proper accommodation on the islands of Lesvos, Samos or Chios and Kos is half.

The Greek official called for a concerted redistribution program within the EU rather than leaving the problem to any individual country.

"This means that the issue must be resolved in the countries of first reception, which are mainly Spain, Greece and Italy but also Cyprus, where migratory flows have increased as well," he said.

"There is one way for Europe, the path of common European values, such as solidarity and cooperation," Vitsas stressed.

Earlier, 19 local and international NGOs, such as Praksis or ActionAid, had released a joint statement calling for effective solutions to decongest the islands and improve conditions in reception centers, such as Moria, which currently hosts almost three times its capacity.

"It is nothing short of shameful that people are expected to endure such horrific conditions on European soil," the NGOs statement read, referring to Moria.

Also this week, in a press release the Prefecture of the Northern Aegean described Moria as "unsuitable and dangerous for public health and the environment," and warned that the site would be closed in 30 days if sanitary conditions are not improved dramatically.

The NGOs also urged the EU to come up with a permanent mechanism to solve the problem.

"At the same time, EU leaders should urgently renew efforts to unblock discussions on the implementation of a fair and permanent mechanism of responsibility allocation within the European Union," the NGOs concluded.

According to the National Coordination Centre for Border Control, Immigration and Asylum, in the first semester of 2018, the number of irregular arrivals of third-country nationals across Greece amounted to 42,371, compared to 24,984 during the first semester of 2017.

A total of 14,526 persons illegally entered Greece through the Greek-Turkish sea border, compared to 9,533 in the corresponding semester of 2017.

The total number of returns, including those based on the EU-Turkey Joint Declaration and Voluntary Returns through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), stood at 7,113 in the entire first semester of 2018.

In the first semester of 2018, the total number of asylum applications submitted amounts to 30,192, against 27,823 submissions in the corresponding semester of 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:13:20|Editor: yan

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Far-right protesters attend a demonstration in Chemnitz, eastern Germany, on Sept. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Kevin Voigt)

by Fu Yiming, Tian Ying

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The results of the Swedish general elections earlier this week eventually brought relief to the many who were closely following the political news in the Nordic country: the far-right Sweden Democrats did not win as many seats in the Riksdag as anticipated.

Nevertheless, the party still gained ground, in a worrying trend previously seen in Germany, yet another country once welcoming refugees. It is a potential kingmaker in the negotiations to form the next government.

The party won 18.2 percent of the votes in this year's elections, while neither the center-left or the center-right major parties won an absolute majority, according to official preliminary results on Thursday.

The votes clinched by the Sweden Democrats represent a substantial increase from the 12.9 percent it won in 2014 and 5.7 percent in 2010, respectively.

Mikael Sundstrom, a political scientist at Lund University, told Swedish Television after the elections that he believed the Sweden Democrats rode on back of bad news about immigration and that the party had increased its strength and has the potential to gain more support in southern Sweden.

"(They) tend to blame foreigners, no matter (if) it's true or not," he said. "It's populist mentality."

IMMIGRATION BACKLASH

When voters headed to the polls on Sunday to pick their new legislature and, with it, a prime minister, some people worried that the elections may produce an "unpredictable result," largely because of the Sweden Democrats.

Formed in the late 1980s by individuals with links to the neo-Nazi movement, the Sweden Democrats was affiliated with the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe, a European organization of right-wing populist parties including the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the UK Independence Party. The Sweden Democrats had been running on a platform of Euroskepticism and overhauling the immigration system.

Sweden registered a record-breaking 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015 while Germany recorded 745,545 asylum applications in 2016.

The far-right political forces have exploited the social challenges resulting from the immigration inflow to gather support. Stories, pictures and videos widely circulated on social media played a role, too.

The far-right political parties grew at an astonishing rate.

Today, far-right protesters can still be spotted chasing down foreigners in German cities, while far-right groups held "strike back" banner-demonstrations in the streets of Stockholm, the Swedish capital.

In the riots in Stockholm in May 2013, hundreds of immigrant youths violently clashed with police, torching cars while leaving several injured.

In 2017, Uzbek jihadist Rakhmat Akilov, who was denied asylum and went underground, pleaded guilty to the truck ramming incident which killed five people in Stockholm. He had claimed allegiance to the Islamic State prior to the attack.

This year, just before the elections, several locations in West Sweden saw immigrant youth riots. More than 100 cars were set ablaze.

This is in addition to gang-related gun murders and other crimes committed by male immigrants. The police had identified 23 "especially vulnerable areas" plagued by such social issues and crime.

"We can't blame immigrants in our society simply because the integration (programs) didn't work. The solution is to create employment, provide opportunities and integration, making them useful assets to society," Niklas Swanstrom, director of the Institute for Security and Development in Sweden, said in an interview with Xinhua.

"In the meantime, the immigrants should accept Swedish values of democracy, openness, and liberty, and actively integrate," he said.

POTENTIAL KINGMAKER

Preliminary results show the Sweden Democrats remain as the country's third largest party, after the Social Democratic Party and the Moderate Party.

Despite winning with a less-than-expected support, the Sweden Democrats gained at the cost of the other two and are now in a powerful position. National elections in Sweden on Sunday ended in a near deadlock between the left and right political blocs, making the Sweden Democrats a potential kingmaker.

The two blocs have vowed not to collaborate with the Sweden Democrats, but neither of them have a majority on their own, as they each only won slightly over 40 percent of the votes in the general elections.

A minority government, like the incumbent Social Democrats and Greens alliance formed four years ago, will be in a weak position.

"Even if the Sweden Democrats weren't able to participate in the formation of the the new government, given its public support, the party will certainly have a bigger say in parliament and push for stricter immigration rules," said Tommy Moller, professor at the Department of Political Science of Stockholm University.

Jimmie Akesson, the Sweden Democrats leader, said the party wants to have a greater influence in politics. The party advocates a halt to all asylum seekers in Sweden and wants to send more immigrants back to where they came from.

"We increased our mandate in the Parliament. We will have an immense influence over what happens in Sweden in the next few weeks, the next few months, in the next few years. Nobody can take it away," he said.

DANGEROUS TREND

Over the weekend, up to 500 right-wing extremists marched through the small town of Koethen in eastern Germany, following a fatal incident in which the locals clashed with the asylum seekers.

There has been speculation that a 22-year-old German was killed in a fight with two Afghan asylum seekers in Koethen on Saturday, but the authorities of Saxony-Anhalt confirmed on Monday that there was no evidence of injuries causing his death and that he had mostly likely succumbed to a heart attack.

Anne-Marie Keding, the regional justice minister of Saxony-Anhalt, urged Germans not to believe in wild speculations on the internet.

Despite that, a spontaneous "march of sorrow" was joined by around 2,500 protesters, including many supporters of the far-right AfD, which has become now the largest opposition party.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has recently accused the AfD of using another regretful death of a man to incite hatred against foreigners.

Last month, in the eastern German city of Chemnitz, right-wing extremists exploited a bloody act to incite citizens to protest. Footage circulating on social media supposedly showed the chase of suspected migrants after news circulated that a German man was stabbed to death that Sunday, allegedly by an Iraqi and a Syrian.

The German government condemned such behavior, saying that "such mobs, the hounding of people who look different or have a different background or the attempt to spread hate on the streets are things we do not accept."

Strongly condemning the far-right and xenophobic abuses, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that "the shock of this act of violence was abused to carry alien hatred and violence on the streets of the city."

Hajo Funke, an expert on right-wing extremism, who taught at the Institute for Political Science of Free University of Berlin until 2010, told local media that this was a "dangerous" situation for Germany.

"The danger is that people resentful of certain ethnic groups fueled by Pegida will band together with neo-Nazi scenes of violence," said Funke.

Pegida stands for "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident" in German. The group was founded in 2014 and regularly organizes large rallies to protest what it views as a threat posed by Islam and multiculturalism more generally to Western society.

Hans Pfeifer, an expert on right-wing extremism, said that racist sentiment does have a history in modern Germany going back to the 1970s, but what makes the situation more concerning today is the ability of the common people to easily accept right-wing activists.

"There are quite a lot of normal citizens from the neighborhood, and they do not feel it much trouble to march against refugees, against the government, side by side with people saluting Hitler," Pfeifer said. "I think this is ... becoming more and more dangerous."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:18:21|Editor: mmm

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COPENHAGEN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The appeal trial of Danish submariner Peter Madsen, who is seeking a reduced sentence for killing the Swedish journalist Kim Wall, was postponed here on Friday as a judge in the Eastern High Court fell ill during the hearing.

The lay judge, one of two serving along with three judges, lost consciousness after the prosecutor began presenting his final arguments and eventually left the court on a stretcher.

The judge regained consciousness in the ambulance, according to the court.

Madsen, 47, was on April 25 sentenced to life in prison for the premeditated murder of Wall on his submarine last August.

In the three-day hearing, Madsen did not appeal against his murder conviction, but sought a time-limited rather than open-ended prison sentence.

The court had been due to present its verdict on Madsen's sentence later Friday. It is not yet known when the case will proceed again.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:28:26|Editor: mmm

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BERLIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) announced on Friday that his government is preparing to unveil a new "concept" to lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from vehicles affected by the "dieselgate" scandal.

"We will consider technical options to make existing vehicles even cleaner," Scheuer said in a video message published online. Although the transport minister did not reveal any further details about the initiative, he hereby appeared to backtrack on his ministry's earlier opposition to any changes to diesel vehicles other than less comprehensive software updates offered on a voluntary basis by Germany's powerful automotive industry.

Scheuer warned that there would be no future for diesel vehicles unless carmakers "showcased their willingness" to ensure its sustained viability as a clean and efficient propulsion technology. He argued that looming driving bans imposed by municipal governments in response to the diesel emissions scandal meant that it had become necessary to offer citizens more security.

Following revelations that carmakers installed illicit defeat devices to understate NOx emissions from diesel exhaust systems, a landmark ruling by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has enabled German cities to unilaterally ban polluting vehicles from their streets to ensure compliance with European Union (EU) clean air regulations. Hamburg has already a partial ban, with Stuttgart and Frankfurt scheduled to follow suit in 2019.

The Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) has estimated that diesel cars are responsible for more than 50 percent of NOx emissions in Germany which are harmful to human health. NOx levels currently exceed binding limits set in EU clean air legislation in several major German cities, prompting the European Commission to file an ongoing lawsuit against the federal government in Berlin at the European Court of Justice (CJEU).

German carmakers have repeatedly resisted calls for hardware updates to diesel motors on the grounds that they would be too expensive, volunteering to offer cheaper and less complicated motor software updates instead. So far, Chancellor Angela Merkel's (CDU) coalition government has shown leniency towards economically-significant automotive industry while inconclusively debating the issue within cabinet for several months.

The chancellor and Scheuer have previously sided with German carmakers, while minister for the environmental Svenja Schulze (SPD) has echoed demands by the UBA for mandatory hardware upgrades to be conducted as well. Merkel has announced that a final decision would be reached by the federal government in September.

Speaking to press on Friday, a spokesperson for the ministry of transport said that earlier "technical, legal and financial" concerns raised by Scheuer over hardware upgrades remained "valid." Nevertheless, his colleague Schulze welcomed the news of a vague new "concept" on diesel emissions as a "sign of hope for all of those who want clean air in cities and who must fear driving bans for no fault of their own."

"Technical upgrades are the best and fairest way out of the diesel crisis," Schulze added. She hereby expressed confidence that the German government would work together to ensure that carmakers assumed responsibility for the measures rather than leaving customers to shoulder any resulting costs.

The video message by Scheuer was published on the same day as the German Environmental Aid (DUH) group released independent test results according to which even the newest Euro 6 diesel motor types released 5.5 times more NOx emissions on average than permitted under EU law.

Only 8.4 percent of vehicles tested by DUH complied with regulatory limits. For DUH president Juergen Resch, the findings were a damning indictment for carmakers, as well as the federal government. "Enough is enough," Resch said.

The DUH president urged Merkel's government to finally begin confronting "fraudulent automotive companies" and offering assistance to customers affected by the scandal. The DUH has filed dozens of lawsuits against cities in breach of EU clean air legislation in the wake of the Leipzig ruling and is hence indirectly responsible for the first diesel driving bans to be mandated by courts.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:33:28|Editor: yan

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three security personnel were killed and two others injured when a bomb went off near a government official's vehicle in Pishin district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, local media reported.

The vehicle of assistant commissioner Pishin was targeted by a remote controlled device when it was passing by a downtown area of the district, but the official remained unhurt as he was not in it when the attack was launched.

The explosive materials were fixed at a motorbike, which were detonated as soon the officer's vehicle passed by it.

The injured security personnel were shifted to a nearby hospital.

Police cordoned off the area and an investigation into the incident has been kicked off.

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and sought report from the provincial government about the incident.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:48:37|Editor: yan

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GARISSA, Kenya, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Al-Shabab militants on Friday killed two civilians in Garissa county in northeast Kenya, a government official said.

Northeastern regional commissioner Mohamed Birik confirmed the incident at Handaro saying a security operation was underway to try and arrest the militants who were believed to be still hiding in the forest.

Eyewitnesses said about seven armed al-Shabab militants had stopped a Garissa-bound commuter bus and ordered all non-locals (Christians) to alight from the bus which had left Holugho town at 9 am and was heading to Garissa when the incident happened at 11 am.

According to the witnesses, the militants who were all speaking in Swahili emerged from a nearby thicket where they intercepted the bus and ordered the driver to stop before entering in. They then ordered commuters to produce his identification card.

"The three non-locals were then separated from the rest of us (Muslims) before they were told to recite the Muslim Shahada and suratul Fatiha (Quran verses), the complete seven verses," said the teacher who refused to be identified.

Only one of them managed to do all the verses. He was left while his two colleagues, a bus conductor identified only as Joshua and the other a casual laborer had their hands tied before being executed.

After committing the heinous act, the militants then escaped to unknown location.

"These militants were seven in number. They were all conversing in Swahili with one guy who resembled like a person from the Arab origin. They never seem to be in a hurry even as they went about carrying out the exercise," said the teacher.

The incident comes after the regional government announced the recruitment of the Kenya police reservists in all the 60 locations across the region to enhance border patrols.

Islamist militants have staged a string of attacks in Kenya, including the April 2, 2015 massacre at Garissa University that left 148 students dead and a 2013 assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall that killed 67.

The East African nation continues to suffer several attacks as terrorists change tuck to beat heightened security and carry on with their heinous acts undetected.

In the recent past, there have been numerous attacks involving landmines, grenades, or other explosive devices in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties by the insurgents.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 22:53:39|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday dismissed France's concerns over Tehran's recent missile attacks against an opposition group in the Iraqi Kurdistan.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bahram Qasemi blasted France's "double standards" on dealing with terrorism.

Qasemi said no country would ever remain silent when it comes to its national security, territorial integrity, and any form of aggression against its people and land.

His comments came in response to the French Foreign Ministry, which expressed concerns about the missile attack of the Islamic republic against "terrorists" in northern Iraq.

Qasemi said that his country had earlier warned the Iraqi government and Iraqi Kurdistan authorities of the terrorist moves and destabilizing acts of terrorist groups.

On Sept. 8, Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a missile attack on a center in the Iraqi Kurdistan region which was used for training anti-Iran Kurdish opposition group.

In the attack, 14 group members were killed and scores were injured.

"This terrorist group recently martyred 11 Iranian citizens, and the Iranian nation at least expected their government to punish them and take decisive actions in order to put an end to such operations," said Qasemi.

Chief commander of the IRGC on Thursday said that "IRGC's recent revenge against terrorists (in Iraqi Kurdistan) had a very meaningful message for the enemies."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:03:45|Editor: yan

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WELLINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than half of New Zealanders say Maori language should be a core subject in primary schools, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday.

Data about attitudes to the Maori language was collected for the first time in New Zealand's biggest survey of well-being, the General Social Survey (GSS) 2016.

The Maori language is recognized as a treasure for all New Zealanders, labor market and household statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said in a statement, adding the survey shows about half of New Zealanders have positive attitudes towards the Maori language.

Almost half of adult New Zealanders said they agreed that the government should encourage and support the use of Maori in everyday situations, and about 45 percent agreed that signage should be both in Maori and English, according to the survey.

Nearly half of New Zealanders had used at least some Maori words or phrases in the previous four weeks, it shows.

The 2016 GSS also recorded people's ability to use Maori in day-to-day conversations. Only 6 in 100 New Zealanders say they can speak Maori very well, well, or fairly well, Attewell said. However, he said more than half of New Zealanders commonly use Maori words or phrases.

In the 2013 Census, 148,395 people said they spoke Maori, compared with 157,110 in 2006.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:03:46|Editor: yan

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB) Singapore Branch Friday celebrated its 20th anniversary in Singapore by signing four MoUs with local partners.

Singaporean Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Hong Xiaoyong and CCB Chairman and Executive Director Tian Guoli were among those officiating at the celebration.

At the ceremony, CCB signed four Strategic Cooperation MoUs with Surbana Jurong Private Limited (Surbana Jurong), National University of Singapore, CITIC Envirotech Ltd and Credit Suisse (Singapore) Ltd in the areas of infrastructure advisory & financing, academic research and private banking services.

CCB Singapore Branch currently operates with a wholesale banking license and has around 80 employees in Singapore.

CCB Singapore Branch commenced operations in March 1998. It offers various financial services and products to Singapore companies as well as medium to large Chinese companies, in the areas of corporate banking, trade finance, financial markets, investment banking, private banking business and other financial services. It also serves as a regional center for six other countries including India, Pakistan, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:08:48|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will plead guilty on Friday, media outlets quoted Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office as saying.

Mueller's office has changed Manafort's criminal indictment to a plea agreement, the office spokesman Peter Carr told CNN.

Documents filed in court showed that Manafort is expected to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge that accused him of money laundering, tax fraud, and lying to investigators, local media said.

Manafort is due to appear at a preliminary hearing for his upcoming second trial in Washington D.C. federal court at 11:00 a.m. eastern time (1600 GMT) on Friday.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colorado Resources Ltd. (Colorado or the Company) (TSXV  CXO) is pleased to announce diamond drilling results from its 100% owned KSP property located in British Columbias prolific Golden Triangle region. As previously announced on July 16, 2018, diamond drilling on the 308 sq. km KSP Property has tested two step-out targets around the historic Inel basin area, including the Big Rock Deformation Zone (BRDZ) to the east, and Inel Zn to the north.

Along the Big Rock Deformation Zone (Figure 1), four oriented-core holes tested the continuity of Inel-type mineralization over a north-east strike length of approximately 400 m. Results include significant intercepts in holes INDDH-124 (32 m grading 0.32 g/t Au and 1.64% Zn) and INDDH-125 (50 m grading 2.28 g/t Au including 6 m grading 7.36 g/t Au; see Table 1 for complete results1).

Based upon preliminary oriented-core studies (the first to be undertaken on the Inel occurrence), Inel-type mineralization is characterized by relatively shallow dipping structural corridors containing tectonic arrays of pyrite +/- sphalerite-bearing quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets associated multi-metre scale halos of sericite-pyrite alteration and hosting anomalous Au values. Sheeted, extensional, gold-bearing veins are developed between north-east-striking, planar, brittle-ductile high strain zones over significant widths within Stuhini siliclastic wackes and monzonites.



Hole ID2 Total Length (m) From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) INDDH18-122 207 179.0 193.5 14.5 2.04 INDDH18-123 204 78.0 81.0 3.0 0.69 and 108.0 118.0 10.0 0.23 INDDH18-124 216 70.0 102.0 32.0 0.36 and 114.0 167.0 53.0 0.78 including 129.0 139.0 10.0 2.23 INDDH18-125 234 77.0 87.0 10.0 0.53 and 116.0 119.0 3.0 1.05 and 158.0 161.0 3.0 0.92 and 171.0 221.0 50.0 2.28 including 201.0 207.0 6.0 7.38

1 Widths (m) reported are drilled core lengths. True widths are estimated at 50 to 70 per cent of drilled lengths.

2 For hole location, inclination and azimuth, refer to the drilling plan view and drill section, as well as another table, on the Company's website.

With respect to the Inel Zn target (Figure 1), Colorado completed 4 step-out holes, INDDH-126 to INDDH-129, attempting to test for mineralization delimiting the northern margin of the Inel Basin. No significant results were recorded in these holes.

Colorado President and CEO, Robert Shaw, states: Colorado is pleased to receive positive results along the BRDZ. Our oriented-core studies have significantly improved our understanding of structurally controlled gold mineralization along the BRDZ, indicating the potential for Inel-style mineralization to the east of previous drilling in the Inel basin.

Complete results for Colorados 2016, 2017 and 2018 exploration and drilling programs can be found at www.coloradoresources.com .

Quality assurance/quality control procedures

Colorado Resources Ltd. has implemented a rigorous quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of diamond drill core, the details of which can be viewed on the company's website.

All assays are performed by ALS Canada Ltd., with sample preparation carried out at the ALS facility in Terrace, B.C., and assays at the North Vancouver laboratory. Assay values are uncut. For gold, fire assays are performed as per ALS method Au-AA26 (0.01 to 100.00 g/t Au) using 50 grams of sample measured by atomic absorption (AA). Assays equal to or greater than 10.0 g/t Au are reanalyzed gravimetrically by method Au-GRA22. Silver, copper and zinc are analyzed by ALS method ME-MS61 with a four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) analysis. ME-MS61 Values greater than the upper detection limit are continued with ore grade analysis (OG62).

Qualified Person

Bill Yeomans, P. Geo., the Companys consulting geologist, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who reviewed the preparation of the technical data in this news release.

About Colorado

Colorado Resources Ltd. is currently engaged in the business of mineral exploration for the purpose of acquiring and advancing mineral properties located in the Golden Triangle British Columbia. The Companys main exploration projects within British Columbia include KSP, North ROK, and Kinaskan-Castle.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

COLORADO RESOURCES LTD.

Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw

President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

Colorado Resources Ltd.

Robert Shaw, President & CEO

T: (250) 768-1511

F: (250) 768-0849

TF (855) 768-1511

W: www.coloradoresources.com

NR-18-13

Cautionary Notes (1) for Figures

 The Figures in this news release contain information about adjacent properties on which Colorado has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Companys properties.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including: that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company obtains required regulatory approvals, that the Company continues to maintain a good relationship with the local project communities. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, delays in regulatory approval, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis reports filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80e887f8-d5f6-49a8-aac9-3955e54b7ce2
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:13:49|Editor: Liangyu

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BRASILIA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A group of Brazilian students will start to receive postgraduate studies this month at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) as part of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) cooperation program which turns 30 this year.

Thanks to the program, three groups of Brazilian students have already had the opportunity to hone their skills in China.

Cooperation goes beyond hardware to human resources, President of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) Jose Raimundo Braga Coelho has told Xinhua.

"Since China has the BUAA, which specifically works in the space field, we expanded our cooperation to the area of human resources," said Coelho.

"We have sent people to take postgraduate and specialization courses, all financed by China, which shows its great regard for Brazil," he said.

The program that began in 1988 has become a model of South-South scientific and technological cooperation, benefiting both countries.

Currently, eight Brazilian universities offer degrees in the aerospace field, which in itself is already a great achievement, said Coelho.

The Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (RCSSTEAP-China), which was inaugurated at the BUAA in 2014, has offered scholarships for Brazilian students in the master's and PhD programs in space technology.

Brazilian students, who are granted scholarships at the BUAA, take the required Mandarin courses and receive free lodging on campus and a monthly stipend.

Their studies range from global satellite navigation systems to space law.

"Space law is a very important topic," said Coelho, adding there is a need for the creation of laws for the peaceful use of space and China has created this specific course in Beijing.

Ana Paula Castro, a major of aerospace engineering who graduated from the University of Brasilia (UnB), is among the new batch of students who will begin their studies in Beijing next week.

"When I found out about the opportunity to study space law, I was very interested, because in Brazil we don't have too many specialists in the area," Castro told Xinhua.

 "I think it can open many doors for me, and it could also be a way for me to contribute to the Brazilian aerospace sector in a more active way," Castro said.

Castro has submitted a preliminary project on space garbage that "looks" 100 years into the future to see what might happen if measures are not taken now to regulate waste in space.

"A professor proposed I research the potential benefits of space for the world's poor communities," she said.

Leticia Santos Lula, another graduate of the UnB, will pursue a master's degree in microsatellite technology in Beijing upon the recommendation of one of her predecessors.

"A friend of ours went last year to study... He had other options here in Brazil, but chose to do his master's in China and he told us it was a very good decision," said Lula.

She did not rule out staying on in China if the opportunity arises.

"I'm going with the hope that along the way, other opportunities will come up. It could be in my academic career, in industry, even if some opportunity presents itself to stay there, I could go for it," said Lula.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:18:50|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing on Friday.

Li said France is an important country of the European Union, and Sino-French relations have worldwide influence.

Applauding current cooperation between the two sides, Li said China and France have worked together on nuclear power for 30 years and have made breakthroughs this year on the third-generation nuclear power cooperation.

There is huge potential for the development of bilateral ties with win-win results, and China stands ready to work with France to promote all-round practical cooperation, so as to better benefit the two peoples, Li said.

He called on the two countries, which are both major economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, to make contributions under the current circumstances to world peace, development and prosperity.

Le Drian said both China and France support multilateralism, advocate a political solution to differences, and France is ready to enhance strategic communication and pragmatic cooperation with China.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:18:50|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Friday downplayed the likelihood of any military conflict between the Islamic republic and the United States.

Lieutenant Commander of IRGC, Hossein Salami, said Washington is aware that "it will lose in any war against Tehran."

The option of war against Iran is out of the question because neither are the political and economic conditions right for the United States nor does it have an ally for a war against Iran, Salami said.

"In such circumstances, Washington will be the loser of any war against Iran," he said.

He stressed that Iran will give a "firm, destructive, and crushing" response to the enemies seeking to harm the country.

Earlier, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also ruled out the possibility of military attacks on Iran by the country's enemies.

However, the Iranian armed forces should remain vigilant and boost their capabilities on the daily basis, Khamenei said.

"The armed forces should enhance human and hardware capabilities ... and upgrade efficient management," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:33:53|Editor: Liangyu

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by Xinhua writers Zhong Ya, Qu Junya, Zhu Shaobin

NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's silk reached Africa through Central and West Asia and Europe along the route of the ancient Silk Road.

Chinese ships arrived at the east coast of Africa through the maritime Silk Road as early as the Tang Dynasty. In the early 1400s, Zheng He led the largest ships in then world to reach as far as East Africa, marking a landmark chapter for China-Africa exchange.

Today, the China-Africa comprehensive cooperation and common development have been lifted to a higher level thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) China proposed in 2013. This also offers Africa the opportunity to promote innovation and make their dreams a reality.

ROADS LEADING TO PROSPERITY

China has been supporting Senegal in building transport infrastructure and has provided loans to build a key highway linking two major cities of Thies and Touba, a project being carried out by the China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC).

The highway, which is located east of the capital Kigali and is about 113 km long, is the largest cooperation project between China and Senegal and will strongly boost Senegal's infrastructure connectivity and economic growth.

The project brings many tangible benefits to the local economy, for example, all the building materials used were bought from locals, Zhang Jianguo, manager of the Senegalese branch of the CRBC, said, adding that "After completion, the highway will facilitate the transportation of peanuts and fruits from the places nearby."

The project also provides massive job opportunities for local residents. After starting construction in 2016, the CRBC organized technical training and Chinese-language classes for local workers. They also selected qualified local workers and financed their annual sightseeing tour to the headquarters in China.

Laba Thiam is one of their top workers. After joining the CRBC, she started to live on her own instead of relying on her parents, Thiam said.

The CRBC welcomes women staff, and "I hope more Senegalese women to join the CRBC, and to strive for the same position in society as men under their own power," she added.

During the past five years, the BRI has vigorously helped Africa with its integration process by building roads and other infrastructure. "Once you step on the land of Africa, you will see plenty of Chinese company investment projects. They help African nation construct highways, railways, airports and ports," Namibian President Hage Geingob said.

As of last year, China has invested and built highways and railways in Africa exceeding 5,000 km. In addition, China has also trained 160,000 African talents.

In recent years, a series of giant projects in Africa undertaken by Chinese corporations have been completed. These include the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway which connects landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti and the Benguela railway. These mega projects have been making significant contributions to the connectivity and economic growth in African nations.

PREPARING THE LABOR FORCE FOR NATION-BUILDING

Agriculture and food processing, civil engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, hospitality management, irrigation and water conservation are the five degree courses in the biggest vocational education center in Rwanda's Northern Province.

The center, or a polytechnic college based in Musanze, which stands at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes, also offers short-term training for woodwork, cooking, household-electrical installation and welding, among others.

The vocational education center launched in 2015 under the BRI framework now has some 1,200 students, compared to some 170 when it opened. According to a bilateral agreement signed in June this year on its expansion, the Chinese government will continue to fund the construction of its administration, teaching and dormitory buildings and affiliated facilities, while providing the needed equipment and supplies.

The latest move is expected to remarkably enhance the college's capacity.

"We are helping fill the technical personnel deficit in the country," said Emile Abayisenga, head of the college and Musanze's city council.

Rwanda suffers a skilled-labor shortage, while vocational courses are badly needed, he noted.

The college's 26-year-old student, Marcel Nyirimihigo, designed a concrete gravity dam for the Eastern Province for his graduation project.

"Agriculture is fundamental. For Rwanda, irrigation is a key factor in agricultural modernization," he said. "This is why we designed a dam."

HAVING ENOUGH CLEAN WATER TO DRINK EVERYDAY

"Now everybody can take good showers in summers," Mauritius pediatrician Marie-Noelle Moutou said. "At last, the reservoir dam is completed, and we can live a better life."

The Bagatelle dam, some 22 km southeast off the Mauritius capital Port Louis, stands near the home of the five-member Moutou family. The dam construction was contracted to the China International Water & Electric Corporation.

Before the dam was completed on June 30 this year, the Moutous had to wake up very early everyday to get tap water. Tap water was only available for several hours in the morning, and their water-buckets were never filled due to low water pressures.

Located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius lacks fresh water as is the case for many island countries. Official data shows the Bagatelle dam benefits an area some 20 percent of Mauritius, home to over 30 percent of the population. Currently, residents in Port Louis and its neighborhood can enjoy a round-the-clock water supply.

Ex-President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has said, "Thanks to Chinese friends for building this great dam for us. It will make thousands of our citizens no longer worry about where to obtain clean drinking water."

In the Coromandel industrial park, 5 km away from where the Moutous live, Jean Ah-Lim too feels gratitude towards the dam-builders.

Today, the owner of a factory making the Chinese dumpling jiao-zi no longer has to buy fresh water from privately-run enterprises in order to maintain their daily output of 10,000 dumplings. This dramatically reduces the cost.

"The dam helps the local households and enterprises, and will pull (up) the country's economy," he said.

Mauritius welcomes the Belt and Road and is willing to deepen this win-win friendly cooperation with China, Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth has said. In his opinion, the BRI integrates the visions of many countries.

(Xinhua reporters Xing Jianqiao, Lv Tianran and Wen Hao also contributed to the story.)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:38:55|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will plead guilty on Friday, media outlets quoted Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office as saying.

Mueller's office has changed Manafort's criminal indictment to a plea agreement, the office spokesman Peter Carr told CNN.

Documents filed in Washington D.C. federal court showed that Manafort is expected to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge that accused him of money laundering, tax fraud, and lying to investigators, local media said.

Manafort is due to appear at a preliminary hearing for his upcoming second trial in court at 11:00 a.m. eastern time (1600 GMT) on Friday.

It remains unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors or is simply conceding to a guilty plea, which would allow him to avoid the trial scheduled to begin later this month on seven counts alleging money laundering, failure to register as a foreign agent and obstruction of justice.

Manafort was already convicted of eight tax and bank fraud charges by a federal court jury in Virginia last month, the first conviction secured at trial by Mueller's team.

All the charges largely stem from Manafort's time working for a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine before the 2016 U.S. elections. However, the first trial didn't specifically address any alleged collusion between Trump associates or officials and the Russian government. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Mueller probe as a "rigged witch hunt."

Manafort, 69, was a veteran Republican lobbyist. He joined Trump's campaign team in March 2016 and spent three months as Trump's campaign chairman until mid August of that year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:38:56|Editor: yan

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GUANGZHOU, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- As the southern Chinese province of Guangdong braces for super typhoon Mangkhut, the region has called over 6,000 boats back to harbor, evacuated over 3,000 offshore platform workers, and shut down all construction sites.

Mangkhut is expected to land in an area between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan on Sunday night, packing strong gales and bringing tremendous downpours, the local weather bureau said.

The provincial maritime administration has dispatched helicopters and tugboats to transfer a total of 3,238 offshore platform workers and ordered 6,266 ships to take precautions against the typhoon.

Construction of roads and bridges across the province has been suspended to make preparations for the upcoming typhoon.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:54:00|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China supports Venezuela's efforts in developing economy and improving people's livelihood, and is willing to provide aid to Venezuela within its ability, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday.

Li made the remarks while meeting with visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Commending the good development momentum of bilateral relations, Li said the two heads of state held fruitful talks to jointly chart the development of bilateral relations and the two countries should make joint efforts to explore new prospects for bilateral relations and cooperation.

Li called on the two sides to adhere to the principle of equality, mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win results, continue with economic and trade exchanges, and encourage commercial and sustainable cooperation.

"We hope the Venezuelan side can provide more policy support and legal protection," said Li, calling on the two sides to cement people-to-people exchanges and solidify the foundation of friendly public opinions.

Maduro applauded the bilateral relations as a model of cooperation between countries.

Venezuela has mapped out a national economic recovery and growth plan, and welcomes Chinese companies to actively take part in Venezuela's economic development, Maduro said, adding that Venezuela stands ready to further forge ahead all-round cooperation with China.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-14 23:54:01|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R) pose for a group photo with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (2nd L) and his wife in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2018. Xi held talks with Maduro in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro held talks in Beijing on Friday, agreeing to promote bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

Xi welcomed the tenth visit of Maduro to China, expressing appreciation of Maduro's high value of the development of bilateral ties and firm support for China-Venezuela cooperation.

"China always views and develops Sino-Venezuelan ties from a strategic and long-term perspective," said Xi.

In the face of new circumstances and new challenges, China and Venezuela should jointly deepen friendly mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in an innovative way, continue to advance common development, and drive China-Venezuela ties to a new height to better benefit the two peoples, Xi said.

The two sides should cement political mutual trust, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, and integrate their bilateral friendship in all aspects of cooperation between the two countries, he said.

China appreciates Venezuela's understanding and support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, said Xi, noting that China will continue to support the Venezuelan government's efforts in seeking stable development and a development path suited to its national conditions, and China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Venezuela on governance.

China and Venezuela should improve and innovate pragmatic cooperation, said Xi, calling on the two sides to take the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on building the Belt and Road as an opportunity, to forge ahead the synergy and implementation of bilateral cooperation consensus, enhance the independent development capability of Venezuela, and promote the sustainable development of cooperation between the two countries.

The Chinese president called for closer people-to-people and regional exchanges, to consolidate the social foundation for bilateral friendship.

"The two sides should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, continue to intensify communication within such international and regional organizations as the United Nations, participate together in the reform and construction of the global governance system, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries," said Xi.

Xi said that China has always promoted cooperation with Latin American countries on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and common development, and is willing to promote the building of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and the steady development of China-Latin America ties.

Maduro said the two peoples enjoyed a long-term friendship. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral ties had withstood various tests and become increasingly solid and fruitful.

The fact that the two sides reached consensus on expanding cooperation in a wide range of fields during his visit fully demonstrated that the bilateral cooperation is comprehensive and compatible with Venezuela's economic recovery, growth and prosperity program, he said.

The Venezuelan side appreciated China's long-standing understanding and support, said Maduro, expecting to learn more about China's successful experience in reform, opening up, and governance.

Venezuela is willing to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road, explore effective financing methods, strengthen cooperation in such areas as energy and production capacity, and expand people-to-people exchanges, said Maduro.

Maduro said he highly agrees with Xi's concept of advocating to build a community with a shared future for humanity, adding that Venezuela will work with China to safeguard multilateralism.

He also expressed firm support for the development of the China-CELAC Forum, saying Venezuela will make positive efforts to enhance China-Latin America cooperation.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperative documents, including an MOU on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 00:09:06|Editor: yan

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by Mohamed al-Azaki

SANAA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Dressed in a traditional black abaya and blue veil with her face widely open, 26-year-old Raghad Mubarak is a female artist from Sudan.

She is now drawing graffiti on walls in Yemen's rebel-controlled capital Sanaa, promoting peace efforts to end the country's deadly war.

Carrying her paintbrushes with a wide range of colours, Mubarak, along with her Yemeni artist friends, went to downtown Sanaa this week to daub walls with pro-peace graffiti, calling for an end to the three-and-half-year devastating Yemeni civil war.

Street graffiti arts have become increasingly popular for millions of Yemenis since the civil war erupted in the conservative poor Arab country.

"I was encouraged by my beloved Yemeni fellows and friends who encouraged me to take the challenge and paint for the Yemeni people's peace," Mubarak recalled.

Mubarak came with her parents to Yemen before the start of the civil war. She studied in Sanaa University and kept following her passion for arts through her Yemeni peace activities, during which she has made friends with lots of other artists via social media.

"The color and shape of my face are clearly attracting the Yemeni passers-by when I engage in graffiti campaigns," she said.

"They usually come close to me while drawing graffiti ... and then they react nicely, encourage me and shake hands with me," Mubarak added.

The Sudanese woman has participated with many Yemeni artists in several pro-peace street mural campaigns.

This week, Mubarak joined in a painting campaign on a long wall in front of the headquarters building of the Yemeni Foreign Ministry in Sanaa.

The campaign was under the hashtag "stop_war," depicting the suffering and mental pain of the Yemeni women and children from the ongoing war.

The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, with about 3 million others displaced across the country.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of Yemen and seized all northern provinces in late 2014, including the capital Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

"Violence against the Yemeni women and children has been increasing in the war," Mubarak told Xinhua. "I'm drawing graffiti today to depict the social, economic and mental pains of women and children at war."

"The military escalation in the port city of Hodeidah has killed hundreds of people and forced hundreds of thousands of families to flee their homes," she lamented.

"The war is very painful ... Please stop war for the sake of your children," the Sudanese young artist woman appealed.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 00:14:08|Editor: Liangyu

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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition seek to tighten the noose on the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea coast city of Hodeidah after making significant advancement in the ongoing fighting.

Army units of pro-government Giants Brigades have taken control of several areas and expelled the Houthis following days of ferocious fighting.

On Wednesday, the Yemeni government troops succeeded in cutting off the "Kilo16 road," the only supply route linking Houthi-controlled areas in northern provinces with the port city of Hodeidah, which will pose a huge blow to the group.

Yemeni observers believe that the Saudi-led coalition and its local allies will continue to conduct clean-up operations and pursue fleeing Houthi militants, but they won't storm densely populated areas.

"Cutting off supply routes for Houthis in Hodeidah is considered as a wise plan that will force Houthis to surrender easily without causing harms for citizens," said Hussein Hanshy, head of Aden's Aden's Research and Strategic Studies center.

He added that "the Houthi militiamen are well-prepared for such street fighting that won't end easily, but the government forces have different plans that will lay a siege on Houthi-controlled areas with fewer losses."

Saleh Abu Odal, a political activist and observer, said that cutting off supply lines by government forces means that the Iranian-backed Houthi group is nearing the end of its control over one of the country's strategic ports.

He pointed out that "Houthis will face a very serious obstacle in the next days and can't continue longer in fighting well-trained army soldiers backed by modern armored vehicles because of lack of severe fighters."

Abdul-Raqeeb Hidyani, a political analyst and writer, said that the Yemeni warring rivals in Hodeidah must pay attention to the humanitarian situation and start in providing shelters and securing safe roads for families willing to flee war-torn areas in Hodeidah as soon as possible.

Hodiedah houses a number of industrial zones where thousands of local workers are working to gain livelihoods.

Humanitarian officer Khaled Walidy, who works for a local organization, told Xinhua that "the humanitarian losses will be much higher than the political achievements of the military operations in Hodeidah."

"Even those families who managed fleeing the ongoing fighting in Hodeidah faced very difficult living conditions elsewhere without enough support from local and international organizations," Khaled said.

He added that "we noticed that some of the displaced families suffered from miserable living conditions in other places and finally decided to come back to live in Hodeidah despite the raging fighting there."

The Yemeni government seeks to expel the Houthi rebels out of the strategic port city of Hodeidah militarily despite warnings issued by international humanitarian agencies.

On the other side, the Iranian-backed Houthis have established many underground trenches and vowed to defend the city of Hodeidah in order to remain in control over its key port along the Red Sea.

On June 13, the Arab coalition, backing internationally-recognized government of Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, declared a major assault to recapture Hodeidah and the Yemeni western Red Sea coast from the Houthis.

Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly accused the Houthi rebels of using Hodeidah's port to smuggle Iranian weapons. Both Houthis and Iran denied the accusation.

Hodeidah is the single most important point of entry for food and basic supplies to Yemen's northern provinces controlled by Houthis, including the capital Sanaa.

The Arab coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to roll back Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels and reinstate Hadi.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colorado Resources Ltd. (Colorado or the Company) (TSXV  CXO) announces commencement of a review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.



As part of the review process, the Company has engaged Fort Capital, an independent financial advisory company specializing in providing advice to resource companies, to assist the Board in its evaluation of alternatives available to the Company.

The Company has not set a definitive timeline to complete its identification, examination and consideration of opportunities. Furthermore, this review has not been initiated as a result of receiving any transaction proposal. Given the nature of the process, the Company does not intend to provide updates with respect to the process until such time as the Board approves a definitive transaction or strategic alternative, or otherwise determines that further disclosure is advisable. The Company cautions that there are no guarantees that the review of strategic alternatives will result in a transaction or if a transaction is undertaken, as to its terms or timing.

The Company will look to complete its 2018 exploration field season and preserve its working capital, while sustaining the Company's efforts to evaluate and pursue any strategic alternative.

As part of a its strategic alternative review, it has entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with Goldcorp Inc. (Goldcorp) for a loan in the amount of $500,000 (the "Loan"). Proceeds from the Loan will be used for general working capital purposes while the Company reviews various alternatives available for its future development and maximization of shareholder value.

Colorados President and CEO, Robert Shaw, states: Goldcorps ongoing support provides Colorado with interim working capital while it evaluates a number of options going forward. We believe that the current trading price of Colorados shares does not reflect the value of our mineral exploration assets, consequently Colorados Board has determined it is timely, and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to explore strategic alternatives.

Terms of the Loan include interest at a rate of 8% per annum compounded monthly, a maximum term of twelve months, maturing on September 13, 2019 (the "Maturity Date") with early repayment provisions and is secured against the Company's KSP, Kinaskan-Castle and North ROK properties.

Additional terms include the Companys option to pay interest in cash or, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), in shares (the Interest Shares). The issue price of any Interest Shares will be the lower of the 10-day volume weighted average price and the closing price of Colorado's common shares on the last trading day prior to payment.

As a condition for providing the Loan and subject to the approval of the Exchange, the Company has agreed to issue to Goldcorp common shares as a bonus (the "Bonus Shares), as follows:

250,000 Bonus Shares within five business days of the date of receipt Exchange approval; at a deemed price of $0.115 per share; an additional 125,000 Bonus Shares if the Loan is repaid in full after the three month Anniversary Date but prior to the six month Anniversary Date of the Loan; and an additional 250,000 Bonus Shares if the Loan is not fully repaid before the six month Anniversary on the date which is the earlier of: (i) the Maturity Date; or (ii) the date on which the outstanding balance of the Loan is repaid.

About Colorado

Colorado Resources Ltd. is currently engaged in the business of mineral exploration for the purpose of acquiring and advancing mineral properties located in the Golden Triangle British Columbia. The Companys main exploration projects within British Columbia include KSP, North ROK, Kingpin and Kinaskan-Castle.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

COLORADO RESOURCES LTD.

Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw

President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information, please contact:

Colorado Resources Ltd.

Robert Shaw, President and CEO

T: (250) 768-1511

F: (250) 768-0849

TF: (855) 768-1511

W: www.coloradoresources.com

NR 18-14

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including: that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company obtains required regulatory approvals, that the Company continues to maintain a good relationship with the local project communities. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward -looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, delays in regulatory approval, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis reports filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
A Yemeni artist works on graffiti on a wall about difficulties Yemeni displaced people face after they fled their homes due to the ongoing conflicts, at a street in Sanaa, Yemen, on August 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

SANAA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Dressed in a traditional black abaya and blue veil with her face widely open, 26-year-old Raghad Mubarak is a female artist from Sudan.

She is now drawing graffiti on walls in Yemen's rebel-controlled capital Sanaa, promoting peace efforts to end the country's deadly war.

Carrying her paintbrushes with a wide range of colours, Mubarak, along with her Yemeni artist friends, went to downtown Sanaa this week to daub walls with pro-peace graffiti, calling for an end to the three-and-half-year devastating Yemeni civil war.

Street graffiti arts have become increasingly popular for millions of Yemenis since the civil war erupted in the conservative poor Arab country.

"I was encouraged by my beloved Yemeni fellows and friends who encouraged me to take the challenge and paint for the Yemeni people's peace," Mubarak recalled.

A Yemeni artist works on graffiti on a wall about difficulties Yemeni displaced people face after they fled their homes due to the ongoing conflicts, at a street in Sanaa, Yemen, on August 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

Mubarak came with her parents to Yemen before the start of the civil war. She studied in Sanaa University and kept following her passion for arts through her Yemeni peace activities, during which she has made friends with lots of other artists via social media.

"The color and shape of my face are clearly attracting the Yemeni passers-by when I engage in graffiti campaigns," she said.

"They usually come close to me while drawing graffiti ... and then they react nicely, encourage me and shake hands with me," Mubarak added.

Yemeni children work on graffiti on a wall about difficulties Yemeni displaced people face after they fled their homes due to the ongoing conflicts, at a street in Sanaa, Yemen, on August 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

The Sudanese woman has participated with many Yemeni artists in several pro-peace street mural campaigns.

This week, Mubarak joined in a painting campaign on a long wall in front of the headquarters building of the Yemeni Foreign Ministry in Sanaa.

The campaign was under the hashtag "stop_war," depicting the suffering and mental pain of the Yemeni women and children from the ongoing war.

The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, with about 3 million others displaced across the country.

A Yemeni artist works on graffiti on a wall about difficulties Yemeni displaced people face after they fled their homes due to the ongoing conflicts, at a street in Sanaa, Yemen, on August 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of Yemen and seized all northern provinces in late 2014, including the capital Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

"Violence against the Yemeni women and children has been increasing in the war," Mubarak told Xinhua. "I'm drawing graffiti today to depict the social, economic and mental pains of women and children at war."

"The military escalation in the port city of Hodeidah has killed hundreds of people and forced hundreds of thousands of families to flee their homes," she lamented.

"The war is very painful ... Please stop war for the sake of your children," the Sudanese young artist woman appealed.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 00:39:16|Editor: Yurou

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TIANJIN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Airbus on Friday launched its 2018 Fly Your Ideas global competition for the China region, encouraging young Chinese innovators to come up with unique ideas and solutions for the future aerospace industry.

The launch ceremony was held in Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC) in north China's Tianjin, also the home of one of the final assembly lines of the A320 aircraft family.

"Airbus is seeking innovative ideas and digital solutions that could change aerospace in the decades to come and create a safer, cleaner and better-connected world," said George Xu, CEO of Airbus China.

"China is not only a big market for Airbus but also a great innovative power that Airbus must appreciate and embrace. We are confident about China's innovation power, especially the young generations," said Xu in front of more than 700 students and aviation professionals at CAUC, one of China's major education bases for aerospace professionals.

Fly Your Ideas is a global competition for universities students from all over the world to innovate for the future of aerospace industry.

Since its launch in 2008, more than 20,000 students from around 650 universities in over 100 countries have participated in the event.

The focus of the upcoming 2018-2019 edition is digitalization. Global participants will propose their ideas and solution to meet the challenges in electrification, data services, cyber security, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality.

Six finalist teams worldwide will compete to share a prize fund of 45,000 euros and the chance to take their idea forward within the industry.

Chinese students have actively participated in this competition with outstanding performances.

In 2011, "Wing of Phoenix" from Nanjing Aeronautics and Astronautics University won the top prize, and "DAELead" from the University of Hong Kong won the global champion in 2017 with their innovative idea of "Private Stowage Compartment."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 00:49:19|Editor: Yurou

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Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite (R, Front) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C, Front) visit the NATO multinational battalion in Rukla, Lithuania, on Sept. 14, 2018. The German chancellor paid a visit to Lithuania on Friday. (Xinhua/Alfredas Pliadis)

VILNIUS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union will not consider lifting its sanctions on Russia until the implementation of Minsk agreements, however, the EU's dialogue with Russia must be maintained, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here Friday.

"Ukraine's territorial integrity has not been restored and this remains to be a key topic. We will not consider lifting sanctions on Russia until the Minsk agreements are implemented," Merkel told a joint press conference with Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite.

Speaking about Germany-Russia bilateral relations, the Chancellor said that negotiations are possible with Russia. In her words, Germany must continue talking to the sides of the conflict, adding that recent events in Syria have exacerbated the conflict.

According to Merkel, opinions with Russia differ on many issues, but coincide on the Iran nuclear agreement.

Regarding the migration issue, Merkel noted that the European Union must care not only about its external border in the Mediterranean but about the external land border on the East Europe as well.

For her part, Grybauskaite told journalists that Lithuania and Germany had reached the most successful stage in the history of bilateral relations.

"We trust Germany and the Chancellor as European interests will never be betrayed. Germany will always represent interests of all peaceful countries, of the EU and Lithuania," Lithuania's head of state said.

According to Grybauskaite, Germany demonstrates special attention to Lithuania's defense, security and rapidly growing economic relations. She highlighted that Europe must remain a strong global player.

"We have full responsibility and potential to do that. It only depends on the unity of the member states whether geopolitical tensions, rewriting of international trade rules and challenges to multinational diplomacy will become a series of crises or an opportunity for Europe to step up its global role," said Grybauskaite.

During her visit in Vilnius, Merkel met with Grybauskaite and the prime ministers of the Baltic States. At the start of a new EU political season, leaders focused on the Union's security, the EU budget, the challenges of international trade, migration and Brexit.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:09:24|Editor: yan

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LONDON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- An export ban was placed Friday on a rare 16th century painting of Britain's Queen Elizabeth I watching a battle with the Spanish Armada.

The miniature painting is at risk of heading to a new owner abroad unless an asking price of 210,000 pounds (275,000 U.S. dollars) is matched to keep the work in Britain.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the artwork is one of few contemporary depictions of the Spanish Armada.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism Michael Ellis placed the temporary export ban on the "The Spanish Armada in the Year 1588", by an unknown artist, to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

"Depictions of the Armada, with the inclusion of its leading historical figures, are exceptionally rare. Experts believe the painting was produced in around 1600, within a generation of the event," said a DCMS spokesperson.

The exceptionally rare painting depicts the defeat of the Spanish Armada, a naval campaign widely regarded to have changed the course of European history.

The painting shows Queen Elizabeth I watching the naval engagement. This reflected her personal intervention during the military campaign, when she rallied her troops through a famous speech.

Experts believe that the work reflects a Dutch style of painting from this period, and may have been commissioned by an English patron with Dutch connections. It is signed in the lower right corner with an unverified artist's monogram (signed "V.H.E"). Depictions of the Armada, with the inclusion of its leading historical figures, are exceptionally rare.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:24:25|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury announced on Friday that it has imposed sanctions on a Thailand-based aviation company, punishing it for its alleged ties with an already designated Iranian airline.

The new move slapped sanctions on My Aviation Company for "acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air, an Iranian airline previously designated for supporting Iran's terrorism activities," said the Treasury in a statement.

The latest move by the department will freeze all the assets the designated entity may hold in the United States and generally prohibit U.S. individuals from doing business with it.

Washington has intensified its sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals after President Donald Trump's decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal in May, a move that has been criticized widely by the international community.

The first unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran's automotive sector, gold trade, and other industries were re-imposed in early August, with further sanctions on oil and transactions with the Central Bank of Iran expected in November.

A UN expert in late August called the sanctions re-imposed on Iran as "unjust and harmful," saying that the sanctions are driving millions of people into poverty and making imported goods unaffordable.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 01:29:26|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, pleaded guilty on Friday to reduced charges ahead of his second trial in Washington D.C. federal court. He will cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of guilty plea, prosecutor said.

Speaking at the beginning of the plea hearing in court, Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators, as part of the 17-page plea deal.

The legal document requires Manafort to cooperate with Mueller's team "fully and truthfully." So far all the charges against Manafort are not related to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a brief statement after Manafort pleaded guilty.

"It is totally unrelated." she said.

Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, said: "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the president did nothing wrong."

According to documents filed in court prior to the hearing, Manafort intends to plead guilty to two charges of the seven he faced at his second trial: conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

"Manafort cheated the United States out of over 15 million dollars in taxes," the document says, referring to the veteran Republican lobbyist's income in secret offshore accounts.

As part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize four properties, including a nearly 2-million-dollar house in Virginia owned by one of his daughters. The deal also calls for forfeiture of four financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

Local analysts say Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide new clues or evidence over the ongoing probe into alleged Russia meddling into the 2016 U.S. elections. However, the guilty plea would allow him to avoid the trial scheduled to begin later this month and last weeks before Nov. 6 midterm elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 04:50:16|Editor: yan

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MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting began in Argentinian coastal city Mar del Plata on Friday, with more than 35 member delegates taking part.

Chaired by Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Faurie, and Minister of Production and Labor, Dante Sica, the meeting will tackle ways to achieve a more inclusive trade system that contributes to fair and sustainable development.

Ministers will discuss current and future trade prospects, challenges and opportunities presented by existing trade tensions, and the inclusion of small and medium sized businesses to the supply chain of global agriculture.

Agriculture has taken a central role in discussion after Argentina's President Mauricio Macri set a "sustainable food future" as a priority during his nation's G20 presidency this year.

Friday's meeting is one of many due to take place ahead of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires between November 31 - December 1.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 04:55:19|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army Friday struck two Hamas posts along the Gaza Strip, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

An IDF aircraft and tank struck two posts that belong to Hamas along the Gaza Strip in response to the "riots" taking place along the Israel-Gaza border fence, during which grenades and explosive devices were hurled at IDF troops, according to a statement issued by the IDF on Friday evening.

The army added that an IDF officer was lightly injured from fragments of a pipe bomb.

The Hamas "is responsible for all the events that take place in the Gaza Strip," said the Israeli army, "the IDF will continue to thwart attempts to harm Israeli civilians and IDF troops in order to protect the Israeli borders and civilians."

At least three Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire during the clashes along the Gaza border on Friday, according to the health ministry in Gaza, including a 14-year-old boy.

About 13,000 Palestinians participated in the weekly demonstrations in several points along the security fence in the Gaza Strip on Friday. The Israeli army said "rioters" burned tires, hurled rocks and firebombs at IDF troops and the security fence.

Some protesters hurled two grenades at a military vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip and a number of explosive devices at IDF troops. The Israeli army "responded with riot dispersal means and operated in accordance with the standard operating procedures," said the IDF.

Earlier, the IDF said an explosive device was uncovered on Friday morning by IDF troops adjacent to the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip and was disposed of safely. This was the second time this week that an explosive device was exposed and detonated.

The three deaths reported Friday has brought the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during the weekly protests that began in March to 177, according to the Israeli media.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 05:00:21|Editor: yan

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BUCHAREST, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Romania will host the third Summit of the Three Seas Initiative on Monday and Tuesday, to validate the strategic guidelines that underlie the future development of the flexible policy platform, the Presidential Administration of Romania announced Friday.

The summit bringing together member states located between the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea in Bucharest aims to show political support to the initiative on regional priority interconnection projects in energy, transport and digital fields; the creation of a network of chambers of commerce in the participating states; taking steps to set up an investment initiative for the platform and launching its official website.

The first edition of the Business Forum of the Three Seas Initiative will be held on the sidelines, with the participation of companies and government officials from the member countries of the initiative, other European Union (EU) member states, the United States, the Western Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, representatives of the European Commission and European and international financial institutions, as well as representatives of think-tanks and academia, according to a press statement of the Presidential Administration.

The Three Seas Initiative, launched in 2015, includes 12 EU member states located between the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. The first two summits of the initiative took place in Dubrovnik in 2016 and in Warsaw in 2017 respectively.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will attend for the first time the two-day summit, along with the heads of state, government or parliament of the platform's member states.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller "fully and truthfully" as part of his guilty plea deal, a prosecutor said in Washington D.C. federal court on Friday.

Speaking at the plea hearing in court, prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators, as part of the 17-page deal in which Manafort pleaded guilty to only two out of seven charges.

The deal will not release Manafort from prison, but calls for an up to ten-year cap on Manafort's jail time though it may not include any likely sentence for his conviction of eight counts last month in Virginia.

In this file photo taken on June 15, 2018 Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at U.S. District Court on June 15, 2018 in Washington D.C., the United States. Manafort was found guilty on 8 charges of tax and bank fraud on Aug. 21, 2018. (AFP Photo)

The deal will also dismiss deadlocked charges from last month's mistrial of other ten charges in Virginia federal court, the report added.

In court on Friday, U.S. District Court judge Amy Berman Jackson asked if the veteran Republican lobbyist understood what rights he's giving up.

"I understand." Manafort answered, "I plead guilty."

"Has anybody forced you, coerced you or threatened you in any way?" she asked later.

"No," Manafort replied.

Manafort's lawyer Kevin Downing told reporters after the hearing that his client "wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life."

"He has accepted responsibility." Downing said of Manafort.

However, so far all the charges against Manafort are not related to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, as the White House immediately pointed out in a quick response.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a brief statement.

"It is totally unrelated." she said.

Trump has not yet tweeted any comments about Manafort's plea deal. The several tweets he issued on Friday so far were focused on the rescue of Hurricane Florence which made landfall in the U.S. East Coast Friday morning, causing severe damage.

According to documents filed in court prior to the hearing, Manafort intends to plead guilty to two charges of the seven he faced at his second trial: conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

"Manafort cheated the United States out of over 15 million dollars in taxes," the document says, referring to the veteran Republican lobbyist's income in secret offshore accounts.

Also as part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize four properties, including a nearly 2-million-dollar house in Virginia owned by one of his daughters. The deal also calls for forfeiture of four financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

Local analysts say Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide new clues or evidence over the ongoing probe into alleged Russia meddling into the 2016 U.S. elections. However, the guilty plea would allow him to avoid his second trial scheduled to begin later this month and last for weeks, which will save Trump from relative bad headlines before Nov. 6 midterm elections.

All the charges against Manafort largely stem from his time working for a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine years before the 2016 U.S. elections. As a result, they do not directly address any alleged collusion between Trump associates or officials and the Russian government, which the Mueller team has been investigating since last year.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the Mueller probe as a "rigged witch hunt."

Manafort, 69, was a veteran Republican lobbyist. He joined Trump's campaign team in March 2016 and spent three months as Trump's campaign chairman until mid August of that year.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q-Gold Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: QGR) (http://www.qgoldresources.com) is pleased to announce that at the Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) held on September 13, 2018, 100% of the shares at the Meeting voted for the re-election of Messrs. Fred Leigh and Robert C. Bryce as directors for the ensuing year and for the election of Mr. Andrew Cheatle as a director for the ensuing year. 36.5% of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company were represented at the Meeting.

Mr. Cheatle has over 25 years of minerals industry experience as a professional geologist and mining executive, with former roles including President and CEO of Unigold Inc., and as the Executive Director of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). His career has spanned both major mining companies (Anglo American Corporation, Goldcorp) and the junior mining sector. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Condor Gold plc. and a Director of the Canada  Africa Chamber of Business. He is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London and holds an MBA.

The shareholders also re-appointed Calvista LLP Professional Accountants as auditor of the Corporation and approved the Companys 10% rolling stock option plan. In addition, the shareholders approved by way of a special resolution to amend the articles of the Company and continue the Company to the Province of Ontario under the Business Corporation Act (Ontario).

The shareholders also approved the board of directors to set the number of directors from time to time within the minimum and maximum of directors set forth in the articles of the Company.

Following the Meeting, the board of directors of the Company appointed Deborah Battiston as the Chief Financial Officer as well as Kenny Choi as the Corporate Secretary. Both Ms. Battiston and Mr. Choi are seasoned professionals with many years of experience in the corporate sector.

Deborah Battiston joins the Company with an extensive background in financial management, with over 25 years of experience that includes public companies, mergers & acquisitions as well as tax and financing. Ms. Battiston is no stranger to working in a fast paced and a fast growth environment. She has great experience in developing and streamlining the financial infrastructure of companies, having spearheaded numerous financial teams for a number of successful domestic and international organizations. Ms. Battiston has a BA in Economics from the University of Guelph, and holds certified designations as a CPA-CGA as well as an ICD.D, which ensures her lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom, a desire to stay current, and to be a more effective and innovative leader.

Mr. Kenny Choi is a corporate lawyer who works as a legal consultant to various TSX and TSX Venture listed companies in the mining and technology industries. He was previously an associate at a large Toronto corporate law firm, where he worked on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions. Mr. Choi studied at Western University, where he obtained a Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law and an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School.

Ms. Battiston and Mr. Choi replace Mr. Eric Gavin, the former Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Management and board of directors of the Company would like to thank Mr. Gavin for his services and continued support of the Company.

About Q-Gold Resources Ltd.

The Company is a publicly traded Canadian-based mineral exploration company currently exploring for precious and base metals on its Ontario and Arizona prospects.



Contact Information:

Fred Leigh, Chief Executive Officer and Director at info@qgoldresources.com,

Website: http://www.qgoldresources.com

Forward-looking statements:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. In particular, the company cautions that the completion of the proposed acquisitions cannot be predicted with certainty, and that there can be no assurance at this time that the proposed acquisitions will be completed in the manner noted above or at all. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, as well as other factors beyond the Company's control. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 05:10:23|Editor: Yurou

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Delegates attend the Global Thinkers Dialogue: China's South-South Cooperation in Agriculture, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 14, 2018. Director of UN Office for South-South Cooperation Jorge Chediek on Friday commended the leadership of China Agriculture University in launching two major platforms for exchanges in agriculture and rural development. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Director of UN Office for South-South Cooperation Jorge Chediek on Friday commended the leadership of China Agriculture University in launching two major platforms for exchanges in agriculture and rural development.

At Global Thinkers Dialogue: China's South-South Cooperation in Agriculture, Chediek said the establishment of China Belt and Road Institute for Agricultural Cooperation and China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture will contribute to agricultural and rural development research and knowledge sharing as well as promote agriculture cooperation and innovations worldwide.

Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 percent of global population, he said. "It is the largest source of income and jobs for poor rural households."

"One key way we can enhance agricultural and rural development is through South-South sharing of experiences," he added. "This can be attained through adopting, adapting and broadening best practices that promote agricultural development which has been increasing between developing countries."

He praised China as the leading agricultural producer among the developing countries, saying it has made great strides in decreasing hunger and has used its own experience to support other countries in doing the same.

He expressed hope that the dialogue will provide the opportunity to learn from China's expertise and good practices, as well as its lessons learned, in areas such as providing education and agricultural training, enhancing scientific research, and building and strengthening value chains and e-commerce platforms.

Sun Qixin, president of China Agricultural University, for his turn, said South-South Cooperation has become an "undeniable" force pushing forward global growth.

He presented "An Evaluation Framework for the South-South Cooperation and Its Application in China-Tanzania Cooperation" at the meeting, saying this report aims to shed light on tools and methods in such cooperation.

He also pledged, on behalf of China Agricultural University, to further promote South-South Cooperation in Agriculture and rural development.

Adonia Ayebare, ambassador of Uganda to the UN and president of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, noted at the meeting that Africa is a net food importer and that the region needs to overcome the daunting challenge of feeding 1.5 billion people by 2030 and approximately 2 billion by 2050.

"There is thus an enormous need and opportunity for Africa to develop its agricultural sector," he said, underscoring the benefits of South-South cooperation for further development of the African agricultural sector.
In this file photo taken on June 15, 2018 Paul Manafort arrives for a hearing at U.S. District Court on June 15, 2018 in Washington D.C., the United States, Manafort was found guilty on 8 charges of tax and bank fraud on Aug. 21, 2018. (AFP Photo)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller "fully and truthfully" as part of his guilty plea deal, a prosecutor said in Washington D.C. federal court on Friday.

Speaking at the plea hearing in court, prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators, as part of the 17-page deal in which Manafort pleaded guilty to only two out of seven charges.

The deal will not release Manafort from prison, but calls for an up to ten-year cap on Manafort's jail time though it may not include any likely sentence for his conviction of eight counts last month in Virginia.

The deal will also dismiss deadlocked charges from last month's mistrial of other ten charges in Virginia federal court, the report added.

In court on Friday, U.S. District Court judge Amy Berman Jackson asked if the veteran Republican lobbyist understood what rights he's giving up.

"I understand." Manafort answered, "I plead guilty."

"Has anybody forced you, coerced you or threatened you in any way?" she asked later.

"No," Manafort replied.

Manafort's lawyer Kevin Downing told reporters after the hearing that his client "wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life."

"He has accepted responsibility." Downing said of Manafort.

However, so far all the charges against Manafort are not related to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, as the White House immediately pointed out in a quick response.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a brief statement.

"It is totally unrelated." she said.

Trump has not yet tweeted any comments about Manafort's plea deal. The several tweets he issued on Friday so far were focused on the rescue of Hurricane Florence which made landfall in the U.S. East Coast Friday morning, causing severe damage.

According to documents filed in court prior to the hearing, Manafort intends to plead guilty to two charges of the seven he faced at his second trial: conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

"Manafort cheated the United States out of over 15 million dollars in taxes," the document says, referring to the veteran Republican lobbyist's income in secret offshore accounts.

Also as part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize four properties, including a nearly 2-million-dollar house in Virginia owned by one of his daughters. The deal also calls for forfeiture of four financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

Local analysts say Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide new clues or evidence over the ongoing probe into alleged Russia meddling into the 2016 U.S. elections. However, the guilty plea would allow him to avoid his second trial scheduled to begin later this month and last for weeks, which will save Trump from relative bad headlines before Nov. 6 midterm elections.

All the charges against Manafort largely stem from his time working for a pro-Russian leader in Ukraine years before the 2016 U.S. elections. As a result, they do not directly address any alleged collusion between Trump associates or officials and the Russian government, which the Mueller team has been investigating since last year.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the Mueller probe as a "rigged witch hunt."

Manafort, 69, was a veteran Republican lobbyist. He joined Trump's campaign team in March 2016 and spent three months as Trump's campaign chairman until mid August of that year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 06:00:37|Editor: yan

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RABAT, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 18th meeting of the Morocco-Spain Standing Joint Migratory Group was held Friday in the southern Moroccan city of Essaouira to discuss means to tackle the growing flows of illegal migration through the Moroccan-Spanish route.

Co-chaired by Khalid Zerouali, director of migration and border surveillance at the Moroccan Interior Ministry, and Consuelo Rumi, Spain's Secretary of State for Migration, this meeting dealt also with other issues relating to migration in its legal and illegal dimensions.

During this meeting, both sides lauded the bilateral relations in this area, stressing the need for joint action to reinforce this partnership.

In a statement to the press, Consuelo Rumi said that Morocco is making huge efforts to manage this scourge through tightening border control, crackdown on human trafficking networks and integration in the Moroccan society.

She stressed that Morocco is a strategic partner for Europe in terms of managing migratory inflows, adding that Spain and EU are determined to reinforce their support to Morocco's efforts in thwarting human trafficking networks.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 06:05:37|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday trashed his predecessor John Kerry for his talks with the Iranian officials, calling Kerry's acts undermining the U.S. policy on Iran.

"What Secretary Kerry has done is unseemly and unprecedented," the top U.S. diplomat told reporters in a press conference held at the State Department.

"It is inconsistent with what the foreign policy of the United States is, as directed by this president (President Trump)," added Pompeo, blaming Kerry for "actively undermining" U.S. policy.

Kerry, the Obama-era Secretary of State and key architect of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, told reporters earlier that since leaving office he had met several times with Iran officials to save the landmark pact which the United States withdrew from months ago.

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Kerry of having "illegal meetings" with Tehran in a late Thursday tweet.

Washington has intensified its sanctions against Iran after Trump's decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal in May, a move that has been criticized widely by the international
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 06:05:37|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Peru's National Police have seized a total of 902 kilos of cocaine in three drug busts, the country's Interior Minister Mauro Medina said on Friday.

"This year, the anti-drug work is very strong, and that is due in part to good intelligence. We are making progress in eradicating acres of coca leaves, seizing drugs and chemical supplies," Medina said.

So far this year, 40.6 tons of cocaine has been seized in different areas of the country, he added.

This month alone there have been three large interventions. The first took place in Pichari, in the southeastern region of Cusco, where 297 kilos of cocaine base paste was seized.

The second took place in the province of Juliaca near the Bolivian border where 174 kilos of hydrochloride cocaine (CHC) was seized. And the third was in Huarmey, in the northeastern region of Ancash where 431 kilos of CHC was seized.

Medina said a large portion of the drug was produced in clandestine labs in the Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro (VRAEM) where he estimated there are some 20,000 acres of illegal cocaine grows.

National Police general Hector Loayza said that so far this year there have been 11,605 anti-drug operations with 8,836 tons of chemical supplies seized.

In addition, 71 clandestine labs have been seized and 76 organized crime groups have been broken up, with 2,576 persons arrested for drug trafficking. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 06:40:44|Editor: yan

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LA PAZ, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Recent reports have found that the consumption of junk and fast foods in Bolivia has risen nearly 200 percent in the last 15 years, representing a major risk to public health.

During an interview with Xinhua on Friday, Bolivian Health Minister Dabeiva Chavez explained that "fast food" is popular across all age groups due to its low price and accessibility.

According to Chavez, who is also the Health Promotion initiative director, national and international fast food chains have proliferated in most large Bolivian cities.

Stalls selling "hamburgers, fries, candies and processed beverages are found outside schools where children and young people consume them," she said.

"They are also found outside work places, at any time of the day," the minister added.

Chavez believes that because both parents in a family now work, there is no one available to prepare quality home-cooked meals.

"Children and parents now have to eat in the streets where the availability of junk food is huge. This affects health," said Chavez.

On September 12, Yecid Umacayo, director of the Food and Nutrition United of the Bolivian Ministry of Health, stated his concerns over the alarming increase in the consumption of junk food.

The director pointed to an investigation carried out by the Pan-American Health Organization (OPS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reporting a rise of 180-200 percent in the consumption of junk food containing high levels of sugar, grease and salt in Bolivia.

According to the study, the long-term consumption of these foods produces can lead to at least seven non-communicable illnesses and obesity.

Overweight or obese people are more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases or even certain cancers, said the report.

These diseases account for 70 percent of deaths in the country, according to data from the Ministry of Health's National Program on Non-Communicable Diseases.

In 2016, the Bolivian government passed the Promotion of Healthy Eating act to educate the population to eat healthy food so as to reduce related diseases.

Alongside healthy eating habits, the act also encouraged people to do physical exercise and regulated the advertising and labelling of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

On September 12 during the Wellness Week in the Americas, Bolivia's Ministry of Health recognized the work of institutions committed to promoting healthy lifestyles to the population.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-15 06:40:44|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Poland on Friday rejected the European Commission's criticism of its Supreme Court reforms, calling the European Union executive body's doubts in the matter "unfounded".

According to a statement by the Polish Foreign Ministry, Poland in its response to the Commission argued that the Commission's accusation of the breach of the EU law by Poland over the retirement regulations for Supreme Court judges were groundless as justice system reforms lay in the sole competency of the EU members and therefore violated no EU laws.

"The Republic of Poland underscored that, in keeping with EU treaties, the organisation of the justice system is the exclusive competency of the member states. Therefore, retirement [...] specifications for Supreme Court judges cannot be viewed as a violation by Poland of the [...] EU laws the Commission refers to," the statement read.

The ministry added that the Polish side had also pointed to the fact that the new Supreme Court regulations and the lower retirement threshold they introduced for judges in no way limited the independence of judges.

The Polish side also suggested that in case of further doubts in the matter, the Commission could refer it to the EU Court of Justice, which would then pass a final ruling in the case.

In December 2017, the Commission launched the EU Treaty's Article 7 rule-of-law procedure against Poland over justice reforms which the EU executive body believed had infringed on the independence of courts, including changes in retirement rules for Supreme Court judges. The procedure could potentially lead to sanctions for Poland, including the loss of its EU voting rights, but all EU countries would have to agree.

On Aug. 14, the Commission launched a further step in the procedure by reiterating its view on the illegality of the Supreme Court reforms in a so-called reasoned opinion sent to Poland. At the time, the Commission gave Poland one month to reply to the opinion.

In early August, Poland's Supreme Court (SN) sent five questions to the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) concerning government amendments to its own regulations which cut the retirement age for SN judges to 65 from 70. The court also suspended the questioned regulations until the CJEU's response in the matter. In September, the Supreme Court forwarded two further queries to the CJEU concerning the constitutionality of judicial appointment procedures to the Polish National Judicial Council.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto discussed migration and bilateral relations with Sam Kahamba Kutesa, his Ugandan counterpart, in Budapest.

African countries that help to prevent an exodus of migrants to Europe receive support, Szijjarto told a joint press conference after the talks. Uganda is one of these countries, he said.

Uganda has contributed to stability in the region and has provided safe harbour to half a million refugees from the neighbouring countries. Uganda also supports the Hungarian governments policy of preventing a further wave of migrants to Europe by providing help in their home countries, he said.

Concerning cooperation on migration, Szijjarto noted an agreement reached on a development programme Hungary has offered to Uganda. Under the scheme, Hungary will provide water-supply and solarpower technologies and install a cyber security system in refugee camps.

Szijjarto said they also agreed on strengthening cooperation between the two countries counter-terrorism agencies. Sam Kahamba Kutesa underlined cooperation possibilities in antiterrorism efforts and agriculture among several areas.

MTI Photo: Soos Lajos
A left-wing commentator rejoices over the overwhelming vote in favour of the Sargentini report, while his pro-government counterpart suggests that over half of the European Peoples Party (EPP) MEPs were harming their own cause by supporting the resolution.

Nepszavas Robert Friss calls the vote a milestone in Europes future , although it will not entail immediate and tangible consequences.

Nevertheless, the EPP has finally realised, he explains, that the populist wave which the Hungarian Prime Minister intends to ride is a threat to the democratic community of the European Union.

Friss believes that the European Parliament has also sent a message to the Hungarian voters who sooner or later will have to choose between Orban and Europe.

In Magyar Hirlap, on the other hand, Sandor Faggyas rules out the possibility of Hungary losing her voting rights in the Union as a result of the procedure that has been triggered by the majority of MEPs.

The real issue at stake was how many EPP MEPs would join the left-wingers and the liberals in condemning Hungary. Over half of them did, (115 in favour, 58 against the resolution, with 27 abstentions) which Faggyas interprets as signalling a deep crisis within the Peoples Party.

As he sees it, its leaders succumbed to left-liberal pressure, and failed to realise the harm they are doing to their own chances at the forthcoming European elections.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online Click here to Share Your Story
After the Hungarian Prime Minister told the European Parliament that he will not yield to what he called blackmail, commentators weigh the pros and the cons of voting for or against the Sargentini report.

On Merce, Balint Misetics lambasts those Hungarian MEPs who reject the Sargentini report on the state of the EU values in Hungary. Although he admits that the report contains several factual mistakes, he agrees nevertheless, with its cautious main statement that those values are in jeopardy.



He accuses those Hungarian MEPs who refuse to support the Sargentini report, especially Tamas Meszerics of the LMP, of being prompted to do so by fear of the terror press within Hungary.

On Azonnali, LMP MP Peter Ungar takes up the defence of his colleague and suggests that the opposition should stop behaving like the local salesmen of the EU leadership. Hungarians are unlikely to support the idea that more power should be given to those European leaders who have proven to be incapable of taking decisions in times of crisis, he argues.



He concludes therefore that as long as the opposition frames the stakes within Hungary as a choice between Orban or Europe, Orbans victory is guaranteed.

In a short comment on his Facebook page, political scientist Gabor Torok predicts that after some of his closest allies within the European Peoples Party decided to support the Sargentini report, Mr Orban can no longer remain within that Christian Democratic group  nor will he want to. He will move towards his new allies on the radical right, Torok opines.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online Click here to Share Your Story



MTI Photo: PM's Press Office: Szecsodi Balazs
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE - On4 Communications (OTCPINK:ONCI) announces letter to shareholders from CEO Steve Berman as follows:

Dear Shareholders,

BUSINESS

Shareholders: I am happy to report another record quarter with sales up over 11% from last quarter. We achieved new milestones with the signing of AN and C max and more big names to come. We have started shipping AN and I will be discussing states and distribution with C max next week. To date we have shipped 12 AN stores and more coming in the next month.

I am also pleased to announce that we have made a distribution deal with a company that provides logistics and software to almost every municipality in the USA and in Europe.

They want to create the first distracted driving network for government fleets of Cars and Trucks. As soon as our NDA expires and it will be soon I will announce the name of the company.

#REVENUERULES #SMDPC

CANNABIS

I am pleased to announce that we have signed a letter of intent to purchase 75% of a craft Cannabis company called Sifthouse BC. Sifthouse is a craft Cannabis company and a new business based in Vancouver. If you think of craft cannabis like a craft beer company, they will grow highly profitable and specialty blends in the way craft beer, such as montaulk IPA, does. This business is about to explode and we are in on the ground floor. It is my expectation that big tobacco and spirits companies will be in control of this business going forward and the expectations and potential profits will be amazing. Terms of financing are being worked out and will be announced in the next update but we will be sending Sifthouse a payment of $100,000 within the next few weeks. As new markets and countries open we will be able to franchise our company to every city that makes cannabis legal over the next few years and I believe craft growers will be the biggest part of the cannabis boom.

#LEGALBOOM #SMDPC

HEXAGON

ALL CAPS DEEMED NECESSARY HERE: LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN and AGAIN: THERE WILL BE NO REVERSE SPLIT.

LET ME SAY THIS AGAIN AS WELL: THERE ARE NO PLANS TO DO ANOTHER 3A1O.

So if you dont understand it, again, there are no plans on the table to do a reverse split.

If you can't read or dont understand this, get glasses. In my expectation, we will get the Hexagon deal done and be able to make the move to Colorado shortly. Nobody is more frustrated then me about this.

The company is in great shape as we continue to close deals and increase revenue. Closing the 3 huge dealer groups is a blockbuster event and will increase revenue three fold in the future.

In addition, we are looking at ways to unlock shareholder value in everyway as we open new opportunities and look to capitalize at every turn.

PRIVATE LABEL

As of today at 3:30pm we have received a verbal agreement for our first private label deal. We have been working on this deal for the last 4 months and after many meetings we got the verbal today. As soon as we have the docs signed I will announce the company as it is a very big company and a huge deal for us. I was hoping to get signatures today but it is not possible.

We are also working on two more big private label deals one in Europe and the other in Turkey. We have made every change they have asked us to make and we are pushing forward everyday. I am hoping to get answers ASAP.

SHARE REDUCTION

AS discussed per our attorneys I sent a board Resolution to our TA only to find we have 3 issues to overcome:

1. we need to settle with Delaware.

2. we have 2 share reservation letters one from 2015 and one from 2014. Both of these companies hold no shares but we have to get revision letters from them to remove the reservations. I have reached out to both companies and was hoping to hear back by today.

3. I have made an offer to Delaware to reduce the amount and we believe they will accept. Once these 3 items are complete the share reduction will take place.

This is totally on me and I can only take full responsibility for these items but it will get done and soon.

HEXAGON 6TH LEG

As of today, the 6th leg of hexagon is complete we have started a new platform for merchandise to freely trade. We have purchased a variety of domain names and we are waiting to get financing in place. As soon as that happens we will announce via a PR all details. I am sure this will be a GRAND SLAM.

I will discuss the dental and the beta testing and the OBD development in the next update as we are moving everything along.

#SMDPC

The company is in a great position to capitalize on new markets. Distracted driving is an epidemic in the world and is only getting bigger. Cannabis is one of the fastest growing business led by total legalization in Canada with 10 other countries to follow. We are positioned for the future and will ride the wave.

About On4 Communications

On4 is a holdings company with an aggressive focus of acquiring proven and profitable businesses. Our first project is focusing on businesses operating in the $1.7 trillion U.S. healthcare industry. Our newest targeted businesses are operating in the trillion-dollar mobile App space. Our first acquisition in the mobile App space is FMS Marketing a global creator and distributor of mobile Apps for Android and iPhones. We are also targeting businesses to acquire and joint venture with in the medical marijuana and emerging MJ ancillary products space.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements, as described in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available for review at www.sec.gov, to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



Sincerely,

Steve Berman, CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

On4 Communications, Inc.

On4Company@gmail.com

(323) 487-0389
Referring to the issue of whether abstentions were counted or disregarded under European parliamentary rules in the vote to open the Article 7 procedure against Hungary, the head of the Prime Ministers Office insisted the Sargentini report did not receive the required two-thirds majority.

Under the EUs Lisbon Treaty, a vote by two-thirds of MEPs would have been required for the reports approval, and abstentions should have also been taken into account in the vote tally, Gergely Gulyas told a press conference.

With the abstentions counted, the report would have failed to secure a two-thirds majority, he said.

Gulyas said he did not believe that the EPs house rules contained any provisions saying that abstentions should not be counted in a vote. The procedure cannot move forward until Hungary settles the legal dispute over the matter, Gulyas added.

The cabinet will meet to discuss EU-related matters on Monday and it will decide on steps to take in connection with the report on the rule of law in Hungary drafted by Green MEP Judith Sargentini.

The minister underlined the governments view that the report was not really about the rule of law. Instead, the issue of migration was the factor that determined its adoption, he said.

MTI Photo: Illyes Tibor
Cooperation between Hungarian scientists of the Silicon Valley and Hungarys dynamically developing digital economy could be mutually beneficial, President Janos Ader said during a visit to Redwood, California.

The president met representatives of local Hungarian communities and praised the initiatives of Hungarian researchers in California, adding they could also build on the achievements of their peers in Hungary.

He also said that in terms of the volume and number of employees per capita, Hungarys was the second largest digital economy in Europe.

As part of his California programme, Ader visited Stanford Research Institute International in Menlo Park.

MTI Photo: Bruzak Noemi
Hungarys ruling parties will next week submit a draft resolution to parliament declaring the Sargentini report a deceitful document which the European Parliament had to cheat to approve and that Hungary will not allow itself to be stripped of its right to protect its borders, Fideszs group leader told a press conference at the end of a three-day meeting of the joint Fidesz- Christian Democrats parliamentary group in Velence.

Mate Kocsis said the Sargentini report had been drafted and approved by associates of [US financier] George Soros.



Soross mercenaries have stigmatised Hungary out of revenge because Hungarians have made their views clear on illegal migration on multiple occasions, Kocsis insisted. He said the Sargentini report violated the European Unions Lisbon Treaty, so the Fidesz-KDNP group will ask the government to take every possible legal step to defend Hungary against the report.

Peter Harrach, KDNPs group leader, said he believed the Hungarian MEPs who voted for the report were guilty of treason.



He agreed that the report had been adopted with the help of procedural tricks. He said MEPs who voted to approve the report had been pressured by representatives of a decadent ideology that condemns Hungary for wanting to create a normal world.



MTI photo: Koszticsak Szilard
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Ten years after Lehman collapse few lessons have been heded



Rating agencies still wield huge influence and investment executives remain unaccountable



Arturo Cifuentes





A decade after the largest bankruptcy in American history, much remains to be explained and understood  Getty





Anniversaries call for reflections. And 10 years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the largest bankruptcy in American history, some inexplicable issues linger unresolved.



First, the survival of Moodys and Standard & Poors (now known as S&P Global Ratings). The 2010 US Senate investigation was damning: both rating agencies, amid extensive conflicts of interests and using questionable models, gave triple A ratings to financial instruments that turned out to be houses of cards. Moreover, S&P admitted in 2015 as part of a settlement with the justice department (in which it paid $1.4bn), that its rating process was marred by irregularities.



Yet both companies remain the de facto regulators of the global bond market  they dictate what institutional investors can and cannot buy. Worse, their opinions affect interest rates.



Contrast this situation with that of Arthur Andersen, which surrendered its licence in 2002 after the Enron accounting scandal, an event smaller in size and importance compared with the billions of failed triple A assets. Last year, Moodys reported an income of almost $2bn and Raymond McDaniel, its chief executive (a position he has kept since before the subprime crisis) received a total compensation of $11m. Clearly, he did better than Kenneth Lay, Enrons former chief: Lay died in 2006 of a heart attack while awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of fraud.



Second, the chief investment officers of the institutions that bought the failed triple A assets have not received any criticism. Remember that these instruments were not sold to retail investors; they were only available for allegedly sophisticated players, who, presumably, knew what they were doing.



A case in point: the Abacus transaction, a mortgage-based collateralised debt obligation put together by Goldman Sachs in April 2007. By the end of that year, the $150m that IKB, a German investor, had put in the deal were wiped out. Goldman was vilified in the press, and it ended up paying $500m in fines to the Securities and Exchange Commission. On the other hand, nobody ever asked who the executives behind the German investment decision were.



It is worth remembering that the subprime bonds involved in the deal were fully disclosed (with their Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures) in the marketing material. And the ABX index, a subprime mortgage-based indicator, had lost one-third of its value between January and March of that year, which should have served as a warning before IKB wrote a cheque for $150m.



Did the IKB officials perform adequate due diligence? What about their fiduciary responsibility? These questions remain unanswered. We only know that while bankers lost the PR battle, most decision makers behind these triple A investment decisions remain unaccountable.



Third, the rationale behind the new insurance regulations is ill-founded. Solvency II, the insurance regulation initiative, was motivated by the collapse of AIG. However, AIG was an insurance company in name only. In reality, it was a highly leveraged speculative fund that ventured beyond the domain of traditional life and casualty companies.



The insurance sector survived the crisis fairly well. This is not to say that insurance regulation should not be improved. But Solvency II, which relies heavily on short-term volatility metrics, is unsuited to address the risks faced by insurance companies because they are not subjected to margin calls or bank-like runs; their potential problems are related to future liabilities that are easier to anticipate. Thus, their regulation should be based on assessing shortfalls, not short-term assets price variations.



Furthermore, one could argue that insurance companies are the natural holders of illiquid assets, but Solvency II, with its myopic risk view, will discourage these investments, and therefore will increase systemic risk by making insurance company portfolios less diversified.



Finally, the lack of mea culpa from the economics profession. Granted, many economists  Paul Krugman and Paul Romer are two notable examples  have acknowledged the shortcomings of most pre-crisis economics models. To be clear, nobody expects economic models to predict crises, future prices and recessions with total accuracy. But at least they should be able to explain the basic functioning of the economy.



The admission by Olivier Blanchard, in 2016, that incorporating the financial sector to macro models would be a good idea is revealing. (In essence, Mr Blanchards statement was akin to that of a structural engineer who realises that not incorporating gravity to its models might render them useless.) In any event, despite many exceptions, most tenured economics professors keep teaching the same simplistic, faith-based, empirically challenged models, combined with the belief that almost anything can be explained with a linear regression.



So 10 years after Lehman, much remains to be explained and understood. Coming up with better macroeconomic models is a long-term endeavour, fixing the current insurance regulation could take a few years and identifying the executives behind those unwise investment decisions made more than years ago is pointless.



But reforming the credit rating market is an urgent necessity. We can safely say that both S&P and Moodys have proven to be solid triple A: they withstood the subprime crisis well. Shame on the regulators.



The author is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, finance and economics division, in New York and a research associate at Clapes UC in Santiago, Chile. He testified twice as an expert before the US Senate as a result of the subprime crisis.


AUTHOR SALLY Bair sets up a display of her memorabilia for her book talk at the Carnegie Library Thursday afternoon.

By JEAN NORDINE

[email protected]

Ironwood - Author Sally Bair visited the Ironwood Carnegie Library Thursday afternoon to speak about her latest book, "Run Sally Run."

She resides in Washburn, Wis., and is a former journalist. She writes children's books and a weekly devotional column for two newspapers and has won numerous awards for her writing. Bair has three children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Bair has been writing since 14. When she was inspired by the book, "Heidi," she wrote her first, albeit unpublished book, about a girl in the mountains of Montana.

She comes by her talent quite honestly, as her mother was a published poet and her grandfather a storyteller. Although she is referred to as a children's book author, she said her books are for "readers from age 8 to 108."

"Run Sally Run" is Bair's account of growing up with a twin sister in Frederic, Wis. She says, "Of all the words I've written, telling my true story of childhood with my twin was the most fun. We disagree about some of my memories, but it doesn't matter. We're still best friends. We always make up after our disagreements. We love each other to the moon and back."

Bair's other writings include a three-part series about Alaska titled, "Ways of the Williwaw," which include the books "Williwaw Winds," "Trouble at Fish Camp" and "Runaway."

"Williwaw Winds" is a fictional tale of disaster based on the true story of how Bair's son and four others were rescued by the Coast Guard when returning from a crab fishing trip on Alaskan waters. It took her five years to write the story because it was so emotional to relive the event through her son's eyes. She said, "I called him a lot to get facts correct."

The book jacket for "Trouble at Fish Camp" reads, "A bear, a bully, and a buried secret threaten Freddy's future at fish camp."

Ron Manske, freelance writer and pastor, claims, "If you're looking for a good book that will hold your attention right to the end, then this is the one."

"Runaway" is about an orphaned teen who escapes from his foster home and spirits his twin sister away from hers, so they can camp out in Chugach State Park, Alaska. They lose their way, stumble into a camp of four strangers, and soon face tragedy. A snowstorm, a daring rescue, and a dramatic reversal of plans propel Matt into a new way of life.

Bair has also published four devotional books compiled from her weekly newspaper column. She can also be found in the book "Chicken Soup for the Soul," with a story about how she met her second husband.

She said once she has decided on her characters and the plot, she has no problem writing and has never experienced writer's block. She said she wrote "Run Sally Run" in just two weeks.

Bair has many ideas for future projects and would like to follow up "Run Sally Run" with two more memoirs, one about the years after her divorce and the other about her renewed faith. She is also working on a fourth book for the "Ways of the Williwaw" series called "The Diary."

Bair's books can be purchased through her website http://www.sallybair.com.
By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

Bessemer  A resolution that outlines funding for the Bessemer to Ramsay stretch of the Iron Belle Trail construction project was approved by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday.

In February, the county board passed a resolution supporting submission of an application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for development of the three-mile non-motorized recreational trail.

The total project cost is $1,165,800, but it could be $1,428,000 if the trust fund money is approved.

Paul Anderson, of Coleman Engineering, and Scott Erickson, chair of the Western Gateway Trail Authority, addressed the county board prior to the boards approval of the resolution.

Anderson said project cost estimates have changed, with the overall cost down slightly.

The chances of the Michigan DNR Trust Fund grant for $299,900 are very, very good, Anderson said.

Anderson said the fact that the Iron Belle Trail, spanning across the entire state, is a pet project of the DNR is beneficial. He also said comparative scoring ranks the project high on the DNRs Trust Fund list.

The bulk of the project costs will come from a Michigan Department of Transportation TAP grant of $745,300. The county would again administer the Gogebic County Road Commission grant from MDOT, as was done for the first two phases of the trail project.

A DNR mini grant to the trail authority will provide $173,900 in funding, with the local contributions coming from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation for $200,000 and Western U.P. Convention and Visitors Bureau, at $8,900.

Anderson said a decision on the trust fund grant will be made by the DNR by December for construction in 2020.

The local Iron Belle Trail now extends from Ironwood to Bessemer.
Lalo is one of the first stands to open at Bourse Food Hall, 111 S. Independence Mall East. Read more

The vendors at the new Bourse Food Hall  occupying the landmark Beaux Arts building between Fourth and Fifth Streets north of Ranstead Street  are opening in the next months, pending a scheduled Nov. 15 grand opening beneath the nine-story atrium.

First to open, on the Fifth Street side, was Menagerie Coffee. Online this week are Lalo, a fast-casual Filipino street-food specialist; Mighty Melt, an uppity grilled-cheese stand; Takorean, serving Korean-Latin tacos; Barry's Buns, a bakery; and Bronze Table by Vera Pasta, serving made-to-order pasta and wine. Hours are abbreviated; for now, figure on an extended lunch hour.

Here's a quickie video look.

Due next week are Bonatsos Flower Shop and Penzeys Spices.

A rep for developer MRP Realty provided a list of vendors:

Bronze Table by Vera Pasta: This fast-casual concept from the team behind Vera Pasta serves made-to-order pasta meals alongside Italian wines and packaged artisanal pasta to go. Customized pasta choices include a selection of signature dishes such as Nonna's Ricotta Gnocchi, Wild Mushroom and Sage Ravioli, Mac N' Cheese, and more. Choices also include insalatas and spuntinis.

Lalo: Neal Santos, Jillian Encarnacion and Resa Mueller, creators of Pelago, a hospitality group specializing in Filipino-inspired restaurant pop-up events, are focusing on Filipino comfort food. Lalo, named after the Tagalog words for grandmother and grandfather, has a menu that will rotate seasonally; highlights will include chicken and pork inihaw, plus San Miguel beer and cocktails.

Menagerie Coffee: On the Fifth Street side, the offshoot of the nearby coffee shop sells Dogwood Coffee and Elixr Coffee, breakfast food, and pastries from Machine Shop pastries.

Mighty Melt: Mighty Bread Co.'s Chris DiPiazza and Stargazy's Sam Jacobson are selling grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, sides, fries, and a new alcoholic canned shrub, Ploughman's Cider, and Tired Hands brews.

Penzeys Spices: Sells spices and the recipes to use them.

Takorean: In addition to signature Korean tacos, the menu will include Korean rice and salad bowls based on five primary proteins, a seasonal vegetable, slaws, sauces, toppings, and garnishes.

Barry's Buns: Scratch bakery specializes in sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, and liege waffles. More than just buns, it offers other baked goods, including sticky bun bread pudding, Philadelphia butter cake, crumb cake, chocolate babka, and Jewish apple cake  to name a few.

3rd and Ferry: Easton's fish market is behind a raw bar with oysters, crab cakes, lobster rolls, chowder, fish and chips, and other New England-style fare. It will have a full-service bar.

Abunai Poke: Modern Hawaiian dishes and poke, including spicy salmon, tofu, and garlic ahi tuna options.

Baby Buns: Chef Sylva Senat (Maison 208) and entrepreneur Uri Pierre-Noel will serve fries, buns, and frose.

Bluebird Distilling: A cocktail bar by Bluebird Distilling, headed by founder Jared Adkins.

Bricco Pizza: The Westmont pizzeria gets into the Roman-style pizza al taglio game with light pizzas and suppli.

Chaat and Chai: Chef/owner Anney Thomas' Indian street-food stall has a new home; it originally was set up in South Philadelphia

Chocodiem: Artisanal Belgian chocolates, plus a bar menu featuring Belgian chocolate and wine pairings as well as a cocktail menu with chocolate-themed concoctions.

FreeByrd Chicken: Fried chicken as sandwiches, bowls, and curly fries, in addition to sweet tea and local craft beer.

#getfried: A fry cafe specializing in made-to-order, topped fries and topped fry basket meals such as the Rocky Balboa with sirloin, sauteed onion, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and melted cheese.

Grubhouse: Former South Philly pub has relocated to serve all-day breakfast and Southern craft beer. Highlights include the Baconcakes, Hot Chicken & Waffles, Biscuits & Gravy and the Elvis (grilled sandwich with peanut butter, banana and bacon).

Ka'moon: Halal-prepared modern Egyptian cuisine from the owners behind Lehigh Valley's Taza Truck; dishes include 16-spice grilled chicken, savory sumac peppered sliced steak shawarma, kofta, Egyptian fried chicken, and spicy fried cauliflower.

Kari's Tea Bar: Hot and cold beverages, including Elderberry Shrub, Kombucha on tap, hot tea lattes, and Masala Chai Lattes.

Marino Brothers Cheesesteaks: Classic and chicken cheesesteaks.

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar: This Baltimore-based fast-casual sells ramen, udon, pho, steamed bao bun sandwiches, and Korean-style fried chicken, duck fat rosemary-garlic French fries, and shrimp rangoon spring rolls.

Olive With a Twist: A gourmet pantry selling cheeses, pates, charcuterie, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, sauces, and the like.

Prescription Chicken: D.C.-based soup shop by Valerie Zweig and Taryn Pellicone.

Rustica Rosticceria: Marino brothers are behind this Italian American sandwich shop.

Pinch Dumplings: Chinese dumplings in various styles.

Rebel Taco: D.C.-based Social Restaurant Group calls this an authentic Mexican taco purveyor; expect comp margaritas.

Scoop DeVille: The ice cream institution has expanded its menu to inclucde Partially Baked Cookie Sundae, Edible Cookie Dough, and Cookie Cup-wiches

TAPS Fill Station: The Baltimore-based TAPS Fill Station focuses on locally sourced, eco-friendly, and sustainable practices; the 36-line draft system will pull beer (21 taps), cider (five), kegged cocktails (two), red and white wines (six), and mead (two).

A look inside:
A former marketing director for QVC  who was scheduled to begin serving a 30-month sentence on Sept. 14 for embezzling $1 million from the company  may face additional fraud and racketeering allegations.

QVC this week filed an amended civil complaint alleging that the director, James D. Falkowski, conspired with a public relations company to reap enormous cash kickbacks. QVC had initially filed suit in 2016 alleging fraud and conspiracy but the home shopping network's case was put on hold when the federal government stepped in to prosecute on criminal charges.

Falkowski, 43, who claimed that drug addiction fueled his crimes, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of wire fraud in July.

QVC's rejuvenated case includes new allegations of wrongdoing uncovered during the federal investigation.

The complaint alleges that Falkowski, who worked at QVC's headquarters in West Chester from 2008 to 2013, conspired with a Los Angeles PR company called The Steinberg Group (TSG) to funnel the money to him so that he could support his lavish lifestyle. The amended document names Eric Waraftig, the attorney for TSG, and Michelle Steinberg, the president of TSG, for the roles they played in the fraud. Waraftig and Steinberg are a married couple.

According to QVC, Falkowski hired TSG in 2008 as an outside press relations arm, paying it $11,000 a month to raise brand awareness for the home shopping network through "event-driven marketing." During the same period, TSG secretly paid Falkowski as a consultant, according to court documents.

Two months after Falkowski was fired in 2014, TSG billed QVC for various charges. As a result, QVC auditors discovered Falkowski was seeking reimbursement for chauffeured limousines for his personal use. In the investigation that followed, QVC discovered more than $500,000 in inappropriate charges that included high-end clothing, travel, and spa treatments. The company alleges that TSG issued fraudulent invoices at Falkowski's direction that did not reveal the true nature of the expenses.

According to the complaint, Steinberg and Waraftig had incentive to keep Falkowski happy, "lest they risk Falkowski causing QVC to terminate its agreement with TSG."

In addition, Falkowski provided inside information to TSG that allowed the company to negotiate a higher royalty deal with QVC. In return, TSG secretly gave Falkowski an additional $160,000 in kickbacks.
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Second guilty plea in trade secrets conspiracy to steal cancer research from GlaxoSmithKline and sell it in China

Tao Li admitted to one felony count in the theft case.
The Inquirer's third annual Stellar StartUps contest winners from the nine catagories. The contest recognizes some of the region's best new companies. Read more

A man with a cooking passion since childhood. High school friends who bonded over a chemistry project. A former EMT whose on-the-ground experience triggered a desire to figure out a better way to get patients to medical appointments.

They are among the Inquirer's 2018 Stellar StartUps winners. From nearly 100 contenders, winners in nine categories were announced Thursday night at a gala at South Bowl Lounge N' Lanes in Philadelphia. They were selected by a panel of judges with an expertise in entrepreneurship and start-ups, an increasingly important part of the region's economy and driven by a range of founders, including students, millennials, and those who left the corporate world by choice or downsizing and are now pursuing a second act.

The contest is a months-long effort to spotlight the inventiveness and doggedness of the region's start-up leaders.

Terrance C.Z. Egger, publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com, noted that it was the company's third year to host the event that recognizes some of the outstanding entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia region.

The winners by category are:

Alumni: TowerView Health

Founded after a cofounder and college roommate was diagnosed with cancer, TowerView Health helps patients with chronic illnesses better manage complex medication regimens. Patients receive presorted medication trays filled by a pharmacy, inserted into a smart pillbox that senses when patients forget a dose, sending an automatic text, phone, email, or on-box reminder to patients and their caregivers. Rahul Jain, CEO and cofounder. Based in Center City (www.pillbox.com).

"I feel really honored," said Jain. "It's hard for Americans to take all their meds because they average five to seven per day, and we're looking forward to a rollout with Humana, HealthNet, and a launch of a version of our product direct to consumers."

Food and Restaurants: Simply Good Jars

Driven by the idea to eradicate single-use plastic, food waste, and hunger through their Jars, SGJ brings fresh, locally sourced, and healthy chef-crafted meals (less than 600 calories) to the workplace in their refrigerators that act like vending machines. Jared Cannon, founder and CEO. Based in West Philadelphia (simplygoodjars.com).

Health Care: RoundTrip

The start-up removes barriers to care by connecting health-care providers with transport, to get patients the very best ride. RoundTrip software streamlines patients' ride coordination for hospitals, health plans, medical transportation providers, caregivers, and patients. Mark Switaj, founder and CEO. Founded in Center City, now in several states (www.rideroundtrip.com).

"It's incredibly rewarding to help build employment opportunities here in Philadelphia," said Switaj. "I knew the system of health-care transportation was broken and I spent a lot of time on fixing the problem."

>> READ MORE: A launchpad for Philly's creatives

Just Plain Cool Idea: REC Philly

Part creative incubator (a gym membership for artists) and part creative agency, REC Philly provides the tools, resources, and community for local artists to build sustainable careers  all while working with large and small businesses to help solve their creative marketing challenges. Dave Silver, founder. Based in North Philadelphia (www.recphilly.com).

Minority/Women Entrepreneurs: Greppo Technologies

A medical device start-up developing a unique high-performance, actively steerable surgical needle enabling minimally invasive treatment of cancer tumors in difficult-to-access anatomy. Eza Koch, senior engineer; Sasha Schrode, cofounder and CEO, Mark Yim, founder. Based in University City, Pennovation Center (www.greppotech.com).

"We're committed to making the lives of cancer patients better," said Schrode.

Products/Services: Kleer

A software platform for dentists that enables them to offer dental-care plans directly to their patients, eliminating the cost and hassle of the insurance company middleman. The result is simple, affordable dental coverage for patients and a dental-care plan that works for dentists. Dave Monahan, CEO. Based in Wayne. (www.kleer.com).

>> READ MORE: A Wayne start-up's more transparent dental plan

Second-Act Start-ups: (A tie) Pathogend and ShuttleBee

Pathogend's mission: to provide healthier, safer spaces utilizing the latest tools in hospital-grade disinfection to eliminate the most difficult pathogens such as C. diff, MRSA, Staph, flu, norovirus, mold, E. coli, and TB. Pathogend's EPA registered, proprietary Curis hydrogen peroxide fogging technology allows the highest-level disinfection in the air and on all surfaces where spraying and wiping can't reach. Rich Mullen, cofounder and CEO. Founded in Landenburg, Pa. (pathogend.com).

ShuttleBee is a co-op that merges routine transportation needs of families, schools, and organizations. Building technology to automate procedures and to create the safest product, ShuttleBee stops short of using tanks  they're not approved for transporting children (in all seriousness). Kristina Fahl, founder, John Fahl, CIO. Founded in Queen Village, Center City (shuttlebee.net).

Students: (A three-way tie) Rex Riccardi, Sharing Excess, Wish Respect

Rex Riccardi is a modern twist on the pocket square, combining art and fashion with 10 percent of each pocket square sold benefiting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Ryan Klauder, cofounder and CFO; Christopher Muth, cofounder and CEO, both Devon Prep school students (rexriccardi.com).

Sharing Excess is a nonprofit that helps university students share food excess with community members in need. The group advocates, designs, and implements donation programs that allow students to donate unused meals from their dining plan to people facing food insecurity in their surrounding community. Evan Ehlers, founder and executive director. Founded at Drexel University (sharingexcess.com).

Wish Respect wants to ensure everyone's last wishes are informed, known, and respected as part of its mission. The start-up provides education on the rights and choices everyone has related to advance directives and end-of-life physician orders. Tina Heilman, founder (wishrespect.com).

Technology: Group K Diagnostics.

Revolutionizing patient care through innovative point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Group K solves inefficiencies of current lab solutions by bringing the "lab" to the provider. Within 20 minutes, the MultiDiagnostic POC test and accompanying software platform gives patients direct access to results and allows providers to take immediate therapeutic action based on reliable results. Brianna Wronko, founder and CEO (groupkdiagnostics.com).

Helping hand from big business

Before the awards, Inquirer small-business reporter Diane Mastrull led a panel discussion on what the city's large corporations are doing to support the start-up community. Panelists included Lisha Davis, head of Vanguard Innovation Studio; Brian Lobley, president, commercial and consumer markets, Independence Blue Cross; and Rose Ritts, executive vice president and chief innovation officer, Jefferson Innovation Pillar.

Since health care is expected to grow to 24 percent of U.S. GDP by 2025, up from 18 percent currently, "we've realized that the traditional models aren't working," said Lobley. "Health-care data is among the last to be monetized," and Independence Blue Cross has partnered with DreamIt Health and venture funds to "screen companies like these start-ups for us."

Ritts said Jefferson's focus for start-ups includes medical marijuana and cannabis research, given that "legalization is compelling." She highlighted Jefferson's business plan competition on Oct. 3, and invited start-ups to apply.

>> READ MORE: 1776 and Benjamin's desk partner to build more corporate involvement in start-ups

For a list of the 30 finalists in this year's 2018 competition, as well as 2017's winners, visit our website to read more about the talented start-up ecosystem in Philadelphia.
Mayor Jim Kenney backed Rich Lazer in the Fifth Congressional District Democratic primary. Lazer finished third. Read more

Sometimes we get the feeling that Philadelphia's government isn't doing the best job balancing its checkbook.

Maybe it was in April when we learned that $33 million in taxpayer dollars went "missing."

Perhaps it was in August when we found out a municipal employee had tripled her salary with overtime.

Perchance it was just this week, when Mayor Kenney's administration and City Council could not agree on how much a plan to fund affordable housing would raise.

If only ordinary citizens could keep track of how our tax dollars are spent.

That was the idea back when Mayor Michael Nutter's then-chief data officer, Mark Headd, proposed regularly releasing financial data online via what's known as an API.

A city official familiar with that project said it could have been launched when Headd left his city job in April 2014.

Headd, a month after he called it quits, tweeted that "Real cities have APIs. Open cities expose their budgets and expenditure data through them. #opendata #transparency"

Headd also told the website Next City in January 2015 that he bid farewell to City Hall after it became clear Finance Department staffers were not on board.

So what's the status now, nearly five years later? The city official said the API could still be launched within days, if only Kenney's administration would act.

Not so, said Kenney spokesperson Mike Dunn, who described the project as being "in the final stretch" but still not ready for release until "early next year."

Dunn blamed delays on several factors. He said the city's Office of Open Data and Digital Transformation is a "relatively small team." And some of the data have "major privacy implications" that have to protected from public view.

Still, Philly is way behind the times on this. New York City launched the website checkbooknyc.org more than eight years ago, publishing a wealth of real-time fiscal data. The Pew Trusts in 2015 detailed states that have launched similar "checkbook" efforts to disclose data.

"If we had done this back in 2014, we probably would have been a leader," the city official said.

So much for being the city of firsts.

GOP congressman took contribution from pol guilty of bribery

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican, talks a lot about fighting government corruption.

When he first ran for Congress in 2016, he said that he had "spent virtually my entire career arresting corrupt politicians" as an FBI agent. After taking office, Fitzpatrick introduced bills to create term limits for lawmakers and clean up the redistricting process.

Fitzpatrick's good-government bona fides are a boon in his moderate suburban district, where he is being challenged by Democrat Scott Wallace.

So Clout raised its eyebrows when it learned that the Fitzpatrick campaign in July 2017 took a $5,400 contribution from Elliott Broidy  the same Elliott Broidy who pleaded guilty in 2009 to handing out nearly $1 million in bribes to New York pension officials in a made-for-the-tabloids pay-to-play scandal.

After Clout asked about the money, Fitzpatrick's campaign said it would give the $5,400 to charity.

"As is the case with Democrat and Republican congressional candidates across the country, to include Scott Wallace, tens of thousands of dollars are received from thousands of contributors online, both directly and indirectly, that are not subject to some sort of instant background check," said Fitzpatrick spokesperson Genevieve Malandra.

When he contributed money to Fitzpatrick's campaign, Broidy was the deputy finance chairman for the Republican National Committee. Broidy resigned in April after  wait for it  media reports revealed that he agreed to pay an ex-Playboy model $1.6 million in exchange for keeping quiet about their affair.

Top Kenney aide violated ban on political activity while on the city payroll

Democrat Rich Lazer, a top Kenney aide, got what some saw as a slap on the wrist by the Ethics Board this week.

The agency found that he violated the city's ban on political activity by municipal employees when he was toying with a run for Congress earlier this year.

The hard-hitting fine for that infraction? $300.

In February, Lazer told people over the phone that he was thinking about campaigning and asked if they'd support him. A finance director then followed up with them to ask for donations. At the time, Lazer hadn't yet resigned from his position as Kenney's deputy mayor of labor.

According to the Ethics Board's settlement agreement with Lazer, the former candidate's lawyer "advised him, incorrectly, that so long as he did not directly ask anyone for a campaign contribution, he would not violate the [City Charter's] political activity restrictions." Lazer came in third place in the primary for Pennsylvania's Fifth District.

In cases in which employees break the city's political activity rules, $300 is the maximum fine the Ethics Board can impose under the City Charter. That may have something to do with the fact that the penalty was set nearly 70 years ago, according to Shane Creamer, Ethics Board executive director.

In other words, voters would need to approve an amendment to the City Charter to jack up the fine. Given the electorate's current antiestablishment mood, we don't see that being a problem. But the change would also require City Council's approval  which, in our opinion, is a little less likely.
After expressing skepticism over a new jobs program led by Philadelphia police, Mike Stewart meets Officer G. Lamar Stewart, who started the program. Read more

Last week, I introduced you to a guy named Mike whom I met hanging on a Philly street corner. He didn't want me to use his last name then, but the 28-year-old had a lot to say about a new  and I think, inspired  program led by Philadelphia Police Officer G. Lamar Stewart, where police and community partners hit the streets armed with job opportunities.

Mike's thoughts on the effort could be summed up with one word: bogus.

It didn't matter that Mike and his buddies on the corner were looking for jobs, or that, the very next night, people who could help them get employed would be just a block from where they sat.

No thanks. No way. Their experiences with police made them mistrustful of cops, especially ones supposedly bearing gifts.

Fast-forward a week and allow me to introduce you, with his permission, to a newly employed Mike Grant.

Same guy, completely different attitude, a man full of confidence and optimism.

A J-O-B will do that to a person. But even more important, a genuine helping hand to land and keep a job.

When I met Grant, he had just gotten off of house arrest for drug and gun charges and was applying in vain to several jobs a day. After I posted a video on Twitter about his skepticism, Jondhi Harrell, founder of the Center for Returning Citizens, wasted no time reaching out.

If Grant was hesitant to trust cops, maybe he could try trusting someone who could relate, said Harrell, who had spent 20 years in federal prison himself. Upon getting out in 2009, he finally found a job refurbishing remote controls in Goodwill's Ex-Offender Re-Entry Program. That led to another, which eventually led to his nonprofit.

It was at Harrell's Center City offices where just a few days after I met Mike, Officer Stewart showed up to prove that "Turning a New Corner" wasn't just the name of the program but a genuine effort.

"This is real," the officer told Grant.

By Monday, Grant had a job interview. By Thursday he was going through orientation. He is scheduled to start his full-time gig at Atlantic City Linen Supply this week.

Can we just pause here for a well-deserved WOOOHOOO!

While Grant didn't go to the corners that police and community partners targeted last week, more than 100 people did; 10 have been hired by Atlantic City Linen with the help of the National Workforce Opportunity Network. Three others have been hired by Resources for Human Development, a social service provider.

Even with the torrential downpours that night, it shouldn't surprise anyone that people showed up. Poverty strangles this city. And, as new census data show, income only decreases. People in this city want to work and are desperate for jobs that will give them an opportunity to take care of themselves and their families. For Grant, that includes two young children.

This program is still new. There will likely be some challenges they'll have to adjust to. A lot more Mikes stand on the sidelines watching it closely.

And who better to tell them, or show them, than the original Mike. I told him as much during one of our conversations. Not to put too much pressure on him, but his success could be the example, and proof, lots of other Mikes might need to get off the corners.

After he was offered work, he called to let me know and say thank you for stopping to talk to him on that corner that day. But he also wanted to tell me something else.

"I got two brothers who are looking at me and they see a change and they see that getting a job is possible and they also want to follow my lead."
In this file photo from May 15, 2017, militants and their families board buses during evacuation from Qaboun near Damascus to Idlib under a ceasefire agreement. Read more

The world is watching as Russia and the Syrian regime prepare to unleash the biggest bloodbath yet in the Syrian saga of horrors. Yet no one seems to know how to prevent a massive attack on Idlib, the last Syrian rebel-held stronghold, where nearly a million civilians are trapped.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres just warned that a full-scale Russian assault on Idlib "would unleash a humanitarian nightmare unlike any seen in the blood-soaked Syrian conflict." Moscow rebuffed the pleas of Guterres' top emissary, who called for humanitarian corridors to allow the temporary evacuation of civilians.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad along with his Russian and Iranian allies that "the consequences will be dire. The world will hold them responsible."

But neither Assad nor Vladimir Putin believes the world (or Washington) will lift a finger. Why should they, given the unchecked carnage they've unleashed on Syrian civilians over the last seven years, including the unpunished use of chlorine gas against civilians?

If Assad and company can commit mass murder in Idlib, despite all the advance hand-wringing, it will reconfirm something painful to admit: In today's world, we have little power to prevent the most heinous war crimes.

Idlib is a litmus test for the state of our so-called civilization. Yet, judging by recent history, those trapped in Idlib have little hope.

"The United States, the Gulf states, and Europe encouraged a lot of Syrian rebels to become involved," says noted Syria expert Joshua Landis, "and now they don't want to take responsibility. Everyone is trying to shed crocodile tears, but we're all complicit."

Let us start with President Obama and the Saudis. Eager to avoid another U.S. military involvement like Iraq, Obama subcontracted to Saudi Arabia in 2012 to help Syrian rebels eager to oust their dictator. But the Saudis and Gulf states preferred to funnel funds to Islamists rather than to more secular rebels, who might have provided a potent force had they received aid early on.

Then there is the duplicitous role of Turkey, which shares a border with Syria and opposed Assad. With Turkish help, the Idlib region became the last stand for rebels and civilians who fled other conquered cities. The rebels include tens of thousands of relative "moderates" but also around 10,000 jihadis with al-Qaeda links, whom Turkey tolerated. Those hard-line Islamists are now preventing civilians from fleeing. To save Idlib, Turkey should take on the worst jihadis, but it has shown little will.

Of course, none of this excuses the major culprits, Assad, Putin, and Iran's ayatollahs, who are indifferent to civilian suffering. In 2015, when Assad was reeling, Moscow and Tehran came to his aid. Their primary targets were not the Islamists, but the more moderate rebels who might have provided a serious alternative to Assad. With Russian aid, Assad dropped thousands of barrel bombs on rebel-held cities, such as Aleppo, deliberately targeting schools and hospitals. Rebels who surrendered were often tortured and murdered.

Now Russian officials and Assad cynically proclaim they only want to fight terrorists. Nonsense. Assad simply wants to consolidate power. Moreover, fighting terrorists does not justify the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is the trademark of Assad and his allies.

Only recently, the United Nations passed on the coordinates of 235 schools and hospitals in Idlib to Russia in hopes of sparing them from bombing; already four of the hospitals have been targeted. Moreover, the Russians  who still deny that Assad ever used chemical weapons  are proclaiming a plot by the West to organize fake chemical attacks in Idlib. What better cover story for using chlorine gas in Idlib?

The urgent question remains: What can be done to prevent the slaughter of civilians in Idlib?

President Trump has warned that a Russian attack on Idlib would be a "grave humanitarian mistake." But the president has yet to produce a coherent Syrian strategy, having placed vain hopes in Putin. The State Department has finally put a good team in place. But Washington has little leverage on Assad. Nor is Putin likely to be moved by Trump's threats.

So I see little chance to avoid a regime attack on Idlib. Therefore, the best way to save civilians is to get as many of them out of Idlib as possible before the attack starts. Global pressure must continue on Russia to permit humanitarian corridors. Over and over, Washington repeats that the blame for Idlib bloodshed would lie with Putin.

Meantime, Turkey must be encouraged to let the refugees shelter in Syrian territory it controls near the Turkish border. But that situation is only temporary. Eventually many of those refugees must leave Syria or face Assad's torture. Yet the Trump administration admits almost no refugees from Syria.

"If it's a slaughter," President Trump said of Idlib, "the United States is going to get very angry." If he truly cares about the fate of Syrian civilians, he should let thousands of them find safety here.
Rachel Freeman said she overdosed after using heroin stamped with "Santa Muerte." Read more

In a Philadelphia park Friday night, Rachel Freeman watched as a half-dozen people slid into overdoses, a shocking display even for the drug-torn Kensington neighborhood.

But as paramedics revived them, they began to scream and shake  much different from a typical overdose reaction. "It was almost like being in a horror movie," Freeman said.

Nonetheless, Freeman, a slight 50-year-old with brightly painted fingernails who is known as "Mom" by drug users in the community, prepared her own bag of heroin later that night. She felt safer using a bag stamped "Santa Muerte" (literally, "Holy Death"), a variety reputed to be some of the last pure heroin available in the city, uncontaminated by fentanyl or other adulterants.

Freeman didn't realize that Santa Muerte was what everyone else in the park had bought, too. She woke up at Temple University Hospital after overdosing.

On Friday and Saturday, at least 165 people around the city overdosed  an unprecedented number, health officials said, and thought to have been driven by the type of drug Freeman bought. Health officials believe it may have been heroin cut with an anticholinergic, a substance found in muscle relaxers and the antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) that causes dangerous side effects.

Yet the death toll  10 people  is about the typical number of overdose deaths on a given weekend in a city where 1,217 people died of an overdose in 2017.

Still, the cluster tested the city's response to overdoses and drove home a fact that advocates, law enforcement officials, and drug users have known for months: Philadelphia's heroin supply, long noted for its purity and cheapness, is almost entirely contaminated, largely with the synthetic opioid fentanyl and sometimes with other substances.

Thomas Farley, the city health commissioner, said over the weekend that the alarming incidents are still more proof that the city needs to open a safe injection site, a controlled setting where people can get help more quickly.

The health department said police first reported six overdoses within about 15 minutes Friday at the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues. Outreach workers from the health department and community organizations were dispatched to the neighborhood and, along with paramedics, responded to several overdoses themselves.

On Tuesday, health officials were awaiting testing of bags found in the hands of overdose victims over the weekend. The drug that health officials fear was behind last weekend's rash, stamped with "Santa Muerte," has been specifically sought out by longtime heroin users like Freeman who fear overdosing on fentanyl.

Though many people think of illicit opioid use as a fast route to death, there are people who use heroin for many years without overdosing  as long as they know that pure heroin is what they are using.

Some more recent arrivals in Kensington, however, say they actually prefer the deadlier synthetic opioid fentanyl. "There's no one doing heroin," claimed a young man sitting in a folding chair at the Frankford Avenue heroin encampment Sunday morning. "You'll be doing six bags of heroin [for the effect of] one bag of fentanyl."

But fentanyl's effects are impossible to predict, especially when taken unintentionally. The synthetic was present in 84 percent of all opioid-related deaths in Philadelphia last year.

"There's a lot of people who started using injection drugs years ago, and only do heroin," said Patrick Trainor, a spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Agency. "But they have to take something to avoid getting sick [with painful withdrawal symptoms], and then it's so much more risky  because with the drug [samples] we see, we barely see heroin anymore. It's all fentanyl."

At Prevention Point, the needle exchange near McPherson Square, staffers hand out fentanyl testing strips along with the overdose reversal medication naloxone, said Jose Benitez, the exchange's director.

"We're telling people to assume that everything is contaminated," he said.

Freeman, who has used heroin on and off for about 25 years, and other older heroin users said the rise of fentanyl is frightening.

"You're just taking a chance," said a woman named Gabby in the Emerald Street heroin camp. "The fentanyl is getting out of hand. They're playing with people's lives."

Gabby said she had overdosed twice in one day on a bag of fentanyl a month ago, and has since entered a medication-assisted treatment program. She, too, used to seek out Santa Muerte for its relative purity. But she tried to take precautions when using: watching to see how others reacted to heroin bearing the same stamp that she had just bought, or trying to inject slowly.

By Tuesday, the situation was mostly back to normal in Kensington  which, health officials said, means 35 overdoses in city emergency rooms a day. On Monday, a group of people lined up a few blocks off Kensington Avenue as a dealer handed out free samples of heroin. In McPherson Square, a woman overdosed next to a park bench outside the library.

After an Inquirer columnist, a library staffer, and paramedics revived her, she walked away. A woman named Tricia ran after her to find out what she had been using. Sometimes drug users flock to products linked to more overdoses, figuring they have the built-up tolerance to handle them. Not this time. Tricia said she wanted to avoid the product  and an overdose.

Reporter Aubrey Whelan and columnist Mike Newall saw the woman who was overdosing outside the library collapse. While Newall administered naloxone (which both journalists regularly carry), Whelan called 911 and ran to the library for assistance. A library staffer brought a second dose, helping the woman to breathe, and then paramedics administered oxygen, reviving her.
Destinie Campanella, right, a harm reductionist, hands a Narcan kit to Jules Ricciuti III, of South Philadelphia, who is homeless and uses heroin, on Broad Street near Snyder in Philadelphia, PA on September 11, 2018. Read more

In South Philadelphia, a community of tight neighborhoods and strong traditions, a long-hidden opioid crisis is starting to reveal itself.

At Broad and Snyder Streets, next to a booming restaurant row and a major transit hub, Destinie Campanella makes her rounds. She lugs a bag full of Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, and water bottles to the corner where a few people in addiction sleep on cardboard mattresses. It's a sight familiar a few miles away in the open-air heroin scene of Kensington, but not here.

Campanella was born and raised in South Philly, where the drug crisis mirrors the intimacy and the insularity of the neighborhoods. The overdose death rate is skyrocketing, emergency rooms are filling up, and everyone knows a family affected.

But hardly anyone is comfortable talking about it.

Six years ago, when Campanella's uncle died of a heroin overdose, her family didn't want to talk about it either  even insisting his toxicology results were wrong.

The stigma of drug use here is so strong, mothers ask Campanella if she can spare a dose of Narcan in case they need it to save their children. They'd rather not be seen in line at the pharmacy, they tell her.

The people she visits on the corner are the most visible signs of an epidemic that usually kills in bedrooms and living rooms, hidden from the public eye.

On Broad Street last week, Campanella met a woman with a dangerously infected abscess from a botched injection.

Later, she got yet another lesson in how tight this community is: She realized the woman had gone to her South Philadelphia high school.

While the opioid crisis is most acute by far in Kensington, overdose deaths in South Philly increased by 41 percent from 2016 to 2017. All told, 132 of the city's 1,217 overdose deaths last year were in the community. Jefferson Methodist Hospital's ER on South Broad Street had the city's third-highest volume of overdose patients in the city in 2016.

"The only difference between Kensington and South Philly is location," said Sam Santiago, a city outreach worker who has worked with homeless people in addiction all over the city. "If you look hard enough, you'll see it."

Campanella, a mental health advocate, and a handful of other harm-reduction advocates and city outreach workers are among the few engaging with the homeless in South Philly.

"There's a gap in services that's happening here, in South Philly, in West Philly, in the Northeast," said Elvis Rosado, an outreach worker at Prevention Point, the city's only needle exchange, who stopped by the Broad Street camp on a recent night after holding a Narcan training for campus police officers at Methodist.

The needle exchange, which also offers wound care, addiction treatment, and other social services, sends a van to South Philly from its Kensington headquarters with clean needles once a week.

A man named Rick, homeless on Broad Street for a year, told Rosado the block can use more medical services, especially Narcan. He pointed to the alley behind the Wendy's on Snyder: he reversed an overdose there, with donated Narcan, a few weeks back. "Then there was Phil, in the schoolyard," he said. "And Jerry around the corner." And Carmen, who overdosed outside Wendy's last week and took four Narcan doses before paramedics found a pulse.

"And then I had a couple die," he said.

The stigma goes in all directions

At State Sen. Larry Farnese's office at Broad and Moore, Dominic Simirglia, who handles constituent services, has become an unexpected concierge for families in search of drug treatment.

There are few treatment options in the neighborhood, but even going across town is a hard sell for people deeply attached to their community.

"For most kids in South Philly, detox is on mom's couch," said Anthony Curci, in recovery from a pain-pill addiction himself, who runs a number of recovery houses in the neighborhood.

Even those sleeping on Broad Street were mostly born and raised in the neighborhood, or have lived there for years.

Like Rick, who has lived in South Philly just for a decade but won't leave the center of his community, his friends, and his living  selling pretzels and water outside the stadiums on game days.

Priya Mammen, an emergency-room doctor at Methodist, said she often has a hard time persuading her patients to seek help outside the community.

"Sometimes they don't even want to go up to our Center City campus," she said. "Prevention Point is a phenomenal resource that I would love to link any number of people to. But they're like: 'That's Kensington. I don't go there. I'm not that person.' The stigma goes in all directions."

Theyre carrying this guilt

From his famous cheesesteak shop on Oregon Avenue, Tony Luke Jr., has stepped up to combat that stigma.

"People still believe it's a choice. They still look at addiction as an annoyance, as someone who is just choosing to destroy their lives and everyone around them," he said. "I used to be that guy on the corner going, 'Just stop using drugs.' "

Then his son, Tony III, developed a heroin addiction.

"He was looked at as a loser and a weak-minded individual, and he truly was none of those things. My son suffered from depression. And I didn't know it, and I didn't realize it, and I didn't treat it like I should at first," he said. "Thank God I learned [to treat addiction differently] while he was still alive."

Tony III died of an overdose last year.

Now, parents from the neighborhood who have lost children seek out Tony Luke on social media and in his shop. They ask him, tentatively, if he can talk to them  at their homes, rarely in public.

"They're carrying this guilt as if they caused the death," he said. "Most of the time, honestly, we just hug each other and cry, and we just say that we're all in the same club that nobody wants to be in."

Eight years ago, when he kicked his Percocet habit, Curci said, no one in the neighborhood wanted to hear about the swelling opioid crisis. As the death toll mounts, that is changing.

"Now, my grandmother, who's never left Sartain Street, knows about the heroin crisis" because her friend has a grandchild in rehab, Curci said.

Campanella's work takes her all over the city.

Working in South Philly, "I worried that people weren't going to be receptive to me because they knew me, and they were ashamed of themselves," she said.

But now, when she runs into her old classmates on the street, their shared histories are her way in.

Like the woman with the dangerously infected abscess, who feared going to the hospital and finding out just how bad her situation was.

Campanella saw she wasn't budging, at least not yet. But she also knew she was the woman's only source of help right then.

So she crouched down next to her old classmate and talked about old times in the neighborhood, and laughed about their old teachers. For now, that would have to be enough.
Victoria Falls, as seen from Zimbabwe. The falls are the largest in the world, based on its combined height and width. Read more

Bill, an Australian traveler in Zimbabwe, stood in the velvet-caped darkness and listened. I planted myself next to him and sucked in my breath, not wanting the smallest leak of air to disturb the quiet. And then we waited for it, the low growl that would confirm our suspicions: A lion had crashed our campsite.

After hearing the noise again, I grabbed our guide from the picnic shelter. Onary screwed up his face as he registered the bellow. Then his expression relaxed, and he let out a belly laugh.

On a budget safari in Africa, I was out in the raw elements, among the wildlife and the humans who snort like them. I couldn't shush either one, a concession I had made for the savings I had reaped by roughing it. But what I sacrificed in soundproof accommodations, I gained in adventure and adrenaline  including the thrill (real or imagined) of a predator within a whisker of my tent flap.

Several companies offer overland safaris that keep costs down by swapping in camping, campground cooking, and bus transport for pricier lodges, restaurants, and bush planes. (Higher-end safaris typically cost $400 to $1,000 a day.) Intrepid Travel, for one, lists three levels of comfort, with "Basix" at the bottom.

Before signing up for this nine-day trip from Victoria Falls, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, to Kruger National Park in South Africa, I had to look deep into my travel soul and ask: Was I looking for an "exceptional value" and "plenty of free time?" Yes, I was. Did I want the "flexibility to choose where and how [my] time and money was spent?" I certainly did. Could I handle early rises, long drives on rutted roads and such duties as food prep, kitchen cleanup and tent assembly? For $1,100 (land only) and the possibility of seeing a leopard or a lion, roll out the sleeping bag and toss me the potato peeler.



Intrepid Travel provides the main elements  tents with sleeping pads, most meals, safari truck transport, and a few game drives  but you pay for the extras, such as a sleeping bag (you can also bring your own). At Victoria Falls, our starting point, the excursions included a gorge swing for $110 and a 12-minute helicopter flight for $180. I opted for a lower and less expensive view of the falls, paying $30 to enter the park. I could have rented a raincoat, but I knew that the wait for a hot shower at the campsite could be long, and my fallback plan was the largest waterfall in the world.

When I showed up at the Victoria Falls Rest Camp, our rendezvous spot in Zimbabwe, the tents were already standing. All I had to do was toss my bags inside and remember which tan-and-green shelter was mine. That evening, we met each other (14 people, five nationalities, a half-century age span) and the staff. Onary, the guide, introduced us to Enos, the cook; Ernest; the driver; and Truck, the truck.

Onary, who grew up in Zimbabwe, briefed us on the itinerary. We would spend four nights in Zimbabwe, one night in Botswana, and three in South Africa and were responsible for buying five lunches. Since we would be traveling in close and sometimes challenging quarters, he encouraged us to "develop a family spirit and have space for others in your minds and hearts." He also urged us to not contract malaria.

I raised my hand with a few questions. Since I had paid a single supplement of $72, could I have two sleeping pads, for my phantom other half? The answer was no. Did we have drinking water? No. Onary said the staff fills jugs with tap water, but the company's communications warned us to avoid water from the faucets. After he wrapped up the talk, reminding us of the 8 a.m. departure time, we streamed into town and hit up the OK supermarket, loading up on chips, biscuits, and five-liter bottles of water.

Dinner was not included that night, so three of us scanned the menu at a fast-food joint. Bill and Ash, a British cook, poked at fried chicken that looked tragically undercooked. I settled on a liquid dinner of red wine and instant coffee provided by a South African family camping between my tent and the bathroom. Our meeting was inevitable.



You never forget your first wildlife sighting. Mine was a pair of vervet monkeys goofing around at Victoria Falls and a lone warthog snuffling through plastic outside the national park's entrance. The next day, I added baboons.

When we arrived at the Ivory Lodge Campsite on the half-day drive from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, we moved like ants, quickly raising our tent village. After lunch, several of us climbed up to the observation deck overlooking a watering hole. Dozens of elephants appeared from out of the bush. A voice from down the road hollered for us to come down. We followed a dusty path to an elegant lodge, where a guide led us to a sunken teak lounge with an open window and an intimate view of the elephants. We were so close that I could see the tufts of hair on a baby elephant's head and follow the watchful eye of its protective mother. After several minutes, the employee ushered us out, just as the paying guests pulled up.

"Look what we ordered for you," he informed his excited clients, directing their gaze to the herd.

We trudged back to camp, smug in our knowledge that we had seen them first.



Rhinos are better than caffeine.

If you are feeling drowsy, as I was after a cold night of camping and an early wake-up call, seeing the horned animals lolling around in the grass will revive you faster than a double shot of espresso.

We started the overcast morning outside the gates of Matobo National Park, where our guide Kurt Schmidt described the event that sparked his interest in rhinos.

"I was charged by a black rhino," he said.

The harrowing incident inspired him to learn more about rhinos' behaviors and to tighten his protective arms around them. With a 95 percent unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, poaching is pervasive. He asked our group to not publicize the park's rhino population numbers and to turn off the GPS feature if we planned to post photos of the rhinos. He didn't want to give poachers any leads.

While explaining dehorning and his controversial idea to legalize rhino horn, he received a call.

"Fantastic! That's good news," he replied. "Guys, we have a rhino to look at."

On the trail, he told us to walk in single file and remain quiet. We stopped at a clearing where I could see patches of tough gray skin but no distinguishing features. Then the blobs were gone, disturbed by our presence.

Not giving up, we scaled a rocky incline and looked down to find our quartet. From this vantage, we could see the white rhinos in various stages of relaxing  not the most scintillating activity if you're watching a cow but these were prehistoric-looking beasts. Kurt motioned for us to follow him down the hill and around the bend, for a ground-level view. He smacked his lips, hissed, and released a high-pitched, nasal sound. The rhinos twitched their ears.

"We are trying to tell them, 'We are here and one of you.' " he explained.

The sky was darkening and the temperature dropping, but we had one more stop before we returned to the campground. In a small village and entered the thatch-roofed home of a Ndebele chief. In his native language, Pondo entertained us with the story of his first leopard hunt, an animated tale that involved a dog, a good Samaritan in a pickup truck and a trip to the hospital. (Kurt acted as translator.)

Pondo, who was 87, asked us to join him in a prayer for rain and a good harvest. Then, he invited us to take photos with him in matching leopard skins. I skipped the photo op and played with the children instead. A boy named Mpendulo sketched a picture of a rhino in my notepad. I asked him if he had any other drawings. He presented me with a stack of images of the animals, landscape, and people that are part of his daily life  and are now a part of mine, too.



For our final safari, we had one full day in Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa. We were one of the first vehicles through the gate, and less than 10 minutes inside the park, we were gazing at impalas, elephants and more elephants, guinea fowl, black-chested snake eagles, Cape buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, lilac-breasted rollers, zebras  and Zazu from The Lion King, otherwise known as a red-billed hornbill. Just after 10 a.m., we released a communal gasp when we spotted a leopard about 300 feet from the road.

"This is very, very, very rare," Onary said. "He is in a hunting position, relaxing and conserving his energy in case something happens past."

Post-leopard, we checked off waterbuck, tawny eagle (a pair), giraffe, and kudzu. Someone yelled out "lion," but it was a false alarm. We glared at the rock.

In the late afternoon, we piled into jeeps for the second half of the safari. Onary had originally quoted us a price of $25 but later informed us that the fee had nearly doubled. A few of us groused, but in the end, we paid up.

"Please find us a lion," Niamh, an Irish teacher living in Abu Dhabi, implored the local guide behind the wheel.

He complied. He darted through the bush, screeching around corners and pummeling the vegetation. Without warning, he turned off the engine and pointed at our prize: a male teenage lion commandeering a hill. For several minutes, we had a private audience with a lion, an experience that temporarily made us forget all the rest.
The Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta includes a Douglas DC-3 that entered into service for the airline in December 1940. Read more

The first time my husband landed a Boeing 737 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, he crashed. On the next go-round, I held my breath as Roy guided the plane over the runway fairly easily, but he put it down with such force that the cockpit shook as if it were at the epicenter of an earthquake. I thought I would tumble out of the co-pilot's seat.

Roy didn't really crash a plane  he's not even a pilot  but I really did get jostled pretty badly. We were perched high off the ground in the Delta Flight Museum's very realistic flight simulator.

"It's the only full-motion flight simulator in the United States that's open to the public," says Mike Raftis, the extremely patient instructor.

The museum, along with the 737 simulator and a very cool collection of airplanes and Delta memorabilia, is minutes from the terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson. Although the museum has been around in some form since 1995, it has been open to the public for only a few years.

If you happen to find yourself in Atlanta, either by choice or on one of those long airport layovers for which Hartsfield-Jackson is infamous, the museum with more than 100 years of aviation history housed in two 1940s-era hangars can be worth a visit.

"You can't miss [it]," a young woman from the museum said over the phone. "Just turn in between the Boeing 747 and Boeing 757."

Inside, the first thing we notice is a long line to see the interior of a meticulously restored Douglas DC-3, its silver coat polished to a dazzling shine that reflects every light in the building. I'm amazed at the aircraft, which entered into service with Delta in December 1940. Its windows are larger than those of today's planes and are adorned with curtains instead of shades; the interior exudes elegance and richness, the way air travel used to be.

"Up until a few years ago, the museum was more for employees than anything else," said Tiffany Meng, director of operations. The museum was renovated between 2012 and 2014 and was opened to the public to mark Delta's 85th anniversary of service.

Meng said the expansive rows of artifacts hold items from the history of 40 airlines, not just Delta  including Northwest, going back to when it was Northwest Orient, as well as China Southern and Pan American. Here and there, she stops at her favorite objects, including a ticket from Aug. 14, 1929, for a flight from Monroe, La., where Delta was headquartered for a spell, to Jackson, Miss., about 120 miles away. The cost was $13.25.

Meng stops at an employee identification badge for Catherine Fitzgerald, the longtime assistant to Delta's first CEO. "Miss Fitz  was one of Delta's first employees. She came up with the name of Delta from the Mississippi Delta region."

Other Delta memorabilia include flight attendant uniforms throughout the years, including the "groovy" designs from the 1960s and a reproduction of a Huff-Daland crop duster to honor Delta's beginnings.

Later, we walk across the parking lot to the outdoor 747, arguably aviation's most iconic aircraft.

Shaun Crawley, a museum volunteer, tells a tour group that particular 747 is the first model 400 that Boeing built. He urges us to sit in one of the spiffy Delta One first-class seats while he explains that the aircraft has 171 miles of electrical wires and that 3.5 billion passengers have flown on a 747 at one time or another. Then he leads us out to walk on the wing of the 747, which is a pretty cool thing to do.

I should admit that I didn't do so well in the flight simulator, either.

I chose to take off and land from Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. I almost slammed into a mountain as I tried to watch the landscape and all those bright, shiny cockpit gizmos at the same time. And I landed in the grass, rather than the runway.

But at least I didn't crash.

Delta Flight Museum, 1060 Delta Blvd., Atlanta. The museum is a 10-minute drive from airport; you'll want three to four hours, so mind how long your layover is.

Admission: adults, $15; seniors (65), $12.50; children (5-17), $10; younger children, free. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except closed Wednesdays and from noon on Sundays. For 747 Experience, noon to 4.

Flight simulator: $425 for up to four people, ages 16 and over. Not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with back issues or motion sickness. The hour includes a 10-minute preflight briefing, 45 minutes of flight time, and a 5-minute review. Reservations recommended.

Information: 404-715-7886 or deltamuseum.org
Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina Friday morning as a Category 1 storm and weakened to a tropical storm later in the day. Here's what we know.

 The first fatalities of the storm were reported Friday afternoon. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house in Wilmington, N.C., police said. Wind gusts up to 105 mph had been reported in Wilmington.

A woman in Pender County, N.C., also died of a heart attack after rescue crews couldn't reach her because of trees blocking the road, authorities said. In Lenoir County, a man died when he was electrocuted while trying to connect extension cords outside in the rain to power a generator, and another person died after being blown down by the wind while checking on his hunting dogs, according to CBS, which cited authorities there.

 Florence made landfall at 7:15 a.m. near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. It dropped to tropical storm status later in the day with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

 Flooding is occurring and hundreds of thousands of utility customers are reported to be without power in the Carolinas. The National Hurricane Center said in a 1 p.m. update that 20.37 inches of rain has fallen in and around Oriental, N.C., along the Neuse River on the southwestern end of the Pamlico Sound separating the Outer Banks from the mainland.

 In New Bern, N.C., also on the Neuse River, flooding stranded about 150 people who needed to be rescued, officials reported.

 Significant flooding is expected through the weekend. One high-resolution model suggests that up to 50 inches of rain could fall in the area where Florence made landfall by Sunday, according to the Washington Post.

 The hurricane is generating swells along the East Coast, including the Jersey Shore, where the National Weather Service has issued alerts for high surf and riptides.

 Florence is not expected to bring rain and wind to the Philadelphia region this weekend  the forecast calls for partly or mostly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday  but the remnants of the storm could cause give the area rain in the early-to-middle part of next week.
Rev. Bob Coombe, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Germantown, right, and Marion Brown, left, who was close to the Guatemalan family who took sanctuary in the church in the 1980s, Read more

On the last Sunday in July, after services, when most worshipers had left, the leaders of First United Methodist Church of Germantown met for a confidential discussion.

The details could not leave the room. People's safety was at stake.

The church, the Rev. Bob Coombe explained to the group, had been asked to provide sanctuary for two immigrant families facing imminent deportation to dangerous homelands. It wasn't clear how many people might move into the church, and it was less certain how long they might stay  easily months or more.

The leaders had no doubt what they, or the congregation, would do. The question of offering help was not "if" but "how."

"In the 1980s, we voted to become a sanctuary church," one man spoke up. "I don't recall us ever rescinding that."

Today, a family from Jamaica and another from Honduras have taken residence within the church's gray stone walls, seeking to put themselves beyond the reach of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

In offering protection, First United bound itself to what has become a growing national sanctuary movement. And it reanimated a strand of its own DNA that had lain dormant more than 30 years, when the church first defied the law and the federal government by sheltering a family from Guatemala.

"I've been kind of wondering for a while when this would happen," said longtime churchgoer Marion Brown, 73.

In First United's labyrinthine halls and office warrens, its clergy work with the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia to forge a support system for the nine members of the Thompson and Reyes families, both of whom have U.S.-citizen children.

Fourteen people now are living in Philadelphia churches, including Carmela Apolonio Hernandez and her sons and daughters, who took refuge in the Church of the Advocate in December. That is by far the most of any city in the country, according to Church World Service, a Christian coalition that tracks sanctuary cases.

Nationwide, 51 people are in sanctuary, up from 42 in January and from five just two years ago. All took refuge as a last resort, knowing that ICE guidelines dissuade officers from making arrests at "sensitive locations," including churches, schools and hospitals.

Many of those people have lived years in America, working jobs and building lives before becoming targets of a Trump administration bent on curtailing virtually all forms of immigration.

In the 1980s, when Donald Trump was a New York real-estate developer, hundreds of thousands of Central Americans, most of whom had never set foot in the U.S., fled north to escape civil war.

A succession of military governments in Guatemala burned down villages and murdered labor organizers, teachers and priests. In El Salvador, the number of civilians killed by death squads was approaching 40,000.

In both places, the United States had intervened on the side of the governments, which were fighting popular communist movements. In Nicaragua, the U.S. aided the Contra rebels who wanted to oust the socialist Sandinista regime.

The Reagan administration contended that the Central American immigrants were trying to escape poverty, not violence  so they weren't political refugees who would be covered under the 1980 Refugee Act.

Churches in Tucson believed otherwise and declared themselves sanctuaries. The movement spread. In January 1984, Tabernacle United Church in West Philadelphia became the first in the region to proclaim itself a sanctuary.

First United Methodist, known as FUMCOG, followed suit that May. And in August, a young couple from Guatemala arrived at the church with their daughter, having journeyed to Philadelphia on a modern Underground Railroad. They said they could be killed if they were sent back.

They took the names Joel and Gabriella, ages 25 and 20, and called their 3-year-old daughter Lucy.

The girl would grow up to become an American immigrant success story, earning college degrees and being promoted up the ranks of a major international company. But at the time, she was a child far from home, surrounded by strangers.

Joel had been a union organizer and a student leader, dangerous pursuits in Guatemala. Government agents had abducted and tortured him, leaving him deaf in one ear, his arm scarred from cigarette burns.

When his name appeared on two death lists, he and Gabriella fled.

At the church, they spoke out for themselves and other refugees, cloaking their faces with scarves to avoid endangering family members at home, but not hiding their whereabouts from a government preparing to pounce.

The Reagan administration had taken aim at the network of sanctuary churches and synagogues, warning that smuggling and harboring "illegal aliens" could get clergy and laymen up to five years in jail.

The Rev. Theodore Loder, the FUMCOG pastor, wasn't afraid.

"If the INS wants to put into jail good Samaritans, then let us go," he said at the time. "We knew it was an act of civil disobedience when we took them in."

At the church, Joel, Gabriella, and Lucy lived in a choir room, a space that came with a built-in dilemma: no heat.

"The housing that worked in the fall was not going to work in the winter," said Brown, the longtime church member.

As the weather turned, the family quietly left the church and moved into a small apartment that Brown owned in Germantown. The place was set back from the street, away from the eyes of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

In January, Joel got a phone call from a friend in the movement: Hey, I want to send a gift to Lucy. What's your address these days?

The next week, INS officers showed up at the apartment and arrested Gabriella. Joel turned himself in, later learning that he'd been betrayed by an informant.

Their arrests were part of a nationwide strike in which authorities arrested about 60 undocumented immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador. In Arizona, two priests, three nuns, and a pastor were among 16 sanctuary leaders indicted by a federal grand jury.

"The clergy is not protected by their cloths," U.S. Attorney A. Melvin McDonald said in Phoenix.

The church put up the $3,000 bail to free Joel and Gabriella  who returned to their apartment  and prepared for a legal battle to win them asylum. Lawyer Ted Walkenhorst and his team gathered evidence showing the danger the couple would face in Guatemala, submitting a six-inch-thick filing to the State Department.

"We put on a very strong case," Walkenhorst recalled last week, "and prayed a lot."

In November 1986, more than two years after the family took sanctuary, the Immigration Court ruled in their favor  a huge victory at a time when only 1 percent of Guatemalan refugees were being granted asylum.

"This is like a blessing from God," Joel told the Inquirer after the ruling.

By then, he and Gabriella had a new baby, a son. The family stayed in the area. They became American citizens.

Lucy graduated from Central High, then earned a bachelor's degree at Bloomsburg University and a master's at La Salle University. And she reclaimed her family name, Luz Morales.

From a start as an intern at IKEA, she was promoted to assistant manager of the Conshohocken store, then to positions in marketing. Two years ago, she moved to Lyon, France, to become internal communications manager for Ikea distribution services across southern Europe.

Now 37, she remembers little of her time in sanctuary  yet the weight of those years continues to shape her life.

She is, she said in an email, stubbornly optimistic, grateful for the help she received and trying to help others now, supporting groups such as Aide Aux Refugies, which assists refugees in Lyon and elsewhere.

"Everything about that time of my life has influenced how I am, who I am, and who I strive to be," Morales said. "I see FUMCOG as this community  this family  that raised me and supported me. At the time in my life when I was the most vulnerable, there were strangers who were willing to take a risk for me."
Governor Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary on Thursday after a spirited challenge from actor-activist Cynthia Nixon. With 58.1% of precincts results in, Cuomo has 65.8% of the vote, to Nixon's 34.2%. Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro in the general election on November 6th.

Tapping into a campaign war chest worth more than $30 million, Cuomo campaigned on his accomplishments over his two terms as governor$15 minimum wage; gay marriageand his willingness to oppose President Trump.

However, his poor stewardship of the MTA and the subway system, the corruption that plagued facets of his administration, and his tolerance of a Republican-controlled State Senate (and the "Independent Democratic Conference" [IDC} Senators who enabled them), left many left-leaning Democrats demanding more. Enter Nixon, who campaigned on a full-throated progressive platform, like taxing the rich to fund schools and legalizing marijuana. Nixon's promise to fix the subways rang true because unlike Cuomo she actually rides the subway.

Closer to the primary, it was revealed that a very close "former" aide of Cuomo's approved a sleazy flier accusing Nixon of anti-Semitism that went to 7,000 Orthodox voters, a surprising move since polls had Cuomo with a very comfortable lead ahead of Nixon.

After this race, "everyone in New York state understand that the governor controls the subway and it is the governor's responsibility to fix it." -@CynthiaNixon  Erin Durkin (@erinmdurkin) September 14, 2018 I am not discouraged. I am inspired and I hope you are too, Cynthia Nixon says during her concession speech. We have functionally changed the political landscape.  Samuel Rubenfeld  (@srubenfeld) September 14, 2018 This campaign changed expectations about whats possible in New York State. We moved issues of racial and economic justice to the forefront. We shined a light on inequality, and turned the medias attention to forgotten communities across this state.  Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) September 14, 2018 pic.twitter.com/nFzDCBp5vb  Candice Ferrette (@candiceferrette) September 14, 2018 And yes the future is female, says Cynthia Nixon.  Jessica Gould (@ByJessicaGould) September 14, 2018

The AP has called the Attorney General Democratic primary for Public Advocate Letitia James. She won a four-way race with 42.1% (75.3% of precincts reporting) over law professor Zephyr Teachout (30.8%), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (24.0%), and former Cuomo aide Leecia Eve (3.3%).

9/ The coordinated chanting? Im a tad impressed. pic.twitter.com/lY0gnSauk4  Mara Silvers (@mara_silvers) September 14, 2018

The AP is calling the race for State Attorney General for Tish James. If she wins in November, New York City will likely have a special election for Public Advocate in late February....  Bob Hardt (@bobhardt) September 14, 2018

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul fended off an impressive campaign by City Council Member Jumaane Williams, with 52.7% of the vote to his 47.3% (86.4% of precincts reporting).

Julia Salazar, a Democratic Socialist, beat establishment incumbent State Senator Martin Dilan, who represents North Brooklyn, 58.2% to 41.8% (90% of precincts reporting). Salazar's campaign picked up steam after fellow Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortz won the Democratic Congressional primary over Rep. Joe Crowley, but then a number of stories emerged forcing Salazar to repeatedly correct or clarify her biography. Dilan, for his part, had to answer for his reliance on campaign donations from the real estate industry.

@Gothamist is live at The Well to watch the primary results roll in with @SalazarSenate18 pic.twitter.com/wnkO6d1bQH  Claire Lampen (@claire_lampen) September 14, 2018 This victory belongs to tenants, it belongs to everybody who has fought for years to make housing rights the center of this campaign...this is a victory for workers@SalazarSenate18  Claire Lampen (@claire_lampen) September 14, 2018

There are more victories over former IDC candidates, who were targeted by progressives for their alliance with Senate Republicans: In Inwood and Washington Heights, former City Council Member Robert Jackson defeated State Senator Marisol Alcantara, 55.7% to 38.8% with 88.6% of precincts reporting. Alcantara's campaign (or its supporters) appeared to make a last-ditch desperate effort on Primary Day by telling voters the polls close at 7:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the actual closing time.

In a major turn, State Senator Jeff Klein, who led the breakaway Democrats in the IDC, lost his primary against Alessandra Biaggi in the Bronx.

BREAKING: NY1 calls the race for @Biaggi4NY.



Sen. Jeff Klein, who led the Senate IDC for nearly eight years, has been defeated.  Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellGAN) September 14, 2018

Alessandra Biaggi, Democratic Primary WINNER for New York State Senate! #biaggi4ny pic.twitter.com/X2BD3xLvBe  Alessandra Biaggi (@Biaggi4NY) September 14, 2018

NY1 also reports that Zellnor Myrie won the primary over incumbent IDC State Senator Jesse Hamilton of Brooklyn, while Jessica Ramos emerges the nominee over incumbent IDC State Senator Jose Peralta of Queens.

John Liu, the former City Council Member and City Comptroller, decided to run against IDC State Senator Tony Avella in July and, in just two and a half months, has become successful in his march back to public office: With 98.2% of precincts reporting, Liu took 52.9% of the vote while Avella held onto 47.1%a margin of just under 1,300 votes.

Working Families Party Director Bill Lipton said of the candidates who won over IDC State Senators, "New York politics changed forever tonight. The IDC is dead. The center of gravity has shifted, and Andrew Cuomo will face a radically different Albany. For years, Cuomo, the IDC and the Republicans led a government which blocked countless progressive policies. Now, the WFP and a progressive insurgency has ended the IDC, and Cuomo will have to deal with something new for him after November: a Democratic legislature. A new generation of leaders are heading to Albany to fight for a New York that works for the many, not the fortunate few. We look forward to working with them to put a powerful, visionary, and progressive agenda on Cuomo's desk next year."

However, now-former IDC member Diane Savino of Staten Island won the Democratic primary with 66.9% over Jasmine Robinson (20.5%) and Brandon Stradford (12.6%).

Another controversial State Senate figure, incumbent Simcha Felder, won his primary over Blake Morris in Brooklyn's District 17, 62.3% to 38.5% with 94.4% of precincts reporting. Felder, a Democrat who has caucused with Republicans since 2012, will continue to give Republicans effective control of the Senate unless Democrats are able to flip one more seat in the general election.

Mood at @BlakeMorris4NYS Hinterlands is subdued. Morris holds his concession speech and people are buying him drinks. Looks like its all over here, but Morris vows to continue fighting (in politics or otherwise) for justice and against corruption  Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) September 14, 2018

We'll have more analysis tomorrow morning. The general election is November 6.

Whole bunch of incumbent state senators are toast. Cuomo got the top of the ticket he wanted but the legislature is going to be very different.  Sarah Jaffe (@sarahljaffe) September 14, 2018
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...
An untold number of primary voters are arriving at polling sites today only to find that their names are mysteriously missing from the voter rolls. Others have found that their registration has been quietly transferred to new election/assembly districts, or assigned to new parties without their knowledge. Attorneys with the NYCLU say they are currently receiving reports from numerous voters who are shocked to find their names missing from the voting rolls.

1. Request (and insist upon) an affidavit ballot, and cast it immediately on-site, AND

Report the incident to any or all of

a.The Election protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE

b.The NY AGs Office, 800-771-7755 or Civil.rights@ag.ny.gov

c.Our office at 212-607-3300 or vote@nyclu.org  NYCLU (@NYCLU) September 13, 2018

New York magazine writer Rebecca Traister tweeted about her voting difficulties on Thursday morning, noting that her name had been wiped from the rolls at the Brooklyn site where she'd voted four years running. She showed up around 8:20 a.m. and presented herself at the usual table, but the volunteers couldn't find her name. They checked and rechecked, she checked and recheckedher name simply wasn't in the book. Pressed for time and trying to make a train, Traister filled out an affidavit ballot, which allows unlisted-but-eligible voters to belatedly cast their ballots. In this election, especially, that lag time matters.

"New York is a blue state and the votes that we cast ... don't feel consequential," Traister tells Gothamist, referring to the electoral college effect in presidential elections. "Today was a day when my votes were consequential."

"Every one of the races I voted in today are going to be really close races," she added. "Every single one of the races is going to be a race where, even if it's not close, the candidates I was voting for, they're the ones who need the votes."

Guess who wasnt on the rolls this morning at the polling place Ive voted for four years?  Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) September 13, 2018

So folks, if Cynthia, Jumaane, Zephyr or Zellnor loses by a single vote tonight, just wait for the affidavit ballots to come in! (Seriously though what the actual fuck)  Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) September 13, 2018

Others quickly chimed in on Twitter with similar accounts of being thwarted at the polls:

Three of us just in my line weren't on the voter rolls at my polling place (in Clinton Hill). This is the first affidavit ballot I've had to cast there. WTAF indeed.  Kristen Richardson (@butwhyevernot) September 13, 2018

Happened to me too. https://t.co/fUWOJ31FJo  Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) September 13, 2018

Same for me! Very weird.  Kathleen Kingsbury (@katiekings) September 13, 2018

Mayor Bill de Blasio's son Dante was also among those who were mysteriously unable to vote:

Mayor: I heard from Dante...he had a voter card from the BOE...officials at his poll site couldnt find his name. He had to fill out an affidavit ballot. pic.twitter.com/xpBLzeR94h  Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) September 13, 2018



Lexi Georgiadis, a Greenpoint voter, arrived at her regular polling place on Thursday morning and went over to the same election/assembly district table she always does. "I made sure I was registered in advance," she tells Gothamist. "I checked that website [the New York City Board of Elections website] in advance." Still, she was told she wasn't listednot under her first, last, or middle names. She checked with the information booth, where workers told her to try again at the same table. Ultimately, she filled out an affidavit ballot, but made a point of calling the Kings County Board of Elections. Officials there told her that, for some reason, she'd been listed under a different election/assembly district at the same site.

"Why didnt my polling place know that? Why wasnt there information on that?" she wonders. "My neighbors were behind me in line in the same building, and were able to vote at the 10/50 table as I have in the past. So it makes no sense why it would be different, and it makes no sense why the polling place wouldnt know that I was listed under something else."

(Georgiadis says the BOE told her on Thursday afternoon that the confusion stemmed from a "typo" in her street address as listed in the system, and that it will be fixed for the November midterms.)

I have filed complaint w/@NYSBOE: was not in booklet under my listed Assembly District & no one @ polling place knew that my district changed (even though my neighbors in the exact same building successfully voted under the old one) !!! Was told this "happens often!"  Lexi Georgiadis (@alexisgeorgia) September 13, 2018

Elsewhere in Brooklyn, Jalopnik deputy editor Michael Ballaban showed up at his usual polling place, only to discover thatunbeknownst to himhe'd been taken under the wing of another party entirely.

"They handed me a ballot with maybe one position open and like three names," Ballaban tells Gothamist. "I take it back and say, 'I think Ive been given the wrong ballot: This only has three names. Wheres Cynthia Nixon, Zephyr Teachout, Jumaane Williams, all that?' And they were like, 'Oh no no, this is your ballot.'"

Apparently, Ballaban was listed as a Reform party voter. This surprised him, as the Democratic party has bombarded him with mailers since he switched over his registration years ago. Ballaban suspects that his former Independent affiliation somehow worked as a wrench in his plans this time around, although he experienced no registration-related problems while voting in the 2016 election.

So after years of being registered as a dirty dem, I get to the voting place today and am informed I am now registered as a member of the Reform Party. And that I cant vote. WEIRD.  Michael Ballaban (@Ballaban) September 13, 2018

A poll worker in Brooklyn's 20th district told a reporter with ProPublicas Electionland project that they've been inundated with unusually high turnout, as well as "TONS" of people who've been mysteriously purged from the voter rolls. The worker, who requested anonymity, said:





Im working at a polling place in Brooklyn District 20  weve got TONS of people filing affidavit ballots, way more than we anticipated or were told to expect. Lots of people saying theyve been registered Democrats for 10, 20 years or more, no change of address, not near district boundaries. At the same time we also have shockingly high turnout. Who knows how itll be at the end of the day but by noon we were hitting ballot numbers most of the longtime poll workers werent expecting us to get to until evening.



Asked whether she thought it was random or if it seems like poll books were missing wholesale, she said, "Seems random! And theres no demographic consistency that I can tell  Ive given affidavit ballots to older Latino men, young black women, young white people. Were all cross-checking ED books and occasionally we find someone misfiled but there are enough flatly missing names that it stands out."

Today's issues call to mind the widespread voter disenfranchisement that marred the 2016 New York primary elections, when over 200,000 registered voters showed up at the polls to find themselves purged from the voter rolls by the city Board of Elections. The BOE said the purge was the result of a series of mistakes that occurred during an attempt to "clean up" the voter rolls. And after the election, the BOE discarded roughly 90,000 of 121,000 affidavit ballots cast by registered voters who workers couldn't find on the rolls.

After an investigation and a lawsuit from the Attorney General and Justice Department, the city Board of Elections agreed to an overhaul intended to "establish a complaint intake process where it records, tracks, investigates, resolves and responds to complaints about voter registration status submitted by voters."

]The Board of Elections has not yet returned our request for comment about today's irregularities, but we will update as we learn more.
Amaravati (AP): A local court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project across river Godavari.

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, issued the order, directing police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu, former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the TRS) were among the Telugu Desam Party workers booked in the case.

They have been charged with the Indian Penal Code offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said his father and other TDP leaders would attend the court."He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said.

The chief minister is currently camping in Tirumala near Tirupati, attending the annual brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara temple there.
Seoul: Hyundai Motor on Thursday presented the first look at a render image of a new truck with fuel cell powertrain which is set to be launched in 2019.

The front grille symbolizes hydrogen through geometric shapes, giving the vehicle a unique and powerful look. The vehicle emanates an eco-friendly look with an iconic blue color application and a bold side body graphic on the container, which visualizes its dynamic character.

Hyundai will announce the future plans for introducing the fuel cell electric truck in the European eco-friendly commercial vehicle market next year and reveal further vehicle specification at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 in Hanover, Germany.

Hyundai has previously launched the ix35 Fuel Cell and the NEXO in fuel cell technology. Fuel cell electric truck boasts distinctive design which sets it apart from other Hyundai commercial vehicle line-up. The truck aims at simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient with a spoiler and side protector, Hyundai said in a statement.

Hyundai recently completed South Koreas first domestic highway journey with an autonomously navigated semi-trailer truck. Hyundais Xcient truck drove approximately 40km on the highway between Uiwang and Incheon, carrying large semi-trailer simulating cargo transportation, showcasing Hyundais innovative technological advancement in future mobility, the company said.
New Delhi: Tata Motors is all set to showcase two indigenously built combat vehicles at the BIMSTEC Nations Summit 2018 to be held in Pune.

The two vehicles - Tata 4X4 Mine Protected Vehicle and WhAP8x8 ICV - will be showcased to Army chiefs and over 400 officers from the participating nations in a bid to show Tata Motors' expertise in combat mobility and its commitment towards the government's 'Make in India for Defence' policy.

In a press release, the company said that the 4X4 Mine Protected Vehicle is developed to serve as a mine-proof troop transport vehicle, a law enforcement special response vehicle used to counter insurgency, or an escort protection vehicle. The company further claimed that it has a best-in-class ground clearance and that its high power-to-weight ratio helps the vehicle with enhanced acceleration and speed for critical operations during emergency scenarios.

The WhAP8x8 ICV, on the other hand, has been co-developed with Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is touted as India's first combat vehicle designed for optimised survivability, all-terrain performance and increased lethality. It's safety features include blast protection, ballistic protection and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection. Tata Motors claims that it is a low-maintenance vehicle capable of taming any terrain and can seat 10+2. It can also be further modified - depending on need - as an armoured vehicle, recee and support vehicle, medical evacuation vehicle, anti-tank guided missile vehicle and engineer squad vehicle.

Tata Motors has already supplied 1.5 lakh vehicles to Indian Army and para-military forces. The company recently rolled out the 1500th Safari Storme Army GS800 edition which is replacing Maruti Gypsy in the Indian Army.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar alias Ravan, who was jailed under NSA charges in connection with 2017 Saharanpur caste violence case, was released from prison early on Friday, hours after the Uttar Pradesh government ordered his early release. Earlier, it had been reported that Chandrashekhar would be released on November 1.

Chandrashekhar was welcomed by his supporters after his release from prison at 2.24 am on Friday. After coming out of the prison, he said he was confident the state government would frame charges against him within 10 days. He further said he would ask "my people" to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power.

Chandrashekhar told news agency ANI, "The government is scared that they are going to be rebuked by the Supreme Court, that they ordered an early release to save themselves. I'm confident that they'll frame some charges against me within 10 days. I'll ask my people to throw BJP out of power in 2019."

He after coming out of prison where he was jailed under NSA charges in connection with the 2017 Saharanpur caste violence case. Uttar Pradesh government ordered his early release yesterday

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday had ordered the early release of Chandrashekhar who has been in jail for nearly a year in connection with his alleged role in the caste violence.

Chandrashekhar was first arrested for his alleged involvement in the Saharanpur riots on June 8, 2017.

On November 2, 2017, he was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court. However, a day later, he was arrested again under the provisions of the National Security Act and lodged in jail.

Two close aides of the Bhim Army chief will also be released with him. The decision comes ahead of 2019 elections and is being seen as BJPs attempt to reach out to the Dalits.

Chandrashekhar's Bhim Army fights for the rights of the Dalits and the downtrodden and was blamed for the bloody caste violence in the Saharanpur district in 2017.
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government on Friday, accusing it of spreading blatant lies and threatening minorities.

Speaking to the CNN News channel, the firebrand TMC chief said, ''The BJP government at the Centre is 'showing audacity and arrogance'. It has been spreading lies and rumours and targeting minorities.''

Stating that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has failed in all respects, Mamata Banerjee said, ''Everybody is under threat today and people are scared of the BJP rule.''

The West Bengal politician, while responding to a barrage of questions vis-a-vis her state's relations with the Centre, said, ''The Centre does not support us. Any project, scheme or request made by us to them is seen through a political prism and treated as TMC's political agenda.''

While reiterating that power has made the BJP ''arrogant'', the West Bengal leader warned that the saffron party will be certainly defeated in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

''I can vouch for the fact that the BJP will not be able to cross the 200-mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,'' Mamata said.

"The BJP had secured only 31 percent votes and won 283 seats (in the 2014 General Election). It cannot be repeated again. They have failed in all respects and cannot survive (in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll)," she said during the 'Rising Bengal' programme.

She even charged the BJP with bringing in "Hindu terrorism'' and claimed that many people had been lynched across the country in the recent times over mere suspicion of either cow smuggling or consumption of beef.

"We (TMC) want to see the country united. We don't support militant Hinduism," the TMC chief said.

After winning the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had shown "arrogance and audacity", she claimed.

"They have done demonetisation but 99.3 percent old currency notes have come back. What was the need for it? Was it for making black money white," Mamata asked.

''Crude prices were falling in the international market but petroleum prices in the country were rising,'' she said, adding that it has made the life of a common man miserable.

Though she stopped short of saying who will be the ultimate face of the 'mahagathbandhan' or the grand alliance of like-minded parties to defeat BJP in the 2019 polls, she said that she would want the non-BJP block to remain stable.

''The leadership issue will be dealt later, our first priority right now is to ensure that the BJP is ousted from power in 2019,'' Mamata said.

She also accused the ruling BJP and some right-wing groups of blocking her planned visit to Chicago in the United States to attend a programme that was being organised by the Vivekananda Vedanta Society. That programme has been cancelled now.

Mamata alleged that the BJP and the RSS had pressured the organisation to cancel the event that she was supposed to attend.

The Ministry of External Affairs, however, denied they had received any request for clearance as regards the West Bengal Chief Ministers visit.

The question of denying permission doesnt arise, an MEA spokesperson added.

Mamata had on Tuesday said that the Ramakrishna Mission had been threatened by "evil forces" to cancel her trip to Chicago.

"I think some evil forces had hatched a conspiracy. They did not want Ramakrishna Mission to organise the programme there. They also didn't want us, people of Bengal, to attend it. It pained me and saddened me a lot," the CM had said while addressing the Ramakrishna Mission's global headquarters Belur Math in Howrah district.

Mamata had recently received an invitation from the Ramakrishna Mission to attend the event on August 26 at the Art Institute of Chicago as a chief guest. She later shelved her planned visit after being told by the organisers that the scheduled event had been cancelled due to "unforeseen difficulties" and "demise of a monk".
In a new turn of events in the Kerala nun alleged rape case, the inquiry commission of the Missionaries of Jesus in it findings refuted that Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal raped her and alleged conspiracy by the nun against the Bishop.

The inquiry commission said ten people -- the victim, five nuns and four other people -- conspired against the Bishop. A friend of the victim was handling the register that keeps track of the visitors and they must have tampered with it, it alleged. It also said the victim took control of CCTV from the Mother Superior.

In its findings, the commission said the Bishop didn't stay in Kuravilangad convent on May 5, 2014, as claimed by the nun in the complaint. It also said that in a picture of May 23, 2015, the nun was seen at a function with the Bishop and so it all point out that there was no rape.

The commission said, "Victim along with five other nuns and four others conspired against the Jalandhar Bishop. Victim's friend was handling visitors' register, they must have tampered with it. The victim took control of CCTV from Mother Superior. The Bishop didn't stay in Kuravilangad convent on May 5, 2014, as claimed in rape complaint by the nun. On May 23, 2015, they can be seen at a function with the Bishop in a photo. All this points that there was no rape."

Earlier on Thursday, the Kerala High Court had said the "arrest is not the issue", in a relief to the Bishop.

Expressing satisfaction in the ongoing probe, the court observed that since it was an old case, the probe and the investigation will take time and "not the arrest but final punishment of the accused is more important".

Apart from hearing two petitions on the case, it also heard a third petition seeking a Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) probe into it and said that at present that would not be granted and posted the matter for next hearing on September 24.

Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar has been served a notice to appear before the probe team on September 19. The nuns supporting the victim expressed their disappointment with the court`s observation.

"We now feel that the probe might be swept under the carpet. Even the court is also denying us justice," said a nun after hearing the court`s observations on Thursday.

A Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy after going through the affidavit of the Kerala Police probe team said that it was not proper to put pressure on the police as it could create hindrance to a free probe.

A Kerala nun has accused Mulakkal of repeatedly sexually abusing her between 2014 and 2016. There are five other nuns of the same congregation who has supported her claim.

On Thursday, Kottayam Superintendent of Police Harishankar who is leading the probe told the media that variations and contradictions have been found in the statements that have been taken from several people connected with the case.

"I would not say that this has been done on purpose. However, taking into account that the case is four years old, it might be difficult to recall things correctly.

"There are discrepancies in documents and facts that have now come up and hence we have expanded the probe team," said Harishankar.

An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent. However, Mulakkal has denied any wrongdoing and termed it a conspiracy hatched against him.
New Delhi: Self-styled godman Ashu Maharaj was arrested on Thursday night for allegedly raping a woman and her minor daughter at his Hauz Khas ashram in the national capital, police said. His son Samar Khan was also detained by the Crime Branch for raping the woman, Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Rajiv Ranjan said.

"There is sufficient evidence against him. So, he is being arrested. His son is not being arrested now," said Ranjan.

The two accused were questioned for a couple of hours in connection with the case, added the police.

In her complaint to the police, the woman had claimed that she was raped by the self-styled godman, his friends and his son between 2008 and 2013, a police officer said. She had alleged that he even asked her to bring her minor daughter to him and then raped her, he said.

A case had been registered in the Hauz Khas Police Station on September 10 and the probe was transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Sunday.

The cases were registered under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.

This is the second case of a self-styled godman being nabbed for allegedly molesting a woman. Earlier in September this year, self-styled godman Nabbe Das was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly molesting and threatening to kill a girl. He was held under the POCSO Act after a woman filed a complaint on August 30 that Das molested her niece on August 17.

She even alleged that he threatened to kill her. An investigation into the case is underway.
A 27-year-old off-duty correction officer was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in his car on Friday. Preliminary reports suggest he was killed during a road rage confrontation.

Police responded to a 911 call at 1:46 a.m. and found an unconscious and unresponsive man inside a car at the intersection of 103 Avenue and 120 Street in Queens. EMS took him to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Police sources told the NY Post that the victim "may have been arguing with an unidentified motorcyclist prior to being shot." WABC 7 reports that the driver had been at a red light, but then "a man on a motorcycle pulled up just after 1:45 a.m. He got into a verbal dispute with the man on the motorcycle, who shot him in the head."

The name of the victim, who was apparently on his way to work, was not released, but Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann said, "The entire Department of Correction is grieving this morning upon learning of the tragic shooting death of an off duty Correction Officer. My deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences go out to the officers family, friends, and colleagues throughout the department. We are in close communication with the NYPD.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday is scheduled to meet the religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He will also address the community members gathered at the mosque after his meeting, officials said.

According to the officials, PM Modi will meet Saifuddin at the Saifi Nagar mosque in the city where the head of the community has been holding a nine-day religious discourse since Wednesday.

The prime minister is likely to address members of the community gathered at the mosque after his meeting, they said.

According to the schedule, the prime minister will reach Indore at 11 am and venue at 11.30 am. After wrapping his meet and address, the PM will depart from the venue at noon, reach Indore airport at 12.30 pm and fly back for the capital at 12.35 pm.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also be present during Modi's visit.

Dawoodi Bohras are a sect within Shia Islam. Thousands of community members have arrived here from various parts of the world to hear their religious head's sermons. Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in the state, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.

In view of the prime minister's visit, security has been ramped up, Indore range Deputy Inspector General of Police H C Mishra said. Police would employ drone cameras to keep an eye over the city along with 150 CCTV cameras, he said. About 3,500 policemen have been deployed in the city, Mishra added.

PM Modi's visit to the poll-bound state is being seen by political pundits as an attempt to give a fillip to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) push to retain power in the state. The prime minister's visit also assumes significance as Assembly polls are due by year-end.

BJP has given signals of Muslim outreach in Maharashtra with the appointments of Haider Azam and Haji Arafat Shaikh, as chairman of the Maulana Azad Minorities Financial Development Corporation and the state minorities commission respectively. These steps are being seen as the BJPs renewed effort to reach out to the minorities especially Muslims in the run-up to the 2019 elections.
NEW DELHI: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation aided former liquor baron Vijay Mallya's escape. He also alleged that the lookout notice for Mallya was changed on the approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Mallyas Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the Detain notice for him, to Inform. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM," he tweeted.

Mallyas Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the Detain notice for him, to Inform. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 14, 2018

The CBI on said Thursday said that its decision to change the 2015 Lookout Circular (LoC) against Mallya from "detain" to merely informing about his movements was an "error" in judgement. CBI sources said when the first LoC was issued on October 12, 2015, Mallya was already abroad.

Upon his return the agency was asked by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) if Mallya should be detained as sought in the LoC to which the CBI said there was no need to arrest or detain him as he was a sitting MP and there was no warrant against him, they said. It said the agency only wanted information on his movements.

Besides, the probe was in an initial stage and the CBI was collecting documents from the IDBI in the Rs 900 crore loan default case, they said.

The CBI issued a fresh LoC against Mallya in the last week of November 2015 asking airport authorities across the country to "inform" it about Mallya's movements, thus replacing its previous circular which had sought detention of the businessman if he attempted to leave the country.

The Congress has been accusing the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of taking no action against Mallya who is accused of Rs 9,000-crore bank fraud, despite registration of an FIR by the CBI in July 2015.

Rahul has also accused Arun Jaitley of "colluding" with Mallya and questioned why the Finance Minister did not inform the investigating agencies about Mallya's plans to leave India. Mallya had recently said that he met the Finance Minister before leaving India.

While Congress has sought Jaitley's resignation, the BJP rejected the demand and instead asked Rahul Gandhi to quit in view of his involvement in National Herald case.
KOHIMA: A possible spit in the SS Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) on the lines of nationality has brightened the hopes for an early settlement to the vexed Naga problem and a lasting peace in the Northeast region.

There are indications that the members of the NSCN- K faction are not happy with the recent impeachment of the outfit's chairman Khango Konyak which has led to a complete separation in the outfit between Indian and Myanmar origin leaders.

The development has brightened the prospect of the NSCN-K  the only left out Naga faction  also coming to the negotiation table for talks with the Government of India.

It may be recalled that the NSCN-K impeached its chairman Khango Konyak on August 17. The outfit has replaced him with 45-year-old Yung Aung as the new acting chairman.

Khango belongs to a Naga tribe based in India while Aung, who is also the nephew of NSCN-K founder the late SS Khaplang, is a Hemi Naga from Myanmar.

Aung had completed his education from Manipur and is known to be an expert in martial arts and polo.

Reports coming from Northeast claim that more than 300 NSCN-K insurgents are camping at an unknown location and are keen to sign a ceasefire agreement with India.

The NSCN-K and other insurgent group had launched a series of attack on the Indian Army. The deadliest of them was an ambush on an Indian Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district that killed 18 jawans. Soon after this attack, the Indian Army's Special Forces launched Surgical Strikes against them near the Manipur and Myanmar border.

"Due to ongoing operation by Myanmar Army against the insurgent groups including NSCN-K inside bordering area of India and Myanmar and a vicious power struggle has troubled the faction for some time now,'' a security official had told Zee News on the condition of anonymity.

The NSCN-K held an emergency meeting on August 17 during which it impeached Khango Konyak and elected Yung Aung as the new acting chairman of the outfit. The emergency meeting also decided to give Khango a safe passage to go wherever he desired.

Communication between the members of the outfit had revealed that the Khango faction is unhappy with the removal of Khango Konyak from the post of Chairman. Many insurgents from NSCN-K are camping in jungles near Nagaland and Myanmar border and have made plans to revolt against Yung Aung, the new chairman of the outfit.

Some other reports suggest that top leaders of NSCN-K along with 300 cadres led by Gen Nikki Sumi, Deputy Chief of Army of NSCN-K, may defect from the group and agree to sign a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India.

Niki Sumi has been involved in many attacks on the Indian Army and main mastermind behind the ambush on an Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district.

Led by a Brigadier-rank officer, the Myanmar Army has recently escalated its operations against the NSCN-K faction in the areas controlled by them in the Myanmar Naga hills.

The Myanmar Army is also deploying their more men in areas controlled by NSCN-K GHQ and ULFA GHQ in Konyak region. Some reports suggest that the Myanmar Army is destroying NSCN-K camps and video recordings the events as proof of their action. This has led to fear among NSCN-K members and they have shifted their camps to a safe location.

''The fight between the Indian origin insurgents and Burmese insurgents in NSCN-K is clearly visible. The fate of Indian insurgents will no longer dominate the outfit. Indian security forces are certainly in a dominating position and that is the real reason why the Indian faction of the NSCN-K is looking for a peace deal with the Government of India,''' a top intelligence official has claimed.

The Naga tribes are spread over Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur and Myanmar. Indian Nagas are known as Western Nagas and Myanmarese Nagas are called Eastern Nagas.

The NSCN- K has been pressing for a separate country with Naga-inhabited parts of India and Myanmar. Its also the only Naga outfit, which is outside the peace process.

It may be recalled that the NSCN-K faction had unilaterally ended the ceasefire with the Indian government in 2015.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has ruled out any engagement with the Opposition on issues relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying they do not deserve to be involved after throwing muck on a very sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness.

Sitharaman said the government decided to go for procuring only two squadrons of Rafale jets as an emergency measure in the wake of China and Pakistan significantly ramping up their air power by inducting stealth fighters.

"Is there any point of calling them and explaining? They are misleading the country with something which was not even agreed to during the UPA government. You are throwing an allegation saying there is a fraud. You did not care for operational preparedness of the air force," she told PTI in an interview.

The defence minister was asked whether the government will engage with opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the US.

"It (Rafale deal) is an inter-governmental agreement. You (Opposition) have asked us questions and I have given answers to them in Parliament. Then what am I calling them for? What am I going to tell them when I call them?" she said.

The defence minister also asserted that the Rafale deal cannot be equated with the Bofors issue at all as was being attempted by the Opposition, as she has rid the defence ministry from middlemen entirely.

Led by Congress, opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government alleging it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost.

Congress has said the UPA finalised a price of Rs 526 crore per fighter while negotiating a deal to buy 126 Rafale jets, but the current government is buying each aircraft at Rs 1,670 crore when the weapons and avionics onboard the jets will be of same configuration.

Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft will be "much superior" in comparison to what was negotiated by the UPA.

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets at an estimated cost of Rs 58,000 crore.

Asked whether the controversy surrounding Rafale will hit flow of foreign funds into the defence sector, she said it will not have any impact as it is very clear that allegations are baseless.

Sitharaman also rejected the Opposition charge that the government was trying to benefit Reliance Defence Ltd from the deal under the offset requirement, saying the government has no role in selecting an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale.

Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

Sitharaman said, officially, she does not know which company Dassault Aviation is partnering with to execute the offset obligations.

"I have not got to know who is Dassault's offset partner.. It is a commercial decision. There are laid down procedure to check the process of fulfilment of offset obligations. Neither I can accept, nor I can suggest, nor I can reject anybody from going with anybody," she said.

On October 27, last year, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence laid the foundation for manufacturing facility near Nagpur to manufacture aerospace components and fulfil offset obligation connected to the Rafale deal.

The Opposition has been asking how RDL, with no experience in aerospace sector, can be chosen as an offset partner while the government has been maintaining that it was officially ignorant of the fact that Dassault has joined hands with RDL to execute offset obligations.

Rejecting charges of corruption in the Rafale deal, the defence minister said the people of the country have put a closure on this "non-issue" as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
NEW DELHI: In a bid to give a fresh boost to the 'Clean India Mission'  one of his government's key initiatives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written personalised letters to select citizens urging them to join the ''Swachh Bharat Mission''.

According to ANI, the PM has written personalised letters to nearly 2000 people from all walks of life in which he had emphasised on the need to push the 'Clean India Mission' and with an invitation to participate in the 'Swachhata Hi Seva Movement'.

Through his letters, addressed to former judges, retired government servants, gallantry award winners, medal winners in the CWG as well as Asian Games, spiritual leaders, film personalities, journalists of leading media outlets, sportspersons, writers among others, the PM has urged them all to become a part of the mass movement.

The PM had urged the recipients of his letters to support the mission and also inspire others to do the same.

In order to make it a mass movement, the PM has also shot letters to the Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all states.

Describing the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' as a mass movement that has ushered in a 'Swachhata' revolution across the country, the PM also highlighted the salient features of 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and acknowledged it as a revolution across India.

The PM also shared details of the progress made under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' in which he stated that more than 8.5 crore toilets have been constructed in the past four years.

The letter also points to the fact that more than 90 percent Indians now have access to toilet, as compared to less than 40 percent in 2014.

Over 4.25 lakh villages, 430 districts, 2800 cities and towns and 19 states and union territories have been declared open defecation free, the PM mentioned in his letter.

PM Modi also informed that on September 15, he will be interacting with those who have played a critical role in promoting cleanliness activities in their surroundings.

The Swachhata Hi Seva Movement commences on 15th September. This is a great way to pay tributes to Bapu. Come, be a part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a Swachh Bharat! pic.twitter.com/c7wCxPBbUL  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 12, 2018

PM Modi had earlier described the Clean India Mission as "a great way to pay tribute to Bapu."

In a video message, the PM had exhorted people to be "part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a Swachh Bharat."

"On 2nd October we mark the start of Gandhi Ji's 150th birth anniversary. It is also the day Swachh Bharat Mission completes 4 years of being a historic mass movement aimed at fulfilling Bapu's dream of a Clean India. I salute all those working towards a Swachh Bharat!" the Prime Minister had tweeted on September 12.

The movement, which will be held from September 15 to October 2, is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014. It will also mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

Interestingly, the ruling BJP has decided to celebrate PM Modi's 68th birthday on September 17 as Sewa Diwas.

(With ANI inputs)
Uttarakhand Cheif Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday took a jibe at infiltrators saying that he won't allow any outsiders in his state.

Addressing the people of his state, Rawat said that he won't allow Rohingyas or people belonging from Bangladesh to settle in the state. According to news agency ANI, he further said that he will find people who have settled illegally and remove them from the state.

Rawat also warned the people of Uttarakhand to be aware of any suspicious happening around them. He urged people to come forward and inform the government with news of anyone they think is a suspect.

Rawat's comment comes after BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Monday said that people excluded from the final list of Assam-specific National Register of Citizens would be de-franchised and deported to their country, while Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal suggested that the NRC be implemented across India.

Addressing a seminar on 'NRC: Defending the Borders, Securing the Culture', Sonowal said genuine citizens of India would get adequate opportunities to prove their citizenship and include their names in the final list of the NRC.

"The NRC should be implemented in all states. This is a document which can protect all Indians. Those who will be excluded from the NRC in Assam can go to other states. So we will have to take a strong step," he said at the seminar, organised by think-tank 'Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini'.

The update of the NRC, a Supreme Court-monitored exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals living in Assam, excluded more than 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, triggering a political controversy.

Assam, which faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC, first prepared in 1951.

The current exercise, started in 2005 under then Congress government, got a major push after the BJP came to power in the state with illegal immigration from Bangladesh as a poll plank.

When the NRC was first prepared in Assam in 1951, the state had 80 lakh citizens then.

As per 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process to identify illegal immigrants in Assam has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in the state's politics.

A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by AASU in 1979.

It culminated with the signing of the 'Assam Accord' on August 15, 1985, in the presence of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

(With PTI Inputs)
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday stayed Delhi High Court's order to grant bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali. The Delhi High Court had on Thursday said that there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in a terror-funding case.

Watali was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered NIA's submissions that Watali's release would cause harm to the ongoing investigation in the terror-funding case.

The bench has now fixed the plea of NIA filed against the Delhi High Court verdict for hearing on September 26 and asked the accused businessman to file his response in the meantime.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the NIA.

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.

(With PTI Inputs)
A day after a Maharashtra local court issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, party spokesperson Lanka Dinakar on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah of hatching a conspiracy against the TDP chief. He also regretted Naidu's arrest and said the warrant is a notice given to all the Telugus.

The court issued the warrant to Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project across river Godavari.

"It is unfortunate that an arrest warrant has been issued against Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu. It appears that there is some conspiracy by Narendra Modi & Amit Shah," said Dinakar.

Dinakar also alleged the prime minister of 'intolerance' over Andhra Pradesh's development which is overtaking Gujarat's model and so PM Modi is resorting to these conspiracy politics.

He said, "Intolerant over AP excelling in development overtaking Gujarat's model, PM Modi is resorting to these conspiracy politics. This warrant is a notice given to all Telugus. In these 8 years, not a single notice is issued in this case. Without any prior notices or warrants, how can they issue non-bailable arrest warrant?"

Dinakar announced that protests will be held by the TDP across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, issued the order, directing police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu, former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the TRS) were among the Telugu Desam Party workers booked in the case.

They have been charged with the Indian Penal Code offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said his father and other TDP leaders would attend the court."He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said.

The chief minister is currently camping in Tirumala near Tirupati, attending the annual brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara temple there.
Agartala: Signalling growing strain between the coalition partners, Janajati Morcha, the ruling BJP's tribal wing in Tripura, Thursday demanded immediate severing of ties with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT). Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state Janajati Morcha president Sanjoy Debbarma said IPFT was creating "chaos" across the state over different issues.

Development works of the state government have been hit due to their activities. We have demanded Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb to remove them from the ministry and severe all ties with them, Debbarma told PTI.

He said the chief minister gave them a patient hearing and said the agreement with IPFT was finalised by BJP's central leadership and they would be consulted regarding the demand.

BJP and IPFT jointly secured 44 seats in the 60-member state assembly in the February 18 elections and formed government, ending 25 years of CPI(M)-led Left Front rule in the north eastern state. BJP secured 36 seats i.E. More than the majority mark.

IPFT, which emerged victorious in 8 seats, was later allotted two berths in the state cabinet.

Differences between the BJP and its regional partner IPFT surfaced in the run up to panchayat by-polls, with a series of clashes reported between the workers of the ruling allies over submission of nominations. The by-polls are slated for September 30.

When contacted, BJP state vice president and Janajati Morcha leader Rampada Jamatia accused IPFT supporters of attacking his house at Killa in Gomati district Wednesday. He also alleged that the house of MLA of Golaghati constituency in Sipahijala district, Birchandra Debbarma was also attacked by IPFT supporters.

Debbarma had filed a complaint and an FIR was lodged. IPFT supporters held attacks on his family to force him to withdraw the FIR. They are also involved in criminal offenses in different parts of the state. We have demanded that legal action be taken against them and the alliance with IPFT be severed immediately, Jamatia said.

Reacting to the issue, IPFT spokesperson and assistant general secretary Mangal Debbarma said, "If they want to severe ties with us, it is their prerogative and we would not object. The BJP supporters started the clashes and later blamed the IPFT".

He alleged that a section of tribal leaders of the BJP had hatched a conspiracy against IPFT to oust them from the government to grab the cabinet berths.

IPFT supremo N C Debbarma is the Tripura Revenue Minister and party general secretary Mevar Kumar Debbarma is the state Tribal Welfare Department Minister.

If we leave the alliance, two posts in the cabinet will become vacant and indigenous leaders in BJP can grab those seats. They are plotting to disturb the alliance for this reason, Mangal Debbarma said.

The indigenous leader also claimed that IPFT joined hands with BJP in the state government to strengthen their movement for separate Tipraland.

Tipraland is a proposed separate state for indigenous communities of Tripura. IPFT was floated in 1997 with the demand.

We want Tipraland and shall continue to struggle for that. We do not care how many seats we get in the government. If the BJP thinks they can run the government without us, so be it. They have single majority. But the indigenous people are with us, Mangal said.

BJP and IPFT will contest against each other in the bye-elections of three-tier panchayat bodies on September 30.

The alliance partners had earlier also announced to contest the polls separately, which effectively means against each other in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Tripura has two Lok Sabha seats.

At least 19 persons, including BJP and IPFT supporters, and policemen were injured in a series of clash between the two parties in different districts in last three days. The clashes erupted during submission of nomination papers for the upcoming panchayat by-polls. Nominations ended on Tuesday last.

Both IPFT and BJP have blamed each other for the clashes.

IPFT has written to the state election commission seeking to countermand the polls in at least three block areas where they could not submit the nomination papers due to violence.
NEW DELHI: In a big trouble for internationally acclaimed environmentalist RK Pachauri, a Delhi court on Friday ordered the framing of charges against ex-Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) chief in a sexual harassment case.

According to ANI, the order was passed by Delhi's Saket Court, which also posted the matter for hearing on October 20.

Delhi's Saket Court orders framing of charges against Environmentalist RK Pachauri in a sexual harassment case. Next hearing of the matter is on October 20. pic.twitter.com/xnUD7UXdKl  ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018

The former TERI chief is facing a trial for alleged sexual harassment of a female colleague.

The victim in the case has expressed satisfaction over the court's order.

''Chuffed to bits. This has not been easy. This is a big leap towards the truth. I am relieved and exhausted fighting RK Pachauri, ''the victim said while reacting to Delhi's Saket Court order for framing of charges against Pachauri.

The 75-year-old scientist could face a jail term of up to seven years if charges framed against him are proved true.

Last year, an FIR was filed against Pachauri in connection with the alleged sexual harassment in the case.

The police had submitted the chargesheet against the Pachauri earlier this year.
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On a cold night in February 2017, Queens State Senator Jose Peralta held a town hall meeting in Jackson Heights, looking to soothe over relations with his incensed constituents. They were angry that the eight-year incumbent had joined the Independent Democratic Conference, and called him a "traitor." Jessica Ramos, a community organizer and City Hall staffer from Queens, was in the crowd. Almost a year-and-a-half later, she was celebrating her ten-point victory over Peralta in the 2018 Democratic primary at Barriles Restaurant on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

In her speech to the raucous and overflowing restaurant, Ramos said that the community had decided that it needed to make sure that we were making a statement that we couldnt accept a turncoat democrat as our state senator. But, she also added, it was about more than just reunifying the senates Democrats, it was about reforming it as well.

We need to show were taking money out of politics, that were building a people-powered movement, and sending a strong message that if we do the work we can make change possible, the 33-year-old told the crowd of supporters. Ramos ran on a platform of fixing the citys ailing transit system, pushing for single-payer health care in the state, and reforming the states rent laws to stop the glut of evictions and displacement in New York City.

Lefrak City tenant and Ramos volunteer Aisha Gomez could hardly catch her breath following the announcement that Ramos had won.

I got interested in this race because I received so many MCI [Major Capital Improvement] charges, I had no idea where they were coming from,or how to fix them, Gomez told Gothamist. After a lot of investigation I found that my state senator had done very little to push against these types of increases. He was doing nothing for us.

Now, Ramos is set to join a senate Democratic conference that will be far more progressive than its previous iteration, but will still most likely face tremendous resistance from the governor  emboldened by his thirty point victory over leftist challenger Cynthia Nixon. Over lunch the day before the election, Ramos talked about creating an activist district, that will stay vocal outside of election season, helping to make legislation as progressive as possible.

Well keep each other honest, Ramos said of the many activist and community groups that have coalesced to support her campaign. She said shes prepared to hold a series of town halls on how to make Northern Boulevard safer, and how to get the state to finally accept responsibility for the MTA and improve rapidly deteriorating service along the overcrowded 7 train.

As the City Council speaker and Comptroller made appearances to celebrate Ramoss victory, the stunning repudiation of the IDC was taking hold across the statefrom John Lius victory in deep Queens over Tony Avella, to IDC head Jeff Kleins loss to Alessandra Biaggi in the Bronx and Westchester, a confusing and ineffective era in the state senate was nearing its end. Now, the challenge lies in translating progressive energy to actual legislation in Albany, a place where the hopes of voters always seems to suffocate in the airless halls of the legislature.

For now, two separate nights along 37th avenue in Jackson Heights will seem forever connected. The night Jose Peralta found out just how badly hed angered his district, and the night he was booted from office, a packed restaurant chanting vamos Ramos as a new state senator looks to capture the lefts simmering energy.
NEW DELHI: After his release from jail, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for misusing public machinery. Chandrashekhar alias Ravan, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the 2017 Saharanpur violence, was released from jail early on Friday morning.

"They have misused the government machinery. We will throw the BJP out in 2019 and for the next 20 years, they will not be able to come back to power. Our fight will continue," he said after coming out of jail.

He also said that his order was issued as the government was scared of consequences for wrongly putting him behind bars. "The government is scared that they are going to be rebuked by the Supreme Court, so they ordered an early release to save themselves," he said.

However, he added that he was confident that he some charges will be framed against him within 10 days. He exuded confidence that the Bhim Army will not let BJP come back to power after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He was released from prison at 2.24 am on Friday where a his supporters had gathered in hue numbers to receive him. They welcomed him with garlands and slogans of Bhim Army Zindabad were chanted.

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh ordered his early release on Thursday. He had been jailed for nearly a year in connection with his alleged role in the caste violence. He was first arrested for his alleged involvement in the Saharanpur riots on June 8, 2017.

On November 2, 2017, he was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court. However, a day later, he was arrested again under the provisions of the National Security Act and lodged in jail.

The decision comes ahead of 2019 elections and is being seen as BJPs attempt to reach out to the Dalits. Chandrashekhar's Bhim Army fights for the rights of the Dalits and the downtrodden and was blamed for the bloody caste violence in the Saharanpur district in 2017.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the responsibility of the Majerhat bridge collapse earlier this month lies with the Public Works Department and is a case of negligence on their part.

The bridge in south Kolkata had collapsed killing three and injuring more than 25 on September 4. While a political blame game had begun shortly after the tragedy, Mamata on Friday said that PWD needs to take responsibility for the collapse. "PWD was informed about the condition of Majerhat Bridge in 2016 and was asked to begin maintenance. Since PWD didn't start working, the responsibility of the collapse lies with them," she said. "Investigation Committee even mentioned metro construction as a reason behind the collapse along with the negligence of PWD. Action will be taken against the guilty."

Mamata said that the entire bridge would now be demolished and assured that a new bridge in its place would be constructed within a year.

The 40-year-old bridge was part of a key link road in south Kolkata and was used by hundreds of commuters each day. Shortly after it collapsed - at around 4:45 in the evening - local police and NDRF teams rushed to the spot. Rescue and relief operations lasted for almost a week.
New Delhi: With back-to-back releases, Taapsee Pannu may be on her way to becoming one of the most popular young stars but the actor says she still feels people "don't know" her.

The 31-year-old actor, who has made a mark with her performances in "Pink", "Mulk" and her latest release "Manmarziyaan", does not fear that there is overexposure on her part.

"I don't think I'm at that stage of my career where it's okay if I do one or two films a year. Honestly, till the time each and every movie-goer knows about me, I will not stop doing multiple films a year. I still have the feeling that people don't really know me," Taapsee told PTI in an interview.

The actor says once she will be able to create her own audience, she will start being more selective in her choices.

"I couldn't have said no to any film post 'Pink. I don't regret a single decision of mine. Even if I made mistakes they helped me evolve. Post 'Pink', I don't have any film which I can pick out from my filmography and say 'It would have been better if I hadn't done this film'."

Taapsee says her goal is to become one of the most popular stars of her generation.

"I want to be a star. It doesn't mean that I'll act any less. My performance will be at par but I want to be a star. I want the audience to spend their hard earned money on my tickets without doubting. And when that day comes, I'll believe I'm a star."

The actor believes it is important to be clear headed, confident and aware about her goals.

"It is important to be confident about yourself. At the same time you need to have a reality check about yourself and about things around you. Delusion is something that kills most of the public figures and the day you get delusional, it is like suicide point," she says.

Taapsee credits her directors and writers, including Anurag Kashyap, for giving her memorable parts. Praising the "Manmarziyaan" helmer, she says they are like "evil twins".

"We both are like those evil twins, like yin-yang, biggest bullies and critics of each other. After the film was over, we were like 'What are we doing next together?' He is a great director. Internationally, he has become the face of directors from India. Anurag doesn't care about 'what people would say?'. It is something that connect him, me and my character Rumi.

Taapsee's next film is "Badla", which is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film also marks the young actor's second collaboration with megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
New Delhi: Actress Janhvi Kapoor and ace celebrity designer Manish Malhotra were spotted at the airport on late Thursday. While Manish looked dapper in a traditional Indo-western outfit, Janhvi was snapped in a casual attire looking every bit stunning.

It appears that Manish arrived at the airport straightaway after attending the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. In one of the photos, he was seen taking off his bandh-gala jacket at the airport.

Check out their photos here:

As per reports, the duo has headed to Switzerland for a professional commitment.

On the work front, Janhvi will next be seen in KJo's 'Takht', a period drama by the maverick filmmaker. 'Takht' stars Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Janhvi Kapoor. Yes, it's an out-and-out starry ensemble cast which only KJo can manage to get on board.

'Takht' is a period-drama set in the times of Mughal dynasty.

She is also reported to play first woman IAF pilot Gunjan Saxena in Dharma Production's next. Gunjan Saxena was the first female pilot to be posted in Kargil during the 1999 war.
New Delhi: Actress Sonali Bendre, who is currently undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer in New York, has been missing the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations back home in Mumbai. the actress on Thursday took to Twitter to share a post writing how the celebrations have been close to her heart.

She also shared a photo of her husband Goldie Behl and son Ranveer Behl offering prayers to Lord Ganesha along with the post.

Take a look at her post here:

#GaneshChaturthi has always been very very close to my heart. Missing the celebrations back home, but still feeling blessed. Have a happy one, filled with blessings, love and joy! pic.twitter.com/QCN359wf70  Sonali Bendre Behl (@iamsonalibendre) September 13, 2018

Sonali's positive attitude towards life is something that inspires us and teaches us to live with a smile, no matter the circumstances. We admire the actress's spirit and wish her a speedy recovery.

The actress opened up about her high-grade cancer that has metastasized through social media. After learning about her health condition, fans and industry friends were struck with shock. Several celebrities have showered their support and thronged Twitter/Instagram with 'get well soon' messages for the actress.

Sonali regularly updates about her condition on social media and often shares pictures and videos. She has documented each phase of braving the disease and has emerged as a really strong person.
Chennai: Days after Tamil Nadu cabinet recommended the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, pro-Tamil outfits on Thursday claimed Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded it to the Centre and demanded that all seven be set free forthwith.

Though there was no official word on it from Raj Bhavan, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi led by T Velmurugan claimed Purohit had sent the cabinet's recommendation to the Centre, calling it against the Constitution and a "slight" to Tamil people.

A former MLA, Velmurugan said it was only to avoid legal complications that their release was contemplated under Article 161 of the Constitution by the state. The Supreme Court had also disposed of a related case recently which was earlier a "stumbling block" in freeing the convicts, he said.

Disposing of a petition by the Centre, the Supreme Court had said on September 6 that Tamil Nadu governor was at liberty to decide the mercy petition of A G Perarivalan, one of the convicts.

Under such circumstances, Velmurugan said, the governor should "give his approval for the release of the convicts and abide by the law ". To urge the governor to accord his approval and go by the law, his party would hold a "besiege Raj Bhavan" protest on September 26, he said.

When approached to ascertain whether Purohit has forwarded the state's recommendation to the Centre, a Raj Bhavan official said, "It's confidential and we cannot comment on it".

Tamil Nadu Law Minister C V Shanmugam said there was no formal word on it. "There is no official communique on it," Shanmugam said in a terse reply.

"Under Article 161, the governor of a state has full powers to decide on the recommendations of the state Cabinet," the minister said on the sidelines of a function in Cuddalore.

Tamil outfit "Tamil Desiya Periyakkam" said the governor sending the recommendation to the union home ministry raises suspicion if he was succumbing to "North Indian political pressures".

Under Article 161, the governor cannot exercise his personal discretion and has to just implement the Cabinet's decision, it said.

DMK organising secretary and Rajya Sabha MP R S Barathi backed the release of the convicts and said he felt there was no need to take up the matter with the Centre.

"In my opinion, sending the recommendation to the central government is not necessary. The Supreme Court's direction should be followed," he told news agency PTI. When the Supreme Court has given its direction, the governor has to act accordingly, he said, adding it is "crystal clear" that the apex court has ruled that the state government can take a decision on the issue.

The state's ruling AIADMK, since the days of late J Jayalalithaa, has been for releasing all the seven convicts.

CPI state secretary R Mutharasan dubbed the governor's action as "delaying tactic". "It seems to have been done with the ulterior motive of denying them freedom," he said, adding the sentiments of Tamil people should be respected.

The Congress had, however, deprecated the state government's recommendation. "There can be no compromise on terrorism and terrorists. The state cannot derelict its duty on punishing terrorists. There can be no politics over Rajiv Gandhi's assassins as SC hasn't granted any relief to them. It's time the government takes a cue and follows the same line," Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala had said soon after the Tamil Nadu government made the recommendation.

While the mainstream parties and pro-Tamil outfits staunchly support the release, families of the victims of the blast in 1991 have opposed the move.

Coming together, the families of victims led by the coordinator of their forum S Abbas, whose mother was among those killed, have sought an appointment with the governor to present their views.

The Tamil Nadu government had said on Thursday it was confident that the governor will respect people's feelings which reflect in the cabinet's recommendation.

In its recommendation, the state cabinet said all the seven convicts--Nalini, her husband Sriharan alias Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Santhan-- should be released.

Murugan, Santhan, Jayakumar and Payas are Sri Lankan Tamils. All the seven convicts are serving life imprisonment and are behind bars since 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a blast at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near here on May 21, 1991. Fourteen others, including Dhanu, the assassin, were also killed.
New Delhi: One of the controversial contestants of Bigg Boss 11, Hina Khan, who managed to secure the second stop in the coveted reality show has refused to be a part of the premiere of the Bigg Boss 12.

According to a Pinkvilla report, Hina was approached to be a part of the Bigg Boss 12 premiere by the makers. "Hina was approached for the show but she refused." While the reason for her refusal is still unknown, it is being speculated that she did want to be a part of the rival channel's show just before her show airs."

On the professional front, she ventured into music videos and made her debut with 'Bhasoodi'. The track is peppy and foot-tapping. Her glam diva avatar has hit a chord with the fans making it a chartbuster.

Hina was recently honoured with the 'Style Diva' in the television industry award at the Gold Awards 2018 ceremony held in Mumbai. On the professional front, the actress will next be seen in a short film titled 'Smart Phone' where she will play a de-glam role. She even shared the first look of the project.

She got Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award for 'Best Entertainer for Reality Show' inside the 'Bigg Boss 11' house. She has several awards and honours to her credit for her stint on television. Recently, she bagged the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award for her contribution in the entertainment field.

Hina ruled the small screens for 8 long years as she played the lead role of Akshara Singhania, the favourite Bahu in 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'. Before 'Bigg Boss 11', she participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 and was the first runner-up.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 68th birthday in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, three days later on September 17.

The PM is expected to launch several key welfare schemes on the occasion.

PM Modi's party BJP will celebrate the day as 'Sewa Diwas' across the country with the party leaders organising various welfare programmes like cleanliness drives and blood donation camps.

If sources are to be believed, PM Modi will cut his birthday cake with children of a school in Varanasi and will later announce a slew of development schemes worth crores of rupees.

The PM is expected to inaugurate a ring road and lay the foundation stone of two hospitals for women, worth Rs 20 crore each in his Lok Sabha constituency.

The Prime Minister, according to sources, will also lay the foundation stone for a cancer hospital, which is estimated to cost Rs. 600 crores.

The Varanasi district administration is busy making preparations for Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit, during which he will criss-cross the city to initiate the programmes.

An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, PM is also expected to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and participate in the event to start construction of the temple's corridor.

The Prime Minister will then head to the Banaras Hindu University where he will address a huge gathering.

(With Agency inputs)
NEW DELHI: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan was released from jail on the orders of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

Chandrashekhar, whose outfit is believed to have orchestrated the caste violence in the Saharanpur district in 2017, has pledged to unite Dalits to ensure the rout of the ruling BJP in the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The early release of Bhim Army chief from jail by the UP government is being seen as the ruling party's attempt to reach out to the Dalits ahead of the crucial polls.

After evading arrest for several days, Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017.

However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release and lodged him in jail.

Charged under the NSA, he was to remain in jail till November 1.

"After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early. He had to be in jail till November 1," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department had said in Lucknow on Thursday.

Azad walked out of the jail around 2:40 AM. Hundreds of his supporters, wearing blue 'Bhim Army' caps, had gathered outside the prison to celebrate his release.

Dalit group's national spokesperson Manjeet Singh Nautiyal said, ''many had thronged his residence and distributed sweets in the neighbourhood while a section of his admirers made a beeline to click a selfie with the Dalit leader.''

"The Bhim Army will not buckle under pressure from the government and will fight in a constitutional manner to throw the BJP out of power in the general elections," Azad said.

The Dalit leader also accused the jail authorities of mistreating him during his stay in prison. Azad said that he was given "dry rotis" and his family was not allowed to meet him. He said that he had met several inconsolable youngsters inside the jail who were falsely implicated by the police due to their caste.

''All that I went through, I will make sure to return it to the BJP with interest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls,'' he said, adding that he will not contest the upcoming elections.

He also accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of playing dirty politics on the SC/ST Act issue to which the members of the Dalit community will give a befitting answer to the party in 2019 elections.

"The March 20 Supreme Court judgement diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was based on the government's views against the law," he alleged.

"Now, they have passed an amendment bill to restore the original version of the Act. We know what they are trying to do," he added.

Azad, according to sources, had written a letter from jail, asking the Bhim Army cadres to campaign in support of joint BSP-SP-RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan and trounce the BJP in the recent Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll.

(With PTI Inputs)
September 8, 2018 turned out to be a big day for Army cadet Thakur Chandresh Singh. On this day, the 25-year-old became an officer of the Indian Army in the Rajputana Rifles after graduating from the Officer Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. What made this day even more memorable for him was the moment after the passing out parade where he went down on his knees as he proposed to his long-term girlfriend, and she said yes!

The photo of Chandresh and his lady love Dhara Mehta was posted on Instagram and in just two days, the post has garnered over 34,000 likes.

Though Chandresh recalls that it was not a spontaneous moment for him and he planned it the day he got recommended for the Army. Speaking to The Print, Chandresh said that he called his parents as well as Dhara's parents for the tipping ceremony, the event where parents pin stars on the shoulders of the Army officers.

He told the news website that the two have been in a relationship for the past three-and-a-half years. He also said that he had shown Dhara's picture to his parents three years ago and told them that 'she is the one' he has chosen. However, he added that he had to prove himself first and 'fulfil' his dream. And he did so.

Both Chandresh and Dhara met at St Joseph College of Arts and Science in Bangalore in 2012 where both were students. Though they mostly had different subjects, both had one common class for Hindi.

He recalled that for the first two years, the duo just shared basic greetings but in the third year, they spent more time together. He said that Dhara was the one to confess her love first while he took a year to respond as he wanted to prepare for the Services Selection Board. When he failed in the first attempt, he looked back at those who supported him during the tough times and realised how Dhara had firmly backed him through all the difficult days and realised how he had fallen in love with his best friend.
Julia Salazar pulled off a dramatic upset in last night's Democratic primary, beating well-funded longtime incumbent Martin Dilan in north Brooklyn's State Senate district 18, which includes parts of Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Greenpoint.

Salazar, 27, was declared the winner with 58 percent of the vote less than an hour after polls closed at 9 p.m. It was a triumphant end to a campaign checkered by a seemingly endless parade of bewildering micro-controversies regarding her official biography.

The Well, a bar straddling the border between Williamsburg and Bushwick, was packed with supporters by the time Salazar made her entrance around 9:15. When word spread that the New York Times had called the race for Salazar, the crowd roared its deafening approval, cheering her name and chanting "si se puede" during victory speeches.

It was a bright spot for progressives, for whom the New York primary presented a mixed bag. A trio of top-ballot candidates who campaigned togethergubernatorial hopeful Cynthia Nixon, Lieutenant Governor contender Jumaane Williams, would-be Attorney General Zephyr Teachoutall lost to their more establishment Democratic opponents. But races for State Senate in NYC were rife with upsets, with most former members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a clutch of Republican-aligned Democratic incumbents, ousted.

"This was a brutal race because they knew, they knew that we were a threat to the concentration of wealth and power in this state," Salazar said in her speech, referring to her critics. "This is a victory for the oppressed, the marginalized across the state of New York."

Salazar's campaign attracted attention well outside North Brooklyn this summer, picking up considerable momentum after 28-year-old Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated incumbent Joe Crowley in a June primary. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Salazar won the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America, but seeming inconsistencies in her biography and politics drew criticism as election day drew closer. At times it seemed that Salazar, a political neophyte, was ill-prepared for the scrutiny typically faced by high-profile candidates, and a series of mini-scandals dogged her campaign throughout late summer.

Two days before the election, far-right website The Daily Caller maneuvered Salazar into publicly identifying herself as a survivor of sexual assault. (A dozen other women subsequently came forward with comparable stories about the accused, David Keyes, foreign spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Keyes has since stepped down.) The week before, a tabloid buzzed about Salazar's alleged "affair" with Mets legend Keith Hernandez, and the theft and extortion efforts it says followed; Salazar countered that the charges had been dismissed and that she'd filed and won a defamation suit against Hernandez's wife.

The public dissection of Salazar's biographical minutiae have seeded skepticism in the media, despite her ability to explain them: How legitimate is her Jewish identity? (People who know her say very.) How can she claim a working class background when she was born to a relatively wealthy family in Miami? (Salazar has clarified that she spent her early childhood shuttling back and forth between the U.S. and Colombia, her father's home country, and despite her mostly comfortable middle-class upbringing, her family has attested to periods of financial difficulty.) How can she call herself a Democratic Socialist, when she registered as a Republican as recently as college? How can we trust her with reproductive rights, when she spearheaded an anti-abortion group during that same time?

Whatever her previous politics, Salazar says she now stands firm on her advocacy for reproductive justice, and took the notable step of adding to her platform sex worker protections and universal, long-term healthcare, regardless of immigration status. As for the voters, some waved away unflattering reports as quibbling distractions that paled in comparison to her opponent's track record. In his tenure, Dilan has accepted over $325,000 from various members of the real estate industry. Critics say he's used a Republican majority in the Senate as a fig leaf to pose as left-leaning without the consequences of passing legislation that would upset his big money donors.



Inside The Well (Claire Lampen / Gothamist)

One watch party attendee I spoke with summed up the collective mood nicely, describing Dilan as "a hard object [standing] in the way of change."

North Brooklyn "will get a representative that will fight for them at the state [level]," said Evelyn Cruz, an "elated" representative for Councilwoman Nydia Velazquez. "That will fight for affordable housing. That will not only stand [against] luxury real estate landlords but represent the needs of low-income working families in our district, fight for education, everything."

Salazar also drew support from sex workers, running openly in favor of the decriminalization of sex work, and hosting a special voter canvass event in August led by sex workers and allies.

Lola Balcon, a 23-year-old sex worker rights organizer, called Salazar "the first-ever vocal advocate for sex workers' rights to win an election, and an incredibly competitive election at that."

"Today was one giant step in the fight against stigma and putting this issue on the map for New Yorkers and Americans," Balcon added. "We look forward to working with Julia to pass policy that improves the lives of people who trade sex by choice, circumstances, or coercion in the next legislative session."

Local resident Alexander Otero, 53, burst ebulliently into The Well just after the race was called for Salazar. "I was born here, I was raised here, and I'm never going to leave here," Otero declared. "Because these people fuckin' made it better. I know Dilan personally, I know the whole Democratic establishment here, alright? And I've been rolling with them since I was a kid. But it's time for change around here."



(Claire Lampen / Gothamist)

Standing at the corner of Meserole Street and Waterbury Street, outside a graffitied building, Salazar agreed. "Voters are smart and they are interested in voting for candidates who they know will fight for them and for their interests," she told reporters. "Voters know that we, from the outset, ran this campaign on the issues."

Salazar concluded that real estateDilan's most salient fault-linewas a decisive issue for her rapidly gentrifying district, where everyone "is affected by the affordable housing crisis" and where tenants need an advocate who will fight for them to stay in their apartments.

"The Democratic party is changing," she said. "New York State has demonstrated that the base of the Democratic Party is changing, and is ready to see the leadership of the party change as well."

Salazar is not facing a Republican opponent in November's general election.



Additional reporting by Emma Whitford.
China has dismissed reports that its army transgressed into the Indian territory in August. China said that it always operates on its side of the Line of Actual Control as agreed upon by both countries.

Responding to questions over reports that the Chinese military crossed the LAC three times in a month into the Indian territory, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said: "Chinese border troops always operate on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in compliance with the relevant agreements reached between the two countries. What I have learnt is that the Chinese side was carrying out routine patrol on the Chinese territory."

The spokesperson also said that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have met several times during which important consensus has been reached on properly managing differences and disputes and jointly maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

"China and India also have well-established communication and meeting mechanism for border-related affairs. What's happened in the border areas could be dealt with through this mechanism. Resorting to the media to heat things up will not help control disputes," Shuang added.

There had been reports earlier this month that the Chinese Army transgressed into the Indian territory in Uttarakhand thrice in August. As per a report in news agency ANI, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the LAC and crossed over as far as four kilometres into the Indian Territory in Barahoti village in the Chamoli district of the state.

Similar incidents occurred in July 2017 when Chinese troops ventured up to a kilometre into Indian Territory in Barahoti. This area also witnessed aerial transgressions and infiltration by foot patrols in 2013 and 2014.

LAC is a 4,057-km porous border between India and China and runs through glaciers, snow deserts, mountains and rivers. It is divided into three sectors viz the Northern, Middle and Eastern sectors starting from the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The issue of the borders remains disputed as the Chinese perception differs from the position of the borders as claimed by India.

The number of transgressions by the Chinese Army into the Indian territory rose to 426 in 2017 from the 273 in 2016, according to official figures.

The reports of intrusion came nearly a year after Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam. The face-off had started on June 16 and ended on August 28, 2017 when the Chinese stopped building road in the disputed trijunction of the Doklam shared between India, China and Bhutan.
SHANGHAI: China will not buckle to US demands in any trade negotiations, the major state-run China Daily newspaper said in an editorial on Friday, after Chinese officials welcomed an invitation from Washington for a new round of talks.

China and the United States are set to return to the table with the threat of new US tariffs looming after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin extended the invitation to counterparts in Beijing.

The official China Daily said that while China was "serious" about resolving the stand-off through talks, it would not be rolled over, despite concerns over a slowing economy and a falling stock market at home.

"The Trump administration should not be mistaken that China will surrender to the US demands. It has enough fuel to drive its economy even if a trade war is prolonged," the newspaper said in an editorial.

If the United States imposed new levies on Chinese imports then Beijing "will not hesitate to take countermeasures against US tariffs to safeguard China`s interests," it added. US President Trump said on Twitter on Thursday that the United States holds the upper hand in talks.

"We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us," Trump tweeted. "Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing."

The US administration is readying a final list of $200 billion in Chinese imports on which it plans to levy tariffs of 10-25 percent in coming days, which would ramp up the trade war between the world`s two largest economies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Thursday that China welcomed the invitation, and the two countries were discussing the details.

A meeting among Cabinet-level officials could ease market worries over the escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the world`s two largest economies and raise costs for companies and consumers. However, the last round of talks, between mid-level U.S. and Chinese officials in August, failed to reach any agreement.
Lahore: Amid chants of "mother of democracy", Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was laid to rest on Friday as thousands of PML-N supporters and top politicians attended her funeral prayers.

Kulsoom, who died Tuesday in a London hospital after a year-long battle with throat cancer, was laid to rest at the Sharif family's Jati Umra residence here next to the graves of her father-in-law Mian Sharif and brother-in-law Abbas Sharif.

Her funeral prayers, led by renowned cleric Tariq Jameel, were offered at a ground at Lahore's Sharif Medical City, after which her body was transported to Jati Umra amid high security.

Nawaz Sharif and other Sharif family members excluding 68-year-old Kulsoom's two sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz attended the prayers.

Hassan and Hussain have been declared absconders by an accountability court in corruption cases linked to Panama Papers scandal.

A protective human chain was formed around Sharif so that the funeral prayers could be offered.

A massive crowd of thousands of people, top politicians, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers attended the funeral prayers.

The leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf including Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser attended the funeral prayers.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira also attended the funeral parayers.

The PMLN workers were chanting "mother of democracy" when her casket was brought for the funeral prayers.

They raised slogans to appreciate her. Kulsoom was called "mother of democracy" by PML-N workers as she stood up for Sharif when not many were there to confront Pervez Musharraf's regime.

"She faced isolation, imprisonment and threats but didn't waver in her resolved and continued to campaign for her husband," a party worker said.

Her body was brought here from London on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight this morning.

Shehbaz Sharif, the deceased's brother-in-law and president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), along with Kulsoom's daughter Asma, grandson Zayd Hussain Sharif (Hussain Nawaz's son), and 11 other family members had accompanied the body from London to Lahore.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) M Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, have been released on parole for Kulsoom's funeral.

The Punjab home department has issued a notification announcing an extension in the parole already awarded to Sharif for additional five days - September 12 (4pm) to September 17 (4pm).

On Thursday, hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers of Kulsoom at London's Regent Park mosque. They chanted slogans of 'we salute to the mother of democracy'.

The funeral prayers were attended by her sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, former ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.
Lahore: A Pakistan International Airlines' flight carrying the body of Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, from London arrived in Lahore early Friday.

The flight landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here around 6:45 a.M (local time). The body was later shifted to Jati Umra Lahore residence of the Sharif family for burial, Geo TV reported.

Kulsoom died Tuesday in a London hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was 68. She would be buried Friday.

Shehbaz Sharif, the deceased's brother-in-law and president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), along with Begum Kulsoom's daughter Asma, grandson Zayd Hussain Sharif (Hussain Nawaz's son), and 11 other family members accompanied the body.

Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Begum Kulsoom's sons, did not return to the country for their mother's funeral. Both have been declared absconders by an accountability court in the corruption cases. Kulsoom's funeral prayers will be held at the Sharif Medical City in Jati Umra neighbourhood at 5 p.M. (local time).

The former three-time premier, who was accompanied by Sharif family members to pay respects to Begum Kulsoom at Sharif Medical City after her body was brought to Lahore, is currently meeting guests in Jati Umra. Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) M Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, have been released on parole to attend Kulsoom's funeral.

Meanwhile, the Punjab home department has issued a notification announcing an extension in the parole already awarded to Sharif for additional five days - September 12 (4pm) to September 17 (4pm).

On Thursday, hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers of Begum Kulsoom at London's Regent Park mosque, which was separate from another one to take place in Lahore Friday. They chanted slogans of 'we salute to the mother of democracy'.

The funeral prayers were attended by her sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, former ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.
It is noted that the Ukrainians soldiers shelled Sakhanka village, Donetsk region from artillery

The Investigative Committee of Russia opened one more criminal case against Ukrainian soldiers who supposedly shelled Sakhanka village at the territory uncontrolled by Ukraine in Donetsk region from artillery as the press service of committee reported.

On September 12, 2018, the soldiers of the Armed Forces and National Guard of Ukraine carried the targeted artillery attack from the heavy weaponry with high afflicting characteristics at the objects of the civilian infrastructure that are not the military target in Sakhanka village, Novoazovsk area. In the result of attack, a civilian of 1958-year-of birth was injured. Partially, his house was destroyed, the message said.

On this fact, the Chief Prosecution Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia opened the criminal proceeding under the article use of forbidden means and methods of the war-holding, the message said.

Earlier the Russian Investigation Committee initiated three more criminal proceedings against the Ukrainian military servicemen. The Ukrainian army was accused of attacking at the civil objects and damaging the infrastructure on the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Also, the Russian Investigation Committee reported that several criminal proceedings against the Ukrainian military servicemen were opened. They were accused of allegedly attacking the civilians in Donbas.

Related video:
The Kremlin has announced its decision to stage elections in the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics (DPR, LPR) in November, and has launched preparations for such elections (see EDM, September 12). This is not about the municipal elections (city, district, village levels) envisaged by the Minsk armistice and discussed in several diplomatic forums. Under the Minsk terms, municipal elections would be useless to Moscow and the DPR-LPR if conducted unilaterally (only Kyivs consent, if extracted, could have turned those municipal elections into a political bonanza for the Russian side). Moscows latest decision, however, is to stage elections to the posts of DPR and LPR heads (glava, would-be presidents) and the two peoples councils (would-be parliaments).

Moscows announcement of these elections at this juncture seems to pursue two objectives, neither of which is the international recognition of the elections results. The Kremlin knows that such recognition will not be forthcoming.

First, Moscows minimal goal is to induce Western diplomacy to pressure Ukraine into prolonging the validity of its law on a special status for the DPR-LPR by another year. Ukraine adopted this law in 2014 under the duress of the Minsk terms, and had to prolong its validity at annual intervals. However, it hedged this law with preconditions and safeguards, rendering it inoperative thus far. Without actually enacting that special status, this law makes it conditionally possible. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) is due to vote on whether or not to prolong this laws validity by October.

The governments in Berlin, Paris and Brussels (among others) fear that allowing this laws validity to expire would contravene the Minsk armistice, provoke Russian and/or DPR-LPR military escalation, and derail the Minsk and Normandy (negotiations involving the governments of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany) processes. Aware of these fears, Moscow (in the words of Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov) wants Western partners to exercise their influence on Kyiv yet again to revalidate that law (Interfax, September 2).

The Kremlin is especially keen for this law to remain valid into 2019, when Ukraine is scheduled to hold general elections. Moscow hopes that those elections could produce weaker or transactional authorities in Ukraine that might bring into effect the now-inoperative law on DPR-LPRs special status.

As Ukrainian analysts discern, the Kremlin may seem to suggest a tradeoff: postponing the DPR-LPR elections by one year, in return for Kyiv prolonging the validity of its law on a hypothetical special status also by one year (Ukrinform, September 711). Moscow had suggested such tradeoffs in previous years, when its DPR-LPR proxies announced municipal elections (not yet republican ones) unilaterally, unless Kyiv would revalidate the law on special status and compromise on a special electoral law for those territories. But those announcements were a bluff, and those municipal elections were never staged, as they would be useless to Moscow in the absence of Kyivs consent (see above).

Moscow is, on the whole, content with the present situation whereby the two unrecognized republics are eligible to negotiate with Kyiv about a special status. Meanwhile, the DPR-LPRs four-year election cycle will have been completed in November, and Moscow seems determined to recreate the fraudulent appearance of popular legitimacy for its local proxies.

The second, more far-reaching goal behind the decision on DPR-LPR elections at this juncture is to threaten the prospects of a genuine peacekeeping operation under United Nations aegis in Donbas (see EDM, September 22, 2017). The Kremlin will grow more vocal in demanding that popularly elected DPR-LPR leaders be given some de facto role (they must be taken into account) influencing the parameters of the proposed peacekeeping operation. According to Aleksei Chesnakov (deemed a proxy for the Kremlins DPR-LPR overseer Vladislav Surkov), blocking the Minsk process would cause the DPR and LPR to become even more intractable, and then you can forget about any UN mission in Donbas, even in the Russian-proposed soft version of such a mission (TASS, September 10, 2018).

Holding those elections in the DPR-LPR in November would not technically violate the Minsk armistice and the follow-up international process. This ambiguous diplomatic construction neither authorizes nor precludes creating republics with their elected quasi-presidents and quasi-parliaments in this Russian-controlled territory of Ukraine. The Kremlin did create the whole DPR-LPR setup after the Minsk One armistice in 2014, staging republican elections for four-year terms. Moscow saw to it that the republics heads were accepted as armistice signatories (Minsk One and Minsk Two), and the DPR-LPR representatives as de facto negotiators in the Minsk Contact Group, from 2014 up to the present. Moscow seems confident that it can stage (or at the very least threaten to stage) another round of quadrennial elections to perpetuate the same republics, expecting the same degree of impunity as hitherto.

The Minsk armistice and follow-up process only stipulate municipal elections, to be held under rules negotiated and agreed by Kyiv with Donetsk-Luhansk in the Contact Group (while also being discussed in the Normandy Quartet). Those municipal elections were never held, in spite of pressures on Kyiv to consent to their holding. Holding such elections with the blessing of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could have lent the DPR-LPR a deceptive semblance of democracy. Hence, Moscow is now ready to resort to quasi-presidential and quasi-parliamentary elections in Donbas, effectively prejudging a negotiated political solution. The Kremlin can do so without violating the letter of the Minsk armistice. Unilaterally held elections would of course violate the spirit of the Minsk armistice and negotiation forums, which assume compromises between Kyiv and the Moscow-controlled Donetsk-Luhansk. But this compromise-based assumption itself amounts to a massive breach of international law and of Ukraines sovereignty, a fatal contradiction in this whole diplomatic process from 2014 to date.
September 13, Coordinator from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ambassador Toni Frisch briefed on the results of his visit to places of detention in occupied Donbas. Quite unexpectedly, the event turned into a real duel between him and the first vice-speaker Iryna Gerashchenko. At the moment when Frisch expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the self-proclaimed republics for organizing the visit in accordance with international standards, Gerashchenko laughed outrageously. In turn, Frisch said that "he came to the briefing not to praise Ukraine because of the presence of Mrs. Gerashchenko and criticize the other side due to their absence."

Sparks flew, emotions ran high

The sharp contradictions, due to which a joint briefing by the Coordinator from the OSCE Toni Frisch and the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the representative of Ukraine in the humanitarian subgroup of the Tripartite Contact Group for the settlement of the situation in Donbas, Iryna Gerashchenko (close associate of President Petro Poroshenko) resembled a duel. Frisch briefed literally half an hour before his departure to the airport to leave Ukraine. The day before, he refused the offer of journalists of 112 Ukraine TV channel to accompany him on a trip to the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO), and also refused to give an exclusive interview.

Gerashchenkos participation in the briefing, which was covered by almost all the leading Ukrainian TV channels, was not reported on the eve. This became known only when the OSCE representative and vice-speaker appeared together.

Iryna Gerashchenko first started talking. She said that the Ukrainian side has been insisting on the need to visit Ukrainians kept in places of deprivation of liberty in the so-called Donetsk/Luhansk Peoples Republics since May. "On the eve of the visit, we agreed on a list of military and civilians, meetings with whom are priorities for the Ukrainian side. Of course, we are fighting for everyone. We asked Mr. Frisch first to meet with the military, who are kept after Debaltsevo, Ilovaisk, and those about whom we do not have any information," said the vice-speaker.

In the middle of her speech, the OSCE coordinator unsuccessfully tried to start his speech but he failed. Taking a short pause in Gerashchenko's speech, Frisch said irritably: "I want to tell what I saw with my own eyes and what I actually heard. As the coordinator of the working group on humanitarian issues, I always take a neutral and absolutely independent position. I came to this briefing not to praise Ukraine because of the fact that Iryna Gerashchenko is present here and criticize the other side because they are not here. "

In the same vein, he continued: "Mrs. Gerashchenko (this is how the parties addressed to each other during the entire briefing  Mrs. Gerashchenko and Mr. Frisch  Ed.) has already summarized some of the results of my trip, but it was my trip, and I planned this trip on my own will and at my own peril and risk, and not because the Ukrainian government insistently asked me to do this. I am probably the only coordinator of the working groups in Minsk, who has been visiting occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2015 twice or at least once a year. I decide when the trip should take place and where exactly I go."

In the next half an hour, during which there was a briefing, there were several more tough skirmishes and irreconcilable contradictions between the representative of the OSCE and the representative of the Ukrainian politics.

Answering the question of 112.ua about the prospects for the exchange of Ukrainian hostages and about the possible obstruction of the process by "the other side," Frisch said that "it is easy to accuse the other side." "And I understand that the journalists of the other side say the same about you. You know, and it is a fact that all parties, all participants of the Minsk process must make a decision, and I very much hope that all parties will have the desire to make this step as soon as possible," Frisch said.

Here Gerashchenko decidedly entered into the conversation: "There is a constant discussion in Minsk about who are the parties to the process. In the presence of the respected OSCE coordinator and journalists who are even afraid to say whether Russia is there (before that Iryna Gerashchenko advised journalist 112.ua "not to be shy" to use the word "Russia" instead of "the other side" - Ed.), I want to say that the Russian Federation is party to the Minsk process. As well as Donetsk/Luhansk Peoples Republics."

The working group on humanitarian issues "involves two representatives from Russia, two from Ukraine, one woman from Donetsk Peoples Republic and one from Luhansk Peoples Republic," Frisch added in a conciliatory tone.

At some point, the OSCE coordinator made a gesture either to cool Mrs. Gerashchenko out or as an attempt to becalm her emotions. However, if this was an attempt to act on the vice speaker reassuringly, it was failed.

At the end of the briefing Iryna Gerashchenko again began to voice her theses, and again Frisch, using a pause, sharply wedged himself in with the words: "Let me summarize what I saw!" The OSCE Coordinator reiterated that he has always held a neutral position. "I would like to thank all the parties involved who provided support (Frisch meant ORDLO, - Ed.)," he added.

Without waiting for the translation into Ukrainian, Gerashchenko let out huge, totally unrestrained laugh.

Prisons in Ukraine and in ORDLO do not differ

Toni Frisch said that on the eve of his visit to the occupied territories he met with 17 inmates in penitentiary institutions in Ukraine. In particular, he visited places of detention in Kharkiv, Bakhmut, and Starobilsk. In the occupied territories, Frisch has visited 15 Ukrainian prisoners in Luhansk and Donetsk. Five of them serve time for criminal offenses committed before the war. The coordinator met with six Ukrainian soldiers who were captured by the separatists, as well as with the Ukrainian journalist and blogger Stanislav Aseyev (Vasin). Frisch noted that he had the opportunity for continued dialogue with the journalist, and the conversation was frank. At the same time, he refused to disclose his details.

"We asked all the parties - the Ukrainian government, as well as the ORDLO representatives - to provide lists of people we could possibly visit," Frisch claimed.

"In Luhansk, Mr. Frisch was shown not those people, whom we asked to visit," Iryna Gerashchenko said. This was another reason for their duel.

The OSCE representative abruptly interrupted the vice-speaker with the words: "Let me summarize what I saw, as I already pointed out, there were reasons that we could not visit all people."

After the briefing, Gerashchenko clarified that the Ukrainian side asked Frisch to visit the Ukrainian military in the prisons of Luhansk, who "are kept in complete isolation for two years, and we have every reason to think that they are terribly tortured."

Frisch, responding to a journalist's question, said that he "cannot confirm that some Ukrainian POWs in the ORDLO are kept in complete isolation." "Indeed, we were not able to see everyone who was on the list but I would not like to give additional explanations," the OSCE coordinator added.

Toni Frisch did not go into detail about the conditions of detention of Ukrainian prisoners in the prisons of ORDLO. According to him, "the conditions in places of deprivation of liberty on both sides of the line of demarcation are very similar." "You know perfectly well that five years ago there was the same legal framework and even the same leaders, whose competence included places of detention," said the OSCE coordinator. He noted that places for the maintenance of persons in respect of which a pre-trial investigation is being conducted are different in the controlled and uncontrolled territories. Apparently, he meant remand centers.

Speaking about the condition of the premises, Frisch noted that "in Vinnytsia, the premises (prisons) were built in the 19th century, and it is not easy to maintain it at the level that many (journalists) would like to."

The OSCE Coordinator noted that with the assistance of the ORDLO representatives, his visit was organized "in accordance with international standards." "I have been given the opportunity to have confidential, private conversations, without the presence of external parties, only in the presence of an interpreter. There is a very big difference with previous trips, and it is a very important step forward, for which we are grateful to the ORDO. This was the first time we were given the opportunity to have confidential conversations in ORDO, in accordance with international standards. I probably will now open the secret to everyone who thinks and who reports that the conditions in the territories under the control of the government in the places of deprivation of liberty are fantastic, and on the other side are just a shoebox of a room. Believe me, this is not true," Frisch said.

The OSCE representative stressed that people (with whom he met in places of detention) had the opportunity to speak freely and were quite open during the conversations.

At the same time, Toni Frisch did not deny that five of the convicted (for criminal offenses) had informed him that they would like to serve their sentences in prisons on the controlled territory. Of course, perhaps, these people would like to be closer to their relatives, to be able to receive food support from them. But it is also impossible to deny the fact that, perhaps, everything is not as rosy in the ORDLO prisons as it was allowed to see the OSCE coordinator.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation (now - the Joint Forces Operation) 186 prisoners have been transferred from prisons in the uncontrolled area to the controlled one, and 12 people have been transferred from the prisons of Crimea. In total, 10 transfers were made from DPR jails and one from occupied Crimea.

As of today, there are 5 prisons in occupied Crimea, 14 of 20 institutions are in the occupied territory of Donetsk region, 15 of 16 are in the Luhansk region. As of November 1, 2014, there were 3295 people in the correctional facilities of occupied Crimea, 9511 people in the institutions of Donetsk region, and 6426 in Luhansk. The exact number of the remaining Ukrainian prisoners convicted of criminal offenses before the war is unknown, Frisch specified. Accordingly, there is no idea how many people want to return to the controlled territories.

There is no information about the exact number of Ukrainians detained during the war, in particular, during the fighting, after the events in Debaltsevo, Ilovaysk. "The figures are constantly changing, every week, they are dynamic," Frisch noted.

Everyone wants to be brought back home

The OSCE Coordinator said that all prisoners without exception, both in the institutions in the controlled territories and in the ORDLO institutions, have voiced one wish. "We asked what their needs were, and they were very frank, in a private conversation, they said only one thing: they want to be released, they want an exchange as soon as possible. This applies to all men and women, wherever they are  in Donetsk/Luhansk republics or in the territories under the control of the government."

As is known, the prisoners exchange processes have been frozen for several months. The views of Gerashchenko and Frisch are very different on the reasons behind the situation. The Vice Speaker said that "the second wave of liberation, unfortunately, is blocked, and not because of Ukraines fault." Frisch insisted that if the parties in Minsk were able to agree, the exchange processes could be activated "even tomorrow." "You know, and it is a fact that all parties, all participants of the Minsk process must make a decision and I very much hope that all parties will have the desire to make this step as soon as possible," said the OSCE coordinator.

However, in addition to all the burning challenges, the briefing by the OSCE representative has put one more. So, it is hard not to wonder: did journalists become witnesses of personal differences on fundamental issues between Mr. Frisch and Mrs. Gerashchenko, or is the situation much more serious and it is a question of the divergence of the views of the OSCE and the Ukrainian government?

Read the original text at 112.ua.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners.
The statistics include 19 groundless arrests and four kidnappings, - UN Monitoring Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine

Open source

Over eight months of 2017-2018, UN Monitoring Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine reported 81 cases of human rights violations in the occupied Crimea. This is mentioned in the report of the Mission, loaded on the website of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

167 people suffered in the reported cases, 62 of which were observed from September 2017 till June 2018.

The occupant 'power' in Crimea breached the law and ignored the respective procedure of the fair trial against 94 individuals. In certain cases, the verdicts were announced as 'punishment for political dissidence'. Seven cases of tortures were observed, too.

The statistics also include 19 cases of groundless arrests and four kidnappings. In eleven cases, the whereabouts of the kidnapped people remain unknown,' the paper reads.
The overall estimated sum of the three minesweepers makes 12 million Euros

The Danish government plans to sell Ukraine three minesweepers. The press office of Ukraine's defense ministry reported this on Friday morning.

'Most likely, the report mentions a kind of minesweepers, based on the modernized project of Standard Flex 300 vessels, the Standard Flex 300 MCM. Fourteen ships of this particular kind were produced - Havkatten (P552), Laxen (P553), Makrelen (P554) and Stren(P555), and they all were decommissioned from the Danish Royal Navy in 2010-2012', the message says.

The ships were built in the 1980s-1990s; they were supposed to replace the obsolete boats in the Danish Navy.

Earlier, Lithuania and Portugal purchased similar vessels from Denmark.
If youre that person who wont touch a subway pole, or refuses to go bowling, you will find yourself both vindicated and triggered by the new Germ City exhibit. The Museum of the City of New York marks the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic with an exhibit that reminds New Yorkers that what makes us great also makes us vulnerable: germs love a bustling, crowded, international city, too. And weve been in a protracted battle against contagious-disease carrying microbes since long before we built subways or bowling alleys.



Microbes and the Metropolis Stereoscope. (NateLavey / Museum of the City of New York)

When you walk into the exhibit, there are a few items that are so big, theyre impossible to miss: Jordan Eagless "Blood Mirror," a large sculpture that contains blood donated by gay, bisexual and transgender men; an iron lung which looks like a human-sized submarine, used to assist the breathing of polio victims and a full protective suit like the one used to protect Bellevue Hospitals staff and reduce the spread of disease during the Ebola outbreak.

Its worth the trip to the museum just to see the original film copy of "Clean Up: We Care About New York," a terrifying PSA (that we've revisited before) made by none other than David Lynch. WARNING: rats.

Together the artifacts tell the story of contagious disease thematically rather than by disease, examining how we contain, investigate, and care for people regardless of whether they have contracted smallpox, yellow fever, diphtheria, cholera, influenza, polio, HIV, ebola or any of the diseases New York has battled over the years. The diseases may have changed over time, but the concerns stay the same. How do you contain disease, and fear, when theres an outbreak?

"Germ City" opens Friday, September 14th, at the Museum of the City of New York, and runs until April 28th, 2019. WNYC is presenting a series of Germ City stories, as part of a collaboration with the Museum and the New York Academy of Medicineyou can read them here.
Ukraine's President added that Ukraine was creating a mechanism to counter outside interventions in the elections along with the other Western states

Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko stated that he guarantees free, fair, democratic elections of the president, parliament and local authorities, as the Head of the State stated during YES forum, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.

Ukraines future mostly depends on the election circle. As a President, I guarantee free, fir, democratic elections  the elections of the president, new parliament and local authorities. We will protect free will of the citizens, Poroshenko stated.

According to him, Ukraine was creating a mechanism to counter outside interventions in the elections along with the other Western states.

The best way to protect free world is to protect Ukraine. Moscows Crusades against democracy and freedom has become a hybrid war. We are making the mechanisms to counter outside interventions in the election process along with our Western partners, Poroshenko stated.

It should be noted that presidential elections in Ukraine are scheduled on March 13, 2019. The elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will be held on October 27, 2019.

There were rumors about early elections (primarily, to the Parliament). Yet, it is not decided for now.
A rally took place at Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin, near the Russian embassy; the civil activists protested against tortures in Russia, as Ukrinform news agency reported.

During the Thursday event, the protesters held banners blaming the tortures in Russia, as well as Ukrainian flags, photos of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, including reporter Roman Sushchenko.

'Russia became the country of tortures. They torture prisoners in jails, sadistically beat up the protesters... Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners, including Ukrainian hostage, are on hunger strikes. How much more Europe is going to tolerate all this?', the organizers say.

Recently, UN Monitoring Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine released a report where it identified that 81 cases of human rights violations in the occupied Crimea took place over eight months of 2017-2018. The report of the Mission is loaded on the website of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 167 people suffered in the reported cases, 62 of which were observed from September 2017 till June 2018. The occupant 'power' in Crimea breached the law and ignored the respective procedure of the fair trial against 94 individuals. In certain cases, the verdicts were announced as 'punishment for political dissidence'. Seven cases of tortures were observed, too.
Open source

Russia addressed the Supreme Court of England with a claim of a new trial involving three billion debt of Yanukovych.Anton Siluanov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia claimed this, TASS reports.

According to him, todays verdict of the Appellate Court in England postponed the decision on the resolution of the dispute for a short time.

The decision of the Appellate court consists in the following  three out of four arguments of the Ukrainian side havent been endorsed. On one of them, the Appellate Court in England adopted a decision on carrying out more profound and detailed research of the matter. It is about the provision of credit to Ukraine allegedly under the influence of the Russian side. We will address the Supreme Court of UK, and we are sure that English justice will objectively understand and make an appropriate decision, reads the message.

As it was reported, on September 14, the Appellate Court of England endorsed Ukraines complaint against Russia in case of Yanukovychs debt  regarding Eurobonds in the amount of $ 3 billion.

Thus, the Supreme Court of the UK will back to the viewing of the debt dispute between Kyiv and Moscow in terms of mere judicial proceeding, not accelerated procedure.

As it was reported earlier the Ministry of Finance of Russia announced the compromise on the so-called Yanukovych debt in 3 billion dollars. Moscow claims that another country can buy out it by the money or securities.

Ukraine got the debt in 3 billion dollars from Russia when Viktor Yanukovych was the president of Ukraine in 2013. Kyiv insisted to recognize the debt as the commercial with the further reorganization and writing down of the part of the debt. In its turn, Russia refused from the reorganization on the terms accepted by the private creditors of Ukraine and demanded to recognize the debt as the state.
According to the President, Russia has to withdraw all the troops so that the political process in Donbas could be launched

The President of Ukraine stated that Ukraine is a unitary state and it will not take external pressure, which try to change the countrys structure, as Poroshenko said at the YES forum, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.

All my life I remembered 9-12 February, 2015, when the negotiations lasted for 19 hours without breaks. French President Hollande described the atmosphere at that night in Minsk exactly as it was. We made a document which has the commitments of the sides, - Russia has to take its troops back from the occupied territories, Russia has to take all the tanks, artillery, heavy weapons, and illegal armed formations. Russia has to create dangerous backgrounds for the launch of a political process. Ukraine is a unitary state and it will never take external pressure, which will try to change the structure of our state. Neither Russia, nor Moscow, nor Brussels, nor Washington will decide what way Ukraine follows. Its a sovereign right of all the Ukrainians, Poroshenko said.

The President noted that after the fulfillment of Minsk Agreements Ukraine is obliged to hold fair and free local elections.

We are ready to start local elections right after all the conditions and demands of the security are fulfilled. We have been waiting for this from the Russian side four years, yet no step was made. Instead, we hear talks about illegal fake elections on the occupied territories, he noted.

Reportedly, Poroshenko held a meeting with Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative. They discussed situation in Donbas.

Related video:
Open source

Washington considers the option to send Ukraine more supplies of the lethal weaponry. Kurt Volker, the US Special Envoy in this country told this to the press during his visit in Kyiv and negotiations with Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko. RFE/RL wrote this in a story while addressing the issue.

'In recent months, Russia has stepped up naval operations in the shared Sea of Azov, where, Volker said, Ukrainians have virtually no naval capability or limited capability, so [the Russians] feel they can assert dominance there. Ukraines lack of robust naval and air-defense capabilities is a weakness Volker said Washington looks set on addressing. I think thats going to be the focus as we develop the next steps in our defense cooperation, he added', RFE/RL wrote.

As is known, on Friday, President Petro Poroshenko held the meeting with Volker. According to the message on the presidential website, the parties discussed the situation in Donbas during the meeting. The sides noted the importance of the continuation of the sanctions policy against Russia until the complete de-occupation of the Ukrainian territory. Poroshenko thanked the U.S. official for the strengthening of the defense capacity of the Ukrainian Army and noted the importance of the continuation of the close cooperation in the area of security and defense. The parties also discussed the issues of energy security, particularly in the context of Nord Stream 2.

Earlier, Volker claimed that elections announced by the self-proclaimed so-called republics of Luhansk and Donetsk are illegal. According to Volker, the elections on the occupied Donbas territories breach the logic of the Minsk agreements. At the same time, the occupied territories do not have the basic security conditions.
The report said Pyongyang did not suspend its nuclear and missile programs and that it was a violation of UN sanctions on export

The U.S. accused Russia of alerting an independent UN report to cover up Russias alleged violation of UN sanctions on North Korea, as Radio Liberty reports.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on September 13 said Russia pressured the independent sanctions monitors to amend a report that was eventually submitted to the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee last month the news agency reads.

The report said Pyongyang did not suspend its nuclear and missile programs and that it was a violation of UN sanctions on export.

The Ambassador and other diplomats claim that Russia pressured the independent monitors to amend the report.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one diplomat said the amended report removed some references to Russians accused of breaching North Korea sanctions, the message says.

According to AFP, another diplomat said that several paragraphs which concerned Russian oil trade were removed under Moscows request.

In late August, Russia blocked publications of the report as it did not comply with the findings that Pyongyang exceeded 2018 import limit for oil set by the sanctions.

"Russia can't be allowed to edit and obstruct independent UN reports on North Korea sanctions just because they don't like what they say. Period. The full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions remains mandatory for all member states  including Russia. This is a dangerous precedent and a stain on the important work of the panel, Haley said.

The Ambassador called for the original report to be released by the 15-member Security Council. Yet, Russian UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

After Trump-Jong Un Summit in June, Russia and China pushed for the Security Council to lighten sanctions on Pyongyang.

The Security Council is to meet on September 17 to discuss introduction of sanctions on North Korea at Washingtons request.
Russians were heading to Switzerland to get data of lab in Spitz, which, also helps to investigate chemical attacks in Syria and poisoning of Skripals in British Salisbury

In Netherlands, the agents tried to get data from the lab in a Swiss Spitz, which helps to investigate chemical attacks in Syria and poisoning in Salisbury. The incident happened in the beginning of 2018, as DW reports.

Russian intelligent agents were detained in the Netherlands and sent to Russia. The incident happened in the beginning of this year. NRC Handelsblad and Swiss news agency Tages-Anzeiger reported this on September 13. The exact date of the detention remains unknown, the message says.

The interlocutors of the news agencies, who were not named, stated that Russians were heading to Switzerland to get data of lab in Spitz, which, also helps to investigate chemical attacks in Syria and poisoning of Skripals in British alisbury.

Earlier, this laboratory was a target for hackers attacks. It was noted that the Russian agents had special equipment to break in the computer networks.

The detention of the intelligence agents was a result of a joint operation of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Britain. The Swiss Intelligence Service confirmed its participation on the operation.
It is connected with the exceedance of the maximum permissible concentration of chemicals by more than five times

Emergency regime introduced in Armyansk due to the emission of chemicals at Tytan factory in Crimea. Deputy Chief of the General Directorate  Chief of Directorate of Civil Protection of the General Directorate of Russian MChS in Crimea Oleksii Fridman claimed this today, on September 14, Krym.Realii reports.

The Staff will adopt the decision and recommend the Armyansk City District Administration to introduce an emergency regime because we have the exceedance of the maximum permissible concentration chemicals by more than five times. It is a requirement for the introduction of the regime, Fridman said.

He also claimed that the emergency regime is scheduled to be introduced yet today.

As we reported, an unknown substance was discharged in the air in Armyansk, North Crimea. A greasy mud with a yellow shade appeared on metallic objects, roofs, and leaves on the trees.

Later, Sergey Aksyonov, head of the annexed Crimea claimed that the situation with the discharge of the unknown substance in the air goes beyond the norms.

Moreover, toxic chemicals were detected in the air in the Kherson region, southern Ukraine.

Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Crimean Tatars Mejlis claimed that the evacuation of the children due to the emission of the unknown substance has begun in Armyansk.

Earlier it was reported that the hit of the shells at the technological tanks during the training of the detachments of the Armed Forces of Russia became the reason for the chemical emission at the plant Crimean Tytan.

On September 6, it was reported that the plant on the production of the titanium dioxide, the subsidiary of Titanium investments in Crimean Armyansk will completely stop to work on Sunday, September 9.

Reportedly, 61 Ukrainian border guards were affected by the emission of chemicals. Five of them have been hospitalized. They are in Odessa Clinical Hospital of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), the results of their tests will be known today.
She carried the goods in deeply sewn-in pockets underneath her skirt

A female Ukrainian citizen was detained upon trying to bring 49 hidden iPhones from Russia.

An incident took place at Hoptivka checkpoint (Ukraine-Russia state border) in Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine. This is mentioned in the Facebook post by Ukraine's State Border Guard.

'The Ukrainian was crossing the entry checkpoint, heading to Ukraine; however, as she arrived, she began to worry a lot', the authority reported.

The law enforcers decided to use special technical tools to check the woman's personal belongings. They used a metal detector, which revealed the phones under her skirt, where she had some special sewn-in pockets. The goods were seized.

On August 12, three Ukrainians were detained  they were walking to Russia with more than $43,950 under the clothes, as the press office of Ukraines Border Guard Service reports.

Three Ukrainians came to Hoptivka checkpoint. Two men and a woman born in 1984, 1952 and 1958 were heading towards Russia. The inspection revealed they were carrying around $44 thousand, the message says.
Ukraine is to send 270 special operations soldier to serve in the units on Azov and Black Sea, as Petro Tsyhykal, the Head of Ukraines State Border Guard Service, during his visit to Bukovina, the press office of the service reports.

We are stepping up efforts of the Navy Forces, which is around 270 people, who will serve in the units of Azov and Black Sea water areas, the message says.

According to Tsyhykal, Ukraines State Border Guard Service is developing in two directions. First one is law-enforcement and the second one is build-up of efforts and expansion of the reserves.

Its necessary to understand that the aggressor, as they say, is not sleeping, building up its efforts and we should give a fitting rebuff in case of some force majeure, the Head of the Border Guard Service noted.

Related video:
Insect and vermin infestations. Leaky ceilings. Families poisoned by lead paint. Mold and broken elevators. These are just some of the ongoing grievances over a half of a million New Yorkers in public housing complexes are living with every day.

In June, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY announced a legal settlement with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), in which NYCHA took responsibility for filing false reports on lead paint testing, for failing to follow numerous federal laws and for failing to provide adequate heat and mold removal. (The city admitted last month that 1,160 children living in NYCHA have tested positive for lead poisoning since 2012.)

Listen to WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez discuss the NYCHA tenants's difficult living conditions and the proposed $2.2 billion settlement from the city:

In an attempt to make up for years of neglect, the city proposed a consent decree and offered to pay a $2.2 billion settlement in capital funds to spend during a four-year period. Another stipulation in the consent decree (PDF) would be the appointment of a monitor to oversee NYCHA.

All residents were notified about the settlement hearing, scheduled for September 26th, and invited to attend Manhattan Federal Court Judge William Pauley 's courtroom to give their thoughts on the plan.

Since the invitations were sent, tenants have submitted over 700 letters that included photographs of deplorable living conditions, medical records, unresolved work tickets and decades of unthinkable anecdotes to U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Bermans office as testimonials to the unbearable situation.

A large majority of the correspondence detailed years of neglect families endured while others objected to the possible settlement and even offered some solutions.

Daniel Barber, president of the tenants association at the Jackson Houses in the Bronx, submitted a letter on behalf of all the residents across the city objecting to the consent decree.

The Decree offers no real plan for making sweeping changes to the system. No one is losing their jobs, being demoted, being disciplined, or being criminally charged (so far), which is a slap in the face to all residents, Barber wrote.



State Senator Adriano Espaillat looks at a peeling ceiling and mold at a NYCHA apartment in July 2018 (Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock)

Barber and several others suggested that NYCHA tenants should choose one of their own neighbors to serve as the appointed monitor. A motion was submitted on behalf of the tenants to intervene in the proceedings and have their voices heard on the consent decree; currently the government is representing the tenants.

Theres a lot of people suffering, said NYCHA tenant Oliver Briscoe, who will attend the hearing to ask that the money should get distributed to the tenants for the damages they endured because of the lack of repairs.

Briscoe, 66, suffered a spinal injury when he slipped and fell into an unexpected puddle of water outside his Lower East Side first-floor apartment in 2014. I cant get out my apartment without stepping over a puddle. I put in 35 tickets and they havent sent anyone to the roof to stop the leak, said Briscoe.

Anita Berry, of the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, told Gothamist she was laughed at by staff when she moved into her two-bedroom apartment almost five years ago.

Before I even touched the keys, they had me living in inhumane living conditions, said Berry.

The flat that she shares with her son has several holes in the ceiling and is riddled with rats, roaches, mildew and mold, which she said disturbs her asthma.

These things were supposed to be fixed before I moved into the apartment and they didnt, said Berry, who is also disabled.

Berry, 50, said she contacted the management company and several elected officials, but has not received any answers as to why her apartment remains under construction.



A cat runs by a damaged floor in a NYCHA apartment (Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock)

Ill be there (at the hearing) to speak to find out how I should be compensated. Its not rightif I didnt pay my rent I would get kicked out the door, they did this to me and I dont get compensated? asked Berry.

Karen Blondel of the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn also agrees that the funds should serve as a compensation fund for residents, but understands that the buildings need new roofs, new pipes and new facades.

That number is a punitive amount...The physical number for the repairs in NYCHA is $32 billion so $2.2 billion is well under. I have an engineering background and understand to bring up these buildings will take more time, thought and money, said Blondel, 55.

Blondel was not exempt from her own ordeals with unfinished repairs in her apartment when a plumbing issue turned into asbestos removal and put her health in danger, she said.

Went through a year of hell with them last year...They said the plumber was coming, but asbestos removal people came first and removed it with me right there, didnt offer me a mask or anything," said Blondel.

Blondel will be heard to not only ask that tenants receive individual compensation, but also recommend training on preventative management. Without self-management training, the money will get wiped out quickly, said Blondel.

On Thursday, Judge Pauley ruled that tenants cannot have a say in the settlement, which would have meant potentially renegotiating the deal between the federal prosecutors and NYCHA. Tenants can, however, still oppose the deal if they wish.

Applications are still being accepted for the monitor position.

Christina Carrega is a Brooklyn native who dedicated her journalism career to telling stories surrounding the criminal justice system. When Christina's not reporting hard news, she writes for a lifestyle website she co-founded called 32Letter.com and enjoys traveling.
Donbas conflict zone, Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, Crimea and corruption, sanctions - news for the week on one page

***

About Donbas

Another week of hostilities in Donbas is over  though the whole conflict is not, apparently. OSCE Coordinator in the humanitarian group at the Minsk talks Toni Frisch visited the Ukrainian hostages illegally kept in Donetsk region.

Kurt Volker, the US Special Envoy in Ukraine is visit Kyiv. Shortly before, he said that the elections announced by the self-proclaimed so-called republics of Luhansk and Donetsk are illegal. Later, US Department of the State also condemned the election in its official statement.

***

About Crimea

Two Ukrainian fishermen were detained by Russias FSB in offshore Crimea.

Concerning the chemical emission, it was reported that situation at peninsula normalized. The investigation in this case continues, moreover, Ukraine will appeal to OPCW.

***

About corruption

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine was quite active this week, as it:

- prepared the note of suspicion in the illicit enrichment to SBU Deputy Head Pavlo Demchyna.

- informed Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan of suspected illicit enrichment. Though, it was later reported that anti-corruption bodies would not detain Volodymyr Omelyan for his crimes are not grave.

- together with the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecution (SAP) is preparing a filing to strip the leader of Radical Party Oleh Lyashko of his deputys immunity.

- investigates illegal enrichment of the MP Anton Herashchenko

- will open the case against Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko for declaration of false information.

***

About anti-Russian sanctions

The European Union prolonged individual sanctions against Russians and legal entities involved in the actions against Ukraines territorial integrity on September 13.

***

About Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia

Sentsovs condition is getting worse. The international community urges Russia to release the political prisoner, including the U.S. Ambassador. On September 10, Sentsov wrote testament to his creativity.

Ukraines Ombudsman asked the Russian side to visit prisoner Balukh, whose health condition is getting worse. Besides, on September 10, Crimean Court refused appeal on Balukhs parole.

On September 12, it was reported that Stanislav Klykh, the Ukrainian political prisoner in Russia, does not have the access to his mother's letters, which she sends on a regular basis.

***

About Ukrainian market

The Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment Co might purchase Ukrainian Mriya agricultural holding. Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko welcomed the decision, adding it was a major contract in agricultural sector over the period of Ukraines independence.

Also, IKEA, the famous Swedish enterprise enters the Ukrainian market. IKEA confirmed intention open the first store in Kyiv in 2019.

***

About Russias military drills Vostok 2018

Perhaps this weeks most discussed event in the military area is Vostok 2018, the huge drills planned and executed by the Russian Armed Forces. Russia's largest military training exercises since the Cold War are taking place in the country's Far East. The exercises involved about 300,000 servicemen, a thousand airplanes, helicopters and drones; 36,000 armored vehicles and 80 ships.
According to the bureau, Demchyna provided the registration of the assets in the sum of $134,500 for family members without preliminary legal incomes

Open source

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed that it prepared the note of suspicion in the illicit enrichment to SBU Deputy Head Pavlo Demchyna as the NABU reported.

The bureau added that it is forced to make public the details of the case as it was done by the official of Ukraine's Security Service.

"The NABU is forced to resort to such actions as the information, which is the secret of pretrial investigation was disclosed by reasons unknown for NABU and it was received by SBU official the legality of actions of official is checked by the detectives during the mentioned pretrial investigation. Under strained circumstances, it took place right after the sending of the proper procedural documents for the negotiation to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office," the message said.

The Bureau specified that Demchyna bought the assets in joint ownership and had the expenses in the sum of at least $229,000. The issue is also about new SUV Land Rover Range Rover Sport of 2015, Mercedes-Benz V250 of 2016, land plots in the suburbs of Kyiv with the area 0,1011 hectares and 0,1072 hectares, flat near the mentioned land plots. At the same time, the official income of the First Deputy Head of the SBU and members of his family was $93,000, including the sale of earlier bought car Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD at the period April 25, 2015  December 31, 2016.

The mentioned facts were published by the NABU in the suspicion and it was filed for the negotiation with the SAPO on September 7.

"Let's note, that the actions alleged against Infrastructure Minister of Ukraine and Deputy SBU Head as well as the evidence gathered in the criminal proceedings are identical," the NABU said.

The bureau also noted that it expects the continuation of the adoption of the procedural decisions by SAPO.

As we reported National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) made a report of suspected illicit enrichment for Pavlo Demchyna, First Deputy Chairman of SBU, who heads the anti-corruption department.

Reportedly, NABU began prosecution of First Deputy Head of SBU Demchyna on March 10, 2017. Data from the journalist investigation was the reason to open the proceeding.

The journalists of Slidstvo.Info stated that Demchynas common-law wife, with whom he has three children, owns luxury cars and lives in a luxury country retreat. The 2015 declaration says that he does not have his own apartment, car, savings and officially lives in SBU departmental dorm.

As we reported Solomensky District Court obliged the National Anti-Corruption Bureau to open the proceeding against Justice Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Petrenko under suspicion of the declaration of false data. Later NABU belied this information.

Also, Ukraines Anti-Corruption Bureau informed Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan of suspected illicit enrichment.

Related video:
The documents which confirm the death of Zakharchenkos death are absent at the materials of the case

Open source

The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine does not see any grounds for stop of the investigation and close of the criminal proceeding against head of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic Alexander Zakharchenko who died in the result of the explosion in Donetsk as Ukrainian News reported.

According to the message, at the moment, the documents which confirm the death of Zakharchenkos death are absent at the materials of the case. Taking into account that Donetsk is temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine then it is impossible to confirm or deny the death of Zakharchenko by holding of the investigative actions and forensic analysis.

In such circumstances, there are no grounds for close of the criminal proceedings (against Zakharchenko) is not envisaged at the moment, the prosecutors office said.

According to the message, the Security Service of Ukraine investigates the case in the suspicion in the terrorism, attack at official or public person, separatism and seizure of state authority against Zakharchenko.

Reportedly, on August 31, as a result of the explosion in the restaurant in the downtown of Donetsk, head of so-called DNR Aleksandr Zakharchenko died. The Russian mass media reported that Oleksandr Timofeyev, so-called "minister of revenue and duties" of so-called "DNR" has also died. The so-called law enforcers of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic stated that they detained Ukrainian saboteurs who are presumably involved in the assassination of Zakharchenko. Although, SBU hasnt approved the information.

ORDO, Separate district of Donetsk region, suspects one of the guards of Zakharchenko in his death. At the same time, the Russian MFA accused "Kyiv regime" in the death of Zakharchenko. It was reported on the closure of all crossing checkpoints along the Inter-Entity Boundary Line because of the incident. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over the murder of Zakharchenko.

On September 2, Zakharchenko was buried in Donetsk next to pro-Russian militants "Givi" and "Motorola".

Related video:
It was noted that if the verdict is guilty, the seizure of the property will be imposed to actually confiscate it

Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) will intercede for the seizure of Volodymyr Omelyans, Infrastructure Minister, property, as Ukrainian News reported referring to its source in SAP.

The articles of the Criminal Code, incriminated for Omelyan, provide for seizure of property How do you think, will be appeal against the seizure of the property in this situation? Certainly, the message says.

It was noted that if the verdict is guilty, the seizure of the property will be imposed to actually confiscate it. At the same time, the terms of the submission of such petitions are not named.

As we reported Ukraines Anti-Corruption Bureau informed Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan of suspected illicit enrichment.

NABU representatives stated that within the period from January 1, 2000 to April, 26, 2018 Omelyan received $77,500 of official income. And his expenses within the period from 2008 till April 26, 2015 were at least $123,214.

Later, NABU detectives claimed that the crimes of Omelyan are not grave so they will demand to choose the restrictive measure for the minister in the form of bail in the sum of almost $179,000.
Russian border boat arranged provocations by undertaking dangerous maneuvers in the Sea of Azov. The press office of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on Facebook. It is claimed that Mangust Russian boat was dangerously maneuvering near Ukrainian boat of Marine Guard in the area of Dolgaya Spit.

During the interrogation, the Russian crew claimed that follows in accordance with the task, however, after that changed its course and headed in the direction of the Ukrainian boat. Yet, it was undertaking dangerous maneuvers and approached by several meters to the boat of the State Border Guard Service. The Russians were recommended to change their course, in reply, once more they undertook a dangerous maneuver, causing dangerous conditions of navigations. The Russian border patrol boat changed its direction after all, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine claimed.

Ukraines Border Guard Service also claimed that the crew of the Russian boat violated the requirements of the international rules for preventing collision of ships at sea.

It should be noted that the Russian activity in the Sea of Azov increased over the last three months. Russians do not allow the trade vessels heading to and emerging from the Ukrainian ports to freely pass through the Kerch Strait. In this regard, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko commissioned the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff and the Commandment of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take measures to stop Russian provocations in relation to blocking the entry of vessels into Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine developed a set of measures in response to Russia's actions. The set of measures includes the limit of passenger traffic with Russia.

Ukraine also advocates the imposition of sanctions against Russian Black Sea ports due to the blockade of the Sea of Azov.
The Appeal Court in London satisfied the appeal of Ukraine against Russia in the case on debt of Yanukovych  Eurobonds in the sum of $3 million. Oleksandr Danylyuk, the ex-Finance Minister of Ukraine Olexander Danulyuk confirmed this as 112 Ukraine reported.

Recently Ukraine has won the decision in the court in our favor concerning the return of $3 billion so-called debt, he claimed.

The Russian newspaper TASS citing the correspondent in London Court also reports on the loss of Russia.

Thus, High Court of London will return to consideration of the debt dispute between Kyiv and Moscow within the judicial proceeding but not within classical legal proceeding.

Ukraine, in December 2015, allowed the default on Eurobonds purchased by Russia in December 2013 by funds of National Wealth Fund ($3 billion is the issue and $75 million - the last payment of coupon). Kyiv offered Moscow the debt restricting on general conditions along with the commercial creditors. Russia refused to discuss this variant insisting on the sovereign nature of the debt. The debt should be paid until January 1, 2016. However, it December 2015, Ukraine imposed the moratorium for the service of this debt and did not pay until January 1, 2016.

Then, on February 17, 2016, Russias Finance Ministry filed the lawsuit to High Court of London on the recovery of debt in Eurobonds.

On May 26, London court satisfied the appeal of Ukraine on stop of the execution of the decision dated March 29, 2017 until the finish of consideration of appeal of Ukraine at the Appeal Court.

Related video:
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held the meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker as the presidential press service reported.

According to the message, the parties discussed the situation in Donbas during the meeting. Also, "the importance of the continuation of the sanctions policy against Russia until the complete de-occupation of the Ukrainian territory was noted."

Poroshenko thanked for the strengthening of the defense capacity of the Ukrainian Army and noted the importance of the continuation of the close cooperation in the sphere of security and defense.

The parties also discussed the issues of energy security, particularly in the context of Nord Stream 2.

Earlier Volker claimed that elections announced by the self-proclaimed so-called republics of Luhansk and Donetsk are illegal. According to Volker, the elections on the occupied Donbas territories breach the logic of the Minsk agreements. At the same time, the occupied territories do not have the basic security conditions.

Related video:
Puff, PuffPlummetPass

On Thursday, Sept. 6 a new chapter in Teslas PR epic began when Elon Musk, the companys maverick CEO, appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience. Host Rogan imbibed whiskey and smoked a spliff during the two-and-a-half-hour live webcast taping in California. Twenty minutes before the shows end, Musk partook of a single toke from Rogans tobacco-and-cannabis cigar. Media outlets ranging from Forbes to NBC News reported on American overreaction to the toke with headlines that cite a giant double-standard regarding cannabis use and overwrought, hypocritical responses to Musks legal cannabis usethat single on-air inhalation heard around the world.

While Teslas share price dropped nearly 18 points to $263.24 by a day after the show, Tesla stock continues to rebound one week later at $290.39. This media coverage-snatching appearance closely follows failed boasts of privatization and the resignations of new chief accounting officer Dave Morton after a month of work and Chief People Officer Gaby Toledano after one year with the company.

Warning Wandering Stoners

Beginning Oct. 17, recreational cannabis use will be legal in Canada. According to reporting by the Calgary Herald, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadians who toke to exercise caution when traveling across the border into the United States. Beyond simple possession charges, Canadas recreational cannabis users and workers and investors in the countrys nascent cannabis industry could face questions at the border that put them at risk for incurring a lifetime ban on American travel.

Legal and cultural clashes seem inevitable as Canada becomes the first major industrialized nation to legalize recreational cannabis use. As Politico reports, the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) treats cannabis as a banned substance at the border because of US federal laws; those same laws could define Canadian cannabis industry professionals as drug traffickers subject to being permanently barred from American soil. While 30 US states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that decriminalize and regulate medical or recreational cannabis, the strict, antiquated border prohibition remains. Todd Owen, executive assistant commissioner for CBPs Office of Field Operations, told Politico that CBP officials dont plan to interrogate every Canadian traveler about marijuana use but reasonable suspicion could lead them to bring up the topic.
Im ready for a trifecta tonight, Mindy Rosier, a public school teacher and member of the New York Progressive Action Network told Gothamist as she waited in line for the doors to open at Cafe Omar in Flatbush, Brooklyn. It was a cool Thursday night and by 8:45 a line of energized supporters had formed outside Cynthia Nixon, Zephyr Teachout, and Jumaane Williamss election night party, which was hosted by the progressive Working Families Party. The packed crowd in the bar was diverse and skewed young, and once inside everyone immediately agreed it was too hot in there.

In the end, all three candidates lost on Thursday. But many supporters at the beginning of the night were especially optimistic about attorney general candidate Teachout, who had been endorsed by The New York Times and the New York Daily News, making her the focus of debate-night attacks from the three other candidates.

The early indicator was the fear in the debate, Rosier observed. She held her own and I believe she will do that tonight.

Teachout, who ran on a campaign of rooting out corruption and who was the only candidate in the attorney general race to refuse to take corporate or LLC money, ended up coming in second in the Democratic primary. NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, who became the first black woman to win a major party statewide nomination, won handily with a strong 40 percent of the vote over Teachouts 31 percent. Sean Patrick Maloney came in third with 25 percent and Leecia Eve trailed with 3 percent.

At an ecstatic victory party at Milk River Restaurant in Brooklyn, James dedicated her victory to "every little girl who has been told they cant change the world... tonight you stand up and face the television and say Thats me!

10/ @TishJames victory speech says this is about standing up against Trump. Pledges to be independent, and says she wants to earn the respect of those who didnt support her.  Mara Silvers (@mara_silvers) September 14, 2018

Yet in the last month of the race it was Teachout, not James, who was often treated like the frontrunner by her opponents. You call yourself an outsider, but are you really an outsider or an insider who has never won a race?'' Eve asked pointedly of Teachout during a recent debate between the attorney general candidates.

Teachout first launched her political career in 2014 when she challenged Andrew Cuomo in the gubernatorial primary, garnering an impressive 34 percent of the votea clear signal that New Yorks progressive base was restless with Cuomos politics. (Nixon, with more money and name-recognition, did not fare any better, ending the race at the same 34 percent.) In 2016, Teachout ran for a House seat in the Hudson Valley and ended up losing to Republican John Faso.



Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, candidate for Lt. Governor Jumaane Williams and state attorney general candidate Zephyr Teachout greet the crowd together at the Working Families Party primary night party. (Jason DeCrow/AP/Shutterstock)

But what was clear at the election party Thursday night was that Teachouts political attraction has never been just about winning racesits been about the greater insurgent movement that many believe she helped move forward when she first stepped up to challenge Cuomo four years earlier. In her concession speech, Nixon herself noted that the progressive wave in New York didnt start in 2018it started in 2014 with Zephyrs fearless campaign for governor.

Its never about one candidate, its about a movement, Nomiki Konst, New York advisor to Our Revolution, a progressive political action organization that emerged out of Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign, told Gothamist. Zephyr set the stage for everybody. Cuomo controls the chessboard but Zephyr set the stage for the progressive movement in New York.

After Thursday, its clear that Cuomo is still very much in control. But many of the supporters I spoke to pointed to Teachouts crusade against money in politics as especially important for this moment in time.

It seems ridiculous in this day and age to be taking corporate PAC money, Seamus Kirst, 28, who grew up in Syracuse and now lives in Brooklyn, told Gothamist. Her anti-corruption work is really important to me.

Others, like Diane, a case worker from Crown Heights and Williamss cousin, were there primarily for Williams but also ended up voting for Teachout. Shes cool, Ive got no problems with her. Her thoughts about Cuomo? Oh, Ive got a LOT to say, Diane laughs.

By the time it was clear that James had clinched the nomination, the bar had run out of Red Stripe. Many were still clinging on to hope that Williams, who was neck-and-neck with Hochul, would still pull through. Yet the night was not all bad news for those gathered thereeach time the polls for one of the many challengers to the former Independent Democratic Conference [IDC] incumbents would flash on the television screens, the crowd would cheer. That local state senate seats were treated with the same emotional intensity as the bigger statewide races was a nod to the very movement that Teachout helped to incite, and a sign of the energized state of Trump-era progressives in general. Voter turnout in yesterdays primary more than doubled the turnout four years ago.



Cynthia Nixon delivers her concession speech at the Working Families Party primary night party. (Jason DeCrow/AP/Shutterstock)

Nixon gave the first concession speech to a packed crowd. When she finished, people dispersed, but when Teachout was introduced some ten minutes later, almost as many gathered again to listen. When she stepped onto the stage she had to wait as the crowd broke into a chant of Zephyr! Zephyr!

I wont lie to you, I wish Id won, Teachout laughed as she stood behind the podium, eight months pregnant. When she mentioned having just gotten off the phone to congratulate James, there were still some cheers in the crowd at the mention of Jamess name. As Teachout continued on, she hit upon all the issuescorruption, money in politics, inequality, mass incarceration, environmental reformthat were highlighted in her campaign. Teachout also called out the wins for challengers to IDC members, stating, Those weren't just victories around messaging, those were victories against New York City real estate trying to buy New York politics.

Four years and three months ago I announced that I was running for governor, Teachout said. So were just four years in. The revolution in New York state is just beginning.

James will face Republican candidate Keith Wofford, an attorney originally from Buffalo, in the general election November 6th.



Letitia James delivers a victory speech after winning the primary election for attorney general, in New York. (Kevin Hagen/AP/Shutterstock)

Clio Chang is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn.


"The anti-drug efforts are strong this year. We must break the records. It has been a good intelligence work," the high-ranking official expressed.

At a press conference, National Anti-Drug Agency (Dirandro) Head Hector Loayza addressed the last three successful operations carried out in the Inca country, especially in southern and eastern regions.

The first seizure took place on September 2 at a cocaine laboratory in Pichari district belonging to the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (VRAEM), where 296 kg of cocaine valued at 1.5 million in Europe were confiscated.

The third case was Media IV in Huarmey (Ancash region), where 431 kg of cocaine hydrochloride were confiscated. Just like in previous episodes, Europe was supposed to become the destination, and the drugs were going to leave the country through a northern Peruvian port.

In all these cases, the drugs had been produced in the VRAEM.

Moreover, the Dirandro Head informed over 19 ha of coca crops have been eradicated ; 8,836 tons of chemical inputs have been confiscated; and 71 laboratories , as well as 76 criminal organizations, have been dismantled in the 11,605 anti-drug operations that have taken place.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan gave a speech at the 39th Session of Human Rights Council.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the Minister particularly said,

Thank you very much,

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is my first appearance at the Human Rights Council in my current capacity and I would want to use this opportunity for sharing with you the recent fundamental democratic changes in Armenia and our vision for the future.

In April hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of cities and towns of Armenia to peacefully protest against the authorities and the entrenched negative practices undermining justice and the rule of law. They claimed direct and vocal participation in public affairs. Most conspicuously, public protests in Armenia have demonstrated the strength of our civil society. They have demonstrated the evolution of the public of Armenia to a considerably high level of political maturity and legal literacy.

The transformation in Armenia was of a strictly domestic nature and was motivated by distinctly domestic realities. It was carried out by the people, and for the people, having women and youth in particular at the forefront of the change. Armenia is proud of a vibrant and engaged generation fully in charge of their rights and freedoms.

Following the peaceful mass rallies and equally peaceful transition of power, a new Government was voted in. Over the past four months, empowered with the overwhelming support and mandate of the people, the Government embarked on the implementation of the reform agenda aimed at anchoring resilient democratic institutions, the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms, strong and independent judiciary, the rule of law, resolutely fighting corruption and promoting equal and fair conditions for all in economic and social life. These objectives take prominence in the Government programme.

Conducting genuinely free and fair elections are equally at the top of this Governments priorities. In about a weeks time Armenia will hold municipal elections for the capital city of Yerevan. The Government, the Parliament and all relevant institutions are preparing the necessary legal changes and institutional capacities for the conduct of nationwide parliamentary elections, which will consolidate the democratic transformation of Armenia and will accurately reflect the current political landscape. Implementation of all these reforms are not an easy job, there are challenges to face, of course. However, at the heart of the reforms is the resolute political will of the Government, reinforced by the strong mandate from the people. In all those priorities Armenia successfully and effectively cooperates with all its international partners.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Together with its agenda for democracy, the Government is also reinforcing its reform agenda for development. The wave of modern changes is embracing every walk of life. High technologies and start-ups, creative education and innovation define the nature and the direction of our development agenda, firmly embrace the national talent as the drivers of smart development.

Conducive environment for innovation, creative thinking and the use of technologies is amongst the strategic priorities of the Government. Often all the Government needs to do is just support and promote private initiatives and public-private partnerships. Just to share one single example, every year thousands of young people sign up for free state-of-art creative education and technology courses in technological centres across Armenia and learn the ways of channelling creation and innovation into wealth generation.

Mr. President,

The international community at all levels should continue to resolutely address the dangerous phenomena of the abuse of information technologies and the media for the dissemination of hatred and intolerance. History knows well about the dangerous consequences of unbridled hatred. One should be reminded that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Armenia and the Armenian people have been a consistent target for massive and systematic hate induced and xenophobic rhetoric emanating from Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani state propaganda is not merely a product of a targeted policy, but also a consequence of the weak democratic institutions, absence of free media and a poor record of human rights.

We observe a direct correlation between the intensity of bellicose rhetoric and aggressive militarism from Azerbaijan directed against the Armenian people. The crimes committed during the military aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh in April 2016 reinforce the validity of the exercise of the right to self-determination. This right is of existential value for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia reiterates its strong support to the universality of human rights and their applicability on an equal footing, without any discrimination and distinction in conformity with the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other fundamental instruments. Equally, the commitment to "leave no one behind" is at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We should recognise the existence of territories and peoples that are striving for the realization of their rights and, first of all, the right to self-determination. The acknowledgement of and the respect of the people's right to self-determination and other related rights are a serious test for the UN and its human rights protection system. Meanwhile, once again, I wish to reiterate the strong commitment of Armenia, of its new Government to the strictly peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, strictly within the internationally agreed format of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. Armenia reiterates the importance of establishing and promoting an environment conducive to peace. Armenia also underlines the critical priorities of status and security for the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

Mr. President,

Armenia has been actively involved in the initiatives launched within the UN and co-operated with many structures and subdivisions of the organization. Armenia is a signatory to numerous international treaties including to all fundamental instruments in the sphere of human rights. International treaties ratified or acceded by Armenia are an integral part of the legal system of the country and have prevalence over national laws.

Since May 2006, the Armenian Government has extended a standing invitation to special procedures of the UN human rights machinery. Soon we will receive the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly.

Armenia strongly supports the Universal Periodic Review process as an instrument for assessment of successes and challenges pertaining to human rights. As a good practice, we have been voluntarily submitting UPR mid-term reports.

Armenia has established an internal mechanism for reporting and coordinating activities in a follow up to the recommendations stemming from the UN human rights mechanisms. The Foreign Ministry has elaborated a consolidated database of all national commitments and has identified focal points from line ministries in charge of implementation and co-operation with specific monitoring mechanisms. This national mechanism, together with the National Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights, constitutes an integral part of Armenia's human rights protection system and is a solid platform for effective cooperation between the Government and the civil society.

Armenia continues the practice of preparing periodic reports for submission to different UN treaty bodies with the active participation of NGOs and broad public consultations. The latest public discussion on the draft report on the implementation of provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was organized at the beginning of August.

In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like stress that in a relatively short period of time the new Government of Armenia has managed to considerably advance the democratic reforms in a comprehensive and irreversible manner. The Government has an overwhelming popular support for upholding the ideas of the Armenian Velvet Revolution and is fully determined to carry out the ambitious reform agenda.

Thank you very much Mr. President.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov held a meeting on September 13 with the delegation led by Leonid Kalashnikov, head of the committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma of Russia.

MPs Gagik Melikyan and Hayk Babukhanyan were also in attendance, the press service of the parliament said.

Sharmazanov addressed the Armenian-Russian allied and strategic relations at the meeting. In this context he attached importance to the development of parliamentary partnership in all platforms and added that the Armenian parliament is making all possible efforts in this direction.

The effective work of delegations of both countries in international parliamentary platforms was also discussed.

In particular, the sides discussed issues related to the development of partnership within CSTO. Sharmazanov addressed regional security issues, stressing that The aspirations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are dangerous not only for the security of Armenia but also the entire region. These two states pose a real threat for the southern borders of the CSTO region.

The sides also discussed the upcoming October 29-30 CSTO PA Council and CSTO PA Plenary sessions which will take place in Yerevan.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he is convinced that the Armenian revolution wouldnt have a meaning if achieving an economic revolution will not be possible.

The Armenian PM was speaking in Paris at a meeting with the Mouvement des entreprises de France (MEDEF).

A non-violent, velvet, democratic revolution has taken place in Armenia. And I would like to say that not only is this a political revolution, but a revolution of values. But it is also very important to underline that this revolution will not have a meaning to a great extent if we wont be able to achieve economic revolution. And in this context, perhaps, now is the most important phase of our revolution, when we must ensure economic breakthrough in the Republic of Armenia, he said.

He said he agrees with opinions that very clear rules are required for economic activities. And, basically, we have announced these rules on numerous occasions, but I suppose that not everyone is believing in them yet due to economic traditions in Armenia. After being elected Prime Minister I summoned business circles and I made the following statement, that all businessmen, all business circles, all companies, since I took office, are free of any corruption obligations. And, essentially, we have two conditions and two interests in relations with economic activity operators and investors: the activities must be legal, in full compliance with the law, and we will support everyone in order for them to create as many jobs as possible, and certainly, pay taxes, Pashinyan said.

He stressed that the Armenian government has noted the signals voices by businesses that the Armenian tax code is too confusing and as a result now the government has commenced large scale amendments of the tax code.

But we also come across a problem which is related to the political system which existed previously. No company can operate cut off from the reality of the given country. And we note that numerous companies which have operated in Armenia were forced to operate within the rules and logic which had existed, particularly broad corruption and patronage. By the way, let me say that in the capacity of Prime Minister one of my first actions was to visit the Carrefour supermarket, because at the time I took office Carrefour was the only supermarket operating lawfully. And as a result of this solitude, this huge supermarket began a process of getting smaller. And now I can say that that process has stopped and the expansion process is guaranteed, because all supermarkets are operating within the law, and there simply cannot be any other option, he said.

He added that the government was forced to make certain clarifications with a number of companies of various origin  German, Russian, Italian, French etc. But the goal of our actions isnt to destroy anything, the goal is to make the cooperation between us and these companies more effective, more fair, and to protect their interests even more, including from abuse. When we have problems in any given field, we must understand what mistake the government had made, what mistake has the given partner made, because if there are problems it means that each of us has done something wrong, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Police Chief of Armenia Valeriy Osipyan says he has reported to the Prime Minister regarding the wiretapping incident within the defined period of time after being tasked by the latter.

[Me] and the police cannot carry out the PMs task delayed. Any task from the Prime Minister is done immediately, within the defined period of time, and is being reported, Osipyan told reporters. He refused to comment on what exactly was briefed to the PM.

I myself condemn the wiretapping, since only authorized services are entitled to carry it out as defined by law, he said, noting that the freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution.

Asked about any suspects who might have committed the wiretapping, the police chief said he cant give an answer yet.

Speaking about disarming the security details of oligarchs, he said that the process is continuing.

He said that police are constantly receiving intelligence reports which arent subject for public disclosure. Police arent getting pleasure from laying to the ground, holding against the wall or a vehicle or frisking anyone. This is a legal process due to the fact that these individuals are carrying firearms, and how should we know if these weapons are legal or not? We must check it, he said, emphasizing that an armed citizen is always considered to be a threat for the public and for the law enforcement.

Osipyan said that the standard operating procedure involves carrying out ballistic expertise of the weapons after validating the permit.

Earlier an audio recording was leaked online, which turned out to be a wiretapped phone talk between National Security Service director Arthur Vanetsyan and Special Investigative Service director Sasun Khachatryan. The two were heard discussing the March 1 investigation, including the need to hold into account former President Robert Kocharyan, CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov and former defense ministers Seyran Ohanyan and Michael Harutyunyan.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Police Chief of Armenia Valeriy Osipyan says he was unaware that former defense minister Michael Harutyunyan, currently wanted by Armenia, is a Russian citizen.

Police received the information from Russia, he said today.

Asked by a reporter whether Russias cancellation of the arrest warrant for Harutyunyan on its territory was a non-collegial approach from Russia, the police chief refused to answer, saying : Police is an apolitical structure, I wont answer this question.

Harutyunyan is wanted by Armenian law enforcement agencies under charges of breaching constitutional order during the deadly March 1 events.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has adopted the decision to triple the baby bonus payment for the birth of a second child. The baby bonus was 50,000 drams, and it was increased to 150,000 drams with this decision, minister of labor and social affairs Mane Tandilyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.

A baby bonus, not to be confused with child benefit, is a government payment to parents of a newborn baby to assist with the costs of childrearing.

We need to ensure birth rate growth, we must acknowledge this initiative to be of strategic importance and note that the birth of a second child is important for our state, and it is encouraged, she said.

After the bill passes parliament, the new law will be initiated from October 1, 2018.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of foreign affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is currently on a working visit to Geneva, Switzerland, had a meeting on September 13 with the Swiss-Armenian community, the foreign ministry said.

In his remarks the FM noted that Armenia has developed dynamic and interesting relations with Switzerland in the past years. Mnatsakanyan thanked the community for preserving their identity, and maintaining contact with their homeland.

You have all done the work in order for the values of our people, our history, our identity to be quite firm, he said.

The minister mentioned that being a member of the new government, he has assumed the responsibility and desire to share the political responsibility for todays Armenia. The fact that the current government has huge strong mandate given by the people, is inspiring, but also obliging. The priorities of our government are ensuring justice, rule of law, combating corruption, equal conditions in social-economic life, strengthening of human rights and democratic institutions. The government is also mobilizing forces to carry out the clear and predictable development plan, he said.

Armenia is the geographic part of the fatherland where we restored our sovereighnity, our statehood, our place in the international community, where we, as a state, can protect and develop our identity and our values, he added.

There is always work for us to do together, there are always plans to realize together, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Switzerlands new Ambassador to Armenia Stefano Lazzarotto has presented his credentials to President Armen Sarkissian today, the presidents office said.

President Sarkissian congratulated the ambassador on taking office and wished good luck.

Mentioning that Armenia and Switzerland have historically formed friendly relations, the president was pleased to note the existing level of cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian fields. At the same time he noted that a great potential exists for developing these relations. The president expressed certainty that the new ambassadors activities will contribute to enhancing the partnership agenda to a greater extent.

Ambassador Lazzarotto said that the relations between the countries are developing consistently and the 2011 opening of Switzerlands embassy in Armenia has greatly contributed to the expansion of constructive dialogue. He expressed readiness to make all efforts to maximally develop mutually beneficial cooperation in different fields.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, 14 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 14 september, USD exchange rate down by 0.17 drams to 485.09 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.78 drams to 567.46 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.08 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.32 drams to 636.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 214.93 drams to 18868.05 drams. Silver price up by 1.01 drams to 221.85 drams. Platinum price up by 338.80 drams to 12632.76 drams.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Tumo centers will open in Paris, Moscow, Beirut, Tirana and Berlin, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol KPashinyan announced at Paris City Hall. Pashinyan and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo issued statements on September 14.

According to the Armenian Premier, the revolution in Armenia and the opening of Tumo centers in a number of countries show the key content of new Armenia. We are a country that wants and is able to be an important and effective participant of the progress of the mankind and the civilization. We are a country that can contribute to the making peoples lives more free, tolerant and happy. We will walk in this direction, the Armenian PM emphasized.

In his speech Nikol Pashinyan recalled the days of the revolution at Yerevans French Square, and noted that the sculpture of Rodin raised there is a real piece of art for him. There was a symbol in that. Every time giving a speech at the French Square, next to Rodins sculpture, I recalled all the stories linked with all the revolutions of the world, Pashinyan said.

Recalling the French revolution and all the other revolutions I defined clearly the task for us  to lead a revolution that will rule out peoples suffering and we clearly defined our task. Our revolution was to be a revolution ruling out suffering, winners or losers, but a revolution of love and solidarity, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is in France on a working visit, met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. Following the ceremonial procedures, the leaders of the two countries continued the talks in the sidelines of a working dinner.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Armenian PM at the Elysee Palace and highlighted his visit to France, expressing confidence that it will give new impetus to the future development of the friendly relations between the 2 countries. The French President emphasized that his country is ready to continue the efforts aimed at expanding the close cooperation with Armenia in various spheres. Noting that in just a month he will pay an official visit to Armenia, Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that the Francophonie Summit will be held at a high level in Yerevan.

Thanking for the warm reception, Nikol Pashinyan noted that their 2nd meeting shows that the Armenian-French privileged relations are in safe hands and will continue to expand and deepen for the benefit of both countries. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that since the establishment of diplomatic relations the relations between Armenia and France have regularly deepened and expressed confidence that they will continue to develop in all the spheres  stable political dialogue, active inter-parliamentary relations, decentralized active interactions, economic cooperation, and implementation of projects in culture, education, science, healthcare and other spheres.

I am confident that our meeting will give new quality to our privileged relations that are based on centuries-old relations, Pashinyan said. The Armenian PM highlighted the holding of the Francophonie Summit in Armenia and added that its one of the most important events to be held in Armenia since independence. The Premier reaffirmed the complete commitment of the Armenian authorities to ensure the success of the summit and expressed confidence that it will foster the reputation of the organization. Nikol Pashinyan also highlighted the holding of the economic forum in the sidelines of the summit on October 10 aimed at fostering interactions and partnership between businessmen.

The sides exchanged views on Nagorno Karabakh issue and highlighted its settlement through exclusively peaceful means, in the sidelines of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs format. Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the efforts of the Co-chair countries, including France, aimed at the peaceful settlement of Artsakh issue and ensuring stability in the region. The PM emphasized that Armenia is committed to continue the negotiations for achieving a peaceful settlement.

Emmanuel Macron and Nikol Pashinyan agreed to discuss the Armenian-French agenda in detail during the state visit of the French President to Armenia.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev on the occasion of birthday, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Honorable Dmitry Anatolyevich,

Please accept my hearty congratulations on the occasion of Your birthday. I sincerely wish you success in your activities for the benefit of fraternal Russia. Your rich experience in state and public activities, Your immeasurable contribution to the development of Armenian-Russian allied partnership enjoy deep respect in Armenia. For centuries our peoples have been linked with firm friendly relations and have the tradition of mutual assistance that year by year become firmer and multiply.

I highly value the personal relations and mutual understanding between us that give an opportunity to discuss the issues of multidimensional cooperation between our countries in a constructive cooperation. I hope we will continue the joint constructive work aimed at the strengthening of the entire complex of Armenian-Russian mutually beneficial relations.

Honorable Dmitry Anatolyevich, I wish You and your relatives good health, welfare and new successes in all your initiatives, reads the congratulatory message.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
While ordinary taxpayers pay the price for tax evasion, millionaires have been given a free pass, in what a scathing new report is calling the greatest tax scandal in Australias history.

The ATO Rules for the Rich report, by Australias peak body for independent contractors, Self Employed Australia, accuses the Australian Tax Office (ATO) of double standard policies when it comes to penalising undeclared income.

Self Employed Australia said the ATOs 2014 tax program, Project Do It, gave massive tax advantages to Australias richest through an amnesty if they declared previously undisclosed offshore income and assets, costing Australians up to $4.3 billion in missed revenue.

Also read: Working from home? Heres what you can ACTUALLY claim back

Executive director of Self Employed Australia, Ken Phillips accused the ATO of stepping in to protect Australias wealthiest from taxes, after they had hidden $6.5 billion in secret offshore accounts.

The project promised those with undeclared overseas income that if they came forward, it would only pursue the last four years of tax and impose 10 per cent tax penalties, with about 4.5 per cent interest on the penalties.

Those making disclosures were also reassured they would not be referred for criminal investigation.

By comparison, in cases where self-employed, small business people have allegedly committed fraud by not declaring income, the ATO goes back as many years as it wants, imposes up to 90 per cent penalties, applies around 9 per cent interest, Self Employed Australia said.

While the ATO said Project Do It led to $260 million collected in tax, Self Employed Australia argued that figure would have been a lot higher if the ATO had applied the same rules it did to every other Australian.

Also read: ANZ faces ASIC proceedings over placement

Phillips said the amnesty, applied if high-net worth individuals declared their offshore accounts, led to tax losses of around $2 billion, but potentially as high as $4.3 billion.

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ATO responds

ATO deputy commissioner Will Day told Yahoo Finance the ATO takes tax fraud seriously, noting ATO action this year which led to two men receiving jail sentences of longer than 10 years each for their parts in a complex tax evasion case.

He also emphasised that Project Do It was not an amnesty.

Rather it was a campaign that informed taxpayers with undisclosed income, capital gains and over claimed deductions to re-engage with the Australian tax system by making a voluntary disclosure, he explained.

Also read: Aussies strike back at big business

Given increased international cooperation, increased information exchange and moves for greater global transparency, this was a last chance for eligible taxpayers to come forward to make a disclosure.

It did not target high wealth individuals, and the vast majority of people who made disclosures were not in this category.

He said the program is also likely to continue to bring in money as those taxpayers engage with the Australian tax system.

Aussie taxpayers have fewer rights than murderers

However, the Australian Taxpayers Alliance director of policy, Satya Marar, disagreed, describing the project as hypocritical and perverse.

He pointed to the ATOs ability to garnishee, or claim, bank accounts and property without a warrant, as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier this year.

Also read: Aussies misled by CommInsure ads

Innocent taxpayers and small businesses are left with fewer rights than murderers, as the ATO is able to garnishee bank accounts and confiscate property without a warrant  all on the basis of a debt that it bears no legal burden of proving first, Marar said.

Innocent businesses are eviscerated due to basic errors. Those who are not extorted into paying by the threat of a legal battle they cannot afford are dragged through the court system for years, only to receive paltry, inadequate compensation when the ATO admits its mistakes.
China is boosting its aircraft carrier power, but this fighter jet may be holding it back

China's state media has been cheering the country's carrier-based fighters - the Shenyang J-15 Flying Sharks, but the fighter may be a hindrance to China's broader carrier ambitions.

The aircraft is too big, too heavy, and too unreliable for carrier operations. These issues, together with deficiencies in China's carrier capabilities, could prove difficult to overcome.

China also appears to be lacking a sufficient number of carrier-based fighters. There are rumours that the country intends to replace the fourth-generation fighters with a more suitable alternative.

China is touting its improved aircraft carrier capabilities, but one of the biggest obstacles to having the world's second-most powerful carrier fleet remains its troubled carrier-based fighter - the J-15 Flying Shark.

Striving to build a blue-water navy suitable for global operations, China expects to have four operational carrier battle groups within the next decade. China already has one active carrier, another undergoing sea trials, and another one in development. Experts speculate that while the first two appear to be limited in their combat capabilities, the third carrier could be a "huge step forward."

In several state media publications, China cheered its carrier-based fighter jet force for achieving "breakthroughs" since its establishment a little over five years ago. Chinese media said Navy pilots have qualified to take off and land the J-15 fighter on the Liaoning, China's first and only active aircraft carrier. "An elite team among the pilots also has carried out night landings, widely considered the riskiest carrier-based action, and have become capable of performing round-the-clock, all-weather operations," the China Daily reported Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/ChinaDailyUSA/status/1039876446796304384?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

The Global Times ran a video Thursday of Chinese J-15s conducting night operations from the deck of the Liaoning carrier.

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https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1040132974887366656?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

The J-15 is far from the most suitable aircraft for carrier operations. Not only is it too big and too heavy, with an unarmed take-off weight of 17.5 tons as compared to the US F/A-18 Super Hornet's 14.6 tons, but it can be rather unreliable. Problems with the aircraft, especially the flight control systems, are believed to be behind several fatal training accidents, the Asia Times reported.

The weight issues really come into play on a ship like the Liaoning, which uses a ski jump-assisted short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) launch system. This system - as opposed to steam or electromagnetic catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) launch systems used on US carriers - strain the aircraft and tend to force reductions in operational range, payload size, and sortie frequency.

The J-15, a reverse engineered version of a Soviet-era prototype, is rumoured to be getting a new engine, which could boost its capabilities, but a new carrier-based fighter will eventually be necessary. China is reportedly considering replacing the fourth-generation fighter jets with a lighter and more capable aircraft. Nonetheless, Chinese military experts expect the J-15 to "remain the backbone of China's carrier battle groups in the future," according to the South China Morning Post.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the J-15 is the lack of them. As production and deployment rates are low, the Chinese People's Liberation Army reportedly has only 30-40 of these fighters. The Liaoning needs 24 to form a full combat-ready fighter squadron, and the soon-to-be-commissioned second carrier will need roughly the same amount to stand up a fighter wing.

"As a big power, China needs more carrier-based warplanes to support its naval ambitions, especially with its first home-grown aircraft carrier entering the final phase of sea trials and likely to go into service next year," Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told SCMP.

As China works to build up its naval fleet and expand its capabilities, especially those of its carriers, China will need to overcome challenges, such as number of trained pilots, power and propulsion issues, launch system problems, and a limited knowledge of carrier operations.
As the growing tide of anger towards Australias misbehaving banking sector crystallises into shareholder unrest and even legal action, big business should buckle down  they aint seen nothing yet.

Several high profile class actions announced this week on behalf of ripped off customers is a reflection of widespread corporate wrongdoing, class action spokesman at law firm, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Cameron Scott told Yahoo Finance.

Also read: GET YOUR SUPER BACK: Millions of Aussies to get thousands back

And its only the beginning. Since the start of the week, law firm Slater and Gordon has expressed an interest in pursuing the Commonwealth Bank and AMP over superannuation rip-offs, while Maurice Blackburn is set to launch a shareholder class action against Woolworths over its shock 2015 profit downgrade.

This morning, Maurice Blackburn principle, Josh Mennen also told the Australian Broadcasting Commission that Westpac could also be exposed to potential class actions over flawed lending policies.

It is early days in relation to any class action, but I dont think anyone who has been following this could seriously rule out the possibility of a class action being brought, Mennen said.

To Scott, the touted class actions highlight the importance of this legal remedy.

Also read: Aussies misled by CommInsure ads

Where there is mass wrongdoing, such as corporate misconduct that affects the financial wellbeing of thousands of Australians, there must be a check and balance on that conduct, and a remedy available to those affected. Class actions help people pursue that in circumstances where they otherwise couldnt, he said.

Given that less than half of one per cent of ASX listed companies are subjected to a shareholder class action in any given year, evidence would suggest the focus really needs to be on addressing the wrongdoing, rather than the legal actions that follow the event.

Continuing, he said interest in class actions is part of the fallout from the Royal Commission into the financial services and banking sector.

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Also read: How Westpac Banking Corps (ASX:WBC) small $35m fine can threaten its dividends

As of July this year, there were five potential class actions against AMP over its wealth management business.

If there is more interest in events now as a result of the Royal Commission, it simply indicates that more wrongdoing is being exposed and similarly to the wrongdoing that was highlighted during the global financial crisis, there is a community-wide benefit in it being flushed out, Scott said.

According to a 2017 report by Allens Law Firm, of the 50 shareholder class actions commenced since 1999, only two have actually been the subject of a full trial, with none proceeding to a final judgment.

It also noted a marked increase in the number of shareholder class actions commenced since 2013, jumping from around three a year to between five and seven, and predicted a continued increase.
Over 100 US Marines sent a "strong message" to Russia with a live-fire exercise in Syria after the Russians threatened to conduct strikes near a key US-led coalition base. US Central Command has released several combat photos of that message to a rival power.

Russia warned the US twice last week that Russian, Syrian, and pro-regime forces planned to conduct operations and launch strikes in the deconfliction zone around the At Tanf garrison, accusing the US and its coalition partners of failing to adequately combat terrorists in the area. The US military, together with its regional partners, responded by holding a live-fire exercise reportedly involving air assets, artillery, and other heavy weaponry meant to send the clear message that it is more than capable of taking on any and all threats.

"The US does not require any assistance in our efforts to destroy ISIS in the At Tanf deconfliction zone and we advised the Russians to remain clear," CENTCOM spokesman Lt. Col. Earl Brown told Business Insider, adding, "Coalition partners are in the At Tanf deconfliction zone for the fight to destroy ISIS. Any claim that the US is harboring or assisting ISIS is grossly inaccurate."

The US military informed the Russians that it is not looking for a fight, but it is more than ready should anyone come looking for one.

"The United States does not seek to fight the Russians, the government of Syria or any groups that may be providing support to Syria in the Syrian civil war," Brown previously told BI in an emailed statement.

"However," he added, "the United States will not hesitate to use necessary and proportionate force to defend US, coalition or partner forces, as we have clearly demonstrated in past instances."

The At Tanf garrison in Syria serves as a base for US operations against the Islamic State, as well as an obstacle for broader Russian, Syrian, and Iranian interests in the region.

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Russia's interest in the deconfliction zone has nothing to do with combating terrorism in the region, a US defence official told BI. The At Tanf deconfliction zone sits in the middle of a major connection between Tehran and Damascus.

Moscow remains critical of the US military presence in Syria. Nonetheless, Russia agreed to a 55-kilometer deconfliction zone around the At Tanf garrison, and the US military continues to expect the Russians to continue to abide by this agreement.

The US military has previously engaged foreign forces that attempted to enter the deconfliction zone. For instance, last summer, coalition troops "destroyed" pro-regime forces that "advanced inside the well-established deconfliction zone," CENTCOM said in a statement.

The exercise came as Russia gathered its naval forces in the Mediterranean to assist Syrian and pro-regime troops as they began a major assault on Idlib, the last stronghold of the Syrian rebels.

The United Nations has stressed that a full-scale assault on Idlib would result in a humanitarian catastrophe. Tens of thousands of people have already begun fleeing the area.

The US has warned the Syrian regime led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that any use of chemical weapons will be met with a strong, swift response. "The president expects us to have military options in the event that chemical weapons are used,' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said over the weekend, adding, "We have provided updates to him on the development of those military options."

US strikes on Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons run contrary to Russian interests and have resulted in criticism from Moscow.

Tensions between the US and Russia, however, extend beyond the Syrian battlegrounds

Russia is currently holding major war games with China in the eastern part of the country, and these exercises are expected to be held on a "regular basis" going forward. The Pentagon is watching closely as the two US rivals strive to strengthen military ties.

During the drills, Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers escorted by Su-35 Flanker fighter jets were intercepted by F-22 stealth fighters near Alaska. It was the second time this month that American military aircraft have intercepted Russian bombers near the state.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, faced accusations of hypocrisy on Friday after it emerged the Church of England holds shares in online retail giant Amazon and employs people on zero-hours contracts. In a strongly-worded speech at the Trades Union Congress this week, Welby had criticised Amazon for paying "almost nothing" in taxes and accused firms like Amazon of "leeching off the public" because of its employees' reliance on social benefits. Welby also said that zero-hours contracts, which are associated with precarious employment as they do not provide sick or holiday pay or maternity cover, were "the reincarnation of an ancient evil". But following press reports, Church of England officials were forced to admit that Amazon was one of the 20 biggest investments worldwide for the church's 8.3 billion (9.3 billion euros, $10.9 billion) investment fund. It also emerged that at least two Church of England cathedrals are currently advertising jobs on zero-hours contracts. In a letter to The Times, the Reverend Ray Anglesea, a United Reformed Church minister who worked on a zero-hours contract in a cathedral bookshop, said Welby "might have done well to have put his own house in order before addressing the conference". Politicians joined in the criticism of Welby's speech. "I think we should all practise what we preach," Conservative MP George Freeman told BBC radio. The Church of England said in a statement: "As a responsible employer, the Church of England is now reviewing its working practices". The Church said of its investments that it condemned aggressive tax avoidance, adding: "We take the view that it is most effective to be in the room with these companies seeking change as a shareholder". "We continue to work with other shareholders to tackle this issue via engagement with companies and their managers," it said. Following the archbishop's speech, Amazon said it paid "all taxes required in the UK and every country where we operate". Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby earlier denounced zero-hours contracts as "the reincarnation of an ancient evil"
While first home buyers struggle to clamber onto the property ladder in our biggest cities due to extortionate market prices, there are parts of Australia that might interest those pushed to their financial limits.

For those willing to give up the glitz and glamour of state capitals such as Sydney and Melbourne, where the average house price is $850,000 and $650,000 respectively, heading inland can save prospective buyers over half a million dollars.

While the cheapest properties at the bottom of the market leave a lot to be desired, experts suggest they will make for a sound investment either short or long term.

And one of the cheapest areas of the lot appears to be NSWs isolated town of Broken Hill, 1000km west of Sydney and 450km northeast of Adelaide.

This two-bedroom home in the towns north is on the market for $45,000. Source: Domain

Multiple properties have sold for $40,000 and has granted those living in larger cities fool-proof access onto the market, news.com.au reports.

Its a house so cheap it sells itself. You can have smashed avo and buy a house as well. Its crazy isnt it? a local real estate agent told the publication about one two-bedroom property listed recently for $45,000.

One of the main reasons property prices are so low is the cheap cost of land in the area. However there are more obvious factors which drive the prices down and keeps the average house price around the $100,000 mark.

Limited transport, a lack of major retail chains and its sheer remoteness  Broken Hill is a town surrounded by desert  all play their factor in keeping the market cheap.

The remote town of Broken Hill in northwest NSW has one of the cheapest property markets in Australia. Source: Getty

Broken Hill market a profitable investment for all, agent says

For those unwilling to tackle one of the many homes around the $50,000 mark due to their outdated interiors and minimal amenities, the towns premium properties are substantially less than the cheapest in the big cities.

One quaint property listed on Domain boasts four bedrooms, extensive well kept grounds and a pool for just $420,000.

Even the premium properties in the area, such as this four-bedroom home. are affordable in comparison to Sydneys extortionate market. Source: Domain

But rural living isnt for everyone and local real estate agent Cliff Wren, of Broken Hill Real Estate, told news.com.au becoming a landlord in the area was just as profitable.

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If you were to purchase a property here, your mortgage repayments would be less than your rent  its the Australian dream, he said.

He says the rental market is strong due to the mining industry and the workers it constantly brings to the area.

We have clients whove bought two or three little houses, rented them out for five or six years, paid it off and then sold them and thats their deposit for a house in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, he added.

While Broken Hill may unofficially the cheapest town for property across the nation, one thrifty mother went one step further last year, building her own home from scratch for just $13,000.
Austria's far-right Interior Minister Herbert Kickl used a meeting of his EU counterparts in Vienna Friday to suggest processing migrants on board rescue ships in the Mediterranean, rather than on land. During a press conference with his far-right Italian counterpart Matteo Salvini, Kickl said his suggestion would be for "those arriving on a boat in the territorial waters of an EU state". While not providing any more detail, Kickl said he envisaged a "quick way to clarify which migrants are entitled to claim asylum"; they would then be brought to the EU while the others would be returned to "safe ports" in third countries. Kickl said this would help solve what he called the "problem of repatriation". "Once people have set foot on the continent, you can only remove them with great difficulty and much expense," he said. He added that the aim of the EU's asylum policy should be to make it "impossible to claim asylum except from outside the EU, and that claims be decided outside the EU". The Austrian branch of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemned Kickl's remarks. "This proposal is simply another attempt to distract attention from the real issue, namely the inability of Europe and of Austria's EU presidency to find a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean and Libya," MSF said in a statement. The group urged leaders to "put the protection of human life at the centre of their efforts". Salvini said he supported the proposal of his Austrian colleague, with whom he has formed a controversial anti-immigration "axis" along with their German counterpart Horst Seehofer. Kickl and Salvini both want to put pressure on other EU states to consider more "radical" ideas to reduce the number of migrants reaching Europe. This week's meeting in Vienna brought together ministers and officials from the EU as well as African states to discuss cooperation on migration policy. - 'Impossible' idea - Kickl also criticised the EU's migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos for his reticence towards the idea of "disembarkation platforms" for migrants in unspecified third countries, which was endorsed by EU leaders at a summit in June. Avramopoulos was also at the meeting and repeated his scepticism of the idea, calling it "impossible" because of the lack of a host country. "This idea is only two months old and already the Commissioner is throwing in the towel," Kickl said, branding Avramopoulos's statements a "bad signal" that could "free African states from their obligation" to cooperate. Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco -- who sent representatives to the Vienna meeting -- have all been approached about hosting such centres but all have refused. Kickl said that on migration issues, "one would think that we have different interests but the problems are shared" between Africa and Europe. Avramopoulos also underlined the need for more EU-African cooperation. Despite the considerable fall in the numbers of migrants arriving in Europe since the crisis of 2015, the issue of immigration continues to be one of the most contentious within the EU and is expected to be high on the agenda when EU leaders meet for an informal summit in the Austrian city of Salzburg on Wednesday and Thursday next week. Austria told its EU peers migrants should be processed on board rescue ships in the Mediterranean, rather than on land.
Canada's high court on Friday ruled that Hollywood studios and other copyright holders must pay internet service providers to chase down Canadians suspected of illegally downloading movies or other online content. The decision will make slightly more difficult efforts to fight infringements under Canada's copyright law. The amount that internet service providers should be reimbursed to dig up information on subscribers accused of infringing on copyrights, however, must still be determined at a future hearing. "This is an important win for our customers and millions of internet subscribers facing open season on their personal information," David Watt, senior vice president of Canadian internet service provider Rogers, said in a statement. The case was triggered by a group of film producers who got together to fight illegal sharing of their films. Led by Voltage Pictures, the production company behind "The Hurt Locker" and "Dallas Buyers Club," they sought to know the identity of a Rogers customer so that they could sue that person. Eventually they planned to sue about 55,000 more Rogers customers. Rogers collected the information, but asked the producers to pay a fee of Can$100 (US$77) for it. A court order is also required for such disclosures of personal information. In court, Voltage argued that charging for the information would make it cost-prohibitive to track down tens of thousands of alleged law breakers. Rogers says it receives more than two million requests from rights holders per year to send notices to customers alleging breaches in an effort to discourage ongoing infringement. Taking the additional step to identify those customers to rights holders risked multiplying its administrative costs, which were above and beyond the requirements of the act, it argued. The Supreme Court in its ruling said Rogers is entitled to "reasonable costs" for complying with so-called Norwich orders, and sent the matter to a lower court to determine the amount. Hollywood studios must pay internet service providers to chase down Canadians who illegally download movies or other online content, Canada's Supreme Court ruled
Dutch intelligence services arrested two alleged Russian spies on suspicion of planning to hack a Swiss laboratory investigating the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal, reports and officials said Friday. The two agents, believed to be working for Russia's GRU military intelligence service, targeted the Spiez laboratory near Bern, Dutch-based NRC newspaper and Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger said. They were arrested earlier this year and then expelled by the Netherlands, they said. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the reports, saying he could not believe the arrests would have not have been picked up at the time by the media. The two were detained "early this year" by Dutch military intelligence (MIVD) working together with several other countries, and then expelled from the Netherlands, the newspapers reported. "The duo, according to sources within the investigation, carried equipment which they wanted to use to break into the computer network" of the Spiez laboratory. At the time, Spiez was analysing data related to poison gas attacks in Syria, as well as the March 4 attack using the nerve agent Novichok on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, they reported. The laboratory does analytical work for the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the global chemical arms watchdog. Exact details of the alleged agents' arrest are unknown. But on March 26, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that his cabinet had decided to expel "two Russian intelligence workers from the Russian embassy" as a result of the Skripal attack, without giving further details. Swiss intelligence officials Friday confirmed they were aware of the incident. - 'In the crosshairs' - "The case of the Russian spies discovered in The Hague and then expelled from The Hague is known to Swiss authorities," Isabelle Graber, spokeswoman for the Swiss intelligence services (SRC), told AFP. The Swiss spy agency "actively participated in this operation in collaboration with its Dutch and British partners in prevention of illegal actions against critical Swiss infrastructure," she said. The Spiez laboratory confirmed it had been targeted by hackers earlier this year, but had no comment on the specific claims about the Russians arrested by the Netherlands. "We had indications in the past few months that we were in the crosshairs of some hacking attempts and took precautions and weren't compromised," Andreas Bucher, a spokesman for the Spiez lab, told AFP. Bucher cited a case in June where hackers took documents from the lab's website and "distributed a very malicious malware virus" to affiliated agencies. The same malware was used to attack the Winter Olympics in South Korea, he added. Dutch intelligence services declined to comment when contacted by AFP, saying "we don't give information about operations". Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service information head Sergei Ivanov also told the RIA Novosti state news agency that "the SVR does not comment on this information". However, in April Lavrov accused the OPCW of "manipulating" the results of the Skripal probe by omitting findings from the Spiez laboratory. According to the results from Spiez, the samples sent by the OPCW contained a nerve agent called "BZ" which was manufactured by the West, Lavrov said, citing "confidential information". Commenting on the latest reports, Lavrov said "I cannot believe that such an event involving three European countries escaped the attention of the media," seemingly inferring that it did not happen. Two men who were accused by Britain of being GRU agents involved in the murder attempt on Skripal insisted in an interview that they were merely tourists who had come to visit Salisbury cathedral. But the two men in the interview, named by British security services as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, "were not the two agents intercepted" by the Netherlands, the papers said. burs-jhe/dk/klm The Spiez Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute for NBC-Protection (nuclear, biological, chemical) is seen on September 14, 2018 in Spiez, 40km from Swiss capital Bern. Swiss newspapers reported on September 14, 2018 that two Russian agents suspected of trying to spy the Spiez Laboratory were arrested in the Netherlands and expelled early this year.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday Berlin was boosting military cyber capabilities to respond to Russian hybrid warfare that is targeting its troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank. "Here you are also confronted with a situation that represents another part of the Russian military doctrine: the idea of hybrid warfare," she told German troops stationed in Lithuania as part of a NATO force deployed to deter Russia. NATO allies have accused Russia of using "hybrid warfare" techniques, including subversion, propaganda and cyber warfare, to undermine the West without triggering a full NATO military response. Russia has repeatedly denied that it stages such attacks and has accused the US-led alliance of provoking an arms race. "Hybrid warfare is not something that we are very used to. You clearly experience this here in very specific ways," Merkel added, without elaborating. "It is not for nothing that we built in Germany a special cyber unit within the German military in order to build capabilities in this area," she told troops at their base in Rukla, northwest of the capital Vilnius. Last year, Germany deployed over 500 troops in Lithuania as part of a NATO mission to reassure eastern allies and deter Russia. Soon after their arrival, German troops were subjected to false rape accusations while media reports said Moscow also targeted NATO soldiers' smartphones. Fears that Russia could attempt to attack NATO's ex-communist states surged after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, a move that sent East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. Besides Lithuania, 1,000-strong NATO battalions were also deployed in fellow Baltic states Latvia and Estonia and neighbouring Poland. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin was boosting military cyber capabilities to respond to Russian hybrid warfare that is targetting its troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank.
Dadarao Bilhore smoothes the road surface, rests his shovel, looks to the sky and prays for his son, one of thousands of Indians killed every year in accidents caused by potholes. Prakash Bilhore, a promising student, was just 16 when he died in July 2015 in Mumbai, India's hectic financial and Bollywood capital of 20 million people. To help deal with his grief, Prakash's devastated father Dadarao decided he would do something about Mumbai's roads, which like much of India's, are notoriously shoddy. Using sand and gravel collected from building sites, Bilhore has filled in almost 600 potholes across India's financial capital in the past three years. The 48-year-old vegetable vendor does it to pay tribute to his beloved son and in the hope that it will save lives. "Prakash's sudden death left a huge void in our lives. I do this work to remember and honour him. "I also don't want anyone else to lose a loved one like we have," Bilhore tells AFP at the modest apartment he shares with his wife, daughter and extended family. Prakash Bilhore was travelling pillion when the motorbike he was on with his cousin hit a deep pothole, sending them both flying through the air. Prakash, who wasn't wearing a helmet, suffered fatal brain damage. His cousin, who was wearing a helmet, walked away with minor injuries. The tragic accident occurred during Mumbai's summer monsoon when heavy rains are blamed for causing crater-like holes on the teeming coastal city's roads. Potholes are so common that a campaign is under way to have Mumbai featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the city with the most potholes. Navin Lade, a resident, claims to have recorded more than 27,000 holes on the website , although local officials dispute his findings. - Ten deaths a day - Government statistics show that potholes were responsible for the deaths of 3,597 people across India last year, an average of 10 a day. Citizens blame government apathy, accusing local authorities of failing to maintain roads properly. Activists say contractors hired to repave roads do a bad job on purpose so the work will need to be done again the following year. "The government needs to take responsibility and create better infrastructure," urges Bilhore. He says he has repaired 585 potholes, many of them alone; others with the help of volunteers who are inspired by his story. Bilhore has been featured in countless Indian newspaper articles and received several awards, earning him the nickname "pothole dada", an affectionate term in India for a respected male. "Recognition of our work has given me strength to deal with the pain and wherever I go I feel Prakash is standing with me" says Bilhore. "As long as I am alive and can walk I will get rid of all of these potholes." Indian businessman Dadarao Bilhore fixes a hole in the road in Mumbai -- something he has done at almost 600 sites as part of a commitment he made after his son was killed in an accident caused by a pothole Dadarao Bilhore's son Prakash was travelling pillion when the motorbike he was on hit a deep pothole, sending him flying through the air. Prakash, who wasn't wearing a helmet, suffered fatal brain damage
An abrasive intervention from Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini at an EU meeting on Friday resulted in an undiplomatic outburst from Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn. In a video shared on his Facebook account, Salvini takes issue with an idea he said was expressed by Asselborn, namely that Europe needed immigration because of its ageing population. "I have a totally different view. I am in government, paid by my fellow citizens, in order to encourage our own young people to have children... and not to uproot the best of Africa's young people," Salvini is seen telling the meeting of EU interior ministers in Vienna, which was closed to the press. "In Italy we feel it's necessary to help our children make more children. And not to have new slaves to replace the children we're no longer having," he went on. In the foreground of the video, Asselborn, seated two places down from Salvini, exclaims: "That's going too far!" Unfazed, the Italian interior minister continued: "If you in Luxembourg need more immigration, I prefer to keep Italy for Italians and that we start having children again." Asselborn, visibly agitated, interrupted Salvini at this point. "In Luxembourg, sir, we have dozens of thousands of Italians! They came as migrants, they worked in Luxembourg so you in Italy would have money for your children," he said, adding "merde alors (goddammit)!". "Someone with good manners would have let me finish talking," said Salvini, who continued his contribution by attacking people smugglers. He later shared the episode in a gleeful Facebook post, noting that Asselborn "hadn't taken it well". Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn (R) and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini (L) are seen at an informal EU meeting in Innsbruck on Wednesday
Japan's determined bid to return to commercial whale hunting was rejected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Friday in a tense vote that left the 72-year old organization at a crossroads. Japan's vice-minister for fisheries Masaaki Taniai said he "regretted" the vote's outcome, and threatened Tokyo's withdrawal from the 89-member body if progress could not be made towards a return to commercial whaling. "If scientific evidence and diversity is not respected, if commercial whaling is completely denied... Japan will be pressed to undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC," he said. Japan's IWC commissioner Joji Morishita declined to comment when asked if this would be Japan's last appearance at the IWC, an organization which he has chaired for the past two years. His term ended Friday. Minutes after the meeting he told AFP that differences with anti-whaling nations were "very clear" and Japan would now plan it's "next steps". Anti-whaling nations led by Australia, the European Union and the United States, defeated Japan's "Way Forward" proposal in a 41 to 27 vote. Japan had sought consensus for its plan but had been forced to push the proposal to a vote "to demonstrate the resounding voices of support" for a return to sustainable whaling for profit, said Taniai. Pacific and Caribbean island nations as well as Nicaragua and several African countries, including Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania, voted with Japan, as did Asian nations Laos and Cambodia. Korea abstained. - 'Sharp split' - The Russian Federation, which like several states allows IWC-monitored aboriginal subsistence whaling, said it abstained because it did not want to exacerbate an already "deep split within the commission". The body's identity crisis was clear in a week of often robust exchanges between pro- and anti-whaling nations. Morishita told AFP a decision lay ahead over whether whaling could be managed in the future by "a different organization or a combination of different organizations?" The large Japanese delegation here would "assess the result of this meeting very carefully back in Japan," said Morishita. The IWC was set up in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population. It introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 after some species had been fished to near extinction. Japan insists whale stocks have sufficiently recovered to allow commercial hunting to resume. Tokyo currently observes the moratorium but exploits a loophole to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes" as well as to sell the meat. Norway and Iceland ignore the moratorium and are key supporters of Japan's bid to resume commercial whaling. A Japanese withdrawal would have far-reaching consequences for the organization, given support from a growing number of developing states in the IWC. They say the IWC's mandate is both to conserve and manage -- meaning to sustainably hunt -- recovering whale stocks, but that the emphasis within the organization has leant too far towards conservation, leaving pro-whaling nations without a voice. To add insult to injury from Japan's point of view, the IWC adopted Brazil's "Florianopolis Declaration" which envisages whale protection in perpetuity. However much that agreement is non-binding, anti-whaling states championed it as an important indicator of the IWC's future direction. Taniai said the result of the vote on the Japanese proposal was a "denial of the possibility for governments with different views to coexist with mutual understanding and respect within the IWC." Australia's commissioner Nick Gales rejected "the narrative of underlying dysfunction and intolerance" suggested by Japan. He urged Tokyo to remain in the organization "to continue to argue for its view and work constructively with all members." - Way Forward or Way Out - Japan's "Way Forward" included the establishment of a "Sustainable Whaling Committee" within the IWC, and a conference to amend the body's voting rules, changing them from requiring a two-thirds majority to a simple majority. Anti-whaling NGOs cheered the result, but it seems clear from the week-long meeting in the surfing resort of Florianopolis that Japan's impatience with its fellow members is growing. Kitty Block, head of the animal charity Humane Society International, said "the IWC's moral compass" had led it to reject Japan's proposal. "It's clear from exchanges this week that those countries here fighting for the protection of whales are not prepared to have the IWC's progressive conservation agenda held hostage to Japan's unreasonable whaling demands." Glenn Inwood, of Opes Oceani, a company that analyzes developments in the use of ocean resources, says there is no longer much of an economic or political case for Japan remaining in the body. "Japan invests tens of millions of dollars each year into its whaling activities but gains very little from the IWC despite being its biggest benefactor," said Inwood, a former spokesman for the Japanese delegation. In this file photo taken on April 25, 2014 crew members of a whaling ship check a whaling gun or harpoon before departure at Ayukawa port in Ishinomaki City A protected minke whale seen onboard the Nisshin Maru at sea in Antarctic waters in January 2017; Tokyo currently observes the moratorium on whaling but exploits a loophole to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes" Map locating the main whaling nations and different species of whales caught around the world in 2017.


A man has been charged after pretending to have Down Syndrome so that carers would wash him.

The 30-year-old man from Arizona, US, is facing felony fraud and sex abuse charges after he pretended to have a genetic condition and paid caregivers to change his diaper and help him bathe.

Paul Anthony Menchaca approached his alleged victims on CareLinx.com, police told Phoenix TV station KSAZ.

The website is dedicated to connecting families and caregivers and aims to manage administrative tasks such as scheduling, time tracking, care coordination, and payroll processing.

On the site, Mr Menchaca posed as Amy, a woman who was searching for caregivers to care for her son, who had Down Syndrome, to change his diaper and to bathe him regularly police said.

Paul Anthony Menchaca (pictured) pretended to have down syndrome. Source: Maricopa County Sheriffs Office

Three caregivers fell for the mother persona and agreed to tend to Mr Menchaca, the station reported.

The women initially became suspicious when Mr Menchaca would aggressively state he needed to be cleaned better in certain areas, such as his genitals, according to Police documents obtained by the TV station.

The court documents show that the first caregiver recalled five separate incidents when Mr Menchaca aggressively said his genitals were not clean enough.

A second victim was referred by the first in July, and then a third was referred by the first two in August. They all agreed to be paid by Amy.

All three of the victims knew each other and reported that Menchaca became aroused when he was bathed, according to Phoenix ABC station KNXV-TV.

Amy asked all three victims to punish [Mr Menchaca] when he soiled his diaper by putting him in timeout and taking away his privileges, according to the probable cause for arrest statement.

The man (pictured) pretended to have down syndrome. Source: CBS46

All three victims were paid in cash by [Mr Menchaca] when they picked him up and dropped him off from neutral locations.

Police told KSAZ that the first caregiver became suspicious of Menchaca and then followed him home from where she had dropped him off.

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After knocking on the door, Menchacas mother and father answered and the caregiver learned that he did not have Down syndrome.

[The victim] was greeted by [Mr Menchacas] actual mother and father and discovered [Mr Menchaca] did not have Down Syndrome and did not require diaper changes, the probable cause statement read.

I do have a low IQ level, Mr Menchaca said in court.

My mum and dad both have paperwork to prove that, and Ive started to talk to my dad about getting me some help, and getting me a counsellor.

Mr Menchaca listed his employment as a school crossing guard, KNXV-TV reported.

He has no criminal history and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on September 17.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will pay a visit to Algeria on Monday, her second since 2008, the official APS news agency reported. Merkel was forced to cancel a trip to Algeria at the last minute in February 2017 after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika fell ill with acute bronchitis. During next week's visit, Merkel is set to meet the ailing 81-year-old, who suffered a stroke in 2013, as well as Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, APS reported on Thursday. "This visit will be an opportunity to assess economic relations between Algeria and Germany," the news agency said. It said more than 200 German companies from industrial sectors including the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical trades are present in Algeria. In the first seven months of 2018, Algeria imported $1.9 billion (1.6 billion euros) worth of German products, making Berlin the North African country's fifth largest supplier, according to Algerian customs figures. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to cancel a trip to Algeria at the last minute in February 2017
Mexico has arrested an alleged drug cartel hitman on charges of trafficking the critically endangered totoaba fish, a species whose swim bladder can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market in China. The suspect, identified as Oscar N, alias "El Parra," was arrested Thursday on charges of leading a top totoaba trafficking gang, said the government of the northern state of Baja California. The gang is believed to have ties to the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, the state authorities said in a statement. El Parra is a "dangerous hitman and drug trafficker" who was also wanted on a homicide charge, it said. The state sits on the Gulf of California, the native habitat for the totoaba. Known as the "cocaine of the sea" for its lucrative price, the species has been in steep decline since the 1940s, largely because of its reputed healing powers in Chinese medicine. In China, the totoaba's swim bladder is believed to have beautifying properties and cure a host of ailments, from arthritis pain to discomfort during pregnancy. In fact, they are so prized that some Chinese simply display them in fancy cases in their homes. The illegal fishing trade has turned increasingly violent in recent years, and has also claimed a collateral victim: the nearly extinct vaquita marina, the world's smallest porpoise, which can end up caught in the nets used to fish for totoaba. Researchers estimate there are less than 30 vaquitas left today. To save the species, Mexico has banned fishing in a giant 1,800-square kilometer (700-square mile) area. The move was backed by the likes of Hollywood heartthrob and conservationist Leonardo DiCaprio and Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecoms billionaire who is one of the world's richest people. The government also tried to catch vaquitas with the aid of US Navy-trained dolphins and breed them in a protected reserve. But the program was aborted last year after a vaquita died in captivity. View of dried swim bladders of totoaba fish, which despite an international ban on trade could still be found for sale in Guangzhou, capital of China's southern Guangdoing province, in March 2018
Two Russian men's claims that they were innocent tourists wrongly accused of an attempted assassination in Britain raised eyebrows on Friday -- even in Russia's usually patriotic media. The men said that far from plotting to poison a turncoat spy with a deadly nerve agent, they were actually just in England to admire the Gothic architecture in the city of Salisbury. In an interview aired by Russian broadcaster RT on Thursday, the men identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov said they had nothing to do with the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter. In Russia meanwhile, Kommersant newspaper questioned why the men were not able show identification or give further details about their work or private lives. Petrov and Boshirov said they worked as entrepreneurs in the fitness and supplements industries, but business paper RBK said it had found no business registered under their two names in Russia. The paper also noted they showed no evidence they had ever made it to Salisbury cathedral, which they cited as the city's main draw. The newspaper Vedomosti headlined its report on the broadcast: "An interview, but no information". - 'Normal pair' - Yet some on the streets of Moscow took the men's claims at face value. "I think they're telling the truth... They're a normal pair who just got into trouble, I'm sure they feel pretty bad now," said Leonid, a 58-year-old entrepreneur. "They explained everything simply and clearly yesterday, why they went there, what they were doing there, what the weather was like," he told AFP. The men raised eyebrows when they said they had been to the cathedral city twice in two days because heavy snow forced them to turn back on their first visit. They reeled off facts about the "beautiful city" and the friends' recommendations that had inspired them to visit. RT head Margarita Simonyan, who conducted the interview, hinted the men could be a gay couple during the broadcast and later on Twitter. But Maria Kazimi, a student in Moscow, rejected the idea the pair were either a gay couple or spies on a killing mission. "Why can't two friends go to a city and spend time together?" the 18-year-old asked. "I think they're just two guys who have been blamed for this -- now they're in shock, they're scared, they don't know what to do." - 'Too cold' - The Kremlin dismissed as "absurd" London's claim that the interview contained lies. London accuses the two men of putting the nerve agent Novichok on the front door handle of former double agent Skripal in the poisoning attack on March 4. He and his daughter Yulia became seriously ill, while a police officer on the case was also hospitalised. They all recovered but a fake perfume bottle containing Novichok was picked up by a local man. He gave it to his girlfriend, who later died. The poisoning dragged Moscow's relations with London and other Western powers to a low point not seen since the Cold War. London said the two men were Russian agents, which Moscow denies. Their interview prompted scorn and mockery in Britain. "The last time Russian military claimed to be on holiday was when they invaded Ukraine in 2014," Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted. "What a bold move, to rely on Sunday trains to get themselves to Salisbury and back and then to Heathrow," one Twitter user noted, in reference to Britain's unreliable weekend rail services. "The Spy Who Went Home Because It Was Cold," another wrote. Two men identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov said in an interview with Russian channel RT that they had just visited Britain as tourists The March 4 poisoning dragged Moscow's relations with London and other Western powers to a low point not seen since the Cold War The men said that far from plotting to poison a turncoat spy with a deadly nerve agent, they were actually just in England to admire the Gothic architecture in the city of Salisbury
The Russian Orthodox Church Friday cut "diplomatic ties" with Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, accusing him of encroaching on its religious territory in Ukraine. As Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I is expected to rule in the coming months on a Ukrainian appeal to cut spiritual ties with Moscow amid a simmering military conflict in the east of the former Soviet country. Ahead of the decision, he sent two representatives to Ukraine this month, sparking fury in Russia. The ruling body of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to downgrade ties with its Istanbul-based rival at an emergency meeting Friday. "The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has intruded on the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate by sending its exarchs to Kiev," Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Russian Church's foreign relations department, said at Moscow's Danilov Monastery. He spoke after the ruling body of the Russian Orthodox Church, known as the Holy Synod, decided to cut what Metropolitan Hilarion described as "diplomatic ties" with the Istanbul-based rival. According to the Holy Synod's decision, the Russian Orthodox Church will no longer conduct joint services with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill will stop mentioning Bartholomew I in his prayers. The Russian Orthodox Church will no longer take part in Episcopal Assemblies or any commissions or other structures chaired by representatives of Bartholomew I, said a statement released following the meeting. If the Istanbul-based rival continues its "anti-canonical activities" the bonds will be severed completely, the statement added. "The full responsibility for the tragic consequences of this schism will rest with Patriarch Batholomew I and bishops who support him," the statement said. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who is seen as a strong ally of President Vladimir Putin, wants to prevent pro-Western Ukraine from getting an independent church. Such a move would be seen as a huge blow to Russia's spiritual authority in the Orthodox world. The Orthodox church in Ukraine is split between a branch whose clerics pledge loyalty to Moscow and one that is overseen by the unrecognised Kiev-based Patriarch Filaret. The split has deepened following the Russian annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of a separatist uprising in Ukraine's east in 2014. Bartholomew I, known as Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, is regarded as the "first among equals" of the world's estimated 300 million Orthodox Christian believers. While Constantinople is the oldest Orthodox Church, Moscow is currently the most powerful with the largest number of worshippers. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is set to rule on a move by the Ukrainian church to cut spiritual ties with Moscow
The Kremlin on Friday said it was "absurd" for Britain to dismiss as unconvincing an interview with two suspects in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal on British soil. The comments came a day after Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov denied any involvement in the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March, telling Russian state TV they had visited as tourists. British security services had named the two men as main suspects in the case. "Accusing Russia of lying after the declarations of two Russian citizens is... absurd," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "These are ordinary citizens. They have nothing to do with the Russian state," Peskov said. He added that he had not watched the interview himself and that he did not know whether President Vladimir Putin had but that it was "hardly likely" he had seen it in full. The Kremlin responded after Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said the interview contained "lies and blatant fabrications" and called it "an insult to the public's intelligence." Peskov said that the Russian government's position on the case has not changed and "we consider unacceptable any associations between the Russian leadership and the Russian state and what happened in Salisbury". He declined to confirm whether Russia would allow British police to question the suspects if such a request were made. The men "have not broken any laws in Russia and we don't know officially that they have broken laws anywhere else in the world," the Kremlin spokesman said. The two Russians are accused of poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in an attack in March
There are new strawberry needle fears after Coles employee found a small metal rod in a punnet on the shelves at a Queensland store.

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence said it could be a copycat incident after the punnet was found at the on the shelves at the Gatton store, in the Lockyer Valley, on Thursday.

Police are still searching for the culprit who hid sewing needles inside strawberry stocks from a Sunshine Coast-based supplier.

A fourth punnet of strawberries inserted with needles was discovered on Thursday by a Gladstone woman whose son bit into a contaminated berry hed taken to school in his lunch box.

It comes a day after consumers in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales were urged to throw out berries bought in the past week following three similar incidents  one in Queensland and two in Victoria.

Queensland Police say a copycat may have sabotaged this punnet of strawberries from a Gatton Coles store. Source: Queensland Police

At least four contaminated strawberry punnets sold from Woolworths have been found containing sewing needles sparking a recall of Berrylicious and Berry Obsession strawberries in NSW, Queensland, and ACT.

Investigators have now confirmed the fourth contamination incident was identified by a customer in Gladstone, about 500km north of Brisbane.

The Warmuran farm which supplied the berries under the brand names Berry Obsession and Berry Licious, was inspected by Queensland police and Australian Border Force officers on Thursday.

Copycat fears after metal rod found in Coles punnet

An investigation is also under way after a Coles employee found a small metal rod laying across the top of some strawberries at the Gatton store.

Queensland Police said there could be a copycat placing needles in strawberries following the discovery of a thin metal object in fruit bought from a Gatton supermarket.

At least four punnets of strawberries have now been found contaminated with sewing needles in fruit bought at Woolworths. Source: Facebook/ Joshua Gane

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence said it could be a copycat incident, but police would always keep an open mind.

A photo in relation to the suspected copycat incident has been released as police continue their investigations.

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Call to keep buying strawberries

Queenslands Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said anyone who had Berry Licious or Berry Obsession strawberries at home should not eat them. If you are in doubt of the brand, throw them out.

For other brands, our advice is all strawberries should be cut up before they are eaten, Dr Young said.

In a statement to Yahoo7, a Coles spokesperson said it was safe to purchase Coles strawberries.

Coles takes the safety of the food we sell seriously. The safety of our customers is our priority and anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice, the spokesperson said.

Sunshine Coast grower Adrian Schultz said the contamination scare was the last thing the industry needed.

Our biggest concern is some sort of copycat event happening that could exacerbate the situation, Mr Schultz said.

It does appear to be an isolated incident so far  its the perception that people have thats the concern.

With only a few weeks left in the Queensland season, Mr Schultz implored consumers to keep buying their product.

We could be finished by the weekend, he said.

I know that farmers that are still going would appreciate the support by the public.

Disgruntled farm worker could be to blame

The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association says a disgruntled farm worker may be responsible, as the two brands affected, Berry Obsession and Berrylicious, came from the same farm.

But police doubt that theory.

Were not agreeing with that at all at this particular point in time, Queensland Acting Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence said.

Were not going to get into speculation. Were keeping a very open mind as to where this may have occurred somewhere between the actual growing of the strawberry through to the completion of the production line and going even further through to distribution and going on to the shelves.

Health authorities are urging people to cut up strawberries to make sure they are safe to eat and police want anyone who finds a needle to contact them.

The affected brands have since been withdrawn from sale.

Queensland Police urge anyone with information on the strawberry contamination to contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.

For more information regarding the police investigation click here.

If you are concerned you may have eaten any of the contaminated strawberries click here.
The UN warned Friday that shelling and air strikes in Yemen's Hodeida province have targeted humanitarian workers and infrastructure, threatening its ability to feed 3.5 million "very hungry people." The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hodeida city these past few days in and around deconflicted sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen", describing the situation as "alarming". The UN agency warned that "the conflict (is) threatening the continuity of humanitarian assistance to the city and surrounding areas where needs are among the highest in the country." Fighting has raged in recent days close to the rebel-held port city, a crucial entry point for aid that the Saudi-led coalition alleges also serves as a key conduit for arms to the Iran-backed Huthis. Alongside the threat of combat, civilians also face severe shortages of food, water and medicine in Hodeida province, according to the UN. In August, WFP said it had provided emergency food assistance to some 700,000 of the around 900,000 people in the province considered to be at severe risk. Agency spokesman Herve Verhoosel decried that a number of security incidences had been reported since Wednesday, including at the Red Sea Mill Silos, which mill a quarter of the agency's monthly wheat requirements in Yemen. "The ongoing clashes could jeopardise the shipments of 46,000 tonnes of wheat expected to arrive to Hodeida within the next ten days," Verhoosel told reporters in Geneva. Clashes near the mill "could impact our ability to feed up to 3.5 million very hungry people in northern and central Yemen for one month," he warned. He said that a mortar shell launched by an unidentified armed group had also hit a WFP warehouse in Hodeida city "holding enough food to assist 19,200 very hungry people." That attack injured a guard at the warehouse, he added. Fighting has also been reported "in extremely close proximity" to WFP's offices and housing, Verhoosel said. This, he said, "could potentially compromise the safety and security of 33 WFP staff in Hodeida city currently working round the clock to assist Yemenis suffering from acute hunger and malnutrition." He said the agency was doing everything possible "to ensure the safety and security of our staff". Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's conflict since 2015, when the Saudi-led alliance intervened in support of the government. Fighting has been raging close to the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a key entry point for aid that the Saudi-led coalition alleges also serves as a key conduit for arms to the Iran-backed Huthis
A 14-year-old boy charged in the suffocation deaths of his two young siblings told investigators that he killed them so that they wouldnt have to live in the hell that he did, prosecutors allege.

Ripley County Prosecutor Richard Hertel said on Wednesday that the Indiana teen was arrested last week on juvenile charges of murder in the May 2017 killing of his 23-month-old half sister, Desiree McCartney, and the killing two months later of his 11-month-old stepbrother, Nathaniel Ritz.

The murders are alleged to have taken place at their home in Osgood, a rural community about 96 kilometres southeast of Indianapolis.

In a probable cause affidavit filed in court, authorities say the teen, who was 13 at the time of the deaths, told investigators that he used a towel to suffocate his half sister and a blanket to kill his stepbrother.

The 14-year-old boy has been charged over the deaths of his younger siblings last year. Source: FOX19

Hertel said the teen was advised of the charges he faces at a Monday court hearing, after which the judge said hed rule on whether the teen is competent to stand trial before deciding whether to grant prosecutors request that he be tried as an adult.

The boy, who is being held at a juvenile center, was charged following a State Police investigation that Hertel said is ongoing.

According to the affidavit, the teen told investigators who questioned him about his siblings deaths that he had a conversation with God about them, but he could not talk about it because he had promised God he wouldnt tell anyone.

Under further questioning, the teen began talking about saving Desiree and Nathaniel from hell and the chains of fire, it states.

The teens 23-month-old half sister, Desiree McCartney and his 11-month-old stepbrother, Nathaniel Ritz, died in 2017 two months apart. Source: FOX19

He then added that he didnt want them to have to live in the hell that he did, before going on to describe how he suffocated the children.

When asked what that hell was, the boy replied chores, before asking investigators if theyd seen the list of daily chores he had to complete, the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, the teens grandmother told investigators that when she asked him why he killed his siblings, he replied that he didnt want them to be treated the way he had been.

Story continues

She said he also described how hed firmly held the towel and blanket over their heads to suffocate them.

An uncle told investigators that the day before Nathaniel Ritzs death, the teen told him that Ritzs father had bloodied the teens nose.

Hertel said the teens motivations remain unclear, but that doctors who will examine him may be able to shed light on them.

In my time here, which has been 19 years, Im not sure that Ive seen anything quite as disturbing and as final as something like this, he said during a news conference in Versailles, the county seat.

The prosecutor said that shortly before the teens half-sisters death, the boy squeezed a kitten so hard its insides came out, telling relatives it had scratched him.

Hertel said the suspects father is currently in prison and that he believes the boys mother is cooperating with the investigation.

Neighbor Becky Horn told WLWT-TV that the childrens deaths stunned the small community.

Our whole street, we were in tears for weeks over this, Horn said.


A woman has been filmed smiling as she racially abuses an Asian American woman in a car park.

Selena Cairel, a Filipino American woman, was returning to the parking lot after buying donuts with friends in Portland, US when the woman launched her racist tirade.

I normally dont share anything around here but Im very upset, Ms Cairel posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

I was out with some friends last night in Portland and had a terrible encounter with a girl who was saying the nastiest most racist thing possible.

I literally just got back to my car from getting some voodoo donuts and just wanted to go home.

Ms Cairel was returning to her car after buying donuts, when a woman parked next to her said: Shes Asian, she cant see thats why she cant drive, according to Ms Cairel.

The woman (pictured) spews racist abuse. Source: Facebook/Selena Cairel

Footage posted on Facebook shows the woman behind the wheel of a car, as she launches into a rant.

Before you say anything you might want to make sure youre actual legals, the woman said.

That youre illegals crossing the border, the woman said.

At this point, the woman leans over the steering wheel and smiles before continuing her attack.

And your parents, probably had to work for f****** dirt just to get here, the woman said.

Is this real life, like? a voice from Ms Cairels car said.

Selena Cairel (pictured) is a Filipino American woman. Source: Facebook/Selena Cairel

This is so much fun. So this is the kind of s*** I have to deal with in Portland, Ms Cairel said off camera.

The video has been viewed over a million times on Facebook.

I never let this pass and wanna make sure this kind of behaviour is seen and how people of colour encounter this all the time, Ms Cairel said.

I wanna make sure she gets seen and her racist, ignorant behaviour is exposed.


A series of gas explosions has seen more than 25 homes erupt into flames on Americas east coast, sending residents fleeing in terror.

Local media say a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in three communities north of Boston has caused the explosions.

Evacuations are now underway, forcing entire neighbourhoods to clear the area as crews scramble to douse the flames and shut off gas and electric lines in an attempt to prevent further damage.

Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon says there are so many fires you cant even see the sky, while Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque said hes never seen anything like this.

Firefighters battle a large structure fire in Lawrence, a suburb of Boston. Image: AP

Flames consume a home in Boston after a suspected gas explosion.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence.

Solomon, who responded to Lawrence to help, said there are so many fires you cant even see the sky.

While the cause of the terrifying explosions remains unclear, town officials in Andover are advising all residents and businesses to evacuate and to shut off their gas, if they know how to safely.

The town of 35,000 residents is about 40 kilometres north of Boston near the New Hampshire border.

Emergency crews are responding to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston. Image: AP

What caused the gas explosions remains unclear, authorities said. Image: AP

In neighbouring North Andover, town Selectman Phil Decologero said that his entire neighbourhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter homes.

He warned anyone with concerns to leave their houses and head to North Andover High School, which is being set up as a gathering point.

Its definitely a scary situation at the moment, he said. Its pretty severe.

The Columbia Gas company had announced early on Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened.

It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not immediately comment.
by Melani Manel Perera

Exports are up by 29.5 per cent, imports by 13.5 per cent. Europe offers many opportunities for trade. For the president of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council, We have many investment opportunities in Europe and have to identify the avenues of renewable energy, E-commerce, medical tourism, research and development, and Technology.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council (SLIBC) recently held its 19th annual general meeting in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. In his address, Italys ambassador to Sri Lanka, Paolo Andrea Bartorelli said that bilateral trade between the two countries has never been so good.

Italys chief diplomat in the island nation noted that the local economy was growing rapidly and that foreign investment, including from Italy, had increased significantly, creating new business opportunities.

Mr Bartorelli said that the Italian Embassy is fully behind cooperation and stronger bilateral relations. At the same time, he noted that A large number of Sri Lankans were living in Italy and this was a fine testimony to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

Sri Lankans constitute the 12th largest non-EU community in Italy. According to the annual report on migration by the Italian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Sri Lankans in Italy numbered 109,968, 54 per cent of them men.

Most lived in the regions of Lombardy (30.7 per cent), Campania (14.4 per cent) and Veneto (12.2 per cent), working mostly in various services to the public (54.8 per cent) as well as hotels and restaurants (14.7 per cent).

According to Bartorelli, the growing flow of tourists between the two countries is also a sign of the close relationship between them. The number of Italians visiting Sri Lanka rose from 24,293 in 2016 to 31,428 in 2017.

In that same period, exports increased by 29.5 per cent, while imports grew by 13.5 per cent. In 2017 bilateral trade was positive: 34,275 million rupees (US$ 280,000).

Former SLIBC president Rajah Abeysinghe highlighted the growing trade but admitted that in 2017 investor and consumer confidence declined because of poor weather conditions.

Still, looking at the bright side, the SLIBCs current president, Sonali Liyanamanna, said, We have many investment opportunities in Europe and have to identify the avenues of renewable energy, E-commerce, medical tourism, research and development, and Technology.
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Turkish security forces on Friday fired tear gas at construction workers at Istanbul's new airport who were protesting dangerous working conditions at the site as it prepares to open for business next month, local media reported. The new airport is one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ambitious new projects for the sprawling metropolis. Located on the Black Sea, it will initially have capacity to handle around 90 million passengers per year, but that number is expected to rise to 150 million by 2023. To publicise the project, Erdogan's plane landed there in June just days before the presidential election. Nevertheless, there have been reports of a large number of deaths at the construction site where some 35,000 people are working round-the-clock to finish it on time for the inauguration at the end of October. Hundreds of workers have gone on strike to protest working conditions, the private DHA news agency reported. A group of them gathered at the site on Friday, but the security forces dispersed them using tear gas. There was no immediate reaction from a government official. Istanbul's new airport is scheduled to open for business next month
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, officials said, amid rising international concern over a looming Syrian government assault on a rebel-held province bordering Turkey. "President Erdogan will meet with Mr Putin on Monday," Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a televised press conference on Friday. The meeting will take place in the Russian resort city of Sochi, a senior Turkish official told AFP. Russia-backed forces of the Syrian regime have massed around the Idlib province in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion. UN agencies and relief organisations have warned repeatedly that such an assault could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of Syria's seven-year war. Turkey has intensified negotiations with Russia to avert a possible attack, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire. However last week Erdogan and Putin failed to agree on a ceasefire at a three-way summit in Tehran which also involved Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Russia and Iran are key allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Turkey however backs opposition fighters seeking the ouster of the Syrian leader, and has said a large-scale offensive against the rebels could trigger a mass exodus towards its border. Cavusoglu on Friday said Turkey was ready to cooperate with anyone in the fight against terror groups in Syria, but criticised the Damascus regime for using the presence of jihadists groups to legitimise a possible operation in Idlib. "We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct," he said. "We cannot bring peace that way." Idlib's most powerful armed faction is the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which Ankara officially designated a "terrorist" group last month. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pictured on September 7, will meet in Sochi on Monday
Britain's main opposition Labour party is likely to vote against the Brexit deal being negotiated by the government with the EU, a senior figure said Friday. Emily Thornberry told the Financial Times that Prime Minister Theresa May's proposal for close economic ties with the bloc in some sectors was "nonsense". "Even if they come back in October, November, and they say, 'this flimsy bit of paper is what you're going to have to agree to, otherwise there'll be no deal', we're not going to agree to either of those," she said. Thornberry, Labour's spokeswoman on foreign affairs, noted that the party has put forward six tests for supporting a Brexit deal. One of these is that it delivers the "exact same benefits" that Britain has as a member of the EU's single market and customs union. The prime minister and the EU have both said this will not be possible, and commentators have long believed Labour will vote against the government. But Thornberry's outspoken remarks raise the stakes for May, who is also facing a rebellion against her plan by Brexit supporters in her own Conservative party. The prime minister hopes to reach a deal in mid-October or early November, ahead of Brexit in March 2019. The agreement must then be approved by the House of Commons, where she has only a slim majority. It is unclear what would happen if MPs reject the deal. But legislation is already in place to implement Brexit, raising the possibility that Britain crashes out without any agreement on new terms with the EU. May would also likely face a leadership challenge in her own party, although that would not automatically cause a new election. The British government hopes to reach a deal in mid-October or early November, ahead of Brexit in March 2019
The UN's Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths has met the country's Huthi rebels in a push for new peace talks, as fighting continued Friday around the strategic port city of Hodeida. Griffiths travelled to the Omani capital Muscat to meet the rebels after they refused to attend negotiations in Geneva last week. Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of the Huthi delegation, and fellow rebel official Abdelmalak al-Ajri discussed the reasons for their absence from Geneva with the United Nations envoy, the rebel-run Saba news agency said. The first negotiations between Yemen's warring sides in two years were scheduled to start last Thursday, but a Yemeni government delegation left after the Huthis decided not to attend. The rebels had accused the UN of failing to guarantee the return of their delegation from Switzerland to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman. This Thursday's discussions also covered the "necessary measures" needed for fresh talks set for "as soon as possible", Saba reported. Hamid Assem, a member of the Huthi delegation, told AFP on Friday there had been no breakthrough. "There has not been progress regarding the discussions while we have not received the guarantees," he said by phone. Griffiths is also scheduled to visit the Yemeni capital Sanaa, held by the Huthis, and Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition against the rebels. - Dozens killed in fighting - The last talks between the Huthis and the Yemeni government, led by President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, took place in Kuwait in 2016. Those negotiations faltered over power-sharing and the rebel withdrawal from key cities including Sanaa. They collapsed after 108 days and the rebel delegation was subsequently stranded in Oman for three months due to a coalition air blockade. After the failure of the Geneva talks, deadly clashes resumed around the Huthi-held port city of Hodeida, a vital entry point for aid to a country teetering on the edge of famine. Sixteen rebels died in a coalition air strike in the far south of the city on Thursday evening, according to military and medical sources in the province. Three pro-government fighters were killed the same evening when a military vehicle was hit by a shell to the east of Hodeida city. Over 60 people have died in fighting around Hodeida since Wednesday, when Yemeni government forces said they seized two major supply routes into the port city. The Huthis launched a counter-offensive on Thursday to retake the roads, which link Hodeida to Sanaa, military sources told AFP. "Sporadic fighting took place in Friday in various areas around the city," said a government military source. Separately, in Yemen's Mahra province of Mahra, two coalition soldiers died Friday morning when their helicopter crashed due to a technical fault. The pilot and co-pilot were killed during an operation targeting "terrorists", the coalition said. - Imams appeal to worshippers - Facing intense pressure in Hodeida, the rebels have used their Al-Masirah television channel to implore their supporters to fight for the city. At Sanaa's Dhi al-Nourain Mosque, popular with Huthi supporters, an imam leading Friday prayers made an appeal: "Hodeida cries out to everyone, Hodeida belongs to all Yemenis, it must be defended." Religious leaders called on worshippers to help civilians who had fled the fighting. The UN said Friday the situation around Hodeida was "alarming" and threatened aid deliveries. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hodeida city", saying they affected "sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen." In August, WFP said it had provided emergency food assistance to some 700,000 of the around 900,000 people in the province considered to be at severe risk. But the United Arab Emirates, which is a key part of the Saudi-led coalition, has indicated the military operations would continue. "The liberation of Hodeida is the key to the solution in Yemen," the UAE's foreign affairs minister Anwar Gargash wrote on Twitter. "The noose is tightening" on Hodeida, he added. Since Riyadh and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015, around 10,000 people have been killed in a conflict which has sparked a grave humanitarian crisis. A Huthi rebel inspects a burnt armoured vehicle on September 13, 2018, near the eastern entrance to the city of Hodeida A destroyed motorcycle after fighting between pro-government fighters and Huthi rebels near the port city of Hodeida on September 13, 2018 The remains of a car reportedly destroyed in an air strike is pictured near the eastern entrance to Hodeida on September 13, 2018
A major water infrastructure bill that contains a few provisions authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko is one step closer to receiving congressional approval.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation, America's Water Infrastructure Act, on Thursday. The comprehensive bill includes the Water Resources Development Act, a biennial measure that allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance water infrastructure and transportation-related projects.

The latest version of the bill includes a few Katko-sponsored provisions. A measure he sponsored to support water infrastructure projects supported by State Revolving Funds was added to the larger bill. That would allow a $10 million investment over two years, which would leverage more than $1 billion in investments in drinking water and wastewater projects.

Small- and medium-sized communities would be able to tap into the funding and a mandated $100,000 application fee would be waived. Another provision authored by Katko would streamline the application process so that the turnaround is no more than 180 days.

Katko, R-Camillus explained that one way the bill would help central New York is by providing resources to combat harmful algal blooms. The blooms have been present in Cayuga, Owasco and Skaneateles lakes  three Finger Lakes that touch Katko's district.

"We must protect our region's water resources, and ensure safe, reliable drinking water is available to our communities," Katko said.

Katko, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has pushed for other resources to address harmful algal blooms. He led a working group within the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus that drafted a report regarding infrastructure issues. The report detailed recommendations for how Congress could improve the nation's infrastructure systems, including waterways and drinking water sources.

Local officials in Cayuga County lauded Katko for his efforts to boost investments in water infrastructure.

Steve Lynch, director of the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, said Katko's bill that was included in the comprehensive water infrastructure measure "could be pivotal" for small communities seeking funding for water projects.

"By expanding program eligibility, expediting reviews for critical projects and placing water infrastructure projects on a par with wastewater projects, the bill could open doors for innovative projects that the current programs simply cannot address," Lynch said.

The bill now heads to the Senate for final approval. If it clears the Senate, which is expected, it will head to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

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Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York.

This week, we spotlight Sierra.

Q: Who is your best friend?

A: I have a whole room of best friends! I have the wonderful privilege of being an "out cat" because I get along so well with all of the other girl "out cats." Now, this is an unusual phenomenon that so many girls in such a small space can get along so well, but it is happening. I am a very lucky feline to have such a wide circle of BFFs.

Q: Do you have a bucket list and if so, what is number 1?

A: I do, and numero uno is that I would like to run for public office! I know that not many cats have run for office locally, but I have a role model in Tuxedo Stan, who ran for mayor in Halifax, Canada. Although Stan didn't win, he did bring awareness to the plight of homeless cats across platforms. He also inspired the Halifax City Council to give a very hefty grant to the local shelter to facilitate low-cost spay and neuter. Perhaps I can get an endorsement and mount a challenge? But, at the very least, I would be happy with a grant to help spay and neuter strays and ferals in our fine city. My shelter people and others are saying it is a crisis!

Q: If you could meet someone famous, who would that be?

A: Well, there are a few famous gentlemen I would like to have met. Mr. William Shakespeare, Mr. Beethoven and Sir Isaac Newton all had pet tuxedo cats. First of all, it shows their excellent taste in cats, and secondly, it has often been opined by those in the know that their beloved tuxedos inspired levels of artistic and scientific advancement that we can't even imagine. I would love to be someone's muse.

Q: If you visit any place in the world, where would that be?

A: I believe that I would like to visit Egypt! It is common knowledge that cats were highly revered and worshiped as gods by the ancient Egyptians. In fact, several Egyptian goddesses were depicted as cats! For that reason. cats made frequent appearances in royal tombs. But did you know that about 70 percent of the cats depicted in these ancient tombs were tuxedo cats? Yes! So I would like to visit Egypt so that I can be treated like royalty.

Q: Do you have an interesting fact to share?

A: I do! Did you know that only one cat has ever made it to the top of Mount Everest and  you guessed it  he was a tuxedo cat! His human carried him, of course, but it's still pretty impressive, right? And this is a fact.

Q: Do you have any advice for our good Citizen readers?

A: I do! I want to remind our good readers about two upcoming events. On Saturday, Sept. 22, my people will be having a mini-garage sale right here at my Shelter from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There will be lots of pet-related and other items for sale. If you might be interested in donating "gently used" or new items, they can be brought to the shelter during the week of Sept. 16. Also, our annual Blessing of the Animals will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at our beautiful Hoopes Park. More information coming on that soon. We hope to see you at both events! Thank you and love, Sierra and friends.

The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York is a New York state-registered shelter/rescue, registration No. RR-181. Pursuant to Article 26-A, Section 408 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, the registrant is authorized to operate as a registered pet rescue, in compliance with such law.

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AUBURN  On a cold day in March, Bradley Strange forever changed the life of another man.

The morning of March 11, Strange approached a man, 75 years old at the time of the incident, at his residence outside Auburn and asked for a ride due to the cold weather. Once in the city, Strange displayed a knife and demanded the victim's wallet and money, and cut the man on the hand.

Following the incident, the victim was treated at Auburn Community Hospital and Strange, 34, of 112 Janet St., evaded arrest by standing on the roof of 51 Orchard St. for about nine hours.

In Cayuga County Court Thursday morning, the victim spoke at the beginning of Strange's sentencing.

"The robbery changed my life. I'll never be the same because of the threat of losing my life," the man said. "The fingers where he cut me will never be the same," he added.

The victim also said he has had many bad dreams since the incident.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said that the victim offered Strange a ride from the "goodness of his heart" and then was led to an isolated area where Strange pulled a knife and demanded his wallet. He said the victim sustained wounds to his right hand, which caused nerve damage, when he tried to fend off Strange's knife.

"This has affected him, that's the danger of such crime," Budelmann said, "(it) changed his life forever."

Budelmann also noted that Strange committed the crime while he was on parole from a 2014 third-degree attempted robbery conviction in Onondaga County.

Auburn man arrested for attempted armed robbery after hours-long standoff AUBURN  A nearly nine-hour standoff ended Sunday night after a suspect in an attempted arme

"You don't often see remorse ... but Mr. Strange has expressed remorse for his actions for the entire situation," Joseph Sapio, the attorney representing Strange on Thursday, said.

Sapio said that Strange "feels quite badly" for what the victim is going through, adding that Strange also has mental health and substance abuse issues.

"Your honor, I would first like to apologize to (the victim) ... he was a good man just trying to do the right thing," Strange said. "I would like to apologize to my children and my family ... the truth is I've made really bad decisions in my life."

When Judge Thomas Leone gave Strange permission to apologize to the victim, Strange stood up from where he was seated, turned around to face the victim sitting in one of the back pews in the courtroom, and told him: "from the bottom of my heart, I truly am sorry."

"I do feel you were truly remorseful," Leone said, and although Strange was hoping for a lesser sentence, Leone said he wouldn't deter from the agreed-upon sentence reached in July.

As Leone carried on with the sentencing, a woman seated in the front pew began crying.

Strange was sentenced to 10 years in prison for first-degree attempted robbery with the use of a dangerous instrument, a class C felony, and one year in jail for the misdemeanor of resisting arrest, which will run concurrent to the prison sentence. Following his time in prison, Strange will have five years of post-release supervision.

An order of protection was also granted to the victim, and Strange was ordered to pay $400 in restitution.

Also in Court

 An Auburn woman admitted to a crime involving hurling a chair into a car.

Nushaw Nwanko, 33, an Auburn transient, went to the area of 73 Owasco St. on July 4 to collect money that someone owed her. When she got there, the person threw a chair at Nwanko, nearly striking her. In response, she took the chair and hurled it at what she thought was the victim's car, only to find it was the wrong car.

Nwanko pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal mischief, a class E felony. She will likely receive 1.5 to 3 years in prison and is scheduled to reappear in court for sentencing Nov. 15.

 An Auburn man was sentenced for breaking into a home with a knife.

Leslie McLeod, 44, of 9 John St., Apt. 1, broke into a home on Clark Street Road in Aurelius on April 28 and threatened the resident with a knife, a crime he pleaded guilty to in July.

"I hope you go with the agreed-upon sentence," McLeod said. "I'm just baffled by the fact that they don't take into consideration my mental health."

McLeod was sentenced to six years in prison and five years of post-release supervision. An order of protection was also issued on behalf of the victim of the burglary.

Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart.

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No people or animals were hurt in a fire that broke out on a farm in the Cayuga County town of Locke Thursday afternoon.

Fire departments from nearly every southern Cayuga County town and village, as well as several from Tompkins and Cortland counties, responded to 316 Bird Cemetery Road and remained for over six hours, helping to fight the fire, which had spread to five structures, and ferrying water to the scene in tanker trucks, Locke Fire Department Chief Ray Dyer III said. The fire was first reported around 3:30 p.m. by a 12-year-old boy.

Dyer said most of the buildings on the property were a total loss. Firefighters were able to save the farmhouse and a machine workshop. He said several 1,000-pound bales of hay, which were stored in several of the structures, accelerated the blaze.

"They did a good job and we saved everything we could," Dyer said.

The cause of the fire was undetermined Friday, Dyer said, and was still under investigation by the Cayuga County fire investigators and New York State Police.

Fire departments from Locke, Moravia, Sempronius, Long Hill, Scipio, Popular Ridge, Aurora, King Ferry, Owasco, Lansing, Groton, Mclean, Freeville, Cortlandville and Homer responded to the scene. Crews from Union Springs, Fleming, Sennett and New Hope were on standby while other departments were actively fighting the blaze, Dyer said.

Staff writer Natalie Brophy can be reached at (315)282-2239 or natalie.brophy@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie.

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AUBURN  A group of Cayuga County veterans want to build a memorial on city-owned property to honor the founders of an Auburn veterans post and drum and bugle corps.

During the Auburn City Council meeting Thursday, Nick Valenti, Bonnie Phillips and Fred Norton of the Carnicelli-Indelicato American Legion Post #1776 in Auburn said the memorial to honor their organization's founders and the founders of the Purple Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps is ready to go  they just need city approval.

The group wants to place the memorial on a patch of grass outside 1 E. Genesee St. The monument will have four facings engraved with the founders' names. It will be about 3-feet wide and stand over 4-feet tall. If the city agrees to let the veterans use the land, they hope to have the memorial installed by August.

Mayor Michael Quill and the city council members said they support the project, but first, city staff needs to investigate if the memorial would interfere with any underground infrastructure in the area. Director of Planning and Economic Development Jennifer Haines pointed out that the city had issued a moratorium on all monuments as the city works develop an ordinance to guide installation of memorials on city property. The moratorium does allow for the city manager or council to approve certain ones if they wish.

"I think that we've asked these guys to wait a very long time ... we owe these guys a decision either way in a timely fashion," Councilor Dia Carabajal said. "They've been patient."

Valenti said it is important to build a memorial so the community doesn't forget about the sacrifices service men and women have made.

"A lot of the history of how these organizations were formed, how they exist today, gets lost over time," he said. "The remembrance of these men and their sacrifice is still going to be there after they're gone."

In other news

 The Auburn Police Department received a $397,000 federal grant at the end of August to help the department combat domestic violence in the city.

The department is working with the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency to expand domestic violence advocacy programs and continue follow-up programs to aid victims. The grant will allow the agency to hire a victim court advocate, which Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler said is "very needed." The money will also allow APD officers to receive additional domestic violence training.

"This is going to allow us to take it to the next level," Butler said.

Domestic violence is one of the most common and serious crimes officers deals with in the city. According to Butler, the department gets between 1,200 and 1,500 calls for domestic violence incidents each year.

For Butler, domestic violence is personal. When he was the head of the APD's detective bureau, he investigated the murders of Lisa White, Katie Socci and Bridget Bell.

"I've seen the worst of it, I've seen what can happen," Butler said. "Anything we can do to be proactive and to combat domestic violence, be it prevention, advocacy or educating my officers on how to respond, I think it's an injustice if we didn't try to implement and use all the resources available."

The funding is being provided through the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. The grant will be spread out over three years, Butler said.

 Ten city employees were recognized by the New York Conference of Mayors for 25 years of service or more to the city.

Ellen Willson, Jennifer Haines and Vivian Rose were all honored for 25 years of service, while John Montgomery, Paul Casper and Mikolaj Pinchak have been employed by the city for 30. Angelo Spinelli has served the city for 35 years and Mark Storrs for 40. Two employees  Bill Lupien and Barbara Griffin  have worked for the city for 50 years.

Staff writer Natalie Brophy can be reached at (315)282-2239 or natalie.brophy@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie.

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BERLINNoel Alejandros latest feature, The Seed, is now available online.

The Seed is the 11th film from Alejandro, an independent and alternative adult film director based in Berlin and Barcelona.

The erotic film brings the spotlight to Berlins daytime underground scene, Alejandro uses the language of sex to debate the undisclosed demons of todays society. how easy and seductive is the drug life in European capitals, and how young people would fall in addiction while looking for companionship, only to leave even more detached, or secluded.

The film takes place in Lyon, France, and tells the story of Gaspar, a young French guy who escapes from the madness of urban life after work by heading to the city park and taking the trail for a quick dip in the late. He knows, as he walks in, that he is entering the woody oasis where sex is a matter of nature, as the park is known by everyone in Berlin. His pursuit ends the moment he sees Sebastian emerging from the water. With a vagabond attitude and a provocative Danish accent, Sebastian is the one to show Gaspar how a simple thought can grow like a seed and become a desire.

Always exploring the intersection between sex and emotional dramas, The Seed is a portrait of Noels own personal experience fading the drug work in Berlin and some other related situations he has had to deal with since his childhood.

It might be that drugs, despite what some would think, do not bring you closer to people, he said. More likely, thell put you far away and lock you up inside yourself.

Noels career in cinema dates back to 2008, when he studied film and television in Barcelona. But it wasnt until 2012 that he decided to focus his abilities in remodeling pornography. It was while working with internationally known feminist erotic filmmaker Erika Lust that Noel began to see pornography as a tool to question societys standards and misconceptions. It wouldnt take long until Noel realized that gay erotica has also been deeply stigmatized, and decided to represent his own interpretation of sexuality on screen.

The Seed stars Yann Andre and Vic Calentine. It was filmed and edited in Berlin and Barcelona.

View The Seed online at NoelAlejandro.com.
22-year-old Maxime Lucas, an osteopath from France, moves his sensitive fingers to find the problematic areas, in the spine, mentioned by the patient.

Maxime already knows a few words in Armenian to ask whether it hurts in some part of the body. This is enough to communicate with patients who do not know French or English. An Armenian doctor translates more complex dialogues.

Osteopaths are manual therapists, that are treating mechanical disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, and work hand by hand with other medical professions in order to enhance health without medication.

Physician-rehabilitation expert Hasmik Petrosyan says the osteopathic approach is relatively new for Gyumri patients.

"The first visit of French osteopaths to Gyumri was in 2014. For the first three years, they were invited by the Samariter rehabilitation center. This year, they came to the Gyumri Medical Center, says Hasmik.

The French osteopathic group is led by 28-year-old Julie Nicolas. Four years ago, she founded an association together with Armenian osteopath Samuel Hachikian, aiming to unite all the osteopaths operating in France.

It was Hachikian who suggested that, within the framework of a charity project, that French osteopaths visited Armenia for the first time in 2014. They firstcollaborated with the Red Cross in Yerevan and the Samariter rehabilitation center in Gyumri. This year, the French osteopaths have been hosted by the Erebuni and Arabkir Medical Centers in Yerevan and the Gyumri Medical Center.

Hasmik Petrosyan and Julie Nicolas

Julie Nicolas says she loves Armenia and looks forward to visiting every year.

"However, there are some things that make you sad in this country, especially in Gyumri. Here, people come to us with complicated issues. Its obvious that, unfortunately, many do not have enough money to seek the help of professionals on time. In France, people have social insurance. Anyone can get treatment. There, patients usually come to us for small issues, while they come with serious illnesses in Armenia. Even patients in Yerevan and Gyumri differ: the situation is much better in the capital," says Julie.

Hasmik Petrosyan says the French osteopaths had 500 patients in Gyumri when they first arrived. The number of patients has dropped since, but Hasmik believes its because of migration rather than the method. This year, the Gyumri Medical Center received 200 patients.

"Not many Armenians apply for rehabilitation medicine. This is a young science, and doctors here are juststarting to get acquainted with the possibilities. The results of our work may appear slower, but they are justified. Patients who experience a positive effect recommend it to their relatives or friends," Hasmik says.

Maxime Lucas

Osteopath Maxime Lucas is in Armenia for the first time. When asked about his profession choice, Maxime says, The first time I went to see an osteopath with my parents I was amazed, so I decided to become one. I really enjoyed doing osteopathy in Gyumri. The patients, as well as the medical team I met, are very nice and interesting. Gyumri is a small but traditional town, so I was happy to visit it and feel the real Armenian spirit here. I would love to come back as a volunteer as part of the Echosteo project, says Maxime.

"To get the osteopaths to Armenia, Julie organizes fundraising events all year long, so that a group of 25-30 can come for two weeks with a very busy schedule," says Hasmik Petrosyan.

"We will keep on coming as long as possible, but what we want is to train osteopaths in Armenia. We would like to open a center here, since Armenia needs an osteopathic center. Weve reached this conclusion after our visits here and we would be glad if the Armenian government supported us in this matter, " says Julie.

The visits of the French osteopathsare highly appreciated in the Gyumri Medical Center. Hasmik Petrosyan says that they have patients who applied to the osteopaths in 2014, had a positive outcome, and every year they wait for the French specialists to visit again.

"This is also a good opportunity for local professionals. Our manipulative therapy doctor has been trained in Russia, and, thanks to these visits, she now has an opportunity to get acquainted with the French school, since the technique is different. Such charity projects are a great opportunity to share experiences and learn new things, says Hasmik Petrosyan.
During a working visit to France, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with representatives of the Armenian community at a dinner reception yesterday, telling them that as of today all in Armenia are equal before the law.

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Belfast-based Ormo Bakery, which is part of Hovis, has teamed up with two other Northern Irish brands to develop new products.

The bakery has collaborated with prepared vegetable supplier Mash Direct to create Original Potato Farls and Champ Potato Farls. Mash Direct provides the mash potato and champ  an Irish dish combining mashed potatoes, butter, milk and cheese  for the products, which gives them a smooth and creamy taste, according to Ormo.

In addition, Ballyrashane Buttermilk from Coleraine in Co Derry is providing the buttermilk for Ormos new Buttermilk Wheaten Bread. The loaf is topped with sweetened, roasted oats.

Ormo has enjoyed significant annual growth over the past two years in value and volume performance in Northern Ireland, said Trevor McCrum, commercial director of Hovis Ireland, which licenses the Ormo brand. Brand growth has been driven by continuous product improvements to our core range, including pancakes and soda farls.

Our new product development team has created three outstanding products each giving a unique and distinctive taste that we hope our customers will enjoy.

The products will be supported by an extensive launch programme which includes a Northern Ireland-wide outdoor campaign, in-store activity and sampling.
Today's session of the Armenian government was led by First Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, since Prime Minister NikolPashinyan is in France. The government decided to allocate 33 million 292 thousand drams from the budget of the current year to the Prime Minister's staff to organize the liquidation process of the Center for Strategic Initiatives foundation.

According to the draft decision, the above-mentioned amount includes wages, final payment, allowances and penalties for early termination of the contracts.

The Center for Strategic Initiatives was founded by Alexander Khachaturyan, adviser to former Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan was one of the members of the Board of Trustees. At NikolPashinyans recent meeting with businessmen in Russia, Vardanyan asked about the reasons for the liquidation of the center, and Pashinyan said that the foundation hadnt served its purpose.
Two OCCRP journalists were detained by armed Bulgarian police for more than seven hours on Thursday night after they followed a tip that crucial documents were being burned in a field 50 kilometers southwest of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

They put us to the ground, pointing guns at us, Atilla Biro, one of the detained journalists, told OCCRP. They cuffed us. At that moment, Dimitar said, we are journalists. I said, journalists, journalists. Biro is an investigative journalist with RISE Project in Romania. Dimitar Stoyanov, who was also detained, works for Bivol, a Bulgarian investigative news outlet.

It is unclear why they were detained. The incident occurred a day after Bivol and RISE Project published the first part of an investigation alleging massive corruption in European Union-funded projects in Bulgaria.

The investigation centered in part on records from a Bulgarian infrastructure company called GP Group. It found that 30 to 40 percent of funds allocated for infrastructure projects were lost to corruption, some explicitly earmarked for bribes.

Biro said that the day after the story broke, he and Stoyanov were discussing further projects when Stoyanov received a tip that GP Groups archives and computers were being removed from the companys office to be destroyed in a small village near Radomir, Bulgaria.

They got a ride to the location, and, about an hour later, arrived in an open field 100 meters off a narrow dirt road.

We saw black trash bags, big ones, 120 liters, Biro said. Some of them were opened, and we could see shredded paper.

Stoyanov had started to take pictures of the bags when the two police officers jumped them, Biro said. After he and Stoyanov were handcuffed, the officers took their press cards and phones, and held the journalists in the field with no explanation.

About an hour later, additional police arrived from Sofia. Biro and Stoyanov were allowed to move around. They saw that there were other bags of documents, 20 meters away from the shredded documents they had noticed first. Those were in a pit, and they were burning.

At this point, said Biro, he asked an officer in English what the burning documents were. The officer replied, The documents are related to the European fund projects.

Biro said that he and Stoyanov later examined fragments of the burned documents, and, indeed, we could see that these documents were related to European fund projects.

After being examined by Sofia police, the documents were taken by the local police officers who had arrested the journalists, said Biro.

After the police from Sofia left, the two journalists were detained late into the night, as firefighters came and went and the local police debated what to do with the men. Eventually, Stoyanov was allowed to make a call to his editor at Bivol, Atanas Tchobanov.

They remained excommunicado for four hours, said Tchobanov.

Finally, early in the morning, the two were taken to a local police station in Pernik, where they were met by the Romanian consul. At 3 am, Biro was asked to make a statement to the local police, and, at 4:30 am, the journalists were released.

The detention was widely condemned. In a Facebook statement, Bulgaria's national ombudswoman Maya Manolova wrote, I am of the opinion that (this) is an unjustified and illegal detention of journalists.

Meanwhile, Biro said he was unsure if his prolonged detention was police incompetence, or something else.

The fact that they kept us that long--its at least curious. Incompetence could amount to one or two hours, but not this amount of time. And not on a case like this.

We didnt break any law, not even a speeding law, he said, laughing. The detention was unlawful.

occrp.org
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, on a working visit to France, today met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Heres a statement on the meeting released by the Armenian government.

Welcoming Armenias Prime Minister to the Elysee Palace, Emmanuel Macron noted the importance of Pashinyans visit to France and said it would promote and reinvigorate the deeply-rooted friendly relations between the two countries.

The French President said his country is ready to continue making efforts to develop multifaceted cooperation with friendly Armenia. Noting that he was going to arrive in Armenia on a state visit in less than a month, Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that the upcoming Francophone Summit would be held at the highest level in Yerevan next month.

Thankful for the warm welcome, Nikol Pashinyan said their second meeting comes to prove that the privileged Armenian-French relations are in safe hands and will continue to expand and deepen in the best interest of both countries. The head of the Armenian government underscored that the past years since the establishment of diplomatic relations have been marked by dynamically deepening Armenian-French relations and expressed confidence that they would continue to develop in all areas of mutual interest: political intercourse, inter-parliamentary cooperation, decentralized contacts, economic exchanges, culture, education, research, healthcare and other spheres, including the legal-contractual field.

I am convinced that our meeting will impart a new quality to our privileged relations based on centuries-old historical friendship, Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Premier stressed the importance of the Francophone Summit due this fall in Armenia, adding that it is among the most important events held in Yerevan since independence. The Head of Government reaffirmed Armenias commitment to ensure the Summits success and expressed confidence that it will help enhance the reputation and influence of La Francophonie.

Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to the economic forum to be held in Yerevan on October 10 on the margins of the 17th Summit of La Francophonie, which is supposed to promote contacts and interaction between business circles.

With reference to the Karabakh issue, the parties stressed the need for achieving a peaceful settlement in the OSCE Minsk Group format. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan hailed the efforts made by the Co-Chairs, including France, with a view to securing peace and stability in the region. The Prime Minister underscored that Armenia remains committed to continued negotiations in a bid to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Emmanuel Macron and Nikol Pashinyan agreed to discuss the Armenian-French cooperation agenda in more detail during the French presidents forthcoming state visit to Armenia.
CW ANZ  September 2018: Get to grips with DevOps

The burgeoning DevOps culture in Australia has attracted new market players and led major companies to embrace the movement to get development and operations teams working in unison. But organisations need to be wary of a range of traps while they try to instil a DevOps mindset. In this issue of CW ANZ, we take a look at how Australian organisations are embracing DevOps and the pitfalls they need to avoid.

Also in this issue:

Australias chief scientist calls for artificial intelligence regulations

The proposal by Alan Finkel to regulate AI would require companies to apply for a trustmark so that they will know from the outset how the technology is expected to behave and perform

What does SAPs C/4 Hana CRM suite mean for Asia-Pacific enterprises?

Cloud-based customer relationship management suite could find takers, but it may not be enticing enough for Salesforce CRM customers that also run SAPs enterprise resource planning software to make the switch

Workday to invest more in APAC

Workday co-president Chano Fernandez tells Aaron Tan how the cloud applications supplier has upped its investments in Asia-Pacific by over 50% in the past year, and is looking to maintain its growth
Can the International Criminal Court Punish Americans?

Consider the following quote from National Security Adviser and former United Nations ambassador John Bolton:

"We will respond against the ICC [International Criminal Court] and its personnel to the extent permitted by U.S. law. We will ban its judges and prosecutors from entering the United States. We will sanction their funds in the U.S. financial system, and we will prosecute them in the U.S. criminal system. We will do the same for any company or state that assists an ICC investigation of Americans."

Those are pretty strong words. But the United States has for a long time had a strained relationship with the International Criminal Court. It was one of seven nations to vote against the Rome Statute creating the court (along with China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar, and Yemen), and while former President Bill Clinton later signed the statute, the treaty was never submitted to Congress.

And now, with news that the ICC will investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, that relationship has gotten even worse. But could the court actually prosecute and punish American citizens?

Global Justice

Bolton has never been a fan of the ICC, which he called a "freewheeling global organization claiming jurisdiction over individuals without their consent." Bolton was also serving as 3rd Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs under President George W. Bush when Congress passed the American Service-Members' Protection Act (ASPA), which authorizes the President of the United States to use "all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court." This ASPA has thus been dubbed the "Hague Invasion Act," based on the court's location in the Netherlands.

As noted above, the U.S. has never fully accepted the ICC's jurisdiction, although it had reached a point of "constructive engagement" under the Obama administration.

Local Action

But could the ICC decide to prosecute American officials and servicemembers for crimes in Afghanistan? As an initial matter, the court was set up as a measure of last resort -- if countries were unable or unwilling to prosecute war crimes themselves, those crimes could be investigated and prosecuted by the ICC. So, if the United States already prosecuted any alleged war criminals, the ICC would not need to intervene.

Other issues are jurisdiction and arrest warrants. While the U.S. never signed on to the Rome Treaty, Afghanistan did. Therefore, the ICC would, theoretically, have jurisdiction to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan and indict and prosecute American nationals accused of committing war crimes there. However, while the ICC can issue arrest warrants, it still relies on member states to effectuate those arrests. Given our current posture and Bolton's comments regarding the ICC, it's hard to imagine the U.S. arresting its own officials or current or former servicemembers and handing them over to the ICC. If they happen to be found in an ICC member country, they may be in more trouble, and Bolton might need to invade the Hague.

Related Resources:
9th Circuit Upholds Arizona Voting Laws

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Arizona laws against out-of-precinct voting and submitting ballots on behalf of others.

It was a setback for the Democratic National Committee, which argued the laws unfairly impacted minority voters. A divided appeals panel, however, said the laws imposed "only a minimal burden on voters."

It was much worse than that, said the dissent in The Democratic National Committee v. Reagan. The lone appellate judge said the only purpose of the laws was to discriminate against minorities.

Out-Of-Precinct

Affirming a trial court decision, the Ninth Circuit said Arizona has long required in-person voters to cast their ballots in their assigned precinct. The state has enforced the system since at least 1970.

In 2016, the state enacted H.B. 2023 to make it a felony for a person to collect another's ballot. The DNC then challenged the laws, saying they harmed minorities who often voted out-of-precinct and turned in their ballots to organizers at get-out-the-vote campaigns.

After a ten-day bench trial, Judge Douglas L. Rayes said minority voters were not not deprived of an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. He also found no discriminatory intent in the laws.

The Ninth Circuit agreed -- except for Judge Sidney Thomas.

"Labyrinthian System"

Thomas assailed Arizona's "labyrinthian system," saying it could easily confuse voters about polling places. He said Hispanic, Native American and black voters were twice as likely to vote out of precinct.

"There is no question that Arizona's practice of discarding OOP ballots is also a practice of disproportionately discarding ballots cast by minority voters," he wrote.

Related Resources:
In August 2017, the powerful public radio star John Hockenberry mysteriously left his job as host of "The Takeaway," abandoning millions of listeners on hundreds of stations. A few months later, the reasons became clear: he was accused of creepy sexual propositions, complaints from co-hosts, ass-touching, grabbing and kissing producers and other women colleagues, and bullying, racist and sexist remarks. He admitted his behavior was "not always appropriate," laid low for a few months, and is now back with a lavishly self-pitying 7,000-word cover story in Harper's about his "exile" and how terrible it's all been for him.

Do I dare make a spirited defense of something once called romance from the darkness of this exile, at a nadir of my personal credibility, at a moment when all of civilization seems to be in turmoil, over what is a plausible narrative of male/female attraction? Not only do I dare, knowing what righteous anger is out there, I really believe I have no choice.

Ah yes, romance. Here's Hockenberry's idea of romance:

The vacant seat was filled, for about four months, by African-American journalist Farai Chideya. Initially Hockenberry was friendly, she said, but when it seemed like she might become a regular, he "got nastier." One day, after a story meeting in which Hockenberry became argumentative, she said, he called her into his office. "You shouldn't stay here just as a 'diversity hire,'" he told her, according to Chideya. "And you should go lose weight."

Even The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, trying to conjure up sympathy, is having none of that: "Reading Hockenberry's essay, it hit me: I feel sorry for a lot of these men, but I don't think they feel sorry for women, or think about women's experience much at all."

the most frustrating parts of "Exile" are where he casts himself as the victim of the women who spoke out against him. "Only one of my accusers reached out or responded to my heartfelt queries," he writes. (Why would they?) Elsewhere he describes his children's experience of his disgrace as a "pain I wish on no one, not even my accusers." He invokes his children repeatedly, furious at the toll the scandal is taking on them. Maybe he behaved offensively toward women, he allows, but asks, "Is a life sentence of unemployment without possibility of furlough, the suffering of my children, and financial ruin an appropriate consequence?" Luckily, his unemployment isn't total; he is writing for a major magazine after enduring nine months of obscurity. But in the nearly 7,000 words of his essay, as he demands that we consider his misery and embarrassment, he never really grapples with the misery and embarrassment he caused, never thinks deeply about how he affected the lives of the women who changed jobs to escape his advances.

What Hockenberry's Harper's piece shows is not that he was too severely-punished. It shows that he was not punished at all beyond a fleeting unpopularity and an imposed sabbatical at the threshold of retirement age, free to enjoy dinners with friends constantly flattering him as the victim of revolutionary tyranny.

For a time the only employment I could contemplate was detailed on an email list seeking disabled senior citizens to be greeters at Walmart stores in Utah and Georgia.

What a vain and revolting man. What has he offered in restitution to his victims?

Illo: Rob. Photo: Shutterstock
President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, is pleading guilty to two criminal charges under plea deal terms to include his cooperation as a witness in the investigation led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

Manafort's decision to cooperate in exchange for a lighter prison sentence is "a stunning development in the long-running probe into whether any Trump associates may have conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election," write Spencer Hsu and Devlin Barrett at the Washington Post:

Manafort's defenders have long insisted that he would not cooperate with Mueller, and didn't know any incriminating information against the president. Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said at the beginning of Friday's plea hearing that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators. The plea hearing before U.S. District Court judge Amy Berman Jackson short-circuits his second trial, which was scheduled to begin this month in the District on charges of money laundering and lobbying violations. A criminal information  a legal document filed by prosecutors to detail the criminal conduct to be admitted by the defendant  was filed in advance of the plea. The document shows Manafort intends to plead guilty to two crimes of the seven he faced at trial: conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

Remember this, from way back in 2017?

WATCH: In light of AP story re Manafort  take a look at his response to a simple question re Russian oligarch ties https://t.co/getQDJUZZG pic.twitter.com/Ic85K4fAE0  Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) March 22, 2017

Hold on to your butts.

It's about to get a whole lot weirder.

MAJOR question: What is Manafort cooperating on? May not be Trump/collusion.  Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) September 14, 2018

CNN reporting Special Counsel says Manafort has already begun giving information to Justice Department  Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) September 14, 2018

A critical point from Chuck Rosenberg on @MSNBC: Whether conduct Manafort is pleading to is connected to Trump isn't relevant to what info he may provide to special counsel under cooperation agreement  Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) September 14, 2018

This is big news. It means that Manafort made a major error by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees to fight the charges. This deal is not as good as the deal he would have gotten at the beginning. https://t.co/2C0aO9teqG  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 14, 2018

Breaking: Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chief, agreed to cooperate with the special counsel, Robert Mueller, as part of a plea deal https://t.co/efepgn5FlY  The New York Times (@nytimes) September 14, 2018

Trump dangled pardon for Manafort and it didn't work  Justin Miller (@justinjm1) September 14, 2018

FUN FACT: With the $46 million Manafort is forfeiting, Mueller's investigation is now more financially successful than Trump's casinos were.  Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) September 14, 2018

Let's take a sec to remember to Katia Kelly, the Brooklyn grandmother and neighborhood blogger, who helped bring down Paul Manafort. https://t.co/1u3hXD2QtP  Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) September 14, 2018

More crimes committed by Manafort in 2016 when hired by Trump: felony violations of FARA. https://t.co/QeWi2qVJ69  Dafna Linzer (@DafnaLinzer) September 14, 2018

ANALYSIS: In the 15 month investigation led by Mueller (which was already well underway before his appointment) he has secured guilty pleas and cooperation agreements against Trump's National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, and his campaign manager Paul Manafort.  Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) September 14, 2018

how could anyone assume a cooperation agreement by the campaign chairman would be linked to the campaign https://t.co/HETf9dj5K9  Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) September 14, 2018

Nobody in the Trump campaign had closer ties to Russian-backed figures than Paul Manafort. If there was a conspiracy between the campaign and the Russians, it's impossible to imagine that he wasn't part of it.  Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) September 14, 2018

SIREN: Manafort plea deal calls for "successful cooperation" with governmentprosecutor https://t.co/KCMBWeZk0I  Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) September 14, 2018

"He's not smiling at all. He's glum and quietly responding, 'yes, your honor,'" CNN's Evan Perez describes the scene in the court room where former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has just agreed to a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller's team pic.twitter.com/aFWEU2MYrd  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 14, 2018

Wow. Mueller got it in the end, as he has gotten it from everyone he has gone after so far. https://t.co/AP3vuQ8wqL  Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) September 14, 2018

Trump has plenty to worry about with news that Manafort is cooperating with Mueller, but I imagine Don Jr., Jared Kushner and Roger Stone are just as concerned  ?  Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) September 14, 2018

Could be cooperation against a number of people in the case. But this will make it harder for Trump team to make case that this is all winding down, because they don't know for certain who the cooperation is against. https://t.co/Y15YFUoJhI  Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 14, 2018
Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections is planning to ban free book donations to inmates by mail, claiming that this is a "primary avenue for drugs" to enter prisons. But the move coincides with a renewed push to get prisoners buying into a pricey prison eBook system that offers low-end tablets for $150 and eBooks no cheaper than $3 a read.

"Effective immediately, the DOC will begin to transition to ebooks coupled with bolstered DOC library system featuring centralized purchasing and ordering process," the DOC announced at its website. "No books or publications will be shipped directly to an inmate.  [we] will no longer accept books donated directly to individual inmates."

Presented as evidence by the DOC was a letter from a prisoner it said "describes how to smuggle drugs through a popular book donation program." As the Prisoners Lit Project and others pointed out, though, the letter didn't say anything at all about drugs: "the poor guy just wanted a dictionary!"

The project describes itself as an all-volunteer grassroots group that sends free books to prisoners in the United States. It sends 30-40 packages a week to prisonersno drugs includedand plans to fight what it sees as an "unfair and shortsighted change" that will effectively end the program.

"Banning books from 'books to prisoners' organizations is inhumane," it wrote.

Another similar organization, Book' Em, said it mails hundreds of book packages to prisoners and would push back against the policy.

A third, Books to Prisoners, said that Pennsylvania prisons' libraries are underfunded and often inaccessible and challenged the DOC's claims otherwise. The Amistad Law Project described the new policy as "horrible" and "dehumanizing."

The tablet devices hawked by the DOC are bulky and low-end, with tiny low-definition color displays not intended for reading at length, rudimentary hardware and translucent materials to prevent them being used to hide contraband. They cost $147 plus tax, about three times the price of the only extant consumer device, the $50 Amazon Fire, with similar specifications. There is no repair service: any problems with the device and you have to buy a new one.

Then prisoners must pay a minimum of $3 each per eBook from the same state-contracted vendor, which offers a list of only 8,500 titles.

The Philadephia Inquirer's Samantha Melamed writes that other states are embarking on similar plans, and they're likely to meet stiff court challenges.

Critics see the DOC rules as part of the same "war on books"  and they are hoping to achieve the same reversal here. To that end, they've already set up online petitions and planned a day of action for Friday to flood state officials and lawmakers with phone calls. Organizations including the Pennsylvania ACLU and the Pittsburgh-based Abolitionist Law Center that have sued the DOC successfully in the past said they are evaluating the situation. "We're already starting to get a lot of complaints," said the Abolitionist Law Center's Bret Grote. "It was only a few days into this in which it became clear to me that this is almost certainly going to result in years of protracted litigation, and it's going to become a defining moment in the future of prisons in this state."

Photo: Shutterstock.
If you've ever seen what a poultry farm looks like you would not believe chicken that has been slaughtered, frozen, shipped to China for processing, and then shipped back to the US to be sold to consumers was still edible.

I can believe it is cheap, or no one would have thought to put other people at risk to make it happen.

Real Farmacy:

"Chinese chicken" will soon have a whole new meaning, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently gave the green-light to four chicken processing plants in China, allowing chicken raised and slaughtered in the U.S. to be exported to China for processing, and then shipped back to the U.S. and sold on grocery shelves here. Furthermore, the imported processed poultry will not require a country-of-origin label nor will U.S. inspectors be on site at processing plants in China before it is shipped to the United States for human consumption. Food safety experts worry about the quality of chicken processed in a country notorious for avian influenza and food-borne illnesses. And they predict that China will eventually seek to broaden the export rules to allow chickens born and raised in China. "Economically, it doesn't make much sense," said Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, in a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle. "Think about it: A Chinese company would have to purchase frozen chicken in the U.S., pay to ship it 7,000 miles, unload it, transport it to a processing plant, unpack it, cut it up, process/cook it, freeze it, repack it, transport it back to a port, then ship it another 7,000 miles. I don't know how anyone could make a profit doing that." Bureau of Labor Statistics data estimates that American poultry processors are paid roughly $11 per hour on average. In China, reports have circulated that the country's chicken workers can earn significantly less$1 to 2 per hourwhich casts doubt on Super's economic feasibility assessment.

I know the video is about cattle. LAUGH, ok?!
Editor's Note - Jacob Zuma's recent explanation of what a state is and how that means there is no state capture had South African tongues wagging. People are divided in opinion on what Zuma had to say. We take a look here at the opinion of Advocate of the High Court in Johannesburg, Mfesane Siboto.

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Dear former president Jacob Zuma.

As a law graduate, I watched with marvel your eloquent and technically sound exposition of what a state is.

You are indeed correct, Msholozi. I am in agreement that a state is constituted of three branches of governance  the executive, the judiciary and Parliament.

Not once has anyone suggested that the latter two branches have been captured. How then can one argue that there is state capture? Laughable reasoning by your detractors, Nxams. Banomona laba, Msholozi (they are jealous, Msholozi).

They are jealous because you have been successful in radically transforming the lives of those that matter to you. You have led by example, my president. How are you expected to feed the village when you cannot feed your own household? Banomona laba.

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They accused you of patronage. How could they miss the obvious strategy you were employing  build and enrich the core, and then expand outwardly. It all clicked when you insisted that you be kept on as state president to solidify our relations with Brics.

These howling clever blacks missed it. Instead, they aligned themselves with white monopoly capital to discredit the son of the soil, our father in radical economic transformation. They missed the brilliance of your chess acumen. Because of their greed for power, they evicted you from office prematurely. How are we possibly better off as a country without you, Msholozi? Banomona laba.

I digress. Back to what state capture is. You will hear them suddenly say substance over form matters in understanding what state capture is. The fact that one branch is captured does not detract from the substantive argument that state institutions and personalities were used to advance certain interests without complying with the legal prescripts, so they argue.

READ ALSO: Jacob Zuma urges SAs youth to be job creators not job seekers

Then why did they not just call it executive capture then? You will masterfully raise the defense of state capture being a technically incorrect description of what they accuse you of.

Even if they were to suggest that the executive is captured, how many Cabinet ministers are there? Does that mean all ministers are captured? Can they just say what they mean for once?

I retrospectively agree, we should have let you become a dictator so you would not have to deal with such basic minds. The real reason you could not achieve radical economic transformation in time was precisely because they had a ballooned appetite for taking you to court.

None of this would have happened had you been a dictator. They would not let you be a dictator, because banomona laba.

Read the rest of Sibotos views on polygamy on News24.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of Mfesane Siboto and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Briefly.co.za.

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Enjoy the Pastors Joke: What Are Pastors Talking About? check out what else is going on at Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel.

Source: Briefly.co.za
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

MDC Alliance official Discent Collins Bajila has said there is no one who has a monopoly on use of the term "President" in Zimbabwe after some Zanu PF members seemed to be angry and threatening when MDC Alliance is being called People's President."No one has a monopoly on use of the term President in Zimbabwe. The President of Umhlabathi Upha Oginqileyo Goats Project is a President. The President of Checheche Secondary Debate Club is a President and gets installed in terms of the laws of that club," he said."This is not Nazi Germany where the term Further was banned for any other use except in reference to Adolf Hitler. We will have a President of the People of Zimbabwe installed in terms of the needs of the People of Zimbabwe. The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe must not interfere."
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Mkwidzi Secondary and Primary Schools have been asked to close temporarily by the area's Environmental Health Technician Mr Chris Ncube until the community has repaired the borehole and Clean water and Sanitation situation is restored in the two schools.The two schools have been depending on a borehole almost 500m away that is community owned.It was installed with a solar water powering system which was however vandalised and the schools have not been with clean safe water for almost a year now.Attempts to lobby the community to provide clean safe water for the schools has not availed anything The school Heads then informed the GDA RDC as the responsible authority, the Village Health Worker Mrs S Moyo and the Environment Health Technician Mr Chris Ncube with concern about the possibility of the spread of Typhoid and Cholera.Early on Thursday 13th of September 2018 the mentioned health officers discussed with the parents explaining the spread and effects of Cholera and Typhoid with examples from statistics given by the media.They finally gave a resolution that both schools suspend operations until the water situation is solved.They asked to address learners from both schools and informed them about the resolution.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Mthwakazi KaMzilikazi Cultural Association has appealed for donations towards the commemoration of the King Mzilikazi life and death which is scheduled for September 29.The event is set to be held 29 kilometers out of Bulawayo at Mhlahlandlela in Matobo.Umthwakazi ka Mzilikazi Cultural Association every year organises the King Mzilikazi memorial celebrations of the life and death of the King.The event is held in collaboration with stakeholders wishes.The celebrations have been held annually since the year 2000 and are an important event to celebrate the life of one of Africa's greatest icons in living memory according to the association.The organisers of the vent appealed for food donations such as cattle for slaughter, mealie meal, and bush meat among other consumables to make the event memorable.King Mzilikazi left the then Zululand in the 1820s with less than 500 people and fought his way up to present day western Zimbabwe.He was able to persuade some tribes in the Transvaal to join his crusade. Mzilikazi crossed the Limpopo River and finally settled in Matabeleland, establishing his capital at Mhlahlandlela, which was now a recognised historical site and this was the place where they had been hosting such celebrations since the year 2000.For donation the organisation said people can contact Nhlanhla Khumalo on 0775 184 390/ 0712 508 870
News / National

by Staff reporter

Mthuli Ncube, who was appointed Finance minister last week, faces the daunting task of resuscitating the economy amid huge political hurdles and public expectations.Ncube has tabled an ambitious plan that includes scrapping bond notes, dollarising the economy and joining the Rand Monetary Area. However, despite his iron clad will to turn around the economy, Ncube will look to introduce bold changes in a largely unreformed Zanu-PF government that has grown accustomed to living beyond its means and which has a disciple of advancing populist measures ahead of economic rationality.Despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa pontificating about reforms, he acquired more than 200 vehicles for chiefs just before the July 30 elections.Although the civil service wage bill gobbles up more than 90% of revenue, Mnangagwa decided to increase salaries of civil servants and soldiers by 17,5 and 22% respectively just before the elections. The two decisions were widely seen to have been driven by the need to woo votes.Government's penchant for spending is evidenced by the current budget deficit which hovers around US$2billion.The Zanu-PF system vigorously resisted reforms that were proposed by former finance minister Patrick Chinamasa between 2013 and 2018. In 2016, Chinamasa proposed a raft of reforms in his mid-term fiscal policy which included cutting the salaries of cabinet ministers, closing some of the country's embassies and retrenching civil servants.Cabinet threw out his proposals.What makes it even more difficult for Ncube is that he is not in the structures of Zanu-PF, especially the central committee and politburo, where decisions that influence running of government are made.He will have the unenviable task of dealing with parastatal and state-owned entities which are supposed to be locomotives of growth but have been reduced to virtual shells after being run down by gross mismanagement and corruption.He will also have to curb travelling excesses that have taken a huge toll on government revenues, part of the culture of profligacy within Zanu-PF, among other things.Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said Ncube must be allowed by Mnangagwa to bring his own team that prescribes to his vision to turnaround the economy."Ncube needs to bring his own crew that subscribes to his paradigm of doing things," Masunungure said."ED should sweep out the old guard that suffocated Chinamasa from operating when he was Finance minister."He said Mnangagwa must remove the "asphyxiating" culture not only in the Finance ministry, but also in government as a whole."Mnangagwa need to make tough decisions that can facilitate the new minister to make Zimbabwe open for business. Otherwise the "open for business" call will remain just rhetoric, a mantra. He needs to allow Ncube to implement a programme of action that will drive Zimbabwe away from the precipice of collapse," Masunungure said.
5 Of Our Favorite Moments From New York Fashion Week

For some, New York Fashion Week can be likened to a religious experience. I once overheard two women on the subway frantically whisper, The shows are coming! Dont you know? The shows are coming! This cherished encounter will always be the most New York thing thats ever happened to me. But I digress. In an industry known for embracing change and new ideas, fashion is helping lead the way when it comes to social activism.

As the political climate attempts to silence the voices and basic right of individuals, designers are clapping back with shows and collections that are aimed at driving inclusivity. From Opening Ceremonys Drag Spectacular to the fourth annual The Curvy Con conference, gender fluidity and bodies of varying sizes and skin colors are being represented.

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The fashion industry has been accused in the past of marketing diversity as a trend. So, its essential that industry professionals are conscientious of the fact that representation matters as it plays a fundamental role in shaping peoples perceptions and opinions. So in celebration of all things fashion and inclusive, here are five of our favorite moments from #NYFW!

The Curvy Con:

Julie Tong, Venus Williams, Lizzo, Marissa Petteruti, Tracy Reese and Nadia Boujarwah discuss size inclusive fashion. Photo via @thecurvycon

Despite increased visibility, plus-sized fashion is scarcely represented in the retail market. There are over 100 million women in America with disposable income who are above a size 12. Fashion legend Tim Gunn told NPRs Kelly McEvers, If I were a retailer, gee, I would certainly like to help corner that market. In an op-ed published by The Washington Post, Gunn referred to this matter as a disgrace and condemned designers disdain as a lack of imagination and design failure. According to the research firm Edited, 99.9% of luxury designers dont cater to the plus-size market, but The Curvy Conference is determined to change this.

This is the second year the conference was timed to coincide with fashion week. The Curvy Con is dedicated to promoting all things plus size as well as eliminating problematic yet commonly held beliefs that women over a certain size dont care about fashion. This year, panel was held to discuss the current state of plus size fashion, Fashionista, during which plus-size e-commerse site Dia & Co announced an education initiative with Council of Fashion Designers of America to provide funding for classes aimed to teach fashion students on how to design for bodies beyond sample size. Known as the #TeeUp Change campaign, the project will provide funding to fashion education programs across the countryincluding Parsons and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Funding will come from the CFDA as well as sales of a series of limited-edition, $35 graphic T-shirts designed by Lizzo, Marissa Petteruti, Tracy Reese, Christian Siriano and Venus Williams.

Opening Ceremony:

Opening Ceremony. Image via @dizoninc

Opening Ceremony has long prioritized activism: every Friday, 20% of their online sales are donated to organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the ACLU in an initiative known as #FYouFridays. When asked about their charitable motivations in an interview with Time, co-founder and designer Carol Lim stated, Its kind of not an option for us not to speak about issues that we think are important because its who we are as people. Our personal storiestheyre interwoven in what Opening Ceremony is. This seasons show perfectly illustrates that.

The event, labeled The Gift of Showz, took place at Le Poisson Rouge, a historic cabaret club in Greenwich Village. Hosted by RuPauls Drag Race winner Sasha Velour, the drag extravaganza featured a cast of 100% LGBTQIA+ models and performers The Cut reports. The event doubled as a fundraiser, benefitting the Transgender Law Center. Models included Drag Race alums Jiggly Caliente, Shea Coulee and Miss Fame as well as Brooklyn artist West Dakota, Hungry (whos also Bjorks makeup artist), and New York drag legend Lypinska. Models were given five yards of fabric to make custom garments for themselves.

In an industry defined by exclusion, Opening Ceremonys radical celebration of inclusion did not go unnoticed by Velour, who told the audience, Carol, Humberto and the entire team told us in no uncertain terms that we belong in these clothes. Thats a great privilege, and we take it seriously. This is not a time or a country where many queer people get to feel like they truly belong; like they deserve to stand in the spotlight I hope this is what the future looks like.

Claudia Li:

Awkwafina (center) hangs with the models backstage at Claudia Li. Photo via @claudia_li_official

New Zealand designer Claudia Lis first runway show (she had only done presentations before) featured 35 Asian models. Li told Refinery29, The casting is quite personal For me, I think this collection is the right time to do it because its our first official runway show, and this collection is all about memories of how I grew up in New Zealand as an Asian woman. This translated into a collection consisting of loose fitting silhouettes in pale colors and sheer fabric as well as prints of the Mount Cook Lily, a popular flower in New Zealand.

Aside from the nature motifs, Li was also inspired to celebrate Asian women as multi-faceted individuals. Its about representation within Asian womenthere are so many different types of us, and we havent been represented in a diverse way," she told Refinery29. "I just really want to show the personalities of who I am and who these girls are, and I think thats so important right now, and right now is the time to do it. Within the community of Asian women, we are diverse. Its time to break free from that singular definition of Asian beauty. While theres still much work to be done when it comes to diversity in fashion, Claudia Li is taking us in the right direction.

The Blonds:

Leiomy Maldonado front and center at The Blonds show. Image via @theblondsny

Known for their iconic eye-catching, bedazzled corsets and bodycon garments, designers Phillipe and David Blond collaborated with Disney for their Spring/Summer 19 collection, which featured all of your favorite Disney villains, reimagined. According to People, the designers were given access to the Disney Archive Research Library to view the original artwork and sketches to better understand each villains origin. The Daily Beast reports that the models oozed spectacle, posing, strutting and voguing."

Leiomy Maldonado, the trans activist and choreographer, served the crowed with a jaw dropping runway walk. You can watch the spectacle here. Rocking a spiked purple bodysuit with fluffy electric blue shoulder accents, Maldonado commanded the runway with some expert voguing, Harpers Bazaar reports. She made her entrance with the traditional, sensual fashion walk and then started making moves halfway down the runway.

When she reached the end, Maldonado brought the house down with a dip so dramatic and fabulous, I was willing to destroy my checking account for some Christian Louboutin thigh-high boots. As she strutted backstage, Maldonado captivated the audience with more poses, dips and twirls. Most recently, she starred as Florida Ferocity in the new FX series, Pose, which includes the largest cast of trans actors in a TV series. We cant wait to see what this dynamo does next. Go forth and slay, Leiomy!

Savage x Fenty:

Models at Savage x Fenty. Photo via @kirstendodgen (pictured top far left)

Rihanna showcased her first lingerie show in what The New York Times is calling a performance art piece rather than a typical lingerie show, with models moving in slow motion, crawling on all fours, executing fierce choreographed dance moves. The presentation took place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and featured women diverse in race and size, including two visibly pregnant modelsone being Slick Woods, who went into labor after the show, according to E! News.

The lingerie, itself, was a refreshing departure from traditional, patriarchal ideas of sexuality. Looks ranged from romantic, with sheer fabric and touches of lace, to classic, with silhouettes in an array of candy colors and prints, to playfully kinky, with leather corsets, harnesses, flattering cutouts and even a fishnet bodysuit. With the success of Fenty Beauty, Rihanna showed that not only was it possible, it was vital to create a makeup brand that caters to inclusivity, with dozens of colors for every skin tone. She is now doing that with lingerie. Backstage, Rihanna told The New York Times that the shows conception was about Women being celebrated in all forms and all body types and all races and cultures. Its a shame that women have to feel insecure or self-conscious about how their bodies look.

Header photo via @nyfw

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Hi there! Im a comedian, writer and actress living in New York City. Im the only person to have a subscription to Nickelodeon Magazine without access to the Nickelodeon channel. My favorite movie is George Of The Jungle. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @stonecoldvolpe and check out my website francescavolpe.com for more of my writing and silly videos!
By Sarah Dadouch ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Russian military aircraft thunders into the sky at 4.47 pm from Russia's air base at Hmeimim in western Syria, veering to the east. An observer takes note of all three details, opens a phone app and enters the information into three designated fields. Fourteen minutes later and 100 kilometers away, Abdel Razzaq sees the aircraft flying over his town of Maaret al-Numan. He opens his own app and types: Maaret al-Numan, Russian military aircraft, headed northeast. The data is processed by a program, known as Sentry, that estimates the plane's trajectory and sends a warning, triggering Facebook and Telegram messages, Tweets and, most importantly, loud sirens throughout cities in opposition-held Syria. Air strikes have been a fact of daily life for millions of Syrians living in rebel-held areas, becoming far more intense since Russia joined the war in 2015. Before Sentry was introduced, the main warning people had of an air strike was when they heard the planes themselves -- when it was already too late, said Omayya, 50, who was displaced from Aleppo to its northwestern countryside. "There was no use for one to do anything. Sometimes we would actually see the barrels as they fell," she said by Skype, referring to the barrel bombs -- oil drums filled with shrapnel and explosives -- dropped across rebel areas. "We would watch and see the barrels fall and the children would cry." Omayya attended a course run by volunteers about Sentry and how best to survive air strikes. She now knows to open her window so blast pressure doesn't shatter the glass and that her bathroom, in the middle of the house, is the best place to hide. The volunteers taught Omayya's six grandchildren, three of whose fathers have died, what to do if they are told an air strike may hit their school. Naela, one of the volunteers, said they trained children to duck under desks and curl up in the fetal position if they hear the alarm. If the warning is early enough, teachers can take the children down to basements. Women have emerged as one of the main targets of the campaign, Naela said: "Women always carry their mobiles with them, so they get the message wherever they are, whether they are at home, in the kitchen, with their neighbor." The warning system was founded by two Americans, John Jaeger and his business partner Dave Levin, after Jaeger had held a job working with Syrian civilians for the U.S. State Department. "I recognized that the biggest threat to peace inside of Syria was the indiscriminate bombing of civilians," Jaeger explained. "We simply thought that there was more that the international community could and should do to warn civilians in advance of this indiscriminate violence." Their company, Hala Systems, says it has received funding from countries including Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States as well as private donors. The White Helmet rescue workers operating in opposition-held Syria work with Sentry to operate and maintain air raid sirens. "Before, whenever there was bombardment, we wouldn't have knowledge of a strike until the wounded reach us," said Yousef, a 23-year old nurse in a field hospital outside Aleppo. "But now with Sentry, we immediately find out through our mobile that a strike happened. So we know that it's in this area, where there are civilians. So we know there are wounded for sure." The hospital can notify doctors, make sure materials are prepped, and wait for the wounded. "We hugely depend on (the system) because it's become the foundation of our work," he said. Around three million people live in Syria's last major rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. Half are already displaced, having fled government advances in other parts of Syria. In preparation for an expected army offensive, civilians have been readying food and digging shelters. Some even improvised gas masks in case of chemical attacks. PLANE SPOTTING Last week, the Syrian government and allied forces resumed air and ground bombardments, although recent days have been relatively quiet, said Abdel Razzaq, who watches for aircraft and enters the information into the Sentry app. He clicks on the image of a plane to identify what type of aircraft he saw. He chooses the location and what the plane is doing or where it's headed. This dispatches messages on channels like Telegram, sometimes with time-stamped warnings for specific towns and villages. "9:37 pm: Shahshabo Mountain - transport aircraft now heading northeast. Can reach the following areas: Maaret al-Numan: two minutes from now/ Kafranbel: one minute from now." A former English teacher, Abdel Razzaq has been diligently watching planes since 2011, later joining Sentry as an observer. "We're a bunch of guys who are everywhere. Each of us holds a specific district," he said. "We see the plane, the type of plane, with the naked eye and then send the warning." As well as providing warning of attacks that come out of the blue, the system has also helped indicate brief pauses during more sustained attacks, said Hala Systems co-founder Levin. During the offensive on Ghouta, near Damascus, earlier this year, civilians relied on the system to time their brief forays from basements and shelters to get food and water. "That was a big relief for us, that we were actually having impact even when it's raining bombs," Levin said. (Editing by Dominic Evans and Peter Graff)
By Kwasi Kpodo ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana bid farewell to former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday in a state funeral attended by African leaders and international statesmen who hailed his record as an advocate for humanity and world peace. Annan, a Ghanaian national and Noble laureate, died in a Swiss hospital last month at the age of 80. His body was flown to Accra on Monday for burial in his homeland, where he is seen as a national hero. Around 6,000 mourners packed the auditorium for Thursday's official service - the climax of a multi-day funeral ceremony, which has seen his coffin, draped in the Ghanaian national colors, displayed for public viewing. Current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among the dignitaries in attendance, alongside former Ghanaian presidents, the leaders of Ivory Coast, Liberia, Namibia and Niger, and the Crown Prince of Norway. In an address, Guterres hailed Annan, who served as the seventh U.N. Secretary-General between 1997 and 2006, as an exceptional global leader with a deep faith in the role of the United Nations as a force for good. "As we face the headwinds of our troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan," Guterres said. "Our world needs it now more than ever," he said. The ceremony was projected onto big screens outside the auditorium for the crowds of mourners that could not fit inside the venue. Many commuters in the capital wore black as a sign of respect. On Wednesday, Annan's family and Ghanaian dignitaries were among hundreds to file past his casket amid traditional rites by local chiefs and clan leaders. Annan, a Ghanaian of Ashanti lineage, was granted a royal title by the Ashanti king in 2002. The elders said the rites, including presenting him with clothing and water, were necessary to clear the path for a peaceful "travel" for their royal. Some mourners, like New York-based community mayor Delois Blakely, had flown long distances to pay their respects. Blakely, who served as an ambassador of goodwill to Africa at the United Nations, told Reuters: "I had known and worked with Kofi for close to 10 years. He spent his life trying hard to fix our broken society." (Editing by Alessandra Prentice and Alison Williams)
Filmmaker Bonnie Sherr Klein says she is turning heartbreak into action by joining 41 other B.C.-based Order of Canada recipients who have signed a letter calling on the federal government to cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

"I hesitate to use the word heartbroken but that's how I've been feeling after those unbreathable weeks in our city [caused by the wildfires,]" said Sherr Klein from her Vancouver home.

desirebetter.org

The letter opens with the line: "As members of the Order of Canada, whose motto is 'They Desire a Better Country,' we believe it is our role as citizens to speak out about our government's purchase and building of the Trans Mountain pipeline."

Signatories include Robert Bateman, Raffi Cavoukian, Dorothy Grant, Joy Kogawa, Gabor Mate, and David Suzuki.

Sherr Klein, a 2012 officer of the Order of Canada, said there wasn't a great deal of formal organization behind the letter, but once the idea was hatched it came together quickly.

"A few of us who happen to know each other started calling people we knew who had Orders of Canada and it just kind of snowballed," she said.

Dennis Owen/Reuters

"It was very unscientific and no doubt if we had a method of polling everybody [with an Order of Canada] there would be many more signatures."

'Economy vs. climate'

The letter expresses concern about the deep divisions that have been created by the current framing of the argument as "economy vs. climate," and asks that "as a nation we invest in the transition to clean energy and a diversified economy as rapidly as possible."

Sherr Klein said only a few people who were approached chose not to sign the letter. Some said they agreed with the government's position on the pipeline, while others felt it wasn't appropriate to connect the Order of Canada honour to the group's position.

However, Sherr Klein feels speaking out against Trans Mountain aligns perfectly with the values the Order of Canada recognizes.

Story continues

"We have been honoured for our role as citizens and for love of country and for the desire for a better country, yet most people we approached felt powerless to do anything, so we decided to act on our citizenship," she said.

"I think the feeling is climate change is too big an issue to be left entirely to government, and citizens are going to have to engage, young and old."

With files from Yvette Brend

Read more from CBC British Columbia
A family from Freetown, P.E.I., want to thank the Good Samaritans who helped save their daughter's life 21 years ago.

But first, they they have to find them.

Mary Taylor said it's something they've thought about often since that warm summer day in July 1997.

She and her sister-in-law were driving along Highway 2 just outside Springvale. Taylor was in the backseat with her daughter Emma, who was just 11 days old.

Emma was asleep in her car seat when Taylor became concerned  it appeared her baby had stopped breathing.

"I thought maybe it was the heat so I took a cold cloth to kind of wipe her face and she didn't move and that made me nervous," Taylor said.

Taylor then pinched Emma and flicked her feet. Still no reaction. Then she noticed Emma's lips were turning blue.

Vehicles pulled over

"I yelled at my sister-in-law and she pulled over and she got the baby out of the car seat and started doing artificial respiration on her and I went in to the road to flag down people."

It's something we thought about and talked about lots over the years. Who were they?  Mary Taylor

Two vehicles pulled over. One was an older couple in a van. Taylor believes they were from Kensington.

The other was a car. It was full of people, Taylor recalls. One jumped out, a woman who said she was a nurse.

"She came over and started giving Emma artificial respiration and checking her pulse and so forth," Taylor said.

The couple in the van offered to drive them all to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Along the way, the nurse continued to work on Emma.

"She kept telling me that she had a pulse, that it was really low and I just remembered that," Taylor said.

Emma began to cry

When they got to the hospital, Emma was put on a gurney and she began to cry. Taylor said that's when they knew Emma would be OK.

But through it all, Taylor said she was in such a panic she didn't get the names of the couple in the van or the woman who leapt to their rescue at the side of the road.

Story continues

"They just were so generous and so kind and there for me in that moment and then they moved on and we never knew who they were," she said.

"It's something we've thought about and talked about lots over the years. Who were they?"

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Doctors would later determine the cause of Emma's condition was likely Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which was somehow caught and reversed by everyone involved, Taylor said.

The Taylors have since moved to Nova Scotia. Emma, now 21, is a student at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Taylor said Emma has always been curious about the people who helped save her life, and suspects they might be curious about Emma as well.

We've been eternally grateful and we'd love to meet them.  Mary Taylor

"If we had been involved in something like that, we'd want to know whatever became of that baby so we wanted them to know that she grew up to be a wonderful girl," Taylor said.

"It was unbelievable day, as you can imagine, and an unbelievable gift."

The Taylors are asking people to share a post on their Facebook page in hopes of finding the long lost Good Samaritans. As of Thursday afternoon, it had been shared almost 3,000 times.

Anyone with information is asked to post on the Facebook page or email Emma's father at abbi1996@gmail.com.

"We've been eternally grateful and we'd love to meet them," Taylor said.

More P.E.I. news

With files from Mainstreet P.E.I.
Saskatchewan's premier said he was "disappointed" after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other members of the federal Liberal caucus in Saskatoon on Wednesday, where they discussed the contentious issue of the federal carbon tax.

"It's no secret we've had a frosty relationship," said Scott Moe. "I would say the ball is in the prime minister and the federal government's court."

Moe insisted his Saskatchewan Party government's plan to increase carbon sequestration and cut pollution is the right move for Saskatchewan, as opposed to the federal government's call for a carbon tax.

Two hours earlier, federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna  in Saskatoon along with other Liberal MPs for a caucus retreat  made it clear her government disagreed.

'We will have to step in'

"It's unfortunate that there are conservative politicians that have no plan to tackle climate change and have no plan to grow a clean economy," McKenna told reporters.

She said neither Ontario nor Saskatchewan, both of which have expressed opposition to the federal carbon tax plan, has put forward a credible emissions reduction plan.

Radio-Canada

"You can do both. You can tackle climate change and you can grow a clean economy," McKenna said.

"And you can create good jobs. Or, I guess if you're a conservative politician, you can do neither."

McKenna said her government will impose its own carbon pricing scheme on both provinces starting Jan. 1, 2019. It sets a starting price of $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, escalating to $50 per tonne in 2022.

"If provinces don't take serious climate action, if they don't recognize the cost of pollution  we will have to step in and we will return the revenues to individuals directly," McKenna said.

She would not say how her government plans to impose a tax on Ontario and Saskatchewan, which have a combined population of roughly 14.5 million.

Story continues

Carbon tax 'ineffective': Moe

Saskatchewan's premier said such a move would "pull a billion dollars" from the province's mining- and oil-reliant economy.

"To be honest, there's a fork in the road," said Moe, who said mining and oil industries would face unfair competition from companies unfettered by carbon pricing schemes.

Moe called a carbon tax "ineffective," saying it only moves pollution to other parts of the world.

His government has asked the courts to rule on the legality of Ottawa imposing a carbon tax on the province.

Ministers talked taxes, trade

Wednesday's meeting at the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, Saskatchewan's education minister, Gord Wyant, and Saskatchewan's minister of export and trade development, Jeremy Harrison.

Moe said trade, transport and taxes and regulation are the biggest federal concerns for people in Saskatchewan, noting he supports federal NAFTA negotiators and hopes they will soon sign an updated agreement.

"We cannot move forward with a bad deal," said Moe. "I'm not certain we can move forward with no deal either."

He also spoke out against a bill that would scrap the National Energy Board and empower a new body to conduct consultation with groups affected by development  a move the Liberal government says would streamline the approval process for major natural resources projects.

Moe urged the federal government to repeal Bill C-69, in order to create "a positive regulatory environment."

With files from John Paul Tasker
The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Department of Public Safety reversed lanes on Interstate 26, to help residents from coastal areas evacuate from the path of Hurricane Florence.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued evacuation orders for all of the states coastal counties. To facilitate the evacuations, traffic on all lanes of I-26 will be traveling westbound.

These videos, shared online on September 11, show South Carolina Highway Patrol flush cars leaving Columbia to Charleston, and later leading traffic from Charleston to Columbia in the reversed lane of I-26. Credit: Bob Beres via Storyful
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Danish supreme court on Thursday ratified fines given to four Uber drivers for operating illegally, paving the way for similar fines on a further 1,500 drivers. The four taxi drivers, one of whom was fined 486,500 Danish crowns ($78,060), were charged with failing to have permits and for violating a law introduced to combat Uber which imposed extra rules on taxis operating in Denmark. After launching its service in Denmark in 2014, Uber Technologies Inc was criticized by taxi driver unions, companies and politicians who said the company posed unfair competition by not meeting legal standards required for established taxi firms. "We are very disappointed for the drivers involved and our top priority is to support them during this difficult time," an Uber spokeswoman said. "We are changing the way we do business and are operating in line with local laws across Europe, connecting with professionally licensed drivers," she said. The landmark case means the police can issue a fine for each individual ride made by Uber's more than 1,500 drivers in the country between 2014 and 2017. A spokesman for the Copenhagen police said it would assess the verdict and decide next week how to proceed. Parliament passed a law in February 2017 that introduced more stringent requirements on taxis, such as mandatory fare meters and seat sensors. The new rules prompted Uber's withdrawal. The company has previously said it would pay any fine given to its drivers, according to Danish newspaper Berlingske. (Reporting by Emil Gjerding Nielson; Editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and David Evans)
People of all ages, genders and abilities donned their finest red footwear to walk in solidarity with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

The YWCA Regina held its second annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes on Thursday, with nearly 160 registered participants.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about domestic and gender-based violence while fundraising for community programming that helps survivors.

According to a recent report by Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan has the highest reported rate of domestic violence out of all Canadian provinces.

Trent Peppler/CBC

"By talking about some of the complexities and vulnerabilities of trauma that exist when somebody faces violence like that, we start to move the needle slightly," said Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO of YWCA Regina.

"There's been a lot more education because we've started talking about it in an upfront and statistical way."

Last year, YWCA Regina shelters housed 700 women and children fleeing situations of domestic violence, according to the campaign's website.

In 2016, they were forced to turn away 2,000 women and children due to lack of space and resources.

"I want to make sure people understand that the issue affects everybody and anybody," said Coomber-Bendtsen.

"It's not any particular group of people and it's not just women either," she said. "Domestic violence and gender-based violence affects everyone."

Coomber-Bendtsen said the event is also a way to show survivors of domestic and gender-based violence that people in the community support them.

Trent Peppler/CBC

Although the event deals with an important issue, it's also meant to be fun.

Many participants experience the challenges of wearing high heels for the first time.

"It's a small sacrifice for the cause," said Devin Harris, who was participating in the walk.

"It's an hour of discomfort, but one hour is the least we can do."

To get in the spirit, Harris was one of several men who shaved their legs to raise awareness and funds for the campaign.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes events have been taking place across Canada for nearly a decade.
Among those joining the governor on the front row were First Lady Diana Rauner, former IL GOP Chairman Pat Brady, GOP House Leader Jim Durkin, and GOP state lawmakers Rep. Margo McDermed and Keith Wheeler, among others.

CHICAGO - Passing through a picket line of striking hotel workers, a group of Rauner supporters filled a meeting room at Chicago's Hyatt Thursday afternoon to hear the governor's speech dubbed by his campaign as "framing the election."

The governor said he had "grown" and has learned from his mistakes on the job. He contrasted his plans for the state's with his Democrat opponent JB Pritzker. He laid out the differences between the two, and emphasized the need for change was non-partisan.

He asked for four more years to be Illinois' governor and continue his reforms.

Here's his speech in its entirety:

Four years ago, I ran for governor on a bold plan to change state government, and unlock Illinois potential.

I was a political newcomer. A private citizen who was called to serve, to fix the biggest problems in our state.

Serving as your governor is an honor. Its also the hardest thing Ive ever done. To lead Illinois at this critical time, when our challenges as a state are so large, and our politics are so tragically small.

But the cause of fixing the great state of Illinois is worth the stress. Because short of being a good husband, father, and grandfather, building a stronger future for the 12.8 million people of our state is the most important thing Ill do with my life.

To get Illinois back on track, we have to be honest about the changes we need to make. I have been criticized over my time in office for speaking too negatively about Illinois. I dont need to list here today all the challenges we face. But I do believe its my responsibility as governor to tell the truth about the situation we find ourselves in.

Its impossible to fix a problem by pretending it doesnt exist.

The people of Illinois know our system is broken. It was true four years ago. Its still true today.

I passionately believe that we can reform state government under the principle of public service, making government work for the people rather than for the insiders. Taking power from the politicians and giving it back to the people is the key to driving the change we need.

When I arrived in Springfield, I leaned on my decades of experience in the private sector. I was successful in business because I brought out of the box thinking to existing problems. I rose to the top of my field because I challenged the status quo and thought of new ways to do old things. I brought that mindset to Springfield, and sought to turn Illinois around by changing everything at once. I believed a dramatic, aggressive approach could shock state government into shape and bring Illinois back to life.

While it was true  and remains true  that Illinois needs massive reform to get back on track, I underestimated how difficult change can be in government.

You all know this truth: spending more money we dont have and taking more money from taxpayers in hopes it will cover the bill, will lead us to disaster.

But you should know this as well: I have learned from my years on the job.

I have learned that the two most important things for success in public service are courage and understanding.

Courage to do whats right regardless of the political consequences and understanding that there are different points of view, different priorities and approaches, even when we share the same goal of wanting to improve Illinois.

And by embracing courage and understanding, we can chart a new path for Illinois. Thats what I pledge to do over the next four years.

Admittedly, I may have overdone it on the courage part at times. Ive done things that cost me politically, because I was more focused on doing what was right.

I know the budget impasse was painful. It kept me up at night worrying about the disruption that many families experienced. All of us elected officials let you down in that struggle.

But the budget impasse was a fight for reform. The people of Illinois have suffered for decades under a political system that cares less about the people it represents, than about keeping special interests happy to win the next election. A system that does whats politically easy instead of whats right.

It takes courage to stand up to the special interests and the status quo. But Ive learned that its equally important to build mutual understanding  to find common ground with those elected officials who want to change things for the better.

Its no secret that real divides exist between our political parties. Thats why Ive learned to listen. It takes wisdom to listen to those who disagree with you, wisdom that can be gained only through years of tough political fights.

I have learned that building consensus around ideas  hammering out policy details  clearly communicating to the people of Illinois why they matter  these things take time in government. Sometimes more time than wed like.

And I have learned that there are countless areas where we can work together  with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. When we put aside our partisan differences and focus on the good of the people, we can get great things done.

Thats how weve made progress for the people of Illinois. We have made important progress in many areas, including:

Education reform, achieving record levels of K-12 and early childhood investment, greater equity in school funding, and more school choice.

Healthcare reform that improved access to quality care for Illinoisans, saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, and makes us a national leader in behavioral health.

Groundbreaking criminal justice reform, reducing recidivism and increasing public safety by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior.

A future energy plan that puts Illinois on the forefront of efficiency and independence.

A major expansion of the U of I, to make Illinois a world leader in economic growth through technology, research, and innovation.

And by cutting through red tape and supporting entrepreneurs, weve created over 210,000 net new jobs since I took office.

After years of tough political fights, Republicans and Democrats came to the negotiating table and worked together to pass a budget. It isnt perfect; thats the nature of compromise. But its bipartisan momentum we will build on in a second term.

These are OUR successes  bipartisan and with meaningful, measurable, lasting impact for the people of Illinois. Achieving these things required courage  and they required understanding.

I stand before you today a man of no less courage, but perhaps greater understanding.

In divided government, you cant fix things all at once. You have to be willing to accept incremental improvements. You cant sacrifice progress for the sake of winning an argument.

But the disruption, the arguments, the negotiations of the past four years have laid the groundwork for real and necessary change. We can continue to move, albeit more slowly than Id proposed, towards the change that Illinois needs. We can build on the bipartisan successes to move our state forward.

Im a better governor now than when I took office because of what Ive learned. And that experience makes me uniquely qualified to lead Illinois.

Today, I ask voters to allow me to continue the work we started, to unlock Illinois unlimited potential.

The pillars of this work remain the same: reducing taxes, growing jobs, and ending corruption in state government.

My goals for a second term are the complete opposite of my opponents. Pritzkers plans for more reckless spending and another round of devastating tax hikes would spell disaster for our state. We cannot tax our way to a better future.

The reforms we need arent partisan or unreasonable. Our neighboring states have flattened and reduced taxes for their residents. Bluer states than Illinois have put in place the same common sense reforms Ive proposed: Rhode Island Democrats achieved bipartisan pension reform, Massachusetts Democrats reformed their workers compensation and government healthcare systems, California Democrats passed term limits and have tackled gerrymandering.

Weve proposed these things before, but Speaker Madigan has pulled the rug out from under reform. Even when his fellow Democrats desired the same changes, he has stood in the way.

But Speaker Madigan and his political machine are weaker now than at any time in recent memory. The scandals and controversies, the fiscal reality of our state, and the appetite for reform on both sides of the aisle make this moment an opportunity for change.

Ive tried to empower and strengthen the many voices for reform. And with a few more reformers in the General Assembly, we will break through. Reformers who pledge to vote for new leadership in the General Assembly, and hold themselves accountable to the people.

Together, through courage and understanding, we can fix our biggest problems.

Unfortunately, my opponent disagrees.

Im committed to freezing property taxes and removing mandates from Springfield to restore decision making to the local level, to reduce property taxes over time.

Mr. Pritzker opposes a property tax freeze. And mandate relief.

Im committed to lowering income taxes over time  as I outlined in my budget proposal this year  by enacting genuine pension reform that puts us on a sustainable path.

We can come to a compromise on the consideration model that allows hardworking state employees to choose a compensation structure that works best for them.

Its something policy-minded Republicans and Democrats agree on  and we can do it.

Mr. Pritzker believes its a non-starter, and hes proposed nearly $11 billion in new spending with another big tax hike to pay for it all.

Im committed to creating more good-paying jobs through smart regulatory reforms like fixing the broken workers compensation system, which is twice as expensive in Illinois as in neighboring states, and by reducing the massive regulatory burden on our job creators.

Pritzker doesnt think excessive regulations are an issue.

Im committed to putting term limits on all state elected officials and agreeing to independently drawn legislative maps to end the corruption and conflicts of interest that have held Illinois back for decades.

The University of Illinois at Chicago released a study this spring that ranked Chicago as the most corrupt city in America, and Illinois the third most corrupt state.

Ask yourself why Mr. Pritzker has voiced zero concern for the corruption in our state. He might be the only person in Illinois who doesnt think corruption is a problem.

In any other state, these reforms wouldnt be like pulling teeth. They wouldnt create conflict; they would be bipartisan no-brainers.

They are all things that the people of Illinois want and deserve: a government thats more efficient, effective, and accountable to the people.

This November, Illinois voters have the chance to send a message. They can tell the political class that we refuse to go back to a system controlled by a few insiders and that we want common sense reform.

Ive grown in office  Ive changed. Weve made progress. I know we can work together to get even more done.

The people of Illinois have a clear choice in November. Will we continue the hard work of reform, aimed at making this state a place where our children and grandchildren can thrive? Or will we return to the status quo: a government controlled by insiders, hellbent on hiking taxes, with little regard for the consequences felt by ordinary citizens?

Im here to tell you the truth: Pritzker doesnt have what it takes.

Exchanging campaign cash for political favors, and using his inherited wealth to get what he wants out of state government are not prerequisites for being governor. Theyre disqualifications.

A man caught on FBI wiretap trying to buy political office from a criminally corrupt politician is not worthy of the highest office in our state.

A man who inherits billions of dollars, but hides it in offshore bank accounts in the Bahamas to avoid paying taxes, wont work to give YOU the tax relief YOU deserve. His actions are unpatriotic. Hes not paying his fair share.

A man who ripped toilets out of his Chicago mansion to dodge his property taxes wont work to reduce your taxes. His deceitful action just puts more burden on other property taxpayers.

What sort of person would do that?

His behavior shows him to be a person utterly lacking in the integrity and character we need in public office.

If elected, he WOULD get big things done: BIG spending, BIG tax hikes, and BIG support for self-dealing.

Imagine what another tax hike would do to your family budget. Imagine what a new tax on every mile you drive would do.

Ive talked to dozens of families and job creators who have told me that if Pritzker gets into office, and raises taxes as hes promised, they will leave Illinois.

My opponent doesnt have the courage or understanding to lead. Hell only be another insider working for the special interests and against the people.

My opponent thinks he can hide from the media, avoid their questions, and buy this election. I dont often agree with the media, but I respect them enough to address their questions. Because thats what you do when you serve the people.

My opponent thinks he can hide from the truth. But we wont let him.

My opponent thinks he can rail against Washington, and make this election about whats happening over there. But this election is about Illinois, whats happening here, and the future of our state.

Im not perfect, but Ive grown  and Im still committed to doing whats right for Illinois.

Serious challenges require serious leaders, willing to listen and willing to do what it takes.

State government of the insiders, by the insiders, and for the insiders is destined to fail the people.

But I believe in the potential of Illinois, I believe in the people of Illinois, who make us the greatest state in the greatest nation on earth.

This election isnt about me. Its not about Republican vs. Democrat. Its about the people vs. the corrupt political machine. Its about the taxpayers and job creators vs. the insiders.

Its about you, and finally delivering the tax relief, the jobs, and the healthy economy you deserve.

Its about delivering the future our children and grandchildren deserve.

I humbly ask for another four years to finish the job we started, to save our state. I hope youll join me in our fight.

Illinois is OUR home. Its OUR fight. And its OUR future on the line.

God bless you, God bless the great state of Illinois, and God bless the United States of America.
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Of the 50 million Americans living with chronic pain, the pain is so bad for 20 million that it keeps them from doing the daily activities of life, researchers say.

According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain are more common among women, older adults, the poor, people previously employed, those with public health insurance or living in rural areas.

Not only is chronic pain widespread, it lies at the root of the opioid epidemic, said Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Conn.

"Potentially overlooked is the crisis that precipitated the opioid crisis -- the high prevalence of chronic pain in need of relief," he said.

The CDC report is a reminder that an epidemic of chronic pain existed before it was compounded by an epidemic of opioid misuse, explained Katz, who was not involved with the new study.

Chronic pain must be prevented more often and treated with compassion, effectiveness and safety once it begins, he added. "Efforts to limit the harms of opioid analgesics cannot result in neglect of patients' pain," Katz said.

Coping with chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain are associated with restrictions in mobility and daily activities, opioid dependence, anxiety, depression and a poor quality of life, according to the study authors.

In addition to the suffering of millions of citizens, chronic pain costs an estimated $560 billion each year in medical expenses, lost productivity and disability programs, the researchers said.

In light of these problems, mainstream medicine must embrace valid approaches to pain management other than drugs, Katz suggested.

"This is already an established objective among those dedicated to state-of-the-art pain management, but it must become the routine standard of care," he said.

Care must be more holistic and patient-oriented, Katz stressed.

A prescription for an opioid is a quick, easy response from a busy doctor. "But the patient in pain might improve with better sleep, stress reduction and relief of loneliness," Katz said.

Dr. Mark Bicket, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said that effective pain management needs to be a team effort. "Appropriate treatment for chronic pain involves more than just medicines," he explained.

Managing chronic pain effectively involves a group that includes doctors, physical therapists and others, and activities like yoga or meditation, Bicket said.

And non-narcotic painkillers -- such as Aleve or Tylenol -- may be just as effective in controlling chronic pain. Typically, a combination of a painkiller and exercise or physical therapy is the most effective way to manage chronic pain, he said.

"If you are living with chronic pain, you are not alone," Bicket said. "And you deserve to have a discussion about the different options to treat your pain."

The researchers, led by James Dahlhamer, of the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, published their findings Sept. 14 in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

More information

Visit the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for more on chronic pain.
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- High doses of folic acid do not protect pregnant women against a sometimes deadly complication called preeclampsia, a large trial suggests.

The finding frustrates the search for an effective way to prevent preeclampsia, or dangerously high blood pressure in pregnancy, in women who are at high risk for it.

"We thought we had something that would help so many women, but at the same time we can never be disappointed with the truth," said senior study author Dr. Mark Walker. He's head of obstetrics, gynecology and newborn care at The Ottawa Hospital in Ontario, Canada.

Preeclampsia is the leading cause of pregnancy-related complications and death worldwide, affecting about 10 million women a year. The most effective treatment is to deliver the baby, sometimes preterm. Medications, such as those to lower blood pressure, are also recommended for some women.

Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps cells grow. It is recommended for women who are trying to conceive and those who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, to prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Previous research, though inconsistent, suggested high doses throughout pregnancy might also offer some protection against preeclampsia. But the new study found no benefit from a high dose after the first trimester.

"We know many, many women who are being treated that don't need to be so, if anything, our results are going to be changing practice," said Walker.

The study included about 2,460 women in five countries who had at least one risk factor for preeclampsia -- obesity, twin pregnancy, existing high blood pressure, pre-pregnancy diabetes or a previous history of preeclampsia.

Each received up to 1.1 milligrams of folic acid daily throughout their pregnancy. About half were randomly chosen to also take a daily high-dose (4-milligram) supplement, starting at 8 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. The others took a placebo.

About 15 percent of the women in the high-dose group developed preeclampsia, as did 13.5 percent of those who took the dummy pills -- not a meaningful difference.

Rates of stillbirth were also similar between the two groups, between 1 percent and 2 percent. In addition, the study found no difference between the groups for any other negative outcomes.

The results were published Sept. 13 in The BMJ.

Dr. Aaron Caughey, associate dean for Women's Health Research and Policy at Oregon Health and Science University, reviewed the findings.

"We've been looking at so many things, but nothing seems to work," he said. "I don't find it particularly surprising. You hate to conduct a large trial like this and have negative findings, but the point is to find out if something works or not."

Doctors routinely prescribe a baby aspirin for women who are at high risk of preeclampsia, Caughey said, and an increasing number are recommending a double dose. He said a recent study of the diabetes drug metformin in pregnant women also found a small reduction in preeclampsia, but further investigation is needed.

The best way women can lower their risk is to plan their pregnancies, try to get in shape before conceiving and then follow doctors' recommendations about weight gain during pregnancy, Caughey said.

Walker noted that his team plans to follow the babies born to mothers in the study for six years, to see if the higher doses of folic acid affected their health or brain development.

"After this study, we are even hungrier than we were 10 years ago to find other therapies," Walker said.

He noted that preeclampsia may have genetic causes in some patients, while environmental exposure or immune system issues may be at play in others. Ultimately, he suspects the solution will be found in precision medicine -- therapies tailored to individual patients.

Dr. Lucy Chappell, a research professor in obstetrics at King's College London, co-wrote an editorial that accompanied the study. It called the findings disappointing, noting that other promising treatments, including antioxidant supplements, have also failed to yield hoped-for benefits.

"All pregnant women and their families hope for a healthy pregnancy and a happy outcome; until we find additional ways to prevent preeclampsia, thousands of women each year will not achieve this goal," Chappell and her colleagues wrote.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about preeclampsia.
Knight Frank, the leading International Property Consultants launched the half-year update of The Wealth Report that takes a deeper dive into the wealth distribution data from the 2018 edition of The Wealth Report, by analysing the population of global demi-billionaires.

The analysis highlights that in five years' time the number of demi-billionaires, those with $500 million or more in net assets, in Asia will overtake those in North America for the first time. Wealth data specialists Wealth-X predict that there will be almost 3,000 people based in Asia who have more than US$500 million in assets by 2022.







Knight Frank cites strong global economic growth, as well as rising asset prices as key drivers behind the growth in the world's demi-billionaire population. By 2022, Wealth-X anticipates that there will be 9,570 demi-billionaires worldwide, up from 6,900 at the end of 2017.

Key Takeaways  India

* India had 200 demi-billionaires (those with $500 million or more in net assets) in 2017, and this number is slated to increase to 340 in 2022. In comparison, the population of demibillionaires in France will increase from 230 in 2017 to 310 in 2022 while Russia and the UK, both of which had 220 demi-billionaires in 2017, are expected to increase their numbers by merely 50 and 40 respectively

* Mumbai displayed 0.6% change in the PIRI City Index thus implying largely stable prices during this period, a positive for the investor community. PIRI gauges the luxury prices and price performance for 20 of the world's key cities

Knight Franks Prime International Residential Index (PIRI), City 20:

City Annual % change (June 2017-18) City Annual % change (June 2017-18) Singapore 11.5% Melbourne 5.4% Madrid 10.3% Shanghai 3.3% Tokyo 9.4% Miami: 3.3% Berlin 8.5% Monaco 1.0% Cape Town 8.2% Mumbai 0.6% Los Angeles: 7.8% New York 0.1% Beijing 7.3% Dubai -0.8% Hong Kong 6.4% London -1.8% Paris 6.0% Istanbul -2.4% Sydney 5.7% Vancouver -6.2%



Key Takeaways  Global

* The US will remain the country with the biggest overall population of demi-billionaires, expected to rise from 1,830 to nearly 2,500 over the next five years. In China, the number will grow from 490 to 990, says Wealth-X.

* Despite the rise in political uncertainty and unknowns surrounding the final Brexit deal, the UK saw the largest inflow of overseas deposits globally in 2017, rising to US$1.8 trillion, a currency adjusted annual net inflow of US$239 billion, according to Bank for International Settlements (BIS) data analysed in the annual Knight Frank Wealth Report.

* Singapore experiences resurgent price growth in Knight Frank's analysis of 20 prime international residential markets. Singapore leads the house price rankings (+11.5%). The city has witnessed resurgent price growth due to rising foreign demand and high land bids by developers.

* The US was the largest origin for deposit outflows, reaching US$220 billion in 2018. The most popular destinations for these funds were the UK, France and Canada.

Shishir Baijal, Chairman & Managing Director Knight Frank India said, "The latest Wealth Report Autumn Update 2018 captures interesting perspectives of the global wealthy on a range of factors concerning their decisions on wealth and spending.







Closer home, the report's findings show that prime residential markets in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi have remained largely stable in the last five years, which creates a good entry opportunity for buyers. At the same time, the number of demi-billionaires has been steadily increasing in India and is poised to grow by 70% by 2022, clearly underscoring the potential for demand and price growth going forward."







About Knight Frank

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank has more than 14,000 people operating from 413 offices across 60 markets. The Group advises clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants. For further information about the Company, please visit www.knightfrank.com.

In India, Knight Frank is headquartered in Mumbai and has more than 1,000 experts across Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Backed by strong research and analytics, our experts offer a comprehensive range of real estate services across advisory, valuation and consulting, transactions (residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, land & capitals), facilities management and project management. For more information, visit www.knightfrank.co.in.

Source: Knight Frank
As we recently remembered the terrorist attacks on 9/11, our American Representative Republic - established over 200 years ago - is being challenged by those that claim to be patriots, but whose actions tell a very different story. It is well to remember that we are not a democracy, but a representative republic. Democracy results in mob rule. The Left wants a democracy, and that is obvious given the mobs that have been fermented against President Trump.

Obama's Partnership with "Organizing for Action" (a Soros group)

Of important is that former President Obama has partnered with a prominent Leftist group, whose purposes is not unique, but its choice of actions are questionable. The opposition group isOrganizing for Action (OFA). There is nothing wrong with the formation of groups, but it gets a bit dicey when a groups primary purpose is to destroy an American president, which began within weeks after President Trumps election. The claim to OFAs opposition rests on altruistic purposes, rather than the presence of a specific crime worthy of its wrath against President Trump.

Who are these people who are trying to undermine a duly elected president? The answer should be of concern. One of the primary people involved is former President Barak Obama; however, the major culprit financing this travesty is billionaire George Soros, who is using millions of dollars and dozens of his Leftist political umbrella groups to purposely take down our current President. In that this effort began within days after President Trump's inauguration, it cannot be said it was due to our new President making a mistake that warranted it.

It is also unprecedented in American history to form groups to protest even before a presidents inauguration ceremony, but this did happen. Although it's untrue that paid protestors were bused into specific city streets to protest Trumps presidency, protests did take place. Although this travesty sounds more like a bad movie, sadly it was reality.

Trump's Resistance Mainly Led by Socialist Democrats

President Trumps post-election opposition groups to remove Trump from office, mainly composed of Socialist Democrats, had a willing ally when most major mainstream news sources linked arms in finding ways to malign our new President by attempting to persuade the public into believing lies and deceptions that President Trump was unfit for the position and a danger to our democracy.

The protestors were not honest brokers, because the politically astute knew Hillary Clinton proved herself unfit for the highest office in the country. She lied about Bengazhi, lied about her unprotected server, lied about her involvement with Uranium One, and the list goes on and on of Hillarys mistakes and attempted cover ups. When Obama's F.B.I. director was forced to admit Hillary had violated federal laws by her careless use of her phone and computer, and then just slapped her on the wrist for violating federal laws, many Americans thought President Obama was complicit in protecting her. Unquestionably, Director Comey was exceedingly lenient to a fault.

To their credit, many Independents, and even Democrat voters, realized this injustice and voted their conscience, which resulted in Trumps election as president. Almost two years since Trumps presidential victory, George Soros funded groups, most Socialist Democrats in positions of authority, as well as major media sources, continue with their hateful tactics to destroy our President. Every word or decision President Trump makes is scrutinized in the hope his opponents can use it to destroy Trump and his presidency. Unfortunately, in the process, there is the potential these actions could end up harming our country, not just Trump.

Recently President Barack Obama gave a speech at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The central conceit of the speech was that President Donald Trump had broken American politics, which only reminded Americans of why Trump is President. Past presidents honored the unspoken pledge not to interfere with his successor's presidency.

Loyalty Questioned of Trump's Opponents

Do Trumps opponents really care about their country, or are they more interested in what is best for themselves in maintaining the status quo, from which they receive power and money in their quest to establish a globalist, Socialist nation? Will George Soros with his political organization, his money, and help from the Leftist mainstream media end up destroying President Trump? "Organizing for America is often labeled a "shadow government, whose goal is to resist President Trump in every way possible. If this group, which includes former President Obama, is successful, what will the ultimate consequences be for America? How long can a nation survive when media sources refuse to expose the fact that leftist groups throughout this nation are working to destroy President Trumps credibility and decisions? That newspapers and television programming sources align with this anti-Trump group is obvious, in that little is ever mentioned about Trump and his accomplishment.

Leaders and members of OFA, and similar well financed leftist groups, consider themselves heroes for their actions to destroy our President. To say the least, this is a slap in the face of Americans who chose Trump to be our President, but most troubling is that these Leftists are endangering our nation. One might even label their actions subversion?

Foreign nations are most likely aware of the blatant internal attacks to destroy President Trump, as well as an existing shadow government purposing to divide our people. This makes America more vulnerable to attacks by our enemies.

Kavanaugh Hearings: A Political Circus

A more deliberate, vicious attack has not been seen since congressional leftists robbed Robert Bork of being a Supreme Court Justice by what later proved to be despicable lies about his life and character. Recently, through courtesy of Congressional Democrat officials, a political circus was on display during the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Despite the intense questioning of the Democrats, Judge Kavanaugh displayed himself as an exceedingly qualified candidate for the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has one of the greatest minds of our century; his memory of cases is profound; his fairness as a judge unquestionable; his calm under pressure is amazing; and his professionalism is outstanding.

Ironically, one of the bigger stories which may be most remembered in the current confirmation process was the tactics of Democrat Cory Booker. Pretending to be a martyr, Booker made a grandstanding declaration during the confirmation hearing over an email chain he hoped would ruin Kavanaugh by finding him guilty of racial profiling. Booker claimed himself willing to take the punishment for breaking Senate rules by releasing classified information about Kavanaugh. However, it turned out Booker was no martyr after all, because the material had been declassified the night before. There is every indication Booker knew of this.

The nomination of Kavanaugh makes most Americans grateful who voted for Trump. His choice of Kavanaugh has been confirmed as brilliant. That Democrats revealed their nasty tactics during the confirmation process was a bonus. It is always good for America when we see both greatness and pettiness in people. We can then appreciate the differences and remember them for a future time.

Mainstream Media: Adversary of our Representative Republic

The American mainstream media remains as a major problem, in its ability to sway average citizens to their own political views. There is nothing more despicable than a prejudiced press pretending fairness regarding political reporting, when its reporting is far from being fair. Glaring examples of bias can be found in how the media protected President Obama, when now the media is doing its best to expose any negative about President Trump, even if it must be made up. This should be a blatant eye-opener, signaling problems ahead for the United States. A biased media represents more than just unfairness; it is a curse in that it deprives all Americans of knowing facts needed to make choices and decisions they believe to be best.

The job of accurately and fairly reporting the news is thus essential if the United States is to remain the great country that has been the envy of the world for many decades. Our citizens must demand honest political reporting; our countrys future depends upon it. No matter which side of the political spectrum, confidence must exist that the mainstream media sources are providing essential facts free of bias, thus allowing each of us to decide important issues for ourselves. This is what provides us the best chance to keep America great and our Constitutional Representative government in place for future generations.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Construction took eight years, made possible by fundraising by the bishop, Mgr Giulio Mencuccini. The new building can hold 2,000 people, four times the capacity of the old cathedral. Traditional Dayak ceremonies welcomed the bishops before the festive service.

Sanggau (AsiaNews)  Some 15,000 Catholics travelled from different parts of the remote province of West Kalimantan to take part in the consecration of the new cathedral in Sanggau, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The festive Eucharistic celebration was held two days ago marking the end of construction. Everything started eight years ago with a fundraising campaign promoted by Mgr Giulio Mencuccini, bishop of Sanggau. With a capacity of about 2,000 people, the new building replaces the old cathedral, which could only accommodate 500.

Mgr Ignatius Suharyo, archbishop of Jakarta and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI), offered his blessing for the church.

The service was led by Mgr Mencuccini with the participation of 17 bishops, hundreds of priests, men and women religious and believers from the parishes of the diocese and other parts of the province.

The day before, Mgr Mencuccini led a day of retreat in the presence of several prominent members of the local Catholic community. The district chief, who was present alongside the bishop, provide some material for discussion.

Fr Bartolomius Pr, a parish priest, told AsiaNews that "2,000 people joined the event". One of issues discussed was the social commitment of Catholics in the Sanggau community. "In addition to being independent and impartial, people called on the Church to be integrated and involved in society, Fr Bartolomius said.

Some traditional ceremonies were held before the inauguration. Ethnic Dayak welcomed the 17 bishops by offering them a typical scarf, a symbol of courteous hospitality and socialisation.

They then asked Mgr Suharyo to perform the Pancung Buluh Muda, the breaking of a young bamboo cane. Outsiders carry out this symbolic gesture when they enter Dayak communities.

In his homily, Mgr Mencuccini called on those present "to become messengers of love and passion for others and be like a candle in the dark."

"Let us come to church and take home the spirit of tolerance and solidarity towards others", the bishop said by way of conclusion.

(Sr Maria Ludovika OSA contributed to the article. Photo credit: Sr Maria Ludovika and Ayong Bonaventura)
Meghalaya: To develop 25,000 fresh fish ponds

September 14,2018 | Source: UNI India

The Meghalaya government has proposed to developed around 25,000 fresh fish pond to make the state a self sufficient in fish production. Proposals are in progress for developing around 25,000 fresh fish ponds we want the state to produce fish on its own in the next few years without depending on others, Fisheries Minister Comingone Ymbon said. Meghalaya had developed around 17,000 fish ponds under the state aquaculture mission so far.



He said the government would submit the proposals to the Centre for financial assistance. The financial requirement for developing the proposed fish ponds is yet to be worked out. Meghalaya imports about 21,000 metric tonnes of fish annually from outside like Andhra Pradesh, while the state on its own produces only around 12,000 metric tonnes annually. In the last five years, the fish ponds created under aquaculture mission could produce around 8,000 metric tonnes of fish in a year.
Andhra Pradesh: Ramayapatnam fishermen a worried lot

by S. Murali

September 14,2018 | Source: The Hindu

Thirty-five-year-old Chapala Shanthakumari, a fisherwoman from Ramayapatnam, stares at the sea with worry writ large on her face, having come to know about the State government clearing the decks for the location of a port in the sleepy village.



Unable to reconcile with the thought of displacement from the village soon or later, she says, It will be better if the news is false. We are eking out a living in a small way by selling the catch brought by our men from the sea. We will be fish out of water if we are moved out from here, she tells The Hindu in a choked voice. Members of the community share her concerns over displacement and resettlement as they are agitated over the port coming up in their vicinity even before addressing their problems.



None of the us holds even a cent of land. Any amount given as compensation will be spent in no time. We will not be able to lead a dignified life thereafter, says village sarpanch Avanigadda Krishna Rao. The policies evolved to compensate for the project-induced displacement and resettlement are followed more in breach than in practice, complains M. Koteswara Rao, a fisherman. To drive home his point, Mr. Koteswara Rao refers to the alleged removal of the fishermen, who had been initially employed at a private port in the neighbouring SRSP Nellore district but thrown out of their jobs by the port management under one pretext or the other later. Fishermen who had resided there could not organise themselves to assert their rights, he said.



Do-or-die struggle



There is an urgent need to bring together fishermen living in the coastal region, from Tada to Itchapuram, to thwart their eviction in the name of development, which does not mean anything to us, the fishermen of the village say, gearing up for a do-or-die struggle for a fair deal. The district may witness rapid port-led development. But we may be left out of the development process, they fear.



None of the officials has visited us so far. The government should first take us into confidence, and come out with an attractive resettlement package before laying the foundation stone for the project, says Chapala Ramanaiah while pressing for gainful employment to both literates and illiterates.



Recalling the way the fishermen had been forcibly evicted to pave the way for setting up of the Gangavaram port, the fishermen want the government to promote a fishing harbour for their benefit and address all their concerns relating to resettlement first before proceeding ahead with the sea port project.
Maldives: Geopolitics of IOR

by Sahibzada M Saeed

September 14,2018 | Source: Pakistan Observer

The recent development in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) which has discomforted India is the Maldivian decision to ask India to take back its troops and military hardware from Maldives in given time period. For decades India enjoyed its sphere of influence in Maldives, an archipelago which sits near the worlds busiest Sea Lane of Communication (SLOC) in the Indian Ocean. The policy making circles in New Delhi are considering this move of an island nation on the consent of Beijing. Here it is important to mention that most recently Maldives and China have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Maldives President Abdulla Yameens visit to Beijing. Different experts on IOR are considering this FTA a stunning blow for Indian Influence.



Under the FTA, China and Maldives would reduce the tariffs of over 95 percent of the goods to zero. They are also committed to opening the service market such as finance, healthcare and tourism and agreed to cooperate practically in key areas, China said in a statement. According to Maldives Ministry for Economic Development, although the country will lose $4 million in import duty revenue in 2018 because of a tariff waiver on Chinese goods, it will earn higher revenue from the goods and services tax due to trade creation and trade expansion once the FTA comes into force. The FTA is also expected to boost Maldives fishing industry. Indeed it was to open up new markets to Maldivian fish traders that Maldives decided to pursue an FTA with China, its government said.



Maldives an archipelago of around 1200 islands in Indian Ocean has much strategic significances by dent of its geographical proximity to Indo-Pacific SLOC through which two-thirds of the worlds oil passes. Maldives is also located just 700 km from Indias Lakshadweep island chain and around 1,200 km from the Indian mainland. Indo-Maldives relations have centuries long history. In modern age the bilateral relations grew when Maldives got independence from British colonial rule in 1965 and strengthened in the 1980s and 1990s. For building Maldives economy and establishing political structure India played a quite vibrant role. India supported the authoritarian rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and make him to remain in power. In current geopolitical scenario, Indian Ocean is the top agenda of Modi government. In international affairs, IOR has pivotal importance with great potential to become the most important source of new global growth. 21st century maritime Silk Road has created rivalry between China and America and its regional allies especially India, for maintaining their hegemonic power in IOR.



When cold war ended in 1990, there was unipolar structure in the world. America was the sole and strong power in terms of economic and military strength and remained hegemonic state of world. But on the basis of speedy economic growth and higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Chinese economy has exceeded the American economy in the first decade of 21st century. Chinese energy demands are highest compared to all major countries of the world and as its local energy resources are very limited so it became No 1 energy importer of the world.



On the other hand, India considers itself the pre-eminent power in IOR. The situation in the region and especially in Maldives is clearly an important phase in the evolution of Indian thinking on the region. India is looking Chinese ventures in IOR in purely strategic terms. Nehru Doctrine also assert that India will not tolerate any power in IOR. In other words from Cap of Good hope (South Africa) to Strait of Lombok (Indonesia) the whole Indian Ocean is Indias ocean and any extra region power will respect Indian consent. Perhaps India is maximizing its geo-strategic and geo-economic influence on different small states in Indian Ocean. Along with it, Indias Act East Policy has certain compatibility with American Indo-Pacific Policy. In maritime domain, US Indo-Pacific Command and Indian Navy have signed many MoUs for cooperation and coordination to counter Chinese military and economic hegemony in the region.



In June this year, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, announced that the US Pacific Command will now be called the US Indo-Pacific Command. The name change, seen by observers as an important tactical move for strengthening Indo-US naval ties. In the context of resent diplomatic unrest between India and Maldives it is evident that Indian rule of IOR is passing from a rough and bumpy track. Basically, India is not fearful of the Maldives. India is fearful of the Chinas increasing influence in the region through its investments in the Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. If China succeeded to materialize its plans in the region then China would be the power that will challenge India economically and militarily.
Iran Human Rights (Sep 13, 2018): A man who was sentenced to death on the charge of harassing and murdering a 13-year-old teenager was hanged in public in Marvdasht.





According to the state-run news agency, Mizan, on the morning of Thursday, September 13, a prisoner was hanged in public in Marvdasht.





The prisoner was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of kidnapping, injuring, harassing, and murdering a 13-year-old teenager.





The report states, The murderer kidnaps and takes the 13-year-old teenager to the mountains and harasses him mentally and physically for 15 days. Afterwards, he throws him down the mountain.









Warning: Graphic Content!



Video of the execution (Source: Iran HRM It should be noted that public executions have repeatedly been criticized by the United Nations. Both the UN Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran have expressed concern about the continued practice of public executions in Iran.





Prisoner Hanged at Miandoab Prison





Iran Human Rights (Sep 10, 2018): Kamal Ahmadnejad, who was charged with cooperating and being a member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and murdering Hashem Zeynali, a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , was executed at Miandoab Prison.





According to a close source, on the morning of Monday, September 10, a prisoner named Kamal Ahmadnejad was executed at Miandoab Prison. He was charged with cooperating and being a member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and murdering Hashem Zeynali, a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is not clear if his execution was carried out for murder charges or rebellion.





A close source told IHR, They tortured him for six months and forced a confession out of him. He added, Kamal wasnt even allowed to meet his family for the last time.





Ahmadnejad was arrested by the guards of the Ministry of Intelligence in Miandoab on December 24, 2014, and was sentenced to death through an unfair trial.





According to a report by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights of Kurdistan, Ahmadnejad was arrested along with five other people named Halmat Abdollahi, Milad Abdi, Saeed Siahi, Soleyman Kari, and Mostafa Tehzadeh. Ahmadnejad was sentenced to death and the five other defendants were each sentenced to 15 years on September 18, 2016.





The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far.





It should be noted that on the morning of Saturday, September 8, three Kurdish political prisoners named Ramin Hossein Panahi, Zanyar Moradi, and Loqman Moradi were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison.





Man Hanged at Saravan Prison





Iran Human Rights (Sep 13, 2018): One prisoner was executed at Saravan Prison on murder charges.





According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, September 12, a prisoner who was sentenced to death on murder charges was executed at Saravan Prison.





The prisoner was identified as Nazir Ahmad Gomshadzehi from Saravan.





Habibollah Sarbazi, Baluchi human rights activist, told IHR, Nazir Ahmad was in prison for three years and five months. His funeral was held yesterday evening.





According to a report by Baluch Activists Campaign, Nazir Ahmad Gomshadzehi was arrested in 2015.





The execution of this prisoner has not been announced by the state-run media so far.





According to Iran Human Rights annual report on the death penalty, 240 of the 517 execution sentences in 2017 were implemented due to murder charges. There is a lack of a classification of murder by degree in Iran which results in issuing a death sentence for any kind of murder regardless of intensity and intent.





Iran Executions and the Cycle of Violence: Victims Brother Murdered in Retaliation for the Execution of the Murderer





Iran Human Rights (Sep 11, 2018): After the execution of one of his relatives, a 38-year-old man stabbed the victims brother to death in retaliation. Many social science experts believe that Qisas leads to an increase in violence in a society.





According to a report by Rokna news agency, Sarallah Hospital reported the murder of a 45-year-old man who was stabbed with a knife and a stick in April. The man, named Qasem, was attacked in front of his house and transferred to the hospital by his family.





The victims wife said to the police, My husband left home to go to work early in the morning. A short while after he left, someone rang the doorbell.





She continued, I went out and saw my husband wounded severely. My son and neighbours came to help after they heard my screams. Then we took my husband to the hospital but he passed away. We had no idea who had done that. I suspect the family of the person who murdered my brother-in-law in a street fight ten years ago. The convicts family tried so hard to gain the consent of the plaintiffs but then he was executed in November last year anyway. Later, the convicts brother and his friends beat and injured my other brother-in-law. We filed a complaint against them and an arrest warrant was issued for the convicts brother.





She added, They kept harassing us. Even their sister threatened me to death.





Finally, a 38-year-old man who worked at a bakery told the police, The convict was one of my relatives. I went to the plaintiffs along with his family several times in order to gain their consent but we failed and he was executed last year.





He added, We held a grudge against the victims family. When I saw how horrible the convicts family felt, I decided to take action and punish the victims family myself.





He continued, I made a plan with my friend and took a stick and knife from his house. We waited outside the mans house until he came out in his car. We attacked and injured him and then we escaped. The next day I heard that he was dead. We didnt mean to kill him.





Apart from discussions about whether the death penalty is right or wrong, it should be considered that according to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, murder is punished by Qisas; that is, the family of the victim decides whether the defendant lives or dies which is nothing more than revenge. One of the reasons civil activists and human rights organizations are against Qisas is that it increases violence in a society. According to the law of Iran, the government devolves the responsibility of execution to the victims families.

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Global oil output hit a record of 100 million barrels per day in August, but the market may tighten and prices rise as exports from Iran and Venezuela decline, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.

Paris: Global oil output hit a record of 100 million barrels per day in August, but the market may tighten and prices rise as exports from Iran and Venezuela decline, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.

"We are entering a very crucial period for the oil market," the IEA said in its latest monthly report. "Things are tightening up." The global record came as output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries rose to a nine-month high of over 32 million barrels per day (mb/d).

The cartel had agreed in Vienna in June to push up production in order to put a cap on soaring prices. In recent months, prices have wavered comfortably between the USD 70 and USD 80 per barrel on the Brent crude futures contract.

According to the IEA, a rebound in Libyan production, near-record Iraqi output and higher supply from Nigeria and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia have so far managed to offset the impact of shrinking production from crisis-hit Venezuela and Iran.

But with the crisis in Venezuela showing no sign of abating, and with new US sanctions on Iran's oil industry set to come into force on November 4, other producers may have to ramp up production even further if they want to limit the impact on the market. "It remains to be seen if other producers decide to increase their production.

The price range for Brent of USD 70-USD 80/bbl in place since April could be tested," the IEA said. In May, US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and said other countries must stop buying oil from Tehran or face American sanctions.

And hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have fled their country since the nation became engulfed in a political crisis that has sent the economy into free fall.

"The situation in Venezuela could deteriorate even faster, strife could return to Libya and the 53 days to 4 November will reveal more decisions taken by countries and companies with respect to Iranian oil purchases," the IEA said.

Output from OPEC member Iran in August hit its lowest level since July 2016, the IEA said, "as more buyers distanced themselves from Tehran ahead of looming US sanctions", the report said. Top buyers China and India have already cut back purchases from Tehran, and other countries are likely to do the same between now and November.

"While Iranian exports have fallen by nearly 500,000 barrels per day since May, shipments from Iraq and Saudi Arabia have risen by 200,000 barrels per day and 60,000 barrels per day respectively," the IEA added.

In Venezuela too, production dipped in August to 1.24 million barrels a day, and should it continue to decline, may hit 1 million barrels a day at the end of 2018. OPEC, of which Venezuela is a member, had already warned that the country's output was at a three-decade low.

"If Venezuelan and Iranian exports do continue to fall, markets could tighten and oil prices could rise without offsetting production increases from elsewhere," the IEA warned.
Tularemia is rare but can affect both humans and animals if they eat undercooked meat from an infected animal, usually rabbits. (Photo: Pixabay)

In a bizarre case, a man developed mysterious boils on his neck after catching a life-threatening infection from his cat.

The 68-year-old from Missouri, went to the doctor after enduring painful red swellings on the right side of his neck for two months.

Blood tests revealed he was battling the rare condition tularemia, which can cause deadly pneumonia in up to 60 per cent of cases. The man is thought to have caught the disease from his cat, who died two days before he started feeling unwell.

Tularemia is rare but can affect both humans and animals if they eat undercooked meat from an infected animal, usually rabbits. Skin-to-skin contact with an infected pet can also spread the condition.

After being treated with antibiotics for a month, the patient made a full recovery.

After being transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, the man was told his red, painful swellings where actually enlarged lymph nodes.

According to the case report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, blood tests revealed he was infected with the bacteria Francisella tularensis but was otherwise healthy.

He was diagnosed with glandular tularemia, which occurs when a person's lymph nodes swell at the site the bacteria enters their body.

It is the second most common form of illness from an Francisella tularensis infection, with the most common causing the same symptoms but with ulceration.

When asked if anything unusual had happened in the lead up to his illness, he told doctors his cat had died from 'feline leukemia' days before.

Yet this cancer diagnosis was made by a vet without any lab tests being carried out to confirm it.

The man is therefore thought to have caught Francisella tularensis from his cat while giving his pet the cancer drug prednisone.
Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono (L) and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh encouraged the U.S. to come back to the Pacific trade pact. Photo by AFP

Japan and Vietnam on Thursday urged the United States to rejoin a sprawling Pacific trade deal.

The move came almost two years after President Donald Trump's withdrawal dealt a major blow to what would have been the world's largest free trade pact.

Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal in one of his first post-election moves as part of his "America First" clarion call, declaring the 12-nation trade pact a "job killer."

The 11 remaining countries have pledged to move ahead with the deal, which could go into effect by the end of this year, although in a significantly watered-down version without the U.S.

They have kept a door open for Washington's return, and have also not ruled out allowing other non-Pacific countries to join the deal.

Japan's foreign minister on Thursday encouraged the U.S. to come back to the pact, speaking at a regional World Economic Forum (WEF) where concerns over trade protectionism have dominated discussions.

"We believe TPP is still the best option for (the) United States," Taro Kono said.

"It will be very attractive for American industries, American farmers to join it."

Japan, the largest remaining economy in the TPP, has led the charge to keep it alive.

The newly rebranded deal, dubbed the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and which forms a market of 500 million people, could go into effect by the end of 2018, Kono added.

Vietnam's foreign minister Pham Binh Minh echoed Kono's appeal, calling the deal "a very high-standard agreement."

Vietnam stood to be the biggest winner from U.S. involvement before Trump's withdrawal from the pact, which would have opened access to U.S. markets for its cheap manufactured goods -- from shoes and shirts to mobile phones and computer processors.

For smaller signatories like Vietnam, unfettered access to U.S. markets was a major draw.

In its original iteration, the free trade bloc would have made up 38 percent of the global economy. Today, the remaining signatories comprise about 13.5 percent.

Japan and Vietnam's comments come after Trump said in April the U.S. could re-enter the agreement if it was a "better" deal.

Leaders at this year's regional WEF summit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have railed against protectionism and called for breaking down trade barriers.

Trade in the region has grown at breakneck pace in the past decade, transforming some of Southeast Asia's poorest countries into fast-growing export economies.

Earlier at the summit, which closes Thursday, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo compared trade disputes to "infinity wars" -- a reference to the latest Avengers movie -- vowing to fight protectionism.

"Not since the Great Depression of the 1930s have trade wars erupted with the intensity that they have today," said the leader, who is seeking re-election next year.

"But rest assured I and my fellow avengers stand ready to prevent Thanos from wiping out half the world population," he said, referring to the film's villain.
The president of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, has heaped praise on Vietnam for its economic performance.

Speaking at the Vietnam Business Summit (VBS) on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi Thursday, Brende congratulated Vietnam for its rapid growth since 2010, the year the WEF was first held in Vietnam.

He also hailed the countrys many economic reforms in the past few years, particularly the measures to control public debt and ensure the stability of public finance.

"This result is not something [even] a developed country could achieve."

Vietnam's public debt had risen to as much as 64 percent of GDP between 2011 and 2015. But the figure was projected to fall to 60 percent by 2020, from an expected 61.3 percent this year, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung said Wednesday, citing strong economic growth and debt reform.

Brende noted that the government has taken steps to restructure state-owned enterprises and strengthen governance of weak corporations.

He was particularly impressed that Vietnam's banking system has come up with solutions to reduce bad debts and maintain transparency.

The State Bank of Vietnam on August 28 reported that local banks bad debts were 6.6-6.7 percent, down from over 10 percent last year.

The country has also seen impressively rapid and strong growth in trade with Vietnam participating in many major free trade agreements such as the recently signed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, he said.

Improvements to the business environment also impressed him: "The Vietnamese government did not sleep on victory or be complacent. Moreover, Vietnam is continuing its reforms to ensure growth in the future.

Vietnam reached its highest economic growth in 10 years by expanding 6.81 percent in 2017, slightly higher than the target of 6.7 percent set by the National Assembly. Its GDP growth in the first half of 2018 is 7.08 percent.

But Brende pointed out that Vietnam is having difficulty with new innovations like the Internet of Things and cryptocurrency, saying countries that can take advantage of these factors would succeed.

The chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vu Tien Loc, said the establishment of the National Committee on e-Government with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as its chairman is a demonstration of the government's determination to take the lead in the digital economy and create a transparent and efficient administration.

Besides traditional advantages such as favorable geopolitical conditions, cheap labor and a young workforce, Vietnam is also discovering new advantages in the digital economy, he said.

In a recent report by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the country is ranked sixth out of 54 economies in total early-stage entrepreneurial activity.

A report by consultant firm AlphaBeta ranked Vietnam second in terms of the tech investment climate in the Asia-Pacific and third in digital talent.

The VBS this year has attracted over 1,200 businesses from around the world.
Mangkhut is expected to head towards the South China Sea on Saturday afternoon. Photo by AFP

The mega storm bearing down on the Philippines could also hit Vietnam en route to the East Sea.

Vietnam has been put on red alert for the super typhoon Mangkhut, which experts say could hit the country early next week.

As of Friday morning, super typhoon Mangkhut was looming large over the Philippines, just 680 kilometers to the southeast of Luzon Island, with maximum wind speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, according to Filipino weather reports.

Over the next 24 hours, Mangkhut is expected to head northwest at 20 kilometers per hour and head towards the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the East Sea) on Saturday afternoon with maximum wind speeds of 194 kilometers per hour, according to a Hong Kong weather station.

International meteorologists have said that with sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 255 kilometers per hour, Mangkhut is the strongest storm of the year to bear down on the Philippines.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy head of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF), said both Vietnamese and international weather stations predict that theres a very high chance it will directly affect the northern and northern central regions, making landfalls in Vietnam on Monday morning, September 17.

The northern region and coastal northern central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An could be hardest hit by the ferocious storm while the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri will also be affected, meteorologists said.

They have also predicted rising tides and sea level rising by four to six meters following heavy downpours.

Storm preparations

Authorities in Vietnam's northern and central provinces, from Quang Ninh to Nghe An, are taking measures to limit the possible damage by ordering vessels to move out of the path of the storm, and rescue forces have been put on standby.

Nguyen Van Huong, an official with the NCHMF, said downpours should be expected on September 17 and 18, with rainfall of up to 400 millimeters as the storm hits the country on Monday morning after lashing the Gulf of Tonkin.

Hanoi could also be affected by the storm and all vehicles should be banned from moving on long bridges like Vinh Tuy and Nhat Tan to ensure safety in case of strong winds triggered by the storm, he recommended.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on Friday held an emergency meeting with local authorities to take urgent action to prevent loss of life and damage to property.

Weather forecasters in Vietnam have predicted that four to six typhoons and tropical depressions could develop off the country's east coast from now until the end of the year. Around two to three storms will make landfall in Vietnam and batter the central region, they said.

Vietnam was struck by a record-breaking number of 16 tropical storms last year that left 389 people dead or missing and injured 668 others, mostly in northern and central regions.

Damrey, one of the most destructive storms last year, hit the country in November and killed at least 106 people.
Cybersecurity was among the topics discussed at a meeting between Vietnam's PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a Facebook executive Thursday.

Facebook's vice president of public policy for the Asia-Pacific, Simon Milner, expressed his companys readiness to support Vietnam in areas relevant to the digital era.

Facebook will discuss with Vietnam issues that many other countries also face, especially cybersecurity, and the two sides agreed to work on remedial measures for possible issues, according to the meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi.

Milner said cybersecurity is an important factor in ensuring businesses' operations and also contributes to improving the investment and business environment.

Vietnam's PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) meets Facebook's representative Simon Milner in Hanoi Thursday. Photo by Vietnam Government Portal

Phuc told him Facebook needs to be responsible for ensuring security and protecting personal information related to over 60 million accounts in Vietnam.

The prime minister also voiced support for Facebook's plan to contribute to building a digital ecosystem in Vietnam, saying it is Vietnam's "close friend" with a very high rate of users in the country.

So Facebook needs to have regular exchanges with Vietnamese agencies and work together with them to overcome shortcomings to better contribute to Vietnam's development, which in turn would create more opportunities for Facebook to continue growing, he said.

Phuc wanted the company to work closely especially with the Ministry of Information and Communications to remove toxic information that could damage national security, social order, safety, and the peaceful lives of people.

He said Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for foreign companies, including Facebook, to do business smoothly.

Speaking at the meeting, acting information minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that Facebook, and all other companies doing business in the country must comply with Vietnamese laws to ensure a secure, healthy cyberspace.

He also called on Facebook as a successful business in Vietnam to reinvest a percentage of its revenue here in research and development and soon open a representative office in the country.
Hanois streets were once beautiful landscapes in their own right, artist Le Van Xuong shows us.

Aptly titled, The Miracle, an exhibition introduces for the first time 100 artworks by artist Le Van Xuong. At the September 21-23 show in Saigon, many paintings recapture Hanoi in the 1950s with color pigments.

A corner of Hanoi in 1952 shows wide spaces and a leisurely way of life.

Outside the Dong Xuan Market. One of the biggest wholesale markets in the country, there is an absence of motorized vehicles and public transportation in the form of a tram. Bicycles and cyclos, the most environmentally friendly forms of transport, ruled the streets then. Now, one can only imagine the quality of the air that Hanoians breathed then. Le Van Xuong, focusing on painting with inner peace, captures the peaceful ambience of the capital city, a thing firmly of the past.

A corner of the Quan Su pagoda in Hoan Kiem District in the heart of Hanoi. The pagoda, built in the 15th century, has witnessed the citys transformation through many centuries. Many painters have lauded Xuongs works, calling them a window into the past, enabling them to see a Hanoi described by famous writers in renowned literature pieces.

Hang Buom Street. This was the hustle and bustle of trade then. The shops with their awnings against the sun, people sitting in the shade and talking.

Le Van Xuong has painted with different materials including oil paints and pastel, but his excellence really comes through in using color pigments, said Bui Xuan Phai, one of the most famous Vietnamese painters of the last century.

At the O Quan Chuong, or Quan Chuong gate, one of the five gates of the old Hanoi center.

Life on Gam Cau street. Gam Cau refers to the residential area along and under the Long Bien bridge on the eastern side of the Old Quarter.

Sunset on Tran Nhat Duat Street.

Hang Dong Street in the old quarter.

In the Old Quarter again, on Hang Da Street.

The Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi, is a picture of serenity on the West Lake.

Le Van Xuong (1917-1988) learned drawing as a child from a private tutor. Relatives say he completed more than 1,000 paintings and sculpted 100 statues.

Xuong could also play various musical instruments including the violin, piano and guitar. The state posthumously awarded him for promoting art in 1997.

Color pigments, or color powder, is a popular drawing material. Painters can mix the powder with water or other solutions and paint the pictures with brushes.

Le Van Xuong had hosted several personal exhibitions. One notable exhibition was The 36 streets on Hanoi in the Hanoi Opera House in 1954.

The Miracle exhibition is being organized by the painters daughter to mark his 101st birthday and 30th death anniversary. It will be held from September 21 to 23 at the Park Hyatt Saigon, No.2 Cong Truong Lam Son Street, District 1, HCMC.
Vietnams best trek is no walk in the park

The Ta Nang-Phan Dung trekking route is tough on newcomers, but justifies all the raves it gets.

To say that I was new to trekking would be the raw truth. Id never done it, and never thought much about it till the pictures on the Ta Nang-Phan Dung trekking route posted on the internet caught my fancy. The golden rice fields, the tall pine trees, and the rugged, raw beauty of nature made me want to be there.

So when a long weekend came along, I knew what I wanted to do. I signed up for a two-day one-night trek on this route that Id seen all those beautiful pictures of. Located about 60 kilometers south of the Central Highlands' resort city Da Lat, it took about six hours to travel from Saigon to Ta Nang Commune in Lam Dong Province. There were almost 50 people whod signed up, and I soon discovered that I was not the only one whod never trekked. There were many of us. I was not sure whether I should be happy or worried about this. The tour leaders opening remarks were somewhat reassuring, though. The route stretches 55 kilometers and will pass through the three provinces of Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. But since our tour only lasts two days, we will take a shorter route of 30 kilometers, Hien Pham informed us. I noticed that five ethnic minority people were part of our group. One walked ahead to guide us, while the other four drove motorbikes behind us, carrying food and other items to the campsite. They were slender bodied and had darker skin, probably from the long hours they spent under the sun. They spoke a different language among themselves, switching to Vietnamese when talking with us.



We were given three water bottles, 1.5 liters of water, for the whole trip, on top of the 7-8 kilograms backpack full of essential items for the next two days. Drink carefully, we were advised, because water would be limited during the trek, and be responsible, not discarding bottles and other trash on the path. Theyre watching As we passed through a village to reach the outskirts of the forest, the houses of wood and dried straw were so different from the cement structures in the cities. This should not have been a surprise, but seeing it up close really drove the difference home, for me. And as people stared with frank curiosity at us, I felt suddenly like an animal in a zoo. But such thoughts soon disappeared as we got deeper into the forest. We had barely started, but my legs were tired and drops of sweat were beading my face as we went up and down slopes covered with red mud rendered slippery by heavy rain. Some may argue that it is not ideal to trek on this route during the rainy season. No sight of the sun bathing the hills of grass and trees with its golden light, for sure, but nature compensates, always. The foliage was greener and fresher, and just as beautiful.

The rainy season also opened my eyes to the talent of local residents in driving across that terrain on their motorbikes. I could imagine it becoming an extreme sport, one of these days. Gia Phong, one of the ethnic minority people in our group, told us that locals put hooks on the wheels so the vehicles wont slip. Necessity is the mother of innovation. During one of our stops, I asked Phong what made him become a tour leader. He told me it was a part-time job he took on the weekends to support his family. But, he added: This is a tough job but I have lots of fun helping people trekking for the first time. That was good to hear, and good to see. Phong and the other locals never seemed to get tired, having done the trek many times, but they were patient, stopping and assisting first time trekkers every now and then. Natures an artist

After walking for hours on what seemed an endless trail that trekkers have compared to a dinosaurs spine, it is impossible not to feel tired.

Then the magic happens. Everything is forgotten as one perceives and experiences natures splendor on show.

For me, it was a progression - the lush green meadows, the enchanting feel of pine forests, inhaling the clear, cold breeze and reaching the peak to become one with nature  it was fantastic. I could even feel the moisture in the air as I basked in the moment. The sight of the fog hugging the hilltops will be etched forever in my memory. It was sublime work of art that we were part of, I felt.

The aftermath My legs were sore and I even lost my voice for a couple of days, but the overriding feeling was that this trek was not enough to really enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the place. And, even though wed camped overnight, I was not able to see the stars in the night sky, because it was cloudy.
Swedish court reinstates $2.6 bln debt collection from Gazprom in favor of Naftogaz

Naftogaz CCO stresses that Gazprom must immediately fulfill the arbitration award.

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Ukraine's Finance Ministry notes significant victory in $3 bln bond litigation with Russia

Yet, Ukraine did not win on all points.

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A UK court on September 13 overturned a June 18 order to freeze Gazprom assets in England and Wales, the Russian gas giant has reported.

Naftogaz Ukrainy is trying through international courts to collect $2.6 billion from Gazprom awarded by Stockholm arbitration rulings. Gazprom is challenging these rulings, but the Ukrainian company does not want to wait for the appeal to be heard.

The freeze on assets in UK jurisdiction is more painful for Gazprom, as it limits the company's access to the global financial market, putting deals to raise funds through eurobonds or club loans at risk of being frozen in Naftogaz lawsuits. Gazprom had to call off a deal to place eurobonds in pounds in June. The company also prefers not to make its latest bilateral loans public.

Gazprom finance and economics department head Alexander Ivannikov said earlier that the company "sees some increase in risks on the money market related to the transfer of money in the UK."

"We have taken a pause in regard to some instruments in order to discuss this issue with lawyers, so as to completely eliminate any risks in regard to our funds that might be frozen in the UK," he said.

Gazprom said in the statement that the freeze was lifted on the condition that the company assume the obligation to not dispose of shares in Nord Stream AG until the UK court hearings on the matter of recognizing and enforcing the February 28, 2018 Stockholm arbitration ruling on the gas transit case are concluded. A hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 2019.

Gazprom said earlier that its stake in Nord Stream AG is, in any case, held as collateral for project financing.

Meanwhile, a Swedish court granted Naftogaz Ukrainy's motion to overturn the order to suspend the enforcement of the Stockholm arbitration ruling. Gazprom said it intends to challenge this ruling.

Gazprom will continue to defend its rights by all available means under the law, the Russian company said.
The English Court of Appeal on Friday, September 14, gave its long awaited judgment in Ukraine's appeal against the Summary Judgment entered in Russia's favor in March 2017 by Mr. Justice Blair in the case concerning the so called Russian debt, the Finance Ministry of Ukraine has reported.

"The decision to reverse Summary Judgment and permit Ukraine to argue its case before the court of first instance represents a significant victory for Ukraine," the ministry said in a press release on Friday.

The ministry said that the appeal justices hearing the appeal, and who have now released their unanimous verdict, are Lady Justice Gloster (then Vice President of the Court of Appeal, Civil Division), Lord Justice Sales and Lord Justice David Richards.

The Court of Appeal has issued a fully reasoned written judgment which is publicly available, the ministry said.

According to the press release, in a unanimous decision in favor of Ukraine all three Judges of the English Court of Appeal agreed that the first instance judge was wrong: to decline to permit Ukraine's defence of duress to proceed to trial; and to refuse to grant Ukraine a permanent stay of the proceedings if Ukraine's defence of duress could not be adjudicated by the English Court.

"The Court of Appeal has ruled unanimously that Ukraine's case should go to a full public trial before the English Court. Ukraine argues that the alleged contracts for the Russian bonds are void and unenforceable because of Russia's wanton threats and acts of political and military aggression towards Ukraine," the ministry said.

The Court of Appeal upheld the Summary Judgment of Mr. Justice Blair in respect of Ukraine's defences based on capacity, authority, implied terms and countermeasures, and also agreed with the first instance Judge that there are no other compelling reasons for the case to go to trial.

Acting Finance Minister of Ukraine Oksana Markarova said in a press release that Ukraine continues insisting that that the contracts for the $3 billion eurobonds are invalid and unenforceable. This is because of the egregious threats and acts of aggression perpetrated against Ukraine by Russia not only in the lead up to and which procured the entry of the relevant contracts, but also in the period after their entry and continuing until the present day.

"Russia must be held accountable for its internationally wrongful acts and the English Court has made clear that it will not shy away from doing so," she said.

The ministry said that Ukraine is represented in the court by lead counsel Alex Gerbi of international litigation firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, UK LLP, English barristers Bankim Thanki QC, Ben Jaffey QC and Simon Atrill, and partner Svitlana Chepurna of Ukrainian law firm Asters.
The representatives of Ukraine and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding and a loan agreement on providing the fourth program of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (MFA IV) in the amount of EUR1 billion.

On the part of Ukraine, the documents were signed by Acting Minister of Finance Oksana Markarova and Governor of the National Bank Yakiv Smolii, from the side of the EU by Vice President of the European Commission for Euro and Social Dialogue, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union Valdis Dombrovskis.

The ceremony of signing the loan agreement and the memorandum was attended by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.

After signing, the head of state thanked the European Commission and Dombrovskis for "the comprehensive and great support the European Union provides to the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people."

"This is a great help in carrying out the reforms and supporting the reforms - not only financial, but also consultative - and you are rightfully a participant and co-sponsor of the reforms that have been held in Ukraine over the past four years," Poroshenko said.
The English Court of Appeals in its judgement regarding the dispute between Ukraine and Russia over the $3 billion bonds has admitted that Russia "presses the court to determine the contract claimwithout Ukraine being able to defend itself by raising its defence of duress at trial," Ukraine's Finance Ministry has reported.

"As the Court of Appeal held in its judgment, such a course, which Russia chose, has been held by the Court to be contrary to "basic justice" and "unjust," the ministry said in a press release on Friday, September 14.

Among the reasons cited by the Court for rejecting Judge Blair's belief that he could not hear Ukraine's defence of duress is that "no country should be able to take advantage of its own violation" of international law, the ministry said.

In this connection the court expressly reflected in its Judgment that the government of the United Kingdom "regards the activities of Russia in seizing the Crimea and assisting military action by insurgents in Eastern Ukraine against the Ukrainian government as being in clear violation of Russia's obligations under international law, including in particular its obligations under the norm of ius cogens reflected in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter."
The Antonov State Enterprise (Kyiv) links plans to promote regional passenger next generation An-148/158 aircraft with a capacity of up to 99 passengers to the market with partnership with Cyprus-based Montag-Girmes leasing company.

Antonov Vice President for Marketing and Sales Yuliy Kiselev said at a conference with Ukrainian airlines, which are potential operators of the An-148/158 aircraft family in Kyiv on Friday, the enterprise has reached an agreement of cooperation with Montag-Girmes to supply An-148/158 aircraft under leasing contracts, including to the Ukrainian market.

He did not disclose the details of the agreement, adding that Montag-Girmes took part in the supply of An-158 aircraft to Cuba.

Antonov President Oleksandr Donets said that the company expects that the level of after-sales support of the An-148/158 aircraft family will be considerably increased in cooperation with U.S. Avial.

"Our American partner, Avial, will participate in the after-sales support of our aircraft through its logistics network," he said.

According to Antonov's estimates, the Ukrainian regional jet An-148/158 have competitive market characteristics, including fuel consumption and operating costs, compared to foreign analogues in its class - Brazilian Embraer and Canadian Bombardier. At the same time, the catalog price of Ukrainian aircraft is 15-25% lower than foreign analogues, and it is about $32 million.
Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Pavel Fuks urged competent authorities and associations to convey truthful information about gas production in Ukraine.

In his Telegram-channel, he reacted to the events in the Kharkiv region, where residents of the village of Vvedenka are concerned about possible gas extraction and for this reason go to rallies.

"People live in prejudices and myths, which often arose from a lack of information, and then, instead of science and facts, the vacuum is filled with rumors and interpretations. The theme of extraction of "shale gas" in Ukraine for me is indicative. In the Kharkov region the story has seriously unraveled: "water disappeared, fish died, people get sick, oncology goes off scale". All these incidents allegedly take place in the village of Vvedenka.

Local residents are concerned and go to rallies. The right to protest can be realized by everyone, but the question is in the arguments! If you dig deeper, it turns out, that in Vvedenka there is no production of gas (neither traditional nor slate), but there is an exploration of possible sources", - wrote Pavel Fuks.

He draws attention to the fact that rallies can have quite real customers: "Ukrainian journalists, who covered the event, focus on the external factor. I am ready to agree and add: to ensure energy independence, only legislative decisions will not be enough".

Fuks believes that competent authorities and associations should conduct a large-scale outreach work with the public. "It has long been necessary to worry about bringing truthful information about gas production to people. This theme leaves so much unsaid (the best soil for "conspiracy theories") because it is quite complicated. Competent authorities and associations should not only create groups on Facebook, but also go offline. There - your target audience", - added the businessman and philanthropist.

If we talk about the extraction of "slate", then, according to Fuks, it has nothing to do with water pollution:

"On depleted wells and where the gas lies in solid rocks, the drilling takes place vertically until the hard rock comes into contact. Then the drilling rig goes to the side horizontally, where a mixture of water and sand is poured under pressure, thanks to which cracks form in the ground. The gas flows through them into the main channel".

Pavel Fuks also added that energy independence has certain figures. Already in the late 20's - early 30's, Ukraine could reach the level of gas production of more than 70 billion cubic meters per year (for comparison: today we produce about 21 billion cubic meters, and we use slightly more than 30 billion cubic meters of gas).

"Technologies and money for the implementation of projects are with investors. The main thing is not to mix corruption with populism. Just this newly formed "gas" is very harmful, it destroys any initiative", -summed up Fuks.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft national budget for 2019 and sent it to the Verkhovna Rada.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that after the presentation of the draft national budget held by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting on Friday, the government decided to approve the draft.

"We will work with the [parliamentary] committees and factions to have the budget feasible. One cannot boost the budget not supported by the money. Otherwise, this could result in crises," Groysman said.
Revenue of the consolidated national budget of Ukraine in 2019 is expected at the level of UAH 1.293 trillion, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"Growth of expenses of the consolidated budget by UAH 130 billion. The economy is growing, and the budget is growing. It would be UAH 1.293 trillion," he said, presenting the document at an extraordinary government meeting in Kyiv on Friday.

As reported, the government announced revenue of the consolidated national budget in 2018 at the level of UAH 1.155 trillion. In January-August 2018, revenue of the national budget amounted to UAH 607.47 billion and revenue of local budgets  UAH 155.01 billion.
Secondary healthcare with referral of family doctor to be provided free of charge from 2019

Secondary healthcare, including consultations of specialists, tests and examination will be provided free of charge from 2019, if family doctors issue a referral, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"From January 1, 2019, everyone, who goes to receive Secondary healthcare services with a referral of a family doctor, will be paid," he said at an extraordinary government meeting in Kyiv on Friday.

Groysman said that the draft national budget for 2019 projects UAH 2 billion for these purposes.

As reported, the Health Ministry in 2019 plans to launch the reform of financing outpatient medical care, including tests, instrumental examinations and consultations of specialists. The healthcare institutions that signed agreements with the National Health Service of Ukraine would provide outpatient services free of charge.
Russian-backed militants have fired 37 times at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours, wounding one Ukrainian serviceman, the press center of the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"Invaders opened fire on the positions of Ukrainian troops 37 times. The enemy used weapons banned by the Minsk agreements six times [] One Joint Forces serviceman was wounded in fighting in the past day," the JFO HQ said in a report on its Facebook page early on Friday.

Militants fired at Ukrainian positions near Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Luhanske, Troitske, Verkhniotoretske, Avdiyivka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Berezove, Starohnativka, Hranitne, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Lebedynske, and Shyrokyne.

Illegal armed formations fired from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. In addition, 82mm mortars were used near Chermalyk, Hnutove, and Vodiane, and a 120mm mortar near Chermalyk and Krymske. Ukrainian positions near Krymske, Troitske, Chermalyk and Hnutove were fired at fired from the armament of infantry fighting vehicles. Guided anti-tank missiles were used near Novotoshkivske and Hranitne.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, one militant was killed and four more were injured in the past day.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker to discuss the continuation of the sanctions policy against Russia.

"The sides discussed the situation in the Donbas and noted the importance of continuing the sanctions policy against Russia until complete de-occupation of Ukrainian territory," reads a statement published by the press service of the Ukrainian president.

It notes that Poroshenko thanked Volker for strengthening the defense capability of the Ukrainian army and emphasized the importance of continuing close cooperation in the field of security and defense.

The sides also discussed energy security issues, particularly in the context of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has said that Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan spreads untrue information regarding the essence of suspicions that were reported to him for the commission of crimes.

"The information being spread by the Ukrainian infrastructure minister regarding the content of suspicions to him about illegal enrichment and declaration of inaccurate information is untrue and misleads the society," reads a statement released by the NABU's press service on Thursday, September 13.

The NABU recalled that earlier on September 13, NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors had informed the minister about the suspicion of committing criminal offenses under Part 3 of Article 368-2 and Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"Article 368-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for criminal liability for illegal enrichment, came into force only on April 26, 2015. Therefore, the minister is incriminated only with those actions that were committed in the period from April 2015 until now," the NABU said.

At the same time, the report says, the investigation analyzed the revenues and expenses of the minister for the period from 2000 to April 26, 2015: "The results showed that in this period the official did not have the income the legality of which was confirmed by evidence and which, taking into account the expenses, would allow him to save money for further acquisition of assets in a considerable amount."

The NABU emphasized that despite this fact, in May 2015 the minister acquired a new BMW X5 worth UAH 1.415 million and registered the right of ownership of the vehicle for his brother.

"The investigation has evidence that this SUV was in the actual possession of the official, his use and disposal. At the same time, this fact was not reflected in the minister's electronic declaration for 2015 and 2016. Just like the right to use a house in the suburbs of Kyiv with an area of about 270 square meters and worth almost UAH 6 million, in which he has resided since the beginning of December 2016 (this information should be indicated in the declaration for 2016, but this was not done)," the bureau said.

The NABU added that there were also no legal sources for the origin of the minister's savings of $90,000 and EUR 25,000 - information about these funds was stated in the declaration for 2015 as those that are in his ownership as of December 31, 2015.

"The investigation established that the minister took measures aimed at concealing the convicted violations by unlawfully influencing the results of the inspection conducted against him by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention," the NABU said.

Earlier on Thursday, September 13, the NABU's press service said that Omelyan had been notified of the suspicion of committing criminal offenses envisaged by Part 3 of Article 368-2 and Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Omelyan, in turn, said that the case against him was related to the reforms he has been carrying out, as well as to elections looming in the country and a case of ex-Member of Parliament Mykola Martynenko, which has been investigated by the NABU for several years.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he is sure that the historic project of the European Union can be considered complete only with Ukraine, since the Ukrainian border is the border of modern European civilization.

"Ukraine is a huge potential of human power. It is a huge potential of human belief, and we have demonstrated it many times. Ukraine is an EU optimistic country, with a unique belief in Europe. With respect to the European Union, I want to emphasize that this grandiose historical project can be accomplished and completed only with Ukraine, because it is not the Urals, and our northeastern border is the border of modern European civilization," he said in Kyiv on Friday at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Poroshenko also noted that Ukraine was moving towards integration into NATO and was doing so "not with empty hands."

"We thanked the world for solidarity for three years, but we defended every piece of Ukrainian land on our own. We de facto offer this defense bloc one of the strongest armies on the continent, and most importantly, we have a unique experience of how to defend ourselves," Poroshenko said.

"The final overcoming of the 'colonial status' will be Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO," Poroshenko said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that he will ensure fair, free and democratic elections of the head of state and the Verkhovna Rada in 2019, as well as elections of local government bodies.

"I, as president, firmly guarantee free, fair, democratic elections - the election of the head of state, the election of a new parliament, and the election of local government bodies. We will defend the free will of citizens," he said at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv on Friday.

According to the president, the election process must comply with the European strategy of the Ukrainian authorities.

Poroshenko recalled that under the conditions of Russia's armed aggression the Ukrainian authorities had refused to introduce martial law and impose any restrictions on political rights and freedoms of citizens.

"But, of course, the war will definitely leave its mark on the nature of the campaign," he said.

Poroshenko noted that over the past four years since the beginning of Russian aggression, Ukraine had managed to restore not only the army, but also reconnaissance.

"We have not an approximate but absolutely exact idea of the Kremlin's plans. We know who they want to see in the second round of the presidential elections, and thank God, my name is not there [in the Kremlin's plans]," Poroshenko said.

According to him, it is known that on the basis of the "fifth column" Russia wants to form a powerful pro-Russian opposition in the new Ukrainian parliament, "and, if they are lucky, make it a participant with the right of veto for European and Euro-Atlantic integration."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukraine is a unitary state, and local elections in Donbas can be held only after the withdrawal of Russian troops and the establishment of proper security conditions there.

"We have never talked about political autonomy, federalization, as they want to present. Ukraine is a unitary state and will never accept external pressure with the goal of changing the structure of our country. Neither Moscow, nor Brussels, nor Washington will decide on how Ukraine looks. This is the sovereign right of Ukrainian citizens," he said in Kyiv on Friday at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Poroshenko said that after the implementation of the Minsk agreements, Ukraine undertakes to hold fair and free local elections so that "local communities could choose how to live, what language to speak, but, of course, in coordination with the central authorities."

"We are ready to launch local elections [in Donbas] as soon as all conditions and security requirements are fulfilled. We have been waiting for this from Russia for four years, at least the slightest step. Instead, we hear talks about illegal fake elections in occupied territories," he said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko says he has no plans to run for president in 2019, citing obligations to residents of the Ukrainian capital.

"It will be unfair to jump from one post to another," Klitschko told journalists on the sidelines of the 15th YES Annual Meeting organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

He said he had promised to residents of Kyiv that they would be able to be proud of their city and said he would fulfil his promise.

At the same time, Klitschko does not rule out that he will be ready to suggest "doing it in every city" after this task is achieved in Kyiv.

When asked whether he may support President Petro Poroshenko in the upcoming presidential election, the mayor said he had not yet heard from Poroshenko about his plans to run for a new term.

"If there is an announcement, I'll be able to express my viewpoint then," he added.
Ukrainian representative in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Leonid Kuchma has said he believes that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was emotional when he declared a pause in the "Normandy format" activity after the killing of the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko.

"Lavrov said the word and took it back. Other politicians, both in Russia and Europe, say different things. So to say, he was emotional, nothing will happen. There will be no change in the condition of the Donbas [negotiating] process," Kuchma said on the sidelines of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) meeting organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv.
The recent synaxis (assembly) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople dispelled Moscow's illusions that Ukraine is a canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"A unified communal local Orthodox church is a precondition of public accord and unity of our state. This is a guarantee of our spiritual independence from Moscow, which is unfortunately still in thrall to its mistaken idea that we are its canonical territory," Poroshenko said at an annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) organized by the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv on Friday.

"And the September synaxis, the assembly of bishops of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has completely dispelled Moscow's wrong illusions," he said.

Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is important to those who are outside the country, Poroshenko said. "Ukrainians around the world will also have their church. And here is yet another important factor: the Third Rome concept, as Moscow's longest-standing claim of global hegemony, is collapsing like a house of cards," he said.

"The future of world Orthodoxy is also being decided here: we also understand it differently than the Russians," Poroshenko said.
Russian-led illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire, having mounted 13 attacks on the Ukrainian army in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, from 07:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time on Friday, September 14, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has said.

"From 07:00 to 18:00 today, the Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire 13 times, including with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements. (...) No losses among the military of the Joint Forces have been reported during the day," it said on Facebook on Friday.

During the day, the enemy opened fire from cannons of infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms to attack JFO positions near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zhovte, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Krasnohorivka, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Lebedynske, and Vodiane.

"In the event of a threat to servicemen's life, the commanders ordered to fire back, forcing the enemy into ceasing fire," the press center said. The situation in the Joint Forces Operation remains under control, it said.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid have discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction within the framework of international organizations, including further development of trade, economy and investment.

The two presidents also discussed security issues, Poroshenko's press service said. "They have coordinated approaches to countering hybrid challenges from the Russian Federation, as well as joint urgent steps for the release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia," it said.

Poroshenko thanked Kaljulaid for political support of Ukraine and active assistance, including through projects to rebuild infrastructure in the east of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, September 19, at 10.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "A Year Later: The Results and Achievements of the First Private Cardiac Surgery in Ukraine." Participants include General Director of the Dobrobut Medical Network Oleh Kalashnikov, a heart surgeon, Head of the Center for Cardiac Surgery at the Dobrobut Medical Network Oleksandr Babliak, four patients with different diagnoses who underwent cardiac surgery by an innovative method developed at Dobrobut's Center for Cardiac Surgery - Maria Derevianko, Andriy Lapyschak, Mykhailo Kryvolapov, Yuriy Bohdanov. A representative of the Ukrainian Health Ministry is expected to participate (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation. Additional information by phone: +38 (096) 608 8258.
On the 27th of November 2018, Kyiv will host the annual Investment Forum to unite innovators, inventors and pioneers in business and science. Over its 3-year history, Kyiv Investment Forum has become a large-scale platform for common projects of the city authorities, business community and civil society. The main topic of this year is innovation. Forum participants will come together to discuss how to contribute to the citys development and attract investments, with particular focus on the following issues:

Ecosystem of Innovations: education  science  business. Innovations commercialization and transfer of technologies

What can the city offer to inventors and innovators? Nationwide and municipal programs in Ukraine

Financial tools for innovations: what commercial sector can offer? Risks and benefits for investors

Investing into innovations: how the investors see it

Made in UA: cases from Ukraine

Thematic sections will focus on , software|hardware|R&D centers, fin-tech innovations, innovations in the healthcare and pharmacology.

The speakers of Kyiv Investment Forum-2018 include:

Vitaliy Klychko, Kyiv Major

Oksana Markarova, acting Minister of Finances of Ukraine

Yulia Kovaliv, Head of Office National Investment Council of Ukraine

Volodymyr Stavnyuk, Chairman of the Board of The State Finance Institution for Innovations (SFII)

Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine

Oleksandr Nesterenko,  ARTKB (industrial design)

Dmytro Ovcharenko,  Alcor (R&D center opening in Ukraine)

Kira Rudyk,  of Ring Company

Vitaliy Cherniuk, Directorate of Innovation and Technology Transfer, Head of Expert Group on Communications and Strategic Planning, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine

When: November 27, 2018

Where: Kyiv, Parkova Doroha St., 16-, Congress & Exhibition Centre Parkovyi

Click here for online registration: https://goo.gl/ZT9sY2

Background information:

Kyiv Investment Forum-2017 united more than 650 representatives of businesses, investors, diplomats, national and city authorities, international financial institutions and mass media from 19 countries  Ukraine, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, Germany, UK and others.

Interfax-Ukraine - general information partner of the Forum.
Former Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad looks unstoppable. He tweets, while Twitter is banned. He circulates videos on social media showering top officials in Iran with criticism showing little consideration for the existing "red lines".

In his latest video circulated on social media, the hard-line former president condemned the verdicts issued against his media adviser and former chief of staff, describing them as brutal.

He also warned that whoever issued the verdicts and executed them, as well as those who have ordered them, will soon be prosecuted.

Hiding behind the excuse that the verdicts were issued according to orders received from higher authorities is not acceptable, Ahmadinejad said. Soon the repentant and those hidden behind excuses will line up and soon popular trials will be held," he warned.

Ahmadinejads right-hand man, Esfandyar Rahim Mashaei, was sentenced on September 12 to five years in prison for assembly and collusion against Irans security, one year for propaganda against the ruling establishment, and six months for insulting persons vested with the authority of the states judiciary. That comes to a total of six and a half years in jail.

On the same day, it was also announced that Ahmadinejads former media adviser, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, was sentenced to four years for assembly and collusion against the countrys security. The defendant has the right to appeal, it was declared.

Earlier, the deputy president for executive affairs during Ahmadinejads second term, Hamid Baghaei, was sentenced to an unappealable 15 years.

Ahmadinejads latest video was circulated on his official Telegram Channel, a day after the verdicts against his closest allies were announced.

However, the video was originally taped on August 16 at Ahmadinejads meeting with cyberspace and virtual reality activists.

The set is clear; its a frame-up. Its a political confrontation disguised as a security-related case," Ahmadinejad insists at the meeting.

Ahmadinejad goes further by maintaining that if his close allies belonged to the gangs of money-syphoning individuals, nobody would have dared to prosecute them.

Calling upon the judiciary authorities, Ahmadinejad said, If you are really a man, [come forward] have a debate with Mr. Mashaei on TV. If you are man, come and compete among the people. If you are man, compete with us in management.

Mashaei was arrested after he burned the verdict against Baghaei on March 15 outside the British Embassy in Tehran.

By doing so, Mashaei, whose daughter is married to Ahmadinejads oldest son, implied that Baghaei was sentenced by British order and the Iranian judiciary dominated by London.

Referring to the incident, Ahmadinejad told his audience, Had Mr. Mashaei not burned the verdict, I would have done it, adding, You [judiciary] detain innocent people and, disregarding all citizens rights, sentence them to five month---punishing them further behind bars.

Ironically, during eight years of Ahmadinejads presidency, the judiciary was repeatedly accused of suppressing the opposition and dissident groups, through imprisonment and even death in custody.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) 

A top adviser to Iran's president on human rights said that the government "failed" to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she herself invited to the country for a summit.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Shahindokht Molaverdi acknowledged the limits a civilian government faces when challenging the actions of the judiciary in the Islamic Republic, especially when dealing with cases involving the imprisonment of foreigners and activists.

She cited the case of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-born internet freedom advocate living in the U.S., who she invited to a conference in September 2015. The hard-line Revolutionary Guard later arrested Zakka on his way to the airport, and he was later sentenced to 10 years in prison on spying charges in a closed-door trial before a Revolutionary Court.

"This is in no way approved by the government," Molaverdi said. "We did all we could to stop this from happening, but we are seeing that we have failed to make a significant impact."

Molaverdi is an outspoken official within the government of elected President Hassan Rouhani, a relatively moderate cleric within Iran's Shiite theocracy. In Rouhani's first term, she served as his vice president for women and family affairs, and in his second term become his special assistant on citizenship rights.

Political analysts within Iran saw Molaverdi's reassignment as Rouhani responding to hard-liners' criticism of her comments on women's rights and other issues.

She's condemned police overreach in dealing with women loosely wearing their mandatory headscarves and demanded access for women to sporting events. She gave an interview in 2016 in which she said all the men in a single, unnamed village in Iran's eastern Sistan and Baluchistan province had been executed for drug offenses.

Molaverdi said she has friends working on women's rights issues who have been arrested by Iranian security forces. She blamed a "complete miscoordination" between Iran's civilian government and its judiciary, which like its state media and security forces is believed to be controlled by hard-liners.

"Actions by one branch can ignore or neutralize efforts by another branch," she said. "This is an art and a very delicate job and sometimes the situation gets out of our hands, but anyway the goal of all of us is to stop this from happening and to minimize this."

Iran's executive branch under both hard-liners and more-moderate presidents has had difficulty freeing prisoners, especially foreigners. That can happen both from the hard-line judiciary exerting its power and disputes between Iran's Intelligence Ministry, answerable to the president, and the county's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, answerable only the supreme leader.

"The executive branch is clearly aware of the limitations it operates under and will pick its battles with the judiciary carefully," said Ellie Geranmayeh, deputy director of the Middle East program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Zakka's appears to be one of the cases where it got out of hand.

Zakka lives in Washington and holds permanent resident status in the U.S. He leads the Arab ICT Organization, or IJMA3, an industry consortium from 13 countries that advocates for information technology in the region.

It's unclear what prompted Iranian authorities to detain Zakka, though Iran in the past has used prisoners with Western ties as bargaining chips in negotiations.

The AP reported in May 2016 that Zakka's IJMA3 organization had received at least $730,000 in contracts and grants since 2009 from both the State Department and USAID, the lead American government agency fighting poverty and promoting democracy across the world.

Zakka's supporters say he traveled to Iran "with the knowledge and approval" of the State Department, something the AP has been unable to confirm.

Molaverdi acknowledged being the Iranian official who granted him permission to enter the country and remembered eating dinner with him at a conference and posing for a group photograph.

"I was later informed that he didn't go back to his country and on his way to the airport he had been arrested," she said. "He's still in prison and a heavy sentence has been issued against him."

She added: "Such incidents definitely harm how Iran's domestic security is viewed from the outside for investment, although in reality it is not like that, but a false image is presented of our country."

Jason Poblete, a Washington-based lawyer representing Zakka, said that while he appreciated Molaverdi's comments, they didn't change the fact "Nizar was kidnapped and thrown in jail, not treated as a guest."

"While a welcome sign that you seem to agree with Nizar that he was falsely accused, Nizar is going on three years in Evin" prison, Poblete told the AP. "This injustice has caused great and some unspeakable stresses on Nizar and his family. There are humanitarian and other grounds for Nizar's release and all the parties in interest  they know who they are  need to work expeditiously to right this injustice."

Molaverdi acknowledged a recent spate of arrests of lawyers working on human rights issues, something criticized by Amnesty International as an "intensifying crackdown on civil society." She also said Rouhani's government was working to help release imprisoned students and so-called "starred" students  those blocked by security agencies from attending classes.

Asked about nationwide demonstrations in December and January sparked by Iran's economic woes that saw thousands arrested, Molaverdi stressed there was a difference between protests and "rioting."

Still, Molaverdi said change was possible and even necessary in Iran some 40 years after its Islamic Revolution.

"If we rethink our experiences, definitely, we'll come to the conclusion that we have other options available that are more effective," she said.
An Iranian government official has urged the Assembly of Experts, an influential conservative clerical body to focus on its legal duties in overseeing the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, instead of interfering in other domains.

In recent years, the Assembly of Experts has been issuing guidelines and recommendations for executive, legislative, and judicial branches, instead of doing its initial duty that the constitution specifies, Ali Akbar Gorji, a law professor and high-ranking member of the presidential office, told the News Agency ILNA on Thursday.

According to Irans constitution, the 88-member assembly, elected every eight years by the voters, should supervise, appoint and even sack the Supreme Leader.

Article 111 provides that the Assembly of Experts can dismiss the leader if he becomes incapable of fulfilling his constitutional duties or loses one of the qualifications mentioned in Articles 5 and 109, or it becomes known that he did not possess some of the qualifications initially.

Justice and right political and social perspicacity, and prudence are among such qualifications.

However, critics say that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been able to exclude his opponents from the Assembly of Experts with the help of the Guardian Council that determines who can run as a candidate, and as a result, the body has turned into a loyal institution that does not evaluate him objectively.

The Assembly of Experts does not have any legal authority to oversee other branches of the government, and even if the law would allow it, the assembly would not have enough time to do so, because the task of overseeing the leader is vast enough, Gorji told ILNA.

History will not condemn the members of the Assembly of Experts for not overseeing the president, the ministers, and the governors, but it will judge them based on how they have overseen the leader and the entities under his control, he added and demanded that the overseeing commissions of the assembly should be established soon in order to investigate various matters and report to the people on regular basis.

Ayatollah Khamenei is in control of several entities worth billions of dollars. Most of them are exempt from paying taxes and any investigation on their performance has been a taboo so far. One of these entities is called "Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam"  Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam.

Reuters reported in 2013 that the organization's holdings of real estate, corporate stakes and other assets total about $95 billion. According to Reuters, that estimate was the result of an analysis of statements by Setad officials, data from the Tehran Stock Exchange and company websites, and information from the U.S. Treasury Department
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

Baku's liberation on September 15, 1918 from the Armenian-Bolshevik occupation is one of the most glorious events in the history of Azerbaijan, director of the History Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Yagub Mahmudov told Trend in an interview.

"This glorious event meant to rescue Baku from the Dashnak bandits and return the city to the Azerbaijani people. Baku, for a long time, was the center of the Shirvanshahs' state and in 1918 received the capital status again," Mahmudov said.

"At that time, they wanted to deprive Baku of the national city status and Armenians looked at it as their future capital. Baku's liberation suppressed this treacherous policy and Baku became an Azerbaijani city where national forces were concentrated," said Mahmudov.

"As a result of the Ottoman-Azerbaijani military cooperation, the independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was preserved, the Azerbaijani army was created and after the liberation, Baku became the capital of Azerbaijan. And most importantly, the genocide, launched in the spring of 1918, by the Armenian-Bolshevik detachments against the Azerbaijani people was stopped. The liberation of Baku is a very important event in the history of the Azerbaijani statehood," he added.

"Baku's liberation from the Armenian-Bolshevik occupation is an indicator of great heroism not only of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus led by Nuri Pasha, but also of the Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijanis played a crucial role in the liberation of Baku. The Ottomans helped us, but Azerbaijani people also rose. Our generals and volunteers also played a huge role in these events," Mahmudov said.

"Alongside with Baku's population, Azerbaijani cavalry and Mashtagha detachment also actively participated in Baku's liberation. The Ottoman Empire awarded orders and medals to many Azerbaijani soldiers who fought in the Islamic Army of the Caucasus," he added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 92 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 14.

Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.14

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Armenias declaring war against Azerbaijan complicates the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Theodore Karasik, senior advisor to Gulf State Analytics, Washington DC, told Trend Sept.14.

The National Assembly of Armenia has adopted a decision to declare conditional war against Azerbaijan in the sidelines of Shant-2018 drills scenario.

He noted that Armenia's announcement of this particular exercise is coming on the heels of the Armenian president's meeting with Putin as well as the usual turbulence in Yerevan's own political landscape.

Such announcements are rhetorical in nature, said the expert, adding that but nowadays, because of hypermedia, the conflict will continue both in cyberspace, but also on the ground.

Obviously settlement is complicated by such pronouncements, added Karasik.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.



The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov on Sept. 13 met with the delegation led by Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said in a message.

Before the meeting, the Israeli delegation visited the Alley of Honor, paid tribute and laid a wreath at the tomb of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The delegation also paid tribute and laid flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, Academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

The guests visited the Alley of Martyrs to commemorate Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity, laid wreaths and flowers to their graves and the Eternal Flame monument.

Then, an official welcoming ceremony was held in the Ministry of Defense.

Israeli defense minister passed along the guard of honor, and national anthems of the two countries were performed.

The Book of Honor was signed following the protocol.

Speaking about the high level of partnership between the two countries, Hasanov noted the vital role of this partnership not only in the development of the two states, but also in ensuring security in the entire region.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani defense minister brought to the attention of the guest that Armenia, as an aggressor country, supporting terrorism at the state level, is creating the main threat to regional stability and is interested in escalating the situation on the line of contact of the troops.

Highly appreciating the historical roots and ties between the two countries peoples, Lieberman expressed his satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between the countries and especially emphasized the significance of such meetings in terms of expanding relations.

Aspects of regional security, prospects for development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel in the military, military-technical spheres, organization of working meetings and other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the secondary school No. 28 in Savalan residential area of Mashtagha settlement in the Sabunchu district of Baku.

The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the school.

President Ilham Aliyev viewed conditions created here.

The head of state then met with the school staff and posed for photographs together with them.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.14

Trend:

The state of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil is excellent, said Santiago Luis Bento Fernandez Alcazar, Ambassador of Brazil to Azerbaijan.

He made the remarks during the concert dedicated to the 196th Anniversary of the Brazilian Independence.

To all, and specially to those here present, I dedicate this musical evening.

To many, the names of Villa-Lobos, Ary Barroso, Luiz Bonfa, Zequinha de Abreu, Sergio Mendes and Ney Rosauro, may be well known as they express the spirit of Brazil.

But following the advice of the great poet Nizami Ganjavi who said if you are human, mix with humans, because people go well with each other, we included in the program Gara Garayevs Seven Beauties and The path of Thunder dances, emblematic pieces on their own.

Some of the music you shall hear this evening has never been played in Baku. One of them, has never been played at all, and I am very honored to present to you on this occasion the world premiere of Sculpting Mario de Andrades Words by the Italian and citizen of the world composer Stefano Muscaritolo, to whom I extend a special thank you.

The great Brazilian poet Mario de Andrade is an icon of Modernism. In his poem he celebrates life with an invitation to dance, as did Nizami Ganjavi, Villa-Lobos, Gara Garayev, Sergio Mendes, Fikret Amirov.

I thank the Director of the International Mugham Center, Mr. Murad Huseynov for letting us have this musical experience in this wonderful hall.

I extend a very special thank you to the much-distinguished Conductor Ayyub Guliyev for patiently weaving the musical program as well as the very talented young musicians from the Baku Virtuosos ensemble.

As we celebrate our National Day I trust this musical offering shall bring Brazil closer to your hearts and minds, serving as a reminder of what can be done through cooperation, that quintessential spring of diplomacy, said the ambassador.

Wilna Maria Feitosa Sobral do Prade, who heads the cultural division of the embassy, contributed to the organization of this event.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

The declaration of war to Azerbaijan by Armenia openly shows that this country is a party to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend on Sept. 14.

He noted that the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continues to make contradictory statements.

The declaration of war to Azerbaijan by the Armenian parliament as part of the Shant 2018 military drills and its posting on the official website of the countrys parliament is another and obvious indicator that Armenia is a party to the conflict, Hajiyev said.

He added that by its actions, the Armenian leadership proves that claims regarding participation of the illegal regime created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories in the negotiations are nonsense.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have discussed a new agreement in military sphere.

The issue of approval of the Memorandum of understanding in the defense sphere between the three countries has been discussed at today's meeting of the Committee on International and Inter-parliamentary Relations of the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

The strengthening of military ties between these countries is very important, said the Chairman of the Committee Samad Seyidov.

"This is very important for each of the countries of the region, and at the same time it is a message to the world community," the chairman of the committee said.

Seyidov noted that the relations between these countries are developing at a high level not only in the economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, but also in the military sphere. "Having a strong army, Azerbaijan has support of Turkey and Georgia. This is extremely important and significant for our country", he said.

The Memorandum of understanding in the military sphere between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia was recommended for discussion at the plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15

Trend:

On September 15, Azerbaijan marks the centenary of Bakus liberation from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation.

On this day in 1918, the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which included the Azerbaijani corps, entered Baku, liberating the city from the Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation.

The liberation of Baku is an event of exceptional importance for the Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship and brotherhood.

Despite that during 70 years of the Soviet rule this event was purposefully explained in an erroneous context, the Azerbaijani people never forgot the heroism of Turkish soldiers.

On September 10, 1918, Nuru Pasha, an Ottoman general in the Ottoman army, took direct control over the liberation of Baku. By order of Nuru Pasha dated September 10, 1918, the command of the Eastern Front and the Northern Group belonging to it were liquidated, and the movement of all formations at the front was directly entrusted to the command of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus.

In an order dated September 13, 1918, sent to the fighting divisions by the command of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, it was stated that an offensive on Baku will start on September 14 at 02:00.

About 8,000 Ottoman soldiers and the Azerbaijani forces consisting of up to 7,000 people gathered to take part in decisive offensive on Baku.

At 02:00, the fifth Caucasian division began to advance in the direction of the Heybat-Balajari railway. At 03:00, the first line of Bakus defense was captured, and at 06:00 - the second line.

The enemy was destroyed by artillery fire. The 56th regiment, who became the protagonist of the offensive, captured the strategic heights and moved forward pursuing the enemy. The 15th regiment takes over Balajary slopes, and the Mashtagha squad from this regiment captured Sabunchu, and the people's volunteers captured Keshla station. Evading direct confrontation, the Armenians engaged in fighting in city blocks and houses, as if they wanted to repeat the March massacre.

On September 14, General Densterville and the government of the Central Caspian dictatorship, and Baku Commissars left Baku.

On September 15 in Ganja in the first issue of the "Azerbaijan" newspaper, the news about the liberation of Baku was published: "Telegram of the commander of the Caucasian Islamic army Nuru Pasha to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic: "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim! At the beginning of 09:00 on September 15, 1918, the city of Baku was liberated by our heroic army."

After the liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic army, on September 17, the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic moved from Ganja to Baku. Thus, the main stage of state building began in Azerbaijan.

On September 18, the parts of the Caucasian Islamic army stationed around the city entered Baku. The Azerbaijani Turks, who were the real rulers of the city, warmly welcomed the victorious army as a savior.

Thus, the independence of Azerbaijan was ensured and the domination of Armenians and Bolsheviks in Baku and surrounding areas was terminated. About 2,000 soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic army were killed in the military operation to liberate Baku.

The liberation of Baku from Bolshevik-Dashnak occupation is one of the most glorious pages in the history of Azerbaijan of the XX century.

Despite the fact that many years have passed since those events, the brotherly help of the Turks is never forgotten, it has always been remembered and will be remembered by the Azerbaijani people with a sense of gratitude.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) made a statement which contains indescribable thoughts, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov said at a meeting of the committee on Sept. 14.

"Repeating the Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan's words by the members of the Armenian delegation to PACE is ridiculous," he said.

Seyidov noted that the composition of the Armenian delegation to PACE is changing, since it was formed when the previous government was in power.

"These deputies, in every possible way, try to stay in the composition that Pashinyan is going to determine. Therefore they repeat what he says. It's pretty ridiculous," Seyidov said.

The head of the committee stressed that the processes that are going on in Armenia have moved to a new level.

"Pashinyan's government has lost its credibility. After some time we will witness the undermining of its image not only in the region, but also at the international level," Seyidov added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Jeyhun Alakbarov - Trend:

In Azerbaijan, it is necessary to improve the non-cash payment system, Ramil Mahmudov, Chief of the National payments systems development at the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Ramil Mahmudov told Trend.

Presently, the system of non-cash payments in Azerbaijan is not at the proper level, according to Mahmudov.

"Compared to previous years, the volume of non-cash payments in Azerbaijan has increased slightly, but despite this, problems still exist. Despite the availability of potential in this area, the gaps indicate that it is necessary to strengthen work in this field. Adjusting the quality of non-cash payments in Azerbaijan to global indicators is one of the main tasks before the Central Bank of Azerbaijan," Mahmudov said.

"Increasing security in non-cash payments has always been a priority for the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. Recently, we drafted amendments to our rules for the use of plastic cards. One of the projects is about increasing security level of online payments. The facts of card fraud, revealed recently, show that the vector of fraud is gradually moving towards electronic commerce, because here it is much easier to carry out such fraudulent acts," he said.

"In order to prevent such fraud, banks must have proper training and a stable policy to counteract. We, on our behalf, are working with banks and making the necessary changes to the rules. Along with the banks, the special working group of the Azerbaijani Association of Banks is also working on the issue," Mahmudov said.

According to the CBA, in January-July 2018, turnover of transactions made by payment cards via ATMs and POS-terminals in Azerbaijan totaled 9.86 billion manat, which is 20.2 percent more than the figure of the same period of 2017. The total number of transactions with payment cards during the reported period amounted to 65.27 million (an increase of 20.7 percent).

As of the end of July, the number of payment cards, compared to the indicator at early 2018, increased by 6.45 percent to 6.17 million.

Most of the cards - about 5.35 million are debit cards, 2.5 million are social cards, 1.9 million - salary cards, and 0.92 million are other cards. The number of credit cards for the period was 823,000.

($1 = 1.7 AZN on Sept. 14)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to allocate $815 million to projects in Azerbaijan in 2019-2021, the bank's business plan reads.

The business plan, which is designed for 2019-2021, envisages the allocation of funds to projects in energy, education, finance, ICT, public sector management, water and other urban infrastructure and services.

Special attention is paid to the modernization of the country's energy system ($335 million) and the improvement of public administration ($250 million).

During the period, the bank also intends to provide technical assistance worth $5 million.

The business plan emphasizes that the Asian Development Bank will continue to support Azerbaijan's initiatives on regional cooperation and integration.

Azerbaijan became an ADB member in 1999. The country's share in the bank's capital is 0.5 percent.

Since 2003, ADB has approved loans worth over $4 billion for Azerbaijan for implementation of over 30 projects in the public and private sectors. ADB has also implemented technical assistance projects totaling almost $30 million in the country.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli
Tehran, Iran, Sept. 14

Trend:

Managing director of Hasheminejad (Khangiran) Gas Refinery said the Iranian oil ministry is in talks with domestic and foreign investors to build sulfur processing facilities at Khangiran gas field in Khorasan Razavi Province near Iran  Turkmenistan border.

Domestic and foreign investors have visited the gas field, and look to invest in construction of facilities required for processing sulfur, Seyed Majid Monabati said on September 14, Shana news agency reported.

The official added that the country plans to process sulfur in a bid to sell it at higher prices, noting that raw sulfur will be no longer exported.

The Khangiran gas field is an Iranian natural gas field that was discovered in 1967. It began production in 1980 and produces natural gas and condensates. The total proven reserves of the Khangiran gas field are around 17 trillion cubic feet (480109m3) and production is slated to be around 600 million cubic feet/day (17106m3).

Sulfur-processing facilities are built with help of modular and conventional construction methods, depending on the project requirements.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Ilkin Shafiyev  Trend:

Several stores under the concept From village to city will be created in Baku and the surrounding areas by the end of this year, Director of Azerbaijans State Agrarian Trade Company under the Ministry of Agriculture Leyla Mammadova told reporters in Baku Sept. 14.

We are trying to create new sales channels for owners of small and medium-sized farms, Mammadova said. We have already introduced a concept called From village to city on social networks. In autumn, the first store will be created as part of this concept. It will be located in Baku, on Nizami Street. Also, in autumn we will launch the website of this store and a mobile application. We plan to open several more small stores until the end of the year.

She said that the company is also creating a single venue for fairs in Baku.

Its presentation will take place in autumn, and the venue will also be located on Nizami Street, Mammadova noted. It will become a permanent place for holding different fairs, and the prices for products will be acceptable.

The main activity directions of Azerbaijans State Agrarian Trade Company include support in procurement and supply of products, creation of a unified trademark, as well as issues of export and signing future contracts.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Mexico may reach $25 million in 2018, the Mexican Ambassador to Azerbaijan Juan Rodrigo Labardini Flores said Sept. 14 at the event dedicated to the Independence Day of Mexico.

He noted that in the period from 1992 to 2014, the annual trade turnover between the two countries averaged as little as $1.2 million, and over the past three years, this figure has increased to $9.6 million.

The ambassador added that the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Mexico are expanding more and more.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador-at-large of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Gunduz Jafarov noted that relations between the two countries in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and many other spheres are developing rapidly.

"The mutual visits are carried out between the countries. The inter-parliamentary relations are also an important area of cooperation. The countries have signed many documents that will further expand the relations," he said.

Jafarov noted that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the adoption of documents in the Senate of Mexico in 2011 condemning the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia and the perpetration of the Khojaly genocide.

According to the data of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover with Mexico in 2017 amounted to $19.3 million. In the first eight months of 2018, the trade turnover between the two countries has amounted to $16.9 million.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Land reinstatement in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is exceeding 98 percent, said the consortium for construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe.

As a result, more than 3,150 parcels used for the section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) traversing the region have now been returned to their lawful owners and users, said the message.

The steps for reinstatement include:

backfilling and compacting the trench;

evenly re-spreading the topsoil, the most productive and fertile soil, on the grounds surface and contouring the land back to its original profile;

implementing revegetation and ecological restoration programs in non-cultivated land, in collaboration with Greek forestry authorities and environmental specialists;

installing permanent ground control measures where necessary  e.g. steep slopes

applying agricultural support program to accelerate farm productivity, that combines agronomist consultation support, as well as provision of fertilizer and tree seedlings to cultivators of tree crops;

monitoring of restoration and, if necessary, remediation to address any issues that might emerge after land hand back.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU), and has already attracted 1.5 billion euros from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which approved the loan in early February 2018.

Connecting with the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.14

Trend:

The 23rd International Conference "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2018" will be held in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on November 20-21, 2018. The State Concern "Turkmennebit" organizes the forum with the assistance of the French company Cifal Industrial Services.

The International Conference Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan has established itself as an effective business platform for developing and strengthening partnership relations with Turkmenistan in the oil and gas industry. This event will reveal main aspects of the country's oil and gas industry development, provide the participants with an opportunity to get exhaustive information on investment directions in the national oil and gas sector and on the implemented and ongoing projects, and will introduce with the future priority directions of Turkmenistans oil and gas industry development.

Senior executives and representatives of the leading oil and gas companies, major international organizations and financial institutions of the world are expected to attend the conference. They are Exxon Mobil, BP, Hyundai Engineering Co. Ltd, Dragon Oil, Petronas Carigali, Schlumberger, ARETI GROUP, Shell, KPMG, ENI, Gap Insaat Yatrm ve Ds Tic.A. S, LUKOIL Lubricants Central Asia LLP, Roxar, National Maritime Shipping Company Kazmortransflot LLP., Velan LLC., Haldor Topsoe, LLC., Valvitalia SpA, Rockwool and many others.

According to the preliminary program of the forum, on the first day of the conference, on November 20, two sessions will be held:

Oil and Gas Sector of Turkmenistan. Review of Key Industry Projects. International Cooperation in the Field of Investments and Technologies;

Oil Extraction Industry of Turkmenistan. State and prospects. Development of Innovative Technologies in the Sphere of Exploration and Extraction of Hydrocarbons.

On November 21, four sessions will take place:

Priority Directions and Prognoses of Oil and Gas Industry Development. International trends of oil and gas products market development;

Analysis of Products Market of Oil and Gas Production Industry. Production of Eco-Friendly Fuels. Aspects of development of Green Economy in Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan;

Diversification of Turkmen Natural Gas Markets;

Priority Directions in Sustainable Development of Oil & Gas Complex of Turkmenistan.

more -

The forum participants will discuss the ongoing construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI), prospects for the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project and other possibilities of the strategic partnership.

Within the framework of the event, representatives of foreign companies will meet heads of government institutions and enterprises of the country's oil and gas complex to discuss business issues.

OGT-2018 conference venue: Conference Hall of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, 143, Chandybil av., Ashgabat city.

More information about the conference can be found on the website www.ogt-tm.org, or you may contact us by e-mail: [email protected], [email protected] or by phone: +99312211623, +99363072992.

Facts: Turkmenistan keeps one of the leading positions in the world and 2nd in the CIS (after Russia) on the natural gas reserves.

The Galkynysh gas field is among the worlds largest deposits with reserves of 26.2 trillion cubic meters.

The annual natural gas production is planned to be brought up to 250 billion cubic meters, while oil production - up to 110 million tons in 2030 in accordance with the Turkmen oil and gas development programme.

For media queries:

Inna Dubrovina

Communication Officer

Cifal Industrial Services

Tel: +99361978379

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

The facility for the assembly of Belarusian mini-tractors can be set up in one of the regions of Kazakhstan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Ermukhamet Ertysbayev told reporters Sept. 14, BelTA reported.

The ambassador is taking part in the international business forum entitled as "Euroregion "Neman-2018", which is held today in Grodno city. Also the meeting of the ambassador with the Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Kravtsov has taken place.

"We have discussed several interesting Kazakh-Belarusian projects in the fields of agriculture and food, production, education and culture. In particular, in the near future I will deal with the issue of supply of feed grain to the Grodno region", said Ermukhamet Yertysbayev.

He noted that one of the major joint projects may be the establishment in one of the regions of Kazakhstan the assembly production of mini-tractors which are manufactured currently in the Grodno region. The ambassador added that goods from Belarus are popular in Kazakhstan - from food products, primarily the products of meat and dairy industry, to the products of light and engineering industry.

In 2017, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to almost $690 million, and there is a potential for its increase.

"There is all the more reason for this as the inter-regional cooperation is actively developing. For example, Grodno region has established contacts with five regions of Kazakhstan. It is important that the leadership of the regions is also interested in this. Such cooperation has a huge potential," the diplomat believes.

The "Grodnoinvest" FEZ can be an interesting platform for Kazakh business, primarily due to the favorable geographical location.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

Belarus and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology, BelTA news agency reported citing the State Committee on Science and Technology of Belarus.

The document was signed by the committees Chairman Aleksandr Shumilin and Minister of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Abdurakhmanov.

The document provides that the parties develop and strengthen long-term scientific and technical cooperation in the energy, medicine, nano- and biotechnologies, information and communication technologies, robotics, agro-industrial technologies.

Belarus and Uzbekistan also plan to carry out joint scientific and technical projects and programs, hold events in the scientific and technical spheres.

In order to coordinate bilateral interaction, it is planned to create a joint commission for cooperation in science and technology.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

Belarusian LWO (Light Well Organization) IT company plans to implement projects in Uzbekistan worth a seven-digit figure, Sergei Slesarev, Chief Commercial Officer at LWO said Sept. 14, BelTA reported.

"Visit to Uzbekistan was very successful. We have two contracts in the process of being signed. Unfortunately, I cannot speak about the details yet but the amount is big. We hope that our contracts will also contribute to the trade between Uzbekistan and Belarus," Slesarev said.

Among the products the company offers to Uzbek customers are integrated automation systems for the banking sector.

"In fact, this is a digital bank on a turn-key basis," said Slesarev. Now the negotiations are in their final stage. We plan to launch the first products in 4 to 5 months. The whole project will last 12 months."

LWO, a resident company of the Belarusian Hi-Tech Park, targets both domestic and international customers. For example, the company is working on several projects in Central Asia.

"Our products and solutions are not inferior in quality to foreign ones. This is, among other things, the result of the Belarus government policy in the IT industry," Slesarev said.

He noted that the company did not participate in the exhibitions of Belarusian manufacturers in the previous years. The focus was on the IT industry events.

"For us, this exhibition is a good networking opportunity. There is a very big interest among banks. We have been in intensive talks with the banking sector for the third day in a row," he added.
Chinas crude oil output rose in August for the first time in nearly three years, data showed on Friday, climbing after President Xi Jinping called for a boost to national energy security amid trade tensions with the United States, Reuters reports.

Monthly crude oil output hit 16 million tonnes, or 3.77 million bpd, up 0.2 percent from August last year and marking the first year-on-year increase in tonnes and barrels per day (bpd) since October 2015, according to the data from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Year-to-date output was 125.95 million tonnes, down 1.8 percent from a year earlier. That equates to 3.78 million bpd.

National energy majors raised output in August as international oil prices approached $80 a barrel and after the state call to ramp up local oil and gas output amid the escalating trade war with the United States, experts said.

The state oil companies need to show some sort of support for President Xis call to boost domestic supplies, said Seng-Yick Tee at consultancy SIA Energy.

Most Chinese oilfields can break even with oil at $70 per barrel, he added. Benchmark global prices stood at around $78 on Friday.

The data also showed Chinas crude processing rate fell in August to its lowest since December, with independent refiners prolonging maintenance shutdowns as higher oil prices and a new tax regime ate into margins.

China refined 50.31 million tonnes of crude oil in August, or 11.85 million barrels per day (bpd), up 5.6 from a year ago. The pace of processing fell from 11.95 million bpd in July and compared with a record-high of 12.13 million bpd in March.

For the first eight months, crude runs were up 8.7 percent at 400.41 million tonnes, or 12.03 million bpd.

Meanwhile, Chinas natural gas production rose 9.7 percent in August over the same year-ago level to 12.9 billion cubic meters (bcm). That was down from 12.96 bcm in July.

Output for the year-to-date was 104 bcm, up 5.9 percent as producers gear up for peak-demand over winter, with the country continuing its drive to switch households and businesses to gas for heating.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that China is willing to provide whatever help it can offer to his country, state media said on Friday, Reuters reports.

China is willing to continue business and trade exchanges with Venezuela, Li added.
The interior ministers of European Union (EU) member states and southern European states signed an agreement on the expansion of police cooperation in the Western Balkans at a conference here on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

The "Prum Convention" agreement, which seeks to boost cross-border police cooperation, has now been expanded to the Western Balkans states of Albania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia, according to an Austria Press Agency report.

It includes the capacity for police authorities from other countries to have access to things such as DNA and fingerprint information, as well as vehicle registration information.

Austrian interior minister Herbert Kickl, who is leading the two-day conference, described the expansion as a "milestone," saying it will aid the fight against organized crime, terrorism, extremism, and people smuggling.

Kickl noted that it was the exchange of DNA information as part of the Prum Convention that brought authorities on the trail of the perpetrators of the November 2015 terror attacks in the French capital Paris.
European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger is in favor of a French person taking the helm at the European Central Bank when President Mario Draghis term expires in October 2019, Reuters with reference to the German newspaper reported.

It would be best to have a German European Commission President and a clever Frenchman as head of the ECB, business daily Handelsblatt cited Oettinger as saying.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that the NATO military alliance has no choice but to improve its defense capabilities, Reuters reports.

It is unavoidable for NATO to boost its defense alliance, she told a news conference in Vilnius.
Israel's Ministry of Defense has strenuously denied reports in the UAE newspaper "Al Khaleej" that it has been persuaded by the US to sell Iron Dome short range missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia, Globes reports.

According to the reports, Saudi Arabia would deploy Iron Dome batteries along its border with Yemen within several months and in the future more systems would be supplied. The report further stated that Israel has initially rejected the Saudi request for Iron Dome systems and had only agreed to the sale after US pressure.

A senior Israel defense source has insisted that "the report is incorrect."

So far the IDF is the only customer for the Iron Dome system, which was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd..

Since its deployment, Iron dome has intercepted over 1,500 rockets fired at Israel, mainly from Gaza but also towards Eilat from Sinai and in the north.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) today announced a $20 million investment in Israel, the fund's first in Israel. This investment, the European Union's (EU) first in Israeli high tech, is part of the InnoFin program in the framework of the European Horizon 2020 R&D program, Globes reports.

EIF is joining a group of investors recruited by the ICV fund; EIF will be an anchor investor. ICV is raising its third fund, ICV III, which is likely to reach $75 million. ICV focuses on investments in startups at the early stages, and has already begun considering new investments.

ICV III will invest in seed stage and early stage companies in software, hardware, infrastructure, and innovation. The fund is focusing on increasing its efficient use of resources and on the transition to industrial innovation.

The ICV fund began its activity in 2006, among other things with the support of Horizon 2020. ICV has invested over $150 million in 25 companies to date through the first two funds that it manages. The ICV funds are backed by leading investment institutions, multinationals, and firms in Europe, the US, and Israel. Its current investment will bring ICV's total investment to over $200 million.

Israel is a partner in the framework European program through a 1.1 billion investment by the Israel Innovation Authority by means of the Israel-Europe Directorate for Research & Innovation (ISERD).

One of the important advantages of Israel's participation in this program is the entry and involvement of European financial institutions in Israel. This involvement includes investments in venture capital funds and the use of financial tools for realizing the innovation vision, such as guarantees for local banks giving Israeli companies the opportunity to develop and grow.

EIF is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) group. It supports small and medium-sized businesses in Europe through assistance in financing. EIF develops venture capital and growth funds, guarantees, and other tools focused on these market segments.

At the event announcing this cooperation, Israel Ambassador to the EU Emanuele Giaufret said, "The new areas of investment are in addition to the successful activity carried out to date by EU institutions in infrastructure development in Israel, technology, and innovation. For more than 20 years, Israel has been a partner in the EU research and innovation program, which is creating a suitable environment for this important investment and other investments. These investments, especially in the existing areas, not only encourage the local economy, but also prepare Israel for handling its future environmental challenges."

Israel Innovation Authority CEO Aharon Aharon said, "As the governmental agency responsible for Israel's innovation policy and our involvement in the Horizon 2020 European framework program through ISERD, we are proud that EIF has set a precedent by investing in Israel. The deep synergy between Israel and Europe, combined with all of the tools offered under the Horizon 2020 program, constitute an opportunity for excelling investments and for supporting innovation and cooperation initiatives. Such investments make an important growth channel and means of penetrating the European market available to Israeli startups."

ICV cofounder Meir Ukeles said, "We are proud that the EIF is making its first investment ever in Israel. Since 2006, our fund has been part of partnerships with entrepreneurs seeking to reinvent various sectors and markets on a global scale. With a record of investment in over 300 funds, we are more than glad to accept EIF as investors."

EIF CEO Pierre Luigi Gilibert said, "We are glad to launch our first venture capital fund in Israel with the support of the InnoFin program. Israel offers excellent business opportunities in companies in the early stages, while ICV III is an example of an attractive investment, due to its existing strong model, its experience, and its efficiency. EIF's participation in ICV III constitutes n unusual opportunity for creating innovation through a fund with an established presence in Israel and unique access to a flow of high-quality deals in the long term."

European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas said, "This deal will open new ways of financing research, innovation, and technological support in Israel. It constitute another example of how innovation is being opened to the world under Horizon 2020 and is creating an enormous profit for both the EU and its partners."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that he was ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in November-December and pointed out the importance of the summit, Sputnik reported.

"The negotiations between the leaders that will be held in November-December will be important," Abe said, as quoted by the NHK broadcaster.

On Wednesday, Putin proposed signing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan by the end of the year without any preconditions. The Japanese Foreign Ministry told Sputnik that it was not ready to comment on the offer, but noted that Tokyo's position on the issue remained unchanged.

The main issue so far preventing the parties from signing the treaty is a disagreement concerning a group of four islands that both countries claim  Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai, collectively referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Japan in December 2016, Moscow and Tokyo agreed to develop joint projects on the disputed islands.

In April, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Russia and held talks with Russian President, during which the sides reached an agreement to provide an opportunity for former Kuril Islands' residents to travel to the islands by plane without visas.

The first plane with a Japanese delegation on board landed earlier in July this year at the Mendeleyevo airport as part of visa-free flights from Japan to Kuril Islands.
Russian first deputy prime minister and finance minister Anton Siluanov and US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry agreed during their Thursdays meeting in Moscow that the Russian-US dialogue should continue both at the political and business level, TASS reports.

"Anton Siluanov and Rick Perry noted the need to continue dialogue between Russia and the United States at the level of state and businessmen, despite the current difficult period in the two states relations," Siluanovs spokesman said.

During his visit to Moscow on Thursday, Perry also meet with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak. After the talks, Novak said that Russia and the United States may establish a joint investment fund in the sphere of energy efficiency and new technologies, with the possible participation of Russias Direct Investment Fund.
President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syrias rebel-held Idlib with members of Russias Security Council on Friday, the RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying, Reuters reports.

Putin told the Security Council he was concerned by militant activity in the last major rebel-held stronghold in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited as saying.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The US should decide on its allies in the region and make a choice between Turkey and the PYD/YPG terrorists, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, Turkish media reported Sept. 14.

The US should know that PYD and YPG are terrorist groups that are the Syrian wings of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which poses a real threat to Turkey's security, he noted.

Just like in the US, the PKK is also recognized as a terrorist group in the EU, and the US should take this into account, Cavusoglu added.

On June 16, then prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said that Turkey and the US signed a 90-day agreement on the withdrawal of the PYD/YPG units from Syrias Manbij.

"If the PYD/YPG terrorists dont leave Manbij, Turkey will launch a military operation in the city, as it was done earlier in Afrin and in the al-Bab district," he noted.

On June 4, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed a road map on Manbij during talks in Washington.

Earlier, Pompeo and Cavusoglu met in Brussels and discussed the Operation Olive Branch, as well as other issues.

On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.

On Aug. 24, 2016, units of the Turkish Armed Forces began the Operation Euphrates Shield against the "Islamic State" and with the support of the Syrian opposition liberated the border town of Jarablus in northern Syria, as well as al-Bab.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Four members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have been detained during a special operation carried out by police in Ankara, the police said in a message Sept. 14.

Work is underway to detain another terrorist who managed to escape.

During searches, documents and video materials were found in the apartments of the detainees, proving their participation in illegal armed groups in the territory of Syria.

Thirty-three members of IS were detained in Istanbul in July.

Meanwhile, 51 members of the IS terrorist group were detained during a special operation carried out by Istanbuls police in May.

Syrian citizen Riad Haji Osman, one of the IS executioners, was detained during a special operation in Turkeys Adana Province on April 13.

Kifah Bashir Hussein, the so-called minister of health of IS, was detained in Sanliurfa on Jan. 24.

On Jan. 12, the Turkish police detained the so-called minister of agriculture of IS, Tarik Ahmet.

In December 2017, 28-year-old terrorist nicknamed Mahmud, one of the IS executioners, was detained in Turkeys Hatay Province on the border with Syria.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 14

Trend:

The United States does not withdraw its military presence at the Incirlik airbase in Turkey, US Department of Defense spokesperson Eric Pahon told TASS.

"The US does not withdraw its presence in Turkey. The United States has used Incirlik [base] for decades and will continue to do so with the support of our NATO ally, Turkey. Turkey is an ally in NATO and a reliable partner in the coalition against IS ["Islamic State"]", he said.
This is not just our oil and gas resources, but we have renewable resources that are in high demand.

Our country has products that the world wants and needs to buy.

We must better adapt to the evolving global economy, so that we not only insulate ourselves from economic shocks  but we must take advantage of economic opportunity for our people.

This includes dealing with natural disasters brought about by climate change so we can protect our people.

PORT MORESBY - We must prepare our communities to adapt to changes in the modern world.

Our agriculture sector should be the food bowl of the region.

We have vast expanses of land, with rich fertile soil that is purely organic.

We have some of the most amazing tourism sites that people from around the world want to visit.

But all of this potential is worth nothing if we do not believe in ourselves.

We must continue to invest in our nation and in our communities.

This means building the roads that we need to transport our goods to market, to build the airports for our people to travel and to construct the schools that will educate the next generation.

The only people who can deliver a stronger Papua New Guinea  are Papua New Guineans ourselves.

As a country we have many friends who are helping us to advance, and we value this support, but we must do things for ourselves and chart our own course.

We have to have confidence in our potential, we have to make firm decisions on our future and we have to stand by those decisions all the way.

I give you every commitment, on behalf of our government, that we will not let you down.

Each and every day, we will continue to do our best to advance the interests of Papua New Guinea, and continue to deliver real change for our nation.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 07:17 | World, All

North Korea has formally named Kim Song as its new ambassador to the United Nations, a position that has been vacant for more than a month, state media reported Thursday.

The appointment came after he recently received his visa to begin work at his post in New York. Because his visa was not issued soon after his application in late May, there was talk that the United States was intentionally delaying the process amid slow progress in denuclearization talks with North Korea.

Kim had previously been posted in New York as a counselor with the country's mission. His predecessor, Ja Song Nam, left at the end of July after having served as North Korea's top representative at the U.N. headquarters since February 2014.



(U.N. headquarters in New York)

The White House said Monday that Washington is looking at a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the latter made a written request for such a meeting.

In the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit, Kim committed to "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But Pyongyang has yet to provide a full inventory of its nuclear weapons and fissile materials, as Washington has demanded.

Nor has North Korea presented a road map for denuclearization, except for Kim saying recently he hopes to achieve denuclearization before the end of Trump's first term in January 2021.

The North, for its part, has insisted that the United States first declare a formal end to the Korean War, which was halted with an armistice rather than a peace treaty in 1953.
By KiMi Robinson, KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 11:13 | All, World

Japanese and U.S. non-state actors involving businesses and local governments signed a partnership on Thursday to take more aggressive climate change actions than those of their central governments for the achievement of goals set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Japanese Climate Initiative, comprised of more than 200 Japanese companies, municipalities and nonprofit organizations, signed a memorandum of understanding with America's Pledge during the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, which brings together some 4,000 activists against climate change.

"After the (1997) Kyoto Protocol, Japan used to be one of the leaders" in addressing climate change, but "other countries have started to move ahead" of Japan, Takejiro Sueyoshi, the leading JCI advocate and special adviser to the U.N. Environment Program Finance Initiative in the Asia-Pacific region, told Kyodo News.

"We believe that Japan can and should play a greater role in the world in realizing a decarbonized society," the JCI said in a statement. "In order to realize the goal of the Paris Agreement, Japanese non-state actors are beginning to play active roles in pursing more ambitious goals than the official commitment of the Japanese government."

The MOU is "the first step in a global movement which will be based on the principle that solving the climate problem is not a task for governments," said America's Pledge Vice Chair Carl Pope. "It is a task for societies."

The partnership is meant to provide knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices in developing sub-national solutions to implement the Paris Agreement, according to a press release.

The America's Pledge initiative, which was established in July last year following President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, has a network of thousands of cities, states and businesses committed to "bottom-up climate progress."

It is co-chaired by California Gov. Jerry Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who serves as U.N. special envoy for climate action.

Members of the JCI, which was launched in July this year, include Ajinomoto Co., Fujifilm Holdings Corp., Panasonic Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp. as well as more than 20 municipalities such as the Tokyo metropolitan government, Kyoto city and prefecture and Osaka city.

The JCI is scheduled to host the Japan Climate Change Action Summit in Tokyo on Oct. 12 to discuss ways to proceed with efforts to seek a carbon-free society, which will be joined by America's Pledge.

In May, the Climate Action Tracker rated Japan as "highly insufficient" in its efforts toward the Paris Agreement's goal of maintaining warming to less than 2 C above pre-industrial levels.

The research group said while Japan is on pace to achieve short-term goals, the country's continued use of coal power and plans to build new coal plants "remain a concern."
KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 09:03 | All, World

The United States on Thursday criticized Russia for interfering with the process of publishing a U.N. report on North Korea sanctions that was due last week.

"Russia can't be allowed to edit and obstruct independent U.N. reports on North Korea sanctions just because they don't like what they say. Period," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a press release.

(Nikky Hayley)

A panel of independent experts put together in early August a confidential report to a U.N. Security Council sanctions committee. But its publication has been delayed after Russia opposed some unknown details contained in it.

Haley provided no substance about how Russia interfered or what specifically it objected to, but it is assumed Moscow opposed being implicated in possible U.N. sanctions violations.

"We're disappointed in the panel for caving to Russian pressure and making changes to what should be an independent report," Haley added, noting that it was a "dangerous precedent."

A draft U.N. experts' report, which was seen by Kyodo News in early August, pointed out that North Korea has continued with its nuclear programs in breach of U.N. bans.

It also said Pyongyang continues to defy global sanctions through a "massive increase" in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum products.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 19:20 | World, All

North and South Korea held a ceremony on Friday to open a joint liaison office near the border, the South's Unification Ministry said, in another development that is expected to facilitate dialogue between the divided Koreas.

The four-story liaison office, located in the North Korean city of Kaesong, was borne out of an agreement at an inter-Korean summit in April and is designed to keep the two Koreas in constant contact while becoming a regular channel to improve relations.

"With the opening of the liaison office, the South and North are now equipped with a system through which the two sides can communicate 365 days (a year)," around the clock, Unification Minister Cho Myoung Gyon said at the ceremony in Kaesong, according to South Korean media.

Ri Son Gwon, head of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, a North Korean state agency in charge of handling inter-Korean affairs, said in his remarks that the two Koreas will now be able to accelerate improvement in ties and take a big step toward peace, co-prosperity and reunification, the media said.

About 50 people from each side attended the ceremony, including South Korean lawmakers and business representatives.

(Kaesong, the border city)

The establishment of the office comes less than a week before South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will hold their third summit in Pyongyang, after having met at the border village of Panmunjeom in April and May.

After the ceremony, South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae Sung and Jon Jong Su, a vice chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, held their first meeting as co-heads of the office.

Chun told reporters afterward that he and his counterpart shared ideas about cooperating in running the office successfully, and that he looks forward to more meetings, according to South Korean media.

The co-heads of the office are supposed to meet every week.

The office is located in a facility in the Kaesong industrial park used for a joint economic cooperation project between the two Koreas. The industrial park was shuttered in February 2016 amid worsening ties between the nations.

About 20 officials from South Korean government agencies are slated to man the liaison office, with North Korea assigning staff of an equivalent size.

The office will also be used as a venue for inter-Korean consultations. Electricity to power the facility will be supplied by the South.

In a declaration signed by Moon and Kim at their first summit on April 27, they agreed to set up a joint liaison office in Kaesong with resident representatives for close consultation between the two countries.

South Korea had planned to open the office by the end of August. The delay led to speculation that the United States was concerned that goods supplied to operate the office might violate economic sanctions on North Korea.

Also on Friday, officials from North and South Korea held talks at Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the peninsula to prepare for the three-day Moon-Kim summit from Tuesday next week, according to the ministry.

At the talks, it was agreed that Moon, accompanied by a 200-member official delegation, will fly directly to Pyongyang, while an advance team from the South will arrive there on Sunday via a land route, according to the South's presidential office.

The two Koreas also agreed to broadcast live the two leaders' meeting as well as main events of the three-day summit, the presidential office added.
By Marie Kobayashi, KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 14:40 | All, Feature

Remote medical consultation services that connect doctors and patients via smartphones and other devices are spreading across Japan, with their popularity boosted by recent deregulations in telemedicine.

As deregulations in April have allowed health insurance coverage for such consultations, healthcare startups are expected to further accelerate the development of remote healthcare services which utilize artificial intelligence, amid improvements in the accumulation of health data on individuals.

(Communication with a doctor in the smartphone display)

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry unveiled its vision for developing and utilizing a healthcare database to support telemedicine applications for remote diagnosis, remote treatment and telesurgery in its proposal "The Japan Vision: Health Care 2035," along with changes in the social environment including a rapidly aging population and the advancement of medical technology.

As an experiment for remote consultations, this reporter tried using the healthcare mobile app "curon," which is operated by Tokyo-based healthcare startup Micin Inc.

After explaining via smartphone that "I have been taking large amounts of painkillers because I have been bothered by frequent headaches and fevers recently," a doctor, who appeared in a videophone call, replied, "You'll lessen the strain on your stomach and kidneys if you change your medication."

The service was convenient since it could be used at leisure without requiring a physical hospital visit. Even the one-on-one dialogue via remote consultation somehow felt closer than a physical face-to-face meeting with a doctor.

Currently, about 650 healthcare institutions use curon, which specializes in consultations for chronic diseases, including diabetes, that require continuous medical care.

In July, the app was upgraded with new functions that allow patients to share information collected at home, such as their blood pressure, amount of exercise and hours of sleep, with doctors. Generally, AI maximizes its potential in data analysis when large amounts of data are collected.

Seigo Hara, a doctor and chief executive officer of Micin, imagines that in the future, AI will advise doctors to help compensate for their differences in ability or lack of experience in certain fields to provide "the best treatment plan for each patient."

AI, for example, might advise doctors about when a patient might likely stop taking medication or appropriate ways for patients to take their meals.

China has seen an advancement in the merger of medicine and information technology. Healthcare and technology company Ping An Good Doctor has about 1,000 doctors who provide 370,000 online remote consultations per day, in cooperation with other hospitals.

By accumulating data of 300 million cases and with the support of an AI-based diagnostic system, the company has been able to provide enormous amounts of medical consultations beyond what could ever be conceived at a conventional hospital.

In a lecture in Tokyo in July, Oliver Wang, chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, said, "Telemedicine can solve healthcare problems in China, such as shortages of doctors and long waiting lines at hospitals." He stressed his goal of having "a family doctor for every family."

In Japan, curon vies with other remote consultation service platforms, such as MRT Inc.'s Pocket Doctor, and Medley Inc.'s Clinics, among others.

One person with knowledge of the industry predicts "a pivot to the utilization of health data with apps serving as a basis" and the possibility of developing a healthcare service using remote consultations similar to China's system.

Even so, a Japanese expert on healthcare also pointed out issues that can arise with the expansion of remote medical consultations.

"There is a risk that rare diseases, not included in data, can be overlooked," Akira Yokouchi of the Nomura Research Institute said, while at the same time expressing his hope for the improvement of the quality of healthcare.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2018 - 12:51 | All, World

The leader of Japan's main opposition party Yukio Edano said Thursday he hopes to run a Bernie Sanders-like grassroots political campaign in the upcoming election after meeting the U.S. senator in Washington.

Speaking to reporters after a sitdown with Sanders, Edano, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, indicated he believes some of the left-leaning senator's policies, such as free university education, could gain support among young Japanese people ahead of next year's House of Councillors election.

(Yukio Edano (R))[Photo courtesy of the CDPJ]

"Japan shares challenges with the United States about student loans for tuition," said Edano, who is on a five-day visit to the U.S. capital through Saturday. "I would like to step up an appeal on the issue."

Edano said his party is aiming to strengthen democracy through grassroots campaigning, suggesting that, like the 77-year-old Sanders, he wants to marshal a youth movement for political change.

Edano said Sanders expressed his concern that democracy has fallen into crisis globally, an apparent jab at Republican President Donald Trump's administration and the factors that aided his rise.

The senator for Vermont went head-to-head in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries with Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state whom Trump went on to beat in the presidential election later the same year.

In a speech at George Washington University later Thursday, Edano reiterated his opposition to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to advance the planned relocation of a U.S. military base within Okinawa Prefecture.

Edano said that if the Abe government goes ahead with the planned transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded residential area in Ginowan to the less populated coastal district of Henoko in Nago, Japan-U.S. relations would suffer due to increased local resentment of U.S. forces in Japan.

Edano called for a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, criticizing it as "unequal" and "unfair" because it is overly protective of U.S. service members and civilian base workers when they are implicated in crimes.

Touching on North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, Edano suggested the Japanese government should set up a liaison office in Pyongyang as part of efforts to address the issue.
The move follows the World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing for Covaxin, which is the second most used formulation in India.
Sands said Trudeaus stance on trade since Canada introduced counter-tariffs against the U.S. on July 1 has been conciliatory for the most part. Trump, he said, has gone the other direction.. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Canada is out of ammunition to fire back at the United States if NAFTA talks fall apart and the Trump administration ramps up trade aggression, according to experts monitoring the negotiations.

Ottawas counter-tariffs on American steel, aluminum and a list of goods ranging from pens to playing cards have put $300 million in government coffers, according to the Canada Border Service Agency. Canada has pledged to keep the measures in place until the U.S. lifts its duties on Canadian steel and aluminum.

That counter-punch isnt having a big enough impact on American companies and states that sell goods north of the border, according to Harper-era trade advisor Adam Taylor. He said U.S. officials have not been convinced to go easy on Canada, and Ottawa has little recourse if trade attacks escalate.

It seems like we sort of emptied our clip, he told Yahoo Canada Finance. We have significantly more to lose, and the Americans know it.

The U.S. and Mexico are pushing Canada to sign a deal by the end of September or face exclusion from the pact. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear that Canada will not agree to a deal that does not represent his countrys best interests.

Ottawa and Washington continue to be at odds over issues including the Chapter 19 dispute resolution mechanism, intellectual property rights, and Canadas supply-managed dairy system.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to use a new three-party agreement as evidence of his deal making prowess as U.S. trade tensions escalate with China, and talks continue with the European Union.

Story continues

Denying him that may come at a significant cost for Canada.

If we dont do a trade deal, the only way to get Canada back to the table is going to be an escalating trade conflict, said Christopher Sands, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at at Johns Hopkins University. I have to be somewhat sympathetic to the Canadians.

Taylor said Canadas carrot and stick approach to swaying state-level legislators to its cause by emphasizing economic ties and targeting regional economies with tariffs has so far proven fruitless.

The whole point of it was to make it strategic. So if you are a congressman from Kentucky, you would go the the administration and say, Hey, they just slapped tariffs on my whiskey. Thats bad for my constituents, he said. I have not seen anyone stand up and say, Stop this trade war with Canada.

Whats worse, Taylor  now the principal and co-founder at the boutique trade firm Export Action Global  found Canadians are paying significantly more for some U.S. goods on Ottawas tariff list. The firm has observed price increases of up to $10 on American whiskey, $7 on meat products, and as much as $50 on mattresses.

Sands said Trudeaus stance on trade since Canada introduced counter-tariffs against the U.S. on July 1 has been conciliatory for the most part. Trump, he said, has gone the other direction.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Trump mused about a naming the yet-to-be-inked trade deal USMC, with an M for Mexico and a C for Canada. He reportedly said he was willing to go ahead with a USM deal and drop the C if Canada didnt sign on.

What Donald Trump has done to change the negotiating dynamic is to say, Either you get rid of those barriers or I do something horrible to you like auto tariffs or steel and aluminum tariffs, Sands said. Friendly is what Trudeau has offered in return, and he has got nothing for it. I think Canadians are at the point where the Mr. Nice Guy routine is starting to get old.

That said, Sands doesnt think Canada is particularly good at playing hardball with the U.S. He expects Trump will look like the bad guy in the end if he is seen to needlessly attack a smaller long-time U.S. ally.

That message will be communicated by Canadians across the border to their American friends. It will start moving from customers and suppliers to boardrooms and so on, this feeling that the U.S. has been unjust and unfair to its biggest customer, Sands said. The shame of isolating Canada, beating them up, and leaving them without a trade agreement will have its repercussions.

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'We will regret it' when Trump's tariffs hurt China's growth, says former US commerce secretary

Former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who served under former President George W. Bush, said he worries that U.S. tariffs would push China "over the cliff" and end up hurting the global economy.

"The moment China's growth rate declines, we will regret it," Gutierrez told CNBC on Thursday.

Washington D.C. will regret its trade dispute with Beijing when United States tariffs end up slowing down China economy significantly, said former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez .

Gutierrez, who served under former President George W. Bush , said he worries that the U.S. will push China "over the cliff" and eventually drag down the global economy.

"What I worry about is what if China, instead of growing 6 percent, grows 3 (percent); That we actually have such an impact on the Chinese economy that their growth rate is (stifled)  that will impact everyone and you have to wonder if it's worth it," Gutierrez told CNBC's Oriel Morrison on Thursday.

"That's not good for the world. We may think that China's rise may be bad for the U.S., that China is a strategic competitor ... but the moment China's growth rate declines, we will regret it," he said at the Milken Institute's annual Asia Summit in Singapore .

China is an engine of growth for much of the world. The world's second-largest economy has been the largest contributor to global growth since the global financial crisis in 2008, according to the World Bank.

The extent of China's slowdown depends on "how much damage we do with these tariffs," added Gutierrez, who's now the chair of consultancy Albright Stonebridge Group. He said if the administration of President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on every Chinese product that enters the U.S., the impact on China would be big.

The U.S. has implemented tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports  to which Beijing retaliated. Washington has also ended a public comment period for another $200 billion of tariffs worth of goods from China and before that's imposed, Trump said he's "ready to go" with levies on an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese products.

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Trump on Twitter: If the U.S. sells a car into China, there is a tax of 25%. If China sells a car into the U.S., there is a tax of 2%. Does anybody think that is FAIR? The days of the U.S. being ripped-off by other nations is OVER!

Trump has frequently taken to airing his criticisms of China in public, including on Twitter. One of his complaints centers on China's trade practices, which he has said hurt American businesses and workers. While some issues that have been raised are worth looking into, calling out China in public can't resolve them, said Gutierrez.

"I would take a private approach. The problem with doing it in public is that it can humiliate a country. We're talking about sovereign countries, not businesses, and to put China in a position of publicly being called out and potentially publicly humiliated, publicly losing face, that can't succeed," he said.

But it's a sign of progress that the U.S. appears to be willing to talk with China, noted Gutierrez, adding that both sides could reach a deal in the end.

"It could resolve in a deal, I just don't know how much it will achieve the president's goals," he said. "We need to understand that trade is part of what drives growth and I think that it's a very dangerous assumption that if our trade deficit is high, we're losing."

The U.S. trade deficit with China was $375.6 billion in 2017, according to data by the Census Bureau. For the first seven months of this year, the U.S. recorded a trade deficit of $222.6 billion with China.





More From CNBC


Labourers remove dried grass from a rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, August 30, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

By Sumita Layek

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India slumped this week as the rupee fell and demand remained weak with buyers expecting further dips, while low supplies and the prospect of a new deal with the Philippines pushed up prices for the Vietnamese variety.

In top exporter India, rates for the 5 percent broken parboiled variety fell by $5 to $371-$375 per tonne this week, the lowest in 17 months.

"Rates are down due to the rupee and weak demand. Buyers are postponing purchases expecting further falls in prices," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian rupee has fallen 13 percent so far in 2018 and hit a record low on Wednesday, increasing exporters margins.

In Vietnam, however, rates for benchmark 5 percent broken rice rose to $400-$405 a tonne from $397-$403 last week on tight supplies and rising demand.

"The Philippines is about to announce a plan to buy an extra 133,000 tonnes, while supplies are running low," a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum held in Hanoi from Sept. 11 to 13 saw Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraging the Mekong region to establish an association of rice exporting countries.

In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices were little changed at $390-$393 per tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, compared with last week's $385-$393 as activity remained slow, traders said.

"There's so little market activity lately that traders are just taking naps," a trader in Bangkok said, adding that he has tried to convince buyers to make purchases now when the prices are considered low for the grade.

Thailand had exported 7.65 million tonnes of rice this year up until last Friday, according to the latest commerce ministry data.

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Another Bangkok-based trader said he expected demand from the Philippines and Indonesia to pick up in the coming weeks due to recent natural disasters in the two countries.

"Prices have been at this level for a while and shouldn't go any lower. Prices are actually expected to increase because of anticipated demand from the Philippines and Indonesia," the trader said.

Elsewhere, Bangladesh, which stepped up its imports last year after floods destroyed its crops, has procured more than 1.1 million tonnes of rice locally so far to build state reserves, after output of the grain revived.

"We are getting a good response in our local procurement drive and will continue it," a food ministry official said.

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanasasempipat in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Sept 14 (Reuters) - Office owner Investa Office Fund said on Friday it would postpone a shareholder meeting regarding a takeover offer from private equity firm Blackstone after receiving a rival bid.

The company said it intended to seek judicial advice to adjourn the meeting set for Sept. 17, where it intended to solicit shareholders over a takeover offer from Blackstone.

Investa also said it would engage with Oxford Properties Group over a possible binding proposal after the Canadian landlord sweetened its takeover bid for the company on Thursday. (Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Prime Minister Theresa May with her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban (Getty)

The Conservative party has been criticised by Jewish community leaders after its members of the European Parliament tried to block action against Hungarys far-right government.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has expressed its disappointment with the decision to vote against the triggering of the EUs Article 7 sanctions process on Wednesday.

Its president, Marie van der Zyl, rebuked the Conservatives for acting in defence of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, who she said had used vivid anti-semitism and racist attacks on other minorities and migrants as part of his recent re-election campaign.

MORE: Conservatives accused of propping up Orban after opposing EU sanctions on Hungary

This whipping up of prejudice by the Hungarian government  alongside restrictions on press freedom and the independence of the judiciary  must be stopped before it undermines Hungarys democracy irreversibly, she said in a statement released Thursday.

It is very concerning that the Conservative Party MEPs chose to defend Hungarys appalling track record, rather than supporting this motion to protect the rule of law.

MEPs voted by 448 to 197 on Wednesday for disciplinary action against the Hungarian government, agreeing it presented clear risk of a serious breach of the EU founding values.

The motion detailed Orbans government has repeatedly flouted EU rules with attacks on minorities, migrants, the media and judicial independence.

Baroness Nosheena Mobarik was the only Conservative MEP who voted for sanctions against Hungary (European Parliament)

All but three of the Conservatives 19 MEPs voted against censuring Orban over his attacks on media freedom, minority groups, migrants, political opponents and judicial independence.

That put them on the same side as UKIP, as well as major international far-right parties like the National Front in France and the Northern League in Italy.

MEPs claimed the Conservatives position on the vote was part of a bid to win backing from Orban over Brexit.

Richard Corbett, Labours leader in the European Parliament, said: Theresa May and the Tories would do anything and make alliances with anyone, no matter how racist, if they think it will further their interests.

Story continues

MORE: Tory MEPs defy call to stand up for democracy by opposing sanctions against Orban

Conservative MEP Dan Dalton insisted the group opposed the motion because MEPs were politicising what should be a purely legal matter.

Baroness Nosheena Mobarik was the only Conservative MEP to vote in favour of action, while Charles Tannock and Sajjad Karim abstained.

In a statement explaining why he voted differently to his colleagues, Karim said Orban because he had actively promoted a campaign of Islamaphobia and singled out Jewish-Hungarian political activist George Soros in a xenophobic crusade.

However, he argued he couldnt vote for the motion because it goes beyond the remit of the European Union by encroaching on the sovereignty of our member states unduly.




In this article:

BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process:

APPROVALS AND WITHDRAWALS

-- U.S. private equity fund Charlesbank Partners Group to acquire joint control of contract food maker H-Food Holdings and the Hearthside group of companies (notified Aug. 22/approved Sept. 14)

NEW LISTINGS

-- Morgan Stanley Infrastructure to buy German rail logistics group VTG (notified Sept. 13/deadline Oct. 18/simplified)

EXTENSIONS AND OTHER CHANGES

None

FIRST-STAGE REVIEWS BY DEADLINE

SEPT 19

-- Private equity firm KKR to acquire U.S. business software company BMC Software (notified Aug. 14/deadline Sept. 19/simplified)

-- French carmaker PGA Motors and Fiber to acquire joint control of auto dealer and car parts distributor Bernard Participations (notified July 31/deadline extended to Sept. 19 from Sept. 5 after the French competition authority asked to take over the case)

SEPT 21

-- Norwegian aluminium maker Norsk Hydro to acquire some of Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto's aluminium production assets (notified Aug. 17/deadline Sept. 21)

SEPT 25

-- German alphalt maker Deutsche Asphalt, which is a subsidiary of Austrian construction company Strabag, and German road construction company Bunte to set up a joint venture (notified Aug. 21/deadline Sept. 25/simplified)

SEPT 27

-- Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund Kuwait Investment Authority to acquire oil and gas pipeline firm North Sea Midstream Partners from private equity firm ArcLight Capital (notified Aug. 23/deadline Sept. 27/simplified)

-- U.S. planemaker Boeing and French aerospace company Safran to set up a joint venture to make and service aircraft auxiliary power units (notified Aug. 23/deadline Sept. 27)

Story continues

SEPT 28

-- Private equity firm KKR and French telecoms provider Altice to acquire joint control of Altice's French subsidiary SFR Filiale (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28/simplified)

-- U.S. management company Abry Partners to acquire Norwegian A2P messaging company Link Mobility ASA (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28/simplified)

OCT 1

-- Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Canadian institutional investor British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) to acquire joint control of Canadian forest product company Island Timberlands (notified Aug. 27/deadline Oct. 1/simplified)

-- Private equity firm EQT Fund Management to acquire Luxembourg specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor Azelis (notified Aug. 27/deadline Oct. 1/simplified)

OCT 3

-- U.S. plane maker Boeing to acquire aerospace parts company KLX (notified Aug. 29/deadline Oct. 3)

-- Goldman Sachs and Japanese financial services group Orix Corp to acquire shares in Japanese pharmaceutical company ILS Inc

OCT 4

-- Private equity fund Lone Star to buy roof tiles business of France's Imerys (notified Aug. 30/deadline Oct. 4/simplified)

-- German project group Steag and German engineering company Siemens take joint control of power plan in Herne, western Germany (notified Aug. 30/deadline Oct. 4)

-- Germany's Vossloh and Austria's Rhomberg Sersa Rail Holding form joint venture in railway technology (notified Aug. 30/deadline Oct. 4/simplified)

OCT 5

-- Boeing and automotive seat maker Adient to form joint venture to make airline seats (notified Aug. 31/deadline Oct. 5)

-- Japanese beverages and pharmaceutical group Kirin Holdings and Japanese trading house Mitsui to acquire joint control of nutritional supplements company Thorne Holding Corp (notified Aug. 31/deadline Oct. 5/simplified)

OCT 8

-- Swedish mobile operato Tele2 to buy Swedish cable TV company Com Hem (notified Sept. 3/deadline Oct. 8)

-- Chinese conglomerate CITIC Group to require a majority stake in Czech holding group European Bridge Travel, which controls travel services companies (notified Sept. 3/deadline Oct. 8/simplified)

OCT 9

-- Alphabet's Verily forms a joint venture with ResMed to study sleep apnea (notified Sept. 4/deadline Oct. 9/simplified)

-- Canadian auto parts maker Magna to acquire Italian lighting products maker Olsa (notified Sept. 4/deadline Oct. 9/simplified)

OCT 10

-- U.S. investment firm KKR to acquire joint control over Singapore property website Property Guru (notified Sept. 5/deadline Oct. 10/simplified)

OCT 11

-- Private investment firm SK Capital Partners to buy U.S. specialty chemical company Schenectady International (notified Sept. 6/deadline Oct. 11)

OCT 12

-- Business process services company Synnex Corp to buy call center operator Convergys Corp (notified Sept. 7/deadline Oct. 12/simplified)

-- Buy-out firm Cinven, through its controlled portfolio company Viridium Holding, to acquire sole control of insurance company Generali Lebensversicherung (notified Sept. 7/deadline Oct. 12/simplified)

-- German gaming and gambling company Gauselmann to take a 33 percent stake and joint control of casino operator Spielbank Mainz (notified Sept. 7/ deadline Oct. 12/simplified)

-- Investment company Bregal to buy travel firm Trendtours Touristik (notified Sept. 7/deadline Oct. 12/simplified)

OCT 15

-- U.S. pet food maker Mars Petcare to buy European veterinary business Anicura (notified Sept. 10/deadline Oct. 15)

-- Qatar Petroleum to acquire a 30 percent stake in two of Exxon Mobil's affiliates in Argentina (notified Sept. 10/deadline Oct. 15/simplified)

OCT 16

-- French equity firm PAI Partners to buy board game publisher Asmodee (notified Sept. 11/deadline Oct. 16/simplified)

-- Japanese industrial gas supplier Taiyo Nippon Sanso to buy European business of industrial gas company Praxair (notified Sept. 11/deadline Oct. 16)

OCT 17

-- Semiconductor company Broadcom to acquire technology company CA (notified Sept. 12/deadline Oct. 17/simplified)

-- 3i Infrastructure and Danish pension company ATP to invest in telecoms operator Tampnet (notitied Sept. 12/deadline Oct. 17/simplified)

-- Private equity company the Carlyle Group to acquire interest in U.S. broadcast services company NEP Group (notified Sept. 12/deadline Oct. 17/simplified)

NOV 30

-- Deutsche Telekom to acquire Swedish peer Tele2's Dutch unit and merge it with its Dutch business T-Mobile Nederland (notified May 2/deadline Nov. 30 after deadline suspension ended Aug. 6)

DEC 13

-- Copper company KME, which is part of Intek Group , to acquire German peer MKM Mansfelder Kupfer and Messing GmbH (notified June 4/deadline extended to Dec. 13 from Nov. 29 after the companies asked for more)

DEC 18

-- German company BASF to acquire Belgian chemicals company Solvay's worldwide polyamide business (notified May 22/deadline Dec. 18)

JAN 3

-- German copper products maker Wieland-Werke to acquire German copper smelter Aurubis' flat rolled products unit Products Schwermetall (notified June 13/deadline extended to Jan. 3 from Dec. 10 after the companies asked for more time)

JAN 8

-- French aerospace and defence group Thales to acquire Franco-Dutch chipmaker Gemalto (notified June 18/deadline extended to Jan. 8 from Nov. 29 from July 23 after the companies asked for more time)

JAN 28

-- Siemens and Alstom to merge their railway operations (notified June 8/deadline set at Jan. 28 on Sept. 7)

SUSPENDED DEADLINE

GUIDE TO EU MERGER PROCESS

DEADLINES:

The European Commission has 25 working days after a deal is filed for a first-stage review. It may extend that by 10 working days to 35 working days, to consider either a company's proposed remedies or an EU member state's request to handle the case. Most mergers win approval but occasionally the Commission opens a detailed second-stage investigation for up to 90 additional working days, which it may extend to 105 working days.

SIMPLIFIED:

Under the simplified procedure, the Commission announces the clearance of uncontroversial first-stage mergers without giving any reason for its decision. Cases may be reclassified as non-simplified - that is, ordinary first-stage reviews - until they are approved. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis)
IMAX IMAX recently extended its partnership with Wanying Cinema Line to open 14 more IMAX theaters bringing the total to 15. The theaters will feature the companys latest laser technology.



Notably, both the parties signed a prior agreement to open an IMAX theater, which opened in March this year.

Wanying Cinema Line, a subsidiary of China Resources Land, one of the biggest state-owned commercial developers, will install IMAX theaters in MIXCINE multiplexes, its new luxury shopping sites, most of which are placed in tier one and tier two cities.



Two theaters will open on Sep 15 in Taiyuan and Chongqing. The others are expected to be operational by 2021.



China Expansion: A Key Catalyst



IMAX continues to expand its presence in China by opening more theaters as well as being part of the local title releases. Notably, the company currently has a total of 900 contracted theaters in Greater China.



Greater China is IMAXs second-largest market, with approximately 24% of overall revenues as of second-quarter 2018.



The companys efforts to further expand its presence in China are likely to lead to increased revenue contribution from the region and thereby top-line growth.



Major Hollywood title releases in China also contribute significantly to IMAXs revenues. Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War, the first movie to be completely filmed with IMAX cameras generated $145 million, as of the last reported quarter, including $43 million from China alone. It is companys biggest grossing title ever.



IMAX is improving its relationship with ticketing platforms in China to improve its presence in the market, which will eventually drive audience.

IMAX Corporation Revenue (TTM)

IMAX Corporation Revenue (TTM) | IMAX Corporation Quote

Intensifying Competition to Hurt

Theater owners like IMAX are facing significant competition from streaming service providers like Netflix NFLX, Amazon AMZN, and Hulu. These services have been successful in attracting the audience with award-winning content. As a result, footfall has declined in theaters, hurting top-line growth.



Moreover, Amazons plan to acquire Landmark Theatres, which has more than 50 theaters in the United States, is likely to disrupt IMAXs dominant position in the market.



Nevertheless, IMAX is expected to benefit from film studios increasing emphasis on releasing franchise content and consumers growing desire to experience this content in differentiated ways. Growing number of blockbuster movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Incredibles 2 is a key catalyst for IMAX.

Zacks Rank & Other Stock to Consider



Currently, IMAX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



A better-ranked stock that can be considered in the broader consumer discretionary sector is Sony Corp. SNE sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Long-term earnings growth for Sony is currently pegged at 7.1%.



Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?



Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.



Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.



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Jeff Bezos wrote that his "stewardship" of The Washington Post helps "support...American democracy."

The Post has been generally critical of President Trump, and Trump has taken many shots at Bezos and Amazon on social media.

Under Bezos' leadership, the Post went from losing money to turning a profit beginning in 2016.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos offered some new insight into how he views his ownership of The Washington Post on Thursday, writing that his stewardship helps "support...American democracy."

The views were expressed in a note Bezos wrote to announce the creation of a $2 billion fund to help fight homelessness and establish high-quality preschools for low-income children.

Bezos bought the Post in 2013. The paper has been a lightning rod of criticism for some conservatives, particularly President Donald Trump , who frequently calls it the 'Bezos Washington Post' on social media. It published a number of investigations into Trump's business dealings and has been generally critical of the president both during his election campaign and since he took office.

Trump has also criticized Amazon directly, accusing it of not paying its fair share of taxes or postal delivery fees . In fact, Amazon AMZN collects sales tax on most sales, although some sales by third-party sellers go untaxed, and the U.S. Postal Service has actually benefited from the increase in deliveries that Amazon has spurred.

Bezos instituted a number of changes at the Post, including setting up a paywall and investing in back-end technology, and the paper went from losing money to turning a profit in 2016, Bezos said in a speech last year. Bezos and various editors at the paper have said he does not participate in editorial decisions.

In the announcement, Bezos mentioned several other projects he's funded as well:

In addition to Amazon my areas of focus so far have included investment in the future of our planet and civilization through the development of foundational space infrastructure, support of American democracy through stewardship of the Washington Post, and financial contributions to the dedicated and innovative champions of a variety of causes, from cancer research, to marriage equality, to college scholarships for immigrant students, to decreasing political polarization through cross-partisan support of principled, next-generation military vets running for Congress.

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Bezos is scheduled to speak at a public dinner on Thursday night in Washington, D.C.













More From CNBC


By Tim McLaughlin

BOSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of miles of natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts are leak-prone and need repair, utilities have told state regulators, highlighting aging energy infrastructure risks after explosions ripped through three towns outside of Boston this week.

Federal investigators will examine pipeline maintenance in their probe into the Thursday night blasts in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said on Friday. The explosions on a pipeline system belonging to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts destroyed scores of homes, killed one person and injured more than a dozen others in the largest natural gas pipeline incident in nearly a decade.

The investigation could provide insight into the nation's aging pipeline infrastructure. Roughly half of the 2.4 million miles of pipelines crisscrossing the United States were installed before 1970, said Deborah Hersman, chief executive of the non-profit National Safety Council and a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Columbia Gas, a unit of NiSource Inc, owns and operates nearly 5,000 miles of gas pipeline across Massachusetts. But about 15 percent of that includes leak-prone pipes, the company told the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in April, as part of its gas system enhancement plan filing.

Columbia Gas and other utilities say the Massachusetts natural gas distribution system is one of the oldest in the United States, with sections built more than a century ago. The company told regulators that it repairs more than 1,200 leaks a year, on average, mostly on its main line pipes.

In 2016, for example, replacing leak-prone pipes was expected to cost it about $56 million.

Columbia had told customers it was conducting upgrades on parts of its system shortly before the explosions.

The company was not available for comment.

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Columbia Gas has had a clear safety record for more than a decade in Massachusetts, though a pipeline rupture in West Virginia in 2012 triggered an explosion that destroyed three houses, according to records from the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Other Massachusetts utilities are also racing to make upgrades.

Eversource Energy has disclosed that about one-third of its 3,3000 miles of distribution pipeline is leak-prone. The utility replaced about 40 miles of such pipes in 2017 and had plans for another 45 miles this year, according to disclosures with state regulators in April.

Boston Gas, a unit of National Grid, replaced 107 miles of leak-prone pipes in 2016, disclosures to regulators show. But the utility has said it does not expect to have all of leak-prone pipes replaced until 2039.

Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren urged a Congressional investigation into the explosions to prevent any recurrence, according to a joint statement released on Friday.

Investigators suspected "over-pressurization of a gas main" was a factor in the incident. (Reporting By Tim McLaughlin; Additional reporting by Collin Eaton in Houston; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Richard Chang)
Given the strong fundamentals, investors seeking to tap the beaten-down Apple could consider these ETFs.

Microsoft MSFT recently entered into a strategic partnership with Illinois-based global wireless broadband provider, Network Business Systems (NBS). The companies have teamed up to offer cost-effective broadband Internet services in rural areas of three states Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota. This includes 126,700 unserved rural people.

Internet forms almost an intrinsic part of day-to-day functioning in the 21st century and consequently access to the service forms the very crux of this world. However, per World Internet Users data, only 54.4% of worlds population utilized internet services in 2017. Further, per the press release, roughly 36%, 22% and 25% of people living in rural Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota, respectively, lack access to broadband internet.

The partnership is a step in the direction of bridging this immense gap by providing affordable broadband connectivity.

Network Business Systems will develop and market wireless internet access networks solutions using TV white spaces (TVWS) offering. The strategic deal is part of the tech giants Airband Initiative. This initiative seeks to augment broadband coverage leveraging various technologies comprising the innovative TVWS, among others.

TVWS generates broadband connections in ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands. The technology makes communication easier and secure despite challenging rural conditions.The move will enhance broadband connectivity to around 2 million underserved people in rural community by Jul 4, 2022. Digital skill training will also be imparted to the people under the initiative.

Microsoft shares have returned 32% year to date, substantially outperforming the industrys rally of 26.7%. This outperformance can primarily be attributed to its rapidly expanding efforts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) based developments. Undisturbed focus on Azure remains a key catalyst.

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TVWS Growth Prospects

Per a MarketsandMarkets report, the global TVWS spectrum market is envisioned to grow at a CAGR of whopping 74.3% to reach approximately $53.1 million by 2022 from $1.2 million in 2015.

In an effort to expand penetration into smaller markets at different levels, increasing participation of rural population in the digital economy becomes a necessity. Moreover, per Boston Consulting Group data, a robust cost-effective connectivity model can be developed by leveraging TVWS tech combined with other technologies.

As a result, the partnership to deliver broadband connections powered by TVWS tech bodes well in the longer haul.

Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider

Microsoft currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other top-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are Salesforce.com Inc CRM, Mellanox MLNX and NetApp, Inc. NTAP, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The projected long-term earnings growth rate for Salesforce, Mellanox and NetApp are 25%, 15% and 14.1%, respectively.

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Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

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MoneyGram International Inc. MGI has partnered with Zeepay, a mobile financial services company to let worldwide customers send money directly to more than 11 million mobile wallets in Ghana.



MoneyGram will be the second company to provide money transfer service in Ghana, the first being Western Union Co. WU in partnership with FBNBank Ghana Limited. MoneyGram will offer consumers three different options to pick up their funds  at a physical location, directly to a bank account or a mobile wallet  from over 200 countries around the world.



With this new service, residents at Ghana can receive funds from MoneyGram's thousands of locations in 200 countries and territories around the world into mobile wallets in minutes. The remitted money will have access 24/7 and the same can be used instantly for purchasing goods and services online. The receiver also has another option to draw money in cash from more than 2,000 banking partners' locations across the country. They can also have it debited into a bank account.



Ghana looks an attractive market with great potential for growth. According to the World Bank, in 2017, $2.2 billion flowed into Ghana, mainly from the United States ($585 million), Nigeria ($395 million), the United Kingdom ($286 million), Italy ($145 million) and Germany ($115 million).



Moreover, the mobile service should be a huge success given the high usage of the device in the region. A recent report on the Ghanaian Mobile Sector by Africas leading e-commerce company, Jumia, has revealed that Ghana is one of Africas largest mobile markets, with about 34.57 million subscribers and a penetration rate of 119%.



The report further revealed that there are 10.11 million active Internet users in that country, meaning nearly one-third of its population This is just the beginning, since management at Zeepay has plans to roll out similar services in other African countries.



MoneyGram has been taking several efforts via investment in technology and forging out alliances to seek top-line growth, which has been declining for the past many quarters.



Year to date, the stock has lost 56%, vastly underperforming the industrys decline of 13.8%.

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Since the past 20 days, the company has announced a number of initiatives. These include expansion of digital footprint across Europe, strengthening partnership with GCash in Philippines and rolling out of money transfer service at OXXO stores in Mexico.



We believe these initiatives bode well for MoneyGram, which is facing huge competition from a number of fintech startups that are thronging the payments industry and offering cost effective and efficient service via their digital platform.



MoneyGram carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other stocks worth considering are Cardtronics plc CATM and WEX Inc. WEX.



Cardtronics plc provides automated consumer financial services through its network of automated teller machines and multi-function financial services kiosks. Sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy,) the company came up with an average four-quarter beat of 27.17%.

You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



WEX provides corporate card payment solutions in North and South America, the Asia Pacific as well as Europe. The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 and managed to deliver an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.56%.



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Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.



Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.



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With crude prices picking up steam, this is the perfect time to indulge in some energy stocks to make sure your portfolio is perfectly oiled up!

Following the release of EIA crude inventory numbers, worries about tightening global supplies and uncertainty over the potential impact of Hurricane Florence, oil prices settled at their highest since July 20 on Wednesday. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery gained $1.12, or 1.6%, to end the day at $70.37 a barrel in electronic trading.

Bullish EIA News

The federal governments EIA report revealed that crude inventories fell by 5.3 million barrels for the week ending Sep 7, following a decrease of 4.3 million barrels in the previous week. The analysts surveyed by S&P Global Platts  the leading independent commodities and energy data provider  had expected crude stocks to go down some 2.7 million barrels. Strong refinery throughput and lower imports led to the hefty stockpile draw with the world's biggest oil consumer.

Oil inventories have generally trended lower in a year and a half. In fact, stockpiles have shrunk in 51 of the last 75 weeks and are down more than 135 million barrels since April 2017. The gradual fall has helped the U.S. crude market shift from year-over-year storage surplus to a deficit. At 396.2 million barrels, current crude supplies are 15% below the year-ago figure and 3% under the five-year average.

Iran Sanctions

Most of the monthly price jump could be attributed to United States refusal to issue any waivers on cutting crude imports from Iran by Nov 4 when sanctions are introduced against the countrys petroleum sector. In June, President Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with OPECs third-largest producer and subsequently imposed financial sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The November deadline has stoked worries about an expected cut in Tehrans oil exports  currently at 2.1 million barrels a day  by around one million barrels and lead to a supply shortage in an already tight oil market.

The Hurricane Effect

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Closing in on the East Coast of the United States, particularly North and South Carolina, Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday. Though downgraded to Category 2, the powerful storm will likely lead to heavy rainfall and flooding.

While the hurricane can cause some supply disruptions, there is little in the form of upstream production or refineries that might be impacted. However, potential flooding and loss of power could affect Colonial Pipeline - the largest refined products pipeline system in the United States that runs through North Carolina.

Supportive for Crude Stocks

The bullish data sets sparked widespread buying in energy stocks. In fact, some of the biggest gainers of the S&P 500 were oil and oil-related stocks like Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. DO, Concho Resources Inc. CXO and Apache Corporation APA.

Crude has been inching its way back up after falling sharply from $100 a barrel in 2014, to a low of $30 in 2016. The robust fundamental backdrop, which we expect to further strengthen over the course of this year, has brought life back into the sector.

Oils recovery to $70 and above, predictably, has had a positive effect on stocks in the sector while positioning certain producers to thrive. During the three-year downturn, oil companies worked tirelessly to cut costs down to a bare minimum and look for innovative ways to churn out more oil from rock. And they managed to do just that by improving drilling techniques. With these efforts, many upstream companies have repositioned themselves to adapt to the new $50-$60 oil reality.

E&P Names Leading the Way

While all crude-focused stocks stand to gain from the oil rally, companies in the exploration and production (E&P) sector are the best placed, as they will be able to extract more value for their products.

To guide investors to the right picks, we highlight 4 stocks that carry a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Rank is a reliable tool that helps you to trade with confidence regardless of your trading style and risk tolerance. To learn more about how you can use this proven system for market-beating gains, visit Zacks Rank Education.

Our Choices

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation MGY is an upstream operator in the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk formations in South Texas. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1. In the last 60 days, one earnings estimate moved north, while none moved south for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has risen 70.5% in the same period.

Northern Oil & Gas, Inc. NOG is a non-operator explorer and producer with primary focus on the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2. In the last 60 days, six earnings estimates moved north, while none moved south for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has risen 40.5% in the same period.

Denbury Resources Inc. DNR is a company that explores for and produces oil and natural gas from properties in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2. In the last 60 days, three earnings estimates moved north, while none moved south for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has risen 23.7% in the same period.

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marijuana store 2 dispensary

David McNew/Getty

Tilray, one of Canada's largest cannabis companies, surged on Thursday after the company announced it had received regulatory clearance to export flower products to Germany.

The company is poised to become the first to sell both flower and oil products in Germany.

Tilray has soared over 500% since it went public in July. Other marijuana stocks have also seen big price gains.

Watch Tilray trade in real time here.

Shares of Tilray surged as much as 9% in premarket trading on Thursday after the Canadian medical-cannabis producer said it had received regulatory approval to export more products to Germany.

Tilray's medical-cannabis oil was already on shelves in German pharmacies. The company will soon be able to sell its whole-flower products in addition, making it the only producer that sells both types in Germany.

In a statement, Tilray said some patients who require medical cannabis with a higher potency will have access to this kind of treatment for the first time.

"Todays announcement marks another milestone for Tilray as we expand operations in the European Union," Brendan Kennedy, Tilray's CEO, said in the statement.

Tilray's shares have surged over 500% since they went public in July. For the second quarter, the company reported revenue of $9.7 million  topping the expectation for $9.02 million. Also, it reported an adjusted loss per share of $0.17, less than analysts' forecast for -$0.85.

Tilray said it would release details on how patients in Germany can access its whole-flower products later this year.

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Screen Shot 2018 09 13 at 8.16.22 AM

Markets Insider

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NOW WATCH: Everything we know about Samsungs foldable phone

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Russia bitcoin cryptocurrency

Russia, one of the few countries alongside China and India to have restricted crypto trading, is seeing an increase in demand for over-the-counter (OTC) investment in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets.

According to local reports, the daily trading volume of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum in Moscow alone reach $50 million on peak days, which is relatively small in comparison to major cryptocurrency exchanges but large given the regulatory uncertainty in Russia.

Currently, investing in cryptocurrencies is not illegal based on local laws. Because cryptocurrencies are considered as properties, as long as the capital being invested in the cryptocurrency market comes from a legitimate source, it is technically legal for citizens and residents of Russia to hold cryptocurrencies.

Speaking to Bitcoin.com, Aleksei Karpenko, senior partner at the law firm Forward Legal, said:

There is a common rule  if specific transactions are not prohibited, then they are allowed. This is a matter of agreement between a buyer and a seller.

Regulatory Uncertainty

Still, Russia has continued to see stagnation in the growth of its crypto market due to the lack of regulatory frameworks and policies. While it is legal for residents to invest in the market, it remains uncertain whether companies are allowed to operate crypto trading platforms.

Previously, the Russian government drafted three legislations around cryptocurrencies and crypto-related businesses, addressing the legality of exchange operators and and cryptocurrency trading. But, the approval of the three bills were postponed to the end of 2018 and until the government definitely approves businesses to operate as cryptocurrency exchanges, the market will not see the emergence of regulated cryptocurrency exchanges.

Local OTC platforms that rely on global crypto exchanges to pool in liquidity into the cryptocurrency market of Russia charge 1.5 to 2 percent as commission rates, and are able to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in daily profit, despite having about 20 active daily investors.

Story continues

China Seeing Similar Trend

china bitcoin cryptocurrency

China, unlike Russia, has strictly prohibited the trading of cryptocurrencies. Hence, it is not legal for local residents and citizens to purchase or hold cryptocurrencies.

But, according to Hong Kong-based publication South China Morning Post, activity in the cryptocurrency exchange market of China has continued to remain active, in spite of the recent efforts of the government to eliminate connections between fintech platforms like Alipay and OTC platforms in mainland.

Financial authorities of China have made it difficult for investors in the country to allocate their holdings in yuan to digital assets. Through shell company bank accounts in Hong Kong, investors have still been able to invest in cryptocurrencies, in large amounts.

The latest warning and potentially increased monitoring of foreign platforms is targeted at a batch of smaller exchanges that had claimed to be foreign entities, but are in fact operating in China claiming they have outsourced their operations to a Chinese company, Hong Kong-based digital asset exchange Tidebit executive Terence Tsang Tsang said.

Even in regions like China, it has been challenging for governments to completely ban out Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies due to the presence of offshore markets that offer services catering to cryptocurrency investors.

Analysts expect the activity of cryptocurrency investors regions like India, China, and Russia to increase consistently in the years to come, regardless of the state of policies in the three countries.

Images from Shutterstock



The post OTC Bitcoin Trading in Russia is Becoming More Active, Like China appeared first on CCN.


Pipeline battles and oppositions have long been a cause of concern in Canada and the condition in the United States is no different.

Oil production is surging in North America but producers are far from happy as their profit margin is sinking. They are struggling to stay competitive owing to the infrastructural bottlenecks. As if the pipeline pinch problem was not enough for the United States and Canada, raging protests against the already approved and existing pipeline projects have made things worse.

Lets delve deeper into the pipeline battles, which have engulfed the nations.

Canadian Pipeline Battle Continues

Pipeline construction in Canada has failed to keep pace with rising domestic oil, forcing producers to sell their products at a discounted rate. Reportedly, infrastructural bottlenecks are likely to lead to lost revenues of C$15.8 billion in 2018.

Moreover, environmental protests are on the rise, thereby further derailing construction. The crusaders believe that the rapidly growing movement of oil around the country is unsafe. Even though pipeline projects have been approved by countrywide review agencies, Canadian industry observers believe that it is not going to be a smooth ride.While Enbridge Incs mega Line 3 pipeline project recently begun construction, providing a ray of hope, it is facing a public outcry amid environmental concerns. Political and environmental turmoil, along with lack of streamlined regulatory policies associated with the pipeline projects poses challenges for the Canadian energy sector.

The industry has been bogged down by various pipeline projects either getting derailed or delayed. With the cancellation of major projects like TransCanada Corporations TRP Energy East pipeline and Enbridges Northern Gateway project, along with uncertainties related to the existing ones, things have gone from bad to worse for investors in the Canadian oil energy space.

Below we have highlighted two major Canadian pipelines, which are constantly facing setbacks.

Trans Mountain and Keystone XL in Focus

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The C$7.4 billion Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project, originally owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc. KMI has long been facing opposition from British Columbia residents and indigenous communities, who are wary of the potential impact of the project on the environment. The NDP government in British Columbia also opposed the expansion project.

Owing to the environmental and political turmoil, Kinder Morgan divested the pipeline project to the Canadian government for C$4.5 billion. However, the hurdles and challenges associated with the project just do not seem to abate. Just about two weeks ago, the Federal Court of Appeal rejected Canadian President Justin Trudeaus approval of the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline. The court stated that the federal government had ignored the repercussions of increased oil tanker traffic off the coast of British Columbia during the evaluation of the project. Conservationists believe that the project threatens marine life, including a few dozen of whales, which are already at risk.

Further, the cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over TransCanada Corporations Keystone XL Pipeline. After facing delays for near about a decade, the pipeline finally received regulatory approval from Nebraska commissioners late last year, albeit on an alternative route to the one proposed by the company. However, the project was again hit by fresh controversy last month, as rerouting of the pipeline subjected it to a new legal investigation.

Under the alternative route, which is likely to be longer, the pipeline would run across different countries and water bodies, posing environmental risks to indigenous communities and marine life. So, per the latest ruling, federal defendants are thus required to review the alternative route under the National Environmental Policy Act. The project also faced other challenges in Nebraska, pursuant to a lawsuit currently pending before Nebraska Supreme Court, which is not expected to get resolved by this year. In the latest bid to halt the pipeline, two native American communities are planning to sue the Trump administration, claiming that it fabricated the environmental analysis of the project.

Pipeline Protests Mount in the United States as Well

While pipeline battles and oppositions have long been a cause of concern in Canada, the condition in the United States is no different. While pipeline construction is the need of the hour amid the oil boom and the takeaway crisis, even the already approved and existing pipelines are drawing flak. And that too, in spite of Trumps pro-energy policies.

Notably, making good on his campaign promises to rev up infrastructure spending, President Trump signed an executive order in January 2017 to accelerate the environment review process and approvals for various pipelines. But still there is a rough road ahead for the pipelines to work smoothly.

While there are land issues with residents opposing pipelines on their lands, the green campaigners cause major hindrances to these projects. The roadblocks and oppositions related to pipeline projects are rising rapidly. These are likely to be detrimental since pipelines are the lifelines of the energy industry.

Lets take a look at a few recent setbacks hitting some of the major pipeline projects in the United States.

Atlantic Coast, Mountain Valley & More in Spotlight

While the FERC greenlighted the $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline project last November, it has been facing opposition on environmental, health and safety concerns.The project is a joint venture between Dominion Energy, Inc. D, Duke Energy Corporation, Piedmont Natural Gas Company and Southern Company, with Dominion Resources being the majority stakeholder and chief operator of the pipeline. The project suffered a roadblock last month when FERC ordered stalling of the natural gas pipelines construction amid opposition from three environmental groups namely Sierra Club, the Defenders of Wildlife and the Virginia Wilderness Committee.

In August, FERC also halted the construction of $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline, chiefly operated by EQT Midstream Partners, LP EQM and partnered by NextEra Energy, Inc., Consolidated Edison, Inc., WGL Holdings, Inc. and RGC Resources, Inc.Opposition from Sierra Club, Wild Virginia and Appalachian Voices led to the setback. The opponents believed that the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management had not evaluated the project well enough before issuing permits. Environmental safety is certainly the heart of the matter as the opposition parties believe that the pipeline project would pollute forests and lands.

While FERC approved the PennEast Pipeline in August, allowing it to proceed, the decision has been highly criticized by green campaigners.The $1.3 billion PennEast project is a joint venture between Southern Company SO, New Jersey Resources Corporation, South Jersey Industries, Enbridge Inc. and UGI Corp, each holding 20% stake. However, just a few days after the FERC verdict, a New Jersey conservation group requested a federal appeals court to review the FERC approval of the pipeline. In fact, the agency does not even see the requirement of the pipeline and views it as a threat to residents, land and water supplies.

Also, while Energy Transfer Partners L.P.s ETP Dakota Access Pipeline marked its one-year anniversary in June, it is still drawing criticism from Native American tribes and environmental groups. In fact, Iowa landowners recently appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court and any ruling in favor of the landowners may cause a major blow to the pipeline, leading to suspension of operations. The plaintiffs claim that the builders of the pipeline have not acted within Iowas eminent domain laws and seized private land illegally. Notably, the Iowa case is not the only obstacle; The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and three other Dakotas tribes seek to shut down the pipeline and have filed lawsuits related to that in the District of Columbia.

Notably, William Partners Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline is also facing setbacks in state reviews in New York and New Jersey. In fact, the FERC has postponed the environmental review of the pipeline for almost two years.

Just a week back, Plains All American Pipeline LP PAA was found guilty of the major oil spill in Santa Barbara County in 2015. In May 2015, Plains All Americans Line 901 Pipeline rupture led to the spilling of around 100,000 gallons of oil, leading to death of marine and wildlife species. While the jury also found the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company guilty of not having any response plan in place following the spill, Plains All America claims to have spent $150 million in oil spill response even before the case was filed against the company. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The verdict certainly raises alarm and also comes at a time when a lot of midstream players have been working on building more pipelines to meet the surging oil output, especially in Texas. The latest ruling will also amplify the already cumbersome scrutiny process of the pipelines. With the opponents still concerned of emission levels and safety issues, they want the pipeline operators to have proper oil spill response plan in place.

While environmental concern is the crux of the matter, how practical are these oppositions amid the pipeline shortages and oil boom?

Final Thoughts

Pipelines are an integral part of the energy industry engaged in the transportation of oil, gas and petroleum products in an efficient manner. Apart from helping in creating additional job opportunities and a reliable fuel supply for the future, pipelines are also the best option to transport oil and gas instead of railway and trucks, which are much costlier and more environmentally unsafe modes for the industry.

While one should not overlook the environmental safety, methane emissions, oil spills among other dangers and drawbacks associated with pipelines, the ever-increasing protests and oppositions are certainly not the solution to the problem. Building a new pipeline is not an easy process. In fact, the ones already approved and built are also being suspended amid escalating lawsuits by environmental groups and others.

Pipeline players, on their part, should ensure that they minimize methane emissions by introducing efficient engines at compressor stations along with best designed maintenance practices for leak detection and prevention.

With production soaring and pipelines challenges raging amid dysfunctional policies and protests, prospects of the North American energy sector will shine bright with a sound regulatory and environmental framework, which is crucial for the development of pipeline projects

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>



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Southern Company (The) (SO) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Sept 14 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- Jim Nelson, the editor in chief of men's magazine GQ, will leave the publication at the end of the year and turn it over to Will Welch, GQ's creative director and the editor of its quarterly fashion-focused spinoff, GQ Style. https://nyti.ms/2p38Yj4

- Goldman Sachs Group Inc on Thursday named Stephen Scherr as its new chief financial officer. Scherr will take on the finance chief job on November 5, in conjunction with the filing of the bank's quarterly results. Goldman also named John Waldron as its president and chief operating officer, who will take his new role on October 1. https://nyti.ms/2xbCJCH

- Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, and his wife, MacKenzie, on Thursday pledged $2 billion for a new fund to start preschools and help homeless families. https://nyti.ms/2NIwtvJ

- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday kicked off a series of hearings to discuss whether the agency's competition and consumer protection policies should change to better reflect new technologies and companies. https://nyti.ms/2xhocV4

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
A logo of Standard Chartered is displayed at the financial Central district in Hong Kong, China November 23, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

By Chijioke Ohuocha

ABUJA (Reuters) - Officers from Nigeria's financial crime agency visited the Lagos office of Standard Chartered's (STAN.L) Nigerian operations on Friday, but bank said in a statement that there was no reason for the officers to be there and they left shortly afterwards.

Last month Nigeria's central bank ordered Standard Chartered and three other banks to bring back to the country $8.134 billion that it alleged South African telecoms firm MTN (MTNJ.J) had illegally sent abroad in breach of foreign exchange regulations.

It was not immediately clear whether the move by officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was related to that matter.

"We are clear there was no basis for this entry, and the law enforcement officials left the building shortly afterwards," Standard Chartered said.

A spokesman for the EFCC, said the agency did not raid the lender but attributed it to the work of some errant officers who could have acted without authorisation, Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement.

Uwujaren said the agency would investigate the illegal raid.

"Officials of such institutions who are wanted by the commission, are usually invited for questioning after discreet investigation. Over the years, banks have been cooperative in releasing their officers to the commission for questioning," the EFCC said.

(Additional reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos, Paul Carsten and Camillus Eboh in Abuja; editing by Hugh Lawson and Louise Heavens)
TipRanks

When stocks fall in price, its frequently a signal for renewed investor interest. After all, low share prices offer a chance to live up to the old market advice, 'buy low and sell high.' What investors need is some way to tell the underlying reasons for a drop in share price, whether it bodes well or ill for the stock. There is one signal that investors can look for  and thats insider moves on a stock. Insiders are corporate officers, in positions of company leadership and responsibility; in
FILE PHOTO: A U.S. flag is seen during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China, November 9, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - American companies in China are being hurt by tariffs in the growing trade war between Washington and Beijing, according to a survey of hundreds of firms, prompting the U.S. business lobbies behind the poll to urge the Trump administration to reconsider its approach.

The United States and China have imposed tariffs on $50 billion of each other's goods since July as trade frictions between the world's two biggest economies worsened, despite several rounds of negotiations.

President Donald Trump has criticized China's record trade surplus with the United States, and has demanded that Beijing cut it immediately, threatening further tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of goods - and possibly more.

The negative impact of the tariffs on U.S. companies has been "clear and far reaching", according to the joint survey by AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai published on Thursday.

More than 60 percent of U.S. companies polled said the U.S. tariffs were already affecting their business operations, while a similar percentage said tariffs by China on U.S. goods were having an effect on business.

Companies reported the tariffs were pressuring profits, reducing demand for their products and driving up production costs.

Roughly three-in-four firms surveyed said duties on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods would hurt business further, and close to 70 percent said additional retaliatory Chinese tariffs would be bad for business.

"This survey affirms our concerns: tariffs are already negatively impacting U.S. companies and the imposition of a proposed $200 billion tranche will bring a lot more pain," said Eric Zheng, chairman of AmCham Shanghai.

Story continues

"If almost a half of American companies anticipate a strong negative impact from the next round of U.S. tariffs, then the U.S. administration will be hurting the companies it should be helping," he said.

"We support President Trump's efforts to reset U.S.-China trade relations, address long-standing inequities and level the playing field. But we can do so through means other than blanket tariffs."

On Wednesday, Larry Kudlow, who heads the White House Economic Council, told Fox Business Network that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had sent an invitation to senior Chinese officials to restart trade talks.

More than 430 companies responded to the survey between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5, which Ken Jarrett, president of AmCham Shanghai, said had been conducted in part to provide AmCham with data for meetings with members of congress later this month.

China may not be able to match future U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar and has warned that it would take other measures.

More than 52 percent of respondents to the survey reported already suffering the consequences of such measures, mainly through increased inspections, slower customs clearance and "other complications from increased bureaucratic oversight or regulatory scrutiny".

Nearly two-thirds of the companies that responded have not relocated nor were they considering moving manufacturing facilities away from China. But of those that were, the top destinations were Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Only 6 percent said they were considering relocation back to the United States, the survey said.

Meanwhile, nearly a third of companies said they were considering delaying or cancelling investments, underscoring the heightened uncertainty created by the trade tensions.

About 30 percent said they were adjusting supply chains by seeking to source components and/or assembly outside the U.S., and about the same number were seeking to source components and/or assembly outside China.

On Wednesday, more than 60 U.S. industry groups launched a coalition - Americans for Free Trade - to take the fight against the tariffs public.

(This corrected version changes million to billion in paragraph three)

(Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Kim Coghill)
FILE PHOTO: A worker places U.S. and China flags near the Forbidden City ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing, in Beijing, China November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo

By Steve Holland and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States was under no pressure to make a trade deal with China, even as Chinese officials welcomed an invitation from Washington for a new round of talks with more U.S. tariffs looming.

He said on Twitter that a Wall Street Journal story on Wednesday about the talks invitation from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin amid rising U.S. political pressure on Trump to ease up on trade fights "has it wrong."

"We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us," Trump tweeted. "Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing. We will soon be taking in Billions in Tariffs & making products at home. If we meet, we meet."

The administration is readying a final list of $200 billion (152.7 billion pounds) in Chinese imports on which it plans to levy tariffs of 10-25 percent in coming days, greatly expanding the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

News confirmed by White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that the Trump administration had invited Chinese officials to restart trade talks gave a lift to Asian stocks, including Chinese shares and the yuan currency.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that China welcomed the invitation, and the two countries were discussing the details.

"China has always held that an escalation of the trade conflict is not in anyone's interests. In fact, from last month's preliminary talks in Washington, the two sides' trade talk teams have maintained various forms of contact, and held discussions on the concerns of each side," he said.

Story continues

Two people familiar with the effort said Mnuchin's invitation was sent to his Chinese counterparts, including Vice Premier Liu He, the top economic adviser to Chinese President Xi Jinping, for talks in coming weeks, with the time and the venue still to be agreed.

"There's some discussions and information that we received that the Chinese government  the top of the Chinese government wished to pursue talks," Kudlow told Fox Business Network on Wednesday. "And so, Secretary Mnuchin, who is the team leader with China, has apparently issued an invitation."

A meeting among Cabinet-level officials could ease market worries over the escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the world's two largest economies and raise costs for companies and consumers.

But Kudlow was non-committal over the chances of a breakthrough, adding: "I guarantee nothing."

The last talks, between mid-level U.S. and Chinese officials on Aug. 22 and 23, failed to reach any agreement.

RAISE OR FOLD

So far, the United States and China have hit $50 billion (38.2 billion pounds) worth of each other's goods with tariffs in a dispute over U.S. demands that China make sweeping economic policy changes, including ending joint venture and technology transfer policies, rolling back industrial subsidy programs and better protecting American intellectual property.

The Trump administration's $200 billion tariff list would hit a broad array of internet technology products and consumer goods from handbags to vacuum cleaners and bicycles to furniture.

Trump said last week that he also had tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of goods ready "on short notice if I want."

China has threatened retaliation, which could include action against U.S. companies operating there.

China's Commerce Ministry said both sides would want to avoid escalation.

"I believe both countries would not be willing to see such a situation," ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday.

GROWING DISMAY

The invitation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes amid a swelling chorus of opposition to tariffs from Western business circles.

On Thursday, the U.S. business lobbies AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai published a joint survey showing that the negative impact on U.S. companies in China of tit-for-tat tariffs Washington and Beijing have imposed on one another was "clear and far reaching."

More than 60 percent of U.S. companies polled said the U.S. tariffs were already affecting their business operations, while a similar percentage said Chinese duties on U.S. goods were having an impact on business.

AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai urged the Trump administration to re-think its approach.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China released its own survey on Thursday saying the tariffs were causing "significant disruptions" to global supply chains and "seriously impacting" non-Chinese and non-American companies.

A day earlier, more than 60 U.S. industry groups launched a coalition - Americans for Free Trade - to take the fight against the tariffs public.

The Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, cautioned against seeing the invitation from Washington as a sign that the Trump administration had softened its stance.

"Washington's overall attitude is still tough, but they do not reject a 'talk and fight' strategy. By doing so, they can both ease the anxiety of American society and gradually collapse the will of the Chinese side," the newspaper said in an editorial on Thursday.

"China must hold the expectation that it is probably not the time when both sides can reach an agreement."

(Additional reporting by David Lawder, Susan Heavey and Ginger Gibson in WASHINGTON, and Christian Shepherd, Yawen Chen and Se Young Lee in BEIJING; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Marguerita Choy)
By Tim Ahmann and Hyonhee Shin WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a China-based tech firm, its North Korean CEO and a Russian subsidiary, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions. The new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co, its North Korean chief executive Jong Song Hwa, and a Russian-based sister company, Volasys Silver Star, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement. "These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Mnuchin warned companies across the globe "to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects." South Korea's foreign ministry said the move was in line with the United States' resolve to keep up sanctions to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula while carrying out dialogue. A manager at Yanbian Silverstar, who would only give his family name Jin, said the allegations were "impossible". "I've never heard of Jong Song Hwa," he told Reuters. Asked about the sanctions, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said that China fully enforces United Nations resolutions on North Korea and resolutely opposes any country enacting unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities using "long-arm jurisdiction". "China had already lodged stern representations with the U.S. side about this, and urges the U.S. side to stop these wrong actions," he said, without elaborating. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained sanctions pressure on Pyongyang in an effort to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, which are a threat to the United States. Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June at a summit in Singapore where Kim agreed in broad terms to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. North Korea has however given no indication it is willing to give up its weapons unilaterally, as the Trump administration has demanded. Washington has also accused Russia of violating U.N. sanctions on North Korea by granting work permits to North Korean laborers despite Russia's denial of any such actions. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Moscow on Thursday of seeking to cover up breaches of U.N. sanctions on North Korea by Russians. "VICIOUS SLANDER" North Korea's official KCNA news agency said U.S. accusations that it was responsible for cyber attacks in 2014 and 2017 were a "smear campaign" and a man sanctioned by Washington earlier this month did not exist. Washington charged and sanctioned Pak Jin Hyok and a Chinese-based front company he worked for, Chosun Expo, over the 2017 global WannaCry ransomware cyberattack and the 2014 cyberassault on Sony Corp. Park worked as part of a team of hackers, known as the Lazarus Group, to try to breach multiple U.S. businesses, including defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp, U.S. officials said, though there was no evidence the company was breached. KCNA said Pak was "non-existent" and the act of cyber crimes mentioned by Washington "has nothing to do with us." "The U.S. farce of prosecution is none other than a vicious slander and another smear campaign full of falsehood and fabrication designed to undermine the DPRK," KCNA said, referring to the country's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "In reality, the U.S. is the chief culprit responsible for posing security threats in cyberspace." (Reporting by Tim Ahmann and Lesley Wroughton in WASHINGTON, Ben Blanchard and Gao Liangping in BEIJING and Hyonhee Shin in SEOUL; Editing by James Dalgleish and Stephen Coates)
Walmart Inc.s WMT delivery services have been one of the prime elements of its brute omni-channel force, and it has been resorting to deliberate actions lately to bolster this arena. Well, recently the company inked a deal to acquire Cornershop, Inc., a renowned online platform for on-demand delivery from specialty food retailers, supermarkets and pharmacies across Mexico and Chile.



Through this $225-million deal, Walmart expects to boost omni-channel presence in Latin America. Cornershops digital and technological expertise, along with other capabilities, is expected to support the companys business in Mexico and Chile. The merger will augment Walmarts brands, as well as stores and supply-chain network in the region, by utilizing Cornershops unique crowdsourced delivery platform.



Banking on each others strengths, both these companies are expected to accelerate growth along with providing consumers with improved shopping experiences. Presently, this transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of 2018.



Efforts to Boost Delivery Services Bode Well



Walmart is quite acclaimed for its frequent and bold steps in the omni-channel space. In this respect, the company remains committed to enriching consumers experiences by providing easy shopping methods and seamless product deliveries.



Incidentally, Walmart recently raised its stake in Dada-JD Daojia to 10% to strengthen its last-mile delivery service. Prior to this, it entered into an alliance with Rakuten in Japan to boost e-commerce and delivery services. Earlier, the company inked a deal with Postmates to extend its online grocery delivery service to cover more than 40% of the families in the United States. Apart from this, Walmarts Pickup program  its agreements with DoorDash and Deliv; and partnership with ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, as well as acquisition of last-mile delivery service, Parcel Inc.  highlights its focus on augmenting the capability of delivery services.

Story continues





We believe that these actions are likely to aid Walmart to offer multiple choices to online shoppers for speedy deliveries amid increasing competition from companies like Amazon AMZN, Target TGT and Kroger KR, which have been striving to strengthen their delivery services as well.



We believe that Cornershop, which is rapidly building scale in Mexico and Chile, is undoubtedly a valuable addition to Walmarts digital portfolio. Moreover, robust delivery services are anticipated to further uplift the companys e-commerce business. In fact, such endeavors helped its U.S. e-commerce sales soar by 40% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, better than 33% rise reported in the fiscal first quarter. Further, management expects to achieve 40% U.S. e-commerce sales growth in fiscal 2019.



Wrapping up



From prudent acquisitions and partnerships to combining shopping with advanced technology, this supermarket giant has played several cards to maintain its presence in the industry. Moreover, we expect this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company to continue coming up with strategies to keep it a notch above the peers in the retail industry. Its shares have gained 14.3% in the past three months compared with the industrys 15.5% rally.



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Looking for Stocks With Skyrocketing Upside?



Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.



Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



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Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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The Kroger Co. (KR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Its sourcing premium products locally, offering same-day scheduled delivery and targeting affluent urban consumers. No, were not talking about Whole Foods. Walmart-owned Jet.com (WMT) is now doing all of that.

Jet.com, which launched a redesign Thursday, introduced what it calls a city grocery experience to New York City residents, with plans to expand to more U.S. metro area later this year. The site offers a mix of household brands and its own private label products under its Uniquely J brand, as well as increasing selections from popular local and small businesses. For example, Jet has partnered with well-known New York-based brands such as Bedford Cheese Shop, Orwashers Bakery, Big Gay Ice Cream and Just Bagels. Parcel, the New York-based delivery company acquired by Walmart in October 2017, will provide same-day and next day delivery of online orders.

Simon Belsham, president of Jet.com, sees the move into the grocery space as a necessary step to lure urban consumers and get them to stay on the e-commerce platform. They buy food all the time, they buy fresh produce all the time, Belsham told Yahoo Finance. You can build trust, you can build frequency. Its a great chance to build relationships with customers.

The tricky grocery business

Story continues

Grocery is known as a thin margin business, but people always need to buy food so its a steady and stable industry with opportunity for growth. Offering a good selection of offerings help increase the frequency of customers visits. The economics of grocery work is by scale, and there is an expectation that shoppers will purchase big-ticket items or more general merchandise while grocery shopping.

Assortments and services are the major selling point, according to Carmela Cugini, vice president of grocery, wholesale and international at Jet.com. She is working to establish partnerships with more local brands, like farmers market, and also to curate a personalized experience for shoppers. This comes at a time when local natural food brands find it hard to get on Whole Foods shelves as the grocery chain tries to centralize its buying decisions.

Credit: Jet.com

Jet.com is also leveraging Walmarts supply chain and knowledge about consumers. For now, customers need to order before 9 a.m. to get same-day delivery, but the Hoboken, N.J.-based company said the cutoff time will be later after it opens a fulfillment center in Bronx, N.Y. this fall.

Grocers are betting on more people ordering everything from eggs to beef online and wanting them delivered to their door. This year, 18.0 million U.S. adults will use a grocery app to order food at least once a month, a 49.6% jump from last year, according to eMarketer.

Amazon (AMZN), the powerful player that acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion last year, has been aggressively capturing market share by leveraging its delivery capacity. Earlier this week, Amazon expanded grocery delivery from Whole Foods to 10 more metro areas, making the one-hour-delivery service available in 38 cities across the U.S. Amazon offers grocery delivery through its Prime Now program. For Prime members, two-hour delivery is free on orders over $35 and one-hour delivery costs $7.99. Prime Now isnt available to non-Prime members. In comparison, on Jet.com, same-day delivery costs $5.99 for shoppers in New York City and no subscription is needed.

Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

Read more:

Whole Foods to bring back employee stock option program after calls to unionize

Amazon bought Whole Foods a year ago. Heres what has changed

Amazon and Whole Foods clash over products like Coca-Cola

Almost half of Amazon Prime members we surveyed say theyll drop the service, but the company will be fine
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL September 14, 2018  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Diageo DEO, Constellation Brands STZ, Cara Therapeutics Inc. CARA, Cronos Group Inc. CRON and GW Pharmaceuticals GWPH.

Here are highlights from Thursdays Analyst Blog:

Stocks to Tap the Marijuana Boom

Last year, bitcoin made investors go on a mad rush and this year, its marijuana stocks turn. This is especially true against the backdrop of more legalization of the plant for recreational use.

In the United States, nine states and Washington, D.C., have currently legalized recreational marijuana, while 29 states have legalized medical weed. Canadians will also be able to buy and consume cannabis legally, effective Oct 17. The move made Canada the second country in the world to legalize the drug for both medical and recreational use, trailing Uruguay, and the first country among G-7 nations (read: Canada Legalizes Marijuana: Two ETFs to Tap the Boom).

Growing legalization of recreational or medical marijuana has paved the way for a merger mania, spurring a large number of deal activities in the industry. The most notable among this is the beer and spirits giant Diageo, which is in talks with three Canadian pot producers for buying a stake or forming a partnership to produce cannabis-infused beverages. An international producer and beer marketer Constellation Brands invested $3.8 billion last month to increase its stake in Canopy Growth, the biggest marijuana industry deal so far. (read: Pot Stocks Are on a High: Play These Cannabis ETFs).

According to the Arcview Market Research, the U.S. legal cannabis market is projected to reach $11 billion in consumer spending this year and more than $23 billion by 2022. Per an analyst at Cowen, the U.S. legal cannabis industry is expected to reach $75 billion in sales by 2030, surpassing the carbonated soft drink market in 2017.

Story continues

How to Play?

Given this, investors seeking to ride the ongoing green rush may want to tap the space. For them, we have highlighted a few stocks that could be compelling picks.

Cara Therapeutics Inc.

This biopharmaceutical company is focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pain. It has a market cap of $814.88 million and its earnings are expected to grow 1.39% next year. The stock has soared 70.3% in the year-to-date time frame and has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Cronos Group Inc.

This company is engaged in the investment in firms which are licensed to produce and sell medical marijuana. With a market cap of $2.12 billion, the stock has an estimated earnings growth of 750% for the next year. It has surged 22.9% so far this year and carries a Zacks Rank #3 (read: 5 Best Stocks of the Top ETF of August).

GW Pharmaceuticals

This is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease areas. The company has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.17% for the next fiscal (ending on September 2019). It has a market cap of $3.88 billion and has gained 6.7% so far this year. GW Pharmaceuticals currently has a Zacks Rank #3.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; 8:30 a.m. registration for dog walk, 10 a.m. dog walk from Norris-Penrose Event Center to Bear Creek Regional Park; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. beer, wine and spirits tasting, Bear Creek Regional Park, 21st Street at West Rio Grande Avenue, $25-$50, free for those 12 and younger, includes unlimited tastings, T-shirt and dog walk. Park at Norris-Penrose Event Centers overflow lot for shuttle to the park, 1106 W. Moreno Ave.; pawtoberfest.org.

Pooches need to socialize, too.

Promise them they can Netflix and chill another time, and head to Bear Creek Regional Park on Saturday for the 10th annual Pawtoberfest.

The popular event features unlimited tastings of craft beers, wines, liquors, moonshine and hard cider from more than 25 distributors, 75 sponsors and pet-friendly vendors offering freebies for humans and dogs, contests such as best smooch and costume, agility demonstrations, food trucks and a 2-mile dog walk at 10 a.m. from Norris -Penrose Event Center to the park to burn off a little canine energy. A small group of dogs from the Humane Society will be available for adoption.

Its a whole day to spend with your family, said Gretchen Pressley, spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, furry friends included.

The day isnt only a gift to your dog, but also a huge contribution to the Humane Society. Pawtoberfest is one of the organizations biggest annual fundraisers. Last year it took in $130,000, said Pressley, with more than 1,000 attendees.

It goes toward funding lifesaving programs, she said. It goes back into the medical care fund and for helping with behavioral work.

Well-behaved dogs who are good on a leash and preferably spayed and neutered are welcome. Pressley and her co-workers look forward to the inevitable reunions.

We see a lot of alumni, she said. Its always great for staff to see the staff favorites who show up.

Jennifer Mulson, 636-0270,

jen.mulson@gazette.com
When the Colorado Springs area's and Pikes Peak regions single-family housing market nosedived during the Great Recession, luxury homes with hefty price tags and massive mortgage payments became a particularly tough sell.

Even after the recession ended, the bulging supply of $500,000-and-up homes for sale was measured in months and even years  the amount of time it would take to dispose of the backlog.

Five years ago, in the first quarter of 2013, there was a more than 31/2-year supply of $1 million-plus homes available on the resale side of the housing market, based on the number of properties listed and the rate at which they were selling, according to a report at the time by Re/Max Properties, a Colorado Springs residential brokerage.

But finally, higher-end homes  like the rest of the market  have made a comeback, thanks in large part to a stronger economy and an influx of well-heeled, out-of-town buyers, some members of the Colorado Springs real estate industry say.

The market up to $1.5 million is showing strength, said Becky Gloriod, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Colorado Springs who specializes in upscale properties. I tell my sellers, the prices havent gone up. But the difference is, if you price your house where you had it priced in 09, its going to sell this year. Thats the difference.

Consider some numbers from Pikes Peak Association of Realtors reports:

 For all of 2013, there were 226 homes priced from $500,000 to $600,000 that sold in El Paso and Teller counties. Through August of this year, 557 homes have sold in the same price range  with four months still to go in the year.

 Five years ago, just 32 homes priced from $800,000 to $1 million sold in El Paso and Teller counties. So far this year, 120 similarly priced homes have sold  or nearly four times as many.

 Even seven-figure homes are in demand. In 2013, 30 homes priced from $1 million to $2 million sold in El Paso and Teller counties. In 2017, that number nearly doubled to 59 homes. And in the first eight months of this year, 58 homes already have sold for between $1 million and $2 million.

Ive never seen the homes over $1 million sell as quickly as they have in the last eight months in Black Forest, said Jill McFeron, a Re/Max Properties agent who markets properties in the Black Forest, Monument, Falcon and Peyton areas just outside Colorado Springs.

The rebound isnt just limited to the resale side of the market; some builders are seeing a surge in luxury homes, too.

Five years ago, Lain Chappell, co-owner of Solid Rock Custom Homes in Colorado Springs, said he was building one or two homes a year. This year, he expects to undertake six to 10 homes, with prices starting at $700,000.

Our market is tremendous right now, Chappell said.

In some ways, the high-end markets recovery mirrors that of lower and moderately priced homes.

Improved local and national economies and more people working in the Pikes Peak region have helped boost the overall housing market. When people have jobs, their consumer confidence is high and theyre more likely to buy a house, car or other big-ticket item, real estate industry members say.

But within Colorado Springs economy, the growing health care industry is helping the luxury market in particular, Gloriod said.

Hospital expansions launched by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and UCHealth, the citys two major health care providers, are bringing an influx of medical professionals to Colorado Springs, Gloriod said. Many of them hold higher-paying jobs and theyre choosing to live in pricier homes, she said.

Theres a lot of great medical expansions in Colorado Springs, Gloriod said. And a lot of those people (employees) are coming from all over the country, and a large portion of them are doctors. Probably the largest percent of our buyers right now are doctors.

An improved economy, in general, means buyers move up when they purchase a home; thats another big factor driving interest in the higher-end market, Chappell said.

A lot of these houses are flying off the market here at $400,000 and below, he said. Those people that are selling those houses have got to go somewhere. They got a little bit more for their house, theyve got a little bit more to spend. So theyre building a little bit more expensive house or buying a more expensive house, depending on the buyer. And that just transfers its way up the ladder.

And because Colorado Springs economy is stronger and the city has received positive rankings from national publications (it was named the nations most desirable place to live, according to U.S. News & World Report in July), some people who might have moved away to buy a more expensive home have instead stayed put, said Joe Clement, broker-owner of Re/Max Properties.

Theres people staying in town and buying up, and thats been a beautiful thing that we havent seen as much of until this year, Clement said. For years, wed always have a bunch of people moving out. And we still have that, of course. But not like we used to. Maybe its because everybodys reading those articles that say were in the top 10 of this and that and decide to stay.

But its just not local residents whove pumped up the luxury market. Californians, Texans, Midwesterners and homeowners from other states find they often can sell their pricey properties and use their profits to purchase upscale homes in the Pikes Peak region, Clement and Gloriod said.

Gloriod had clients last year who couldnt sell their Monument-area home, which they had listed at $875,000. They took it off the market but re-listed it in early 2018 at the same price. This time, Gloriod said, the sellers received three offers in a two-week period  with one bid coming from Washington state and another from Denver.

In fact, an influx of Denver- area residents moving to Colorado Springs over the past few years has been one of the biggest reasons for the recovery of the local upscale housing market, some real estate agents say. Denverites get more house for their money here and are willing to commute to their Denver jobs because of the savings.

The median price of Colorado Springs-area homes that sold during August was $315,000, according to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors; in the Denver area, it was $445,000, said the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

As they get priced out, McFeron said, they come down and find out that we dont have year-round schools, we have a better quality of life, water, recreation, less traffic. Were very, very attractive to that south Denver market. They can sell so high and come down here. We look like a bargain.

Even as demand has ratcheted up for higher-end homes, however, the traditional rules of home selling still apply, Gloriod said. Luxury homes arent necessarily selling for higher prices, but theyre finally selling, she said. So sellers must base their asking prices on sales of comparable properties.

People really need to be realistic in their pricing, Gloriod said. And if they are, theyre probably going to sell.  The difference is, in 09, 10, 11, if you priced it right, it wouldnt sell. Now, if you price it right, which is probably where you needed to price it back then, its going to sell, more than likely.
It's never too early to plan a quick getaway, and now is the time to get into the mountains with Colorado's aspens quickly changing colors in many areas.

Here's a look at some ideal locations for fall colors within a few hours drive of Colorado Springs.

 Few will forget an autumn tour of the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway in southern Colorado, though getting there will be a time investment. Head south on Interstate 25 to Walsenburg, then head west on U.S. 160 and branch off on Colorado 12 at La Veta. The 82-mile route will return you to I-25.

 Enjoy the lovely route between Breckenridge and South Park via Boreas Pass at 11,492 feet. Take Forest Service Road 33 from U.S. 285 at Como in Park County or Boreas Pass Road in Breckenridge.

 For another classic, head to Kebler Pass near Crested Butte. Head west out of Crested Butte over County Road 12, an improved dirt road, and be surrounded by aspens and breathtaking vistas. At Colorado 133, you can head north toward McClure Pass for more or return the way you came. For a shorter day, stick to Colorado 135 between Crested Butte and Gunnison.

 Independence Pass, one of Colorados higher paved roads, provides sweeping views of aspens. Colorado 82 is normally open until Nov. 1 but could be closed early because of weather.

 Head to Estes Park and pick up Trail Ridge Road for an unforgettable trip through Rocky Mountain National Park.
Karen Pence kicked off a Trump administration effort to boost military spouses with a stop at Fort Carson on Thursday, and the vice presidents spouse said her recent move to Washington has helped her relate to the plight of military families.

I have gained a better understanding, Pence said as she outlined Trump initiatives to help spouses find steady work amid the nomadic life of military families.

Pence also has a son in the Marine Corps, making military issues hit close to home.

The stop at Fort Carson was planned because few other military installations in the country are as busy right now. Fort Carson has two combat brigades and its aviation brigade deployed overseas, with the posts division headquarters soon to follow. While some contingents are in Europe, the bulk of those troops are in combat in Afghanistan. That means more than half of the posts families are dealing with the stress of wartime separation.

Your stories of strength, tenacity, generosity and courage inspire me and so many other Americans, Pence said.

On the trip, Pence, who was first lady of Indiana before her husband, Mike Pence, was elected vice president, was joined by some of Washingtons most senior military wives, including Hollyanne Milley, wife of Army chief Gen. Mike Milley and Dawn Goldfein, wife of Air Force chief Gen. David Goldfein.

Pence praised President Donald Trump for inking an executive order that gives military spouses preference for government jobs and a 2019 defense policy bill that will reimburse military families when they must transfer professional licenses state to state.

We are listening, and the Trump administration is addressing your challenges, she said.

Pence, a former schoolteacher, also came to Colorado Springs bearing gifts. After her speech, she handed out 500 care packages to Fort Carson children of deployed troops. The boxes included a teddy bear and an encouraging video.

Spouses, who mobbed Pence for photographs after her speech, said they found encouragement in the high-level attention being paid to the challenges they face.

Kamili Edwards, an Army retiree whose husband is now deployed to Afghanistan with the posts 1st Brigade Combat Team, said the second ladys obvious compassion hit the mark.

It was absolutely awesome, she said.

Brittany Tucker, whose husband joined the Army last year, said knowing others understand the difficulties of military life gave her a boost.

Its very important, she said.

Pences campaign to promote military spouse issues will continue next week when she is expected to visit Fort Bragg, N.C.

Contact Tom Roeder: 636-0240
As Pope Francis met with leaders of the U.S. Catholic Church on Thursday to discuss the clergy sex-abuse scandal, Bishop Michael Sheridan, head of the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, fielded questions on the topic from the public, during his first interactive Facebook Live session.

Its not an easy thing for me to talk about; its not an easy thing to hear about, he said. Because we take it seriously were not going to sweep it under the rug.

Wearing a large silver cross around his clerical collar, Sheridan, whos led the local diocese for 15 years, gave frank answers to questions about the most recent uncovering of clergy sexually abusing primarily teenage boys for decades and the churchs lack of response.

A 900-page investigative report a Pennsylvania grand jury released last month found more than 300 priests had sexually abused more than 1,000 children in six dioceses in Pennsylvania since 1947, often while church leaders covered up the crimes.

One, offender priest, the Rev. Stephen E. Jeselnick, had worked at Holy Trinity Parish in the Diocese of Colorado Springs from June 30, 1983, to Oct. 10, 1985.

But the Diocese of Colorado Springs never received any reports or complaints that Jeselnick engaged in any type of sexual misconduct during the 28 months he served in the Colorado Springs parish, Sheridan said

In fact, the local diocese has not had the problems that other dioceses have, Sheridan said, and has never paid any money to keep an accuser quiet.

The public could submit questions beforehand via email or during the Facebook Live event.

When asked whether homosexuality among clerics has been a contributing factor in the abuse, Sheridan said yes.

Studies done to determine the causes of abuse by clergymen revealed very clearly pedophilia in some cases and in most cases homosexual acts, he said.

Which the church says are sinful whether theyre done by a priest or cardinal or anybody, Sheridan said. This is why the Vatican has responded by saying any candidate for the seminary who has a deep seated same-sex attraction must not be admitted. Im not saying anyone who has same-sex attraction is automatically a predator and abusing young men; thats not true.

What about celibacy, someone asked. Should the Catholic Church allow priests to marry?

Sheridan said he doesnt know if that has anything to do with the problem.

The majority of priests and bishops are living holy lives of celibacy, as they have throughout most of the history of the church, he said.

Celibacy is not just something priests have to do, Sheridan said. Celibacy is a beautiful charism that is given to those who are ordinated, and if embraced, it makes our lives as priests very much easier. It lifts us up to where we can be spiritual fathers, not biological fathers.

What he called the most important question he received was this: How can Catholics in the pews keep their faith? How can their trust be restored?

Trust is restored only when those who have broken trust begin to demonstrate they are now living lives that can be trusted, he answered. I know the faith of many good people has been all but destroyed, I get that, I understand that. Im rocked when I hear about things like this, but I cannot imagine turning away from the Catholic Church, the mystical body of Christ, the community of salvation.

And If anyone has doubted whether the devil is real, Sheridan said, I hope they realize he is now.

Priests and bishops guilty of sexual abuse cooperated with the evil one in perpetrating this, he said. The devil is behind all of this, and if our response is to say, Well, Im leaving the church, the devil has won.

To those who ask what they can do, Sheridan responded, Please dont take this as pious fluff, please pray. Please pray that our priests, our bishops and everyone in the church will seriously come to be renewed in holiness, to live holy lives. In the end, thats going to be the real answer.

Sheridan also is advocating for independent oversight and investigation of clergy by a team of lay professionals, not church officials.

We know the church will never be destroyed  Jesus promised that, he said. Could it become much, much smaller? Yes, it could. There have been times in history that has happened.

We cant let Satan drive us away. Weve all been really just knocked in the gut over this, and yes, its affecting me and other good bishops and priests. Dont let the devil have his way in the end.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656
DENVER  Michelle Obama is making a stop in the Mile High City this December to talk about her new memoir thats set be released on November 13.
A new mental health campaign wants men across El Paso County to acknowledge one solid truth: There are worse feelings than being kicked in the giblets.

And for those moments, it wants to offer a pork shoulder to cry on.

The campaign, called Man Therapy, aims to break the stigma surrounding mens mental health by using humor geared toward young working-age, and middle-age men. The goal: help them spot emotional struggles earlier and help them admit they need help before spiraling into a crisis.

It comes after 164 people died by suicide across El Paso County last year  three-quarters of whom were male.

Its not necessarily that men attempt suicide more often than women, said Dr. Leon Kelly, deputy chief medical examiner of the El Paso Countys Coroner Office. Far more often, men chose more lethal means to kill themselves than women.

And it appears theyre less likely to seek help until theyre in a crisis.

Thats where Man Therapy comes into play.

The issue is that group  middle-age to young working-age men  are the hardest group to get to acknowledge that theyre struggling, Kelly said. If we really want to make a difference in that number  164 theres really no way to do it mathematically unless we focus on that group.

If youre going to go to those guys, you got to go where dudes are, and talk to dudes the way they talk to each other, Kelly said.

So were going to have to do something a little unorthodox.

The website begins with a message proclaiming that that funny feeling inside might not be burrito-related.

To help with anxiety, the campaign offers a list of physical and emotional signs to watch for, as well as descriptions of psychological conditions associated with it.

The website also has a self-assessment quiz, as well as tips for helping address depression, stress, anger and a host of other issues.

It includes a way to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. And it addresses the topics of unemployment and divorce.

Man Therapy began in 2012 when a Denver-based advertising agency partnered with the states Office of Suicide Prevention to create an approach for addressing mental health issues among men.

The local initiative, which was announced Thursday by El Paso County Public Health leaders, is being paid for with a $107,000 grant by the Colorado Department of Human Services. It will begin appearing across El Paso County, including on television ads and even in restrooms.

Man therapy can help men and their loved ones recognize early warnings signs in their lives before they reach the state of crisis, said Susan Wheelan, interim director of El Paso County Public Health.

Its the latest front opened by public health workers to cut the countys ever-rising body count due to suicide.

Another campaign, called Below the Surface, aims to reduce suicide among teens, while promoting the states crisis hotline.

The El Paso County Sheriffs Office also implemented a program this year that paired deputies with mental health professionals. That program is largely funded with a five-year, nearly $2 million grant from the same agency funding Man Therapy, the Colorado Department of Human Services.

To learn more about the campaign, visit mantherapy.org.
It is a great honour to return once again to West New Britain to serve the people that saved my fathers life, Richard Hargesheimer said.

The ceremony was attended by Freds son, Richard Hargesheimer, who travelled from Lincoln, Nebraska to administer his late fathers legacy.

The foundations newest development is to build teachers housing at the village school, a project that will cost K100,000.

The latest act of benevolence came this week with a ground-breaking ceremony at Nantabu Village in West New Britain, the village where Fred Hargesheimer was sheltered and nursed back to health.

KIMBE  Seventy-five years after he was shot down and rescued, and eight years after his death, the Airmens Memorial Foundation established by Fred Hargesheimer is still honouring his legacy.

Richard Hargesheimer and his wife Christy surrounded by students and teachers of Nantabu, where new teachers housing will be built

75 years ago Fred Hargesheimer was shot down as the allied forces pursued world peace during the Second World War.

War is never good, but good things do come from it, especially when it is in the pursuit of peace and freedom, he said.

My father wanted to repay the people, the Nakanai people who saved his life.

He wanted to honour their kindness with kindness, and what better way to give than the gift of education.

So far the Airmans Foundation has built classrooms and teachers accommodation in the villages of Ewasse and Noau.

My father visited these schools and was always warmly welcomed, Richard Hargesheimer said, and I am sure he is with us now as once again we celebrate the special relationship between him and the Nakanai people.

We have now come full circle, we are in Nantabu to perform a ground-breaking ceremony that will see the construction of teachers accommodation.

Richard Hargesheimer also acknowledged the work of Hargy Oil Palms in administering and managing the work of the Airmens Memorial Foundation.

Without Hargy Oil Palms there would not be two schools, there wouldnt be anything, he said.

The management of Hargy Oil Palms and their enthusiasm for what we were doing has been absolutely instrumental.

The last two General Managers in particular  Graham King and Dave Mather  have simply been outstanding. Grahams interest in education is almost unparalleled and David Mather was extraordinarily supportive  those were the two who I have been most closely connected to.

They have been absolutely instrumental in seeing that those funds have been put to good use in terms of the school infrastructure, in a tropical area, with books and all other kinds of things, well after Freds passing.

____________
Editors note: This is part three of a four-part series focusing on this years record-breaking pace of traffic deaths in Colorado Springs and efforts underway to reverse that trend. The series is being produced in conjunction with Gazette news partner KKTV.

Its been five years since community fashion icon Jean Davis was killed in a head-on crash with a vehicle racing 90 mph down Constitution Avenue, but the pain of her loss lingers.

She had a heart of gold and is missed every day by a lot of people, not just our family but the community, longtime family friend Ann Laird recently told Gazette news partner KKTV.

Davis had been driving home from a church dinner at a friends house on June 26, 2013, when she was hit head-on by 25-year-old Charlene Erickson. Both Davis, 84, and Erickson were killed.

Laird, who affectionately referred to Davis as Aunt Jean, called the death senseless. She lamented how the need for speed and racing ended not only Davis life too soon, but also Ericksons.

Laird said she is dumbfounded that street racing continues and has claimed more lives.

Records show Colorado Springs police are investigating excessive speeds and possible racing as factors in at least seven of this years 37 fatal crashes, including two this week.

On Sunday, 33-year-old Roger Snyder was believed to be racing and driving at an "extreme speed" when he rolled his Subaru sedan at North Academy and Constitution. Just over 24 hours later, Benjamin Curley, 32, died after speeding and running a red light at Woodmen Road, where he slammed into the side of a pickup truck turning onto Academy Boulevard.

What happened to common courtesy and common sense? Laird asked. You just dont do that.

Apparently, there are many drivers who dont see it the same way.

Colorado Springs police pulled records mentioning racing and found that incidents more than doubled in May of this year  to nearly 90  compared with the four months prior, and has continued to climb, with 103 incidents reported in July.

Additionally, officers this year have written more tickets (1,794) for speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, driving recklessly or engaging in a speed contest than they did in any other year since 2014.

A heat map produced by the Police Department marked racing hot spots along Powers Boulevard  especially near Astrozon Boulevard and Aviation Way  on I-25 near Cimarron Street, down Platte Avenue and near Palmer Park and Babcock roads.

Many of this years fatal crashes were in those hot spots, though they were attributed to more than just speed and racing. Aggressive driving, drunken driving and neglect for pedestrian safety also are contributing to what police believe will be the second record-setting year in a row for traffic fatalities, after 39 deaths were reported last year.

Its a record the city doesnt want to set, Lt. John Koch said.

People tend to get a sense of superhuman strength sometimes when theyre behind the wheel of their car because its an enclosed environment, Koch said. You do those things at your own significant risk.

Yet, racers continue to line up just about every weekend to test their luck along stretches of roadway throughout the city. Their predictability was illustrated in almost comical fashion during a Gazette ride-along with officer Kyle Bergstreser in August.

About 10 p.m. while driving east on Platte Avenue, Bergstreser rolled down his window, suggesting that the rider just listen, youll hear when theyre out. Right on cue, four souped-up sedans pulled up next to him, their exhausts revving.

He followed them to Wooten Road, where they frequently gather at the Kum & Go to gas up before racing on Geiger Boulevard, a straight strip of road through an industrial district one block over from residential neighborhoods. Another officer called Bergstreser warning hed just broken up a group of car enthusiasts farther north.

Theyll be heading this way, Bergstreser said.

Within minutes, the collection of a hundred headlights forming parallel lines down Geiger Boulevard was unmistakable, like something out of The Fast and the Furious trilogy. Bergstreser circled around and came in from the west, catching two racers just taking off east. He flipped on his lights to pursue but the throng of spectators in the roadway ignored him, refusing to move.

The vehicles sped away and out of sight. For safety reasons, Bergstreser didnt follow.

Instead, he and two other officers started writing tickets to those who stayed behind, watching. One ticket went to a motorcyclist with no license plate, a problem police said they see often with racers blocking them in and baiting them to chase. Another ticket went to a driver parked directly in front of a no-parking sign.

After that, drivers quickly started to scatter, including the owner of an ice cream truck who was there selling treats.

Koch says that police are limited by what they can do to stop racing.

Its not just a matter of us going in and starting to arrest people and issue tickets, he said. Its a lot more complex than that.

In June, police and the El Paso County Sheriffs Office partnered with the Pikes Peak International Raceway to announce Off The Street Drags as a safe and legal alternative to street racing, but the two events held this year have had mixed participation, raceway manager Jared Thompson said.

The first event in August brought in about 50 drivers and a couple of hundred spectators, and the second event had about 30 participants, Thompson said.

The next racing event is scheduled for Oct. 20 and costs $25 to participate and $10 to watch. More information can be found at offthestreetdrags.com.

Editors note: An earlier version of this story misidentified the suspected cause of Benjamin Curley's crash. He was speeding and running a red light when he crashed into another vehicle. Street racing is not suspected.
More Americans than ever are dying from drug overdoses.

Colorado is no exception to the trend. Since 1999, the Rocky Mountain State has also seen a steady rise in deaths from drug overdoses, including right here in El Paso County.

President of GE Johnson Construction Jim Johnson says his family is one of many families across the region impacted by mental health and addiction. He says while dealing with these issues, the lack of support and resources across the community was "disheartening."

"It really raised my personal awareness level," he told Reporter Kyla Galer.

The El Paso County Coroner says in 2017, 147 people died from an overdose. It's the number one cause of "accidental deaths."

A new program through GE Johnson is working to prevent more people from becoming a statistic. The program is known as Face It Together and is essentially another benefit for the company's employees and their families. It offers counseling and navigation resources and flexibility with work - all at no cost to the employee.

Read more at KKTV
Democrats and Republicans joined forces to reauthorize a long-standing program that will chip away at the $11.6 billion dollar National Park Service maintenance backlog.

The Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, passed Thursday in the House Committee on Natural Resources, sets aside a maximum of $1.3 billion of revenue from energy production on federal lands for park maintenance needs.

Federal parks in Colorado had more than $238 million in deferred repairs at the end of 2017, the 14th largest price tag in the country. Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain national parks combined for about $154 million.

The bill was co-sponsored by 158 House members, including Colorado Reps. Jared Polis and Doug Lamborn.

We are at our best when we unite to help improve the quality of life in the state of Colorado, said Polis, the Democratic candidate for Colorado governor. The Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Acts makes a significant dent in deferred maintenance projects in Colorado, including critical projects in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lamborn said, The American people deserve beautiful, well-kept national parks. I know that Ive enjoyed the national parks our country offers from the West coast to the East. Thats one reason why I support this bill.

The Colorado Springs Republican added that the bill will incentivize harnessing our tremendous energy resources.

The National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, is encouraged by the bipartisan bill.

Addressing our parks longstanding maintenance needs is essential to enhancing visitor experiences, said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. This bill is an important step in that process, and we look forward to working with Congress to see it passed into law this year.

The House committee also passed a measure to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has protected thousands of acres of land across the country since it was established in 1964.

This breakthrough recognizes the overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for Americas most important conservation and recreation program, Tom Cors, director of government relations for lands at The Nature Conservancy, said in a statement.

It is a critical step forward for LWCF and the countless communities who rely on it to provide public access to the outdoors, bolster their economies, safeguard key historic sites, and conserve irreplaceable natural and recreation landscapes.

To date, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has invested more than $268 million in Colorado for conservation and outdoor recreation projects since it began in 1964.

Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner are outspoken advocates of the fund.

The two co-wrote an op-ed in The Denver Post in July urging Congress to permanently authorize the program.

Put simply, LWCF works. It is a time-tested and effective way to boost the economy and increase tourism in an industry responsible for $28 billion in consumer spending and 229,000 direct jobs in our state, Gardner, a Republican, and Democrat Bennet wrote.
FORT MORGAN  Over the last decade, Somali refugees have flocked to the conservative farm town of Fort Morgan on Colorado's eastern plains and have started to build a community. But as much as Fort Morgan's small-town feel reminds many of their rural villages back home, some say they will feel like outsiders until they get what has so far eluded them: a permanent mosque. They say they've tried to buy property to build a mosque but believe no one wants to sell. Some longtime residents say they don't want a mosque, a step too far especially at a time when fears of terrorism have grown and talk on the Republican presidential campaign trail includes banning Muslims from the U.S. Some say education and
A 22-year-old man is accused of hitting, biting and trying to sexually assault a 63-year-old Uber driver  and then stealing her car  early Monday near downtown Colorado Springs, police said.

Raydrian Tyree Scott was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted sexual assault, second-degree assault, robbery, aggravated motor vehicle theft and failure to register as a sex offender, police said. He was in possession of the victims white 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

The driver picked up a man in the 500 block of East Dale Street, where he assaulted her, causing significant injuries, police said. When she got out of her car, the man allegedly took it and fled.

Police responded about 4:30 a.m., and the woman was taken to a hospital.

What this driver experienced is frightening, an Uber spokesman said Thursday. We will continue to work with police on the investigation.

The woman, identified only by her first name, Lorraine, told Gazette news partner KKTV that she fought back.

The cops told me thats the reason I got away alive, she said.

She said she picked up the man about 4 a.m., but he wouldnt let them leave because they were waiting for his brother. After nearly 10 minutes, she said, Look, we either need to get going or you need to cancel and get another Uber, KKTV reported.

Thats when he attacked her.

Really, be aware, she told KKTV. I was tired. I was lulled into a false sense of security because nothing ever had happened, so therefore nothing ever will.

Scott also was arrested on several unrelated misdemeanor warrants, including domestic violence charges out of Pueblo and a nonextraditable warrant out of Alabama related to his failure to register as a sex offender, police said.

Hes being held in El Paso County jail without bond, inmate records show.
An annual memorial service will be held Saturday in Memorial Park to add 271 names to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, according to the International Association of Firefighters.

A procession will begin at 10 a.m. from the University Village Colorado shopping center, heading down North Nevada Avenue to Colorado Avenue, which turns into East Pikes Peak Avenue.

The service will begin at 11 a.m. Thousands are expected to attend, including more than 1,200 honor guard members.

The service will be broadcast live.

Of the 271 names being added to the memorial, 163 died in 2017 and 108 died from 1918 to 2016. More than 75 percent  211  were cancer deaths, including 19 related to the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

The IAFF will ensure that the ceremony remains an uplifting one for the families, friends and loved ones, and that it celebrates the lives, heroism and accomplishments of our unions bravest of the brave, says a post on the website for the Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 5.
El Paso Countys lead spokesman will retire this fall, and a face long familiar in local politics has been appointed to replace him.

Chief Public Information Officer Dave Rose, who has held the position for a decade, will be succeeded by Ryan Parsell, a former spokesman for the county Clerk and Recorders Office and current deputy state treasurer.

Parsell will start the new job at the beginning of next month, and Rose will continue to work for the county through Oct. 19 to help with the transition, according to a county news release issued Friday.

Ryan brings a broad range of experience in public communications, legislative and policy development and organizational management in private, public and non-profit sectors, County Administrator Henry Yankowski said in a statement.

Deputy County Administrator Nicola Sapp added in a statement that Parsell also has a good understanding of the challenges facing large counties around the country as well as many of the specific issues we face as Colorados most populous county.

Parsell worked for Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman from 2013 to 2017, when he left for the Treasurers Office, according to the news release.

I appreciate this opportunity to work with a PIO staff that is truly committed to the countys strategic plan goal of fostering greater public understanding of county government, to improve public trust and promote citizen participation and engagement, Parsell said in a statement, citing county public outreach efforts.
Colorado Springs police say street racing has skyrocketed in the city this year, with 103 incidents reported in July. Racing is a possible factor in seven fatal crashes this year. Additionally, the number of drivers caught speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, driving recklessly or engaging in a speed contest is at its highest level in five years.
Two teenagers were arrested Wednesday in the shooting death last month of a 30-year-old man in south Colorado Springs, police said.

Terrell Cortez Madrid Duran was found lying next to a motorcycle with a gunshot wound on Aug. 27 in the 1300 block of East Las Animas Street on Aug. 27 south of Prospect Lake.

Police said the two male suspects, 15 and 17, were arrested in the 800 block of Santa Fe Street on suspicion of first-degree murder. The teens were arrested less than a mile from where the shooting happened. Names and photographs were not released because of the suspects ages.

Possible motives in the shooting have not been determined.

Durans death was the 20th homicide in Colorado Springs this year, police said.
Denise Johnson, a 17-year-old senior, said her life would be vastly different if not for a program that has helped pay for her tuition and uni
Jared Polis wants to soak the middle class with taxes more than any other Washington politician.

The super-rich Boulder congressman and Democratic nominee for governor pitches free health care for all. He proposes student loan relief, 100 percent renewable energy, and a slate of other government giveaways the middle class would pay for with soaring utility rates and larger withholdings from paychecks.

While wage earners cannot escape taxes, the same is not true of Rep. Polis.

Polis doubled his net worth during the past 10 years in Congress. The Center for Responsive Politics estimates his net worth close to $400 million.

When Polis first ran for Congress in 2008, the Boulder Daily Camera reported he had paid no taxes for five years.

Reporters asked the congressman Tuesday whether he had paid taxes every year of his congressional career.

Polis deflected, writes Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning.

The Colorado Suns John Frank, a former Denver Post political reporter, writes this week: Jared Polis demanded that Donald Trump release his tax returns and helped lead an attempt in Congress to force the Republican candidate to do so. Now, Polis wont release his own tax returns as the Democratic nominee for governor in Colorado.

Stupendously wealthy politicians have lawful options to get around taxes, so we have no reason to suspect Polis cheated. No one should blame him for minimizing tax liabilities with business investments that create wealth. The Polis tax drama only highlights how the politician lives a different reality than Coloradans who work for wages and pay their taxes before receiving take-home pay. They never get a five-year tax reprieve.

People who pay taxes the old fashioned way will lose substantial income if Polis gets his way.

Polis in May became the first member of Congress to introduce a bill to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The tax cuts mean more take-home pay for wage earners and have led to rising incomes. Polis seems to oppose these middle-class benefits, probably because he doesnt know firsthand how much they mean to average households.

It is the first piece of legislation that would entirely reverse the tax cuts passed last year, reported The Hill in Washington, just before Polis introduced his proposed tax increase.

The Polis tax bill was more extreme than anything proposed by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Unlike Polis, they proposed undoing tax cuts for only the top 1 percent of wage earners.

For workers and professionals living paycheck-to-paycheck, the tax cuts mean fewer days waiting to restock cupboards with food. They mean less time stretching a tank of gas or a threadbare set of tires. They mean a possible movie night with the kids. Polis has not lived like that.

To understand what the tax cuts mean for the economy, look to left-leaning CNBC. The network opposes President Donald Trump but concedes the benefits of tax cuts he signed into law.

GDP is growing at a 3 percent-plus rate. The unemployment rate is near a 50-year low.

Meanwhile, the stock market has jumped 27 percent amid a surge in corporate profits, explains a Sept. 7 CNBC report.

Friday brought another round of good news: Nonfarm payrolls rose by a better-than-expected 201,000 and wages, the last missing piece of the economic recovery, increased by 2.9 percent year over year to the highest level since April 2009. That made it the best gain since the recession ended in June 2009  

Indeed, the economy does seem to be on fire, and its fairly easy to draw a straight line from Trumps policies to the current trends.

Unlike Polis, Republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton defends middle-class incomes. As Colorado treasurer, Stapleton led the defeat of a billion-dollar tax increase known as Amendment 66. He led a campaign to trounce a single-payer health care proposal, saving wage earners from a 10 percent state income tax.

Polis may be wise to run with an anti-Trump message, given the presidents self-destructive antics. But the congressmans desire to soak the middle class with taxes poses irreparable harm to Colorado households. Colorados median household income is less than $70,000. Average Coloradans do well by national standards but dont have easy lives.

They dont get years-long vacations from taxes. They need their take-home pay  not more taken for government giveaways promised by Polis.
TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (OTC:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE) (WeedMD or the Company), a federally-licensed producer and distributor of cannabis, is pleased to announce it has completed the export of its cannabis genetics to Australias Medifarm, a privately-held Queensland-based licensed producer (LP) distinguished in Australia for being the first licensed medical cannabis producer to be authorized for therapeutic use.



WeedMD has differentiated itself by proudly supplying more than 20% of the Canadian cannabis industry with its highly-regarded cannabis strains. Today, we are honoured to be one of the first Canadian LPs to welcome an international partner with the sale and export to Australias Medifarm, said Keith Merker, CEO of WeedMD. As trusted and proven cultivators in our respective markets, were thrilled to see selected WeedMD genetics enter Australia and provide Medifarms patients with our trusted cannabis strains.

Medifarm prides itself on the cultivation of exclusive cannabis genetics, supported by proven breeding programs used in university and hospital clinical trials for therapeutic use. WeedMDs highly-regarded cannabis strains will help us bring Australians continued access to a diverse set of consistent, quality cannabis products, said Edward Harris, Managing Director of Medifarm. Ensuring that our patients have access to clinically-validated and cost-effective medicine for their therapeutic use is paramount for Medifarm. We are honoured to be making history alongside WeedMD  together we are amongst the very first LPs to secure respective export and import licenses for cannabis seeds.

For more information, access WeedMDs investor presentation here and recently updated corporate video here .

About WeedMD Inc.

WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD Rx Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of cannabis plant, dried flower and oil under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The Company operates two facilities: a 26,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in Aylmer, Ontario and a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility located in Strathroy, Ontario. The Greenhouse currently has 44,000 square feet of licensed space in production and is expected to have a total footprint of more than 500,000 square feet online by year-end 2018. WeedMD has a multi-channeled distribution strategy that includes supply agreements with Shoppers Drug Mart and provincial distribution agencies, as well as through strategic relationships across the seniors' market in Canada.



Follow WeedMD On:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weedmd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/5020743/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeedMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weedmd/

For further information, please contact:

WeedMD Inc.

Keith Merker, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 519-765-2440 Ext. 222

Email: investor@weedmd.com

To learn more, visit us at www.weedmd.com

For Media Inquiries:

Marianella delaBarrera

Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

Tel: 416-897-6644

Email: marianella@weedmd.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which are based upon WeedMD's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based upon the expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances. Forward-looking information includes estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking information in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to internal expectations, expectations with respect to actual production volumes, expectations for future growing capacity and the completion of any capital project or expansions. Forward-looking information necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally; the ability of WeedMD to implement its business strategies; competition; crop failure; and other risks.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, WeedMD does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for WeedMD to predict all such factors. When considering this forward-looking information, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in WeedMD's Annual Information Form dated December 13, 2017 (the "AIF") and other disclosure documents of WeedMD filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The risk factors and other factors noted in the AIF and other disclosure documents could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
English Dutch French

Ghent, 14 September 2018  5.30 p.m.  Press Release / Regulated Information

ABO-Group, an engineering firm specializing in construction, environment and energy, today announces its 2018 consolidated financial half-year results.

Highlights of the first half of 2018

Organic revenue growth of 2.75%

Operating profit impacted by product mix and expansion of the organization

Steady expansion of staff and machinery

Outlook

Higher anticipated revenue and net profit in 2018

H1 2017

In  000 H1 2018

In  000 Change

In  000 Change

In % Per share

In  Revenue 21,200 21,782 +582 +2.75% Total operating income 21,914 22,348 +434 +1.98% EBITDA 2,509 2,046 -463 -18.45% 0.19 Depreciation 1,276 1,296 +20 +1.57% Operating profit 1,233 750 -483 -39.17% 0.07 Financial result -240 -185 +55 -22.92% Profit before tax 993 565 -428 -43.10% Net profit 635 328 -307 -48.35% Net profit (group share) 617 326 -291 -47.16% 0.03

Highlights of the first half of 2018

Organic revenue growth of 2.75%

France

The geotechnical division, which accounts for more than 80% of revenue, experienced a difficult start in 2018. Numerous external factors (long winter period, cancellation of projects connected with Grand Paris, and social unrest in France, leading customers to postpone projects) made an efficient planning extremely challenging. This led to an increase in non-billable hours. Nevertheless, the order book was, and still is, well filled. The environmental division reported a double-digit growth.

Belgium

Belgium reported an organic growth of 3%, driven by strong growth at Geosonda (geotechnical and environmental fieldwork), Translab (measurement of asbestos in ambient air) and the international activities (completion of Uganda project). ABO NVs soil division reported a downturn due to internal movements at the Brussels and Nameche offices. The archaeology and environmental divisions were further expanded and recorded a matching revenue growth.

The Netherlands

The Dutch construction market is experiencing a persistently vigorous macroeconomic momentum. All divisions (consulting as well as fieldwork) reported a solid revenue growth. An organic growth of more than 15% was realized. The group invested more than 0.6 million in high-tech drilling and probing equipment during the first six months.

The group reported an overall 2.75% organic revenue growth.

H1 2017

In  000 H1 2018

In  000 Change

In  000 Change

In % France 9,381 9,119 -262 -2.79% Belgium 7,838 8,064 +226 +2.88% The Netherlands 3,981 4,599 +618 +15.52% Total revenue 21,200 21,782 +582 +2.75%

Operating profit impacted by product mix and expansion

The fall in revenue reported by traditional mainstays of the group (ERG Geotechnique and ABO NV) is reflected in lower contributions of those entities to various result levels. At the same time, the group focused on attracting new staff with the necessary experience in order to keep the road open to further growth. The labour costs increased by 0.4 million. The figures for the first six months of 2017 contained a non-recurring contribution of 350k (as a result of a reversal of provisions for disputes). This qualifies the decrease in EBITDA from 2,509k to 2,046k (0.19 per share). The change in product mix and the extra costs for the expansion of the group are also reflected in the operating profit (decrease from 1,233k to 750k). A better financial result, in combination with a lower taxable profit, has led to a smaller nominal decrease in net profit. The net profit (group share) fell from 617k to 326k.

Steady expansion of staff and machinery

The group invested 1.5 million in the acquisition and lease of machines. As a result, the net financial debt increased from 7.9 million at year-end 2017 to 9.4 million at mid-2018. The total equity of the group amounts to 14 million, with a balance sheet total of 40 million. There was a net growth in the number of staff (in FTE) from 351 to 357.

The full set of figures (consolidated income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement, and statement of changes in equity) is attached to this press release.

Outlook

Higher anticipated revenue and net profit in 2018

Despite a weaker first half of the year, ABO-Group confirms its medium-term ambition of double-digit organic and acquisitive revenue growth. Focus is on the organic expansion of the product offering (towards infrastructure, stability, urban development, etc), machinery (sonic drilling techniques), and tapping into new growth markets (Scandinavia). The group also continues to seek to strengthen its market position in the home countries Belgium, the Netherlands and France through acquisitions. The group screens the market on an ongoing basis, in search of businesses that fit into its strategy.

The order book of ABO-Group is well-filled in each of its markets. This leads us to expect a better second half of the year, based on a high-quality execution of orders. For 2018, the group focuses on achieving a year-on-year higher revenue and higher net profit.

In France, construction of the new multipurpose and green office building in Marseille (Vitrolles, near the airport and high-speed rail link) is progressing well. Completion is due at the beginning of 2019. The group also continues to invest fully in its fieldwork divisions. In the second half of the year, a number of new state-of-the-art machines will be added to the groups facilities, which should bring in extra orders. The laboratory activities in Belgium are also due to start up shortly.

The group is looking into the commercial structure of its international division. The idea is to operate on a cross-border basis so that the best skills can be made available to the customer in a complex project. ABO Belgium will open a new office in West Flanders on 1 October. The group regards local presence as a factor that strengthens the relationship with the customer. After the balance sheet date of 30/06, ABO NV decided to dispose of its stake in Esher BVBA. This will have no significant impact on revenue and/or result. On the other hand, as of 1 July the group acquired an additional 9.3% interest in Sialtech BV.

Financial calendar

29/03/2019: 2018 annual figures

29/05/2019: General Meeting

Statement regarding the fair presentation of the interim condensed consolidated financial information and the fair overview of the interim report

Frank De Palmenaer, CEO, and Johan Reybroeck, CFO, declare that, to their knowledge, the interim condensed consolidated financial information for the six-month period ending 30 June 2018, which was prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as approved by the European Union, gives a true and fair view of the assets, the financial position and the results of the company and the companies included in the consolidation. The interim report gives a fair overview of the most significant events and key transactions with related parties that have taken place during the first six months of the financial year and their effect on the interim condensed financial information, as well as a description of the most significant risks and uncertainties for the remaining months of the financial year.

About ABO-Group

ABO-Group is a company listed on Euronext Brussels, specializing in consultancy & engineering, testing & monitoring in the areas of construction, environment and energy. ABO-Group endeavours to offer its customers a sustainable solution in its three home countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and France) and internationally.

A more detailed description of the groups activities can be found on the website of ABO-Group ( www.abo-group.eu ).

For more information, please contact:

Frank De Palmenaer Johan Reybroeck

CEO ABO-Group Environment NV CFO ABO-Group Environment NV

investors@abo-group.eu

T +32 9 242 88 88

Maaltecenter Blok G, Derbystraat 255,

B-9051 Ghent (SDW), Belgium

This press release is available on our website www.abo-group.eu .

Attachment
assumption on which the argument depends

Required Assumption

slightly

assumption

depends

depends

relies

clearly only children take this festival seriously.

clearly

only

only

only

Correlation is not Causation

A

Any attendee who dresses up as a ninja takes the festival seriously.

B

Convoluted Camouflage

B

No attendee who takes the festival seriously would fail to dress up as a ninja

All attendees who take the festival seriously would dress up as a ninja.

C

C

C

D

D

required

E

serious

serious

taken seriously

E

Only B truly answers the question

depends

Strengthen

Required Assumption

A

C

D

E

depends

B

Convoluted Camouflage

Aaron Pond

Veritas Prep Teacher of the Year / Professionally mentoring GMAT students since 2006

Visit me at https://www.veritasprep.com/gmat/aaron-pond/ if you would like to learn even more "GMAT Jujitsu"! Signature Read More

Let's take a look at this question from a strategic point of view that highlights common patterns on the GMAT. Our first strategic item of business is to identify leverage in the question stem to identify the problem type. This question isn't subtle; after all, the question asks for an "." "" questions are a sub-type of traditional Strengthen questions, but for those of you studying for the GMAT, it might be worth noting that Required Assumption questions play bydifferent rules.If a question asks you for an unstated fact (in other words, an "") upon which an argument "", that is a pretty high bar. With regular Strengthen questions, any answer choice that helps the conclusion to be valid can strengthen the argument. However, when a problem asks for an assumption on which the argument "" or "", you are looking for an answer choice that is FUNDAMENTALLY CRITICAL to the viability of the conclusion.In this argument, the conclusion is "" The word "" is our trigger word that identifies this as a conclusion. Notice that conclusion contains the word "" -- an extreme scope limiter that has a very high bar of proof.Now that we have identified the conclusion, the gap in the logic should be fairly obvious: even though the "" attendees in ninja costumes are children doesn't necessarily mean that "" the children take the festival seriously. In my classes, I call this type of error "." Just because just the children dress up doesn't mean that their costumes -- and and their costumes alone -- prove that they are the "only" serious fans. (Think about it: you don't have to dress as Darth Vader to prove you are a serious Star Wars fan any more than you have to carry around a block of cheddar to prove you like cheese!) Could there be other ways that a "serious" fan might show his/her colors? Who says that dressing up is the only way? What if their parents are the super-fans who subject their kids to embarrassing costumes? The kids themselves could still hate ninjas! Wearing a costume isn't necessarily the only proof that you love ninjas!The argument requires a statement that shows that dressing up as a ninja is the "only" way to demonstrate that a fan is "serious." The correct answer choice will do this. Anything else is a trap.Answer choiceis a beautiful trap answer. It states, "" At first glance, this sounds really good. After all, this proves that the kids who dress up are serious fans. But this answer DOESN'T prove that the kids are the "only" serious fans. This strengthens the argument, since, after all, it shows that the kids aren't just being dressed up by their parents. But it fails to show that dressing up is the "only" sign of a serious fan. What if there are other ways that a fan can be identified? This answer falls short of being an assumption upon with the argument "depends."Answer choiceis the right answer, but it is deliberately worded in an obnoxious way. (I call this deceptive technique "" in my classes.) Notice howuses a double negative to intentionally hide what is really happening. ("" could also be translated "") This fits the criteria we are looking for. Since this shows that dressing up as a ninjas is the "only" way to demonstrate that a fan is serious, we have our answer.Answer choicealso uses a double negative to intentionally hide what is really happening. But in this case, answer choiceis overkill. The argument doesn't "depend" on the fact that only ninja-costumed fans attend the festival. Answer choicealso doesn't focus on the logical gap. It says nothing about whether dressing up is the "only" way to demonstrate that a fan is "serious." Get rid of it.Likewise, answer choicedoes nothing to address the logical gap. Whether a dress code exists might be interesting background information, but -- dress code or no dress code --is not a factby the argument. Get rid of this as well.Answer choiceuses a subtle shift of wordplay to trap novice test takers. The original argument is trying to connect wearing ninjas costumes with being a "" attendee. However, being a "" attendee is not the same thing as being "" by other attendees. The similar verbiage is a distracting trap, but in the end it still doesn't focus on the logical gap.is also gone.So, we have our answer., giving us a statement upon which the argument "."Now, for those of you studying for the GMAT, here is a review of some of the major takeaways with this question: First, notice the difference in approach betweenquestions andquestions. Of course, these two question types are related. Both question types require you to recognize the logical gap between the conclusion and the rest of the argument. But Required Assumption questions have a higher standard. One answer () could arguably strengthen the argument, but that is not sufficient. 3 of the 5 answer choices (, and) fail to focus on the logical gap presented in the question stem. In the end, there is only one answer upon which the argument "": answer choice "". It's true meaning is hidden by some "", but that is a normal pattern of the GMAT. This problem is a great reminder for making sure you know exactly what the question is asking and not getting distracted by other things._________________
betterscore wrote:

Many house builders offer rent-to-buy programs that enable a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to be able to move into new housing and to apply part of the rent to a purchase later.



(A) programs that enable a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to be able to move into new housing and to apply



(B) programs that enable a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to move into new housing and to apply



(C) programs; that enables a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to move into new housing, to apply



(D) programs, which enables a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to move into new housing, applying



(E) programs, which enable a family with insufficient savings for a conventional down payment to be able to move into new housing, applying

to be able

Note that we only have two parallels here: "..to move.. to apply". The portion that comes after the underlined portion simply modifies "apply", don't get confused by the addition of "TO a purchase", this does not indicate that this is part of the parallel. Even at that, if purchase was parallel, then it would already be preceded by "and". It's not preceded by and, so that indicates that we have two parallels, not three. Thus, we only need "and" between the parallelsA) "programs that enable a family...to move.. and to apply part of the rent..." is parallel, but the bolded portion is somewhat superfluous and distorts the meaning of the author. These programs do not unlock the ability to move, families have the actual ability to move even prior to the program. The addition of the infinitive "to be able" distorts the intended meaningB) The only difference between A and B is that B omits "to be able". Much more concise and does not distort the intended meaningC) subject verb agreement is violated (programs.. enables), also the semicolon creates a fragment. The parallel is 100% correct, but C is wrong for the aforementioned reasons.D) subject verb error, (programs.. enables), and the parallel is erroneous because we have a present participle that is not in accordance with the infinitive "to move". D is wrongE) the comma is weird, the "which" creates a inessential clause but the information we are given IS essential, it specifies something crucial about these programs, thus we need "that" instead of "which". Also, the parallelism is violated since we have the infinitive to move and the present participle applying.So, B is correct!
xenok wrote:

I am actually quite puzzled by the lack of love/respect (maybe both) that IMD gets in this forum. Perhaps it is the age issue, since IMD does look for MUCH more experience than most places.



IMD is a fantastic school. It is a school built by businesses, and it is a school for businesses. Note, IMD is NOT a school built by banks or consulting firm, it's a school built by BUSINESSES. What is your definition of an UE b-school? IMD qualifies in any definition that comes to my mind, that's why I don't see how it doesn't belong in the UE category.



I understand where bsd_lover is coming from but let me try to address his concerns.

1) Class size. Would you rather have a larger network that you know loosely or a much smaller but much more intimate network? Additionally, it is not the size of the network that matters, but the "value" of the network. IMD selects some of the most accomplished applicants from the world. In terms of accomplishment, I think IMD alums rank up there with the very best.

2) Finance and MC. Yes, these two industries offer some of the most competitive starting salaries coming out of b-school, however we are talking about BUSINESS schools, not banking or consulting schools. I don't necessarily even view this as a negative. As long as the placement stats are among the best, why should the industry matter that much? If IMD consistently places its graduates in fantastic companies with great compensation, should it matter what industries they are in if we're trying to compare UEs vs Es? Remember, we are trying to rank the very best BUSINESS schools, not just schools for banking and consulting.



Yes, IMD may not be the right school for the less experienced, nor for those wanting to make a career switch (note, this is for career switchers) into banking, nor for those who want to switch into consulting. However, it is an extremely competitive school to get into, it does offer a world-class education, it is academically rigorous and demanding, and it does offer an international network of amazingly successful alumni. In what area is IMD lacking that stops it from being classified as a UE? Some superficial like class size? Surely not!

Great post xenok +1. I'm all for IMD's industry focus in terms of what a business school should be about (I even mention that in my last post). But, I dont control what the overwhelming majority wants a b-school for. After the crisis most of us have wondered about the higher purpose of a business school. But, whether rightly or wrongly, an elite contemporary business school is expected to have a certain qualities. If you consider all other ultra elite schools (H/S/W/K/B/M/C/LBS/Insead) they all share certain common traits. Class size and diverse placements are two of those qualities. Lumping IMD in this category just doesn't quite work for me.But lets not be too hung up on IMD's status. IMD is a top school and if you go there, you will get an oustanding education; and no one will deny that (least of all me). What about some opinions on some of the other schools ? Am I being fair ? Do all the spanish schools deserve there Elite status ? Does the concept of Regional Elites work ?
catalysis wrote:

I have no idea what the sentence is saying...

can and does not seem appalling; but still does

verb + object

seem appalling

can and does not seem appalling

can seem appalling and does not seem appalling

can seem appalling and does seem appalling; but still does not

should seem appalling and does seem appalling; and still does

can and do not seem appalling

can seem appalling and do not seem appalling

may seem appalling and does seem appalling; but still doesn't do so

The misnomer that sibling rivalry is a thing of the 'past' history- where brothers slit each other's throats in a gory race to kinghood - can and does not seem appalling; but still does.While reading the question stem, we see that a portion of the sentence is dashed. This is called an "em dash" or a "dash" and it replaces commas, semicolons, colons, and parentheses to indicate added emphasis, an interruption, or an abrupt change of thought. The info provided between the dashes gives additional information about sibling rivalry. For convenience, you can ignore the same. The construction is now as follows.The misnomer that sibling rivalry is a thing of the 'past' historyFurther breaking it down (or rather expanding it - by placing the omittedThe misnomer that sibling rivalry is a thing of the 'past' history can, and does not seem appalling; but still does.A.; but still does.- doesn't make sense.B. can and does seem appalling; but still does not.- doesn't make sense againC. should and does seem appalling; and still does.- Good enough.D.; but still do.- doesn't make sense againE. may and does seem appalling; but still doesn't do so.- wordy (after semicolon) and doesn't make any sense.
Re: Wolves generally avoid human settlements. For this reason, domestic sh [ #permalink

Resolve paradox = no conclusion



Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase in wolf attacks on sheep?



A. Populations of deer and other wild animals that wolves typically prey on increased significantly in numbers from 1910 to 1915.

This almost makes the paradox even weirder. If more other prey, then why kill the sheep?



B. Prior to 1910, there were no legal restrictions in Hylantia on the hunting of wolves.

Doesnt matter what happened before 1910  were concerned with 1910-1915 and why despite the killings of wolves did sheep attacks increase. But if anything, this could almost strengthen if you spin it. There were a bunch of wolves before. But starting in 1910, maybe hunters went ham and killed a bunch of wolves. So why if wolf population went down, why would sheep attacks increase?



C. After 1910 hunters shot and wounded a substantial number of wolves, thereby greatly diminishing these wolves' ability to prey on wild animals.

This sounds off, but it resolves the paradox. Wolves are wounded and their ability to hunt isnt so great. If youre wounded and cant hunt to well, but you still need to eatwouldnt you eat the easy prey? Perhaps sheep? How do we know that sheep are easy prey? Stimulus explicitly says so  domestic sheepessentially easy prey for wolves



D. Domestic sheep are significantly less able than most wild animals to defend themselves against wolf attacks.

This could strengthen if anything. Sheep = defenseless. But regardless, this would be true even before more wolves were killed. So sheep are less able than other animals and were killed before by a large population of wolves. But if theres a smaller population of wolves, wouldnt it mean the wolves be able to kill fewer? Doesnt resolve anything. No need to extrapolate further than this.



E. The systematic hunting of wolves encouraged by the program drove many wolves in Hylantia to migrate to remote mountain areas uninhabited by humans.

Makes the problem even worse. They not only were killed but all moved away. So why sheep killings?


MSU BOX SCORE: BOX SCORE (PDF) | NEBRASKA BOX SCORE: BOX SCORE (PDF)

LINCOLN, Neb. New Mexicos first day of the Husker Invite was a day of highs and lows. The high came in the form of the evening match as the Lobos competed with the No. 4 team in the country, taking the opening set against the defending champions. It came in the form of the third set against the Huskers, cutting into a deficit to make it a one-point game on two occasions before dropping the close set. It came in the opening set in the morning match against Missouri State, when New Mexico stormed out to an early lead and seemed to hold momentum. The lows were what decided the two matches, with UNM unable to hold its first set lead against MSU and dropping the set and thereafter the match, and later that day against NU in sets two and four, where the Lobos couldnt avoid the errors and hitting in the negatives, unable to keep up point-for-point with the Huskers in lopsided loses.



MATCH TWO:

Before an audience of 8043, the New Mexico Lobos pushed the No. 4 team in the country to the brink in two sets, breaking through in the opening set with a 25-23 victory, before ultimately falling in four sets (23-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-11) on Friday evening.

Junior Tai Bierria had a match-high 16 kills in the setback, while Jaclyn Inclan had 17 assists, Morgan Schreckler had 11 digs and Lauren Twitty had one solo block and an assisted block for team highs.

The Lobos held close in the first set with five, one-point leads at 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5, which eventually grew to two at 7-5 after a Sabrina Bianco ace and then three at 10-7 on a Bierria kill. The Lobos lead grew to four at 13-9 after kills by Bierria and Victoria Spragg, and again at 14-10 on another Twitty kill. The Huskers proceeded to score the next three points to cut the lead to one at 14-13 and again at 15-14, but each time, the Lobos responded with the next point to maintain the lead. The set would have a tie at 16 before Nebraska built a 19-16 edge. New Mexico rallied to tie the set at 19 with two kills from Bierria and one from Carly Beddingfield. Out of a Nebraska timeout, the Huskers scored the next two points to build a 21-19 lead, but a net violation allowed the Lobos to cut the margin in half. A Twitty block followed by a Spragg and Twitty block gave the Lobos a 23-22 late set lead. There was a final tie at 23 before the Lobos scored the final two points of the set on back-to-back kills by Twitty to give the Lobos a 25-23 opening set victory. New Mexico outhit Nebraska .270 to .097 in the set behind six kills from Twitty. As a team, the Lobos had 17 kills to just nine for the Huskers. When it came to digs, the Lobos had a 13-8 advantage, and 15-9 in assists.

It was a tale of two sets in the second set as although the Lobos held close early on, the Huskers ultimately ran away with the set. The Lobos held early leads at 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3, which would be the only leads the Lobos would have in the frame. Nebraska built a four-point lead at 9-5 after New Mexico got within one at 6-5, however an 8-2 run pushed the Lobos deficit to 10 at 17-7. The Lobos couldnt put together any runs to cut into the lead and fell 25-12 in the set. Bierria added three kills in the frame and Bianco had two assists, but as a whole, UNM struggled hitting in the negatives in the set.

Husker service errors kept the Lobos in the third set, with the home team recording six errors in the set, creating another close set between the two teams. In the third game, a Spragg kill gave the Lobos an early 2-1 lead and five points later back-to-back points by a Bierria kill and a Husker attack error gave the Lobos a 5-4 lead. The New Mexico lead expanded to two at 7-5 and again at 8-6 with kills by Spragg and Twitty leading the charge. The Huskers tied the set at eight before a kill gave them the 9-8 advantage. A Mariessa Carrasco kill evened the set at nine, but NU responded with two-straight points to take an 11-9 lead. A long serve kept the Lobos close within one at 11-10, but NU scored the next two points to expand its advantage three at 13-10. At the media timeout, the Lobos trailed 15-12, which would increase to four at 18-14. UNM narrowed the gap by two at 19-17 using a 3-1 run and again at 20-18 on Bierria kills paired with Husker service errors. An attack error by Nebraska made it 20-19 and a service error again cut the deficit to one at 21-20, but Nebraska was able to pull away with the final four points to take the set, 25-20, and the 2-1 lead in the match. Bierria ended the set with four kills, while Spragg had three. Inclan and Bianco each had five assists and Twitty and Schreckler each had three digs to lead the Lobos in their respective categories.

Bierria had both of the Lobos first two points in the set as the Huskers got out to an early 6-2 lead, causing an early Lobos timeout. Nebraska scored the first two points out of the timeout to expand its lead to six at 8-2. Another Bierria kill made it 8-3 and a Twitty kill made it 10-4, but the Huskers lead would continue to grow, reaching as much as 14 as NU held control from the onset to take the set 25-11 and the match, 3-1. Bierria closed the match with four kills in the final set, Inclan had four assists and Twitty had four digs and two kills for the Lobos.

UNM closes out the Husker Invite with a final match tomorrow against Central Michigan at 10:30 a.m. MT.

MATCH ONE:

The New Mexico Lobos had the momentum early on in the opening match of the Husker Invite on Friday morning, but after dropping a late lead in the opening set, they were unable to recover before losing the match in straight sets at the hands of the Missouri State Bears (21-25, 19-25, 23-25).

Tai Bierria led the Lobos in kills with a match-high 10, with Sabrina Bianco having a team-high 14 assists, Morgan Schreckler with a team-high 12 digs and Lauren Twitty with two service aces. Mariessa Carrasco had a solo block and two assisted blocks for New Mexico, while Victoria Spragg had a solo block and an assisted block and Carly Beddingfield had two assisted blocks.

New Mexico lost its lead late in the first set to drop the opening set by the score of 25-21. The Lobos started the first set with an early 7-3 lead behind kills from Twitty, Spragg, Carrasco and Bianco, as well as a block by Beddingfield and Carrasco. The Bears cut the lead to one at 7-6, but Bierria responded with back-to-back kills to push the lead back to three. Missouri State rallied back to tie the set at 10, however, a net violation and a Twitty kill and ace helped New Mexico regain the three-point cushion at 14-11. The Lobos were able to stretch the three-point advantage to four at 18-14 with two kills by Bierria combined with a kill from Yasmin Tan. A 4-0 run by Missouri State tied the set late at 18, however, Twitty and Bierria tallied consecutive kills to give the Lobos the lead at 20-18. There was a tie at 20 before Missouri State took its first lead of the set at 21-20 off of a kill and would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set. New Mexico scored a final point in the set before dropping the first set, 25-21. Bierria led the team with six kills, while Inclan had seven assists and eight digs.

Set two had the Lobos getting out to another early lead at 4-2 after a Twitty ace, a Carrasco kill and two Beddingfield kills, but the Bears answered with a run to take the 6-5 lead. The Lobos deficit grew to five at 11-6, to which UNM chipped away at to cut it to 12-11 before the Bears used a 5-1 run to push their lead back to five at 17-12. UNM couldnt get any closer than 20-17 before dropping the set, 25-19. The Lobos struggled in the set, only hitting .026.

Like in the first set where New Mexico had a late lead, the Lobos held a late lead at 21-19 in the third set and were unable to hold onto it en route to the 25-23 setback, the closest set in the match. Bianco scored the first two points of the set for the Lobos with a kill followed by an ace to give UNM a 2-1 lead. After the Bears led 5-2, the Lobos scored the next two points on a Bierria kill and Missouri State service error to make it a one-point game. From there, the Bears recorded five of the next six points to take control at 10-5. A 7-2 run by New Mexico tied the set at 12 with blocks by Spragg and Carrasco as well as two kills by Spragg and a kill by Bierria. Missouri State recorded the next four points to regain the lead at 16-12, which wouldnt last long as the Lobos used a 4-0 run of their own with kills from Bierria, Carrasco and Beddingfield to even the set again at 16. There would be another tie at 18, but New Mexico claimed its first lead of the set since leading 2-1 early, off of a 3-1 run to go ahead 21-19. After MSU tied the set at 21, UNM and MSU exchanged 2-0 runs to create a final tie at 23. Missouri State closed the match with the final two points of the set to take the 25-23 set win and the 3-0 match win.
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When Governor Eric Holcomb announced his $1 billion infrastructure plan, most people were talking about Interstate 69's advanced completion date or more nonstop international flights out of Indianapolis.

The plan also includes $100 million to incentivize telecommunications companies to bring broadband service to rural areas.

Estimates put the number of Hoosiers without a reliable internet connection at 93,000, costing the state billions in lost economic opportunities.

Many Hoosiers Struggle To Find Reliable Internet Service

About one out of every ten Hoosiers living in rural counties cannot access the internet from their homes. Among them is Shea Keller.

Shea is a senior at Brown County High School, where every student gets a laptop through a new initiative designed to prepare kids for the 21st century.

The issue Keller faces is how to get her work done when shes at home  where she doesnt have a reliable internet connection.

"Usually I have to travel to either my grandparents house down the road or my uncles house," Keller says. "If their internet is down then I travel to Van Buren Elementarywhich is just down the road, like five minutes away and Ill sit in the car and do homework."

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch debuted a map this summer outlining broadband coverage. It painted a clearer picture of where coverage gaps exist, but its likely not entirely accurate.

Broadband maps rely on data carriers to self-report, and carriers typically report covering an entire census block even if some customers within that block don't have service.

Purdue University Professor Roberto Gallardo says the data is fundamentally flawed.

"Its not that were shooting in the dark, but we dont have accurate data and its hard to validate that data," he says. "I hope that the next step is, Okay, let the providers keep reporting that at the federal level, but at the state level, lets validate that data."

But industry leaders say access is only part of the problem. The other consideration is adoption: whether Hoosiers will sign up for the service if it becomes available.

Indiana Broadband and Technology Association President John Koppin says in a lot of places where broadband is available, adoption is poor.

"[Carriers] are counting on a take-rate of 50 percent," Koppin says. "[If they] get 10 percent ... it then does not incentivize them to build the next mile."

Building that last mile is important. Without it, many Hoosiers in rural areas are left without service.

But its expensive, ranging from $35,000 to well over $50,000 per mile. If the expected adoption rate isnt achieved, providers could lose millions.

Dave Brodin is the COO at Smithville Fiber. The companys territory includes a lot of rural areas. Hes hopeful Smithville can take advantage of the state grant program, but in the past he says incentive programs havent been worth the additional regulatory costs.

Crews from Smithville Fiber work to install fiber optic cable in a Monroe County neighborhood. (Steve Burns, WTIU/WFIU News)

"You have to compare the hoops you have to jump through to get the grant versus funding it ourselves," he says. "So, we ended up just funding the builds ourselves."

State officials, including the new Director of Broadband Opportunities Scott Rudd, are working with industry leaders and state agencies to plan how the $100 million will be disseminated, and when.

One possible vehicle for expanding internet coverage is rural electric cooperatives.

They were formed about 75 years ago to bring electricity to rural America. In Indiana, they now serve more than 1.3 million people.

Many of them are looking at the future and thinking they could have similar success with the internet.

Indiana Electric Cooperatives Vice President of Government Relations Scott Bowers estimates REMCs have invested $300 million in broadband infrastructure in Indiana.

"The cooperative is typically going to try and provide the service to all of their members or make it available to all of their members," he says. "That creates a different dynamic as opposed to just being able to identify a specific area and go, ok were going to offer to this because it makes as it relates to the return on investment.'"

One such REMC is in Shea Keller's county.

SCI REMC, serves a large portion of Brown County. The co-op is currently building a network that will take fiber to the last mile. Previously no other provider would enter the area. Its an $80 million investment that could finally help Keller access the internet from home.

In the meantime, she has to continue with her routine. While the lack of internet at her home presents a challenge, it's all shes ever known.

"Once you get used to it, it becomes a lot easier," Keller says. "It makes me a better student, because I can really rely on myself that way."
Bloomington business leaders met Thursday during a town hall to discuss how the states public health can impact the workforce.

The Alliance for a Healthier Indiana hosted the gathering, which touched on several health-related topics.

Indiana ranks near the bottom in several public health categories including tobacco use, infant mortality and obesity. Its also the 49th worst in public health funding.

Leaders say that takes a toll on businesses.

Dan Peterson is the vice president of Industry and Government Affairs for Cook Group. He says most employees want to be healthy, but life gets in the way.

"Somehow we all collectively we have to work together to make the healthy choice the easiest choice, not the hardest or most expensive choice," he says.

Business leaders say some businesses have taken small steps, like offering free gym memberships and flexible schedules.

They say the opioid epidemic has added to the challenge of obtaining a healthy workforce.
Gary's cash-strapped school district has won preliminary approval to borrow $3.3 million to cover its employee payroll expenses this fall.

The Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board unanimously recommended Thursday that the Gary Community School Corp. receive the state loan to cover employee payroll expenses for October and November.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the State Board of Finance will now decide Tuesday whether to finalize the 10-year, zero-interest loan.

The loan request is the first since April by the northwestern Indiana school district, which is overseen by a state-appointed emergency manager.

Before the emergency manager was appointed last year to replace the elected school trustees, the district was borrowing from the state ne! arly every month to meet its expenses in the face of declining student enrollment and property tax revenue.
A few Indiana school corporations will divvy up $9 million to improve mental health support, and while the number of schools receiving the money may be small, officials say theyll influence efforts across the state.

Over the next five years, the Vigo County, Perry Central and Avon Community School Corporations will work with the state and split the federal grant. The goal is to build up community-based services and programming to support students wellbeing.

Avon High School Assistant Principal Stephanie Bode says its exciting, in part because students have asked for more focus on mental health, especially in conversations around how to keep schools safe.

Students recognize too the need for this type of support for one another, meaning that mental health is a part of school safety, she says.

The grant, offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is called Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education, or AWARE, and is provided to schools across all 50 states.

Bode says the grants mission aligns with work already being done to address all of a students needs and promote better understanding.

We are working with the whole child and weve used the metaphor of the backpack: theres things that kids carry that you cant see, she says.

Some of the grant money will stay with the Indiana Department of Education to support work focused on professional development resources and collaboration with the Family and Social Services Administrations Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

IDOE spokesperson Adam Baker says the grant award marks important progress on one of the departments  and many in the fields  main priorities.

One of the key focuses for us is on assessing emotional and social wellbeing as well as being able to address it, Baker says. To have access to these grants and be able to put our money where our mouth is, and put it into creating systems of care and creating these opportunities to better assess and address mental wellbeing and social emotional support  its just huge.

Baker says the three districts  one rural, one suburban and one urban  will act as a sort of testing ground for models other schools across the state can look to as they build up programs of their own.
Thousands of people have been hospitalised after drinking the water and there are serious electricity issues that are impeding the lives of many.

The Iranian regime considers Iraq essential in its goal of reaching the Mediterranean. It is even more important than ever as the regime starts losing ground elsewhere after a series of setbacks. Several regime officials have been open about how regimes survival hinges on success in Iraq.

The people of Iraq are determined to take back control of their own country. They want their politicians to serve the best interests of the country and its people and to get rid of Irans influence.

Removing Iran from Iraq is also on the agenda for the United States, Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries. They can see that Irans presence in Iraq is nothing but detrimental and are helping the Iraqis regain state control.

It was announced earlier this week that Republican senators in the United States would like to bring in new legislation regarding Irans increasing involvement in Iraq. Some of the senators supporting the bill include Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and David Perdue.

This news comes after a series of attacks in Iraq that the United States believes Iranian proxy groups are responsible for. At the end of last week, it was reported that the International Zone of Baghdad, commonly referred to as the Green Zone, was hit by several mortar shells.

The Green Zone is heavily fortified and is where parliament is housed. It also contains foreign embassies and numerous government buildings. The attack last week is the first one that has targeted the Green Zone in several years.

The proposed bill entitled Iranian Proxies Terrorist Sanctions Act involves sanctions related to terrorist activities carried out by Iran-controlled militias. The U.S. Secretary of State would also be obliged to publish and update a list naming the armed groups that are supported by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Earlier this week, the United States said that it will respond swiftly and decisively if any Americans are injured or if any U.S. facilities are damaged in future attacks.

The legislation will have to be discussed by congressional committees but the senators hope that it will soon become law.

Failed policies of appeasement have permitted the Iranian regime to create chaos across the Middle East but the current U.S. administration is trying to put an end to Irans belligerence once and for all.
He has been highly critical of President Trumps treatment of Iran and he accused the President of trying to isolate Iran further.

The former Secretary of State said that he has met with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Javad Zarif, on a number of occasions during the past year.

His comments came during an interview with Hugh Hewitt. He said that since leaving office he has met up with the foreign minister at a conference in Norway and at the World Economic Forum in Munich. During the interview he said: And it appears right now as if the administration is hell bent for leather determined to pursue a regime change strategy to bring the economy down and try to isolate further.

And I would simply caution that the United States historically has not had a great record in regime change strategies, number one. And number two, that makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for any Iranian leader to sit down and negotiate anything, because theyre not going to do it in a capitulatory, you know, situation.

Its just not going to happen.

When Kerry was in office, the Obama administration pursued a policy of appeasement. Obama promised that the Iranian regime would become more moderate as concessions were made.

He even turned a blind eye to the many acts of belligerence that Iran blatantly and brazenly carried out. He even ignored his own red lines with regards to the use of chemical weapons in Syria which was and is being supported by the Iranian Regime.

Instead of moderating its behaviour, the Iranian regime became emboldened. Yet still, the Obama administration still went ahead with the nuclear deal and it conceded to Iran on many issues that should have been tightly restricted.

When President Trump took office he spoke about the disaster of a deal that was made and pointed out that Irans belligerence is as bad as ever. He named the Iran as the number one state sponsor of terrorism and said that he will not be accepting its malign acts.

John Kerrys meetings with the Iranian foreign minister and his public comments about the current U.S. administrations treatment of Iran undermine any positive action that has been taken.

The Obama administration had the perfect opportunity to address many of Irans actions including its blatant disregard for human rights, its involvement in war crimes, its ballistic missile program, its support of terrorist proxies and militias, its spread of terrorism and sectarianism, to name only some of its malign acts.

The Obama administration blew its chance to bring support to the people of Iran and to change the course of the conflicts in the region. At least the Trump administration is trying to undo the mistakes of his predecessors. And at least Trump realises that the regimes belligerence is essential to its survival.

It is not a something that it will ever be able to change.
Armed Protection For

Elitist Hypocrite Senator

By David Codrea. September 12th, 2018

"Armed, plain-clothes LAPD officers were dispatched to California cities outside of Los Angeles at least a dozen times to provide security for U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at public events, media appearances, and a party," NBC Los Angeles reports. "The LAPD routinely provides security for dignitaries and officials visiting LA, but a senior retired department official said the courtesy extended to Sen. Harris for her travels to other cities was unprecedented."

What's not unprecedented are gun-grabbing politicians who would deny you the right to protect yourself and your family while using tax plunder to make sure their safety is taken care of. Their security detachments can even go armed in so-called "gun-free zones." At least they have that in common with private criminals.

And Harris is such a hypocrite. And a lying one at that.

"This cannot be a political issue," she tweeted disingenuously after Parkland, not bothering to explain why she insists on making it one. "We have to have smart gun safety laws -- our babies are being slaughtered." .......

Just another sickening example of hypocrisy regarding guns and 'gun control' - hardly the first of course but decidedly egregious. Does she pay for her exclusive protection one wonders - no, of course that can be taken care of by the tax payers - and all the while she extols banning guns for all "peons" who apparently do not deserve their rights.

"You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side."

You just have to love freedom.

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[ epilogues ] 09.13.18 Death: An Afterthought in Thirteen Acts

This work is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians or spiritual advice of clerics and priests.

I. Beowulf He slew so many, but now is only a heap of ashes in an urn. His urn sits next to Caesars who slew even more. Beowulf is jealous. He tries to comfort himself. Caesar started earlier. Caesar lived in a more populous area. Caesar had more help. They communicate through smells. Pleasant smell is a long signal. Stench is (mercifully) a short signal. A Morse code of sorts though Samuel Finley Breese would tap his displeasure in his grave at that thought. Beowulf reads Caesar the poem of himself. All 3182 alliterative lines. And Caesar replies with Bellum Gallicum. Its a gravely subject. Neither knows each others tongue, which doesnt bother them a bit. Language is not a barrier for the person with a sword, which is a tool international in scope. Those two cant slay any longer. So they smell like never before. Its an olfactory version of the Piano Concerto No. 5 in Emajor, Op. 73, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Emperor Concerto. Too bad no one enjoys it but them. Its Oscar material, really, and they would look good scattered about the red carpet.



II. Hamlet He never died whatever Prince Fortinbras and his four captains claimed. Instead, wounded by Laertess poisoned sword, Hamlet was taken by a UFO to Alpha Centauri where a local centaur doctor fixed him up, and where Hamlet became a resident alien with a green card in record time. Not only because he baked mean Danishes, or could skew anyone with a sword, or speak Elizabethan English fluently, but because he was the only male around. The Centauri reproduced asexually, so they didnt know what genders or love is but were fascinated with the unknown. Hamlet still sits there, four hounded years later, by a lily pond where Ophelia floats face up. Hes guessing the same UFO brought her in, too. He cares not about the reason as long as she is here. Hes a stoic, though could be a royal pain when faced with injustice. One day, Hamlet will teach the locals about love. The world without it seems tragic to him. Until then, he is dressed in black, with a skull in his hands, and he mutters, To be or not to be. The doctor thinks he will, but only until he brings love to this world. The doctor read Shakespeare, the only Centauri to do so. The others are too practical. They would choke you to death with their practicality. Come to think of it, maybe Prince Fortinbras and his four captains were right, and he is dead already. That would explain a lot.



III. Lots Wife I dont even have a name. Just someones wife. Mrs. Lot, as it were. Someone never heard, never seen. Someone to follow the man and never look back. Not a pillar of the society by any means. And adding insult to injury, I was turned into a pillar of salt. Any camel could lick me. And they did. Gross. So I stood there in the desert, fuming as much as salt can fume, for several thousand years. Pilgrims came and stared. Soldiers pissed at my ankles. Tourists came and snapped my pictures. A teenage girl spray-painted Abe on my now flat chest. She knows her Bible. And just when I thought things couldnt get any worse, they started to make salt shakers they call Lots Wife. They wouldnt do that to a man, would they? I thought womans lot had improved over the ages. My blood pressure is rising. Too much salt is bad for you.



IV. Anna Karenina In the shelter for severed female souls, I collect Anna jokes and store them in my dresser, under my bloodied and torn clothes. My favorite is where Jean-Paul Sartre tells a friend Anna Karenina? Its a long story. My second best is where a well-dressed woman lies dead on the rail tracks. She died of hunger because the train was late. The third one is a cut off finger with a wedding ring. Anne Boleyn, my roommate, likes that one the best. Shes such a slut. Just wants to be different. She sing-songs: All happy families are alike, All happy families are alike. Tada-tada-tada. She thinks its a joke. So much for female solidarity. Im telling her about Henrys subsequent wives and about the end of the Tudor dynasty. Im telling her that the English monarchs have become just figureheads. She bangs her silly cut-off head on the wall with both hands. Her eyes are full of tears. I call her Henrietta. Get it? Henry-ietta. Har, har. She never bathes and smells like a condemned Tudor mansion. I close my eyes and think about fast trains and slow men. As Im looking for perfection, Ill never be content.



V. Sherlock Holmes The afterlife is boring. Everything is known. Everything is clear. No mysteries, no crime. Even back in life, we all knew everyone gets what they deserve. We didnt need to die for that knowledge. But here, everyone knows what everyone else deserves. No need for a detective. Watson is even more depressed than me. He wants to make the Hound of Baskerville bite Dr. Moriarty. But the Hound prefers to play with kittens. He rubbed off his fluorescent paint on them, and they also glow in the dark. So predictable. I smoke my opium and play chess with Moriarty. Opium doesnt get me high here, of course, but a habit is a habit. Moriarty knows. He tried to poison me, twice. The poison doesnt even give me diarrhea. He knows that, too. Everything he does is for show. So I blow smoke in his face. He blows it back. Its a battle of wits. I shall win because he doesnt inhale deep enough before blowing. Hes never used a blowgun. No imprint on his lips. Its elementary boring.



VI. Superman Killed by Doomsday, Superman comes back as a super at a luxury high rise in Wall Street. He is responsible for a 24-hour turnaround response for all service requests and he schedules and performs preventative maintenance and asset preservation. He flies in his sleep every night, but mostly its a free fall. Lois Lane is his boss, but they dont recognize each other. She smokes, but he cant tell if she has cancer any more. He lost his X-ray vision, among other things. Worse yet, he doesnt care. They squabble about his sick days and overtime. She makes fun of his tights and cape. He glares at her but no laser beams come out of his eyes. She fires him for insubordination. He pushes her off the roof and watches her fall. Who will get her now, he thinks. His cape flutters in the wind. He feels tightness in his chest. It may be his heart of steel pumping super-oxygenated blood or maybe a sign of a heart attack.



VII. Robin Hood Robin Hood is pissed. He sits on his couch, his hands over his ears. He shares a suite of two bedrooms with Fagin, the merry old gentleman. Fagin leans toward the keyhole in Robins room and sings Robin Hood/what a crook/Gave away, what he took. He has a very pleasant voice; otherwise no one would have hired him for Oliver! Yet he sings 24/7/365 and that is a bit too much even for a musicals lover, and Robin is not. He only likes Te Deum and even that in moderation. He tries to sing Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur but stops after the first line. He hates the sounds of his own voice and he doesnt know the second line by heart. He asked Fagin once to sing it. But Fagin said that he knows only three songs: Be Back Soon, Reviewing the Situation and Youve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two. And he said that prefers the latter because it mentions Robin, and he, Fagin, is not just merry, but also a friendly gentleman. Robin wishes he had the Sheriff of Nottingham instead of Fagin. At least the Sheriff has a proper Middle English accent and he knows Te Deum. Hes hopeful that Fagin would develop an organic voice disorder. He doesnt know that Richard Dawkins said: If something is true, no amount of wishful thinking will change it. Robin also doesnt know he will be forced to watch Men in Tights 24/7/365/1,000 soon. No crime goes unpunished.



VIII. Raskolnikov Upon arrival, Raskolnikov finds himself in a throne-like chair. An ax hangs above his head on a thread. He can not get up. He can hardly move. Dostoevsky sits in front of him and writes long hand. A portrait of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbrokers, as a young girl, hangs on the wall behind him. Its animated, and it winks at Raskolnikov. Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. Dostoyevsky says without looking up. Raskolnkov thinks hes heard this line before. Hes not sure where. He wiggles but cant move more than an inch. He wants to say something witty that befits his immortal vis-a-vis. He wants to say that hes more of a saint than an ax murderer. But the string raptures and the ax falls on his head. He wakes up the next day in the same chair, with a splitting headache. He founds its funny that his name and the word split has the same root in Russian. For the next five minutes Alyona Ivanovna winks with both eyes from the portrait. He has to warn her. Winking would cause her to wrinkle prematurely. Dostoyevsky still writes. It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently, he says. Raskolnkov thinks he has heard this line before also. He looks up. The string holds this time. Its all for a good cause, he says. Dostoyevsky nods. Hes busy writing. Raskolnikov thinks about the consequences of a written word. Its hard to concentrate when your head hurts, but he will come up with something witty and profound. He always had.



IX. Fiddlers on the Roof Tevye the Dairyman got a penthouse with a roof access. What else would a simple man need? He was happily fiddling all week long (except for Shabbat) until they brought him a roommate with a fat neck and pot belly. The newcomer introduced himself as Nero, and he also played the fiddle. Very badly. And he wore a strange gown and a laurel wreath. Ive actually never played this instrument before, he said. What they said about me playing the fiddle while Rome burned is a lie. Fiddles were not invented until the 11th century. I played a cithara. Im somewhat of a classicist. Tevye wasnt sure what Nero was talking about. The Good Book didnt mention any of that, and Neros Yiddish was tainted with a Ladino accent. So Tevye just showed him how to play and they practiced for another week. Then they had milk and cookies and a glass or two of a kosher Falernian wine, climbed on the roof and played together, watching the Hell burn.



X. Frank Nicholas Stein, PhD Its not comfortable here. Scorpions crawl under my feet, tarantulas try to sneak under my shirts collar and a black mamba coils around my legs. And thats my break time, my cool-off, my respite. Most times, its worse than that. I want to go home. When Abbey left me, taking my life savings, I took the carcass of a stray cat ran over by a Humane Society truck, two pounds of nice Belgian chocolate, five silk ties, a dozen of unblemished Georgia peaches, plus a handful of pink rose petals, a few chunks of Brazilian wax, the head of a pickled herring, a pound of organic sugar, and some spice. I ground it together, poured the mixture into a mold I fashioned after a Playboy centerfold (December 2001, my favorite) and ran 38,000 volts through it. The key was to modulate the current with selected tunes from the Grateful Dead. I knew that the resulting woman wouldnt have any soul, but all I wanted was a body (I had enough misfortunes with full-souled women already). I called her Eve (I know, I know, my imagination is not so great since I am not a man of letters.) Her skin was soft as Chinese silk, and her cheeks were red delicious apples above and ripe melons below. Her mouth smelled of roses and everything else smelled in a way attractive to a sexually active male. She was shaking all over, but since I was still smarting from Abbeys departure (and Zyrias departure before thatshe stole my collection of 71,000 species of moths), I went for the kill right away, skipping the tissue analysis, though I longed immensely to do that. Oh, Frank, Eve whispered when I lowered her on the bed. Frank, darling. Just before I came, a whole bunch of fire ants ran out of her lovely mouth. Some bit my cheeks, some bit my ears and the biggest one, the size of the cat, devoured my tongue. If that was not enough, Eve raised those lovely hands of hers and strangled me. Now, Im in this strange place. For 23 hours a day, they put me inside what looks like a big cauldron, fixed over a pile of burning coal. The cauldron is filled with be boiling oil (olive or sunflower?), which comes all the way to my chin. It hurts. When the oil cools off a bit, a red-skinned lab assistant with horns throws more coal under my cauldron. Hes very diligent, and lets me cool-off only for one hour a day. I tried to engage him into a scientific discussion once. Do you know, sir, that a black-mouthed mamba is a highly venomous snake of the genus Dendroaspis, and is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa? I asked him. He just showed me his pointy teeth in need of a power wash. I realize that this is punishment for me, but for what? For interfering with nature by creating an artificial being? But thats what scientists are for. Not to interfere per se, but to build the orderly world from the natural chaos. Is Archimedes here, too? Newton? Einstein? Besides, why is so cliched? Dont I deserve some custom-made punishments? My only hope to return back home is that a woman scientist back on Earth would construct a device similar to what I had made. I envision how that will happen. I hear the Grateful Dead music. Friend of the Devil. Im pulled into something dark and confined. I smell snips, snails, puppy dog tails, and a whiff of nuts. I have a body now. I feel a strong, pulsating electrical current running through me. The mold opens up. I shut my eyes against bright light. A womans hands run over my body. Im shaking all over but my muscles are powerful enough to snap her neck like a glass lab tube and squish the rest of her like a beetle. Thats what I do. And then the cycle repeats itself. Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb. The snake swallowing its tail. I pity the snake.



XI. The Itsy Bitsy Spider He has only one inch left to climb. He knows what awaits him at the top of the spout. The Itsy Bitsy Fly. The Itsy Bitsy Moth. The Itsy Bitsy Mosquito. And, above all, the Itsy Bitsy She-Spider wrapped in silky web. But down comes the rain and washes the spider out. The sun is in his eight eyes. Everyone of them is hurting. Hes not allowed to stop. He wishes he could sweat. He climbs again. At least he has no boulder to roll up. He knows he will make it one of these days. Hes a crafty son of a spider. Size is not everything. Just one inch left. Just one inch. The first drop of the rain hits him over the head like a wet hammer. Maybe this time he will persevere. As Coolidge said, persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. But, on the other hand, hed never been inside the water spout.



XII. The Daesh Fighter The Daesh fighter had this Yazidi woman for a sex slave. He used to be a Zen Buddhist before converting. He used to avoid stepping on insects. He used to teach yoga, wearing Thai Fisherman Yoga Trousers and peddling tea tree oil extracts that helps the body heal. Before raping his slave, he smoked, watched online porn, beat her with an ammunition belt and then inserted a live grenade in her vagina. Afterwards, he prayed. When she escaped, she joined a Yazidi Ladies of the Sun battalion and shot him dead while he was running away from the battle. Now, seven virgins serve him in paradise from evening till morning. They are unearthly divine. Their hair is like silk and their eyes are shaped like almonds. They look identical except for their lips, each shaded to the seven colors of the rainbow. Their eyes have no whites. In the evening, their skin is gray like gypsum and their tails twitch. Each virgin has a set of serrated teeth in her vagina. When they are done with him, his cock is shredded to pieces and their faces turn pink. Then they pour a jar of celestial tea tree oil on his wound, and, by the evening, his cock grows back again. He tried to hang himself on his ammunition belt. But he is already dead, so he just hung, swaying in the breeze, his yoga pants low on his hips, until the evening came. Then the smell of tea tree oil is in the air.



XIII. Godot You didnt want to stand up Vladimir and Estragon. It was just a series of unfortunate events: first the city didnt salt the steps of your apartment building, and you slipped and fell. Then you tripped over two urns someone left on the sidewalk. Then two idiots in short pants decided to fence at the entrance to the train station. Then the train was delayed because a Russian noblewoman fancied committing suicide on the tracks. Then a private eye pulled the trains emergency breaks because he saw a phosphorescing dog in his nightmares. Then someone was shooting arrows at the traffic. And then someone tried to ax the conductor and her sister. And then someone wanted to burn the whole place down. And then a mad scientist conducted an experiment right inside the train. And then you almost stepped on a spider. And then they had a terrorist alert. Finally, when you were about to reach Vladimir and Estragon, Superman and Doomsday started a fight in the skies. A chunk of concrete fell on your head. Took all the fun out of looking in the mirror. Now, they will never know if you were Pozzo. Were you? You cant remember. Concrete is bad for your memory. All you remember, everyone will come here eventually. Just you wait.
'40 Years On - China and the World'

To mark the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, the fifth Vision China event, themed 40 Years On  China and the World, was held by China Daily at One Great George Street, London, on September 13.
- Actor Gabby Concepcion disclosed what he thinks of daughter KCs new boyfriend

- He said he believes Pierre is a gentleman who can take care of her daughter

- Gabby also shared that he wants to be the best man or veil of her daughter in the wedding

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Filipino actor Gabby Concepcion exposed one of the things that he observed about daughter KCs French boyfriend, Pierre Emmanuel Plassart.

KAMI learned that the Ika-6 na Utos star has yet to meet the new love affair of his daughter but he already noticed something about him.

Gabby believes that the new boyfriend of KC is a kind-hearted gentleman who is really willing to take care of the Pinay celebrity.

Hindi pa! Hindi ko pa nakikilala, the actor quipped.

Pero mukhang mabait naman. Mukhang mabait, he added.

Gabby expressed that he is happy with the current status of his daughter and that he fully supports whatever she thinks are the best things for her.

He is also aware of the showbiz hiatus of KC but remains positive that his daughter is in a good situation now.

Whatever makes her happy, doon tayo! Pinababayaan ko na lang. Alam mo, tayo, pag in love tayo, minsan nakakalimutan natin ang mga nasa paligid natin, he shared.

Ganun talaga yun. Kahit na sino. E... nakalimutan na nga niya yung showbiz, e. Di ba? Wala na, he further stressed.

In terms of having conversation with KC regarding her new partner, the actor just said he does not want to disturb her daughter in what she is focusing at right now.

However, he uttered that he supports KC if she wants to settle down already and even expressed that he opts to be her best man or sponsor during wedding.

Parang... parang in love yata yung anak ko. Pero busy yung bata ngayon. Ayoko nang istorbohin. Mahirap kausap yun ngayon. Focused! Focused na focused siya ngayon! Gabby said.

Kahit ano na yung gusto niya, yun na rin ang gusto ko. Gusto niya akong maging ano, best man... puwede rin! Puwede rin naman akong veil (sponsor) para maiba lang! he added.

In a previous report by , the former Tsuperhero star received a heart-warming fathers day greeting from his daughter that also caught the hearts of many netizens.

Born on November 5, 1963, Gabby is the former husband of Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Aside from KC, he has several daughters with former wives including Ma. Gabrielle Ibuna Concepcion and Miss Earth Sweden 2016 Cloie Syquia Skarne.

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Imagine that youre walking down streets of the Philippines, thinking of your work, friends, and family. Suddenly a man walking in front of you drops his wallet. He continues walking, without realizing that he has just lost all his money. What would you do in this situation? Social Experiment: How Honest Are People Around You?  on HumanMeter!

Source: Kami.com.ph
- Pinay actress Nadine Lustre paid visit to the patients of a hospital in Cebu

- According to Rotary Club Cebu, she helped in putting a smile in the Heart Warriors faces

- However, netizens had varied reactions over the actress action

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Kapamilya actress Nadine Lustre became the center of the clash among netizens even after she showed selfless actions towards people with heart diseases.

KAMI learned that the promising actress visited the patients of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City as part of her charity works.

Nadine specifically went to the indigent children who are being treated for Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).

According to the Facebook page of Rotary Club of Cebu (RCC), the actress helped the ailing children to put a smile on their faces and to believe that they can overcome the deadly yet treatable disease.

It was also indicated that the visit of Nadine would help in promoting awareness about the said ailment.

Her genuine generosity in voluntarily contributing her time, talent, and resources will certainly catapult this project to greater heights with the goal to increase awareness and generate donations RCC said of the On The Wings of Love star.

She has brought smiles to our Heart Warriors this week that will be undergoing or have undergone their respective procedures, the page added.

Because of Nadines charitable work, she was hailed as the Philippine Ambassador of Gift of Life International and was praised for raising her knowledge on CHD, listening intently, and campaigning for the program.

This action of the Kapamilya celebrity seemed uninteresting for her bashers as they say that she is just doing charities because of publicity.

Nadines supporters, however, defended the actress and expressed that she has done a lot of extension services for the needy even without public knowledge.

Here are some of the comments and reactions:

Ang weird na makita siya sa ganyang event. Based on what she would usually post in social media and the image she is trying so hard to portray, ang weird lang. Sobra!

Lol papabango ng pangalan in preparation for her movie.

Kung gagawa ng good works dapat di na ipublicize.

Pasintabi sa mga haters, ngayon lang napublicize ang pagkakagawang gawa nya, pero noon pa man kahit nag uumpisa pa lang sya may charity na syang tinutulungan.

Hindi kyo faney ni ateng kaya d nyo alm mga charities nya.. Not everything is posted online.

She always does those things in private. She even promoted sa friends nya ang pag linis ng beach in siargao and she doesnt even publicize that. Only her fans ang naka discover. So dont be mean to her cos she has a golden heart.

In a previous article by , the Kapamilya star had a precious gift for the silver anniversary of her parents.

Born on October 31, 1993, Nadine is a Filipina actress and commercial model who became more popular for her role in Diary ng Panget with partner James Reid. Since then, she starred in several teleseryes including On The Wings of Love and Till I Met You.

POPULAR: Read more news about Nadine Lustre!

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Imagine that youre walking down streets of the Philippines, thinking of your work, friends, and family. Suddenly a man walking in front of you drops his wallet. He continues walking, without realizing that he has just lost all his money. What would you do in this situation? Social Experiment: How Honest Are People Around You?  on HumanMeter!

Source: Kami.com.ph
According to NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, the craft is in no way inferior to other boats of the same type produced in other countries.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, took part in the ceremony of launching the assault landing boat Centaur, an UNIAN correspondent reports.

"I'd like to sincerely thank our manufacturers, our professionals producing products that are in no way inferior to the world's analogues. She is not inferior to NATO boats of the same class. This is a powerful weapon. She is able to cruies at 40 knots, carry up to 36 Marines and, importantly, she has a sufficiently powerful armament system - both missile weapons and gun turrets have a stabilization system that allows hitting the target without slowing the pace. This is a completely Ukrainian product  starting from blueprints to the completed boat," the NSDC secretary stressed.

Read alsoUkraine to equip coastal defense units in Sea of Azov with latest weapons

"I am convinced that the front line lies not only in the east. It passes through every enterprise of the defense industry, through the heart of every patriot. This front is strengthening, and every day we increase our potential, every day we advance toward our common victory, to the liberation of our native land," he said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on May 23, during the celebrations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Marine Corps that took place in Mykolayiv, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that there was an intensive build-up of the combat potential of the Marine Corps of Ukraine and soon two modern Centaur boats would be handed over to the Navy.
Government says it is committed to finding the culprit in Nirmala rape case

Amid criticism from different quarters including parliamentarians, the government has reiterated its commitment to booking the culprits in the rape and murder case of 13-year-old Nirmala Pant of Kanchanpur as recommended by the probe committee.
African Critics See Dark Side to Chinas Charitable Loans

There are two sides to every coin and two widely opposing views on Chinas offer of generous loans and grants to African countries announced at the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation forum in Beijing.

At the confab, with representatives from 53 of 54 African countries, sky-high numbers were bandied about. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced $60 billion in funds for eight initiatives over the next three years, in areas ranging from industrial promotion, infrastructure construction and scholarships for young Africans.

Such a financial package has many high-profile defenders on the continent, including the head of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina.

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A lot of people get nervous about China but I am not. I think China is Africas friend, he told the BBC.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed the view of a new colonialism taking hold in Africa while Rwandan President Paul Kagame called talk of debt traps as attempts to discourage African-Chinese interactions.

But several African economists, media pundits and civil society see red flags ahead. The time has come for African leaders to critically interrogate their relationship with China, an editorial in Kenyas Daily Nation said Monday.

What are the benefits in this relationship? Is China unfairly exploiting Africa like the others before it?

This debt acquired from China comes with huge business opportunities for Chinese companies, particularly construction companies that have turned the whole of Africa into a construction site for rails, roads, electricity dams, stadia, commercial buildings and so on, said Kampala-based economist Ramathan Ggoobi, speaking to the BBC.

In Uganda, a 21 year mining concession to the Guangzhou Dongsong Energy Company produced only 92 job slots so far and the threat of displacement of 12,000 residents from 14 villages.

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This week in Zambia, the government was forced to refute published reports of the possible Chinese takeover of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and the power utility ZESCO for unpaid debts.

It is increasingly common in countries like Angola, Mozambique or Ghana, which benefit from Chinese loans for infrastructure, to see Chinese trucks and workers who would otherwise be unemployed in China now working in Africa on Chinese projects.

If African countries are not careful, the debt they have to China is going to be the equivalent or even more than the debt that they have to industrialized countries and to the World Bank, said William Gumede, University of the Witwatersrand professor and chair of the Democracy Works Foundation in South Africa.

The next Summit will be organized by Senegal in 2021.
Beware of Political Donation Scams During Election Season

People who plan to donate money to their favorite politician this election season should be careful theyre giving cash to the candidate and not a crook.

In the Political Donation Scam, thieves pose as campaign workers and call people seeking contributions. The fraudsters may spoof a candidates phone number and even use recordings of the politician or a purported virtual town hall to make the ruse appear legitimate.

At the end of the call, the thieves ask victims to pledge money by providing a credit card number.

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TIPS:

If you want to contribute to a political campaign, visit the candidates official website or call his or her campaign headquarters.

Do not provide credit card or financial information over the phone to an unknown person.

For a printable version of this fraud alert, click here.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Forer explains how the scam works in this video: http://da.lacounty.gov/community/fraud-alerts/beware-donation-scams-during-election-season.

Follow @LADAOffice on Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news and use #FraudFriday.
Brazil Museum Tallies Up African Antiquities Lost in Fire

A fast-moving fire that swept Brazils National Museum on Sept. 2 incinerated priceless objects and reduced hundreds of African antiquities to ash, museum official are now saying.

The museums permanent African exhibit was named Kumbukumbu  a Swahili word for the memory of people, objects and experiences. A throne from the Kingdom of Dahomey (current-day Benin) and ritual objects of Afro-Brazilian religion (Candomble) were some of the museums most prized possessions.

Mariza Soares, director of the African collection, said the exhibit effectively valorized African culture and prompted discussions about race relations in Brazil.

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It was an incredible opportunity to recover a whole discussion about race relations in Brazil and the importance of studying the history of Africa to understand Brazil, to discuss the issue of slavery and how it negatively impacts Brazilian society, said Soares, who confirmed that the entire collection had been destroyed in the blaze.

When the museum opened in 1818, its collection included items from Africa. In the early 19th century, the Kingdom of Dahomey was one of the biggest suppliers of enslaved Africans to Brazil. Rei Adandozan, then the kingdoms leader, gave Brazils D. Joao VI several gifts, including a royal throne and sandals.

These artifacts are considered important records of the kingdom which disappeared after being taken over by France in 1904. Other pieces in the collection included Alaka fabrics, made on the west coast of Africa in the first half of the 20th century, and an ivory tusk carved in the Congo River Basin in the 19th century, noted as one of the largest ever exhibited in a museum.

The museums Candomble items were physical reminders of the resistance of Africans and Afro-Brazilians against constant religious persecution. The Afro-Brazilian religious houses in Rio de Janeiro were always being persecuted and many had their religious items confiscated by police.

Many of the Candomble items were recovered from Rio de Janeiro police at the end of the 19th century by Ladislau Netto, the museums late 19th-century director. Thus, the museums collection preserved wood and metallurgy techniques used by Africans and their direct descendants to create religious items.

Another former museum director, Heloisa Alberto Torres, collected religious items from Candomble houses in Brazils Bahia during the mid-20th century and donated them to the museum.

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Candomble objects included a mirror used in celebrations of the Oxum Orisha, as well as dolls of the orishas.

The museum, housed in a palace, was likely built with the labor of enslaved Africans and Afro-Brazilians. Before the Portuguese royal family moved into the palatial mansion in 1808, it belonged to Elias Antonio Lopes, a merchant who became rich off the slave trade. Brazil officially abolished the transatlantic slave trade in 1850 and slavery in 1888.

When the fire started in the back of the building on Sunday night, firemen who arrived soon after found the closest fire hydrants without watera cost-saving measure implemented by the institution. Brazils education and cultural institutions have suffered significant funding cutbacks implemented by the national government in the last three years.
Breaking the Gubernatorial Glass Ceiling

Now we have Black and White elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a sense that we are one community, one family. Really, we are the American family.  Congressman John Lewis

In the 240-year history of the United States, four African American men have presided as the chief executive of a state or commonwealth. Only two were elected in their own right  Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, in 2006, and Douglas Wilder of Virginia, in 1989. David Paterson of New York was elevated to the office upon the resignation of Eliot Spitzer in 2008.

Before Wilders election, we have to go all the way back to 1872, during Reconstruction  the period when the federal government enforced racial equality in the former Confederate states  to find another African American governor. P.B.S. Pinchback served as governor of my home state of Louisiana for six weeks, while an impeachment case against John McEnery was tried.

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Given this history, it is nothing short of remarkable that this year, there are three African American major-party nominee for governor, each of whom stand to become the first Black governor of his or her state.

If elected, Stacy Abrams, not only would be the first Black governor of Georgia, she would be the first Black woman governor anywhere in the United States. No stranger to the title first, her record as a trailblazer extends to her school days, when she became the first African American valedictorian in memory at her Dekalb County high school.

She was the first woman and the first person of color ever to hold the office of minority leader in the Georgia state house.

Her political career, too, reaches back to her school, when she was hired as a speechwriter on a congressional campaign when she was just 17.

Its a stunning record of achievement for one born into a poor neighborhood in Gulfport, Mississippi, one of six children in a family that often relied on the social safety net to make ends meet.

Andrew Gillum, a nominee for Florida governor, also showed early signs of great promise, selected by the Gainsville Sun newspaper as a Person of the Year upon his graduation from high school.

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At 23, and still an undergraduate student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. He became mayor of Tallahassee at the age of 35.

Ben Jealous, candidate for Maryland governor, is a familiar face to the Urban League Movement. During his five years as president of the NAACP  the youngest person ever to serve in that office  we worked side-by-side on issues of racial justice and civil rights.

Like myself, the son of two fierce civil rights activists, Jealous was born into the movement. His African American mother, Ann, faced taunts and threats as one of a handful of Black students to desegregate Baltimores Western High in 1955. His White father, Fred, participated in sit-ins to desegregate Baltimores lunch counters.

As editor of the Jackson Advocate, Mississippis oldest historically Black newspaper, Jealous work helped to expose corruption Parchman State Penitentiary and led to the acquittal of a farmer wrongfully accused of arson.

These three candidates have compiled a stunning record of achievement, and they stand as worthy role models for a new generation of young activists and leaders. While we do not endorse candidates, we do encourage everyone to get out and vote!
Betan Karnali applies to build hydropower plant

State-owned Betan Karnali Sanchayakarta Hydropower Company has applied to the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) for a generation licence to develop a 48 MW hydropower plant at the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project.
L.A. Charges 105 Cannabis Locations with Illegal Activity

City Attorney Mike Feuer announced today that his office, in coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department, has filed 120 criminal cases against 515 defendants associated with 105 illegal commercial cannabis locations across the city.

Los Angeles voters wanted common-sense rules to regulate recreational marijuana so public safety is protected in our neighborhoods, Feuer said. Our message is clear  if you are operating an illegal cannabis business you will be held accountable.

Since January, all businesses conducting commercial cannabis activity in Los Angeles are required to be licensed by both the state of California and the city. The new regulations follow the passage in recent years of state laws allowing recreational cannabis use and cannabis sales in the state of California.

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Under newly adopted city guidelines, commercial cannabis activity is prohibited in certain designated zones or near sensitive sites including schools.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said police will continue to work in support of the entire city family to ensure the responsible and lawful commercial sales of cannabis in Los Angeles.

Moore also warned that illegal shops may be selling products that have not been legally tested and could be laced with dangerous substances.

The price difference for a consumer who goes into a licensed establishment, versus an unlicensed establishment, can be their life, plain and simple, Moore said. The cannabis, or what is represented to be cannabis at unlicensed locations, many times is laced with all kinds of substances, including fentanyl.

The City Attorneys Marijuana Enforcement Unit worked with police to identify the locations and individuals that were charged. The filings primarily affect commercial locations but also include grow sites, extraction labs, and delivery services distributed geographically by council district, officials said.

All defendants face misdemeanor charges for violations of the Los Angeles Municipal Code regarding unlicensed commercial cannabis activity punishable by up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

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Feuers office said 23 locations of alleged illegal activity have been closed since the police investigations and criminal filings commenced. The city attorney said he will continue to work closely with the LAPD and the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation to identify and prosecute locations believed to be operating without a license.

The Department of Cannabis Regulation commends the city attorney and the LAPD for their successful efforts and continued dedication to identifying and prosecuting unlawful cannabis activity within the city, said Cat Packer, executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation. We all encourage residents to help in this effort by reporting questionable cannabis activity in their communities through the citys online complaint portal.

Packer said there are 163 business currently operating legally in the city. Moore said there are hundreds believed to be still operating illegally.

Additional information on cannabis regulations, including how to get licensed and submitting a complaint about unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, can be found at the citys cannabis regulation website at http://cannabis.lacity.org/.
L.A. County Votes to Further Study Reform L.A. Jails Initiative

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called today for further study before deciding the fate of a ballot initiative that would give subpoena power to the Civilian Oversight Commission that oversees the sheriffs department.

Dozens of advocates of criminal justice reform urged the board to simply adopt the Reform L.A. Jails initiative, which has garnered enough signatures to be certified for the November 2020 ballot. The measure would also prioritize alternatives to incarceration over jail construction.

I think that the community has spoken with 250,000 signatures asking for this change, said Michele Infante of Dignity and Power Now. We shouldnt have to be begging for it.

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Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan certified the petition based on a sampling of the 247,315 signatures submitted. The threshold for a county initiative is 146,333 valid signatures.

The board had the option of adopting the measure as is, slating it to go before the voters in 2020 or in a special election, or asking for a report back in 30 days on the fiscal and other impacts of the initiative.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who chairs the board, recommended waiting for a report back.

I personally feel  that the third option is really the most responsible for this board, she told her colleagues.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who led the coalition backing the initiative, said, We can imagine a Los Angeles that isnt reliant on suffering and isnt reliant on caging the most vulnerable populations: Black, undocumented, poor  queer  and disabled folks. These are the communities that we should be fighting for and the Reform L.A. Jails initiative gives us the opportunity to make that L.A. dream a reality.

Others argued that it is fiscally irresponsible for the oversight entity not to have subpoena power to root out misconduct in the countrys largest sheriffs department.

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Sheriff Jim McDonnell, who served on the Citizens Commission on Jail Violence before being elected to his post, opposes subpoena power for the watchdog group.

He says the Office of Inspector General has access to confidential information needed to investigate misconduct by sheriffs deputies.

McDonnell is up for re-election this November.

When the board set up the oversight commission, it envisioned that the OIG would carry out any investigations on its behalf.

The initiative would give the commission its own authority to investigate, inquire, audit and monitor as well as to examine the OIGs management of citizen and inmate complaints.

That authority could be expanded by a bill awaiting Gov. Jerry Browns signature that would overturn existing state law to allow public access to records related to law enforcement use of force, on-the-job sexual assault and other misconduct.

Reform L.A. Jails would also mandate a study of ways to reduce the county jail population and examine the feasibility of directing funds earmarked for jail construction into mental health treatment, diversion programs, reducing recidivism and other community resources.

The county is in the conceptual design phase of work to replace the downtown Mens Central Jail with a $2.2 billion combination jail-clinic dubbed the Consolidated Correctional Treatment Facility.

Kuehl said she thought the language of the measure was very responsible but said it would ultimately be up to voters to decide.

We could imagine that we dont want jails, Kuehl said before the vote. But if we dont do something, maybe Mens Central just stays the way it is.

Custody officials and members of the board have said the new downtown treatment center is critical to overall justice reform and to complying with various court-monitored settlement agreements aimed at reducing jail violence and preventing inmate suicides because the Mens Central Jail is aging, decrepit and unsafe.

The study requested by the board must be completed within 30 days and the board must take its next step  to either adopt the initiative or slate it for a future ballot  within 10 days after that.
Nation Faced with Rising Suicides Among Young and Old

South Africas rising suicide rate is in the spotlight as the World Health Organization marks World Suicide Prevention Day.

According to the Mens Foundation of South Africa, 450 men take their lives every month with four out of five deaths being the result of suicide.

Last month, Professor Bongani Mayosi succumbed to the pressures of being one of the few Blacks at the mostly White University of Cape Towns Department of Medicine and Groote Schuur Hospital, colleagues said.

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Mayosi was a world class cardiologist who focused his research on bettering the lives of Africans. In 2014, he presented the first data set tracking rheumatic heart disease in Africa, the most common cause of heart disease among schoolchildren in Africa.

On a continent only now grappling with the true toll of non-communicable diseases, Mayosis work was invaluable, wrote Lynsey Chutel in the online news magazine Quartz.

At the Psychology Dept of Stellenbosch University, Dr. Jason Baijies expressed concern that South Africa, like most countries in Africa, lacks an explicit and comprehensive strategy to prevent suicides  especially when a suicide is completed every hour in South Africa.

Stigma and untreated mental health conditions contribute significantly to the high rate, he says.

This year, the WHO in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada has prepared a toolkit to help communities to prevent suicide.

The toolkit outlines ways to prevent such deaths, one of which is knowledge of the most commonly used methods and restrictions of access to these methods. Other examples include policies to limit alcohol and drug abuse, effective mental health care, and follow-up care for attempted suicide cases.

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Suicide is the visible end product of struggle, stress, mental illnesses or disorders.

In Kenya, suicide cases have been rising by 58% since 2007. Last years report indicate that there were 421 people taking their lives in 2017  the majority being men at 330.

In South Africa, a research project at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine found that suicide is on the rise in the country and that children as young as 10 are committing suicide.

Our youth are increasingly attempting or committing suicide as a result of depression, said Michelle de Sousa, Project Manager of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).

In Uganda, the World Health Organization ranked the country as 17th in the world in suicide deaths, with just under 19 per 100,000 deaths.

Although suicide data on the continent is extremely scarce, these various reports alone force the idea that suicide in Africa, and the attitudes towards it, need to be talked about.
We present the first of three parts of the short story "Benito Cereno." It was written by Herman Melville. Here is Shep O'Neal with the story.

Captain Benito Cereno hurried aboard his ship. It was ready to sail. A bright sun and a soft breeze promised good weather ahead. The ship's anchor was raised. And the San Dominick -- old but still seaworthy - moved slowly out of the harbor of Valparaiso, on the west coast of Chile. It was carrying valuable products and slaves up the Pacific coast to Callao, another Spanish colonial port near Lima, Peru.

The slaves, both male and female, slept on deck. They were not chained, because their owner, Don Alexandro, said they were peaceful.

The San Dominick moved steadily forward under a clear sky. The weather showed no sign of change. Day after day, the soft breeze kept the ship on course toward Peru.

Slave traffic between Spain's colonial ports in this year of seventeen ninety-nine had been steady. But there were few outbreaks of violence. What happened, therefore, on board the San Dominick could not have been expected.

On the seventh day out, before daybreak, the slaves rose up in rebellion. They swept through the ship with handspikes and hatchets moving with the fury of desperate men. The attack was a complete surprise. Few of the crew were awake. All hands, except the two officers on the watch, lay in a deep untroubled sleep. The rebels sprang upon the two officers and left them half dead. Then, one by one, they killed eighteen of the sleeping crew. They threw some overboard, alive. A few hid and escaped death. The rebels tied up seven others, but left them alive to navigate the ship.

As the day began to break, Captain Cereno came slowly, carefully up the steps toward the chief rebel leader, Babo, and begged for mercy. He promised to follow Babo's commands if he would only put an end to the killings. But this had no effect. Babo had three men brought up on deck and tied. Then, the three Spaniards were thrown overboard. Babo did this to show his power and authority -- that he was in command. Babo, however, promised not to murder Captain Cereno. But everything he said carried a threat. He asked the captain if in these seas there were any Negro countries.*

"None," Cereno answered.

"Then, take us to Senegal or the neighboring islands of Saint Nicholas."

Captain Cereno was shaken. "That is impossible!" he said. "It would mean going around Cape Horn. And this ship is in no condition for such a voyage. And we do not have enough supplies, or sails or water."

"Take us there, anyway," Babo answered sharply, showing little interest in such details. "If you refuse, we will kill every white man on board."

Captain Cereno knew he had no choice. He told the rebel leader that the most serious problem in making such a long voyage was water. Babo said they should sail to the island of Santa Maria near the southern end of Chile. He knew that no one lived on the island. But water and supplies could be found there.

He forced Captain Cereno to keep away from any port. He threatened to kill him the moment he saw him start to move toward any city, town or settlement on shore.

Cereno had to agree to sail to the island of Santa Maria. He still hoped that he might meet along the way, or at the island itself, a ship that could help him. Perhaps -- who knows -- he might find a boat on the island and be able to escape to the nearby coast of Arruco. Hope was all he had left. And that was getting smaller each day.

Captain Cereno steered south for Santa Maria. The voyage would take weeks.

Eight days after the ship turned south, Babo told Captain Cereno that he was going to kill Don Alexandro, owner of the slaves on board. He said it had to be done. Otherwise, he and the other slaves could never be sure of their freedom. He refused to listen to the captain's appeals, and ordered two men to pull Don Alexandro up from below and kill him on deck. It was done as ordered. Three other Spaniards were also brought up and thrown overboard. Babo warned Cereno and the other Spaniards that each one of them would go the same way if any of them gave the smallest cause for suspicion.

Cereno decided to do everything possible to save the lives of those remaining. He agreed to carry the rebels safely to Senegal if they promised peace and no further bloodshed. And he signed a document that gave the rebels ownership of the ship and its cargo.

Later, as they sailed down the long coast of Chile, the wind suddenly dropped. The ship drifted into a deep calm. For days, it lay still in the water. The heat was fierce; the suffering intense. There was little water. That made matters worse. Some of those on board were driven mad. A few died. The pressure and tension made many violent. And they killed a Spanish officer.

After a time, a breeze came up and set the ship free again. And it continued south. The voyage seemed endless. The ship sailed for weeks with little water on board. It moved through days of good weather and periods of bad weather. There were times when it sailed under heavy skies, and times when the wind dropped and the ship lay be-calmed in lifeless air. The crew seemed half dead.

At last, one evening in the month of August, the San Dominick reached the lonely island of Santa Maria. It moved slowly toward one of the island's bays to drop anchor. Not far off lay an American ship. And, the sight of the ship caught the rebels by surprise.

The slaves became tense and fearful. They wanted to sail away, quickly. But their leader, Babo, opposed such a move. Where could they go? Their water and food were low. He succeeded in bringing them under control and in quieting their fears. He told them they had nothing to fear. And they believed him.

Then, he ordered everyone to go to work, to clean the decks and put the ship in proper and good condition, so that no visitor would suspect anything was wrong.

Later, he spoke to Captain Cereno, warning him that he would kill him if he did not do as he was told. He explained in detail what Cereno was to do and say if any stranger came on board. He held a dagger in his hand, saying it would always be ready for any emergency.

The American vessel was a large tradeship and seal hunter, commanded by Captain Amasa Delano. He had stopped at Santa Maria for water.

On the American ship, shortly after sunrise, an officer woke Captain Delano, and told him a strange sail was coming into the bay. The captain quickly got up, dressed and went up on deck. Captain Delano raised his spy glass and looked closely at the strange ship coming slowly in. He was surprised that there was no flag. A ship usually showed its flag when entering a harbor where another ship lay at anchor.

As the ship got closer, Captain Delano saw it was damaged. Many of its sails were ripped and torn. A mast was broken. And the deck was in disorder. Clearly the ship was in trouble.

The American captain decided to go to the strange vessel and offer help. He ordered his whale boat put into the water, and had his men bring up some supplies and put them in the boat. Then they set out toward the mystery ship.

As they approached, Captain Delano was shocked at the poor condition of the ship. He wondered what could have happened. . . And what he would find. That will be our story next week.

Download activities to help you understand this story here.

What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page.

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QUIZ

Quiz - Benito Cereno by Herman Melville, Part One Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

suspicion - n. a feeling that something bad is likely or true

handspike - n. a wooden rod with an iron tip, used as a lever on board ship and by artillery soldiers.

hatchet - n. a small ax that has a short handle

authority - n. the power to give orders or make decisions

intense - adj. very great in degree; very strong

disorder - n. a confused or messy state; a lack of order or organization


Chinese officials have introduced new laws that would restrict religious writings and activities online, Agence France-Presse reports.

The restrictions reportedly affect images and descriptions of religious activities such as praying and burning incense.

News of the proposed laws comes as China increases efforts to control religious activities including those of Islam and Christianity.

The new rules would permit only members of officially recognized organizations to post some kinds of religious writings. The rules appeared in a draft document posted online Monday by government officials.

People would not be permitted to post photos, videos or words about religious activities. They also could not share religious links.

Organizations that do not follow the rules could be closed, the document said.

However, the document did not explain the possible punishment for violations. It said only that violations would be dealt with according to the law.

Chinas government is officially atheist. Officials are worried about organized movements outside of government control.

Experts say efforts to control religious groups have grown under President Xi Jinping.

China officially recognizes five religions. But, the government places controls on what they can do. The government decides who can go to religious services and what can be said by religious leaders.

The proposed law reportedly says that the laws will help with social stability and stop extremist groups.

It also bans releasing religious information within China by any overseas individuals and organizers.

Jeremy Daum is an expert on Chinese law. He said the new rules could make it illegal to put information about any kind of religious activity on the internet. He added that it could include even pictures from a marriage ceremony.

Daum also said that even parts of traditional Chinese culture could be banned from appearing online.

The countrys top leaders recently called for religions to accept traditional Chinese values and culture. This has rights groups worried.

The Chinese government has stated it wants to stop extremism. In parts of the country with a large number of Muslims, it has removed Islamic symbols from public areas.

In western Xinjiang, Uighurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities are being punished for violating laws against some religious activities.

As many as one million Muslim minorities are believed to be held in re-education camps in Xinjiang, rights groups say.

Many of them were detained for posting extremist religious material on the internet.

Im Susan Shand.

Agence France Presse reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

incense  n. a substance that is used often in religious ceremonies to produce a strong and pleasant smell when it is burned

post  v. to put online

draft  adj. a beginning copy, not the final copy

atheist  n. one who does not believe in any God or faith

stability  n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change

symbol  n. a picture, a letter or a number that represents something
President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to cooperate with the government and admitted guilt to charges linked to his work in Ukraine.

The deal requires Manafort to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. In return, Manafort will not face a second trial in which he could receive more severe punishment.

In a court document, Manafort said he was guilty of plotting against the United States and plotting to obstruct justice. Both charges are related to his work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine.

Manafort was to go on trial again in Washington next week. Now that trial is canceled. He was found guilty last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.

Manaforts attorney Kevin Downing said Manafort wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility.

Trumps Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a brief statement on the issue Friday.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign, she said. It is totally unrelated.

Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani also commented, saying, "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the president did nothing wrong.

Manafort and his former deputy Rick Gates were the first people charged in the special counsels investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. They were charged in connection with their work for Ukrainian political parties and pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych.

In March 2016, Manafort joined the Trump campaign and served as campaign chairman from June to August. He also attended a June 2016 meeting at the Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer. The meeting was described as part of the Russian government effort to help the Trump campaign.

Several former Trump aides also have pleaded guilty to charges related to Muellers investigation.

Last October, George Papadopoulos, a campaign advisor, admitted to lying to investigators about his Russian-related meeting. Papadopoulos has since agreed to work with Muellers investigation.

In December, Trumps former national security advisor Michael Flynn admitted to lying about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak.

Earlier this year, Rick Gates, who served as deputy chairman for the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty to charges of plotting. He also cooperated in the governments case against Manafort.

Trumps long-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen admitted to working with an unnamed candidate to illegally buy the silence of two women. The payment dates and amounts are the same as those made to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal who say they had sexual relationships with Trump.

In February, a U.S. federal grand jury charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies with plotting to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

I'm Caty Weaver.

The Associated press reported this story. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

obstruct - v. to slow or block progress or action of something

conclude - v. to come to an end

plea - n. a statement in which a person says that he or she is guilty of a particular crime
China to extend Tibet rail to India border via Nepal

Tibet said it would open up to private investment in the trade and business sector from 2020 with Beijing seeking to penetrate the massive South Asian market via Nepal.
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.
Deal boundary issues keeping national interests at core: PM

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed senior officials to keep historical facts, boundary maps and national interests at core while dealing with boundary issues with India.
Drawing up a family tree of Alejandro Escovedos lengthy career results in a small forest with branches spread out across punk, rock and alt-country. Now 67, hes been in bands like The Nuns, Rank and File and the True Believers; his family includes niece Sheila E., his brothers were in groups like L.A. punk pioneers the Zeroes, and hes released over a dozen solo albums since his excellent 1992 debut, Gravity, including three thundering collections produced by David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.

Texas-born to Mexican immigrants, Escovedo describes The Crossing as saying more about me than any of my records, without it being a record about me. Nominally, the songs are about a pair of immigrants  Salvo from Italy, Diego from Mexico  whose Texan experiences with the American Dream dont quite match their expectations. But mentions of the Zeroes, the Stooges, Johnny Thunders, MC5, the Plugz and other marvels of American culture, as well as U.S. and Mexican writers and poets, put Escovedo in the middle of the story, even if it may not really be him.

Recorded in Italy with local band Don Antonio, whose leader Antonio Gramentieri co-wrote the album, and with a handful of guests like fellow Texan Joe Ely (excellent on his Warren Zevon-

like ballad Silver City) and MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, The Crossing has a story that doesnt bode well, even if it claims to have no ending: If I could make a wish/Wed never gotten into this.

Sonica USA rocks mightily, Tex-Mex elevates Outlaw for You and the narration on Rio Navidad, where Diego encounters a retired Texas Ranger at a San Antonio wedding, gives it a powerful emotional kick.

The Crossing includes some instrumentals, an Italian lyric and a fluid timeline but its most urgent songs  describing intersecting journeys with divergent destinations  are reflective, passionate and defiant, like Escovedo himself. Pablo Gorondi, AP
Apple Inc.s latest iPhones show how even the worlds largest company has to surrender to the dictates of a crucial Chinese market.

The iPhone Xs models unveiled Wednesday come with an eSIM feature that supports two cellular services and easier switching between carriers, but that technology wont be available in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Instead, it will offer slots for dual physical SIM cards, which identify and authenticate a users phone number.

Its rare for Apple to tailor its products for specific markets because it likes to standardize as much of its designs as possible to make manufacturing efficient. But the U.S. company has much at stake in China, its largest market after the U.S. as well as the main production base for the worlds iPhones and iPads. Its market position there is now under attack from savvy domestic players like Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp., which employ more locally oriented services.

The use of eSims will let customers change carriers much easier, a situation that Chinese carriers do not want to see, said James Yan, an analyst with Counterpoint Research. Also, negotiations between Apple and the carriers arent finished yet, making the physical cards a better option.

The dual-SIM concession shows the worlds most valuable public company is willing to make sacrifices to access the worlds largest smartphone and internet market. Apple generated USD45 billion in revenue from Greater China in its 2017 fiscal year, about 20 percent of total annual sales.

Apple didnt say why its eSIM technology isnt available in the country, and a spokeswoman didnt respond to an email seeking comment. It may be related to Chinese market restrictions or regulations.

The smartphone market is thoroughly dominated by a trio of state-backed carriers led by China Mobile Ltd., which strictly control and monitor smartphone usage as well as registration by individuals  just one aspect of Beijings obsession with monitoring all online activity.

Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that wireless carriers abruptly shut off cellular access to Apples third-generation Watch for new users. The Watch has its own eSIM technology and industry analysts told the newspaper this could have made it harder for carriers and regulators to track the device users identity.

Apple has made concessions in the past to comply with Chinese law and support its business. In 2016, Beijing ordered the company to shut down the iBooks Store and iTunes Movies. Last year, Apple was ordered to remove hundreds of applications from its Chinese app store that let people mask their location and circumvent official efforts to block certain websites.

Apple has also agreed to shift storage of data for Chinese users of Apples iCloud services to server farms operated by Guizhou Cloud Big Data, a company with local government ties. Bloomberg
The most recent report from the Commission of Audit (CA) released yesterday added to previous criticisms of construction delays and budget blowouts in the construction of Macaus Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.

In the report, the CA noted that until December last year, the only construction said to be complete was that related to the Taipa line.

The route is 9.3 kilometers long and represents, according to the CAs calculations, only 44.3 percent of what was initially planned to be built within this time, meaning that the construction rate of the project was less than 50 percent of what had been projected.

On the other hand, regarding the Peninsula line, the CA noted only preliminary works on the Barra Station were started.

The CA also noted that at the end of 2016, the Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) had made new plans for the construction of the LRT, at the time outlining a total of 11 routes to be built in the short, medium and long term. However, the report said, five of the 11 routes predicted [to be completed in] the short term will only be concluded, in the best case scenario, by 2026. As for the date of completion for the remaining short and medium term projects, the schedules for these have not yet been defined.

Additionally, there was also criticism of cost overruns, with the report noting that back in 2007, it was forecasted that for the first phase, the LRT would cost some MOP4.2 billion, however, in September 2012 the budgeting costs rose exponentially to MOP14.3 billion.

Delays and inaction from authorities were also noted in the report. On the administrative aspects of the project, the CA noted the governments announcement that in June 2016, the GIT would be extinct and replaced by a private company to be established in 2017, and that the company would be in charge of coordinating all LRT operations. However, until July this year, the company had not yet been created. Instead, the government decided to hand over the preparatory works for the Taipa line center of operations (in 2019) to another company on a five year contract, which will cost some MOP5.9 billion.

The CA also noted the GITs faults in the approval of requests for the extension of construction periods to contractors, and failure to strictly observe the laws for inspections and timely procedures.

In the opinion of the CA, these flaws not only contributed to the constant unjustified delays to construction, but also budget overruns, pointing the finger at the GIT and their analysis and judgement of several requests from contractors, many of which were unjustifiable, as well as failing to enforce existing laws for timely reports on incidents that might have caused delays to construction.

Citing several examples of particular situations where CA said that the GIT acted wrongly and caused delays to the construction, one situation related to the lack of coordination of preparatory works was of note in particular.

The CA recalled a delay in the assignment of the worksite, due to the installation of a yard related to another public service.

In this case, the GIT issued a letter requesting the removal of the construction only four months after the starting of the works, impacting its progress by about a year, the CA said, adding, although the site for the works was clearly not in a condition to be assigned, the GIT had signed the corresponding consignment order and had subsequently authorized the extension of the deadline for that yard. This shows that the GIT was not proactive in coordinating the preparatory work.

The CA called on the GIT to promptly address the recommendations of the report and take measures to prevent them from reoccurring. RM
The residents of the Asilo Vila Madalena are opposing the Macau Yat Yuen Canidromes plan to relocate retired greyhounds next to the senior citizens home.

Vice President of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) Lei Wai Long said IACM had already arranged for one member to meet with the homes residents. IACM will also provide assistance to concerned parties, said Lei. According to the official, IACM offered opinions to the Canidrome based on the citys animal protection law. Lei believes that the Canidrome has also asked for opinions from other government departments and further believes that these opinions should be respected.

Social Affairs Bureau (IAS) Director Vong Yim Mui said that the bureau had sent staff to the senior citizens home to learn their opinions.

IASs biggest hope is that placing the greyhounds at the aforementioned site will not affect the elderly residents life in any way, particularly in terms of hygiene, health and noise.

Currently, there are about 80 senior citizens living at Asilo Vila Madelena.
The Syrian army, backed by allies Iran and Russia, is preparing for a military offensive to retake the countrys last major rebel stronghold the province of Idlib.

The battle could bring an end to a seven-year-old uprising-turned-civil war, but at the cost of a humanitarian disaster on a scale yet unseen in the bloody conflict. Some 3 million civilians are trapped in Idlib, along with tens of thousands of opposition fighters, including hard-core militants.

In recent days, Syrian and Russian warplanes stepped up bombings, targeting the southern edge of the province and signaling a slow start to the campaign.

Heres a look at the issues involved:

WHO IS IN IDLIB?

Idlib is located in the northwestern corner of Syria. It is ringed by Turkey to the northwest, the Turkish-controlled Afrin region to the northeast and government-controlled territory to the southwest and southeast. A vital highway linking the cities of Aleppo and Damascus, known as the M5, cuts through Idlibs eastern flank.

The province fell into rebel hands in early 2015. It is now home to a dizzying array of opposition fighters, Islamic militants and jihadis. An alliance known as Hayat Tahrir al- Sham, spearheaded by al-Qaeda affiliates formerly known as the Nusra Front, dominates the province. Another rebel umbrella group called the National Front for Liberation is backed by Turkey.

An estimated 50,000 rebels, including more than 10,000 hard-core militants and al-Qaida-linked fighters, are cornered in Idlib. With nowhere left to go, some might opt to fight till death rather than surrender.

Turkey also maintains a troop presence  hundreds of soldiers deployed at 12 observation posts in Idlib. Syrian government forces have massed to the south and southwest of the province.

WHY IS IT A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE?

An estimated 3 million people live in Idlib, nearly half of them having arrived there after being displaced by fighting elsewhere in Syria. Among the civilians are close to 1 million children, according to rights groups.

The province saw its population swell drastically as rebels and civilians were being sent there from other opposition strongholds after they capitulated to government forces.

A full-scale air and ground offensive is likely to send waves of refugees surging toward the sealed Turkey border, coinciding with the onset of winter. A top U.N. official has warned that an attack on Idlib could lead to this centurys worst loss of life.

Even a partial offensive focusing on specific areas of Idlib could displace hundreds of thousands of people and cut off aid access to the province. Most aid currently enters through the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey.

WHAT HAPPENS IF CHEMICAL WEAPONS ARE USED?

U.N. investigators have previously attributed several chemical attacks in Syria to government forces, including one attack using the nerve agent Sarin gas against the Idlib town of Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017.

In the run-up to a possible Idlib offensive, the Syrian government and Russia have alleged that rebels in Idlib are planning to use chemical weapons to frame the government and induce Western punitive airstrikes.

The U.S. has pushed back, with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis saying this week that right now we see zero evidence that the opposition has any chemical capability, notwithstanding what Russia has been broadcasting repeatedly.

The U.S. says it will retaliate harshly to any chemical weapons attack by President Bashar Assads forces and has suggested such internationally prohibited weapons are being readied for the battlefield.

Twice before, the U.S. has resorted to missile strikes in response to chemical weapons attacks, only to see them used again.

CAN BLOODSHED BE AVERTED?

The presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey met last week in Tehran to consider alternatives, but failed to reach a consensus. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani back military action, despite a cease-fire call by their Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The U.N. envoy for Syria has told the U.N. Security Council there are signs the three leaders intend to continue talking.

Turkey stands to lose the most from a battle on its border that is sure to have a destabilizing effect on the country and areas it controls inside Syria.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this week, Erdogan warned that an Idlib offensive would create serious humanitarian and security risks for Turkey, the rest of Europe and beyond. He said it would amount to indiscriminate attacks to wipe out its opposition and not a genuine or effective campaign against terrorism.

For Russia and Iran, recapturing Idlib would deal a decisive defeat to the opposition and stamp out the last remains of the rebellion against Assad that began in 2011.

While an assault to retake Idlib appears to be inevitable, there are ongoing talks on ways to separate the militants from the civilians.

Proposals include urging Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to dissolve itself or join the Turkey-backed rebels. This would supposedly bring the group more under Turkish control and make it easier to deal with. But there are thousands of foreign jihadis among Idlibs fighters, including Chechens and Chinese.

Another proposal is to open humanitarian corridors through which civilians could leave to government-controlled areas, although that suggestion has yet to gain any traction.

WHAT IS THE US ROLE?

Despite dire U.S. warnings and fears of a humanitarian disaster, the Trump administration has little leverage to stop Russia, Iran and Syria from pressing ahead with the Idlib offensive.

Washington has threatened military action in case of a chemical weapons attack but its mixed messaging on retaining a U.S. presence in Syria and a cut in aid has diminished its already limited influence over the conflict.

American airstrikes launched against Assad government assets have had limited impact in the past.

Another tool in the U.S. arsenal is economic pressure, but sanctions have been ineffectual since they first began to be applied during the Obama administration. Zeina Karam, Beirut, AP
Family mourns, and a country recoils at teen girls rape and murder

Since the day Nirmala Pant's body was discovered, the parents' lives have been consumed by a fight to seek justice for their daughter. They have tirelessly protested, taken part in street demonstrations, reached out to administration officials and local leaders whom they believed might be able to help, and given numerous interviews to the media to make sure their daughters story is not forgotten. But Durga Devi, the mother, says she is beginning to feel all of their attempts may have been in vain.
Details of the governments lease of the current premises of the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club were released this week, amid a freedom of speech scandal engulfing the institution.

Under the terms of the lease, the Club can be asked to vacate its premises with three months notice if the building is not being used to the satisfaction of the government, or if the Club does anything that could be seen by the authorities as a danger, a nuisance or annoyance.

As of yesterday, the local government in Hong Kong has not asked the Club to vacate the premises.

The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club came under scrutiny last month after it agreed to host a talk by HKSAR separatist Andy Chan, despite protests from both Beijing and the local government.

Chan, the leader of the Hong Kong National Party, advocates for independence for the territory of 7.4 million. He was controversially banned from standing for election in Hong Kong after the local government determined that his stance ran contrary to provisions in the Basic Law concerning Chinese sovereignty.

Despite government pressure, the Club refused to cancel Chans speech, attracting both praise and condemnation from the public.

After the speech, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam weighed in on the matter, saying the feelings of both the Hong Kong and Chinese people had been bruised by the suggestion of independence and that the Club had violated a moral red line.

The lease for the building, which is located on Lower Albert Road in Central, was signed in December 2015 and would have lasted until 2023, providing its terms were not breached. The club pays HKD580,000 per month to rent the space.

According to the South China Morning Post, under the terms of the lease, the government would not have to pay any compensation to the Club in the event of the lease termination.
A young womans determination to overcome her past mental problems tests her resolve when she becomes involved in the high-profile case of a violent young man in the superior Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia.

A few short years ago, Maya Stark was a patient at the Congdon Psychiatric Facility just outside Duluth, Minnesota. Her breakdown was caused by myriad situations, including her mothers abandonment.

Maya has progressed beyond that time, attended college and now works at the facility as an assistant speech therapist. Although she relates well to her patients, Maya has no friends. Most of her co-workers refer to her as that little punk girl. Maya claims that she feels something vital in the loneliness, an imperative that I keep the space around me empty and weightless. She only relates to her father, Brian, who runs a tugging and towing service out of the Duluth and Lake Superior harbors; her boss, Dr. Riya Mehta, who was once her psychiatrist; and her German shepherd, Jasper.

Maya knows shes unqualified to handle her latest patient  Lucas Blackthorn, a violent 19-year-old who has only responded to Maya since he has been committed. A decade ago, Lucas and his father, Josiah, made headlines when they vanished in the wilds of the massive Boundary Waters along the Canadian border. No sign of either was spotted until Lucas was found burglarizing a camping outfitter store and got into an altercation with the owners.

The reappearance of the young man missing for 10 years puts the Congdon facility  and Maya  under scrutiny with protesters demanding Lucas release and with reporters camping outside the facility.

Lucas keeps trying to escape to return to his father, refusing to tell anyone where Josiah is, even Maya. Their connection will help each of them make new discoveries about themselves.

The excellent Leave No Trace works well as a look at mental health recovery, surviving in the wild and navigating a media frenzy. The maturation of Maya and Lucas enhances the story as Mejia delves into their backgrounds and provides an intense look at Josiahs motives for disappearing. The bad decisions each makes are the result of inexperience and naivete. Each has lost a parent, and this deeply affects their lives and actions.

A strong sense of place infuses Leave No Trace, especially the expansive Boundary Waters  a place of wild beauty in which a person can get lost, and can feel the razor gaze of the eagles soaring. Oline H. Cogdill, AP
Philippine authorities began evacuating thousands of people yesterday from the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools, readying bulldozers for landslides and placing rescuers and troops on full alert in the countrys north.

More than 4 million people live in areas at most risk from the storm, which the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii categorized as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts.

Typhoon Mangkhut could hit northeastern Cagayan province on Saturday. It was tracked about 725 kilometers away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph, Philippine forecasters said.

With a massive raincloud band 900 kilometers wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon could bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods, the forecasters said. Storm warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.

Office of Civil Defense chief Ricardo Jalad told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte that about 4.2 million people in Cagayan, nearby Isabela province and outlying provincial regions are vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoons 125-kilometer-wide eye. Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhuts ferocious winds.

Across the north, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces and moved fishing boats to safety.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said by telephone that evacuations of residents from risky coastal villages and island municipalities north of the rice-and corn-producing province of 1.2 million people have started and school classes at all levels have been canceled.

The weather here is still good but were moving them now because its very important that when it comes, people will be away from peril, Mamba said.

A change in the typhoons track prompted authorities to rapidly reassess where to redeploy emergency teams and supplies, Mamba said.

Duterte asked Cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work if needed, and told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid.

It would depend on the severity of the crisis, Duterte said. If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help.

The typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Mamba said. The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.

Officials said other northern provinces started evacuating residents yesterday from high- risk areas, including in northern mountain provinces prone to landslides.

Duterte canceled his appearance at a missile test firing aboard a navy ship off northern Bataan province due to the approaching typhoon.

On Guam, where Mangkhut already passed, residents dealt with flooded streets, downed trees and widespread power outages. Government agencies were conducting damage assessments and clearing roads, according to the Pacific Daily News.

About 80 percent of the U.S. territory was without power but it was restored by yesterday.

Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries. Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over 5 million in the central Philippines in 2013. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP
President Vladimir Putin yesterday attended Russias biggest-ever war games, which involved some 300,000 troops as well as a significant contingent of Chinese forces.

The weeklong Vostok (East) 2018 maneuvers span vast expanses of Siberia and the Far East, the Arctic and the Pacific Oceans and showcase the military might of Russia and China at a time of simmering tensions with the U.S.

As well as the troops, some 1,000 Russian aircraft and 36,000 tanks and other combat vehicles are involved. The exercise surpasses even the biggest Soviet maneuvers in 1981.

China sent about 3,200 troops, 900 combat vehicles and 30 aircraft to join the drills at a Siberian firing range, a deployment that reflects its shift toward a full-fledged military alliance with Russia.

Speaking at the Tsugol firing range about 130 kilometers north of the border with China, where Russian and Chinese troops performed joint drills, Putin lauded the troops for their skills, saying they demonstrated their capability to deflect potential military threats.

He emphasized that Russia is a peaceful nation, but noted that the country needs to strengthen its military capability to be ready to protect its sovereignty, security and national interests, and, if necessary, support our allies.

The Chinese media have described the Peoples Liberation Army involvement in the drills as the countrys largest-ever dispatch of forces abroad for war games.

From Chinas perspective, the emerging military alliance with Russia sends a strong signal to the U.S. and its ally Japan. China is intent on defending its interests in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety, as well as Taiwan and the Senkaku and Diaoyu islands controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing.

For Russia, the increasingly robust alliance with China is particularly important in light of the strained relations with the U.S. and its allies and the looming threat of more biting U.S. sanctions.

The drills come amid tensions over Syria, where the U.S. and its allies threatened to launch strikes against President Bashar Assads government if it uses chemical weapons to reclaim control of the rebel- held northwestern province of Idlib.

Russia, which has waged a military campaign in support of Assad, strongly warned the U.S. against military action in Syria. AP
Persecution of the Christian community continues in China, with some watchdog groups expressing that ongoing pressure against religious groups is at its most intense since the Cultural Revolution.

Although the communist country constitutionalized freedom of religious beliefs, including the protection of normal religious activities in its Article 36 in 1982, the ongoing crackdowns seem contradictory to this law.

A local expert believes that such destructive behavior seems to be based on fear, insecurity and incompetence in dealing with religion and spirituality, which endangers the goal of a harmonious China.

Fr. Franz Gassner, coordinator for the Department of Catholic Theology at the University of Saint Joseph, believes that the crackdowns are without justified cause.

The crackdown reveals the other side of the coin; the lack of knowledge and acquaintance of party and state in matters of religion and spirituality, he told the Times.

In the long run, by this thinking and practice, the party will again harm Chinas people and their development, similar to the one-child policy, which is turning out to be a disaster in the near future. In fact, both policies have the same father and mother: a lack of consistent philosophy and science, Fr. Gassner added.

He believes that such a movement would not explicitly occur in Macau, as it would create an impediment to the positive integration of religion and spirituality into society. That is not what people want, he continued, stressing that religion and spirituality are important for society.

In June, Pope Francis voiced optimism on the Vatican and Chinas relationship, noting that the relationship was at a good point.

Yet according to several reports, the Central Government has been raiding Christian congregations in Beijing and several provinces, burning crosses and bibles, closing down churches and forcing believers to renounce their faith.

Chinas Catholics are split into two camps: an official church led by a state-supervized organization, and a so-called underground church run by a bishop appointed by the Pope.

On Sunday, China banned a popular underground Protestant church in Beijing as part of the crackdown to eradicate underground churches.

According to the Beijing Chaoyang district civil affairs bureau, the church was breaking rules as it organized events without first registering.

Chinese law stipulates that worshipers can only conduct activities in congregations registered with the authorities. Yet a significant number still defy government restrictions, conducting underground or home church gatherings.

Although a constitutional article was created to supposedly protect these nationals right to choose their religion in the communist country, churches are facing a wave of harassment and pressure as new regulations targeting these Christian churches came into force in February.

This new set of regulations heightened punishments for unofficial churches, leading 30 churches in Beijing to issue a joint statement complaining of unceasing interference and the assault and obstruction of believers regular activities since the law came into effect.

The churches  underground or over ground  should keep going to engage in an honest and deep dialogue on many levels, wherever possible. This is most crucial, a sort of Chinese ecumene, said Fr. Gassner.

Here in Macau we should treasure the freedom we experience in spiritual and religious matters. We should increase our efforts to assist other people and societies in this regard, especially in mainland China, he added.

Meanwhile, some argue that these ongoing crackdowns are nothing new as they have been going on for decades.

Aurelio Porfiri, Rome correspondent for Catholic newspaper O Clarim and author of books and articles about China and Christianity, believes that there are some regions in China where control is tighter than others.

In Chinese tradition, religion was also in control of the Emperor, the central power. So I guess that for the Chinese government, [it] may be difficult being relaxed about religious independence, said Porfiri.

Being underground is a reaction to the central power that is seen as hostile. For Catholics that was and is a way to remain faithful to the Apostolic See, Porfiri explained.

Porfiri recalled that the Chinese government recently introduced a major impediment to online evangelization, which shows that there has been no progress in Chinas freedom to evangelize.

Many observers [have] noticed that this may be a reaction to control the huge religious awakening in China. [] I hope that it will be possible to put an end soon to all difficulties, he added.

Yet for political commentator Larry So, such crackdowns occur because religion remains a powerful form of ideology. He said that religion threatens the governments control as these ideologies affect the behavior of people.

China will look at any groups if they were not in accordance with the Chinese religious regulations. Basically, the philosophy of China in terms of how they look at religion is that they look at it as some kind of ideology guiding people towards everything good, equality and all these things, So said.

In terms of the political angle and community level, religion can be very powerful. [] These ideologies really change the peoples minds and behaviors, he added.

So further expressed that from the communist partys point of view, brainwashing could also occur.

He noted that there could be fears the Christian community may not be in favor of the countrys political development, highlighting the crackdowns that occurred against the Tibetan independence movement, which is based on religious ideology.

It is political. [It is seen] as a kind of [replacement for the] Chinese government. They do not want to see some other kind of grassroots opposition forces [that lead] towards some kind of independence, said So.

When questioned on whether there would be progress regarding full freedom of religious activities, So explained that the Chinese government is trying to compromise with the Roman Catholic church, as all other religions are properly coordinated in China, including Buddhism and Taoism.

[The Roman Catholic] church is the only religion that has something like a worldwide leader, and that worldwide leader is not under the auspices of the communist party. So they are trying to extend a friendly hand, but on the other end, they are trying to pressurize all these kinds of religious groups, said So.

Many argue that this is the most severe systematic suppression of Christians since religious freedom was written into the constitution in the 80s, yet So disagrees, pointing out that it has been more or less the same since Mao Zedongs rule ended.

Suspected arson in abandoned catholic center

THE CATHOLIC Center located near Rua do Campo caught fire on Tuesday, with the Judiciary Police (PJ) deeming the fire suspicious. Authorities are investigating the suspected arson case, as cigarette butts were found on the ground floor of the abandoned building. Pieces of wood inside the metal shutter were set alight. The PJ statement recalled that a passer-by witnessed smoke coming from inside a metal trellis shutter on the ground floor, yet it was already extinguished when firemen arrived at the scene. The center has been reportedly empty for more than 20 years.
Toyota Motor Corp. is preparing to divulge details of the hybrid-car engine technology it pioneered with the Prius to China in an attempt to catch up with rivals in the worlds biggest auto market.

Chinese officials asked Toyota to share its gasoline-electric technology to help local companies meet stricter emissions targets, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named because the talks are private. Seeing this as a chance to make inroads in China, Toyota has engaged in advanced talks to license its hybrid system to Chinese carmaker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., two of the people said.

Government backing for hybrid vehicles would be a boon for Toyotas ambitions to boost sales in China. Hybrids have been a success for Toyota in Europe and Japan for years, but China has so far placed more focus on so-called pure electric vehicles, promoting them through subsidies and tax breaks.

Gradually, though, China is starting to see hybrids as a means of reducing emissions on the way toward a pure- electric future, part of a plan to reach ambitious environmental goals and reduce the countrys reliance on imported oil. Trade tensions emanating from America are giving added impetus for Toyota and China to work together.

Geelys shares jumped 8.4 percent yesterday in Hong Kong, their biggest gain in 11 months. Toyota rose 1.8 percent in Tokyo, the most in two weeks. MDT/Bloomberg
Washington has invited Beijing to hold new talks on their escalating tariff dispute, the Chinese foreign ministry said yesterday, ahead of a decision by President Donald Trump on whether to raise duties on USD200 billion of Chinese imports.

The announcement followed reports by American and European chambers of commerce that foreign companies in China have been hurt by earlier tariff hikes by both sides in the fight over Beijings technology policy.

We have indeed received an invitation from the U.S. side. We welcome it, said a ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang. Now the two sides are in communication on relevant details.

Envoys from the two countries last met Aug. 22 in Washington but reported no progress.

Beijing has rejected pressure from the United States to roll back plans for state-led development of Chinese global champions in robotics, artificial intelligence and other fields.

Washington, Europe and other trading partners say those plans violate Chinas market-opening commitments. American officials also worry they might erode U.S. industrial leadership.

The two governments have imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion of each others goods.

Two-thirds of American companies that responded to a survey said they have suffered lost sales or lower profits due to that increase, two chambers of commerce reported.

More companies say they will suffer if Trump goes ahead with his planned tariff hike and Beijing retaliates, according to the American Chambers of Commerce in China and in Shanghai.

In addition to retaliatory tariffs, companies report China is slowing down customs clearances and stepping up inspections and other bureaucratic processes, the chambers said.

Forecasters have warned that the worsening conflict between the worlds two biggest traders could cut up to 0.5 percentage point off global economic growth through 2020 if all threatened tariff hikes go ahead.

American companies are suffering both from Chinas retaliatory tariffs, and  ironically  from U.S. tariffs designed to harm the Chinese economy, the two chambers said in a statement. AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai urge both governments to return to the negotiating table.

Beijing has issued a list of $60 billion of American products for retaliation if Trumps next tariff hike goes ahead.

The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China warned the Trump administration might be underestimating Chinas resolve to fight back.

The U.S. administration runs the risk of a downward spiral of attack and counterattack, benefiting no one, William Zarit said in the statement.

To avoid the tariffs, 30 percent of U.S. companies are looking at moving assembly out of the United States or China or finding new suppliers, the chambers said. They said nearly one-third are thinking about canceling or postponing investment decisions.

Also yesterday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said one in six of its members that responded to a survey are delaying investment or expansion. It said the conflict is causing significant disruptions to global supply chains.

China is running out of American imports for retaliation due to their lopsided trade balance, but threatened unspecified comprehensive measures in June. That prompted worries it would use regulatory controls to disrupt U.S. business operations in China.

Another business group, the U.S.-China Business Council, said this week Chinese officials told it they were postponing accepting license applications from American companies in financial services and other fields until relations improve.

Some 63.6 percent of more than 430 companies that responded to the American chambers survey said profits and customer demand have fallen due to the U.S. tariffs and 62.5 percent said the same about retaliatory Chinese tariffs.

About 74.3 percent said they would be affected if Washingtons tariff increase on $200 billion of Chinese goods goes ahead. Some 67.6 percent said the same of Chinas planned retaliatory tariffs on $60 of American goods.

The survey was conducted between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5.

Some 52.1 percent of companies said Chinese authorities are slowing customs clearances, increasing inspections or imposing other qualitative measures.

The European chamber said about 5 percent of companies reported shifting production out of the United States and about 7 percent were moving out of China.

That shows neither side is winning, because both are equally prone to losing companies, the chamber said.

China has tried without success to recruit Germany, France, South Korea and other governments as allies against Washington. Some of them have criticized Trumps tactics but many echo U.S. complaints about Chinese market barriers and industrial strategy.

We share the concerns of the U.S. regarding Chinas trade and investment practices, but continuing along the path of tariff escalation is extremely dangerous, the European chamber president, Mats Harborn, said in a statement. Joe McDonald, Beijing, AP
Typhoon signal number 10 may be hoisted this weekend as Typhoon Mangkhut approaches the city, Acting Deputy Director of the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) Tang Io Man revealed yesterday.

Yesterday, Chief Executive Chui Sai On and Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak attended an emergency meeting at the Civil Protection Center (the Center), where they discussed the arrangements made by the government to deal with the arrival of Typhoon Mangkhut with 29 civil protection-related officials.

It is estimated that the typhoon will be at its strongest on the afternoon of September 16, with a probable typhoon signal number 8 level, said Tang, adding that: The prediction carries some uncertainty. There is still a chance that Macau might hoist typhoon signal number 9 or even number 10. [] The typhoon route may slightly change its trajectory due to the topography of the Philippines, or due to other factors. At the current stage, typhoon signal number 10 cannot be completely excluded.

Typhoon Mangkhut will closely approach Macau on Saturday and Sunday (September 15 and September 16), said Ma Io Kun, Unitary Police Service (SPU) Commissioner-General, on the sidelines of an emergency meeting at the Civil Protection Center yesterday.

In terms of central pressure and wind force, both were rarely registered in recent years, said Ma, adding that the typhoon is slightly deviated from Macau. But since the storm circulation is still huge, [the government] will not rule out its severe impact on Macau upon its approach, said Ma.

The sea level may also rise, causing flooding in low-lying areas, the SPU head noted.

In the last two days, Macaus civil protection authority has been carrying out tests at the Center and other places, together with local organizations.

Due to Typhoon Mangkhuts rather large circulation, [the government] does not exclude [the possibility of] storm surges affecting Macau. [The Center] will keep in close contact with the security sector and the Social Affairs Bureau.

In the last two days, supplies of bottled water from the most popular brands were sold-out in several supermarkets.

The Consumer Council issued a statement on Wednesday, noting that the Council and the Economic Bureau had met with local wholesalers and retailers of both groceries and bottled water to understand the current inventory.

The meeting was said to be a tentative move to ensure continuous supply of water and other vital products.

On the note of people flocking to shops to buy water, Ma called on residents to not buy large quantities of water and encouraged them to save some from their domestic water supply.

According to the SMGs forecast of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, from September 15 until 17, rainfall will likely reach levels between 150mm and 250mm. The storm surge is expected to cause waters to rise by 0.5 to 1.5 meters above road level in Porto Interior between noon on September 16 and the evening. The wind force scale is forecasted to range from 8 to 11 (between 63 km to 11 km per hour). JZ
Gear up for your ride

Riding around in a motorcycle or a scooter is an activity that is fraught with danger compared to driving a four-wheeler. More than 60 percent of all accidents in Kathmandu Valley involve two wheelers, according to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.
High Court upholds Morang courts order to keep 3 accused in custody

Biratnagar High Court on Thursday upheld the Morang District Courts ruling to keep the three suspects in the 33kg gold smuggling and Sanam Shakya murder case in judicial custody.
Interview with Joseph Biga, CEO of Signum Development

What is your assessment of the real estate and construction sector in Ghana? What are the latest trends?

What is required now in this sector is government policy and intervention in the key areas of land acquisition and financing. In the construction sector specifically, most of the big companies are struggling now because of the cost of borrowing, which has had an impact on their growth. They are struggling now to go beyond their current status because the value of the city and the cost of borrowing will not change anytime soon. So, the government will probably have to help in that sector. A more important and major issue is land acquisition. That is a big challenge and one of the biggest impacts on our business currently. The government has acquired most of the land in this country from chiefs and other people and then there are separate lands owned by families, etc. The land tenure system here is a little different. Basically, these lands are owned by families and the process of acquiring them is a bit of a challenge because the same land can be sold two or three times to different individuals. As a result, you might have all the documentation, but then you go to the land and find out that there are challenges on it. Our first year, we acquired land, went through the normal process, did our search and check, bought the land, got the documentation, then when we went on the land, a third party came in. That issue is still unresolved and we have devoted a lot of money to it. Our best avenue is to go to JVs where people own the lands, they have documentation, they have presence on the land, and we just bring our expertise and our clients.

Why are the real estate and construction companies not doing the same thing?

Some of the big ones, like Regimanuel, do this with chiefs, but they still have challenges. With Transaqua, even though they had a large area of land, they still had people trespassing. But, you can at least reduce the total risk impact on yourself when you have a third party who has some documentation and some presence on the land.

What are your competitive advantages?

We want to know how we can use local materials to be sustainable and ensure that we can move faster, build faster, and provide at the lowest cost for people.

Our competitive advantage is the competence and the capacity that we have. We do not see ourselves as a construction company. We are essentially a project management firm. We have the expertise of civil engineers, environmental engineers, quantity surveyors, and architects. We are solution driven and we look at niche markets and individuals. In addition to JVs with people who are building and making developments, there are currently a lot of individuals acquiring their own land with their own ideas of what they want to develop. We basically come in, provide the expertise, and then develop for them. We bring in the project management skills to achieve their vision.

What are some of your recent achievements and projects?

It has been quite exciting for us recently. In 2016, when we started in September or December, we sold 6 units. 2017 was a bit challenging because that was when we had the land issues. Even through that, we were able to do about 17 units. At the beginning of this year, the vision and the goal was 60 units. As of now, we have done about 32 signed contracts. We have at least another 14 which have people showing commitment, and then we have the 60 units from this institution that wants us to develop for them. For us, the growth has been phenomenal.

Are these units on several properties and different areas or are they in the same area?

We use our consultant who is a specialist in marketing to look at niche markets. We are not like the other developers who find land anywhere and develop. We look at needs. We know that there are a lot of people still working in the city center struggling with living outside the city center. The first and most important thing is to find locations within the city center that are competitively priced so we can give these people some kind of service. The option is the Labone Cantonments where you can get a two-bedroom from 200-400 thousand dollars up to 1 million dollars. We give them the option of something they can afford. For families, with their combined income of 60-70 thousand dollars per year, paying between 100 and 150 thousand dollars for a house within the city center makes sense. So, our focus is the niche market, those with a need that will pay good competitive pricing for that solution. Our concentration now has been the Trade Fair, which is a relatively good development, very close to town, and competitively priced. We are doing JVs in a few other areas such as West Legon, which is not too far, and another one near Teshie. The focus is on meeting a certain bracket.

Are you also interested in replicating what you are doing at the moment, which is to work directly with companies that can commission you to build 70 houses? What is your strategy towards that?

Our current strategy is to build internal competence and capacity to meet the needs of the market. For a small company that is just two years old, we spend a lot of money on ensuring that the staff we have now meet training requirements. We get more people onboard but put them on standby.

Are you present abroad? What experiences have you had outside the country? How do you want to develop yourself internationally?

We, at Signum Development, see housing as part of a persons basic needs, like food, clothing, and shelter. For us, our focus is how we can use research and development to develop across the region and globally to meet specific needs. The people at the bottom of the pyramid have the greatest need. We want to find out how to use research and development and local materials and indigenous materials to be able to meet the needs of those people. For example, I just visited Sao Tome, and it was quite interesting. For the first three days, I tried to understand the people there. Sao Tome is a former plantation where they are trying to promote tourism. If you can have a roof over your head, have your daily bread, and can afford to go to school, then you are not in the class of poverty. But when I went there, I found that everybody lived in a house and the basic issue had to do with the land tenure system. They had a small piece of land from the government to develop and they were using local materials such as wood, timber, and bamboo, etc. and they were comfortable. We want to know how we can use local materials to be sustainable and ensure that we can move faster, build faster, and provide at the lowest cost for people. For us, sometimes we joke in the company that we want to build houses and sell them like selling rice and sugar, ultimately, because rice and sugar are basic needs. For every person, having a roof over your head is also a basic need.

What is the next step? Do you have to convince different governments to go along with you?

For us, the drive would be to understand the materials that exist in most countries, how we can work with the government, research and development, understanding and improving technologies to help in land acquisitions, and ensuring that we use local materials and local resources for development. Currently, we do not build ourselves, we grow local competitors. We have taken people with some level of education and construction experience and we encourage them to register their business. They do the construction and we provide the project management services and the supervision. We grow local competence. We give local people the opportunity to learn and develop.

Project yourself two to three years time. What will the company be if everything goes according to plan?

God willing, wherever we set our footprint, the brand should stand out. The opportunity to provide sustainable housing, the opportunity to partner with governments to ensure that we can help in that area, and the opportunity to develop local competency should also stand out.

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There has been an increase in the use of medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both adults and children between 2001 and 2015, according to a major observational study involving over 154 million individuals from 14 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australasia, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. The study provides the most comprehensive analysis yet of trends in ADHD medication use.

Global estimates suggest that ADHD affects 5% to 7% of children and around 2.5% of adults. While use of ADHD medications in children and adolescents (aged 3-18 years) has gone up in all countries, the number of people using medication ranged from 0.3% in France to 6.7% among Medicaid beneficiaries in the USA in 2010. In adults, use of these drugs was less common, ranging from 0.003% in Japan to 1.5% among privately insured individuals in the USA in 2010.

The findings highlight that prescription rates are still far below diagnosis rates in many countries. Additionally, the wide and persistent disparities in use of these drugs between countries and regions, suggests marked differences in the clinical approach to treating ADHD, underscoring the need for evidence-based guidelines to be followed consistently in clinical practice so that individuals with ADHD receive optimal treatment.

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. However, it can be a lifelong condition and at least two-thirds of children continue to show symptoms in adulthood. A recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that ADHD medications can be effective and safe treatment options for children, adolescents, and adults.

"What's especially important is our finding that the rates and type of drug treatment prescribed appears to depend largely on where you live," says Professor Ian Wong from The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, who co-led the study.

"We believe increases in the prescribing of ADHD medications reflect improved awareness of ADHD and recognition of the importance of effective treatment to avoid long-term problems. Yet, in most countries these rates are considerably lower than ADHD prevalence estimates, indicating that many cases of ADHD may be going undiagnosed and untreatedespecially in nations in Asia where use is low. However, in the USA where rates of prescribing in many states already outstrip prevalence of the condition, we cannot exclude the possibility that ADHD is overdiagnosed and overmedicated. There is a need for monitoring medication safety and effectiveness in exposed populations, particularly in adults."

Despite concerns over the rising use of ADHD drugs and inappropriate prescribing of medications, little was known about the trends and usage patterns in different world regions, particularly among adults, before this latest research.

The study analysed electronic patient records from 14 countries in northern Europe, western Europe, Asia and Australia, and North America to compare ADHD medication use in over 154 million individuals aged 3 years or older between 2001 and 2015. The authors note that prevalence data were not available for all countries in all years.

Over the study period, an average of around 2% of children (aged 3-18 years) and 0.4% of adults were given at least one prescription for an ADHD drug. Regional prevalence was highest in North America, where 4.5% of children and 1.4% of adults were using ADHD medications, and lowest in western Europe (0.7% and 0.03% respectively).

Use of these drugs in children and adults increased over the study period in all countries.

The rise in medication was most pronounced among children in Canada, with average increases of over 45% a year (from 0.2% of children using ADHD drugs in 2001 to 1.8% in 2009). In adults, growth in Japan has been faster than in other countries, with average increases of 76% a year (0.003% of adults in 2010 to 0.5% in 2015). However, despite large increases, overall medication use remains low.

Comparatively, in the USAwhere medication use is highthe rate of increase has been slower than in other countries in both children (around 3% a year; 4.6% of children in 2002 to 5.6% in 2014) and adults (about 13% a year; from 0.42% of adults in 2001 to 2.1% in 2014).

In Europe, children and adults from northern regions are increasingly likely to be prescribed ADHD medications compared to their western counterparts, and especially high rates of ADHD medication use have been reached in Iceland (5% of children and 1.6% of adults in 2013).

Additionally, there were average rises in medication use of 22% a year in Finland (0.2% of children in 2005 to 1% in 2012) and 29% in Denmark (0.03% of adults in 2001 to 0.52% in 2013), while the increase in medication use among children in the UK was much slower (5% a year; 0.3% children in 2001 to 0.64% in 2014).

The types of medications prescribed also varied. Methylphenidate was the most commonly prescribed drug for ADHD in all countries in 2010ranging from more than 90% of patients in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Finland, and Spain to less than 60% in Australia, and 45% of US Medicaid patients. The main treatment for privately insured US patients (MarketScan) was amphetamine (41%), followed by methylphenidate (34%) and lisdexamfetamine (21%).

The authors speculate that the variation in prescribing practices is likely to be due to a number of factors, including varying diagnostic practices and thresholds used to initiate treatment in individuals with ADHD, the availability and cost of medicines, and differences in regional treatment guidelines. For example, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England and Wales (NICE) guidelines until recently recommended non-pharmacological treatment as the first-line treatment for children and young people aged 6 years and older; whereas medications have been recommended as first-line treatment by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry guidelines.

"Renewed efforts are needed to improve the consistent identification and treatment of ADHD across the international community and to develop consensus on best practices and to implement such practices", says co-author Dr. Patrick Ip from The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. "Further research is needed to show the longer-term safety and effectiveness of ADHD medications to develop evidence-based guidelines, particularly in adults."

The authors point to some limitations including that the data only relate to the proportion of individuals with at least one prescription in a calendar year and not to the proportion receiving treatment at any given time. They also note that for some countries, data sources with complete population coverage were not available (ie, USA, Canada, and the UK), and this may have affected the accuracy and generalisability of the results. Finally, the study examined medication use regardless of an ADHD diagnosis, so it is unclear what proportion of participants were prescribed medications for ADHD or hyperactivity symptoms in patients with other disorders such as autism.

Writing in a linked Comment, Margaret Sibley from Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA discusses the reasons why stimulant medication prescriptions are rising globally, adding that: "There is an urgent need to refine evidence-based guidelines for stimulant medication. This mission extends beyond ADHD. Researchers should address pressing questions, including the following: which sources of cognitive dysfunction (eg, illness, sleep difficulties, stress, trauma, low intelligence quotient, high demands, or fatigue) are appropriate for stimulant prescription and under which circumstances is it appropriate to prescribe stimulants to cognitively healthy individuals (eg, weight loss or cognitive enhancement)? Resolving these issues represents an important step towards improving global stimulant medication practices."
Miniature biomanufacturing kits like this prototype could revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. Credit: Amino Labs, CC BY-ND

Soon after Federick Banting discovered that insulin could be used to treat diabetes in 1921, he sold the patent to the University of Toronto for about a dollar. Banting received the Nobel prize because his discovery meant a life-saving drug could become widely available. Nearly a century later, an American with diabetes can pay as much as US$400 per month for insulin, driving some uninsured patients to desperate and dangerous measures. Clearly, something went wrong.

Our lab studies biosecurity, so when we heard that a group of do-it-yourself biologists was working to solve the insulin affordability problem by figuring out how to manufacture insulin patent-free, we got to know them. After digging into the insulin affordability issue, we argue that what's keeping insulin expensive is not patents  it's regulations. By operating in a regulatory blind spot, DIYers could upset the status quo for drug production.

Patents don't make insulin expensive

Discovering and developing drugs is expensive. Patents help drug companies recoup the costs from their investments by granting them a monopoly for a limited time. Once the patent expires, competing companies can begin producing generics: off-brand versions of a patented drug. This healthy competition drives prices down.

So why, with the original patent long-expired, is there still no affordable generic insulin?

The insulin for purchase today is not the same insulin used to treat diabetic patients nearly 100 years ago. That insulin came primarily from animals. Today, insulin is brewed up by microbes that have been genetically engineered with the gene for human insulin.

And insulin is seldom injected with an old-fashioned syringe and needle anymore. Now there are insulin pens, pumps, test strips and other devices that improve the quality of life for diabetic patients. Pharmaceutical companies have also modified the chemical formula to produce faster-acting or longer-lasting insulins.

With each of these inventions came a new patent.

Could big pharma eventually be cut out of the process by home brewers cooking up their own medications? Credit: Sanofi Pasteur, CC BY-NC-ND

But the benefits of these "improved" insulins are debatable, and there's nothing preventing competing companies from selling older, long off-patent versions of insulin. So what's the holdup?

Regulations keep insulin expensive

Insulin is a biologic drug, which means it's produced by a living organism, not a chemical reaction. This process, called biomanufacturing, is more inconsistent than chemical synthesis of non-biologic drugs like aspirin.

Making reliable biologic drugs is a little like winemaking. Even though the winemaker carefully follows a well-established process, minute differences will affect the final product. It's always wine, but some vintages are better than others and tasting the wine is the only way to evaluate the final product.

So if a new company wants to make insulin, that insulin has to be tested on patients in expensive clinical trials. Bringing a biologic drug to market can cost as much as $250 million. No company can afford that lump if it can't file for a patent to recoup the investments.

That's why there's only one "generic" insulin available so far. It's made by a company that was already a major player in the insulin market, and it's only 15 percent cheaper than the patented version. By comparison, most non-biologic generic drugs cost 80 percent less than the original.

Obviously, regulations are important for keeping insulin safe, but at what cost? Ten percent of people living with diabetes in the U.S. are uninsured, and there are nearly 10,000 crowdfunding campaigns related to insulin on the site GoFundMe alone. Stories about diabetic patients ending up hospitalized or worse because they tried to ration their insulin are all-too common.

Industrial-scale production  whether of hamburger or drugs  makes it harder to zero in on the source of problems when they occur. Credit: David Tadevosian/Shutterstock.com

Democratizing insulin production

Some people are taking matters into their own hands, tinkering to meet their medical needs. In 2015, patients and hobby scientists launched an initiative known as the Open Insulin Project.

As in winemaking, the specific know-how required for insulin production is a guarded secret. The goal of the Open Insulin Project is to figure out a patent-free method and release the information, so that competing companies can manufacture "generic" insulin.

Given the cost of regulatory approval, it is more likely that the project could enable patients to "home brew" their own diabetic treatments. There is currently no structure for regulating drugs that are not produced commercially. One report estimates that as many as 2,000 patients have already reverse engineered their own insulin pumps and electronic monitoring systems. The insulin itself could be next.

Is it possible to make biologic drugs like insulin more affordable without compromising safety? One suggestion that has been gaining steam is to scale down biomanufacturing. Right now, biologic medicines like insulin are cooked up in giant batches. Ensuring that those batches are consistent and free of contamination is a major challenge.

Think about the meat department in your grocery store. Many big-box stores stock hamburger that was ground in a central processing plant and then distributed. If an E. coli outbreak occurs in the plant, it's going to spread to all of the stores downstream, potentially infecting hundreds or thousands of people.

The meat is also exposed to more potential contamination events through storage and transport. And, if contaminated meat is identified in one store, it won't be immediately clear whether or not all the others are safe.

Now, consider a small local butcher who grinds meat in-house. Any safety risk is going to be isolated to the customers of that one store and the source will be obvious.

The authors describe how biohacking insulin and other biologic drugs have important implications for the future of pharmaceutical drug regulation.

Similarly, producing medications in smaller batches reduces the potential impact of any one safety event. Pharmacy compounding provides an example. In compounding, drugs are specially mixed or produced for a very small number of patients. Compounded medications are not subject to clinical trials.

If insulin were made in smaller batches, manufacturers might be able to forego clinical trials and use simpler and less expensive tests to confirm that each batch of insulin produced is safe and comparable to previously approved insulins. It would be like using chemical tests to identify important flavor compounds in two vintages of wine instead of organizing taste tests. This model could also apply to other expensive biologic drugs such as those that treat cancer, HIV and rheumatoid arthritis.

The technology necessary for small-batch insulin production already exists. Future research could help automate and streamline small batch medicine production in order to minimize safety risks.

The future of medicine

The pharmaceutical industry is ripe for disruption. In the coming decades, drugs might be produced in very different settings. Hospitals have already begun plans to make their own medicines. DIY biologists could provide patients with the knowledge needed to produce for themselves the drugs their lives depend on.

As the industry and regulatory agencies gain more experience with biologic drugs, it is also possible regulations will ease up, lowering the cost of approval. This would enable the emergence of small-scale drug manufacturers that could provide off-brand drugs at a lower cost.

One thing is certain, the future of medicine will not be "business as usual." Biomanufacturing technologies will continue to evolve. These changes could enable decentralized production of life-saving drugs. How the regulatory system and pharmaceutical industry will adjust to that future is yet to be determined.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Dr Rosanna Jackson. Credit: Cancer Research UK

Chemotherapy often gets a bad reputation  mainly down to the side effects it can cause.

This bad reputation can be hard to shake off. And it often stops people hearing the vast improvements that have been made in how chemotherapy is used.

I can remember first learning about chemotherapy in my undergraduate pharmacology degree. I couldn't believe how much research has gone into making it better for patients. And although this research rarely hits the headlines, a small change in how a patient is treated can make a real difference to both their chance of survival and quality of life.

So when it came to choosing what to research for my Ph.D., I chose a project aiming to improve existing treatments.

I was fortunate enough to be offered a Cancer Research UK-funded Ph.D. position at Newcastle University, looking at ways to personalise the use of drugs for a type of blood cancer often diagnosed in children, called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Throughout my Ph.D., I've had the privilege of learning from world renowned cancer researchers. In this post, I'm going to cover some of the progress these researchers have made in treating children with ALL with chemotherapy.

Why childhood ALL?

Childhood ALL is a shining example of the progress researchers have made in how we use chemotherapy. In the early 1970s, only around 3 in 10 children with ALL were cancer free 5 years after treatment. Today, this figure has risen to nearly 9 in 10 children.

But a large part of this improvement has been because doctors have used higher doses of drugs. Over time, this increased intensity has led to an increase in children experiencing side effects from their treatment, many of which are permanent.

The focus now is to find ways to make chemotherapy kinder to children with ALL, and also cure the small number of children that still aren't today.

Getting personal

As with all cancer types, things are often more complicated with ALL than they seem. The disease can vary significantly from one patient to another and form many sub groups. These sub groups are usually defined by differences in the DNA inside the cancer cells. And these DNA changes can dramatically affect how the cells behave, and how sensitive they are to chemotherapy.

It's these genetic differences that are helping doctors to tailor treatment to individual patients.

This means that from the outset, we can give patients the right treatment intensity for their particular type of ALL.

Now, instead of giving all patients enough chemotherapy to cure the most aggressive types of ALL, which brings with it the possibility of more side effects, we can use genetics to identify the children with less aggressive disease and only give them the treatment they need.

An adaptive treatment plan

Scientists are also continuing to improve techniques to measure how many cancer cells have survived treatment.

Hospitals and research labs like mine work together to test patients' samples for ALL cells. We do this by detecting differences in tiny features of the cells. By using these new techniques, we can now identify less than one ALL cell in 10,000 normal cells .

This can help doctors to adapt the dose of chemotherapy based on how a child is responding to treatment, avoiding unnecessary side effects.

Scientists have found that counting the number of ALL cells in a blood sample after 28 days of treatment is the best way to predict how well a patient will do compared to other patients with the same type of ALL.

And UK researchers found that if a child has small numbers of cancer cells in their blood after 28 days of chemotherapy, they could be given less treatment from that point onwards and still have the same good chance of survival.

Now, treatment of children with ALL in the UK is adapted based on this initial response to therapy.

And we're continuously looking for more ways to improve therapy. During my Ph.D. I was involved in looking at whether a change in the way a drug called dexamethasone is given could help reduce side effects.

Dexamethasone is a crucial anti-leukaemia drug given to children at the start of their treatment, but it can cause side effects like increased risk of infection, altered sugar processing and long-term damage to bones.

Right now, children are given a course of dexamethasone for 28 days. Because side effects can sometimes happen when dexamethasone is taken for long periods of time, scientists predicted that giving higher doses for fewer days would decrease side effects, but still have the same effect on the cancer cells.

To test this, we compared giving a higher dose for 14 days to the standard way of giving dexamethasone over 28 days. I measured the levels of dexamethasone in patient's blood to compare the two groups.

Unfortunately, the shorter dose didn't reduce side effects, so doctors are continuing to give the standard dose. But interestingly, my results showed that although children on each dose were given the same amount of dexamethasone for their size, the concentration in their bodies varied dramatically.

It suggests that children are processing the drug differently, which may help to explain why no difference was seen between the two doses.

Although this part of the trial didn't help to reduce side effects, it helped us to better understand how dexamethasone works in ALL treatment. This is important for any future changes researchers make to therapy. And it's just one of the adaptions scientists are testing to try and lower the chance of children having side effects in a current UK trial.

The future

The fine-tuning of treatment over the decades has dramatically improved survival for patients. And new treatments are providing options for the small number of children whose cancer doesn't respond to current therapies. In August this year, NHS England announced that a personalised cancer immunotherapy will be offered to some children and young adults with ALL.

Now we're working to improve the quality of life for patients as they grow up and continue their lives. The importance of this should never be underestimated.

Unfortunately, this same progress hasn't yet been possible for all cancers. Our aim is to continue to develop established chemotherapy medicines alongside the use of new targeted therapies, to give all cancer patients the best chance of survival, and make those saved years the best they can be.

Explore further Extended chemo extends life for children with rare cancer
Young women participating in FRESH have their fingers pricked twice per week for HIV testing. Credit: Rachel Regina

A program established by investigators from the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard is addressing the persistently elevated risk of HIV infection among young women in South Africa from two anglesfirst, investigating biological factors that modulate infection risk along with the early immunologic events following viral exposure, and second, alleviating the socioeconomic factors that limit opportunities for young women, the group at greatest risk of infection in the region of the world hardest hit by the HIV epidemic. Members of the Ragon Institute team report on the first five years of the FRESH program in a commentary published in Science Immunology.

"The South African government's antiretroviral treatment program has enabled a return to near normal life expectancy for those who have become infected, but rates of new infections among young women continue almost unchecked," says Krista Dong, MD, of the Ragon Institute and the Division of Infectious Diseases at MGH, FRESH program leader and a co-author of the report. "Gender inequality results in disempowermentincluding a lack of means for women to protect themselves from infectionand economic dependence. It is estimated that 5,000 young women in South Africa become infected every week. Performing medical research in such vulnerable populations requires special considerations to ensure participants' safety and well-being, so we sought to address major non-HIV-related challenges facing these young women while conducting research aimed at developing an effective HIV vaccine."

Launched in December 2012, the FRESH study was established in a shopping mall in the Umlazi township of KwaZulu-Natal, a South African province that has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. The location was chosen because of the reluctance of many South Africans to visit clinics unless they are seriously ill due to stigma associated with typical HIV testing and treatment sites. The program enrolls young women ages 18 to 23not in school, unemployed, HIV-negative and sexually activein groups of 30 per month to create peer support groups.

A FRESH program participant describes her experience to visiting U.S. scientists. Credit: Rachel Regina

Participants visit the clinic twice a week to participate in sessions ranging from self-esteem, relationships and gender-based violence, and HIV prevention and treatment to career development, computer training and starting a small business. Participants undergo HIV testing at each visit, with more comprehensive blood and cervical-vaginal sampling every three months. Initially, antiretroviral treatment was not provided at the time a new infection was detected but was only started after a participants' CD4 count dropped below 350, following the treatment guideline for South Africa at the time. Approval was granted 18 months into the program to start treatment immediately after an infection was detected. Most recently, FRESH has begun to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis or 'PrEP' - antiretroviral drug treatment given to prevent HIV infectionwhich is not yet being provided by the South African government.

Among the more than 1,000 women who have completed the 9- to 12-month program, more than 85 percent have been placed in jobs or internships, started their own small businesses or returned to school. Some have become the primary breadwinners for their households. Although the rate of new infections among FRESH participants has remained consistent since the program launched, the investigators recognize that the behavioral changes that can impact HIV risk will require sustained improvement in career and educational opportunities for the women and a resultant shift in cultural norms.

Basic research arising from the FRESH study has identified biologic factors that may contribute to a higher risk of HIV infection among South African womanincluding the composition of the bacterial microbiome in the genital tract among local women, a high incidence of other sexually transmitted infections, and hormonal levels related to either a commonly used contraceptive or the natural fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.

Participants form close bonds during the intensive 9-month FRESH program. Credit: Rachel Regina

The ability to study HIV infection at its earliest stages revealed that the rapid activation and proliferation of CD8 T cells, which usually attack and destroy pathogens, quickly diminishes as the immune cells begin to die off themselves. But participants who can maintain higher levels of CD8 cells have lower viral levels, suggesting a possible strategy for vaccine development. Those who begin antiretroviral therapy as soon as infection is detected have more effective CD8 function without the typical drop in CD4 levels, making them an ideal group for studies aimed at potentially curative therapies.

"We measure the success of this program both by these important scientific insights and by providing participants with a pathway out of poverty," says Bruce Walker, MD, director of the Ragon Institute, the Philip and Susan Ragon Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, senior author of the Science Immunology report and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. "The ability to both conduct cutting-edge science and provide a social benefit to participants is encouraging, but we continue to face challenges in implementing more effective methods of prevention, extending FRESH to other groups of women and developing programs targeting menall of which will require additional philanthropic support."

More information: T. Ndung'u el al., "A FRESH approach: combining basic science and social good," Science Immunology (2018). Journal information: Science Immunology T. Ndung'u el al., "A FRESH approach: combining basic science and social good,"(2018). immunology.sciencemag.org/look  6/sciimmunol.aau2798
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

People who retire feel less unhealthy than those who continue in employment, and those working long hours benefit the most, new research says.

The British Sociological Association conference in Belfast heard today [Friday, 14 September 2018] that the common idea that retirement leaves workaholics most at risk of poor health was incorrect.

Dr. Jacques Wels, of the University of Cambridge, analysed survey data on 2,861 people in England aged 55 to 65 in 2008 and then in 2014. Participants were asked to rate their health on a five-point scale.

Some had retired by 2014 but others had continued working  in 2011 the UK abolished the mandatory retirement ages, so workers are free to decide when they wish to retire.

Dr. Wels told the 'Work, Employment and Society' event that, overall, 26 percent of workers who had retired felt less healthy after retirement, and 18 percent felt healthier.

By comparison, 29 percent of those who stayed in employment and kept working the same hours felt unhealthier, and 16 percent felt healthier.

He also found that 21 percent of those working 60+ hours a week reported better health after retiring, and 22 percent worse health; 19 percent of those working 35 hours a week before their retirement reported better health afterwards and 25 percent worse health; 18 percent of those working 25 hours reported better health and 26 percent worse health.

Dr. Wels adjusted the raw data in order to compare people with similar wealth, qualifications, gender, age and sector of activity, in order to isolate the effects of retirement and reducing hours.

"Those who retired and who had a high working time prior to retirement were more likely to experience a positive change in self-perceived health compared with those who worked fewer hours before retiring  and this effect was independent of their incomes," said Dr. Wels.

"These findings contradict the common idea that retirement leaves workaholics at a loose end and at risk of poor health because they cannot adjust to their new situation.

"Previous research had not shown up the link between higher self-reported health among those working the most hours."

Explore further Duration of sleep increases while sleeping difficulties decrease after retirement
He kept it from family members, friends and employers. Some of Walter Washington's children still don't know their father struggles to read and write.

But his doctors knew. The 64-year-old Dallas man told them because he didn't want to risk taking the wrong dose of his diabetes or blood pressure medications.

"I had common sense and mother wit," said Washington, who also has congestive heart failure and an enlarged heart. "I survived."

Washington is among 30 million American adults who can't read instructions on a pill bottle, properly fill out a deposit slip or complete other tasks using basic reading and writing skills, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The negative health consequences of low literacy are wide ranging, experts say.

Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs, a general internist and health disparities professor at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, said it was critical for doctors to learn more about patients' literacy and to help those who struggle.

"Slow down. Don't use medical jargon. Show or draw pictures," Jacobs advises.

Studies dating back at least three decades suggest literacy may be linked to heart disease, stroke and their risk factors.

For example, one study showed adults with low literacy levels had a higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure. Another study found lower reading scores among adults were linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Literacy problems can make it difficult to understand the nature of chronic conditions, keep up with doctor appointments or take medication correctly, experts said.

Many health materials are written above the reading skills of a high school graduate, studies show. Studies published in the past decade suggest health education programs designed for people with poor reading skills help improve self-care habits.

"I don't think people [who can read] can relate to what that means in their everyday lives," said Pam Wall, the executive director of The Literacy Center in Hilton Head, South Carolina, a nonprofit offering basic reading classes.

Many adults with literacy problems grew up in households where there were few resources to make education a priority, Wall said. Others have dealt with dyslexia diagnosed late in life, making it hard to go grocery shopping, apply for jobs or fill out forms at a doctor's office, she said.

The most effective way policymakers can lower the number of illiterate Americans is to increase funding for K-12 education, said Susan Neuman, an early literacy expert at New York University in Manhattan.

Neuman, U.S. assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education between 2001 and 2003, cautioned that "getting a high school diploma is certainly not evidence that [the students] are good readers." But other social factors are usually the underlying reasons, she said.

As for Washington, he continues to take basic reading classes at an adult learning center.

He said he was motivated to learn after he was made deacon of his church, and now he's relying less on his wife to keep up with his medications.

Washington said doctors should always take the time to ask patients whether they can read. He also encourages others who can't read, including his younger sister, to seek help to learn.

"I know more now than I ever have," he said.

Explore further Limited health literacy is a major barrier to heart disease prevention and treatment

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
Credit: University of Michigan

A majority of officials in Michigan oppose medical marijuana facilities in their jurisdiction, according to a new survey by University of Michigan researchers.

Almost 75 percent of Michigan cities, townships and villages report that they have chosen to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries in their areas.

"Local leaders from all jurisdictions report low levels of support for the facilities personally and also believe that there is low support among their residents and chief law enforcement officer," said Tom Ivacko, associate director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at U-M's Ford School of Public Policy.

In November 2018, Michigan residents will vote on a ballot measure to legalize, regulate and tax recreational marijuana in the state. The survey did not ask officials about this specific ballot measure, but did ask about general support of legalization for recreational use.

According to the survey, 54 percent of local officials oppose marijuana legalization, while 21 percent support it.

This is in contrast to a recent public opinion poll about citizen support for legalizing recreational marijuana through a possible ballot initiative. The survey by Michigan State University found that 61 percent of Michigan residents would vote yes on such an initiative.

"We have found differences of opinions between local government leaders and citizens on other topics before, but these differences stand out because they hold true even when looking at breakdowns by partisan identification and age," said Natalie Fitzpatrick, one of the authors of the report.

Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is illegal and treated as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no medical value. But since 1996, 31 states have legalized or decriminalized the use of marijuana for people with serious medical conditions.

Michigan was the 13th state to legalize medical marijuana when it passed the Medical Marijuana Initiative in November 2008.

The data come from the Michigan Public Policy Survey, an ongoing poll of Michigan's 1,856 local governments conducted by U-M's Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy. The spring 2018 survey received a 74-percent response rate with results from 1,372 jurisdictions.

Among the survey's key findings:

57 percent of local officials believe that a majority of their residents oppose local medical marijuana facilities.

Michigan's largest jurisdictions (those with at least 30,000 residents) are the most likely to report opting in to allow medical marijuana facilities, with 14 percent saying they have done so, compared with 6 percent of the smallest jurisdictions (those with fewer than 1,500 residents).

There are regional differences as well. Officials from Southwest Michigan (13 percent) and the Upper Peninsula (10 percent) are more likely to report opting in, compared to 4 percent of jurisdictions in the Northern Lower Peninsula and West Central Michigan.

42 percent of local jurisdictions report experiencing some problems related to medical marijuana in their community, compared to just 21 percent of local leaders reporting benefits to their community.

"This survey puts in perspective how the local officials are thinking about a range of issues related to marijuana," said Debra Horner, project manager at the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy. "While there appears to be increased support among residents for legalizing recreational marijuana, MPPS finds government leaders are less supportive."

Explore further Survey finds most local leaders want residents engaged, but see limits
Exposure to banned nerve agents remains a major public health concern globally, especially because of the recent air-release of these agents in Syria. One main problem is the difficulty of determining whether an exposure has occurred. Now, a new study demonstrates that the mammalian microbiome can act as a "sentinel" due to its high responsiveness to exposure. The research is published on September 14 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

In this study, the investigators exposed Sprague Dawley laboratory rats to the nerve gas soman, which is similar to sarin, an agent believed to have been released in Syria. Soman and sarin are organophosphates, which are used in certain pesticides and nerve gases. They block the normal breakdown of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, causing overstimulation of nerves, muscles, and certain glands. In large doses, these compounds interfere with the mechanism that turns off nerve transmission, causing suffocation.

The investigators examined the microbiome for changes at 72 hours post exposure. "Our aim was to determine specific features of physiologic injury resulting from mild exposure to soman," since these might provide warning symptoms and identify people needing treatment, said first author Derese Getnet, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Integrative Systems Biology Program, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, MD.

The most notable changes in the microbiome were the detection of the bacterial genera, Facklamia, Enterobacter, and Bilophila, and the beneficial-to-plants genus, Rhizobium. "It was very interesting to see Rhizobium grow in the presence of organophosphate since it is a known class of organism associated with bioremediation," said Dr. Getnet. Rhizobium is normally not associated with intestines, but the presence of organophosphate might have given it a brief advantage over competing microbes.

"These signatures of exposure are detectable for at least 72 hours following exposure, and they persist not only in symptomatic animals, but also in asymptomatic animals," said Dr. Getnet. "It should be possible to detect these changes before any symptoms develop, or if asymptomatic exposure has occurred." Dr. Getnet also noted that an advantage of this form of sampling is that it's non-invasive, and that sites and subjects can be screened on a routine basis, absent specific knowledge of exposure.

This is important because during nerve agent attacks, it is very difficult to determine the boundaries of the affected area, as well as who has been exposed. Additionally, the onset of symptoms is unpredictable, causing estimates of exposure based on symptoms to be inaccurate.

"The motivation behind this research is to identify novel signatures for nerve agents and organophosphate exposures that can quickly be adapted into the clinical pathology workflow of urine chemistry and microbiology, without the need to develop novel technology and clinical standards," said Dr. Getnet. He noted that this work is "proof of concept" only, and more research will be necessary to determine the sensitivity of the sampling to each toxicant, as well as the signals for all of the different organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents.

To this end, there will be no need to develop novel platforms. Rather, existing technologies will simply need to be refined, said Dr. Getnet.

These developments could be very important for protecting civilians as well as the armed forces from nerve agents, or organophosphate toxicants, said Dr. Getnet. The work could also enable hospitals to determine whether a person has been exposed not only to nerve agents, but to organophosphate pesticides and to fire retardants, both of which can also be quite harmful.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Each day in the United States, 123 people take their own lives. For each of those deaths, at least 25 more people attempt suicide.

The statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention support Dr. Ahmad Hameed's opinion that suicide has become a public health crisis.

Hameed, a psychiatrist and vice chair for education in the Department of Psychiatry at Penn State Health, says the problem has become so big because the individuals with mental health disorders don't believe that there is any hope left.

"The majority of the time those who are suffering want to seek help and they want to live, but are ashamed to ask for help," he said.

About 90 to 95 percent of individuals who die by suicide have either a diagnosed or diagnosable mental health disorder. Although major depressive disorder is the most well-known, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and drug or alcohol disorders are also related to a higher incidence of suicide.

Hameed said the vast majority of individuals who succeed at taking their own lives are men, often because they choose more lethal means than women. About 80 percent of the individuals who die by suicide are men. More than half of the suicides nationwide are completed with a firearm. Women often choose less lethal means like overdoses, where there is more of a chance for survival. "When the bullet leaves the barrel of a gun, there's no taking it back," he said.

Dr. Julie Radico, a clinical psychologist who teaches family medicine residents in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State Health, said the residents engage in training to help them look for warning signs and red flags that could signal that someone is suicidal.

She said these front-line health care professionals are critical for prevention because statistics show many of those who die from suicide had seen a health care provider during their last month of life. "This could be in part because the providers had failed to ask about or detect it," she said.

Radico said a health care professional is six times more likely to learn if someone is suicidal by asking rather than waiting for the patient to bring up the subject. That's why Penn State Health family practice providers ask depression screening questions of every patient at every visit. Depending on the patient's answers, more detailed questions and a conversation follow.

"There is no research that shows that someone is at increased risk of suicide if you ask them about it," she said. "It's just that you are more likely to learn about it and be able to help them."

She said providers are trained to distinguish between passing thoughts of suicidewhich are not uncommonand suicidal thoughts that are persistent and intense. "The main three factors are whether they have the intent, a plan and the means to carry it out."

Health care providers can help patients come up with a safety plan which could include coping strategies, ways to avoid triggers, medication, visits to a therapist or counselor or social supports.

If someone is in immediate danger to him or herself or others, a call to a crisis hotline, local law enforcement or a visit to the emergency room might be merited depending on the situation.

Hameed said, "It's prudent not to wait."

Explore further Older adults may need better follow-up after ER screenings for suicide
Joshees stay unfavourable

In a rare practice in the history of the countrys judiciary, senior most Supreme Court Justice Deepak Raj Joshee has agreed to work under the leadership of a junior colleague after the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) rejected him for the post of chief justice.
Man found dead 19 days after disappearance

A man was found dead 19 days after he went missing in Bhusaldanda of Tansen Municipality-1. Body of Sunil Chhetri, 36, was found in a gully nearby his residence.
Telkom has sent an email to staff detailing the particulars of its voluntary separation packages (VSP) and voluntary early retirement packages (VERP).

In the email, seen by MyBroadband, the company stated packages will be available to all employees of Telkom SA SOC Ltd.

The details follow Telkom announcing on Thursday that it would offer the packages to employees from this week.

We estimate that Telkom has subsidised the South African mobile industry by about R70 billion since its inception. This subsidy has mainly been a result of regulatory decisions that impacted Telkom disproportionately, stated the email.

During these regulatory cycles Telkom has sought to safeguard jobs from market and economic pressures. However, the cumulative effect of past regulations continues to impact our business operations.

Telkom stated it must therefore offer voluntary packages to all Telkom  Corporate, Openserve, Consumer and Small Business  employees, as part of a review of its business operating model.

VSP and VERP packages will be available from Friday, 14 September 2018 at 12:00 until Friday, 21 September 2018 at 12:00, said the email.

Packages

The mail stated that the VSP option is available to all Telkom employees who are:

Younger than 50 years if they are members of the Telkom Retirement Fund.

Younger than 55 if they are members of the Telkom Pension Fund.

The VERP option is available to Telkom employees who are:

50 years and older if they are members of the Telkom Retirement Fund.

55 years and older if they are members of the Telkom Pension Fund.

Employees are under no obligation to apply for a VSP/VERP. The decision to apply for a VSP/VERP is at the sole discretion of each individual employee and it remains the employees responsibility to fully understand the implications of the package, said Telkom.

No employee should be encouraged nor coerced under any circumstances to exercise a certain option.

Following the application process, employees will be notified of the outcome on 2 October, with a scheduled exit date of 31 October.

Telkom added that the voluntary separation offers are taxable.
Cell C did not state that there will only be two cellular networks in South Africa, the company has clarified.

The statement follows a report from Business Insider SA which quoted Graham Mackinnon  chief legal officer at Cell C  as saying cellular networks will consolidate into one or two networks in South Africa.

This is not what was said. What was said was: there will be fewer networks globally  consolidation is the way to go because a standalone investment case for the new technologies coming is becoming less viable, Cell C told MyBroadband.

At no stage did we say that there will be two cellphone networks in South Africa. Service-based competition across shared infrastructure is where the future of telco is going in the world. The WOAN is a reality now and its an example of how wholesale network capacity can be provided, said Cell C.

The report further stated that other telecommunication companies will continue to exist, but will compete on a services level.

Cell C is South Africas third-largest cellular network operator by subscriber numbers, with its latest financial results stating its has 16.3 million local customers.
Throughout the valley, 64 artists are applying finishing touches to pieces theyve been working on and spiffing up their studios in preparation for Open Studios Napa Valley.

The free, self-guided art discovery tour that art lovers look forward to all year, always takes place during the last two weekends in September. This year, 38 studio locations throughout Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga will be open on Sept. 22-23 and 29-30.

To kick off Open Studios Napa Valley, Jessel Gallery in Napa hosted a preview party and show Sept. 7.

I think we have a wealth of art in the valley and theres a vast variety of talent in different mediums here.said gallery owner Jessel Miller.

The show will run through the end of the month featuring one piece of art from every artist participating in Open Studios.

Over the two weekends that artists invite the public to their work spaces, live demonstrations will take place in many of the studios. These will include painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, glass, fiber, printmaking, jewelry design and sculpture.

The Open Studios Napa Valley directory and map indicates which artists will be giving demonstrations and whether they are handicapped-accessible and open if raining.

All artists, whether they are giving demonstrations or not, are happy to share how and why they do what they do and give visitors personal insight into the world of the artist.

Not only can visitors discover multiple mediums and experience the studio atmosphere, but they also discover hidden parts of the valley and hear stores from artists about their work.

It really is wonderful to see how much talent we have in the valley. Some of our artists here are recognized internationally, said Lis MacDonald, a watercolor and inks artist whose alcohol ink on Yupo was selected by fellow artists for the cover of this years Open Studios artist directory and map.

Like other participating artists, MacDonald misses out on visiting other artists studios during the event, so seeing a representation of their work at Jessel Gallery is a privilege she said she appreciates.

I was amazed to have my work chosen by the committee for the cover, MacDonald said. I really felt honored to have been selected.

Though MacDonald enjoys oils and acrylics, for the last 20 years she has become best known as a water media artist. Recently, she has been using alcohol inks. Her work was displayed at the Napa County Librarys juried Art in the Library exhibit in March.

A dog lover who volunteers at the Napa County Animal Shelter, MacDonald has painted various breeds of dogs for the 10 years. Without abandoning these paintings, she is now finding a sense of freedom with her alcohol inks.

I have been searching for a way to abstract my landscapes without sacrificing design and color, MacDonald said. This started my alcohol ink paintings.

She allows the inks, with their intense colors and fluidity to run on tilted Yupo paper, adding more color or softening with plain alcohol to create patterns consistent with landscapes.

Most of the paintings are from inner visions rather than a specific place, she said. In the end, the painting ends up looking like a watercolor painting.

Over the last two weekends in September, MacDonald will be giving demonstrations of her artistic process at 2394 Big Ranch Road where she will be exhibiting with three other artists: Bob Saxby, Gerda Shupe and Karen Winograde.

Wed like people to just come visit, MacDonald said. Purchase is not necessary. We just want people to come enjoy the art and visit.

The popular art event is a collaborative effort by the participating artists of the Art Association of Napa Valley.

The program has endured for more than three decades because local artists believe in the importance and value of opening their studios to visitors. Volunteers have contributed hundreds of hours and sponsors have contributed financial support to ensure the success of Open Studios Napa Valley.

In gratitude for the community support they receive, the art association contributes a portion of revenues to local high school and junior college scholarships.

The 2018 Open Studios Napa Valley artist directory and maps are downloadable at www.OpenStudiosNapaValley.com.

Copies of the 2018 Open Studios Napa Valley artist directory and map will soon be available free of charge throughout Napa and the valley at:

Napa Tourist Information Center, 1331 First St.;

Napa Valley Art Supplies and Cartons and Crates, 3250 California Blvd.;

Napa Main Library, 580 Coombs St.;

Art Gallery Napa Valley, 1307 First St.;

Upper Valley Calistoga Pottery at 1001 Foothill Blvd.

Most studios will also have extra directories to pass out.

Also visit www.facebook.com/napavalleyopenstudios for daily updates.

For information about the Open Studios preview party, call Jessel Gallery at 707-257-2350. The Jessel Gallery is at 1019 Atlas Peak Road, Napa.
NACs wide body aircraft grounded 21 days after official operation

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)s Airbus 330 wide body aircraft has been grounded after a dent was spotted on its cargo door, 21 days after it officially started its commercial flight operations.
AMERICAN CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH

Worship at 10 a.m. Programs for children and youth during worship service. 2 Andrew Road, American Canyon.

ARBOR ALLIANCE

Join us Sundays at 5 p.m. Why 5 p.m. worship? It is a good time for busy people and young families. Kids church and nursery available. 721 Trancas St., Napa. thearborchurch.org; 530-304-4704.

BEIT ABBA

Messianic Jewish ministry of The Fathers House is held the first and third Friday of each month at 7 p.m. Child care provided for ages infant to 7 years old. 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. tfh.org/beitabba.

CARMELITE MONASTERY

Mass times: Sunday, 9 a.m.; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. Confession Days for English and Spanish: Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon; 3-5 p.m.; 8-9 p.m. First Saturdays: Confessions at 10 a.m. followed by Mass at 11 a.m. 944-2454. oakvillecarmelites.org.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

Services are 9 and 10:30 a.m. with Teen Group at 10 a.m. and Youth Program at 10:30 a.m. Rev Jay Lang's topic is "The Action of Prayer: Turn It Around." Open Meditation Wednesdays, 6:30-7 p.m. Spiritual Cinema Night Friday Sept. 14 features "Miss Representation" at 7 p.m. One day workshop "Honoring the Divine Feminine" Saturday Sept. 15, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. will include Ho'oponopono opportunity, a Hawaiian forgiveness process. Please bring donations of small size toiletries for Napans in need by Sunday, Sept. 23. 1249 Coombs. 252-4847.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH

Sunday service and Sunday school for youths up to age 20 at 10 a.m. The Wednesday evening service is at 7:30. Child care provided at all services. New hours for the Reading Room, located in our church building, open to the public weekdays except Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. All current Christian Science literature, including the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the renowned Christian Science Monitor, are available to all to read or purchase; 2210 Second St., Napa; 255-5255; christiansciencenapa.com.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, NAPA  SECOND WARD

Sacrament meeting is each Sunday at 10 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 11:15 and Priesthood and Relief Society at 12:10 p.m. Young mens and young womens programs are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Corner of Trower Avenue and Dry Creek Road, Napa. 224-6496.

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

Congregation Beth Shalom Shabbat Worship Service, Friday, Sept. 14 will be at 6 p.m., led by Rabbi Niles Goldstein. Kol Nidre on Tuesday, Sept. 18 will begin at 7:30 p.m. led by Rabbi Goldstein. Yom Kippur Family Service on Wednesday, Sept. 19 is from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Yom Kippur Services are from 10:30 to 1 p.m. Healing service from 3-4 p.m., Yizkor is from 4-4:30 p.m., Mincha and Neilah from 5-6 p.m. Join a Community Break the fast at 6:15 after the Shofar sounds. 858-774-4343

CORNERSTONE MINISTRIES

Sunday service is at 10:15 a.m. Spanish Church begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday school and childcare are available at both services. Our midweek service is at 6:30 on Wednesday nights. There is childcare and childrens activities at this service. Middle school and high school study meets on Wednesday nights, as well, at 6:30 in the Youth Room. 3305 Linda Vista Ave., Napa; 252-2909. cmnv.org.

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The service on Sept. 16 will be conducted by Rev. Timothy Locke. 1226 Salvador Ave., www.cpcnapa.org.

CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Weekly worship service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Services and attire are casual with a blend of fellowship, music and teaching. Child care and childrens church offered during service. 1050 Hagen Road, Napa. CreeksideChurchNapa.org; 255-7266.

CROSSWALK COMMUNITY CHURCH

New service times are be 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. with children's programs available during the 10 a.m. service. Our new teaching series led by Dr. Peter R. Shaw, Senior Pastor is "Me. Free." Don't miss the beginning of this important series. You are also invited to join Pastor Pete for Praxis -- Integrating deep faith into real life -- on Wednesdays at 11 and again at 6:30. Our primary mission is to usher people into a growing, life-enhancing, world-improving relationship with God. Join us for service at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtyard. Childrens programs available during this time. 2590 First Street, 707-226-1812, www.crosswalknapa.org/

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

We welcome you to come and experience church at First Christian and become part of our family. Our Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Kids Ministry offered for babies through fifth grade. 2659 First Street www.fccnapa.org.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Please join us this week, visitors are always welcome! We are the church with the tall white steeple in the center of downtown Napa, and there is an ADA elevator lift to assist with the stairs. Pastor David will be preaching this week and his sermon title is The One Who Laughs Last, with a scripture reference of Genesis 18:1-15. We sing hymns at 9, and we have praise music at 10:30. Look for our greeters near the front doors to answer any questions. Childcare for newborn to age 4 is available each week. Our weekly Sunday School programs are: The Path Sunday School for kids at 10:30; The Friendship Class at 10; The Adult Bible Study meets at 10:30. We have treats and coffee after both worship times. 1333 Third St., 707 224-8693, fpcnapa.org, facebook.com/fpcnapa, look for us on Givelify.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Join us at either the 9:30 a.m. service in the Sanctuary or the 11 a.m. worship service in the Asbury Room. office@napamethodist.org, 253-1411.

GRACE CHURCH OF NAPA VALLEY

Worship service at 9 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. Adult Sunday school classes at 9 a.m. Childrens service at 9 and 10:40 a.m. Nursery and preschool care available. Junior high ministry meets Tuesday at 7 p.m.; high school meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at 3765 Solano Ave., Napa. 255-4033, GraceNapa.org.

HIGHLANDS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

If youre a regular church attendee, never been or maybe its just been awhile, we invite you to come join us this Sunday and start the adventure with us at 10:30 a.m. Spanish speaking service on Sunday evenings at 6:30. Alcoholics Anonymous group meets weekly on Monday and Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. 970 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga.

HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

We meet at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 100 Anderson Road, Napa. 255-3036; hccnapa.com.

HOLY FAMILY PARISH

Holy Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m. on Sundays and in the traditional Tridentine Latin (Extraordinary) form of the Roman Rite, according to the 1962 Missal, at noon. Before Low Masses, there is a recitation of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 11:30 a.m. Confession is available after every Low Mass. Holy Family Parish is a Catholic mission-parish of St. Joan of Arc in Yountville. 1241 Niebaum Lane, Rutherford. 944-2461.

HOLY GROUND CHRISTIAN CENTER

Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and Bible study is Wednesday at 7 p.m. 3860 Broadway, Suite 111, American Canyon. 373-2015.

LIVING VINE CHURCH

We meet every Sunday morning at 10. 3305 Linda Vista Avenue, Napa. 226-5551.

MEMORIAL CHAPEL AT VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA, YOUNTVILLE

Sunday worship service 10:15 a.m. Coffee fellowship one hour before service. Bible study on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Fellowship Room, with refreshments served; prayer meetings Thursday at 1 p.m. The memorial chapel is on the Veterans Home at Yountville campus on California Drive, across from the administration building. 944-4840. The public is welcome.

MONT LA SALLE CHAPEL

Roman Catholic liturgical services are open to all in this chapel of the De la Salle Christian Brothers at 4401 Redwood Road, Napa. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11 a.m.

NAPA COMMUNITY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Please join us on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for Sabbath School and Connection Classes. Stay for the worship service at 11:15 a.m. Our Community Services is open on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. at 2110 Seminary St., 252-8552, Napacomm.com, 1105 G St., Napa, 252-2444.

NAPA METHODIST CHURCH

Napa Methodist is a progressive congregation where all are welcome. This Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Pastor Marylee Sheffer will speak On Floods, Fear and Finding a Home based on Matthew 6:25-34. 7:24-27. At 11 a.m. service, Keith Calara will speak on Rascally Holiness based on Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 (The Message Translation). 625 Randolph Street in Downtown Napa.

NAPA FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKERS)

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Silent meeting in the custom of Friends. Meet at the VOICES Youth Center, 780 Lincoln Ave., Napa. Enter at parking lot on left side of building, using door at end of wheelchair ramp. Quaker signs will be posted on Sunday mornings. We welcome visiting friends or those who are new to Quaker practice. Childrens Program available with advance notice. nvquaker@gmail.com; 253-1505.

NAPA VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

Join us Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for Bible Study for all ages, 10:30 a.m. for worship service and a fun, interactive and energetic childrens program for preschool through fifth grade. Nursery provided for all Sunday services. 2303 Trower Ave., Napa. napavalleybaptist.org; 252-2100.

NAPA VALLEY BIBLE CHAPEL

We start Sunday services by remembering the Lords death, burial and resurrection during a time of worship and thanksgiving at 9:30 a.m., followed by a fellowship and coffee time starting at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., we enjoy a time of Bible teaching. On Wednesdays at 6 p.m., we meet for a brief Bible study and a time of prayer. 1559 Second St., Napa. napavalleybiblechapel.com. Free Bible course, "What the Bible Teaches," available upon request. Call 707-258-8606 or email info@napavalleybiblechapel.com.

NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

What is it that truly pleases God? It is a question that people asked Jesus way back then and a question many of us still ask today: What truly pleases God? You may have your own idea even of how you think we should please God. But if you want to hear Jesus answer to that question, then join us this Sunday at 10 a.m. as we open Gods Word to Matthew 22; and look at this text in light of the Heidelberg Catechism Lords Day 2. Child care provided. Open forum to follow. 4149 Linda Vista Avenue, Napa. www.NapaValleyChurch.org. NVCC is a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Includes childrens time. Fellowship time follows. All are welcome. The church is located at the corner of Jefferson and Elm, Napa. 226-8166, napavalleylutheran.org.

NAPA VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

The 9:30 a.m. service -- The Locus of Moral Authority: (What We Choose: Ethics for UU's #1) -- will be conducted by Maggie Ingalls & Shawna Bynum. Because Unitarian Universalists have many different theologies and draw spiritual inspiration from a broad range of sources, what is the basis for Unitarian Universalist religious ethics? From where have we derived our ethical frameworks? How do we discern a moral path? Is our framework clear enough to guide us through a complex moral dilemma or choice? Do you know any non-theists you would consider moral?

The 11 a.m. service is A Sermon on Atonement." Traditional service with Rev. Christian Schmidt and Sunday Service Assistant, Norma Neil. This week, Jews around the world recognize Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In our own Universalist tradition, we recognize the concept of atonement, too, as one of how we come to be one with all existence.

NEW LIFE TABERNACLE

Sunday school at 10 a.m., followed by worship service at 11. Sunday evening service the first Sunday of every month. Bible study on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 2625 First St., Napa. 255-1062; NewLifeNapa.com.

ST. APOLLINARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH

All masses are in English. Visitors are welcome. Sunday Mass times: 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon, and 5:30 p.m., Saturday Evening (Vigil for Sunday) 4:30 p.m. Daily Mass Times: Monday-Friday: 7 and 8:45 a.m.; Saturday: 8:45 a.m . Confession: Saturdays: 3:30-4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday: 6:30-6:50 a.m., Monday-Saturday: 8:15-8:35 a.m. 3700 Lassen St., Napa.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

St. John the Baptist Church holds daily masses in English at 7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Weekend masses are Saturday at 5 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish) and Sunday 8 a.m. (Spanish), 10 a.m. (English), noon (Spanish), and 5 p.m. (English). Wednesday evening mass at 7 (Spanish). Corner of Caymus and Yajome streets in downtown Napa.

ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday services are at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. The early service makes use of traditional Lutheran liturgy and hymns, with the singing led by the organ. The 10:15 service is more informal in style with the singing led by the band. Childrens church is offered during the 10:15 service for preschool through 4th grade.

ST. MARYS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Worship on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. or Sundays at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. (organ and choir). Childrens Chapel (Sunday school) is at 9:50 a.m. Sunday. Nursery care is provided during the 10 a.m. service. Coffee hour follows the worship services on Sunday. 1917 Third St., Napa. 255-0991; StMarysNapa.org.

ST. STEPHENS ANGLICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., sung using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Refreshments and social time after the 10:30 service. 1250 Oakville Grade, Oakville. 944-8915; ststephensoakville.org.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH

Mass times are Saturday at 4 p.m. (English), Sunday at 8 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. (English) and 1:30 p.m. (Spanish). Daily mass is at 9 a.m., except on the first Friday, which is at noon and in English. 2725 Elm St., Napa. 255-2949; stthomasaquinasnapa.com.

SALVATION ARMY

Join us for services Sundays at 10 a.m. 590 Franklin St., Napa. napasalarmy.org.

THE FATHERS HOUSE

Service times are Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. Child care and Kids Church are available (ages infant through sixth grade). Youth ministry Encounter meets every Wednesday night at 7. Celebrate Recovery meets on Monday nights at 6:30. 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. tfh.org.

UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER IN NAPA VALLEY

Sunday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. Service. Unitys guest speaker this week is Rev. Kathryn Brenson. Her message is entitled, Spiritual Graduate School. Its that time of year when summer activities are coming to an end and children are back in school. Its a great time to commit to deepening your spiritual awareness and becoming more proficient at using the tools that Unity teaches to improve your life experiences. Rev. Kathryn will have some interesting insights to share! Our Sunday Service music is performed by our musical director, Lon Eakes. 11:40 a.m.- Unity offers Potluck refreshment on this third Sunday of the month. We gather donations for the Napa FoodBank and celebrate congregant birthdays! Sunday Service and Forum are held at the historic Grange Hall, 3275 Hagan Road (1 mile east of the Silverado Trail), Napa. Parking next to the building. www.Facebook.com/USCNV www.UnitySpiritualCenterNapa.org 707 255-6881.

YOUNTVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH

This Sunday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m. we will have our weekly service. Our current series is in the book of John. The main church building is under repairs and we are meeting in our Sunday School classrooms on the North side of the church. Come join us for coffee, donuts, and learn about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sunday School is at 9 am for all ages. We have an Adult Bible class, Youth Group (fifth - eight grades and high school students),and Children's classes "Jesus and Me," (Birth-Kindergarten) and first through fifth grades are offered. Office hours are Tuesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 6619 Yount St., Yountville, 944-2179.

Want to have your church included in Worship Notes? Need to update your congregations information? Contact editor Kelly Doren at kdoren@napanews.com or 256-2263.
Napa County supervisors are seeing their annual base salaries rise from $94,182 annually to $96,928 annually, though they themselves didnt have to do the lifting.

The salary for the Board of Supervisors is set on automatic pilot at 47.09 percent of a Superior Court judge salary, a formula supervisors approved in 2005. The state recently granted judges a 2.89 percent raise.

All the Board of Supervisors had to do at its Sept. 11 meeting was amend county records to reflect the new pay reality. The new salary is $3,728 every two weeks, not counting benefits.

Overall compensation for employees is higher than the base salaries, given benefits and other pay. For example, the overall compensation package for various Napa County supervisors in 2017 was $136,000 to $140,000, according to Transparent California.

Supervisor Belia Ramos made a few comments on the raise. She noted the county has looked at compensation for employees and managers in recent years, but hasnt set its own salary structure in more than a decade.

I certainly do think its time we look at the potential for compaction for the Board and ensure that the Boards compensation is in line with that of our counterparts in comparable counties, Ramos said.

Salary compaction refers to the pay relationship between managerial or supervisorial employees and subordinates.

County Executive Officer Minh Tran also addressed the issue of the Board of Supervisors salary.

It is very low compared to the other comparable county boards of supervisors, Tran said. I know times have changed and the demand on the (Napa) Board has been greater than years past.

Staff will do a study and come back to the Board at a future date, he said.

Yolo County supervisors earn $67,064 annually, Solano County supervisors earn $106,020 annually and Sonoma County supervisors earn $154,384 annually, according to those counties. That doesnt necessarily include raises made this summer.

According to Transparent California, more than 300 of about 1,400 Napa County employees have higher base salaries than county supervisors. For example, these higher-paid workers include some -but not allcounty planners and deputy sheriffs.

Among elected Napa County positions, the district attorney earns $227,884, the sheriff-coroner earns $227,531, the assessor-recorder-county clerk earns $190,320, the auditor-controller earns $188,364 and the treasurer-tax collector earns $183,019.

The median annual household income in Napa County is $74,609, according to the American Community Survey.

Napa County supervisors a few decades ago had to vote for each salary hike. At times, that proved contentious with the voting public. In 1989, supervisors decided to set their salaries  then at $26,000 annuallyat 40 percent of a Superior Court judges salary.

The percentage varied in following years, with supervisors lowering it during the early 1990s recession and then raising it during the economic boom of the late 1990s.

The most recent of the formula adjustments came in 2005, when supervisors settled on 47.09 percent. Various other county boards of supervisors also base their pay on Superior Court judge salaries. Solano County has done so since 1997 and presently uses 53 percent.

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ST. HELENA  The next six months are shaping up to be a pivotal time for Main Street businesses as the city promises swift action to stimulate commerce.

Faced with 20 recommendations from city staff based on a consultants economic study, the City Council agreed Tuesday that most of them should be implemented or at least initiated within the next six months. A few of the recommendations were given lower priorities, but none of them were rejected outright.

The plans long-term centerpiece is the installation of new, safer sidewalks downtown. The work is scheduled for 2021, but planning is already getting underway due to the complexity of the project, potential complications involving trees and underground utilities, and impact on businesses.

Merchants, who are struggling with fewer customers, have praised the recommendations as long overdue. Councilmembers also were supportive, although specific recommendations like exploring a new hotel will probably become more controversial once theyve been fleshed out.

One way or another, if were going to be sustainable we have to generate more foot traffic that stays longer here in St. Helena and helps our shops, Mayor Alan Galbraith said. Im especially pleased with the comments about taking a further look at hotels.

The economic consulting firm Kosmont Companies will study two city-owned sites  the Adams Street property and the Teen Center lot on Railroad Avenue  and report back to the council on each sites potential for generating revenue, including the number of hotel rooms that might be suitable for either location.

The council-appointed SHAPE Committee already considered a possible hotel on one of those properties.

A lot of the community that was initially very opposed to a hotel on Adams  a lot of it had to do with the process, said Councilmember Mary Koberstein. But by going through the SHAPE process, there were several people who came around to the idea that some preservation of public open space over there would be acceptable with a hotel.

Councilmember Geoff Ellsworth said any discussion of a hotel has to consider the additional need for housing that would result. Koberstein said she sees the upcoming Kosmont study as a feasibility and site analysis, with suggested room counts that would inform future talks about impacts.

The council also gave its blessing to a pilot project allowing the Napa Valley Wine Train to temporarily drop off passengers in St. Helena, possibly as part of the Jingle All the Way promotion scheduled for December.

Were hearing from the merchants  or at least I am  that this is something theyd like to see, Ellsworth said. I like the idea that its a pilot program, and were testing to see how it goes.

The council also endorsed the following recommendations, with most of them starting within the next six months:

- Start planning for a new multi-use City Hall on the current property

- Allow for pop-up retail

- Pursue pedestrian alley beautification

- Complete downtown restroom project on Money Way

- Complete parking study to identify possible improvements

- Evaluate potential streetscape improvements to Money Way, Railroad Avenue and Oak Avenue

- Enhance community event programming in partnership with the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce

- Refresh branding and reputation of downtown

- Fund online marketing portal for vacant commercial space and priority investment opportunities

- Provide technical assistance to businesses and landlords on experiential, destination and omni-channel retail strategies

- Develop policies and a permit process for city parklets

- Improve business certainty by identifying community-supported uses permitted by right in the Central Business and Service Commercial zoning districts (12 months)

- Launch downtown facade and tenant improvement program (12 months)

- Develop sign program with local history so people can find historical sites and other places of interest (12 months)

- Streamline the permit process by discontinuing discretionary review for certain permit types (12 months)

- Re-imagine underused properties/promote infill housing (12 months)

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After a long and bitter legal battle, Sonoma developer and lobbyist Darius Anderson has lost his bid to collect more than $40 million from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for services his company asserts it provided starting 15 years ago when the tribe had just begun its efforts to buy land for a casino in Sonoma County.

A three-member arbitration panel in San Francisco denied Anderson's claims that his company was owed a percentage of net gaming revenues, according to the panel's 53-page decision filed earlier this year in San Francisco Superior Court.

The arbitrators -- a private panel of retired judges assembled to settle the dispute out of court -- agreed with the tribe's allegations that Anderson's company failed to provide the services it promised. They ordered a real estate partnership owned by Anderson, Kenwood Investments No. 2, to pay $725,000 to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for the tribe's legal fees and other costs, an award affirmed June 1 in San Francisco Superior Court.

Anderson, a principal of Sonoma Media Investments, which owns The Press Democrat, declined to comment because of a confidentiality agreement. A representative of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria said the tribe had no comment.

Their business relationship began in 2002 and ended around 2005, nearly eight years before the tribe would open the doors of Graton Resort & Casino on the western outskirts of Rohnert Park.

The payment dispute centered around whether Kenwood Investments fulfilled the services outlined in a 2003 consulting agreement between the parties, which involved helping the tribe acquire land, open a casino and manage public relations surrounding the project. The legal battle didn't begin until 2014 after it became clear the tribe wasn't going to make payments based on gaming revenues outlined in the contract to Kenwood Investments because it contended the company hadn't fulfilled its promises.

The arbitrators determined Kenwood Investment's performance was "inadequate." Both sides agreed Kenwood Investments "was not involved in the major milestones of transferring the tribal land into trust, obtaining a gaming compact, or developing the casino," according to their decision.

In 2002, the tribe had just gained recognition from the federal government and its constitution was approved by the Secretary of the Interior, according to public records. The tribe had no land, and its council sought out Kenwood Investments to help it find property in Sonoma or Marin counties that could be acquired for tribal lands for economic development, court documents show.

The tribe agreed to pay Kenwood Investments 4 percent of net gaming revenues for the first seven years of a casino's operation, terms later negotiated down to 2.5 percent of net gaming revenues when Kenwood Investments didn't help the tribe meet a self-imposed deadline to acquire a gaming compact with the state, according to the documents.

In court filings, lawyers representing Anderson and his company argued the tribe was ultimately successful in opening its Rohnert Park casino as a result of the early assistance provided by Kenwood Investments, including helping the tribe acquire the rights to buy land in the southeast corner of Sonoma County and find an operator to run its casino. Kenwood sought $43 million from the tribe in its breach of contract complaint, according to a document filed by arbitrators.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Nighttime wildlife, star-gazing, a stellar Hawaiian dining menu and wine are all part of the Bouchaine Vineyards Harvest Celebration 2018 on Sept. 29.

The evening begins with a glass of Bouchaine Vineyards Vin Gris, followed by a demonstration by falconer Rebecca Rosen, who will send her Gyr-Prairie falcon into the skies over Bouchaines Carneros vineyard to swoop in large circles making its presence known to grape-eating birds that might be in the vicinity.

This is a practice repeated daily throughout the harvest season to move birds along their way and out of the vineyards. No birds are harmed in the process. Rosen and her birds will be available during the event for photographs with guests.

Dinner will be prepared by Chef Bev Gannon chef/owner of the Haliimaile General Store and Gannons Restaurant on Maui. Gannon is also owner of Celebrations Catering, the longest-running catering company on Maui.

Gannon was nominated in 2004 for the James Beard Award for Best Chef Hawaii/Pacific Northwest and is corporate chef of Hawaiian Airlines, where her food was named Best Food in the Air in North America by readers of Conde Nast Traveler (2003, 2004 and 2006.)

She has also made numerous television appearances including NBCs Today Show, The CBS Morning Show, and multiple shows on Food Network. She was named one of the Great Chefs of Hawaii, a series on the Discovery Channel.

Gannons menu will include

Ahi Poke Bar, sticky rice, Maui onion, cucumber

Kona lobster spring rolls

Lychee sweet and sour, lettuce cups, Thai basil

Korean barbecue tenderloin

Gochujang Aioli, cucumber Kimchee

Macadamia nut crusted island fresh catch

Coconut red curry sauce, Molokai purple sweet potato mash

Kalua pork, steamed buns

Pickled daikon, cilantro, sesame, bean sprouts

Tropical soba noodle salad

Passionfruit vinaigrette, julienne baby vegetables, Tatsoi

Dessert bites, coconut macaroons and chocolate, Macadamia nut triangles, Lilikoi brulee and pineapple cobbler

Michael Gabriel & Friends will provide live Caribbean and reggae music throughout the evening.

As the skies darken, guests can view the planets, nebulae, galaxies, stars and star clusters up close employing 10- and 12- reflector telescopes. Experienced professionals will assist with the help of binoculars and laser pointers. Bouchaine is an ideal location for star gazing, being distant from any light pollution and located near San Francisco Bay in the Los Carneros AVA.

The Bouchaine Harvest Party begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $150 ($100 for Bouchaine Wine Club members), by reservation only and are available by calling 707-252-9065. Tickets are limited.

Family-owned Bouchaine Vineyards is located at 1075 Buchli Station Road, Napa. The winery is open daily for tasting and tours. Reservations are required for groups of six or more guests. More information is available at www.bouchaine.com or by calling (800) 654-WINE or (707) 252-9065.
Bring a big Shochu fan for a number of years, I had the pleasure of being chosen by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) to lead a couple of Shochu seminars in the Bay Area. The events took months of planning in order to promote the artisan craft of this ancient Japanese spirit.

Ten producers aided by the Japanese government made the trek to the U.S. to showcase the fruit of their labor. Shochu production in general dates to the 14th century in Japan, split into a couple areas concentrated in the south islands of Kyushu, Amami and Okinawa.

Like most of the products in Japan extending from culinary products like noodles and pastries to beverages like sake, regionality plays a big role in defining style based on local ingredients.

Shochu can be identified and classified into a handful of main categories ranging from Kome or Rice Shochu concentrated in the Kumamoto region, which tends to be fruitier and soft in style.

Imo or sweet potato Shochu mainly produced in Kagoshima and Miyazaki producing an earthy and peppery beverage.

Mugi or Barley Shochu is mainly produced in the northeast Oita region a style yielding a complex and smokey Shochu.

Awamori produced in Okinawa makes a distinctive style made of Thai rice, which is aged in clay pots for a long period and utilizes a solera method akin to sherry production.

Another style is Kokuto Shochu. Its main ingredient is sugar cane and molasses derived from it. Kokuto Shochu is championed in the Amami Islands, a cluster of tiny islands located in between Kyushu and Okinawa.

The Amami Islands landscape is beautifully populated by white sand beaches and clear waters. The Amami Islands control has changed hands throughout the years more recently in hands of the United States Government shortly after World War II until 1952 when it returned to being part of Japan.

The Amami Islands staple product is sugar cane, basically supplying the whole country with this prime ingredient. Naturally they produce this incredible style of Shochu with distilling techniques adopted from the Okinawa Islands dating to the early 1600s.

This last weekend, I had the pleasure of experiencing a number of Shochus produced in Amami, production is small and artisanal in hands of a few dozen producers that carry their family tradition for the last centuries.

At first glance, Kokuto Shochu produced in the Amami Islands smells a lot like rum, naturally since the base ingredient is the same. There are a couple differences however between rum and Shochu. For Shochu production it must be only distilled once to preserve the quality of the main ingredient, it may not have any added color, flavor or sugar making it a pure expression.

The range is fascinating from younger examples giving green and even spicy notes to aged examples talking about 10, even 20 years plus aged examples. Aging occurs in a variety of vessels including previously used Sherry casks and even Cognac barrels to stainless steel and clay containers depending on the producer.

Alcohol percentages range from 20 to 43 percent for the majority of them, personally the best ways to enjoy Kokuto Shochu from the Amami Islands is with one ice cube, however it can be great with hot water and even mixed in a cocktail, a Hemingway-style Daiquiri comes to mind, I can picture Ernest Hemingway in a different lifetime indulging in the Amami Islands, getting inspiration from the culture and people that populate this piece of heaven.

Although Kokuto Shochu is limited in the United States, there are a couple of examples available in some markets. Nankai, for instance, has presence in California with a 24 percent alcohol bottle, which is highly pleasant and ideal for cocktails ($25) and a barrel aged version arriving in November with 43 percent alcohol called Nankai Gold ideal for cigar night with friends.

Another producer to look for in our markets is ReLento Kokuto Shochu aged in stainless steel with classical music playing in the background that the producer says it contributes to its harmonious nature, 24 percent alcohol, soft and round and very easy drinking ($22).

Shochu is certainly a category to watch in the beverage world. With its growing presence, I wouldnt be surprised if we start seeing Shochu used by leading mixologists in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City in the years to come.

Eduardo can be reached at eduardo@sakedrinker.com.
The Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu has said his country is mulling a bullet train service between Kunming and Kolkata (in India), traversing through Myanmar and Bangladesh.

A report appearing in the The Daily Star stated that with joint efforts of India and China, a high-speed rail link could be established between the two cities, Zhanwu said at a conference in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The report further quoted Zhanwu as saying, It will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the rail link becomes a reality. The envoy also said Myanmar and Bangladesh would benefit from the project.

We may have a cluster of industries along the route. That increases the possibility of economic development of countries involved in the 2,800 km-long project. The project had also found mention at the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) meet in Kunming in 2015, he said.

The rail route was aimed at boosting trade flow in the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor, Zhanwu said, adding that his country has been striving for the revival of Silk Route to increase connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata.

Asserting that the much-vaunted Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was not a scheme designed by China to conquer the world or its neighbourhood, Zhanwu said the project was all about shared benefits and development through consultations and discussions.
Erdogan congratulates Aliyev

Armenia 2nd President: We're going to get rid of these authorities through barricades or elections

Russia, Azerbaijan FMs discuss trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020

Armenia FM strongly condemns Azerbaijan's provocations during phone talks with Russian counterpart

armlur.am: Armenia ex-police chief: I support Robert Kocharyan, he can help get country out of this situation

Council of Armenia's Tegh village: Horse that crossed over to Azerbaijani side has returned

Russian and Armenia FMs continue to exchange views ahead of anniversary of adoption of trilateral statement

Armenia MFA issues statement strongly condemning Azerbaijan's gross violation of ceasefire regime

Armenia ruling party representative appointed Shirak Province governor

Ex-deputy chief of Armenian army's General Staff Tiran Khachatryan attends opposition's rally

Armenia 2nd President: Demarcation with border of Azerbaijan will predetermine status of Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia 2nd President presents 4 facts about 44-day war

168.am: Armenia ex-defense minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan to be appointed Ambassador to Russia

Armenia defense minister pays working visit to Karabakh and then visits Sev Lake territory of Syunik Province

Young Armenians hold demonstration in defense of Armenia and Artsakh in Athens

Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance adopts declaration at end of rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan

One of civilians injured in Shushi is in severe condition, 2 persons' condition is of medium severity

NEWS.am daily digest: 08.11.21

Armenia police apprehend female participant of rally at Freedom Square

Armenian FM receives outgoing UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia

Traffic stopped at intersection near Karabakh's Shushi after gunshots fired by Azerbaijanis at water company employees

Opposition 'Armenia' alliance holding rally at Freedom Square in Yerevan

Police troops deployed at Freedom Square in Yerevan and nearby streets

Opposition Armenia parliament faction leader: This unblocking will lead to deeper blockade

Armen Sarkissian: Armenia could become a base country for Russia for development of certain directions

Two of three civilians injured in Artsakh are undergoing surgeries, condition is stable but grave

Sarkissian: Armenia's relations with a third country are theorem but those with Russia are axiom

Hulusi Akar: Turkey expects Armenia to discuss 3+3 platform proposal

Dollar quite stable in Armenia

Armenia President on relations with Turkey: Nothing will work out, if there is no mutual respect

Iran MFA: We hope to see development of relations with Azerbaijan as much as possible

Armenian enemy uttered in every paragraph of Azerbaijan presidents address

Karabakh National Security Service: Azerbaijanis shoot civilians working on water pipelines near Shushi

Artsakh President gets vaccinated against Covid

Mijatovic: Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following 2020 hostilities in Karabakh

Armenia President states how long Russian peacekeepers will need to be in Nagorno-Karabakh

Health minister: Real number of people infected with COVID-19 may be 2-3 times greater in Armenia

Armenia PM sending Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer to Dubai on business trip

Peskov: Exact date of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders video-link talks not determined yet

Turkey defense minister: Armenia must stop enmity, look forward

Protesters submit report on crime to Armenia Prosecutor General's Office, demand sentencing PM

Beglaryan: Artsakh Armenians righteous struggle continues for international recognition of their independence

Armenia town womans fellow city resident is detained in connection with her death as result of severe beating

Karabakh parliament to convene special session Tuesday

Economy minister: Agricultures share in Armenia's total GDP will inevitably decrease

4 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Armenian Genocide recognition bill to be debated on at UK House of Commons on Tuesday

Demonstration against November 2020 tripartite statement being held in Yerevan

810 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Health minister: More than 890,000 people in Armenia have been vaccinated against Covid

Pregnant woman dies of coronavirus in Armenia

World oil prices on the rise

CSTO peacekeepers military exercises kicking off in Russia

Armenian monastery in Artsakh becomes target of Azerbaijan propaganda (PHOTOS)

International conference on non-use of lands in Armenia being held in Yerevan

Biden approval rating reaches record low

Snow crab sold for about $44,000 at Japan market auction

Fatal hit-and-run occurs in Armenias Shirak Province

Artsakh President signs decree on winter military conscription and demobilization

NASA approves idea of cross-flights into space with Russia

Armenian solider fatally wounded

Iraqi creates special commission to investigate assassination attempt on PM

Parliament to discuss mandate for Turkish military presence extension in Azerbaijan

Police detain over 20 people at a large-scale rally of eco-activists in Glasgow

19 people killed in Mexican accident

Large-scale military drills begin in southern Iran

Armenian ex-president's mom dies aged 93

1,417 new cases of COVID-19 infection detected in Armenia

Number of hospitalized due to food poisoning at pizzeria chains 2 Yerevan restaurants rises to 122

Ex-President Kocharyan will deliver comprehensive speech at November 8 rally, says opposition Armenia Bloc MP

At least 100 killed in fuel tanker explosion in Sierra Leone

Russia, Iran FMs discuss situation in South Caucasus

Armenia army General Staff ex-deputy chief withdraws one lawsuit filed with Administrative Court

New Armenian ambassador presents copies of his credentials to head of Greece MFA protocol department

US House of Representatives passes $1 trillion infrastructure development bill

Azerbaijan destroys Artsakhs Madatashen village school, house of culture, monument, damages St. Astvatsatsin Church

Deputy PM Papikyan is elected Chairman of Yerevan State University Board of Trustees

Russia, US engaged in dialogue on strategic stability

Economy minister: China on list of main export destinations for Armenia

Turkey court finds word Jew offensive

12 of Million Mask March participants arrested in London

121 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Armenia MFA: Use of force by Azerbaijan cannot remove Karabakh conflict from international agenda

2,117 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Re-elected Uzbekistan President takes office

Number of hospitalized due to food poisoning at pizzeria chains 2 Yerevan restaurants climbs to 98

Czech Rep. President suffers from liver cirrhosis

Newspaper: Natural gas, electricity bills to rise for those in Armenia not vaccinated against coronavirus

Famous Brazil singer dies in plane crash

US rules out resumption of operations at consulates general in China

Newspaper: Armenia Unified Social Services provincial offices are used for political purposes

Opposition Armenia Faction: November 8 rally will mark beginning of pan-Armenian struggle

Russian MFA: Russia is not inclined to have monopoly in contacts with Armenia and Azerbaijan

Residents of Armenia's Goris say they will shut down roads, if Mayor Arush Arushanyan isn't released

57 Armenia citizens hospitalized after being poisoned at Tashir Pizza

Armenia economy minister: Right strategy for development of winemaking and brandy production is important

Opposition 'Armenia' faction proposes bill to punish those who provide false information to a probe committee

Armenia emergency situations minister, ICRC Delegation head sign new cooperation document

Overchuk to Armenia PM: Roads remain under the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass

Tashir Pizza temporarily closes its branches in Armenia
Nepali student kills self in US

A Nepali student committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in San Francisco, United States of America on Wednesday.
Police collect blood samples of three suspects for DNA tests

Police on Thursday collected blood samples of suspended Superintendent of Police Dilli Raj Bista, his son Kiran Bista, and Aayush Bista, nephew of Bhimdutta Municipality Mayor Surendra Bista, in the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Pant.
One of my first actions in the status of Prime Minister was the visit to the Carrefour supermarket [in Armenia] because it was the [countrys] only supermarket which at the moment was operating in accordance with the law.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is on a two-day visit to France, on Friday stated the aforementioned at his meeting with members of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), in Paris.

As a result of that loneliness, the huge supermarket had started a process of downsizing [in Armenia], Pashinyan added, in particular. And now I can say that this process has stopped, and the process of expansion is guaranteed because all supermarkets [in Armenia] today operate in accordance with the law.

The PM noted, however, that the government now has to clarify some matters with foreign companies that conduct business in Armenia.

Our objective isnt to ruin anything, but to include Armenias interests and to make mutual cooperation more productive under the conditions of cooperation with those companies, Pashinyan noted. We want to make our relations with companies become honest.

The chair of the defender of Armenias interests is no longer vacant.

Potholes have emerged, from which we need to come out together.
President calls for justice to Nirmala

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called on the stakeholders concerned to bring the perpetrator(s) in the rape and killing of Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur to justice.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, who is in France on a working visit, met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. Following the ceremonial procedures, the leaders of the two countries continued the talks in the sidelines of a working dinner, the official website of the Prime Minister of Armenia reported.

Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Armenian PM at the Elysee Palace and highlighted his visit to France, expressing confidence that it will give new impetus to the future development of the friendly relations between the 2 countries. The French President emphasized that his country is ready to continue the efforts aimed at expanding the close cooperation with Armenia in various spheres. Noting that in just a month he will pay an official visit to Armenia, Emmanuel Macron expressed confidence that the Francophonie Summit will be held at a high level in Yerevan.

Thanking for the warm reception, Nikol Pashinyan noted that their 2nd meeting shows that the Armenian-French privileged relations are in safe hands and will continue to expand and deepen for the benefit of both countries. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that since the establishment of diplomatic relations the relations between Armenia and France have regularly deepened and expressed confidence that they will continue to develop in all the spheres  stable political dialogue, active inter-parliamentary relations, decentralized active interactions, economic cooperation, and implementation of projects in culture, education, science, healthcare and other spheres.

I am confident that our meeting will give new quality to our privileged relations that are based on centuries-old relations, Pashinyan said. The Armenian PM highlighted the holding of the Francophonie Summit in Armenia and added that its one of the most important events to be held in Armenia since independence. The Premier reaffirmed the complete commitment of the Armenian authorities to ensure the success of the summit and expressed confidence that it will foster the reputation of the organization. Nikol Pashinyan also highlighted the holding of the economic forum in the sidelines of the summit on October 10 aimed at fostering interactions and partnership between businessmen.

The sides exchanged views on Nagorno Karabakh issue and highlighted its settlement through exclusively peaceful means, in the sidelines of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs format. Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the efforts of the Co-chair countries, including France, aimed at the peaceful settlement of Artsakh issue and ensuring stability in the region. The PM emphasized that Armenia is committed to continue the negotiations for achieving a peaceful settlement.

Emmanuel Macron and Nikol Pashinyan agreed to discuss the Armenian-French agenda in detail during the state visit of the French President to Armenia.
Debate on Trump and Mueller investigation headlines Constitution Day events

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Is President Donald Trump wrong about his constitutional claims surrounding the ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller? That question will be explored during a student debate during Southern Illinois University Carbondales Constitution Day activities.

Constitution Day is Monday, Sept. 17. The day marks the anniversary of delegates to the Philadelphia Convention completing and signing the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

The events are free and open to the public. All educational institutions that receive federal funding must annually deliver programs on the U.S. Constitution.

Debate set for Morris Library

Members of the universitys debate team will address the topic of whether President Trump is wrong regarding constitutional claims about the Mueller investigation during an event at 7 p.m. in the librarys John C. Guyon Auditorium.

This is the eighth year the debate team has been involved with the event. After the debate, which will last about 45 minutes, light refreshments will be available.

Todd Graham, director of debate, hopes the audience gets a richer understanding of the Mueller investigation and the legality of it.

Civic discourse is vital to a functioning democracy and there are many misconceptions about the special counsel's investigation, Graham said. It's important to stay informed.

Law school RSOs to visit local high school

Some Carbondale Community High School social studies students will learn more about their Fourth Amendment rights during classes from 8:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Law school students involved with the Women of Diversity and American Constitution Society registered student organizations will discuss students rights regarding search and seizures and traffic stops.

The presentation will include a discussion on motorists rights when stopped by police and short skits.
RJP-N ministers to address protest rallies

Rastriya Janta Party-Nepal (RJP-N), a key coalition partner of the Province 2 government, has decided to send its ministers and state ministers to address protest programmes at various places on the Constitution Day.
Daily Egyptian looks to earn second straight online collegiate award

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  For a second consecutive year, the Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University Carbondales student-produced newspaper, is a finalist to receive one of the nations top online collegiate awards.

The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) recognized the Daily Egyptian as one of the 24 online news and magazine sites nominated this year in the Online Pacemaker competition. ACP is the nations largest and oldest national membership association for college student media, according to the organizations website. The Daily Egyptian earned the award in fall 2017.

Thrilled to be a finalist for second straight year

It really speaks to the dedication of our staff, who juggle academics, some semblance of a personal life and demanding jobs in the newsroom, Eric Fidler, the newspapers faculty managing editor said.

The Daily Egyptian will celebrate its 102nd anniversary next month, with the original publication on Oct. 28, 1916. The newspaper is now printed once a week but operates daily online at dailyegyptian.com.

I tell students we are an online news organization that happens to print a weekly newspaper, not the other way around, Fidler said. I think that shows in the repeated recognition of our online reporting.

No additional pressure after last years award

Fidler said he doesnt believe anyone felt pressure to repeat again this year.

Awards are so subjective that you can't let yourself get caught up in chasing them, he said. I tell the students to do their best and not worry about awards. That said, it's always nice to win them.

Highly coveted collegiate award

Associated College Press states that the Pacemaker is the associations preeminent award and is often called the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism.

The organization received approximately 100 overall entries from colleges and universities. The selected finalists represent 16 states and the District of Columbia. There is a separate competition for print newspapers.

Todays best online sites are platforms for rich multimedia storytelling, said Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition. Deep and diverse coverage with strong engagement and interactivity distinguish the best student-produced sites.

Finalists will be recognized and winners announced Oct. 27 during the ACP/College Media Association National College Media Convention, Oct. 25-28, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Critically acclaimed Churchill play to be featured at SIU

by Hannah Erickson

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The yearly lecture hosted by the University Honors Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has been turned on its ear by bringing in a one-man live performance of the critically acclaimed play, Churchill.

Ron Keatons Jeff-Award winning performance is set to be featured for the fall edition of the Michael and Nancy Glassman Distinguished Lecture. The unique performance displays the British Bulldog who captured the hearts of millions and led his country to victory in WW2.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the event and contact Ron Keaton for interviews and questions. Keaton may be reached by email or by calling (847) 275-2184.

Critics praise performance

Keatons original script finds the former Prime Minister in a reflective, intimate mood, allowing the audience to see not only the fierce statesman but also to experience his gentle side  making the great man relatable without diminishing him, and allowing his humor and humanity to shine through.

The performance has received wide attention nationwide and was sold out on its Off-Broadway run.

The New York Beat called the play riveting and a triumph, while the Huffington Post said, Churchill never failed to inspire and Keatons excellent rendition explains why.

Similarly, Curtain Up New York deemed the play to be heartwarming and enthusiastic, with Keaton at his best.

Performance set for one night only

The show will run for one night only, 7 p.m., Sept. 25, at Shryock Auditorium at SIU. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

For more information, visit churchilltheplay.com, or contact the University Honors Program at 618/453-2824.
Salam Air launches Kathmandu flights

Omans low-cost carrier Salam Air, on Tuesday, started direct flights on Muscat-Kathmandu sector. This international expansion of Salam Air will be locally handled by IME International Travel, a travel subsidiary of IME Group.
Suspended SP Bista has a chequered past

Suspended Superintendent of Police Dilli Raj Bista, then Kanchanpur police chief who has been charged with mishandling the rape and murder of Nirmala Pant, was mired in controversies as he served in several police posts and offices in the past.
Two arrested for molesting teenagers

Police have arrested two persons on charge of molesting two teenagers from Darchula.
1. Yes. Losing daily service to Houston could be just the first in a series of service cutbacks.

2. Yes. Being less competitive with Austin and D-FW will hurt the airport in the long run.

3. No. The airport has seen strong passenger numbers. Good marketing can keep it going.

4. No. The airport is still pursuing other service, including a Denver route. Its still a solid asset.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing future airline and travel industry trends.

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Thats why the administration has beenon the one hand--very actively trying to convince Irans biggest trading partners to drop its crude, and, on the other, seeking to ensure there will be enough oil even when Irans exports slump.

Yet it has become clear that there is as much to be lost from these sanctions ashypotheticallyto be gained. Prices at the pump in the U.S. are climbing higher ahead of the November 4 deadline before the sanctions kick in and this is not something the Trump Administration wants ahead of the November midterm elections.

The talks are the latest stage in Washingtons preparation for the sanctions whose purpose is to cripple the Iranian economy to an extent that would lead to a regime change - although observers familiar with Iranian politics have warned this is an unlikely outcome.

Perry praised OPEC as a whole and Russia as its partner for responding to higher prices by increasing production, even using the word admiration as something the cartel and Russia deserved for their efforts to keep oil prices under control.

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry this week held two high-profile meetings, one with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia and the other with his Russian counterpart. These meeting were an attempt ensure ample supply of crude oil after sanctions against Iran come into effect in November.

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry this week held two high-profile meetings, one with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia and the other with his Russian counterpart. These meeting were an attempt ensure ample supply of crude oil after sanctions against Iran come into effect in November.

Perry praised OPEC as a whole and Russia as its partner for responding to higher prices by increasing production, even using the word admiration as something the cartel and Russia deserved for their efforts to keep oil prices under control.

The talks are the latest stage in Washingtons preparation for the sanctions whose purpose is to cripple the Iranian economy to an extent that would lead to a regime change - although observers familiar with Iranian politics have warned this is an unlikely outcome.

Yet it has become clear that there is as much to be lost from these sanctions ashypotheticallyto be gained. Prices at the pump in the U.S. are climbing higher ahead of the November 4 deadline before the sanctions kick in and this is not something the Trump Administration wants ahead of the November midterm elections.

Thats why the administration has beenon the one hand--very actively trying to convince Irans biggest trading partners to drop its crude, and, on the other, seeking to ensure there will be enough oil even when Irans exports slump.

The situation is particularly interesting with regard to Russia. U.S.-Russian relations are at a historic low but Russia is one of the worlds top oil producers, which makes it instrumental for any control of global oil supply. Judging by reports of the meeting between Perry and Novak, at least in this respect, bilateral relations are warm. For now.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions:

 Austrian OMV will buy a 50% interest in the oil production business of Malaysian Sapura Energy for $1.6 billion. For the Malaysian company, the tie-up is a strategic partnership that will help it grow. For OMV, the acquisition is part of a strategy to expand its presence on low-cost markets with a special focus on Southeast Asia, besides other markets such as New Zealand and the UAE.

 Australias Competition and Consumer Commission has approved the proposed US$9.23-billion takeover of gas pipeline operator APA Group by Hong Kong-based CK Infrastructure, surprising some observers who believed the watchdog would ask the buyer to divest more Australian assets to ensure fair competition. APA Group owns two-thirds of gas distribution pipelines in the country and SK Infrastructure has other assets in the industry, too, part of which it said it will sell.

Tenders, Auctions & Contracts:

 Qatargas has inked a 22-year sale and purchase agreement for LNG supplies with a unit of PetroChina. Under the deal, the Qatari company will ship to China 3.4 million tons of LNG every year. The gas will come from Qatargas-2, a project that the Qatari company operates along with Exxon and Total. The first cargo will reach China later this month.

 South Sudan has extended its contracts with CNPC, ONGC, Petronas, and local state oil firm Nilepet for the development of three oil and gas blocks. The petroleum ministry of the oil-rich but conflict-ridden country said the extended contracts will allow CNPC, ONGC, and Petronas to pump oil from the Unity fields for another six years. The companies have been present in South Sudan since its secession from Sudan in 2011. At the time, the new country produced 350,000 bpd and now hopes to reach this level again by mid-2019.

 Gazprom and Mitsui have struck a preliminary agreement for the construction of an LNG plant in the Russian port of Ust-Luga, on the Baltic Sea. The facility will have an annual capacity of 10 million tons and is planned to be launched in 2022 or 2023. Baltic LNG will supply fuel to Europe and South America.

Discovery & Development:

 Eni said it had ramped up production at the giant Zohr gas field in Egypt ahead of schedule and the field now pumped more than 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily. This is equal to 365,000 barrels of oil equivalent. The Zohr field is the largest gas discovery in Egypt to date, with resources of as much as 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in place.

 Energy independent Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas announced its Orinduik license block offshore Guyana may contain up to 2.5 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves along with 2.45 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Eco Atlantic holds a 40% stake in the block, which is adjacent to one of Exxons large discoveries in Guyana, and has partnered with Tullow Oil for its exploration. French Total is also a participant in the project, with an option to acquire 25% of Orinduik from Eco for $12.5 million.

 Mexicos crude oil production should rise by 800,000 bpd by the end of the current presidential term, President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said. This means that from the current 1.8 million bpd, Mexicos oil output would jump to 2.6 million bpd if the governments steps in this direction are successful. The first of these will be a tender for shallow-water blocks to be announced in December, when Obrador takes office.

Company News:

 Cairn Energy booked a loss for the first half of the year, at $500.5 million, versus a profit of $70.9 million for the first half of 2017. Revenues, however, jumped to $182.4 million in the period, from $10.8 million for the first half of 2017.

Regulatory Updates:

 In the latest handout for the oil and gas industry, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will start rolling back methane emission curbing rules implemented during the Obama administration. According to the EPA, this will cut duplicative rules by states and federal agencies, and generate regulatory cost savings of $75 million annually between 2019 and 2025.

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict:

 Seven armed men stormed the headquarters of Libyas National Oil Corporation earlier this week, killing two company employees. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.

 Indians are protesting high prices at the pump with some protests turning into acts of vandalism against fuel stations in the country. Higher oil prices on international markets have swollen Indias oil bill considerably, triggering the protests.

 South Sudan is ready to pay its debt of $1.2 billion to Sudan after the restart of more oil fields. The sum is the amount outstanding on a $3-billion compensation for Sudans loss of oil fields after South Sudans secession in 2011.
The United States wont be able to bring Iranian oil exports to zero because the other producers cant offset the loss of all of Irans oil barrels in an already tight market, Irans OPEC governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili told Reuters on Friday.

According to Kazempourwhose position as Irans OPEC governor makes him the second most senior member after the oil minister at OPEC meetingsan already emerging supply shortage and little spare capacity virtually everywhere means that the United States cant achieve its goal of bringing Iranian oil exports down to zero when sanctions on Irans oil industry return in early November.

There is no spare capacity anywhere, Kazempour told Reuters.

Earlier this week, Irans First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said that Irans oil sales will never reach zero, the Iranian oil ministrys news service Shana reported. The official admitted that Iranian oil exports would drop, but reiterated Irans position that the U.S. sanctions would not succeed in cutting off all of the countrys oil sales.

The US is attempting to bring Irans oil sales to zero by imposing banking and transportation restrictions, and the administration, despite all the difficulties and hardships, is seeking solutions to quash their [US] plans, Shana quoted Jahangiri as saying.

Irans oil exports started to drop noticeably in August, and many analysts now expect the sanctions to remove more than 1 million bpd of Iranian oil from the market.

Related: Gas Could Overtake Oil As The Largest U.S. Energy Source This Year

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly Oil Market Report on Thursday that due to falling supply from Venezuela and Iran, the market is tightening. It also said that oil prices are set to rise unless there is additional production increases elsewhere that will offset the supply losses.

Evidence provided by tanker tracking data suggests that Irans exports have already fallen significantly but we must wait to see if the 500 kb/d of reductions seen so far will grow, the IEA said, noting that Iran, Venezuela, and Libya could be the three primary drivers of further oil market tightening that could push Brent Crude prices to above $80 a barrel in the coming weeks and months.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro is meeting with the top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, as the socialist leader of the troubled Latin American oil producer is looking to convince China to provide new loans to plug some of the widening gaps in Venezuelan finances.

In one of many tweets on Thursday praising China and its communist founder Mao Zedong, Maduro said that the two countries will boost economic, trade, energy, financial, political, and cultural ties.

Over the past decade, China has reportedly lent around US$60 billion to Venezuela, most of which constitutes loans up front in exchange for future Venezuelan oil deliveries.

But Venezuelas economic and oil industry demise was expected to result in its crude oil exports to China plummeting this summer to their lowest level in almost eight years.

In July, Chinas Development Bank was said to have approved a US$5-billion loan for Venezuelas oil industry, Bloomberg reported, quoting the troubled South American countrys Finance Minister Simon Zerpa.

Weve received the authorization for a direct investment of more than $250 million from China Development Bank to increase PDVSA production, and were already putting together financing for a special loan that Chinas government is granting Venezuela for $5 billion for direct investments in production, the official said.

The loan was a lifeline for PDVSA, which has been unable to stop an accelerating production decline resulting from years of mismanagement and a cash crunch brought about by the tightening grip of U.S. sanctions.

Over the past month, Maduro has been touting a new plan for economic recovery, which includes a new policy on gasoline pricing that would raise Venezuelas ultra-cheap gas prices for the first time in two decades. The plan to ease the severe economic crisis also featured a devaluation of the currency and pegging the new bolivars to the governments cryptocurrency El Petro, which Venezuela claims is backed by its oil reserves and which analysts think is just a scam.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices edged up this week on lost supply from Iran and Venezuela, although those supply concerns are somewhat offset by worries over demand.





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OPEC downgraded demand while the IEA said in a report that supply outages are tightening up the oil market. With Iran sanctions less than two months away, we are entering a very crucial period for the oil market, the IEA said.

Oil market remains fragile, Russian energy minister says. Russias energy minister Alexander Novak said that the global oil market remains fragile because of production declines and geopolitical unrest. This is huge uncertainty on the market  how the countries, which buy almost 2 million barrels per day of Iranian oil will act. Those are Europe, Asia Pacific region ... There is a lot of uncertainty. The situation should be closely watched, the right decisions should be taken, Novak said. He said Russia could step in if the market needs more supply. Russia has potential to raise production by 300,000 barrels (per day) mid-term.

U.S. shale companies increased hedging for 2020. U.S. shale companies took advantage of relatively high oil prices in the second quarter to lock in hedges beyond 2019, according to the Houston Chronicle and Wood Mackenzie. Permian shale drillers increased 2020 hedging by 431 percent in the second quarter of this year, an indication that E&Ps are worried about pipeline bottlenecks stretching beyond 2019. WoodMac says the hedging activity that far out is unusual. The risk of hedging is that some companies could eliminate upside exposure if pipelines are completed on time and oil prices rise.

OPEC lowered demand forecast slightly. OPEC cut its 2019 oil demand forecast because of economic headwinds. The 1.41 mb/d demand growth forecast is 20,000 bpd lower than last months figure. Rising challenges in some emerging and developing economies are skewing the current global economic growth risk forecast to the downside, OPEC said in the report.

Hurricane could affect natural gas production. Hurricane Florence is battering the coast of North and South Carolina, but there is very little fallout expected for the oil market since no oil refineries or upstream production facilities are located in those states. But if the Hurricane travels further inland into the Appalachian region, it could curtail shale gas production. Platts Analytics says that there is potential for the disruption of 2 billion cubic feet per day of supply over the next several days. Related: California Just Signed The Worlds Most Aggressive Climate Bill

Basra violence flares up again. The protests and riots in Iraqs oil-rich southern region are flaring up again, potentially posing a threat to the countrys record oil export levels. "We've seen protests around facilities and threats being made against oil companies. Some companies have taken their foreign workers out," Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told CNBC. "Production hasn't been hit yet, but if you were to have one facility go down, you could lose upwards of 700,000 to 800,000 barrels of production, so it's a big story to watch." She went on to note that the lack of spare capacity makes such an outage especially worrying. "The problem with the market right now is we don't have a lot of shock absorbers," Croft said. "So we really do have a problem where if we have one more country experience a supply outage, this market will be very tight and prices will go materially higher."

U.S. LNG vulnerable to trade war. An estimated $60 billion of new LNG projects may not go forward if China goes forward with tariffs on American gas imports, according to Morgan Stanley. The LNG market is tightening faster than many thought, and a new wave of prospective LNG projects are getting a lot of attention. But the U.S.-China trade war could significantly damage the outlook for projects in the U.S.

Iran using floating storage again. Iran is storing oil on tankers in the Persian Gulf as buyers begin to walk away. Between 2012 and 2016, Iran stored millions of barrels of oil on supertankers because it could not export enough. That practice is making a comeback, according to Bloomberg. Iranian exports are falling fast, Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd., said in a note to clients. Shipments are set to average as little as 1.5 million barrels a day in September according to the preliminary loading program, compared to around 2.8 million barrels a day of oil exports in April and May, she said.

India to cut Iran oil imports by half. Indian refiners will reportedly cut oil imports from Iran in September and October, reducing purchases by half relative to levels from earlier this year, according to Reuters. India imported around 658,000 bpd between April and August, and Reuters estimates that imports will fall to 360,000-370,000 bpd over the course of this month and next month. The cuts are significant, but Indian officials have also told Washington that they cannot take imports down to zero, as requested by the Trump administration.

Related: Rising Costs Weigh On Permian Gas Production

Digitalization could save refiners $15 billion. A new report from Wood Mackenzie finds that artificial intelligence, software and other digital technologies could save oil refiners around $15 billion a year.

ExxonMobil to spend 500 million pounds on upgrading UK refinery. ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is planning on spending 500 million pounds to upgrade the UKs largest oil refinery. The investment would allow the Fawley refinery on Englands south coast to produce more diesel.

U.S. likely worlds top oil producer. The U.S. likely surpassed Russia this year to become the worlds top oil producer, the EIA said.

China aims to replace 20 percent of heavy duty diesel trucks. As China continues its war on pollution, the government is considering plans to replace about 20 percent of the nations heavy duty trucks that run on diesel, according to Reuters. The plans would consist of either using more modern trucks that use a higher grade of diesel, or electric trucks, or trucks that can use LNG. Details have not been finalized but the plan is slated to take effect in 2020.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Chinas crude oil production inched up in August from a year ago for the first annual increase since October 2015 as Chinese state firms heed President Xi Jinpings orders to boost domestic production.

According to data by the National Bureau of Statistics of China published on Friday, crude oil production was 16 million tons in August, up by 0.2 percent compared to August last year, and equal to 3.77 million bpd, as per Reuters calculations.

Between January and August, Chinas cumulative crude oil production stood at 125.95 million tonsor 3.78 million bpd, down by 1.8 percent compared to the first eight months of 2017.

According to experts who spoke to Reuters, Chinese state majors increased production because of the rising oil prices and because they wanted to show they listen to the state policy and are trying to ramp up local production amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade war. Most Chinese oil fields break even at $70 a barrel oil, Seng-Yick Tee at consultancy SIA Energy told Reuters.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Chinas natural gas production jumped by 9.7 percent on the year in August, and rose 5.9 percent year-to-date, in line with state policies to boost domestic gas production amid surging gas demand in the coal-to-natural gas switch.

Meanwhile, Chinas crude oil imports rose by 6 percent in August from July, to the highest since May, as independent refinersthe so-called teapotsreturned to the market after a few months of depressed oil purchases. Chinas natural gas imports also rose in August from July and soared 34.8 percent between January and August.

Following four consecutive months of declining oil imports, Chinas independent refiners boosted their crude oil imports in August by 40 percent from July, as many returned from maintenance and prepare for winter fuel demand amid recovering refining margins.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Indias state-held oil and gas companies continue to explore participation in more oil and gas projects in Russia, Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at an India-Russia forum on Thursday at which one of the worlds largest energy importers and one of the largest exporters discussed bilateral oil and gas ties.

Today, Russia is our largest investment destination in the oil & gas sector. I believe that our time tested relationship has no expiry date. Russia will always be a priority in Indias foreign & energy policy and both our countries will remain as a role model for global communities, Pradhan tweeted after the forum.

Russia, as one of the worlds largest oil and natural gas producers could become an important source to meet Indias energy needs, the minister said. The India-Russia energy ties, including some major investments, are one of the pillars of the bilateral relations, Pradhan noted.

India has embarked on the path of becoming a gas-based economy. Russian supplies will help us in meeting the objectives of price stability & energy security. Our oil & gas PSUs are continuing to explore their participation in more oil & gas projects in Russia, the minister added.

Some of the recent deals between Indian and Russian companies include Russias oil giant Rosneft selling 15 percent in Vankorneft to Indias ONGC Videsh for US$1.27 billion in 2016. Rosneft subsidiary Vankorneft was set up to develop the giant Vankor oil and gas condensate field in the North of Eastern Siberia.

Last year, Rosneft, for its part, bought 49 percent of Indias Essar Oil Limited.

In another energy relations boost, in June this year, India received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Russia under a long-term supply contract with Gazprom, in a move that Minister Pradhan described as a historic milestone in India-Russia energy ties that would diversify Indias energy sources.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A Japanese buyer has loaded Iranian oil on a tanker expected to arrive in Japan in early October, in what could be the last purchase of Iranian oil before the U.S. sanctions snap back in early November, while Japanese refiners and buyers are replacing Iranian oil with other Middle Eastern alternatives, market and shipping sources told S&P Global Platts on Friday.

The Yufusan very large crude carrier (VLCC) has loaded Iranian oil at Assaluyeh and Kharg Island, and more oil at Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, and is set to dock in Japan on October 3, according to S&P Global Platts trade flow data.

Japan is still negotiating with the United States on possible waivers for Iranian oil imports, but no breakthrough in talks has been reported. According to a Platts source, Japanese buyers will look to settle all transactions for Iranian oil by November 2 because the sanctions return on November 5.

Uncertain if a waiver will be forthcoming, but not wanting to risk secondary sanctions if they continued to buy Iranian oil, Japanese refiners have been on the lookout to replace its Iranian oil. According to Platts sources, Japanese buyers of Iranian oil have purchased or looked to purchase oil from Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq in the Middle East, as well as Mars crude from the United States.

Earlier this month, major Japanese refiners were said to have officially notified Iran that they would halt all imports of Iranian oil for October while they wait for the Japan-U.S. talks on Iranian oil imports to make a permanent decision on how to proceed in November.

Related: Artificial Photosynthesis: A New Renewable Energy Source?

Idemitsu Kosan and Cosmo Energy Holdings have notified Iran of their plans for October, while top Japanese refiner JXTG Holdings Inc, as well as Fuji Oil Co, which relies heavily on Iranian oil, have decided to temporarily suspend imports from Iran, Jiji Press reported, citing sources in the know.

Japan is still trying to secure a waiver from the United States to avoid its refiners coming under secondary sanctions as importers of Iranian oil. In the meantime, Japanese companies are playing it safe and are halting imports as U.S.-Japanese waiver talks show little progress, according to Jiji Presss sources.

A Cosmo Energy official told S&P Global Platts in early September that it would not load any Iranian oil for the month of October, but it had yet to make a final decision on imports from Iran in November and beyond, as it was still holding onto hopes that it may secure a waiver.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The United States welcomes competition from Russia on the global energy markets, but Russia can no longer use energy as an economic weapon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said on Thursday during his meeting with Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow.

At the meeting, Secretary Perry also expressed his disappointment and concern about Russias continued attempts to infiltrate the American electric grid, a statement from the U.S. Department of Energy on the meeting says.

Secretary Perry made clear that while the United States welcomes competition with Russia in energy markets across Europe, Asia and elsewhere, Moscow can no longer use energy as an economic weapon. The United States is now in a position to offer these nations an alternative source of supply, the DOE said.

Russian gas giant Gazprom, which holds a third of European natural gas market, has in the past cut supply to Europe via Ukraine due to disputes over pricing, and has prevented customers from reselling natural gas, dominating most of the markets in central and southeastern Europe.

Referring to the controversial Gazprom-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to Germany, President Trump has made clear that the United States staunchly opposes the Nordstream 2 Pipeline, which would expand a single-source gas artery deep into Europe, the DOE said.

The U.S. supports the desire of European nations to minimize their dependence on Russia as a single energy supplier, and look forward to increasing LNG exports to the region, as announced by President Trump and EU President Juncker in June.

During his visit to Moscow, when asked if the U.S. could impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and if more energy sanctions were being planned, Secretary Perry told reporters Yes to your first question and yes to your second. However, sanctions are not where the U.S. and Russia want to go, the AP quoted Secretary Perry as saying.

Novak, for his part, said that Russia agrees that energy cannot be a tool to exercise pressure and that consumers should be able to choose the suppliers.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy authorized Freeport LNG to export up to 2.14 billion cubic feet of LNG from the same-name facility in Texas to any country not prohibited by U.S. law or policy beginning in the third quarter of 2019 when the Freeport facility will begin exports.

The Energy Department release explained that the short-term order for Freeport LNG allows for additional flexibilities to export LNG pursuant to short-term contracts and for the initial commissioning volumes from the project. Freeport will also still be able to export LNG pursuant to its long-term authorizations from DOE.

Last week, Freeport LNG said it had sealed a long-term deal with a U.S. division of Japans Sumitomo Corp for the delivery of 2.2 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually over a 20-year period, Reuters reported.

The deal, to enter into effect in 2023 when the fourth liquefaction train at the Freeport facility is due to be completed, will be instrumental in providing the funds for the completion of the unit, which will have an annual capacity of 3.5 million tons of LNG. Now Freeport LNG needs to find long-term commitments for another 1.3 million tons of LNG to guarantee the construction of the fourth train. The first train should begin operating by the end of June 2019.

Liquefied natural gas exports from the United States began in 2016, and since then, the Department of Energy reports, total production has reached the equivalent of more than 1.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The only two operating LNG export facilities in the country are Sabine Pass and Dominion Cove Point, with a combined capacity of 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas daily. So far, the government has approved long-term LNG export contracts to the tune of 21.35 billion cubic feet of gas daily.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Canada's high court on Friday ruled that Hollywood studios and other copyright holders must pay internet service providers to chase down Canadians suspected of illegally downloading movies or other online content. The decision will make slightly more difficult efforts to fight infringements under Canada's copyright law. The amount that internet service providers should be reimbursed to dig up information on subscribers accused of infringing on copyrights, however, must still be determined at a future hearing. "This is an important win for our customers and millions of internet subscribers facing open season on their personal information," David Watt, senior vice president of Canadian internet service provider Rogers, said in a statement. The case was triggered by a group of film producers who got together to fight illegal sharing of their films. Led by Voltage Pictures, the production company behind "The Hurt Locker" and "Dallas Buyers Club," they sought to know the identity of a Rogers customer so that they could sue that person. Eventually they planned to sue about 55,000 more Rogers customers. Rogers collected the information, but asked the producers to pay a fee of Can$100 (US$77) for it. A court order is also required for such disclosures of personal information. In court, Voltage argued that charging for the information would make it cost-prohibitive to track down tens of thousands of alleged law breakers. Rogers says it receives more than two million requests from rights holders per year to send notices to customers alleging breaches in an effort to discourage ongoing infringement. Taking the additional step to identify those customers to rights holders risked multiplying its administrative costs, which were above and beyond the requirements of the act, it argued. The Supreme Court in its ruling said Rogers is entitled to "reasonable costs" for complying with so-called Norwich orders, and sent the matter to a lower court to determine the amount.
In an internal statement confirmed by spokesman Christoph Jumpelt, Deutsche Welle said its management had its attention brought to a possible case of sexual harassment.

The broadcasters investigation showed that the allegations made are credible ... and the accused person no longer works for DW, it said.

Deutsche Welle did not name anyone in its statement and said it could not reveal further details for legal reasons.

Jumpelt told The Associated Press in an email on Thursday that Egyptian-British TV host Yosri Fouda parted ways with DW after hosting a show for two years. Fouda joined the German broadcaster in June 2016.

As a general rule, we are not commenting on speculations or on matters specific to any individuals, Jumpelt said.

Fridays statement came amid recent allegations of sexual harassment against Fouda, who is a critic of President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissis government. They first surfaced in Egypts pro-government media earlier this month, claiming that legal procedures against Fouda were underway in Germany.

The allegations roiled social media networks in Egypt, compelling Fouda to respond to them in a Facebook post on Monday, calling them baseless slanders.

In another post on Wednesday, Fouda said the allegations were a smear campaign and that no legal action has been taken against him. He intends to take legal action against his accusers, he added in the post.

Fouda has been a fierce critic of el-Sissis government since the 2013 violent dispersal of two sit-ins by supporters of then-President Mohammed Morsi  an Islamist belonging to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group  who was overthrown after massive protests against his divisive rule.

In September 2014, Fouda ended the current affairs show he had been hosting for four years on Egyptian TV as a crackdown by el-Sissis government targeting independent journalists, activists and bloggers intensified, detaining dozens.
Russias military exercises with China this week, though focused on countering the United States, could raise security concerns among European nations, which are now watching to see how Beijing and Moscow might challenge other world powers, military experts have said.

The Vostok 2018 war games, Russias largest since 1981 in the Soviet era, involve more than 300,000 troops  including 3,200 from China and a contingent from Mongolia.

Chinese officials said the focus of the drill expanded from the anti-terrorism manoeuvres of previous exercises to counter-attack manoeuvres, development of defence skills as well as the building of mutual trust with Russia.

The drill has raised the capabilities of the military in both nations to handle security threats, Shao Yuanming, deputy chief of the joint staff department of the Peoples Liberation Army said on Wednesday. This drill is also an important test of the combat abilities of our military.

Featuring more than 36,000 Russian military vehicles and 1,000 Chinese vehicles, the exercises, which began on Tuesday and run until Saturday, are being conducted as relations between China and the United States fray, particularly over trade. Russia is also facing US and European Union sanctions that have brought economic pressure and led to a devaluation of the rouble.

Vostok 2018 has stirred serious concern in the United States and its Nato allies, particularly among Baltic nations previously within the Soviet sphere of influence, especially after Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014.

While security cooperation between China and Russia is gathering pace, particularly in recent years, such close ties could make some small countries nervous  especially those that see Russias military aggression as a threat, one Asia-based European diplomat said.

Chinas military learns the art of the counter-attack at Russian war games as US tensions rise

Nato spokesman Dylan White said the Vostok 2018 drill  coinciding with Natos Rapid Trident 2018 military exercise in Ukraine, which began on September 3 and concludes on Saturday  showed Russia was getting ready for large-scale conflict.

Story continues

It fits into a pattern we have seen over some time: a more assertive Russia, significantly increasing its defence budget and its military presence, White said on Tuesday.

Jonathan Holslag, a professor of international politics at the Free University of Brussels, said that while there was no immediate worry about China and Russia exercising together, European policy circles were closely monitoring how Moscow and Beijing overcame their mutual distrust and deepened their military cooperation.

Vostok 2018: a showcase of Russian military might and ties with China

The combination of the two countries, especially with Russias natural resources and Chinas industrial prowess, would inevitably come as a big challenge to the West, Holslag said.

In a further sign of closer ties between China and Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that both nations had to oppose trade protectionism. On the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Putin told Xi that China and Russia had a relationship of trust in the sphere of politics, security and defence.

Chinas Xi Jinping, Russias Vladimir Putin agree to boost ties amid growing US unilateralism

Alexander Gabuev, senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Centre, said the growing relationship between the two countries raised the danger of splitting the world between US-led democratic market economies and countries that viewed the US as a threat.

The competition between world powers is revived and becomes more and more antagonistic, Gabuev said. It would remind you of the scenario before the first world war.

This article Russia-China military cooperation could worry Europe first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.
Super Typhoon Mangkhut: Hundreds of thousands flee homes as Philippines braces for direct hit from monster storm, while China raises threat level

Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing their homes in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Mangkhut bears down on the region, while Chinas meteorological authority raised a yellow storm alert on Friday.

The alert is the second level on a four-tier warning system, and the authority has predicted the monster storm would make landfall near western Guangdong and eastern Hainan late Sunday, or early Monday.

In Hong Kong, a very hot weather warning was issued by the Hong Kong Observatory on Friday morning, with temperatures expected to rise to 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday as the city awaits the arrival of Mangkhut, which is packing sustained winds of 205km/h (127mph) and gusts measured at 255km/h.

At noon, Mangkhut, which is the equivalent of a category 5 Atlantic hurricane, was centred about 570km east-northeast of Manila. It is forecast to move west-northwest at about 25km/h towards the vicinity of Luzon, before coming within 200km of Hong Kong on Sunday evening.

With a massive rain band 900km (560 miles) wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon could bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods in the Philippines, forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii said. Storm warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.

Schools were closed, and rescuers and troops placed on full alert in the countrys north, with 4 million people in the path of the super typhoon.

As Mangkhut edged closer to Hong Kong, heavy rain, squalls and storm surges were expected to follow and pose a threat to the region.

The Observatory predicted offshore winds on Sunday would reach 11 on the Beaufort scale of 1 to 12. At this level, winds are described to be part of a storm with speeds reaching 104km/h to 117km/h.

The Hong Kong government convened a second meeting to coordinate contingency plans among dozens of departments while district offices have contacted representatives of flood-prone areas such as Lei Yu Mun, Tai O and the outlying islands.

Story continues

Officials will appeal to residents to move to safe or temporary shelters.

Taiwan, which is expected to escape the brunt of the storms fury, issued its typhoon warning at sea at 11:30am on Friday, according to its central weather bureau, warning ships at the islands southeastern sea area, as well as those in Bashi Strait, to stay alert.

The storm is expected to bring heavy winds and rains to the islands southern and south-eastern regions, the Central News Agency reported.

In southern Chinas Guangdong, wind speeds reached the highest level on the wind force scale at level 17, Nanfang Daily reported. All of the provinces 36,342 registered fishing boats, and 27,000 vessels had returned to Guangdong by Wednesday afternoon, according to the provincial department of marine fisheries.

More than 24,000 construction workers, and 11,000 fishermen were transferred on Thursday afternoon, and hundreds of emergency personnel and vehicle equipment dispatched.

In Hainan, more than 1,300 tonnes of vegetables have been transferred from outside the province to guarantee supplies for up to three days, the Sanya municipal development and reform commission told Hainans Hinews outlet. Provincial governor Shen Xiaoming told his officials to prepare for the worst and speed up preparations for Mangkhut, official Hainan Daily reported.

Meanwhile, Factory owners in Dongguan and Shenzhen told the Post they were on high alert, while a gallery owner in Shenzhens Dafen Oil Painting Village, home to thousands of Chinese art wholesalers and producers, said he had been moving his artwork to higher ground in case of flooding.

High-speed rail services have been cancelled between Guangdong and neighbouring Hunan province, as well as between the key cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, state media reported.

Reservoirs and hydroelectric stations in the region have also been asked to stay on high alert.

The super typhoon is on course to hit the northeastern Cagayan province in the Philippines early on Saturday, and Office of Civil Defence chief Ricardo Jalad told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte about 4.2 million people are vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoons 125km-wide eye.

Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhuts ferocious winds.

Across the north on Thursday, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces, and moved fishing boats to safety.

On Guam, where Mangkhut has already made its presence felt, residents dealt with flooded streets, downed trees and widespread power outages. Government agencies were conducting damage assessments and clearing roads, according to the Pacific Daily News.

About 80 per cent of the United States territory was without power, but it was mostly restored by Thursday morning.

Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries. Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing, and displaced more than 5 million in the central Philippines in 2013.

This article Super Typhoon Mangkhut: Hundreds of thousands flee homes as Philippines braces for direct hit from monster storm, while China raises threat level first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Credit: New England Aquarium

Airborne marine biologists were amazed by the sheer abundance and diversity of large marine wildlife in their recent aerial survey of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the only marine national monument on the East Coast, about 150 southeast of Cape Cod. Scientists with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium documented more than 600 animal sightings in just four hours, including a "superpod" of about 250 common dolphins and a rare sighting of a giant manta ray.

The researchers, aboard a small, four-seat airplane, saw the equivalent of three animal sightings every minute. They also spotted hundreds of Risso's dolphins, some rarely-seen beaked whales, pods of bottlenose dolphins, and the bizarre-looking giant ocean sunfish, also known as the mola mola. The 605-total seen during the September survey nearly doubles the survey team's previous sighting record of 339 animals in April 2018.

"This was an amazing number of animals to see in such a short period of time and the highest count we've seen so far in our surveys," said Dr. Ester Quintana, head of the survey team. "The marine monument is known as the 'Serengeti of the sea' for a reason."

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a critical hotspot of biodiversity on the edge of the continental shelf where the shallow seas off of New England drop sharply into the deep waters of the northwestern Atlantic. On September 16, the monument will celebrate its two year anniversary. In 2016, President Obama designated three underwater canyons that are deeper than the Grand Canyon, and four seamounts as tall as the Rockies, as the first American marine national monument in Atlantic waters. At the moment, is still the most strongly protected area in U.S. Atlantic waters. However, in 2017, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke recommended to President Trump has recommended weakening the area's protections.

"It's simply impossible to overstate the uniqueness of this habitat and its value as the most protected region in the U.S. Atlantic," said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium. "And let's be clear about what it protects: Us. Our way of life. Our values. Our future. The monument should be here to stay."

Given the great distance offshore, documenting the marine life in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is a challenge. During the 4-hour aerial survey, the team spotted 335 common dolphins, 30 bottlenose dolphins, 2 beaked whales, 3 ocean sunfish (mola mola), and a giant manta ray. The manta was an especially unexpected sight because the species is very rarely seen this far north. All of the dolphin groups included many calves and juveniles, reinforcing observations that the monument is a nursery area for several species.

This was the fourth in a series of aerial surveys of the monument that began in summer 2017, and the number of sightings by the scientists during this survey was higher than any other, nearly double the number of animals observed last fall.

Explore further Diverse and abundant megafauna documented at new Atlantic US Marine National Monument

Provided by New England Aquarium
Anyone who's ever been so furious with their boss that they feel like exacting revenge really needs to listen to Lindie Liang.

Liang and her colleagues found that abusing a virtual voodoo doll instead of your boss will make you feel better without getting you fired or thrown in jail, according to a study that earned them a 2018 Ig Nobel, the annual prize sponsored by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research for comical but practical scientific discovery.

Winners recognized Thursday included a Japanese doctor who devised a revolutionary new way to give yourself a colonoscopy; a British archaeology lecturer who figured out that eating human flesh isn't very nutritious; an Australian team that found that people who buy high-tech products really can't be bothered with the instruction manual; and Spanish university researchers who measured the effects of shouting and cursing while driving.

The prizes at the 28th annual ceremony at Harvard University were being handed out by real Nobel laureates. The event featured a traditional paper airplane air raid and the premiere of "The Broken Heart Opera," performed with the help of Harvard Medical School cardiologists.

The winners, who as usual journeyed to Massachusetts at their own expense, also received a cash prize of 10 trillion virtually worthless Zimbabwean dollars. Each was given 60 seconds to deliver an acceptance speech before an 8-year-old girl complained onstage: "Please stop. I'm bored."

Liang, an assistant professor of business at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, specializes in studying workplace aggression.

"We wanted to understand why subordinates retaliate when it's bad for them," she said. "We all know yelling at our boss is bad for your career. So what's the function of retaliation? Why do people keep doing it?"

Obviously, Liang couldn't ask people to beat their bosses. Instead, they were shown an online voodoo doll with their supervisor's initials. They then had the option to use pins, pliers or fire on the virtual doll.

The bottom line: People felt better after abusing the doll, or as Liang put it, "their injustice perceptions are deactivated."

Still, she doesn't endorse littering workplaces around the world with voodoo dolls for people angry at their bosses. Let's just have more civil workplaces to start with, she suggests.

James Cole, a lecturer in archaeology at Britain's University of Brighton, earned his Ig Nobel for a study on cannibalism that found that if you want a high-calorie meal, eating human flesh probably isn't the way to go.

Cannibalism is pretty common throughout human history, he said. But the accepted view is that humans have eaten other humans primarily for nutritional reasons. Cole found that the caloric value of humans isn't that high when compared with other animals we know our ancestors hunted and ate.

"We're not super nutritious," he said.

How did Cole determine the caloric value of a human? Don't worry. No humans were harmed in his study. He used a previously determined formula that bases body-part calorie counts on weight and chemical composition.

Dr. Akira Horiuchi, a pediatrician at Showa Inan General Hospital in Komagane, Japan, won for his self-colonoscopy study in which he used a colonoscope designed for children and sat upright rather than lying in the traditional supine position.

Horiuchi isn't recommending that you give yourself a colonoscopy in the comfort of your home. He said via email that many people are afraid of getting a colonoscopy, and he just wanted to show how easy it can be.

"If people watch a video of my self-colonoscopy, they think colonoscopy is simple and easy," he said.

People may laugh at the winners, but Horiuchi said winning an Ig Nobel brings attention to studies such as his that might otherwise be ignored.

The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer in Japan are increasing, he said. If his work makes someone more willing to get a colonoscopy, he reasons, maybe he'll save some lives.

Explore further Q&A: Pain management during colonoscopy

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Night has always been a difficult realm for humans: we've had to learn to cope with the cold and the dark to thrive in it. Since the industrial revolution we've found ways to adapt our homes and cities to operate during the night. But as our conquest of the dark continues, the border between night and day is becoming increasingly blurry.

In 1988, sociologist Murray Melbin described the night as a frontier not unlike the American West. As early American settlers expanded westwards across the continent, so too, he argued, was society beginning to expand into the night.

Melbin's metaphor treated the night as a separate social entity and he argued that, just like geographical frontiers, it was inhabited by "pioneers": individuals and groups seeking work or leisure opportunities outside mainstream society, whether through desire, or necessity.

Taking back the night

For example, the night time tends to have a higher percentage of black and minority ethnic workers than the day. Likewise, the LGBTQ community in the mid-20th century  and still today, in some contexts  found that, with society sleeping, they could gather in bars and clubs that acted as community centres as well as places of leisure.

Political action has often found a home at night, too: from evening meetings of activists in community centres or the back rooms of pubs, to more radical political activism. In her autobiography, Sylvia Pankhurst for example described the suffragette arson campaign: "Women, most of them very young, toiled through the night across unfamiliar country, carrying heavy cases of petrol and paraffine".

Despite this, the night is not necessarily a welcoming space for all. The dark hours can be threatening for oppressed and marginalised groups and movements. Those sleeping rough struggle to fall asleep, fearing for their personal safety. And movements such as Take Back the Night have had to campaign hard for womens' right to use the city at night time to be taken seriously.

But things are changing. The night has become more open and our homes are now connected like never before. First 24-hour news, then mobile and internet communication have made the domestic setting more porous  you might be reading this on a phone or tablet in bed at 2am. No longer is the night cut off from mainstream society; instead, people are able to communicate and engage with the outside world.

Two worlds collide

Even in the UK, which has long had earlier business closing hours than most other countries, many shops and services now stay open long into the evening. Some large cities have 24-hour transport networks: London's night tube is perhaps the best known, but night buses can be found in most larger cities. Though 24-hour businesses are not widespread, they are much more common than they once were.

Indeed, the night itself has become more day-like. LED street lights produce a white light which is much closer to daylight than the orange glow of their sodium gas lamp predecessors. LEDs can reduce the "glare" of light pollution, but in 2017 the British chief medical officer's annual report warned that they could also change people's circadian rhythms, and affect their health.

After-hours festivals and cultural activities are now commonplace, and, though pubs and nightclubs still dominate our darkened city centres, more cafes now open into the evening. It has been argued that the traditional night time will soon be lost altogether  that an era of "24/7 society" is inevitable. I would argue that this goes too far.

Go to any suburban street in almost any world city, and you'll find nights to be darker, quieter and less active than in the city centre. Even notorious drinking and party spaces have their downtime. At 4am, Newcastle's Bigg Market  a known hotspot for revellers  contains little more than a few seagulls picking at abandoned kebabs.

Night is undoubtedly still a challenge  lighting is expensive, and society pays for it in money and emissions of carbon dioxide. Night time mobility remains limited and the night bus and rail services run on much reduced networks.

Still in the dark

So, the night time is not disappearing entirely. Instead, its traditional form is fragmenting  splintering across time and space. Islands of "day-like" activity are starting to appear in city centres, while traditional night time activities are creeping into the day.

Political organisation has now found new spaces of online activity, reducing the reliance on evening and late night meetings. Companies such as Uber and Deliveroo are creating a new employment model  one that moves away from "day shifts" and "night shifts" towards shorter, more frequent periods of work. More broadly, research has found a trend towards people spreading their work out across 24 hours.

Rather than a "loss of night", we might therefore instead be seeing a transformation of both night and day, with both taking on more varied and more flexible characteristics.

The day is definitely encroaching on the night, as our behaviours and economies are increasingly unrestrained by sunrise and sunset. But until our cities offer the same services and experiences at 4am as at 4pm, the night will retain some of its mystery.

Explore further What if New York City had no light pollution?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When a wildfire breaks out and approaches a community, how do emergency managers decide when residents should evacuate?

"Wildfire evacuation decision-making is challenging because the incident commanders need to take into account fire progression, population distribution and evacuation traffic," explained Dapeng Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at South Dakota State University.

Li's research uses data-based models to help emergency managers make those decisions. Specifically, he uses fire spread modeling to predict how fast the fire will travel and employs traffic simulation model to estimate how much time the people need to evacuate to safe places.

"It's the coupling of the two models that helps us develop a better understanding of the dynamics and mechanisms behind the evacuation process. It's more complex than we thought," Li said. The wildfire evacuation modeling research was part of Li's doctoral work at the University of Utah. His results are published in a special issue on fire evacuation modeling in Fire Technology.

With the number of wildfires increasing and more people building homes in forested areas, recent wildfires have caused significant losses of life and property, Li explained. For example, the Tubbs Fire in northern California destroyed more than 5,000 structures and caused 22 deaths in October 2017. In July 2018, more than 1,600 structures were lost and seven people died in the Carr Fire in California.

Warning triggers in environmental hazards take into account the natural, human and built environments and can be considered as an evacuation warning and timing mechanism, Li explained. To account for this, Li couples wildfire spread and traffic simulation models to set wildfire evacuation triggers.

"The first step is to model the progression of the fire in the landscape", he explained, "We need to take into account factors such as topography, fuel type, fuel moisture, wind direction and speed. We can use fire spread modeling to derive fire spread rates at different locations in the landscape and compute fire travel times."

To run the traffic simulation model, Li used house locations from the City of San Diego's Geographic Information System Department and the vehicle-occupancy data from the American Community Survey. "We need to estimate how many cars will be in the road network during the evacuation," he said. "If it is too congested, the evacuees could be trapped en route by the fire and die in their cars."

Li used Julian, a residential area east of San Diego in the case study. The area has three communities and three highways, with approximately 1,500 people living there. However, he noted, the integrated model can be applied to any geographic area in the United States because the coupled model is based on open source software and open data.

Coupling fire spread and traffic simulation models helps answer questions concerning the timing of warnings during evacuation, Li explained. Through the coupled model, incident commanders are able to simultaneously examine the spatial patterns of fire perimeters and evacuation traffic for every minute in the evacuation simulation. This could help them improve their situational awareness and issue more effective protective action recommendations.

"My work is directly related to public safetyit's about survival. However, very few scholars are doing this type of research in the United States due to its interdisciplinary nature," Li explained, "There are still many problems that remain to be solved in this field."

In the future, Li would like to further investigate how to incorporate more human evacuation behaviors into wildfire evacuation modeling and integrate the models into one software system. "This will make it more convenient for incident commanders and their technical support team to use," he added.

Explore further New wildfire rips through northern California

More information: Dapeng Li et al. Setting Wildfire Evacuation Triggers by Coupling Fire and Traffic Simulation Models: A Spatiotemporal GIS Approach, Fire Technology (2018). Dapeng Li et al. Setting Wildfire Evacuation Triggers by Coupling Fire and Traffic Simulation Models: A Spatiotemporal GIS Approach,(2018). DOI: 10.1007/s10694-018-0771-6
This graphic shows how the ancient land masses of Laurentia, Avalonia and Armorica would have collided to create the countries of England, Scotland and Wales. Credit: University of Plymouth

The British mainland was formed from the collision of not two, but three ancient continental land masses, according to new research.

Scientists have for centuries believed that England, Wales and Scotland were created by the merger of Avalonia and Laurentia more than 400 million years ago.

However, geologists based at the University of Plymouth now believe that a third land massArmoricawas also involved in the process.

The findings are published in Nature Communications and follow an extensive study of mineral properties at exposed rock features across Devon and Cornwall.

They reveal a clear boundary running across the two counties, with areas north of it sharing their geological roots with the rest of England and Wales but everything south being geologically linked to France and mainland Europe.

Among other things, scientists believe the research explains the abundance of tin and tungsten in the far South West of Englandmetals also found in Brittany and other areas of mainland Europe, but not so evident in the rest of the UK.

The research's lead author, Lecturer in Igneous Petrology Dr. Arjan Dijkstra, said: "This is a completely new way of thinking about how Britain was formed. It has always been presumed that the border of Avalonia and Armorica was beneath what would seem to be the natural boundary of the English Channel. But our findings suggest that although there is no physical line on the surface, there is a clear geological boundary which separates Cornwall and south Devon from the rest of the UK."

This animation explains new research from the University of Plymouth into how three ancient land masses collided to form the British Isles. Credit: University of Plymouth

For the research, Dr. Dijkstra and Masters student Callum Hatch (now working at the Natural History Museum) visited 22 sites in Devon and Cornwall that were left exposed following geological events, such as underground volcanic eruptions. These took place around 300 million years ago and brought magma from depths of 100 km to the Earth's surface.

They took rock samples from each site, subjecting them to detailed chemical analysis in the lab using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.

The samples were also then dissolved in acid in order to conduct a more intensive isotopic analysis, with scientists examining the levels of two elementsstrontium and neodymiumto understand the full history of the rocks.

Dr Arjan Dijkstra subjected samples to detailed chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, and by dissolving them in acid conduct a more intensive isotopic analysis. Credit: University of Plymouth

These findings were then compared with previous studies elsewhere in the UK and mainland Europe, with the results showing the clear boundary running from the Exe estuary in the East to Camelford in the west.

"We always knew that around 10,000 years ago you would have been able to walk from England to France," Dr. Dijkstra added. "But our findings show that millions of years before that, the bonds between the two countries would have been even stronger. It explains the immense mineral wealth of South West England, which had previously been something of a mystery, and provides a fascinating new insight into the geological history of the UK."

More information: Arjan H. Dijkstra et al, Mapping a hidden terrane boundary in the mantle lithosphere with lamprophyres, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Arjan H. Dijkstra et al, Mapping a hidden terrane boundary in the mantle lithosphere with lamprophyres,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06253-7
Artist reconstruction of Pahvantia hastasta. Credit: Masato Hattori

Stephen Pates, a researcher from Oxford University's Department of Zoology, has uncovered secrets from the ancient oceans.

With Dr. Rudy Lerosey-Aubril from New England University (Australia), he meticulously re-examined fossil material collected over 25 years ago from the mountains of Utah, USA. The research, published in a new study in Nature Communications, reveals further evidence of the great complexity of the oldest animal ecosystems.

Twenty hours of work with a needle on the specimen while submerged underwater exposed numerous, delicate microscopic hair-like structures known as setae. This revelation of a frontal appendage with fine filtering setae has allowed researchers to confidently identify it as a radiodont  an extinct group of stem arthropods and distant relatives of modern crabs, insects and spiders.

"Our new study describes Pahvantia hastasta, a long-extinct relative of modern arthropods, which fed on microscopic organisms near the ocean's surface," says Stephen Pates. "We discovered that it used a fine mesh to capture much smaller plankton than any other known swimming animal of comparable size from the Cambrian period. This shows that large free-swimming animals helped to kick-start the diversification of life on the sea floor over half a billion years ago."

Causes of the Cambrian Explosionthe rapid appearance in the fossil record of a diverse animal fauna around 540-500 million years agoremain hotly debated. Although it probably included a combination of environmental and ecological factors, the establishment of a system to transfer energy from the area of primary production (the surface ocean) to that of highest diversity (the sea floor) played a crucial role.

Even though relatively small for a radiodont (FIG), Pahvantia was 10-1000 times larger than any mesoplanktonic primary consumers, and so would have made the transfer of energy from the surface oceans to the deep sea much more efficient. Primary producers such as unicellular algae are so small that once dead they are recycled locally and do not reach the deep ocean. In contrast large animals such as Pahvantia, which fed on them, produce large faecal pellets and carcasses, which sink rapidly and reached the seafloor, where they become food for bottom-dwelling animals.

Amateur enthusiasts provide research gold-dust

The presence of Pahvantia in the Cambrian of Utah has been known for decades thanks to the efforts of local amateur collectors Bob Harris and the legendary Gunther family.

"This work also provides an opportunity to celebrate the exceptional contribution of local and amateur collectors to modern palaeontology," explains Stephen. "Without their tireless efforts, knowledge, and generosity, thousands of specimens representing hundreds of new species, would not be known to science."

Bob Harris is rumoured to have turned down a job offer from the CIA, instead opening up a fossil shop and a number of quarries in the spectacular House Range, Utah. He discovered the first specimens of Pahvantia in the 1970s, and donated them to Richard Robison, a leading expert on Cambrian life from the University of Kansas. The Gunther family are famous for their extensive fossil collecting in Utah and Nevada. Over a dozen species have been named in honour of their contributions to palaeontology, as they have shared thousands of specimens with museums and schools over the years. Among these were specimens of Pahvantia which they uncovered between 1987 and 1997. Donated to the Kansas University Museum of Invertebrate Paleontology (KUMIP), these specimens are described for the first time in our study.

"I visited the KUMIP in the first year of my Ph.D.," says Stephen. "It was awesome, exploring such a fantastic collection of fossils from the Cambrian of Utah and Nevada."

The study has produced the most up-to-date analysis of evolutionary relationships between radiodonts. It shows that filter feeding evolved twice, possibly three times in this group, which otherwise essentially comprised fearsome predators such as Anomalocaris canadensis from the Burgess Shale in Canada.

Pahvantia adds to an ever-growing body of evidence that radiodonts were vital in the structure of Cambrian ecosystems, in this case linking the primary producers of the surface waters to the highly diverse fauna on the sea floor. It also shows the importance of museum collections like the KUMIP, and local collectors, such as Bob Harris and the Gunther family, in uncovering new and exciting findings about early animal life.

Explore further Scientists describe 'enigmatic' species that lived in Utah some 500 million years ago

More information: Rudy Lerosey-Aubril et al. New suspension-feeding radiodont suggests evolution of microplanktivory in Cambrian macronekton, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Rudy Lerosey-Aubril et al. New suspension-feeding radiodont suggests evolution of microplanktivory in Cambrian macronekton,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06229-7
The Global Climate Action Summit took place in San Francisco 12-14 September 2018. Credit: Andrew Merrie

A new report shows the potential for all sectors of global economyenergy, food and agriculture, industry, buildings and transportto halve greenhouse gas emissions by around 2030. Stronger policies, the digital revolution and greater climate leadership are necessary to accelerate the economic transformation, say the authors.

The report, announced by Christiana Figueres and global sustainability researcher Johan Rockstrom, to open the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, concludes that the energy transformation in the next decade could occur much faster than many forecasts as the price of renewables drops low enough to outcompete fossil fuels. But keeping up the pace will require sharper policies to push out fossil fuels. Other sectors, however, are off track.

The digital revolution remains a wildcard, says the report. Technology can directly influence 30 percent of the emissions cuts needed by about 2030, and indirectly affect the rest through influencing consumer habits, scaling up a sharing economy and supporting business transformation to a circular economy.

Greenhouse gas emissions must fall sharply to stabilise climate well below 2C and aim for 1.5C as agreed by nations in Paris in 2015. Emissions peaking in 2020 and approximately halving by about 2030 is consistent with the Paris Agreement's aim.

"Right now, it is easier to imagine a global climate catastrophe than a rapid economic transformation, yet the next decade could see the fastest energy transition in history," says co-lead author Owen Gaffney from Future Earth and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

"People underestimate the power of exponential growth. In Norway, electric cars went from 6 percent of new sales to 47 percent in five years. If renewables keep doubling every five or six years, as they have for a decade or more, they will push out fossil fuels much faster than most forecasts. But not without stronger policies," he added.

The authors argue that the digital revolution is already driving an economic transformation.

"How this revolution is directed could make or break international climate targets. The tech sector can influence whether we live on a 1.5-2C planet or on a +3C world," says Johan Falk co-lead author from Future Earth and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

"Technology will not solve the climate challenge alone. The key is to reach a critical mass of companies, cities, nations, industries and citizens that are contributing to the Paris Agreement and show how attractive this isthis will create the snowball effect we need to scale solutions", says Falk.

The roadmap identifies the accelerators in terms of climate leadership, policy and technology required to scale 30 solutions and concludes that a set of game-changing strategies in the next 18 months are needed to keep up an appropriately fast pace.

These strategies include:

Accelerate climate leadership initiatives exponentially among companies, cities, industries and individuals to reach a critical mass with goals and actions to halve emissions fast.

Create task forces to build momentum to end fossil-fuel subsidies, build out carbon pricing and wide-scale adoption of circular-economy approaches, as part of a broader goal to have coherent policies to shift away from fossil fuels.

Launch global tech initiatives, or "accelerators" to align the Fourth Industrial Revolution (digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, internet of things, etc) with the goal to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030specifically to explore how tech giants can use their influence to support societal goals.

The report highlights that many companies can cut their own emissions faster than 50 percent every decadeand influence their suppliers to do the same. The next frontier is how companies can influence the consumers of their products and services to support low-carbon operations and lifestyles.

"To win the fight against climate change, we need to constantly push beyond what conventional wisdom tells us is possible. The digital revolution is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. Now, to realise the full potential, we need leadership and action: by policy makers, business leaders and all of us", says Mikko Kosonen, President of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra who produced the report together with Future Earth with WWF, Ericsson and Stockholm Resilience Centre and others.

"Disruption is here. Three unstoppable forces are pushing us towards a future of prosperity, growth and clean energy: climate leadership, market forces and the digital revolution," says former UN climate head Christiana Figueres, convenor of Mission 2020, a partner in the report.

"Leaders from cities, investors and corporates are forming alliances for climate action to inspire governments and peers to step up their efforts to reduce emissions. These include setting ambitious targets based on science, implementing these through increased entrepreneurship, and accelerating high impact innovation. We must do this if we are to have a future where people can live in harmony with nature." Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF's global climate and energy programme.

The report launch comes after months of unprecedented heat waves, droughts and flooding across the planet that have been linked to human-induced climate change that show even moderate warming can cause global-scale disruption. New research published in August 2018 shows the risks of crossing the 2C threshold could be more severe than scientists previously realised.

Additional quotes from partners

"As a sustainability pioneer in the private-sector, we have been both an advocate of climate action and investing in research and development of climate solutions. We understand the urgency for action. We believe leveraging new technology, such as digitalization and 5G, will be fundamental to reduce carbon emissions by half every decade, meeting the Carbon Law. As a company, we have cut our own emissions by 50 percent and are working to meet further reduction targets. We have demonstrated solutions that help make it possible and now other companies and policy-makers must join the quest for broader adoption of solutions to enable exponential reduction of carbon emissions globally." Borje Ekholm, CEO, Ericsson

"The world has crossed a Rubicon where incremental change is no longer adequate to address climate change. Fortunately, research and innovation have given us what we need  save time  to tackle the climate crisis. This roadmap shows how business, politicians and civic groups can leverage this knowledge to scale up progress exponentially. We've got the knowledge and the tools. And we increasingly, we have the economics behind us. Now we just need the drive to accelerate forward." Amy Luers, Executive Director, Future Earth

"The world is at a critical juncture and the stakes could not be higher. Greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2020 and then fall dramatically  approximately halving every decade in order to reach the Paris Agreement's terms. The consequences of missing this goal are potentially catastrophic for humanity. Yet all solutions exist to begin halving emissions immediately. Now is the moment to move from incremental to exponential action." Johan Rockstrom, Stockholm Resilience Centre, co-chair Future Earth, incoming co-director Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

The roadmap is based on "The Carbon Law"a scientific paper published in 2017 that shows that halving carbon dioxide emissions every decade to 2050 is consistent with the Paris Agreement's aim to keep global average temperatures well below +2C and aim for +1.5C. An international team of experts from research, technology, and NGOs synthesised over 60 reports and academic analyses assessing scenarios related to very low greenhouse gas emissions.

More information: The full report is available at The full report is available at www.exponentialroadmap.org
In this file photo taken on April 25, 2014 crew members of a whaling ship check a whaling gun or harpoon before departure at Ayukawa port in Ishinomaki City

Japan's determined bid to return to commercial whale hunting was rejected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Friday in a tense vote that exposed a deep split in the 72-year old organization.

Japan's vice-minister for fisheries Masaaki Taniai said he regretted the vote's outcome, and threatened Tokyo's withdrawal from the 89-member body if progress could not be made towards a return to commercial whaling.

"If scientific evidence and diversity is not respected, if commercial whaling is completely denied ... Japan will be pressed to undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC," he said.

Anti-whaling nations led by Australia, the European Union and the United States, defeated Japan's "Way Forward" proposal in a 41 to 27 vote.

Japan had sought consensus for its plan but had been forced to push the proposal to a vote "to demonstrate the resounding voices of support" for a return to sustainable whaling for profit, said Taniai.

Pacific and Caribbean island nations as well as Nicaragua and several African countries, including Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania, voted with Japan, as did Asian nations Laos and Cambodia. Korea abstained.

'Sharp split'

The Russian Federation, which like several states allows aboriginal subsistence whaling, said it abstained because "this vote showed a sharp split within the Commission. Our worry is not to split the Commission too far and that's why we abstained."

The IWC was set up in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population. It introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 after some species had been fished to near extinction. Japan insists whale stocks have sufficiently recovered to allow commercial hunting to resume.

A protected minke whale seen onboard the Nisshin Maru at sea in Antarctic waters in January 2017; Tokyo currently observes the moratorium on whaling but exploits a loophole to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes"

Tokyo currently observes the moratorium but exploits a loophole to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes" as well as to sell the meat.

Norway and Iceland ignore the moratorium and are key supporters of Japan's bid to resume commercial whaling.

A Japanese withdrawal would have far-reaching consequences for the organization, given support from a growing number of developing states in the IWC.

They say the IWC's mandate is both to conserve and managemeaning to sustainably huntrecovering whale stocks, but that the emphasis within the organization has leant too far towards conservation, leaving pro-whaling nations without a voice.

Taniai said the vote result "can be seen as equivalent to the denial of the possibility for governments with different views to coexist with mutual understanding and respect within the IWC."

Australia's commissioner Nick Gales rejected "the narrative of underlying dysfunction and intolerance" suggested by Japan.

He urged Tokyo to remain in the organization "to continue to argue for its view and work constructively with all members."

Way Forward or Way Out

Japan's "Way Forward" including the establishment of a "Sustainable Whaling Committee" within the IWC, and a "Diplomatic Conference of Contracting Governments" to amend the body's voting rules, changing them from requiring a two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

Map locating the main whaling nations and different species of whales caught around the world in 2017.

Anti-whaling NGOs cheered the result, but it seems clear from the week-long meeting in the surfing resort of Florianopolis that Japan's impatience with its fellow members in a sharply divided IWC is growing.

Kitty Block, head of the animal charity Humane Society International, said "the IWC's moral compass" had led it to reject Japan's proposal.

"It's clear from exchanges this week that those countries here fighting for the protection of whales are not prepared to have the IWC's progressive conservation agenda held hostage to Japan's unreasonable whaling demands."

To add insult to injury from Japan's point of view, the IWC adopted Brazil's "Florianopolis Declaration" which envisages whale protection in perpetuity.

And Glenn Inwood, of Opes Oceani, a company that analyses developments in the use of ocean resources, says there is no longer much of an economic or political case for Japan remaining in the body.

"Japan invests tens of millions of dollars each year into its whaling activities but gains very little from the IWC despite being its biggest benefactor," said Inwood, a former spokesman for the Japanese delegation.

Support in the wake of Friday's vote "is increasingly difficult to justify," he said.

"We learned from the United States' decision on the Paris Accord that countries are willing to revisit support for international agreements that aren't in sync with their national interests."

Explore further Whale meet nations in flare up over Brazil project

 2018 AFP
SpaceX has touted Moon tourist plans beforewith an announcement in 2017 that two people would launch in 2018but the company has remained mum about those plans in recent months

SpaceX is among a handful of companies racing to propel tourists into space. Here are the top projects in the works, and what they involve.

Moon orbit: SpaceX

The California-based company headed by tycoon Elon Musk announced plans Thursday to send a passenger into lunar orbit aboard a monster rocket, called the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), still in development.

The cost of the latest trip, its timing, and the identity of the passenger are unknown, for now. Details are to be revealed Monday.

SpaceX has touted Moon tourist plans beforewith an announcement in 2017 that two people would launch in 2018but the company has remained mum about those plans in recent months.

The trip would mark humanity's first journey to the Moon since the last Apollo astronauts went there in 1972. Only 24 people have ever left Earth's orbit and journeyed close to the Moon.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, is working to carry tourists on a brief journey to space, dozens of miles above the Earth's surface.

Tourists will spend several minutes floating in zero gravity, aboard a spaceship that approaches or passes through the Karman line, the boundary of Earth's atmosphere and space, some 62 miles (100 kilometers) high.

For comparison, astronauts at the orbiting International Space Station fly some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

Plans call for six passengers and two pilots to ride the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity, which resembles a private jet.

The VSS Unity will be attached to a carrier spacecraftthe WhiteKnightTwofrom which it will detach at around 49,000 feet (15,000 meters.) Once released, the spaceship will fire up its rocket, and head for the sky.

Passengers will float in zero-gravity for several minutes, before coming back to Earth.

The total trip time would last between 90 minutes and two hours.

Cost: $250,000 per ticket. Timing: TBD.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin, the rocket company created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, also plans to send up to six passengers on a short journey to space aboard the New Shepard, a capsule affixed to the top of a 60-foot (18-meter) rocket.

After launching, it detaches and continues several miles toward the sky. During an April 29 test, the capsule made it 66 miles.

After a few minutes of weightlessness, the capsule gradually falls back to Earth with three large parachutes and retrorockets used to slow the spacecraft.

From take-off to landing, the trip takes about 10 minutes.

The timing of the first flights, and cost per ticket, have not been announced.

China

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is working toward sending its first tourists on a suborbital journey some 60 miles high.

The first flight could take place by 2028, on a re-usable spacecraft that can fit up to 20 people.

Total mission duration would be about 30 minutes, with 10 minutes in the darkness of space, experiencing weightlessness and seeing the curvature of the Earth through the windows.

Price: about $200,000.

Russia

Seven people have already paid big bucks for a trip to space, organized by the Virginia-based company Space Adventures, and riding aboard Russian rockets and spacecraft.

The first space tourist was US businessman Dennis Tito, a multimillionaire who reportedly paid $20 million to ride a Soyuz and visit the International Space Station in 2001.

The Russian space company Energia is reported to be working on a new spacecraft called NEM-2 to carry tourists to the International Space Station (ISS).

Four to six people may ride at a time, and the first flights could come as early as 2019.

Paying space tourists might even be able to float out into the vacuum of space on brief spacewalks.

A firm price tag has not been fixed, but it is expected to cost around $100 million.

Space hotel

A US start-up called Orion Span announced earlier this year it hopes to place a luxury space hotel into orbit within a few yearsbut the project is still in its early stages.

Why travel to space?

The journey would be thrilling, to be sure, but also risky. Rockets can and do sometimes explode, after all.

Barring any technical failures by the machinery, the tourists' own health could be a factor, and it remains to be seen if people with heart ailments or circulatory problems would be permitted to fly.

Beyond that, astronauts often report feeling severe motion sickness during the ascent to space, and tourists are expected to be no different.

Explore further First space tourist flights could come in 2019

 2018 AFP
One of the lasers at the Extreme Light Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where a recent experiment accelerated electrons to near the speed of light. Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

In a recent experiment at the University of NebraskaLincoln, plasma electrons in the paths of intense laser light pulses were almost instantly accelerated close to the speed of light.

Physics professor Donald Umstadter, who led the research experiment that confirmed previous theory, said the new application might aptly be called an "optical rocket" because of the tremendous amount of force that light exerted in the experiment. The electrons were subjected to a force almost a trillion-trillion-times greater than that felt by an astronaut launched into space.

"This new and unique application of intense light can improve the performance of compact electron accelerators," he said. "But the novel and more general scientific aspect of our results is that the application of force of light resulted in the direct acceleration of matter."

The optical rocket is the latest example of how the forces exerted by light can be used as tools, Umstadter said.

Normal intensity light exerts a tiny force whenever it reflects, scatters or is absorbed. One proposed application of this force is a "light sail" that could be used to propel spacecraft. Yet because the light force is exceedingly small in this case, it would need to be exerted continuously for years for the spacecraft to reach high speed.

Grigory Golovin. Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Another type of force arises when light has an intensity gradient. One application of this light force is an "optical tweezer" that Is used to manipulate microscopic objects. Here again, the force is exceedingly small.

In the Nebraska experiment, the laser pulses were focused in plasma. When electrons in the plasma were expelled from the paths of the light pulses by their gradient forces, plasma waves were driven in the wakes of the pulses, and electrons were allowed to catch the wakefield waves, which further accelerated the electrons to ultra-relativistic energy. The new application of intense light provides a means to control the initial phase of wakefield acceleration and improve the performance of a new generation of compact electron accelerators, which are expected to pave the way for a range of applications that were previously impractical because of the enormous size of conventional accelerators.

In this artist's conception of the Nebraska experiment, the white orbs represent two laser pulses, with plasma waves in their wakes. The wavers interfere with one another after the laser pulses cross, and electrons ride the wake field waves to higher energy. Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The experimental research was conducted by students and scientists at Nebraska, with senior research associate Grigoroy Golovin serving as lead author on the paper reporting the new result. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation.

The experiment was based upon numerical modeling by scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. Umstadter theoretically predicted the underlying mechanism two decades ago. The results were reported in September in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Explore further Amplification of relativistic electron pulses by direct laser field acceleration

More information: Grigory Golovin et al. Electron Trapping from Interactions between Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasma Waves, Physical Review Letters (2018). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Grigory Golovin et al. Electron Trapping from Interactions between Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasma Waves,(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.104801
Ryanair workers are demanding better working conditions and want their contracts to be based on the law in their country of residence rather than in Ireland

Budget airline Ryanair announced on Friday that it has reached an agreement with flight crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law.

In a press release, Ryanair said agreements had been signed "in principle" with unions FIT-CISL, ANPAC and ANPAV in Rome on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Italian crews, alongside their Belgian, Dutch, Spanish and Portugese counterparts announced a 24-hour stoppage on September 28 that unions said would be the biggest strike in the Irish carrier's history.

With confirmation of the agreement between Ryanair and the Italian crewsset to come into effect on October 1 for a period of three yearstheir participation in the forthcoming strike is unclear, with union leaders currently leading consultation on the matter.

According to unions, the agreement will allow for crews to work under contracts composed under Italian law rather than Irish legislation, addressing a key demand from staff.

Provisions are also in place for salary increases and a pension scheme.

Ryanair and union leaders have yet to fine-tune some details for the collective agreement expected to be signed by the end of September.

"This agreement is a further sign of the significant progress Ryanair is making in reaching agreements with our people and their unions in different EU countries", Ryanair's chief of personnel Eddie Wilson said in a statement.

Ryanair has already reached an agreement with cabin crew in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but negotiations remain mired in difficulty in other countries.

On Wednesday, the company faced strike action from German pilot and cabin crew unions that resulted in the cancellation of 150 flights.

Wilson said that "smaller unions" outside the negotiations process are threatening strikes that "will either not take place or be unsuccessful".

Explore further Ryanair recognises cabin crew union in Ireland

 2018 AFP
Scientists led by conservation geneticist Tanya Lama at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with the Vertebrate Genome Laboratory (VGL), New York, published the first-ever whole genome for the Canada lynx. It will aid researchers studying evolution, disease, genetics and conservation. Credit: Bill Byrne/MassWildlife

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with the Vertebrate Genome Laboratory (VGL), New York, this week are publishing the first-ever whole genome for the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). It is one of 14 being released to the public data repository for use by researchers studying evolution, disease, genetics and conservation, says lynx team coordinator Tanya Lama, a doctoral candidate in environmental conservation at UMass Amherst.

The researchers will hold a press conference on Wednesday Sept. 12 at the VGL at Rockefeller University in New York to announce the genome releases.

Lama, who is also affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey's Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, says that as a conservation genetics tool, the genome provides information about the genetic health, demographic and evolutionary history of the species. It also helps to describe the viability of resident animals using precise estimates of population size, gene flow and adaptive genetic variation across real-world landscapes. This information is critical to wildlife management and policy decisions, she adds.

In particular, she and colleagues hope to learn more about the relationship between Maine lynx and neighboring populations in New Brunswick and Quebec, and their connections to the core lynx population in eastern Canada across "a formidable barrier," the St. Lawrence River.

Lama points out, "Genetics can help us better understand the dynamics of the Maine lynx population and whether it will remain viable into the future. If populations become small and isolated, they're more vulnerable to demographic and environmental changes and are at a higher risk of becoming locally extinct."

Listed as threatened in 2000 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canada lynx is a North American feline native to the boreal forest across Canada and in similar habitat in the northern United States, notably Maine. A recent recommendation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting the lynx from Endangered Species Act protections.

Conservation geneticist Tanya Lama and lynx biologist Jennifer Vashon of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife examine a lynx. Credit: University of Massachusetts Amherst

If delisted, a monitoring program will be developed and information on the status of the Maine lynx population and its connectivity to neighboring populations will be extremely important to developing conservation strategies. Even in recovery, Lama says lynx will require monitoring and conservation action to track climate change and habitat loss.

Her co-advisors Stephen DeStefano, leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and John Organ, chief of the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program, say the connectivity between Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec lynx populations south of the St. Lawrence is key to viability, and genomic tools can help ensure appropriate conservation measures are developed.

Organ notes, "Connectivity among these populations south of the river will likely be essential to their persistence and if necessary, land conservation strategies would be designed to facilitate movement and gene flow across the landscape."

For this effort, Lama coordinates a team that includes DeStefano and Organ, plus conservation geneticist Warren Johnson at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Jennifer Vashon and colleagues at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and bioinformatics experts at the VGL at Rockefeller University.

Lama says for her, this week's public genome unveiling is not the end, but the beginning of years of analysis to follow. As conservation geneticists, she and Johnson at the Smithsonian will analyze data, produce reports and interpret findings that will be of great use to conservation teams across the rest of the lynx's distribution in Minnesota, Montana/Northeastern Idaho, Washington, the Greater Yellowstone area and Colorado.

Johnson says that a visible and iconic species like the lynx "provides a great opportunity to explore the complex biological, ecological interactions among species and the natural environment and serves as a great model for using genomic approaches to inform our decisions."

DeStefano adds, "Anytime we can get more information on their population fitness, we'll take it. A lot of conservationists are deeply interested in the future of this beautiful cat," he notes.

Explore further US says snow-loving lynx no longer need special protection
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Nations that adopt transitional justice measures, such as truth commissions and judicial prosecutions for past human rights violations, experience lower homicide rates and lower levels of criminal violence, according to new research led by University of Notre Dame Associate Professor Guillermo Trejo and published in the Journal of Peace Research.

In their study of 76 countries that transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy between 1974 and 2005, the Notre Dame team also found that trials resulting in guilty verdicts is associated with lower homicide rates only when trials are jointly implemented with a strong truth commission. If new governments instead adopt amnesty laws that prevent prosecution for past human rights violations, this appears to stimulate criminal violence.

Along with co-authors Juan Albarracin from Universidad Icesi in Colombia, a former Notre Dame Kellogg Institute for International Studies Ph.D. fellow, and current Notre Dame Ph.D. fellow Lucia Tiscornia, Trejo examined why some countries transitioning from authoritarian rule to democracy, such as Brazil, Mexico or Honduras, experience a rise in criminal violence while others do not.

In authoritarian regimes, Trejo said, organized crime often stems from collusion between authorities who need to silence their opponents and the criminals who carry out political murders in exchange for impunity.

"The goal of people in charge of political policing in authoritarian regimes is to protect the regime, not citizens. They often torture and kill political dissidents or simply make them disappear with total impunity," Trejo emphasized. "To reward these enforcers and to keep them loyal to the regime, autocrats often allow them to regulate, protect and profit from the criminal underworld; they facilitate the transformation of political impunity into criminal immunity."

When these actors and networks of coercion, corruption and criminality survive the transition to democracy, societies often become very violent. But those ties can be broken. And Trejo and his colleagues found thatespecially in Latin Americainstalling transitional justice measures to investigate, expose and prosecute authoritarian enforcers for past human rights violations can be an effective way to quell the outbreak of mass criminal violence.

"If a country looks back into those repressive actors and exposes and dismantles their networks of corruption and criminality, the chances that they will play a leading role in the production of criminal violence in a democracy drops dramatically," Trejo said. "The joint pursuit of truth and justice generates what we call an accountability shocka powerful state signal that there are consequences to the unlawful use of state coercive powerand this changes behavior of government officials and criminals but also, importantly, citizens who might not have spoken out before."

Meanwhile, Trejo has helped develop a groundbreaking proposal for a national truth commission in his native Mexico, unveiled in July, to investigate alleged human rights atrocities committed by the government or organized criminal groups during Mexico's 12-year war on drugs. The proposal is based on the successful experiences of countries including Guatemala, Colombia and Peru and aims to disrupt networks of collusion and corruption between security officials and drug cartels.

More information: Guillermo Trejo et al. Breaking state impunity in post-authoritarian regimes, Journal of Peace Research (2018). Guillermo Trejo et al. Breaking state impunity in post-authoritarian regimes,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/0022343318793480
By Ritah Kemigisa.

Parliament has dismissed media reports that Members of parliament led by the Obongi county MP Kaps Fungaroo want parliament to pay their OTT tax.

According to a letter from the clerk to parliament Jane Kibirigye, the content generated by the media is a misconception and wrong.

Kibirige says MPs have personal phones that they use for communication, including social media, for which they pay the OTT Tax.

He adds that the data contract signed with Parliament before the advent of the OTT Tax leaves the duty of loading bundles on MPs Ipads to only the service provider.

Kibirigye adds that Fungaroo only asked Parliament to revisit the terms of the contract to either allow them pay for their OTT Tax or the service provider bears the cost because their restricted access is constraining their work and interaction with their constituents and the public.
7 hours ago

Biden faces fresh challenges after infrastructure victory

WASHINGTON (AP)  He has been here before. President Joe Biden doesn't need to look any further back than his time as vice president to grasp the challenges that lie ahead in promoting his new $1 trillion infrastructure deal to the American people and getting the money out the door fast enough that they can feel a real impact.

Read Article
By Ssebuliba Samuel.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has proposed a fuel tax cut from 16 to eight per cent as opposed to earlier 16% VAT on fuel

The president announced this during a national address on today on matters including Finance Bill, 2018, which he reviewed and returned to Parliament on Thursday evening.

The president has asked Parliament to cut the fuel Value Added Tax (VAT) by 50 per cent and said he expects the relevant authorities not to take advantage of weary Kenyans and to lower the prices without any delay.

The National Assembly will now discuss the proposals in two special sittings on Tuesday and Thursday next week.
NILES, N.Y. - Heinz Vosskhuler came to the United States with his wife in 1956 to work in New Jersey until the company moved him to Seneca Falls. A city boy with country dreams, Vosskhuler found a blank plot of land over looking at lake at 4325 Rockefeller Road.

"I always felt more at home in the country. I am a farmer at heart," said Vosskhuler.

Vosskhuler said he designed the house to look like the country villas he would see in his homeland of Germany. He created the roads throughout the property and dug a pond on the property which is surrounded by shale.

The house cannot be seen from the road, but the drive up to the home is marked by a sign with the word "Seablick". Vosskhuler said this is a combination of the German word for "the view over the lake" and the American phonetic spelling of that word.

Vosskhuler's favorite room of the home he says, is the living room. And more specifically his reading chair in the corner.

"From here you can sit and look at the lake. It is so beautiful and tranquil, even in the winter," said Vosskhuler.

There is a barn on the property where Vosskhuler keeps some goats and chickens. A vineyard expands behind the house. The property also has some fruit trees. In the spring, the cherry trees are exceptionally pretty said Vosskhuler.

A large portion of the land is leased out to other farmers to grow crops. From the kitchen window, one can look at the rows and rows of corn.

"When there is a light breeze, and there is always a breeze, it sounds like the ocean," Vosskhuler said, looking at the cornfield.

As neighbors are quite a distance from the home, Vosskhuler has the space to entertain. The home has been the setting for parties for family and friends.

What Vosskhuler will miss the most is his view from the hill.

"Houses can be replaced, but surroundings cannot. When you are so busy with work, it's like coming home to an oasis," said Vosskhuler.

Vosskhuler, now retired, is looking to stay in the area, but in a home that requires a little less upkeep than the farm.

THE DETAILS

Address: 4325 Rockefeller Road, Auburn, N.Y. 13021

Price: $600,280

Size: 1,996 square feet

Acreage: 15.75 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $2,445 (based on this week's national average rate of 4.54 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Total taxes: $9,118 (Based on assessed value of $377,000)

Built: 2004

School District: Moravia

Kitchen: The kitchen has a moveable island and Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring throughout. The open floor plan allows for a dining area which flows into the living room.

Bedrooms: This home has two finished bedroom suites on the first floor. Upstairs has all utilities installed but is currently unfinished and used for storage. There is space for 3-4 more rooms to be built upstairs.

Bathrooms: There are two full bathrooms in the home. The master bathroom has both a whirlpool tub and separate a tiled shower. There is also a double sink area. The second bathroom has a tub and shower combo.

Living areas: Included in this house is radiant heated floors throughout the first floor. The living room, kitchen, and dining room flow together in the open plan this home has. There is a lower level two car garage under the home accessed by large barn doors as well as an attached two car garage.

Outdoors: This home has a back patio which overlooks the vineyard. There is ample acreage with roads leading through the farm. There is a barn for livestock on the property as well as multiple fruit trees.

Agent: Chrissy Kinder

Berkshire Hathaway CNY Realty

Address: 5099 W. Genesee St., Camillus, N.Y. 13031

Phone: 315-559-2671

Email: chrissy.kinder@gmail.com

To nominate a listing for House of the Week, send an email to home@syracuse.com
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The creator of the infamous Kelihos Botnet, Peter Yuryevich Levashov (38) pleaded guilty this week to computer crime, fraud, conspiracy and identity theft charges.

Yuryevich Levashov (38), the botmaster of the dreaded Kelihos Botnet pleaded guilty this week to computer crime, fraud, conspiracy and identity theft charges.

In April 2017, the United States Department of Justice announced that Peter Yuryevich Levashov (36) (also known as Petr Levashov, Peter Severa, Petr Severa and Sergey Astakhov) was arrested in Barcelona for his involvement with the infamous Kelihos botnet. Levashov was extradited to the United States in February.

Peter Yuryevich Levashov, aka Petr Levashov, Peter Severa, Petr Severa and Sergey Astakhov, 38, of St. Petersburg, Russia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, to offenses stemming from his operation of the Kelihos botnet, which he used to facilitate malicious activities including harvesting login credentials, distributing bulk spam e-mails, and installing ransomware and other malicious software. states the press release published by the DoJ.

Levashov on Wednesday pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Hartford, Connecticut, to one count of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, one count of conspiracy, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of wire fraud.

According to a study conducted by CheckPoint Security, a malware landscape was characterized by some interesting changed in this first part of 2017.

The Kelihos botnet climbed to the top position, while the Conficker worm dropped to fourth on the chart of malware.

Levashov has operated several botnets between since the late 1990s, for example, two other botnets tracked as Storm and Waledac borrow the code with Kelihos, both have been attributed to Levashov.

For over two decades, Peter Levashov operated botnets which enabled him to harvest personal information from infected computers, disseminate spam, and distribute malware used to facilitate multiple scams, said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.

Mr. Levashov used the Kelihos botnet to distribute thousands of spam e-mails, harvest login credentials, and install malicious software on computers around the world, said U.S. Attorney Durham. He also participated in online forums on which stolen identities, credit card information and cybercrime tools were traded and sold. For years, Mr. Levashov lived quite comfortably while his criminal behavior disrupted the lives of thousands of computer users. 

The DoJ speculated Levashov sent spam urging recipients to buy shares as part of a pump and dump scam, among other naughtiness.

The Russian hacker was accused to have used the Kelihos botnet for spam campaign that advertised various criminal schemes, including pump-and-dump stock fraud.

The activity conducted by the Kelihos, Storm and Waledac botnets was very profitable, prosecutors believe they allowed crooks to earn hundreds of millions of dollars

For years, Mr. Levashov lived quite comfortably while his criminal behavior disrupted the lives of thousands of computer users, said U.S. Attorney John H. Durham of the District of Connecticut. Thanks to the collaborative work of the FBI and our partners in law enforcement, private industry and academia, a prolific cybercriminal has been neutralized, and has now admitted his guilt in a U.S. courtroom.

The sentence has been scheduled for September 6, 2019, likely because the man is now helping law enforcement agencies on investigations on other cybercrime operations.

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs  Kelihos, malware)

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Asian equity markets were mixed on Friday afternoon

Investing.com  Asian equity markets were mixed on Friday afternoon, after China reported better-than-expected industrial output and retail sales, but investment fell to a new low.

The countrys industrial output rose 6.1% in August compared to the same period last year, and retail sales climbed 9%, exceeding market expectations, while the fixed asset investment growth slowed to 5.3% in the first eight months in 2018, below Reuters forecast of 6% and a new low.

Chinas economy is on a gradual deceleration trend, but at this moment its still fine. The government wont change the direction of deleveraging. They will only change the pace of it, because the economy is still fine at this stage, said Macquarie Securities Ltd Economist Larry Hu.

Chinas Shanghai Composite cut gains and dropped 0.16% at 01:26AM ET (05:26 EMT) and SZSE Component slipped 0.58%, while the Hang Seng Index edged up 0.84%.

Amidst the trade war with the U.S., Chinas State Councilor Wang Yi said last Thursday that the world trade system needs reform, after meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

China supports necessary reforms and perfection of the current system, including to the WTO, to make it fairer, more effective and more rations, said Wang.

The aim of the reform should be to allow countries to enjoy the fruit of globalization more fairly, not to further widen the differences between the south and the north.

His remarks came after the possible renewed trade talks in Washington to avoid the trade war jitters to escalate, and U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that the White House was under no pressure to make a deal with China.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) said that Macau casino shares are poised for a 50% rebound, as the Macau gaming measure jumped 3.7% in the morning. The shares of MGM China Holdings Ltd, Sands China Ltd and Wynn Macau Ltd all climbed in the morning.

Japans Nikkei 225 extended gains and hiked 0.95% and South Koreas KOSPI also went up 1.26%, while down under, Australias S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.7%.

Story continues

The U.S. is also set to release its data on retail sales, industrial production and consumer sentiment on Friday.

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Why some people invest only in Singapore blue chip stocks

Sean ah, approached my auntie during Chinese New Year. Eh, ask youyou work in investing right? So which stocks are good to buy now? Ive always liked this auntie. She provides the best food of all the relatives I visit during this festive period, and Ive never been one to turn down a good free lunch.

Umm I paused, wondering how to politely tell her that I needed to understand her financial goals and risk profile before I could provide any sort of meaningful advice, all while stuffing my face with her ayam buah keluak.

I only buy Singapore blue chip stocks, she continued.

Ohwhy ah? I asked.

Safer lah.

After she said that, I realized that I had heard a few people tell me the same thing before  that they only bought Singapore blue chip stocks. The reason was usually that they felt that they were safer than other stocks.

Blue chip companies are generally large, well-known companies with a reputation for being financially sound, and are usually among the market leaders in their industry. Additionally, a number of the blue chip companies in Singapore are government-linked. Temasek Holdings owns about 52% of Singtel, 29% of DBS and 20% of Keppel Corp, just to name a few. So there is also a perception that in challenging economic times, the government will support these companies  thus the risk of investment loss is lower. Singapore blue chip companies also tend to give decent dividends.

For these reasons, it is certainly understandable why some people invest only in Singapore blue chip stocks.

The returns for Singapore blue chip stocks

Do Singapore blue chip stocks deliver good returns over the long term though? I decided to take a look at how these investors would have fared with this strategy in the past. I also wanted to compare how these investors would have done if they had invested in stocks globally instead of just limiting their investments to Singapore. After all, the total market value of Singapores blue chip stocks amounts to less than 0.5% of stocks worldwide, and there are thousands of other great companies beyond Singapores tiny shores.

Story continues

To measure the performance of Singapore blue chip stocks, I used the MSCI Singapore Index as a proxy. For global stocks, I decided to use the MSCI All Country World Index (MSCI ACWI) for comparison, as it includes companies from all over the world (including Singapore), such as well-known ones like Apple, Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, HSBC and many others.

Other than the returns, I also wanted to see how much risk these investors took. To measure this risk, I looked at the standard deviation of the indices. Standard deviation is a measure of volatility, which in turn is a measure of risk. For the sake of brevity, it is sufficient to know that the higher the standard deviation, the higher the volatility, and therefore the higher the risk.

These were the results:





sean articles

Source: Bloomberg Terminal. Periods were measured up to 28th February 2017. Returns are in SGD and are inclusive of dividends.

Lets take a look at the past five years first. The standard deviation for the MSCI Singapore Index over the past five years was slightly higher than the MSCI ACWI. The difference in returns, however, was vast  the MSCI ACWI delivered a little more than three times the returns of the MSCI Singapore Index  despite the lower volatility.

Looking at the ten and twenty year track records, the pattern is similar. Singapores blue chip companies were more volatile than global companies, and yet global companies delivered higher returns.

A Global portfolio vs Singapore portfolio

Why was this the case? Firstly, it is important to point out that past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns. That said, the fact that the MSCI ACWI had lower volatility than the MSCI Singapore Index makes logical sense. The simple explanation is that the MSCI ACWI is made up of more than 2,400 global companies, so each company makes up a very small percentage of the entire index. By spreading out ones investment among thousands of companies, the movements of a single stocks price have a relatively small effect. Even if a single company was to go bankrupt, there is very little impact on the entire portfolio. In contrast, if one of the 27 companies in the MSCI Singapore Index was to fail, the impact on the portfolio would be much more significant.

While the returns of the global portfolio were superior to the Singapore portfolio in the data shown, it is important to note that this might not always be the case. In any given year, it is impossible to know whether Singapore will deliver higher or lower returns than U.S., European, or other Asian stocks. However, keeping in mind that there are limitations in drawing conclusions from snapshots of time periods, the data shown above is suggestive that over the long term, one could obtain better returns from a global stock portfolio than a Singapore-only portfolio. At the very least, when you invest into thousands of companies, of which many such as JP Morgan, General Electric, Unilever, Toyota are much bigger than Singapores biggest companies, produce greater revenues and have access to much larger domestic and global markets, your odds of having a positive investment experience can only be better.

As noted earlier, there is nothing wrong per se with just investing into Singapores blue chip stocks. They are generally well-run companies with good management in place. However, if I can get a higher return per unit of risk from investing into global stocks, well, thats just the kind of free lunch I love to have.

This article is contributed by Sean Cheng, Portfolio Manager at Providend.

Providend is a licensed financial advisory firm and a registered fund management company with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Over the last 17 years, we have come to be known as a specialist in retirement planning and the first and probably still the only fee-only independent financial advisory firm in Singapore.

As a family of people driven by passion, we exist to serve our families of clients to fulfil their dreams and achieve their life purpose by providing them with the most honest, independent and competent advice.

(By Sean Cheng, Portfolio Manager of Providend Ltd)

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Paxful





Can bitcoin be used for social good? If anyone thinks so, its Ray Youssef, the CEO of peer-to-peer bitcoin platform Paxful.



A successful entrepreneur in the crypto and blockchain space, Youssef comes from humble beginnings and understands the importance of maintaining control over ones finances. Marred by memories of homelessness and extreme monetary strain, Youssefs journey to build Paxful was an arduous one.

When my mother got divorced and lost her home that she had put so much into, I went into higher gear, he explained in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine. My first two startups were successful, but then I had 11 failed projects in a row. I took risks and kept taking them until my savings were gone, and I was so busy working on Paxful, trying to get it to work, that when I lost my apartment I went for walks at night and slept in a new place when my friends couldnt bunk me.

Youssef says things took a positive turn when he and his business partner chose to get serious about entering the crypto scene. A fellow bitcoin enthusiast told us about how you could sell bitcoins and make a profit, he says. That encounter made him look more closely at the world of peer-to-peer bitcoin trading.

We didnt know its potential back then  we just saw that it worked for us and we wanted to make it even easier for other people to do the same, whether to start a business online or just get extra rent money.

Today, Paxful is a peer-to-peer online bitcoin platform that connects BTC purchasers with sellers. Currently, the site offers over 300 ways to purchase bitcoin including credit and debit cards, PayPal, Western Union transfers and even Amazon gift cards.

Buyers start out by finding an offer they like. They then work one-on-one with an experienced seller who guides them through the purchase process via online chat. Once everything is set, they pay the seller directly from a selected account to receive their coins.Every seller is verified to offer customers the highest level of safety, and Paxful will soon implement KYC in an effort to further protect buyers.

Story continues

Once his marketplace was ready, Youssef convinced his closest friends to give it try. Things began to grow from there, but his big break came from a phone call he would receive one fortuitous morning:

I left my personal mobile number on the website to help people directly, but no one ever called until one lady desperately in need of bitcoins called me at 4 a.m. yelling at me in pain and claiming that she was down to her last $13. I believed her, and the crying baby in the background was the icing on the cake. We had to help her. The problem was she had no bank account, and sites like Coinbase and other bitcoin brokerages had no solution for the unbanked. She had gotten the run around for two days and needed just $5 in BTC.

Youssef was able to provide the woman with the finances she needed, and the rest is history. He says that the company truly began the day she called.

She led us to realize that gift cards were the perfect way to onboard the unbanked to crypto, he says. She and all the others that followed taught us that bitcoin is the universal currency the world needs, especially the unbanked. They were the people that bitcoin was supposed to help, but no one was helping them or even trying. My co-founder and I did not sleep for a week, and we redid the entire system to make it usable for the non-techy, unbanked user.

Now, instead of me having to be on the phone with people for an hour to walk them through buying their first bitcoin and sending it to pay for something, people are able to figure it out themselves through Paxfuls tailor-made system. No one in crypto ever took the time to build a simple onboarding market and wallet for normal people, let alone the unbanked. We did.

Paxful has been operating in full-form ever since, and Youssef has never looked back. As the platform onboarded more customers, Paxful has given Youssef and his team the opportunity to extend their bitcoin services to much larger causes.

Among the companys latest projects is its building a blockchain technology hub in Lagos, Nigeria. Youssef says that bitcoin has become extremely popular in several regions of Africa and has empowered young entrepreneurs to build wealth in ways nobody could have foreseen.

Furthermore, Youssef began #BuiltwithBitcoin in late 2017, an initiative designed to boost the cryptocurrency communitys involvement in humanitarian projects. The project got its start with Youssef donating roughly $50,000 of his own money toward the construction of a new school in Rwanda. This has led to plans for a second institution. Other projects include a scholarship initiative for Afghan refugees, a Rwandan water tank project and food drives in Venezuela, which Youssef confidently states could become the first official bitcoin nation in the future.

Youssef describes bitcoin as a universal currency whose potential has barely scratched the surface. He says there are currency wars brewing in countries like Venezuela and Turkey, and bitcoin is the strongest weapon.

Wealth preservation is the first use case for bitcoin, he explains. People in currency wars can buy bitcoin to store their value and even use it to pay bills in other countries by borrowing a bank account. This just means they sell it to a peer on Paxful and they use their bank account to pay a bill for them to another local bank.

He also lists commerce as one of bitcoins biggest factors. People can sell their goods to anywhere they can ship them. They are then paid in bitcoin, which can be converted to fiat currency. Theres also a strong case for bitcoins use for remittance, in which someone can send money to family members abroad without processing times and banking fees.

The best thing about bitcoin is that its the core part of the #p2pfinancial revolution, and this means wealth and opportunity for entrepreneurs all over the world that didnt even think being an entrepreneur was possible, Youssef comments.

They can become vendors on #p2pfinance platforms and help onboard their communities to bitcoin while earning profit at the same time. This is how you really make a day-to-day difference in peoples lives. You show the ones most ready to act a better way, and their communities grow around them. There are single mothers who first came to bitcoin in fear and desperation, and now make five figures a month selling bitcoin. This is just the start.

Overall, Youssef is grateful for his past hardships as they taught him lessons about survival, humility and what was vital in life. He says it was these past experiences that showed him how to make Paxful a success and understand where his customers would be coming from, mentally and emotionally.





This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - The World Health Organization and the Red Cross said on Thursday they were ramping up their emergency responses to Zimbabwe's deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade, with politicians trading blame over contaminated water and collapsing infrastructure.

The death toll rose to 26 from the disease, testing the capacity of a new government to handle a major crisis just weeks after violent demonstrations that followed the first election since Robert Mugabe was toppled in a coup.

The opposition controls the city government in the capital, and exchanged blame with the ruling ZANU-PF party of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was providing kits that contain oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and antibiotics as the outbreak expanded quickly in Harare.

The International Red Cross in Zimbabwe said it had deployed more than 1,000 volunteers to contain the outbreak. Residents in Harare were dealing with a "double punch" after a recent outbreak of typhoid.

"It's so painful to lose a lot of people and we are finding it difficult to mourn them under the circumstances," Sharon Chiwomboya, mother of a cholera patient, said outside a clinic in Glenview suburb. "We fear for our school-going kids who are also affected, as well as adults."

Zimbabwe's biggest university said it had postponed a graduation ceremony set for Friday due to the cholera outbreak.

Mnangagwa, who won an election in July after first taking power when Mugabe was toppled last year, faces the difficult task of rebuilding an economy that collapsed under Mugabe's four-decade rule. Rebuilding infrastructure is hard for a government that spends 93 percent of its $4 billion annual budget on salaries.

The latest cholera outbreak hit the city of 1.5 million people after burst sewers in the Budiriro and Glenview suburbs contaminated water in boreholes used by residents. Harare's population draws water from one lake originally meant for 300,000 people, while a new dam first mooted in the 1990s is still to be constructed due to funding problems.

Story continues

"TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCE"

"The current cholera epidemic is a terrible consequence of Zimbabwe's failure to invest in and manage both its basic water and sanitation infrastructure and its health care system," Jessica Pwiti, Executive Director of Amnesty International Zimbabwe, said.

New Health Minister Obadiah Moyo blamed the opposition-controlled city government.

"Someone was probably sitting on their job," he said. "This whole problem has arisen as a result of blocked sewers and these were reported and were never repaired for at least two months."

The opposition says the central government should have provided more money. Harare city council officials have said they need up to $10 billion to repair water, sewers and roads.

In the capital, long stretches of roads have been reduced to potholed dusty tracks. Roads in other towns are in a worse state of disrepair because government services are non-existent.

Raw sewage flows daily from blocked and burst pipes and garbage piles up in some city townships. Residents in some suburbs in Harare have not had running water for years and use open wells.

Zimbabwe's debt of $11 billion to foreign lenders like the World Bank and Africa Development Bank make it difficult to borrow to finance infrastructure development.

At the height of Zimbabwe's economic crisis in 2008, 4,000 people died from cholera and more than 40,000 were infected.

(Editing by James Macharia and Peter Graff)
FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro leaves an agribusiness fair in Esteio FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro leaves an agribusiness fair in Esteio, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil August 29, 2018. REUTERS/Diego Vara/File photo

By Eduardo Simoes and Ricardo Brito

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian far-right frontrunner for president, on Thursday was recovering from emergency surgery with no complications, but his running mate said his return to campaigning would be further delayed.

Bolsonaro nearly died after being stabbed last week by an assailant as he was carried aloft by supporters during a street rally. He underwent emergency surgery late Wednesday to repair an obstruction in his small intestine.

Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, where Bolsonaro is being treated, said in a statement he had been moved to intensive care after the emergency procedure. Bolsonaro has had three operations, including two emergency procedures, since the attack.

The assassination attempt against the polarizing candidate plunged the most unpredictable presidential race since Brazil's return to democracy three decades ago into further confusion.

Several candidates have a good chance of making it to a runoff vote. Polls show about one-fifth of voters, disdainful of the political class after four years of unprecedented corruption investigations across parties, remain undecided or say they will annul their ballots. Voting is mandatory in Brazil.

Bolsonaro's running mate, outspoken retired army General Antonio Hamilton Mourao, told Reuters on Thursday that the latest operation would delay Bolsonaro's return to the campaign trail.

Mourao declined to say if Bolsonaro would be able to resume campaigning before the Oct. 7 first-round vote.

Earlier this week, the country's most popular politician, jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers Party (PT), gave up hope of running after the top electoral court barred him because of his corruption conviction. Former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, who was Lula's running mate, is now the PT's presidential candidate.

Polls have shown that about one-half of Lula's supporters say they would vote for whoever runs in his place. That is likely enough support to push Haddad into a runoff, required in Brazil if no candidate wins a majority in the first ballot.

Story continues

While Bolsonaro easily leads in polling on the first-round vote, surveys show he would likely lose in the Oct. 28 runoff.

The chance that one of the leftist candidates could be elected has spooked investors and sent Brazil's currency near record lows.

Bolsonaro, with a record of voting for state-led economic policies during his nearly three decades in Congress, named a prominent investment banker as the head of his economic team, and has vowed to privatize state-run firms and follow orthodox policies.

A top member of his campaign team told Reuters on Thursday there was no chance of a return. The source spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk about the situation.

Bolsonaro's son Flavio said last week his father would not be able to attend rallies ahead of the vote.

"It's going to delay his return to activities," Mourao said by telephone. "This anxiety over when he will return only results in causing him more stress."

Mourao said there was still no decision on whether he would replace Bolsonaro in official campaign events, such as debates.

"We're going to keep the campaign running, but there's no talk of replacing him," he said. "I consider him to be irreplaceable."

(Reporting by Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo and Ricardo Brito in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia, Gabriel Stargardter in Rio de Janeiro and Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Sept 14 (Reuters) - Genting Malaysia Bhd:

* UPDATES ON PARTICIPATION AS MANAGER TO OPERATION OF AN INTEGRATED GAMING FACILITY AND RESORT IN TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS

* REFERS TO INVESTMENT IN PROMISSORY NOTES ISSUED BY MASHPEE WAMPANOAG TRIBE TO FINANCE DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED GAMING RESORT

* NOTES U.S. FEDERAL GOVT. DECISION THAT TRIBE DID NOT SATISFY CONDITIONS TO HAVE LAND IN TRUST FOR INTEGRATED GAMING RESORT

* CURRENTLY REVIEWING OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS INVESTMENT IN PROMISSORY NOTES AS WELL AS ITS RECOVERABILITY Source text :(https://bit.ly/2QrsX7s)

] Further company coverage:
Chinas top official on Hong Kong says his office must act as guardian of one country, two systems policy

Beijings top official overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs has pledged to adopt an innovative and creative attitude in coping with difficulties that arise in the cities, warning against being too idealistic, simplistic and emotional.

Zhang Xiaoming, director of the State Councils Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also defined the roles of his office in this new era as being the dear close friend of Hong Kong and Macau residents, and the guardian of Beijings one country, two systems policy.

Zhang was addressing about 180 current and former HKMAO workers at a conference on Thursday in Beijing to mark the 40th anniversary of Chinas opening up.

Liaison office chief Zhang Xiaoming to leave Hong Kong for Beijing post, source says

The so-called reform and opening up was initiated by the late leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978. The economic changes were so far-reaching that Deng was honoured as the chief architect of Chinas economic reforms and Chinas socialist modernisation.

Zhang said: Just like other great businesses that are bound to face difficulties, the implementation of one country, two systems is not plain sailing either. [The policy] itself already contained some contradictions. And some problems have been left despite the smooth transition of sovereignty.

He stressed that when we deal with these issues and problems, we should avoid being idealistic, simplistic and emotional.

We should act as the guardian of the one country, two systems policy, and act as the dear close friend of [our] Hong Kong and Macau compatriots

Zhang Xiaoming

He added the office should acknowledge the difficulty and complexity of the work regarding Hong Kong and Macau and said the office should approach it in a proactive manner, with an innovative and creative attitude.

In addition to being the adviser and assistant of the central government in dealing with Hong Kong and Macau affairs, and a facilitator of Hong Kongs integration with national development, he said: We should act as the guardian of the one country, two systems policy, and act as the dear close friend of [our] Hong Kong and Macau compatriots.

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In Hong Kong, China watcher Hui Ching, research director at the Hong Kong Zhi Ming Institute, believed Zhang was mainly referring to the post-handover development of Hong Kong although he also mentioned Macau in his speech.

Affairs office chief Zhang Xiaoming seeks to allay fears over Chinas policy towards Hong Kong

But Hui said Zhang should be careful when conveying their message, to avoid giving the impression that his office wanted to become the other government of Hong Kong.

Being the middleman between Beijing and Hong Kong should be no problem. But it should not take an active part in Hong Kong affairs, Hui said.

Zhang was appointed in 2012 as the director of the central government liaison office in Hong Kong. In 2013, he became the first liaison office director to accept an invitation to have lunch with Hong Kong legislators. More than 50, including many opposition lawmakers, attended the event.

He was appointed the director of the HKMAO last year, replacing career diplomat Wang Guangya, who retired.

In his speech, he also attributed the success of the smooth transition of Hong Kong sovereignty in 1997 and that of Macau in 1999, and the successful implementation of the one country two systems policy in Hong Kong and Macau, to the hard work of his predecessors and the leadership of the party.

This article Chinas top official on Hong Kong says his office must act as guardian of one country, two systems policy first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.
Iran's Revolutionary guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari speaks during a conference to mark the martyrs of terrorism in Tehran September 6, 2011. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/Files

ANKARA (Reuters) - The chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Thursday that Tehran's missile attack on an Iranian Kurdish rebel base in northern Iraq last week was a warning to hostile powers, Iranian state television reported.

The Guards fired seven missiles at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an armed opposition group that fights for greater autonomy for Irans Kurdish community.

Iranian media said at least 11 people were killed.

"The attack against the terrorists in Iraq's Kurdistan conveys a message to the enemies, particularly those superpowers who think they can impose their evil plots on Iran and bully us," state TV quoted Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to destroy U.S. military bases across the Middle East and target Israel within minutes if attacked by the United States and its regional allies.

"All those who have forces, bases and equipment within a 2,000 km (1,200 mile) radius should know that our missiles are highly precise."

Israel sees Iran's regional influence and involvement in conflicts from Yemen to Syria as a threat to Israel's own existence.

The tension between Tehran and Washington, foes for decades, has heightened since May, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Tehran.

France's Foreign Ministry "strongly condemned" the missile strikes and said it was worried by Iran's activities, notably its missile development.

In August, Washington reimposed sanctions on the acquisition of U.S. dollars by Iran, and its trade in gold and precious metals. The sanctions were among those lifted under the deal in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.

In November, heavier U.S. sanctions are expected on Irans oil sector, a lifeline of its economy. Washington has urged Iran's oil buyers to cut their imports of Iranian crude to zero. Iran has denounced the call as "nonsense".

The European Union, China and Russia, all parties to the nuclear pact, are working to maintain trade with Iran, which has threatened to stop complying with curbs on its nuclear work if it fails to see the economic benefits of relief from sanctions under the deal.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
The International Whaling Commission's rejection Friday of Japan's proposal to resume commercial whaling "is not the end of the story," Tokyo's whaling commissioner said at the end of a divisive meeting in Brazil. "Japan was expecting something positive happens at this meeting," said Joji Morishita, who chaired the meeting of the deeply divided 89-member body and now reverts to being Japan's commissioner. "But that's not the end of the story. That's the beginning of the story of the next steps," Morishita told AFP. Anti-whaling nations led by Australia, the European Union and the United States, defeated Japan's "Way Forward" proposal -- to return to whaling for profit -- in a 41 to 27 vote. The vote was followed by threats of a withdrawal by Japan and left the 72-year old organization at a crossroads. Morishita said that despite a "very strong sense of dialogue," the differences between pro- and anti-whaling nations were "very clear" "I don't like to look at this as being failure or success, or the end. This is always the beginning of something new, and that's very important for the parties involved." Morishita had told the close of the meeting that member countries should ask themselves what kind of an organization they wanted it to be. It "needs to address conservation issues, climate change, pollution and all that stuff....and there are needs for management too," he told AFP. "So how do you address this? Through the IWC or through a different organization or a combination of different organizations?" "I think that's what we would now like to look at," he said, "not just concentrating whether IWC can survive or continue, or fail doing a job. To look at the larger world." Pro-whaling states say the IWC's mandate is both to conserve and manage -- meaning to sustainably hunt -- recovering whale stocks, but that the emphasis within the organization has leant too far towards conservation, leaving them without a voice. The large Japanese delegation here would "assess the result of this meeting very carefully back in Japan," said Morishita. While Japan would maintain its commitment to international cooperation "as a whole" he said, "but how they like to do this from here is something they will discuss back home." Asked if that would involve Japan inviting like-minded states to join them in a new pro-whaling organization, Morishita said: "I simply don't know. I have no basis to answer this question." And asked if the world had seen the last of Japan at the biennial IWC meetings, he said: "I have no comment to make on that."
The Russian prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack have disappeared following their only interview about the case and appear to have disconnected their mobile phones.

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov carried out one interview with Russian state-sponsored network RT, in which they claimed they were visiting Salisbury as tourists.

Security services believe they travelled from Moscow to the UK to smeared deadly nerve agent Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former spy Sergei Skripal, leaving him and his daughter Yulia critically ill.

The attack is believed to be linked to the death of Dawn Sturgess, 44, who fell ill after being exposed to the same chemical in nearby Amesbury.

Her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, also fell ill, while police officer Nick Bailey, who visited the home of the Skripals shortly after the attack, was also left critically ill from exposure to the substance.

Vanished  Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov seem to have disappeared since their interview with RT (Picture: Reuters/RT)

But despite giving an interview with RT, the pair since seem to have disappeared.

Editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said the men had promised to send her images of their visit to Salisbury Cathedral  which they claimed was the reason for their visit  but havent done so.

MORE: 3,000 people did not die: Donald Trump rejects Puerto Rico death toll from Hurricane Maria

MORE: Heres why the Salisbury assassins explanation is more than a little suspicious

The mobile phone they used to make contact with her also no longer appears to be in service, she said.

Ms Simonyan said: They told me that if they found those pictures, they would send them to me on WhatsApp. Im still waiting. They didnt have them on them.

Mobile phones  the mobile phones the pair used to contact RT seem to be out of service (Picture: PA)

She added: I tried to call them on the phone on which they called me but it has been out of coverage.

They said if they found the pictures they would send them to me but I am still waiting.

Before the interview, they had made her agree to a strict set of conditions to minimise the chance of being tracked down.

She told the BBC: One of the conditions was that no questions would be allowed that would allow the media to track their acquaintances or their business partners or their relatives or their classmates or whomever.

Story continues

As they said  and this is their words not mine  that this is their first and last interview to the media ever.

The pairs claims have not only been rubbished by Downing Street, but have also sparked comedy responses across social media as people mock their so-called explanation.

Can you help two friends of mine? Theyre coming to the UK, but only for 2 days. With time so tight, which two places should they visit?  Richard Osman (@richardosman) September 13, 2018

We are innocent tourists. Our friends had been suggesting for some time that we visit the wonderful town of Salisbury pic.twitter.com/t4583EJg7a  Dan McKee (@danieljmckee) September 13, 2018

Many referred to the idea that the pair had travelled all the way to Salisbury just to see its cathedral.

Of course those Russians were just tourists. Everyone knows that Salisbury has 2 world-class tourist attractions:

1. The cathedral

2. The famous Skripal Door Handle.  David Schneider (@davidschneider) September 13, 2018

After novichok suspects say they only came to Salisbury as tourists, a suspicious review appears on Trip Advisor: pic.twitter.com/5T0E3wUYOY  Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) September 13, 2018

Salisbury wasnt the first time pic.twitter.com/ITBaWjrrYo  David Schneider (@davidschneider) September 13, 2018

People are being very sceptical about these two Russians, but Id like to see YOU try visiting a beautiful cathedral city without killing some people.  Dan Rebellato (@DanRebellato) September 13, 2018

"We are not here to EXTERMINATE. We merely wish to visit the galactically renowned Salisbury Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/SiJ67HO0GI  Sir Humphrey (@pinstripedline) September 13, 2018

Proof that those Russians were just on a day trip from Russia to see #Salisbury Cathedral  pic.twitter.com/VQUizJCjFZ  Mark (@rawlimark) September 13, 2018

20. You

19. Cant

18. Rank

17. The most

16. Popular

15. Tourist

14. Attractions

13. For

12. Russians

11. In

10. England

9. Because

8. TripAdvisor

7. Algorithms

6. Are

5. Impenetrable

4. To

3. Russian

2. Bots

1. Salisbury Cathedral  James Graham (@mrJamesGraham) September 13, 2018

Of course those Russians in Salisbury were only tourists. They have proof. pic.twitter.com/rAskFRFxjO  Angela Collings (@angieisthebest) September 14, 2018

Others referenced the fact that the duo had apparently left early because of snow  something it is thought they are likely to be used to.

Fly to Britain

Stay in shitty hotel in London

Travel to Salisbury

Don't visit cathedral because Russians don't do snow

Leave after half an hour

Fly home again

Why doesn't Thomas Cook offer this tour?  GeorgeMonbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) September 13, 2018

Napoleon and Hitler were defeated by Russian winter.

Meanwhile Salisbury slush breaks the will of two Russian spies  Bassman Bob (@spottie999) September 13, 2018

Some jokes referred to the similarity between the pairs explanation and the Wikipedia entry about Salisbury Cathedral.

In retrospect, its a shame MI5 didnt anticipate the Russians defence and edit Wikipedia accordingly. We visited Salisbury on the advice of friends to see the famous Haribo-encrusted spire, designed by the famous architect Dale Winton.  James Chalmers (@ProfChalmers) September 13, 2018

There was no invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939, the Russians were misunderstood, they were simply passing through Poland on their way to visit Salisbury Cathedral.  John Hellis  (@Pillboxman) September 14, 2018
Friday, September 14, 2018

From Politically Georgia:

A major overhaul of Georgias adoption laws went into effect this month, lifting some of the hurdles facing couples who want to adopt a child.

The adoption law, which took force Sept. 1, will ensure that Georgia residents can stay in-state rather than traveling elsewhere to adopt, said state Rep. Bert Reeves, the sponsor of the House Bill 159.

"It will make it easier for prospective parents to navigate the adoption process and adopt a child right here in Georgia, said Reeves, R-Marietta.

This law makes it easier for Georgias most vulnerable children to find permanent, stable and loving homes, said House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge.

Read more here.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/2018/09/georgia-adoption-process-made-easier.html
Another theft has been reported on board a Malaysia Airlines flight, with a Facebook user posting an extensive detailing of his ordeal flying between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo Narita.

One month ago, we reported a similar incident that occurred on another a MAS flight from Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur.

Douglas Cheah explains that he was sitting in the planes upper deck business class section of MH88 on Wednesday night when he noticed that a fellow passenger began suspiciously walking up and down the aisles. His demeanor was such that Cheah alleges that he was pretending to do some stretching, when in fact, he believes he was staking out unattended bags.

Taking off at 11:50pm, many passengers fell asleep soon after, Cheah among them, despite his reservations over the man he has seen stretching.

Uneasy, he woke up at 4:30am and saw a different gentleman, wearing a black shirt, in the aisle attempting to open one of the overhead bins away from his seat. Realizing that he was now being watched, the man stopped suddenly.

Wondering if his own baggage had been affected, Cheah then checked his own belongings, finding that while his laptop and speakers were still there, the RM3,000 (US$725) in cash he had brought with him was no longer in his passport holder.

Alerting the crew, he spoke to a cabin crew member and pointed out the two men he believed were acting suspicious. Both the captain and cabin supervisor were alerted, and Narita airport was also informed that a crime had happened on board.

According to his post, the victim alleges that MAS unfortunately appeared to have no standard operating procedure do deal with thefts on board, and explained that, short of making an announcement, only authorities at the port of arrival could make any arrests.

Both suspects were traveling with Chinese passports; however, the victim stopped short of confronting them on the advice of flight crew.

After being diverted to Incheon, the flight finally landed in Narita five hours after it had originally been scheduled. Local officers explained that since the alleged thefts occurred over international airspace, on a Malaysia-owned plane, they could not arrest the men. Instead, they could only search and interrogate the men.

Story continues

No Malaysian currency was found on either of the men, and they were released. Cheah believes a third accomplice was working with them, and the money was passed to them. No other passengers appeared to be affected, he said.

Japanese police have said that he can try lodging a report in Malaysia.

Disheartened, Cheah explained in his post that he believes that such syndicates are now sitting in expensive business class seats, and will store their bags at the front of the plane, giving them a chance to walk up and down the aisles unnoticed.

Weve reached out to Malaysia Airlines for comment, and are awaiting their response.

Meanwhile, a second incident involving one of the airlines planes occurred last night. Malaysian Airlines flight MH1, leaving London en route to Kuala Lumpur, was forced to turn back late Thursday night over a technical issue.

Shortly after takeoff at 9:58pm, the plane made a turnaround back to Heathrow Airport, dumping fuel in the English Channel before making an emergency landing.

Passengers will now be put on another flight, with their food and accommodation paid for in London by the airline while they wait.

There you have it! Keep your valuables with you, and if youre anything like us  take the bus whenever possible.

The post Passenger alleges he was victim of syndicate theft on MAS flight from Tokyo appeared first on Coconuts.
Katie Muth, Conor Lamb, Sara Innamorato, Tom Wolf, John Fetterman, Jennifer OMara, Bob Casey Jr. (Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: Katie Muth for PA Senate via Facebook, Brendan McDermid/Reuters, Sara Innamorato via Facebook, Matt Rourke/AP, Jonathan Bachman/Reuters, Jennifer OMara for State Rep via Facebook, Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Katie Muth knew something was off before the polls even closed. Working for Hillary Clintons campaign in southeastern Pennsylvania, Muth and her husband were dispatched on election night 2016 to a polling place in Collegeville, Pa., to make sure voters in line stayed to cast their ballots even after the polls closed. They were wearing Clinton gear, and both the weather and reception from those waiting in line were cold. Someone had a cutout of Donald Trump, and to Muth the whole thing felt eerie. A few Clinton voters hugged them after casting their ballots, but as Muths husband checked the numbers rolling in from other states, she felt ill.

Muth went to bed before results were final and awoke to the news that Trump was president, partially due to a narrow victory in the Keystone State, the first time a Republican had won there since 1988. Clintons supposed blue wall of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin had collapsed, and the night had other bad news for Pennsylvania Democrats: Not only had Trump carried the state by 44,292 votes, but Republican Sen. Pat Toomey had been reelected by a slightly larger margin. The GOP also picked up a few more seats in the states House and Senate, solidifying its stranglehold on the legislature. Democrats still had a senator in Bob Casey Jr. and a governor in Tom Wolf, but both would be up for reelection in 2018 in the face of possible continued Republican momentum in a state that is older and whiter than the national average. There was a chance things could get even more dire.

But in the aftermath, after spending much of the next day in bed, Muth did what many others across the state and country have done in the wake of Nov. 8, 2016: She threw herself further into the political process. Muth is running for state Senate in a district in northwest Philadelphia, a first-time candidate among a number of first-time candidates, a woman among many women. In addition to the rookie politicians, there has been a wave of volunteers new to politics, trying to flip the state legislature, reelect Casey and Wolf, win some congressional swing seats, and lay the groundwork for a Democratic presidential bounce-back in 2020. Buoyed by strong poll numbers and a state Supreme Court decision calling for redistricting the states notoriously gerrymandered congressional district lines, Pennsylvania Democrats are at least cautiously optimistic about their chances in the midterms. Yahoo News spoke to nearly a dozen of the states Democratic candidates and operatives about whats changed on the ground in the 22 months since Nov. 8, 2016. There is energy and optimism on the ground to go along with the growing pains of incorporating new voices and ideas into the partys old guard.

Story continues

Pennsylvanias Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at a rally for Tim Kaine in 2016, when Kaine was Hillary Clintons running mate. (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images)

One change is the partys new state chairwoman, Nancy Patton Mills, who was elected in June. On Election Day 2016 she was party chair in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh. Mills said she was surprised and disheartened by the result but was soon invigorated by the opportunity it presented. Two days after the election, Mills spoke to despondent students at Chatham University, a former womens college whose student body is still 75 percent female, and laid out her theory.

Were probably in a better place today in Pennsylvania because of the loss, although the loss was so, so painful, said Mills. That night at Chatham University I said Hillarys loss is the worst thing that has ever happened to the Democratic Party and the best thing thats ever happened to the Democratic Party, because we now know the work that we have to do.

The task for Democrats was converting the energy from events like the womens march and travel ban protests into electoral action, enlisting those who regretted not doing enough in 2016 and putting them to work. Jamie Perrapato, executive director of Turn PA Blue, is focused on electing Democrats to the state legislature, targeting districts in eastern Pennsylvania to close the double-digit seat gaps in both chambers. A big part of her job is getting volunteers who live in safe blue neighborhoods to canvass in the surrounding swing districts. As competitive races mount up, she says, she is running short of funds to campaign in all of them.

State legislature races do not get the attention that Congress does, said Perrapato. Weve been taking all of these people who are newly woke, I guess you could say, and plugging them into state campaigns where the resources are desperately needed. Theyre underfunded and theyre underrecognized, and the influx of volunteers makes a huge difference.

Muth is running for one of the seats targeted by Perrapatos group, a rookie candidate learning the ropes and dealing with a Democratic establishment thats attempting to integrate the flood of new interest and ideas into the existing structure. The party establishment is still skeptical of in-person campaigning, she said, noting that her campaign just knocked on its 50,000th door; the leadership in Harrisburg would prefer she come with the news of a $50,000 check. Shes not expecting much help from the party and is instead building alliances with the other candidates in her area, sharing information on voters and donors while coordinating on canvassing efforts. Muth expressed the same sentiment as other new candidates who spoke with Yahoo News: It is extremely difficult to run, particularly if you are not independently wealthy, because the costs are astronomical and the system feels broken. But being a newcomer does have its advantages in winning over Trump voters in her district, even if her politics couldnt be further from the man whose victory kept her in bed for a day.

Sara Innamorato, Katie Muth (Photos: Sara Innamorato via Facebook, Katie Muth for PA Senate via Facebook)

A lot of my volunteers, when it comes up, will text me and say, I just sold my soul to the devil, said Muth. She explains: People will say, I voted for Trump because he isnt a politician, and theyll say, Thats great! Katie Muth isnt either. Whatever works  we need the damn vote. I dont want to lie for the vote, but its not really a lie because Im not a politician. Its just realizing that common connection that people are frustrated with whats going on.

And its not just the Democratic candidates who are new, but those supporting them and running their campaigns. Sara Innamorato defeated a longtime state representative in a Pittsburgh-area primary in May, one of two Western Pennsylvania women to knock out members of a powerful Democratic family and win nomination to a safe blue seat. Innamorato launched her campaign after what she described as an unexpectedly visceral reaction to the 2016 results and the belief that if the host of The Apprentice could be president there was no reason she  a 32-year-old who ran a communications consultancy for nonprofits and government agencies  couldnt run for state office. Innamorato said many of her volunteers and even some of her paid staff were political novices.

We ran our race with people who had never really managed or worked on campaigns in a very significant way before, said Innamorato. We werent raising $100,000 to spend on expensive consultants. I think they would have guided us in a very different direction.

Muth, Innamorato and other female candidates are up against a Pennsylvania tradition of electing white men to office. The state has never had a female governor or senator, and the current congressional delegation has zero women from either party. While Clinton and Democratic Senate candidate Katie McGinty lost in 2016, three Democratic men won statewide office  as attorney general, auditor general and treasurer  providing evidence for those who believe sexism had a role in the 2016 defeats. One study cites Pennsylvania as the 49th best state in the nation for electing women, ahead of only Mississippi, and also lagging in racial diversity. But the dearth of women is almost certain to change in 2018. Its likely at least four Democratic women will be heading to Congress next year from the state, and there will almost certainly be more women in the statehouse.

Democrat Conor Lamb on the night of the March special election when he beat Republican Rep. Rick Saccone. (Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

In the eastern part of the state, Democrats were energized by the 2017 local elections, in which Democrats won seats on the Delaware County Council for the first time in decades and captured offices in both Chester and Bucks counties. Western Pennsylvania activists saw their huge win in April, when Democrat Conor Lamb won a special election in a Pittsburgh-area congressional district Trump had carried by 20 points. Lambs victory came by only a few hundred votes, which Mills views as a positive in terms of motivation.

Had he won it by a whole lot, said Mills, we may not have been as energized as we were by the narrow margin. It proved to people who had never been in politics before Oh boy, those 10 doors I knocked on, that made a difference. I personally made a difference. I had so many people share with me, Oh, you know, I made 100 calls, that really made a difference, didnt it? Yes, it did.

Lambs reelection efforts  and the congressional opportunities for Democrats across Pennsylvania  got a boost via a state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that threw out the congressional map Republicans drew at the beginning of the decade, locking in a 13-5 GOP advantage in congressional seats in a state whose voters are roughly evenly divided between parties. The new map issued by the court turns six Republican-held districts into competitive or Democratic-leaning seats. Lamb is now running in a new district against Republican Rep. Keith Rothfus, a race the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates as Lean Democratic.

The ideal situation for Democrats in Pennsylvania and nationwide is that enthusiasm surges up and down the ballot: competitive state House races helping congressional races in the area and both having a potential benefit to the top of the ticket and vice versa. This includes reaching out to segments of the electorate that have either stopped voting for Democrats or stopped voting entirely, including by competing for seats that have gone uncontested in previous elections.

The way to bring people back is to have a conversation, said Innamorato, They want to know that youre a real authentic person, and you might not agree on every single policy point but they just want to know your character and your core and what moral code youre going to use when you get into office. I find the only way to express that authentically is not through a commercial on cable news but having a conversation, having a town hall, sitting down and inviting folks to have a cup of coffee with you. Thats very labor intensive, its time intensive, but it worked here and were seeing across the U.S., were seeing with different candidates who were written off by the Democratic National Committee, written off by the state party, and theyre winning.

John Fetterman, right, strikes up a conversation at a diner in the depressed steel town of Clairton, Pa., in May. Fetterman is running for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket. (Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Mayor John Fetterman of Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, running as lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket with Wolf, also stresses the importance of showing up in traditionally red areas. The Clinton campaign was criticized for concentrating on the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas and ignoring the rest of the state. Fettermans campaigning has taken him across the state to the many counties that went for Trump, and while he says some voters are unpersuadable, theres been plenty of buyers remorse, along with people just happy to see a candidate visit their area.

People would say Thanks for coming, and Im like, Thats crazy, dont thank us. Thank you for showing up, said Fetterman. Thats our job as a candidate. Dont vote for a party, dont vote for candidate that doesnt come and visit, thats Politics 101. Thats our job as candidates to show up, and thats been our commitment.

Fetterman also recognizes the bump that the gubernatorial ticket gets from the hard work by down-ballot Democrats, some in counties where Trump earned over three-quarters of the 2016 vote.

There are [state legislature] candidates that know what a heavy lift they have, but theyre going to drive turnout too, said Fetterman. We as a party can never cede a county 80-20, 70-30. Weve got to contest every county and make it 55-45. Even if its not realistic to turn Potter County [in north-central Pennsylvania] blue, weve got to make sure were getting every vote we can out of each and every one of these counties.

Polling supports the theory of Keystone Democrats having a bounce-back election come November. An August NBC News/Marist poll found Trumps approval rating 14 points underwater in the state, and while he is near 50 percent approval in western and central Pennsylvania, he is at just 30 percent in the Philadelphia suburbs, a potentially ominous sign for Republicans on the ballot there. That same poll found Casey with a 15-point lead over Rep. Lou Barletta in the Senate race and Wolf with a 14-point lead over businessman Scott Wagner in the gubernatorial, which is in line with other polling. The survey also found 51 percent of respondents saying they planned on supporting the Democrat in their congressional race versus 39 percent who plan to back the Republican. At the state Senate level, Democrats have candidates in 24 of 25 districts, tying a record, with seven of those districts having voted for Clinton in 2016. And if you believe polling that shows young people lean heavily Democratic, the fact that Pennsylvania led the nation in youth voter registration according to one June report is another data point for November.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr., who is running for reelection, greets supporters in Philadelphia in July. (Photo: Matt Slocum/AP)

There is also plenty of anecdotal support from those on the ground, who cite an enthusiasm in voters that didnt exist in 2016 when many were disenchanted with both presidential options or were disengaged because a Clinton victory seemed preordained. Jennifer OMara, whos running for a state House seat outside Philadelphia, said lifelong Republicans have told her theyre voting straight ticket for Democrats. One man in his 90s told her she would be the second Democrat he has voted for in his life, after Harry Truman. OMara says she encounters widespread disgust with the political system.

Ive noticed a pattern of women, said OMara, particularly Republican women, want to know what party I am, and they dont even want to talk to me until they know Im a Democrat. Then they want to vent a little bit about how frustrated they are about how things are going and how chaotic and messy our politics have gotten, and they really want to see our politics start to work again.

Because Pennsylvania doesnt have early voting, everything will come down to the first Tuesday in November, which means that for the nervous it seems like anything from the weather to the latest streaming television release could affect the outcome.

I worry about it, said Perrapato. I joke around all the time that were just one Netflix binge away from losing a bunch of volunteers. I freaked out that Season 2 of [Netflix original series] Ozark came out because its raining and now everyones going to watch Ozark. Youre just that close to losing people; Im terrified all the time.

While OMara said that her experience canvassing has led her to believe a blue wave is indeed coming, Perrapato doesnt want to jinx anyones chances with premature optimism. The wave is the people, and if people dont show up theres no wave, said Perrapato. Its not something thats inevitable. Some days I feel like were going to pick up all 20 [targeted state legislature seats] and other days I feel like were going to lose every single one. Its a very precarious thing.

A line of voters stretches around a corner outside a polling place in West Philadelphia on Nov. 8, 2016. (Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Innamorato voices another concern about the blue wave talk: that it implies candidates can passively surf to victory, instead of working for it. We still have so much work to do as a party, said Innamorato, and I think what November is going to show us is were going to see some really great wins that we should celebrate, but we should say, That is only the beginning.

And even if the Democrats win these races, plenty of work will be needed to keep the energy high into 2020 and beyond.

Its just a matter of time before the old way of Democratic establishment crap is gone, because were not going away, said Muth. Win or lose, were not going away. We just move on to the next thing we can help step up and change because theres so much work to do in this state.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
As much as were sad to see Toys R Us go overseas, parents of little runts across the country will be very happy to know that the toy store is holding a massive warehouse sale here

Geoffreys Toy Bazaar features discounts of up to 75 percent off in a sale that will go on till Nov 30th, ensuring a bumper crop of childrens gifts that can be purchased for cheap before Christmas comes around. As Great Deals pointed out, the duration of the sale is strangely long, but it indicates the massive volume of stocked-up merchandise that havent been selling well.

Photo: Toys R Us Singapore / Facebook

From pictures posted on Facebook by Toys R Us Singapore, they converted a huge space at Tiong Bahrus Tan Boon Liat Building into a massive facility that hosts racks upon racks of toys that folks werent interested in grabbing. Honestly, its mind-boggling to see the array of action figures, cuddly animal dolls, and dollhouses that Toys R Us are still holding on to right now, and it makes sense that the sale will go on for over two months. Theyll probably need longer than that to clear out everything.

Despite all its stores in the UK and the United States shutting down, Toys R Us Singapore is doing fine and dandy, thanks to the brands Asian operations being financially independent, separate entities. Currently, there are 11 Toys R Us stores in Singapore, part of the over 400 outlets across Southeast-Asia and Greater China.

Toys R Us (Asia) is open for business and continuing to serve our customers as we always do, affirmed Toys R Us (Asia) president Andre Javes in a Yahoo News report.

We are a financially robust and self-funding retail operation, which continues to significantly grow and invest in this region.

The post Toys R Us Singapore holding a massive clearance sale thatll go on for more than two months appeared first on Coconuts.
UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi on Friday appealed for the creation of a clear mechanism for European states to share out the burden of migrants rescued at sea rather than work on a case by case basis. Those arriving "must be shared around Europe. There must be a foreseeable mechanism. We cannot deal on a boat by boat basis," the UN refugee chief told a news conference after two days of talks with authorities in his native Italy. Italy has closed its ports to NGOs rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean and has been increasingly reluctant to take in those brought to shore in its own vessels, making reception conditional on those brought to shore being offloaded to other EU states. "We are not talking about incredible figures -- if Libya can deal with a million refugees then Europe can manage a few tens of thousands," Grandi said. He added that between 80 and 90 percent of the estimated 68 million refugees globally according to UNHCR figures were "in poor countries or have few resources". Grandi added that Europe faced a "long battle" in reaching common ground on how to deal with the migrant issue but should cooperate in so far as possible and use the expected drop in numbers over the winter to draw up a coherent strategy. In the meantime he added that the priority should be ensuring migrants reached the "nearest safe port". That could not, he stressed, be Libya given that conditions in some reception camps there were "abominable, unacceptable". Grandi said he was also concerned at the lack of rescue boats of Libya, be they humanitarian or military which meant not just less people brought ashore but also "more deaths". Grandi further warned against politicians using intemperate language when discussing the migrant issue, urging that "the language of politics must not a create a space for abuse and violence of a racist character". On Monday, new UN rights head Michelle Bachelet announced a new team would be heading to Italy to monitor "a signalled strong increase" in racist violence, something which Italy's far right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini denied. Salvini said that Italy had in recent years accepted 700,000 immigrants, "including many illegals, and never got any help from other European countries".
Friday, September 14, 2018

The Iowa Supreme Court has imposed a one-year suspension of an attorney

Royce D. Turner, over a span of twenty months, was repeatedly rebuked by state and federal judges for missing hearings and violating court rules. He was found in contempt several times. Three of his clients were arrested and two were jailed for missing hearings he overlooked. Despite an ongoing audit, Turner continued to flout basic requirements for client trust accounts.

The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board brought a complaint against Turner alleging multiple violations of the Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct. He delayed responding to the Boards inquiries and complaints. Our court imposed a five-month interim suspension to protect the public. We permitted Turners return to practice with the help of an experienced attorney under stipulated limitations pending resolution of the disciplinary charges.

The parties submitted a stipulation of facts. A division of the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission found violations of numerous rules. Noting Turners inexperience and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the commission recommended a three-month suspension of his license to practice law with conditions on his reinstatement. The Board recommends a suspension of twelve to eighteen months. Based on our de novo review, we now suspend Turners license to practice law for one year from the date of this opinion with conditions on his reinstatement.

Inexperienced sole practitioners who lack mentors and take on cases without the requisite experience are at greater risk of making mistakes. Any Iowa lawyer should be concerned about receiving one rebuke from a judge. Attorneys should view a single mistake as a wakeup call to reexamine practices or get help to avoid further missteps. Continuing to make the same mistakes without correcting behavior invariably leads to more trouble, as shown here. According to the adage commonly attributed to Will Rogers, good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. We hope Turner gains better judgment from his bad experiences.

ADHD may mitigate if treatment is sought

We have recognized that [p]ersonal illnesses, such as depression or attention deficit disorder, do not excuse a lawyers misconduct but can be mitigating factors. Iowa Supreme Ct. Atty Disciplinary Bd. v. Curtis, 749 N.W.2d 694, 703 (Iowa 2008). The key for mitigation is that the lawyer proactively seeks treatment to address the condition and avoid reoccurrence of the misconduct. See Clarity, 838 N.W.2d at 661 (To be considered in mitigation, the alcoholism must have contributed to the ethical misconduct, and the lawyer must undertake rehabilitative efforts to control his addiction.); see also Dolezal, 841 N.W.2d at 129 (noting that when an attorney receives treatment for an illness, his efforts to get healthy must be considered in fashioning an appropriate sanction (quoting Iowa Supreme Ct. Atty Disciplinary Bd. v. Fields, 790 N.W.2d 791, 800 (Iowa 2010))). Because Turner attends counseling sessions and takes medication, we consider his depression and ADHD in mitigation.

The attorney was admitted in 2013. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/09/the-iowa-supreme-court-has-accepted-a-proposed-three-month-suspension-royce-d-turner-over-a-span-of-twenty-months-was-rep.html
Friday, September 14, 2018

The Montana Supreme Court exercised supervisory control in a matter in which it is alleged that Montana State University - Bozeman negligently hired and failed to protect a student from a predatory professor.

we find that exercise of supervisory control is necessary and proper and accordingly reverse and remand for further proceedings.

The Professor

In 2006, MSU hired Shuichi Komiyama as a teaching professor in the Music Department of the MSU College of Arts and Architecture (A&A). At pertinent times, Komiyama was also the Director of the MSU Orchestra and Jazz Band.

The lower court action

By order filed April 11, 2018, the District Court summarily adjudicated liability against MSU on Plaintiff Breanne Cepedas asserted negligence claim as an evidence spoliation sanction pursuant to M. R. Civ. P. 37(e).

The court vacated the default sanction.

Concerns about the professor's conduct from many sources led to an investigation by in-house counsel and a spoliation issue

More troublesome is MSUs failure to preserve all emails associated with the email accounts of Leech, Agre-Kippenham, Letendre, and Komiyama music students other than Cepeda, that may have existed on the MSU email server or faculty computers on June 15, 2011. Apart from an unverifiable, self-serving showing that they likely contained no relevant information other than as referenced in emails retained pursuant to its internal investigation, MSUs affidavit showings, through in-house counsel, were at best vague or ambiguous as to when unpreserved emails associated with the MSU accounts of Leech, Agre-Kippenham, and Letendre were in fact irrecoverably lost. Further, other than a showing that Komiyama and Cepeda primarily, if not exclusively, communicated by private email, MSU made no particularized evidentiary showing in response to Cepedas sanctions motion as to whether and to what extent, if any, emails associated with MSU email server accounts assigned to Komiyama music students would still have been present on the MSU server on June 15, 2011.

Though Leech and Agre-Kippenham retired in May 2011, MSUs measured evidentiary showing and arguments evince tacit acknowledgment that it did not preserve all of the emails associated with the MSU accounts of Leech, Agre-Kippenham, and then-still-active Letendre that existed on June 15, 2011. Substantial evidence thus supports the District Courts finding that MSU retained only the faculty and student emails that it deemed relevant to its internal investigation. Based on MSUs vague and ambiguous evidentiary showing, we cannot say that the District Courts implicit findingthat MSU breached a duty to take reasonable action to preserve information at least potentially relevant to a reasonably foreseeable adverse claimwas clearly erroneous.

But

However, the balance of the District Courts sanctions analysis is more problematic. Without any predicate finding, the court insinuated that MSU failed to preserve the entirety of the subject faculty and student emails in bad faith, i.e., with the intent or purpose of concealing unfavorable evidence. Except for disputable evidence of a breach of a duty to preserve the entirety of music department faculty and student emails, neither the District Court nor Cepeda have cited any non-speculative direct or circumstantial evidence indicating that MSU knowingly failed to preserve any potentially relevant student or faculty email communications with the purpose or intent of concealing unfavorable evidence. To the contrary, MSUs failure to preserve occurred in the midst of MSUs own aggressive investigation of Komiyama at a time when the decision to reinstate or terminate him from employment hung in the balance. The only real-time assessment reasonably supported by the limited record before us was that MSU was actively searching for evidence manifesting the propriety or impropriety of Komiyamas conduct and relationships with students, including Cepeda, in the face of serious and already significantly-substantiated allegations of misconduct. Beyond rank speculation and conjecture, neither the District Court nor Cepeda cited any substantial direct or circumstantial evidence that would support a finding or inference that MSU knowingly failed to preserve evidence with purpose or intent to conceal unfavorable evidence.

Thus

We hold that exercise of supervisory control is necessary and proper on the ground that this case presents a significant question as to whether the District Court is proceeding under a mistake of law which, if uncorrected prior to final judgment, will likely cause significant injustice rendering ordinary appeal inadequate. Upon extraordinary review, we hold that the District Court abused its discretion in imposing default judgment against MSU as a spoliation sanction under M. R. Civ. P. 37(b)-(c) and (e). We therefore reverse that portion of the District Courts sanctions order and remand for further proceedings in the ordinary course.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported on the lower court action

MSUs attorneys had insisted that the university did a reasonable job preserving those emails of Komiyama and other evidence that officials found relevant to the universitys internal investigation. That investigation led to the conductor being banned from campus in April 2011 and losing his job.

Also, the judge wrote, MSU attorney Pam Merrell sent out a do not destroy notice in June 2011, two months after Komiyama was booted off campus, telling staff that a lawsuit was likely and so all email, voicemail, videos, calendars, correspondence and other evidence should be preserved. MSU had a duty to ensure that emails and texts werent deleted, but allowed that very thing to happen, the judge wrote.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/09/the-montana-supreme-court-affirmed-the-imposition-of-spoliation-sanctions-imposed-on-montana-state-the-bozeman-daily-tr-ibun.html
Billionaire acts of philanthropy can often be half-baked or blatantly self-aggrandizinglike Mark Zuckerbergs $100 million misadventure with Newarks schools, or the time Steve Schwarzman offered his old high school $25 million to rename itself after him and hang his portrait on the wall. Jeff Bezos first major step toward giving away part of his riches, thankfully, appears to be neither. On Thursday, the Amazon founder announced on Twitter that he and his wife MacKenzie would pour $2 billion into a new organization, the Bezos Day One Fund, to combat homelessness and create a network of preschools for lower-income children. While there are lots of unanswered questions about the details, the move seems like a promising and soundly straightforward attempt to help Americas poor.

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Even if it is, that doesnt mean Bezos should be celebrated uncritically for his generosity. Whenever a massive fortune is used to do good, it cant help but raise questions about how that fortune was made in the first place. And the timing of Bezos new venture is especially fraught, given Amazons recent role in killing a tax that Seattle lawmakers had hoped would fund the citys own anti-homelessness efforts. Its simultaneously smart philanthropy and a symptom of whats ailing our country to begin with.

Until now, Bezosnet worth: $163 billion and countinghas never been particularly involved in philanthropy (unless you count his $250 million purchase of the Washington Post, which I would not, given that it is now a profitable business). Unlike Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg or Oracles Larry Ellison, he has not signed Warren Buffett and Bill Gates Giving Pledge, the pact that a group of billionaires have made to donate most of their money. His documented charitable giving has also been fairly negligible until now, at least compared to his wealth: One of his biggest donations was a $33 million gift to a group that gives scholarships to immigrants, for instance.

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Bezos began inching his way toward the world of big-dollar philanthropy last year, when he solicited ideas from the public on Twitter. Im thinking about a philanthropy strategy that is the opposite of how I mostly spend my timeworking on the long term, he wrote then. For philanthropy, I find Im drawn to the other end of the spectrum: the right now. As an example, he cited Marys Place, a homelessness relief organization in Seattle that Amazon has supported (though not without some hiccups).

The Bezos Day One Fund will stick close to that sketch. Part of the money will be used to open a nonprofit chain of full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities. The other portion will be used to fund existing nonprofits that provide shelter and food for homeless families. Once again, Bezos offered Marys Place as an example.

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Its too early to fully pass judgment on Bezos new fund as a philanthropic effort, since the organization hasnt actually done anything yet and the rollout is short on details about how it will work. But David Callahan, the founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy, told me that based on his early outline, Bezos seemed to have a smart plan that avoided some of the traps billionaires commonly fall into when they try to donate large sums of money. Unlike, say, Ivy League colleges or world-renowned medical centers, homelessness and pre-K are both underfunded causes that generally dont attract the attention of wealthy donors. Bezos also isnt likely to duplicate a lot of pre-existing organizational infrastructure: The U.S. needs more affordable preschools, and hes giving to homeless groups that are already doing good work, rather than trying to bigfoot them. And while $2 billion may not seem like much compared with Bezos vast personal resources, theres something to be said for going slow. These people often do start small, Callahan told me. Because remember, this is hard work. A lot of these philanthropists, no matter how much money they have, say, lets put some initial cash on the table, lets start to do some things, well see what works. Also, if you forget the source for a moment, $2 billion is quite a bit of moneyroughly the size of a top 50 college endowment.

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Of course, nobody is going to forget the source. Nor are they supposed to. Every massive philanthropic gesture by a famous billionaire is, to some extent, part of a public relations campaign. Bezos, who has named the charity after himself, would probably like to curry some favor with a public that is starting to question the role of major tech companies in their lives and the economy. (I, for one, am hopelessly conflicted about it.) But while he is busy trying to use his fortune to help the poorest of the poor, his company has become an almost perfect diorama of American inequalityfrom his own outrageous wealth, to the highly paid executives and tech employees, to the underpaid warehouse workers who often need to use food stamps to get by. Especially since so much of his wealth is tied up in the stock value of his company, every dollar Bezos gives away is in part a reminder that many of his workers could use a raise.

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In this case, its also a reminder that Amazon helped squash Seattles own recent effort to address its homelessness epidemic. The 18th largest city in the country, Seattle has the countrys third largest homeless population; its City Hall is currently doubling as a temporary homeless shelter each night. Earlier this year, the City Council proposed a $500 per employee tax on the citys large corporations, with proceeds going to fund affordable housing and relief efforts. In protest, Amazon paused construction on a new tower in downtown Seattle and hinted it might move its workers elsewhere. Eventually, local lawmakers passed a smaller, $275 per-head tax that would have raised about $47 million a year, about a quarter of which would have come from Amazon. Along with Starbucks, Kroger, and other big companies, though, Amazon funded a campaign to get the tax repealed through a ballot initiative. Eventually, fearful City Council members backtracked and repealed the tax themselves.

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In his Twitter announcement, Bezos did not specify how much of his Day One Fund will be spent fighting Seattles homelessness problem in particular, and how much of its grant giving will be spread nationally. Its possible that the city will end up with more resources to fight homelessness thanks to the mans largesse than it would have ever raised through its tax. But that would mean the city would be giving up control to the private hands of a person who doesnt answer to voters. That may turn out to be a worthwhile exchange, but it also encapsulates the fundamental challenge billionaire philanthropy poseseven when its used for good purposes, theres not much accountability when things go wrong.

As Rob Reich, the co-director of Stanfords Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, pointed out to me, theres another irony here. If Bezos does find good ideas for preschools or easing homelessness, hell eventually have to rely on governments to adopt them to make them stick. He has to engage the public infrastructure at some point, Reich told me. In other words, if Bezos really cares about these issues, he and his fellow billionaires will need to get used to paying more taxes to pay for permanent fixes.
People (like, for example, Aristotle) knock the notion of the philosopher king, but to them I say: Kwame Anthony Appiah. NYU philosophy professor, arbiter of sticky wickets as the Ethicist columnist for the New York Times Magazine, Appiah is the author of several lucid, blessedly reasonable books on his chosen field for general readers. As the Ethicist, Appiah dispenses sometimes stern, always compassionate rulings with a serenity so Solomonic that when someone wrote in recently to ask what to do when two different people claimed to be the owner of a stray cat, I expected him to suggest that the letter writer cut it in half. Advice columnists attract the most attention when they fulminate or exhort, so its comforting to know that at least one prominent perch is occupied by someone calm, knowledgeable, and judicious, weighing in on the moral complexities of everyday life.

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With his new book, The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity, Appiah takes on one of the most bitterly contested topics of our time. Despite the misleadingly incendiary lie in the title, the book offers a sanctuary in a smoking battlefield. On this terrain, the word identity usually gets deployed by, say, right-wing provocateurs waging a disingenuous propaganda campaign against a journalist for old (and admittedly stupid) parodic tweets, or a public intellectual who cant seem to tell the difference between campus zealots and the DNC. This is the realm of the inflammatory anecdote about political correctness run amok, the full-throttle Facebook rant, and, worst of all, the David Brooks op-ed. You might, for example, wholeheartedly support Black Lives Matter yet wince at the Nations recent decision to apologize for publishing a poem written by a white man from the perspective of a black homeless person. But in such an acutely polarized atmosphere, you may also see no way to negotiate a viable position between the two opinions.

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As Appiah observed in 2006 (this isnt the first time hes tackled the subject), identity politics is a peculiar term, almost always used to complain about someone else. Ones own political preoccupations are just, well, politics. Identity politics is what other people do. Identity is inescapable. When someone insists that its time to abandon identity politics, they are actually arguing that another identity (Democrats, progressives, labor, the left, Americans) should take precedence over identities whose agendas they regard as less pressing (gender, race, sexual orientation). But as the law professor Kimberle Crenshaw pointed out when developing her theory of intersectionality, every individual resides at the nexus of multiple identities, each affecting and shaping the others. The negative social responses to black lesbians, Appiah explains, are not simply a combination of the racist and homophobic responses that also affect black gay men and the sexist response experienced by middle-class white women. Furthermore, each individual might choose to foreground a different facet of her complex identity at different times in her life.

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Meritocracy itself, Appiah believes, is a false god.

This is a condition with which Appiah himself is intimately familiar. His father was descended from the military aristocracy of the Asante Empire in what is now the modern Republic of Ghana; his mother, a devout Anglican, grew up in a village in England with a grandfather who traced his ancestry back to a 13th-century Norman knight. He was raised in Ghana and attended a private boarding school in Britain, taking a degree in philosophy at Cambridge. Born in London, hes a Ghanaian with a British passport who lives in the United States (where he is considered black) with his husband. He cuts an ambiguous figure and opens The Lies That Bind with a list of the nationalities that cab drivers all over the world have mistakenly attributed to him, from Brazilian to Belgian to Indian.

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In his introduction, Appiah describes The Lies That Bind as one philosophers answer to the double question: what are identities and why do they matter? He focuses on five categories of identity: creed, country, color, class, and culture. Gender, what he calls the oldest form of human identity, is a kind of prototype for all the other divisions that follow. But the modern concept of identity, he insists, is fairly young, first forming in the 19th century and solidifying in the decades after World War II. How we view identity now is still influenced by the outdated and in many cases debunked ideas of the Victorian era. Those ideas divide us and set us against one another, he writes, but they can and must be reformed because at their best, they make it possible for groups, large and small, to do things together.

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Each of Appiahs chapters on the five types of identity challenges what he sees as common misperceptions. Religious identity, he argues, has relatively little to do with creed, and therefore scripture; for people who belong to a faith, its real substance consists of practicehow they enact their beliefsand communitythe group they enact them with. This may sound obvious, but as Appiah points out, people in Britain spend a lot of time arguing about the place of women in Islam, often using quotations from the Quran to back up their claims. But different Muslim communities practice Islam in different ways. Sometimes that practice includes interpreting the scripture to restrict womens freedom and power, but in other cases, it does not. Pakistan and Bangladesh, he writes, countries where Islam is the state religion, have had women prime ministers, and have a larger percentage of women in their legislatures than the United States does.

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Similarly, nationality is an often arbitrary construct, sometimes imposed from without on people who dont share an ethnicity or language, but also, as in the case of Singapore, carefully engineered from the ground up. Singapore defines itself, in part, through its ethnic heterogeneity, Appiah writes, with the two largest groups being Chinese and Malay. Every decision the Singaporean ruling party made after the city-state achieved independence in the 1960slike naming English the official language and Malay the national languagewas designed to keep any one group from gaining too much of an advantage over the others. Singapores government may be watchful and intrusive by the standards of a European liberal democracy, but it has also convinced most of its citizens that they were engaged together in a meaningful national project. Its example delivers a body blow to the idea that nationality is rooted in some deep, mystical quality that cannot be changed without destroying the nation that embodies it. Recognize that nations are invented, Appiah writes, and youll see theyre always being reinvented.

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To do this, however, well have to give up our very human tendency toward essentialism, the belief that every identity comes with innate qualities. At times in The Lies That Bind, Appiah seems to be either fighting a battle thats already been won, as when he challenges the scholarly movement known as Afrocentrism, which he believes perpetuates 19th-century delusions about race, or debating with the sort of peoplewhite nationalists, Brexiterswho are never going to listen to someone like him in the first place. Essentialism is much rarer among academics and left-of-center intellectuals now than it was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the last time identity issues provoked a culturewide uproar. Back then, books like 1986s Womens Ways of Knowing suggested, for example, that women are naturally more cooperative and nurturing than men. The idea that many identities, particularly race, are social constructions rather than biological fact is now widely acknowledgedat least among those likely to pick up a book on identity by an NYU philosophy professor. More controversially, Appiah hasnt got much use for the notion of cultural appropriation because all cultural practices and objects are mobile; they like to spread, and almost all are themselves creations of intermixture; the very idea of ownership is the wrong model, he says, and disturbingly corporate. But neither does he really believe in Western civilization because it imposes an implausible unity on a vast hodgepodge of phenomena originating all over the world.

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Perhaps the most challenging chapter in The Lies That Bind for Appiahs educated, open-minded readership will be the one on class. While Appiah rejects the notion that some traits are innate to particular groups, he does believe that some traits are innate to all people. One of them, he says, is the desire of families to pass on advantages to their children. This is a force that hopelessly compromises the modern ideal of meritocracy, papering over a social order in which an individuals wealth and status are still overwhelmingly determined by the the wealth and status of her parents. Feudal aristocrats believed they were superior to everyone else by virtue of their blood, but meritocrats can be equally smug, claiming to have earned advantages that are in large part the result of privileged access to education and social networks. Meritocracy itself, Appiah believes, is a false god, because it acts to reduce people to a single measure of worth and only someone with a very limited vision could suppose that human worth reduces to a single measure.

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Throughout The Lies That Bind, Appiah offers up historical examples of people whose identities defied the reductive stereotypes of our time. One is Anton Wilhelm Amo Afer, a man who, in 1707, at the age of 5, was taken from his home on the African Gold Coast and placed under the patronage of the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, a Northern European principality, then given the education of an Enlightenment scholar as an experiment. (This was considered a rousing success by everyone involved, yet in 1747, for reasons unrecorded, Amo returned to the Gold Coast.) Another is the writer Italo Svevo, born Aron Ettore Schmitz in the city of Trieste, Italy, in 1861, a friend of James Joyce and a model for Leopold Bloom. Like Appiah himself, Svevo had a complex, shifting, multilingual identity. His parents were Jewish, but he converted to Catholicism when he married. His father was German, his mother Italian. He was born a subject of the Austrian emperor and died a subject of the king of Italy, a state created in the year of his birth.

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Its easy to see why Appiah would identify with such a figure, and its not insignificant that the identity Svevo cherished most deeply was not any of his national ones but his that of his home city, Trieste. An unspoken but implied counterpoint to all the identities considered in The Lies That Bind is cosmopolite, which is how many Triestines viewed themselves in Svevos day. In his 2006 book, Cosmopolitanism, Appiah proposed an ethos for inhabiting a world of strangers. Cosmopolitanism, as he defines it, holds universal values such as hospitality, generosity, courtesy, and fairness, while acknowledging that human beings come in near-infinite variety and may not always practice those values in exactly the same way. It calls neither for mere tolerance nor for spineless relativism. The cosmopolite respects and appreciates difference, while acknowledging that no local loyalty can ever justify forgetting that each human being has responsibilities to every other. Like Svevos identity, and Appiahs, it is fluid and adaptable, a bit, too, like Keats notion of negative capability, capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reasonif you substitute for fact and reason the words a fixed identity.

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The Greek roots of the word cosmopolitan suggest a universe composed of a city, a way of life derived from the experience of urban living, where getting along requires living next to, working alongside, and sometimes joining families with people from other backgrounds and cultures. Its an appealing ideal, and while Im under the influence of Appiahs suave vision of communal magnanimity, it seems doable, a city on the hill that will encompass the whole world, a city we might actually get the chance to build. It seems the only hope for a livable future on this planet. It must be so!

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An hour or two after closing The Lies That Bind, however, doubt creeps in. Not everyone wants to glide among multiple identities in a chattering marketplace. Anton Wilhelm Amo Afer, for one, seemed unable or unwilling to live this dream, probably because the European courts and capitals through which he, with his dark skin, moved didnt truly subscribe to it themselves. Yes, we can claim identity, but identity can also be imposed on usor denied to us.

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Did Amo remain cosmopolitan when he returned to the Nzema villages of his homeland? A Dutch ships doctor who met him in the 1750s reported that he had earned a reputation there for sagacity and soothsaying. We have a pretty good idea of what he carried back with him to Africa when he returned, and perhaps of what he fled, but we cant know what he sought there. It might have been some deep feeling of home imparted by certain smells or foods, the color of the soil, the sounds birds and animals make in the night, the family he left behind. If he ever missed Europe and its glittering cosmopolitan cities, it wasnt enough to call him back.

The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity by Kwame Anthony Appiah. W. W. Norton.

See all the pieces in the Slate Book Review.

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Anders Hill (Ben Mendelsohn), the self-sabotaging mess at the center of Nicole Holofceners sixth feature film, The Land of Steady Habits, isnt the sort of magnetic bad boy or brooding, complicated loner usually invoked by the word antihero. Hes just a sad middle-aged dad, shopping, when we first meet him, at a Bed Bath & Beyond in suburban Connecticut. His look of paralyzed indecision as he stares at a vast display of bath towels prefigures the dilemmas that will beset him throughout the movie. What does he actually like, anyway? What does he need? Who does he want to be when and if he ever grows up? And why is he so chronically deficient in the mental clarity and moral gumption it would take to formulate these questions and attempt to answer them, instead of flailing from one abysmal life choice to the next?

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The towels, it turns out, are for a new condo Anders is furnishing from the ground up, having abruptly resolved to leave his wife Helene (Edie Falco) and retire from his lucrative job in finance. Hes a successful but alienated suburban commuter, a type familiar from the fictional 20th-century worlds of John Cheever or Mad Men, but he seems even more existentially adrift in the world of the present day. Anders knows he should be a better father to his son Preston (Thomas Mann), an aimless and financially dependent 27-year-old who has already been through a stint of rehab. But what is it exactly that a good father does? Anders cant be sure, though he does learn the hard way that it probably shouldnt involve, say, letting himself into his own former house in the middle of the night, drunk, to grab a popsicle from the freezer and leaf through old photo albums. A still less optimal parenting strategy: getting high with the teenagers in the backyard at a former colleagues fancy Christmas party.

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Holofcener has always played vagina music, and played it beautifully. This time around shes trying a different, um, instrument.

Our antihero makes these bad choices, and a few far worse ones, over the course of a holiday season decked with bungled apologies and poorly concealed lies. Hes far from the only messed-up individual on view: His son appears have replaced substance addiction with new, equally antisocial habits. His ex-wife may be lying about just how long shes been involved with her current boyfriend (Bill Camp). And the high schooler who passed him that bong at the party (Charlie Tahan) shows signs of being a talented but troubled kid. Still, Anders screwups are so colossal they tend to blot out the lesser constellations of neurosis that surround him.

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The Land of Steady Habits is writer-director Holofceners first adapted script, from a novel by Ted Thompson. Its also her first-ever film to feature a man as protagonist. Her previous featuresWalking and Talking, Lovely & Amazing, Friends With Money, Please Give, and Enough Saidall took place in a world mainly inhabited by women, though they had plenty of memorable men in them too. To quote an ever-handy line from Walking and Talking, Holofcener has always played vagina music, and played it beautifully. This time around shes trying a different, um, instrument, and the result isnt always perfectly in tune. If her films so far have ranged from very good to great, The Land of Steady Habits exists somewhere at the low end of that continuum. But that still makes it a very good movie, full of sharp dialogue and lacerating insight about the haute-suburban milieu that the script both skewers and struggles to understand.

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Not that The Land of Steady Habits positions itself as a social satire. Its more of a character portrait made with a keen eye for the cultural and economic conditions in which its characters live. Holofcener has always made movies about people in the middle to upper-middle classes; the title Friends With Money could apply, at some level, to all of them. But this is the first time shes chronicled the lives of the one-percenters, the five-bedroom-mansion, boat-in-storage crowd. The land of steady habitsthe phrase is never defined, or even uttered, in the filmis a nickname for the Nutmeg State that goes back to the early 1800s. Originally the term was a compliment, implying a sense of pastoral calm and reliable political tradition: Connecticut was the place where, however the world might change, you could rely on the stability of the Federalist party.

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If I had been blindfolded during the opening and closing credits, Im not sure I could have guessed this was a Nicole Holofcener film.

In its more recent, ironic usage, the name mocks the suffocating bourgeois conformity that Anders seems to experience as an almost physical malady. He bitches to his fellow financiers about the posh sterility of their lives, but left to himself, he cant really figure out anything better to do with his time. He buys useless, ugly tchotchkes to decorate his empty apartment, then picks up the salesgirl and takes her home for some terrible sex. He claims to be working with charities, then, when asked which ones, skitters away muttering something about the cancer spectrum. One might complain that there are too many scenes devoted to establishing these points about Anders character: Hes a rich, self-centered jerkwe get it. But even his worst decisions have a perverse relatability to anyone whos ever deliberately torpedoed their own life (or secretly entertained the fantasy of doing so).

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Anders leads an oppressively cloistered existence, which he resists in many unheroic ways, but his company never feels claustrophobic to us. The basset houndeyed Mendelsohn is one of those actors with a face you could look at all day, as Holofcener herself observed in a recent interview (she also compares Mendelsohns inherent watchability to that of her longtime collaborator Catherine Keener, whos appeared in all of her films except this one). Falco is also sensational, all the more so because her screen time is frustratingly limited. Helene is a well-written character, not in the least a cipher, but Falco gets only a few brief scenes to dig into her inner life. Mann and Tahan both leave strong impressions as spoiled, unhappy boys trying to figure out how to become grown men, despite the near-total absence in their lives of evidence that any such things exist. And Connie Britton gets maximum mileage from a small part as the most promising of Anders short-term sexual encounters. When, their first time in bed together, he casually insults the reading material on her bedside table, she shuts him down with a firmness thats nothing short of inspirational.

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If I had been blindfolded during the opening and closing credits, Im not sure I could have guessed this was a Nicole Holofcener film. I might have pegged it as a first feature by a talented but still untested writer-director. But the sense that shes exploring unfamiliar territory two decades into her career provides a freshness all its own. The age of #MeToo, and of mounting rage about income inequality, is a tough time to ask audiences to sympathize with the plight of a miserable rich white guy who treats other people like crap (though it should be said, Anders many modes of being terrible do not include any nonconsensual foisting). That The Land of Steady Habits makes us care as much as it does about a character this reprehensible is a testament to the gifts of both the man who plays him and the woman behind the camera, observing his every disastrous move with generosity and a kind of love.

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Thursday, September 13, 2018

BBC News (Sept. 13, 2018): NI women may not be able to access abortion pills in England, by Emma Vardy:

Women from Northern Ireland who travel to Britain for abortion care may not be able to access abortion pills. On average, each week 28 women travel from Northern Ireland to England for abortion care because, unlike the rest of the UK, the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

England allows women to take medication abortion at home, but patients may have to prove residency before being able to do so.

Northern Irish Labour MP Stella Creasy has backed access to the pills for women in NI. Speaking in the Commons, she said: "In Scotland there is a residency test for the abortion pill, which if it is copied in England would deny women coming from Northern Ireland this choice of procedure.

"Let's get on and give our Northern Irish sisters the right to access healthcare and abortion at home, just as our sisters around the rest of the UK have."

The Department for Health only has the power to approve English homes as a place patients can legally take the abortion pill, according to Victoria Atkins, the Minister for Women and Equalities. However, Ms. Atkins said the definition of what "home" means is yet to be clarified.

"Officials are working with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to determine protocol which will set out criteria for which places should be covered by the term 'home'... We will look at how the (early abortion pill) schemes are working in Scotland and Wales and learn from the experience there."

Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where abortion is illegal in most circumstances. Previous attempts to change the law were blocked within the Northern Ireland Assembly, but there may now be enough support among Assembly members to overturn the ban. However, the devolved NI government has not sat since power-sharing collapsed in January 2017.

In June, UK Supreme Court judges said that Northern Ireland's abortion law violates human rights and called the current ban "untenable."

Ms. Atkins said: "We call upon those representatives in Northern Ireland to get their act together and get the Assembly working again so that Northern Ireland people can make their decision."

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/reproductive_rights/2018/09/northern-ireland-women-may-not-be-able-to-access-abortion-pills-in-england.html
Why have I seen six Predator movies? Why have I seen Predator, Predator 2, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (twice in the theater, if Im being honest), Predators, and now The Predator? I ask because the creators of The Predator seem to be wondering the same thing, out loud, during their own movie. Director Shane Black, the mythologized Lethal Weapon screenwriter whos lately become a successful director (Iron Man 3, The Nice Guys), has come home to another 80s-born franchise, and he spends almost the whole movie making fun of how bad and inexplicable the series has always been.

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This is fair: There is not a single good Predator movie. No, not even the Arnold Schwarzenegger original, which famously coronated the dreadlocked murderous aliens with heat vision and a mouth that looks like a toothy butthole. Black and his co-writer, Fred Dekker, are happy to concede as much. In effect turning the new movie into a very gruesome comedy, they have their characters try and fail to describe the titular beast (in one of the movies repeated gestures toward examining what Roger Ebert called the franchises subtle racism, a character describes the extraterrestrial as an alien Whoopi Goldberg) and argue over why its called a predator at all, since a real predator wouldnt kill for sport. (Shouldnt it be the hunter?) They seem to have as little idea as I do why people like them keep making these movies, and why people like me keep seeing them. And yetthrough sheer force of weird meta gags and explosive viscerathey might have made the most fun movie in the franchise.

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Early reports that the movie would feature a female predator do not, as far as I could surmise, pan out, but there is a new predator taller than a semi.

In this go-around, which has a very complicated plot I encourage you to ignore, a predator crashes to earth and is revealed in its invisible form by blood drizzling down from the exposed entrails of an early victim. Nice. An American sniper (Boyd Holbrook) happens to witness the raining guts and, for reasons I cannot explain, ships some predator technology to his estranged son (Jacob Tremblay, in the first of the movies several genius casting stunts), who can decode it because (and this the movie does explain, though you might wish it hadnt) he has autism spectrum disorder. This sets into motion events that bring together a villainous deep-state agent (Sterling K. Brown), an evolutionary biologist (Olivia Munn), a ragtag group of military outcasts (including Keegan-Michael Key), and predators waging an intergalactic war against each other over the future of the planet. It is as messy and absurd as it sounds, and we havent even gotten to the giant alien hunting dogs. Sadly, early reports that the movie would feature a female predator do not, as far as I could surmise, pan out, but there is a new predator thats taller than a semi. Trade-offs.

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The cast is sublime and largely wasted because with so many of them, its impossible they wouldnt be. Take it as a sign that every actor in Hollywood has the same dumb love for this franchise and couldnt stay away, either. But on the matter of action, Black knows the trade, and it shows: This is by far the best-looking and most pyrotechnic movie in the franchise, with an impressive array of vehicles and hacked-off limbs soaring lovingly through the frame. The budget, too, soars, to a franchise high, and even when the extra dollars encourage some regrettably digital goreas when, say, a spaceships forcefield vivisects a manthe effects are delivered with unmistakable affection. Black largely pulls off the movies strange, very persistent sense of humor, if not its odder subplots. (As one begins: Guys, I get it. You wanna know if someone fucked an alien.) And while I could not in good conscience try to adjudicate a Predator movies politics, this installment has some  questionable ones, as when it ascribes god-like qualities to autistic people, plays Tourettes syndrome for laughs like its 1999, or repeatedly jokingly insinuates that a predator, or several men, might assault the movies only real female character. (That Munn has been open about a dispute with 20th Century Fox over the movies initial inclusion of a registered sex offender does not make this any more pleasant.)

Still, after The Predator endedabout 20 minutes later than it should have, sorry to say, thanks to an interminable climaxI once again had that familiar mix of giddy satisfaction and confusion at my sad lizard brain. Then I stood in the aisle as the credits rolled, and I realized I was waiting for a last tease for Predator 7.

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This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here.

Its often been argued that the 1970s in New York were a golden age of gay male life. A rising sense of liberation allowed many (though, due to various forms of privilege, certainly not all) urban gay men to do whatever they wanted, culturally and sexually, without any real consequence, post-Stonewall, preHIV crisis. It was a sacred time that can only now be experienced by reading (and rereading) books like Andrew Hollerans Dancer From the Dance. New York City then was dirtier, alive with a glamorous danger that emanated from dark bars, baths, and endless nights cruising the famous piers. For those with access and inclination, it was a fantasyland filled with so many thrills that it feels more like fable for us gays who werent lucky enough to live it all firsthand.

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Much of this world is brought to life in HBOs The Deuce, a series, now in its second season, about the inception of Americas billion-dollar sex industry, beginning in 1971. Its not a gay show per se but has enough queer characters and plotlines in the first two seasons to quench the thirst of anyone longing for a window into this special time and place. The second season begins six years after the first, in 77, when, as a consultant on the show explained, gay liberation has settled in since Stonewall and queer people are far more comfortable with who they are. Its magical to see it all in living colorso much so that it makes you wonder how the creative team was able to recreate this storied period so immaculately.

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Considering the importance of this era for so many viewers, one would assume the pressure on the shows creators, George Pelecanos and David Simon, to get it right was intense. Simon told me that in the writers room they had a good research department; he explained that a lot had been written about this era and documented in film and photography. He also told me that writer Carl Capotorto was brought on board for the second season to make sure that what they presented was accurate. Capotorto, who was a writer on HBOs Vinyl and played Little Paulie Germani in The Sopranos, came out as gay in New York in the summer of 79, when he was 20 years old.

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One of his hangouts back then was Peter Rabbit, along West 10th Street. It was where cross-dressing sex workers (whod now likely identify as transgender) would put on shows between pulling tricks off the highway. He was no stranger to the baths either, be it the New St. Marks Baths or Mans Country, and had gone to the Hudson River piers too, a location that has been re-created in the second season.

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It feels more like fable for us gays who werent lucky enough to live it all firsthand.

[Capotorto] steered us away from some of our presumptions and steered us to stuff that we didnt know about or wouldve gotten wrong, Simon says. It seemed to be a smart decision to bring him on board: The result is a convincing portrait of gay life in the 70s, especially as delivered through the character Paul, played by Chris Coy. Paul enters early in Season 1, manning an empty midtown gay bar called Penny Lane thats near its end. They had been targeted and some of their clientele were blackmailed, which consequently killed the businessall real problems from that period. Backed by the mob, the place reopens as Hi-Hat and becomes one of the focal points for the characters in the series.

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Although the place is no longer a queer bar, Paul is kept on staff, offering an unique balance to an already eclectic cast of pimps, prostitutes, and one aspiring porn director.

According to Simon, Paul is based on a real person of a different name, who found himself in some of the same situations as Paul in the show. They took liberties in fictionalizing his life, but his character faces some of the very real tribulations that gay men in New York wouldve encountered during that time. Paul, for example, get arrested in Season 1 after leaving the Park Miller Theater, a porn cinema, for accepting a blowjob from an older gentleman. He was hauled into a paddy wagon just outside of the place. The charge? Misdemeanor faggotry: being homosexual north of 14th street, as he put it.

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The language used in the series adds another dimension to its verisimilitude. It isnt for the faint of heart since, by todays standards, some of the characters are homophobic, at least with regard to the words they use. The casual nature of this homophobia demonstrates how queer life was a sort of Wild West in the period, with no protections against hate and discrimination to speak of. Hearing straight characters casually call a gay bar a fag joint is cringeworthy now, but within the context of the early-to-late 70s, it seems just right. Its also a good reminder that as much as one might hail the 70s as halcyon days, it was often dangerous, and hardly easy, to move through life as a gay man.

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It might surprise some that a show about the porn biz and Times Squares pimps and prostitutes would include that experience, but Simon saw it as essential: The idea that you can tell the story of sexual commodification or pornography or sex work and not include the world of the Village and the gay community in New York, that would just be fundamentally unsound, says Simon. Im not sure hes any more important than any given storyline, but the idea that we would try to tell the story and not have a homosexual component would be an affront, I think.

Part of that is because any look at porno history, gay or straight, must include Wakefield Pooles classic, arty skin flick, Boys in the Sand, which ironically borrows its name from Mart Crowleys pivotal 1968 gay play Boys in the Band. The film, which offers a series of somewhat surrealist trysts in the nearby gay enclave Fire Island, becomes a part of Season 1, and although Poole wasnt involved in the creation of the series itself, a consultant on the show had contacted him to confirm various details.

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When I asked Poole what it was that made Boys in the Sand revolutionary, so much so that theyd feature it in The Deuce, he matter-of-factly insisted that it was the first one. It was the first [gay porn] that, first of all, had my name above the title. That had a lot of weight because gay pride was just starting, and here I had a fairly well-known name in the theater, and Id made a porno movie, a gay porno movie and put my name on it above the title, and it was on the marquee and people passing by could see my name up there.

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Not that gay films hadnt run in other theaters, he added, but it usually just had the name of the theater, and it was small porno theaters like The David and The Jewel, so this was a legitimate movie theater on 55th Street right across the street where New York City ballet was playing at City Center.

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Its fun to see the Boys turning point come alive in the show, first when Pauls friend Todd (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) comes by the bar and explains that hes landed a gig acting in a fuck film thats shooting on Fire Island. They then attend the screening party together a few episodes later at a theater with banners hang on the wall, reading, 100 Box-Office Busting Days of Boys in the Sand! Real Gay Erotica Is Here to Stay.

Simon explains that, as a revolutionary cultural moment, Boys in the Sand comes ahead of Deep Throat in terms of a porn being screened in a real theater with a real run, where people were bringing dates to see it. The gay community got there first, he says. Maybe more artfully if youve seen the film.

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Poole said he was offended when, during the Boys screening scene in The Deuce, one of the straight characters couldnt handle the gay sex in the film and walked out. (Pooles purpose was to make a porno for everybody.) He wasnt, however, offended with their representation of gay New York in the series, and for a gay man whos lived in New York for 40 years, thats saying something.

The Deuce shows a slice of queer history that we dont hear much aboutone that, though different from the usual wholesome narratives of civil rights and social integration, is nonetheless important. Perhaps because some see that part of our heritage as sordid or unsavory, the show is both a piece of activism and work of art, portraying a more complete picture of the gay experience and giving our forebears the full humanity they deserve.

Want more Outward? Queer your ears with our monthly podcast, available via Apple, Google, and most other platforms.
Well that was fun. Did we all have fun? Two-term incumbent governor Andrew Cuomo has, as every poll ever predicted, trounced actor and activist Cynthia Nixon in the New York gubernatorial primary, with 66 percent of the vote at the time the AP called it. He will now go on to face the Republican nominee, whose name is lets see here it doesnt really matter. Marc Molinaro, thats the name. Hell lose.

Nixons run wasnt totally in vain. The buzz she earned upon entry in the race seemed to rattle Cuomo enough to move him leftward on some of his positions. Hes all but allowed for the legalization of recreational marijuana, which he had been known to call a gateway drug previously. He restored voting rights to parolees. Hes gone after the scourge of plastic bags only a year after blocking New York City from doing so. These are issues on which Nixon can and should declare victory, even if she never came close. It was a smart idea to run.

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Nixon had dismissed the polls, saying recently that they were not capturing the new progressive voters and the hunger for real change. This is something that the candidates who are trailing by dozens of points in the polls say. The numbers checked out.

In the final days of the campaign, its almost seemed like Cuomo was taunting his detractors, reminding them why they dont like him, just to rub it in. The New York Times reported that his administration had pushed for the opening of the new Tappan Zee Bridgenamed after his father, former governor Mario Cuomodespite safety concerns, sparking accusations that Cuomos camp had done so to try to boost his campaign. His campaign at first denied any involvement in a state Democratic party mailer linking Nixon to anti-Semitism that was sent to Jewish neighborhoods in New York City, only then to admit that an adviser had signed off on it. (He only saw the positive section of the mailer and never saw the negative section, a Cuomo campaign spokesman argued, risibly.)

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Cuomo spent tens of millions more than Nixon and controls the machinery of New York state politics, a machinery that is noticeably decrepit, corrupt, and not improving. And yet, even with a win like this that was never really in doubt, Cuomo had to whine after voting on Thursday.

After voting today, Gov Cuomo said IF HE LOSES: Im gonna become a journalist and then just second guess everyone else, because thats a lot easier. And say Whyd you do this? Whyd you do that?Apparently hes irritated with the questions hes faced. And ducked.  Melissa Russo (@MelissaRusso4NY) September 13, 2018

Pity Andrew Cuomo, who gets to be governor for as long as he wants.
The news surrounding the killing of Botham Jean, the Dallas man who was shot in his own apartment last week by a white police officer who claims she mistook his apartment for hers, drew fresh outrage on Thursday nightthe same day as his funeralwith a news alert from a local Dallas Fox affiliate:

DEVELOPING: Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jeans apartment after deadly shooting https://t.co/ISSGgxgt34 pic.twitter.com/iE6IsnNUUX  FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 13, 2018

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On social media, people immediately condemned the tweet as an attack on the character of the 26-year-old victim, an attempt to mitigate the officers alleged crime or even to justify it. Others, however, criticized law enforcement, which had found the marijuana in a search of Jeans apartment.

According to the affidavit for the search warrant, which the Fort Worth Star-Telegram obtained and posted online, the judge had authorized a search for evidence that could shed light on the Sept. 6 crime: guns, cartridge casings, blood, and video surveillance. But the judge also authorized a search for any contraband, such as narcotics. Critics quickly argued against the relevance of anything that search would turn up.

The officer, Amber Guyger, was tested for alcohol and other substances in her system, police said. The results of that test have not yet been released. As for the 10.4 grams of marijuana found on the kitchen counter of Jeans apartment, the familys attorney has argued that its discovery amounts to an attempt to smear the victim, who is unable to give his side of the story.

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In high-profile cases of police killings of black men, there are often attempts to portray the victims as violent, criminal, and at least partially responsible for their own killings. Discussion of Eric Garners history of arrests and even his weight persisted after his strangling in 2014, for example. And after Michael Browns shooting, police and their defenders fixated on his alleged attempted robbery beforehand.

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Jean, a naturalized U.S. citizen who grew up in St. Lucia in the Caribbean, attended college in Arkansas, worked at accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCooper, and was known for his singing and leadership in his church, has so far not been as much of a target for posthumous vilifying. Even the most relentless defenders of law enforcement have pointed to the irrelevance of the marijuana in the investigation. But, critics have argued, although Jean may have avoided the oft-leveled racist accusation of being a thug, the search for drugs in Jeans apartment only points to the racism embedded in a system that prioritizes white police over their black victims.

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Critics have accused law enforcement of shielding Guyger since the shooting. Some have complained that she has been charged only with manslaughterthough its still possible she could be charged with murder when she goes before a grand juryand that police waited three days to arrest her. Others have complained that the arrest affidavit was written in a defensive, rather than accusatory, tonea sign that the prosecutors are on Guygers side.

Other evidence found in the apartment backs up the officers account (though details of her story given to the Dallas police and Texas Rangers differed) that she stood just inside his apartment when she shot, hitting him across the room, police told the Dallas Morning News. Guyger claims that, after a 15-hour shift, she drove home and parked on the wrong floor of the parking garage. When she walked into the apartment building, she went to the correlating apartment one floor above hers and inserted her key. The door was slightly ajar, she said, so when she pushed her key in, the door swung open.

Then, according to her account, she saw the shape of a man in the darkness, thought he was a burglar, gave him verbal commands, and fired at him twice, hitting him in the chest, when he did not obey them. The familys attorney told the press that two independent witnesses heard knocking on a door before the shooting. One said a womans voice could be heard saying, let me in; let me in.

On Thursday, the day the news from the search of his apartment broke, more than 1,500 people gathered in Texas for the memorial.
Has American democracy been hijacked by the passions of its people, now a dangerous and untamable majority undermining the republic?

In a new issue of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Rosen, head of the National Constitution Center, says yes. [James] Madisons worst fears of mob rule have been realizedand the cooling mechanisms he designed to slow down the formation of impetuous majorities have broken. For Rosen, America is trapped in a nightmare of majoritarian excess: a polarized Congress, ideological warfare between parties that directly channels the passions of their most extreme constituents and donors, and a vulgar presidential politics rooted in emotional appeals. The people have the government they want, and its threatening our institutions.

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But this story of popular excessto be tamed by enlightened elitesdoesnt stand to scrutiny. Our current president wasnt elected by a majority of the people, the publics preferences across a range of issues havent been translated to public policy, and ideological polarizationwhatever its disadvantagesisnt responsible for the decline of congressional deliberation. Far from an excess of majority rule, American democracy has seen the rise of minority rule, with efforts to entrench it in the states. If theres a malign actor in this drama, its not the people, its many of the elites currently in power. And this argument against majoritarianism is essentially a brief for those elites.

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Donald Trump is the obvious catalyst for this discussion of democratic excess; he is a classic demagogue, with the requisite contempt for truth, deliberation, and restraint. When Rosen laments the fallen state of the presidencythat leaders now communicate directly with voters, and pander to the mob, presumably in contravention of the framers intentionshe clearly has the current president in mind. But a fatal problem for his argument is the plain fact that Trump wasnt elected by the people. Trump lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots. Add third-party candidates to the total, and a firm majority of voters52.6 percentrejected Trump.

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To say that a gridlocked Washington suffers from too much democracy is to make a statement with little connection to reality.

Far from unbridled majoritarianism, Trump is president because of the Electoral College, an institution designed precisely to prevent the rapid mobilization of passionate majorities. Were the Electoral College not to exist or no longer favor less-populated states, those passionate majorities may have prevailed in the 2016 presidential election, leaving less cause for concern in the present.

Rosen cites our political parties as another Madisonian institution now undermined by democratic excess. In the 19th century, parties were a moderating influence, uniting diverse economic and regional interests through shared constitutional visions. But by the 20th century, these effects were diminished by a series of populist reforms, including the direct election of senators, the popular-ballot initiative, and direct primaries in presidential elections, which became widespread in the 1970s.

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But this doesnt hold either. Nineteenth-century American politics were notoriously raucous, with frequent violence in and around elections. And the idea that these parties sustained democratic stability is belied by recurring sectional confrontations, from the Nullification Crises of 1832 and 1833 to the increasing dispute over slavery that led to the infamous Compromise of 1850 that merely forestalled the crisis. Under this party system, Americans suppressed and sidelined conflict over slavery through a series of bargains and concessions until it erupted into civil war. For all of its faults, the more populist party system of the 20th and 21st centuries has yet to produce domestic bloodshed on the scale of the slaveholders rebellion.

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This warning of democratic excess falters most regarding Congress, where the Senateitself a counter-majoritarian institution with counter-majoritarian norms like the filibusteris held by a party representing a minority of all Americans. The House of Representatives operates under a minority party and operates under informal rules that preclude consideration of any legislation that isnt backed by a majority of the majority. Public support for universal background checks or comprehensive immigration reform has crashed on the rocks of institutions and rules meant to either stymie majorities or prevent the formation of bipartisan legislative coalitions. To say that a gridlocked Washington headed by a minority president suffers from too much democracy is to make a statement with little connection to reality.

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As he concludes, Rosen asks is there any hope of resurrecting Madisons vision of majority rule based on reason rather than passion? But there isnt majority rule. What there is, however, is declining trust in political elites and a technological infrastructuresocial mediathat gives ordinary Americans opportunities to challenge, criticize, and occasionally ridicule the elite consensus. Its telling that Rosens solutions arent institutional reforms that might change incentives for politicians or better align Congress with principles of deliberation; its a call for limits on social networks and greater civic education providedhe impliesby wealthy citizens with a vested interest in defending existing institutions.

An honest examination of democratic decline would look at the ways in which our counter-majoritarian institutions are thwarting the public willas expressed through its elected representativesand how that can create support for truly destabilizing forces. It would account for how the Republican Party itself has made Madisonian institutions unworkable by abandoning the commitment to compromise and fair play that makes them work. The transformation of the GOP into a parliamentary-style party primarily responsive to donors, right-wing activists, and conservative media is arguably the central problem for American governance.

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What declinist arguments like Rosens actually fear is the waning influence of elites. And what these arguments seem to seekin voicing nostalgia for early American politicsis an era where elites could steer governance with only the cursory affirmation of a narrow and exclusive public. But if political and economic elites have lost their stature in American life, its only after a generation of profound mismanagement, from misguided foreign adventures to wage stagnation and broad economic collapse. Their failure, and the extent to which theyve never been held accountable, is the shadow looming over our politics. And if weve seen light, its in those places where ordinary people have organized and begun to build new movements and new ways of democratic living, like Occupy, Black Lives Matter, Fight for 15, the immigrant rights movement, and the massive mobilization of women that followed the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Democracy didnt create our problems, but it may solve them.
Hurricane Florence came ashore as a Category 1 this morning near Wilmington, North Carolina just after 7 a.m.

Heavy flooding from the storm surge hit towns up and down the North Carolina coast overnight, as hundreds of thousands of people lost power. Emerald Isle, a barrier island town northeast of Wilmington, reported water levels 7 feet above normal just before dawna level that had been rising slightly even as the tide receded.

NEW: #Hurricane #Florence has made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), and a minimum central pressure estimate of 958 mb (28.29"). https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/vzpe6MjTf9  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018

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In New Bern, a town at the mouth of the Neuse River about 80 miles north of Wilmington, a map of high water calls indicated the storm surge was at or past the 100-year levelnearly 7 feet above normal around high tide early Friday morning, according to a USGS gauge. The National Hurricane Centers color-coded storm surge prediction map tops out at 9 feet or above. The mayor said 200 water rescues had been performed.

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The next high tide comes in the early afternoon, which could bring the worst flooding of the day. Even at low tide, the National Hurricane Center warned this morning, the water levels in Pamlico SoundAmericas biggest lagoon, which lies inside the Outer Banksremain elevated. These waters are expected to rise as the tides come back in. (You can follow along with the National Hurricane Center on Twitter or check out the maps on their website.)

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Under normal circumstances, this afternoon might be the worst of it. But Florence is not a normal hurricane. Like Harvey, its a lumbering beast of a storm that crawled ashore at just 6 mphone of those slower hurricanes that scientists have been predicting climate change would bring. That means the Atlantic Ocean is likely to stick around in local back yards, blocking roads, inundating houses, trapping residents, and poisoning fields and forests.

And then theres the rain. As Molly Olmstead wrote in Slate yesterday,

The amount of rain Florence is expected to drop is shocking: One meteorologist put it at 10 trillion gallons over the next week in North Carolina alone. Deadly flash floodsthe second leading direct cause of death from hurricanesare essentially a guaranteed, experts warn.

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The current forecast has Florence dropping between 20 and 30 inches of rain on a wide swath around Wilmington, breaking the state rainfall record and possibly the East Coast hurricane record. Some areas could receive as much as 50 inchesapproaching the amounts recorded during around Houston during Harvey.

As predicted, the surge is highest at towns like New Bern, on the tributaries of the Pamlico Sound, where the storm surge rushes up estuaries and piles up against high ground. For those places, the worst is yet to come. River towns may get pinched between a surging Atlantic Ocean and swollen rivers with nowhere to drain. A record 24.5-foot surge on the Cape Fear River, for example, isnt predicted until Tuesday. Further inland, there are many ways in which North Carolina is unprepared to handle whats coming. Those include: low-lying communities, lax building codes, and a vast network of hog farms that have flooded the region in toxic waste during much smaller storms.
On Friday, the New Yorker finally revealed more details on the contents of a secret document that a woman had submitted to Rep. Anna Eshoo concerning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The letter details the womans accusation that the nominee engaged in sexual misconduct against her while both were in high school. The report by Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer alleges that the woman, who has not been identified and has asked for anonymity, wrote that during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down and attempted to force himself on her. It continues:

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She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself.

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Kavanaugh contested the claims in a statement, declaring: I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time. His classmate told the New Yorker: I have no recollection of that.

According to Farrow and Mayer, the letter was sent to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in July. The woman also reached out to Feinsteins office directly. She eventually decided not to speak publicly about her accusation after watching Kavanaugh glide toward a seemingly inevitable confirmation, according to a source who spoke to the New Yorker.

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Feinsteins handling of the letter created tension among Democratic members of the committee. The senator did not notify her Democratic colleagues about the allegations and refused to share the letter. Instead, Feinstein decided the accusation was too distant in the past to merit public discussion, Farrow and Mayer write, citing a source with knowledge of the decision. Feinstein reportedly felt that the committee should focus on legal, rather than personal, issues when questioning Kavanaugh, the source elaborated, and that, when pressed about the letter, Feinstein stated that she had taken care of it. The senator only briefed the Senate Judiciary Committees Democrats about the letter on Wednesday, with no staff present.

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That same day, Feinstein sent the information to the FBI, which told BuzzFeed News that we included it as part of Judge Kavanaughs background file, as per the standard process. The agency also passed it on to the White House to assess. On Friday, in response to a query about the accusation, White House spokesman Raj Shah passed along Kavanaughs statement categorically and unequivocally denying the claim.

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Kavanaughs supporters began questioning the womans allegation shortly after the New Yorker story was published. Even the night before the story came out, Ed Whelan, who has been involved in the selection of Donald Trumps judicial nominees and vigorously defended Kavanaugh, asked whether the accuser will say she was sober at time of alleged incident at drinking party. If drunk, how drunk?

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Wonder if accuser will say she was sober at time of alleged incident at drinking party. If drunk, how drunk? Cognitive dysfunction, impaired memory, mistaken identity, all compounded by 35 years? (I am of course not saying her drunkenness would excuse anyone else's conduct.)  Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) September 14, 2018

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On Friday morning, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley released a letter from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh in high school that states that Kavanaugh behaved honorably and treated women with respect. The letter was clearly timed to counteract the New Yorker report; BuzzFeed News reported on Friday afternoon that Kavanaughs friends spearheaded it on Thursday in response to then-hazy allegations. It concluded:

The signers of this letter hold a broad range of political views. Many of us are not lawyers, but we know Brett Kavanaugh as a person. And he has always been a good person.
At least 39 homes exploded or burned in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts, as a result of gas leaks, and at least one man died when the chimney of a house collapsed and crushed his car.

About a dozen other people were injured from fires and blasts in the cities north of Boston, according to local TV station WHDH. Massachusetts State Police said there had been more than 70 reports of fires, explosions, or gas odor.

MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

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It looked like Armageddon, it really did, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said, according to WCVB. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

In South Lawrence, the mayor told all residents to evacuate their homes, and state police told anyone with Columbia Gas service in the three towns to evacuate Thursday night.

The cause of the leaks is not totally understood, but the Washington Post reported that investigators had one theory involving over-pressurization of a gas main owned by Columbia Gas, which had been upgrading equipment in the area, citing a spokeswoman for the state fire marshals office. The company had announced Thursday morning that it was conducting upgrade projects around the state, including in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence.

Restoring gas service will likely be a long and arduous process. Columbia Gas said that its staff will need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection. Roughly 18,000 homes were without power Friday morning, the North Andover Tribune reported.
Paul Manafort, Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, pleaded guilty to two federal conspiracy charges at a Friday morning hearing. Manafort has agreed to cooperate with Robert Muellers special counsel investigation as part of the plea deal, a prosecutor said in court.

The court documents indicated that, as part of the deal, the government will seize four of Manaforts homes and money from several of his bank accounts, the New York Times reported. According to Politico, his deal involves a 10-year-maximum sentence, to be served concurrently with his conviction from a federal court in Virginia last month.

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In that trial, Manafort was convicted in a federal court on eight felony charges related to bank and tax fraud. A mistrial was declared on the 10 other financial crime charges. He has yet to be sentenced but faces eight to 10 years in prison.

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Fridays plea deal will negate a second federal trial, scheduled to begin later this month in Washington, D.C. Manafort was accused of money laundering, conspiring against the United States, failing to register as a lobbyist, conspiring to obstruct justice, and lying to the DOJ. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, but five other charges involving money laundering and failing to disclose his lobbying work were dropped.

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Both last months trial and the trial scheduled for this month originated from his work in Ukraine, where he worked for a pro-Russian political group. His first federal trial found that he had lied about millions of dollars that he made abroad to avoid paying taxes and later lied about his income to obtain loans. The second trial was to involve charges related to his decision not to register as a foreign agent.

Manafort is the fifth Trump campaign team member to plead guilty to criminal charges related to the special counsel investigation, and Manafort, unlike Michael Cohen, had remained publicly loyal to President Trump and opposed to any cooperation with the Mueller investigation. Trump brought Manafort on as his campaign chairman in June 2016, but the lobbyist resigned from the position just a couple months later, in August, as he was coming under scrutiny for his work in Ukraine.
On this weeks episode of my podcast, I Have to Ask, I spoke to Shane Bauer, a senior reporter for Mother Jones whose new book is American Prison: A Reporters Undercover Journey Into the Business of Punishment. Its the story of Bauers own experience, undercover, in a private Louisiana prison, and it is a harrowing look at one slice of our criminal justice system.

Below is an edited excerpt from the show. In it, we discuss what being a prison guard did to Bauers psyche, why the system is explicitly designed to have guards dehumanize prisoners, and how his prior experience in solitary confinement shaped his thinking about being a guard.

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You can find links to every episode here; the entire audio interview is below. Please subscribe to I Have to Ask wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play.

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Isaac Chotiner: So, you had already been in prisonas a prisonerin a foreign country, before this job. Can you talk about that?

Shane Bauer: I started my career as a journalist in the Middle East. I speak Arabic. I was living in the Middle East, living in Syria in 2009, and took a trip to Iraq with my partner and friends, and we got arrested on the border between Iran and Iraq. I spent two years in prison in Iran, came home, assumed I would go back to reporting in the Middle East, but got pulled into American prisons. There was a large hunger strike happening at that time, where tens of thousands of prisoners, especially in California, were protesting the use of long-term solitary confinement. I had been in solitary myself and so was drawn to this.

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You were drawn to it because its really terrible and so you wanted to investigate it?

Yeah, I mean, theres no doubt in my mind that its a form of torture. The U.N. now says its also a form of torture after two weeks. And I had no idea how much we used it here. We generally have about 80,000 people in solitary confinement at any given time. But what really drew me into it was how egregious our use of it was. In California, at the time I did this investigation, we had hundreds of people who had been in solitary for over 10 years. We had people who had been in for 20, 30, 40 years who had not even committed violent crimes. A lot of them were kind of troublemakers in one way or another in prisons. They were maybe trying to organize around conditions, or they were jailhouse lawyers, or they were more outspoken than other prisoners and would end up getting basically deemed to be associates of gang members, whether they were or werent, and would get just locked away indefinitely in solitary confinement. I had been in solitary for months, which is just an extraordinary amount of time to be in a cell by yourself, and were talking decades in this country.

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What aspect of it, for you, was the most tortuous?

I think its different for every person. But you are essentially just trapped with yourself. You realize very quickly what kind of social beings we are. And I noticed that even my thoughts kind of slowed and stopped at some points. So much of what happens inside of our minds is dependent on that interaction with other people. I started to wish that my interrogators would come and interrogate me so that I would have some relief from that kind of just oppressive loneliness and that feeling that time is my enemy. Just try sitting in a room for one day with nothing. And the hours just feel like your enemy.

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OK. So lets jump forward now to 2014.

Id been interested in private prisons. Id kind of poked at them before, and private prisons in particular are more difficult to get information from than public prisons. Public-records laws often dont apply because these are companiestheyre not necessarily state institutions. And since these corporations had started in the 1980s, we hadnt really had a kind of inside look at the day-to-day operations of these prisons. So I had the idea to apply for a job, see if I could get inside. I didnt think it was going to work at all. It was just kind of a whim. I filled out an application online. And I very quickly started getting calls for interviews. And Id also like to point out that I filled out the application truthfully.

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I was going to ask about the ethical issues of this. So there were some things you were thinking about, certain lines you shouldnt cross?

Yeah. One rule from the very beginning was that I will never lie. Im not necessarily going to be putting forward information. I wasnt going around telling people I was a journalist. But if somebody asked me, then I would answer truthfully. So I was interviewed by several prisons around the country and was offered jobs, and even the interview process was interesting because I was asked kind of just boilerplate questions that you would imagine being asked if youre applying for a job at Walmart. Like, How do you work with others? What do you do if your boss wants to do something you dont want to do? They didnt ask me about my background. They didnt ask me about working in a prison. And this is a $9-an-hour job, so there was kind of a feeling to these interviews that they were almost trying to sell me the job.

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"This is what was the most startling on a personal level to being a guard: to see how easily and quickly I could change inside the prison.  Shane Bauer

Some of the most interesting scenes in the book early on depict the training that you go through.

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We went through four weeks of training. The other cadets with me were mostly young people from the town. Some of them had just recently come out of high school. There were a couple of single moms, and we would go through these kind of lessons, a lot of which were about protecting our liability.

So on one of my first days of training, the man leading the training class asked us what we do if we see two inmates stabbing each other, and somebody says, Break it up or tell them to stop. And he says, Were not going to pay you enough to get in the middle of those people. He says, Your job is to tell them, Stop fighting.  And I remember exactly what he said. He said, If those fools want to cut each other, then happy cutting. So essentially our role is to do the bare minimum to protect our liability in case theres a lawsuit or something like that. Its not necessarily to protect the prisoners in our care.

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There were also many lessons based on the idea of manipulation. This isnt something thats limited to private prisons; this is common in trainings for prison guards throughout the country. This idea is that inmates are constantly trying to manipulate you. If theyre being nice to you, thats a sign of manipulation. If theyre telling you something that another inmates doing, thats a sign of manipulation. Also, if theyre complimenting your job, complaining about another guard. Theres this early effort to get us to kind of dehumanize the prisoners in a certain sense and justify to ourselves what were doing every day: locking these people up.

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Did you get a sense that the company wanted you to get to a place where you dehumanized the inmates because that would make you more efficient at your job?

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Oh absolutely. I think the people whom I was in class with were not there because they dreamed of one day being prison guards or because they were sadistic. They just were poor people and needed jobs. And I noticed going in with other people and with myself that people want to be kind of decent. Most of them, when they go in, they want to treat prisoners well. But then you have to face the fact that youre doing something that is not really within your normal realm of what it means to be a decent human being. Youre locking these people up day after day and theyre getting angry about it, and some of them are trying to push your buttons or get you to overextend yourself and give them favors so that they pile up and they become exhausting. And you start to have to set limits. And once you start setting limits you start having problems with people, and then you inevitably kind of enter into a battle, and its very difficult to do that job unless you kind of turn off something inside.

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Whats a specific example of this?

Something thats very common that seemed innocuous at first: I worked in a unit of about 350 prisoners. And it was me and one other guard who were working the floor. These prisoners are in dorms of about 45 inmates. There are eight dorms of 45 inmates. And they would often ask to get out of one dorm [by saying], I need to go give something to this other guy in another dorm. I want to trade my honeybun for some ramen. Or something like that. So I would let them out one at a time: OK. Go do your thing. Come back. And then people start to understand that youre somebody who is willing to do that, and you end up for 12 hours kind of running from one place to the other letting this person out, making sure this person gets back in.

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And so one time I let this guy out whom Id been letting out for a while and I said, OK, you get to go there and come right back. And he didnt. So at that point I decided, OK, I need to put my foot down, and I wrote him up. It was like a disciplinary report. Because I felt that, if I didnt, he would kind of start to think he could take advantage of me. And I had realized that in a prison, whether youre a prisoner or a guard, you have to kind of draw a line somewhere and you have to hold it. And if you dont, people think youre soft and people try to walk all over you.

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So that was the first time that I kind of disciplined somebody. And when I went home I was worried: Is this guy going to get sent to solitary confinement for a week or two for this? Whats going to happen? Is it worth it? And I had to stop having those conversations with myself and just do the job and not think about it.

Was there any sense of camaraderie between you and the other guards that developed?

Sure, yeah.

And whats that based around? Especially for someone like yourself, who I imagine does not believe much in the cause of what youre doing, what is the camaraderie based on?

The first time that I remember having a sense of camaraderie during training was when we had to be tear-gassed. The idea was that there might be a time when tear gas is used in the prison and they want us to know what it feels like so we dont freak out. So we essentially all stood out in a patch of grass and linked arms and just stood there as tear gas washed over us. It was awful. I mean, youd think you were choking, youre gagging, and we came out of it and felt like we had made it through this kind of horrible experience. There was definitely a stronger sense that were kind of in this together.

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And then in the prison that became much more extreme because the other guards, whether you like them or not, theres a sense that theyre the ones who are on your team. If you get in trouble, theyre the ones who you have to rely on to help you and to get you out of the situation that you might be in.

How many prisoners were there total?

I think 1,300.

And what were most of them in for?

It was a range. It was a medium-security prison, so there were people who were there for having too many DUIs. There were people who had been convicted of murder but had been in the system long enough, and had good behavior, that they were taken down from maximum security to medium security. Rape.

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What was the racial makeup?

It was majority-black. If I remember, I think it was about 75 percent, and almost all the rest was white.

Were most of the guards white?

No, actually. Most of the guards were black, and most of the guards were women. It was a really high number of single moms. I think it was kind ofit was really just the most desperate people in the town who needed to get a job for insurance, or the people who were willing to do this job for $9 an hour, which was a fairly small pool.

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You cant tell the history of criminal justice in Louisiana without talking a lot about race. And Im wondering how you thought that history kind of manifested itself or was played out over your experience at this particular prison where three-fourths of the inmates are black?

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At least since slavery, the majority of prisoners have been black. The criminal justice system has been racialized since the very beginning. This really is not even a question of the prison so much, its a question of policing, of what kind of sentences black Americans are getting as opposed to whites. I think that has more to do with the legacy of racism in the country than the prisons themselves.

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You have these two experiences, one of which is being a prison guard. But the other is your solitary confinement. And both are presented as rather dehumanizing experiences, but dehumanizing in very different ways. We use a word like dehumanize for both of them. How would you distinguish them in terms of what they did to you as a person?

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The two experiences are very difficult to compare, honestly. I was a prison guard by choice. It was part of a larger project. I wasnt there for the same reasons everyone else was, forced into it because of poverty or lack of other options. I could leave at any moment. Prisoners cant.

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As a prisoner I had no idea when I was going to get out. I was cut off from the world. I was in a political prison where people were physically tortured. But as a prisoner I feel like in some ways there were ways to kind of  I dont know, for a lack of a better way to put it, kind of keep my dignity intact. I was always trying to figure out ways to stand up to guards, to push the system to allow me some more privileges. There was always something that I was struggling over, by hunger striking or other forms of protest.

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As a guard Im on the other side of things. I think that many of the guards felt that they were being exploited by the company. They talked about this often. They often sympathized with the prisoners. I would see guards and prisoners having a sense of camaraderie at times over their disdain for the company. But for me I could take off at any point, and when I finished the job I went on vacation to Thailand.

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How did you try to maintain or restore your dignity in Iran?

I was there with two others, and when we were in solitary confinement we figured out a way to send messages to each other and decided to go on a hunger strike to essentially demand that we be allowed to see each other. And that worked. I refused things that they had asked me to do for propaganda reasons, like they wanted to film us at times. I essentially pressured them to give me more food. These are things that, on the outside, many of them seem tiny. Or trying to get more books. But in prison these are huge. It changes everything.

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Did you ever find a situation when you were working in the prison where prisoners were trying to restore their dignity in some way? And did you find yourself having the opposite response, or were you able to feel that you understood what this person was doing?

No, this is what was the most startling on a personal level to being a guard: to see how easily and quickly I could change inside the prison. I happened to be there at a time that it was really reaching a point of crisis. It was very violent. There were almost weekly stabbings. It was severely understaffed and the state came and kind of briefly took it over. The company sent in a kind of tactical team and the prison was put on lockdown, so prisoners were not allowed to leave their dorms for days. So rather than going to the cafeteria we brought them food, and when we would go into a dorm they would sometimes kind of rush the cart and try to take a bunch of food.

One day I was passing out food and one prisoner took two trays rather than one. And I saw him do it. And I just kind of stood over him and shouted at him and made him give it back. And there was a moment where I realized, I kind of flashed to this moment where I was in prison and I had taken an extra food tray and a guard flipped out and separated me from my friend and cellmate Josh. So that kind of hit me hard, because I was like, here I am being the same person whom I was fighting against not too long ago. And I was regularly having experiences like this, where I would essentially leave the prison, go home, which was the time that Im taking notes, trying to get down everything that I thought was important from the day for the journalistic project that I was there for. And I would be kind of almost ashamed of the person I was when I was inside the prison. And the longer I was there, I felt like these were kind of two different people.
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This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of The First.

Science fiction typically celebrates the drama of space travel: the stomach-twisting hope of a potentially habitable planet, the enchantment and menaces of microgravity, rogue A.I., intrepid rescues, alien enemies, warp drives, wormholes. Such stories often bypass the near future for the far future, or the plausible for the impossible, relying on concepts such as faster-than-light travel.

Hulus new series The First, on the other hand, settles itself in realism, chronicling the first steps of a Mars mission: funding, crew selection, training, testing, setbacks, difficult decisions, more setbacks.

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In mining the often grim practical, bureaucratic, political, financial, and emotional realities of space travel, the show provides unusual verisimilitude. The First cultivates viewers understanding of what goes into a Mars missiona subject about which well be making increasingly important decisions in the future.

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Genre-wise, The First feels like a slow, serious prequel to The Martian. Viewers hoping to see star Sean Penn science the shit out of things on Mars will be disappointed, but the two are similarly plausibletrue science fiction, as opposed to science fantasy. But unlike The Martian, The First trades action for conversation, highlighting the fact that there is life and death in bureaucratic details. In so doing, The First offers new depth regarding what humanity stands to gain from investing in space explorationand what it stands to lose.

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Fifty-seven years after Soviet and American astronauts reached outer space for the first time, politicians and civilians alike are still asking the same question: Why should we spend resources on space exploration when theres so much need on Earth? In the 1960s, the answer reflected Cold War tensions and the militarization of space, as well as fervent patriotism. The First makes no mention of international competition and avoids Kennedy-esque grandiloquence about needing to protect space from communism or weapons, perhaps because that would make for an easier sell. In fact, the show stacks the deck against the mission in the first episode when the initial Mars mission fails. Those of us who remember watching the Challenger break apart in flame shortly after launch or the Columbia shuttles disintegration upon re-entry will experience visceral deja vu as the first Proximity shuttle explodes. Just as frozen O-rings caused the Challengers detonation, an astronauts errant lucky quarter seals this crews fate, driving home the message that every detail and ounce matterstheres no room for error.

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By illustrating that space exploration can and sometimes will end in tragedy, The First lets the playersand the viewersdevise strategies for persuading the government to try again. NASA halted all shuttle flights for two years after the Columbia disaster to investigate the cause, which was the first move in the eventual suspension of the shuttle program. Who could blame the government on The First for doing the same thing, especially when politicians feel theyve wasted billions of dollars on the first launch with nothing to show for it except constituents with unfunded needs? They cant afford to lose more political capital, especially with re-election on the line. The president (a no-nonsense Jeannie Berlin) doesnt want to look like a chump for dumping good money after bad, and whos to say attempt No. 2 will fare any better?

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The First portrays a collaboration between NASA and a private company, Vista (helmed by a steady British CEO played by Natascha McElhone). Thus, its in their technology that the government and the astronauts have to trust. In real life, the retirement of NASAs shuttle program allowed private companies such as SpaceX to begin filling the void, first with cargo runs to the International Space Station and, if all goes as planned, eventually by bringing astronauts to Mars. Obama encouraged such partnerships in his 2010 space speech, and launches have increased dramatically since private companies got into the space transport market. While an argument in favor of private space companies is that competition will drive down prices and catalyze technological progress, The First makes it clear that even the most productive partnerships will not yield those benefits easily.

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The show also finds drama in the kind of infuriatingly mundane technical glitch that could throw off a Mars mission. As real-world strategies have detailed, Vista sends equipment to Mars ahead of the astronauts to help facilitate their adjustment to the Red Planet. Perhaps the most important is the Mars Ascent Vehicle, which you might remember from The Martianthe vehicle responsible for getting the crew off the surface of Mars when its time to come home (NASA is currently working on a MAV to bring back samples from Mars for analysis on Earth). After a software upgrade, mission control loses contact with the MAV, putting everything in jeopardy.

What follows is another example of how The First trades the usual space-show moments of cosmic grandiosity for quiet personal ones. When Vista is unable to troubleshoot the MAV, significantly raising the risk of death if the astronauts manage to get there, each crew member has heart-rending conversations with their loved ones in which they say, If you dont want me to go, tell me. But their partners, parents, and children love them too much to ask them to stay. Viewers see what the mission means to the crewwhat it must mean to themfor them to leave their families. An unfathomable decision, but one theyve spent their lives waiting to make.

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By showing the countless obstacles that must be overcome, The First demonstrates what a tremendous accomplishment leaving Earth really is. Space is hard, The First whispers in scene after scene, and not just once astronauts are there. The shows patient narrative provides a big payoff: By the time the crew climbs into the shuttle for the second launch, it feels like an utter miracle theyre even there. It serves as a reminder that humans are still capable of greatness, and that greatness isnt just about staggering technology and far-flung destinations, but about the people whose minds are eclipsed only by their hearts and their hope. Every astronaut whos ever climbed into a spacecraft has been willing to leave everyone and everything they know behind, forever.

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According to NASA, the first humans who will step foot on Mars are walking the Earth today. The First makes us wonder who these people are and makes us ready to cheer them on. These are the sorts of space stories we need to see more ofthe ones that take seriously the possibility that perhaps we dont have a space future, or at least not the one weve imagined and read about for decades. What would that mean for humanity? But that question presents a false dichotomy: either we invest in space (or going to Mars) or we invest in Earth and its people. To invest in space exploration is to invest in Earth and the human race.
The Massachusetts State Police Department tweeted a screenshot of a computer monitor Thursday to help illustrate the extent of a series of gas explosions and fires that had occurred throughout Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts. One person has died and about 20 more are injured, according to WBUR, Bostons public radio station.

The screenshot of a browser, which has now been deleted, included a map of the affected area, an update on the number of homes impacted, and a warning that anyone who smells gas should evacuate immediately. But thats not all the tweet shared. The image appears to be a photo taken by a smartphone of a computer screen at the police department, and the browser containing the map had a row of bookmarksbookmarks that include pages of left-wing activist Facebook groups. Oops?

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The Massachusetts State Police deleted a tweet featuring this image, highlighting the houses effected by a gas explosion on the map. Can you tell why it was deleted? The police were spying on Left-Wing groups which you can see on their favorited list. pic.twitter.com/EDUEk6zU0J  Collin Fischer (@CollinFischer86) September 14, 2018

While no activist should be surprised that police are tracking them, the concentration of left-wing activist groups at the top of the browser, ostensibly to navigate to the pages regularly and quickly, was a rare if inadvertent official acknowledgement of this kind of tabs-keeping. The Facebook groups that were bookmarked include Massachusetts Action Against Police Brutality (MAAPB), which organizes to end police brutality and shares stories of police killings, the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump (COMBAT), and a link to a website called Resistance Calendar, which posts Trump-opposition events across the country. There did not appear to be tabs on this particular computer for right-wing political groups that organize online, but perhaps those bookmarks could be found on another department computer.

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In a statement to WBUR, the state police didnt deny their surveillance of activist groups, but added that they monitor public gatherings. We, obviously, need to know if large numbers of people, for whatever reason, are going to be on public roadways or public spaces, so that we may ensure the safety and rights of those who have gathered as well as of the members of the public around them, the state police said. Neither MAAPB nor COMBAT appear to have any upcoming events, though.

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It seems like there are lessons here for everyone. For activists, particularly those who criticize police or the political party currently in power, its a reminder that indeed they are being watched and might want to do more of their organizing in more encrypted, privacy-protecting place. And for the cops, while its important to be transparent, maybe take a beat to crop your screenshots before posting them to social media, especially if they contain peoples personal information, like activist names and photos for example. You dont even need to snap a smartphone pic. Command-shift-4: keystrokes to live by.
The bizarre QAnon conspiracy theory that has captured the imagination (and apparel budget) of some reality-challenged Trump supporters is starting to lose its footing. On Wednesday afternoon, Reddit shut down /r/greatawakening, the main subreddit used by Q followers to piece together clues, or breadcrumbs, left by the strange internet prophet they follow. At the time the board was closed, it boasted more than 54,000 followers, or patriots in Q speak. At least six other Q subreddits were also banned on Wednesday, including r/QProofs, r/QAnon_Serious, r/The_GreatAwakening, r/biblicalQ, and r/thestorm, and others.

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Since October 2017, a mysterious online character who goes by the name Q has been posting strange missives to 4chan, the notorious and shady message board where many of the most insidious memes and harassment campaigns on the web are hatched, detailing a plot from within the White House to overthrow a cabal of global elites. According to Q, special counsel Robert Mueller is actually working on behalf of Trump to expose a conspiracy and pedophile ring from within the Democratic Party. Qs posts come in the form of lyrical, disjointed warnings, clues, and questions. On Tuesday, for example, Q posted: Rats running. Timing is everything. Enjoy the show.

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Though its still not clear who Q is, and whether the strange online personality has a particular agenda behind attracting thousands of diehard fans, what is clear is that the conspiracy theory is largely dependent on its online community. And Reddit, in particular the Great Awakening board, has been one of the main trading posts for piecing together Qs clues and for drumming up support and solidarity among the conspiracy theorys followers. A Reddit spokesperson confirmed the shuttering to Slate in an email, noting that, as of September 12, r/greatawakening has been banned due to repeated violations of the terms of our content policy. Reddit prohibits activity that incites violence, disseminates personal information, or harasses, which can result in a user or a whole community in getting banned, the spokesperson said.

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Reddit banned another Q-related message board in March for content that encourages or incites violence and the posting of personal and confidential information a Reddit spokesperson told the Daily Dot at the time. On Tuesday, the website banned three other message boards associated with the fringe rightr/milliondollarextreme, r/milliondollarextreme2, and r/billionshekelsupremeaccording to BuzzFeed. The /r/milliondollarextreme community was reportedly home to racist, anti-Semitic, and transphobic postings and had tens of thousands of followers.

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More of the Q conversation may now port over to Facebook, where one of the largest communities has courted more than 49,000 members. But the big difference between Facebook and Reddit is that on Reddit users can be anonymous. Facebook has a real name policy, which, while possible to circumvent, makes discussing something as implausible and revisionist as Q with any sincerity a riskier endeavor in the case ones friends or coworkers see the activity.

Q adherents dont seem too bent out of shape about the removal of one of their main boards. On another subreddit dedicated to the discussion of banned boards, some Q enthusiasts seem to think that this is all part of the plan: Q was talking about some BIG THING happening soon, yesterday. Guess he was off by a day. Q KNEW, THOUGH, THAT PROVES HES REAL AND THAT MEANS THE DEEP STATE PEDOPHILE CABAL IS REAL!
No official numbers yet exist about how the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic factors have affected homelessness, but according to May 2020 analysis conducted by Columbia University Economics Professor Brendan OFlaherty, the United States could see a 40 to 45 percent jump in homelessness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent unemployment and evictions.

This is no surprise to banking security professionals, many of whom have noted a significant increase in the number of trespassing incidents in branches, particularly where enclosed shelters such as ATM vestibules are open to users after business hours.
It all makes sense once you realize they want to kill us, by Mike Whitney - The Unz Review : 'It is now apparent that these products in ...
Famous Slovak wafer came about by accident

Horalky Wafers are popular for their peanut filling.

Horalky Wafers are really popular among Slovaks and the Sedita bakery makes about 160 million of them every year. The traditional recipe was invented almost by accident in 1965 .

There were no hazelnuts on the market (part of another type of wafer). So, the recipe had to change and peanuts were added to filling. The Horalky were born thanks to this coincidence, describes Jan Kosturiak for the website Podnikaj a zi!. He is one of the friends of Stefan Kassay who came up with the Horalky recipe.

Stefan Kassay is a co-owner of the Sered and Figaro Trnava bakeries. These both became a part of I.D.C. Holdings where the most popular Slovak sweets are made, such as Tatranka, Mila, Lina and Vesna.

Sweets are not what fascinated me, I was more interested in their production, said Kassay about the beginning of his business.

Horalky with Maly Rozsutec (Source: The Slovak Spectator)

14. Sep 2018 at 5:53 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Jaguar Land Rover will commence production in Nitra in the coming weeks

The production of one Land Rover Discovery car takes four days.

The British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover will begin making cars in Nitra in the next few weeks announced Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia Operations Manager Alexander Wortberg on September 10, during a visit to the Private Polytechnic Secondary School DSA in Nitra, which cooperates with Jaguar. For now, the plant is operating in trial production mode.

We started building the factory almost exactly two years ago and today we are looking at a factory that is nearly finished, said Wortberg, as cited by the SITA newswire. At the moment, we are working very hard on the latest preparations to start production. We will start shipping cars to our customers at the end of the year.

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Read also: Nitra-based Jaguar production halls have no air conditioning Read more

At present, Jaguar employs more than 1,300 people in Nitra, of whom 97 percent are Slovaks, and three quarters of them come from this region. Jaguar will make 150,000 cars per year in Nitra.

Land Rover Discovery will be the first model to roll off the factorys production line. The production of one car last four days.

Apart from the Land Rover Discovery model we will later produce another model, but I cannot specify which for now, said Wortberg. Along with production of the second model we will hire new employees. We will launch a recruitment drive in the following months.

The plant should have about 2,800 employees by 2020.

Its next expansion plans will depend on the global automotive environment. The carmaker has not decided yet, but there is space to build new halls in Nitra.

Slovakia has very good chances of success, said Wortberg.

14. Sep 2018 at 5:58 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Agrofert's Duslo Sala launches new ammonia production plant with a price tag of 310 million

The company gets a 58 million tax incentive.

Duslo Sala officially opened a new ammonia production plant on September 12, with the investment in the factory, called Ammonia 4, amounting to 310 million.

As early as 2014, the government approved a tax incentive for this investment, worth up to a maximum of 58 million over 10 years. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer) said that this approval encouraged the Agrofert group, the owner of Duslo Sala, to make the investment in Slovakia.

More than 2,000 employees work here today. When the government was deciding whether to provide an investment incentive in the form of tax relief, it had to take into account the decision of this company that in the event of failure, it would make this investment in Germany or the Czech Republic, said Pellegrini, as cited by the TASR newswire, adding that this would have seriously jeopardised employment in the whole region.

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Read also: EC clears state aid to Duslo Sala Read more

Petr Blaha, chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Duslo Sala specified that the lifetime of this ammonia production technology is 40 years at maximum.

Our previous plant was 45 years old. If we had put it out of operation and hadnt built a new one, it would have been basically the end of Duslo, said Blaha.

14. Sep 2018 at 6:09 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Last year, Amsterdam decided to up its tourist tax, put the kibosh on downtown hotel-building, restricted how many days residents could Airbnb their abodes, and nixed the city center from opening new tourist shopsbad news for venues selling everything from Nutella-shellacked waffles to souvenir T-shirts (my favorite reads: GOOD GIRLS GO TO HEAVEN BAD GIRLS GO TO AMSTERDAM).

Whether or not the limits and levies push you out of the Dutch capital, note that there is now a distinct southwesterly pull away from it anywayto The Hague. Museums full of Mondrians, international tribunals, and the brisk beaches of the North Sea aside, a must-visit in this city, discerning drinker, is Kaafi. The cafe opened in June 2017, in the Hofkwartier, a picturesque shopping district with no shortage of specialty coffee. Yet so much distinguishes Kaafi from other spots in The Hague and, for that matter, the Netherlands.

A telltale sign is the house espresso, the Red Brick blend roasted by Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London. And following Square Miles recommended specs for that very brew, Kaafi uses a three-group Victoria Arduino VA388 Black Eagle Gravitech espresso machinea rare bird in the Netherlands, with its impressive built-in weighing system. This is no coincidence. Kaafis founder, Zeeshan Malik, was lured into the industry at Londons legendary Prufrock Coffee, to which Square Mile is a principal supplier.

From afar, Malik appears serious, if not stoic. But exchange one word with him and he is instantly disarming and buoyantly conversational. A Manhattan-born American who spent his teen years in The Hague and attended law school in London, the almost-30-year-old first became acquainted with Prufrock as an unassuming customer.

I just kinda walked into the place. It was a rainy day and I just needed a place to study, recalls Malik. I had my first cup, which was probably a Red Brick cappuccino.

Before long, though, he became an obsessive hobbyist, enrolling in Prufrocks training program and taking course after course, from the barista skills foundations to an authorized training certification. I was very lucky to have an amazing mentor, Malik says of Jeremy Challender, who at the time co-ran Prufrock.

He would have a whiteboard in front of him, Malik describes of the drills Challender put him through. He timed everything I did, from the moment I started grinding to how idle I am while Im steaming milk. And itd be like, Well you just wasted 20 seconds steaming milk when you could be doing other things, like setting up a saucer and a teaspoon.

After completing schooling and becoming disillusioned with lawyering in London, Malik moved back to The Hague. Eventually, he found the courage to say, This is what I wanna do, for real, as he puts it. I mean, I had the most kitted-out home barista kit youll ever see. I was the guy who had a [Mahlkonig] EK43 at home.

Today the pet Mahlkonig EK43 is a workhorse at Kaafi, along with two Victoria Arduino Mythos One grinders. Nitro cold brew is seasonally available, and Malik plans to soon offer Turkish coffeeapt for a brand with a whirling dervish logo. Like Prufrock, Kaafi features a usual rotation of light-roasted coffees from dark-weather Europe (La Cabra, The Barn, etc.).

In the Netherlands, early-morning consumption culture is in its nascence, which Malik found out at the start, when Kaafi opened at 7:30 and was absolutely dead til 10am. He adjusted accordingly, although thats double digits alreadylike, life should be well into play by 10 oclock, he muses, expressing hope to one day start inching towards 9:30.

Anticipating a day when Kaafi could potentially approach big-city busy, Malik wanted to create a bar that was optimized for workflow and quality consistency, he says. I always ask myself, Do I have a bar that one person could handle on their own? And the answer to that inevitably is yes.

The image of a solo staffer is comfortably projected onto the two Marco SP9s that are used to prepare filter coffee. The choice has been a local talking point, for which Malik has a considered response.

My least favorite part of being a barista is pouring hot water. I think its just not something that you need to be spending time on, he emphasizes. Proponents of manual pour-over might say that it provides a better experience, but to that, I say, its 2018, and most of our customers are familiar with the way a pour-over coffee is made. Theres no need to be showing that off when you can be tending to them.

Gear and groove aside, another trait that sets Kaafi apart is kinship. Maliks parents, since retired from continent-spanning work as Pakistani diplomats, have embraced second careersalongside their son. Maliks father is Kaafis head chef, fulfilling a longtime fantasy to have his own restaurant and now creating delectable takes on cafe fare, such as brie brulee toasties; Maliks mother is his pastry chef, producing a score of sweets with Pakistani twists, like the signature pistachio cardamom cheesecake. Maliks little brother was his first employee and his wife, a human rights lawyer by day, moonlights as his marketer.

The cafe comfortably sits 40. A dapper family-den feeling characterizes the main floor. It contrasts with the elevated back area that Malik calls our inspiration-slash-productivity space, hosting a cupping table that masks as a communal-seating table. Bright and minimalist, the alcove welcomes patrons to work, staying as long as they wish; the table height is ideal for standing typists and outlets encourage laptops (and during off-hours, kettles).

Clearly influenced by his inculcation at Prufrock and helped by his familys panoramic support, Malik offers a kind of hospitality and attention on the guest that remains scarce in the Netherlands. So for visitors to The Hague, including those of us from Amsterdam, Kaafi is definitely something to write home about.

Karina Hof is a Sprudge staff writer based in Amsterdam. Read more Karina Hof on Sprudge.

Some photos courtesy of Kaafi.
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International Space Station LEAK: NASA and Russia remain tight-lipped over findin LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 348173

09-14-2018 01:09 PM











Post: #1 International Space Station LEAK: NASA and Russia remain tight-lipped over findin

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NASA and Russia are remaining tight-lipped on their preliminary findings of what caused the leak in the International Space Station (ISS) in late August.



On August 29, astronauts on the ISS awoke to worrying news that a leak on space station was causing it to lose oxygen.



The six people on the ISS hurried to find the minute hole before they ran out of air.



It was originally thought the leak, which was fortunately quickly discovered and sealed, was caused by a tiny meteor which hit the ISS.



However, this was quickly ruled out, with Russia revealing the puncture was man-made.



A special commission from the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos found that the hole was made from the inside, and not the outside  ruling out any impacts from space debris.



It also found drill traces near the hole.



Now, senior officials at NASA and Roscosmos  the Russian space agency  have met to discuss the incident.



Yet both parties are refusing to give anything away until they have conclusive findings.



NASA said in a statement: The Administrator and the General Director noted speculations circulating in the media regarding the possible cause of the incident and agreed on deferring any preliminary conclusions and providing any explanations until the final investigation has been completed.



https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1...ussia-news [ ]International Space Station LEAK: NASA and Russia remain tight-lipped over findings[/size]NASA and Russia are remaining tight-lipped on their preliminary findings of what caused the leak in the International Space Station (ISS) in late August.On August 29, astronauts on the ISS awoke to worrying news that a leak on space station was causing it to lose oxygen.The six people on the ISS hurried to find the minute hole before they ran out of air.It was originally thought the leak, which was fortunately quickly discovered and sealed, was caused by a tiny meteor which hit the ISS.However, this was quickly ruled out, with Russia revealing the puncture was man-made.A special commission from the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos found that the hole was made from the inside, and not the outside  ruling out any impacts from space debris.It also found drill traces near the hole.Now, senior officials at NASA and Roscosmos  the Russian space agency  have met to discuss the incident.Yet both parties are refusing to give anything away until they have conclusive findings.NASA said in a statement: The Administrator and the General Director noted speculations circulating in the media regarding the possible cause of the incident and agreed on deferring any preliminary conclusions and providing any explanations until the final investigation has been completed. Michael G.

lop guest

User ID: 455880

09-14-2018 02:07 PM











Post: #2 RE: International Space Station LEAK: NASA and Russia remain tight-lipped over findin

It was the astonaut from Poland....he tried to tunnel out. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462088

09-14-2018 02:13 PM











Post: #3 RE: International Space Station LEAK: NASA and Russia remain tight-lipped over findin

Russia said they have spoken to the guy who did it . I dont know what all this drama is about, they have interviewed him and he said it was a mistake and he covered it over .
















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Page: 1 2 3 BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo 

lop guest

User ID: 455807

09-14-2018 09:31 PM











Post: #1 BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

Advertisement https://dailycaller.com/2018/09/14/bob-w...collusion/



You mean the media LIED, AGAIN!??!??!?!?!!!!??







Veteran reporter Bob Woodward said Friday that he conducted a thorough investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion while researching his latest book, Fear: Trump in the White House, but found no evidence of a conspiracy.



Did you Bob Woodward hear anything in your research or your interviews that sounded like espionage or collusion? conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Woodward during an interview.



I did not. Of course, I looked for it, looked for it hard, replied Woodward.



Woodward, who is best known for his investigative work uncovering the Watergate scandal, did leave open the possibility that special counsel Robert Mueller has secret evidence that President Donald Trump or his campaign worked with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election.



Were going to see what Mueller has, Woodward said.



[Former Trump attorney John Dowd] may be right. He has something that Dowd and the president dont know about  a secret witness, or somebody who has changed their testimony. As you know, that often happens and that can break open or turn a case, the reporter continued.



But youve seen no collusion? Hewitt asked.



I have not, said Woodward.



Queue the toxic left! You mean the media LIED, AGAIN!??!??!?!?!!!!??Veteran reporter Bob Woodward said Friday that he conducted a thorough investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion while researching his latest book, Fear: Trump in the White House, but found no evidence of a conspiracy.Did you Bob Woodward hear anything in your research or your interviews that sounded like espionage or collusion? conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Woodward during an interview.I did not. Of course, I looked for it, looked for it hard, replied Woodward.Woodward, who is best known for his investigative work uncovering the Watergate scandal, did leave open the possibility that special counsel Robert Mueller has secret evidence that President Donald Trump or his campaign worked with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election.Were going to see what Mueller has, Woodward said.[Former Trump attorney John Dowd] may be right. He has something that Dowd and the president dont know about  a secret witness, or somebody who has changed their testimony. As you know, that often happens and that can break open or turn a case, the reporter continued.Queue the toxic left! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 455807

09-14-2018 09:33 PM











Post: #2 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo



https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018...ump-russia Bob Woodward: 'Too many people are emotionally unhinged about Trump' LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 455807

09-14-2018 09:34 PM











Post: #3 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo





Bob Woodward's Trump book is bad, boring, and bogus

https://mashable.com/article/fear-woodwa...6S3E30Hsqw A liberal outlet bashing his book.Bob Woodward's Trump book is bad, boring, and bogus LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462052

09-14-2018 09:35 PM











Post: #4 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

LIBERAL TACTIC...

[ ]

THROW SO MUCH sh*t AT THE WALL, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING STICKS [/size] LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 455807

09-14-2018 09:37 PM











Post: #5 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

liberals are clearly upset. Look at thread rating already . LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 461817

09-14-2018 10:00 PM











Post: #6 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-14-2018 09:35 PM) LIBERAL TACTIC...



THROW SO MUCH sh*t AT THE WALL, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING STICKS

Because they have built their entire plan on them being able to rely on help from the scourge and misfit fuckups of society. These people are stupid! They know no sane person would ever do their bidding so they use the insane people to do their dirty work. Because they have built their entire plan on them being able to rely on help from the scourge and misfit fuckups of society. These people are stupid! They know no sane person would ever do their bidding so they use the insane people to do their dirty work. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 455807

09-14-2018 10:01 PM











Post: #7 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-14-2018 10:00 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (09-14-2018 09:35 PM) LIBERAL TACTIC...



THROW SO MUCH sh*t AT THE WALL, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING STICKS

Because they have built their entire plan on them being able to rely on help from the scourge and misfit fuckups of society. These people are stupid! They know no sane person would ever do their bidding so they use the insane people to do their dirty work.

LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 433775

09-14-2018 10:04 PM











Post: #8 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

Of course he didn't.. the whole Russia thing is a paranoid whackjob creation suffered by millions of brainwashed morons.





He did, however, find a whole bunch of other fuckedup shit!



Circus Americana LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462052

09-14-2018 10:33 PM











Post: #9 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 424701

09-14-2018 10:43 PM











Post: #10 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

I wonder what the Navy thinks of you know. #oldtimesellout pooky

Registered User

User ID: 451507

09-14-2018 10:51 PM



Posts: 6,005









Post: #11 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

Because it was all made up. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462052

09-14-2018 10:51 PM











Post: #12 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

pooky Wrote: (09-14-2018 10:51 PM) Because it was all made up.

LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 424701

09-14-2018 10:57 PM











Post: #13 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

his boss is deep state #deeps^it LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462243

09-15-2018 04:14 AM











Post: #14 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

bump LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462243

09-15-2018 03:49 PM











Post: #15 RE: BOB WOODWARD Confesses He Couldnt Find Any Trump-Russia CollusionAdmits He Loo

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The final arrival since its first prototype in 1969, this 2008 edition was based on the Alaska II design which encapsulates the standard Speedmaster dial with an outer anodised aluminium thermal shield. This instrument allowed the watch to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -148? to +260?, as can be expected in outer space. The only timepiece to pass NASA's rigorous certification tests. This watch comes in its original complete box set (the opening latch is marred with slight damage). The watch is numbered 1493 out of 1970 pieces, with slight scratches on the bottom left lug, and a small chip on the edge of the thermal shield. Our pictures are an important part of the condition report - please scrutinise them in detail. For any questions, please contact us at: shop@therakemagazine.com.

For any questions and styling advice, please contact us at: shop@therakemagazine.com.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines lauded Congress Friday for its positive move as lawmakers adopted a resolution pushing for the resumption of President Rodrigo Dutertes peace negotiations with the communist rebels. NDFP peace panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili said the communist group welcomed the passing of House Resolution 1803 by the House Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity. The resolution is a positive move by the committee members and contributes to calls of various other sectors and groups to continue the peace negotiations, Agcaoili said in a statement. He hoped the resolution would encourage the President to go back to the negotiating table and work towards a just and lasting peace. Agcaoili said there were already significant advancements in the negotiations when Duterte decided to unilaterally scrap the talks in November 2017. According to the NDFP official, the talks already produced tentative agreements on the specific sections on the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms. These sections covered the peace process, agrarian reform, rural development, and even economic development.He also regarded the coordinated unilateral ceasefire and the amnesty of all political prisoners listed by the NDFP as among the significant developments brought by negotiations. These agreements had been formulated and initialed by representatives of the GRP and NDFP during the monthly informal or back-channel talks from March to June 2018 and were subject to finalization in the aborted fifth round of formal talks on June 28, 2018, he said. Even with the setbacks, forcing the doors to peace to be closed, Agcaoili expressed the NDFPs willingness to come to terms should the President return to meet them in the negotiating table. The NDFP is always open to the resumption of peace negotiations in accordance with all signed agreements such as The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantee, and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, without preconditions, Agcaoili said. The resolution, which seeks to resume the governments peace negotiations with the communist group, hopes to complete the comprehensive agreements of social, economic, and political reforms to lay the basis for a just and lasting peace.
Silva: Full support for Lookman

Friday, 14 September, 2018







The exciting 20-year-old elected to join the Bundesliga side in January and made a quick impact scoring five times in 12 appearances in the few months he was there.

What followed was a concerted effort over the summer by Leipzig to sign Lookman on a permanent basis but they were thwarted by Everton's refusal to sell a player whom they only acquired themselves in January last year.

The situation was complicated, however, by an apparent desire on the player's part to see the move to Germany happen during the last transfer window, that despite a new managerial setup at Finch Farm that is very different to the one he left in the winter window due to frustration at a lack of game time.

The inevitable result has been some uncertainty over how Lookman would react to the Blues' decision to dig their heels in and refuse bids from Leipzig that reportedly topped 20m, although Evertonians have been tried to encourage him with strong messages of support on the couple of occasions he has taken to the field since his return from Germany.

Silva was asked today how he interpreted the reception the winger got from fans when he came on as a substitute against Huddersfield Town a fortnight ago for his first minutes in the first team this season and the manager said that he saw nothing negative in the crowd's reaction.

What I felt was that it was a big reaction for him at the match," the Portuguese said. "I didn't see that it was a mixed reaction.

Even if it happened, it would have been a normal situation but what I felt was a big reaction from our fans to him.

What is expect not just from Ademola but from all our players is big commitment with us every day. It's an obligation to us and our fans with this job.

Asked if he was seeing a happy player in training, Silva replied: Yes, of course. All of you know what happened during the last [transfer window]  he had one club with big interest in him but it's done, the market is finished.

Now is the moment to keep focus on his job. The club is supporting him all the time to give 100% every day.

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Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation
The Sandiganbayan has denied the plea of former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. for the summary dismissal of the graft case against him in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of service vehicles of the poll body in 2003. However, the anti-graft court's Sixth Division, in a resolution dated Sept.11, said Abalos can still file a motion for demurrer of evidence or waiver of his right to present counter evidence. [In the event Abalos submits a motion for demurrer], he shall waive his right to present evidence and is submitting this case for judgment on the basis of the evidence adduced by the prosecution, the Sandiganbayan said. Prosecutors accused Abalos of giving undue advantage or preference to Toyota Pasong Tamo Inc. in the procurement of two Toyota Revo VX 200 worth P1,711,418.19 without the required public bidding. They said that Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act does not allow shopping or canvassing as a mode of purchase when it comes to motor vehicles.Two Comelec officials, the former director of the Comelec Finance Services Department, Eduardo Mejos and Administrative Officer Aileen Maqueda were the principal witnesses against the former poll body chairman. Abalos has denied the allegations levelled against him and filed a motion to dismiss. However, the Sandiganbayan denied Abalos's motion to dismiss and ordered a trial of the case. After a careful study of the documentary and testimonial evidence submitted by the prosecution, the Court finds that, if unrebutted, the same is sufficient to consider this case submitted for decision, the Sandiganbayan said.
The Philippine National Police warned the public against syndicates using a supposed Oplan Tokhang watchlist to coerce and exact money from netizens on the pretext that they are involved in the selling and use of illegal drugs. Chief Supt Marni Marcos Jr. director of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, said they had monitored criminals using the modus telecom fraud, using Tokhang to exact money from their would-be victims who are supposed to be involved in illegal drugs as a form of blackmail. A new kind of modus operandi identified as telecom fraud is being monitored by the PNP ACG as it is reportedly preying on citizens by informing them of their alleged involvement in the PNPs narcolist through texts or calls, Marcos said. He said the scheme has fueled concerns among netizens as the suspects use the mobile technology to modify phone numbers to make it appear that the victims called IDs came from the PNP or government agencies hotline. Marcos said that under the pretext of representing themselves as local police officers or other law enforcement agencies, the suspects causes alarm to unsuspecting persons on the other line by informing them that they are included in the PNPs drug watchlist and are being subjected to Tokhang. Marcos said the suspects will implicate their victims in illegal drugs and would then asked them to cough up money or divulge their personal or financial information. Oplan Tokhang, which literally means knock and plead was designed by the PNP to encourage individuals who are listed in respective barangays drug watchlist to surrender and mend their ways or undergo rehabilitation. Marcos reminded the public that Oplan Tokhang was never in in any way being conducted through phone calls, text messages or any other means of digital communication. He said the PNP or the Philippine government in general never uses telecommunications (call, SMS, and the like) in conducting Oplan Tokhang.Never submit yourself into any scam as this one, remember that Oplan Tokhang is initiated by a PNP member in uniform to a person listed in a drug watchlist in his/her known address, accompanied by a Barangay Official, Marcos said. Marcos also reminded the public to avoid answering calls from phone numbers not listed in their personal contact list so as not to fall prey to the modus. He also urged netizens not to disclose personal and financial information to anybody, especially to strangers. If youre not involved in any illegal drug activities, then do not be alarmed by any calls or texts you will receive and just ignore them; or preserve the text messages and the number used by the scammer by taking a screenshotas it can be used as a lead to identify the person behind it, Marcos explained. He also urged the public to report to the nearest PNP ACG office or police station in the event any modus through calls and texts. Marcos also encouraged the public to be vigilant while engaging in any online activity as criminals nowadays use the convenience of technology in carrying out their modus. Be smart! To know more about this kind of scam or to report an incident of cybercrime by calling PNP ACG hotline 414-1560 or visit its facebook page: PNP Anticybercrime Group.
Amazon Prime has released a full trailer for Homecoming which mark Julia Roberts first series lead.

Directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), the cast also includes Bobby Cannavale, Dermot Mulroney and Sissy Spacek.

For reasons which I presume become clearer in the show, the video format also switches throughout this clip.

Homecoming is a mind-bending psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts and directed by Sam Esmail (creator of Mr. Robot). Heidi Bergman (Roberts) is a caseworker at the Homecoming Transitional Support Center, a Geist Group facility helping soldiers transition back to civilian life. Walter Cruz (Stephan James) is one of these soldiers, eager to begin the next phase of his life. Overseeing Heidi and the facility is Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale), an ambitious company man whose manic demands point to questionable motives.

Four years later, Heidi has started a new life, living with her mother (Sissy Spacek) and working as a small-town waitress, when a Department of Defense auditor (Shea Whigham) comes to her with questions about why she left the Homecoming facility. Heidi begins to realize that theres a whole other story behind the story shes been telling herself.

Based on the popular podcast of the same name, Homecoming is created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg. The cast also includes Jeremy Allen White, Alex Karpovsky, Dermot Mulroney, among others.

Friday 2 November 2018 on Amazon Prime.
Port Hope is a town in Ontario, Canada, where scenes for the horror blockbuster It were filmed in 2016. Filmmakers have recently returned to the small town while filming Largo, the sequel to It, where the grown-up Losers Club faces Pennywise the Clown.

Derek Geldart, a resident of Port Hope, was watching as a scene was being filmed across the street from him last Tuesday. Geldart is pretty darn certain he spotted Stephen King being filmed for a cameo in the movie.

Largo filming in Port Hope

King is renowned for appearing in film and TV adaptations of his books in a cameo role.

Geldart said he believes it was what he was watching that day. He said he didnt want to give any spoilers away, but mentioned that King took a bike from the window of the shop across the road.

Stephen King in Canada

King also made it pretty clear he was up in Canada by sending a tweet to say there werent many guns, but that healthcare is amazing and really cheap.

Up in Canada for a few days. Not many guns, but the health care is amazing. They take care of whats wrong with you right away. And its really cheap.  Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 11, 2018

A Facebook post by Joie De Vivre  a local business  which fessed up to say the horror author was hiding in their shop last week while the filming was ongoing in the town.

The shop was transformed into Second Hand Rose for the Film "Largo.".

Shop fronts changed to suit Largo

One local resident, Barry Walker, said how great it was for Port Hope and its residents and that they are all excited about the ongoing filming.

Stephen King spotted in Port Hope during filming of sequel to It https://t.co/s3jlhuoUdl  Anne Sewell (@anners2008) September 14, 2018

Many of the shop fronts in the town were changed to make them fit scenes from the previous movie, "It.".

The Northumberland News reports that film crews were using a former Canadian Tyre store as a studio. Lake-Land Place in the town is being transformed into the set of a carnival for the film.

Have you seen Stephen King in downtown Port Hope? https://t.co/ex1C7gBnJq  Anne Sewell (@anners2008) September 14, 2018

Largo cast members spotted in town

Global News reports that other residents in the town had spotted a huge statue of Paul Bunyan, the mythical lumberjack, at the town hall.

It is reportedly very similar to one in Kings hometown of Bangor, Maine. Others spotted Bill Skarsgard, the actor who now plays Pennywise the evil clown in "Largo," as well as "It," along with several other cast members.

Have you seen Stephen King in downtown Port Hope? Filming for Largo has resumed in the downtown area@StephenKing #largo #it https://t.co/4EWPV2DNi9 pic.twitter.com/AQs9szuTOL  Northumberland News (@north_news) September 11, 2018

Geldart said James McAvoy was in town, who is playing the older version of Bill. They also saw Chosen Jacobs, who plays the younger Mike and who is also in the Hulu series Castle Rock, based around Stephen Kings novels and stories.

Kevin Narraway, the tourism manager for Port Hope, said having the cast and crew in their community is great, as they are staying in the local hotels and spending money in restaurants. Narraway also said how exciting it was for the town to have the ongoing filming of an adaptation of Kings work.
A panel in the House of Representatives has adopted a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the governments peace negotiations with the communist rebels and complete the comprehensive agreements of social, economic and political reforms to lay the basis for a just and lasting peace. At a hearing conducted by the House Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity led by Rep. Ruby Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, the panel adopted House Resolution 1803. The resolution says on Nov. 23, 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 360 terminating the peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front. Subsequently, on Dec. 5, 2017, Duterte issued Proclamation 374, declaring the CPP-NDF as terrorist organizations. The resolution says the peace negotiations under the Duterte administration have reached remarkable and unparalleled headway after four successful rounds of negotiations. The resolution says continuing the peace talks will benefit the Filipino people, most of whom are poor peasants and workers, as the agreement on agrarian reform and national industrialization may address their concerns and help provide relief for their economic hardships. It is highly imperative that Congress hears and echoes the Filipino peoples desire for the resumption of the peace negotiations and for the GRP and NDF to forge substantive agreements that will resolve the root causes of the nearly five-decade-old armed conflict. It is the cause for a just and lasting peace itself that is the very compelling reason to continue the peace negotiations, the resolution says. Sahali said when they filed the resolution, she had only one thing in mind: To make sure that the GRP and the NDF returned to the negotiating table. Compared to the previous administration, mas dumami yung steps for peace and reconciliation in the present administration, Sahali said during the hearing. She expressed optimism for the resumption of the peace talks, adding that the door for peace had not been closed. Last year, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Isagani Carlos Zarate, a member of the Makabayan Bloc, filed House Resolution 2065 calling for the resumption of the peace talks between the GRP and the NDF, but this was not referred to the Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. Zarate said HR 2065 likewise called for both parties to disclose what were the agreements made during the informal talks held from March 2018 up to June 2018.Another Makabayan Bloc member, Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao also hoped for the resumption of the peace talks. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza thanked the committee for keeping intact its intention, which is the same as that of the Executive department. Its intention was to address the historical injustice against the Bangasamoro people and address the social issues involving the negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines, he said. We know very well that the President had already canceled the peace negotiations, but he had said the door for resumption is still wide open. We did not totally shut this, Dureza earlier told lawmakers. Dureza said Duterte had earlier thought that there were some issues that hounded not the negotiations but the bigger table, which was the public. As you noticed very well, President Duterte engaged the CPP very decisively and he felt that there was no reciprocity on the other side despite the steps that he had taken. And he was worried that the bigger table, which is the public, might also be engaged, Dureza added. He said Duterte believed that he could sign any agreement, but if he did not get public support then everything would be for naught. That is why when he canceled it, he said we needed several months to assess the situation, take a look at the documents previously signed, validate them and find out whether these were still very valid, Dureza said. He said Duterte was consistent with his position that the door for the peace negotiations was still wide open, but he cited four points that the CPP must consider. One, there will be no coalition government. Two, a stop to the collection of the so-called revolutionary tax. Three, the venue for the talks must be made local, and four, the pursuit of negotiations and secession of hostilities must be done on certain issues to contend with, Dureza said.
This week, the most senior bishop in the Church of England, Justin Welby (aka the Archbishop of Canterbury) criticized the U.S. retail giant Amazon for getting away "with paying almost nothing in tax." Which would be fine if it weren't for the fact, first reported by the Church Times, that the Church of England owns a significant number of Amazon shares.

In fact, Amazon is among the 20 most valuable equity holdings in the Church's multi-billion investment fund, according to the 2017 annual report from the Church Commissioners.

SEE ALSO: Churches in the UK are now accepting Apple Pay and contactless payments

When confronted with the fact, the Church issued a statement saying, essentially, that being a shareholder in a company and criticizing it are not necessarily at odds.

"As with other issues, we take the view that it is most effective to be in the room with these companies seeking change as a shareholder. We continue to work with other shareholders to tackle this issue via engagement with companies and their managers," the CofE told the Church Times in a statement.

Should the Church's efforts result in any changes in how Amazon runs its business, we'll report it.

"We pay all taxes required in the UK and every country where we operate," Amazon (which briefly became the second trillion-dollar company in the U.S. last week) said in a statement.

This is not the only time the Church's stance has been at odds with its own practices. According to the BBC, Archbishop Welby criticized zero-hour job contracts, in which the employer is not obliged to provide any minimum working hours or job certainty. But Reverend Ray Anglesea, who worked on such a contract for the Church, unveiled in a letter to the Times that the Church uses similar contracts for numerous employees at its cathedrals.
FILE PHOTO: A general view of an oil dock is seen from a ship at the port of Kalantari in the city of Chabahar, 300km (186 miles) east of the Strait of Hormuz January 17, 2012. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/File Photo

By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian refiners will cut their monthly crude loadings from Iran for September and October by nearly half from earlier this year as New Delhi works to win waivers on the oil export sanctions Washington plans to reimpose on Tehran in November.

India's loadings from Iran for this month and next will drop to less than 12 million barrels each, after purchases over April-August had been boosted in anticipation of the reductions.

The United States is renewing sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from a nuclear deal forged in 2015 between Tehran and world powers. Washington reimposed some of the financial sanctions from Aug. 6, while those affecting Iran's petroleum sector will come into force from Nov. 4.

India, Iran's No.2 oil client behind top buyer China, does not recognise the reimposed U.S. sanctions, but winning a waiver from the restrictions is a must for New Delhi to protect its wider exposure to the U.S. financial system.

India's oil ministry in June told refiners to prepare for a "drastic reduction or zero" imports from Iran from November.

"Some refiners have either already exhausted or front-loaded their term contract to a large extent, which allows them the flexibility to go to zero if required, or until clarity on the waivers emerge," Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspect, told Reuters.

Washington will consider waivers for Iranian oil buyers such as India but they must eventually halt crude imports from Tehran, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week in New Delhi after a meeting of high level officials.

The Indian government, already facing a backlash over a falling rupee <INR=D2> and record high fuel prices, does not want to halt the oil imports from Iran as the Islamic republic offers a discount on oil sales to India.

Government sources said India made this point clear in last week's meetings with U.S. officials and remains engaged with Washington to work out waivers on its oil purchases from Iran.

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"We have a special relationship with both the U.S. and with Iran, and we are seeing how to balance this all, and also to balance out the interest of the refiners and end-consumers," said one of the government officials.

But if Washington adopts a tough line, India would have no other choice than to end imports from Iran, they said.

CUTTING IMPORTS NEARLY IN HALF

India lifted about 658,000 barrel of oil per day (bpd) from Iran in April-August, according to data obtained from trade sources by Reuters, and the cuts projected for September and October would drop the daily average over those two months by about 45 percent to 360,000-370,000 bpd.

Indian oil refiners have already given the October loading plans to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC), sources familiar with the loading schedule said.

Top refiner Indian Oil Corp <IOC.NS> wants to lift 6 million barrels each in September and October, while Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals <MRPL.NS> would load 3 million barrels each for those two months, the sources said.

IOC would also lift 1 million barrel for its subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corp <CHPC.NS> in October, they said.

Bharat Petroleum Corp <BPCL.NS> would lift 1 million barrels in September and skip purchases in October, a company source said on Tuesday.

Bharat Petroleum has already drawn more than its fixed volumes - the amount it is obligated to purchase - that were contracted for 2018/19, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Nayara Energy, part owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft <ROSN.MM>, plans to lift 1 million barrels each in September and October, the sources said. But the refiner began reducing its oil imports from Iran in June and aims to completely halt purchases from November.

Hindustan Petroleum <HPCL.NS>, Reliance Industries <RELI.NS> and HPCL Mittal Energy (HMEL) have no plans to buy from Iran in September and October, they said.

India refiners - excluding Reliance and HMEL, which do not have term contracts with Iran - will together lift about 73 percent of their fixed contract volumes from Iran by end-October, the loading data showed.

IOC, Nayara and MRPL did not respond to Reuters' emails seeking comments.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Tom Hogue)
MILAN (Reuters) - Mario Nava, the head of Italy's market watchdog Consob, has handed in his resignation just months after taking office, the regulator said on Thursday, confirming earlier reports.

In a statement regretting the decision, Consob said the resignation would take effect immediately.

Nava, 52, was the European Commission's director for financial system surveillance and crisis management until he was appointed Consob head earlier this year.

The appointment, made by the previous government, prompted him to take a temporary leave, or secondment, from the Commission.

Italy's current ruling coalition, which took power in June, called for his resignation claiming his continued ties to the European Commission conflicted with his institutional role.

The coalition, comprising the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement and the far-right League, also said he still benefited from judicial immunity.

In a statement Nava said the legal question of his administrative position had passed the scrutiny of four institutions, including the European Commission and Italy's President Sergio Mattarella.

"The question is therefore only political", he said.

Earlier, in a tweet, the economic spokesman of the League Claudio Borghi praised Nava's decision.

"I thank Dr. Nava for the good sense he has shown with this resignation," he said.

(Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
Nikki Haley.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Moscow trying to cover up breaches of UN sanctions on North Korea after it pushed for changes to an independent report on sanctions violations.

The UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss next steps.

Russia and China have suggested the Security Council discuss easing sanctions after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in June and Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization.

The United States and other council members have said there must be strict enforcement of sanctions until Pyongyang acts.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Moscow on Thursday of seeking to cover up breaches of U.N. sanctions on North Korea by Russians after it pushed for changes to an independent report on sanctions violations.

The U.N. Security Council will meet on Monday over the implementation of sanctions on North Korea at the request of Washington, the U.S. mission to the United Nations said.

The report, submitted to the Security Councils North Korea sanctions committee last month, said Pyongyang had not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and was violating U.N. sanctions on exports.

Diplomats said Russia pressured the independent sanctions monitors to amend the report. The Security Council has to agree by consensus on whether to publish the report and the United States objected to releasing the amended document.

Russia cant be allowed to edit and obstruct independent U.N. reports on North Korea sanctions just because they dont like what they say. Period, Haley said in a statement. The full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions remains mandatory for all member states  including Russia.

The Russian mission to the United Nations and the chair of the independent panel of U.N. sanctions monitors did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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The amended report removed some references to Russians accused of breaching sanctions on North Korea, said one diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Russia and China have suggested the Security Council discuss easing sanctions after U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in June and Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization.

The United States and other council members have said there must be strict enforcement of sanctions until Pyongyang acts.

Washington on Thursday imposed sanctions on a China-based tech firm, its North Korean chief executive and a Russian subsidiary, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions.

NOW WATCH: Chrissy Teigen 's trainer reveals the ultimate 15-minute workout full body workout

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A fire broke out at an industrial building in Luxembourg on September 14, sending large plumes of black smoke into the air, according to local media.

Fire officials urged residents near the blaze to keep their windows closed due to the smoky conditions. Credit: @LabzafGaming via Storyful
FILE PHOTO: Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia look on during his inauguration ceremony in Harare FILE PHOTO: Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia look on during his inauguration ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe, August 26, 2018. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo/File Photo

By Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will not lift sanctions against Zimbabwe until the new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa demonstrates it is "changing its ways," a senior U.S. economic official told a congressional panel on Thursday.

Manisha Singh, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told a House of Representatives hearing there were 141 entities and individuals in Zimbabwe, including Mnangagwa and former president Robert Mugabe, that are currently under U.S. sanctions.

"Our pressure on Zimbabwe remains in place. We are trying to use this pressure to leverage political and economic reforms, human rights observations," Singh said.

"We want to see fundamental changes in Zimbabwe and only then will we resume normal relations with them," she added.

Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe's new president on Aug. 26 after the Constitutional Court confirmed his July 30 election victory, dismissing a challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mnangagwa has called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against officials from the ZANU-PF ruling party, top military figures and some government-owned firms, which were imposed during Mugabe's rule for it called violations of human rights and democracy.

The EU lifted most of its sanctions in 2014, but has maintained those against Mugabe and his wife Grace.

The July ballot was touted as a crucial step towards shedding the pariah reputation that Zimbabwe gained under Mugabe as well as securing international donor funding.

Rep. Karen Bass, a Democrat from California, said Zimbabwe was "trying to reach out to us now and I want to know where we are with that."

"We are always open to conversations. We are open to a demonstration from the government that it is changing its ways, that it is observing human rights," Singh added.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton, editing by G Crosse)
HANOI (Reuters) - A court in central Vietnam has jailed an activist accused of trying to overthrow the state to 12 years in prison, his lawyer said on Thursday, days after two rights campaigners were barred from attending a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Hanoi.

Nguyen Trung Truc, 44, was also given five years of house arrest following his jail term at Wednesday's trial in Quang Binh province, his lawyer, Nguyen Van Mieng, said.

In a statement, police in the province said Truc, arrested in August last year, was among a group that formed "Brotherhood for Democracy" in 2013, which conducted "anti-government activities" to "build multi-party democracy" in Vietnam.

Truc, who did not plead guilty and did not agree with the contents of the indictment, would appeal against the verdict, his lawyer said.

"He said he was fighting for the environment and for human rights, not attempting to overthrow the state," the lawyer said.

Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam's ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.

Vietnam this week denied entry to the campaigners to attend the meeting being held in Hanoi, touted as the country's largest diplomatic gathering this year.

In the United States, which has worked to establish ever closer ties with Vietnam given shared concerns about China, a spokesman for the State Department said it was "deeply concerned" by Truc's sentence.

"The trend of increased arrests and harsh sentences for peaceful activists in Vietnam is troubling. We note that Vietnam has convicted 25 peaceful activists in 2018 alone," the spokesman said.

"The United States calls on Vietnam to release all prisoners of conscience immediately and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their views freely and assemble peacefully without fear of retribution."

(Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo

By Philip Blenkinsop and Gus Trompiz

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - Belgium has confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever, marking a further spread of the disease that has hit farms in Eastern Europe and China and which could now threaten Western Europe's large pig industry.

Belgium's food safety agency on Thursday said that African swine fever (ASF) had been detected in the Etalle district near the French border, after the death of several wild boars raised suspicions that the virus was present.

This is the first reported case of the disease in Belgium since 1985.

Western European countries have been trying to avert the spread of the disease, which is highly contagious among pigs and difficult to eradicate, after a growing number of cases in Eastern Europe, including in EU members such as Romania.

The European Commission said it will deploy a team of experts this weekend to coordinate with Belgian authorities over the swine fever cases and the EU health commissioner will meet ministers of Belgian regions Wallonia and Flanders on Monday.

One Flemish farmers' group, ABS, called for the cull of wild boars to protect farm pigs, while Wallonia's agriculture ministry said it has banned hunting in a 63,000 hectare-wide (155,676 acre) area to prevent wild boars from spreading out.

"The Belgian authorities announced yesterday two isolated cases of African swine fever in two wild boars found dead in the forest in the region of Etalle," a Commission spokeswoman told a news conference in Brussels, adding the EU executive was in close contact with Belgian authorities.

"PANDEMIC PROPORTIONS"

France's agriculture ministry announced reinforced surveillance in four administrative departments (counties) bordering Belgium and extra measures to protect pig farms and slaughterhouses.

"This new outbreak represents the expansion of the disease, for the first time during the current pandemic, into Western Europe," said Paul Sundberg, executive director of the Swine Health Information Center in the United States.

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"This new outbreak may represent a new change in the epidemiologic situation of ASF worldwide, suggesting that the disease may have reached pandemic proportions."

The spread of the virus has already led to the slaughtering of hundreds of thousands of pigs in Eastern Europe, while in China, the world's biggest pork producer, a series of cases since August has led to measures including a ban on transporting animals and feeding food waste to pigs in affected provinces.

The EU is collectively the world's second-largest pigmeat producer after China and the largest exporter, with most of its pork industry concentrated in Germany, Denmark, France and Spain.

Germany earlier this year issued a decree to allow hunters to shoot wild boar year-round to stop the animals, which can carry African swine fever, from passing the deadly infection on to farm pigs.

Experts say the virus can also be spread through food products and by people, even though it is not harmful to humans. There is no vaccine or treatment for it.

The most recent cases in Europe could be linked to food thrown away by people who had travelled from zones where the disease is present, Belgium's food safety agency said in its statement.

"When you start to have cases at quite some distance from previously reported ones there is concern for everyone," Justin Sherrard, global strategist, animal protein, at Rabobank, said.

(Additional reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris, Tom Polansek in Chicago and Robin Emmott in Brussels; Editing Mark Heinrich and Louise Heavens)
The government will be giving out a P500,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of businessman Peter Lim, who went hiding after the Justice department indicted him for conspiracy to trade in illegal drugs before a Makati City court, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday. He also warned that criminal cases would be filed against anyone who caught coddling the fugitive businessman from Cebu. The government is ready to give a reward of P500,000 to anyone who can give information on the exact whereabouts of accused Peter Go Lim, provided that such information will lead to the actual arrest of the said fugitive, Guevarra said in a text message to reporters. He said those helping Lim to hide from the authorities would face prosecution for obstruction of justice. The DoJ warns the persons coddling Lim, who has been indicted for conspiracy to trade in illegal drugs, that they will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice and punished accordingly, Guevarra said. Arresting teams of the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation have been hunting Lim down for more than a month since the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 65 ordered his arrest on Aug. 14.The court has also issued a hold-departure order against the businessman to prevent him from leaving the country. Earlier, Guevarra said Lim could still be in the country because, based on the records of the Bureau of Immigration, no Peter Go Lim had left the country. Mr. Lim has not left the country since his last trip in March, Guevarra said. He said should Lim sneak out via the back door, the government could seek the help of the Interpol to find him. On Aug. 10, the Justice department indicted Lim after finding probable cause in a complaint filed by the PNP-CIDG, which was earlier dismissed by a previous panel of prosecutors. Also charged in court were detained drug trader Kerwin Espinosa, state witness Marcelo Adorco and Ruel Malindangan. The new panel led by Senior Associate State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera cited as evidence Espinosas confession at the Senatethe transcript of which was submitted to the investigating prosecutors for the new probeand Adorcos positive identification of Lim.
JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded Whitbread to 'overweight' from 'neutral' on Friday and lifted the price target to 5,500p from 4,470p.

JPM said the sale of the Costa coffee chain to Coca-Cola underpins the Premier Inn equity story.

"We see the significant value unlocked by the Costa deal giving Whitbread interesting optionality," it said.

"We see Premier Inn as a strong format with potential to become a structural winner and to further improve execution with no Costa distraction."

Whitbread announced at the end of August that it had agreed to sell Costa to Coca-Cola for 3.9bn.

The transaction represents an enterprise valuation multiple of 16.4x Costa's FY18 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation and the valuation is significantly higher than is currently reflected for Costa in Whitbread's market value.

Whitbread said at the time that it expects net cash proceeds of around 3.8bn at completion, after adjusting for transaction and separation costs, a "significant majority" of which will be returned to shareholders.

At 1050 BST, the shares were up 1.4% to 4,706p.
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) said on Friday that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) had advised that it has commenced civil penalty proceedings against the bank for failing to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations.

The Sydney and Wellington-listed bank said that, as it had previously announced, the proceedings related to an underwritten institutional share placement in August 2015, that was the subject of separate proceedings by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

ANZ said it had notified the Australian Securities Exchange of ASICs investigation on 1 June.

ASIC alleged that ANZ should have advised the market that the joint lead managers took up approximately 25.5 million shares of the placement, though ANZ said it would defend the allegations.

It said the shares in question represented less than 1% of the shares on issue at the time, and

were taken up by the joint lead managers in circumstances where the book indicated the placement was covered at 103%.

ANZ said it was not aware of a precedent for a listed entity to disclose the take up of shares by underwriters in an equity placement.

ANZ's disclosure in relation to the placement was in accordance with its ASX disclosure obligations as well as market practice and we are defending the matter, said the banks chief risk officer Kevin Corbally.

ANZ said it did not intend to provide further comment at the current time.
London stocks were set to open higher on Friday, taking their cue from a positive session on Wall Street as investors eye a speech by Bank of England governor Mark Carney.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 19 points higher at 7,300.

Investors will be digesting a slew of Chinese data releases, with industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment all out earlier.

As far as trade relations are concerned, market participants had been a little more hopeful in recent days after Chinese officials welcomed an invitation for new talks from US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. However, a tweet from US President Trump in Thursday did little to calm nerves, as he said: "The Wall Street Journal has it wrong, we are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us. Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing. We will soon be taking in Billions in Tariffs & making products at home. If we meet, we meet?"

Markets had a muted reaction on Thursday to Carneys warning that a no-deal Brexit could send house prices crashing up to 35%.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said this was probably down to the fact that there were similar warnings about the EU vote itself that didnt play out.

"Sterling will remain in focus as Mark Carneys speech in Dublin will be published at 11am (UK time)," he said.

In corporate news, JD Wetherspoon reported profits slightly ahead of forecasts, while boss Tim Martin again used the results release to call for a free-trade Brexit.

The pub group generated 1.69bn of revenue in the 52 weeks to 29 July, up 4.2% on last year with like-for-like-sales up 5.0%. Profit before tax rose 6.2% to 107.2m.

Close Brothers has announced the sale of its retail point of sale finance business, Close Brothers Retail Finance, to Swedish payment solutions group Klarna for an undisclosed sum.

The disposal of the business, which provides unsecured finance to consumers through retailers, is expected to complete in the current calendar year, subject to regulatory approval and other customary conditions.

Close Brothers said the business does not provide a long-term fit with its predominantly secured business model.

AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm MedImmune announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lumoxiti (moxetumomab pasudotox-tdfk) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) who had received at least two prior systemic therapies, including treatment with a purine nucleoside analogue.

The FTSE 100 drugmaker said the phase III trial results demonstrated 75% of patients receiving Lumoxiti achieved an overall response, with 30% having a durable complete response.
SSE and npower parent innogy have appointed Dr Martin Read CBE as chairman-designate for the new independent British energy supply and services company they have agreed to form, the announced on Friday, subject to final regulatory approval.

The two companies said Reads appointment followed a comprehensive selection process, facilitated by a leading executive search company.

It said he would lead the board of the new company, working closely with chief executive-designate Katie Bickerstaffe, chief financial officer-designate Gordon Boyd, and other recently-appointed members of the executive committee-designate.

Dr read would take up his new role on 1 October and, working with an external executive search company, would lead on recruiting the board for the new business.

Like Bickerstaffe and Boyd, SSE and innogy said Read would have no involvement in the leadership or management of either existing organisation.

Both SSE and innogy said they considered Read to be independent on appointment, as per the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Meanwhile, the two firms said work was continuing to plan and prepare for the formation and listing of the new company, which remained on course to take place by the end of the first quarter of 2019, following SSE shareholder approval for the transaction and the appointment of the executive committee designate in July.

The Competition and Markets Authority provisionally cleared the transaction in August, and was due to publish its final decision by 22 October.

SSE said Read was bringing significant experience of board-level leadership, including in high-profile, consumer-facing sectors.

He is chairman of Wincanton and the UK Government's Senior Salaries Review Body.

Dr Read would be standing down as chairman of the Low Carbon Contracts Company and of the Electricity Settlements Company on 30 September, and would also step down as chairman of the Remuneration Consultants Group in advance of the anticipated formation and listing of the new company.

He is a former Chairman of Laird, and from 1993 to 2007 was chief executive of international IT services company Logica, where he oversaw a period of major growth and led the merger with CMG in 2002, which doubled the company's then-size.

Read has served as a non-executive director on the boards of Lloyd's, Invensys, Aegis Group, British Airways, Boots, Asda and the UK Government Efficiency and Reform Board.

We are delighted to appoint Martin as chairman-designate in what is another important milestone on the journey to establishing a new, independent player in the British energy supply and services market, said SSE chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies.

Martin's experience from executive and non-executive roles across a range of sectors, including mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings, will be invaluable in establishing the new board and ensuring the business is ready to hit the ground running.

We continue to believe that the combination of the two companies as an independent player can deliver real benefits to customers and the wider energy market and the appointment of such a high-calibre chairman is further evidence of this.

Martin Herrman, chief operating officer of retail at innogy, added that since the two companies announced their plans to create a new British retail energy company to combine npower and SSE's British energy supply and services businesses, they had kept on schedule.

Read's confirmation as chairman-designate, with the impressive experience and credentials he brings to the role, complements the designated board appointments for the new company.

After the provisional clearance by the CMA, the preparation for the formation and listing of this new British retail energy company achieved another important milestone.

Dr Martin Read himself said that it was currently a time of major change in the energy and services market in Britain, adding that he believed that in forming the new company there was a unique and exciting opportunity to challenge the sector and deliver for customers and shareholders.

I'm delighted to be appointed and look forward to working with Katie, Gordon and the rest of the management team to realise this opportunity.
The Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive has been accused of withholding information from MPs investigating the banks mistreatment of small businesses. In a frosty exchange with Nicky Morgan, the Treasury committee chair, Ross McEwan rejected the suggestion that he had misled MPs at an evidence session into heavily criticised practices at the lenders Global Restructuring Group.  Guardian

Travellers who renew their passports face losing up to nine months validity due to a little-publicised change to rules brought in by the Home Office. Up until last week, when British citizens renewed their passports, time remaining on the existing document was added to the new one  up to a maximum of nine months. But passport applicants have been told this no longer applies and any remaining months will be lost if an attempt is made to renew the document early.  Guardian

MPs have launched a fresh attack on the Government's system for monitoring risky public sector contracts in the wake of Carillion's collapse. Rachel Reeves and Frank Field, the respective heads of the business and work & pensions select committees, hit out at the Government's apparent refusal to review the use of so-called Crown Representatives, which they said had had the "wool pulled over their eyes" by the doomed outsourcer's bosses.  Telegraph

German insurer Allianz has bought a 3.5pc stake, worth an estimated 18.7m, in the electric-powered racing series Formula E according to documents recently filed by its Hong Kong-based parent company. Allianz raced into Formula E in February last year after putting the brakes on its partnership with Formula One. It started off as a Formula E sponsor which gave it branding at races in cities such as Berlin, Paris and New York.  Telegraph

House prices would fall by 35 per cent over three years after a chaotic no-deal Brexit, according to a stark briefing given to the cabinet by the Bank of England governor yesterday. Mark Carney told senior ministers that spiralling mortgage rates would cause a crash in the housing market.  The Times

Hundreds of staff at the Financial Conduct Authority spent an afternoon learning African drumming earlier this week, just hours after the City Regulators chairman warned about the pressure on its budget. About 400 FCA staff spent several hours on Tuesday afternoon at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in London learning the use of drums as part of a corporate away day.  The Times
London's FTSE 250 was up 0.45% at 20,334.01 in afternoon trade on Friday, led by Investec and Kier.

South African financial heavyweight Investec surged after saying it would spin off its asset management arm with an initial public offer in London, while reporting interim profits ahead of last year.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said Investec's plan to spin off the asset management arm appeared sensible and should allow management freedom to drive the business forward and avoid being constrained by having to follow the strategy of the current parent which is predominantly a specialist banking business.

"Unbundled companies have the freedom to be more entrepreneurial. From an investment perspective, demerged companies are often valued at a greater sum than when they were combined - which explains why Investecs share price jumped on the break-up announcement," said Mould.

"Separation can sometimes entice takeover interest should a predator have been interested in part of a company but was previously put off from making an offer as it didnt want to swallow the whole group."

Kier Group - one of the most shorted stocks in the UK - rallied on Friday as Peel Hunt and house broker Liberum reiterated their 'buy' recommendations with a target price of 1,600p ahead of the firm's results release next Thursday.

"Given the amount of gratuitous mud that has been hurled at Kier recently, it is inevitable that some of its sticks. They are UK domestic. They have been a large user of exceptionals. They have benefited a little from acquisition accounting. But many of the bear points are plainly ill-founded; noable around construction cash and the JVs," said Liberum's note.

Security software firm Sophos Group also rose after UBS reiterated a 'buy' rating and target price of 645p, citing the expected integration of two major pieces of software in the next three to six months as likely to support renewal rates "in FY20 and beyond".

Shipping services firm Clarkson was the heaviest faller in afternoon trade, following another share sale from Peter Anker, president of brokerage and investment banking, and his wife. Anker and his wife sold 52,059 and 41,647 shares respectively at a price of 2,725p to gross 2.55m between them, taking their share sales to 5m since July.

Also down among the fallers was JD Wetherspoon, which was in the red even as it reported profits slightly ahead of forecasts. The pub group's like-for-like-sales rose 5.0%, which was short of the 5.2% expected, but profit before tax rose 6.2% to 107.2m versus forecasts for nearer 106m.

For Canaccord, the prelims were "a little ahead" of forecasts but the outlook was seen as cautious. "Wetherspoon's share price has been caught in a tight trading range for the last 12 months and we do not see anything today for it to break out (either way)," said the broker, retain its 'hold' recommendation and 1300p share price target.

Galliford Try failed to build on the foundations of the strong annual results it released a day earlier as housebuilding stocks were put under pressure due to BoE Governor Mark Carney warning ministers on Thursday that a "no-deal" Brexit could see house prices crash by a third, according to reports.

Despite this, the firm was upgraded to an 'add' recommendation by broker Numis on Friday and also had its target price upgraded to 1,075p by Canaccord, who maintained a 'hold' rating.

Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,334.01 0.45%



FTSE 250 - Risers

Investec (INVP) 516.00p 6.46%

Kier Group (KIE) 994.00p 3.49%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 153.60p 3.33%

Weir Group (WEIR) 1,639.50p 3.24%

Man Group (EMG) 175.05p 2.76%

Ashmore Group (ASHM) 361.20p 2.67%

Sophos Group (SOPH) 514.50p 2.49%

Rotork (ROR) 334.50p 2.45%

AA (AA.) 115.72p 2.41%

Energean Oil & Gas (ENOG) 564.40p 2.25%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Clarkson (CKN) 2,675.00p -2.55%

BBA Aviation (BBA) 288.93p -2.12%

Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 1,256.00p -1.88%

Premier Oil (PMO) 122.70p -1.84%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 3,068.00p -1.82%

UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 645.50p -1.75%

Galliford Try (GFRD) 1,086.00p -1.54%

Equiniti Group (EQN) 249.50p -1.38%

Ascential (ASCL) 415.60p -1.38%

Rank Group (RNK) 174.20p -1.36%
As hurricane Florence looms off the eastern United States and Typhoon Mangkhut threatens the Philippines, here are some facts about monster storms and what to expect as climate change supercharges our weather.Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons are different names for the same type of giant tropical storms that form in oceans near the Americas and Asia. Bringing torrential rains, high winds, storm surges, and giant waves, the storms can be deadly and wreak havoc once they make land. At their most fearsome, these low-pressure weather fronts pack more power than the energy released by the atomic bomb that levelled Hiroshima. In the Atlantic and northeast Pacific, they are known as hurricanes, while typhoon is the term used in Pacific Asia. The same weather phenomenon in the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean is a cyclone.Cyclones start life as simple thunderstorms. But at certain times of the year, when sea temperatures are high enough to create evaporation, the storm fronts begin to suck up vast quantities of water. In the northern hemisphere, they are pulled into an anti-clockwise spiral as they make their way across the ocean by the rotation of the Earth. Cyclones in the southern hemisphere rotate clockwise. The water they hold is then deposited as rainfall, bringing catastrophic flooding, property damage and loss of life. The storms themselveswith a calm eye at their centercan measure up to 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) across. But they weaken rapidly when they travel over land or colder ocean waters.Scientists rank cyclones from Category 1-5. Category 5 storms have sustained winds of at least 252 kilometres (157 miles) per hour or higher. Recent Category 5s include Hurricane Irma, which battered the Caribbean and the southern United States in September 2017.Hurricane Katrina, which killed over 1,800 people across the US Gulf Coast in 2005, was also a Category 5. In contrast, Florence weakened on Thursday to a Category 2 event, although that is not to say it is not still extremely dangerous. Florence is forecast to dump up to 100 centimeters (40 inches) of rain in some areas after making landfall in North and South Carolina Thursday night or Friday. Were expecting 500-1,000 millimeters in Jacksonville, where the average monthly rainfall is 180-200 mm, Emmanuel Bocrie, a forecaster at the Meteo France weather service, told AFP. So a lower category storm can still be dangerous and do a lot of damage.Last year saw a string of catastrophic storms batter the west Atlanticincluding Irma, Maria, and Hurricane Harveycausing a record-equalling $125 billion (107 billion euros) in damages when it flooded the Houston metropolitan area. Bocrie said 2017 was exceptional for Atlantic superstorms as surface water temperatures were on average two-to-three degrees Celsius warmer than normal. For this hurricane season, the NOAA forecasting service and Britains Met Office predict between five and nine storms of Category 3 or stronger. Thats a relatively normal season, according to Bocrie. But be careful. Thats not to say we can rule out a disaster, it only takes one.Scientists have long predicted that global warming will make cyclones more destructive, and some say the evidence for this may already be visible. Warmer oceans add to the raw fuel on which cyclones feed, and higher sea levels boost storm surges that may overcome coastal defenses. Cyclones are going to be far stronger, more violent and destructive, and we expect more rain as well, said Bocrie.
Portraits by Anthony Van Dyck, a favorite court painter in 17th century England, describing King Charles' 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, highlight a sale at Southey's London, December 5. Auction house co-chair of the Old Masters department, Alex Bell, spoke to The Guardian of the exceptionally well-preserved portraits of the centuries-old works and the artist's painterly skills to acknowledge both the youth and the status of his royal subjects. But despite this advanced billing touting the sale, there's something inherently sad about it.

All in the family

Think about it. Here is the progeny of a former king of England, Scotland, and Ireland who reigned for almost 30 years, and they're up for grabs in a public auction. Where are the descendants to care for them? Granted, Charles I was a terrible king. His subjects thought of him as a tyrant because he believed in the divine right of kings, which meant he could do whatever he wanted  like raising taxes - without consulting the English Parliament. The list of his offenses is long, including treason. Not unexpectedly, he was executed. But the king's son, Charles II, was a beloved monarch and while he and his wife had no children, he had a slew of illegitimate ones. And his sister Mary bore the future King William III.

Is there really no one left to covet these likenesses of little Charles and Mary? The paintings are special not only because the subjects are royal. They're also two of Van Dyck's last works for his royal patrons and the last he painted before he died at age 42

Efficiency expert

Van Dyck's method of working is worth mentioning here.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

A good description was mentioned in 1666 by art historian Andre Felibien, who said that the artist always painted his portraits in a single session. He began work in the morning, and then, so as not to interrupt his work with a long hiatus, kept to dinner those whose portraits he was doing. This included the royals and they didn't mind as he wined and dined them and even entertained them during the meal.

After dinner, he again started to paint and worked so rapidly that he was able to produce not one, but two portraits per day, that only needed a little retouching.

He was fast, but was he good?

How good a painter was Van Dyck? In 1681 art Historian Roger De Piles told the story of his student days under the tutelage of Peter Paul Rubens. When the master painter went out for an evening leaving an unfinished canvas on his easel, Van Dykes fellow students began horsing around and knocked over the still-wet painting to the ground, damaging it. They then pleaded with him to do the repairs and when Rubens returned to his work the following morning, he said out loud that it turned out better than he thought.

Another attention-getter

Like many painters, this Flemish painter regularly pictured himself and one of his likenesses is up for sale at Sotheby's tonight Sept. 14. According to David Moore Gwyn, senior specialist in early British painting, This was without a doubt the most important portrait by Van Dyck to come to auction in my 33-year career.
J.J. Abrams newest produced film (before his next directorial feat, a little flick called Star Wars: Episode IX), is a genre film named Overlord. The movie sounds downright insane, and the advertising is a bit extreme. The film's official Twitter page, @OverlordMovie, tweeted out a new image. Check out the poster below as we take a deeper dive into the poster and the film its for.

Overlord looks to be a crazy sci-fi, horror, war Flick

The film is being defined as the description above states; a sci-fi, horror, war flick.

Overlord, tells the story of two American soldiers who, on D Day, are caught behind enemy lines. Despite the horrors of war, there are more horrors than they originally thought. Paratroopers land in Nazi-occupied France, the men must fight not only the Germans but what the Germans have created.

The film is directed by Julius Avery, the filmmaker behind the Ewan McGregor and Brenton Thwaites thriller Son of a Gun. Abrams esteemed production company, Bad Robot, will be backing the film, their first since 2018s critical and financial hit, Mission Impossible: Fallout.

Billy Ray wrote the screenplay from an original idea. Ray is a veteran writer having written The Hunger Games, Shattered Glass, and Captain Phillips.

Some terrifically gruesome advertisements for Overlord

The poster above is one of the best so far for the year.

The white background with blood splats makes a crude representation of soldiers parachuting. Blood and war arent an unfamiliar couple, but the gruesomeness from this film doesnt seem like it will be very similar to previous WWII Movies.

The movie is a rare R rated film from Bad Robot. Bad Robot is most well-known for producing saga's such as "Star Trek," "Star Wars," "Mission Impossible," "Cloverfield." Check out the trailer below, but be aware, its a tease for a film that is rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language, and brief sexual content. Whether its deemed a hit or a miss, the film promises to be a wild ride.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

The horror hybrid will premiere at Fantastic Fest, as reported by Slashfilm. The film will play on September, September 22 and Wednesday, September 26th; so be sure to mark your calendars to check the reviews, which surely will have much to say about the film.

Overlord hits theaters in the states on November 9, 2018. Let us know how excited you are for the film in the comments!
Two people have been diagnosed with Monkeypox within a few days of each other in England. This is the first time a monkeypox case has been recorded in the United Kingdom.

According to BBC, the 1st patient traveled to Nigeria and is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The second patient was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Lancashire. Public Health England (PHE) believes that both patients must have contracted the virus in Nigeria since they recently came back from the country at different times. PHE confirmed that theres no UK link between the patients.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is less deadly than Smallpox.

Symptoms include blistering rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, muscle aches, headache, backache, chills, and exhaustion

A rash can appear on the face and other body parts. It eventually changes into a scab and falls off

Monkeypox is considered to be a mild and rare disease that lasts for two to four weeks

Monkeypox virus has been reported in central and west African countries

It can be spread from an animal bite or scratch, handling meat, infected person, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects. But the risk of transmission is very low.

CNN reported, Nick Phin, the deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE, said in a statement, "We know that in September 2017, Nigeria experienced a large sustained outbreak of monkeypox.

It is likely that monkeypox continues to circulate in Nigeria and could, therefore, affect travelers who are returning from this part of the world."

PHE stated that they are In the process of contacting other passengers and workers that were on the same trip returning from Nigeria, to get more details of possible transmissions among others.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

So far, nobody else has been affected.

History

According to the Express UK, the monkeypox virus was first discovered in 1958 in the midst of laboratory monkeys. In 1970, a human was diagnosed for the first time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2003, the first cases in the US occurred. A three-year-old girl was bitten by a prairie dog in Wisconsin.

Her beginning stages started with a fever. Several weeks later, she ended up getting skin lesions. At the time, the doctors weren't familiar with the effects of her dog bite until they ran tests and studied her blood cells under a microscope. On the same day, a meat inspector in Wisconsin was infected by the monkeypox virus. His job duties included working with exotic animals which were transported from Texas and imported from West Africa.
The call of the Mindanao-based Eagle Fraternal Chapter of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. or PMAAAI to immediately remove Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from the association of PMA graduates reflects the militarys overall sentiment, Malacanang said Friday. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the associations plea demonstrated an expression of support toward President Rodrigo Duterte. That reflects the overall sentiment from the military, Roque said. He said the Palace remained confident that the military would not conspire to overthrow the President. In other developments:  Duterte said Thursday nobody was interested in arresting Trillanes following the senators claim his life would be in danger once he leaves the Senate premises. Nobody is interested to arrest [him]. The military does not have the interest. I do not have the interest. He can stay there [Senate] as a boarder, Duterte told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Duterte, who attended a briefing with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council about Typhoon Ompong on Thursday night, said he had ordered the police forces not to arrest Trillanes without an arrest warrant issued by a court.  Every day that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is not in jail because of the proclamation which revoked his amnesty is a victory for him and a victory for the rule of law, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Friday. This is not just about Senator Trillanes, this is about the rule of law, said Pangilinan who is also president of the Liberal Party. The decisions of the Supreme Court and the Makati courts on the case of Trillanes show that our courts are functioning. The courts have said he is entitled to due process. Due process is a fundamental right in our constitutional democracy. It is a part of our bill of rights and therefore due process is also being upheld here and therefore this is a victory for the citizens, this is a victory for all of us.*Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday there was no arrest or tracking  order on Trillanes. He made the statement in response to Trillanes claim on Thursday that plainclothesmen had been tailing his car. No order to arrest him nor to follow him, Lorenzana said in a text message to GMA News Online. Published as a newspaper advertisement on Friday morning, the association recommended Trillanes immediate expulsion from the group for acts unbecoming of an Academy alumnus. We are recommending his immediate ouster from the PMAAAI roll of members for acts unbecoming of a PEEMAYER, through actions and behavior contrary to the Academys motto of courage, integrity and loyalty, thereby seriously damaging the honor and prestige of the revered institution, the groups statement says. The association said Trillanes, a fierce critic of the President, incited sedition, committed the crime of coup detat and was involved in graft and corruption, The group also said Trillanes was disrespectful and arrogant toward the associations senior officers and to the President. The group also said the senator perpetrated treasonous acts and engaged in propaganda activities and propagated lies. Trillanes, who was a member of the PMA Marilag Class of 1995, was unmoved. The latest manifesto came two weeks after Duterte issued Proclamation 572 revoking the amnesty given to Trillanes for alleged non-compliance with the requirements.
The Latin Deli

Presiding over a formica counter,

plastic Mother and Child magnetized

to the top of an ancient register,

the heady mix of smells from the open bins

of dried codfish, the green plantains

hanging in stalks like votive offerings,

she is the Patroness of Exiles,

a woman of no-age who was never pretty,

who spends her days selling canned memories

while listening to the Puerto Ricans complain

that it would be cheaper to fly to San Juan

than to buy a pound of Bustelo coffee here,

and to Cubans perfecting their speech

of a glorious return to Havanawhere no one

has been allowed to die and nothing to change until then;

to Mexicans who pass through, talking lyrically

of dolares to be made in El Norte

.. all wanting the comfort

of spoken Spanish, to gaze upon the family portrait

of her plain wide face, her ample bosom

resting on her plump arms, her look of maternal interest

as they speak to her and each other

of their dreams and their disillusions

how she smiles understanding,

when they walk down the narrow aisles of her store

reading the labels of packages aloud, as if

they were the names of lost lovers; Suspiros,

Merengues, the stale candy of everyones childhood.

.. She spends her days

slicing jamon y queso and wrapping it in wax paper

tied with string: plain ham and cheese

that would cost less at the A&P, but it would not satisfy

the hunger of the fragile old man lost in the folds

of his winter coat, who brings her lists of items

that he reads to her like poetry, or the others,

whose needs she must divine, conjuring up products

from places that now exist only in their hearts

closed ports she must trade with.
Ed Yong in The Atlantic:

In the 1940s, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department began trying to move bighorns back into their historic habitats. Those relocations continue today, and theyve been increasingly successful at restoring the extirpated herds. But the lost animals arent just lost bodies. Their knowledge also died with themand that is not easily replaced.

Bighorn sheep, for example, migrate. Theyll climb for dozens of miles over mountainous terrain in the spring, surfing the green waves of newly emerged plants. They learn the best routes from one another, over decades and generations. And for that reason, a bighorn sheep thats released into unfamiliar terrain is an ecological noob. Its not the same as an individual that lived in that place its whole life and was led through it by a knowledgeable mother.

More here.
When CPJ traveled to Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, and Okara earlier this year, journalists, including freelancers and those from established media companies, painted a picture of a media under siege. Many traced the changes to two events in 2014: a shooting that injured Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir and led to a fallout among media groups and with the military, and the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Peshawar that left over 130 students dead. The military garnered widespread praise for its crackdown on militancy after the school attack, which resulted in a sharp decline of terrorist incidentsand in turn, violence against journalists. Yet the stepped-up activity put the military in position to exert even greater control. The military already wields influence and power in Pakistan, where it is deeply embedded in society, as well as the countrys economic and political systems.

The armed forces are seen widely as an effective institution that holds the nation together, and offers protection. To the east, Pakistan faces India, a far larger and powerful neighbor that is considered hostile, and with whom it has a territorial dispute over Kashmir. To the west is Afghanistan, unstable and with a porous, mountainous border that creates obstacles to security. Internationally, the U.S. has used Pakistan as a staging area for operations in Afghanistan, even as it launches drone strikes against militants on Pakistani territoryan issue of nationalist ire. While the military submits to the formalities of civilian rule, it sees itself as a bulwark against what some view as the chaos of democratic politics. But it remains sensitive to criticism or allegations, such as its apparent support for terrorist groups in neighboring countries, including the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is accused of staging the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack.

More here.
MEDENINE, TunisiaSurrounded by other peoples belongings piled high on beds, Georgie Ndab wants to leave Tunisias only migrant center and take her baby to Europe. I spent eight months in prison in Libya. I want to go to Europe to guarantee my son a good education, said Ndab, a 21-year-old from Cameroon. Sitting in a small room in suffocating heat, she pours talcum powder on baby Moses in an effort to relieve the eight-month-olds irritated skin. I thank Tunisia, but the situation here isnt good, and my direction is Europe, France, added Ndab, who traveled through Nigeria and Niger to reach North Africa. She is one of 247 people, including 15 children, living at the Red Crescent center in the southern town of Medenine. The facility is the only one in Tunisia to host migrants who reached the country illegally, either being picked up by authorities near Libya or in waters off the countrys coast. The three-story building is overcrowded, with just half the number of beds needed and three kitchens and bathrooms for everyone. Francis Lele, a fellow Cameroonian, said each person receives a kilo of rice, three tins of sardines and a bottle of milk per week. Tunisia does not properly take care of migrants, said the 32-year-old, who told AFP he was enslaved in Libya and forced to work in construction before boarding a boat for Europe. The Red Crescent center opened in 2013 and after losing some of its funding earlier this year is struggling to raise the 320,000 dinars ($114,000, 100,000 euros) needed to cover its annual costs. But despite the cuts, center head Mogni Slim said the food allowance is sufficient. Its not a great luxury but we offer food in accordance with the normal calorie intake, he said. While Tunisia is striving to manage its migrant population, the European Union has suggested the country could play host to a disembarkation platform to process those rescued at sea. The proposal made to North African countries by the EU in June was swiftly rejected by Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.At the end of July, Tunisia said it would take in 40 migrants rescued by a commercial vessel butwary of setting a precedentsaid it was only for humanitarian reasons. A number of those saved by the Tunisian-flagged Sarost 5 ship were taken in by the Medenine centre. Romdhan Ben Amor, from the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, said Tunisia cannot become a reception country while it does not guarantee the rights of migrants. Even for sub-Sahara African migrants who move to Tunisia by legal means, it is incredibly complicated to obtain a residency permit which is essential for daily life in the country. When it comes to those who have entered Tunisia illegally with the aim of traveling onwards to Europe, the United Nations migration agency said the country is ill-equipped to manage these arrivals. Tunisia has neither the legal framework nor the humanitarian infrastructure nor the economic development necessary, said Lorena Lando, from the UNs International Organization for Migration. At the Red Crescent center, residents have 60 days to decide whether to voluntarily return to their home countries or to stay in Tunisia. The center head said around a third choose to go home, often worn out by experiences in neighboring Libya. The remainder opt to remain in Tunisia, with the ultimate aim of traveling onwards to Europe. But it is not only migrants from elsewhere who take the perilous sea journey across the Mediterranean, in rickety smugglers boats. With an unemployment rate of 15 percent and struggling public services such as health care, Tunisia is seeing its own residents leave the country. So far this year Tunisia was the fourth country after Syria, Iraq and Guinea for nationals crossing into Europe, accounting for seven percent of arrivals, according to figures from the UN refugee agency, or UNHCR. Back at the Medenine center a 26-year-old Egyptian, Ali Ibrahim Nadi, said they share the same plight: They want to leave their country, so do we, we want to depart for Europe.
Ellsworth: Shortness of breath, fatigue are signs your heart can't keep up

columns
Im guilty of too liberally applying the word hipster to establishments I enjoy.

If I see one old-timey light fixture, thats the first clue. But Golden Crown Panaderia, in the middle of town, is the cool older kid hipsters look up to and try to emulate.

Theres no place like it in Albuquerque.

This family business has been around for about 45 years, because its got a perfect formula, the envy of any dining establishment: a spot with character in the middle of town, fresh New Mexican and Mexican baked goods, low prices, and creativity.

It also has a smart strategy: When customers walk in and order, staffers hand them a biscochito, on the house. It worked for me, because I went back and ordered half a dozen, along with half a dozen Mexican wedding cookies, because when you find a good Mexican cookie, you take it.

Both are incredibly good, New Mexican and one of the best things about our culture, but you usually find the great ones around Christmastime when the cookie season peaks.

A good biscochito should almost melt in your mouth, like this one does, and shouldnt be too sweet or too rich. For consistency and texture, biscochitos are like Mexican snickerdoodles hot out of the oven.

At Golden Crown, you can get a fresh biscochito, a Mexican wedding cookie, empanadas, tres leches cakes that look like they were just made, coconut-covered cookies, various breads and rolls (some of which they supply to fine hotels and restaurants across town), even sandwiches and pizza.

I can confirm, the biscochito is muy bueno.

Perfectly round, golden brown, they almost crumble when you touch them. Theyre bursting with sweet cinnamon and anise, and they remind me of the southern border around Christmas, the best time of the year.

Too much anise is not enjoyable. Golden Crowns biscochitos have, if anything, too little. Its just a hint, not overpowering, and in perfect balance with the cinnamon and sugar. (At first bite, I thought I detected a hint of red chile, but by the time I finished the bag, I wasnt so sure.) And theyre cheap  half a dozen are $2.97, not counting the free one you got when you ordered your meal (or the free one that came with the meal or three that come with pizzas). They taste like pure Christmas and love, and Golden Crown is rightly proud of them.

The Mexican wedding cookie was delicious, loaded with pecans and dusted with powdered sugar. Theyre dry, so they go perfectly with a hot beverage like coffee or hot chocolate. They cost $2.48 for half a dozen and you can finish them off in one sitting.

Youll find tasty treats at the Whole Foods cookie bar that do just fine in a sugar crunch, but theyre not exactly fresh. And no sane person is going to make homemade biscochitos more than five times in a week. But Golden Crown  or GoCro, as I call it  bakes its cookies and empanadas daily, so theres a good chance what youre eating was in the oven half an hour ago.

Lunch isnt bad, either, even if its not as remarkable as the bakery. I had the turkey and Swiss sandwich, and it was good and filling. The green chile bread was perfect, and the turkey was high-quality meat, freshly carved. It was only $9.95, so dont expect a massive, gourmet sandwich with exotic toppings. This one came with lettuce, tomato, onions, mustard, mayonnaise and Italian dressing. It was toasted and came with a pickle spear, plain tortilla chips and a tiny cup of dark-orange queso dip.

Golden Crown serves pizza, and the three that passed by looked amazing. A full-service coffee bar is also a featured attraction, as are freshly baked loaves of bread of every variety.

I feel like this is the place the quiet professionals in Albuquerque eat. Its hidden enough to keep out tourists, its quaint and friendly as can be, and its priced just right; also, you can find some Mexican treats that are hard to find north of the border.
Aaron Pedersen enjoys the challenges in film and TV.

The Australian actor stars in the Acorn TV series Mystery Road, as Jay Swan.

Its a character hes been playing for the past five years.

Jay is the type of character that allows us as artists to have the conversations on the country, he says. Theres a lot of mystery into what Jay deals with. Its intriguing to me as an actor, as well.

Mystery Road is directed by Rachel Perkins and set against Australias majestic landscapes.

It follows Pedersen as detective Jay Swan, who is sent to the remote Outback town of Patterson for what he thinks will be a simple investigation into the disappearance of two young jackaroos  workers on a sheep or cattle station.

He is partnered with tough local cop Emma James, played by Judy Davis, and their investigation gradually peels back the layers of the town, as Swans ability to hunt beneath the surface reveals crimes and miscarriages of justice that stretch back into Pattersons history.

In solving the mystery of the missing boys, the pair, as well as the town, learn a hard lesson: that you have to be truthful about your past to understand your present, and to have any sort of future.

The six-part series began streaming on Aug. 20 and has become a hit.

Im very proud of the project, Pedersen says. Weve had two films and now the TV series dealing with Jay. Its really getting some mileage now that people are stumbling onto it.

Playing Jay Swan came to Pedersen in an organic way.

The creators of the show began this story with Jay, and it became compelling, he says. Theres a lot of mystery. Jay is a platform for helping the country in Australia mature and grow. Hes caught between two worlds that hes bringing together.

Pedersen is one of Australias hottest actors today.

In addition to Mystery Road, he is also returns to the series Jack Irish, which also stars Guy Pearce. The new season began airing on Sept. 10.

In that series, he plays Cam Delray.

That series follows Irish, played by Pearce, as he ventures to find a missing person, only to be later framed for his murder.

Ive been drawn to stories that allow actors time to tell a story, Pedersen says. These characters show that people are the same no matter what. Its these stories that I am drawn to.

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART.
Its August in southern Idaho and all is calm for the regions dairy workers. But after four workers were picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, in July, Latino families have mostly stayed inside, missing church and otherwise lying low.

In dairy country, the anxiety is constant.

Twenty years ago, a block of dairy operators around Chino, Calif., sold out and moved to Idaho, rapidly transforming it into the nations third-largest milk-producing state. Land was affordable, water plentiful, regulation light, and there were plenty of workers ready to milk cows, haul manure and operate machinery in a steadily automating industry.

The Idaho Dairymens Associations website is clear about who those workers are today: Of the 8,100 on-dairy jobs, 85-90 percent are filled by foreign-born labor. They are also foundationally important: Without those jobs, none of the 31,300 supporting jobs would exist. According to a recent study, 40,000 workers with milk, cheese, yogurt and related products have built a $10 billion yearly value in a state economy of $72 billion.

Yet because foreign-born is too often a euphemism for illegal, many of these workers are vulnerable. Consequently, so is an industry that is far more important to Idaho than its famous potatoes.

The undocumented dairy workers have come almost entirely from Mexico. However, in the past decade, a rising Mexican economy, declining Mexican birth rate and increased hostility up north has largely kept Mexicans at home. Dairymens Association Director Rick Naerebout says tomorrows workers will most likely come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, yet it is families from precisely those countries that are being turned away by the presidents zero-tolerance immigration policy. (ICE flies more Guatemalans home than any other deportees  317 full flights last year.)

So where will Idahos dairies find workers in the future?

Four arrests are not all that many and ICE, which allows some autonomy to its regions, has mostly picked up people who have allegedly violated the law. This used to be the agencys prime mission at the end of the Obama administration, and it was the practice for decades before that, when the United States largely allowed those who came to this country illegally to settle, establish families and enter the economy. Under the Trump administrations hard reversal, however, much of American agriculture is threatened. Arrests of undocumented workers increased 42 percent during Trumps first eight months.

The growing number of arrests means ICE must find more holding cells. The agency (under the Department of Homeland Security) has contracted with private prisons and local jails, including an offer to lease 50 beds in the Jerome County, Idaho, jail for a sum that struck county commissioners as a heavenly gift  $1.3 million a year. It had plenty of beds to fill. Commissioners seemed unaware that this prospect sent fear through their Latino constituents, who make up 35 percent of the countys adults and half of the countys students.

What followed was unprecedented. Aroused by a popular Spanish-language radio host, Benjamin Reed, known on-air as El Chupacabras, and organized by a former dairy owner, Jane Miller, with help from the ACLUs Betsaida Chavez Garcia, Hispanics and Anglos came together. To fight the jail, dairy workers and dairy owners, both small and large Latino-owned businesses, and folks from the churches organized.

The day of a July 10 county commissioners meeting, more than 600 people marched through town to the courthouse. They filled every available seat, spilled down the steps and out onto the sidewalks. County Commission Chairman Charles Howell says he felt intimidated.

The Idaho Dairymens Association sent a blistering protest to the commissioners, arguing against working with ICE to increase the assets available for their enforcement action. Workers were highly agitated  already leaving dairies  in search of more welcoming communities, the dairymen wrote. We cannot be successful without the Hispanic Community you were elected to represent.

Con Paulos, the local Chevy dealer and a grandson of Greek immigrants, made the case that agriculture is all weve got in Jerome. Without Latino workers, he added, there would be no economy.

The commission finally decided to fill its jail with prisoners from nearby Twin Falls County, saying the ICE contract proved less lucrative than presumed.

Did the jail experience leave the county better off? Former dairy owner Miller thinks too little has changed. But El Chupacabras, the radio host sparkplug, believes a tipping point is coming in five or 10 years. Look at the local schools, he says, because without Latino students, Jerome County would be losing population.

Hispanics learned to check their pride at the border, but thats going to change, he says. People are fed up. If so, the shift might have begun with the Jerome Jail demonstration of 2018.

Jerry Brady is a contributor to Writers on the Range, the opinion service of High Country News (hcn.org). He is a former newspaper publisher and Democratic candidate for Idaho governor, and lives in Boise.
Birthday wishes

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A Chinese Protestant pastor is vowing to keep preaching to his flock despite the closure of his prominent underground church in Beijing, defying the governments intensifying pressure on religious groups. Pastor Jin Mingri had given sermons at the Zion Church, one of the biggest unofficial congregations in the country, for the past decade until local officials shut it down on Sunday. Its nine other satellite venues have also been closed, but Jin remains adamant that he will continue running the church. A church is more than just about a space, he told AFP in an interview. Its about gathering together to worship, its about belief. Housed on the third story of a nondescript commercial building in a northern Beijing suburb, Zion had up to 1,600 people attending its services each weekend. But on September 9, some 70 officers stormed into Zions premises and ordered everyone out, tearing down signs and the churchs logo, Jin said. The local civil affairs bureau said an investigation found that the church was not registered and carried out activities in the name of social organizations without authorization. The churchs troubles started in February this year as tighter regulations on religious groups kicked in. Authorities asked that the church install CCTV cameras in the sanctuary. Jin refused. In the 70 year history of the peoples republic, [Christians] have had a lot of harm and ill done to us, so churchgoers wouldnt feel too comfortable about their personal information being made public, he said. So we said no to the installation. It marked the start a sustained campaign, with church members threatened at home and at their workplaces, and some evicted by their landlords or asked to leave their jobs because of their links to Zion, Jin said. He added that the authorities have branded his church a cult. The buildings owners were also pressured to prematurely end their partnership, refusing to renew the churchs lease after it expired in August and plastering eviction notices outside. Churchgoers were also handed similar notices whenever they left the building. Since then, Jin estimates the church has lost up to 400 followers. Jin said he is harassed daily by officers and was briefly detained after he tried to retrieve personal items from the shuttered church on Tuesday.Dozens of officers guarded the compound housing the former church this week, preventing AFP journalists from entering the building. The way they are trying to control religion, they are using tactics from the former Soviet Union... where the church is a political tool, he said.Chinas top leaders have recently called for the Sinicization of religious practicebringing it in line with traditional Chinese values and culturesparking concern among rights groups. This week, draft regulations suggested Beijing is looking to restrict religious content online, such as images of people praying or chanting. Christians in the country are split between unofficial house or underground churches like Zion, and state-sanctioned churches where Communist Party songs also feature in the order of service. Churches in central Henan province have seen their crosses torn down, followers harassed and buildings shuttered, according to Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, a Christian human rights NGO. The closures of churches represent a significant escalation on President Xis crackdown against religious freedom in China, Fu told AFP. Now that the Chinese Communist Party has started to burn Bibles and coerce millions of believers in the Christian faith and other religious minorities to even sign a written pledge to renounce their basic religious beliefs, the international community should be alarmed and outraged.The state-linked China Christian Council estimates the country has around 20 million Christiansexcluding Catholicsin official churches supervised by the authorities. But the true number of worshippers could be higher, up to 70 million, according to some estimates. Chinas roughly 12 million Catholics are also divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican. Jin believes there will be social upheaval should the government try to erase religion, adding that he will continue to lead worship sessions outside the former church building. This is a new generation, which is why the church has to be alert, and be ready to accept this challenge, he said. We must continue to fight for the truth, and stand by our faith to respond to this challenge as it is our responsibility.
As New Mexicans, we have many choices for the people who will lead our state forward, even in this age of political chaos.

I am proud to say I always have been, and always will be, a proud New Mexican. My family has been here for centuries, many of them making a difference in state politics, such as my grandfather, former Democratic Corporation Commissioner Johnny Block.

Although my grandfather lived in a much different time with less partisanship, he was a fair man who gave people the benefit of the doubt. Following in my grandfathers political footsteps, I started paging at the New Mexico House of Representatives, where my grandmother, Eloisa, was the Assistant Chief Clerk. I interacted with legislators of both parties and learned how lawmaking happened.

In high school, I worked at Guadalupe Cafe, located next to the Capitol building in Santa Fe. One summer day, I served Congressman Steve Pearce and his lovely wife Cynthia at lunch. Although he was a member of Congress and had every reason to brush a young highschooler like me aside, he didnt. He had a friendly conversation with me and treated me like an equal, asking about my schooling and family.

In college, I had the good fortune of working once again at the House as a Committee Attendant, where I met Rep. Yvette Herrell. I could tell she was a standout, especially with a notable Business Committee exchange between her and Rep. Debbie Rodella over the Real ID Act, which is now law. Herrell knew how to get things done and she fought passionately for her constituents.

Last summer, I interned in Senator Martin Heinrichs D.C. office. There, I heard a lot of side chatter about Senate candidate Mick Rich. Seeing Micks travels across the state was a stark difference between him and my then-boss. I barely heard of Heinrich traveling the state and, when he did, it was to advocate his starkly partisan message, which often involved luxurious fundraising dinners.

From all the candidates I have met, spoken with and heard from, I proudly endorse Steve Pearce for governor, Yvette Herrell for Congress in CD-2, and Mick Rich for the United States Senate. If my grandfather were alive today, he would have been proud of the humility, faith and dedication to our state that these three exceptional candidates have. As someone who loves our great state and wants only the best for it, these candidates are the best options to bring substantial change and prosperity to the place we all call home.

John Block lives in Santa Fe. His grandfather, Johnny Block, was a member of the old Corporation Commission, which was replaced by the Public Regulation Commission, from 1952-62.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Thomas Ferguson made a habit of dodging law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

He was even able to slip away just days before he allegedly had a role in the killing of 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia last November, even though he was a wanted man at the time and had an in-person encounter with officers.

Santa Fe police officers let Ferguson drive away, even after he was found to have an expired drivers license, police video shows.

And officers couldnt find any other reason to hold Ferguson, because, according to a state Corrections Department spokesman, a months-old arrest order for Ferguson on a probation violation had never been entered into a nationwide crime database. A court-approved arrest warrant also existed at that point, but may not have found its way into the SFPD records system in time.

During the same incident, an SFPD officer wrote incorrect information in his police report about Tracy Ann Pena, Jeremiahs mother and Fergusons girlfriend at the time. Pena, a frequent flyer at the local jail, was being arrested in a Walmart parking lot for failing to make a required court appearance.

The November police report says Pena had no children to care for at home, even though she can be heard on lapel video from the arrest mentioning her daughter and asking Ferguson to tell the girl shes sorry.

SFPD policy requires officers to ask arrestees about children and whether they will be at home without an adult caretaker. If children are placed with anyone other than another parent of the children, officers are supposed to check with the state Children, Youth and Families Department for any record of child abuse. Ferguson had been charged with child abuse, but not convicted.

Two days after Pena was arrested and Ferguson was allowed to leave, young Jeremiah was killed at the family groups Nambe home, where he had been routinely tortured with implements, such as a homemade spear and a hammer, and was kept in a dog kennel while wearing diapers, according to investigators. Court documents say Jeremiah was beaten senseless and stuck in the kennel before he died.

Ferguson, who was 42, faced several charges in the boys death before committing suicide in the Santa Fe County jail in April.

Pena, 36, and Fergusons 20-year-old son, Jordan Nunez, also face several charges, including child abuse resulting in death, conspiracy and tampering with evidence, in Jeremiahs killing.

On Nov. 24, 2017, Pena was arrested at the Walmart on Herrera Drive. SFPD Officer Jacob J. Martinez spotted her in the parking lot and knew that she had a Santa Fe Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear, according to Martinezs lapel video from the arrest.

When Pena got out of jail and returned to the Nambe home on Nov. 26, she later told Santa Fe County deputies that she went into Jeremiahs room and found him lifeless on his bed. She said Ferguson forced her and Nunez to stuff the body into a plastic storage container and bury it in a shallow grave off N.M. 503 near Nambe. Deputies learned about Jeremiahs death in late January after Pena told another inmate about it in the Santa Fe County jail, where she was being held again on other charges.

Investigators initially pegged Ferguson as the murderer, but new court documents accuse Nunez of delivering the fatal blow to Jeremiah as the boy was locked in the dog crate.

Fergusons probation

Ferguson was on probation after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a 2014 case in which he was accused of keeping a woman in his home for several days while beating and sexually assaulting her. But he stopped reporting to his probation officer in Las Vegas, N.M., in June 2017.

Probation and Parole filed an arrest order  a measure that constitutes notice to law enforcement that someone is a probation absconder  for Ferguson in July last year.

The state Probation and Parole division also filed probation violation reports in Santa Fe District Court, first in August 2017 and again in November. The Santa Fe District Attorneys Office filed a belated motion to revoke Fergusons probation on Nov. 20.

Judge T. Glenn Ellington signed off on an arrest warrant the following day. On Nov. 24, Ferguson met with police when they stopped his girlfriend Pena at the Walmart.

Ferguson may have gotten a break, because the arrest warrant was issued during a holiday week. Nov. 24 was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and the court-approved warrant from Nov. 20 may not gotten into the SFPD system because of holiday closures.

But even without the arrest warrant, officers who came into contact with Ferguson should have been able to determine he was wanted under the Probation and Parole order from July 2017. The order is supposed to go into National Crime Information Center database for law enforcement. But, as Corrections Department spokesman S.U. Mahesh explained, the order never got into the database. Mahesh maintains thats not Corrections fault.

We did issue an arrest order on Ferguson in July, however at the time, SF Dispatchs policy was not to enter our arrest orders in NCIC, Mahesh said in an email. Our division has worked with SF County Dispatch and they agreed to start entering our arrest orders into NCIC.

Santa Fe County Regional Emergency Communications Center Director Ken Martinez could not be reached for comment earlier this week.

Discussion with officers

When city Officer Martinez arrested Pena on Nov. 24, he and Officer Heinz De Luca met with Ferguson in the Walmart parking lot to give him Penas personal items.

Youre saying youre Thomas Ferguson? Martinez asks.

Yes, sir, Ferguson replied.

Martinez then gets Fergusons expired drivers license, returns to his patrol car and runs a warrant check on him, but the person on the other end of the radio doesnt find a warrant for Ferguson.

All right, its just expired, Martinez says before handing Ferguson his license back.

Ferguson then asks if he can drive away in his white Ford Ranger with an expired license.

Am I OK to drive it, sir? Im just going right up here, Ferguson said, pointing north.

Its expired, but its not suspended or anything, Martinez responded. Just get there and thats it, OK? Get that taken care of.

Yes, sir, Ferguson said. Thank you, officer. Ferguson then reaches out and shakes Martinezs hand.

Before officers talked to Ferguson, Pena asked to speak with Ferguson and mentions her daughter.

Can I talk to him, please, because my daughters going to freak out, Pena says to Officer Martinez as he leads her to his patrol car.

Im going to put you in my car first, OK? Martinez says.

Just before Martinez drives away with Pena, Pena tells Ferguson to give a message to the daughter.

Tell Bug Im sorry, Pena says. Bug is what the family group called the girl, according to court documents.

I will, Ferguson replies. Ill take care of her, dont worry. They then kiss through the bars in the back window of Martinezs car.

There is no mention in the video of Jeremiah, believed to have been alive at that point. Neither child was enrolled in school at that time.

Even though Pena does mention her daughter twice in the lapel video, Martinez wrote in his report that Ms. Pena was not caring for any children or dependants (sic) at the time of the arrest.

According to the SFPD policy on making arrests, the officer shall inquire about the presence of children or other vulnerable individuals for whom the arrested adult has responsibility. The inquiry could be phrased, Is there anyone in your home who depends on you for their care?

If children are present at the arrest, or if the arrested parent indicates the children are or will be at home without an adult caretaker, the officer shall determine whether or not the other parent is available to care for the children. If not, the officer shall attempt to locate an adult relative or adult fictive kin (a person not related by birth or marriage who has an emotionally significant relationship with a child) who is willing to take responsibility for the children.

The policy says a criminal background check of an alternative caregiver should be conducted. Any history of sexual crimes or violence against children shall make the adult ineligible to assume custodial care, the policy says. Ferguson was previously charged with both child abuse and criminal sexual penetration in separate incidents, but was never convicted of those crimes.

The SFPD policy also says that prior to placing any child with an adult other than the person who is being arrested, an officer is supposed to check with the state Children, Youth and Families Department for information on any child abuse or neglect history of the potential caregiver.

SFPD spokesman Greg Gurule said the department became aware of the lapel videos content after it was recently requested by the Journal and is now investigating whether any policies were violated. Martinez and De Luca will remain on regular duty as the investigation is carried out, Gurule said.

The officers will not be placed on leave or alternate duty at this time, Gurule said in an email. With the initiation of an administrative investigation, this becomes a personnel matter and no additional information can be provided at this time.

The criminal justice system had missed other chances to jail Ferguson well before Jeremiahs death.

While out on probation from his 2014 domestic violence case, he was arrested in Rio Rancho in February 2016 for battering a woman he was living with. He later pleaded guilty to battery on a household member  an obvious probation violation. But lawyers in the Santa Fe District Attorneys Office told Judge Ellington that Sandoval County prosecutors werent pursuing the Rio Rancho case, and Ferguson went back on probation.

In July 2017, Probation and Parole officers went to the Nambe house in an attempt to arrest Ferguson for absconding. Officer Mary Ann Sarmiento testified in court earlier this year that they didnt go past the front gate or leave notice that they were there because there were several large pit bulls in the yard. Officers never went back.

January arrest

It was Officer Martinez who arrested Ferguson and Pena together on Jan. 17 after he saw them in a car and confirmed that they both had warrants for their arrests. This time, he did report that Pena had a child, but he left her in the care of Nunez, Fergusons adult son who is now also charged in Jeremiahs death.

Ms. Pena was caring for her 13 year old daughter who was with her 19 year old brother who took possession of Ms. Penas daughter and the vehicle they were traveling in, Martinezs report states. Penas jail stay after this arrest was when she talked about Jeremiahs death with another prisoner, leading to discovery of the boys buried body.

With Ferguson and Pena both in jail, Nunez and Penas daughter moved from hotel to hotel  using aliases, according to court documents  until Nunez was arrested after Jeremiahs death was discovered.

The girl is expected to testify at a pretrial detention hearing next week, where a judge will determine if Pena and Nunez will be held in jail until trial.
Two teachers relatively new to the field were surprised on Thursday with big, ceremonious yellow checks for earning exemplary ratings, the highest on the state teacher evaluation system.

Pay to the order of Emily van Dyck, was written on a $10,000 check for the fourth-year math teacher at Mission Achievement and Success charter school.

It was surprising in class but a good opportunity for my students to see the benefit of working hard, van Dyck said.

The awards  $10,000 for exemplary math and science teachers and $5,000 for other exemplary teachers in the 2017-18 school year  were included in the budget Gov. Susana Martinez signed earlier this year.

Van Dyck, who has taught at MAS her whole professional career, said she doesnt quite know what she will do with the money but said there are some charities she is considering.

Sonny Sapien, an English teacher at MAS, also isnt sure what he will do with his check for $5,000, but he said the experience of being surprised by the governor and Public Education Department Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski was humbling.

Sapien has been teaching for six years  three in Carlsbad and three at the charter school  and this was his first year being exemplary, telling the Journal exemplary is just a title and what really counts is giving kids the best education.

He emphasized that while he and van Dyck dont have years and years of experience, the school environment and support of principal JoAnn Mitchell were key to their growth.

Over 1,000 teachers in the state were rated exemplary and those teachers will receive awards if they are still teaching in New Mexico. The money will be given to teachers via their district payroll process.

In addition to the MAS visit, Martinez and PED also stopped by charter school Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science on Thursday to give kudos to the schools for earning a seventh A on the state school grading system.

This is not just one of the best schools in the state of New Mexico; its one of the best schools in the country, Ruszkowski said.

Martinez called AIMS the cream of the crop and supported its plans to expand, saying AIMS was one of the few schools in the state to get seven As in a row.

Its not just about the school but about where you are going to be when you leave school, she told the crowd of AIMS students.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Almost 10 years after a corrupt New Mexico senators political career went up in flames, his house has followed suit.

Bernalillo County firefighters spent much of Wednesday evening extinguishing a massive blaze at Manny Aragons unfinished South Valley mansion, known locally as the Castle House.

Aragon, 71, served as a Democratic senator in the state before being convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to several years in prison. The now-charred Castle House remained in his name.

Attempts to reach Aragon on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Bernalillo County Fire Rescue spokesman David Lujan said firefighters showed up around 7:30 p.m. to find the 5,000-square-foot home at Second and Camino Cuatro SW engulfed in flames.

He said crews used a surround and drown technique to extinguish the blaze and nobody was injured. One firefighter and two neighbors were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

The fire is suspicious, but the cause is still under investigation, Lujan said.

At this point, we dont have any evidence thats leading to one cause or another, he said.

Fire crews were still working at the home Thursday afternoon to monitor the structure and eliminate hot spots.

If it means we got to be here another 24 hours, Lujan said. Well be here for another 24 hours to make sure nothing reignites.

Once a powerful state senator from Albuquerque, Aragon pleaded guilty in October 2008 to one count of conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud in a Metropolitan Courthouse construction scandal that siphoned off more than $4 million from the court construction project.

While a senator, Aragon secured state money for various aspects of the courthouse project.

He admitted stealing more than $600,000, which he received from an engineer who helped arrange a system of fraudulent overbillings on the courthouses audiovisual system.

Aragon had been involved in almost every phase of the courthouse construction, including selecting the architect.

Aragon served in the state Senate from 1975 to 2004, when he left to become president of New Mexico Highlands University, a job he held for two years.

He began serving his federal prison term in June 2009 and was released from a federal prison in Colorado in December 2013.

The South Valley home owned by Aragon was removed from the tax rolls in 2008 after he filed a protest, according to Bernalillo County.

But it was put back on the tax rolls by June 2013. According to records, at that time, the home lacked heating, cooling, flooring, bathrooms and a kitchen, based on notes taken by appraisers during a 2008 visit. It also had a leaky roof, according to the file.

Journal investigative reporter Mike Gallagher and photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis contributed to this report.
An El Paso businessman pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque to defrauding the government out of millions of dollars through contracts involving the now closed Big Crow Program Office based a Kirtland Air Force Base.

Arturo Vargas, 55, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kirtan Khalsa to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government by submitting false invoices for work that wasnt performed for the Big Crow Program Office.

The program office originally oversaw electronic warfare experiments for the Department of Defense and other agencies. But the conspiracy charge Vargas pleaded guilty to involved a contract with the Department of Interior.

According to the plea agreement, Vargas will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment within the range of 0 to 21 months. He faced a potential 10-year prison sentence.

Vargas business partner, Jose Diaz, 59, also of El Paso, pleaded guilty and admitted his involvement in the fraudulent scheme in April.

Diaz pleaded guilty to three counts, a conspiracy charge and two fraud charges, and acknowledged the criminal conduct attributed to him in the indictment.

Sentencing dates for the two men have not been scheduled.

In aggregate, Diaz and Vargas fraudulently claimed and obtained payments under the contracts totaling more than $5.8 million for lobbyists, consultants and unauthorized contractors, according to the indictment.

Diaz, Vargas and their co-defendants, Milton Boutte, 73, of Moriarty, and George Lowe, 56, of Fort Washington, Md., were indicted last November.

Boutte and Lowe have pleaded not guilty and have been seeking dismissal of the charges.

The 46-count indictment charged them with submitting fraudulent invoices to federal agencies and fraudulently participating in a government program intended to promote minority-owned small businesses so lobbyists could be paid from a contract that didnt allow paying lobbyists.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Two years after voters discontinued property tax support for the Sandoval Regional Medical Center, the Rio Rancho hospital will return to the ballot.

The facility, which is run by the University of New Mexico, is seeking about $6 million in annual mill levy revenue that officials say would enable it to operate a Level III trauma center and provide more behavioral health care.

Jamie Silva-Steele, SRMC president and CEO, said the community indicated those services were most critical for the county in a poll conducted earlier this summer to gauge voter appetite for restoring an SRMC mill levy. The poll also showed most voters supported the tax, she said.

The tax would be 1.9 mills, costing residents $63 per year for every $100,000 in assessed property value.

I think if folks want these kind of programs in their community, there is a cost, Silva-Steele said. Weve got to talk through how it is not unmanageable for residents to bring services into the community, so people can get care right in their own community vs. having to go into Albuquerque or Santa Fe.

In 2008, Sandoval County voters approved an eight-year property tax that flowed into SRMC and Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, also in Rio Rancho. It totaled 4.25 mills  about $141 per year for a home valued at $100,000.

It was not renewed  voters in 2016 narrowly rejected extending the tax another eight years.

But the Sandoval County Commission last month approved UNMs request to put the issue before voters again.

The tax would be lower than before because only SRMC would benefit. Presbyterian opted not to seek more mill levy funding, according to Rust Medical Center leadership.

In the most recent election in which this request was on the ballot (in November 2016), voters did not approve an extension of the mill levy. We dont think pursuing the request again is the right decision for us at this time, Angela Ward, Rusts chief hospital executive, said in a written statement to the Journal.

In deciding to put the SRMC question on the ballot for this Novembers election, county commissioners noted some residents fierce opposition to the mill levy.

They cited opponents arguments that SRMC is too far from their own neighborhoods to be of much use and that Albuquerque hospitals are more convenient.

But the board ultimately approved sending the matter to the voters, with a few saying the community should decide.

SRMC would use most of the tax revenue to support 52 new staff and provider positions, but the money would also help cover some supplies, Silva-Steele said.

The hospital would boost outpatient behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services and crisis intervention programming with area law enforcement agencies.

Creating a Level III trauma center would require round-the-clock availability of general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists, she said.

UNM Health Sciences Chancellor Paul Roth addressed the Sandoval County Commission last month, saying he thought the tax could mean a much healthier community.

Im an emergency physician so Im keenly aware of the need for a trauma center that would allow care for critically injured Sandoval County residents within that golden hour that Im sure youre familiar with, he said.

The metro areas only existing trauma center is UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, which has the most comprehensive Level I designation. The next-closest is the Level III Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, according to New Mexico Department of Health listings.

Silva-Steele said SRMC could have served more victims from Julys catastrophic bus crash outside Algodones if it had been a trauma center. The hospital did treat nine people from the accident  most of what she called walking wounded  but the entire UNM health system treated 22.

Had we had Level III (services) we probably couldve off-loaded some of the patients that came down to UNM Hospital, because we wouldve had the available teams in place, she said.
The 800-pound battleship bell has been a fixture on the University of New Mexico campus for decades, yet not even Erika McFadden  a UNM sophomore and midshipman in the schools Naval ROTC program  remembers noticing it before.

Now, though, it will be hard to miss.

UNM on Thursday rededicated the USS New Mexico bell after having moved it to a higher-profile setting as part of a recent $3 million renovation at Smith Plaza.

Its prominent  its right in front of Zimmerman Library, McFadden said. I think its some good acknowledgement that we do have those (ROTC) units here.

Thursdays ceremony celebrated both the ship itself and what UNM President Garnett Stokes called the universitys long and productive relationship with the Navy.

Commissioned in 1918, the USS New Mexico was a technological marvel, so much so it was actually called the wonder ship, said Greg Trapp of the New Mexico Council of the Navy League. He described it as 150 feet high, 624 feet long and armed with 12 14-inch guns and said it was the target of two kamikaze attacks, including one that killed its captain and 29 others.

The Navy decommissioned the ship in 1946, and UNM procured its bell two years later, initially installing it in the administration building. But construction there prompted its relocation in 1964 to the edge of Smith Plaza, where it remained until its 2018 move closer to Zimmerman Library.

It is here in a place where it can be recognized and serve its intended purpose  that intended purpose is to serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of those who serve our country, past and present  their courage, their commitment, their dedication, Trapp said.

Prior to Thursdays bell unveiling, Stokes spoke about UNMs larger ties to the Navy  from the Navy-funded research happening at the university to the campus 77-year-old Naval ROTC program. She noted that the universitys Naval ROTC has commissioned over 2,000 officers in the Navy and Marine Corps, including seven Navy admirals and two Marine Corps generals.

That is quite a track record, she said.
SANTA FE  New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte will head a national group of state agriculture departments over the next year and serve as the host of the groups meeting in Albuquerque.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture announced Wittes election this week.

In a news release, Witte said the association has a busy 2019 agenda that will include working with the federal government as Congress considers a farm bill.

The association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. It will meet in Albuquerque next year Sept. 8-12.
In dictatorial regimes, leaders often promise democratic elections  just as soon as conditions improve. Those elections rarely occur.

In New Mexico, a wine bar displays a sign, Free Wine Tomorrow. Free wine is never served.

In Albuquerque, the Journal takes a wait til tomorrow approach to the District Courts plan to improve the felony charging system. That long-considered  but now delayed  plan reduces the use of grand juries in favor of preliminary hearings for determining whether charges should proceed. Acknowledging there are compelling reasons to use preliminary hearings instead of grand juries, the Journal nonetheless labels the plan a Recipe for Disaster. In a perfect world, it says, it would be worth going down that road. But this isnt a perfect world.

Exactly when will that perfect world be available? And why have many jurisdictions in New Mexico been close enough to perfection to have used preliminary hearings for decades while Bernalillo County, among a few others, has taken the more wasteful, inefficient and unjust path?

A perfect world is an aspiration to be worked toward, not a thing we wait to be dropped from the heavens. Reform is a process and the proper process here is to follow the judges lead for institutional improvement.

Chief Judge (Nan) Nash and Presiding Criminal Judge (Charles) Brown lay out pages of convincing explanation for preferring preliminary hearings over grand juries. For starters, jurisdictions worldwide are eliminating grand juries because they are not a buffer between the citizen and the government as envisioned, but instead are a tool of the prosecutor to generate charges without an objective assessment. They point out grand juries are wasteful, expensive, time consuming and incapable of producing accurate results.

Conversely, the judges note preliminary hearings increase public confidence in the system because they promote transparency and allow screening of cases by both sides. Preliminary hearings prevent hasty, malicious, improvident and oppressive prosecutions.

Prosecutors object to change. Theyve become accustomed to the ease of bringing charges in a secret proceeding where there is no challenge by a judge or defense attorney applying those pesky rules of evidence. They can use the leverage of a damning indictment to obtain guilty pleas  or to simply dismiss a weak case  several months into litigation after defendants have perhaps lost a job or even been jailed, and victims have been frustrated.

Saying with a straight face that criminals will consider the type of probable cause procedure before acting is not real. Likewise it is shortsighted and unprincipled to support a grand jury procedure shown to be less just and more wasteful than the available alternative.

All involved  prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, victims and the Journal  agree that preliminary hearings are the fairer, more objective procedures at the probable cause stage. Add to that the benefits of front loading the system so that decisions can be intelligently made by all parties, and so that cases are either resolved early or at least placed on the track to trial on appropriate charges, then the choice of procedures is a no-brainer.

Claims that the sky is falling because these proceedings will affect the crime rate ring hollow. Police are needed less, not more, for preliminary hearings, and will not be needed in later proceedings if the case is resolved. Victims want prompt resolution of cases as much as anyone, most criminals dont act out according to the latest rule of procedure, judges desire efficiency and the accused wants a fair hearing.

Besides, the community certainly seeks justice, not just expediency.

The strength of our system is that we strive for a more perfect union  by improving the process  not that we wait for a perfect world before we do the right thing.

Michael L. Stout lives in Las Cruces and is married to a district judge.
The state Attorney Generals Office took University of New Mexico officials to task last week, citing several instances where the university violated the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act.

The 32-page transparency report, which the AGs office issued Sept. 6, looked at the most recent 11 complaints dating back to 2015. It blasts the university for a number of violations and states UNM has failed to ensure that the citizens of New Mexico are given the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officers and employees.

Public agencies throughout the state should take note of the findings, particularly the one related to charges for electronic copies of public records  because UNM isnt the only government agency in New Mexico thats violated the law in this manner. (Rio Rancho doubled down on excessive records charges last year after the AGs Office ruled in a similar manner. And it bears repeating a state District Court judge ruled in March that the city of Albuquerque owed a former employee more than $100,000 for deliberately withholding records. Not complying with IPRA has high fiscal as well as ethical costs.)

UNM was charging 35 cents per page for electronic document transmission, after providing the first 20 pages for free.

The AG points out that those charges for electronic records violate IPRA; it directed the university to re-evaluate its fees and charge only the actual costs for transmitting or downloading the electronic records.

The good news is that UNM had already started reviewing its policy and had stopped charging the 35 cents per page on Sept. 1, pending its review.

We urge all state and local government entities in New Mexico to begin reviewing their policies to ensure theyre not breaking the law by overcharging for electronic records. The AG concludes that public bodies can only charge the actual costs for transmitting or downloading electronic records  and that cost is often zero.

Its worth noting that isnt a new interpretation.

The attorney general enforces state transparency laws. And while courts have the ultimate say when it comes to interpreting those laws, the AGs opinion carries significant weight. Kudos to state Attorney General Hector Balderas for holding UNMs feet to the fire on this issue and for fighting for greater transparency.

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.
This is the last part of a four-part series on the book entitled Freedom Fighters and Other Writings authored by Senator Leila de Lima. Part III, subtitled Standing by My Innocence, is a collection of articles by selected columnists and opinion makers who expressed their steadfast belief in the innocence of the beleaguered senator. Included in this selection are articles that appeared in various publications by respected economist Solita Collas-Monsod, columnists John Nery and Vergel Santos, Law Professor Mel Sta. Maria, blogger Candy Cruz Datu, and yours truly. In her opinion piece Beyond Hyperbole, Solita Monsod wrote that the best example of President Dutertes penchant for exaggerated statements, which his subordinates dismiss not as a lie but merely as hyperbole, are actually beyond hyperbole in the case of Leila de Lima. That Duterte made avowals to high heavens during the campaign that he is not vindictive and will always obey the rule of law is again beyond hyperbole because, according to Monsod, the real reason is really to vindicate the affront made by the senator who had the effrontery to investigate him when as mayor of Davao he was being implicated in incidents of extrajudicial killings in his bailiwick. Impelled by no other reason than his vindictiveness, he excoriated the senator early on in his presidency, pronounced her guilt of complicity in the trade of illegal drugs. His vindictiveness is such that it rubbed off to his justice secretary. She was accused of the wrong crime and arrested by a court without jurisdiction, Monsod added. Moreover, the witnesses against her are not even qualified to testify as most of them are convicted criminals. Not contented with the incredulous charges and violations of her rights, the vindictiveness and violations of the rule of law continue even in her detention since many visitors including foreigners were not allowed to see her. Worse, all the materials that go to her are subject to unreasonable censorship. As a final thought, Monsod asked: what has she done to deserve this? If it can be done to her then it can be done to any of us. John Nery in his column Justice for Leila is Justice for All published by therecalled how the President recounted in one of his chit chats that as a prosecutor disclosed they planted evidence. Now as president, Nery opined, he has leveled up, the entire prosecution service and the Office of the Solicitor General can now engineer patently illegal maneuver to ensure the indefinite detention of a political adversary. It is in fact a matter of public record that De Lima was accused of trading in and profiting from illegal drugs; the entire rigmarole at the House of Representatives was designed to make this case in the court of public opinion. The Department of Justice subsequently charged her with this violation, he narrated. But not a single gram of the illegal drugs she was supposed to have traded in or profited from could be produced, Nery asserted. Finally, he sympathizes with De Lima; stands with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno; will defend Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales undoubted integrity. They and others like them make the rule of law possible; Calida and Aguirre, and Mr. Duterte, make the rule of law necessary. To Vergel Santos, the case against Senator Leila de Lima is an abnormal oneabnormal in the way it was put together, abnormal in the way its been proceeding: It was initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte, it was cooked in his Congress, and its now being prosecuted by his solicitor general in an ordinary court, not by the tenured, thus presumed more independent, Ombudsman in the court precisely designated to try state officialsthe Sandiganbayan. He expressed his strong belief that President Duterte strong-armed De Lima into jail. She went in, without the benefit of bail, on a charge of conspiracy to sell illegal drugs on the 8th month of his presidency. The supposedly solid evidence presented against her consisted mostly of testimonies of life-term convicts herded by Dutertes justice secretary, himself the penitentiarys chief bastonero; there was no money, no drugs, nothing concrete, let alone solid.Santos said that a sycophantic Congress brushed aside the damning testimonies of Edgar Matobato and Arthur Lascanas, confessed killers, and Dutertes revelation that he is accountable for eight more deaths. Instead, the investigation caused De Limas chairmanship of the justice committee. Worse, her petition to quash the cases against her was denied by the Supreme Court which also authored the release of Enrile from detention, acquitted Arroyo and approving a heroes burial to Marcosall have made the brand of justice in the Duterte presidency abnormal. For his part, Mel Sta. Maria pondered: Why is the case of Senator Leila de Lima such an extraordinary case? It is because, he explained, in a little over one year from the assumption of the Duterte administration, no less than the three great branches of government have converged to pin her down and, to some observers, bully or persecute her. This is unprecedented. We saw how the Executive department gathered the felons and the convicted drug lords to testify against her. Then we witnessed many in Congress totally besmirch her dignity using these convicted felons/drug lords. Blogger Candy Cruz Datu, daughter of Dean Isagani A. Cruz, narrated how she first met the senator during her formative years, then a law student of the esteemed Dean Cruz in San Beda College of Law. Datu never believed on the guilt of the senator, saying: I observed her formative years as a lawyer under my Dads tutelage. I assure you, Justice Cruz did not suffer hypocrites, nor the mediocre, nor the morally infirm. Her passion for justice matched his, and I suspect that his partiality for libertarian principles tutored her own commitment to human rights. Her career is prima facie evidence of this. To say otherwise is to be ridiculous, Datu concluded. Finally, the book also features an opinion piece I wrote in theon Oct. 17, 2017 where I presented and expressed agreement to the main arguments of Justice Leonen in his strong dissent to the majority opinion on the case of Senator Leila de Lima. I will say this and write it in stone: Leila de Lima will be vindicated. Those who unjustly persecuted her will be held accountable.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

LAS CRUCES  Politics and the midterm election dominated the final day of the Domenici Public Policy Conference on Thursday.

Democratic political consultant James Carville and Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson shared the stage in a conversation about the changing political landscape.

Carville predicted white, college-educated women were going to be key voters determining midterm election results.

If a million people show up to march  you might want to listen to them. Thats not normal behavior, said Carville, referring to the Womens March in Washington, D.C., and cities across the country following President Donald Trumps inauguration in 2017.

As a Republican woman, what breaks my heart is this is going to be the year of the woman, but Republican women are not going to share in that, Soltis Anderson said.

Only 9 percent of Republicans in Congress are women, and if several lose their seats, women who are right of center wont have a voice, she said.

Domenici Institute director Garrey Carruthers, who served as the moderator for the discussion, asked about the Trump factor.

I dont think theres any chance hes going to become popular, Carville said, predicting there would be a blue wave but turnout would determine whether its powder blue or navy.

Soltis Anderson said the presidents strategy to get voters to the polls for Republican candidates is Ive got my base and they still love me and Im going to go speak to them.'

Several candidates running for office in New Mexico told the Domenici Conference audience they want to move beyond divisive party politics.

Both parties have stopped working together and as a result places like our home have been left behind, said Xochitl Torres Small, the Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District.

I dont believe good ideas come with a party label. When Im in Congress I look forward to working with anyone, she said.

Her Republican rival Yvette Herrell also had agreed to speak at the conference but was called away to D.C. to visit with Republican consultants, Carruthers told the audience.

The women are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who is not seeking re-election to that seat to run for governor.

Pearce told the conference a bipartisan approach is needed to solve New Mexicos serious problems.

This state is not going to reverse its direction with just Democrats or Republicans, he said.

I dont want a one-party state. Thats Venezuela and I dont want that.

Democratic candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham also was invited but stayed in Washington to cast two important votes on key legislation, according to state Sen. Howie Morales, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.

Morales took her place and stressed the need for education reform to improve the states schools.

Earlier in the day, Robert Ford, former U.S. ambassador to Algeria, Iraq and Syria, talked about the need to develop a shared leadership style in foreign policy that builds alliances to deal with conflict in China, Iran and Syria.

Sometimes we confront, he said. Sometimes we cooperate.
The Las Cruces Police Department and the Multi-Agency Officer-involved Incident Task Force is investigating a deadly shooting during a domestic violence call Thursday night.

One of the police officers responding to a domestic disturbance at a home on the 2400 block of Tiffany Drive fired his weapon hitting a 47-year-old man according to a news release from the Las Cruces Police Department.

The man identified as Gary McKinney was pronounced dead after he was transported to a hospital. A portion of Tiffany Drive shut down Thursday night after the shooting remained closed Friday morning.

The officer who fired his weapon is on administrative leave which is standard practice.

The task force investigating the incident includes the Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State University Police.
SANTA FE  Santa Fe Public Schools aims to launch a district-wide computer science initiative within the next five years that it says has the potential to be a transformative force in the community.

The school board last week unanimously passed a resolution in support of the All Systems Go initiative to embrace and build skills and interest in computers for all children throughout Santa Fe, with a focus on middle school students.

The resolution states the school board recognizes the importance of computer science in 21st century education and directs the superintendent to establish stakeholder groups to assist with planning of a three- to five-year plan to implement the Computer Science Association K-12 computer science standards.

We have a fairly strong infrastructure to support computer science in our district, Superintendent Veronica Garcia said this week. Kids in elementary school are already doing coding and robotics, and we want to strengthen pathways at the middle school level.

Garcia said computer science is a subject many students get excited about.

When theyre building apps and understanding whats behind the computer games they play, it really turns them on.

Improvements to the school districts technology infrastructure are largely due to an property-tax supported Education Technology Note approved by voters in 2016 that is expected to raise about $55 million over five years. That has allowed the school district to connect every school in the district with high-speed internet access and provide every student in seventh grade and above with computing devices as part of the districts five-year Digital Learning Plan.

Garcia noted that last year Santa Fe High School was one of just 18 schools in New Mexico that offered Advanced Placement course in computer science.

She said the initiative will help prepare high schoolers for jobs that require computer skills once they graduate. Thats where the jobs are, Garcia said.

The resolution says the demand for jobs in the computing field is 4.5 times higher than the average rate for other types of jobs.

A news release says starting salaries for jobs in technology and computer science in the Santa Fe area range between $68,000 and $77,287 per year, compared to New Mexicos average salary of $43,170.

The resolution was introduced by school board member Kate Noble, who used to head economic development efforts for the city of Santa Fe. My goal is for Santa Fe Public Schools to usher in a big initiative that pushes learning forward and creates coalescence in the community, she said in the news release.

The school district will be turning to community partners to help fund the initiative. The school board has already allocated $250,000 from one-time capital funds to computer science initiatives.

Some funding could come from the LANL Foundation, which has expressed support for the initiative. SFPS is recognizing that the skills students will require in their future jobs, in civic engagement and as creative members of the community compels us to rethink and move forward with our understanding of teaching and learning, Gwen Perea Warniment, K-12 program director at the LANL Foundation, said in the news release.

The resolution says the All systems Go initiative would be launched in alignment with the city of Santa Fe.
A commission tasked with evaluating the performances of judges across the state is recommending that voters kick four of the 18 judges in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court off the bench, including the courthouses chief judge.

In the coming election, the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission is recommending that voters not retain Chief Judge Edward Benavidez and Judges Michelle Castillo Dowler, Kenny Montoya and Linda Rogers.

We havent had this many do not retains in a few years, JPEC Chairwoman Denise Torres told the Journal. Its a very difficult thing for commissioners to do.

None of the judges in question responded to request for comment left at the courthouse on Friday.

JPEC evaluates judges based on legal ability, fairness, communication skills, preparation and temperament and control over proceedings.

To complete the evaluations, the commission distributes confidential surveys to lawyers, court jurors and others who interact with the court. The commission also interviews the judges, reviews statistics from the Administrative Office of the Courts and sends observers into court.

New Mexico judges who are up for retention must receive approval from 57 percent of voters to keep their seat on the bench.

Brian Sanderoff, president of Research and Polling Inc., said that historically, judges who JPEC recommends not be retained receive about 12 percent fewer votes than judges who are recommended for retention.

The four do not retain judges had different deficiencies, according to JPEC.

In Benavidezs case, JPEC found he had some of the lowest approval ratings among lawyers and his ratings continued to decrease after he was evaluated by JPEC midway through his term.

During this final retention evaluation, Judge Benavidez did not fully appreciate the deficiencies in his judicial performance, JPEC wrote on its website.

Court observers raised concerns about Castillo Dowlers demeanor and impartiality during court hearings.

In Montoyas meeting with JPEC officials, he failed to recognize and didnt commit to try improve his knowledge regarding substantive law and the rules of procedure and evidence, according to JPECs website.

Linda Rogers scored high in some regards, but attorneys raised concerns about her demeanor on the bench, and her scores among resource staffers, who include police officers, were among the lowest in the courthouse, according to JPEC.
SANTA FE  New Mexicos gubernatorial race is getting spicy.

Republican Steve Pearce launched a new television ad today that blasts Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham for being dishonest and dirty, prompting Lujan Grisham to respond quickly with an ad of her own.

Pearces attack ad marks a shift in the race, which had up until now featured primarily positive, issue-focused TV spots from the two candidates.

His 30-second focuses on Lujan Grishams ties to a company that has a state contract to help run New Mexicos high-risk insurance pool.

The ads narrator accuses Lujan Grisham of shady self-dealing, citing news reports that Delta Consulting was paid more than $2 million to run the states high-risk pool between 2014 and 2017.

Lujan Grisham has defended her work with the company, which she co-founded in 2008, as a critical way to help New Mexicans who had been denied health care coverage.

And her campaign quickly launched a response ad today that features Diego Zamora, a Santa Fe resident and pancreatic cancer survivor who says he got health care coverage through the high-risk pool.

A Lujan Grisham campaign spokesman also described the Pearce ad as a new low for the Republican congressman.

Michelle has never helped fleece poor patients, and Michelles work advocating for patients and managing the Insurance Pool saved lives, campaign spokesman James Hallinan said. Were going to continue to run a positive campaign focused on Michelles record and vision for New Mexico.

Lujan Grishams ties to Delta Consulting also came under scrutiny during a three-way Democratic primary race earlier this year.

While the three-term Albuquerque congresswoman divested her interest with Delta Consulting in June 2017  six months after announcing her bid for governor  the company is still run by Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, who is Lujan Grishams former campaign treasurer.

New Mexicos Governmental Conduct Act allows elected officials and legislators to contract with state government, but only if the contract is issued after a competitive bidding process and if the elected officials publicly disclose their interest.

While those conditions appear to have been met, at least in recent years, by both Lujan Grisham and Armstrong, Pearce said New Mexicans are tired of self-serving politicians.

This kind of corruption is exactly what holds New Mexico back, he said in a statement. Politicians rigging the system for their own gain while fleecing taxpayers.

This November, we can change that, he added.

The Pearce campaign is paying $135,000 to air the new ad statewide on cable and network channels, his campaign adviser said.

You can see Pearces ad by clicking here. Lujan Grishams response ad is here.
MIAMI  A video of an argument with a Taco Bell employee in Hialeah, Fla., has unleashed a wave of indignation on social media.

The incident happened on Wednesday night, when Alexandria Montgomery was trying to place an order  in English  at a Taco Bell drive-thru window at 785 East 9th St. The employee refused to take her order because she wasnt speaking Spanish.

In the video, which was posted Thursday night, Montgomery asked the annoyed woman Do you have a manager here?

She is in her house sleeping, the employee replied in Spanish in a dismissive tone. There was no one else to take the order, the employee claimed.

Honey, I have a car behind you, the employee says in Spanish and closes the window.

Can you move, please? I have an order behind you. There is no one who speaks English, the woman tells Montgomery in the video and threatens to call the police.

This is Hialeah, Im sorry, she said in Spanish.

Two other Taco Bell workers approached the drive thru window when they heard the altercation, but apparently they did not try to help the client.

No more, papi, the clerk said in Spanish to a man who was in the car with Montgomery and was trying to argue that they were in the United States.

Finally, they had to leave without making an order.

This incident happened Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. I contacted the manager and after explaining to her what happened all she did was apologize and say thank you and the call was disconnected, Montgomery told el Nuevo Herald.

Taco Bell Corp. told el Nuevo Herald that this does not meet our customer service expectations.

We have worked quickly to resolve with the customer to ensure this doesnt happen again, a spokesperson said.

In an update Montgomery made hours later, she added that Luisa, as the Taco Bell employee identified herself, had been fired and that it was not even her real name.

Comments on Facebook were mostly supportive of Montgomery, who described the incident as racist.

Hialeah is still part of Florida and, as far as I remember, correct me if Im wrong, Florida is part of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, its a country where English is the language we speak. This is a shame for the Hispanic / Latino community (sic), commented a Facebook user.

Wow, if Latinos do not speak English we try to understand each other. Money is money. I have attended deaf people, Chinese, Mexicans, Americans, the important thing is to be treated with respect, wrote another user  in Spanish.

Hialeah, a city of nearly 225,000 in Miami-Dade County, is considered the city with the largest Hispanic population in the United States.

About 89 percent of its residents speak Spanish as a first or second language, and more than 94 percent consider themselves Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2010 census.
Motivator, an integral part of GroupM, Worlds largest media investment group today announced the appointment of Mausumi Kar as its India Managing Director effective from 1st October 2018. She will be Motivators first woman Managing Director and will report into Sam Singh, CEO of GroupM, South Asia.

Mausumi has been associated with GroupM for over 10 years and has handled multiple roles from heading MaxusNorth and East, to leading the Google Partnership for GroupM nationally. Before the move, she led the independent SBU that handled the Airtel mandate.

On the announcement Sameer (Sam) Singh, CEO of GroupM, South Asia said, Its a welcoming change in the organisation. I have seen her work and feel her leadership skills and experience will play a vital role in the firm. Im looking forward to working with her and wish her all the best for her new role.

Talking about her new role, Mausumi Kar said, It has been a rewarding journey at GroupM. I am excited and looking forward to the new assignment. My aim would be to become a trusted advisor to my clients and help them in delivering superior value while delivering the best to our partners. I would like to thank Sam and the leadership team for reposing their faith in me. I am grateful to my team which has made me shine.

Mausumi has over 25 years of experience in the field of media, entertainment, and advertising and excels in Brand Management, Communication Planning, Consumer Insights, Ideation and Execution and Digital Strategy. In her professional tenure, she has held prestigious roles at IPG Group, Havas Group and ESPN-Star Sports.
PHD, Omnicom Media Group, has today announced the launch of Engine  a specialist unit built for automotive brand Volkswagen, which has been designed to capitalise on the volume of anonymous data being generated by consumers researching cars online.

The new approach, which will roll out globally in Q4 this year, will ensure Volkswagen can deliver relevant content to consumers as they move through their digital journey to purchasing a vehicle. Engine pulls together technical experts from Omnicom Media Group agencies PHD, Annalect and Adylic to support technical operations, audience building, dynamic creative and performance reporting. PHD will manage Engine experts across OMG. These teams will be housed in four regional hubs supporting relevant local Volkswagen and PHD programmatic buy optimization teams who will manage their own local campaigns. The collective hub and local focus will be driving effectiveness and cost efficiency in delivering core digital consumer behavior KPIs.

PHD has run test cases in Italy, France and Spain with Engines approach delivering increased effectiveness and efficiency of 30-300%.

Based in the hub locations of London, New York, Singapore and Miami, Engine will deliver operational excellence for local markets and offer an end to end programmatic solution which includes data collection and management, audience creation, dynamic creative, activation and measurement.

In todays automotive path to purchase, the sale is done online while the deal is finalized in the dealership. Consumers are researching automotive purchases online and thereby creating an explosion of data which gives us an unparalleled opportunity to offer them more relevant and engaging content to address their specific questions / needs during each stage of their purchase journey. The support Engine will provide gives our local teams the expertise to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of paid data led marketing communications across online video, display, search and social. It essentially allows us to rapidly globally scale the results we have achieved in a few markets., commented Oliver Maletz, Global Head of Communications and Media VW-Brand.

This is an exciting step forward for both PHD and Volkswagen. By creating these unique, hub-based teams with technical expertise, data analytics and creative, local PHD & Volkswagen can fully leverage the programmatic media and technology landscape to drive improved results for our client. said Paul Hawkey, Global Business Leader for Volkswagen at PHD.

According to research by Sophus, visits to car dealers has dropped from 4.3 in 2010 to just 2 in 2016. Instead, modern audiences are test driving from the sofa, with 88% researching online, 58% on their smartphone and 58% watching video online before setting foot in a dealership (Google Gearshift Survey).
On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, Brooke Bond Red Label has launched  Shree Ganesh Apnepan Ka, a campaign to celebrate the spirit of togetherness. Conceptualised by Geometry Encompass, inspired by real-life stories, the campaign delves into deep-rooted human prejudices. It encourages everyone to open their minds and break the shackles of their own notions to come together.

Sukrit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Geometry Encompass, talking about the campaign, said  We believe in power of ideas and storytelling to change human behaviour. While the medium shapes the story, it is the message that makes a difference, and here we collaborate with brands to craft messages which can change perceptions. In this campaign, we developed a simple yet an extremely touching message which breaks the uncommon ground.

Arpan Jain, Executive Creative Director, Geometry Encompass, commenting on the campaign said  Today, brands must tell stories that resonate with real-life and encourage relevant, meaningful conversations. We all know that tea is a great enabler, so why cant it help us break-away from our prejudices? We saw a great human insight and wanted to tell a simple but thought-provoking story, luckily we found a perfect occasion. Our scriptwriter Madhurya Alankaar, beautifully phrased the complexities of human beliefs, brought alive the brand promise and ensured the film touches every heart. #ShreeGaneshApnepanKa poses a pertinent question to all of us, the answer to which can be found in a sip of tea.

The film was shot in a Ganpati idol pandal, one of numerous that can be seen on the streets of Mumbai, weeks before homecoming of Bappa (Lord Ganesha). Devotees visit pandals to book (purchase) an idol for the occasion and spend hours choosing the perfect one. The film is a conversation between an idol-maker and a first-time buyer of the idol. In the conversation, certain unknown facts about Bappa are revealed, along with what it truly means to bring home the lord of new beginnings.

Shankar Shinde, Managing Partner, Geometry Encompass, said  Our two decades of relationship with Unilever and its gamut of brands, gives us a great understanding of their brand ethos. As a medium-agnostic agency, it also helps us sustain a perpetual dialogue with our clients on ideas and how can we make the brand more relevant to our consumers. The enthusiasm and belief of our client partner empowered us to deliver a topical, stimulating campaign, one that we are immensely proud of.

Campaign Credits:

Client: Brooke Bond Red label

Agency: Geometry Encompass

Agency CEO: Sukrit Singh

Agency Lead (Managing Partner): Shankar Shinde

Executive Creative Director: Arpan Jain

Script: Madhurya Alankaar (Group Head, Creative)

Creative Team: Meenal Brahmane, Anuvrat Bhansali, Sandeep Gaur, Santosh Kunder, Ganesh Jadhav, Anamta Saltanat

Account Management: Pooja Sawant

Partner Agency  Ogilvy, Mumbai

Director: Divyanshu Singh

Production House: Little Lamb Films
China Extends its Stocks Bear Market

Starting off with the Shanghai Index, which probed beneath the August low this morning. This confirms that Wave (3) may not be complete. Three other indicators of that analysis are, First, Head & Shoulders, when the neckline rests at the bottom of a Wave (1), indicate the minimum target for Wave (3). Next, the Cycles Model does not indicate a Master Cycle low until late October. Finally, a Wave (3) should terminate well beneath the daily Cycle Bottom. Theres still work to do!

Bloomberg reports, Chinas sinking stocks are on the verge of an unwelcome milestone.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed 0.2 percent lower on Tuesday to within 10 points of where it bottomed out in 2016, having briefly breached that level in the afternoon before paring the decline. If the measure drops further, itll be trading at the lowest since November 2014, before the nations stock boom and subsequent $5 trillion bust.

SPX futures have declined beneath the mid-Cycle support at 2873.75 this morning, making a low thus far at 2870.00.

ZeroHedge reports, Just when it seemed that the tenuous trade ceasefire between the US and China could result in more stable market sentiment, European stocks dropped -0.5% to session lows led by mining and autos, with S&P futures sliding as volume surged, joining Asia in the red after Reuters reported that China would ask the World Trade Organization for permission to impose trade sanctions on the U.S. rekindling fears over trade relations among the worlds two biggest economies.

VIX futures are higher this morning. They are still beneath mid-Cycle resistance, but may stage a breakout as early as today. The reason is a very strong surge is anticipated in the cycles Model with an inverted Master Cycle high due next week.

TNX may be challenging its 30.16 high as Wave [c] becomes more complete. Today is day 252 in the current Master Cycle which leaves another week to complete it. The probability is that it may end up testing the prior high at 30.16, at a minimum. Should it break out, there will be mass piling on among the traders who are still building up their short UST positions. The aftermath of Wave C may be devastating.

Should the Master Cycle peak come early, the bounce may fade before challenging the August 1 high.

USD futures appear to be consolidating beneath yesterdays high. The immediate direction is not certain yet, as the Cycles Model shows strength over the next week. It may be that the upper Diagonal trendline at 96.00 may be tested in that time. However, should USD lose its support, the decline may be a two week-long panic.

Regards,

Tony

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The folklore of Radha & Krishn is steeped in deep spirituality. Their eternal union has stood the test of time as a symbol of true, selfless love. Marking the beginning of the festive season Star Bharat presents, RadhaKrishn, a timeless narrative of one of most celebrated love sagas in Indian culture set to launch on 1st October at 9 pm. Commemorating this endeavor, the entire RadhaKrishn cast and crew today gathered to celebrate the launch of the show in the holy land of Vrindavan.

RadhaKrishn is an exemplary journey which will allow audiences far and wide, from all walks of life, to experience, understand, and learn the true meaning of love. It will appeal to every generation of viewers through its creative story-telling, musical score, choreography, and visuals. The magnum opus is produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary under the umbrella of Swastik Productions. Renowned music director Surya Raj Kamals original and soulful compositions add to the charm. As testimony to this, the first glimpse of the show  the captivating music video - went massively viral, being shared by millions across the country to wish one another for Janmashtami.

The grandeur of the show comes from the 5 sets that have been created for each world - Golok, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana and Kans Mahal - after in-depth research, to present RadhaKrishns journey against a truly enchanting backdrop. Ace Bollywood choreographer, Chinni Prakash along with his wife Rekha Chinni Prakash add to this mesmerizing musical journey through traditional dances and Raas Leela, curated to depict the enriching experiences and emotions of love. With such opulence, the performances will undoubtedly be instrumental in displaying the scale of the show.

The show features Sumedh Mudgalkar as Krishn and Mallika Singh as Radha. The visuals of Radha adorned with flower garlands against a picturesque landscape are magical and mesmerizing. Her enchanting love story with Krishn has been an inspiration to many poets and storytellers alike. Talented actor Gavie Chahal plays the role of Nand, actress Reena Kapoor will be seen as Yashoda, and actor Arpit Ranka portrays the powerful and evil King Kans.

Commenting on the launch of the show, the spokesperson of the channel said, RadhaKrishn is a perfect blend of the channels philosophy of rootedness in Indian culture and tradition while engaging the audience with a story that has never been seen before in this space. Star Bharat constantly strives to provide an exciting and diverse portfolio in family-viewing experiences. RadhaKrishn, with its appealing aesthetic will inspire positivity this festive season. The scale of RadhaKrishn will redefine television content and set the bar higher.

The producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary expresses his excitement for RadhaKrishn saying, RadhaKrishn has been one of the most creatively challenging yet rewarding experiences for me and it gives me immense satisfaction to present this show to viewers. We have dedicated years of research towards creating this epic love saga that is also a visual masterpiece and we hope to delight our viewers.

To complement the grandeur of this love saga, Star Bharat will showcase the immortal representation of RadhaKrishns love  Krishns Bansuri. The love that Krishn and Radha shared is incomplete without the Bansuri - whenever Krishn would play it, Radha would find herself completely drawn to him. To celebrate RadhaKrishns love through this symbol, Star Bharat will initiate a first of its kind  Bansuri Yatra- across 100+ towns and cities, through the heartland of the country, for all to see. The 10-foot, golden Bansuri, adorned with peacock feathers, will begin its journey at the birthplace of Krishn where it will be blessed by 151 pujaaris, after which it will provide an immersive consumer experience to those in its path; transporting one back to the era of RadhaKrishn. The Bansuri was unveiled today by the cast in Vrindavan, kick-starting the auspicious journey of RadhaKrishn.

Witness the colourful journey of RadhaKrishn every Monday to Saturday at 9 pm from 1st October on Star Bharat!
Truecaller, the global leader in call identification and number blocking, has partnered with the Bangalore headquartered creative agency, Happy mcgarrybowen to roll out its new campaign for this year.

Happy mcgarrybowen was roped in to help chart a new course for Truecallers new avatar and host of services.

Kickstarting this partnership would be a full-blown campaign that would go live in a few weeks from now.

Kartik Iyer, Co-founder and CEO, Happy mcgarrybowen said, "We have been in talks with Truecaller for nearly a year now, exploring opportunities to work together. There has been a synergy of minds and thoughts from the first day the teams met together. A new campaign is already underway and shall be out soon. We see huge potential in the brand growing its offering, considering it is one of the few apps that commands acceptance amongst users of all phone segments. We look forward to a long-term relationship in building Truecallers already strong equity in India."

Speaking on the association, Manan Shah, Director Marketing India  Truecaller said, We were looking for a partner rather than an agency who can think beyond the obvious and move faster than us. This is where Happy mcgarrybowen clicked for us. Extremely delighted to work with them on our upcoming campaign and look forward to many more.
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The Four Steel Men Behind Trumps Trade War

In few months, the Trump administration has undermined more than seven decades of U.S. free trade legacies. Who are the policymakers behind this reversal. Wat is their agenda? And why is steel their common denominator?



Recently, the Trump administration hammered a revised North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by pressuring Mexico and then strong-arming Canada to the tentative deal. The White Houses objective is either to redefine the terms on the basis of U.S. economic leverage and unipolar geopolitics or - if that is not acceptable to other parties - to withdraw the U.S. from such FTAs. It is not either you are with us or against us, as in the Bush years, but America First - or nothing.





Today, Trumps tariff wars are led by Peter Navarro, Director of Trade and Industrial Policy, and Director of the White House National Trade Council, as well as his ally and Trump trade advisor Dan DiMicco, former CEO of the U.S. steel giant Nucor.The two are supported by Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative and former Reagan administration trade hawk, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, a bankruptcy expert who made his fortune from restructured and offshored US jobs.Last year, the trade hawks were still contained by mainstream policymakers, such as former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.After Tillerson lost his job and particularly when the tree-trader Cohn resigned, things changed. Cohns Goldman Sachs companion Mnuchin proved weak, and Ross leans on winners, regardless of the cause. As free-traders were out, protectionists stepped in. That was more in line with Trumps 2016 campaign promises, when he threatened to use 35%-45% import tariffs against nations that have a significant trade surplus with the U.S.

The Uncompromising but Compromised Navarro and DiMicco



In the protectionist camp, the key player is Peter Navarro, the author of sensationalist China-bashing books, and his longtime friend DiMicco, a vocal free trade critic. For years, the two have been determined to prioritize steel industry, even at the expense of other American industries that offer more jobs, profits, or both.



With Navarro, the path to notoriety began with great political aspirations and failures. In the 90s, he lost five elections in San Diego; for mayor in 1992, city council in 1993 and 2001, county supervisor in 1994, and Congress in 1996. As politics did not work, he scribbled half a dozen business books, including If Its Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks (2001), When the Market Moves, Will You Be Ready? (2003), What the Best MBAs Know (2005), The Well Timed Strategy (2006) and Always a Winner (2009). Intriguingly, all of them were typical feel-good-win-the-world business staple, and none of them focused on China. But then came the global crisis. This was a problem to Navarro and others who mistook short-term bubbles for sustained growth. Thats when China became a convenient scapegoat.



So a repackaged Navarro hit the market with The Coming China Wars (2008), which claimed that America was facing battles with China over everything from decent jobs, and advanced technologies to strategic resources. Surprisingly, these hateful ramblings that smacked of simple China basing were given legitimacy by the reputable FT Press, the worlds leading educational publishing company. As Navarro realized he had found a gold mine, he released the more extreme Death by China (2011), which was published by Pearson Prentice Hall, the parent of the FT Press. Paradoxically, the more Sinophobic he got, the more he was rewarded.



Even stranger was Navarro's debacle that resulted from efforts to fund a documentary based on his book, which went hand in hand with suspected financial irregularities, a subpoena by an FBI agent, and a charge for document destruction. Like the over-driver Energizer Bunny, Navarro did not let such hindrances stop him. Even during the debacle, he co-authored a book on Americas economic ruin in cooperation with R. Glenn Hubbard, the heavy-weight economic advisor of Mitt Romneys presidential campaign. But unlike former Fed chief Alan Greenspan who got caught for glorifying laissez-faire policies that led to the 2008 crisis, Hubbard had a lower public profile which allowed him to capitalize on the crisis via excessive consulting fees.



Ironically, Death by China accused China for environmental pollution worldwide, whereas Nucor, one of Americas largest corporate contributor to U.S. air pollution, had already in 2000 paid almost $100 million to half a dozen U.S. states in the largest environmental settlement ever with a steel manufacturer. Death by China was co-authored with Greg Autry, an economist who represents Coalition for a Prosperous America and the American Jobs Alliance, which believes that U.S. trade policies have severely harmed the nations economy, security and people.



That is how China became a convenient scapegoat for Nucors dramatic fall. As long as free markets, deregulation and globalization boomed, Nucor soared. As Dan DiMicco took over in 2000, its stock price more than doubled to $31 in half a decade. But thereafter it more than doubled again to a peak of $75 in fall 2008. How did DiMicco do it? The simple answer is: the fastest possible way, via mergers and acquisitions (M&As).



First DiMicco took over Auburn Steel (2001), Nucors first acquisition in 36 years, the came Birmingham Steel (2002). Smart CEOs got more cautious by 2005, when U.S. subprime market first tanked, but not DiMicco. After the mid-decade, he got hungrier acquiring even bigger targets, such as Connecticut Steel, Verco Decking and Harris Steel (2006). And even as U.S. real estate sector began to sink into recession, DiMicco bought Magnatrax (2007), and David J. Joseph Co. (2008). That's when the $20 billion steel giant posted a loss of $293 million, its first loss since 1966. Unsurprisingly, in the aftermath of the financial crisis, Nucor lost all those gains by early 2009, within a few months as Nucors stock plunged back to $34 (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Nucors Stock Price, 2000-2018

The punchline of the story is how DiMicco explained the fall of Nucor after 2008. It was not the excessive M&A wave. Nor was it the lack of foresight after the mid-decade, when many signs surfaced that Nucors growth was untenable. Instead, and once again, China served as a scapegoat. In the past, DiMicco had endorsed Navarros books. Now the two began to co-write op-eds bashing China.



Despite their more recent stated reservations about Navarro, Wall Street Journal, Barrons and others highly-regarded business publications were glad to give him space at the time. In April 2009, the two argued that Chinas currency manipulation accounted for U.S. trade deficits with China (Wall Street Journal). In October 2009, they decried Chinas weapon of mass production, which they claimed was fueled by currency manipulation, unfair trade practices and gutting U.S. manufacturing (San Francisco Chronicle). (For a sanity check, it should be recalled that during this period Chinese economy accounted for almost half of global growth, which spared the world economy from Great Depression 2.0.)



To the two, these financial op-eds were but a stepping-stone to Capitol Hill's kingmakers. In September 2009, DiMicco gave testimony on Chinese currency to the House Ways and Means Committee. By early 2010, they proclaimed China an emerging global threat and that it was time to get tough with the mainland (Barrons); that is, assertive slogans that somehow found their way to the official U.S. 2017 National Security Strategy, after Trump was willing to see America's ailing steel industry as a national security issue, at par with Pentagon's rearmament.



Navarro's Death by China had a simple solution to America: it urged business executives to be like Nucor, Americas largest steel producer, and Dan DiMicco, its chairman. If American corporate executives want to better understand the art of fighting back against Chinese mercantilism and protectionism, they need look no further than Nucorand the example set by its [chairman], Dan DiMicco [who] spends considerable time in the public arena lobbying for real trade reform with China.

Lighthizers Tariffic Republican Party



Neither Lighthizer nor Ross have the public profile of Navarro and DiMicco. Yet, neither is without controversies. When Lighthizer arrived in the White House, he spent nearly $1 million on new furniture alone, attributing the costs to the Obama administration. But his ambitions went far beyond subsidized furniture  and they, too, were sparked by the eclipse of U.S. steel industry.



Growing up in Ashtabula, Ohio, near the steel mills that used to be the bedrock of the little Lake Erie port city, he saw them shutter one after another. Today, Ashtabula is known as one of the poorest places in America. Like Navarro and DiMicco, Lighthizer believes that the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs in his home place has nothing to do with the erosion of low-margin, high-polluting steel industry and the proliferation of steel factories around the world and thus intensified competition. He grew of age in the postwar age of American Century, not in the multipolar era of 21st century. As far as he was concerned, Ashtabulas fall was triggered by unfair competition from cheap, foreign imports, particularly from China.



Thats the story Lighthizer likes to tell to U.S. journalists. The problem with the story is that he left his hometown more than four decades ago in the 70s, when Deng Xiaoping was only initiating Chinas economic reforms and opening-up policies. Second, Americas trade deficits started in 1971, with Western Europe, then Japan and the Asian dragons; that is, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. Third, U.S. deficits with China began only in the 2000s, decades after the fall of the Ashtabula of Lighthizers youth.



In reality, Lighthizer was a trade hawk already in the Reagan administration when he served as Deputy US Trade Representative and the White House targeted Japan for alleged trade and currency abuses and then forced Tokyo to agree to the Plaza Accord (1985), to depreciate the U.S. dollar in relation to the Japanese yen and German Deutsche mark by intervening in currency markets. It was that deal - signed in a hotel that would soon become known as the Trump Plaza  that effectively broke Japans economic rise, paved the way to its asset bubble and lost decades.



During those years, Ambassador Lighthizer claims to have negotiated over two dozen bilateral international agreements, including agreements on steel, automobiles, and agricultural products. As Deputy USTR, he also served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Indeed, OPIC had begun to serve as the US governments development institution after 1971, when it insured IT&T in Chile thus ensuring de facto US government support to a company that was meddling in Chilean elections which led to General Pinochets violent coup.



Just as Lighthizer in the Reagan administration sought to contain Japans rise with new trade and currency policies, he now hopes to use tariffs against China and, truth to be told, against any country that is perceived to stand in America's way. It is what he believes to be the true tradition of the Republican party: The icon of modern conservatism, Ronald Reagan, imposed quotas on imported steel, protected Harley-Davidson from Japanese competition, restrained import of semiconductors and automobiles, and took myriad similar steps to keep American industry strong. How does allowing China to constantly rig trade in its favor advance the core conservative goal of making markets more efficient?



To Lighthizer, tariffs are as American as apple pie; a way to promote American industry and a key Republican tenet originating from the pro-business politicians who created the party. Already in 2011 - five years before the Trump election triumph - Lighthizer argued that Trumps get-tough views on China" recall the roots of the party: For most of its 157-year history, the Republican Party has been the party of building domestic industry by using trade policy to promote U.S. exports and fend off unfairly traded imports. American conservatives have had that view for even longer.



Like Trump, Lighthizer sees China as a problem, along with the U.S. NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, Germany and the EU, Japan and South Korea, and the WTO itself. America is on the right track; the other countries arent. So they have to be transformed by America.

Ross, the Greatest Gifter in American History



While Navarro and Lighthizer flex their muscles behind the TV cameras, the 80-year old Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has been the trade wars public face. Nicknamed the King of Bankruptcy, Ross made his estimated $700 million in assets by buying bankrupt companies, especially in manufacturing and steel, and then selling them for a great profit after restructuring.



The prime examples include the International Steel Group (ISG), which he founded in 2002 after purchasing the assets of several bankrupt steel companies and which was followed by International Textile Group (ITG), International Automotive Components Group (IAC) and International Coal Group (ICG). Ironically, he made his fortunes by doing everything Trump claims is wrong with America.



In the Trump administration, Ross presumably is going after the kind of offshoring of U.S. jobs that gained him with a fortune. Nevertheless, charges of conflicts of interest, including possibly illegal failures to divest from financial holdings (violating a pledge to the Office of Government Ethics), and to disclose financial ties to Russian interests in confirmation hearings (according to the Paradise Papers) keep haunting the semi-billionaire.



Worse, a recent Forbes in-depth report indicates that allegations [against Ross]  which sparked lawsuits, reimbursements and an SEC finecome to more than $120 million. If even half of the accusations are legitimate, the current United States secretary of commerce could rank among the biggest grifters in American history.



As Forbess Dan Alexander sees it, the timing of Trump's job offer was economic manna from heaven: From Ross vantage point, Trump offered the perfect exit. The future cabinet secretarys private equity funds were underperforming one on track to lose 26% of its initial value and another two dribbling out mediocre returns and the accusations were starting to pile up.

Four Steely Men



So these are the not-so-fabulous four: an idea peddler haunted by fraud allegations, a senior executive willing to promote steel industry at the expense of American innovation; a trade hawk who would like to re-create the Republican Party and the WTO in the image of America; and a bankruptcy wizard and grafter extraordinaire who made his millions by offshoring those jobs that Trump claims to want back.



In each case, protectionism has been less an intellectual matter of correcting the wrongs in international trade. In each case, it has served as an opportunist career enhancer, profit-maker and ideological pretext.



In the U.S. industrial landscape, the four steely men seek a return to the past American Century by boosting artificially old and low-margin industries, at the expense of new and profitable ones. Steel is their common denominator.



Since the postwar era, employment in manufacturing has fallen in most major manufacturing countries. Due to the emerging economies low-cost advantage and offshoring, advanced economies focus more on higher value-added, thats their comparative advantage. In contrast, Trump hopes to facilitate US growth with re-negotiated or rejected trade deals to bring good-paying jobs to our shores and support American manufacturing, the backbone of our economy. In reality, the reliance on controversial policy instruments (lower taxes, aggressive deregulation, new energy exports), may boost U.S. economic fortunes in the short-term but contribute to broader deterioration in the long-term (deeper income polarization, social costs of misguided deregulation, environmental hazards associated with shale extraction).



Paradoxically, the Trump administration seeks progress in secondary priority areas where it is destined to generate minimal or transient progress, while ignoring viable advances in those areas of competitiveness and innovation, where it could thrive.



In the view of the steely trade hakws, even the reversal of postwar global economic cooperation is fully legitimate - as long as it is seen to serve the America First doctrine rather than each one's private agenda.

NOTES



1 Once again,Navarro turned to Nucor, but he wanted the deal done through Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN), a San Diego non-profit, led by his friend Michael Shames. So, UCAN deposited Nucors checks to Navarros production company. Perhaps the hope was that this would be easier to explain to Nucors shareholders. In February 2012, UCAN, Navarros production company, Navarro and his wife were subpoenaed by an FBI agent to testify before a federal grand jury, due to suspected financial irregularities. Soon thereafter UCAN was charged for document destruction. By fall 2012 Shames was replaced. But the debacle is not over. The following year, UCAN and Shames sued each other.



2 In Inside Job (2010), the Oscar-winning documentary on the 2008 Great Recession, Hubbard was questioned on his support for deregulation, lucrative consulting, and conflict of interest. Hubbard was dean of Columbias School of Business and formerly deputy assistant secretary at the US Treasury (1991-93), chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors (2001-2003).



3 The Coalition promotes a harder line against China. It represents agriculture, manufacturing and organized labor associations and small exporters. In turn, the American Jobs Alliance is dedicated to fostering U.S. system of free enterprise. The leaders of these two organizations are well-known trade hawks and include a former commissioner of U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission, president of Economic Strategy Institute, Ross Perots economic advisor, and Reform Party candidates.



4 Just months before his successor John Ferriola took over as the CEO in January 2013, DiMicco still bought the $605 million Skyline Steel, which boosted Nucors price to almost $45 thus making his departure look a bit more respectable.

Dr Steinbock is the founder of the Difference Group and has served as the research director at the India, China, and America Institute (USA) and a visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more information, see http://www.differencegroup.net/

 2018 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Following a seven-year hiatus caused by the economic embargo imposed on Syria and the unstable security situation, an Iraqi civilian airplane landed Aug. 20 for the first time at Damascus International Airport. Syria used this step politically and deemed it a victory for the Syrian army against terrorism, as was announced by the Syrian Minister of Transport Aug. 20.

In conjunction with growing air traffic, the director of Damascus International Airport, Nidhal Mohammed, revealed Sept. 12 that the number of arrivals to the airport increased by 20% over the same period last year, and the proportion of air freight also increased 15% from last year.

Prior to the return of the Iraqi airplane to Damascus, Iraqi Airways refrained from operating direct flights to Damascus, except for transit flights. Meanwhile, Syrian companies were transporting Iraqis to Damascus and vice versa  especially visitors to religious sites in Syria.

Such companies include Cham Wings Airlines, which began operating flights to and from Syria Dec. 1, 2017, as the Syrian Ministry of Tourism announced an increase in the revenues generated from religious tourism. FlyDamas Airline received a license from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority to become a Syrian air operator with Iraq in 2015, but the license was suspended last January.

Laith Abdel Karim al-Rabii, director of media relations for Iraqi Airways, told Al-Monitor, With the first Iraqi flight to Damascus after years of suspension, the Iraqi Airways office in Syria is getting ready to expand its operations and receive passengers wishing to visit Iraq.

Rabii added, "Iraqi Airways, which made more than $1 million in profit from air cargo in June and July, will have its revenues increase with the resumption of flights to Syria  a country that has extensive commercial and economic relations with Iraq. Add to this the huge numbers of Iraqis wishing to visit religious sites in Syria.

He stated, "Enhancing air transport between the two countries coincides with the security stability that is rolling out between the two countries. This step will have a positive economic impact on both countries, especially since many Iraqi markets still need Syrian goods. Moreover, religious tourism in Syria mainly depends on Iraqi visitors. Should Iraqi flights resume to Syria, then this will spare Iraqis a lot of time and money.

Ghazwan Ramadan, the director of Fly Baghdad ground operations, revealed to Al-Monitor that the company "decided to operate regular flights between Damascus and each of the Baghdad and Najaf airports at a rate of four flights per week."

While this development is of interest to Iraqis and provides them with a quick and safe means of transport to Syria, Syrian officials consider this a political victory because it breaks the embargo that has been imposed on the Damascus International Airport since the start of the war in Syria. Add to this the sanctions imposed by Washington and European countries on Syria's flag carrier, Syrian Arab Airlines, and Syrian airports.

Iraqis have been keen to regularly travel to Syria by land  sometimes illegally. But the land route was completely cut off after the Islamic State (IS) seized the land between Iraq and Syria, causing the murders of dozens of citizens and the robbery of many buses transporting displaced people.

Iraqi Ambassador to Syria Saad Mohammad Reza announced July 9 that Baghdad and Damascus are in the process of opening up the crossings between the two countries, especially al-Qaim-Abu Kamal crossing, in a bid to revive the economic and trade movement.

After IS invaded Mosul and other Iraqi cities in June 2014, the number of flights over Iraqi airspace decreased due to security concerns. But the liberation of Iraqi territories from IS in 2017 resulted in the reopening of Iraq's airspace. Now, some 150 flights are landing in Iraq on a daily basis compared to between 20 and 25 airplanes that were operated by a limited number of regional airlines in the past.

Spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport Salem Mousa told Al-Monitor, The security that has been established in the country since IS has prompted the ministry to enhance air transport. About 750 flights have used Iraqi airspace, and this increases Iraq's financial revenues through transit charges.

Because of the huge influx of religious visitors to Syria, head of Imam Husayn Shrine's religious tourism sector Zaid al-Bir told Al-Monitor that operating Iraqi flights would be very beneficial to the Iraqis wishing to visit Shiite sites in Syria such as the Sayyidah Zeinab Mosque, the Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque and the holy shrines in Syria.

He noted, The Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala has been organizing tourist trips to Syria for years at the price of $450 per traveler, but via Syrian aircraft.

Syrian Transportation Minister Ali Hammoud told Al-Monitor, Syria [is fully ready] to receive Iraqi planes on its territory. This will definitely boost economic and tourism relations."

He added, Syrian airlines schedule three flights a week to the airports of Baghdad, Basra and Najaf [to fly] a large number of Iraqis who like to visit religious shrines and tourism attraction centers [back to] Syria.

Hammoud noted, Iraq's desire to open the airspace between the two countries will support plans to expand air transport operations.

Al-Monitor contacted the Syrian Arab Airlines office in Iraq, which responded by saying that it does not give any press statements about the civil air transportation between Iraq and Syria.

The airlines Facebook page, however, indicates that they operate flights between the Damascus airport and Iraq's Baghdad and Najaf airports at a rate of three flights a week each.

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport is seemingly pressing ahead with its plans announced in 2015 to increase flights between the two countries to 40 flights per week. This is in addition to the ministrys plan to establish a railway linking the Syrian territory to Iran through Iraq. Such a railway would be of great importance to the two countries, which are seeking to overcome war and the security chaos while compensating for their deteriorating economic and trade relations.
CAIRO  Egypt is currently demanding negotiations over controversial issues related to the filling operation at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as dam construction appears to be stalling.

On Aug. 25, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed spoke at his first press conference since he took office in May about the obstacles hindering the completion of the dam.

Thinking big is one thing, but accomplishing it is another, he said. 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 said.

He accused the military-run corporation Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC)  which is responsible for design, manufacturing, installation and erection of electromechanical and hydraulic steel structure works at the project  of intentionally making the project fail, saying METEC and its management did not have enough experience to work on such large projects. Noteworthy is that former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn put METEC in charge of the project.

Ahmed's comments revealed underlying issues never before tackled by the successive Ethiopian administrations, which have been keen to mobilize people inside and outside Ethiopia to support the dam's construction ever since late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi first announced the project in February 2011.

Back then, the mysterious announcement mentioned a Project X  which would be the largest water dam on the Blue Nile to generate 6,000 megawatts of energy  without prior notification to either of the downstream states, namely Egypt and Sudan.

On July 26  only one month before Ahmeds statement  the dam project's manager Simegnew Bekele passed away. The Ethiopian federal police said the cause of death was suicide. Head of Ethiopias Federal Police Commission Zeinu Jemal was quoted as saying at a press conference Sept. 7 that the investigation [into Bekele's death] had shown that the victim had been under pressure from delays in the construction of the dam, and that conversations with his secretary an hour before his death the evening before seemed like farewell statements, adding that the suicide was linked to the extra costs they were incurring for the government.

An official at the Ethiopian Water Ministry told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, According to the original construction schedule for the project, two turbines were supposed to be installed in 2018 so electricity generation can begin this year with the start of initial storage. However, METEC  which is in charge of hydroelectric works  did not stick to the schedule. Thus, the project has been temporarily suspended.

The source added, The Ethiopian government has no intention of disrupting the project any further. The hydrographic works were assigned to Chinas China Gezhouba Group Corporation. Periodic meetings are being held to ascertain the progress of the work and deal with the workers' strike at the project site. Workers have been protesting since August poor salaries and living conditions.

In addition, the tripartite negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over political, security and technical issues have been suspended since the May 15 meeting in Addis Ababa concluded. The document listing the outcomes of the meeting failed to resolve outstanding issues regarding the adoption of the preliminary report on dam impact studies, storage and operation mechanisms.

Cairo started taking intensive diplomatic action in an attempt to push negotiations forward so as to reach an agreed-upon formula on storage and operation of the dam in a way that reduces the expected damage to Egypt.

On Aug. 28, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and intelligence chief Abbas Kamel visited Ethiopia, carrying a letter from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to the Ethiopian prime minister on progress in the implementation of the outcome of the Addis Ababa meeting held in May. The document listed five outcomes regarding the ways to solve the dispute over the dam filling and operation.

Not only did Cairo contact Ethiopia, but it also felt the need to take advantage of the momentum and positive atmosphere of relations with Sudan. Shoukri met with his Sudanese counterpart, Al-Dirdiri Mohammed Ahmed, on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Sudanese Ministerial Committee on Aug. 29. The two officials discussed the resumption of technical consultations on the dam and stressed the importance of maintaining a fast pace when it comes to negotiations.

At a press conference on Aug. 29 following the meeting, Shoukri further noted the need to reach a tripartite agreement in light of Egypt's commitment to a practical and technical framework that is not subject to politicization.

An Egyptian diplomatic official familiar with the Nile water issue told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, This is the perfect time to expedite negotiations over outstanding issues and reach a legal and technical formula that takes into consideration the interests of the three parties involved.

He explained, We are relatively pleased with the language of understanding currently in place with Sudan and Ethiopia on resolving the outstanding points on the dam. The previous pressure to increase construction rates at the dam site compared to the level of progress in the negotiations has somewhat diminished. However, judging whether or not the current endeavors would succeed depends on reaching a binding legal document for the three parties. We need to agree on storage and operation of the dam after technical studies to determine the negative effects of the dam.

Rawia Tawfik, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor, Egypt has an opportunity to come up with new ideas  especially with Ethiopia's acknowledgment of financial and administrative problems in the dam project. Yet we cannot be too optimistic about this. We are still in the process of adopting the preliminary report of the studies of the consultancy firms on the impacts of the dam. The focus should be on maintaining regular political and technical negotiations, regardless of the project's suspension, without relying on external parties such as the Gulf.

Tawfik explained, Ahmeds statements uncovering problems in the dam project can be interpreted in the framework within which Ahmed came to power; he relied on popular momentum in terms of change and rested on the masses to resist other parties.

The fate of the Renaissance Dam remains unknown in light of the possibility of Egypt reaching an agreement that guarantees its interests in the waters of the Nile. These interests have been subject to controversy and tension with Ethiopia for the past seven years. However, developments on the Ethiopian political scene since Ahmed took office somewhat reassure Cairo. Egyptian officials seem to be reflecting their reassurance in their statements about the understanding with Ethiopia through dialogue.
The patience of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with Iranian Kurdish groups operating from northern Iraq was wearing thin. Spiraling violence in western Iran between Iranian Kurdish fighters and security forces had been claiming an increasing number of lives. Meanwhile, Iraqi Kurdish authorities were doing little to reign in the groups based on their territory. Simultaneously faced with escalating pressure from the United States, Tehran likely felt that something had to be done, that a message had to be sent. The apparent response was multi-pronged.

On Sept. 7, IRGC drones surveilled a six-member unit of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) in the mountains of western Iran. The fighters were surrounded by Iranian forces on a mountain near the village of Palangan. PJAK sources believe at least three of the fighters were eventually killed. There has been no information about the others.

At dawn the following day, three Iranian Kurdish political prisoners were paraded in a prison near Tehran before being sent to the gallows. Meanwhile, Iran had deployed seven missile batteries near Azarshahr, in East Azerbaijan province, opposite a fort across the border in Iraqi Kurdistan.

When the missiles were launched, a group of senior officials of the opposition Iranian Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) had gathered for an important meeting at its Iraqi headquarters, a sprawling fort built by the Russians in 1977 for President Saddam Husseins army. PDK and fellow Kurdish opposition groups were on alert, as assassinations of their members had risen this year after Iran implemented a campaign targeting the border area where the parties are based.

In a July 26 letter, written by several Kurdish opposition parties to foreign missions in Iraqi Kurdistan, including the US Consulate, the groups had warned about possible attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan. Now that the voices of discontent and protest are increasing in Iran, the Iranian regime is attempting to divert attention from its domestic crises in an effort to manipulate public opinion, the authors stated. The letter was shared with Al-Monitor by the representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) in Sulaimaniyah.

Irans main target in the region is the KDPI, which resumed armed operations in early 2015 after a hiatus of more than a decade. When US President Donald Trumps tone against Iran grew more bellicose this year, the group intensified its attacks. In response, the IRGC, in particular Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, warned Iraqi Kurdish officials to reign in the groups.

In part due to contentious internal Iraqi Kurdish politics, however, the KDPI has continued its operations inside Iran and has introduced urban peshmerga, indicating that it intends to take the battle not just to the border, but deeper into Iran. Meanwhile, its sister party, the PDK, which split from the KDPI in 2007, has held at least three rounds of negotiations with Iranian representatives, with its leaders repeatedly stating that armed resistance is not the answer to the Kurdish question in Iran. Meanwhile, in recent months, the Protectors of Eastern Kurdistan, a front group for the PDK, has launched at least three deadly attacks on Iranian security forces.

Al-Monitor has learned from a source close to Iran that Soleimani had asked Iraqi Kurdish officials three times this year to reign in the KDPI. In response, Iraqi Kurdish officials met with KDPI and PDK officials, but without reaching any satisfactory arrangements. In the meantime, the KDPI continued its attacks on Iranian forces in Iran. The source also divulged to Al-Monitor that the IRGC had thoroughly planned the Sept. 8 attack, going so far as to consult the Russians who had built the fort in Koya about the structure and strength of its materials to gauge how much explosives were needed in the warheads that would target the meeting.

Al-Monitor visited Nezarke Fort, a structure in Duhok identical to the one in Koya, which has more than 150 rooms and four large turrets. That the IRGC missile hit the room where the meeting of the PDK was reportedly taking place is a testament to the level of the Iranians' intelligence gathering. Indeed, a video released by the IRGC shows two of the missiles striking their target, reportedly killing at least 15 people, including several senior officials of the PDK and wounding more than 40 others. A KDPI spokesman told Al-Monitor that 13 PDK members had been killed, and two members of the KDPI died when one of the missiles hit their training field, a few hundred meters from the fort.

Nonetheless, having been ridiculed for suboptimal missile attacks on Islamic State (IS) bases in northeast Syria last summer in response to IS attacks in Tehran, the Iranians seem to have done their homework this time. Indeed, Iranian agents appear to have monitored the bases of the Kurdish groups from the Haybat Sultan range, overlooking Koya, and bases south of the town.

Iran has not stopped at the missile strike. It has now deployed troops to the border area and is demanding that Iraqi Kurdish authorities either hand over Iranian Kurdish fighters or expel them. Rather than triggering infighting, the Sept. 8 attack appears to have brought the usually bickering Kurdish opposition groups together, as they now want to coordinate their efforts against Tehran. This is even though the KDPI has said it will continue armed operations, while PDK official Khaled Azizi reiterated on Sept. 10 that armed resistance is not the solution.

It is almost certain that tensions between Iran and Iranian Kurdish groups will only increase. The United States condemned the Sept. 8 attack, calling it an effort to threaten and destabilize its closest neighbor, while Kurdish groups are trying to publicize their cause and have called on the Trump administration to take concrete measures against Tehran.

We are waiting to see the next shift in the Trump administration, PDK spokesman Aso Hassanzadeh said at a Sept. 12 press conference in Erbil. We have seen a lot of words, not actions.  We are still a little bit worried that its only about limiting Irans actions in the region. With this nothing will be resolved.

Meanwhile, IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari warned on Sept. 13, [The] IRGCs recent revenge against the terrorists conveys a highly meaningful message to the enemies, particularly those superpowers who think they can impose their evil plots on us and bully us.

It is clear that Iranian military commanders are uneasy about Iran's western border. More than ever, the danger of rapid escalation looms, particularly as localized fighting between Kurdish groups and the IRGC could get sucked into the broader confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Thus, as the Iranians warn that Kurdish groups should expect further attacks if they fail to halt their operations, not only civilian residents in the border area between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan are in peril, but perhaps even more so is the Kurdistan Regional Government, which now has to maneuver between Iran, the United States and the PDK and KDPI without getting entangled in their conflicts.

Only time will tell how and whether the leaders in Erbil and Sulaimaniya will be able to deftly address the situation without becoming the victim of extraneous conflicts.
The recent bloody protests in Basra have lowered Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's chances of serving a second term in office. The political blocs and influential parties agree that Abadi has failed to manage the Basra crisis, and they now call for a new face for the post of prime minister.

Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Fatah Alliance, met Sept. 12 with Shiite cleric and head of the Sairoon Alliance Muqtada al-Sadr to discuss the possible alliance that would make them eligible to form a new government. Sadr formed the Reform and Reconstruction Coalition with Abadi previously, but it seems that he is looking for an alternative given Abadi's current position.

The office of Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a statement Sept. 10 calling for selecting a new prime minister who is competent and courageous to run a country plagued by rampant corruption and a weak state system.

The statement said, The [Shiite] authority told the various [political] parties  that it will not support any new prime minister chosen from the politicians who have been in power in the past years, whether he was affiliated with a party or independent." The statement claimed that "most of the people have lost hope in any of these figures to achieve the desired improvement of the situation and to fight corruption. It continued, If a new figure endowed with competence, integrity, courage and firmness is chosen, it would be possible to communicate with the new prime minister on the countrys best interests; otherwise, the authority would maintain its approach of boycotting the country's government officials.

Sistani's statement came in response to claims by some politicians that the latter had proposed several candidates for the office of prime minister and refused the nomination of others. Mohammed al-Ghabban, former interior minister and a leader of the Fatah-affiliated Badr Organization, said Sept. 10 that the religious authority had intervened to find an alliance between the Fatah Alliance, which includes a number of factions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) close to Iran, and the Sairoon Alliance. Ghabban noted that the events in Basra and the poor performance of the government in dealing with this crisis and its repercussions undermined the Reform and Construction Coalition between Abadi and Sadr. This has led to new alignments, convergences and understandings between Fatah and Sairoon under the guidance of the Shiite authority, he said.

Sabah al-Saadi, a leader in the Sairoon Alliance, had announced earlier the receipt of "an official communique from the Supreme Religious Authority rejecting the five candidates for the post of head of the next government." Saadi said that Sistani "refuses" to see as the next prime minister Abadi, Nouri al-Maliki, Hadi al-Amiri, former head of the PMU Faleh al-Fayadh and Tarek Najm, a leader of the Dawa Party who is close to Maliki.

In his statement, Sistani categorically denied this. This is inaccurate. The nomination of the prime minister is a prerogative of the largest bloc under the constitution. Other blocs cannot reject specific candidates. Therefore, the authority has not rejected or nominated any specific candidates.

Abadis opponents praised Sistani's statement, urging Abadi to withdraw his candidacy for the premiership. The recent statement of the religious authority was the blow of mercy to the American project," Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq affiliated with the Fatah Alliance, wrote on Twitter. "It [Sistani's statement] is a road map for forming the government and the next political stage."

Sadr welcomed Sistanis directives, stressing the need to abide by the authoritys recommendation to accelerate the formation of the government in accordance with new rules and pumping new blood in. And not repeat the same mistakes.

Khazali considered Sadr's statement as a rapprochement between his Fatah Alliance and Sadrs Sairoon Alliance. He said, The recent statement by Muqtada al-Sadr came at the right time to deal with the current situation," noting that this statement is in line with the Fatah Alliance initiative to abide by the authoritys conditions to select the prime minister and the Cabinet.

Sistanis statement, however, was directed at the Fatah Alliance as well as the Abadi-led Al-Nasr Alliance. Fatah had previously nominated Amiri, the head of the Badr Organization, for the position of prime minister, which Sistani opposed by saying that he "will not support any new prime minister chosen from the politicians who have been in power in the past years." Amiri is also included among the politicians who were in power in the past years, when he was minister of transportation and deputy commander of the PMU.

As PMU factions with the Fatah Alliance push toward removing Abadi from office, the United States continues its intensive efforts to support Abadi in serving a second term in office, to prevent the pro-Iranian parties rising to power. In the same vein, US Republican senators plan to introduce legislation imposing sanctions on Iran proxies in Iraq, which mostly have gathered as part of the Fatah Alliance. The bill would impose terrorism-related sanctions on Iranian-controlled militias, whose political wings are allied under the Fatah Alliance. It also will oblige the US secretary of state to publish and maintain a list of armed groups receiving assistance from Iran.

In light of these developments, all the parties will try to nominate new names that have not been previously involved in the political power in the past years for the post of prime minister, in a bid to sway the Shiites who hold Sistani in high esteem.

Local newspapers reported Sept. 11 that Al-Binaa Alliance, which includes the Fatah Alliance, the State of Law Coalition in addition to other smaller parties, nominated Tarek Najm, who used to serve as head of the prime ministers office during Malikis first term.

The existing blocs are expected to collapse, as all conflicting parties are seeking to forge new alliances that would allow them to nominate new names that would be acceptable by the Shiite segment.

Ghayeb al-Omairi, a member of parliament for the Sairoon Alliance, announced Sept. 10 that there are understandings between the Fatah Alliance and Sairoon to form a new bloc without the State of Law Coalition, which was a strategic ally of Fatah within Al-Binaa. This was due to the fierce disputes between Sadr and Maliki, a leader of the State of Law Coalition.

However, Raid Fahmy, a leader of Iraq's Communist Party allied with Sairoon, said Sept. 12 that the talks between Fatah and Sairoon have not reached a signed agreement yet.

It appears that Sistani was trying in his last statement to make a breakthrough in the political impasse, as the winning blocs failed to move forward with the formation of a new government, while parliament convened for the first time on Sept. 3.

Things hit rock bottom when each of the Reform and Construction Coalition, led by Sadr and Abadi, and Al-Binaa Alliance, led by Amiri and Maliki, announced separately the formation of the biggest bloc to form the government according to the Iraqi Constitution.

Nominating new figures could open the door to broader discussions and political negotiations between the different blocs to reach an agreement and proceed to form a new government.
The ombudsman of the Israel Defense Forces, Gen. (res.) Yitzhak Brick, is a hero of the Yom Kippur War launched by Egypt and Syria against Israel in 1973. Israel came close to losing that war due to a complacent military resting on its laurels after the stunning victory in the Six Day War six years earlier, and the resulting smugness of the political echelon that almost ended in disaster.

Brick, who is winding up a decade-long term, is tasked with handling soldiers complaints, not dealing with operational readiness and capability or military buildup. Nonetheless, in recent months he has turned from being a troubling nuisance into a real strategic problem. It began with a report he submitted in June presenting a gloomy assessment of the IDFs readiness and fitness for war, followed by a long and detailed document on the same issue that he sent to senior defense officials. This month, he issued an additional document, no less detailed, that includes a demand for an external commission of inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court justice to examine his claims.

Scarred forever by the strategic surprise of the Yom Kippur War, Brick has himself become a strategic surprise. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot did not expect trouble from the aging general who fought in a war 45 years ago while Eizenkot was celebrating his bar mitzvah and has now become an alarmist as he prepares to retire.

No wonder [Hezbollah Secretary General] Hassan Nasrallah said a few weeks ago that he had read the Israeli media and understood that the IDF was not ready for war and Israel was deterred by Hezbollah, a senior military official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Unfortunately, some people would rather spread unfounded fear and glorify Israels enemies instead of checking the numbers, the facts and the situation as it is. Nasrallahs comments fit with an episode described in Fear: Trump in the White House, the book just out by veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, in which he quotes one of US President Donald Trumps advisers as warning that Israels security apparatus "would be inadequate to defend the state against Hezbollah.

The message from Eizenkots office is calm and reassuring. In response to these and similar claims, the IDF issued excerpts from a detailed report it recently submitted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and the security cabinet on the IDFs combat readiness and capabilities. As the person responsible for the readiness of the army for war, I state that the IDF is prepared for any mission required of it, an army with intelligence and air superiority, ground capability and rich operational experience that is tested daily in every arena of war, wrote Eizenkot.

In his latest report, which according to Haaretz runs to some 200 pages, Brick cites many officers and NCOs in the IDFs Ground Forces Command, emergency supply depots and other vital sites as claiming that combat worthiness is in decline and morale at a low ebb and pointing to major gaps in training, equipment and maintenance.

Serving officers argue that Brick draws his conclusions from anonymous conversations with soldiers and NCOs and bases them mostly on the feelings they express, whereas Eizenkot puts his integrity on the line when he pronounced the military readier than ever for any scenario.

The ombudsman levels most of his criticism at the Ground Forces Command, the military arm that was largely neglected over the years in favor of the air force, intelligence, the navy, missile capability and anti-missile defense. In recent years, the Ground Forces received huge budgets, a senior military source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Units have been reinforced, we have the biggest ammunition inventory ever, training was beefed up greatly and is at the most intense level since the year 2000. The strategic planning has been completed, the operational plans are ready, the military is training, ready, equipped and drilled.

Indeed, the IDF concedes that the Ground Forces Command was treated like a stepchild for many years. The governments decision to reduce the length of compulsory military service and the change in the service conditions of career army soldiers resulted in a severe shortage of human resources, which Brick also addresses. The army nonetheless argued that these decisions did not depend on the IDFs senior command. As far as the situation on the ground is concerned, the empirical figures, the reports and the performance, the situation is far better than it was and the IDF has a decisive advantage on all fronts over all its enemies, the source added.

Al-Monitor has learned that two weeks ago, Liberman held a special meeting to discuss Bricks reports. At the discussion, which focused on the IDFs fitness, the chief of staff and other senior officials countered Bricks claims. According to several sources exposed to the discussion, the minister was quite satisfied with what he heard. A senior Defense Ministry official told Al-Monitor that the minister trusts the IDFs chief of staff and the responsibility he holds for the IDFs fitness and readiness. According to the source, Bricks reports may be tainted by too many emotions and his perceptions are still affected by the trauma of the 1973 war, coming up on its 45th anniversary.

The chief of staff is not shirking his responsibility and he guarantees the IDF is at a high level of readiness, a senior military source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to prove their arguments according to objective criteria that bear scrutiny, not based on random hallway conversations, he added.

Liberman appears to agree with this assessment as he prepares to pick a successor to Eizenkot, who retires at the end of the year, from among four candidates  Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, Eyal Zamir and Yair Golan. Liberman has said the job would go to the candidate who can prove that he aspires to engage with the enemy and score a decisive victory. Judging by the criteria he had laid out for picking Eizenkots successor, Liberman does not appear concerned about the IDFs combat worthiness but rather by its willingness to engage and score a decisive victory over Israels enemies.
Egypt has suspended truce talks it had been brokering between Hamas and Israel, apparently as a result of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' strident objection to any negotiations with Israel that don't include him.

The abrupt change in course raises fears that the situation in Gaza may worsen again, leading to further escalation with Israel.

Egypt expressed its sudden shift after a Sept. 1 meeting between Egyptian intelligence, Abbas and his Fatah party's leadership in Ramallah in the West Bank. Hamas administers the Gaza Strip and has been at odds with Abbas and Fatah since a violent split in 2007. Hamas is trying to ease the desperate conditions in Gaza that resulted from Israel's 11-year blockade and punitive measures Abbas has imposed.

Egypt's intelligence representative, Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafi, stressed after the Sept. 1 meeting that Egypt will maintain its efforts to achieve a Palestinian truce with Israel, but within a framework that acknowledges Abbas' authority. In the meantime, Cairo will focus on reconciling Hamas and Fatah. The factions supposedly agreed in theory in October to a rapprochement, but the process has sputtered futilely since then.

Egypt and the United Nations had mediated truce talks between Hamas and Israel since mid-May, and recently an agreement seemed assured. But since the talks were frozen, Palestinians have resumed the violent Marches of Return at the Gaza Strip borders.

Salah al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas political bureau and of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), told Al-Monitor, The [Palestinian Authority (PA)] pressured Egypt to link the truce and lifting of the siege on Gaza to the condition of achieving reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. However, by rejecting the faction's calls to end the siege, President Abbas forced Egypt to end its efforts to reach a truce. President Abbas was clearly trying to evade a truce, which doesn't make any sense.

Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar met Sept. 4 with young Palestinians in Gaza City to brief them on political developments. He said he wasn't satisfied with the performance of mediators involved in the truce talks. Meanwhile, his deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, had said Aug. 30, in a meeting organized by the Palestinian Media Forum with journalists in Gaza City that Hamas doesn't want a truce with Israel to hinge on an internal Palestinian reconciliation.

Its no secret that efforts made by local, regional and international parties to conclude a truce between Hamas and Israel have been decreasing recently. As a result, Israel is finding pretexts to dodge any commitments made to the resistance through mediators and envoys. The situation has clearly worsened, since only a few weeks ago the truce talks had reached advanced stages.

On Sept. 9, Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper cited anonymous Palestinian sources as saying Israel is behind the truce's failure, noting that Israel refuses to move forward without resolving the issue of its captured soldiers with Hamas. In addition, Israel insists that Hamas stop building tunnels and smuggling weapons into Gaza, the sources said.

Leaks made it to the press in late August about an imminent truce. Talks were then suddenly halted: No envoys visited Gaza, no Hamas leader visited Cairo and the truce was no longer topping headlines.

Palestinian political writer Saleh al-Naami told Al-Monitor, All signs point to the Palestinian factions being victims of disinformation. No real progress was made in terms of concluding a truce. We are now back to square one in light of the complicated situation in Gaza. It seems that the PA's position to suspend the truce was part of a premeditated plan by Israel, Egypt and Washington.

A quick review of the positions expressed by the parties involved in the truce shows Egypt is closer to Fatah than Hamas in terms of policy, and nothing would make it clash with the PA to reach a truce in Gaza that could give Hamas any field achievements. This is why communication between Ramallah and Cairo has increased in recent days.

The United Nations, another partner in the truce talks, is carefully trying to remain a neutral intermediary between Hamas and Israel. UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov appeared to be a message carrier rather than a mediator who would influence both sides. He even accused certain parties on Sept. 5 of seeking a war between Hamas and Israel by blocking truce efforts, without giving further explanation.

Abdullah Abdullah, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council and chairman of the PLCs political committee, told Al-Monitor, The PA is not against a truce in Gaza, but Hamas is trying to reach this truce with Israel unilaterally so it can continue to impose its control over Gaza. It is thus sidestepping the [PLO], and we cannot allow it. No faction should conclude an agreement with Israel in isolation from the rest of the Palestinian forces.

Meanwhile, Israel never seemed to be rushing into indirect talks with Hamas. Perhaps it wanted to buy more time and succeeded in allowing its residents to spend the summer vacation in settlements in Gaza in peace without any war sirens and rocket fire.

Israel has issued several statements in recent days expressing that it wants stricter conditions for concluding a truce, such as handing over Israeli soldiers detained by Hamas in Gaza, which the movement rejects. Hamas stressed that the prisoner exchange issue is a separate one; it has nothing to do with the truce through which the movement aims to improve the living conditions in Gaza.

Maj. Gen. Wasef Erekat, a Palestinian military expert in the West Bank and former artillery commander of the PLO forces, told Al-Monitor, The stalemate of the truce talks may open the way for a real, gradual escalation between the resistance and Israel. There is no guarantee that a confrontation can be avoided. On the contrary, the way may be paved for such a battle after the new escalation recently in Gaza.

The chances, albeit minimal, of an armed confrontation could tip the balance in favor of suspending truce talks once and for all. As a result, a broad battle could erupt  a scenario that Hamas is trying to at least postpone.
On Sept. 10 and 11, deputy foreign ministers from the Astana trio (Russia, Iran and Turkey) met in Geneva to consult with the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. The discussions helped achieve a breakthrough on the issue of the Syrian Constitutional Committee  one of the most critical items on the agenda of political resolution and peacemaking in Syria. The diplomats managed to agree upon the lists of committee members from the government and the opposition and to design a plan to create a third list composed of representatives of Syrian civil society. The lists are supposed to include 150 people altogether.

Alexander Lavrentiev, Putins special envoy for Syria who led the Russian delegation at the consultations, said the government and opposition lists will have to be approved by all sides after the civil society list is discussed further. Lavrentiev said this still was a fragile mechanism and one cannot upset the balance, meaning attempts to turn the civil society list into an extension of the government would be unacceptable.

According to some reports, a technical working group of diplomats from the three guarantor nations will be established to continue the discussion about the lists.

The format of the committees future work was also outlined during the talks in Geneva. A council of 45 members of the committee will be created specifically to design a new Syrian constitution or amend the existing one. Although the procedure for the formation of the council is still not fully clear, it is known that the body will be selected following the same principles as the committee itself, including having an equal number of representatives of the regime, opposition and civil society. This could be a compromise involving the numbers of people selected to make important decisions: De Mistura had sought to cut the number of committee members from 150 to 40-50 people. It is also unclear who will become the committees chairperson. Russia insists on a government official for this position, while Turkey and the opposition rebels disagree.

Discussions on the formation of the committee started immediately after the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi in January. However, it took the talks in Geneva to break the process free from deadlock and proceed with practical measures.

It seems that the current  and still too limited  success in the promotion of peace in Syria stems from the way the situation around Idlib has changed. On the one hand, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took a firm stance against the possibility of a military operation in this rebel stronghold and even moved to deploy additional troops there. On the other hand, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin proved his ability to reach compromises. The combination of the two factors appears to have delayed, if not suspended, the next large-scale armed campaign in northwestern Syria.

Any positive shifts in the process of the Constitutional Committees creation would have been nearly impossible had the meeting in Geneva been taking place during heavy fighting in Idlib. Moreover, such consultations likely would not have even taken place, considering that Turkey has alluded that it would leave the Astana trio should Idlib be attacked. At first, the opposition had refused to take part in the committee because the decision to establish the body had been made during the congress in Sochi, which took place at the same time that Bashar al-Assads regime was conducting large-scale operations in the southeastern part of the province, including a mass bombing of civil infrastructure.

Nevertheless, the threat of an assault on Idlib still exists. If it does actually start, any agreements reached on the political resolution up until now, including those related to the committee, may be derailed. Assad's regime, expecting a victory over the opposition, would lose all incentive to pursue a political track, expecting to ultimately get the upper hand over the insurgents. Moreover, the real opposition, with its fighting force destroyed and its control over Syria lost entirely, would not be accepted as an active participant. In other words, the very need for either peacemaking or the reforms would become irrelevant.

Some statements during the consultations in Geneva, however, actually give reason to be optimistic about a further delay in the military campaign of the regime and its allies. It mostly depends on Turkeys ability to solve the problem of radicals in Idlib on its own, using groups loyal to Ankara as an instrument on the ground.

Lavrentiev pointed out during the Geneva meeting that Turkey is ultimately responsible for the separation of terrorists from the moderates in Idlib. He also emphasized that Turkey, as a member of the Astana trio, was chosen, as part of a collective process, to bear responsibility for Idlib a year and a half ago; thus, Ankara should face the complex challenge of separating the moderate opposition from the extremist groups, such as Jabhat al-Nusra and other jihadis.

It is not impossible, by the way, that the parties might have reached an agreement of some kind before the Geneva encounter, during bilateral Russian-Turkish consultations on Idlib, and that the talks in Geneva merely reflect the earlier agreements. For instance, in the future, Ankara is likely to point out that positive changes in the peace process were made possible only because the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria was kept intact. In return, Ankara may prove helpful in re-energizing various frozen projects within the peacemaking process that could not be carried out if the fighting ignited. This could be especially valuable for Moscow if such initiatives concerned those initiated and designed by Russia.

Therefore, if the military escalation around Idlib gradually decreases, Ankara could possibly continue influencing the Syrian opposition, making it more open to Russian suggestions related to a political resolution. In this way, Turkey could maintain Moscows interest in further delaying or even canceling the armed assault on Idlib. This would both help Russian initiatives be successful and counter radicals in Idlib with specific practical measures.
Faced with economic turmoil fueled by the meltdown of the Turkish lira, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been issuing threatening messages against price hikes and capital flights. On Sept. 12, he took a critical step that effectively made him the czar of the economy. Erdogan appointed himself the head of the Turkey Wealth Fund (TVF), which holds $200 billion public assets, while naming as deputy his son-in-law Berat Albayrak, who is also the treasury and finance minister. By taking the helm of an institution that controls strategic public companies, Erdogan is assuming an extraordinary authority over the economy.

Created hastily in August 2016 under a state of emergency, the TVF has stakes in public giants such as Ziraat Bank, pipeline operator BOTAS, oil company TPAO, the national postal service, the Istanbul stock exchange, satellite communications company TURKSAT, the national lottery, Turkish Airlines, Halkbank and Turkish Telekom.

Sovereign funds are generally created by countries with budget surpluses to set aside funds for investment to benefit their citizens and economies. Some of the worlds best-known sovereign funds include those of oil-rich nations such as Norway and Gulf countries. Turkeys case is rather out of spec, for it boasts neither budget surpluses nor energy revenues.

Since the fund was already under government control, why did Erdogan feel the urge to take the reins into his own hands?

The first point the opposition highlights is that the new structure removes Turkeys key economic and financial assets from the scope of public auditing. The second point is the planned use of the fund for borrowing in a bid to overcome increasing financial strains. Turkey needs to secure $230 billion in external funds to roll over its economy in the next 12 months.

A legislative decree, issued in December, had authorized the TVF to borrow and transfer debt. Why was this necessary while the treasury was already there? The treasury remains bound by certain rules, including a budget approved by parliament, while the TVF is legally a company, enjoying both flexibility and exemption from public auditing. It can now securitize the revenues of the entities in its portfolio and borrow as much as it wants from any lender it likes. Companies in the TVF can transfer their debts to other companies created by the fund. In other words, the mechanism extends the treasurys domestic and external borrowing authority to the fund, and, by implication, to Erdogan. Hence, it is often described as a parallel treasury.

For economist Umit Akcay, the management shakeup is fraught with confusion and uncertainty. Frankly, I am struggling to figure out what prompted the administrative changes, for the fund was already attached to the presidents office, he told Al-Monitor. This could be a preparation for something that we dont know yet or an attempt to create a more centralized structure.

Akcay explained that the previous administration had drawn up a strategy paper for the fund, but it was never officially released. There could be a dispute on what the strategy should be, he said. Turkeys financing needs will grow in the coming days, so this could be a sort of a preparation for that.

Erdogans decision to take over the fund incensed the opposition. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), tweeted, What a state! The president appoints himself the head of the wealth fund and his son-in-law the deputy. The fund he presides over is outside the budget. The Court of Accounts and parliament cannot audit the fund.

CHP spokesman Faik Oztrak, a former treasury undersecretary, grumbled that Turkey was descending into the league of failed dynasty states in the Middle East. How will local and foreign investors trust Turkey if the president appoints himself the head of the fund and his son-in-law the deputy? Who is going to audit them? he asked, warning that the move would exacerbate the confidence problem in the economy and fuel capital flights.

In remarks to an online journal, Yalcin Karatepe, professor of finance at Ankara University, commented that Erdogan would now decide which public assets would be transferred to the fund. The disposals over those assets will not be subject to public auditing. There is no Court of Accounts auditing here, he said. The wealth fund is a company subject to private law provisions. It can borrow, make investments, set up partnerships and deal at the markets. Its powers are too broad, but its auditing is limited to independent audit, which excludes expediency and compliance and pertains only to accounting records, he added.

Besides the size of the TVF itself, the amount of funds it will create is equally important. In the early days of the TVF, the pro-government press had painted a rosy prospect, whereby once the funds assets reach $200 billion, it will be able to create funds of up to $1.2 trillion through the issuance of bonds and debt securities  without disposing of those assets.

The precise value of companies handed over to the fund is not actually known. In February 2017, Treasury Undersecretary Osman Celik said the total value of assets stood at $160 billion. Since then, the general estimate has reached $200 billion.

Lack of transparency and extreme exposure to politization remain the fundamental problems of the fund.

Turkey is no stranger to how extrabudgetary funds could spiral out of control. Such funds had proliferated in the 1980s under the premiership of Turgut Ozal. Recalling those years, economic commentator Bahadir Ozgur told Al-Monitor, We know from the Ozal era how such funds could become a dangerous tool in government hands. Ozal was the inventor of the extrabudgetary funds. He was struggling to create funds for his big infrastructure projects and in order to get rid of budget constraints and the legal restrictions of borrowing instruments, he moved to set up funds that were attached directly to him and were free of parliamentary supervision. But things ran so amok that the precise number of funds remained unknown for years. In 1991, a minister, who was asked a question on the issue, admitted he could not remember the number of funds.

After Ozals party lost power in 1991, the state struggled for months to determine the assets and liabilities of the funds, Ozgur continued. Yet most of the money was in 11 basic funds. And it turned out that almost all resources there were funneled to giant populist infrastructure projects, and via them to businessmen and contractors close to the government or relatives of politicians.

Yet in Ozals time, Turkeys public scrutiny mechanisms, including parliament, were more efficient than their defanged versions today. At a time when all powers are concentrated in the presidents hands and opacity and nepotism are on the rise, concerns over the future of the fund are all the more legitimate.
Over the past few weeks there have been widespread reports of systemic Chinese oppression of as many as 1 million Uighur Turks living in Chinas Xinjiang region, and allegations that members of this mostly Muslim ethnic minority are forcefully confined to concentration camps for re-education and de-radicalization.

Academics, journalists and opinion-makers in many countries frequently bring up the issue on social media, but strangely, the Turkish government, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ultranationalist ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) appear to be ignoring the problem. The Turkish media also appear deaf and mute.

Turkey had always been sensitive to oppressive policies against some 22 million Uighur Turks living in Chinas Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, also known as East Turkestan. In the past, harsh Chinese policies used to spark protests on Turkey's streets, and black flowers were delivered to Chinese diplomatic missions in Turkey. However, nothing of this nature happens nowadays. There are no protests.

One wonders the reason for the silence at a time when nationalist sentiments in Turkey are gaining momentum.

There are three possible explanations for the lack of reaction from Ankara. First, there are political matters. Ankara, which is experiencing serious economic problems, is trying to diversify its holdings of US dollars and eurobonds. China offers an opportunity for Turkey to diversify its resources.

Ankara also hopes that China can invest in Turkey in the fields of energy  particularly natural gas storage, nuclear energy and solar energy  communication, satellite technology, the internet, mobile broadband, rail and sea logistics, e-commerce, e-finance and mining. Considering Beijings massive infrastructure project, One Belt, One Road, Ankara believes China can bring hundreds of millions of dollars in capital to Turkey for investments in Turkey's critical transport infrastructure. It's worth remembering that the US Senate is considering a bill to prevent Turkey from borrowing from international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund.

"Now it's not as easy as it was some years ago for us to borrow from the US or Europe," a Turkish economist working in a government institution told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. "We now think we can try to borrow from China. We can also borrow from the yuan market, which will be no different than borrowing from other markets."

Considering the deteriorating economy, it's a safe bet that Ankara will have to sell some of the states most important assets. Chinese investors may bring enough capital to give Erdogans Cabinet a little breathing room before the local elections in March.

Also worth mentioning, Chinese banks are very active in creating a trade zone in the wider Middle East including Iran, Turkey, the Caucasus and North Africa, in which the Chinese yuan is to be used as the new currency. In two to three years, Ankara hopes to play a pivotal role in these efforts.

Furthermore, Turkeys desperate need to diversify its energy sources is another dimension of the current realpolitik. In late July, Turkey's state gas importer Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (Botas) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China signed a memorandum of understanding to increase the natural gas storage capacity at facilities in two Turkish provinces. The memorandum provides for a 15-year, $1.2 billion loan to boost capacity at the Lake Tuz facility from 1.2 billion cubic meters to about 5.4 billion cubic meters in the medium term. Capacity at the Silivri facility, which currently can store 2.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas, also will be increased, to 4.6 billion cubic meters.

By 2023, the facilities will be able to accommodate a total of 10 billion cubic meters  about 20% of Turkey's annual natural gas consumption. Thus, China is helping Turkey diversify its sources and lessen its dependence on Russia and Iran.

Another possible reason why Turkish media outlets are ignoring Chinas oppression could be the government restrictions on the media  though no one seems to be covering the issue, whether mainstream, pro-government or even anti-government media.

Finally, there are those who think the real cause for the silence is the sudden eruption of US media interest in the Uighurs, which some see as US manipulation. According to this theory, the United States doesnt want a Turkey-China rapprochement and is intentionally keeping the Uighur issue front and center. For Turkey to criticize China on the topic would serve US interests.

The only political reaction in Turkey to the Chinese practices came from Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a parliament member representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP). Gergerlioglu has been the only public figure to publicly criticize China, pointing to a report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The report alleges the Chinese government is confining Uighur Turks to camps and torturing them. He has submitted an inquiry about the situation to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

If Cavusoglu answers the query we may better understand why Ankara is so quiet. But dont forget, in our new executive political system under Erdogan, ministers are no longer required to answer queries from parliament.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps new Syria diplomatic team is ramping up diplomatic efforts as it tries to bolster Turkish and European efforts to avert a Russia-backed Syrian military operation to retake the northwest Syrian province of Idlib.

Jim Jeffrey, Secretary of State Mike Pompeos new envoy for Syria engagement, and special envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn met today in Geneva with UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura and the so-called "small group" of allied nations generally opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. Officials from Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom were also due to attend, the UN said.

Jeffrey and Rayburn "traveled to Geneva this week," a State Department official, speaking not for attribution, told Al-Monitor. They will engage with like-minded countries regarding the situation in Idlib, reaffirm our position that any military offensive would be a reckless escalation of the conflict and push for progress in the Geneva process under [UN Security Council Resolution] 2254.

Rayburn also held meetings with European officials and Syrian opposition figures in Brussels yesterday.

Jeffrey, in meetings with diplomats and journalists since his appointment last month, has emphasized that the United States is ramping up its diplomatic engagement on Syria and maintaining its troop presence in Syria for now, both to prevent the return of the so-called Islamic State (IS), and ultimately to press for the departure of Iranian forces from Syria. He has also stressed that the stance has the support of both Pompeo and President Trump, who previously said he wanted to bring US troops home from Syria.

The president made clear to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin that the United States is determined to maintain a presence in Syria in order to ensure the enduring defeat of [IS] and is committed to the strategic goal of diminishing and ultimately seeing an end to Iranian forces and proxies in Syria, Jeffrey told a small group of journalists at the State Department on Sept. 6. So that means that we're not in a hurry to pull out.

Jeffrey also pushed back on the inevitability of an imminent Russian-backed Syrian assault to retake Idlib.

I think the last chapter of the Idlib story has not yet been written because the Turks are trying to find a way out, said Jeffrey, who previously served as the US ambassador to Turkey. The Turks have shown a great deal of resistance to an attack.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet Putin in Sochi on Monday to try to work out a compromise to avert an all-out assault on Idlib, which has some 3 million civilians, many of whom have fled other parts of Syria. Senior Turkish, French, German and Russian officials also met in Istanbul today to discuss the situation.

Turkey was represented at the four-way talks in Istanbul Friday by Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogans special adviser; Germany by its national security adviser John Hacker; France by Philippe Etienne, senior diplomatic counselor for French President Emmanuel Macron; and Russia by Yuri Ushakov, Putins senior foreign policy adviser, reported the National, citing Turkish media.

We are making an effort for a cease-fire in Idlib, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on a visit to Pakistan today.

We are ready to cooperate with everyone to fight terrorist organizations, Cavusoglu said. But killing everyone  civilians, women, children  like this in the name of fighting terrorist organizations is not right and is not humane.

Both Turkey and Europe are anxious to prevent an all-out assault on Idlib that could send a new wave of refugees to their countries, as well as foreign fighters who could carry out terrorist attacks.

Idlib is an existential issue for us, said one European official, speaking not for attribution.

The flurry of diplomatic consultations and new US pressure could help buy time for the Turks to try to separate al-Qaeda-linked jihadi fighters from the rest of the population in Idlib.

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria must not recklessly attack Idlib Province, Trump wrote on Twitter on Sept. 3. The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Dont let that happen!

US officials have warned against a reckless escalation in Idlib, without committing to the use of US military force, except in the case of chemical weapons use, said Sam Heller, Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group.

The main message from Trumps new Syria diplomatic team seems to be, the US is not exiting Syria in the near future, Heller said. But  even that is a return to the stated strategy from earlier this year. They talk about a more energetic and motivated diplomatic effort. But I dont think that is necessarily the input that was missing in Syrias political process, for it to work.

When it comes to Geneva, the problem is not a lack of US enthusiasm or will, Heller said. You can do Geneva more forcefully but that wont obviously give you a different outcome. I think that is unlikely. To date the Syrian government has been unwilling to decapitate itself or agree to its remodeling under international auspices in Geneva.

The main Trump administration demand on Syria concerns Iran, not Syrian governance, Heller said.

The main ask is an end to an Iranian strategic military presence, Heller said. That is a demand they have in common with the Netanyahu government and Israel and which I think the Israelis have pushed for in similar terms.

Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat now with the Syrian opposition, agreed that the new Trump commitment on Syria is focused on Iran.

The new US Syria teams message is strong: We are here, we are not in a hurry to leave, Barabandi told Al-Monitor. But still, we should not misunderstand, the target is Iran.
Full-time and on-site leased workers of a Birmingham plant may be eligible for benefits due to how its business was affected by increased imports.

The Alabama Department of Labor today announced that workers at Rexam Beverage Can Corp.'s Birmingham plant, who worked in jobs related to metal packaging and aluminum can ends, may be eligible for funds under the Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015.

This includes on-site leased workers from Manpower and Coretek, Birmingham.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs, or whose work time and wages are reduced, as a result of increased imports.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor found that the workers may have become unemployed because Rexam is a supplier to a firm that produces and supplies component parts directly to another firm.

The relief covers periods of unemployment occurring on or after June 28, 2017 through Aug. 31, 2020.

The benefits workers are eligible for include training, job search and relocation assistance, and the health coverage tax credit.

If workers have exhausted their cash benefits under other state and federal unemployment programs, they could be eligible for additional weekly benefits equivalent to the amount they were receiving under other programs.

Employees who are 50 years of age and older, who obtain full-time employment after their separation from the affected employer, may be eligible for training and allowances under the RTAA program.

Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington said those potentially eligible for benefits will be notified individually.
A young Birmingham man was acquitted of murder this week after his attorney said he had no part in the crime nearly three years ago.

James Reynolds, 21, was charged with murder in the November 2015 shooting of Kameron Kerron Dumas. Prosecutors said Reynolds wasn't the triggerman, but he was charged under Alabama's felony murder law which says a person can be charged with murder if they are participating in a felony crime that results in death, whether or not that person actually pulled the trigger.

After a trial this week in Jefferson County Circuit Judge Laura Petro's court, jurors found Reynolds not guilty.

John Robbins, Reynolds' attorney, said his client and his family are "happy and relieved" with the verdict. "James was 18 at the time of incident. Hopefully, he can move on with his life and become a solid and productive member of our community.The prosecutors tried a good case, and they are fine lawyers. However, based upon the facts of this case, the jury returned the correct verdict."

Dumas was killed Nov. 17, 2015, outside of his Alabama Avenue home. Deputy District Attorney Kylie Jernigan said during her opening statement that Aaron Thomas, a friend of Reynolds, was trying to sell Reynolds' .40 caliber gun and arranged with Marquis Graham, Dumas' younger brother, to make a trade.

Thomas and Reynolds went to the Alabama Avenue house, where Graham and Dumas came met them outside. The brothers walked to the driver's side window of Thomas' car and talked, but Reynolds said he wasn't okay with the trade. They drove off, while the brothers went back inside.

Jernigan said about 10 minutes later, Thomas and the brothers decided to meet up again. Thomas and Reynolds came back to the home, and Dumas and Graham again walked up to their car. When Dumas leaned in the car for the trade, Jernigan said, Thomas snatched the Dumas' gun and cash and fired Reynolds .40 caliber gun at Dumas twice.

As Thomas and Reynolds were driving off, Graham pulled his wounded brother out of the car and rode his bicycle to the nearby Birmingham police precinct for help. Dumas died later that day at UAB Hospital.

Robbins said Reynolds wasn't part of any deal between Thomas and Graham or Dumas. Thomas did not have permission to sell or trade that gun, and acted on his own in doing so. Robbins said, "Our prayers, including those of James and his family, are with Kameron's family."

Thomas, who went by the name "Shoota Man Gang," was originally charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of murder.

Robbins also talked about gun violence in the community. "We should not forget, though, that a 16 year old young man lost his life over a senseless situation. It is a tragedy," he said.

"The lives of too many of the young men and women of our community are being cut short over senseless gun violence. We need to work together to stop the killing. Disagreements can settled without a gun. Insults are only words; they are not worth dying over, nor are they worth going to prison over."

Deputy DA Dain Stewart also prosecuted the case.
Twelve men and women were sworn in Friday as new Birmingham police officers.

The ceremony for Class 106-138 was held at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Police Chief Patrick Smith welcomed the new officers and administered the oath of office, and Jefferson County District Judge Katrina Ross delivered the keynote speech.

Smith said they must all work together to build a department of excellence. "Take pride in what you do. Take pride in who you are,'' the chief said. "There's a high demand each citizen has for each new officer."

Smith told the new officers a story about when he was a child and went with his father to a mechanic. Cars lined the street waiting to get in to see the man.

"This is what I've been telling you: 'When you do a good job, people will look for you,''' Smith's father told him. "He had a system of excellence. This is what our department has to do with the community. I want each one of you to learn to be the go-to person. I'm depending on every one of these new officers to be a part of that."

The chief told the new officers they have three responsibilities: protect, serve and show respect. "Just because you take someone to jail, doesn't mean you have to treat them less than human,'' Smith said. "You never look down on another man or woman."

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin also addressed the graduates. He reiterated the Birmingham Police Academy Pledge: "If you decide to enter these doors, you must acknowledge and accept that you will be challenged mentally, physically and academically each day that you are here. You will develop the proper balance of strength, character and above all, compassion. It is only then that you will graduate from this academy."

"Thank you all for stepping up to that plate,'' Woodfin said. "Thank you all for wanting to be an every-day hero."

Class 106-138 is the second graduation class in 2018. Fifteen new officers were sworn in on March 16. The third academy class for the year begins in October.

The Birmingham Police Department is roughly 100 officers short. When Smith took over the department's helm in June, he said he would focus on bring the force up to full strength. He said he plans to better market the job openings at BPD and to reach out to potential job candidates earlier than normal. "There's no way this department should be 100 officers in arrears,'' he said in an interview with AL.com.

The new officers will now spend 16 weeks with a Field Training Officer before going out on their own.

The new officers are: Ja'Won Arrington, Benjamin Burandt, Marcus Chaney, Kenneth Flemming, Vincent Hill, Steven Leonard, Joshua Melton, Calvin Perry, Timothy Popwell, Carrie Rossomme, Michael Shelby and Prentice Sherrod.
Total investment of Swiss companies in Saudi Arabia hit $2.91bln, Saudi authorities announced Thursday.

Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) in a statement noted that most of investments came from 94 firms.

These Swiss entities according the SAGIA have pumped $2.91bln in the Saudi economy.

The leading Swiss firm, Dhurom company for electricity, has invested $2.09bln; over 90 per cent of the value of total investment by Swiss companies.

The statement came on the sidelines of the 11th meeting of the Saudi-Swiss Business Council (SSBC) that started on Wednesday, 12 September in Bern, Thomson Reuters Zawya reports.
Youth evangelist Acton Bowen has entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disorder or defect to multiple child sex charges in Etowah County.

A grand jury in June issued six indictments against the 38-year-old Bowen, founder of Acton Bowen Outreach, on a total of 21 felony crimes and seven misdemeanors. The charges against him - involving five boys between the ages of 12 and 16 - are second-degree sodomy, enticing a child into a vehicle or home for the purpose of a sex act, traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, facilitating, arranging, providing or paying for the transport of a child for the purpose of a sex act, and second-degree sexual abuse. All of the charges are felonies except second-degree sex abuse.

Court records indicate Bowen was arraigned on those charges Sept. 10. Circuit Judge David A. Kimberley noted in an order issued that day that in a majority of the charges - 19 of them - Bowen waived formal reading of the indictments and entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disorder or defect. Those 19 charges were for the crimes of actual sex acts.

In the remaining counts of the indictments - which were for traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act or facilitating, arranging, providing or paying for the transport of a child for the purpose of a sex act - Bowen reserved arraignment pending a constitutionality challenge.

Bowen was initially arrested by Hoover police in April. He has been indicted in Jefferson County on charges of second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act. The victim in the Hoover case is a young male, but police did not release his age except to say he is over 12 and under 16.

A week after his arrest in Hoover, Etowah County sheriff's officials on April 17 arrested Bowen on multiple charges there involving the five male victims. Later, the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida issued a warrant for Bowen's arrest for "lewd and lascivious battery of a child under 16," which is defined as engaging in sexual activity with a child older than 12 but younger than 16 by Florida law. The alleged crime that led to the charge was reported to Florida officials May 23. A warrant for Bowen's arrest was issued May 24. Authorities said reports indicate the incident happened between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2016.

Bowen remains held in the Etowah County Jail without bond. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Allegations that the city of Huntsville is refusing to turn over evidence in a police officer's murder case are "emphatically untrue," Mayor Tommy Battle said at tonight's city council meeting.

The mayor read a statement in response to a court motion filed by Madison County prosecutors earlier this week.

In the court filing, prosecutors asked a judge to force the city to comply with a subpoena for records from the police review board hearing where Officer William Darby was cleared of wrongdoing in a fatal shooting. Months after the review board hearing, a Madison County grand jury indicted Darby on a murder charge for the April 3 fatal shooting of Jeffrey Parker, a 49-year-old mentally ill man.

"This administration upholds the law," Battle said. "Our legal department will respond to any evidentiary requests through the appropriate legal channels. The city has provided volumes of materials -- statements, videos and evidence to the district attorney's office in the William Darby case, including the entire file from the criminal investigation division."

In their court filing, prosecutors acknowledge receiving the criminal investigation file from the police department. However, prosecutors said the city attorney's office has refused to provide potentially exculpatory evidence from the review board hearing. At the hearing, Darby and two eye witnesses gave sworn statements, the court filing says. The records of the review board hearing aren't included in the criminal investigation file. The criminal investigation file includes body camera video and other evidence.

The judge hasn't yet ruled on the prosecution's request. A hearing is set for Sept. 28.

Madison County Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann, who is prosecuting the case along with Assistant District Attorney Tim Douthit, said he can't comment on the case because of a gag order issued by Circuit Judge Donna Pate. The gag order applies only to the parties of the case--prosecutors, law enforcement and the defense.

"I certainly wish I could comment because I certainly would," Gann told AL.com by phone Thursday night. "We respect Judge Pate's gag order and will not be addressing the mayor's comments."

The DA's office and members of the police citizens advisory council attended the review board hearing -- though neither group has a vote in the outcome of the review. The final decision was left to three Huntsville police captains, who cleared Darby of wrongdoing.

In their motion Gann and Douthit said, "Neither the captains nor other persons in attendance were allowed to ask questions or interview any witnesses."

'Playing politics'

In his statement, the mayor expressed frustration with media reports about the prosecution's motion. Battle appeared to be referring to articles published by AL.com and its news partner WHNT News-19. The articles were published within minutes of the motion filing, the mayor said.

"It's pretty obvious somebody is playing politics with our judicial system and the integrity of the police department," Battle said. "The city of Huntsville will continue to provide all documents as required by law.

"We've worked diligently to uphold the letter and the spirit of Judge Pate's gag order and to allow a fair trial by an impartial jury."

The city isn't considered a party to the criminal case, meaning it isn't bound by the gag order.

"I'm extremely proud of the honorable work performed by the men and women who work for the city of Huntsville -- proud of our public safety officers and proud of our community," Battle said. "In this great country of the free, let's take politics out of the courtroom and treat this police officer fairly."

Since Darby went from cleared by the department to indicted by a grand jury in August, the public has heard competing narratives but seen little evidence.

The mayor Battle and Police Chief Mark McMurray say Officer William Darby did nothing wrong and isn't a murderer.

On the other hand, Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard was "gravely concerned" about Darby's actions and took the case to a grand jury. At least 12 of the 18 grand jurors agreed with the DA and issued an indictment for murder.

The shooting was captured on body camera video, which has been viewed by the mayor, police chief, DA's office and grand jury.

The City Council -- at the mayor's urging -- recently voted to pay thousands of dollars for Darby's defense using taxpayer money. At least four of the five city council members said they haven't seen body camera footage of the shooting. The city has refused to release the videos to the public.

Darby, a 25-year-old from neighboring Morgan County, has been on the police force for two years. He's out on bail and remains on paid leave pending trial.

The day of the shooting, Parker called police and said he was suicidal and armed. At the scene, Darby commanded Parker to drop the gun, the police department said. When Parker didn't follow orders, Darby shot him, the police said.

Updated Sept. 14 at 6:29 a.m. to correct a typo in a quote.
The Alabama State Department of Education on Thursday issued report cards for colleges and universities that prepare Alabama's teachers and overall, Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey said parents and communities should feel confident that public school teachers are well-prepared to teach.

"Teachers coming out of our institutions are, for the most part," Mackey said, "overwhelmingly well-qualified to be in the classroom."

But, Mackey said, "There's no question that we really do need to focus on mathematics and science in elementary school" based on the number of attempts it took candidates to pass teacher certification tests.

The report cards, the first since 2009, did not contain letter grades, but instead show three measures related to teacher preparation: the percentage of teacher candidates that pass the required teacher tests, results of surveys completed by the principal of the school at which the first-year teacher was hired, and results of surveys completed by first-year teachers about how well-prepared they felt they were for that first year of teaching.

Mackey said he met with the deans of the colleges of education last Friday to discuss report card results. Officials at the state department are working with teacher preparation programs in areas where they may be weak, but Mackey said he was pleased with the measures overall.

The results cover the test scores and survey results of teachers who were in their first year of teaching during the 2016-2017 school year. Test results for 2,452 bachelor's-level, or Class B, candidates and 458 Master's-level, or Class A, candidates were provided for the 26 public and private colleges of education.

Twenty of those 26 programs are accredited, Mackey said, and the other six meet Alabama's program standards but haven't completed accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs, or CAEP. All public teacher preparation programs are accredited, he said.

In reviewing the results, Mackey pointed out that candidates performed better on tests of the subjects taught within the colleges of education. Those subjects are typically related to how to teach students as opposed to content knowledge.

Some content areas that are tested are taught within colleges of education, but others that are tested are not, he said.

Those different types of tests---how to teach, content taught within a college of education and content taught outside of a college of education---are indicated on three separate pages of the report and in different colored bands.

Teacher candidates didn't perform as well on tests in content areas like math, science and social studies that are taught in classes outside of the colleges of education, he said.

"It is pretty clear that the challenges that we have are in those core courses taught outside the colleges of education," Mackey said. The question is whether those college classes are giving teacher candidates enough of a depth of content knowledge to then go and teach those subjects, he said.

Content knowledge and knowing how to teach are equally important, Mackey said. Next steps include reaching out to presidents and provosts within the universities but outside of the colleges of education to make sure they're focusing on the areas of content that teachers need to know.

The full report cards for each teacher preparation program are posted on the state department website and at the links below.

Alabama A and M University

Alabama State University

Athens State University

Auburn University

Auburn University Montgomery

Birmingham-Southern College

Faulkner University

Huntingdon College

Jacksonville State University

Judson College

Miles College

Oakwood University

Samford University

Spring Hill College

Stillman College

Talladega College

Troy University

Tuskegee University

University of Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Alabama in Huntsville

University of Mobile

University of Montevallo

University of North Alabama

University of South Alabama

University of West Alabama

Teachers take test in the Praxis series to gain certification in a subject area and grade level. Though the state board of education voted to raise cut scores on many of the Praxis tests effective Sept. 1, the results on the report cards are based on the old cut scores.

The highest first-attempt pass rates were in the early childhood education area where 95 percent of the 362 test-takers on the regular education test passed on the first try, and 100 percent of the 72 test-takers passed the early childhood education special education test on the first try.

The lowest first-attempt pass rates in core subjects were in the areas of math and science. Only 53 percent of the 73 candidates taking the mathematics test passed on the first try. For 34 percent of those taking the Mathematics content test, it took three or more tries to pass.

Of the 1,039 elementary education test-takers, 76 percent passed the "multiple subjects: science" test while 77 percent passed the "multiple subjects: math" test.

Because the report considers the whole population of teachers that earned certificates, eventually 100 percent of test-takers did pass the test. As a result, this report does not track those who did not pass, Mackey said.

The survey of teachers asked how well teachers felt they were prepared in 21 separate areas, and most respondents said they were well-prepared. The area with the highest percentage, at eight percent, of teachers who said they felt least prepared was in managing the learning environment and engaging students in active learning.

The second set of survey results shows principals evaluations of the first-year teacher in 26 separate areas and categorize the teacher's practice as either ineffective, emerging, effective or as a teacher leader. Mackey said a first-year teacher should be expected to need a lot of support, so high percentages of responses of emerging were not a "bad mark" against the teacher.

Here's the statewide report.

Alabama - Teacher Preparati... by on Scribd

Here's a look at how many teachers from each Alabama teacher preparation program were certified during the 2016-2017 school year.
Alabama's second annual Governor's Job Fair for People with Disabilities will be held Oct. 25 in Huntsville, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.

Job seekers will get a chance to meet and interview with employers at the event, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Von Braun Center.

More than 1,100 job seekers and almost 100 employers attended the first job fair in Birmingham last October.

This year's event will be a collaborative effort by the Alabama Career Center System/Alabama Department of Labor, the city of Huntsville, United Ability, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, the Governor's Office on Disability and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

October is National Disability Awareness Month, a national campaign to promote employment of people with disabilities and recognize their work.

"Alabamians are eager to get to work and ensuring that we are creating opportunities for all of the men and women across our state remains a top priority of mine," Ivey said in a press release.

There is no charge for employers or job seekers to participate in the fair, which is open to the public. Job seekers and employers are encouraged to pre-register online with the Department of Labor. Employers can also call the Huntsville Career Center at 256-851-0537.

Entry to the job fair will be faster for those who pre-register. Participants should print their confirmation and bring it with them or save their confirmation e-mail on their phones. On-site registration will also be offered.

Applicants should bring multiple copies of their resumes, dress professionally and be prepared for interviews.

Job seekers with a disability who require accommodations should contact Leslie Dawson at leslie.dawson@rehab.alabama.gov.

The facility is accessible, and buses and vans are welcome.
A 31-year-old woman died when her car crashed into a tree on Highway 17 in Lamar County Thursday afternoon, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The woman, Stephanie Lanette Carter, died when the 2005 Saturn Vue she was driving left the right side of the highway and struck a tree, troopers said. The crash happened at 3:25 p.m. Thursday.

Carter was pronounced dead on the scene. She was from Millport.

The crash happened on Highway 17 near the 231 mile marker. The crash scene is about three miles north of Millport.

Further details about the crash were not immediately available. The crash remains under investigation.
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) -- A series of gas explosions left at least four people injured and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight fires and turn off gas and electric lines to prevent further damage.



Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate Thursday afternoon, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.



A man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Lawrence resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.



When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbor's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.





Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.



Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.



"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated."



With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.



Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating four victims with injuries related to the fires but did not provide details about their conditions.



The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized, but officials who responded to the area were still investigating the cause. State officials said Columbia Gas was working to ease pressure on gas lines following the fires.



Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not immediately return calls.



Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighborhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.



"It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe."



Arial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.



Schools and senior citizen centers were being opened as gathering points for residents who fled their homes. Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante said entire neighborhoods were being evacuated in the Colonial Heights area, which he represents.



"People need to get out of this area safely," he said at the time. "It's really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous."



Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky."



Soon after 7 p.m., officials in Andover said all fires in the town had been extinguished. Around the same time, State Police said electricity was being shut off for all residents in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover, where some were still reporting an odor tied to natural gas.



The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

Written by PHILIP MARCELO
This is an opinion column.

The State of Alabama could have bought Spencer Collier a nice house, but instead it chose to fight him in court.

$337,687.34.

That's how much of your tax dollars Alabama has paid to fight a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by the former Secretary of Alabama Law Enforcement -- so far.

This case hasn't even made it to trial yet, and that tab will keep growing. More of your money will go to pay lawyers -- lawyers for former Gov. Robert Bentley and former ALEA Sec. Stan Stabler.

And let's face it. This is a case the state deserves to lose.

Collier served as Bentley's secretary of law enforcement until Bentley asked Collier to interfere in an investigation of then-Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard.

Hubbard and his allies were trying to drum up phony misconduct charges against the prosecutor in Hubbard's case, Deputy Attorney General Matt Hart. ALEA had looked into the complaint and found no grounds to investigate further. Hart asked Collier for an affidavit saying as much.

And that's where Bentley stepped in.

The governor ordered Collier to not give Hart the affidavit. He wanted Collier to keep the truth a secret so Hubbard's legal team could keep a lie alive.

But Collier followed his duty and the law instead, and Bentley fired him for it.

With Collier out of the office, his replacement at ALEA, Stabler, and ALEA staff attorney Michael Robinson ordered an investigation of Collier's spending at the agency.

When Bentley fired Collier, his office cited that investigation's findings as the reason, even though the investigator, April Bickhaus, had only just begun her work.

When Bickhaus finished months later, Stabler took her report to the Alabama Attorney General's Office for them to prosecute Collier.

After conducting an investigation of its own, a state grand jury concluded that the report's allegations against Collier were without merit and never should have been brought in the first place.

In depositions since then, Stabler has testified he believes one allegation in that report was a crime -- that one of Collier's staff had used the wrong form to reimburse Collier for a pair of sunglasses he broke on the job.

In the end, that was the best Collier's enemies in the governor's office and ALEA could come up with -- using the wrong form.

For this they tried to ruin Collier's life?

Unfortunately, that same grand jury also found that there's no law in Alabama against the governor using state police to settle political scores. Instead of one or more of these clowns going to prison, it's up to the civil side of the law to make things right for Collier.

But attorneys for the state are standing in the way.

In a recent specious argument, Bentley's counsel, Maynard, Cooper & Gale lawyer John Neiman, insisted that the former governor should be able to keep donors to a dark money group secret because Collier previously kept secret what he'd told a state grand jury.

Under Alabama's grand jury secrecy act, revealing what you've told a grand jury is a felony. Collier didn't share what he'd told them because he didn't want to break the law.

This isn't serious legal representation. This is someone running up the meter for a fare you and I will have to pay.

Alabama has a General Liability Trust Fund -- essentially self insurance -- to cover "negligent or wrongful acts or omissions committed by covered employees while in the performance of their official duties in the line and scope of their employment," according to the state Finance Department.

That's money that can pay lawyers for employees who've done wrong.

Or money that can pay people who've been wronged.

Alabama has chosen the former, because if there's one truism in the life, it's that the lawyers will always get paid first.

You and I are buying a house for somebody, but not the guy who deserves it.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

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A man suffered multiple gunshot wounds late Thursday in what Limestone County sheriff's deputies are calling a "love triangle" incident.

Deputies were called to the 25000 block of Watson Lane in Elkmont after gunfire erupted inside a mobile home.

A man went to see his girlfriend, who lived with her infant another boyfriend and his brother, said sheriff's spokesman Stephen Young. After the woman answered the door, the man started making accusations, then slapped the woman and her other boyfriend, Young said. The man then set fire to a baby outfit that was hanging inside the trailer, a sheriff's news release says.

At that point, the live-in boyfriend's brother pulled a pistol and opened fire on the visiting boyfriend, Young said. The visiting boyfriend left the scene after being shot.

The man drove himself to Macedonia Road in neighboring Madison County and told authorities there that he was shot in a road-rage incident. An ambulance took the man to Huntsville Hospital. He was being treated for injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening.

Young said the case remains under investigation. For now, charges aren't being filed. The case likely will be sent to a grand jury for consideration of indictments.
It's a jet Boeing really didn't want the world to see, and one that Alabama can't wait to see more of: An Airbus A220-100 painted in Delta colors.

Bombardier and Airbus eagerly showed off photos of the new bird on Friday, after it rolled out of a paint shop at a Bombardier facility in Mirabel, Canada. Airbus said that when it's delivered, it'll make Delta the first U.S. airline to put an A220 in its fleet.

For now, Mirabel is the only manufacturing site producing the A220. But Airbus and Bombardier plan to build another assembly line at Airbus' campus in Mobile, Alabama, and begin delivering the jets in mid-2020. Executives said this week that preliminary work is under way and construction should begin late this year or early next year. When operational, that facility will provide hundreds of new aerospace jobs.

There's a lot of history behind this first Delta A220.

Bombardier spent years and billions of dollars developing what it called its C-Series jets, a family of cutting-edge commuter jets designed to carry roughly 100 to 150 passengers. The development effort strained the company's resources to the point where it might have struggled to reach its market potential with the new jet.

When Delta placed a big order for C Series jets in 2016, it triggered an international trade complaint in 2017 from Boeing. The U.S. manufacturer argued that Bombardier was benefiting from excessive governmental support and selling the jets at unfair prices.

Boeing won an initial ruling that resulted in a heavy proposed tariff. Airbus and Bombardier announced a joint venture -- with Airbus holding a majority stake -- and plans to build the jets in Mobile. Boeing decried the move as an impractical end run around the tariffs, and Delta at one point said it would wait for its jets to be made in the United States.

Boeing ultimately lost the dispute. It has formed an alliance with Brazil-based Embraer, which will help it compete in the potentially hot market for 100- to 150-seat jets. Meanwhile, Airbus officially renamed the C Series, rebranding it as the A220 family.

Given that Delta's 2016 purchase agreement was for 75 of the jets, it's quite likely that the Mobile assembly line will help fulfill the order. Other major A220 customers include JetBlue.

According to Airbus, the new jet will go through pre-flight activities next, followed by its first flight sometime this fall. It should go into service in early 2019.
Care-taking Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Thursday indicated that he would not seek a new term in office after he lost the support of the countrys top Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

We respect and obey the instructions of the religious authority Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. I did not and will not request the post of Prime Minister in the second term, Abadi said at a news conference in Baghdad.

On Monday, the Shia top cleric, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu, announced that he would not support either current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi or former PM Nouri al-Maliki to lead Iraqs next government.

Iraqis have been waiting for the formation of a new government after May 12 elections whose results had been disputed but later confirmed with minor modifications.

Abadis bloc came second in the election dominated by vibrant, anti-Iran, and anti-U.S. nationalist figure Muqtada Al-Sadr.

Besides, Abadis Dawn Party has been ruled out of the grand coalition to enable the outgoing Prime Minister to retain his position.

The western-backed caretaking Prime Ministers hopes to remain in the position had been dashed over the past days by days-long protests in the southern city of Basra where thousands of residents set government buildings on fire to protest poor public services. The protests left 15 people dead.

The Shia leader joined the first cabinet formed following the ouster of Saddam Hussein in 2003 as communication minister. He rose to the top role in September 2014 and won the fight against the Islamic State group in Mosul.
Indigenous group in Brazils Sertao region wins land rights, but says it faces threats from soon-to-be evicted settlers.

Jatoba, Brazil  Sarapo Pankararu, 36, sits in front of his house on the indigenous reserve in Brazils semi-arid Sertao region, where, after a bitter 25-year struggle, his Pankararu people have finally won their land rights.

But intitial relief has given way to tension and unease as a long-running land conflict in the region flares up again.

We have had cameras installed on our houses because of the threats, Sarapo tells Al Jazeera.

The indigenous leader says the threats  physical, verbal and online  are from the settler farmers who live on the edge of the reserve and are set to be evicted this month. He and nine other Pankararu leaders are part of a state government human rights protection programme.

The settlers eviction was first ordered in 1993 and a final eviction was ordered in June this year. Under the order, about 300 settler families must leave the 8100-hectare reserve in Pernambuco state where 6,500 Pankararu tribespeople live and was demarcated by the Brazilian government in 1987.

In the Sertao, long-running land disputes between indigenous people, settlers and landowners are common and often deadly. Experts blame slow-moving courts, impunity and the states incapacity or indifference to resolve conflicts in this poverty-stricken region.

The biggest provoker of land conflict is the Brazilian state, with its failed land policy, says Saulo Ferreira Feitosa, a professor and indigenous specialist at the Federal University of Pernambuco.

In the early 20th century, indigenous groups began to demand their ancestral lands back [Sam Cowie/Al Jazeera]

During Brazils colonisation in the northeast, indigenous people were boxed into villages by the Portuguese crown. In the 19th century, these lands were given to farmers, where indigenous people were forced to work. Then, in the early 20th century, they began to organise and demand their ancestral lands back.

In February of this year, Brazil was convicted at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for its 16-year fumble to demarcate the Xucuru indigenous land, also in Pernambuco, during which several were killed, including tribal leader Francisco de Assis Araujo.

Today, in Pernambuco, where 12 indigenous groups live, only one has its land fully demarcated while hundreds of other territories across the country remain in limbo with demarcations all but frozen in recent years.

Under Brazils 1988 post-military dictatorship constitution, indigenous people have the exclusive right to their traditionally occupied lands. Demarcation of indigenous territories throughout Brazil was supposed to be completed by 1993.

Last year was one of Brazils deadliest years on record for land conflict killings, according to local watchdog Comissao Pastoral da Terra, with a disproportionate number of indigenous people attacked or murdered.

Land conflict heats up again

The Pankararu reserve is a 10-hour drive from Pernambuco state capital Recife, through Brazils impoverished dry backlands, passing mud houses, failed and abandoned water irrigation projects, and vast plantations commanded by powerful local landowners.

Sarapo and nine other Pankararu leaders are part of a state government human rights protection programme [Sam Cowie/Al Jazeera]

The reserve sits behind a mountain range by the great Sao Francisco River where centuries ago Sarapo Pankararu says his ancestors roamed the rivers banks, fishing and hunting. Today, this stretch of the river is mostly riverside properties and tilapia fish farms.

Sarapo was just a boy when Pankararu leader Quiteria Binga was forced to flee her reserve after an attempt on her life by hired gunman believed contracted by the settlers. As with most murders and death threats to life in the Sertao, there wasnt a conviction.

It was 1993, the first time the settlers were told they had to leave. Civil society groups intervened and the indigenous reached an uneasy truce with the settlers: they could stay until the government provided them with land and compensation.

It was like a cold war, says Tiago Da Silva Oliveira, 34, a Pankararu leader and indigenous school teacher. But with the looming eviction, the conflict has begun to heat up again.

Pankararu leaders say the human rights protection programme installed the security cameras because a gunshot was fired at a house last year. Al Jazeera confirmed with the public prosecutors office that an official complaint about the gunfire had been filed and that federal police were called to the scene.

Its a very tense situation, says Maria Beatriz Ribeiro Goncalves, a prosecutor who visited the reserve. Its clear that there are political interests involved, referring to the leaders of the settlers.

Settlers say theyve been cheated

While some have already left, 302 settler families remain. They claim theyve been cheated and that compensation cash offered for their homes and land is inadequate.

Our fight is for all 302 families to be justly compensated and resettled here in the municipality of Jatoba, says Eraldo Jose de Souza, 63, the groups leader and a former city councilman for Jatoba. Souza denies the accusations by Pankararu leaders that he incited violence against them.

This is fiction, he tells Al Jazeera.

Hilda Isabel da Silva, 64, will receive 88,000 Brazilian real (about $21,100) for her home where she lives with her sons Jailson and Nildo and three other family members and keeps livestock and crops. She says the money is not enough for her to buy another home in Jatoba where a three-bedroom house with no land goes for more than 100,000 Brazilian real (about $24,000).

We are children of this land and we want to stay here, she tells Al Jazeera.

Hilda Isabel da Silva will receive 88,000 Brazilian real (about $21,100) for her home where she lives with her sons Jailson and Nildo [Sam Cowie/Al Jazeera]

Fernanda Antonia Bezerra, 35, who is blind, will not receive any compensation because her home was built after an agreed 1994 timeframe. Altogether, 153 families will not receive any compensation.

Brazils National Indigenous Foundation (Funai) is charged with providing compensation and told Al Jazeera in an email that the payments were scientifically elaborated by official agencies and priced in the region where it is located.

Regarding the settlers who will not receive compensation, the agency said: Homes existing before the timeframe are considered as having been installed in a time of good faith, and only such improvements are entitled to compensation. Last year, Funais budget was cut by 44 percent.

The settlers also say the land where they will be resettled is not suitable for family agriculture. A report by Brazils state-owned Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, produced at their request, noted the land was considered unfit for crops.

The Sarapo

need somewhere to go]

Felipe Mota Pimentel de Oliveira, a Pernambuco judge who ruled on the settlers eviction in March, tells Al Jazeera that he has sympathy for all parties, but above all, we must uphold the law.

The settlers appealed, but judge Pimentels decision was upheld. In late June, a 90-day limit for the eviction was established. Failure to comply means police will evict the settlers.

In the meantime, Sarapo and other Pankararu leaders continue to live in unease.

The state needs to act, because we need our land and [the settlers] need somewhere to go, he says.
China lacks a law that defines sexual harassment but draft legislation is being planned to come into effect by 2020.

Beijing, China  Xiao Liang never imagined her mentor would one day become her predator.

In 2016, the young writer was just months away from graduating when her favourite professor, Zheng (name changed), invited her for dinner at a public spa which has private rooms.

The evening started with a warm discussion about her work. But it ended with Xiao being cornered in a room as Zheng tried to force her into sex. The student was able to escape but the evening left its mark on her.

I was horrified. For a long time, I couldnt sleep. I knew this man to be very respectable and kind. I wondered if it was my fault, whether I had unknowingly given him the wrong message, Xiao, now 25, told Al Jazeera.

The next morning, Zheng sent her a message saying he hoped there would be no hard feelings between them. The message ended: Happy International Womens Day!.





For more than a year, Xiao kept the incident to herself. Subtle changes in appearance  she cut her hair very short and started wearing loose clothes  went mostly unnoticed by those around her.

I was afraid. I didnt want men to notice me, added Xiao.

As Zheng continued teaching at the institution, she felt powerless to change anything.

Silence surrounding sexual assault allegations is common across China. The country lacks a legal definition of sexual harassment, as well as laws to deal with these cases.

But there are signs that this is changing.

In 2017, a social media post sent shockwaves through Chinas academic community. Prominent Beijing professor Chen Xiaowu was accused of assaulting a former student 13 years ago. Several subsequent allegations resulted in Chen being sacked in January 2018.

This incident sparked Chinas #Metoo campaign and gave Xiao the encouragement she needed to speak out about her own experience.

She wrote an online piece about the encounter with Zheng and contacted the university, Shanghai Commercial College, to complain. The response she received was not what she expected.

They ignored me. Until now, they havent given me a proper response. Officials there couldnt believe these things could happen there. I believe he still teaches and Im worried for his female students.

Shanghai Commercial College has not responded to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

Legislation in the works

China is now planning draft legislation which would, for the first time, define sexual harassment and also make employers responsible for preventing it.

It would encourage people to go to court and defend their rights, said Feng Yuan, a former journalist who works as a sexual assault victims advocate in Beijing.

Feng said Chinas #Metoo campaign gained momentum in recent months but, for many, progress is still lacking.

Its slow and hard. On one hand we have more and more victims standing up to report cases, but investigations are often slow and opaque. Results are then often hushed, said Feng before adding that stronger penalties and prevention measures were needed.

When Chinese companies treat their female employees as sex objects to attract male recruits, it should be no surprise when sexual harassment in the workplace becomes pervasive. https://t.co/CJkc1eGt4t pic.twitter.com/rWb6wx30pR  Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) April 23, 2018

While universities were the original epicentre of Chinas #Metoo movement, several prominent figures were called out on social media in recent months.

Following allegations, Lei Chuang stepped down as head of his charity organisation YiYou.

Last month, Shi Xuecheng , the countrys highest-ranking Buddhist monk, resigned as president of a government-backed Buddhist Association after a 95-page document accusing him of assaulting nuns was leaked online.

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But while Feng welcomes the new draft law, she said it could be years before its implemented.

According to Chinese state media, the draft code is set to be completed by 2020 and would need to be voted in at the National Peoples Congress.

In China, the current gap in legislation means sexual harassment complaints are often dealt with as labour disputes, with successful lawsuits being rare.

According to a report released in June by the Beijing Yuanzhong Gender Development Centre, sexual assault was a major factor in only 34 cases out of millions of verdicts delivered by courts between 2010 and 2017.

Alleged victims, meanwhile, are also likely to be sued. Last month, state television news anchor Zhu Jun announced he was suing social media users for circulating an anonymous post accusing him of sexual misconduct.

We need to continue to push for the improvement and implementation of this law, said Xiao Meili, a Guangzhou-based feminist activist who considers the draft code a win for Chinas #Metoo advocates but adds the work is far from over.

Right now, the direct effect may be small. But what it has done is provide more legitimacy for the survivors who stand up. Its also a sign that #Metoo in China is working, and that we can change the attitude of the government.

Xiao agrees, saying that the draft law has given victims like her new hope. While Zheng and his university havent addressed her complaint yet, she says she has no intention of giving up.

Many choose not to fight for justice because its risky as these professors can have a huge influence on their careers. But Ive grown and feel stronger since it happened, said Xiao. The more I speak out, the more I realise Im not alone.
EPP leader Manfred Weber says he will fight the radical right if elected EU Commission President. Can we believe him?

American sociologist, historian and civil rights activist WEB Du Bois once suggested, always human beings will live and progress to greater, broader, and fuller life. Such hopes are unfortunately fading away on both sides of the Atlantic. The election of Donald Trump as president destabilised the institutional system and social bonds in the US, and the European continent is certainly not experiencing a golden age either.

Exclusionary nationalisms, narrow patriotism, chauvinism, and incidents of ethnicity-based violence are on the rise in a number of EU member states. And as demonstrated once again in Sweden last Sunday, anti-immigration far-right parties are making considerable gains in most European countries.

Ahead of the May 2019 European Parliament election, confidence levels of euro-elites appear to be running low. Earlier this month, EU Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, who is a member of the leading Europes People Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, suggested that the European project is under threat. As well as outside opponents such as Russia and China, he said, some within Europe want to weaken it or even destroy it  Poland, Hungary, Romania, the government of Italy.

The general mood may be low, however, the EU establishment recently took action to prove that it is not sitting idly by as these right-wing governments attack the foundations of the European project.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted to launch punitive action against Hungary for breaching the blocs core values. The move may bring unprecedented political sanctions against Budapest and even strip the Hungarian government, led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, of its EU voting rights.

Chairman of the centre-right EPP Group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, was one of the prominent MEPs who voted for the motion. I will vote in favour of Article 7, Weber said on Tuesday, referring to the procedure that can lead to a member country losing its voting rights inside the EU. I think we had enough dialogue.

The next president of the EU commission?

On September 5, only days before taking a strict stance against Orban, Weber, of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), had announced his candidacy in the EEP for becoming the next president of the European Commission.

In his candidacy announcement, he had argued that the EU is challenged from the outside and attacked from the inside by radicals, nationalists and anti-Europeans, and claimed his tenure will represent  a new beginning and a new chapter for Europe. This is urgently necessary because we cannot go on the way it currently is.

Weber is probably right in seeing Europe at a turning point. And as a leading candidate for the next president of the EU Commission, on the surface he appears more than ready to counter nationalist, anti-European threats  after all, he voted in favour of the motion against the Hungarian government (And harshly criticised the Polish government in July for jeopardising the independence of the judiciary).

However, his commitment to fighting the populist tendencies of the European far right is only skin deep.

Only a couple of days before voting for Hungary to be punished for breaching the blocs core values, Weber had advocated that the EPP have to work with everyone  to find out a common vision. This fundamentally meant getting closer to Orban and Matteo Salvinis nationalist vision and using the identity question as a mobilising flag in the partys electoral campaign.

In late August, Weber visited one of the migrants routes in Europe on the Turkish border and praised fellow EPP politician Boyko Borissov, Bulgarias prime minister, for his handling of migration.

Bulgaria is showing that it is possible to protect the EU external land borders, and also to efficiently control arrivals by sea. This has the full support of the EPP Group, he tweeted.

Borissovs government has been criticised for its treatment of migrants, and independent watchdogs are concerned about the freedom of media in the country.

Webers support for Borissovs immigration policies and his earlier statements on finding a common vision with the likes of Orban and Salvini demonstrates that he has a very narrow understanding of core EU values and the European identity. Weber, who is likely to take the helm of the European Commission in a years time, may appear to be against Orbans anti-European rhetoric, but it is hard to claim that he has a problem with many of his illiberal, anti-immigration policies.

After all, Webers CSU has been troubling German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her migration policies for a very long time and is quite tough in defending the Christian roots of the European continent. Moreover, in June a leaked draft on the future EPP priorities suggested using drones to patrol the EU borders, having the systematic right  to build fences, and, preserving the European way of life.

As Weber put it, [the] European Elections 2019 will decide the future of the EU. However, Germany and its governments pro-immigration stance is not about to take over the union, as some British tabloids claim these days. The most serious danger the union is currently facing is the watering down of the process of European integration and the placement of some illiberal, nationalist and anti-immigration policies at the centre of the next EU Commission, by the likes of Weber.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Bongo takes oath of office despite criticism from the opposition and members of the international community.

Ali Bongo has been sworn in as Gabons president for a second seven-year term, three days after his election victory was controversially validated by the Constitutional Court following allegations of fraud.

I pledge to devote all my efforts for the good of the Gabonese people and to ensure their wellbeing  and respect and defend the constitution and the rule of law, the 57-year-old said during Tuesdays ceremony in the presidential palace in the capital Libreville , according to AFP news agency.

Cannons were fired during the event, which was attended by a handful of African leaders including the presidents of Mali, Niger, Togo and Sao Tome, as well as the prime ministers of Chad, Senegal, the Central African Republic and Morocco, AFP said. Most regional and continental heavyweights, however, stayed away.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze said Bongo wanted to install a unity government by this week or the start of next week.

Earlier on Tuesday, the presidency had said the ceremony was going to be held at the presidential palace, without offering details of who had been invited or the time of the event.

The lack of details regarding the ceremony prompted a wave of criticism from the opposition, which has accused Bongo of stealing the vote.

You dont get sworn in unceremoniously in secret, said Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, spokesman for Bongos main rival Jean Ping.

Bongos victory in the August 27 vote was confirmed on Saturday by the countrys top court, which dismissed opposition claims of voter fraud. Violence initially erupted on August 31 after Bongo, 57, was first declared the winner. Demonstrators set the parliament ablaze and clashed with police, who arrested more than 1,000 people.

Opposition figures say more than 50 people were killed, but authorities disputed that claim, saying that just a handful of people had died in the violence.

Ping, 73, who came in second in the vote, rejected the courts ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself president elect. A career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, he had filed a legal challenge after Bongo was declared the winner by a slender margin of fewer than 6,000 votes.

Ping had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, where 95 percent of voters in the Bongo family stronghold were reported to have cast their ballots for the president on a turnout of more than 99 percent.

The Constitutional Court upheld Bongos victory and put the winning margin higher at around 11,000 votes.

The African Union said it had taken note of the courts verdict, as did UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The European Union, which sent a monitoring mission to Gabon during the election, said in a statement on Saturday that its observers had been granted very limited access to the court review process, and that the Gabonese people had a legitimate right to question the integrity of the electoral process.

Responding to the criticism, Bongo told Al Jazeera he had little interest in the opinions of the international community.

The international community does not cast a vote here, Gabonese people do. So, I am accountable to them, Bongo said.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote (172,990 votes) and Ping 47.24 percent (161,287 votes).



Gabon: Libreville reels as clashes erupt over vote

Bongos family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil and mineral-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Bongo took over from his father, Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.

Cameroons President Paul Biya, who is 83 and has held office since 1982, wrote to Bongo on Monday voicing his warm congratulations and wishing him success in the accomplishment of [his] new mandate.

Senegals President Macky Sall also congratulated Bongo, as did Alassane Ouattara, president of Cote dIvoire.

In the delicate period which Gabon is going through, I want to express to you my full encouragement and hope passionately that dialogue and calm will predominate between all the parties, Ouattara wrote in a statement.
Afghan security personnel and civilians targeted in night-time attacks across the country.

At least 37 people have been killed in night-time attacks across four provinces of Afghanistan, officials said.

Twenty-nine police officers and members of the Afghan national army were killed in Taliban attacks in the western province of Farah, the head of the provincial council, Farid Bakhtwar, said.

Taliban fighters attacked several checkpoints on the outskirts of Farah city late Thursday, as well as in three other districts, leaving at least six others wounded, according to the official.

In the northern province of Samangan, gunmen attacked a security outpost in Dara Suf district, triggering an hours-long gun battle.

Local officials said that at least six members of the security forces were killed, including police officials.

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At least 14 people were wounded in the attack, provincial council member Safiullah Samangani told the DPA news agency.

Earlier this month, 14 people were killed and six injured in Taliban attacks on police checkpoints in the same district.

Meanwhile, civilians have again been caught up in the fighting, with officials reporting two people killed by Taliban fighters in Jalrez district in the central Maidan Wardak province.

Both victims were government employees from the neighbouring province of Bamyan, provincial council members Sardar Bakhtyari and Khawani Sultani said.

The Taliban have seized several districts across the country in recent years and carry out near-daily attacks targeting Afghan security forces.

In August, Taliban fighters launched an assault on the city of Ghazni in an attack that lasted five days. More than 150 civilians were killed and wounded during the assault.

The attack was widely seen as a show of force by the Taliban before possible peace talks with the United States, which has been at war in Afghanistan for nearly 17 years.
Reported attack on a strategic highway comes as the UN warns of an imminent famine if violence is not brought to an end.

Yemens Houthi rebels say at least 15 people have been killed in air raids by a Saudi-UAE coalition targeting a strategic highway linking the port city of Hodeida with the capital, Sanaa.

Fighting near Hodeidah  the main gateway for imports of relief supplies and commercial goods into the war-ravaged country  has escalated since June after the Saudi-UAE military alliance battling the Houthis launched a wide-ranging operation to retake the strategic seaport.

The Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah news outlet said on Friday the attack on Thursday struck the Kilo 16 highway, the main supply route heading east out of Hodeidah.

More than 20 people were reported wounded.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the figures.

The reported assault came just days after the Yemeni army, backed by coalition air support, made inroads into the Kilo 16 area.

Amanda Brydon, humanitarian policy adviser at Save the Children, said the highway 16 is critical for humanitarian aid.

What we are seeing with the fighting is the critical junction at Kilo 16 is the artery towards Sanaa and other parts of the country.

The port [of Hodeidah] is a lifeline for the rest of the country. Over 80 percent of the countrys commercial imports come through this port, she told Al Jazeera.





The offensive is being carried out by a disparate collective of forces, including the National Resistance, a group of fighters loyal to Yemens former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Tihama Resistance, a group of fighters loyal to Yemens President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and the Giant Brigades, a military unit backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi see Hodeidah port as the main entry point of weapons for the Houthis and have accused their regional rival Iran of sending missiles to the rebels, a charge Tehran has denied.

Struggling to survive

On Thursday, the United Nations said ongoing violence could trigger famine in the impoverished nation where an estimated 8.4 million people are facing starvation.

The situation has dramatically deteriorated in the past few days  people are struggling to survive, Lise Grande, the UNs humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement.

Were particularly worried about the Red Sea mill, which currently has 45,000 metric tonnes of food inside, enough to feed 3.5 million people for a month. If the mills are damaged or disrupted, the human cost will be incalculable, Grande added

The war in Yemen, the regions poorest country, has unleashed the worlds most urgent humanitarian crisis. It started in 2014 when the Houthis overran much of the country, including Sanaa.

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The conflict escalated in 2015 with the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition which launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains and supporting the pro-government forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

According to the UN, at least 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition intervened in Yemen.The death toll has not been updated in years and is likely to be far higher.

Muscat talks

In a separate development, talks on Thursday held in Omans capital, Muscat ,between the UNs envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths and delegation of Houthis ended wiwthout a breakthrough, according to the rebels.

There has not been progress regarding the discussions while we have not received the guarantees, Hamid Assem, a member of the Houthi delegation, told AFP news agency.

In the talks, Mohammed Abdulsalam, who headed the Houthi delegation alongside fellow rebel official Abdelmalak al-Ajri, discussed the reasons for their absence from peace talks planned to be held in Geneva last week.

Those talks, which would have been the first in nearly two years, were scheduled to start on September 6 but the Yemeni governments delegation left after the Houthis failed to show up.

The rebels accused the UN of failing to provide guarantees for the safe return of their delegation from Switzerland to Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Thursdays talks in Muscat also covered necessary measures needed for fresh talks set for as soon as possible, the rebel-affiliated Saba news agency said.

Griffiths is also scheduled to visit Sanaa and Saudi Arabia.
Around 1,000 Saudi women have applied for co-pilot and flight attendant positions at Flynas after the low-cost airline announced this week it will soon start recruiting Saudi women as co-pilots on its aircrafts.

The Riyadh-based airline reportedly received, 24 hours following the Tuesday announcement, nearly 1,000 applications for co-pilot and cabin crew positions.

The airline also Tuesday said it wants to be the first Saudi airline to give the chance to Saudi women, a move the airline CEO Bandar Almohanna said will enable the kingdoms women have a greater role in supporting Saudi economy.

The Saudi aviation is dominated by expats, most flight attendant positions are occupied by foreign women, from various countries including the Philippines.

The plan falls in line with the kingdoms ongoing reforms seeking to change its image as the most conservative Arab country where women have to seek for male guardians to marry or to travel.

As part of the reforms, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the kingdom lifted on June 24 the ban on womens rights to drive. Authorities have also announced the recruitment of women in the security forces and in the judiciary system.

Flyadeal, another low-cost Saudi carrier, has also posted jobs for Saudi women to work as flight attendants, reports say.
Iraq post-ISIL: Anger over governments unfair compensation

Residents of Fallujah say that government compensation following the destruction caused by the fight against ISIL is not being handed out fairly.
Israeli army encircles village, home to at least 180 people, as demolition expected soon.

The Israeli military has shut down all roads leading to a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank that is threatened with demolition.

The move on Friday came days after the Israeli Supreme Court gave the green light for the army to raze Khan al-Ahmar and expel its 180 residents to make way for the building of illegal settlements.

Abdullah Abu Rahma, a local Palestinian official, told Anadolu Agency that Israeli army bulldozers had blocked all the roads leading to the village, which is located near East Jerusalem, with large mounds of earth.

Dozens of local residents and solidarity activists had tried to keep the roads open, according to Abu Rahma.

The Israeli army also continued to dismantle metal shacks that had been set up by activists protesting against the planned demolition.

Israeli forces also erected large  metal swing gates, sort of semi-permanent barriers, that can be opened and closed at will, said Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett, reporting from Khan al-Ahmar.

It seems that the activity this morning was about the latest stage of preparations ahead of this demolition, Fawcett explained.

Israels plan to demolish the village and relocate its residents has been criticised by Palestinians and drawn international condemnation.

On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling Israels decision to demolish Khan al-Ahmar and forcefully remove its inhabitants a breach of international humanitarian law.

Petitions to reverse the demolition order were rejected by Israels top court, which agreed with Israeli authorities saying that the village had been built without proper permits.

Palestinians say that the required building permits are impossible to obtain.

The villagers are members of the Bedouin Jahalin tribe which was expelled from their lands in the Naqab (Negev) desert by the Israeli military in the 1950s. They were displaced twice more before they settled in Khan al-Ahmar, long before the illegal settlements around it existed.

The small community of 40 families lives in tents and shacks on what is classified by the 1993 Oslo Accords as Area C, which accounts for 60 percent of the West Bank and is under total Israeli administrative and security control.

The Israeli authorities hope to expel 10,000 Bedouin residents from the E1 Zone, which sits on 15sq km of land in East Jerusalem, to make way for a series of new Jewish-only residential units linking Jerusalem to the Maale Adumim illegal settlement.

Activists say that continued settlement building in the area would eventually divide the occupied West Bank in two, dealing a death blow to any remaining hopes of a two-state solution.

Back in Khan al-Ahmar, Fawcett explained that after the Israeli plan is for the villages residents to be moved to a satellite town on the eastern fringes of occupied East Jerusalem called Abu Dis.
Global body rejects pro-whaling countries bid to have decades-old ban on commercial hunting overturned at Brazil summit.

A Japan-led proposal to lift a 32-year ban on the commercial hunting of whales has been rejected by a global body for the conservation of the mammals.

During a bi-annual summit in Brazil, member states of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on Friday voted down the motion by 41 to 27.

Two member states  Russia and South Korea  abstained, while one  Monaco  did not participate.

Norway and Iceland  the only countries to explicitly allow commercial whaling  were among those who backed Japans bid.

Tokyo said it would undertake a fundamental reassessment of its IWC membership following the vote, which guaranteed the bodys 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling will continue.

Patrick Ramage, a director of marine conservation for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), welcomed the result as good news for whales, adding that Japans audacious proposal would have been a big step backward.

[The proposal] could have erased a generation of conservation measures and restrictions on whale hunting, Ramage told Al Jazeera from the summit in Florianopolis, the capital of Brazils southeastern Santa Catarina state.

Its increasingly clear that Japan needs to reconcile itself to the emerging global consensus for whale conservation instead of whale killing, he added.

On Thursday, the IWC also passed a non-binding Florianopolis Declaration stating commercial whaling is no longer a necessary economic activity by 40 votes to 27.

International controversy

Japans call for the IWCs moratorium to be lifted formed part of a proposal for wider reform of the organisation, which it suggested should focus on resource management and permit species of whales whose population is healthy enough to be harvested sustainably.

In particular, Tokyo was eager to win a concession allowing for the regulated hunting of Minke whales, a species it has claimed are abundant and in no danger of extinction.

Minke whales, comprising the Common and Antarctic varieties, are not listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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Minke whaling is an integral part not only of our history, but also of our own lives, the Japanese delegation said in its opening statement to the summit.

We are proud that Japans small-type coastal minke whaling has always been a sustainable fishery. Our fishery has not negatively impacted the ecosystem and it never will, the statement added.

Whale meat is a popular foodstuff among certain parts of Japans population, though demand for it has fallen significantly in recent decades, according to a 2013 IFAW report.

Japan, the current chair of the IWC, officially observes the bodys prohibition on commercial hunting but continues to capture hundreds of Minke whales each year under an exception to the ban, which permits the killing of whales for scientific purposes.

In 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Japan to halt its whaling programme in the Southern Ocean, also called the Antarctic Ocean, after determining that the hunting permits granted by authorities were not being used for purposes of scientific research.

Japan resumed the programme in 2016, under a significantly reduced hunting quota of 333, while Iceland and Norway hunted a combined 637 Minke whales in 2016, the last year for which IWC records are available.

Norway and Iceland are the only countries to explicitly allow commercial whaling [File: AP]

Many threats

Under the terms of the 1986 moratorium, certain aboriginal communities are also allowed to catch and kill a regulated number of whales, in line with their historical cultural practices and the mammals nutritional value.

In 2016, aboriginal catches totalled 361  which comprised Fin, Humpback, Minke, Gray and Bowhead whales. The hunting took place in Russia, Denmark and the United States.

An estimated 45,000 whales have been killed since the IWCs 1986 ruling, according to the UK-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, including those hunted under its exemptions (scientific purposes and aboriginal catching).

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Claire Bass, director of the US-based animal protection organisation Humane Society International, said overturning the moratorium would have risked robbing future generations of the opportunity to meet, admire and learn from the oceans giants.

Japans proposal to resume commercial whaling would be like jumping from a plane without a parachute, Bass told Al Jazeera.

Whales are long-lived, slow-breeding animals and this makes them especially vulnerable to over-hunting, she added.

Whales face so many threats in our increasingly degraded oceans; its critical that the IWC focuses its time and resources on tackling the many problems that we create for whales, such as entanglements in fishing gear and pollution.

Six of the worlds 13 great whale species are classified as endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Opposition to new proposal grows amid claims that the government has done nothing to tackle corruption.

Amman, Jordan  Jordans much-anticipated tax reform proposal has been labelled not substantive after it was months after mass protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki.

Among other things, the fresh proposal, made public on Tuesday, aims at defusing the popular anger over fiscal reforms by abolishing the rule that required every citizen above 18 to register with the national tax department.

It also exempts families earning less than 18,000 dinars ($25,000) or individuals earning under 9,000 dinars ($12,500) annually, from filing a tax return.

The new proposal, which Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz said would help achieve the desired fiscal reform, will go through consultation and mandatory legislative process before it becomes a law.

Al-Razzaz, a Harvard-educated economist, was appointed by Jordans King Abdullah II in June to restore order in the wake of huge demonstrations against al-Mulkis tax-reform plans, which proposed raising the income tax by at least five percent.

Soon after his appointment, al-Razzaz dumped the controversial proposals and promised to deliver a fair and equitable taxation system, which targets high earners and exempts the countrys poor.

Lack of trust

Critics, however, said the tax reform was not substantive and did nothing to assure the people that corruption will be tackled.

The real issue for the public is not just a new or old tax law, but rather the lack of trust in the government or its intentions, opposition leader Hussam Abdallat told Al Jazeera.

The new law will also abolish taxes imposed on the agricultural sector as an incentive to encourage farmers. It will reduce their costs and impose taxes on other sectors to make up for the shortfall.

Jordan ranked 57th in Transparency Internationals 2017 corruption perceptions index, down 11 places from 2016.





Abdullah Ghoshe, an engineer working in capital Amman, said successive Jordanian governments have failed to combat poverty, curb national debt and fix the countrys fledgling economy.

The new proposal is basically a repackaging of the old law. The changes are only cosmetic, said Ghoshe. How can we pay taxes when we cannot find work?

Khaled Salaymeh, a cardiologist in Amman, said that the government was robbing the public in order to cover up for its failures which were evident from the falling infrastructure and rising debt.

I dont trust this government or any other Jordanian government for that matter, said Salaymeh who added that he sent his children to study in another county because he doesnt want them to come back to a country that does not respect its own citizens.

My generation accepted the conditions that exist in the country today. My children wont.

Social justice

Unemployment in Jordan, home to more than 10 million people, is approaching 19 percent, while 20 percent of its population is on brink of poverty.

Husam Abu Ali, head of Jordans Income and Sales Tax Department, said the governments proposal would achieve more equitable redistribution of responsibilities and social solidarity among different segments of the population.

This law is specifically designed to achieve social justice and to help the poor, especially in the areas of healthcare, transportation and education, Abu Ali said.

Jordans mounting national debt, which has reached over 95 percent of its gross domestic product (about $40bn), has also prompted critics to argue it has become beholden to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international lenders.

Jordan secured a $723m three-year credit line from the IMF in 2016 and promised tax reforms in return, which sparked some of the biggest economic protests in the country this year.

Abu Ali denied the claims.

The governments objective is to provide its citizens proper services through transparent and fair taxation law, regardless of what the IMF and other lenders think, he said.
Hassan Murhabazi found in the city of Bukavu three days after being kidnapped, says Radio Svein.

A journalist who went missing in the Democratic Republic of Congos restive east has been found in a very weak state, according to his radio station.

Hassan Murhabazi surfaced on Thursday evening, three days after he was abducted in the city of Bukavu in the South Kivu province, Radio Svein said on Friday.

He is very weak, Honneur-David Safari, the community radio stations manager, said in a post on Facebook, adding that the presenter confirms he was kidnapped.

The circumstances under which he was found remain unclear and will be released later after medical tests.

Safari said Murhabazi went missing after leaving his house on Tuesday.

He left without his mobile phone following an urgent call from a stranger, the station manager said in a statement earlier this week. Radio Svein was very worried about this sudden silence of a journalist who has always communicated on his movements, added Safari.

#RDC : Dans des SMS envoyes a Hassan Murhabazi lundi et que RSF sest procures, le reporter est traite de demon, de petit journaliste https://t.co/ORgqcY4mWx  RSF (@RSF_inter) September 13, 2018

Murhabazi is the host of a programme called Mkate, which covers general news and politics, and often gets threatening text messages, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The global press freedom group said that prior to his disappearance, Murhabazi was called a devil and little journalist in some of the texts and was told to stop talking about Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the ruling coalitions candidate for the DRCs long-delayed presidential election on December 23.

RSF said Murhabazi had aired a programme on Shadary, RSF said.





President Joseph Kabila, whose second and final term ended two years ago, named last month his former interior minister as his chosen successor in the upcoming ballot.

RSF said journalists have been the victims of a total of 22 attacks and 35 arrests during the first eight months of 2018 in the DRC.

Independent news websites and radio stations have become popular in the central African country, where the traditional press is mostly owned by politicians.

The DRC is ranked 154th, out of 180 countries, in the RSFs press freedom index.
Launch of office comes few days before leaders from both sides meet for a summit in North Korea.

North and South Korea have opened a liaison office on the Norths side of the heavily militarised border to facilitate better communication and exchanges ahead of their leaders summit in Pyongyang next week.

Fridays opening of the office at the North Korean border town of Kaesong is the latest in a series of reconciliatory steps the Koreas have taken this year.

The office is the first of its kind since the two countries were divided at the end of World War II in 1945.

The Koreas so far have been using telephone and fax-like communication channels when they want to arrange talks and exchange messages. But those channels have been often suspended when tensions rose over North Koreas nuclear programme.

Well sit face to face, exchange our thoughts fast and accurately and put our heads together to resolve difficult matters, said South Koreas Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon in an opening ceremony, adding that the office will become the cradle of Korean co-prosperity.

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Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Norths Committee for the Peaceful Reunification, said during the ceremony that the office would help the Koreas have candid conversations and further build up their ties, according to South Korean media pool reports from the site.

About 15 to 20 South Korean officials will work at the office, sleep at a nearby lodging facility in Kaesong during the weekdays and take turns staffing the office on weekends.

Civilian exchange programmes

They will deal with an equal number of North Korean officials stationed at the office to discuss various inter-Korean issues, exchange messages from their capitals and facilitate civilian exchange programmes, according to Seouls Unification Ministry.

The office will be co-headed by Vice South Korean Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and a deputy head of Ris committee. They will hold an official meeting once a week, a ministry statement said.

Kaesong is where the Koreas now-stalled jointly-run factory complex is located.

The office is at the site of the Kaesong industrial complex, where for about a decade, South Korean companies ran production lines staffed by North Korean workers at the industrial park.

The park, once the most striking symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, has been closed since February 2016 when tension on the peninsula spiked after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test.

The liaison offices opening came before South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meet for the third time this year next week to discuss denuclearisation of the peninsula and other issues.
Schools and offices shut as Typhoon Mangkhut with 255kph wind gusts are set to lash the northern Philippines.

Philippines authorities evacuated more areas on Friday and warned an estimated 5.2 million people in the path of super typhoon Mangkhut to stay indoors, as the country braced for heavy rain and storm.

The powerful typhoon, a massive storm about 900 kilometers wide, is expected to barrel through the northernmost tip of the Philippines early on Saturday, carrying 205 kph wind speeds, and gusts of up to 255 kph.

Mangkhut has already blasted through the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

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More than 9,000 people have been moved to temporary shelters as Mangkhut, locally known as Ompong, makes its way towards the rice- and corn-producing provinces of Cagayan and Isabela where it is forecast to make landfall at dawn on Saturday.

Schools and government offices shut in more than 600 places, while military personnel, medical and emergency response teams have been put on standby.

The coastguard said about 5,000 passengers were stranded at several ports by the impending storm, which will head on towards southern China and Vietnam.

Among all the typhoons this year, this one is the strongest, Hiroshi Ishihara, a meteorologist with the Japan Meteorological Agency, told AFP news agency.

This is a violent typhoon. It has the strongest sustained wind (among the typhoons of this year), he added.

Fleeing for safety

My appeal is that we need to heed the advice of the authorities. Stay indoors, said presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, the governments main coordinator for disaster response.

The storm picked up speed slightly on Friday and was about 450 km east of the Philippines at noon. Footage posted on social media by Cagayan residents showed trees being whipped by fierce winds under dark grey skies as rain lashed down on buildings.

The capital, Manila, and more than three dozen northern and central provinces have been placed under storm warning signals.

In the Philippines, the strongest effect could be felt in 10 provinces now under storm signal 3, a notch below the highest level.

The concerns here are landslides and infrastructure being washed away, said Junie Cua, governor of Quirino province on the main island of Luzon.

We have made preparations for those eventualities by pre-positioning our relief goods and having our equipment on standby.

Authorities are taking extra precautions as they draw comparisons with Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated central areas of the archipelago in 2013, and killed 6,300 people.

Considerable threat

Poor communities reliant on fishing are some of the most vulnerable to fierce typhoon winds and the storm surge that pounds the coast.





It will bring destruction. They are the ones greatly affected. Even moderate winds can topple their houses, Regional Civil Defence Official Dante Balao told the AFP news agency.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it expects substantial damage in the Philippines.

Heavy rains could trigger landslides and flash floods, it said.

Authorities readied bulldozers for landslides and placed rescuers and soldiers on full alert in the countrys north.

Heading for China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said hell consider seeking assistance from the international community over Typhoon Mangkhut if it flattens everything.

Speaking at a news conference, Duterte said there is no need yet to seek foreign aid, and it would depend on the severity of the crisis.



Hong Kong is also in Mangkhuts sights and preparations there were already under way on Thursday, though the storm was not expected to hit until Sunday.

Social media users and radio commentators in Hong Kong said they were stocking up on food and supplies.

The Hong Kong Observatory warned residents to prepare for the typhoon saying it posed a considerable threat.
Thousands evacuate as Typhoon Mangkhut with at least 255km/h wind gusts makes landfall in northern part of Luzon.

Monster Typhoon Mangkhut has slammed into the northeastern tip of the Philippines, bringing torrential rains and battering winds that are expected to affect millions of people.

Mangkhut, also known as Ompong in the Philippines, made landfall at around 17:40 GMT on Friday (1:40am on Saturday, local time), according to the Philippine weather bureau, PAGASA.

The massive storm, which forecasters have called the strongest typhoon this year, blew in windows, hurled debris and knocked out power lines when it hit the main island of Luzon in the pre-dawn darkness.

It retained its ferocious strength on Friday, but gained speed while shifting towards a number of densely populated provinces, where a large evacuation was carried out earlier in the day.

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In a press briefing at 18:00 GMT, PAGASAs senior weather specialist, Chris Perez warned that the storm surge could be between three to six metres high in coastal areas in the northernmost tip of Luzon.

The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center categorised Mangkhunt as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category-5 Atlantic hurricane.

In comparison, Hurricane Florence, which is currently lashing the US East Coast, is classified as category-1 storm.

Mangkhut is packing winds of up to 205 kilometre an hour and gusts up to 255km/h, PAGASA said. But the US Navys Joint Typhoon Warning Center said maximum winds could reach 268km/h and wind gusts of up to about 324km/h.

The storm is estimated to be 900km in diametre covering the entire northern and central parts of Luzon. Combined with seasonal monsoon rains, it could bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods.

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As of 15:30 GMT on Friday, the Philippines has raised the highest alert level in the northern provinces of Abra, Apayao, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, the northern part of Isabel and the Babuyan group of islands. Those areas have a combined population of at least 3.7 million. But other neighbouring provinces are also expected to be affected, bringing that number to more than five million.

Mangkhut has already blasted through the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

Even if the typhoon weakens after slamming ashore, the gusts will remain destructive, government forecaster Rene Paciente warned.

It can lift cars. You cant stand, you cant even crawl against that wind, Paciente said at a news conference in the capital, Manila.

More than 15,000 people were evacuated in the northern provinces by Friday afternoon, the Office of Civil Defence was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. But the countrys disaster management office said more than 30,000 have been evacuated.

Al Jazeeras Jamela Alindogan, reporting from Cagayan province, said at least 100 families, mostly from fishing and farming villages, had taken shelter in a school.

Thousands of residents from low-lying areas in the northern Philippines have evacuated [AP]

Mangkhut is the 15th storm to batter the Philippines this year. An average of 20 typhoons hit the country each year.

Substantial damage

Authorities are taking extra precautions as they draw comparisons with Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated central areas of the archipelago in 2013, and killed 6,300 people.

My appeal is that we need to heed the advice of the authorities. Stay indoors, said presidential adviser Francis Tolentino, the governments main coordinator for disaster response.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it expects substantial damage in the Philippines.

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Authorities readied bulldozers for landslides and placed rescuers and soldiers on full alert in the countrys north.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would consider seeking assistance from the international community over Typhoon Mangkhut if it flattens everything.

Speaking at a news conference, Duterte said there is no need yet to seek foreign aid, and it would depend on the severity of the crisis.

Hong Kong and other parts of south China as well as Vietnam are also in Mangkhuts sights and at risk of being hit during the weekend.

Social media users and radio commentators in Hong Kong said they were stocking up on food and supplies. The Hong Kong Observatory warned residents to prepare for the typhoon saying it posed a considerable threat.
Opposition-controlled Idlib province sees massive protests, as Turkey announces new meeting between Erdogan and Putin.

Istanbul, Turkey  Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Syrias last remaining stronghold to protest against a potential full-fledged offensive by government forces and their allies.

Activists told Al Jazeera that Fridays demonstrations took place in more than two dozen towns and villages in Idlib, a northwest province that is home to more than three million people.

In recent weeks, the Syrian government, supported by Russia and pro-Iranian militias, has been amassing forces close to areas controlled by the armed opposition in Idlib and northern Hama provinces, threatening a large-scale ground offensive that may result in a bloodbath, according to the United Nations.

In early September, the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an intense campaign of shelling, air raids and barrel-bombing of opposition-held territories. The Russian-backed bombardment has receded over the past few days.

One of the biggest demonstrations was held in the city of Maarat al-Nouman in central Idlib province, where an estimated 25,000 people, including civilians from neighbouring villages and towns, gathered after Friday prayers, according to local sources.

We want to send a message to the rest of the world that we are just an oppressed people who want freedom, said Mahmoud Herkawi, 36, who works in a printing house in Maarat al-Nouman.

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He said the rally was organised by the city council and a number of local activists.

Our goal is the toppling of the Assad regime and stopping Russian aggression on our city, he added.

Ahmad al-Youssef, who also participated in the demonstration in Maara al-Nouman, said the protesters shouted chants in support of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a group of opposition factions founded by officers who deserted the Syrian forces after the beginning of the war in 2011.

The demonstration aimed to prove to the international community, Russia and the regime that this is a popular revolution and not terrorism, as they claim, said al-Youssef, 24, who works with a group providing psychological support to children.

Protests were held in more than 20 other villages and towns across Idlib province in northwest Syria on September 14, 2018 [Mohammed al-Daher/Al Jazeera]

Idlib on the edge

Over the past few years, Maarat al-Nouman has witnessed repeated protests against Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, armed group formerly known as al-Nusra Front which renounced its affiliation with al-Qaeda in 2016), which controls parts of Idlib province.

In 2016, residents managed to expel all of the groups fighters from the city following clashes with the 13th Division, a local faction of the FSA.

Al-Youssef told Al Jazeera that Fridays protest was larger than one that was held on September 7, which took place hours before a trilateral summit between Turkey, Russia and Iran in the latters capital, Tehran.

The trilateral talks on the fate of Idlib failed to reach a breakthrough, while a ceasefire proposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was rejected.

Idlib city, the capital of the densely populated province, witnessed two parallel demonstrations on Friday.

One was held at the Clock Square by HTS members who raised flags of the armed group, and another at the Martyrs Square, where civilians waved the black-white-green flag of the uprising and chanted slogans against the Assad government.

Hadi al-Abdullah, a pro-opposition activist and citizen journalist, told Al Jazeera that the civilian demonstration was much bigger than the one organised by HTS, attracting more than 5,000 people from the city and the surrounding villages.

During the protests on September 7 in Idlib city, HTS members opened fire on the protesters after they shouted slogans against the armed group. Al-Abdullah told Al Jazeera that no such incidents took place during Fridays protests.

Residents of Maarat al-Nouman expelled fighters of HTS, previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, after it clashed with a local FSA faction [Mohammed al-Daher/Al Jazeera]

Negotiations on

Meanwhile, negotiations between Russia and Turkey on the fate of Idlib continue.

Earlier on Friday, Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Erdogan will be hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to discuss the Syrian crisis.

We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct, Cavusoglu said during a press conference in Pakistans capital, Islamabad, where he is on an official visit.

Russia has cited the presence of terrorists for launching the large-scale military offensive on opposition-controlled territories in northwest Syria.

Both Russia and Turkey have designated HTS a terrorist group.

Turkish officials have warned against an all-out attack on Idlib and its surrounding areas, saying that this could result it in another massive wave of refugees fleeing towards its border with Syria.
Trumps former campaign chairman agrees to cooperate with Special Counsel Muellers investigation as part of plea deal.

US President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has pleaded guilty to two federal crimes after cutting a deal with prosecutors and agreeing to cooperate with the special counsels Russia probe.

The move allows him to avoid a second criminal trial and ends Manaforts more than year-long fight against investigators in the Russia investigation.

The plea deal requires him to cooperate fully and truthfully with Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether Trumps campaign worked with Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Manaforts guilty plea comes less than a month after the 69-year-old was convicted of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.

Charges tied to Ukraine work

Under the terms of Fridays plea deal, prosecutors dropped the bulk of the charges against Manafort, filing new paperwork that includes just two charges: conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

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The charges do not relate to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which is a central issue in the special counsels investigation into possible contacts between Trumps campaign and Russia.

This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, Manaforts lawyer, Kevin Downing, said.

The counts derived from Manaforts work for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Moscow political party between around 2005 and 2015.

Prosecutors say Manafort acted illegally as a lobbyist for Yanukovych and earned tens of millions of dollars, which he laundered through Cyprus and other offshore banking locations and did not pay taxes on.

The indictment said he laundered more than $30m into the United States to buy properties and luxury goods and cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes.

Manafort could eventually be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison as a part of the deal, and will forfeit four real estate properties worth millions of dollars, as well as bank accounts and a life insurance policy.

The former Trump aide has aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.

Absolutely nothing to do with Trump

Trump has denied any collusion with the Russians by his campaign and has long denounced the special counsels investigation as a political witch-hunt. Moscow denies US intelligence agency allegations that it interfered in the political process.

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On Friday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the Manafort case has nothing to do with Trump.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign, she said. It is totally unrelated.

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps lawyer, said in a statement that the president did nothing wrong.

Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.

Possible Trump pardon?

It was not immediately clear what Manaforts cooperation with the special counsel will provide to the Russia investigation.

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Manafort was most notably present at a meeting held by campaign executives, including Trumps son Donald Trump Jr and son-in-law Jared Kushner, with a Russian lawyer who had offered them dirt on Trumps Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. That meeting is now a focus of the Mueller investigation.

Al Jazeeras Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, DC, called Fridays plea deal a critical development.

Now, Trumps son-in-law says they didnt get any dirt. Well, is that true? Paul Manafort would know if thats true, Culhane said.

She also noted that Manafort was the most prominent former Trump associate to plead guilty to crimes and agree to cooperate with the special counsels office.

Giuliani told the Reuters news agency on Friday that a guilty plea to avoid a second trial would not crush Manaforts chances of receiving an eventual presidential pardon.

Its not going to hurt him if he pleads guilty. Usually it helps you get a pardon down the road. It shows youve admitted your guilt, he said before a deal was announced.

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Trump has repeatedly spoken out in Manaforts defence  while also seeking to distance himself from his onetime associate, saying in June that he came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family, he tweeted in August, one day after Manafort was convicted of the eight financial charges.

The president drew a comparison to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who on the same day as the Manafort conviction pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges.

Unlike Michael Cohen, he (Manafort) refused to break  make up stories in order to get a deal, Trump wrote at the time. Such respect for a brave man!
Some 7 million tourists visited Morocco in the first seven months of the year, that is 7% rise compared to the same period last year, the tourism ministry said.

Arrivals from main tourist emitting markets showed a 14% increase in Italian tourists, while the numbers of German visitors grew by 9%.

French and British arrivals were up 6% and 5% respectively, the ministry said, noting that Moroccos main tourist hubs; Marrakech and Agadir took 60% of overall stays.

Foreign tourists spent 38.3 billion dirhams by end of July, compared to 35 billion dirhams same period in 2017, that is a 9.4% growth.
Trump rejects Puerto Rico hurricane latest death toll

The Puerto Rican government says nearly 3,000 people died in in the aftermath of 2017s Hurricane Maria.
The car manufacturer announces it will cease production of the Beetle in July 2019.

German car manufacturer Volkswagen will cease global production of its iconic Beetle after nearly seven decades of US sales, the companys American unit announced.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Volkswagen Group of America said global production of the Bug car would end in July 2019 and announced two final edition models.

The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetles many devoted fans, CEO of the unit, Hinrich Woebcken, said.

While there are no immediate plans to replace it, Woebcken added: I would also say, never say never.

The Beetle was introduced in Nazi Germany in 1938, after Adolf Hitler had asked automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche to design a peoples car (Volkswagen in German).

Hitler speaks on the podium prior to laying the cornerstone for a giant car factory in Fallersleben near Hanover, Germany in 1938 [The Associated Press]

The bulbous car came to the US in 1949 and became a transportation mode of choice for hippies in the 1960s.

US sales stopped in 1979, after which the second and third generation models were introduced. Volkswagen revived it in the US in 1998 but it attracted mainly female buyers.

The company revamped it for the 2012 model year in an effort to make it appeal to men. US sales rose fivefold to more than 29,000 in the first year, rising to just over 46,000 in 2013 but tailing off after that.

Last year VW sold only 15,166, according to Autodata Corp.

More than 21.5 million original Beetles were manufactured worldwide until the last one that was produced in Mexico in 2003.
Mohammed bin Salman has been major driver of dispute, which has no end in sight, say legal professionals and experts.

London, England  The international community must revise its stance towards Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to end the current Gulf crisis, experts of international law and Middle East politics told a conference in London on Thursday.

Panellists agreed that unless world leaders take stronger action, the probability of the Gulf crisis ending soon is low, and constitutes a threat to the wider region.

We are seeing a deepening and widening of the crisis. I dont see it changing any time soon unless other states change their position. Europe and the international community must change [their] position.

[They are] morally obliged to, and I would argue, legally obliged to, said Carl Buckley, a barrister and Chambers Director at Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers.

Saudi Arabia is emboldened to continue to act as it sees fit, because silence is seen as tacit approval, Buckley said at the event, which was hosted by Diwan London and titled The Arab Gulf States in Transition: The Present Predicament and Future Prospects.

Change wont come unless the US backs it.

The GCC has been ruptured permanently. Bill Law, journalist

Fifteen months after the advent of the latest Gulf crisis, the GCC has been unable to resolve the dispute, which has grown increasingly bitter as it has unfolded.

The diplomatic crisis began in June 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar.

The coalition claimed that Qatars alleged support for terrorism was the main reason for the blockade, contending Doha had violated a 2014 agreement with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatar denies all allegations raised by the quartet.

Bill Law, a journalist who has reported from the Middle East for the BBC, reflected on the way the current crisis has changed the dynamics of the Gulf.

The GCC has been ruptured permanently.

Law suggested that the current Gulf crisis has benefitted Iran, which he described as the real winner in the situation.

Saudi Arabia and other countries involved in the blockade of Qatar have strongly criticised Qatars relationship with the Islamic Republic.

Reducing diplomatic relations with Iran was a key coalition demand at the beginning of the crisis, as well as ceasing military coordination with Turkey and closing Al Jazeera.

On August 24, 2017, Qatar announced that they would restore full diplomatic relations with Iran.

At the London conference, analysts warned that should the crisis continue, negative consequences may be difficult to reverse.

There is a fragmentation of the concept of the Gulf, said Madawi Al-Rasheed, a visiting professor at the LSE Middle East Centre.

I cant see that any repair can be done, not even a shared enemy would bring them together.

Law suggested that a lack of perspective from Gulf leaders was a major factor in the continuation of the crisis.

Calling for a more measured approach, he said: Sane and sensible heads should get together and solve this pointless dispute.

It seems that those are in short supply, and so this crisis will go on and on and on.

Analysts criticised the influence of Mohammed bin Salman on the GCC crisis [File: Evan Vucci/The Associated Press]

Analysts agreed that the internal dynamics of Saudi Arabia, particularly the influence of Mohammed bin Salman, has been a major driver of the Gulf crisis.

Al-Rasheed said, using a popular acronym for the crown prince: MBS is ruling without a legitimacy narrative. Why should we believe in MBS?

The 33-year-old Saudi political leader has recently been beleaguered by a string of setbacks to his economic development plans.

In August, his plans to list Saudi company Aramco on the stock market and raise around $100bn by selling off five percent collapsed.

There has been increasing speculation that the kingdom may face economic instability in the near future.

Al-Rasheed said: Saudi Arabia will be in debt. In the near future, it is expected Saudi Arabia wont be able to export 10 to 12 barrels of oil a day because most of it will be consumed within Saudi Arabia.

Conference delegates compared the economic uncertainty in the kingdom with Qatars relative stability.

Qataris have seen off the blockade, the economy is buzzing. It is hard to see Qatar as the loser here, said Law.
Railroad makes leadership moves; 3PL opens and staffs Tennessee office.



CSX Corp., headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday announced a change in leadership for the merchandise and intermodal sales and marketing teams with the appointment of Dean Piacente to vice president of industrial products and Maryclare Kenney to vice president of intermodal and automotive.

Piacente, who has more than 30 years of experience at CSX, previously was vice president of intermodal. He now assumes responsibility for the companys chemicals, metals, paper and forest products businesses.

Kenney, who joined CSX from PepsiCo in 2011, was leading the automotive business. She will continue to lead that business but also will assume responsibility for CSXs intermodal sales and marketing.



Dupre Logistics on Thursday announced the opening of a Strategic Capacity Services (SCS) branch in the Knoxville, Tenn., area and the hiring of Chip Hawkins as the manager of the office.

This is the 12th SCS location to open since August 2016.

Dupre said Hawkins has 30 years of experience in logistics. That includes a stint with XPO Logistics.

Hawkins said the office initially will have four people working in it, but the company expects rapid growth and is looking to hire people with experience in the logistics industry.
BIMCO warns of poorer service offers to customers and lower profitability.



While dry bulk shipping has borne the brunt of U.S. and Chinese tariffs to date, BIMCO is warning higher tariffs by China and the United States will increasingly affect container shipping.

Peter Sand, the chief shipping analyst for BIMCO, explained that as the next rounds of tariffs come into play, more of the targeted commodities are transported in containers.

Sand said that 85.3 percent of Chinese seaborne imports from the U.S. and 58.5 percent of U.S. seaborne imports from China could become affected by the trade war, if the U.S. and China implement tariffs on a further $200 [billion] and $60 billion worth of goods, respectively.

Thursday morning CNN reported, China has welcomed an offer from the Trump administration to talk trade, quoting Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng as saying, The escalation of trade conflicts doesnt benefit either sides interests.

Last Friday President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the $200 billion were talking about could take place very soon, depending on what happens with them. To a certain extent, its going to be up to China. But weve taxed them $50 billion  thats on technology. Now, weve added another $200 billion. And I hate to say this, but, behind that, theres another $267 billion ready to go on short notice, if I want.

The Trump administration first announced a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum in March  with exemptions for Australia, Brazil, Argentina and South Korea. Temporary exemptions for the European Union, Canada and Mexico were removed June 1.

The U.S. imposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of imports from China in two stages this summer. Sand said the tariffs that came into force on July 6 on products valued at $34 billion were mainly machinery and electronic goods. The tariffs that came into force on Aug. 23 on products valued at $16 billion included plastics and oil products.

China retaliated with tariffs on $50 billion of U.S. goods and announced counter tariffs on an additional $60 billion of U.S. products in early August.

The dry bulk industry has been the shipping sector most affected by the tariffs, said BIMCO. But the dry bulk industry is very large and it said, The whole trade war still impacts only 1.9 percent of total dry bulk trade in 2017, equivalent to about 2,000 handymax loads (A handymax ship having capacity of about 50,000 dwt.)

But that could change if the $200 billion in tariffs are imposed.

Sand said the list of commodities covers more consumer goods than previously seen, varying from bicycles to fish and Christmas lights, and will undergo further review before a decision is made about possible implementation. Initially the U.S. said it would impose a 10 percent tariff on those items, but later raised the proposed level to 25 percent.

While containerized goods have already been targeted by the $50 billion round, the biggest impact on these will come if the proposed $200 billion are implemented. So far, the tariffed goods total to 6.6 million tonnes of seaborne trade from China to the U.S. in 2017, said BIMCO. This is equivalent to 660,000 TEUs, it said, assuming that a container carries 10 tonnes per TEU, which it says is the global average. That works out to 5.9 percent of U.S. West Coast container imports in 2017. (BIMCO noted the TEU count changes, depending on assumptions about the weight of cargo in each container.)

If tariffs are imposed on an additional $200 billion of U.S. imports from China, an additional 22.4 million tonnes of seaborne containerized goods would be impacted, which amounts to 20.1 percent of U.S. West Coast imports in 2017, it said.

In an analysis by Chris Rogers, a director at Panjiva said The initial round of 545 U.S. export products targeted by China were focused on the agricultural sectors (particularly cereals, fish, fruit and vegetables) and automotive industries, and that the second round, applied from August 23, are concentrated on the energy and chemicals industries.

The biggest impact in absolute terms has been on sorghum (zero imports in July vs. $127 million a year earlier) which was partly due to earlier duties being applied. For other agricultural goods the biggest declines were in soybeans (55.6 percent lower) and corn (99.7 percent lower), said Panjiva.

In manufacturing, Panjiva said the automotive industry bore the brunt of the downturn in manufacturing with an overall reduction of U.S. vehicle exports to China of $315 million or 39.2 percent in July vs. a year earlier. Electric vehicles, including Tesla, saw the largest proportional impact with an 82.8 percent slump. It said the impact on U.S. exports in the second round of product where duties were applied from August 23 will likely only become clear in Septembers trade data.

Chinas ability to respond to U.S. tariffs may be limited, said BIMCO.



For the first time in this trade war, the latest round has seen China unable to respond equally to the $200 billion measures announced by the U.S. With China importing much less than it exports to the U.S., if the trade war continues to unfold, China will have to look away from tariffing imports to find its retaliatory measures.

The next steps are likely to see China using new weapons, said Sand, for example, including service sectors or targeting U.S. investments in China. The next steps from the U.S. are set to morph too. The impact on the global shipping industry will depend on the measures taken.

BIMCO noted, The dry bulk shipping industry remains by far the most affected by Chinese tariffs in terms of volumes.

Soybeans are the largest bulk commodity targeted by the tariffs. But BIMCO said the impact of these on Chinese buyers may be limited because the price of U.S. soybeans has fallen, resulting in them in being 21 percent cheaper than Brazilian soybeans. Brazil is the second-largest exporter of soybeans to China. The price reduction has eroded much of the added costs brought about by the tariffs, said Sand.

While the narrowly measured amount of impacted cargoes may seem small in perspective of the entire market  the impact is the opposite, said Sand. The shipping industry is trapped between a rock and a hard place in an already troubled market place.

In the tramp shipping market, uncertainty about where the next cargo will come from makes it very difficult to reposition your ship after discharge. For the liner shipping market, matching deployed capacity on trade lanes with actual demand becomes even harder, said Sand. Poorer service offers to customers and lower profitability seems inevitable.
While the fake news media are having a field day, the truth is that only two Democrats have seen the letter, the person who wrote the letter is refusing to come forward, and we haven't been told what the letter claims, but we have been told that it dates back to when Kavanaugh was in high school.

Yesterday, Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein claimed that an anonymous woman may have accused Brett Kavanaugh of doing something in high school.

I'm so old that I remember when people like Feinstein were telling us that Obama's regular, and criminal, use of drugs in high school was no big deal. But now some anonymous accuser is claiming that Kavanaugh may have done something during high school, and leftists are beside themselves at the horror of it all.

Actually, I'm even older than that. I remember when Feinstein told us Clinton's lying under oath in order to avoid losing a #MeToo lawsuit had nothing to do with his fitness to be president. She did say Clinton's actions were "immoral, deplorable, and indefensible" and merited "strong condemnation and censure." Given that she voted to acquit Clinton, it would seem that Feinstein believes that being guilty of immoral, deplorable, and indefensible things has no bearing on a person's suitability to be president.

But, apparently, anonymous sources claiming undefined things are enough to cause Feinstein to be even more upset at Kavanaugh.

There are actually several things going on here.

The most obvious is that as usual, leftists are resorting to character assassination when the facts don't support their point of view. The Democrats are trying to smear Kavanaugh  just as the racist Democrats tried to smear Justice Thomas because he didn't stay on the Democrats' thought plantation  with baseless charges.

Keep in mind that all the leftist positions are intellectually indefensible, so they've long since given up trying to use facts, reason, or logic to convince people that the left is right. Rather, it's all about emotions and personal attacks and the use of tyrannical force by the Supreme Court. Trying to confuse voters by declaring that every rational person who disagrees with the left is a Nazi, deplorable, racist, homophobic hater is the left's only rhetorical tool, along with lying about everything, of course.

Next most obvious is that Feinstein is facing a serious challenge to her seat in the Senate by an even farther left-wing Democrat loon from California. Yes, in today's circle of Democrats in power in California, Feinstein is far too moderate; she didn't even get the Democrats' endorsement for the Senate seat.

Interestingly, her challenger, Kevin de Leon, was president of the California state Senate when a massive #MeToo moment allegedly occurred. One hundred forty-seven women signed a letter saying the Democrat-run capitol "perpetuates "pervasive" abuses, including sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and "dehumanizing behavior by men with power in our workplaces[.]"

De Leon even shared an apartment with one of the supposedly worst perpetrators, but of course de Leon had no idea what was going on.

So what better way to stick a shiv into de Leon than to derail Kavanaugh's nomination while bringing the idea of women being molested by men of power to the fore? We have no idea if the letter, assuming it's not totally made up, involves a high school boy  one of the least powerful people on the planet when it comes to women  and a high school girl and #MeToo, but that's what the left is hinting at  that way, it's harder to sue when it turns out to be a lie, but it won't protect them from laughter if it turns out to be a jilted girlfriend claiming a stolen kiss when she was 18.

Another aspect of this smear is that the Democrats are desperate to delay this appointment until after the election. If they manage to win the Senate, they'll try to delegitimize any vote taken after the election, and the leftist Republican senators will be more likely to go along with that. Even if they don't win the Senate, they'll have made their base think they could defeat Kavanaugh, which will keep voters voting Democrat.

The last aspect is that the left believes that if it can't control the court, it has to delegitimize it.

While the left proclaimed the Court was just short of being Obama  the closest thing to God the left believes in  when the Court overthrew the laws of all 50 states to legalize abortion for any reason at any time up until birth and when it declared that the Founders had intended the Constitution to require marriage to be redefined, that "worship" must now change in a heartbeat to prevent the Court from actually doing its job.

Leftists believe that if the left can't use the Court to tyrannize Americans, then Americans can't use the Court to actually defend the Constitution. If it doesn't serve the left's agenda, it needs to be burned to the ground.

One final note. Feinstein has referred this anonymous missive to the FBI.

Yeah, the same FBI that we know is so politically biased that it used unverified Russian-sourced Democrat-paid for opposition research to enable spying on the Trump campaign. The same FBI that said it was okay for Hillary to expose all of her government emails to Chinese hackers.

It'll be interesting to see what leaks, and how accurate they turn out to be, come from this. After all, the latest set of revealing emails indicates that some of the reporters Peter Strzok was leaking to weren't happy about the fact that the leaks contained inaccuracies, so it doesn't appear that the FBI feels the need to carefully fact-check its anonymous leaks.

Vegas will probably be taking odds on how long before the FBI goes to the FISA court claiming that the anonymous letter proves that Kavanaugh is a Putin puppet.

Given that we're in a fight for America, if the Democrats pick Kennedy's replacement, we'll have a Supreme Court that explicitly rejects any and all constitutional constraints on the left's fascist program. It's critical that you tell your friends, family members, and co-workers that Feinstein's ploy is unlikely to be true.

After all, if there were any truth to the claim, it would have been brought out by the Democrats during the hearings to make Trump look stupid. But if it's false, then it will discredit the #MeToo movement by making it look as though all women who are harassed are just lying about it for political gain.

Is it really a good deal to empower people like Harvey Weinstein in order to inconvenience Kavanaugh?

You can read more of Tom's rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious, and feel free to follow him on Twitter.
This is the guy next door, this is what he's like. He's not like some intellectual powerhouse you'd never talk to. This is a guy who's very friendly, very outgoing, very nice, lot of laughter, big smile, wonderful father, wonderful husband, man of faith, lives his faith, goes to church every week.

By all accounts, Brett Kavanaugh is not only an excellent jurist, but also a good man. According to Msgr. John Enzler, CEO and president of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.:

When introduced as President Trump's nominee to replace the retiring Justice Kennedy, Judge Kavanaugh spoke adoringly of his parents, wife, and two daughters. "I thank God every day for my family," he told the audience gathered at the White House. He also spoke of his commitment to serve others through his D.C. Catholic church.

From all indications, Brett Kavanaugh loves his wife; loves his children; loves his parents; loves his fellow man; and, most importantly of all, loves his Lord. As is the case with all of those who possess such character, Kavanaugh's love is revealed not only through words. Those who know him well confirm that he lives out his faith. In other words, through his deeds, Judge Kavanaugh is known and admired. And liberals just don't care.

In spite of all that we've heard about President Trump's character  or lack thereof  as I noted last year, there's nothing in President Trump's personal past that runs afoul of the perverse "standards" of modern liberalism. As the Kavanaugh hearings again remind us, for modern liberals, it's never really about the character of the individual. Virtually all that matters is furthering the liberal agenda.

As Ron Ross at the American Spectator recently pointed out, President Trump's real crime  seemingly now "the most unforgivable hate crime"  is "obstruction of liberalism." No doubt, liberals fear that Brett Kavanaugh is part of the same "criminal" cabal. What's more, given that the office of U.S. president is decided every four years, and Supreme Court judges receive lifetime appointments, Judge Kavanaugh  and those in the judiciary who are like-minded  are on liberals' "most wanted" list.

Hence the absurd and clownish display we witnessed last week when Kavanaugh went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. After the opening day hearings, David French well summed up the sad spectacle:

[F]rom the top down, from senators to protesters to online trolls, the Democrats offered a preview of how they'd react to any Republican nominee, and it was a shining example of how and why conservatives don't believe for one moment that Donald Trump is the sole source of American dysfunction.

In other words, it was as if Kramer and Newman had taken over the hearings. After enduring a couple of days of ugly liberal antics, David Catron piled on:

During the first two days of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee demonstrated why their party lost control of Congress, and that they still can't be trusted with a majority in either house. In addition to interrupting the proceedings countless times on hopelessly frivolous grounds and engaging in outrageous demagoguery, they openly encouraged demonstrators to disrupt the hearings with such disgusting behavior that Judge Kavanaugh's wife was forced to lead his children out of the room on the first day. These are the very Democrats, remember, who routinely lecture President Trump on matters of decorum.

As the caption above Catron's piece notes, "Kavanaugh hearings reveal why their symbol is the jackass."

Again, things will only get worse if President Trump has the opportunity to replace Ruth Ginsburg or one of her constitutionally ignorant left-wing colleagues. Along with the rise of fake news and fake Christianity, lovers of the truth have had to contend with fake law. Much of what is precious to modern liberals has become entrenched in U.S. law, not because of constitutionally legislative efforts, but through a rogue unconstitutional judiciary.

Whether abortion, same-sex "marriage," immigration, climate change, speech, property rights, or the rest, left-wing jurists on the highest courts in our land have conducted themselves not as "umpires"  as Judge Kavanaugh put it  but as "super-legislators." Because the U.S. federal courts have been a reliable resource for liberal causes and left-wing law, anything or anyone  no matter their character  seen as a threat to the left's hold on the courts must be "taken out."

Because liberals have made a god of government, almost any politician or judge  no matter his character  with his sights set on Washington, D.C. must be ready to deal with the vile, crazy left. In their lust to be rid of Trump, many liberals have forgotten how much they hate Mike Pence. This past July, Frank Bruni of the New York Times reminded them:

There are problems with impeaching Donald Trump. A big one is the holy terror waiting in the wings. That would be Mike Pence, who mirrors the boss more than you realize. He's also self-infatuated. Also a bigot. Also a liar. Also cruel. To that brimming potpourri he adds two ingredients that Trump doesn't genuinely possess: the conviction that he's on a mission from God and a determination to mold the entire nation in the shape of his own faith, a regressive, repressive version of Christianity. Trade Trump for Pence and you go from kleptocracy to theocracy.

Or, to put it another way, because he follows a version of the "Billy Graham rule," the left sees Mike Pence as part of the "American Taliban." Last year, the Atlantic reported on "How Mike Pence's Marriage Became Fodder for the Culture Wars." The author references a 2002 The Hill piece:

The Hill article gives more context on how the Pences were thinking about this, at least back in 2002. Pence told the paper he often refused dinner or cocktail invitations from male colleagues, too: "It's about building a zone around your marriage," he said. "I don't think it's a predatory town, but I think you can inadvertently send the wrong message by being in [certain] situations." The 2002 article notes that Pence arrived in Congress a half decade after the 1994 "Republican revolution," when Newt Gingrich was the speaker of the House. Several congressional marriages, including Gingrich's, encountered difficulty that year. Pence seemed wary of this. "I've lost more elections than I've won," he said. "I've seen friends lose their families. I'd rather lose an election." He even said he gets fingers wagged in his face by concerned Indianans. "Little old ladies come and say, 'Honey, whatever you need to do, keep your family together,'" he told The Hill.

Mike Pence puts his family and his marriage ahead of politics, and the left thinks this is lunacy. As the Apostle Paul told Titus, "to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled."

A defiled heart and mind distorts everything. The left hates Trump supposedly because he's vile, vulgar, "trashy," undignified, unpresidential, and piggish. Mike Pence and Brett Kavanaugh can be accused of nothing similar, and the left hates them also. For those corrupted by a liberal worldview, it's never really about character. It's always about politics...and sex.

Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.

www.trevorgrantthomas.com

Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America

tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com
Robert Mueller's investigation is shooting blanks. Mueller's Deep State cronies in the FBI and DOJ may be facing legal troubles of their own. Trump's popularity remains solid despite Hurricane Florence-strength media attacks against him each and every day.

With the midterms less than two months away and the economy firing on all cylinders, the Democrats, and their handlers, also known as the American media, are entering the panic zone. The midterms are the last chance for the left to stop the Trump train.

CNN and MSNBC are currently at Category 4 hurricane strength against President Trump. Expect to see this ratchet up to Category 5 in the upcoming weeks before the midterms. Ninety percent of Trump's media coverage is negative. This will increase to approach 100 percent if Mueller can't find or fabricate the smoking gun that will send The Donald slinking back to Trump Tower.

Since Stormy Daniels's pole dances haven't damaged President Trump, big media are using their own "poll dance," specifically opinion polls, to create the narrative that no one likes the president. They hope to dispirit Trump voters, damping the enthusiasm of November 2016, to pick off enough House seats to shift House control to Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters.

At the least, these polls can further the media fable that everyone is embarrassed by Trump and won't support him, causing some of his supporters to abandon the president so their friends and families stop calling them racist, sexist Nazis.

The latest poll is a Quinnipiac University poll. CNN's Brian Stelter wasted no time in gleefully tweeting out the results.

In choreographed synchrony, worthy of Olympic synchronized swimming, MSNBC, dance partner of CNN, had its own tweet.

That's it, then. As prosecutor, judge, and jury, big media proclaimed Trump's presidency over. In other words, America is ready to Dump Trump.

Is that wishful thinking from the likes of Stelter and Scarborough? What if we look at the actual Quinnipiac poll that has them so excited?

One of the results is this: "American voters disapprove 54 - 38 percent of the job President Trump is doing." Doom and gloom for Team Trump.

They do acknowledge that "Trump's base remains loyal." But they can't help themselves taking a stereotypical and bigoted view of his supporters. "The only listed groups approving of the president are Republicans, 84 - 7 percent and white voters with no college degree, 51 - 40 percent."

Of course, Trump-supporters are dumb whites, rednecks with only two teeth playing a banjo on a porch swing in rural Georgia. Not the latte-drinking liberal elites in Manhattan or the cosmopolitan conservatives sipping chardonnay in Georgetown.

Their kicker question was, "Do you think Donald Trump is fit to serve as president, or not?" On Sept. 10, 2018, Quinnipiac found its answer  41 percent yes, 55 percent no. That's it, then. Hillary should move into the White House next week, and Trump should be sent to the insane asylum.

One question they asked, which won't receive much attention for fear of upsetting many of the CNN and MSNBC news panelists, is this: "Do you think that President Trump is mentally stable, or not?" Lo and behold, even in this biased survey, 48 percent answered yes, he is mentally stable, 42 percent no. Obviously, they didn't conduct this poll in Hollywood where almost everyone believes that Trump is insane.

Several layers beyond the tweets and headlines are the guts of the poll, the sample and methodology. Here they are.

This survey oversampled Democrats by 9 points. And how many of those 33 percent independents are truly independent? The average Trump-supporter who gets a telephone call survey will either hang up or else give the pollster the answer he is looking for rather than be castigated as a Trump voter.

In addition, Quinnipiac surveyed registered, rather than likely, voters. Likely voters are only a small fraction of registered voters, many of whom won't turn out to vote, especially in midterm elections.

Between the sample and the weighting, it is no surprise that the poll results tilt heavily in favor of Democrat talking points.

Alternatively, look at Rasmussen, the most accurate pollster for the 2016 presidential election. In its Daily Presidential Tracking Poll, it surveys likely voters, not simply registered voters. On Sept. 10, 2018, the same day as the Quinnipiac poll, President Trump was at 48 percent total approval, 51 percent total disapproval, similar to where he has been for most of this year.

What Brian Stelter and Morning Joe won't tell you is what their idol Barack Obama's poll numbers were in the same Rasmussen poll at the exact same point in his presidency. But I will.

On Sept. 10, 2010, "the one we have all been waiting for" was at 42 percent total approval, 56 percent disapproval, 6 points lower than the Neanderthal Trump who Quinnipiac says is unfit to serve as president.

How inconvenient, but also how instructive. Are these polls designed to reflect popular opinion or shape it?

Do the media want to objectively report President Trump's popularity? Or do they have a narrative they wish to promote, using a deliberately flawed poll, sample, and methodology?

That would be like conducting a Trump popularity poll in Ithaca, Berkeley, or Boulder, then attempting to extrapolate the results to the rest of the United States.

Expect to see more of these phony polls leading up to the midterms. These will be the new tool of a hyper-partisan media, desperate to bring down a president they loathe and right the catastrophic wrong that occurred in November 2016.

Bob Woodward's book, the New York Times op-ed, Omarosa's tapes, Stormy's tales, and hysterical Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are all part of the mix, now joined by propaganda polls.

Treat these polls for what they are  partisan campaign commercials  and don't despair. These same pollsters predicted a Hillary Clinton landslide victory in 2016. But do remember to vote this coming November. The stakes could not be higher.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Toxic Feminism

The damage that radical feminism has done to our education system is incalculable. Yet the movement continues to grow exponentially, and gender studies faculties, which promote female empowerment at the expense of what is called "toxic masculinity," continue to multiply. Feminism has patently skewed the syllabus in the direction of gender asymmetry. In the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion, women have progressively come to dominate campus life regardless of aptitude and competency. Hiring protocols are female-friendly, as are faculty postings and grant opportunities. Qualified male candidates need to make alternative arrangements. (As Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute muses, in the prevailing climate, Einstein might have trouble getting hired for a professorship.) Male students, already in declining numbers, are under threat of allegations of sexual assault or harassment, ad hoc tribunals, and arbitrary expulsion. McGill University anthropology professor emeritus Philip Carl Salzman warns parents in a comprehensive essay for Minding the Campus, "Your sons will learn they should 'step aside' to give more space and power to females."

Unfortunately, too many careers have been built on gender studies and feminist theory to allow surrender. Leftist government bureaucrats, university administrators, "diversity and inclusion" officers, and faculty across the entire academic landscape are dependent on preserving perhaps the greatest scam in the systemic apparatus we call education. Investing in a false theory or inequitable practice never prevented its adherents, whose reputations and livelihoods are at stake, from surrendering their perquisites. Rather, educrats and their cohorts will double down and increase their efforts to further their agenda. They will persist in finding ways to evade the most far-sighted and ethically determined efforts to redress the parietal imbalance by refusing to implement new directives from enlightened government agencies. One way is to pursue legal action against elected administrations bent on reform, as in the U.S., where women's groups are suing secretary of education Betsy DeVos for rescinding Obama's guidelines on how to manage Title IX investigations regarding (male) sexual assault. These organizations are intent on defending a regime predicated on unsubstantiated allegations rather than due process. Similarly, in the Canadian province of Ontario, the left-feminist teacher union is suing the recently installed Conservative government for attempting to repeal the current sex ed curriculum. That this curriculum introduces very young students to sexual practices for which they are emotionally unprepared is of no account to these insurrectionary preceptors. Rather, the perpetuation of what is nothing more than a pedagogical sinkhole is their purpose, as is the case with Title IX proponents. Another way to stymie the remedial enterprise is to stack the deck with ever more fellow-traveling faculty personnel, thus relying on critical mass to fortify a doctrinaire position. Professor Art Hill, chair of the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph, points out: "One thing that concerns me is hiring policies. Our provost at the University of Guelph hosted a session on Academic Freedom ... mostly strategizing on how to limit expression of 'undesirable' views without making martyrs. There was little evidence of sincere respect for differing ideologies. His last slide advised that Universities can limit expression of unacceptable views via selective faculty recruitment ... especially in the social sciences and humanities." Recruitment proceeds "according to ideology." (Personal communication.) Not content with having ruined the humanities beyond repair, the radical sorority and its male apostles are insinuating their campaign into the STEM disciplines, now being steadily infected by the gender cathexis. There is no doubt that the study and practice of science as we know it will be drastically weakened. Toni Airaksinen at PJ Media cites a recent instance of this monetized ideological swindle, which is in fact representative: "The University of Tennessee-Knoxville will spend more than $700,000 in federal funds over the next four years to get more women into STEM, despite their proposed intervention having zero record of success." Some of the bogus issues being addressed involve, as to be expected, the so-called "culture of implicit bias," which simply does not exist  except insofar as it privileges women  and that strange eidolon known as women's "emotional labor." One does not know whether to blush or laugh. Airaksinen pulled her punches when she should have gone for KO. "Perhaps this program might be helpful for women in STEM, and ultimately, scientific discovery at large," she suggests, perhaps ironically, though "considering that the NSF has poured millions of taxpayer funds into similar projects and hasn't been able to document any results, it seems unlikely." It is not merely unlikely, but entirely implausible. Just ask Sir Tim Hunt, Larry Summers, and Matt Taylor. Science is a discipline with intrinsic standards of replication and objectivity that cannot be adulterated by peripheral concerns entailing social projects, cultural preoccupations, or the fashions of the day while remaining science. "Emotional labor" has nothing to do with science. Gender has nothing to do with science. Stringent analysis, top-tier math, controlled experiment, endless testing, and honest commitment to the task of advancing human knowledge and exploring the universe are what science is about. If a man can do it, good. If a woman can do it, good. If an immigrant from Mars of indeterminate sex can do it, also good. But if hiring and staffing depend on extraneous factors, mediocrity is the inevitable consequence. Standards must apply across the board. The same is true, if in various ways, of any profession. Canvass the best candidates, the most capable, the most dedicated to the field, and the most willing to work punishing hours. These are, or should be, the invariable criteria of selection and preferment. Such is undeniably the case  or should be  when it comes to the schools and colleges. Wise administrators, learned and effective teachers, and real subjects are  or should be  the essentials that underpin true education. Feminist dogma is not one of these essentials. Departments of Gender Studies  as well as the myriad other faux "identity studies" programs like queer studies, race theory, critical theory, fat studies, sexuality studies, whiteness studies, ad vomitatum  do not constitute real subjects; they are centers of radical indoctrination or specimens of academic frivolity. Bruce Bawer's definitive examination of our vaudeville education network, The Victims' Revolution, is an adversarial classic and should be consulted by skeptics. Grouped under the rubric of "social justice," identity studies programs largely explain why our universities are well on the way to becoming third-world institutions. Feminism is the mother of the "social justice" obsession that is devastating the culture and destroying education. As I have argued before, the academy cannot be reformed, despite a decent government's best intentions. It must be abolished or gradually phased out and replaced by schools and universities and online delivery programs founded on the traditional mandate of moral accountability, exacting scholarship, discipline-specific authority, open debate, and responsible instruction. A redoubtable task, no doubt, but one that is absolutely necessary. Feminism must have no part in it. With its reliance on false assumptions, phony statistics, affective resentment, and glib verbosity, feminism is the most potent carcinogen attacking both the body social and the health of the education system. It is toxic. It is talk-sick. It needs to go.
PM on Iberia Case: Owning TV Does Not Mean Avoiding Taxes

By Tea Mariamidze

Georgian Prime Minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze says that if a company has a TV station, it does not mean they can avoid paying taxes.The PM made a comment on September 12, after the governmental session, while commenting on the recent developments around Iberia TV and the statement of the journalists about the alleged pressure from the state on the TV Company.Bakhtadze explained that tobacco producer company Omega, which is the main financial donor of Iberia TV, has GEL 51 million debt for not paying taxes to the state budget.The Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, as I remember, delayed sanctions for this company 11 times, but we saw an even more negative trend. In recent months, the organization has further increased the debt, he explained.According to the PM, every enterprise or company, which creates jobs in the country, is important for the government but added that the company Omega has to pay its taxes and the excise fee.No one is untouchable in Georgia, and the relevant authorities will take the proper steps that will be implemented in accordance with our legislation, Bakhtadze said.Journalists of Georgias Iberia TV speak of the pressure from the government through creating financial problems for Omega Group Company.The journalists say the current situation indicates there is an unhealthy media environment in the country, adding it affects the interest of the public, especially in the pre-election period when citizens are in the process of making important political decisions.Moreover, the journalists of Iberia held a protest rally and marched to the governmental administration. They say the authorities want the TV Company to suspend operation.Iberia TV also spoke about pressure and financial problems in February 2018. The TV Company claimed that the Omega Group was "under serious financial hardship" and urged the authorities to "prevent illegal actions against the company.
The socialist insurgency against establishment Democrats in New York emerged triumphant as no fewer than six far-left candidates defeated establishment Democrats in races for the state Senate.

Years of anger at a group of Democratic state senators who had collaborated with Republicans boiled over on Thursday, as primary voters ousted nearly all of them in favor of challengers who had called them traitors and sham progressives. The losses were not only a resounding upset for the members of the Independent Democratic Conference, who outspent their challengers several times over, but also a sign that the progressive fervor sweeping national politics had hobbled New York's once-mighty Democratic machine, at least on a local level. The most high-profile casualty was Senator Jeffrey D. Klein of the Bronx, the former head of the I.D.C. In that role, he was for years one of Albany's most powerful players, sharing leadership of the chamber with his counterparts in the Republican conference and participating in the state's secretive budget negotiations. But on Thursday, he was defeated by Alessandra Biaggi, a lawyer and former aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, after a campaign in which Ms. Biaggi cornered Mr. Klein into spending more than $2 million, an astonishing sum for a state legislative race. (Cynthia Nixon, in her unsuccessful bid against Mr. Cuomo, spent less.)

Two things: First, the victories of socialists rid the Democrats of the last vestige of bipartisanship in the state Senate. This will make Albany an even more unruly place than it already is. Secondly, and most important, the march of socialism in the Democratic Party appears to be unstoppable and will make 2020 an Armageddon of sorts between right and left.

Which vision will the 50% of eligible voters who bother to go to the polls choose? The party of free stuff? Or the party of personal responsibility and the protection of liberty?

No matter who wins, the individual in the Oval Office will have to govern pretty much by decree, given the rancor between the two parties. That race will start soon after the 2018 midterms are over with perhaps an emboldened and empowered far left who will almost certainly try to nominate the most radical presidential candidate in U.S. political history.

The rest of the New York primaries were no surprise. Governor Andrew Cuomo crushed actress and activist Cynthia Nixon to win the Democratic primary for governor. But Nixon accomplished something that no Republican has been able to do: end Cuomo's dreams of the presidency. Her criticisms damaged Cuomo severely, and several corruption scandals in Albany tarnished his clean image.

Cuomo will also never be forgiven for making the idiotic statement that "America was never that great." Even Democrats will be able to run against that statement in the presidential primaries.
> Sean: Kristin fisher in Washington tonight, thank you for that report. Here with reaction, former U.S. Attorney for the district of Columbia, Joe digenova. Author of a new book, Jesus is risen. Out October 2nd, available for preorder on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and tomorrow Hannity.com. Both doing legal work for me, and legal trouble about every other day of my life. Ive every lawyer, but Ive had dinner with both of them. That starts with you, Joe, and the developments, also wants you to focus in on a grand jury of the panel. We do not know what is going on. We do not know what are in the unredacted pages, the 10-12, the 30-74, we do not know anything in the 302s, everybody says it is blockbuster.

>> Heres what we do now. We know from the text revealed by strzok and page yesterday that we now are at a different place. The walls are closing in, but they are not closing in on the president. They are closing in on the FBI and the department of justice under President Obama. Those text messages by strzok and page, which reveal an illegal media strategy to illegally and criminally released FISA warrant information and name a U.S. Citizen, whose information they gave to The New York Times is a criminal offense. And by mentioning Carter Page, they have now created massive civil liability for everybody involved in revealing Carter Pages name. Including themselves, James baker, the former FBI general general counsel. Prize step, everybody in the chain of command, the reporters for The New York Times have no privileges now. They also can be sued by Carter Page. Because although they may have been legally able to accept information, by publishing it, they reveal classified information that smeared Carter Page. Mr. Page will be a very wealthy man.

>> Sean: I kind of agree with you by the end of all of this. We know that the grand jury has been seated. We know that we are looking at the lying issues, different sources that are telling me, also they are looking into the FISA abuse issues.

>> They are. The problem is we do not know whether it is John Huber or the security division at the justice Department. The best information is that it is the national security division at the justice Department.

>> Sean: Would that not mean that everybody that signed off on the FISA warrants, otherwise the committed fraud that omitted the important information purposefully?

>> Yes, and yes. And that is why, and I mentioned this the other night, if you go back and look look at rod Rosensteins testimony, he answered a question in a very strange way. He said, I am relieved that I have been relieved of responsibility involving that area. That is FISA. The reason he has been relieved of those duties is that there is a criminal investigation as you just mentioned involving Mccabe and strzok and baker, and nobody knows who is ultimately responsible for all of this.

>> Sean: What about page and Comey?

>> They are all involved, they are going down. And people dont like to think about this, but James Comey, strzok, Mccabe, they are all going down on the FISA warrant stuff. That is not even in question.

>> Sean: Let me get to David Limbaugh, I never thought in my life  and with everything that we have been breaking, these new text are a disaster. You literally have all of this criminality, fixing an investigation, using Russia information, disseminating lies before and after the election. The doj, top FBI, intelligence agency, CIA, and literally propagating false Russia information, feeding it, trying to feed it and funnel it through, I cannot believe that this has happened. But some of the people and agencies and institutions and I have grown up having the most respect for in my life.

>> Yes, is it any coincidence that Comey linked to to start a special counsel investigation? And now we have two up the top lieutenants who were leaking, deliberately leaking in a delivery  deliberate strategy. And can you imagine how ludicrous this is? That the FBI was investigating these people supposedly in the periphery of the Trump campaign for alleged pollution with Russia to interfere with the election, when they themselves were interfering with our election?

>> Sean: All right, I have heard a little sinister laugh from Joe digenova, why is that?

>> He is going down. The dirty cop is going to go down.
The entire project would be all his to control, a monument created by the person being honored. Normally, that is the practice of dictators like Saddam Hussein, but Barack Hussein Obama was a president like no other.

Barack Obama announced that he would not have a federally funded presidential library, but instead would rely on private money paid to the Obama Foundation to build a "presidential center" that may or may not have any books (we still don't know, but there definitely will be basketball courts). That's what Obama wants, so that's what Obama gets.



Source: Obama.org.

And oddly enough, the building style chosen by the Obamas resembles nothing so much as a cenotaph, even though Obama is alive and kicking.

Three cenotaphs:



Hong Kong.



New Zealand.



London.

Source.

Of course, the usual claque applauded. Politico Magazine gushed that it would be:

... a new model for a privately run presidential museum that can be laudatory in its exhibits and partisan in its programming, but not while under the troubling imprimatur of the federal government  and without the taxpayers footing the bill.

Unfortunately, the notion that taxpayers would be unmolested is fake news. Start with the acres of city-owned park land on the shore of Lake Michigan that Chicago handed over as a gift, in apparent violation of law. The group Protect Our Parks has sued to prevent the giveaway and cites this Illinois State Law. (The group has also cited my writings, which gratifies me no end.)

But the taxpayer-owned parkland is but one aspect of the rape of the taxpayers. The new Illinois state budget artfully obscures the estimated $244 million that Land of Lincoln Obama taxpayers will be giving to make the project happen. The Illinois Policy Institute writes:

Projects relevant to the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's Jackson Park will cost taxpayers $224 million, according to the Washington Examiner. This includes $174 million for roadwork in and around Jackson Park and $50 million for renovations to the Garfield Green Line station, two miles from the presidential center. Illinois taxpayers will be on the hook for $199 million of the total cost, with $25 million of the Garfield station renovations funded through a federal grant, according to the Washington Examiner.

Fifty million dollars for renovating one El station that is two miles from the project? Are we supposed to believe that tourists would walk that far though Chicago's notoriously dangerous Southside to visit the library? And how can it take that much money to spiff up a station that already is in operation? Paint and ceramic tiles aren't that expensive. Elevators and escalators don't cost ten million dollars each.

Unfortunately, Illinois taxpayers would have no way of knowing this money was flowing to the presidential project from looking at the state's 1,245-page budget, which makes no mention of the Obama Presidential Center. That spending is hidden, but has been confirmed by political figures such as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Taxpayers aren't the only ones kept in the dark:

The negotiating process in drafting of the budget took place outside of public view and state senators were given five hours to read the massive document before taking a vote.

But rest assured that diversity will be foremost in the minds of those selecting contractors to build unusually expensive projects for the library. As the Obama Foundation promises:
The text messages suggest that Strzok, along with his paramour, former FBI Attorney Lisa Page, had been in contact with reporters from both newspapers.

What more do we need to learn? We just learned from Sara Carter that FBI agents were talking about "leaks" to the media:

Strzok specifically mentioned two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writer Michael Schmidt [in] his text message to Page. Strzok wrote, "Also, apparently Times is angry with us about the WP (Washington Post) scoop and earlier discussion we had about the Schmidt piece that had so many inaccuracies. Too much to detail here, but I told Mike (redacted) and Andy they need to understand we were absolutely dealing in good faith with them," Strzok texted to Page on April 14, 2017. "The FISA one, coupled with the Guardian piece from yesterday." (The New York Times did not respond immediately for comment. The Washington Post also did not respond immediately for comment.) According to several U.S. officials who spoke to this news outlet, "Mike" mentioned in Strzok's text message is Mike Kortan, the former FBI assistant director for public affairs who retired in February. "Andy" was in reference to former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. McCabe was fired earlier this year after it was revealed in DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report that said he lied to investigators and leaked information to the media.

Talk about something gone wrong!

Strzok's attorney is challenging the conclusion by saying they were not texting about leaking to the media.

Really? That's reaching down in the barrel to justify your retainer as a defense attorney. It would make a lot more sense for the attorney to have a heart-to-heart talk with his client and get immunity in exchange for more information on what the FBI was up to.

For 22 months, we've witnessed a meltdown on the other side about the election of Donald Trump.

At first, I thought that it was political passions or just irrational liberals behaving irrationally. Today, I think we are watching a bunch of people who know that the investigation is getting closer and closer to the Obama White House.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
What has instigated "white marriage," where men and women cohabit without a formal commitment or anxiety of social and religious stigma, or its political concerns? There are some pragmatic motivations:

In Iran, which has been under strict rule of sharia law ever since the thuggish revolt, better known as the Islamic Revolution of 1979, men and women who aren't related can't even legally shake hands or be seen in public together. Now, in 2018, many young Iranian couples are opting to live together without tying the knot, and that represents a 180-degree turn in a country that enforces strict sharia law. Cohabitation in Iran is now called "white marriage."

Severe economic difficulties, unemployment, rising poverty, political and social uncertainties, the internet, and social media have helped further escalation of a situation that has led to a significant decline in marriage and a sharp rise in divorce.

Another reason for the popularity of cohabitation is mehrieh, or dower, the sum men agree to pay when they get married in case of a divorce  in other words, a security fund for women in case they end up in a divorce. The sum is usually way too large, such that men either end up in debt for the rest of their lives or must go to prison.

Perhaps another reason Iranian women prefer this style of living is the uneven nature of Iranian marriage contracts between men and women. In Iran's current law, "most of the conditions contained in marriage contracts are in favor of men" (of course, because Islam discriminates against women), who can control their wives' travel, employment, and education. If a married couple separates, men have more divorce rights than women. By cohabiting, couples may experience a greater sense of equality in their relationship.

The current Iranian generation are much less religious and traditional than their own parents. Even though they are not world travelers, their easy access to the internet has opened their eyes to Western culture, and they enjoy the freedom it offers.

Sex outside marriage is a crime under Iran's sharia-based laws, punishable by flogging or other Islamic punishment. In cases of adultery, it can carry a sentence of death by stoning.

According to the Iranian media, around 20% or more of marriages in Iran will end in divorce, mainly because of economic hardship, adultery, and drug addiction.

According to Farhad Aghtar, director general of the Office of Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, which is part of Iran's State Welfare Organization, one in five marriages in Iran ends in divorce. Tehran, the capital, has the highest rate in the country.

While disapproving of cohabitation, Iran allows the traditional Shia temporary marriage, or "sigheh," under which a couple can contract a marriage lasting anywhere from a few minutes to 99 years.

Despite Iran's strict Islamic laws, increasing numbers of young couples are choosing to cohabit before marriage. It has become so prevalent that the office of the supreme leader has issued a statement expressing deep disapproval, as BBC Persian's Rana Rahimpour reports.

"It's shameful for a man and a woman to live together without being married," the statement said. "It won't take long for people who've chosen this lifestyle to have wiped out a legitimate generation with an illegitimate one." Young Iranians do not seem to be listening. They complain that it is too expensive to get married.

"Many observers point to Iran's soaring divorce rates as a key reason why some couples do not want to rush into marriage  and why their families often agree with them."

While the Islamic regime is aware of "illegal cohabitations," it has been unable to stop the growing trend, and no serious action has been taken to prevent this cohabitation, or "white marriage," other than criticism.

The ruling party currently has more important issues to deal with than to worry about cohabitation. Under the rule of these adherents of death, everything in Iran is deteriorating and dying. The current situation in Iran is indeed dire.
In the early 1960s, the two nuclear superpowers of the worldthe United States of America and the Soviet Unionbegan looking for ways to utilize the tremendous energy released by nuclear bombs for productive purposes. Things that were discussed included blasting a new canal through the Isthmus of Panama, creating an artificial harbor in Alaska, excavating mountains, and other such projects that involved moving large quantities of earth and rocks. Under Operation Plowshare, the US carried out a few tests in the Nevada desert, the effect of which can still be seen in the crater-riddled desert floor. The largest of these craters, from the Sedan nuclear test in 1962, is now a tourist attraction.

Oil well fires blaze out of control outside Kuwait City during Operation Desert Storm. Photo credit: David Mcleod

The Soviet Union carried out more extensive tests under the Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy program. Using small nuclear explosions they probed the ground for oil deposits, created vast underground caverns for storing natural gas, crushed ore in open-pit mines, dug channels, and built dams. Once while exploring for oil, radioactive gases contaminated a significant portion of a densely populated region near river Volga. Another time, they blew up a river to see if they can create a reservoir. They got a reservoir all right, but its radioactive to this day.

It was around this time an opportunity presented itself.

In 1963, a gas well in the Urtabulak gas field in Southern Uzbekistan, about 80 km southeast of Bukhara, suffered a blowout at a depth of 2.4 km. Over the next three years the well burned steadily causing losses of more than 12 million cubic meters of gas per dayenough to supply the needs of a city the size of St. Petersburg.

When all conventional methods of controlling the fire failed, the Soviet government turned to their nuclear scientists for help. The geologists and physicists of the nuclear program calculated that if a nuclear bomb was detonated close to the blowout, the pressure generated by the explosion cloud squeeze shut any hole within 25 to 50 meters of the explosion. The yield necessary was calculated to 30 kiloton, or about twice the power of the bomb that leveled Hiroshima.

In the fall of 1966, two slant wells, slightly wider than a feet, were drilled simultaneously as close as possible to the oil well that was burning uncontrollably. At a depth of 1,400 meters, at an estimated distance of 35 meters from the leaking oil well, a nuclear bomb was lowered into one of the holes. The hole was then filled with cement to contain the explosion and prevent it from erupting to the surface. The bomb was then detonated.

The Soviet newspaper Pravda Vostoka of Tashkent published an account of the experiment at the time.

On that cold autumn day in 1966, an underground tremor of unprecedented force shook the [ground] with a sparse grass cover on white sand. A dusty haze rose over the desert. The orange colored torch of the blazing well diminished, first slowly, then more rapidly, until it flickered and finally died out. For the first time in 1,064 days, quiet descended on the area. The jet like roar of the gas well had been silenced.

It took only 23 seconds for the flames to go out. Historic footage of this incredible operation shows the moment the nuclear bomb was detonated and the subsequent dying of the fire.

This was the first time in history when a nuclear bomb was successfully used to extinguish oil fires, and it wasnt going to be the last.

Months later another fire broke out at the nearby Pamuk gas field, and the fire spread to the surface via additional holes. This time a 47 kiloton nuclear weapon was lowered to a depth of 2,440 meters and detonated. Because the leakage was large, the flow continued for seven days before it finally died out.

The second success gave Soviet scientists great confidence in their new technique of controlling runaway gas and oil wells. In the following years, several more opportunities arose for the use of nuclear explosions to extinguish runaway gas well fires. In May 1972, a 14 kiloton explosion at a death of 1,700 meters sealed a two-year-old gas leak in the Mayskii gas field about 30 km southeast of the city of Mary in Central Asia. Then again in July the same year, another runaway gas well in Ukraine was sealed with a 3.8 kiloton nuclear explosion at a depth of more than 2.4 km. The last attempt occurred in 1981 on a runaway well in the Kumzhinskiy gas deposit in the northern coast of European Russia. A 37.6 kiloton nuclear explosion was detonated at a depth of 1,511 meters, but this time the well was not sealed because the position of the leak was not precisely known.

The experiments came to an end in 1989 when the Soviets suspended any kind of nuclear weapons testing.
In short: Machine learning scientist Jack Poulson quit his senior researcher position at Google over the companys plans to capitulate to China, i.e. the Far Eastern countrys censorship and surveillance practices, the industry veteran told The Intercept. The Ph.D. holder resigned due to the existence of Project Dragonfly, a widely reported initiative seeking to return Google Search to China nearly a decade after the firm discontinued the Chinese version of its engine in order to protest Beijings censorship.

Background: Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai recently told employees the company has no immediate plans to relaunch its flagship service in China but didnt rule out the possibility of doing so in its entirety. Mr. Poulsons departure was reported only shortly after a bipartisan group of lawmakers demanded straight answers from Google regarding its plans for China, having outlined their concerns about Project Dragonfly in a letter addressed to Alphabets subsidiary. The 32-year-old AI expert who officially left the company on August 31 expressed ethical concerns about Googles renewed willingness to cooperate with the Communist regime in exchange for market access and wasnt the first to do so as the firm reportedly already lost a number of employees due to the same issue.

Impact: A mass exodus from Google still appears unlikely but with Project Dragonfly being the second secretive initiative with questionable moral reasoning that was uncovered over the course of the last twelve months, more employee activism at the tech giant is to be expected. None of that will likely sit well with Washington, especially in the context of Project Maven  the other secretive initiative in question meant to weaponize AI in cooperation with Pentagon  being canceled due to internal pressure. Google may be grilled over the matter two weeks from now when the firms officials are scheduled to appear in front of a Senate committee as part of a hearing on digital privacy.
Some of you have probably heard of an ad-blocking browser called Brave, well, the company behind that browser has actually filed a regulatory complaint against Google in Europe, while the company has actually decided to ditch Google as a default search engine in some regions. The company filed a report in Europe because of Googles ad privacy practices, while Googles search engine has been replaced by Qwant in both France and Germany, for now.

Now, truth be said, Brave filed complaints against some other ad tech firms that it thinks are breaking the rules, but Google is definitely the major player here. Brave detailed everything in its press release, and the companys chief executive, and former Mozilla Firefox head, Brendan Eich, said that people need tools to fight back and take a stand to protect themselves against technology giants that make a living by exploiting user data. Brave filed a complaint in conjunction with the Open Right Group and University College London researcher, Michael Veale. Brave says that Google violates the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe by broadcasting personal information to companies bidding to show targeted ads.

Well see what will come out of this complaint, but its also worth noting that Brave chose Qwant as its new search engine of choice, as that company likes to boast about its privacy aspect, and it claims that it respects privacy of its users. It remains to be seen if Brave Browser will switch to Qwant in some other regions as well, though it probably will, its only a matter of time. Google did not respond to any of this, at least not publicly, so it remains to be seen what will come out of all this. As far as other browsers are concerned, its unrealistic to expect that theyll do the same thing as Brave, as most of them will probably stick with Google as their search engine of choice.
In short: Google started teasing its Pixel 3 announcement over the last 24 hours, with the companys online storefront now calling users to sign up for product updates, reiterating that the Android flagship lineup will be announced on October 9. While the U.S. Google Store page doesnt reveal anything that wasnt already extensively leaked, the Japanese one (the domain has been verified as being owned by Google) does hint at some new information in the form of the lineups official colors, suggesting the company will be offering its smartphones in black, white, and teal.

Background: The Pixel 3 series leaked all over the Internet last month after a pre-production Pixel 3 XL batch went missing, having presumably been stolen from Foxconn. While some conspiracy theories about a third device being in the works can still be found online, most credible information points to the product family consisting of two devices, with the smaller one lacking a display notch, whereas the larger model is likely to feature a sizeable cutout housing a dual-camera setup. The Active Edge functionality from the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is expected to be making a return this fall, together with a single rear camera and dual stereo speakers. Googles next flagships should use Qualcomms Snapdragon 845 chip and run Android 9 Pie out of the box.

Impact: The implication that Google will be offering the Pixel 3-series devices in three colors is in line with its established product strategy, with the Japanese teaser specifically indicating the Kinda Blue model is being replaced with some variant of teal. Theres a solid chance that not all three handsets will be available globally, though the devices themselves should make their way to more markets than their predecessors, with France and Japan being two new markets that have effectively been confirmed as being part of Googles 2018 smartphone plans.
In a fascinating debate hosted by Reason Magazine, development economists William Easterly and Joseph Stiglitz discuss how to best fight global poverty, responding to a simple question: Which is a better approach, freer markets or increased government action?

Easterly, a professor at New York University and author of the popular book, The White Mans Burden, highlights the importance of freer markets, arguing they provide better incentives, better mechanisms for sharing knowledge, and, most importantly, better rights.

Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate and professor at Columbia University, pushes for increased government action and control, arguing that the potential for market failures makes it necessary to heavily regulate exchange and investment to ensure fairness across our activities.

After their opening remarks, the arguments quickly come alive as a debate ensues on the particulars of real-world examples.

Whereas Stiglitz sees Chinas rapid rise out of poverty as the fruit of a wise and well-managed state, Easterly uses the same example to highlight the power and promise of markets to accomplish what many deemed impossible.

Similarly, around the 30-minute mark, Easterly and Stiglitz debate the economic history of Ethiopas deadly famine in 1984. Stiglitz points to the positive influence of foreign aid and infrastructure funding, but Easterly dismisses each as either secondary factors or outright counterproductive, reminding us of the core cause of the famine in the first place: abuse of government power. What actually changed the trajectory, Easterly argues, was the subsequent improvements that bubbled up from Ethiopian civil society. Without everyday Ethiopians resisting and demanding changes in their government, the problems would likely have gotten worse, not better.

One of the more striking and recurring themes is the role of markets in defending human rightseither in their promotion of certain virtues and social norms, or in the way they offer built-in mechanisms and incentives to protect and empower everyday people.

As Easterly explains:

Markets promote rightsState-dominated societies will see an elite capture the state and be able to oppress the rest of the population through state-sanctioned coercion. Market systems are inherently based on some degree of legal equality of property and contract rights among all the participants, including the poorest and richest. The reason that is is because market transactions will not happen at all unless a minimum level of contract and property rights are recognized on both sides. Otherwise one party would simply cheat or steal or oppress the other and there were would be no markets. Thered just be cheating, stealing, and oppressions. For markets to exist at all, these kinds of rights need to be accepted by all participants of markets. In our own generation, this prophecy of Adam Smith [about markets as a mechanism for equality] has partially, to some degree, come trueMarkets are the main way, historically and in our generation, that different races, peoples, nations have peacefully co-existed and cooperated for their mutual benefit. That is, to me, the final and most beautiful benefit of markets.

The entire exchange is well worth watching. Read more about it here.
Ambassador of Belarus D.Mironchik meets the Swedish Foreign Minister

14-09-2018

On September 13, 2018, in accordance with the Swedish protocol practice, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus Dmitry Mironchik met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Margot Wallstrom.

Foreign Ministry of Sweden

At the outset of the meeting the Swedish Foreign Minister greeted the restoration of the mutual diplomatic presence. She expressed her hope that with the resumption of the work of the embassies, the Belarusian-Swedish relations will gain a new momentum.

The Minister and the Ambassador discussed the bilateral trade, which after a six-year decline demonstrated a record, almost 30-percent growth in the first half of 2018. The Swedish Foreign Minister was informed about the efforts of the Belarusian side to strengthen trade and economic cooperation, in particular about the presentation of investment opportunities offered by Belarus, which the Embassy is preparing together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

Margot Wallstrom expressed gratitude to the Belarusian side for offering help in combating wildfires that caused considerable damage to Sweden this summer. In this connection, the Minister was informed about Belarus' readiness to assist the Swedish side in replanting the burnt forests and to supply the necessary fir and pine tree seeds.

The Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision of Belarus to extend visa-free entry into the country for up to 30 days.

The Minister and the Ambassador also discussed matters of interest to the Swedish side related to the human rights sphere. Margot Wallstrom was informed of Belarus' intention to develop substantive cooperation with Swedish partners, including in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

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In short: Theres an expectation the first round of 5G phones that become available will arrive as carrier-exclusives. This is likely to be the case not because these phones are necessarily exclusive to the carrier in the traditional sense, but more a result of the phones only being primarily compatible with the exclusive carriers network. The information on this has come from a new PCMag report, which credits comments attributed to AT&Ts VP of Radio Networks and Device Design, Gordon Mansfield at Mobile World Congress Americas.

Background: The problem here seems to stem from the difference in approaches each carrier has made to its 5G deployment. For example, while each of the main carriers in the US seems committed to a 5G rollout, they are all focusing first on different frequency bands. The end result being each carriers 5G network operates slightly differently on a slightly different frequency. With Mansfield noted further explaining that this is simply an effect of the early adoption of 5G and not something that is intentional from the perspective of the carriers.

Impact: While these comments do highlight the issue surrounding the first deployment of 5G, the impact is expected to be minimal. More to the point, they are expected to be time-limited issues, as in time, and once 5G becomes more commonplace, the issue of different band usage will become less of a concern. A point Mansfield was quick to state, saying the issue is unlikely to last very long and will be very quickly overcome. Therefore, the impact of this is likely to be more dependent on when a particular customer intends to buy a 5G phone. If, for example, the aim is to buy one as soon as possible, then the chances are good that phone will best work with the carrier its purchased from. For everyone else who waits until the 5G ground is a little sturdier, the option of 5G network support across all the carriers will likely be available. In either case, as AT&T and Verizon have both confirmed on previous occasions (and again by AT&T here), the very first mobile 5G users will have to make do with a puck-like hotspot.
Samsung Electronics and Google are currently working to ensure that the users of their respective messaging applications, Samsung Messages and Android Messages, can communicate with each other seamlessly using the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol, the two companies announced in a statement. Samsung noted that this collaboration could result in widespread adoption of the messaging protocol as well as an enhanced messaging experience among users of Android smartphones. This partnership aims to make the two messaging applications fully compatible with the RCS technologies developed by the two companies, including the protocols designed for cloud and business messaging platforms. For example, businesses that create messages using the tools developed by either Google or Samsung can now send those messages to both Android Messages and Samsung Messages users, without the need to recompose the message using a different set of tools. Consumers also benefit from this collaboration, since they can now engage in richer chats with more users.

Among the features offered by RCS messaging include the ability to chat over Wi-Fi rather than the cellular network, the ability to create group chats, typing indicators and read receipts, and sharing high-resolution photographs and images. RCS also allows users to share information like their current location and it also allows businesses to send interactive updates to the users messaging application. While many chat apps like Whatsapp and Messenger already provide features similar to what RCS offers, this messaging protocol is designed to be hardware-agnostic, which means it should work with a wide variety of devices. Furthermore, RCS allows users to take advantage of these enhanced messaging features without locking them down to a specific chat platform.

With the expanded collaboration between Google and Samsung, a number of existing devices from the South Korean tech giant will soon receive support for RCS messaging, starting with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. Other devices that will also get RCS support include select Galaxy A and Galaxy J series handsets that run Android 9 Pie, the Galaxy S9, the Galaxy S9 Plus, the Galaxy S8 Active, the Galaxy Note 8, and the Galaxy Note 9. Meanwhile, new Samsung Galaxy devices that will ship to carriers that already offer RCS messaging will have RCS support pre-installed.
Samsung has updated its Samsung Internet browser app for Android to version 7.4, and along with that update, some changes have been made that you should know about. Changes that Samsung has pushed to this version of the app have already been available in beta for about a week at this point, and this update follows v7.2 stable update that was released a while back, so v7.2 is basically the last stable build that came before v7.4.

That being said, this update includes authentication with the Intelligent Scan, customized Reader Mode, and download history improvements along with some US-specific changes. Now, Intelligent Scan is biometric authentication which combines iris scan and face recognition, so in order for this feature to work with Samsung Internet, your phone needs to have an iris scanner and combine it with face recognition, which essentially means this feature is more or less limited to some of Samsungs phones. As far as customized reader mode is concerned, well, that feature basically allows you to customize Samsung Internets Reader Mode, you will be able to select your preferred background color, font, and font size once you update the app to v7.4. Download History improvements have also been made in v7.4, as you can filter your downloads by file type now, which was not possible before. You can also share downloaded files with others via the Share panel, while youre also able to delete the downloaded files and Download History entries.

As far as US-only changes are concerned, Samsung has introduced the Quick Suggest feature. This is basically a personal shopping assistant which will show you relevant deals as you browser products on the web, trying to save you money. On top of that, the company also included an optional news service for US consumers, allowing you to receive push notifications for breaking news stories. That is more or less it as far as Samsung Internet v7.4 is concerned, this update is already rolling out to consumers, and you can click on the link down below to see if its available for you, as the company is rolling the update gradually, as per usual, so it should become available to everyone within the next couple of days.
In short: Samsungs smart home brand, SmartThings, is closing up its online store. In doing so, it is urging customers to visit Samsungs website to shop for SmartThings products as well as Works with SmartThings products. Now, Samsung had already been selling all the SmartThings products on its website, so it was a bit strange to duplicate the store onto a separate domain. But that is no longer the case. SmartThings is noting that you can still head to your local retailer to purchase its products as well. Which includes Best Buy, Amazon and many more.

Background: SmartThings website has been up and running for quite a few years now. It allows customers to not only shop for SmartThings products, but also find out what things work with SmartThings, and get help and so forth. Now that the shop is closing up, many customers will likely just head to Samsungs website for finding products, and it would be smarter for SmartThings to move all of its content over to Samsungs website as well. Making it a one-stop shop for its customers. SmartThings is Samsungs smart home brand, which has all sorts of hubs, light switches, light bulbs, and much more, to make your smart home, smart.

The impact: This isnt going to really change the way that customers shop for SmartThings products. As youll still be able to shop at Samsung for these products. It just gives customers one less place to shop for these products. Now you can still head over to Samsung.com and find a SmartThings hub to use in your home and start making your home a smart home. On Samsungs website, there is a heading at the top for Appliances & Smart Home which is where youll find a link to the SmartThings section of products from Samsung.
In short: IDC has just released its latest study on the world of wearables, and has found that the wearables segment is forecasted to grow by about 6.2-percent. That would be the first single-digit growth year on record for wearables. It also expects this to continue for a couple of years before beginning to ramp up in 2023. In 2018, it is expected that around 122.6 million units will be shipped, up from the 115.4 million in 2017. The reasoning behind the slow growth, according to IDC, is because there isnt a lot of hype around wearables, and they arent improving as fast as smartphones were. After all, Qualcomm only just released its next-generation wearable chip, two years after its first chipset.

Background: Many companies believed that wearables were the next big thing after smartphones. But these companies have struggled to find something that would work for all of its customer-base. With smartwatches, many are upset with the battery life, only getting about a day on a single charge is simply not good enough for many users. But theres also the case for apps, and what people actually want to do with smartwatches. Many companies have found that fitness trackers are the more popular wearable. Partly because they are often times much cheaper (under $100 usually, versus a smartwatch being over $300 and sometimes over $500). But it also gets people motivated to start working out, or moving more throughout the day.

The impact: This means that the leaders in wearables right now: mainly Apple, Fitbit, Garmin and Xiaomi, are going to have trouble growing that part of their business in the next couple of years, before things ramp up in 2023. Its still unclear why IDC believes there will be a big boom around 2022-2023, but it is expecting around 190 million units to be shipped, from the 122.6 million shipping this year. This could definitely be due to the fact that there are more wearable categories coming in the next few years. Like clothing and eyewear.
As most of you probably already know, Google has announced that Inbox is going away, and with it, a really innovative and useful e-mail app. Inbox will be around until March 2019, and some of you have probably already started looking or an alternative app well, weve chosen ten of our favorite e-mail applications, each of which is unique in its own regard, so if youre on the lookout for a new app that will replace Inbox, at least to a degree, you may want to check out the list down below, and do keep in mind that those apps are not listed in any particular order.

Gmail

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The first app on the list happens to be Gmail, another Google-made e-mail app which is, at the same time, a lot more popular than Inbox, as its more of a regular e-mail app, and it has been around for a long, long time. Most of you are probably quite familiar with Gmail, its a really reliable e-mail app which comes with quite a few features, and a clean design. All the regular e-mail features are included here, you can attach multiple accounts to this app, while you can also customize swipe gestures for e-mail threads.

Blue Mail

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Blue Mail is a really popular e-mail app on the Play Store, it has over 5 million downloads, and plenty of features built-in. You can add multiple e-mail providers, including Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Office 365, and so on. This e-mail supports IMAP, POP3 + Exchange, while instant push notifications are also included in the package. Dark theme is available for this application, while the app comes with full support for Wear OS.

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Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is yet another really popular e-mail application, it comes from Microsoft, as its name says, and it offers support for multiple e-mail providers, including both Google and Yahoo, for example. Flat / clean design is included in this package, while this app comes with support for Microsofts app like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The calendar is also built into this application, and the app has a number of additional features built-in.

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Yahoo Mail

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Yahoo Mail supports Gmail, Outlook, AOL and Yahoo accounts, while youll also get 1,000GB of free cloud storage with this app, for your e-mail requirements. You can customize swipe actions in this application, similar to what Gmail has to offer, while Yahoo Mail comes with theme support as well. Yahoo Mail offers Google Drive and Dropbox integration, while a search function is built into this app as well.

myMail

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the myMail app comes with support for Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, iCloud, Live, Exchange, and GMX, so you can basically attach any account you want to this app. This app offers a really clean design, while push notifications are supported, as is ActiveSync protocol. You can create your own e-mail signatures in myMail, while you can also filter your e-mail by unread, flagged or emails with attachments.

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GO Mail

Go Mail is a highly customizable application that looks like a cross between Gmail and Yahoo Mail, in terms of the design, at least. This app supports various e-mail accounts, including Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Outlook, and so on. GO Mail comes with theme supports, while you can customize e-mail thread swipes as well. Search is built into this application, while the company says that more features are coming soon, including calendar support, category filters, and so on.

Aqua Mail

Aqua Mail is an e-mail application that reminds us a lot of Gmail app, when it comes to its design, at the very least. This application, unlike Gmail, supports a dark theme, though. Aqua Mail supports Gmail, Yahoo, Fast Mail, Apple, GMX, AOL, and more. Push notifications are supported by this application, while it also comes with several widgets you can use. On top of everything, themes are also supported by Aqua Mail.

Email TypeApp

Email TypeApp is an e-mail app that is filled with features. This app supports a number of e-mail providers, Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and so on. The design of the app is very clean, while the dark mode is supported here, and the apps UI is also somewhat customizable. This app comes with full Wear OS support, while it also supports themes, and account color coding, so that you always know what youre looking at based on color.

ProtonMail

ProtonMail is a security and privacy-oriented e-mail app. ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption, and is OpenPGP compatible. This apps UI is quite simple and straightforward, while you can set timers for e-mails, and set them to self-destruct after theyve been sent. Push notifications are supported by ProtonMail, while the app is completely free, and comes with all the usual e-mail features.

Newton Mail

Newton Mail is yet another e-mail app which offers clean UI and supports various e-mail providers, while it comes with Wear OS support as well. It is worth noting, though, that Newton Mail is a subscription-based application, though you do get a 14-day trial before youre asked to pay $9.99 a month to use its services. There are a ton of features packed into this app, though the question remains, are you willing to pay for using this app or not.
YouTube recently announced new ways to customize childrens viewing experience on the YouTube Kids app, which includes parent-approved content and new content level settings. The parent-approved content feature allows parents to determine which videos and channels are suitable for their children. This feature gives parents more control over their childrens viewing experience. Parents can access this feature through the application settings, where they can proceed to their childs profile and limit the videos that the child can view to approved content only. When this option is selected, the child cannot search for videos to watch on the YouTube Kids app by themselves. To select the videos that the child can see, parents may search for videos, channels, or collections of channels that they like and press the plus button.

YouTube is also introducing a new content level setting in the YouTube Kids app. This content level, named as Older, is targeted towards children between ages 8 to 12. If parents choose this content level in the app settings, their children will be exposed to a less restrictive video streaming experience, allowing them to view content like game streams and popular music videos. On the other hand, YouTube Kids also offers a more restrictive content experience with the Younger content level. This content level is the default content setting of the streaming service and it is curated to showcase videos suitable for pre-school and elementary school children. The Older content level setting is currently rolling out to users in the United States, and there are plans to deploy this feature globally soon.

YouTube has previously rolled out features that reduce the number of inappropriate videos that reach children on the YouTube Kids app. Last April, the video streaming platform allowed parents to limit the videos displayed on the YouTube Kids application to collections curated by actual humans. Meanwhile, turning off the search function of the app limits the content experience of children to channels that have been verified by the YouTube Kids team. Moreover, Googles video platform is encouraging parents to report videos that may not be suitable for the YouTube Kids app for review.
@martindvassolo

Seven months since a gunman killed 17 students and faculty at a Parkland high school, the loved ones of the victims have worked tirelessly to keep the issue of gun violence at the forefront of the political battleground, as Democrats pushing for more restrictive gun laws hope to gain majorities in the Florida Legislature and in Congress

After seeing their gubernatorial pick Philip Levine lose out to Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the Democratic primary, Parkland parents Fred Guttenberg and Manuel and Patricia Oliver announced their support on Friday for incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in the race against Republican Gov. Rick Scott.

Nelson appeared with Guttenberg, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch and a host of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at a press conference Friday afternoon just a short drive from the Broward County high school where a former student killed scores of people with a legally purchased assault-style rifle. The Olivers did not attend, but told Guttenberg to announce their support for Nelson.

"It's seven months since the community experienced the most horrific event we can imagine, and seven months later, people in this room and studs and families throughout this comm have taken this horrific tragedy and have done all that they can to throw themselves into the battle to ensure that what happen at Stoneman Douglas doesn't happen at any other school in our country," said Deutch, a Broward County congressman, told a crowd of students, some of whom were members of the March for Our Lives movement, and activists with Moms Demand Action. "I'm just honored to be a part of this battle with all of you."

Nelson, who supports universal background checks and the banning of assault-style rifles and high-capacity weapons magazines, became emotional when addressing the crowd.

This is an endorsement I wish I never had to have because this endorsement is borne out of tragedy, a somber Nelson said inside a Marriott hotel conference room as students in attendance lowered their heads. "If you want to change things, you have to get the votes."

Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaimie died in the Parkland shooting, has modified the Democratic push to flip political seats from red to blue, referring instead to an "orange wave" in honor of the official color of gun safety.

He said Gov. Scott's A+ grade from the National Rifle Association made Guttenberg's decision on an endorsement very easy.

"For me, the single biggest voting issue against a political candidate in this election is their relationship with the NRA," Guttenberg said. "Simply put, the NRA is not working on your public safety. They are working on increasing gun sales and nothing else."

In March, Scott signed off on a bill that raised the age limit to purchase a long gun to 21, introduced Risk Protection Orders and implemented a three-day waiting period on all gun purchases.

While Guttenberg did say he appreciated Scott's quick action following the February shooting, he said Scott's relationship with the NRA made him "unfit" to serve in office.
Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
BarcelonaRepresentatives of Spain and Catalonias Generalitat will meet again on September 25th in the Joint Committee for Economic and Fiscal Affairs in which the Catalan Government plans to request  7.607 billion worth of debt accumulated over the last few years. This was explained by Pere Aragones, Vice President of the Generalitat and Minister of Economy and Finance, during an appearance before a parliamentary committee.

Aragones mentioned the different items that the State owes the Generalitat, among which are 583 million for the Mossos d'Esquadra (the Catalan police force) at a time when Catalonia is "at level 4 (out of 5) on the anti-terror alert scale, the cash that should have been invested in infrastructure projects in Catalonia between 2009 and 2013 (2.951 billion), and the subsidies not paid under the Law on Dependents (2.871 billion).

During his appearance, requested by Ciudadanos so that Aragones would explain why the Generalitat had not participated in the meeting of Spains Council on Fiscal and Financial Policy (CPFF), the Vice-president for the Economy said that these types of meetings are an example of the "collapse" of the autonomous system, since according to him the opinions of the autonomous communities are not taken into account because the Ministry of Finance controls the majority of the council, which prevents "negotiation."

It is for this reason that Aragones has opted for relations between the Generalitat and the State to bechanneled through Bilateral Commissions between Catalan and Spanish officials, reconvened on August 1st after 7 years without meeting.
A labor or employment contract is a binding agreement between an employer and an employee, that addresses important employment terms, including those related to wages, benefits, termination procedures, and the duties and responsibilities of both parties. A well-drafted agreement not only sets out the ground rules of the relationship but also limits risk for both parties. In this chapter, we provide an outline of the salient features of labor contracts across five major ASEAN economies.

Indonesia

Indonesian labor contracts can be for either a fixed term or indefinite term. While an indefinite term contract may be in oral or writing, a fixed-term agreement must be concluded in writing in the local Bahasa Indonesia language. The contract may be bilingual  Bahasa Indonesia and the language of the foreign party. However, in case of any conflict, the Indonesian version prevails.

The fixed term contract may be undertaken for a period of maximum two years and may only be extended once for a maximum period of one year.

Further, it can be renewed once for a period of two years after a grace period of 30 days following the expiry of the first term of the contract. An indefinite-period employment contract, on the other hand, is open-ended.

It must be noted that the rules on fixed-term contracts do not apply to expatriate employees. They are permitted to work in Indonesia for a specified term and a work permit can only be issued for a one-year term at a time, except in certain cases.

In terms of worker rights and protection, fixed-term and part-time employees have similar entitlements as employees on an indefinite contract, including wages, overtime pay, leave, and social security. Certain additional benefits under the employment law, however, may apply for employees who have indefinite-term employment agreements, such as the right to receive a severance package upon termination by the employer.

Social security

In Indonesia, the social security program is run by the countrys social security organizing agency or Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS) in collaboration with the employer, whose contribution rates are as follows:

Malaysia

In Malaysia, a labor contract must be formalized in writing. The contract must include key terms of the employment relationship including location of work, scope of work, wage rates, wage period, holidays, benefits, and matters relevant to preservation of health and safety.

The labor contracts are governed by the Employment Act, 1955 and can be established for either fixed term or an indefinite period. Employers must take note that if an employees fixed-term contract is renewed multiple times, the Malaysian courts may consider the said employee as a permanent employee in the event of any disputes related to dismissal.

Social security

Both employers and employees must contribute to an employee social insurance program through Malaysias Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) which cover retirement, disability, survivors benefits, and medical payment. Domestic workers, foreign workers, self-employed, and the spouses of the self-employed are exempt from contributing to both the EPF and the SOCSO.

Philippines

The Philippine labor law recognizes the following five categories of employment arrangements based on the nature of the employment.

Regular employment, where the employee renders work for an indefinite period;

Probationary employment, wherein the employment is subject to a period of observation and evaluation with an aim to assess the workers suitability for permanent employment;

Project-based employment; fixed period or term-based employment; or seasonal employment where the arrangement pre-determines the expiration of the project, term, season or incidental activity.

An employment contract is concluded for each of the employment types. It may be oral or written so long it satisfies the essential requirements and the minimum statutory standards prescribed by the labor code. Any part of an employment contract that does not meet the standards is considered invalid.

In general, the employment contracts are arranged in English, however, an employer must provide a dual language contract in Filipino if an employee is a Philippine national.. Further, the contract must clearly state the terms of employment suitable to the employee type to avoid confusion or any future disputes.

Social security

The Philippines social legislation requires both employees and employers to contribute to the Social Security System (SSS), National Health Insurance Program and the Home Development Mutual Fund that covers sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, deaths and funerals, health insurance and housing loans. The contribution rates are set based on the employees monthly compensation. The employer is not permitted to deduct its share of contribution from the employees monthly contribution.

Singapore

In terms of employment protection and rights, all of Singapores workforce (excluding public servants, domestic workers and seafarers) are set to be covered under the Employment Act of Singapore (EA) with effect from April 1, 2019. At present, Singapore categorizes its workforce into two types  employees who are covered under the EA  EA employees, and employees who are not covered under the EA  non-EA employees. The EA is the primary statute that regulates the relationship between an employer and employee and provides for the basic terms and conditions for employees covered by the EA. The EA requires employers to offer terms that are either comparable to or exceeding the terms set out as per its guidelines, to its employees. Any employment term or clause that is less favorable than that listed in the Act, would be considered null and void.

At present, the EA covers every employee (foreign or local) who is under a contract of service with an employer, except the following

Seaman;

Domestic workers;

Individuals employed by a statutory board or government managers and executives. These include professionals with tertiary education and specialized knowledge or skills whose employment terms are similar to that of government managers or executives  such as lawyers, accountants, dentists, and doctors.; and

Individuals employed in managerial or executive positions with a minimum monthly salary of S$4,500. This salary cap will be removed with effect from April 1, 2019, and statutory protections and benefits under EA must also be extended to those earning more than S$4,500 a month. The core provisions of the EA are to be now expanded to include all managers, executives and professionals regardless of their monthly salary.

Social security

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is Singapores social security saving scheme that covers healthcare, retirement and housing needs of its workforce. It is funded by contributions from both employers and employees. The CPF is mandatory for Singapore citizens or foreigners holding Permanent Resident status and working in Singapore. It is voluntary for Singapore citizens and PRs who work overseas. However, it is not applicable to foreign employees.

The contribution rates are set by law and vary depending on the age, the wage band, the resident status of the employee, that is, whether the employee is a Singaporean citizen or PR, and the number of years for which the employee has had PR status).

Thailand

Thailand does not mandate a written agreement between the employer and an employee. However, it does impose strict labor regulations with regards to working terms and conditions. In practice, therefore, it is advisable for employers to set out written terms and conditions of employment to avoid legal disputes or liability with regards to remuneration.

If an employment agreement is made in writing, an employer must provide a copy to the employee immediately after it has been signed. Further, companies employing 10 or more workers must publish written work rules at the workplace and file them with the district labor office within the prescribed period. These rules must be published in the Thai language as well as in English for foreign workers.

The published rules must include the following: working days; regular working hours and rest periods; holidays and rules for taking holidays; rules concerning overtime work and work on holidays; date and place of payment of basic pay, overtime pay, holiday pay and holiday overtime pay; leave and rules for taking leave; discipline and punishment; submission of complaints; and termination of employment, severance pay and special severance pay. Additionally, a workplace having 20 or more employees must also provide a written working conditions agreement as part of the employees contractual employment terms.

Social Security

Employers are generally required to register their employees with the workmen compensation fund and social security fund. Both employers and employees are required to contribute to the Social Security Fund at the rate of 5 percent of the employees income, up to a maximum of THB750 (US$23) per month.

Further, a provident fund is managed wherein both employer and employee make equal monthly contribution ranging from two to 15 percent of the monthly remuneration.










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ABA Bob Carlson said the immediate thoughts is for all those in the hurricanes path to be safe and secure.

Once the storm passes and the damage can be assessed, the ABA, through its network of volunteers, stands ready to assist those affected by the hurricane with any of the legal needs that so often arise after these natural disasters, he said.

Herbert Smith Freehills help to sell the National Assets

A portfolio of assets held by AGL Energy Limited has been sold with the help of a team from Herbert Smith Freehills.

The assets, known by AGL as the National Assets comprise landfill gas, biogas and biomass generation and cogeneration in addition to compressed natural gas refuelling. They are in 18 separate locations across Australia.

The HSF team was led by partner Nick Baker in Melbourne and Perth-based global head of energy Robert Merrick.
Peter Pyros went inside his garage where the car was, thinking he would take it for one last spin with its top down before autumn. He got inside the car and shut the door, only to find that there was no power to the engine. Without power, the doors, the honk and even the top became inoperable.The Cadillac has a manual emergency release lever situated on the floor next to the seat, but Pyros didnt know that because the owner manual was inside the house and he hadnt read it carefully. He also had no way of contacting anyone, since hed left his phone inside.Pyros lives alone and his neighbors were out to work that day. He spent 14 hours in the hot car, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. He passed out twice from exhaustion and he even managed to scribble a note to his relatives, to let them know what had happened, lest they think he committed suicide.Just as he was starting to make peace with the idea that he was dying, his neighbor came back. He had tried to call Pyros and was worried that he got no answer, Pyros tells USA Today . He then heard a muffled sound and some banging, which was Pyros trying to knock out the window with his last strength.The neighbor called 911 and rescuers were eventually able to free the man. They couldnt open the door with their crowbars, so they had him pop the hood so they could jump-start the engine, which also opened the door.Pyros is now looking into his options, in order to take action against General Motors. His attorney tells the publication that burying a line about the manual release lever in the owners manual is not enough, as GM should have included some sort of warning stickers inside the car as well.GMs mechanical door releases provide a reliable backup in the event of a power failure, GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson tells USA Today in a statement.Thats not enough for Pyros, though. He survived cancer and 9 surgeries, but this ordeal has been the most taxing for him, he claims.Im having a hard time. I wake up and think Im in the car. I cry now when I say my prayers because I dont know why I was so lucky to live, he says. I wouldnt want my worst enemy to go through one thousandth of what I went through. You cant describe it youre dying, youre dying.In 2015, a 72-year-old man and his dogdie from exhaustion, after becoming trapped in the mans Corvette in a parking lot in Texas.
EV

SUV

Earlier this year, a test mule based on a 488 was spotted performing silent electric driving on Ferrari's Fiorano test track. Well, we are now back on the topic, as another test car was spotted. As you'll be able to notice in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page, this tester was spotted in traffic, with the vehicle standing out from a distance (more on this below).This time around, we're talking about a contraption based on the 458 and yet this is of lesser importance. Instead, we'll focus on the details of the vehicle.For instance, the orange wiring visible at the back of the car talks about the hybrid nature of the car. Then there's the massive air intake sitting atop of the engine compartment.The late Sergio Marchionne, who passed away earlier this year following complication from surgery, had delivered multiple details on the future hybrid supercar.For one thing, the former Ferrari CEO mentioned that the vehicle would have an all-electric mode. As hypercar aficionados among you know, things were more complicated with the LaFerrari, as this packs anmode that isn't easy to access.Maranello is set to release the new hybrid next year, with this expected to use a V12 motor. In fact, partial electrification is the Italians' way of avoiding turbocharging their V12 motors in the quest to keep up with the ever-increasing eco pressure.Ferrari is also expected to use the hybrid powertrain for its upcoming. Codenamed FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle), the high-riding model has already been confirmed by the automotive producer and yet the details regarding this polarising model are uber-scarce at the moment.
Throughout the years, Walker has owned over 40 Porsches, as per an older admission of his. Today, his collection includes 25 cars, customized by himself and in mint condition. They are not, however, low on mileage: as Walker puts it, a Porsche is meant to be driven, not kept under lock and key in a garage.You can see the full documentary in the video at the bottom of the page. Walker talks about his passion for classic cars, explaining how his love affair with Porsche began. Once he bought his first car and discovered that feeling of pure freedom, he knew he could only go forward.Walker may be famous for his work as a designer, but his true love is Porsche. He explains that he made his own luck through determination, hard work and grit, and he is proud of his collection. To him, driving his Porsches is like meditation, the best feeling in the world  especially if hes at the wheel of his favorite in the collection, the custom Porsche 227.Walkers doc is the first in a 4-part series, which also includes Australian former racing driver Mark Webb, custom tuner Akira Nakai, and former racer Bruce Canepa. They will be showing off their collections and favorite cars much like Walker, on the Silverstone Circuit track near London, on the streets of LA, Santa Cruz and Tokyo.All 4 mini-docs will also be available as in-game content in CSR2, and players will be able to drive all the cars shown in motion in them. That includes Mark Webbers Porsche 911 GT2 RS , Akira Nakais Porsche Type 993 911, Magnus Walkers Porsche 911 and Bruce Canepas Porsche 959 Working with CSR2 on a celebration of our 70th anniversary, we wanted to find a way to connect with the gaming audience across the globe through content that felt authentic and memorable, Dr. Kjell Gruner, VP Marketing at Porsche AG, says.Were glad that we had the opportunity to capture these unique personalities and their stories because they each represent a distinctive interpretation of what it means to love Porsche sports cars. This partnership enables us to inspire new and longtime fans alike as we look towards the next 70 years of Porsche, Gruner adds.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) says that its Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rulemaking initiative has made substantial progress after a meeting with FAA officials in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. EAA also met with the FAA during AirVenture to discuss MOSAIC, which is designed to relieve builders of well-proven homebuilts of some of the burdens that have limited their aircrafts use and flexibility but not enhanced safety.

We are pursuing improved operating limitations that are much less restrictive for certain parts of the amateur-built community, said EAAs vice president of advocacy and safety, Sean Elliott. It is a natural step given the proven and continuing high level of safety within the homebuilt community. This rulemaking initiative, along with redefining light-sport aircraft, is one of EAAs top priorities over the next two years.

EAA says that MOSAIC is intended to expand amateur-built pathways while leaving the traditional approach in place. Examples given by the organization of some of the proposed changes include allowing assistance from professional builders beyond the 51-percent rule and letting a contractor build a complete aircraft for a client.

The MOSAIC rulemaking package will also include language for light-sport reform, according to EAA. Although the specifics for the LSA proposal have not yet been laid out, the organization expects the reform to expand the LSA category to include more qualifying aircraft and make provisions for features such as electric propulsion. EAA says MOSAIC seems to be on track to enter the FAA rulemaking process in early 2019.
Lelectricite est devenue, de nos jours, un besoin dune importance majeure, et cela, dans tous les domaines dactivite. Que ce soit dans les maisons ou []
Firefighters have responded to at least 70 reported fires and explosions at homes caused by over-pressurized natural gas lines in three Massachusetts towns, according to state police, forcing neighborhoods to evacuate as first responders scramble to secure scenes and prevent further damage.

The big picture: The explosions underscore the inherent risks of relying on fuels that can be explosive, Axios' Amy Harder writes. This is likely to add to already intense opposition to natural gas across the U.S., particularly in New England. America has become increasingly reliant on the fuel over the last decade as fracking and other extraction techniques helped unlock new supplies.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

The details: The AP reports that at least six people with fire-related injuries are being treated at nearby hospitals, but their conditions and severity of the injuries are unknown.

Photographs and videos from the scenes show houses bursting into flames with thick smoke. The AP also reports that the three communities house more than 146,000 residents.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the increase in affected homes.
Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina around 7:15 a.m. on Friday morning. The storm's eye crossed the coast near Wrightsville Beach.

What's next: Florence is expected to move further inland across southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina today and Saturday. Heavy rain, inland flooding and storm surge flooding will continue through the weekend. Axios' Andrew Freedman reported that there "are no historical analogs for Florence. Its forecast track is unprecedented, and its array and magnitude of threats are as well."

The latest:

More than 430,000 North and South Carolina residents had lost power by Friday morning, per CNN.

More than 100 people in New Bern, North Carolina, were in need of rescue after Florence hit, the Washington Post reports.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Go deeper: The ties between Hurricane Florence and climate change
1 big thing: Climate change driving global hunger

The number of undernourished people around the globe increased to nearly 821 million in 2017, the third straight year of growth and the highest figure since 2009, according to a new report from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.

Expand chart Adapted from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World"; Chart: Axios Visuals

Why it matters: Along with conflict and instability, this rise in global hunger is driven increasingly by climate change and related extreme weather events, putting some of the world's most vulnerable citizens at even greater risk.

Food insecurity was found to be significantly worse in countries where people are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, especially when they don't have systems in place to counter the effects of climate shocks.

"It is shocking that, after a prolonged decline, this is the third consecutive year of rising hunger. The inescapable fact is that climate change is now leaving people around the world without enough to eat," Robin Willoughby, head of food and climate policy at Oxfam GB, told The Guardian.

The big picture: Climate change has the potential to erode the gains made toward fighting global hunger over the past decade  which were largely due to political stability, economic growth and greater social protections in the developing world  as extreme weather kicks off more and more societal crises around the world. Some specific weather trends are triggering the worst climate shocks on food stores:

Higher temperatures  and spikes in temperature anomalies  can affect crop yields.

Severe droughts and floods linked to climate change have both seen an uptick in recent years  most notably, flood-related disasters spiked 65% in the last quarter-century.

Changes in seasonality, especially in the developing world, throw off rainfall patterns and growing seasons.

Of the 51 countries that faced food crises in 2017, 34 had climate shocks, per the UN report. The food security threat deepened in the 14 countries that simultaneously faced conflict and regional instability in addition to climate shocks.

Yemen, where 22 million out of 27 million citizens are in need of humanitarian assistance, perhaps best represents this horror. Already one of the world's poorest countries, Yemen faces the combination of an ongoing civil war and serious famine that led UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to remark "no one should ever have to live the way the people of Yemen are living."

The bottom line: Without significant action to address climate change, some of the world's most vulnerable citizens may face increasing risk from global hunger, which was on a marked downward trend just 5 years ago  and the UN had hoped to eliminate fully by 2030.

Go deeper:
Shares of NiSource fell nearly 10% following multiple gas explosions in several towns in Massachusetts. The company's subsidiary, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, owns the gas pipeline investigators suspect led to the destruction of homes, injuries and at least one death.

Between the lines: The worry for investors is NiSource could face investigations and lawsuits (which, if history is any guide, will certainly be the case), and the company will suffer hefty fines or penalties.

A spokesman for NiSource did not respond to a request for comment about the stock price, but said the company is investigating the incident. Barring any candid interviews, we won't hear from the CEO until Novemberwhen the company holds a quarterly call with investors.

What analysts are saying:

Wells Fargo : "We expect shares to come under nearterm pressure and for the explosions to serve as an overhang on shares for some time."

: "We expect shares to come under nearterm pressure and for the explosions to serve as an overhang on shares for some time." J.P.Morgan : " Given the widely varying penalty precedents for gas utility accidents around the US, it is impossible at this time to rule out any magnitude of fine on the company and potential overhang on the stock that may bring."

: " Given the widely varying penalty precedents for gas utility accidents around the US, it is impossible at this time to rule out any magnitude of fine on the company and potential overhang on the stock that may bring." KeyBanc: " We believe [NiSource's] downside is likely buffered by insurance coverage."

Go deeper: Gas explosions ravage dozens of Massachusetts homes
President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to new charges brought forth by the special counsel, and entered into a "cooperation agreement" with the Justice Department.

The big picture: In the new charges, Manafort was accused of disseminating false stories on behalf of his pro-Russia, Ukrainian client and not disclosing his lobbying efforts to the Justice Department as required by law. He was also found guilty last month on eight counts of bank and tax fraud.

What we don't know: What kind of information Manafort has to provide Mueller  or who he'll offer up dirt on.

Key takeaways from the filing of new allegations, as outlined by the New York Times' Kenneth Vogel:
During a press conference Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia has actively undermined the United Nations Security Council's resolutions by lifting pressure to denuclearize on North Korea.

The big picture: Pompeo previously warned countries about interfering with North Korea's denuclearization process, and has specifically called out Russia explaining offenses would be taken "very seriously" by the United States. Today, Pompeo said he spoke with U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley about Russian interference with North Korean denuclearization and called the process "necessary" for the Korean peninsula.

Pompeo called out former Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with Iranian foreign officials, saying it was "beyond inappropriate" and that it undermined the Trump administration. However, he refrained from calling it illegal.
As the U.S. and China struggle for dominance in artificial intelligence, they are locked in a parallel, behind-the-scenes race to master quantum technology, a contest that could result in lasting military superiority and a possible new industrial revolution.

The big picture: Though still far off, conquering quantum technology could enable uncrackable communications, supercharged radar and more deadly undersea warfare. And as of now, China has some serious advantages.

A new report from the Center for a New American Security draws on open-source material for a window into Chinas quantum progress and aspirations.

The reports authors, Elsa Kania and John Costello, say that China has made substantial advances in some areas of quantum research, putting it in a position to overtake the U.S. in the science.

Elsa Kania and John Costello, say that China has made substantial advances in some areas of quantum research, putting it in a position to overtake the U.S. in the science. Chinese advantages include a national vision for technological research, significant investments, and tight bonds between the private sector and the military. By comparison, the U.S. yet to enact a quantum policy, though the White House recently added a quantum expert to its tech-policy staff.

include a national vision for technological research, significant investments, and tight bonds between the private sector and the military. By comparison, the U.S. yet to enact a quantum policy, though the White House recently added a quantum expert to its tech-policy staff. "Chinas advances in quantum science could impact the future military and strategic balance, perhaps even leapfrogging traditional U.S. militarytechnological advantages," write Kania and Costello.

How it works: Quantum technology capitalizes on the unusual properties of super-tiny particles to surpass what's possible with normal, or "classical," computing. Among its applications:

Quantum cryptography, a leap over current techniques that would be nearly impossible to crack  and render modern encryption obsolete.

a leap over current techniques that would be nearly impossible to crack  and render modern encryption obsolete. Quantum computing, which promises to enormously accelerate computing, a breakthrough whose effects would be felt across the economy.

Quantum supremacy  the moment when quantum computers will be more capable than classical ones  is still well out of reach, but researchers in both countries are pushing aggressively in that direction.

Kania and Costello argue that Chinese progress on quantum cryptography is world-class, demonstrated by the launch of the first-ever quantum satellite in 2016.

While China lags on research into quantum computing, its quickly catching up.

Among the spoils of conquering the quantum space are computers that could decipher most of the worlds encrypted data, like the NSAs store of intercepted communications, and overcome the U.S. stealth technologies on which the military heavily relies.

How they got here: China had a "Sputnik moment" in 2013, igniting a national plan that funnels billions of dollars and top scientists into quantum research, the authors write.

Its unlikely instigator was Edward Snowden, whose leaks revealed the extent of U.S. spying in China, and sparked a feverish response meant to shore up Chinas protections against cyber-espionage.

was Edward Snowden, whose leaks revealed the extent of U.S. spying in China, and sparked a feverish response meant to shore up Chinas protections against cyber-espionage. This inflection point mirrors another three years later: An Obama Administration report outlining a future U.S. artificial intelligence policy. Afterward, Beijing scrambled to put together its own, far outstripping American planning, while the Trump administration has neither engaged Obama's policy nor formulated its own.

In a series of policy recommendations, Kania and Costello say the U.S. needs to initiate a plan that ensures quantum research is well funded and attracts top scientists from around the world.

The U.S. should also closely monitor the research of rival countries to avoid an adversary quietly decrypting sensitive military communications  like the U.K. did in World War II, using Alan Turing's Enigma codebreaker.

Chinas approach to quantum research offers a look at the countrys general model for innovation, write Kania and Costello.

The strategy involves "state investment, international collaboration, and academic transfers of knowledge" from abroad, such as when a student is educated in the U.S. and returns to China to work on quantum research.

In July, we reported the possibility that China is repurposing the results of AI collaborations with other countries for military purposes. Thats equally true for quantum research.

Go deeper: The race to build a quantum economy (Axios)
Various reports of around one million Uyghur Muslims being detained in mass detention camps in Xinjiang are rapidly increasing.

What's happening: "Transformation" is the goal of China detaining vast numbers of Muslims, per Sunday's New York Times, in the center of the print front page. Anwar Ibrahim, likely the next premier of Malaysia, criticized the crackdown in Xinjiang, per Bloomberg.

The trend: Human Rights Watch issued a long report Monday on China's campaign of "eradicating ideological viruses."

What's next: The U.S. is considering sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against senior Chinese officials involved in the crackdown, NYT reports.

Co-chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to expand the U.S. entity list to cover Chinese government and state security entities in Xinjiang, as well as businesses that may profit from security expansion in that region.

The PRC government, on the other hand, has taken a new tack in its defense, as Reuters reports...

It is not mistreatment, said Li Xiaojun, director for publicity at the Bureau of Human Rights Affairs of the State Council Information Office. What China is doing is to establish professional training centers, educational centers.If you do not say its the best way, maybe its the necessary way to deal with Islamic or religious extremism, because the West has failed in doing so, in dealing with religious Islamic extremism, Li told reporters on the sidelines of the U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva.Look at Belgium, look at Paris, look at some other European countries. You have failed."As to surveillance, China is learning from the UK, Li said. Your per capita CCTV is much higher than that for Chinas Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

Go deeper:

For D.C. readers, the large Uyghur community here means there are at least three very good Uyghur restaurants in the area  Dolan in Cleveland Park, Eerkins in Glover Park and Queen Amannisa in Arlington.
For the first time in years a pro-establishment candidate running in a major election in Armenia has agreed to participate in a televised debate with his rivals.

Hayk Marutian, a popular actor and producer who is running for the office of Yerevans mayor in September 23 elections, said on Thursday that he supported the idea after RFE/RLs Armenian Service offered to host such a debate.

Under Armenian election law, candidates are not required to participate in televised debates. No senior incumbent official or government-backed candidate has participated in such a debate since 2003 when then President Robert Kocharian clashed in a historic live show on television with his principal rival Stepan Demirchian ahead of a presidential run-off.

Marutian, who is a member of the Civil Contract party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and leads the My Step alliance consisting of active participants of last springs street protests that brought Pashinian to power, believes that all candidates should participate in a televised debate. This is a civilized option and we should do that. I am the first to say yes, I am ready, but on condition that all 12 [mayoral] candidates running in the current elections are present, all are given equal time and participate on equal terms, he said.

Official campaigning in the elections to Yerevans Council of Elders kicked off on September 10 and will continue through September 21.

Residents of the Armenian capital will go to the polls on September 23 to elect the 65-member body according to party lists. The Council of Elders will then elect a new mayor of Yerevan. Under Armenian election law, if any of the political parties and alliances manages to gain more than 40 percent of the vote, the top candidate on its list will be elected mayor automatically.

Three of the political parties and blocs contesting the elections are also represented in the Pashinian government. These are the Prosperous Armenia Party of tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, which fielded lawmaker Naira Zohrabian as its mayoral candidate, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), whose list is topped by Mikael Manukian, and the Luys alliance led by Justice Minister Artak Zeynalian.

Among other major candidates running for mayor in the current elections are also former lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjian of the Yerkir Tsirani party and former foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian representing the Heritage party.

The former ruling Republican Party of Armenia is not participating in the current elections. Its senior member Taron Markarian resigned in July after serving as Yerevan mayor for seven years. The Council of Elders could not elect a new mayor, triggering early elections by popular vote.

The current election campaign in Yerevan is focused on a number of issues, including transportation, waste management, the improvement of city infrastructure, kindergartens and others.

Prime Minister Pashinian has vowed to ensure free, fair and democratic elections. Many analysts believe the Yerevan vote will become the first major test for the reformist leader and his political team head of early parliamentary elections expected at some time before next summer.
After months of criticism over poor garbage collection in Yerevan the citys private operator has vowed to solve the issue shortly.

In the next couple of days citizens will see that the waste management will be regulated, Nicholas El Tawil, the director of the Lebanese-run Sanitek company, said at a press conference on Friday.

Residents of the Armenian capital held several protests in front of the Sanitek office in recent weeks, demanding that the company, which entered Yerevan in 2014 and has worked as a monopolist in waste management since, do proper work to clean up the mess in the city.

Piles of garbage have been seen in virtually all districts of Yerevan as Sanitek garbage trucks did not show up for days to collect them.

Angered residents have complained about bad smell and poor sanitary conditions created in the city during the summer months because of the poor service offered by the private operator.

The problem of Saniteks poor waste disposal has repeatedly been raised by Armenian authorities lately. In recent weeks the Yerevan municipality imposed fines amounting to over $50,000 on the company and warned it about stricter sanctions ahead unless the situation improved.

In explaining the deterioration of its work Sanitek referred to the shortage of garbage trucks that it said frequently broke down because of bad roads leading to the landfill site. The company also claimed excessive damage to its trash cans caused by residents that increases overall costs for garbage collection.

Speaking at a press conference today Saniteks manager admitted that his company did not duly fulfill its obligations during the last three months. But we havent run away from our responsibilities, he added.

Earlier, the company said it had purchased some new garbage trucks that were on their way to Armenia.

Ahead of September 23 elections to Yerevans Council of Elders many of the political parties and blocs participating in the campaign promise to attract more waste management operators for the city.

In this view El Tawil said that any other investor or operator would still face the same problems. We look forward to coordinate [our work] with the new municipality. We believe and hope that the new government will make a master plan for waste collection not only for Yerevan, but also for the entire country, Saniteks representative said, denying that the companys problems began after the resignation of former mayor Taron Markarian.

El Tawil said they will discuss with the city authorities the possibility of having an international company supervising Sanitek as a contractor. Because waste management is a very complicated and delicate issue, El Tawil concluded.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Paris on Friday for talks focused on an upcoming summit of Francophonie nations to be held in Yerevan next month.

According to the Armenian prime ministers spokesman, Macron and Pashinian also discussed issues pertaining to the business form to be organized within the framework of the Francophonie summit in the Armenian capital.

Greeting Pashinian, Macron reportedly highlighted the importance of the Armenian leaders visit to France, expressing conviction that it will promote and give a new impetus to the further development of friendly relations between the two countries.

The French president underlined that his country is ready to continue the efforts aimed at expanding close cooperation with friendly Armenia in different spheres.

The French leader reportedly expressed confidence that the upcoming Francophonie summit in Yerevan will be held at a high level. The Armenian prime minister, for his part, said: I am convinced that our meeting will give a new quality to our privileged relations based on centuries-old historical friendship. He stressed the importance of Armenias hosting the 2018 Francophonie Summit, describing it as one of the most important events in Yerevan since the South Caucasus country gained independence in 1991. Pashinian reaffirmed his governments commitment to ensure a successful holding of the summit and expressed confidence that it will contribute to the further rise of the reputation and influence of the Francophonie.

The French president is due to visit Yerevan for the events on October 11-12.

During the meeting at the Elysee Palace the two leaders also addressed the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the spokesman, Arman Yeghoyan, said to RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Along with the United States and Russia, France co-chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europes (OSCE) Minsk Group, an international format promoting a peaceful resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

According to the information posted on the prime ministers official website, Pashinian praised the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, including Frances efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region. The prime minister underlined that Armenia is committed to continue negotiations to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Armenian prime minister and the French president attached importance to a peaceful settlement of the problem through the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, Pashinians spokesman added.

The two leaders reportedly agreed to discuss the agenda of the French-Armenian relations in more detail during Macrons state visit to Armenia next month.

During his two-day visit to Paris the Armenian prime minister also held meetings with representatives of the French-Armenian community as well as with business circles of France.

Addressing members of the French Enterprise Movement today, Pashinian, in particular, called for French investments in the Armenian economy.

I want to assure you that all investors will have dialogue-based relations with the Government of Armenia within the limits of honesty and legitimacy. Those who engage in economic activity will not have competitors in the government, since business and politics should be separated, and those who are engaged in politics should not engage in business. The Armenian government has been able to enforce this condition within a short period of time because it enjoys full confidence of the Armenian people, Pashinian said, as quoted by his press service.
By Rashid Shirinov

Armenia will not be able to avoid responsibility for the occupation until it withdraws its troops from Azerbaijani lands in accordance with the requirements of UN Security Council resolutions, said Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev.

He was commenting on the recent speech of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the parliament.

The only purpose of Pashinyans statement on inviting the illegal regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan to the negotiating table is to destroy the negotiation process. Armenia is the party responsible for the continuation of the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories through the use of force, Hajiyev told Trend on September, noting that the international legal responsibility for the occupation rests with Armenia as a party to the conflict.

He further said it is absolutely groundless that Pashinyan addressed the Armenian population of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In all the documents submitted by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, which are now the subject of discussions, the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous region of Azerbaijan are defined as its population, Hajiyev mentioned.

He stressed that instead of making contradictory statements, the prime minister of Armenia should read the documents and thus increase his political literacy in connection with the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

By speaking with such provocative and contradictory statements, the prime minister of Armenia assumes the main responsibility for the escalation of tension and undermining the negotiation process, Hajiyev noted.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 92 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 14.

Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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By Sara Israfilbayova

It is necessary to improve the non-cash payment system in Azerbaijan.

Ramil Mahmudov, the head of the Development and Control Department of Payment Systems of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), told Trend that at present the system of non-cash payments in Azerbaijan is not at the proper level.

Compared to previous years, the volume of non-cash payments in the country has increased slightly, but despite this, problems still exist. Despite the potential in this area, the presence of gaps indicates that it is necessary to strengthen work in this direction. In general, bringing the level of non-cash settlements in the country to global indicators is one of the main tasks of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Mahmudov stressed.

The CBA representative also noted that in the priorities of the regulator there is always an increase in security in non-cash settlements.

Recently, we drafted amendments to our rules for the use of plastic cards, one of which concerned the increase in security with online payments. The facts of card fraud, revealed recently, show that the vector fraud is gradually moving to electronic commerce, because it is much easier to carry out such frauds here. In order to prevent such fraud, banks must have the proper training, have a stable policy of adequate counteraction to risks, he noted.

According to the CBA, in January-July, 2018, turnover on payment cards via ATMs and POS-terminals in Azerbaijan totaled 9.86 billion manats ($5.8 billion), which is 20.2 percent more than the figure of seven months of last year. The total number of transactions with payment cards during the reporting period amounted to 65.27 million (an increase of 20.7 percent).

The law On non-cash payments was adopted in order to strengthen accounting in the financial system, through the development of non-cash payments.

The law envisages a limit for cashing operations. Banks and postal operators will charge a simplified tax (1 percent of the sum) for cashing of means kept in bank accounts of legal entities and private entrepreneurs.

Under the law, trade and public catering entities (registered as VAT payers), with the annual turnover exceeding 200,000 manats ($117,600) will have a right for limited volume of cash payments (not exceeding 30,000 manats ($17,600) per month), while a limit of 15,000 manats ($8,800) will be set for other taxpayers.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

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By Naila Huseynli

Solemn opening ceremony of the third Indonesian Cultural Festival was held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on September 13.

Before starting the concert the participants of the event got acquainted with the Indonesian culture and art exhibition at the lobby of the palace. The photo-exhibition reflecting the nature of Indonesia was also met with a great interest.

In the opening of the festival, Indonesian Culture and Education Minister Muhajir Efendi expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan. He said that the third annual festival under the slogan "Keeping the Archipelago the Greatest Culture Alive is presented with more interesting and rich programs from year to year. The Minister noted that this year's festival is more remarkable. Also, the festival falls to the 73rd anniversary of Indonesia's independence.

Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Abulfas Garayev welcomed all the participants of the festival on behalf of the country's leadership. The festival will contribute to the expand relations between the two countries, create conditions for the people to get to know each other better and implement numerous joint projects in the future.

After the speeches, the opening ceremony of the festival continued with a concert program. First of all, the performance of Tubaba Pakem dance group from Indonesia was performed. Then, event participants listened to the performance of the famous jazz musician of Indonesia Dwiki Dharmawan. Azerbaijani students of Azerbaijan University of Languages together with Indonesian professional dancers presented traditional and national dance of this country. The subtleties of self-defense art organized by the Indonesian and Azerbaijani Pencak Silat Federations have also been demonstrated.

On the second and third days of the festival, exhibitions and various events will be held in Fountain Square. Participants of the event will get acquainted with the Indonesian archipelago culinary and watch the cultural heritage, diversity and beauty of this country through exhibitions. The fair will also be organized with the Indonesian national clothes, souvenirs, hand-made items, coffee and tea and other products within the framework of the festival. Along with Indonesian businessmen, the country's science and culture figures are also participating in the festival.

The first ever Indonesian Cultural Festival was held in Baku in 2016. The two-day Indonesian Cultural Festival brought together groups of artists who presented traditional music, folk dance-music and more.

The second edition of the festival was held last year and featured a fascinating performance of world-famous jazz musician Dwiki Dharmawan, Indonesian traditional dances and much more.

In 2017, around 3,500 people attended the festival, enlivened by various art performers from Indonesia, including the famous Indonesian jazz musician Dwiki Dharmawan with his band, the young traditional music group Kunokini, dance performances from some of the provinces in Indonesia, fashion show of Indonesian tenun (Indonesian traditional weaving fabric), performance from Pencak Silat (Indonesian traditional martial art), Indonesian Mural Art Showcase.

Indonesia recognized Azerbaijans independence on December 28, 1991. Bilateral relations between the two republics were established on September 24, 1992. The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Indonesia was established in 2006, while the embassy of Indonesia in Azerbaijan was opened in 2010.

Indonesia is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan in the fields of tourism, trade and investment. Azerbaijan is the third largest trade partner of Indonesia. The country is interested in making mutual investments with Azerbaijan in the oil and gas sphere.

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By Rashid Shirinov

Russias position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged, Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said at a press conference on September 13.

We, of course, analyze everything that is being said, both the ways of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the statements that are being made in the countries concerned. I would like to remind that Russias position on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement remains unchanged, she said.

Zakharova noted that for its part, Russia, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, will continue to provide the parties with the mediation assistance necessary to reach a compromise, but, of course, the parties to the conflict must create appropriate conditions for moving forward.

Russia, along with the U.S. and France, is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with signing a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Until now, Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Rashid Shirinov

The declaration of war to Azerbaijan by Armenia openly shows that it is a party to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend on September 14.

He was commenting on the decision of the Armenian Parliament to declare a conditional war against Azerbaijan within Shant-2018 command and staff exercise.

The declaration of war to Azerbaijan by the Armenian Parliament within the Shant-2018 military exercises and its posting on the official website of the countrys parliament is another clear indication that Armenia is a party to the conflict, the spokesman said.

Hajiyev noted that the Armenian Prime Minister continues to make contradictory statements. He added that by its actions the Armenian leadership proves that its claims regarding participation of the fictional regime created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories in the negotiations are nothing more than nonsense.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijans territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Trend

Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov on Sept. 13 met with the delegation led by Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said in a message.

Before the meeting, the Israeli delegation visited the Alley of Honor, paid tribute and laid a wreath at the tomb of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The delegation also paid tribute and laid flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, Academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

The guests visited the Alley of Martyrs to commemorate Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence and territorial integrity, laid wreaths and flowers to their graves and the Eternal Flame monument.

Then, an official welcoming ceremony was held in the Ministry of Defense.

Israeli defense minister passed along the guard of honor, and national anthems of the two countries were performed.

The Book of Honor was signed following the protocol.

Speaking about the high level of partnership between the two countries, Hasanov noted the vital role of this partnership not only in the development of the two states, but also in ensuring security in the entire region.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani defense minister brought to the attention of the guest that Armenia, as an aggressor country, supporting terrorism at the state level, is creating the main threat to regional stability and is interested in escalating the situation on the line of contact of the troops.

Highly appreciating the historical roots and ties between the two countries peoples, Lieberman expressed his satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between the countries and especially emphasized the significance of such meetings in terms of expanding relations.

Aspects of regional security, prospects for development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel in the military, military-technical spheres, organization of working meetings and other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.

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By Trend

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijans Embassy in Poland on Sept. 12 organized an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Warsaw.

Prior to the event, the participants viewed an exhibition on Azerbaijan. The exhibition, which will run for a month, aims to promote Azerbaijans tourism opportunities in Poland, and raise the Polish societys awareness about Azerbaijan.

Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Hasan Hasanov and Mazowieckie Province Governor Zdzislaw Sipiera viewed the exhibition.

The Azerbaijani delegation then visited a monument "In memory of fighters for independent Azerbaijan and Poland", which is the symbol of friendship and brotherhood between the Azerbaijani and Polish peoples.

An official reception on the centennial of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic then was held at the Royal Palace in Warsaw.

In his opening remarks, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Hasan Hasanov greeted the event participants on behalf of Azerbaijans First Vice President, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. He described the Azerbaijan-Poland relations as excellent. The ambassador hailed the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's role in promoting Azerbaijans culture and history and implementing humanitarian projects both in the country and abroad.

Ambassador Hasanov pointed to numerous events initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, saying they contribute to the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Poland.

The Azerbaijani ambassador then highlighted the history and activities of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which existed for only 23 months.

On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Hasanov said that as a result of the Armenian aggression, 20 percent of the Azerbaijani lands were occupied, more than one million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their native lands. He thanked the Polish government for supporting the settlement of the conflict based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani ambassador also highlighted the history of diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Poland.

Polish Undersecretary of State Bartosz Cichocki said that the Poles participated in the establishment of the Azerbaijani state 100 years ago. The Polish Undersecretary of State noted that his country supports efforts towards finding a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law.

The event also featured a concert of Azerbaijani and Polish musicians.

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Our verdict on the new police uniforms is that the only difference they have with Papa Shirandulas uniform is the colour. In fact, Papa Shirandulas is better because it is not a shouting shade of blue and fits the actor in accordance with his burly size.

When President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled the new police uniforms yesterday, he probably would have expected a better reception but that has not been the case.

Kenyans across the board have agreed that the all-blue uniform is an eyesore, oldfashioned, and an embarrassment to Kenya, especially when set side by side next to our Rwandese counterparts.

The royal blue uniforms are part of the new raft of reforms in the police force that have seen the Administration Police merge with Kenya Police Service to form the General Duty Police.

The president made it clear that the reforms, ranging from the changes in structure and command, rebranding of colleges, and the introduction of housing allowances for junior officers, are meant to make the police force more efficient.

According to Uhuru, the uniform will enhance better visibility for the officers. The reforms are also apparently aimed at making the police a service that is respected rather than a force that is feared.

Well, we can immediately rule out respect out of that equation judging by the negative reactions from Kenyans. In fact, we have only been able to spot only one person who hailed the uniform  former Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale.

Congratulations President Uhuru Kenyatta and IG Boinett for this new Kenya Police uniform. It is cool. Hope the officers will wear it with a new attitude in law enforcement, he tweeted.

We have sampled some of the reactions below:

Retweet this if you HATE the new police uniform for Kenya Police #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/JFhcvxhWzS  Fidel Jesus (@FidelFidel6) September 13, 2018

The new police uniform reminds me of the biblical story of new wine in old wine skins ! Police are poorly paid & live in deplorable conditions .if you ask them for their views , uniform will not be in top ten need list  Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) September 13, 2018

This new Police uniform looks like it was picked from a Naija movie scene?? pic.twitter.com/HV2dtwbRel  The Makodingo (@makodingo) September 13, 2018

Kenyans: We want police reforms. Matiangi to Kenya1: Sir, Kenyans want new police uniforms.  Bruce ?? (@ngwata_) September 13, 2018

New Kenya Police ? uniform; these the ugliest s**t Ive seen today! I just feel a tenderprenuer had to eat, these look like those ugly Musevenis brutal police uniforms na pia zinakaa za watchmen. The previous uniforms were far better, authoritative & held identity sense. pic.twitter.com/wSUE9SvuMA  Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) September 13, 2018

Today in good faith, I congratulated @UKenyatta/@JBoinnet for Kenya Police new uniform. Kenyans, in their numbers hav said they dont want our forces in this Chinese colours! Since there is no primary/secondary/tertiary color called Chinese, Uhuru uve a problem on ua hands! pic.twitter.com/pvqkha94oQ  Boni Khalwale (@KBonimtetezi) September 13, 2018

By the way what happened to the much hyped red paint on Thika Superhighway that was meant to ease Traffic Jams? This blue Kenya Police Uniform might just disappear like the red lipstick on the tarmac. #PoliceReforms  Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) September 13, 2018

The Uniforms for our newly unified Kenya Police is Ugly, Dull , Old fashioned & Uninspiring  The Beret is worse  They look like Salvation Army Band  Police Uniform must be one that shows fitness & inspires fear  Here, we were conned  #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/F7abNCZUmB  Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) September 13, 2018

Change of colour is the Kenyan solution to all problems:

Congest on CBD roads  paint a large yellow box at junctions

Congestion on highway  paint red line on one lane

Matatu accidents  paint yellow line on sides

School bus accidents  paint the yellow

#PoliceReforms  Mungai Kihanya (@mungaikihanya) September 13, 2018

The #PoliceReforms also increased the pocket sizes for the police uniform. pic.twitter.com/ttnaRTl44y  Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) September 13, 2018

At this point I think G4S has better looking uniforms than their colleagues here. Whoever designed this this need to charged with high voltage treason. How could he make our officers look like struggling security firm. We wanted #PoliceReforms not #Policeuniform SO UNINSPIRING! pic.twitter.com/qaHEQhRkn0  Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) September 13, 2018

Hizi ni nini sasa? I thought part of the #PoliceReforms on uniforms size and fitness was supposed to be emphasized. Those times when police looked shaggy, shapeless and badly dressed are over. Police UNIFORM the design especially should be the smartest around. But hizi! Baaad pic.twitter.com/g6DLbxAv0n  Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) September 13, 2018

Are we turning into a Chinese colony ? * asking for Dedan Kimathi * #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/7yvFaXnRSO  Leon Lidigu (@LeonLidigu) September 13, 2018

Chinese cops wear black, these are North Korean police. But feel free to tweet whatever excites you the most, no matter how ignorant.#PoliceReforms #NSCKE2018 pic.twitter.com/Qe19zv0b53  Polycarp Hinga ?? (@PolycarpHinga) September 13, 2018

Have been following this #PoliceReforms things and I have concluded that Kenya Police uniform review is a looming scandal. pic.twitter.com/5s6wSI3S4S  Gabriel Munyoki (@Gmmunyoki) September 13, 2018

These Chinese people are everywhere, wondering what this one was involved in police reforms #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/PuSBUs31RS  Kennedy Odhiambo (@OdhiamboKe) September 13, 2018

Reforming the police by changing their uniforms is like repainting a vehicle that has engine failure. It will not move.#PoliceReforms  Joshua K. Njenga (@JKNjenga) September 13, 2018

From the bible to it being evident. China colonise Kenya #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/Znh1kwAMo3  Searle (@maksea_) September 13, 2018

You all will say am Hating but What makes this a National Police Uniform? No single Colour of the National Flag is represented and the Badges look more of the Uganda National Flag than the Kenya Police Service Flag. Tumeuzwa! Why are they coming after China visit? #PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/2BS1wiXPR1  BRAVIN (@ItsBravin) September 13, 2018

How can Uhuru Kenyatta change such uniforms? How will we be tweefing with other countries yet this was our stronghold? ???#PoliceReforms pic.twitter.com/geva0W2HWT  Maccos ?? (@Maccoscyrus) September 13, 2018

@FredMatiangi likes Ugly things, From Ugly yellow school buses to oversized Kenya Police uniforms that cant differentiate between a man & a woman. The prettiness of a Kenyan police woman has just been hidden in the name of #PoliceReforms

Compare and Contrast#NSCKE2018 pic.twitter.com/syZveCYOwE  Tired Kenyan?? (@TiredKenyan) September 13, 2018

Those opposed to new Kenya Police Uniforms as part of #PoliceReforms, terming it colonisation by China Should try the Wakanda Uniform, Its truly African #NSCKE2018 pic.twitter.com/hwBE95J9Fu  Wambete Soita (@wambete) September 13, 2018
By Trend

The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Baku will be timed to the Russian-Azerbaijani interregional forum and will testify to the multilateral nature of cooperation between the two states, the Deputy Chairman of Russias Federation CouncilIlyas Umakhanov told "Vestnik Kavkaza".

Thus, Vladimir Putin's visit will show that in the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan the economy comes to the fore.

"One of the directions for intensifying economic contacts is cooperation in the Caspian Sea. The Convention signed a month ago has a whole set of directions for economic cross-border interaction. In particular, we are talking about the active use of the transport infrastructure of our countries", Umakhanov stressed.

He also added that the Convention is also the foundation for strengthening political ties.

The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan is scheduled for September 25.

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By Trend

Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have discussed a new agreement in military sphere.

The issue of approval of the Memorandum of understanding in the defense sphere between the three countries has been discussed at today's meeting of the Committee on International and Inter-parliamentary Relations of the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

The strengthening of military ties between these countries is very important, said the Chairman of the Committee Samad Seyidov.

"This is very important for each of the countries of the region, and at the same time it is a message to the world community," the chairman of the committee said.

Seyidov noted that the relations between these countries are developing at a high level not only in the economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, but also in the military sphere. "Having a strong army, Azerbaijan has support of Turkey and Georgia. This is extremely important and significant for our country", he said.

The Memorandum of understanding in the military sphere between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia was recommended for discussion at the plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

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By Sara Israfilbayova

During the raids conducted over the past three months, 35 people engaged in illegal hunting in Azerbaijan were detained.

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported that 29 hunting rifles, cartridges and various hunting gear were confiscated.

In respect of these persons, protocols were drawn up and a fine of 40,441 manats ($23,788) was imposed.

The Ministry of Ecology conducts regular raids to study the situation with observance of the requirements of the laws On hunting and On fauna.

Earlier, it was reported that employees of the regional department of ecology and natural resources of the Ministry detained three citizens of Saudi Arabia in the territory of Uzunbala village of Neftchala region, trying to engage in illegal hunting.

Three hunting rifles and 50 cartridges were seized. Each of the guilty under an administrative order was fined in the amount of 2,000 manats ($1,170).

Moreover, the Ministry reported that a review was conducted on the information received about the creation of conditions for poachers in the Caspian Sea from Nabran to Baku.

During the eight months of 2018, the departments staff identified 18 unauthorized fish facts in the area, nine floating vehicles, 933 hunting attachments and various types of fish.

Documents were sent to law enforcement agencies concerning 14 offenders.

In 2018, one legal entity and 65 individuals were granted permits to engage in industrial fishing with a "fishing ticket" from the Nabran part to Baku.

In May the Ministry reported that a new draft decision on increasing the amount of fines against individuals who conduct illegal hunting has been prepared in the country.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

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Azerbaijan is yet again the cynosure of all eyes across the globe. At this very time, the nations capital is hosting the VIII Global Baku Forum in which international issues are being deliberated on by former heads of state and governments, prominent policymakers and pundits and many other distinguished personages.
By Rashid Shirinov

The U.S. supports the construction of a gas pipeline providing for the transportation of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field to Europe, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said at a briefing on September 13.

He noted that the U.S. stands for competition.

I confirm that we support another pipeline  on the supply of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe, Perry said.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union, which aims to diversify routes and sources of energy supplies and thereby improve the energy security of the EU.

The opening ceremony of the SGC was held in Sangachal terminal in Baku on May 29. The cost of the project is over $40 billion.

Gas as part of the Shah Deniz 2 field development is exported to Turkey through the TANAP gas pipeline and will be exported to the European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus gas pipeline and construction of the TAP pipeline.

A ceremony to launch TANAP took place June 12 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. First commercial gas deliveries to Turkey commenced within the Southern Gas Corridor on June 30.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers, with the initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Trend

Senior assistant to Iran's foreign minister for political affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari in a meeting with personal representative of the French president for Syrian affairs, Francois Senemaud reviewed the latest developments in Syria, IRNA reported.

During the meeting both sides discussed efforts underway to put an end to Syrian crisis.

Earlier, Ansari held talks with heads of parliamentary friendship groups at the French Parliament and Senate on boosting ties and cooperation.

He is also to meet the secretary general of the Elysee palace.

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By Trend

Turkey and Kazakhstan intend to strengthen relations in all spheres, Turkish media reported citing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Relations between the two countries are at the highest level, Turkish president said at a joint press conference with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"Kazakhstan is one of Turkey's most important strategic partners," Erdogan said.

Turkey and Kazakhstan will increase trade turnover and the two countries have great potential to do so, Erdogan added.

Recently, Turkey and Kazakhstan have signed 22 agreements, 17 of which are commercial. The total value of the agreements is estimated at $1.7 billion.

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By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzavtosanoat intends to implement a project to build a plant specializing in assembling motorcycles, Podrobno.uz reported.

This initiative was included in the government's decree of September 10, 2018 on additional measures to provide employment for the population of the Naryn district of the Namangan region.

The company plans to organize the production of motorcycles with an annual capacity of 10,000 units. The production should be launched before November 1, 2019.

Previously, the company's leadership said that the partner in the establishment of the plant will be the Chinese Lifan. Scooters, motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo scooters will be produced at the facility. The enterprise will appear on the basis of the Naryn Mechanical Plant.

Lifan is one of the largest enterprises in China. It specializes in the technological development and production, sales and export of automobiles, motorcycles and engines. To date, the company operates through its own network of dealer centers, which exceeds 10,000 salons worldwide. Today, they are open in 42 countries.

In addition, Uzavtosanoat planned to launch another similar project with the Indian Bajaj in Navoi. Bajaj, the largest Indian manufacturer of motorcycles and commercial vehicles, ranks third in the world for the production of two- and three-wheeled vehicles. The brand is widely known in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South and South-East Asia, Europe.

At the end of last year, Uzavtosanoat and South Korean DK Group company also signed an agreement on the organization of production of motorcycles and tricycles freight scooters on the territory of the republic.

The agreement will provide an opportunity for the Uzbek side to develop the production of various types of motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo scooters using Korean technologies. The equipment will be presented in an affordable price segment and will meet the needs of the population living in remote and inaccessible regions in the movement and transportation of goods.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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By Kamila Aliyeva

Swiss bank Credit Suisse has expressed its readiness to finance projects in the oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan, Uzbek media outlets reported.

This became known following the meeting of the Uzbekneftegaz management with representatives of the Swiss bank in Tashkent on September 11.

Representatives of Credit Suisse stressed their interest in participating in the financing of investment projects in Uzbekistan, the implementation of which has an important role for the economy of the republic.

At the same time, according to the representatives of the bank, this participation is not only commercial in nature, but will also serve to establish strategic relations between Uzbekneftegaz and Credit Suisse, designed for long-term fruitful cooperation.

Following the results of the meeting, an agreement on joint consideration of the possibility of financing investment projects to expand the production capacities of the Shurtan MCC and the construction of a new oil refinery was reached.

Credit Suisse Group AG is a multinational investment bank and financial services company founded and based in Switzerland. Headquartered in Zurich, it maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world. Founded in 1856, Credit Suisse today has a global reach with operations in about 50 countries and 46,840 employees from over 170 different nations.

Uzbekneftegaz is an Uzbek holding company engaged in geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and sale of oil and gas. It is the largest state company in Uzbekistan. The company is the 11th largest producer of natural gas in the world. Currently, the Uzbek authorities intend to involve the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the corporate transformation of Uzbekneftegaz

Earlier, Uzbekistan attracted McKinsey and BCG for the development of the chemical and oil and gas industries, the World Bank Group for the reform of the aviation market, and J.P. Morgan for the release of the first Eurobonds in its history.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

A project, as a result of which the production growth will amount to 10 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons per year, was launched at the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan, the press service of the Kazakh Energy Ministry reported.

The project will allow the processing of additional volumes of crude gas to 4 billion cubic meters per year. They will be pumped into the reservoir to increase the level of oil production. This gas is also used as a resource for subsequent investment projects at the field.

The agreement on the project was signed by the Kazakh authority PSA LLP with the support of the Energy Ministry and shareholders of the Karachaganak project represented by Eni, Shell, Chevron, Lukoil and KazMunaiGas.

The project will allow supporting the maximum production at the Karachaganak field. This project, being one of the largest investment projects with a budget of $ 1.1 billion, will ensure the receipt of additional revenues to the budget of Kazakhstan in the amount of more than $ 3.2 billion in the period until 2037.

Within the framework of this project, the minimum share of Kazakhstan in the procurement of goods, works and services will be 40 percent and 75 percent when hiring personnel, the Energy Ministry said.

Earlier, Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said that the plan for the future development of Karachaganak envisages the implementation of projects to maintain the current production level: modernization of gas facilities, construction of the 4th compressor and the 5th infield pipeline. The implementation period is by 2020 with an investment volume of over $ 1.5 billion.

Kazakhstan's proven oil reserves as of early 2016 stood at 30 billion barrels, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan are the largest oil fields in Kazakhstan. Three oil giants will be able to bring Kazakhstan's oil production to a new level in the coming years even if new oil fields are not discovered.

With the start of oil production at the Kashagan field, the forecasts of several international organizations on oil production in Kazakhstan immediately grew.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Maina Kageni and Daniel Ndambuki alias Mwalimu Kingangi are some of several Kenyan radio personalities being probed the Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB).

The popular Classic 105 radio presenters are facing possible disciplinary action over what KFCB terms as airing adult content during the watershed period.

KFCB Boss Ezekiel Mutua Tuesdays aid they are concerned with the increased adult content in free to air radio and TV stations in the country.

Others radio presenters being probed for improper conduct include Radio Jambos Joseph Gidi Ogidi and Jacob Ghost Mulee.

According to the moral cop, the content aired by the radio presenters runs contrary to Kenyas programming code.

Mutua said the Board is consulting with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to ensure that the trend is stopped.

The boards chief executive appealed to media houses to adhere to the terms and conditions stipulated in their broadcast licenses and promote professionalism.

This comes days after KFCB banned two television adverts by Marie Stopes and Pwani Oils Fresh Fry for allegedly supporting abortion and containing sexual content respectively.
By Kamila Aliyeva

A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Padamja Khandelwal arrived in Tajikistan to discuss the new Extended Credit Facility (ECF) assistance program, Avesta reported.

Representatives of the Fund discussed issues related to the new program with First Vice Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan Jamoliddin Nuraliev.

Nuraliev informed the guests about macro-economic situation and its prospects, development of monetary, fiscal and real sectors.

He drew the attention of the Fund's representatives to the prospects of remittances, the establishment of financial and trade relations with Turkey and Uzbekistan at a qualitatively new level, the implementation of the Rogun project and related agreements, and the requirements for external financing in the coming years (2019-2021).

Nuraliyev also spoke about plans to place the next installments of Eurobonds on international markets.

It is expected that representatives of the IMF during their visit will meet with the leadership of other relevant ministries and departments of the republic to study the programs of economic reforms.

Khandelwal noted that the mission will make efforts to expand cooperation and implement a new program of assistance to the country.

The new program is planned to focus on supporting of the economic strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan, achieving of macroeconomic and financial stability and sustainability along with economic growth and poverty reduction, as well as maintaining of the balance of payments and sustainability of the country's international reserves.

Negotiations on granting Tajikistan a soft loan under the new program of the IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) have been protracted for several years.

The ECF provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments problems. The ECF was created under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) as part of a broader reform to make the Funds financial support more flexible and better tailored to the diverse needs of low-income countries (LICs), including in times of crisis. The ECF is the Funds main tool for providing medium-term support to LICs. The ECF may also help catalyze additional foreign aid.

The ECF supports countries economic programs aimed at moving toward a stable and sustainable macroeconomic position consistent with strong and durable poverty reduction and growth.

The term of the previous three-year program, under which the IMF provided Tajikistan with a soft loan of more than $160 million, was completed in July 2012.

In autumn 2012, the Tajik authorities have applied to the IMF for a new three-year arrangement under the extended credit facility.

The IMF representatives that time reportedly raised hopes of coordinating the next three-year program. However, the negotiations on this subject are still continuing and now specific agreements have been reached so far.

The negotiations of the official delegation of Tajikistan with the IMF on the development of a new program under the above mechanism began in October 2015.

Within the framework of the new program Tajikistan intended to attract a $500 million preferential loan from the IMF for supporting the country's economy.

The representatives of the Fund said at the end of the IMF mission to Tajikistan in May this year, the Tajik authorities were seeking to discuss a possible program to support the country.

It was noted in the final statement that, the negotiations on the new program could begin in the coming months, after "careful preparation of both parties, the authorities of Tajikistan and the IMF staff."

"They (the authorities of Tajikistan) have already taken steps to demonstrate the progress of reforms in order to pave the way for negotiations on the program," the statement said.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Over 5 million tons of grain has been exported to Kazakhstan since the beginning of the year, the "Khabar-24" TV channel reported.

Of this amount, the largest part was sent to Russia, China, Iran and the countries of Central Asia. After a long break, Turkmenistan returned to the list of buyers. The country purchases about 100,000 tons of grain.

Azerbaijan buys quite a large volume. Approximate volume of purchases makes about 600,000 tons. Of course, there is a demand from Central Asia, that is, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, said Mukan Abdiyev, a member of the board of the Union of Millers.

He noted that Afghanistan is a constant buyer and even increases supplies.

A new route through the port of Kuryk will ensure the shipment of up to 10,000 tons of grain to Azerbaijan and Georgia. And the new route from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan will cut the way more than twice. China and Iran remain an important direction for exporters. Kazakhstan Railways is ready to provide transportation of up to 1 million tons of grain per month. There are enough carriages for transportation. JSC Astyk Trans provides over 90 percent of all domestic and about 50 percent of export shipments.

"We have about 6,300 wagons. About 9,000-10,000 wagons are used for grain in Kazakhstan. This park is enough to transfer the whole harvest of the new season, said first vice president of JSC Astyk Trans Sergei Mosolkin.

This year the company repaired about a thousand old wagons and bought 420 new ones. New benefits are introduced for domestic suppliers. In some areas, the tariffs for the transportation of grain, flour and grinding products through Uzbekistan to Iran and Afghanistan were reduced by 20 to 50 percent. This year about 10 million tons of grains and oilseeds are planned to be sent by rail.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The sentencing of a man convicted of raping a woman after being paid by her husband to commit the crime was postponed Friday to give his attor
The man charged with gunning down Delano grape grower Jakov Dulcich must be found not guilty as there is no evidence he committed the crime an
Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC.
No one denies Rigoberto Sanchez drove to his wife's apartment the night of May 28, 2017, and ended up gunning down his wife's lover and firing
A look at whats making news today.

Six nuclear power plants are in Hurricane Florences path, officials say Federal officials expressed confidence the six nuclear power plants in Hurricane Florences path are safe, but some experts arent so sure, warning that flooding and torrential rains could overwhelm their defenses.

6 people are dead after shooting spree in California Six people are dead  including the suspect  after a man opened fire at multiple locations in Bakersfield, California, on Wednesday, a local sheriff said.

Pussy Riot activist hospitalized, band members suspect poisoning A member of Russian feminist punk band and activist group Pussy Riot has been hospitalized in Moscow, according to band members, who suspect he has been poisoned.

Apple unveils iPhone XS and XS Max The company announced on Wednesday its largest smartphone ever: the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max. The Max has a larger display than the usual Plus size phones but a similar body. Appe also showed off a 5.8-inch iPhone XS and the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max. The company also unveiled an upgraded Apple Watch.

Australian politicians attack nine-year-old for not standing during anthem A 9-year-old Australian girl who refused to stand during the countrys national anthem out of respect for the nations Indigenous population has been attacked by prominent politicians, who called for her to be kicked out of school.

Chinas wannabe Tesla killer is about to go public in New York Like other high-profile Chinese companies that have gone public recently, Shanghai-based Nio has had to scale back its ambitions for its IPO. It raised $1 billion from the offering, well short of the$1.8 billion target Nio had set. The stock was priced at $6.26 per share, just a cent above the bottom of the range Nio was hoping to achieve.

First look at Boeings 777X jetliner (CNN)  The worlds biggest twin-engine jetliner is almost here. Boeing has finally provided a glimpse of the upcoming 777X-9 aircraft, the first aircraft of its next generation 777s. The fully assembled static test plane was rolled out at the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington, earlier this month.

How I escaped the priest who abused me for decades In Chile, more than 100 Catholic clergy are being investigated over alleged sex crimes and attempts to cover them up. Its a scandal that haunts the reign of Pope Francis and has tipped the Chilean church into crisis. But it began decades ago with one man  Father Fernando Karadima, a parish priest in Santiago, who became Chiles most notorious sexual predator.

Dead rat in soup costs restaurant $190m A popular Chinese restaurant chain has lost around $190m (145m) in market value after a pregnant woman found a dead rat in her soup. Hotpot restaurant Xiabu Xiabus stock hit its lowest level in almost a year, after photos of the dead rat being fished out of the broth with a pair of chopsticks quickly spread online.

Are migrants driving crime in Germany? The claim: The deputy leader of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) said there had been 447 killings and murders by illegal migrants in Germany last year. Reality Check verdict: The German interior ministry says that in fact last year 27 illegal migrants either committed or attempted to commit murder or manslaughter.

Spectacular super bloom transforms desert Each spring, for a few short weeks, kaleidoscopic carpets of wild flowers transform vast swathes of arid land along South Africas western seaboard into a vivid explosion of colour. These super blooms occur in deserts and arid landscapes around the world, but few are as consistent or diverse as South Africas flower season.

McCain Family Slams GOPs Use Of Late Senator In Attack Ad The family of the late Sen. John McCain said Wednesday it was disappointed that the lawmakers image was being used in political attack ads paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRCC released a bevy of new political ads on Wednesday to help Republicans running for U.S.

LeBron James, Channing Tatum Raise $100,000 For Charity Doing Dares For Ellen NBA legend LeBron James and actor Channing Tatum managed to raise $100,000 for the I Promise School by performing a series of dares for Ellen DeGeneres on Wednesday. From drinking a shot of tequila hands-free (who wouldnt?) to eating a scoop of ice cream covered in Tabasco sauce (no thanks), the pair would stop at nothing to raise funds.

Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Denies Having A Gambling Problem Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh denied having a gambling problem in a questionnaire submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) asked Kavanaugh a series of questions related to a publicly disclosed email from 2001 in which the judge apologized to his friend for growing aggressive after blowing still another game of dice on a weekend trip.

Bob Woodward Fires Back At Eric Trump Over Anti-Semitic Slur Veteran journalist Bob Woodward said Eric Trumps rhetoric in response to his tell-all book about the Trump White House risks setting the country back. President Donald Trumps son was accused of making an anti-Semitic comment during an interview on Fox & Friends Wednesday after he said Woodward wrote Fear: Trump in the White House to make three extra shekels.

Everything you need to know about the big Apple Event announcements A lot went down Wednesday morning at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple headquarters where Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team introduced three new iPhones and a new Apple Watch. Here are all the major announcements Apple made at its big event in Cupertino, California. Behold the iPhone XS.

Tim Cook trolled us all with a fake Twitter DM fail right before the Apple event The 2018 Apple event at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California has finally arrived, and minutes before it began, CEO Tim Cook didnt seem prepared. Just before the event was set to begin, Cook tweeted a cryptic and confusing message that the world assumed was meant to be a direct message.

I wanted a new iPhone. Apple confused the hell out of me. I still love my iPhone 6s. The device, hailed by some as the last great iPhone (and the last one with a headphone jack), has served me well for the last three years. It runs faster on iOS 12  the beta version, at least  than it did on iOS 11.
Comments from Twitter on the shooting

Twitter user @TheLoveBel0w: It took less than 12 hours for last nights mass shooting in Bakersfield to essentially disappear from the news cycle. Those 5 dead deserve more than this. We should be going from thoughts and prayers to a solution, but were going from thoughts and prayers to yawns instead.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, @GOPLeader: Judy and I are shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific loss of life in Bakersfield yesterday. Our entire community, with one heavy heart, is praying for the victims and their families.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, @NancyPelosi: Our hearts go out to the victims, their families & the entire Bakersfield community in the wake of yesterdays shooting. Congress has a responsibility to act to prevent gun violence so no other family or community has to endure this unspeakable pain.

Twitter user @TaylorRay_1994: @Shooting at #Bakersfield, hits too close to home. Hope everyone in the immediate area will recover and most importantly, to those who lost loved ones, I pray God holds you close during this time.

Twitter user @Guervio: Another shooting in America, whats new? This is normal right?
On this date in ...

1918: Commander John P.J. Ryan, a 49-year-old native of Albany and a distinguished officer in the United States Naval Service, died at the home of his brother-in-law, attorney Joseph A. Murphy of South Allen Street, after an illness of several months. The recent illness was traced back to a wound Ryan received fighting in the battle of Santiago during the Spanish American War in 1898.

1968: Cruising up and down the Hudson River proved an educational venture for a group of area women as they ran into a 20-foot diameter mass of solid waste, passed through numerous glistening oil slicks, ducked the spray as an abandoned industrial chimney tumbled into the river and narrowly escaped running into a sunken barge. The picturesque and odiferous "Go See Pollution Cruise" sponsored by the Albany County League of Women Voters was part of the group's pure waters study.

1993: A new biweekly publication chock full of "funnies" hoped to carve its own market niche by serving up a light look at the news. The 24-page Capital Comic Connection contained nationally syndicated cartoons and comics by political cartoonists, editorialists and humorists. "We like to keep people politically aware in a fashion that's easy on the head so people can absorb their current affairs in a more humorous fashion," said Mark Harrison Kurber, the founder and publisher.

Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/
Wilmington, N.C.

The big slosh has begun, and the consequences could be disastrous.

Hurricane Florence's leading edge battered the Carolina coast Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with 100-mph winds for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Tens of thousands were without power.

Winds and rain were arriving later in South Carolina, and a few people were still walking on the sand at Myrtle Beach while North Carolina was getting pounded.

Forecasters said conditions will only get more lethal as the storm smashes ashore early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and crawls slowly inland. Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3 feet of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Florence's winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 140 mph earlier in the week, and the hurricane was downgraded from a terrifying Category 4 to a 2.

But North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned: "Don't relax; don't get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality."

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm approached, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

"It truly is really about the whole size of this storm," National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. "The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact  and we have that."

The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as sluggish and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are "supplied and ready."

Schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia, airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied out.

Around midday, Spanish moss blew sideways in the trees as the winds increased in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Some of the few people still left in Nags Head on the Outer Banks took photos of angry waves topped with white froth.

Wilmington resident Julie Terrell was plenty concerned after walking to breakfast past a row of shops fortified with boards, sandbags and hurricane shutters.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm probably a 7" in terms of worry, she said. "Because it's Mother Nature. You can't predict."

Forecasters' European climate model is predicting 2 trillion to 11 trillion gallons of rain will fall on North Carolina over the next week, according to meteorologist Ryan Maue of weathermodels.com. That's enough water to fill the Empire State Building nearly 40,000 times.

More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate over the past few days, and the homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Duke Energy Co. said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its 4 million customers in the Carolinas, and outages could last for weeks. Workers are being brought in from the Midwest and Florida to help in the storm's aftermath, it said.
A group of locals from Gatanga Constituency, Muranga County are calling for the arrest and prosecution of Mike Sonko. They allege that the Nairobi governor has been selling water from Muranga without their express consent.

In addition to Sonko, the residents have asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to arrest top managers of Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (Nawasco).

In a letter dated September 7, the residents, through their spokesman Patrick Muigai, asked detectives to move with speed and investigate the circumstances under which Nairobi County is selling water from Muranga to Nairobi and Kajiado residents without the express consent from Muranga residents.

Muigai also asked police to investigate Nairobis management of Ndakaini dam despite its location being in Muranga.

According to Muigai, they decided to seek the agencies intervention since the Nawasco has been getting water from Ndakaini for free but has been selling it to Nairobi dwellers.

Nairobi County has been handling stolen property and selling it to residents, which is an offence. Thats why we want the investigating agencies to arrest the county boss and the top management of Nawasco, he was quoted by Nation.

He argues that after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, Nairobi should have entered into an agreement with Muranga that would see it benefit by way of revenue.

The complainant warned that should the DCI fail to instigate charges against Nairobi and Nawasco, they will take court action.

Nawasco MD Nahashon Muguna has, however, played down the allegations saying no community owns water resources in Kenya as these are under the national government as specified in the Constitution.

He said they pay for all the water collected from various resources, including Ndakaini Dam, before it is supplied to residents.

The residents of Gatanga do not have a case because water management is clearly detailed in the Water Act., he said.

Muguna also pointed out the roles of the water resources authority which, according the Act, formulates and enforces standards, procedures and regulations for the management and use of water resources.
See what the aftermath of Hurricane Carla looked like along Texas coast...

On Sept. 11, 1961 Hurricane Carla hit the Texas Gulf Coast. It was the worst hurricane to hit the coast since the devastating 1900 storm that killed thousands in Galveston.

Carla, and its mighty Category 4 wallop, slammed into the coast near Port Lavaca packing winds of nearly 170 miles per hour, with up to 18 tornadoes spawned by the storm causing additional havoc.

FROM HIGH ABOVE: Satellite images show hurricanes lined up in Atlantic Ocean

Though it entered Texas roughly halfway between Corpus Christi and Galveston, the island still suffered damages. According to the National Weather Service the hurricane's storm surge had a very serious impact, rising ten feet above normal along the coast. The surge was as high as 22 feet at Port O'Connor.

Ahead of the hurricane nearly half a million people in the path of the hurricane were evacuated from the low-lying coastal areas in Texas up to southwestern Louisiana. Those heartier Texans who previously might have been apt to stick around and ride out the storm instead heeded warnings and left their homes.

"People left Corpus Christi who never left before," John Stallings of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times told the Associated Press that week.

The largest evacuation up to that point in history helped keep the death toll down to just 46, according to the National Weather Service's report on Carla.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS: We want to see your photos of the storms rolling through Houston

During Hurricane Carla, young newsman and native Texan Dan Rather at KHOU-TV made his mark on the national media scene with his unwavering coverage of the hurricane from Galveston Island.

The station set up inside the weather bureau in Galveston ahead of the storm. When Carla hit just below the island, Rather and his team were able to report directly from the scene while other Houston outlets were sealed off from Galveston. CBS News in New York plugged into Rather's coverage and ran it nationally.

TEXAS AND THE WORLD: Here are the 25 events that helped shape Texas as we know it today

Carla's remnants meandered up to Austin and Dallas and continued into the Midwest United States before finally dissipating on Sept. 17, 1961.

By the time it was done, Carla cost around $408 million in damages to Texas alone. Today, its damages would have easily exceeded more than $2 billion.

In 2017 Hurricane Harvey became the worst hurricane to hit Texas since Carla.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com
On Sept. 4, Surgery Partners Executive Vice President and CFO Tom Cowhey participated in the Wells Fargo Securities 2018 Healthcare Conference in Boston, addressing several questions about the company's growth strategy and where he sees the best opportunities for the future.

Here are eight key takeaways from the discussion:

1. There are still plenty of opportunities to acquire new centers, with around 5,500 Medicare-certified ASCs in the U.S. as of 2016. Surgery Partners is affiliated with around 175 ASCs and surgical hospitals. "There is a tremendous amount of white space and there are really small individual facilities that are operating out there that present a great opportunity for the roll-up strategy," said Mr. Cowhey.

2. Despite consolidation in the industry, Surgery Partners is poised to remain independent. Over the past few years, Surgical Care Affiliates, United Surgical Partners International and AmSurg have merged or been acquired by larger entities. Surgery Partners remains independent.

"As it relates to what we are seeing from other providers and payers, our independence is a real asset right now," Mr. Cowhey said. "We can work with a provider in a larger system in a particular geography to help them manage a facility differently or bring different doctors to bear or do things a little bit differently than they might have thought of."

3. Payer partnerships are slow to develop. Surgery Partners is in discussion with payers about potential ASC partnerships. "They like to think about doing a pilot program and then think about expanding that pilot, and then bringing that pilot to the region," said Mr. Cowhey. "I'm used to what that model is, but we also have a very clear view on what the goal posts are there to try to make [the partnership] attractiveWe can help a payer direct care to our facilities to achieve higher savings at the same quality and we're having some of those conversations now, whether it's about simple bundles or potentially even co-investing with us alongside physician partners to think about freestanding ASCs."

4. Surgery Partners more than doubled the size of the physician recruiting team, and it paid off. The company reported more physicians recruited in the first half of the year than over the same time period in 2017, and the new physicians are bringing high acuity cases to Surgery Partners' ASCs.

"We are thinking about whether or not it makes sense to expand the team further to get more productivity," said Mr. Cowhey. "But even if you look at the team that has ramped up to get more sales over the course of this month, as you look at the pure number of doctors recruited, they recruited slightly more doctors in the first half of the year than the first half of last year. The productivity in terms of the doctors is okay but not great, but where you really see the benefit is in the cases those doctors produce"

5. After evaluating its GPO contract, Surgery Partners changed vendors. "We selected a vendor and we have a new contract that went into place this quarter and we expect those savings to ramp up as we train the field this quarter on what SKUs they need to get the maximized savings and we have an action plan for training that is happening at each facility," said Mr. Cowhey. "We will get the full benefit of that in 2019."

6. Surgery Partners is in the middle of transitioning all facilities to a single clearinghouse to streamline operations. "That will provide us with some benefits and understanding of what some of the causes are for some payments getting denied so we can attack those processes across the entire organization," said Mr. Cowhey. "While in theory, we had the opportunity to do that by having the same vendors and consolidating those reports, having it in one place allows for easier and quicker analytics."

7. The company aims to complete $80 million to $100 million in mergers and acquisitions by the end of the year; during the first half of the year, Surgery Partners completed $50 million in M&A. "At some point, we need to think about what our capacity is to do these deals and what we need to think about [is] the cash flows generated by our business for the remainder of the year," said Mr. Cowhey. "If I had more capacity, would I do more deals? As I think about the leverage ratio and how I want to manage it, I think I need to grow into my leverage more than I think people are going to see me deploy capital to actively deleveragingIf we keep the deals small enough, the integration risk should be low, especially as we standardize a lot more of these systems and processes."

8. The company is looking to expand in certain geographies and specialties to maximize investment. While Mr. Cowhey wouldn't divulge which geographies Surgery Partners may jump into next, he did discuss the company's focus on growing its musculoskeletal services.

Prior to his joining the team, Surgery Partners was examining operating room time as its scarcest asset; the team calculated how each procedure contributed to the margin of what the center makes per minute. Procedures that are done in a short amount of time typically had finite margins, whereas the potential for reimbursement was larger with larger orthopedic procedures that take longer in the OR.

"What we found is that from a dollars on the contribution margin perspective on per minute of OR time, the [orthopedic surgeries with implants] are actually the most profitable things we can do," he said. "We talk about the implantables; we talk about the hips and knees and the shoulders and joints. Those are the most profitable things we do per minute of our most scarce resource. And so as we think about what we're investing in from an M&A standpoint and where we're targeting from a physician recruiting standpoint, this is where we are going."
A new report released by the Medical Management Association found primary care physician salary has risen by 10 percent over the past five years, nearly double the increase in specialist compensation over the same period.

The report is based on data collected from over 136,000 providers in more than 5,800 organizations. The survey includes data from physician-owned, academic and hospital practices.

Here are the key report takeaways:

1. The report linked the ongoing shortage of primary care physicians to the increase in compensation.

2. Current median total compensation for primary care physicians varies by state. Washington, D.C. pays the least at $205,776 and Nevada pays the most at $309,431.

3. The difference in compensation among all physicians between the highest paying and the lowest paying state ranges between $100,000 and nearly $270,000 depending on specialty.

4. Salaries have increased by 8 percent for non-physician providers, including physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
Steven Brown, MD, will receive the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Connecticut chapter at the group's "Bottoms Up" event, Nov. 2 in Hartford, Conn, we-ha.com reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. The group is recognizing Dr. Brown for his work training colon and rectal surgeons. Dr. Brown is highly active in the mentorship and research realms.

2. The Bottoms Up event raises money for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis research and education.

3. Bottoms Up Committee Chair Jen Bucari said, "We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to honor Dr. Brown for his very important work here in Connecticut. He offers his patients the most outstanding compassionate and knowledgeable care in treating Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Brown plays a vital role in our mission to treat and cure these diseases."
The following organizations announced new revenue cycle management-related hires or promotions so far in 2018:

1. Strategic Radiology, a coalition of 25 independent, private radiology practices, named Sharon Fremer vice president of revenue cycle optimization.

2. Augusta (Ga.) University Health, a three-hospital nonprofit system, named Joseph Koons vice president of revenue cycle services.

3. CarePayment, a self-described "patient financial engagement company," hired Wes Pass as chief strategy officer.

4. T-System, a provider of health IT solutions for emergency and urgent care, including charge capture and coding, named Robert Hitchcock, MD, executive vice president and general manager of documentation.

5. RCM solutions company Recondo Technology promoted Heather Kawamoto to chief product officer.

6. Payformance Solutions, a provider of value-based reimbursement solutions and services, named Alicia Torres president and CEO.

7. Healthcare consulting firm The Wilshire Group named Rick Walsh senior revenue cycle consultant.

8. Health IT company Ingenious Med, a provider charge capture and practice performance analytics, named Nimesh Shah CEO.

9. Revint Solutions, a national healthcare solutions and consulting services provider, appointed Roger Davis CEO.

10. Prism Healthcare Partners, a Chicago-based national healthcare consulting firm, added Sean Angert as managing partner.

11. Axxess, a self-described "home healthcare technology company," hired financial expert Spencer Marks to oversee the company's RCM services growth.

12. Healthcare consulting firm The Wilshire Group named Andrew Wade senior revenue cycle consultant.

13. Clearwave Corp., a healthcare software company focused on self-service registration, named Shaun Priest chief revenue officer overseeing sales activities.

14. Cantata Health, a provider of healthcare RCM, EHR, accounting and portal solutions, appointed two new leaders.

15. Avelead hired Jay Galbreath as senior director of its revenue cycle services practice.

16. Access Healthcare named Jim Carlough senior vice president-North America operations.

17. Global Healthcare Resource named Jeffery Linn vice president of RCM.

18. Harmony Healthcare, a provider of population health and revenue cycle management staffing and consulting solutions, named Bilal Mushtaq, MD, CMO.

19. T-System, a provider of health IT solutions for emergency and urgent care, including charge capture and coding, named Steve DeCosta CFO.

20. GeBBS Healthcare, a revenue cycle management and health information management solutions provider, named Denise Cawley senior vice president of operations and client relations management.

21. Intersect Healthcare, a revenue cycle software developer, named Tracey Tomak director of project management and client engagement.

22. CarePayment, a self-described "patient financial engagement company," appointed Brian McCarthy senior vice president and general counsel.

23. Encoda, a healthcare reimbursement automation and services provider, tapped Adrianna Iorillo to direct the company's RCM services.

24. Capio, a provider of patient financial solutions, added Dan Kutchel, Jay Hicks and Trent Rosebrook to its management team.

25. Nordis Technologies, a Coral Springs, Fla.-based provider of healthcare customer communications management and payment solutions, named Paul Sykes COO and CFO.

26. Armco Partners, a Norcross, Ga.-based provider of revenue cycle management and health information management services, named Charlie Eckert vice president of sales.

27. Ontario Systems named Mike Meyer, Roger Carney and Steve Scibetta vice presidents.

28. Change Healthcare appointed Fredrik Eliasson executive vice president and CFO.

29. R1 RCM named Alex Mandl lead director of the company's board.

30. Xsolis appointed Zach Evans chief technology officer.

31. Alpharetta, Ga.-based nThrive, a healthcare RCM company, brought on a new CIO, data and analytics president and board member.

32. CCi, an employee-owned revenue cycle company, named its former CFO, Charles Jordan, president.

33. Healthcare Administrative Partners, a provider of RCM solutions, named Rick Grodin executive vice president.

34. Revenue cycle solutions provider Surgical Notes named Nathan Hess chief technology officer.

35. Healthcare Financial Resources named Joshua White regional vice president of client development (Midwest).

36. AccessOne, a provider of patient financing options, appointed Pia Labos as West Coast regional vice president of business development.

37. Connance named Tyler Drolet CFO.

38. Xifin named Doug Wheeler chief marketing officer.

39. Utica, N.Y.-based Mohawk Valley Health System named two revenue cycle leaders.

40. Credit Management Co., an accounts receivable and collection management provider for healthcare and other industries, promoted Joel McKiernan to executive vice president of sales.

41. CareCloud, a provider of RCM, practice management, EHR and patient experience management solutions, named Greg Novak vice president of channel sales.

42. Revenue cycle solutions provider VitalWare named two new executives.

43. Peak Health Solutions, an AMN Healthcare company offering mid-revenue cycle solutions, named Brad Hill president.

44. Health Payment Systems, a healthcare technology and services company focused on medical billing, named Terry Rowinski president and CEO.

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Here are four recent health IT vendor contracts and go-lives:

1. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Wyckoff Heights Medical Center selected Allscripts' Sunrise Abstracting to collect core measure data and monitor key departmental metrics.

2. Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, a hospital in the Netherlands, will implement EarlySense's continuous monitoring solutions.

3. Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health formed a health IT-focused joint venture company with VertitechIT called baytechIT.

4. Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is transitioning to the Cerner Millennium EHR system and patient portal.
Apple's latest addition to its health team is M. Osman Akhtar, COO of the nonprofit hospital network Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services, who resigned in late August to pursue an opportunity "outside of traditional healthcare," CNBC reports.

Mr. Akhtar will work with Sumbul Desai, MD, the former executive director of the Stanford (Calif.) Medicine Center for Digital Health, who joined Apple in 2017. Dr. Desai has been staffing up Apple's employee medical clinics, known as AC Wellness, although Mr. Akhtar may also be involved with other projects.

Since 2017, Mr. Akhtar has been in charge of running Fairview's operations. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Sutter Health in San Francisco, but he began his career in health administration at Stanford University.

Apple has added more than 40 people to its health team in the past three months, including nurses, physicians and care navigators. The iPhone maker has also brought on technologists and regulatory experts to develop medical features on the Apple Watch, including its new ECG sensor to be released later this year.
Becker's Hospital Review reported the following hospital and health system CIO and chief technology officer moves, as well as other executive moves, affecting health IT companies and federal agencies during the past month:

Editor's note: The executive moves are listed in the order they were reported.

1. Hollywood, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare System appointed Jeffrey Sturman senior vice president and CIO.

2. Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center selected Thomas R. Schoenig to serve as CIO.

3. The U.S. Defense Department snagged former DXC Technology CTO Michael Conlin as its first-ever chief data officer.

4. American Well appointed Keith Anderson as its CFO.

5. HHS CIO Beth Killoran is leaving her post to join the HHS Office of the Surgeon General and develop a comprehensive information systems strategic plan for the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

6. Lyft appointed Manish Gupta vice president of engineering, a newly created position.

7. Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital appointed Eric Stephens chief analytics officer.

8. Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, which operates Munster, Ind.-based Community Healthcare System, named Jesus Delgado, PhD, vice president of IT and CIO.

9. Cambia Health Solutions selected Faraz Shafiq to serve as chief artificial intelligence officer.

10. Cerner President Zane Burke will step down from his post at the company Nov. 2.

11. Andrew Moore, PhD, dean of the school of computer science at Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Mellon University, will leave his role at the university to head up Google Cloud's artificial intelligence efforts full-time at the end of 2018.

12. Oakland, Calif.-based Alameda Health System tapped Mark Amey to serve as CIO.

13. Seaford, Del.-based Nanticoke Health Services selected Steffan Williams to serve as CIO.

14. Apple's added M. Osman Akhtar, COO of the nonprofit Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services, to its health team.
HHS issued a bulletin earlier this week waiving sanctions and penalties against covered hospitals affected by Hurricane Florence, which hit the Southeastern coastline Sept. 14, according to CNN.

HHS issued the bulletin days after after HHS Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency in the Carolinas and Virginia. Under the rule, Mr. Azar exercised his authority to waive sanctions and penalties against covered hospitals that break certain HIPAA provisions while Hurricane Florence threatens the areas.

Under the rule, covered hospitals may break the following protocols:

Obtaining a patient's consent to speak with family members or friends involved in the patient's care

Honoring requests to opt out of the facility directory

Distributing notice of privacy practices

Patient's right to request privacy restrictions

Patient's right to request confidential communications

The waiver only applies to hospitals in the emergency areas during the emergency period identified under the public health emergency declaration; to hospitals that have instituted disaster protocol; and for up to 72 hours from the time the hospital implements its disaster protocol.

Once the public health emergency declaration ends, all hospitals must comply with all HIPAA requirements, even if 72 hours have not passed since the implementation of its disaster protocol.

To access the bulletin, click here.
Eureka, Calif.-based St. Joseph Health-Humboldt County announced it will cut 25 jobs at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, Calif., and St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

The layoffs, which include senior leadership, support staff and patient care positions, represent about 2.5 percent of the hospitals' total workforce.

News of the layoffs comes after recent protesting from unionized healthcare workers and nurses from Redwood Memorial and St. Joseph, who complained that there was a staffing crisis at the facilities that was hurting patient care.

Roberta Luskin-Hawk, MD, chief executive of St. Joseph Health-Humboldt County, attributed the layoffs to the need to adapt to today's healthcare environment.

"The realignment work we are undertaking is about creating the best services and operational model to serve our community now and in the future," she told Becker's.

Dr. Luskin-Hawk dismissed workers' claims of a staffing shortage as "misleading" and said hospital officials "take very seriously our commitment to patient safety."

She said hospital officials "have worked diligently to address staffing issues" and they believe staffing is adequate.

Dr. LuskinHawk said the hospital will try to help workers who will be laid off find other jobs at St. Joseph Hospital or Redwood Memorial, or within St. Joseph Health.

Laid-off workers will get severance pay, she said. During a 90-days' notice and transition period, workers getting laid off will get regular pay and benefits.

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From a physician pleading guilty for his role in a $60 million fraud scheme to a Florida health system hit with a $100 million defamation suit, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines.

1. Physician pleads guilty in $60M fraud scheme allegedly linked to patient deaths

A physician at Novus, a shuttered hospice provider in Frisco, Texas, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in a $60 million fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say involved fatally overdosing patients for profit.

2. New York hospital says patient fraudulently kept $1.5M insurance payment

Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., recently filed a lawsuit against a patient who allegedly improperly retained $1.5 million in insurance payments that should have been sent to the hospital.

3. HHS sued over delay in drug pricing transparency regulations

The American Hospital Association and six other health organizations sued HHS for delaying the implementation of rules that would force drug companies to be open about their pricing and punish them for overcharging participants in a federal drug discount program.

4. Dignity Health's timekeeping software denies nurses overtime pay, lawsuit alleges

Three nurses, who all worked for San Francisco-based Dignity Health at one time, filed a lawsuit against the health system Sept. 10, alleging seven of its regional hospitals denied them overtime pay.

5. Orlando Health hit with $100M defamation suit by fired physician

A Florida plastic surgeon filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Orlando (Fla.) Health Aug. 21, alleging he was fired and made the target of a smear campaign for pointing out unethical and illegal conduct between Orlando Health and Allergan, a pharmaceutical company.

6. Ex-New York hospital CEO's severance package focus of criminal probe

The Onondaga County District Attorney's office and the New York Inspector General are investigating SUNY's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

7. Judge allows U of Iowa to defer debt payment to children's hospital contractor until appeal is settled

A U.S. District judge ruled that Iowa City-based University of Iowa doesn't have to pay any portion of the millions it owes the contractor of its Stead Family Children's Hospital until a higher court settles its appeal.

8. Ex-Wash U med school leader indicted in $300K embezzlement case

A former official at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis was indicted on six counts of mail fraud Sept. 6.

9. Montana health insurer wins lawsuit over cost-sharing reduction payments

A federal judge ruled Sept. 4 that health insurers are entitled to unpaid cost-sharing reduction payments, which help insurers subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans.

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A physician at Novus, a shuttered hospice provider in Frisco, Texas, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in a $60 million fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say involved fatally overdosing patients for profit, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Charles Raymond Leach, MD, pleaded guilty Sept. 11 to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. He joined Novus in 2014 and became medical director before the company shut down in late 2015. He is one of 16 defendants charged in the healthcare fraud scheme in February 2017.

As part of his plea agreement, Dr. Leach, who surrendered his medical license in January, said he falsified documents and pre-signed blank prescription forms in bulk as part of the scheme. The pre-signed prescription forms were filled in by other people and used to obtain controlled substances, including morphine and hydromorphone. Novus nurses then allegedly used high doses of those drugs to hasten patients' deaths, according to The Dallas Morning News, which cited court documents.

After the hearing Sept. 11, Mick Mickelsen, Dr. Leach's attorney, said his client signed the blank prescriptions "out of convenience." He said his client had no knowledge the drugs were being used to accelerate patients' deaths, according to the report.

"He was horrified to find out," Mr. Mickelsen said. "He's responsible, though, for making that possible by breaking the rules when it comes to how those scripts were issued."

According to court documents, Novus' owner and CEO, Bradley Harris, and others allegedly enrolled as many people as possible in hospice care, even patients who were not eligible for the services. Once the patients were enrolled, they were given around-the-clock care, which Medicare reimbursed at a higher rate than routine care. If hospice patients were in continuous care for too long, Novus workers allegedly overmedicated them so they would die.

According to plea documents, Dr. Leach knew Mr. Harris often directed medical services, even though he had no medical license.

Dr. Leach is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the case. Twelve other people under indictment in the case are tentatively set for trial in January.

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North Cypress (Texas) Medical Center requested that a federal judge nix Aetna's claims in a lawsuit stating the health insurer paid too little on thousands of medical claims, according to Law360.

The medical claims were allegedly underpaid and submitted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. In a motion filed Sept. 11, the medical center argued two favorable court rulings could allow for dismissal of Aetna's claims. In July 2015, a Southern District of Texas court said the case overlapped another case involving the parties.



In February 2015, Aetna brought a lawsuit against North Cypress alleging the physician-owned community hospital engaged in an illegal kickback scheme and used deceptive billing practices that led Aetna to overpay the hospital by as much as $120 million. In August of the same year, North Cypress denied the allegations brought against it.



Karen Hinton, a spokesperson for North Cypress, told Becker's Hospital Review at the time that the hospital believed Aetna's lawsuit was part of a "scheme to sue out-of-network providers throughout the nation to coerce them into financially burdensome in-network contracts with Aetna."



For the full report, click here.



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Abraham Joy, PhD, an assistant professor at Akron (Ohio) University, and his research team received $200,000 from Ohio's Third Frontier Commission to fund research into a material that can detect opioid residue, according to News 5 Cleveland.

The researchers created a polymer-based fiber mat that changes color from dark blue to white in the presence of synthetic opioids.

Dr. Joy said he hopes to use the material in latex gloves that can change color to alert first responders if they've come into contact with dangerous drugs.

"To have something that would, as soon as you touched it  show that there was an opioid, you could really protect yourself, secure the scene and work from there," University of Akron Detective Angela Paonessa told News 5 Cleveland.

The material cannot tell a first responder exactly what the substance is, but will alert them to the presence of a controlled substance.

"It's just a quick answer because that does not exist right now," Dr. Joy told News 5 Cleveland.

He said the gloves could hit the market within the next five years.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island notified 1,567 members that an unnamed vendor responsible for sending members' benefits explanations breached their personal healthcare information, according to a media statement shared with Becker's Hospital Review.

BCBS learned of the incident in mid-July. The payer told members some of the members' benefit summaries "were sent to the wrong BCBSRI member in the same household or on the same family policy ... In no case, however, was any information disclosed to anyone other than a family member or a person covered on the same family policy."

BCBS "immediately directed the vendor to stop combining healthcare services summaries. For now, members are receiving an individual summary for each service while BCBSRI explores a long-term solution that would allow services to be grouped into one summary."

The summaries included member names, their BCBSRI ID numbers, service providers, types of service provided and costs of claims. Social Security numbers and birth dates were not included.

BCBS did not disclose the name of the vendor, but said it uses the third party organization "to combine healthcare service summaries for some members who were covered on the same policy in an effort to reduce the number of summaries members received."
Health insurance providers are increasingly designing programs to offer safe and affordable housing options to improve the health and reduce care costs for members at risk of homelessness, according to a report from America's Health Insurance Plans.

The report cites multiple studies highlighting how a lack of appropriate housing can affect health outcomes and the use of high-cost healthcare services among America's homeless population. For example, hospitalization rates and emergency room use can be between three to four times higher for homeless patients, according to a study published by the American Public Health Association.

AHIP listed several examples about how some of its members are investing in housing initiatives. AmeriHealth Caritas recently established a multiyear plan to invest $250,000 into organizations focused on fighting homelessness in Washington, D.C.



In 2017, Anthem Indiana Medicaid launched its Blue Triangle Program. The program aims to improve the health and quality of life of Anthem members at risk of homelessness. Blue Triangle gives those members short housing arrangements through 50 single-room units in downtown Indianapolis. The program has led to an $872 monthly cost decrease per participant, on average. In May 2017, 266 people were referred to the program and 105 were moved into it.

"Housing remains one of the most complicated determinants to address, with several competing factors at play," according to AHIP. "Often, federal and state resources are narrowly defined for specific populations with strict eligibility requirements. Innovations in housing must be tailored to local needs  some cities may have a critical shortage of affordable housing while for others, the bigger issue may be the quality of the available housing."



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A nurse at Philadelphia-based Penn Presbyterian Medical Center created an escape room training activity to educate fellow staff on sepsis, according to ABC 6.

Penn Presbyterian physicians and nurses who participated in the training had to solve sepsis-related clues, just like an escape room game, to diagnose and treat a mock patient with sepsis in under one hour. The room, which contained additional medical equipment as a decoy, forced the clinicians to think critically as if the practice were a real-life situation.

"This way it was more interactive, more hands-on, and people would retain knowledge about sepsis," Lauren McPeake, RN, nurse at Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, told ABC 6.

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Zimbabwe is launching a crowdfunding campaign to help fund efforts to contain the country's ongoing cholera outbreak, according to STAT's Morning Rounds e-newsletter.

Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mthuli Ncube, PhD, tweeted about the campaign Sept. 13. In the tweet, Mr. Ncube provided a code on the money transfer app EcoCash so citizens can contribute to the campaign directly from their phones.

Experts told STAT it was "an odd move" to ask for donations to bolster government funds.

Twenty-six people have died in the cholera outbreak, which is the worst Zimbabwe has seen in a decade, according to Reuters. Both the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross in Zimbabwe said they were stepping up emergency response efforts Sept. 13.

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Five spine surgeons discuss the affect of IT tools on their practice.

Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.

Next week's question: What are some of the common missteps spine surgeons make early in their career, and how can they be avoided?

Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. CST.

Question: How have health IT tools, such as EHRs, affected your workflow?

Noam Stadlan, MD. Neurosurgeon at NorthShore University HealthSystem's Neurological Institute (Glenview, Ill.): IT tools have been extremely beneficial in a number of ways. EMRs allow instant portable access not only to my own notes but also notes from providers in the entire system. Similarly, online imaging (PACS) allows me to review patient images anywhere. This is especially useful when rapid decisions need to be made regarding emergency patients when I am on call. The system also allows easy and rapid communication between providers  usually physicians, but can also be physical therapists, nurses, or other team members  with everyone having access to all the relevant information.

In addition, there is easy and rapid email communication between the patients and our outpatient nursing team which allows us to answer patient questions and concerns promptly. Patients can even send images of their wound or other areas of concern, thus frequently eliminating office visits or allowing rapid institution of treatment.

The EMR also allows easy access to records for record review studies, which streamlines research and allows for identification of disease trends or even geographical modeling. During the winter, our system publishes maps illustrating areas of concentration of colds or strep throat. These capabilities will be employed with greater frequency and with greater effect in the future and will allow us to provide an even higher quality of care.

Rob D. Dickerman, DO, PhD. Director of Neurosurgery at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano (Texas) and Director of Spine Surgery at Medical Center Frisco (Texas): I feel it has slowed my practice down and inhibited my continuity with patient care.

Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: IT tools have left much to be desired. I have gone through many iterations in terms of tools and software that looked and sounded attractive at the time and proved to be less than advertised. What has been absolutely game changing is having an eFax line, robust lines of communication via secure instant message with me and my office and using reliable computer hardware and software that does not need replacing every three years.

Payam Farjoodi, MD. Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center (Fountain Valley, Calif.): As with the adoption of any new technology, there has been a learning curve to becoming efficient. Over the last several years, we have improved workflow, and I feel that as an office, the overall process now saves some time compared with paper charts. The physician side is a bit more cumbersome than dictating, but my staff does not need to pull charts, organize charts, etc.

In retrospect, the adoption of medical records was a burdensome hoop to jump through without as much benefit as hoped for. One of the best aspects of EMRs  the ubiquitous access to patient information amongst different providers  has been lost in its application.

Richard Kube, MD. Founder and CEO of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute (Peoria, Ill.): The biggest change is the patient interaction and administrative time. There is [now] some screen time that used to be looking directly at the patient and communicating directly. There is also labor involved, especially when using the large systems at the hospitals. Sad given that there has not been any demonstrable improvement in the delivery of care to the patients. Frankly, they are just large systems designed to ensure all codes are captured so that billing is optimized. There is time spent making sure the correct box was checked which translates into less available time for patients.
Rockville, Md.-based National Spine and Pain Centers shut the doors on all of its North Carolina-based offices Sept. 14 due to Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Florence made landfall Sept. 14 as a category 1 hurricane. Prior to making landfall, Florence was a category 2 hurricane. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and the hurricane has dropped more than 30 inches of rain in two days, according to The New York Times.

The National Spine & Pain Centers that closed are in:

 Cary, N.C.

 Raleigh, N.C.

 Spring Lake, N.C.

 Pinehurst, N.C.

 Henderson, N.C.

 Fayetteville, N.C.

 Lumberton, N.C.

 Greenville, N.C.

As the hurricane continues to sweep up the coast, it is uncertain when the practices will reopen.
A Co Armagh aeroplane seats firm has reported a more than doubling of pre-tax profits to over 10m as it looks forward to its first deal for first-class seating.

Thompson Aero Seating in Portadown also reported a growth in its workforce from to 364 to 739. The business makes seats for clients including Aer Lingus, Delta Air Lines, China Eastern and Philippine Airlines.

Its increase in pre-tax profits was partly down to a change in its reporting period from nine months for the previous period to a full year in 2017.

Turnover had also doubled from 52m to 105m.

And chief executive Gary Montgomery - who's been with the firm for seven years after starting his career at Bombardier in Belfast - said it's now contemplating a move to new purpose-built premises in Portadown.

At the moment it has two premises, in Seagoe Industrial Estate and in Banbridge, Co Down, where much of its engineering and development takes place.

The firm's most high-profile contracts have been for business class seating.

But Mr Montgomery told the Belfast Telegraph: "We now have our first deal for first-class seats for an airline, which will mean delivering a much more sophisticated product." The name of the customer is still under wraps.

And he said Brexit was a concern to the firm, despite its growth.

"There's always a lot of uncertainty over how Brexit might affect any business," he said.

"It would be ignorant to say we're not worried, as it will have some effect."

The industry was frequently buffeted by trends in macro-economics - but he said even downturns could work in its favour.

If airlines were making economies, it could mean deals for the retro-fitting of craft to increase density by fitting more seats on the planes.

He said its takeover by Chinese giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Group two years had been beneficial.

"It has been extremely positive. The Chinese owner takes a very long-term view and they're very supportive of our efforts."

He added: "Over the past couple of years we have been extremely successful in the marketplace and built a very very strong order book.

"We have brought business class seats to a first-class level so it's given us quite an increase in our sales intake and a very healthy order book."

Its 2017 order for Vantage XL business class seating with Delta had been a major success. "That was the first-ever business class seat where every seat had a suite door. It's led to a very high load factor and very high satisfaction levels."

The company is currently recruiting 14 roles including for maintenance, electrical design and mechanical design engineers. But Mr Montgomery said staff expansion could be even greater if airlines decided to ramp up production.

And he said the absence of an Executive was not hampering the company's progress.

"Its not a focus for us to go looking for support from the Executive. There's no major decisions we have been hamstrung on by the lack of Executive."
The founder of Irish coffee chain Insomnia has said he intends to open 15 more stores in Northern Ireland over the next four years, creating up to 150 new jobs.

Harry O'Kelly's company currently has 151 coffee shops across Ireland and the UK.

Just two of those are in Northern Ireland, including one at the retail forecourt next to Belfast International Airport.

The second is a new store on the ground floor of the CastleCourt shopping centre in Belfast.

But the Co Monaghan entrepreneur, who opened his first coffee shop in 1997, said that this is set to change from next year.

The company is understood to be close to securing deals for two new Belfast locations, which could open next year.

Mr O'Kelly said he wants to open 10 outside the city over the next few years, with Newry, Omagh and Enniskillen among the areas he's considering.

"We're opening between 20 to 25 stores every year," he said. "We've another 17 to open this year in all channels. Next year, our aspiration in all channels - that is, franchise and company owned - is to open 25 to 28 stores."

Mr O'Kelly said the majority of stores are company owned and company managed, including both his Northern Ireland shops.

Insomnia also operates a model based around partnerships and other franchise operators.

There are currently 350 'bean to cup' machines based in supermarkets and other locations.

"Our hope is to develop a portfolio of 15 company owned stores in Northern Ireland over the next three to four years," said the chief executive.

"Our timeline is three to four stores per year over the next three to four years. We're looking at a number of locations currently, and we're at an advanced stage in two of those.

"Belfast is important for us, but we are looking at a number of other towns, from Enniskillen to Newry and Omagh, all the big towns," he said.

"I'm from Monaghan myself and I have a bit of an affinity with the province.

"We have a presence in Letterkenny, Cavan and Monaghan, so for us it's just about having a presence in Ulster, which is important for me," added Mr O'Kelly.
Amazon's plans for a huge 300m-plus (267m) data centre on the site of the former Jacob's biscuit site in south Dublin should be carefully assessed to make sure they don't impact on any future housing schemes beside it, it's been said. Irish Life Assurance has made the appeal to the Republic's planning appeals body, An Bord Pleanala. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Amazon's plans for a huge 300m-plus (267m) data centre on the site of the former Jacob's biscuit site in south Dublin should be carefully assessed to make sure they don't impact on any future housing schemes beside it, it's been said. Irish Life Assurance has made the appeal to the Republic's planning appeals body, An Bord Pleanala.

The financial services firm has questioned a decision by South County Dublin Council to approve planning permission for the massive 250,616 sq ft data centre at the site in Tallaght.

Amazon already has a data centre at the location, which is housed in a 225,000 sq ft former factory building on the site, known as Building A.

A property investment fund controlled by Irish Life Assurance - now part of Canadian firm Great West Lifeco - owns land next to the old Jacob's site.

It said it may seek to build houses on the site in the future and is seeking assurances that the construction of the new data centre facility won't cause undue noise that might affect future residents.

Irish Life Assurance said that it has no objections to the development of the data centre itself, but is concerned about potential adverse noise impact on its site.

The land controlled by Irish Life Assurance is next to the Luas Red Line, and is bounded by a proposed long-term, high-capacity public transport route, and the greater Dublin cycle network, its planner has told An Bord Pleanala.
Rita Simons believes in the law of attraction. Her first film project since she left EastEnders after 10 years in 2017 is proof enough. The 41-year-old is back in her first screen role since she played Roxy, one half of the no-nonsense Mitchell sisters, on television - and it's a role she knew she wanted before it was offered to her.

"When I left EastEnders, I said I wanted to do a gangster movie. A friend was doing a gangster movie and I was doing Legally Blonde, the tour. I had a break at Christmas, and I said to myself, 'I'm going to do a gangster film in my break'," she explains.

"This is how my career always goes. (I say) I'm going to do this and then it happens - law of attraction, I'm sure."

The role she's talking about sees her playing the gritty female lead in a hard-hitting new feature film, The Krays: Dead Man Walking.

The film sees notorious London gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray organise for Frank 'The Mad Axeman' Mitchell to escape from a high-security prison.

Simons plays Lisa Prescott, a nightclub hostess enlisted to help keep Mitchell under control after his prison break while he lays low at a safe house in London.

Since leaving EastEnders after Roxy and her sister, Ronnie (played by Samantha Womack), were killed off on New Year's Day in 2017, she's been treading the boards playing Paulette Bonafonte in the musical stage version of Legally Blonde.

She says the film was an immediate yes when it crossed her path while on a break from the theatre.

"Even though I was going back on tour, I get really bored and I was like, 'A gangster film is going to come up, I know', and sure enough, Jonathan Sothcott, the producer, texted me and said, 'We're doing a film, we need a female lead, you're perfect for it'."

She says that after hearing it was a Krays-type film: "I saw the script, but I didn't even need to see the script, I was in. I was like, 'This is my film', and it was as simple as that."

The film's cast boasts a star-studded line-up including the late Leslie Grantham, known for playing EastEnders' 'Dirty' Den Watts, as Detective Nipper Read in what was his last role before his death in June this year.

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Simons did her fair share of research on Prescott, who in real life was reported to have been kidnapped by the Krays for four days.

What she was clear on was that she wanted the character to be a departure from the one she played in EastEnders.

She explains: "I really tried not to have her be like Roxy, because for my first drama role since EastEnders it was important for me not to be."

The film sees Boardwalk Empire's Marc Pickering playing Reggie Kray and Guerrilla star Nathanjohn Carter starring as Ronnie. British star Josh Myers plays madman Frank Mitchell while Guy Henry (Holby City, V For Vendetta) stars as Lord Boothby. Darren Day and Linda Lusardi also star in the film.

Simons' scenes with Myers are fraught with tension as madman Frank switches from placid to psychopath within seconds.

You're never quite sure where the Lisa and Frank dynamic will go, and to keep audiences guessing, Simons reveals a tactic she suggested to the film's director, Richard John Taylor, for a specific kissing scene.

"One of the things, and the director was pleased I made the suggestion, was when she goes in to kiss him, I said the audience need a sign to know she's not on his side," she says.

"So I said, 'I'm going to keep my eyes open and watch him'."

Simons shot the film in four days in east London's Bethnal Green and says it was "intense". "It was late January, early February, it was about minus five, there was no heating in the place we were in," she adds.

"When I put my normal clothes on at the end of the day to go back home, they were frozen in my bag. It was absolutely freezing, but I loved every second of it because I love authenticity."

Explaining that Roxy also shared her own mannerisms, Simons says: "I had to try not to do those same mannerisms - I wanted everything about her to be different. For me, it was freeing to be as gritty and real as I wanted to be."

She's not yet done a reality TV series, and laughs when asked why not.

"I said when I left EastEnders I was going to be spending a good year turning down reality TV and focusing on being an actress, which I did, so I've done that year. However, I will say this. The only reality shows I would do are reality shows that I don't feel have a bad impact on my career as an actress."

The Krays: Dead Man Walking is available now on DVD and download
Brexit will threaten the peace process, increase division in Northern Ireland and hamper relations with the Republic, a new study has warned. (Rick Findler/PA)

Brexit will threaten the peace process, increase division in Northern Ireland and hamper relations with the Republic, a new study has warned.

The study by BrexitLawNI - researchers from Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University and Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) - claims that Britain leaving the EU will also weaken human rights and equality protections.

Project leader Professor Colin Harvey from the School of Law at QUB said: "This is a profound constitutional moment for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland. Brexit will threaten the peace process and weaken protections for human rights and equality.

"It risks disrupting North-South co-operation, increasing racist immigration enforcement and dividing British and Irish citizens. It could also reduce international oversight of human rights and introduce a new focus for conflict between divided communities. Many of these matters have simply been neglected in the discussions thus far and that must change."

For 18 months, the BrexitLawNI team conducted interviews, consultations and town hall meetings to explore the possible impact of Brexit.

The research indicated widespread anxiety about the long-term impact of Brexit on relationships on the island.

"We urgently need a bespoke solution for this region that will minimise the negative impact of Brexit and provide a positive way forward," he said. "It remains clear that Northern Ireland will require a special arrangement if the problems we identify are to be credibly addressed."

The study also found that Brexit has had a political impact across the island of Ireland in 'mainstreaming' discussions on Irish reunification.

Professor Rory O'Connell, of the Transitional Justice Institute at UU, said: "The 1998 Agreement found nuanced solutions to difficult issues of sovereignty, identity and the border, embedding these in a rights-respecting framework. Brexit risks unpicking these carefully, painfully-worked out solutions"

Brian Gormally, CAJ director added: "There is a real danger that Brexit could re-ignite conflict here. As the leaving process lurches ever nearer to a 'hard' or 'no-deal' Brexit, there is a risk of nationalists becoming more and more disillusioned at the disregarding of the will of the majority here while unionists come together in defence of Brexit and the border.

"The last thing we need is a new bone of contention."
UK driving licences may need to be backed by International Driving Permits in the European Union if theres a no-deal Brexit, the Government has warned

UK driving licences may need to be backed by International Driving Permits in the European Union if theres a no-deal Brexit, the Government has warned

Motorists crossing the border into the Republic after a no-deal Brexit could be turned away if they only have a UK driving licence, the Government has warned.

UK driving licences may no longer be valid on their own to drive in the European Union if there is no agreement.

Drivers could need International Driving Permits (IDP) if the EU does not agree to recognise UK licences, according to new guidance.

They may be turned away at borders or face enforcement action if they have not obtained the correct documents.

There are two types of IDP required by EU countries, depending on whether they have ratified the 1949 or 1968 conventions on road traffic.

Some will require both permits, such as when people drive into France and then Spain.

The documents cost 5.50. The 1949 type is available over the counter at around 90 Post Office branches or by mail order from two private companies.

The mail order service will cease on January 31, and the Government will begin providing IDPs the following day.

Motorists will be able to apply for both types at 2,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

The Department for Transport believes up to seven million permits could be requested in the first 12 months after Brexit.

AA president Edmund King said: "This will be an extra burden for UK drivers wanting to take a holiday abroad. We envisage quite a rush on post offices next year for the 5.50 IDPs if no deal is reached.

"Hopefully an agreement can be reached to prevent further red tape and expense for drivers."

Driving licences from outside the EU are recognised for up to a year in the Republic, but it isn't clear if that would remain the case in the event of no deal.

Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson said: "This shows the ludicrousness of the Tory Brexit agenda and also how little knowledge, appreciation or care they have for people in areas like Derry, which is essentially a cross-border city, and the many thousands across the North who drive across the border every day to work or study.

"It also begs the question of how this will be enforced and raises legitimate concerns over lengthy border delays if permits are to be checked.

"Such a development would be disastrous for businesses, particularly small businesses in border areas, and could have huge implications for the tourism and service industries north and south."

The warning came as part of the Government's latest tranche of 28 technical papers on the no-deal preparations.

They said that mobile phone bills for customers living near the border in Northern Ireland could spike after Brexit.

The documents said consumers and businesses should be aware of "inadvertent" data roaming, where a stronger signal from the Republic kicks in.

It comes after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab urged phone companies not to impose roaming charges on customers if Britain crashes out of the European Union.

Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, which cover more than 85% of mobile subscribers, have said they have no current plans to change their approach to mobile roaming once the UK leaves.

The Government will legislate to introduce a cap on charges if there is a no-deal scenario.

It would set a 45 per monthly billing period limit and force companies to send alerts when 80% of that had been reached.

If a deal is secured, surcharge-free roaming will continue during the transition period, but arrangements after that are dependent on the outcome of negotiations on the Future Economic Partnership.

It was also revealed that under the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, Irish channels TG4, RTE1 and RTE2 will still be broadcast into Northern Ireland.
Millions of pounds handed to Northern Ireland in 2017/18 to help with preparations for Brexit was not all spent on its intended purpose, an Assembly member has revealed.

The reallocation of the 2.4m was revealed in a letter to Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt from David Sterling, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Mr Nesbitt said the decision not to spend the money on preparations for Brexit was "bizarre".

"While I think that the public already recognises that we are not very prepared for Brexit, I am somewhat surprised by this response from David Sterling," the former party leader said. "The fact that Northern Ireland is currently in a state of political paralysis during the biggest period of political flux since the Second World War is bad enough.

"We must be able to have confidence that money coming to Northern Ireland through Barnett Consequential as a result of EU Exit related allocations is being spent to ensure that the region of the UK which stands to be effected most is at least on some level prepared for our exit in March 2019."

In his letter to Mr Nesbitt, Mr Sterling stated that the extra cash was received very late and was "factored into the overall level resources available and as such was not used specifically for the purpose of EU exit preparations". The funding came to Northern Ireland after Westminster allocated extra money for Brexit preparations in England.

As a consequence, extra money was automatically allocated to the devolved regions through a public finance mechanism called the Barnett formula.

In Northern Ireland's case, this 'Barnett Consequential' funding amounted to 2.4m.

But crucially, the money was not ring-fenced for Brexit preparations, meaning it could be used elsewhere.

However, a spokesman for the Executive Office said last night it was wrong to suggest there was no spending on Brexit preparations in 2017-18.

"Departments undertook significant activities in 2017-18 planning and preparing for EU Exit, co-ordinated through the EU Future Relations Programme," the Executive Office spokesman said.

"It is not accurate to suggest no funding was spent on EU Exit preparations.

"Whilst the funding received for EU Exit through the Barnett Formula in 2017-18 was not ring-fenced for this specific purpose (as is the case in 2018-19), Departments funded activities relating to EU Exit preparations from within their agreed budget allocations.

"Some 14.5m has been allocated to departments for EU Exit preparations in 2018-19."

According to an email received by Mr Nesbitt, the Department for the Economy is set to receive the biggest slice of the Brexit preparation funding (5.3m) followed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (4.5m).
Posted by Mark Williams | September 14, 2018

After driving the all-new 2019 Ram 1500 eTorque packages (both the V-6 and V-8 options), we thought you might want to know, in more detail, how the standard eTorque V-6 with the eight-speed transmission performs in the real world. Thankfully, Ram allowed us some extra time with a mid-level Big Horn Quad Cab 4x2 (a little less than $44,000) for a leisurely drive from Lexington, Ky., to our offices in downtown Chicago.

The Big Horn came standard with the 3.6-liter Pentastar eTorque V-6 that offers an EPA fuel-economy rating of 20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined for the 4x2 and 19/24/21 mpg for the 4x4.

During our initial 400-mile highway-biased run (with one stop for lunch), we covered the distance in a little less than seven hours and averaged 25.7 mpg  not bad for a 4,900-pound (we weighed it) half-ton pickup. Once delivered to Chicago, other test drivers were able to run the truck through a more suburban- and city-biased drive cycle, gathering even more observations and insights.

To begin, one driver noted that one of the best things about this new powertrain is how it doesn't drive like a normal hybrid vehicle with the normal power and thrust penalties you have to endure. Since eTorque only uses the smallish battery-pack-supplied electric drive system (really just an assist system) on takeoffs and to help smooth out the stop-start modes, it's fairly invisible to detection unless you're really hunting for the assist points. For a vehicle of this size, the eTorque does provide noticeable off-the-line assistance, making it feel stronger than you'd expect.

In fact, several of our test drivers noted they appreciated added "pickup" at stop signs and stoplights, but they didn't appreciate that they couldn't call up some kind of screen or interactive graphic to let them know when the system is helping them. Clearly, Ram is prioritizing the idea of maximizing efficiencies with a more subtle system when providing added thrust at takeoff (about one half of the first tire rotation) or when the transmission upshifts and downshifts between gears, rather than providing some kind of intrusive and dynamic new technology. Our only quirk with the system came on slower-speed neighborhood driving, where the transmission had some trouble with the 1st-to-2nd and 2nd-to-3rd shift points; they were just a touch too harsh, which is likely, we suspect, about fine-tuning the software.

The system is designed to be transparent, and with the exception of a small amount of launch and gear-shifting softness as well as a fairly aggressive stop-start/stop strategy, it is. However, we noted that the truck responded more "traditionally" with the Tow/Haul mode engaged, which also disengages stop-start. Additionally, given that the system is invisible, there is no dedicated screen or icon to let you know when you're benefiting from the added technology (at least for the V-6; the V-8 does offer a microscopic "Eco" light). We think that's a missed opportunity.

From the comments of several of our test drivers, if you're sensitive to throttle feel, you'll notice some subtle launch and shifting benefits. Otherwise, you're likely not to notice any differences from non-light hybrid versions at all. Still, we'd like to see more transmission settings to more fully utilize the benefits of the battery power  some kind of possible sport mode, maybe a more aggressive eco mode and how about something extra (since we're in Chicago) for snow? Surely giving the driver more options and functional control of the benefits would be a good thing.

During four different trips with the Big Horn Quad Cab, we found a pretty good variety of abilities. From loaded with family and gear to long and empty cruises, here's what we recorded.

Trip One:

35-mile trip in rush-hour traffic with an empty pickup in moderate (68-70 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures: 21.7 mpg

Trip Two:

94-mile trip with some suburban traffic getting out of town for a long trip to Indiana in mild (75 degrees F) temperatures. Two adults and child, plus all the overnight gear and toys: 23.0 mpg

Trip Three:

147-mile trip from Indiana, back to Illinois and back to Indiana with hotter temperatures (81-84 degrees F) but a lighter load and heavier throttle foot (but minimal traffic): 21.2 mpg

Trip Four

85-mile trip from Indiana to Illinois with a full load of gear and family, plus the hottest temps (88 degrees F): 24.2 mpg

Manufacturer images
The brother of a Belfast man who died after a mentally ill neighbour stabbed him 33 times has said he forgives the killer for the anguish that has been brought upon himself and his family.

But Michael Hughes also said that a lot of the blame for the brutal death of his older brother James, whom he described as "gentle giant who saw good in everyone", lies with our beleaguered mental health services.

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James Hughes (62) was stabbed by James Devine in his 14th floor Divis Tower home in November 2016.

Devine, whose violent, psychotic tendencies were known to authorities, also stole 6,000 in cash.

Yesterday the 44-year-old was handed an indeterminate custodial sentence with a minimum eight-year term for the manslaughter of Mr Hughes who, ironically, was a specialist in psychiatric treatments and had been trying to help his troubled friend deal with his demons.

Devine had consumed a combination of Buckfast wine and medication before stabbing his victim, who begged for his life before what the judge Mr Justice Colton described as his "brutal and unnecessary" death.

Michael Hughes (59) said the circumstances surrounding his brother's manslaughter are undoubtedly a legacy of cutbacks in mental heath provision at a time when the problems have never been more acute. Research shows that while Northern Ireland has the largest prevalence of mental illness in the UK, with 25% more cases than England, the percentage of the health budget allocated to it has been slashed.

In an exclusive interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Hughes said his late brother, a practising Buddhist, would not have wanted him to hate the man who took his life in such a violent way.

"James was all about helping people. Up until his death he had been trying to help Jim Devine," said Michael, who lost another brother Joseph to an IRA car bomb 44 years ago.

"As for me, I absolutely do not hate Jim Devine.

"I just hope that he gets the help he needs."

Mr Hughes, who has a son Christopher (32) and two daughters Julie (40) and Michaela (25), said that "an inability to forgive only hands someone else power over your life".

He added: "Nothing will bring our James back. Forgiveness is the only way forward.

"What I have come to understand is that a man needs to make his own amends with God. I forgive Jim Devine for the hurt he has caused and I know our James would forgive Jim Devine. But I'm not God; I can't forgive Jim Devine for what he did to James. That's between him and his maker. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you condone what they did."

The father-of-three said he was speaking out for two reasons - to stress the need for extra stringency regarding people with mental health issues, and to say that forgiveness is the only way forward.

He added: "This whole society needs forgiveness. A lot of people need to forgive themselves and we need to forgive each other."

Notwithstanding that, Michael said that Devine was known to police, social services and the Housing Executive as "a highly dangerous and disruptive individual". He added that those agencies "failed the residents of Divis Tower", in particular his brother.

"From the moment Jim Devine arrived he engaged in a daily routine of threats, assaults and anti-social behaviour," he said.

"These agencies must explain why the residents were placed at risk and why, when that risk became a reality, no steps were taken to protect neighbours, including James, who was killed in the safety of his own home."

Devine admitted the manslaughter of Mr Hughes by way of diminished responsibility, and the plea was accepted at Belfast Crown Court last June when the murder charge against him was withdrawn.

Mr Hughes, who was in court at the time, said he "felt sorry for him".

"He looked like the loneliest man on the planet and it was quite evident that he had mental health issues," Michael said.

Revealing that it was Devine's sister who called the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution, Mr Hughes said: "I'd meet Jim Devine's family tomorrow. I admire and respect them for calling the police. They did what was right and it must have been very hard."

Mr Hughes called for more government investment following recent statistics that show mental health funding here had fallen in the last six years from 7.7% of the health budget to around 6%.

"It was a lack of mental health services that let James down - but they let his killer down too," he said.

"There shouldn't be a hierarchy of people who have access to mental health services.

"People like Jim Devine need it more than most. He is a very ill man. He had a catalogue of convictions for alcohol-fuelled violence, including stabbing two fellow residents at a hostel. Mental health needs to be taken more seriously."

The former car dealer, who himself suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder linked to the Troubles, added: "There are two types of mental illness - those born with it and those who suffer from it as a direct result of trauma in their lives."

There were four girls and four boys in the Hughes family: Anne (who died in infancy); Joseph (who was 22 when he was a Troubles victim in March 1974); James (murdered at 62); Mairead (64); Veronica (63); Desmond (61); Michael, and Nuala (who died aged 17).

Mr Hughes said that as a teenager he was deeply affected when Joseph was killed as he drove past a car bomb d on the Springfield Road in west Belfast.

He has, however, learned to forgive those responsible.

"I came to realise that if I keep whoever left the bomb that day in my head, it would be like me sucking poison and expecting him to get sick," said Michael.

He also revealed that he and other family members have been targeted in the past by loyalists because of family connections.

Prominent republican Brendan Hughes was a cousin.

He added: "People say Joseph was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he was in the right place at the right time because he was coming back from feeding his cattle.

"I would say the bomb was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

In a statement, the Hughes family appealed for the authorities to take greater responsibility in how they deal with people like Devine.

"He was taken from Ballymoney, with a long list of criminal activity, and thrown into Divis Tower. He shouldn't have been living in normal society," Michael said.

Mr Hughes added he "truly realised what a great man James was after his death", adding that a female friend, who regarded James as her adoptive uncle, has planted sunflowers in Divis Tower in his memory.

"James had great ability to bring people together," he said.

"His death, and our sister Veronica taking sick, was ironically what brought me and Desmond, who'd been estranged for 38 years, back together."

He added: "If our James is up there today, I know he'll be looking down saying I hope Jim Devine gets the help that he needs, and I feel the same way."

Born and raised on the Falls Road, James moved to London when he was 17, initially becoming a psychiatric nurse and later managing a nursing home, before returning to Belfast in 1980.

While he was in London he received a bravery award for saving a man's life.

Sister Veronica said: "James didn't see what the fuss was about; he said he had done what any other human being would do, help a person in need.

"But in a busy London Underground station no one else had stopped to help, only James."

She added: "We were truly privileged to have James as a brother, brother-in-law, uncle and great uncle. He will be greatly missed. This world is very much poorer for his passing. Such a peace-loving man should never have died in such a way."

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the family of James Hughes today.

"We acknowledge the concerns of Mr Hughes' family about police actions in the lead-up to this tragic event. We will examine these and if there are any lessons to be learnt we will take these forward."
An LGBT support group says that a controversial Polish comedian due to appear at a local arts centre on Saturday is "not welcome in Belfast".

Wojciech Cejrowski is set to perform at Strand Arts Centre, where he has a private hire booking, to promote his travel book.

However, LGBT support group The Rainbow Project claimed that Mr Cejrowski has a "well-known history of making discriminatory and inflammatory comments" against the LGBT community, women and immigrants on TV and YouTube.

Director of The Rainbow Project John O'Doherty stated: "We spoke out originally in July when this event was announced.

"This content is homophobic in nature with direct intent to incite exclusion and discrimination against members of the LGBT+ community. His comments are also explicitly derogatory towards women claiming that their place is in the home and that they are inferior to men.

"With regards to immigration, Cejrowski has also called for immigrants to be expelled from Poland. I am urging our political and community representatives from east Belfast and across Belfast to speak out against this performance."

A spokesman for the Strand Arts Centre said that the venue had received a private hire booking for an event by Mr Cejrowski, who he described as a "new customer" in June.

He added: "At that time, we were provided with limited details of the nature of the private hire nor were we made aware that Mr Cejrowski was known in Poland as having a range of personal views which might be considered by some as controversial.

"Upon receiving an expression of concern in relation to this booking and upon being advised on the nature of some of Mr Cejrowski's views, Strand Arts Centre decided to cancel the event."

But after discussions with event organisers and Mr Cejrowski's solicitor, the spokesman said the venue had "received assurances that the event will exclusively entail a discussion about Mr Cejrowski's travel experiences in connection with the promotion of his travel book and will not include any discussion of his personal opinions".

He added: "In light of these assurances, Strand Arts Centre has agreed to re-instate Mr Cejrowski's private hire booking."

However, they said that the Strand Arts Centre is "undertaking a review of our private hire policy and, in particular, our rights of cancellation to ensure that all future private hire events held on our premises are consistent with those core aims and objectives".
Double murderer Colin Howell has been discreetly let out of prison to visit his father's grave.

The former dentist, serving a minimum of 21 years for killing his wife and his ex-lover's policeman husband, was temporarily released yesterday morning.

Accompanied by prison officers, he paid his respects at Kernan Cemetery in Portadown, where his father Samuel is buried.

Samuel Howell passed away on July 21.

His son did not attend the funeral service, which was held at Portadown Baptist Church on July 28.

However, he was granted temporary release yesterday to visit his grave.

A source said: "It was a brief visit to allow him to pay his respects to his father.

"He was handcuffed the whole time, accompanied by prison officers, and the whole thing lasted little more than an hour or so. He was returned to prison later in the day without incident."

The Prison Service declined to comment.

Howell is serving a 21-year jail term for the double murder of his wife Lesley (31) and Trevor Buchanan (32), the RUC officer husband of his then lover Hazel Stewart.

Their bodies were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock in 1991. Police originally thought the pair had died in a suicide pact after discovering their partners were having an affair.

But nearly two decades later Howell suddenly confessed to both killings and admitted he had made it look like the pair had taken their own lives.

He later said he came forward as he thought God was punishing him.

He pleaded guilty to the murders in 2010 and implicated Stewart in the plot, giving evidence against her at a trial that gripped Northern Ireland.

In March 2011 Stewart was unanimously convicted of both murders and ordered to serve at least 18 years behind bars.

The extraordinary case was later turned into a controversial ITV drama, The Secret.

Howell is also serving a five-and-a-half-year sentence for sexually assaulting five female patients while they were under sedation at his dental surgery in Ballymoney.

Samuel Howell died suddenly at Craigavon Area Hospital.

At the time, prison sources indicated that there was a reluctance for the funeral to be seen to descend into a media circus due to Colin Howell's attendance.

They had indicated that arrangements would be made for a more discreet visit.

In his book about the murders, Let This Be Our Secret, journalist Deric Henderson said Howell was always close to his father, a former manager at a Government Training Centre.

He wrote that Howell later said of his relationship with his father: "I was dad's little buddy."
Laura Szewc who has died in a road accident on the Letterkenny Road in Londonderry

A teenage girl killed in a late night crash near the Londonderry and Donegal border was an "amazing" person, a devastated friend has said.

Laura Szewc died in the accident close to Nixon's Corner on the Letterkenny Road at 11.30pm on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old, a student at North West Regional College, was born in Poland but raised in Derry.

Laura, from the Cornshell Fields, had been a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa which is believed to have hit a tree. Two of her friends who were in the car were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash and police have launched an appeal for witnesses.

Her friend Jenny Deane told the Belfast Telegraph that Laura's family, friends and the entire community were devastated about the young woman's death.

"Laura was an amazing girl," she said.

"She was just so full of life and energy. She didn't just walk into my house, she burst in. It is truly awful, she had a bright future ahead of her.

"She was working away and studying at the North West Regional College. She was doing her A-levels in Polish. She wanted to become an interpreter and to travel. It's just heartbreaking.

"Her mother is absolutely devastated, she can't take it in, she can't accept it."

Jenny visited the scene yesterday to pay her respects.

"I went down this morning to the crash scene and laid flowers for Laura beside the tree," she added. "My heart was breaking. Everyone is just broken by this.

"I've had people messaging me all day that I didn't even know knew Laura. She had that effect on people, everyone loved her. She was so happy. I never saw her in a bad mood.

"She loved her friends and her family and her music. She volunteered at a local farm and loved animals.

"It's just so sad. People will remember her as being the life and soul of the place. She was infectious, so funny and so outgoing. It's a tragedy."

Yesterday friends of the popular teenager took to social media to express their shock and sorrow over her death.

"You never know what's around the corner," wrote one friend. "You were one in a million, Laura.

"This just proves only the best looks over us. I'll never ever forget the memories with you. I am absolutely heartbroken."

Another wrote: "Absolutely heartbreaking. One of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Life is so cruel. Only just yesterday we were laughing together."

And another said Laura "always made everyone smile".

SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said the community was "in shock".

"This is a terrible tragedy," he said.

"The community is in shock and sadness today that this girl has lost her life on our roads.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and with her friends.

"It's important that they are there for each other and that we are here for them."
IRA sex abuse victim Mairia Cahill has claimed Social Services knew of her abuse allegations almost 20 years ago and did not act.

She said the organisation received an anonymous tip-off in 2000 and while a file was opened, it was closed two months later.

"I want social services to step up to the plate and explain what their actions were in relation to this," she told the BBC.

"I want to know from them why they also failed us victims."

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She said she contacted the organisation before the Police Ombudsman scathing report into police actions over her claims saying she only received a thanks for her call.

The Department of Health said it would respond when officials have properly reviewed the Police Ombudsman report.

Ms Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by Martin Morris.

As well as Ms Cahill, there were two other alleged victims in the case.

Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape and IRA membership when the case against him collapsed in 2014 after the women withdrew their evidence.

As well as delivering a scathing critique of PSNI and RUC failings, Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire noted that Sinn Fein did not act when Ms Cahill originally made her allegations to senior party figures in 1997, instead waiting for three years to suspend her alleged attacker.

She has previously alleged the republican movement's response to her abuse claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation.

Department of Health spokesperson said: When the Department has the opportunity to review the Police Ombudsmans Report, we will respond appropriately.
A man was taken to hospital for treatment after being attacked during a burglary in west Belfast on Friday.

The incident took place in the early hours of the morning in the Lenadoon Avenue area. Police are appealing for information.

Police received a report just after 1:40am that a number of masked males forced entry to the property and assaulted two men, aged in their 20s, who were inside.

The assailants then fled, taking a black Adidas camouflage bag with them.

One of the men was treated at hospital for injuries to his head.

"Our enquiries are at an early stage, and I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around this time and saw three males acting suspiciously, or has information which could assist our investigation to get in touch with detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 68 of 14/09/18," Detective Sergeant Sam McCallum said.

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
The mother of a 14-year-old severely disabled Londonderry boy had given him "impeccable" care before his death in Belfast, putting his needs ahead of her own battle with breast cancer, a doctor has told the child's inquest.

Orin McBride's inquest also heard from a senior health official that getting children admitted to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) is an ongoing problem.

Orin's mother Majella has already told the inquest that she had not agreed to allow her son to slip away when his condition deteriorated rapidly while in the RBHSC.

The youngster suffered from hydrocephalus, epilepsy and global developmental delay, and died from pancreatitis.

Before that, Orin had been admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital on June 16 after his health deteriorated and was transferred to RBHSC three days later, when a bed became available.

Orin was in the paediatric intensive care unit at RBHSC when, on June 28, clinicians decided to "not actively intervene" and "not actively resuscitate" when Orin's health declined rapidly.

Doctors present said in their evidence Ms McBride, of Strabane Old Road, Derry, understood and consented to this - but the boy's mother said she did not.

In his evidence, Dr Paul Molloy said he had been called to see Orin by his mother on June 4 but he did not think Orin was unwell enough to warrant a hospital stay.

Dr Molloy said he believed Orin's care had gone beyond that of a GP because of his complex needs exacerbated by the pancreatitis.

Dr Molloy said Ms McBride would not have delayed in contacting his medical practice if she was concerned about her son.

He added: "Majella looked after Orin impeccably, she is an absolutely fabulous mother.

"She had dedicated her whole life to looking after her children to the extent she put them above herself even when she was dealing with her own breast cancer."

The inquest heard that a Serious Adverse Incident review had been carried out following Orin's death. Ms Anne McCauley, governance manager with the Belfast Trust, told the court every death of a child had to be treated as a Serious Adverse Incident until the law was changed in 2016. She said the review into Orin's death did not identify any failure in his care.

The issue of the three-day delay in getting Orin a bed in RBHSC was raised by counsel for both Ms McBride and the Coroner, Patrick McGurgan.

Ms McCauley said it was it was a constant problem, both getting children into RBHSC and also getting them repatriated to their local hospital.

The inquest has been adjourned to October 5, sitting in Laganside Court.
Karen Bradley has been urged to do more to restore an assembly in Stormont, where powersharing collapsed last year (Victoria Jones/PA)

The Government must move beyond a sticking plaster approach to the collapse in powersharing in Northern Ireland, MPs have warned.

Moves by Secretary of State Karen Bradley to dock the pay of Assembly politicians while the long-running impasse continues were welcomed by the Commons Northern Ireland Committee.

But it cautioned against using civil servants in the absence of a functioning legislature at Stormont, saying they should not continue to be expected to make determinations that in a functioning democracy fall to Ministers.

Last week Northern Ireland Secretary Mrs Bradley announced a plan to cut Assembly members pay and bring forward legislation giving greater clarity around civil servants powers to make decisions in the absence of a functioning Executive.

Civil servants should not continue to be expected to make determinations that in a functioning democracy fall to MinistersCommittee chairman Andrew Murrison

Powersharing collapsed early last year in a row over the DUPs handling of a botched green energy scheme and a dispute over identity issues like the Irish language has seen repeated rounds of negotiations fail.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Friday released Government responses to a report on devolution it published in May, which had urged Mrs Bradley to increase the tempo of ministerial decision making.

Committee chairman Andrew Murrison said the Government had started to think about plugging the democratic deficit by acting on MLA pay and moves to restore the Policing Board.

But he added: We are glad that the Secretary of State has acknowledged that more clarity is needed on the powers of civil servants to take decisions in the light of recent legal challenge.

However, whilst we keenly await further detail on this, we are clear that civil servants should not continue to be expected to make determinations that in a functioning democracy fall to Ministers.

There is no evidence in the Government response to our report, nor in the Secretary of States comments last week, to suggest that talks to restore devolution are imminent.

We must move beyond a sticking plaster approach and do more to facilitate sustainable governance in the region with proper accountability and scrutiny mechanisms.

Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds in Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Earlier this week Democratic Unionists leader Arlene Foster warned the Government not to subcontract its role in restoring power sharing after calls were made for independent mediation in the dispute.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill met Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney in Dublin and said it was disgraceful an Executive was not in place.

She added: The reason we have not had it is because of the British Government and their toxic relationship with the DUP.
Posted by Mark Williams | September 14, 2018



It's not uncommon to see electric pickup truck makers pull and borrow from existing pickups when trying to disguise their own styling design exercises when doing real-world testing. Often, their nontraditional looks can become a dead giveaway to any casual observers. So many tend to use current-gen bodies to test their platforms and chassis test units.

One such electric pickup company gaining more traction lately is Rivian, which recently hired a Subaru public relations expert. We'll see if that kind of magic can work twice. From the looks of the body, Rivian is keeping it relatively small with a small bed, SuperCab-length wheelbase and four-corner coils, and a fairly low center of gravity; there are good-sized brakes, too. (However, for next time, we'd recommend going to a six- or eight-lug axle, not use bald tires for testing, and provide some place to hook the trailer chains.) Here's what our spy shooter sent us.

"This is an electric pickup truck mule for the Michigan-headquartered startup Rivian.

"Rivian has previously said it would release a line of vehicles by the end of 2019, with the first models being previewed this November at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This early mule version of their proposed pickup truck uses a "stand-in" Ford F-150 body over Rivian's skateboard-like electric propulsion system. A charging cable on the front quarter panel and body height give it away as an electric vehicle.

"Along with an SUV, Rivian says its vehicles will offer ranges between 200 and 400 miles on a charge, also with off-road capabilities. The company plans to build them in the former Mitsubishi assembly plant in Illinois. Research and development is currently being conducted in Plymouth, Mich., while battery technology is being developed in Irvine, Calif.

"If things go as planned, expect an on-sale date near the end of 2019 as a 2020 model."

SpiedBilde Photography images




DUP MLA Paul Frew has said Northern Ireland politics will have to change in the wake of the revelations from the RHI inquiry.

The inquiry into the botched green energy scheme has heard of in-fighting within the DUP, the party's power structure of how special advisers were selected and essentially directing ministers and of allegations of "sexual misbehaviour" among its representatives.

Proceedings heard of how politics was a "grubby world," something the inquiry chair described as an "understatement".

There has also been claims of civil service incompetence in how the botched heating scheme was established, operated and monitored.

North Antrim representative Frew said he was "very concerned" with what he had heard from the inquiry so far but accused other party's of taking "cheap political shots".

"We welcome the inquiry and the more it goes on the more the more we welcome it," he told the BBC.

"I believe all party's will learn from this, I believe we will come out with better government and that's only a good thing."

Detailed meeting with the Prime Minister today. Discussing the need for decision making in NI. While SF continue to boycott the Assembly, we continue to push for good governance. The people of NI deserve better. pic.twitter.com/NJurSLJUuj  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) September 12, 2018

Mr Frew was asked about Arlene Foster's tweet in which she called for "good governance" for Northern Ireland needed when the inquiry was hearing of an opposite picture of how the DUP operated while in power. He was asked if the tweet was a mistake on her part.

"No it wasn't," he added.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close RHI inquiry ARLENE FOSTER DUP leader and former First Minister. Minister at Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) when the RHI scheme began in 2012. Subsidy tariffs were set too high without a cap, leading to costs spiralling out of control. She described it as her "deepest political regret", but denies claims by Jonathan Bell, her former party colleague and successor as Enterprise Minister, that she ordered him to keep the scheme open. Timothy Johnston After being a special adviser to Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson, Mr Johnston became a Spad to Arlene Foster when she took on the role of First Minister in January 2016. He was accused by Mr Bell of not allowing the RHI scheme to close in early autumn 2015, but he has rejected that allegation. Following the collapse of the Stormont Executive over the RHI scandal in early 2017, he became chief executive of the DUP. JONATHAN BELL Succeeded Arlene Foster as Deti minister in May 2015, until May 2016, when RHI costs became a problem. The former DUP Strangford MLA alleged two DUP special advisers (Spads) - Timothy Johnston and Andrew Crawford - intervened to delay the start of cost controls in autumn 2015 - a period when there was a spike in applications to the scheme. He claimed Mrs Foster "overruled" his bid to close the botched scheme in early 2016. TIMOTHY CAIRNS A former barrister, he was Mr Bell's special adviser at Deti. Mr Bell alleged that Mr Cairns told him that other DUP Spads were not allowing the RHI scheme to be closed in September 2015. Mr Bell said that he believed Mr Cairns saw himself as working for the other Spads and not for him as minister. But Mr Cairns has accused Mr Bell of bullying, swinging a punch at him and trying to break his finger - claims Mr Bell denies. ANDREW CRAWFORD Spad to Mrs Foster in Deti when RHI was introduced. Quit role in January 2017 after Mr McCormick told a Stormont committee he understood Mr Crawford was exerting influence to keep the scheme's high tariff level. He denied the claim and any wrongdoing. At the RHI Inquiry, he accepted it was "inappropriate" to have shared RHI cost-control plans with family before they were introduced. Now a part-time DUP adviser. ANDREW MCCORMICK Became permanent secretary at Deti in 2014 and was in post when the RHI scheme's massive overspend became clear. Mr McCormick told the RHI Inquiry that Mr Cairns told him Timothy Johnston, another DUP Spad, was involved in the decision to delay cost controls. In January, it was announced Mr McCormick was being appointed as director-general of international relations for Brexit in the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive. DAVID STERLING As interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, he is effectively the man in charge of running Stormont departments in the absence of devolved government. He was the lead civil servant in Deti when it introduced the flawed RHI scheme in 2012. Mr Bell alleged to the RHI Inquiry that Mr Sterling feared the energy scheme controversy would cost him his chance to become the head of the Civil Service. PA Wire/PA Images CHRIS STEWART Jonathan Bell claimed Chris Stewart, Deti deputy permanent secretary, sought a meeting to blow the whistle on a bid by DUP advisers to remove Mrs Foster's name from RHI documents. Mr Bell said Stewart would back this at an inquiry, but Stewart said he "did not seek a meeting as a whistleblower". He acknowledged a DUP adviser changed the wording of a Deti document, but that Mr Bell later "advised that he had dealt with the matter". STUART WIGHTMAN A former official at Deti who was responsible for running the RHI scheme in its final weeks. Mr Wightman told the inquiry he directed a colleague to inform poultry producer Moy Park and other interested parties of changes to cost controls as a "courtesy". He also alerted boiler firms and the Ulster Farmers' Union to the delay in cost controls before DUP minister Jonathan Bell had even been asked to approve the proposal. JANETTE OHAGAN Ms O'Hagan was selling a heat efficiency product in 2013, but found potential clients were not interested, especially when they had signed up to the RHI scheme. She raised concerns about the scheme with the then-Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster. She told the inquiry she would do the same thing if the RHI debacle happened again, despite unwillingly becoming the centre of a political and media storm. Dame Una O'Brien. RHI inquiry panel member / Facebook

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He was asked what it said of his party when special advisers admitted "politics was a grubby business".

"That is clearly going to have to change and there is going to have to be lessons learnt by my party and all others," he added.

He said the RHI inquiry was "no barrier" to the restoration of power sharing.

"We should have an Assembly and an Executive there tomorrow so that we can scrutinise legislation and laws".

Former Education Minister John O'Dowd said he didn't recognise the workings of government outlined in the RHI inquiry and was "confident" his party followed the rules of appointing special advisers.

"Dysfunctional does not even touch the sides of what we have heard," said Alliance leader Naomi Long.

"It's clear that for those of us of us who had ministers in the Executive.... we were kept in the dark."

UUP leader Robin Swann added: "It's a very expensive learning curve."
Premature and sick babies are being denied lifesaving breast milk from Ireland's only human milk bank in Co Fermanagh after "processing" problems were discovered, it can be revealed.

The incident has prompted the importation of breast milk from England by Belfast's Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in order to feed babies here.

The Belfast Telegraph has learned that 259 litres of donated breast milk destined for babies in need had been disposed of after issues arose with how it was handled and processed.

The Human Milk Bank has been based in Fermanagh since August 2000 and is managed by the Western Trust.

It has provided human milk for thousands of needy babies all across Ireland, many of whom would have died without this help.

Annually it provides over 1,500 litres of lifesaving breast milk to more than 900 babies.

The bank also helps babies with major gut or heart problems by providing milk to their homes as well as those being cared for in hospices.

However, it relies on breastfeeding mothers from all across Ireland for donations.

In recent months the milk bank relocated to Enniskillen's South West Acute Hospital from its smaller base in nearby Irvinestown, which is when issues arose that prompted the disposal of the milk.

It is understood that the milk was deemed unusable following transit and had to be dumped while donors were contacted and told that their milk was not required for now.

The Western Trust said: "The milk bank has recently relocated to more suitable accommodation in the South West Acute Hospital.

"Regretfully, the trust encountered difficulties achieving processing standards during this relocation period and donor milk had to be disposed of.

"The milk bank will work diligently to achieve the understandably high standards required to assist vulnerable and sick babies and children and will recommence the service at the earliest opportunity.

"We would like to thank all of our donors for their continued support, as it is only with their help that this invaluable service can continue."

The Belfast Trust said: "Whilst the milk bank is operated by the Western Trust, the Royal Jubilee uses donated milk in our neo-natal service.

"We are importing milk from England as an interim measure and reassure the public that there is no shortage of milk in the neo-natal unit."
A failure to trace any relatives of child serial killer Robert Black may see his inquest proceed without family participation, a coroner has said.

Nine months of efforts by the Coroner Service for Northern Ireland to find relations of the late Scottish paedophile have come to nothing, corner Patrick McGurgan was told on Friday.

Black, who was convicted of four child murders but suspected of many more, died of heart disease in a Northern Ireland prison in 2016 aged 68.

The loner paedophile from Grangemouth near Falkirk was a delivery driver who stalked the roads of the UK searching for victims.

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Black was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea after prison authorities in Northern Ireland revealed no one wanted his remains.

An inquest is being held into his death to establish if there were any issues with the medical care he received while incarcerated.

At a preliminary hearing in Belfast, a lawyer for the Coroners Service updated Mr McGurgan on efforts to find any relations to participate in the inquest.

Efforts are being made by an investigating officer but they cant be traced, he said.

Expand Close Robert Black died at Maghaberry Prison (Michael Cooper/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Theres not much more that can be done it seems.

It was initially believed that some of Blacks relations might live in Northern Ireland.

Noting previous media coverage of efforts to locate the family members, the coroner said issuing a formal public appeal could be an option.

We would all like next of kin to be involved in this inquest, I think its very important, he said.

Addressing the legal representatives involved in the case, the coroner added: Are we content that we could proceed in the absence of next of kin?

Its not unheard of.

One of the lawyers agreed that such a move was not without precedent and highlighted that he had been involved in an inquest without family participation in the recent past.

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Mr McGurgan said the absence of a relation at the full hearing in December might make it difficult to officially record some personal details about Black.

The killers long reign of terror was ended in 1990 when he was caught red-handed by police with a barely alive six-year-old girl hooded, bound, gagged and stuffed in a sleeping bag in the back of his van in the Scottish village of Stow.

He had sexually assaulted her moments earlier.

Once in custody, the predator was linked to a series of unsolved crimes in the previous decade.

In 1994, Black was found guilty of three child murders in the 1980s, those of 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, from the Scottish Borders, five-year-old Caroline Hogg, from Edinburgh, and Sarah Harper, 10, from Morley, near Leeds, as well as a failed abduction bid in Nottingham in 1988.

In 2011, he was found guilty of the 1981 murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy, from Ballinderry, Co Antrim.

Expand Close Black was the prime suspect in the unsolved case of schoolgirl Genette Tate (PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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At Fridays hearing, Mr McGurgan said contacting the lawyers who represented Black in the 2011 case could potentially aid efforts to trace his relatives.

Black, who lived out his last days in Maghaberry high security prison in Co Antrim, was also suspected of involvement in other killings and unexplained disappearances and had long been the prime suspect in the case of missing 13-year-old Genette Tate, who was last seen in a rural lane in Aylesbeare, Devon, in 1978.

The killer was put up to be fostered within weeks of his birth in 1947.

A couple from Kinlochleven in the West Highlands who took him in both died within 11 years and Black spent the rest of his childhood in residential homes in Falkirk and Edinburgh.

The full inquest into Blacks death is scheduled to start on the week commencing Monday December 3 in Armagh.

Another preliminary hearing will take place on November 5.
Tributes have been paid to a "very popular and special" schoolgirl whose sudden death has devastated an entire community

Tributes have been paid to a "very popular and special" schoolgirl whose sudden death has devastated an entire community.

Abi Rogers (15) passed away on Tuesday at her home just a short walk from St Columba's College in Portaferry, where she went to school.

Staff have opened a book of condolence in memory of the young pupil whose "tragic and untimely" passing has left everyone there "deeply saddened".

"We wish to extend our sincere sympathy to Abi's family and assure them of our prayers, thoughts and support at this time," a post on the school's Facebook page added.

Dozens of people have offered prayers for Abi's heartbroken parents Cathy and Andy and siblings Dylan and Cian.

The school's oratory has also been opened to provide a space for grieving friends and staff to pray and reflect on Abi's life.

It is understood everyone from the college will attend a Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Church this morning before the teenager is laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

Canon Gill Withers, who volunteers at Pl@CE, a cross-community youth club which Abi attended, paid tribute to a girl whose "cheeky smile" could light up a room.

"Abi was loved and valued by all our volunteers and everyone who came here," she said.

"She was a very popular and special girl and we just loved to see her face and cheeky smile coming through the door.

"Abi was always happy and her lovely grin made everyone smile."

The Church of Ireland clergywoman said the teenager was a vital member of the club for many years and helped save it from being wound up.

"There was a time when we went through a bit of a lull - a lot of kids had grown up and moved on," she said.

"Abi said: 'Don't worry, I'll get my friends to come'. And she brought a lot of new people in.

"That really saved the club. We just can't take this in, we are numb with grief."

Councillor Joe Boyle described the teenager's passing as "every parent's worst nightmare" but said he knows the community will be "vital source of strength during the difficult days which lie ahead".

"It's never easy to lose a family member, but to lose such a young child is an extremely difficult situation to have to come to terms with," he added.

Mr Boyle also offered his condolences to the entire family on behalf of residents throughout the Ards Peninsula.

Abi's funeral cortege will leave from her parents' home on High Street, Portaferry, at 10.30am.
The stolen car pictured in Ardoyne after a man was struck on the head with a hammer in Mill Valley North and his car stolen on September 13, 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

The stolen car pictured in Ardoyne after a man was struck on the head with a hammer in Mill Valley North and his car stolen on September 13, 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

The stolen car pictured in Ardoyne after a man was struck on the head with a hammer in Mill Valley North and his car stolen on September 13, 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

The stolen car pictured in Ardoyne after a man was struck on the head with a hammer in Mill Valley North and his car stolen on September 13, 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

A Belfast homeowner was pushed to the ground and threatened with hammers in a raid on his home.

A gang of three masked men - after cutting the power to the Mill Valley North property - forced their way in before threatening the man.

They then searched the home taking a sum of money and the keys to a blue Honda car. They left in the car which was found a short time later burnt out in Ardoyne Place.

The occupant sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident but was left badly shaken, police said.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact officers on 101 or pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Belfast City Council has spent 25,000 of ratepayer's money to send Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey on a trip to China.

Ms Hargey is giving a keynote address at the World Winter Cities Annual Meeting in Belfast's 'Sister City' of Shenyang, during a five-day visit to the Far East this week.

A council spokesperson confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph: "Council agreed in March this year a maximum budget of 25,000 to cover all expenditure for the China visit, including attendance at the World Winter Cities Conference which the Lord Mayor has been invited to address, and the production of the tourism showcase which is under way in Shenyang."

The aim of the trip is to raise the profile of Belfast as a visitor destination for China's 100 million overseas travellers, with new flights from Beijing to Ireland now operating. Discussions will also include trade and export with Shenyang through its Free Trade Zone Status, as well as strengthening the city's commitment to Queen's University's pharmaceutical science college in China, and Ulster University's investment there.

Ms Hargey, who left last Saturday for the five-day visit, said: "Our attention is on highlighting business and leisure tourism and establishing Belfast as a destination of choice for the Chinese market.

"Around 100 million Chinese people travel internationally each year, so there is huge potential for tourism and our visit is an ideal opportunity to highlight the many unique attractions available in Belfast and the wider region.

"The trip is in line with the aims of our Belfast Agenda to attract more inward investment to boost our economy in tourism, creative industries and digital economy, providing a better life for those living or working in, and visiting Belfast," added the Lord Mayor.

Visit Belfast's chief executive, Gerry Lennon, accompanied the Lord Mayor to China.

"We're already seeing a growing number of Chinese visitors arriving in to Belfast," he said.

"We're looking forward to helping the Lord Mayor showcase Belfast to key travel trade agencies in China."
Three Co Antrim men who were involved in a "cowardly and vicious" attack on a pub doorman who was battered with a fire extinguisher were jailed for the roles they played in the assault.

The trio - brothers Ian and Brian Sinclair, and Glen McCullough - were all handed jail terms for an incident last March which left the the doorman of the Royal Oak pub in Carrick with multiple injuries including fractures to his skull, jaw, eye and cheekbone.

The doorman and a second bouncer were assaulted after they refused to let Ian Sinclair into the bar. Sinclair later claimed this was 'on account of the ongoing loyalist feud involving the Gilmore family and the South East Antrim UDA.'

During sentencing on Friday, Judge Gordon Kerr QC said the attack on the doorman went "well beyond a reaction to being refused a drink", adding it was a vicious attack on a man working in a public place.

Whilst Brian (52) and Ian Sinclair (38) admitted causing the doorman grievous bodily harm with intent, 54-year old Ian McCullough was acquitted of this charge, and admitted a lesser charge of causing doorman actual bodily harm. In addition, Brian Sinclair admitted a charge of common assault against the second doorman.

Ian Sinclair was handed a sentence of nine years, his brother Brian was handed a six-year sentence while McCullough received a three-year sentence. All three men were told they will serve half their sentences behind bars, with the remaining half on licence when they are released.
Conservative party councillor David Harding has said that Environment Secretary Michael Gove has apologised for attending a controversial dinner hosted by Ian Paisley last year.

The apology comes after the BBC reported that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council paid 1,500 for the table at the event hosted by the North Antrim MP at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena in September 2017.

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Mr Harding, a councillor in Causeway Coast and Glens, said that he received a personal apology from Mr Gove at a meeting in Belfast.

Causeway Coast and Glens said its attendance at what was billed as a "business engagement dinner" would be beneficial for its guests and for the networking opportunities.

A decision by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to also sponsor a table for 1,500 at the same event is being investigated by the Electoral Commission.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the sponsoring of the table was within its guidelines.

Mr Harding said he received apologies from Mr Gove and a special advisor after Mr Gove attended the dinner.

"There's a clear instruction from the Conservative Party that members of the government do not attend functions that promote the interests of other parties or raise money for them and it shouldn't happen" Mr Harding told the BBC.

"They said they were clear this was a business event, that it wasn't a DUP event, that although it had been arranged by Ian Paisley, this wasn't about raising money for the DUP which it obviously was."

Mr Harding said that ratepayers money must be spent well but that he thought the council genuinely believed it was a business event.

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"I think it's just disgraceful that this event was presented as one thing and was clearly something else," the Conservative councillor said.

In a letter to Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the 1,500 was paid directly to Tullyglass Hotel.

"This is public money and we are now talking about two councils spending over 3,000 of ratepayers' money for something that was billed - and is all over the local newspapers - as a DUP fundraising event," Mr Dickson told the BBC.

"A dinner which was held in Ballymena by Ian Paisley MP and indeed was bragged about as a fundraising event by some of his councillors."

"This wasn't a decision by local councillors, this appears to have been taken entirely by council officers on the basis of a letter they received from an organisation which according to Mid and East Antrim, doesn't even exist," he added.

In the letter, seen by the BBC, the council said the spend level for attendance at the dinner did not require councillors' agreement in accordance with its procurement policy.

In a further statement to the BBC, the council said: "Council agreed to attend the event and invite guests who would benefit from both the subject matter and the potential networking opportunities.

"Those guests included representatives of our hospitality, food distribution and production, agriculture and leisure industries with an emphasis on the rural aspects of the borough."

In a statement Mr Paisley - who is currently suspended from the DUP over his Commons suspension - said he was "content to wait for the outcome of the commission's inquiry" which he said "commenced after political rivals made a complaint".

He added his "annual community and business engagement dinner in Ballymena was very successful and enjoyed by all who attended."

The Northern Ireland Auditor's office confirmed to the BBC it looked into the payment as part of a wider audit of the council and will make recommendations in the coming weeks.
A second Northern Ireland council used ratepayers' money to sponsor a table at a dinner hosted by MP Ian Paisley, it has been revealed.

The BBC reports Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council paid 1,500 for the table at the event hosted by the North Antrim MP in September 2017.

The council said its attendance at what was billed as a "business engagement dinner" would be beneficial for its guests and for the networking opportunities.

A decision by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to also sponsor a table for 1,500 at the same event is being investigated by the Electoral Commission.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the sponsoring of the table was within its guidelines.

In a letter to Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the 1,500 was paid directly to Tullyglass Hotel, which hosted the event.

Mr Dickson told the BBC: "This is public money and we are now talking about two councils spending over 3,000 of ratepayers' money for something that was billed - and is all over the local newspapers - as a DUP fundraising event.

"A dinner which was held in Ballymena by Ian Paisley MP and indeed was bragged about as a fundraising event by some of his councillors."

He added: "This wasn't a decision by local councillors, this appears to have been taken entirely by council officers on the basis of a letter they received from an organisation which according to Mid and East Antrim, doesn't even exist."

In the letter, seen by the BBC, the council said the spend level for attendance at the dinner did not require councillors' agreement in accordance with its procurement policy.

In a further statement to the BBC, the council said: "Council agreed to attend the event and invite guests who would benefit from both the subject matter and the potential networking opportunities.

"Those guests included representatives of our hospitality, food distribution and production, agriculture and leisure industries with an emphasis on the rural aspects of the borough."

In a statement Mr Paisley - who is currently suspended from the DUP over his Commons suspension - said he was "content to wait for the outcome of the commission's inquiry" which he said "commenced after political rivals made a complaint".

He added his "annual community and business engagement dinner in Ballymena was very successful and enjoyed by all who attended."

The Northern Ireland Auditor's office confirmed to the BBC it looked into the payment as part of a wider audit of the council and will make recommendations in the coming weeks.
18:12

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has ruled out any engagement with the Opposition on issues relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying they do not deserve to be involved after throwing muck on a very sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness.





Sitharaman said the government decided to go for procuring only two squadrons of Rafale jets as an emergency measure in the wake of China and Pakistan significantly ramping up their air power by inducting stealth fighters.





"Is there any point of calling them and explaining? They are misleading the country with something which was not even agreed to during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government.





"You are throwing an allegation saying there is a fraud. You did not care for operational preparedness of the air force," she told PTI in an interview.





The defence minister was asked whether the government will engage with opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the United States.





"It (Rafale deal) is an inter-governmental agreement. You (Opposition) have asked us questions and I have given answers to them in Parliament. Then what am I calling them for? What am I going to tell them when I call them?" she said.





The defence minister also asserted that the Rafale deal cannot be equated with the Bofors issue at all as was being attempted by the Opposition, as she has rid the defence ministry from middlemen entirely.





Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft will be 'much superior' in comparison to what was negotiated by the UPA.





Asked whether the controversy surrounding Rafale will hit flow of foreign funds into the defence sector, she said it will not have any impact as it is very clear that allegations are baseless.





Sitharaman also rejected the Opposition charge that the government was trying to benefit Reliance Defence Ltd from the deal under the offset requirement, saying the government has no role in selecting an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale.





Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.





Sitharaman said, officially, she does not know which company Dassault Aviation is partnering with to execute the offset obligations.





"I have not got to know who is Dassault's offset partner.. It is a commercial decision. There are laid down procedure to check the process of fulfilment of offset obligations. Neither I can accept, nor I can suggest, nor I can reject anybody from going with anybody," she said.





On October 27, last year, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence laid the foundation for manufacturing facility near Nagpur to manufacture aerospace components and fulfil offset obligation connected to the Rafale deal.





The Opposition has been asking how RDL, with no experience in aerospace sector, can be chosen as an offset partner while the government has been maintaining that it was officially ignorant of the fact that Dassault has joined hands with RDL to execute offset obligations.





Rejecting charges of corruption in the Rafale deal, the defence minister said the people of the country have put a closure on this 'non-issue' as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -- PTI


Storm Helene is due to last until Wednesday (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Forecasters have warned that Storm Helene could pose a danger to life when it bears down on the UK and Republic of Ireland next week.

Ferocious winds lurking in the Atlantic threaten to whip across western regions of England and Wales from Monday evening, heralding a day of disruption and hazardous conditions.

Helene is among a glut of tropical storms brewing in the region, with mass evacuations under way in southern US states as Florence barrels across Virginia and the Carolinas.

The Met Office issued two yellow alerts on Friday as the storm began creeping towards south-western corners of the UK and the tip of Ireland.

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Its warning, in force between 6pm on Monday and midday on Tuesday, said very strong winds could pose the risk of injuries and danger to life because of flying debris.

Large waves lashing coastal regions also have the potential to harm by propelling beach material onto seafronts, the warning said.

Bridges, airports and ferry services in the affected areas face closure if winds grow too violent, while roads and rail routes might also be cut off.

Ireland is expected to endure the worst of the storm, while Wales and the Cornish peninsula will bear its brunt in England.

The storm is likely to die out by Wednesday, the forecaster said.
Aras an Uachtarain is the home of the Irish President in Phoenix Park, Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

Following confirmation businessman Gavin Duffy will contest the election to become the next President of Ireland, here are the four candidates currently in the race for Aras An Uachtarain.

Michael D Higgins

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The sitting President, 77, was born in Limerick and had an academic career in the 1960s-70s, teaching sociology in Ireland and the United States.

He entered the political arena in the late 1960s joining the Labour Party and served as a senator in the 1980s before representing Galway West in the Dail from 1987 to 2011.

Mr Higgins is a fluent Irish speaker and served as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht in the 1990s.

He is also a published poet and has presented TV documentaries.

Mr Higgins was first elected president in 2011 after running as an independent candidate.

He made history in 2014 when he became the first Irish President to undertake an official state visit to the UK.

Earlier this year he welcomed Pope Francis to Ireland, the first papal visit in almost 40 years.

As the current president, Mr Higgins is able to nominate himself as an independent candidate for another seven years in office.

However he has secured the backing of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour, who have agreed not to field candidates from their own parties.

Sean Gallagher

Expand Close Mr Gallagher has declared his intention to run again in the upcoming presidential election (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The 56-year-old businessman and former former Dragons Den star from Ballyhaise, County Cavan, finished second in the 2011 Irish Presidential election.

He secured more than half a million first preference votes, but lost out to Mr Higgins.

Mr Gallagher has described himself as coming from the Fianna Fail gene pool, but is running as an independent.

In 2002 he founded Smarthomes, a home technology business, with Derek Roddy.

The company won numerous awards for innovation and Mr Gallagher was a finalist in the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year contest.

Mr Gallagher became a public figure during his time as an investor on RTE Ones Dragons Den from 2008 to 2011.

Last year, State broadcaster RTE apologised to Mr Gallagher over a tweet read out during a live TV debate during the last election campaign.

The tweet was purported to be from an official account linked to the late Martin McGuinness, who also ran for president in 2011.

However, it later emerged the account was not the official campaign account of the Sinn Fein candidate.

Mr Gallagher won the backing of Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim and Wexford councils, and was the first independent candidate to secure a nomination.

Gavin Duffy

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The entrepreneur and businessman from Sallins, Co Kildare, is best known for his role on the RTE programme Dragons Den.

Mr Duffy, 58, started his career as a shareholder in radio stations, and in 1992 he co-founded a media and management consultancy.

He is the former owner of HRM, one of Irelands largest recruitment companies.

His early career in the media included presenting the first RTE television business programme, Marketplace; broadcasting on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One, and founding regional radio station LMFM.

Later Mr Duffy became a serial entrepreneur and is now a veteran of over 40 start-ups. His venture capital portfolio has been concentrated on recruitment, professional development, education and media.

He has been a panellist on the Irish version of Dragons Den for all eight seasons since the show began in 2009.

Mr Duffy has worked in the past as an adviser to both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

He has said he would accept the full presidential salary of 350,000 euro.

The current President, Michael D Higgins, has voluntarily reduced his own salary to under 250,000 euro while in office.

Mr Duffy will run as an independent candidate after securing his nomination by winning the backing of Waterford, Meath, Carlow and Wicklow councils.

Senator Joan Freeman

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The sole woman in the contest so far is a psychologist and mental health activist from Dublin.

Senator Joan Freeman, 60, has also served on the Seanad since May 2016 after being nominated by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She is the chairperson on the committee on mental health.

Senator Freeman founded Pieta House, a suicide intervention charity, in 2006 in Lucan, County Dublin. It now boasts 12 additional centres around Ireland.

Senator Freeman also founded the annual fundraising event Darkness into Light in aid of Pieta House. The event began with 400 participants in 2008 and has since grown with approximately 200,000 people participating in the 2018 events held across Ireland, including at the Phoenix Park.

She resigned from Pieta House in 2014, in order to concentrate on developing Solace House, a similar charity based in New York City launched in 2015.

Senator Freeman will run as an independent candidate. She earned the backing of Galway City Council as well as Galway County, Fingal and Cork County councils.

The Irish Presidential election will be held on October 26.

Sinn Fein is set to announce its candidate on Sunday.
Arlene Foster's former special adviser has said he can't remember if he warned her that "a tsunami" of applications was about to hit the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Dr Andrew Crawford passed the warning on to Jonathan Bell's special adviser at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (Deti), Timothy Cairns.

But giving evidence to the RHI Inquiry yesterday, he was unsure whether he had informed his own minister.

As Finance Minister in 2015, Mrs Foster was in charge of Stormont's purse-strings.

Speaking of how he warned others of the huge spike in applications in the weeks before cost controls were introduced, Dr Crawford said: "I was telling them, there is a tsunami coming here, you need to move."

The DUP leader has insisted he did not inform her. Inquiry panellist Dr Keith MacClean stated: "It seems very strange that that would not be passed on."

Dr Crawford said: "I certainly didn't keep it from her but I can't sit here today and say... I gave her the information."

Inquiry chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin said: "You had gone from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to Department of Finance and Personnel. You now knew that there is a tsunami of applications coming down the line, in a situation where Deti don't have the approval from DFP to spend the money."

Dr Crawford said that, looking at it now, he should have told Mrs Foster. "Did I update her verbally on it? I just cannot confirm that one way or another," he stated.

The inquiry heard that close relatives of Dr Crawford's had 11 RHI boilers. His brother James heated chicken houses with two boilers.

The inquiry was told that the former DUP special adviser owned fields adjoining his brother's poultry business but Dr Crawford insisted: "There is no financial link between myself and my brother."

His cousin Richard had six RHI boilers on his farm near Omagh and another cousin, John Crawford, had three on his farm.

Sir Patrick Coghlin said: "You have three family members, one brother and two cousins within a 10-mile radius who have installed 11 boilers."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close RHI inquiry ARLENE FOSTER DUP leader and former First Minister. Minister at Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) when the RHI scheme began in 2012. Subsidy tariffs were set too high without a cap, leading to costs spiralling out of control. She described it as her "deepest political regret", but denies claims by Jonathan Bell, her former party colleague and successor as Enterprise Minister, that she ordered him to keep the scheme open. Timothy Johnston After being a special adviser to Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson, Mr Johnston became a Spad to Arlene Foster when she took on the role of First Minister in January 2016. He was accused by Mr Bell of not allowing the RHI scheme to close in early autumn 2015, but he has rejected that allegation. Following the collapse of the Stormont Executive over the RHI scandal in early 2017, he became chief executive of the DUP. JONATHAN BELL Succeeded Arlene Foster as Deti minister in May 2015, until May 2016, when RHI costs became a problem. The former DUP Strangford MLA alleged two DUP special advisers (Spads) - Timothy Johnston and Andrew Crawford - intervened to delay the start of cost controls in autumn 2015 - a period when there was a spike in applications to the scheme. He claimed Mrs Foster "overruled" his bid to close the botched scheme in early 2016. TIMOTHY CAIRNS A former barrister, he was Mr Bell's special adviser at Deti. Mr Bell alleged that Mr Cairns told him that other DUP Spads were not allowing the RHI scheme to be closed in September 2015. Mr Bell said that he believed Mr Cairns saw himself as working for the other Spads and not for him as minister. But Mr Cairns has accused Mr Bell of bullying, swinging a punch at him and trying to break his finger - claims Mr Bell denies. ANDREW CRAWFORD Spad to Mrs Foster in Deti when RHI was introduced. Quit role in January 2017 after Mr McCormick told a Stormont committee he understood Mr Crawford was exerting influence to keep the scheme's high tariff level. He denied the claim and any wrongdoing. At the RHI Inquiry, he accepted it was "inappropriate" to have shared RHI cost-control plans with family before they were introduced. Now a part-time DUP adviser. ANDREW MCCORMICK Became permanent secretary at Deti in 2014 and was in post when the RHI scheme's massive overspend became clear. Mr McCormick told the RHI Inquiry that Mr Cairns told him Timothy Johnston, another DUP Spad, was involved in the decision to delay cost controls. In January, it was announced Mr McCormick was being appointed as director-general of international relations for Brexit in the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive. DAVID STERLING As interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, he is effectively the man in charge of running Stormont departments in the absence of devolved government. He was the lead civil servant in Deti when it introduced the flawed RHI scheme in 2012. Mr Bell alleged to the RHI Inquiry that Mr Sterling feared the energy scheme controversy would cost him his chance to become the head of the Civil Service. PA Wire/PA Images CHRIS STEWART Jonathan Bell claimed Chris Stewart, Deti deputy permanent secretary, sought a meeting to blow the whistle on a bid by DUP advisers to remove Mrs Foster's name from RHI documents. Mr Bell said Stewart would back this at an inquiry, but Stewart said he "did not seek a meeting as a whistleblower". He acknowledged a DUP adviser changed the wording of a Deti document, but that Mr Bell later "advised that he had dealt with the matter". STUART WIGHTMAN A former official at Deti who was responsible for running the RHI scheme in its final weeks. Mr Wightman told the inquiry he directed a colleague to inform poultry producer Moy Park and other interested parties of changes to cost controls as a "courtesy". He also alerted boiler firms and the Ulster Farmers' Union to the delay in cost controls before DUP minister Jonathan Bell had even been asked to approve the proposal. JANETTE OHAGAN Ms O'Hagan was selling a heat efficiency product in 2013, but found potential clients were not interested, especially when they had signed up to the RHI scheme. She raised concerns about the scheme with the then-Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster. She told the inquiry she would do the same thing if the RHI debacle happened again, despite unwillingly becoming the centre of a political and media storm. Dame Una O'Brien. RHI inquiry panel member / Facebook

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The inquiry heard that Dr Crawford's brother James received a quote from a boiler installer in 2014 that said he could make 250,000 in income over 20 years from RHI and fuel savings of 300,000.

Inquiry counsel Joseph Aiken asked whether Dr Crawford had ever discussed these figures with his brother. He said he had not. When Mr Aiken said that his brother must have shown him the quote and said "Surely that can't be right?", Dr Crawford said he had no knowledge of the document and had never talked about it with his brother.

The former DUP special adviser apologised for sending a confidential Stormont document recommending RHI cost controls to his cousin Richard. He accepted it was "something I shouldn't have done".

But he said it was being "widely discussed" in the industry that RHI was about to be changed to make it less lucrative and his cousin was worried about the impact it would have on him as he'd made a substantial investment in the boilers.

Dr Crawford said he sent the document to reassure his cousin that his existing business wouldn't be affected rather than to give him advance notice of the changes that were in the pipeline.

He was asked why he sent the document to his cousin and not his brother. Mr Aiken suggested that Dr Crawford could have already informed his brother verbally about the changes. The former spad said he had no reason whatsoever to tell his brother.

He insisted he never discussed attractive RHI tariffs with relatives. "I never went into financials, does this pay or not pay," he stated.

He was asked why he sent an email to poultry giant Moy Park about RHI changes. He said he had "a query" from the firm and "was sending them factual information that was provided and available in the department".

Dr Crawford, who still works for the DUP, denies attempting to delay RHI cost controls and said the party had wrongly tried to "pin the blame" on him.

He said he was "sore" about how the DUP handled the RHI story after it broke in December 2016.

But he added that he was still a party member "so it is not that I blame everyone in the DUP for what happened".

He told the inquiry: "In my mind I was blamed unfairly, and in my mind, a course of action was taken to put my name out there, and look - you talked yesterday about grubby politics, that's how politics works in terms of 'if there is a crisis is somebody going to fall for it, how do we deal with it, how do we manage it'."

Dr Crawford claimed there were behind-the-scenes efforts to blame him.

The then press secretary to the Executive Office, former Stephen Nolan Show editor David Gordon was involved in "briefing against me", he claimed.

Dr Crawford said: "If you look at the exchanges that took place between him and [DUP spad] Richard Bullick in December [2016], you see the reference to 'getting the real story out'," he said.

Sir Patrick suggested to Dr Crawford that he and Mr Cairns both felt they were the "fall guys" because they "did not fit the narrative".

The Stephen Nolan Show had named Dr Crawford in January 2017 in relation to RHI. Deti permanent secretary Dr Andrew McCormick had also told the Public Accounts Committee that Dr Crawford had sought to delay cost controls.

The former spad said he believed the DUP had acquiesced to this. "At the very least I do not see any attempt to tell Dr McCormick that I had denied the allegation on numerous occasions, or that I had provided contemporaneous emails that supported my position," he said.

Dr Crawford met Mrs Foster at her Co Fermanagh home and offered his resignation. He stressed that he had volunteered to resign and had not been forced out.

He said that during that discussion with Mrs Foster she had indicated that another spad John Robinson was also going to resign. Mr Robinson was being blamed for "not indicating that his father-in-law had an RHI boiler installed and was on the scheme", Dr Crawford added.

The former DUP spad continues his evidence to the inquiry today.
Dr Andrew Crawford, former special adviser to DUP leader Arlene Foster, was accused of a sales pitch for chicken producers Moy Park during work on the RHI scheme. RHI inquiry/PA.

Arlene Fosters former special adviser proposed a sales pitch for Northern Ireland chicken producer Moy Park during a botched green energy scheme, an inquiry chairman said.

Dr Andrew Crawford suggested a change to tiered cost controls to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), due to be introduced in autumn 2015, which would have advantaged heavier users.

Officials at Stormonts Enterprise Department wanted a 1,314-hour threshold for running biomass boilers before payments would be reduced. Dr Crawford suggested 3,000 hours.

The chairman of the public inquiry probing the matter, retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin, claimed: What this is, is a sales pitch for Moy Park.

What this is, is a sales pitch for Moy ParkRHI inquiry chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin

Dr Crawford had three relatives with 11 RHI boilers, who produced chicken for Moy Park.

Poultry farmers were major subscribers to the scheme and legitimately used biomass energy to heat their chicken houses.

Dr Crawford said he wanted to ensure Stormont Assembly members accepted the cost controls.

His intervention was rejected by civil servants.

Dr Crawford resigned last year after a senior official accused him of influencing decisions surrounding the scheme.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close RHI inquiry ARLENE FOSTER DUP leader and former First Minister. Minister at Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Deti) when the RHI scheme began in 2012. Subsidy tariffs were set too high without a cap, leading to costs spiralling out of control. She described it as her "deepest political regret", but denies claims by Jonathan Bell, her former party colleague and successor as Enterprise Minister, that she ordered him to keep the scheme open. Timothy Johnston After being a special adviser to Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson, Mr Johnston became a Spad to Arlene Foster when she took on the role of First Minister in January 2016. He was accused by Mr Bell of not allowing the RHI scheme to close in early autumn 2015, but he has rejected that allegation. Following the collapse of the Stormont Executive over the RHI scandal in early 2017, he became chief executive of the DUP. JONATHAN BELL Succeeded Arlene Foster as Deti minister in May 2015, until May 2016, when RHI costs became a problem. The former DUP Strangford MLA alleged two DUP special advisers (Spads) - Timothy Johnston and Andrew Crawford - intervened to delay the start of cost controls in autumn 2015 - a period when there was a spike in applications to the scheme. He claimed Mrs Foster "overruled" his bid to close the botched scheme in early 2016. TIMOTHY CAIRNS A former barrister, he was Mr Bell's special adviser at Deti. Mr Bell alleged that Mr Cairns told him that other DUP Spads were not allowing the RHI scheme to be closed in September 2015. Mr Bell said that he believed Mr Cairns saw himself as working for the other Spads and not for him as minister. But Mr Cairns has accused Mr Bell of bullying, swinging a punch at him and trying to break his finger - claims Mr Bell denies. ANDREW CRAWFORD Spad to Mrs Foster in Deti when RHI was introduced. Quit role in January 2017 after Mr McCormick told a Stormont committee he understood Mr Crawford was exerting influence to keep the scheme's high tariff level. He denied the claim and any wrongdoing. At the RHI Inquiry, he accepted it was "inappropriate" to have shared RHI cost-control plans with family before they were introduced. Now a part-time DUP adviser. ANDREW MCCORMICK Became permanent secretary at Deti in 2014 and was in post when the RHI scheme's massive overspend became clear. Mr McCormick told the RHI Inquiry that Mr Cairns told him Timothy Johnston, another DUP Spad, was involved in the decision to delay cost controls. In January, it was announced Mr McCormick was being appointed as director-general of international relations for Brexit in the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive. DAVID STERLING As interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, he is effectively the man in charge of running Stormont departments in the absence of devolved government. He was the lead civil servant in Deti when it introduced the flawed RHI scheme in 2012. Mr Bell alleged to the RHI Inquiry that Mr Sterling feared the energy scheme controversy would cost him his chance to become the head of the Civil Service. PA Wire/PA Images CHRIS STEWART Jonathan Bell claimed Chris Stewart, Deti deputy permanent secretary, sought a meeting to blow the whistle on a bid by DUP advisers to remove Mrs Foster's name from RHI documents. Mr Bell said Stewart would back this at an inquiry, but Stewart said he "did not seek a meeting as a whistleblower". He acknowledged a DUP adviser changed the wording of a Deti document, but that Mr Bell later "advised that he had dealt with the matter". STUART WIGHTMAN A former official at Deti who was responsible for running the RHI scheme in its final weeks. Mr Wightman told the inquiry he directed a colleague to inform poultry producer Moy Park and other interested parties of changes to cost controls as a "courtesy". He also alerted boiler firms and the Ulster Farmers' Union to the delay in cost controls before DUP minister Jonathan Bell had even been asked to approve the proposal. JANETTE OHAGAN Ms O'Hagan was selling a heat efficiency product in 2013, but found potential clients were not interested, especially when they had signed up to the RHI scheme. She raised concerns about the scheme with the then-Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster. She told the inquiry she would do the same thing if the RHI debacle happened again, despite unwillingly becoming the centre of a political and media storm. Dame Una O'Brien. RHI inquiry panel member / Facebook

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He gave evidence to the RHI public inquiry at Stormont.

The late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest at the DUPs alleged handling of the scheme, which led to the collapse of powersharing last year.

Repeated rounds of political negotiations have failed to resurrect the institutions.

Civil servants wrote a submission surrounding budgetary problems affecting the scheme in 2016.

Dr Crawford removed a reference to the poultry industrys uptake of the scheme being a reason for the overspend.

Why remove something that was true?RHI inquiry chairman Sir Patrick Coghlin

Sir Patrick asked: Why remove something that was true?

The former special adviser was working in the Department of Finance at the time.

Dr Crawford said: My concern was the narrative it was creating, the implications it could have on the wider economy.

He added: I removed that particular line, but there was no malice intended by doing that.

Major Northern Ireland hotelier Howard Hastings forwarded allegations that the scheme was being abused, which he received from a boiler installer.

There was no evidence Dr Crawford passed on the message to the Enterprise Department, the inquiry was told.
Prisoners have been using smuggled mobile phones to broadcast drug use and partying on social media (Snapchat)

Prisoners in jails across England have been using smuggled mobile phones to broadcast drug use and partying on social media.

Inmates, who are not allowed smartphones, have used the handsets to post footage from jails in London and Birmingham, as well as one near Wolverhampton, in the last month.

One of the videos, posted from inside Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London this week, shows an inmate bragging about his bag full of narcotics, which appears to contain cannabis and smoking materials.

The video shows bundles of cannabis wrapped in paper and clingfilm spread out on the floor, and many more closed paper wraps inside what appears to be plastic packaging for a loaf of bread.

Other posts from the inmate, who has uploaded content up to seven times a day, show him sporting a designer Versace dressing gown worth hundreds of pounds, smoking and joking with inmates.

All the videos were anonymously published to Snapchat, which allows anyone to find public videos by location without revealing the user.

Such contraband is often thrown over prison walls on a daily basis and sometimes flown in by drone like a pizza delivery, according to Glyn Travis, the assistant general secretary of prison staff union POA .

Prisons are currently awash with drugs and mobile phones, he added.

Smugglers also conceal contraband on their bodies and a very, very small minority of banned items are brought in by prison staff, he said.

Footage from inside the Winson Green jail in Birmingham posted earlier this month shows inmates dancing to loud music in a cell and relaxing on the prison gantry.

An inmate at HMP Oakwood, which is near Wolverhampton, has also posted videos showing life in the jail.

The Ministry of Justice has branded the behaviour completely unacceptable, adding that those who break prison rules will face tough punishments, including extra time behind bars.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has come under fire (Yui Mok/PA)

The Archbishop of Canterbury has come under fire after it emerged the Church of England uses zero-hour contracts and invests in Amazon  despite his attacks on both during a speech earlier this week.

Speaking at the TUC Congress in Manchester, Justin Welby criticised firms like Amazon for paying almost nothing in taxes, and described the so-called gig economy and zero-hours contracts as the reincarnation of an ancient evil.

It has now been revealed that at least two Church of England cathedrals are advertising zero-hours contract jobs, while the Church has confirmed retailer Amazon is one of its 20 biggest investments worldwide.

Gloucester Cathedral is currently advertising for a porter on a zero-hours contract, with its website describing the role as mostly evening and weekend work with a wage of up to 8.75 per hour.

Expand Close Gloucester Cathedral is advertising for a role on a zero-hours contract (David Davies/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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Norwich Cathedral is looking for a refectory assistant, calling it a casual zero-hours post on its website.

In a letter to The Times, the Reverend Ray Anglesea, a United Reformed Church minister who worked on a zero-hours contract in a cathedral bookshop, said the archbishop might have done well to have put his own house in order before addressing the conference.

He wrote: What the Most Rev Justin Welby did not disclose was how many of his cathedrals are zero contract hour employers and how many cathedral employees have no job certainty, no sick or holiday pay, and no maternity cover.

Conservative MP Ben Bradley told the paper: Its hypocritical when (he) condemns zero-hours contracts whilst his churches are advertising zero-hours jobs.

As a responsible employer, the Church of England is now reviewing its working practices.Church of England

Another Tory backbencher, George Freeman, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: It certainly doesnt look good, does it? I think we should all practise what we preach.

That said, I think the archbishop is right to signal that we should all be careful where we invest our money and in that choice back ethical capitalism.

He has expressed a lot of concern about the high street and the effect of Amazon. But it looks to me like somebody in the accounts department of the Church of England has dropped the ball.

The Church of England said advice to its parishes on zero-hours contracts was issued in 2013, and does not reflect the current thinking of the Church, adding: As a responsible employer, the Church of England is now reviewing its working practices.

A spokeswoman for Lambeth Palace told the Times that the archbishop had made clear his views on zero-hours contracts in his speech.

On its investment in Amazon, a spokesman for the church said: The Church Commissioners have previously been on the record that we consider aggressive tax avoidance or abusive tax arrangements to be both a business risk and an ethical issue. As with other issues, we take the view that it is most effective to be in the room with these companies seeking change as a shareholder.

We continue to work with other shareholders to tackle this issue via engagement with companies and their managers.

Following the archbishops speech, Amazon said it paid all taxes required in the UK and every country where we operate.
Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, protesting outside HMP Bedford (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Concerns over prison violence that sparked a mass walk-out by officers have been recognised by the Government as justified, their union said.

Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, were told to return to work by 1pm following meaningful engagement with prisons minister Rory Stewart.

Mr Stewart recognised that our concerns are justified and need addressing following Fridays protest, general secretary Steve Gillan said.

He said he was confident a deal is a deal after the prison service backed down over seeking an injunction against the demonstrators.

They have been demonstrating outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am over unprecedented levels of violence and safety concerns.

It couldn't get any worse than it already was and what we now need is positive action to improve the safety of prisonsPOA general secretary Steve Gillan

But Justice Secretary David Gauke branded Fridays action wrong and irresponsible, adding that it does nothing to help reduce levels of violence.

He told reporters: I agree with those who say that the level of violence is unacceptably high and we are determined to bring it down.

But I think action of this sort does nothing to help that process, and locking prisoners up for 24 hours a day, which may be the consequence of what the POA are doing, only increases the risk of violence.

It doesnt help us address it.

The action had knock-on effects on court cases, with some defendants in custody unable to be transported to hearings.

I, along with Labour and shadow cabinet colleagues, am proud to be supporting the action taken by Prison Officers today to walk out in protest. The Tories are destroying our prison system. Solidarity to the @POAUnion for standing up for U.K. Justice. https://t.co/S1UndGyvmR  Ian Lavery MP (@IanLaveryMP) September 14, 2018

The union will hold talks with the prison service on Monday, Mr Gillan said.

He told the Press Association the Justice Secretary risked inflaming the situation after an agreement had been reached.

The protest cant have made things worse because his minister has recognised that our concerns are justified and need addressing. Thats why we called the protests off, he said.

And so while I understand the secretary of state will always say no-one should ever protest, we should rely on negotiation and consultation, unfortunately when nobodys listening to you sometimes youve got to demonstrate that you dont think its right or proper that 25 officers every day are being assaulted when they go to work.

He added: It couldnt get any worse than it already was and what we now need is positive action to improve the safety of prisons.

Thousands of prison staff took part in the demonstrations, the POA said, which Mr Stewart called unlawful earlier on Friday.

Mr Stewart said after the protests ended: I am pleased that all parties have been able to bring a swift resolution to this action which, as I have made clear, was irresponsible and placed fellow staff and prisons at risk.

Expand Close Members of the POA protesting outside HMP Bedford (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The priority now must be to continue our constructive dialogue with the safety of our hard-working prison officers at its absolute heart. Ultimately our aims are the same  to see safe, secure and decent establishments that provide a positive environment for staff and prisoners.

I have demonstrated my absolute commitment to bringing about that improvement but it will only happen if all sides work together.

The walk-out was triggered by a damning report which warned of a dangerous lack of control at HMP Bedford, the union said.

Around 50 officers were outside the prison on Friday, with members recalling how one colleagues arm was broken with a pool cue while another had his head stamped on.

Richard Gilbert, who has been an officer for 14 years at the facility, said he was suffering with PTSD and depression after a group of inmates repeatedly kicked him in the head.

On Thursday, Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke raised the alarm over the potential for a complete breakdown in order and discipline at HMP Bedford.

It was the fourth urgent notification the Government has issued since the scheme was introduced less than a year ago.

Standards across the prison estate have come under intense scrutiny in recent years amid a slew of highly critical reports and a deterioration in safety measures.

In his annual report for 2017/18, Mr Clarke warned staff and inmates have become inured to conditions unacceptable in 21st-century Britain.

He highlighted how thousands of inmates are living in squalid and overcrowded cells, locked up for nearly 24 hours a day.

Official figures published in July revealed that assault and self-harm incidents were continuing to rise, both reaching new record highs.

Overcrowding remains a key issue, with the prison population forecast by the MoJ to steadily rise by more than 3,000 over the next five years, reaching roughly 86,400 places in March 2023.

The MoJ said it doubled the prison sentence for anyone who assaults prison officers on Thursday.
Efforts to find a sick young orca from a critically endangered population of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest have come up empty, with a scientist who tracks the animals declaring her dead  though authorities said they would keep looking.

The grim news left just 74 whales remaining in a group that has failed to reproduce successfully in the past three years.

The orcas have struggled with pollution, boat noise and, most severely, a dearth of their preferred prey, chinook salmon, because of dams, habitat loss and overfishing.

Were watching a population marching toward extinction, said Ken Balcomb of the Centre for Whale Research. Unless we do something about salmon recovery, were just not going to have these whales in the future.

We are saddened to report that J50 is missing and now presumed dead.

The Center for Whale Research has had a vessel on the water looking for J50 for the past three days. We have seen all the other members of her family (i.e., J16s) during these outings.https://t.co/0jhbXDZBko pic.twitter.com/BMh7I6Xtg3  Whale Research (@CWROrcas) September 14, 2018

The whales are in such bad shape that experts prepared last-ditch efforts to save the emaciated four-year-old known as J50.

A sharpshooting veterinarian fired an antibiotic-filled dart into her, to no avail, and scientists even mulled capturing her so they could treat her for parasitic worms.

J50 had not been seen since last Friday. As teams scrambled to find her on Thursday, she failed to appear with her pod once again, despite favourable sighting conditions.

Mr Balcomb, who tracks the whales for the US government, declared her dead late on Thursday afternoon.

Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA Fisheries, said the agency gives great weight to Mr Balcombs assessment of the whales, given his long experience monitoring them. But, he said, because the US and Canadian governments have so many resources devoted to finding her, they planned to continue searching on Friday.

We want to make the most of it to make sure that if J50 is there, we havent missed her, Milstein said. We havent given up hope.

We're watching a population marching toward extinctionKen Balcomb of the Centre for Whale Research

Crews in a US Coast Guard helicopter, 10 vessels, whale watch crews and other resources on both sides of the border were involved in the search. Authorities also alerted a network of people who respond when marine mammals wash ashore.

Whale experts feared the orca was dead earlier this month when J50 lagged behind her family and went missing. But she later turned up and was seen with her family.

The distinctive black-and-white orcas, known as southern resident killer whales, have struggled since they were listed as an endangered species in the US and Canada well over a decade ago.

The orcas numbers are now at their lowest in more than three decades.

Another whale in the same pod, known as J35, triggered international sympathy this summer when she kept the body of her dead calf afloat in waters for more than two weeks.

The message, the Cente for Whale Research said in a website post, is that extinction is looming while the humans convene task forces and conference calls that result in nothing, or worse than nothing, diverting attention and resources from solving the underlying ecological problems.

Scientist began to be concerned about J50 in July. Teams dropped live salmon from a boat as J50 and her pod swam behind  a test to see whether fish could be used as a means of delivering medication.

Drone images taken earlier this month showed J50 much thinner than she was last year. Her mother, J16, has also declined in condition in the past month.
Hurricane Florence has killed a mother and child in North Carolina.

The Wilmington Police Department said the two were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to a hospital for treatment.

North Carolinas governors office said a third person was killed while plugging in a generator.

Expand Close The hurricane has torn buildings apart and hundreds have been trapped by rising water (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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The hurricane came ashore early on Friday, pounding the state with torrential rain and high winds.

Forecasters have been predicting catastrophic flash flooding. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami says more than 16 inches of rain have fallen at locations in southeast North Carolina and another 20 to 25 inches is on the way.

The hurricane has torn buildings apart and knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. #FlorenceNC  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 14, 2018

More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel and hundreds more were rescued elsewhere from rising water.

WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, the city of New Bern tweeted around 2am local time. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.

Please share this safety info for #Florence:

If trapped in a building, go to the highest floor.

Do not climb into a closed attic; you may get trapped by rising floodwater.

Get on the roof only if necessary.



Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. pic.twitter.com/Hna2aGpmMP  FEMA (@fema) September 14, 2018

The giant, 400-mile-wide hurricane unloaded heavy rain, flattened trees, chewed up roads and knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

Forecasters say the biggest danger is the water as the storm surge along the coastline and the prospect of one to three-and-a-half feet of rain over the coming days could trigger catastrophic flooding inland.

Some of our beloved bears have wandered off. These statues, which New Bern is known for, are extremely heavy & bolted down at sponsoring businesses. This one ended up in the middle of S. Front St! pic.twitter.com/jvCohJiesY  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 14, 2018

By early afternoon, Florences winds had weakened to 75mph, just barely a hurricane and well below the storms terrifying Category 4 peak of 140 mph earlier in the week.

But the hurricane had slowed to a crawl as it traced the North Carolina-South Carolina shoreline, drenching coastal communities for hours on end.

The town of Oriental had taken more than 18 inches of rain just a few hours into the deluge, while Surf City had 14 inches and it was still coming down.

Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper said. Its an uninvited brute who doesnt want to leave.

This storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days. Be alert. To those in the storm path, if you can hear me  please stay sheltered in place. Do NOT go out into this storm. - Gov. Cooper. pic.twitter.com/YEWgyCIJit  Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 14, 2018

Mr Cooper said the hurricane was wreaking havoc on the coast and could wipe out entire communities as it makes its violent grind across our state for days. He said parts of North Carolina had seen storm surges  the bulge of seawater pushed ashore by the hurricane  as high as 10 feet.

Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7.15am at Wrightsville Beach, a few miles east of Wilmington and not far from the South Carolina line, coming ashore along a mostly boarded-up, emptied-out stretch of coastline.

Expand Close There was extensive damage to Tidewater Brewing Company in Wilmington (Chuck Burton/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp There was extensive damage to Tidewater Brewing Company in Wilmington (Chuck Burton/AP)

It was expected to begin pushing its way westward across South Carolina later in the day, in a watery siege that could go on all weekend.

For people living inland in the Carolinas, the moment of maximum peril from flash flooding could arrive days later, because it takes time for rainwater to drain into rivers and for those streams to crest.

Expand Close A boat was wedged in trees during Hurricane Florence in Orienta (Angie Propst.AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A boat was wedged in trees during Hurricane Florence in Orienta (Angie Propst.AP)

Preparing for the worst, about 9,700 National Guard troops and civilians were deployed with high-water vehicles, helicopters and boats that could be used to pluck people from the floodwaters.

Authorities warned, too, of the threat of mudslides and the risk of environmental havoc from floodwaters washing over industrial waste sites and hog farms.
Firefighters battle a house fire in North Andover, one of multiple emergency crews responding to a series of gas explosions (Mary Schwalm/AP)

A series of gas explosions an official described as Armageddon has killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

It looked like Armageddon, it really did, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters.

There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

Expand Close Flames consume a home in Lawrence, a suburb of Boston (WCVB via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Flames consume a home in Lawrence, a suburb of Boston (WCVB via AP)

Governor Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

This is still very much an active scene, he said.

If you have natural gas please do not return to your home. We are working with Columbia Gas to identify the specific areas at risk so that other residents can return home  Andrew W Maylor (@AWMaylor) September 14, 2018

There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why.

Hours after the explosions, the utilitys parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by todays incident, Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement.

The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community.

ADVISORY

Power company will be shutting OFF power to all of #Lawrence, #NorthAndover, and #Andover to assist in the #Gas situation.  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Mr Baker previously said authorities had not heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the companys response adequate.

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires.

Schools in all three communities were cancelled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighbourhood near the citys high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights.

Expand Close People cover their faces to protect themselves from heavy smoke from a fire in Lawrence (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp People cover their faces to protect themselves from heavy smoke from a fire in Lawrence (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP)

Mr Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was levelled from an explosion.

I couldnt imagine if that was my house, said Mr Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. Its total destruction. Id be completely devastated.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighbourhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing.

Resident Ra Nam said he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4.30pm local time on Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out.

Minutes later, Mr Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbours house and the ground shook.

Mr Nam said a woman and two children had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

Expand Close Crews work on a fire in Lawrence (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Crews work on a fire in Lawrence (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP)

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurised but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier on Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened.

It was not clear whether work was happening there on Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames.

In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighbourhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

Its definitely a scary situation at the moment, he said. Its pretty severe.

MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed a vehicle parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councillor Marc Laplante was warning residents in the Colonial Heights neighbourhood to evacuate but said traffic had become a problem.

People need to get out of this area safely, he said at the time. Its really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires you cant even see the sky.

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border.

Lawrence is a very resilient community. Were going to get through this together, Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.
Mr Trump spoke of a conspiracy to make him look bad (AP)

US president Donald Trump has disputed the official death toll from Hurricane Maria last year, and falsely accused Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican count to make him look as bad as possible.

Public health experts have estimated that nearly 3,000 people died because of the effects of Maria. But Mr Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticised, said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the storm.

He also suggested that many had been added later if a person died for any reason, like old age.

Mr Trumps comments come as the US east coast braces for another massive storm in Hurricane Florence.

He said of the Puerto Rico death toll: This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico.

Even some Republicans suggested the president had gone too far.

Expand Close People are still living in damaged homes in the Viequez area, of San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp People are still living in damaged homes in the Viequez area, of San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP)

Casualties dont make a person look bad, House Speaker Paul Ryan said. So I have no reason to dispute those numbers.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said: I dont think its bad to say we could have done better in Puerto Rico.

He also said he thought Mr Trump sees every attack on him as sort of undercutting his legitimacy.

Especially upset were Republican politicians in Florida, a state with a substantial Puerto Rican population.

Expand Close House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected Mr Trumps claims (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Governor Rick Scott, who is running for the US senate, tweeted: Ive been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic.

A spokesman for former US representative Ron DeSantis, who won the Florida Republican primary for governor with Mr Trumps support, said he did not agree with the presidents tweets.

Expand Close Florida governor Rick Scott also spoke out against Mr Trump (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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The White House defended the president.

Spokesman Hogan Gidley said: As the president said, every death from Hurricane Maria is a horror. Before, during, and after the two massive hurricanes, the president directed the entire administration to provide unprecedented support to Puerto Rico.

President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman has cut a cooperation agreement with US prosecutors and intends to plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian consulting work.

The deal allows Paul Manafort to avoid a second trial that had been scheduled to start next week in Washington.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.

Expand Close Paul Manaforts wife Kathleen arrives at federal court in Washington (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paul Manaforts wife Kathleen arrives at federal court in Washington (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court on Friday that Manafort had struck a cooperation agreement. He did not elaborate on the agreement.

Manafort told the judge he wants to plead guilty.

His second trial would have been related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

The White House said Manaforts decision to plead guilty and cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller is totally unrelated to the president.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said: This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.
Observers and labor activists have urged the Indonesian government to take action against the perceived influx of illegal foreign workers into the country as unease grows over allegations that Chinese workers are stealing menial jobs from Indonesians.

Local media have reported that foreigners, most of them Chinese nationals, have been caught working illegally in parts of the country. In the latest case, police rounded up dozens of Chinese who had worked in several factories in East Java province despite having entered the country on tourist visas.

All this time supervision has been very weak, Hadi Subyan, a labor observer at Airlangga University in Surabaya, told BenarNews.

He said that despite that fact that there are 40,000 companies operating in East Java, only 300 people are tasked with supervising them.

How is that possible? he said. Worse still, supervision is being done at the provincial level, instead of the regency level, making them out of touch with the conditions on the ground.

The president of the Indonesian Labor Union Confederation, Said Iqbal, urged the government to repeal a presidential decree on foreign workers issued in 2018, which officials said was aimed at attracting foreign investment and improving the economy.

The government should be able to put things in order and take action because this is a threat to local workers, especially if the foreigners are recruited to do menial jobs.

The decree stipulates, among other things, that employers can hire foreign workers by applying for a permit as late as two days after they have started working on jobs that are considered urgent.

Said said the provision had been used by companies to recruit foreign workers on the pretext of urgency.

Whats happening is foreign workers are flooding Indonesia, instead of investment, he said.

Chinese investment

Opposition politicians and government critics have capitalized on the issue of Chinese workers to attack the government of President Joko Jokowi Widodo ahead of next years election.

A deputy chairman of Gerindra, the main opposition party, Fery Juliantono claimed in April that the presidential decree on foreign workers was Jokowis ploy to facilitate the influx of Chinese workers.

Devi Asiati, a labor researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the growing number of Chinese working in Indonesia, both legally and illegally, was spurred by the increase in Chinese investment in Indonesia.

In 2016, China was the third largest investor in Indonesia, with investment valued at U.S. $2.6 billion. Singapore and Japan invested $9.17 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively.

But China jumped into the number two spot in 2017, with investment at $5.5 billion, according to Indonesias Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) data.

There has been growing Chinese investment in extractive resources such as mining, oil, gas and plantations, Devi said.

Arrests in Surabaya

The immigration office in Surabaya arrested 53 foreigners this week, including 41 Chinese nationals, for allegedly working illegally.

They were arrested because their visas were for tourism, Surabaya immigration chief Romi Yudianto told the news website Detik.com.

Romi said one of the Chinese nationals worked as a technician in a factory making surfboards, even though only skilled foreigners are allowed to work in Indonesia.

In a separate incident, local workers besieged a lodging where Chinese workers were staying at a power plant project site in Serang, Banten province, on Sunday, after a scuffle between a local and two Chinese workers, Serang police chief Komarudin told CNN Indonesia.

Fears of foreigners taking over jobs from locals are often inflamed by baseless rumors spreading on social media and online messaging platforms that millions of Chinese have flooded the country.

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said that the presence of Chinese workers should not be a cause for concern, as there are far more Indonesians working in Hong Kong than Chinese nationals working in Indonesia.

He said only about 126,000 foreign nationals were working in Indonesia as of March, including 24,000 Chinese.

The number is still proportionate, compared to Indonesias population of 263 million, he said last month.

By comparison, there are 160,000 Indonesians working in Hong Kong, he said.
Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission officers escort lawyer Shafee Abdullah (center), into a Kuala Lumpur court where he was charged with money laundering and tax fraud, Sept. 13, 2018.

A lawyer for former Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested and accused Thursday of laundering more than $2 million but he claimed that the charges were politically motivated to remove him from the embattled politicians defense team.

A court in Kuala Lumpur charged attorney Shafee Abdullah with two counts of money laundering and two counts of tax fraud for a pair of transactions totaling 9.5 million ringgit (U.S. $2.3 million) between September 2013 and February 2014. He could face up to 40 years in prison and fines up to $20 million ringgit ($4.8 million) if convicted of all charges.

Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the Peoples Justice Party (PKR), alleged that Najib had paid Shafee the sum to prosecute him on a sodomy charge.

This is sheer bully tactics that they are doing right now, Shafee told reporters after posting the first half of his 1 million ringgit ($241,000) bail. The second half is to be paid by Sept. 18.

Najib faces charges related to allegations that 2.6 billion ringgit ($681 million) from SRC International, a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)  a financially troubled state fund  ended up in two of his personal bank accounts.

In a Facebook posting Thursday, Najib said he had received 2.6 billion ringgit as a gift from Saudi Arabia in March 2013 and later returned the money.

The government charged Najib, who has pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against him, with money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust.

In charge sheets, prosecutors allege that Shafee received funds from accounts held by Najib at AmIslamic Bank.

Shafee, who was taken into custody by Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers, arrived at the court complex at 11 a.m., five hours after he was arrested at a Kuala Lumpur airport as he prepared to board a plane to Penang to attend a trial.



The lawyer called the charges baseless and political.

If you look into their political manifesto, Pakatan Harapan (PH) said that they will charge everyone related to 1MDB. The best they can do so far with Najib is to charge him for SRC International, Shafee said, adding that prosecutors were struggling to build a case around 1MDB.

Staff members with the Attorney Generals Chamber, he also said, were worried about the strength of Najibs defense team and trying to undermine it by removing him. He pointed out that the indictment would not prevent him from representing Najib because he has not been convicted of any crime.

The U.S. Justice Department described 1MDB as the worst kleptocracy scandal in recent times. Prosecutors allege that at least $4.5 billion was stolen and diverted through acquisitions of real estate, artwork and luxury properties by Najib and his associates.

Allegations tied to payments

Last year, a court ruled against Anwars lawsuit to have a sodomy conviction overturned. Anwar claimed Najib went against the governments normal practice of appointing lawyers from the attorney-generals office by appointing and paying Shafee, a private lawyer.

Shafee, who was in court on Nov. 8, 2017, to hear the ruling, described Anwars allegation as nonsense.

I was never paid 9.5 million ringgit to prosecute Anwar, he said at the time.

On Sept. 6, Anwar challenged the statement, releasing an affidavit from an attorney general staffer who claimed Shafee was paid by Najib to prosecute Anwar and therefore did not act independently but instead had a financial interest in prosecuting the appeals. Anwar and the court were not aware of the payments at the time of the ruling, the affidavit stated.

I maintain that Shafee should never have been allowed to prosecute the appeal in the first place, Anwar said last week. Appointing an outside prosecutor is not an ordinary practice by the attorney general, and is even more irregular in this case when the individual appointed is a known close confidante of Najib, who is himself materially involved in the case.

Anwar, who helped lead the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions upset of Najibs Barisan Nasional in May, has since received a royal pardon on two sodomy convictions and is in line to succeed Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister when the 93-year-old steps aside.

Facebook

In recent days, Najib has taken to Facebook, posting letters, bank statements and his own statements to explain that he received millions of dollars from a Saudi prince who was impressed with his efforts to govern Malaysia using Islamic principles.

On Monday, he posted a February 2011 letter where the prince promised a gift of $100 million (415 million ringgit). Another letter sent in March 2013 granted Najib a gift of up to $800 million (3.3 billion ringgit).

This is merely a personal token of appreciation and I am hoping that the gift would encourage you to continue with your good work to promote Islam around the world, the 2013 letter ends.

In another posting, Najib said he received $681 million (2.6 billion ringgit) promised as part of the second gift through two deposits in March 2013. He said he planned to use the money to aid BN campaigns in that years general election, but when he realized the money was not needed, he returned it.

Regarding the charges against Shafee, Najib called them an effort by the new government to intimidate his lawyers and deny a fair trial. He said the payments of 9.5 million ringgit were for services that Shafees firm rendered over the years, including election petition cases for two general elections.

Charging Tan Sri Shafee for receiving payments for legal services rendered sets a very danger legal precedent for all lawyers, professionals and businesses, Najib posted. No one will be safe if the government chooses to victimize or to politically persecute you.

1MDB update

Meanwhile, Deputy Police Inspector-General Noor Rashid Ibrahim on Thursday told reporters that 2.9 billion ringgit ($972 million using the exchange rate at the time) was transferred into Najibs bank account between 2011 and 2013.

Up to this point, 132 transactions involving proceeds from unlawful activities have been identified and further investigations are being carried out, Rashid said.

Since the new government resumed investigating 1MDB following the May election upset, police have recorded statements from 64 people.

There are several people close to Najib that we have also interviewed  and his family members. We expect to question more people in a week, Rashid said. We hope to get documented evidence from these people.
Police warn residents to evacuate the Pasuquin town in Ilocos Norte as Typhoon Mangkhut nears the northern island of Luzon, Sept. 14, 2018.

Communities in the northern Philippines have boarded up their homes as thousands voluntarily evacuated while officials brought in emergency supplies on Friday in preparation for Typhoon Mangkhut.

President Rodrigo Duterte sent five of his cabinet officers to coordinate efforts in areas expected to be hit by Mangkhut, described as a potential super typhoon that could rival Suerptyphoon Haiyan five years ago.

Mangkhut, with maximum winds of 205 kph (127 mph) near the center, was moving westward at 20 kph (12.4 mph). It is expected to make landfall Saturday morning in Isabela, a less populated part of northern Luzon island where the capital Manila is based.

Of particular worry is the potential widespread damage it could cause to the countrys agriculture sector that lies within its 900-kilometer (56-mile) diameter.

Duterte on Thursday met with his disaster relief officials to prepare for the storm. In addition to the senior officials, the military and police have been on full alert in anticipation of any emergency.

The military has placed aircraft that could be deployed to provide humanitarian assistance to the area on standby.

Duterte said he was prepared to appeal for help from the international community, though at the moment he did not see the need to do so.

If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help, he said. "It's too early to speculate."

The storm, he said, was expected to bring plenty of rain and flood farms.

For us, our plants would be hit. I really do not know how much water would be pouring down in the Philippines at that time, Duterte said. In terms of area, this is huge, and quite dark (in the forecast models). So its precipitation, its water.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said the storm would likely affect 1.2 million hectares (2.9 million acres) of farmland planted to rice and corn. In the worst-case scenario, he said staple crops with an estimated value of 3.1 billion pesos (U.S. $57 million) could be lost.

About 400 evacuees from a fishing community in the village of Pacian receive lunch at the local elementary school doubling as evacuation center, in Ilocos Norte, Sept. 14, 2018. (Karl Romano/BenarNews)

Heavy rain

A BenarNews team traveled to populated areas in the north on Friday and reported heavy rains in some parts of Tuguegarao city. Thousands have been evacuated to government shelters, away from rivers and the coast.

We havent seen a typhoon this powerful hit the Philippines in some time, said Alfredo Muyot, Philippine head of the group Save the Children.

Were particularly concerned about children and families living in coastal and low-lying communities, which are set to face ferocious winds, heavy rainfall and flooding, as well as the risk of storm surge, Muyot said.

He urged families living in the path of the storm to take shelter in evacuation centers, stressing that Mangkhut could potentially cause large-scale damage.

We are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Once the storm passes, our team will work with local authorities and other aid agencies to assess the scale of devastation caused by the typhoon and determine what the needs are of those affected, Muyot said.

Maria Rosario Felizco, Philippine director of charitable organization Oxfam, said authorities and first responders were concerned about potential landslides and flooding.

Ompong is also projected to bring heavy rain over western Luzon, and we are concerned about the communities still dealing with the aftermath of the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon rains from July to August, she said using the Filipino name for Mangkhut.

The Philippines sits on a typhoon belt and endures up to 20 storms a year, some of them devastating.

In 2012, more than a thousand people died as Typhoon Bohpa swept across eastern Mindanao bringing with it winds gusting up to 200 kph (124 mph). A year earlier, more than 600 died when typhoon Washi slammed into the southern island.

In November 2013, Supertyphoon Haiyan hit the Philippines with devastating power. It left at least 6,300 people dead and scores missing. With winds of up to 235 kph (146 mph), Haiyan blew away homes and triggered massive flooding.

Five years later, many areas in the central Philippines are suffering from its long-term effects.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the woke vs. the awakened.

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The board has found that there was no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in 328 fixed-dose combinations.

The central government has banned 328 combination drugs leading to a blow for both domestic and foreign pharmaceutical firms. At the same time, the ban has been cheered by health activists worried about growing antibiotic resistance due to the misuse of medicines.

The board has found that there was no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in 328 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) and these FDCs may involve risk to human beings.

In 2016, the government had banned about 350 such FDCs, but the industry mounted various legal challenges that prompted the Supreme Court to call for a review by an advisory board.

According to the president of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, Deepnath Roychowdhury, the order would have an impact on a market worth an estimated 16 billion rupees a year for such drugs, which are produced by both small and large pharmaceutical companies.
The three-year DOSA programme will begin with a meeting of the project group on 24-25 September at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D).

A 3 million interdisciplinary research project will address the growing threat of drug-resistant infections in India. The project will develop innovative diagnostics to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the biggest threats to global public health.

The DOSA programme - Diagnostics for One Health and User Driven Solutions for AMR - brings together nine leading academic institutions, five from India and four from the UK.

The three-year DOSA programme will begin with a meeting of the project group on 24-25 September at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D).

The project is jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation/Economic and Social Research Council, the Newton Fund, and Government of India's Department of Biotechnology.

Indian partners include the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms Bengaluru; ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, Kerala; ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana; Silchar Medical College and Assam University, Silchar, Assam.

UK partners include the Universities of Edinburgh, Bradford and Southampton and University of the Arts London.
It is perhaps unprecedented that in the 21st century, clean drinking water is lacking in what should be a prosperous city in Iraq. Yet residents of Basra province, where two great rivers come together, are on the street demanding one of the basic human rights  only to receive bullets instead.

Julys protests in southern Iraq dwindled due to Government suppression but resurged in Basra when poisoning cases, caused by polluted water, sharply increased. Since mid-August, the admission of thousands to hospitals has only highlighted the miserable reality of the crippled health sector. That reality was defied by Adila Hamoud, the Iraqi Health Minister, who insisted in a press conference that only 1,500 people  with minor cases of diarrhoea  were treated and all received good treatment.

Water pollution in Basra is part of a larger crisis in all of Iraq, an accumulation of 15 years of failure, disfunction, and corruption. The humanitarian disaster taking place was still insufficient to shake Iraqs political elites this summer, as they jockeyed over being part of the largest bloc to form the new government. In contrast, Iraqis from across the country have donated bottled water to the people of Basra in an act of charitable solidarity.

What started as a call for clean potable water quickly turned into a protest against political parties and the Iraqi system. Over the past week, the demonstrations have grown after the killing and wounding of protestors  some of whom were volunteers amongst the Shia armed groups that fought against the Islamic State in northern Iraq. Significantly, for the first time, women are among the protesters.

Largely peaceful and disciplined daytime rallies turned into unrest during the night. On Wednesday, Basras main provincial building was set on fire. The entrance to Umm Qasr port was blocked, and the highway from Basra to Baghdad cut.

On Thursday night, protestors torched the majority of Shia party headquarters, echoing the early disturbance of Julys protests in the south. They did not attack the Peace Brigade militia of Muqtada al Sadr, claiming that it was surrounded by a human shield of the Sadrists.

But the demonstrators showed their anger with the Shia cleric Sadr, chanting Dont Ride the Wave over his speech earlier in the day. In that address, Sadr criticised successive governments since 2003 for ignoring Basra Province but overlooked that many ministers, including those for water resources, were Sadrists.

On Friday night, angry protestors escalated clashes by setting the Iranian Consulate on fire, raising the Iraqi flag, and chanting, Iran out, Iran out. The rejection of Tehrans role in Iraq is buttressed by its alleged complicity in water pollution, cutting the flow of more than 42 rivers to Iraq and by using the Shaat al-Arab waterway as a dumpster for its draining water.

The discrepancy between the day and night protests manifested itself in a debate on social media following the Iranian Consulate incident. Critical demonstrators said the setting of fires allows political parties and their militias to divert and hijack the protests to settle scores. Some posters suggested that the torchings were carried out by the parties to sabotage rallies and green-light a crackdown by militias. Some people in Basra are calling on protestors to withdraw from the streets, and demonstrations have been suspended until further notice to avoid chaos and to distance the protests from the struggle of rival parties and their regional and international supporters, especially Iran and the US.

In Parliament, a session called by Moqtada al-Sadr but convened in defiance of the Constitution, failed to address the water crisis. Instead, it became a theatre in which barbs were exchanged between Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Basras governor, who was a candidate on Abadis list in Mays elections. Decisions were made on security matters rather than the water problem, and the session ended with a call by both Sadr and leaders of the Fath Party for Abadi to step down.

As with other waves of protests in Iraq, Basras marchers have not achieved their goals, but they have exposed how political elites have marginalized Iraqi people, irrespective of their sect and ethnicity. They have shown the deception practiced by politicians for more than a decade, making use of sectarian slogans and narratives and contributing to the loss of lives. And they have shown how when the interests of politicians meet, the exploiters can shamelessly coalesce in one camp, sitting next to yesterdays foes.

These protests, led by young people, demonstrate that they can no longer be fooled. Young people in Iraq do not care about sectarian conflicts. They are looking for their rights, which politicians have failed to grant over the past 15 years.

Following the low turnout in Mays national election and earlier protests in the south, Basras demonstrations are pointing to the deep gap between Iraqis and all the political factions. It is a gap that can never be fulfilled unless the distorted political process, blessed and fortified by the foes of Iran and the US, is re-build from its core.
PR Newswire

SHANGHAI, Sept. 14, 2018

SHANGHAI, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Anindya Ghose, the Heinz Riehl Chair Professor of Business at New York University, and Beibei Li, the Anna Loomis McCandless Chair at Carnegie Mellon University, have agreed to help Adrealm CEO Brian Xie explore blockchain technology and its application to the digital ecosystem in the depths Xie believes it deserves.

"We are taking the long view of blockchain and digital assets," Xie said from Seoul, "Of our many achievements so far this year, bringing Professors Ghose and Li into our organization is one of the most significant."

Anindya Ghose is the author of the award winning and best-selling book TAP: Unlocking the Mobile Economy. He was named by Poets & Quants as one of the Top 40 Professors Under 40 Worldwide and by Analytics Week as one the "Top 200 Thought Leaders in Big Data and Business Analytics". Dr Li, Assistant Professor of IT & Management at Carnegie Mellon University, has extensive experience in AI and data science.

Earlier this year, Xie brought onboard Dr J Ellis Cameron-Perry to lead the in-house think tank known as Adrealm Editorial & Intelligence Operations Unit (AEIOU). Dr Cameron-Perry is the former Administrator of the Centre for Philosophy, Technology & Society at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He is also a philosopher and scholar whose work has been published in The British Medical Journal, Scots Law Times, and New Law Journal.

"It's a great honor to be working with Anindya and Beibei," Cameron-Perry said. "Their knowledge is a huge resource. What I am most looking forward to are the conversations that wax philosophical, and address both 'meta' questions and ethical questions," he said. "Anindya and Beibei will help us keep these conversations elevated, practical, and purposeful."

In 2017 Ghose was recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the Top 30 Management Thinkers globally. The domain of expertise for which he is best known is monetization in the digital economy through AI and blockchain. Ghose's opinion pieces and research have been featured on the CNBC, The Economist, New York Times, WIRED, Time, Financial Times, and Wall Street Journal.

Dr Li's current research priorities include the kind and nature of interactions between human beings and technology.

"Anyone seeking to know Brian's priorities, and understand his commitment to this industry, really need look no further than the relationship he is now forging with top-flight academics," says Carl Cai, Adrealm's Vice President of Business Development, who holds an MPhil in psychology from Cambridge University.

"Brian is set on having everyone at Adrealm Foundation appreciate and grasp the technological, sociocultural, and commercial aspects of blockchain and AI," he said. "We'll probably state publicly that doctors Ghose and Li are 'advisors,' but it's much more than that. We value them as scholars and educators, not as instruments of strategy."

"Many companies in the blockchain and ad tech industry are making a lot of noise right now," Xie said. "That's fine. But when we're talking about value, it's never really a question of who's voice is the loudest. It's who's voice is worth hearing. With input from Dr Ghose and Dr Li, our voice will continue to be worth listening to," he said.

"Getting smarter without gaining in wisdom is neither smart, nor wise." Xie said.

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SOURCE Adrealm Foundation
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PR Newswire

BOSTON, Sept. 14, 2018

BOSTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gibson Sotheby's International Realty has announced strategic expansion to Cape Cod through its combination of forces with oldCape Sotheby's International Realty, which has offices in Orleans, Brewster, Harwich Port, Dennis, Chatham, and North Chatham. The union extends Gibson Sotheby's International Realty's reach south into Barnstable County and adds six new offices to the Boston-headquartered brokerage. The company will now work within a network of over 300 agents across a total of 17 offices throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

"We are thrilled to add this group to our organization as part of our long-term strategy of integrating the Cape Cod-area markets with Greater Boston," added Paul McGann, president and co-owner of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty. "Joining forces with oldCape Sotheby's International Realty allows us to satisfy a substantial market need for additional locations to effectively serve our client base. Our vision is to enable our agents to provide improved progression of service as our clients move from Greater Boston to Cape Cod and beyond."

"Our companies have both built people-first company cultures," commented Larry Rideout, chairman and co-owner of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty. "oldCape cares deeply for their agents and treats them as family, which is exactly how we have always been. This focus on professionalism, integrity and agent-focused marketing and support reflects our shared business and personal values. We are proud to welcome the team to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty and have the utmost confidence in the continued vitality of Cape Cod real estate."

Howard Hayes, who formerly served as Director of the Cape Cod and Islands Association of REALTORS, co-owned and managed leading full service agency Bay Village Realty for over twenty years. oldCape Real Estate, the predecessor to oldCape Sotheby's International Realty, was later founded in 2002 by Hayes and Joanne Liberles, both seasoned Cape Cod and Boston area REALTORS. Under Hayes' leadership, the company was established as oldCape Sotheby's International Realty in 2007.

"I was immediately inspired by Gibson Sotheby's International Realty's positive and interactive philosophy that very much emulates our own," asserted Hayes. "In the context of a successful real estate brand, a positive culture depends more on the dynamics of the agents than on external market conditions. We are thrilled to join an unparalleled team, to embrace the attitude of agent-driven success, and to experience the satisfaction of achievement as a result of agent mentorship and support."

Kenneth Hager, former general manager of oldCape Sotheby's International Realty, whose real estate expertise spans over a decade, will manage the six Cape Cod-based offices of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty.

"Joining forces with Gibson Sotheby's International Realty allows us to elevate the services and tools we offer our agents and clients," commented Hager. "By uniting these companies and connecting two highly relevant markets, we strengthen our market share and our presence of across Massachusetts."

"The Sotheby's International Realty brand is very supportive of the union of these two fine companies," said Philip White, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC. "oldCape Sotheby's International Realty has grown steadily since affiliating with the brand; joining Gibson Sotheby's International Realty is a strategically important decision which provides the best support to clients and real estate professionals."

Since 1962, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty's unique approach of combining local leadership with a global brand has been highly effective throughout Boston, Cambridge and Greater Boston. Under Co-Owners Larry Rideout and Paul McGann's leadership for over a decade, the firm has grown exponentially and has cultivated a people-centric and technology-driven culture. The company transcended $1 billion in sales volume between January 1 and July 31 of this year. Today, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty is the largest independently-owned real estate company in Boston.

Media Contact: Becca Logue Gibson Sotheby's International Realty [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gibson-sothebys-international-realty-announces-official-expansion-to-cape-cod-300713127.html

SOURCE Gibson Sotheby's International Realty
MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Northrop Grumman has begun flight tests on its MQ-8C Fire Scout autonomous helicopter produced and built at their Moss Point facility, the company announced.

The Moss Point facility was instrumental in producing and testing the MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy's newest autonomous helicopter that is bringing increased speed, endurance and payload capacity to distributed maritime operations.

The U.S. Navy recently completed initial operational test and evaluation aboard the USS Coronado (LCS 4) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, which has more than 1,500 program flight hours.

The aircraft is a modified Bell 407 helicopter produced in the River City and supports quality manufacturing jobs on the Miss. Gulf Coast.

"Building on Northrop Grumman's recent announcement of new production capabilities in Moss Point and a 40 percent increase in employment at the site, the ability to now conduct MQ-8C Fire Scout flight tests where the production occurs will bring new efficiencies and effectiveness to our local operations and improve our ability to serve the U.S. Navy," said Melissa Packwood, program director, Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman continues to invest in the local community by its recent expansion and brand new operational area, adding a total of 60 manufacturing jobs within the next year, and the company will make a $6 million investment into the region.

According to Kevin Mitchell, sector vice president of global operations, the expansion has promoted growth of the workforce and production at the facility by 40 percent in conjunction with partnerships with the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and Jackson County Port Authority.

"We do a lot of great work here and build products that protect each and every one of our freedoms and that is what I am really proud of," Mitchell said.

In April 2004, Northrop Grumman broke ground in Moss Point with site construction beginning in 2005. In April 2006, Northrop Grumman contributed to aerospace industry growth in southern Mississippi when the ribbon was cut on the 101,000 square-foot facility.

The company celebrated its 10 year anniversary at the site in 2016 and recently extended its lease adjacent to Trent Lott International Airport through 2026.
SPECIAL REPORTS: JUST FOR KIDS: A look at the major trends in children's programming throughout the region.

FORMATTED APPEAL: Format sellers are finding booming demand in Asia.

ASIAN INSPIRATION: Scripted series from across Asia are entering new markets. REACH ASIAN BUYERS IN THE ATF EDITIONS

OF WORLD SCREEN AND TV ASIA With booming economies and a host of new platforms, Asia is presenting a wave of opportunities for content owners. Reach buyers in this region by advertising in the December/Asia TV Forum editions of WORLD SCREEN and TV ASIA. In addition to wide distribution on the show floor at the market in Singapore, the December editions will be mailed to our unparalleled worldwide database, providing exposure of your ad to content executives across the globe. WORLD SCREEN reaches more senior-level content decision-makers around the world than any other trade magazine. Here are the 11 value-added benefits you will derive from advertising with us at ATF: 1. We will place your ad up front in WORLD SCREEN or, if you prefer, in TV ASIA. Please note that TV ASIA appears both inside WORLD SCREEN and as a stand-alone publication with its own publication bin at the market. When you advertise in TV ASIA, it's like being in TWO magazines for the price of one!

2. You will receive a free double banner in WORLD SCREEN NEWSFLASH, our industry-leading daily newsletter, during the weeks of November 26 and December 3.

3. Your company will receive a profile (including a color image of a highlighted program and the headshot of the executive interviewed) in the front section of the magazine.

4. Your company profile will also run in WORLD SCREEN NEWSFLASH, reaching our 30,000 subscribers worldwide, before the market.

5. You will receive invaluable social media exposure by having your profile tweeted to @worldscreen's followers.

6. Your profile and advertisement will also appear in the digital edition, reaching 30,000 media executives a week before the convention.

7. We will place your electronic box ad on the home page of TVAsia.ws for one month.

8. You will have your own Screening Room for ATF on our video portal WorldScreenings.com. The Screening Rooms for ATF will be extensively promoted during the weeks prior to the event.

9. Your complete program listings will appear in the digital edition of TV LISTINGS, reaching 30,000 executives a week before the market begins.

10. Your listings and stand number will also appear in the WORLD SCREEN APP, available for both iOS and Android.

11. Your company's news will receive priority treatment in our four online daily newsletters and ten online weekly newsletters. DEADLINES FOR THE DECEMBER 2018 EDITIONS

Space Reservations.........November 7

Ad Materials.......................November 9 For more information, please contact Ricardo Guise at:

(212) 924-7620 or e-mail: rguise@worldscreen.com


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The Central Bank has issued a warning about an unauthorised investment firm operating here.

It says Trinity Wealth Management Ltd (United Kingdom and Luxembourg) has been operating without appropriate authorisation.

The Central Bank says the company has cloned the details of two European Economic Area-authorised entities of the same name.

It is warning that consumers are not eligible for compensation from the Investor Compensation Scheme if they deal with an unauthorised firm.
By Sean McCarthaigh

Amazon is facing a fresh planning battle to build a large new data centre in west Dublin amid claims it could affect plans to build new houses.

Irish Life Assurance has lodged an appeal with Bord Pleanala against the recent approval for the construction of the data centre on the site of the former Jacobs factory in Tallaght.

The insurance firm is seeking to overturn the decision of South Dublin Co Council to grant planning permission to Amazon Data Services Ireland for the new facility.

Irish Life said its lands, which are next to the Luas Red Line, were zoned to facilitate enterprise and-or residential-led regeneration. It said it was public policy to build new homes given the current shortages, and said guidelines had identified locations with good access to public transport for future housing.

It has asked Bord Pleanala to consider the potential of noise from the data centre to affect the potential development of homes.

Tallaght Community Council, a voluntary community group, has praised Amazon for engaging with the community.

In January, Bord Pleanala granted Amazon planning permission for the first phase of the data centre, in north Dublin.

A Galway engineer, Allan Daly, who had also opposed the abandoned 850m data centre by Apple in Athenry, Co Galway, failed to halt that project.

There are growing concerns among some energy experts that the expansion of data centres in Ireland is placing huge demands on electricity-generating capacity in the State.
Ryanair have signed a set of agreed principles with the three main cabin crew unions in Italy which, they say, will form the basis of a comprehensive Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

At their meeting in Rome yesterday, the unions FIT CISL, ANPAC, and ANPAV, signed off on the principles to cover Ryanairs Italian based cabin crew from October 1, 2018.

The airline said that the parties agreed that they are now in the final stages of concluding final terms and conditions of a CLA, which will run from October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021

They also said it will be governed by Italian law and will allow Italian cabin crew to transition to local contracts over an agreed period.

The budget airline also claimed the agreement means increased pay for Italian crews as they will benefit from increased tax-free allowances and the overall package will also include an Italian Pension Scheme.

Ryanairs Chief People Officer Eddie Wilson said: We welcome this agreement with the three Italian cabin crew unions on the terms of a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA), which will cover all of our Italian-based cabin crew, and will start from next month.

"This agreement follows recent cabin crew agreements in Ireland with FORSA and in the UK with UNITE.

"We expect to sign this first CLA for our Italian cabin crew before the end of September, which will lead to significant pay improvements and other benefits for our Italian based cabin crew.

"This agreement is a further sign of the significant progress Ryanair is making in reaching agreements with our people and their unions in different EU countries, and disproves false claims made by smaller unions not involved in these negotiations, and who are threatening strikes later this winter, which will either not take place or be unsuccessful.
By Padraig Hoare

Sky Ireland has been fined by the communications watchdog after failing to provide almost 80,000 customers with their contract rights.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) said Sky Ireland had been penalised 117,000 after an investigation found the television company failed to provide about 79,000 customers with a contract on a durable medium.

Durable medium means a firm must provide certain information to a customer or client, whether it be in writing, either on paper or email, or another durable form. The watchdog said 41,000 of the affected customers were also not afforded their right to a cooling off period in contravention of the Consumer Information Regulations 2013.

Sky has accepted that it breached the Consumer Information Regulations 2013 and has paid the penalty in full, ComReg said.

The watchdog said it investigated the manner in which Sky handled certain distance contracts entered into by existing Sky customers and whether such customers were afforded their right to a cooling off period and provided with a contract in a durable form.

By law, a customer who has entered a distance contract  one not signed in-store or face-to-face  has a right to a cooling-off period of 14 days to withdraw from their contract, ComReg said.

Companies must also provide such customers with a contract on a durable medium that the customer can store and later retrieve for inspection to see what their key terms and conditions are, including their cooling-off rights, it added.

Sky will now communicate with its affected customers individually and provide them with confirmation of their contract in a durable form, and will inform those customers of their right to a cooling-off period of 14 days from receipt of the communication. This cooling off period will allow Skys affected customers to cancel their contracts if they wish, and Sky will inform its affected customers of how they can cancel their contracts.

The broadcaster will publish a corrective statement on its website explaining how it has contravened the Consumer Information Regulations 2013, and will have to demonstrate to ComRegs satisfaction that it has fully performed the above remedial actions, the watchdog said.

Sky has committed to implement all of the above remedial measures, ComReg said.
The government has announced an 11.9 billion investment in education as part of Project Ireland 2040.

The funding promises a 70% increase in school capital funding over the next decade to build new schools and modernises existing ones.

It aims to end the long-term use of prefabs by 2021 and treble capital investment in Higher Education.

This almost 12 billion investment has been announced as part of the national development plan known as Project Ireland 2040 which was published earlier this year.

The school building budget will be increased by 70% over the next decade to build new schools and modernise existing ones.

In the short-term, the government says that 600 prefabs will be replaced - ending the long-term use of prefabs by 2021.

There is a commitment to ensure that all secondary schools have access to state of the art sport and PE halls.

Science labs will be modernised and digital technology will be improved.

In addition, the capital budget for higher education is to be almost trebled and a new dedicated capital budget for further education and training.

Digital Desk
Gardai have renewed their appeal for witnesses following a fatal crash at Listillion, Letterkenny, Co Donegal on September 6.

The two-car road accident happened at around 7.45pm and involved a black Mazda 3 and a Red Toyota Hilux pick up.
A new guide on implementing a human rights-based approach to Garda Reform has been published.

It comes after serious concerns of the force's handling of a housing protest on North Frederick Street on Tuesday night were raised.

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) report finds that taking human rights seriously at all levels of Irish policing will have profound benefits for Gardai and for the communities they serve.

Sinead Nolan from the ICCL is calling for a report from the Gardai on the incident on Tuesday.

"Our experience has been that that kind of thing doesn't happen because the human rights are not taken into account at every stage with the Gardai as they are at the moment," said Ms Nolan.

Commenting on the ICCL report, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said that any ideas on how Gardai can strengthen its delivery of a human rights-based policing and security service are welcome.

He said that An Garda Siochana has taken and is currently undertaking measures to ensure it provides such a service including:

All Garda members and staff are in the process of being trained in the Code of Ethics. Over 10,000 personnel have been trained to date. All new Garda recruits also have to sign the Code of Ethics before they become members of An Garda Siochana.

A high level group chaired by Deputy Commissioner, Policing & Security, is examining how to ensure human rights is a central focus of policing.

Work initially commissioned by SHRAC has been underway over recent years to develop a Human Rights Framework document. This Framework will support the embedding of a human rights-based approach in the development of policy, training and operations.

Human rights is a key plank of the training provided to Garda students and Garda probationers. Human rights training is also provided as part of many courses delivered to Garda members and Garda staff.

An Garda Siochanas public order incident command policy is available on Garda.ie. It was developed based on best international practice including input from police services in Canada, UK, and Northern Ireland. That policy specifically states that "any action taken must comply with the fundamental principles of legality, necessity (absolute necessity in terms of lethal force), proportionality and accountability and is applied in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)".

"Respecting and protecting the human rights of all individuals we interact with is one of the three key policing principles that guide how we deliver our service to the public," said Deputy Commissioner Twomey.

Digital Desk
By Louise Walsh

A desperate Meath mum has revealed her huge struggle to meet everyday living costs as she helps her teenage son battle a rare form of cancer.

Tearful Nadia Vavro appealed for help after her family plummeted into debt in order to keep a roof over their heads and pay for her son's treatment.

The social worker who had to give up her job to look after her 13-year old son full-time when he was diagnosed, was reduced to tears when her car broke down on the motorway earlier this week.

Brave teen Slavomir (Slav), 13, was diagnosed with stage four Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma last January, which lay undetected in the arch of his foot until it spread into his spine and bone marrow.

His parents were told that no-one has ever survived this stage and type of cancer in Ireland and are determined to bring him abroad to give him a chance of life.

The Laytown family are now living on one income from her husband Vlad's job and Nadia says they are struggling to even get a bit of breathing room.

In an emotional Facebook post, she said that she cried when she learned of the repair costs for the car she needs to drive Slav to the hospital for this treatment.

I broke down today, the same way as my car did. I just cried and cried and could not stop and could not move. And I'll tell you the truth, there are times, I cannot hide when crying, although I try to cry only when Slav does not see me.

Nadia set up a GoFundMe page for treatment for Slav that she hopes she will be able to access in America and will not touch the funds for anything else.

"We keep all the money on GoFundMe solely for Slav's treatment. I probably would not be able to live with the guilt of not having enough money for Slav's treatment when needed because I know it's going to be expensive. So we live in debt.

"I buy all the health supplements for Slav and we are now 3,000 in debt, which is all the banks will allow us to go. We struggle to pay our mortgage and house insurance.

"I understand that there are people in debt who are also struggling to pay their mortgage and we never had this problem before when I was able to work."

I'm with Slav 24/7 and somehow we got by until now, but I'm at breaking point. I'm struggling and don't know what to do.

Nadia says she feels guilty for asking for help - not to pay her mortgage - but to just be able to buy what Slav needs and afford to fix the car to drive to his treatment.

She also feels her older son Vlad, who has diabetes, is also suffering because she can't spend as much time with him or buy him things that he has asked for.

"I hope it is ok to ask for help if needed," she said while sincerely thanking everyone for their support and donations towards Slav's treatment.

She also admitted that her heart breaks when her young son asks what he did wrong to get cancer.

"He cries in the bed and asks me why him, what did he do wrong?"

"I say nothing my love. I love you most in this world and beyond and I would do everything for you.

"Do not worry, everything will be fine my beautiful boy who is beautiful from inside and outside."

Anyone who would like to help can get more information from the Facebook page or at PayPal nadinavvv@gmail.com.
Update 1.45pm: A high court case against a homeless mother-of-three living in a vacant council house in Dublin has been adjourned until Tuesday.

Talks are underway and plans to organise emergency accommodation are being discussed.

The council is seeking an injunction against the woman to remove her and her family from their property in Coolock.

They have been living there since the beginning of September.

People Before Profit Cllr John Lyons is supporting the woman saying that she has occupied the house "in a desperate measure to ensure that she has a safe home for her family."

Cllr Lyons said: "So I am here to support her and to call on the city council to take a step back from this aggressive line of approach and to sit down with the young woman and her family to come to an agreed solution."

Earlier: Dublin City Council launch High Court bid to evict family from vacant house

Dublin City Council is to ask the High Court for an injunction against a mother and her three children who are occupying a vacant house in Coolock.

The woman had applied to the Regional Homeless Executive for somewhere to live.

The injunction being sought this morning is to evict the family from the council-owned property in Coolock.

Take Back the City, in conjunction with North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Community has condemned the legal action being taken by the Council.

A spokesperson for Take Back the City said: "In the midst of a housing crisis in which no meaningful progress is being made on council waiting lists, we ask why Dublin City Council are removing this family from a property that is habitable?

Would they prefer to continue leaving it empty and see this family, like so many others, with nowhere to call a home?

"The lack of new social housing builds in Dublin is unacceptable in itself, but with so much of DCCs existing housing stock left vacant for extended periods time, we call on them to withdraw this eviction threat immediately, to open up vacant properties in their ownership to house those on waiting lists, and more broadly to start advocating for the people theyre supposed to represent."

The group are calling on people to join a demonstration outside the Darndale Area Office this morning.

Digital Desk
A fifth person has been arrested in connection with an investigation under Operation Thor in Co Wexford.

A man in his 30s was arrested yesterday afternoon and is currently being detained at a Garda station in the South East.
By Conor Kane

Businessman and former Dragon's Den judge Gavin Duffy has said he is "relieved" to have secured the endorsement of a fourth local authority which allows him to take his place in next month's presidential election.

Mr Duffy, an independent candidate, was speaking after Waterford City and County Council voted to place him on the ballot paper, adding to the endorsements he had already received from councils in Carlow, Wicklow and Meath.

He joins Senator Joan Freeman, Sean Gallagher, President Higgins and a Sinn Fein candidate in the election while a number of councils have yet to vote on the matter and may yield more nominees.

Five hopefuls addressed the council in Dungarvan this morning, including Sean Gallagher who had already secured his nomination and asked members not to put him forward for another endorsement.

Four other candidates had spoken to the council when they met in July.

The only other candidate to be proposed and seconded in Waterford was journalist and campaigner Gemma O'Doherty, who was backed by independent councillors Sean Reinhardt and Joe Kelly.

Gemma O'Doherty

Gavin Duffy won the endorsement by 14 votes to 2, with members from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour all supporting him.

Sinn Fein's Cllr John Hearne abstained and there were some absentees.

Immediately after the vote, Mr Duffy said: "One one level I am so relieved to have crossed the line in achieving the nomination. I am also very humbled to get that support, from right across the chamber."

He said that, now he has the required four council endorsements, he will not be asking any other council for support and will instead be asking the to back a different candidate.

I have spoken to about 450 councillors around the country and the amount of work, effort and time that you put in - I think it's a shame it's a secret to the broader world out there, the amount of work you do.

Earlier, the members were addressed by another former "dragon," Peter Casey, as well as journalist Gemma O'Doherty, Sarah Louise Mulligan, and Newry-based businessman John O'Hare who only entered the race on Thursday.

Sean Gallagher also took the opportunity to tell the members he did not want them to nominate him as he already had the four endorsements he needed, and told them that, if elected president, "I will work with every fibre of my being for those on the margins: geographically, socially, economically, emotionally".

Gemma O'Doherty told the councillors she was seeking a nomination, "in the furtherance of my desire to serve the cause of truth, justice and integrity for, and on behalf of, the Irish people".

She said the country is suffering from a culture of "corruption and clientelism, which is having a deeply damaging effect on democracy and on the relationship between the politicians and citizens".

Ms O'Doherty highlighted issues including housing, healthcare, a free press, and corruption as ones that are important to her.

"It's quite clear that the previous incumbents and the current [president] have been members of the elite in Ireland, that have brought our country to its knees time and time again.

"I believe the previous incumbents, and the current, have not pushed the presidency to the limits that they can.

"Their job is to be on the side of citizens and highlighting the needs of our people."
Weather watchers will have their eyes on the skies in the coming days as Hurricane Helene creeps closer to Ireland.

She is currently one of a glut of tropical storms in the Atlantic, with Florence sparking mass evacuations as she heads towards landfall in the US states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

Met Eireann is predicting that the tail end of Helene will reach Ireland on Tuesday with the south coast expected to be the worst affected.

They say that there are no indications that the wet and windy weather will bring any severe or damaging weather.

The south-western corners of the UK will also be affected, according to the Met Office in the UK.

Emma Smith, meteorologist with the Exeter-based Met Office, said more details would emerge within the next day over what impact the storm might have.

Storm Helenes likely path (PA Graphics)

She said: "Helene is moving up from the Atlantic towards us.

"Hurricane Joyce is also in the Atlantic so we need to see how those two systems are going to move around each other because that could have an impact.

"It looks like Helene will move towards Ireland on Tuesday morning. It's possible that the west coast of Wales and Cornwall could get some winds as well, but we will get a clearer picture of what to expect very soon."

The storm would be expected to die out by Wednesday, Ms Smith said.

PA & Digital Desk
Labour's Housing Spokesperson says the state's new housing plan is just "new wine for old bottles".

The new Land Development Agency's been funded with 1.25 billion to develop state and privately owned land with at least 40% of new homes being delivered as social and affordable.

Deputy Jan O'Sullivan says selling off state-owned land to developers to make a profit is the total opposite of what needs to happen.

"That state-owned land is very precious," said Ms O'Sullivan.

"It would allow the state to build what we urgently need which is both social housing for the hundreds of thousands of people on housing waiting lists and affordable because if you are now working - maybe two people are working in a family earning low to middle income - it is almost impossible to get a mortgage.

"It is almost impossible to afford housing prices in our cities."

The new 1.25bn Land Development Agency (LDA) promises to build 150,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

The Government said strategic land banks from a mix of public and private land will bring essential long-term stability to the housing market.

Today, we are announcing details of the Land Development Agency, which will build 150,000 homes over the next 20 years. This new agency is going to hit the ground running, from today. Its one of the most significant ever State interventions in the housing market. pic.twitter.com/GD3diPaKA5  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) September 13, 2018

The LDAs main focus will be on buying existing land owned by state departments and selling it to developers to ensure new homes are built quickly.

The body must deliver at least 40% of housing potential on the land, with 10% social and 30% affordable.

To ensure space and funding is available, the agency will be given sweeping compulsory purchase order powers and the right to use and sell state-owned land.

One of the sites understood to be targeted by the agency is the HSE-owned former St Kevins Hospital site in Cork City, which was the target of an arson attack in 2017.

Digital Desk
The Taoiseach says there is a lot of double counting in the hospital waiting list figures.

The latest stats from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show more than 700,000 people are awaiting treatment.

The highest outpatient waiting lists were at Galway University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford and the Mater in Dublin.

Leo Varadkar has acknowledged there are too many people on waiting lists but he disputed some of the figures out there.

"There arent one million out of 2.4 million people on waiting lists, there aren't even that many people sick, never mind on waiting lists," said Mr Varadkar.

"So when you see those figures, they include people who have an appointment already and are waiting to come in. They include people who are suspended from waiting lists.

"They include people who are waiting on things such as annual checks, for example, and obviously you have to wait for an annual check.

"They also include a lot of double counting."

Fianna Fail spokesperson on Health, Stephen Donnelly has said that the figures released today show that the government is failing to get to grips with the challenges facing the health system.

"The current performance by Minister Harris is not good enough," said Mr Donnelly.

"Its clear that this Government is bereft of ideas and competence on health care.

"82,597 people are now waiting over 18 months to have an examination and this figure is rising month on month.

"This is despite the target set by Leo Varadkar that by the end of June 2015 no-one would wait more than 18 months."

Waiting lists are getting longer. We are calling for an extension of the National Treatment Purchase Fund that will help people desperately in need of hospital appointments receive the treatment they need and deserve. @DonnellyStephen #AnIrelandForAll  pic.twitter.com/FCB6W4ZnMu  Fianna Fail (@fiannafailparty) September 12, 2018

Earlier: Record 718,000 people on hospital waiting lists

The number of people waiting for treatment in Irish hospitals has hit a new record high.

Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show over 718,000 people were waiting to be seen or treated by a doctor at the end of August.

The figures include more than 48,000 children - one-third of whom have been waiting for over a year.

According to the figures, 514,585 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment while 74,189 were waiting for inpatient or day case procedures.

Almost half of those on the outpatient list and over 30,000 of patients on the inpatient list have been waiting for over six months.

Nearly 12,000 patients were "suspended" from the lists for a variety of reasons.

The inpatient list has fallen by 2,000.

It comes amid reports that a major overspend at the Department of Health has dashed plans for tax cuts or increased spending in next month's budget.

Galway University Hospital was recorded as having the biggest waiting lists for inpatient, day case and outpatients with more than 50,000 people waiting.

Spokesperson for the Irish Patients Association Stephen McMahon, says that tackling overcrowding is one way to potentially deal with the issue.

"If you can sort out the emergency department overcrowding that means then that patients who have been on elective lists waiting for the hip replacement or other treatments can actually get access on the day that it was planned and that they don't get a last minute cancellation much to their detriment and indeed whatever family arrangements they may have had," said Mr McMahon.

Digital Desk
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock believes Harry Arter will patch up his differences with Roy Keane and play for the Republic of Ireland again.

A leaked WhatsApp message, spoken by Burnley's Stephen Ward, detailed a bust-up between on-loan Cardiff midfielder Arter and Jonathan Walters and Republic assistant manager Keane.

Arter declared himself unavailable for Ireland's games against Wales and Poland during the international break but Warnock said: Harry wants to play for Ireland and Im sure it will all be ironed out.

I spoke to Harry about the situation and my advice to him was to get on with his football. He loves his country and he wants to play for them again.

We are talking about grown-up people and Im sure it is an issue that will be resolved. Im not sure what happened and Harry can only tell me certain things.

From a selfish point of view I was quite happy he didnt go away during the international break, but you get rows like this a lot of the time.

I had two players trying to kill each other the other day, so you get it everywhere. Little things spark things off in training. I dont know what was said, or how it was said, but Im sure there are lessons to be learned by everybody."

"Im sure Martin will make sure this will be sorted in the next few weeks. Martin doesnt need me to tell him that Harry is a good player to have in his squad.

In the leaked WhatsApp message, Ward said Keane had accused Arter and Walters of not doing enough training while on international duty with the Republic in May.

Warnock said: "The one thing you can't complain about (with) Harry is training. He trains too much and I have to curb him at times because he trains like he plays.

"He gets booked every game! I don't see his training being an issue."

Keanes position has come under scrutiny after the offensive language he used towards Arter was revealed.

The midfielder is one of the few players available to ONeill who is playing regularly in the Premier League, but Warnock believes the criticism of Keane is not totally deserved.

The veteran Bluebirds boss said: Roy is Roy, isn't he? When I got the sack at Sheffield United the only guy who spoke to me was Roy. I will never forget that. I thought that was a bit of class.

He gets tainted with a lot of things. Im not saying he is perfect because he isnt, but Im sure Roy will deal with this situation in the right way in the cold light of day.
Hurricane Florence has made landfall on the east coast of the US, but not everybody is leaving the area.

As most people have either been evacuated or are staying indoors to shelter from the incoming hurricane, reporters from the US news channels are out in the middle of things doing their job.

Reporting from North Carolina Beach in the eye of the storm, Jeff Flock had a tough time staying upright as he made his piece to camera.

As his colleague in the Fox News studios said: "It's getting bad again."

Fox News reporter, absurdly reporting live #HurricaneFlorence, nearly gets smoked by a flying piece of roof pic.twitter.com/jzRhjbG9AG  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 14, 2018

Meanwhile, CNNs John Berman was reporting from Wilmington when his cable got severed by the storm, interrupting his report from the hurricane.

The rain-soaked reporter was undeterred however and got communications back up again, saying: "My cord just literally split in two, I have the connector right now, I had to plug it back in.

"My cord is in my hand right now some duct tape might be helpful."

Ted from ABC7 also had trouble being heard, but it was nothing to do with his equipment.

As Ted persevered in the heavy downpours in Wilmington, his report was literally drowned out by the sound of the raindrops being whipped up by the winds.

In the middle of #HurricaneFlorence! Our thanks to @TedABC13 for this LIVE report on @ABC7 from Wilmington, NC showing the dangerous conditions on the ground. Stay safe out there Ted! #FlorenceHurricane2018 #wilmington #NorthCarolina #weather pic.twitter.com/8safQcxu13  Brandi Hitt (@ABC7Brandi) September 14, 2018

As for CNN's Derek Van Dam, well, "whoa!".

His namesake, Jean-Claude would find it hard to stay out in that.

Reporters inside didn't escape the destruction either as a TV station had to evacuate its newsroom in the middle of coverage of the hurricane.

Staff at New Bern's WCTI-TV NewsChannel 12 had to abandon their studio after roads around the building began flooding.

- Digital Desk
The Cohen family who co-founded vacuum cleaner chain Godfreys cleaned up at a portfolio auction on Friday where four prime shops fetched $22.18 million amid hectic bidding at Melbournes Crown casino.

The strong showing contrasted sharply with another agencys portfolio auction held in the same venue two days earlier where investors turned their backs on the previously red-hot childcare sector, rejecting six out of the seven centres offered.

These are prime properties, Allard Shelton auctioneer Joseph Walton told a room full of buyers as he outlined the merits of the Cohen familys portfolio in Ascot Vale, Campbellfield, North Geelong and Caulfield South.

The distinctive curved Godfreys shop at 568 Mt Alexander Road.

The first Melbourne shop to go under the hammer, a prominent semi-circular-shaped store on the corner of Mt Alexander and Ormond roads in Ascot Vale, attracted a frenzy of 108 bids before it sold for $7.27 million on a tight yield of 3 per cent.
When a stock has been unloved for so long and many are betting on it to fall further, a bit of good news can go a long way. Welcome to this week at Myer.

The company on Wednesday confirmed the fears of most that it had lost nearly half a billion dollars in the 2018 financial year and saw its underlying profit slump by more than 50 per cent.

Investors immediately marked the shares down by around 7 per cent.

But the good news was that the department store chain had done a deal with its bankers that ensure that it will remain viable for another two and a half years.
How would you feel about five strangers moving into your home for two days, observing your every move, sharing your private spaces, and then transforming it all into art? That's the provocation behind ICON, one of the biggest projects in this year's Melbourne Fringe Festival. Ordinary people sign up to become part of a lottery, and the randomly selected winner will allow five members from the art collective Field Theory to become artists-in-residence in their lives for 48 hours.

"We will sleep on their floor, taste-test their breakfast, try on their shoes, and spend as much time as we can getting to know them," says Field Theory's Lara Thoms. "We're not asking them to do anything outside of their ordinary routine. For us the average day and the detail of that is what we'll use to construct a large-scale event on the 30th of September in Fed Square."

Members of Field Theory with ICON contenders, from left, Shipra Sankpal, Mary Angley and Mrunal Shroff. Credit:Justin McManus

ICON's public outcome will be a festival celebrating one ordinary person, and as with any other festival at Fed Square will come complete with performances, marquees, food trucks and videos on the big screen. All will be based on the everyday mundanities of one stranger's life.

"We don't want to portray them in a god-like way where we just have endless visuals of their face as a hero," Thoms says. "We're trying to work out ways that we can look at details of their life and make them into participatory experiences."
Fast forward a few years and here I am back on TV after a years maternity leave following the birth of my son. I open the mail one morning and a hand-drawn sketch falls out  its a crude version of me, with breasts hanging out, and this written underneath: Put those saggy old breastfeeding tits away  thats not what I want to see of a morning over my cereal! ABC News Breakfast co-hosts Virginia Trioli and Michael Rowland, whose program is about to celebrate 10 years on air. Credit:ABC Well  its certainly what my 16-month-old boy wanted to see for breakfast as he watched me from home As the psychologists say, we laugh to keep from crying. Some of this stuff we manage to park. Some of it scars, frightens us and traumatises us forever and some of it has chased good women I know away from the profession I love forever.

Ive been a journalist for 28 years. Ive had some wonderful experiences along the way. We are in a time when the credibility, strength and standing of our profession has never before been under such sustained attack. Loading Our once-unquestioned role of being the honest brokers who brought people together to meet in the middle  to engage in the contest of ideas and to test the veracity and purpose of their claims in the public arena  has been thoroughly shaken. Those who have spent years fomenting fear and anxiety about institutions such as government, the courts, teachers, are seeing the pay-off in a retreat from trust that is alarming in how quickly it has sectioned the country. The rise of social media has elevated any factoid or outright fiction to a level of un-truth that is now nigh-impossible to refute.

We in the media have not helped our own cause with our opacity about sources and the compromising nature of some of our connections; by the miserly way in which we acknowledge (or dont acknowledge) our errors; by a sometimes myopic and city-centric view of the life of this country; and by a lazy rush to secure a soundbite from those who might provoke clicks but also promote just the division that our analysts and columnists now bemoan. [In order to help ourselves bolster credibility of what the media does], we have to own our mistakes. You have to claim them and allow that destruction/reconstruction process to take place. Its also incredibly empowering. An occasional and pitiless self-scrutiny is one of the most strengthening exercises you can undertake. If you dont  youve taken the first step to being on the run. Over 10 years on news breakfast Ive had plenty of opportunities to stuff up and then apologise: Ive thrown to the wrong grab; Ive read the wrong line. Ive walked in front of the camera.

Ive talked while I thought I wasnt on camera. Ive said things that are wrong and facts that are faulty. And Ive apologised for it all. Ive even, famously, called myself by the name of my co-host. On another morning, a much more notorious incident involving me and Barnaby Joyce occurred that has been harder to live down. But, boy, did I apologise for that. I apologised to Mr Joyce, to my team, the ABC, and to the entire country in a live broadcast that was one of the most frightening moments of my career. Virginia Trioli was caught out when the cameras cut back to her early after a Barnaby Joyce interview was aired. Credit: That apology wasnt enough for many people  and my mistake became a big political stick with which to beat me and the ABC.

I can tell you there was absolutely nothing political or biased about that moment. Nothing. There is a deeply personal explanation for that morning  one that on the eve of the 10th anniversary of ABC News Breakfast  Im finally willing to share. That morning I was jubilant. I was high as a kite, and I remember now the exuberance and hilarity with which I strode through the door of the office at 4am. Loading I'd just returned from a week's leave during which I underwent what felt like my 100th IVF procedure and 85th embryo transfer  at least that's how the numbers felt to me.

We finally had an embryo that looked like it stood a chance. It was transferred and I returned to work technically pregnant and over the moon. As in the way of these things  and particularly with women on TV  of course no one knew a thing about it. The hijinks in the studio that day, all generated by me, were funny, silly and incredibly risky. You just dont play up like that in a live studio. When we replayed an interview with the then Senator Joyce that Id done earlier that morning, an interview characterised by tortured language and some confusing concepts, I twirled my finger by my head for the amusement of no-one in particular. Virginia Trioli has spoken about the virtue of owning your professional mistakes. Credit:ABC The camera cut back to me earlier than expected and I was caught. I think my heart stopped dead for a full five seconds. A part of me will never recover from the horror and shock at what Id done.

I stumbled through the rest of the broadcast in a daze. Once off air I spoke to my EP, and then I rang Senator Joyce to apologise. He had not seen the incident and dismissed it lightly  graciously accepting my apology. Later in the day he even joked about how sometimes he doesnt always make sense. By then the story was off and running. Oceans of social media outrage were boiling, and waves of abuse were pounding me. I turned off all social media and spent the rest of the morning in frantic discussions with ABC executives. We knew how this looked. An ABC presenter sending up a coalition member at a time when the broadcaster was under sustained attack for perceived bias. It was dreadful. I finally made it home. My husband was there, working from home. My bag slid from my shoulder and I stood in the middle of a room that seemed to have telescoped out to leave me alone and small at the centre of a vast and empty space, and I told my husband I thought Id just killed a 20-year career in journalism. And I cried.

Two days later I began to bleed. Now, it is highly probable this tiny precious embryo was never going to take, so many of them dont. But to this day  and for all time  I will always believe that it was my own silliness and all the drama that followed that stole away one more hope for a child. For anyone who thought or still thinks that was a moment of left/right ridicule  let me set you straight. If you think that, then you can know nothing of the abysmal lows and the ecstatic highs that make up the IVF rollercoaster, and the emotions that go with it. Loading It was foolish. It was unprofessional. But it was not bias.
Most television commercials have relatively short shelf lives. The conventional wisdom says that repeated viewings bring advertisers diminishing returns. One particular ad in the New York market of the 1970s and 80s defied that rule so spectacularly that its very longevity became the subject of news stories. It was for the Ritz Thrift Shop, a store then on West 57th Street in Manhattan that specialised in used furs. A beautiful but unremarkably dressed woman gets off a bus, goes into the store and comes out in a fur. You dont need a million to look like a million, a voice-over announcer intones. And the woman pauses, looks at the camera and says, Oh, thank you. Viewers of New York stations encountered that ad across an astonishing 14 years. The woman who was its focal point, Barbara Gould, was already a successful model when she made the ad in 1975, having appeared on the covers of magazines such as Ladies Home Journal and McCalls as well as in other commercials. The New York Times.

In Passing Credit:Fairfax

As a student in rural Georgia, long before she became a successful mystery writer, Amanda Williams struggled to read even the simplest sentences. The words on the page looked jumbled, like jigsaw puzzle pieces that wouldnt connect. At 16 she dropped out of high school. She became addicted to cocaine and checked into a rehabilitation centre. It wasnt until she was 22 that a psychologist told her she was dyslexic. The diagnosis changed every way I felt about myself and every way I felt about my chances in the world, she said in a 2014 interview. With the psychologists help, she learnt to read, and at 23 she did something that had once filled her with dread: she walked into a library. There she finished her first book, Pride and Prejudice. And from there, feeling confident and becoming fascinated by how the written word could convey a story, she went on to publish her first book at 28 and eventually landed a $1 million contract to write a mystery series about a tough female private investigator named Keye Street. The New York Times.

Ronnie Taylor, who has died aged 93, was an Oscar-winning British camera operator and cinematographer who worked for some of the biggest names in cinema. He was best known for his collaborations with Richard Attenborough, whom he had first met when he was working as a camera operator at Pinewood Studios on The Boys In Brown (1949), set in a Borstal institution. As a cinematographer he worked with Attenborough on his first feature, Oh! What A Lovely War (1969), and they went on to collaborate on Gandhi (1982), A Chorus Line (1985) and Cry Freedom (1987). Taylor shared the Best Cinematography Oscar, with Billy Williams, for Gandhi, having been called in to take over mid-production when Williams had to return to Britain for medical treatment. I was thrown into it straight away, he recalled in an interview with the British Cinematographer website. Billy and I did about 10 weeks each on the picture. The Telegraph, London.
A man and an eight-year-old girl are dead after a horrific two-car smash on the Bruce Highway on the central Queensland coast on Friday.

The crash happened at the intersection with Ross Camp Road in South Isis, 57 kilometres south of Bundaberg, about 1pm.

Two people died after a two-car crash in South Isis near Bundaberg on the central Queensland coast. Credit:RACQ LifeFlight Rescue

An eight-year-old girl, who was a passenger in one of the cars, as well as the male driver and sole occupant of the other car were declared dead at the scene.

The Bundaberg and Sunshine Coast RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopters were sent to the scene and flew two patients, who were in the same car as the young girl, to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Six brands of strawberries are believed to have been targeted in a needle sabotage spanning four states, with police unsure if it is the same ploy or a copycat.

NSW Police are warning the contamination may have spread beyond the Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook brands confirmed by Queensland Police.

NSW mother Chantal Faugeras, of Wingham, posted these pictures of strawberries with needles in them to Facebook, saying she purchased them at the local Coles. Credit:Chantal Faugeras - Facebook

They suspect the Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis labels have also had sewing needles inserted in them.

Donnybrook supplies Coles and Woolworths stores across Australia.


The Chemerong Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful in Malaysia, and this article shares information about how to get here from Kuala Lumpur or anywhere from the country.





First of all, you should know that it is possible to make a day trip here to visit the waterfalls, namely for those who just want to take that Instagram shot.





And for the serious outdoor and nature lovers, you can book a tour that lets you trek and camp at the Chemerong Waterfalls, which is also known as one of the tallest waterfalls in Southeast Asia.





This place is often called the CBL or Chemerong, Berembun, Langsir, and in Malay, this place is known as the Hutan Lipur Chemerong or Chemerong Forest Reserve in the Pasir Raja Forest Reserve of Dungun region in Terengganu.





How To Go To Chemerong Waterfalls?



The beautiful Chemerong Waterfalls. Note the people at the bottom right of the photo

Most of you will either be in Kuala Lumpur or some other city around Malaysia, and many would-be wondering how to get to the Chemerong Waterfalls in Terengganu. Most of you will either be in Kuala Lumpur or some other city around Malaysia, and many would-be wondering how to get to the Chemerong Waterfalls in Terengganu.





Before I get into the details of travelling here, you should know what else is there to do around the Chemerong Waterfalls, the park, and its surroundings.





Chemerong Waterfalls is located about two kilometres into the Chemerong Forest Reserve, and there is a park entrance fee of RM2.00 per person to enter, and RM5.00 per person for camping.









The Chemerong Park Office and waterfalls at the back



Outside the park entrance, there is a wildlife park office and centre where you get your tickets, park guides and so on. The main car park is also located outside here.

The good news is that you can drive here or from any other city in a few hours, and from Kuala Lumpur, it is only a four-hour drive to the forest entrance.



Once you reach the park entrance, you can park your car and make the ticket purchase from the main office here.



If you are just visiting the waterfalls, you pay only RM2.00 per person, and it is a one to two-hour trek to the main Chemerong waterfalls.



If you are planning to go camping, you need to pre-arrange this and get the necessary documents from the Terengganu Forestry office, book your guide and so on.



You may need a minimum of three (3) weeks advance booking for your camping permit. The official contact is listed at the end of this article.



A park guide at CBL Chemerong



What You Need To Know About Chemerong Waterfalls Once you reach the park entrance, you can park your car and make the ticket purchase from the main office here.If you are just visiting the waterfalls, you pay only RM2.00 per person, and it is a one to two-hour trek to the main Chemerong waterfalls.If you are planning to go camping, you need to pre-arrange this and get the necessary documents from the Terengganu Forestry office, book your guide and so on.You may need a minimum of three (3) weeks advance booking for your camping permit. The official contact is listed at the end of this article.





Before you blindly say "I'm going here", you need to take note that this is not your easy Bukit Gasing trekking trip.



Overall, one needs to be fit to trek up this waterfall. If you are a pure city person, make sure you can hike for at least one hour without having to stop every ten minutes.





The first thing you need is an entry ticket from the park quarters, and everyone must pay these fees.





Guides are compulsory as they do not allow self trekking here. However, the guide fees are around RM500 a day, for one or two persons, or even a group. You can hire them from the park quarters.









Hikers trekking the CBL here. Photo by www.jenalothman.com



For those planning to hike to Langsir, it will take around eight hours one way, and this is excluding stopping and photography. Porters are also available for hire to carry up any heavy things, and there is a set price for this where you can arrange this with the park office.For those planning to hike to Langsir, it will take around eight hours one way, and this is excluding stopping and photography.





Some visitors are actually photographers and they trek all the way to Langsir to overnight there and photograph the clear and beautiful stars. This spot is well known for stargazing too.









If you are expecting 4G coverage, so sorry to burst your bubble, but there is limited cellphone coverage in this area. You would be lucky to get GPRS at some points.



But your objective is to trek and hike here, so let's keep to that and use your smartphones to take photographs.



Chemerong Forest Reserve in Terengganu



What is Available at Chemerong Waterfalls Park?



This is important for anyone who is planning to visit here and you need to know what is available once you reach the park. I will list down the general facilities found in the main park area;

Park Office / Ranger Station - For tickets and bookings

Small Cafe - Local and simple food and drinks

Souvenir Shop - Basic souvenirs sold

Car Park - For those who drive here

Small Children's Playground - Really, it's only for the kids

Surau or Prayer Room - For prayer time

Hanging Bridge - Just a hanging bridge The park office is managed by the forestry department and is quite well laid out with walking paths to the trails, picnic areas and the start of the waterfall trek.



ATV adventure just outside of Chemerong Forest Reserve



What Else To Do Around Chemerong Waterfalls? If you are trekking the 3D/2N CBL Trail, then do keep an eye out for one of the biggest Chengal Trees in Asia. Also, keep an eye out for the strange hollow tree which is very Instagrammable.If you are expecting 4G coverage, so sorry to burst your bubble, but there is limited cellphone coverage in this area. You would be lucky to get GPRS at some points.But your objective is to trek and hike here, so let's keep to that and use your smartphones to take photographs.This is important for anyone who is planning to visit here and you need to know what is available once you reach the park. I will list down the general facilities found in the main park area;The park office is managed by the forestry department and is quite well laid out with walking paths to the trails, picnic areas and the start of the waterfall trek.





You are either coming here to see the waterfalls or most probably for trekking and camping. Hence for those who want to know what else can be done, below are some other activities to explore.





Chemerong Offroad ATV Adventure - Your complete ATV adventures in the rainforest of Chemerong. This company provides all kinds of ATV experiences in this area and can be contacted via phone - 012-202 9057



Chemerong Outdoor Adventure - This is an outdoor and adventure company that provides trekking, camping, kayaking, team building and many other activities around the Chemerong Reserve. They are all local guides from the area. They can be contacted via phone - 012-202 9057



Al-Muktafi Billah Shah - This is the nearest town to Chemerong Forest Reserve, and is where you can get your supplies of snacks, food, drinks, and other smaller items. From the town, it takes a 30-minute drive to the forest reserve.



Sunset and stargazing are one of the must-experience things at Chemerong. Photo by Zati Iwani Abdul Malek.



What To Bring For Chemerong Waterfalls Trekking?



Most seasoned trekkers or waterfall hunters would know what to bring, but I am going to list down the general items you need when you visit this place.



The list will be broken into two sections, one for just the waterfall day trip visit, and the other for camping overnight here.



Chemerong Waterfall Day Trip Checklist

Hiking Shoes (Basic, Expensive or Adidas Kampung) Insect Repellent (Malaysian made ones are the best) Poncho (It's a rainforest, and it can rain) Waterproof Bags (Always a must for any trekking trip) Swimwear and Towel (Unless you are not planning to swim here) Sunblock (Especially for morning and midday trekking) Tripod (For photographers) Mini First Aid Kit (Always a necessity) Drinking-Water (At least 2 litres per person) Snacks and Power Bars (For those who need it) Chemerong CBL Camping Trip Checklist

Hiking Shoes (Basic, Expensive or Adidas Kampung) Insect Repellent (Malaysian made ones are the best) Poncho (It's a rainforest, and it can and will rain) Waterproof Bags (Always a must for any trekking trip) Trekking Gloves (For steep climbs and support) Change of Clothes (Light wear) Swimwear and Towel (Unless you are not planning to swim here) Sunblock (Especially for morning and midday trekking) Tripod (For photographers) Proper First Aid Kit (Required for camping) Drinking-Water (At least 5 litres per person) Snacks and Power Bars (For those who need it) Camping Utensils (For those who plan to cook) Raw Food (Simple and easy to cook like instant noodles, eggs) Other general camping equipment (This list goes on) - Your complete ATV adventures in the rainforest of Chemerong. This company provides all kinds of ATV experiences in this area and can be contacted via phone - 012-202 9057- This is an outdoor and adventure company that provides trekking, camping, kayaking, team building and many other activities around the Chemerong Reserve. They are all local guides from the area. They can be contacted via phone - 012-202 9057- This is the nearest town to Chemerong Forest Reserve, and is where you can get your supplies of snacks, food, drinks, and other smaller items. From the town, it takes a 30-minute drive to the forest reserve.Most seasoned trekkers or waterfall hunters would know what to bring, but I am going to list down the general items you need when you visit this place.The list will be broken into two sections, one for just the waterfall day trip visit, and the other for camping overnight here.

Nadzira from In A Nutshell poses at the Chemerong Waterfalls



Hiking Reviews of Chemerong Waterfalls





Over the years, many hikers have made their way to Chemerong Waterfalls, namely for hiking and camping at the CBL here in Dungun, Terengganu.





Since 2016 and 2017, more hikers have been coming here or the amazing experience and I have gathered some of their articles for you to read and see photos.





Catherine from 'Catching Travels', shares her from 'Catching Travels', shares her 3D/2N camping experience at Chemerong in May of 2017 along with 30 hikers. She shares detail about her journey up, camping overnight and some beautiful photos.





Nadzira Hata from 'In A Nutshell' has also experienced 3D/2N from 'In A Nutshell' has also experienced 3D/2N camping and trekking at Chemerong Waterfalls in April of 2017. Nadzira is one of those hiking and trekking lovers from Malaysia.





MCHiker is also one of those hardcore hikers and trekkers from Malaysia who has experience is also one of those hardcore hikers and trekkers from Malaysia who has experience trekking to Chemerong Waterfalls in his detailed trekking blog. His journey was in 2015 and there are lots of photos.





Joan from LuvFeelin has also experienced from LuvFeelin has also experienced visiting Chemerong Forest Reserve in July of 2016 and spent two nights hiking and camping here. Her blog is entirely in Chinese for those who can read.



The various national parks and forest reserves around Terengganu



Chemerong Waterfall Information

1000 feet (305 meters)

Chemerong Waterfalls GPS Coordinates: N4.65988 E102.98899

Gunung Berembun GPS Coordinates: N4.63963 E102.97063

Langsir Waterfalls GPS Coordinates: N4.63291 E102.97555

Chemerong Waterfalls Contact

Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Terengganu,

Tingkat 8, Wisma Negeri,

Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu,

20200 Malaysia

Tel: +6 09 6222444 Ext. 6808

Talian Terus : +6 09 6221587 / 6274123

Email: phnt@forestry.terengganu.gov.my



CBL Trekking Map



Application for Climbing and Camping Permit for CBL Chemerong Waterfalls



Send to:

Pengarah Perhutanan Negeri Terengganu,

Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Terengganu,

Tingkat 8, Wisma Negeri,

20000 Kuala Terengganu

Tel : +6 09 627 4155

Fax: +6 09 623 6552

Email: hutanlipurtrg@forestry.gov.my





Fees for Chemerong Waterfalls and Camping





According to the last update in 2017, there are several different fees for visitors and they are;

Park Entrance Fees: RM2.00 Adults, RM1.00 for children

Camping Fees: RM5.00 per person

Park Ranger Fees: RM500.00 per day

What Time Does The Chemerong Park Open?





The Chemerong Forest Reserve operated on government hours which is from 8.00 AM till 5.00 PM. If you want to get your park entry, tickets and other fees, you need to do it during these hours.





The best is to plan your travels so that you reach here during the park operating hours. And the park office is open seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.



An epic photo of Chemerong Waterfalls



When is the Best Time to Visit Chemerong Waterfalls?





Anyone planning to visit Chemerong Waterfalls must take note that the park closes during the Monsoon season in east coast Malaysia from late October to mid-March.





Why do they close? Because the monsoon period brings a lot of rain, and it can sometimes rain for days. This can cause mudslides, uprooting of trees and even floods, which can endanger the lives of trekkers, hikers or general visitors.





It is recommended to visit during the dry season in May, June, and July. However the park is open from March till October, and during the other months, you can expect small showers.



On weekends, school holidays and public holidays, this place can get really crowded. So, if you dislike crowds, I will personally recommend you avoid these times and go on a weekday.



You will enjoy a peaceful trek with very little people, which is something that I really enjoy when trekking.









Driving Distance from KL to Chemerong CBL



How to Drive to Chemerong Waterfalls For those interested, it is best to contact the park office and find out when exactly they close and reopen.





For those driving, this is important information as the road signs are quite tricky. Unless the park has put up more signboards, you need to follow the





Waterfall Junction GPS Coordinates: N4.66192 E102.98992



Distance to Chemerong Waterfalls



Below is the distance from various cities around Malaysia to Chemerong waterfalls, and also the time taken is from Google Maps calculation.



Give and take, just add another 30 to 60 minutes for food and toilet breaks during your journey.

From Al-Muktafi Billah Shah - 35.8 KM, 30 minutes drive

From Kuala Terengganu - 126 KM, 1 hour 45 minutes drive

From Dungun - 67 KM, 1-hour drive

From Kuantan City - 147 KM, 2 hours drive

From Kota Bharu - 265 KM, 4 hours drive

From Kuala Lumpur - 378 KM, 4 hours drive

From Ipoh - 431 KM, 6.5 hours drive

From Melaka - 419 KM, 5.5 hour drive

From Johor Bharu - 489 KM, 6.5 hours drive

From Penang - 593 KM, 8 hours drive

From Singapore - 473 KM, Coastal Road, 7 hours drive For those without their own transport



This applies to tourists or anyone without a car or bike, there is no public transport to Chemerong Waterfalls. You need to travel to Dungun or Kuala Terengganu and then take a taxi or private car service to the park.



There is no bus service to Chemerong Waterfalls so you can forget this option. If you are going in a group, usually you will charter a bus or van for the trip.



I would recommend three options;



1. Taxi or Private Car Service - First, get the price for a one-way trip. Then get the taxi contact number or make arrangements for him to pick you up when you are done here. I do not think that Grab will pick you up from the park, so please do check on that.



2. Rent a Car - You can also rent a car in Kuala Terengganu and self-drive to the park as this would be a fun way to explore this part of Terengganu. Make sure you have a GPS, Waze or Google Maps for this.



3. Book a Tour - Various travel agents offer special tours here, and you can book them in Terengganu or other cities. For example, if you book one in Kuala Terengganu, they will pick you up, send you there and after you are done, send you back to the city.



The Chemerong Waterfall information from Tourism Malaysia



Additional Information for Chemerong Waterfalls



Some people may want additional information about this beautiful waterfalls which is one of the tallest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.



Photography - There is a required permit for any professional photography at the park and you need to apply for this through the forestry office for the photographers permit.



This simply means if you are coming here with the crew, equipment, and talents for a photoshoot, wedding photo or other photography, you need to apply for a permit from the park office.



Video Shooting - Depending on what kind of filming you want to do, it requires different permits from the forestry department.



If you are just doing your own filming for your company, you can get the permit from the park office at RM200 per day. If you are doing a TV commercial, music video or movie that requires crew, you need to apply for a special permit from the main office.



Drone Photography - This is still new, but I believe you must inform the park office if you are doing anything commercial here.



One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Malaysia, Photo by www.jenalothman.com



Final Thoughts Below is the distance from various cities around Malaysia to Chemerong waterfalls, and also the time taken is from Google Maps calculation.Give and take, just add another 30 to 60 minutes for food and toilet breaks during your journey.This applies to tourists or anyone without a car or bike, there is no public transport to Chemerong Waterfalls. You need to travel to Dungun or Kuala Terengganu and then take a taxi or private car service to the park.There is no bus service to Chemerong Waterfalls so you can forget this option. If you are going in a group, usually you will charter a bus or van for the trip.I would recommend three options;- First, get the price for a one-way trip. Then get the taxi contact number or make arrangements for him to pick you up when you are done here. I do not think that Grab will pick you up from the park, so please do check on that.- You can also rent a car in Kuala Terengganu and self-drive to the park as this would be a fun way to explore this part of Terengganu. Make sure you have a GPS, Waze or Google Maps for this.- Various travel agents offer special tours here, and you can book them in Terengganu or other cities. For example, if you book one in Kuala Terengganu, they will pick you up, send you there and after you are done, send you back to the city.Some people may want additional information about this beautiful waterfalls which is one of the tallest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.- There is a required permit for any professional photography at the park and you need to apply for this through the forestry office for the photographers permit.This simply means if you are coming here with the crew, equipment, and talents for a photoshoot, wedding photo or other photography, you need to apply for a permit from the park office.- Depending on what kind of filming you want to do, it requires different permits from the forestry department.If you are just doing your own filming for your company, you can get the permit from the park office at RM200 per day. If you are doing a TV commercial, music video or movie that requires crew, you need to apply for a special permit from the main office.- This is still new, but I believe you must inform the park office if you are doing anything commercial here.



The Chemerong Waterfalls are simply breathtaking and one of the amazing Eco-destinations in Terengganu, Malaysia. If you are an outdoors, adventure and nature lover, this is one of the highly recommended places to visit.



And if you are into camping, trekking, hiking, and a waterfall lover, this is one of the highly recommended places in Malaysia to visit. I hope this guide on how to go to Chemerong Waterfalls has come in handy for you.



Any questions, comments or updates, please leave a comment in the form below or you can use the contact me form. Have a great trip here.
This road was blocked off after a four-wheel-drive clipped several parked cars and then flipped. Credit:Chris Hopkins

A manhunt is under way for the driver of a four-wheel-drive that ploughed into several parked cars and then landed on its roof on a quiet suburban street in Melbourne's east.

Residents of Warburton Road in Canterbury woke on Friday morning to find a number of parked cars damaged and a black 4WD on its roof in the middle of the street.

Police believe the car crashed into a number of parked cars about 5.20am before the driver, and possibly passengers, fled on foot.

Warburton Road resident Mary Johnson said her family's small Peugeot, which had been parked on the street, was badly damaged.
A police officer has been killed while on an annual motorcycle ride, which set off from Melbourne on Friday to honour officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Age understands a senior sergeant from Melbourne's bayside area was killed after a car travelling west along the Princes Highway at Mount Raymond Regional Park near Orbost veered onto the opposite side of the road about 2.20pm.

He was on the annual Wall to Wall ride with his son, who is also a police officer.

It's believed the veteran police officer was riding on his motorcycle alongside his son when they saw the car driving erratically on the wrong side of the road.

Further details of the crash are yet to be confirmed, but the senior sergeant died at the scene.
Child Abuse Squad detectives have charged a 25-year-old man from Hamersley with assaulting a seven-week-old baby.

Police will allege the baby suffered life threatening injuries in an August 10 incident.

The man has been accused of grievous bodily harm.

The man was home alone with the baby when the assault is alleged to have occurred.

The baby was rushed by ambulance to Perth Children's Hospital where he was treated.
"Of course his parents were nowhere to be seen during either encounter."

Mrs Down said comments and stares while out in Perth hurt, and called for parents to educate their children to respect differences. In her local community everyone accepted Brady and treated him the same as anyone else. But when out in the wider community it was a different story.

"We are more than happy to answer questions of curiosity from people but rude comments and stares are not acceptable," she said.

The words stung me like a knife to the heart as they were said to him and it makes me incredibly sad that this is not the first nor last time he will hear this nastiness, in fact it happens far too often. Alicia Down

"Please think before you speak, teach your children to be kind and to see people for whats on the inside not the outside."
The WA Opposition has criticised Police Minister Michelle Roberts for failing to confirm to parliament whether police know the whereabouts of 58 people charged with child sex offences during a major police operation.

Operation Fledermaus has been running since 2016 in the state's North West and has uncovered hundreds of allegations of sex crimes against at least 50 children.

Many of the victims and their alleged abusers live in Roebourne, about 40km from Karratha in WA's Pilbara region.

The opposition had asked the government to reassure the public that police knew the whereabouts of all 58 accused or whether any were listed on the state's sex offender register.
Washington: US President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is close to reaching a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller but an agreement has not been concluded, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

"It's close but not there yet," the source said.

Paul Manafort. Credit:AP

Earlier, ABC News (US), citing three unnamed sources with knowledge of the discussions, said Manafort had tentatively agreed to a plea deal and it was expected to be announced at a court hearing on Friday in Washington.

ABC News said it remained unclear whether Manafort had also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "It is totally unrelated." Manafort had other charges dropped but he still looks likely to go to prison, marking a steep fall from grace for a multi-millionaire who was often at Trump's side as the Republican candidate took US politics by storm in 2016. US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Manafort agreed to cooperate with Mueller by providing interviews - in which he waived the right to having an attorney present - as well as texts and documents. Loading Manafort also agreed to testify before any grand juries and in any trials in Washington or elsewhere.

Despite his cooperation, Manafort could still face 10 years in prison on the two charges in Washington alone. In August, Manafort was convicted in Virginia on charges that pre-dated his stint on the Trump campaign and involved his work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. He is yet to be sentenced in that case. Manafort had steadfastly refused to cooperate with Mueller even as the Virginia jury convicted him for hiding from US tax authorities $US16 million ($22 million) he earned as a political consultant in Ukraine to fund an opulent lifestyle and then lying to banks to secure $US20 million in loans. Trump last month praised Manafort for not entering into an agreement with prosecutors, as the President's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen had. On August 22, Trump wrote on Twitter: "Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal. Such respect for a brave man!" Jury selection in Washington was due to begin on Monday in Manafort's second trial on charges including conspiring to launder money, conspiring to defraud the United States, failing to register as a foreign agent and witness tampering.

Instead, Manafort entered the plea. In court on Friday, Manafort stood stock still before the judge, answering her questions with single words in a low tone, or sat at the defence table. He sat straight or leaned his chin on his right hand throughout a lengthy recital of the charges to which he pleaded guilty. Paul Manafort is likely to spend time in jail. Credit:AP Former federal prosecutor Harry Sandick said it was too soon to say how much Manafort's cooperation could affect the investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russians. "Its hard to see how this is good for Trump," Sandick added, "but we dont know yet if it is bad for Trump."

"The big question is what information does he have that the special counsel is interested in," said Sandick. "Cooperation is supposed to be complete. So if he has information about the President or the President's family and advisers that would have to be shared," Sandick said. Manafort made millions of dollars working in Ukraine before taking an unpaid position with Trump's campaign for five months. He led the campaign when Trump was selected as the Republican presidential nominee at the party convention. Moscow rejects the conclusions of US intelligence agencies that it interfered in the American democratic process and Trump denies campaign collusion. "He knows nothing harmful to the President and the plea is the best evidence of that," Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is representing Trump in the Russia probe, told Reuters on Friday.
The cause of the explosions wasn't immediately clear. Emergency crews are scrambling to douse house fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, north of Boston, and gas and electricity lines are being turned off in an attempt to stop further damage. Firefighters battle a large structure fire in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Credit:WCVB via AP Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating four victims with injuries related to the fires but did not provide details about their conditions. Jill McDonald Halsey, chief of marketing and communication, told The Washington Post. "We are in emergency management activation mode and are ready for any more that come."

Massachusetts State Police say troopers have been dispatched to the three towns to secure scenes and help traffic that has snarled roads as panicked residents attempt to flee their suburbs amid the afternoon peak hour. A man whose neighbourhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Lawrence resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4.30pm on Thursday, local time. When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbour's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire. Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighbourhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion. "I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated." With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night. Firefighters battle a house fire in North Andover, Massachusetts. Credit:AP

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurised, but officials who responded to the area were still investigating the cause. State officials said Columbia Gas was working to ease pressure on gas lines following the fires. Columbia had announced earlier on Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there on Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not immediately return calls. Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighbourhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning. "It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe." Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.

Multiple fire trucks from surrounding communities arrive in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Credit:AP Schools and senior citizen centres were being opened as gathering points for residents who fled their homes. Lawrence City Councillor Marc Laplante said entire neighbourhoods were being evacuated in the Colonial Heights area, which he represents. "People need to get out of this area safely," he said at the time. "It's really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous." Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky." Officials in Andover, a town of 35,000 residents had advised all residents and businesses to evacuate and to shut off their gas, if they know how to safely. Soon after 7pm, officials said all fires in the town had been extinguished.
Latest News NAB announces 76% rise in profits Good news for brokers as market share grows to over 40% at Big Four bank

Auctions brace for busiest weekend of the year as buyers look to get in before Christmas Next weekend is the last where buyers could be in before Christmas, and volumes look likely to be higher than ever

Millions of Australians could directly benefit from coming changes to Australias credit reporting system, according to new research.

Proposed changes soon to be debated in parliament would require the big four banks to report repayment information on credit accounts, enabling consumers to show recent positive repayment behaviour.

From 1 July the major lenders were given three months to share at least 50% of their credit information with credit bureaus.

Data and analytics company Equifax said it is good news for Australians who pay their mortgage on time, as this behaviour gives direct evidence of their financial capability.

The credit reporting changes also offer hope for people who have previously been through a period of financial difficulty, often because of a period of unemployment or relationship breakdown.

Data from the Equifax consumer credit bureau reveals there are approximately 200,000 Australians who have a credit report that only shows an historic black mark of a default, judgement or bankruptcy that occurred more than four years ago.

That single piece of historic negative information can exclude a person from accessing new credit or getting better-priced credit for many years after the event took place.

The companys group managing director Australia and New Zealand, Mike Cutter, said, These changes are about financial inclusion, giving people who have an old black mark on their credit report a chance to show they have recovered from a rough patch and are now making the regular repayments on their credit accounts.

Showing that these consumers are back on track is a major benefit of comprehensive credit reporting, and one that may allow them to access cheaper rates or a better deal.

The reforms are also good news for those who pay their minimum mortgage payments on time every month.

Cutter said, The majority of consumers make repayments on time each month, but this has not been shown on their credit report until now.

These reforms are about providing a more accurate picture of consumers and giving them the opportunity to showcase their positive repayment behaviour.

The National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting) Bill 2018 is set to be debated in parliament in the next few weeks and would require the big four banks to report when minimum payments on a credit card, mortgage or personal loan are being made on time.

This repayment history would be reported alongside additional information that will better show the actual credit commitments position of a consumer, rather than just how many credit enquiries they have made.

While it is only the major banks actually required to share credit information at the moment, smaller lenders are also joining CCR.

ME Banks chief risk officer, Carlo Cataldo, said the success of CCR relies on everyone sharing data.

He said, A successfully operating CCR will ultimately improve competition among banks and will have broader economic and consumer benefits.

CCR helps all banks, including ME, provide better service to market segments which were previously unavailable through limited access to data.

For example, ME will be able to lend with greater certainty, reducing the costs of bad loans over the long term as well as enable better compliance with responsible lending obligations.

Customers will be the biggest beneficiaries of the new regime. Banks will have a better picture of customers credit worthiness because theyll be able to assess them on good payment behaviour, not just bad.

ME is working to participate in CCR as soon as possible, with the bank currently testing its data sharing capability.
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A judge on Wednesday sentenced three gang members to several years in prison each for the fatal shooting of a former aide to Gov. Cuomo during the early morning JOuvert festivities on Labor Day in 2015.

Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice slapped 26-year-old Micah Alleyne with a 20-to-30-year sentence, and 33-year-old Kenny Bazile with a 20-to-25-year sentence, after a jury convicted both men of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, but acquitted them of the top charge of second-degree murder.

And Giudice sentenced a third defendant, 27-year-old Stanley Elianor, to three-and-a-half to seven years for his first-degree reckless endangerment conviction.

A fourth defendant, 23-year-old Tyshawn Crawford, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and testified in court in exchange for a promised 14-year prison sentence, and jurors acquitted a fifth man of charges related to the deadly shooting back in July.

The men, all members of the Folk Nation gang, were on Bedford Avenue in front of Crown Heightss Ebbets Field Houses around 3:40 am on Sept. 7, when a gun fight broke out between them and rivals in the 8-Trey faction of the Crips gang who wandered near the public-housing complex, which Folk Nation claims as its territory, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

At the same time, Cuomos former counsel Carey Gabay was walking nearby on Bedford Avenue with his brother and some friends, and a stray bullet hit him in the head as the bystanders sought cover behind a parked car.

Paramedics rushed Gabay to Kings County Hospital following the fracas, where he died from his injury more than a week later, on Sept. 15.

Earlier this month, Cuomo announced $15 million in state funding for a recreation center coming to Crown Heightss Bedford-Union Armory as part of the city-owned propertys redevelopment into a multi-use residential complex, and named the community space for his late staffer, a Harvard-educated attorney survived by his wife Trenelle Gabay, and son Carey Gabay, Jr.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's attack.

The Nangarhar health department confirmed the toll.

A number of dead bodies were directly taken to their homes by relatives and, therefore, not counted in Tuesday's figures, the official added.

Zar Khan, one of the injured, told AFP he saw a young man get out of a auto and run towards the protesters shouting "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest).

"Another explosion hit us and I was wounded (in the leg)".

"The majority of civilian casualties occurred in the Mohmandara district of Nangarhar when a suicide attacker detonated his explosives among a crowd which had gathered to demonstrate against an Afghan Local Police commander". However a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, denied in a WhatsApp message that the neighborhood had played any feature within the assaults on Tuesday.The Islamic Train has vowed to assault colleges within the province in retaliation for American bombing campaigns against their forces.Zabihullah Ghazi reported from Jalalabad, and Fahim Abed from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Ghulam Mohammad Balkhi, deputy spokesman for the Afghan army's 209 Corps, said at least 30 Taliban fighters were killed in the joint operation.

Ashura, the most important Shiite observance, falls on the 10th day of Muharram and is often marred by deadly attacks.

The violence follows recent diplomatic efforts to end the lengthy war between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

But u.s. officials have met in July the taliban in Qatar.

Officials have warned violence is likely to intensify ahead of parliamentary elections next month and a presidential election in April.

A part of the taliban based in neighboring Pakistan has indicated to the AFP that he hoped to have further discussions "soon" and rumors are that a new dialogue between the two parties this month.

The country's stretched security forces will be tasked with protecting thousands of polling stations around the country at a time when they are already struggling to beat back insurgents.

There are already concerns about widespread fraud.

32-died a few hours after the attack, the macabre balance sheet has more than doubled Wednesday.
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Former Fort Greene Councilwoman and New York Citys sitting Public Advocate Letitia Tish James is one step closer to becoming the states first black attorney general after Democratic voters statewide elected her as their partys nominee in Thursdays New York State primaries. And James wasnt the only self-described progressive candidate who claimed the blue partys line in the elections  Democratic Socialist Julia Salazar formidably defeated eight-term Bushwick state Sen. Martin Malave Dilan, and in Crown Heights, attorney Zellnor Myrie won over sitting state Sen. Jesse Hamilton, a former Independent Democratic Conference member. Other incumbents, however, cruised to victory, including Gov. Cuomo, who is now primed for his third term as the states top pol. Read on for our roundup of the primary-election results:

Governor, Democratic

Gov. Cuomo sailed to victory on Thursday night, handily defeating his rival, political novice and Sex and the City actress Cynthia Nixon, even in the face of criticism that the Queens-born incumbent failed New Yorkers by not maintaining the beleaguered subway system  a centerpiece of his challengers campaign  and after the Democratic Party sent out a controversial mailer accusing Nixon of anti-Semitism.

Cuomo, who raked in some in 944,254 votes to Nixons 498,618 by the time roughly 97 percent of the ballots were counted, is now all but certain to be a three-term governor like his father, Mario Cuomo, but still faces a challenge in November from Republican Marc Molinaro  who will also be on the Conservative and Reform tickets  and Green Party nominee Howie Hawkins.

Lieutenant Governor, Democratic

Cuomos second-in-command, Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul, narrowly beat Midwood Councilman Jumaane Williams in her quest for a second term alongside the governor.

The Buffalo-born Hochul faced a stiff challenge from the self-proclaimed progressive, but ultimately prevailed, netting some 702,972 votes to Williamss 617,397 with roughly 96 percent of ballots counted after a neck-and-neck race.

With the win, Hochul goes on to face Republican Julie Killian in November.

Attorney General, Democratic

Tish James, who represented Fort Greene in Council for nine years before voters elected her to her current office of New York Citys Public Advocate, defeated three other competitors to score the Democratic nomination in the race to replace disgraced former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

James, who received several blockbuster endorsements, including nods from Cuomo and rapper Nicki Minaj, earned some 513,777 votes by the time roughly 90 percent of the ballots were counted, with challengers Zephyr Teachout, at 398,907 votes, Sean Patrick Maloney, at 318,968 votes, and Leecia Eve, at 43,797 votes, trailing behind.

The Brooklynite will go on to duke it out with Republican nominee Keith Wofford, Green Party candidate Michael Sussman, and Independence Party nominee Vincent Messina in November.

18th State Senate District, Democratic

Democratic Socialist of America candidate and political novice Julia Salazar bested state Sen. Martin Malave Dilan in one of the nights major upsets, despite revelations that the newcomer lied about being a Colombian immigrant while on the trail, and that she was previously registered as a Republican.

Salazar, who ran a grass-roots campaign buoyed by endorsements including that of fellow Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, secured some 19,888 votes to Dilans 14,039 by the time roughly 94 percent of ballots were counted, and will go on to represent parts of Bushwick, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, East New York, and Brownsville up in Albany as she faces no general-election challengers from other parties.

22nd State Senate District, Democratic

Andrew Gounardes won the Democratic nomination in the district encompassing Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park, and Midwood. The county-backed candidate  who had the support of borough Democratic party boss Frank Seddio and other local party leaders  won his place on the ballot by beating back former journalist Ross Barkan, nabbing some 8,552 votes to Barkans 6,229 after nearly all ballots were counted.

In November, Gounardes will face off with eight-term incumbent Republican state Sen. Marty Golden  who defeated him by about 10,000 votes in a previous race for the seat back in 2012.

17th State Senate District, Democratic

Incumbent state Sen. Simcha Felder comfortably prevailed over his challenger, attorney Blake Morris, winning some 15,197 votes to Morriss 7,854 after nearly all ballots cast on Thursday were counted.

Felder, who has represented parts of Borough Park, Midwood, and Flatbush as a Democrat since 2012, will return to Albany for another two-year term, as he is also running on the Republican line in the general election.

20th State Senate District, Democratic

Brooklyn lawyer Zellnor Myrie, who has never held elected office, won an impressive victory over incumbent state Sen. Jesse Hamilton to nab the Democratic party line, capitalizing on resentment that many true blues held over Hamiltons caucusing with Republicans as a member of the Independent Democratic Conference until the body dissolved in April.

Myrie earned some 21,527 votes to Hamiltons 18,080 by the time roughly 95 percent of ballots were counted, but his primary victory doesnt assure him a seat in Albany, as hell face the sitting senator again in Novembers general election, when Hamilton runs on the Independence Party line.

23rd State Senate District, Democratic

Incumbent state Sen. Diane Savino easily beat her left-leaning challenger, political newcomer Jasmine Robinson, who was endorsed by Ocasio-Cortez, Nixon, and the Working Families Party.

Savino, who caucused with Republicans as a member of the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference, has represented parts of Bensonhurst, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Gravesend and Sunset Park, as well as Staten Island since 2004, and won some 11,714 votes to Robinsons 3,592 with roughly 94 percent of ballots counted.

She will go on to face Republican David Krainert in the November general election.

46th State Assembly District, Democratic

The race between the two candidates battling to claim the open seat representing Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Dyker Heights vacated by disgraced Assemblywoman Pamela Harris was too close to call by press time, with Columbia and New York University professor Mathylde Frontus and Ethan Lustig-Elgrably, a former Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Coney Island Councilman Mark Treyger, about 100 votes apart after roughly 84 percent of ballots were counted.

Frontus held a thin lead with 3,030 votes to Lustig-Elgrablys 2,915, and the results will be updated as more ballots come in.
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A bipartisan group of 16 US lawmakers asked Alphabet Incs Google on Thursday if it would comply with Chinas internet censorship and surveillance policies should it re-enter the Chinese search engine market. The questioning added to the pressure on Google to disclose precautions it would take to protect the safety of its users if Chinese regulators allow its search engine to operate. More than 1,000 Google employees, six US senators and at least fourteen human rights groups have written to the company expressing concern about its China ambitions. On Thursday, ...
Data can be legally collected in bulk if it can be justified in the interests of national security, but safeguards must be put in place. While the case has no direct impact on United States intelligence gathering, the case could have a ripple effect because of the close connections between USA and UK intelligence and law enforcement organizations. "The decision sends a clear message that similar surveillance programs, such as those conducted by the NSA, are also incompatible with human rights", claimed ACLU attorney Patrick Toomey. Europe's human rights court is about to publish what could be a landmark ruling on the legality of mass surveillance. And the court did not find that the surveillance itself was illegal.

'Furthermore, there were no real safeguards applicable to the selection of related communications data for examination, even though this data could reveal a great deal about a person's habits and contacts, ' the court statement said.

They wrote: "In view of the potential chilling effect that any perceived interference with the confidentiality of journalists' communications and, in particular, their sources might have on the freedom of the press, the Court found that the bulk interception regime was also in violation of article 10".

Specifically, the court said there wasn't enough independent scrutiny of processes used by British intelligence services to sift through data and communications intercepted in bulk.

Judges voted six to one the effort by its intelligence agency GCHQ for obtaining data from communications providers was "not in accordance with the law", and there were "insufficient safeguards in respect of confidential journalistic material".

However, the court ruled that information sharing with foreign governments didn't break the ECHR, ruling there was no evidence of abuse or significant shortcomings.

The parts of United Kingdom law that were found to be problematic by the Court are similar to aspects of the PATRIOT Act in the U.S. that have enabled the most controversial parts of USA mass surveillance. The scope for unrestricted snooping "could be capable of painting an intimate picture of a person" through mapping of social networks and communication patterns, browsing and location tracking, and understanding who a person is interacting with, the court said. "The Court recognizes how revealing metadata can be to people's lives", Toomey told Ars.

Mass surveillance in and of itself, however, was not found to be a violation of the charter.

In a landmark case brought by charities including Amnesty and human rights group Big Brother Watch, the top court ruled that the "bulk interception regime" breached rights to privacy (Article 8).

"The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 replaced large parts of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) which was the subject of this challenge", she said.

Civil liberties groups are set to continuing fighting a number of cases related to surveillance and while rulings have gone against the government, nothing has changed; the Investigatory Powers Act is still the same as it was in 2016 and the government doesn't look to be in any rush to alter it, despite these losses.

The government also argues that because the ruling focuses old legislation - the case was first brought about in 2013 - it doesn't necessarily apply to the current incarnation of surveillance law which was introduced at a later date.
Congress president on Friday alleged that the CBI had aided fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya's "great escape" by changing the "detain" notice to "inform", adding that it was "inconceivable" that this was done without Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval.

Allegations have flown thick and fast between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Mallya episode, following the liquor baron's claim on Wednesday that he had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving for the UK.

"Mallya's Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the 'Detain' notice for him, to 'Inform'. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM (sic)," the Congress chief tweeted.



Gandhi on Thursday accused Jaitley of lying to hide the "free passage" he allegedly gave to Mallya to flee to London, while the ruling party counter-claimed that the Gandhi family had tried to salvage the sinking Kingfisher Airlines with a "sweet deal".

Congress leader P L Punia on Thursday claimed that he had seen Jaitley in "an elaborate 15-20 minute meeting" with Mallya on March 1, 2016, a day before the businessman left

Mallya's claim in London had drawn a rebuttal from Jaitley, who said he never gave any appointment to the fugitive liquor baron but the latter used his privilege as an MP to accost him once in Parliament.

Immediately after Jaitley's rebuttal on Wednesday, Mallya appeared to tone down the seriousness of his comments, saying it was "not fair" to create a controversy over the issue as it was not a "formal meeting" and he had only "happened to meet" the finance minister.
Thats precisely what will happen if the government proceeds with plans to force companies doing business in India to store all customer data locally. The first salvo in this campaign was fired in April, when the Reserve Bank of India ordered companies to store the the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them  in a system only in India. The central bank claimed this was necessary to ensure its unfettered supervisory ...

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The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a high-level probe to put to task the erring cops for arresting and causing "tremendous harassment" and "immeasurable anguish" to scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 espionage case and asked the Kerala government to pay Rs 5 million to him as a compensation for undergoing "immense humiliation".

Terming the police action against 76-year old former scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as "psycho-pathological treatment", a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said his "liberty and dignity", basic to his human rights, were jeopardised as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, was compelled to face "cynical abhorrence".

"There can be no scintilla of doubt that the appellant, a successful scientist having reputation, has been compelled to undergo immense humiliation. The lackadaisical attitude of the state police to arrest anyone and put him in police custody has made the appellant to suffer the ignominy.

"The dignity of a person gets shocked when psycho-pathological treatment is meted out to him. A human being cries for justice when he feels that the insensible act has crucified his self-respect," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Welcoming the judgement, the former scientist said the Kerala police had "fabricated" the case and insisted that the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

"The Supreme Court has clearly stated that it was an illegal arrest. It also identifies and acknowledges the suffering and humiliation I have gone through.

"The highest court of the country has accepted what I said. They (Kerala police) fabricated the case. The technology they said I stole and sold did not even exist then," he said, responding to the order.

Narayanan had approached the top court against the Kerala High Court order which said no action was required to be taken against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

The espionage case, which hit the headlines in 1994, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

While awarding Rs 50 lakh compensation to be paid by the Kerala government in eight weeks to Narayanan, the apex court said it was being given "to compensate the suffering, anxiety".

It also allowed him to simultaneously pursue his pending civil suit for further compensation.

The bench said the "reputation of an individual is an insegregable facet of his right to life with dignity" and rejected the plea of Kerala government that due to the lapse of time, no inquiry and subsequent actions needed to be taken against the erring officials.

It accepted the plea of Narayanan that the authorities who have been responsible to cause such kind of "harrowing effect" on his mind should face the "legal consequences".

"We think that the obtaining factual scenario calls for constitution of a Committee to find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring officials," the bench said.

It ordered the formation of a three-member committee headed by its former judge Justice D K Jain to take appropriate steps against the erring officials and directed the Centre and the state government to nominate one officer each to the panel. The seat of the committee would be at New Delhi.

"The criminal law was set in motion without any basis. It was initiated, if one is allowed to say, on some kind of fancy or notion," the bench said.

"We are of the view that the appellant was arrested and he has suffered custody for almost fifty days. His arrest has been seriously criticised in the closure report of the CBI. From the aforesaid report, the harassment and mental torture faced by the appellant is obvious," the bench said.
A Redmond-based information technology staffing company was asked to pay over $300,000 to its 12 H-1B employees for paying them far below their salary and has been imposed a penalty of over $45,000, a media report said Thursday.

The US Department of Labour Wage and Hour Division (WHD) during the investigation found the company, which has offices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, violated the labour provisions of the H-1B visa program by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, the report said.

As a result, People Tech Group Inc has been asked to pay its 12 employees $309,914 and has been slapped with a penalty of $45,564, it said.

Investigators found that the company paid entry-level wages to H-1B computer analysts and computer programmers who performed the work of much more experienced employees and should have received higher prevailing rates, the Department of Labour said.

The Group also did not pay the employees for the time when it failed to provide them work, as the law requires, the department said.

"The intent of the H-1B foreign labour certification program is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of US workers exists," said Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Carrie Aguilar in Seattle.

The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding American jobs, level the playing field for law-abiding employers, and ensure no one is being paid less than they are legally owed, Aguilar said.

The Wage and Hour Division has listed nearly 30 companies as willful violator employers under the H-1B program.

As per the list maintained since 2013, a majority of willful violators are Indian Americans or companies owned by them. At least 10 companies, which includes eight willful violators have been debarred or disqualified from hiring foreign guest workers on H-1B visas.
A majority of homeless women with mental illness (73%) were able to reintegrate into community life after they were discharged from the institution where they were under care and reunited with their families, according to a study. The study was conducted by The Banyan, a Chennai-based institution for homeless women with mental illness and the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) in 2010, and was funded by Tata Trusts.

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Florence's winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 225 kph earlier in the week, and the hurricane was downgraded from a terrifying category four to a two.

Coastal North Carolina felt the first bite of Hurricane Florence on Thursday as winds began to rise, a prelude to the slow-moving tempest that forecasters warned would cause catastrophic flooding across a wide swath of the us southeast.

Hurricane Florence has just about reached the cost of the Carolinas, set to bring heavy rain and damaging winds to the area tomorrow and through the weekend.

About 1.7 million residents across the states' coastlines are under mandatory evacuation orders, and tens of thousands of hospital patients and prison inmates have been moved out of Florence's path. It is forecast to make landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina, at midday Friday.

"This storm will bring destruction", said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. North Carolina will likely see eight months' worth of rain in two to three days, said National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear in a video briefing.

The United States Geological Survey recorded flood water 10.01 feet deep in the town of New Bern in North Carolina.

The hurricane centre also said the threat of tornadoes was increasing as the storm neared shore. "We've prepared all our supplies at home and frankly, we were bored". "And the vast majority of the time they are OK", she said. "It's not the middle of a hurricane yet, so why not come for a beer?" said Waters, 54. Water kills more people in hurricanes than wind, and he said it will still be an extremely risky storm for rain and storm surge. "I am frightened about what's coming".

She also said residents don't need to live next to a river or creek to experience catastrophic flooding in their basements.

Hurricane-force winds began whipping North Carolina as federal emergency management officials warned that the hurricane remained a "very risky storm" capable of wreaking havoc along a wide swathe of the coast.

"We will reopen these stores only after we have conducted a post-hurricane assessment and determined that it is safe for our employees and customers to return", the bank said in a statement.

Already Thursday, streets were transformed into raging streams and massive waves surged along the Outer Banks. That puts it at the upper range of Category 2 storms, which have winds from 96 to 110 miles per hour.

It's unclear exactly how many people evacuated, but more than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to clear out.

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm approached, and more than 12,000 were in shelters.

"Even after Hurricane Florence makes landfall, it's still forecast to just crawl west over SC, gradually weakening to a tropical storm", said FOX 46 Meteorologist Tara Lane. "The combination of a risky storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline". Florence has weakened a bit over the past 24 hours, but it has also grown larger and will likely dump torrential rain over North and SC through Monday.

Despite pleas from officials, some residents rejected calls to evacuate.

He spent the last few hours of calm before the storm visiting those who stayed, collecting contact information for their next-of-kin.
This season will bring a number of female-driven movies, including new work from Nicole Holofcener, Karyn Kusama and other directors who just might be poised for a breakthrough. These films are reminders that even as female activists continue to demand industry reform post-Harvey Weinstein, women  much as they have always done  are also working hard as writers, directors, producers and costume designers. Women have been on the cinematic front lines from the start. While men took most of the credit for building the movie industry, women  on camera and off, in the ...
The hopes of Madhya Pradeshs farmers for a good soybean harvest, because of rise in acreage compared to last year, could be dashed in a few areas.

This is because the standing crops at a few places have reportedly been hit by the white stem fly, which could lower yields. Though senior industry officials discounted any largescale impact of white stem fly in the final harvest, a few farmer leaders said that in several districts of the state, an attack has been noticed. In some isolated fields, there have been reports of pest attack, but it isnt big enough to ...
China will ask Wall Street firms for ways to improve ties with the United States and suggestions to open up its financial sector at a day-long meeting in Beijing on Sunday, people familiar with the matter said. The Chinese government sent invitations for the hastily-convened meeting a few weeks ago as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies appeared to be headed for a full-blown trade war. Top financial firms in both countries are sending representatives to the meeting, although heavyweight invitees such as Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman were unable to ...
As bad as the 2008 crisis was, the cure could be worse. After Lehman Brothers fell and the U. S. government stepped in to rescue finance from its worst instincts, many demanded that banking become boring again. Stolid lending, it was argued, was what banking should be all about.

Its time to recognize that this was a mistake. Finance is indeed more boring than it was earlier. But, thats hurt the world over the long term much more than its helped. Consider the Basel-III regulations which, following the crisis, have become the basis for much ...
Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh Friday said negotiations are underway with the United States (US) over 25 per cent tariff it had imposed on steel imports.

US President Donald Trump had earlier imposed a 25 per cent import tariff on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium.

However, the minister said there would not be any immediate impact on domestic steel exports as India sends a marginal amount of alloy of its shipment to the US.



"Negotiations are still going on (with the US). There may some a sort of understanding... and the other side is that we are to go for certain steps to be taken to safeguard our interest. We will certainly take," he said at Assocham India Steel Summit - Enhancing Competitiveness & Overcoming Challenges.

Singh had earlier said that the 25 per cent tariff imposed by the US on steel import can 'indirectly' affect the domestic sector.

"The US decision to impose 25 per cent tariff on steel imports will have negligible direct impact (on India's export) as India's share of US Steel imports is very small as compared to other countries but there might be an indirect impact," he had said.
A week after the successful 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, India's National Security Advisor is in to hold meetings with top officials of the Administration.

Doval, who is held in high esteem by the Administration, is scheduled to meet the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department on Friday.

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is likely to meet officials from the Department of Defence and from the think-tank community.

However, the Indian Embassy in and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Doval's visit and his meetings.

" is a very close friend of the United States," the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. She had accompanied Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the two-plus-two Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations, she said in response to a question.

The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time, she said.



"So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to doing more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have, Nauert said.

During the meetings discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak region in particular those related to counter-terrorism. It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the ground work of the potential visit of the US President Donald to

Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit The two sides are currently looking at various dates including Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2019.

Responding to a question on Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government. Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognizing that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder.

"And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone,"she said.
The search warrant affidavit listing items cops recovered from the unit of Botham Jean, who was shot to death Friday by officer Amber Guyger, became public Thursday afternoon after it was returned to a judge.

Botham's funeral will be held Thursday. He will be buried in Saint Lucia, but the service in Texas was a chance for American friends to say goodbye.

"A friend is the family that you choose. I can not believe that my boy is not here", said Bertram Jean, Botham's father.

It was a service filled with music, a fitting tribute to a man who expressed his love of God through song, according to Minister Michael Griffin, who called him "Bo".

Inside Edition obtained footage from the South Side Flats apartment which shows a half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane he had been catching up on. "He was the light in a dark room". His uncle says they are still wondering why a Dallas Police Officer shot and killed the man. Court documents show Officer Amber Guyger claims she was disoriented and entered the wrong apartment, believing Jean was an intruder. But Allison Jean said she later found the University of the West Indies never received an application from him.

He studied accounting at Harding University in Arkansas, and moved to Dallas to launch his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

CEO Tim Ryan says the company started a scholarship fund in Botham Jean's name. His friend and business mentor, Tommy Bush, told the church how Botham aimed high in pursuit of excellence in everything he tackled. "I was supposed to be mentoring him", he said. It has been a painful week for those who knew Botham Shem Jean.

Jean's mother has said he was only a teenager when he presented a plan to evangelize his home country of St. Lucia. Ignatius Jean said his nephew's death was felt across the Caribbean nation.

Then she said it was shut but unlocked. There are diverging narratives about what exactly happened in the moments leading up to his death September 6.

DALLAS A 26-year-old man killed in his apartment by a Dallas police officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own was remembered Thursday as a devout Christian who loved to sing at church and always had time to help others. Guyger "entered the building and walked down the fourth floor hallway to what she thought was her apartment", the affidavit says. It says she "inserted a unique door key, with an electronic chip, into the door key hole. Believing she had encountered a burglar, which was described as a large silhouette, across the room in her apartment, Guyger drew her firearm, gave verbal commands that were ignored by Complainant Jean", the affidavit alleges. Jean was shot once and died. The family of Botham Jean, the man who was killed, is demanding answers.

They and others yesterday said they expect justice. He was flanked by the Jean family and about two dozen African-American faith leaders from Dallas. "It doesn't read anything beyond negligence of that they simply do not specify how she is reckless which is the required mental state for manslaughter". Merritt said the search warrant showed investigators were immediately looking for drug paraphernalia, CBS Dallas / Fort Worth reports.

They believe it will be hard for the Dallas County DA's office to prove a crime.
Fundsraising by India-focused investors  both intended and actual  in the first eight months of this calendar year has increased by more than 100 per cent to $5.32 billion from $2.55 billion during the same period last year. In terms of volume, the number of deals during the January-August period rose by 48 per cent to 37 from 25 last year.

These investors in August announced fundraising plans worth $3 billion, which was 50 per cent higher than the $2 billion raised in nine deals the previous month, according to the latest EY report. The largest fundraising during the ...
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang has refuted claims of intrusion by its troops into the Indian territory near the state of Uttarakhand, saying that the troops have always operated on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

At a press conference on Thursday, when asked about Indian media claims of Chinese troops crossing LAC thrice in a month into the country's "Uttarakhand" state, the farthest one reaching 4 km into the "territory", Shuang said that Chinese military was carrying out the routine patrol on the Chinese side.

He further said that India and China have a mechanism of communication and meeting, and these issues could be resolved through it. "President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi have met several times recently, during which important consensus was reached on properly managing differences and disputes and jointly maintaining peace and tranquility of the border areas. China and India also have well-established communication and meeting mechanism for border-related affairs," he said.

He asserted that resorting to the media to heat things up will not help control disputes.

"Our two countries should work in concert to earnestly implement the instructions of our leaders and uphold peace and tranquility of the border areas," he stated.

As per sources, China's People Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the LAC at least three times last month in Uttarakhand.

Speaking on transgressions along the LAC by the PLA, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC) Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh earlier this year said, it "took place in areas where we have different perception of the Line of Actual Control," adding that India and China have well-established mechanisms, especially at the highest level, where special representatives from both the countries discuss issues related to the resolution of the boundary dispute.

LAC is a 4,057-km porous border between India and China and runs through glaciers, snow deserts, mountains and rivers.

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The Chairman of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) Sohrab Baloch urged the newly appointed United Nations (UN) High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to address the human rights violations taking place in Balochistan.

In a moving open letter to Bachelet, Baloch wrote, "The Baloch people have been systematically marginalised and deprived of basic rights. Moreover, those who stand against state's discriminate and brutal policies towards Baloch people, are subjected to enforced disappearance and most of the time executed extrajudicially."

"Over the years, Baloch human rights groups and international human rights institutions on the situation of Balochistan have reported serious continuing human rights violations against Baloch people," he added.

Accusing the Pakistan government of suppressing the rights of civilians and systematically impending the movement of activists through indiscriminate crackdown, Baloch alleged, "For last one decade, we are witnessing a barrage of indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians and crackdown against political activists, human rights defenders, journalists and intellectuals including member and leadership of Baloch Students Organization-Azad."

"On the contrary, the Pakistan Government and security establishment's response to these documented reports have ranged from the blanket of denials of any wrongdoing by security forces to numerous attempts to discredit reports of abuses by human rights organizations, eyewitnesses and survivors," he wrote in the letter.

Appealing that the UN should "proactively engage with Pakistan and convey the concern about the gravity of the situation", Baloch stated, "I believe that your leadership on this matter would send a powerful message to the government and military and could prevent further atrocities and violations in Balochistan.

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A bail application for advocate Surendra Gadling and Shoma Sen, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case was moved in Pune Sessions Court on Friday. The matter will be heard on September 27.

The five accused in the case, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhavle and Rona Wilson, were produced before the court today. Earlier, the hearing on bail pleas of Gadling and Sen was deferred till September 14.

"My bail application is being extended unnecessarily. I have not been provided with the books I have demanded for. I also asked for a copy of the judgement in one case, that has also not been given," Gadling argued in the court.

The court said that the matter of the books will be heard in a separate enquiry. In the earlier hearing, Gadling had asked for ten books, which he needed to continue his studies to obtain a degree in Cyber Law. The court had approved the request in the previous hearing.

In August, the five accused were arrested from various cities for their alleged involvement in the violence that erupted earlier this year during the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle. One person was killed and many were injured in the clashes.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government, in an affidavit, told the Supreme Court that the activists were "members of banned terrorist organisation Communist Party of India (Maoist)".

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In a bid to boost tourism, the Nepal government headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, flagged off the first bus service connecting Kathmandu and the Indian state of Bihar.

The inaugural function, which was organised in the capital, was attended by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, along with Nepal's Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Raghubir Mahaseth.

Lauding the Nepal government, Puri in his speech at the event said, "I am happy that we (India and Nepal) are able to start an important bus service which can directly link Bodhgaya and Kathmandu."

A deluxe bus service which is equipped with modern facilities like air-conditioned cushioned seats will link two Buddhist sites, namely Swayambhunath Stupa and Bodhgaya.

Swayambhunath Stupa is a well-known Buddhist shrine located in Kathmandu, whereas Bodhgaya in India is a place of pilgrimage where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

The commencement of this new bus service is expected to give a boost to the tourism industry and generate more revenue for the two neighbours.

The service was initiated in Kathmandu nearly three days after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flagged off the first bus service from Bihar to Nepal.

Kumar, while addressing the inaugural event, had said that four buses will ply from Bodhgaya to Kathmandu via Patna, Raxaul, and Beerganj, while four more buses will ply from Patna to Janakpur via Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi.

The inauguration of bus services from Bihar to Nepal comes nearly four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Nepal in May, had flagged off a bus service connecting Janakpur (Nepal), which is the birthplace of Sita, to Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), the birthplace of Lord Rama.

The first ever railway line linking Nepal and India, the Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway, is also on the verge of completion and is expected to be functional by December.

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The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday condemned the arrest warrant issued against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and called it a "conspiracy" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The arrest warrant was issued by Maharashtra's Dharmabad Cour t against Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister and 14 others in connection with an agitation held by TDP in 2010 against the Maharashtra government, opposing the construction of Babhali project.

"It is unfortunate that an arrest warrant has been issued against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. It appears that there is some conspiracy by Prime Minister Modi and BJP president Amit Shah," said TDP spokesperson Lanka Dinakar.

Resonating similar sentiments, TDP MLC Buddha Venkanna said, "This is a conspiracy by Prime Minister Modi out of jealousy. We know how to face it. Telugu people worldwide will show their protest. That doesn't mean burning off trains or buses or going on Bandh. We will express our protest in our own style."

"Naidu is not an ordinary man, nor his followers. If Prime Minister Modi is trying to play pranks like children, people will not remain calm. What he did is very wrong. We will definitely face it in judicial manner," he added.

Venkanna went on to add that the Babhali project was taken up by Naidu for the "sake of saving north Telangana from becoming desert".

"Even then he was ill treated by Maharashtra Police. It's not the matter of Andhra or Telangana. Both are equal to Naidu. K. Chandrashekar Rao should respond on this matter. As Naidu had fought for northern Telangana, now the Centre is showcasing that old case and has issued warrant.

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With Maldives inching closer to polls, airing content criticising the incumbent government helmed by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom is costing the broadcasters of the nation, says South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly.

Underlining the hefty fined slapped by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) on a Private TV channel Raajje TV, for airing content that was allegedly defamatory of the president and "a threat to national security", Ganguly quotes the Raajje's operations chief, Hussain Fiyaz, who says "The fines are certainly a political decision made by a commission that is fully under the control of the government."

Rajje TV has already been fined four times since 2016 by the MBC for allegedly broadcasting anti-government content.

This has cost the station nearly four million rufiyaa - over USD 250,000.

On August 8, MBC levied a fine of two million rufiyaa (USD 129,807) on Raajje TV, for comments made by an opposition lawmaker during live coverage of a demonstration in March.

The article further elucidates, the ordeal of the private broadcaster which launched a public appeal to help pay the initial penalties, going door-to-door asking for donations.

The fines are imposed under Maldives' Anti-Defamation Act of 2016, according to which the media outlets are coerced to pay their fines within 30 days, regardless of whether there has been time to hear any appeal.

Although Raajje TV has paid its latest fine, more may come. Fiyaz believes that the government will make further attempts to obstruct the station's coverage before election day, causing Raaije TV to rely on the kindness of strangers.

"With the elections just around the corner, people don't want to let the government deter us from doing our work," Ganguly quests Fiyaz as saying.

Maldives will go for poll on September 23.

Ganguly in the article further asserts that the Human Rights Watch has documented the Maldives government's use of "decrees and vaguely worded laws to silence dissent and to intimidate and imprison critics."

She also highlights that "religious extremists and criminal gangs - including many that enjoy political protection - have assaulted and at times murdered outspoken critics.

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The Delhi Police on Friday arrested a man after a video of him beating a woman went viral on the social media.

The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 376 (rape) and 323 (causing voluntarily hurt) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the accused Rohit Tomar, who is the son of a Delhi Police officer.

As per the victim's statement, the incident took place on September 2 at a BPO office in Delhi's Uttam Nagar area.

In her written statement to police, the victim alleged that the accused called her to his friend's office in Uttam Nagar and made physical relations with her without her consent. After she warned the accused of filing a police complaint against the same, the girl was brutally thrashed and abused.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh took cognisance of the incident and spoke to Delhi Police commissioner for taking action against the accused.

"A video of a girl being brutally beaten by some boy has been brought to my notice. I have spoken to the Delhi Police commissioner and directed him to take appropriate action in this regard," Rajnath tweeted.

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Egypt has officially chosen 'Yomeddine' to be submitted at the 91st Oscars under the 'foreign language film' category.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, directed Abu Bakr Shawky, the film is about a Coptic leper and his orphaned apprentice, who leave the leper colony for the first time and go on a journey across Egypt to search their families.

Penned by Shawky and produced by Desert Hig hway Pictures and Film Clinic, the film premiered in official selection at Cannes earlier this year, where it won the Francois Chalais Award.

This is the second time Egypt has entered the foreign language film category of Oscars, the first time being in 1958, the film could not earn a nomination or a statuette.

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Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader DD Lapang has resigned from the party.

In a letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Lapang said, "Lately, All India Congress Committee (AICC) has been embarking upon a policy of phasing out senior and elderly people. In my opinion, it means that their service and contribution of the senior and the elderly people is no longer useful to the party."

"Since the spirit and enthusiasm to work for the people is still burning inside me, this restriction made me frustrated and compelled me to be no longer comfortable to be in the party," the letter added.

He also said that he resigned from the party with a heavy heart. "Reluctantly, and with a heavy heart, I would like to discontinue my dedication towards the Congress Party and I tender my resignation with immediate effect," the former Chief Minister said.

Lapang served as the Chief Minister of the state four times. After becoming the Chief Minister for the first time in 1992, he held the position again in 2003, 2007 and 2009.

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Local meteorologists were already looking ahead to next week, when the remnants of Florence, by then expected to be a tropical or post-tropical depression, could move up into the Mid-Atlantic. And that's just the prelude to untold days of misery.

As the storm moves inland it will find a relatively flat area for hundreds of miles. "Catastrophic effects will be felt".

Tens of thousands of people are already without power.

"Yes its weakened, but is it strong enough to knock over a tree?" he says of Hurricane Florence.

Students of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern, N.C., on Thursday.

"If you find yourself here [in rising floodwaters], you need to get out", she said. For a Category 2 storm, that means sustained winds of 154-177 km/h (96-110 mph). And when it comes to impacts like storm surge, size matters just as much as the winds, says Rick Luettich, a coastal physical oceanographer at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill's Institute of Marine Sciences.

He said hurricane-force winds extend outward 80 miles from the centre of the storm and tropical storm-force winds extend almost 200 miles out.

"It's cumulative damage", Myers said. Tropical Force winds of 58 to 73 miles per hour are expected in the area. The storm's slowing forward movement and heavy rains had Gov. Roy Cooper warning of an impending disaster. The actual landfall - when the center of the eye reaches land - will be Friday afternoon at the earliest, said Neil Jacobs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

One forecast from weather-tracking website Weathermodels.com predicts that over the next week, the Carolinas could see as much as 11 trillion gallons of rain.

At the time of writing, over 116,000 people were watching the storm approach the tower, which "is a privately owned surplus Coast Guard Light Station", that also doubles as a "unique adventure bed & breakfast" when the weather is more appropriate. Millions of people have evacuated to inland communities as the storm churns westward. He said that the hurricane could only be captured on a super-wide lens, even from 400 kilometres up.

In Carolina Beach, North Carolina, authorities have stopped allowing traffic to the island via the only bridge between the island and the mainland.

"Our sand dunes are healthy, but they're not going to be able to keep back a wall of water like that", he said.

Susan Faulkenberry Panousis has stayed in her Bald Head Island, North Carolina home during prior hurricanes, but not this time.

Horton pleaded for volunteers to take in their animals for the duration of the storm, a common, plaintive refrain at other shelters across the area.

"Against my better judgment, due to emotionalism, I evacuated", said Fisher, 74.

On Thursday, schools and businesses were closed as far south as Georgia, airlines canceled about 1,200 flights and counting, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely empty.
An Air India flight AI 263 which landed wrongly on an under-construction runway at the Male airport recently, could have been averted had the airport ground staff communicated with the pilots, said Thayyib Ibu Faisal of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience in his tweet while quoting Velana International Airport (VIA).

He tweeted, "A VIA bird says wrong landing of Air India flight on Sept. 7 on under construction new runway was not because of fault of pilots alone. The airport ground crew was equally at fault."

The AI 263 flight, with 136 passengers, was operating on Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram-Male sector, and everyone was safe when it touched down on the uncommissioned runway.

Faisal quoted VIA as saying, "While approaching the 180 end, the protruder appeared to be at a greater distance and some materials used to drawing lines kept uncovered confused the pilots. The contractor/ ground staffs were not careful to cover the materials. This carelessness by airport authorities could have led to a major tragedy."

He added, "Rather than investigating the matter in a proper manner, the entire blame was put on the Air India pilots as a cover-up. YAG (President Yameen Abdul Gayoom) propaganda machinery even tried to gain political mileage out of the incident. YAG's Deputy Minister @AhmedSiddeeq even claimed it was a terrorist attack! What a shame."

The construction of the new runway at the Male International airport had started in March 2018 and the work is almost complete. However, the runway is still not ready for landings.

The runway, which is reported to be 3,400-meter-long and 60-meter-wide will allow Airbus A380 planes to land at the airport once opened.

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India and Russia on Friday discussed ways to increase trade, remove barriers in business and possibilities of working together on projects in third countries during 23rd Inter Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. The IGC was meeting was led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov following a comprehensive discussion on all bilateral matters.

Following the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction over the present trade and investment situation. With the two-way investments crossing the $30 billion target, set for 2025, India and Russia have now proposed to enhance this figure to $50 billion by 2025.

"India and Russia enjoy a special and privileged strategic partnership. This partnership has strengthened over time and covers a vast agenda involving almost all sphere of human activity. India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Russia. The Deputy Prime Minister and I have conducted a comprehensive review of our relations. I am satisfied with the outcomes of our meeting. The Commission has met in the run up to the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit which is expected to be held in India early next month. Both sides are currently working to prepare for this summit," Swaraj said in a media statement after the talks.

Talking about trade, Swaraj said that in 2017, the annual trade between India and Russia reached $10.17 billion. "We discussed ways and means to increase this momentum, ensure balanced trade, and remove barriers to trade. Two-way investments have already crossed the $30 billion target, which we had set for 2025. We have, therefore, proposed that we enhance this figure to $50 billion by 2025. Energy is the traditional area of cooperation. Earlier this year the first shipment of LNG from Russia arrived in India, in a new breakthrough of our energy partnership," Swaraj said.

To boost trade ties, a first ever India-Russia Business Summit involving major companies from both sides will be held in India in early October.

Swaraj added that the two sides have identified new areas of cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, transport, space and Science and Technology, and discussed the possibilities of working together on projects in third countries as a new dimension of strategic partnership.

On the cultural side, Swaraj said there has been significant expansion in cultural and tourism exchanges. "A festival of India covering 22 cities over a six month period is currently underway in Russia. Tourism flows in both directions has shown impressive growth. We are working on further liberalising visa regulations on both sides. I welcome the initiative of the Russian Government to enable electronic visas for Indian nationals visiting the Russia Far East," she added.

Swaraj also met Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Lavrov. "Both leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues. FM Lavrov hosted a dinner in honour of EAM," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Twitter.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that his government will weed out all infiltrators, irrespective of whether they are Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.

"We will now make efforts to weed out infiltrators from our country irrespective of being a Bangladeshi or a Rohingya. I appeal to the people of Uttarakhand that if at any point of time they suspect anything about anyone, they must immediately inform the government. We will surely throw them out," he noted.

Rawat's remarks came days after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pitched for the implementation of a Register of Citizens (NRC) across all states of the country, terming illegal immigrants as a "challenge" for the nation.

The Assam Chief Minister, while addressing an event on the NRC issue, had underscored, "Illegal immigrants are a challenge for us and to answer this challenge, NRC needs to be implemented in all the states. It is a document through which we can protect all Indians."

At the same event, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav had said, "Three steps will be taken after NRC-detect, delete and deport. NRC will ensure detection of illegal immigrants. Next step will be disenfranchise- deletion of names of illegal immigrants from the voters' list and deprive them of government benefits."

The first draft of NRC for Assam, which was released in January, contained the name of 1.9 crore individuals. The second and final draft, which was released in July, included the names of 2.89 crore out of 3.29 crore applicants in Assam, leaving out names of nearly 40 lakh people.

NRC is a register containing the names of Indian citizens and is being updated only for Assam to weed out illegal immigrants.

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The death toll in the Kishtwar van accident has mounted to 17.

The mishap happened when an overloaded minibus fell into a deep gorge in the mountainous area Friday morning, police said.

"The accident occurred at around 9 AM in Thakrai area of Kishtwar district, when the vehicle packed with passengers, coming from Keshwan, plunged into a gorge," Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana told ANI.

SP Vaid, who was recently transferred as Jammu and Kashmir Transport Commissioner tweeted that the "cause of accident being ascertained, I wish I can do something to prevent this."

The accident also left 16 others injured, who are now being treated in a hospital.

Eleven people were rescued and airlifted by a helicopter to Jammu, confirmed Rana.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti expressed condolences.

She wrote on Twitter, "Heartfelt condolences with the families who lost their loved ones in a road accident in Kishtwar today. Would like to Impress upon the Divisional administration to launch rescue ops on war footing to evacuate the injured and provide them specialised treatment.

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In line with their philosophy of innovation and excellence, Kohler, a global leader in bath and kitchen design, has launched a creative campaign collaboration with Twinkle Khanna on air.

Kohler's Colours by Kohler campaign features Twinkle Khanna showcasing the collection that brings vibrancy and personality to your personal bath space. The campaign was shot by leading photographer Suresh Natarajan. Through this association with Twinkle Khanna, Kohler aims to enable consumers to add personality into their bath space.

The Colours by Kohler campaign gives a glimpse of Kohler's artfully created products that offer decorative visual interest to one's bathroom. This collection brings an exquisite range of colours and finishes infusing new character to bath spaces.

With a combination of vibrant faucet finishes like Rose Gold, French Gold, Brushed Nickel and Brushed Bronze, and Ceramic products in new colours such as Almond, Cashmere and Black, Kohler significantly expands the options for home-owners who are seeking a unique, decorated lavatory.

Commenting on the association and the TVC, Twinkle Khanna said, "This campaign really spoke to the designer in me. If you think about it, white and chrome have been synonymous with bathrooms. That doesn't have to be the case. It is absolutely stunning as to what Kohler has done with decorative and colourful sinks and faucets by transforming them into artistic statements. The shoot managed to capture the theme of the campaign quite beautifully. They reflected the central idea of the campaign be it the Moroccan courtyard or an ironsmith's furnace, you could see the inspiration behind the products coming alive."

"It has been inspirational to work with Khanna and Suresh Natarajan, both experts in their creative fields. Moreover, Khanna's experience in the interior design industry makes her a perfect fit for our brand. At Kohler, we have great respect for creativity and art, which is highlighted through our campaign - Colours by Kohler. We created some beautiful settings around our products to bring them alive giving our consumers a glimpse of what could be achieved with exciting colours from Kohler in the bath space," added Salil Sadanandan, President, Kitchen and Bath Kohler Brand K&B S. Asia, Middle East & SSA at Kohler Co.

The new Colours by Kohler campaign exhibits some of Kohler's premium products that help add a lot of personality and vibrant colours to your bath space. With a combination of Vibrant Faucet Finishes and Ceramic products in new colours such as Almond, Cashmere and Black your bath spaces could become a true expression of your individuality.

The marketing campaign has been devised to target the relevant audience across TV, OOH and Digital. On TV, 14000 spots are spread over 45 days across 35 HSM and regional channels in genres like GEC, Hindi Movies, English News, Lifestyle channels etc. The TV campaign is further complemented by an impactful outdoor plan across Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Digitally, the mobile first campaign will be promoted across strategic OTT platforms, 75 apps and website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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South and North Korea on Friday launched their joint liaison office, thereby securing a platform for round-the-clock communication that is expected to ease tensions between the two nations.

The launch of the liaison office in North Korea's border town of Kaesong was attended by around 50 people each from the two Koreas, Yonhap News Agency reported.

This is a follow-up on the agreement that the leaders of South and North Korea arrived at in their April summit to run such an office on hopes that it will serve as a communication channel to help facilitate inter-Korean cooperation on various fronts.

"The inter-Korean joint liaison office is a channel for round-the-clock communication in the new era of peace. From today, South and North Korea can have direct consultations 24 hours a day and 365 days a year over issues relating to advances in inter-Korean relations, peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said in a congratulatory speech.

South Korea will station around 20 officials there, while the North will deploy 15-20 officials.

Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung will serve as a co-head for the office along with Jon Chong-su, a vice chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, a North Korean agency in charge of inter-Korean exchanges.

The co-heads are scheduled to meet every week.

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Russia has termed the reaction of the United Kingdom authorities to the interview of its nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who are suspected by London in the Skripal poisoning case as 'absurd'.

"It is absurd to accuse Russia of lying after statements made by two Russian citizens. They are ordinary citizens, they are not related to the Russian government," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. The spokesperson reiterated that the Kremlin considered any attempts to link Russian leadership to the Skripal case unacceptable.

"The position of Russia has not undergone any changes, it is absolutely unambiguous, transparent and consistent. We consider any attempts to link the Russian leadership or the Russian state to what happened in Salisbury unacceptable," Peskov said.

Last week, London said it had identified Russian nationals Petrov and Boshirov as the suspects in the Salisbury attack. Moreover, UK Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russian military intelligence of orchestrating the poisoning under the order of the central authorities. On Thursday, the interview of Petrov and Boshirov with the RT broadcaster and Sputnik news agency was released. In that interview Petrov and Boshirov said that they had visited the United Kingdom as tourists but refuted any involvement in the Skripal case, saying that they had no relation to the Russian military intelligence service (GRU). The UK Foreign Office called the interview of the Russian nationals "obfuscation and lies."

Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed about this interview and added that it was unlikely that he had watched the whole interview.

"I do not know, whether (the President) watched it or not. It is unlikely that he watched the entire (interview), because I do not think he had time for that. Although, he received some digests of brief news of course," Peskov told reporters adding there have been no any comments from Putin in this regard.

When asked whether any requests from the UK authorities regarding the interview with Petrov and Boshirov will be considered, Peskov said that if UK media wants to interview the two men they should address them directly. "It is necessary to ask these citizens. We are not engaged in organizing interviews with Russian citizens," Peskov said.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that Vijay Mallya's "great escape" was aided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who changed the fugitive liquor baron's "detain" notice to "inform".

"Mallya's Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the "Detain" notice for him, to "Inform". The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM," he tweeted.

According to sources, the CBI said that to make the lookout notice, which was issued against the liquor baron in October 2015, hassle-free, Mallya was forced to leave the country.

"A few days back BOI (Bureau of Immigration) informed the agency that Mallya is coming back to the country. Later the agency changed the lookout notice and asked BOI not to detain him as the agency did not have sufficient evidence against Mallya," the source said.

Gandhi, earlier this week, had accused Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of providing Mallya a "free passage" to "run away" from India after the businessman claimed that he met Jaitley before leaving India in 2016.

"The government is lying on Vijay Mallya. He was given a free passage out of the country by the Finance Minister. The Finance Minister has colluded in a criminal running away from the country," he had said while addressing media here.

Alleging that Mallya was allowed to escape by changing the 'arrest notice' to 'inform notice', the Congress president had also hinted at the CBI's involvement in the matter.

"Finance Minister talks to an absconder, absconder tells him that he is going to London. Finance Minister does not tell this to the CBI, ED or police. Why? The arrest notice was changed to inform notice. This can be done only by the one who controls CBI," he said and demanded the Finance Minister's resignation.

On Wednesday, Mallya, while speaking to reporters outside Westminster Magistrates' Court, where his extradition case was being heard, claimed that he had met the Finance Minister before he left for London.

However, Jaitley, who served as Finance Minister in 2016, rebuffed the claims and said he never gave Mallya an appointment at his office or residence for a meeting.

Mallya, who is wanted in India for defaulting on bank loans to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore, has been in the UK since March 2016. He was arrested by the Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant in April this year.

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The statue of India's first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, installed in a park at Balsan Crossing, has been shifted to a nearby spot, in order to widen the road for Kumbh Mela next year, the Allahabad Development Authority clarified on Friday.

"Due to broadening of the road near the park at Balsan Crossing, in view of upcoming Kumbh Mela, former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru ji's statue had to be shifted. The statue was shifted barely 30 meters away from its original spot and with full respect and honour," a statement read.

The response comes after the statue was seen being shifted by a crane, which, the Congress alleged, was being done deliberately to do away with the former prime minister's ideology.

Congress party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said that irrespective of the number of statues that are removed, Jawahar Lal Nehru, who was a Congress party leader, will always remain in the hearts of people.

"They can remove any statue of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru but Pandit Ji is engraved in the hearts of Indians. You may do all you want but the reality is he is engraved in our hearts," he told ANI.

Last month, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to keep the Teen Murti memorial, dedicated to the memory of Jawaharlal Nehru, undisturbed out of respect for history and heritage.

The letter was written after reports suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government was planning to turn the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library into a memorial for all the prime ministers of the country.

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Rapid industrialization has led to increase in the Ozone concentration in lower layers of the atmosphere. And, direct inhalation of the ozone causes can cause several health problems and wide spread illnesses among humans.

Five students from Oakridge International School Bangalore wanted to further examine this theory and set out on a mission with the support of SSERD and IIA to measure the Ozone concentration over the city of Bangalore.

Over the course of four months, the team consisting of Oakridgers Govind Nair, Aman Saxena, Prafulla, Rithvik Mahindra and Rahul Balaji built the required payload to accurately measure Ozone concentration in the atmosphere. To achieve this they had to import specialized sensors, which could survive extreme conditions and get accurate data. They also had to design the payload strategically such that certain sensors were exposed to a constant flow of the air, while others electronic components were safely insulated; this was one of the most challenging tasks of this mission.

The balloon was launched from CREST, in Hoskote Bangalore. The balloon traveled around 250 km from its launch site attaining a maxaltitude of 35 km which perfectly met the mission parameters. Finally, the balloon was found six days after launch around Chikamagalur. The balloon has been recovered sustaining no damage from the flight with all electronic components working perfectly and over 40 thousand data values to analyse.

"The results we found indicated that the ground level and tropospheric ozone in Bangalore is much higher than what was expected. The government in India, the US, and the WHO stipulate values ranging from 50-100 ppb as the safety standard. We concluded that the averages in Bangalore were 130 ppb for the first ten kilometres and approximately 400 ppb for the first eighteen kilometres. Furthermore, the readings we got were during night time, which is when the concentrations of ozone are least. During the daytime, these values can increase by as much as two times. This proves that the condition of air is very unhealthy, and this again relates to the general pollution problem as tropospheric and ground-level ozone is created by oxides of nitrogen and carbon," said the one of the students from the team.

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The upturn in oil prices come as the United States' sanctions squeezed Iranian crude exports and after the USA crude oil production in 2019 was forecast to grow at a slower rate than previously expected, prompting supply concerns.

Total Iranian oil shipments for September-although we're just one third into the month and more tankers could leave later in September-slumped to 1.3 million bpd through September 13, compared to just above 2 million bpd in August, when Iranian exports started to fall noticeably, according to Bloomberg's data.

Oil markets were also watching Hurricane Florence offshore the United States amid surging demand for gasoline and diesel, although crude output will not be affected on the storm's current route.

US crude stocks fell by 8.6 million barrels in the week to September 7 to 395.9 million, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said on Tuesday.

Outside the United States, traders have been focusing on the impact of USA sanctions against Iran that will target oil exports from November.

Crude oil prices gained traction on Tuesday and finally staged a decisive recovery with the barrel of West Texas Intermediate breaking above the $69 mark.

Major Japanese refiners were said last week to have officially notified Iran that they would halt all imports of Iranian oil for October while they wait for the Japan-U.S. talks on Iranian oil imports to make a permanent decision on how to proceed in November.

"We think oil market fundamentals are increasingly supportive of crude prices, at least at current levels", said Gordon Gray, HSBC's global head of oil and gas equity research.

"South Korea bought 194,000 bpd from Iran in July", OilPrice said.

Benchmark Brent crude oil was down 65 cents a barrel at $79.09 by 1200 GMT.

The Economic Times (ET), an Indian daily said Iran now exports about 2 million barrels a day which is already 28% less than what they used to export in April.

"This is a huge uncertainty on the market how countries, which buy nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian oil, will act".

Global oil output hit a record last month, and the IEA sees continued increases in oil production.

"World demand will average 98.82 million bpd in 2018, a demand growth of 1.62 million bpd", said S&P.

EIA revises down USA crude oil output expectations.

The US crude production is expected to rise 840,000 bpd to 11.5 million bpd next year, lower than a previous expectation for a rise of 1.02 million bpd to 11.7 million bpd, the US Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written personalised letters to around 2000 citizens from different walks of life inviting them to join the 'Swachhata Hi Seva Movement' and strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission.

In the letter, Prime Minister Modi has urged former judges, retired government servants, gallantry award winners, medal winners in the CWG as well as Asian Games, spiritual leaders, film personalities, journalists of leading media outlets, sportspersons, writers, among others to become part of the mass movement. He has asked the recipients of the letter to support the mission and at the same time inspire others to do the same.

To endorse the movement in all the states and union territories of the country, the Prime Minister has also written letters to Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of all states.

Prime Minister Modi has also highlighted the salient features of Swachh Bharat Mission and acknowledged it as a revolution across India. He has also described the Swachh Bharat Mission as a mass movement that has ushered in a Swachhata revolution across India.

Sharing details of the progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the letter stated that over 8.5 crore toilets have been constructed in the past four years. It also highlights the fact that more than 90 per cent Indians have access to toilet, as compared to less than 40 per cent in 2014. The letter further noted that over 4.25 lakh villages, 430 districts, 2800 cities/towns and 19 states and union territories have been declared open defecation free.

Through the letter, Prime Minister Modi has underlined that on September 15 he will be interacting with those working on cleanliness activities after which Swachhata activities will commence.

Earlier, describing this movement as "a great way to pay tributes to Bapu," the Prime Minister, in a video message, had exhorted people to be "part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a Swachh Bharat."

"On 2nd October we mark the start of Gandhi Ji's 150th birth anniversary. It is also the day Swachh Bharat Mission completes 4 years of being a historic mass movement aimed at fulfilling Bapu's dream of a Clean India. I salute all those working towards a Swachh Bharat!" the Prime Minister tweeted on September 12.

The movement, which will be held from September 15 to October 2, is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014. It will also mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Muslims, has shown us the path of righteousness with their doctrines of peace, unity and patriotism.

"With their doctrines of peace, unity and patriotism, the Dawoodi Bohra community has shown us the path of righteousness. The community is inspiring the youths in the country," the Prime Minister said while addressing a religious congregation of the community here at the Saifee Mosque on the occasion of 'Ashara Mubaraka'.

Recalling his long-standing relationship with the Bohra community, the Prime Minister said: "It is my good fortune that I have received the affection of the Bohra community. The community even assisted me during my tenure as Gujarat's chief minister. It is the sheer affection shown by you people that has brought me here today."

'Ashara Mubaraka' is observed at the beginning of the Islamic year and is organised to commemorate the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussain.

While addressing the gathering here, the Prime Minister lauded Imam Hussain's efforts towards establishing peace and justice across the world and also hailed the community's efforts in improving the condition of children and empowering society.

"The Dawoodi Bohra community's effort in improving condition of children has come a long way in empowering society. They started community kitchens to provide food to all. To provide affordable health care, the community is running several hospitals," he said.

A day ahead of the 'Swachhta Hi Seva' movement, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat campaign has developed into a mass movement, adding that cities like Indore and Bhopal are setting benchmarks in the protection of the environment.

The Prime Minister also informed that Ayushman Yojana, which has come as a saviour for about 50 crore poor people of the country, will ensure free annual medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakh per family, adding that a trial run of the same is underway.

Apart from Prime Minister Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin and scores of community members were also present at the event.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 68th birthday in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observes the day, September 17, as 'Sewa Diwas' across India with the party leaders organising various welfare programmes like cleanliness drives and blood donation camps.

According to sources, the Prime Minister, this time, will cut his birthday cake with children of a school in Varanasi and will later announce a slew of development schemes worth crores of rupees.

Some of these projects include inauguration of a ring road and foundation stone-laying ceremony of two hospitals for women, worth Rs. 20 crore each.

The Prime Minister, sources say, will also lay the foundation stone for a cancer hospital, which is estimated to cost Rs. 600 crores.

Officials are busy making preparations for Prime Minister Modi's visit, where he will criss-cross the city to initiate the programmes.

He is also likely to visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and participate in the event to start corridor construction of the temple.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister will address a gathering at the Banaras Hindu University, said informed sources.

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The Missionaries of Jesus on Friday, on the basis of the findings unearthed by its inquiry commission, stated that the nuns who were protesting against Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal, were influenced by the "thoughts of rationalists."

In a statement released earlier in the day, the organisation reiterated that the victim, along with other nuns and four other people, were conspiring against the Bishop, and accused the nuns of tampering with the visitor's register and the CCTV system on the day of the incident.

"Victim's friend was handling the visitor's register in the convent, they must have tampered with this. The victim has forcefully taken control of the CCTV system from mother superior, " a statement read.

The organisation also claimed that on the day of the incident as cited by the nun, the Bishop was not present in the premises of Kuravilangad convent.

"The bishop did not stay in the Kuruvilangad convent on 5/5/14 as claimed in the rape complaint by the nun. On 23/05/15, she (the victim) can be seen enthusiastically attending a private function with the bishop. All these points conclude that there was no rape," the statement added.

The nun has accused Bishop Mulakkal of raping and forcing unnatural sex on her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.

The nuns in Kochi, for the last couple of days, have been staging a protest against the accused Bishop, demanding action against the prelate. They have also alleged that the probe is being delayed as the accused is an influential authority in the Roman Catholic Church.

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Russia and India discussed the possibility of designating a site to construct another Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in India, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Friday.

"We will continue to cooperate in the area of construction and maintenance of Russia-designed NPP. We have discussed the possibility of designating a new site for the construction of another such plant," Borisov told reporters after the Inter-Governmental Commission's meeting between Russia and India. He noted that the two countries had certain disagreements on where to place units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam NPP, but would be decided soon.

Borisov also said that Russia and India will increase number of transactions in national currencies. The Ruble's share in bilateral transactions totals 20 per cent now.

"Solutions to this situation will be linked to increasing the number of transactions in national currencies, although today the share of transactions in Rubles is at 20 per cent for exports, and about 21 per cent for imports," Borisov said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy PM added that preparations are underway to sign intergovernmental memorandums on construction of the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline with the participation of the Russian side.

"This project requires the relevant intergovernmental memorandums to be signed. Active work in this direction is underway. I think, they will be signed in the near future. This will create the basis for the practical implementation of this project," Borisov said.

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Russia and India are planning to solve the issue pertaining to resuming of payments in the Russian arms supply contract.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Friday told the reporters that the issue of payments from New Delhi, which were suspended due to the United States' sanctions against Russian state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport will be resolved by October. His statement came ahead of the bilateral intergovernmental commission's meeting.

Earlier, the Vedomosti newspaper, citing its sources, said that payments on the part of India on most arms contracts with Russia have not been received since April 2018. The newspaper said it is due to sanctions imposed in line with the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against Rosoboronexport, which threaten its partners with the so-called secondary sanctions.

"Intensive talks are underway. Concrete solutions have been outlined, instructions have been given to all financial institutions to... solve this problem as soon as possible. I think that this issue will finally be resolved at the summit in October of our supreme commander-in-chief with the leader of India," Borisov said.

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The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday granted compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, who was arrested in an alleged spy scandal in 1994. The apex court observed that the arrest of Narayanan was "needless" and "unnecessary".

A three-judge bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, also announced setting up of a committee which would be headed by retired Supreme Court judge DK Jain to investigate the role of Kerala police officials in the arrest of Narayanan.

After the announcement of the compensation, Narayanan told ANI, "I am yet to see the judgment. All I know is that Rs 50 lakh will be given as compensation and a judicial inquiry will be conducted."

In its 32-page order, the Supreme Court observed that keeping in view of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report on the case, suitable compensation has to be awarded, without any trace of doubt.

"We think it appropriate to direct the State of Kerala to pay a sum of Rs 50 lakh towards compensation to the appellant, S. Nambi Naraynan. The said amount shall be paid within eight weeks by the State," the Supreme Court observed.

V. Giri, senior counsel appearing for appellant Narayan, submitted that the grant of compensation is not the solution in a case of the present nature. He also argued that the authorities who were responsible to cause such kind of harrowing effect on the mind of the appellant should face legal consequences.

"A human being cries for justice when he feels that the insensible act has crucified his self-respect. That warrants a grant of compensation under the public law remedy," the top court said.

"There can be no scintilla of doubt that the appellant, a successful scientist having a reputation, has been compelled to undergo immense humiliation. The lackadaisical attitude of the State police to arrest anyone and put him in police custody has made the appellant suffer the ignominy," the apex court noted.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday lauded the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Muslims, for propagating a sense of equality and uplifting the poor.

Addressing the community on the occasion of 'Ashara Mubaraka' here at the Saifee Mosque, Chouhan said: "After Prime Minister Narendra Modi started Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, this (Bohra) community made it a point that they will help poor people to get homes and will support them in setting up a business by providing funds. If there is a sect that is disciplined, loves and respects society, and helps those in need, it is the Bohra community. They help create a sense of equality inside us, which is essential for social harmony."

Furthermore, Chouhan lauded the Bohra community for their efforts to make Madhya Pradesh clean and green under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

"The contribution of the Dawoodi Bohra community in the development of the country and Madhya Pradesh has been outstanding. They have played a significant role in making Indore the cleanest city in India and have also actively participated in Narmada Seva Yatra," he said.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister also thanked Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending the event in Indore.

This is the first time that Prime Minister Modi is visiting a mosque in India. 'Ashara Mubaraka' is an event organised by the Dawoodi Bohra community to remember Prophet Mohammad and commemorate the martyrdom of his grandson, Imam Hussain.

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SYSKA Group in partnership with Biometronic and Suyin Optronics will set up India's first camera module factory.

With a factory in Noida, the total investment made by the companies will be around USD 30 million, which will be utilized in three phases.

Suyin Optronics will manufacture camera modules for mobile phones, automotive industry (Rear view camera), medical, security industry (CCTV) and defense industry (Drones).

The factory will have a clean room for an installed production capacity of 5 million pieces per month and an expansion plan to set up the first COB (chip-on-board) plant for image sensors with an installed capacity of 10 million pieces per month. A Center of Excellence (COE) will also be set-up to enable indigenous design and development capability which will constitute a collaborative effort with the industry to develop solutions for optical, mechanical and sensor packaging throughputs.

With the aim to support Indian government's initiative of Make in India, this is for the first time that a camera module factory is being set up in India by a global player. Interestingly, the government has recently given a nod to legalize drones in India and this gives Suyin Optronics an added advantage to manufacture drone cameras in India.

"We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with Suyin Optronics and Biometronic to become the pioneers of camera modules in India. With the use of latest technology, innovation and state of the art facility, we will process the manufacturing of camera modules in a phased manner," said director, Syska Group, Rajesh Uttamchandani.

"We are pleased to announce our manufacturing facility with our strategic partners. India's economic growth of 7.4%, its domestic consumer electronic demands and the governments encouragement of foreign companies to localize production has provided to us an opportune moment to establish a sound manufacturing base that will be self-sufficient through technology development and research," said chairman of Suyin Optronics, Corp. (Taiwan), Gary Lee.

"It gives us an immense pleasure to introduce this highly sophisticated manufacturing facility which will include image sensor packaging and finished camera modules," said Prabhu Sridharan, Promoter and managing director of Biometronic Pte. Ltd. (Singapore).

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Tech Mahindra, a digital transformation, consulting and re-engineering services and solutions provider, announced its partnership with the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) to launch AI4Action, the first global Artificial Intelligence (AI) challenge aimed at delivering solutions for climate change.

The competition will challenge students from schools, colleges, universities and corporates in four major cities - San Francisco, New York, London and New Delhi - to come up with creative, AI-powered applications over the next year that will help tackle climate issues impacting the

Tech Mahindra and GCAS will select ten finalists that can demonstrate tangible solutions for climate action. The overall winner must present an actionable idea that can be transformed into a real-world solution in time for the United Nations Climate Summit in 2019.

"This challenge mobilises some of the brightest minds, utilising the most advanced technology, to imagine - and pursue - solutions to the climate crisis that do not even exist today," said Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, added, "The world has a historic opportunity to reboot future development with de-carbonised, climate compliant technologies. AI will be a powerful new tool in the fight against climate change and the more businesses that get behind this technology, the faster we can all transition to a cleaner, more energy efficient economy. Tech Mahindra's AI4Action initiative along with the global partners is a step in the right direction."

Tech Mahindra will supply an open source AI platform, Acumos, co-developed with AT&T and hosted by the Linux Foundation, that will allow AI4Action participants to build, share and deploy their AI-driven models for tackling climate change. Acumos will provide a collaborative marketplace for accessing, using and enhancing AI models and software. Developers and businesses will be able to use the platform to string together individual applications to create complex and sophisticated AI services.

Linux Foundation Executive Director, Jim Zemlin, said: "The potential uses for AI are limitless, and taking advantage of this rapidly advancing technology to address climate change - an issue that affects us all - is the best use case I can envision. The Linux Foundation is proud to support this important initiative. We are thrilled to see the Acumos AI project leveraged for such a positive purpose through the AI4Action challenge."

CP Gurnani, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tech Mahindra, added: "At Tech Mahindra we are committed to leveraging next gen technologies like Artificial Intelligence that will enable a sustainable society and Our goal with AI4Action is to leverage the latest in artificial intelligence technology to combat climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time. We are excited to collaborate with our partners and create the first ever global 'AI for Action' movement."

This announcement comes at the back of Tech Mahindra's commitment to create a sustainable future and mitigate the impact of climate change by harnessing next generation technologies like AI.

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Her sons - Hassan and Hussain Nawaz - did not return to the country from London for the funeral.

Nawaz reportedly excused himself from meeting visitors who arrived at his residence in Raiwand to offer condolences and spent time in his room with close family members and friends.

According to reports, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight carrying the body of Kulsoom Nawaz will leave for Lahore from the Heathrow Airport, London on Thursday and land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore early on Friday.

Shehbaz Sharif along with Kulsoom Nawaz's daughter Asma, grandson (Hussain Nawaz's son) and other family members will bring her body back to Pakistan.

MMA Chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman also reached Jati Umra to offer condolences to Nawaz Sharif on the death of his wife.

The PML-N president had also shared that his brother and niece were adamant that they won't submit a request for parole to be able to attend Kulsoom Nawaz's funeral.

The funeral prayers were attended by her sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, former ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif underwent a medical check-up at Sharif Medical City after his health reportedly deteriorated after the demise of his wife Kulsoom Nawaz. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party's delegations will attend the funeral prayers, Geo News reported.

Their parole was extended to 4 pm on September 17. Her funeral will be held on the same day and she will be buried at the Sharif family graveyard in Jati Umra.

The home department said the period of parole has been extended until 12 am on Monday.

Kulsoom Nawaz died in a London hospital on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) M Safdar, now serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, have been released on parole to attend Kulsoom Nawaz's funeral.
In an unprecedented move, Transgenders in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district observed fast on the occasion of Hartalika Teej on September 12 to get rid of Naxalism in Bastar.

Teej, one of the major Hindu festivals is celebrated mostly by married women for long life of their husbands and marital bliss.

But interestingly, wishing for peace and prosperity, the Transgenders community in Bastar observed the day to weed out Naxalism from of the region.

Around 15 transgenders observed the difficult fast, following all the rituals.

"We want peace in the area. The Naxal activities in the region are creating a lot of trouble for the common people. For the peace and prosperity of the people we observed this fast," said Riya Singh, President Kinnar Samaj.

Bastar is one the major area in Chhattisgarh hit by the Naxal activities.

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Trina Solar, the leading solar energy solutions provider in India, is moving into the household and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) sector with today's launch of Trinahome.

The news comes on the eve of next week's Renewable Energy India Expo being held in Noida on 18-20 September. Trina Solar is a key exhibitor at this year's show.

"Trina Solar is already number one in India's solar energy market thanks to the large-scale utility projects, namely solar farms, we have already completed. We have provided solar cells and modules to many developers in India," says Yin Rong Fang, Trina Solar president of global sales and president of overseas commercial and residential solutions.

According to India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, there was 23.1GW of installed solar energy capacity in India as of 31 July this year.

Yin says: "Trina Solar supplied 3.5GW, so we accounted for 15% of the total. That means we are the clear market leader here in India."

India is also Trina Solar's second largest market in Asia Pacific after China. "Trina Solar was founded in China in 1997 and has been in India since 2010," says Yin.

"Now that we have solidified our strong position in the utility segment of the market, we are moving into the household and SME sector with the launch today in India of Trinahome."

Trina Solar India director, Gaurav Mathur, says, "We recognize that B2B (business-to-business) is very different to B2C (business-to-consumer). Prior to today's launch, we have been working behind the scenes to develop a nationwide customer service network, so we can reach consumers in all the towns and cities in India. This includes even those in the most remote rural areas."

"We have achieved this by signing up local partners throughout the country, namely distributors and installers," says Mathur.

"Trina Solar has also been training and certifying installers, so they can provide a high quality of service and meet Trina Solar's high-quality standards."

Mathur says, "The reason we decided to move into the household sector, is because we can see there is enormous market opportunity to bring solar energy to Indian consumers."

"India's government has set a goal of 100GW of solar energy capacity by 2022 of which 60GW is to come from solar energy utility projects and 40GW from rooftop solar energy."

"India has made good progress in working towards achieving the government's target of 60GW of solar energy utility capacity by 2022. But the country is lagging behind when it comes to achieving the 40GW target for rooftop," he says.

According to India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India's solar energy capacity, as of the end of July this year, was 21.9GW from utility and only 1.2GW from rooftop.

Mathur says, "Trinahome will help to boost demand in the market for rooftop by giving SMEs and households an easy and affordable solution."

"Trinahome is the very first 'all in one' solution in India, which means all the components - the solar modules, inverter, grid box, mounting system, etc - all come from Trina Solar and are backed by Trina Solar warranties," he says.

Mathur says, "This makes it very easy for the consumer, because they know that the whole system is backed by one manufacturer. It also means the components work together seamlessly to provide greater energy efficiency."

"The key benefit of solar energy is you will be more self-sufficient and can reduce your energy bills. Solar energy is also a renewable resource, so it is better for the than relying on electricity generated from fossil fuels, such as coal," he adds.

He also says, "One of the key factors driving people to adopt solar energy is because the cost of electricity, from fossil fuels, keeps increasing."

"Electricity prices can have a big impact on total household and expenses."

Trinahome is also an ideal solution for smaller commercial and industrial companies that want to reduce their energy bills.

Mathur says that Trinahome comes in three sizes: 3KW, 5KW and 10KW. "Trina Solar also has different mounting systems for different roof-types, so Trinahome can be installed on any type of roof in India," he adds.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that he won't run for the post of prime minister for a second term, Anadolu Agency reported.

"We respect and obey the instructions of the religious authority Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. I did not and will not request the post of prime minister in the second term," Anadolu Agency quoted Abadi as he addressed a news conference in Baghdad.

"Our service for the [Iraqi] people will continue until the new government is established. We will give everyone a lesson on how to make a governmental change in peaceful ways."

However, Abadi urged that the change in government should be in peaceful terms and not by armed clashes.

Abadi's decision comes at a time when he continues to face a growing domestic discontent and violence in many parts of the country.

Last week, the Iraqi city of Basra was rocked by violence, with protestors burning government buildings and the Iranian consulate.

Earlier this week, Iraq's prominent Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani also urged Abadi not to run for a second term at a time when Iraqis, in general, are frustrated at the governance under the latter's leadership.

In Iraq, the formation of a new government is also on hold since May, as even after hard-fought parliamentary poll, the results were later subject to a recount.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Friday arrested a Reader of a Special Metropolitan Magistrate of the Delhi Jal Board on the charge of accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for settling a challan case in south Delhi, an officer said.

"Accused Rajender Kumar Gautam, 52, of Lajpat Nagar was arrested by an ACB team for taking Rs 5,000 from the complainant who had came to deposit the challan in Special Metropolitan Magistrate's court at Lajpat Nagar," Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACB) Amit Roy told IANS.

"A resident of Najafgarh, the complainant told the ACB that Gautam was demanding a bribe for reducing the challan amount," Roy said.

"Gautam initially demanded more money for the challan and then demanded a bribe to reduce it. The challan receipt was issued for Rs 1,000," the officer added.

--IANS

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BJP President Amit Shah will launch party's campaign for the ensuing elections to the Telangana Assembly on Saturday by addressing a public meeting at Mahabubnagar, said a senior party leader.

Amit Shah, who is arriving on a day-long visit to Telangana on Saturday morning, will also give directions to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s state leaders about poll strategy and election manifesto.

According to BJP's Telangana unit President K. Laxman, Shah will have meetings with various groups. He will also visit a temple in the old city of Hyderabad.

The BJP chief will review the party's preparations for the coming elections at a meeting with top leaders. He will issue necessary guidelines to them to gear up for the poll battle.

Shah will later proceed to Mahabubnagar to address the public meeting to formally kick off the party's election campaign.

Laxman said Shah will visit Telangana again after 10 days to address a public meeting in Karimnagar.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on September 6 dissolved the state Assembly to pave way for early elections.

The BJP had five members in the dissolved 119-member Assembly.

--IANS

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Hours after the Supreme Court on Friday awarded him Rs 50 lakh compensation for the sufferings and ignominy he underwent after being arrested in an espionage case, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan said the fight was finally over for him.

"I am happy that a (three-member) committee, and not a commission, has been formed to conduct an inquiry. Till now, it was a fight, but it's over now. I want to live for myself now. Enough is enough," he said.

Narayanan had moved the apex court for a probe into the false case foisted on him by Kerala Police and other agencies.

He had challenged a Kerala High Court judgment that upheld the state's decision not to take action against officials who falsely implicated him in the case, forcing him to stay behind bars for 50 days.

"It was a long-fought case, or rather a judicial war. Let the committee come out with the conspiracy behind the case. With this verdict, police officials should realise that they cannot escape their actions," Narayanan said.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud awarded him the compensation and directed for setting up of the committee led by former apex court Judge D.K. Jain to inquire into the role of officials for implicating him in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spy case.

These officials include then Inspector General of Police Siby Mathews and then Deputy Superintendents of Police K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan.

The former ISRO scientist said he hoped that the committee will finish its job in three to six months.

He said that Rs 50 lakh will be paid by the state government and it's up to the state to decide if the money needs be recovered from the erring police officials.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charge of espionage along with another top ISRO official, two Maldivian women and a businessman.

After the CBI cleared him in 1995, he fought a legal battle against Mathews and other officials who probed the case.

--IANS

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Bhim Army chief and Dalit leader Chandra Shekhar aka Ravana on Friday pledged to teach the BJP a lesson after he was released from prison where he was held since last year under the National Security Act (NSA).

As he walked out of the jail, Chandra Shekhar slammed the "anti-Dalit" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh and vowed to pay back for his imprisonment.

Amid jubilation from his supporters, the Bhim Army chief was released early in the day from the Saharanpur jail.

He told journalists that his release before the due date of release on November 1 was due to the pressure mounted by his his supporters.

Refusing to embrace the BJP's attempt to pit him against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and called the four-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister his "bua (aunty) whom he respected a lot".

This is widely seen as a setback to the BJP's attempt to drive a wedge between the two Dalit leaders.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday okayed the release of Chandra Shekhar. The sudden decision was conveyed to the District Magistrate of Saharanpur.

The decision to free the Bhim Army chief ahead of November 1 followed a representation from his mother, said Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar.

The BJP government has also decided to release, ahead of time, two accomplices of the Bhim Army chief - Sonu and Shiv Kumar. They were to be released on November 14 this year.

Following a caste conflict in May 2017, the three along with three others were jailed under the NSA. The others were freed on September 7 this year.

On May 5, the Bhim Sena shot into limelight after a caste clash between Rajputs and Dalits in which a police station was set on fire and 20 vehicles gutted.

The violence continued for many days, leaving the state government on tenterhooks as it was in power for just two months at that time.

Chandra Shekhar is an advocate by profession and had formed the Dalit outfit, 'Bhim Army Bharat Ekta Mission', in July 2015 to fight for the rights of the Dalits.

The group has attracted hundreds, specially Dalit youths.

--IANS

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Bhutan will vote in a primary round of the third general election on Saturday, officials said.

The general election will be held on October 18. Prior to that, the primary round would be held between four aspiring political parties. After that, only two parties will be selected to compete for the general round, according to the Election Commission.

The polling for the primary round will start from 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

As per the poll body, there are 438,663 voters on the electoral roll, of which at least 60 per cent are expected to cast their votes during the primary round.

To facilitate the voters, the Election Commission had set up postal ballot facilitation and mobile booths across 20 districts of Bhutan from September 7-9.

--IANS

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Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Praveen Togadia on Friday accused the BJP of coming to power by promising a Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh but dumping the issue thereafter.

Addressing a rally at the Janakpuri ground in Akbarpur, he said: "They always said that 'we will build a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya when we come to power with a majority'... now, four years have passed, and look, nothing has been done."

"The BJP came to power at the Centre due to votes of crores of Hindus. Now, they only remember the welfare of Muslim women... that's how they have betrayed you," the former VHP leader said.

Togadia questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership that if a law could be enacted on the triple talaq issue, why couldn't a law be made to facilitate the construction of the Ram temple.

He said he will lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on October 21 to "awaken" the government on the issue.

Togadia accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of forgetting the "supreme sacrifices made by hundreds of people during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement" and pointed out that Modi had not visited Ayodhya even once in the past four years.

--IANS

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Trina Solar of China, the largest manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels globally and India's biggest supplier, launched its Trinahome product here on Friday as the countrys first solar home kit suitable for use in residences, SME establishments and other places like schools and hospitals.

Announcing the India launch of the home kit, Trina President (Global Sales) Yin Rong Fang said while Trinahome is currently being imported from China, the company aims to assemble it locally in the coming months.

The kit includes all the required solar rooftop components, includes modules, inverter, grid box and mounting system, and comes with a 25-year module performance warranty.

It is available in capacities of 3 kilowatt (Kw), 5 Kw and 10 Kw and has a dedicated app to enable customers to monitor power generation.

"Now that we have solidified our strong position in the utility segment of the market, we are moving into the household and SME (small and medium enterprises) sector with the launch of Trinahome in India," Yin said.

He said the company is in the process of identifying and approving local component suppliers, with the aim of assembling it in the country in the next four to six months.

"India is Trina's second largest market in Asia-Pacific and the third largest in the world. We far have cumulatively supplied 3.5 gigawat (GW) which is nearly 15 per cent of the country's total solar modules and panels," Yin said.

Responding to reporters' queries, Trina Solar India Director Gaurav Mathur said the price of the home kit would be announced soon.

"The company aims to capture 5-8 per cent of the country's total residential solar market," Mathur said.

Mathur noted that of the country's total solar energy capacity as at the end of July this year, 21.9 GW came from utility sources and only 1.2 GW from rooftop installations.

The Chinese company has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a manufacturing plant at a cost of Rs 2,800 crore. Around 90 acres of land have been earmarked for the proposed unit at Atchutapuram in Visakhapatnam district.

To a query on the company's manufacturing plans in India, Yin said: "The company is waiting for right policies so that manufacturing locally becomes more economically viable."

"Also, a manufacturing ecosystem is required like a developed supply chain to make the product cost-competitive."

The lack of a developed domestic supply chain means that production is not cost-competitive. Nearly 90 per cent of India's solar panels are imported, while Indian manufacturers have to depend on accessories from China.

--IANS

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The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".

In recent days, USA officials have said that they have evidence that Syrian government forces are preparing chemical weapons ahead of a planned assault on Idlib.

"This would unleash a humanitarian nightmare unlike any seen in the blood-soaked Syrian conflict".

The UN has estimated 800,000 people could be displaced by an attack.

Senior rebel officials said Turkey had sent more military aid to rebels in and around the Idlib region since a summit meeting with Iran and Russian Federation last week failed to agree a deal to avert a government offensive into the area.

"Fighting terrorism does not absolve warring parties of their core obligations under global law", said Guterres, who directly appealed to Iran, Russia and Turkey to spare no effort to protect civilians, "preserve basic services such as hospitals, ensure full respect for worldwide humanitarian law".

Russia's ambassador to the UN met Haley's threat with a denial that Syria has any chemical weapons, as the UN secretary-general warned of a potential "bloodbath" during Tuesday's UN Security Council meeting on the crisis in Idlib, Syria.

In the newspaper article, Erdogan called on the worldwide community to take action and warned that "the entire world stands to pay the price" otherwise.

Turkey is willing to cooperate with Assad allies Russian Federation and Iran in rooting out terrorists in the region, which is home to some 3 million people, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday.

High-level diplomats from Iran, Russia and Turkey are meeting the United Nations envoy for Syria about creating a committee to revise the war-battered country's constitution.

As Russia continues to bombard the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib from the skies, in support of the country's ruling government's campaign to retake territory, Washington is warning of retaliatory strikes. Many have previously refused to surrender to the regime.

"Russia has the power to stop the catastrophe looming in Idlib", she said. "We will see them finding a secure place on the border and create their own living areas if the operation starts".

A top United Nations official warned Monday that an attack on rebel-held parts in Syria's Idlib in coming months could lead to this century's worst loss of life as government forces pounded the area from the air and ground.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighters died in clashes with the militants on Monday night in the Safaa region in the Syrian desert.

The NLF, which maintains a presence in Idlib and Hama provinces and can field some 70,000 fighters, constitutes the primary force fighting the Assad regime. "That's something we're monitoring very closely", OCHA spokesman David Swanson told AFP.

The 7 1/2-year war has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's official visit to China on Friday resulted in the signing of strategic cooperation agreements in the oil, mining, economy, security, technology and health sectors within the framework of the 16th meeting of the China-Venezuelan High-Level Mixed Commission.

Maduro said during an address before the Commission that 28 agreements were signed for development of their joint ventures, Efe news reported.

The agreements, signed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, included a memorandum for share allocation in the Sinovensa oil joint venture, as well as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for development of hydrocarbon joint ventures Petrourica and Petrozumano.

An agreement for boosting cooperation between China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation and Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA oil and natural gas company was also signed with the aim of exploring and harnessing gas resources in the South American country.

The two parties also signed a MoU for cooperation between Chinese tech firm ZTE and Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Health.

Maduro said the agreements were in tune with the country's economic recovery programme that was rolled out on August 20 and claimed that commercial ties between the two nations had passed the test presented by the global financial crisis.

Wang said he wanted the bilateral cooperation to remain strong and to continue to advance.

Maduro began his China trip with a visit to the tomb of Mao Zedong, founder of the Communist regime in the country, near the Tiananmen square in Beijing.

Maduro, accompanied by wife Cilia Flores, paid his respects before the statue of Mao at the entrance to the mausoleum, where Mao's embalmed body is preserved. He also signed the visitor's book.

--IANS

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A Delhi Police officer's son was arrested on Friday on charges of raping and brutally beating a woman after a video of the two-week-old violence went viral, forcing a shocked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene.

Rohit Tomar, 21, an undergraduate student of Delhi University, was arrested a day after the police learnt about the video circulated on social networking sites showing the young man violently thrashing the victim at a call centre in Uttam Nagar in west Delhi.

Police arrested Rohit, the son of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashok Singh Tomar, after the woman filed an FIR against him on Friday alleging that she was not only beaten up on September 2 but also raped by the accused.

The police action followed a telephonic direction of Rajnath Singh to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Sharma told IANS that Rohit was arrested from his hideout "after we traced the victim's residence and subsequently filed a rape and assault case against the accused on the basis of her ordeal".

The accused has been booked for rape, voluntarily causing hurt and assault on woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

The victim came to the police station on Friday and gave a written statement alleging that Rohit called her to his friend's office in Uttam Nagar and sexually assaulted her, the officer said.

Sharma said "she was beaten up after she said she would lodge a complaint against him". A medical examination has confirmed allegations, he said.

Meanwhile, another case of molestation lodged on Thursday against Rohit in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar area came to light.

Police said that FIR was lodged by his 20-year-old girlfriend who alleged that she was molested by him and was being threatened by him.

The accused is being interrogated and the statements of both the victims have been recorded in court.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued notice to the police in the matter seeking a factual report of the incident related to the video and a copy of the FIR.

"It was observed that appropriate sections were not included in the FIR. Further, there are reports of the victim and her family receiving threats to withdraw the case," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A court here on Friday ordered framing of sexual harassment charges against noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, who has been accused of outraging the modesty of his colleague.

Metropolitan Magistrate Charu Gupta fixed October 20 for formal framing of charges under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the India Penal Code.

However, the court dropped charges under Section 354B (using criminal force against a woman), Section 354D (stalking) and Section 341 (wrongful restraint) levelled against the former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The Delhi Police had booked him under the sections related to use of criminal force against a woman, stalking and others.

Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015. He stepped down as Chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February 2015 and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the Director General. Later, he also stepped down from his post in TERI.

Pachauri has, however, denied the charges against him.

--IANS

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the government has planned a new road alignment for the Delhi-Mumbai expressway that connects some of the most backward areas in five states and also saves Rs 16,000 crore in land acquisition.

"We are planning a new alignment for Delhi-Mumbai express highway from Gurgaon to Jaipur ring road to Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan) to Ratlam (MP) to Varodara. It is from backward areas of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

"That is the reason our land acquisition cost is reduced from Rs 7 crore to Rs 80 lakh per hectare. We saved Rs 16,000 crore in land acquisition in this project," Gadkari said through video conference at a meet on "Public Affairs: The New Paradigm".

Earlier, the road plan for Delhi-Mumbai expressway included Surat and Ahmedabad. The new alignment of the 12-lane express highway will give a boost to the economic development of these backward areas and also reduce the distance by 120 km.

Speaking at the 5th National Forum hosted by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), a platform for public affairs professionals in the country, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said that "politics is an instrument of social economic reform".

He said the growing migration from the rural areas to the cities is a concern and that his government has given the highest priority to rural development. Rural population has come down from about 85 per cent to 55 per cent since Independence, he said.

"Rural development is crucial to the well-being of the overall Indian economy and the government of India's priority is upliftment of rural infrastructure, and providing quality education, clean drinking water and employment opportunities.

"Agriculture faces water challenges and we are working towards harnessing our resources by building dams and different kinds of innovative models for effective water conservation," he said.

Gadkari is also the Minister of Shipping and of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Highlighting the work being done on waterways, the Minister sought greater private participation in the upcoming waterway between Varanasi and Haldia, which will be a cost-competitive alternative for exports to neighbouring countries in the east.

He also said that import cost of aviation fuel can be solved through use of indigenously produced bio-fuel for the aviation industry.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police created a 23 km green corridor here to enable an ambulance ferry in 19 minutes a heart harvested from a brain dead patient in Bengaluru that a team of doctors transplanted onto a 63-year-old man suffering from heart failure, thereby giving him a new lease of life.

The green corridor, manned by 70 police personnel, ensured that no vehicles could come ahead of the ambulance as it travelled between New Delhi's IGI Airport and the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI).

"We were certainly happy to help. All the necessary help that we could was provided. About 20 of our policemen were deployed and 50 from the traffic police," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) Sanjay Bhatia told IANS.

The patient was diagnosed with DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) EF-20 per cent and had been admitted to the hospital multiple times with features of heart failure. He was suggested for 'Advance Heart Failure Treatment', according to Vishal Rastogi, Head, Heart Failure Programme, at the FEHI.

"A heart transplant is a critical surgery where timing is a key factor. We have a window period of five hours in which we had to retrieve the heart from Bengaluru, transport it to FEHI Delhi and perform the heart transplant surgery," said Z.S. Meharwal, Director, Cardio Vascular Surgery, FEHI.

The heart had been harvested from a 15-year-old male who had been declared brain dead at Fortis Hospital Bengaluru.

Once the donor's heart was available, FEHI's Heart Failure Clinic team flew to Bengaluru to retrieve the heart.

"Our retrieval team coordinated very closely with the transplant team at FEHI. We are grateful to NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation) for their continuous support for organ donation and transplant programme," Meharwal added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 21-year-old son of a Delhi Police officer was detained here on Friday after cases of rape and assault were filed against him by two women.

The accused, Rohit Tomar, is the son of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashok Singh Tomar, currently posted in central Delhi.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, West, Monika Bhardwaj said that the accused's 20-year-old girlfriend had on Tuesday complained about receiving threats from him.

"On Thursday, the same girl came to us to complain that she has been molested by him, and an FIR (First Information Report) was lodged."

"We have detained him for a day. He is being interrogated. The victim's statement is being recorded in court," Bhardwaj said, adding a case of rape was registered against Rohit Tomar in Dwarka.

Earlier a video showing a girl being violently beaten up by Rohit Tomar in Dwarka's Uttam Nagar had gone viral on the social media.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dwarka, Sanjeev Sharma said: "This woman today (Friday) lodged a complaint alleging that she was also raped by him," he said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next week to discuss the situation in Idlib, the last rebel-held province in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the Erdogan-Putin meeting during a joint press conference in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday.

He said that both leaders will be meeting to with the aim of finding a solution to the Syrian conflict.

"Turkey is open to cooperation with everyone on efforts to fight terror groups in Syria," Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency cited Cavusoglu as saying.

Although the Foreign Minister did not specify where the meeting would take place, several local media outlets reported it would be held in Sochi, the Russian city that hosted a Turkey-Iran-Russia summit in November last year.

Earlier in September, the Presidents of Turkey, Iran and Russia held a tripartite summit in Tehran to discuss the fate of Idlib.

Turkey urged a ceasefire to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe, while Russia and Iran stated that a military offensive to retake Idlib, the last opposition stronghold controlled by the Syrian rebels since 2015, was "inevitable".

Over the past few years, thousands of rebels have been evacuated from different parts of Syria to Idlib under agreements with the government.

Idlib also has a population of three million civilians, including a large number of people internally displaced by the seven-year conflict.

Russia and Iran are major allies of the Syrian government, while Ankara backs some rebel fighters.

--IANS

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Several interior ministers of European Union countries, among them France, Spain and Italy, were meeting representatives from African countries on Friday with the aim of fomenting cooperation on migration.

The European Commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopulous, told the press upon his arrival to the talks in the Austrian capital Vienna that the goal of the informal meeting was to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region, Efe news reported.

"Both Northern African countries and the EU were confronted with the same challenges and we share the same duty to address migration and the security issues," said Avramopulous.

He expressed hope that Friday's talks would "pave the way and will inaugurate a new chapter in our relations".

Austria's Interior Minister Herbert Kickl said European and African countries shared "common interests" when it came to migration.

Kickl, from the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, said both sides had to have a "great interest" in the EU having an "effective" border protection policy and putting an end to the "current human trafficking business model".

He referred to the idea of creating platforms in North Africa where migrants and refugees, intercepted at sea trying to reach Europe, could be sent to. However, Avramopulous calls it "unrealistic".

Austria is one of the EU members that insists on setting up mechanisms to ensure that migrants rescued in the Mediterranean are returned to the countries in North Africa where they came from.

Due to the informal nature of the meeting, the majority of countries did not send ministers, so no concrete decisions were expected to be made.

The meeting came a week before an informal EU leaders summit in Salzburg, which would also focus on migration.

Some 74,388 people have arrived to Spain, Greece and Italy by sea routes so far in 2018, while 1,642 deaths have been recorded, according to the latest UN data.

--IANS

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Go through a topographical anthology that explores sites of interest and recreates the key events, customs and lives of the past vis-a-vis Delhi and Agra; get answers to your existential queries, learn and evolve from the challenges of life; read a fictional tale around the life of a rape victim, based on the Nirbhaya gang-rape; and flick through English translation of Urdu writer Nazir Ahmad's Mirat ul-'Arus.

The IANS bookshelf has a varied range for readers this weekend.

1. Book: Delhi and Agra; Author: Michael Alexander; Publisher: Hachette; Price: Rs 499; Pages: 320

Delhi claims a noble history as the site of at least seven capitals dating from before the time of Alexander the Great. The glorious Mogul Empire brought great riches to the city and to Agra, where the world-famous Taj Mahal has excited awe among visitors for almost four centuries. This Traveller's Reader is an indispensable and fascinating companion for anyone who wants to understand the history of both cities and who seeks their true spirit.

"Delhi and Agra" is a topographical anthology that explores the cities' sites of interest and recreates the key events, customs and lives of the past, drawing on diaries, letters, memoirs and commentaries written by residents and visitors over the course of 600 years.

2. Book: Here and Beyond; Author: Rashmi; Publisher: Bloomsbury; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 191

How do you deal with life's challenges? What is the secret of living a simple and happy life? How do you strike a balance in all your relationships -- whether in love, at work or in life?

"Here and Beyond" articulates the answers to your existential queries, helping you to learn and evolve as a spiritual being with each step. With easy and identifiable anecdotes from life -- ranging from dealing with a neighbour who calls you names to witnessing a child dying of a life-threatening disease -- the book offers a comprehensive understanding of life's basic principles. The book strives to help you secure a blissful life, free of disease and disquiet.

3. Book: Nirbhaya, A Common Man's Justice; Author: Saurabh Singh; Publisher: Invincible; Price: Rs 299; Pages: 227

This is a fictional read inspired by the Nirbhaya case. It raises genuine concerns on the pre-existing Juvenile Act in our country, which has now, fortunately, been amended. Aaryan, a software engineer working at an IT firm in Delhi, is sentenced to death. He is found guilty of brutally murdering Himanshu and raping a 28-year-old girl. Aaryan is only left with five days and during his last days, he decides to pen down his story.

Aarushi, orphaned at the age of five, has only one dream -- to become an IAS officer. She is bold, beautiful and determined not to fall in love, until her dream comes true. Aaryan does every possible thing to impress Aarushi and promises her that unless she expresses her feelings, he won't say, "I Love You." Everything was going smoothly, until that unfortunate night when Aarushi decided to express her love to Aaryan. That night, Aarushi was brutally raped. Was it Aaryan who did it? Why did he do this to the girl whom he loved madly? Discover the love story and walk through the journey of Aaryan and Aarushi.

4. Book: The Bride's Mirror; Author: Nazir Ahmad; Translator: G.E. Ward; Publisher: Aleph; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 214

"The Bride's Mirror" (Mirat ul-'Arus) was the first bestseller in Urdu. First published in 1869, it had gone into several editions and sold over 100,000 copies within 20 years. An English translation was published in England in 1903 by G.E. Ward, and the book has been almost continuously in print ever since.

The novel tells the story of two sisters, Asghari and Akbari, who are married to two brothers in Delhi. Akbari, the spoilt, mean-tempered and impetuous sister, fritters away all the advantages she is offered and makes a mess of her life. Asghari, who has to contend with all sorts of disappointments and setbacks, prevails in the end and makes a success of everything she turns her hand to.

All through its existence, "The Bride's Mirror" had been hailed as one of the most important works of Urdu literature ever published. The portrait it provides of the lives of those who lived in Delhi over a hundred years ago is an indelible one.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Well-known Telugu film producer Bandla Ganesh and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLC Bhupati Reddy on Friday joined the Congress.

They formally joined the party in the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.

Telangana state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and some senior leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.

Bandla Ganesh later told reporters that he always liked the Congress as the party made many sacrifices for the country.

The producer, who made movies like "Teen Maar" and "Gabbar Singh" with leading actor Pawan Kalyan, said he would contest the ensuing elections if Rahul Gandhi asks him to do so.

Ganesh said while he considers Pawan Kalyan as his 'guru', he always wanted to work for the Congress party. He said that he wants to serve people as an MLA.

Bhupati Reddy of the ruling TRS also joined the Congress. A member of Telangana State Legislative Council, he said the state government has failed to live up to people's expectations. He alleged that corruption has gone up in the state during the TRS rule.

Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6 to pave way for early polls. The elections are likely to be held in November-December.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump said there was more pressure on China to make a deal, pointing to their shrinking economy.

"The Chinese side believes that the escalation of the trade conflict is not in the interest of either party", Gao Feng, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said at a regular news briefing.

"We have indeed received an invitation from the USA side".

It is also important to note that things are only getting started in the trade conflict, and unless China is willing to make some major concessions, and soon, then the world is likely to witness a protracted conflict lasting years.

"There's some discussions and information that we received that the Chinese government - the top of the Chinese government wished to pursue talks", Kudlow said.

Two people familiar with the effort said Mnuchin's invitation was sent to his Chinese counterparts, including Vice Premier Liu He, the top economic adviser to Chinese President Xi Jinping, for talks in coming weeks.

The invitation comes amid a swelling chorus of opposition to tariffs from Western business circles.

Yu Zhi, an worldwide trade specialist at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, urged Beijing to resolve Washington's fundamental and long-standing problems with its trade practices in any negotiations that take place to avoid further expanding the trade war.

"Tariffs are already negatively impacting U.S. companies and the imposition of a proposed $200 billion tranche will bring a lot more pain", Eric Zheng, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said Thursday in a statement. The business lobby urged Washington to reconsider its approach.

Two-thirds of American companies that responded to a survey said they have suffered lost sales or lower profits due to that increase, two chambers of commerce reported Thursday.

USA business groups are escalating their fight against Trump's tariffs, with over 60 industry groups launching a coalition to put political pressure on the Trump administration to seek alternatives to tariffs.

The Trump administration is preparing to activate tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, hitting a broad array of internet technology products and consumer goods from handbags to bicycles to furniture. It was unclear whether any US-China talks would delay the duties.

Washington has offered to restart negotiations with Beijing as the trade war escalates, a move analysts say reflects pressure on the White House ahead of critical midterm elections and a weaker Chinese negotiating position as its economy slows.

Some 63.6 percent of more than 430 companies that responded to the American chambers' survey said profits and customer demand have fallen due to the US tariffs and 62.5 percent said the same about retaliatory Chinese tariffs.

Asked if the Trump administration would like to have additional trade talks with China, Mr Kudlow said: "If they come to the table in a serious way to generate some positive results, yes, of course".

The sides have been engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat trade fight for months but on Wednesday it emerged that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had invited top Chinese officials to discuss the issue.

But he cautioned: "I guarantee nothing".

"This survey affirms our concerns: tariffs are already negatively impacting US companies and the imposition of a proposed $200-billion tranche will bring a lot more pain", said Eric Zheng, chairman of AmCham Shanghai. Mid-level US and Chinese officials met on August 22 and 23 with no agreements.

"The U.S. administration runs the risk of a downward spiral of attack and counterattack, benefiting no one", Zarit said in statement.
The Forest Department has lodged a complaint against the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) for illegally felling hundreds of trees in the city forest.

An FIR has been lodged on the formal complaint of a tree activist, Pradeep Dahalia.

"I have requested the Conservator of Forests to impose heavy penalty, proportionate to each damaged tree, on the GDA," said Akash Vashist, an environmentalist and a lawyer with the National Green Tribunal.

When an activist was sent to count the damage, he noticed that hundreds of trees had been damaged by the GDA. "We have sought the arrest of the concerned officials," said Dahalia.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mayors from the world's greatest cities on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to delivering on the highest ambitions of the Paris Agreement.

Through a series of bold pledges ranging from transport to buildings to waste and to climate action plans, unveiled at the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, cities are committing to keep global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Twelve cities -- Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Honolulu, Medellin, Oslo, Oxford, Rotterdam, Santa Monica, Seoul, Tokyo, Warsaw and West Hollywood -- representing more than 140 million urban citizens have committed to deliver a zero emission mobility future.

By signing the C40 Green and Healthy Streets Declaration, the pioneering city leaders pledged to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 and ensure that a major area of their city is zero emission by 2030.

The policies are designed to fight air pollution, improve the quality of life for all citizens, and help tackle the global threat of climate change.

These cities join 14 others already committed to Green and Healthy Streets: Paris, London, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Quito, Vancouver, Cape Town, Seattle, Mexico City, Auckland, Milan, Rome and Heidelberg.

More than 80,000 buses run on the streets of these 26 cities, representing a major shift towards zero emission vehicles in the world's great cities.

Analysis of the air quality in these cities reveals that the policies announced could prevent 11,000 premature deaths per year.

The 'One Planet Charter' is a joint initiative driven by C40, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and ICLEI, highlighting more than 1,700 commitments made by cities around the world to build sustainable and resilient infrastructure, products and services, while also recognizing the importance of working closely with national governments and business sectors to mobilise global climate action.

Twenty-five cities and regions committed to significantly cut the amount of waste they generate, accelerating them on the path towards zero waste.

By signing C40's Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration, these cities and regions have pledged to cut the amount of waste generated by each citizen 15 per cent by 2030, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration by 50 per cent and increase the diversion rate to 70 per cent by 2030.

Together, these 25 cities and regions, representing 150 million citizens, will reduce the amount of waste disposed by at least 132 million tonnes by 2030.

Thirty-eight cities, regions and businesses have committed to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions in new and existing buildings as part of the World Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment.

Cities signing the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration have pledged to ensure all buildings in the cities, old or new, will meet net-zero carbon standards by 2050.

Reducing annual buildings emissions to zero in just the 19 C40 signatory cities is equivalent to removing 190 megatonnes of CO2e, or the emissions of 47 coal-fired power stations.

Recognising that climate change and issues of poverty and social inequality are inextricably linked mayors of 30 cities, representing close to 100 million citizens, have pledged to deliver inclusive climate action that benefits all citizens equitably.

(Vishal Gulati is in San Francisco at the invitation of the Climate Trends to cover the Global Climate Action Summit. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven Google employees have resigned citing lack of corporate transparency after the Internet giant revealed its efforts to re-enter China through a censored search application code-named project "Dragonfly".

The company's staffers shared the list of names on an email list dedicated to discussions of ethics and transparency issues at Google.

"Three sources familiar with the matter confirmed the existence of the list, which is made up largely of software engineers whose experience at Google ranges between one and 11 years," BuzzFeed News reported late on Thursday.

One of the names on the list includes former Google Senior Scientist Jack Poulson, who worked for Google in Toronto before resigning last month.

About 1,000 employees signed an open letter asking the company to be transparent about the project and to create an ethical review process for it that includes rank-and-file employees, not just high-level executives, according to CNET.

"The reported resignations illustrate a shifting cultural environment at Google, where employees have been more outspoken, publicly challenging strategy set by the company's leadership," the CNET report added.

This comes days after it was announced that Google Cloud's artificial intelligence (AI) Chief Scientist Fei-Fei Li would be replaced by Andrew Moore, dean of Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science.

Google's reported plan to launch a censored version of its search engine in China has come under heavy criticism from a former Asia-Pacific head of the company's free expression issues who called it a "stupid move".

The search engine giant had launched a search engine in China in 2006 but pulled the service out of the country in 2010, citing Chinese government efforts to limit free speech and block websites.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tens of thousands of homes were without power and sea water was sloshing through the streets as Hurricane Florence began lashing the US East Coast on Friday, bringing powerful winds along with warnings of "life-threatening" storm surge and rainfall.

The hurricane lost power, downgraded to a Category 1 storm, as it approached North and South Carolina, but officials warned it could still kill "a lot of people" amid the risk of "catastrophic" flooding, the US media reported. Evacuation warnings were in place for more than a million people.

Roy Cooper, the Governor of North Carolina, where Florence was expected to make landfall later in the day, said surviving the storm would be a test of "endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience".

National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear said North Carolina was likely to see eight months of rain in two to three days.

Reports of collapsed roofs and other structures were already reported from North Carolina's Morehead City and New Bern areas, the Washington Post reported.

New Bern was particularly hard hit with reports of more than a hundred people stranded in their homes and in need of rescue.

A gauge in the city's Neuse River near the town of Oriental indicated the water was 4 feet over flood stage and more than 5 feet above normal levels. More than 1,300 flights along the US East Coast were cancelled through Friday.

According to meteorologist Ryan Maue, the tropical cyclone was expected to unload 10 trillion gallons of rainfall in North Carolina, enough to fill over 15 million Olympic-size swimming pools, CNN reported.

Conditions deteriorated on Thursday. Some areas of North Carolina saw almost a foot of rain in just a few hours and footage showed sea levels beginning to surge on land.

More than a million people were ordered to leave the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia, with over 12,000 taking refuge in emergency shelters. But not everyone obeyed the warnings.

Cheryl Browning, who lives with her husband and son in North Carolina, said they chose to stay put despite the warnings as they also have three dogs and three parrots.

She said she "could not find anywhere to go" as the family cannot afford multiple hotel rooms.

"Either no (hotel) rooms are available, or we are denied because of the breed or size of dogs. Many that will accept them only allow one per room. And since we have three dogs and three parrots, they're requesting us to take two to six rooms."

Several residents told CNN they were not evacuating because emergency shelters won't accept pets.

Officials in several states declared a state of emergency, including in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland, where coastal areas were still recovering from summer storms.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The husband of a village panchayat head was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Friday in Bihar's Gopalganj district, police said.

Upendra Singh Kushwaha, husband of Neelam Devi, Mukhiya of Bhatiyani Nain Panchayat, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne criminals near Kaparpura under Migranj Police Station, a district police officer said.

The police have lodged a case in this connection and launched an investigation into the killing.

"We will look from all angles, but prima facie we suspect the killing may be a result of political rivalry," the police officer said.

Angry over the killing, residents of the area blocked road to protest against the incident and demanded immediate arrest of those behind it.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and the European Union (EU) should find new and innovative ways to move ahead with negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) they are engaged in, the Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, Ruchi Ghanashyam, has said.

"The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is an example where both sides need to find new and innovative ways of moving ahead," Ghanashyam said while delivering the keynote address at a symposium on "EU and India -- Partners for stability in a new international environment" here on Thursday evening.

"Effective standards that are helpful in engaging industry and protecting consumer interests should not raise new trade walls," she said.

Negotiations for the BTIA started in 2007 but were put on hold in 2015. In all, 16 rounds of negotiations have been held.

Those in the know say that after India renounced its bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with all countries, investments from European nations are now not protected.

India has terminated all BITs following a new BIT model New Delhi released in December 2015.

The 28 EU member-states have now passed on the responsibility of investment protection negotiations to the EU.

Ghanashyam said India was an open society with a strong rule of law that provides adequate protection to foreign investors. "India's FDI regime has addressed most demands of the EU even before investment negotiations had commenced," she said.

"The government, through its reform-oriented agenda, is placing heavy emphasis on performance to bring about transformational changes in the country."

Stating that over 1,200 archaic laws that affected business, governments and day-to-day life of the common man have been repealed, Ghanashyam said India's flagship programmes in the areas of manufacturing, digitisation, skills, financial inclusion, urbanisation, start-ups, infrastructure in energy and transportation were driving economic growth.

"The unprecedented roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017 has resulted in making India a single market very much like the EU and has thrown up multiple business opportunities to European businesses," she stated.

Describing India and the EU as "natural partners", she said that in the last two years engagements between the two sides have substantially increased.

"There are over 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and the EU," Ghanashyam said. "The EU is one of India's largest trading partners."

EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said that Thursday's symposium coincided with the start of the political autumn season in Europe and that the EU planned to adopt a new strategy for relations with India.

The bloc will publish an EU strategy on connecting Europe and Asia.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Friday reviewed bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

Sushma Swaraj and Borisov co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

"Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors and identify new opportunities!" Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation.

The Commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, provides policy recommendations and directions in the fields concerned.

The meeting comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India next month for the annual bilateral summit.

Prime Minister Narednra Modi and Putin have already met twice this year - at an informal summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi in May and then again on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in South Africa in June.

Soon after her arrival here on Thursday, Sushma Swaraj met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and according to spokesperson Kumar, both leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and Russia have been strong trading partners but the total trade between them in the five years till 2015-16 remained stagnant at $6 billion. In 2016-17, the trade stood at $7.5 billion -- an increase of 22 per cent over the previous year.

India's exports to Russia have increased from $0.94 billion in 2007-08 to $1.9 billion in 2016-17, while Indian imports from Russia increased from $2.5 billion in 2007-08 to $5.6 billion in 2016-17. Both countries have now set an annual trade target of $30 billion by 2030.

A Joint Feasibility Group study was set up at the St Petersburg International Business Forum in 2015 to establish a formation of free trade zones between Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India. One of the key recommendations of the report is that total bilateral trade due to a possible FTA has the potential for additional growth up to $37-$62 billion.

At a time when United States has imposed sanctions against Russia, this also provides an opportunity for India to beef up its trade and economic relationship with Russia. The upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in October should be used to further strengthening of ties.

Since 2014, the United States has imposed travels bans, asset freezes, finance and trade restrictions against individual and companies that restricted financing options for the oil and gas giants through US banks and markets.

Russia has been a strong and time-tested partner for India. The relationship has been based on several common interests as the two countries also share a similar worldview. They've also had a strong economic relationship in the past. Russia assisted India in taking the initial steps towards industrialisation with major projects like the multipurpose Bhakra Nangal dam, Bhilai steel plant and Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai.

When the erstwhile Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia was India's biggest supplier of defence technology. Merchandise trade between the countries was initially mainly textiles, tea and wheat but later expanded to a wide range from food to hydrocarbons to information technology.

Pharmaceutical products are one of the top items that India exports to Russia. Tea, coffee, spices and apparel are some of the items are also exported. Top imports from Russia include gems and jewellery, petroleum products and fertilisers.

The opportunities are immense for these two countries to enhance economic ties beyond trade. It is civil nuclear energy and defence cooperation that will dominate the relationship between the two countries.

There is a huge potential for Russia to invest in defence manufacturing, as the country is the primary source for defence equipment in India. Though US sanctions are irritant for India, it has made it clear that its defence purchases will not be dictated by any other country, such as the United States. In April, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her Russian counterpart, General Sergey Shoygu, in Moscow and discussed how to enhance defence production cooperation and create synergies in the sector.

The energy sector also offers enormous potential with India an energy deficient country and Russia an energy surplus. With India expected to emerge as the third largest consumer of energy by 2025, after United States and China, Russia can play a vital role in providing energy security in the future.

Russia can invest in India's infrastructure development programme like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Smart Cities, low-cost housing and urban transport systems. The DMIC envisages investments of $90 billion while the Smart City initiative is projected to involve total spending of $690 billion.

For India, Russia can be potential market for Information Technology and related services, given that these are India's largest export services.

With India emerging as a leading manufacturer of low-cost, high quality generic drugs, Indian companies can partner with Russian firms for joint ventures under the Pharma 2020 programme of Russian government which aims to develop a production base.

A weak Russian economy is becoming increasingly dependent on China for economic cooperation and India's concern could be that the dependency could further extend to political and strategic issues.

In the Sochi summit the two leaders also upgraded the relationship to a "special privileged strategic partnership" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed hope that this special relationship will be further strengthened. During the 18th economic summit in St Petersburg, Modi said: "The ties between India and Russia span the spectrum from culture to defence."

The October summit, in which the leaders plan to discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations, especially trade and economic ties, presents an opportunity for India to further cement the relationship with it's time-tested partner.

(Manish Kumar is Deputy Director, International (Eurasia and Israel) at Confederation of Indian Industries-CII. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at manish.kumar@cii.in <mailto:manish.kumar@cii.in>)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Uday Chopra says India should legalise marijuana as it can be be a huge revenue source and has medical benefits.

"I feel India should legalize marijuana. Firstly, It's part of our culture. Secondly, I think if legalized and taxed it can be a huge revenue source. Not to mention it will remove the criminal element associated with it. Plus and most importantly it has a lot of medical benefits!" he tweeted on Thursday.

Uday, who is the son of late veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra, said he does not use it but finds legalising it a "wise move".

"And no I do not use it. I just really think it is a wise move, given our history with the plant," he added.

The 45-year-old actor made his acting debut in 2000 in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Mohabbatein" and was later seen in films like "Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai", "Mujhse Dosti Karoge!", "Dhoom", "Neal 'n' Nikki" and "Pyaar Impossible".

Uday was last seen on the silver screen in 2013 as Ali in the third installment of the "Dhoom" franchise".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Global software major Infosys on Friday said it has acquired Fluido, a leading Salesforce advisor and consulting firm in the Nordics, to help its clients in digital transformation.

"The acquisition will help our clients navigate into digital transformation and strengthen our position as a leading Salesforce enterprise cloud service provider," said the city-based IT major in a statement here.

The outsourcing firm, however, did not disclose the acquisition cost and its terms.

The US-based American cloud computing firm Salesforce offers customer relationship management applications and applications of social networking.

As Salesforce consulting and training delivery partner in Europe and in the Nordics region, Fluido will give Infosys expertise and agile delivery process to simplify and scale digital efforts across channels of its clients.

"The acquisition demonstrates our commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem to address our client's digital priorities. Fluido brings market presence, Salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training to our capabilities, which will help our clients reimagine and transform their businesses," said Infosys President Ravi Kumar in the statement.

The buyout also aligns Infosys' efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions it operates in Europe.

With offices in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia, the Espoo-based Fluido elevates Infosys' presence across the Nordics region with assets and client relationships, a team and local culture.

Fluido customers are represented across verticals, including manufacturing, energy, retail and telecom and to whom it delivers services spanning strategy, consulting, implementation and training.

"With Infosys, we will be able to provide global scalable services to our customers. With digital experience playing a key role in customer success, we will have an opportunity to help our clients change the way they connect with their customers," said Fluido founder and Chief Executive Kai Makela.

The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Fluido's headquarters are in Espoo, Finland, with additional offices in Denmark, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday allowing punitive sanctions on foreigners who interfere in USA elections, two years after Russian Federation allegedly meddled in his favour in the presidential campaign.

Sen. Mark R. Warner, Virginia Republican and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the order gave too much discretion to the president.

Bolton said the sanctions would be imposed not just for direct actions, such as hacking into election systems, but also for distribution of propaganda and disinformation. Bolton said sanctions could be imposed during or after an election, based on the evidence gathered.

Robert Mueller, a special counsel, has been looking into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, a claim that has been denied both by Moscow and Trump himself.

Under investigation for his campaign's ties to the Russian government, President Trump has often lashed out at Obama for what he sees as an inherent contradiction. Mueller is also looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

While the Obama administration privately warned Russian Federation to stop interfering on behalf of Trump, Yahoo News Chief Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff says it's fair to criticize Obama for not taking sterner action. But the executive branch, including the President, will have the final say in whether sanctions will be applies.

"Today's announcement by the administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it", Van Hollen and Rubio said.

The order comes with mid-term elections just weeks away.

"I think it's going to be good", said Sean Kanuck, a former intelligence officer for cyber issues, now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

On a conference call with reporters, National Security Advisor John Bolton said this is a multi-agency process put in place to assure that the administration is doing everything possible to prevent any interference ahead of the elections and will provide for full assessment after the election to assure the American people of the integrity of their vote. In making that assessment, the DNI will consult with all of the US' multifarious intelligence agencies.

After the reports are complete, the Treasury and State Departments would decide on appropriate sanctions to impose on the potential actors or countries.

The administration is ready to work with Congress on a sanctions law, Mr. Bolton said, but the White House wants to move fast. "Unfortunately, President Trump demonstrated in Helsinki and elsewhere that he simply can not be counted upon to stand up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin when it matters", said Warner, who is sponsoring the bill.

Under the order, intelligence agencies, led by the director of national intelligence, would assess attacks and forward findings to the Justice and Homeland Security departments.

US lawmakers have introduced various pieces of Russia-related legislation, including the "Deter Act", to set out punishments for election meddling, and what one lawmaker called a sanctions bill "from hell" to punish Moscow for cyber crime and its activities in Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere.

"We continue to look at that and will continue to look at that". USA lawmakers have introduced various pieces of Russia-related legislation urging punishments for election meddling. Some bills would take the president out of the process for automatic sanctions and include more penalties on Russian Federation.
Global software major Infosys on Friday said its consulting arm acquired Fluido Oy, a leading Salesforce advisor and consulting firm in Finland, for $76 million to help its clients in digital transformation.

"The acquisition of Fluido by our subsidiary (Infosys Consulting Pte Ltd) will help our clients navigate into digital transformation and strengthen our position as a leading Salesforce enterprise cloud service provider," said the city-based IT major in a statement here.

Though the company did not disclose the acquisition cost in its release, it mentioned in a regulatory filing on the BSE that "100 per cent of Fluido's shares have been acquired in cash for Euro 65 million", which translates to $75.8 million (Rs 546 crore).

"Fluido is majority-owned by the management team and CapMan private equity, with Salesforce Ventures having a minority stake," added the filing.

The US-based American cloud computing firm Salesforce offers customer relationship management and sells applications of social networking.

As Salesforce consulting and training delivery partner in Europe and in the Nordics region, Fluido will give Infosys expertise and an agile delivery process to simplify and scale digital efforts across channels of its clients.

"The acquisition demonstrates our commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem to address our client's digital priorities. Fluido brings market presence, salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training to our capabilities, which will help our clients reimagine and transform their businesses," said Infosys President Ravi Kumar in the statement.

The buyout also aligns Infosys' efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions it operates in, in Europe.

With offices in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden, the Espoo-based Fluido elevates Infosys' presence across the Nordics region with assets and client relationships, a team and local culture.

Fluido customers are represented across verticals, including manufacturing, energy, retail and telecom and to whom it delivers services spanning strategy, consulting, implementation and training.

"With Infosys, we will be able to provide global scalable services to our customers. With digital experience playing a key role in customer success, we will have an opportunity to help our clients change the way they connect with their customers," said Fluido founder and Chief Executive Kai Makela.

The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
About 70 per cent of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students cast their ballots on Friday to elect their candidates for top posts in one of the most charged campus elections in the country.

A total of 5,185 votes were polled out of 7,650, according to the information received by the Election Committee, which comprises university students.

Unofficial sources said this was first time that so many students have turned up to vote in the union election.

The election is primarily for the posts of President, Vice President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary. Currently, all the four posts are held by Left's Geeta Kumari, Simone Zoya Khan, Duggirala Srikrishna and Shubanshu Singh, in that order.

This year, there are eight candidates in the fray for the post of President. AISA, AISF, SFI and DSF, all leftist groups active in campus politics, have come together -- like last year except AISF, which had its own president candidate -- to form an alliance and have fielded International Studies scholar N. Sai Balaji as their presidential candidate.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has fielded Lalit Pandey for the same post.

The Congress-backed National students' Union of India (NSUI) has chosen Vikas Yadav as its presidential candidate, who is a student of Inner Asian Studies. Yadav escaped dismissal of his candidature last Friday when the Grievance Redressal Committee of the university recommended nixing of his nomination for being a subject of a disciplinary action by the university authorities for protesting and blocking the roads of campus.

The recommendation was, however, rejected by the Election Committee.

Another presidential candidate is Jayant Kumar from the student wing of Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal. Though considered a lightweight originally, Kumar raked in a lot of applause from all stripes of students in the Wednesday's presidential debate, in which he castigated Left and Right both for their "hypocrisy" in an impeccable speech.

The results of the election are likely to be announced on Saturday.

--IANS

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday questioned the Election Commission over the privately sourced Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) used in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections.

"From where can you procure EVMs privately? Doesn't ECI claim that no one can manufacture or buy or sell EVMs privately? Isn't anyone found in possession of EVMs without EC's permission guilty of criminal offence?" he asked in a tweet.

The RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) wrenched three of four seats in DUSU polls while the Congress-affiliated NSUI took one post. The Aam Aadmi Party-affiliated CYSS, which fought in alliance with AISA, came third.

The Delhi State Election Commission on Thursday said it did not issue any EVM to Delhi University. "It seems the Delhi University has procured these machines privately," it said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday slammed US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Calling Trump's withdrawal from the Paris deal the "single greatest act of irresponsibility of any President of the United States at any time", he said, "Trump has pulled out of the Paris agreement, the American people have not."

He was addressing the two-day closing plenary of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in this California city. It was co-chaired by California Governor Edmund G. Brown and UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg.

Kerry, who signed the Paris agreement on behalf of the US, said: "If we don't hold people accountable, we're not being responsible citizens. We have to actually vote."

The 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, the first-ever legally binding treaty adopted by 197 countries that came in force on November 4, 2016, has been ratified by 180 parties till date.

The former Secretary of State said he's confident Trump's decision will ultimately be reversed because "he believes most Americans support the agreement".

"This is a race against time. This is a matter of survival. The ocean is where life comes from. Over 50 per cent of our air comes from the ocean and if we pollute it to death, we are killing ourselves," he said.

The three-day GCAS saw 4,000-plus business leaders, investors, citizens and government representatives from all over the world, coming together with the united resolve to "take ambition to the next level".

A new report by America's Pledge at GCAS said the US is already almost halfway to meeting its 2025 Paris Agreement goal. Existing commitments and policies will take the country two-thirds of the way towards those objectives despite the absence of federal support on climate action.

"If bottom-up climate collaboration accelerates and the coalition broadens, real economy actors can carry the United States within striking distance of meeting its 2025 Paris pledge," a report unveiled by Governor Edmund G. Brown and UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg said.

The report 'Fulfiling America's Pledge', prepared by researchers at the University of Maryland and the Rocky Mountain Institute, demonstrates how cities, states, and businesses can bring the US within striking distance of its 2025 emissions reduction target in the absence of federal leadership.

Importantly, the cities, states and businesses can do their part to put us on a post-2025 pathway towards deep decarbonisation as well.

(Vishal Gulati is in San Francisco at the invitation of the Climate Trends to cover the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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South and North Korea launched their joint liaison office on Friday, securing a platform for round-the-clock communication that is expected to help foster cross-border exchange and ease tensions.

The office was launched in the North's border town of Kaesong, with around 50 people each from the two Koreas attending the opening ceremony, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The move is a follow-up on an agreement that the leaders of the two Koreas reached in their April summit to run such an office on hopes that the office will serve as a communication channel to help facilitate inter-Korean cooperation on various fronts.

"The inter-Korean joint liaison office is a channel for round-the-clock communication in the new era of peace," South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said.

"From today, South and North Korea can have direct consultations 24 hours a day and 365 days a year over issues relating to advances in inter-Korean relations, peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," he added.

South Korea will station around 20 officials there, while the North will deploy 15-20 officials to the office.

The launch comes days before the leaders of the two Koreas are to meet in Pyongyang for their third summit this year.

Launched in 2004, the Kaesong industrial park was hailed as a key symbol of economic cooperation between the Koreas as it combined South Korean capital and technology with cheap labor from the North.

South Korea, however, shut it down in 2016 in response to the North's nuclear and missile tests.

It was the first time that people who used to run companies in the industrial complex had visited Kaesong since its closure.

--IANS

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Actress Kriti Sanon has completed shooting for her upcoming romantic comedy film "Luka Chuppi".

Kriti on Friday took to Instagram and wrote: "And it's a wrap for me for 'Luka Chuppi'. A fabulous script, a new character and a bunch of lovely, super talented and warm people who made this journey so so special! Laxman Utekar Sir, Kartik Aaryan, thank you for making this ride so memorable! Gonna miss you all."

Along with the post, she posted a picture of herself standing beside her co-star Kartik and director Laxman Utekar.

In the film, Kriti plays a woman from Mathura who had gone to Delhi to study and is now back in her hometown. Kartik will be seen playing a TV reporter based in Mathura.

Also starring actor Pankaj Tripathi, "Luka Chuppi" will release in March, 2019.

--IANS

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Bihar's seasoned politician and Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav says that jailed veteran politician Lalu Prasad has become irrelevant in and his main backer, the powerful Yadav youth, are desperately looking for a new face outside the Lalu family to lead them.

"The era of Lalu's monopoly in Bihar, mainly on Yadavs and Muslims, is virtually over. Yadav youth have no sympathy and affiliation with him now. The entire Lalu family exploited the Yadavs and Muslims in Bihar for decades," claimed the 50-year-old Pappu Yadav, the founder of Jan Adhikar Party, in an interview to IANS.

Pappu Yadav is in active for about three decades and he was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991. He defeated senior leader Sharad Yadav in the 2014 parliamentary polls in Madhepura to become a Lok Sabha member for the fifth time. Pappu Yadav's wife Ranjeet Ranjan is a Lok Sabha member from the Congress from Bihar's Supaul seat.

As per 2011 census, Yadavs make up 14 per cent of Bihar's population while Muslims constitute 16.9 percent. Yadavs and Muslims have always been the core vote bank for Lalu Prasad.

"The older generation among Yadav and Muslim have some sympathy for Lalu because he is in ailing after being convicted in the fodder scam but I can tell you the Yadav youth dislike him and are looking for a fresh face who can economically empower them," said Pappu Yadav.

"Every sensible brain in Bihar, particularly among Yadavs and Muslims, know that Lalu kept them economically poor deliberately in a bid to use them as vote bank for years. They had no option but to back up Lalu family but now youths are determined to get rid of Lalu family to overcome backwardness."

He said that Yadavs in Bihar never trusted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and there was still a big disconnect and trust deficit exist between Nitish Kumar and the Yadav community.

"For roughly three decades, Lalu tactically didn't allow leaders from Yadav community to grow to a level where his leadership can be challenged. Thus the entire Yadav caste was further pushed to backwardness and so the case was with minorities in Bihar. Muslims were left with no option but to vote only for Lalu. But now youths are looking for a better option outside Lalu family," Pappu Yadav contended.

Pappu Yadav slammed the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government and said development of Bihar had been stalled, youth migration to other states in search of jobs had risen, the law order situation has worsened and sexual assault on women and girl child has increased to all time high now.

He added that Bihar had also become a safe haven for mob lynchers.

(Sujeet Kumar can be reached on sujeet.k@ians.in <mailto:sujeet.k@ians.in>)

--IANS

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Film: "Love Sonia"; Starring: Mrunal Thakur, Riya Sisodiya, Richa Chadha, Freida Pinto, Anupam Kher, Manoj Bajpai, Rajkummar Rao; Director: Tabrez Noorani; Rating:** (2 stars)

This well-intended melodrama about human trafficking and child prostitution has its heart in the right place. Sadly, the social perversity that ought to have galvanised the director into action, seem to finally drag the film down to the very level where the sub-human culture of the flesh trade exists.

There is something fundamentally amiss in a film where a posse of capable actors get together to create a messy tribute to the Bleeding Heart's Club. The narrative seems to be a diehard fan of its own righteousness. Often times, the sexual violence is repugnant not for being excessively graphic (which it is), but because the sadism seems to be disturbingly gratuitous, leading us into believing that in some cases, cinema about sexual violence gets so close to its subject that it loses its dispassion and ends up celebrating rather than abnegating the violence.

"Love Sonia" means well. No doubt about that. Regrettably, so does the guy who randomly shoots down innocent people in a pub as what he thinks to be the solution to ethnic inundation.

At times, the language of violence used in this film is as violent as the situation that it (the language) is meant to condemn. The problem is not so much director Tabrez Noorani's amateurish borderline-hysterical responses to the flesh trade. The bigger problem is the film's inability to differentiate between condemning and unintentionally celebrating sexual violence.

I have seen at least two films in recent times which bled its wailing heart into lives of prostitutes. Nagesh Kukunoor's "Laxmi" was so gruesome it made you flinch. While Jeffrey Brown's "Sold" was so dainty about the raw world of brothel abuse that it ended up looking like a Disney film posing as an Anurag Kashyap shocker.

"Love Sonia" is neither graphic enough to shake us nor sweet enough to qualify as conscientious fluff. It is caught in the middle between brutal and beautiful achieving neither extremity in spite of some terrific camera work by the Polish Lukaz Bielan who seems to understand the need to create an equilibrium between passion and perversity better than the director.

Noorani flounders at crucial moments letting down the victim-protagonists in the film in a similar way that destiny has chosen to do. The story of two sisters in an Indian village, one of whom Preeti (Riya Sisodia) is sold off to ease her debt-ridden farmer-father's (Adil Hussain) burden.

As Sonia (Mrunal Thakur) follows her sister into the evil world of pimps, prostitution and fornication, I felt I was watching an Ekta Kapoor serial with every frame breathing fire.

The narration is breathless with righteous indignation. The breast-beating tone secretes scarcely any room for tenderness except when the amazing Rajkummar Rao (is there anything that he can't do?) appears for fleeting moments of hope in a tale that revels in hopelessness.

Robust performances by newcomer Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha, Manoj Bajpai and Sai Tamhakar cannot redeem this sunless drama of the damned from drowning in the dreadful pool its own doom.

(Subhash K Jha can be contacted at jhasubh@gmail.com)

--IANS

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A Maharashtra court has issued non-bailable warrants against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and 14 others in a 2010 case pertaining to an agitation against the Babli Barrage on River Godavari, an official said here.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharmabad Court (Nanded) N.R. Gajbhiye on Thursday issued the NBWs against Naidu and his cabinet colleagues, Irrigation Minister D.U. Rao, Social Welfare Minister G.Kamalakar and 12 others.

The police have been ordered to arrest them and produce them before the court at the next hearing on September 21.

The incident took place when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had organised massive protests over what it termed the "illegal constructions" of the Babli Barrage project by the Maharashtra government allegedly to divert Godavari River waters from Telangana region of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

At that time Naidu was the Leader of Opposition in the state and along with 40 legislators, had entered the barrage vicinity flouting prohibition orders clamped there.

The police had caned some protesters and later arrested all of them.

Later, as Naidu refused to take bail, he was sent back to Hyderabad by a flight, and subsequently cases were filed against all agitators on various counts.

The court orders came after a petitioner moved the Dharmabad court seeking to know why the earlier arrest warrants were not executed.

The TDP on Thursday reacted sharply to the warrants against Naidu and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the conspiracy. TDP leader Buddha Venkanna told reporters in Vijayawada that the Bharatiya Janata Party is resorting to witch-hunting.

Naidu's son and state IT Minister N. Lokesh told the media that while legal opinion on the issue has been sought, the Chief Minister would attend the court hearing next week.

--IANS

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Mahindra & Mahindra, India's leading manufacturer of utility vehicles and part of the $20.7 billion Mahindra Group, on Thursday announced its commitment to become a carbon neutral company by 2040.

For this, the company will be working with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to meet its carbon neutrality commitment.

Mahindra & Mahindra will focus on energy efficiency and the use of renewable power to achieve this target. Residual emissions will be addressed through carbon sinks, the company said.

"We are doing our part in the global fight against climate change with this ambitious new target. Mahindra will leverage the latest technological advances and its recently announced carbon price to work towards being carbon neutral by 2040," Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said.

He is in this California city to co-chair the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) that aims to encourage all stakeholders to raise their ambition with many new possibilities emerging out of the discussions.

Mahindra & Mahindra was the first company in the world to commit to doubling energy productivity by signing on to The Climate Group's program EP100.

"We have already seen remarkable value in reducing emissions through the EP100 program which aims to double energy productivity in our main businesses -- auto, farm equipment and holiday resorts," Mahindra told IANS.

He said science-based targets are a way of ensuring that ambition is stepped up and action is aligned to the target set by the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Using energy efficient lighting, efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, motors and heat recovery projects, Mahindra & Mahindra has doubled the energy productivity of the automotive business almost 12 years ahead of schedule, the company said.

The farm equipment business is also ahead of schedule in achieving its goal and is more than half-way there, it said.

The company was also the first Indian company to announce its internal carbon price of $10 per ton of carbon emitted to fund investments required to pursue the path of carbon neutrality.

The price was carefully arrived at on the basis of international benchmarks and an assessment of what was required to achieve the goals set by the business on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The company has more than 10 years of experience in creating carbon sinks. It looks forward to using this experience to deal with residual emissions in a manner that is world class and follows the best established protocols.

The company is also a signatory of the science-based targets initiative which provides companies with a clear pathway for reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. All these commitments are helping the company on its path to go carbon neutral.

"By pledging to reach carbon neutrality in its operations, Mahindra is sending a clear message that investment in climate-smart growth is good for business. This commitment can unlock collaboration, innovation, and results," Senior Director for Global Climate at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Richie Ahuja told IANS.

The EDF is a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

(Vishal Gulati is in San Francisco at the invitation of the Climate Trends to cover the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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In August, a woman by the name of Mary Halsey went viral for her excellent karaoke performance of Missy Elliott's song "Work It". On The Ellen Show this week, Ellen DeGeneres brought together Halsey and the iconic rapper for a surprise meeting.

Even though Mary admitted that she had been singing this song for 17 years, she only recently gained attention when she was singing at Rhode Island's Goddard Park karaoke competition.

Last month, Missy reacted to a video of her "Funky White Sister" performing her own version of "Work It", complete with sound effects and everything. "I put it out there and said, 'You want to go viral?' But I never thought it would happen". The reaction was so positive that she continued to perform the tune over the years. "Mary is one of the sweetest souls I met".

Of course, Missy had nothing but incredible things to say about Mary's skills - and gushed about what she loved about Mary's rendition. Halsey seems to have the wind knocked out of her for a few seconds before performing a duet with Elliott. "And so, I heard my rap going backwards, and I said, 'Keep it, and I'll make words around that part.' And that's what made me say, 'Flip it and reverse it'". "I thought it was the most wonderful thing".

"When she first said, 'Missy's funky white sister, ' I'm like, 'Who is this?!'" said Missy. But halfway through the song, everyone was in for a shock when Elliott herself joined Halsey onstage to finish it off.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she will visit Germany and Italy to attract overseas investments to West Bengal.

According to officials, her visits will be between September 16-28.

She would be accompanied by Industries and Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Chief Secretary Malay De and Additional Chief Secretary Hari Krishna Dwivedi.

"I am going to Frankfurt and Milan to bring in more business and industry to the state. We will be holding two meetings -- one in Frankfurt and another in Milan," she told reporters at state Secretariat Nabanna.

Banerjee said that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and government from the two European countries during the Bengal Global Business Summit this year.

Banerjee said two committees comprising Ministers and senior officials had been constituted to deal with any emergency and natural calamity during her foreign tour.

Speaking on the partial collapse of the Majherhat bridge, she said that a probe committee led by the Chief Secretary had submitted the preliminary report, following which the state had decided to demolish the bridge and build a new one within a year.

Banerjee accused the Centre of "showing audacity and arrogance", and claimed that the BJP would be defeated in the 2019 general elections.

--IANS

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As continues to weaken and soar to record levels, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and top Finance Ministry officials to review the economic scenario.

Modi will hold another economic review meeting with key policy makers on Saturday to discuss possible interventions by the government to address the macroeconomic challenges arising out of the depreciating and steep rise in

While and Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg accompanied Jaitley to the Friday meeting, Expenditure Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha will join the Saturday meeting during which the Prime Minister will also review the budget, informed sources said.

The high-level meeting on Saturday has been called to analyse the economic situation precipitated by record depreciation in and unprecedented rise in

The rupee touched an all-time low of Rs 72.91 per US dollar on Wednesday and closed at Rs 71.85 on Friday. Fuel prices, too, have been breaking records for some days with petrol selling at Rs 81.28 in Delhi and Rs 88.67 in Mumbai on Friday.

The Prime Minister may like to know the possible fiscal and monetary measures that the government can take to improve market confidence and economic scenario, officials said.

On Wednesday, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will take all necessary measures to check the further slide of rupee as there was no fundamental rationale for the rupee to depreciate to these levels.

Garg said the steep depreciation in rupee reflected overreaction of market operators and attributed rupee's correction the same day as proof. Rupee closed at Rs 72.19 per greenback on Wednesday after recovering from its lowest intra-day of Rs 72.91.

Modi is also likely to discuss issues related to fiscal discipline with the policy makers. Considering general elections next summer, some economists have expressed fear against populist measures and hope the government does not cut tax on petrol.

The country's fiscal deficit in the first four months of 2018-19 has already touched 86.5 per cent of the full year's target of Rs 6.24 trillion. On August 31, the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) said the fiscal deficit for April-July was Rs 5.40 trilllion.
Maharashtra has the highest number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in India which is around 3.30 lakh, contributing 15 per cent of total immunodeficiency virus-affected people in the country which is 21.40 lakh, according to the latest data by Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

Nationally, around 69.11 thousand PLHIV died of AIDS-related causes in 2017.

The report "HIV Estimations 2017" released on Friday compiled by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS) is the 14th round in the series of HIV Estimations under National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).

According to the report, Andhra Pradesh (2.70 lakh), Karnataka (2.47 lakh) and Telangana (2.04 lakh) were the other states with high prevalence of PLHIV.

In adult HIV prevalence, Mizoram has the highest in the country at 2.04 per cent, followed by Manipur at 1.43 per cent and Nagaland at 1.15 per cent. Lowest adult HIV prevalence was in Jammu & Kashmir.

Around 22,677 HIV-positive women gave birth in 2017 and needed prophylaxis for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) with highest cases reported in Maharashtra followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

An estimated 87.58 thousand new HIV infections occurred in 2017 out of which Telangana turned out to have the highest estimated 9,324 new cases contributing to 11 per cent of total in the country.

Bihar and West Bengal were next contributing 10 per cent followed by Uttar Pradesh (8%), Andhra Pradesh (7%), Maharashtra (7%), Karnataka (6%) and Gujarat (5%). Together, these eight states contributed almost two thirds of all annual new HIV infections in India.

While new infections are declining nationally, in five states -- Arunachal Pradesh (65 per cent), Assam (37 per cent), Mizoram (18 per cent), Meghalaya (10 per cent) and Uttarakhand (4 per cent), new infections increased in 2017 in comparison with 2010.

Annual AIDS-related deaths among PLHIV kept on increasing until 2005 and then started to decline. Since the peak, the number of annual AIDS-related deaths have declined by almost 71 per cent, the report stated.

--IANS

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The Odisha government on Friday said no decision has been taken to send back the Royal Bengal tigress 'Sundari' from Satakosia wildlife sanctuary to the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The tigress allegedly mauled a woman to death in the wildlife sanctuary in Angul district on Wednesday. The incident led to violence as the villagers demanded the relocation of the wild cat.

"We have informed the matter to Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Besides, we are waiting for the post-mortem report of the woman. We will abide by the decision of WII. But so far, no decision has been taken to relocate the tigress," said Forest and Minister Bijayshree Routray.

He said it is not yet ascertained whether the woman died after being attacked by the tigress.

"While the villagers claim the woman has been killed by the tigress, forest officials claimed that had it been a fact, the prey would have been taken away by the predator. No such signs of attack have been noticed on the body," said the Minister.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathi said the department has not taken any decision to send back Sundari to Madhya Pradesh.

"No decision for shifting back of Sundari to Bandhavgarh has been taken. Further follow up action would only be taken after post-mortem and due appraisal by NTCA, Delhi, WII Dehradun teams," said Tripathi.

Angry over the death, the local residents set afire the forest beat house at Hatibari and the forest department's range office at Tikarpada.

They also torched five boats of the forest department on Wednesday night.

The 27-month-old Royal Bengal tigress was released into the Satkosia Tiger Reserve on August 17 to increase the population of the big cats in the sanctuary.

--IANS

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Now, there is a major investment in rainforest journalism to increase the quantity and quality of reporting on tropical forests!

At the Global Climate Action Summit here on Thursday, the Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting announced the creation of the Rainforest Journalism Fund supported by a five-year $5.5 million grant from the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative.

This initiative will seek to increase the quantity and quality of reporting on tropical forests by funding nearly 200 original reporting projects along with annual regional conferences designed to raise the level of reporting on global rainforest issues such as deforestation, its drivers and effect on climate change.

The fund will also provide hostile-environment and first-aid training to 75 journalists operating in rainforest regions during the course of the grant.

The Pulitzer Centre will cooperate closely with the Amazon, Central Africa and South-East Asia.

An emphasis will be put on supporting the work of journalists from within each rainforest region.

The Global Climate Action Summit, an initiative by California Governor Jerry Brown, will conclude on Friday under the theme "taking ambition to the next level".

The summit will showcase climate action around the world, along with bold new commitments, to give world leaders the confidence they need to go even further by 2020 to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals.

(Vishal Gulati is in San Francisco at the invitation of the Climate Trends to cover the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday evening left a private hospital, where he was admitted for the last two days, to attend Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at his ancestral home in Parra village, located about 10 km from Panaji.

Parrikar, who is being treated for advanced pancreatic cancer, surprised waiting journalists by walking out of the clinic in Candolim beach village, wearing a non-customary full-sleeved white shirt and stepping into the front seat of a waiting car, which drove straight to his ancestral residence, where other members of his family were awaiting him.

Sources said he is expected to head back to the clinic, after paying his respects to the Ganesh idol at his ancestral residence.

Parrikar's emergence from the clinic came minutes after a core committee meeting of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders got underway here, to deliberate on the prevailing political situation in Goa, with the Chief Minister hospitalised for several days now.

The 62-year-old former Defence Minister, who had been resting at his private residence near Panaji ever since his return from the US on September 6, was admitted to this very clinic operated by a relative last week, before being admitted a second time, two days back, after sources said he had developed fever.

The Chief Minister earlier this month, returned from the US -- for the third time in six months -- where he was undergoing treatment for this ailment. He has not attended office since his return from New York, inviting criticism from the Opposition as well as the civil society.

--IANS

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President Ram Nath Kovind is visiting Karnataka on Saturday to participate in the platinum jubilee celebrations of Karnataka Law Society (KLS) at Belagavi in the state's northwest region, an official said on Friday.

"The President will herald the 80th year-long platinum jubilee celebrations of the KLS and inaugurate the Gogate Institute of Technology campus at Belagavi on the occasion," the official told IANS here.

Belagavi is about 500 km from the southern state's capital Bengaluru.

Kovind will also new campus of Raja Lakhmagouda Law College in the city on the occasion.

"The President will address the students, faculty and the gathering at both the events," added the official.

Besides, Kovind, Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will participate in the events among others.

Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal, an alumnus of the law college, will also be present.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner S. Ziyaullah reviewed the security arrangements and protocol to be maintained during the President's visit to the city.

Set up in 1939, the 79-year-old Society runs a number of educational institutions, including schools, under-graduate and post-graduate colleges in arts, science, commerce, law, engineering and medicine.

The celebrations will include lecture series and cultural programmes.

--IANS

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A Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium has submitted "Performance Security Bank Guarantee" (PS-BG) and "Mobilisation Advance Bank Guarantee" (MA-BG) to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for the Versova-Bandra Sea Link Project (VBSL).

"The consortium has submitted Rs 350 crore of PS-BG and Rs 385 crore of MA-BG to MSRDC," the company said in a statement on Friday.

"The Reliance Infrastructure consortium has submitted the guarantees ahead of time for fast track completion of this prestigious project."

The Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) Limited - Astaldi S.p.A (Italy) Consortium had signed an agreement with MSRDC on September 4, for the construction of Versova-Bandra Sea Link Project in Mumbai.

The consortium had earlier bagged the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Rs 7,000 crore project on a competitive bid basis.

The consortium had emerged the most competitive bidder with their bid of Rs 6,993.99 crore. The other bidders in fray were L&T-Samsung and Hyundai Development Company-ITD.

The tender for the construction of second sea link in Mumbai on EPC-basis was floated by MSRDC. At 17.17 km, the Versova-Bandra Sea Link is three times the length of the existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which is 5.6 km.

--IANS

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in will fly directly to Pyongyang next week for his third bilateral summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, an official from the presidential office said here on Friday.

The means of travel for the South Korean leader was agreed to during the working-level talks on Friday in the border village of Panmunjom that involved working-level officials from both Koreas, Yonhap news agency reported.

Moon will land at the Sunan Airport in Pyongyang for his summit with Kim, as was done by the former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in 2000 to attend the first inter-Korean summit in history, also held in the North Korean capital.

Moon and Kim held their first-ever summit in Panmunjom on April 27, then again on May 26.

According to the report, officials at Friday's meeting were believed to have discussed Moon's itinerary along with the sequence of events to be held, which will likely include a welcome dinner hosted by Kim.

Presidential spokesperson Kwun Hyuk-ki said an advance team of delegates will head to Pyongyang on Sunday via a land route. Seoul has said the sides have agreed to keep the total number of South Korean visitors to under 200.

It is understood that top officials from the ruling Democratic Party such as Lee Hae-chan, the newly elected chief of the Democratic Party, and business magnates including Lee Jae-yong, de facto head of Samsung Group, will be included in the entourage accompanying Moon to Pyongyang.

The third summit to be held between the South and North Korean leaders is expected to allow the resumption of dialogue

between Pyongyang and Washington on the denuclearization of the peninsula.

North Korea has been demanding to speed up the signing of a peace treaty that would formally end the state of war on the peninsula, in exchange for taking concrete steps to dismantle its weapons as demanded by the White House.

Washington has said that it needs more guarantees -- that Pyongyang allows, for example, the entry of inspectors and reveals its weapons inventories -- before drawing up an outline of the peace treaty and lifting sanctions on the regime.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Friday gave Enforcement Directorate (ED) and others two weeks to respond to Nalini Chidambaram's plea against her summoning in the Saradha chit fund scam case.

Nalini Chidambaram is a senior lawyer practising in Supreme Court.

The bench of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Ashok Bhushan gave ED two weeks after Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee sought time to respond to Nalini Chidambram's plea against summoning.

While giving time to ED, Justice Lalit reminded ASG Banerjee that notice has already been issued in the matter.

The top court while issuing notice to ED and others on August 3, 2018, had said that the "interim order that was passed by the High Court during the pendency of the appeals shall continue."

The court gave Nalini Chidambaram a week's time to file a rejoinder to the reply by the ED.

Nalini Chidambaram has moved the top court challenging Madras High court order rejecting her plea against summons by the ED.

Nalini Chidambaram was allegedly paid a fee of Rs one crore by the Saradha group to appear for them before the court and the Company Law Board over a television channel purchase deal.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Friday awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan who was falsely implicated in an espionage case and had to suffer wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution and humiliation.

Awarding the compensation, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also directed the setting up of a committee to inquire into the role of erring officials who Narayanan said had implicated him in the alleged Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spy case.

The compensation amount "shall be" paid by Kerala government within eight weeks, the court said.

The committee would be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice D.K. Jain and have a representative each from the Centre and the Kerala government.

The committee would function from Delhi but it was given the option to hold meetings in Kerala as well. The central government has been made responsible for providing the facilities to the committee.

While awarding compensation by invoking public law remedy, the court said that Narayanan could proceed with the civil suit he had filed for compensation.

"We hasten to clarify that the appellant, if so advised, may proceed with the civil suit wherein he has claimed more compensation," the court said.

"The dignity of a person gets shocked when psycho-pathological treatment is meted out to him," Chief Justice Misra said, speaking for the bench.

"A human being cries for justice when he feels that the insensible act has crucified his self-respect. That warrants grant of compensation under the public law remedy."

Chief Justice Misra further said that there was no doubt that Narayanan - a successful scientist - enjoying national reputation was compelled to undergo immense humiliation.

The lackadaisical attitude of the Kerala Police made him suffer.

The court verdict came on a plea by Narayanan seeking a probe into the false case filed by the Kerala Police and other agencies.

He moved the top court challenging a Kerala High Court judgment that upheld the state government's decision not to take action against the officials who falsely implicated the scientist in the case in the mid-90s.

Rejecting the contention that the fault should not lie with the police but with the CBI to whom the case was transferred, the court said: "The criminal law was set in motion without any basis. It was initiated, if one is allowed to say, on some kind of fancy or notion."

"The liberty and dignity of the appellant which are basic to his human rights were jeopardized as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, he was compelled to face cynical abhorrence."

The court noted that the "entire prosecution initiated by the State police was malicious and it has caused tremendous harassment and immeasurable anguish" to Narayanan.

The 'erring' state government officials include then Inspector General of Police Siby Mathews and then Deputy Superintendents of Police K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charges of espionage along with another senior official of ISRO, two Maldivian women and a businessman.

The CBI cleared him in 1995 and since then he has been fighting a legal battle against Siby Mathews and the other officials who probed the case.

Narayanan approached the apex court after a Kerala High Court bench dismissed a single bench order that directed the Kerala government to take action against three retired police officers who had implicated and arrested him.

Reacting to the verdict, the veteran space scientist, who spent 50 days in jail, said he hoped the committee will finish the job in three to six months.

"Today's verdict is better than before. Let the committee come out with the conspiracy behind all this. With this verdict, the police officials should realise that they cannot escape the actions of what they do," he said.

--IANS

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A day after the Delhi High Court granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in a terror funding case, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the order.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said it would hear the matter on September 26.

The order came on a plea filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the Delhi High Court's order, saying that it has ignored the evidence against Watali.

Appearing for the NIA, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the apex court that there were "very serious charges" against the businessman and he should not have been granted bail.

The Agency further contended that documents recovered from the premises of Watali's accountant have showed that money had been received from Pakistan-based terrorist leaders Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin and the Pakistan High Commission which was distributed to Hurriyat leaders to finance terror activities.

Forensic analysis of Watali's signature proved his involvement, but the high court ignored the documents as a "piece of paper",the NIA told the apex court.

A counsel appearing for Watali said he was 75-years-old and has been in jail for months and there were no grounds for the NIA to make a case against him.

Watali, arrested for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Saeed, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Thursday, directing him to not leave the country without permission.

He had challenged the trial court's June 8 order rejecting his bail plea.

Watali was arrested on August 17, 2017, and was charge-sheeted by the NIA on January 18 along with Saeed, Salahuddin, seven Kashmiri separatist leaders and others in the case.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea by a victim of an acid attack in Bulandshahr city a day earlier for refusing to accept a triple talaq.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said it would hear the plea on September 17.

The victim, Shabnam Rani, was attacked with acid on Thursday by her brother-in-law for "refusing to undergo nikah halala" with him.

The attack took place while she was on her way to file a complaint after being allegedly assaulted by her in-laws on Wednesday.

After the attack, she approached the apex court for security and medical treatment.

Shabnam Rani is one of the women who have filed petitions against 'nikah halala' and polygamy in the apex court.

She had earlier approached the top court after her husband gave her triple talaq one and a half years after their marriage.

She has been living with her in-laws in Bulandshahr despite the talaq.

A batch of pleas have been pending before the apex court challenging the practice of polygamy, 'nikah halala', 'nikah mutah' (temporary marriage among Shias) and 'nikah misyar' (short-term marriage among Sunnis) on the grounds that these were violative of the Constitution's Articles 14, 15 and 21.

Under 'nikah halala', if a Muslim woman, after divorce by her husband three times on different instances, wants to go back to him, she has to marry another person and then divorce the second husband to get re-married to her first husband.

--IANS

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Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said the Central government is looking to turn the scientific progress in the country into a movement.

Addressing the first curtain raiser programme at the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute here for the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2018 in Lucknow from October 5-8, he said the government is planning to hold the next edition of the festival in the eastern or northeastern region.

"Science should become a movement. We have been trying to engage students and youth of the country with science and research in a big way. Facilities at the various institutions are being upgraded so that the youth can access the best resources," he said.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to make science and technology an enabler of social and economic progress for all sections of the population.

"We try to promote innovative ideas which are key to India's economic and social development. We are organising the festival because we want to turn the developments in science in the country into a movement," he said.

AIISF-2018 with its focal theme "Science for Transformation" was expecting to host around 10,000 delegates including 5,000 students, 550 teachers, 200 students from northeastern region, 20 international delegates and approximately 200 start-ups.

The Union Minister also launched an app for this year's event.

Speaking further on the festival, Department of Biotechnology Secretary Renu Swarup said: "Science is all about curiosity. The whole purpose of the festival is to take science to remote corners of the country."

The first and second IISF was held in New Delhi and the third in Chennai.

"Next year, we would like to come here and in the north-east, not for the curtain raiser programmes. I hope we will hold the next edition in Kolkata or in the north east. But, it will depend on how much enthusiasm or intensity we receive from here. The organising committee will take the final decision on whether the next year's festival will be held in Kolkata or Guwahati," Harsh Vardhan said.

--IANS

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German technology major's arm Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) will digitize operations of the international airport in Bengaluru, said the operator on Friday.

"Siemens has signed an agreement with us to digitise the airport operations, including its infrastructure, using Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis," said the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) consortium in a statement.

With a view to improve the operational efficiency, the subsidiary will use MindSphere, an open cloud-based IoT operating system of Siemens, to simplify the airport's processes and enhance passengers' experience.

As the country's third busiest airport after Mumbai and New Delhi, the Bengaluru airport handled 25 million (250 lakh) passengers in 2017.

"In developing digital solutions, we depend on collaborative working relationships with customers and partners," said SPPAL Chief Executive Michael Reichle in the statement.

The digital-based products and services will ensure that passengers and partners have a seamless operating environment in the airport at Devanahalli, about 40 km from Bengaluru city.

With 26 per cent equity share, Siemens Projects Ventures GmBH is a partner in the consortium in which Mauritius-based subsidiary Fairfax India Holdings Corp holds 48 per cent and the central and state governments 13 per cent each.

--IANS

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In a step that commercialises space travel, US private space firm SpaceX on Friday announced that it will send the first private passenger to Moon and will reveal his identity on Monday.

The tourist will fly in the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) being designed to carry people into deep space, the Elon Musk led company said in a tweet.

"SpaceX has signed the world's first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle -- an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of travelling to space.

"Find out who's flying and why on Monday, September 17," the tweet said.

The BFR will be used to explore Mars -- a goal that Musk hopes to accomplish by 2022.

"SpaceX will probably build 30 to 40 rocket cores for 300 missions over five years. Then the BFR takes over and Falcon retires. Goal of BFR is to enable anyone to move to Moon, Mars and eventually outer planets," Musk had said in May.

Only 24 humans have been to the Moon so far, and no one has visited since the 1972 Apollo mission.

However, it was not clear whether the BFR tourism mission has any link to an announcement SpaceX made in February 2017, the CNN reported.

At that time, SpaceX said two people signed a deal with SpaceX to make a trip around the moon aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. SpaceX was tight-lipped about the financial terms of the deal and the identity of the individuals.

In February, SpaceX debuted the long-awaited Falcon Heavy, which became the world's most powerful operational launch vehicle, the report said.

But during a Falcon Heavy press conference earlier this year, Musk told reporters that, for the time being, SpaceX had no plans to certify the Falcon Heavy for human spaceflight.

Instead, Musk said, SpaceX would turn its focus to developing the BFR, which he deemed a better option for tourism missions.

In December 2017, US President Donald Trump also issued a directive to "lead an innovative space exploration programme to send American astronauts back to the moon, and eventually Mars".

The new heavy-lift rocket that NASA is developing for deep-space missions -- known as the Space Launch System -- could serve as a core component of a moon trip.

--IANS

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Villagers lynched a suspected motor vehicle thief in Manipur, sparking fears of Hindu-Muslim tensions, police said on Friday.

Farooq Khan of Thoubal district was beaten to death by villagers of Tharoijam in Imphal district on Thursday. Muslim organisations are demanding a thorough probe by the government, contending that the victim was innocent.

Police say they have taken steps to ensure the crime does not have a communal spillover.

--IANS

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The Maldivian Blood Service has expressed concern over the rising number of Thalassaemia patients in the archipelago nation.

The Maldives currently has the highest prevalence of Thalassaemia in the world, according to the Maldivian Thalassaemia Society.

Some 874 people are registered as Thalassaemia patients in the Maldives and their treatment is funded by the state, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

This year, 13 children were diagnosed with the disorder compared to 11 last year, reports say.

Regulations in the Maldives make it compulsory for couples to do a blood test for Thalassaemia before getting married. Authorities do not forbid marriage between two carriers but it is discouraged.

There is a 25 per cent chance that a couple who are both Thalassaemia carriers will have children that have this rare condition, health authorities said.

Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder which may require regular blood transfusion due to abnormal haemoglobin production.

--IANS

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Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager embattled by criminal indictments, is close to a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a guilty plea ahead of his upcoming trial, according to an informed source.

Manafort may no longer fight the charges related to his Ukrainian lobbying operation, CNN quoted the source as saying on Thursday.

The incentive appears to be to reach a deal ahead of a pre-trial motion hearing scheduled for Friday and before jury selection begins on September 17 in the Washington D.C. District Court.

The plea would bring to an end to one of the most active criminal cases in the DC federal court system this year.

Manafort's lawyers have filed hundreds of pages in courts to fight prosecutors' allegations and have brought two appeals unsuccessfully.

Proceedings scheduled for September 17 would begin a second gruelling, expensive, politically explosive three-week-or-longer trial in federal court.

Manafort faces seven counts of foreign lobbying violations, money laundering conspiracy and witness tampering, CNN said.

He is accused of not disclosing to the Justice Department his work for Ukrainian politicians and laundering that income.

Prosecutors allege he set up meetings with lawmakers and fashioned public relations efforts in the US on the Ukrainians' behalf.

A jury convicted Manafort in Virginia last month on eight bank and tax fraud charges related to his lobbying wealth after a three-week trial.

Manafort has maintained that he is not guilty since Mueller's office first charged him with foreign lobbying and financial crimes last October.

--IANS

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Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager embattled by criminal indictments, on Friday agreed to plead guilty in a deal to resolve charges filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, officials said.

Charges filed against him accuse him of a myriad of criminal acts related to his consulting work in Ukraine. He will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice due to attempts to tamper with witnesses, according to a court filing cited by CNN.

It was, however, not clear if he will cooperate with prosecutors against President Donald Trump.

If he does, Manafort could prove to be a significant witness for Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion by members of Trump campaign with Moscow, CNBC said.

Trump was not mentioned in Friday's filing, neither was Manafort's role in his campaign.

Prosecutors will drop the five remaining charges against Manafort, including money laundering, tax fraud, failing to disclose foreign bank accounts, violating federal foreign lobbying law and lying to the Department of Justice. But the court filing suggested Manafort admitted to the actions.

Manafort had faced seven charges in Washington and faces another 10 possible charges in Virginia which had been declared in mistrial. He has already been convicted on eight counts of bank and tax fraud crimes in the Virginia trial.

The White House has distanced itself from Manafort and downplayed his time leading the Trump campaign. But but last month, Trump expressed sympathy for him.

"I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," the President tweeted the week of Manafort's conviction in his Virginia trial.

"Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.' Such respect for a brave man!" Trump had said.

In their filing, prosecutors described Manafort's scheme to take in more than $60 million from pro-Russian Ukrainians and launder that money to avoid paying taxes.

He appeared to admit to the allegations he faced in both Virginia federal court and DC district court, describing his use of offshore bank accounts to move the money, deceive his accountants and bookkeeper and then spend the money on lavish purchases and real estate, CNN said.

He also will admit to lying to banks about his assets to gain new loans as a way to supplement his income, according to the filing.

According to the charging document, Manafort will forfeit his home in the Hamptons section of New York's Long Island, properties in New York City and property on Edgewood Street in Alexandria, Virginia,

In addition, Manafort will forfeit all of the money contained in four bank accounts and a life insurance policy.

--IANS

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The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in a keynote speech on Wednesday said Europe will propose a new alliance with Africa that will create up to 10 million jobs.

In his State of the Union speech, Juncker said the European Commission is proposing a new Africa  Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs to substantially boost investment in Africa, strengthen trade, create jobs, and invest in education and skills.

Europe is Africas main partner in foreign investment, trade, security, remittances, development, as well as humanitarian aid. What happens in Africa matters in Europe and vice versa, said Juncker.

Trade between Africa and Europe was not insignificant  36 percent of Africas trade is with the European Union, compared to 16 percent with China and 6 percent with the United States.

Also, the EU is already Africas biggest investor, with its Member States holding an investment stock of 291 billion in 2016 and representing approximately 40% of Foreign Direct Investment flows to Africa annually.

Among various proposals for EU action to bolster prosperity in the worlds poorest continent and Europes close neighbor, the Commission chief called for a more equal partnership and investment rather than aid.

The proposal, which is part of a reinforced African Union  European Union Partnership, requires that the continents regional bloc develops the numerous European-African trade agreements into a continent-to-continent free trade agreement, as an economic partnership between equals.

Africa does not need charity; it needs true and fair partnership. And we, Europeans need this partnership just as much, Juncker said.

The proposal mainly aims to drive a change in investment in Africa, building on the impetus across the two continents for socio-economic transformation. Huge socio-economic opportunities exist for both European and African continents: in private investment, trade, job creation and sustainable and inclusive growth.

These opportunities can be harnessed through the proposed Alliance, Junkers communication states.

The Alliance is about unlocking private investment and exploring the huge opportunities that can produce benefits for African and European economies alike. It is an economic partnership that puts the respective strengths of Europe and Africa at work.
UN General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak has said that the Security Council reform process has made headway in the past year and "we are getting closer to agreeing" on what it should be like.

Emphasising the need for a reform, he told reporters on Thursday that the inability of the Security Council to unite and act overshadows the positive work of the UN and the entire system "gets criticised harshly".

Therefore, the importance of the reform process "goes well beyond the role of the Security Council", he said.

Lajcak said that he had tried to ensure that the reform process was a credible one "and I think we succeeded on that".

"I think here, the views of different member states would differ," he conceded. "For some, we went very far; for some others, this was not far enough."

The Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) as the reform process is known, was unable during the current session of the General Assembly to agree on a negotiating text, the most fundamental requirement for meaningful negotiations and in June rolled over the task to next session that begins later this month.

Lajcak appointed Ambassadors Kaha Imnadze of Georgia and Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates as co-chairs of the IGN to revitalise the process stalled for over a decade.

"The current composition of the UN Security Council is not representative because it does not reflect the realities of 2018, of the 21st century. It copies the realities of 1945. So therefore, the call for reform is just, and it is not denied," he said.

Despite a universal acceptance of the need for change, the reform process faced practical issues "like, if expanded, to how many members? What about veto rights? What about permanent, non-permanent, semi-permanent?"

But he added that the UN members "have to feel that the Security Council represents them all and they have to identify with the work of the Security Council.

"And this will not be the case for as long as there are important countries that believe that they are not adequately represented, or continents, and obviously starting with Africa."

Lajcak said that he was certain that the member states would not allow the reform process to become a "routine question" and go around in circles.

"Honestly, I was taken aback by the level of emotions and also the level of frustration when we started the discussions about Security Council reform during this session," he added.

"The Member States have very clear, very strong positions, and many of them will make sure that this will not become a routine."

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump's administration has approved the sale of 64 missiles and six surveillance planes for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, the State Department has announced.

"The proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing Korea's naval capabilities to provide national defence and significantly contribute to coalition operations," CNN quoted the Department as saying on Thursday.

If approved by Congress, the sale of the P-8A patrol aircraft will provide an upgrade over the older, US-made P-3 surveillance planes that South Korea has used for over 25 years.

The P-8A is the newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft built by the US.

Purchasing the Patriot Advanced Capability missiles will allow South Korea "to improve its missile defence capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats to regional stability", the Department said.

It will also "increase the defensive capabilities of the (South Korean) Military to guard against hostile aggression and shield the allies who train and operate within South Korea's borders".

As part of the sale, South Korea would also receive tactical radio, navigation and early missile warning sensors for the aircraft.

Thursday's announcement comes as the US and allies are days away from launching a new effort to "name and shame" North Korea by publicly exposing violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programmes, defence officials told CNN.

The new effort will make more public US and allied military efforts to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea, particularly the monitoring of ships performing illicit transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean oil tankers in the East China Sea.

--IANS

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The US and Bangladesh have discussed trade, digital economy and labour reforms at a key meeting here.

The US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) Council held its fourth meeting in Washington on Thursday to promote expanded bilateral trade and investment in goods and services, bdnews24.com reported.

The meeting was co-chaired by Assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asian affairs Mark Linscott and secretary of Bangladesh's Commerce Ministry Shubhashish Bose.

The discussions focused on market access for US cotton, enabling a digital economy, transparency in government procurement and labour reforms in Bangladesh, according to an official statement.

"Both governments pledged their commitment to deepen their engagement and grow their trade and economic ties.

According to the report, Washington noted its concerns on overall labour reform and expressed its hope for ongoing collaboration with the private sector on worker safety.

Bangladesh was suspended from the generalized system of preferences programme in 2013 as a result of concerns on workers' rights and safety.

Dhaka and Washington had $7.2 billion in two-way trade in 2017.

--IANS

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The US has imposed sanctions on two North Korean-controlled information technology (IT) companies based in China and Russia, accusing them of moving illicit funds to Pyongyang, the media reported.

"These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Thursday.

The department designated the China-based China Silver Star, its North Korean CEO Jong Song Hwa and its Russia-based sister company Volasys Silver Star as such fronts, the Voice of America News reported.

The sanctions come at a time when the US is maintaining pressure on the North Korean government in its negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

"The US will continue to fully enforce and implement sanctions until we have achieved the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," Mnuchin said.

White House officials have acknowledged that there has been no progress on denuclearization, even as President Donald Trump considers a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

They met face-to-face during their historic summit in June in Singapore.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon said the US and allies are days away from launching a new effort to more publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs, defence officials tell CNN.

The US has been using sanctions to maintain pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme, even as it continues to engage in diplomacy.

--IANS

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Actor Divyendu Sharma, who will soon be seen in "Batti Gul Meter Chalu", says people living in urban areas take the facilities of water and electricity for granted.

"Batti Gul Meter Chalu" tells the story of how people are suffering from corruption in the electricity system.

"Most of the cities and small towns face power cut and electricity issue daily and I was aware of the issues," Divyendu told IANS.

"Even a city like Delhi faces the same problem during the summer. Such things happen because common people take electricity and water facilities for granted in urban life and do not even think about conserving them," he added.

The actor continued: "If someone lives in Mumbai, I doubt if they face long hours power cut. Though these days, people talk a lot about power conservation, they hardly practice basic things like switching off lights and fans when leaving the room. Such abuse of electricity is creating dearth in power supply."

The actor believes "Batti Gul Meter Chalu" is relatable. Divyendu is working with Shree Narayan Singh again after "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha".

Talking about his rapport with the filmmaker, he said: "I came on board at the very last moment and did not even read the whole script to say 'yes' to the film. Before they started the shooting of the film, Shree Sir called me saying 'This is the story in one line and you have to trust me on this.' And I came on board."

What has he learnt from actors Akshay Kumar and Shahid Kapoor?

"Yes, how to stay disciplined and importance of hard work. It was fascinating to see how Akshay Sir after so many years of working in Bollywood is so disciplined with his craft and is always on time.

"Shahid never takes his talent and opportunity for granted. There is no doubt about the fact that Shahid is an extremely talented actor, but with every choice, he is challenging himself."

"Batti Gul Meter Chalu" will be releasing on September 21.

--IANS

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Informative wildlife cartoons clubbed with play activities at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Delhi, are part of an ongoing ?"Toony Tails" exhibition here that seeks to enthuse and educate children about the wonders of nature and wildlife.

Blending fun and learning for school-goers, the exhibition displays wildlife cartoons made by Rohan Chakravarty from Green Humour, a platform that illustrates stories on wildlife, and nature conservation.

The exhibition, curated and being hosted by WWF Delhi, recreates a jungle atmosphere with animal calls, mud tracks and tall plants.

The idea was to make children learn through a humorous way so comics are put up about serious subjects like wildlife conservation, WWF spokesperson Payal Narain told IANS.

"It is a comical way of making them understand about sustainable lifestyles," she added.

The guided exhibition begins with a walk through a cartoon gallery -- illustrating various animal species and the challenges they face -- and is replete with mud tracks, and real and artificial plants.

An interesting comic about the massive carbon footprint generated by Indian weddings is also linked to WWF's #GiveUp campaign -- an initiative to make people give up habits and practices that are environmentally detrimental, Narain said.

Visitors can also flip through WWF's new wildlife comic book "The Great Indian Nature Trail with Uncle Bikky", which is created in a "giant size with pop-up animals".

"Toony Tails" also has fun activities like "The Uncle Bikky Nature Trail" -- a giant board game about India's rich natural heritage.

The exhibition has a corner for moulding clay into animal excreta to highlight the role it plays in seed dispersal and providing habitat for insects.

Another corner engages children in dance, as they groove along a cartoon sloth bear Mahua Macarena.

"Mahua flower is used for preparing liquor but sometimes animals consume it accidentally and they get intoxicated too," Narain said, adding that children must know all aspects of wildlife.

A doodle panel also lets the students draw tigers and other animals, step by step. The walk ends with "Jungle Post" where students write letters on behalf of animals asking for help from their human friends.

The walk and activities are facilitated by volunteers, and have already been attended by schools like Akshay Pratishthan, and DAV School Paschim Vihar.

As per WWF, the exhibition that launched informally earlier this month, will run for next 3-4 months, and will see participation from more school and college groups.

--IANS

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Aiming to recruit new talent and strengthen its core, Xiaomi would undergo internal restructuring, its Founder and Chief Executive Lei Jun has announced.

The Beijing-headquartered company's internal restructuring would make way for 10 new business units -- four hardware units, four Internet services units, one technology platform and an e-commerce platform.

"It will also increase the efficiency of each department and build strong career progression, allowing us to develop younger talent and provide them with opportunities to shine," Lei wrote in a letter to Xiaomi staff, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Friday.

"The company's organisational shake-up comes at a time when the governance of Chinese companies is under the spotlight," the report added.

One of the new departments would oversee recruitments, promotion and training while the other would be tasked with managing the firm's development strategy as well as monitoring the progress of individual business units.

"Without experienced soldiers, there is no succession. Without new troops, there is no future. We need to groom and develop a large group of young managerial talent.. to manage the troops. Let every capable and ambitious young person learn to battle and grow quickly on the battlefield," Lei added in the letter to the employees.

Recently, Chinese e-tailer Alibaba's Executive Chairman Jack Ma announced his plans to resign after a 12-month transition period, handing over the reins to Daniel Zhang, current Chief Executive of Alibaba Group Holding.

Alibaba Group said that on its 20th anniversary on September 10, 2019, its Chief Executive Daniel Zhang, 46, will take charge as the new Chairman.

--IANS

ksc/anp/vm

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Whether or not the poor are becoming poorer under Narendra Modi, there is little doubt the rich are becoming richer. Not only is the richest Indian, Mukesh Ambani, richer by $16.9 billion in 2018 than he was in 2017, but the Forbes list of 121 Indian billionaires includes 19 who gatecrashed the club this year. Clearly, the partial demonetisation Modi announced so dramatically on November 6, 2016, was only a peck at the small fry.

The big boys walked away laughing. They are still laughing. Contrary to popular belief, India has always been a poor country of rich people. Ironically, it ...
Moroccos FBI, the Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), issued an international arrest warrant that led to the arrest of drug lord Victor Manuel Lemina Cores in Lima.

Lemina Cores, a Spanish national, notorious for running one of the mightiest drug trafficking networks, was arrested by Interpol on September 11 in the Peruvian capital Lima.

The drug lord engaged in drug trafficking operations of cocaine and cannabis in Spain. His latest trafficking operation took place in November 2016 when his 1230kg cargo of cocaine was seized near the coasts of Dakhla by Moroccan authorities.

Sixteen people were arrested in that operation that resulted in the seizure of the amount of cocaine with the market value of 2 billion dirhams.

Besides the crackdown on terrorist networks, BCIJ has foiled several drug trafficking attempts and dismantled smuggling gangs since its creation in 2015.
Hours after fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya said he met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving the country, Congress President on Wednesday demanded Jaitley's resignation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should order an "independent probe" into the matter, he said.

"Given Vijay Mallya's extremely serious allegations in London, the PM should immediately order an independent probe into the matter. Jaitley should step down as Finance Minister while this probe is underway," said Gandhi in Twitter.





Given Vijay Mallyas extremely serious allegations in London today, the PM should immediately order an independent probe into the matter. Arun Jaitley should step down as FInance Minister while this probe is underway.  (@RahulGandhi) September 12, 2018

The fugitive liquor baron, wanted in India for his alleged role in a multi-crore bank loan fraud case, claimed that he had met the Finance Minister before leaving India in 2016 and made an offer of settlement.

"I had a scheduled meeting in Geneva. I met the Finance Minister before I left...repeated my offer to settle with the banks. That is the truth," he told reporters outside a Westminster court where he is contesting an extradition case filed by Indian authorities.

ALSO READ: Mallya claims he met FM before leaving India, Arun Jaitley rubbishes charge

However, Jaitley rejected Mallya's claim as factually false.

"My attention has been drawn to a statement made to the media by Vijay Mallya on having met me with an offer of settlement. The statement is factually false inasmuch as it does not reflect truth," he said in a Facebook post.
A 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by an unidentified man in east Delhi's New Ashok Nagar area, police said Friday.

The incident took place on Thursday between 7 pm to 8 pm when the girl was playing outside her house with friends, said Pankaj Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (east).

During investigation, it was revealed that the victim's family had come from eastern Uttar Pradesh in search of work. Her parents are labourers and do not have a permanent residence here, Singh said.

The victim was referred to AIIMS, the police said, adding that her condition was stated to be stable.

A case has been registered and a few suspects are being questioned in connection with the case, they added.

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At least 17 passengers were killed and 16 more injured when a mini bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday, officials said.

The accident occurred at Dandaran, near Thakrai, when the driver of the mini bus, which was on its way to Kishtwar from the Keshwan area, lost control of it and the vehicle plunged into the over-300-foot gorge, near the Chenab riverbed, on Friday morning, they said.

"A total of 17 persons died and 16 others injured in the unfortunate incident," District Development Commissioner (Kishtwar) Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.

He said the dead included three women and the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Ashraf Hussain.

Interestingly, Hussain was fined by the traffic police for overloading on Thursday, officials said.

Rana said most of the victims died on the spot. One of the 11 critically injured persons, airlifted to Jammu for specialised treatment, was declared brought dead by doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu.

The district development commissioner, who led the operation along with Senior Superintendent of Police Rajinder Gupta, said, "The next of the kin of the deceased will be given an ex gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each, while Rs 50,000 will be given to each of the injured persons."



He lauded the Army, police and locals for their swift action in initiating the rescue operation.

Officials said the bus was carrying over 30 passengers.

They said five of the injured were undergoing treatment at a local hospital and their condition was stated to be "stable".

Jammu-based Army spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said the Indian Air Force had pressed a MI-V5 chopper into service and airlifted eight critically injured victims from Kishtwar to Jammu.

Three other injured were evacuated by a Pawan Hans chopper, Rana said.

This is the third major accident in Kishtwar district in the last one month.

While 13 Machail Yatra devotees were killed when their cab plunged into a gorge on August 21, seven persons were killed and 12 others injured when two vehicles were hit by boulders a day earlier.

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India had an estimated 21.40 lakh people living with HIV in 2017, with slightly more than two-fifth of them being women, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) said on Friday.

It said the annual new HIV infection cases have declined by more than 60 per cent since 2000, but the rate of decline between 2010 and 2017 have been 27 per cent, far behind the pace needed to reach the 2020 target of 75 per cent reduction in new cases of infection.

Around 87,580 new HIV infections and 69,110 AIDS-related deaths occurred last year, the HIV Estimations 2017 report stated.

"The results of the 2017 round of HIV Estimates confirm the national declining trend in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths corroborating India's success story in curbing the epidemic," the report stated, but stressed that there is "no place for complacency" as new HIV infections are "stable to rising" in some locations.

"Between 2010 and 2017, new infections have declined only by 27 per cent. While this is better than the global average of 16 per cent, a new impetus is clearly needed to fast track HIV prevention efforts to achieve the 75 per cent reduction in new infections by 2020 against the 2010 baseline," it stated.

The number of new infection cases are declining nationally except for five states -- Arunachal Pradesh (65 per cent), Assam (37 per cent), Mizoram (18 per cent), Meghalaya (10 per cent) and Uttarakhand (four per cent) where such cases increased last year in comparison to 2010.

In Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Nagaland, the decline has been 10 per cent or less.

Sustained commitment and much more vigorous action are needed to reach the ambitious prevention and treatment targets set for 2020 in view of ending AIDS by 2030, the HIV Estimations 2017 report stated.

Over 190 countries, including India, have pledged to end AIDS by 2030 by adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As far as adult HIV prevalence in the country is concerned, Mizoram was at the top with 2.04 per cent, followed by Manipur at 1.43 per cent and Nagaland at 1.15 per cent.

Telangana (0.7 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (0.63 per cent) Karnataka (0.47 per cent), Goa (0.42 per cent), Maharashtra (0.33 per cent) and Delhi (0.30 per cent) had higher adult HIV prevalence than the national average last year, the report highlighted.

Jammu and Kashmir had the lowest adult HIV prevalence in the country at 0.03 per cent.

With 3.30 lakh people living with HIV, Maharashtra had the highest number of such cases, contributing 15 per cent of total such population in the country.

Along with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar contributed almost three-fourth of the total number of people living with HIV in country.

"As HIV incidence continues to be much higher in female sex workers, men who have sex with men, injection drug users and hijra/transgender people, these high-risk groups must continue to be the primary target of HIV prevention efforts," the report stated.

Since 2005, the number of annual AIDS-related deaths have declined by almost 71 per cent.

AIDS-related deaths have dropped across India after attaining a peak in the period from 2005 to 2010, with the exception of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi and Uttarakhand.

These are states where the implementation of the ART (antiretroviral therapy) programme needs to be more closely monitored and strengthened.

Another critical target is elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV which, the estimations show, was within striking distance in many states and Union Territories with national Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) coverage of 60 per cent in 2016-17.

However, the major challenges remain and must be urgently addressed, especially in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana where the PMTCT coverage is still significantly lower than the national average, the report by the NACO stated.

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The tourism ministry would organise the second edition of 'Paryatan Parv' from September 16 to September 27 across the country to promote tourist sites, especially among domestic travellers, a ministry official said on Friday.

Tourism secretary Rashmi Verma told reporters that the programme will be inaugurated by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on September 16 at the Rajpath lawns here.

"The programme is being organised with the objective of drawing focus on the benefits of tourism, showcasing the cultural diversity of the country and reinforcing the principle of 'tourism for all," Verma said.

She said 32 states and Union territories, along with different departments of the government, are collaborating with the ministry to organise 3,150 activities across India as part of the programme.

The event will be based on three main components - 'Dekho aapna desh' - encouraging domestic tourists to travel within India, 'Tourism for all' - promoting tourism across social classes, and 'Tourism and governance' - interactive sessions with stakeholders.

While celebrations will be held across the country with the help of state governments, at Rajpath in the national capital, activities will continue for the full 12 days. Eighteen theme-based pavilions will be set up by states. It would also have 54 food stalls, craft bazaar and exhibitions will be held there.

This time, the ministry has also included yoga in the events. Its demonstration, training, therapy would be held by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga everyday on the Rajpath lawns.

In 2017-2018, 1.8 billion visits were recorded by domestic travellers to places of tourist interest, Verma said, adding it was a 18 per cent growth from the previous year.

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At least three security personnel were killed on Friday in a bomb attack on their vehicle in southwestern Pakistan, officials said.

Militants targeted the vehicle of a local administrator in Pishin area of Balochistan.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Pishin Waqar Khursheed said that the apparent target of the attack was an assistant commissioner but he was not in the vehicle.

"Three police officials were killed in the attack," Khursheed said.

No one claimed responsibility for the assault but Taliban militants and Baloch nationalists have been involved in such attacks in the past.

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As many as 64 people have been detained and 71 vehicles were challaned in a major crackdown on vehicles plying illegally in Amethi, police said Friday.

Among those detained during the traffic drive conducted Thursday was an accused in a double murder case, on whom the National Security Act (NSA) was slapped earlier, they said.

"In a special drive launched by the Amethi police against illegally plying vehicles on roads, a vehicle was seized while another 71 were challaned under the Motor Vehicles Act," PRO of SP, Amethi, said in a press release.

"Rs 9,100 was also recovered from the persons concerned with warning that such campaigns will be continued in public interest," Amethi SP Anurag Arya said.

The 64 detainees were later presented before a court, he said.

During the drive, Shiv Kumar, an accused wanted in a double murder case and booked under the NSA, was also detained.

Kumar is a resident of Pure Tejai-Ratapur village under the Piparpur police station. He was accused of double murder and was wanted under Sections 302, 307 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

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In the wake of the Majerhat bridge collapse on September 4, the West Bengal public works department (PWD) has identified seven bridges in the city as "most vulnerable" requiring urgent repairs, a senior official of the department said.

The seven bridges are out of the 20, which, the PWD has classified as "distressed" structures.

The seven bridges labelled as "most vulnerable" are Bijon setu, Gouribari Aurobindo Setu, Belgachhia bridge, Tollygunge Circular Road bridge, Dhakuria bridge, Tallah bridge and Santragachi bridge, the PWD official told PTI.

"Load-bearing capacities of these bridges were carried out and depending on that report, we have suggested to the police to impose restriction on goods-carrying vehicles to prevent further deterioration of the condition of the distressed structures," he said.

The Kolkata Police has already banned movement of all goods vehicles on the first four bridges and is exploring the possibility whether a similar decision can be taken for the remaining ones, a senior officer of Kolkata Traffic Police said.

But, overloaded vehicles are still plying on the bridges, especially at night, leading to traffic snarls following which the trucks are stranded on the structures which might lead to another mishap, the PWD official said.

The PWD is preparing a detailed budget and a plan for immediately taking up the repair work of the seven bridges, the official said.

The department is also carrying out inspection of the remaining 13 bridges, including Dhakuria bridge, Tallah bridge, Sukanta Setu and Santragachchi bridge, following which they will either be labelled as "vulnerable or relatively safe".

"Inspection is being carried to test the load-bearing capacity of Dhakuria bridge and Tallah bridge so that a decision can be taken on the type of vehicles whose movement may be restricted," the PWD official said.

A team of officials from the state PWD department has carried out separate surveys at Sukanta Setu connecting Jadavpur with Santoshpur and at the Karunamoyee bridge linking Tollygunge to Haridevpur.

"Sukanta Setu has developed cracks in some places and requires repair work. But there is a need of a survey of the structure to ascertain the extent of damage," he said.

Talking about the Santragachhi bridge, the PWD official said that "poor condition" of the bridge was a cause of worry.

"Santragachhi bridge is a vital bridge but a recent survey suggests that it requires immediate repair on urgent basis. We think we must have a separate plan for Santragachhi bridge because it is used by several hundreds of trucks bringing in supply to the city and the suburbs," he said.

Talking about the Sealdah bridge, the PWD official said that the government was working on options for shifting the shopkeepers to some other locations before starting "immediate" restoration work there.

"Sealdah bridge is a crucial one in the city which also immediately requires urgent repairs. But markets and shops need to be shifted first before we start carrying out the renovation and restoration works," the official pointed out.

Talking about the budget for carrying out the repair works at these bridges, the official hinted that it could run into several crores because the restoration work woule differ from bridge to bridge.

After estimating the cost, the state government would float tender and it would be done in "a very short time," the official added.

On whether the bridges were maintained properly or there were lapses on part of the government, the official said, "People have forgotten that bridges have a shelf life and require regular monitoring apart from auditing and maintenance. But these critical parts were ignored and hence bridges have reached such a structurally distressed state."



Three persons were killed while 24 others injured in the September 4 collapse of a portion of Majerhat bridge, which connects the city centre with the heavily populated Behala, vast areas of the south west suburbs and neighbouring South 24 Parganas district.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he will meet again this year for more talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Putin's proposal for the two countries to sign a peace treaty and discuss the status of disputed islands.

Japan, however, wants to resolve the territorial dispute before signing a peace treaty, Abe said during a policy debate in his party, repeating the country's longstanding position.

Abe returned from Russia on Thursday after meeting with Putin and attending an economic conference. He said that the two leaders are likely to discuss a treaty when they meet again later this year.

Putin said Wednesday the countries should sign a peace treaty before the end of the year and later discuss the islands.

"We need to read signals from President Putin's words," Abe said. "There is no doubt that (Putin) expressed his willingness about the need to sign a peace treaty." Abe has been pushing for a way forward in the dispute, with the two leaders holding talks more often than ever before. The two sides are working on joint economic projects on the disputed islands for the first time, in hopes of further improving their ties.

The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories, in the closing days of World War II. The island dispute has prevented the two sides from concluding a postwar peace treaty formally ending the hostilities.

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The Kremlin on Friday said it was "absurd" for Britain to dismiss as unconvincing an interview with two suspects in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal on British soil.

The comments came a day after Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov denied any involvement in the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March, telling Russian state TV they had visited as tourists.

British security services had named the two men as main suspects in the case.

"Accusing Russia of lying after the declarations of two Russian citizens is... absurd," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"These are ordinary citizens. They have nothing to do with the Russian state," Peskov said.

He added that he had not watched the interview himself and that he did not know whether President Vladimir Putin had but that it was "hardly likely" he had seen it in full.

The Kremlin responded after Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said the interview contained "lies and blatant fabrications" and called it "an insult to the public's intelligence."



Peskov said that the Russian government's position on the case has not changed and "we consider unacceptable any associations between the Russian leadership and the Russian state and what happened in Salisbury".

He declined to confirm whether Russia would allow British police to question the suspects if such a request were made



The men "have not broken any laws in Russia and we don't know officially that they have broken laws anywhere else in the world," the Kremlin spokesman said.

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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.
A celebrated retired admiral who berated President Donald Trump as "embarrassing" to the country has stepped down from his position on an influential Defense Department advisory body, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Admiral William McRaven, who supervised the 2014 Special Forces raid in Pakistan that killed Al-Qaeda kingpin Osama Bin Laden, resigned last month from the Defense Innovation Board, said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza.

The resignation was effective on August 20, four days after McRaven published a scathing open letter to Trump in the Washington Post, blasting the president for punishing another critic, former CIA director John Brennan, by ordering Brennan's security clearance revoked.

Calling Brennan "one of the finest public servants I have ever known," McRaven wrote that "it would be an honour" to have his own security clearance revoked as well.

"Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation," McRaven said.

"If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken," he said.

The letter resonated deeply, as few serving and former military officers had joined in the strong open criticism of Trump from the intelligence community and bureaucracy.

The Defense Innovation Board brings together top private sector technologists and scientists to advise the Pentagon and the Secretary of Defense.

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The Afghan conflict could overtake Syria as the deadliest conflict in the world this year, analysts say, as violence surges 17 years after the US-led invasion.

The grim assessment contrasts sharply with the consistently upbeat public view of the conflict from NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul, and underscores the growing sense of hopelessness in the war-torn country.

It suggests that US President Donald Trump's much-vaunted strategy for Afghanistan is, like those of his predecessors, failing to move the needle on the battlefield, observers said, as a generation of Americans born after 9/11 become old enough to enlist.

"The soaring casualties in Afghanistan and the potential endgame in sight in Syria... could leave Afghanistan as the world's deadliest conflict," said Johnny Walsh, an Afghanistan expert at the United States Institute of Peace.

"Most years have become the new 'most violent year'.

This is continually getting worse." The Syrian conflict -- which began a decade after Afghanistan's -- has claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people so far this year, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Graeme Smith, a consultant for the International Crisis Group, told AFP some indications "suggest the Afghan war is on track to inflict more than 20,000 battle deaths in 2018" -- including civilians and combatants.

"That could exceed the toll of any other conflict, possibly even the war in Syria," he added.

It would be a record high for Afghanistan, according to the respected Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) in Sweden, which put the total number of deaths on all sides of the conflict at 19,694 in 2017.

Afghan civilian deaths have already hit a record 1,692 in the first six months of 2018, a recent UN report showed.

Interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi estimated 300-400 "enemy fighters" were killed every week, but would not provide figures for civilians or government forces.

Data for casualties suffered by Afghan security forces are not available to the public after Washington last year agreed to Kabul's request to classify the numbers.

Before the blackout, according to figures published by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), there were more than 5,000 each year.

Most analysts believe that number understates the reality on the ground.

This year's death toll for government forces could be "horrific", Smith said.

The total death toll has been rising steeply since 2014, UCDP figures show, the year NATO combat troops pulled out, leaving Afghan forces with the responsibility for holding back the resurgent Taliban.

This year, the violence has been fanned by long-delayed parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20 and renewed efforts to engage the Taliban, Afghanistan's largest militant group, in peace talks.

The Taliban have made significant battlefield gains, and the smaller but potent Islamic State group, which first emerged in the region in 2014, has also ramped up attacks.

The conflict has been further fuelled by other countries in the region, particularly neighbouring Pakistan, said retired Afghan general Atiqullah Amarkhil, who warned the US had failed to rein in its wayward ally, which is widely accused of providing safe haven to Taliban leaders.

Despite the bloodshed, General John Nicholson, who until recently was the top US and NATO commander in the country, insisted last month that Trump's strategy, which includes the deployment of thousands of additional US forces and increased air strikes, was working.

US Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Pete Lupo told AFP: "US Forces Afghanistan is committed to being open and telling the truth about this war."



More troops means more fighting and therefore more casualties, Walsh told AFP -- but otherwise the military situation "remains generally a stalemate".

SIGAR data also suggests Trump's plan has made little progress on the battlefield.

The Taliban and other insurgents control or influence 14 per cent of Afghanistan's 407 districts, the watchdog said in July -- unchanged from last year, when Trump unveiled his strategy.

The government, meanwhile, controls or influences 56 per cent -- down from 57 per cent in August 2017.

The rest of the country is considered "contested".

Despite the growing violence, an unprecedented ceasefire between the government and Taliban in June ignited fresh hopes of peace.

Efforts to convince the militants to negotiate an end to the war would continue, analysts said.

"The Afghan and US governments realise that a peace process is the only way to bring an end to all the violence and the broader war," said Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center.

US officials met with Taliban representatives in Qatar in July, and another meeting could be held this month.

"That's how most talks happen -- against a background of violence and fighting," a Western official told AFP.

Cold comfort for Afghans worn down by decades of war.

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Efforts to find a sick young orca from a critically endangered population of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest came up empty Thursday, and a scientist who tracks the animals declared her dead though federal authorities said they'd keep looking.

The grim means scientists believe just 74 whales remain in a group that has failed to reproduce successfully in the past three years. The orcas have struggled with pollution, boat noise and, most severely, a dearth of their preferred prey, chinook salmon, because of dams, habitat loss and overfishing.

"We're watching a population marching toward extinction," said Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research.

"Unless we do something about salmon recovery, we're just not going to have these whales in the future."



The whales are in such bad shape that experts prepared last-ditch efforts to save the emaciated nearly 4-year-old known as J50.

A sharpshooting veterinarian fired an antibiotic-filled dart into her, crews dropped live salmon in front of her to try to get her to eat, and scientists even mulled capturing her so they could diagnose and treat her.

J50 has not been seen since last Friday. As teams scrambled to find her Thursday, she failed to appear with her pod once again, despite favourable sighting conditions.

Balcomb, who tracks the whales for the US government, declared her dead late Thursday afternoon.

Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA Fisheries, said the agency gives great weight to Balcomb's assessment of the whales, given his long experience monitoring them.

But, he said the US and Canadian governments plan to continue searching Friday on the chance she's still alive.

"We want to make the most of it to make sure that if J50 is there, we haven't missed her," Milstein said. "We haven't given up hope."



Crews in a US Coast Guard helicopter, 10 vessels, whale watch crews and other resources on both sides of the border were involved in the search.

Authorities also alerted a network of people who respond when marine mammals wash ashore.

Whale experts feared the orca was dead earlier this month when J50 lagged behind her family and went missing. But she later turned up and was seen with her family.

The distinctive black-and-white orcas, known as southern resident killer whales, have struggled since they were listed as an endangered species in the US and Canada well over a decade ago.

The orcas' numbers are now at their lowest in more than three decades.

Another whale in the same pod, known as J35, triggered international sympathy this summer when she kept the body of her dead calf afloat in waters for more than two weeks.

The message, the Center for Whale Research said in a website post, is that extinction is looming "while the humans convene task forces and conference calls that result in nothing, or worse than nothing, diverting attention and resources from solving the underlying ecological problems."



Scientist began to be concerned about J50 in July.

Teams dropped live salmon from a boat as J50 and her pod swam behind a test to see whether fish could be used as a means of delivering medication.

Drone images taken earlier this month showed J50 much thinner than she was last year. Her mother, J16, has also declined in condition in the past month.

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has threatened to move its current base from Maharashtra to Gujarat, owing to aircraft parking and slot issues.

The scheduled commuter airline, which is now owned by Ahmedabad-based firms - GSEC Aviation and Monarch Networth Capital - had launched its services in the state last year.

At present, it parks its aircraft at HAL-run Nashik Airport due to a space crunch at

"Flights under are increasingly becoming unviable for us in Maharashtra as we are not getting the right slots besides aircraft parking space," said Shaishav Shah, managing director,

"This may force us to move our base to Ahmedabad, where availability of parking space is not an issue," Shah said.

had bagged 34 routes, including those in Maharashtra, in the the first phase of bidding for the government's Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (Udan) regional connectivity scheme in March 2016.

Besides, Air Deccan, the two firms also own 60 per cent stake in another scheduled commuter airline Air Odisha.

Air Deccan launched its maiden services in Maharashtra, with a flight to Jalgaon from Mumbai last December and later extended the network to Kolhapur, Pune and Nashik.

The airline was, however, forced to suspend its operations to these destinations due to "pilots and aircraft" issues but subsequently resumed it in July.

"From Ahmedabad, we will fly to Nashik and then to Mumbai. From Mumbai, we can do our network and come back to Ahmedabad base," Shah added.

He said that Air Deccan has requested to change its slot timings at the GVK-run to 9.20 am and 9.50 am instead of 6.50 am and 7.40 am but the aerodrome operator has not paid heed to its request.

A query sent to Mumbai International Airport on the issue remained unanswered.

Alleging harassment by Nashik airport authorities, Shah said that the airport operators was not providing the parking space and raising "illegal" bills against the carrier for availing certain services.

"The illegal bill as referred by Air Deccan pertains to the various services provided by HAL airport at Ozar for non-RCS route (Nashik-Mumbai-Nashik) such as landing charges, parking charges, allied services, Terminal navigation and landing charges, extension of watch hours, X-Ray and passenger service fee," HAL spokesperson said in a statement to PTI.

Both Air Deccan and have confirmed this, it said adding, "Air Deccan is fully aware of the charges involved for such type of activities as bills in respect of non-RCS flights from Nashik airport were paid by them in the past."



"The question of harassment by HAL authority does not arise," the spokesperson added in the statement.
A week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration.

Doval is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department Friday.

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is likely to meet officials from the Department of Defence and from the think-tank community.

However, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Doval's visit and his meetings.

"India is a very close friend of the United States," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily conference. She had accompanied Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the 2+2 Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations, she said in response to a question.

The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time.

"So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to doing more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have," Nauert said.

During the meetings, discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak region in particular those related to counter-terrorism. It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the ground work of the potential visit of President Donald Trump to India.

Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India. The two sides are currently looking at various dates including Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2019.

Responding to a question on Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government. Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognising that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder.

"And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Friday charged Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh of "colluding" with radicals to vitiate the peaceful environment in the state.

Referring to the on-going dharna of radical leaders Baljit Singh Daduwal and Dhyan Singh Mand at Bargari in Faridkot to protest killing of two Sikh youths in police firing on protestors against incidents of sacrilege in 2015, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the radicals are in constant touch with the chief minister.

"Amarinder Singh is bent upon bringing back dark days of terrorism... he is colluding with radicals to vitiate the peaceful environment of the state," he told reporters here.

"The radicals who are staging a dharna at Bargari close to Faridkot for the past over 100 days are doing so without any permission... they have become state guest and were being provided all basic facilities at the site on the behest of the government," Sukhbir Singh Badal said.

Five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said "peace and tranquility are in danger in the state."



Alleging that the Congress government in the state want to take control over the Akal Takht and SGPC, he said, "I will not sit quiet... I will go to any extent even sacrificing my life to ensure peace and tranquility prevails in Punjab."



The top Akali leadership was venting its ire after its proposed rally at Faridkot on September 16 was banned by the Punjab government citing security reasons.

Describing the government's decision "unfortunate", Badal said it is against the interests of Punjab.

Asking the government not to indulge in "drama", Parkash Singh Badal said peace and tranquility should be maintained in the state.

Claiming that the government's decision was a political one, Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "The Congress leadership in the state is afraid after the success of SAD-BJP's recent rally at Abohar. The decision to ban the rally has been taken by the government on the advise of radicals."



Alleging that "radicals are running the government", the SAD chief termed Amarinder Singh the "most inefficient CM".

The chief minister is spreading lies on incidents of sacrilege in the state, Sukhbir Singh Badal said.

Meanwhile, the SAD has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh against the Punjab government's decision to ban the SAD-BJP rally.

The SAD was slated to hold its second 'Pol Khol' rally at Faridkot on September 16 to "expose the Congress led conspirators who are trying their best to weaken Sikh institutions" as well as the Sikh community.

The rally was meant to launch an offensive against the Congress government, which through the Ranjit Singh Commission report, has blamed Parkash Singh Badal of ordering the use of force on those protesting against the incidents of sacrilege at Kotkapura in October 2015.

"Autocracy can not be allowed in a democracy," Sukhbir Singh Badal said while asserting that the SAD does not believe in violence.

"Our priority is peace and tranquility in the state," he said.

Referring to the reports that Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has rejected proposal of police to buy armoured vehicles for Badals security, both the father-son duo said they never sought security.

The Badals described the Punjab government's decision to ban the proposed rally "broad daylight murder of democracy".

Parkash Singh Badal said it is "a brazen and cowardly abdication of constitutional responsibility by the state government whose primary duty is to ensure that no one is allowed to sabotage and disrupt peaceful expression of democratic aspirations of the people and to ensure and safeguard normal democratic activity in the state".

The government has virtually admitted on Friday that the constitutional machinery in Punjab has broken down so much that it cannot even ensure a peaceful democratic rally by a mainstream political party, he said.

The decision of the government is reminiscent of the emergency days of repression and dictatorship, the former chief minister said.

He said tt seems anti-national elements, who are the enemies of peace and communal harmony in the state, are hell bent upon disrupting the peace and communal harmony of the state.

"These elements are setting the agenda for Amarinder Singh to follow and he is obliging them by obeying their diktat. This clearly proves collusion between the Congress and these elements are bent upon setting Punjab on fire again," he said.

Parkash and Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged the Congress government used "fake and fabricated report" of the "biased" Justice Ranjit Singh Commission to try and defame the SAD and its leadership.

"This government has virtually surrendered its will to govern and has virtually declared that it is incapable of ensuring peace and communal harmony in the state," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah will be addressing party workers in poll-bound Rajasthan's Bikaner on October 4, a party leader said here on Friday.

Shah will also address a Shakti Kendra sammelan, a meeting of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and intellectuals during his one day visit, the leader added.

The BJP's Bikaner unit has started preparations for the visit and the meetings, the leader said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah is all set to sound the poll bugle for the ensuing assembly elections in Telangana with a public meeting at Mahabubnagar on Saturday, a party leader said Friday.

During his daylong visit, Shah would pray at the temple of Goddess Mahankali in the old city of Hyderabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mahabubnagar, state BJP president K Laxman told reporters here Friday.

After the public meeting, he would meet the party's state office-bearers and district unit presidents at Kothur in the evening to discuss the strategy for the elections, before returning to Delhi.

Laxman slammed the proposed "unholy alliances" between Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) on one side and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and "communal" All India All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on the other.

The parties are trying to do "Karnataka-type politics" in Telangana, he alleged.

The reported comments of AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi that his party can stake claim to chief ministership, though it may not have majority strength post-elections, similar to H D Kumaraswamy becoming the chief minister in Karnataka, should not be taken lightly, Laxman claimed.

Congress, TRS, TDP and the Communists have helped AIMIM grow by joining hands with it in the past and "people need to be alert", he said.

"MIM, which is thought to be a rope, is going to be a noose," he added.

The TRS government has not celebrated 'Telangana Liberation Day' on September 17 (when erstwhile Nizam state merged with the Indian Union in 1948) as part of implementing AIMIM's agenda, the BJP leader charged.

BJP is the only strong alternative to these parties and Shah would make it clear, he said.

BJP would contest all the 119 assembly segments in the state on its own, Laxman said.

Telangana would be the gateway to the south to BJP after Karnataka and Union Ministers and other leaders would visit the state for campaigning, he said.

His party would go to the people urging them to elect a BJP government as they had given opportunity to all the parties, he said.

Candidates with winning chances would be identified after the announcement of poll schedule, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra on Friday called upon the security agencies of the northeastern states to maintain close coordination to contain insurgency in the region.

Addressing the 25th Conference of DGPs, IGPs and heads of central police organisations of the northeastern states at Darbar Hall in Raj Bhawan here, he cautioned that delayed action, no action or live and let live policy towards insurgents, in some cases, are likely to erode the confidence of people in security organisations.

Speaking about his as the former head of Black Cat commandos, Dr Mishra said that job creation, entrepreneurship development schemes, good intelligence, good policing, effective local administration, quick and fair justice, good roads and communication network, proper education and effective counter insurgency military operation could help in controlling insurgency.

He also said that the police has to be fair, prompt and determined, demonstrate fairness, promptness and determination and win the trust of people by transparency, honesty and accountability.

"In police and policing, the constable on the beat is very important for a civilised society. They keep it safe, secure and developing," he added.

While suggesting methods for strengthening the police forces from all angles to counter the emerging security challenges, the governor stressed on the need for transparent recruitment, effective training and police reforms.

The governor also called upon the DGPs to convene regular meetings to resolve interstate issues.

Speaking about vulnerability of boys, girls and women in the orphanages and shelter houses, the governor advised the police to take suo motu action and carry out proper checking.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has launched a massive



manhunt to nab two suspected accomplices of Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) operative Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was arrested from here, official sources said Friday.

"Preliminary investigation confirmed that two persons were frequent visitors to Zaman's rented place and stayed with him," Senior Superintendent of Police (ATS) Jogendra Kumar said.

One of them had allegedly played a key role in striking a deal with the landlord, Ujiyari Lal Yadav, a former corporator from Shiv Nagar ward from where Zaman was arrested Thursday, Kumar added.

Zaman, a BA drop-out hailing from Jamunamukh in Hojai district of Assam, had come in contact with a person named Osama in the initial months of 2017 and joined Kashmir-based militant organisation HM, Kumar said.

He went on to get training in the forests and hills near Kishtwar, Kumar said, adding Zaman then adopted the name Dr Huraira.

After being imparted training, Zaman was sent to Uttar Pradesh to carry out blast during a festival, Kumar said.

Kumar said that the arrested HM operative had first surfaced in April this year after a photo of him flaunting an AK-47 rifle with his code name was posted on social media and widely shared.

During questioning, the SSP claimed, Zaman confessed to have taken help of a local youth in hiring rented accommodation very close to GSVM airport formerly known as Chakeri airport which functions as part of the IAF base in Chakeri



The agency is trying to find out the duration of Zaman's stay in UP, details of his aides, source of funding and specific targets in the city, Kumar asserted.

Ujiyari Lal Yadav said that about two months back a couple of men carrying bags on their shoulders had visited his house and asked about the rented accommodation, while he was standing outside his house.

"They had said that they were from Lucknow and worked for a mobile company as tower engineers and their responsibility included maintenance of cell towers," Yadav said.

Yadav said he had given them a hall on the first floor on rent for Rs 3,400 per month.

They paid one month advance and promised to give the identity related documents later. However, they never provided the documents even though he asked them thrice, Yadav said.

"They promised every time to bring the documents whenever they visited Lucknow, but they didn't," he said.

During the probe, the ATS found that the three men had moved in together and they used to come there especially during night hours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cuomo didnt show up to his own victory party, but presumably he would have looked like this. Photo: Noam Galai/FilmMagic

New York governor Andrew Cuomo easily defeated progressive challenger Cynthia Nixon in Thursdays Democratic gubernatorial primary. Cuomo had a massive polling lead throughout the race, and the AP called it half an hour after the polls closed. Cuomo had 65.6 percent of the vote to Nixons 34.4 percent, with 99 percent reporting.

Cuomo-endorsed candidates at the top of the ticket won as well. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul fended off a challenge from New York City council member Jumaane Williams, though the race was a bit tighter than expected. Horchul had 53.3 percent of the vote to Williamss 46.7 percent. Letitia James, the New York City public advocate, had a much easier time, winning with 40.6 percent of the vote, while Zephyr Teachout had 31 percent and Sean Patrick Maloney had 25 percent. If James wins in November, which is likely, shell be the first black woman to ever hold statewide office in New York.

Liberal insurgents did win down-ballot, unseating six of the eight breakaway Democrats whose Independent Democratic Conference kept Republicans in control of the state Senate until Cuomo brokered a deal earlier this year to have them rejoin the party (which, for many, confirmed that he was behind the odd set-up all along).

For whatever reason, Cuomo wasnt in a celebratory mood on Thursday night  or at least, he didnt feel like celebrating with the state Democratic Party, which heavily backed his campaign. Cuomo had been a bit press shy in recent days amid the controversy surrounding the mailer accusing Nixon of turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism, which was sent by the state Democratic Party.

Sources say @andrewcuomo is in Albany tonight watching returns. Will not be coming to @nydems party on Manhattans East Side.  Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) September 14, 2018

.@ZackFinkNews reports that Cuomo is in Albany (who knew!) watching returns with friends and family, won't be making an appearance at the @nydems party in Manhattan, where Zack is and the crowd is chanting "four more years."  Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) September 14, 2018

Meanwhile, Nixon made an odd move, lamenting the high voter turnout in the race. Turnout in this years primary was two and a half times larger than in 2014, which was a promising sign for New York Democrats hoping to flip the House in November.

NY GOV: Cynthia Nixon's campaign is not happy that so many voters turned out to vote. In other states, Dems have a problem with this kind of argument. pic.twitter.com/mlnKfbI3PA  Reid Wilson (@PoliticsReid) September 14, 2018

Nixon later tweeted out a more traditional thank-you to her supporters.

I want to thank all of the #TeamCynthia volunteers, supporters, and voters who dedicated their time to championing the progressive message of our campaign.



Im so proud of all the work we've done to build a New York that works for all of us. #CynthiaForNY pic.twitter.com/LA7sja0FJD  Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) September 14, 2018

At her election night party and on Twitter, Nixon credited her campaign with moving Cuomo to the left and predicted change is coming to New York politics.

Before we take our country back, we have to take our party back, she said. This is an incredible moment for progressives, but its not just a moment. Its a movement.

While the result tonight wasnt what we had hoped for, Im not discouraged. Im inspired. I hope you are too. We have fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state.  Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) September 14, 2018

This post has been updated throughout.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad's right to peacefully challenge existing caste norms must be respected, Amnesty International India said Friday, asserting that his release was a "first step" towards "ensuring equal rights for Dalit women and men".

Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till November 1.

Amnesty India said the Uttar Pradesh government must now ensure that Azad is not targeted for his work to empower Dalits and, is not detained again without a fair trial.

"The release of Azad is a first step by the Uttar Pradesh government towards ensuring equal rights for Dalit women and men who are challenging caste-based violence and discrimination," the body said in a statement.

Asmita Basu, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India said the body was delighted that Azad had been released and will finally be reunited with his loved ones.

"He has been in jail since November 2017 without charge or trial. The Uttar Pradesh government must now ensure that Azad is not targeted for his work to empower Dalit communities and, is not detained again without a fair trial, Basu said.

Basu added while this development is wonderful news, similar steps need to be taken across the country for human rights defenders who are being targeted under repressive laws.

Azad walked out of the jail as hundreds of his supporters wearing blue 'Bhim Army' caps had gathered outside the prison to celebrate his release, the Dalit group's national spokesperson Manjeet Singh Nautiyal said.

Many had thronged his residence and distributed sweets in the neighbourhood while a section of his admirers made a beeline to click a selfie with the Dalit leader.

"Azad had told an Amnesty India delegation, on September 10, that he feared that he would be re-arrested by the Uttar Pradesh government, on release. His re-arrest will indeed, raise disturbing questions about him being targeted for his activism.

"It is essential for courts to protect fair trial guarantees of all persons and ensure that the criminal justice system is not undermined, Basu said.

The body said said over 160,000 people across India had supported Amnesty International India's campaign calling on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to release Azad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lawyer Surendra Gadling, one of the five people arrested in June this year in connection with the Elgar Parishad and Bhima-Koregaon violence case, moved an application Friday seeking the court's permission to pursue a diploma course in cyber law.

The Pune Police had arrested Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut on June 6 as part of its probe into the alleged Maoist connection to the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year.

Police, at the time, had alleged that inflammatory speeches at the event led to violence at Koregaon Bhima near Pune on January 1.

District and Sessions judge K D Vadane Friday asked the Yerawada jail authorities to file a reply to Gadling's application.

Gadling, in his application, stated that he wanted to pursue Diploma in Cyber Law from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Gadling, Dhawale, Sen, Raut and Wilson were brought to the court Friday for a hearing on an application filed by the Yerawada Jail authorities, demanding that the arrested persons be shifted to other jails for security reasons.

Arguing his own case, Gadling also told court that he had not been provided the 10 books he had asked for despite court giving permission.

He claimed that the jail authorities had given him just two out of the list of 10 books and had misplaced the rest.

The prosecution, however, refuted the claim and told court that eight of the 10 books had been taken away by lawyers defending the accused.

Judge Vadane asked Gadling to file a fresh list of books and told the prosecution to file its say on the matter.

Gadling also sought the court's permission to file an affidavit in support of his wife's plea in the Supreme Court.

Gadling's wife, Minal, had moved the apex court on August 31 seeking to intervene in a petition filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others on August 29 against the arrest of the five persons.

The court Friday kept the hearings on the bail applications of Gadling and Sen as well as the Yerawada authorities' jail transfer plea for September 27.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Opposition BJP Friday demanded a CBI probe into the alleged scam in sapling plantation scheme, cooperative bank loan and supply of polythene to Omfed.

The BJP said it will approach the courts if the Odisha government does not recommend a CBI probe into alleged scams.

"While the Agriculture minister has admitted in the floor of the Assembly that a scam in the sapling plantation scheme in Mayurbhanj district, no action is taken and the chief minister is tight lipped on the matter," said BJP spokesman Pitamber Acharya.

He alleged that there have been several allegations of corruption against the ruling BJD leaders and bureaucrats, but the chief minister has turned a blind eye towards them.

Stating that former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad is in jail for Rs 400-crore fodder scam, Acharya claimed the amount of scams in Odisha could be about Rs 800 crore.

"Naveen Patnaik and Co is sitting as if nothing has happened," Acharya said adding that BJP will launch a statewide agitation and take legal recourse against the state government if it fails to recommend a CBI probe into these alleged scams.

He alleged that the ruling BJD has been ousting leaders who raise corruption issues in the state government.

BJD spokesperson PK Deb, however, rejected Acharya's allegation.

"Why the BJP spokesperson is worried over the action taken by our party supremo? The scams have been discussed in the Odisha Assembly and the state government will take appropriate action for which it does not need any advice from the BJP," Deb said.

Recently Paradip MLA Damodar Rout had alleged irregularities in sapling scheme, procurement of polythene in Omfed, cooperative bank loans and in the health sector.

BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday had expelled Rout from the party on charge of anti-party activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bombay High Court Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) if the latter could frame guidelines for political parties to curb defacement of public properties caused by illegal hoardings.

The direction came after a bench of justices A S Oka and M S Sonak was informed by the Election Commission that it was not possible for the latter to take any strict punitive action against political parties that defaced public properties or put up illegal hoardings, banners, etc.

The EC submitted that though all political parties pledge not to deface public properties at the time of their registration, they often broke that pledge.

However, till date, no political party, regional or national, had faced deregulation proceedings over defacement, the EC told the court.

The EC suggested that state and the municipal bodies, instead, should think about making stricter laws against such defacement.

The bench was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations, filed by NGO Suswaraj Foundation and activist Bhagwanji Rayani, seeking the removal of hoardings and banners that had been put up by political parties and private persons across the state.

The bench has now directed municipal corporations and councils of the state to remove illegal hoardings from their respective areas and file compliance reports by October 5 this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours after being released from jail, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday said he will ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till November 1.

"After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early. He had to be in jail till November 1," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department had said in Lucknow on Thursday.

Azad walked out of the jail at around 2:40 am as hundreds of his supporters wearing blue 'Bhim Army' caps had gathered outside the prison to celebrate his release, the Dalit group's national spokesperson Manjeet Singh Nautiyal said.

Many had thronged his residence and distributed sweets in the neighbourhood while a section of his admirers made a beeline to click a selfie with the Dalit leader.

"The Bhim Army will not buckle under pressure from the government and will fight in a constitutional manner to throw the BJP out of power in the general elections," Azad said.

The Dalit leader claimed that he met several inconsolable youngsters inside the jail who were falsely implicated by the police due to their caste.

He said his stay inside the prison had strengthened his resolve to fight against the alleged atrocities being committed against Dalits.

"It's a very long constitutional fight for our rights. It's time for the real battle. The Bhim Army was faltering in the absence of a leader, but I have returned now," the 31-year-old Dalit leader said, adding that he will not contest elections.

Talking about the treatment meted out to him inside the prison, Azad said he was given "dry rotis" and his family was not allowed to meet him.

All that I went through, I will make sure to return it to the BJP with interest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that he will not contest the upcoming elections.

He further said the government was playing on the SC/ST Act issue and the Dalit community will give a befitting answer to the BJP in the 2019 elections.

"The March 20 Supreme Court judgment diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was based on the government's views against the law," he said.

"Now, they have passed an amendment bill to restore the original version of the Act. We know what they are trying to do," he added.

Azad, however, denied revealing the Dalit group's plans for the future.

BJP sources in the state said the Bhim Army had played a big part in the win of joint BSP-SP-RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan in the recent Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll.

Azad had written a letter from inside the jail, asking Bhim Army cadres to campaign in support of Hasan and trounce the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former communication minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran told the Madras High Court Friday that charges framed against them in a case of alleged setting up of illegal telephone exchanges were "lame and shame" and wanted them to be quashed.

Charges have been framed by a court based on the investigating officer's opinion and not on materials available on record, contended senior counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul who appeared on behalf of Dayanidhi Maran before Justice A D Jagadish Chandira.

Thethe court here on August 30 framed charges and ordered trial of Dayanidhi Maran and six others in the case of "illegal" telephone exchanges, allegedly set up to benefit the of his brother during 2004-06.

The petitions seeking quashing of charges came up when the trial was slated to commence Friday at the court.

Kaul argued that the restriction to have only three connections would apply only to MPs as per the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament Act and not to a Cabinet minister.

"There is no statutory bar for a minister to have more than three telephone service connections," he argued.

The former minister did not have 764 telephone connections as alleged by the CBI, and even if he had, there was no statutory bar against it, he said.

"In the entire charge-sheet, there is no single word saying that the connections were used by the minister. The CBI has only said that it could be used, or can be used," Kaul said.

All the accused who are facing trial, except officials of the BSNL, have moved the Madras High Court, seeking to quash the charges framed by CBI in the illegal telephone exchange case.

Kaul also contended that there was no evidence to prove that such connections were used, adding, "telephones cannot be used for broadcast. There is absolutely no evidence to prove that the lines were used for programmes of Sun TV."

On the charge of forgery,the counsel said the prosecution failed to explain it and which documents were forged.

Arguing on behalf of Kalanidhi Maran, senior counsel Amit Desai said Kalanidhi has been arraigned as an accused as he is the chairman of the Sun Network.

"The CBI has alleged vicarious liability by designation. But such liability cannot be automatically included when the statute does not provide for it. Both in the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, there is no scope for vicarious liability," Desai said.

Apart from the two, then additional private secretary to Dayanidhi was represented by senior counsel P Wilson and the chief technical officer of Sun TV S Kannan, by senior counsel A R L Sundresan.

The judge directed the CBI to file its counter petition and posted the matter to October 3.

The charges date back to the time when Dayanidhi Maran, a grandnephew of late chief M Karunanidhi, was the Union minister for telecommunications and information technology in the UPA-1 government.

ALSO READ: Dayanidhi Maran to face trial in telephone exchange case, says SC

The CBI has alleged he misused his official position and got private telephone exchanges installed at his various residences here which were used for business transactions of the Sun Network.

The high court had on July 25 held there were 'heaps' of material evidence against the accused and had directed the special court to frame charges and conclude the trial within a year.

The bench had given its order on a CBI plea, challenging the discharge of the accused by Special Judge S Natarajan on March 14 this year.
Zimbabwe's opposition MDC party on Friday called off plans to hold a mock inauguration to name its leader Nelson Chamisa as the country's president after public gatherings were banned due to a cholera outbreak.

The MDC had planned the event to highlight its claims that the July 30 election was rigged and that Chamisa was the rightful president, rather than President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF.

The MDC accused the government of using the cholera outbreak, which has claimed 25 lives, to stop the mock inauguration at the party's 19th anniversary celebrations in Harare on Saturday.

Authorities have banned public gatherings in the city as a health measure.

"The Movement for Democratic Change has postponed its 19th anniversary celebrations," party spokesman Jacob Mafume said in a statement.

"It is clear that the government is abusing the cholera epidemic for political purposes and puts into serious doubt that the ban of our commemoration event was out of genuine concern."



The cholera outbreak, first detected in the township of Glen View outside Harare earlier this month, prompted the health ministry to declare an emergency in the city after at least 3,000 cases were reported.

The disease has since spread to other towns as well as rural areas across the country as the cash-strapped government.

Zimbabwe's newly-appointed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube launched a crowd-funding effort to raise money to fight the outbreak, publicising bank details on Twitter and appealing for donations.

But civil society groups blamed the death toll on "official and criminal negligence." "It is alarming for such a medieval and preventable disease to continue to claim valuable lives," said an alliance of local civil society organisations.

The Zimbabwe Red Cross has deployed 1,000 volunteers to affected suburbs in the capital as it characterised the situation as "incredibly complex."



"Most of the areas affected have been dealing with an outbreak of typhoid so this is a double punch for them and it shows the weakness of the water systems," Red Cross secretary general Maxwell Phiri said.

Cholera outbreaks have occurred regularly in Zimbabwe's cities as authorities struggle to provide potable water and sanitation facilities.

Zimbabwe, which was ruled by Robert Mugabe from independence in 1980 until his ousting last year, suffered its worst cholera outbreak in 2008.

A total of 4,000 people died and at least 100,000 people fell ill.

Mnangagwa has pledged to tackle the current outbreak. A World Health Organization situation report revealed that first-line antibiotics were struggling to treat the disease, which has spread to five of the country's 10 provinces.

Zimbabwe's largest university postponed its graduation ceremony on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Following is the chronology of events in the 1994 espionage case in which the Supreme Court Friday held that former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" and ordered a probe into the role of erring Kerala police officers:



*Oct 1994: Maldivian national Mariam Rasheeda arrested in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly obtaining secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines to sell to Pakistan.

*Nov: Nambi Narayanan, director of cryogenic project at ISRO, arrested along with deputy director of ISRO D Sasikumaran and Indian representative of a Russian space agency K Chandrasekhar. S K Sharma, a labour contractor, and Fousiya Hasan, Maldivian friend of Rasheeda are also arrested.

*Jan 1995: ISRO scientists and businessmen released on bail; the Maldivian nationals continue to be in custody.

*Apr 1996: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) files report before a Kerala court, says espionage case is false and there was no evidence to back the charges.

*May: Court accepts the CBI's report and discharges all accused.

*Jun: Kerala government decides to conduct re-investigation of the case by the State police which was challenged by Chandrasekhar.

*Nov: High Court of Kerala dismisses the challenge, upheld government's notification which was later quashed by the Supreme Court.

*May 1998: Supreme Court awards compensation of Rs one lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case; directs the state government to pay the amount.

*Apr 1999: Narayanan approaches the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) claiming compensation from the state for the mental agony and torture suffered by him.

*Mar 2001: NHRC awards an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh, asks the state to pay damages; government challenges the order.

*Sep 2012: HC directs the state to pay Rs 10 lakh to Narayanan.

*Mar 2015: HC leaves it to the state government to consider or not the CBI's report for taking disciplinary action against the erring police officers.

*Apr 2017: The Supreme Court begins hearing on Narayanan's plea, seeking action against former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews and others who had probed the matter.

*May 3, 2018: Three-judge bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud says it is considering awarding Narayanan a compensation of Rs 75 lakh and restoring his reputation.

*May 8: SC says it is considering asking Kerala government to reinvestigate role of SIT officers in the case.

*May 9: SC says Narayanan has faced a dent in his reputation due to "malafide prosecution" and Kerala government cannot evade "vicarious liability" to grant him compensation.

*Jul 10: SC reserves verdict on the plea; CBI tells SC it was ready for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations by Narayanan.

*Sep 14: SC awards Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the ISRO spy case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Friday held a meeting with railway officials to discuss about the two railway projects in the state which have been sanctioned by the Centre.

The chief minister held a meeting with North East Frontier Railways (NEF) general manager here about the two projects - Kamalachari to Byrnihat and Byrnihat to Shillong.

The chief minister said todays review meeting with the NFR officials was to understand the current status of railways projects in the state,



He said, "As of now there were two projects sanctioned by the Centre but both of them are not proceeding now because of local concerns that are there."



"We would now discuss with other cabinet colleagues and political parties and take stakeholders into account and then decide how to move forward (with these projects)," he told media persons here.

The chief minister stressed on the importance of railways for economic development of the state.

"It is something we feel will change the economic scenario in our state and is an important infrastructure which our state does require," he said.

The Chief Minister also held a review meeting with NHIDCL MD Nagendra Nath Sinha to review the bottlenecks and hurdles in the state with regards to road projects sanctioned.

"We wanted to know if Forest department, deputy commissioners, Revenue or PHE departments are a hurdle so we review all that to ensure projects are moving fast," Sangma said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a MoU on Friday to work closely in the fields of environment, tourism, waste water and solid waste management, infrastructure and public health among others.

The Mou on the 'Friendship and Cooperation Agreement' was signed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Seoul mayor Park Won-Soon in the South Korean capital.

On the occasion, Kejriwal said, "I have an appeal to make let this MoU between the governments of Delhi and Seoul not merely be another piece of an official document, let us try and convert it into a living document, since it is being signed for mutual cooperation in multiple fields."



He expressed hope that Delhi will develop on the lines of Seoul which has emerged as a "beautiful" city in the past 68 years despite being ravaged in the Korean war in 1950.

"Delhi's Urban Development Department will be more than eager to take help from you in whichever manner possible to develop Delhi in a similar way," Kejriwal said.

He also sought cooperation of Seoul in tackling air pollution in Delhi and the transportation needs of the city.

The Agreement listed 11 areas for exchange of expertise and cooperation, including environment, culture, tourism, smart city, transportation, education, land use planning and management, science and technology, MICE industry, waste water and solid waste management, infrastructure and public health.

As per the MoU, the Delhi government will solicit support of its Urban Development Department and other departments for implementing all the relevant aspects of the agreement.

It also requires the Delhi government to set up and operationalise a 'Twinning Cell' at the Urban Development Department and a committee to support the cell. Besides, it will support activity related workshops, conduct community participation activities, and maintain documentation.

Annual reports would be send to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will replicate the same actions at its end, the MoU stated.

The two sides will hold regular meetings to communicate over the programmes, projects and activities to be undertaken as per the agreement. They will also develop an annual joint action plan and ensure financial resources to support the exchanges and activities.

The 'Twinning Agreement' will remain in force till three years from September 14, 2018, and it could be amended by written agreement between the two parties.

The Principal Secretary (Urband Development), Delhi government and Director General, International Cooperation Bureau, Seoul, will be nodal officers for the Agreement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The decline of conservatism is a loss for liberals, too. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

In these fetid times, its easy to know what youre against. And Ive spent many diaries assailing the dueling Trump and social justice cults on the illiberal right and left these past several months. But what am I for?

Thats a harder question but a useful one to ask yourself from time to time. You dont defeat something with nothing. So I thought Id take a brief detour from the tribal abyss, and go back to some first principles. I remain a conservative, pretty much where Ive always been, with the exception of foreign policy where Ive seen the folly of interventionism in the wake of Iraq. By conservative, I do not mean Republican. To my mind, the Republican Party has become  and not just recently  a cancer on this particular strain of Western thought. To those who believe that this is a cop-out, or a version of the all true conservatives gambit, I offer a new book, which sure buoyed my spirits, and helped me regain my bearings. Reading it, for me, was like feeling an unexpectedly cool, dry breeze on a stiflingly humid day.

The book is called Conservatism: An Invitation to the Great Tradition, and its by arguably the most acute conservative thinker of his generation, Roger Scruton. Its a slim, concise monograph, and it begins with the truth that conservatism is a branch of liberalism, and not its enemy. It is the branch that tries to conserve the liberal democratic state against the corrosive effects and flaws of liberalism itself (not to speak of leftism and reactionism, which seek to overthrow liberalism entirely). More to the point, it does not defend liberalism as a function of natural rights, or of human rights, or self-evident truths, but simply as the inheritance of a particular place in a particular sliver of human history: the Anglo-American world in the last two and a half centuries.

Conservatism defends the individual against the state as an evolving tradition born in the English common law from the 12th century onward, a tradition that came to be embedded in the American justice system. What distinguished the American Revolution, conservatives argue, was that it was rooted in a defense of the rights of Englishmen against a monarchs whims, as much as a novus ordo seclorum. It was not only a liberal revolution, but also a conservative one, seeking to defend a preexisting state of affairs, and buttressing a new egalitarianism with deep conservative safeguards against majoritarianism, mob rule, and direct democracy. The alternative type of revolution  the one that took place in France  was based on a complete erasure of what had gone before, a rupture in time and culture and regime, and one that led, as all such ruptures must, to murderous tyranny. When all tradition and inherited institutions and norms are abolished, there is only raw power to occupy the vacuum.

Conservatism began then as a defense of America and a critique of France  which is the essence of Edmund Burkes formative argument. He saw the advent of democracy as a challenge  which demanded acute attention as hierarchies collapsed, and society changed, in order to ensure that too much of value wasnt thrown away. And so it emphasized the importance of a vibrant and autonomous civil society (independent of government), the centrality of federalism, local community, and voluntary association of the kind that Tocqueville marveled at and saw as the indispensable complement to the atomizing, destabilizing forces that America had also unleashed.

Conservatisms defense of the free market and free trade was therefore never absolute. In fact, theres more protectionism in conservatisms past than many would like to admit. But these market mechanisms were nonetheless the least worst way to discern the value of things traded and sold, and were never supposed to be ends in themselves or to be advanced regardless of the impact on society. In fact, for conservatism, society is for no end and no purpose; it is valuable simply in itself, as the combination of traditions, landscapes, communities, and customs that define a nation, bind us together as citizens, and make us feel at home.

And yes, that feeling of being at home is nebulous. It is in many ways sub-rational. Ask ordinary people to describe it and they will often not be articulate. Sometimes, it manifests itself as bigotry, yes. Most of the time, it is about loss, and mourning it, while understanding that change is inevitable. Burke famously saw society not as a contract between individuals, but as a contract between generations: to pass on to the future the good and viable things we inherited from the past. This emphatically does not mean resistance to all change. In fact, it understands some change as critical to conservation. And perhaps thats where American conservatism began to go wrong. The goal is not to stand athwart history and cry Stop!, as William F. Buckley put it. Its to be part of the stream of history and say: slow it down a bit, will you?

In Scrutons account, the list of conservative intellectuals is long and distinguished. The respective geniuses of Burke and Hume and Hegel are integral to its formation; they were succeeded by the Romantic era that urged a corrective to mass industrialization, and a hedge to the Enlightenments preference for theoretical reason over the practical wisdom that works, as Adam Smith saw it, as an invisible hand in guiding society. Tradition, conservatives believe, is a form of collective knowledge. It can contain wisdom that reason simply cannot grasp.

As a temperament, conservatives are prone to obey as passionately as liberals are prone to rebel. They prefer order to change, stability to upheaval, authority to anarchy. And so a conservative is likely to see, say, the flag as an object of veneration, the Constitution as something to be protected rather than altered, the nation as demanding a loyalty before all other claims, especially those of ideology, tribe, gender, or race. The conservative immediately saw why Fascism and Communism were evil; they were intent on obliterating settled ways of life, destroying the individual in favor of a collective, empowering the state so that it destroyed the civil society that made liberalism thrive. No conservative ever wants to purify anything. Its the human mess that we love, with its intimations of how to improve it.

And so conservatism became the resistance to socialism, to government planning, and to the abuse of the English language so that it could be forced to reflect an ideology, rather than a lived reality. (In this sense, Scruton shrewdly notes, Orwell was a conservative.) It saw all too well how the good intentions of liberalism could lead to its unraveling. It abhors war as the ultimate change-maker and disrupter; it despises concepts of race or gender that eradicate the uniqueness of the individual; it defends high culture against philistinism and mediocrity; it cherishes norms. It values the particular over the general, prefers present laughter to utopian bliss, relishes humor in all its forms, defends art as an apolitical force, and respects religion as a separate avenue for the search for ultimate truth, and a critical component of the civil and moral society that enables government to be small and limited.

In todays America, this conservatism is completely under siege. The left will increasingly tolerate nothing that gets in the way of what it calls social justice, which far too often reduces individuals to their racial or class or gender identities rather than their merits, or character, or talents. The conservative approach to a multicultural and multiracial society is to keep our focus on the individual and do whats best to help every individual, regardless of their race, gender, or whatever, to be part of our shared liberal democratic inheritance. Conservatism is about enfolding the new into the old, sustaining a societys coherence and cohesion, while being extremely tough on particular injustices against particular individuals, vigilant about corruption, and anguished when the criminal justice system loses legitimacy, because of embedded racism.

But conservatism is more deeply besieged by the Republican Party, its alleged harbor. If you consider the themes Ive emphasized above, it becomes clearer that the GOP is not only not conservative, but actually dedicated to destroying that tradition. Republicans pursue the ideology of free markets and lower and lower taxation, regardless of its brutal assault on fiscal solvency, human dignity, social cohesion, and community life. They have nominated and protected a president who assaults the norms that conservatives revere, has contempt for existing institutions and sees the rule of law as a means to advance his own interests, rather than that of the society as a whole.

This is a man and a party that has such disdain for conserving anything that it is actively despoiling our landscape, enabling a climate catastrophe. It is a party that has generated crippling and everlasting debt  even in good economic times  in a way that makes a mockery of any compact between generations. It is a party that actively endorses cruelty as a policy tool, deploys fear as its prime political weapon, and insists that the opposite party has no legitimate right to govern at all. It is the party of torture, the absolute nemesis of the liberal inheritance, the party of corruption, propaganda, vote suppression, and barely masked bigotry.

I despise it because I am a conservative. I dont believe that conservatism can be revived on the right (it has been thankfully sustained, by default, by the Democrats in recent decades) until this hateful philistine would-be despot and his know-nothing cult is gone. And by revived, I do not mean a return to neoconservatism abroad or supply side crack-pottery at home. The 1980s and 1990s are over. I mean a conservatism that can tackle soaring social and economic inequality as a way to save capitalism, restore the financial sector as an aid to free markets and not their corrupting parasite, a conservatism that will end our unending wars, rid the criminal justice system of its racial blind spots, defend liberal education and high culture against the barbarians of postmodernism and the well-intentioned toxins of affirmative action, pay down the debt, reform the corruption of religious faith, protect our physical landscape, invest in non-carbon energy, and begin at the local level to rebuild community and the spirit of American civil association.

I also believe we need to slow the pace of demographic and cultural change. It is happening too fast, even for America, to sustain our societys coherence and cohesion. The elite indifference to mass immigration  especially the illegal kind  is an ugly pact between Republican elites, eager for cheap, exploitable labor, and Democratic elites, who cynically encourage it because they think it will give them a reliable voting bloc. When the foreign-born population is at a proportion last seen in 1910, and as the raw numbers are higher than ever before, it is not inherently racist to seek to slow the pace to integrate the newcomers better, to defuse racial conflict and resentment. A nation has to mean something; to survive, it needs a conservative weaving of past, present, and future, as Burke saw it. And you cannot do that if you see this country as a blight on the face of the earth and an instrument of eternal oppression; or if you replace a healthy, self-critical patriotism with an ugly, racist nationalism that aims to restore the very worst of this countrys past, rather than preserve its extraordinary and near-unique achievements.

I know theres no place for this in our current political climate. And that is why I believe this country is in as grave a crisis as any since the 1850s. Without a healthy conservatism, liberalism will degenerate. Without liberalism, conservatism has no inheritance to defend. And both rich veins in Western moderation are now under assault from the ideological left and the authoritarian right. We have to brave this pincer attack, conservatives and liberals together, or we will die together.

Curbing Europes Far-Right Resurgence

So the Swedish center has survived. My fear that the far right would make huge gains in the recent election was not borne out, thank the Lord. They merely made impressive gains. Ross Douthat had a shrewd column this week, weighing the possibilities of both a far-right-wing wave in Europe, or enough resistance to it to create an enduring political stalemate. Im obviously not clairvoyant, but I suspect that stalemates, rather than shoring up an existing order, can often lead to a radical move, on the left or right, to end them.

On that front, the great centrist hope of the E.U., Emmanuel Macron, is now polling at 31 percent approval; E.U. sanctions against Hungary as a response to Viktor Orbans authoritarianism are set to be vetoed  by the Polish authoritarians, kicking the liberal democratic foundations of the E.U. out from under it. Hitler salutes were frequent during far-right marches in Germany at the end of last month, as mobs chanted menacing slogans we thought wed never hear in Germany again. Merkel herself has ceded the immigration issue to the right of her coalition, and long ago opined that: the approach [to build] a multicultural [society] and to live side-by-side and to enjoy each other  has failed, utterly failed. In the fall, as my colleague Heather Hurlburt has noted, Bavaria will vote, almost certainly pushing the CSU, Merkels sister party, to adopt much of the AfDs message. And in Sweden, the reason that the Swedish Democrats didnt do as well as they hoped was because every other party had begun to echo their concerns and adopt their rhetoric. Per National Reviews Douglas Murray:

Consider the final leaders debate before Sundays election in Sweden. At one point in the debate the head of the Moderate party (the Moderate party) attacked the prime minister over integration and its purported successes. Which successes was he thinking of, asked the head of the Moderate party? What was the prime minister happiest with? The shootings? The unemployment? He went on to list all the negative consequences of mass immigration that his country is experiencing.

In Italy, we have a new government intent on forcible mass deportation and hostile to the E.U. If you want to see how this dynamic has played out in Poland itself since the end of the Cold War, I cant recommend this essay by Anne Applebaum enough. Britain, meanwhile, the European country where liberal democracy and a moderate conservatism have the deepest roots, is careening toward a constitutional crisis. Right now, there is no majority in the House of Commons for Theresa Mays soft Brexit; and there is no majority for a no-deal hard Brexit. There isnt, in fact, a majority for any outcome to the Brexit drama. Current polling suggests that even if the government fell and there was another election, the result could be the same. All this is happening as the clock ticks toward 11 p.m. on March 29, 2019, when the transition period under Article 50 expires, as the Labour Party turns into a radical socialist party, and as the Tories embark on a massive internal civil war. No one knows what will happen.

The former Tory Party leader and foreign secretary William Hague  a deeply sane man  recently argued that complete with an atmosphere of intense recrimination and abuse, it would be no exaggeration to say that this would be the most serious constitutional crisis in Britain for at least one century, and possibly two.

The well-intentioned fantasies that all of Europe could have one currency, that the rise of liberal democracy was unstoppable, and that mass immigration, with precious little integration, was an unalloyed good, have come crashing down to earth. As the pressure of mass migration from the South continues, if only because of the demographic explosion in Africa and the Middle East, we may end up with rabidly anti-immigrant parties dominating the entire European landscape. Sweden was a breathing space, opening the possibility that moderate liberal and conservative parties can co-opt the far-right resurgence and tame it. But the oxygen levels behind liberal democracy still keep falling across the continent.

The Lefts Dangerous Trumpian Tactics

The clinically delusional narcissist who now occupies the White House really went there yesterday. The idea that an estimated 2,975 Americans did not die as a consequence of Hurricane Maria is an affront to the living, the dead, and statistics. We have two solid, separate studies reaching a very similar conclusion. Of course, Trump isnt entirely at fault for a hurricane. But he was the president. And the follow-through was terrible. Daniel Dale notes his multiple delusions on this matter before, which defy, well, reality. This is 25th Amendment territory: the self-delusion is so great it qualifies as a form of mental illness. No one who cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality should be president of the United States.

And these lies have prompted an understandable but dangerous echo on the other side. Its nowhere near as insane, but it seems to me that lies of a different sort, and personal demonization of your opponents, is beginning to creep into the resistance. I would vote against the Brett Kavanaugh nomination if I were a senator, because of the real possibility that Kavanaugh would protect an authoritarian president from the rule of law in our looming constitutional crisis. But it is not true that he said that it was his view that contraception involves abortion-inducing drugs. He was clearly referring to others views on the subject, which is why Kamala Harris selectively edited a clip in order to distort his words. No fact-checker can defend it. But in an act of glorious self-parody, Hillary Clinton reiterated it two days after the lie was debunked.

ThinkProgress, meanwhile, has refused to acknowledge that its headline  Brett Kavanaugh said he would kill Roe v. Wade last week and almost no one noticed  was also false. The piece was a perfectly defensible airing of the real possibility that Kavanaugh would vote to overturn Roe, but the headline said something else. When The Weekly Standard notified Facebook of the lie, the piece was rightly defined as false, which prompted a huge swath of left-liberal media to  demand The Weekly Standard be stripped of its Facebook role in policing untruth.

Trumps airing of unsubstantiated rumors was similarly echoed by Senators Harris and Feinstein, who gave the impression of having some dubious ethical and criminal concerns about Kavanaugh, but refused to substantiate them on the record. Feinsteins last-minute claim that she knows something about Kavanaugh that she referred to the FBI has not been verified, but she aired it anyway. It is, in other words, a McCarthyite smear. Heres how ThinkProgress reported it: Brett Kavanaugh may have committed a very serious crime possibly even a sex crime. Or maybe he didnt.

Seriously, guys? The NYT reported that two officials familiar with the matter say the incident involved possible sexual misconduct between Judge Kavanaugh and a woman when they were both in high school. Later, The Guardian suggested that this was the crime: According to the source, Kavanaugh and a male friend had locked [a 17-year old woman] in a room against her will, making her feel threatened, but she was able to get out of the room. Friday morning, the New Yorker reported that this was the alleged incident: In the letter, the woman alleged that, during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her. She claimed in the letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate of his, both of whom had been drinking, turned up music that was playing in the room to conceal the sound of her protests, and that Kavanaugh covered her mouth with his hand. She was able to free herself. I cant verify any of this, but if Feinstein had a letter about this incident before the hearings, as reported by the New Yorker, she could have brought it up before now, she could have briefed her Senate colleagues, or she could have forwarded it to the FBI without publicizing it. Throwing it out there at the last minute is beyond lame.

Look: There is no comparison between the lies and smears and personal demonization among leftists and liberals, and the staggering dishonesty and indecency of this president. Im not what-about-ing or both-sides-ing here. But Trump can corrupt more than just the government. He can corrupt his opposition, who are forced to deal with him on this polarized turf, and can resort to tactics that take us deeper into the post-truth maze. We will not defeat Trump by imitating Trump. In fact, we run the risk of legitimizing the forces that have empowered him.

See you next Friday.
The war of words between the BJP and the Congress over the Vijay Mallya issue intensified Friday with the opposition party alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" was an admission of guilt and the ruling party questioning links between the fugitive tycoon and the Gandhi family.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley helped the liquor baron flee India and accused them of maintaining a "conspiratorial silence" about a "meeting" Jaitley had with the defaulter businessman on March 1, 2016.

Holding that Jaitley has lost the legal, ethical and moral right to continue as minister and must resign, he said the silence of the Union minister and Modi pointed at their admission of guilt.

Hitting back, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) media head Anil Baluni fired off eight questions to the Congress.

He asked if its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi did not fly free of cost in Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines in lieu of loans given to it.

It was the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government which "raised and protected" the fugitive tycoon, he said, claiming that Rahul Gandhi suffers from "ideological bankruptcy and does not know what he says, does and understands".

"Why Rahul Gandhi does not answer these questions? Why his lips are sealed when faced with these burning questions. What can be a bigger evidence of corruption than the fact that it was the Congress government which raised and protected Mallya," he said.

At his press conference, Surjewala asked why Modi was "afraid" to conduct a fair investigation in this matter.

"It shows that PM Modi is not just a part of this crime but the main culprit," he said.

If Modi does not act, it will be proved that the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) is not just a 'Bhaagidaar' (partner) but is guilty of protecting a criminal, the Congress leader alleged.

"Multiple skeletons are tumbling out of the Modi government's cupboard unravelling a sinister conspiracy and collusion of government agencies, including CBI, ED, SFIO and others in permitting Vijay Mallya to escape the clutches of law," he told reporters.

In his statement, Baluni cited the then prime minister Manmohan Singh's reported comments in 2011 that Kingfisher Airlines, now defunct, needed to be helped and asked if it was not true that the then finance minister P Chidambaram ignored rules to provide relief to the loss-making airline.

"Is it not true that in exchange for providing (bank) loans to Mallya the then UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and current Congress president Rahul Gandhi travelled free of cost in the airline's business class," he asked.

He also repeated several allegations the ruling party has been levelling at the Congress.

The two parties have been training guns at each other after Mallya claimed Wednesday in London that he had met Jaitley before leaving India.

The finance minister refuted his claim, saying he had never give him an appointment but the businessman misused his privilege as a member of Parliament to accost him there but he asked him to approach his banker.

Rahul Gandhi had accused Jaitley of colluding with a criminal and sought his resignation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leaders in Telangana Friday met party president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and discussed the partys preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

The leadership gave 'in principle' nod to the proposed electoral alliances but stressed on retaining seats where the party is in a position to win, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

The partys state leaders have been advised not to make inappropriate comments to the media and to stay united for the elections, he said.

"Definitely, this is a major boost for senior Congress leaders of Telangana. We will go back to Hyderabad with renewed enthusiasm and work for Congress party victory in Telangana," he said.

The state congress has proposed to form a broad-based alliance with TDP, its rival for decades, CPI and others to take on the ruling TRS in the assembly polls. ]



The parties are, however, yet to get down to talks on seat sharing for the elections.

Telugu film actor and producer Bandla Ganesh and TRS MLC R Bhupathi Reddy joined the Congress in Delhi Friday. They were welcomed into the party fold by Gandhi.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, a delegation of party leaders met DGP Mahender Reddy and "complained of unnecessary police harassment of Congress leaders and workers," a Congress release said.

The party leaders claimed that "old and even dead cases" were being revived only to harass Congress leaders, according to the release.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi court Friday dismissed the bail application of a man arrested in a bank loan fraud case of over Rs 5,000 crore involving a Gujarat-based pharma firm for allegedly sending Rs 25 lakh cash to the official residence of a senior Congress leader here.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora denied relief to accused Ranjit Malik alias Johny, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and is in judicial custody.

The court took note of the submissions made by ED's special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana that the allegations against the accused were "very serious" and if granted the relief, he may destroy the evidence which is yet to be collected in the case.

He had told the court that a charge sheet was likely to be filed soon and the accused may destroy various documents available on the Internet as well as other electronic evidence.

According to the ED, Malik had allegedly sent through a man named Rakesh Chandra Rs 25 lakh to the politician's residence in the national capital.

In its reply to the application, filed through advocate A R Aditya, ED had said that Malik may flee from justice if granted bail.

In his plea, the accused had told the court that he was not required for further investigation and no purpose will be served by keeping him in the custody.

ED had recently filed a charge sheet against the director of a pharma firm in the case, accusing the company of taking loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which turned into non-performing asset (NPA) or bad loan.

The agency also arrested a former director of Andhra Bank, Anup Prakash Garg in February and a Delhi-based businessman, Gagan Dhawan, last November in connection with the case. Malik was a middleman for Dhawan.

They were named as accused in the case by the ED and the CBI.

ED registered a money laundering case in this instance after taking cognisance of an FIR filed earlier by the CBI.

CBI had booked Vadodara-based Sterling Biotech, its directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, chartered accountant Hemant Hathi, Garg and some unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

According to the FIR, the total pending dues of the group of companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Friday ordered framing of molestation charges against former TERI chief in a case of alleged lodged by his former colleague.

Metropolitan Magistrate Charu Gupta ordered framing of charges under sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354 A (making physical contact, unwelcome and sexually coloured remarks) and section 509 (teasing and using vulgar gesture and actions) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"I order framing of charges under these sections. Let the charges formally be framed on October 20," the judge said.

The court, however, discharged him of certain other sections including criminal intimidation (506 of IPC) and wrongfully restraining a person (341 of IPC), saying "prima facie" these charges were not made out.

Reacting to the development, the complainant said she was relieved after hearing the order.

"Chuffed to bits. This has not been easy. This is a big big leap towards the truth. I am relieved, and exhausted fighting Pachauri," she said.

Advocate Ashish Dixit, who represented Pachauri, said however that there was no case against his client and he will fight the charges during the trial.

On February 13, 2015, an FIR was registered against Pachauri and he was granted anticipatory bail in the case on March 21.

The former TERI chief had earlier secured an interim order from Additional District Judge making it mandatory for media houses to publish or telecast the coverage of the case with a title which says -- "In any court, the allegations have not been proved and they may not be correct."



This order had also said that "when such information is published in any page of a magazine or report, then it should be in middle of the page in bold letters and it should be five times larger than the font in which the article is being published".

Over 1,400-page charge sheet was filed by the on March 1, 2016, saying there was "sufficient evidence" against Pachauri that he had sexually harassed, stalked and threatened the complainant.

A supplementary charge sheet was filed in March 2017 after the police said it had retrieved several deleted e-mails and chats exchanged between the accused and the complainant.

The final report had said the deleted WhatsApp chats, text messages, retrieved from the cell phones, computer hard disks and other devices, were "not fabricated".

The charge sheet, which was filed a year after the former research analyst of TERI lodged the complaint, had said Pachauri had committed offences under various sections of IPC. Pachauri has denied all the allegations against him.
Cow vigilantes forced a Howrah-bound express to stop at Balasore station for over four hours on Thursday night claiming that cows were being smuggled in the train, railways officials said.

Altogether 17 cattle were being transported legally to Kolkata in a bogey that was attached to the Pondicherry-Howrah Express, the officials said Friday.

Members of Go Surakshya Samiti agitated at the station on Thursday night delaying the train for around four hours.

The station manager of Balasore and police officers showed relevant papers for the transportation of cattle to the agitators and then the train was allowed to leave, an official said.

The Puducherry-Howrah Express was stranded at the Balasore station between 8.12 pm and 12.35 am, station manager Bhagabat Das said.

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The Delhi High Court on Friday sought personal presence of the Director General of Prisons to explain the one month delay in processing the furlough plea of a murder convict.

Justice Mukta Gupta asked the DG Prisons to explain, on affidavit, "why so much time was consumed in verification" of the convict's application for two-week furlough and listed the matter for hearing on October 1, when the official has been directed to be personally present in court with all relevant records.

The court also noted that under the existing rules, the officials who delay the furlough process were liable for departmental enquiry and action.

The application for two weeks furlough of the convict, a software professional sentenced to life term for murder of his lover's husband, was allowed by the prison authority on August 24 barely a week before expiry of his conviction year on August 30, said his petition, filed through advocate Akshay Bhandari.

However, convict Rahul Dev was not released on the ground that only a week remained in his conviction year of 2017-18, it said.

Under the prison rules, a convict is entitled to three spells, of three weeks, two weeks and two weeks, of furlough in each year of his sentence, which in the instant case was from August 29, 2017 to August 30, 2018.

Furlough is a right of a prison inmate to have leave for a certain period of time in a year when he can come out of jail.

The prisoner, in jail since his conviction in 2009, was granted a three-week furlough in June this year and after it ended, he had in July applied for a two-week furlough which was kept pending.

The court has directed the DG Prisons to explain this aspect as well in the affidavit along with the time taken by each prison official for verifying the facts in the furlough application.

Another issue was raised by Bhandari that the prison authorities -- specifically the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent -- were not attesting affidavits of prisoners, represented by private lawyers, for filing of their appeals or any writ petition.

They were attesting the affidavits only if the prisoner was represented by a legal aid lawyer, he claimed.

Taking note of the submission, the court directed the DG Prisons to also place on record the rules, regulations or policy which do not permit attestation of prisoners affidavits by the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent of the jail if the inmate is represented by private counsel.

According to the police, Dev was having an affair with his maid who was later sent away to her village by her husband after coming to know of the relationship.

Thereafter, to take revenge, the convict had invited the husband to his flat, which he shared with three others. After getting the man drunk, the convict had killed him on the roof of the building and chopped up his body, police had said.

However, Dev's roommates suspected something wrong and informed the police and he was arrested before he could dispose of the body.

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The Delhi Congress Friday warned to launch a 'Jail Bharo' agitation and start impromptu gherao of BJP and AAP leaders to protest against the "illegal sealing" of non-polluting household industries in the city.

In a rally organised under the 'Nyay Yudh' campaign at Karol Bagh here, Congress Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken said he was "ready to go to jail" to get relief and justice for the people hit by the "illegal sealing" and "loot" in the name of conversion charge.

Holding the central and the AAP governments responsible for the sealing, Maken claimed that they did not present relevant facts before the Supreme Court to stop the sealing drive.

He said people should come out on the streets to protest against the conversion charges being "illegally" collected by the municipal corproations.

"The Congress is solidly behind over 50 lakh people on the issue of illegal collection of conversion charges, which should be stopped," Maken said.

The party passed a resolution, saying that a 'Jail Bharo' agitation will be launched against the "illegal sealing".

Convener of the 'Nyay Yudh' campaign Mukesh Sharma said leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be gheraoed without any prior notice in the coming days.

Senior party leaders and former ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely and Haroon Yusuf also addressed the protesters, including local traders and workers.

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Disgruntled BJP MLA Manvendra Singh said Friday he will take a decision on his political future after a public meeting being seen by many as a show of strength.

His swabhiman (self-respect) rally on September 22 comes amid speculation that former Union minister Jaswant Singh's son may snap his relations altogether with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

But the MLA from Sheo constituency in Barmer is reluctant to talk about it.

The rally is all about 'swabhiman' of all those who are with us. It is not a meeting of one caste or community and it will be attended by people from 'chhattees quom' (all communities), the Rajput leader said, using a term which translates literally as 36 communities.

Based on the outcome of the rally, I will take my political decision, he told PTI.

Singh is travelling around in western Rajasthan, mobilising support for the rally which will be held near the upcoming oil refinery in Barmer.

His wife Chitra Singh is also campaigning for the rally, speaking against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

The family's relations with Raje worsened after BJP stalwart Jaswant Singh was denied the party ticket from Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Jaswant Singh then contested as an independent but lost amid the Narendra Modi wave in the state.

The MLA was suspended from the party for campaigning for his father, instead of the BJP's official candidate Sonaram - who had switched over from the Congress.

But Manvendra Singh continued to represent the Sheo Assembly constituency as a BJP MLA.

He said he was informed in 2016 by the then BJP state unit president Ashok Parnami that his suspension had been revoked.

Many in the Rajput community blamed Raje for denial of the party ticket to Jaswant Singh.His son has been trying to rally the community around him, raising the issue of their 'swabhiman'.

BJP state president Madan Lal Saini said the party has approached Manvendra Singh for a discussion.

The party's Barmer unit president Jalam Singh Rawlot said the planned rally is a "social meeting" and no political impact is expected.

He claimed there is no resentment among the Rajputs against the BJP.

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The Department of Telecom is in the process of setting up a panel which will decide on areas where 5G technology can be used, a top official said Friday.

The department has received proposals for using 5G technology in telemedicine and remote surgeries, drones for security surveillance and monitoring of air and water pollution, among others, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan told PTI in an interview.

"Companies have come up with preliminary use cases. We are going to set up core group which will sit with them and look at what are the use cases that make sense to us," she said.

DoT approached Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Cisco and NEC for development of 5G applications and running trials on the suggestion of Stanford University Professor Emeritus Arogyaswami J Paulraj -- a member of the 5G panel that recently suggested spectrum roadmap for the technology, she said.

"We wrote to Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Samsung and NEC. Huawei has met me and they have said that they are interested. We said if you are interested then send us a proposal. We will see what their proposal is and we may go with them also," Sundararajan said.

She said Samsung, Nokia and Ericsson are in fairly advanced stages of developing applications for 5G technology.

"Use cases that companies have looked at for applications include drones for surveillance, mining, monitoring water and environmental pollution... as well as telemedicine and remote surgeries," Sundararajan said.

King's College under the Cambridge University has also approached DoT through state-run telecom technology development centre C-DoT.

Sundararajan also said all telecom operators are working on 5G but BSNL and Reliance Jio are at more advanced stage of development.

5G services will be rolled out in the country after government allocates spectrum to telecom operators.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended auction of about 8,644 MHz of telecom frequencies at an estimated base price of Rs 4.9 lakh crore.

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The Congress on Friday alleged tampering with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls and demanded that the election be held again with paper ballots and the counting of votes under CCTV surveillance.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said the party was also considering the legal options to get the polls countermanded after the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the students' wing of the party, bagged just one of the four DUSU posts and the rest went to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"Our main demand is that the Delhi University students' council polls be held again using ballot papers and the vote counting under CCTV surveillance," he told a press meet.

"We are examining all the aspects of moving the court," Maken said, when asked whether the Congress would seek legal recourse after the NSUI's defeat in the DUSU polls.

He added that the Congress and the NSUI would stage protests in the Delhi University on the issue.

The Congress leader alleged that whenever EVM malfunctioning was reported, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended up winning the polls and demanded that the Election Commission (EC) goes back to ballot-paper voting in all the forthcoming elections in the states and the Lok Sabha polls.

He also alleged that the EVMs were provided to the Delhi University by the ECIL, the company that supplied the machines to the EC.

Maken alleged that the EVMs used in the DUSU polls were of the EC, even though the poll panel clarified that they did not supply the machines.

"Why did the Delhi University not clarify where did they get the EVMs from?," he asked.

The Congress leader also said the Delhi University did not clarify why did it take the EVMs from the ECIL without the permission of the EC, as the ECIL could not give the machines to anyone without the nod of the poll panel.

He alleged that ballot number 10, which did not exist on the EVMs, got 40 votes, asking, "How is this possible?"



"We have been asking the Delhi University for the last two years to use VVPATs in the polls, but all the requests have been ignored," Maken said.

The Congress leader also trained his guns on the Aam Aadmi Party's Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), claiming that the students' wing of Delhi's ruling party had got less votes in the DUSU polls than even NOTA.

"It shows how their popularity has drastically fallen even among the youth. They polled 13,781 votes, while the NOTA votes were 15,083. This is even less than what the CYSS had polled in 2015 when it had contested alone, while this time, they were in an alliance with the AISA. Will (Delhi Chief Minister Arvind) Kejriwal answer now?," he asked.

Outgoing DUSU vice-president Kunal Sehrawat claimed that of the 126 EVMs used in the polls, the votes of only 119 EVMs were counted and when questioned about it, the election officials refused to answer.

Congress joint secretary in-charge of NSUI Ruchi Gupta claimed that when the EVMs malfunctioned during the counting of votes, the ABVP activists were relaxed as they knew that this was happening in their favour.

"The data of at least seven EVMs is missing. This is the first time vote counting was postponed in the DU polls," she said, adding that the NSUI had done real good work in the university.

Gupta claimed that the NSUI was leading in the race for the post of DUSU president in the first few rounds, but suddenly the EVMs malfunctioned and the ABVP won.

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No more trials! Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Prosecutors said on Friday that Paul Manafort, President Trumps onetime campaign manager, would cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian electoral interference.

Given Manaforts close involvement with Russia and the Trump campaign, the news could constitute a major blow to President Trump as he tries to contain the damage from Muellers probe. However, Manaforts web of connections in the murky world of lobbying and foreign influence means that the information prosecutors extract from him may not necessarily involve the president directly.

In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.

Manaforts cooperation, announced in court on Friday, came just ahead of a Washington, D.C., trial in which he faced counts of money laundering, obstruction of justice, and tax fraud, among other charges.

Earlier, the special counsels office had indicated in a filing that Manafort had reached a plea deal with Robert Mueller in which he would plead guilty to two criminal counts  one count of conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice  allowing him to avoid the trial. The remaining five charges against him will be dropped. Manafort will forfeit many of his assets as part of the deal, including money in several bank accounts, an apartment in Trump Tower, and one in downtown Manhattan; worth about $46 million, these assets single-handedly cover the cost of the Mueller investigation.

The judge in the case said that Manaforts cooperation is wide-ranging, and could include testifying in other trials.

Manaforts lawyer said that with the plea deal, his client wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life  though his families safety may have been a factor in his refusal, up until now, to talk.

For months, Manafort had refused to turn on his former boss, unlike other Trump administration figures. His silence had earned him plaudits from the president, and there has been speculation that he was waiting on a pardon from Trump at some later date.

Last month, in a separate trial, Manafort was convicted by a Virginia jury of eight counts of financial crimes, none of which were directly related to the Russia investigation.
"The Handmaid's Tale" star Elizabeth Moss has said that she studied the documentaries on the lives of Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and Marilyn Monroe to prepare for her role in the film "Her Smell".

The 36-year-old actor plays Becky Something, a self-destructive punk rocker who struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.

"I watched any music documentary I could get my hands on, honestly," Moss told IndieWire.

"All the usual suspects, 'Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck', which I'd already seen but now I've seen a million times, 'Amy', the Amy Winehouse documentary. And also things on Marilyn Monroe, like that kind of thing, just to get a grasp of that fame and that addiction. Anything I could find about somebody who was incredibly famous or successful, but also dealing with addiction, was very helpful," she added.

The film, directed by Alex Ross Perry, had its world premiere at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival.

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Award winning children's writer Ramendra Kumar was honoured at the 36th International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Congress in Athens where he showcased the glory of Jagannath culture.

Besides chairing two important sessions at the 3-day IBBY Congress recently, Kumar said he also presented a paper on 'The Brave New World of Indian Childrens Literature.'



Globally acclaimed speakers from different countries presented papers during the sessions chaired by Kumar, who is a distinguished children's writer and chief of communications in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).

Kumar was the only Indian writer to have got this honour. The Congress, where 450 delegates from more than 70 countries participated, is considered to be the biggest biennial global event focusing on childrens literature, a statement of RSP said.

During the sessions at the event held from August 30 to September 1, Kumar also highlighted the global relevance of the Jagannath consciousness, it said.

"I am from the land of Jagannath consciousness which is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago. For me the ultimate pride was showcasing the glory and grandeur of Jagannath consciousness on a global stage," it said quoting Kumar.

Kumar is an acclaimed children's writer with 33 books to his name. His writings have been translated into 28 languages both Indian and foreign. He won 31 awards by the Children's Book Trust (CBT), over the years, the RSP statement said.

Six of the writer's books have been recommended by the CBSE as Supplementary Readers and eleven of his stories have also found place in text books, it said.

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Mass evacuations from US towns north of Boston were underway Thursday after dozens of fires and suspected gas explosions erupted, police said, leaving at least 10 residents injured, one critically.

Massachusetts State Police said they had responded to 70 reports of fires, explosions and the smell of gas in a widespread zone encompassing the east coast towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

"Gas lines are currently being depressurized," police tweeted, adding that "it will take some time."



"Numerous evacuations of neighborhoods where there are gas odors are underway," police said. "Far too early to speculate on cause. Joint investigation will be conducted when situation is stabilized."



Authorities were to cut power to thousands of meters, police said, and residents in all three towns with utilities service from Columbia Gas had been asked to evacuate immediately.

In a release dated Thursday the company had said it would "be upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhoods across the state."



The mayor of Lawrence requested that all those living in the southern zone of his town leave their homes ahead of the planned power shutdown.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 patients injured in the gas explosions, one in critical condition and another in serious condition.

"Cases range from smoke inhalation to traumatic blast injuries," the hospital said, adding that one patient had been taken to another hospital.

Red Cross centers were open to shelter evacuees while Lawrence-area schools were to shutter Friday.

A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board was to head to the scene Friday morning, the federal agency tweeted.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement he was "actively monitoring the situation," urging residents to heed instructions from local officials.

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A court here on Friday deferred the process of framing of charges against Patidar leader Hardik Patel in a sedition case till the next month.

Patel's lawyers requested the court to defer the hearing as his application seeking discharge from the case is before the Gujarat High Court.

The Patidar quota agitation leader was present in the City Sessions Court Friday as per the court's last month's directive.

His lawyers sought adjournment, saying the high court would be conducting final hearing on his plea on October 9.

Sessions judge D P Mahida accepted the request and deferred the framing of charges -- a process after which trial starts -- to October 12.

Patel, out on bail in the case, moved the high court in April this year after the lower court rejected his discharge application.

The Crime Branch of Ahmedabad police registered a case of sedition against Patel and his associates for allegedly instigating violence "with the intention of dislodging the government" during the Patidar quota agitation in August 2015.

At least 13 persons had died across Gujarat during the agitation led by Patel for reservation for the community in jobs and education.

Dismissing his discharge plea, the sessions court had accepted the prosecution's argument that there was evidence against him in the form of speeches, conversations and forensic records.

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French President Emmanuel Macron telephoned newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and congratulated him on his party's victory in the general elections.

During the telephone call Thursday evening, Macron congratulated Khan for assuming the office of the prime minister, said a statement issued by the PM Office.

Prime Minister Khan thanked Macron for his call and expressed the desire for further developing bilateral relations with France into a mutually beneficial, broad-based and long-term partnership.

He also briefed the French President on the regional situation, especially the importance of a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, and on Pakistan's relations with India.

"He (Khan) underscored the need for the resumption of the comprehensive dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," the statement said.

The ties between the two Asian neighbours had strained after the terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based groups in 2016.

Prime Minister Khan also invited President Macron to visit Pakistan, which the French leader accepted.

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Government tenders worth over Rs 15,000 crore were cancelled due to highly discriminatory conditions against domestic companies, a top official said Friday.

Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek said the cancelled tenders were re-issued by making changes to promote 'Make in India' initiative of the government.

He said a lot of government departments and PSUs are discriminating against Indian companies by having highly discriminatory tender conditions, and the issues are being actually addressed now.

"We find that now we are getting more and more industry complaints and they point out how the tender conditions are completely crazy. Nobody can justify that.

"We have got more than Rs 15,000 crore of tenders by various government departments cancelled and they are re-tendered because the conditions were completely unacceptable. I think, Indian industry needs at least level playing field," he said here at a function.

The government issued public procurement order, 2017 in June last year to promote manufacturing and production of goods and services in India and enhance income and employment in the country.

Concerns have been raised by top government authorities on the restrictive and discriminatory clauses being imposed against domestic manufacturers and suppliers in tender documents for public procurement.

The DIPP has asked the departments and public sector units (PSUs) for issuance of guidelines and notifications relating to declarations of items with sufficient local capacity, domestic content.

Under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, it was envisaged that all central government departments, their attached or subordinate offices and autonomous bodies controlled by the Centre should ensure purchase preference be given to domestic suppliers in government procurement.

It also provides 20 per cent margin of purchase preference, while the minimum local content required shall ordinarily be 50 per cent.

Further, talking about improving ease of doing business, Abhishek said the government is taking several steps in this direction but still lot needs to be done.

He said innovation ecosystem is generally weak in the country as firms are not investing significantly in research and development-related activities.

"We have a complex regulatory environment despite lot of improvement being done. Still there are lot of complexities that we need to address," he said.

He emphasised the need to put special focus on reducing cost of production, flexible policies on labour, easy land transactions, logistics, cut in regulatory burdens, adoption of standards and increasing export competitiveness.

The DIPP secretary said the proposed new industry policy would be approved soon by the government.

The DIPP would issue a series of recommendations in the policy on "what all we need to do about increasing export competitiveness," he added.

Speaking at the event, Environment Secretary CK Mishra said industry and government should work together for a "responsible growth".

"Ministry of Environment should not really be seen as a regulatory ministry but a development ministry whose charter is really to help industry grow in a manner which does not adversely impact the environment," he said.

Mishra added that there is a need to find a balance between environment conservation and development.

India is committed to reducing its emission intensity by 30-35 per cent by 2030 and "let me tell you that the present emission norms which we are suppose to globally achieve, that is reduction by about 20 per cent by 2020, we will do much better than that," he added.

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Two groups clashed in Tinsukia district Friday over a controversial post made in a social networking site, and the police had to fire in the air to control the situation, police sources said.

The clash occurred in two adjacent localities Longsowal and Burra Hapjan under Doomdooma police station area where the policemen fired five rounds in the air to disperse the protesters.

A police complaint has been made against one person over a social media post three days ago and a group of people Friday blocked NH 37 demanding arrest of the man who posted the matter and also gheraoed his house at Burra Hapjan, the sources said.

Following this, a clash erupted between two groups in Burra Hapjan and adjacent Longsowal localities in which the group members pelted stones.

Police went to the spot and brought the situation under control after firing in the air, the sources said adding that two companies of policemen were deployed in the area.

The accused is absconding.

The sources said there was no report of any casualty in the clash.

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A city-based outfit Friday moved the Gujarat High Court, seeking a ban on the release of the film "Loveratri", claiming that its title and content hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

The film marks the debut of film star Salman Khan's brother-in-law Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain and is set against the backdrop of Navratri.

Directed by debutant Abhiraj Minawala, the film is slated for release on October 5.

The PIL, filed by an organisation called Sanatan Foundation, urged the court to get the film's producers to change the title and remove the content that hurts the sentiments of Hindus, as an alternative to a ban.

The PIL is expected to come up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice R. Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi on September 19.

The petitioner has claimed that the film, produced by Salman Khan, will offend Hindus upon its release on October 5.

It claimed that the film's title "Lovratri", a spin on the Hindu festival "Navratri", as well as some dialogues shown in the trailer were offensive.

The PIL contended that while Navratri is a pious festival, the name of the film conveys that it is all about getting "intimate".

"If this movie is allowed to be viewed in cinemas in Gujarat, it will leave a very bad impact on youngsters and public at large," the PIL claimed.

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A day after a court in Maharashtra issued an arrest warrant against him, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday said he did nothing wrong and had only tried to protect the interests of north Telangana by opposing the Babli project on the Godavari.

Hitting out at the BJP, Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) K E Krishna Murthy said the saffron party was foisting cases against Naidu as part of a "political conspiracy."



The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, had issued the order against Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli projecti.

The magistrate directed police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Addressing a public meeting at Sunnipenta in Kurnool district this afternoon, the Chief Minister said: "What I did eight years ago was only to protect the north Telangana region and ensure no damage happened to Telugu people due to the construction of the Babli project...

We will think what to do about the police case (and the arrest warrant)."



He said Maharashtra police deliberately arrested him and other TDP leaders on the (then united AP) border when they went to protest against the Babli construction.

"I told the police then itself that I did nothing wrong and they could do whatever they wanted. At one point, they said they have filed cases and later said no cases. They then forcibly brought us back in a special flight to Hyderabad.

And now they (Maharashtra police) are saying notices and arrest warrant have been issued," Naidu said.

"We will think what to do about it," he added.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) K E Krishna Murthy alleged that the BJP rule resembled that of the British regime.

"BJP is foisting cases against Chandrababu as part of a political conspiracy. (Prime Minister) Modi fears that Chandrababu Naidu will prevent him from becoming Prime Minister again," he said



Other ministers spoke separately to the media at different places in the state and condemned the arrest warrant issued against their leader.

"Issuing an arrest warrant without even serving prior notices is atrocious. This is hurting the self-respect of Andhra people," Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said.

State TDP president and Energy minister K K V Rao, Urban Development minister P Narayana, Civil Supplies minister P P Rao, were among those condemned the arrest warrant and termed it a witch-hunt by the Centre.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.

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The Bombay High Court Friday permitted a 14-year-old rape victim afflicted with cancer to medically terminate her pregnancy which is now in the 24th week.

A bench of justices A S Oka and M S Sonak told the girl to visit the J J Hospital at 11 am Saturday, and directed the dean of the hospital to ensure that medical termination of the pregnancy was performed by expert doctors expeditiously.

The girl's parents had approached high court Wednesday seeking permission for the medical termination of pregnancy.

According to the plea, the girl, who is now in the 24th week of her pregnancy, was raped earlier this year and an FIR was registered in the case.

However, her pregnancy, resulting from the rape, was detected only recently when she went to a local hospital for her chemotherapy session.

She has been suffering from blood cancer since 2010, her lawyer Kuldeep Nikam told the court.

The girl's father is a daily wage labourer and her mother works as a domestic help.

After learning about the pregnancy, they approached an NGO which helped them get in touch with advocate Nikam, who filed the plea in the high court.

The bench had earlier directed the dean of the J J Hospital to constitute a panel of expert doctors, including a psychiatrist, to assess the girl's health condition and to suggest whether medical termination of the pregnancy at such a late stage can be permitted.

After perusing the report Friday, the bench granted relief to the girl.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act permits abortions after consultation with one doctor up to 12 weeks.

Between 12 and 20 weeks, medical opinion of two doctors is required in such cases where the foetus has abnormalities, or in which the pregnant woman faces risks to her physical or mental well-being due to continuing with the pregnancy.

Beyond the 20-week limit, exceptions are legally permissible only if continuation of the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the unborn child or the mother.

The bench also suggested that the girl's parents approach the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority to seek legal and financial assistance for the girl's education and well-being in the future.

Justice Oka said that in the past,in a similar case, the MSLSA and some members of the bar had helped sponsor the education of a minor rape victim.

Advocate Nikam informed the bench that while the girl used to go to school earlier, she had discontinued her studies following the rape incident.

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Union members march with pro-Cuomo signs in the annual Labor Day Parade on September 8, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

Politics wins. Good, old-fashioned door-knocking and organizing and phone banking and precinct-walking wins.

Thats the takeaway after a remarkable primary night in New York State that saw not only Governor Andrew Cuomo soar past Cynthia Nixon to re-election, but his top-of-the-ticket picks  like Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and attorney general candidate Letitia James  win with relative ease. Its also the lesson from down-ballot races, which saw most of the state senates breakaway Democrats  Cuomo allies known as the Independent Democratic Conference  go down in crushing defeat.

It is tempting to think that politics mostly happens online, since that is where so much of the rest of life now occurs; it is where we shop and date and curate our best selves. But winning elections requires figuring out who your voters are and moving them to the polls on election day. During the closing days of the race, Zephyr Teachout looked for all the world like the next attorney general of New York. She was endorsed by the New York Times and The Nation and the Daily News, and she laid out a sharp and legalistic case about how she would use her perch to take down President Trump.

But her campaign events were often her with a half-dozen other people in front of Trump Tower or some Kushner-owned building, broadcasting over Facebook Live to an online audience. James was filling union halls in Hempstead and Red Hook with hundreds of volunteers. The governor backed her, and so so did the state party, and so did the county parties and the clubs and nearly every union and nearly every elected official. At one senior center I went to in the Bronx, after James rolled the bingo wheel and gave her stump speech, an elderly woman stood up in the middle of the proceedings to ask in Spanish how they could be expected to go vote on the Thursday in question. It was no problem, replied the local council member who was there to shepherd James through the neighborhood; vans would be provided. Viral content, in other words, it wasnt.

The same dynamic played out in the governors race. Andrew Cuomo was running for a third term against a liberal upstart who had all the energy of #TheResistance behind her. Despite, or more likely because of her lack of experience, she flummoxed him in their one debate, forced the governor to move even further to the left, racked up celebrity endorsements, and raised a ton of money. Yet Nixon performed no better against Cuomo than Teachout did in the 2014 primary, though the law professor had no money and no endorsements. The record-high turnout  Nixon got about 181,000 more votes than Cuomo did when he won the 2014 primary election  landed like a thud as the Cuomo turnout machine matched the liberal energy that Nixon was counting on.

But down-ballot, even Cuomos vaunted political operation couldnt match the organizing power of locals disgusted at the political gamesmanship of their representatives. Back in 2011, just as Cuomo was moving into the governors mansion, a handful of Democrats announced they were leaving the Democratic conference and would caucus with the Republicans. At times they handed the GOP a majority that should rightly have been the Democrats, and at other times they padded the GOPs advantage. He never copped to it, but it was always an arrangement widely believed to be Cuomos handiwork, a way to keep him from vetoing bills that came out of a Democratically controlled Senate and an even more liberal Assembly. And so earlier this year Cuomo snapped his fingers and brought the warring factions back together with the promise that the mainline Democratic senators  those who had remained Democrats  would welcome renegade senators back.

They did, but it didnt matter. Neighborhood activists threw six of the confederates out of office. Even Martin Dilan, a Democratic stalwart who faced a challenge from Julia Salazar, a Democratic Socialist with a colorful past, was defeated easily in the face of determined door-knocking.

What happens in the next two months and beyond is anyones guess. Democrats could fail to retake the state senate. If they do triumph in November, they will likely have a narrow majority filled with first-time lawmakers determined to rip up the status quo. Cuomo is going to come back more powerful than ever, surely eyeing a presidential run and trying to figure out how to manage a fractious group of Democratic lawmakers who ran against politics-as-usual in Albany. The last decade or so of state politics has been wild, filled with Eliot Spitzers resignation in a prostitution scandal, David Patersons implosion, a legislative coup that shut down the state government, and eight years of Cuomo skulduggery designed to keep everyone in line. The pot is about to boil over, and riding the coming wave of chaos is going to require some special kind of skill.
The Friday allowed Indian pharma major to sell till next Tuesday its anti-inflammatory medicine, which is among the 328 fixed-dose combinations (FDC) drugs banned by the Centre a week ago.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru, in an interim order, allowed the company to sell its drug -- Ace Proxyvon -- till September 18, the next date of hearing, and asked the to place before it all relevant records based on which it had arrived at the decision to ban the medicine.

Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya and central government standing counsel Anil Soni appeared for the ministry.

Soni told that the court has allowed to continue selling its drug till September 18.

The petition by was mentioned before a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla, which allowed it to be listed before an appropriate bench for hearing today itself.

However when the court rose at 5.00 PM, the petition file had not reached the designated bench till then from the high court's registry which is entrusted with the task of listing of the matters.

The matter was taken up for hearing after 6.00 PM.

The ministry by its September 7 notification had banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 328 drugs. FDCs are two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage form.

Ace Proxyvon, which is sold by the company in a tablet form, is a mixture of three salts -- aceclofenac, paracetamol and rabeprazol -- a combination which is banned.

The pharma company, which claims to have been manufacturing and selling the drug for over 11 years now, contended that it has not been provided with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) report, based on which the decision was taken.

It claimed that the only reason given in the September 7 notification was that the combination had no therapeutic value. The medicine is reportedly prescribed for people with painful rheumatic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

The had, through a notification of March 10, 2016, prohibited 349 FDCs for manufacture, sale and distribution under Section 26 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The notification was then contested by the pharma in the and the

The high court in December 2016 had quashed the ban on the FDCs, which was challenged by the Centre in the apex court.

The top court had in December last year set aside the high court order and referred the banned FDCs to DTAB for re-examination.

Complying with the apex court direction, an expert panel set up by DTAB, in its report to the Centre, had stated that there was no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in 328 of the 349 FDCs, which may also involve risk to humans.

The Board had recommended that it was necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of these FDCs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 in larger public interest.
Bank has sent nearly 250 summons through e-mail and to customers who evade compliance and hopes to settle cases faster by adopting the newer methods of communication.

" Bank is pursuing with various courts in the country to take up digital means of communication which include issuing notices, summons, through e-mails and which will help in faster disposal of the cases," a bank official said.

The official said over 6 million cheque bounce cases are pending in the country and Bank has taken a lead by requesting the courts to use digital means to issue summons.

"We have been sending summons through e-mail, on In many cases, we have seen that customers deny having received any summon at all if sent through post.

"It also happens that people change residence more often but their e-mail IDs and mobile phone number do not change in general, so we thought this is an effective means of communication," the official said.

The bank has been adopting this method after a appointed amicus curiae recommended closure of proceedings in all cheque bounce cases through digital means.

The offence falls under section 138 of the which defines and amend the law relating to promissory notes, bills of exchange and cheques.

HDFC Bank has sent nearly 250 summons through digital means so far and hopes to settle the cases falling under the Act in a speedy manner, said the official.

The summons sent digitally so far by the bank are mainly concentrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.

A few cases are related to accounts in Delhi, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir.

Majority of these summons have been sent on e-mail, a significant on WhatsApp while others have been sent on both platforms.

Sending digital summon assumes significance as the pending cheque bounce cases in various lower courts is clogging the criminal justice system, the bank official said.

There are over 1.93 crore criminal cases pending across the country, as per the latest data of National Judicial Data Grid.
The Power Ministry Friday gave a detailed presentation to a high-level empowered committee on measures to deal with problems of struggling power assets, a source said.

"The power ministry today gave a detailed presentation in the second meeting of the High Level Empowered Committee to address the issues of stressed thermal power plants," the source said.

Some of the suggestions from bankers, financial institution and senior officials include bring out a payment security mechanism for private power generators, new power purchase agreement with add on incentives like coal linkage and strict instruction to states for timely payment by discoms.

The first meeting of the panel was held on August 31, 2018. The panel was constituted by the government, with representatives from the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal and the lenders having major exposure to the power sector on its board on July 29, 2018, to resolve the stress and revive such assets.

A Power Ministry statement said that the second meeting of the High Level Empowered Committee to address the issues of stressed thermal power plants was held here today.

The meeting was chaired the Cabinet Secretary. Senior officials from various ministries and major lenders (Banks and Financial Institutions) attended the meeting and deliberated upon the issues related to resolutions of the stressed thermal power projects. The deliberations will continue further, it added.

However, the source said that the RBI representative did not attend the second meeting held today. The RBI was also not part of the deliberations of the panel in its meeting held on August 31, 2018.

Earlier the Reserve Bank had turned down the Power Ministry's request to give certain concessions for setting up of an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) for warehousing stressed assets to prevent distress sale of these plants.

The government wanted the RBI to relax the norm of making upfront payment of 15 per cent the value of an asset to lenders by the ARC and upfront valuation of the asset.

Stressed power assets are a cause of concern which led to setting up an empowered committee.

The issue of stressed assets in the power sector became more vicious after the Allahabad High Court did not give any reprieve to these plants from RBI's new framework for resolving bad loans, issued on February 12, 2018.

The RBI framework provided for strict timeline for resolution of these bad loans where debt is Rs 2,000 crore or more. It mandates insolvency proceedings to start in case no resolution plan is provided by lenders within 180 days of default.

Setting up an ARC is a legal option available to avoid insolvency proceedings for these stressed power assets.

A Parliamentary panel had earlier recommended new framework for resolution of stressed assets in the power sector, saying RBI's framework "addresses only financial issues, ignoring the whole range of vital issues of electricity sector.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With back-to-back releases, Taapsee Pannu may be on her way to becoming one of the most popular young stars but the actor says she still feels people "don't know" her.

The 31-year-old actor, who has made a mark with her performances in "Pink", "Mulk" and her latest release "Manmarziyaan", does not fear that there is over exposure on her part.

"I don't think I'm at that stage of my career where it's okay if I do one or two films a year. Honestly, till the time each and every movie-goer knows about me, I will not stop doing multiple films a year. I still have the feeling that people don't really know me," Taapsee told PTI in an interview.

The actor says once she will be able to create her own audience, she will start being more selective in her choices.

"I couldn't have said no to any film post 'Pink. I don't regret a single decision of mine. Even if I made mistakes they helped me evolve. Post 'Pink', I don't have any film which I can pick out from my filmography and say 'It would have been better if I hadn't done this film'."



Taapsee says her goal is to become one of the most popular stars of her generation.

"I want to be a star. It doesn't mean that I'll act any less. My performance will be at par but I want to be a star. I want the audience to spend their hard earned money on my tickets without doubting. And when that day comes, I'll believe I'm a star."



The actor believes it is important to be clear headed, confident and aware about her goals.

"It is important to be confident about yourself. At the same time you need to have a reality check about yourself and about things around you. Delusion is something that kills most of the public figures and the day you get delusional, it is like suicide point," she says.

Taapsee credits her directors and writers, including Anurag Kashyap, for giving her memorable parts. Praising the "Manmarziyaan" helmer, she says they are like "evil twins".

"We both are like those evil twins, like yin-yang, biggest bullies and critics of each other. After the film was over, we were like 'What are we doing next together?' He is a great director. Internationally, he has become the face of directors from India. Anurag doesn't care about 'what people would say?'. It is something that connect him, me and my character Rumi.

Taapsee's next film is "Badla", which is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film also marks the young actor's second collaboration with megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa Friday said IAF would be involved in the selection process to send humans on a space mission and expressed confidence of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2022 deadline for the exercise.

"The Institute of Aerospace Medicine was actively involved in selection of astronauts earlier.

We will be involved now. I am sure we will be able to do it in a very short notice," he said at an event here.

The Air Chief Marshal said this in his inaugural speech at the three-day 57th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) at IAM here.

Dhanoa also said that an Aerospace Medicine specialist is the best friend of the air crew in the field.

Modi, in his Independence Day address, had said an Indian astronaut would go on a space odyssey by 2022 on board Gaganyaan.

Speaking on the same issue, IAM Commandant Air Commodore Anupam Agarwal said they would require 12 to 14 months to select astronauts.

He also said that it would be a great challenge for IAM to prepare astronauts for space travel.

Agarwal said even the slightest of difference in physiological and psychological issues of astronauts travelling in a space capsule would lead to isolation issues.

"Even small issues like an astronaut picking his nose can lead to problems. Therefore even small nuances must be taken care of," he said.

Agarwal also said India would be the first country to send humans, instead of animals, as part of the first mission to return with knowledge from space.

"Other countries sent animals into the space that brought back some learning," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India attaches the "highest importance" to its relations with Russia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Friday, as she conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties ahead of President Vladimir Putin's planned visit to New Delhi early next month.

Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months, called on Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov and two leaders co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Technical and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) meeting.

Swaraj, in a statement after the meeting said: "India and Russia enjoy a special and privileged strategic partnership.

"This partnership has strengthened over time and covers a vast agenda involving almost all sphere of human activity. India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Russia".

The commission has met in the run up to the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit which is expected to be held in India early next month, she said, adding that both sides are currently working to prepare for this summit.

President Putin is expected to visit India for the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Deputy Prime Minister and I have conducted a comprehensive review of our relations. I am satisfied with the outcomes of our meeting," Swaraj commented after the meeting.

"I am confident that our deliberations today will further strengthen our cooperation with Russia in all fields in existing and new areas of cooperation," the minister said.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade which in 2017 reached USD 10.17 billion.

"We discussed ways and means to increase this momentum, ensure balanced trade, and remove barriers to trade.

"Two-way investments have already crossed the USD 30 billion target, which we had set for 2025. We have therefore proposed that we enhance this figure to USD 50 billion by 2025," she said.

Swaraj said both sides also discussed the possibilities of working together on projects in third countries.

"As a new dimension of our strategic partnership, there has been a significant expansion in our cultural and tourism exchanges," she said.

Russia and India are on track to bring the trade turnover to USD 30 billion in the coming years, Borisov said.

"Over the past years bilateral trade has reached solid growth rates, which if maintained will help us hit the target of USD 30 billion in the coming years," Borisov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run Tass agency.

At the same time he underlined the need to put in more efforts to achieve a "breakthrough" in enhancing the trade.

Swaraj noted that a festival of India covering 22 cities over a six month period is currently underway in Russia.

Tourism flows in both directions and has shown impressive growth, she said.

India and Russia are working on further liberalising visa regulations on both sides, Swaraj said as she welcomed the initiative of the Russian government to enable electronic visas for Indian nationals visiting the Russia far East.

"We have identified new areas of cooperation such as agriculture, infrastructure, transport and Science and Technology. We would like to expand our cooperation in the area of space.

"We have agreed to organise the first ever India-Russia Business Summit involving major companies from both sides in early October in India," Swaraj added.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The last meeting of IRIGC-TEC was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.

On Thursday, Swaraj met her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and the two leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India ranks third globally in terms of the number of family-owned businesses with 111 companies of $839 billion total market capitalisation, followed closely after China with 159 firms and the United States with 121 firms, says a report.

According to the 'Credit Suisse Family 1000 in 2018' report, published by the Credit Suisse Research Institute (CSRI), in terms of the number of family-owned businesses, within the non- Asian region, China, India and Hong Kong dominate the list.

These three jurisdictions together comprise around 65 per cent of the non- Asian section of the CSRI's database, and has a combined market capitalisation of $2.85 trillion (or 71 per cent) of the market share.

came in fourth place, with 43 companies ($ 434.1 billion market capitalisation), followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, each with 26 companies.

The report covered 11 markets in the Non- Asian region, which continue to dominate and represent a 53 per cent share of the universe, with a total market capitalisation of over $4 trillion.

The report further noted that in 2017 alone, Non-Japan-Asia-based family-owned companies generated 25.63 per cent greater cash flow return on investment (CFROI) than their non-family owned counterparts, and delivered a 4.2 per cent outperformance in annual average share price return since 2006.

"This year we find family-owned businesses are continuing to outperform their peers in every region, every sector, whatever their size. We believe this is down to the longer-term outlook of family-owned businesses relying less on external funding and investing more in research and development," said Eugne Klerk, Head Analyst of Thematic Investments at Credit Suisse and the report's lead author.

Indian family-owned companies generated a 13.9 per cent annual average share price return since 2006, compared to 6 per cent recorded by their non-family-owned peers, the report said.

Further, out of the top 50 most profitable companies globally, 24 were from Asia, with a total market capitalisation of $748 billion. The list included 12 Indian family-owned companies with a total market capitalisation of $192.2 billion.

Moreover, in Non-Japan Asia, more than 50 per cent of the top 30 best-performing companies are from India, followed by one-third from China. occupies third place with three companies, while and each have one, the report added.
India's import of cooking oils jumped 11 per cent to 15.12 lakh tonnes in August this year inspite of rupee depreciation as supplies dried up because of lesser shipments in previous months and improved parity in import of palm oil products, industry body SEA said Friday.

India, the world's leading cooking oil buyer, had purchased 13.61 lakh tonnes of edible and non-edible oils from the global market in the same month last year.

As per the latest data released by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), palm oil imports rose by 6 per cent to 9,20,894 tonnes in August this year from 8,68,744 tonnes in the year-ago.

Among palm oils, the shipment of crude palm oil (CPO) rose to 6,49,570 tonnes from 6,00,019 tonnes, while crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) increased to 12,762 tonnes from 4,600 tones in the said period.

However, the shipment of RBD palmolein oil was lower at 2,58,562 tonnes in August 2018 compared with 2,64,125 tonnes in the year-ago.

The share of palm oil is more than 60 per cent of the country's total cooking oil imports.

SEA said that palm oil shipments remained higher in August "on improved parity in import of palm oil due to reduction in spread between palm oil and soft oils."



The overall imports have jumped inspite of rupee depreciation as pipelines dried up due to lesser import during June and July this year, it said in a statement.

Besides palm oils, the country has imported soft oils whose volumes rose to 5,44,700 tonnes in August this year from 4,68,181 tonnes in the same period last year.

Among soft oils, the shipment of soyabean oils rose to 3,12,049 tonnes in August 2018 from Rs 2,89,746 tonnes in the year ago, while that of sunflower oil increased to 2,08,142 tonnes from 1,33,396 tonnes in the said period.

However, the import of rapeseed oil dropped to 24,509 tonnes from 45,039 tonnes in the said period.

During the oil year ending October 2018, the SEA has projected overall cooking oils imports to be 147-148 lakh tonnes, lower than 154.4 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

Already, 122.78 lakh tonnes of cooking oils have been shipped during November 2017 till August this year.

India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Latin America. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Secretary in the department of defence production (DP) Ajay Kumar Friday said India has overtaken China as the world's largest arms importer and should shed the tag.

He said the public-private partnership in defence in the country is being encouraged to step up arms exports and licensing system in some items had been liberalised.

"India is the world's largest arms importer, a place which earlier belonged to China", he said over video conference from Delhi at a seminar organised by Bharat Chamber of Commerce here on Friday.

Kumar said, "If China could (reduce dependence on imports productions) then why cannot India"?



Citing the instance of Mexico, he said the central American country has established a huge aero-manufacturing base and exports to the US and Europe.

According to Kumar, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are responsible for 74 per cent of the global arms trade.

"What part of that pie we need to have?", he asked, adding that many countries were willing to buy arms from India.

Kumar said that testing infrastructure would be set up for the private sector also.

Former chief of Air Staff Arup Raha said, "unfortunately India continues to depend on imports for high-end weapon systems".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives which gives flexibility to H-1B workers to switch jobs and reduces the Green Card backlog by expanding education-based exemptions from per-country caps for H-1B holders.

Krishnamoorthi was joined by Republican lawmaker Mike Coffman in introducing H R 6794, the 'Immigration Innovation Act of 2018' in the House of Representatives Thursday.

If passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, the two lawmakers said it would reform and streamline the H-1B high-skilled worker visa programme while increasing investment in American Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education for students in K-12, post-secondary, or college programmes.

"To develop the skills of our domestic workforce, our bill increases investments in our education system to guarantee that American workers are trained for high-tech jobs. It also reforms the visa system for highly-skilled workers which allows American businesses to compete in the global economy," said Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat Congressman.

"Our immigration policies must fit with the economic needs of our country," Coffman said. "One critical part of Congress' job is ensuring that immigration laws match our country's high-tech workforce requirements as well as meet the needs of H1-B visa applicants and their families." The legislation also proposes to ban employers from hiring H-1B holders to replace American workers while increasing funding for STEM education at the K-12, post-secondary, and university levels.

Under the bill, fees collected for H-1B visas and conditional Green Cards will go to state-administered funds to promote domestic STEM education and worker training, including financial aid and research initiatives.

These expanded investments in advanced training for the domestic workforce would ultimately reduce demand for foreign workers while helping the American grow, the two lawmakers said.

The bill among other things removes existing annual exemption cap on H-1B visas for holders of US master's degrees or higher, which is currently exempting 20,000 per year, for individuals who are sponsored for a Green Card; narrows education-based cap exemption to those with US PhDs.

It creates lottery prioritisation for cap-subject petitions in the order of: US masters or higher, foreign PhDs, and US STEM bachelor's degrees and establishes a grace period to allow H-1B visa holders to change jobs without losing their legal status to permit mobility under qualifying circumstances.

The bill subjects employers who have more than five H-1B employees to a penalty for each employee who worked less than 25 per cent of the first work-authorisation year and prohibits employers from hiring an H-1B visa worker to replace a US worker.

It also provides work authorisation for spouses and dependent children of H-1B visa workers at the prevailing wage.

It proposes to eliminate per-country limit for employment based green cards and adjusts per-country caps for family-based green cards; and enables reassignment of unused visas from previous years. The bill exempts spouses and children of employment-based green card holders, holders of US STEM master's degrees or higher, and individuals with extraordinary skill in arts and sciences from caps.

It creates new conditional Green Card category to allow US employers to sponsor university-educated foreign professionals through a separate path from H1B. It also requires employers to attest that no US worker has been displaced for the Green Card holder, undertake recruitment efforts to fill the position with a US worker and offer prevailing wage not less than USD 100,000 per year.

Referred to the House Judiciary Committee, the bill enables F-1 student visa holds to seek permanent resident status while a student or during Optional Practical Training.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

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March 21, 2010 rally against the health care bill. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

When President Obama urged Congress to pass the Affordable Care Act, a plan modeled after Mitt Romneys health-care plan, conservatives decried it as a government takeover of health care. Obama explained that his plan did no such thing. When you hear the naysayers claim that Im trying to bring about government-run health care, he said, know this: Theyre not telling the truth.

At a speech last week, Obama praised Medicare for All as a good new idea. The Weekly Standard pounces, declaring conservatives were right all along about Obamas sinister socialistic plot. Obama admitted  finally that he favors nationalizing the health-care industry, concludes the conservative magazine.

So, first of all, Medicare for All does not necessarily mean nationalizing the health-care industry. Nationalizing the health-care industry would mean something like the British National Health Service, in which hospitals and doctors work are public employees. A complete single-payer system would leave medical providers private, while putting the government in charge of insurance.

And Medicare for All doesnt even mean that, either. The phrase has different meanings, some of which would keep employer-based insurance while allowing individuals or firms the choice of buying into Medicare. It doesnt necessarily mean single payer, and it absolutely doesnt indicate nationalizing the health-care system. Unsurprisingly, the Standard, like virtually the entire conservative movement, is ignorant of the details and treats every left-of-center plan as the same.

But even if it were true that Obama is endorsing single-payer insurance, it is worth considering the context of his remarks. Lots of things have happened since Obamacare was passed. Most importantly, the conservative movement launched a hysterical political and legal sabotage campaign, using every tool from concocting frivolous lawsuits to driving insurance firms out of the markets by eliminating the outreach budget and withholding promised reimbursements. That sabotage campaign is still ongoing.

It would be extremely reasonable for a liberal who favors Obama-Romney-style subsidized private insurance to conclude that market-based insurance is simply too vulnerable to right-wing sabotage, and the only safe path for covering people who cant afford their own insurance is through public programs. One of the things conservatives have been completely oblivious to is the degree to which their manic uncompromising stance has strengthened the case for more left-wing health-care reforms within the Democratic Party while undermining the basis for more moderate ones.

Obama implemented a moderate, market-based health-care reform. Conservatives freaked out, called it socialism, and threw themselves into a campaign to destroy it by making market-based reforms legally and commercially vulnerable. So then Obama is responding by proposing a more government-based reform that can withstand these attacks. And the rights response to these events is  to conclude they were right all along to accuse Obamacare of being a secret socialist plot.
India's second largest IT services firm Infosys said Friday it will acquire Finland-based Fluido in a deal worth up to 65 million euros (over Rs 545 crore).

The acquisition -- for "up to 65 million euros including earn-out, management incentives and bonuses -- is expected to close during the third quarter of fiscal 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, Infosys said in a statement.

"...this acquisition strengthens Infosys' position as a leading Salesforce enterprise cloud services provider and enhances its ability to provide clients an unparalleled cloud-first transformation...The acquisition strengthens Infosys' presence in the Nordics region," it added.

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Fluido is one of the largest Salesforce (software company) consulting partners in Europe. It is majority-owned by its management team and CapMan private equity, with Salesforce Ventures having a minority stake. Its offerings include cloud consulting, implementation and training services.

Founded in 2010, Fluido has offices in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia. Its customers span industries like manufacturing, energy, retail and telecommunications.

"This acquisition demonstrates Infosys' commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem to address our client's digital priorities. Fluido will be an important addition to the Infosys family, bringing a unique combination of market presence, deep salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training," Infosys President and Deputy COO Ravi Kumar said.

This acquisition also aligns to Infosys' efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions in which it operates, he added.

In a separate filing, the Bengaluru-based company said its Board will meet on October 15 and 16 to consider the financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

"The financial results will be presented to the Board of Directors on October 16, 2018 for their approval," the filing added.

The company will also hold investor/analyst calls on the said date to "discuss the financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2018 and business outlook," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Himachal Pradesh government has closed the investigation into a disproportionate assets complaint filed against BJP leader and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in 2015, on the recommendation of the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, officials said.

The Virbhadra Singh-led previous Congress government in the state had ordered vigilance inquiry against Dhumal on the basis of a complaint by a Dharamshala-based lawyer who alleged that the BJP leader owned properties disproportionate to his declared assets.

"The recommendation was sent to the state government to close the probe against Dhumal as his assets had not been found disproportionate to his known sources of income during thorough inquiry into the complaint," said Atul Verma, Additional Director General, state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (SV & ACB).

He said the state government decided to close the inquiry against Dhumal on the basis of the SV & ACB recommendation.

"The recommendation was made purely on merit," said Verma when asked if there was any political pressure behind the move.

The inquiry was being conducted by then Shimla Superintendent of Police DW Negi, who was holding additional charge of SP (Vigilance).

The files were retrieved after Negi's arrest in the custodial death of a Nepali citizen in infamous Kotkhai rape case a few months ago and the lacking parts of the inquiry were completed by another investigating officer.

His assets, including salaries, allowances etceteras, were calculated and found at par with his known sources of income, he said, adding that subsequently, the recommendation was made to the state government for closing the inquiry.

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At least 20 fighters from a US-backed force fighting the Islamic State group were killed Friday in an IS ambush in eastern Syria, a war monitor said.

"The fighters were advancing during a sandstorm, they were surrounded, IS members used explosives and opened fire," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces is waging an offensive around the town of Hajin in the province of Deir Ezzor, IS's last stronghold in the country's east.

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The Supreme Court's order for a high-level probe in the 1994 ISRO spy case is likely to cover the role of the then Kerala cops and officials of the Intelligence Bureau who were involved in the investigation leading to the arrest of scientist S Nambi Narayanan and others by falsely implicating them.

Narayanan had accused the state police and the IB officials of torturing and extractng statements from him.

Former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

Narayanan has also been on record alleging that R B Sreekumar, a former DGP of Gujarat, was earlier a part of the IB leadership that had "cooked up" the ISRO spy case.

Virtually vindicating Narayanan's stand today, an apex court bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud appointed a three-member committee headed by its former judge, Justice D K Jain, saying "appropriate steps need to be taken against the erring officials."



The bench also directed Kerala Government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to Naryanan within eight weeks.

"We think that the obtaining factual scenario calls for constitution of a Committee to find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring officials," it said. The CBI report, quoted in the verdict, also said there were reasons to believe that the interrogators had forced the accused to make statements on suggested lines.

Besides Narayanan, director of cryogenic project at ISRO, others implicated in the case were ISRO's deputy director of D Sasikumaran and Indian representative of a Russian space agency K Chandrasekhar, S K Sharma, a labour contractor, and Maldivian national Mariam Rasheeda and her countrymate Fauzia Hassan.

The case was first investigated by the state police and later handed over to the CBI, which found that no espionage, as was alleged, had taken place.

The apex court bench relied heavily on the CBI report submitted before a Kerala court in 1996 criticising the arrest of the scientists.

The CBI's closure report had accused three police officials of Thiruvananthapuram-- Siby Mathews, then DIG Crime of Kerala Police, S Vijayan, then Inspector of the Special Branch and K K Joshwa, then Deputy Superintendent of Police, Crime Brance CID--of falsely implicating the ISRO scientist.

According to the judgment, the CBI report had stated that the evidence collected indicated that the allegations of espionage against the scientists at ISRO, including the appellant (Narayanan), were not proved and were found to be false.

Regarding the role of Mathews, the report had said that Siby Mathew who was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had left the entire investigation to IB surrendering his duties.

"Investigation conducted by the CBI has revealed that he did not take adequate steps either in regard to the thorough interrogations of the accused persons by Kerala Police or the verification of the so called disclosure made by the accused persons.

"In fact, he left the entire investigation to IB surrendering his duties. He ordered indiscriminate arrest of the ISRO scientist and others without adequate evidence being on record," the bench quoted from the CBI report in its judgement.

The CBI report had said that "on being confronted with the statements made by them before Kerala Police as well as IB officials, the accused took the plea that the statements were made on the suggested lines under duress."



It had said that investigation had established that the accused persons were "harassed and physically abused".

"It is curious that while the IB had all the six accused persons in their custody, they recorded the statements of only Sasikumaran, Chandrashekar, Fauziya and Rasheeda and, not of Nambi Narayanan.

"There is reason to believe that the interrogators forced the accused persons to make statements on suggested lines," the report had said.

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Actor Jesse Eisenberg has said it was "upsetting" for him to read about the allegations against veteran filmmaker Woody Allen, who he believes "changed" his life.

In an interview with The Guardian, the 34-year-old actor, who worked with the filmmaker on the movies "To Rome with Love" and "Cafe Society", said the allegations against Allen exists in the "greyer area" and he feels torn by it.

"As for Woody Allen, I was 16 years old when I discovered him. I've read everything he's written, I've watched everything he's made. He's changed my life more than any other creative inspiration," Eisenberg said.

"And so when I read about something like this, it's upsetting to me and I don't know what to think, because it exists in a greyer area than a lot of the other allegations. So I don't want to say anything specific about that, but I'll just say that those two things are on my mind, my extra-curricular work and also honouring somebody's feelings who has been hurt," he added.

Dylan, the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow and Allen, claimed that the 82-year-old director molested her when she was just seven-years-old, but after her mother took the case to the authorities in 1993, prosecutors decided not to press charges.

She has been vocal about her accusations following the rise of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements.

During the interview, Eisenberg revealed that he had edited his "Hummingbird Project" co-star Salma Hayek's New York Times editorial where she had accused disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment.

"Salma actually asked me to edit her New York Times editorial because she knows my wife, and knows mine and her history, and also enjoys my editing.

"So this isn't something I don't think about or take lightly, this is something I care about in my personal life," Eisenberg said.

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The Jharkhand government will set up a Bhasa academy in a month time as it was committed for the promotion of hindi language, chief minister Raghubar Das said Friday.

The effort of the government was to ensure that maximum work in school, college and universities be done in hindi, Das said while addressing a function organized on the occasion of Hindi Diwas in the new auditorium of Jharkhand mantralay.

Rajbhasa department should frame a policy to make hindi language mandatory in government offices in the state, he said.

The CM said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee Puraskar Yojana was introduced in the honor of former Prime Minister with an aim to promote hindi language.

The award would be given to a rising poet, reputed journalist and an official performing remarkbly, he said claiming that 21st century would be established as hindi centenary.

The chief minister called on the litterateur, writer, poet and journalists should deliberate on subjects including language, knowledge, technicalities to develop hindi world-wide.

Efforts should be made to ensure hindi should become the medium of science and technology in the modern era and use of hindi be more and more on social media such as facebook, twitter,instagram,whatsapp etc., he said adding that research should be done on this front.

India is a big market in the world and world players are trying to establish their presence in the country. Hence, they were emphasizing on learning hindi language, the chief minister said.

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Describing Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a "straightforward figure", historian and author Ramachandra Guha says the Pakistan founder was at best an "astute politician" driven by a single-point agenda.

Guha admits that his narrative of Jinnah in his new book, "Gandhi: The Years That Changed The World, 1914-1948", is "not sympathetic".

Among all the political leaders of that era, the shades of grey in Jinnah's personality may have escaped Guha.

"Jinnah, from the early 1930s, had one-point agenda -- build Pakistan with me as a leader," Guha told PTI in an interview.

So in that sense he is "relatively straightforward figure from the 1930s onward" when he was consumed by his "new desire" to create a new country of which he would be leader, he added.

"I would say he is a straightforward figure and my narrative (of Jinnah) is not sympathetic unlike Ambedkar or some other leaders where I can see the inner-struggles of a man," said the author of best-selling book "India After Gandhi".

He went on to compare Pakistan's Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader) to BJP president Amit Shah.

"In some ways you can even compare him (Jinnah) to Amit Shah as he says, 'I will win election whatever happens' and Jinnah said, 'I will get Pakistan whatever happens, even at the cost of dead bodies'," he added.

Asked what if another scholar finds his opinion about Jinnah rather too simplistic or wrong of sorts, the 60-year-old scholar was quick to reply, "Well, they are free to do that. But they need to document more than what I have done in the book and my works."



His latest book, an 1,100-plus-page-tome, tells the story of Gandhi's life from the time he left South Africa to his assassination in 1948.

According to Guha, Gandhi and Ambedkar are "heroic figures".

Bringing in political commentators Arun Shourie and Arundhati Roy into the discussion, he said to them history means "heroes and villains" only, hence they "elevate one to diminish other".

Guha said both Shourie and Roy are "works of ideology, not scholarship".

"Shourie elevates Gandhi to diminish Ambedkar, and Roy elevates Ambedkar to diminish Gandhi. And (doing this) they both suppress the very vital facts about the other person... It is ironic that they mirror each other and have this deep desire of representing history as heroes and villains only," he said.

He said Gandhi is someone next to only Buddha in terms of the universal appeal.

In the book's epilogue, he takes on both Shourie and Roy for their "highly partial" and "highly prejudiced" presentation of the two leaders.

The book also quotes Shourie's book "Worshipping False Gods" where he makes charges against Ambedkar that "he sided with British colonalists rather than with Indian nationalists". He also refers to Roy's statement accusing Gandhi of being a "conservative defender of the caste system who changed his views at a glacial pace".

"It is entirely possible for a thinking Indian to say I admire Ambedkar more than Gandhi or I admire Gandhi more than Ambedkar. But to say I admire Gandhi but abuse Ambedkar or vice-verse, then it is distortion to these leaders contribution to history.

"Roy and Shourie have contributed to this distortion. And I think it was important to get the record straight ... there is difference between proper thorough history and plain polemics," he said.

Published by Penguin (Allen Lane), "Gandhi: The Years That Changed The World, 1914-1948", priced at Rs 999, is the sequel to "Gandhi Before India" (2014), which traced Gandhi's early life in India and his years in South Africa as a lawyer and activist.

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Indias first underwater robotic drone developed at a hardware incubator here, which can send real-time video of ships and other underwater structures to help with their repair and maintenance, was launched Friday.

It was handed over to the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO.

The first commercial Remotedly Operated Vehicle (ROV)/underwater drone, EYEROVTUNA, was developed by EyeROV Technologies, a company incubating at Maker Village which is said to be the largest hardware incubator in the country.

NPOL, a laboratory of Delhi-headquartered Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), made the first order of the product, a Maker Village release said.

The development of the product of EyeROV was largely supported by Kerala Start up Mission (KSUM) through various schemes.

The drone will be used by NPOL for research and development activities which in turn would resultin commercial product for defence purposes.

The robotic drone, developed by Johns T Mathai and Kannappa Palaniappan P of EyeROV Technologies, can be navigated up to a depth of 50 metres to take real-time HD video images to examine ship hulls or undersea cables or bridge moorings, eliminating the need for costlier and riskier manual inspection by divers, the release said.

EyeROV, which was tested on Indias first solar ferry in Keralas Vaikom, offers high manoeuvring capability at low cost and can be put to uses ranging from inspections of ship hulls, ports, dams and nuclear power plants, to search and rescue, naval mine detection and ocean studies, it said.

C Balagopal, Founder, Terumo Panpol launched the product.

NPOL Director S Kedarnath Shenoy received the ROV from Dr Saji Gopinath, CEO Kerala Startup Mission.

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Russia is ready to consider a request by British investigators to come and interrogate the two men accused of poisoning a former spy, the Kremlin said Friday.

Britain charged Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov last week with trying to kill double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok.

The Skripals survived the March 4 attack in Salisbury, but a local resident later died after apparently having contact with the poison.

Petrov and Boshirov appeared Thursday on the state-funded RT channel, saying they visited Salisbury as tourists and had nothing to do with the poisoning.

They denied the British claim that they were Russian military intelligence officers, saying they work in the nutritional supplements business.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Friday that Russian authorities will consider Britain's request to interrogate them if it comes.

He added that Britain has stonewalled repeated Russian offers to conduct a joint inquiry.

"There is a mechanism of legal assistance regulated by bilateral documents and international law," Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

"If we receive a formal request from London, it will certainly be considered by the Russian side in strict conformity with the law."



He added that "from the very beginning, Russia has emphasized its desire to cooperate to clarify the circumstances of what happened in Salisbury and track down the culprits," but "the British side has strongly rejected such cooperation."



Britain has said the attack received approval "at a senior level of the Russian state," an accusation Moscow has fiercely denied.

"Russia's position has remained unchanged and clear we consider it unacceptable to link the Russian leadership or the Russian state to what happened in Salisbury," Peskov said.

Britain identified the Russian suspects last week and released security-camera photos of them in Salisbury on March 3 and 4.

The surprise TV appearance by Petrov and Boshirov came a day after Putin said Russian authorities know the identities of the two men but insisted that they were civilians and there is "nothing criminal" about them.

The men told RT they traveled to Salisbury on March 3 to see its famed cathedral but were turned back by slush and snow, then returned the next day when the weather was better and spent two hours exploring the "beautiful" city.

The pair were caught on camera at Salisbury rail station on March 4, and minutes later another camera spotted them walking in the direction of Skripal's house the opposite direction from the cathedral.

The men, who appeared to be about 40, claimed they did not know who Skripal was or where he lived.

James Slack, spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May, on Thursday derided their claims as "lies and blatant fabrications."



Peskov said he hasn't yet had time to watch their interview and said he didn't know if Putin saw it.

He wouldn't elaborate on how long it took the Russian authorities to find the two men, and said that the Kremlin had nothing to do with arranging their interview.

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Accusing the BJP of attempting to topple his government,Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday warned of legal action against "certain kingpins' who, he claimed, were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to pull down his ministry.

Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.

"Whether they keep the resorts or shanties ready, I am ready for everything," he told reporters.

"Presently payments are being made in advance. I won't say more now. You will get to know about it later," he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that certain "kingpins" had been roped in to topple his government.

"Am I not aware of it? Will I keep quiet? Don't I know where the money is being collected and who the kingpins are behind collecting money? I have already initiated measures necessary for legal action.

I will take every decision to give a strong and stable government," he said.

Without mentioning names, Kumaraswamy said that "these kingpins" were into gambling, had abetted a coffee planter in killing his wife and son and were those who had set a Bengaluru municipal office on fire nine years ago.

These people were collecting money to topple his government, he alleged.

Asked why no action has been taken against those trying to 'topple' the government, Kumaraswamy said he was not at all disturbed by what was going on and felt quite comfortable watching this 'futile exercise'.

He also took a jibe at the state BJP for issuing one deadline after the other,predicting the end of the government.

"The next deadline is Monday. Most probably the deadline will extend to October 2 and then to Dasara. I think it will go on extending," Kumaraswamy quipped.

The BJP trashed the charges, saying that it had never indulged in any such activities.

Former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok challenged the chief minister to spell out the names of those trying to destabilise the government, instead of using words like 'kingpin'.

"We don't have such intentions and do not want to get into such activities. We will think of forming the government only if it collapses on its own due to internal strife," he said.

Meanwhile, JDS' coalition partner Congress said it has decided to lodge a complaint with the Income Tax department and Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking a probe into reports that crores of Rupees has changed hands for the toppling game.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said "reports have emerged in the media that Rs 100 crore has been exchanged".

He said Congress has decided to lodge a complaint with the I-T department and ACB to find out the facts.

"Certain reports have stated that this person has taken money...another has received money and speculate that a certain number of people (MLAs) are leaving (the party).

So we decided to complain to the Income Tax Department and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the veracity of the reports," Parameswara said.

He dismissed any threat to the coalitiongovernment.

On Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi's statement that hisbrother and minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has his own faction within the party, he accused the media of blowing his statement out of proportion.

"There is no such thing. Yesterday also I made this very clear to H D Devegowda and H D Kumaraswamy when I met them at theirhomes.

I told them that there is no major problem as projected. I reiterate that the government is stable" Parameshwara said.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar.

The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.

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The U.S. and Mexico last month reached a preliminary agreement to replace the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland sounded sanguine on Wednesday as she emerged from negotiations with top US trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer, although she cautioned that no trade deal was done until the last issue was nailed down.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the mechanism is crucial to a new NAFTA, but Mexico already has agreed to drop it.

Trudeau, who over the a year ago has faced increasing criticism for backtracking on promises, ordering endless consultations on major topics and failing to fulfill many of his campaign promises, had taken a tougher stance against the United States in recent weeks.

Trump has raised pressure on Ottawa, threatening to impose duties on Canadian auto imports, which Trudeau said would be "devastating" for the Canadian auto sector.

New chapters governing the digital economy and stronger intellectual property, labor and environmental standards could also work to the benefit of USA companies, possibly helping Trump to fulfill his campaign promise of creating more American jobs. "It would cause a massive disruption and I think lots of layoffs in the United States", Trudeau said on Canadian radio.

The U.S. has said it plans to present Congress with the deal it has with Mexico if Canada doesn't get on board.

The former Conservative prime minister, who negotiated the original Canada-U.S.

"We have all been dealing in good faith", he said.

Apple's 2018 iPhone Event: What You Need to Know

Apple's newest phones feature faster processors and better memory capacities than their predecessor. Earlier this year, Apple announced that it is now globally powered by 100 percent renewable energy .

It is unclear how long the current round of talks will go on in Washington. Canadian officials had said previously that they are working on the assumption that they have until the end of September to make a deal.

Freeland emerged after meeting with Lighthizer, saying talks were occurring in a "good" atmosphere.

True to form, when asked about Mulroney's remarks, the foreign affairs minister refused to say anything publicly about the discussions around the table for fear of undermining what she described as a cordial and productive atmosphere. Eares are on the ground for United States and China developments but at the fore again was the NAFTA negotiations.

As the two nations' chief negotiators prepared to resume their talks in Washington Tuesday, dairy producers suggest this deal is a line in the sand for them.

Still, "with a bit of flexibility, things could move quickly", the source added.

Freeland will spend Tuesday in the US capital before she heads to Saskatoon to attend Liberal caucus meetings that begin later in the day and run through Thursday. "They're really hammering this out", said Orr, who is now senior global trade adviser for a Washington law firm.

"Sure, it's business and it's important, but Gander is the place that - in a snapshot - illustrates the Canada/US relationship".

"The U.S. knows what Canada's tough issues are, so they're going to hold those to the end, and squeeze out concessions on every other issue they can", said Ujczo, who is regularly briefed on the talks.

To the south, Trump's agriculture secretary suggested deeper concessions would be coming from the Canadians over Canada's system of managing supply and prices in the dairy sector.
Police on Friday recovered the body of a lady doctor from her rented house in the city.

The deceased has been identified as Manaswini Barik, a native of Melchhamunda of Bargarh district. She was working in the ICU unit of a private hospital in the city, police said.

Manaswini had rented the house at Shree Vihar in Patia area under Chandrasekharpur police limits.

The victim's bother said he called her up on the phone but they remained unanswered. He then contacted her colleagues at the hospital who went to her house. However, they found the room locked from inside and informed the police.

Police broke the door open to recover her body.

The body was later taken to the hospital where the doctors declared her "brought dead".

The body has been sent for post-mortem.

The deceased woman's father said that Manaswini's husband is a doctor who is currently working in a hospital in Bangkok. However, the couple filed for a divorce last year.

Despite the divorce, my daughter was never upset. She was a strong-willed girl and always remained in high spirits. She can never commit suicide. This is a well-planned murder. The truth will be unraveled during the investigation, her father said.

Further investigation into the matter is on, police said.

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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked for a report on an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the premier has asked police chief Pujith Jayasundera to give him a report on the matter.

Nalaka de Silva, a deputy inspector general in charge of the police's anti-terrorism unit, was accused of a plot to kill Sirisena and former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by an organisation called Anti-Corruption Force (ACF) at a media conference in the central town of Kandy on Wednesday.

The organisation charged that the senior policeman had divulged the plot to ACF's Namal Kumara that Sirisena and Gotabhaya, brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, should be assassinated given the likelihood of them joining forces politically for the 2020 presidential election.

Police chief Jayasundera said on Thursday that de Silva has been subject to an inquiry over the allegations.

The police spokesman said the CID has been told to carry out a thorough investigation.

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Lawyers on Friday staged a protest against Pakistan alleging that it was continuously supporting terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The protest, led by president of Jammu and Kashmir BAR Association B S Slathia, was held inside a court complex at Janipur.

"The activities of these sleeper cells in active connivance of certain elements is a matter of grave concern and requires to be dealt with by the authorities seriously," Slathia said.

Activists of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal also took to streets and staged anti-Pakistan protests.

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The opposition Left Front in Tripura Friday demanded reschedule of by-elections in over 3,000 seats of the three-tier panchayat slated for September 30.

The Left Front claimed that opposition candidates could not file nomination papers due to "attacks and intimidations" by BJP miscreants. The LF also demanded that an all party be convened by the State Election Commission to discuss the issue.

A four member LF delegation comprising CPI leader Ranjit Majumder, All India Forward Bloc leader Raghunath Sarkar, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) secretary Sudarshan Bhattacharya and CPI-M central committee member, Gautam Das met Tripura State Election Commissioner GK Rao and put forward the demands.

The bypolls would be held in 3207 seats in gram panchayats, 161 seats in panchayat samities and 18 seats in zila parishads as the seats fell vacant due to mass scale resignation of the office bearers after the BJP-Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura came to power.

Earlier this month, the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), the junior alliance partner of the BJP and opposition Congress had also made the same demands.

"Many candidates, mostly from opposition parties and even IPFT couldnt file nomination papers due to physical attacks and intimidations by the ruling BJP miscreants in block premises," CPI (M) spokesperson Goutam Das told a press conference.

On Wednesday, former chief minister and leader of the opposition Manik Sarkar alleged that democracy was being "slaughtered" in Tripura.

He alleged that CPI(M) and Congress workers were barred from filing nomination papers to contest in the panchayat by-elections.

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Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal is mulling setting up a special 'oxy-zone', as developed in Chhattisgarh's Atal Nagar (Naya Raipur), in the national capital, according to an official statement issued Friday.

Oxy-zone is a green open public space consisting of dedicated walk ways, jogging lanes, separate areas for yoga and meditation for the people of Raipur.

The Lieutenant Governor had urged the Chhattisgarh government to provide information regarding jungle safari and oxy-zone in the state.

A delegation of senior officials led by Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Ajay Singh met Baijal here on Friday in this regard, it said.

In the meeting, Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary gave a detailed presentation on development of jungle safari in Atal Nagar and oxy-zone and its functioning, the statement said.

The Lieutenant Governor appreciated both the projects.

The Chief Secretary said that if required Chhattisgarh government would provide all possible assistance to develop such facilities in Delhi, the state government said in the statement.

Chhattisgarh Forest Development Corporation Managing Director Rajesh Govardhan and Additional Resident Commissioner Ritu Sain were present in the meeting.

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Maharashtra Chief Devendra Fadnavis Thursday visited Congress leader and former state minister Kripashankar Singh's residence at Pali Hill in Bandra here to offer prayers to Lord Ganesh.

Fadnavis's visit comes amidst speculations that Singh is set to join the ruling BJP.

When asked about the visit, Singh said, "These are only speculations...just because the CM visited my house."



In April 2015, the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police had filed a charge sheet against Singh, a former chief of Mumbai Congress, and his relatives.

A social activist had filed a complaint against Singh with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) as well as a PIL in the Bombay High Court in 2014, alleging that Singh had amassed wealth which was disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Earlier this year, a special court in Mumbai had discharged Singh and his family members in the case.

Fadnavis also visited Milind Narvekar, close aide of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who lives in the same building as Singh, to have 'darshan' of Lord Ganesh installed at his residence.

With the Lok Sabha elections less than a year away, the BJP's handling of its alliance with the Shiv Sena will be keenly watched.

Fadnavis and Uddhav had recently come together to release the commemorative postal stamp of Siddhivinayak temple.

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Former MP Nana Patole, who had resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress earlier this year, was Friday appointed the chairman of the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress.

The announcement about Patole's appointment was made by All India Congress Committee general secretary Ashok Gehlot.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed Ex-MP Nana Patole as chairman, Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress of the AICC with immediate effect," Gehlot's statement read.

Patole is currently vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

Patole was elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket from Bhandara-Gondiya in 2014 defeating NCP heavyweight and former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Patole, however, quit the ruling party in December last year accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of failing to address issues of farmers. He joined the Congress in January this year.

Patole told PTI Friday said that the post he has been appointed to is an important one in the party and earlier incumbents included senior leaders like Rajesh Pilot and Balram Jakhar.

"For the first time, it (chairmanship) has gone to Maharashtra. The organisation's chief automatically becomes member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," he said.

He added that the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress raises agricultural issues and helps the party formulate policies on them.

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The Tourism Ministry will include the words "The land of Gandhi" in the logo of its flagship programme 'Incredible India' as part of its plans to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, Secretary Rashmi Verma said Friday.

The government, which has already announced its plans to celebrate the occasion in India and abroad from October 2, 2018 to March 30, 2019, has asked all the ministries to keep their plans ready to celebrate the occasion.

"We have planned a number of activities on Gandhiji's life, both in India and in our overseas offices. We will soon change the logo of 'Incredible India' to include the words "The land of Gandhi", and it will be displayed prominently," Verma told reporters.

In fact, all the new advertisements of 'Incredible India' issued from this month onward will feature the reference to Gandhi, officials in the ministry said.

Verma also said that the ministry's overseas offices will distribute literature on Gandhiji. Quiz competitions will be organised to promote the teachings of the Mahatma and create awareness about his life.

The ministry's website will also have an exclusive page on Gandhiji to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had, during his budget speech, allocated Rs 150 crore for the celebrations.

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Farm equipment to aerospace conglomerate Mahindra group Friday said it aims to become carbon neutral by 2040 with focus on energy efficiency and usage of renewable power.

The commitment was announced by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, who is also the co-chair of the Global Climate Action Summit currently underway in San Francisco, a statement by the group said.

Initially, Mahindra had pledged that only its flagship company Mahindra & Mahindra would become carbon neutral by 2040.

However, after listening to leaders speak at the summit, he upped the ante on his commitment by extending that pledge to the entire group, it added.

"We are doing our part in the global fight against climate change with this ambitious new target. Mahindra will leverage the latest technological advances and its recently announced Carbon Price to work towards being carbon neutral by 2040," he said.

The group will work on its carbon neutrality commitment with international non-profit organisation Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

It will focus on energy efficiency and the use of renewable power to achieve this target. Residual emissions will be addressed through carbon sinks, the statement added.

M&M is a signatory of the science-based targets initiative which provides companies with a clear pathway for reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels, it added.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday said that she would be visiting Germany and Italy to attract more industries to the state.

Her tour to the two European countries be from September 16 to September 28, officials said.

Banerjee will be accompanied by Finance Minister Amit Mitra, additional finance secretary H K Dwivedi and chief secrtary Malay Dey during her visit to Frankfurt and Milan, they said.

Banerjee said that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and government from the two European countries who had visited the city during the Bengal Global Business Summit this year.

"I am going to Frankfurt and Milan to bring in more business and industry to the state. We will be holding two meetings - one in Frankfurt and another in Milan," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

She said that there were invitations from Poland, which state power minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee had recently visited and state IT secretary Debashish Sen would soon be visiting Silicon Valley in the USA.

"We are benefitted by these kind of visits because they bring in more investments in the state," she said.

Banerjee said two committees had been formed to deal with any emergency and natural calamity like flood in the state during her foreign tour.

The two committees comprised of a group of ministers and another of senior administrative officials, she said.

The group of ministers, under the chairmanship of state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, would include senior ministers like Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee, Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Transport Minister Suvendhu Adhikary, PWD Minister Aroop Biswas and six others, the government order said.

The committee comprising senior officers would be headed by Naveen Prakash, the additional chief secretary to the irrigation, waterways and agriculture and include home secretary Atri Bhattacharyaa, state security advisor Surajit Kar Purakayasta, state DG Virendra, ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma and city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, it said.

"I and the chief secrtary will be available on the phone anytime. These two committees will look after any emergency situation," she said.

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September 25 marks the beginning of their final homestand.

During a press conference at Citi Field on Thursday, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon announced that Wright would be activated for New York's final homestand, which begins on September 25. "To the fans, words can't address my gratitude".

He said Thursday that he doesn't believe his body, which has required multiple surgeries on his shoulder, back and neck, will allow him to play again afterward.

The 35-year-old is scheduled to play on the second to last day of the regular season against Miami.

Erik Karlsson seems shook after trade to Sharks

The 24-year old Tierney was drafted 55th overall in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Sharks. However, the Sharks aren't the only team inquiring with the Senators for Karlsson.

Wright and Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon met this week to discuss his future.

"The way I feel right now and from everything the doctors have told me, there's not going to be an improvement, " Wright said when asked if he could play beyond 2018. "So yeah, I don't see [playing beyond September] as a possibility". He began his latest comeback in August at Class A St. Lucie, hitting a combined.171 with a double and two RBIs in 41 at-bats during 10 games for St. Lucie and two with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Some have suggested that the Mets' inclination was financially-motivated in that, as long as Wright is on the disabled list, insurance will cover much of his salary.

Wright is under contract through the 2020 season - set to earn $15 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020, during what is the final year of the eight-year, $138 million deal he signed prior to the 2013 season.
: Escorting his pregnant wife from a hospital, a 25-year old man was Friday hacked to death by a lone assailant, footage of which was captured on CCTV at the institution.

The assailant used a butcher's knife to attack the victim on the neck, police said.

A senior police official said they were also probing whether the girl's family was involved in the killing as the man belonged to a Scheduled Caste.

The deceased was an employee of a private firm, who had got married six months back



"The two were coming from a hospital when the husband was attacked. It was recorded in the CCTV at the hospital. We are verifying the footage," Miryalaguda sub-inspector Nagarajus said.

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Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana Friday resigned from the Lal Thanhawla cabinet, sources in the CMO said.

Lalzirliana accompanied by his supporters arrived at the chief minister's office-cum-residence to put in his papers but Lal Thanhawla is out of town, the sources said.

The development has come as a setback for the Congress in Mizoram, where elections are due in December.

He then handed over his resignation papers to Lalramthanga, the principal secreatry to the chief minister, they added.

Lalzirliana, who is also the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president, was served a show cause notice by the MPCC disciplinary committee on September 11 accusing him of confusing party workers. There were reports that he would join a rival party.

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Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan said Friday the espionage case filed against him by the Kerala police was "fabricated" and welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that he was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty".

He insisted the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

"The Supreme Court has clearly stated that it was an illegal arrest. It also identifies and acknowledges the suffering and humiliation I have gone through.

"The highest court of the country has accepted what I said. They (Kerala police) fabricated the case. The technology they said I stole and sold did not even exist then," he said responding to the order.

The Supreme Court while ordering a probe into the role of the Kerala police Wednesday awarded Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty and asked the state government to pay it to him within eight weeks.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Mishra, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe the framing of Narayanan in the case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

The espionage case pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

Narayanan Wednesday said he felt "better now than earlier" and demanded that there be a deadline for the Supreme Court-appointed panel to complete its probe.

He said the officials responsible for his illegal arrest should be made to pay him the Rs 50 lakh compensation awarded by the Supreme Court.

Former DGP Sibi Mathew, who headed the Special Investigation Team that investigated the case and arrested Narayanan, refused to comment on the SC verdict.

Narayanan had to spend close to two months in jail before the CBI concluded the allegations against him were false.

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Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was laid to rest on Friday as thousands of people, top politicians and PML-N supporters attended her funeral prayers here.

Kulsoom, who died Tuesday in a London hospital after a year-long battle with throat cancer, was laid to rest at the Sharif family's Jati Umra residence here next to the graves of her father-in-law Mian Sharif and brother-in-law Abbas Sharif.

Her funeral prayers, led by renowned cleric Tariq Jameel, were offered at a ground at Lahore's Sharif Medical City, after which her body was transported to Jati Umra amid high security.

Nawaz Sharif and other Sharif family members excluding 68-year-old Kulsoom's two sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz attended the prayers.

A protective human chain was formed around Sharif so that the funeral prayers could be offered.

A massive crowd of thousands of people, top politicians, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers attended the funeral prayers.

The PMLN workers were chanting "mother of democracy" when her casket was brought for the funeral prayers.

Her body was brought here from London on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight this morning.

Shehbaz Sharif, the deceased's brother-in-law and president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), along with Kulsoom's daughter Asma, grandson Zayd Hussain Sharif (Hussain Nawaz's son), and 11 other family members had accompanied the body from London to Lahore.

Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, Begum Kulsoom's sons, did not return to the country for their mother's funeral. Both have been declared absconders by an accountability court in the corruption cases.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) M Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, have been released on parole for Kulsoom's funeral.

The Punjab home department has issued a notification announcing an extension in the parole already awarded to Sharif for additional five days - September 12 (4pm) to September 17 (4pm).

On Thursday, hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers of Kulsoom at London's Regent Park mosque. They chanted slogans of 'we salute to the mother of democracy'.

The funeral prayers were attended by her sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, former ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid chants of "mother of democracy", Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was laid to rest on Friday as thousands of PML-N supporters and top politicians attended her funeral prayers.

Kulsoom, who died Tuesday in a London hospital after a year-long battle with throat cancer, was laid to rest at the Sharif family's Jati Umra residence here next to the graves of her father-in-law Mian Sharif and brother-in-law Abbas Sharif.

Her funeral prayers, led by renowned cleric Tariq Jameel, were offered at a ground at Lahore's Sharif Medical City, after which her body was transported to Jati Umra amid high security.

Nawaz Sharif and other Sharif family members excluding 68-year-old Kulsoom's two sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz attended the prayers.

Hassan and Hussain have been declared absconders by an accountability court in corruption cases linked to Panama Papers scandal.

A protective human chain was formed around Sharif so that the funeral prayers could be offered.

A massive crowd of thousands of people, top politicians, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers attended the funeral prayers.

The leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf including Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser attended the funeral prayers.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira also attended the funeral parayers.

The PMLN workers were chanting "mother of democracy" when her casket was brought for the funeral prayers.

They raised slogans to appreciate her. Kulsoom was called "mother of democracy" by PML-N workers as she stood up for Sharif when not many were there to confront Pervez Musharraf's regime.

"She faced isolation, imprisonment and threats but didn't waver in her resolved and continued to campaign for her husband," a party worker said.

Her body was brought here from London on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight this morning.

Shehbaz Sharif, the deceased's brother-in-law and president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), along with Kulsoom's daughter Asma, grandson Zayd Hussain Sharif (Hussain Nawaz's son), and 11 other family members had accompanied the body from London to Lahore.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) M Safdar, currently serving jail terms in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being convicted by an accountability court in a corruption case in July, have been released on parole for Kulsoom's funeral.

The Punjab home department has issued a notification announcing an extension in the parole already awarded to Sharif for additional five days - September 12 (4pm) to September 17 (4pm).

On Thursday, hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers of Kulsoom at London's Regent Park mosque. They chanted slogans of 'we salute to the mother of democracy'.

The funeral prayers were attended by her sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, former ministers Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.

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The NCLT Friday allowed



former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh to withdraw his petition against elder brother Malvinder Mohan Singh and ex-Religare chief Sunil Godhwani.

Shivinder had earlier this month filed an application before the Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) alleging that collective and ongoing actions of Malvinder and Godhwani led to a systemic undermining of the interests of the companies and their shareholders.

A two-member bench of NCLT headed by its Chairman Justice M M Kumar Friday allowed Shivinder to withdraw his plea.

However, a counsel for Religare Enterprises, which was also a respondent in the case, said there were allegations against the company of siphoning off funds by the Singh brothers.

"We want to recover that amount from them," said senior counsel Abhinav Vashistha appearing for Religare.

On this NCLT said:If you wish to initiate any proceedings, move a separate application.

Shivinder Thursday said he has decided to withdraw his petition in NCLT against Malvinder and Godhwani, as desired by his mother.

His plea in this regard in NCLT said: "Out of respect for their mother, the parties have already started mediation and as per the request of the mediators to constructively progress the mediation, the petitioners wish to withdraw the petition, without prejudice to their rights and contentions."



Passing an interim order over Shivinder's earlier plea, the principal bench of NCLT on September 6 directed to maintain status quo over the shareholdings and composition of RHC Holding board.

As on August 27, Malvinder and Shivinder were the promoters of Religare on behalf of PS Trust while RHC Finance and RHC Holding were the promoter groups, according to data available on bourses.

The tribunal had also issued notice to Malvinder along with Godhwani and other respondents over Shivinder's petition alleging "oppression and mismanagement" of RHC Holding.

It had also allowed both parties -- Shivinder and his wife Aditi Singh -- and other party Malvinder to inspect documents and take photocopies of the records of RHC Holding.

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The Supreme Court Friday agreed to hear on September 17 a plea filed by a petitioner in nikah halala and triple talaq case, seeking protection after facing acid attack yesterday at Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwikar and D Y Chandrachud considered the plea of Shabnam Rani, who was attacked allegedly by her brother-in-law and has been hospitalised. She has also sought better health care.

The top court directed Additional Advocate General of State of Uttar Pradesh, Aishwarya Bhati, to take instructions in the matter.

"Let this matter be listed on Monday, September 17, 2018. Let a copy of this application be served on Additional Advocate General of State of Uttar Pradesh Aishwarya Bhati who shall take instructions in the matter. Registry is directed to reflect the name of Ms. Aishwarya Bhati in the Cause List. Be it clarified, only interlocutory application shall be taken up and not the main matter," the bench said.

The court asked advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, counsel for Rani, to submit a copy of the petition to the Uttar Pradesh government.

Rani was yesterday reportedly attacked with acid in Bulandshahr and it is being alleged that her brother-in-law and his friend were involved in the incident.

She was rushed to the local hospital and her condition is said to be stable.

Numerous petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the prevalent practices of nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims saying it was violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

While polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives, 'nikah halala' deals with the process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from the second person after the consummation.

In her plea against nikah halala and polygamy, Rani had alleged that her husband divorced giving her triple talaq and forced to perform nikah hala with her brother-in-law.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told the Bombay High Court Friday that there were no illegal Ganesh pandals in the city.

In an affidavit submitted before a bench of Justices A S Oka and M S Sonak, the BMC refuted the claims made by the state government before the bench on a previous hearing.

The state government had on Wednesday told the bench that there existed around 314 illegal pandals in the city and its suburbs.

BMC counsel Anil Sakhre, however, told the court that the state had been mistaken.

He said surveys conducted across the city and suburbs by the civic body had revealed that there were no illegal pandals in the city. However, there were 79 of them in the suburbs, Sakhre said.

According to him, the BMC had already demolished 20 of these pandals and similar action was pending against the others.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking strict implementation of noise pollution rules in the state and also action against illegal pandals erected during the festivals.

In the last hearing, the state said inspections conducted by various municipal corporations across Maharashtra had revealed that several pandals had been constructed in violation of municipal rules, and noise pollution norms.

The bench has now directed the state to explain the discrepancy in the figures from Mumbai and its suburbs.

It has also directed 11 other municipal corporations from across the state to inform the court about the steps taken against all unauthorised pandals erected across the state ahead of the Ganpati festival.

In another hearing on the related issue of noise pollution during the Ganpati festival, a bench led by Justice Shantanu Kemkar denied interim relief to the Professional Audio and Lighting Association (PALA).

The bench said the association cannot use DJ systems and high volume Dolby sound systems in violation of noise norms, during Ganpati immersion and Navratri.

The bench led by Justice Kemkar was hearing a petition filed by the PALA challenging the state's blanket ban on DJs and Dolby sound systems during the immersion and Navratri.

The bench, however, directed the state government to file an affidavit explaining its policy that warrants such blanket ban on the use of high output sound systems.

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Defence Minister has ruled out any engagement with the Opposition on issues relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying they do not deserve to be involved after throwing muck on a very sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness.

Sitharaman said the government decided to go for procuring only two squadrons of Rafale jets as an emergency measure in the wake of China and Pakistan significantly ramping up their air power by inducting stealth fighters.

"Is there any point of calling them and explaining? They are misleading the country with something which was not even agreed to during the UPA government. You are throwing an allegation saying there is a fraud. You did not care for operational preparedness of the air force," she told PTI in an interview.

The defence minister was asked whether the government will engage with opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the US.

"It (Rafale deal) is an inter-governmental agreement. You (Opposition) have asked us questions and I have given answers to them in Parliament. Then what am I calling them for? What am I going to tell them when I call them?" she said.

The defence minister also asserted that the cannot be equated with the Bofors issue at all as was being attempted by the Opposition, as she has rid the defence ministry from middlemen entirely.

Led by Congress, opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government alleging it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost.

Congress has said the UPA finalised a price of Rs 5.26 billion per fighter while negotiating a deal to buy 126 Rafale jets, but the current government is buying each aircraft at Rs 16.70 billion when the weapons and avionics onboard the jets will be of same configuration.

Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft will be "much superior" in comparison to what was negotiated by the UPA.

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets at an estimated cost of Rs 580 billion.

Asked whether the controversy surrounding Rafale will hit flow of foreign funds into the defence sector, she said it will not have any impact as it is very clear that allegations are baseless.

Sitharaman also rejected the Opposition charge that the government was trying to benefit Reliance Defence Ltd from the deal under the offset requirement, saying the government has no role in selecting an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale.

Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

Sitharaman said, officially, she does not know which company Dassault Aviation is partnering with to execute the offset obligations.

"I have not got to know who is Dassault's offset partner.. It is a commercial decision. There are laid down procedure to check the process of fulfilment of offset obligations. Neither I can accept, nor I can suggest, nor I can reject anybody from going with anybody," she said.

On October 27, last year, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence laid the foundation for manufacturing facility near Nagpur to manufacture aerospace components and fulfil offset obligation connected to the

The Opposition has been asking how RDL, with no experience in aerospace sector, can be chosen as an offset partner while the government has been maintaining that it was officially ignorant of the fact that Dassault has joined hands with RDL to execute offset obligations.

Rejecting charges of corruption in the Rafale deal, the defence minister said the people of the country have put a closure on this "non-issue" as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
With the arrest of nine people, the Noida Police busted a gang of thugs allegedly involved in duping people from various states in the name of getting their bank loans cleared, a police official said Friday.

The gang had also lured several men and women by offering them jobs as their "field agents" who got them more clients from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan etc in need of loans, he said.

The kingpin of the gang along with his associates was held Thursday evening from their office in Sector 63 here, which comes under the jurisdiction of Phase 3 police station, Superintendent of Police (City) Arun Kumar Singh told reporters.

"The gang operated under the name of Agro Business Solutions Private Limited and offered to get people their loans cleared. However, they would ask them to remit some money in the name of 'processing fee' for the clearance of the loan. The victims would be asked to remit the sum -- 10 per cent of the loan amount -- in the firm's bank account," Singh said.

So far, they have duped "several dozens" of people, he said, adding that the estimated amount of fraud money collected by the gang was somewhere between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh.

"A probe is underway to get the gang's all bank accounts, including those in the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank, checked to ascertain the exact amount," the SP said.

It had been around three to four months since the gang had put up their office in Noida and prior to this they were operating from Meerut using the same modus operandi.

"They had a proper office like any other with full set up, including the nine-member staff, computers and telephones. They had lured people from far off places and given them fake jobs with the rank of company's field agent. Once these agents would get them some clients and money, the gang would cut off all connections with these field agents," the SP said.

Based on a complaint lodged against the firm on Thursday, a case was registered.

"Arjun Saini, a resident of Udaipur district in Rajasthan had alleged that the company had offered them a job of field agent and got several persons to put Rs 3.56 lakh in the firm's bank account. When Saini on behalf of the people demanded the loan money, the people from the firm abused him and threatened to kill him," the officer said.

When the police raided the office, it emerged that the gang had conned several other people in the same manner.

The police have also seized a laptop, printer, list of phone numbers and other documents, including the company's fake appointment letters, job offer letters, loan application forms, bank verification forms, Singh said.

Those arrested were identified as Javed, the gang's kingpin, Ravindra Singh, Sonhaveer Singh -- all three from Meerut, Vipin Kumar and Farman from Muzaffarnagar, Anit Singh from Baghpat, and Jolly, Mohd Tazamur and Akash Kumar from Meerut.

"All the accused are graduates and had understanding of the Information Technology sector," he said.

They were booked under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) 507 (criminal intimidation) and related offences, according to the police.

All of them were remanded to judicial custody, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that Russia and a group of producers around the Middle East which dominate the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may sign a new long-term cooperation deal at the beginning of December, the TASS news agency reported.

Oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Tuesday as US sanctions squeezed Iranian crude exports and after USA crude oil production in 2019 was forecast to grow at a slower rate than previously expected, prompting supply concerns.

"We think oil market fundamentals are increasingly supportive of crude prices, at least at current levels", said Gordon Gray, HSBC's global head of oil and gas equity research.

Oil traders were also watching the progress of category 4 Hurricane Florence, which is expected to make landfall in the United States by Friday.

"The price range for Brent of $70-$80 per barrel in place since April could be tested", it said.

USA crude stocks fell by 8.6 million barrels in the week to September 7 to 395.9 million, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said on Tuesday.

Since spring, when the Trump Administration said it would impose sanctions on Iran, traders have been focusing on the impact they could have on global supply.

Russian energy minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday warned of the impact of US sanctions against Iran.

Hurricane Florence begins to batter United States east coast

Forecast maps show Florence stalling out just off the coast of the Carolinas for at least 24 hours, starting Friday morning. A state of emergency has also been declared in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina , Virginia and Washington.

"South Korea bought 194,000 bpd from Iran in July", OilPrice said.

Worldwide oil benchmark, Brent crude, extended its gains on Wednesday, trading near a two-month high as shrinking oil inventories pointed to an increasingly tight global market.

The Economic Times (ET), an Indian daily said Iran now exports about 2 million barrels a day which is already 28% less than what they used to export in April.

World oil consumption will top 100 million barrels per day (bpd) in the next three months, putting upward pressure on prices, although emerging market crises and trade disputes could dent this demand, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. Oil production has been hit by attacks on oil facilities and blockades, though previous year it partially recovered to around one million barrels per day.

In 2018, demand for OPEC crude is expected at 32.91 million bpd, with demand for the second half to average 33.50 million bpd, the monthly market report showed.

Novak said global oil markets were "fragile" due to geopolitical risks and supply disruptions.

"Saudi Arabia, OPEC's largest producer, saw its output rise modestly to 10.40 million bpd, up 38,000 bpd from the previous month, according to secondary sources, S&P Platts reported".
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said on Friday that a strict vigil should be maintained in the state to counter nefarious designs of anti-national elements a day after three JeM terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"All ranks need to remain vigilant to counter the nefarious designs of the inimical and anti-national elements," he said while interacting with senior officers at the Nagrota military station here.

The Army commander reviewed the operational preparedness and was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, the General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps, on the security situation in the Corps zone and also on the operations being conducted by the formation, a defence spokesman said.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was also briefed on the preparedness of the formations in their respective area of responsibility in light of ceasefire violations, infiltration bids and hinterland security, he said.

The Army commander also interacted with soldiers and complimented them for their dedication to duty and high standard of professionalism, the spokesman said.

Three terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were killed abd 12 security personnel injured on Thursday in an encounter in Reasi district.

The encounter broke out after security forces, comprising CRPF, police and Army personnel, during a cordon and search operation, zeroed in on a location near a house in the district's Kakriyal area, and surrounded the terrorists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Naga Students Federation (NSF) took out a public rally Friday demanding that Dimapur district be brought under Inner Line Permit (ILP) to check influx of illegal migrants.

The Inner Line Permit is required by non-Nagas to visit Nagaland and Dimapur is the only district in the state which is not under the purview of ILP.

"ILP was not properly implemented and the influx of illegal immigrants was posing as a big threat to the indigenous people. Absence of ILP made Dimapur a safe haven for illegal immigrants," NSF president Kesosul Christopher Ltu said.

He also alleged that some middlemen are collecting ILPs for people of questionable identity for a few hundred rupees.

"The future of Nagas cannot be sold off. Those found playing the role of middleman would be dealt with severely," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Flouting the country's anti-rape law, the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the nun who has accused the Jalandhar diocese bishop of rape belongs, Friday controversially released a photograph of the alleged victim and the perpetrator seated together in a group.

The congregation put out the photograph in a release issued to the media to publish the findings of its enquiry commission, which looked into the nun's allegations.

Indian laws prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault victims.

The congregation, however, cautioned against publishing the photograph, saying it cannot be held responsible if the press violates the rule.

It claimed that the May 23, 2015 photograph was taken when the nun was attending a private function along with Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

They claimed that the nun had attended several such functions with Mulakkal.

The nun has never appeared in public or in front of media after filing the complaint.

In a press release, the congregation accused the victim, her five fellow nuns and four others of conspiring against the bishop.

It alleged that the nuns had "violated the discipline of the congregation" several times and even refused to renew their vows-- a very important step in the life of a nun in a convent.

Framing charges against the nuns, the enquiry commission said the congregation was convinced that they were under the influence of "atheists" and their thoughts.

It claimed that the visitors' register, a key evidence for establishing Mulakkal's presence in the convent in Kuravilangad where the victim nun lived, was handled by a nun very close to her and they might have tampered with it.

It also accused the victim and her fellow nuns of forcibly shifting to their room the control system of the CCTV cameras from that of Mother Superior.

This, the release said, was done to destroy evidence that could reveal their role in the "conspiracy" against the bishop.

The enquiry report was released two days after Kerala police asked Bishop Mulakkal to appear before the probe team on September 19.

The congregation's action invited the ire of Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar, who said it was "clearly illegal".

Speaking to a TV channel, he assured police action against those responsible for it.

The Catholic reform groups staging a protest at Kochi for the last several days seeking justice for the nun also slammed the congregation and said they would initiate legal action.

An office bearer of Kerala Catholic Church Reform Movement (KCRM) said it would initiate legal action against the congregation for disclosing the identity of the victim.

He said the Supreme Court had recently observed that the identity of rape victims should not be revealed as they have the right to privacy and cannot live with such "stigma" all their lives.

"We will definitely initiate legal action against the congregation for humiliating her again and again. They are now engaged in naming and shaming the victim. We cannot agree with it," he said.

The nun had recently sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the bishop's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese, questioning why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth" when she had mustered courage to make public her suffering.

She alleged that Bishop Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to "bury" the case against him.

The nun has accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Odisha government Friday said that it has taken up with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) the demand of local people for shifting a Royal Bengal tigress which allegedly killed a woman near Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district on Wednesday.

The tigress was brought from Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh National Park to Satkosia and released into wild on August 17.

"We have taken up the matter with the Wildlife Institute of India. We are also waiting for the post-mortem report of the woman. We will abide by the decision of WII. But so far, no decision has been taken to relocate the tigress," Odisha Forest and Minister Bijayshree Routray told reporters.

The state government had brought a pair of RBTs, one male and a female from MP, to repopulate big cats at Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

The local people alleged that the tigress "Sundari" killed a woman and set on fire two Forest department offices and are demanding the shifting of the tigress.

The minister, however, said: "It is not yet confirmed that the tigress killed the woman. The injury marks found on the woman's body do not indicate that she was killed by tigress. How can you conclude that the tigress killed the woman?"



Stating that the torching of the Hatibari Forest Beat House and the Tikarpada Range office by the people of Hatibari village was not acceptable under the law, the minister said action would be taken against the accused persons.

Meanwhile, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) B K Patnaik said that the WII will decide whether to shift the tigress from Satkosia.

"One has to prove that the tigress killed the human being before taking any decision," he said adding that if the postmortem attribute the womans death to the tigress, the animal has to be kept in zoo as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investigators were working Friday to pinpoint the cause of a series of natural gas explosions that killed a teenager, injured at least 10 others and left dozens of homes in smoldering ruins.

Authorities said an estimated 8,000 people were displaced at the height of Thursday's post-explosions chaos, though some were cleared to return to their homes in one of three towns north of Boston rocked by the disaster.

The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team to investigate, saying pipelines are within its jurisdiction.

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions that one official described as "Armageddon" ignited fires in at least 39 homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity. Gas remained shut off Friday in most of the area, and the streets were eerily deserted.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in the three communities to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening. Hundreds spent the night in shelters, and school was canceled Friday as families waited to return to their homes.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. "There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover." Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities were investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

Early Friday, the utility issued a statement saying its crews need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection.

"We expect this will be an extended restoration effort, and we will work tirelessly to restore service to the affected customers," the statement said.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.

"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated." With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbor's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky." The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's daughter might contest against her father in the next Lok Sabha polls if given a ticket by the RJD, her husband claimed here on Friday.

Anil Sadhu, who is married to Asha, Paswan's daughter from his first marriage, also accused the LJP of treating Dalits as bonded labourers and claimed there was widespread resentment against the LJP chief within his own caste group.

Paswan has backed only his son Chirag whom he got elected to the Lok Sabha and appointed as the chairman of the party's parliamentary board, Sadhu told regional channels here, adding his daughters from his first marriage have always got a raw deal.

Asked whether he or his wife would like to contest against Paswan or Chirag in the next Lok Sabha polls, Sadhu said "both of us are ready to take up the challenge, provided Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav agree to give us tickets".

Ram Vilas Paswan is MP from Hajipur (reserved) constituency and his son Chirag Paswan represents Jamui (reserved) parliamentary seat. His younger brother Ramchandra Paswan is a Lok Sabha member from Samastipur (reserved) seat.

Pashupati Kumar Paras, another brother of Paswan, is a minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet.

When contacted, Sadhu told PTI that their willingness to take on Paswan was "not because of family feud but it's a fight for our maan-samman (honour)".

He said his wife was not available for comments as "she is attending some ailing relative out of Patna".

He, however, claimed she is of the same opinion as he has on the issue.

Asha Paswan is youngest of the two daughters from Paswan's first wife and she is a housewife.

Sadhu, son of four-time former Bihar legislator Punit Rai, claimed he had a talk with both Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav during which he expressed desire to take on father-in-law in 2019 poll on that party's ticket.

Associated with Paswan's Dalit Sena for long, Sadhu had unsuccessfully contested the 2015 Bihar polls from Masaurhi assembly seat on LJP ticket.

Sadhu has been venting his ire against his father-in-law after having reportedly been cold shouldered. He was seen at an RJD function earlier this year which has triggered speculation about his future political move.

Leaders in the LJP and the RJD here have declined to comment on Sadhu's latest outbursts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saurashtra University (SU) at Rajkot in Gujarat suspended on Friday a professor accused of sexually harassing a doctorate student.

Vice-chancellor Nilambari Dave said the action was taken against the professor, who is attached to the varsity's Bio-Science department, following a meeting of SU's syndicate.

A woman student who was pursuing her doctorate under the professor's guidance had alleged that he sexually harassed her and threatened not to let her finish her PhD if she did not cooperate, the vice chancellor said.

"This is a serious matter. To maintain students' faith in the university as well in its teachers, the syndicate members met today and decided to take a stern action against him," Dave said.

"He has been suspended with immediate effect," she said.

The complainant woman told reporters that she has also decided to approach police. However, no criminal case has been lodged yet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With photos of prisoners at the Central Jail here using smartphones and enjoying choicest food items, going viral, authorities Friday launched a probe and are questioning officials and inmates.

Officials said the photos were retrieved from a mobilephone seized from a prisoner during a search at the Puzhal Central Jail in which six other handsets were seized on September 3.

The images found in a mobile show prisoners taking 'selfies' with other inmates, sporting sunglasses and wearing branded shoes.

One prisoner is seen standing with a badminton racquet.

An inmate could also be seen reclining on a cot in a cosy looking cell with a television.

The prisoners in the photographs were mostly narcotic offenders and they had easy access to items like induction stove and juicers.

"We (prison officials) are probing it, we have also filed a complaint with police, and an FIR has been registered and they are probing the matter as well," a senior prison official told PTI.

Referring to the pictures, the official said "these are at least six months old..but for the mobile phones, things like a television, cot, mattress, or table are allowed for A-class prisoners, these are legal."



On claims being made in a section of media that calls were made from seized mobile phones to Gulf countries, Malaysia and Bangladesh, another jail official said:"we have handed over the mobile phones to the cybercrime police and they are seized of the matter. We are not sure how the pictures got leaked."



As part of corrective measures, the senior official said they removed 18 television sets from cells Friday as these were clandestinely used to charge mobilephones.

On the food items, he said, "it was taken during Ramzan, on such occasions prisoners are allowed to prepare food for themselves by using ingredients supplied by us."



The seven smartphones seized were from prisoners including a Sri Lankan national and they were convicted for smuggling narcotics while others posing in the photographs include some religious fundamentalists.

"We are taking several steps, we have separated hardcore prisoners; extremist elements and they are now lodged in separate blocks and cannot mingle freely with other inmates as before," the official said.

Puzhal jail, with a capacity to house 3000 inmates, currently has 3,117 prisoners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chinese military has doubled the training period for new recruits of its ground forces from three to six months in a bid to improve their combat capabilities, state media reported Friday.

The new recruits of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will be trained on professional skills before they are allocated to different companies, which have their own schedules and pace for professional skills training, Global Times quoted the PLA Army announcement as saying.

The PLA is the world's largest military with two million troops.

The new recruits could not keep pace with veterans, and veterans are not receiving enough training, the announcement said.

The problem has influenced and curbed the sustainable development of the PLA Army's combat capability, an anonymous official of a training bureau was quoted as saying in the announcement.

"Now the new recruit training is more effective, and they will be allocated to combat units after being fully trained to the standard of a qualified soldier," the official said.

Tian Liang, political commissar of the 2nd group of new recruits in the 71st Group Army said: "The extended training period and additional training content have ensured the new recruits can blend faster into different units and be prepared for combat".

The enrolment period has been held in summer and autumn since 2013, before that it happened in winter.

The change in 2013 allows new recruits to join the PLA Army in September and also helps increase the proportion of university graduates among the recruits.

The new recruits are placed alongside veterans in March after six months of training, it said.

The additional three months of training gives six months to the new recruits to adapt to military life and receive comprehensive training, the report added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed on Friday the Bohra Muslim community for globally spreading the message of co-existence, as he attended an event here to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

Sharing dais with the Bohra's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the event held at Saifee Mosque here in Madhya Pradesh, Modi also praised the community for its culture of honest business dealings.

Bohra community is a sect within Shia Islam known for trading and business acumen.

The prime minister was felicitated by Saifuddin on his arrival at the mosque for the 'Ashara Mubaraka' event, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain.

"The concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," Modi said in his address to the community leaders and followers.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said at the event which was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his address, the prime minister spoke about his government's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (cleanliness campaign), 'Make-in-India' programme and rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said the members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these initiatives as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

At the same time, he added, "all five fingers of a hand are not equal. Some people consider fraud as business."



He said his government, over the last four years, has sent out a message that the business should be done within the purview of the rules and law.

"Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and Bankruptcy law," Modi said.

The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras for their efforts to make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched tomorrow and will culminate on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the 'Dandi March', Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the prime minister said.

Referring to the 'Make-in-India' programme, Modi said, "the confidence of investors across the world has increased in India. The production of mobiles phones, vehicles and other goods is increasing due to the record investment."



He said that in the last quarter of the current fiscal, the country has achieved the growth rate of more than eight percent.

"We are eying the double digit. I believe that the country can reach to the goal despite all the challenges," the prime minister said.

Modi also said that his government has given priority to health and nutrition sectors and that it was being done for the first time in the country's history.

The facilities of cheap treatment and medicines are being expanded exponentially, he added.

He said the 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme' (national health protection scheme) has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people of poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.

Modi also said that the government is working to provide a house to every homeless poor in the country by 2022. Under this scheme, more than one crore people have been given the houses so far, he said.

He also lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"We, of course, looked at what kind of people they are, and we know who they are, we found them", Putin told an audience at the Eastern Economic Forum in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.

Last month the USA confirmed it was implementing fresh sanctions against Russian Federation over the incident.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Putin had not spoken to the two accused men and refused to say how and by whom they had been found.

"I knew from day one that this story about the involvement of Petrov and Boshirov was fake", she said.

For months, British and US authorities have blamed the Kremlin for the attack, and London said Boshirov and Petrov were Russian intelligence agents.

He added: "There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, I'm telling you".

The British government has said Putin is ultimately responsible for the attack, a claim the Kremlin has furiously denied.

U.S. Identifies Remains of Two Service Members Returned From North Korea

Nevertheless, the Forensic anthropologists are now combing all the remains in a secure facility in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Almost 7,700 USA service members were listed as missing and unaccounted for from the 1950-53 Korean War.

The elder Skripal, who was a Russian intelligence agent who switched sides, as well as his daughter, survived the poisoning and now live in an undisclosed location.

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned the men, thought to be aged about 40, will be caught and prosecuted if they ever step out of Russian Federation.

Nerve agent attack: What is Novichok? . They believe the men went on to spread the Novichok nerve agent on the house's door handle, although this moment was not captured on CCTV. The Skripals were hospitalized for months but recovered. Sturgess's boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, also fell ill.

Britain and dozens of other countries kicked out scores of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of the Skripals, and Moscow responded tit-for-tat with an identical number of expulsions.

The pair flew back to Moscow from Heathrow later that night. Authorities have said they do not believe the couple were deliberately targeted but were exposed after touching a contaminated item left behind by the people who attacked the attack on the Skripals.

This still taken from CCTV and issued by the Metropolitan Police in London on September 5 shows Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov at Salisbury train station on March 3.

In response, Russia accused the British authorities of Russophobia, misleading the global community and United Kingdom citizens and of "disgusting anti-Russian hysteria".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, to emphasise the need for peace and justice, as he visited a mosque here to attend an event organised by the Bohra Muslims.

Modi shared the dais with the Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the 'Ashara Mubarak' event, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, at the Saifee Mosque here in Madhya Pradesh.

According to a spokesman of the Bohra community, it is the first time that a prime minister has attended the 'Ashara Mubarak' programme of the community held annually during the first ten days of the Shia calendar, coinciding with the Moharram.

Addressing a gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community members, Modi said, "Imam Hussain had sacrificed his life for the sake of peace and justice. He had raised his voice against injustice and arrogance."



He added that these teachings of Imam Hussain were more important today than those times.

The prime minister, who was felicitated by Saifuddin on his arrival at the mosque, showered praise on the Bohra Muslim community for globally spreading the message of co-existence.

"The concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," Modi said.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said at the event which was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his address, the prime minister spoke about his government's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (cleanliness campaign), 'Make-in-India' programme and rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said the members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these initiatives as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

At the same time, he added, "all five fingers of a hand are not equal. Some people consider fraud as business."



He said his government, over the last four years, has sent out a message that the business should be done within the purview of the rules and law.

"Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and Bankruptcy law," Modi said.

The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras for their efforts to make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched tomorrow and will culminate on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the 'Dandi March', Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the prime minister said.

Referring to the 'Make-in-India' programme, Modi said, "the confidence of investors across the world has increased in India. The production of mobiles phones, vehicles and other goods is increasing due to the record investment."



He said that in the last quarter of the current fiscal, the country has achieved the growth rate of more than eight percent.

"We are eying the double digit. I believe that the country can reach to the goal despite all the challenges," the prime minister said.

Modi also said that his government has given priority to health and nutrition sectors and that it was being done for the first time in the country's history.

The facilities of cheap treatment and medicines are being expanded exponentially, he added.

He said the 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme' (national health protection scheme) has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people of poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.

Modi also said that the government is working to provide a house to every homeless poor in the country by 2022. Under this scheme, more than one crore people have been given the houses so far, he said.

He also lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the run-up to the launch of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva Movement' Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to almost 2,000 citizens from different walks of life, inviting them to be a part of the cleanliness drive, official sources have said.

Those invited by the prime minister include former judges, retired government officials, winners of gallantry awards, and CWG and Asian Games medallists, they said.

Chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of all states, governors and lieutenant governors have also received personalised letters.

Several eminent spiritual leaders, film personalities, sportspersons, writers, journalists of leading media outlets across India have got personalised letters from the prime minister.

In his letter, the prime minister described the Swachh Bharat Mission as a mass movement that has ushered in a 'swachhata revolution' across India.

On the Swachh Bharat Mission, the prime minister wrote that over 8.5 crore toilets have been constructed in the past four years.

He said more than 90 per cent Indians have access to toilet, as compared to less than 40 per cent in 2014.

Over 4.25 lakh villages, 430 districts, 2800 cities/towns, and 19 states and UTs have been declared open-defecation free.

On Saturday, he will interact with those working on cleanliness activities after which Swachhata activities will commence.

He asked the recipients of the letters to support the mission and inspire others to do the same.

The Swachhata Hi Seva Mission' has already been generating tremendous enthusiasm among all walks of life. Eminent citizens such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankari, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and others have given their support to the movement.

As part of an elaborate launch event for the fortnight-long movement, the prime minister will interact with a cross-section of people from 18 locations across the country via video conferencing.

The people with whom the PM will interact include school children, jawans, spiritual leaders, members of milk and agricultural cooperatives, media persons, local government representatives, railway employees, Self Help Groups, and 'Swachhagrahis'.

The 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement, which aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta, is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, on October 2, 2018, which will also mark the commencement of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An absconding accused in the case relating to the killing of a close aide of expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri surrendered before a court Friday.

The fourth judicial magistrate remanded Sabha Rathinam to judicial custody.

Police said Rathinam was absconding for more than five years after the killing of 'Pottu' Suresh, Alagiri's aide, on January 31, 2013.

Though police arrested several members of the gang responsible for the killing, two accused--'Attack' Pandi and Rathinam managed to escape.

Police arrested Pandi in 2015 at Mumbai and brought him here. He has been lodged in the Palayamkottai prison. His bail plea has been rejected by the court five times.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Power Ministry Friday launched an ambitious programme on energy efficiency in chillers that consume more than 40 per cent of total energy in commercial buildings.

The move can save more than 500 million units of electricity in 2019 along with reduction in green house gas emissions, a Power Ministry statement said.

The ministry intends to encourage the deployment of energy-efficient chiller systems, that are used widely in industrial processes.

The Chiller Star Labelling Programme has been formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It envisages providing star rating in terms of its energy performance. Initially, the programme is launched on voluntary basis and will be valid up to December 31, 2020.

Power Secretary A K Bhalla emphasised on improving energy efficiency in space-and-process cooling sector, considering the occasion of 24th World Ozone Day and the 31st Anniversary of Montreal Protocol, which will be observed on September 16, 2018.

"This initiative will promote advancement technology for central HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems and will also facilitate energy efficient solutions for the large commercial and industrial applications," A K Bhalla said in the statement.

Chillers are used extensively for space conditioning of buildings and for industrial process cooling applications. The size of Indian chiller market which stood at 1 Million Tonne per year at 2017, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6 per cent fuelled by a growth in the retail, hospitality and infrastructure projects.

The Chillers, being energy intensive system, contribute more than 40 per cent of the total energy consumption in commercial buildings. Therefore, it is important to optimize energy performance of chillers and create awareness amongst the end users to adopt transition towards energy efficient chillers.

The BEE has developed an online registration platform for easy and expeditious approval under this initiative. The manufacturers will be able to register online for availing appropriate star rating of chiller equipment. Based on the test certificate from designated agencies and after due verification from BEE, the star label (1 to 5) will be awarded, with 5 star being the most efficient chillers.

Through Chiller star labelling Programme, it is estimated that more than 500 million units of electricity would be saved in 2019 along with Green House Gases (GHG) reduction of 0.5 million-ton equivalent of CO2. It is also anticipated to save more than 4 Billion units of electricity in the year 2030 with CO2 emission reduction of 3.5 million ton through this program, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United States is prepared to take "strongest action" against countries and entities who are found not complying with the Iranian sanctions, including reducing to zero the purchase of from Iran, a top Trump Administration official told lawmakers.

"We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Indian-American Manisha Singh, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing Thursday.

Responding to a question from Congressman Eliot Engel, Singh said the Trump Administration has been talking to all its allies and partners and trying to convince them to fully implement the new Iranian sanctions which the US has imposed following its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from Iran to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions, making it clear that there would be no waivers to anyone.

Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iran supplied 18.4 million tonnes of during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal).



"If any of the major buyers of Iranian crude, which is China, India, Japan, South Korea, an Europe, if they refuse to sharply cut their purchases, are we really prepared to cut their banks off from the global banking system, which is the penalty under the US sanctions? Are we really prepared for that?" Engel asked.

"In response, we are prepared to take the most serious actions possible on Iran. We need to demonstrate to the Iranian regime that we will not tolerate its development of a nuclear program for illicit purposes," Singh said.

The flawed Iran nuclear deal was determined not to be the right vehicle to address the range of Iran's malign behaviour, she said.

"We are having conversations with our allies, and our goal is to get purchase of Iranian down to zero by November 5. That's a critical goal for us," Singh said in response to question from Congressman Engel.

"We are talking with all of our allies, including the countries that you mentioned, helping them to understand that the only way that we can achieve this global goal of Iran's nuclear program not commencing is through partnership and cooperation with our allies as you have indicated," she said.

"We are trying to explain to them that the bigger picture here is we need to work together on putting this pressure onto Iran, and the sales of oil are a critical way to do that. We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Singh said.



Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have directed teams from the State Department and Treasury Department to travel together, she said, adding that the team has visited over 30 countries so far and talked through with them US' withdrawal from the Iran deal.

"We're trying to help them understand what it means for them. We are trying to engage in all kinds of diplomatic conversations to make sure that our allies don't feel like we are going it alone. We are explaining to them that we need to work as a global community to address Iran's range of malign behaviour," Singh said.

"China is Iran's top, top oil purchaser. Will they get to zero by November?" Engel followed up with another question.

"We are working will all countries, including China, to get them to zero. We've made it clear that unless we act as a global community, Iran's behaviour is not going to change," Singh said.

The Iran nuclear deal "was not going to change Iran's behaviour. We have a new strategy, a new list of behaviours that we are going to insist that they take, and we need cooperation from the global community in order to achieve this goal," she said.
The US is prepared to take the "strongest action" against countries and entities who are found not complying with the Trump administration's sanctions on Iran, including reducing to zero the purchase of crude oil from the country, a senior official has told lawmakers.

The US pulled out of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran in May and will reimpose sanctions on the country's oil sector in November. The Trump administration says it wants to cut Iran's oil exports to zero - which would deprive the Iranian government of its biggest source of hard currency.

"We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Manisha Singh, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing Thursday.

Responding to a question from Congressman Eliot Engel, the Indian-American official said the Trump Administration has been talking to all its allies and partners and trying to convince them to fully implement the new Iranian sanctions which the US has imposed following its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from Iran to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions, making it clear that there would be no waivers to anyone.

Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iran supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal).

"If any of the major buyers of Iranian crude, which is China, India, Japan, South Korea, an Europe, if they refuse to sharply cut their purchases, are we really prepared to cut their banks off from the global banking system, which is the penalty under the US sanctions? Are we really prepared for that?" Engel asked.

"In response, we are prepared to take the most serious actions possible on Iran. We need to demonstrate to the Iranian regime that we will not tolerate its development of a nuclear programme for illicit purposes," Singh said.

The flawed Iran nuclear deal was determined not to be the right vehicle to address the range of Iran's malign behaviour, she said.

"We are having conversations with our allies, and our goal is to get purchase of Iranian crude oil down to zero by November 5. That's a critical goal for us," Singh said in response to question from Congressman Engel.

"We are talking with all of our allies, including the countries that you mentioned, helping them to understand that the only way that we can achieve this global goal of Iran's nuclear program not commencing is through partnership and cooperation with our allies as you have indicated," she said.

"We are trying to explain to them that the bigger picture here is we need to work together on putting this pressure onto Iran, and the sales of oil are a critical way to do that. We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Singh said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have directed teams from the State Department and Treasury Department to travel together, she said, adding that the team has visited over 30 countries so far and talked through with them US' withdrawal from the Iran deal.

"We're trying to help them understand what it means for them. We are trying to engage in all kinds of diplomatic conversations to make sure that our allies don't feel like we are going it alone. We are explaining to them that we need to work as a global community to address Iran's range of malign behaviour," Singh said.

"China is Iran's top, top oil purchaser. Will they get to zero by November?" Engel followed up with another question.

"We are working will all countries, including China, to get them to zero. We've made it clear that unless we act as a global community, Iran's behaviour is not going to change," Singh said.

The Iran nuclear deal "was not going to change Iran's behaviour. We have a new strategy, a new list of behaviours that we are going to insist that they take, and we need cooperation from the global community in order to achieve this goal," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The political slugfest between the ruling NDA and the Opposition Congress over the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal lowers the nation's prestige as the world is watching, former Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha said Friday.

There could always be "something wrong or something right" in such big-ticket purchases, he said.

"Such Rafale-like controversies lower a nation's esteem as the world is watching. These are big-ticket purchases. Something may be wrong or something may be right," Raha told reporters on the sidelines of a defence seminar here.

The former CAS said such controversies were not good for the defence capability of a nation as the faith in the system would be lost.

"Everything is well-documented. There is nothing to hide. The stakeholders (government and the Opposition) may always organise a confidential meeting and discuss it," he said.

The Congress has been alleging that the NDA government had helped Anil Ambani's firm benefit from the deal.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to launch his party's election campaign in poll-bound Chhattisgarh in early October and the process of screening candidates for the assembly polls would be over by this month-end, state Congress leaders said.

This decision was taken at a meeting of top party leaders from the state with Gandhi at his residence. The Congress chief also asked them to hold parleys with states of the Bahujan Samaj Party for possible tie-up in the state.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said the state Congress has given a proposal to the party chief to start the party's poll campaign formally sometime in the first and second week of October.

"The state Congress has given its proposal but the exact dates will be decided by the party high command and the Congress president. The campaign will be in three phases," he told PTI.

He also said the screening committee of the party, for the first time, is visiting each district to select candidates and hold discussions with leaders at the grassroots level.

Congress party's in-charge for Chhattisgarh affairs P L Punia said the process of screening of candidates will be over by end of this month.

"We will complete the process of screening candidates by September-end and will send the recommendations to the central election committee," he said.

Gandhi also told the Chhattisgarh Congress leaders to highlight the "failures" of the Narendra Modi and the state BJP governments and to take the policies of the Congress to the people at the grassroots level.

On a possible tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party, Gandhi told the state leadership to hold discussions with the state leaders of the BSP for unitedly fighting and defeating the BJP in the state.

The BJP led by Raman Singh has been in power for the last three terms.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi will hold a roadshow in Bhopal on September 17 and later address around 15,000 office-bearers of the party, Madhya Pradesh Congress Media Cell chairperson Shobha Oza said Friday.

Gandhi will arrive at the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal around 12.45 pm on September 17, she said.

"He will then head to Lalghati Square, from where he would start the roadshow. It will pass through the old city areas, including Royal Market and Peer Gate, before reaching BHEL Dussehra Maidan via New Market," Oza added.

She said Gandhi would address and interact with the office-bearers of the party at BHEL Dussehra Maidan.

"About 15,000 office-bearers would attend the programme. Party workers can also meet him during the roadshow," she added.

Gandhi will be in an open bus during the roadshow, which will a distance of 12 kilometers between Lalghati Square and BHEL Dussehra Maidan.

The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are due in November this year.

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Shares of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) Friday jumped more than 17 per cent in morning trade on bourses after the cabinet gave nod to transfer the state-run firm's land to Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA).

The cabinet Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval for transfer of land of RCF to MMRDA.

Following the development, shares of the RCF Friday opened on a bullish note at Rs 78.55, then touched a high of Rs 79.85, up 17.85 per cent over its previous closing price.

Similar movement was seen on NSE as well, where the stock opened at Rs 79.25 then touched a high of Rs 79.60, up 17.23 per cent over its last close.

MMRDA had acquired 48,849.74 square metre land of RCF and completed the construction of the Eastern Free Way-AnikPanjrapol Link Road (APLR), opened for public use in 2014.

In a statement, the government said the cabinet has given ex-post facto approval for transfer of RCF's land to MMRDA and also a proposal for approval for transfer of the state-run fertiliser unit's land to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

The cabinet has approved selling of transferable development right (TDR) certificate received/receivable against the transfer of land to MMRDA and MCGM.

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Everyone "from SC into the Mid-Atlantic region should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place and follow any advice given by local officials", the hurricane center urged ahead of Florence's expected landfall on Thursday or Friday.

Hurricane and storm watches were issued for the entire coast of North Carolina on Tuesday morning and for parts of the SC coast including Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington.

Its centre will move between Bermuda and the Bahamas on Tuesday and Wednesday and approach the coast of SC or North Carolina on Thursday, the National Hurricane Centre said.

At 11 p.m., the storm was centred 670 miles (1,075 km) southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, moving at 17 mph (28 kph).

"Florence is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 15 to 20 inches with isolated maximum to 30 inches near Florence's track over portions of North Carolina, Virginia, and northern SC through Saturday", says the National Hurricane Center.

The approaching storm also prompted commodity handler Cargill Inc to make plans to close meat processing plants in West Columbia, South Carolina, and Dayton, Virginia, on Friday. The affected area stretches from about North Brownsville to the Louisiana border, and potentially includes Houston, which is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. But more than 10 inches is forecast for a larger area, including most of eastern North Carolina inland to just north of Richmond, Virginia. "With time, the wind pushes the water into every nook and cranny you can think of", Graham said.

A Category 4 storm has sustained winds from 130-156 miles per hour.

Higher sea levels to make a storm surge worse.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield said this morning that Hurricane Florence is continuing to move toward the Carolinas.

Did Hurricane Florence cancel your flight? Its time to pay attention

Municipal power agencies, including New Bern and Southport, have not reported any outages yet. "A lot of rain", said Maj. The more it hovers just off shore, the more potentially deadly storm surge it could push on-shore.

If Florence slows to a crawl just off the coast, it could bring torrential rains to the Appalachian mountains and as far away as West Virginia, causing flash floods, mudslides and other unsafe conditions. Florence was a Category 4 storm late afternoon Monday. He says that "over the years the state government and the federal government have become very coordinated in their ability to manage the pre-deployment of assets (and) the response to the citizens of those states, and we will soon be into the recovery". It says total rainfall could reach 30 inches in some places, prompting life-threatening flash flooding from SC to Northern Virginia. Florence's storm surge threatens more than 750,000 homes in the region, according to the property analytics firm CoreLogic.

The American Red Cross said more than 700 workers were headed to the target area while shelters were set up to take in those who could not evacuate.

"We do know that we're in the bulls-eye", said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

President Donald Trump declared states of emergency for North and SC, facilitating federal help, and cancelled campaign events Thursday and Friday, citing the storm.

President Donald Trump is canceling a campaign rally in advance of Hurricane Florence's landfall. However, UCF's only open weekend is October 27, and North Carolina is playing an ACC game at Virginia that day.

"This is not going to be a quick hit across the coast", he said.

The National Hurricane Center says a new report from an Air Force Reserve Unit hurricane hunter aircraft indicates that Hurricane Florence's top sustained winds have decreased slightly to 130 miles per hour (215 kph), with higher gusts.

As of Tuesday, storm surge and hurricane warnings have been issued along the southeast USA coast from parts of Florida to Cape Cod, MA.
The US has alleged that India is providing massive subsidies to its farmers producing and and said that other countries need to be concerned about New Delhi's "trade distorting policy".

Chief Agricultural Negotiator Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) Gregory Doud made the comments during a Congressional hearing Thursday.

"Every rice- or wheat-producing country around the world should be concerned about the trade effects of India's trade distorting domestic support," Doud told lawmakers.

In May, Doud travelled to Geneva to deliver the US' first ever counter notification to the WTO's Committee on Agriculture concerning India's market price support for and

"The US estimates that India supports its producers ranging from 74 to 84.2 per cent of the value of production and producers ranging between 60.1 to 68.5 per cent of the value of production between 2010 and 2014 when India is only allowed to provide up to 10 per cent of the value of production of a particular commodity," Doud alleged.

Over the last five years, India has exported between $5.3 billion and $8 billion of rice, which is more than any other country in the world. India's global wheat exports ranged between $70 million to $1.9 billion during the same time period, he said.

Testifying before the same committee, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney told lawmakers that during his recent India visit he met with senior officials to discuss the importance of science- based food safety policies and to promote US exports.

Doud said that he was disappointed that in recent months US' trading partners have decided to retaliate against nearly $30 billion of its $143 billion in agricultural exports following necessary actions taken under trade laws to defend national security or to respond to unfair trade practices.

"During my first six months in this role, I have had over 150 meetings with stakeholders and have met hundreds of farmers, ranchers and agribusiness representatives - all of them have communicated to me the impact of the tariffs and the role of trade for all commodities including row crops, livestock, horticulture, and processed products," he said.

The US is taking action at the WTO to counter this unjustified retaliation. The is working to expand market opportunities for US producers, he told lawmakers.

McKinney said that America's hard-working agricultural producers have been treated unfairly by China's trading practices and targeted specifically with retaliatory tariffs in a blatant attempt by China to exert political pressure on Congress and the

In response to this unjustified retaliation by China and other countries, the President has directed to craft a short term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals. Specifically, USDA authorised up to USD 12 billion for three mitigation programmes to assist agricultural producers.
Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)Friday said its consortium has submitted bank guarantees worth Rs 735 crore to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for Versova-Bandra Sea Link project.

"RInfra consortium has submitted Performance Security Bank Guarantee (PS-BG) and Mobilisation Advance Bank Guarantee (MA-BG) to MSRDC for Versova-Bandra Sea Link Project (VBSL)," it said in a statement.

RInfra-Astaldi SpA (Italy) Consortium had signed an agreement with MSRDC on September 4, 2018 for construction of VBSL.

The consortium has submitted Rs 350 crore of PS-BG and Rs 385 crore of MA-BG to MSRDC, it said.

The guarantees have been submitted ahead of time for fast-track completion of the project, it said.

The consortium had bagged the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Rs 7,000 crore project on a competitive bid basis.

The other bidders in the fray were L&T-Samsung and Hyundai Development Company-ITD.

The tender was floated by MSRDC.

With a length of 17.17 km, VBSL is over three times the length of the existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link (5.6 km).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in India in recent decades, "eroding" its secular nature, a US Congressional report has claimed, as it warned that social media platforms provide "both tacit and overt sanction" for rising incidents of "majoritarian violence" in the country.

In its report, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) -- an independent and bi-partisan research wing of US Congress -- mentioned specific areas of alleged religiously-motivated repression and violence, including state-level anti-conversion laws, cow protection vigilantism and perceived assaults on freedom of expression and operations by non-governmental organisations that are seen as harmful to India's secular traditions.

The CRS' reports are neither an official report of the US Congress nor reflect the view of Congressmen. They are prepared by independent experts for the lawmakers to take informed decisions.

The report titled 'India: Religious Freedom issues', said, "Religious freedom is explicitly protected under its Constitution. Hindus account for a vast majority (nearly four-fifths) of the country's populace. Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in recent decades, by many accounts eroding India's secular nature and leading to new assaults on the country's religious freedom."



A copy of the report dated August 30 was made available to PTI on Thursday.

Authored by South Asian Specialist Alan Kronstadt, the report was prepared for members of the US Congress ahead of the Indo-US 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi on September 6.

Several lawmakers had urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to raise the issue of religious freedom with Indian leaders during the 2+2 talks.

Running into more than 20 pages, the report warned that India's social media platforms provide both tacit and overt sanction for rising incidents of majoritarian violence in the country.

The report said the 2014 national election victory of the BJP brought newly-acute attention to the issue of religious freedom in India.

The BJP has since gone on to win control of numerous state governments, including in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state with more than 200 million residents, one-fifth of them Muslim, it said.

The CRS report said perceived "abuses" have produced friction in the US-India relationship, including within the US Congress.

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South Korea launched its first ever missile-capable attack submarine on Friday, despite a recent diplomatic thaw with the nuclear-armed North.

The USD 700 million, 3,000-tonne Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine is capable of firing both cruise and ballistic missiles and the first of three planned diesel-electric boats to go into service in the next five years.

It represented a "leap forward in the country's" defence industry, President Moon Jae-in told a launch ceremony at the Daewoo shipyard where it was designed and built.

"Peace through power is the unwavering security strategy of this government." Moon will head to Pyongyang next week for a third summit with the North's leader Kim Jong Un, as US-led efforts to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons have stalled.

"We have set off on a grand journey toward the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula," Moon said.

"But peace is not given gratuitously," he added.

The new submarine is fitted with six vertical launch tubes and features indigenous sonar and combat management systems.

Aside from the new vessels, South Korea has an existing fleet of 18 smaller submarines, all built in co-operation with Germany.

According to the defence ministry, the North has 70 ageing submarines and submersibles, and Yonhap agency reported that it has also developed a new 2,500-tonne submarine fitted with a vertical launch system.

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The Supreme Court Friday ordered that no coercive action should be taken for three more weeks by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former Union minister P Chidambaram, in a Saradha chit fund scam case.

The order extending the relief was given by a bench of Justices U U Lalit and Ashok Bhushan after it was told by the ED that it needed 10 days to file a reply to Nalini's plea challenging the dismissal of her petition by the Madras High Court against summons in the case.

Additional Solicitor General Vikramjeet Banerjee, appearing for ED, said the reply would be filed in 10 days time.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Nalini, said he also needed time to file a rejoinder to the ED's reply.

"Interim order to continue. Reply to be filed in two weeks and rejoinder in one week thereafter," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

The apex court had on August 3 restrained the ED from taking any coercive action against Nalini Chidambaram. It had issued notice to the ED on her plea challenging the dismissal of her petition by the High Court.

The Madras High Court had on July 10 dismissed an appeal by Nalini against a single-judge bench's order rejecting her plea challenging the ED summons.

The high court had said that Section 50(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) gave sufficient ammunition to an authority to summon any person whose attendance was considered necessary for investigation.

It had also rejected her contention that women cannot be called for investigation out of their place of residence under CrPC Section 160, saying she was not entitled to invoke the section.

The ED had issued the first summons on September 7, 2016, asking her to appear before it at its Kolkata office. It subsequently issued fresh summons after the single judge's order.

Nalini was allegedly paid a legal fee of Rs 1 crore by the Saradha group for her appearances in court and the Company Law Board over a television channel purchase deal.

In the appeal, she had contended that if the trend of summoning and calling advocates who have been engaged by their clients for rendering professional services was not nipped in the bud, it may lead to "disastrous consequences".

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In a bid to remove centuries old stigma attached to leprosy patients, the Supreme Court Friday directed the Centre to consider framing separate rules for issuing them disability certificates so that they can avail of reservation and various other welfare benefits.

The apex court said that acceptability of leprosy patients in the society would go a long way in reducing the stigma attached to the disease and passed a slew of directions to the Centre and the state governments for launching massive awareness programmes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said due attention must be paid to ensure that leprosy affected persons are issued Below Poverty Line cards so they can avail of benefits under Antyodaya Anna Yojana and other similar schemes which would enable them to secure their right to food.

The top court said: "The Union and the State Governments must pro-actively plan and formulate a comprehensive community based rehabilitation scheme which shall cater to all basic facilities and needs of the leprosy affected persons and their families. The scheme shall be aimed at eliminating the stigma that is associated with persons afflicted with leprosy.

"The Union Government may consider framing separate rules for assessing the disability quotient of the leprosy affected persons for the purpose of issuing disability certificate in exercise of the power granted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016."



It further said that awareness campaigns must inform that a person affected by leprosy is not required to be sent to any special clinic, hospital or sanatorium and should not be isolated from family members or the community.

It said that awareness campaigns should also inform that a person affected with leprosy can lead a "normal married life, can have children, can take part in social events and go to work or school as normal".

The court asked the Centre and states to consider the possibility of including leprosy education in school curriculum to give correct information about leprosy.

"The Union and the State Governments must ensure that both private and public schools do not discriminate against children hailing from leprosy affected families. Such children should not be turned away and attempt should be made to provide them free education," it said.

Asking the agencies not to use frightening images of people hit by leprosy, the top court said the content and information in the awareness programmes should use positive images of cured persons sharing their experiences of becoming healthy.

"The Union and the States are to ensure that drugs for management of leprosy and its complications including the Multi-drug therapy (MDT) drugs are available free of cost and do not go out of stock at all Primary Health Centres or public health facilities in the country," it said.

"All-year awareness campaigns should also be run, by the Union as well as the States, to inform the citizenry that under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme cases diagnosed through general health care system including NGOs, treatment is provided free of cost to all leprosy," it added.

Stressing on the need to organise seminars, the court asked the Centre and the states to conduct programmes at all levels which serve as platforms to hear the views and experiences directly from the former patients and their families as well as doctors, social workers, experts, NGOs and government officials.

It directed the Union government and states should undertake periodical national surveys for determining the prevalence rate and new cases detection rate of leprosy and publish reports of the National Sample Survey of Leprosy conducted in 2010-11 and later period into the public domain.

"The activities of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme must be given wide publicity. On leprosy day which is internationally observed every year on the last Sunday of January, the Union of India along with all states should organize massive awareness campaigns to increase public awareness about the signs and symptoms of leprosy, the court said.

"Awareness should also be spread about the free availability of MDT at all government health care facilities in the country, the prescribed course for MDT treatment and all other relevant information related to MDT. The Union and the States are to ensure that drugs for management of leprosy and its complications including the MDT drugs are available free of cost and do not go out of stock at all Primary Health Centres or public health facilities in the country," it added.

The top court said that health care to leprosy patients must be such that medical officials and representatives desist from any discriminatory behaviour while examining and treating them.

"It must be ensured that there is no discrimination against women suffering from leprosy and they are given equal and adequate opportunities for treatment in any hospital of their choice.

"Patients affected with leprosy, for whom partial deformity can be corrected by surgery, should be advised and provided adequate facility and opportunity to undergo such surgeries," it said.

The judgement was passed on a PIL filed by advocate Pankaj Sinha alleging that the government was not taking adequate steps to eradicate the disease.

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The Supreme Court Friday stayed the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submissions of National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the release of Watali would cause grave harm to the ongoing probe in the terror-funding case.

The NIA was represented by Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh.

The bench has now fixed the plea of NIA filed against the Delhi High Court verdict for hearing on September 26 and asked the accused businessman to file his response in the meantime.

The high court had Thursday said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the NIA.

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.

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Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in a 1994 espionage case, the Supreme Court held Friday, as it ordered a probe into the role of the Kerala police officers involved in it.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case and asked the Kerala government to pay the compensation to him within eight weeks.

The bench, that also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge, Justice D K Jain, to probe the framing of Narayanan in the spy case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

The espionage case, which hit the headlines in 1994, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The case was first investigated by the state police and later handed over to the CBI, which found no espionage as was alleged to have taken place.

The scam also had its political fallout with a section in the Congress targeting then chief minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.

In 1998, the apex court granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.

He later approached the NHRC claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture suffered by him.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998, awarded him interim a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.

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Markets regulator Sebi Friday slapped a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Sumangal Industries and nine individuals, including promoters and directors of the firm, for not complying with its directions to refund the money collected illegally from investors.

The individuals are Subrata Adhikary, Sajal Bhattacharya, Indusekhar Chakraborty, Madhumita Adhikary, Somnath Adhikary, Gopal Chandra Adhikary, Sarbani Adhikary, Astick Kumar Roy and Debika Adhikary.

The penalty has to be paid by the entities "jointly and severally".

According to a Sebi order, Sumangal had collected Rs 85 crore from investors through illegal collective investment schemes (CIS). The firm was running illegal potato purchase investment schemes promising up to 100 per cent gain in just 15 months to investors.

In July 2013, the regulator had passed a ruling whereby the entities were directed to wind up the schemes and refund the money collected within a period of three months. They also had to submit a winding up and repayment report to Sebi in accordance with the CIS Regulations.

However, Sumangal challenged Sebi's July 2013 order before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).

In February 2014, the tribunal granted extension to the company for refunding money to investors till January 2015 subject to furnishing quarterly report as to the progress made in the winding up of its schemes and refund of the amount to the investors and furnishing further quarterly reports from time to time till January 2015.

However, Sumangal failed to submit quarterly report to Sebi in line with the SAT order following which the regulator filed an application before the tribunal requesting cancellation of the extended time granted to the firm to repay investors till January 2015. The tribunal, through an order in September 2014, recalled its earlier order.

In its fresh ruling, the regulator said the entities "have failed to comply" with the July 2013 order with regard to the directions to wind up the CIS and refund the money collected by the firm under the schemes.

"... entities violating the directions/ orders of the Board seriously compromise the regulatory framework and are detrimental to the interests of the investors," the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said.

Noting that such violators should be sternly dealt with and be suitably penalised, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on the 10 entities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A self-styled area commander of People's Liberation Front of India carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head was killed in an encounter with police in Gumla district Friday, a senior police officer said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team rushed to apprehend Krishna Gope, who was resting in a paddy field, Superintendent of Police, Anushuman Kumar said.

As soon as Gope saw the approaching police force, he started firing at the police forcing them to retaliate, the SP said adding Gope was killed in the firing.

Police arrested a Gope aide after the encounter, he said adding two fire-arms and live cartridges were recovered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At its current pace, Indian economy can achieve double-digit growth despite all challenges, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a function in Madhya Pradesh. He was attending an event organised by the Dawoodi Bohra community on the occasion of Ashara Mubaraka at Indore's Saifee Mosque on Friday. He was joined by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.

The stature ancient India held in the world, we have got the good fortune to take New India to the same position today, he said.

Lauding the trade-centric Dawoodi Bohra community for their adherence to trade ethics, PM Modi said that it is the government's priority to make every possible effort to encourage the traders and businessmen of the country as they are responsible for generating employment opportunities.

"Not everybody is the same, though. From amongst us, people emerge who consider deception as a trade. In the past four years, the government has succeeded in sending a clear message that everything should happen within the realm of the rules. Honest businessmen are being encouraged through several laws like GST and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code," said PM Modi.

He further added, "This is has instilled confidence in investors from the country and around the world during the past four years. In present times, under Make in India, record production and investment has been achieved in mobile phones, vehicles and other commodities. Due to this, Indian economy achieved a GDP growth rate of more than eight per cent in the last quarter. The country now has become the fastest growth rate among the major economies of the world. The nation is now eyeing economic growth in double digits, and given our pace, we can achieve it despite all the obstacles."

PM Modi also appreciated the contribution of Bohra community towards making healthcare services easily accessible, and went on talk about his flagship healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat. This scheme, which will ensure free healthcare services to 50 crore poor citizens of the country is presently under trial, he said. Talking about the cleanliness fortnight to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi praised the performance by Indore and Bhopal under the Swachh Bharat initiative.

PM Modi's visit to the Madhya Pradesh mosque comes at a time when the state is looking to go to polls by the end of this year. Around 2.5 lakh members of the Dawoodi Bohra community call the BJP-ruled state home, with a substantial presence in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.

Edited by Vivek Punj
Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Friday approached the Akal Takht seeking the excommunication of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Sikh faith over their alleged involvement in the police firing on protesters in 2015.

Sidhu also alleged that Parkash and his son Sukhbir-- former deputy chief minister and the president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-- influenced the Jathedar of the Akal Takht to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case to garner votes of the Dera followers.

However, the edict granting pardon to the controversial Dera chief, who is currently lodged in a jail in Rohtak, Haryana, was later annulled by the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs.

Sidhu in his personal capacity as a Sikh submitted a memorandum at the secretariat of the Takht demanding excommunication of Badals for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.

However, as the Jathedar was not present when Sidhu visited, the memorandum was received by an official.

Sidhu, in his four page memorandum written in Punjabi, requested the Jathedar to summon the father-son duo at Akal Takht.

"They should be excommunicated from Sikh fold forthwith," he said.

Sidhu urged the Jathedar to initiate action against Badals as per Sikh customs.

Excommunication from Sikhism implies expulsion from the socio-religious order of the faith. The five head priests led by the Akal Takht Jathedar pronounce such an order.

Later, accompanied by Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, Sidhu told media persons here that, "Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir had wilfully issued orders for firing on a gathering of Sikhs who were holding peaceful protest and demanding arrest of accused responsible for sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib."



Two persons were killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan during a protest against desecration of religious text in 2015. While Parkash Singh Badal was the chief minister back then, his son was the deputy chief minister in the SAD-BJP government and was also in-charge of the home department.

Sidhu also alleged that some Dera followers were allegedly involved in sacrilege cases but they too were spared by the previous regime.

The Akal Takht had pardoned the Sirsa-based sect head-- for allegedly appearing in an attire of Guru Gobind Singh during a religious congregation-- on the basis of a written apology sent by him through his messenger in 2015.

Three weeks later, bowing to pressure from the Sikh community and hardliners, the Sikh clergy headed by Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh decided to annul its earlier order issued on September 24, 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Friday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the charge by its leader P L Punia that businessman Vijay Mallya met Jaitley in Parliament before leaving India and claimed it indicates admission of guilt.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi targeted Modi alleging that there was a change in look-out notice against Mallya by the CBI "which was inconceivable without the approval of the PM" as the agency reports to him.

The opposition charged the prime minister and the finance minister with "helping" Mallya flee the country and said, "the nation wants to know who is the chief architect, protector and benefactor in Vijay Mallya's escape?"



Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the prime minister and the finance minister have not rebutted or confirmed the charge made by Punia that he had witnessed Jaitley and Mallya in a huddle in the central hall of Parliament on March 1, 2016.

"Despite the revelation about a meeting between the Rs 9000 crore bank scam offender and Arun Jaitley on March 1, 2016, the prime minister and his finance minister have maintained a conspiratorial silence



"Is this silence an admission of guilt by PM Modi and FM Jaitley?," he asked and demanded that the finance minister and the consortium of banks led by SBI and CBI/SFIO answer the issues which are important to the nation.

Claiming that Jaitley has lost legal, ethical and moral right to continue as minister, he said the finance minister should resign "as his silence is pointing towards admission of guilt".

"Why is the PM afraid to conduct a fair investigation in this matter?



"If the prime minister does not act, it will be proved that the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) is not just a 'Bhaagidaar' (partner) but is guilty of protecting the criminal."



He alleged that "multiple skeletons are tumbling out of Modi Government's cupboard".

He said after Punia controverted Jaitley's statement and sought CCTV camera recordings of central hall of Parliament, "24 hours have passed but Jaitley, the entire government, as also the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Secretariat are maintaining complete silence and are not daring to rebut Punia or the Congress party".

"Does it not prove something terribly fishy about Shri Jaitley's conduct? We ask Mr Jaitley, Is it an admission of your guilt?," he said.

The Congress leader said Jaitley met Mallya, as per his own admission, on March 1, 2016 and the accused businessman escaped from India "the next day with 36 suitcases, completely unchecked and unhindered by any authority or any law agency".

"For over 30 months Jaitley didn't say a word about this meeting.

"Why did he not state this fact on the floor of Parliament in the debate in March 2016 when he is leader of the Rajya Sabha? Why did he not come clean about it earlier?," he asked.

The Congress also asked as to "who ordered CBI to change the lookout notice from 'to detain' to 'to inform' and why Jaitley did not inform the agencies if he had knowledge of "Mallya's escape"



Surjewala pointed out that SBI led the consortium of banks and met Supreme Court senior advocate Dushyant Dave on Sunday, February 28, 2016 for advice on Mallya.

Yesterday, Dave has gone on record to state that he advised SBI Management to move the Supreme Court the next very day i.e. February 29, 2016 and get the passport of Vijay Mallya confiscated, but the SBI management and other banks never returned the next day for action against Vijay Mallya or for blocking his escape, he alleged.

"Why did the banks wait to move the Supreme Court against Vijay Mallya uptill 5th March 2016 when Vijay Mallya had already escaped on 2nd March 2016? Does it not prove a sinister conspiracy to help Vijay Mallya?," he asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sri Lanka will seek "concessions" from the UN, including a special request to the drop war crime charges against its troops during the civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said Friday.

Sirisena, who will lead a delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, will address the general debate on September 25.

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the civil war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Relatives of the missing Tamil people allege that the Lankan state - particularly its army, navy and police - were behind most of the disappearances.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Addressing the media persons here Friday, Sirisena said he would use his address at the UN general assembly later this month to make a case for removal of war crimes charges.

"I will make a special request at the UN," he said, adding that "I will also make a written request to the (UN) human rights council to settle this issue of war crimes."



"I want to tell them to remove these charges and give us some concessions to resolve this issue."



Since 2013, Sri Lanka faced three UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions for the alleged human rights abuses during the last phase of the conflict.

The UNHRC resolutions demanded Colombo to set up a credible international investigation. It also condemned the government troops and the LTTE for alleged war crimes.

The resolutions were adopted during the regime of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Following the defeat of Rajapaksha in 2015 general elections, Sri Lanka was given an extension to implement the mechanisms prescribed by the UNHRC.

The government had set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMPs) and also introduced a bill of reparations for the victims of the three-decade-old armed conflict.

President Sirisena also said that some pro-LTTE and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were making various allegations regarding human rights violations.

He said that his government was able to avoid Sri Lanka's isolation in the UNHRC, which had prevailed before it came to power and succeeded in fostering friendship.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Firing a fresh salvo on the Vijay Mallya issue, the BJP on Friday alleged that the Congress-led government had "raised and protected" the fugitive businessman and Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had flown free of cost in his airlines in exchange for bank loans given to him.

The BJP's media head Anil Baluni posed eight questions to highlight the alleged help provided by the UPA government to Mallya, after the Congress claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley's "silence" on the row over the one time liquor baron's meeting with the finance minister was an admission of guilt.

"Why Rahul Gandhi does not answer these questions? Why his lips are sealed when faced with these burning questions. What can be a bigger evidence of corruption than the fact that it was the Congress government which raised and protected Mallya," he said.

Hitting out at the Congress president, Baluni said he suffers from "ideological bankruptcy and does not know what he says, does and understands".

He cited the then prime minister Manmohan Singh's reported comments in 2011 that Kingfisher Airlines, now defunct, needed to be helped and asked if it was not true that the then finance minister P Chidambaram ignored rules to provide relief to the loss-making airline.

"Is it not true that in exchange for providing (bank) loans to Mallya the then UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and current Congress president Rahul Gandhi travelled free of cost in the airline's business class," he asked.

He also repeated several allegations the ruling party has been levelling at the Congress.

The two parties have been training guns at each other after Mallya claimed in London on Wednesday that he had met Jaitley before leaving India.

The finance minister refuted his claim, saying he had never give him an appointment but the businessman misused his privilege as a member of Parliament to accost him in Parliament but he asked him to approach his banker.

Rahul Gandhi had accused Jaitley of colluding with a criminal and sought his resignation.

Congress MP P L Punia also claimed that he had seen Jaitley speaking to Mallya in Parliament's Central Hall on March 1.

BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya claimed that Punia was "lying" under Gandhi's instructions. Party sources have said Jaitley was busy in a number of events on that day as he had presented the Union Budget a day earlier and it was unlikely that such a meeting would have happened.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Friday said he will seek "concessions" from the UN, including a special request to drop the war crime charges against its troops over the alleged killing of thousands of minority Tamils during the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

Sirisena, who will lead a delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, will address the general debate on September 25.

Addressing the editors of local media here Friday, he said he will ask the UN General Assembly to allow Sri Lanka to amicably resolve war crime allegations against the government forces during the 37-year war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE).

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the civil war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Relatives of the missing Tamil people allege that the Lankan state - particularly its army, navy and police - were behind most of the disappearances.

The LTTE, which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

"I will make a special request at the UN," he said, adding that "I will also make a written request to the (UN) human rights council to settle this allegations of war crimes."



"I want to tell them to remove these charges. We can amicably resolve this issue," the president said, adding he expected some "concessions" in implementing the 2015 UNHRC resolution.

Since 2013, Sri Lanka faced three UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions for the alleged human rights abuses during the last phase of the conflict.

The UNHRC resolution demanded Colombo to set up a credible international investigation into the alleged war crimes. It also condemned the government troops and the LTTE for the alleged human rights abuses.

The resolutions were adopted during the regime of Sirisena's predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had resisted the international call for an independent probe.

Following the defeat of Rajapaksha in 2015 general elections, Sri Lanka was given an extension to implement the mechanisms prescribed by the UNHRC, after president Sirisena sought a two-year extenion of the deadline.

The government had set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMPs) and also introduced a bill of reparations for the victims of the three-decade-old armed conflict.

President Sirisena also said that some pro-LTTE and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were making various allegations regarding human rights violations.

He said that his government was able to avoid Sri Lanka's isolation in the UNHRC, which had prevailed before it came to power and succeeded in fostering friendship.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of sugar companies jumped as much as 20 per cent in morning trade Friday after the government raised ethanol price for blending in petrol by 25 per cent.

The government Wednesday approved an over 25 per cent hike in the price of ethanol produced directly from sugarcane juice for blending in petrol in a bid to cut surplus sugar production and reduce oil imports.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs raised the procurement price of ethanol derived from 100 per cent sugarcane juice to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13.

Among stocks, shares of Simbhaoli Sugars, Rana Sugars, Magadh Sugar & Energy, Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals, K M Sugar Mills, Avadh Sugar & Energy, Ponni Sugars (Erode), Uttam Sugar Mills and Thiru Arooran Sugars, Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries - all surged 20 per cent each in morning trade on BSE.

That apart, shares of Dwarikesh Sugar Industries were trading with gains of 15.53 per cent, Dhampur Sugar Mills (17.71 per cent), Bannari Amman Sugars (10.43 per cent), Sakthi Sugars (18.13 per cent).

This is the second consecutive session that sugar stocks have registered handsome gains. Earlier on Wednesday, the sugar stocks had zoomed as much as 18 per cent on BSE.

The government's move of raising ethanol price for blending in petrol by 25 per cent would help sugar mills quickly release arrears of cane farmers, which stands at over Rs 13,000 crore. As much as 40 per cent of these dues are in Uttar Pradesh alone.

Ethanol so extracted would be doped in petrol to cut reliance on imports. The government is looking at scaling up the blending to 10 per cent in the next couple of years from 4-5 per cent now.

Molasses is a viscous product resulting from refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar.

Since 2014, the government notified an administered price for ethanol. The move significantly improved the supply of ethanol during the past four years.

The ethanol procured by public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) has increased from 38 crore litres in ethanol supply year 2013-14 to estimated 140 crore litres in 2017-18.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov Friday reviewed the progress made in the bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interests.

The two leaders co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

"Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors & identify new opportunities! EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov chairing the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological & Cultural Cooperation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, will provide policy recommendations and directions in the concerned fields, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The last meeting of the commission was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for an informal summit in the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi in May during which the two leaders upgraded the traditionally close India-Russia relationship to a "special privileged strategic partnership."



The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in June.

On Thursday, Swaraj met her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and the two leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.

Lavrov also hosted a dinner in honour of Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Days after Tamil Nadu cabinet recommended the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, pro-Tamil outfits Thursday claimed Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded it to the Centre and demanded that all seven be set free forthwith.

Though there was no official word on it from Raj Bhavan, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi led by T Velmurugan claimed Purohit had sent the cabinet's recommendation to the Centre, calling it against the Constitution and a "slight" to Tamil people.

A former MLA, Velmurugan said it was only to avoid legal complications that their release was contemplated under Article 161 of the Constitution by the state.

The Supreme Court had also disposed of a related case recently which was earlier a "stumbling block" in freeing the convicts, he said.

Disposing of a petition by the Centre, the Supreme Court had said on September 6 that Tamil Nadu governor was at liberty to decide the mercy petition of A G Perarivalan, one of the convicts.

Under such circumstances, he said, the governor should "give his approval for the release of the convicts and abide by the law ".

To urge the governor to accord his approval and go by the law, his party would hold a "besiege Raj Bhavan" protest on September 26, he said.

When approached to ascertain whether Purohit has forwarded the state's recommendation to the Centre, a Raj Bhavan official said, "It's confidential and we cannot comment on it".

Tamil Nadu Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam said there was no formal word on it.

"There is no official communique on it," Shanmugam said in a terse reply.

"Under Article 161, the governor of a state has full powers to decide on the recommendations of the state Cabinet," the minister said on the sidelines of a function in Cuddalore.

Tamil outfit "Tamil Desiya Periyakkam" said the governor sending the recommendation to the union home ministry raises suspicion if he was succumbing to "North Indian political pressures".

Under Article 161, the governor cannot exercise his personal discretion and has to just implement the Cabinet's decision, it said.

DMK organising secretary and Rajya Sabha MP R S Barathi backed the release of the convicts and said he felt there was no need to take up the matter with the Centre.

"In my opinion, sending the recommendation to the central government is not necessary. The Supreme Court's direction should be followed," he told PTI.

When the Supreme Court has given its direction, the governor has to act accordingly, he said, adding it is "crystal clear" that the apex court has ruled that the state government can take a decision on the issue.

The state's ruling AIADMK, since the days of late J Jayalalithaa, has been for releasing all the seven convicts.

CPI state secretary R Mutharasan dubbed the governor's action as "delaying tactic". "It seems to have been done with the ulterior motive of denying them freedom," he said, adding the sentiments of Tamil people should be respected.

The Congress had, however, deprecated the state government's recommendation.

"There can be no compromise on terrorism and terrorists. The state cannot derelict its duty on punishing terrorists.

"There can be no over Rajiv Gandhi's assassins as SC hasn't granted any relief to them. It's time the government takes a cue and follows the same line," Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala had said soon after the Tamil Nadu government made the recommendation.

While the mainstream parties and pro-Tamil outfits staunchly support the release, families of the victims of the blast in 1991 have opposed the move.

Coming together, the families of victims led by the coordinator of their forum S Abbas, whose mother was among those killed, have sought an appointment with the governor to present their views.

The Tamil Nadu government had said on Thursday it was confident that the governor will respect people's feelings which reflect in the cabinet's recommendation.

In its recommendation, the state cabinet said all the seven convicts--Nalini, her husband Sriharan alias Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Santhan-- should be released.

Murugan, Santhan, Jayakumar and Payas are Sri Lankan Tamils.

All the seven convicts are serving life imprisonment and are behind bars since 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a blast at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near here on May 21, 1991. Fourteen others, including Dhanu, the assassin, were also killed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The TDP in Telangana Friday submitted a memorandum urging the state chief secretary to speak to the Maharashtra government seeking withdrawal of an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The TDP leaders went to the Secretariat to meet the Chief Secretary to urge him to speak to the Maharashtra government for withdrawal of the warrant, TDP general secretary E Peddi Reddy told reporters.

A memorandum was submitted in the office of the Chief Secretary as he was not available, he said.

The TDP held protests in Telangana on the issue.

TDPs Telangana unit president L Ramana claimed that there was no information all these years about the case.

A court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation staged by them over the Babli project across the Godavari river.

Judicial Magistrate First Class of Dharmabad in Nanded district N R Gajbhiye issued the order, directing the police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, were arrested and lodged in a Pune jail in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on the ground that it would affect the people downstream.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, India's only shipyard to build both destroyer warships and conventional submarines for the Navy, is fully geared to meet the competition from the private sector, claim officials.

The Mumbai-based dock, which recently concluded expansion and modernisation with Rs 900 crore, is currently building four P-15B destroyers, four P-17A stealth frigates and five Scorpene class submarines for the Indian Navy. These orders are worth Rs.52,760 crore. Normally orders from the Ministry of Defence are awarded to Mazagon dock, which was taken over by the government of India in 1960, on nomination basis or through limited tenders.

"We welcome competition and work like any other professional technology company. Our navy and government are most stringent on quality norms and we have the expertise, infrastructure, technology and people to meet those demands," says Captain Rajiv Lath, director, submarine and heavy engineering, Mazagon Dock.

Officials said negotiations are on with overseas countries for undertaking commercial ship building and exports. Further, the dock now undertakes refit and repair of submarines and warships. The dock is also exploring possibilities of developing a Greenfield shipyard at Nhava in Navi Mumbai with a ship lift, wet basin, workshops, stores and buildings and a ship repair facility spread over 40 acres.

Since 1960, it has built 795 vessels including 25 warships from advanced destroyers to missile boats and three submarines. It has a technology transfer agreement with naval group of France for Scorpene submarines and has already delivered one, INS Kalvari. INS Karanj is likely to be delivered next year. It takes about four years to build a submarine and another two years of intense testing before it is delivered to the navy.

Mazagon Dock had revenues of Rs 4,295 crore and profits of Rs 549 crore in 2016-17. As part of the government policy, the dock is planning to soon raise over Rs 750 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

Mazagon Dock was started way back in 1774 to service ships of the British East India Company. It passed through various ownerships like the P&O Lines and the British India Steam Navigations Company. The yard was taken over by the Ministry of Defence in 1960 to further its warship development programme.
Thailand partially eased its ban on political activities, the ruling junta announced Friday, allowing political parties to recruit new members for the first time in four year as the countdown begins for a much-anticipated national poll.

After the military staged a coup in 2014 to oust then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a ban was imposed throughout the country on all political activities. This included a ban on any public gatherings of more than five people. On Friday, the junta said in a statement published in the Royal Gazette there would be a "relaxation" on the ban.

Parties will now be permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members. However, campaigning -- including holding public gatherings -- is still forbidden.

"Political parties can communicate with their members electronically, but that type of communication must not be considered as campaigning," the statement said.

The junta and the Election Commission would decide if any communications was "disrupting public order".

The junta has repeatedly postponed elections, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn this week endorsed two bills that cleared bureaucratic hurdles to a much-anticipated poll.

An election is required to take place by May.

Senior military leaders have floated a February 24 election date.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thailand partially eased its ban on political activities, the ruling junta announced Friday, allowing political parties to recruit new members for the first time since 2014 ahead of polls slated for next year.

Sweeping restrictions on political parties and campaigns were imposed after the military took power in a coup four years ago.

On Friday, the junta said there would be a "relaxation" on the ban in a statement published in the Royal Gazette.

Parties will now be permitted to elect their leaders, recruit new members, establish branch offices and hold general party meetings if they are able to summon at least 250 members.

But a ban will remain on political campaigns and gatherings of more than five people.

"Political parties can communicate with their members electronically, but that type of communication must not be a considered as a form of political campaigning," the statement said.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- the junta's formal name -- and the Election Commission will have the authority to rule on whether any political communications were "disrupting public order".

The junta has repeatedly postponed elections, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn this week endorsed two bills that cleared bureaucratic hurdles to a much-anticipated poll.

An nationwide vote is required to take place by May and senior military leaders have floated a February 24 election date. Opposition parties said the NCPO should never have introduced the ban in the first place.

Pannika Wanich, the spokesperson of the upstart Future Forward party -- which has set Thailand's political scene abuzz with its pro-democracy platform -- said her party would not adhere to the ban's restrictions.

"We declared a long time ago that we will not accept any unjustified laws," Pannika said, adding that her party expects to be officially certified by the Election Commission next week.

"We will do whatever a political party can do," she said. "We are not waiting for the NCPO to ease off the ban."



Pichai Natipthaphan, a member of the now-toppled Puea Thai Party and former minister in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, said the remaining constraints on political activities were "not practical". "It restricts the rights of people and it could lead to political bullying," he said of the new rules.

The Shinawatra clan, a powerful and wealthy family, has won every Thai general election through its affiliated parties and proxies since 2001. But coups have pushed Yingluck and her older brother Thaksin -- another former prime minister -- out of power and into self-exile to avoid jail terms from corruption charges.

The military has long hated the Shinawatras, accusing them of harnessing a toxic brand of populist

Junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has insisted that he has no interest in politics, but critics claim the military's protracted rule since Yingluck's 2014 ouster is evidence of his future electoral ambitions.

In recent months, the gruff former general has been showcasing a softer side through public appearances and photo opportunities. Earlier this week he met with Japanese girl pop sensation "AKB48" at Government House, waving a neon glow-stick as they performed.

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In Sriram Raghavan's world, improbability is just a plot point.

The director, who has given timeless thrillers such as "Ek Haseena Thi", "Johnny Gaddar" and "Badlapur" to Hindi cinema, is back with another mystery in "Andhadhun", where a blind pianist is at the centre of a murder.

Raghavan says he is attracted to such stories because it is fascinating to de-construct the psyche of a person in a pickle.

"People often get caught in situations or do something that they regret for the rest of their lives. What happens and how you try to cover up is the story. These are not career criminals. I relate to it because there is this possibility that it can happen to anyone.

"We all are scared of bad things... So when you are watching a film, you see your fears on the screen. You have this thought 'Thank God, it is happening to someone else'," the director told PTI in an interview.

It was a long brewing idea that finally took shape in "Andhadhun", which features Ayushmann Khurrana as the blind pianist, Radhika Apte, Tabu and Anil Dhawan.

"One of my friends was in a situation similar to something that happens in the film. That was the take-off and we wrote a passable story. And then I remembered how old Hindi films had these piano songs. Also, in 'Raabta' from 'Agent Vinod', there was this blind girl who plays the piano while all the fight is happening around her. We thought, 'Let's have the blind pianist as the main character," he says.

Unlike "Badlapur", which had a sensational beginning with the killing of the heroine, "Andhadhun" begins as a romantic comedy and then something happens, he says, adding the trailer basically follows the structure of the film.

Thriller is not the most popular genre in Hindi cinema but with the influx of web medium, crime shows have picked up momentum, he says.

"There are a lot of shows on the web for sure but still there are not many films. Only three or four thrillers are made in Hindi cinema in a year. There is a fascination for crime genre but producers think thrillers don't have that much of a market or will not get picked up for satellite rights.

"I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not easy to make a thriller because the audience is making their own story in their minds as they watch the film. You have to break that expectation and still make them like the film. So, it is a little difficult to pick the right script as there are not many people writing them."



Another reason for the genre not getting its due is because it demands more involvement from the viewers.

"You have to be alert while watching a thriller. But in India, people go to theatre to have a good laugh. Thrillers can disturb you, make you tense and make you think."



The director says he was really impressed by Apte even though she had a small role while Tabu was someone he always wanted to work with.

"Tabu is superb in the movie but I should not say that, you would realise that when you watch the film. I am actually a huge fan. I am lucky that she agreed for the film because I wanted to work with her for a long time.

"With Radhika, I always knew that she was talented. We talk about movies a lot. She is the sunshine in this film. Ayushmann called me and did the audition and I thought he was perfect for the role. I was impressed by his enthusiasm," he says.

A huge Alfred Hitchcock fan, Raghavan says he likes to return to good thrillers such as "Jewel Thief".

"A thriller is like an adventure... It is like reading a good book, you are experiencing it like the protagonist," he says.

"Andhadhun" is set to be released on October 5.

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Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded to the Union Home Ministry a recommendation of the Tamil Nadu government to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case for its view, officials said Friday.

The state government has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit or commute sentence in certain cases.

The judicial division of the home ministry will examine the legal position of the case and take a view as per the law, a home ministry official said.

According to Article 161, the governor of a state shall have the power to grant pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.

However, officials have earlier said, the governor has no power to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and will have to consult the Centre as per law since the investigation into the assassination was carried out by a CBI-led team.

The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu had on September 9 recommended to the governor to release the convicts, a move hailed by most political parties in the state.

The CBI-led Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), probing the larger conspiracy aspect behind the assassination, had a few months ago conveyed to the Supreme Court that the investigation into the case was "still open" and letters rogatory have been issued to different countries, including Sri Lanka, where some persons required to be investigated were currently residing.

Under Section 435 in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the state government will have to act only after consultation with the central government to remit or commute a sentence.

On August 10, 2018, the Centre had opposed in the Supreme Court the proposal of the Tamil Nadu government to release the seven convicts, saying that setting them free would set a very wrong precedent.

According to the Supreme Court verdict, the state government cannot remit sentence of any convict in cases probed by a central agency and the Centre's approval is mandatory for releasing the killers of Rajiv Gandhi as the case was probed by the CBI.

"The central government, in pursuance of section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, does not concur with the proposal of Tamil Nadu government contained in the communication letter dated March 2, 2016 for grant of further remission of sentence of these seven convicts," the government had said in its reply to the apex court.

On May 21, 2018, the CBI-led Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency had informed a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the probe into the case was "still open" and letters rogatory have been issued to different countries, including Sri Lanka, where some persons required to be investigated were currently residing, another official.

"Under these circumstances, there is no material ground to alter the stand taken by the central government in the recent past," the official said.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a poll rally on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu.

Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed in the explosion.

The MDMA, set up in 1998 on the recommendations of Justice MC Jain Commission of Inquiry, had probed the conspiracy aspect of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and is headed by a CBI official and comprises officers from IB, RAW and Revenue Intelligence and other agencies.

In its May 1999 order, the top court had upheld the death sentence of four convicts -- A G Perarivalan, Murugan, Santham and Nalini -- in the assassination case.

In April 2000, the Tamil Nadu governor had commuted the death sentence of Nalini on the basis of the state government's recommendation and an appeal by former Congress president and Rajiv Gandhi's widow Sonia Gandhi.

On February 18, 2014, the top court had commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment, along with that of two other prisoners - Santhan and Murugan - on grounds of a delay of 11 years in deciding their mercy pleas by the Centre.

The other three convicts are Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Payas.

The apex court had in March this year dismissed a plea by Perarivalan seeking recall of the May 1999 verdict upholding his conviction. The charge against Perarivalan was that he had purchased two nine volt battery cells meant for detonating the bomb.

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China-based Trinasolar is working on its plan to set up a manufacturing unit in India to tap the over 10 GW annual solar equipment market in the country, a company official said.

The company is very much in talks with partners like investors, manufacturers and developers for setting up manufacturing unit in India, Executive Vice President of Trinasolar Yin Rong Fang, told reporters here at the launch of it product Trinahome.

The company has land near Visakhapatnam which was acquired in 2015 for setting up manufacturing plant here. About three years ago company wanted to set up a plant to manufacture 500 to 700 MW of solar equipment annually. But now this could be even higher in view of India's annual market size of 10 GW of solar equipment.

The plant would require at least half a billion US dollar investment as per the estimates worked out earlier by the company.

Commenting on the recently imposed safeguard duty on solar equipment, Yin was of the view that its impact may be big in short term but in long-term renewables market would grow in India as has been the case elsewhere in the world.

He told that solar business from commercial and residential constitute 40 per cent in China and 60 per cent in Europe which were earlier mainly power producers markets.

Citing the case of the US, he said that the market has grown to the size of 9.5 GW which would be 11 GW next year and a majority of it is from commercial and residential segments.

"Trina Solar supplied 3.5GW, so we accounted for 15 per cent of the total. That means we are the clear market leader here in India."



India is also Trina Solar's second largest market in the Asia Pacific after China. It entered the Indian market in 2010.

Now that we have solidified our strong position in the utility segment of the market, we are moving into the household and SME sector with the launch today in India of Trinahome.

Trina Solar India director, Gaurav Mathur, said: We recognize that B2B (business-to-business) is very different from B2C (business-to-consumer). Prior to today's launch, we have been working behind the scenes to develop a nationwide customer service network, so we can reach consumers in all the towns and cities in India. This includes even those in the most remote rural areas.

According to India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India's solar energy capacity, as of the end of July this year, was 21.9GW from utility and only 1.2GW from the rooftop.

Mathur said: Trinahome will help to boost demand in the market for rooftop by giving SMEs and households an easy and affordable solution.

The Trinahome comes in three sizes: 3KW, 5KW and 10KW. Trina Solar also has different mounting systems for different roof-types, so Trinahome can be installed on any type of roof in India.

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A pavement dweller, who was sleeping on the divider of a road in east Delhi's Okhla, was killed after being run over by a truck laden with iron bars, police said Friday.

The truck first hit a car, then the "unidentified" man, and an auto-rickshaw -- all in one go at 12:21 am at the Okhla red light crossing, they said.

"Police rushed to the spot and found that a truck, laden with iron bars, hit a car in the rear end at the Okhla red light crossing and then hit the divider, leading to the death of an unknown person who was sleeping there," said Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast)



However, the car occupants and the auto-rickshaw driver escaped unhurt in the accident, he said.

A case has been registered on the statement of the auto-rickshaw driver, the DCP said, adding that the accused truck driver fled the spot.

Efforts are underway to trace the owner of the Haryana-registered truck and nab the accused driver, he said.

The body of the pavement dweller was shifted to AIIMS mortuary and efforts are being made to identify him, he added.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, officials said, amid rising international concern over a looming Syrian government assault on a rebel-held province bordering Turkey.

"President Erdogan will meet with Mr Putin on Monday," Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a televised press conference on Friday. The meeting will take place in the Russian resort city of Sochi, a senior Turkish official told AFP.

Russia-backed forces of the Syrian regime have massed around the Idlib province in recent weeks, sparking fears of an imminent air and ground attack to retake the last major opposition bastion.

UN agencies and relief organisations have warned repeatedly that such an assault could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of Syria's seven-year war.

Turkey has intensified negotiations with Russia to avert a possible attack, repeatedly calling for a ceasefire.

However last week Erdogan and Putin failed to agree on a ceasefire at a three-way summit in Tehran which also involved Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Russia and Iran are key allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Turkey however backs opposition fighters seeking the ouster of the Syrian leader, and has said a large-scale offensive against the rebels could trigger a mass exodus towards its border.

Cavusoglu on Friday said Turkey was ready to cooperate with anyone in the fight against terror groups in Syria, but criticised the Damascus regime for using the presence of jihadists groups to legitimise a possible operation in Idlib.

"We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct," he said.

"We cannot bring peace that way." Idlib's most powerful armed faction is the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which Ankara officially designated a "terrorist" group last month.

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The UN should resolve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner and Turkey supports Pakistan's efforts to find a peaceful solution, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday as he held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi here.

During their talks, both sides agreed to enhance the bilateral economic and strategic cooperation.

Turkey supported the view that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by the UN in a peaceful manner, Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Qureshi here.

"The (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make it successful," the Turkish foreign minister said.

Qureshi said that Turkey supported Pakistan's effort for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue at the UN.

At the UN conference there will be a separate meeting on Kashmir on the side. It happens every year but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on Kashmir, Qureshi said.

Turkey has been backing Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year had advocated a multilateral dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. India, however, asserted that the Kashmir issue is an bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Cavusoglu said Pakistan and India suffered more than any other nation due to terrorism.

Qureshi said that the Turkish foreign minister assured support for Pakistan at the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

He said that the two sides also discussed the regional situation including in Afghanistan, Iran and Kashmir.

he Turkish foreign minister congratulated Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on forming the new government in Pakistan.

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A man has been detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) on suspicion of spying for Pakistan in Alwar district of Rajasthan, an official said Friday.

"The UP ATS interrogated the 23-year-old man on suspicion of spying. We are probing his connection and trying to retrieve chats he did with his connection in Pakistan," a senior official of the Rajasthan ATS said.

The Rajasthan ATS is assisting the UP ATS in the matter, he added.

The man was called for interrogation on Thursday and was questioned on Friday as well, the officer said. The probe was on, he added.

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Hurricane Florence battered the Carolinas early Friday with howling winds, life-threatening storm surges and torrential rains as it edged closer to the coast in what officials warned is a "once in a lifetime" event.

Reports said coastal streets in North Carolina were flooded and winds bent trees to the ground as the storm, which has been downgraded to Category 1 and is weakened and slower moving than in recent days, prepared to make landfall at some point on Friday.

More than 150,000 customers in North Carolina were reported to be without power as the outer band of the storm approached.

Footage from US TV outlets showed raging waters hitting piers and jettys and rushing across coastal roads in seaside communities.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported "life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds" along the North Carolina coast.

In its advisory, the centre said Florence was over the Atlantic Ocean about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Wilmington, North Carolina and moving northwest at six miles per hour (10 kilometers per hour).

It added that the maximum sustained winds were 90 miles per hour. Florence is now at the weakest of five categories on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

In a display of the early effects of the storm, one flood gauge on the Neuse River in New Bern, North Carolina, showed 10 feet (three meters) of flooding, the NHC said.

With winds picking up along the coastline earlier Thursday, federal and state officials had issued final appeals to residents to get out of the path of the "once in a lifetime" weather system.

"This storm will bring destruction," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. "Catastrophic effects will be felt." In Wilmington, a steady rain began to fall as gusts of winds intensified, causing trees to sway and stoplights to flicker.

Avair Vereen, 39, took her seven children to a shelter in Conway High School near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

"We live in a mobile home so we were just like 'No way,'" she said. "If we lose the house, oh well, we can get housing.

"But we can't replace us so we decided to come here." - Monster storm surge expected



Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Florence's forward motion had slowed and it was not expected to make landfall in the Carolinas until "some time Friday afternoon, Friday evening or Saturday morning." He said hurricane-force winds extended outward 80 miles from the center of the storm and tropical storm-force winds extended nearly 200 miles out.

Some areas could receive as much as 40 inches (one meter) of rain, forecasters said.

"This rainfall will produce catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding," the NHC said.

A tornado watch was also in effect for parts of North Carolina. Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned the danger was not only along the coast: "Inland flooding kills a lot of people, unfortunately, and that's what we're about to see," he said.

About 1.7 million people in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders and millions of others live in areas likely to be affected by the storm.

Myrtle Beach, a South Carolina beach resort, was virtually deserted with empty streets, boarded up storefronts and very little traffic.

A state of emergency has been declared in five coastal states -- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia.

Duke Energy, a power company in the Carolinas, estimated that one million to three million customers could lose electricity because of the storm and that it could take weeks to restore.

Not everybody was heeding orders to evacuate, however.

Antonio Ramirez, a construction worker from El Salvador living in Leland, North Carolina, said he planned to ride out the worst of the weather with his dog Canelo.

"The shelters are not taking dogs," Ramirez said. "I'm not leaving him here. In Wilmington, residents who had decided not to evacuate were lining up to get ice from a vending machine -- USD 2 for a 16-pound (7.2-kilo) bag.

"I have no generator," said Petra Langston, a nurse. "I learned from the past to keep the ice in the washing machine." Perched on the porch of his home, carpenter Tony Albright was calmly awaiting Florence's arrival, beer in hand.

"I built this house myself, so I'm not worried at all, I know it's solid," he said. "I charged the batteries of my electronic devices, I have beers and video games." "The only thing missing in there is a hot lady.

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A US-based IT staffing company has been asked to pay over USD 300,000 to its 12 H-1B employees for paying them far below their salary and imposed a penalty of over USD 45,000 for violating the labour provisions, amidst the Trump administration's crackdown against the abuse of the visa category popular among Indian professionals.

The US Department of Labour Wage and Hour Division (WHD) during an investigation found the Redmond-based company, which has offices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, violated the labour provisions of the H-1B visa programme by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, a media release said Thursday.

As a result, People Tech Group Inc has been asked to pay its 12 employees USD 309,914 and has been slapped with a penalty of USD 45,564, it said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Investigators found that the company paid entry-level wages to H-1B computer analysts and computer programmers who performed the work of much more experienced employees and should have received higher prevailing rates, the Department of Labour said.

The People Tech Group also failed to pay workers for the time when it did not provide them work, as the law requires, the department said.

"The intent of the H-1B foreign labour certification program is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of US workers exists," said Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Carrie Aguilar in Seattle.

"The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to safeguard American jobs, level the playing field for law-abiding employers, and ensure no one is being paid less than they are legally owed," Aguilar said.

The Wage and Hour Division has listed nearly 30 companies as willful violator employers under the H-1B programme.

As per the list maintained since 2013, a majority of willful violators are Indian Americans or companies owned by them. At least 10 companies, which includes eight willful violators, have been debarred or disqualified from hiring foreign guest workers on H-1B visas.

The Trump administration is pushing for a reform of the H-1B system, saying some IT companies were abusing the US work visas to deny jobs to American workers.

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The US State Department spent about $52,701 last year on customised and mechanised curtains for the official residence of US Ambassador to the UN at a time when the department was undergoing deep budget cuts and had frozen hiring, according to a media report.

The report in The New York Times said Haley is the first US ambassador to live in the residence, located in a new building just blocks away from the UN headquarters here.

A spokesman for Haley said plans to buy the curtains were made in 2016, during the Obama administration and that Haley had no say in the purchase.

The curtains themselves cost $29,900, while the motors and hardware needed to open and close them automatically cost $22,801, the report said, citing contracts.

Installation took place from March to August last year, during Haley's tenure as ambassador.

The NYT report said that Haley's curtains are more expensive than the $31,000 dining room set purchased for the office of Ben Carson, the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Following the controversial $31,000 purchase, President had even considered firing Carson.

While Haley's curtains were being ordered and installed, Rex W Tillerson, the administration's first secretary of state, had frozen hiring, pushed out many of the department's most senior diplomats and proposed cutting the department's budget by 31 per cent. In embassies around the world, projects were eliminated, jobs were left unfilled and the delegation to last year's United Nations General Assembly meeting was slashed, the report said.

The report quoted White House official in the Obama administration Brett Bruen as saying that how could more than $50,000 be spent on a customised curtain system for the ambassador to the UN when you tell diplomats that basic needs cannot be met.

Patrick Kennedy, the top management official at the State Department during the Obama administration, however, defended the purchase, saying that it would probably be used for years and that it was needed for both security and entertainment purposes.

"All she's got is a part-time maid, and the ability to open and close the curtains quickly is important," Kennedy said.

Haley's predecessors had for decades lived in the Waldorf Astoria hotel near the UN but after the hotel was purchased by a Chinese insurance company, the State Department decided in 2016 to find a new residence for its top diplomat due to security concerns.

The NYT report said the government leased the apartment with an option to buy, according to Kennedy.

"The full-floor penthouse, with handsome hardwood floors covering large open spaces stretching nearly 6,000 square feet, was listed at $58,000 a month, it said.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday embarked on a three-nation tour of Serbia, Malta and Romania aimed at enhancing cooperation in economy, environment, trade and culture.

During his week-long visit, he is scheduled to interact with heads of states of all the three countries and witness signing of agreements. As the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, he will hold delegation-level talks with his counterparts and address their respective parliaments.

The Vice President is accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla and MPs Prasanna Acharya, Raghav Lakhanpal, Saroj Pandey, and Vijila Sathyananth.

The visit is expected to help the countries exchange expertise and share knowledge in economy, environment, trade and culture, an official statement said.

Vice President Naidu will first visit Belgrade, Serbia where he is likely to interact with the Indian diaspora.

He will attend the official welcoming ceremony hosted by Serbia on Saturday and proceed to Serbia Palace to hold a meeting with the President of Republic of Serbia Aleksander Vucic.

Both the leaders will witness the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and release commemorative stamps on Nikola Tesla and Swami Vivekananda.

The Vice President is also scheduled to attend India-Serbia business forum meeting and later join the banquet hosted by Aleksander Vucic.

Naidu will hold delegation-level talks with the Speakers of the National Assembly of Republic of Serbia Maja Gajkovic and later address the special Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia before attending the presentation on the Belgrade Waterfront Project.

On Sunday, Naidu will offer floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi' bust and proceed to Mt Avala for the wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the 'unknown soldier'. Later Ana Branbic, the prime minister of Republic of Serbia, shall host lunch. He will later depart for Malta.

The Vice President will attend the Indian community reception hosted by the High Commissioner of India to Malta.

On September 17, he will hold delegation-level talks with the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and witness signing of MOUs on mutual cooperation before attending the lunch hosted by her.

The Vice President, who is also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, will participate in a meeting with Anglu Farrugia, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta and hold delegation level talks.

He will also hold delegation level talks with the acting Prime Minister of Malta Evarist Bartolo. Later in the evening, he is scheduled to attend India- Malta Business Forum Meeting where President of Malta shall also participate.

In Romania, Naidu will hold delegation level talks with Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, the President of the Senate of Romania and witness signing of MoUs. He is scheduled to hold talks with the President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis and later proceed to Parliament to address the members of Senate.

He will also hold talks with the Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dancila and Nicolae-Livi Dragnea, President of the Chamber of Deputies. He will also interact with the India- Romania Business Forum Meeting.

On the last day of his trip, he will address the Indian community in Romania at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of India to Romania, statement from the vice president's office said.

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The West Bengal government has decided to change colour of the uniform from khaki to white for police personnel in the rank of constable to inspector, a senior official of the home department said Friday.

Proposal in this regard was approved Thursday by the home department, the official said.

"The proposal of changing the existing colour of uniform from khaki to white uniform for police personnel in the rank of constable to inspector in unarmed branch and traffic police in police commissionerate under West Bengal Police was under active consideration. The proposal has been approved by the state home department yesterday," he said.

A notification regarding the decision has been released which said that "no additional financial implication is required for implementing the proposal".

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The Majerhat bridge, a portion of which collapsed last week, will be demolished and a new bridge will be constructed in a year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday.

She said there was negligence on the part of some PWD officials and strict action would be taken against them.

A section of the over 50-year-old bridge on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road in south Kolkata collapsed on September 4 in which three people lost their lives.

"The Majerhat bridge will be demolished and a new bridge will be constructed. We will try to build it within a year," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.

She said Chief Secretary Malay Dey submitted a preliminary report which recommended immediate demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new one.

The chief minister said the demolition of the remaining portion of the bridge would start soon.

Dey headed a panel formed by the chief minister to find out reasons which led to the collapse of the bridge.

The chief secretary will be monitoring the entire process of construction of the new bridge and would decide on who would be employed for the construction work.

Banerjee said she has asked the Metro authorities to temporarily stop construction work of the ongoing Joka-BBD Bag project.

"The forensic department cannot collect samples from the site for testing if construction continued," she said.

The chief secretary, in the report, mentioned that vibration due to Metro Railway's construction beside the Majerhat bridge could also be a possible reason for the mishap.

"That requires further investigation. The police are looking into it," Banerjee said, adding the final report by the chief secretary on the bridge collapse would be filed within a month.

"The PWD is our own department but we will not forgive anyone for negligence. Some officials who had wasted much time in handling the files could have suggested some precautionary measures. Thy cannot avoid their responsibility," she said.

Files relating to the health report of the Majerhat bridge in 2016 were not sent to the PWD minister and those files have been seized. Police are probing the matter and they have been instructed to take strict action, the chief minister said.

Banerjee said the state government has requested the Railways to build a level-crossing in a nearby location.

The bridge is over the tracks of the Circular Railway and the Budge Budge-Sealdah section, but the collapsed portion was not over the tracks.

"We will bear the entire expense of building the level crossing and also pay the salary of the person who will be employed to monitor the level crossing," the chief minister said.

She said a survey was conducted by Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Disaster Management Minister Javed Ahmed Khan and Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to identify areas where new roads near the bridge collapse site could be built.

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The number of white terror suspects arrested by British counter-terrorism officers has overtaken Asians for the first time in over a decade, according to new figures released by the UK Home Office.

Indicating a growing threat from far-right extremism in the country, figures released on Thursday show a total of 351 arrests were made over the past year until June 2018 where terrorism-related activity was suspected, with 133 of them white and 129 recorded as Asian ethnic appearance.

This was the first time, since the year ending June 2005, that the proportion of white people arrested has exceeded the proportion of Asian people arrested, a Home Office statement noted.

White people arrested on suspicion of terrorism accounted for 38 per cent of terrorist-related arrests in the latest period an increase of 4 percentage points on the previous year.

There were falls in the proportion of arrests of those of Asian ethnic appearance, down seven percentage points to 37 per cent, and those of black ethnic appearance, down two percentage points to 9 per cent, the Home Office said.

As part of wider data collated within the Home Office document titled 'Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation', it emerged that the UK police had arrested 60 people who gave their self-defined nationality as Indians on suspicion of terrorist-related activity since September 2001, when such data collation began.

India ranks ninth among the UK's top nationalities for the number of such arrests over the last 17 years, with Great Britain (2,542), Alegria (186), Pakistan (165), Iraq (158), Afghanistan (89), Iran (84), Somalia (77), Turkey (76) and Ireland (44) completing the top 10.

"Since 11 September 2001 (when the data collection began), 60 per cent of those arrested considered themselves to be of British or British dual nationality, notes the Home Office.

The figures also reveal a total of 100 people went to trial in the year ending June 30 this year an increase of 39 per cent on the previous year. Of those, 90 were convicted, the highest number since data collection began in 2009.

Out of the 92 individuals charged with a terrorism-related offence, 48 were prosecuted, and 46 of those were convicted and two were found not guilty.

"We may have seen a reduction in the number of arrests in the last 12 months, but we should put that in context by saying that we prevented 13 Islamist-related and four extreme right-wing plots since March 2017, so it certainly doesn't indicate a reduction in the threat we all face from terrorism, said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, Scotland Yard's counter-terror police senior national coordinator.

The latest figures cover the use of anti-terrorism powers in Britain and reveal that 234 arrests were registered in the "international" category. This includes suspected activity linked to or motivated by terrorist groups abroad such as Islamic State (ISIS).

There have been steady increases in recent years in the number of terrorist prisoners across all the types of ideologies covered, although the number of Islamist extremist prisoners saw a slight decrease, for the first time, of 4 per cent, to 178 in custody, the Home Office said.

Of those in custody, 82 per cent were categorised as holding Islamist extremist views, a further 13 per cent as holding far-right ideologies and 6 per cent other ideologies.

"The proportion of prisoners holding far-right ideologies has increased steadily over the past three years, with the number up from 10 to 28 in the latest year," it adds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 30-year-old woman was gangraped in a field on the outskirts of Jattari township near here, police said Friday.

The incident took place in a field adjoining the Yamuna Expressway Thursday and three persons allegedly involved in the incident have been identified, police station in-charge Sanjay Pandey said.

The accused had an old enmity with the victim's family, he said.

Soon after the incident villagers held a protest at the police station alleging police delay in reaching the crime spot.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Praising the Dawoodi Bohra community for its honesty in trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the world is one family, gives India an identity different from all other countries.

The prime minister was speaking at a function held at the Saifee Mosque.

The community's spiritual head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, felicitated Modi on his arrival at the mosque for the event, 'Ashara Mubaraka', which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

"The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," the prime minister said in his address.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Modi explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said.

The prime minister highlighted the GST (Goods and Services Tax) roll-out and other economic reforms carried out by his government and said members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these steps as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

The prime minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras, a sect within Shia Islam known for their trading and business acumen, for their efforts in making the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the Dandi Yatra, Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the prime minister said.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched on September 15 and will culminate on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

Modi lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

The prime minister was received by Chouhan and others on his arrival at the Devi Ahiyabai Airport here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Private sector lender said Friday it will raise up to Rs 30.42 billion by issuing Basel-III compliant

The capital raising committee of the board of the bank Friday approved issuing 30,420 rated listed non-convertible redeemable unsecured Basel-III compliant tier II of Rs 1 million each aggregating to Rs 30.42 billion, said in a regulatory filing.

The issue opening and closing date is September 14, 2018.

The bonds, set to mature on September 15, 2028, carry coupon rate of over 9.11 per cent payable annually.

The have been rated AAA and AA+ with stable outlook by and Ind-Ra, which means they carry the highest degree of safety on timely servicing of financial obligations.

To comply with the global Basel-III capital regulations, need to improve and strengthen their capital planning processes.

These norms are being implemented to mitigate concerns on potential stresses on asset quality and consequential impact on performance and profitability of

has been implementing Basel-III standards in phases since April 1, 2013. The are expected to fully implement these norms by March 2019.

This will align full implementation of Basel-III in India closer to the internationally agreed date of January 1, 2019.

shares closed 2.75 per cent up at Rs 323.10 on BSE.
The Delhi unit of Youth Congress Friday staged a protest against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, demanding his resignation over the issue of fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya.

Youth Congress activists took out a protest march from Udyog Bhawan and were stopped by police while they were heading towards Jaitley's residence on Krishna Menon Marg.

"BJP, that claims to be a champion of nationalism, has betrayed the nation. Youth Congress will not relent till Arun Jaitley steps down," said Srinivas BV, vice president of the Indian Youth Congress.

Protesters raised slogans against Jaitley and the Modi government, seeking a reply on Mallya's escape from the country.

They also sported masks of Jaitley, Mallya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also rode a vehicle to enact Mallya's act of leaving the country.

Mallya on Wednesday claimed that he met Jaitley before he left the country in 2016.

Accompanied by party MP PL Punia, Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday demanded Jaitley's resignation alleging that the Finance minister "colluded" with Mallya.

Punia claimed he was witness to the meeting at Central Hall of Parliament House.

The BJP said the allegations against the Finance minister were "false".

Mallya is facing a case in London regarding his extradition to India to undergo trial on fraud and money laundering charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Hyunjoo JinSEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Group appointed heir apparent Euisun Chung as chief vice chairman on Friday, moving him a step closer to succeeding his father as head of South Korea's second largest conglomerate. Chung, 47, who will assist his father and group chairman Mong-Koo Chung, was promoted to respond to "deteriorating global trade issues and changes in competitive dynamics in major markets," Hyundai Motor Group said in a statement. Chaebols like Samsung Group, which have grown into global firms from the rubble of the 1950-1953 Korean War, are undergoing a transfer of ...
By Hyunjoo JinSEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Group promoted heir apparent Euisun Chung on Friday to a role of overseeing the conglomerate, moving him a step closer to succeeding his octogenarian father as head of South Korea's second largest group. Chung, 47, who will assist his father and group chairman Mong-Koo Chung, was appointed as executive vice chairman to respond to "deteriorating global trade issues and changes in competitive dynamics in major markets," Hyundai Motor Group said in a statement. Chaebols like Hyundai and Samsung Group, which have grown into global firms from the ...
By Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Emma RumneyJOHANNESBURG/LONDON (Reuters) - Investec cheered investors on Friday with plans to spin off its asset management unit in a surprise restructuring ahead of the departure after four decades of the South African firm's founder and chief executive.The plan to float the asset management business on the London Stock Exchange with a secondary listing in Johannesburg follows similar moves by Prudential, Old Mutual and Deutsche Bank as fees fall and costs rise.Analysts had not expected any major changes a the Anglo-South African financial group, despite the ...
By Emma ThomassonBERLIN (Reuters) - German retailer Metro AG plans to sell its struggling Real chain and is confident of interest in the hypermarkets, which some analysts say could fetch around 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion)."The fact is that we repeatedly had expressions of interest shows that we can take up the journey again," Metro's chief executive Olaf Koch told journalists on Friday.Metro said on Thursday that it wants to sell Real, with 282 stores in Germany and 34,000 staff, to focus on its wholesale business.It has previously tried to offload Real, which posted a loss and saw sales ...
BERLIN (Reuters) - Most new diesel vehicles exceed the legal limit for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, German environmental lobby group DUH said on Friday, calling on the government to force car companies to carry out hardware retrofits of polluting cars.Almost three years after Volkswagen admitted to deliberately cheating U.S. pollution tests, Germany's car industry, which employs some 800,000 people and is the country's biggest exporter, is under intense pressure to cut diesel fumes. A court ruled last week that Frankfurt, Germany's financial centre, must ban highly-polluting, older diesel ...
By Shadia NasrallaLONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose on Friday, clawing back some territory after prices fell by the most in a month in the previous session, as the focus returned to supply concerns ahead of a November deadline for U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude.Brent crude was up 17 cents at $78.35 a barrel at 1044 GMT. The global benchmark fell 2 percent on Thursday after rising on Wednesday to its highest since May 22 at $80.13. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 27 cents at $68.86 a barrel after dropping 2.5 percent on Thursday.Brent was set for a 2 percent weekly rise and WTI ...
(Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with finance ministry officials on Friday to discuss the fall in the rupee and other economic issues, a government source told Reuters.The rupee is Asia's weakest currency in 2018, down more than 12 percent on a widening current account deficit and higher oil prices. (Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Krishna N. Das)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Reuters) - Sensex and Nifty ended higher for a second session on Friday, as investors sentiment turned positive after government officials said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting later in the day with the finance ministry to discuss economic issues.Modi will hold a meeting with finance ministry officials on Friday to discuss the fall in the rupee and other economic issues, a government source told Reuters.The broader NSE Nifty closed 1.28 percent higher at 11,515.20 while the benchmark BSE Sensex ended 0.99 percent firmer at 38,090.64.For the week, the NSE Nifty weakened 0.64 ...
US President has instructed aides to proceed with tariffs on about $200 billion more of Chinese products, a source familiar with the process said on Friday, adding that the timing is not yet clear.

An earlier Bloomberg report on Friday that was moving ahead on the tariffs despite Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's attempts to restart talks with China on resolving the had an immediate effect on financial markets, leading U.S. stocks to reverse course and trade lower.

The step comes one week after raised the possibility of duties on the $200 billion of imports and also threatened tariffs on another $267 billion worth of goods. Trump has already levied duties on $50 billion worth of

The United States only imported $505 billion in goods imported from China last year. But 2018 imports from China through July were up nearly 9 percent over the same period of 2017, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The supervisory board of Volkswagen will meet on Monday to discuss the future of Rupert Stadler, the suspended chief executive of its premium brand Audi, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday.The magazine said the board is due to decide whether Stadler, who has been in police custody since mid-June as part of a broader probe into emissions cheating at Audi, should give up his position.Citing sources close to the company, Spiegel said it was probable that Stadler would be asked to relinquish the role.Volkswagen declined to comment on the report.In July, Volkswagen ...
French President called Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: French President Emmanuel Macron called Imran Khan, the two leaders talked by phone on Thursday, with the French leader praising Pakistans efforts against terrorism.



The French president congratulated Mr Khan on assuming the office of prime minister. He also stressed the need for a political dialogue between the two countries, according to a PM House press release.



Mr Macron expressed his governments desire to cooperate in the fields of energy, water resource management and trade and to work on issues of mutual interest at the global level. He praised Pakistans efforts against terrorism and said he recognised the high price paid by the country in fighting the menace.
By Arunima Banerjee and Joseph White(Reuters) - Volkswagen said on Thursday it would stop producing its Beetle compact car in 2019, ending a model that looked backward to the 1960s counterculture as the automaker prepares for a leap towards a future of mass-market electric cars.The original VW Beetle, developed in the 1930s, made a journey from a product identified with Adolf Hitler to a symbol of Germany's rebirth as a democratic, industrial powerhouse after World War Two. In the 1960s, the Beetle was a small-is-beautiful icon of the postwar baby boom generation. Volkswagen discontinued U.S. ...
HAMBURG/PARIS (Reuters) - Germany's Volkswagen is in talks with other carmakers to set common standards for self-driving vehicle technology, Automotive News reported on Friday.The Volkswagen Group is discussing the initiative with more than 15 potential partners, according to the report, which cited an anonymous company executive. It did not identify any of the other companies involved.Carmakers, suppliers and technology companies are already investing more than 55 billion euros ($64 billion) globally in autonomous driving, consulting firm AlixPartners estimates.Manufacturers including BMW ...
(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co's chief financial officer said on Friday the bank expects to reduce total expenses by about $3 billion by 2020. Speaking at an industry conference, CFO John Shrewsberry said the bank was on track to reach its target of $53.5 to $54.5 billion by the end of 2018. He sees expenses in the range of $50.0 billion to $51.0 billion in 2020. The outlook excludes remediation and penalty costs associated with the widespread regulatory and legal problems at the bank. For the current quarter, the company expects approximately $200 million in costs from ongoing efforts to ...
Around two decades after Tata group firm Voltas was forced to exit the consumer durables vertical, due to stiff competition and tepid growth, it is coming back with a bang. The AC major has teamed with a foreign partner in bid to get second time lucky in the segment that is estimated to have reached Rs 1 lakh crore ($15.5 billion) last year.

Voltas and Arcelik, a part of Koc Holding, the largest industrial conglomerate in Turkey, have formed a 50:50 joint venture, Voltbek Home Appliances Pvt Ltd, and will reportedly invest Rs 1,000 crore in it over the next four-five years. The plans include launching more than 100 products over the next three months, and setting up a home appliances plant in Gujarat. Till the factory is operational, the products will reportedly be imported from Arcelik's global manufacturing units in Turkey and Thailand.

Voltbek's managing director and chief executive officer Pradeep Bakshi told Mint that the company aims to generate Rs 10,000 crore of revenue by 2025 by selling household appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers under a new brand launched yesterday, Voltas Beko. In other words, the new entity hopes to corner around a 10% share of a market dominated by Korean consumer durable majors LG and Samsung.

"We have already bought a land parcel of 60 acre in Sanand, near Ahmedabad, where we are going to manufacture. We have already started civil works at factory and the products would be coming out by the second quarter of the next year," said Bakshi.

He added that Voltas Beko's range of home appliances would be "value for money" and would cater to all segments in the metros as well as tier II and III cities.

"We have been looking at India as a potential market for a long time. With its vast population and significant economic growth prospects, India offers huge potential to support our continued plans for global expansion. But, India is a difficult market. It's not possible to crack a market like India without a strong local partner. We waited until we decided to partner with Voltas," said Arcelik CEO Hakan Bulgurlu.

Initially, Arcelik would supply major components to the JV for manufacturing but it aims to increase the localisation ratio gradually. "Some components would be imported but, the idea is over time to localise as much as possible," Bulgurlu added.

According to Bakshi, Voltbek will also adopt a 360 degree approach to expand its dealership network, covering modern trade outlets, multi-brand outlets, e-commerce and more. "To begin with, in the next two years, we would add 10,000 additional outlets," he said, adding Voltas would also "add 500 more exclusive brand outlets in the next two years and taking it to over 1,000 in next three-four years".

Voltas currently boasts 100-odd exclusive brand outlets and around 70% of its dealers selling its range of cooling products also deal in other product categories. This is the network that Voltbek plans to leverage.

While the company intends to focus on the domestic market initially, it aims to also tap export opportunities in neighbouring Asian and African markets in the future.

The joint venture comes at a time the domestic consumer durables market is slated to grow at 10-12% per annum. Moreover, India is expected to rank fifth globally in this space by 2025, according to a joint report by Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) and consultancy firm EY.

With PTI inputs
Delhi may be one of the worst polluted cities in the world, but the metropolitan city surely isn't behind when it comes to economic performance. The megacity has been ranked on the sixth place in terms of best performing metropolitan economies in the world. The five metro cities that have been ranked above Delhi in the 2018 edition of Global Metro Monitor report are Dublin, San Jose, Chengdu, San Francisco and Beijing.

Other Indian metropolitan cities that have been able to secure the place in top 100 metro cities include Hyderabad (ranked 14), Surat (19), Mumbai (23), Bangaluru (46), Kolkata (59), Ahmedabad (86), and Pune (88). This year's sample comprised 300 largest metropolitan economies in the world, based on the size of their economies in 2016 at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) rates.

The emerging Asia Pacific nations outside of China housed some of the largest-growing metropolitan areas in the world. Together, large metro areas in this region averaged 2.8 per cent annual employment growth (above the region's 1.6 per cent) and 4.9 per cent annual GDP per capita growth (below the region's 5.1 percent).

"Strong performers in India included Delhi and Hyderabad, with Delhi achieving the largest employment increase in the region and Hyderabad boasting the fastest GDP per capita growth rate (8.7 per cent)," says the report. Among the top 10 largest metro areas on the economic performance index, five metropolitan cities are in China. "Metropolitan areas within the top 300 in China (55 new entrants), the Middle East and Africa (10), and the rest of the emerging Asia Pacific (8) have all increased, whereas metro areas in North America, Western Europe and Advanced Asia-Pacific have lost 64 slots in total," says the report.

The report also says that between 2014 and 2016, the 300 largest metro areas accounted for 36 percent of global employment growth and 67 percent of global GDP growth, rates that well exceed their 2016 share of each indicator. "Emerging economy metro areas continued to disproportionately drive growth, accounting for 80 percent of the 60 best-performing metropolitan areas," the report said.

Delhi, which has a population of 1.8 crore, may be performing well on the economic front but it lacks on various other parameters like quality of life. Pollution is one of the biggest problems in the metro city. India accounts for nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world, of which Delhi is ranked at the sixth spot.
Shivinder Singh has said that withdrawal of the petition against his brother Malvinder does not mean they will do business together in future. "To ally justifiable skepticism, let me be clear: the decision to disassociate from my brother and tread an independent path stands," Shivinder said in a statement confirming the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had accepted his request to withdraw the petition of "oppression and mismanagement" against his brother Malvinder and former CEO of Religare, Sunil Godhwani.

Shivinder Singh said he decided to withdraw the case after "repeated urging" by his mother and family to "participate in mediation as a final attempt to resolve amicably the inter se issues".

The youngest brother of the Singh family, Shivinder Singh, said the decision to file the case was made with a very heavy heart and after careful deliberation. "The decision to withdraw was weighed equally seriously. I did so because my primary goal remains to address and resolve the group's issues through constructive and transparent engagement with Daiichi Sankyo and our other creditors. It is clear that my brother and I cannot do so together. To that end, I intend to use the mediation process to get to a critical decision. Namely, whether my brother or I take full responsibility for resolving the group's issues with Daiichi Sankyo and other lenders," Shivinder said in his withdrawal application.

Shivinder also said if mediation fails, he "intend to reassess and start a fresh action" if that is what it takes to address all issues related to his companies.

In his petition before the NCLT on September 4, Shivinder, his wife Aditi and his holding company Shivi Holdings had alleged Malvinder, group holding firm RHC Holding, and Godhwani were responsible for systematic undermining of the interests of their companies and their shareholders. He said that he couldn't be a party to activities in which transparency and ethics were continuously and consistently negated. "It has come to a point where this means that I am now disassociating from my brother as a business partner and will be pursuing an independent path going forward," said Shivinder.

The Singh brothers, Malvinder and Shivinder, have been at the centre of one of the biggest corporate turmoils after they squandered Rs 22,500 crore in less than a decade. The two brothers were loaded with Rs 9,576 crore in cash in 2008 after selling India's largest pharmaceutical firm Ranbaxy Laboratories to Japan's Daiichi Sankyo. Just 8 years later, in 2016, they were in debt of Rs 13,000 crore.
Riyadh-based airline, Flynas has announced its plans to recruit Saudi women as co-pilots and flight attendants for the first time. This comes just months after the kingdom notorious for its restrictions on women, lifted its decades-long ban on female motorists. As if it was something women were waiting for with bated breath, 1,000 women applied for the co-pilot roles with Flynas.

Although women are not legally barred from working in the aviation sector, but jobs in this sector mostly go out to female foreign workers from countries such as the Philippines.

"Flynas is keen to empower Saudi women to play an important role in the kingdom's transformation. Women are an essential part of the airline's success," the low-cost carrier said in its call for applications on Wednesday.

Their recruitment drive comes just days after another low-cost Saudi carrier, Flyadeal, started posting jobs for Saudi women to work as flight attendants.

In June this year, Saudi women rejoiced as the ban on women driving was lifted indicating an attempt to relax restrictions on women. This move was made as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to transform the country's economy as the top oil exporter. The ban was lifted at midnight but the decision to do so was taken last year. Rejoicing women drove up and down the Al Khobar city streets. Three million women are expected to drive by 2020. Women with international licences were issued domestic ones from June 4 by the Saudi General Traffic Directorate. Many are getting trained at the new state-run schools.

However, the lift on the ban was accompanied by the arrests of multiple women activists who had been protesting it for years.

While the ban on driving has been lifted, women still need to acquire permission from fathers, husbands or other male relatives to travel or get married under the kingdom's strict rules.

(Edited by Anwesha Madhukalya)
Google's senior artificial intelligence scientist, Jack Poulson resigned over the company's involvement in building a special censored version of the search engine for China. A report by The Intercept discusses how a lot of employees have been dissenting against Google's uncharacteristic new move and the reason why Poulson left Google.

Jack Poulson worked on the company's search system by implementing machine intelligence. According to the research scientist, a new search platform, code-named Dragonfly is being built for China which flouts a lot of company policies. He felt it was his "ethical responsibility to resign in protest of the forfeiture of our public human rights commitments."

He claimed that the new search engine stands in direct conflict with Google's artificial intelligence principles. These principles state that the search giant will not design or implement any kind of technology that "contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights."

He also goes on to explain why the existence of a special version of Google search will introduce loopholes in consumer's data protection in China. These access doors can then be used by Chinese security agencies to target political activists and journalists.

His resignation letter read, "Due to my conviction that dissent is fundamental to functioning democracies, I am forced to resign in order to avoid contributing to, or profiting from, the erosion of protection for dissidents."

"I view our intent to capitulate to censorship and surveillance demands in exchange for access to the Chinese market as a forfeiture of our values and governmental negotiating position across the globe. There is an all-too-real possibility that other nations will attempt to leverage our actions in China in order to demand our compliance with their security demands," he added.

Google's unresponsiveness has triggered a greater unrest within the ranks of employees as well as journalists questioning the entire project.

The company has some precedence when it comes to building a custom search engine for China. In 2006, Google had developed a censored version of the search engine. However, that was taken down by the company claiming that the Chinese government was trying to limit free speech.
A recently leaked hour-long video of a Google TGIF, an all-hands meeting, after the 2016 US Presidential Elections has landed the search giant in hot water with the Trump administration. The video sent anonymously to Breitbart News shows Google's top leadership, including CEO Sundar Pichai, co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin and two vice-presidents, expressing their disappointment with the election of Donald Trump as president.

The video could not have made waves at a worse time for the company. Along with other tech giants like Facebook and Twitter, Google has received increasing flak from the conservatives in recent months about their political bias, which allegedly is influencing their products. It is well-known that Silicon Valley, a liberal-leaning part of California, had overwhelmingly backed Trump's Democratic foe, Hillary Clinton in the elections.

And this video is being cited as more proof that Google is trying to undermine Trump and silence his supporters. According to The Washington Post, some White House allies are even sating that it should prompt regulators to investigate the company.

The video starts with Brin, the president of Google parent Alphabet, saying "let's face it, most people here are pretty upset and pretty sad because of the election", after acknowledging that it was not the "most joyous TGIF" the company's had. "Myself, as an immigrant and a refugee, I certainly find this election deeply offensive and I know many of you do, too," he said, adding that it was a "period of great uncertainty" and one had no idea what direction the country would take under the new administration.

When Pichai took the stage next, he started out by saying "It's been an extraordinarily stressful time, I'm sure, for many of you". According to him, there was a "lot of fear within Google", going by the numerous emails he had received from worried employees; however he stressed that the country just had to trust in the democratic process.

The agenda of the TGIF appeared to be assuaging Google employees, especially immigrants, about the company's ideology, especially in light of Trump's pledge to toughen security at the border. In doing so, Google's leaders encouraged their workers to be understanding of "all sides of the political spectrum", as Eileen Naughton, the company's vice president for people operations, put it.

Significantly, she had added, "I do want to be clear that diversity also means diversity of opinion and political persuasion. I have heard from some conservative Googlers in the past few days that they haven't felt comfortable. We need to do better; we need to be tolerant, inclusive."

Comments like this have not found their way in the right-leaning Breitbart reportage - it instead seized on comments from Google's VP for Global Affairs Kent Walker, who spoke broadly about the rise of populist movements globally, fuelled by forces like fear and "xenophobia". Neither did Breitbart detail a moment when Pichai and Page highlighted that Trump could improve US infrastructure or that it could be the end of congressional gridlock.

According to the site, the recording reflected "a determinism to thwart both the Trump agenda and the broader populist movement emerging around the globe".

Moreover, given that the old video resurfaced just a few weeks after Trump accused Google of having "rigged" search results to display negative stories about him - a charge that Google strongly denied - conservatives have reacted strongly against it.

Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, took to Twitter to voice his protest. "@google needs to explain why this isn't a threat to the Republic. Watch the video. Google believes they can shape your search results and videos to make you "have their values". Open borders. Socialism. Medicare 4 all. Congressional hearings! Investigate," he tweeted on Wednesday.

In a similar vein, the US president's son Donald Trump Jr tweeted "They control 91% of all search and they get to decide what everyone sees. If this isn't a Monopoly I don't know what is".

Earlier this week, even before the video made headlines, U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy had reportedly accused Google of a "silent donation" to a left-wing group to stop Trump, and for allegedly working with China and Russia to censor the internet. He even threatened to drag Google to Capitol Hill to answer for its political leanings saying "An invite will be on its way".

According to the newspaper, given that the lawmaker had previously helped orchestrate an entire congressional hearing focused on allegations of conservative bias at Twitter, chances are that Google's executives could soon be forced to appear in front of their Republican critics.

Meanwhile, Riva Sciuto, a spokeswoman for Google, has defended Google's meeting saying that the executives had expressed their "personal views".

"For over 20 years, everyone at Google has been able to freely express their opinions at these meetings," she said in a statement. "Nothing was said at that meeting, or any other meeting, to suggest that any political bias ever influences the way we build or operate our products. To the contrary, our products are built for everyone, and we design them with extraordinary care to be a trustworthy source of information for everyone, without regard to political viewpoint."

Interestingly, Pichai was pretty candid while speaking about misinformation and how its personalisation algorithms shape peoples' opinions - this at a time most tech companies like Facebook did not immediately take responsibility for playing a role in shaping the election. In the video Pichai says that YouTube plays a big role in the discussions about social media and acknowledged there "seems to be a selection bias" around how people are able to access information.

Edited by Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal
OPEC countries have finally started increasing production. As supply cuts are reversed, OPEC's crude oil production in August (excluding Congo, which joined OPEC in June) rose to a 10-month high. The 15-member OPEC (The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) cartel pumped 32.98 million barrels per day last month. The rise in production was last matched in October 2017 (32.57 million b/d) as per S&P Global Platts survey.

Saudi Arabia, which is the world's largest crude exporter, pumped 10.49 million barrels per day in August. This is far above the production that was agreed as per the supply cut agreement of last year. Saudi Arabia's oil production could rise to the level of 11 million barrels per day if the demand sustains. Here are the production numbers of the OPEC countries in the past two months.

The figures show Libya was the highest contributor, increasing its production by 270,000 barrels per day while the total OPEC production increased by 230,000 barrels per day.

Iran, which is facing sanctions by the US, saw its August production falling by 120,000 barrels per day. China and India has also significantly cut oil imports from Iran. Only 3.60 million barrels per day was produced in the country, which represents the lowest in more than two years.

Now the monitoring committee overseeing the OPEC/non-OPEC supply accord will meet on September 23 in Algiers (Algeria) to examine market fundamentals and potentially make recommendations on the output policy.
Governor Houses to be used as museums-educational institutions-hotels

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday formally announced details of its plan for turning Prime Minister House, governor houses and several other heritage buildings in use of government functionaries into museums, parks, educational institutions and hotels.



Addressing a press conference shortly after getting a go-ahead from the prime minister during a briefing on the project, Federal Minister for National History and Literary Division Shafqat Mehmood said that government spent a total of Rs1.15 billion annually on these buildings.



Mr Mehmood, who also holds the portfolio of education and professional training, said Rs470 million was spent on PM House, spread over an area of 137 acres, every year. The government decided to convert it into a state-of-the-art university, he said. Under his chairmanship, he added, a committee having Dr Attaur Rahman and Dr Tariq Banuri as members was taking further steps to establish the university.



In his first speech, Prime Minister Imran Khan while sharing his vision of austerity had specifically mentioned the heritage buildings, including PM House, governor houses and state guest houses, and declared that they would be converted for a better and productive use. Soon afterwards, the government notified a committee of experts in the field of architecture, visual arts and designing etc to propose better use of the heritage buildings.



In Murree, the minister said, Governor House and Punjab House would be turned into a boutique hotel and a tourist complex, respectively.



He explained that the government had recently spent Rs600m for renovation of Governor House while its annual expenditure was Rs140m. He said that Rs25m was spent on Punjab House annually. In Nathiagali, he added, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor House would be changed into a resort hotel.



In Rawalpindi, Mr Mehmood said, a total of Rs40m was spent on the 6.25-acre Punjab House and 2.5-acre Governor House every year. The two buildings would be converted into educational institutions, he said, adding that the National Council of Arts could be shifted to one of these buildings. However, a final decision in this regard would be taken by the Punjab government.



In Lahore, the minister said, 87.5-acre Governor House would be converted into a museum and art gallery while its lawns would be used as public parks. He added that the historical Chamba House would be used as Governor Office.



The 16.5-acre building of a state guest house, which was in use of Foreign Office, would be turned into a five-star hotel, he said, adding that the annual expenditure of this building was over Rs500 million. He said that 90-Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Lahore, building would be converted into a craft museum and its basement would be used for conferences.



In Peshawar, a history museum would be established in Governor House while its grounds would be converted into public parks, Mr Mehmood announced.



About Governor House in Karachi, the minister said that the federal government would hold consultation with the Sindh government so that it could also be converted into a museum. He suggested that state guest house building could be used for Governor House.



Another historical building in the metropolis, Qasre Naz, would be converted into a five-star hotel, he added.



Talking about the reuse of a heritage building of Balochistan, the minister said that it would be converted into a museum and its grounds would be used as a park for women.
The latest Morgan McKinley Employment Monitor has been released today. The monitor measures the pulse of the Irish professional jobs market by tracking the number of new job vacancies and new candidates within the Republic of Ireland each month.



The Monitor registered a reduction of 7.2% in the number of new professional job opportunities available in August compared to the previous month. Overall, the availability of professional jobs reduced by 2.5% in August 2018 compared to the same month a year ago.



There was an increase of 2.1% in the number of professionals seeking new roles in August compared to the previous month. August was the second consecutive month of robust job search activity among professionals.

However, the monitor recorded a decrease of close to 13.7% in the number of professionals actively seeking new job opportunities in August 2018, compared to August 2017 reflecting current economic conditions and near full employment.



Speaking this week, Chief Operations Officer at Morgan McKinley Ireland, Karen OFlaherty said, "With the economy approaching full employment, Ireland is proving attractive again for Irish emigrants. Irish workers overseas are more actively searching for jobs in Ireland and we are seeing a lot of talent moving home from the UK. This is in line with CSO figures which indicate that the number of Irish emigrants moving back to Ireland has finally overtaken the numbers leaving, a first since 2008."

She added, "Overall, the employment market remained strong across all disciplines as companies remain optimistic in their hiring outlook, conscious of the need to attract and retain talent, while sensitive to any uncertainty within the global economic environment."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Ryanair faces a one-day walkout by cabin crew across five countries on Sept. 28 as unions step up pressure on Europe's biggest budget airline to accept local contracts.

The threatened strike in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain is aimed at pressuring shareholders set to meet on Sept. 20 to address Ryanair's labour agreements, union officials said on Thursday.

They said unions would strike once a month until their demands are met.

"It is time the company accepted to employ us with local contracts under local conditions in accordance with local law," Didier Lebbe, a spokesman for the CNE union in Belgium, told a news conference in Brussels.

"We need shareholders to change Ryanair's employment model," he said, and called for European political mediation.

Ryanair employs staff across Europe under Irish contracts, but some unions want the ability to negotiate terms under the employment laws of their own country.

Belgian unions forecast most flights out of Ryanair's two airports in Belgium will be cancelled, challenging the company's pledge to minimise disruptions.

Some pilots in Italy will also join the industrial action on the day, the Uiltrasporti union said.

A spokesman for Ryanair said "there will be no pilot strike in Italy", adding that Ryanair had already signed a collective labour agreement with the ANPAC union and does not recognise the "small" Uiltrasporti union.

Unions representing three of the airline's Italy-based cabin crews said in a statement on Thursday they had agreed in principle to a three-year collective labour agreement.

Fit Cisl, Anpac and Anpav unions signed Thursday's agreement, but Uiltrasporti was not mentioned.

Ryanair has struggled to curb an industrial relations revolt in recent months and was forced to cancel 150 of its 400 German flights on Wednesday after a walkout by pilots and crew.

Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in response that the airline, which flies some 2,500 flights a day, was willing to accept strikes if that was the cost of defending its low-cost business model.

Amid management's clashes with unions, shares in Ryanair have fallen 13 percent this year.

Unions across the five countries set to walk out on Sep. 28 told a news conference on Thursday that the strike could be averted if shareholders were able to force change to labour contracts at their annual meeting on Sept. 20.

"Shareholders need to take responsibility and change the management, at least in human resources," CNE's Lebbe said.

Ryanair said that even if there is a strike, it expects a significant majority of its cabin crew in Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal to work normally, as they have during previous strikes.

"As we demonstrated in Germany yesterday, Ryanair will pre-advise customers of a small number of flight cancellations," Ryanair Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said in a statement.

Ryanair suffered its worst ever strikes this summer after slow progress in negotiating collective labour agreements with pilots and cabin crew.

In August it reached a deal with striking Irish pilots, but unions representing pilots and cabin crew in Germany have threatened further walkouts if Ryanair does not improve offers on terms and pay. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos on Thursday launched Bezos Day One Fund, a new philanthropic initiative, with an initial commitment of $2 billion to help homeless families and create preschools for low-income communities.

The fund will be split between Day 1 Families Fund and Day 1 Academies Fund.

"The Day 1 Families Fund will issue annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups doing compassionate, needle-moving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families," Bezos said in a tweet.

The Day 1 Academies Fund will launch and operate a network of high-quality, full-scholarship, Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities.

Bezos, with an estimated fortune of more than $160 billion, is currently the world's wealthiest man, according to Forbes. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Michele Geraci, Italys undersecretary of state for economic development, said Italy wants to be the leader in Europe in the relationship with China. Photo: VCG

Italy aims to be Chinas leading economic and trade partner in Europe and is open to becoming a Mediterranean transport hub for Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, the countrys undersecretary of state for economic development said in an interview with Caixin.

We are exploring the possibility of having closer cooperation and for Italy to be the leader in Europe in the relationship with China, Michele Geraci told Caixin. He spoke during a 10-day visit to China from late August to early September.

Geraci was heading the first official mission of the new Italian coalition governments Task Force China, a program unveiled late last month with a goal to enhance relations in the fields of trade, finance, investment, research and development, and co-operation in third countries. The team is also seeking to guarantee Italy a position of leadership in Europe vis-a-vis Chinas Belt and Road and Made in China 2025 initiatives, the Ministry of Economic Development said in a statement issued at its launch.

The message is: The new government is looking at China more with interest and with the positive view of building stronger cooperation, win-win for both. That in the past was not done very well, said Geraci, an economist who previously taught at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and at Zhejiang University.

During the trip, the delegation met with officials from the Ministry of Commerce; the National Development and Reform Commission, Chinas top economic-planning agency; the Silk Road Fund, which is tasked with investing in Belt and Road-related projects; sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp.; and executives of state-owned banks, enterprises and private firms that included technology giants Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., and automaker BYD Auto Co. Ltd.

Strategic partners

Geraci, who lived in China for a decade from 2008, said Italy is interested in building itself into a transport hub in the Mediterranean Sea to connect Europe with countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative, a strategy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to strengthen ties with other nations, primarily through infrastructure constructions.

China is looking for strategic partners along the Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative, and we want to discuss (it) with China, he said. Italy can be one terminal, maybe (in) Mediterranean Europe,  an endpoint or hub for the One Belt, One Road (not only) for shipping, but also for rail and also for airlines.

Italy is also welcoming investment from China, especially in infrastructure and environment-friendly sectors, such as the electric-car and battery-making industries, he said, promising that his government will give national treatment to Chinese firms.

Asked whether Italy shares suspicions about Chinese investment like other European countries such as France and Germany, Geraci said: No, we dont have these issues yet. I dont think we will have it.  Italy is generally a very open economy.

The two countries can also cooperate in developing Africas economy, he said, despite criticism that Chinas approach to the continent lacks transparency and risks plunging countries into indebtedness.

The most urgent thing is to stabilize the economy and the society in Africa because if this happens, then the migrant flood will decline, he said. We have no place in Europe for everyone.

Contact reporter Fran Wang (fangwang@caixin.com)
Meituan-Dianping, a leading online, on-demand services provider and Chinas largest group buying platform, Thursday priced its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) near the top of its target price range.

Priced at HK$69 ($8.79) a share, the offering will raise about $4.2 billion in one of this years biggest internet IPOs in Hong Kong. The estimated range was HK$62 to HK$70. If the offerings underwriters exercise an overallotment option, the final fundraising figure could rise as high as $4.9 billion, people close to the offering told Caixin.

The IPO would put Meituans value at $53.4 billion, sharply higher than in Meituans latest funding round less than a year ago, when the company was valued at $30 billion.

Meituan originally planned to sell 5% of the IPO to public investors in Hong Kong and the rest to global institutional investors. Currently, the retail shares are oversubscribed by 1.5 times, people close to the offering told Caixin.

The Meituan IPO is being closely watched after Chinese cellphone-maker Xiaomi Corp.s highly anticipated debut in July turned out to be lackluster.

Unlike Xiaomis IPO, there hasnt been much discussion of whether Meituans valuation is justified. Instead, more attention is being paid to the companys business model, according to a market participant. The person told Caixin that investors are enthusiastic about Meituans IPO, and the subscription target was reached within the first two days of the companys global roadshow.

Despite recording losses since 2016, the company says it is confident about the profitability outlook for its core online food-ordering and delivery business. In the first four months of 2018, the food-delivery business generated revenue of 9.7 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), making up more than 60% of total revenue.

But Meituan faces fierce competition on almost every front, including food delivery. Alibaba-owned Ele.me, Chinas other major food delivery platform, has launched an aggressive subsidy war to attract consumers and merchants.

For the IPO, Meituan secured a total of $1.5 billion of subscriptions from five cornerstone investors, including its main backer, tech giant Tencent Holdings Ltd., and global asset manager Oppenheimer Funds.

Cornerstone investors have become a regular feature of Asian IPOs in recent years to stimulate investor demand and lend credibility to an IPO. Cornerstone investors are subject to a lock-up period of at least six months following the listing date.

Oppenheimer has subscribed for $500 million worth of shares. The global investment firm previously backed other major Chinese tech companies such as Tencent, Alibaba and JD.com. Other cornerstone investors include British investment fund Lansdowne, U.S. hedge fund Darsana and Chengtong Fund Management, a structural reform fund set up by Chinas state-owned assets regulator.

In addition to the five cornerstone investors, Meituans current investor, Hillhouse Capital Group, also subscribed for shares in the offering.

Meituan positions itself as an online life-services platform. Starting as a group buying service provider, Meituan has now expanded into a wide range of services from hotel and travel booking to ride-hailing, bike-sharing and retailing.

Meituan lost 18.9 billion yuan in 2017 after a loss of 5.8 billion yuan in 2016. In the first four months of 2018, the company had an adjusted net loss of 2 billion yuan, reflecting the $2.7 billion acquisition of bike-sharing startup Beijing Mobike Technology Co. in April as well as increased sales expenses and rising debt.

At a news conference Sept. 6, the companys management attributed its continued losses to the entry into new businesses. Meituan has decided not to pursue expansion of the car-hailing service it launched in February 2017 after finding it hard to challenge industry leader Didi.

Contact reporter Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)
Kulsoom Nawaz funeral prayers offered at London

Funeral prayers for former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz were offered at the Islamic Cultural Centre in London on Thursday.



The wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had passed away in London on Tuesday after battling cancer for over a year.



Her funeral prayers were attended by sons Hassan and Hussain, brother-in-law Shehbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar and Ishaq Dar among others.



The former first ladys body will be flown back to Pakistan on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight scheduled to depart from Heathrow Airport for Lahore Thursday night.



Shehbaz Sharif along with Kulsoom Nawazs daughter Asma, grandson (Hussain Nawazs son) and other family members will accompany the body.



In Pakistan, the funeral prayers of the former first lady will be offered on Friday at Sharif Medical City in Jati Umra at 5pm, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said. Noted religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel will lead the funeral prayers. She will be later laid to rest in Jati Umra.



The former prime ministers sons, Hassan and Hussain, will not travel to Pakistan for their mothers funeral due to legal complications.
Pakistan have send troops to 43 UN peacekeeping missions: Maleeha Lodhi

Pakistans Ambassador to United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi on Thursday said that her country has been among the top performers in UN Peacekeeping and has contributed over 200,000 troops to 43 UN peacekeeping missions, since the 1960s.



Participating in the Security Council debate on peacekeeping operations, Lodhi reminded the international body that 156 of Pakistans bravest soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the cause of peace.



Ambassador Lodhi called for precise mandates and adequate resources for effective and efficient UN peacekeeping. When mandates and capabilities are out of sync, efficiency and effectiveness inevitably suffer, she added.



She stressed that at the time of creating and updating the mandates of missions, the Security Council must base its decisions on practical analysis by the secretariat of resource requirements.



Welcoming the focus on performance, the Pakistani envoy said that improved performance would lead to better results and would also improve the safety and security of peacekeepers.



Ambassador Lodhi told the Council that Pakistan has developed peacekeeping training modules that form part of the curricula of its mandatory courses, as professionalism in peacekeeping ensures excellence in service delivery.



She expressed Pakistans willingness to share this expertise with other troop-contributing countries, and also with the UN.



Blue helmets symbolize the UN commitment to regional and international peace, security and stability. They are emblematic of the collective will and endeavour of all member states to make this world peaceful and stable, she asserted.



UN peacekeeping has saved and protected millions of lives and helped shattered communities and neighbourhoods rebuild themselves, she added. It also replaces strife with harmony and turns despair into hope. She said Pakistan will never shy away from any discussion on performance, or from supporting the establishment of an effective system to enhance it.
news, latest-news

Meiliana, a 44-year-old Buddhist mother of Chinese descent, sat crying in disbelief in a North Sumatra court in late August. The judges had just sentenced her to 18 months jail for blasphemy because she complained to a neighbor in 2016 about the ear-splitting volume of amplified calls to prayer from a nearby mosque. Her complaint had sparked violent backlash from local Muslim groups, who had stoned her home, forcing her and her family to flee to another city. They also attacked and seriously damaged twelve Buddhist temples in the area. The same court that sentenced her showed leniency to eight attackers arrested by police, giving them jail terms of just 1-2 months. Meilianas story shone a spotlight on Indonesias draconian blasphemy laws and more broadly on how the nation treats its minorities. For a country that presents itself to the world as a moderate Muslim-majority democracy that respects diversity and enjoins religious and ethnic harmony, Indonesia has faced increasing criticism for rising intolerance and sectarianism. Human rights advocates argued that the violent reaction to Meilianas mosque complaint and her subsequent jailing are inseparable from the fact that she is from a double minority: Sino-Indonesians comprise less than 4 per cent of the nation and Buddhists less than 2 per cent. The Chinese have long been targets of social unrest, particularly from the majority Muslim community. Assessing how moderate or intolerant Indonesia is towards its minorities is more difficult to assess than it might first appear. For example, a number of well-regarded non-government organisations annually compile figures on acts of religious intolerance. One such NGO, Setara Institute, recorded 201 breaches of religious freedom across Indonesia in 2017, most of which were directed at Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Confucian minorities. Viewed in isolation, this is a significant number. But on the other hand, in a religiously diverse nation of some 250 million people, several hundred cases might suggest that intolerance is relatively rare. What these records do show is that incidents of religious intolerance have declined steadily over the past decade. This is also supported by public opinion surveys conducted between 2010 and 2016 that reveal intolerance toward religious minorities fell nationally over the last six years, though the influential Muslim middle-classes were becoming less tolerant of non-Muslims. But sheer numbers alone may not capture the conditions of life for minorities, be they religious, ethnic or sexual. For instance, anti-gay and transgender sentiment has become commonplace in mainstream discourse over the past three years. So far, only a handful of cases have involved police action, with the most notorious being the public caning of two gay men in Aceh under that provinces sharia law code earlier this year. But gay and transgender Indonesians now feel vulnerable to community disapproval or outing and fear ostracism or worse for their sexual orientation. Another case that has had deep reverberations across minority communities is that of the former governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnomo (Ahok), who was Christian Chinese. In 2016, Ahok was accused of insulting the Quran, sparking massive street and social media protests against him. A good deal of the anti-Ahok campaigning had racist and sectarian overtones. Although approval for Ahoks achievements as governor exceeded 70 per cent, only 43 per cent of Jakartans voted for him in the April 2017 election, many citing religious reasons. Shortly after the election he, like Meiliana, was found guilty of blasphemy and jailed for two years. The Ahok case was a setback for minority politicians and officials as it bolstered campaigns to limit high office to those who shared the same religion and ethnicity of the local majority. It also drove home the perils for any minority leader commenting upon Islamic issues. The broader question here is how inclusive is Indonesia? The nations motto is Unity in Diversity and its constitution enshrines a wide array of civil rights, including those relating to religion and ethnicity. Indonesians are proud of what they see as their acceptance of difference. But as with many nations in the world, including Australia, Indonesias tolerance of minorities fluctuates and is increasingly contested within the broader community. Governments are under pressure to restrict minority rights and opportunities, and to serve majoritarian agendas. Indeed, politics is one of the main obstacles to improving Indonesias treatment of vulnerable minorities. President Joko Widodo and many of his ministers are pluralists and well-disposed to ensuring minority rights. But they are wary of the power of Islamist groups to turn religion into a weapon against them. For example, Widodo refuses to publicly condemn either the Ahok or Meiliana blasphemy verdicts for fear of being accused of failing to defend Islam, even though palace sources concede he disapproves. Problematic laws such as that on blasphemy have such strong support from Islamic groups (and some Christian groups as well) that there is scant prospect of their repeal or significant amendment. Moreover, parliament is currently deliberating on a bill that would criminalise a wide range of homosexual and transgender behaviour. Australia has, for many years, taken a low profile on minority rights issues in Indonesia, with successive Australian leaders preferring to praise Indonesias moderation. One constructive role that we could play would be to voice stronger concern at abuses and and discrimination, and also to provide greater funding to civil society groups that actively campaign for minority rights. This years Indonesia Update at The Australian National University will discuss in detail Indonesias treatment of its minorities, both historically and contemporaneously. It will examine the constitutional and legal frameworks governing minority rights, as well as the shifting discourses that have accompanied and shaped minority groups marginalization and activism. The Update includes sessions devoted to religious, ethnic, disability and sexual rights. At a time when Indonesias record of tolerance is increasingly under scrutiny, the update will provide a forum for evaluating how moderate is Australias neighbour. Greg Fealy is associate professor of Indonesian politics in the Department of Political and Social Change, ANU. The Indonesia Update will be held in the Coombs Lecture Theatre, 14-15 September 2018.

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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...
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.
Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for the post of Assistant Engineer. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here.

The selection process includes written test and interview. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 40000 per month. The last date to apply for this government job is Oct 29, 2018.

TNPSC Recruitment 2018 For Assistant Librarians And Junior Epigraphists

JPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Assistant Engineer Organisation Jharkhand Public Service Commission Educational Qualification Graduate degree in civil or mechanical engineering Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Engineering skills Job Location Jharkhand Salary Scale INR 9300 to INR 40000 Industry Civil services Application Start Date September 14, 2018 Application End Date October 29, 2018

Age Limit: As per JPSC rules

601 Civil Judges Wanted In Uttar Pradesh

How To Apply For JPSC Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for JPSC Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the JPSC official website.

Step 2: On the home page, click on the tab that reads, Online Application.

Step 3: The list of exams will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Click on the link to apply for Assistant Engineer.

Step 5: The application form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 6: Submit your details and complete the application process.

Step 7: Send the hard copy of your online applications to Controller of Exam, Jharkhand Public Service Commission, Circular Road, Ranchi, 834001.

Follow the link - http://www.jpsc.gov.in/data/Press_release_08_2018.pdf to read the detailed official notification.
Step 1

Log on to the TNPSC official website.

Step 2

Click on the button that reads, One-time Registration.

Step 3

Choose the option to register as a new user.

Step 4

The registration form will open on a new page. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 5

Read the declaration carefully and click on the checkbox to agree to it.

Step 6

Enter the captcha code.

Step 7

Click Save & Continue and follow the subsequent pages to complete the registration process. Follow the subsequent pages to complete the application process.
West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) under the department of family and health welfare has released a recruitment notification for the post of Staff Nurse, Grade II in the Cadre of the West Bengal Health Service. The notification was released for a total of 6966 vacancies.

The selection of the candidates will be based on the written examination and an interview. The selected candidates can earn up to INR 37,600 per month. Eligible candidates who meet all the prerequisites set by the organisation can apply for the post between September 17 and 26, 2018.

WBHRB Recruitment Vacancy Details

GNM: 4529 vacancies

B.Sc. Nursing: 2299

Post Basic B.Sc. (Nursing): 138

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Staff Nurse Organisation West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) Educational Qualification General Nursing and midwifery/basic B.Sc. (Nursing)/post basic B.Sc. (Nursing) course passed from any Nursing Training School/College. Job Location West Bengal Salary Scale INR 7,100 to 37,600 per month Industry Health Application Start Date September 17, 2018 Application End Date September 26, 2018

Age Limit

The minimum age limit for the post is 18 years and the maximum age is 39 years as on January 1, 2018. However, age relaxation is provided to the SC, ST and OBC candidates as per government rules.

Click here for the official announcement.

Application Fee

Candidates have to pay INR 210 as the application fee. They have to pay it through the GRIPS (Govt. Receipt Portal System), Govt of West Bengal. However, candidates belonging to the SC or ST category are exempted from the fee payment.

How To Apply

Step 1 Candidates should visit the official website of West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) to apply online. http://www.wbhrb.in/ Step 2 Visit the "Recruitment" tab. Step 3 Click on the "Online Application'' Step 4 Search for the ''Staff Nurse Grade II recruitment'' Step 5 Click on the relevant link. Step 6 The online application page will be displayed.

Step 7: The online applications will be available from September 17, 2018.

SSC Recruitment 2018: Apply Online For Over 1000 Vacancies
Liberty Mutual Insurances $3 billion acquisition of Ironshore in 2017 has led to a rebranding of its Canadian operations.

The insurer disclosed on Sept. 13 that Liberty International Underwriters (LIU Canada) and Ironshore Canada will be rebranded as Liberty Mutual Canada.

The rebranding of our joint operation as Liberty Mutual Canada is an important milestone in our journey to come together as one organization, Garth Pepper, president, Liberty Mutual Canada, said in prepared remarks. A stronger, united organization will enable us to better leverage the financial and reputational strength of Liberty Mutual to grow our presence and relevance in the Canadian market.

Liberty Mutual announced in March 2018 that LIU Canada and Ironshore Canada would blend their respective operations under Peppers leadership.

The establishment of the Liberty Mutual Canada brand will not impact the paper that LIU Canada or Ironshore Canada policies are written on, according to the company. For the rest of 2018, policies will continue to be written on Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Ironshore Insurance Ltd (Canada Branch) paper. Once integration is approved by the regulator, operations will formally align as a branch of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and write on that paper, with a target date of early 2019.

Source: Liberty Mutual Insurance
Photo: Twitter

A British Airways flight to Calgary from London was rerouted to Iqaluit late Wednesday.

FlightAware, an online flight tracking tool, shows the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed at 7:20 p.m. local time in Nunavut.

British Airways says in a statement Thursday that the flight was diverted as a precaution after a "technical issue."

They apologized to their customers who have been inconvenienced and delayed.

The statement around noon MDT says a replacement aircraft has landed and will depart for Calgary as quickly as possible.

They say the passengers are safe and being looked after in Iqaluit.
According to the information on the site, The new Brazilian team can be welcomed complicationAs in the past few weeks,...
February 5-9, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair  Do you also love design? Welcome to the design event of the year!



Dont miss out when more than 700 companies present their latest news, so new you wont find it in stores yet! At Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair you will find brand-new arrivals of furniture and the latest lighting design. It is the opportunity of the year to get inspired, take part of upcoming trends, listen to admission-free talks with high-profile guests from all over the world and meet tomorrow's design stars.



Dates for next Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair

5 - 9 February 2019



The reasons to visit Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair and Stockholm Design Week

1. We love design!



During Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, the fair is full to bursting point with the latest innovations within interior design and lighting for both homes and public spaces. New products, new materials, new knowledge, new trends and new environmental and technological solutions are displayed in a both informative and inspirational manner.



The same week as Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair we also organize Stockholm Design Week, presenting more than 200 highprofile design events at various venues around the city.



Join us on our social media sites for all the latest news and inspiring images! We are on Facebook and Instagram.



If you want to meet the industry, this is the place to be!

2. Paola Navone - Guest of Honour 2018



At Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2018, Guest of Honour; the design icon Paola Navone created a unic installation  Thammada. The visitor is invited to a colourful environment where everyday things are transformed into something special.



Thammada Thai word for everyday, embodies the conceptual approach of Paola Navones work. Everyday things, pattern and textures, fabrics, objects and furniture coming from different worlds are mixed together in a friendly, pop and colorful interior. In the adventurous world of Paola Navone its easy to unexpectedly turn the ordinary into extraordinary.



Paola Navone is one of todays most interesting and outstanding designers. We admire her creativity and eclectic aesthetic, as well as the amazing breadth of her output. Whatever she chooses to do, she always manages to create a unique atmosphere.



Paola Navone was born in Turin and later moved to Milan, although she sees herself first and foremost as a citizen of the world: driven by her strong interest in the most widely differing cultures  particularly Asian ones. She travels a great deal, bowing to a natural inclination to cross boundaries, and not only geographical ones. Paola Navone received her degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin in 1973. In the 1980s she was active in the avant-garde design movements Alchimia and Memphis and in 1988, she created the Mondo brand together with Giulio Cappellini. In her long and diversified career she has easily switched between the roles of architect, designer, art director, interior designer, critic, teacher and organiser of exhibitions and events, both independently and for selected clients.



I am very flattered to have been invited to be Guest of Honour for such a special event as Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. It is the perfect place to meet and share ideas. Where traditions mingle and influence one another in a beautiful melting pot. Where you can still breathe the lessons of the great masters mixed with the contagious energy of young designers, says Paola Navone.
Tanzania's coal supply expected to increase to support cement industry

14 September 2018

Tanzanias State Mining Corp (STAMICO) has announced plans to increase coal production, which will support the cement industry as it has recently reported a shortage of the material. The coal shortage resulted in a rise in cement prices, according to The Citizen.



"To implement the government directives, we will begin to sell coal to local cement producers and the surplus will be exported," said Alex Rutagwelela, acting exploration and drilling director.



Despite currently producing 18,600tpm, the increased demand for the fuel means that the company will begin production of larger quantities. "After three months, we plan to increase production to around 45,000tpm as the demand is high," said Mr Rutagwelela.



However, the plans are weather-dependent since it would be difficult to raise production in the rainy season.

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Graphene may have commercial use as concrete additive

14 September 2018

Zenyatta Centures Ltd's research with the University of Toronto into cement strength when using small quantities of graphene from Albany Graphite has led to some startling results.



Using just 0.02 per cent of the graphene product when combined with cement saw compressive strength of cured cement paste increase by 39 per cent, reports Junior Mining Network.

Professor Deman Panesar, University of Toronto Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, said, "This encouraging preliminary result strengthens the business sense for using graphene in concrete. With such a low graphene loading, Zenyatta may now be able to pursue the ready-mix concrete market."



The graphene materials improved both compressive and flexural strength at three, 14 and 28 days by varying degrees. At the 28-day trial, the inclusion of graphene materials improved strength by 39 per cent for 0.02 per cent graphene and by 84 per cent for 0.04 per cent reduced graphene oxide. The microstructural analysis and transport properties of the 28-day old graphene-cement composites showed the presence of graphene materials densified the composite microstructure.



The research programme, funded by the Government of Canada, will continue to explore graphene-infused cement-based composites.

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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
Obesity rates in the United States are at an all-time high. But now, seven states throughout the country have an obesity rate of at least 35%. Its the first time this many states have had such a serious obesity problem (its up from five states in 2016), and the issue doesnt seem to be getting better any time soon. The following seven states have the highest obesity rates in the country*  do you live in one?

7. Arkansas

Obesity rate: 35.0%

Arkansas is the seventh most obese state, just cracking the 35% mark. Although the overall population averages a rate of about 35%, the numbers vary by age. Shockingly, 41.4% of Arkansas residents between the ages of 45 and 64 are obese. On average, men are more obese than women, and black people are more obese than white or Latino people.

Believe it or not, Arkansas actually saw an overall drop in obesity between 2016 and 2017. The state went from 35.7% down to a solid 35%. Its a good start, but they have a long way to go to fully gain control of their obesity problem.

6. Louisiana

Obesity rate: 36.2%

Louisianas obesity rate saw a 0.7% increase over the past year. Overall, the 45 to 64 age range is the fattest, with a whopping 42.9% of these adults falling in the obese category. In Louisiana, men and women are almost even, with 36% of men being obese and 35.5% of women.

Louisiana also ranks fourth in the nation for the highest diabetes rate, with 13.6% of the population having diabetes. (For perspective, Colorado, the least obese state, has a diabetes rate of 7.6%.)

5. Alabama

Obesity rate: 36.3%

Alabama is one of the few states that has more obese women than men. 37.4% of females are obese compared to 35.1% of males. Alabama has an even higher diabetes rate than Louisiana with 14.1%. A staggering 45% of the black population is overweight, followed by 33.1% of the white population and 31.9% of the Latino population. Once again, the 45 to 64 age group is the most obese, with 44.1% of those adults having a body mass index of 30 or more. (Obesity is noted as having a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or more.)

4. Iowa

Obesity rate: 36.4%

Iowa just edges out Alabama for the fourth spot. No single race dominates Iowas obesity rates, as black, white, and Latino people fall within less than 3% of each other. Men and women are perfectly tied with an obesity rate of 36.4%, but the 45 to 64 age group is once again the most obese. Iowa actually has a fairly low diabetes rate of 9.6%, ranking them 35th in the country for diabetes.

3. Oklahoma

Obesity rate: 36.5%

Oklahomas obesity rate skyrocketed over the past year. Most states increase by less than one percentage point, but Oklahoma saw a 3.7% increase in obesity over just one year. Men are almost 4% more obese than women, but there was no single race that was much more obese than another. Oklahoma is also one of the few states that do not require physical education classes in middle school or high school.

2. Mississippi

Obesity rate: 37.3%

Mississippis obesity rate neither increased nor decreased over the last year; they were at 37.3% last year, too. The black population sees a significantly greater amount of obesity compared to the white or Latino populations (45.4%, 32.1%, and 29.2%, respectively). More women are obese than men, and Mississippi also has the second-highest diabetes rate in the country. Mississippi does not require physical education at the high school level.

1. West Virginia

Obesity rate: 38.1%

For the second year, West Virginia is the most obese state in the nation. It saw a 0.4% increase from last year and has been steadily climbing since 2015. West Virginia has the highest diabetes rate in the country at 15.2%; it also has the highest hypertension rate in the country. There is no physical education requirement for middle school and high school, but all of its schools are meeting the required nutrition standards. Unfortunately, West Virginia has a long way to go to curb its obesity problem.

*All information courtesy of stateofobesity.org.

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Teresa and her husband, Giuseppe Joe Giudice of Real Housewives of New Jersey have been in limbo for quite sometime after they were found guilty for fraud because the father of four isnt an American citizen and could be deported. But will he? Here is everything to know about his immigration proceedings.

Joe Giudice is serving time for bank and bankruptcy fraud

The husband was found guilty for bank and bankruptcy fraud in 2014. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $414,588, according to the Huffington Post. His wife, Teresa was also sentenced to 15 months in prison and she has already served her time and has been released. He is expected to be released in March 2019, according to North Jersey.

This outcome put Giudices status in America in jeopardy because he never officially became an American citizen. He was born in Saronno, Italy and his family moved to New Jersey in the 70s when he was one year old, according to Romper. He could be deported after serving his time in prison according to federal law.

A previous report claimed Giudice is in deportation proceedings

On June 21, 2018, there was a New York Daily News report that Giudice was in deportation proceedings. It also claimed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed it lodged a detainer and he was in proceedings to be sent back to Italy.

Giudices attorney says no decision has been made on his immigration status

The familys attorney, James J. Leonard Jr. denied that a decision was made regarding Giudices possible deportation.

The same immigration detainer that was lodged against him in March of 2016 remains in place today, he told People but I want to be absolutely clear about this, no judicial authority has made any decision regarding what will happen with that detainer.

A decision on whether he will be deported will reportedly be made Oct. 1

The father reportedly had a court proceeding on Sept. 5 where he pled to stay in the United States. Ive been here my whole life, I wouldnt know what to do in any other country, said Giudice according to Radar Online I want to stay here. Judge Ellington announced that he will decide whether Giudices deportation would be canceled on Oct. 1.

If I find he is eligible for cancellation of removal or that he should not be deported, the government prosecutors have a right to appeal, said Ellington.

Read more: Real Housewives of New Jersey: Are Teresa and Joe Giudice Getting a Divorce?

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How to Be Salt, Light, Christian, and American, All at Once Christian Post Contributor | 14 September, 2018 by John Stonestreet And David Carlson

It's time for followers of Jesus to be the best of Christians, and the best of Americans, all at the same time.

Just last week, America's "paper of record," the New York Times, published an anonymous op-ed by a supposed "senior" Trump administration official, who humbly claimed to be saving America from behind enemy lines. The Times doesn't typically publish anything from anonymous sources, but this time it took what it called a "rare step" because "it was so important."

No, they crossed the line of journalistic ethics because it allowed them to skewer the President.

And how about those confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh? The behavior of the protesters is crazy. Not to mention the very un-Senate like grandstanding by certain opposition lawmakers.

What's going on?

Many have warned us since the beginning of our republic that our system of government depends on things like freedom of speech, civil dialogue, rule of law, virtue, and ethical behavior. Without these, we're told, America as we know it can't survive.

Scanning the current political and cultural landscape, you might be wondering what's going to push our nation over the edge.

Or, to put it another way (borrowing an anecdote from a book called "The Content Trap") it's never only the dropped cigarette that starts the forest fire. It's also the state of the environment: hot and dry weather, overgrown underbrush, gusty windsin other words, in the wrong context, things can explode.

Our national cultural context isn't looking good. So the question is, who has the capacity to change this environment, and reduce the risk of explosion? Who can bring good to a culture like ours?

That's the question Bruce Ashford answers in his new book "Letters to an American Christian."

This book is so timely. At a moment when so many believers, who are called to be salt and light in the world, are tempted to be either American and not Christian, or Christian and not American, Ashford reminds us that we're called to be both. Christians first, but also called to this time and this place.

Toeing a political party line no matter the issue, joining the hysteria, or remaining silent out of fear are not options for followers of Christ. None of these fulfills our God-given task of engaging the culture, and being salt and light.

As we've said before on BreakPoint, in this cultural moment, that means we're going to walk and chew gum at the same time. We've got to be willing to say what's right even if it goes against our political party. And we've got to speak out on political issues, even if they aren't the culturally popular ones. Our ultimate loyalties lie not with any nominee but with Jesus Christ.

And it's precisely our loyalty to Jesus Christ that allows us to engage the culture in a way that will bring light, life, and hope. What our country needs is not more virtue-signaling; but more virtue. What our culture needs is not to look good; we need to be good.

Bruce Ashford's new book "Letters to an American Christian" features 26 brief letters to a hypothetical American college student who's wrestling with what it means to be a good American by first being a good Christian.

Think about it, the younger generation has never known a different political context. They may even think the current chaos is normal. Ashford's book provides a razor-sharp analysis of why it's not. And how as Christians we can lead by being the best of citizens.

Read more about How to Be Salt, Light, Christian, and American, All at Once on The Christian Post.
Hurricane Florence Tracker: 300,000 Without Power, Floods Strand People on Roofs as East Coast Hit Christian Post Contributor | 14 September, 2018 by Stoyan Zaimov

Hurricane Florence is making landfall in North Carolina, bringing life-threatening storm surges that have already left close to 300,000 people without power.

The National Hurricane Center reported on Friday morning that "catastrophic freshwater flooding" is expected over areas in both North and South Carolina over the weekend.

The now Category 1 hurricane is said to be moving toward the west-northwest, with a turn toward the west expected later on Friday, followed by slow west-southwestward motion on Saturday.

"On the forecast track, the center of Florence is expected to move inland across extreme southeastern North Carolina and extreme eastern South Carolina today and Saturday. Florence will then move generally northward across the western Carolinas and the central Appalachian Mountains early next week," the center explained.

The center furthered warned that tornadoes are possible in eastern North Carolina on Friday, with the hurricane expected to produce heavy and excessive rainfall, along with a storm surge that will bring large and destructive waves.

The Weather Channel reported that Florence has already knocked out power for nearly 300,000 homes and businesses statewide. At least 150 people stranded on roofs and in cars were waiting for rescue in New Bern early Friday morning, while 12,000 people were in 126 evacuation shelters.

The first flooding was reported on the N.C. 12 roadway near the North Carolina coast, with Governor Roy Cooper ordering a mandatory evacuation of all barrier islands.

In total, close to one million people were ordered to evacuate earlier this week in Virginia and the Carolinas.

"We in North Carolina have to shift from preparation to determination. We will survive this and endure," Cooper declared at a Thursday evening conference.

Several faith-based relief groups have announced that they are monitoring and ready to help those in need.

International Orthodox Christian Charities noted on Thursday that with over 10 million people under hurricane watches and warnings, an emergency response will be greatly needed.

"IOCC has staff, volunteers, and equipment staging for immediate action once it is safe to begin work. Team leaders and volunteers are preparing to conduct rapid needs assessments and muck outs, clearing water-damaged homes of sludge and debris," the group said on Thursday.

"In addition, IOCC's Frontliners, professionals trained to offer emotional and spiritual care amid disaster and trauma, are standing by for deployment."

Christian humanitarian organization World Help also announced that it has activated its crisis response program to aid in the storm.

"We are doing everything we can to be prepared to help as many people as possible," said Mark Hogsed, vice president of international programs at World Help, who is overseeing the disaster relief response.

"In the days ahead, getting clean water and other emergency supplies to the affected areas will be critical, especially as some people might be left without power for days or even weeks."

Hogsed urged people to say a prayer for those about to face Hurricane Florence.

"People are afraid, and we want them to know they're not alone and, no matter what happens, help is on the way," he added.

Read more about Hurricane Florence on The Christian Post.
Life.Church Has Grown to 30 Campuses and 85,000 Attendees 14 September, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , |

Life.Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, opened its 30th campus in Rogers, Arkansas, on Sunday, and two more campuses are expected to open by the end of the year.

Bobby Gruenewald, innovation leader at Life.Church who founded the popular YouVersion App, noted that the latest campus was significant in that it showed their ministries spreading to new metropolitan areas, whereas "for several years, we've just been expanding inside of cities that we already had locations."

"That's a new area for us, a new city, metro area. And we've done a few new metro areas in the last few years," Gruenewald explained to CP.

Those cities include Overland Park and Wichita in Kansas as well as Omaha, Nebraska. Later this month, the multisite church will be opening its 31st campus in Springfield  Life.Church's first location in Missouri.

Originally launched in 1996 with a small number of people meeting at a rented dance studio, Life.Church  led by Pastor Craig Groeschel  has grown to average 85,000 weekly worshipers in several states.

Gruenewald talked with The Christian Post on Wednesday about the church's growth and his opinion on the best model for multisite ministries. He also addressed criticism. Here are excerpts from the interview:

CP: What's your opinion about the growth you've seen at the church?

Gruenewald: We've really started to see some significant growth in the last few years, adding several campuses and picking up the pace in terms of new locations that we're adding.

We're excited about it. The church is continuing to grow. Not just the number of campuses, but attendance, and just a lot of the key metrics that we're looking at. We see a lot of people coming to Christ through the ministry, which is a big emphasis for us, but it's an exciting time for sure.

Read more about Life.Church Has Grown to 30 Campuses and 85,000 Attendees on The Christian Post.
New York City to Issue 3rd Gender 'X' on Birth Certificates Amid Transgender Push Christian Post Reporter | 14 September, 2018 by Brandon Showalter

New York City is the most recent city to allow a third gender option on birth certificates for persons who do not identify as male or female. They will be classified as gender X.

NBC News reported that the city council and board of health in the nation's largest city voted Wednesday to include the third gender marker on birth certificates as of Jan. 1, 2019. The new policy will no longer require persons who identify as such to provide a note from a doctor or a health care provider's affidavit in order to make such a change.

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, a Democrat, backed the policy earlier this summer, noting in statement that the city's policy will "allow transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers to live with the dignity and respect they deserve."

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson introduced the bill in June and lauded its passage, saying it was a historic day for New York "in its role as a worldwide champion for inclusivity and equality."

Toby Adams, executive director of the Intersex & Genderqueer Recognition Project, also hailed the passage, since it's "damaging legally and psychologically to have your gender identity misidentified, and there are so many places where we have to show our ID," he said.

Already in New York City, the human rights law code requires employers, landlords, and all businesses and professionals to use an employee's, tenant's, customer's, or client's preferred name, pronouns  including 'ze' and 'hir' if so specified  and titles regardless of the person's biological sex. Penalties for failing to comply, "misgendering," could result in thousands of dollars in fines.

With this latest move, New York City, which is home to approximately 8.6 million people, joins a handful of other politically liberal states  New Jersey, Oregon, California, and Washington  that also allow a nonbinary designation on birth certificates. A few states and Washington, D.C. allow for such gender markers on driver's licenses.

Although transgender and intersex are often conflated in political discourse, the two are not the same.

Intersex refers to chromosomal abnormalities in individuals with conditions like Klinefelter's or Turner syndrome whereas transgender refers to persons who, despite having the XX or XY chromosomes indicating female or male, believe they are the opposite sex. What is known as a nonbinary identification, meaning neither male nor female or a mixture of both, does not actually exist in material reality as human beings because, like the rest of mammals, they are a sexually dimorphic species.

Read more about New York City to Issue 3rd Gender 'X' on Birth Certificates Amid Transgender Push on The Christian Post.
Pastor Andrew Stoecklein Laid to Rest; Widow Vows to Keep Speaking on Suicide 14 September, 2018 by Leonardo Blair , |

Family and friends of late Inland Hills Church Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein, who died after attempting suicide on Aug. 24, said their final farewells in a touching tribute Saturday as his widow, Kayla, vowed to continue a campaign to improve mental health awareness in the church.

[Update: to read more about Inland Hills Church, Pastor Andrew Stoecklein, and Our Problem with Perfectionism, by expert Dr. Carla Cornelius, click here.]

"If there is one encouragement I can leave you with today it's don't give up. If you are struggling, tell someone, tell them everything, don't worry about them judging you for it. The enemy wants you to feel isolated, the enemy wants you to feel unloved and worthless. I am here to tell you that you are loved and valued more than you could ever imagine and God has a great plan for your life no matter who you are, no matter your past, God's got you, God's got this, and God can do impossible things," Kayla Stoecklein, 29, told those gathered for her late husband's funeral at California Baptist University in Riverside, California.

She went on to reiterate the advice on Sunday on the Stoecklein family's blog, God's Got This, just a day before the marking of World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday when the United Nations announced that nearly 800,000 people are dying by suicide every year.

"Tomorrow is national suicide prevention day. I still can't believe that I lost you, the man I madly love to suicide. How am I a survivor of suicide? Never would I ever have predicted this to be my life. It all happened so fast. You were just diagnosed in April with Depression and in August you are gone? We didn't have enough time!

"The truth is even if we could go back in time I don't know that I could have saved you. Was it just a matter of time? The truth is we know so little about the human mind and we are too ashamed to talk about suicide. I will not be silent anymore. I will continue to tell your story. I am begging God for a beautiful life even through this tragedy," added Stoecklein, who recently got a tattoo with her husband's life verse, 2 Kings 22:2  a tattoo he never had a chance to get.

During the memorial service, she celebrated his life, saying he never backed down from God's calling.

"Andrew served the Lord fearlessly just like his father, David, did. He was the pastor you could relate to, he was real and he was transparent and he was the young good-looking pastor with tattoos that loved the Lakers."

She also explained how difficult it was for her to watch the burial of her late husband.

"Seeing the casket and knowing that your body was inside shattered my heart. How could this be possible? How could my Andrew who was full of life and potential be gone? How could the father of my children now be lifeless in a casket? I don't know how this happened and it happened so quickly," she explained.

Stoecklein was proud of the way the church and Chino community chose to honor his life and said her husband would have loved the celebration.

"Andrew you would have loved every minute of the service. I felt such a strong connection to you and to God through the music. As I worshipped I cried and remembered listening to each song in the car with you on our road trip together just a few months ago. I pictured us driving through the beautiful trees in Park City, blasting music and holding hands in the car. I will cherish our final trip in my heart and mind forever," she wrote.

Among the list of speakers at Andrew's memorial service on Saturday were his mother, Carol, his sister, Paige, and brother, Austin, who all shared memories of the life they had with him.

"Andrew's legacy is not how he died, it is how he lived ... He made the most of his 30 years he got here and while that doesn't take away any of our pain, we all still feel it, I can't help but be filled with such hope and excitement to see him again soon in Heaven and you can have that too," Austin said.

Dressed in his brother's clothes, he talked about how the family planned to honor his late brother, father and ultimately God by continuing the work of God's Got This.

Read more about Pastor Andrew Stoecklein Laid to Rest; Widow Vows to Keep Speaking on Suicide on The Christian Post.
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According to The Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ), Hamas has misused approximately 17,000 children to aid them in their war efforts since 2016. The JIJ sent the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague a request asking to sue Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for war crimes against these children.

Arutz Sheva, an Israeli national news site, reports, that in the request, the JIJ cites testimonies illustrating two main war crimes committed by Haniyeh. The first crime the JIJ cited was the use of children under the age of 15 for military purposes. This includes using the children as soldiers and using them to carry out terror attacks.

The second crime Haniyeh is being accused of is using children as human shields and military targets.

In May Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan spoke with Arutz Sheva about the violent riots along the Israel-Gaza border saying, "I thank the IDF soldiers and commanders for their determined actions near the Gaza border. Dahan continued saying, "Hamas continues sending children to the border fence, while their leaders sit in their comfortable offices. The IDF is the most moral army in the world, and works hard to avoid causing deaths."

Along with the violent use of children in war, Haniyeh is also being charged with orchestrating a widescale use of torture and illegal killing. These acts were carried out by Hamas' internal security forces in Gaza.

According to Arutz Sheva, JIJ Attorney Uri Morad, said the testimonies that were submitted in the request have received praise from ICC department of information and research representatives.

"The entire process was very efficient and organized, and we felt like we had the trust of those receiving the request," he said. "I believe that this suit, which the Jerusalem Institute for Justice has submitted, will be dealt with fairly and without bias."

Photo courtesy: Bess Hamiti/Pexels
Much of the world may be embracing same-sex marriage, but Romania  with its strong Christian influence  is going in the opposite direction.

The countrys Senate voted 107-13 on Tuesday in favor of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, one year after the lower house  the Chamber of Deputies  also passed it.

The amendment now will appear on the ballot this fall for voters to consider. Three million Romanian citizens in 2016 signed a petition asking the government to place such an amendment on the ballot.

According to Newsweek, seven European countries -- Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia  already define marriage in their respective constitutions as between a man and a woman.

Weve been a Christian nation for 2,000 years, said Romanian Sen. Serban Nicolae, according to the Associated Press.

Fifteen European countries have legalized same-sex marriage, Newsweek reported.

A Pew Research Center survey released in June found that Romanians consider religion to be more important in their lives than most of Europe does.

The share of adults who consider religion to be very important in their lives is generally low in Europe, where 23% of survey respondents in the average country say this, the report said. [But] Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia and Romania, where at least half of people say religion is very important, are above the regional average on this measure.

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.

Photo courtesy: Unsplash/Marc A Sporys
Know thyself. This phrase is inscribed in the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, which was built in the 4th century B.C. Its most commonly attributed to Socrates (470399 B.C.), who often referred to this Delphic aphorism in his teachings. Suffice it to say, this phrase has a long history.

Without knowing its origins, however, one might mistake it for the anthem of our own day. Our society is infused with self: self-discovery, self-help, selfies. Knowing thyself seems to be the root of our daily existence. Yet, for all our self-reflection, few of us would claim success in knowing the depths of our own hearts and souls. If anything, the quest has made us aware of all we dont know, thereby intensifying our desire to unlock the mysteries within.

The desire to know ourselves is what prompts us, for example, to take those online pop-culture quizzes. We long to know which movie or TV character we most resemble or which Mamma Mia! character would be our BFF. Do you know which Hogwarts house you would be sorted into? Or which iconic 90s music video you are? We click through the questions, despite doubting the scientific accuracy of the resultsperhaps this is the missing knowledge that will finally give us a defining sense of self.

The Quest for the Perfect Personality

Interest in personality testing actually began long before these quizzes. Theres a history here toonot as far back as Socrates, of course, but one full of mystery nonetheless. One test in particular, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), is the subject of a new book by Merve Emre, an associate professor of English at Oxford University. Titled The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing, the book traces the development of the Myers-Briggs test, assessing its impact on our culture and examining both the praise and criticism it has garnered.

Why all the fuss about a single personality quiz? As Emre explains, the Myers-Briggs is a lucrative $500 million industry and an influential field of study spanning twenty-six countries and more than two dozen languages. The reach of this particular test is unlike any other. Despite its prominent place in personality-profile historyor, perhaps, because of itthe Myers-Briggs receives plenty of scorn for how it was created and developed. And revealing that backstory is where Emres book shines.

The Personality Brokers takes us to the beginning, before Myers-Briggs was an assessment tool, and introduces us to its creators: Katherine Cook Briggs (18751968) and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers (18971980). Development began when Katherine sought to conduct daily trials in living that would shape the outer and inner worlds of the people she loved best by making her home into a laboratory of personality research. Katherine was a home scientist; her family, the experimental subjects. Over the course of Isabels childhood, Katherine took notes and tested theories in her quest to mold Isabel into the picture-perfect child. The results were positive and obvious to all.

Eventually, Katherine opened her home to neighbors and acquaintances who wanted to learn these successful parenting techniques for rearing their own children. Key to parenting success, according to Katherine, was understanding the childs personality type; the questionnaire she developed was the precursor to the personality test now used by countless corporations, government entities, and universities.

Much transpired between that first home survey and todays Myers-Briggs. The details unfold novel-like from one chapter to the next in The Personality Brokers. Besides the creators, we meet various influencers (Carl Jung, Edward Hay, Donald MacKinnon, Mary McCaulley, and others) and early adopters (like the US government, Educational Testing Service, and the University of California, Berkeley).

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Emre takes readers along for the wild ride as the Myers-Briggs evolves from infancy to youth to maturityno easy road. From the start, the test had as many fierce critics as champions. The main critique lodged against it was that the questions and results were pieced together over several decades by two people with no formal training in psychoanalysis. In addition, results were often inconsistent for test subjects over time. All things considered, its truly a marvel the Myers-Briggs survived its pilgrimage to become such a commonplace assessment tool.

A Diagnosis, not a Cure

The first time I took the Myers-Briggs, I was in my early 20s, and I was completely unaware of the history or the controversy. I approached the test with enthusiasm, carefully marking my answer sheet as I processed my responses to questions about my preferences for social situations, hobbies, work environment, and the like. The questions are forced-choice, so respondents select one of two answerswhich means you are sometimes choosing an answer that is close enough but not exactly right. This bothered me, as I feared settling for an answer would skew the results. This too is a common critique of Myers-Briggs, one that Isabel Myers justified using the Jungian theory of enantiodromia, what Erme describes as a going over to the opposite in which one of the preferences a person did not express [in the first test] ascended to a much more honored place in the psyche by the second test. Myers believed the test assisted its subjects in self-discovery, revealing deeper truths with every pass.

The test provides subjects with a type (one of 16) based on results from four key categories:

Are you outwardly or inwardly focused? (Extraversion or Introversion) How do you prefer to take in information? (Sensing or Intuition) How do you prefer to make decisions? (Thinking or Feeling) How do you prefer to live your outer life? (Judging or Perceiving)

My first results were more affirmation than surprise. While I was not shocked with my INFP type, what was surprising was how meaningful it was to read about my type and how INFPs function in the world. For example, I didnt realize that making decisions in the moment was something common to Perceiving types but utterly stressful to Judging types. And it now made sense why my dreamy, overly detailed way of speaking (Intuitive type) didnt click well with some people (Sensing types).

Socrates was rightunderstanding myself was key to better living. Being aware of specific ways people are wired has helped me show grace for others (and sometimes even for myself). Its hard to love your neighbor as yourself when your neighbor acts in very different, often confusing or downright annoying ways. The 16 Myers-Briggs personality types have given us a place to start in relating well to others. In this sense, Emre is correct to observe that the Myers-Briggs has given us a shared ethos of self-contemplation, an inward gaze that many people once looked to religious institutions and religious authorities to provide.

It may be this shift that raises suspicions among so many people of faith. Should Gods people rely on tools developed outside of the faith to speak to our human condition? Is it possible for a tool designed by flawed humans to speak truth? Like all man-made constructs, there are flaws and blind spots in the Myers-Briggs. Some Christians believe personality profiling to be nearly evil and call true believers to shun such things. Others call for a tempered approach: Take whats good, discard the rest, and beware how much power you give your type.

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Such is the caution Alistair Roberts issues in an article at Mere Orthodoxy:

We are tempted to treat our personality type as justification and explanation for our behaviour, rather than discerning appropriate forms of behaviour and desire from their relation to fitting objective ends. We should observe the measure of circularity that can be present here: in using our personality types as justification for our patterns of behaviour we can forget that our personality typing was derived in large measure from those same patterns.

Learning our type, in essence, is equivalent to gazing into a mirror for the soul. The Myers-Briggs highlights patterns and tendencies, but it doesnt have the power to help us correct the weak parts of who we are. It hands us a diagnosis, not a cure. Knowing yourselfknowing your typeisnt enough, because the knowledge isnt enough to set us free. We are still a people in need of a Savior, no matter which four letters the Myers-Briggs test assigns us.

Erin Straza is managing editor of Christ and Pop Culture and host of the Persuasion podcast. She is the author of Comfort Detox: Finding Freedom from Habits That Bind You (InterVarsity Press).
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.
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When we think of biblical stories or passages about time, few of us turn to Esther. We'll turn to Genesis, where God makes time by separating the dark from the light and the sun from the moon. We'll look at Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher meditates on the times and seasons for everything. We'll consider the birth of Christ, an event that, according to Paul, occurred "in the fullness of time."

But Esther offers deep insights on timing as well. When it becomes clear that Esther will need to take a stand for her people at the risk of her life, her uncle Mordecai wonders: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

It's a question which resonates with many of us. "What if I am called to this ministry, this role, this position, this job, this relationship...for such a time as this?"

Important as such personal insights are, however, we must consider the context of this story if we want to thoroughly understand how it applies to us today.

During the time before the story unfolds, the Jews had been in exile, forcibly displaced migrants across borders  much like modern-day stateless refugees. In the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, many returned to Jerusalem to rebuild and resume their national identity.

But not all did. For many reasons, some remained displaced. Migration is arduous. Thousands of years later, we still see refugees trudging by foot for weeks in search of safety. And some are simply unable to make the journey, preferring the known risks of staying over the unknown risks of running.

The situation in Esther's time was similar, if not worse. A sizeable population of immigrant Jews remained in the land of Persia, where Ahasuerus (Xerxes in some translations) was king. They were sojourners, temporary residents, foreigners or aliens without the rights of citizens.

We know the story: After the king dismisses his queen, Vashti, he begins the hunt for a new bride. Esther  an orphan in the care of her cousin Mordecai  emerges as the ideal candidate. But Esther has a secret: She is not Persian. Mordecai advises her to keep her immigrant status hidden, and Esther becomes the king's new bride.

The plot thickens when Haman, who despises Mordecai, is promoted as the second-highest authority in the land. When Haman discovers that Mordecai is an immigrant, he devises a plan to not only execute Mordecai, but to kill all his people as well.

Imagine the fear among the immigrant community as they heard rumors about what would happen. Imagine the racial profiling that would have to take place to determine if a person was Jewish.

Mordecai, however, sees a way out. He asks Esther to reveal her identity as an immigrant and to plead with the king for her people.

Her first response is fear, but Mordecai, at the tipping point of the story, asks her to consider  is it possible that she came to the throne "for such a time as this"?

Esther listens. She advocates for her people  even at the risk of her life.

The story concludes with a happy ending, commemorated every year in the Jewish feast of Purim. The king hears her counsel, decides not to exterminate the Jews and sentences Haman to death.

Esther, a member of an immigrant community, has spoken up and defended herself and her people. And because of her fortitude, the community grows. The story concludes with many people converting to Judaism, inspired by the fasting, prayer and courage of the people.

Fast-forward to modern times. As a Christian, I don't have any sort of physical crown or temporal royal power  but I believe I have a different type of royal position. I read the New Testament, and it tells me that I have unbelievable worth and identity as a child of God. But with that identity comes responsibility: I must speak up and put love in action.

And when I look at the book of Esther, I see many parallels to today.

I see refugees around the globe running from oppression and suffering, remaining stateless while the world watches.

I see immigrants in my community being racially profiled for the color of their skin and asked to reveal their citizenship status.

I see politicians at every level listening to unwise, unjust counsel.

I see a Christian community not taking time to listen to immigrants and learn why they have risked crossing borders to survive.

I see us choosing simplistic explanations, saying things like, "Take down the doors or walls at your house and see what that feels like"  uncharitably caricaturing the perspective of those with whom we disagree.

In short, I see us not following the way of Jesus.

Jesus fulfills all the instruction of the Old Testament on welcoming, loving and caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan and the foreigner.

Jesus never asks how anyone became hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, widowed, sick, orphaned or imprisoned.

Jesus reminds us that as His children, we have a royal duty to comfort all those longing for His compassion and mercy.

Above all, He says we will encounter Him and serve Him in the process.

In Revelation, we see Jesus as an outsider and stranger, knocking on doors and looking for shelter. "Behold," he says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me." A few verses earlier, he warns the church against sitting on the fence of indifference.

I challenge my royal brothers and sisters to understand we cannot be lukewarm. We cannot sit in comfort and complacency when God has called us to something different.

There is a time to speak up  in our families, in our friendships, in our churches, in our government  and that time is now.

Karen Spencer is the Church and Community Engagement Manager for World Relief Memphis. An immigrant, a world-traveler, a wife and mother, she connects the dots between the beautiful people she has met the world over and the biblical call to love them.
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Editor's note: This article first appeared at WhiteHorseInn.org.

It is not often that a clinical psychologist becomes the cultural equivalent of a rock star, but Canadian academic Jordan B. Peterson has done just that. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as the old saying goes, and Dr. Peterson is surely a man who has found his time. And all indications are that, behind his characteristically serious (if not slightly puzzled) expression, he quite enjoys the irritation and annoyance that his forthright statements on our current cultural climate cause the self-appointed members of contemporary Committees of Public Safety. Like Camille Paglia (who provided a jacket commendation for his latest book) he preaches that most unpopular of gospels in this age of victimhood: personal responsibility.

Peterson first gained public attention when, in a series of YouTube presentations, he critiqued Canada's Bill C-16 by which the federal government added gender expressions and gender identity to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code. Peterson rightly sees this move as jeopardizing free speech and as a dangerous government encroachment on freedom of expression. In an era where traditional freedoms are regarded by the panjandrums of the culture as antithetical to the well-being of society as a whole, Peterson found himself to be an instant and controversial celebrity, lauded by some and decried by others. Since then, his television appearances (particularly one with journalist Cathy Newman on the UK's Channel 4), have revealed him to be a calm, precise, logical, clear-thinking, and courageous advocate for his various positions.

For those interested in his overall philosophy of life, his recent book, "12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos" provides a thoroughgoing account which, while resting upon his scholarly work in behavioral psychology, is accessible to the layperson. In fact, the basic message of "12 Rules" is simple: take responsibility for yourself. That this has proved so controversial is paradoxically both surprising and entirely predictable. Surprising because we live in an age where the individual is supposed to be sovereign over their own identity; entirely predictable because our contemporary individualism always assumes that our failure to fulfill personal potential is always somebody else's fault. We live in a culture of sovereign individual victims.

While Peterson cites the Bible frequently, his philosophical influences are more eclectic. He cites Freud, Jung and Rogers in psychology, appreciates Nietzsche and Dostoyevski, and in his focus on Being seems to have imbibed something of Heidegger. He acknowledges that Solzhenitsyn's analysis of the psychology of Soviet society in his masterwork, The Gulag Archipelago, shaped him profoundly, as did the work of Orwell. Clearly an intellectual omnivore, he is yet able to deploy all this learning in a most accessible manner.

Peterson is consequently an outspoken foe of anything which might lead to totalitarianism, political or cultural. One of many cringe-inducing moments in his interview with Cathy Newman comes when he has to explain to her the connection between the way modern identity politics threaten freedom of speech and the policies of Chairman Mao. The interview as a whole was perhaps not quite as bad for Newman as some of his fans claimedonce or twice they seemed to talk past each other, especially on the issue of women's paybut what is clear is that, on the issue of speech codes, Peterson thinks in terms of underlying philosophical principles and their social ramifications, while Newman thinks (if 'thinks' is not too flattering a word) merely in terms of her own emotional response to the emotive rhetoric of the sexual identity lobbyists.

Yet in his advocacy of freedom, Peterson understands something which seems lost today: to be truly free, the individual must be subject to limits, to constraints. Peterson understands that society is not necessarily an agent of corruption (he dismisses Rousseau's claims to the contrary in two well-targeted pages). Society shapes individuals and, to the extent that society shapes individuals in a manner which respects their nature, society makes freedom possible. Human nature in general is limited but limitation does not mean less freedom. I cannot fly simply by flapping my arms, but that inability does not mean that I am in bondage. I need to understand my limits as a human being and learn to act accordinglythe limits of human nature in general and of myself in particular: I can, for example, swim but I will never be as good as Michael Phelps.

Failure to understand thisor perhaps better, a refusal to acknowledge thislies at the root of much of the political insanity that surrounds us. Rejecting this is the premise undergirding transgender ideology, turns speech with which we disagree into acts of oppressive hate, and outlaws reality en masse. That is one reason why Peterson opposes the legislation of gender speech codes: not only do such violate the principle of free speech, in the hands of the transgender lobby they demand that people say that which they know is untrue and inconsistent with reality.

Peterson is lauded by conservatives because of the way he irritates the left. And yet there is plenty in his thinking to give the right, especially perhaps the Christian right, pause for thought. His robust defense of freedom of speech and excoriation of bully-boy tactics on social issues certainly appeals to many Christians today. But is this simply because the levers of cultural power now lie in the hands of the left? Not so long ago such things as commercial boycotts were the weapons of choice of the Southern Baptists. Further, the sheer personal nastiness of many debates that take place among Christians online is scarcely consistent with his Rule 9 ('Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't') or Rule 10 ('Be precise in your speech'). And his question, 'Do you want your children to be safe or to be strong?' would seem one that many homeschool parents might not answer in quite the same way as he would.

Reading Peterson reminded me of one of the great losses of Protestant theology for which we are now paying a high price: an emphasis on the virtues, or character traits. Protestant ethics have, in practice, made the matter of characterof intrinsic personal virtuessomething of secondary importance. This is not a necessary consequence of the foundational law-gospel dialectic but it is the case that discussion of Christian behavior among the Reformed has focused almost exclusively on the Third Use of the Law as an external guide. What Peterson reminds us is that behavior grows out ofand in turn shapescharacter. And what society is facing at this point is a serious deficit of character; something for which the older generation (my generation!) needs to take responsibility. We cannot decry snowflake students without realizing that they were created by a generation of parents who were, in the words of English journalist, Rod Liddle, 'selfish, whining monkeys' without realizing that this is the world we have created. Nor can we as Christians pass responsibility for this to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is unlikely to teach your children to respect other people unless you are teaching them the same by precept and by example. We need to bring our children up correctly. We need to take responsibility for our actions.

Perhaps Peterson's greatest significance lies not in any original insights which he has. He seems in many ways a remarkably unoriginal thinker. The front cover of "12 Rules" carries a quotation from The Spectator to the effect that he is 'one of the most important thinkers to emerge on the world stage for many years.' Yet it is surely not his thinking that makes him important, at least not in terms of its content. Rather, his genius lies simply in his clarity and his courageous willingness to speak and act consistently with that. His book, when shorn of its occasional flirtations with Heideggerian jargon and stripped down to its twelve basic rules, is really nothing that my father and mother could not have written. Self-respect, self-discipline, patience, courtesy, respect for others, hard workthese were the values that my parents at least tried to instill in me from an early age.

No, it is not his thought that is significant; it is the reactions to it. They are the most revealing. That a book advocating the above values is controversial should be sobering. That he can be seriously asked by an apparently intelligent journalist why his right to free speech should be considered more valuable than somebody else's desire not to be offended indicates just how precarious are individual freedoms which we considered the jewel of the West just thirty years ago. We truly do live at a time where the omnipresent language of expressive individualism is being used by cultural totalitarians to press for a view of society which ultimately prioritizes group identity in a way that could prove lethal to any notion of true individual freedom. It is perhaps an accident of history that this happens to have manifested itself most obviously on the left. The psychological notion of personhood which underlies it, and the consequent identification of oppression as a primarily psychological phenomenon, does not seem to be of necessity a left-wing monopoly. Just think for a moment about how outraged some conservatives become when somebody dares to express a view with which they disagree; and a moment's reflection on the history of the treatment of ethnic and sexual minorities does provide a context for the rise of identity politics of today. But the fact that conservatives have sinned too does not justify crazy ideological excesses which, if left unchecked, could challenge some of the basic philosophical foundations of democracy.

What kind of a world do we now live in where a man who advocates hard work and respect for others and roots his arguments in scientific, historical and sociological evidence, is seen as a radical right-wing propagandist? The same world, I guess, where University of Pennsylvania professor, Amy Wax, can propose much the same thing and be roundly decried as a racist white supremacist: a childish, self-absorbed world where every failure is always the fault of somebody else and nobody takes responsibility for anything. Yet the people who criticize Peterson give every appearance of being sane, functioning members of society. Perhaps they are genuinely concerned that his arguments give too much ground to a Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' philosophy? Maybe. I myself fear that the real lesson of Peterson's notoriety is not that the lunatics have taken over the asylum as the spoiled toddlers have staged a coup at the kindergarten.

Peterson is a talented, courageous and gracious man. But only a society controlled by emotionally stunted nincompoops pretending to be adults would consider him to be either a genius or a dangerous problem. Welcome to where we are.

Posted at Vision & Values.



Dr. Carl Trueman is professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge and Aberdeen and has taught on the faculties of the Universities of Nottingham and Aberdeen and Westminster Theological Seminary. Most recently, he was the William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. He writes regularly at First Things and Modern Reformation and co-hosts a weekly podcast, The Mortification of Spin, for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.
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The Catholic sex abuse scandal is revolting. That Theodore McCarrick sexually abused seminarians is horrific enough. But reports that the Vatican knew about it and did nothing shocks anyone with any sense of propriety and justice.

Plus, now there's a grand jury report revealing that more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania have been credibly accused of abusing more than 1,000 victims. And law enforcement officials in 10 states have launched similar investigations, suggesting the abuse is rampant.

Decent Catholics are outraged and rightfully so. They're demanding resignations and change among church hierarchy.

And Protestants, who at one time might have used the scandal as an opportunity to throw stones, are realizing that we live in a glass house too. From scandals involving Bill Hybels to Mark Darling to Sovereign Grace Ministries and Bob Jones University, it's clear that we have our own problems. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church doesn't have a monopoly on sex abuse or the ability to cover it up.

But what's the solution?

Many proposals aim to reform the system. Certainly, the Catholic Church and its hierarchy need to change. Protestant denominations need to change too. And I'm heartened, for example, that Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear announced that he will form a Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group.

But as Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse recently wrote to fellow Catholics, relying on church leaders to solve the problem may be futile. "Most proposals for reform require cooperation from the very same people who have already failed us," she said. "These ideas still leave us, the ordinary Catholic in the pew, at the mercies of men we no longer trust."

As Protestants, our leadership is much more decentralized, and I believe there are godly church leaders we can trust. Yet Morse makes an important point. Laypeople need become part of the solution. Sadly, if we're honest, we have to admit we've been part of the problem. She explains:

If the witnesses who are potential whistleblowers knew they would be supported by faithful Catholics, would they be more likely to blow that whistle? Yes, obviously. If the guys doing damage control thought the whistleblowers had alternative sources of support and employment, would that fact reduce their ability to silence the whistleblower? Yes, of course.

All this points to one thing: Being the backstop, the backup plan, providing the alternative support system means that we are changing the incentives under which the Church operates.

Having blown the whistle on wrongdoing at a major Christian institution this year, I resonate with Morse's sentiments. Too often, people shoot the messenger. And it's about time we reverse this pattern.

Rachael Denhollander, one of Larry Nassar's sex abuse victims, understands this pattern well. "When I did come forward as an abuse victim," she told Christianity Today, "this part of my past was wielded like a weapon by some of the elders to further discredit my concern, essentially saying that I was imposing my own perspective or that my judgment was too clouded." Sadly she concludes that the church is "one of the least safe places to acknowledge abuse . . . There are very, very few who have ever found true help in the church."

Unfortunately, it's common practice for elders to protect their own. That's what happened at Willow Creek and why the entire elder board resigned. But this response works only because the congregation allows it to work.

When Hybels initially called the accusations in the Tribune flat-out lies and the elders rebuffed the women, congregants at Willow Creek reportedly cheered their support. I'm sure many church members regret that decision today, and feel they were duped by their leadership. But it should serve as a sobering lesson for all of us.

In the past six months, I've received dozens emails and messages from people sharing their stories of wrongdoing within the church and Christian institutions. Every time, I'm grieved and feel a responsibility to help.

Yet so often when I ask these people if they're willing to speak to me on the record, the answer is no. And sadly, my response to them then is, "Then there's nothing I can do for you."

These people fear retribution from leaders. But they equally fear being shunned by their friends, colleagues, and/or church members. If they knew they could count on their community to stand with them, things would be dramatically different.

People of God, we are facing a very unique moment. Sadly, our churches and Christian institutions  Catholic and Protestant  are deeply flawed and desperately in need of reform. But God is beginning to expose the darkness, making this an important opportunity.

I speak with many people who say they're powerless to change what ails the church. We're not powerless. But as long as we think we are, then we are.

Certainly, if we're going to seize this opportunity, our leaders need to lead in the right direction. As Scripture makes abundantly clear, they will be held to a higher standard and will be called to account (James 3:1; Acts 20:28).

But as laypeople, we have a responsibility too. First, those with knowledge of wrongdoing need to speak up. Leviticus 5:1 actually calls it sin when someone fails to testify about a public charge that they have witnessed.

If you have witnessed wrongdoing, the onus is on you to speak. And please, don't say you don't have the "personality" to speak up. Courage is a character quality, not a personality trait.

Secondly, we need to support those who testify. This doesn't mean we blindly believe everything we hear. But at the very least, it means we examine the facts, and reserve judgment until the truth becomes clear. And in a he-said, she-said situation, we don't show partiality by simply believing the one with the most power and charisma.

Also, once we determine that someone is telling the truth, we do all we can to support that person, even if it costs us. I can't help but wonder what would have happened at Willow Creek had John and Nancy Ortberg not been willing to risk their reputations by speaking publicly in support of Hybels' alleged victims. They chose what was right over what was safe, and that made a huge difference.

We can help heal the church. And despite everything I've witnessed and read, I still believe the Bride of Christ. Now may be a season of judgment and discipline. But God loves His church. And if we cooperate with what the Spirit is doing, I have no doubt that she will emerge purified, humbled, and radiant.
home Life Having Marriage Problems? Here Are 4 Valuable Benefits of Christian Marriage Counseling

* Partner Post

Marriage is God's idea, and it is His will that your marriage be fulfilling and fruitful in every way. However, life happens, and there are many hurdles along the path of your marriage that may cause you to get to a place where you need a third party to help you see things more clearly. This is where counselling comes in, and not just any counselling, but specifically Christian counselling. It's easy to find a Christian marriage counselor in your location. Simply search online for Christian marriage counseling in my area and you will get several options to choose from.

According to the American Psychological Association, the divorce rate in America is between 40 and 50%. These percentages can be greatly reduced by seeking the services of a Christian marriage counselor at an early stage when you begin to see the waves of destruction beat against your marriage. There are several benefits of having a Christian counsellor as opposed to a secular one. Some of these are mentioned below:
home US Pat Robertson commands Hurricane Florence do no damage as it hurtles towards east coast

Pat Robertson has commanded the incoming Hurricane Florence to stay away from the east coast region.

Robertson, who founded Regent University in Virginia who and is also the chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network and host of "The 700 Club," spoke on Monday at CBN's special Week of Prayer service, where he reminded the audience that Jesus commanded the sea and the waves at the sea of Galilee to be still.

Speaking of Florence, the category 4 hurricane that is expected to make landfall and cause devastating damage in the Carolinas and Virginia starting Thursday, the evangelist asked the faithful to believe in God.

"I don't want that thing to come in," the preacher said of the storm.

"I don't want it to hurt Regent, I don't wait it to hurt CBN, I don't want it to tear up the beautiful campus, I don't want it to tear these trees down, I don't want to see any damage, I don't want a bunch of glass flowing," or damage to the area, he added.

He asked people at the service to raise their hands toward the Atlantic.

"We declare in the name of the Lord that you shall go no farther, you shall do no damage in this area," Robertson said.

"In the name of Jesus a Hurricane Florence, we speak to you and we command the storm to cease its forward motion and go harmlessly into the Atlantic. Go up north away from land and veer off, in the name of Jesus. We declare a shield of protection all over Tidewater and we declare a shield of protection over those innocent people in the path of this hurricane. In Jesus' holy name, be out to sea!" he called.

Robertson said that hurricanes of past years have been diverted from Virginia thanks to prayers, and said that the same can be done with Florence as well.

"I believe it in all my heart, that if we don't doubt, this hurricane will be dispelled," he proclaimed.

Operation Blessing International, a humanitarian organization founded by Robertson, has meanwhile shared its readiness to respond to the storm.

"As #HurricaneFlorence approaches the East Coast, Operation Blessing teams are preparing to respond. Please pray for everyone in the path of this powerful storm," the group posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

Some analysts, such as real estate data provider CoreLogic, have warned that close to 759,000 homes are in the path of the hurricane, with Florence estimated to inflict more than $170 billion in damage.

Other Christian relief groups, such as North Carolina Baptists on Mission, which handles disaster relief for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, have also spoken of their readiness to act.

"We haven't had a Category 4 hit North Carolina since Hurricane Hazel, 50 years ago," said Richard Brunson, executive director of NAMB.

"It just depends where it comes in, but it's a very powerful hurricane that could be devastating, catastrophic. Those are the words they're using to describe Hurricane Florence."

Brunson added: "God has given us some quality resources with our volunteers and our equipment. We want to glorify God with all that we have. We also have great partners in other states and if the storm comes in as big as they say it will, those partners through the nationwide Southern Baptist network will come to help. That's a real assurance."

This article was published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission
home Life Widow of pastor who committed suicide believes he is in Heaven, not Hell

Kayla Stoecklein, widow of late Inland Hills Church Lead Pastor Andrew Stoecklein, who died after attempting suicide at his church last month, says she is confident her husband is in Heaven despite the enduring "myth" that suicide victims are condemned to Hell.

"This is a common misbelief about suicide and it breaks my heart. I'll be the first to admit prior to Andrew's death I may have actually believed it to be true," Kayla, 29, wrote on her family's God's Got This blog Tuesday.

"I remember leaning over to my mother in law, Carol, in the hospital room as my husband lay there dying, whispering through my tears, 'Will he go to heaven?' She quickly reassured me, as I am confident now: whether you are accepted into heaven or not has nothing to do with how you die. The only way we are accepted into heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus," she said.

The Chino Police Department told The Christian Post that at 11:08 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, they received a call from the Chino, California, church about an attempted suicide. When they arrived, Pastor Stoecklein who had been battling anxiety and depression for months was identified as the victim. He died hours later at a local hospital and prompted a national discussion on mental health and the church, which Kayla vowed to continue.

"I believe with 100% of my soul that Andrew is in heaven. Andrew had a real, raw, authentic, and infectious relationship with Jesus. Thousands of people will be in heaven because of him," she noted Tuesday.

"Andrew got sick, he was given a diagnosis, much like any other deadly diagnosis. His illness grew worse over time. This illness caused him to lose his ability to make wise decisions, to think clearly, and to properly articulate his feelings. If Andrew were sitting here today, healthy and strong, I am confident he would want a redo. He did not want to die. I can rest assured that he is no longer in pain, he is completely healed in heaven; a place more beautiful and wonderful than any human mind could ever comprehend," she added.

Albert Y. Hsu, senior editor for IVP Books at InterVarsity Press who earned a Ph.D. in educational studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, agrees that the idea that Christians who commit suicide are condemned to Hell is a "misconception."

Hsu, who lost his own father to suicide, authored a book on the subject called Grieving a Suicide: A Loved One's Search for Comfort. He explained his position in a CT interview last fall.

"Christians often assume that suicide is an unforgivable sin and that those who die by suicide automatically go to hell. That's a misconception that believes in a transactional view of sin and forgiveness, where if we don't confess the sin of suicide after it takes place, it can't be forgiven. But that idea comes more from Augustine and medieval theology than the Bible," he said.

"Scripture doesn't actually say that suicide separates us from God for eternity. The unforgivable sin is never equated with suicide in Scripture. Somebody like Samson died at his own hand, but he's still included in Hebrews 11 among the Hall of the Faithful. And there's the promise in Romans 8 that 'neither life nor death,' not even death by suicide, could 'separate us from the love of God in Christ,'" Hsu explained.

He said instead of seeing suicide as the "unforgivable sin," he sees the act as more of a tragedy.

"There are seven suicides in Scripture from King Saul to Judas, and they're always depicted negatively. They are never God's plan for anybody's life. But it's also not the unforgivable sin that automatically condemns somebody for eternity," he said. "I put suicide in the literary category of tragedy. In Greek or Shakespearean tragedy, somebody is undone by an internal fatal flaw, and the tragic hero dies because something has gone wrong in their story. When we think of that and our loved ones that we lost in suicide, that helps us understand them. It doesn't excuse their action, but it helps us have compassion on and empathy for them."

Kay Warren, best-selling author and Bible teacher who co-founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, with her husband, Rick, also supports the view that suicide doesn't condemn a Christian to Hell.

Warren's son, Matthew, fatally shot himself at the age of 27 in April 2013, after a long and private struggle with mental illness.

"God's promised us that Matthew's salvation was safe and secure. Matthew gave his life to Jesus when he was a little boy. And so, I'm absolutely 100 percent confident based on the work of Jesus that Matthew is in Heaven," she told The Christian Post in an earlier interview.

She also had high praise for Hsu's book.

"Grieving a Suicide is one of the most helpful books I read after our son, Matthew, died by suicide. I scribbled notes and comments to myself on nearly every page of this revised and expanded edition, and I found Al Hsu's compassionate and practical words even more beneficial than before. He has walked this painful path and knows firsthand how to give hope and comfort to grieving people. Grieving a Suicide is on my list of must-read books for survivors of suicide loss," she wrote.

This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission
94-year-old veteran skydives for Christian work 74 years after parachuting into Normandy on D-Day

Nearly three-quarters of a century ago, Harry Read parachuted into Normandy as part of the D-Day offensive on 6 June 1944.

Despite turning 94 this year, the great-great grandfather jumped from the skies once more on Friday to raise money for The Salvation Army's work to stop human trafficking and modern day slavery.

For Friday's charity jump - his first high level skydive since D-Day - Read took off from The Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury and flew 10,000 feet into the air before the big leap from the plane.

It was quite a different experience from his D-Day jump, which he made at just 20 years of age while serving as a wireless operator in the Parachute Bridade.

'On that morning at 00.50 hours I parachuted into Normandy and 30 seconds later I was on the ground,' he recalls.

'This was my first high level skydive and whilst I was a little nervous I have always enjoyed the thrill of parachuting. It was amazing to experience the freefall and then cruising down was simply beautiful,' he said.

'I feel so lucky to have been able to experience this at my age. Before I could take part in the jump my doctor assured me my heart is as healthy as a middle aged man.'

Read has been a life-long member of The Salvation Army, having previously served as the leader of The Salvation Army in both the UK and East Australia, and as Chief Secretary at The Salvation Army in Canada.

In 2016, he was awarded France's highest honour, the Chevalier, by order of the Legion d'Honneur for his role in liberating the country from the Nazis in June 1944.

Read was inspired to make the jump again after visiting the Normandy battlefields earlier this year for an anniversary tour. An anniversary jump is being planned for June next year, which marks 75 years since D-Day, but Read wanted to try a practice dive closer to home first.

'At whatever age we are, we are more than capable of shrinking from something that we feel is beyond us,' he said.

'But, I believe we should not withdraw from a challenge  yesterday is not our best, our best is tomorrow. I look forward to the chance to jump again next year in Normandy.'

Read was accompanied on his jump by his granddaughters and grandson. His efforts have raised over 3,500, which will go towards Salvation Army projects operating across 11 countries to prevent trafficking and slavery at source.

You can support Harry's skydive via his JustGiving page here.
Anglicans in Parliament back next generation of women leaders

Women who represent the Church of England in Parliament have spoken out about what it means to be a female leader as part of an initiative to inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

In the 100th anniversary year of women's votes, the three sitting women bishops in the House of Lords, together with the Chaplain to the Speaker and the Second Church Estates Commissioner, paid tribute to women from history who helped them on their vocational path, adding their own messages of encouragement.

The five trailblazing leaders, each the first woman to hold her current role, were speaking to promote specially-commissioned resources for Church of England Schools and youth groups to engage with UK Parliament Week 2018.

Using the free resources, children and young people will have the chance to play the part of MPs by making a law and running a mock election, while learning about the importance of the 1918 Representation of People Act which paved the way for women to vote. They can also participate in worship, saying the prayers used in the Houses of Commons and Lords every day at the start of business.

The Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, the first woman bishop to enter the Lords, said that it was 'never my intention to be bishop, let alone sit in the House of Lords'.

She continued: 'I am acutely aware that I have only been able to take these steps because of the courage, prayer, voices and action of so many people over the years.

'With the calling to be a bishop and a Lord Spiritual has come the responsibility and opportunity to speak out on a variety of issues and topics, in an endeavour to enable other people to flourish and fulfil their potential and become the people God has created them to be.'

The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, said her Christian calling was 'not just to pray, but to act in the world'.

She added: 'I am very aware that the seat I occupy in St Paul's Cathedral is the one that suffragettes tried to blow up as part of their campaign for women's rights.

'The fact I sit in this seat 100 years after the vote was won for some women is an honour and a privilege I will try to use wisely.'

Churches and schools can apply for Parliament Week resources by filling in the application form.

Packs for schools, churches and other Christian groups include a booklet with a wide range of activities for use at events, together with prayers and reflections from Christian parliamentary figures, a ballot box for mock elections, bunting, posters and pin badges.
Extremists beat Indian pastor with brick, expel him from village

An Indian pastor has told of how he was attacked by Hindu extremists and forced to leave his village.

Sujit, 34, told Open Doors: 'When I first accepted Jesus, my family was forced, by the local villagers, to expel me from the house because of my faith. I went to another village and have been ministering there for 15 years. I have faced much opposition, but I have never suffered persecution like the one I suffered a few months ago.'

Sujit's congregation became too big to meet in houses, so they wanted to build a church. However, local villagers opposed the construction work and vandalised the church three times: 'When we began the construction of the church, one of the well-known people in the village, who is also a retired army officer, made a false complaint to the RSS [a Hindu nationalist group] leaders that we were luring people to Christianity using money,' he said.

'After this, the RSS groups from other villages made many visits to our village, conducted meetings with the villagers and instigated the Hindus against us. There were constant attacks on the construction sites.'

According to Sujit, the authorities were unhelpful. 'I made a complaint to the village chief and the police, and they assured me of complete support from their side and protection,' he said. 'But then, there was another attack. Again I questioned the authorities, and again they assured me that the criminals would be punished and that I should continue the work.'

However, the vandalism continued. When Sujit heard the site was again under attack, he said: 'I ran to the spot and confronted them. Two of the extremists caught me from the sides and the third one bashed my head with a brick.

'They showered continuous kicks and blows on me, threatening that they would kill me if I continued preaching Christianity in the village. I suffered severe head and spinal injuries; I was bleeding and was rushed to the hospital by my church members.'

Despite being severely injured Sujit continued to file complaints with the village chief. But the threats did not stop. A few families stopped coming to church out of fear. 'My wife and I had to leave the place I had been serving for the last 15 years. It was heartbreaking,' he said. 'I still pay secret visits to encourage the church members in the village. The village needs the church, people need a place for worship. Houses are too small to accommodate all the Christians who come from nearby villages. Please pray. I believe God would certainly open the way to resume the construction work.'

Since the attack, Sujit has attended Persecution Survival Training run by Open Doors partners, a programme that gives isolated pastors an opportunity to work through some of the questions they have and equip them to face the persecution that may come in the future.

'"In my distress, I was greatly comforted when God spoke to me through the teachings in the seminar where I was reminded of Mary and Joseph who also had to flee to Egypt when Herod was seeking to kill Jesus. The lonely feeling in my heart also disappeared when I heard about so many people who were suffering with joy for Jesus. I was also able to share these teachings with my church members during my secret visits to my previous village,' he said.

India is number 11 on the 2018 World Watch List, its highest ever position.

Open Doors partners estimate that almost 24,000 Christians were physically attacked last year because of their faith.
Faith at work: How Christians can be safe from workplace discrimination

Three Christian organisations have teamed up to produce a resource aimed at helping employers understand issues facing Christians at work.

ADF International, Evangelical Alliance and the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship have produced Christianity in the Workplace: An employer's guide to Christian beliefs, a 26-page booklet addressing issues such as alcohol and gambling, wearing crosses, sharing faith and prayer.

Christians such as Nadia Eweida, the BA employee banned from wearing a cross at a check-in desk, have fought high-profile legal cases for the right to manifest their faith. The resource is designed to help employers and HR teams understand the issues and avoid costly and damaging conflicts.

The guide notes that 'unlike other religious faiths, there are relatively few specific practices that would be collectively considered mandatory for Christians to undertake. In practice, this means that Christians will be guided by the Bible, denominational teaching and their conscience as they manifest their faith in everyday life.'

On faith-shairing, it says: 'While Christians will need to be sensitive to the timing and manner in which they raise conversations about faith, conversations about Christianity are likely to arise because of the importance of belief to many Christians. Christians may also offer to pray with colleagues who are experiencing particularly difficult situations.'

This will probably be 'motivated by a heart-felt desire to comfort or encourage the individual concerned', it says, but 'should not be pushed if the Christian can see that the offer is making the individual in question uncomfortable'.

It mentions concerns around issues such as alcohol, gambling  including workplace raffles  and swearing, adding: 'Christians may take differing positions on a number of contemporary issues, for instance; abortion, sexuality, sexual identity, marriage, war, contraception and other religions. Where Christians are inspired by their faith to take a position on these issues in public, it is a manifestation of their faith.'

It provides guidance on what counts as direct and indirect discrimination, harrassment and victimisatio, and urges the importance of 'reasonable accommodation' for believers in terms of the Equality Act 2010.

Simon McCrossan, head of public policy at the Evangelical Alliance, said: 'This guide helpfully explains how equality law applies to Christian beliefs and contains many practical steps that employers can take to create an inclusive and respectful work environment where their Christian employees can thrive and avoid being placed in situations where they feel they have to choose between their faith and their job.'

ADF International legal counsel Laurence Wilkinson said: 'We are launching the Christianity in the Workplace resource to support employers in the creation of an inclusive and enfranchising work environment for people of faith. Ultimately, nobody should have to choose between their profession and their faith. For many employees, religion plays a central role in their lives that cannot and should not simply be left at home. Research shows that employers who cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace are likely to benefit from a motivated and engaged workforce.'

To download the booklet click here.
Historic Scottish church in Rotterdam celebrates 375 year milestone

A Scottish congregation that has been meeting in Rotterdam for the last 375 years will celebrate the milestone in a special service on Sunday.

The Scots International Church in Rotterdam was founded in 1643 and originally grew out of the large number of sailors, soldiers, merchants and dyke-builders who had come to the Dutch city from Scotland.

The first minister Alexander Petrie came from Rhynd, near Perth, and led the fledgling congregation from 1643 until his death in 1662.

The congregation initially met in the warehouse of a wine merchant until foundation stones were brought from Scotland in 1695 to build the first church building.

That building stood until the Second World War, when it was destroyed in bombing. It was a difficult time for the congregation, says Rev Derek Lawson, who has been based at the Scots International Church since coming out of retirement in 2016.

'There was virtually no contact with Scotland during the Second World War,' he explains.

The church building was destroyed by a bomb in 1940 and there was a real risk that the congregation would not survive the War, he says.

But the congregation and local Rotterdam merchants pulled together to raise enough funds for a new church, and it was dedicated in 1952 by the then Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, the Rt Rev Johnstone Jeffrey.

The current Moderator, the Rt Rev Susan Brown, will preach at the anniversary service.

She said: 'It is a congregation which, over the years, has continually reviewed and renewed its role and vision and as such offers vibrant testimony to the faith that undergirds all it does.

'May they continue to be a blessing to all who walk in through their doors  people of all nationalities.'

Special guests at the service include the former minister of Scots International Church from 1963 to 1972, the Rev John Russell.

He said: 'We loved our time here.The Manse was our first home - we arrived on a cold winter's night to a warm welcome 13 days after marriage.

'When I was appointed in 1963 I was given the task to reach out to the large English-speaking population drawn from Britain, the Commonwealth and the United States and many other nationalities living throughout South Holland.

'In my ministry this outreach was carried out and the congregation became truly multinational, a tradition that has continued throughout successive ministries.'

While the original church catered mostly to Scots, today's church members include expats from around the UK and around a third of the congregation is Dutch, although the services are conducted in English.

'Historically we've had a lot of Americans and Canadians but now also people from Asia and Africa,' said Mr Lawson.

'The English Language is the common denominator  it may be their second, third or even fourth language.'

Scots International Church is one of 16 Church of Scotland based overseas.
Indian nuns demand justice for sister allegedly assaulted by bishop

A group of Indian Catholic nuns are staging a rare street protest in the southern state of Kerala demanding justice after an alleged sexual assault of a nun by a bishop.

Police have called the bishop named in the complaint for a second round of questioning next week. The bishop has denied wrongdoing.

he case comes at a time when the Christian community, which accounts for 19 per cent of the state's population, is reeling under an erosion of trust as sexual abuse cases involving the clergy pile up.

Five priests were arrested last month in two different sexual assault cases, while last year, a Catholic priest who was trying to flee the country was arrested after a minor he is accused of having sex with gave birth.

The nun in a letter said she wanted the Vatican to intervene. She said she was forced to make matters public after several attempts to seek justice from within the church failed.

The protest, now in its sixth day in Kochi, Kerala's financial hub, is gathering momentum as the locals, activists, writers and politicians come out in support.

A man, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, lay in front of the stage where the protesting nuns sat. A nun coordinating the protest dismissed allegations that they were trying to disgrace the church.

'Our fight is for the truth. We will not back out unless the truth is established and the nun is given justice,' she told Reuters.

The Catholic Church in Germany acknowledged a 'depressing and shameful' legacy of sexual abuse on Wednesday after a leaked study said clerics had abused thousands of children over 70 years.

The leaked study was published on the day that Pope Francis, who has made several attempts to tackle a spreading sexual abuse crisis that has badly tarnished the Church's image worldwide, summoned senior bishops from around the world to the Vatican to discuss the protection of minors.
Manchester to host major cathedrals conference

Representatives of every English cathedral are to gather in Manchester next week for a conference billed as the first of its kind.

The conference, entitled Sacred Space: Common Ground, will draw together more than 420 clergy and other cathedral staff in Manchester Cathedral. It is aimed at helping participants think through the role of cathedrals in modern Britain.

Among other contributors are the mayor of Sheffield, Dan Jarvis, author Will Hutton and South African priest and social justice campaigner, Fr Michael Lapsley.

The Dean of Manchester, Very Rev Rogers Govender, said: 'It is a great honour and a privilege to host the first National Cathedrals Conference at Manchester Cathedral. I look forward to extending a warm welcome to colleagues from cathedrals from all parts of the country and abroad.

'We hope to give all delegates a taste of Manchester's hospitality, diversity, fun and sense of community. We pray for God's blessing on our conversations as together, we see to serve God's mission to this nation and beyond.'

Other speakers include Chine McDonald, head of engagement for Christian Aid; Nick Spencer of Theos think-tank; First Estates Commissioner Loretta Minghella, and Labour life peer, Baroness Maeve Sherlock.

Daily worship on Radio 4 will be broadcast every morning from the conference.

There will be a video message from the Archbishop of Canterbury and an address by the Archbishop of York.

The conference is taking place with funding from the Allchurches Trust.
Trump administration slashes number of Christian refugees admitted to US

The number of Christian refugees admitted to the US under the Trump adminstration has fallen by 40 per cent, according to the latest government figures.

Evangelicals have hit out at the record low numbers of refugees admitted during this fiscal year  only 22,000 in total, less than half the number permitted under Trump's already low cap of 45,000.

Both President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence have said helping Christian refugees would be a priority for them. However, according to State Department data analyzed by the Huffington Post, about 37,000 Christian refugees were admitted in 2016 during President Obama's tenure. During 2017 it was only 25,200, while this fiscal year  which ends on September 30  the figure will be closer to 14,600.

The Christian intake, however, does represent a larger proportion of the total number as the number of Muslim refugees admitted to the US has crashed by over 90 per cent.

While the total number admitted has not approached the 45,000 cap, the White House is reportedly considering lowering the cap still further.

Refugees have been kept out by a temporary ban on all admissions and increasingly complicated vetting procedures.

'Ironically, these policies, while clearly aimed at Muslim refugees, ensure that Christians and other religious minorities from many of the countries on Trump's list of suspect travel ban nations are also kept out,' Mary Giovagnoli, director of Refugee Council USA, told NBC.

She added that this suggested the president 'has no real interest in religious persecution or the tenets of religious freedom'.

Galen Carey, the National Association of Evangelicals' vice president of Government Relations, said the refugee programme had nearly 'ground to a halt'.

'Over the past 40 years, American evangelical Christians have opened their hearts and homes to hundreds of thousands of refugees, including many persecuted believers who would otherwise not be alive today,' he said. 'This extraordinary ministry of mercy has nearly ground to a halt as the sharp reduction in refugee resettlement approvals has left tens of thousands of refugees stranded in dangerous refugee camps and settlements.

'We can and must do much better than this. We ask President Trump to allow at least 75,000 refugees to resettle in the United States in the coming year.'

Jenny Yang, senior vice president of Advocacy and Policy for World Relief, said: 'The drastic decline in refugee resettlement over the past couple years has meant that far fewer persecuted people, including those persecuted for their Christian faith, have been able to find safety and religious freedom in the US. A further cut to the ceiling for refugee resettlement would harm even more people persecuted for their faith. We're praying that President Trump will set the ceiling back at 75,000, and World Relief and our many partner churches, along with other resettlement organizations, stand ready to welcome them.'

A Reuters investigation this week revealed how the US refugee programme has been hollowed out, with steep cuts in the number of staff allocated to processing applications and 'opaque and complicated new security vetting procedures that have bogged down admissions and eliminated many candidates for resettlement'.
A former manager of a Houston-based logistics and freight company has pleaded guilty to a foreign bribery charge related to a scheme to secure contracts from Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., Venezuela's state-owned oil company.

Federal officials announced that Juan Carlos Castillo Rincon of Conroe pleaded guilty in Houston federal court to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21.

The plea is part of a broader, ongoing investigation by the U.S. government into bribery at PDVSA that has so far brought charges against 18 individuals, 14 of whom have pleaded guilty.

ADVANCING PROBE: Five more charged in Houston in PDVSA bribery case

Castillo Rincon was arrested in Miami in April. He admitted to conspiring with others to bribe a PDVSA official who in turn assisted the logistics company in obtaining favorable contracts and provided inside information regarding the bidding process. The scheme began around 2011 and continued through 2013.

The PDVSA official, Jose Orlando Camacho, a former Katy resident, last year pleaded guilty in Houston federal court to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is also scheduled to be sentence on February 21.

As part of his guilty plea, unsealed Thursday, Camacho admitted that while employed at PDVSA, he accepted bribes from Castillo and his company and conspired with him to launder the proceeds.

As part of their plea agreements, Castillo and Camacho have agreed to forfeit the proceeds of the bribery scheme.
Houston has never been a place to get rich from real estate, but those who bought homes here in 2012 should feel pretty good about their investment.

Home values in the Houston area have appreciated 48 percent over the past six years, new research from real estate listing firm Trulia shows.
Mexicos anti-establishment presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, faced opposition from the mainstream media. And he spent 13 percent less on advertising than his opponents. Yet the man commonly known by his initials as AMLO went on to win the Mexican presidency in a landslide with over 53 percent of the vote in a four-way race in July.

That remarkable victory was at least partly due to the social media strategies of the political activists who backed him. Similar strategies appeared in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the 2017 French presidential race.

Our lab has been analyzing these social media activities to understand how theyve worked to threaten  and topple  establishment candidates. By analyzing more than 6 million posts from Reddit, Facebook and Twitter, we identified three main online strategies: using activist slang, attempting to go viral and providing historical context.

Some of these strategies might simply be online adaptations of long-standing strategies used in traditional offline campaigning. But others seem to be new ways of connecting and driving people to the polls. Our lab was interested in understanding the dynamics behind these online activists in greater detail, especially as some had crossed over from being merely supporters  even anonymous ones  not formally affiliated with campaigns, to being officially incorporated in campaign teams.

Integrating activist slang

Some political activists pointedly used slang in their online conversations, creating a dynamic that elevated their candidate as an opponent of the status quo. Trump backers, for instance, called themselves Deplorables, supporting the God Emperor Trump against Killary Clinton.

AMLO backers called themselves AMLOVERS or Chairos, and had nicknames for his opponents, such as calling the other presidential candidate, Ricardo Anaya, Ricky Riquin Canayin  Spanish for The Despicable Richy Rich.

Efforts to go viral

Some political activists worked hard to identify the material that was most likely to attract wide attention online and get media coverage. Trump backers, for instance, organized on the Discord chat service and Reddit forums to see which variations of edited images of Hillary Clinton were most likely to get shared and go viral. They became so good at getting attention for their posts that Reddit actually changed its algorithm to stop Trump backers from filling up the sites front page with pro-Trump propaganda.

Similarly, AMLO backers were able to keep pro-AMLO hashtags trending on Twitter, such as #AMLOmania, in which people across Mexico made promises of what they would do for the country if AMLO won. The vows ranged from free beer and food in restaurants to free legal advice.

For instance, an artist promised to paint an entire rural school in Veracruz, Mexico, if AMLO won. A law firm promised to waive its fees for 100 divorces and alimony lawsuits if AMLO won. The goal of citizen activists was to motivate others to support AMLO, while doing positive things for their country.

The historian-style activists

Saiph Savage and Claudia Flores-Saviaga, CC BY-ND

Some anti-establishment activists were able to recruit more supporters by providing detailed explanations of the political system as they saw it. Trump backers, for instance, created electronic manuals advising supporters how to explain their viewpoint to opponents to get them to switch sides. They compiled the top WikiLeaks revelations about Hillary Clinton, assembled explanations of what they meant and asked people to share it.

Pro-AMLO activists did even more, creating a manual that explained Mexicos current economics and how the proposals of their candidate would, in their view, transform and improve Mexicos economy.

Our analysis identified that one of the most effective strategies was taking time to explain the sociopolitical context. Citizens responded well to, and engaged with, specific reasoning about why they should back specific candidates.

As the U.S. midterm elections approach, its worth paying attention to whether  and in what races  these methods reappear; and even how people might use them to engage in fruitful political activism that brings the changes they want to see. You can read more about our research in our new ICWSM paper.

***

Saiph Savage is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at West Virginia University and Claudia Flores-Saviaga is a Ph.D. student in the same campus department. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

For tips, comments or to pitch for this blog, write a note to Olivia P. Tallet.
BRIDGEPORT  Why not try kindness?

That question prompted passersby in the area of Stratford and Union avenues on Monday, Aug. 13. The question was on a salmon-colored flyer, posted on a utility pole at the problematic intersection in the East End.

But tape wrapped around that same pole, covering the bottom section of the flyer, had another message to passersby, crime scene do not cross.

That crime scene tape was left behind by detectives who were at that intersection for several hours investigating a shooting that left one man dead.

Len Smith, 25, who lived on Fourth Street in the city, was fatally shot while sitting in the front passenger seat of a car parked outside Sunshine Deli on Union Avenue. A 33-year-old woman sitting in the back seat was critically injured. She was shot in the head.

No arrests have been made, but the investigation into the shooting remains active. After the shooting, police said Smith and the woman were likely not the intended targets.

And after that homicide, Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez decided enough was enough.

I promised the community that I was going to be very vigilant over there, that I was going to make sure that they were safe and try to prevent this from happening again, Perez said Thursday.

Bodega hours to blame

Perez said a major problem on that corner is the bodega that is open 24/7  the Sunshine Deli.

On a frigid day in March, community and city council members gathered twice at the bodega to plead with the owner to close his doors for a few hours every night instead of being open around the clock.

Firyad Quadir, the owner of the Sunshine Deli, insisted his business didnt cause the problems that plague the Stratford Avenue area. The area outside the store has been known for drug deals, shootings, public drinking and loitering.

Work on cleaning that up before you blame the store, Quadir told Hearst Connecticut Media that March morning.

Later in the day, during a phone call with state Rep. Andre Baker, D-Bridgeport, Quadir agreed to start closing his store at 9 p.m. every night.

But Perez said that didnt stick.

So now, Perez said he has had officers patrolling that area 24/7. He said there has been a two-officer patrol assigned to the area around the clock since Smiths killing.

Making their presence known

Perez said the officers pull up for their patrol, parking their police cruiser directly outside the bodega.

I really want to have a real police presence there, Perez said.

The officers walk up and down the avenue and its surrounding streets, tapping into the community policing aspect of the job that Perez has been a strong advocate for.

Its something that Ive wanted to do there for a while, Perez said. And so far, knock on wood, its worked. It really has worked. The crime in that area has gone down and weve made numerous arrests.

City Councilman Ernie Newton praised the patrols.

A lot of people thought that theyd just do it for a week, but theyre still out there, Newton said. The police presence has made a difference and we want to make sure that we keep them there.

The officers patrolling in that area rotate, but Perez hopes to soon have a more permanent staffing option in place so residents become familiar and more comfortable with the faces they see.

Some people dont like it, and the people that dont like it are the criminals, he said. No ones harassing anyone; its community policing.

But Perez doesnt want to stop there.

City ordinance in progress

He teamed up with some members of the city council to get a city ordinance passed that will require all bodegas to close up shop every day by 11 p.m.

Newton and City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez are working with Perez on the ordinance. Newton said the city is looking to mirror a similar ordinance that is in effect in New Haven.

Those areas where you have a lot of activities  like people being shot  are the focus points, Newton said.

City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez said the nuisance ordinance will mirror one that has been in place in Patterson, New Jersey, since 2017.

The ordinance will require bodegas, bakery shops, meat markets and any other business selling food or grocery products to obtain a permit to be operational. With this permit, Martinez said, places like Sunshine Deli would have stipulation that indicates the facility must be closed by 11 p.m. each day.

The nuisance has caused death, levels of decrease in quality of life, Martinez said. Constituents dont feel safe. This will help because it will hold the owners accountable.

It will bring peace to the neighborhood, Perez said. Its what the neighborhood is asking for.

We want people to feel safe, Newton said.

Perez took a trip out into the area of the East End on Thursday to reassure the residents that the police presence in the area was not going away.

I need to protect them, he said. I need to make sure kids are able to walk to school, walk home and go to the recreation center and not worry about people shooting each other or worry about being hit by a stray bullet.

The nuisance ordinance will go before the City Council Ordinance Committee on Sept. 25. If it passes the committee, it will go to the City Council for a vote. If it is passed by the City Council, it will become effective immediately.
STAMFORD  University of Connecticut officials are keeping close tabs on the citys real estate market to keep up with the growing demand for student housing.

The count of students calling Stamford home this year has risen to nearly 415. Last year, some 270 students moved in when new dorms on Washington Boulevard opened for the fall semester. The demand, university officials said, has outpaced their expectations, and made for a race to find students places to live.

The race started in the summer when the UConn Board of Trustees inked deals to lease apartments in two downtown buildings. However, one of those deals, to lease units in 75 Tresser, a new high-end residential complex built after the former Stamford Advocate building was torn down in 2011, has fallen through.

So 52 students are grouped in clusters in apartment buildings on Prospect Street, where they live with regular tenants, said Kimberly Proulx, UConns associate director of Housing Services.

Of the 413 students in UConn housing, 19 are international students, 51 from other states and 343 from Connecticut, Proulx said.

She said the university does not keep track of how many students live in off-campus housing.

But if apartment listings are any indication, there appears to be a burgeoning market for off-campus living.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION, reads one Facebook post for an apartment on Bank Street. One block away from UCONN.

Beautiful pre-war walk-up building is close to UCONN, Scalzi Park, great restaurants, shops, bar, reads another from the same company, Empire Residential & Kolich Holdings.

Another building on Franklin Street, now under construction, will be open to students by the spring semester, Proulx said. UConn is slated to get the keys next month and could open sooner.

The university leased the entire 13-unit-building, at 87 Franklin St., and plans to house nearly 50 students there along with a resident director. The apartment-to-dorm conversion was approved this summer by the Zoning Board.

Proulx said this setup is something new to UConn, which owns and manages all of its student housing at its main Storrs campus. It also proves tricky, she added, because the university offers more services than a typical landlord.

For example, the university replaces things like lightbulbs that usually fall outside of the responsibility of landlords.

Were not going to send some student to Lowes, she said.

So far, Proulx said, she hasnt heard any complaints and feedback has been fairly positive.

barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton
Middletown police reported the following incidents:

RISK OF INJURY: Daynasha D. Caldwell, 29, of Frank Williams Drive, Georgetown, South Carolina, was charged with risk of injury to a child, second-degree reckless endangerment and driving with a suspended license Sept. 12. Police picked Caldwell up from the Plymouth Police Department on an outstanding warrant. She was released on a $5,000 bond for a Sept. 26 court appearance.

FAILURE TO APPEAR: Amity Urgo, 45, of St. Johns Street was charged with second-degree failure to appear Sept. 11 on an outstanding warrant. She was released on a $1,500 bond for a Sept. 18 court date.

DUI: Andrew O. Dryden, 45, of Saybrook Road was charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain a lane Sept. 7 after allegedly driving the wrong direction down Dingwall Drive, a one-way street, almost hitting a police cruiser in the process. Authorities said Dryden had watery and glassy eyes, had trouble talking, was slow and lethargic and smelled of alcohol but denied taking drugs or drinking. He failed sobriety tests, police said. He was released on a $500 bond and issued a Sept. 21 court date.

DISORDERLY: Edward Atkinson, 31, of Ferry Street, were charged with disorderly conduct and Militza Garcia, 40, of Silver Street with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault following a violent domestic attack Sept. 11, police said. The report said Garcia stabbed Atkinson in his buttock with a small pocket knife, causing a small puncture wound, so he was sent to Middlesex Hospital for treatment. During the altercation, a witness said Atkinson held a woman down on the ground, the report said. He was issued a promise to appear in court Oct. 17. Militza was issued a $5,000 bond and given an Oct. 17 return date.

POSSESSION: Virginia W. Quiles, 37, of Pearl Street was charged with obtaining drugs by fraud, illegal possession of narcotics, third-degree larceny, identity theft and third-degree forgery Sept. 6 on a warrant. She was released on a promise to appear in court Oct. 4.

LARCENY: Salvatore D. Salafia, 50, of Silver Street was charged with two counts of sixth-degree larceny Sept. 4 in connection with an incident Aug. 30 at Stop & Shop on East Main Street. The manager told police Salafia had taken 14 bags of frozen shrimp valued at $27.98 each, then took an undetermined amount of meat, exited the store, and made off with $391 worth of merchandise, according to the report. Police allege a woman was seen on video surveillance stepping out of the car he later entered and she used her store card to buy items. When Salafia returned to Stop & Shop Sept. 1, he took more shrimp, worth $468, and walked out, authorities said. Officers went to the home address of the woman listed on the Stop & Shop card and reportedly saw Salafia, who said he had stolen the shrimp and meat to support his heroin habit, then sold it at a business nearby for cash, police said. Salafia was released on a promise to appear in court Sept. 19 and told not to return to the store.
Federal investigators were dispatched to three towns just outside Boston after dozens of explosions and fires along NiSource Inc.s natural gas network left at least one person dead and 13 injured and displaced over 8,000 customers.

Massachusetts State Police reported 39 incidents on the network in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Thursday. The blasts appear to be pipeline explosions, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday in a briefing. Shares of NiSource plunged as much as 11 percent to $25.03 at 10:22 a.m. in New York, the biggest intraday drop since November 2008.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters in Washington the agency sent a go-team of investigators that will arrive in the affected area at about noon local time to begin what he said is likely to be a long inquiry.

"Certainly things we will be looking at will be the design of the pipeline system, any maintenance or upgrades that may have been done or in the process of being done on the pipeline, the integrity management system of the pipeline operator," he said. "This will be a multi-disciplinary investigation, well be looking at a number of things."

Pipeline work before the explosions creates a higher potential for a financial impact to the utility, CreditSights Inc. analysts Nick Moglia and Andy DeVries said in a note to clients Friday.

Unlike other gas utility explosions that unfortunately occur every few years, this one appears to have been caused by the utility working on the gas lines immediately before the explosions occurred, the analysts said. That could point to a higher potential for gross negligence rather than just a corroded pipe.

Ken Stammen, a NiSource spokesman, said in an email he could not confirm the details cited in the analyst note.

Leonel Rondon, an 18-year-old Lawrence resident, died after a house explosion sent a chimney crashing into his car, the Associated Press reported. Thirteen people were received at Lawrence General Hospital for injuries related to the explosions from smoke inhalation to blast trauma, according to the hospitals Facebook page. One critical patient was transported to a Boston trauma center.

Andover Police Department Lieutenant Eddie Guy told NBCs Today television show Friday morning that officials believe the blasts were caused by over-pressurized gas lines. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the NiSource unit responsible for the local network, said in a statement that its crews would need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and carry out a safety inspection.

Aging Infrastructure

National Grid Plc, which operates the electric utility in the area, was asked to shut power to all of Lawrence and North Andover and pockets of Andover, spokeswoman Christine Milligan said. The supply cuts were affecting about 18,000 customers as of 7 a.m., National Grid said on its website.

In April, Columbia Gas filed a petition with the states Department of Public Utilities to increase annual revenues by $24.1 million in part to help the company replace aging infrastructure. All three towns were listed as areas where neighborhood lines would be replaced, the utility said on its website Thursday.

Replacing leak-prone infrastructure is a leading priority, the utility said in April. However, it will take a number of years to eliminate the aging pipe from the gas distribution system.

San Bruno

The incident, in an area thats home to the famous Phillips Academy Andover whose alumni include George W. Bush and Humphrey Bogart, took place just as Hurricane Florence slammed the coast of the Carolinas farther south on the East Coast, threatening to leave 3 million homes and businesses without power.

The explosions -- just days after the eight-year anniversary of a deadly blast on a PG&E Corp. gas transmission line in San Bruno, California -- may intensify the growing opposition across New England to using gas to heat homes and produce electricity. The San Bruno tragedy killed eight people and triggered more than $1 billion in fines and penalties.

Some residents in Andover have been told they can return to their homes, city officials said early Friday. Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera had asked impacted residents to evacuate. Two schools in Lawrence will be used as shelters for evacuees.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said the states mutual aid fire mobilization plan has been activated and that it was sending staff to the three towns, as well as four structural task forces. The U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is also sending a team to support the emergency response efforts, spokesman Bobby Fraser said in an email.

--With assistance from Rita Devlin Marier, Brian K. Sullivan, Elizabeth Wasserman, Mark Chediak and Brian Eckhouse.
The Alexander Group has traded its Galleria offices for modern digs in Upper Kirby District.

The 35-year-old Houston-based executive search firm has leased nearly 6,000 square feet on the eight floor of Kirby Collection, a new mixed-use project of Thor Equities at 3200 Kirby Drive. The move was completed in July.

The office is outfitted with collaborative meeting spaces and, rather than open work areas, 18 workstations with hot desking technology. Associates, who are not assigned to a specific desk, can log in at any workstation or work off campus, thanks to remote technology.

Our team needed the flexibility to transition seamlessly from the road to the office to home, said Alexander Group managing director John Lamar.

The location, between downtown and Greenway Plaza, is smaller but more central than its former offices at Galleria Tower I on Post Oak Boulevard. Its close to restaurants and neighborhoods such as River Oaks.

The way we work has changed. Our need for traditional office space decreased as our business shifted toward fewer, more personalized C-suite and board of director executive searches, Lamar said. Seven years ago, we leased close to 11,000 square feet of office space in Houston.

Alexander Group, along with sister company Alex & Red, has 22 employees and contractors worldwide, including 13 in Houston. The company has conducted executive searches in the financial, human resources, sales and marketing, information technology, legal and other sectors.

The new office provides a kitchen with coffee bar, high-tech conference room, lounge area and access to a roof-top terrace. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the city.

We wanted our team to be energized and inspired by their work space, Lamar said. Kirby Collection helped us deliver on that.

katherine.feser@chron.com

twitter.com/kfeser
Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader recently took possession of a 2018 Ford SUV Explorer donated by the Multi-County Crime Stoppers organization located in Montgomery County.

In October of 2014, the Liberty County Sheriffs Office joined forces with Montgomery County and San Jacinto County in forming this multi-county alliance and have since worked hand-in-hand in furthering efforts to clear criminal felony cases in all three counties.

The organization made a donated vehicle available to all three counties to be used exclusively by their Crime Stopper coordinators with the only request being that each vehicle be marked in such a way as to give the public information regarding Crime Stoppers and show that cash rewards can be given for information leading to the arrest of felony suspects.

There are approximately 155 Crime Stopper programs in Texas, and they all are managed and staffed by citizens rather than law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement officers serve only as coordinators.

The multi-county program is funded primarily by probation fees from Montgomery and San Jacinto counties as well as public donations and fundraising events.

From these funding sources, the rewards for information leading to the arrest of felony criminal offenders are drawn, therefore basically what happens is that criminal offenders are paying to catch other criminal offenders with no cost whatsoever to the taxpaying citizens of our respective counties.

Rader expressed his deep appreciation to the Multi-County Crime Stopper organization for this most generous donation to the Sheriffs Office and has assured the organization that the vehicle, which has been assigned to the Special Operations Division, will be utilized in such a manner as to further the objectives and goals of this dedicated crime fighting organization.
West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department stands ready to be deployed to areas affected by Hurricane Florence.

The department also is opening a collection site for donated items.

During Harvey, our donation sites took in more than $2.5 million in donated items that were distributed to all regions of Texas, from Rockport to Beaumont, said Jose L. Ramirez, assistant chief of operations. We received donations from across the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and now we want to show our Texas hospitality by returning the favor.

Donations will be collected at West I-10 VFD Fire Station No. 1 at 22125 Kingsland Blvd., just west of Mason Road, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The department asks that people donate new items only. Suggested items are: water, energy drinks such as Gatorade, protein bars, non-perishable food items, shampoo, laundry soap, body soap, tarps, duct tape, trash bags, hammers, pry bars, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, pet food, gloves, masks, etc.

For more information, contact firefighter Brandy Ramirez at bramirez@westi-10fd.org or at 713-498-9129.

In addition to accepting donations, the department also is accepting help to man the center.

We will be accepting volunteer help to unload, sort, package and reload donations, said Jose L. Ramirez.

Ramirez said on Wednesday that the department with more than 40 volunteers hasnt been contacted yet for deployment.

Were not aware of what resources are needed. Were focusing our attention on opening our site here until we get called for deployment.

We extend our thoughts and prayers to everyone on the East Coast, he said. We know exactly what that kind of hurricane can do. Were happy to do our part.

During Hurricane Harvey, the station took in supplies from all over the country, he said. He talked of a tractor trailer coming from New Jersey and a U-Haul truck from Florida. The furthest donations came from Hawaii, he added.

Through a network established through social media. the station served as the site for volunteers to sort and package donations to local individuals all the way to Rockport, he said. The department sent trailers to Beaumont and the city of Galveston came out with dump trucks to pick up water, he said.

We want to give back, said Ramirez. They assisted us from all over the country.
In light of recent arrests for sexual crimes against children, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office continues their work to prosecute these suspects in coordination with Internet Crimes Against Children task forces in the county.

This past week, the Conroe Police Department arrested two men  a former priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a former Texas Childrens Hospital employee  on charges related to sexual crimes against children.

On Thursday, the former Texas Childrens Hospital employee Carlo Carreon, 49, was arrested on five charges of possession of child pornography. He remains in the Montgomery County jail on a $1.12 million bond.

According to information provided by the Conroe Police Department, possible child pornography was found on an electronic device allegedly belonging to Carreon.

UNUSUAL INVESTIGATION: Smithsonian Museum expert helps investigators catch Kingwood child predator

A few days later, on Tuesday, the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church priest Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, 60, turned himself into the Montgomery County Jail. He is charged with four counts of indecency with a child. The alleged incidents span several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He has since bonded out on a $375,000 bond.

During the month of August, there were eight arrests for various sexual crimes against children  five arrests were for online solicitation of a minor, two for possession of child pornography and one arrest for promotion of child pornography, the DAs Office reported.

In regards to these arrests, there may be more than one charge assessed on a suspect.

The Montgomery County District Attorneys Internet Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Division works closely with law enforcement agencies throughout Montgomery County and the Houston Metro ICAC task force to investigate crimes such as online solicitation of a minor, promotion and possession of child pornography, sexual performance of a child, human trafficking and other similar crimes.

The DAs Office ICAC Division also houses a forensic lab for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to assist in the forensic examination of electronic devices.

We have all gone through training for undercover operations where investigators use social media to act on tips we receive and research a database for potential predators, said Laura Bond, a Montgomery County DAs Office prosecutor who specializes in these types of cases.

BOTCHED EXORCISM: Execution date set for man who killed girlfriend's daughter

The DAs Office works closely with the aforementioned agencies as well as the Conroe Police Department and the Montgomery County Precinct 1, Precinct 2 and Precinct 3 Constables Offices.

We all work together as a team to ensure we catch these offenders and then prosecute them, said Bond. Once they are arrested, we work to offer an appropriate resolution to the case before it reaches trial. Most of the time, the defendant will accept a plea agreement before it reaches trial; only a very small percentage of these cases will go to trial.

Bond added they average 10 arrests per month, give or take, involving suspects accused of sexual crimes against children.

As these cases continue to occur, the Montgomery County DAs Office has issued a stern warning to others committing or thinking about engaging in these types of crimes.

Leave our kids alone, said Bond We will work to prosecute you to the fullest should you commit these crimes and there will be consequences.

jennifer.summer@hcnonline.com
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Lake Conroe Area Republican Women held their annual Celebration of Literacy event on Sept. 6 at Walden Yacht Club. Guest speaker was Laurie Cockerell, a homeschooling mother of four, a grandmother, a former public school teacher and an author. She was born and raised in Texas, receiving her undergraduate degree from Texas Tech and her master's degree from University of Texas at Arlington. She taught school in various different areas such as Lubbock, Texas and Burleson, Texas, as well as in Waimanalo, Hawaii. She also served as the Manager of Domestic Adoptions at The Gladney Center Adoption Agency in Fort Worth. Currently Laurie lives in Fort Worth where she home schools her 13-year-old twins.

She began writing books for children in 2010 and soon after published "Founders' Fables: Ten Tales for Future Patriots" with her illustrator brother, Travis Dougherty. The two then collaborated on the children's biography "Magnificent Sam: The Amazing Adventures of Sam Houston" which was a winner of the Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award for children's books and a finalist in the Western Writers of American and the Writers' League of Texas Book Awards. She also wrote and published the pro-life children's book "The Miracle" as well as the newly-released Texas history curriculum, "The Spirit of Texas," with co-author Yvonne Cumberland.
In a 3-1 vote, the Conroe City Council gave the green light to the developers of an apartment complex in downtown Conroe to place stairs and an elevator in the building setback line.

Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon was the lone nay vote. Councilman Duane Ham, who has been vocal about his concerns about The Lofts Apartments, 701 N. Frazier St., was absent due to his attendance at several water related meetings in Austin.

This was the councils second time to address the issue. Last month, the same request died for lack of a motion following several councils members concern on the structural integrity of the building that is elevated to allow parking under the structure.

Director of Community Development Nancy Mikeska said the elevator was not originally included in the plans for the complex. The reason for the request is to ensure the building is handicap accessible and allow first responders access to residents in the apartments, Mikeska said.

Mayor Toby Powell and Councilmen Jody Czajkoski were supportive of the variance.

I have thought this was a way to get better access, Powell said.

Czajkoski asked about other buildings in the city, specifically downtown, that are built on the building set back line. Mikeska said that has not been allowed during her tenure but said some of the citys historical buildings are sitting on property lines.

Coon said he had concerns about safety and potential violations of the International Building Code in granting a variance that would encroach on the build line.

According to the International Code Council, IBC is an essential tool to preserve public health and safety that provides safeguards from hazards associated with the built environment. It addresses design and installation of innovative materials that meet or exceed public health and safety goals. The IBC is in use or adopted in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Ham said in a previous Courier article he wouldnt support the action until the beams in the ground were X-rayed to ensure they are properly installed.

I made it very clear in previous council meetings whether the structural integrity of that building was sound, Ham said.

Construction on the project began in 2016 and was originally slated to open in the summer of 2017. However, Mikeska said, a multitude of issues have delayed the project. No completion date of the project was available.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
A former Conroe priest charged this week with sexually abusing two people when they were teenagers some two decades ago has been released on bond.

The priest, Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, turned himself into the Montgomery County Jail on Tuesday. He is charged with four counts of indecency with a child, each of which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison. The abuse is alleged to have occurred during the years 1998 to 2000.

The two accusers said they were sexually abused when La Rosa-Lopez was based at Conroe's Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

He was released from the Montgomery County Jail after paying for a $225,000 bond amount, according to Lt. Scott Spencer of the county sheriff's office.

The Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston said in a written statement Wednesday that La Rosa-Lopez has denied the allegations of sexual abuse.

The Houston Chronicle and the Associated Press reported Wednesday that the two accusers also alleged that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who leads the archdiocese of 1.7 million people, failed to properly investigate their claims. The archdiocese has defended its handling of the case.

"We take these matters very seriously, which is why we reported the information we received from both individuals to CPS  and removed Father La Rosa-Lopez from ministry," the Archdiocese statement said.

DiNardo was among a group of prelates who met with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Thursday to discuss the church's handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

According to the arrest warrant for La Rosa-Lopez, a male accuser came forward late last month to report that he was sexually abused by the priest over the years 1998 to 2000, when the man was a high school student and the priest was based at Sacred Heart.

The victim told law enforcement officers that La Rosa-Lopez began touching him and making intimate gestures that continued to increase in frequency and severity. On Oct. 5, 1999, the man alleged, La Rosa-Lopez called him to his living quarters and began showing photos of partially naked men. When the victim tried to leave, La Rosa-Lopez allegedly physically stopped him and then sexually assaulted him.

The male accuser said news coverage of the scandal prompted him to bring his allegations to his local parish in Portland, Oregon, about a year ago. He said he was put in touch with a victims coordinator with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and flown to Houston for a meeting with DiNardo. But he said the prelate was dismissive and told him, "Well, you should've told us earlier."

A female accuser also recently reported to law enforcement that she was abused in 2000 while attending school at the same church. She said La Rosa-Lopez engaged in "grooming behavior" that consisted of kissing and heavy petting. On April 11, 2000, she alleged, the priest began fondling her breasts after a practice for the Passion of the Christmas play. On another occasion, she said, the priest pressed against her.

According to the warrant, the female victim believed she was in a romantic relationship with La Rosa-Lopez and recorded incidents in a diary. The victim's father found the diary and determined that the entries were about LaRosa-Lopez and reported the matter to the church. The result, the warrant states, is LaRosa-Lopez was transferred out of the church and the girl's family moved from Conroe.

But the woman told police that when she returned to Conroe in 2010, now married, she read in a Catholic newspaper that La Rosa-Lopez has been promoted and assigned his own church in Richmond. She said she met with DiNardo and a victims' assistance coordinator and was assured that La Rosa-Lopez has been sent to a mental institution and assigned to an administrative position from which he had no contact with children or teenagers. She later verified that he was the pastor of St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Richmond, she told police. (He is also the archdiocese's episcopal vicar for Hispanics.)

She told AP that church officials offered her counseling and had her meet with La Rosa-Lopez, who apologized. She said she decided to file a complaint with police because "of the perceived duplicity of Cardinal DiNardo," according to the arrest warrant.

The Chronicle does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.

The Archdiocese defended its actions in a written statement

Church officials said that after they learned in 2001 that La Rosa-Lopez had "kissed and touched (the alleged female victim) inappropriately," they referred the matter to Texas Child Protective Services, or CPS. The statement said the priest denied touching the then-teenage girl inappropriately, and that the girl's family "decided not pursue the matter, relocating out of the country that same year." After the allegations were presented to the Archdiocesan Review Board in 2003, the statement said, La Rosa-Lopez was permitted to return to parish ministry in 2004.

"For the last 17 years, no other allegations of inappropriate conduct involving minors were presented against Father La Rosa-Lopez until 2018," the statement continued.

The Archdiocese said that when the male accuser formally made his complaint on Aug. 10, the allegations were immediately reported to CPS, as well.

"We are pledged to cooperate with the civil authorities in their investigation. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston recognizes it clearly has both a legal and a moral obligation to address any incidence of abuse  sexual or otherwise  to God's children. Such behavior simply will not be tolerated.

"To anyone affected by any form of abuse by anyone who represents the Church, the Archdiocese deeply regrets such a fundamental violation of trust, and commits itself to eliminating such unacceptable actions."

Both accusers identified other potential victims, according to the arrest warrant for La Rose-Lopez.

Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said his office is interested not only in protecting victims in abuse cases but finding out, "Are there other victims?" He urged members of the public with information to come forward to Conroe police or the DA's office.

Ligon said the current administration of the Sacred Heart Parish has been cooperative and forthcoming.

Staff writers Catherine Dominguez and Robert Downen and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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
The members of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Conroe will take time to reflect on the churchs past this weekend while looking forward to the congregations future as well.

The historic church at 105 S. Fifth Street in Conroe will celebrate its 133rd anniversary this weekend with a special homecoming service Sunday at 3 p.m. at the church.

Each year we mark our history with a grand celebration inviting members who have relocated and the Conroe community to join us, said Linda Ford, who has been a member of the church since she was a child.

This years featured speaker is Dominique Vidal Nichols of Macon, Georgia.

Nichols was a part of Metropolitan UMC as a small boy and participated in every activity that was available to the youth population, Ford said.

He always stood out as a leader and was always exceptional, Ford said.

His family moved away, but Nichols returned to the church as a teen often bringing the message on Sunday mornings.

Currently he is a minister of the gospel, an English teacher at Westside High School in Macon, mentor, Teacher of the Year 2017-18 for Bibb County School District and Runner-Up for Teacher of the Year for the state of Georgia.

The theme for this homecoming weekend is A Call to Serve the Present Age. Organizers hope to engage the churchs younger members as they prepare to carry on the churchs heritage.

Were really excited about him coming home to bring the message, Ford said. Hes actually doing what the message speaks of and were very proud of that. We hope that he can inspire others to follow in his footsteps and use the gifts that they have been given to serve others as well.

Conroe Mayor Toby Powell will attend the Sunday service and proclaim Sept. 16, 2018 as Dominique Vidal Nichols Day in Conroe.

Also at the service, the church will recognize others who have contributed to the betterment of the community.

Following the special service, fellowship will be shared at the church.

The church history dates back to the 1800s. The church is the founding location for a daycare that provided affordable daycare to the people of the surrounding community. This operation grew out of the church and into its own building before becoming privately run. For nearly 10 years, the church was involved in a network of churches that housed and fed homeless families in the community. Today that organization is known as Family Promise of Montgomery County.

Call 936-756-6142 for more information on Metropolitan United Methodist Church.
Federal cybercrime agents dont often call on botanical experts at the Smithsonian Museum to help track down a predator, but horticultural sleuthing was a key part of the legwork that ended this week with a Kingwood man being sent to prison for 35 years.

Stephen P. Lynch, 43, pleaded guilty to charges in June and on Wednesday a judge sentenced him to more than three decades in federal custody for exploiting a child and possessing dozens of pornographic images of a girl over time, from the ages of 3 to 5. The girl had been found in at least 222 collections of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas also ordered Lynch to serve five years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

The victims mother and a sibling spoke at the sentencing hearing about how Lynchs actions scarred their family for life, changed how they viewed the world and stole their sense of security, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

A defense lawyer for Lynch declined to comment on the case.

RELATED: Montgomery County man gets below-range prison term for pornographic chat with child overseas

The unusual investigation began with a tip from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which notified Homeland Security investigators of nearly 100 lewd images of a prepubescent minor, many with her genitalia lasciviously displayed, according to court documents. Federal agents shared the images with a horticulture expert at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, who conducted a meticulous review of plants visible in the background of the photos. The expert narrowed the search to 10 states with similar plant life. And Homeland Security analysts zeroed in the Kingwood area based on other items depicted in the photographs. Agents began searching parks, dance studios, gyms and other facilities, before locating Lynch and the child victim. He was arrested after fleeing to Georgetown.

RELATED: Ex-Harris County deputy sentenced for "horrific" child pornography

During a search of his home, Lynch attempted to destroy thumb drives by placing them in a microwave oven. They discovered violent pornographic images of children on several electronic devices in his home, including some children who had been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The images of the child Lynch had exploited also turned up on the dark web and in 222 child pornography investigations, according to court documents.

The girl told law enforcement that Lynch said if she pulled her underwear down for the photographs, Lynch would reward her with chocolate. She said she complied because she wanted the chocolate.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.
A Mexican citizen pleaded guilty to election fraud charges on Thursday in Montgomery County for voting illegally in the 2016 presidential election, among others.

Laura Janeth Garza, a 38-year-old Mexican national, was handed a 10-year jail sentence, a $10,000 fine and will be deported after serving her jail time, according to the attorney generals office. She pleaded guilty to charges of voter impersonation and ineligible voting, both second-degree felonies.
The city of Pasadena has approved a new eight-year contract with a number of companies in its extraterritorial jurisdiction that increases the amount they will pay in municipal taxes, but elected officials disagree on how good the deal is for the city.

At the Aug. 21 meeting in which City Council approved the agreement, Councilman Sammy Casados said that rates in the contract didnt go far enough in the citys favor. He said that annexation of the industrial districts could yield greater tax revenues.

Councilman Don Harrison, criticized the agreement as well, saying, Its a sweetheart deal.

He joined Casados and Cody Ray Wheeler in voting against the agreement, which passed in 6-3 vote.

But Councilman Thomas Schoenbein said the new contract set to begin in 2019 increases the tax amount that businesses in the districts will pay compared with the previous contract. He argued that annexation would cost more than it would bring into city coffers.

I think its a very good deal for both parties, Schoenbein said in a Sept. 13 interview. Were in competition with other cities to bring business to our city. We have to be competitive with other industrial districts. They bring workers, they buy homes or rent, they purchase retail and eat at restaurants. Other council members arent looking at a total big picture.

Rates provided by Schoenbein reflect that the companies paid taxes based on 55 percent of their assessed fair market value in the fourth year of the previous contract, which spanned from 2011 to 2018. The new agreement set to run from 2019-27, will levy a tax based on 60 percent of the fair market value on the land in the fourth year, he said.

The first three years of both agreements contain the same rates. The numbers provided by Schoenbein show that the first year of both contracts levy zero taxes, the second levys a 20 percent tax on fair market value and the third levys a 45 percent tax of fair marker value. Both contracts impose a 100 percent tax on fair market value of the land in the final, eighth year.

More Information Two public hearings are scheduled on the residential property tax rate: Sept. 18, Tuesday at 6 p.m., and Oct. 2, Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Pasadena City Hall, 1149 Ellsworth. Second and final City Council vote on the 2019 proposed budget Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m. in the main conference room of City Hall, behind council chambers and is open to the public. See More Collapse

Documents requested from the city related to the new contract and companies within the agreement were not provided by presstime.

Councilman Cody Ray Wheeler said the agreement will bring roughly $17 million per year in taxes to the city.

Because the companies sites are outside of Pasadena but within its ETJ, the city can levy a tax rate that is negotiated with the companies.

Industrial districts in the ETJ are not subject to Pasadenas ordinances and permitting requirements, according to the citys website.

Harrison said the new deal was made without input from the council.

Industry, I believe, wrote the contract, and I dont think its any good, he said.

Companies such Chevron Phillips on Texas 225 and smaller industrial companies on Port Road and Red Bluff Road and the Bayport Industrial District south of Fairmont Parkway and west of Texas 146 and The Bayport Cruise Terminal at Port of Houston are in various industrial districts that Schoenbein said are on the citys north and south ends.

Harrison said that in 2005, the city received $15 million from the industries in the ETJ.

He said the $2 million increase per year under the new contract didnt go far enough to recoup costs of what the city already provides the districts through police and fire protection and water service.

At the same time, Harrison said, taxes have risen on homeowners who are likely to see an increase in their property taxes with the proposed rate going up 4 cents per $100.00 value last year to a proposed rate of 61.5 cents per $100 value for 2018. Public hearings on that proposed rate are set for 6 p.m. Sept. 18 and at 10 a.m. Oct. 2 at Pasadena City Hall, 1149 Ellsworth.

Early this year, the Pasadena Economic Development Council amended its budget to include $4 million for road infrastructure improvements should those improvements become necessary as an economic incentive to attract potential industry expansion, EDC spokesman Dennis Winkler said in an email.

The Pasadena EDC is a taxing entity which uses taxpayer funds to build infrastructure or other amenities that attract businesses to the city.

However, Winkler said, the EDC has not announced any new industry projects nor committed to any infrastructure projects to benefit industry.

Schoenbein says the new contract works in Pasadenas favor even if the city could have driven a harder bargain.

Supporting the increase allows The City of Pasadena to generate tax revenue from our continuing growing economic engine within our Industrial Districts, he said in an email message. We will reinvest revenues and support business growth within our city and industrial districts. I understand the need for us to be competitive as we compete against other cities trying to entice businesses to locate within their citys.
As the outer bands of tropical storm Florence reach the outer banks of southeastern North Carolina, some coastal areas began to see big waves, flooding and winds up to 73 mph.

Many shared images of the storm's opening act in social media.

"The surf has breached the dunes on Ocean View Drive in Avon and Florence is just getting started," Jeff Hampton wrote on Twitter Thursday morning. Hampton also shared an image of the water overwhelming the road in the North Carolina beach town.

"Hurricane Florence already playing a big factor in the storm surge at North Topsail Beach," wrote Zach Lowder who shared an image from the North Carolina beach.

ALSO: Hurricane Florence's menacing eye churns in satellite imagery: 'Wow, looks totally angry'

While the hurricane has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm, the National Weather Service warns Florence is a monstrous storm with an area of high winds up to 80 mph stretching across more than 325 miles.

It's expected to hover over North Carolina and South Carolina and deliver torrential downpours of rain through at least Saturday.

ALSO: Hurricane Florence: These live webcams offer safe storm watching

The dangerous storm surge coupled with a high tide will cause dry areas near the coast to flood by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.

Some areas could see a surge up to 13 feet above ground level.
On a Wednesday morning, the almost 4-year-old Grayson bounced around in the commons area at Lone Star College-Montgomery.

His mother, Miranda Smith, had just picked him up from the on-campus child care facility after her three hours of anatomy and physiology and statistics classes.

Grayson is one of the students under Brighton Academys care while his mother is learning through lectures. The care is for children ages 18 months to 5 years old.

He loves it, he calls it toys and friends, Smith said.

I love toys and friends! Grayson chimed in immediately, flashing his almost-preschooler grin.

Smith is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. While shell eventually have to transfer to the Sam Houston State University next door, right now shes working on finishing her associates degree at LSC-Montgomery.

She returned to school earlier this year after a six-year hiatus, and its her second semester using the on-campus child care.

I was going to college right after high school, and then I got engaged and married. I failed a math class and got bummed out and then I didnt go back to school. I should have, but I didnt, Smith said.

When she started to look into taking classes again, she discovered Brighton Academys services on LSC-Montgomerys campus.

I was nervous, but I saw how (the child care) worked and it made me feel better. This is perfect. I know hes here and hes safe, and Im right here on campus too, Smith said.

Affordability is component for Smith, too. She pays $9 an hour for the services, which she considers a good price compared to other day cares.

Smith said she plans to use the services one more semester before Grayson starts kindergarten next fall.

Patricia Sendelbach, the colleges vice president of administrative services, said that lack of child care services can be one of the stumbling blocks for community college students.

Its one of the things Sendelbach said the college finds as a reason a student may not continue classes from semester to semester.

If students dont have a place to drop their child off, they might not be able to come to class. Its one of the major support services that needs to be provided, Sendelbach said.

That sentiment is echoed in two studies by the Institute for Womens Policy Research.

A 2015 analysis found that of the 60 public two-year institutions in Texas, only 35 percent of them had on-campus child care.

A separate study compiled two years later by the same institute showed that while student parents represent 30 percent of the total community college student body, the share of campuses that provide child care has declined.

LSC-Montgomery has offered on-campus child care for almost 15 years.

When youre trying to go to school and you have children, having on-campus child care is a major plus, Sendelbach said.

Sendelbach said the college previously managed the child care, but advertised for an outside vendor to take over about two years ago and secured Brighton Academy to manage the service. The academy is now in their second year at this location.

Brandi Watterson is Brighton Academys owner. She said the students in the child care are taught that education is both important and fun while their parents are taking classes.

Its a great service to be able to provide for people who are trying to further their education. Theyre trying to better their family and better their childrens future: thats why they need the care, Watterson said.

She added that while the facility is open to both students and faculty to use, the majority of those who drop their children off for care are students.

jane.stueckemann@chron.com
The Shenandoah City Council on Wednesday night tied up some loose ends in their budget discussions and also approved a special use permit thats been in the works for two years.

The council unanimously approved a $10 million budget and a lowered tax rate totaling 18 cents per $100 of home valuation, one of the lowest in Texas.

I think its a great budget, said Councilman Byron Bevers. I think the staff did a great job.

Staff members and department heads made several allocations to capital projects  more than $178,000 for three fully outfitted police Tahoes; $50,000 for a dog park; $30,000 for drainage and landscaping improvements to the Mary Pat Case pool; and $1,500 each for next years Independence Day celebration and a Goodbye Summer party at the pool before it closes in two weeks.

New Hampton Inn OKd

Shenandoah is also getting a new Hampton Inn.

The council granted a conditional special use permit to franchise owner Grace Jacobson, ending a years-long process to begin construction of the Hampton Inn property on Interstate-45 and Wellman Road, granted that the limited-service hotel be a Hampton Inn property and have a bar and bistro on-site.

We will manage every process of the hotel, said David Hale of the Paramount Hotel Group, which will partner with Jacobson to run the hotel.

The vote was tabled twice from the June 27 and Aug. 8 council meetings, originally done to give Jacobson and her associates time to revise the business plan and avoid a 6-month waiting period before being allowed to reapply. Jacobson was awarded a similar SUP in 2016, which then lapsed, and was denied one in October 2017.

Council members Bevers and Ron Raymaker initially moved to deny the application, but the motion was shut down and replaced with a motion to approve, which they both voted against.

Mayor Ritch Wheeler and council members Mike McLeod, Charlie Bradt and Ted Fletcher spoke about their hesitations to approve the permit, saying it came down to quality of life concerns from residents.

Its not personal, it doesnt have anything to do with whether its a Hampton Inn or a Ritz-Carlton, Wheeler said. It boils down to not wanting more hotels backing up to our residents.

The five-story property is set to feature 106 rooms, a fitness center, a pool, spa and a 1,200 square foot meeting space. According to Jacobsons most recent application, the hotel can potentially bring in $4.3 to $4.5 million in revenue and would contribute $300,000 in hotel occupancy tax to the city on an annual basis.

Welcome to Shenandoah, Wheeler said.

Grogans Mill Road underpass plan draws complaints

Several Shenandoah residents voiced their opposition to a proposed overpass or underpass at the intersection of Grogans Mill Road and Research Forest Drive during the public comment portion of Wednesdays meeting. The residents also criticized the council and mayor for their reactions to the issue at a Sept. 5 town hall meeting, saying their casual attitude failed to reflect the severity of the issue at hand.

Who in their right minds would desire that Shenandoah would put an overpass at that location? said resident Janeu Houston.

The town hall was focused on  among other subjects  a redesigned thoroughfare plan and drew a standing room-only crowd to City Hall.

The City Council had unanimously passed a resolution of support on May 23 for a $14 million underpass to be funded by the Montgomery County Precinct 3 and The Woodlands Road Utility District 1.

Houston and others at the public comment called on the council to rescind their support of the plans.

Please dont continue to ignore feasible options, Houston said. You should revoke the resolution until The Woodlands takes care of its options.

The intersection ranks as the worst for accidents in The Woodlands and the second worst county-wide, said Public Works Director Joseph Peart at the townhall meeting.

Resident and former council member Jean Teague joined those who attended the town hall and were dissatisfied with the councils representation of the citizens will.

We are prepared to take our opposition to a higher level, Teague said.

Many of those at Wednesday nights meeting also criticized the councils presence on social media and complained that Wheelers late arrival to the town hall signified non-transparency on the part of the members present, drawing a rebuttal from council members later in the meeting.

I will say that the mayor and council have lost the citizens trust after (the townhall), resident Sarah Warmath said.

mrincon@chron.com
For the seventh year in a row, the Conroe Independent School District struck a chord with a national foundation that promotes and supports music education.

Over the summer, the district was given the Best Communities in Music Education award by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, or NAMM.

With more than half of the districts students involved in music education in some way, its a large community with more than 32,000 students strumming tunes and belting out songs.

Robert Horton, the fine arts coordinator for Conroe ISD, said the award recognizes districts that give a high level of support to music education.

To me, it means that people outside of our school district and area recognize the quality of music instruction in our school district. Its a validation of the wonderful teaching our teachers do, Horton said.

The award is given to more than 500 school districts across the nation each year.

Horton said that the CISD is distinguished from others because while students may receive classroom instruction, they are also able to successfully demonstrate what theyve learned outside the classroom.

Many of our groups have been recognized at the state and national level, either through winning competitions or in an auditioning process, Horton said.

Specifically, he mentioned opportunities CISD students have had  such as marching in the Rose Bowl Parade or performing at New York Citys Carnegie Hall.

Every year, our teachers look for different ways to get their students outside of the building to demonstrate not only what goes on in the classes, but also in the programs, Horton said.

In order to do so, the district has at least 140 certified and degreed music teachers who work with students.

One of those teachers is The Woodlands High Schools Head Choir Director Patrick Newcomb. He said that through the district valuing music education, it boosts student performance in other academic areas.

Receiving this award the past few years has been encouraging, because it acknowledges not only our students and their unbelievable work ethic, but also the tremendous support we have from our administration and community, Newcomb said. They model with their actions what it means to support the arts.

Horton said the award will allow the district to continue attracting highly qualified teachers.

Part of the awards criteria is the financial stewardship, which Horton said CISD has demonstrated by outfitting new school buildings with music equipment and instruments, as well as working with the parents and community to raise funds for programs.

The district provides music instruction for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

jane.stueckemann@chron.com
Nearly 15 months after Saint-Gobains site plan for a $25 million investment was approved by the Beaverton City Council, the company broke ground this week.

Were happy to see this project get on its feet, said Beaverton City Manager Heath Kaplan.

Saint-Gobain is the citys largest employer. The expansion and increased jobs further secure their footing.

According to company officials, the plastics manufacturer foresees hiring 60 new employees, adding to the current workforce of about 200. The company has a track record of hiring more than they first project and city officials are hoping that is true this time around.

The expansion at 3901 Terry Diane St. will add an additional 74,000 square feet for manufacturing space to its existing 61,250 square-foot business. It also proposed adding 13,500 square feet for office space.The expansion project will increase development and manufacture capacity for Single Use Systems, the components and assemblies used in the manufacturing of life-saving drugs and vaccines. It is expected to be completed by December 2019.

The plastics company purchased several acres of private property adjacent to the existing complex, some which needed to be annexed into the city from Tobacco Township, and consumed an additional five acres in the industrial park.

Due to the companys expected taxing of the citys infrastructure, city officials applied for and received a $1.6 million Federal Economic Development Administration grant.

We are so thankful for Saint-Gobains continued investment in the city, said Beaverton Mayor Ray Nau. This is an exciting time for Beaverton.

Before it was Saint-Gobain, Patter Products formed at the Diane Street location in 1977. Saint-Gobain later purchased the business. In 1990, Saint-Gobain acquired the Norton Performance Plastics Corp. The purchase of Norton reportedly paved Saint-Gobain's entry into the plastics segment.

The site expansion will allow potential employees to experience the positive impact they can have by manufacturing products that save lives around the world, said Beaverton Saint-Gobain Plant Manager Sue Shay. From competitive salaries to strong training offerings for continued growth, potential employees will be able to experience how fulfilling a career in manufacturing can be.

To learn more about career opportunities at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Beaverton location, visit: https://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/careers and type Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics into the keyword search bar.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP)  Hurricane Florence was making landfall in North Carolina early Friday with a life-threatening storm surge that pushed water inland for miles, pelting rains and screaming winds that destroyed buildings in its path.

More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel at the height of the storm, and many more who defied evacuation orders were hoping to be rescued. Pieces of buildings ripped apart by the storm flew through the air.

The powerful storm inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power. Forecasters said "catastrophic" freshwater flooding was expected along waterways far from the coast of the Carolinas.

At 7 a.m., Florence was centered just 5 miles (10 kilometers) east of Wilmington, North Carolina. Its forward movement was 6 mph (9 kph). Hurricane-force winds extended 90 miles (150 kilometers) from its center, and tropical-storm-force winds up to 195 miles (315 kilometers).

Winds bent trees toward the ground and raindrops flew sideways as Florence moved in for an extended stay, with enough of its killer winds swirling overseas to maintain its power. Forecasters said the onslaught could last for days, leaving a wide area under water from both heavy downpours and rising seas.

The wind howled and sheets of rain splattered against windows of a hotel before dawn in Wilmington, where Sandie Orsa of Wilmington sat in a lobby lit by emergency lights after the power failed.

"(It's) very eerie, the wind howling, the rain blowing sideways, debris flying," said Orsa, who lives nearby and fears splintering trees will pummel her house.

The storm's intensity held at about 90 mph (144 kph), and it appeared that the north side of the eye was the most dangerous place to be as Florence moved ashore.

A weather station at a community college recorded a 100 mph wind gust, and forecasters tweeted that a 91 mph wind gust slammed into Wilmington's airport, surpassing the power of Hurricane Fran two decades ago.

The National Hurricane Center said a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, reported 6.3 feet (1.92 meters) of inundation. Emerald Isle is about 84 miles 135 kilometers) north of Wilmington.

And about 46 miles farther up the waterfront, in New Bern, about 150 people were waiting to be rescued from floods on the Neuse River, WXII-TV reported. The city said two FEMA teams were working on swift-water rescues and more were on the way.

"Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience." Gov. Roy Cooper warned, describing day after day of disastrous weather to come.

Cooper also requested additional federal disaster assistance in anticipation of what his office called "historic major damage" across the state.

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm began buffeting the coast, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Prisoners were affected, too. North Carolina corrections officials said more than 3,000 people were relocated from adult prisons and juvenile centers in the path of Florence, and more than 300 county prisoners were transferred to state facilities.

Officials said some 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it's unclear how many did. The homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Spanish moss waved in the trees as the winds picked up in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Ocean water flowed between homes and on to streets on the Outer Banks; waves crashed against wooden fishing piers.

Coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely empty, and schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia.

A buoy off the North Carolina coast recorded waves nearly 30 feet (9 meters) high as Florence churned toward shore.

Forecasters said conditions will continue to deteriorate as the storm pushes ashore early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and makes its way slowly inland. Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet (3.4 meters) of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (225 kph), the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday night.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as slow and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are "supplied and ready," and he disputed the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico, claiming the figure was a Democratic plot to make him look bad.

Not everyone was taking Florence too seriously: About two dozen locals gathered Thursday night behind the boarded-up windows of The Barbary Coast bar as Florence blew into Wilmington.

"We'll operate without power; we have candles. And you don't need power to sling booze," said owner Eli Ellsworth.

Others were at home hoping for the best.

"This is our only home. We have two boats and all our worldly possessions," said Susan Patchkofsky, who refused her family's pleas to evacuate and stayed at Emerald Isle with her husband. "We have a safe basement and generator that comes on automatically. We chose to hunker down."

___

Associated Press writers Seth Borenstein in Washington; Jeffrey Collins in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Jennifer Kay in Miami; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Sarah Rankin and Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia; Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Skip Foreman in Charlotte, North Carolina; Jeff Martin in Hampton, Georgia; David Koenig in Dallas; Gerry Broome at Nags Head, North Carolina; and Jay Reeves in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes
LAWRENCE, Mass. - Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, R, declared a state of emergency Friday as officials inspected more than 8,600 homes and businesses to determine if it was safe for people to return, a day after a series of gas line explosions left one person dead and injured at least 23.

The blasts, which led to scores of simultaneous structure fires across three towns in the Merrimack Valley, filled otherwise sunny skies with thick smoke and pushed thousands of residents out of their homes indefinitely. Electrical power has been cut to the communities, and residents have been told not to enter their homes until each one has been inspected for potential dangers.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, which owns the gas lines involved in the blasts, has thus far given no indication of what might have caused the disaster. Baker and other officials, including Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, issued scathing criticisms of the company.

"Since yesterday, when we first got word of this incident, the least informed and the last to act have been Columbia Gas," Rivera said, with Baker at his side at a news conference. He said the company had promised "hundreds of teams of technicians" but that "none have materialized."

"It just seems that there's no one in charge," Rivera said. "Like they're in the weeds."

At a news conference a couple of hours later, Columbia Gas president Steve Bryant defended the company's response. "We advanced this as rapidly as it could possibly be advanced," he said. "I don't think that anybody else managing this would have been further down the road then we are at the moment."

Bryant said the company had nearly 300 technicians in the field who had turned off gas to more than 3,200 of the affected customers, a necessary step before electricity can be restored. He said gas would be shut off to all homes in the area by Saturday or Sunday, allowing power to be turned back on and people to move back in.

He referred questions about the cause of the incident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation.

"We are sorry and deeply concerned about the inconvenience," he said.

Dazed and nervous people stood in the streets or milled around shelters as state and federal officials and Columbia Gas technicians methodically inspected buildings in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, just north of Boston.

Investigators had begun to zero in on the potential cause of the explosions: over-pressurization of a gas main owned by Columbia Gas, which had been upgrading equipment in the area, according to Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal's office.

Before the explosions on Thursday, Columbia Gas notified customers that it would be "upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhoods across the state." The utility said the move would bring increased reliability and "enhanced safety features."

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said Friday that his agency, which handles incidents involving pipelines, is "looking at the design of the pipeline system, any maintenance or upgrades that are in the process of being done."

On the streets here Friday, residents spoke of loss, confusion and disbelief that something so catastrophic could result from something as commonplace as natural gas supply pipes - natural gas supplies energy to more than 68 million homes nationwide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, was killed when an explosion at a house toppled a chimney onto the car in which he was sitting.

His father, Miguel Rondon, stood outside his rowhouse Friday watching a family friend, who had volunteered to talk with reporters about his son as other relatives gathered on the steps. Miguel Rondon said the last time he saw his son was Thursday, when he showed up after taking his driving test.

"He was happy, happy," Miguel Rondon said. "He made his license."

Hector Rondon, a relative of Leonel Rondon, handed a single sheet of paper to waiting reporters, with a short description, carefully prepared in English, of the young man they had just lost.

"Excited about life," it read. "Loving and respectful."

And below, in tidy green script: "He liked cars."

Hector Rondon took the piece of paper back, folded it in half and then in half again and turned away, briefly raising his hands to his red, watering eyes.

Bryant, the Columbia Gas president, said the company extended "deepest condolences" to Rondon's family.

But officials sounded increasingly frustrated and furious as the day wore on.

Rivera said he thought Columbia Gas was "hiding from the problem."

"It is in the best interest of the people of Lawrence, North Andover and Andover for us to get another team leading this," Baker said at the news conference with Rivera. With his emergency declaration, Baker said he was instructing the Department of Public Utilities to authorize Eversource, another private energy company, to take management control over the effort to restore utility services.

Baker, Rivera and the state's two U.S. senators, Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, toured Springfield Street on Friday. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D, who represents the area in Congress, also visited the neighborhood.

"I think a lot more people would have died if our first responders hadn't been on the scene so quickly and so effectively," Moulton said in an interview. "The gas company took five hours to let anyone know there was even a problem - and even then they didn't call for people to evacuate. I believe the evacuation saved lives. And the evacuation wasn't driven by the gas company; it was driven by local first responders."

Moulton said "the entire bipartisan political leadership of the state" is "going to make sure that this gas company is held accountable."

Bryant said the company has a "tremendous track record" and responded as quickly as possible.

In the streets, people forced from their homes walked in small groups of three or four, carrying backpacks, pulling roller bags and towing wagons overflowing with possessions stuffed in plastic bags - Social Security cards, birth certificates, medications.

Neighbors remained anxious about leaving their homes unattended. Standing mostly outside to obey evacuation orders, members of one extended family guarded their homes and their block.

Justina Lebron and her family spent one night in a hotel and plan to move in with her mother. They have milk and ham and other groceries in their wagon, and, for now, they aren't concerned about leaving an empty house. Thursday night, the helicopters overhead worried her.

"I thought it was a crime," she said. But since then, there has been a parade of patrol cars through the neighborhood. What worries them more is what comes next.

"What is the next step?" she asked. "That's what we don't know."

Authorities hope to be able to get people back into their homes by Sunday, but they are going from house to house to check on gas connections, an effort that has been made more complex because of mandatory evacuation orders in some areas - meaning people aren't home to let the gas company in.

Officials and experts cautioned that the cause of the blasts was still unknown, but they were focusing on "over-pressurization" as the most likely explanation.

Natural gas is distributed through a network of 2.5 million miles of underground pipes that carry it from its source to homes and businesses across the country, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which sent investigators to Massachusetts.

According to PHMSA statistics, between 1998 and 2017 there were 745 "serious" incidents involving natural gas pipelines resulting in 278 deaths and 1,153 injuries. In Massachusetts in that same period, there were 15 serious incidents resulting in eight deaths and 31 injuries. Before Thursday, there had been none since 2012.

Michael Ahern, director of power systems engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said that once gas is extracted from the earth, it is carried first in large pipes that act as a sort of "interstate highway system" for gas transmission.

Gas at high pressure, generally about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi), is carried long distances in steel pipes with a diameter of 18 to 36 inches, Ahern said. In the case of Massachusetts, those lines will arrive from gas sources in Texas, Pennsylvania or Canada, he said.

Those large transmission lines then arrive at regional "gate stations," where pressure is reduced to an average of 10 to 50 psi, and then distributed locally in pipes that are usually about 8 to 12 inches in diameter, Ahern said. Those smaller pipes can be cast iron or steel if they are older, while newer pipes are plastic, he said.

When those pipes arrive at homes and businesses, the pressure is reduced again, with regulators dropping the pressure to perhaps 1 psi or less and directing the gas through copper or plastic pipes less than an inch in diameter that feed stoves, water heaters and other appliances.

Ahern said gas has been safely delivered this way for more than a century. While he was unaware of the specifics of Thursday's explosions and fires in Massachusetts, he said he suspected there was a "unique set of circumstances" that caused it, without reason to worry about the overall safety of gas delivery generally.

He said instances of systems failing because of over-pressurization are rare. The most recent he could recall was in San Bruno, California, in 2010, when eight people were killed when a large gas transmission line exploded. Over-pressurizing gas lines can result in too much gas being forced into homes, creating a situation in which a pilot light or any other source of flame can ignite it and cause an explosion and fire.

Two cases of gas leaks in residences led to deaths in the Washington region within the past 20 years. In 1998, gas collecting in the basement of a new Loudoun County home ignited when a pilot light sparked, killing a 40-year-old mother of two, critically injuring her husband and launching their two children out the front windows of their second-floor bedroom. In 2016, natural gas built up in the basement of a Silver Spring apartment complex and exploded, killing seven people and injuring more than 30.

Standing outside her still-smoldering Springfield Street home in Lawrence on Friday, Jenny Caceres, 36, said that on Thursday night she was trying to scramble eggs for her two daughters but her stove burners sputtered and wouldn't stay lit.

She called her landlord, who went to the basement and found signs of trouble. A gas alarm was going off, but the meter wasn't running. He immediately banged on Caceres's door and told her to get out of the second-floor apartment. She stood across the street with her daughters, with only the clothes they were wearing. Her 12-year-old didn't have shoes on.

"We just ran out. I didn't want to risk staying in there and something happening to my daughters," said Caceres, a Spanish-language translator for the Lawrence school district.

The building caught fire after she escaped. She doesn't know the condition of the apartment or the two birds she was pet-sitting for her grandmother.

"I have no idea," she said through tears.

- - -

Wootson and Sullivan reported from Washington. Weintraub is a freelance journalist based in Massachusetts and a frequent contributor to The Washington Post.

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Video: Evacuations were ordered in three towns north of Boston on following gas explosions on Sept. 13.(Patrick Martin/The Washington Post)

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The states leading manufacturers group said Illinois could miss out on the benefits of a growing manufacturing sector despite a tentative U.S-Mexico trade deal.

Even before President Donald Trumps administration announced a tentative deal with Mexico, the U.S. manufacturing sector was growing. Some have attributed the growth to federal tax cuts enacted this year and Trumps deregulation efforts allowing for easier expansion and more operational investments, among other economic factors.

The Institute for Supply Management last week reported growth for the U.S. manufacturing sector for August.

Illinois Manufacturers Associations Mark Denzler said the trade deal with Mexico will benefit manufacturers across the country, even in Illinois.

Trade is imperative for the manufacturing sector, Denzler said. Mexico is our second-largest trade partner. Illinois exports about $10 billion worth of goods there, which is about 15 percent of total Illinois exports. The electronics components, automotive, are two particular sectors that rely heavily on Mexico.

While trade details havent been fully released, Denzler said the important thing is for Illinois products made by 570,000 employees in the state to be fairly traded with Mexico.

The nations economy will surely benefit from the trade deals, Denzler said, but in Illinois, state-level business regulations may repel investment.

This is a time when manufacturing is hot, Denzler said. Manufacturers are coming back to the United States, theyre growing and expanding. A large part of that is cheap natural gas because of hydraulic fracking. Youve seen the huge flux of chemical plants, but Illinois is just not poised to take advantage of that because of, often times, rules and taxes.

In Illinois, companies face the same federal and global challenges, Denzler said, but they also face obstacles from the state.

The differences are state regulations and policies, Denzler said. We see in Wisconsin or Indiana or Michigan and why they have substantial manufacturing growth compared to the anemic growth that weve seen in Illinois [and that] largely can be attributed to state policies pushed by largely Democrat lawmakers.

The Democratic majority at the Illinois statehouse has been resistant to addressing things like the cost of workers compensation,saying they dont want to diminish benefits for injured workers.

Denzler has for years highlighted Illinois costs for workers compensation being the highest in the Midwest, and among the highest in the country.

Even with Illinois benefits like its infrastructure and workforce, Denzler said he worries that employers might go elsewhere because of the increased regulations and costs.

The U.S. trade deal with Mexico must still be finalized and Trump said hes working on a deal with Canada.

Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other statewide issues for INN. Bishop has years of award winning broadcast experience, and previously hosted The Council Roundup, as well as Bishop On Air, a morning-drive current events talk show.
NEW HAVEN  Alders are turning the ever-present conversation around drug addiction in the city to focus on it being a disease the disease of it, rather than the criminalization of it.

The Human Services Committee approved a resolution in which the city creates an action plan that recognizes addiction as a chronic illness. The committee heard testimony on how the city might deal with the issue from a treatment standpoint.

I think this is going to take a real cultural change and mindset of how we look at drug addiction as a community, Alder Richard Furlow, D-27, said. New Haven has a real opportunity to spearhead this, sending this to our state legislation and also our U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, who has been leading it throughout this state and how we might change our opinion on drug addiction.

Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in May reported there were 3,090 visits to hospital emergency rooms in the state for suspected drug overdoses between January and April, which broke down to an average of 180 visits per week. The data showed New Haven County saw 907 ER visits for suspected overdoses, just behind Hartford County at 1,021.

I felt like it is the public health crisis of our generation, physician Curtis Bone said during public testimony.

At 44,000 deaths per year, people in the U.S. die more from drug overdoses than car accidents or any other type of injury, the ordinance reads. Opioids  prescription and illicit  are the main driver of drug overdose deaths, according to the CDC. More than 100 people per day are dying from opioid overdose.

The U.S. spends almost $468 billion a year on addiction, the ordinance says, but the bulk of the money goes toward crisis-related expenses such as hospital care, jails, and courts; and every dollar invested in treatment saves $4-7 in reduced drug related crime, criminal justice courts and thefts.

The meeting was scheduled for mid-August just before a rash of overdoses hit the Green, with emergency personnel responding to more than 100 incidents related to a batch of K2, known as synthetic marijuana. The overdoses involved nearly 50 drug users and, since then, police have stationed six officers there to reduce further drug activity.

We want to have really practical steps we take moving forward, incorporating all voices on what actual things we can be doing so it is treated as a disease and not just a resolution, Alder Abigail Roth, D-7, said.

New Haven already has many of the elements that form a comprehensive approach to the opioid use problem  treatment centers, needle exchanges, diversion of criminal cases to treatment  resident Margaret McCarthy said, but in terms of the amount of services available, the city needs more, such as having a supervised injection site.

A safe injection site is where people can use opioids and other illegal drugs under medical supervision to reduce the risk of death or serious injury from overdose. In parts of the country hit hard by addiction, cities such as San Francisco and Philadelphia are considering these sites, but Vermont recently turned down the proposal for one. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told a Philadelphia news site the federal government will take swift and aggressive legal action if Philadelphia and other cities open supervised injection sites for illegal drug users, The Associated Press reported.

U.S. Department of Justice officials previously declined to comment on the planned safe injection sites other than to say that such sites would be illegal, according to the AP. Roth said she was concerned New Haven would face legal issues if it implemented supervised injections sites in light of Rosensteins announcement.

Orange resident Sylvester Salcedo said to deal the with crisis as a disease, the city needs to declare a state of emergency for anyone dealing with addiction, establishing New Haven as a heroin/opioid-tolerant zone. That means people who have demonstrated opioid dependance should either be exempt from federal and state anit-narcotics laws, or those laws should be relaxed.

No more kicking this opioid/political hot potato down Elm or Main streets, he said. Now is the time to do something that has been working elsewhere.

Resident Joanne Wilcox said there need to be better support systems to connect families to treatment. When her son woke up from a coma caused by an overdose, she didnt know where to turn and had to do her homework on services.

I want you to know how confusing it is for a family member to find treatment, and treatment here, she said. My son is two-and-a-half years sober and lives far away and I miss him. I work to promote family supports for addiction, because we need to build a safe recovery community. I want my son to feel safe at home.

Wilcox said she is frustrated by the lack of services because families need more, not less.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
WESTPORT  The 81-unit affordable housing complex proposed for Lincoln Street near downtown Westport poses a safety hazard, town fire officials said.

A single point of access to the southernmost point of the development on Lincoln Street is inadequate, said Andrew Kingsbury, Westports former fire chief and the operational and fire safety peer reviewer for the application brought by Cross Street LLC.

Fire safety vehicles will have a difficult time getting to the six-story, 137,000-square-foot building should it be built, Kingsbury told the Planning and Zoning Commission at its Sept. 6 meeting.

Fire Chief Robert Yost agreed with Kingsbury, saying improvements to the towns water infrastructure have not kept pace with the construction of large buildings, and if a fire occurred at the proposed complex during the summer, the department could not guarantee it has enough water to fight it.

Meanwhile, the applicants fire safety consultant Joseph Versteeg said his analysis determined the town has more than enough water available to fight a potential fire at the complex, and that the buildings entrances and exits would adequately allow for the entrance of firefighting vehicles.

Fire safety concerns were front-and-center on Cross Streets application because the proposal was submitted to the town in accordance with the states 8-30g statute.

In essence, the statute says that if an applicant, a developer, is prepared to allocate 30 percent of the units for affordable housing as defined in the law and the regulations promulgated under it, then they basically are exempt from local zoning regulations, town attorney Ira Bloom told the commission.

The commission can only deny an 8-30g application on the grounds of a substantial public interest, such as fire or traffic safety concerns, Bloom said. The substantial public interest, even if it does exist, must clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing in the community, he said.

If a town has sufficient affordable housing, the town can receive a moratorium on 8-30g applications, which prevents developers from bypassing town zoning regulations.

Westport does not have moratorium status, however, deeming the town open to 8-30g applications.

If you look back over 25 years or so where there are denials of an 8-30g application by a Planning and Zoning Commission, a majority of those denials are reversed by the courts. In other words, the history of these cases is not good for commissions throughout the state of Connecticut that deny 8-30g applications. Statistically, commissions lose maybe about 70 percent, Bloom said.

Despite the difficulty in preventing the developments construction, residents have formed Westport Neighbors United LLC, to oppose the application.

The group, which formed in March, has over 300 members on its active email and donor list, said Tina Torraco, who lives on the corner of Riverside Avenue and Lincoln Street and is one of the groups leaders.

The mere size and scale are a danger to the immediate residents that reside only 15 to 18 feet from the fire collapse zones, Torraco said, adding the increase in cars the complex would bring to the neighborhood would create a hazard to pedestrians in the area.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak before the commission about the Lincoln Street application again at a Sept. 27 public hearing. Chairman Paul Lebowitz said the commission will likely decide whether to approve the application by Oct. 11.

svaughan@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2638; @SophieCVaughan1
Houston ISD trustees unanimously voted Thursday to enact greater board oversight of the districts special education services, enacting recommendations by a board-appointed committee that found HISD has been shortchanging students with disabilities.

Trustees now will hold workshops centered on special education three times per year, require district administrators to submit an annual strategic plan for students with disabilities and seek policy changes that will emphasize special education across the district, among other actions approved at Thursdays board meeting.

The changes all were recommended by the districts Special Education Ad-Hoc Committee, which the board formed in February 2017 following a Houston Chronicle investigation that found a years-long pattern of HISD and other Texas school districts denying access to special education services.

The board stopped monitoring special education progress, said HISD Trustee Anne Sung, who chaired the ad-hoc committee. If thats the case, the board really needs to point the finger at ourselves when we see the problems that families of students with disabilities face in our district. This is the board reassuming that responsibility.

The ad-hoc committee investigated HISDs special education programs and produced a 12-page report, ultimately determining that the state of special education in HISD grave. In their report, the ad-hoc committee members identified several areas needing improvement in HISDs special education programs, many of which mirrored an outside report authored earlier this year by the nonprofit American Institutes of Research. They included better identification of students needing support, more training for staff and greater accountability for principals responsible for ensuring delivery of services.

The committee also made recommendations about how the board could better monitor HISDs administration of special education. It was not tasked with recommending specific changes in spending or staffing.

The Chronicle detailed in 2016 how Houston ISD had embraced a de-facto state cap on the percentage of students receiving special education services, eliminated hundreds of jobs tailored toward students with disabilities and implemented tactics designed to dissuade evaluators from diagnosing students with disabilities.

About 7.3 percent of HISD students received special education services in 2015-16. The national average at the time was about 12 to 13 percent, with a few large, urban school district topping 20 percent.

Several trustees and committee members said the board must hold HISD employees accountable for improving special education in the district after losing community trust.

Keep your hand on the pulse of special education, to actually increase the amount of monitoring, committee member and HISD parent Joshua Rotenberg told the board. The community has a vote of no confidence for the administrations ability to fix itself.

HISD administrators said they have implemented many changes in staff development and monitoring systems as part of a three-year strategic plan for bolstering special education. HISD trustees also approved an additional $13.5 million for special education and dyslexia programs in 2018-19. Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said district leaders have added the necessary measures as we continue down this journey of ensuring students with disabilities receive needed supports.

As they accepted the committees report, trustees also voted 5-2 to dissolve the group despite some opposition to disbanding it. Supporters of sunsetting the committee said it had completed its assigned task under HISDs governance policies. Opponents, including some committee members, argued the group is a valuable resource for trustees as they hold administrators accountable for special education improvements.

Trustees also voted to approve settlement agreements in two high-profile legal cases involving the districts ex-chief auditor and former Furr High School principal Bertie Simmons. Terms of the two settlements were not disclosed.

HISDs one-time chief watchdog, Richard Patton, sued the district in 2016 after trustees did not renew his contract following a five-month investigation into his conduct.

The decision followed a back-and-forth between Patton and administrators about oversight of the districts $1.9-billion bond approved by voters in 2012. Patton determined poor practices and oversight led to a $200 million shortfall in the bond program, an allegation HISD administrators called reckless.

Simmons and two other Furr High School staffers sued the district in October 2017, alleging discrimination and retaliation at the outset of an investigation into grade and records manipulation at the school. Simmons, long revered for turning around Furr High School, was fired in June after an outside investigation found evidence of extensive misconduct at the campus. Simmons has denied the allegations and is fighting her termination through a state hearing examiner.

Scott Newar, a lawyer representing the three Furr High School staffers, said in a statement that his clients have held HISD accountable for its discrimination and retaliation against them, without specifying terms of the agreement. HISD officials said the district has taken an important step forward to ensure its focus remains on educating students by settling the case.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com

@chronjacob
Houston police are on the hunt for the man they suspect shot and killed a teenage girl late Wednesday night.

Irbin Vargas, 22, is accused of gunning down Lourdes Sandoval, 16, in a brazen drive-by shooting at 89 Casa Grande Drive in the Greenspoint area.
The Austin-based nonprofit trying to open a shelter to house migrant children east of downtown sued the city of Houston Friday, alleging a discriminatory, baseless and politically motivated campaign to prevent it from opening the facility.

Southwest Key Programs alleges in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Houston, that the city is manipulating its permitting process, invalidating previously issued permits without due process and refusing to conduct inspections or issue new permits. The suit claims these actions are discriminatory based on some combination of the citys opposition to federal immigration policies, interest in political gain or the race, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage or immigration status of the unaccompanied minors who would be housed there.

The lawsuit asks a court to grant Southwest Key monetary damages and declare that it can proceed with its plans to open the facility.

The city of Houston has ignored its own regulations, and past practices, and has knowingly misrepresented the facts to the state of Texas to deny Southwest Key a license to open the facility, Southwest Key said in a statement released Friday. City officials bent the rules and broke the law for the sole purpose of advancing the mayors political agenda.

RAGING BATTLE: Houston officials dispute claim that controversial shelter for migrant kids on verge of opening

Southwest Key, which is paid more than $400 million by federal authorities to run 27 migrant child care facilities in Texas, Arizona and California, found itself at the center of a national firestorm in June when it emerged that it proposed to hold 240 immigrant children between the ages of 0 to 17 at a 54,000-square-foot building it had leased at 419 Emancipation Ave. The building formerly served as a shelter for homeless families and then, briefly, for those displaced by Hurricane Harvey.

The city is only interested in the safety, security and well-being of children and will continue to enforce all building codes and regulations designed to accomplish that purpose, Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement. Southwest Key has repeatedly been asked to provide plans that meet existing building codes for the intended use of the facility at 419 Emancipation Street in Houston. They have failed to do so. Hopefully, they will realize that they are not exempt and must follow the rules like everyone else. We continue to wait for them to respond. In the meantime, we will review the pleading and respond accordingly.

When news of the proposal became public at the height of the furor over President Trumps since-scrapped policy of separating children from their families at the border, Turner rallied numerous nonprofit, religious and political leaders to denounce the unjust and immoral policy, and indicated he would be happy to slow-walk the city permits required to open the facility.

Its ridiculous, state Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, one of the proposals most vocal opponents, said Friday. They should spend the taxpayers dollars that theyre getting for taking care of the children they do have under their custody instead of wasting them on lawyer fees. The city is doing their job in protecting the health and safety of the children that they want to house there and to protect the health and safety of its residents.

OBJECTION: Houstonians march in protest of downtown 'baby jail'

Turner and Garcias June press conference marked a turning point, Southwest Keys lawsuit states.

The facility had received a fire inspection and been granted a certificate of occupancy as a dormitory/shelter under the building code, but city officials soon announced the nonprofit had provided them incomplete information about the facility, and declared the proper use was institutional, not residential, and that the permitting process needed to start from the beginning.

City officials have stressed that the facilitys role in housing younger children who must be supervised is a key point, but the lawsuit argues that city codes make no such age-specific distinctions, and states that city officials own internal communications undermine the notion that the facility is a detention center requiring institutional permits.

The citys decisions, the lawsuit states, have led state officials not to grant Southwest Key childcare permits it needs to open the center, as the state license depends on applicants being in good stead with local code requirements.

A CLOSER LOOK: Amid fight over nonprofit's center for migrant kids, Houston inspects its other facilities

If the shelter is not operating by Oct. 28, the lawsuit states, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement will terminate its contract for the facility with Southwest Key, which asks the court to force the city to pay the $3.3 million in costs it already has incurred at the site and $5.3 million in liabilities it faces.

The suit also asks a court to declare that children are not prevented from leaving the facility  not detained, in other words  and that there is no basis for labeling the facility an institutional rather than residential use.

Such a declaration also would resolve a dispute over the permits under which another Southwest Key center in Houston are operating. In a move that Southwest Key called selective enforcement but Turner and Fire Chief Sam Pena called due diligence, city officials last month began visiting the nonprofits other centers, and on Aug. 14 announced that a Southwest Key facility on La Concha Lane permitted as a residential use in 2012 is not operating in accordance with that designation and must reapply for its permits.

Southwest Key has said it does operate a shelter in Houston under institutional permit, but does so because the buildings original permits were institutional and it decided not to change them upon leasing the facility.

mike.morris@chron.com

twitter.com/mmorris011
A woman is in custody after a man she was dating was shot in the neck Thursday night in south Houston, police said.

Houston police officers and Houston Fire Department paramedics were called to the shooting in the 11000 block of Forbes Road, south of Hobby Airport, around 8 p.m.

When they arrived, paramedics rushed the man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his neck, police said.

He is expected to be OK.

The woman, believed to be the shooter, is in custody.

SHARPSTOWN DEATHS: Man, woman found in possible murder-suicide

Houston police Det. Bobby Salazar said the man and woman were believed to be dating.

The woman told police that the man accidentally shot himself while holding the gun, Salazar said. She said the man "became upset about something," then was yelling when the gun "just happened to go off," according to Salazar.

Gruesome details: Woman found strangled in recycling bin

The woman told police the gun was never pointed at her.

Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.

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
UPDATE: Disaster declaration issued for Texas counties affected by storm

Flooding has been reported in Galveston and on some Houston area roadways as a storm in the Gulf moves through the Texas coast.

Flood advisories have been issued for west central Chambers County and east central Harris County until 11:30 a.m. Rain gauges in Baytown earlier reported a little over an inch of rainfall within an hour, and two high water locations have been reported in the city at Business State Highway and South Main, according to Houston Transtar.

In Houston, one high water location in the westbound lanes of I-10 East at Jensen Drive has been cleared, TranStar reported.

RELATED: Friday forecast begins with flood watch

The storm's strength had decreased since forecasters started tracking the system earlier this week. As of this morning, forecasters predicated a 20 percent chance of developing into a tropical system in the next two days.

Disorganized showers and a shelf of low pressure over the western Gulf hampered the storm earlier this week.

Heavy rainfall and wind gusts are expected to hit northeastern Mexico and Texas through Saturday.

RELATED: Rainy weather remains steady in Houston as tropical disturbance approaches land

Showers and thunderstorms may bring up to half an inch of new rainfall to the Houston area today, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters predict a 40 percent chance of continuing thunderstorms later tonight, with a 50 percent chance on Saturday.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com
Police caught a man suspected of stealing a car and leading officers on a short chase in the Briar Forest area early Friday morning.

The man fled when police attempted a traffic stop near Hayes and Olympia, then he struck a fence near an apartment complex after a brief chase, according to Metro Video.

Police said they spotted a second person leaving the complex in a different stolen vehicle, which the driver crashed into the laundry room of the apartment complex.

The driver fled on foot and remains at large.
A representative of a trail ride group entered into a settlement Friday with a woman who was raped during an official event on the trail during the lead up to the Houston rodeo in 2012.

As part of the deal, the Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride Association will pay $575,000 and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be dismissed with prejudice from the suit, meaning that the assault victim cannot refile the suit.

Brie Ana Williams, 25, who filed the lawsuit over a violent assault in Liberty County, went public about her civil case. The Houston Chronicle does not typically name victims who allege sexual assault.

RELATED: Trail ride rape victim fighting counter suit by Houston Rodeo

Attorney Chad Pinkerton called the agreement a landmark that will hold both the rodeo and the Trail Ride Association responsible for safety of participants in all events.

My client just made the rodeo and Trail Ride Associations safer...for herself and for everyone, he said. She felt that she should have been better protected at the event, and now, we know she was right.

However, Pat Mizell, who represents the rodeo in the case, said the rodeo was dismissed from the matter without any financial liability.

"It's a complete exoneration of the rodeo and to suggest otherwise is inexplicable," Mizell said.

A spokesperson for the rodeo confirmed that Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride Association and the lawyer for the victim settled a liability lawsuit related to a sexual assault at a Vaqueros function in December 2012, when Williams was 19. A news statement also noted that this event was "completely unrelated to any Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event" and that the district court judge "officially dismissed the Rodeo from the lawsuit and there was no money paid by or on behalf of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo."

Los Vaqueros are among the groups that recreate historic cowboy trail rides, on horseback and in covered wagons, traveling from different locations around Texas and converging in Houston as the rodeo opens.

A related lawsuit and counter claim prompted by an open records inquiry from media consultant Wayne Dolcefino remains pending before state District Judge Steven Kirkland. Dolcefino is seeking records about the rodeo's nonprofit finances, sexual assault and harassment claims and details about the security provided during events.

Dolcefino's lawyer, Jeff Diamant, said the timing of the settlement  hours before a scheduled court hearing  was not a coincidence.

"There's no indication that they're going to do anything to ensure greater security for those who go to the rodeo," Diamant said. "The only agreement is that someone has agreed to pay off this liability."

"That means the rodeo walks away from this case scot-free," he said.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court and legal affairs for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter arodnd send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.
The son of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is one of the latest people to condemn a Fox 4 News report highlighting marijuana found in the home of Botham Jean, the victim who authorities say was fatally shot by a Dallas Police officer last week.

"There is weed in probably 90% of dallasites under 35 homes," wrote Gunnar Rawlings on Twitter. "And probably 40% of Rich white people's homes in HP, Preston Hollow and Plano."

"On the day of his funeral no less," Rawlings wrote. "This is racism."

Police said Jean was fatally shot in his home by an off-duty, uniformed Dallas Police Department officer.

Officer Amber Guyger was charged with manslaughter and arrested on Sunday. She told police she thought Jean's apartment was her own a claim disputed by a lawyer for Jean's family who said a witness heard a woman's voice saying "let me in" prior to the shooting.

ICYMI: Texas man arrested for allegedly carrying guns, multiple magazines at Sunday mass

On Thursday, Fox News 4 reported that a police search found marijuana in Jean's apartment.

The report was widely criticized for sharing irrelevant information about the victim. Many argued the way the report was composed on social media was an attempt to smear him.

Similar critcism was directed at the Dallas Police Deparment for searching Jean's home.

"[Jean] was not only never convicted of a crime, he was never even accused of a crime, never arrested," the family's lawyer told The Washington Post. "It took a white Dallas police officer to break into his home and shoot him to death for him to become painted as a criminal."

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93




AUSTIN  Former President George W. Bush is hitting the campaign trail for U.S. Senate candidates in Florida, North Dakota and Missouri  but so far has no planned events to help U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Bush is the headliner for a fundraiser this afternoon in Tampa for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate. He later goes to Palm Beach County in Florida for another fundraiser with Scott on Friday.

Next week, Bush is expected to hold a fundraiser for North Dakota U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Cramer and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, according to Politico. In October, Bush will headline fundraisers for U.S. Senate candidates Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Braun of Indiana.

Bush helping in Florida is not surprising. While the former president and Laura Bush still live in Texas, they are frequent visitors to Floridas west coast where the Bush family regularly vacations. And of course, Jeb Bush was governor of Florida for eight years and still calls Miami home. Scott, a lawyer and a former hospital company CEO, lived in Texas for more than 20 years and was once a minority owner of the Texas Rangers, after Bush sold his ownership of the team to Tom Hicks.

While Bush is trying to help Republicans running for the Senate and U.S. House, so far he hasnt participated in any public events for Sen. Ted Cruz. During a radio interview in Lubbock with KFYO, host Chad Hasty asked Cruz about Bush campaigning with him.

I worked for him for many years, and well see if something happens with him or not, Cruz said.

In 2015, Bush reportedly told an audience at a fundraiser that he was no fan of Cruz.

I just dont like the guy, Bush reportedly said of Cruz.

Cruz responded later saying: Its no surprise that President Bush is supporting his brother and attacking the candidates he believes pose a threat to his campaign. I have no intention of reciprocating. I met my wife, Heidi, working on his campaign, and so I will always be grateful to him.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
Thao Nguyen, For San Antonio Express-News

AUSTIN  After four years of battles over ethnic studies textbooks and courses in a state with a booming Latino population, state education officials gave final approval to adopt a Mexican-American studies course that can be taught statewide.

Although the State Board of Education OKd the course with no discussion at its board meeting Friday in Austin, the issue of teaching Texas students about the influence of Mexican-Americans has dominated much of the boards discussion for more than four years.
A Houston homeowner who caught people stealing "Beto for Senate" signs from his front yard woke up Friday morning to what he calls, "a pleasant surprise." His two adjoining properties were covered in black-and-white signage supporting U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke, who's running against incumbent Ted Cruz.

The local man, who prefers to remain anonymous, Thursday told local stations he'd caught two sign thieves yanking the Beto posters from the front of his corner lot house in Glendower Court, a neighborhood between River Oaks and Montrose.

"A local artist saw the newscast that (aired) and he was pretty angry," he explained. "He said, 'I want to demonstrate,' and I said sure."

ON STAGE: Beto O'Rourke meets with local bands to jam out in Houston

So the resident, who also owns the house next door, allowed the Beto supporter to plaster the black-and-white signs all over the front gates of his homes Thursday night. While he knew about the plan in advance, he said he was shocked at how many signs they were able to install. "It took me two weeks to even get my first sign," he laughed.

The issue is more than a political one for him, the local resident said, it also comes down to a matter of respect: "I don't care who you vote for, that's not cool. I don't care whether its a Cruz sign or a Beto sign. It's my property."

VIDEO: Beto O'Rourke talks border security on Stephen Colbert show

The first sign was stolen by a man walking his dog, a Ring surveillance video showed. Since it happened on his property, he said, he reported it to the Harris County Precinct One Constable's Office. The resident adds that he doesn't want to press charges, but that he does want that man to "have a serious talking to."

In another recording, a blonde woman in a pink cardigan stops in front the property and yanks another sign off the lot, tosses it into her white Audi and drives away.

The homeowner said he was surprised that a "middle-aged woman" would behave that way and wondered how her children might react.

"I want to give that pink lady in the white SUV a message: Realistically, do you want your kids to see you taking home a political sign? I hope her kids or grandkids ask her, 'Hey mom, where'd you get this sign?'"

With less than two months before the race, tensions between both camps' supporters are running high.
The satellite-based Global Positioning System has no backup system and is frighteningly vulnerable to a devastating attack, a scion of the venerable Hobby family told a cybersecurity conference Friday.

GPS is a critical part of 21st-century life, integral in everything from navigation to the timing of traffic lights to aviation and communications. But Paul W. Hobby said attempts to fund a backup system have stalled in the U.S. Congress.

Some stopgap measures are being developed. Still, he said, a failure of the system could be catastrophic.

INSECURE: Why the Russians might hack the Boy Scouts next

Hobby, who is chairman and CEO of Texas Monthly magazine and has a background in investing and helping run telecommunications companies, likened ignoring a cyber threat to Houstons decades of not dealing with flooding issues.

When there is a known risk, you have to confront it, Hobby said in the opening keynote of the symposium at the University of Houston-Downtown. If you dont confront the music, or in our case the water, it will come to face you.

The GPS system involves 32 satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above the earth. Most people know it as the system that provides location information for mapping and navigation programs, such as Google Maps or Apple Maps.

But GPS also provides other services, such as timing, that are used in a variety of industries. Hobby said GPS timing is used by 15 of the 16 infrastructure resources in the United States deemed critical, and 13 of those service would fail completely without GPS. One of those is the electricity industry, which relies on GPS for helping manage the power grid.

MIDTERMS: Will Russian hackers affect this year's US election?

Hobby cited a recently declassified, 219-page assessment of the risks to GPS prepared by the Department of Homeland Security. According to that document, the biggest risk to the system would be GPS jammers, a technology that exists and is relatively inexpensive to procure.

Hobby talked about a 2013 case in which the owner of a pickup truck equipped with an inexpensive GPS jammer - which is illegal - was parked near Newark International Airport. The man was trying to block a GPS reporting system his employer installed in the pickup so his boss wouldnt know where he was. The jammer caused interference with the airports GPS-based system that helps aircraft take off and land.

If one trucker with a scurrilous but relatively benign attempt to deceive his employer can bring down Newark Airport, imagine what a larger-scale attack could do, Hobby said.

Fixing GPS is not easy because it involves expensive, space-borne equipment, Hobby said. But efforts are being made.

The European Union has embarked on a program to shore up GPS, but its seven years behind and $1 billion over budget, Hobby said.

LOCALLY: Houston program to focus on startups in cybersecurity, robotics, Internet of Things

The most promising plan is to restore and enhance a ground-based system once used by aviation and maritime operations. LORAN, which stands for Long Range Navigation, was radio-based and dates back to World War II. It was in use until 2010 when it was shut down and replaced with GPS services. Hobby said efforts are underway to restore the system with more modern technology. It is being rebranded as eLoran.

eLoran is virtually immune to the weakness of GPS, Hobby said.

Funding for the eLoran project has been approved by the U.S. House but has failed in the Senate three times. Among the backers of the bill at U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass.

Wouldnt you like to be a fly on the wall at those meetings? Hobby said.

Dan Wallach, a professor of computer science at Rice University who attended the symposium, suggested it might be possible to have the many cell phone towers around the country provide a GPS backup.

There's nothing to say we can't have every cellular base station doing the same thing, giving useful redundancy beyond GPS, Wallach said via email. To some extent, E911 already does this, and many companies and research groups are actively studying how to do this indoors with WiFi.

Dwight Silverman is the technology editor for the Houston Chronicle and the grillmaster for the TechBurger tech news site. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

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Back in 2017, I wrote about HackerRanks research on which countries were home to the most skilled women developers. HackerRank doesn't gather data on their approximately 2 million users' sex or gender, so they had to do some guesswork based on users' first names; they also excluded unisex names like Taylor or Riley, which could skew the data somewhat. Their final data pool encompassed about 80 percent of their total user base.

According to that research, HackerRank estimated that 17 percent of its users are women overall. But by narrowing the data set just to 2016, they found that 24 percent of users that year were women.

They also found that India, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, China, Sri Lanka, and Italy are the six countries with the highest percentage of women developers. It's interesting that Asia and Eastern Europe were so highly represented the only Western European country in the top 10 was Italy. The U.S. came in at number 11. Could it be that these countries invest more in STEM education, or that there are different cultural norms around women in technology?

The research also found that developers from Russia, Italy, Poland, China, France, and Romania scored the highest on algorithms challenges, which involve, for example, searching for keywords, sorting data and dynamic programming, among others. A coincidence that Russian developers (regardless of sex or gender) score highest in this area, considering Russia's rise as a cyber power? Or further proof that the country understands the power of software and how to compete in a digital era?

You can see HackerRank's full results here.

The EU country with the most women in tech: Bulgaria

I was reminded of this research when I read an interesting piece in Ozy. According to the European Unions statistics agency, Eurostat, Bulgaria has the highest percentage of women in tech of any country in the EUs 28-member bloc. Women there make up 26.5 percent of information and communications technology professionals (and leads the EU in number of women enrolled in ICT education with 33 percent). By contrast, the average across the rest of the EU is 17.5 percent. In the U.S., women hold 26 percent of computing and math-related jobs.

It could be because of the countrys communist history, social and cultural differences in womens expected roles, and/or greater representation of women in the field.

In Bulgaria there are many female role models that are encouraging the next generation of women to choose careers in the computer industries  in a way, the prejudices that exist in the majority of countries are less in Bulgaria, says Sasha Bezuhanova, a tech industry veteran, in the article.

Perhaps Silicon Valley should take note.
New Yorks primary election yesterday yielded bifurcated results. At the top of the Democratic ticket, Governor Andrew Cuomo stomped his progressive challenger, Cynthia Nixon. His chosen candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney generalformer congresswoman and incumbent LG Kathy Hochul and New York City Public Advocate Letitia Jamesalso won handily, turning back more left-wing opponents. But down ballot, a blue wave wiped out six prominent state senators, all of whom have faced progressive wrath for perceived treason to the party.

The state senators were part of the Independent Democratic Conference, founded and led by Jeffrey Klein, a traditional New York liberal representing the Bronx and Westchester. In tandem with three other moderate or liberal state senators, Klein formed the IDC in 2011, following a disagreement in the Democratic caucus over leadership and committee positions. Klein and his allies agreed to vote with state-senate Republicans in exchange for better chairmanships and other perks. The IDC bloc grew to eight members, denying Democrats rule over the chamber and infuriating party regulars.

The division between the IDC and mainstream Democrats was political, not ideological. By and large, the IDC members have been indistinguishable from their fellow Democrats on the issues. Their claim to effective bipartisanship and compromise was borne out by passage of key progressive legislation, such as the $15 per-hour minimum wage, extensive gun control, and free college tuition for qualified students. The IDC did impose a roadblock on far-left proposals, howeversuch as a New York version of the DREAM Act and statewide single-payer health insurance.

Defeating the IDC and establishing full Democratic control of the senate has been the top priority of the state party for the last seven years. In 2014, New York mayor Bill de Blasio campaigned fruitlessly statewide on behalf of challengers to IDC members, wildly overestimating his appeal to upstate voters. Progressives long suspected, with good reason, that Cuomo at least tacitly supported the IDC, preferring to rule over a divided legislature under his control.

Part of state Democrats problem in dislodging these disloyal partisans has been their local popularity. Despite claims that the IDC was betraying its voters by not caucusing with the state party, local residents were satisfied with their senators ability to follow a moderately liberal line while serving their constituencies. Another challenge: its hard to develop a strategy to vote against a caucus like the IDC, which is spread around the state. A strong candidate at the top of the ticket is the most effective way to increase turnout and drive out undesirable officials farther down the electoral food chainand Nixon, though she lost her own race, helped progressives achieve that.

Nixons candidacy was never designed to put her in the governors mansion. Instead, it reflected a subtle strategy, developed by political operatives around de Blasio, working in conjunction with the states powerful labor unions, to generate excitement and increase primary-election turnoutusually about 15 percent of the electorateto vote out the IDC and ensure Democratic senate dominance. Indeed, soon after Nixon announced her plan to challenge Cuomo, the governor presided over a cynical unification ceremony, wherein Jeff Klein dissolved the IDC and its members all rejoined the main party caucus. Rather than enhancing his image as peacemaker, however, the marriage highlighted Cuomos role as the enabler of the original split.

As I wrote in April: One can make a strong case that Nixons gubernatorial candidacy is intended to drive turnout in the Democratic primary in order to defeat the renegade IDC senators. From this perspective, by pushing Cuomo to reunite the Democrats and move to the left on other issues, she has already won. By staying in the race, hammering Cuomo for his moderation, and campaigning heavily on behalf of the anti-IDC candidates, Nixon helped push the narrative that the renegade senators were Trump Democrats, and turnout more than doubled over 2014. The campaign was aided, of course, by a hard-left surge in the local Democratic Party, exemplified in the defeat of Congressman Joe Crowley by socialist Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Nixon.

Mayor de Blasio wisely stayed aloof from the governors race, preserving the appearance of neutrality. That will help him as he negotiates with Cuomo from a position of relative strength, assuming that the Democrats take control of the senate this November. The six new state senators are avowedly committed to a hard-left agenda of expanded rent control, single-payer health-care, and mayoral control of specialized high school admissions. The primary results, unremarkable at first glance except to political insiders, could have far-reaching policy implications for New York.

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Members of the House of Lords have used a debate on the Lobbying Act to criticise charities over a lack of transparency, particularly around donations and campaigning.

The House of Lords was debating the impact that the Lobbying Act has had on the charity sector, with a number of peers raising concerns that the legislation has hampered legitimate campaigning activity.

But Lord Wallace of Saltaire, the Liberal Democrat peer who shepherded the Lobbying Act through the Lords in 2014, said that during those discussions he became increasingly sceptical about the motivations of some of those resisting the legislation.

He said that some leading development charities had told him they did not want to have to register as third party campaigners because of the impression it would give donors, as it would tell the little old ladies who give us money that we are a campaigning organisation as well as working for the poor.

But he questioned whether charities' approach was the right one.

If they are campaigning organisations, they should be transparent about that and not attempt to hide it from those whom they pursue so hard for funds, he said.

Wallace said he supported the proposed amendments made by Lord Hodsgons review of the act and regrets that the government has not introduced them. But he said there should be other measures to force charities to be more transparent.

The absence of a legal obligation for transparency in reporting significant sources of income allows foreign donors, companies with strong economic interests and others to fund think tanks and educational and religious charities that promote their vested interests without the British public understanding what is happening, he said.

Wallace said that the Institute of Economic Affairs, Taxpayers Alliance and the Global Warming Policy Foundation were examples of organisations that should be more transparent and said there should be legislative changes the next time Parliament addresses charity regulation and third-party campaigning.

Charities have gone beyond their remits

Lord Suri, a Conservative member of the house, said that he felt some charities had gone beyond their remits to engage in political campaigns, using donations from members of the public and government grants to do so.

He said there had been a collapse in trust in charities in this country and that the recent safeguarding scandal had brought shame on the sector.

This means, he said, that charities ought to focus on their charitable activities, rather than attempting to become similar to think tanks in producing policy reports, lobbying and running campaigns during elections and referenda.

But Suri said he sympathises with the sector as the wording of the rules is unclear and said: If clearer legislation cannot be produced in amended form, it would be a magnanimous gesture for the Government to lay out in clear English the precise rights and obligations of third-party organisations.

Reform needed urgently

The debate was called by Lord Harries of Pentregarth, a retired bishop, to urge the government to revisit proposed amendments which would have benefitted charities.

Harries said: The present legislation involves third-party campaigners in a disproportionate amount of time and expenditure trying to conform to it, and it causes areas of uncertainty about whether they are conforming to the law, which may inhibit them from campaigning.

He added that: There are important things to be done irrespective of Brexit, and one of them is improving the ill-thought-out and chilling legislation of part 2 of the Lobbying Act.

Charities have long said that the act is having a chilling effect on their campaigning activity. A number of Lords yesterday referenced research from the Sheila McKechnie Foundation which found that 68 per cent of charities had changed their campaigns because of the legislation.

When the act was introduced it was agreed that it would reviewed. That review was carried out by Lord Hodgson and made a number of recommendations, such as shortening regulated periods and shifting the focus to the intent of the activity, that charities say would help to give them confidence to campaign.

Anything but Brexit

The government has said that there is not space in the legislative timetable to make amendments. It has promised to work with the Electoral Commission and charities on new guidance.

However Lord Kennedy of Southwark, a Labour peer, said he was not convinced by the governments reason.

I have been a member of this house for only eight years, but I can confidently say that this is one of the quieter periods for legislation that I have experienced in that time, he said.

He added that he expected a bill with the proposed reforms would be received positively in the Lords, and said it would be unlikely to be bogged down in lots of amendments.

He added that: It would actually be a very positive experience for us all to have the opportunity to get away from Brexit and talk about something else, so the government might find that such a Bill was very welcome.

Government response

The motion that the house takes note of the impact of the legislation on charities was approved.

Giving the government response, Lord Young of Cookham said there were still no immediate plans for legislation, but that Hodgson would be meeting Cabinet Office ministers shortly.

He reiterated the governments support for charities campaigning within the law, and said: Much of the campaigning undertaken by such third parties is conveying their views about policies and issues. Under charity law, charities have the right to undertake campaigning and political activity where it supports their charitable aim, where trustees consider it to be an effective use of charitable resources, and provided that they do not engage in party politics. Electoral law does not change this.

He said new guidance from the Electoral Commission should be published early next year.

Cookham also said he did not believe charities had been unduly impacted by the legislation.

In a nutshell, the 2014 Act did not target charities and has never prevented charities or other organisations from campaigning in line with the law. In the 2017 general election, 68 charities registered as third parties with the Electoral Commission, which was an increase from 2005, when 25 charities registered, he said.

Bond: Government must show it is serious

Bond, the international development umbrella body, has been working towards reform of the Lobbying Act, and today said that the government must act.

Claire Godfrey, head of policy and campaigns at Bond, said: The fact remains that 68 per cent of charities have had to change their campaigning as a result of the Lobbying Act and 51 per cent say it has affected their ability to achieve their mission.

These numbers cannot be taken lightly. The only way the Government can show it is serious about helping civil society recover its confidence to speak into public life [Matt Hancock] would be if they took forward Lord Hodgsons amendments. Its a travesty that the voices of the vulnerable and marginalised people that charities work with and support are being silenced.

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A man who said he was raising money for the young son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been found guilty of two counts of fraud and sentenced to two and a half years in prison, after he kept the money himself.

Gary Gardner was found guilty of two counts of fraud at Leicester Crown Court yesterday, after the court heard he raised at least 24,000 but only 4,000 made its way to support Rigbys family.

He was sentenced this morning to two and a half years for fraud, the Press Assoication has announced.

Lee Rigby was a British soldier who was murdered in 2013 by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south east London. Gardner organised various events which were said to raise money for Rigbys son and wife, including a charity single and truck-pulling events.

Gardner was found guilty after using the money to "prop up" his overdrawn bank account.

He spent up to 5,000 donated by the public for Jack Rigbys son, on the production of a fundraising music single which only raised 200.

Gardner was cleared of one count of fraud which alleged he failed to keep a record of the amounts raised from fundraisers.

The court was told Gardner put on the truck-pull events in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the Leicestershire villages of Medbourne and Market Harborough, and Stroud, Gloucestershire, which Mrs Rigby and Jack attended.

The BBC reported that when asked if shed received any money from these fundraising efforts, Rebecca Rigby, Lee Rigbys widow, said: "Jack and myself have never received a penny from him.

After the verdict, Steven Kennell from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Gardner had "behaved dishonestly throughout, even inviting the Rigby family to attend his events and posing publicly with a presentation cheque to imply he had donated the money".
Happy Friday dear readers. This week, Society Diary is busy planning an October half term staycation to the UKs hottest new tourist destination, Salisbury. Apparently the citys world famous cathedrals 123-metre spire is a must see, and Diary needs to check in on the worlds oldest working clock to make sure its got the right time. Anyway, this week in charity news...

Dwarf wrestling

A transatlantic culture clash has become apparent this week as at least two shows of a dwarf wrestling tour have been banned after protests from the Restriction Growth Association charity. The RGA argued that events for US troupe Dwarfanators are encouraging average height audiences to laugh at people with dwarfism.

Perhaps unhelpfully, a spokesman for the show said it would be "first time a show of its kind will be seen in the UK since the Victorian times", which doesnt do much to distance it from freak show accusations. However, he pointed out that many of the wrestlers have invested time and money to be able to tour the UK and could not miss out on two weeks earnings.

But one wrestler, Michael Colitti, is clearly not up to date on British current affairs, as he is quoted as saying: "I was under the impression that the UK as a whole had moved away from the Victorian pitch-fork mentality, waiting at castle gates telling people like myself are not welcome around these parts.

Expensive mistake

The Canal and River Trust filed its accounts this week, in which it celebrated the joys of greater user involvement since it became a charity.

One user it could presumably have done without is the anonymous soul who left a lock gate open on the Shropshire Union Canal, and washed away a 12 metre stretch of waterway, causing 3m of damage.

The article was originally carried in the Telegraph, where readers reacted in the comment ssection with their normal measured approach, refusing to accept the official line and blaming the whole thing on, variously, subsidence, badgers and the charity itself, as well as quibbling over whether this is really the Shropshire Union Canal at all. It all appears a bit, er, fishy.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the consensus is that incidences like this will be much less likely once we leave the European Union. Its enough to leave you drained.

The charity seems to have taken a canal-half-full approach to the problem, and has gone about fixing the issue with a remarkable lack of moaning. It seems its all water under the bridge.

Aiming for the top

Tracey Crouch, our heroic minister for charities, sport, gambling, and loneliness, appeared to have been given a promotion this week. A twitter post about an interview she did with Dutch media described her as the worlds prime minister for loneliness, when translated back into English. When this was pointed out to Crouch, she replied with an *evil laugh*. Diary hopes Crouchs engagement in light-hearted banter was an indication of a streak of ruthless ambition and that she has her sights set on being Prime Minister.

*evil laugh*  Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) 12 September 2018

She may have to up her game though as Theresa May is now doing banter. In the PMs latest attempt to fend off the circling Boris Johnson, May won over Strictly Come Dancing viewers by tweeting Get in touch if you need any tips in reference to her dance-filled trip to South Africa. As a Strictly addict, Diary admits to being charmed by this gag, even if it was the result of her social media team throwing ideas around the room with a Conservative Party think tank. Unfortunately for the ambitious Crouch, Diary now predicts that the pundits have got it all wrong, like they have everything else in the past three years, and May will cling on for the full five-year term. Then shell win a majority in the next election with her new human side. Shell unite her party, unite the country and make a red, white and blue Brexit a success.

ELAS EVISSAM

Elsewhere Barnardos charity shop gained unwanted attention when a picture of its window display went viral for putting MASSIVE SALE in reverse, reading from the outside as ELAS EVISSAM.

We watched this put up letter by letter from a table in a restaurant pic.twitter.com/Emox2kfSSw  Richard Hanrahan Is Tweeting This (@TheHitch) 12 September 2018

Social media user "Richard Hanrahan Is Tweeting This" posted the photo under the tagline We watched this put up letter by letter from a table in a restaurant. What the unhelpful onlooker failed to realise is that Barnardos was actually selling an extensive range of cut-price mirrors.
As the week began, Hurricane Florence was shaping up to be a once-in-a-generation storm, and for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the forecast just kept getting worse. At WMBF-TV, the NBC affiliate in town, chief meteorologist Jamie Arnold and his team pored through National Hurricane Center updates and dug into computerized weather simulations to predict the hurricanes impact. It appeared the storm, which was gaining strength, might stall upon landfallbad news which could mean days of high winds, lingering, heavy rainfall, and a life-threatening storm surge.

Arnold, 42, went on the air to detail the latestand then online to field questions from social media followers: Where will the flooding be worst? When will the roads be safe? Should my family stay, or should we go? Arnold encouraged followers to consider the worst-case scenario and to act soon.

Its times like this when I feel were not just a news service but when were potentially sending out life-saving information, Arnold tells CJR. This is when we really become a part of the community.

Meteorologists like Arnold have long been tentpoles of communities across the US, entertaining audiences in fair weather and counseling them in bad. It isnt completely surprising that they would be in demand as storms loom. But it is notable, in the age of Twitter and smartphones, that the broadcast TV weather personanalog, local, old-schoolhas stayed so viable.

ICYMI: Its getting more difficult for foreign journalists to work in the US

Theres no question local weather is one of those things that remains essential, says Kristen Hare, a local news specialist at the Poynter Institute. Apps and technology can tell us a lot, she explains, but they cant guide us through situations that threaten our personal safety, like a hurricane, with the degree of clarity and compassion that local meteorologists bring.

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People want to know how the storms going to impact them, Arnold says, noting that negligible shifts in big picture forecasts can have dramatic impacts locally. In my little corner of the world, in my sixteen counties, thats what my forecasts are going to be about.

Just as important as technical expertise, Arnold says, is the ability to communicate in simple, practical terms. Here, too, a local touch is critical.

We trust our local broadcasters because theyre a part of our community, theyre going through the storm, too, says Karen Goodwin, a 65-year-old Myrtle Beach resident. Theyre down-to-earth and tell it like it is.

On Wednesday, Goodwin evacuated to Florida with an 8-year-old granddaughter who carried with her a WMBF kids hurricane trackera dry erase map of the US with instructions on tracking storms.

Negligible shifts in big picture forecasts can have dramatic impacts locally.

When Arnold spoke with CJR on Tuesday evening, he was climbing the stairs to his condothe elevators in his building were already shut off in preparation for a loss of power. A North Carolina native whos been at the station for 10 years, he says storms are when says he feels most connected with his audience: Those hours when the studio ceiling is shaking, when its roaring and its scary and you hear it, its something were all going through it together.

Arnolds meteorology team was already working 12 hours on, 12 hours off, but soon the effort would run around the clock, with people catching a brief rest where they could, for an hour or two in a dark conference room, or under a desk. For the duration of the storm, WMBF would broadcast constantly on TV and radio simulcast, as well as post updates to social media and answer questions via Facebook Live.

At WMBF, social media engagements were up five-fold this week, ahead of the storm. While Arnolds flagship medium is television, online is where he connects with much of his audience, hurricane or no.

They allow listeners to ask questions, and they answer to the best of their ability, says Christine Bouchard, 37, who lives in Myrtle Beach with her husband and two children and tunes in regularly to Arnolds Facebook Live sessions.  It makes them feel like family, and you trust family.

Local TV stations have proven a natural fit for social media, according to a 2018 Knight Foundation study. And while TV audiences have declined in recent decades, outreach in the digital world could help stations shore-up their role in a shifting news landscape. The meteorologist is set to be in high demand in the coming decade. As major storms seem likely to arrive with increasing frequency due to climate change, their personal touch and detailed knowledge of the local terrain are more crucial than ever.

So far TV reporters have benefited primarily from these trends, but Hare at the Poynter Institute cites The Washington Posts popular Capital Weather Gang as evidence that meteorologists at traditional newspapers can also amass a loyal local following. Independent meteorologists have also proven invaluable, Hare says, such as Eric Berger, a former Houston Chronicle reporter whose Space City Weather website reached 900,000 people during Hurricane Harvey in 2016.

Scott Dean, chief meteorologist at WWAY-TV, the CBS and ABC-affiliate in Wilmington, North Carolina, says that in a hurricane, social media can be an excellent resource for people who lose power. It also enables users to send journalists snapshots and videos from far-flung areas, which help meteorologists check and update their analysisa constant process during crisis events.

Our plan is to go into lockdown mode at the station and to continue coverage until the threat has passed, Dean says. We feel thats our obligation to the viewers.

As the week wore on, forecasts showed that when Florence reached land it was likely to turn southeast towards Myrtle Beach. At WMBF, Arnold and the rest of the station crew hunkered down and braced for the days ahead. The worst of the storm would likely be gone by Sunday, but hurricanes are often as much about the aftermath as they are the storm, Arnold says.

On Friday, the hurricane made landfall at 7:15am near Wilmington. Hours earlier, Arnold had updated his Facebook with the latest: Florence is on our doorstep  I cant emphasize enough how long of a day and night its gonna be.

One comment on the post read, I evacuated yesterday and am living through your live feed and app on my phone. You guys rock. Stay safe.

RELATED: After Hurricane Maria, AM radio makes a comeback in Puerto Rico

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Andrew McCormick is an independent journalist and former CJR Delacorte Fellow. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, the South China Morning Post, and more. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewMcCormck.
Last year, when Hurricane Harvey brought historic flooding to the Houston area, Community Impact, a local newspaper group, asked residents on Nextdoor, a private social network for neighborhoods, to submit photos of the wreckage. Editors received scores of images and published slideshows of Sugar Land, Katy, Lake Houston, and other areas. Last month, KQED, in San Francisco, solicited photographs of Oakland community gatherings in the eighties and nineties from Nextdoor members, and inquired about how KQED could help make the Bay Area a better place to live. Before the school year began, ABC11 in Raleigh, North Carolina, offered families on Nextdoor a county-by-county list of organizations providing free school supplies.

Nextdoor, which launched in 2011, is a decidedly local network in that users must verify their identitiesand residencesin order to participate. Interactions are limited by neighborhood, and the bounds are narrow; users in Washington, DC, where I live, cant see posts from West Virginia, and a resident in the northwest neighborhood of Columbia Heights wont see whats posted in Capitol Hill. Like Facebook, the site has a news feed, but on Nextdoor you dont select who to connect with so much as you are forced into contact by physical proximityelectronic compensation for our modern tendency to blithely ignore our neighbors.

The idea isnt necessarily to make IRL friendsmost users dont even include a picture of themselves on their profiles, and Nextdoor discourages using its platform as a dating servicebut to share useful information. Nextdoor is used primarily to recommend local businesses and events (26 percent of posts), discuss real estate (30 percent), and share alerts about crime and safety (10 percent), with the remainder of notifications helping people find the rightful (or new, adoptive) owners of stray animals and ask burning questions: What was the loud boom on Wednesday night at 9pm? Nextdoor incorporates the marketplace aspect of Craigslist (I bought a blender) and eliminates (some of) social medias voyeuristic lurking. It provides the services that local newspapers, between the news section and the classifieds, once did. As with all message boards, rumor and hearsay abound, and there are some ill-considered and ignorant exchanges; according to Nextdoor, political campaigning, local or not, isnt allowed, and personal views on controversial, non-local subjects arent welcome. (Discussions about controversial local topics are plentiful.) Rather than like or share neighbors posts, you thank them for the contribution. The company is valued at $1.5 billion.

As the network grewit now covers 180,000 neighborhoods and about 90 percent of the 25 largest cities in the USit was swarmed by local organizations, advertisers, and news outlets hoping to gain access. In 2014, the platform began to allow police, fire, and emergency management departments to use the platform. The idea was to keep residents abreast of crime, disaster plans, or upcoming events like town halls. (This week, before Hurricane Florences arrival in the Carolinas, Nextdoor added the National Weather Service for both states to its list of public agencies.) Nextdoor now collaborates with 5,000 public agencies and departments nationwide, granting them permission to see only their own posts and comments on them, not other neighborhood notices.

LOCAL: The man behind Maines unparalleled consolidation of local news

Last year, the same privileges were extended to news organizations. In a soft-launched campaign, Nextdoor partnered with at least a dozen local newsrooms in in the Bay Area, Texas, Detroit, Tucson, San Diego, southeast Virginia, Raleigh-Durham, and the Quad City region that straddles Iowa and Illinois. Nextdoors ability to drill down to specific neighborhoods could be a boon to local news outlets, especially as their monopoly on local eyeballs has diminished. (In the past 15 years, newspaper circulation numbers have dropped by roughly 30 percent.)

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Among them was Community Impact, which covers Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Phoenix, and sees that as Nextdoors advantage: You have the built-in audience that wants more information about their community, Joe Lanane, the executive editor, says. Theyve already got the hard part done: Theyve got the crowd. In addition to posting storieson 911 outages, a spate of mailbox burglaries, and how to petition for an adjustment to inaccurate water billsCommunity Impact and other news outlets have also been authorized to source local coverage and request tips. Lanane says his colleagues use Nextdoor to post multiple-choice polls for stories in progressfor instance, on what residents think the new name for an existing school should be. Weve found a level of engagement on Nextdoor we havent seen on other channels, he says.

In the past few weeks, my own daily Nextdoor digest has expanded to include stories from CityLab, an urban-focused site under the Atlantic Media umbrella. The three articles Ive seen so far begin with anecdotes about DC before branching out to larger studies or trends. As a result, CityLabs contributions have been a bit more lofty: Rather than share reporting and research about issues my neighbors are already discussing, like the citys voter-approved but beleaguered plan to phase out the tipped minimum wage, Im directed to content that focuses on a wider context: the American neglect of mass transit with DC as one example, and a study based in DC about how employers discriminate against job applicants with longer commutes. CityLab is currently the sole news organization posting in DC; one can only hope that other, more local newsrooms, like Washington City Paper or WAMU, might be on the horizon. (The Washington Post is among the outlets included in Nextdoors pilot, but it hasnt posted any articles or polls since January 2018.)

Even in a saturated news market like DC, you generally dont run into reporters at neighborhood commission meetings. For that kind of news, even if its largely anecdotal, I turn to Nextdoor.

Most of the information you might find on Nextdoor is the kind you might see on local blogs, listservs, flyers on a community bulletin board, or on other social media. But even in a saturated news market like DC, you generally dont run into reporters at neighborhood commission meetings. For that kind of news, even if its largely anecdotal, I turn to Nextdoor. Does that make the information shared here journalism? From a point of view of media, its really the only thing going in so many areas, Sandra Ball-Rokeach, a professor at USCs Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, says. Ball-Rokeach, who studies local news and its relationship to communities, embraces Nextdoor as something of a hybrid local news source. In addition to participating in Nextdoor in her own neighborhood (Cheviot Hills, in Los Angeles), she started The Alhambra Source, a local news site for the San Gabriel Valley, to help fill an existing media void. Dipping into both formats, she knows better than to glorify the focus or reportorial intentions of Nextdoor members. But reinforcing the idea of a geographic area as a community, as Nextdoor does, can create a sense of belonging, she says.

Whether or not Nextdoor will be a more successful Patch, a media property with a rocky history that operates hundreds of hyperlocal news sites across the country, by allowing local news organizations to distribute their work as well as to gather string from users, the platform is breaking down barriers between news and casual neighborhood discourse. Its also tentatively acknowledging that journalism is a public good, one thats part of a thriving community. As Ive been writing this, Hurricane Florence makes its way toward the East Coast. Whereas in 2011 and 2012, during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, I turned to Twitter for my as-it-happens news, I expect Ill spend the next few days checking my neighbors updates on Nextdoor.

ICYMI: As newsrooms do more with less, can reporters keep up?

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Anna Altman is a writer and editor in Washington, DC.
Federal investigators were dispatched to three towns just outside Boston after dozens of explosions and fires along NiSource Inc.s natural gas network left at least one person dead and 13 injured and displaced over 8,000 customers.

Massachusetts State Police reported 39 incidents on the network in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Thursday. The blasts appear to be pipeline explosions, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday in a briefing. Shares of NiSource plunged as much as 13 percent in pre-market trading Friday.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters in Washington the agency sent a go-team of investigators that will arrive in the affected area at about noon local time to begin what he said is likely to be a long inquiry.

Certainly things we will be looking at will be the design of the pipeline system, any maintenance or upgrades that may have been done or in the process of being done on the pipeline, the integrity management system of the pipeline operator, he said. This will be a multi-disciplinary investigation, well be looking at a number of things.

Leonel Rondon, an 18-year-old Lawrence resident, died after a house explosion sent a chimney crashing into his car, the Associated Press reported. Thirteen people were received at Lawrence General Hospital for injuries related to the explosions from smoke inhalation to blast trauma, according to the hospitals Facebook page. One critical patient was transported to a Boston trauma center.

Andover Police Department Lieutenant Eddie Guy told NBCs Today television show Friday morning that officials believe the blasts were caused by over-pressurized gas lines. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the NiSource unit responsible for the local network, said in a statement that its crews would need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and carry out a safety inspection. NiSource shares were down 7.4 percent at $26 as of 8:29 p.m. in New York.

Aging Infrastructure

National Grid Plc, which operates the electric utility in the area, was asked to shut power to all of Lawrence and North Andover and pockets of Andover, spokeswoman Christine Milligan said. The supply cuts were affecting about 18,000 customers as of 7 a.m., National Grid said on its website.

In April, Columbia Gas filed a petition with the states Department of Public Utilities to increase annual revenues by $24.1 million in part to help the company replace aging infrastructure. All three towns were listed as areas where neighborhood lines would be replaced, the utility said on its website Thursday.

Replacing leak-prone infrastructure is a leading priority, the utility said in April. However, it will take a number of years to eliminate the aging pipe from the gas distribution system.

San Bruno

The incident, in an area thats home to the famous Phillips Academy Andover whose alumni include George W. Bush and Humphrey Bogart, took place just as Hurricane Florence slammed the coast of the Carolinas farther south on the East Coast, threatening to leave 3 million homes and businesses without power.

The explosions  just days after the eight-year anniversary of a deadly blast on a PG&E Corp. gas transmission line in San Bruno, California  may intensify the growing opposition across New England to using gas to heat homes and produce electricity. The San Bruno tragedy killed eight people and triggered more than $1 billion in fines and penalties.

Some residents in Andover have been told they can return to their homes, city officials said early Friday. Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera had asked impacted residents to evacuate. Two schools in Lawrence will be used as shelters for evacuees.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said the states mutual aid fire mobilization plan has been activated and that it was sending staff to the three towns, as well as four structural task forces. The U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is also sending a team to support the emergency response efforts, spokesman Bobby Fraser said in an email.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Two recent California wildfires are now counted among the most destructive wildfires in the states history, according to Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Insured residential and commercial losses from the Carr and Mendocino Complex fires top $845 million.

The insurance commissioner also provided an update on insured losses from the 2017 wildfires and 2018 Montecito mudslides and announced a new report that details how climate change contributes to wildfire losses.

Our wildfire history tells the story of how our fire season has changed over the years from a four-month season to a year-round threat, said Commissioner Jones. Over the past two decades, the frequency and severity of wildfires has increased and caused significant property damage and the tragic loss of life in the wildland-urban interface areas of the state. Even more troubling is that areas once considered not to be high risk are now being scorched by wildfires.

Data collected by the department shows that the widespread destruction from the Carr and Mendocino Complex fires resulted in damaging or destroying more than 8,800 homes, 329 businesses, and more than 800 private autos, commercials vehicles, and other types of property. More than 10,000 claims have been filed, totaling $845 million in insured losses.

According to CALFIRE, of the Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires, in terms of structures destroyed, 17 occurred after September 1st. Fire officials and experts warn that potentially the worst is yet to come.

The Carr and Mendocino Complex fires not only caused staggering losses to thousands of Californians, they devastated entire communities and tragically cost many people their lives, and were among the most destructive fires in our states history, added Commissioner Jones. We should remember that the vast majority of Californias most destructive fires occurred after September 1st, and fire experts tell us that the worst fires for 2018 may still be ahead of us.

The commissioner also released a new report, Trial by Fire: Managing Climate Risks Facing Insurers in the Golden State, which examines the challenges and opportunities associated with climate risk, climate change, and insurance. The report further shows how climate change is a contributor to wildfire losses in California and discusses Commissioner Jones efforts to get insurers to consider climate risk and the role insurance can play in addressing the three types of climate risks facing insurance companies: physical, transition and litigation risks.

Our Trial by Fire report is an important contribution to a better understanding of how climate risk and climate change impact the insurance industry and Californians, said Jones. As Insurance Commissioner, one of my responsibilities is making sure insurance companies take into account and address climate-related physical, transition and liability risks, which can have consequences for insurers underwriting and the investing of their reserves. Id like to thank our partners who joined us to author this report, which provides critical information about the climate-related risks for the insurance sector and Californians and what is and should be done to address those risks.

The report was authored by Dr. Evan Mills, Principal of Energy Associates, a California-based energy and environmental consultancy, the climate policy experts at UC Berkeley School of Laws Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, and the California Department of Insurance.

The Trial by Fire report is unique in its simultaneous focus on insurance and climate change in the California context, and it is the first of its kind to emanate from the offices of a forward-looking state insurance regulator, said Dr. Evan Mills. Regulators are the natural entities to look into this, as their role is to safeguard the financial viability of insurers while maintaining availability, affordability, and adequacy of insurance for consumers. As we see in the wildfire data released today, regulators are also important compilers and distributors of raw data on loss costs.

Co-authors from UC Berkeley School of Law, Ted Lamm and Ethan Elkind, along with climate change experts Alice Hill of Stanford University Hoover Institution and Dr. Ben Caldecott of the University of Oxford have provided statements supporting the Trial by Fire report.

Source: California Department of Insurance
AKRON, Ohio - The Victim Assistance Program Inc. has been designated Summit County's sole provider of mental-health support if large-scale crisis, violence or tragedy affects the schools.

Akron Public Schools and Victim Assistance are now finalizing a memorandum of understanding establishing the organization's role if a critical incident impacts Akron schools, said APS Director of Student Support Services and Security Dan Rambler.

"Victim Assistance does the kinds of things that none of us wants to have to do to help people," Rambler said. "They do so much for our community and our people."

A nonprofit, Victim Assistance has provided crisis intervention, advocacy and education in Summit County for nearly 50 years, said President & CEO Leanne Graham. It's located on Furnace Street under the All American Bridge, so tucked away that many residents and organizations don't know the organization exists.

"This is our work, day in and day out," Graham said. "What's new is that the schools will now know about us. Victim Assistance is now written into the county plan as the mental health agency that responds to any situation to address mental health needs."

Designating a central organization to work onsite at schools in emergencies is a result of a recent change in the 2018 Ohio Revised Code. It requires all schools - public and private - to include a mental-health component in the schools' Emergency Operations Plan.

Those situations can include natural disasters, mass casualties or civil unrest - any event that affects schools, said Emergency Management Agency of Summit County Senior Administrator Thomas Smoot. In those situations, Victim Assistance will work under the direction of Smoot's agency.

Staffed with a core group of experts, the Emergency Management Agency of Summit County directs large teams of volunteers who are trained to respond to several kinds of emergencies, Smoot said. Graham has served on the agency's behavioral health subcommittee for five years, and has co-chaired it since January.

Graham recently sent informational packets to more than 200 Summit County schools to notify them of the designation, introduce Victim Assistance and help schools develop their emergency plans.

Victim Assistance already works closely with the area hospitals. Local law enforcement contacts the organization regularly to assist people who are victims of crime or suffer trauma. Graham said.

In case of large-scale emergencies in schools, Victim Assistance will work onsite to support crisis teams already established in larger schools. Small schools are likely to rely solely on Victim Assistance support, she said.

Although Akron Public Schools' has a strong crisis team of psychiatrists and psychologists, Victim Assistance is a welcome resource in an emergency because the district is large and has the potential for different types of emergencies, Rambler said.

"They have expertise and certifications, and they practice doing the things the schools might need," he said. "It's such a good resource."

In June, the Summit County ADM Board brought together experts from various mental health-related organizations that interact with the schools to clarify the roles of Victim Assistance and the Emergency Management Agency of Summit County if a large-scale crisis occurs, Graham said.

"It's very reassuring to know to know how much planning and resources have been allocated in case of an emergency," she said.

In 2017, Victim Assistance provided 6,000 unique services to residents and employees across Summit County by phone, on-site or from one of its five satellite offices. The organization operates 24/7 through its hotline, as well as through new texting services.

Schools that want to partner with Victim Assistance to receive mental-health support in times of crisis should call 330-376-0040 or send an email.

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.
UPDATED

Washington



The U.S. Department of Education would get a $581 million increase in total funding, and programs for special education, career and technical education, and charter schools would also get more money, through a spending deal struck by lawmakers Thursday.

A conference committee of House and Senate members who oversee education agreed to set department spending at nearly $71.5 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2019 budget. If signed into law by President Donald Trump, it would be the second straight year that Congress agreed to boost the departments budget.

In general, the spending deal rejects the Trump administrations fiscal 2019 proposal that calls for slashing the departments overall budget, the elimination of several programs, and the creation of school choice initiatives. The budget deal does rescind $600 million in previously appropriated reserve funding for Pell Grants. If you include that figure in the calculations about decline or growth in spending, then the deal would keep Education Department funding virtually flat compared to current levels.

The agreement must now be approved by both the full House and Senate before heading for Trumps desk. However, lawmakers did not resolve a dispute over whether schools can use Every Student Succeeds Act grants to pay for firearms and firearms training. (More on that below.)

Boosts for Special Education, Charters

Here are some details from a summary of the spending agreement released by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., the House appropriations committee chairman, as well as the conference committees detailed report on individual programs :



Title I: The largest single pot of cash for K-12, which goes to disadvantaged students, gets nearly $15.9 billion, a $100 million increase.

The largest single pot of cash for K-12, which goes to disadvantaged students, gets nearly $15.9 billion, a $100 million increase. Title II: The legislation provides nearly $2.1 billion for Trumps budget proposal for fiscal 2019, released earlier this year, seeks to eliminate this program. Trumps budget proposal for fiscal 2019, released earlier this year, seeks to eliminate this program.

The legislation provides nearly $2.1 billion for Trumps budget proposal for fiscal 2019, released earlier this year, seeks to eliminate this program. Trumps budget proposal for fiscal 2019, released earlier this year, seeks to eliminate this program. Special Education: The bill includes nearly $12.4 billion for Individuals With Disabilities Education Act grants to states, an increase of nearly $87 million over the fiscal year 2018 enacted level.

The bill includes nearly $12.4 billion for Individuals With Disabilities Education Act grants to states, an increase of nearly $87 million over the fiscal year 2018 enacted level. Student Support and Academic Achievement State Grants (Title IV Part A): The bill includes $1.17 billion, or $70 million above the fiscal year 2018 level. These grants support school safety, the creation of supportive school environments, education technology, arts and civics programs, and more. Trumps budget proposal seeks to eliminate this program.

The bill includes $1.17 billion, or $70 million above the fiscal year 2018 level. These grants support school safety, the creation of supportive school environments, education technology, arts and civics programs, and more. Trumps budget proposal seeks to eliminate this program. Office for Civil Rights: The bill includes $125 million, an $8 million increase. Trumps budget would cut this program by $10 million.

The bill includes $125 million, an $8 million increase. Trumps budget would cut this program by $10 million. School Safety National Activities: The bill provides $95 million, a $5 million increase. The Trump budget proposal seeks to cut this program to $43 million.

The bill provides $95 million, a $5 million increase. The Trump budget proposal seeks to cut this program to $43 million. Charter Schools: The bill increases funding for charters by $40 million, to a total of $440 million.

The bill increases funding for charters by $40 million, to a total of $440 million. Education Innovation and Research: The bill provides $130 million, a $10 million increase.

The bill provides $130 million, a $10 million increase. 21st Century Community Learning Centers: This after-school program gets a $10 million increase in the bill, bringing funding up to just over $1.2 billion.

This after-school program gets a $10 million increase in the bill, bringing funding up to just over $1.2 billion. Impact Aid: The bill provides more than $1.4 billion for Impact Aid, an increase of $32 million above the fiscal year 2018 level. This money is earmarked for districts that are impacted by federal activities, such as military bases. The Trump budget seeks to cut this program to below $1.3 billion.

The bill provides more than $1.4 billion for Impact Aid, an increase of $32 million above the fiscal year 2018 level. This money is earmarked for districts that are impacted by federal activities, such as military bases. The Trump budget seeks to cut this program to below $1.3 billion. Career, Technical, and Adult Education: The bill provides $1.9 billion for career, technical and adult education programs, an increase of nearly $95 million over fiscal year 2018.

The bill provides $1.9 billion for career, technical and adult education programs, an increase of nearly $95 million over fiscal year 2018. Education for Homeless Children and Youth: The bill provides $93.5 million, an increase of $8.5 million.

The bill provides $93.5 million, an increase of $8.5 million. Pell Grants: The maximum award would increase by $100, up to $6,195.

The maximum award would increase by $100, up to $6,195. Head Start: The bill provides a $200 million increase, up to $10.1 billion. (Head Start is part of the Department of Health and Human Services budget, not the Education Departments.)

The bill provides a $200 million increase, up to $10.1 billion. (Head Start is part of the Department of Health and Human Services budget, not the Education Departments.) Preschool Development Grants: The bill keeps funding for these grants flat at $250 million. (These grants are part of the HHS budget.)

Trump sought to create a $1 billion opportunity grants program to support both public and private school choice. But Congress declined to fund it in the agreement. His administration had better luck with backing charter school grant increases, although Trump sought $500 million, $60 million above whats in the agreement.

Also absent from the summary and the detailed conference report is any mention of Trumps proposal to merge the Education and Labor Departmentsindeed, both departments are handled separately in both the summary and report.

Lawmakers agreed to eliminate a longstanding provision in the budget that prohibited federal money from being used for school transportation funding that aided desegregation efforts.

Fight Over Firearms

Lawmakers did not include in the agreement a ban on using ESSA money for firearms and firearms training for educators. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House subcommittee for education spending, said the failure to include this ban represented a missed opportunity to clarify that Congress never intended for federal dollars to arm teachers. She also said she understood that ESSA already banned this.

Democrats and some education advocates have implored Congress to prohibit ESSA funds from being used for guns, following reports that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos planned to allow Title IV Part A money to be spent on firearms. DeVos said she would take no position on money being used that way, and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee, has said the question is ultimately up to states and districts.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., the chairman of the House subcommittee that controls federal education spending, said he agreed with DeLauro that ESSA money could not be used for guns. Its already against the law, he said. I think its pretty clear, if you read the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Asked about the position taken by DeVos and Alexander, Cole responded that if they pushed the issue, I think theyd find themselves in court immediately.

However, Cole added that including a ban on using ESSA money on guns in the spending bill would have slowed down and complicated the appropriations process. And he said that ESSA aside, he doesnt object if states and districts seek to arm school staff.

Congress is trying to pass bills funding the federal government and get them signed by Trump before Oct. 1otherwise the government will shut down on that date.

Photo: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, speaks during a Town Hall meeting in Moore, Okla. Sue Ogrocki/AP-File

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
There is a growing storm of outrage against our president over both his style and performance in office. Increasingly he appears bigoted, amoral, ill-informed, incompetent and recklessly impulsive. He is anti-trade, hostile to independent media, admiring of dictators and contemptuous toward leaders of friendly democratic governments. He is erratic and lies incessantly.



No good can come of this as it seems clear that he will not change. He has practically destroyed the State Department and continually attacks our intelligence community, the FBI, the Department of Justice and our judiciary. He ignores the Russian cyber attack on our 2016 election, which continues as the 2018 election rapidly approaches. He is abetted in this by the Republican congressional leadership, which blocks a comprehensive upgrade in our cyber defenses.



Unless the Republican-controlled Congress begins protecting the country, the fairness of the mid-term election remains uncertain. Regardless of party, we all should pressure Congress to protect our democracy from Russian cyber attack. The Republican Party should cooperate before it morphs from the party of Lincoln and Roosevelt into the party of Donald Trump. By refusing to place country ahead of party, the GOP risks a lemming-like rush to oblivion.



J. M. Houlahan,

Worthington
CLEVELAND, Ohio - It's been almost three years since Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish unveiled a series of bail reforms designed to make the justice system more fair and less costly.

Since then these three things have happened:

The Pretrial Justice Institute in Washington, D.C.,

The Cuyahoga County Bail Task Force

And most recently, county officials created the

But as far as putting any actual reforms into action, little has been accomplished and there is no timetable for getting things done.

To be fair, it's not a simple process. Bail reform means getting 34 common pleas judges and 30 more judges in 13 municipal courts on the same page, along with court administrators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police and various pretrial and probation service providers.

There also are the questions of funding and technical support that need to be worked out.

"The process is complicated," said Shaker Heights Municipal Judge K.J. Montgomery. "We're not building a new house. We're remodeling an old house."

What is the next step?

The executive committee of the newly formed Criminal Justice Council will meet Sept. 21 to set an agenda for the council's first full meeting in October.

The executive committee also will determine which bail reform recommendations should be priorities, said John J. Russo, presiding and administrative judge for Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Those priorities that meet the council's approval will be turned over to a task force to see if they can be implemented.

Russo emphasizes that the council has no authority to force courts or judges to do anything.

What are the task force recommendations?

There are several:

All bail hearings to be held within 48 hours of arrest.

Judges should evaluate defendants with the help of a risk assessment that predicts the likelihood of a suspect failing to appear in court or committing a crime if released.

Pretrial services should be extended beyond the Common Pleas Court and into the county's 13 municipal courts. Those services include supervision of defendants, electronic monitoring and treatment for substance abuse. The rationale is that judges with such resources at their disposal are more likely to release a suspect without requiring them to post a bond that in many cases the defendant cannot afford.

A central location should be established for conducting all municipal court bail hearings to provide greater consistency and efficiency. Defendants could connect to the court

The municipal courts and Common Pleas Court should develop a system for collecting data so that bail reforms can be evaluated for their effectiveness.

A regional coordinator should be appointed to oversee pretrial and bail reforms

All Common Pleas and municipal court judges should receive training on best practices for bail and pretrial release.

What recommendations have the highest priority?

Russo expects the Pretrial Justice Institute will provide training to all judges in the county on the use of risk assessments to assist with setting bail.

He expects that training will occur in November. Cleveland Municipal Court judges already uses a risk assessment developed by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

But the judge declined to further discuss what he thinks the executive committee will recommend.

Have there been any reforms to date?

Yes.

Substantive changes have occurred in Cleveland Municipal Court, where judges now release non-violent offenders without bail and are using an evidence-based method (the Arnold Foundation tool) to evaluate higher-risk defendants to see if they can safely be released.

The Municipal Court also is hiring up to ten people to run a pretrial services department that will supervise released misdemeanor defendants and rely on Oriana House for the necessary monitoring equipment and services.

The extra resources will give judges more flexibility when making bail decisions and allow for more defendants to be released pending trial.

For example, someone who might remain in jail on a high bond might be released on their signature if the judge can impose a schedule of monitoring, treatment or supervision.

The city of Cleveland provided $250,000 to fund the pretrial services department through the end of the year, said Michelle Earley, presiding and administrative judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court. The court will track the number of defendants who fail to appear in court or commit crimes while on release, as well as the amount of time defendants spent in jail compared to before pretrial services were offered. This will help determine the effectiveness of the bail reforms.

Will Cleveland Municipal Court extend pretrial services to felony defendants?

No. At least not now.

Cleveland Municipal judges will set bond for felony defendants before they are transferred to Common Pleas Court, but those defendants, unlike those charged with misdemeanors, will not be eligible to receive pretrial services from the municipal court.

"Our period of time with the felony defendants is very small," Earley said, after which they are under the jurisdiction of the county.

After the defendants are turned over to Common Pleas Court, they will be placed on a "first appearance docket," which was recently created so that the defendants can have their bond reviewed more quickly and to make sure they have an attorney. At this point, a judge may utilize the pretrial services provided by the Court of Common Pleas to place defendants on supervision or into a treatment program of some kind.

Should pretrial services be extended to felony defendants appearing in all 13 of the county's municipal courts?

That's the recommendation of the Cuyahoga County Bail Task Force, but when that might happen is anybody's guess. If municipal court judges have pretrial services at their disposal, they might be able to release more felony defendants on signature bonds that do not require any money to be posted. Otherwise, defendants transferred to Common Pleas Court from a municipal court may wait days in jail before they appear before a Common Pleas judge to have their bail reviewed or an attorney appointed.

Parma Municipal Court Judge Ken Spanagel believes the county should step forward immediately to extend pretrial services to felony defendants in the municipal courts to maximize the benefits of bail reform.

Russo agrees with Spanagel that pretrial services made available soon after arrest would be positive step, but he's not prepared to put a timetable on when that should occur.

The funding would have to be worked out, Russo said, and it's not clear where the money might come from. Russo has previously pointed the finger at Budish because he controls the county purse-strings, but he said municipalities could also be called on to foot the bill.

Budish has said he likes the concept, but that hes waiting to hear from the Criminal Justice Council before making any commitments.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Earlier this year, it looked like Cleveland's much-publicized Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools had stalled.

State test scores had stayed basically flat three years in a row. And district scores on a key national test also showed no real gains, just a district stuck in a narrow score range for a decade.

This year's state report card broke that pattern. Cleveland students improved their test scores and narrowed the gap between them and the state average. Cleveland scores are also close to overtaking Columbus, the state's largest district.

Even with the district receiving an overall F grade, the district's "Performance Index," a composite of all state tests for multiple grade levels, increased a little more than the state average this year. That bumped the district's state grade for Achievement - essentially for overall test scores - from an F to a D.

Cleveland didn't pass any more districts than on last year's report cards, coming in with the 7th-worst test scores in Ohio. That's still better than the 2nd-worst results in Ohio in 2012 when the Cleveland plan and a tax levy were passed. The district is also still ahead of other big cities like Dayton and Youngstown, who the district passed last year.

Its scores are also right behind Columbus - less than one percent lower - thanks to Cleveland gains and Columbus struggles.

District CEO Eric Gordon said he thinks his district can pass Columbus and others.

"Absolutely we can," he said. "Our goal has always been to catch up and surpass our urban peers. Our goal is to catch up and surpass our Northeast Ohio peers."

He attributed this year's gains to focusing on math and literacy in the middle grades more, after paying more attention to high schools and early grades before.

"We've gotten more laser-focused on a few things that we knew, if we beared down on, we could move," he said.

He also said a few other areas measured on state report cards, beyond just overall test scores, were close to gains that would have bumped the district's overall grade to a D. Though the district scored a D in achievement, it's F in other report card areas like growth and preparing kids for college and careers dragged the overall grade down.

Gordon will discuss the results and other issues facing the district at his annual State of the Schools address from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in Public Square.

Because the state has changed its tests and scoring system twice since 2012, we can't just compare test scores from year to year. For the last few years, The Plain Dealer has instead been using a statistical measure called z-scores to compare Cleveland's progress to the state average that year.

The bars in the chart below show how far behind the state Cleveland scored each year, with longer bars showing a larger score gap and shorter bars showing a smaller one.

You can see that Cleveland made some immediate gains after passing the plan and levy in 2012, then had little change for three years, before making another jump this year.

On mobile, use the gray scroll bar at the right of the bars to see the full chart.

This chart offers a look at how Cleveland has fared compared to the rest of the Ohio 8 coalition of the state's large urban districts. Note that other districts go up and down, while Cleveland has remained at least steady, with no drops in scores since 2012.

Note also how close Cleveland is scoring compared to Columbus.

On mobile, use the gray scroll bar at the right of the bars to see the full chart.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A majority of people who spoke against a proposed Commission on Human Rights that would fight discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity cited fears that advocates of the commission say are unfounded.

Many centered their objections around transgender women being able to use women's restrooms, including several local pastors and restaurateur Tony George, who said he and other Cuyahoga County business owners would move their establishments elsewhere if the legislation passes.

They were part of a crowd of 33 speakers on Wednesday in what officials said was one of the largest turn-outs yet for public comment at a Cuyahoga County Council meeting. The proposed legislation was not on the meeting agenda and is not expected to be voted on until Sept. 25.

The proposed ordinance, sponsored by County Executive Armond Budish along with councilmembers Dan Brady, Michael Houser, Dale Miller and Sunny Simon, does not speak directly to bathroom use.

Rather, it offers protections to people on the basis of the already-protected classes of race, color, religion, military status, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, familial status or sex, and adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to that list. The protections target equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations.

If someone believes they were discriminated against, they would be able take that complaint to the Cuyahoga County Commission on Human Rights, which could level civil penalties, injunctive relief and attorney fees if it finds discrimination did occur.

Several speakers at Wednesday's meeting read more into the proposed legislation. They said that passing the ordinance would allow transgender people to assault others in public restrooms, and would lead to men claiming they are women just to gain access to restrooms.

But Michael King, special counsel to County Council, tried to allay those concerns in a cleveland.com interview. The legislation doesn't require unisex restrooms, it doesn't let anyone make disingenuous claims about their gender identity just to get into a restroom, and it doesn't invalidate long-standing sexual assault laws, King said.

"If you are proprietor of place of public accommodation, [under this legislation] you would have to allow people to use the restroom in conformity with their personal gender identity. This is something that would have to be closely held to their own personal gender identity," King said.

The public comments came on the same day that researchers at UCLA released a first-of-its-kind study that found that Massachusetts' public accommodation nondiscrimination law, which includes gender identity, did not affect the number of criminal incidents in restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms. It also found that reports of privacy or safety violations in those places are exceedingly rare.

While religious objections and bathroom safety arguments seemed to be the focus of the 21 people who spoke against the legislation, others said it would be bad for business, and some said they would prefer if the county worked on other things like economic development or road repairs. And Brooklyn City Council President Ron Van Kirk called the initiative "drastic overreach" and a "violation of home rule."

County officials said the showing may have amounted to the largest number of people to publicly comment at a County Council meeting, rivaled only by last year's large turnout for discussion of The Q transformation.

The Republican Party of Cuyahoga County issued an Aug. 29 statement in which it, along with Ohio Values Voters Inc., opposed the legislation. The release encouraged members to attend the Wednesday meeting to "actively oppose" it.

The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party denounced that statement two days later, and encouraged its members to attend the meeting as well.

Eleven people spoke in favor of the legislation on Wednesday, including members of the LGBTQ community, the parents of a transgender child, Gwen Stembridge of Equality Ohio, and Susan Becker, general counsel for the ACLU of Ohio.

"This is not a war on religion. Many people of faith are fierce advocates of LGBTQ equality, and those who are not will not be any way affected by this ordinance in terms of practicing their religion," Becker told council. "It's a very small step toward creating a county, a community, in which everyone, including LGBT persons, are treated equally and fairly. Meaning that everyone, including LGBT people, can go to work, rent an apartment, go grocery shopping...without worry about being treating unfairly or...being denied services."

Kevin Schmotzer, the city of Cleveland's first LGBTQ liaison, likened the arguments against the legislation to those made during earlier fights for civil rights for women and black people. And he noted that business-based opposition to the initiative did not make sense, citing the $3.76 billion that North Carolina lost when it passed a bathroom bill in 2017.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County probation officer is accused of dealing drugs from her home.

Lisa Heathfield, 48, is charged with aggravated drug trafficking. She entered no plea Thursday at her first court appearance and she subsequently posted 10 percent of a $15,000 bond.

A man, Luis Espada, also 48, is also charged with aggravated drug trafficking and possessing weapons with a felony record. Espada's bond was also set at $15,000. He remains in the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Both were arrested Wednesday after Cleveland police's Second District vice unit raided their home in the city's Old Brooklyn neighborhood, police said.

They're both accused of selling cocaine, court records say. Detectives wrote in court records they found the drug packaged for sale and two handguns in the home.

Heathfield's defense attorney, Gary Levine, declined to comment on the case. But he said Heathfield is a disabled Navy veteran with no prior criminal history.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court spokesman Darren Toms said the court is aware of Heathfield's arrest, but declined to comment further.

Espada was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in 1991. He was one of five people charged in connection with the August 1990 shooting death of Luis Molina in Cleveland, but was the only one that was convicted of the crime.

Molina, 28, was sitting in a car with another man on Aug. 11, 1990. Espada walked up to the car, the men spoke and he fired several shots into the car, killing Molina and wounding his 30-year-old passenger, according to Plain Dealer archives and court records.

Police at the time called it a drug-related shooting.

Espada also has a prior convictions for felonious assault, aggravated assault and drug trafficking in the early 1990s.

His most recent conviction happened in 2013, when he pleaded guilty to drug possession.
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - East Cleveland's school board and superintendent are about to lose control over the school district.

Thanks to a 2015 state law and the district's overall F on new state report cards, a new group called an "academic distress commission" will soon be taking over. That commission will name a new schools CEO who will then step in, create a school improvement plan and carry it out.

East Cleveland will be the third district in Ohio to face this form of state takeover, following Youngstown and Lorain, both of whom have drawn community opposition and seen mixed results so far.

From the state's perspective - particularly of Gov. John Kasich and his staff - schools that have repeatedly poor results need intervention and outside help so that students can be better educated.

"We all share the same interest first and foremost," said State Superintendent Paolo DeMaria. "And that's helping the students of that community get the best education they possibly can."

While he knows that it may not be popular, DeMaria hopes school, city and community leaders will all try to cooperate on a plan, something that hasn't fully happened in Lorain and happened even less in Youngstown.

"Collaboration has to emerge," DeMaria said. "Running a school district is not a one-person show. It takes lots of people working together."

East Cleveland Superintendent Myna Loy Corley objects to intervention by the state, saying the district has made improvements, that the district has been hurt by changes to state tests and that officials statewide are losing confidence in how distress commissions work.

The state legislature has ordered a study of them, but it is not due until next year, so state plans may have to change here right after they start.

In addition, though DeMaria and the state school board just created a state education plan that relies less on state test scores to judge districts, the state still relies on tests to determine report card grades and mandate state intervention.

Corlery noted that one of the biggest complaints about report cards is that tests repeatedly favor affluent districts over poor ones. Multiple studies, some by The Plain Dealer, show that test scores in Ohio are consistently higher in schools with higher income.

For a district like East Cleveland, whose income and socioeconomic challenges rank at or near Ohio's worst, depending on the study, that's a big issue.

"If the tests are flawed, the Academic Distress Commission takeover is flawed," Corley said in a press release. "If the current system is not fair and not sufficiently meaningful, how can it result in loss of local control?"

She said many other urban districts also received F grades on new report cards.

"This should be extremely concerning to any person seeing these results," she said.

State Rep. Kent Smith, a Euclid Democrat who tried to pass legislation to halt state intervention earlier this year, called the plan "ridiculous public policy" and a "Columbus knows best" approach that undermined Democracy and elected school boards.

"I don't think East Cleveland deserves a state takeover if you look at the substantial challenges they face and the substantial progress that they have made," Smith said.

The Warrensville Heights school district, along with the Trotwood-Madison schools near Dayton, were also in danger of falling into academic distress. But both improved scores enough to earn overall D grades and avoid intervention.

"The district's strategic plan is working," said Warrensville Heights Superintendent Donald Jolly, who took over in 2015. "While there is room for improvement, the scores reflect the hard work of the district's scholars and dedicated staff."

Here's how the Academic Distress process works, under state law:

The new Commission will have five members appointed in 30 days, three appointed by the state superintendent, one by the city's mayor and a teacher appointed by the school board.

The state superintendent appoints the chair of the commission.

The commission then has 60 days to appoint a CEO who will be paid by the state and have "complete operational, managerial, and instructional control of the district."

The CEO will convene a community panel to advise him on a new educational plan for the district, which is due 90 days after he/she is appointed.

The CEO has broad powers to overrule parts of union contracts, create charter schools or other schools for parents to choose, and overhaul schools by replacing staff. Those powers increase as time passes without improved ratings on report cards.

Click here for the law spelling out all of the CEO's powers.

Whether the law is working is unclear, based on test scores.

The chart below shows how the scores of East Cleveland, Lorain and Youngstown have changed relative to state average scores over the last several years. Because state tests and grading systems have changed, scores themselves don't show much. This chart instead looks at whether schools are improving relative to trhe rest of the state, regardless of test.

Note that the downward bars all show proportionally how far below state average each district scores. Longer bars indicate much lower scores and short ones show scores much closer to state average.

Cleveland is included because it would have been declared in academic distress in 2012 if it did not pass its own school improvement plan first. Warrensville Heights is included because it narrowly avoided state control with the new report cards.

Note that Lorain, which just went into Academic Distress last fall, increased its scores a significant amount this last school year. But with the commission, CEO and academic plan so new, it is hard to say they made a difference.

Youngstown, though, has seen scores fall from its 2015 and 2016 levels.

East Cleveland's results have been mixed over the last few years, while Warrensville has shown a steady climb upward, other than a terrible showing in 2015.

Be sure to use the scroll bar under the chart to see results on the far right.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Controversial scholar Illan Pappe will discuss his views on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Friday.

The discussion, held at the City Club of Cleveland, will focus on how Zionism shaped Israel and its cultural institutions. Pappe, a pro-Palestinian activist, is originally from Israel.

He's now a history professor and director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter in England. Pappe moved to England after his views on Zionism and Palestine caused uproar in his home country, where public officials called for his resignation and he received numerous death threats.

Cleveland.com will cover the event. Watch live in the video player above at 12:30 p.m. to watch the discussion.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Even before Ilan Pappe, Ph.D., took the stage at the City Club of Cleveland on Friday, board president Robyn Minter Smyers addressed the community's objections to his appearance.

"While we have received some favorable feedback, respected community leaders, valued civic partners and members of the community have raised serious objections," Minter Smyers said, adding that some have characterized Pappe's writings and speech as anti-Israel, anti-Semitic and hate speech.

Pappe was in Cleveland this week to bring a message about why Israelis, Jewish-Americans and the international community at large should question "the idea of Israel," the title of his talk.

"The most important part of my biography, I think, is that I was born in Israel in 1954," Pappe said. "My parents escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s, and both my mother and my father lost most of their relatives in the Holocaust."

Pappe's Israeli identity is incredibly important to him, and by extension, his scholarship and activism, he said.

"Do you agree that Palestinians were expelled from Palestine? Do you agree that Israel systematically abuses Palestinian rights on the ground? Do you agree that, as Jewish persons, we should do all we can to ground the Palestinians equal rights? That's the issue," Pappe said in response to a question from the audience.

When he was interrupted during that response, Pappe said, "My dear friend, I did not interrupt you. This is not Israel here. I am entitled to finish my sentence."

Pappe likened the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to episodes from American history.

"In America, you fought each other in a bloody civil war," Pappe said. "Nobody came after the Civil War and said, 'Because of the Civil War, we have no chance of living together.' Believe me, whatever Palestinians did to Israelis and Israelis did to Palestinians, it does not compare at all to what you guys did to each other in the 19th century."

Pappe also discussed how Israel was founded on land where people were already living, similar to America.

"Well you know what people did here when they found someone else living (here)," he said. "You genocided the natives of America. As did the Australians, as did the people of New Zealand, as did, to a certain extent, the people who moved from Europe to certain parts of Africa."

The tensions in the audience were merely a microcosm of the controversy sparked throughout Northeast Ohio surrounding Pappe's appearances. In addition to the City Club, Pappe also spoke at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University and Kent State University, the City Club said.

"We are saddened that the City Club would allow its civic platform to be co-opted by an anti-Semitic ideologue who seeks to delegitimize and demonize Israel," the Jewish Federation of Cleveland said last week in a statement.

"Sadly, when speakers like Pappe find a platform at the City Club and at local universities, it is a painful reminder that our work to bridge cultural divides and foster mutual respect is far from done," the Federation said.

In a response to such criticism, City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop released a statement last week in which he harkened back to the institution's "commitment to celebrating, exercising and honoring freedom of speech, expression and academic inquiry."

"We have heard perspectives on Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Jordan and Libya, Gaza and the West Bank, and though there have been many speakers, none has brought Pappe's point of view, that of an Israeli Jew, living more or less in exile, deeply critical of his homeland," Moulthrop wrote.

Pappe currently lives in England where he teaches history and directs the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter. He moved to England after his views on Zionism and Palestine caused uproar in Israel where public officials called for his resignation and he received numerous death threats.

"We will not be able to get the Israelis, who have privileges, to allow the Palestinians to have equal rights, which they have been robbed of in the last 100 years," Pappe said.

"A way of doing it without the bloodshed, without war and without violence... I really feel that there's no other way but putting strong external pressure on Israel through the boycott and divestment and sanction (BDS) movement," he said.

The Anti-Defamation League released a statement Friday afternoon criticizing Pappe's talk at the City Club.

"Pappe's offensive views, which include support for the BDS movement and a rejection of Israel as a Jewish state, make him unfit to be a balanced and objective presenter on these issues," said ADL Cleveland regional director Jeremy Pappas.

Pappas said the ADL met with the City Club earlier this week to express its opposition to his appearance.

"We highlighted Pappe's long history of anti-Israel and anti-Zionist views, and indeed, during his City Club speech today, Pappe was candidly open about his disturbing positions of Israel, stating, 'Creation of the state of Israel was an act of ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of Palestine.'"

However, some audience members and community organizations believe Pappe's criticism of Israel does not necessitate anti-Semitism or hate speech. Community partners for his talk included Cleveland Jewish Voice for Peace, Cleveland Peace Action, Interfaith Peace-Builders, the Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle East Studies, the Department of History at Case Western Reserve University and the Middle Eastern Studies Program at Cleveland State University.

Ted Steinberg is the Adeline Barry Davee Distinguished Professor of History at Case Western Reserve University and co-leader of Cleveland Jewish Voices for Peace.

"The plight of the Palestinians is one of the greatest oppressions in modern history," Steinberg said in a statement. "Pappe is fighting back against this horrible abuse and mistreatment with evidence-based arguments. That's what his talk at the City Club was about. Unfortunately, many in Cleveland's Jewish community don't like his message, so they want to shoot the messenger."

Steinberg said that criticism from the Jewish Federation and others does not refute "Pappe's claims about the expulsion and continued abuse of the Palestinians with logic and evidence," but rather, it tries to "distract people by calling Pappe an anti-Semite and a hater. He is neither," Steinberg said.

Regardless of differences in opinion, the atmosphere in the crowd Friday was amicable, especially during Pappe's more light-hearted moments. The audience shared in laughter when someone's iPhone marimba ringtone interrupted Pappe's talk and he said, "If it's my mother, tell her everything's okay."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Robbers attacked a 69-year-old man from Minnesota and his 71-year-old wife as they walked from their bed-and-breakfast hotel.

The woman said in a phone interview that she and her husband are taking a road trip from their home in Brooklynn Park, Minnesota to Canada and marked Cleveland as a stop so they could see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The two went to dinner Tuesday at a restaurant on West 25th Street and were walking back about 9 p.m. to their bed-and-breakfast hotel about a half-mile away.

The woman said she walked by two men on West 28th Street near Franklin Boulevard who were walking the other way. The two robbers turned around and attacked the two from behind, according to police reports and the woman.

One robbers shoved the man to the ground and repeatedly twisted his arm so he was unable to get up. The man fought with the robber but to no avail, police reports say.

The other grabbed the woman's purse and the two engaged in a tug-of-war until the robber ripped it from her grasp, causing the woman to fall to the ground, she said.

"They ran off and my husband ran after them, but I yelled at him to stop," the woman said. "I didn't see a gun, but I was afraid that he could be hurt more if they had a weapon."

No arrests have been made in the case but the woman said Cleveland police detectives have already followed up with them several times as the couple continues their road trip.

To comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments page.
GROVE CITY, Ohio -- A high school band director is facing charges after he reportedly admitted to receiving nude photos of a student.

Keith Hallas, 40, of Grandview Heights, who teaches at Central Crossing High School, has been charged with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony, the Dispatch reports.

A criminal complaint filed in Franklin County Municipal Court says the student was 17 years old, according to 10tv.com.

The incident occurred in May 2016, ABC 6 reports.

The Dispatch reports Hallas has been placed on administrative leave and is being held in jail. He is scheduled to appear in court this morning.
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Considering that most districts received a C on the recently released Ohio Department of Education 2017-2018 Ohio School Report Card, Olmsted Falls City Schools' grade of B would normally elicit a positive response.

However, Superintendent Jim Lloyd said he has no interest in giving credence to the state's accountability system, which is heavily reliant on standardized tests.

"We really don't care about the Report Card at all," Lloyd said. "Maybe when you do the right things, some of those things take care of themselves, I guess.

"But even if I were to talk to you about any grades on there, honestly, it would provide evidence that I'm even interested or it's a good idea to even use. So I don't even want to do that," he said.

Olmsted Falls City Schools' recently released School Report Card includes related component grades: Achievement (C), Gap Closing (A), Graduation (A), Progress (B), Improving at-risk K-3 readers (A) and Prepared for Success (C).

Despite the fact that the Report Card carries no weight in Lloyd's mind, he did admit to examining the data.

"I don't use it at all to direct anything that we do," Lloyd said. "I tell our folks to not rely on the metrics that are in there, because I don't feel good about their accuracy and reliability. I don't think that's what our focus is.

"I had a meeting with the principals and I didn't talk about the Report Card with them and what our results were. In fact, if anything, I said we are talking about the goals and objectives I set with the board, and how I'm evaluated based on the implementation of the strategic plan," he said.

The district's strategic plan includes four areas of focus: student success, technology enabled, aligned funding and resources, and community partnerships.

"I don't think there is anything in Ohio's Report Card that helps to inspire and empower Olmsted Falls students," Lloyd said. "So, as a result, I don't use it. I don't look at it. I rely on those things that are important that my community says that they want to hear about. That's what we do."

That's the same message Lloyd will be giving next month when he speaks at the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Conference in Columbus.

Specifically, he'll be talking about the Olmsted Falls City Schools' approach to strategic planning taking precedence over the state's accountability system.

"What I'm trying to do is really work with my colleagues who are leaders in other districts to try to tell our stories in different ways," Lloyd said.

"I'm going to talk about how to tell your district's story using a balanced scorecard like we have, because I think that's a better way to do it."
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A state commission found a new carnival ride provider for the Ohio State Fair, after a fatality last year on a thrill ride.

Talley Amusements of Fort Worth, Texas received a four-year contract - beginning next year - to provide rides.

"Talley Amusements is a rising star in the amusement business," Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler said in a statement. "Talley's commitment to safety, ride maintenance and quality, and professionalism contributed to the company receiving the highest score in our robust selection process."

For the past 26 years, Amusements of America provided the Ohio State Fair's rides.

On July 26, 2017, the Fire Ball broke apart mid-air -- killing Tyler Jarrell, 18, of Columbus.

Seven other people were injured -- including Jennifer Lambert, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and recently died, although her attorney said her death may not have been related to the Fire Ball incident.

Investigators for the ride's manufacturer determined excessive corrosion was to blame for the Fireball accident.

Jarrell's family reached a nearly $1.3 million settlement with Amusements of America and two private ride inspection companies, according to reports. After attorneys' fees and funeral costs, the family was left with $870,000.

Lambert and other victims also received a settlement, reports said.

In February, the state asked amusement companies for proposals to provide fair rides. Five companies replied - including Amusements of America, according to the state fair.

Amusements of America was one of the top three finalists and was invited to Columbus to make a presentation in May.

Companies were judged on a number of criteria, including quality of rides and games and operation and management philosophies and policies. The state reviewed all general liability claims.

A state selection team visited carnivals that were being run by the finalists to "view and evaluate rides, record-keeping and operational procedures," according to the fair's statement.

Talley Amusements is excited to work in Ohio, its president Tom Talley said.

"Our commitment to the people of Ohio and the State Fair is to provide a destination experience, while continuing to set establishing industry best-practices for safety and quality," he said.

In May, Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation that would toughen amusement ride inspections.

House Bill 641, Tyler's Law, is being vetted by a House committee.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former President Barack Obama had a simple message - and goal - at his Thursday night rally in Cleveland: taking back Ohio.

The visit was to promote Democrat Richard Cordray for governor, the man Obama chose as the country's top consumer watchdog. But it also served as a direct challenge to Republican President Donald Trump, a years-long feud that's been brewing since Obama's first election in 2008.

"This is not normal what we're seeing in our politics," Obama said.

Around 3,000 people packed the blazing-hot gymnasium of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District East Professional Center, with a further 1,250 in overflow, on East 79th Street for a glimpse at Obama, who hadn't appeared on the campaign trail until recently.

Unlike the collegial, wonkish Obama from his time in the White House, this was campaign Obama. It was the sort of speech that made him famous during his meteoric rise from being an unknown state senator from Illinois to being the chief executive of the country.

And he had Republicans in his crosshairs.

"What we've seen is a politics that feels broken right now," Obama said. "Even the folks who won don't seem happy. Have you noticed that? They won the presidency, they won the House they won the Senate, and they're still mad. Which is interesting."

Cordray's foe in the election, Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine, also received a targeted attack. The president rebuked DeWine for suing to upend the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature legislation more commonly known as Obamacare, at the beginning of his tenure as attorney general.

DeWine eventually flipped his position and said he supported the Medicaid expansion portion of Obamacare.

"And (DeWine) can't get his story straight about Medicaid," Obama said. "What's so confusing? If somebody won't fight for your health care as a senator, he won't fight for your health care as attorney general. And if he won't fight for your health care as attorney general, how can you trust him to fight for your health care in the great State of Ohio?"

The entire program was an exercise in rallying the base and getting Cordray next to the president, though Cordray wasn't the only candidate angling to share the stage with Obama. Congressional candidate Aftab Pureval, Secretary of State candidate Kathleen Clyde and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown all made pitches to voters.

But Obama's speech in the heart of Cleveland served as a shot across the bow to Trump and other Republicans.

The Cordray-DeWine race was already one of the most hotly-contested gubernatorial matchups in the country, but Obama's visit brings another dynamic and national implications going into the midterms and 2020.

Trump, who won by a wider margin and with more votes in Ohio than either time Obama ran, has staked his claim on the pivotal presidential swing state, with frequent visits and a reshaping of the Ohio Republican Party in his own image.

But Obama is looking to retake ground in midwestern states 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lost to the Republicans. That he came to Ohio as one of his first stops on the midterm campaign trail only proves the keen interest he and other Democrats have in proving their mettle in states like Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Obama's popularity has increased from the time he left office with a nearly 60 percent approval rating. He's mostly stayed out of the political limelight.

It's a calculated measure to come back on the scene at a time when Trump's approval ratings have sunk back down into the 30s, lower than any president at this time in his administration since Democrat Bill Clinton in 1994.

The placement of the rally in St. Clair-Superior was no accident either. Minority voter turnout shrunk significantly in 2016, one of the reasons for Trump's more than 8-point victory over Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

"I have one simple message: Vote. Vote. Vote," Obama said before the crowd started chanting the word themselves.

The public showing in a state that overwhelmingly supported Trump could backfire. While well-regarded since leaving office, Obama drew divisive opinions while he occupied the White House. His presence in a race that's among the closest in the country could energize Trump supporters who otherwise may have stayed home on Nov. 6.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken said a strong economy and the 2016 election results show voters are disenchanted with Democratic policies.

"Obama can't take credit for the economy. Republicans should take credit for the economy," Timken said on a conference call with reporters. "As I said, the Democrats want to tout their economic policies, but I think you see that overwhelmingly in 2016, voters in Ohio rejected those policies. They knew that they weren't working for them."

Jon Husted, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, said during the same call DeWine's campaign would gladly welcome Trump back to the state to campaign with them through general election.
Rotunda Rumblings

Obama in campaign mode: Former President Barack Obama came to Cleveland Thursday night to pound home a message to an enthusiastic crowd: vote, vote, vote. Obama, who spoke in a hot gymnasium at a rally on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Richard Cordray and running mate Betty Sutton, also used the event to lay down a direct challenge to Republican President Donald Trump, writes cleveland.com's Seth Richardson in an analysis. Cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias covered the event live and has a recap.

Medical marijuana audit: Ohio Auditor Dave Yost released a long-anticipated audit of the process for awarding medical marijuana grow licenses. Cleveland.com's Jackie Borchardt writes that in addition to identifying scoring errors and inconsistencies, the audit concluded the Ohio Department of Commerce violated state law when it awarded two additional licenses to rectify scoring mistakes. The agency disagrees with Yost's conclusion.



Hemp carpet in Cleveland? Ty Williams, a financial and business consultant, shared his plan Thursday for a facility to manufacture hemp building products, clothing and even CBD Oil in a struggling neighborhood in Cleveland. Cleveland.com's Laura Hancock has details of his business proposal.



Counsel's argument: Ohio State Bar Association President Robin Weaver said in a Thursday statement the organization opposes Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment that reduces criminal penalties for some drug crimes if the accused participates in treatment. Weaver said the proposal would take away power from judges.



On the other side: The ACLU of Ohio threw its support behind Issue 1 on Thursday, arguing the measure would redirect dollars from prison to drug addiction treatment for individuals convicted of low-level drug crimes. "Ohio has a bad habit of relying on mass incarceration to attempt to solve every issue in our society, and Issue 1 will divert thousands of people back into community-based programs where they belong," Jocelyn Rosnick, policy director for the ACLU of Ohio, said in a news release.



Fact check: U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's latest attack against Democratic rival Aftab Pureval doesn't hold up to scrutiny, PolitiFact's Stephen Koff finds. Chabot's TV ad asserts that "Aftab's lying about his office's $400,000 projected deficit." Koff explains why he rates that claim as false.



CLF renews Aftab attacks: The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC with ties to House GOP leaders, has launched two more TV attack ads against Pureval. The ads, part of an ongoing $1.2 million ad buy, go after Pureval for working for a D.C. lobbying firm and a report suggesting his congressional campaign illegally used $30,000 from his clerk of courts campaign account. One of the ads, "Smooth Operator," features Pureval showing off his moves on the dance floor.



AG TV: Ohio TV viewers are about to see a lot of the two nominees for Ohio attorney general in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Democratic nominee Steve Dettelbach's campaign has reserved more than $2.5 million in TV ads between Oct. 16 and Nov. 5, according to campaign manager Ian Moskowitz. So far, GOP nominee Dave Yost's campaign hasn't reserved any ad time, though campaign spokesman Carlo LoParo said to expect a similarly-sized TV buy in the final weeks of the race. The Republican Attorneys General Association has also reserved $1.4 million worth of ad time on Yost's behalf.



Statehouse favorites: Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT rights group, released its full list of Ohio legislative endorsements on Thursday. The list, which consists entirely of Democratic candidates, includes Louise Valentine in Senate District 19, Mary Lightbody in House District 19, Beth Liston in House District 21, Allison Russo in House District 24, Casey Weinstein in House District 37, Jeremy Blake in House District 71, and Taylor Sappington in House District 94. HRC previously endorsed Senate District 23 Democratic nominee Nickie Antonio.



Paula Hicks-Hudson's husband dies: Freeman Hudson, the husband of the ex-Toledo Mayor and Ohio House District 44 Democratic nominee, passed away following a months-long illness, the Toledo Blade reports. Hudson, who married Hicks-Hudson in 1973, "stayed out of the political spotlight that shone on his wife," according to the Blade.



Award of the court: Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor on Thursday was named the 2018 recipient of the Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence.



Allegations resurface: "A new political website has sprung up, appropriating the 'Me Too' movement to attack Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown over allegations stemming from his 1986 divorce," cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias reports. Brown's ex-wife called the website "disgusting," while his opponent, Republican Rep. Jim Renacci, said, "Ohioans deserve to know all the facts." The website has the hallmarks of a "dark money" political group, Tobias reports.



Dems feeling confident: Democrats are predicting that they could flip as many as seven seats in Ohio on their way to retaking the U.S. House, cleveland.com's Sabrina Eaton reports. The lofty prediction came from Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Ben Ray Lujan, who said Democrats will talk to voters about health care and other "kitchen table and pocketbook issues" rather than focus on President Donald Trump.



Learn all you can: Patrick O'Donnell of The Plain Dealer and Rich Exner, cleveland.com's data expert, have everything you need to know about Ohio's 2018 school report cards, which were released Thursday. O'Donnell also has a look at the school districts that scored best and worst in Ohio.



Politics and government: The Associated Press reports that an ad firm that did work for Richard Cordray when he was the top federal consumer watchdog is now doing work for the Democrat's gubernatorial campaign.



The opioid epidemic and the labor force: "The opioid crisis poses major challenges to small businesses in Ohio as employers in rural and urban areas alike have trouble finding workers who can pass drug tests, the director of Cleveland State University's Ohio Small Business Development center on Thursday told a congressional committee," Eaton writes for cleveland.com. The committee, chaired by Cincinnati-area Republican Steve Chabot, will explore how to help small businesses help their workers.

Full Disclosure



Five things we learned from Philip Robinson's April 9 ethics disclosure statement. Robinson, a Democrat from Solon in Cuyahoga County, is running for House District 6 against Republican Jim Trakas, a former lawmaker.



1. Robinson reported working for City Year Inc., an education nonprofit, last year. Candidates who are not serving in the General Assembly are not required to report income.



2. He's on the boards of Gilmour Academy, his alma mater, the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland and Teach for America - Greater Cleveland.



3. He had an IRA and a Roth IRA with Equity Trust Co., a retirement fund with Thrift Savings Plan and a 401(k) with Fidelity Investments, He has savings accounts with Key Bank and Fifth Third Bank.



4. At some point in 2017, he owed at least $1,000 each to American Express, Fifth Third Bank, Discover Student Loans and FedLoan Student Servicing.



5. He didn't report receiving any food, beverages or travel from lobbyists.

Birthdays



Saturday, Sept. 15: State Rep. Michael Ashford; Ex-President William Howard Taft (1857-1930)



Sunday, Sept. 16: Lisa Gates, Buckeye Institute VP communications; Asa S. Bushnell, Ohio's 40th governor (1834-1904)



Straight From The Source



"Nice name."



-Tweet from Innovation Ohio, a liberal think tank, commenting on "Innovate Ohio," a technology initiative unveiled Thursday by Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike DeWine and his running mate, Jon Husted.





Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
PARMA, Ohio -- Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek said he's disappointed in the district's recently released Ohio Department of Education 2017-2018 Ohio School Report Card's overall grade of D, as well as related component grades: Achievement (D), Gap Closing (B), Graduation (C), Progress (F), Improving At-Risk K-3 Readers (C) and Prepared for Success (F).

"We expect better than that," Smialek said. "It's really below all of our expectations. Within that, you start to peel the layers and you see we were literally .034 points away from having a C, which obviously is not where we want to be, but it puts us more in line with kind of the plurality of the districts across the state."

That's also the case with Parma City Schools' 2018 Performance Index of 83.905, which equates to a D grade. The district has increased its score the past two years (2017's 83.327 and 2016's 81.241) and just missed a grade of C at 84.

"These Report Cards are often frustrating," Smialek said. "We feel that they're an incomplete reflection of everything that happens in the school district, and yet at the same time we have to acknowledge they're the most public way that our communities judge our school district.

"So we have to be better. We had some gains, and that's important to focus on, as well."

The 2017-2018 Ohio School Report Card revealed that Parma City Schools' graduation rate is on a three-year trend upward, including its C grade this year. Also, the superintendent noted that Dentzler Elementary, Green Valley Elementary, Ridge-Brook Elementary and Hillside Middle schools all received B grades.

Conversely, the district's Prepared for Success grade of F confused Smialek, who said that Parma City Schools' career-tech program last year, as part of its own State Report Card, received three A grades.

"We know we have great programs," Smialek said. "So we've got to make sure that we're reporting in a way that translates into a higher grade than an F, because we know those kids are getting great educations and coming out with tangible skills and career paths."

The release of the 2017-2018 Ohio School Report Card comes just as the district is hoping to pass a 4.5-mill new-money levy on the fall ballot. If approved, the tax increase would raise $8.95 million annually and cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $13.12 a month.

The levy comes on the heels of residents voting down the district's 7.4-mill new-money levy this past spring. Voters in Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills last passed a new-money levy in 2011.

Smialek, who took over as superintendent this summer, hopes the district's 2017-2018 Ohio School Report Card doesn't affect the levy results.

"The message is we don't accept this, and we're a better school district than a D," Smialek said. "That is not representative of the quality that we deliver. And it's also not representative of what we expect of ourselves, so we will continue to work tirelessly."
SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- In theory, a new subdivision isn't necessarily newsworthy; however, a development such as the new Ridgetop Subdivision in Seven Hills has Mayor Richard Dell'Aquila excited for the future of the city, which is known to have one of Cuyahoga County's oldest populations.

"We're seeing a large turnover of our population," Dell'Aquila said. "A lot of younger families are seeing the quality and benefit of moving into our town. We're getting a lot of young people with kids. So it's all good. It's just a wonderful thing to see happening."

City Council recently approved the final plat adoption regarding the Ridgetop Subdivision, which includes 13 new residential, single-family sublots that extend both Primrose Drive and Firethorn Drive into cul-de-sacs.

In addition to the half dozen new homes on each cul-de-sac is a new lot on East Ridgewood Drive that will serve as the site for a model home.

City Engineer Daniel J. Collins said that all infrastructure -- including sanitary and storm sewer mains, stormwater management facility, water mains and pavement -- has been completed.

"New home construction should be commencing on Primrose Drive and Firethorn Drive within the upcoming month," Collins said.

The mayor said the new homes speak to a hungry housing market.

"It goes into that concept of offering as wide a diversity of housing as we can supply with people interested in buying homes here," Dell'Aquila said. "The houses, for example at the former John Glenn Elementary School site, some of them I'm told went for more than $400,000.

"The market now is red hot. People are buying houses all over the place. This is the time to be looking at construction and attracting new families," he said.

As far as future residential development in Seven Hills, land is limited, with the mayor noting that the former WDOK radio tower site located north of Rockside Road near North Park has potential.

"That's come up a couple of times," Dell'Aquila said. "I'm guessing it's 15 to 20 acres. The proposed developer had sought various variances to the zoning code to allow higher concentration of houses. In both instances, those requests were turned down."

The next residential element coming to Seven Hills could be the highly anticipated 50-acre development located to the south of Rockside Road.

"This Fairmount Properties project on Rockside Road, the back third they're proposing to come in with owner-occupied housing, too," Dell'Aquila said. "So there's another place for housing.

"It's all about young people reinvigorating the town, starting their families here, raising their families. participating with the community and paying taxes. All of that is to the benefit of the city. So it's a really good thing to see this kind of stuff happening in one of the oldest areas in the region, demographically speaking."
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Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., speaks during the Tribal Unity Impact Days hosted by the National Congress of American Indians in Dirksen Building on September 12, 2018.

With just under two months to go until the congressional midterm elections, Democratic North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is not backing down to her Republican opponent Rep. Kevin Cramer. She is fighting back with a new television attack ad claiming the veteran congressman does not care about the impacts of a trade war on farmers.

In the 30-second TV spot first provided to CNBC, a farmer named Charles Linderman calls out Cramer, saying he doesn't seem to care about the cost of the tariffs being implemented by President Donald Trump.

"Mr. Cramer, that trade war is costing my family a lot of money and you don't seem to care," Linderman says.

The six-figure ad is expected to run statewide for the next several weeks on TV and digital platforms.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC on Thursday, Heitkamp described Cramer as a lackey for the president and said she would not be changing her methods of, at times, opposing Trump if she were re-elected.

"I think his audience is an audience of one and I think that's the president. I don't give my vote 100 percent of the time to anyone, unlike this guy," Heitkamp said in reference to her opponent. "I'm going to support him [Trump] when he's right and I'm going to oppose when he's hurting the state."

Trump's tariffs on more than $50 billion of Chinese imports have led to retaliatory measures equal to $34 billion worth of American farm products such as soybeans, corn, wheat and cotton, among others.

In response to Heitkamp's new blitz against Cramer, a spokesman for the North Dakota Republican Party said the senator's ad was proving she is politicizing those in the agricultural business as a way to win her re-election fight.

"Senator Heitkamp playing politics with our farmers and ranchers is hurting North Dakotans," said Jake Wilkins, a spokesman for the state's Republican Party said. "Her new ad is entitled 'Blame,' but when voters reject Heitkamp's blatant politicization of the agriculture community this November, the only person she'll have to blame is herself," he added.

The tariffs have negatively impacted people in her state, Heitkamp argues, and added that the worst may be yet to come.

"I think the first thing when you look at trade, you haven't seen the full impact. Fundamentally everyone had hoped by this time there would have been an agreement that we would have returned to shipping soybeans to China," she said. "That hasn't happened. As time goes on and you scratch the surface, people are getting more angry."

The president also has threatened to move ahead with another round of tariffs worth more than $200 billion on various Chinese products.

Still, throughout his campaign, Cramer has continued to back Trump's battles with China even though many of his constituents are some of the farmers getting hurt by the trade dispute.

In an interview in July with KVRR, a television station in North Dakota, Cramer said that he believed the only way to get through a trade war is to win.

"Some people are saying we need to get out of this trade war. There's only one thing to do in a trade war and that is win it," Cramer said at the time, according to KVRR's transcript of the interview. "It would be a lot easier for Donald Trump to win the trade war if the people who are supposed to be on his side would get behind him rather than fighting with him," he added.

Voters though have not shied away from supporting Cramer, even with his apparent need to show that he will follow the lead of the president if he were to knock out Heitkamp.

The latest Real Clear Politics average has the Republican congressman edging Heitkamp by just under 2 points. The state is marked as a toss-up by the nonpartisan Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball.

Cramer's campaign has also been given a boost by a plethora of outside spending groups looking to help flip Heitkamp's seat.

The Republican Jewish Coalition, a powerful nonprofit lobbying group that pushes for bettering U.S.-Israel relations, just spent more than $800,000 against Heitkamp, according to new Federal Election Commission filings. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, a group dedicating to helping Republicans get elected to the Senate has spent approximately $1 million in opposing Heitkamp, records show.

On the other hand, Cramer's attempts to side with Trump on enacting trade blockades have cost him the support of other external groups such as the political network funded by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch.

Americans for Prosperity, the nonprofit organization linked to the Koch network, announced in July at its donor summit in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that it will not be supporting Cramer's bid for Senate.

Before the gathering, the group published a digital ad thanking Heitkamp for co-sponsoring the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, a bill that rolls back Dodd-Frank regulations mainly on community banks, or those with less than $100 billion in assets.
Employees and managers shouldn't be too cavelier about their workers these days. Wage growth and low unemployment are fueling confidence, and the amount of job openings are at record highs. The amount of workers that left positions voluntarily, or the "quits" rate, hit 3.6 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking the highest percentage since April 2001. That's because job-hopping is on the rise.

Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn's chief executive, weighed in on how to keep employees engaged and happy while under your management. He stressed that employees aren't necessarily leaving their job, they're leaving a manager with whom they lack a sense of connection.

"I think having a manager that cares about you and is doing everything in their power to set you up to be successful is what everyone is looking for to some extent," says Weiner.

Watch the video above to find out what Weiner says is absolutely critical to creating an environment where employees want to stay and thrive.

WATCH ALSO: LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner reveals three tips to building a successful career.
Send your workplace conundrums to workologist@nytimes.com, including your name and contact information (even if you want it withheld). The Workologist is a guy with well-intentioned opinions, not a professional career adviser. Letters may be edited.

I graduated from college two years ago and have been at the same company ever since. When I started, I was told that the salary was nonnegotiable; all entry-level employees start at the same hourly rate. I had a strong first year at work. Also, I regularly worked overtime, so I was making about 15 percent extra over my base pay. I was promoted early (it usually takes two years), and got a raise, but lost my eligibility for overtime pay. So I make less now than when I started. When I tried to discuss this with my boss, management, and human resources, they all told me nothing could be done and that my salary would get back to where it started next year if I got a raise after my next performance review. I've now had my review, and received the highest rating. But my boss said that she has no information about salary and isn't the right person to discuss it with. It seems to me like the company really does not expect us to negotiate or even discuss our salary. Is that the strangest thing you've ever heard, or am I missing something here? H.M.

That's really frustrating. And certainly your boss claiming to be unsure about whom you should talk to is rather strange. It's not as if you're asking about some esoteric issue; salary is kind of a big deal.

For some help, I talked to Daniel Shapiro, founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program.

Your first move is to get more information. Set up a meeting with H.R., Mr. Shapiro suggested. Treat it as purely informational: Don't complain about your boss or demand a raise. Just focus on getting someone to explain the compensation system, how employees are valued, and what opportunitiesfor advancement or increased pay are available now or will be in the future.

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Your job is more intense. Your pay and title haven't kept up.

"You could learn a lot," he said. Maybe your boss isn't giving you the whole story. Or perhaps there are more innocent factors: Your company's entry-level salary may be high for your field.

You might also talk to trusted colleagues to see if others have had the same experience. Next, do some research outside your company, Mr. Shapiro said. Find out what your firm's competitors would pay a person like you.

When you've got a handle on all this, arrange a separate conversation with whomever turns out to make decisions on salary issues  and get creative. Is a bonus a possibility? What about more time off? Improved benefits? A raise tied to specific goals in a definite time period?

"People typically see negotiation as an adversarial game," Mr. Shapiro said. "Shift the nature of that conversation, so that it's collaborative." You can frame your effort as seeking input in finding a fair resolution. Point out that you're paid $X, but for these reasons you believe you are worth $Y. Then, he said, ask something like, "What advice do you have for me about how to think through this salary dilemma?"

The idea, Mr. Shapiro said, is to "make the employer an ally."

At the same time, you should probably start thinking about what you'll do if the company really won't budge. Unless you're willing to accept being paid less than believe you deserve, that means exploring alternatives elsewhere.
If you were hoping to hear the winner of Amazon's second headquarters Thursday, try next time.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said the decision for the winner of the company's second headquarters will not be announced Thursday during his interview at the Economic Club Washington D.C.

"The answer is very simple," Bezos told David Rubenstein, the president of the Economic Club of Washington D.C. and the cofounder of the Carlyle Group. "We will answer the decision before the end of the year."

Bezos reiterated that his team at Amazon is "working hard" to choose the final winner of HQ2, but declined to share further information on the process. The company previously announced 20 finalists, including Washington D.C., northern Virginia, and Montgomery Country, Maryland.

"We will get there," he said.

Bezos also shared more details about his new $2 billion philanthropic fund announced Thursday. The fund, designed to help homeless families and create new preschools, will soon start "hiring an executive team" to operate the preschools, which will be run by Bezos himself, he said.

The size of the fund could potentially grow in the future, he added, stressing the initiative is still at "Day One." As the fund matures, and the team learns more about the business, Bezos said it would expand, as most of his other businesses have done in the past.
Lima, Peru neighborhood where former mortgage broker Sam Clune now resides. Sam Clune

The 2008 financial crisis that morphed into the Great Recession hit people like Sam Clune with a vengeance. The former mortgage broker ended up being homeless, and his road to recovery is still is winding on 10 years later. Fresh out of college in 2004 and saddled with student loan debt, Clune went to work in the mortgage brokerage industry in upstate New York. He was preparing for what then looked like a promising career. But within a few years, the business was turned upside down as the subprime mortgage crisis and credit crunch shook Wall Street to its core and the economy was left in shambles. Subprime loans bundled into securities became toxic assets for banks as delinquencies and foreclosures grew. Lehman Brothers, one of the nation's oldest investment banks and one that bought massive amounts of the risky subprime loans, ended up filing for bankruptcy on Sept. 15, 2008. Another jolt to the financial system around that time was the government bailout of AIG, a seller of insurance on debt securities backed by the subprime mortgages.

Related: 'Instability' defines Lehman employee's career since crisis

Signs of financial distress

Even before Lehman and AIG, there were signs of financial distress in the economy. In fact, the Great Recession officially began December 2007 and lasted until June 2009, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a private economic organization. As the recession hit, the U.S. suffered three years of job losses. New York state, meanwhile, had just one year of falling employment in the same stretch, according to state data.

A man waits on line with other job seekers at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Career Open House October 28, 2008 in New York City. Mario Tama | Getty Images

Yet for some folks, the lingering effects of the recession would last much longer. "I never really bounced back," said the 44-year-old Clune, who to this day is struggling financially and living in Lima, Peru, with his 9-year-old Labrador dog, Trouble. He has lived in Peruvian capital for about four months and describes it as "somewhere I can afford on the disability check." It's a long way from the days when Clune worked in Saratoga Springs, New York, for an independent mortgage lender that employed about 1,000 people. He sold residential loan products mostly tied to big banks such as Wells Fargo. "December of 2007, I had finally hit my stride," Clune said. "I had been working at it a few years and actually made the best in the company that month." During this time, risky subprime mortgage lending was popular, especially in super-heated housing markets in the Southwest U.S. and East Coast cities as a way for people with low credit scores who didn't qualify for lower rates to achieve home ownership. Loose underwriting standards were common, and that meant some mortgages did not have full borrower documentation attached to them. "Nobody cared about what the paper was back then since everybody was banking on the house continuing to go up in value," he said. "The continued increase in the value of homes hid a multitude of sins in the lending practices. Then the home values stopped going up." Clune remembers getting laid off in the summer of 2008 from his mortgage broker job along with hundreds of others in the office and thinking the industry would bounce back. He wasn't alone  others had that view, too. "There had been lots of regional slumps that people had weathered, and they were generally short-lived," said Aaron Terrazas, Zillow senior economist and a former economist in the Treasury Department's Office of Economic Policy. "People had this experience of regional downturns in their minds."

'Difficult pill to swallow'

However, this mortgage slump wasn't like the previous ones. Lending had tightened and didn't recover right away. The effects would spill over into the larger economy. The subprime mortgage meltdown and the ensuing financial crisis from mid-2008 to the first part of 2009 eventually caused stock market paper losses of some $7.4 trillion and wiped out about $3.4 billion in real estate wealth, according to the Federal Reserve. "I honestly thought I was taking more of a sabbatical than I was getting laid off," Clune said. "I immediately hopped on my boat and just spent the time on Lake George. Then a few months later, the world changed and I thought, 'I guess I won't be going back to my job.' It was a difficult pill to swallow."

The continued increase in the value of homes hid a multitude of sins in the lending practices. Then the home values stopped going up. Sam Clune former mortgage broker

About 5.5 million Americans lost jobs in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis. In the mortgage sector alone, about 125,000 jobs were lost in 2007 and 2008, according to Mortgage Daily, a trade publication. The mortgage industry, which employed roughly 535,000 in 2005 and saw headcount plummet to around 246,000 by late 2010. As of June 30, 2018, it was just over 707,000. "We're very stable now and a great reflection of the needs of the housing market," said John G. Stevens, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, a trade group representing mortgage professionals. Regardless, the full reality of the recession hit home for Clune when he started his next job. "Two weeks after I got a job selling cars at the local Chevy dealership, it shut down," he said. "Then I picked up a job doing door-to-door home improvements for Sears."

Leaving for California

Nonetheless, the door-to-door sales job barely paid bills, so Clune eventually decided enough was enough. It was time to try something completely different and move across the country. "I thought maybe the problem is being up here in this miserable, cold and dark place called upstate New York," he said. "So let's go to California." Clune recalls putting "a lot of effort" into finding a job in 2012 when he arrived in California. He didn't pursue mortgage broker work in California since he said it required too many hurdles, including taking new classes to get licensing. In the end, Clune was only able to find what he calls "irregular work but it never caught on. After some point I became discouraged with it all ... and I lost everything." Clune is one of millions of workers who never recovered and lost prime years of earning to the recession. "While total employment has far surpassed its prerecession high, there are still more people who have left the workforce (search) but would like to have a job," according to Lynn Reaser, chief economist at the Fermanian Business and Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

Life in a homeless camp

Before relocating to Peru in May, Clune lived in a homeless camp in the San Francisco Bay area and was helping other residents living in tents get solar energy to power cellphones, laptops, electric wheelchairs or a refrigerator.

Sam Clune Source: Sam Clune

Prior to the homeless camp, Clune lived in a truck fitted with solar panels for electricity but said he lost that vehicle after accumulating too many parking tickets. According to Clune, he was offered homeless vouchers for the Bay Area but turned them down because it would have meant living in neighborhoods "that were the worst place possible." He struggled with bouts of stress and depression living homeless. Ultimately, after other challenges, Clune ended up on disability.

Finding a way forward

These days, Clune lives in a studio apartment in Lima and spends most of his time learning Spanish and taking walks along the nearby beach.

View of Miraflores Beach in Lima, Peru. Sam Clune
To get the attention of hiring managers, one current exec put her own face on a milk carton while job hunting in college. It's an unorthodox move not everyone can pull off, but it's one that underscores an important reality that more job hunters should recognize: you need to find ways to stand out.

"No one is going to promote you," says Sandy Rubinstein, currently the CEO of New Jersey creative firm DXagency.

As a junior at the University of Miami in the 1990s, Rubinstein fell in love with the music business. Knowing she wanted a job on the advertising and marketing side, she decided to "self-market" her skills to showcase her creativity and set herself apart from the competition.

At the time, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was posting "have you seen this child?" ads on the sides of milk cartons. "Those were very big," says Rubinstein, "so receiving one at your desk was very jarring."

Riffing off this idea, Rubinstein purchased pink stock paper and painstakingly handcrafted 100 milk cartons in the university's library.

The plan worked. Rubinstein recalls an interviewer describing her disbelief when she saw the milk carton in her mail pile. "She actually went to the milk carton first before the rest of her mail," which is what Rubinstein had hoped for. "I wanted to somehow connect with each person."

Thanks to her proactive approach, Rubinstein was working full-time for a music television network by her senior year in a role that combined her love for music and marketing. "I really believe it's because I used these types of tactics to engage the people that I wanted to work for," she explains, "rather than blindly sending my resume and hoping and praying that I got a phone call."

Unfortunately, says Rubinstein, many young people take the passive approach. They click a link, upload their resume and simply sit and wait.

Waiting for a job opportunity to come to you is akin to sitting in the passenger seat, says Rubinstein, and it ensures that you'll have no control. Instead, she says, you want to be the driver, the one who dictates the route and has control of his or her destiny.

"All of the people who take the passenger approach fall through the sifter," she adds. "But the people who are really out there fighting  those are the ones who are those larger kernels that don't fall through."

To be sure, not everyone should put their resumes on the sides of homemade milk cartons. Today's hiring managers might not recognize the vintage ad campaign or feel the shock value. Additionally, Rubinstein applied for a marketing role, and her approach proved she could grab people's attention. This tactic won't work for most industries.

Instead, find ways to stand out that work for you. Build familiarity and relationships over time with people you admire by complimenting their work on social media and commenting on their posts. Send an email with ideas to help a company expand its market and ask if you can talk more over coffee. And find ways to showcase your talents outside of a resume, through a blog or e-newsletter, or even through work samples on LinkedIn or another online portfolio.

"Finding a cadence that feels natural as opposed to aggressive and a little overbearing is something that each person needs to figure out," admits Rubinstein.

As a CEO, Rubinstein says that she sifts through thousands of resumes. "I open, I look, I click, I close," she says. "But the ones who stand out are the ones who do something above and beyond."

One applicant caught Rubinstein's attention by applying for every single job opening at her company, including positions he didn't have the qualifications for. She then opened her Facebook and saw targeted ads from the jobseeker saying "Sandy, you should hire me," "you should consider me" and "look at my resume."

This strategy worked because the job hunter's hustle matched Rubinstein's, fitting her style and her company's culture. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh. This person needs to work for me,'" she says.

Even if you're not a creative person, you can take a lesson from this applicant, says Rubinsten: "[He] kept following me and targeting me and finding ways to reach out to me. That's what makes him different and those are the sort of things that stand out: Somebody who not only is hungry, not only has fire in their belly but really wants to work here."

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Bill Kristol (L) and President Donald Trump Getty Images

One of President Donald Trump's most vocal opponents is creating a political war machine to take on the commander in chief when it comes time for him to run for re-election in 2020. Bill Kristol, who served in the administrations of Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, says his nonprofit organization Defending Democracy Together is seeking a GOP candidate to run against Trump in 2020. "We are thinking of and doing preliminary work to prepare for a primary run against Trump," Kristol said in an interview on Thursday. "People aren't going to say they will run against Trump unless they have the infrastructure but I've been trying to persuade people that it may not be that difficult," he added. Kristol, a director of Defending Democracy Together, explained that he's organized a coalition of activists who are polling voters and meeting with focus groups in swing states such as New Hampshire.

He's also been engaging with three potential Republican primary candidates who have been outspoken critics of the president: Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Other possible nominees on Kristol's radar are Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Sasse, Flake and Kasich have shown interest, according to Kristol, but they've also echoed what they've said publicly which is that they are focused on serving their constituency and helping Republicans maintain their majorities in Congress throughout the congressional midterm elections. Kristol is also readying a super PAC for 2020 GOP candidates which would allow his team to raise unlimited amounts of cash and push out campaign advertisements backing a particular nominee. A spokesman for Sasse did not deny the two have spoken about a prospective 2020 run. "I'm not going to comment on what other people decide to bring up in their personal conversations with the senator, but  like we've said for a long time  Ben doesn't pay any attention to the 2020 Washington rumor mill," James Wegman, a spokesman for Sasse, said. Representatives for Flake and Kasich did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Meanwhile, Kristol and his allies, including former New Hampshire GOP chairwoman Jennifer Horn, have been gauging voters on their receptiveness to a primary challenge against Trump. "I think it's likely that Donald Trump will have a primary and that it is entirely his own doing," Horn said in an interview. "His behavior as president is damaging and demeaning to the presidency. I believe it has damaged our nation."

While their internal polls continue to reflect Trump's growing popularity within the Republican Party, there are many, particularly in New Hampshire, who say it's time for someone to step up to battle Trump. Kristol pointed to the latest public poll as an example of what they're seeing in the Granite State. The poll by the New Hampshire Journal found that 4 in 10 Republicans surveyed believe a GOP challenger to Trump "would be a good thing," while 56 percent of overall respondents supported the idea. Trump lost the state by under a point to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. New Hampshire has historically been a testing ground for those looking to run for president from both sides of the aisle. It's considered a diverse state in terms of voter political views and holds the first presidential primary in the nation. Kasich visited the state in April and is returning there in November for a speaking engagement at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications. Flake made his way to New Hampshire in March, while Sasse has yet to hold an event in the state. Still, a separate senior state political operative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told CNBC that state GOP officials have said they're hoping to see Sasse come to their "Politics & Eggs" breakfast speaking event, which historically has been where candidates go to tout their agenda in the early stages of a candidacy. An invite has not been sent to Sasse yet, this source added. Trump attended the breakfast after the GOP debate in November 2015 in the midst of a bomb-throwing presidential election. Trump's speaking engagement reportedly drew up to 600 people.

WATCH: Here's why the Koch brothers are at odds with President Trump
Dozens of explosions, apparently triggered by a natural gas pipeline rupture, rocked three communities near Boston on Thursday, killing at least one person, injuring 12 and prompting the evacuation of hundreds, officials said.

The blasts left scores of homes and other buildings demolished or engulfed in flames as firefighters from some 50 departments scurried for hours from one blaze to another and utility crews rushed to shut off gas and electricity in the area to prevent further ignitions.

Police drove up and down streets with bull horns telling residents to vacate their homes immediately.

Fire investigators suspected "over-pressurization of a gas main" belonging to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts led to the series of explosions and fires, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said at a news conference.

Columbia Gas, a unit of NiSource, had announced earlier in the day that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions occurred. But it was not immediately known whether any work was being done in those communities at the time.

"Columbia Gas is investigating what happened on its system today," NiSource spokesman Ken Stammen said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said it was dispatching a team to support the state's emergency response efforts.

The former head of that agency, Brigham McCown, called the series of gas explosions "unprecedented, at least in recent memory."

"I can't think of a series of natural gas-related incidents like this," McCown, who led PHMSA under then-President George W. Bush, told Reuters by telephone. "We have had similar issues on a much smaller scale."

He said the National Transportation Safety Board was also sending a team headed by its chairman, Robert Sumwalt, to investigate the disaster.

Live TV images showed firefighters battling blazes in the former mill towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Massachusetts capital.

The streets were darkened after nightfall as power was cut off to the area as a precaution.
China's flagship investment program  known as the Belt and Road Initiative  is one of the answers to the emerging world's infrastructure needs, but it has been shrouded in criticism amid allegations of debt-trap diplomacy and neo-colonialism.

To improve the image of the multi-billion dollar program, Beijing must do more to embrace local stakeholders, a panel of experts at the Milken Asia Summit in Singapore said on Thursday.

"A common lament of recipient nations is that despite all the investments from huge infrastructure projects, there's a lack of local employment opportunities," said Robin Hu, head of sustainability and stewardship at Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings.

One of the biggest complaints around the initiative is an excessive reliance on Chinese employees for on-the-ground projects, which deprives participating countries of jobs. That's triggered anti-Beijing sentiments in places such as Laos and Turkmenistan. In instances where locals are employed, complaints about dire working conditions are rampant, with public demonstrations being held from Vietnam to Sri Lanka.

Beijing basically replicated its traditional state-owned enterprises (SOE) model in other developing nations, Hu said. These enterprises "tend to air drop the entire ecosystem, from their engineers to the construction workers to the chefs, into the countries to do the project," he said.

A McKinsey study in 2017 found that among 1,073 Chinese firms across eight African countries, only 44 percent of the managers on average were local.
The strategic partnership between China and Russia, long marred by mutual suspicion, has risen to new heights with recent news of joint projects of more than $100 billion and large-scale army drills.

But such cooperation belies the rivalry that defines the relationship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, political strategists warn.

"The Chinese-Russian military alliance is only what you see above the surface," Robert Kaplan, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank focused on U.S. national security issues, told CNBC on the sidelines of the Singapore Summit on Friday.

"What's below the surface is serious geopolitical competition between China and Russia," he said.

Beijing's economic and commercial activities in Moscow's backyard  Central Asia, the Russian Far East and the Arctic  have long been a threat to Putin. But his government has been unable to compete due to its own economic problems at home and in 2014, Moscow accelerated its pivot towards Beijing after coming under western sanctions over its annexation of Crimea.

While Putin and Xi seek to reconcile their differences, as reflected by their public show of drinking vodka and eating caviar together at this week's Eastern Economic Forum, deep-seated rivalry remains.

The bilateral relationship is more of an entente, a basic agreement about the fundamentals of world order supported by common interests, rather than an alliance, Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, said in a note this week. Moscow's concerns about Xi's Belt and Road Initiative are still at play, Trenin suggested.
No real improvement in the trade tensions between the U.S. and China is expected until after mid-term elections.

Even with U.S. officials seeking talks with China, President Donald Trump reportedly wants to put tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, and has told aides to go ahead with them, according to Bloomberg, quoting unnamed sources. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is spearheading the effort to reignite talks.

The White House said later Friday that the administration will continue to take action on trade and it encouraged China to address U.S. concerns.

"Our view has been consistent that trade policy is improving and Trump is trying to isolate China by cutting deals on NAFTA and with the EU," notes Dan Clifton, head of policy strategy at Strategas. "Even with China and the US, we see some cracks that can lead to negotiations. But there has not been enough pain for structural reforms to be agreed to. We don't believe real discussions will start until after the midterm elections and we anticipate the next round of tariffs will come into effect later this month."

Stocks sold off on the initial report from Bloomberg Friday afternoon about Trump's desire to move ahead, but the market later stabilized.

Policy experts have said they don't expect any positive movement on trade before the election because the Chinese will want to see how Republicans, and Trump by extension, fare in Congressional mid-terms. The GOP is expected to lose control of the House of Representatives but maintain the Senate, though that looks slightly less certain than it had.

"I don' see the Trump stuff as new. It's Mnuchin, and the Treasury does not negotiate trade...Is there really a doubt that he's going to put the tariffs on before the election? The question is will he put them on before the meeting," said Marc Chandler, head of fixed income strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman, noting there is a G-20 meeting at the end of November.

"That's the first and best opportunity for an agreement," Chandler said. "I think Trump hopes to have some success but Canada's still balking. Nothing's really changed."

Financial markets have been skittish about trade threats, said Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics. "They risk triggering a shock prior to the November election." Hufbauer said for that reason, the administration could wait until after the election to move on its next round of tariffs.

The tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports have been ready to go after a comment period ended last week. Trump also threatened even more tariffs, on another $267 billion in goods. Last week, a number of companies, including Apple and Intel, complained that tariffs would hurt business and result in higher prices.

"I think that I'm not expecting any big breakthroughs. I think what the administration is looking for is some immediate concessions," said Hufbauer. He said the Chinese could make concessions by ending tariffs on key agricultural products, like soybeans and pork, and end the requirement for technology companies to form joint ventures if they want to operate in China.

"That would be a fast deliverable. They decided they would start a charm offensive with U.S. companies, be nice to them instead of beating up on them. An extension of that could be to relax compulsory joint venture arrangements," he said.

The last meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials was last month and was led by David Malpass, the Treasury undersecretary for international affairs.
Comments and links to reports on science, and its applications.
U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping leave a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.

China will not buckle to U.S. demands in any trade negotiations, the major state-run China Daily newspaper said in an editorial on Friday, after Chinese officials welcomed an invitation from Washington for a new round of talks.

China and the United States are set to return to the table with the threat of new U.S. tariffs looming after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin extended the invitation to counterparts in Beijing.

The official China Daily said that while China was "serious" about resolving the stand-off through talks, it would not be rolled over, despite concerns over a slowing economy and a falling stock market at home.

"The Trump administration should not be mistaken that China will surrender to the U.S. demands. It has enough fuel to drive its economy even if a trade war is prolonged," the newspaper said in an editorial.

If the United States imposed new levies on Chinese imports then Beijing "will not hesitate to take countermeasures against U.S. tariffs to safeguard China's interests," it added.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter on Thursday that the United States holds the upper hand in talks.

"We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us," Trump tweeted. "Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing."

The U.S. administration is readying a final list of $200 billion in Chinese imports on which it plans to levy tariffs of 10 to 25 percent in coming days, which would ramp up the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Thursday that China welcomed the invitation, and the two countries were discussing the details.

A meeting among Cabinet-level officials could ease market worries over the escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the world's two largest economies and raise costs for companies and consumers.

However, the last round of talks, between mid-level U.S. and Chinese officials in August, failed to reach any agreement.
Below is the transcript of a CNBC interview with Jim Hagemann Snabe, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Siemens. The interview was first broadcast on CNBC's Capital Connection on 14 September 2018.

All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview'.

Interviewed by CNBC's Nancy Hungerford

Nancy Hungerford (Nancy): I am live at the Singapore summit today and I am pleased to say that I am now joined by Jim Hagemann Snabe who is currently the Chairman of the Supervisory Board over at Siemens in addition to your many roles, it is an absolute pleasure to speak to you. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us here at the Singapore summit. There is a great discussion going on at the moment about the U.S.-China trade tensions if you will. And you are really seen as a titan of European industry but all of the companies you work with worked with in the past demand a global footprint here. How concerned are you about the tensions at the moment?

Jim Hagemann Snabe (Jim): Well of course it is concerning to see the tensions grow if I might put it like that. I think we shouldn't forget that growth rates generally spoken are quite good. We have a pretty high growth rate on average around the globe. We see Asia growing more than average, even Europe and the US, so the fundamental of business is actually pretty good. And the tensions and trade war are giving concerns right now, they don't have a significant impact, they have been very targeted in certain categories but of course if this continues, it will have in my opinion a negative impact on growth and with that could have ripple effects on the economy in particular in developing countries.



Nancy: Does that mean if the US administration moves forward on the next tranche that they have threatened let's say goods worth 2 hundred billion dollars that might have tariffs slapped on them, would you worry at that point?



Jim: I am not sure it is that step but it is clear and the experience we have seen from the financial crisis ten years ago is that the global economy is very connected. And so we cannot keep this as a bilateral conversation between two countries. It has effects on the entire value chain and with that it will have effects everywhere. So right now, I believe it is a sign wanting to have a level playing field. In all countries, I hope it will stay at a level of warning and not escalate because nobody wins from a global trade war.



Nancy: Does that suggest that you haven't yet seen any real impact in your businesses either at Siemens or at A.P Moller Maersk when it comes to either the shipping demand or even orders I think of new businesses looking to invest when it comes to Siemens business line. Is it fair to say you haven't yet seen an impact?



Jim: Yes that is correct. We have not seen the impact yet. Siemens just delivered another record quarter where orders are growing even more rapidly than in the past and in A.P Moller Maersk, we are transporting global trade and we are seeing good numbers so the impact is not there yet and we are of course looking at this in details but so far without any significant impact.

Nancy: When you talk about the strong growth story you still witness across the region in Asia, I mean many are as you point out looking at the previous financial crisis wondering what risks are out there currently. The guest we had on previously was talking about this issue of leverage perhaps too much indebtedness out there, if you think about the debt China fueled and the growth that fueled really in the region. Is that something that concerns you we could be set up for a slowdown at some stage?



Jim: I don't see the same effect as we had 10 years ago right now. I would say the growth rates we see now are driven by fundamentals in some case you could argue that the financial crisis was by the end of the previous era. Right now, growth is driven by digitization. The fact that value chains can be significantly more efficient, more customers oriented, more rapid in the way it is taking place and through innovation we see the opportunity to grow. So companies that invest in R&D right now. At Siemens, we have increased our R&D spending by 20 percent more than five billion euros a year and that is what is fueling real growth, not a bubble type growth.

Nancy: Digitization is certainly part of your agenda over at Siemens given your expertise from SAP. Many times, when people hear about innovation and digitalization of companies, they worry about what this means for the workforce. I know in Siemens 2020 vision, and the very first line of the plan actually talks about a leaner business. Many people would read between the lines and say does this mean job reduction, does it?



Jim: We have actually very deliberately built a plan which is a growth strategy. With this plan, we are trying to empower you could argue front line people, we are trying to fuel growth through innovation and so it's a growth story. It's actually a company under Joe Kaeser's leadership has done tremendously well since '13 really come back in a strong way, now leading most of the categories we are in. Because we are so strong, we can take the next step towards not a job cutting exercise, it is a growth seeking strategy.



Nancy: Are job cuts inevitable given the fact that we are talking about innovation digitalization and a leaner business?

Jim: It is very clear to me that digitization will have a dramatic impact on jobs, there is no doubt about that and that tendency will accelerate. However, I have been in IT industry for 25 years of my career and I have seen when innovation happens, new job categories appear. Only ten years ago, we would not have some of the social media jobs that we have today. We have a lot of categories around building software into hardware which was not there a few years ago. So I do believe that new jobs will be created. We cannot in my opinion protect the old jobs that are getting automated but we can develop people and that is one of the commitments we have done at Siemens is to develop people with the skills that are relevant for future jobs and through that actually accelerate growth and give people opportunities.

Nancy: Just finally, since you are really based in Europe but as I mentioned you have a global footprint especially as Siemens has a big business in the U.S. We talked about U.S - China trade tensions but also U.S - Europe as well don't always get along when it comes to trade issues. Are you concerned that the benefits that some of these European companies got (including Siemens) in the way of the Trump tax cuts and some of the pro-business reforms in the US, all those benefits could go away if they go ahead with this protectionist agenda.

Jim: Well I am in general against protectionism no doubt I think protectionism basically hides lack of competitiveness and so when you take a level playing field approach, you will foster the most competitive, the most innovative companies which is (I believe) the recipe for success of a country also in the long run. So will we see some hiccups on the way? Yes I believe we will. I have seen businesses become more resilient to any of these changes. Business leaders today look and lead for the longer run and they will be able to manage some of these hiccups that come on the way. I am fundamentally optimistic. I am a concerned optimist because the changes we spend in front of are very significant and got to make sure that people get a chance to get change.

Nancy: Significant enough to put investment decisions on hold today. Is that what you are saying?



Jim: Absolutely not. On the contrary, you see Siemens and A.P Moller Maersk move ahead with an ambitious plan, an optimistic point of view but able to deal with whatever comes up from the political side

Nancy: Thank you for bringing us a douse of optimism. It is good news on a Friday for sure. I know you are busy today wearing many hats so we appreciate your time.

END

Media Contact:

Clarence Chen

Communications Manager APAC, CNBC International

D: +65 6326 1123

M: +65 9852 8630

clarence.chen@cnbc.com

About CNBC

CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information, reporting directly from the major financial markets around the globe with regional headquarters Singapore, London and New York. The TV channel is available in more than 410 million homes worldwide.

CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web, featuring an unprecedented amount of video, real-time market analysis, web-exclusive live video and analytical financial tools.

CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal. For more information, visit www.cnbc.com
Below is the transcript of a CNBC interview with Masahiko Uotani, CEO, Shiseido. The interview was first broadcast on CNBC's Squawk Box Asia on 14 September 2018.

All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview'.

Interviewed by CNBC's Amanda Drury

Amanda Drury (Mandy): As I mentioned before, it is a 1,046 year old company but it certainly has been getting a facelift under their CEO Masahiko Uotani who is sitting here with me in the Singapore Summit. Great to have you with us, Uotani-san.

Masahiko Uotani (Uotani): Very nice to meet you.

Mandy: Thank you.

Uotani: Thank you.

Mandy: Let's talk first of all about your 6 year plan, your Vision 2020 plan. How are you ahead of target on that? What are you doing right?

Uotani: When we set up Vision 2020 6 year plan, we had an almost 10 billion sales and operating profit goal, which we already achieved a few years ahead of plan. Our operating profit target of nearly 1 billion dollars is going to be achieved this year, two years ahead of the plan.

Mandy: One of the things about your Vision 2020 plan is the changing face of the consumer. In the olden days, you would walk into a department store, sit down and someone would come up and try some makeup on you. Young people, like myself even, shop online. They don't want to do that. So you're trying to customize and also go online, how do you do that?

Uotani: In order to get there, you need a new system, I would say, marketing system. Hence, we have been acquiring new technologies. These are technologies that can maybe get us connected to consumers faster. We have to build a new brand with new services that offer more personalization. What you are talking about is a more mass approach. So we are changing our marketing to be focused on personalization. So new technology, product development and the speed of development is completely different because young consumers look for something quickly and the way they communicate is completely different. They use social networks like Instagram and all other new ways of communication. And also, consumers are now talking to each other, that is the difference. It's not between company and consumer, it is companies who provide them with some information and they are the ones who are going to talk about it, they are the ones who are going to decide which appeals to them.

Mandy: You've invested in three startups that focus on new technologies such as artificial skin, A.I. All kinds of things. So essentially, in a virtual world, you can try on the make up before you buy it. How much did you spend on those three startups and when do you feel those investments will pay off?

Uotani: Well, it is not a huge investment because we acquired startup companies compared to a big existing brand. What we want are patents and the people, the entrepreneurs, not people working for big corporations. So by bringing them into our organization, we create a new culture. We are really learning a lot from them as we work together so it is a win-win. The company we bought in Silicon Valley is getting us new ways to look at consumers and providing them with new services. It is still under-development. It will take some time, we understand that. We don't expect a short term return.

Mandy: But you're not the only makeup company that is out there scouring the globe for opportunities, R&D staff, people who have expertise in A.I. and data mining, and for startups like the one you bought. There are big companies like L'Oreal and Estee lauder who are also competing in this space. Is it getting pricier and pricier to be able to acquire the staff with the expertise and to be able to acquire the targets as well?

Uotani: Oh yes certainly. Everybody is looking at new fronts. So, we are in competition. But new companies startup companies usually do not come with values. What is important is to combine what they have with our expertise, which we have built for many years, and create new synergies. Therefore, we have sent our people from Tokyo to work with them in San Francisco and Boston.

Mandy: I want to talk about China in a moment but I can't flip over the artificial skin technology. When will that be commercialized and what other applications they have beyond the beauty industry?

Uotani: I see that the market now is emerging from a traditional cosmetic market going into a more surgery or plastic surgery. We are trying to create a new category in between. So it's a solution for people who suffer from spots and wrinkles that don't require any surgery, only simple application of products, serums on your skin. It will take some time but we hope it is going to be commercialized soon.

Mandy: You are selling on like Tmall, you're investing big in China, you're putting staff on the ground there in Hangzhou, the HQ of Alibaba. So you're really hoping that Chinese consumers will latch on to J brands, made in Japan cosmetics. Have you at all been impacted negatively by the U.S.-China trade tensions?

Uotani: No, so far no. The increase of tariffs on trade doesn't really impact us negatively.

Mandy: And lastly, manufacturing in Japan. What's the sentiment on the ground there?

Uotani: Well I think made in Japan is part of the brand value for the consumers. It stands for safety, innovation and attention to details. So consumers, particularly in China, Asia, even now in the U.S. and Europe, know quality coming out of Japan and that is something they are preferring. So we see that as a competitive advantage.

Mandy: Masahiko Uotani, thank you very much for joining us.

END

Media Contact:

Clarence Chen

Communications Manager APAC, CNBC International

D: +65 6326 1123

M: +65 9852 8630

clarence.chen@cnbc.com

About CNBC

CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information, reporting directly from the major financial markets around the globe with regional headquarters Singapore, London and New York. The TV channel is available in more than 410 million homes worldwide.

CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web, featuring an unprecedented amount of video, real-time market analysis, web-exclusive live video and analytical financial tools.

CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal. For more information, visit www.cnbc.com
Judge Randolph D. Moss, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., said on Wednesday the Department's action was arbitrary and capricious.

A federal judge ruled this week that repeated delays by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of an Obama administration plan to provide debt relief to defrauded borrowers was unlawful.

A tug-of-war between student borrowers hoping to get tens of thousands of dollars in loans they took out for their education discharged and the government may be a step closer to resolution.

"We think this is an incredibly important ruling both for cheated student loan borrowers and anyone who cares about the government under the rule of law instead of under the thumb of a predatory, for-profit college industry," said Toby Merrill, director of the Harvard Law School's Project on Predatory Student Lending.

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More than 160,000 people have claimed to the government that their school defrauded them, and new applications continue to pour in. Almost all of these complaints come from for-profit schools, of which there are some 7,000 around the country. Together, they take in around 15 percent of the government's financial aid.

Many of these borrowers have found themselves waiting without answers.

The Obama administration announced a regulation in 2016, known as borrower defense, aimed at canceling the debt of those with degrees from schools that misled or deceived them.

Before the regulation could go into effect in July 2017, an industry group of the for-profit college sector, the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools, filed a lawsuit with the Education Department, arguing the regulation was outside the government's authority.

Soon after, the Department announced it was postponing certain provisions of the regulation. Speaking at a conference, DeVos said that under the current rule, "all one had to do was raise his or her hands to be entitled to so-called free money."

In a hearing on Friday, the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools continued to challenge the Obama-era regulation. Judge Moss said he would consider the merits of their lawsuit. "The industry is still trying to challenge the regulation," Merrill said.

Despite the resistance, borrowers and advocates were hopeful from the ruling earlier in the week that DeVos's repeated delays of the Obama-era plan were unlawful.
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018.

The plea agreement that Paul Manafort signed off on Friday requires him to "cooperate fully, truthfully, completely and forthrightly" with special counsel Robert Mueller and other federal investigators, who among other things are eyeing President Donald Trump.

That means Trump's former campaign boss is obligated to be "fully debriefed" by members of Mueller's team, turn over documents, and testify at any trial, grand jury or other court proceeding that prosecutors want.

"The defendant must at all times give complete, truthful, and accurate information and testimony, and must not commit, or attempt to commit, any further crimes," says the 17-page agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Washington.

And Manafort, 69, will not be sentenced until he completes the terms of that agreement.

Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, possible collusion by the Trump campaign in that act and possible obstruction of justice by the president. Trump has denied any wrongdoing by himself and his campaign.

Manafort, a longtime Republican operative, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of conspiracy.

One count related to his repeated criminal acts connected to his work for pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine, while the other is connected to his efforts to tamper with witnesses against him after he was slapped with two federal criminal indictments.

Manafort faces up to 10 years in prison, and $500,000 in fines when he is sentenced. He has also agreed to forfeit real estate in New York and Virginia, and turn over four bank accounts to the federal government. Manafort's assets to be surrendered are worth an estimated $46 million.

Download Manafort's full plea agreement here.

Read Manafort's full plea agreement here:
The screws are tightening. After months of legal work, a jury trial, eight guilty verdicts and vehement opposition from the president of the United States, special counsel Robert Mueller has unlocked what he sees as the "key" to a potential conspiracy case against President Donald Trump, legal experts said. The president's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, who was convicted last month on a range of felony charges by a jury in Virginia, has agreed to cooperate with investigators examining possible links between the president's 2016 campaign and the Kremlin ahead of a planned trial in Washington, D.C., on a host of other charges. Sol Wisenberg, deputy to Kenneth Starr during the 1990s Whitewater investigation of President Bill Clinton, said that in the previous pleas that Mueller has obtained from top Trump associates, including former national security advisor Michael Flynn, there were few grounds on which to base a conspiracy case. With Manafort's cooperation, he said, that could change.

"Mueller sees Manafort as a key in that regard, or a final key," Wisenberg said. To be sure, Mueller has not charged the president with any crime, and legal experts have raised doubts that a president can be prosecuted while in office. The White House said Friday that the Manafort agreement was "totally unrelated" to the president and his campaign. "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign," Trump's attorney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement. "The reason: the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth." Moments later, however, Jay Sekulow, another member of the president's legal team, issued what he called a "corrected" statement  which omitted the words "and Paul Manafort will tell the truth." Wisenberg said that, with Manafort's cooperation, the claim that the case has nothing to do with Trump or his campaign will be tested. "We will see what he has," Wisenberg said.

Trump keeps Manafort at arm's length

The president has sought to downplay Manafort's role in his campaign. In June, the president said Manafort "came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time." The president has also insisted that the charges brought against the former campaign boss were related to crimes alleged to have been committed before he was part of the campaign. That's not true: The crimes detailed in indictments obtained by the special counsel stretch through 2017.

But experts have still been left to wonder what Mueller's plan was for Manafort, and how the charges he brought against him related to Mueller's central mission to investigate the Trump campaign. In May, a federal judge told Mueller's prosecutors that "what you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment." Four months later, Mueller has obtained a cooperation agreement that experts think could may indeed mean trouble for Trump. Joe Moreno, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner in Cadwalader's white collar defense and investigations group, said that the agreement to cooperate "could have serious implications for the president." Moreno said the agreement means that the special counsel believes "Paul Manafort still had some value with respect to Mueller's mandate, which is to investigate coordination between the campaign and the Russian government." David Weinstein, a partner at the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, said in an email that "the special prosecutor has not entered into these negotiations blindly." "They must have had some preliminary debriefings with Manafort and they likely are aware of exactly what information he has to offer," Weinstein said.

Manafort on the campaign

Manafort served the president as his campaign manager during an important time in the race, over the summer of 2016, including during the Republican National Convention. A former consultant to pro-Russian forces in Ukraine, Manafort joined the president's campaign as its top strategist for no salary at a time when he was facing acute financial distress. He was pushed off the campaign team after reports surfaced detailing millions of dollars of secret off-the-books payments Manafort allegedly received from Ukrainian politicians a decade ago. Manafort came under fire for a number of pro-Russia changes made to the Republican platform at the convention.

Kind words and speculation about a pardon

Throughout Manafort's legal troubles, the president has offered words of support, writing in a post on Twitter last month that he felt "very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family" after Manafort's conviction on eight criminal counts by a jury in Virginia. Last month, however, the former lobbyist's legal team argued that Trump was making things worse for their client as a second trial approached. Trump's kind words for Manafort have raised the prospect that the former campaign chief could be considered for a presidential pardon. But the White House has denied talk of clemency. A pardon would not prevent Manafort from providing information to prosecutors. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 to examine links between the president's top associates and Russia. The president and his supporters have repeatedly called on Mueller to end his investigation, with Trump blasting Mueller's team as biased and the inquiry as an "illegal witch hunt." Mueller's office, which did not respond to a request for comment for this article, has offered no guidance as to how long the probe could continue, though the president's team has called for it to end as soon as possible. The Department of Justice typically does not take public investigative steps within 60 days of an election, in order to avoid the appearance of election interference, suggesting the investigation could enter a quiet period ahead of the November midterms. But Friday's deal suggests that the probe may be in its final innings. "While it's difficult to discern from these one-off developments what the big picture looks like, I do think it's heartening that one chapter of this whole endeavor might be coming to a close," Moreno said, shortly before news of the agreement broke. "Hopefully Robert Mueller might be coming to a final conclusion, whatever that might be."

WATCH: Manafort could get up to 20 years in prison per count
Dana Rohrabacher, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from California, speaks during a primary election watch party in Costa Mesa, California, June 5, 2018. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

California GOP stalwart Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has fended off challengers before but this time around he's facing one of the toughest battles of his political life against businessman Harley Rouda, a Democrat, as the two are running in a virtual tie in the polls. Among the issues in the 48th Congressional District are Rohrabacher's ties to the Kremlin and his views on climate change and offshore oil drilling. The two candidates also have very different positions on immigration, health care and gun control. "The race is a toss-up, especially because Rohrabacher has some baggage with his fondness for Russia and the way that connects him to [President] Donald Trump," said Gary Jacobson, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego.

Harley Rouda, Democrat running for California's 48th Congressional district seat in Congress, listens to speakers during his campaign rally in Laguna Beach, Calif., on May 20, 2018. Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images

The midterm election is less than two months away and a New York Times Upshot/Siena College Poll conducted Sept. 4-6 has Rohrabacher and Rouda neck and neck at 45 percent while undecided are at 10 percent.

Race a 'toss-up'

FiveThirtyEight, a political polling analysis website, has the race in the 48th Congressional District as Democratic-leaning while Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia lists it as "toss-up." Regardless, some political analysts suggest that if Democrats can't win the Rohrabacher seat in the 48th it may indicate the blue wave in California will probably fall short.

"This district is important, because if Democrats can't beat Rohrabacher this year, they may really not be making the kinds of inroads they want in California," said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia. Added Kondik: "Democrats are really hoping to pick up three, four or five seats from California  and maybe even more than that. If you get to three or four seats for Democrats, you figure that the 48th (Congressional District) would be one of them."

GOP's registration edge

California's 48th Congressional District runs along the Southern California coast from Seal Beach to Laguna Niguel and includes Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo and Fountain Valley. Republicans have a nearly 10 percentage point registration advantage in the district. That said, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the district by nearly 2 points in the 2016 election.

The 71-year-old Rohrabacher won the 2016 general election with about 58 percent of the vote, while in 2014 he received about 64 percent. During the June primary, he ran against more than a dozen challengers and received less than 31 percent of the vote.

Changing demographics

Democrats see the 15-term congressman as vulnerable and are hoping that 56-year-old Rouda, an attorney and real estate developer, will be part of a blue wave that will help them retake control of the House. The GOP currently has a 23-seat majority in the House and attention is focused on California given several tight races and changing demographics that could work in favor of the Democrats. Rouda and Rohrabacher declined interview requests for this story. "I chose to run because I was floored by the fact that Donald Trump had won the presidency of the United States," Rouda said in January during a debate with Democratic congressional challengers. "Without any polling, without any idea what my chances would be, I made the decision to run for Congress to defeat Dana Rohrabacher. I believe I have the passion, the compassion, the leadership and the ability to win this race." Rouda started his career working at a law firm and later joined his family's real estate business. He then co-founded the Real Living residential brokerage brand in 2002. The brand is now majority owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

Rouda has raised nearly $1 million more in his campaign than Rohrabacher although both now have a similar amount of cash on hand as the flow of negative ads in the race begins to pick up.

Ad messaging

On Thursday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee started airing its first ad in the 48th District's general election. The 30-second ad takes a swipe at Rohrabacher's three decades in Congress as a period when he "started serving himself," including voting to increase his own pay 21 times. Still, Rohrabacher touts his lengthy experience in Congress in an ad featured on the front of his campaign website. "I've got 30 years of experience  and yes seniority  that can be put to work for you and for our country," he boasts. He goes on to blast the state's so-called sanctuary laws that protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and takes credit for getting several local jurisdictions to resist the sanctuary policies. Rohrabacher, a member of Congress since 1989, sits on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology as well as the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He also chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats.

Russia's meddling

In an interview with Bloomberg in July, Rohrabacher responded to a question about Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election by contending: "We meddle in their elections. We meddle all over the world at a much higher rate than what Moscow does." Rouda ran an ad in January that focused on Rohrabacher's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ad also claimed Trump and Rohrabacher were "siding" with the Russian leader over U.S. interests. Rohrabacher has been called "Putin's favorite congressman." Before serving in Congress, Rohrabacher worked in the White House as a special assistant to President Ronald Reagan from 1981-1988. Rouda, who was raised by parents who were Republicans, has said previously he voted for Reagan in 1980 but believes the GOP moved in the wrong direction on social issues so he switched parties, becoming a Democrat in 1997. Last Saturday, former President Barack Obama announced the endorsement of seven Democratic congressional candidates in California, including Rouda. Obama called Rouda "a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist helping all sorts of companies start up and grow and create opportunity. He's not running for Congress just to be in Congress. He's already been successful."

Trump's border wall

At the same time, immigration has been one of the major issues in the 48th Congressional District. Rohrabacher supports Trump's border wall and his website notes that he "opposes all efforts to legalize the status of those currently in the United States illegally." "I'm sick and tired of both parties holding the Dreamers hostage for other things they want to accomplish" Rouda said during a candidate debate in March. "I think our first item that we need to focus on is providing a path for citizenship for not just Dreamers but those other undocumented immigrants." On health care, Rohrabacher called the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare "disastrous" and pushed to repeal it. "Rather than make health care more affordable, as the Democrats promised eight years ago, the Obamacare bureaucracy managed to price health insurance out of reach for more and more Americans," he said last year. ACA is "a great program," Rouda remarked at a debate earlier this year with Democratic candidates. He added, "We have to go further" and look to universal health care.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Rohrabacher also found himself the subject of a prank recently when comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's new Showtime program, "Who is America" aired a segment featuring the veteran congressman. In the segment, the lawmaker backs a fake Israeli program that teaches kids ages 4 to 12 how to use a gun to defend themselves in the face of school violence. Rohrabacher called the segment a case of "sick fraud." Rohrabacher received an "A" rating from National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund for being "a champion for law-abiding gun owners." He's also received contributions totaling more than $40,000 from the gun lobby. His Democratic challenger backs a national ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He also wants to see a national 10-day waiting period on gun purchases and to strip firearm access for those persons listed on the government's "no-fly list." "There's been more deaths in our country by guns than deaths on the battlefield  and that's just since 1968," Rouda said in a Democratic debate in January. He also called for eliminating "dark money that comes into our elections" as a way to reduce the political power of groups fighting gun control legislation such as the NRA.

Offshore drilling

Finally, the two candidates in the 48th Congressional District disagree when it comes to offshore oil and gas drilling. There has been no federal expansion of oil drilling along California's coastline for more than three decades, and public opinion polling in the state has shown Californians oppose more drilling off the coast. Nonetheless, the Trump administration wants to expand offshore oil drilling. Rohrabacher testified in 2012 that he was a surfer and fully supported offshore drilling, because the consequences of banning it would make the U.S. more dependent on foreign production. "If I thought that offshore drilling imperiled the ocean, I would oppose offshore drilling," the Orange County congressman testified. "But that is simply not true." On the other hand, Rouda pledged to "work to protect California's most precious asset, our beautiful coastlines, from offshore drilling. We need to focus on consistently choosing clean energy over the fossil fuels of the past."
Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina on Friday morning with top winds of 90 miles per hour, prompting flight cancellations in the Southeast through the weekend.

Several airports in the region suspended operations. A spokeswoman at Charleston International Airport said flights were canceled until at least Friday night. Airlines canceled more than 700 flights scheduled for Friday. Some 200 flights, or about half of the departures and arrivals at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, were canceled.

More than 400 flights in and out of the region scheduled for this weekend were also canceled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.com. The cancellations, over 1,500, are minimal compared with last year's hurricane season, when more 20,000 flights were called off during three devastating hurricanes last year  Harvey, Irma and Maria, which hit major airlines' hubs.

Airlines urged travelers to monitor their websites for information about the storm.

Southwest Airlines stopped stop flying out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Thursday through at least Friday night. American Airlines canceled more than 800 flights in and out of the region through Sunday but said it did not expect the storm to cause it to cancel flights in its Charlotte hub.

American, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines said they capped some airfares at levels below what last-minute tickets would cost. Airlines were criticized on social media last year when fares soared ahead of storms. Last-minute fares generally spike during periods of high demand and airlines have to change prices manually for events like a large storm.

Carriers also waived fees for changing flights, baggage and for in-cabin pets for travelers who could be affected by the storm. Delta said it added about 1,000 seats to its service to the Carolinas ahead of Florence.

Charlotte airport said its staff on Wednesday checked emergency equipment and supplies like backup power and storm drains.

Airlines generally offer waivers and cancel flights ahead of time so travelers are not stranded at the airport and crews are not out of place when operations resume. They will also routinely keep aircraft away from affected airports.

Constant high wind of at least 41 mph can prevent Federal Aviation Administration staff from servicing radar and radio towers, so some systems could be shut down pre-emptively, the agency said.

Flight disruptions could continue after the storm has passed. The FAA said it could restrict air traffic, including passenger flights, to clear airspace for emergency flights.

Hurricane Florence will likely weaken into a tropical depression with winds under 40 mph and could affect Kentucky and Ohio followed by the Northeast early next week, the National Hurricane Center said. That could disrupt flights into the middle of the week.

Other companies with employees in evacuation zones shut down before the storm. Boeing, for example, said it flew some of its 787 wide-body jets from its factory in Charleston on Tuesday to Seattle to keep them out of the storm's path. It also suspended operations in Charleston as staff were evacuated ahead of the the hurricane.
NEW BERN, N.C. -- Hundreds of people are awaiting rescue from their homes as flood waters continue to rise from Hurricane Florence.

"We're estimating we've rescued 150-200," New Bern Police Lt. David Daniels said early Friday morning, who estimates another 150-200 waiting to be rescued.

More from USA Today:

Hurricane Florence: What we know on Friday morning

Hurricane Florence: A visual primer

Waiting for Florence: Tales from the front lines of an approaching hurricane

Authorities are advising residents who have not evacuated to go to the highest point in their homes, call 9-1-1 for help, keep their cell batteries charged as best they can and wait for help to arrive.

The National Weather Service office in Newport, N.C., in a tweet called the storm surge "catastrophic."

A US Geological Service gauge for the Trent River in New Bern, North Carolina was "recording 10.1 feet of inundation" as of 1 a.m.

Today Show tweet

According to the 3 a.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center, Florence was still moving at a speed of 6 miles per hour west-northwest and was located 45 miles southwest of Morehead City and 35 miles east of Wilmington. Sustained winds were reported around 75 miles per hour with gusts up to 90 miles per hour at Cape Lookout, North Carolina.

"Storm surge values continue to rise in areas of onshore flow on the North Carolina coast and over inland waterways. A USGS gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, recently recorded 6.3 feet of inundation."
Indonesia's largest ride-hailing, payments and services company, Go-Jek, plans to expand its presence across more markets in Southeast Asia in the near future, according to its president.

After officially launching its services in Vietnam earlier this week, Go-Jek is building up its operations in Thailand and working with regulators in Singapore and the Philippines, Andre Soelistyo told CNBC on Friday.

"Thailand is coming very soon ... the team is already working to operationalize the product," he said, adding that, for Singapore and the Philippines, "we're still working it out with local regulators, local teams to make sure that all the requirements are being checked properly, before we do the expansion."

Earlier in May, Go-Jek announced that it would invest about $500 million to move into the four markets over the next several months. The company said it would provide "technological support and expertise" to local founding teams that would then work on gaining traction in each of those countries.

The mobile app that was launched in Vietnam is called Go-Viet and is now available in the major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. On that app, users can book two-wheel rides and make use of courier services  the company said there are plans to introduce four-wheel ride-hailing, food delivery and digital payment services on the application in the future.

Soelistyo said the decision to launch first in Vietnam had several motivations, including its cultural similarity to Indonesia, and the high social media penetration rate.
Kathmandu, Nepal: A dent has spotted on a cargo door of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC)s Airbus 330 wide body aircraft just 21 days after it officially started its commercial flight operations.





As a dent spotted on cargo door of the A330-200 jet with registration mark 9N-ALZ named Makalu, it has been grounded from Friday.





It is said that the dent was spotted while carrying out post landing check of the plane by the engineers. The NAC authorities have said that cause behind the spotted dent will be investigated.





The newly brought NACs wide body plane is grounded just 21 days after it officially started its commercial flight operations leaving spaces to though who are raising question marks over undue purchase deal even suspecting of corruption.
The founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon believes Bank of England (BOE) Governor Mark Carney is "completely wrong" over the potential impact of a chaotic no-deal Brexit.

Tim Martin of Wetherspoon, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday that he believed the company was "trundling along nicely," shortly after reporting full-year profits had increased 16.5 percent.

However, this was in spite of ongoing uncertainty over Brexit negotiations between Britain and the EU, he added.

"There is a lot of smokescreen and there is a lot of people who don't know what they are talking about. We believe the country would be better off with no deal because it is a protectionist system  so why not say it?" Martin said.

Major British companies have called on the government to remain in a customs union with the bloc after Brexit, warning of the risk of additional charges and border delays if they are outside the common external tariff area.

However, Wetherspoon's Martin  who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU  believes a no-deal Brexit, would be in the U.K.'s best interests.

When asked about Carney's reported comments that a no-deal Brexit could lead to economic chaos, Martin replied: "I think Mark Carney has got it completely wrong, he has got a terrible record for making these sort of predictions."
A letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh that a top Senate Democrat referred to law enforcement details an accusation of sexual misconduct against the judge, The New Yorker reported Friday.

Kavanaugh denies the allegation.

A woman who did not want to be identified accuses the judge of trying to force himself on her during a party when they were both in his school in the early 1980s, according to the magazine. The New Yorker report says the woman claims Kavanaugh and a friend increased the volume of music to conceal an outcry from her, and that the judge covered her mouth before she got away.

Kavanaugh said in a statement, conveyed by White House spokesman Raj Shah: "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time."

The sexual misconduct allegation surfaces as Republicans move through a bitter process of confirming Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice. It is unclear now how it will affect Kavanaugh's chances of serving on the highest U.S. court as senators decide whether to vote for him during a national reckoning over sexual misconduct.

Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee will go on as scheduled on Thursday, said Taylor Foy, a spokesman for the panel's chairman, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Foy added that nothing resembling the misconduct allegation came up during previous FBI examinations of the judge's background.

The woman first detailed the allegation over the summer in a letter to her representative, Anna Eshoo of California, but decided not to speak publicly about it, The New Yorker said. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat and ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, eventually received the letter, as well. The New Yorker did not detail how it knew about the contents of the letter.

Feinstein first declined to share details with the committee's other Democrats, before agreeing to fill them in on Wednesday, according to The New Yorker. On Thursday, she said she referred the information to federal authorities. The FBI reportedly does not plan to open an investigation into the claim, and the bureau included the letter as an update to Kavanaugh's background check given to the White House.

In a statement, a spokesman for Feinstein said the senator "took these allegations seriously and believed they should be public." The accuser "made it clear" that she did not want the information to be public.

"It is critical in matters of sexual misconduct to protect the identity of the victim when they wish to remain anonymous, and the senator did so in this case," the spokesman said.

Read the full New Yorker story here.
The public entrance to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. Robert Alexander | Archive Photos | Getty Images

Take his Trump Tower apartment. Please. Former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort told prosecutors he preferred that they seize his apartment in Trump Tower rather than surrender one of the four bank accounts special counsel Robert Mueller's team was eyeing, Manafort's plea agreement revealed Friday. President Donald Trump's own New York residence is in that landmark Fifth Avenue building.

Manafort also agreed to forfeit his condominium property at 123 Baxter St. in lower Manhattan to the federal government instead of his home in Arlington, Virginia. The 69-year old Republican operative in all will forfeit an estimated $46 million worth of real estate and cash as part of his deal to plead guilty Friday in federal court in Washington to two counts of conspiracy. Forfeitures are common in criminal cases where defendants, like Manafort in this instance, are accused of reaping financial windfalls from their misdeeds.

Paul Manafort of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's staff listens during a round table discussion on security at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York, August 17, 2016. Carlo Allegri | Reuters

He also agreed to cooperate with Mueller's ongoing probes of possible collusion by the Trump campaign with Russians interfering in the 2016 presidential election that sent Trump to the White House. The cash is contained in three Manafort bank accounts  two at Federal Savings Bank and one at Capital One  as well as in a Northwestern Mutual insurance plan. He will retain another bank account. In addition to the Trump Tower apartment and the Baxter Street property, Manafort will also forfeit two other Big Apple properties: a condo at 29 Howard St. in lower Manhattan, and a townhouse at 377 Union Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. And he will give up his house at 174 Jobs Lane in Bridgehampton, in the Hamptons section of Long Island, New York. Prosecutors said Manafort dropped more than $5 million on improving that house and another $820,000 on landscaping there over a six-year period.

WATCH: Misleading to say Manafort plea exonerates Trump, says former federal prosecutor
In March, McDonald's turned its golden arches upside-down for International Women's Day. "We have a long history of supporting women in the workplace, giving them the opportunity to grow and succeed," said spokesperson Lauren Altmin at the time.

But in May, 10 women and girls filed claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging that McDonald's had ignored their complaints about various forms of sexual harassment while working for McDonald's, including, according to Law360, "groping, propositions for sex, lewd comments" and retaliation for reporting harassment.

According to the National Women's Law Center, a 15-year-old cashier in St. Louis alleges that an older male employee said "You have a nice body. Have you ever had white chocolate inside you?" When the girl reported the incident to her manager, she was reportedly told, "You will never win that battle."

One Chicago worker claims that she was asked by her manager if she wanted to see his penis. He later asked "how many penises she could take." After reporting the incident, the woman says, she was fired.

Workers feel that not enough has been done to address issues like these since the claims were filed. And so on September 18th, workers from 10 cities across the country  Chicago, Durham, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, San Francisco and St. Louis  will strike.

The walkout, which is set to take place at lunchtime, was voted on and approved by "women's committees" organized by McDonald's workers across the country, according to the Associated Press.
J.P. Morgan Chase Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon told employees that his takeovers of failed banks and billions of dollars in loans made during the 2008 financial crisis were done to support the country.

"Counter to what most people think, many of the extreme actions we took were not done to make a profit; they were done to support our country and the financial system," Dimon said in a Friday memo obtained exclusively by CNBC.



Dimon, 62, revisited the causes of the 2008 calamity and the moves the bank took in a memo sent on the 10-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.

The purpose of his message was seemingly to point out that, while his moves have benefited J.P. Morgan  now the world's biggest bank by market capitalization  at the time they were calculated risks.



J.P. Morgan acquired investment bank Bear Stearns and the retail banking assets of Washington Mutual during the tumult of the crisis. Those takeovers later lead to billions of dollars in litigation costs tied to mortgages, and Dimon has said that in hindsight he wouldn't have done the Bear Stearns deal for that reason.



In the decade since that seismic, once-in-a-generation upheaval, Dimon has pressed his advantages, winning a top market share in areas from credit cards to bond trading and plowing billions of dollars into technology. The company produced an industry-best $24.4 billion in profit last year.

Here's the full memo:



Message from Jamie Dimon

Dear colleagues,

A decade has passed since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, so now is a good time to reflect on the financial crisis that was raging 10 years ago this month. A lot has been written  and far more is still to be written  on this crisis, but I would like to share a few thoughts with you on that extraordinary period of time and everything that all of you at JPMorgan Chase did to try to help.

The gathering storm hit with a vengeance

While the collapse of Lehman in September 2008 was the epicenter of the crisis, it was actually far more complex than that  the roots go back before 2006. By late 2006, we already saw problems in subprime mortgages, leveraged lending and quantitative investing. With the onset of Basel II, leverage at investment banks (not commercial banks) more than doubled, as did shadow banking (think structured investment vehicles, collateralized debt obligations, money market funds, etc.). This was often funded by unsecured, undependable short-term wholesale borrowing. Then the biggest problem of all presented itself: It was not just subprime mortgages that were flawed, but all mortgages. This happened, in hindsight, by bad underwriting, government policy that fueled and fostered inappropriate mortgage lending (higher and higher loan-to-values, less and less cash down, weaker appraisals and income certification), unscrupulous brokers and cavalier investors. The banks, though not the worst actors in mortgages, joined the party, too. When the world realized that $1 trillion would ultimately be lost in mortgages, panic ensued. There were multiple failures  mortgage brokers, savings and loans (S&Ls), including WaMu and Indy Mac, as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (which were the largest financial failures of all time)  culminating in the dramatic failure of Lehman, followed by the extraordinary bailouts of AIG and other major financial institutions.

JPMorgan Chase did everything it possibly could do to help during this time

On March 16, 2008, we announced our acquisition of Bear Stearns, a company with $300 billion of assets, which had collapsed and had fatal problems (we were essentially buying a house  but it was a house on fire). And we did this at the request of the U.S. government (thinking at the time that this could help head off a terrible crisis). On September 25, 2008, 10 days after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, we bought the largest S&L, Washington Mutual, another company that had $300 billion of assets.

We took other extraordinary actions  often at calculated, but great risk to JPMorgan Chase  to support clients, including governments, and to support the markets in general. We loaned $70 billion in the global interbank market when it was needed the most. With markets in complete turmoil, we were the only bank willing to single-handedly lend $4 billion to the State of California, $2 billion to the State of New Jersey and $1 billion to the State of Illinois. Additionally  and frequently  we loaned or raised for our clients $1.3 trillion at consistent and fair rates, in many cases far below what the market would have demanded, and we provided more than $100 billion to local governments, municipalities, schools, hospitals and not-for-profits over the course of 2009. Many other banks did the same. You probably will be surprised to find out that we lent a tremendous amount of money to Lehman before the crisis  and even more after the crisis. In fact, at the request of the Federal Reserve, we took extraordinary risk to lend more than $80 billion (on a secured basis) to Lehman after its bankruptcy to help facilitate sales of assets in as orderly a way as possible to minimize disruption in the markets.

This was a traumatic, historic period of time for not just the financial system, but for the world as a whole. We endured a once-in-a-generation economic, political and social storm, and because of you, we have emerged 10 years after this crisis as a company that we can all be proud of.

The aftermath and lessons learned

Many people still ask me about TARP, a government program that provided funding to banks in the midst of the crisis. JPMorgan Chase did not want or need TARP money, but we recognized that if the healthy banks did not take it, no one else could  out of fear that the market would lose confidence in them. And while it helped create the false rallying cry that all banks needed support, the government, both the Federal Reserve and Treasury, was trying everything it could in addition to TARP. And they should be applauded for the extraordinary actions they took to stave off a far worse crisis. In hindsight, it is easy to criticize any specific action, but in total the government succeeded in avoiding a calamity.

There were many lessons learned from the crisis: The need for plenty of capital and liquidity, proper underwriting, and regulations that are constantly refined, fair and appropriate. In fact, the regulators should take a victory lap because Lehman, Bear Stearns, AIG and multiple other failures effectively could not happen today because of the new rules and requirements.

We entered the crisis with the capital, liquidity, earnings, diversity of businesses, people and risk management culture that enabled us to avoid most, but unfortunately not all, of the issues exposed by the crisis. These strengths also helped us to weather the economic crisis and to continue to play a central role in supporting our clients and our communities and rebuilding the U.S. economy. Counter to what most people think, many of the extreme actions we took were not done to make a profit; they were done to support our country and the financial system.

What stood out most was your character and capabilities  which make JPMorgan Chase what it is today

When the global financial crisis unfolded in 2008, the people of JPMorgan Chase understood the vital role our firm needed to play and felt a deep responsibility to those who rely on us. It was this sense of responsibility that enabled us to move beyond the challenges we were facing at that time and maintain a focus on what really matters: Taking care of our clients, helping the communities in which we operate  all while under extreme pressure from both the markets and the body politic  and protecting our company.

How we managed through the crisis is a testimony to the collective strength of character and commitment of you  our people. During those chaotic days throughout the crisis and its aftermath, many of our people had to work around the clock, seven days a week, for months on end. And they did it without complaint. The biggest lesson of the crisis: The quality, character, culture and capabilities of your partners is paramount.

Looking back and when I look around at the company we are today, I am filled with awe and admiration. For JPMorgan Chase, these past 10 years have been part of a challenging, yet defining, decade. Today, JPMorgan Chase is among the leaders in most of our businesses. I can't tell you how proud I am to be your partner and to witness your extraordinary performance. I can't thank our current and former employees enough for helping us get through those turbulent times and for the company we have become.

Your friend and partner,

Jamie




In a world swimming in debt, the next crisis is likely to bear at least a passing resemblance to the last one. The good news is that day seems to be a ways off. Not that anyone's in a hurry, but there are few obvious signs of a situation akin to the 2008 meltdown on the horizon. The financial system is well-capitalized and operating with lower leverage and risk-taking than in at least a generation or two. Economic pillars remain strong, the health of corporate America has rarely been better and new buffers put in place have been effective at absorbing shocks. In fact, if anything it's too quiet. That almost always has been the recipe for a good crisis. "There was abundant liquidity in the system in 2006, too," said Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO and director of intelligence for Quill Intelligence, a research and analytics firm. She also served as advisor to former Dallas Federal Reserve President Richard Fisher during the financial crisis, so she had a front-row seat to how it unfolded.

Indeed, before collapsing investment bank Bear Stearns had consistently ranked among Forbes' best-run businesses. Lehman Brothers had $275 billion in assets under management before the crisis and had generated $3.1 billion in revenue in 2007, the year before it too capsized. For DiMartino Booth, the exotic financial instruments that helped cause the calamity a decade ago and brought down those two venerable institutions, along with many more, are still lurking in the system, threatening a deadly repeat unless the issue is corralled. "We never addressed the root cause of derivatives in the first place," she said in an interview. "We still kind of operate in the dark as it pertains to the transmission mechanism of derivatives." Derivatives refer to instruments that package bonds into blocks that are then sold off to investors. Warren Buffett famously called them "financial weapons of mass destruction." In theory, they actually were meant to reduce risk by hedging exposure to any one security failing, sort of like the way exchange-traded funds combine entire sectors to alleviate exposure to a single company whose shares might slump. In practice, things were quite a bit different. Wall Street traders, in response to demand for yield from their clients, put together exotic bundles of mortgages, many tied to unqualified buyers who defaulted. Their structure was so opaque that many banks couldn't even value what they held, creating a crisis of confidence on Wall Street that took out some of the financial world's biggest names.

iStock

Flash forward to 2018. The gross market value of derivatives now sits at $11 trillion, the lowest since 2007, according to the Bank for International Settlements. New regulations are aimed at preventing banks from taking big risks and the old no-document loans that created the subprime meltdown are far less abundant than they once were. Yet the market for some products, particularly collateralized debt obligations and leveraged loans, has increased dramatically in recent days. CLO volume was up 51 percent year over year in the first half, according to Dealogic, while Thomson Reuters reports that volume for loans used in leveraged buyouts has surged 33 percent. Covenants, or protections for investors in bonds, particularly high-yield junk, are close to record lows, according to Moody's Investors Services. Meanwhile, the federal government keeps ringing up more and more debt  $21.4 trillion and counting  and interest rates are on the rise. In an investing world that continues to clamor for yield, the debt bomb is always ticking.

Trouble from abroad

"The search for yield has been spread across the globe once again, and now we're seeing it crop up again in different countries every week," DiMartino Booth said. "You wake up and wonder who blew up today." Indeed, a series of mini-explosions has been happening around the world, in countries like Turkey, the Philippines and India. Currency trading has gotten increasingly volatile, sparking worries that the U.S. may import its next crisis. "I'm concerned about the transmission mechanism," DiMartino Booth said. "Even if the initial catalyst to set off the next downturn does not come from within the U.S. financial system, that does not mean that the U.S. financial system is not just as vulnerable as it was before to be the conduit to spread systemic risk." Such an event, though, seems unlikely to happen anytime soon. The countries experiencing fiscal and currency issues pose little global risk, and most central banks remain vigilant against contagion. However, tightening financial conditions, the Fed continuing to raise rates and the sheer volume of debt instruments rising almost certainly means that while an earthquake may not be looming along the financial system's many fault lines, tremors are almost certain. "A lot of markets are going to reprice, but it won't be systemic," said Christopher Whalen, head of Whalen Global Advisors, an investment bank consultancy. "A lot of illusions will get broken, but spreads are still quite tight in the credit markets." In the interim, warnings about looming crises likely will get treated like the rantings of so many Chicken Littles who have been proven wrong time and again during the nine-year economic recovery. Few really believe in crises until they actually hit. "When we talk about leveraged loans and CLOs today, sure there's obviously a problem. Until you see a sponsor fail and file bankruptcy, then people will start to believe it, but not yet," Whalen said. "There is a significant mispricing of risk. That will come along soon. You're going to see prices fall a lot. But is it going to take the system down? No, unless there's some stupidity out there that you don't see."

Safety and danger ahead
No one will emerge as a winner if the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China escalate into a full-blown global trade war, one of Europe's leading industrialists warned on Friday.

With a strong growth average around the globe, the fundamentals of business remain "pretty good," and the trade tension is becoming a concern, Jim Hagemann Snabe, chairman of the supervisory board at Siemens, told CNBC at the Singapore Summit on Friday.

Snabe, who previously was co-CEO of German software company SAP, is also chairman of the board at Danish business conglomerate A.P. Moller - Maersk.

"It is concerning to see that the tensions grow," he said. "Right now, they don't have significant impact. They've been very targeted in certain categories. But of course, if this continues, it will have, in my opinion, a negative impact on growth and, with that, could have ripple effects on the economy  in particular in developing countries."

American officials are reportedly looking to have another round of high-level trade talks with their Chinese counterparts before the next round of tariffs are imposed. The U.S. is considering tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods for which a public comment period expired earlier this month. President Donald Trump raised the stakes further when he said he's ready to hit China with another $267 billion in tariffs. For its part, Beijing warned that it would retaliate.

The world's two largest economies have already applied tariffs to $50 billion of each other's goods.

While the impact of the existing tariffs have been fairly limited, Snabe said that an escalation would ultimately affect the global economy.

"The experience we've seen from the financial crisis 10 years ago is that the global economy is very connected," he said. "So, you cannot keep this as a bilateral conversation between two countries. It has effects on the entire value chain and, with that, it will have effects everywhere."

Many in the business community have expressed similar concerns, especially in the technology sector where most firms have supply chains around the world. American technology company Cisco's chairman and CEO recently told CNBC that the next round of tariffs could hit a lot of its "core networking products" and that the risk is "fairly significant."

A recent joint survey from the American Chamber of Commerce China and the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai found that many U.S. businesses in China are already feeling the negative impact from the initial $50 billion worth of tariffs from either country. Similarly, while Beijing holds firm, many Chinese companies are also acknowledging their worry about the trade war.

For his part, Snabe said he hopes that the next round of tariffs stay "at a level of warning and not escalate because nobody wins from a global trade war."
Domino's Pizza CEO Richard Allison said Friday that he worries about the "unintended consequences" that President Donald Trump's trade war with China could have on the company's international franchisees and dairy farmers.

Allison, speaking in an exclusive interview with CNBC's , said the U.S. pizza chain has been able to avoid some of the effects of the tariffs due to the company's practice of sourcing products locally in the U.S. and in many other markets.

There could, however, be some implications for franchisees in international markets that buy products from the U.S., he said.

The Trump administration is attacking what it sees as unfair trade on a number of fronts. A new round of U.S. tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese imports kicked in last month, prompting an equivalent retaliation from Beijing.

"Then also we have great partners in the diary farmers in the U.S.," Allison said in the interview Friday, "and we do worry about some of the unintended consequences for them along the way."

American farmers are among the hardest hit by China's retaliatory duties on everything from meats and dairy products to fruits and vegetables to rice and soybeans. The Trump administration unveiled a plan in July to offer billions in aid to farmers hit by tariffs, which was quickly condemned by some Republican senators.

The president is also hitting China and other countries with steel and aluminum tariffs. When asked about that, Allison said he expects a "modest" impact.

Allison spoke to CNBC from the company's largest supply chain facility in Edison, New Jersey. Domino's will have its grand opening for the warehouse on Friday morning. Domino's said it expects the new supply chain to create 150 jobs and supply more than 450 stores.

Domino's announced earlier this year that its then-chief executive, Patrick Doyle, would leave the pizza chain in June and would be succeeded by Allison, who was president of the chain's international business.

The company launched a new initiative this year called Domino's Hotspots, which lets customers order food to places without traditional addresses.

Domino's, with a market cap of $11.7 billion, has seen its share rise more than 48 percent so far this year.

By contrast, its rival, Papa John's, which has a market cap of $1.5 billion, has seen its shares fall 17 percent over the same time period as it deals with the fallout from a controversy involving its founder, John Schnatter, and weak sales. Schnatter resigned from his post as chairman on July 11 after Forbes published an article detailing a May conference call in which Schnatter used the N-word. Schnatter later apologized.

In the interview Friday, Allison said Papa John's current problems reminded the company to focus on its customers and franchisee.

Allison also commented on the NFL, which has suffered from poor ratings. He said he doesn't expect any impact on the company's earnings.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Adobe Systems  Adobe reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.73 per share, beating estimates by 4 cents a share. The software maker's revenue topped forecasts, as well, however Adobe's revenue guidance was merely in line with analysts' estimates after topping expectations for nine straight quarters.

Amazon.com  Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said a decision on where the company will build a second headquarters will be made before the end of the year.

L Brands  L Brands will close all of its Henri Bendel stores as well as shut down the brand's website in January. The handbag maker has been in business for 123 years and was bought by the Victoria's Secret parent in 1985.

Hasbro  Hasbro was added to the "franchise pick" list at Jefferies, which thinks the toy maker's stock could jump by 50 percent over the next 1-2 years. Jefferies said Hasbro has a superior brand and content pipeline that should boost sales and generate strong cash flow.

Dunkin' Brands  The stock was downgraded to "sector perform" from "outperform" at RBC Capital, which notes a turnaround for the restaurant chain but adds that this is now reflected in the stock's price.

Coca-Cola  Coca-Cola was rated "buy" in new coverage at Guggenheim, which calls the soft drink maker's stock a "best idea". Guggenheim thinks the company's sales and profit will come in above Street projections, thanks in part to Coke's global market leadership in highly profitable carbonated soft drinks.

Costco  The warehouse retailer's stock was downgraded to "market perform" from "outperform" at Wells Fargo, in a valuation call. Wells Fargo said Costco's performance has been "stellar" over the past year and the stock's price reflects that view, but thinks comparable store sales seem destined to slow this year.

Bunge  Point72 Asset Management has a 5 percent stake in the agricultural products company, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing

NiSource  NiSource unit Columbia Gas is investigating a natural gas pipeline rupture that apparently triggered dozens of explosions in three communities near Boston. At least one person was killed, in addition to about a dozen injuries.

Sanofi  The French drugmaker said that several of its key drugs were selling well and that it expected to report a return to growth beginning in the second half of this year.

Shire  China approved the acquisition of the British drug maker by Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical, the latest country to clear the $62 billion acquisition.
U.S. automakers in China are feeling the most pain as some American companies are getting hurt by new tariffs from both the White House and Beijing, according to a survey released this week from the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce in China.

The automobile industry is in the crosshairs of rising trade tensions between the two countries. In July, China raised the tariff on imports of U.S. autos to 40 percent just days after broadly cutting duties on foreign-made vehicles and parts to 15 percent from 25 percent.

The move came as both countries implemented tariffs this summer on $50 billion worth of goods from the other. Vehicles and components appeared on both lists. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has also proposed duties on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, while Beijing is planning counter tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods.

Industries of U.S. businesses operating in China that are most impacted by initial $50 billion tariffs from both sides

Source: AmCham China, AmCham Shanghai

The initial round of U.S. tariffs has affected 80.5 percent of survey respondents in the automotive industry, and 75 percent say the Chinese duties have hit them. That makes the industry the only one to appear in the ranks of the three or four most impacted by tariffs from both sides.

Overall, the survey found more than 60 percent of respondents are affected by the U.S. and Chinese tariffs, and significantly more expect negative impact from the proposed second round of duties.

U.S. companies that have supply chains running through China or that conduct a significant part of their operations there face "dual headwinds" from trade tensions, said Hannah Anderson, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Such challenges "are especially strong for companies that engage in a high degree of specialization and invest significantly for innovation."

The combined tariffs are reducing profits and increasing manufacturing costs for more than 60 percent of respondents in the automotive industry, the survey found.

As a result of such business pressures, roughly half of respondents in the automotive industry said they are looking to source components or assembly outside of China and the U.S., the survey said. A quarter of companies in the industry are relocating China-based manufacturing to southeast Asia, the report said.




Itanagar, Sep 14 : Floods wreaked havoc in Arunachal Pradesh after flood water washed away at least four people and several houses in the capital complex area on Friday morning.





Flood waters have submerged Doni polo colony area following incessant rains in the north eastern Indian state, bordering with China.





Several houses have been washed away by flood waters.





According to the local people, at least four people have been washed away and one body recovered from Papu Nallah near Naharlagun area in Papum Pare district.





On the other hand, six vehicles have been washed away from different places in the capital complex area.





Meanwhile, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team, district administration and police have been engaged in rescue operation.





Locals are also cooperating in the rescue operations.





On the other hand, local administration has set up two relief camps in the area.




The man behind the annual gathering of elites in the Swiss mountain retreat of Davos believes the financial crisis of 2008 has done little to inspire meaningful change in the banking industry. "Unfortunately, I have to say that we haven't learned too much," Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), told CNBC on Friday. Most analysts believe the global banking system is in a much safer position than it was before Lehman Brothers collapsed 10 years ago. That's because, amid a broad push for stronger regulation, lenders have been forced to increase their capital ratios to better protect themselves from external shocks.

"We have learned how we avoid a major global breakdown, and I think all credit has to go to the cooperation of central banks. But we have postponed to a certain extent the problem or we have found a way where we give the whole mess which we have created to the next generation to solve," Schwab said.



"We should not forget that the global debt today is substantially higher than it (was) at the beginning of the financial crisis," he added.

Banking risks 'very much under control'



Almost exactly a decade ago, the failure of Lehman Brothers roiled global markets. It was the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank when it filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, prompting an erosion of nearly $10 trillion in market capitalization in global equities over the following four weeks.

The collapse of Lehman unveiled that the bank had a huge problem with mortgage-backed securities  a kind of asset that was in fact worth very little compared to its price. But, more broadly, Lehman's problems were every bank's problems.
Ten years from the global financial crisis of 2008, the links between public debt and banks still remain, Peter Wuffli, the former CEO of UBS, told CNBC on Friday.

Wuffli said that remains a major risk for Europe.

"There is still, in a way, too much incentive for banks to invest into government bonds, and therefore not enough pressure to really put governments into a situation to do reforms on their state finance" Wuffli, now a vice chairman of the board of directors at private equity firm Partners Group, said at the annual Singapore Summit.

"Looking in Europe, that's currently the biggest risk," he said, pointing to Italy where there is "still no risk premium on holding government bonds, for a bank."

He said it would be "much better for the system" if bonds were not looked at as "risk free," so institutions invested in other kinds of assets.
If you're trying to guess where Amazon's second headquarters will be, forget about the complicated analyses of metro-area workforces, education levels, housing costs, colleges and tax rates.

Instead, take a look at where Jeff Bezos lives and where he spends his spare time. By that measure, Amazon's HQ2 will almost certainly be in the Washington, D.C., area.

If the history of corporate relocations teaches us anything, it's that CEOs often move their companies near their homes. When Newell Brands moved from low-tax Atlanta to high-tax New Jersey, everyone was puzzled  until they learned that CEO Michael Polk lived in New Jersey, about 25 miles from the new headquarters.

The Scott Paper Company, based in the Philadelphia area for more than a century, moved to Boca Raton in the mid-1990s. Its CEO and chairman, Al Dunlap, had a waterfront home in Boca.

Chipotle is moving its headquarters from Denver to Newport Beach. Why? It isn't the lower taxes or workforce. Turns out, the new CEO, Brian Niccol, lives there.

In his book "Edge City," Joel Garreau examined 38 companies that left New York City; 31 of them moved to Greenwich or Stamford, Connecticut, where the average distance from the CEO's home was a mere eight miles.

In other words, CEOs move their companies to locations convenient for the CEOs. And Washington, D.C., is quickly becoming a second home for Bezos.

After buying The Washington Post in 2013, Bezos bought the most expensive home in the district, paying $23 million for the former Textile Museum in Kalorama. The Obamas and Kushner-Trumps live nearby. He's spending at least $12 million more to renovate it and turn the 27,000-square-foot mansion into a lavish complex for living and entertaining.

According to floor plans obtained by the Washingtonian magazine, the home will have 25 bathrooms, 11 bedrooms, five living rooms, three kitchens, two workout rooms, two elevators and a 1,500-square-foot ballroom. It will also have a whiskey cellar, walk-in wine room and multiple bars. The dressing room has its own fireplace.

The property is actually two homes linked by a connecting walkway  one home will mainly be for the family and the other for guests and entertaining, with staff housing, changing rooms and offices, four guest bedrooms, a catering kitchen and "multiple bathroom stalls."

This is not the typical Washington pied-a-terre for the occasional lobbying trip. It's a true family home for the world's richest man. Bezos already checks in regularly with Washington Post Editor Marty Baron. Having the headquarters in D.C. or nearby northern Virginia or Montgomery County, Maryland, would allow him to fulfill both his corporate and journalistic duties in the same regular visits.

Plus, if there is one other focus Bezos will have over the coming decade beyond growing Amazon it is regulators. Having the headquarters in D.C. will allow him to step up his personal lobbying efforts in Washington while also sitting in the corner office.

In other words, Washington is already becoming Bezos' personal HQ2. So it would make sense to put the offices there too.

Of course, the D.C. area checks all the necessary business boxes listed in Amazon's requirements: an educated workforce, big airports, lots of tech firms, good culture for young workers, and it's a major metropolitan area. And there is nothing wrong with locating the headquarters for Bezos' convenience.

He is Amazon  and Amazon is Bezos. If Bezos can save time and travel by putting HQ2 in a city that he's already visiting regularly and can be comfortable for his family, that helps Amazon and its shareholders.

Who knows? Given his recent battles with the city of Seattle, and the size of his Washington home, he might even make Washington his primary residence  and HQ2 could become Bezos' HQ1.

WATCH: Amazon is so much more than online shopping - here's how big its become
Today, Tim Chen is CEO and co-founder of personal finance website NerdWallet, which sees 10 million monthly visitors and is valued at more than $500 million.

But in 2008, Chen found himself unemployed, much like so many others during the financial crisis that marks its 10-year anniversary this month.

After spending four years working at hedge funds like Perry Capital and JAT Capital Management, he found out "basically on Christmas Day," that he was being laid off, Chen tells CNBC Make It.

"It was super devastating, because I'd just been very achievement-oriented my whole life and I was very concerned with external status and all that stuff," says Chen, who graduated from Stanford.

But now, a decade later, Chen sees it much differently:. It turned him into a successful entrepreneur.

"I always dreamed of doing something entrepreneurial. I just never felt like I had the permission to," he says.

Stumbling onto an idea

Chen, 36, says he got the idea for NerdWallet "sitting around twiddling my thumbs," while out of work.

He had received an email from his sister, who was living in Australia, with a question about finding a credit card with lower foreign transaction fees.

"My first inclination was, 'Let me Google that for you and I'll get back to you in three minutes,' Chen says. "And, I was shocked I couldn't find anything on Google that wasn't basically marketing [or] promotional material."

Chen says he drew on his own finance experience and still it took him, a professional, a week of extensive research to compile what several major banks and credit card companies had to offer. He sent his sister an Excel spreadsheet breaking down her options.

Soon, that spreadsheet was being forwarded around widely outside of his own group of family and friends.

It made Chen realize there was "real shopability problem in financial services," where consumers often had to sift through banks' dense materials for information. Without a professional financial advisor, it's hard to compare products. Meanwhile, "Your checking account provider might give you a mortgage, a credit card, an auto loan, eventually insurance or wealth management services, and they'll make something like $50,000 off of you over the course of your life," Chen says.

"That's how the whole system works."

Chen wanted to offer more transparency with online financial services advice. So working out of his Manhattan apartment, he used $800 of his own money to cover start-up costs like web hosting and domain fees and software and started NerdWallet.

The plan was to provide pros and cons of various financial services and to answer questions, provide advice and aid people making financial decisions via articles written by professional personal finance journalists.
HANOI, Vietnam  Business and political leaders from throughout Asia gathered this week to meet in Hanoi for the annual World Economic Forum on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

As the world's two largest economies continue to wage an escalating tariff war, global trade was one of the primary topics on the agenda.

At a CNBC session during the conference that was developed in partnership with the World Economic Forum, Alan Bollard, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat said the trade friction between Washington and Beijing is "looking worryingly bilateral."

"There are some big currents around this region coming from there," he added.

For one, Hong Kong is grappling with the difficult trading climate, given the country's role as a bridge into and out of China, according to Victor Chu, chairman and CEO of First Eastern Investment Group. He said "there will be serious repercussions if the trade war is going to be more than a short-term phenomenon."

Chu mentioned that Hong Kong is "looking at closer relationships with Japan and ASEAN, while contributing to China." In fact, the city signed a trade agreement with ASEAN last November.
Paul Manafort, who once headed President Donald Trump's campaign, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy charges and has agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigations. Manafort's plea deal with Mueller dramatically ramps up the legal and political danger already facing Trump, who is being eyed by the special counsel for possible obstruction of justice. The deal came three days before the scheduled start of jury selection in U.S. District Court in Washington for Manafort's second trial. It also came several weeks after Trump blasted the practice of "flipping"  prosecutors getting defendants to cooperate against other people by offering them a plea deal  and said the commonly used tactic "almost ought to be illegal." Prosecutors said the Manafort's own deal, which will require him to forfeit an estimated $46 million in assets, includes a 17-page cooperation agreement with Mueller in which he will help the special counsel cooperate "in any and all matter as to which the government deems the cooperation relevant."

Specificially, Manafort must participate in interviews with investigators, provide documents and testify, if needed. The guilty plea by Manafort, 69, relates to money earned from consulting work on behalf of pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine and predate his tenure as chairman of Trump's presidential campaign. However, during his time on the campaign, he participated in a controversial meeting with Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with a Russian lawyer who supposedly had negative information about Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Mueller is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion by members of Trump's campaign in that effort. Mueller is also looking into whether Trump obstructed justice in an effort to influence the Russia probe. The special counsel previously obtained guilty pleas to crimes from Trump's ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn, campaign advisor George Papadopoulos and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, who was a Manafort associate. Last month, Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York. Those included tax crimes and a campaign finance charge related to the $130,000 hush-money payment Cohen said he gave to porn star Stormy Daniels at Trump's behest to keep her quiet about an affair she says she had with the president, who denies that tryst occurred.

A courtroom sketch showing Paul Manafort agreeing to a guilty plea on Sept. 14th, 2018. Artist: Art Lien

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," said press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the plea hearing was still going on. "It is totally unrelated." Rudy Giuliani, Trump's lawyer for the Russia probe, said: "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign." "The reason: the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth," Giuliani said. Within minutes of Giuliani issuing that statement, another Trump lawyer, Jay Sekulow, sent a "corrected statement" to reporters that said the same thing but omitted the words "and Paul Manafort will tell the truth." Manafort, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and purple tie, admitted guilt to revised charges of just two counts of conspiracy, which will effectively consolidate and resolve the two criminal cases against him in Washington and in Virginia federal courts. The two charges are conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice by witness tampering. The first count relates to a wide array of underlying criminal conduct.

"Is what the prosecution said true?" Judge Amy Berman Jackson asked Manafort. "I did. It is," Manafort replied. The judge then asked, "Are you ready to tell me if you plead guilty?" "I am. I plead guilty," Manafort replied. After the plea hearing in the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse, Manafort's defense lawyer Kevin Downing told reporters it was a "tough day for Mr. Manafort, but he's accepted responsibility, and he wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life." "He has accepted responsibility, and this is for conduct that dates back many years, and everybody should remember that," Downing said. No sentencing date was set for Manafort, who faces up to 10 years in prison, but who would likely get much less time behind bars than that. He also faces fines of up to $500,000 when sentenced. He will not be sentenced until his cooperation with Mueller is completed. Manafort was convicted last month in the Virginia case of bank fraud and tax crimes, which also was connected to his work in Ukraine. Jury selection for his second trial in Washington had been scheduled to begin on Monday for charges that included money laundering, failing to register as an agent of a foreign government and witness tampering. Friday's plea deal substantially winnows down the more than 20 criminal counts that Manafort either still faced or had already been convicted of. Before the deal, he faced the possibility of decades in prison, which given his age would have effectively been a life term. Manafort has been held without bond in jail since June after being charged with trying to influence witnesses against him. He will remain in jail pending his sentencing. Trump last month had contrasted his ex-lawyer Cohen's guilty plea, which did not include a cooperation agreement, with Manafort's stance at the time of having gone through his first criminal trial and not cooperating with Mueller. "I feel very bad for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," Trump wrote in an Aug. 22 tweet. " 'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.' Such respect for a brave man!" Read Mueller's case against Manafort:

WATCH: Trump reportedly still wants $200 billion in China tariffs
Will Paul Manafort tell special counsel Robert Mueller the truth? Trump's legal team apparently can't make up its mind.

After Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors working for the special counsel on Friday, President Donald Trump's legal team released the following statement attributed to Rudy Giuliani, Trump's outside counsel in charge of the Russia probe:

"Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth."

Minutes later, they seemed to reconsider. A "corrected" statement removed the bit about Manafort telling the truth. That statement said, in full:

Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong.

The story continued to change following the original correction. Following the revision, a source familiar told NBC News that the president's legal team believes that Manafort will tell the truth, despite pulling that assurance from the on-the-record statement.

Trump has offered words of support for his former campaign manager throughout Manafort's legal battle with Mueller. After Manafort was convicted last month on a number of charges Mueller brought in Virginia federal court, Trump wrote in a post on Twitter that "I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family."
President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with FEMA Administrator Brock Long and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in the Oval Office September 11, 2018 in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump is expected to visit the areas affected by Hurricane Florence next week, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday.

Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm as of 5 p.m. ET Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm has already claimed several lives in North Carolina after it made landfall Friday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing torrential rainfall and flooding to the state.

Sanders said that President Trump will travel to the affected areas early to the middle of next week, "once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts."

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said later that day that President Trump's visit can be arranged at an "appropriate time."
If the U.S.-China trade war takes a particularly nasty turn, a possible target for Beijing could be the multiple American-operated casinos in the tiny gambling enclave of Macau.

Such a move, however, is highly unlikely, according to one analyst who follows the Asian gaming sector. The reason, according to Jonathan Galligan, head of Asia Gaming and Conglomerates at CLSA: the U.S. casinos have played an important role in helping China achieve its economic development goals for the former Portuguese colony.

Macau was ruled by Portugal for more than four centuries before being returned to China in 1999. Like nearby Hong Kong, which was a British colony for a century and a half but returned in 1997, Macau is now a special administrative region of China.

U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening Beijing with tariffs potentially covering the entire amount of Chinese exports to the U.S. as he seeks to reduce his country's deficit in goods and extract concessions on other bilateral flash points such as technology and intellectual property. China, for its part, has responded with its own tariff threats, but its large trade surplus means it can't match the U.S. tit for tat.

That has led to speculation it might seek to apply pressure on the U.S. in other ways, such as making it more difficult for American companies doing business in the country.
Denmark's largest bank is the object of scrutiny by U.S. law enforcement over allegations of money laundering flows from Russia and other states, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The investigation, by the U.S. Justice Department, the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, is related to transactions at Danske Bank's Estonian branch over multiple years through 2015. The WSJ had previously reported the bank was looking at $150 billion of money flowing through accounts of non-Estonians at that branch.

A whistleblower complaint filed with the SEC more than two years ago identified Deutsche Bank and Citigroup as involved with transactions going into and out of the Danske Estonian branch, the WSJ reported. Deutsche Bank handled dollar wire transfers as a correspondent bank for Danske and Citi's Moscow office was involved in some of the transactions, the unnamed source told WSJ.

A spokeswoman for Citi had no comment, and a spokesman for Deutsche Bank also declined to comment. A spokesman for Danske Bank said by email to CNBC, "As a regulated business, we have interactions with authorities in various jurisdictions on an ongoing basis. However, as a general rule, we do not comment."

Danske began its own investigation into activity at its Estonian branch last year and is supposed to release a report on money laundering issues next week, the WSJ report said. The bank was already facing investigations by officials in Denmark and Estonia. In Estonia, officials were looking at more than two dozen former employees of the bank, including the former branch CEO. The former employees are accused of helping to launder $230 million from Russia.

Read the WSJ story here.




Guwahati : Mamata Banerjees All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) on Thursday had opened an office in Guwahati.





After Mamata Banerjees controversial statement over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updation process in Assam, the Assam unit of All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) had resigned from the party.





But, the TMC is again trying to make its strength in Assam as the party had inaugurated an office in Guwahati.





The TMC also formed an interim executive body of Assam unit.





Senior minister of Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, Firhad Hakim had inaugurated the party office in Guwahati in presence of party workers, supporters.





After publishing the complete draft of NRC by excluding over 40 lakh people, Mamata Banerjee said that - the NRC will lead to a civil war like situation.





Mamatas controversial statement had triggered massive protests in Assam and several leaders of TMCs Assam unit including president had resigned from the party.





Apart from it, a TMC delegation team had been detained at Silchar airport, who had arrived the Barak valley town to take stock the situation.





Firhad Hakim said that, he again visited in Assam after the Silchar airport incident to strength the party in the state.





TMC will become an alternative party to BJP in Assam. We opposed divide and rule politics, the West Bengal minister said.





Firhad Hakim alleged that, BJP and RSS are always trying to play divide and rule politics.




The State Bank of India (SBI) did not take any action on the legal advice it received to go to the Supreme Court to seek an order restraining liquor baron Vijay Mallya's overseas travel, The Indian Express reported.

Dushyant Dave, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, told Express that he offered this advice after the bank informed him about having an inking that Mallya may leave the country.

"SBI chairperson and people at the top within the government knew about this meeting and the advice given by me. However, there was no action taken on it, Dave was quoted by the paper.

It was agreed that they would meet Monday morning to get an order from the Supreme Court restraining Mallya from leaving the country. It was a very specific advice and even as we agreed to meet next morning at 10 am (the court opens at 10:30 am), the SBI officials did not come, he told the paper.

In reply, Arundhati Bhattacharya, the then SBI chairperson, told the paper: Mr Dave may say what he has to say. I am no longer with SBI and you may contact the present SBI management for responses.

The bank has also denied Dave's claims, according to the report.
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Hi! I'm an education beat reporter for Fall 2018, and I'm a senior studying print and digital news. Please provide me with any feedback, questions or tips you have  my email is kyle.lahucik@mail.missouri.edu and my phone number is 708.359.9917.

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Kathmandu, Nepal: Minister for Home Affairs Ram BahadurThapa has assured that the perpetrators of rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta would be arrested soon.





While answering the questions raised by lawmakers regarding the rape and murder of Panta during the meeting of House of Representatives, Home Minister Thapa assured to book the perpetrators.





The government has already directed the authorities concerned to book the perpetrators and I would like to make a commitment here to punish anyone found negligent in the investigation of the incident, Thapa said.





As zero tolerance policy against the perpetrators in rape and murder of women and children is adopted by the government, no one will get amnesty under any circumstances; Thapa said assuring to the lawmakers.




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While only a handful of carriers will support Apples Dual SIM (eSIM) at first, its arrival within the new 2018 iPhone range heralds more rapid adoption of the technology in the future, as industry consensus has mostly been achieved.

What is eSIM?

The promise of eSIM technology is that users can swiftly switch between network providers on the fly, accessing the best available deal or strongest coverage as they go. In truth, this isnt quite how it works  it is conceivable that it could, but linking up with a new carrier also means porting your phone number, and thats a task that takes time where it is possible at all. Dual SIM is also a big deal in emerging markets.

What do we know for sure?

We know this much:

Apple is making it possible to carry both a physical SIM from your primary carrier, as well as a built-in eSIM inside of its devices (except in China where local regulation demands use of physical SIM cards).

You wont be able to use this dual-SIM technology from the moment you take your brand-new device out of its box because Apple says it needs to enable the feature with an iOS 12 software update it intends to ship in a few weeks time.

Apple says the feature is intended for people who need two phone numbers (work and home, for example, or who want to use two different plans (international and domestic lines, or two PAYG packages), and for those who wish to travel with a local plan  enabling the locally available eSIM when they land, in other words.

The limitation of Dual SIM is that your iPhone needs to be unlocked in order to provision your eSIM for use with a different carrier, otherwise you must provision it with the same carrier as your device is locked to. I guess some carriers may figure out alliances with other carriers to free that process up for international travelers.

How do I enable my eSIM?

If you have an unlocked iPhone XS, XR, or XS Max, you need to get a QR code or a carrier app from a network that supports eSIM.

How to enable an eSIM with a QR code

Open Settings>Cellular, tap Add Cellular Plan and scan that QR code, and your second line will be automatically provisioned for you. You may need to enter a confirmation code, and you can enter information manually if necessary.

How to enable an eSIM with a carriers app

Get the app, purchase a plan.

If you don't have a normal SIM and your carrier supports it, an eSIM can serve as your only cellular plan.

There also will be an eSIM in the #iPhoneXs and #iPhoneXsMax.



Dual SIM Dual Standby will, in effect, allow you to use two phone numbers on one smartphone  great if you want separate numbers for work and personal use #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/W0HbySvGaF  Marc Allera (@MarcAllera) September 12, 2018

Can I use multiple carriers on my eSIM?

If you travel a lot, you might want to enable your iPhone for use with multiple carriers. The good news is that you actually can store more than one eSIM in your device, though only one can be active at any time. You switch SIMs in Settings>Cellular>Cellular Plans.

How do I manage my plans?

When you add a second line, you get to make a few decisions. You can label each eSIM you have provisions: Home, Travel, Portugal, for example. Apple's vice president of markeing, Phil Schiller, talked about these Cellular Plan Labels and explained that you can assign one of these as your primary line (usually your real SIM), which becomes the default number for calls, iMessage, FaceTime, and so on. You can change the default in three ways (which you can customize):

Use Primary as default

Use Secondary as default

Use Secondary for cellular data only

How do I use two (or more) phone numbers?

Once you set the service up, both of your phone numbers can make and receive voice calls and send and receive messages.

There are a few caveats: Your iPhone can use only one network at a time, and calls you receive on one line while you are talking on the other will automatically be sent to voicemail. You may want to set up call forwarding from any if your secondary numbers. (I guess Apple may introduce some new call handling abilities to help manage two lines, but I have no clarity on this at time of writing.)

Apple has thought up some clever ways to automate this feature. For example, if you call someone using one of your lines, your iPhone will use the same number to call them the next time you call that contact.

If you havent called someone before, it will use your default number, and you can also choose which number to call from when you call someone in your Favorites list, or when using the keypad. You also get to see two icons for network coverage at the top of your iPhones display.

Who will support Dual SIM?

Apples support pages confirm Dual SIM will be supported in the following countries/carriers on launch:

You will also be able to use services from GigSky and Truphone worldwide.

What about the GSMA?

Apple helped design the eSIM specification, but it didnt work alone. It first won an Apple SIM patent in 2011, joined the GSMA in 2015, and has been cooperating with others to develop and deploy the new eSIM standard. It began putting iterations of these things inside iPads in 2016 and Apple Watch since Series 3. Development of the standard hit a hurdle in April 2018, but this is unlikely to delay things for too long.

Why will eSIM proliferate?

Most networks now recognize that the future is connected. They also recognize that eSIM is a far better alternative when it comes to getting tens of billions of devices online than standard SIM tech.

Yes, there is a trade-off.

Traditionally, SIMs have helped network operators keep you locked to their services. This is changing. Networks want to keep their customers, but as T-Mobile shows with its hugely customer-friendly approach, or as Orange with its Orange Business Services demonstrates with its high-end enterprise services, the networks are looking to reposition themselves as something more engaging than dumb network-provision pipes.

Orange, for example, has been involved in developing eSIM technology within the GSMA. Oranges director of cross-divisional projects, Christine Lemoine, said at Mobile World Congress:

By 2030, we predict that 100 percent of devices will be fitted with an eSIM. This move into the mainstream market will be slow, since meeting the standards will involve major modifications to internal processes for the majority of operators, and the upgrade of devices for manufacturers, starting with the highly-anticipated overhaul of smartphones.

Thats in the long term.

More immediately, I think operators will begin to offer downloadable SIM profiles that they make available via the Apple eSIM.

They arent just doing this for Apple, however; dozens of networks and a number of device manufacturers are expected to introduce eSIM support across the next couple of years.

It is unknown if Apple will demand a slice of the action from networks wanting to offer connections via the eSIM, though Counterpoint thinks it likely. Apple can be the gatekeeper now, since it will have control over eSIM. Thus It will demand a revenue cut for the activations happening through eSIM, the analyst wrote.

What about an Apple network?

It is also unknown if this heralds a move on the part of the iPhone company to offer its own network (likely by licensing bandwidth from existing incumbents) in the future.

I will note that for Apple, offering its own network may seem a little more of a priority once it ships its own connected vehicles, but I think it is more likely to maintain its alliance with the networks.

That is because all parties in those relationships enjoy a profitably symbiotic relationship  not least because Apples iPhone users are also big users of mobile services, which makes them desirable customers for any network operator wanting to provide next-generation mobile solutions.

More information

Apple has good information on how to use Dual SIM iPhones.

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Got a story? Please drop me a line via Twitter and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know about new articles I publish and reports I find.
May dismisses claims of novichok assassins

Crime agency steps up assault on Russian dirty money  FT

Theresa May today blasted Russias novichok assassins after they claimed to be tourists stuck in Salisbury and called their story lies and blatant fabrication. The Prime Minister said the suspects, who used the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov to get into Britain, had insulted the publics intelligence and had been deeply offensive to victims. Today the suspected GRU agents, believed to be from Siberia, told state TV station RT they were only wandering around Salisbury after failing to get to Stonehenge because of snow. In the absurd interview the men even admitted they may have ended up at Sergei Skripals suburban home by accident while looking for the cathedral, which has a 400ft spire and is 25 minutes in the other direction.  Daily Mail

Comment:

Not even the Kremlin believes this tale  Roger Boyes, The Times

and tells Tory MEPs to distance themselves from Hungary

Downing Street has privately told Conservative MEPs to distance themselves from Hungarys authoritarian prime minister after they did not oppose him in a crucial vote. Leaked Whatsapp messages appear to show Number 10 intervening after Conservative MEPs were accused of giving bigotry a free pass by backing Viktor Orbans government in the European Parliament. Downing Street instructed MEPs to share a tweet saying they do not support Mr Orban and warned them not to comment further on the matter. In an unprecedented vote this week, the European Parliament ruled in favour of launching disciplinary action against Hungary, after Mr Orbans government was accused a crackdown on NGOs, the media and universities. Mr Orban has been criticised for his rhetoric about Muslim invaders and calling migrants poison.  Daily Telegraph

Conservatives refusal to censor Orban is a disgrace  Philip Collins, The Times

Cable has talked to six Tory MPs about new centre-left party

Bigger is not better for Britains parties  Henry Mance, FT

The Liberal Democrat party could change its name to attract Tory and Labour MPs to join it under a new centre left political movement, Sir Vince Cable has said  although he is against the idea. The LibDem leader said he has held informal talks with 18 MPs  six Conservative MPs and 12 Labour MPs  about creating a new centre-left party. There has been widespread speculation about a new centrist party if voters are faced with the choice between Jeremy Corbyn and a Brexiteer like Boris Johnson at the next election. Sir Vince will set out his plans to change the partys rules so it can be led by a non-MP and non-members can vote in leadership contests at the partys conference next week. Sir Vince  who is not expecting to fight the next election if it is held in 2022  said good relationships have been developed should the tectonic plates move with half a dozen Tories and a dozen-plus Labour MPs.  Daily Telegraph

Editorial:

The Liberal Democrats are missing their moment  The Guardian

>Today: Jessica Studdert in Local Government: Our national politics is broken. Renewal after Brexit needs to be built from the ground up.

Carney warns that no deal would lead to a crash

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has claimed that leaving the European Union without a deal could be as big a disaster as the 2008 financial crash. Today at a cabinet meeting on Brexit preparations, he told Prime Minister Theresa May that leaving on bad terms means dire consequences for the UK. Sources told The Guardian that Mr Carney suggested a no-deal outcome would slash house prices by 25-30 per cent over a three-year period. He is also said to have claimed that unemployment will climb into double figures in terms of percentage One cabinet minister told the newspaper that Mr Carney wasnt saying that everything he mentioned was going to happen but simply recognising the need to consider the worst-case scenario.  Daily Mail

Moodys agrees  Daily Mail

House prices would fall by a third  The Times

Ministers promise that Irish in Britain wont be affected  Daily Mail

UK passport holders could be banned from EU  Daily Express

Raab urges businesses to stop using Brexit as an excuse

Brexit Secretary clashes with John Lewis boss over blame game  Daily Mail

Thornberry: Britain has disappeared down black hole  FT

Local groups want vote on Brexit at Labour conference  The Guardian

Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, clashed with British business leaders on Thursday after he warned them to stop using the UKs looming departure from the EU as an easy excuse for poor company results. Mr Raab, who later published 28 documents about the impact of a no-deal Brexit on various industries and activities, admitted that a disorderly exit by Britain from the EU was a possibility. But he said underperforming companies were blaming the uncertainty over the Brexit talks for their commercial difficulties. I dont doubt that some of the uncertainty around these negotiations will have an impact on business  thats why we are putting all our energy into getting the good deal we want with our EU friends and partners, Mr Raab told the BBC.  FT

More:

Peers to mount fresh bid to keep UK in the Customs Union  Daily Express

Drivers will need to buy new licences  Daily Mail

Brussels insists UK must pay divorce bill  The Times

UK and EU set for legal fight over commodities trading  FT

Eurostars will be stopped, warn French  The Guardian

Freeman calls for May to stand down after Brexit

Theresa Mays former policy adviser has called on her to step aside after Brexit day next year to give a new generation the chance to shape the countrys future. George Freeman, who was chairman of the prime ministers policy board for over a year after she entered No 10, said that she should be given space to negotiate the divorce deal with Brussels then go with gratitude. The party would then need to hold a leadership contest to find a candidate with the best vision for the second stage of Brexit, meaning a contest next summer culminating at the Tory conference The intervention is designed to deflect calls from a handful of hard Brexiteers that Mrs May ought to be ousted if she does not chuck Chequers, her blueprint for Britains future relationship with the EU. Last week, one member of the European Research Group predicted that Boris Johnson could be prime minister by Christmas.  The Times

ERG being investigated over secret bank account  Daily Mail

Daily Mail brands anti-Chequers rebels traitors  The Guardian

>Today: Iain Dales column: Will May challenge her critics to put up or shut up  and herself get a confidence ballot staged?

Owen Paterson: Ministers must accept that the Irish border is no barrier to a proper Brexit

The perfect Brexit does not exist  Simon Hart MP, Times Red Box

Latest no-deal papers could finally crush the hard Brexiteers  Katy Balls, The Guardian

The key obstacle is the EUs concern over the possibility that goods could enter the EU single market through the border without being compliant with EU standards or tariffs. The paper which the ERG published today addresses this issue. It demonstrates that there are no threats to the integrity of the EUs single market and customs union on the border which cannot be resolved with the use of existing technologies and procedures which conform with existing UK and EU law. There is no need for new physical infrastructure at the border and there is no reason for this issue to hold up a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and the EU. Cross-border trade on the island of Ireland is mostly comprised of regular shipments of the same goods, with little third-country traffic. This repetitive trade is well suited to established technical solutions and simplified customs procedures already available in the Union Customs Code.  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday:

Javid dismisses plans for buffer zones around abortion clinics

The home secretary has ruled out calls to bring in buffer zones outside abortion clinics to prevent protests. Sajid Javid said that the move was not necessary because protests took place at a small number of facilities. The decision prompted anger from womens groups and MPs, who have said that patients and staff are being harassed and intimidated across the country. Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, began a review last year into protests outside clinics in England and Wales. Mr Javid said in a statement that it found examples of damaging behaviour such as displaying graphic images and blocking patients paths but these tactics were not common About 36 of the 363 hospitals and clinics in England and Wales reported demonstrations outside their facilities.  The Times

Hammond may extend latte levy to fast food chains

Gyimah unveils new scholarship scheme

McDonalds and fast food giants face a Budget Day plastics tax clobbering from the Chancellor  the Sun can reveal. Treasury officials are preparing to extend a planned latte levy on coffee cups to include burger chain soft drinks and shakes. Stunned industry insiders have been told that nothing is off the table as Philip Hammond lines up a Budget Day grab. Furious campaigners last night said the move would be slap in the face for people struggling to get by. Tory MP Rob Halfon added: The Prime Minister vowed to tackle burning injustices in modern day Britain. She shouldnt be charging people more for a milkshake at Burger King. Ministers earlier this year proposed a 25p latte levy on disposable coffee cups to tackle plastic waste from Starbucks and Costa Coffee.  The Sun

Youngsters from Britains poorest communities will go to Harvard and Yale under a scholarship scheme unveiled yesterday. Sam Gyimah, the Universities Minister, said he wanted a fair crack of the whip for those from deprived schools, and to break the stranglehold of the ultra-wealthy on the USs top Ivy League colleges. The bursaries will be funded with 400,000 of government cash each year. They will be run by the Fulbright Commission, an elite scholarship programme, which will explicitly target deprived youngsters for the first time in its 70-year history. Mr Gyimah said he wants to target those who never dreamed of attending US universities, which too often are playgrounds for Britains super-rich.  Daily Mail

Science can make our lives better, so dont be scared of it  Sam Gyimah MP, Daily Telegraph

Work to prepare young for the future drowned out by Brexit  David Blunkett, Times Red Box

Morgan accuses banker of misleading MPs

The last thing we need is Labour taking over RBS  Jeremy Warner, Daily Telegraph

Stewart calls for tougher knife-crime sentences

Ross McEwan, the Royal Bank of Scotlands chief executive, has been accused of deliberately misleading MPs in order to avoid disclosing a police investigation into an alleged bribery scandal at the banks restructuring unit. Nicky Morgan, chairwoman of the Treasury select committee, said that Mr McEwan had purposefully withheld information of relevance and interest when he was questioned by the committee in January about the banks disgraced Global Restructuring Group. At the time, the boss of the taxpayer-owned bank told MPs that he was not aware of any allegations of criminal activity within the bank. n fact, only months previously, the bank had alerted police to claims that a former GRG banker had taken a bribe from the owner of a small business in return for showing leniency towards his company.  The Times

Knife crime has surged to a seven-year high amid police fears of an epidemic of violence on the streets. And use of blades among children has rocketed to its highest level this decade. Courts dealt with more than 21,101 knife cases last year  the highest number since 2010  according to official figures. It is equivalent to one attack every 25 minutes and a 5 per cent increase on 2016 Knives and other sharp weapons have killed at least 64 people in London alone this year. Justice minister Rory Stewart said: Knife crime is horrifying, it causes catastrophic damage to families with tragic consequences. We need sentences that punish anyone who commits knife crime and deters anyone from doing it in the future.  Daily Mail

Surge in probation offences since privatisation  The Sun

Davidson attacks SNP over school performance measures

Jewish Labour MP threatened with deselection

Parents are left in the dark when it comes to school performance with only a handful of secondaries making information on attainment and curriculum readily available, it has been claimed. At First Ministers Questions, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson quoted new research suggesting just seven per cent of schools in Scotland abide by regulations governing what information they are required to make public. Ms Davidson said research by Professor Jim Scott of Dundee University will next week reveal how many schools comply with the Education (Schools and Placing Information) regulations introduced by SNP ministers six years ago. The regulations state information should be accessible on a host of matters including the subjects available to pupils and the performance of the school at local and national level. Ms Davidson said Professor Scotts analysis would show only seven per cent of schools make information on curriculum and attainment readily available while 20 per cent do not meet any of the requirements outlined in the regulations.  The Scotsman

A Jewish Labour MP has been threatened with deselection by a local activist after she spoke out on anti-Semitism, it was today reported. Dame Louise Ellman, who has been an MP since 1997, has been criticised by left-wing activists for speaking out on the scandal. And the chairman of her local Constituency Labour Party (CLP) called for her to be ousted by activists, the Jewish Chronicle reports. Tim Hayden reportedly called for her to go at a meeting of Liverpool Momentum group on July 31. He said: Its time for a change. MPs shouldnt have a job for life  because there are MPs in this city campaigning to undermine Jeremy Corbyn. These MPs think they can ignore the membership. In Riverside weve seen that happen time and time again.'  Daily Mail

Abbott walks away from teenager questioning her comments about Orthodox Jews  The Sun

Union boss faces calls to resign after blaming Israel for antisemitism row  Daily Mail

Canterbury MP considers her future  The Guardian

Comment:

The hard lefts tactics always backfire  Charlotte Leslie, Daily Telegraph

Abbott sparks outcry by comparing Tory policies to African tyrant

UK eyes post-Brexit migration regime based on trade deals  FT

Welby criticised for hypocritical TUC speech

Diane Abbott sparked anger by linking the Governments immigration policies to those of murderous African dictator Idi Amin. The Shadow Home Secretary claimed Tory ministers were failing to treat migrants as humans  and drew comparison with the racist Ugandan tyrant who expelled all Asians from his country. The Labour MP also suggested the Conservative stance could lead to children being detained in cages like on the US-Mexican border. Last night opponents blasted the comments  inserted at the last minute into a keynote address  as outrageous. Idi Amin, who died in exile in Saudi Arabia in August 2003 aged 78, ethnically cleansed up to 500,000 people in mass executions and tribal purges in eight bloody years in the 1970s.  Daily Mail

The Archbishop of Canterbury is facing accusations of hypocrisy after it emerged that the Church of England uses zero-hours contracts and invests in Amazon despite his attack on both in a speech this week. The Most Rev Justin Welby was told to practise what he preaches after The Times found that the church advises its parishes to issue zero-hours contracts to workers and is advertising for roles that use them. Archbishop Welby told the TUC conference this week that the gig economy, zero-hours contracts, is simply the reincarnation of an ancient evil. The official church website run by the Archbishops Council, of which Archbishop Welby is the joint president, includes guidance that tells parishes to use zero-hours contracts when employing staff on variable hours.  The Times

God aside, for whom does Welby speak?  Simon Jenkins, The Guardian

Dabbling in politics will hasten the Churchs decline  Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph

>Today: ToryDiary: Welbys next stop should be a small business conference

SNP minister apologises over cancer scans

News in Brief:

The Tories are conspiring to chuck the Chequers plan  James Forsyth, The Spectator

Ministers should seize the EUs offer of zero tariffs on goods  Alastair MacMillan, Brexit Central

Carping about Amazons tax bill misses the point  Tom Westgarth, CapX

Brexit is an opportunity to fix our crumbling institutions  Mark Fox, Reaction

On immigration, the UK has failed to use its wiggle room for years  Sophie Jarvis, 1828

The SNPs new Health Minister has apologised to almost 1,800 elderly women after a computer blunder meant they were not invited for their final breast cancer scan. Jeane Freeman said it would be a worrying time for the the 1,761 women affected after a review of the Scottish Breast Screening programme discovered they had not received their final appointments. However, the total she cited does not include women who have since died. The mistake means the checks will have been delayed by up to three years. All females in Scotland are supposed to be invited for routine breast screening between the ages of 50 and 70. But an error meant a total of 1,761 women, now aged over 71, were not contacted before their 70th birthday because of computer delays.  Daily Telegraph
UPDATED

Hurricane Florence pummeled North Carolina with ferocious winds and rain after it made landfall near Wrightsville Beach as a Category 1 storm early Friday morning.

Florence, which was downgraded to a tropical storm, left three dead in North Carolina and more than 600,000 customers in North Carolina and about 90,000 in South Carolina in the dark. In the city of New Bern, hundreds were rescued after being trapped by floodwaters after the Neuse River flooded parts of the city.

Tim Markley, the superintendent of New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, ventured outside Friday morning during a lull in the storm, but was only able to make it around the block before his path was blocked by fallen trees.

Its still a slow-moving storm, but at least its moving, said Markley, who was among the thousands of customers without power.

Markley was waiting for power to return before inspecting schools. It will be days before he makes it out to Wrightsville Beach. He said hes worried about damage to one of the districts schools.

Five of the districts schools are serving as shelters, and while there was some leaking at a some of them on Friday night, the shelters continued to operate, he said. They were all equipped with back-up generators, he said.

The storm, which is moving slowly at 5 miles per hour, is expected to linger through the weekend, and authorities in North Carolina warned that every part of the state was likely to feel some impact, including its mountainous western part, which could experience landslides.

On Friday afternoon North Carolina authorities reported three deaths as a result of the storm, with others under investigation. The deaths included a mother and infant who died when a tree fell on their home in Wilmington, an individual in Pender County who suffered a heart attack, and another who died while plugging in a generator in Lenoir County, the New York Times reported.

Before Florence hit the Carolinas, school officials told Education Week on Thursday that they were worried about the massive amounts of rain the storm is expected to dump in the region.

Whatever relief they felt when Hurricane Florence was downgraded from a Category 4 to a Category 2 storm was quickly replaced with anxiety over the widespread flooding that could result from the storms effects lingering into next week.

Thirty inches of rain is obviously going to cause an issue[including] leaking and flooding, Markley said. Weve got 45 schools; so, its something well watch.

Two schools on Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach, the latter of which was damaged in a storm about 15 years ago, are of particular concern, Markley said.

On Thursday, the governors in North Carolina and South Carolina made last-minute pleas to residents in low-lying areas to leave. More than 12,000 people were in shelters in North Carolina as of Thursday afternoon, North Carolinas Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday.

The National Hurricane Center predicted a dangerous storm surge, and rainfall of between 20 to 30 inches, with 40 inches expected in some places. Even areas far inland in both states, as well as southwest Virginia, were expected to get up to 12 inches of rain.

More than 1.1 million students in North Carolina and about 450,000 in South Carolina were affected by storm-related school closures. Schools from South Virginia to Virginia closed in advance of the storm, with some shuttering as early as Tuesday.

By Friday morning, Beaufort County, S.C., was only projected to receive one inch of rain, and superintendent Herbert Bergs staff was already out inspecting schools and contemplating opening early next week.

The district decided by noon that it would reopen on Monday.

Berg closed schools on Tuesday when Florence was expected to hit the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane.

He has no regrets about the early closure, especially in the vast county with 22,000 students, many of whom take buses to school.

You have to err on the side of safety, Berg said.

Berg was initially worried about whether all staff members would be able to return in time for classes on Monday. About 25 percent of the faculty evacuated when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered mandatory evacuations of Beaufort and other low-lying counties last wee k.

While some went to nearby Atlanta, others traveled as far as Ohio and Indiana, he said. They would likely face damaged roadways, downed trees, power outages and other roadblocks on their way back, which could delay their return, he said.

On Thursday, Horry County, S.C., Superintendent Rick Maxey was worried that the combination of excessive rainfall coupled with tropical storm-force winds could lead to more trees falling on electrical lines, extended electrical outages, and a prolonged recovery, he said. About 2,500 evacuees had sought refuge in six public shelters in the districts schools late Thursday.

Still, as the winds picked up on Thursday afternoon, Maxey was hoping for the best.

I am just hoping and praying that were going to be able to get through the next couple of days with as minimal damage as possible, and I extend that to the community, and citizens, and of course our students and their families, he said.

Maxey has lived through tropical storms. His first in South Carolina was Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Ive been here almost 30 years as a resident of Horry County, he said. I dont think you ever get accustomed to it, but you recognize what it going to happened before, during, and after a storm when youve lived through so many of them.

Markley, the New Hanover County superintendent, spent much of Thursday visiting schools, five of which are serving as shelters for residents and families who had not evacuated. He also checked in on emergency operation centers. As of early Thursday, three of the five shelters in the districts schools were full, he said.

One of those schools was overseen by Heather Byers, the principal of Eaton Elementary School.

Byers, whose own family left town because they werent sure that their house would be able to withstand Hurricane Florences wrath, planned to stay at the shelter through the weekend or until she was relieved. She said she was happy to help provide some shelter and support to families who may not have had the means to leave or family outside of the area with whom to stay.

Before schools closed on Tuesday, principals and staff went through their hurricane-preparation checklist to secure buildings, including storing equipment, unplugging items, and elevating others that could be damaged in the event of a flood.

Even before the district shut down, Markley had been in touch with the state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson about possibly obtaining waivers for missed instructional days.

For now, Markley, who lives is Kure Beach, is just waiting out the storm with family in Wilmington.

Everyone is sort of hunkered down, he said Thursday afternoon.

Photo caption: Civilian Crisis Response Team volunteer Amber Hersel helps rescue 7-year-old Keiyana Cromartie and her family from their flooded home on Sept. 14, in James City, N.C., after Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 storm.

--Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Jessica Studdert is the Deputy Director of the New Local Government Network.

For those of us on the outside, politics at Westminster has become a macabre spectator sport. We must watch from the sidelines while the different teams, no longer defined by party political colour, tear chunks out of each other and grapple for the upper hand. Dignified it is not. In the two years since the EU Referendum, there has been little attempt to build consensus amongst a heavily divided population. Instead we seem destined for deepening polarisation between two extremes, those in the middle held hostage to the dogmatic views of the boldest characters in Parliament.

With national politics distracted, the institutions of government have all but ground to a halt. Whitehall departments are in a frenzy planning for the wide range of Brexit scenarios that still exist. The deep challenges our country faces  stagnating productivity, lack of social care, and a prolonged housing crisis, to name a few  remain largely unaddressed. Personnel changes due to a steady stream of ministerial resignations make continuity and sustained attention to these problems impossible. Lacking the bandwidth for rigorous policy-making, new announcements are no longer written on the back of a fag packet, they are taken from the side of a bus. The 20 billion promised to the NHS came not from finely calibrated Treasury calculations but from numbers concocted by the Leave campaign in the heat of the referendum.

While there is national political division and policy inertia, there is an opening for local democracy to step into the void. Local politicians are used to being ridiculed and belittled by those in high office at Westminster, but the ongoing farce of our national politics means MPs can hardly sustain a claim to a virtuous high ground.

The EU referendum revealed a country divided geographically. Cosmopolitan urban areas tended towards Remain and former industrial and coastal areas voted in larger proportions to Leave. The implications of Brexit will also have a geographical dynamic  forecast by the Governments own regional impact assessments  with the North East set to be hit hardest. Perversely there is a correlation between those areas that voted more strongly to Leave, and those who are predicted to be hardest hit economically by the fallout. This apparent anomaly can be met with a shrug and a told you so by the national policy establishment, but the risks of ignoring the clamour to take back control will only store up deeper discontent and volatility in the future.

While our national politics is proving incapable of a coherent response, it is from the local level that a renewed optimism for the future should take root. Just as lack of trust in international institutions drove the vote to Leave, so a renewed faith in the role of local institutions must be sustained if there is a serious chance of reconnecting with those who feel left behind.

The local democratic space  overseen by representatives drawn directly from the community themselves  has much more chance of credibility and legitimacy in an era of little of either in our national system. There are already many examples of local councils pioneering new approaches that seek to create local resilience for the future. Prestons community wealth-building model involves shifting local public sector spend towards local supply chains. Hull has used blockchain technology to create a new local currency, HullCoin, which people can earn by volunteering. Cornwall is pioneering a twenty-first century rural economy with the UKs first horizontal spaceport. And Westminster Council launched a voluntary mansion tax for its wealthiest residents to fund vital services for the wider local community.

These examples show how local government is pioneering its own solutions. There is certainly still a need for local government as a whole to evolve  to more explicitly recognise its role as a broker of dialogue within communities and seek deeper engagement from people in decisions than tick box consultations. But nationally, policymakers should admit that in the absence of bandwidth from SW1 for the foreseeable future, devolving power and budgets directly to localities will have more chance of getting the tangible results that people seek. And an end to the extreme funding cuts for local government would help rebuild capacity to engage.

Ultimately, those who inhabit the institutions of government  at all levels  need to recognise that democracy is a process, not an event. It is not a one-off shock to the system, the fallout from which reverberates for ever more. It is a sustained process of ongoing dialogue and engagement that must be driven by the people. It is therefore all the more necessary to do democracy from the ground up  the sense that it can be imposed from the top down is what is leaving many feeling so alienated.

While our national politics is broken, local democracy needs to step in and begin the process of healing.
Ted Yarbrough is studying law. He has written a thesis on Thatcherisms effect on British culture.

It is March 2019 and the UK has finally reached a Brexit agreement! No, it is not with the EU  unfortunately those talks broke down over the issue of Northern Irelands lightly trafficked border.

No, this deal is with the US. This deal will avoid a cliff-edge hard Brexit: the food and medicines will continue to pour into Britain, and the locusts will stay at home.

So what kind of deal did the US agree to with Britain? Chequers! Thats right, Donald Trump, due to his admiration of Theresa May and the United Kingdom, agreed to simply take the Chequers Plan and replace the role of the EU with the US. What exactly would American Chequers entail? Here follow some highlights.

Under this agreement the US and UK agree to a common rulebook for goods and agri-foods. What does this mean? Well, since the US is far larger than the UK, it means the UK accepts US standards for all manufactured and agricultural goods. Since the UK is a service-based economy and the US is so much larger than the UK, the UK practically understands that in order to have access to the USs massive single market the UK needs to conform to American standards.

Not to worry though, the UK can deviate from US standards  but they agree that there will be consequences for market access if the UK decides to deviate from any of the US standards  which include fines payable to the US government.

What happens is there a dispute between the US and UK? Any dispute between the US and UK will be resolved by arbitration. However, arbitrators will pay due regard to (obey) the decisions of the US Supreme Courts and other lower courts to have ongoing harmonisation with US rules on goods.

The UK can make independent trade policy and set its own tariffs  but only so much as it does not interfere with the facilitated customs arrangement with the US.

The US and UK agree to a mobility framework which gives US citizens preference to work and study in the UK over other nations workers and students. The UK also agrees to pay payments to the US budget for an undisclosed period of time in order to have access to the US Single Market. The UK will not be allowed representations in the US congress, bureaucracies, or courts.

Sounds great, doesnt it! The UK gets access to the worlds largest single market  an economic powerhouse that grew over four percent in the last quarter alone! Besides that access, the US graciously allows the UK to have independence in some sectors (for now, President Trump said they could discuss the issues after a transition period) such as having an independent currency, services, and fishing! The UK gets to take back control of its laws, its borders and its money (mostly)! A win for the pragmatic approach of Theresa May, Olly Robbins and Gavin Barwell.

You and I know both know that there is no way that this deal would pass through Parliament. Such a deal would be a national humiliation and make the UK a US lackey and vassal state. However, why would this deal be objectionable to the Parliamentary Remainers and their allies?

After all, they want the EU to be in full control of UK standards, they want submission to European courts, they want Europeans to have immigration preference, they want the EU to control trade policy, and they want the UK paying into EU coffers. Why oppose a similar deal with the US when the US a bigger economy than the EU27, speaks the same language, and has a more similar judicial system?

It is not hard to see why the Europhiles want UK submission to the EU but would abhor it in regard to the US  it is entirely political. The EU is, and always been, a political project. Economic arguments are secondary and frankly flimsy  the UK has a trade deficit with the EU, but a surplus with the US, and the EUs economic importance continues to shrink as an estimated 90 per cent of future economic growth will occur outside the EU.

For the hard-core Europhile the goal is, as Kenneth Clarke said, to make the UK Parliament just a council chamber in Europe. The EU is an oligarchy that holds to enlightened, liberal views that allows easy travel and protection from the whims of the boorish voting publics (especially the British). Losing the EU is the tragedy for the Europhile; the economy, and the sovereignty of the British people, is of little to no importance.

Just as the British people and politicians would not accept rule by their American allies, the British people and politicians should not accept rule by the EU in another form. Chuck Chequers and go global.
The pantomime excuse given by the men wanted for the Salisbury attack isnt aimed at us, but at Putins domestic audience

The version of events presented by the two Russians wanted for the nerve agent attack on Salisbury is ridiculous. It has understandably become an international point of mockery.

In the words of James Morris, the former Downing Street pollster, one line of excuse being pushed is genuinely now that a couple of Russian gay steroid dealers flew from Moscow to the UK to see Salisbury cathedral twice (because Stonehenge was closed). As others have pointed out, supposedly these two born-and-bred Russians were deterred from their sight-seeing in Salisbury because of a smattering of icy slush, a weather condition which apparently they have little experience of.

So why concoct such an obviously farcical line? Surely, Putinists and the terminally gullible argue, a murderous spy agency, acting on behalf of a hostile foreign power, would come up with a better cover story than this?

The existence of that argument partially answers itself. The Kremlin knows full well that there are various useful idiots in the West who will willingly regurgitate any message they put out. And put it out they did, choosing their own propaganda station Russia Today as a conveniently unquestioning outlet: more an instance of a press office releasing their organisations own line than a media outlet securing a scoop.

As weve recounted before on this site, there is a bizarre fringe in the UK  some of it, shamefully, on the right  which has either fallen hook, line and sinker for the disinformation distributed by Russia Today, Sputnik et al, or which finds it ideologically convenient to align itself with Putinism. That phenomenon is both obscene and ridiculous, producing Brits willing to credit and recite the most incredible and absurd spin, rather than accept the proven reality of Russias aggression and hostility towards their own country and fellow citizens.

Some of those people have dutifully taken up the cudgels on behalf of the Salisbury suspects, and are contorting themselves into increasingly disgraceful positions in public. But thats a side benefit for the Kremlin of putting out this charade  the cherry on top of a particularly toxic cake.

The real audience for all this is domestic to Russia. Why would Putin and his colleagues produce such a transparently made up version of events? To demonstrate to their own people that they can do so and get away with it.

They know  or believe they know from past appeasement  that this murderous attack on British soil will go essentially unavenged, and so they take the opportunity to make a public pantomime of the assassins defence, a nudge-nudge, wink-wink demonstration to their support base at home that they can attack a NATO member, get away with it, and not even have to seriously pretend deniability.

Is it laughable? Of course. Does it mean the GRU and other Russian agencies are a joke? Not at all. Dont interpret this account as proof that they are incompetent; rather it signifies that they simply dont care that we know it is false  and they want to parade that they dont care.

This isnt the first example of this attitude. It was exhibited in the apparently lax control of the poisons used in this case and in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Splashing a radioactive isotope around London, or leaving a bottle of nerve agent in a park, isnt a sign that the assassins were amateurs, but that they are not bothered who else might get hurt, and they believe they can act with impunity on British soil.

It falls to the Government, and to our allies, to disabuse them of that belief.
Iain Dale: Will May challenge her critics to put up or shut up  and herself get a confidence ballot staged?

Iain Dale is an LBC presenter, a commentator with CNN and the author/editor of over 30 books.

I wonder whether Theresa May is considering doing a John Major. OK, it wouldnt be the first time, I hear you snigger at the back. Could she be considering calling a put up or shut up vote of confidence in her leadership?

It would be done on the basis that the boil needs to be lanced at some point, and that it would be better done at a time of the Prime Ministers choosing rather than that of the European Research Group. Downing Street will have been shocked to learn that, according to reports, much of the time at an ERG meeting on Tuesday evening was spent discussing the leadership issue. About 50 MPs were present and apparently not one stood up for May.

I am as opposed to Chequers as anyone who was there, but I cannot understand the logic of any MP who thinks that a change of leader, as we enter the most important six weeks of the Brexit negotiations, would be a good idea. I interviewed Andrew Bridgen on Wednesday  an MP who openly admits he has sent a letter of no confidence to the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Graham Brady.

At least hes honest about it, I suppose. Im not sure, hes thought it through, though. Suppose there were to be a confidence ballot next week and the Prime Minister then lost it (which I doubt she would).

What would happen then? Another coronation? Because if it isnt one, then there would surely be only one option  to extend Article 50 beyond March next year. And there isnt a potential leadership candidate who would survive agreeing to that. Mays critics need to explain how they would get around that obstacle, because I for one cant see a way.

As I understand the leadership election rules, if the Prime Minister called a confidence vote and won it then, even if 48 MPs put in letters demanding another another vote early next year, such a vote could not be called for twelve months after the last one.

Will May call her opponents bluff? Well, the last time round she took a big risk was when she called an election  and it didnt quite work out how she had intended. She would need a lot of convincing by her advisers, I suspect. But I wouldnt rule it out. And the time to do it, assuming that the Conservative Party conference goes OK for her, would be straight afterwards. Stand by your beds.

         

John Lewis have suffered a 99 per cent fall in profits. The company blames this on the Brexit negotiations. I can just imagine Mrs Miggins from 32 Acacia Avenue, Scunthorpe, standing in the bedding department thinking to herself: Id better not buy that nice eiderdown in case that nice Mr Barnier turns nasty.

John Lewis. Never Knowingly Underspun. Its a bit like the Sky News exclusive about mobile phone data roaming charges to be reintroduced in the event of a no deal Brexit. That one took less than 24 hours to unravel. Never wrong for long, is the phrase, I think!

         

A touching moment during Jean Claude Junckers State of the Union speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs interrupted his speech to applaud something he had said. He restarted his speech by saying: Thank you for your applause, as it gives me an opportunity to drink. He looked most perplexed when the place broke out into laughter. Cant think why.

         

Still no word on who will take over from David Dimbleby on Question Time, or Eddie Mair on PM. Or Chris Evans on Radio 2 for that matter. For what its worth (and its not a lot) my two tips for the first are Kirsty Wark or Victoria Derbyshire. For PM, Chris Mason or Jane Garvey. And for Chris Evans, Sarah Cox or Zoe Ball. But if youre of the betting persuasion, Id probably ignore all those names if I were you, given my track record of late.

         

Donald Trump just cant please anyone. Hes damned for his reaction to Hurricane Florence even before it has hit the shore. There almost seems to be a will for FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to fail in its task of protecting the good people of South Caroline and Georgia.

Trump has done his best to warn people of the coming nightmare, and to provide FEMA with all the resources it needs. If FEMA fails in any shape or form, it will be Trump who cops the blame, something he really doesnt need with the Congressional mid-terms in the offing.

Trump is a bit like Theresa May in one sense. He doesnt emote well in public. If he hugs someone, it looks awkward. Barak Obama and David Cameron, by contrast, were past masters at this sort of thing. And in the modern media world, it matters.

Bill Clinton and Tony Blair could teach Trump a lot in this area. Displays of public emotion may be slightly embarrassing for a 70 year old man, but the ability to talk to and relate to people is all part of the modern-day political armoury.
An Archbishop of Canterbury gave us Mortons Fork; another should perhaps give us Welbys Trap  though, admittedly, Mortons successor is far from unique in being caught it in. It is as follows. If a bishop talks about politics in general terms, he is accused of spouting platitudes from his pulpit. If instead he champions specific policies, he is criticised for deserting it, and putting on a party political rosette. Either way, he cannot win.

The reaction to Justin Welbys address to the TUC conference has shown the trap at work. But just as Mortons policy had a point (Henry VII was working to curb the power of the barons), so did Welbys speech. The churches have a tradition of social activism. In modern times, Pope Leo XIII set the tone with Rerum Novarum, which prepared the way for over a century of Catholic social teaching, based on the dignity of the human person. The Church of England has been thinking along similar lines since the war, which saw the publication of Christianity and Social Order  written by one of Welbys predecessors, William Temple. The Thatcher years saw another of them, Robert Runcie, drawn into the political fray, when his Commission on Urban Priority Areas published Faith in the City  dismissed by one Cabinet Minister at the time as Marxist theology.

The Conservative reaction to successors speech will be the same in some quarters. None the less, one of Archbishops main arguments had force. For most of the post-war period in north America and western Europe, incomes for different groups grew at much the same rate. This began to change in 2004  well before the crash, by the way. The explanation may be that the third industrial revolution (based on computers, the web, and mobile phones) is less productive that the second one. Capitalism is not creating well-paid white and blue collar jobs on the same scale as it did during most of the post-war period. It is working less well in the west than in much of the rest of the world.

Furthermore, some of Welbys targets were fair game. Philip Hammond was reported recently to be considering an Amazon Tax. Whatever the Chancellor may be  in a lapse of its usual courteous standards, this site recently compared him to a donkey  he is certainly not a Marxist. And David Camerons Government announced curbs on zero hours contracts, such as clauses barring workers from accepting shifts with more than one employer. That was the right judgement. The state is the guardian of the rules of the market. If you doubt that principle, have a go at reading Hired, James Bloodworths horrible account of working in an Amazon warehouse.

So theres nothing wrong with the Archbishop either propagating social teaching or floating particular policies. But if he is to do the latter, he must expect comeback. Zero-hours contracts have a place in todays labour market. They offer valuable flexible working opportunities for students, older people and other people looking to top up their income and find work that suits their personal circumstances. Those are the words of the Cabinet Minister in the Cameron Government who announced the exclusivity ban  Vince Cable, not exactly a free market fundamentalist. Thats a more balanced take than Welbys  the reincarnation of an ancient evil. The gig economy pays low wages. But these can be a stepping stone to higher ones. If it did not exist, some people who receive low wages might not be receiving any wages at all.

The Archbishop said that if companies like Amazon can get away with paying almost nothing in tax, there is something wrong with the tax system. This could mean that if the company is avoiding tax, it shouldnt be allowed to do so, or that Amazon should simply be taxed more. We are suspicious of the doctrine of aggressive avoidance, which gained projection under the Coalition. No-one has a duty to maximise their tax take. If Welby meant instead that the Government should simply slap higher taxes on the company, then he has a case.

There is also one for it and others to provide fuller accounts of their tax arrangements. But Ministers will be wary of taxing Amazon more. The company isnt Donald Trumps flavour of the month. But the fissile President could respond to new taxes here on American companies by pushing for new taxes there on British ones  with consequences for investment and jobs. In any event, it isnt at all clear that the Chancellor was floating the targeting of Amazon. He was mulling an online retail tax, and didnt specifically refer to the company. But are new taxes really the right solution to the problems of the high streeet? Lower business rates and reform of property rent caps offer an alternative solution. Too often, higher taxes are offered as a solution to a problem better addressed by lower ones. Though the latter of course must march in step with their necessary companion: public spending control.

There is a moral here for the Archbishop. If low wages are to be higher, companies must be profitable. If they are to be profitable, they must be more productive. And if they are to be more productive, the merits or otherwise of hiking taxes on a few big multi-national players is not so much right or wrong as irrelevant. Keeping tax rates competitive is more to the point. The real objection to Welbys speech isnt that he went to the TUC, or that even that the Church of England itself uses zero hours contracts, as todays Times reports. (The Archbishop cannot be expected to manage Norwich Cathedrals refectory arrangements, though the Church Commissioners big investment in Amazon leaves him embarrassingly exposed.)

Rather, it is that implicit in his account of what government can and should do are checks on what it cant and shouldnt do. Governments of any party, all parties, will fail, act foolishly, be far away, he said, stressing a partnership between governments, civil societybusiness and community that sounded not unlike Camerons Big Society. The Archbishop is an Eton-educated former oil company executive. That may help to explain his visit to the TUC and his presence on an IPPR Commission: after all, he wouldnt want anyone to think that he is an embodiment of the Tory Party at prayer. But at any rate, he has experience of the good that business can do as well as the harm, and will have a theology of wealth creation as well as government action. A major speech at, say, a small business conference is in order.
A new Netflix documentary investigating the medical device industry ends on a particularly devastating note for Ana Fuentes, a single mother in California who received a permanent birth control implant when she was still married.

The film shows her struggling to make ends meet and searching for cheap hotels with her daughters after she loses the apartment. She cant hold a job because she is constantly in the emergency room, in so much pain that she can barely walk to the entrance. In her final scene, she is visiting her daughters in a strangers home; the children eventually were placed in foster care.

Director Kirby Dick said that it was clear through his reporting that Fuentes and her daughters were extremely close, even after they could no longer live together, and he wanted to be sure that message was conveyed in the film.

In an interview with ConsumerAffairs, Fuentes provided more details about the domino-effect that the botched procedure had on her family.

Though Fuentes is pleased with how her story is validated and portrayed in the film -- she says she watched it three or four times after it aired -- her sense of betrayal from the medical community is still raw.

It was really hard for me to accept that he didn't care about me, she says of her doctor. Because he took care of me with my last pregnancy and my last baby. I trusted him so much when he told me about Essure."

Before the procedure

When Fuentes agreed to be implanted with Essure back in 2011, she was living in an apartment with her husband and their four daughters in southern California. She took care of the girls while he worked. She received health coverage through Medi-Cal, the Medicaid program offered in California.

Fuentes recently had a baby and did not want more children. She asked about getting her tubes tied, the more common and older sterilization procedure. Her doctor told her it wasnt a good idea because she had a family history of ovarian cancer.

He said a permanent medical implant called Essure was the better option.

Like thousands of other patients who have filed complaints to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fuentes says she suffered sharp pains and heavy bleeding immediately after the procedure. The symptoms persisted.

She went back to the same doctor who implanted her. He kept telling me it was in my head, Fuentes remembers.

She would learn much later that her doctor had admitted to accepting thousands of dollars from Bayer via government disclosure websites. The financial incentives that device companies provide doctors are well-documented in the film and in medical research, but it wasnt the only factor hindering her care.

As Fuentes recounts in the film, her doctor also blamed the fact that she was a Latina woman for the bleeding, claiming that they simply have heavier periods than other woman.

In an interview, Fuentes says she also remembers her doctor telling her that it had to do with "you guys [having] so many kids, referring to Latina women. Fuentes recollection comes at a time when researchers are increasingly calling attention to racism and sexism in medicine.

Struggling through it

Sometimes she felt a jolt travel through her body when she plugged electronics into the wall socket. It was a strange, unsettling sensation. Like everything else that was happening to her, she didnt have an explanation.

She never told her husband why she could no longer be intimate with him. They simply stopped talking about it.

He just looked at me and he would walk away, Fuentes recalls. The next year, he left the family without saying goodbye. Fuentes learned from her landlord that he didnt pay that month's rent before fleeing. The landlord gave the family 16 days to pack their bags.

Trying to work

Fuentes looked for work when her older daughters were in school and slept with them at a homeless shelter or in their car in the evenings. She found a daycare center for her youngest child, still a toddler at the time, and worked three different jobs when she could. She took 900 milligrams of ibuprofen each day, but on some days the symptoms were still too much to handle.

One afternoon, while crossing the street with her toddler, the pain suddenly flared up again. She could feel blood soaking through her pants. She could barely make it to the other side of the street.

People were just honking, calling me crazy lady, what are you doing? But I couldn't move. I couldn't walk. The pain was so strong, Fuentes says, crying at the memory.

I just kept walking slowly. Nobody got out of the car to help out or anything.

On another day, while carrying a tray of food during her shift at a restaurant, she suddenly passed out. She asked coworkers not to call anyone and drove herself to the hospital. The restaurant cut her hours.

In 2013, Fuentes found the E-sisters, the activists who have convinced regulators to scrutinize Essure and who share their stories on a popular Facebook page called Essure Problems. It was through the women that Fuentes learned how common her symptoms were.

She consulted with new doctors thanks to the Medi-Cal coverage and learned that tubal ligation surgery isnt actually dangerous for women with a family history of ovarian cancer, as her implanting doctor had claimed.

"I already felt betrayed, and then hearing all these options from other doctors, You could have done this," she says, trailing off.

Like other women in the group, Fuentes learned that removing Essure is difficult and she that she would need a hysterectomy, followed by weeks of recovery in which she would not be able to work. Still, she relented and agreed to undergo the procedure in 2014.

She was recovering in the hospital when a social worker showed up and told her to find a home for the children. "I think the hospital reported me, because they asked me where I live, and I gave them my brother's address, Fuentes says.

The social worker warned her to "find a solution or we'll jump in. Because you need to take care of your health.

Through her church, Fuentes found a nonprofit that allowed her to keep her children with other Christian families. As the film shows, the families often invited her to visit the girls, even though they were not required to do so.

All of the families have been a blessing, Fuentes says.

Participating in the documentary was an easy decision. The E-Sisters told her that sharing her story would help other women.

Though the film ends with Fuentes leaving her children in foster care, Fuentes says their situation has become more stable since then. She is now reunited with her daughters thanks to a nonprofit program that assists with partial rent each month.

A GoFundMe page that Fuentes set up following the films release in late July, asking for $5,000 to cover living expenses, has since raised nearly five times that amount from people all over the world.

Still, medical expenses could quickly eat those donations away. Even after the hysterectomy, her symptoms remained.

Fuentes began losing her back teeth several years ago, and Medi-Cal insurance doesnt cover dental work beyond regular cleanings. On a new doctor's advice, she underwent another surgery in March, this time to have her ovaries removed. He told her to wait at least three months before trying to work again.

One day you feel like superwoman and the next day you don't want to get out of bed, Fuentes says of the symptoms she and other women still live with. She is only 36-years-old.

Shortly before the film aired, Bayer took Essure off the market in the United States, the one country where it was still for sale. But Bayer maintains that the implant is safe. As the documentary shows, Essure is only part of the problem. The medical device industry generally faces a low barrier to prove that its products are safe before they can be used on patients.

Conceptus, the company that originally developed Essure, was not required to conduct long-term studies on the device. Little is known about what will happen to women like Fuentes when they reach middle-age and beyond. Fuentes says that her legs are covered in small red dots that didnt exist before the procedure. She is also starting to lose her hair.

Because Essure is made from nickel, other women who are experiencing similar symptoms suspect that they have a metal allergy. Numerous women say that they were never tested for metal allergies before receiving the device.

I just wish they could have done more studies on this, Fuentes adds.
Digital technologies are helping companies in industrial sectors to gain wider edge over competitors, explained Raj Batra, president of the digital factory division of Siemens USA, at the Siemens Automation Summit event in June. Batra, speaking to attendees from discrete and process industries, recognized Ann Cooney, head of the process automation division of Siemens USA, early in his comments. He also noted the generational diversity among attendees, there to evolve and do better at their jobs, and thanked end-users for guiding more than 50 user conference sessions.

The focus on digitalization in this decade follows attention to automation and design and engineering over the prior two decades, Batra explained. Creating a digital twin in the value chain drives flexibility, expands efficiency and quality, and lowers time to market across process, discrete, and hybrid industries.

Combining the real world with the virtual world, through seamless integration of automation and software is complex, Batra said, but theres a lot to gain by putting design and manufacturing environments on a common digital model.

While the automotive industry is leading, others also are improving products, production, and performance. Benefits include shorter times to market, fewer prototypes with simulation, end-to-end data management, programming of automation systems, simulation of production processes offline prior to start of construction, analysis of process data, and preemptive fault detection in product lines.

Digitalization examples

Examples of digitalization providing competitive advantages include:

Hendrick Motorsports has 36 product launches a year, one for each NASCAR race. Expediting the innovation process is key because with an open garage policy, new ideas only remain new for a couple of weeks. Data mining and information sharing across the shop produces answers, beyond data, with nearly every component subject to finite element analysis.

Food and beverage applications need a higher level of flexibility to address greater demands for wider product variant diversity, while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality. Holistic plant simulations enable faster commissioning and new data transparency enables consistently high-quality products. When brewing and packaging 240-million cases of Corona and Modelo beer per year (part of Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev), consistency is key.

Chemical industry applications need more flexibility and smaller batches. Merck, the oldest pharmaceutical company, dating to 1668, wants to be first in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials for displays. In a smart automation test lab, modules dock like a space station to quickly enable plug-and-produce applications.

Think again about how digitalization benefits can be applied: Speed to market, flexibility, efficiency, consistent quality, cybersecurity, and lower lifecycle costs.

Mark T. Hoske is content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

ONLINE extra

Raj Batra, president of the digital factory division of Siemens USA, was among the speakers at the 2018 Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit (GAMS) on Sept. 12 in Chicago. The 2018 GAMS event is co-presented by CFE Media and Hannover Messe USA and is part of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), which is Sept. 10-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and an industry consortium have selected New York City and Salt Lake City as the first of four cities to benefit from $100 million in funding over the next seven years. New York City and Salt Lake City are to become testbeds for an experimental rollout of next-generation connected technology, via an "outdoor laboratory" known as the Cloud Enhanced Open Software-Defined Mobile Wireless Testbed for City-Scale Deployment, or COSMOS.

A new program, known as the NSF Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR), will help realize the potential of emergent mobile technologies, such as 5G, to enable new applications in robotics, augmented reality (AR) navigation, smart city control, and connected vehicles.

Blazing fast application potential

Speeds of over one gigabit per second and response times of a few milliseconds mean the network offers ten times the performance of existing infrastructures.

"COSMOS is an outdoor laboratory that will allow us to test entirely new classes of wireless applications, such as smart intersections that can process massive data in real-time," said principal investigator Dipankar Raychaudhuri, an engineering professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and director of its Wireless Information Network Laboratory.

With mobile technology bitrates having increased fourfold over the last 20 years, the opportunities for edge computing innovation are huge. The research is spearheaded by representatives from Rutgers, Columbia, and NYU, in partnership with Silicon Harlem, City College of New York, and the University of Arizona.

In New York City, the testbed will cover a square mile in the west side of Harlem. It is designed to enable researchers to explore the technology sweet-spot of ultra-high bandwidth and low latency, turning the area into a tech and innovation hub.

To the south of Harlem is Columbia Universitys Morningside Heights campus. Its spread of academic and residential buildings, linked by dark fiber-optic cabling, offers an ideal testbed. The university also will link its public safety vehicles, trucks, and shuttles to the network.

PAWR advances mobile innovation

A Columbia Engineering announcement explains the motivation behind the move. By 2020, the number of Internet-connected devices is expected to grow to 20 billion, creating an urgent need in the U.S. and abroad for infrastructure that can rapidly process all that data. To improve networking speeds, the New York City COSMOS network will tap previously unused radio spectrum bands and integrate optical fibers underground with radio antennas and other equipment on city rooftops and light poles.

The platform will allow researchers to log in and try out their ideas for improving network performance and creating city-focused applications, from augmented-reality navigation for the blind to smart traffic lights.

Testbed technologies

The first set of platforms is expected to be ready for use by late 2019 or early 2020. According to Columbia Engineering, they will be built on the following core technologies:

mm-Wave radio bands: The use of new millimeter-wave bands, from 20 GHz to 200 GHz, will enable more capacity from the radio spectrum. While mmWave signals dont travel far, researchers will use the network to test new radio and antenna designs and techniques for aiming radio waves directly at mobile devices, to help overcome this.

Software-defined radios (SDRs): Using software to process signals rather than hardware increases network flexibility and allows researchers to experiment with a wide range of frequency bands. Researchers will test new algorithms to support mmWave and the flexible use of frequencies across various bands (dynamic spectrum access).

Edge cloud data-processing: will be based on servers integrated into the wireless access network, rather than cloud-based data centers, reducing processing time.

Advanced optical networking: A fast front-haul network with high bandwidth and low-delay connectivity will link computing clusters and the wireless access network to enable an effective edge-cloud infrastructure.

Application analysis

With the use of wireless-connected devices almost doubling in the U.S. over the last decade, the demand for a supporting infrastructure in the nations cities has grown. 4G LTE is no longer sufficient for data-intense smart city technologies. PAWR will help eke a little more out of fourth generation wireless, but its geared to benefit future 5G deployments. 2018 has already seen many 5G announcements.

The participating cities stand to benefit from building their wireless capabilities via this combination of creative university partnerships, government, and corporate research funding, attracting local tech jobs, and using advanced wireless capabilities to enhance local services and economic development. By getting the infrastructure in place, New York and Salt Lake City are offering a glimpse of future smart cities to entice researchers and tech companies to move to those cities.

Andrew Hobbs is deputy editor and publisher, with Internet of Business, a CFE Media content partner. This article originally appeared on Internet of Business website. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

KEYWORDS: Wireless testbed, smart technology

Wireless testbeds are established and demonstrated in New York City and Salt Lake City.

Applications seem likely to extend beyond municipal.

Faster wireless seems likely to benefit robotics, augmented reality (AR), and edge computing.

CONSIDER THIS

If wireless communications could be 10x faster, where would you apply it?

ONLINE

https://cosmos-lab.org/ See wireless New Products for Engineers categories at www.controleng.com/NP4E
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Will chip-and-fingerprint replace chip-and-signature or chip-and-PIN to verify that its really you charging that dog toy or diamond ring?

It appears so. Visa is testing a contactless biometric payment card that uses fingerprints scanned at payment terminals.

Chase is using Voice ID to tell if its really you calling with a question about your account, and Discover customers now can sign into their accounts with Face ID on an iPhone X.

And Mastercard plans to use fingerprints and facial recognition to authorize contactless payments across Europe by April 2019.

These are just some ways a growing number of banks are experimenting with using biometrics for authentication.

Financial institutions realize they need to be much more focused on the consumer and what they want, says Stephen Migliore, industry director and global lead for cyber security at Unisys.

Heres a look at how card issuers and banks are using biometrics for authentication:

Visa puts payments at your fingertips

You take your card out, pay for something at that point of sale and put your finger over the fingerprint sensor, explains Mark Nelsen, senior vice president of risk products at Visa. Payment information would go to the merchant and the card would verify that the genuine owner is using that card.

The pilot test of the biometrics-based credit card was recently completed at Utah-based Mountain America Credit Union and the Bank of Cyprus.

The card has a self-charging fingerprint scanner built in and works on existing payment terminals.

The goal of the fingerprint card is to reduce card fraud at payment terminals. Card-present fraud, while not as prevalent as with online purchases, still causes consumers headaches and costs card issuers millions of dollars each year.

Paul Kobos, senior vice president of banking and payments for digital security company Gemalto, points out that biometrics such as fingerprints provide not only security, but also convenience.

Using a fingerprint rather than remembering a PIN [is easy], he says. You get the security with ease of use.

Should consumers be concerned about sharing a fingerprint with their bank? Its stored on the card so that eliminates fears from consumers with [banks] having a central database, Kobos says.

See related: Video: Digital fingerprints can be hacked, too

Biometrics is going to be the next big wave.

Your voice tells Chase its really you

Similar to a fingerprint, Voice ID uses your unique voiceprint to verify you, Chase says on its website. Its easy, fast and secure.

More than 100 physical and behavioral characteristics  such as pitch, accent, shape of your mouth and vocal tract  are used to create your voiceprint.

But what if youre sick or your voice changes? Chase says that, in general, the voice recognition system still will work if you are suffering from a common cold, illness or slight changes in your voice.

If a voiceprint is not readable, such as if there is too much noise in the background, old-fashioned security questions can still provide positive verification.

See related: Credit card companies may be analyzing your voice

Your smile can unlock your Discover account

Discovers cardholders and bank customers can log into the mobile app with a quick look at their iPhone X.

Face ID provides Discover customers with an added security convenience at sign-in that requires no more than a quick glance at their iPhone X, says Szabolcs Paldy, vice president of e-business for Discover, said in a news release.

Paldy wrote in an emailed statement that Discover hasnt ruled out using facial recognition to verify purchases or in other ways in the future.

We are open to incorporating Face ID into new solutions where it provides improved experience and enhanced security, he said.

Mastercard plans biometric payments across Europe

Mastercard says the shift to fingerprint and facial recognition to authorize payments is being driven by the second Payment Services Directive (or PSD2) legislation in the European Union requiring two-factor authentication.

Europe may just be the start of Mastercards rollout of biometric payments.

We feel the days of using static information [such as passwords or PINs] is over, says Bob Reany, Mastercards executive vice president for identity solutions. That information is widely known. Consumers widely struggle with it.

See related: Abolish the password? Card issuers are working on that

Using a fingerprint rather than remembering a PIN [is easy]. You get the security with ease of use.

How soon will we have biometric credit cards?

Because biometrics-enabled cards cost more to produce than traditional credit cards, Kobos predicts that U.S. banks will initially provide them to their higher net worth customers.

We hope people start asking for them and banks start issuing them on a more broad scale, he adds.

For now, outside of pilot tests by the card networks, Nevada-based tech engineering company SmartMetric Inc. is one of the companies producing biometric cards, and those are only available through certain banks.

In addition to cards with fingerprint scanners, experts foresee other ways to verify identity, such as Fitbits and other wearables.

Its a small leap to see how those types of technologies can be used to verify your identity, Migliore says. Behavioral biometrics, such as the distinctive way you hold your phone or type in your bank password, or even physical biometrics like your heart rhythm, could also play a role in fraud prevention.

Whether fingerprint, voice verification, facial recognition or a scan of your iris is used to verify your identity, the days of relying on PINs and passwords are likely waning.

In the future, biometrics is going to be the next big wave, Reany predicts. Well have a future wave where we get that second factor (of identification) through the Internet of Things and things like that.

Biometrics will be part of the picture for a very long time, he says.
In support of Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative, Star Cruises has launched the first-ever Longquan Celadon theme cruise on SuperStar Virgo, where guests enjoyed experience in appreciation of the craftsmanship that hails from Zhejiang province, according to a statement.

The theme cruise kicked off with a traditional kiln firing ceremony on August 28, prior to SuperStar Virgos four-night cruise from Shanghai to Sasebo and Kagoshima, Japan.

Among the guests were Celadon masters Chen Yun-gen and Chen Hua, who made their cruise debuts and hosted interactive workshops at sea to share the techniques of hand building and pottery carving.

A Maritime Silk Road Marketplace was also hosted aboard, where guests were presented with Longquan celadon ceramic and swords, handcrafted by masters from centenary shops in Zhejiang, as well as tea and incense appreciation workshops,

Longquan celadon ceramics have long been regarded as the finest of celadon wares produced in China, Star said, and they had the played an important role in the Maritime Silk Road as part of the countrys export economy for hundreds of years.

In 2009, the traditional firing technique of Longquan celadon, which originated in Zhejiang province, became the first ceramic project to be listed by UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Zhejiang is also known for the ancient craftsmanship of Longquan sword, which can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period over 2,600 years ago.

Starting from September, guests can enjoy an immersive dining experience at SuperStar Virgos Silk Road Chinese Restaurant, featuring a 360-degree appreciation of the arts, crafts and culture from Longquan. Signature delicacies from the region, such as locally-grown fungus, are prepared to perfection by celebrity chefs from Longquan and the award-winning culinary team of Star Cruises, all to be served with Longquan celadon ceramics. The restaurant offers a feast for both the palate and the eyes, as the venue is also decorated with Longquan swords.

From September to November, SuperStar Virgo will be relocated to Northern China with homeport deployments in Dalian, Tianjin and Qingdao.
Captain Gaetano Gigliotti and the crew of the Carnival Elation have been recognized with the Cruise Line Humanitarian Assistance Award from the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS), an organization whose mission is to provide worldwide support and assistance to volunteer maritime rescue services and recognize and honor extraordinary maritime rescues.

Presented during AFRAS annual reception in Washington, DC, the award honored Captain Gigliotti and his team for their rescue of a stranded fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Irma last year, according to a statement from Carnival Cruise Line.

In addition to the AFRAS Award, Captain Gigliotti was presented with a framed copy of the entry into the Congressional Record by Florida Congresswoman Federica Wilson commending the life-saving actions of the captain and his team.

The rescued mariner, Edward Potter of Tampa, was reunited at the ceremony with his rescuers.

Carnival said that while undergoing a scheduled dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, the Elation began monitoring a storm off the coast of Africa that developed into a major Category 5 hurricane. When it became clear that the storms path was projected directly over the Bahamas, the decision was made to move the 70,000-ton ship and seek shelter in the Gulf of Mexico.

As the Elation was sailing from the hurricanes path, the ship received a relayed distress message from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) alerting them that a fishing boat, Captain Eddie, was taking on water approximately 60 nautical miles to the east.

Navigating through of 15 to 20 foot waves and sustained winds of 40 knots gusting to 60 knots, Captain Gigliotti, without the aid of its normal bridge systems and communication equipment due to the early departure from dry dock, was able to maneuver the ship close to the life raft to facilitate a rescue through an open shell door in the hull. Several team members, ignoring the potential risk to their own lives, brought the sole survivor, Potter, on board using a harness and hoisting line.
BRIDGEPORT  A strange series of gas-line explosions that killed one and forced hundreds of people out of their homes Thursday in three eastern Massachusetts communities has left local officials wondering as to the cause and what could be learned from it.

Gas industry officials maintain that the natural gas delivery network is safe, but theyre also awaiting the results of the investigations into the cause or causes of the fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, all north of Boston.

Meanwhile, state officials say they have the resources to handle a similar event here.

Brenda Bergeron, a spokesperson for Connecticuts emergency management department, said plans are in place at the state and local level to handle a major gas explosion and fire. Those plans, she said, are mandated by the state Public Utility Regulatory Authority and involve the states gas companies, local first responders and state emergency management personnel.

PURA is monitoring what likely took place, Bergeron said. Ive talked to Eversource and they have sent mutual aid teams to Massachusetts.

The Associated Press reported that the blasts Thursday in Massachusetts were being blamed for more than 60 fires, a death and about 25 injuries.

Bergeron said PURA conducts 450 site inspections of gas lines and related facilities in Connecticut each year, and that plans to modify, build new ones or upgrade lines are filed with PURA before work is done.

More News Thousands still out of their homes after gas explosions trigger deadly chaos

(The utilities) design and construct the pipelines, Bergeron said.

And we have gas pipeline safety units, she said. A plan is in place if something happens. Everyone knows what they are going to do in an emergency.

Occasional trouble

Bill Akley the president of Eversource, the energy supply company for most of Connecticut, said that the network of gas delivery pipes in the state can be trusted.

Our top priority is the safety of the public, our customers and our employees, and while we are sending support teams, we continue to retain the resources we need to serve our customers, Akley said.

Our systems are not connected to the Columbia Gas system (the supplier in the Massachusetts markets damaged by Thursdays explosions) and continue to operate safely, he said. We have a comprehensive maintenance and inspection program, and we have an effective leak management program that exceeds the requirements of federal and state pipeline safety regulations.

He added that Eversource crews conducted a safety stand-down (Friday) morning to review gas operating procedures.

We are always evaluating new procedures, technologies and industry best practices to perform at the top standards for the industry, Akley said.

Although gas is seen as relatively safe, particularly when viewed through the lens of the 72 million natural gas customers nationwide, there are sometimes serious accidents.

People in Derby still talk about one such event that occurred on Dec. 7, 1985, in which gas seeped into the sewer line of a three-story building, in which the River Restaurant occupied the first and second floors.

Residents complained about smelling gas that afternoon and just before 4 p.m. an explosion destroyed the building, killing six people. The restaurant owners adult son was badly injured and nine other people were sent to hospitals.

Hundreds of people living in the area of that blast were evacuated while authorities raced to determine the cause of the leak. It was later determined that a construction crew that was repairing a sewer main had punctured a gas line. There was nothing left of the building.

On Feb. 7, 2010 2010, a gas explosions happened at the Kleen Energy Systems power station under construction in Middletown. Five workers were killed almost instantly; a sixth died later from burns. That was caused by the use of natural gas to clean pipes at the plant; this practice has since been deemed unsafe by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

On March 3, 2012, a gas explosion destroyed a house on Howard Avenue in New Haven, and damaged the neighboring homes.

This year on June 12, a gas explosion badly damaged a home in Norwalk. No one was injured in that incident, although one of the residents was a woman who was five months pregnant.

Under pressure

According to the state Public Utility Control Authority, about 30 percent of the homes and businesses in Connecticut have natural gas service. Gas mains are usually run underneath streets and they can be anywhere from 2 and 20 inches in diameter.

Lines from the streets to homes and businesses are usually between a half inch and 4 inches in diameter.

Pressures vary widely along the distribution system. The line from the street to homes carries relatively low pressure, about .25 to 5 pounds per square inch. Principal distribution lines can carry pressures as high as 750 pounds per square inch, or about 20 times the pressure of automobile tires.

A spokesman for Avangrid, the parent company of Southern Connecticut Gas Co. and Connecticut Natural Gas Co., said that the company would not comment on the Massachusetts incidents until more is known about its causes.

Still, the industry maintains that the gas distribution system is safe and is getting safer. A website for the American Gas Association says that natural gas utilities spend more than $22 billion annually to enhance the safety of natural gas systems.

There are about 7,900 miles of distribution mains serving 440,000 gas customers in Connecticut. The industry is installing new plastic lines at a rate of 30,000 miles per year, which it maintains is the safest way to go and will last for decades.

There are three major gas transmission lines that service Connecticut:

Algonquin Gas Transmission: Originates in New Jersey, where it connects to the Texas Eastern Pipeline and runs from Danbury northeasterly to Thompson, with major spurs to North Haven and New London. The Texas Eastern Pipeline originates near the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Iroquois Gas Transmission System: Starts at the Canadian border, enters Connecticut at Sherman and runs southeast through Milford, then offshore to Long Island. This pipeline originates in eastern Canada.

Tennessee Gas Transmission: Starts in the in Texas and Louisiana. It enters Connecticut in Greenwich, runs northeasterly, leaving Connecticut in Suffield, with a spur from Massachusetts to Torrington.
BRIDGEPORT  A local man was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to breaking into his ex-girlfriends home and sexually assaulting her in front of her 7-year-old son.

Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin told Justin Cosme the only reason he was not facing more time is because of the compassion of the victim who sat crying in the back of the courtroom.

Hopefully this child will overcome what happened, the judge added.

He then sentenced the 26-year-old Cosme, who pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a child, assault on a police officer, interfering with police and violation of probation, to eight years followed by six years of special parole. The judge also issued Cosme a permanent order barring him from having further contact with the victim and required him to register as a sex offender.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Joseph Harry told the judge that on Jan. 24, 2017, Cosme forced his way into his former girlfriends Bridgeport home and began yelling. The woman urged him to be quiet because she was afraid he would wake up their young son.

Instead, Cosme began hitting her in the face and head, Harry said.

The little boy came out of his bedroom to see what was going on, and Cosme then grabbed the woman and attempted to rape her in front of their son, the prosecutor continued. Unable to accomplish that, Harry said Cosme forced the woman to perform a sex act on him.

Officers later arrested Cosme at his mothers home. While in the holding area at the police department, Cosme struggled with officers and had to be subdued, Harry said.

Cosmes lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Jared Millbrandt, told the judge his client has expressed remorse and regret for what he did.

The incident only occurred because of PCP use, Millbrandt said.
WASHINGTON  New Britain-native Paul Manaforts decision to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and plead guilty in a federal courtroom here Friday may be bad news for President Donald Trump and a boost for Mueller.

Just how much of a boost remains unclear after a somber Manafort, 69, admitted guilt to two conspiracy counts related to his lobbying on behalf of the former pro-Russia ruler of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and his Party of Regions.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life, said Manaforts lawyer, Kevin Downing, after Manafort admitted guilt before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, with his wife Kathleen nearby. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years, and everybody should remember that.

After a jury trial in Alexandria, Va., Manafort was convicted last month of tax evasion and bank fraud. The charges could have netted him up to 12 years in prison.

The charges he faced in the Washington case, scheduled for trial next week, could have added up to 17 years.

Manafort remains in prison at least until his November sentencing in the case in Alexandria, where he maintains a condo. The amount of time he ultimately serves behind bars is likely to depend on his level of cooperation with the Mueller probe.

Mueller investigation

Before Friday, Manafort had maintained his innocence and refused to cooperate with Mueller. A spokesman had stated Manafort would be exonerated in court.

But the 76-page superseding indictment filed by Muellers team Friday pledges Manafort to assist Mueller in the probe, which is focused on allegations of links between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia.

Manafort, a veteran Republican operative and son of New Britains Republican leader and mayor from 1965 to 1971, Paul Manafort Sr., served as Trumps campaign chairman from March to August in 2016.

He was in the room at Trump Tower in New York during a critical June 2016 meeting between the Trump team  also including Donald Trump Jr. and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner  and a lawyer said to be a Russian-government emissary, Natalia Veselnitskaya.

An intermediary had told Trump Jr. the Russian lawyer would share negative information about then Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. If that were to be the case, I love it, Trump Jr. said in an email.

But he later said he believed the temptation of dirt on Clinton was nothing more than a pretext for the lawyer to get inside the Trump camp and lobby for loosening of sanctions ordered under the Magnitsky Act of 2012.

Trump denials

Manafort may offer Mueller a different account of the circumstances surrounding the meeting and what President Trump knew about it.

Trump shrugged off allegations that Russians had hacked the Democratic National Committee and Clintons campaign.

Trump said at a news conference in July 2016, Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing (from Clintons private server, which itself had been the subject of an unfruitful FBI investigation).

Paul Manaforts cooperation with the special counsel is very, very bad news for his former boss, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. This guilty plea is another victory for (Mueller) and may provide an additional wave of information.

In an interview, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said that at a minimum, Manaforts plea deal was vindication for Mueller in the face of Trumps Twitter dismissals of the probe as a hoax, and the presidents insistence there was no collusion.

The Manafort plea agreement is indicative of quality of Muellers work, said Himes, a member of the House intelligence committee, which conducted a probe that its Republican leaders aborted with a conclusion that there had been no cooperation between Russia and the Trump campaign.

By winning guilty plea after guilty plea, Mueller is proving that hes everything the president says hes not, Himes said.

Mueller has gotten guilty pleas from three former aides, including Manaforts close deputy, Rick Gates. In addition, former Trump lawyer-fixer Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty in a case brought by the Manhattan-based U.S. Attorneys Office.

At Trumps direction prior to the 2016 election, Cohen said, he paid off women who had claimed to have had sexual relationships with Trump.

At the White House, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that the Manafort deal had absolutely nothing to with the president or his victorious 2016 campaign. It is totally unrelated.

And Trumps lawyer in the probe, former N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: The president did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth.

dan@hearstdc.com
NEW HAVEN - A Torrington man, who claimed he was the victim of excessive force by members of the Waterbury Police Department, was awarded nearly $70,000 Friday.

A jury in U.S. District Court here deliberated about four hours before rendering the verdict of $68,000 for Darnell Humphrey against the Waterbury Police Department and officer Renato Crea.
BRIDGEPORT  The city has been ordered to rehire a veteran city police officer fired because of his arrest in 2016 on charges of assaulting a man at a Fairfield motel and then driving drunk.

An arbitrator ruled Chief Armando Perez did not have just cause when he fired Omar Jimenez last March. The arbitrator, a member of the American Arbitration Association, said instead Perez should have suspended Jimenez for 90 days without pay.

We are reviewing the decision and looking at our options, said City Attorney R. Christopher Meyer.

This is extremely disappointing, said Perez. It was a serious offense in my opinion and I couldnt justify his actions and thats why I terminated him.

Jimenez, 34, a 16-year veteran of the police force was fired by Perez following an investigation by the citys Office of Internal Affairs.

Police said in the early morning of Sept. 5, 2016, Jimenez went to the Fairfield Circle Inn and punched a friend in the face during an argument. Then, driving his own car, Jimenez allegedly struck a fire hydrant at Fairfield and Courtland avenues, knocked it off its base and fled the scene, returning to the Circle Inn, police said.

Bridgeport police went to the Circle Inn and located Jimenez in the hotel parking lot. Police said Jimenez had bloodshot eyes, was unsteady on his feet and was swaying and there was an odor of alcohol. He failed field sobriety tests administered by Bridgeport officers, police said.

He was subsequently arrested by Fairfield police on the charges of second-degree assault, second-degree threatening, and disorderly conduct, and he was charged by Bridgeport police with driving under the influence, evading responsibility and failure to drive right. Police said the assault victim suffered serious eye damage.

Criminal charges were later dropped against Jimenez after he successfully completed accelerated rehabilitation, a pretrial probation program.

In 2015, Jimenez was suspended for 30 days and ordered to undergo counseling after he failed a department drug test.
September 18 is National Cheeseburger Day, celebrated with a full complement of coupons and deals -- aka excuses to indulge in a cheeseburger (or two). This holiday adds a bit of extra buzz to an ordinary week, and thousands of savvy businesses reap the benefits. But before you know it, its Wednesday and National Cheeseburger Day is once again 364 days away.

Nothing against fun calendar additions, but a business doesnt have to create special events to get people talking about a new product or service. A solid, differentiating talk trigger can generate conversations that are passed from person to person year-round. Five Guys knows that.

Between 2006 and 2012, the Five Guys chain grew 796 percent, according to research for my latest book, "Talk Triggers." This extraordinary growth wasn't achieved with huge advertising campaigns and special events. Instead, it was fueled by french fries worth talking about.

The Five Guys menu offers a solitary side dish: hand-cut fries. The fry focus starts as soon as you walk through the door and see prominent signage showcasing the locations potato supplier. But thats just an appetizer for the chains talk trigger. No matter what size a customer orders, an extra, overflowing scoop of fries is always included and almost always elicits a reaction.

The most important takeaway? Getting customers talking about french fries is not a happy accident. Five Guys extra fries are a strategic operational choice factored into menu prices, which makes them the definition of a talk trigger.

Related: How Do You Get Your Customers to Advocate for You?

Why your business needs a talk trigger now more than ever.

An effective talk trigger is a differentiating experience or unique twist on a product that compels customers to tell others about it. It might be the warm cookie when checking into a hotel, the humorous hold music or those extra fries overflowing in the to-go bag. Whatever it is, its not a one-off. A talk trigger is carefully crafted and woven into how a company engages each customer, every time.

Triggering word-of-mouth marketing is critical in todays hypercompetitive, highly personalized marketplace. Not only is word of mouth automatically tailored by the talker to fit the perceived needs of listeners, but it is also independent, which adds to its credibility and persuasiveness.

A 2017 study by Engagement Labs found that 19 percent of consumer purchases in the U.S. are caused by word of mouth, both online and offline. And research conducted by Blanc & Otus and G2 Crowd showed an even greater impact in the business-to-business space due to the higher average prices, longer consideration period and smaller customer pool. Beyond what research can capture, many more purchases are likely substantially influenced by word of mouth, albeit more subtly.

In fact, when researching for his book "The Referral Engine," John Jantsch found that 63 percent of small and midsize businesses attribute more than half of their revenue to referrals. Yet for 80 percent of those companies, these referrals happen by accident. A purposeful word-of-mouth marketing plan built around a defined talk trigger enables companies to harness the power of customer conversations.

Related: 5 Ways to Maximize Word-of-Mouth Marketing

The first step to achieve a word-of-mouth boost is to identify the differentiator that gets the conversation going. Successful, results-producing talk triggers are:

1. Remarkable

Every business can carve out a differentiator from its peers, but few do. Maybe its because it comes with some risk. Staking out a remark-worthy talk trigger could alienate certain segments of potential customers, but the upside makes it worthwhile. In fact, according to ThinkJar, 72 percent of customers will tell six or more people about a good experience. Clearly, the value of giving customers something positively noteworthy to talk about pays off.

Jay Sofer of Lockbusters knows this all too well. Not only does Lockbusters provide a positive customer experience that's nearly unheard of in the locksmith industry, but it also has a unique, remarkable talk trigger that spurs word-of-mouth marketing. Soon after founding the company, Sofer realized he no longer needed tips to cover his expenses. So rather than just pocket the extra cash, he made a commitment to donate his tips to Sugar Mutts Rescue. Each time customers tip, they feel good about donating to a good cause -- and spread the word about Lockbusters' generosity.

2. Relevant

An effective talk trigger conveys the companys brand. If its too far outside of what the company does, it will fall flat. On the other hand, when a talk trigger fits nicely within the customer experience, it can pay dividends for years.

Indianas Holiday World Theme Park is the worlds oldest family-owned amusement park. In 2000, based on the founders gut instinct, the park began offering free beverages. Over the years, this differentiating perk has become a central part of Holiday Worlds identity. And in an ultra-competitive amusement park industry thats projected to grow at an annual rate of 10-plus percent through 2021, word of mouth matters, especially when competitors like Six Flags charge $14.99 for refillable cups.

3. Reasonable

A talk trigger is no good if people dont believe what they hear. Experiences that are too unbelievable might spark conversations, but those discussions are often about the terms and conditions of your promotion -- this is not the word of mouth you want.

Graduate Hotels is a great example of a company keeping it real. Founded in 2014, each hotel is located near a university and completely localized to highlight the universitys history, traditions and culture. Brand-wide, Graduate Hotels has turned one of the most mundane aspects of a hotel stay -- the plastic keycard -- into a catalyst for conversation. Instead of merely featuring the company logo or selling the space as advertising, Graduate Hotels keycards are replicas of the college IDs of the local universitys most famous alumni.

The cards generate press coverage, and theyre regularly mentioned in the hotels online reviews. And when guests keep their key as a souvenir, the nominal cost of the card becomes word-of-mouth marketing dollars well spent.

4. Repeatable

Dont mistake surprise and delight with a talk trigger. While empowering employees to go above and beyond for a customer can create a great experience, its a one-off. Talk triggers, on the other hand, are repeatable operational choices that are available to every single customer.

Even though one of them never utters a word on stage, Penn & Teller have a longstanding talk trigger. After each performance, the magicians go straight to the lobby to shake hands, take selfies and chat as the audience exits. (Spoiler alert: Teller even speaks!) They do this after every show, and its open to all attendees. As a result, audience members share thousands of social media posts and take part in countless conversations about the event.

Related: 10 Must-Haves for Better Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Cultivating a differentiator that's remarkable, relevant, realistic and repeatable is critical in our hypercompetitive marketplace. Those differentiators trigger organic talk about your products and services. From there, word-of-mouth marketing takes on a power of its own that can elevate your product above the competition, attract new customers to your company and keep those customers coming back for years to come.

Related:

Chatter That Matters: 4 Must-Haves for Word-of-Mouth Marketing That Works

3 Psychological Reasons Why Buyers Crave Reviews

This is Why Customer Engagement Can Make or Break a SME



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The Republican nominee for Montana's contested Senate seat, Matt Rosendale, is facing accusations that he improperly coordinated with the National Rifle Association on an ad buy after a leaked audio recording was published Thursday by the Daily Beast.

Rosendale's campaign and the NRA's lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, deny any improper activity. They say that the audio reveals only Rosendale discussing an endorsement in his race against Sen. Jon Tester, D, and not any campaign ads.

The audio recording appears to show Rosendale discussing a conversation he had with Chris Cox, the NRA-ILA's executive director, regarding the group's planned involvement in the campaign. The Daily Beast reported that Rosendale made the remarks in July at an event in Washington.

"I fully expect that the U.S. Chamber is going to come in, and I fully expect that the NRA is going to come in. I think both of them will be coming in probably right here in August sometime," Rosendale says in response to a question from an unidentified person on whether outside groups will be spending on his behalf in the race.

He goes on to suggest that the NRA was swayed by the issue of whether Republicans will be able to maintain a Senate majority that can confirm any of President Donald Trump's future Supreme Court nominees.

"The Supreme Court confirmations are big. That's what sent the NRA over the line. ... Chris Cox told me, he was like, 'Well, we're going to be in this race,'" Rosendale says on the recording.

Democrats said the comments indicate that Rosendale may have coordinated with the NRA in violation of federal laws prohibiting campaigns from working with interest groups on political advertising.

"This audio raises serious concerns about potential illegal coordination between Matt Rosendale and an outside, dark-money group coming into Montana to support him," Tester spokesman Chris Meagher said in a statement.

The Montana Democratic Party pointed to a TV ad launched by the NRA in Montana last week as evidence that the group was "in this race" as Rosendale claimed it would be. The ad takes aim at Tester on gun control and his votes to confirm two of former president Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees.

Rosendale's campaign confirmed that the audio was of the candidate but argued that it did not show evidence of any discussion of advertising.

"The only thing this audio proves is that Matt sought the endorsement of the NRA - and we're proud to have it," Rosendale spokesman Shane Scanlon said in a statement. "Matt and the NRA have never discussed anything beyond the organization's membership and endorsement process."

Asked what Rosendale meant by the NRA "coming in" to the race, Scanlon maintained that the candidate was referring to an endorsement rather than an ad.

"This is no different than Jon Tester walking into UAW and asking for their endorsement and then being told he's likely going to get it," he said.

Lars Dalseide, an NRA-ILA spokesman, also denied that the group discussed any ads with Rosendale or his campaign.

"Any assertion otherwise is completely false," he said.

Montana is rated by the Cook Political Report as likely to remain in Democratic hands this November. Even so, the race is one of the most closely watched in the country, and Tester has his work cut out for him: The state backed Trump by more than 20 percentage points in 2016, and the president has visited twice to campaign for Rosendale.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team secured a guilty plea from Paul Manafort and said he's cooperating with the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

After a year of withering financial pressure and a jury conviction in another case, Manafort admitted Friday that he laundered more than $30 million earned over a decade while working as a consultant for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine, cheated the U.S. government of $15 million in taxes and tampered with a witness.

Attention will now shift from the prospect of a presidential pardon for Manafort to questions about what information he might be able to provide the special counsel. While none of the charges related to his work for President Donald Trump, he was Trump's top aide for months during the presidential campaign, and his Russian links are of intense interest to prosecutors.

As part of his guilty plea, Manafort agreed to brief prosecutors, produce documents and testify if warranted. Asked by the judge whether he understood that his deal with the government required him to cooperate "fully and truthfully," Manafort replied, "I do."

Manafort will also forfeit properties and other assets that fed a lavish lifestyle filled with custom suits and luxury cars that animated his first trial. He's also giving up his right to appeal his conviction last month in Alexandria, Virginia, for bank and tax fraud.

In return, he'll avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills and the prospect of additional charges, while seeking leniency in sentencing. Manafort won't be sentenced until after his cooperation is complete, and only then will prosecutors dismiss the remaining charges against him in Virginia.

"It's a good day for Mr. Manafort," his lawyer, Kevin Downing, said after court. "He's accepted responsibility, and this is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that."

The White House, which has repeatedly played down Manafort's role on the campaign, responded to news of his guilt. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated," said Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary.

The president had previously praised Manafort for not flipping and holding fast in the face of financial and legal pressures.

After Manafort's conviction in August, Trump tweeted that he felt "very badly" for him and applauded his steadfastness.

"'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' -- make up stories in order to get a 'deal,'" the president wrote.

Manafort's decision to flip came just days before jury selection was set to begin in Washington. Mueller has secured guilty pleas from four other people, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Trump's former fixer and lawyer, Michael Cohen, admitted financial crimes and is helping federal prosecutors in New York in a separate investigation.

Manafort faces as long as a decade in prison after the Virginia jury verdict, and a conviction in Washington could have increased his prison time.

Among the properties Manafort will forfeit are a brownstone in Brooklyn, a condominium in Soho, an expansive home in the Hamptons and a house in Arlington, Virginia, where his daughter has lived, according to a court filing. He will also surrender a life insurance policy and bank accounts.

The court filing lays out much of the same evidence that led to his conviction in Alexandria, including how he earned millions of dollars as a consultant to former President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine and his pro-Russia Party of Regions and was paid by wealthy Ukrainian businessmen through Cyprus accounts. Prosecutors said he used that untaxed income to support a lavish lifestyle.

As part of his plea, Manafort admitted that he conspired to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act by not telling the Justice Department about a multimillion-dollar campaign to improve the image of Yanukovych and his Party of Regions in Europe and the U.S. Prominent U.S. firms like the Podesta Group and Mercury Public Affairs were hired to help him, along with several European former elected officials.

Manafort organized the European politicians, known as the Hapsburg Group, to lobby U.S. senators in a campaign to defeat a resolution that criticized Yanukovych's treatment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was convicted and imprisoned. Manafort never told the senators that the lobbyists or Hapsburg Group members were paid by Ukraine.

In May 2013, one Hapsburg Group member met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. They also met with senior U.S. officials in the executive and legislative branches, according to the filing.

One of the potential witnesses against Manafort was Sam Patten, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 31 to failing to register as a Ukrainian agent. He also helped a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch gain access to Trump's inauguration.

In a frenzy of pre-trial legal maneuvering, Manafort's legal team had repeatedly challenged Mueller's authority to investigate business activities related to Ukraine before joining the Trump campaign. Prosecutors said they had to examine whether Russia-backed politicians and oligarchs served as a back channel to members of the Trump campaign.

The investigation looked at such interactions "before and during the campaign to plumb motives and opportunities to coordinate and to expose possible channels for surreptitious communications," prosecutors wrote. "And prosecutors would naturally follow the money trail from Manafort's Ukrainian consulting activities."

The judge ultimately sided with Mueller.

Prosecutors will ask Manafort about his months running Trump's campaign. In June 2016, he attended the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in which Kremlin-backed attendees promised to offer damaging information about Trump's 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump's eldest son, Donald Jr., and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended the meeting.

- - -

Bloomberg's Neil Weinberg contributed.
WESTPORT  Two New Yorkers were charged Thursday allegedly stealing tires and rims from car dealership, police said.

Luis Santiago, 20, of Bronx, New York, was charged with third-degree larceny from a motor vehicle, third-degree criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. Santiago was held in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

Brandon Rivera, 21, of Bronx New York, was hit with the same charges as Santiago, plus charges for misuse of plates and engagin police in a pursuit. He was held in lieu of a $3,000 bond.

Around 1:45 a.m., an officer spotted a car slowly pulling out of a car dealership parking lot without its headlights on. The officer tried to pull the driver over on Post Road East, but instead the driver took off, police said.

The driver, later identified as Rivera, led officers on a brief pursuit, which was called off when it reached excessive speeds, police said. Shortly after, officers found two men walking east on Post Road West in the area where police had terminated the pursuit.

They appeared sweaty and disheveled and could not explain their presence in the area, said Lt. Jillian Cabana.

Another officer found the suspect vehicle nearby, police said. Santiago and Rivera were identified as the two in the car.

A check with the dealership showed four tires were stolen from a car in the lot, police said.

The suspect vehicle contained four new tires and rims valued at approximately $2,400, Cabana said.

The car had a Texas registration plate instead of a Massachusetts one, which was assigned to the car. The two were taken into custody and transported to police headquarters for processing.

Santiago and Rivera are each expected in court on Oct. 16.
In 2017, during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, $3 billion asset Credit Human Federal Credit Union in San Antonio needed to provide members with pre-approved, short-term emergency funds. It found the answer in a credit union service organization (CUSO).

The CUSO, QCash, offers a cloud-based payday loan alternative, says CEO Ben Morales. The credit union wasnt looking to generate loans or fee income. It simply wanted to give members instant access to funds.

They wanted to automate and make their preapproved loan process more efficient, he says. Our engine does that well. So we made some adjustments to our system and built in some new capabilities, and we were able to help them.

The takeaway: Technology and collaboration make credit unions stronger, individually and collectively, Morales says. If youre part of a CUSO, the tide raises all boats.
Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.) meets with staff from Illinois credit unions and the Illinois Credit Union League during a "Hike the Hill" visit to Capitol Hill this week.

It was a busy week in Washington, D.C. for credit unions, as five credit union leagues representing nine states came in for Fall Hike the Hill visits to discuss credit union issues with legislators and regulators. The Credit Union Association of the Dakotas, Illinois Credit Union League, League of Southeastern Credit Unions, Georgia Credit Union Affiliates, and Mountain West Credit Union Association participated.

Many young professionals kicked off their week with CUNAs young professionals advocacy training. The visits throughout the week included dozens of meetings with elected officials on Capitol Hill, and officials at NCUA and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, as well as briefings from CUNA staff.

As a credit union leader, I believe it is vital to our industrys mission to maintain and increase dialogue with legislators and their staff. Participating in this years Hike the Hill event presented a terrific opportunity to do just that, said Brad R. Bergmooser, vice president and general counsel of BCU, Vernon Hills, Ill. The Leagues advocacy team has a remarkable bipartisan relationship with lawmakers, and it has been deeply rewarding to witness the advancement of credit union public policy interests first hand.
Inspirational Insight: What do you like best about fall?
Over the years, the world has heard a good deal of barefaced lying from Vladimir Putin and his acolytes. They lied about the London murder of Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in 2006.

Lied about the fact Russian soldiers had occupied the Crimean peninsula in 2014. And in the same year lied about the state-sponsored doping of the Russian Winter Olympics team that drew worldwide condemnation.

When, also in 2014, a Russian rocket downed a civilian airliner over Eastern Ukraine, leaving almost 300 dead, they lied again. Just as they lied over their involvement in hacking attacks on the 2016 U.S. elections that saw Donald Trump voted in to power.

But yesterday's protestations of innocence on Russian television by Skripal poisoning suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov  surely among the world's most unconvincing liars  took the Kremlin's duplicity to a new level.

Yesterday's protestations of innocence on Russian television by Skripal poisoning suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov  surely among the world's most unconvincing liars  took the Kremlin's duplicity to a new level

Their claim that they were just visiting Salisbury because 'friends have been suggesting for some time that we visit this wonderful city' could not have been less believable.

The notion that, when they arrived at the train station, there was 'too much snow' to get to the 'world famous 123 metre spire of Salisbury cathedral' is risible.

Quite apart from the fact that there was almost no snow in the CCTV footage of their stroll through Salisbury, Russians, of all people, are not exactly unused to snow.

And their laughable explanation for being spotted a mile from the train station  in the opposite direction from the cathedral and very close to Sergei Skripal's house  was that they were lost. Two days in a row. 'You can't imagine what our lives have become . . . our faces are on the television,' whined Boshirov. 'The real poisoners owe us an apology.'

The lying here goes far beyond the usual diplomatic obfuscations that many governments use to cover up the activities of their intelligence services. It is so blatant, so bad, that it would be amusing, if what it reveals about Putin wasn't so chilling.

Because it is the very absurdity of this concocted story  the hymns of praise to the beauties of the cathedral were literally cut and pasted from Wikipedia  that we should worry about.

It is a calculated insult to the British Government: Putin's two fingers to the world. He simply does not care what anyone thinks. It is lying as a form of aggression.

No one in Russian state circles  least of all Margarita Simonyan, the head of the state-owned RT network who interviewed the pair  actually expected Petrov and Boshirov's story to be believed.

The tale of two Russian fans of medieval architecture travelling to the UK only to be turned back by a non-existent dusting of snow is beyond ludicrous.

But that's the point. Putin doesn't lie simply to deceive. He lies to assert his power over truth itself.

He's like a playground bully who denies that he's stolen a pencil case that he's actually holding in his hand. For this kind of bully, 'I didn't steal your stuff' really means: 'I stole it and I don't care that you know it. I'm stronger than you. And you can't touch me.'

The message is that the truth is what Putin says it is.

It has been suggested that the two poisoners, Petrov and Boshirov, were paraded on television for Russian domestic consumption to give credibility to Putin's denials earlier this week that they were part of his intelligence apparatus.

'These are civilians,' Putin had said of the two hitmen. 'I hope they come forward and explain themselves.' And sure enough, a day later, they miraculously  if somewhat nervously  appeared.

But the argument that the Petrov and Boshirov show was intended to convince a domestic Russian audience of the duo's innocence doesn't hold water. Indeed, the assassins' story was not remotely any more plausible to Russian viewers than it was to those in the West.

What Petrov's and Boshirov's cock-and-bull tale was intended to do was display Putin's defiance and strength. The Kremlin-controlled broadcasters and press continually tell Putin's subjects that the Western media is a farrago of propaganda, and that Western countries regularly order extra-judicial killings, invade sovereign countries and use hackers to subvert Russia.

Putin's clear message is: If the West can do it, why can't we? Let us not forget that the attempted murder of Skripal, a former military intelligence officer who betrayed his country, was a mafia-style attack using chemical weapons on British soil.

An innocent Briton, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life, and intelligence estimates are that the quantity of the nerve agent novichok carried by the terrorist tourists could have killed 4,000 people.

No vital Russian interest was at stake  only the sinister secret service code of death to traitors which Putin has publicly proclaimed. 'Traitors will choke on their 30 pieces of silver,' he warned in 2010 when Skripal and others were released from Russian captivity in a spy swap.

Eight years later, a team of executioners from Skripal's old outfit, the GRU, acted on the president's words  in the opinion of the British Government  with Putin's personal approval.

We have been here before. In 2006, when another former Russian spy and British citizen Litvinenko was fatally poisoned with polonium, the Kremlin's response was more or less the same: deny, distract with a slew of ridiculous alternative conspiracy theories  and reward the perpetrators (one, Andrei Lugovoi, even became a member of the Russian parliament).

In the intervening 12 years, despite international condemnation, multiple rounds of economic sanctions and economic suffering imposed on the Russian people, little has changed. The only difference is that yesterday's lies were even more brazen.

It's time to recognise that Putin will never apologise, never explain, and continue to scoff at international law.

Under his rule, Russia has become a rogue state. Here, he flaunts his defiance at countries which do abide by the rules to boost his popularity back home and dare an enfeebled West to take him on.

The U.S. is already on track to brand Russia a state sponsor of terror, on a par with Iran and North Korea.

On August 22, the U.S. state and treasury departments introduced a package of sanctions to punish Russia for illegal use of chemical weapons in the Skripal attack. The measures include a ban on the export of high technology to Russia and restrictions on Russian state companies doing business in the West.

The U.S. demands that Russia allows an international team of inspectors to visit its top-secret chemical weapons facilities within 90 days, or face far more serious sanctions that will effectively cut Russia off from the world economy.

The chances of Putin accepting inspectors are rather less than zero. Come November, the U.S. is likely officially to brand Putin an international pariah.

Another, separate package of sanctions against Russia is also making its way through the U.S. Congress, with strong cross-party support.

Even Donald Trump, who in July was remarkably friendly towards Putin, has abandoned his rapprochement with Russia and yesterday signed an executive order stipulating economic punishment for countries that interfered in U.S. elections.

Britain needs to follow suit, give up its wide-eyed acceptance of the billions of roubles being laundered by Russian oligarchs and gangsters in London, and impose the kind of measures against Kremlin-connected companies and individuals doing business in Britain that Putin will actually notice.

No one, of course, is under any illusions that sanctions will change his behaviour. But if the international rules-based order is to have any future, crime must be followed by punishment.
Amanda Bray (pictured) and her husband have saved thousands over the past two years by ditching designer stores and opting to do a lot of the hard work themselves

With the average Australian home renovation project costing between $75k and $105k, many save for several years before they can make their dream abode a reality.

But one savvy couple from Ballarat, Victoria, has renovated their entire home for just $23,000 thanks to handy DIY tricks and budget decor from Kmart and Big W.

Amanda Bray, a stay-at-home mother-of-two, and her husband have saved thousands over the past two years by ditching designer stores and opting to do a lot of the hard work themselves.

'My husband did all the demolition side himself and helped any tradies where he could,' Ms Bray, 31, told FEMAIL.

'Anything you can do yourself just put in the hard yards and get it done. It will save you a lot of money.

'Our renovations have taken us approximately two years so far because we have done a lot ourselves and we have two young children.'

Before: The kitchen was the most expensive room to renovate, with the entire project taking two months and costing $10,000

After: 'We kept the layout of the kitchen the same we just demolished the old one and designed a new one with lots of extra storage,' Ms Bray said, adding that the decor cost a total of $96

THE KITCHEN

The kitchen was the most expensive room to renovate, with the entire project taking two months and costing $10,000.

'We kept the layout of the kitchen the same we just demolished the old one and designed a new one with lots of extra storage,' Ms Bray said, adding that the decor cost a total of $96.

The grey and charcoal salt and pepper shaker from Aldi cost them $30 for the set, the brown set from Kmart cost $8 and added DIY labelling cost $2.

'Lots of simple, cheap items can be turned into something totally different with a little bit of 'TLC,' she said.

Other Kmart products in the kitchen include the serving board ($10), vase ($6), canister ($4), tray ($16), tea pot ($8) and plate ($2).

 Slide me  The kitchen: The savvy couple from Ballarat, Victoria, have renovated their entire home for just $23,000 thanks to handy DIY tricks and budget decor from Kmart and Big W

THE LOUNGE ROOM

The lounge room cost $8,500 to renovate and the project took one month.

'When we designed our lounge we both knew we wanted a fireplace. It was a huge cost but worth every penny,' Ms Bray said.

The decor cost just $393 in total and the the contemporary styling has transformed the space into a relaxed, decluttered oasis.

'Never pay full price for items at the more expensive shops - wait as most have sales regularly,' Ms Bray said.

Before: The lounge room cost $8,500 to renovate and the project took one month

After: 'When we designed our lounge we both knew we wanted a fireplace. It was a huge cost but worth every penny,' Ms Bray said

'Sometimes too much affordable decor can look a bit tacky so just make sure you mix it up.'

The sophisticated rug only cost her $29 from Target and she decorated the living room table with a variety of trinkets from Kmart, ranging from $2 to $10.

In the nook of the room Ms Bray has also created a reading corner, where she incorporated the popular Occasional chair from Kmart in the blush shade, which only set her back $49.

This space also features a $29 Target throw, a $12 glass tray from Kmart and faux flowers.

 Slide me  The living room is filled with stylish touches that amount to $393 in total

THE DINING ROOM

This space cost just $1,000 to renovate and it took two weeks to complete.

'Behind our original dining room and kitchen was a long sun room,' Ms Bray said.

'We knocked out a wall to make the dining room bigger and to give the space some more light. We also made the space behind the kitchen into a study/walk-in linen closet.'

Before: This space cost just $1,000 to renovate and it took two weeks to complete

The decor for the room cost a total of $241.

Not only does the room feature a dining table but it also has a corner where Ms Bray can relax and unwind, with the Occasional chair from Kmart making another appearance.

Stand out items include the $12 DIY letter board from Kmart, the faux flowers for $8 from Kmart and the prints that cost her $60 from Society 6.

After: 'We knocked out a wall to make the dining room bigger and to give the space some more light. We also made the space behind the kitchen into a study/walk-in linen closet,' she said

 Slide me  The dining room has been brought to life by Ms Bray's Kmart buys as well, with the whole room costing $241 to decorate

THE LAUNDRY

This space was renovated in three weeks for a total cost of $3,500.

'We only originally had one bathroom in our house,' Ms Bray said.

'Our laundry was quite large so to utilise the space we decided to make this space into a second bathroom and a laundry. '

Like other areas of the home, Ms Bray used classic decor from Big W and Kmart to bring the space to life.

'Decorating your house does not have to cost a fortune there are so many affordable shops to buy amazing decor items to brighten up any space,' Ms Bray said.

Before: This space was renovated in three weeks for a total cost of $3,500

After: 'Our laundry was quite large so to utilise the space we decided to make this space into a second bathroom and a laundry,' she said

Ms Bray also added some special touches to the laundry, using her label maker to label the jars she uses for washing powder

THE BACKYARD

The backyard wasn't as involved, with the couple choosing to spruce it up with a $1,000 Big W cubby house renovation.

The final touch was a $39 Kmart bench chair and a $10 cushion from Kmart.

'Decorating your house does not have to cost a fortune there are so many affordable shops to buy amazing decor items to brighten up any space,' Ms Bray said.

The backyard wasn't as involved, with the couple choosing to spruce it up with a $1,000 Big W cubby house renovation
Shay Mitchell is being mercilessly mocked her for sharing a video of herself demonstrating the cleaning power of a makeup remover  but failing to actually remove her makeup.

The 31-year-old Biore ambassador has been accused of duping her fans after taking to Snapchat last weekend to post a seemingly staged clip of herself using the brand's cleansing micellar water.

'I have obviously tried my fair share of makeup removers, but these are by far my favorite,' she says at the start of the video, and she even goes as far as pouring the liquid onto a cotton round.

Backlash: Shay Mitchell, 31, has been accused of duping her fans after posting an obviously staged Snapchat video of herself using Biore cleansing water to remove her eye makeup

After a sharp cut, she takes the pad and makes the motion of swiping it across her eye before holding it up to the camera to show off the smudged cotton.

Although she claims the cleanser removed her waterproof mascara, her eye makeup is still perfectly intact at the end of the clip.

Twitter user @ohjlizzle thought the whole thing was so comical she recorded it and posted it for all of her followers to see.

'SHE AINT EVEN ACTUALLY RUB HER EYE IM CRYING LMFAOOOO [sic],' she captioned the footage, which has been viewed more than five million times.

Promotion: 'I have obviously tried my fair share of makeup removers, but these are by far my favorite,' she says in the clip, and she even goes as far as pouring the liquid onto a cotton round

Say what? Although she makes the motion of swiping a cotton pad across her eye, her makeup is still perfectly intact at the end of the clip

Over five million views: Twitter user @ohjlizzle thought the whole thing was so comical she recorded it and posted it for all of her followers to see

Many commenters were quick to agree that Shay didn't touch the cotton round to her skin during the demonstration.

'Omg this is the worst promo I've ever seen,' one person wrote, while another added: 'she.. didn't even touch her EYE [sic].'

One Twitter user named Jordan referenced Shay's Pretty Little Liars character when she tweeted: 'I'm crying. Emily is a con woman now. Shoulda never left Rosewood sis!'

Although Shay plays Peach in the new Lifetime series You, some people joked that she needs the endorsement money because Pretty Little Liars is no longer on.

Paid partner: The Biore ambassador has also touted the brand's cleansing water on her Instagram

Hard up? Some critics of the video joked that the Pretty Little Liars star needs the endorsement money because the show is no longer on

New gig: Shay, who stars in the new Lifetime series You, posed with Sera Gamble, Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, and Caroline Kepnes (left to right) at the show's New York screening

'Some pll is over I guess she gotta get her coins somehow,' one person wrote.

Others questioned why she was using a Snapchat filter while filming a sponsored post about makeup removal.

'I think she didn't actually touch her face so the filter wouldn't move,' someone tweeted.

This isn't the first time Shay has come under fire over a social media snafu.

In April, she was accused of faking her Instagram photos, as followers alleged that snapshots from her exotic travels were actually taken from other sites.
Former Miss Universe Australia, Olivia Rogers, has hit back at a troll on Instagram, after she received a shocking direct message on the platform earlier this week.

The 26-year-old speech pathologist and model discovered the message in question when she was just about to go to bed on Tuesday evening and told FEMAIL her jaw dropped 'to the floor'.

'When I read the words, I was appalled, it shocked me how cruel someone can be to another person,' Olivia told Daily Mail Australia.

'It also scared me to think that they probably send similar messages to other people who might not be able to cope with it.'

Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Rogers (pictured) received a nasty message from a troll on her Instagram direct messages on Tuesday evening

The 26-year-old (pictured) hit back after her jaw dropped to the floor - because she wanted to highlight how dangerous social media bullying can be

Among other things, the message (pictured) told Olivia that she was 'wooden and fake', and 'no one actually cares about you anymore'

Among other things, the message told Olivia that she was 'wooden and fake', and 'no one actually cares about you anymore'.

'You came from a rich family, and the best private school in Adelaide,' the direct message began.

'Stop trying to spruik anxiety and depression. You actually have no f**king idea how other people have lived and what they have experienced. Have you experienced physical and sexual abuse? Have you witnessed drug overdoses with your family?

'I bet you didn't. So shut the f**k up and be grateful for what you actually have experienced in your life. No one is buying your anxiety bulls**t you prissy little Seymour b**ch.

'Get the actual f**k over yourself. Also, you were never going to win Miss Universe, you're too fat with no t*ts,' it concluded.

After she had read and re-read the message, and shown it to her boyfriend, Olivia (pictured) decided there was only one thing left to do - she would write back

'Hi. I wouldn't usually respond to a message like this, but it's so full of hate and comments that are obviously meant to hurt me - fortunately, I have a thick skin,' Olivia wrote (pictured)

After she had read and re-read the message, and shown it to her boyfriend, Olivia decided there was only one thing left to do.

She would write back.

She wrote: 'Hi. I wouldn't usually respond to a message like this, but it's so full of hate and comments that are obviously meant to hurt me - fortunately, I have a thick skin and it doesn't hurt me but it scares me that you probably send these horrible messages to lots of other people and it would affect them.

'I have never said I'm ungrateful for the life I've had and I never want to play the victim or have anyone feel sorry for me, I'm just trying to share my experience (which you don't know the half of) in order to break down stigma and hopefully help others to speak out.

'I don't know what your background is, but obviously you aren't very happy. I hope you can get some help and focus on yourself rather than trying to hurt others.'

Speaking to FEMAIL about the experience, the 26-year-old (pictured) confessed it has been hard to brush off the effects of the message but she wants to share her experience to help others

Olivia responded and shared the experience on her Instagram story (pictured), in the hope that she could highlight that cyber bullying is unacceptable

'I hope that by holding them accountable for the awful things they said to me, maybe they'll think twice next time before sending someone else a horrible message,' Olivia told FEMAIL (pictured: their exchange)

The troll then wrote back to Olivia, posting: 'You must have a thick skin, that is why you are responding. If your skin was thick, you wouldn't respond.'

Olivia responded and shared the experience on her Instagram story, in the hope that she could highlight that cyber bullying is unacceptable.

Speaking to FEMAIL about the experience, the 26-year-old confessed it has been hard to brush off the effects of the message:

'I think social media can be so powerful and positive when you use it in the right way, but it's people like this troll that make others see social media in a negative light,' Olivia told Daily Mail Australia.

'The main reason I thought it was important to stand up to this person, and to trolls in general, is they need to know that their actions have consequences, they are affecting an actual human being.

'I hope that by holding them accountable for the awful things they said to me, maybe they'll think twice next time before sending someone else a horrible message.'

Olivia is an ambassador for Women's Mental Health. If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying or their mental health, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Occasionally people ask me: How do you manage 13 godchildren? And my answer is simple: Youd have to ask them. And it would be quite a task, as they range from aged three to 54 and are scattered all over the world.

But I think theyd probably agree that, although I love them all dearly, I have failed badly in my godparenting duties of advice, outings and gifts.

In fact, I have to confess that once, in around 2000, I was asked to become a godmother again when I already had around ten to my name and I actually refused. Im a lousy godparent. I said. I cant do it again.

SNAP-HAPPY SCOTT: Scott Anderson is the son of LA-based British celebrity photographer Eddie Sanderson, who has been photographing me for more than 40 years

Having discussed it with other godparents, it seems Im not the only one who doesnt live up to their responsibilities. Apparently, Queen Victoria had about 50 godchildren, many of whom she ignored even though some were named after her. None of mine were named after me  Joan, after all, is a very boring name  but I do have something in common with the great lady on that front.

Its not that I dont love babies  I absolutely adore them. That wasnt always the case, however. I can remember my baby brother, Bill, arriving when I was 12; Horrible, smelly little brat, I sneered to my put-upon mother. No way am I going to change his nappy!

And I didnt. I ignored the poor child until he became a teenager and became more interesting, and we started to become close  a bond that is even more intense following the death of our beloved sister, Jackie, three years ago.

DELIGHT FROM MY TV DAYS: Amy Wilson, 31, daughter of former PR Stella Wilson from my days on Dynasty. Amy is married to former Saracens rugby player Chris Wyles

It was only six months after I found myself with my own baby, my beautiful Tara Cynara Newley, that I acquired my first godchild, Adam Bricusse. It felt like a double blessing.

Adams father is the lyricist Leslie Bricusse, the song-writing partner of my then husband, Anthony Newley, and his mother the film actress Yvonne Romain. We all were extremely close and spent years going on holidays together.

When my baby son, Sacha, arrived about a year after Adam, they became best friends for decades.

MT THEATRE PAL'S TWINS: Declan, left, and Justin Duggan, with my beloved sister Jackie. Theyre the twin sons of Charles Duggan, who produced my U.S. tour of Noel Cowards Private Lives

Our families had many adventures together, but one particularly horrific one took place in a rented New York brownstone, when the children were tiny. The nanny came rushing out of Adams room in the middle of the night, screaming: Hes covered in cockroaches!

When we went to look in his cot, we found cockroaches crawling all over his crib and up his baby-gro. Never have two families packed so fast as we did to evacuate that infested house.

Eight years later, my best friend, Judy Bryer  my personal assistant when I was starring in Dynasty  produced her first-born, Victoria, and I was delighted to be asked to be a godmother for the second time. Victoria and I have kept in constant touch, as she is almost the same age as my youngest daughter, Katyana.

CATWALK STAR CARA: Model and actress Cara Delevingne, 26, daughter of my life-long friends Charles and Pandora

Two godchildren were entirely manageable and a huge honour, and I went into each relationship with the very best of intentions. I dutifully remembered birthdays, and chose thoughtful presents.

But then, all of a sudden, I seemed to become inundated with invitations to godmotherhood. The births came fast and furious in the Seventies: there was Milica, daughter of interior designer Tessa Kennedy and prolific film producer Elliot Kastner, of Where Eagles Dare fame, among many others.

Rachel, the daughter of Rod Tyler, then news editor of the News of the World, and his wife Maggie, who was our personal assistant, was also born in the Seventies. Then came Scott, son of Eddie Sanderson, my favourite photographer, and Christian, son of Luisa and Roger Moore.

MILLIONAIRE'S LAD: Theo Massow, aged three, is the son of Ivan Massow the multi-millionaire entrepreneur and activist. I met Ivan more than 20 years ago, and he calls me his second mum

By now I was struggling to keep up with remembering all of their birthdays. I did my best, but it was so difficult I decided instead to give a festive childrens Christmas party every year. This proved extremely successful and kept both parents and kids  including my own  happy for a few years.

But as this group turned into teenagers, the novelty of Christmas parties, stocking treats and ho-ho-ho Santas grew stale, and they came to a natural end.

Not that that was the end of the godparenting requests! As the Eighties dawned, my younger friends started producing babies.

FILM MOGUL'S BABY: I first met Milica Kastner in her cot in the South of France when she was three months old. Now 46, she is the actress daughter of the late American film producer Elliot Kastner and Tessa Kennedy, a British interior designer, who is godmother to my daughter Katy

In quick succession, I was asked to become godmother to Chloe, daughter of Neil Dickson (who played Biggles), with whom I was working on my mini-series Sins; then Coco, daughter of Louise and Theo Fennell, the fabulous jeweller.

Then in the Nineties, Amy, daughter of my publicist Stella Wilson, and Cara, daughter of my good friends Pandora and Charles Delevingne, were born. Lucky Cara had an abundance of godparents  16 in all, I recollect  several of whom are now dead, so maybe it was foresighted of her parents to collect so many

By this time, I had practically given up on all of them. I sent a Christmas card every year which was often returned with a Not known at this address sticker.

BEST FRIEND'S GROWN-UP GIRL: Victoria Dade, pictured here with me and a young fellow goddaughter, Cara Delevingne, is daughter of my closest friend Judy Bryer. Her father is Californian businessman Maximilian Bryer, who gave me away when I married my husband Percy Gibson in 2002. Victoria, now 46, has two sons and works in the U.S. broadcasting industry

Then when, in the Nineties and early 2000s, my grandchildren were born, there werent enough hours in the week to keep in touch with many of them. Being a godparent is supposed to mean acting as a referee for the child and their parents from their baptism to adulthood. Nowadays, its all about remembering Christmas and birthdays and dishing out iPads and iPhones as presents.

Another definition of a good godparent is that they will make themselves available at all times to the child, keeping in touch regularly. Sorry guys  I guess I dropped the ball on that one, too. As a working actress, mother to three and grandmother to three, I could only be counted on in emergencies.

On the advice front, though, Ive tried. I gave Cara Delevingne advice on the perils of showbusiness. When she was 15, she asked me whether she should become an actress: Dont, I told her simply, and paraphrasing Jack Nicholson, added: The world doesnt need another actress  95 per cent of actors are out of work.

CO-STAR'S KID: Chloe, whos in her 30s, is the daughter of actor Neil Dickson, who starred with me in my mini-series Sins in the Eighties

Of course, she didnt listen and has become monumentally successful in both her acting and modelling careers.

Just a few weeks ago we went out to dinner, and I took my 19-year-old granddaughter, Miel, to Caras 26th birthday bash in Los Angeles.

I do try to keep in touch with them all. I see Christian Moore and his gorgeous young children often in the South of France. Christian has just had his fifth baby  a gorgeous little girl called Lily-Lara. And Adam Bricusse, my first godchild, is now godfather to her!

Now that my godchildren are having children of their own, does this make me a great-godmother?

The early 21st century has seen something of a renaissance for my godparenting duties.

My friend and producer Charles Duggan, who is gay, informed me he was going to become a parent through in-vitro fertilisation.

Since his twin sons, Declan and Justin, were born in 2002, we, too, have spent several summers together.

FIRST GODCHILD AND 007's SON: Artist Adam Bricusse, left, is the 54-year-old son of lyricist Leslie Bricusse, who worked with my second husband, Anthony Newley. Film producer Christian Moore, 45, is the youngest son of my friend Roger Moore

DESIGNER GEM: Fashion designer Coco Fennell, 30, is daughter of my friends Theo Fennell, the jewellery designer, and his author wife Louise

Then, in 2015, another of my gay friends, Ivan Massow, asked my husband, Percy, and me to be godparents to his beautiful baby boy, Theo.

To be fair to myself, I am now in regular touch with most of my godchildren, inviting them to my parties whenever they are in town and getting to know and love their own children.

As far as the requests go, I think Ill definitely stick at 13. Unlucky? I dont think so.

So, from married parents to single parents to gay fathers, god-parenting has changed a lot in the past 50 years.

I have been happy to have been even a small part of my godchildrens lives, if not the most active of influencers. I love all of them wholeheartedly.
Chances are you probably don't spend too much time examining your tongue, but a quick glance can reveal a surprising amount about the state of your overall health.

In fact, there's a whole range of information that can be gleaned from 'reading' its size, texture, colour and shape, according to Australian Chinese medical practitioner Waveny Holland.

Ms Holland explained that a tongue diagnosis uses a chart, one that corresponds to different parts of the body. And this can reveal signs of disease and imbalance that the patient may not even know.

From the tongue's texture, shape and colour, the expert told FEMAIL how you can read this organ to uncover a raft of health secrets.

Your tongue can reveal a surprising amount about the state of your overall health (stock image)

How the tongue relates to different parts of the body: The tip of the tongue reflects organs that are higher in the chest: the lungs and heart. The middle of the tongue represents organs that are in the middle of the trunk: liver and gallbladder on the sides and the stomach in the centre. The back of the tongue reflects organs deeper in the trunk, such as the intestines, bladder, and kidneys. Source: The Epoch Times Advertisement

Tongue colour:

'A normal, healthy tongue is usually a pinkish, light red, with a slight white coating and is neither too thick or thin and not flabby or overlapping the teeth, Ms Holland explained.

If circulation is restricted - this can occur during menstruation - the tongue may be more purple, she said.

A pale tongue can signal a vitamin or mineral deficiency and is more commonly seen among those suffering from anaemia.

A red tongue (depending on which area of the body this corresponds to on the tongue map) represents heat. This could indicate fever or a rise in body temperature associated with menopause.

Tongue shape:

The first part of a diagnosis may include a looking at the tongue's shape.

Ms Holland said a puffy tongue can suggest a lack of nutrients and moisture, while a thin tongue could suggest dehydration.

Australian Chinese medical practitioner Waveny Holland

Tongue coating:

If the tongue has a thin, white coating this is considered healthy and normal, however, if there is no coating this may signal dehydration.

A yellow and dry tongue indicates "heat" in the body. The deeper the colour, the higher the level of body 'heat'.

This can indicate an infection or bacterial build-up or other imbalances.

A tongue with a grey and black appearance indicates 'stagnation'. Stagnation refers to the flow of energy, blood and fluid in the body.

Tongue surface texture:

A tongue which has bumps or protuberances or cracks can also reveal a range of health potential problems.

Bumps on the tongue are diagnosed depending where they are and what they look like specifically, said Ms Holland.

A scalloped tongue (one with ridges on the outside edge) indicates fluid retention (stock image)

For instance, a bump on the top of the tongue may be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection or even a possible allergic reaction to medication.

Deep cracks in the centre indicate that a patient is prone to digestive issues while sores (ulcers) can indicate a deficiency.

A patchy tongue, also called a 'geographic tongue' can reflect heat in the stomach which may manifest as acid reflux.

A scalloped tongue (one with ridges on the outside edge) indicates fluid retention.
We have all come across perfectly good furniture sitting out on the side of the road waiting for council collection.

Among the unwanted items left on the kerb, you notice a beautiful white cabinet that's in desperate need of a new lick of paint.

But are you legally allowed to take it home with you?

Turns out it's not as simple as someone's trash being your treasure because it really comes down to where you live in Australia, ABC News reported.

Every year, many Australians leave furniture and whitegoods for council pick up (stock image)

In Brisbane, residents are encouraged to take whatever they spot for kerbside collection on the condition they leave leftover items tidily stacked.

But if you're living in Darwin, the junk 'technically' belong to the person who put it there until council kerbside collection.

'If there is something in a pile that people would like to reuse, as a courtesy they should try to contact the person who put it there to ask if it is OK to take,' a City of Darwin spokeswoman told the publication.

Sydneysiders are allowed to take any unwanted item at their own risk while there are no laws preventing Adelaide, Melbourne or Perth residents from salvaging goods.

'Chucking out your unwanted items on the street is illegal. You could be fined $500 for it (up to $2,200 in some cases),' the City of Sydney said.

'There are better ways to get rid of your junk, like donating or reselling. You can also use our free weekly pick-up service.'

Are you legally allowed to take it home with you? Turns out it's not as simple as someone's trash being our treasure because it really comes down to where you live in Australia

Only seniors and concession card holders are allowed to book a service for unwanted kerbside collection in Canberra.

The ACT government discourages residents from rummaging through other people's unwanted items.

'The public should be aware that they may be taking items that do belong to another person and should check with the residence prior to taking any items,' a spokesperson said.

The City of Hobart does not offer a kerbside collection service but residents can contact The Resource Work Cooperative to book a pick-up bulky household items.
 Marijuana, mandatory minimums and jury nullification, oh my: split Ninth Circuit affirms panel federal convictions, though remands to address DOJ spending rider | Main | Reported sentencing details in Paul Manafort's plea deal to wrap up his various federal prosecutions 

September 14, 2018

"Laboratories of Democracy: Drug Policy In The United States"

The title of this post is the title of this exciting event taking place in Washington DC later this month that I have had the honor of helping to plan. Here is the event's description:

Drug use and substance abuse are circumstances that no longer impact only a small percentage of our population. In 2016, over 20 million Americans dealt with a substance use disorder, and the CDC estimates that more than 10 percent of the American population use some form of illegal drug each month. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 58 percent of those in state prisons and 63 percent of those sentenced to state jails meet the medical criteria for drug dependence or abuse. The Ohio State Universitys newly established Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC), with support from the Charles Koch Foundation, will host Laboratories of Democracy: Drug Policy in the United States. This important event will bring together leading academics, members of law enforcement, policymakers, think tank scholars, community advocates, media figures, and other influencers from different spheres and perspectives to discuss the diverse and challenging policy questions that have emerged in the drug policy area. The event will be held at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, DC on September 25, 2018 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. The experts speaking at this event have used their knowledge to propose positive drug policy solutions to tackle the difficult problems faced by our country, and the program will engage attendees in an action-oriented discussion on how our country can move forward with positive solutions to addiction and substance abuse.

More details about and registration for this event (which will include a panel discussion on the opioid crisis and a panel discussion on marijuana reform) are available here and here.

September 14, 2018 at 10:28 AM | Permalink

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When it comes to looking toned, many professionals will tell you it's not about how hard you go in your workouts, but how often you go and work out.

And now, one personal trainer has illustrated that in supremely clear fashion.

Chontel Duncan, from Brisbane, recently uploaded a comparison photograph to her Instagram profile, in which she compares herself and her body at age 18 to how it looks at age 30, or now.

'12 years and two babies later...,' Chontel captioned the snap.

Chontel Duncan, from Brisbane, uploaded a comparison photograph to her Instagram profile , in which she compares herself and her body at age 18 to how it looks at age 30 (pictured)

While the personal trainer (pictured), who runs HIIT Australia, was quick to acknowledge there hasn't been 'a crazy amount of physical change', she said 'this body has been through a lot'

While the personal trainer, who runs HIIT Australia, was quick to acknowledge there hasn't been 'a crazy amount of physical change', she also said 'this body has been through a lot'.

'The biggest transformation in these two images are the lifestyles and priorities,' she added - hinting at the fact that she has now become a mother twice over.

'One thing remains the same,' Chontel said. 'I still exercise every single week. I've never changed my style of training, it's always been HIIT.'

Speaking about the one thing that has kept her lean over the years, the 30-year-old revealed that 'consistency' has been the key to her success - and that is what will keep you lean

Chontel has built up a following of more than half a million men and women over the years, thanks to her refreshingly honest posts (pictured during her two pregnancies)

Speaking about the one thing that has kept her lean over the years, the 30-year-old revealed:

'Consistency is the key, but it's not always going to be a smooth road. Falling off the wagon happens, you just have to gradually discipline your behaviour until you back into the swing of things.'

Chontel has built up a loyal follower base of more than half a million men and women over the past few years, thanks to her honesty and refreshing approach to fitness.

Earlier this year, the 30-year-old (pictured) revealed why we should ditch the scales and go by how our bodies feel and look rather than what the scales are saying

Earlier this year, she explained that you should judge how your body looks and feels, rather than any number on the scales, by showing off two snaps of herself when she looks very different, but weighs the same.

'Just a little reminder that scales don't justify your success,' Chontel explained under the photo.

'Here are two clear examples of how 70-71 kilos looks on me. Now I know I definitely would rather the right image.

'Ignoring the physical differences, the way I feel internally, how strong and fit I feel, how alive I feel and my bodies overall health is incredibly better in the right image.'

The Queensland-based woman (pictured) shares different snaps of herself and how her body changes to encourage others in their fitness journey

The Queensland-based woman said she analysed her body on a composition scanner to 'check in on her three week progression'.

'I wanted to share it with you because I thought it could help someone out there working hard towards a goal,' she said.

'In three weeks I put on 200 grams of scale weight, put on 1.8 kilos of skeletal muscle mass, dropped 3.2 per cent body fat, dropped 2.2 kilos of pure fat and decreased my visceral fat level from 5 to level 3.'
Millionaire Max Delmege already has two sons from his previous marriage.

But the 73-year-old has spoken of his anguish of watching helplessly as his wife Sam, 34, endure a brutal six-year battle with infertility.

The couple, who live on the Gold Coast, have been trying to have a baby after spending more than $100,000 on IVF treatments.

Appearing on The Morning Show, the septuagenarian property developer revealed his desperate hope of becoming a father again.

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Septuagenarian millionaire Max Delmege, 73, has shared his anguish of his wife Sam's brutal battle with infertility (pictured together)

The 34-year-old has been putting herself through painful injections

'I feel for Samantha, particularly when I see her give these injections, I can't look, I get all funny when she does these injection procedures,' he said.

'At the end of the day, I worry of course that after she has the operations, I worry quite a bit about her. I feel for her having to go through this.

'But again, I want children as well. Well I've got two boys from my previous marriage but I would like a couple of little babies running around the house.'

The father said he didn't believe their 39-year age gap was affecting their odds of having a baby together.

'Doctors have told her everything seems to be going normal. At the end of the day, we have these miscarriages... But we want a child or a couple if possible,' he said.

'They're the most precious things you could ever receive in life. I just can't wait to be a father again.'

Sam added: 'We have also been told from the lab that issue [age gap] is completely not a problem for what's happening in our journey.'

Their television interview comes just weeks after Sam offered a poignant account of her turbulent struggles of having a baby against the ever-decreasing odds.

The property developer revealed his desperate hope of becoming a father again

For the past six excruciating years, Sam Delmege (pictured) tried desperately to have a baby

'Every single day thinking about a baby, thinking about starting a family, thinking about my future, thinking about me as a Mother. Wanting, wishing, hoping, praying, practically begging to get pregnant,' Mrs Delmege wrote on her blog.

'When we finally sought help in 2015 I was told 'you'll get pregnant more then likely first go'. I was so excited that finally it could all be over. Finally my dream.

'That cycle was an absolute failure.'

But when she finally fell pregnant for the first time in April last year, she lost her unborn child at just six weeks.

Three months later, the pair - who married in 2015 - were delighted to discover they were expecting twins but Mrs Delmege tragically suffered a double miscarriage.

'My whole life was shattered that year,' she said.

The pair - who married in 2015 - were delighted to discover they were expecting twins but Mrs Delmege tragically suffered a double miscarriage

Despite her multiple failed IVF cycles, Mrs Delmege has been able to find the strength to overcome the heartbreak.

'I'm not sure how I did it in 2017 but I managed to get through it,' she said.

'I was dealing with some heavy losses, so much hatred towards myself, high anxiety levels, stress and all the while getting up, going to work, carrying on with life as if nothing was happening.

I hate looking in the mirror seeing a woman that can't carry a child, a woman that has put on 30kg in three years, a woman whose body keeps rejecting embryos, a woman who was deeply hurting. I am still deeply hurting

'I hate looking in the mirror seeing a woman that can't carry a child, a woman that has put on 30kg in three years, a woman whose body keeps rejecting embryos, a woman who was deeply hurting.

'I am still deeply hurting. Each and every single day. It's the bane of my existence.

'Most days people wouldn't know what's going on in my head. I smile, I laugh and I pretend I am okay. Most days I think I disguise well my true feelings.

'I am still trying to keep that spark in there. Samantha, the happy go lucky girl, with minimal cares in the world, always wanting to have fun and a joke. That girl.

'I often see glimmers of her but then she disappears when I am quickly reminded of my day to day torture. My life that currently still is.'

Despite her multiple failed IVF cycles, Mrs Delmege has been able to find the strength to overcome the heartbreak

As the couple tried desperately to conceive a baby over the years, Mrs Delmege said it was hard to watch those around her fall pregnant so easily.

'While you're happy for people, deep down there is a pain that aches, yearns and is desperately wishing it was you sharing that news, feeling those feelings, having morning sickness, watching a belly grow, feeling a baby kick, watching them move and wave at scans. But, each month it isn't you,' she said.

You know the feeling I hear of unconditional love, the feelings of watching a human you created grow? That's why I'm doing this

She explained the reason behind why she dreams of becoming a mother.

'You know the feeling I hear of unconditional love, the feelings of watching a human you created grow and experience life's experiences, the feelings of having them grow inside you, then the feelings of birth. The daily photos, the milestones. All those things? That's why I'm doing this,' Mrs Delmege said.

'That's why every day of every month for the last six years I have put myself through injections... steroids, the weight gain, the money loss, the heart ache, the miscarriages, the hope, loss of sleep and lack of self confidence. All to have those exact same feelings that you do, looking at your child.'

As the couple tried desperately to conceive a baby over the years, Mrs Delmege said it was hard to watch those around her fall pregnant so easily

'Will I ever experience these same feelings? I am not sure. Wouldn't it be great to have a magic ball telling us what our future holds. While I know right now my immediate future is unsure I hope my long term one has blessings with a baby.'

Determine to fall pregnant, Mrs Delmege said she's not giving up just yet.

Despite all my losses, 18 embryos, I still feel that glimmer. I still see a future with children

'If out of all of this I can praise myself for something it's for the determination of never giving up. Living with that glimmer of hope that my time is coming,' she said.

'Despite all my losses, 18 embryos, I still feel that glimmer. I still see a future with children. I never knew how much determination and resilience I had. No one knows how much pressure they can handle until handling it is your only option.

'Never underestimate the power of wanting something so desperately. What we will put ourselves through to achieve that dream.

'Until it's my time I'll keep going. I'll keep trying. I'll keep praying. I'll keep begging that maybe next month. I will keep smiling, joking around and basically breathing until I can become one of you. A mother.'
Queen Letizia of Spain was seen accompanying daughters Princess Leonor, 12, and Princess Sofia, 11, to the school gate on their first day of the new term.

And she too is back into the swing after the summer break, returning to her schedule of engagements with a meeting at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.

The Spanish royal, 45, who is married to King Felipe of Spain, 50, looked chic in a floral skirt and fitted knit as she posed for pictures with the guests she'd welcomed to the palace on Friday.

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Queen Letizia put on a chic display as she continued her busy schedule on Friday, meeting an audience outside Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, dressed in a chic powder blue ensemble

Putting on a radiant display, Letizia opted for a powder blue fitted sweater with elegant button detail to the sleeve.

Letizia teamed the top with a floral embellished midnight blue skirt which fell just below the knee, colour coordinating it with a pair of elegant satin pumps.

Wearing her hair, which appeared to have had a recent trim, in a sleek side parting, Letizia completed her ensemble with diamond earrings and a touch of mascara.

Keeping her nails free of varnish, she beamed as she posed alongside an audience.

Queen Letizia, 45, who is married to King Felipe of Spain, 50, opted for a floral inspired look as she posed outside her residence on Friday

On Tuesday Felipe and Letizia of Spain looked every inch the proud parents as they dropped their own daughters off for the first day back at school.

The Spanish royals joined other mothers and fathers taking their children back to Santa Maria de los Rosales, in Madrid, after the summer break.

Over the summer the Spanish palace said that Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia would travel to America to join the educational camp in a bid to give them 'new knowledge and experiences'.

King Felipe and Letizia, who are keen to complement their daughters' education with broader influences from different cultures, remained in Madrid to continue their royal duties while the girls were abroad.

Putting on a radiant display, Letizia opted for a powder blue fitted sweater with elegant button detail to the sleeve as she posed outside the palace in Madrid on Friday

Letizia married King Felipe ten years ago at Cathedral Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena in Madrid.

The relationship began in November 2002 and in 2003, just months after she had been promoted to the position of anchor on the national news channel, she quit her job and days later the royal engagement was announced.

Letizia teamed the top with a floral embellished midnight blue skirt which fell just below the knee, colour coordinating it with a pair of elegant satin pumps to meet with an audience on Friday
She gave birth to her third child Max Mario with McFly star Tom Fletcher just weeks ago.

And Giovanna Fletcher, who is based in Middlesex with her pop star beau and their boys, has been praised by fans after sharing a candid make-up free selfie which fellow mums have described as 'representing true motherhood'.

Giovanna, 33, who also shares Buzz, 4, and Buddy, 2, with Tom, 33, took to Instagram to post a snap with the little boy, admitting she was having trouble to get him to sleep.

'Been trying to put him down for three hours... I have decided to simply sit down with him,' she revealed to her 1 million followers.

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'Been trying to put him down for three hours': Giovanna Fletcher has been praised by fans after sharing a make-up free selfie with newborn son Max, which her followers have hailed as 'representing true motherhood'

Her honest post about the reality of life with a newborn quickly racked up almost 70,000 likes, with other mothers flooding the post with supportive messages.

'Love that you show real motherhood. Both of you are gorgeous', one woman wrote.

Another praised her for normalising the struggles of motherhood, writing: 'Thank god I'm not alone', while one added: 'It's been wonderful and comforting knowing that someone is going through the same'.

Adding her support another added: 'Oh bless you. You look tired today so nothing nicer than an excuse to sit and cuddle your baba. Sod the housework and have a little snooze yourself'.

Giovanna, 33, who also shares Buzz, 4, and Buddy, 2, with Tom, 33, took to Instagram to post a snap with the little boy, admitting she was having trouble to get him to sleep- seen wearing make-up above

'You both look so happy go with it', another wrote, while one suggested: 'You look so tired today so nothing nicer than an excuse to sit and cuddle with your baba'.

Despite widespread support in the comments section on Giovanna's Instagram feed, one troll posted to suggest she 'exercise and do her eyebrows' - prompting the podcast-host's fans to leap to her defence.

'She has just had a baby and has two little ones running around constantly keeping her busy. I'm sure getting her eyebrows done is nowhere near top of her priority list.'

Slamming the cruel comment, another added: 'She is embracing her time with him and so she should'.

'Thank god I'm not alone!' Giovanna's honest confession about parenting quickly racked up almost 70,000 likes, with other mothers flooding the post with supportive messages

Giovanna and Tom have been together since the tender age of 20, and first met at the Sylvia Young Theatre School aged just 13.

Tom proposed to Giovanna at the school in April 2011 after he lured her there under the pretence he was filming a documentary about his life.

A year later the pair married, with Tom's McFly bandmates and Mario as best men at their intimate family wedding in London.

During their first two pregnancies, Fletcher and Giovanna took pictures every day throughout the 9 months to show her bump blossoming.

As well as newborn Max Mario, they are also parents to Buzz Michelangelo Fletcher, 4, and Buddy Bob Fletcher, 2.

Giovanna and Tom are seen as one of the most solid couples in showbiz, however Tom previously opened up about living with depression for five years.

After seeking help in rehab and with medication, the McBusted star revealed that becoming a father to Buzz that finally helped him overcome the illness.

'Love that you show real motherhood. Both of you are gorgeous', one woman wrote, as fans praised Giovanna's honesty

Giovanna and Tom have been together since the age of 20, and as well as newborn Max Mario, they are alsoparents to Buzz Michelangelo Fletcher, 4, and Buddy Bob Fletcher, 2

Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the star explained how welcoming Buzz last year helped him immensely: 'I was taking medication, but I don't any more. Having a kid has really helped me in my life.

'It gives you a sense of needing to be stable. It's not about you any more, it's about this child that you've decided to bring into the world.'

He added: 'You don't have any choice but to cope with life because you're doing it for someone else. I was very ready for that before Buzz was born.'

'Her brows aren't her priority'! And despite widespread support for Giovanna's honest post, fans were forced to defend her against a troll who suggested she 'exercise and do her eyebrows'
Victoria Beckham fans have paid tribute to the star by playfully mocking her iconic carrier bag campaign.

The designer, 44, celebrated a decade in fashion by recreating a 2008 Marc Jacobs photo shoot that saw her pose inside an oversized branded shopping bag.

The images caused a stir when they were released on Instagram this week - and have sparked a wave of budget imitations from some of her 22million followers.

From Ikea shopping totes to tiny party bags, social media users have been resourceful in recreating the high-fashion images - often with hilarious effect.

Among the standout submissions to the #VBbagchallenge - a hashtag launched by the designer - was Loose Women's Linda Robson, 60, who gamely posed with a paper bag from Primark.

Victoria Beckham has been playfully mocked over her latest carrier bag campaign by recreating the images themselves. Loose Women's Linda Robson, 60, is among those who recreated the striking poses, opting to pose with a brown paper bag from Primark

Social media star Bartek 'Usa' Karpowski of thebartekusa paid tribute to the star in his own way. He even donned a pair of fins in place of Beckham's eye-catching white heels

Instagram star Emma Coe of soy.emmacoe used a playful New York City print bag to bring a touch of fun to the high-fashion pose from Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Instagram user Jayne Sharp impressed Victoria Beckham with her adaptation of the image, using a blue Ikea carrier bag. She captioned it: 'Im more of an Ikea & Dr Martin kinda girl'

Others roped in their babies, co-workers and unwilling pets to bring their own images to life.

Mother-of-four Beckham was tickled by the creative responses and shared a selection on Instagram this morning.

She wrote: 'Who wore it best #VBBagChallenge Bag club @celestebarber @jaynesharp @thebartekusa @lindarobson58 Share yours with me via #VBSince08.'

The post, shared ahead of the designer's debut London Fashion Week appearance on Sunday, sparked a flurry of responses, with dozens sharing their offerings on Instagram throughout the day.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw snapped performer Jonbenet Blonde giving serious attitude while adopting Beckham's pose behind a Palace Skateboards bag

Brand strategy firm itb worldwide got in on the fun with their own branded white carrier bag and a flailing pair of black over-the-knee boosts as they mimicked Beckham's iconic snap

Fashion fan Conor Carroll dared to bare, stripping down to just his shoes for his image. In a witty turn, he swapped Mrs Beckham's designer carrier bag for a plastic bag for life from Lidl

In a testament to Mrs Beckham's global appeal, the entries have come from fashion fans in countries including the US, Russia and Spain.

Many included a congratulatory message toasting the designer on her 10 year anniversary.

Mrs Beckham's images, shot by German photographer Juergen Teller, show the star spilling out of the Victoria Beckham shopping bags in a number of compromising positions.

The fashion powerhouse posed in just a nude body and white heels from her eponymous label for the shoot.

Instagram user Mate Roncevic took inspiration from another shot that showed Beckham with a bag over her head. He reimagined the look using an oversized red and white polka dot shopper

Social media star Julia Batirova roped in her dog to take the image at home using designer shopping bags from Estee Lauder and Dior - but the pup looked less than impressed at the look

Natasha Babikova came up with this celebratory take on the high-fashion shoot, asking a girl dressed in a dancers tutu to wear a polka dot party bag on her head

Instagram user Tama shared this hilarious shot from his office desk on his Instagram page

The images will appear on a line of T-shirts set for release by the star.

The original shoot, published 10 years ago, saw Mrs Beckham in similar positions but with her head and limbs poking out from an oversized white Marc Jacobs bag.

Victoria has been blazing the promotional of late as she has just posed for a stunning family shoot for Vogue while also ringing in her career landmark.

Yet again catching the eyes of her fans, the iconic star celebrated with the hilarious shoot in which she was sporting just a nude body and white heels.

Italian student Giovannina d'Amicis posted this trendy image on her Instagram to celebrate

She penned the caption: 'This season marks the 10 year anniversary of my brand! When Marc Jacobs featured me coming out of a shopping bag a decade ago it really was just the beginning of my journey into the fashion industry...

'So what better way to illustrate the story of the past ten years than by revisiting the creative? So excited to share this campaign with you shot by the brilliant Juergen Teller. Head to the link in to shop the tee featuring the campaign x VB #VBSince08'.

Her recent Vogue cover saw Victoria pose with husband David, 43 and their kids, Brooklyn, 19, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 13, and Harper, seven.

Instagram user Debbie of debbiejfleming_cb placed this light-hearted shot of her co-worker posing with a bag over her head. She shared the snap on Instagram with #VBbagchallenge

Stylish diaper bag company SAM & CO enlisted a pint-sized helper for its bag challenge snap
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A bear witnessed a couple's wedding  and was apparently less than pleased by the experience.

The couple tied the knot at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley and got to take photos inside the facility, with a Russian grizzly bear in the background.

While the smitten couple held hands and exchanged a kiss, the bear pulled a series of hilarious faces, making it look as though it was completely heartbroken by the scene unfolding before its eyes.

So sad: A bear hilariously photobombed a couple's wedding photos during their ceremony at the Minnesota Zoo

Heartbroken: The Russian grizzly bear pulled a series of priceless facial expressions while the smitten pair held hands

Dismay: In various images, the bear looks completely heartbroken by the spectacle unfolding before its eyes

The groom, a Reddit user, took to the platform to share some of the photos taken during the session.

'So we got married at the Zoo, and this bear had an interesting first look reaction,' he wrote under the username DrBaumli.

The images, which were taken by Chris and Kristy Photography, were a hit with other Reddit users.

'He looks like that one guy friend who secretly had a thing for the bride and just finally lost all hope,' one person wrote in a comment.

'Wow, did the minister ask if anyone had any objections to speak now or forever hold their peace?' someone else asked.

'The bear is like:" "REALLY SUSAN?! THAT GUY?"' another Reddit user wrote.

Spreading the joy: The groom, a Reddit user, took to the platform to share some of the photos taken during the session

Sorrow: 'He looks like that one guy friend who secretly had a thing for the bride and just finally lost all hope,' one Reddit user wrote in a comment

Couple: The bride and groom tied the knot in the evening after the zoo had completely closed to other visitors

Choice: 'There are some less than amicable zoos in the world that are like prisons,' the groom admitted, explaining he was comforted by the fact that the Minnesota Zoo is a state agency and isn't privately-owned

The groom explained in a comment of his own that the images were the photographers' idea.

'They said it was very fortunate to get a picture with one of the local denizens; the animals typically go in for mealtime when we're allowed to wander prior to the ceremony,' he wrote. 'This Russian grizzly bear was the only one kind enough give us his "blessings."'

In another post, the groom said the ceremony took place after the zoo had closed to other visitors completely, in the evening.

Some people questioned why the couple chose to tie the knot inside a zoo, with several Reddit users expressing concern for animal rights.

'There are some less than amicable zoos in the world that are like prisons,' the groom admitted, explaining he was comforted by the fact that the Minnesota Zoo is a state agency and isn't privately-owned.

Back in 2015, one of the Minnesota Zoo's three grizzly bears shattered a glass barrier separating it from visitors after slamming a rock into the surface.

The glass pane remained in place and no one was injured. It is unclear whether that bear was the same one as the bear that appears in the couple's wedding photos.
A woman has candidly opened up about the many ways in which being white  and having financial privilege  helped her avoid going to prison throughout several years.

Jennifer Jordan, 36, who is originally from Virginia, penned an honest essay for The Marshall Project, explaining how she 'confused' law enforcement officers when she got arrested because she was a 'young, educated white girl'.

Jordan, who is now a beekeeper in Charlotte, North Carolina, served time in jail and in juvenile facilities from the age of 14 until she was 21 years old, including a year at Bon Air juvenile correctional center in Bon Air, Virginia.

Honest: Jennifer Jordan, 36, has candidly opened up about the many ways in which being white  and having financial privilege  helped her avoid going to prison

She began her essay by recounting how a judge once sentenced her to three years in probation instead of nine years in prison, debunking the idea that 'luck' enabled her to get out of the judicial system and putting it down to 'privilege' instead.

'Nearly 14 years later, luck is no longer the first word that comes to mind...' she wrote.

'When I consider how I avoided nine years in prisoninstead getting three years in probationthe word I think of now is privilege.'

Jordan recalled some of the remarks she heard at various times during her arrests, including, 'You shouldn't be here', 'But, you're so smart', and, 'What a waste'.

'As a young, educated white girl, I confused everyone I encountered in law enforcement,' she recounted.

Jordan then outlined the many ways in which her family's support, including financial help, helped her turn her life around.

It was her mother, she said, who paid to bail her out on several occasion, meaning she was able to wear her own clothes instead of an orange jumpsuit during her court dates.

Judicial system: Jordan served time in jail and in juvenile facilities from 14 to 21. She's pictured at the Bon Air juvenile correctional facility in Virginia in an old photo she shared on Instagram

Candid: Jordan also shared photos of some of her past arrest warrants from the Norfolk Criminal Court in Virginia on Instagram

Her mother also paid some of the money Jordan needed to cover her visits to the probation office every month, which cost her $30 each time.

Having money meant Jordan was able to afford legal help, which in turned helped her get a job while she was waiting to be sentenced for felony charges in Norfolk, Virginia.

Jordan once shared a photo of three past arrest warrants from the Norfolk criminal court in Virginia, all for felonies. One of the warrants lists a charge of 'knowingly or intentionally [possessing] heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance'.

'While on probation, I drank heavily, smoked pot and didn't go to the Narcotics Anonymous meetings I was supposed to,' Jordan wrote.

'Thankfully, my probation officer seemed satisfied that I maintained employment and showed up on time at his office every month  and never gave me a drug test.

'Shedding my old ways was a process that took time, and I possessed a level of invisibility that gave me the space to change.

'I also met plenty of people who have not enjoyed that same privilege.'

Occupation: Jordan is now a beekeeper in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is pictured in an Instagram photo next to some of the bees she tends to

Jordan's mother gave her daughter her own old car, which made it easier for Jordan to find a job.

Thanks to the car, Jordan was able to spend just 30 minutes driving to see her probation officer, instead of traveling for two and half hours to get there.

Jordan's mother paid for her to go back to college, covered her medical bills, and put a down payment on a house for her daughter.

Jordan pointed out in an Instagram post that financial privilege, even more so than race, played a part in helping her turn her life around.

'Yes, race is a major player when it comes to discussions on privilege, particularly as it plays out in the criminal justice system,' she wrote.

'But I would argue that our judicial system is not designed to give poor people a chance, no matter what color they are.

'We must fix the bail system and make sure that all people have access to quality legal representation.

'Further, we need more community resources for those struggling with drug addiction, homelessness, and untreated mental disorder.'
Sara Iftekhar couldn't win when she took part in the Miss England beauty pageant last week. That's not to say the stunning 20-year-old law student isn't worthy of the title.

With her striking hazel eyes and flawless complexion, she was as strong a contender for the crown and sash as any.

But as the first Miss England finalist to wear the hijab  the headscarf many Muslim women wear to cover their hair for religious reasons  Sara is keenly aware that when it came to public opinion, she was always going to lose.

Sara Iftekhar from Huddersfield, who was the first model to wear a hijab at a Miss England Final

Sara Iftekhar couldn't win when she took part in the Miss England beauty pageant last week. That's not to say the stunning 20-year-old law student isn't worthy of the title

'Going into this competition and being Pakistani, either way I was going to get a backlash,' she says. 'If I'd worn a little black dress and no hijab, I'd have had people say: 'Why aren't you covering yourself up? This is against your religion!' But as I wore the hijab and wanted to cover up, I've got people saying: 'Why are you covering yourself? This is a beauty contest.' I can't please everyone. I'm quite a tough person but some of the comments I've received online have been atrocious.

'They say I've been 'forced' to wear the hijab and that my parents have made me wear it. Believe me, once you've met me, you'll know that I'm not the sort of person who can be made to do anything.

'It's my choice to wear it and I didn't do it to make any kind of point. I'm just a regular girl from an ordinary family who wanted to take part in a beauty contest as a bit of fun. I had no idea I'd be making history.'

Yet that's exactly what she's done. After reaching the top 50 in the 68th Miss England competition, out of 22,000 hopefuls, Sara, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, glided down the catwalk in a full-length gown and headscarf.

While not participating in the optional bikini or beautiful hair rounds (she wasn't the only contestant to abstain) she threw herself into the others.

Keen to move with the times, the competition has radically changed over the years. Competitors nowadays take part in sports, general knowledge and talent rounds, among others.

Sara with other Miss England finalists in the 'eco' round

As the first Miss England finalist to wear the hijab  the headscarf many Muslim women wear to cover their hair for religious reasons  Sara is keenly aware that when it came to public opinion, she was always going to lose

Sara raised money for charity, and still has burn marks from a heated glue gun after she made her own 'eco dress' from bin liners and plastic straws, and a clutch out of a KFC box, for the environmental round, to highlight litter pollution.

She eventually lost out to Miss Newcastle, Alisha Cowie.

Most onlookers applauded Sara and the Miss England organisers for adding some much-needed diversity to the still rather old-fashioned proceedings.

But others have argued she should not take part in a traditional British beauty pageant if she is not prepared to 'show off' her physical attributes.

Others were downright rude and racist. 'I'm guessing she'll win,' sneered one before the final. 'Box ticked.'

Most onlookers applauded Sara and the Miss England organisers for adding some much-needed diversity to the still rather old-fashioned proceedings

'It's insane,' Sara says. 'On the one hand people are calling me a trailblazer and a role model, but I'm just me, wearing what I always wear.

'If a woman wants to walk around in a bikini or a vest top and jeans then, good on her. I don't want to do that, but I'm not going to stop anyone else. So why do people feel the need to stop me wearing a hijab?

'Others are arguing that because I wore a hijab I was pushed through the competition and it was favouritism, but other girls have worn the hijab in the past and never got to the finals. So what do they mean?'

The wearing of the hijab remains a hot topic in the UK, with the temperature pushed up several degrees every time former foreign secretary Boris Johnson opens his mouth. Most recently, he said women who wear the full veil niqabs look like letter boxes or bank robbers, causing uproar.

A third generation British Muslim, Sara was born and brought up in Huddersfield. She lives with her parents Iftekhar, 51, a sales manager for a chemicals company, and Sadia, 46, a full-time mother

White, middle-aged Conservative men hectoring Muslim women they have never met on what they should wear is clearly something Sara is tired of discussing.

'All I will say is that it's every woman's right to choose what she wears,' she declares, and the matter is closed.

A third generation British Muslim, Sara was born and brought up in Huddersfield. She lives with her parents Iftekhar, 51, a sales manager for a chemicals company, and Sadia, 46, a full-time mother.

Her brother Hassan, 24, a nutritionist (who is chaperoning her at our interview and photoshoot) and sisters Aishah, 22, an optometrist, and Aminah, 14, also share the four-bedroom Victorian house in a leafy, middle-class part of town.

Her childhood was 'normal, natural and happy', she says, and sounds as British as fish and chips. She had day trips to the Lake District, and confesses to loving Sunday roasts, afternoon tea with scones and The Great British Bake Off.

Her childhood was 'normal, natural and happy', Sara says, and sounds as British as fish and chips. She had day trips to the Lake District, and confesses to loving Sunday roasts, afternoon tea with scones and The Great British Bake Off

When it comes to her religion of Islam, she says her family are liberal. 'Islam is not how it is portrayed, it's about kindness,' she continues. 'We are a forward-thinking family which holds important values to our religion and roots, but we are open-minded and up to date.

'We pray, and fast in the month of Ramadan. But being a Muslim isn't just about praying, it's about being kind, having good intentions, giving to charity.'

A self-confessed 'goody two-shoes', she attained mostly As and A*s in her exams, and began studying law at the University of Huddersfield two years ago.

A self-confessed 'goody two-shoes', she attained mostly As and A*s in her exams, and began studying law at the University of Huddersfield two years ago

Fortunately  and perhaps a little surprisingly in the current climate  it appears that until the events of last week, she's been sheltered from racism. Living in an area with very few Asians, she says she has school and college friends from all cultures.

'Mum and Dad have always taught us that we're equal to everyone else, so I've never really thought about a) being Asian or b) wearing a hijab, and I've never experienced any racism before,' she says.

'Even my mum and dad, who grew up in Britain in the Seventies, have never experienced any  or if they have, they've never told us about it.

'My belief is that if I'm respectful to others, I get respect back. There has been some trolling but I'm ignoring them and focusing on the positive. Mum and Dad have warned me that I'm never going to be everyone's cup of tea.' Sound advice.

Aged 16, Sara's entrepreneurial spirit, which she says runs in the family, saw her set up an online clothing store, with help from her parents

Her love of all things fashion and beauty began at an early age. 'I was a girly girl. I trotted around the house in my mum's high heels and played with her make-up,' she says.

'Apparently I'd say: 'Right, I'm ready for my photograph.' So I've always been a bit of a poser. When I got a part-time job on the Lancome counter at Boots I learned how to apply make-up properly, which I loved.'

Aged 16, Sara's entrepreneurial spirit, which she says runs in the family, saw her set up an online clothing store, with help from her parents.

Sara aged 4 (left) with brother Hassan and sister Aishah

'I was always getting complimented on my traditional Asian clothes and people asked where I got them from, so I set up an online boutique,' she says.

'I made a lot of money for a short while, but my education is very important. That's down to my dad. His parents passed away at a young age so he was never able to go to university. His philosophy has always been to do what you want with your life, but if you've got a degree you can always fall back on it.'

Sara started wearing her hijab at a similar age to Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain, who began to find religion aged 14. Sara first wore hers at around 15 for personal reasons.

'I love wearing the hijab,' she continues. 'For some people it's just a fashion statement, but for me it's more than that. I feel that I'm more likely to be respected if I wear a hijab, and it's about how I carry myself.

Sara started wearing her hijab at a similar age to Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain, who began to find religion aged 14. Sara first wore hers at around 15 for personal reasons

'Some people ask how I can wear one 'for modesty' yet take part in a beauty contest, but it's about how you define modesty. For me, I kept my modesty by not partaking in the beautiful hair or beach body round.

'My mum wears a hijab but it's a real misconception that Muslim women are made to wear one. No one in my family made me wear it. It's my choice.

'Mum and Dad have done nothing but support me. They're the loudest in the crowd at these competitions. Do you think I'd be taking part in Miss England if they weren't? It's not something you can do behind your parents' back!'

The decision to take part in the Miss Yorkshire competition  which led to her being in Miss England  was a spur of the moment one.

The decision to take part in the Miss Yorkshire competition  which led to her being in Miss England  was a spur of the moment one

'When I applied, I didn't think I'd even get accepted,' she says. 'But I'm an adventurous person and thought I'd give it a go. I didn't think about what I'd wear at the time. When I told my family, they were like: 'Yeah, go for it.' To be honest, they didn't really look up from what they were doing.'

'Then a couple of days later, I got an email back to say I'd been selected. I told my parents and they were very supportive. They trust me. They know I'm never going to humiliate them by taking part in a bikini round or anything like that.'

She admits she was naive when she turned up at the competition. 'It's only just occurred to me that there were no other Asian girls,' she says.

'But lots of the other women had done loads of beauty pageants before and I thought: 'OK, I'm going to go with this and have some fun.' When it came to the Little Black Dress round, I didn't think to tell anyone I'd be wearing my full-length gown and hijab. I just got on with it.'

To her surprise, Sara won the Miss Popularity round after hundreds of people voted for her online. It meant she was automatically put through to the Miss England quarter finals.

To her surprise, Sara won the Miss Popularity round after hundreds of people voted for her online. It meant she was automatically put through to the Miss England quarter finals

'That's the moment where I had a couple of wobbles. It was my mum and my sister who encouraged me to keep going,' she says.

'My parents always say there are certain times in your life where you only get one chance, and you should always grab it with both hands. But I never thought I'd get that far.'

The online trolling does not seem to faze her. 'It's a minority of people and I ignore it,' she says. 'I'm getting many more messages from all over the world which are supportive.

'I've had young girls telling me I'm a role model, saying: 'You're so brave to go on a platform and do what you're doing and to still be true to yourself.' One young girl even did a presentation about me at school.'

Sara has an Instagram account which has been gaining popularity every day since the competition, and she's been approached by several companies who want her to wear their outfits

But she notes that she doesn't think of herself as a role model. 'I remember seeing the model Halima Aden wearing a hijab on the catwalk and thinking she was a role model, but now people are saying the same thing about me. It's insane.

'Now I realise that a Muslim who wears a hijab is not common in a beauty pageant, and I don't fit into what a certain type of beauty is.

'I'm getting comments such as 'She's ugly', but that doesn't hurt me at all. Everyone has their own definition of beauty and I'm noticing that a lot of modelling agencies are getting more diverse with plus-sized models and different skin colours.'

For now she intends to focus on her studies  but she doesn't want to lose the momentum she's built up by taking part in the competition

Race and religion aside, does she think beauty contests objectify women? 'I don't consider myself a feminist, but beauty contests today are not just about being a pretty face and you won't get far in these competitions if you're a mean or nasty person  they'll see straight through you,' she says.

Sara has an Instagram account which has been gaining popularity every day since the competition, and she's been approached by several companies who want her to wear their outfits.

She's also attracted admirers. 'Oh my goodness, my brother is listening to this,' she giggles. 'Yes, I've had several men compliment me, but I don't have a boyfriend  again for religious reasons. I'm only 20, but who knows in the future?

'I want to be a role model not only to Muslim women but to any woman who thinks she can't take part in a beauty pageant because of her weight, height, religion or whatever' Sara says

'My parents have always said I can have a relationship with anyone I choose. They have always been open-minded about it. They say: 'If someone takes your fancy, then just tell us, don't hide it.' But personally, I wouldn't mind having an arranged marriage like they did.

'Again, it's not a forced thing. It's simply an introduction to someone I might like and it worked for Mum and Dad  they're very happy.'

For now she intends to focus on her studies  but she doesn't want to lose the momentum she's built up by taking part in the competition.

'I want to be a role model not only to Muslim women but to any woman who thinks she can't take part in a beauty pageant because of her weight, height, religion or whatever.

'I'm here to say you can if you want to. You need to be a strong person who won't be upset by what others say. But don't let it hold you back.'
When mother-of-two Kristin Fast ruptured the ACL in her left leg in February 2018, she was told she would need surgery to repair it.

Doctors told the 42-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, that it would be a simple procedure and to take it easy for the 10 days that followed.

But in the days and weeks after the operation, Fast's leg stayed purple and swollen, and the slightest touch left her in severe pain.

That's when she was diagnosed with a rare nerve condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

The condition allegedly causes the most pain a human can endure and has come to be known as 'suicide disease' because of how many people take their own lives following a diagnosis.

Mother-of-two Kristin Fast, 42 (left and right), from Phoenix, Arizona, ruptured her ACL in February 2018 and was told she needed surgery. But in the days and weeks that followed, Fast's leg stayed purple and swollen, and the slightest touch left her in severe pain

In April 2018, she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which allegedly causes the most pain a human can endure, and usually develops after an injury or a surgery. Pictured: Fast

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, CRPS usually develops in an arm or a leg and after an injury, a surgery, a heart attack or a stroke.

Symptoms include a burning sensation in the affected extremity; sensitivity to touch or cold; swelling; and changes in skin temperature, skin color and skin texture.

The cause of CRPS is not well-understood but is believed to be due to the peripheral and central nervous systems being injured.

Currently there is no known cure although there are a number of therapies used to manage symptoms including oral and topical pain relievers, nerve-blocking medications and behavioral management therapy.

There are fewer than 200,000 CRPS patients in the US with the disease affecting two to five percent of people with peripheral nerve injuries.

Fast says that before her diagnosis in April 2018, she was outgoing and active and she expected to be up within two weeks of her surgery.

LIVING IN PAIN: WHAT IS CRPS? Complex Regional Pain Syndrome usually develops after an injury, often a minor injury. The pain is often unconnected to the seriousness of the injury and can be out of all proportion from what the sufferer would expect. The condition is little-understood, but some medical experts think it is caused by damage to the nervous system, which causes nerves to misfire in some way, triggering pain. If left untreated the pain can spread to other parts of the body too. Some sufferers have repeated episodes of pain followed by stretches of pain-free remission. It can be treated by physiotherapy, to prevent muscle wasting, certain types of painkillers and counselling to help people cope with the chronic pain. Advertisement

'Within six days of the surgery, my leg was way worse than expected, not better,' she said.

'By that time, my leg had turned purple and became very sensitive to touch. I began sleeping with a "tent" over it because I had become so sensitive to anything touching my leg.'

Fast likens her constant pain to a burning hot ice-cold sensation that feels like leaving a hand in freezing cold water for five minutes.

She says that even splashes from a shower feels like someone has taken a razor to her leg and 'sliced it right open'.

If she doesn't elevate her leg, it can turn almost black because blood is not properly circulating. This forces her to be confined to a wheelchair.

Fast also suffers with a bone-crushing ache, muscle ache, cramps and atrophy in her quadriceps, hamstring and calf.

'CRPS is the most painful condition known to human existence because there is no escape from the pain. It can happen to anyone, at any time, after any injury,' she said.

'Imagine cutting off your finger. Imagine the pain. Now imagine that happening to you every second, every minute, of every day.'

Fast has had four spinal blocks, which involves narcotics or an anesthetic being injected with a needle, in an attempt to block the pain - but it has been unsuccessful.

In May, she flew to Italy for a trial drug called neridronic acid. It is part of a class of medicines called bisphosphonates, which bind to the bone's surface and stop bone breakdown.

Fast likens her constant pain to a burning hot ice-cold sensation that feels like leaving a hand in freezing cold water for five minutes. She's been forced to be confined to a wheelchair. Pictured: Fast's legs in February, left, and Fast's legs in April, right

In May, Fast (pictured) flew to Italy for a trial drug called neridronic acid, which binds to the bone's surface and stops bone breakdown. She says it's helped with her symptoms

Fast (pictured, in the wheelchair) has started a non-profit called ComplexTruths, Inc, the goal of which is to raise awareness and money for a cure of the condition

The drug can take up to a year to work but Fast says she has seen some improvement in her condition already.

Fast has started a non-profit called ComplexTruths, Inc, the goal of which is to raise awareness for a cure of the condition, as well as a GoFundMe to raise money for research.

So far, more than $21,400 has been raised out of a $1million goal.

'Ultimately, we want to fund research and help others get the treatment they may not be able to pay for themselves,' she said.

'This GoFundMe account is going to help me get better and it's going to help others get better.

'By starting up this website and foundation, I not only hold myself accountable every day to thousands of people but to myself.'

With her foundation, Fast hopes to be an inspiration for others and her own two daughters.

'They help manage the pain so that I can function. They bring my everyday pain levels down from a twelve to a seven to eight where I can compartmentalize the pain as long as I stay busy,' she said.

'I am looking for a cure, I am making a difference and teaching my daughters that one person can make a huge impact in the world if they try.'
During the operation she had her eyes open and was kept awake throughout

There was so much scarring she could not see and needed a cornea transplant

The infection caused an ulcer to develop on her cornea, blocking her vision

A mother was nearly blinded by an eye infection when she left her contact lenses in while swimming in hotel pool on holiday.

Emma Jenkins, 39, was holidaying at a caravan site in Scotland when, after going swimming, she felt severe pain in her left eye.

She waited until she was home in Bournemouth before visiting a doctor, but was diagnosed with an infection called microbial keratitis which caused irreparable damage to her eye.

Wearing the contact lenses meant the bacteria had been trapped in her eye and made the infection more serious.

After experiencing headaches, blurry vision and so much pain she couldn't open her eye, the infection caused so much scarring she barely see anything at all.

But thanks to a cornea transplant operation  in which the transparent part in the front of the eye is replaced  Ms Jenkins has regained her ability to see again.

She is sharing her story to warn others about wearing their contact lenses while swimming, saying 'I don't think people realise the serious dangers'.

Emma Jenkins, 39, went swimming in a pool on a caravan site while on holiday in Scotland and left her contact lenses in, which trapped bacteria in her eye and caused a serious infection

Ms Jenkins developed microbial keratitis, an infection of the cornea  the clear layer at the front of the eye  which caused scarring which obstructed her vision (pictured, the ulcer in her eye appeared green when doctors added dye in order to examine it)

The hotel financial controller was taking an autumn break in Scotland in October 2013 with her children Alishia, 16, and Samuel, 13, and partner Dean Keith, 30.

She one day took a dip in the on-site pool without removing her lenses.

Although only in the water for 20 minutes, Ms Jenkins said her eye became so irritated she had to take her contact lenses out and, over the next few days, she began experiencing headaches and her vision became blurry.

Trying to enjoy the rest of her week-long holiday, she waited until she got home to visit her doctor.

But just three days after her appointment, Ms Jenkins lost the sight in her eye because microscopic bacteria had caused an ulcer, destroying her cornea.

Ms Jenkins explained: 'I had no idea that wearing contact lenses in the pool was so risky. I left them in so I could see.

'It's really frightening how quickly it happened. I was only swimming for about 20 minutes, yet it cost me the sight in one eye.

'When I got out of the pool, my left eye was irritated, so I went back to our caravan and took my lenses out, as it was hurting so much.

'Over the next few days, I was getting headaches and my vision was very blurry.'

When Ms Jenkins returned home and sought her GP's advice she was referred to eye casualty at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

There, specialists diagnosed her with anterior uveitis  an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye including the iris and surround tissue  and given steroid drops.

Ms Jenkins said: 'I was using the drops, but three days later, I lost the vision in my left eye because the bacteria had multiplied very quickly.

Ms Jenkins was on holiday in Scotland with her partner Dean Keith, 30 (pictured) when she contracted the infection  a few days after they got back he called a taxi to rush her to hospital because she was in so much pain

Ms Jenkins was with her children Alishia, 16, and Samuel, 13 (pictured) when she got microbial keratitis from swimming pool water

'The blurriness was getting gradually worse and when I woke up on that day and I was in so much pain I couldn't even open my eye.

'It really hurt but I was quite calm because I really thought it was going to be fine. I thought it was just a really severe infection.'

Ms Jenkins's partner, Mr Keith, called a taxi to take her straight back to eye casualty, where she was diagnosed with microbial keratitis and a microcystic corneal oedema.

This meant she had a swollen and infected cornea, the clear window on the front of the eye.

'It caused a massive ulcer that covered my whole iris,' she said.

'They admitted me for five days with hourly drops to try and save my eye, but it didn't work and I was sent home on November 1 2013.'

The condition had caused full thickness scarring to Ms Jenkins's left eye, meaning she could only see movement and light through it.

She said: 'When I was admitted thought it would get better and get back to normal.

'But, after a few days in hospital I was told by the doctor how serious it was and that the vision would never be back to what it was.

'I was shocked, but at the time, I was in too much pain to really take it in.'

In the years that followed, Ms Jenkins's vision in her left eye deteriorated further.

Then, in April 2016, she was told she would be a suitable candidate for a cornea transplant.

The infection caused an ulcer so large in Ms Jenkins's eye (pictured with partner, Dean) that she had to be admitted to hospital for five days and was almost blinded by the scarring it left behind

Ms Jenkins was awake and had her eyes open during the cornea transplant operation which saved her sight, and said she felt 'pressure' and a 'tiny bit of pain'

In the transplant the damaged tissue is removed and replaced with healthy tissue from a donor in a bid to restore some sight.

She explained: 'We hoped my eye would heal, but it just kept getting worse.

'I struggled to live with just one eye and eventually, doctors agreed the cornea transplant was my best option.'

After a two month wait, Ms Jenkins was taken for her transplant, at the centre for sight in East Grinstead, West Sussex, on 1 June 2016.

She explained: 'The waiting list isn't very long, as the cornea doesn't need to be matched like other organs, but it is a very unusual operation, as you are awake throughout and it is done under local anaesthetic.

WHAT IS A CORNEA TRANSPLANT? A cornea transplant is an operation to remove all or part of someone's cornea if it is damaged by injury or disease and replace it with donor tissue. The cornea is a see-through layer at the front of the eye which protects the vital parts such as the iris and pupil. The operation may also be called a keratoplasty or a corneal graft. And it is commonly performed to help people who have a condition called keratoconus, which is when the cornea changes shape. The procedure can be performed on an entire cornea or just on the outer layers, depending on how seriously damaged it is. Patients can be kept awake during the surgery but given local anaesthetic in their eye, or completely sedated under general anaesthetic. The op takes about an hour to complete. Potential complications include the body rejecting the new cornea, infection, or further vision problems. Source: NHS Advertisement

'They numbed my eye and I was told not to move at all. A nurse held my hand, so I could squeeze if I felt pain.

'I mainly remember just seeing colours and I could only feel the pressure on my eye and sometimes a tiny bit of pain.

'The nurse spoke to me the whole time, telling me I was doing great.'

The procedure took less than half an hour and Ms Jenkins was able to leave hospital later that day.

She said: 'As it healed, I started to be able to see more and more.

'Unfortunately, they weren't able to remove the full scarring. I can now see more out of that eye but it's not completely clear.

'Before it was like looking through a big puffy cloud and now I can see things but they just aren't perfectly in focus.

'I suffer from dry eye but it's worth it to be able to see again.

'My mum Kim Thomson, 59, was amazing throughout everything and helped to care for me while Dean looked after the children.

'I couldn't have got through this without my family and friends.

'I don't think people realise the serious dangers of wearing lenses in water. I do still wear a contact lens in one eye but I am much more aware of the dangers.

'I wear a daily disposable contact lens because I prefer to throwing it away every day. I think everyone just needs to treat them with care.

'I'm so grateful for whoever allowed their corneas to be donated as they've helped to give me my sight back.'
 "Can We Downsize Our Prisons and Jails Without Compromising Public Safety? Findings from California's Prop 47" | Main | "Laboratories of Democracy: Drug Policy In The United States" 

September 14, 2018

Marijuana, mandatory minimums and jury nullification, oh my: split Ninth Circuit affirms panel federal convictions, though remands to address DOJ spending rider

A big, long and split decision by a panel of the Ninth Circuit yesterday in US v. Lynch, No. 10-50219 (9th Cir, Sept. 13, 2018) (available here), prompted the weak "Wizard of Oz" reference in the title of this post. There is so much of interest in Lynch for sentencing fans and others, I cannot cover it all in this post. The majority's introduction provides a sense of the case's coverage:

Charles Lynch ran a marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay, California, in violation of federal law. He was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture, possess, and distribute marijuana, as well as other charges related to his ownership of the dispensary. In this appeal, Lynch contends that the district court made various errors regarding Lynchs defense of entrapment by estoppel, improperly warned jurors against nullification, and allowed the prosecutors to introduce various evidence tying Lynch to the dispensarys activities, while excluding allegedly exculpatory evidence offered by Lynch. However, Lynch suffered no wrongful impairment of his entrapment by estoppel defense, the anti-nullification warning was not coercive, and the district courts evidentiary rulings were correct in light of the purposes for which the evidence was tendered. A remand for resentencing is required, though, on the governments cross-appeal of the district courts refusal to apply a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, which unavoidably applies to Lynch. Following the filing of this appeal and after the submission of the governments brief, the United States Congress enacted an appropriations provision, which this court has interpreted to prohibit the federal prosecution of persons for activities compliant with state medical marijuana laws. Lynch contends that this provision therefore prohibits the United States from continuing to defend Lynchs conviction. We need not reach the question of whether the provision operates to annul a properly obtained conviction, however, because a genuine dispute exists as to whether Lynchs activities were actually legal under California state law. Remand will permit the district court to make findings regarding whether Lynch complied with state law.

Judge Watford dissented from the panel majority in Lynch, and his dissent starts this way:

I would reverse and remand for a new trial. In my view, the district court went too far in trying to dissuade the jury from engaging in nullification. The courts actions violated Charles Lynchs constitutional right to trial by jury, and the government cant show that this error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. By its very nature, a case of this sort touches a sensitive nerve from a federalism standpoint. At the time of Lynchs trial in 2008, the citizens of California had legalized the sale and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes; the federal government nonetheless sought to prosecute a California citizen for conduct that arguably was authorized under state law. Because federal law takes precedence under the Supremacy Clause, the government could certainly bring such a prosecution, notwithstanding the resulting intrusion upon state sovereignty interests. See Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1, 29 (2005). But the Framers of the Constitution included two provisions that act as a check on the national governments exercise of power in this realm: one stating that [t]he Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; the other requiring that such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed. U.S. Const., Art. III,  2, cl. 3. The Sixth Amendment further mandates that in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to trial by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed. Thus, to send Lynch to prison, the government had to persuade a jury composed of his fellow Californians to convict. One of the fundamental attributes of trial by jury in our legal system is the power of the jury to engage in nullification  to return a verdict of not guilty in the teeth of both law and facts. Horning v. District of Columbia, 254 U.S. 135, 138 (1920). The jurys power to nullify has ancient roots, dating back to pre-colonial England. See Thomas Andrew Green, Verdict According to Conscience: Perspectives on the English Criminal Trial Jury, 12001800, at 23649 (1985) (discussing Bushells Case, 124 Eng. Rep. 1006 (C.P. 1670)). It became a well-established fixture of jury trials in colonial America, perhaps most famously in the case of John Peter Zenger, a publisher in New York acquitted of charges of seditious libel. See Albert W. Alschuler & Andrew G. Deiss, A Brief History of the Criminal Jury in the United States, 61 U. Chi. L. Rev. 867, 87174 (1994). From ratification of the Constitution to the present, the right to trial by jury has been regarded as essential for preventing miscarriages of justice, Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 158 (1968), in part because the jurys power to nullify allows it to act as the conscience of the community, Jeffrey Abramson, We, the Jury: The Jury System and the Ideal of Democracy 87 (1994).

Cross-posted at Marijuana Law, Policy and Reform.

September 14, 2018 at 09:53 AM | Permalink

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Ministers are to push on with plans to force all restaurants and takeaways to put calorie labelling on menus, despite widespread opposition.

The Department of Health has announced the launch of a 12-week consultation on the plan, which it said would help the battle against obesity and type two diabetes.

But burger vans and other street vendors could be exempt from the ruling, which could come into force by next spring.

The proposed scheme has been the subject of substantial controversy since details leaked out earlier this month.

The British Government is considering making it compulsory for restaurants, cafes and takeaways to include calorie counts on their menus in a bid to tackle growing obesity and diabetes

The Treasury is said to oppose the move, warning it would be 'burdensome' to 26,000 small businesses and could force them to raise prices and cut jobs.

And health charity Beat warned it would exacerbate eating disorders and cause 'great distress' to patients with conditions such as anorexia or bulimia.

Calorie labels are already included on packaged foods in supermarkets and big restaurant chains such as McDonald's and Wetherspoons.

But the Government wants to make it obligatory for all restaurants, cafes and takeaway businesses.

Public health Minister Steve Brine said: 'Families want to know what they are eating when on the go, but in many cafes, restaurants and takeaways this information is not available.

'This is not about forcing anyone to eat certain things, or companies to behave in a certain way, but I firmly believe we have a right to know the nutritional content of the food we give to our children.

'Type two diabetes is on the rise, and is often both preventable and reversible.

'That's why we are taking action through this consultation, and I would ask everyone to respond with their ideas on how we can make this work.'

Pub chain Wetherspoons already displays the number of calories in each of the meals on its menu (pictured: an online menu for one of its pubs)  all restaurants could be made by law to follow suit under developing government plans

McDonald's also displays the number of calories in each of its meals on both menus in restaurants and on the wrappers and boxes the food comes in

Helen Dickens, of the charity Diabetes UK added: 'People living with diabetes and more than three quarters of the British public have told us that they want more information about what's in the food and drink they buy, to help make healthier choices especially when they're out and about.

HOW MANY CALORIES DO I NEED EACH DAY? The basic amount of calories an average adult needs per day is 2,000kcal for women or 2,500kcal for men. This is based on the amount of energy the body needs to carry out basic functions and to walk and work throughout the day. People who exercise a lot need to eat more calories to fuel their efforts, and young people and children burn more energy, too. If you eat more calories than you burn in a day, you will get fatter. Eating fewer calories than you burn will make you lose weight. Foods which are processed and have high levels of carbohydrate, sugar and salt have higher calorie numbers than fresh fruit and vegetables. Example calorie counts include: A McDonald's Big Mac contains 508kcal

A two-finger KitKat contains 106kcal

A banana contains 95kcal

An apple contains 47kcal Source: NHS Advertisement

'These bold, ambitious proposals from government are  if put into legislation  essential to making the healthy choice the easy choice for British consumers.'

'These bold, ambitious proposals from government are - if put into legislation - essential to making the healthy choice the easy choice for British consumers.'

The Government said it wanted to invite proposals for whether 'additional considerations' should be taken into account for small businesses, street vendors and restaurants with fast changing menus - in an apparent nod to the Treasury's concerns.

The move could form part of the Government's plan to halve child obesity by 2030, which has so far brought in a ban on selling energy drinks to under-16s, and is considering banning junk food advertising before 9pm.

Questions in the consultation include whether people would find it helpful to have calorie counts on menus, and whether some businesses should have different rules.

The Government also said it wants to invite proposals for whether 'additional considerations' should be taken into account for small businesses, street vendors and restaurants with fast changing menus.

It plans to discuss the legislation in Parliament in spring 2019, with a view to making it law by spring 2020.

Adults need, on average, 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day but processed foods may contain more than expected.

Eating more calories than you burn off in a day causes weight gain which can lead to obesity, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and various cancers.
More than three million people in Britain are now vapers, new data has revealed.

Action on Smoking and Health found there are now four times more e-cigarette users than there was six years ago.

The charity today said smokers are 'finally getting the message' that switching to vaping can improve health.

Vaping - the term for using e-cigs - is less harmful than conventional smoking, known to directly cause cancer and heart disease.

But the gadgets have been subject to huge controversy recently, due to worrying links between heart and lung damage and vaping.

Vaping - the term for using e-cigs - is less harmful than conventional smoking, known to directly cause cancer and heart disease

E-cigarettes contain a liquid form of nicotine that is heated into vapour to be inhaled, avoiding the harm caused by tobacco smoke.

ASH first started conducting surveys of thousands of adults to estimate the number of vapers in Britain back in 2012.

In its first year of collecting answers, it claimed there were approximately 700,000 e-cigarette users across the home nations.

This figure almost doubled by the next year and has slowly crept up every 12 months. However, it has plateaued since 2015.

ASH estimates there are around 3.2 million vapers in Britain in 2018  in the region of six per cent of the total population.

It is also 10 per cent up on the amount estimated for 2017, according to the poll of the smoking habits of 12,000 adults.

Most revealed they have turned to vaping because they have quit smoking and 40 per cent are smokers who are trying to give up.

Public Health England claim vaping is around 95 per cent less harmful than smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes.

The Government-run body said in February that the gadgets should be made available on prescription for smokers wanting to quit.

And a lengthy report by MPs last month said strict rules around e-cigarettes should be relaxed to let users vape on public transport.

However, another official body, the watchdog Nice, has previously told GPs not to recommend e-cigarettes because there is limited evidence over their safety.

And the international scientific community is divided over e-cigarettes as a nicotine replacement therapy amid an array of worrying studies.

Just last month Birmingham University research suggested vaping triggers the production of damaging inflammatory chemicals in the airways.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: 'UK policy is on the right track with thousands of smokers making the switch to vaping and improving their health and little sign of non-smokers taking up vaping.

'But even more smokers could benefit if e-cigarettes were licenced as medicines and available on prescription.'

Dr Leonie Brose, of King's College London, added: 'The continued false belief among some smokers that vaping is as bad as smoking is worrying.

'Campaigns from Public Health England and others to challenge these views are important and must continue.'
From a kettle boiling to insects flying, below are the eight most common noises millions of tinnitus sufferers have to tolerate every day.

Some 15 per cent of adults in the UK suffer from tinnitus, which causes them to hear everything from static hums, electrical sparks and even roaring in their heads with no external source.

Tinnitus is thought to occur due to a person's brain being unable to filter the different sounds being picked up by their ears. This may be due to a break down of certain chemical messengers in the vital organ.

Mark Williams, chief audiologist at The Tinnitus Clinic, London, told MailOnline: 'Tinnitus is the involuntary perception of sound. The main thing that causes quality of life to decrease is high anxiety, loss of sleep and an inability to concentrate.'

If any of the below sound familiar, it may be worth going to see your GP.

For some, tinnitus sounds like a high pitched wine that registers at a pitch of 4000Hz (stock)

4000Hz Tone

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Others hear a even higher pitch at 7500Hz, which sounds almost like a 'sizzle' (stock)

7500Hz Tone

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Certain tinnitus patients liken the noise they hear to the whistle of a tea kettle (stock)

Tea Kettle Tone

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Some refer to the noise as the buzzing noise of the insect cicadas' beating wings (stock)

Buzzing Tone

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Mr Williams describes the audio clips as a 'guide', adding: 'They align the right treatment with the right sound. Sound therapy can be tailored to the type of noise a tinnitus patient hears.'

He also urges those suffering to try and remain calm, with anxiety only making symptoms worse.

'When youve lost a degree of hearing the brain tries to compensate and for some the compensation is too aggressive.

'It tends to get better over time as people become less anxious about it so the brain filters out the noise,' Mr Williams explained.

For some, tinnitus sounds like TV static stuck inside their head with no external source (stock)

Static Tone

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Others liken the incessant humming to the sparks produced by electrical cables (stock)

Electric Tone

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To some it sounds like roaring, with the below also being compared to crashing waves (stock)

Roaring Tone

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Like a toddler's tantrum, some tinnitus sufferers hear a screeching whine (stock)

Screeching Tone

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White noise is often recommended to tinnitus patients to cover up the incessant ringing they hear.

Yet research released earlier this month suggests the background buzz of white noise from television static and hair dryers could be ageing.

Although it helps to mask background sounds, white noise may reduce a brain's ability to adapt to incoming information.

Scientists found hearing white noise, even if it is not loud, speeds up the ageing process of a person's brain by breaking down certain chemical messengers.

Study author Mouna Attarha, from the University of Iowa, said: 'Increasing evidence shows that the brain rewires in a negative manner when it is fed random information, such as white noise.'

The ageing process that takes place in the brain when it is exposed to white noise is thought to be similar to that which occurs in tinnitus patients.
Make-up and skincare products contain a cocktail of chemicals that could leave women infertile and even cause breast cancer.

These chemicals include parabens and BPA, which are considered 'gender benders' due to them encouraging male breast growth.

After analysing more than a 100 women, US scientists found those who have these chemicals in their urine produce abnormal amounts of the reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Excessive oestrogen has been linked to fibroids and polycystic ovary syndrome, while too little prevents eggs maturing and being released from the ovary. Too much progesterone is associated with both breast cancer and unusual vaginal bleeding.

Previous research suggests parabens, which are used as preservatives in cosmetics and skincare, mimic oestrogen and may cause cancer, while Bisphenol A (BPA), which is added to perfumes to make scents last longer, has been linked to infertility.

Make-up and skincare products contain chemicals that could leave women infertile and even cause breast cancer. These chemicals include parabens and BPA, which are considered 'gender benders' due to them encouraging male breast growth (stock)

Researchers from George Mason University, Virginia, analysed the urine samples of 143 healthy women, all of which were pre-menopausal and not taking birth control.

WHAT ARE THE CHEMICALS PARABENS, BPA AND TRICLOSAN? What are parabens? Parabens are hormone-disrupting chemicals, which are used as preservatives in skincare, cosmetics and hair products. They mimic oestrogen and may cause cancer, weight gain and reduced muscle mass. What is BPA? The so-called 'gender-bending' chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is added to receipts to make their writing appear darker without using ink. It reacts with oestrogen and thyroid-hormone receptors, and has been linked to infertility, autism, ADHD, obesity, type 2 diabetes, premature births and early onset of puberty. Health fears prompted BPA to be replaced with its 'healthier alternative' Bisphenol S (BPS), however, evidence suggests BPS disrupts babies' development in the womb. Exposure to BPA, which is also found in the lining of canned foods, also causes the same inflammation and gut bacteria changes in mice that occur in Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned BPA from baby bottles, while The European Commission prohibits the chemical from being added to receipts from 2020. What is triclosan? Triclosan, a chemical added to personal-care products to prevent bacterial contamination, has been linked to reduced heart health and an underactive thyroid. It is added to antibacterial soaps, body washes, toothpastes and cosmetics, as well as some clothing, furniture and toys. Triclosan also stops infections responding to antibiotics, which may contribute towards the resistance crisis. The chemical was banned in soaps in the US two years ago. No such ban exists in the UK. The FDA declared antibacterial soaps containing triclosan are no more effective than hot water and regular cleansers at killing bugs. Advertisement

Lead author Dr Anna Pollack said: 'This study is the first to examine mixtures of chemicals that are widely used in personal care products in relation to hormones in healthy, reproductive-age women, using multiple measures of exposure across the menstrual cycle, which improved upon research that relied on one or two measures of chemicals.'

Each woman provided between three and five urine samples over two menstrual cycles. These were assessed for the chemicals BPA, parabens, chlorophenols and benzophenones.

Chlorophenols are used as preservatives in cosmetics and have been linked to acne, liver injury and cancer.

Benzophenones are added to products like lip balm and nail varnish to protect them against UV light. They also prevent products like soap losing their colour and scent. Studies have linked benzophenones to cancer and infertility.

Blood samples were taken from all of the participants to determine their levels of the following hormones - oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH.

FSH stimulates an egg to grow in the ovary, while LH causes the egg to be released. Oestrogen stop FSH production so only one egg matures per cycle and also stimulates LH's production. Progesterone thickens the uterus wall to prepare for a fertilised egg.

Results, published in the journal Environment International, suggest exposure to all of the studied chemicals increases a woman's progesterone levels.

Those with higher levels of chlorophenols in their urine also produce more oestrogen and FSH, while parabens and BPA increase oestrogen.

Too much ostroegen is linked to the condition oestrogen dominance, which can lead to non-cancerous growths in the uterus and PCOS.

Chlorophenols are associated with reduced ostrogen, FSH and LH production. Low FSH levels suggests a woman is not producing eggs, while reduced LH can be a sign of PCOS.

Dr Pollack said: 'What we should take away from this study is that we may need to be careful about the chemicals in the beauty and personal care products we use.

'We have early indicators that chemicals such as parabens may increase oestrogen levels. If this finding is confirmed by additional research, it could have implications for oestrogen dependent diseases such as breast cancer.'
People who know how many calories are in their food choose to eat more healthily, a study has found.

While millions enjoy meals out at restaurants and cafes, chef-cooked food can be surprisingly fattening.

Researchers have discovered that people actively choose healthier options when they can see how many calories are in their meals.

In a study, people reduced their calorie intake by three per cent when they were given a menu with the nutritional information on it.

But people still treat themselves  despite a small reduction in calories in their appetisers and main courses, dessert and drink choices were unchanged.

Even chefs themselves were shocked at how many calories were in some of their dishes.

The research comes as the UK Government is considering passing a law to require all restaurants, cafes and takeaways to display calorie counts on their menus, while many states in the US already have similar rules.

People eating in restaurants which show the number of calories in a meal on the menu order starters and mains with, on average, 45 fewer calories than people who are given normal menus

A study by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York monitored a total of 5,550 diners in two restaurants in the US.

Groups of people were randomly given menus either with or without the number of calories showing next to each meal.

Their choices were noted and they filled out questionnaires about themselves so experts could be sure their results weren't influenced by other factors.

The research found people who knew how many calories would be in their food ate on average 45 fewer calories  three percent of the total.

UK COULD FORCE ALL FOOD OUTLETS TO DISPLAY CALORIES The British Government could push through a law requiring all restaurants, cafes and takeaways to provide customers with calorie counts on their menus. A public consultation has begun on the plans, which have met opposition from another area of the government and a health charity. The Treasury is said to oppose the move, warning it would be 'burdensome' to 26,000 small businesses and could force them to raise prices and cut jobs. And health charity Beat warned it would exacerbate eating disorders and cause 'great distress' to patients with conditions such as anorexia or bulimia. But public health minister Steve Brine argued: 'Families want to know what they are eating when on the go. 'This is not about forcing anyone to eat certain things, or companies to behave in a certain way, but I firmly believe we have a right to know the nutritional content of the food we give to our children.' Advertisement

Although 45 calories is not a lot  it is the equivalent of about half a banana or a whole apple  it could add up for people who often eat out.

Appetiser and main course choices improved slightly but drinks and desserts were not changed, suggesting people were still able to eat what they wanted.

Study author Professor John Cawley said: 'Even if you're an educated person who eats out a lot and is aware of nutrition, there can still be surprising things in these calorie counts.'

Scientists discovered people find calorie information useful, and suggest requiring restaurants to provide it by law could be an efficient way to improve health.

'It's clear that people value this information,' Professor Cawley added.

'It's a cheap policy to put in place, and the fact that there is a reduction in calories ordered makes it appealing.'

Even the chefs cooking the dishes were startled by the number of calories in some foods such as a tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich.

'They would have said it was one of the lower-calorie items on the menu,' added co-author Alex Susskind.

All meals in the study had a calorie count between 200 and 1,840 calories, and people's orders contained an average of about 1,500 calories.

The recommended amount of calories an average adult should eat in a day is 2,000 for women or 2,500 for men.

The team's findings were published in the Naional Bureau of Economic Research.
Figures from a government survey released Friday show some progress in the fight against the ongoing opioid addiction crisis in the US, with fewer people in 2017 using heroin for the first time compared to the previous year.

The number of new users of heroin decreased from 170,000 in 2016 to 81,000 in 2017, a one-year drop that would need to be sustained for years to make a difference in fatal overdoses, experts said.

Fewer Americans are misusing or addicted to prescription opioid painkillers and more people are getting treatment for heroin and opioid addiction.

Meth, cocaine and marijuana use are all up, and mental health is still spiraling downward, according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health survey.

The number of new heroin users was down in 2017 for the first time in many years. Politicians are applauding the government's efforts, but experts are wary as other drug use is still high

The Trump administration said the positive trends show government efforts are working.

Messages are reaching people about the dangers of heroin and the deadly contaminants it often contains on the street, Elinore McCance-Katz, an administration health official, said in a video presentation released with the figures.

'The "Opioid Crisis" has been in the news for several years now. Combined with significant public health efforts aimed at educating people about the dangers of heroin, particularly fentanyl-contaminated heroin, perhaps people are finally understanding how horribly dangerous this drug can be,' Dr Timothy Brennan an addiction specialist at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York told Daily Mail Online.

McCance-Katz announcement comes despite continued complaints from experts that the only specific efforts the Trump administration has funded are 'awareness' campaigns.

The Senate has prepared a bill full of plans meant to address the US's opioid epidemic, but some worry it falls short of providing a crucial component: money.

It focuses in large part on the expansion of efforts to block importation of heroin and, especially, fentanyl, as well as adjustments to the statute to make addiction treatment more accessible to more people.

Helpful though these efforts may be, the budget for them is predicted to be around $8 billion - far fall short of the amount most experts have suggeted is needed.

The bill is expected to pass the Senate handily, but even with the new survey's encouraging results and the promise of legislative action, experts say we're not out of the woods yet.

'Im sure plenty of politicians will trip over themselves trying to claim credit for these public health successes, but the truth is there will be another "crisis" of addiction in America,' Dr Brennan said.

Marijuana use climbed in all age groups except young teenagers, with 2.5 percent of those 26 and older, or 5.3 million adults, reporting they use marijuana daily or almost daily last year.

Methamphetamine and cocaine use climbed in young adults, ages 18 to 25. The uptick may indicate that users are shifting from opioids to other drugs, said Leo Beletsky, a public health policy expert at Northeastern University in Boston.

And young adults have increasing rates of serious mental illness, major depression and suicidal thoughts.

The number of new heroin users in 2017 - 81,000 - was lower than the numbers in most years from 2009 to 2016. But it was similar to the numbers of new heroin users in 2002 through 2008.

Experts said there's still work to be done before success can be declared.

'While this decrease in heroin use is extremely welcome news, legislators and policy makers must remain committed to addiction prevention, education for physicians, and treatment programming,' said Dr Brennan.

'Taken together, this does not look like the portrait of a nation with improving mental health and addiction issues,' said Brendan Saloner, an addiction researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

'It's hard to look at this and not think we need to be doing a better job than we're doing now.'
After years of campaigns, US health regulators have agreed to hold a public meeting of medical advisers in 2019 to discuss the safety and dangers of silicone breast implants.

The move comes hours before the release of a large study suggesting certain rare health problems might be more common with silicone gel implants.

The Food and Drug Administration said it would hold the meeting even as its officials and several independent experts disputed the new study by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The study involves nearly 100,000 women and is the largest long-term safety analysis of silicone implants since 2006, when they were allowed back on the US market after a 14-year gap due to safety concerns.

While leaders of the study concede that it has big limitations and cannot prove that implants cause any of these problems, they say they believe it is clear evidence of risks.

'We completely stand behind this study and we do feel it's our best data to date,' said lead researcher Dr Mark Clemens, a plastic surgeon at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Women need as much information as possible to make an informed decision about whether and what kind of implant to get, he said.

The journal Annals of Surgery plans to publish the report on Saturday. Study leaders have no current ties to implant makers although Clemens consulted for one in the past.

A POPULAR CHOICE

Each year in the US, about 400,000 women get an implant and most choose silicone over saline; surgeons say it can give a more natural look. Three-fourths are for women who want bigger breasts; the rest are for reconstruction after cancer surgery.

'Breast implants are not lifetime devices' and up to 20 percent of women getting them for enlargement need to have them removed within 8 to 10 years, the FDA's website warns.

Complications can include infections, wrinkling, scarring, pain, swelling and implant rupture. Implant users also may have a very small but increased risk of a rare lymphoma, a type of cancer, the FDA has said.

But the agency decided there was not enough evidence to tie silicone implants to other problems such as immune system and connective tissue disorders, so it approved devices from two makers  Allergan and Mentor Corp.  in 2006. FDA required the companies to do more studies on how women fared, and the Texas researchers used these reports in an FDA database for their analysis.

WHAT THEY FOUND

Compared to women without implants, those with silicone implants seemed to have greater rates of an immune system disorder called Sjogren syndrome, a connective tissue disorder called scleroderma, and the skin cancer melanoma, although cases of these were rare, the researchers reported. But rates for other problems such as fibromyalgia were lower among implant users. Reproductive problems such as birth defects and stillbirths were mixed and inconsistent.

Furthermore, a higher rate of rheumatoid arthritis was tied to one brand but a lower rate for another. The difference gets to what critics called a fundamental flaw in the data used for the analysis: One implant maker required proof of diagnosis by a doctor rather than just a patient reporting a problem to include it in the database; the other did not.

Another study weakness is that more than half of women dropped out of touch within two years of their operations.

Because of these and other shortcomings, 'we respectfully disagree' with the researchers' conclusions and urge that they be viewed with caution, Dr. Binita Ashar of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health said in a statement.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

'This study is messy' and has the potential to create more anxiety than insight, said Dr. Andrea Pusic, plastic surgery chief at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and president-elect of the Plastic Surgery Foundation, which supports research and advocacy by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The group gets industry grants for some of its work, and Pusic gets royalties from a questionnaire used in many studies including this one.

Dr. Charles Thorne, plastic surgery chairman at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York and president elect of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, said the inconsistency in some of the results 'is a little hard to explain' since the devices are similar chemically.

But the study is a worthy effort, he said.

'We have to constantly reevaluate the data and make sure things are safe,' Thorne said. 'The best evidence we have now indicates there's no increased likelihood of these systemic diseases.'
Nationwide Building Society will pour another 1.3billion of funds into in technological advancements to 'simplify' its operations, it announced today.

But the mutual giant insisted the digital transformation will not cost jobs, and that its branch network 'will be maintained'.

Over the next 5 years, between 750 and 1,000 jobs are predicted to be created in a new 'technology hub', with the additional money bringing Nationwide's total tech investment plans to 4.1billion.

The lender said it will help 'simplify its technology estate and build new technology platforms to enable growth and diversification, and drive forward digital, data and analytic strategies.'

Investment: Nationwide Building Society have announced that they are investing an additional 1.3 billion into their tech services as the demand for digital services is growing

In spite of the substantial growth in the digital sector, Nationwide have confirmed that there are no plans for redundancies in other parts of the business and assured customers that its branch network will be fully maintained.

The added tech investment will put a dent in Nationwide's finances, with the mutual now expecting to suffer a 200million to 250million hit in the current financial year.

Roughly half of that sum will be recognised in the first half with that annual cost recurring over the next five years.

'This full-year range represents a reasonable estimate for the ongoing annualised impact on profits over the period to 2023 as we deliver the programme,' the building society said.

Nationwide Building Society chief executive, Joe Garner, insisted that Nationwide is in a position of 'financial strength' and that its capital levels are at a record high.

He said: 'At a time when customer expectations of service are rapidly changing in a digital world, we are investing to ensure that we continue to provide leading service.

'We believe that our members want a combination of human service on the high street, as well as digital convenience. As a building society, we are able to deliver both - continuing to invest in our branches alongside this significant investment in our technology and operational capabilities.

Joe Garner has been the CEO of Nationwide since 2016 and has insisted that there are no plans to make redundancies as bank branches are still important to many customers

'As part of this overall investment, we anticipate creating an additional technology hub in the UK and employing between 750 and 1,000 people over time.'

The bank's five-year investment plan is aiming for 'sustainable' cost savings, extending its previous target by 200million to reach 500million by 2023.

Nationwide has seen a rise in demand for digital services, with double the number of people logging on to its mobile app compared to two years ago and 200million more log-ins last year.

The app reaches two million active members and more users were counted on there as opposed to its internet banking platform.

However, the group remained firm that bank branches were still a crucial aspect of their business.

It said: 'People will always want the human touch to help with more challenging or complex financial affairs so we remain committed to our branch network.

'We have a simple business model and a single integrated strategy and organisational structure, and our long history of innovation means we are well placed to execute the plan.'
A fortnight after an Australian Instagram model was found hanging from the back of a luxury superyacht, unanswered questions still surround her sudden death.

Sinead McNamara, 20, from Port Macquarie on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, died on her last day working on the Mayan Queen IV in the Greek Islands.

The social media star was flown to hospital after being spotted by the captain of another vessel in the early hours of August 31, but died in a helicopter en route.

Her death came as her mother and sister were flying to join her in Europe, and the family have been left unconvinced by a report by one of Greece's chief coroners.

Ms McNamara's loved ones are now demanding a full investigation from authorities as mystery surrounds her ex-boyfriend, and a final crying phone call.

The owner of the $190million vessel - Mexican billionaire Alberto Bailleres - is yet to speak out about the tragedy, or explain the ship's route after Ms McNamara's death.

Ms McNamara will be farewelled at a funeral service in her home town on Saturday, with mourners urged to wear what 'Sinead would want them to.'

Sinead McNamara, 20, from Port Macquarie on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, died on her last day working on the Mayan Queen IV in the Greek Islands

The social media star (pictured) was flown to hospital after being spotted by the captain of another vessel in the early hours of August 31, but died in a helicopter en route

DID SHE COMMIT SUICIDE?

Coroner Elias Boyiokas said the cause of death was hanging, and no other injuries were found on the body.

Mr Boyiokas is awaiting the results of a toxicology test in order to find out whether Ms McNamara was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

'We are talking about suicide. Now, if there was some argument, something ugly, it still needs to be proven. I have done all possible tests,' Mr Boyiokas said.

'There was no evidence of ill-treatment  my verdict is death by hanging but there were signs that she may have tried to stop it.'

But Ms McNamara's family have doubts about the suicide theory and are calling for a full investigation.

'The parents also state that Sinead was not having any problems; she often communicated with her family and she was happy,' the family's lawyer in Greece, Charalampos Triantafyllopoulos, said in a statement.

The Mayan Queen IV is owned by billionaire mining magnate Alberto Bailleres, Mexico's second richest man

WHERE IS HER EX-BOYFRIEND?

Crew members told police investigating Ms McNamara's death she was struggling with a bad break-up, local media reported.

The accounts prompted police to pore over messages and photographs on the Australian hostess's phone.

However, Ms McNamara's family has not mentioned a boyfriend, and there are no signs on social media the Instagram model was in a relationship.

Her photos show her enjoying her superyacht hostess life in the Greek Islands, appearing alongside a number of different men.

None of the men in Ms McNamara's pictures have been confirmed as a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend.

Mexican billionaire Alberto Bailleres (pictured) is yet to speak out about the tragedy, or explain the ship's route after Ms McNamara's death

WHY HAS THE BILLIONAIRE BEEN SILENT?

The Mayan Queen IV is owned by billionaire mining magnate Alberto Bailleres, Mexico's second richest man.

The notoriously-private tycoon left the vessel three days before Ms McNamara's death.

When news of the tragedy broke Mr Bailleres was in his family mansion in Mexico City, and declined to comment on the death aboard his boat.

Mr Bailleres appeared in public at the National Palace as a guest of Enrique Pena Nieto two days later, but again declined to comment, La Journada reported.

Ms McNamara's family are now questioning whether the boat, now docked on the party island of Ibiza, left before the investigation was fully complete

WHY DID THE SUPERYACHT LEAVE FOR IBIZA?

When Mr Bailleres left the Mayan Queen IV the boat was moored at the Greek port of Argostoli, on the Greek island of Kefalonia.

On September 2, just two days after Ms McNamara's death, the vessel was allowed to sail out of the harbour with 23 crew members on board.

The six-storey superyacht had been earlier ordered to stay in port while investigators looked into the incident, but suddenly headed for the western Mediterranean.

Ms McNamara's family are now questioning whether the boat, now docked on the party island of Ibiza, left before the investigation was fully complete.

Crew members told police investigating Ms McNamara's death she was struggling with a bad break-up

Just two weeks before her death, the young model penned a cryptic Instagram post which was far darker than her usual

WHAT DID HER FINAL INSTAGRAM POST MEAN?

Just two weeks before her death, the young model penned a cryptic Instagram post which was far darker than her usual.

'My head is all over the shop today. Take me back to this where my only worry was not cracking my skull open,' she wrote alongside a photo of herself on a quad bike.

The model was active on social media, and other posts indicated she was enjoying her life as a superyacht stewardess.

'When in Greece ... I can't believe this fairy tale is almost over. I don't want to leave,' she captioned a photo of herself at a restaurant in Rhodes.

'Living and working on a boat seeing all that the world has to offer - yep I think I have it pretty good,' she wrote just days before that.

Why the tone of the 20-year-old's Instagram posts changed so suddenly is still unclear.

The McNamara family lawyer revealed the young model called her family in tears the night she died

WHY WAS SHE UPSET?

The McNamara family lawyer revealed the young model called her family in tears the night she died.

'I declare that the family is expected from the Greek authorities to respond to the causes and circumstances of her death,' Mr Triantafyllopoulos's statement said.

'In particular given the fact that the deceased had communicated by telephone with her mother and brother shortly before the unfortunate incident under investigation.

'She was crying and referred to an incident that took place on the yacht with another crew member.'

No further details about the call or the incident that prompted it have been provided by the family or the lawyer.

Video lasting several minutes shows the final moments of Ms McNamara's (pictured) death

WHERE'S THE CCTV?

The Mayan Queen IV is equipped with CCTV surveillance cameras, and footage of the incident was seized by Greek authorities.

Video lasting several minutes shows the final moments of Ms McNamara's death, local media reported.

But the footage has not been released publicly, and authorities have not made a statement about the contents.

Sinead McNamara (pictured) sold all her belongings and flew to Europe to work on-board the Mayan Queen IV
An American officer who served shoulder-to-shoulder with Prince Harry under fire in Afghanistan has told DailyMailTV how the royal laughed off risking death as he fought the Taliban and simply called himself 'Harry'.

Colonel William Connor has revealed the secrets of life on the frontline with the Prince in 2007 and 2008, when the royal served in Helmand Province as a British cavalry officer during sustained fierce fighting with anti-government forces.

The South Carolina National Guardsman, an Army Ranger veteran, snapped pictures with the Prince - but also ran for cover along with him when they came under missile fire at the austere operating base they called home, and shared Christmas dinner in a mess hall just a few hundred yards from enemy lines.

Prince Harry's service came to an abrupt end when he was revealed to be present in Afghanistan, and although he later returned to combat there as an Apache gunship pilot, he has spoken of his regret at not being able to fully serve with his comrades.

Now Col. Connor has told how he witnessed the Prince's coolness under fire, his good humor - and his discomfort with special treatment due to his royal status.

Colonel William Connor served alongside Prince Harry on the frontline in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008 when the royal served as a British cavalry officer. Pictured: Col. Connor with Prince Harry in December of 2007

Col. Connor ran for cover along with Harry when they came under missile fire at the austere operating base they called home. Pictured: A 24-year-old Harry manning a .50 caliber machine gun in the Helmand province on January 2, 2008

Col. Connor watched at close quarters as the Prince dealt with life on the frontline of the Taliban's relentless assaults. Pictured: Harry sitting on his camp bed in his accommodation at FOB Delhi in 2008

Now Col. Connor tells DailyMailTV how he witnessed the Prince's coolness under fire, his good humor - and his discomfort with special treatment due to his royal status

Col. Connor was then a major in South Carolina's National Guard 218th Brigade Combat Team and assigned as the U.S. military's senior liaison officer to Afghan forces in Helmand Province, then one of the most war-torn areas of Afghanistan and the theater of operations for British forces.

He was on a visit to a forward position just 500 yards from Taliban lines when he first met the Prince - who himself made a dramatic entrance by helicopter.

It was Christmas Eve 2007, and the forward position near Garmsir was one of the most dangerous places in the country, with intense fire between British and Taliban forces when the helicopter landed.

'We knew a VIP was coming in,' said Col. Connor, who was with a detachment of Ghurkas, British soldiers recruited from Nepal, at the time.

'The first thing I saw was some of the Ghurkas taking pictures with Prince Harry. He had no security. He really expected no special treatment.'

There were only two other Americans present, a sergeant and a captain.

'I told them, just keep your mouths shut on the Harry thing,' he said.

'We spent the next week or so eating meals with Prince Harry.'

The next day Col. Connor spent Christmas with Prince Harry in Forward Operating Base Delhi, manned by around 150 British troops - some of them Ghurkas and some from Prince Harry's unit, the Household Cavalry, as well as Col. Connor's small detachment and Afghan interpreters.

But there was never any special treatment or extra protection for the 24-year-old VIP officer, who was known as Coronet - the equivalent of 2nd Lieutenant - Wales, and to officers below the rank of lieutenant colonel simply as Harry.

The Prince's deployment ended suddenly and dramatically when his cover was blown and news of his presence in the warzone flashed around the world. Prince Harry talks to a Gurkha after firing a .50 caliber machine gun at Taliban fighters on January 2, 2008

On New Year's Day 2008, Harry fired his first shots in combat, at a British position on sight of enemy trenches. When up to 20 Taliban were seen approaching and apparently preparing to attack, he claimed a position at a .50 machine gun and opened fire. Pictured: Harry holding a SA-80 assault rifle, which is a standard issue weapon to UK military, while on patrol

Col. Connor and Harry even worked out together in the rudimentary gym - and had to rush to put on body armor when an incoming missile alarm went off

Pictured: Map showing where Prince Harry served in Afghanistan during his 10-week tour in 2007/2008

Prince Harry was deployed as a Forward Air Controller - or in the U.S. military, a JTAC, Joint Terminal Attack Controller - responsible for calling in air and artillery strikes on the Taliban under his call sign, Widow Six Seven. Pictured: Harry with Meghan Markle on their wedding day in May

Hero Harry: The royal's years of service May 2005: Prince Harry enters a 44-week training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Camberley, Surrey to begin his training as an Officer Cadet. April 2006: Prince Harry becomes commissioned as an Army officer. The Clarence House had announced earlier in the year that he would join the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals. May 2006: Prince Harry joins his regiment and reports to the Armour Centre at Bovington in Dorset for the Troop Leaders' Course. October 2006: The royal completes his course and rejoins his regiment in Windsor. Late 2007/Early 2008: Prince Harry serves on the frontline in Helmand, Afghanistan as a forward air controller. At the time, the information was kept secret to protect the royal and the troops. Harry is forced to return early from the posting when a foreign website broke the news blackout on his deployment. February 2008: The Ministry of Defence confirms that Prince Harry had been serving with the British Army in Afghanistan. April 2008: Prince Harry is promoted to Lieutenant within his regiment. January 2009: Prince Harry begins training with the Army Air Corps to become a pilot. May 2010: Prince Harry finishes his training and is picked to fly the Apache Attack helicopter. April 2011: Prince Harry is promoted to Captain and is also awarded an Apache Badge from his squadron's Officer in Command. October 2011: Prince Harry visits California in the U.S. to complete the final stages of the Apache Conversion to Role course. February 2012: Prince Harry qualifies as a co-pilot gunner and is assigned to 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment within the 16 Air Assault Brigade. September 2012: Prince Harry is deployed to Helmand, Afghanistan for the second time of his military service. He is tasked with conducting an operational tour as an Apache pilot. January 2013: Prince Harry completes his four month tour in Afghanistan. Early 2014: Prince Harry takes a Staff Officer role in London to work on his plan to bring the Invictus Games to Britain. March 2015: Kensington Palace announces Prince Harry is leaving the UK armed forces. May 2017: It is announced Prince Harry will replace Prince Philip as ceremonial head of the Royal Marines. September 2018: Prince Harry visits the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre as he carried out his first role as Captain General Royal Marines. Advertisement

Instead Col. Connor watched at close quarters as the Prince dealt with life on the frontline of the Taliban's relentless assaults.

The two even worked out together in the rudimentary gym - and had to rush to put on body armor when an incoming missile alarm went off.

'We both threw on our body armor over our workout clothing and just looked at each other and laughed about the situation we were in,' Col. Connor said.

The situation was in reality no laughing matter, however cool the Prince was under fire.

Prince Harry was deployed as a Forward Air Controller - or in the U.S. military, a JTAC, Joint Terminal Attack Controller - responsible for calling in air and artillery strikes on the Taliban under his call sign, Widow Six Seven.

FOB Delhi was under small arms, missile and rocket-propelled grenade fire constantly.

It was built in a previously bombed and shelled compound, brutally hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter, when both Col. Connor and Prince Harry served there.

'We were under constant operations. There was very little sleep,' he said.

Rations were poor, and the Ghurkas went out to forage for chickens and sheep, and made curry.

'The British had these rations, seemed to me just beans and franks. They would trade with the Americans.

'When we ate, we ate at the officers' mess, and there were very few of us there,' Col. Connor said.

There was no air conditioning, no heating, and little chance of unbroken sleep - while there was no running water and showers improvised from bags of water.

'You could be woken up with things going on, night operations, and a constant inflow of people going to the forward positions,' Col. Conner said.

'There were two or three mortar pits firing off against the Taliban. Everyone smells. You're constantly in your dirty uniform. It was a tough life, being shot at and shooting back.'

Col. Connor was with him under fire for a week, when the Prince was calling in airstrikes from allied airpower.

But it was only their first time of service together, as early in February they met again, in the course of a massive push to reach the strategically vital Kajaki Dam, through areas under Taliban control.

The troops had to take a 220-tonne turbine in a convoy of vehicles two and a half miles long through the desert so it could be installed at the dam, to secure power supply for the troubled country.

The effort - Operation Eagle Claw - involved a huge push through Taliban control territory, with troops going house to house to flush out fighters,

The Prince was in command of a squadron of light tanks, and calling in air and artillery strikes from the turret of his Scimitar.

Col. Connor and other American troops were advising the around 1,000 men from Afghan forces involved in the operation.

Col. Connor was with Prince Harry under fire for a week, when the Prince was calling in airstrikes from allied airpower. Pictured: Col. Connor with his wife Susan at his Ranger Graduation in 1991

Col. Connor (pictured on 'storm duty' in 2016) and other American troops were advising the around 1,000 men from Afghan forces involved in the operation. The fighting was intense - and Prince Harry was in the thick of it. 'We could hear Prince Harry on the radio,' Col. Connor said

Col. Connor (pictured) said: 'Clearly [Prince Harry] was willing to die. He could have been in a safer position. I was impressed he chose to take the hard road'

The fighting was intense - and Prince Harry was in the thick of it.

'We could hear Prince Harry on the radio,' Col. Connor said.

One artillery strike he ordered fell so close to a sleeping Col. Connor that pebbles rained down on him and his men.

'He had sent an illumination round up,' said Col. Connor. 'Our guys were on rest and some pebbles came down. It was not his fault. They were saying, 'Gosh darn it, that Prince Harry!'

'It was really sustained fighting on that operation - it was 24 hours a day.'

Prince Harry was there through it.

'He was in the thick of things. He was in the thick of the fighting. He was the real deal,' Col. Conner said.

'He cast aside, came down range, got shot at, put his life on the line and led by example.'

The Prince's deployment ended suddenly and dramatically when his cover was blown and news of his presence in the warzone flashed around the world.

Col. Connor's laconic reaction was to tell his men, who had keep the secret of the royal in the battle zone: 'You can tell your wives.'

Pictured: Prince Harry sits in his position on a Spartan armored vehicle on February 18, 2008. Col. Connor said he had seen the cost of operations in Helmand Province first-hand - so he knew what the Prince was volunteering for

There was never any special treatment or extra protection for the VIP officer, who was known as Coronet - the equivalent of 2nd Lieutenant - Wales, and to officers below the rank of lieutenant colonel simply as Harry

The royal, aged 24 at the time, looks through sights of his SA-80 assault rifle while on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir

In interviews given to a British reporter embedded with him at FOB Delhi, the Prince spoke of his delight in 'mucking' together with his comrades in the fight against 'Terry Taliban.'

On New Year's Day 2008, he fired his first shots in combat, at a British position on sight of enemy trenches.

When up to 20 Taliban were seen approaching and apparently preparing to attack, he claimed a position at a .50 machine gun and opened fire.

'It's just no-man's land... they poke their heads up and that's it,' he said.

He also took part in street patrols in Garmsir, and was photographed walking past a boy on a donkey in a town riddled with Taliban bunkers and snipers.

'Just walking around, some of the locals or the ANP [Afghan National Police], they haven't got a clue who I am, they wouldn't know,' he said afterwards.

The presence of the prince - who was then third in line to the British throne; he is now sixth - had been a tightly-held secret which had taken months of planning.

He trained as a cavalry officer and had nearly quit when the Army decided it was too risky to deploy him to Iraq.

Instead he was deployed eventually to Afghanistan and was praised by senior officers for his performance.

Col. Connor disclosed that then Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, then the commander of British forces in Afghanistan, now the British Chief of the General Staff, the head of the British Army, had come to see the Prince.

Prince Harry talks to a Gurkha soldier at the observation post on JTAC Hill, close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base), on January 2, 2008, in Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan

Prince Harry holds his SA-80 as he prepares to patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir. In interviews given to a British reporter embedded with him at FOB Delhi, the Prince spoke of his delight in 'mucking' together with his comrades in the fight against 'Terry Taliban'

Harry visiting The Royal Marines Commando Training Centre on September 13 in Lympstone, United Kingdom. The Duke arrived via helicopter for his first visit in his role as Captain General Royal Marines

But the Prince was less than keen on the attention.

'I could see some of the officers, not the brigadier, trying to get his attention, and he was not happy,' Col. Connor said.

The American officer told DailyMailTV that the Prince met his definition of a hero.

He volunteered for duty in Garmsir, which at the time was the most dangerous place a British soldier could be.

'He could have stayed in Kabul, or some big operating base in Bastion [the main British base, now run by U.S. Marines],' said Col. Connor.

'Garmsir took the cake for the most violent action against the Taliban and that's where he went.

The American officer told DailyMailTV that the Prince met his definition of a hero

'Clearly he was willing to die. He could have been in a safer position. I was impressed he chose to take the hard road.

'I have seen people that have taken advantage of being VIP and getting different kinds of treatment.

'Someone who is that far up in the royal family - but is so humble in the way he projects himself.'

'He was not Prince Harry, he was just Harry.'

Col. Connor had seen the cost of operations in Helmand Province first-hand - so he knew what the Prince was volunteering for.

British soldiers had concerns over equipment, including the use of lightly armored Land Rovers which could not withstand IEDs, and the Taliban insurgency in the province was one of the most active in the country.

'The British during that time were losing a substantial number of people. I remember a very long stream of ceremonies for British dead,' he said.

'There was a decent chance you would not come back. He must have mentally gone through, yes I could die, and he went ahead and took this risk for his nation.'

And he said that even though Harry was a senior member of the royal family, he respected him as an officer.

'He seemed to be respected, not in a way that was forced because he was a prince but because he was a good officer,' he said.

'He was respected. That's something that's earned, not given. He had earned that respect among his men.'
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been one of the most aggressive governors in the nation in scrutinizing how districts spend state tax dollars.

With his sound defeat of challenger Cynthia Nixon in Thursdays Democratic primary, he heads into the November election heavily favored against Republican nominee Marcus Molinaro. So what would that mean for school districts if he wins a third term as governor?

For one thing, districts could expect that any more money they get from the state in the coming years would be heavily scrutinized by Cuomos office for how efficiently and effectively its spent. Heres why.

During Cuomos first two years in office, he ramped up the weight test scores held in teachers evaluations and promised to bust up the monopoly of public schools. " But, as public sentiment turned against testing and grew more sympathetic toward teachers and public schools, Cuomo in 2016 backed off , turning instead his attention to school funding.

Last year, on the heels of a little-known new requirement under the Every Student Succeeds Act that states report school-level spending, Cuomo signed a bill into law that not only requires districts that receive state funds to report out school-level spending patterns but to have those numbers scrutinized by his budget office. That process began earlier this month.

During his heated campaign against Nixon, he touted his $1 billion increase in state spending last year and told voters that, if elected, he would assure that districts spend its money on students who need it most.



The real issue is the distribution of that money, Cuomo said at a press conference in March. We have an education inequality problem in this state.

Nixon, who lost in a landslide , had said she would tax the states wealthiest residents and corporations to bring $7 billion more to schools.

Elsewhere in the country, progressive gubernatorial candidates in states such as Arizona and Florida in this years race are touting higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations as a way to pay for teacher raises and new school construction, among other things. And Republican gubernatorial candidates in Colorado and Oklahoma have, like Cuomo, expressed skepticism that school district officials spend their money on classrooms.

During an especially rowdy debate at Kansas state fair last week, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach accused a school in Wichita of hiring 12 vice principals, a claim the district vehemently denied.

My high school had one assistant principal, and I didnt know what that guy did, Kobach said. Why does a school district, or a high school, need 12 assistant principals? We have got to stop spending so much money on administration and spend it instead in the classroomon the teacher salaries and on the computers and books.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
 "Laboratories of Democracy: Drug Policy In The United States" | Main | Reviewing the continued ugly realities of the application of the Armed Career Criminal Act 

September 14, 2018

Reported sentencing details in Paul Manafort's plea deal to wrap up his various federal prosecutions

Politico has this extended article with some of the details of the plea deal completed today between the federal government and Paul Manafort. Here are excerpts with an emphasis, of course, on sentencing particulars:

President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller under a plea agreement revealed Friday. Manafort appeared in a Washington, D.C., courtroom Friday morning, looking relaxed in a suit and purple tie, to formally announce the deal. The deal dismisses deadlocked charges against Manafort from an earlier trial, but only after "successful cooperation with Muellers probe into Russian election interference and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Moscow on its efforts. Later, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Manafort is agreeing to "cooperate fully and truthfully" with the investigation. The agreement also calls for a 10-year cap on how long Manafort will be sent to prison, and for Manafort to serve time from his separate Virginia and Washington cases concurrently. But it will not release Manafort from jail, where he has been held since Mueller's team added witness tampering charges during the run-up to the longtime lobbyist's trial. Manafort addressed Jackson in a soft voice, saying I do and I understand as she asked him whether he understood what rights hes giving up. Has anybody forced you, coerced you or threatened you in any way? she asked later. No, Manafort replied, in a barely audible voice. A deputy marshal stood directly behind Manafort, a reminder that he remains in custody. Legal experts quickly spun the deal as a win for all the parties involved. Manafort gets a potentially shorter sentence and lessens his legal bills. Trump avoids several weeks of bad headlines ahead of the midterm elections about his corrupt former campaign aide. And Mueller  faced with Trump's constant claims that his probe is a witch hunt  gets to show yet again that his charges are not fabricated and can now divert resources to other elements of his Russia probe.... Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani insisted the president and his lawyers were not concerned about Manafort cutting a deal. "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign," he said in a statement Friday. "The reason: the President did nothing wrong." White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders echoed those remarks in her own statement. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said. "It is totally unrelated. Prosecutors signaled the pending deal Friday morning, filing a new slimmed-down set of charges against Manafort, reining in the felony counts pending against him in D.C. from seven to just two: conspiracy against the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct justice.... Last month, a jury in Alexandria, Virginia, convicted Manafort on eight felony charges in a tax-and-bank-fraud case also prosecuted by Muellers team. The jury deadlocked on 10 other counts, but a verdict form said the jurors were split, 11-1, in favor of conviction on those charges. Many Trump aides and advisers have said they believe the president is likely to grant Manafort a pardon on all the charges, which Trump has suggested amounted to prosecutorial overkill aimed at persuading Manafort to implicate Trump in wrongdoing in connection with the ongoing Russian investigation. The charges filed Friday morning came in a criminal information replacing the current indictment in the Washington-based case against Manafort. The new charges mean that prosecutors have agreed to drop five counts, including money laundering, failing to register as a foreign agent and making false statements. Manafort admitted to those allegations as part of the umbrella conspiracy-against-the-U.S. charge, but the individual charges and the potential prison time they carry are being dismissed. Weissmann said Manafort is admitting to all of the bank-fraud charges from the Virginia case. While that means Manafort wont face another trial over those federal charges, the admission could be critical to the issue of follow-up state charges, since bank fraud can typically be charged at the state and federal level.

Without seeing this plea agreement, it is unclear to me whether Manafort now has his sentencing exposure capped at 10 years for all of his convictions or just for those related to the second round of DC charges to which he today pleaded guilty. I presume the latter, since I am not sure a DC-based plea deal could bind the sentencing discretion of the Virginia-based judge who will be sentencing Manafort on the charges which resulted in jury convictions last month. The plea agreement could include, however, a representation by federal prosecutors that they will not seek a sentence longer than 10 years in the other part of the case (though I doubt it does).

Of course, the sentencing particulars could become academic if (when?) Prez Trump were to grant Manafort a pardon (which he could do at any time). As of this writing, I am inclined to predict that Prez Trump will commute Manafort's sentence to reduce how long he spends in prison (rather than grant a full pardon), and do so sometime after the mid-term elections. We might call this the "Libby treatment" as this is how Prez George Bush used his clemency powers to help our Scotter Libby after his perjury conviction but before he was sent to the federal penitentiary. (And if Prez Trump was clever and savvy in this arena, he could and would include a commutation for Manafort within a list of dozens or hundreds of other commutations of "regular" offenders.)

September 14, 2018 at 12:50 PM | Permalink

Comments

"Where there is smoke there is fire" could only be said by someone with no experience in American politics.

Posted by: Daniel | Sep 14, 2018 1:08:28 PM

Unless I have lost the ability to read or interpret plea agreements, that article is pretty much completely inaccurate.

Posted by: Fat Bastard | Sep 14, 2018 10:29:44 PM

Why was he wearing a suit and tie? My in-custody clients are in orange jumpsuits during their plea hearings. Is this standard for in-custody defendants in this district?

Posted by: Anon AFPD | Sep 15, 2018 12:10:30 AM

Trump only chooses "the best people." How many felons so far?

Posted by: Nancy | Sep 15, 2018 11:55:45 AM

Post a comment
The oldest surviving pair are 86-year-old grandmothers Eudosia and Antonia Meras, who are both widows

The latest miracle babies to be born are Gian and John, who are pictured happily sharing their hammock-cot

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This is the tiny tropical Filipino island which has become famous for the 100 pairs of twins dominating the sparse population.

Schools, homes and families on the island of Alabat are overrun with identical and non-identical siblings.

The latest miracle babies are Gian and John, who are pictured happily sharing their hammock-cot.

But as the four-month-old youngsters will find out, looking just like your brother or sister is far from out of the ordinary where they live.

According to local legend the growing number of twins on the Alabat began generations ago.

Now there are 78 pairs of non-identical twins and 22 pairs of identical twins  including one pair of conjoined twins. Many of siblings continue to dress the same as each other into adulthood.

This is the tiny tropical Filipino island which has become famous for the 100 pairs of twins dominating the sparse population

Schools, homes and families on the island of Alabat are overrun with identical siblings like sisters Dalisay and Dalna

Bryan and Brent Manlugan - both identical twins who live on the island are related to the youngest set of twins recently born

Twins Jane Nicole (with dummy) and Jennie Nicole (wearing hello kitty tshirt) are always dressed in different sets of clothes by their mother Nesa Lim, mother of the to avoid them from envying each other

The youngest twins on Alabat Island Gian Gaylord and John Gaylord who are four-months-old and comfortably share a hammock together

Alabat island is a fishing village and most twins who have their own family now are doing fishing to augment the daily lives of their families

The oldest surviving pair are 86-year-old grandmothers Eudosia and Antonia Meras, who are now both widows.

Antonia, who got married when she was just 19, recounted how her husband quickly learned to tell the identical twins apart.

'In the initial days my husband would often mistake Eudosia for me,' she revealed. There were some embarrassing moments when my husband made amorous overtures to my sister thinking that it was me.

'I then showed him that I have a mole on my nose while my sister does not have one. That solved the problem once and for all.'

Her sister Eudosia revealed she does have a mole, but it is on her lips  which she claims makes her chatty.

'See, I have a mole on my lower lip that's why I am very talkative,' she said. In our lifetime, we notice that there are twins like us all over the island.

'Most of us wear identical clothes and people have problems identifying who is who,' she added.

The phenomenon of so many twins and identical twins in such a small area has baffled doctors who say twins count for one per cent of the population. The mother of twins Jane Nicole (left) and Jennie Nicole (right) always tries to dress her twins different sets of clothes to avoid them from envying each other

According to local legend the growing number of twins on the Alabat began generations ago. The mother of Hanna and Hazel can identify her twins by their physical features and characteristics. Hanna has leaner cheeks and the good one while Hazel has fatter cheeks and the naughty one, she says

Many of siblings continue to dress the same as each other as children - unlike Justine and Joshua de Chavez, 10, (pictured) both in 6th grade always wears different clothes

Conjoined twins Joy and Joyce Magsino (pictured riding a bike) were born attached at the forehead. Their grandmother's Sonia and Cynthia were also twins. The girls, now 11, hope to undergo surgery to be separated

The grandmothers are now the last in a growing line of twins.

Antonia's 21-year-old granddaughter Stella Amargo is a third-generation twin. But unlike the grandmothers, who are looking forward to reaching 100 together, she does not get on with her sibling.

'My sister is not here, we have our own lives now,' Stella said. I can tell you that it's not easy growing up with a twin sister or brother.

'Twins tend to be envious of the attention, love, care and attention given to their sibling. It's always the case  one is the favourite and the other is not.

'You might deceive the others, but parents can easily differentiate between us, just by observing our behaviour, even when we try to impersonate each other.'

She added: 'Aside from our twin grandmother, my grandfather on my father's side are twins. And I also have twin relatives. And across the street live neighbours who are fraternal twins.'

The neighbours they are talking about are eight-year-old Jane Carla and John Carlo. Their mother Virginia Belo has twin brothers and her mother is also a twin.

The island's youngest twins  Gain and John  are in safe hands.

Although the infants' parents are not themselves twins, their mother Gaylee Diomela's has an aunt and an uncle who are - and the babies' paternal grandparents are both twins.

At weekends visitors to Alabat Island are surprised to see so many sets of twins wondering around the unique tropical island

Most teenage twins spent their weekends in Atimonan town, an hour away by boat from Alabat Island, but return home for school

Imelda Saberdo, 52, believes the myth that when she was pregnant she was fond of eating twin bananas and that's why her youngest Isabelle Saberdo (violet t-shirt) and Alexa Saberdo (red t-shirt) were twins

Not all of the twins look alike. Ronalyn and Romalyn, 38, are different have different heights and body sizes.

Other differ widely in temperament. Rolando Consulta, 45, is nothing like his twin brother, his wife Purita Consulta claims.

She said: 'My husband has a twin brother and they look almost identical. He and his brother wear the same clothes but I can easily tell them apart. My husband is talkative and short-tempered while his brother Roberto is quiet and easy-going.'

Conjoined twins Joy and Joyce Magsino were born attached at the forehead. Their grandmother's Sonia and Cynthia were also twins. The girls, now 11, hope to undergo surgery to be separated.

'Identical twins are a miracle of nature,' Nikki Roberts, of the Twin and Multiple Births Association, told MailOnline.

'Only one per cent of births are twins. And of these just a third are identical.

Non-identical twins are created when a woman produces two eggs at the same time and both are fertilized, each by a different sperm.

'Identical twins occur when a single egg is fertilized and split into two creating babies with the same genes, physical features and sex.

'Conjoined twins occur when the egg splits very late on after it is fertilized.'
Elizabeth Smart has urged authorities to reconsider releasing one of her kidnappers six years before the end of her sentence.

Wanda Barzee is expected to be freed next week after just 15 years in custody, with her previous release date being 2024.

Utah authorities announced that they had miscalculated the amount of time the 64-year-old Barzee should serve.

In response, standing on the steps of the Utah state capitol, Smart reeled off some of the horrors during her nine months in captivity she had to endure while Barzee was there.

'She is a woman who had six children yet could co-conspire to kidnap a 14-year-old girl, and not only sit next to her while being raped but encourage her husband to continue to rape me,' Smart said. 'So do I believe she's dangerous? Yes.'

Elizabeth Smart, now 30, recalled some of the horrors she experienced when she was snatched from her home in 2002

Wanda Barzee, 64, is expected to be freed next week after 15 years in custody, including time at the state hospital

She said Barzee 'saw me as her slave. She called me her handmaiden. She never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known.'

Barzee is expected to be freed next Wednesday.

Her attorney questioned at a hearing in June whether her release date took into account time she'd served in a federal prison, and on Tuesday the board agreed that she had served her sentence.

Attorney Scott Williams has said Barzee has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, but he's not concerned about her being a danger to the community.

'I only found out shortly before everybody else,' said Smart, who is now a married mother and activist for victims' rights. 'And yes, it was a big shock. Only months ago, I was on my way to a parole hearing and was told she would never be let out before 2024.'

She said Barzee 'saw me as her slave. She called me her handmaiden. She never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known'

Attorney Scott Williams has said Barzee has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, but he's not concerned about her being a danger to the community

Her father Ed Smart also questioned why authorities didn't give her more warning about the impending release.

Smart said she is taking unspecified steps to protect her family, but that she refuses to live in a 'state of fear.'

If Barzee had shown more clear signs of rehabilitation, she would likely feel differently about her release, Smart said.

'I do believe in forgiveness. I am a Christian,' she said.

Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who came in through an open kitchen window. The kidnapping triggered waves of fear around the country.

Smart was found while walking with Barzee and Mitchell on a street in the suburb of Sandy, Utah, by people who recognized the couple from media reports.

Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and raping Smart. He and Barzee were married at one point.

Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who came in through an open kitchen window. The kidnapping triggered waves of fear around the country

Barzee was convicted of both state and federal crimes, and transferred to the Utah state prison in April 2016 after finishing a federal sentence in Texas. She will be under federal supervision for five years after her release from prison.

If she violates the conditions of her release, which will include mental health treatment and an order not to contact Smart's family, she could go back to prison, said Smart's attorney Brett Tolman.

Tolman was previously the U.S. Attorney for Utah who prosecuted Mitchell, and is now in private practice.

Barzee's family could also request a possible civil commitment to a mental-health facility, if that's warranted, he said.
The two flight attendants who sued American Airlines alleging they were sexually harassed by male coworkers on Facebook, are appealing the lawsuit after a judge dismissed their case.

Melissa Chinery, who was formerly based in Philadelphia, and Laura Medlin, based in Charlotte, will file an appeal in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in a week, they announced on Tuesday.

The woman filed their lawsuit in March 2017 in US District Court in Philadelphia accusing their male coworkers of sexual and gender harassment for calling them 'prostitute' and 'sow' in a Facebook Group for American flight attendants.

The women say four to five Philadelphia-based male flight attendants were behind the online insults and slurs.

American Airlines flight attendants Laura Medlin, of Charlotte, (left) and Melissa Chinery, of Philadelphia, (right) sued American Airlines in March 2017 alleging that they were sexually harassed by male coworkers posting in a Facebook group

A judge dismissed their case on August 27. The women announced they will file an appeal next week

'American Airlines is [generally] proactive in disciplining employees who do things that negatively impact the airline, but is dragging its heels in trying to enforce social media [policy] for their employees,' their lawyer Faye Riva Cohen said according to Forbes.

'I feel [American] has no interest in social media policy. They just hang it out there,' she added.

The women argue that the court failed to consider social media as a modern-day workplace environment where employees interact with each other.

'People are being bullied [and] there should be repercussions when that occurs,' Cohen said.

In the women's lawsuit Medlin said she was harassed and called a 'sow' while Chinery was called a 'flipper' which is a synonym for prostitute.

They say they were harassed due to their union activities supporting a leader their harassers opposed, according to the Charlotte Observer.

US District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno dismissed their consolidated cases on August 27.

Speaking on Chinery's case Robreno ruled that the comments did not qualify as sexual harassment.

'Looking at all of the complained of behavior objectively, even that which does not appear connected to gender and instead appears to be related to Chinerys stance on union issues, the behavior does not amount to severe or pervasive sexual harassment,' he said.

Four men allegedly insulted the women, posted a photograph of a broken record, and said Chinery 'did not present a good appearance to passengers [and] allegedly posting a picture of a bedazzled vagina'.

After a judge dismissed their case saying the Facebook posts didn't interfere with the women's work performance, Chinery took to Facebook to vent with this image that says 'Making Flight Attendants Sick'

Medlin posted a long status saying that her complaints on the Facebook behavior was never investigated by the American Airlines HR Department

'The court concludes that the complained-of conduct was not so objectively severe or pervasive that it would unreasonably interfere with an employees work performance,' wrote Robreno.

In Medlin's case she alleged she was sexually harassed on Facebook between 2012 and 2015 where she was called a 'sow' and a 'mean girl'.

'While there are a number of serious questions that are raised by Medlins claims, including whether the alleged harassment over Facebook was due to her sex rather than her opinions regarding labor unions and whether it actually occurred in a work environment, it is clear that the alleged instances of harassment were not adequately severe or pervasive to establish Americans liability,' Robreno ruled.

But the women say the American failed to enforce their social media policies by not acting upon the online insults.

'American is proud to foster a work environment in which all team members are respected. When American receives reports of alleged harassment in the workplace, those complaints are investigated and appropriate action is taken,' American spokesman Matt Miller said to DailyMail.com.

Following the case's dismissals the women took to Facebook to vent.

Citing spokesman Matt Miller's statement, Medlin took to Facebook writing: 'Except THEY WEREN'T investigated. Is the "appropriate action" to ignore complaints from FOUR WOMEN to HR and management about the harassment, because THAT is what happened. Dan Cleverly, HR Specialist, UNDER OATH admitted to DOING NOTHING In his deposition.'
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Yosemite National Park released heart-stopping images that show visitors climbing to the edge of cliffs to get photos, a daredevil move that tragically resulted in the death of an 18-year-old boy last week.

The images, released this week as part of a Yosemite National Park Photo Collection, show thrill-seekers posing on the edge of Overhanging Rock at Glacier Point a rock that's 3,200 feet above Half Dome Village.

In one photo dancers Kitty Tatch and Katherine 'Kitty' Hazelstine do a high-knee kick while standing near the rock's edge for a photo. The photo was snapped in the mid 1980s.

Another photo, taken in 1916, shows a car full of people parked on the edge of the rock for a publicly shoot for Studebaker automobile company.

Other images in the collection capture the beauty and landscape of the park.

Dancers Kitty Tatch and Katherine 'Kitty' Hazelstine pose on Overhanging Rock Rock at Glacier Point in a 1985 photo

In 1916, the Studebaker automobile company drove a car on the edge of Overhanging Rock for a publicity shot

A man standing on Glacier Point, facing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. The picture was taken around 1901

A woman is seen in the photo above standing on the edge of Overhanging Rock at Glacier Park in Yosemite National Park

A group of people pose with the American flag on Overhanging Rock at Glacier Park in Yosemite National Park

A man and child watch the sunset at Tuolumne Meadows from Puppy Dome in August 1967

A group of teenage boys looking out over lake at Yosemite National Park on July 13, 1946

George Goldsworthy on horseback at a lake at Yosemite National Park on September 8, 1941

An August 1941 photo shows a view of Yosemite National Park looking west from saddle north of the lake

Ranger Frank Givens near Horse Ridge at Yosemite National Park in this undated photo

View of Tenaya Lake from Ledge trail to Cathedral Lakes at Yosemite National Park in this undated photo

A group of men look over the edge of a rock at Yosemite National Park in an undated photo

Cathedral Range from Lembert Dome at Yosemite National Park in August 1967

A view toward Mt. Hoffmann - Tuolumne Peak from Juniper Ridge at Yosemite National Park in August 1967

Ed Beatty and George Goldworthy at Glacier Point overlooking the Valley at Yosemite National Park in March 1942

Two children stand by the lake at Yosemite National Park in this undated photo

Several people appear to climb a rock at Yosemite National Park in this undated photo

Two visitors at Yosemite National Park check out the view at Mt. Clark Range form Vogelsang Pass in this undated photo

A view of Tuolumne Meadows from Pothole Dome at Yosemite National Park in September 1967

Stanley Joseph at an unnamed lake above Wilmer at Yosemite National Park in this undated photo

A group of people are pictured on a hike at Yosemite National Park in a photo dated July 28, 1940

A man goes fishing in the southern end of park at royal arch lake on September 8, 1941
A woman has allegedly embarked on a ramming rampage in a car park, smashing into several vehicles before slashing a police officer with secateurs.

The woman driver, 38, is alleged to have crashed her white Mitsubishi Pajero into a police vehicle in a car park in Sutherland, south of Sydney, on Thursday afternoon.

She is alleged to have rammed another car while the driver was still inside it, nudging the vehicle several metres.

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A woman has allegedly embarked on a ramming rampage in a car park, smashing into several vehicles before slashing a police officer with secateurs

The woman driver, 38, is alleged to have crashed her white Mitsubishi Pajero into a police vehicle in a car park in Sutherland, south of Sydney

A policeman was forced to smash her driver's-side window open before she brandished a pair of secateurs and waved them around.

The officer attempted to arrest the woman and she then allegedly sliced his hand with the secateurs.

After ploughing into several cars, it is claimed she then reversed into a police vehicle.

The woman was dragged from the car and arrested before being taken to hospital to be assessed. The police officer was also treated at hospital for a cut to his index finger.

A policeman was forced to smash her driver's-side window open before she brandished a pair of secateurs and waved them around, it is claimed

Several cars were left strewn around the parking area with extensive damage.

The driver has been charged with predatory driving, assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty and using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.

She is expected to face Sutherland Local Court on Friday.
One of Jeremy Corbyns key union allies was last night branded despicable for appearing to suggest that Israel may be behind Labours anti-Semitism row.

Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the PCS union, faced calls to resign after he said anti-Semitism does not exist at the top of Labour or the trade union movement.

Speaking at a Palestine solidarity fringe event at the TUC conference, he listed a series of atrocities he blamed on Israel - today critics called for him to be sacked.

He then went on to add that while he did not believe in conspiracy theories: One of the best forms of trying to hide from the atrocities that you are committing is to go on the offensive and create a story that does not exist.

Suggesting Israel is behind the Labour row is controversial because it feeds into the anti-Semitic trope that the Jewish state controls politics in other countries.

Mr Serwotka told delegates: There is something sinister going on here, adding: Theres been the most systematic attempt to shut down all those advocating justice for the Palestinians.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union and a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has suggested Israel may be behind Labours anti-Semitism row

Another speaker at the same event Labour members should not be frightened of calling Israel a racist state - despite the fact that the international definition of anti-Semitism says Israel should not be referred to as a racist endeavour.

Last night the Labour Against Anti-Semitism group demanded Mr Serwotka resign as head of the PCS, which represents civil servants.

Spokesman Euan Philipps said: Mark Serwotkas speech is a stark illustration of how deeply embedded anti-Semitism is within the Labour movement.

To intimate that the Israeli government is somehow responsible for the anti-Semitism crisis that has torn across the Labour Party this summer is a baseless lie.

It callously dismisses the serious and legitimate concerns of the Jewish community, while also drawing on anti-Semitic tropes (including dual loyalty and conspiracy theory) to draw attention from what is a recognised issue of discrimination against Jews across the political Left.

The suggestion that there is a malevolent power manipulating British politics is as absurd as it is offensive.

With this speech Mr Serwotka has brought the entire TUC into disrepute. It deserves widespread condemnation and he should resign as General Secretary of the PCS.

Jennifer Gerber, director of the Labour Friends of Israel, said: Mr Serwotkas comments are despicable.

There is a problem of anti-Semitism in the Labour party because of anti-Semites and Jeremy Corbyns failure to deal with them, not because of Israel.

Mr Serwotka made his comments at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign fringe event at the TUC on Tuesday night.

He said: I wanted to come here to make a public display of solidarity with those campaigning for Palestinian rights, for the Palestinian people at a time when I think theres been the most systematic attempt to shut down all those advocating justice for the Palestinians in a way that should trouble all those who want to expose injustice.

Whilst I want to be clear that Im sure everyone in this room deplores and wants to campaign against anti-Semitism wherever it raises its ugly head, if a debate comes to a conclusion where some people think Jeremy Corbyn is a racist and an anti-Semite, there is something sinister going on here - and we need to understand and be prepared to call out.

He added: It seems to me clear that in a year when Donald Trump has moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in a year when dozens of Palestinians including children - unarmed, innocent civilians - were gunned down by the Israeli military, in a year when the Americans are cutting off aid...

Isnt it a vile world when instead of being on the front foot, denouncing these atrocities and demanding an independent and sovereign state for the Palestinian people, that we have had a summer of asking ourselves whether leading Labour movement people are anti-Semitic.

Im not a conspiracy theorist but Ill tell you what - one of the best forms of trying to hide from the atrocities that you are committing is to go on the offensive and create a story that does not exist for people on this platform, the trade union movement or the leader of the Labour Party.

The British Labour movement should not be distracted from calling out and campaigning on this.

Another speaker, Hugh Lanning from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said Labours anti-Semitism row had had a chilling effect stopping people speaking out about what is happening in Palestine.

And he received a round of applause when he said: I take the view that if Israel wants to have racist laws, if it wants to have roads that only some people can go on, to have different laws and education systems based on race, we shouldnt be frightened of calling it a racist state.

A spokesman for the PCE union said Mr Serwotka was not saying Israel was behind false anti-Semitism claims.

Mark made the point at the start of the meeting that we need to oppose anti-Semitism in society and within the Labour movement, he said.

But we should not allow the issue of anti-Semitism to be used by people who are attempting to silence Palestinian voices as they legitimately struggle for their rights and a sovereign state.
A Nigerian man accused of masterminding a $3 million email fraud scam from inside a detention centre has been arrested.

Fisayo Oluwafemi allegedly ran the con from inside Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre, where police seized 16 mobile phones, numerous SIM cards, identification information, and various electronic storage devices on Thursday.

The 43-year-old is allegedly the ring leader of a crime ring that targeted not only businesses, but women looking for love, police claim.

Under the alleged scam, emails were sent out from falsified or 'spoofed' email addresses encouraging recipients to reveal personal details such as credit card numbers, account names and passwords, officers said.

The emails also allegedly urged people to send money in exchange for love or goods.

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Police have arrested the Nigerian man accused of masterminding a $3 million email fraud scam from inside a detention centre

On Thursday, Mr Oluwafemi was taken to Bankstown Police Station after Strike Force Woolana investigators, assisted by Australian Border Force, searched the Villawood detention centre.

Strike Force Woolana was established to investigate organised criminal syndicates involved in fraudulent activities.

Mr Oluwafemi was then charged with knowingly directing activities of criminal group, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, and possessing identity info to commit indictable offence.

Police will allege in court he directed the scam and the group, which allegedly included two women and one man, all of African descent.

The funds were allegedly sent to Nigeria.

Mr Oluwafemi was refused bail and is due to appear in Bankstown local court on Friday.

Fisayo Oluwafemi (pictured) was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime

Harriette Bangura (left), 36, who is accused of working with Mr Oluwafemi, was arrested by the strike force on September 4

Harriette Bangura, 36, who is accused of working with Mr Oluwafemi, was arrested by the strike force on September 4.

She has been charged with 11 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Search warrants were executed for the Kingswood mother's property in Sydney's west and a Hoxton Park storage unit where police seized computers, electronic storage devices, mobile phones, sim cards, and documentation.

Harriette Bangura (centre) was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on November 1

The woman's Land Rover was also seized from a car park at St Mary's, which police believe was purchased with criminal proceeds.

Ms Bangura was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on November 1.

Police will allege in court she was involved in the laundering of more than $480,000 under Oluwafemi's alleged scam racket.

Police will allege in court she was involved in the laundering of more than $480,000 under Mr Oluwafemi's alleged scam racket

The strike force also raided homes in Chester Hill and Granville, in Sydney's west (pictured is the raid)

The strike force also raided homes in Chester Hill and Granville, in Sydney's west.

Police seized computers, mobile phones, SIM cards, methamphetamine and identity and financial documents - all believed to have been stolen.

The raids led to the arrest of a man and woman on September 5, both 20, at the Chester Hill property.

The pair are accused of working with Mr Oluwafemi.

The 20-year-old man was charged with seven counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime, possess identity information with intent to commit an indictable offence and possess drug implement.

Police attest he was involved in the syndicate and laundered $90,000.

Police allege the 20-year-old woman laundered $17,000 fraudulently under Oluwafemi's alleged scam racket.

The woman, 20, (pictured) was charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime

She was charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The 20-year-olds were granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on October 2.

A third woman, 36, was also arrested at the Granville property for drug related offences. She is due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on October 2.

The investigation is ongoing.

Reports of online fraud can be made to the Police Assistance Line.
Six female prison officers accused of having 'inappropriate relationships with prisoners' are being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission.

Each of the women allegedly engaged with prisoners at Acacia Prison in Western Australia, but have since quit their jobs or been sacked from the corrective facility.

The former officers from the privately run Serco prison in Wooroloo were allegedly 'groomed' by inmates before developing relationships, Perth Now reported.

Six female prison officers accused of having 'inappropriate relationships with prisoners' are being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission (stock image)

Corrective Services Minister Fran Logan said it's not the first time 'grooming' has been an issue at Acacia prison and he's requested an urgent meeting with Serco.

'I have requested the department to refer all matters relating to the six officers to the CCC for further examination and investigation,' he said.

Mr Logan said he previously raised his concerns about staff misconduct at Acacia with CCC after two female officers allegedly under investigation quit their jobs.

Serco also reported the misconduct to the CCC after they allegedly received evidence from intelligence officers at the corrective facility.

Each of the six women left their jobs at Acacia between 2015 and 2018.

No charges have been laid, partly because it was deemed difficult to charge an officer who has already resigned, the CCC committee revealed on Wednesday.

Each of the women allegedly engaged with prisoners at Acacia Prison (pictured) in Western Australia, but have since quit their jobs or been sacked from the corrective facility

Corrective Services Commissioner Tony Hassall said while they can't prevent prison officers from resigning from their jobs, they can prevent them from being re-employed.

The issue of consent between prison guards and inmates was another obstacle that made it difficult to prosecute officers, he added.

The recent allegations of inappropriate behaviour come weeks after another prison guard was accused of having sex with an inmate.

Married prison officer Amy Mershell Connors allegedly engaged in a 12-month-long sexual relationship with convicted cop killer Sione Penisini.

The former prison officer from Kempsey Correctional Centre in News South Wales, faced court on August 20, where it was revealed Penisini allegedly 'groomed' her to lose weight before engaging in a long-term sexual relationship.

Ms Connors is due to face court again on November 21.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the CCC for comment.
Billionaire immigrant Sir Frank Lowy wants Australia to have a much more ambitious and generous immigration program 'now that our borders are secure.'

The Slovak-born businessman, whose Westfield shopping empire was this year sold to a French property giant for $33 billion, says Australia is focusing too much on the problems and forgetting about the opportunities of immigration.

Sir Frank said making the country's immigration target an immigration cap was a move in the wrong direction.

Billionaire immigrant Sir Frank Lowy wants Australia to have a much more ambitious and generous immigration program 'now that our borders are secure'

'We should bend that curve back upwards,' he said when delivering the Lowy Institute's annual Lowy Lecture in Sydney.

'Let me say that I accept that our country is right to take measures to prevent illegal immigration.

'But now that our borders are secure I believe we can afford to be ambitious on immigration and generous towards refugees who come through the established processes.'

Sir Frank acknowledged, however, that his way of thinking was now in the minority.

A poll commissioned by the Lowy Institute - the Sydney-based think tank his family founded in 2003 - suggests 54 per cent of Australians believe the immigration intake is too high.

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop introduced Mr Lowy at the event, describing him as 'one of the nation's finest citizens.'

Mr Lowy fled Europe during World War II at the age of 21 and went on to make his fortune in Australia in retail property.

'As a teenager I became a boat person  a refugee  as I made my way to Palestine,' he said.

The annual Lowy Lecture has been delivered in recent years by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former CIA director David Petraeus and News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Sir Frank on Thursday spoke of his own history as a migrant coming to Australia in 1952 and how he felt the country regarded him as a future citizen from the very start.

'The challenge now is to give new arrivals that same sense of a personal stake in this country,' he said.

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop introduced Mr Lowy at the event, describing him as 'one of the nation's finest citizens'

'Of course, new arrivals should be grateful but we don't need their gratitude. We need their hard work and their belief.'

The 87-year-old also urged Canberra to be more assertive with Beijing.

The man who led Westfield for half a century explained he was no expert on the communist nation but 'had some experience in negotiations'.

'My experience tells me that if you don't look after your own interests, the person across the table certainly won't,' he said.

'Our interests lie in having a balanced region - with the United States actively engaged - in which Australia and other countries are able to make their own independent decisions.

'And we should be clear with Beijing about that.'
A new paradise island has cropped up as Australia's favourite holiday destination.

For decades, Bali and Thailand have remained firm favourites for Australians looking to escape for a quick and cheap overseas holiday.

But Sri Lanka, a pristine island nation floating off the southern tip of India. has experienced a rapid growth in tourism from Australians in the last year alone.

With perfect white sand beaches, lush tropical forests and wildlife safaris considered 'the best outside of Africa', it's not hard to see why travellers are choosing to ignore tradition and fly almost 7,000 kilometres away for a holiday.

It's taking over Bali and Thailand as the top travel destination for Australians  and with its pristine white beaches, lush tropical forests and wildlife safaris dubbed 'the best outside of Africa', it's not hard to see why. (Pictured, Bentota beach)

Of the top 10 nations that visited Sri Lanka during August this year, the number of Australian visitors has increased more than any other country since last year.

In August 2017, 5,959 Australians arrived on the tear-drop shaped island, but this number increased by 38.3 per cent for the same period this year with figures hitting 8,239.

And while Sri Lanka is getting global acclaim as a holiday hotspot, it remains a virtually untouched paradise with a real local charm.

'It's easy to be cautious when travelling,' said Kirstie McCroskrie in a blog post.

'But when locals come up and start asking you where you're from and where you're travelling to, 9 times out of 10 it's out of genuine interest and politeness, rather than them trying to scam or sell you something.'

Of the top 10 nations that visited Sri Lanka during August this year, the number of Australian visitors has increased more than any other country since last year

Floating off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka really does have something for everyone

Australians visiting Sri Lanka will need a visa to enter the country, costing around $35 days for a 30-day trip.

And if you're wondering when the best time to visit is then it's worth noting that the country  despite its small size  has two monsoon seasons.

The more severe 'yala' monsoon affects the south and west of Sri Lanka between April and September, while the 'maha' monsoon hits the east and north side of the island between November and March.

Sri Lanka boasts many beautiful beaches, but some of the most notable include Arugam Bay in the country's far east, Bentota in the south east and the hidden Hiriketiya Bay near Dickwella Beach at the southern tip.

In August 2017, 5,959 Australians arrived on the tear-drop shaped island, but this number increased by 38.3 per cent for the same period this year with figures hitting 8,239 (Pictured, Unawatuna beach)

Australians visiting Sri Lanka will need a visa to enter the country, costing around $35 days for a 30-day trip

Trains are picturesque but 'notoriously late', according to Escape magazine, so getting around the country is best done by tuk-tuk.

Much like their Thai cousins, tuk-tuk travel is not for the faint-hearted, but remains a convenient way to hop from place to place with costs starting at approximately 40-60 Sri Lankan rupee (50c) per kilometre.

Australians who make the trip to Sri Lanka say it reminds them of Bali 30 years ago; with less crowds, kinder locals and untouched beach breaks.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Bali and Thailand compared to Sri Lanka is the nightlife, with McCroskrie noting that 'it's not a party place'.

'Excessive public drunkenness is pretty rare and disapproved of, and the nightlife is pretty subdued  even in larger towns and cities,' she said.

'Of course, there are pockets of coastal and areas of cities like Colombo where you'll find backpacker-style parties  just don't go expecting Full Moon-style excess.'

Sri Lanka boasts many beautiful beaches, but some of the most notable include Arugam Bay in the country's far east, Bentota in the south east and the hidden Hiriketiya Bay (pictured) near Dickwella Beach at the southern tip
The father of a man who was shot dead by police while on an meth-fuelled rampage has begged others to stay away from the highly-addictive drug.

John Lindsay said his son Brendan 'self-medicated' with methamphetamines, otherwise known as ice, to subdue his anxiety and mental illness, but often became violent when high.

Four years ago, Brendan was shot up to 11 times when he took deli worker Sheila Tran hostage with a knife on a public street in Carlisle, Perth.

John Lindsay's (pictured) son Brendan resorted to 'self-medicating' with methamphetamines to subdue his anxiety and mental illness, but often turned violent while using

Brendan had a wife and daughter at home, and resorted to self medicating with ice to ease his anxiety

'It's a drug that will eventually wreck your brain,' Mr Lindsay told 7News on Thursday after the state coroner found the actions of the four officers involved justifiable.

'He was suffering from the effects of taking ice, and mixed with his mental health issues this provided the disastrous, explosive cocktail which eventually led to his demise.'

Mr Lindsey said his son was trying to break his habit.

'To those who are already tangled in the mess of this drug we must endeavour to provide the necessary care and support to turn their lives back in the right direction before it's too late,' he said.

The father of a man (pictured) who was shot dead by police while on an ice-fuelled rampage has begged others to stay away from the drug

Brendan (pictured with Ms Tran during the incident) was shot up to 11 times when he took deli worker Sheila Tran hostage with a knife on a public street in Carlisle, Perth

Ms Tran, 37, suffered stab wounds to her neck and was also hit in the leg with a bullet during the incident (pictured is the scene after Brendan was shot)

Ice is known as the most addictive drug on the market, and can supposedly hook people after a single use.

The state coroner said the four officers involved were forced to open fire on Brendan after he held a blade to her throat, while threatening to kill her.

Ms Tran, 37, suffered stab wounds to her neck and was also hit in the leg with a bullet during the incident.
A man has been charged with murdering a grandmother whose body was found in bushland.

Julie Anne Cooper, 55, had been missing for almost a month before her body was uncovered by police at Ashendon, Perth's south-east, on Thursday.

The 31-year-old man, who police say was known to Ms Cooper, was later charged with murder.

A 31-year-old man has been charged over the death of Perth grandmother Julie Anne Cooper (pictured) whose body was found in bushland

Police are pictured at the scene at Ashendon, Perth's south-east, where the remains of Ms Cooper were uncovered

He will face the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

Detectives and forensic officers had spent Thursday morning searching for Ms Cooper before discovering her remains.

The Doubleview resident had not been seen since August 17 when she last spoke to family and told them she would be out of contact for two weeks.

Police had also been on the lookout for Ms Cooper's silver 2006 Toyota Camry as part of their extensive search.
It offers a near-perfect mix of historic towns, quaint villages and stunning countryside.

Add in a beautiful coastline, a low crime rate and good life-expectancy, and its clear why West Sussex is such a retirement hotspot.

The county, which includes Chichester, Arundel and Midhurst, is one of the sunniest parts of the UK  and has been named the best place to be a pensioner.

West Sussex has a low crime rate and is also home to the Nyetime vineyard (pictured)

It beat three other counties on the South Coast  Dorset, East Sussex and the Isle of Wight  to head Prudentials Retirement Quality of Life index for England and Wales for the second year running.

Only three of the top ten in the 2018 index, which is compiled from an analysis of government and NHS figures, are not in the South. None is in the North or Wales.

The index looked at factors including the numbers of retirees living and moving there, access to healthcare, crime levels, disability-free life expectancy, pension income, happiness and how many residents pursue a healthy lifestyle.

West Sussex is so popular with pensioners that nearly a quarter of the population is over 65, compared with the national average of 18 per cent. Retirees have a median income of 21,400 a year and can look forward to an average 12.3 years of good health. More than three-quarters of residents rate their happiness as high.

The county also enjoys the beauty of magnolias, such as the above at Nymans in West Sussex

The top ten West Sussex Dorset East Sussex Isle of Wight Norfolk Devon Worcestershire Oxfordshire Somerset Shropshire Advertisement

The main drawback is that property prices, while lower than in London and the commuter belt, are still much higher than in other favourite retirement spots such as Devon, Cornwall, East Anglia, Shropshire or Worcestershire. Prudential retirement expert Kirsty Anderson said: Retirement is an exciting time for many, but it does come with major decisions which should not be taken lightly. Finding the right location is tricky but extremely important.

According to Prudential, the county which has leapt most in the rankings since last year is Leicestershire, up 14 places to 32nd.

Kent had the biggest fall, down 13 places to 35th, while Durham dropped 12 to 52nd and Gloucestershire fell 10 to 22nd.
An elderly couple thought their luck had changed when they won a new car in a raffle but now she is dead and he is fighting for his life following a horror crash in South Australia.

Trish McAuliffe, 78 and her husband Mike, 76, were driving their Mazada sedan - the car they had won in a raffle years earlier - to Adelaide on Wednesday to visit her family when the crash happened.

Ms McAuliffe shared her excitement over winning the car with friends on Facebook in 2011.

'I'm black and blue from pinching myself to see if I'm dreaming...I won a brand new Mazda 2 Neo5 today. Maybe luck has changed from bad to good for us at last!' the post said.

Trish, 78 and Mike McAuliffe, 76, were driving to Adelaide on Wednesday to visit her family when the crash happened

Trish McAuliffe shared her excitement over winning a Mazda with friends in 2011. She had been travelling in the Mazda this week when it collided with another vehicle. She died at the scene

She commented on the post saying it was 'such a surprise' to win the local newspaper competition that had 15,000 entries.

'My little entry won. It's lovely'.

The Renmark couple were travelling on the Sturt Highway at Good Hope Landing, between Waikerie and Kingston-on-Murray this week, when a Ford allegedly crossed on to the wrong side of the highway.

Trish McAuliffe, who died in a nightmare crash on Wednesday, was thrilled when she discovered she had won a new car

Emergency crews were called just before 2pm.

Ms McAuliffe, who was the passenger, died at the scene. Mr McAuliffe, who was driving, was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital where he is still in a critical condition, according to police.

A Ford and Mazda sedan travelling on the Sturt Highway collided head-on at Good Hope Landing, between Waikerie and Kingston-on-Murray on Wednesday

The couples' dog, Jack, was also in the car at the time and died at the scene.

A police spokeswoman said Jack was buried at the site of the crash by volunteer firefighters.

Ms McAuliffe's sister Julie Marshall has been left heartbroken over the death, 9NEWS reported.

'They were coming down here to visit us,' she said.

Trish and and Mike McAuliffe, of Renmark, were involved in a horror crash on Wednesday. Ms McAuliffe died at the scene

'And they didn't make it.'

Ms McAuliffe has been described as a kind, vibrant and beautiful woman who has done a lot for the Renmark community.

The couple had won the Mazda in a raffle, 7News reported.

A 66-year-old woman from Berri who was the passenger in the Ford sedan was also flown to hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Ford, a 69-year-old man from Renmark, was treated at the Berri Hospital for minor injuries before being released.

He was then arrested for causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious harm by dangerous driving.

He was bailed to appear in the Berri Magistrates Court on Friday.
The three-week anniversary of Scott Morrison becoming Prime Minister has been a shocker with social media disasters and his own Liberal Party snubbing him.

Mr Morrison's preferred candidate to run in a crucial by-election received less than 10 per cent of preselection votes and to make matters worse, he misspelt the name of the victor, after having to delete a rude rap video.

The Prime Minister had wanted a woman to run in his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull's Sydney eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth and had endorsed Katherine O'Regan as his choice for the October 20 by-election.

Mr Morrison's preferred candidate Ms O'Regan, a former deputy mayor of Woollahra, received just 19 votes out of 201 in the first round and came fifth out of eight candidates, despite being anointed as the frontrunner.

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The three-week anniversary of Scott Morrison becoming Prime Minister has been a shocker with social media disasters and his own Liberal Party snubbing him

The PM's preferred candidate Katherine O'Regan (right with fellow contender Carrington Brigham), a former deputy mayor of Woollahra, came fifth out of eight candidates

The other women in the preselection race Mary-Lou Jarvis, another Woollahra councillor, and rheumatologist Maxine Szramka also fared poorly against the male contenders.

In another blow to Mr Morrison's authority, three weeks after he became PM, Mr Turnbull's preferred candidate Dave Sharma prevailed, winning 119 votes after six rounds and seven hours of voting.

To make matters worse, Mr Morrison misspelt his name as David on Twitter, even though the victor, who is of Indian heritage, is Devanand.

'Big congratulations to David Sharma, our new Liberal candidate for Wentworth,' he tweeted before deleting the social media message.

Scott Morrison's preferred candidate Katherine O'Regan received just 19 preselection votes out of 201 in the first round with Malcolm Turnbull's choice Dave Sharma prevailing

To make matters worse, Mr Morrison misspelt his name as David, even though the victor, who is of Indian heritage, is Devanand

Mr Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel who lives outside the Wentworth electorate on Sydney's North Shore, prevailed with the support of the moderate faction, which Ms O'Regan also hailed from.

He stayed in the race, despite pressure for the Liberal Party to preselect a woman, after speaking with former prime ministers John Howard and Mr Turnbull, who reportedly called him from New York urging him to continue.

Mr Sharma on Thursday night beat seven other candidates, vying to run in the blue ribbon electorate which Mr Turnbull won with a 17.7 per cent margin in 2016.

Former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma was Malcolm Turnbull's preferred candidate to run for the Liberals at the Wentworth by-election

Scott Morrison was on the hustings campaigning with Dave Sharma, hours after embarrassingly misspelting his name on Twitter

He faced strong competition from Peter King, Wentworth's former Liberal member who Mr Turnbull overthrew in a party preselection challenge in 2004.

The endorsed candidate will now face a tough by-election battle on October 20, with early polling indicating a big swing against the Liberals, who have never lost Wentworth since it was created in 1901.

The electorate includes Australia's most expensive suburbs of Point Piper and Vaucluse along with the world-famous Bondi Beach.

A loss in the seat to Labor, or a possible high-profile independent like former Australian Medical Association president Kerryn Phelps, would deprive the Morrison Government of its one-seat majority.

Hours before the vote, Mr Morrison had to delete a rude 2006 rap video by Fatman Scoop which featured 'Who f***in Tonight? Who f***in tonight?

Mr Morrison proceeded to delete the video following the backlash and apologised for the song choice

Ahead of the preselection vote at the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club in Rose Bay, Ms O'Regan was originally tipped to triumph after frontrunner Andrew Bragg pulled out of the contest under mounting pressure from Canberra for a woman to be chosen.

He had quit the race on Monday after he commissioned polling which showed a woman had a better chance of winning the by-electiont.

The Liberal preselection for Wentworth started at 5pm at Woollahra's Easts Rugby Club with Sharma's candidacy being announced after 1.30am.

Malcolm Turnbull (right), pictured with wife Lucy is on holidays in New York, had offered supported to the eventual victor Dave Sharma

Hours before the vote, Mr Morrison had to delete a rude 2006 rap video by Fatman Scoop which featured the lyrics, 'Who f***in Tonight? Who f***in tonight?'.

He had posted it on Twitter, complete with a possibly copyright infringing re-editing over footage of his Liberal and National colleagues in the House of Representatives during Question Time.

'The full lyrics of the song used in my earlier video from QT today were just not OK,' he tweeted.

'When I found out, I asked the team to take it down. Apologies.'

Before the pre-selection decision, Malcolm Turnbull had been accused of trying to tear apart the party that sacked him as leader.

Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt attacked the former Liberal Party leader after he urged his successor Scott Morrison via Twitter to refer Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to the High Court over his parliamentary eligibility.

'He is desperately trying to burn the party to the ground,' Bolt told Sky News program on Thursday evening.

Scott Morrison's (pictured with wife Jenny) own Liberal Party has snubbed him with his preferred by-election candidate receiving less than 10 per cent of preselection votes

'The point I have made to Scott Morrison and other colleagues is that given the uncertainty around Peter Dutton's eligibility, acknowledged by the Solicitor-General, he should be referred to the High Court, as Barnaby was, to clarify the matter,' Mr Turnbull tweeted on Wednesday night.

Mr Morrison hit back at his bitter predecessor on Thursday morning.

'Someone once told me in this job, all contributions should be gratefully received. They are,' he told reporters at Queanbeyan, just outside Canberra.

'But as the prime minister, I'll obviously make the decisions in relation to our government on what I believe is in the national interest and based on the most recent and most timely information that I have available to me.

'Obviously I have a lot of respect for the former prime minister  but as the prime minister now, I'll make the decisions that I believe are in the best interests of the nation.'
The number of white terror suspects being arrested is higher than those who are Asian for the first time since the July 7 bombings in 2005.

Of those held in swoops by counter- terror police in the year to June, 133 were white  the largest ethnic group  while 129 were recorded as being of Asian ethnic background, according to Home Office figures published yesterday.

The proportion of white individuals among those held on suspicion of terror-related offences increased from 34 per cent to 38 per cent. For Asians it fell from 44 per cent to 37 per cent.

The number of white terror suspects being arrested is higher than those who are Asian for the first time since the July 7 bombings in 2005

It comes amid a recent crackdown on far-right extremism. The rise has coincided with fears over the risk posed by white supremacist groups since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in June 2016.

Authorities have expressed concern that there has been a resurgence in neo-Nazi groups after loner Thomas Mair, 55, was convicted of the brutal killing. In February, Darren Osborne was jailed for life for attacking Muslim worshippers with a van in Finsbury Park, North London.

Police have been actively cracking down on banned far-right group National Action, the highly secretive neo-Nazi organisation that also had links to Mrs Coxs murder.

Counter-terror police have said that while the threat was not of the same gravity as that posed by Islamic State or Al- Qaeda, extreme right-wing groups were provoking violence and sowing discord.
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As thousands evacuate the East Coast to avoid the fury of Hurricane Florence set to dump trillions of gallons of rain and barrel cities with its 106mph winds, some brave souls are sticking around to experience the storm in all its violent glory.

Jimmy Buffett led a score of adrenaline-junkies waiting for the storm to hit as he headed to Folly Beach in South Carolina to surf the surges.

Posing with a surfboard and flashing the shaka sign - a hand gesture meaning 'hang loose' - at the camera, the 71-year-old musician quoted his own lyrics writing: 'I ain't afraid of dying, I got no need to explain, I feel like going surfing in a hurricane.'

'On a serious note - respect mother nature, please be safe and listen to your local authorities,' he added in a Instagram post from Wednesday.

As Hurricane Florence barreled towards the East Coast musician Jimmy Buffett and other surfers headed to the water, the musician flashed a 'hang loose' hand sign as he posed with his surfboard at Folly Beach in South Carolina on Wednesday

Oak City, North Carolina resident Jenna says she's riding out the storm because the impending chaos is 'an adrenaline rush'

Other surfers seemed to have the same idea. Surfer Mike Martin pictured heading out to ride the storm swells in Charleston

While thousands evacuated the Carolinas, bold surfers headed to Folly Beach to ride the storm surges on Thursday

Surf's Up! A surfer rides the increased swells as Hurricane Florence swirls towards the Carolina coast on Thursday

Can't get enough: A surfer captures a wave at Folly Beach to ride the storm surges that began to flood the Carolinas on Thursday

By Thursday evening Florence's eye was located 85miles east-south east of Wilmington, North Carolina crawling at 5mph

Other surfers seemed to have the same idea as Buffett and headed to the popular surf spot to ride the rare swells at the South Carolina shore as thousands of residents in the area evacuated.

The Mayor of Folly Beach closed the bridge onto the island Wednesday evening and encouraged residents to observe the mandatory evacuation announced on Monday.

A Oak City, North Carolina coast resident named Jenna says she's not evacuating because waiting for the eye of the storm is 'an adrenaline rush'.

'At this point, I am going to stay as long as I can. Theres a chance that they wont close the bridge if you have sustained gusts of 40mph. So until they close the bridge, Im going to be here,' she said in an interview with MSNBC.

'Its an adrenaline rush. You know, you cant control Mother Nature. She doesnt make exceptions. And as a surfer, you never see waves this big except for during hurricanes. So its kind of surreal to see them here,' she added according to Raw Story.

While adrenaline junkies headed to the water, many boarded up their businesses writing 'No Flos Allowed'

Evacuated: A local bank was covered in plywood and abandoned in New Bern, North Carolina as thousands evacuated

The storm began to impact the Carolina coast on Thursday with the wild waves flooding the states with water, Snapchat footage of the damage pictured above

Water from the Neuse River flooded houses as Hurricane Florence neared the shore on Thursday in New Bern, North Carolina

Residents were left waist deep in water as water from the Neuse River flooded over its banks and inundated the city

Shelter: Residents took refuge in a Red Cross shelter bracing for Hurricane Florence's impact in Grantsboro, North Carolina

A work truck can barely see the road in front of it as Hurricane Florence blows through Swansboro, North Carolina

Residents who didn't flee the East Coast were left drenched in the floods of the Neuse River

Residents made their way down the unrecognizable flooded streets in makeshift boats made of a metal tub and fishing floats

The floods are just the beginning as Florence could dump 10 trillion gallons of water across the South

Waves crash around the Oceana Pier in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina as the outer edges of Hurricane Florence being to affect the coast on Thursday

Huge waves lashed the beaches of North Carolina as the hurricane rolling in bringing heavy rain

Other North Carolina residents refuse to leave and are preparing their homes and bracing themselves for the inevitable hit.

'It's a very serious storm, but it could hit anywhere in North Carolina, so where are we going to run to? So we'll stay home and stick it out,' Wilmington man Mickey Gentry, 64, said to NBC.

To prepare Gentry boarded up his windows, filled his bathtub with water, and has been packing his family's belongings away.

Gentry, who has waited out past hurricanes says he's still haunted by the memories of storms that barreled his home town.

'The noise, that whistle of the wind, it will drive you crazy. It will wear on your psyche. It still spooks me,' he said.

Sarah Fillmore, 45, an environmental consultant who lives downtown Wilmington, says she isn't evacuating either.

As locals panicked and left, she relaxed on the wall that protects downtown from Cape Fear River, a body of water thats expected to breach the wall Friday.

'Usually when there is a hurricane, I leave, but the company I work for might be involved in the cleanup if there pollution on the river,' she said, adding she had her two teenage children evacuated.

'Theyre with family. So far, the storm hasnt been that bad. And I live up the hill, so there shouldnt be a flood,' she added.

Tom Alberti, the security guard of the shut down soundstages of EUE/Screen Gems movie studios, said he too is staying put.

The 41-year-old says it's his mission to stay in his booth by the front gate until the storm subsides.

'Im ready. Ive got food and water in the booth. Ill be here until the bitter end,' he said.

By Thursday Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said those wanting to escape the hurricane were probably too late.

'At this point in time, with the wind starting to come in now, I think it's too late. The window has closed,' he said.

Saffo added the port city of 120,000 people could see as much as 40 inches of rain, news that sent 480 people to the five shelters open.

North Carolina already felt the impact of the storm on Thursday as storm surges flooded New Bern wrecking houses and sending residents down the streets in boats in the six-feet deep water.

The surges flowed over sand dunes on coast as well, rushing into the residential streets.

The downtown area of Wilmington, North Carolina is eerily quiet and boarded up as two people walk through the ghost town

Ominous clouds loomed over the riverwalk in downtown Wilmington on Thursday as Florence swirled closer to the coast

Wilmington was overcast with a gray sky on Thursday as the eye of the storm heads towards the Carolinas, ready to hit by Friday

The winds and rain couldn't stop some locals from getting some drinks at the Barbary Coast bar in downtown Wilmington

Locals toasted cheering 'Here's to Wilmington!'. Bar owner Eli Ellsworth said: 'It's a tradition. People would be mad if we weren't open. People are under a lot of stress. It's therapy'

North Carolina felt the first bite of monster Hurricane Florence on Thursday as the outer bands of wind and rain from the life-threatening storm bore down on the US east coast, Florence pictured from space

Floods are expected to inundate the East Coast with North Carolina getting its first taste Thursday afternoon

Extreme rainfall is also inundating the Carolinas with 12.73inches counted by Thursday evening in Atlantic Beach.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Florence have all issued declarations of emergency bracing for the eye of storm to make landfall on Friday.

By Thursday the Category 2 storm's waves thrashed upon coast line and left 90,000 people without power, according to ABC.

Florence is forecast to dump up to 40 inches of rain in some areas after it makes landfall in North and South Carolina Thursday night or Friday and bring life-threatening storm surges of up to 13 feet as well as the possibilities of tornadoes in North Carolina.

Overall the storm is forecast to dump up to 10 trillion gallons of rain in the South.

By Thursday evening Florence's eye was located 85miles east-south east of Wilmington, North Carolina crawling at 5mph, according to the The Weather Channel.

Florence's eye could hit land early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line. From there the storm is like to hover along the coast Saturday, pushing up to 13 feet (nearly 4 meters) of storm surge and unloading water on both states.

More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to clear out. The National Weather Service said about 5.25 million people live in areas under hurricane warnings or watches, and 4.9 million in places covered by tropical storm warnings or watches.
Vacuuming and washing up are not high on anyones list of fun activities.

For some men, however, pulling on the rubber gloves to do housework is apparently more enjoyable than a day at the office.

A study found men are less likely to enjoy their jobs than women on average, while working long days and feeling rushed at work have a stronger negative impact on them.

A study by Oxford University found that for some men, pulling on the rubber gloves is more enjoyable than their day job

It means when asked to rate activities, men put domestic chores above work, while it is the opposite for women.

Oxford University asked more than 4,000 people in the UK to rate their enjoyment of daily activities over a weekday and weekend day. On a scale of one to seven  with seven enjoying something very much  housework came in at 4.5 for men, above 4.4 for their paid job.

Dr Pierre Walthery, who conducted the study, said it may be because men do less scrubbing and more DIY when it comes to housework, while women spend more time on dreary chores.

But mens sense of being stressed at work may also make a few chores seem appealing by comparison. He said: We know from previous research that men of childbearing age tend to work longer hours than women and that they complain more about it. For women, on the other hand, work can be an escape from the responsibilities of being at home and the unpaid work they do there.

Participants were asked to rate their daily activities every ten minutes in a diary, with women grading housework at 4.4, below an enjoyment score of 4.5 for work. The results suggest that women are more stoic about having to work early or late at night.

Men put domestic chores such as cleaning, above work, while it is the opposite for women

Dr Walthery, who will present his results today at the British Sociological Associations employment conference in Belfast, added: Women are more likely to do caring jobs, which include nursing and childcare, and this may explain the difference, as we know these jobs provide more enjoyment. However self-employment has a more positive effect on men than women, this study showed, so that could make work more appealing than housework for them.

The Centre for Time Use Research at the University of Oxford found both sexes rated activities such as socialising, caring for others, doing volunteer work and cultural events as more enjoyable than paid work, typically scoring them six out of seven.
Anderson Cooper uses Soylent drinks as meal replacements because of his hectic schedule, and when he's not at work he unwinds in his $5million converted firehouse in New York City's West Village.

The host of CNN's nightly news show, Anderson Cooper 360, also moonlights as a correspondent for CBS' 60 Minutes.

In addition, he recently unveiled a new series on Facebook, Full Circle.

Cooper has also teamed up with good friend Andy Cohen for a live road show titled AC: Deep Talk and Shallow Tales.

Anderson Cooper uses Soylent drinks as meal replacements because of his hectic schedule, he recently revealed

Cooper offered a rare glimpse inside his home - a $5million converted firehouse in the West Village of Manhattan

Cooper is seen above at his office on the seventh floor of the Time Warner Center in New York's Columbus Circle - the home of CNN

The award-winning host of AC360 stocks his refrigerator with plenty of drinks

Cooper, the son of artist and actress Gloria Vanderbilt, says his early experience with personal loss shaped his worldview

Cooper is seen above climbing the staircase in his home, which he bought in 2010 for $4.3million

Cooper is seen above on the couch with his Welsh springer spaniel, Lily

He says he prefers to keep busy because he's 'not good at decompressing.'

'I am not good at, like, sitting on a beach,' Cooper told The Hollywood Reporter.

His work as a high-profile journalist has taken him to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seoul, Brazil, Helsinki, Singapore, and Washington, DC - and that's just in the last two months.

'I feel lucky to travel the world and tell stories,' Cooper told THR.

'I come back from a weekend and I feel transformed.

'And then I'll ask my friend, 'What did you do this weekend?' And they'll say, 'I saw a movie'.'

Cooper says he likes to keep busy. His work as a high-profile journalist has taken him to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seoul, Brazil, Helsinki, Singapore, and Washington, DC - and that's just in the last two months

Cooper is seen above with his assistants as they prepare for the nightly CNN news show

Cooper, whose resume is extensive, is reported to be earning an annual salary of $12million

Cooper says the non-stop breaking news that has been a staple of the Trump era has kept him on his toes - and he would not have it any other way

'I'd rather be working than doing anything else,' he said. 'It's like riding the breaking wave of history'

Cooper's eating style did not sit well with his late friend, Anthony Bourdain. He is seen above eating a meal in his office

Cooper says the non-stop breaking news that has been a staple of the Trump era has kept him on his toes - and he would not have it any other way.

'I'd rather be working than doing anything else,' he said.

'It's like riding the breaking wave of history.'

Cooper is so busy that he doesn't feel the need to sit down for a regular meal.

Instead, he relies on coffee-flavored Soylent drinks, which he keeps in a refrigerator inside his seventh-floor office at CNN headquarters in New York City.

'I don't care about food,' he said.

'So I'm trying to replace all food with this because it would be, like, three fewer decisions in a day.'

Cooper's eating style did not sit well with his late friend, Anthony Bourdain.

'We had lunches together and he would just look at me like I was a creature from another planet,' he said.

'Everything I thought about food was completely antithetical to his beliefs.'

'We had lunches together and he would just look at me like I was a creature from another planet,' he said of Bourdain. 'Everything I thought about food was completely antithetical to his beliefs.' Cooper and Bourdain are seen above in May 2016 in New York City

Bourdain, the host of the popular food and travel show Parts Unknown, was found dead after apparently hanging himself in a hotel in France this past June.

The loss of loved ones has been a constant theme in Cooper's life.

When Cooper was 10, his father, screenwriter Wyatt Cooper, died during open-heart surgery.

His older brother, Carter, committed suicide by jumping from his mother's terrace. He was just 23 years old.

Cooper said that these experiences drew him to begin his journalism career in war-torn places like Rwanda and Somalia because the people there 'spoke the language of loss.'

Cooper also revealed that he started to host the annual New Year's Eve broadcasts because of how close his father's death was to that day on the calendar.

'My dad died five days after New Year's Eve, on January 5th in 1978, and I remember that New Year's Eve, watching with my brother and it was very scary because my dad was in the hospital and I was 10 and ' Cooper says as his voice trails off.

'So anyway, I started volunteering to work.'

At the end of a recent episode of Full Circle on Facebook, Cooper was asked by a viewer how he balances life on-air and off-air.

'I don't really have a life off-air,' Cooper replied. 'It all blends together.'
John Lewis was locked in a battle with the Brexit Secretary last night after the firm appeared to blame the UKs departure from the EU for a dramatic slump in profits.

The group, which also owns Waitrose, reported a 99 per cent plunge in half-year profits to just 1.2million  underlining the crisis engulfing the high street.

John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said one factor behind the dismal results was public uncertainty over Britains future once it leaves the European Union.

John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said one factor behind the dismal results was public uncertainty over Brexit

But Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab hit back, saying it was wrong for businesses that arent doing so well to blame Brexit.

He added: I dont doubt that some of the uncertainty around these negotiations will have an impact on business  thats why we are putting all our energy into getting the good deal we want.

All I am just gently saying is that its rather easy for a business to blame Brexit and the politicians rather than take responsibility for their own situation.

Dominic Raab hit back, saying it was wrong for businesses that arent doing so well to blame Brexit

It prompted a further response from Sir Charlie, who said he did not mean to get into some sort of ding-dong with Mr Raab and that he was simply pointing out that the pound was weaker  making it more expensive to import goods.

'However, the debate sparked a furious response among both Remainers and Brexiteers.

Eurosceptic Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said: People who are having difficulties with their retail businesses will blame all sorts of things rather than themselves for their problems  weve just seen House of Fraser go bust.

Rates are 12 times higher than Amazon The high street giant shelled out 174million in business rates last year. The figure is 12 times the amount paid by online giant Amazon on its warehouses across England and Wales. John Lewis paid 10.4million on its flagship Oxford Street store alone last year  up 4million on the year before. This is the third highest business rates bill paid by a retailer on a single property in the UK. Industry experts said the huge sums underlined the need for reform of business rates which are crippling retailers. The Mail has called for a reform of business rates as part of our Save Our High Streets campaign. Robert Hayton, of Altus Group, a ratings agency, said Chancellor Philip Hammond should use the autumn Budget to freeze business rate rises. Advertisement

'This is not because of Brexit, its because of the nature of retail across the whole world.

But Tory MP Nicky Morgan, chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, said: If respected businesses such as John Lewis say that the fall in sterling is a problem, we should listen to them.

Allie Renison, of the Institute of Directors, added: There is no doubt the uncertainty around our future trading relationship with Europe will inevitably be having an impact on some firms  these companies are well within their rights to raise concerns.

Sir Charlies comments came after John Lewis announced its profits had plunged to 1.2million for the half-year to July 28, down from 83million in 2017.

Waitrose posted a 94.4million profit  a 7.2 per cent rise on the year before.

Julie Palmer, partner at law firm Begbies Traynor, said John Lewiss plunge in profits underlined the crisis on Britains high streets.

Experts criticised John Lewiss never knowingly undersold promise for wrecking its profitability.

The price pledge says that if a customer finds a product cheaper elsewhere, it will match the price.

Retail expert Steve Dresser said: Never knowingly undersold needs refining, badly.

It comes after the group had the biggest revamp in its 154-year history.

The multi-million pound campaign included adding & Partners to its logo, and a flashy TV advert. Retail veteran Bill Grimsey, a former boss of Iceland and Wickes, said: There should be some very red-faced top bosses given they have just wasted loads of money on a pointless advert.

It is personal for the partners on the shop floor and they deserve better from the leadership.
During a reception given by Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, Huh said that Korean businesses hope to receive further support from municipal authorities during their investments, helping to foster the development of both investors and the city, while also enhancing fruitful RoK-Vietnam cooperation relations.



Ho Chi Minh City has proven itself as an alluring destination for foreign investment with half of this in Vietnam being run from the city, he pointed out, emphasising that investors from around the world will come to the city, and Vietnam more generally, to capitalise on its advantages and potential.

With a view to building Ho Chi Minh City into a smart urban area and regional economic, financial, and sci-tech hub, the citys leading officials have been consistent in rolling out the red carpet for foreign investors, including those from the RoK, said Chairman Phong.

The city is currently prioritising projects in urban infrastructure, electronics, food processing, engineering, and information and technology, he said, affirming that municipal authorities commit to accompanying the investors in removing any bottlenecks and ensuring that they have successful business in the locality.

Registering more than $4.8 billion in 1,530 projects in Ho Chi Minh City, the RoK is currently the third largest investor among the 98 countries and territories investing in the city. Some 2,000 Korean firms are investing in the city, many of whom have built their own brands and prestige in the Vietnamese market.

Vietnamnews
Heartbreaking first photos from inside Botham Jean's Dallas apartment show leftover food and materials the 26-year-old had been reading when he was shot to death last Thursday by an off-duty white police officer who claimed she thought the residence was her own.

Inside Edition obtained footage from the South Side Flats apartment which shows a half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane he had been catching up on.

On a piece of furniture near the couch, a phone case, TV remote and two white sheets of paper are seen. On the couch, a large stack of pillows and blankets.

Over on the floor, one flip flop belonging Jean is lodged slightly underneath the living room cushion.

The family's attorney, Lee Merritt, told Inside Edition he visited the complex hoping to find answers to better understand a motive behind the slaying.

Merritt said, however, he 'didn't find anything that provided clarity.'

When the Dallas attorney was asked if he believed officer Amber Guyger knew her black upstairs neighbor whom she gunned down, he replied: 'Not in the sense that most people think... [not] like a past relationship.'

Guyger claimed in her affidavit that Jean's door was already ajar when she entered and then she shot him dead after he ignored verbal commands.

But video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, with the aid of a neighbor living on the same floor, shows that the doors in the apartment building have uniformly heavy metal fire doors that automatically slam shut if let go.

Tragic scenes inside the Dallas apartment of Botham Jean, who was shot dead by a white police officer last Thursday, show leftover food and reading materials

A half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from is shown as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

On the floor, only one flip flop belonging Jean is seen near a piece furniture

On the couch, a large stack of pillows and blankets are shown in Jean's place

Police officer Amber Guyger fatally shot her black upstairs neighbor around 10pm last Thursday. She claimed she thought the apartment was her own when she entered

South Side Flats apartment complex where Botham Jean and Amber Guyger lived

A door could only be left ajar if it had been deliberately positioned that way with a door stopper.

Further, as a second DailyMail.com video shows, officer Guyger could not have used her key to force open the door of Jean, whose funeral was held today, despite claiming to have done so in her statement to Texas Rangers.

At the very least, she would have been warned that she was at the wrong door because the unique electronically coded keys used in the South Side Flats building flash red if inserted in the wrong door.

The neighbor, who lives two doors down from cop Amber Guyger, 30, but asked not to be named, said he did not believe the petite blonde would have been able to force her way in.

Pointing to his own heavy metal door, the same as both Jean's and Guyger's, he said: 'These are fire doors. You can't really leave it open.

'The key situation too  you can't get into any place, you can't. It's impossible. You can put it in but you can't open it.

'You can put it into somebody else's key hole but you can't open anything. This key isn't programmed for my door  if I put it in, nothing happens apart from this red light.'

Jean, 26, was shot dead by Officer Guyger in his apartment in south Dallas on Thursday night. Guyger said she entered the apartment thinking it was her own

The front door of apartment 1378, directly below Botham Jean's apartment and identified by neighbors as Amber Guyger's front door. The panel to the left of the door has the apartment number that is lit up in neon

Botham Jean was shot and killed by Dallas police officer Amber Guyger who accidentally went into Jean's apartment -No. 1478 - thinking it was her own, and claims she thought he was a burglar in her apartment - No. 1378. Door numbers are clearly visible and lit up in neon, placed to one side.

In her statement to police, a version of which is included in an arrest warrant for Guyger seen by DailyMail.com, the 30-year-old claimed she had arrived outside Jean's fourth floor apartment by accident.

She said she had parked on the fourth floor of the parking lot instead of the third and had gone to open the door of his apartment, assuming it was hers.

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com do show that the corridors on both floors appear similar but Jean's apartment had a red semi-circular door mat outside, while Guyger's did not.

Apartment door numbers are also clearly visible and lit up in neon, placed in a panel to one side of the door.

According to Guyger's statement, Jean's door had been left slightly ajar and opened when she forced her key into the lock.

Her statement is at odds with initial reports of the incident and with statements made by neighbors to the Jean family's attorney Merritt who said they heard her banging and shouting: 'Let me in, let me in.'

The funeral for Botham Jean was held today at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ. Officials believe Guyger was confronted by Jean, who pulled her gun on him and fired - but the explanation for her entering his apartment is fill of holes

The devastated family of Jean arrive for his funeral at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson, Texas

Floral tributes outside Botham Jean's front door at apartment 1478. The bright red door mat should have been a sign that Guyger was not at the right apartment

Another neighbor, a Costa Rican woman who also asked not to be named, said: 'People say they heard her knocking and that doesn't make sense.

'I guess he must have opened the door and she saw a black man inside what she thought was her apartment and so she went ahead and shot him.'

Once inside, Guyger claimed in her statement that she thought Jean was a burglar and shot at him twice  hitting him once, fatally, in the chest.

Video of the immediate aftermath shows her pacing the corridor and screaming, 'Oh my God' repeatedly.

Guyger turned herself in to Kaufmann County police on Sunday evening  three days after the fatal shooting  and has now been charged with manslaughter and released on a $300,000 bond.

She has so far declined to answer calls placed by DailyMail.com.

DailyMail.com can also reveal that Guyger had made noise complaints about Jean to the building management in the days before his death.

Her neighbor, a Hispanic man in his mid-20s, said she had been cross about him making noise early in the mornings.

He said: 'She filed a noise complaint earlier on in the day which said that he had been making noise before she leaves for her shift.'

The family lawyer Merritt confirmed his account in an interview with CNN, telling the channel: 'The only connection we have been able to make is that she was his immediate downstairs neighbor.

According to Texas Ranger David Armstrong's affidavit, Guyger inserted 'a unique door key, with an electronic chip, into the door key hole. The door, which was slightly ajar prior to Guyger's arrival, fully opened under the force of the key insertion.'

Guyger's booking record, which was removed in less than an hour when she made bail, is seen

'And there were noise complaints from the immediate downstairs neighbors about whoever was upstairs, and that would have been Botham.

'In fact, there were noise complaints that very day about upstairs activity in Botham's apartment. Botham received a phone call about noise coming from his apartment from the downstairs neighbor.'

According to Guyger's neighbor, the building's walls are soundproofed while the ceilings are not  a potential cause for conflict.

'We can hear when somebody opens the door. You can't really hear anything through the walls but you can definitely hear when somebody knocks or opens the door.

'Sometimes I can hear the people above me every once in a while, that's all I ever hear. The only thing I can think of is I can just hear people running but this guy [Jean], he didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd be running around up there.

'I don't know what the noise complaint would be  I can't hear the TV [from above], I don't hear anything like that.'

Guyger had been living in the South Side Flats apartment complex for just over a month prior to the incident.

The block, which contains 288 units over five storys, was built in 2015 and includes a mixture of studios and one and two bedroom apartments.

Prices at the block, in Dallas' rapidly gentrifying South Side area, start at $945 per month, rising to $2,435. The Dallas Police Headquarters on Lamar Street is directly next door.

It is unclear how long Jean, a graduate of Harding University in Arkansas, had lived in the block but both he and Guyger appeared to have good relationships with their neighbors.

One told DailyMail.com that Guyger had been 'real nice' while another said she appeared to live a very normal life.

The man said: 'She pretty much does the same thing I do  go to work, come home and sit on the balcony and have a cool beer and that's about it.'

Another resident on the same floor as Guyger said: 'I'd always say hi to her and she'd always say hi back but we didn't speak much.

'She was friendly enough but we were always rushing out when we met each other so I can't say for sure.'

Guyger is currently believed to be staying with her sister Alana in a different part of town, while she waits to find out if she will face further charges.

Jean is due to be laid to rest on Thursday afternoon, with the funeral due to be held at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson, Texas.
Its one thing when shops like Poundworld, Maplin or even Debenhams run into trouble, but quite another when the retail carnage sweeping the high street strikes at John Lewis.

John Betjeman famously said that if Armageddon ever came, he would head to Peter Jones, the posh Sloane Square branch of the chain in London, because nothing dreadful could ever happen there.

Well, it has now.

A 99 per cent fall in profits would be shocking for any retailer, but for John Lewis, it feels like a torpedo aimed at the heart of Middle Britain.

Its one thing when shops like Poundworld, Maplin or even Debenhams run into trouble, but quite another when the retail carnage sweeping the high street strikes at John Lewis

One financial analyst compared its downfall with the end of the Roman Empire, which may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there can now be no doubt at all of the scale of the crisis afflicting the high street.

So how have things gone so badly wrong?

Brexit may not have helped but it is not an excuse. A large part of John Lewiss agony is self-inflicted.

The chain has in recent years developed a culture of complacency, born of its unique place in shoppers hearts.

Justified pride in its superior service has tipped over into arrogance to the extent it risks losing its legions of once unswervingly loyal customers.

The chain has over-expanded and diluted its once-prestigious brand. At a time when record numbers of Britons are shopping online, it has carried on regardless with a programme of store openings, with no fewer than 62 new John Lewis and Waitrose branches in the past five years.

The chain has in recent years developed a culture of complacency, born of its unique place in shoppers hearts

Only this spring, it flung open the doors to a 33million emporium across 230,000 square feet at the Westfield shopping centre in west London and another outlet in Cheltenham will open this month.

Managing director Paula Nickolds big ideas have included sending staff to stage school, setting up in-store beauty spas and offering bikini waxes. Hardly the stuff that will have Amazon owner Jeff Bezos quaking in its boots.

Millions of pounds have been blown on a rebranding exercise which resulted in adding & Partners to the John Lewis and Waitrose logos.

If the idea was to draw attention to its caring-sharing employee-owned business model, it now seems more than a little hypocritical at a time when hundreds of partners face getting their marching orders.

For generations, shoppers have loved John Lewis for its service and the reassurance that, if things went wrong, they would promptly be put right. Yet many were left fuming by a disastrous overhaul of the home furnishings division last year which meant customers could no longer call a store directly but were put through to a central hub and left on hold for long periods.

The company is also sticking doggedly to its never knowingly undersold promise, even though it is becoming ridiculously expensive to honour because rivals are holding almost constant cut-price sales with bigger and bigger discounts.

It isnt all John Lewiss own fault: the high street is facing its worst crisis for a generation. The profitability of the retail sector has halved over the past five years  not surprising as nearly 1 in every 5 is spent online. More than 60,000 shops have closed since 2013, and more than 50,000 jobs in retail have gone this year alone.

John Lewiss business rates bill dwarfs that of Amazon and, because it pays its partners good wages and makes full National Insurance and pension contributions on their behalf, it is at a disadvantage to less scrupulous employers.

Its plight should be the decisive piece of evidence to Chancellor Philip Hammond in this autumns Budget to reform business rates and clamp down on tax-swerving online retailers.

John Lewis matters.

Not just because it is a middle-class favourite, but because its partnership model has until recently led to impeccable service and protected it from the ravages of the high street.
Youngsters from Britains poorest communities will go to Harvard and Yale under a scholarship scheme unveiled yesterday.

Sam Gyimah, the Universities Minister, said he wanted a fair crack of the whip for those from deprived schools, and to break the stranglehold of the ultra-wealthy on the USs top Ivy League colleges.

The bursaries will be funded with 400,000 of government cash each year.

They will be run by the Fulbright Commission, an elite scholarship programme, which will explicitly target deprived youngsters for the first time in its 70-year history.

Sam Gyimah (pictured), the Universities Minister, said he wanted a 'fair crack of the whip' for thos from deprived schools

Mr Gyimah said he wants to target those who never dreamed of attending US universities, which too often are playgrounds for Britains super-rich.

Ivy League universities are even more expensive than their British counterparts. Tuition can cost up to 40,000 a year, although there are financial aid packages available for international students.

Attending the Ivy League has become the new way for wealthy youngsters to gain the edge on their peers, with entrants from British private schools rising by almost 20 per cent in the last three years.

They include Rory Farquharson, formerly head boy at Rugby School in Britain, who is now dating Barack Obamas daughter Malia at Harvard.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson attended Brown University after leaving the 30,000-a-year Headington School in Oxford.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson attended Brown University after leaving the 30,000-a-year Headington School in Oxford

Demand is so great that London-based agencies are now charging up to 20,000 per pupil to guide families through the American application system.

The gruelling process sees candidates advised to set aside a minimum of 80 hours to fill in the forms.

Mr Gyimah said: For the super-rich, the world is their playground. They choose where to study, they choose where to live, they can live in more than one country at a time.

There are huge advantages that come from that exposure. Allowing disadvantaged, bright and able students to be able to have that sort of exposure can only be a good thing for our country.

Independent Schools Council figures showed that between 2014 and 2016, the number of private school pupils from the UK attending US universities jumped by 19 per cent, from 637 to 762.

The Fulbright Scholarship was set up in the aftermath of the Second World War to build bridges internationally. Since 1948 it has provided 23,000 scholarships, both to UK students studying in America, and US students coming here.
A drug-dealing grandma jailed for supplying Sydney's elite was a Qantas fight attendant who smuggled cocaine into Australia in her bra.

Suellen Cryer, 65, was sentenced at Sydney's Downing Centre on Thursday to two years and four months in jail for supplying cocaine to wealthy clients in Sydney as part of an elaborate syndicate which included her daughter, Hope, and son-in-law, David Martyn.

The trio delivered up to 30 bags of cocaine per night, collecting $50 per bag.

The drugs were hidden in silicone tubes and delivered across Sydney over six months in 2016 in a rental car which was swapped over weekly, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Suellen Cryer (pictured), 65, was sentenced at Sydney's Downing Centre on Thursday for supplying cocaine to wealthy clients in Sydney

She supplied the drugs part of an elaborate syndicate which included her daughter, Hope (pictured, left), and son-in-law, David Martyn (pictured, right)

A night's work for the family included stop-offs at a Darlinghurst unit to restock on supply before continuing to deliver drugs across the city.

Two of the family members would go to work while the third would babysit Hope and Davids young twins.

But the drug-dealing grandma was first convicted in 2007 for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Australia while working as a Qantas flight attendant.

Cryer stuffed two bags of the white substance into her bra, thinking her ample bosom would be the perfect cover for the crime, the Daily Telegraph reported.

She claimed she had no intention to sell the drugs but had smuggled them to feed her drug addiction.

The drug-dealing grandma was first convicted in 2007 for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Australia while working as a Qantas flight attendant

Cryer stuffed two bags of the white substance into her bra, thinking her ample bosom would be the perfect cover for the crime

'Because of the shape of the bags . . . because I happen to be a little bit big-breasted, he said they would fit under my breasts,' she told the jury in 2007.

Cryer told the court her dream job as a flight attendant led to a life of drug addiction after she drank with a Qantas colleague in a LA bar.

She often opted for Sydney to LA flight paths so she could purchase cocaine from her drug dealer.

Mr Martyn (pictured left) was sentenced a two-year intensive corrections order while his wife Hope (pictured middle) is yet to be sentenced because she fell ill in court. Ms Cryer (pictured right) was jailed for two years

Cryer served a three year sentence for drug smuggling and was sacked from her $80,000-a-year Qantas gig.

On Thursday, Cyrer's son-in-law, Mr Martyn was sentenced a two-year intensive corrections order.

Cryer's daughter, who fell ill in court and was transported to hospital, will be sentenced when she's recovered.

Cryer will be eligible for parole in June next year.
Knife crime has surged to a seven-year high amid police fears of an epidemic of violence on the streets.

And use of blades among children has rocketed to its highest level this decade.

Courts dealt with more than 21,101 knife cases last year  the highest number since 2010  according to official figures.

It is equivalent to one attack every 25 minutes and a 5 per cent increase on 2016.

Justice minister Rory Stewart (pictured) said: Knife crime is horrifying, it causes catastrophic damage to families with tragic consequences'

Meanwhile, the number of those aged between ten and 17 cautioned or sentenced after being caught with blades hit 4,479 in the year to June  more than at any time since 2009.

Knives and other sharp weapons have killed at least 64 people in London alone this year.

Justice minister Rory Stewart said: Knife crime is horrifying, it causes catastrophic damage to families with tragic consequences. We need sentences that punish anyone who commits knife crime and deters anyone from doing it in the future.

Police have been shocked by the increasingly frenzied nature of attacks, with many victims stabbed repeatedly, sometimes by mobs of attackers linked to gangs.

The extent of the attacks has prompted calls for greater use of police stop and search tactics, a crackdown on social media websites that promote gang violence and a halt to cuts to neighbourhood police officers.

Figures also reveal that 37 per cent of offenders with at least one previous conviction for knife possession were not sent to prison. That was despite the Government introducing a two strikes and youre out minimum six-month sentence in 2015.

The latest statistics, published by the Ministry of Justice, revealed that 1,724 of 4,669 repeat knife offenders were spared immediate custody, meaning they were freed to pose a risk to the public.

Some 36 per cent of offenders were jailed immediately, while 11 per cent received a caution  the lowest ever proportion. The average sentence for knife possession was nearly eight months  a month longer than the previous year.

Campaigners say websites such as YouTube, owned by Google, should do more to pull down videos promoting violence and knife crime. Ministers have unveiled plans for a package of measures following a surge in violent offences recorded by police.

The proposals include a drive to tighten the regime covering online sales of knives following concerns that age-verification checks can be sidestepped.

Where a knife is sold on the internet, it will be an offence to deliver it to a private residential address. The buyer would have to collect the knife in person at a location where their age can be checked.

Police say the availability of smartphones has also created an almost unlimited opportunity for gangs to antagonise each other.

Their taunts can be viewed by a much larger audience for a much longer time, sparking cycles of tit-for-tat attacks.

Last month the Government announced it would spend nearly 24million to steer young people away from crime as part of its Serious Violence Strategy.

Justice Minister Mr Stewart added: These figures show we are catching and prosecuting more of those carrying a blade, and we are sending them to prison for longer.
The family of a former elite university college student who committed suicide have slammed the residence after an explosive report revealed a 'toxic' culture of 'demeaning' behaviour.

Stuart Kelly, 18, committed suicide after spending just one night at St Paul's College in 2016, having been subjected to severe hazing rituals.

His father Ralph said the University of Sydney residential college had 'no shame' in light of the report's shocking findings, which alleged students held sex parties in a 'Bone Room' lined with mattresses, chanted racist slurs around a pit of fire and called female classmates 'sluts' and 'whales'.

The family of a former elite university college student who committed suicide have slammed the residence after an explosive report revealed a 'toxic' culture of 'demeaning' behaviour

The report, conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, detailed shocking behaviour by students at St Paul's College at University of Sydney

Stuart Kelly, 18, committed suicide after spending just one night at St Paul's College in 2016, having been subjected to severe hazing rituals

At Stuart's funeral, his parents Ralph and Kathy were told their son was held down by other boys and had alcohol forced down his throat

'The self-importance of these people is indescribable, yet in 2018 they believe they can get away with it?' Ralph Kelly posted on Facebook.

'The only way the culture will change within St Paul's is if the entire council resigns and the governance comes under the responsibility of the university.'

At Stuart's funeral, the Kelly family were told their son was held down by other boys and had alcohol forced down his throat.

Their son's death came after his elder brother Thomas was killed in a one-punch attack while walking with his girlfriend in Kings Cross in 2012.

Mother Kathy said Stuart was 'broken' after spending just one night at St Paul's College.

The report, conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, detailed shocking behaviour by students at the elite residential college.

Students told independent investigators that St Paul's College students 'demonstrated sexist and demeaning behaviours towards women'.

One University of Sydney student said there was a 'crisis in hyper-masculinity' among St Paul's College residents.

'I know of fellow young women who have experienced all forms of sexual abuse by Paul's boys, but they do not wish to be named and did not wish to come forward with their experience,' she said.

'The self-importance of these people is indescribable, yet in 2018 they believe they can get away with it?' Ralph Kelly posted on Facebook

Students told independent investigators that St Paul's College students 'demonstrated sexist and demeaning behaviours towards women'

Another university student said sexism and sexual harassment were 'minimised by an attitude of, ''Oh you're not letting us have our fun'''

'Alcohol is indeed to blame (often by both the boys and girls), but also a sense of entitlement is to blame from the boys.

'This mentality of ''I'm a Paul's boy - I'm untouchable'' is simply offensive and overtly arrogant.'

Another student said boys living at the college would routinely objectify women in what was 'definitely a boys' club and it is toxic'.

'Everything from female objectification (''slut'') to making fun of their physical physique (''whale''),' a student told investigators.

Another university student said sexism and sexual harassment were 'minimised by an attitude of, ''Oh you're not letting us have our fun'''.

St Paul's College residents told investigators they treated sex as a 'game'.

'The messages from (some senior men) at Paul's is it's a place where you can get away with things,' a St Paul's College resident said.

St Paul's College residents told investigators they treated sex as a 'game'

Another St Paul's resident said a fellow student told him he had filmed a female classmate performing a sex act

St Paul's head of college Dr Don Markwell said he planned to implement the report's recommendations

Another St Paul's resident said a fellow student told him he had filmed a female classmate performing a sex act.

'A guy said... he had filmed a woman when she went down on him and she didn't know. I said ''that is f***ed up'' and another guy said ''chill out, man, we all do it'',' the St Paul's resident said.

St Paul's head of college Dr Don Markwell said he planned to implement the report's recommendations.

'The Broderick Report shows that, while there is much for the College to be very proud of, including considerable progress in many areas, there are also aspects to be ashamed of,' he said.

'For these matters, we are deeply sorry.

'We apologise unreservedly for any harm done to anyone by unacceptable behaviour by any members of the college, past or present, and where we have failed to take the strongest stance we could against such behaviour.'

Another student said boys living at the college would routinely objectify women in what was 'definitely a boys' club and it is toxic'
Police have laid more than 200 charges on a 45-year-old man in Townsville for making 'dozens of hours' of child pornography with his three young daughters.

Police allegedly found reams of 'homemade porn' featuring the man's daughter and his two step daughters  aged between five and 14  when they raided a property in Innisfail in May this year.

The offences are said to have taken place over a nine year period between 2007 and 2016 in the Forrest Beach area, according to the Townsville Bulletin.

Police have laid more than 200 charges on a 45-year-old man in Townsville for making 'dozens of hours' of child pornography with his three young daughters

Police will allege that the three girls  who now live safely in Townsville  were subject to the 'foulest forms of abuse'.

The man was initially charged with 24 offences including two counts of rape and was granted bail.

However, after sifting through footage over several months, another 94 charges were laid in May 30.

The new charges included 14 counts of rape, 41 counts of involving a child in making child exploitation material and two counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The offences are said to have taken place over a nine year period between 2007 and 2016 in the Forrest Beach area

This week, he was charged with a further 101 offences - including seven further accounts of rape and 33 counts of involving a child in the making of child exploitation material.

Police have said there is no evidence that the footage was distributed to any third party.

'Predominantly the footage we have is with him in it,' Detective acting Senior Sergeant Daniel Stehr from the Townsville Child Protection and Investigation Unit said.

The man is expected to face court in October.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for further information.
The NT - famous for its monster crocodiles - could soon be known for cicadas and camels if a new tourism pitch gets the nod.

Travel company Wotif is taking applications for Australia's next 'Big Thing' to join the ranks of the Big Banana and Big Lobster.

The nationwide search will gift an Australian town with a tourist attraction that is sure to stop those passing by, in celebration of the companies 18th birthday

Tourism Northern Territory has unveiled its' six pitches for the competition - but the infamous crocodile won't get its moment in the spotlight.

Travel company Wotif are taking applications for Australia's next 'Big Thing' to join the ranks of the Big Banana and Big Lobster

Tourism Northern Territory has unveiled their six pitches for the competition in image mock ups

The proposal includes a giant Jabiru statue for Kakadu, 'The Big Camel' for Alice Springs, 'The Big Cicada' for Katherine, the 'Big Barra' for Darwin and 'The Big Didge' for Arnhem Land and 'The Big Gold Nugget' for Tennant Creek.

Tourism NT deputy chief executive Andrew Hopper said one of the Northern Territories regional towns was deserving of Wotif's Next Big Thing, NT News reported.

'We're fortunate to have one of the world's largest monoliths  which is more than just a big red rock, it's a place of cultural importance to Aboriginal people and a significant tourist attraction in Australia's spiritual heart,' he said.

'We also have an impressive collection of big attractions scattered the length and breadth of the Territory.

Mr Hopper said it would make perfect sense to add a 'Big Thing' to the territories growing collection.

The proposal includes a giant Jabiru statue for Kakadu, 'The Big Camel' for Alice Springs, 'The Big Cicada' for Katherine, the 'Big Barra' for Darwin and 'The Big Didge' for Arnhem Land and 'The Big Gold Nugget' for Tennant Creek

Tourism NT deputy chief executive Andrew Hopper said one of the Northern Territories regional towns was deserving of Wotif's Next Big Thing

'And we've got some big ideas  everything from Big Camels to Big Gold Nuggets  that we'll be throwing into the mix to make sure the Territory is front and centre come voting time,' he said.

NT Tourism has mocked up its' proposals as Mr Hopper said the campaign was the chance for a bit of fun.

Wotif launched the campaign at the beginning of September and is calling for Australians to nominate the nation's next big tourist attraction.

The travel company has shared some of the ideas they've received so far on social media.

Wotif launched the campaign at the beginning of September and is calling for Australians to nominate the nation's next big tourist attraction

The travel company has shared some of the ideas they've received so far on social media including include a goon sack (pictured), the eggplant emoji and a toilet

All entries will be judged by a panel within Wotif, with a shortlist of finalists announced on September 25

Some of the creative ideas include a goon sack, the eggplant emoji and a toilet.

Wotif believes a new Big Thing is a great way to boost tourism and give back to the people and places that helped build their success.

All entries will be judged by a panel within Wotif, with a shortlist of finalists announced on September 25.

The public will then have two weeks to vote on their favourite, and by midday on October 9, Australia's Next Big Thing will be decided.

Wotif is hoping for the project to be completed and unveiled by the end of 2018.
Scott Morrison has explained why he isn't keen on moving into Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour now that he is Prime Minister.

As the leader of Australia, the PM is entitled to live in the Gothic-style mansion built in 1858 which offers sweeping, world-renowned views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

It is Australia's best address and has the nation's best vantage point for the New Year's Eve fireworks, from the banks of the lower North Shore.

Despite those perks, Mr Morrison explained why he would stay at his three-bedroom house more than 25km away at Port Hacking, on Sydney's southern outskirts.

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Scott Morrison (pictured with his wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily) has explained why he isn't keen on moving into Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour now that he is Prime Minister

The PM is entitled to live in the fancy mansion built in 1854 which offers sweeping, world-renowned views of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge

When asked about a possible move to Kirribilli House (pictured), the Prime Minister hinted he would prefer to stay in the Sutherland Shire

The 50-year-old married father of two daughters, Lily and Abbey, said he would prefer to stay in the Sutherland Shire when asked about a possible move.

'We're looking at that at the moment,' he told Sydney radio WS-FM breakfast show personalities Amanda Keller and Brendan Jones today.

'It's not something we really thought much about and our girls go to school locally and they'll continue to do that and that's really important.

'Jen is keeping family life very much the same.'

Mr Morrison explained why he would prefer to stay at his three-bedroom house more than 25km away at Port Hacking, on Sydney's southern outskirts

Property records show the Prime Minister and his wife Jenny bought their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at Port Hacking for $920,000 in 2009

Property records show the Prime Minister and his wife Jenny bought their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at Port Hacking for $920,000 in July 2009, in the year their eldest daughter turned two.

Median house prices in the waterfront suburb have since doubled to $1.8 million.

Mr Morrison bought the 696 square metre home built in 1960, with a pool, nine years ago, several months after he was promoted to the Opposition frontbench by Mr Turnbull, who gave him the housing portfolio.

His house features polished floors and an unusual pine ceiling over the main living area.

It is several blocks away from Dolans Bay, west of Cronulla Beach, and across the water from Royal National Park, a popular camping and hiking area.

Mr Morrison bought the 696 square metre home, with a pool, nine years ago, several months after he was promoted to the Opposition frontbench by Mr Turnbull

Mr Morrison's Liberal predecessor Malcolm Turnbull declined to live in Kirribilli House as he already owned a lavish Sydney Harbour mansion at Point Piper

Mr Morrison's Liberal predecessor as PM Malcolm Turnbull declined to live in Kirribilli House as he already owned a lavish Sydney Harbour mansion at Point Piper, Australia's most expensive suburb.

In a dramatic contrast with the Morrisons, Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy paid more than $5.4 million for their eastern suburbs home in 1994, which they bought from socialite Klara Saunders.

Five years later, they snapped up the neighbouring property for $7.1 million.

For a former prime minister, worth an estimated $200 million by the Business Review Weekly magazine, Kirribilli House was perhaps a step down for him, despite the grand home being the Sydney residence of Australian prime ministers since 1957.

One of Mr Morrison's Labor predecessors as prime minister, Julia Gillard, in 2010 delayed moving into Kirribilli House, after overthrowing Kevin Rudd in a party room coup in June that year.

She continued living at her Altona house, in Melbourne's industrial western suburbs, until after the election in August that year.

With the Coalition trailing Labor 44 to 56 after preferences in a Newspoll taken earlier this month, Mr Morrison is in danger of becoming the first prime minister in 46 years to have never won an election.

The late former Liberal leader Billy McMahon lost the 1972 election, ending 23 years of conservative rule, but he at least had a chance to live at Kirribilli House.
President Donald Trump has accused former Secretary of State John Kerry of holding illegal meetings with Iran.

The president tweeted late Thursday: John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people.

He told them to wait out the Trump Administration!

Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?

BAD!

Trump was most likely reacting to a segment on Fox News which interviewed Kerry about his activities since leaving office.

President Donald Trump has accused former Secretary of State John Kerry of holding illegal meetings with Iran

Kerry also granted an interview to radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday.

The former Massachusetts senator told Hewitt that he met with Iranian Foreign Minsiter Javad Zarif three or four times since the Trump administration took office in January 2017.

Kerry acknowledged the meetings, saying that they dealt with the Iranian nuclear deal - which Trump withdrew from earlier this year - and other regional issues.

Under President Barack Obama, Kerry was the lead U.S. negotiator opposite the Iranians in the nuclear talks.

What I have done is tried to elicit from him what Iran might be willing to do in order to change the dynamic in the Middle East for the better, Kerry said.

Later on Wednesday, Kerry appeared on Fox News with host Dana Perino.

Under President Barack Obama, Kerry was the lead U.S. negotiator opposite the Iranians in the nuclear talks. He is seen right with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the United Nations headquarters in New York in April 2016

When asked if he told the Iranians to wait out Trump until a new president is in place, Kerry did not deny it.

I think everybody in the world is talking about waiting out President Trump, said Kerry.

Trump and his supporters accuse Kerry of engaging in shadow diplomacy.

There is also a law on the book, the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from conducting foreign diplomacy on behalf of the American government.

But Kerry denied there was anything improper in his talks.

Every secretary of state, former secretary of state continues to meet with foreign leaders, goes to security conferences, goes around the world, Kerry said.

We all do that. And we all have conversations (about) the state of affairs with the world in order to understand them.

Initial reports that Kerry met with Zarif surfaced in May, when The Boston Globe reported that the two men met at the United Nations in Manhattan in an attempt to salvage the nuclear deal.

Kerry also met with European leaders, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Kerry's flurry of clandestine diplomacy highlighted his desperation to save the Iran nuclear deal, which he sees as a signature achievement.

The deal, between Iran and the five permanent members of the US security council, plus Germany and the EU, saw Iran agree to halt its nuclear weapons program for a decade in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Kerry's involvement in trying to preserve the deal after leaving office came as a surprise to foreign policy experts.

'It is unusual for a former secretary of state to engage in foreign policy like this, as an actual diplomat and quasi-negotiator,' Michael O'Hanlon, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, told the Globe.

'Of course, former secretaries of state often remain quite engaged with foreign leaders, as they should, but it's rarely so issue-specific, especially when they have just left office.'
Typhoon Mangkhut is expected to follow tropical storm Barijat, which weakened to a low pressure, from the Pacific Ocean, passing over Luzon Island in the Philippines to reach Taiwan between September 14 and 15 before entering the East Sea, again bringing monsoon conditions to Thailand during between September 17 and 19.



Provinces in the upper northeast have been warned of downpours and possible flash floods. Farmers have been told to protect their crops, while riverside communities are at risk of overflows.



Thai citizens are urged to follow weather reports and warnings from the Meteorological Department.-VNA
A school community is in mourning after the puzzling death of student who collapsed and fell from his chair during class.

Lucas Millott, 15, suffered a 'serious medical incident' in front of school friends on Thursday afternoon and died at school.

A teacher immediately provided CPR to the Year 10 student after he fell unconscious but could not be revived.

Following the tragedy, Ormeau Woods State High School, on Queensland's Gold Coast, have paid tribute to the teenager, whose death left the community 'deeply shocked and saddened'.

A school community is in mourning after the puzzling death of 15-year-old student Lucas Millott who collapsed and fell from his chair during class

'Lucas was an enthusiastic, loving, friendly young man who will be greatly missed by the Ormeau Woods State High School community,' said the school's acting principal Dan Finn.

'As a community, we will rally together and can best honour Lucas' memory by respecting the privacy of his family in this their time of grief.'

Tributes have continued to pour in for the popular teenager, whose parents took part in a flower laying ceremony at his school on Friday.

'Lucas's mum will be coming to school this morning, but please no one bombard her with questions and looks,' one friend wrote online.

'It's a tough time for everyone, I'm sure she would love all the kind words you guys would like to say to her and that's fine.

'Try keep her as comfortable as she can be at this point of time, make sure you give her space if she needs.'

Lucas Millott, 15, (left) suffered a 'serious medical incident' in front of school friends on Thursday afternoon. A teacher immediately provided CPR to the Year 10 student after he fell unconscious but could not be revived

As part of the floral memorial, friends and classmates shared memories and messages to Lucas, who is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

'Please come back!' wrote one student.

'I need you more than you even know.'

'Too young. Too soon.'

'I have known Lucas since prep he was a great kid and will be sadly missed,' said another.

Despite the widespread mourning after the teen's passing, the reason for his shock death remains largely unknown.

On Thursday, the school said guidance and counselling services are being made available for anyone who may require support.
A horse owner who registered his filly with a highly offensive name translation has been suspended for 18 months by racing stewards.

The three-year-old filly, which made her track debut on September 4, was registered as Andiamo Fica, which translates to Lets Go C---.

Irate stewards didn't see the funny side of the situation.

Action from a recent meet from the Doomben track in Brisbane (STOCK IMAGE)

Managing owner Stuart Ruse was hauled in to explain himself before pleading not guilty to a 'conduct prejudicial to the interests and/or image of racing' charge and another of 'providing false evidence' to Racing NSW stewards.

They alleged Ruse was well aware of the Italian to English translation when attempting to register the name.

Ruse was found guilty and handed a 12-month disqualification for both charges on Thursday, with six months of the second charge to be served concurrently.

In handing down his disqualifications, chief steward Mark Van Gestel (pictured inset) said the penalties 'had to be seen as a deterrent to those who are like minded to engage in such conduct' and to 'indicate to the broader community that thoroughbred racing is operating at the highest possible standards.'

Ruse's suspension ends on March 13, 2020 and he has been advised of his rights to appeal.

The filly has since been renamed Andiamo Miss.

All racehorse names must be approved by Racing Australia, with the registrar authorised to cancel a name at its discretion.

Jockey Blake Shinn on board Sir Charles Road, who was previously named Charles Road

Mr Ruse isn't the only owner to have a faux pas when it comes to naming his galloper.

This month alone, four other registered horses in Australia have undergone name changes.

Four-year-old New Zealand mare Sea Goddess now runs under Our Sea Goddess, while five-year-old gelding Charles Road is racing as Sir Charles Road.

Shmoo Monkey has been re-branded as Reenpeski, with three-year-old British colt Blast Off jumping out of the barriers as Succendam.
A lawn mower with a full load in his trailer has made a disastrous U-turn which left his equipment strewn across the road.

Dashcam footage showed the vehicle's abrupt U-turn predictably caused the mess on Cranbourne Road in Frankston, Victoria.

The trailer came to a full stop after the spill.

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A lawn mower with a full load in his trailer made a disastrous U-turn that overturned and spilled his equipment across the road (pictured)

Luckily, no other vehicles were nearby when the accident occurred.

The video, which was jokingly called 'Jim's Flipping' by Dash Cam Owners Australia, received plenty of attention on social media with 29,000 views and more than 200 comments.

'Serves him bloody right. I go to work on this road and people just pull out in front of you to chuck a youie every couple of intersections!' a user commented.

'Luckily he didn't mow down any pedestrians,' a Facebook user said.

Some also pointed out the car which captured the dashcam footage simply drove away and didn't stop to help.

'Had somewhere to go did you...didn't even render assistance shame,' a person wrote.

'Could of pulled ova and offered help.these are a few thing little thing that people could do to restore faith in humanity...'

The video, which was jokingly called 'Jim's Flipping' by Dash Cam Owners Australia, got plenty of attention on social media with 29,000 views and over 200 comments

Others poked fun at the incident.

'JIM'S MOWING on all roads close to you,' someone joked.

'Don't mind me, just clearing the mower blades,' a comment read.

'I sure hope he has Jim's Insurance'.
Trump is standing by his claims that the Puerto Rico death roll was exaggerated by Democrats, retweeting a clip of Fox's Lou Dobbs defending his views.

Speaking on Fox News, Dobbs targeted the study that reported the 3,000 death toll which was published by George Washington University last month.

'The president, by the way, is right...The numbers were inflated and the president was right to call out the organizations who threw out science, statistics, and evidence to discredit the Trump administration,' he said on Thursday.

Dobbs revealed that the study, conducted by the Milken Institute estimated 'excess deaths' that occurred from Hurricane Maria, not an accurate death toll.

Trump is standing by claim that Puerto Rico's 3,000 death toll number is inflated and retweeted a segment by Fox News' Lou Dobbs backing his statement on Thursday

In his segment, Dobbs said: 'The numbers were inflated and the president was right to call out the organizations who threw out science, statistics, and evidence to discredit the Trump administration'

Dobbs analyzed the report noting how it did not cite a death toll count, a body count, nor a study of death certificates

Early Thursday Trump vented on Twitter that the 3,000 was inflated and exaggerated

He claimed the exaggeration was engineered by Democrats to portray the president in a bad light following Hurricane Maria and Irma

'The finding wasn't a result of a death toll count, a body count, nor a study of death certificates, but a public health study that subtracted the number of people who theoretically should have died over the same period from the number of people who were reported dead over that period,' Dobbs said.

He added that following the Milken Institute's report, Puerto Rico's governor amended the number of dead from a prior count of 64 to 3,000.

Lynn Goldman, the dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, shared the study's results to CNN last month but said more work was needed for an accurate estimate.

While the number may not be as high as 3,000, the Puerto Rican government admitted the official toll was higher than the December 2017 tally of 64.

In a Congress report documents said 1,427 more deaths than normal occurred over the past four months after Hurricane Maria and Irma, compared to death tolls over the previous four years.

On Thursday morning the president exploded on Twitter saying the reported 3,000 Puerto Rico hurricane aftermath death toll was inflated and exaggerated.

President Donald Trump now says the accepted death toll from hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico in 2017 is inflated  and claims Democrats are leveraging the number 'to make me look bad'

Puerto Ricans were left to dig themselves out of debris in the wake of Hurricane Maria last year in dangerous conditions after losing power, running water and cell phone service

'3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico,' Trump tweeted.

'When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000.

'This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!' he said.

The Milken study compared mortality in the six months following the storm with the number of deaths that would have been expected if it had not hit the island.

'The difference between those two numbers is the estimate of excess mortality due to the hurricane,' the scientists wrote.

The risk of dying during the storm or in its aftermath was 60 percent higher for Puerto Ricans living in the poorest areas, they found.

House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters late Thursday morning that he has 'no reason to dispute these numbers.'

But Ryan also denied that a death toll in the thousands reflects poorly on Trump, saying, 'casualties don't make a person look bad.'

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, a Democrat who tangled with the president over and over while Hurricane Maria made international news, fired back at him on Thursday.

Dobbs said George Washington University study did not cite a death toll count, a body count, nor a study of death certificates, the damage of Catani, Puerto Rico pictured above

A shelter is pictured prior to the arrival of Hurricane Maria. An approximate death toll following the hurricane is yet to be made, as the George Washington study was actually an estimate of 'excess deaths'

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz tweeted that Trump is 'delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality' on Thursday

'This is what denial following neglect looks like: Mr Pres in the real world people died on your watch. YOUR LACK OF RESPECT IS APPALLING!' she tweeted.

'Mr Trump you can try and bully us with your tweets BUT WE KNOW OUR LIVES MATTER. You will never take away our self respect. Shame on you!'

Yulin Cruz later called Trump 'delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality.'

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Thursday that his government commissioned the George Washington University study. 'We are confident in that estimate,' he told CBS News.

'There are still over 45,000 folks without roofs, still a weak energy grid,' he said of the U.S. terriroty in the Caribbean Sea.

'If we get another devastation, it is likely to collapse.'

Mayor Yulin Cruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico lashed out at Trump on Thursday, calling him delusional and detached from reality

FEMA administrator Brock Long said Wednesday on MSNBC that 'indirect deaths' are often more numerous than deaths caused immediately by a natural disaster.

'You have people who died after the storm passed because they fell off their roof making repairs, they died in car crashes because the stoplights were off, you have chainsaw accidents, you have accidents with people cleaning up debris,' he said.

A team of researchers at Harvard University announced in May that they believed Hurricane Maria's death toll was 4,600. At the time, the government's death toll stood at 64.

Trump said Wednesday that his administration is prepared for Hurricane Florence, a storm barrelling toward the Carolina coastline, and insisted that his administration's widely panned response to the devastation in Puerto Rico last year was an 'unappreciated great job.'

'We got A Pluses for our recent hurricane work in Texas and Florida (and did an unappreciated great job in Puerto Rico, even though an inaccessible island with very poor electricity and a totally incompetent Mayor of San Juan),' Trump tweeted.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president praised his administration's response to the series of storms in 2017. 'I think Puerto Rico was an incredible, unsung success,' he claimed.
Experts have raised fears that massive flooding from Hurricane Florence could spread deadly snakes from their wetland habitats across the Carolinas.

As Florence smacked the North Carolina coast early on Friday, forecasts called for storm surges of up to 11 feet in areas and localized rain exceeding 40 inches over the next few days.

The floodwaters could quickly allow deadly snakes to spread from their typical habitats through city streets and homes.

Of top concern was the cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin, a strong swimmer that lives in marshes and shallow waterways.

A snake is seen swimming in floodwaters in South Carolina in 2009. Experts fear that extensive flooding from Hurricane Florence could allow deadly vipers to spread

Michael Nelson floats in a boat made from a metal tub and fishing floats after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded New Bern, North Carolina on Thursday night

Copperheads, already found throughout the state, were also a concern however. Both are venomous vipers.

'They inject venom, which causes tissue destruction, platelet loss, causes bleeding, it can cause death,' Gerald O'Malley with Grand Strand Hospital told the Sun News in South Carolina.

Anyone bitten by a viper should seek immediate medical attention at a hospital - though that could be difficult for many until floodwaters recede.

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Thad Bowman with Alligator Adventure Zoo said he was working to secure all of the animals to keep them safe from the storm - and to prevent any from escaping.

The reptile zoo has alligators, pythons, anacondas and a Black Mamba.

In a flash bulletin at 11pm on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said that Florence was 50 miles south of Morehead City, North Carolina, and 60 miles southeast of Wilmington.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 90mph and was moving northwest at six miles per hour.
Lawyers for the family of a slain black man gunned down by an off-duty white cop at his own apartment last Thursday expressed disgust toward Dallas police who they believe are trying to 'smear' and 'criminalize' the victim.

Botham Jean, 26, was shot dead by officer Amber Guyger in his Dallas apartment around 10pm that night. Guyger claimed she entered the apartment upstairs from hers under the impression it was her own.

A search warrant was conducted at Jean's South Side Flats apartment the night after the deadly incident.

Police seized 10.4 grams of marijuana and a marijuana grinder during the search, an affidavit showed.

Ben Crump and Lee Merritt, family attorneys to slain black man Botham Jean, said police are trying to 'smear' the victim

A search warrant was conducted at Jean's South Side Flats apartment the day after the deadly incident

Jean, 26, was shot dead by Officer Guyger in his apartment in south Dallas on Thursday night. Guyger claimed she entered the apartment thinking it was her own

Also seized, were two bullet casings, a police backpack, vest, laptop computer, two electronic keys, two packages of medical aid and a lunch box.

'They immediately began looking to smear him,' Merritt said in a statement seen on the Associated Press.

Family attorney Ben Crump also told Fox 4: 'This is nothing but a disgusting attempt to assassinate the character of a wonderful young man.

'It's the same old playbook... they assassinate the character after they assassinate the person. He didn't kill anybody. He was killed.'

Family attorney Lee Merritt added: 'I think its unfortunate that law enforcement begin to immediately criminalize the victim - in this case, someone who was clearly was the victim that has absolutely no bearing on the fact that he was shot in his home.

'I would love to see more information coming out about the warrants executed on the home of the shooter who lived just below him. I havent seen any of those.

'And particularly for it to be on this day the day that we remember and celebrate him... to see the common assassination attempt on the victim that we often see in law enforcement involved shootings.'

Writer and civil rights activist Shaun King confirmed in a Thursday statement that police did not conduct a search warrant on the white officer's home.

King said in a Twitter statement: 'Since authorities searched the apartment of murder victim & released the results I just asked them for the results of the warrant of Amber Guyger's home - since she was the perpetrator.

'Guess what they said? IT DOES NOT EXIST. They NEVER searched her home!'

Writer and civil rights activist Shaun King confirmed in a Thursday statement that police did not conduct a search warrant on the white officer's home

Twitter users shared their reactions in the thread

Guyger has been charged with manslaughter. She was jailed Sunday but released that night after posting $300,000 bond.

The official autopsy for Jean, whose funeral was held Thursday, will determine the details into his killing.

Guyger claimed in her affidavit that Jean's door was ajar when she entered and then shot him dead after he ignored verbal commands.

Video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, with help of a neighbor living on the same floor, shows that the doors in Jean and Guyger's apartment building are heavy metal fire doors that automatically slam shut if not held.

The video shows Guyger could not have used her key to force open Jean's door, which she previously claimed she had done in her statement to Texas Rangers.

Heartbreaking first photos from inside the victim's apartment show leftover food and materials he had been reading when he was shot to death.

South Side Flats apartment complex where Botham Jean and Amber Guyger lived

The front door of apartment 1378, directly below Botham Jean's apartment and identified by neighbors as Amber Guyger's front door. The panel to the left of the door has the apartment number that is lit up in neon

Flowers are shown outside the door of Jean's apartment, where he was shot dead last Thursday

A half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from is shown as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane in these first photos from inside the apartment

On the couch, a large stack of pillows and blankets are shown in Jean's place

On the floor, only one flip flop belonging Jean is seen near a piece furniture

Inside Edition obtained footage from the South Side Flats apartment which shows a half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane he had been catching up on.

On a piece of furniture near the couch, a phone case, TV remote and two white sheets of paper are seen. On the couch, a large stack of pillows and blankets.

Over on the floor, one flip flop belonging Jean is lodged slightly underneath the living room cushion.

Merritt, told Inside Edition he visited the complex hoping to find answers to better understand a motive behind the slaying.

Merritt said, however, he 'didn't find anything that provided clarity.'

When the Dallas attorney was asked if he believed officer Amber Guyger knew her black upstairs neighbor whom she gunned down, he replied: 'Not in the sense that most people think... [not] like a past relationship.'

The funeral for Jean was held Thursday at the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ
A Finks bikie boss arrested by police this week is alleged to have entered a house armed with a tyre iron and assaulted a man he knew.

Face-tattooed Brent James 'BJ' Reker made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he was charged with multiple offences.

The 33-year-old is also alleged to have threatened to kill the victim's children and another individual.

During his brief court appearance, Reker did not seek bail, The Herald Sun reported.

Finks bikie boss Brent James 'BJ' Reker (pictured) made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday after he was charged with multiple offences

The court heard Reker was a risk of self-harm, was suffering from nose bleeds and he may require chest surgery after he sustained a chest injury.

He was taking medication to treat asthma, bipolar, depression and anxiety, the court heard.

Reker has been remanded in custody and will next appear in court in January.

The Herald Sun reported police have obtained 15,000 conversations from telephone intercepts and listening devices, which they are currently working through as they prepare their case against Reker.

Reker was arrested at his property in Karingal Drive Frankston, on Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives from the Echo Taskforce allegedly found a gun, ammunition, a samurai sword, a Range Rover, Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang clothing, and what are believed to be stolen military medals.

Reker (pictured), 33, was arrested at his property in Karingal Drive Frankston, on Wednesday afternoon

They also allegedly seized a range of drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine and steroids.

The offences Reker has been charged with include aggravated home invasion, intention to cause injury, unlawful assault and threats to kill.

His arrest follows a September 9 aggravated burglary in Hampton Park, south-east of Melbourne's CBD.

Reker's home was targeted in a drive-by shooting at the end of May while his wife and eleven-day-old baby slept inside.

Underworld figures feared an all-out bikie war was going to erupt following the incident.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia in March, Reker said the Finks bikie gang was just like everyone else.

Reker (pictured) has been charged with numerous offences including aggravated home invasion, intention to cause injury, unlawful assault and threats to kill

'Bikie clubs are the last stand for human rights  in Australia no one is allowed to do anything anymore. We - just like everyone else - just want to hang out with our mates and go for a drink on Friday night without being told we can't,' Reker said.

'Victoria is the last state where there are still basic human rights  police can't just bash down a door and come into our homes  they can't tell us we can't talk to our mates.'

This is compared to tough anti-bikie laws in New South Wales and Queensland that prohibit bikies riding together and communicating with each other.

'You are not going to be able to stop bike clubs  and if you force them into hiding they will automatically be doing something wrong when they meet  so where does it stop.'

Reker acknowledged 'the way he looks' has often caught the attention of the police, who followed him when he first moved into Melbourne.

'They didn't trust us because of what had happened before  I got pulled over more than ten times a day  but they have laid off because we haven't done anything wrong,' he said.
Prospective home buyers can purchase a two-bedroom home for less than a new car - but there's a catch.

Those looking for a bargain can head to Broken Hill, far west of New South Wales, where worn-out properties have hit the market for as low as $40,000.

Likely to be Australia's cheapest home, a two-bedroom property with a backyard, garage and frail exterior was just sold for $45,000.

This two-bedroom property - with a backyard and garage - was just sold for $45,000

The bargain property (pictured) is located in Broken Hill, far west New South Wales

Broken Hill Real Estate agent Cliff Wren told Daily Mail Australia the house needed a little bit of work but is the prime investment property

Broken Hill Real Estate agent Cliff Wren told Daily Mail Australia the house needed a little bit of work but was the prime investment property.

'It is liveable, obviously you need to clean it up, probably some new floor coverings and a bit of paint but you could move straight in there and live and complete the renovations as you live there,' he said.

'$45,000 asking price is probably the cheapest around.

'If you went out and got a $35,000 loan, I mean the mortgage repayments would be bugger-all.'

Mr Wren said the Zebina St home was probably about 70 years old but the bathroom had been renovated in the past 20 years.

Advertised as 'renovators delight' the house is located 1.5 kilometres from Broken Hill's main strip.

'It's a typical little miners property that's priced to sell,' Mr Wren said.

'They do come onto the property every now and then but it's pretty rare.'

Advertised as 'renovators delight' the house is located 1.5 kilometres from Broken Hill's main strip

Mr Wren said the Zebina St home was probably about 70 years old but the bathroom had been renovated in the past 20 years

As housing prices in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne remain high, Mr Wren said investing in regional property was 'clever' and becoming increasingly popular.

Mr Wren said investors spend a few weeks in the homes, developing them to a standard where they can lease them straight out.

Australia's Median House Prices - March 2018 Sydney: $1,150,357 Melbourne: $914,518 Brisbane: $557,214 Adelaide: $533,525 Perth: $553,486 Canberra: $727,914 Hobart: $450,349 Darwin: $520,074 National: $809,201 Source: Domain Advertisement

'If they bought it for $40,000, they spend $15,000 on it, they owe about $55,000 and they can get about $180, $190 a week return,' he said.

'Your mortgage repayments is stuff all.'

Mr Wren said savvy young people have caught on in the last five years, using it as a hack to enter the Sydney and Melbourne property market.

'We get a lot of young people from the cities that will buy two or three ''little cheapies''' he said.

'They may spend a little bit of money tidying them up for rental purposes, they then rent these houses out, use the rental prices to pay off the mortgage as quickly as they can.'

'And when they've got the mortgage down to a reasonable amount, they then put these properties back on the market, sell them and the remaining balance is the surplus for their deposit to buy in Sydney or Melbourne.'

Mr Wren said the median house price in Broken Hill is $110,000 which is well below the prices in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as the national average.

March 2018 figures from Domain indicate the median house price in Sydney was $1,150,357 and $914,518 in Melbourne. The national median house price was $809,201.

As housing prices in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne remain unattainable, Mr Wren said investing in regional property was 'clever' and becoming increasingly popular

Mr Wren said savvy young people have caught on in the last five years, using it as a hack to enter the Sydney and Melbourne property market

Mr Wren said the small mining town would appeal to people because of its 'very relaxing lifestyle'.

He also said the town had plenty of work, particularly for medics, school teachers and police.

Broken Hill is Australia's longest-lived mining town and has a population of almost 18,000. It is 1,160 kilometres west of Sydney and 511 kilometres north east of Adelaide.
A sixth case of needles being found in strawberries has come to light after a New South Wales mother discovered three pins hidden inside a punnet.

Chantal Faugeras made the discovery, which comes after five confirmed contamination cases in Queensland and Victoria, when her 10-year-old daughter bit down onto the sharp piece of metal inside a strawberry on Wednesday.

Ms Faugeras said she found a further two needles inside the punnet she had bought from Coles in Wingham after she decided to squash the others as a precaution.

A sixth case of needles being found in strawberries has come to light after a New South Wales mother said she found three pins hidden inside a punnet (one of which pictured)

Ms Faugeras notified others of the discovery in a post on Facebook on Thursday.

Commenters on Ms Faugeras' post were grateful for the mother's heads-up, with one saying they had just bought four packets of strawberries from the same store.

Another said the fruit were still being stocked at the Coles Wingham branch on Friday morning.

Mother Chantal Faugeras uploaded a video of her uncovering the second and third pin after her daughter had bitten down onto the first.

Queensland Police announced they had started an investigation into the contamination of strawberries on Wednesday

Another said: 'Sent my seven-year-old with this brand of strawberries this morning. Just phoned the school after a friend had warned me and the office ladies are onto it thank god.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, a Coles spokesperson said they were working with their suppliers, police and health regulators to investigate the incident.

The spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers is our priority and anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice.'

'Queensland Health has warned people should cut up all strawberries before consuming them.'

The discovery comes after five other cases of needles being found in the fruit - including one on Sunday where a man was admitted to hospital after swallowing half a sewing needle.

In another case on Thursday, Queensland mother Angela Stevenson almost gave one of the contaminated fruit to her 12-month-old daughter.

Two more affected punnets were found by people in Victoria and police reported a suspected copy-cat incident on Thursday where a small steel rod was found in a punnet in Queensland.

Queensland Police announced they had started an investigation into the contamination of strawberries on Wednesday - saying they believed the 'Berry Obsession' and 'Berry Licious' brands were those worst affected.

Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said on Wednesday they suspected 'a disgruntled ex-employee' may be behind the spate of incidents.
An Arizona man pretended he had Down Syndrome so that he could hire caregivers to bathe him and change his diaper, police say.

Paul Anthony Menchaca, 30, was arrested at his parents' home last Thursday in Gilbert, Arizona, after it was discovered that he did not have Down Syndrome.

All of Menchaca's three alleged victims are women.

The first victim is said to have responded to a May ad on CareLinx.com, AZFamily reports.

Paul Anthony Menchaca, 30, was arrested at his parents' home last Thursday in Gilbert, Arizona, after it was discovered that he did not have Down Syndrome

The site describes itself as being 'a nationwide caregiver marketplace' and aims to 'easily find, hire, manage and pay licensed caregivers online' for families.

Under the identity of a woman named 'Amy', Menchaca conned the first carer by saying he wanted to care for his grown son.

The woman stated that she gave Menchaca assisted care 30 times at two addresses, neither of which were his home address.

During her time caring for the man, the caregiver could recall five 'separate incidents when [Menchaca] aggressively said his genitals were not cleaned enough.'

The first caregiver then referred the second in July and then those two referred the third in August. The following two caregivers agreed to the terms that 'Amy' sought.

All three caregivers only corresponded about payment and instructions with 'Amy' via text.

'"Amy" asked all three victims to 'punish' [Menchaca] when he soiled his diaper by putting him in timeout and taking away his privileges,' an arrest affidavit stated.

'All three victims were paid in cash by [Menchaca] when they picked him up and dropped him off from neutral locations.'

In the beginning of September, the first caregiver grew 'suspicious of [Menchacas] behavior' and followed him home from where she dropped him off.

The first caregiver then referred the second in July and then those two referred the third in August. In September, all three confronted the man and turned the phone number belonging to 'Amy' over to police

'[The victim] was greeted by [Menchaca's] actual mother and father and discovered [Menchaca] did not have Down syndrome and did not require diaper changes,' the affidavit stated.

The three caregivers then confronted the man, who 'admitted to lying to them about his mental condition.'

When the caregivers handed 'Amy's' number over to authorities, they discovered that the number belonged to Menchaca.

One of the women spoke at the man's initial court appearance and all three provided written statements.

He was charged with fraudulent schemes and sexual abuse

'I fear for my safety in regards to that, as well as my family and friends because I did bring my family and friends around him,' the woman said, hoping that he would get 'substantial' bond.

Menchaca claimed that he does have special needs, adding that he is working with his parents to get help.

'I just want to let you know I am special needs,' Menchaca said. 'I do have a low IQ level. And  my mom and dad both have paperwork to prove that. And I'm starting to talk to my dad about getting me some help and getting me into a counselor and probably like a rehab center to talk to somebody.'

The man has no criminal history and is expected to reappear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday.

He was charged with fraudulent schemes and sexual abuse.

Commissioner Michelle Carson instructed Menchaca that he couldn't have contact with the women. She also set a secured bond of $15,000.

'You must obey the terms of any order of protection or order against harassment that's issued or may be issued in the future,' she added.

Menchaca was listed as working at the Chandler Unified School District for the last two years as a support staff position.

The district clarified that the man didn't work with students directly.
The summit, themed Vietnam  We Mean Business: Connect and Innovate, was part of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018. It attracted more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and investors from around the world, along with representatives of foreign business associations, embassies, and international organisations in Vietnam.Co-chairing the event with WEF President Borge Brende, PM Phuc said only 21 percent of Vietnams small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have taken part in the global value chains, much lower than the 46 percent in other ASEAN nations.Although many foreign studies have pointed out Vietnams success in global supply chains, generally speaking, Vietnamese businesses have only joined these chains in fields such as assembling or product packaging, which are links with low value that lack sustainability in supply chains.Input materials made by domestic manufacturers currently account for less than 27 percent of the total input value of FDI firms, while the remaining is purchased from other FDI companies or imported, he noted.Facing that fact, Vietnam aims to move to a higher position in global value chains and strengthen the connectivity between Vietnamese and FDI businesses, PM Phuc said, adding that it is becoming one of the workshops of the world and a pivotal spot for trans-national firms to supply products and services around the globe.The development of many local private enterprises shows that the business environment in Vietnam is completely able to nurture big companies capable of competing against and cooperating with international ones, he said.He noted that by actively integrating into the world, the country is now a member of the World Trade Organisation and 12 free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).From here, investors have a chance to access almost all major markets in the world, especially ASEAN. Vietnam plays a significant role of a gateway and has one of the best geopolitical positions in global supply chains that not every country has access to, he emphasised.The country has had trade relations with over 200 countries and territories. It has also taken the lead in exporting many agricultural products like rice, pepper, coffee, cashew nut, basa fish, and shrimp. PM Phuc expressed his belief that Vietnams agriculture potential would be fully tapped and could be a big magnet for investment and cooperation.He also said Vietnam needs to exert more efforts, foster more innovations, and make stronger reforms to improve its economys development level and narrow the gap with regional countries. He affirmed that the successes of businesses in the nation are also part of his Governments successes.At the summit, PM Phuc and WEF President Borge Brende also addressed issues that participants were interested in, such as the CPTPP, Industry 4.0, e-Government, and renewable energy

Vietnamplus
Investigators have solved the 104-year-old mystery about what sank Australia's first submarine, sending 35 sailors to a watery grave off Papua New Guinea.

The HMAS AEI sank on this day in 1914, with dive experts convinced a partially opened ventilation valve in the hull caused the tragedy.

The submarine was the first wartime loss for the Royal Australian Navy and the first Allied submarine loss in World War I.

Investigators have solved the 104-year-old mystery about what sank Australia's first submarine, sending 35 sailors to a watery grave off Papua New Guinea

Experts who analysed the World War I wreck believe the HMAS AEI sank after a ventilation valve in the hull was left partially open when the sub dived

The sub was last seen on patrol off East New Britain on September 14, 1914 during an otherwise successful operation to seize the German colonies in New Guinea and the South Pacific.

But all 35 submariners on board were killed when an implosion ripped through the vessel as it sank to its 100-metre crush depth, an Australian National Maritime Museum report said.

It was not clear whether it was human error or a mechanical failure that caused the fault.

But an open valve, though, may have caused water to flood the engine room.

A search by five navy ships in the days following failed to find the sub, nor any tell-tale shimmer of escaping oil floating on the surface of the water.

All 35 sailors on board were killed when an implosion ripped through the vessel as it sank to its 100-metre crush depth, an Australian National Maritime Museum report said

And there was no distress call to help guide the search.

Enemy action was not suspected because the only German vessel nearby at the time was a small survey ship.

In December 2017, the wreck was discovered in 300 metres of water during a search off the Duke of York Islands, near the New Britain capital Rabaul.

It was the 14th attempt to find the vessel and the resting place of her crew.

In April 2018 an expedition was conducted to the site of the wreck.

In December 2017, the wreck was discovered in 300 metres of water during a search off the Duke of York Islands, near the New Britain capital Rabaul

In April 2018 an expedition was conducted to the site of the wreck, yielding some answers to what happened 104 years ago

AE1's final contact with destroyer HMAS Parramatta at 2.30pm, more than a century ago, had placed her in the area.

Mioko Island villagers at the time also spoke of seeing a 'monster' or 'devil fish' that appeared and quickly disappeared back into depths.

AE1 was one of two E-class submarines built in Britain for the new Australian navy.

It was launched in May 1913 and commissioned in February 1914.

The other E-class sub, AE2, achieved fame when she penetrated the Dardanelles waterway at the same time Australian troops landed at Gallipoli.

After attacking Turkish shipping in the Sea of Marmara, AE2 came under fire from a Turkish gunboat and was scuttled so she would not fall into Turkish hands.

All of her crew were captured and became prisoners of war.

That wreck was discovered in 1998.
The police officer who crashed into a luxury Mercedes driven by the wife of a prominent racing figure, leaving her seriously injured, was driving more than 50k over the speed limit with no flashing lights or sirens.

Bert Vieira's wife Gai, 58, was hit by a highway patrol car during a chase in Cronulla, south of Sydney on September 5.

She suffered extensive injuries as a result, including broken bones, punctured lungs and remained at St George Hospital in a coma on Thursday.

Police confirmed the officer travelling at a speed of 124 km/hr in a 70km/hr zone when the crash happened, Fairfax reported.

Bert Vieira's wife Gai is in a coma after her black Mercedes-Benz was hit by a highway patrol car during a chase in Cronulla, south of Sydney last Wednesday

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said at a press conference on Friday that the police were pulling out all stops to make sure they have an open and transparent process.

'We have a critical investigations team under a very experienced inspector investigating this terrible case,' he said.

'It is a very complicated crash, we are dealing with a whole range of technologies. We are still going through the details.

'So far weve taken 12 statements off people and we have three to go to make sure we have all the information thats available to us before we conclude the investigation.'

Mrs Vieira took the impact of the crash while her three-year-old grandson who was sitting in the backseat escaped uninjured

Mrs Vieira took the impact of the crash while her three-year-old grandson who was sitting in the backseat escaped uninjured.

The male senior constable driving the patrol car suffered facial injuries as a result of the collision.

Police have publicly appealed for dashcam footage of the crash.

Mr Vieira said Sydney police should stop chasing drivers for minor crimes, and reserve pursuits for serious matters.

He claimed eyewitnesses told him the patrol car had no flashing lights or blaring sirens as it performed a U-turn to chase another driver using their mobile phone.

Mr Vieira said his wife had suffered extensive injuries as a result of the crash

'I'm asking the Premier of NSW, I want the (police) minister, someone to take responsibility, to own up for what they have done, to authorise this kind of chase,' Mr Vieira said.

'Other states have banned all this chasing because it has cost lives.'

Mr Vieira called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison - a Cronulla resident and the local MP for the Cook electorate - to take action.

'Morrison, when he was in charge of Cook, now he's the PM, for God's sake wake up,' he said.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the government had to get the balance right.

'Anyone who is injured or who loses someone, it is always an incredibly distressing situation, police though have to do their job,' he told reporters on Thursday.

'We've got to get the balance right between, on the one hand, keeping the safety of the community, avoiding injuries and deaths on occasion to people but making sure that criminals don't think they can get away as soon as a police car siren goes off.'
A British man who suffered horrifying injuries in an attack in Marbella is a convicted criminal who was jailed for his role in a robbery which left a mother dead, it has emerged.

Craig Moran, 35, had the tendons in his right hand slashed, was beaten round the head and was stabbed and shot in both legs in an attack which police believe was linked to a drug deal.

He also had his cheeks slit from his mouth up to his ears in a so-called Glasgow Smile before being dumped in a ditch.

Moran was jailed in 2005 for his part in a robbery on a jewellery store in Nottingham in which Marian Bates was killed.

Today Mrs Bates's daughter told MailOnline Moran had 'got what he deserved'.

Craig Moran (left), who was attacked in Spain, was jailed in 2005 for his part in a robbery on a jewellery store in Nottingham in which Marian Bates (right) was killed

Xanthe Kirkland-Bates said: 'Unfortunately if you live that kind of criminal life among those types of people things like this are going to happen to you.

'It's a waste of taxpayers' money. We have been paying for him to be in jail all that time and nothing in his life has changed.

'I feel public money has been wasted and, as a society, we have not changed him in any way.

'He has got what he deserved. My mum was murdered and he ruined my life and my dad's life the day he killed her.'

Moran was found guilty of plotting to rob the shop and of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Another man, Peter Williams - then 19 - was convicted of her murder after the robbery in September 2003.

Moran, then of Bestwood, Nottingham, kept watch on the shop 24 hours before the murder and was waiting in the getaway car.

Xanthe Kirkland-Bates, pictured in 2003 with Victor Bates - her father and Marian's husband - said today that Craig Moran had 'got what he deserved' after being attacked in Spain

Widower Victor Bates and his daughter Xanthe reopen their jewellery shop for the first time since wife and mother Marian was killed, in a picture taken in October 2003

Victor Bates with daughters Naomi and Xanthe in 2005 after the Stafford Crown Court trial

Flowers outside the shop where Marian Bates, 64, was shot in the chest after she jumped in front of daughter Xanthe when a robber produced a handgun during a raid on the shop

Mourners lay flowers in Arnold, Nottingham, before a memorial service for Marian Bates

Victor Bates (left) criticised police while Peter Williams (right), then 19, was jailed for murder

Mrs Bates, who was 64, was shot dead as she tried to protect her daughter when a robber pulled out a handgun during the attack at Nottingham's Time Centre.

Her husband Victor was said to have brandished a fencing sword in an attempt to stop the robbers but was attacked with a crowbar, BBC News reported at the time.

Victor Bates later criticised police over the case, saying criminals had been allowed to 'flourish' in the city.

Moran only survived the attack in Spain after passing motorists spotted him and called an ambulance.

His terrifying facial injury is known as a Glasgow Smile and is inflicted by making small cuts at the side of the victim's mouth then forcing them to scream, causing the cuts to split and widen further.

The grisly details were revealed as news emerged that Spanish police are hunting a gang of three or four fellow Brits.

Officers have revealed few details about their investigation, and have not confirmed exactly where he was found - though it is known to be somewhere near the resort of Marbella.

He only survived after passing motorists saw him and called an ambulance, after which he was taken to the Costa del Sol hospital (pictured)

He had only been in the resort for two hours after being tricked into meeting his attackers and reaching the area by train and taxi.

The UK Foreign Office said: 'Our staff provided advice and support to the family of a British man following his hospitalisation in Spain, and are in contact with the Spanish authorities.'

The horror attack is believed to be linked to a drugs deal. No arrests have yet been made.

Moran, who was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella in the early hours of Sunday morning for an emergency operation, has reportedly offered investigators few clues about the men responsible.

The latest attack comes after convicted armed robber Sean Hercules, 39, from Leeds, was shot dead by police at an apart-hotel near the resort of Estepona.

Officers said they reacted after he opened fire on them when they went to arrest him for fleeing a car accident with a gun in his hand.

The torture probe and Hercules' death are not being linked.
Overseas students at an Australian university have such poor English skills they are taking interpreters to class.

Murdoch University has experienced a dramatic increase in international enrolments after they began handing out $11,000 'welcome scholarships'.

The Perth-based university has now reportedly hired a barrister to investigate issues surrounding the recruitment and support of overseas students.

International students at the university are also being investigated for cheating, The West Australian reported.

Murdoch University in Perth (pictured) has reportedly hired a barrister to investigate issues surrounding the recruitment and support of international students

The publication reported it is understood a higher-than-expected percentage of students have this year been reported for academic misconduct, for issues such as plagiarism.

The National Tertiary Education Union said concerns have been raised about a surge in international students lacking English language and computing skills.

'Union members have described students requiring interpreters in classes, refusing to stop collaborating during exams, being unable to undertake basic tasks and a high failure rate in first semester this year,' WA Division secretary Gabe Gooding said.

Ms Gooding said members had advised students who could 'barely write an email' were later handing in assignments in fluent English.

The university is reportedly understood to have a higher-than-expected percentage of students who have been reported for academic misconduct this year (stock image)

Murdoch University said it had no knowledge of interpreters being taken to classes.

It said 'a small number' of its students needed guidance in order to uphold the university's academic conduct standards.

'The university takes these matters of academic standards very seriously and takes actions when necessary in line with university policy,' Provost Romy Lawson said.

In the first semester, there had been a four per cent increase in unit failure rates by international students, she said.
Frank Chadwick (pictured) appeared outside Sheila Thompson's home in Salford, Greater Manchester and bombarded her with letters

A devout churchgoer aged 88 has become Britain's oldest stalker after hounding a younger woman he met through their shared interest in the bible.

Widower Frank Chadwick had hoped for companionship with Sheila Thompson, 54, after the death of his wife just before their 50th wedding anniversary.

Chadwick met Ms Thompson, an accountant, after they bumped into other while they were out walking in Salford, Greater Manchester in 2016.

At the time he had a bible in his hand as he had been asked to research a question posed by his vicar.

Ms Thompson offered to help, but after the pair had a cup of tea together Chadwick, who is partially deaf, began stalking Ms Thompson over a period of two years.

He asked if he could volunteer at a community centre where she worked and concerns were then raised when Chadwick began following her to church on a Sunday.

The OAP was asked to leave the community centre when he admitted the only reason he went was to see Ms Thompson.

He then started hand-delivering cards, letters and gifts to her home in Salford.

Chadwick was eventually reported to police after being seen repeatedly lurking around Ms Thompson's cul-de-sac - forcing her to hide behind the curtains to avoid his gaze.

In a statement read to Machester Magistrates Court yesterday Ms Thompson said: 'Due to his behaviour I am still keeping the blinds shut in my living room as he could still see me if I sat in my chair.

'When I approach my house, I check I have my keys ready and check he is not lurking in the area.

'I avoid answering the phone or door unless I know who it is. I have to consider what he may do before I do things myself.'

Chadwick, of Westhoughton, Bolton, admitted one count of stalking without fear, alarm or distress and was banned from contacting Ms Thompson for 18 months under the terms of a restraining order.

Chadwick, from Westhoughton, Bolton, admitted one count of stalking without fear, alarm or distress at Manchester Magistrates Court and was handed an 18-month restraining order

He was also conditionally discharged for 18 months.

Prosecutor Lynn Rogers had told the court: 'The two met by complete chance.

'She was out walking in February 2016, when she saw him and they started to chat, and they had a cup of tea together and arranged to meet for lunch.

'She took him to a local centre where she works as a volunteer. He asked if he could also volunteer but was told it would not be appropriate.

'He followed her to her place of worship, and would send her hand-written letters, and hand-deliver them through her front door.

'At the centre he was spoken to by staff and asked him if the reason he wanted to volunteer for them was because he wanted to be close to her and he said yes.

'He was told not to attend the centre anymore.

'He was reported in 2016 and March 2017 as she saw him walking down her cul-de-sac.

'He went up to her house and he knocked on the door and rang the bell to try to contact her.

'She remained in her house and the curtains were drawn in the front.

'She said he was seen by a neighbour and he was loitering around the area, and posted letters and a book through her door.'

Chadwick later attended a police station on August 21, 2018 where he was arrested.

In mitigation defence lawyer Adam Whittaker said: 'He had impeccable character and it is unfortunate we have to be in this situation today.

'He just didn't understand what has happened. He does have difficulties with hearing, and he communicates by letters.

'He lost his wife on Christmas Day a few years ago, just as they were approaching their 50th wedding anniversary and she was his life companion.

'His family have grown up and he find great comfort in the church. On the first meeting with her he had his bible, and he was working on a question from his minister.

'She approached him and spoke to him first. After they swapped numbers, she contacted him after that and they met for lunch.

'They went to each other's place of workshop.

'He felt there was more to this friendship than there actually was. He wanted to see her.

'She told him to then not contact her for three months and he thought maybe that would salvage their friendship.

'He didn't know why or what he did wrong. He just sought after companionship.

'This has gone on for a period of around two years. He has a good character and entered an early guilty plea.

'He has no previous convictions. Probation do not need to be involved with a man of 88 years of age.'

District judge Khalid Qureshi dismissed the need for punishment, and said: 'There was no malice involved and there was no threat, it was just the persistence of the matter.

'I will make this a conditional discharge for 18 months. In terms of the restraining order, you must not go to her address or contact her in anyway way whatsoever. The restraining order will be in place for 18 months.'
A mother has been charged for stealing her terminally ill daughter's painkillers and taking them herself.

Carol Ballweg, 46, from Missouri, admitted to having an opioid addiction when police searched her home.

Ballweg's daughter, who was in hospice care, was prescribed fentanyl and oxycodone to cope with pain at the end of her life.

Carol Ballweg (pictured) 46, from Missouri, has been charged with stealing her terminally ill daughter's painkillers, oxycodone and fentanyl, and taking them for herself

But medical staff had become worried that Ballweg's daughter was not being given the essential medicine.

Throughout her daughter's illness, Ballweg had asked repeatedly asked for refills for medication to be issued sooner than necessary, according to police.

Her daughter also had also developed painful bedsores and when doctors tested her urine no trace of the medication was found.

Ballweg, who was her daughter's primary caregiver, admitted to police that she had been withholding the painkillers from her daughter so she could feed her addiction.

She has been charged with four felony counts of stealing a controlled substance and two misdemeanour counts of abusing an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person.

Ballwegs bond has been set at $100,000 cash and she has been instructed not to contact the victim.

Ballweg, who was her daughter's primary caregiver, admitted to police that she had been withholding the painkiller oxycodone from her daughter so she could feed her addiction. File photo
An Islamic religious guild in breach of Australian law allegedly detained a man who was serving court papers on the grounds of their illegal bush compound, a court has heard today.

The grounds in Colo, a small town to the north-west of Sydney, are used as a place of worship.

The religious owners have been ordered to knock down the movable buildings, fences and boat ramp on the site by the Land and Environment Court - orders which the religious men are ignoring.

A court employee named Frank Hoare had arrived on the grounds to serve the Muslim sect legal documents but claimed through an affidavit filed in court today that he was instead detained for 30 minutes.

The affidavit of Frank Hoare told court that Mr Hoare was approached by leader of the Diwan Al Dawla guild(pictured)

A conflict between council officers and Dr Kara-Ali and an unidentified man was caught on dash cam, allegedly showing an an unidentified member of the guild spitting at officers

An Islamic religious guild in breach of Australian law allegedly detained a man who was serving court papers

The religious owners have been ordered to knock down the movable buildings, fences and boat ramp on the site

The affidavit of Frank Hoare told court that Mr Hoare was approached by leader of the Diwan Al Dawla guild Mustapha Kara-Ali and his brother Diaa Kara-Ali on the property.

'Get off this sacred land. You are an infidel, a man of the cross and a thief,' one of the men allegedly told him.

The affidavit of Frank Hoare then claimed that Mustapha Kara-Ali padlocked the front gate, locking Mr Hoare inside the compound, ABC News reports.

He was then allegedly forced to sit in his car as Diaa Kara-Ali rode a horse around another paddock and Mustapha Kara-Ali walked to the end of the property and started praying.

'I did not have any reception on my mobile phone,' the affidavit stated.

'I honked my horn to passing traffic to no avail.

The affidavit of Frank Hoare then claimed that Mustapha Kara-Ali padlocked the front gate, locking Mr Hoare inside the compound

The 12 hectares is home to about 30 Arabian horses which the group intends to use to help troubled Muslim youth

'I continued to sit in my car and ... [Diaa] kept riding his horse around the paddock, which would be described as an intimidatory [sic] manner.'

After some time an elderly man reportedly threw Mr Hoare's legal papers into the front seat of his car. The religious men eventually unlocked the gate and Mr Hoare was able to drive away.

This is not the first bizarre confrontation between members of the religious guild and council authorities.

DIWAN AL DAWLA Diwan Al Dawla ( ) is a guild that advances a way of living based upon a unitarian epistemology and narrative. Members of Diwan Al Dawla, known as ashab al dawla, live as a religious guild separated from secular worldviews to pursue a religious mode of worship and lifestyle under an oath of self-sacrifice and dedication to the purposes of Diwan Al Dawla. Source: Diwan Al Dawla Advertisement

Council officers back in August attempted to deliver legal documents to the compound, whereby dashcam footage showed them being spat on and having a rock hurled at them by an unidentified member of the guild.

Dr Mustapha Kara-Ali and Diaa Kara-Ali were found last month to be in contempt of court by Hawkesbury City Council after continuing to build on their Colo religious site.

Dr Kari-Ali is the founder of the Diwan Al Dawla guild which bought the Colo property for $670,000 in May last year and began building what it calls the Southern Chariot religious site.

The 12 hectares is home to about 30 Arabian horses which the group intends to use to help troubled Muslim youth, particularly from western Sydney, engage with God.

A shed and two demountable buildings have been erected on the site and a barn is being built. There is also a grove of young trees including olives, figs and walnuts.

Both Dr Mustapha and Diaa Kara-Ali have refused to take part in the court proceedings so far and do not recognise Australian law as legitimate.

Dr Kara-Ali considers any government symbol which incorporates a version of a Christian cross - including the Southern Cross and the Cross of St George - to be an affront to Islam.

He believes any authority which uses such a symbol - such as the police and the courts - to be religious, rather than secular.
The world watched on Friday as Hurricane Florence barreled into the American East Coast - bringing winds of 90mph along with a 10ft storm surge.

But more than 9,000 miles away the Philippines is braced for the impact of a storm almost twice the size - Super-Typhoon Mangkhut.

With sustained winds of 130mph and a storm surge of up to 23ft, thousands are being evacuated from vulnerable coastal areas before it makes landfall on Saturday.

Florence is classed as a Category 2 hurricane while Mangkhut is the equivalent of a Category 5 - known as a super-typhoon in Asia.

Florence, a Category 2 hurricane, made landfall on the American east coast on Thursday, bringing 90mph winds and a 10ft storm surge

But the Philippines is about to get hit with a storm that is almost twice the size - Super-Typhoon Mangkhut - which is equivalent to a Category 5 storm

Thousands of residents most at risk from the storm are being evacuated but have been trying to secure their homes before fleeing, including tying the roof down with rope

A Filipino villager secures the roof of a house in the town of Aparri, Cagayan province, which is due to bear the brunt of the storm

A man places heavy wooden slats on top of his corrugated iron roof in the hopes of stopping it from being blown away in the storm

People who live in perpetual poverty because of repeated storm damage use anything they can to shore-up their homes, including placing heavy tyres on the roof

Ministers have warned that more than 4million are at risk from the worst effects of Mangkhut, with torrential rains expected to cause landslides and flooding.

While high winds from Florence cover an area roughly 300 miles wide, the band of rain-clouds swirling around Mangkhut spans 560 miles.

This is the 15th storm to hit the Philippines - which is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world - this year alone, but is the most powerful.

Some residents - condemned to live in perpetual poverty because of repeated storm damage - were pictured reinforcing their vulnerable homes any way they could on Thursday before fleeing to safer ground.

Some placed heavy tyres on the roof to keep the corrugated metal from blowing away, others nailed wooden boards over glass windows, one man was even seen tying his roof down with rope.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries on earth and is ravaged by an average of 20 storms per year. Mangkhut is the 15th to strike this year alone.

The deadliest on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013.

When Haiyan made landfall it was also classed as a super-typhoon - equivalent to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane - with sustained windspeeds were measured between 175mph and 195mph.

Mangkhut, while also an extremely powerful storm, is not expected to pack the same punch, but is predicted to cause widespread devastation.

It was tracked on Friday about 250 miles away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 127mph and gusts of up to 158 mph, Philippine forecasters said.

With a massive rain cloud band 560 miles wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon could bring intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods, the forecasters said.

A view of one of the slums in the path of Super-Typhoon Manngkhut, which is due to strike the Philippines early on Saturday

A man uses wooden boards in an attempt to secure the roof of his house

Wooden planks are nailed over glass windows and holes in the wall in the hopes that it will help the shack survive the coming storm

Fisherman Randy Mediata, 34, uses rope in the hopes it will help his seaside shack hold together when it is hit by 130mph winds

Mr Mediata secures the rope to bamboo struts which help keep the shack out of the water

Storm warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel.

After the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts Mangkhut will plow into the Chinese mainland early on Monday morning south of Hong Kong and north of the island province of Hainan.

Though it will weaken from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, it will still be packing sustained winds of 109mph.

The observatory warned of rough seas and frequent heavy squalls, urging residents of the densely populated financial hub to 'take suitable precautions and pay close attention to the latest information' on the storm.

The gambling enclave of Macau, next door to Hong Kong, suffered catastrophic flooding during Typhoon Hato last August that left 10 dead and led to accusations of corruption and incompetence at its meteorological office.

On the Chinese mainland, the three southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are coordinating preparations, including suspending transport and moving people to shelter inland, the national meteorological agency reported.

Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub, has set up 3,777 shelters, while more than 100,000 residents and tourists have been moved to safety or sent home.

The province has recalled more than 36,000 fishing boats to port, while train services between the cities of Zhanjiang and Maoming have been suspended and all ferry services between the Guangdong and Hainan have been put on hold.

Fujian province to the north of Guangdong is also closing beaches and tourist sites and preparing other measures depending on conditions, the agency reported.

Philippine Office of Civil Defence chief Ricardo Jalad told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte that about 4.2 million people in Cagayan, nearby Isabela province and outlying regions are vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoon's 77-mile-wide eye.

Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhut's ferocious winds.

Fisherman haul their boat ashore in the hopes of keeping it safe from the coming storm

Filipino fishermen secure a boat in the town of Aparri, Cagayan province

Men bring their nets in as waves drive ashore by Mangkhut begin to build up ahead of its arrival

Rains have already started falling in the Philippines, with the government warning that torrential downpours will likely cause landslides and flooding

Residents evacuating ahead of the storm carry their possessions through the rain in Cagayan province, which is due to bare the worst effects of the storm

Across the north on Thursday, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces and moved fishing boats to safety.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said by telephone that evacuations of residents from risky coastal villages and island municipalities north of the rice-and corn-producing province of 1.2 million people have started and school classes at all levels have been cancelled.

'The weather here is still good but we're moving them now because it's very important that when it comes, people will be away from peril,' Mr Mamba said.

A change in the typhoon's track prompted authorities to rapidly reassess where to redeploy emergency teams and supplies, Mr Mamba said.

Mr Duterte asked Cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work if needed, and told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid.

'It would depend on the severity of the crisis,' Mr Duterte said. 'If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help.'

The typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Mr Mamba said.

The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.

Officials said other northern provinces started evacuating residents on Thursday from high-risk areas, including in northern mountain provinces prone to landslides.

Mr Duterte cancelled his appearance at a missile test firing aboard a navy ship off northern Bataan province due to the approaching typhoon.

On Guam, where Mangkhut already passed, residents dealt with flooded streets, downed trees and widespread power outages.

Government agencies were conducting damage assessments and clearing roads, according to the Pacific Daily News.

About 80 per cent of the US territory was without power but it was restored by Thursday morning.

Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.

Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over five million in the central Philippines in 2013.
A Spanish actor accused of blasphemy after saying he would 's*** on God' was questioned in court yesterday in the latest high-profile case to raise fears about free speech in the country.

Willy Toledo, a film and TV actor, was arrested in Madrid on Wednesday after he had twice failed to show up for questioning over the Facebook post last year.

Toledo, 48, was released without bail but a judge will now decide if the actor will face trial, which could lead to a fine for blasphemy.

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem has defended him, saying the country risked returning to the repression of 20th-century dictator Francisco Franco.

Spanish actor Willy Toledo (right) has been accused of blasphemy over a Facebook post last year. He is pictured in May with fellow actor Javier Bardem (left) who has defended him

The case stems from a July 2017 Facebook message in which he defended three women charged with blasphemy for staging a mock-religious procession wielding a giant vagina.

In his post Toledo said: 'I s*** on God, and I have enough s*** left over to s*** on the dogma of the sanctity and virginity of the Virgin Mary.

'This country is unbearably shameful. I'm disgusted.'

He was denounced by the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers for 'covering God and the Virgin Mary with ridicule'.

Toledo, who frequently defends Cuba and Venezuela's communist regimes, said he had asked the judge to shelve the case during the hearing.

'It is worthy of a third world country that there are still five articles of the criminal code relating to insulting religious sentiments,' he said.

Willy Toledo (pictured at a press conference in May) as arrested in Madrid on Wednesday after he had twice failed to show up for questioning over the Facebook post last year

The affair is one of a string of cases of artists being probed or jailed in Spain which have raised concerns about freedom of expression.

Several Twitter users and rappers have been tried for glorifying terrorism or insulting the king for comments or lyrics.

Amnesty International said the legal actions amount to 'repression' of freedom of expression.

Tapper Valtonyc this year fled to Belgium to avoid a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence for glorifying terrorism, insulting the king and issuing threats in his lyrics.

A Belgian court is due to decide on September 17 whether or not to extradite the 24-year-old.
An inventor has created a disposable product to eliminate the sometimes embarrassing smells and sounds that can happen when a person breaks wind.

Leopold Trimmel from Hofstetten-Gruenau, Austria, has designed a pressure relief filter, called 'oxxxo Bodykat', which helps gas be released in a controlled way.

The product is said to catch the gas, stopping any unappealing odours from escaping, and also help to alleviate pain as the user will be able to avoid a build up of wind which could lead to bloating.

According to the website, 'oxxxo Bodykat' is meant for people with food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, damaged gut flora or incontinence.

An Austria inventor has created a filter designed to eliminate the odours and noise that can occur when passing gas. Leopold Trimmel said he has given people something they needed but were too embarrassed to discuss

The company's website describes passing gas as a 'normal process' and advices that their product is best inserted after a bowel movement.

The user can then continue with their daily activities with the 6x40mm product being 'automatically' removed during the next bowel movement and can remain in the toilet.

Mr Trimmel said that with 'oxxxo Bodykat', he has given people something they needed but were too embarrassed to discuss.

The inventor said he had 'always wanted to invent something that everyone needs' but that some people think he is pulling their leg when he tells them about his invention.

He said: 'I've stirred up a hornet's nest. Except nobody talks about it.'

He added: 'We use perfumes, deodorants and everything possible to come to grips with odours but the bodily intestinal gases... For this there no was solution - until now.'

The product is said to catch gas in the filter, stopping any unappealing odours from escaping, and also help to alleviate pain as the user will be able to avoid a build up of gas which could lead to bloating

After applying for eight years for a European Union-wide patent, the inventor has finally received one and is now looking for business partners so mass production can begin after he has received 30,000 orders.

Currently, it can be ordered online as Mr Trimmel is convinced people will find it more discreet.

He said: 'It's still a taboo subject, the inhibition level of ordering something like that online is lower than having to lay pay for it at the till at the chemist's.'

A packet of 'oxxxo Bodykat' costs 14.18 (15.90 EUR) and three packets cost 35.58 (39.90 EUR)

Packets contain 10 or 30 units. They measure 6 by 40 millimetres (0.2 by 1.57 inches)
The decision was taken due to concerns about the recent discovery of the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in the two countries pigs. The restrictions also apply to live pigs, pig embryos and boar sperm, as well as sheep and goat products.



The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development today held an online meeting in Hanoi presided by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung with all cities and provinces to build up a hypothetical situation to prevent the epidemic

Before the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan had sent two documents to two embassies of the two countries, announcing the halt of meat import due to the African Swine Fever.

The halt will start from September 20, 2018 until the two countries declare they are free from the pandemic as per the World Organization for Animal Health

However, the Vietnamese watchdog has still allowed batches of pork products from the two countries which left harbor before September 20, 2018.

In the talk to Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper this morning, acting director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)s Animal Husbandry Department Nguyen Xuan Duong said in reality, Vietnam buys little meat and meat product from the two country but the US and Canada.

Since early 2018 till now, the outbreaks of the African Swine Fever in the two countries has been infecting over 5,440 boars and farm pigs.

By VAN PHUC - Translated by UYEN PHUONG
A state MP has admitted his wife told him off after he made a lewd comment on a Instagram picture of his media adviser's wife.

Former Queensland LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek posted a suggestive comment about government adviser Brooke Leembruggen's cleavage in an Instagram post.

Mr Lanbroek apologised for the 'inappropriate' post after he posted a comment with the symbols; '(.)(.)' - alluding to her breasts.

Former LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek caused a stir after commenting about government adviser Brooke Leembruggen's breasts (second from right). She is pictured with her husband, Julian, who is Scott Morrison's media adviser and Alistair Mitchell, chief of staff for Defence Minister Steve Ciobo (centre) at the Midwinter Ball

Former Queensland LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek posted a suggestive comment about government adviser Brooke Leembruggen's (pictured) cleavage in an Instagram post

Mr Langbroek deleted the comment and was told off by his wife Stacey, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

'She said to me, "You're an old man, you can't do things like that",' the MP said.

'She said, "A bit silly, you can think it, but don't write it".'

Mr Lanbroek apologised for the 'inappropriate' post after he posted a comment with the symbols; '(.)(.)' - alluding to her breasts

Mr Langbroek (left) deleted the comment and was told off by his wife Stacey (right)

The photo included Ms Leembruggen, adviser to Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher, and other parliamentary staff at Canberra's Midwinter Ball, the highlight of the parliamentary social calendar.

She stood next to husband Julian Leembruggen, who works as Prime Minister Scott Morrison's media adviser.

Mr Langbroek admitted to The Australian that his comment was 'inappropriate'.

'I removed it this morning without being prompted, and I apologise for any offense caused,' he said.

John-Paul Langbroek posted a suggestive comment about government adviser Brooke Leembruggen's (pictured with husband Julian) cleavage in an Instagram post

The photo was uploaded to the private Instagram account of Alistair Mitchell, the chief of staff to Defence Minister Steven Ciobo.

The Midwinter Ball took place at Parliament House and was attended by senators, MPs, husbands, wives and figures from business and show business.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and actor Sam Neill were among the invited guests.
The woman backed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to replace Malcolm Turnbull in his electorate was once a member of the Labor Party.

Katherine O'Regan, a former Liberal Party staffer, is listed on the ALP's records as a member in the late 1990s under 'Kathy O'Regan'.

Ms O'Regan was a member for the party in the Australian Capital Territory in 1996, Fairfax Media reported.

Katherine O'Regan (pictured), a former Liberal Party staffer, is listed on the ALP's records as a member in the late 1990s, according to Fairfax Media, under 'Kathy O'Regan'

But by 1998 she was working as a staffer for the Howard government.

A phone number on the records has been associated with Ms O'Regan, who served as deputy mayor for Woollahra between 2012 and 2014.

Nomination forms for the review committee allegedly have the answer 'no' in response to the question 'Have you ever been a member of any other political party?'

A NSW Liberal Party spokesperson said no comment could be made on the vetting process due to privacy reasons.

While Mr Morrison never publicly endorsed Ms O'Regan for the seat of Wentworth he did make public his desire for more women in Parliament, particularly members of the Liberal Party.

Despite being a front runner for the candidacy Ms O'Regan was knocked out in the third round of pre-selection with just 21 votes out of 201.

While Scott Morrisonn (pictured) never publicly endorsed Ms O'Regan he did make his want for more women in parliament, particularly members of the Liberal Party

Dave Sharma, who is Australia's former ambassador to Israel, will instead be facing off against Labor's Tim Murray and likely independent candidate Kerryn Phelps on October 20 for the by-election.

The seat was forced to go to a by-election following Malcolm Turnbull's resignation after the Liberal leadership spill, which led to Mr Morrison becoming Prime Minister.

Sam Gunning will run for the seat for the Liberal Democrats while Dominic Kanak will be running for the Greens and Tim Murray will be running for Labor.

A report was made for the party following the Longmann by-election and it noted that careful vetting could have avoided the scandal that lost votes.

The situation referred to surrounded Liberal National Party candidate Trevor Ruthenberg, who falsely claimed he had received the Australian Defence Medal.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Katherine O'Regan for comment.
This is the bizarre moment a man is freed from underneath a motorcycle exhaust pipe after getting stuck there following a night out.

Villagers in Vietnam found the man asleep with his head firmly wedged between the rear wheel and the exhaust pipe.

He was woken by the sound of villagers gathering around him and one man trying to prise the pipe away from him with a spanner.

The footage was captured in May this year in Lai Chau province, northern Vietnam.

Villagers try to free the man after finding him asleep with his head stuck under the metal pipe

The man reportedly could not remember how he had ended up sleeping underneath the motorcycle.

Witnesses claimed he had been drinking the night before.

At the start of the clip the man appears fast asleep with his head resting on the rear wheel, held in place by the metal pipe.

Wearing a collared shirt and green trousers, he starts to stir as one of the locals uses a spanner to try and pull the pipe off his head.

He opens his eyes but remains largely motionless as one person holds the two-wheeled vehicle in place and another turns the spanner.

After loosening the pipe enough the villager with the spanner gets help from another man to lift it off the man's head.

Finally freed, the man sits up and rubs his neck while the villagers inspect the motorcycle.
A British holidaymaker has been condemned after demanding compensation for saving two children from drowning in a hotel swimming pool.

Steven Tartt, 32, jumped in and saved a boy, aged seven, and a little girl, aged six, after they got into difficulty playing at the Victoria Playa hotel in Santo Tomas, Menorca.

The father-of-two hauled the pair to safety and was furious the on-duty lifeguard, who has since been sacked, failed to take action.

Tartt, from Seaforth, Merseyside, said his holiday was 'ruined' and called travel operator TUI to demand compensation

Tartt, from Seaforth, Merseyside, said his holiday was 'ruined' and called travel operator TUI to demand compensation, claiming that he had to take a week off work upon his return to the UK.

Tartt's requests for compensation has received mixed response online.

John Shaw tweeted: 'Imagine being on holiday, laying next to the pool and being in the right place at the right time to save the lives of 2 drowning children.Imagine then complaining that the tour operator "hasn't offered you anything", because "part of my holiday was lost"! How sad must you be?'

Karen Quinn added: 'Why does he want compensation? Why would it ruin your holiday saving 2 children from drowning, very heroic & amazing but now looking like a right idiot !!ehy does everyone want compensation??? Don't get it.'

Tartt's request for compensation was met with hostility online

Tartt (pictured) has received plaudits and condemnation after he asked for compensation following the incident

Yet he has received plaudits from others, who have labelled him a hero.

One user wrote: 'For what it's worth, your an absolute hero for your actions. They should be flying you 1st class all expenses paid holiday at the very least, for saving 2 lives, a law suit and untold amount in lost revenue!'

On his social media pages, Tartt took aim at the lifeguard who 'wasn't doing his job' and that his holiday had been 'ruined' by the ordeal.

He added: 'Had to take an extra week off work after it affected me that much.

The alarming incident happened at the Victoria Playa hotel on the Spanish island

'Spoke to TUI, thought they would take some responsibility or something and at least offer something for it ruining my holiday due to the hotel they use, not hiring capable staff. They have refused to take any.

'They won't ask the hotel to take any either as they feel it would harm the relationship with them, and lose them business and money.

'Said because I chose to jump in and save the kids and do this off my own back, then it's my responsibility.

Stunned holidaymaker Steve Tartt confronted the lifeguard asking 'what the hell are you doing?' after saving the kids

'So if I'd of just sat and watched two children drown, because a hotel you use didn't employ someone who is there to do this job couldn't be a***d to move, then I'd off got something then for it ruining my holiday!

'Never heard so much c*** in my life!!'

Tartt added that he made an official complain to TUI after the incident in July, but claimed to have heard nothing back.

He did receive a free bottle of sparkling wine for his heroics as a thank you.

He told the Liverpool Echo: 'It's a bit s***. It ruined my holiday. I had to take a week off work, and I'm self-employed.

'It was horrible, and it's out of order they way they've [TUI] handled it.'

A TUI spokesman thanked Tartt for his heroics and said counselling had been offered to him.

TUI said: 'We're sorry to hear that he's unhappy not to have received compensation, as we felt the most appropriate support we could provide would be to offer free access to our independent partner the Centre for Crisis Psychology (CCP).'
Ruslan Boshirov, left, and Alexander Petrov, right, claim they are the victims of a smear and suggested Britain was plotting to kill them

Europe's most wanted men spoke out for the first time today and insisted they are the victims of a smear campaign.

Here is a transcript

RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan: You called my cell phone, saying that you were Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov. You're Alexander Petrov, and you're Ruslan Boshirov. You do look like the people we saw in those pictures and videos from the UK. So who are you in reality?

Alexander Petrov: We are the people you saw.

Ruslan Boshirov: I'm Ruslan Boshirov.

AP: And I'm Alexander Petrov.

MS: These are your real names?

RB: Yes, these are our real names.

MS: But even now, frankly, you look very tense.

AP: What would you look like if you were in our shoes?

RB: When your whole life is turned upside down all of a sudden, overnight, and torn down.

MS: The guys we all saw in those videos from London and Salisbury, wearing those jackets and sneakers, these are you?

AP: Yes, it's us.

MS: What were you doing there?

AP: Our friends have been suggesting for quite a long time that we visit this wonderful city.

MS: Salisbury? A wonderful city?

AP: Yes.

MS: What makes it so wonderful?

RB: It's a tourist city. They have a famous cathedral there, Salisbury Cathedral. It's famous throughout Europe and, in fact, throughout the world, I think. It's famous for its 123-meter spire. It's famous for its clock. It's the oldest working clock in the world.

MS: So, you traveled to Salisbury to see the clock?

AP: No, initially we planned to go to London and have some fun there. This time, it wasn't a business trip. Our plan was to spend some time in London and then to visit Salisbury. Of course, we wanted to do it all in one day. But when we got there, even our plane could not land on the first approach. That's because of all the havoc they had with transport in the UK on March 2 and 3. Because of heavy snowfall, nearly all the cities were paralyzed. We were unable to go anywhere.

RB: It was in all the news. Railroads did not work on March 2 and 3. Highways were closed. Police cars and ambulances blocked off highways. There was no traffic at all  no trains, nothing. Why is it that nobody talks about any of this?

MS: Can you give the timeline? Minute by minute, or at least hour by hour, or as much as you can remember. You arrived in the UK  like you said, to have some fun and to see the cathedral, to see a clock in Salisbury. Can you tell us what you did in the UK? You spent two days there, right?

AP: Actually, three.

MS: OK, three. What did you do those three days?

AP: We arrived on March 2. We went to the train station to check the schedule, to see where we could go.

RB: The initial plan was to go there and return that day. Just take a look and return the same day.

AP: To Salisbury, that is. One day in Salisbury is enough. There's not much you can do there.

RB: It's a regular city. A regular tourist city.

MS: OK, I get that. That was your plan. But what did you actually do? You arrived. There was heavy snowfall. No trains, nothing. So, what did you do?

AP: No, we arrived in Salisbury on March 3. We wanted to walk around the city but since the whole city was covered with snow, we spent only 30 minutes there. We were all wet.

RB: There are no pictures. The media, television  nobody talks about the fact that the transport system was paralyzed that day. It was impossible to get anywhere because of the snow. We were drenched up to our knees.

MS: Alright. You went for a walk for 30 minutes, you got wet. What next?

AP: We traveled there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, and the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But it didn't work out because of the slush. The whole city was covered with slush. We got wet, so we went back to the train station and took the first train to go back. We spent about 40 minutes in a coffee shop at the train station.

RB: Drinking coffee. Drinking hot coffee because we were drenched.

AP: Maybe a little over an hour. That's because of the large intervals between trains. I think this was because of the snowfall. We went back to London and continued with our journey.

RB: We walked around London

MS: So, you only spent an hour in Salisbury?

AP: On March 3? Yes. That's because it was impossible to get anywhere.

MS: What about the next day?

AP: On March 4, we went back there, because the snow melted in London, it was warm.

RB: It was sunny.

AP: And we thought, we really wanted to see Old Sarum and the cathedral. So we decided to give it another try on March 4.

MS: Another try to do what?

AP: To go sightseeing.

RB: To see this famous cathedral. To visit Old Sarum.

MS: So, did you see it?

RT editor Margarita Simonyan tweeted today that she spent the evening with the suspects and suggested that they will deny any part in the plot

RB: Yes, we did.

AP: On March 4, we did. But again, by lunchtime, there was heavy rain with snow.

RB: For some reason, nobody talks about this fact.

AP: So we left early.

MS: Is it beautiful?

RB: The cathedral is very beautiful. They have lots of tourists, lots of Russian tourists, lots of Russian-speaking tourists.

AP: By the way, they should have a lot of pictures from the cathedral.

MS: Your pictures, you mean?

AP: They should show them.

MS: I assume you took some pictures while at the cathedral?

RB: Of course.

AP: Sure, we did.

RB: We went to a park, we had some coffee. We went to a coffee shop and drank coffee. We walked around, enjoying those beautiful English Gothic buildings.

AP: For some reason, they don't show this. They only show how we went to the train station.

MS: If you give us your pictures, we can show them. So, while you were in Salisbury, did you go anywhere near the house of the Skripals?

AP: Maybe. We don't know.

RB: What about you? Do you know where their house is?

MS: I don't. Do you?

RB: We don't either.

AP: I wish somebody would tell us where it is.

RB: Maybe we passed it, or maybe we didn't. I'd never heard about them before this nightmare started. I'd never heard this name before. I didn't know anything about them.

MS: When you arrived in the UK, when you were in London or in Salisbury, throughout your whole trip, did you have any Novichok or some other poisonous agent or dangerous substance?

RB: No.

AP: It's absurd.

MS: Did you have the bottle of Nina Ricci perfume which the UK presents as evidence of your alleged crime?

RB: Don't you think that it's kind of stupid for two straight men to carry perfume for ladies? When you go through customs, they check all your belongings. So, if we had anything suspicious, they would definitely have questions. Why would a man have perfume for women in his luggage?

AP: Even an ordinary person would have questions. Why would a man need perfume for women?

MS: Where would an ordinary person see that you have a perfume bottle?

RB: I mean, when you go through customs

MS: Long story short, did you have that Nina Ricci bottle or not?

RB: No.

AP: No, of course not.

MS: Speaking of straight men, all footage features you two together. You spent time together, you lived together, you went for a walk together. What do you have in common that you spend so much time together?

RB: You know, let's not breach anyone's privacy. We came to you for protection, but this is turning into some kind of interrogation. We are going too far. We came to you for protection. You're not interrogating us.

MS: We are journalists, we don't protect. We aren't lawyers. In fact, this was my next question. Why did you decide to go to the media? Your photos were published some time ago together with your names, but you were keeping silent. Today, you called me because you wanted to talk to the media. Why?

RB: To ask for protection.

AP: You say we kept silent. After our lives turned into a nightmare, we didn't know what to do, where to go. Police? Investigative Committee? UK Embassy?

RB: Or FSB. We didn't know.

MS: Why would you go to the UK Embassy?

AP: We really didn't know what to do. Where to go? Hello?

RB: You know, when your life is turned upside down, you don't really understand what to do and where to go. And many say, why don't you go to the UK Embassy and explain everything?

MS: And you know what they are saying about you, right?

AP: Of course we do.

RB: Yes, of course. We can't go out on the street because we are scared. We're afraid.

MS: What are you afraid of?

RB: We fear for our lives. And for the lives of our families and friends.

MS: So, you fear that the UK secret service will kill you or what?

RB: We just don't know.

AP: Simply read what they write there. They even offer a reward.

MS: What do you mean? There's a bounty on your head?

RB: Dmitry Gudkov, if I am not mistaken, promised a trip to the UK to anybody who brings us to him. Do you think it's OK? And you think we can feel just fine, walking around all smiling, talking to people? Any sensible person would be afraid'.
A total of six brands of strawberries have now been pulled from shelves after sewing needles and pins were found hidden inside the fruit.

The contamination is believed to have affected the brands 'Berry Obsession', 'Berry Licious', 'Love Berry', 'Donnybrook Berries', 'Delightful Strawberries', and 'Oasis'.

These brands are sold in Coles and Woolworths supermarkets across Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

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Six brands of strawberries have been pulled from supermarket shelves after sewing needles and pins were found inside the fruit

Police have asked consumers to pull apart the product before they bite in to the berries and take them to their local station if they are affected.

This week, a NSW mother discovered three pins hidden inside a punnet and posted it to Facebook.

Chantal Faugeras made the discovery, which comes after five confirmed contamination cases in Queensland and Victoria, when her 10-year-old daughter bit down onto the sharp piece of metal inside a strawberry on Wednesday.

Ms Faugeras said she found a further two needles inside the punnet she had bought from Coles in Wingham after she decided to squash the others as a precaution.

These brands are sold in Coles and Woolworths across Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT

A sixth case of needles being found in strawberries has come to light after a New South Wales mother said she found three pins hidden inside a punnet (one of which pictured)

Ms Faugeras notified others of the discovery in a social media post on Thursday.

Commenters on Ms Faugeras' post were grateful for the mother's heads-up, with one saying they had just bought four packets of strawberries from the same store.

Another said the fruit were still being stocked at the Coles Wingham branch on Friday morning.

Another said: 'Sent my seven-year-old with this brand of strawberries this morning. Just phoned the school after a friend had warned me and the office ladies are onto it thank god.

Mother Chantal Faugeras uploaded a video of her uncovering the second and third pin after her daughter had bitten down onto the first.

Supermarkets are working with their suppliers to investigate the incident

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, a Coles spokesperson said they were working with their suppliers, police and health regulators to investigate the incident.

The spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers is our priority and anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice.'

'Queensland Health has warned people should cut up all strawberries before consuming them.'

The discovery comes after five other cases of needles being found in the fruit - including one on Sunday where a man was admitted to hospital after swallowing half a sewing needle.

Queensland Police announced they had started an investigation into the contamination of strawberries on Wednesday

In another case on Thursday, Queensland mother Angela Stevenson almost gave one of the contaminated fruit to her 12-month-old daughter.

Two more affected punnets were found by people in Victoria and police reported a suspected copy-cat incident on Thursday where a small steel rod was found in a punnet in Queensland.

Queensland Police announced they had started an investigation into the contamination of strawberries on Wednesday - saying they believed the 'Berry Obsession' and 'Berry Licious' brands were those worst affected.

Queensland Strawberry Growers Association said on Wednesday they suspected 'a disgruntled ex-employee' may be behind the spate of incidents.
Passengers endured more rail chaos after a new high-speed Hitachi train broke down in Devon leaving hundreds stranded for six hours without rescue.

The 12.57pm Penzance to London Paddington express service came to a halt on the line north of Exeter, Devon, on Thursday evening.

Tired and frustrated passengers waited four hours before another train was brought in to rescue them and return them to Exeter St David's railway station - where there was a lack of taxis to take them on to hotels.

Passengers endured more rail chaos after a new high-speed Hitachi train broke down in Devon leaving hundreds stranded for six hours without rescue. The 12.57pm Penzance to London Paddington express service came to a halt on the line north of Exeter on Thursday evening

Passengers were left stranded and waiting for taxis after the GWR Class 800 Hitachi train broke down. The new Class 800 fleet, specially designed and built by Hitachi for the governments 5.7bn InterCity Express Programme (IEP), can travel at speeds of 125mph on diesel power

Angry passengers took to social media to blast GWR over their ordeal, with one suggesting her husband could have made a transatlantic flight during the delay. She said: 'My husband could have flown to New York quicker'

The new Class 800 fleet, specially designed and built by Hitachi for the governments 5.7bn InterCity Express Programme (IEP), can travel at speeds of 125mph on diesel power.

Angry passengers took to social media to blast GWR over their ordeal, with one suggesting her husband could have made a transatlantic flight during the delay.

She said: 'My husband could have flown to New York quicker'.

Passenger Mary Knight was travelling to Sussex with her husband and said: 'It took an awfully long time before they decided to evacuate the train.'

She said up to 400 passengers on the train had to move from one half of the train to the other before then queuing the entire length of it before eventually getting off and boarding the rescue train.

A male passenger said: 'The train came t a sop very suddenly. I knew it was an emergency stop.'

He claimed that earlier the doors would not close causing another 50 minute delay.

A male passenger said: 'The train came t a sop very suddenly. I knew it was an emergency stop.' He claimed that earlier the doors would not close causing another 50 minute delay'

The brand new top of the range train broken down around 5.15pm and many passengers did not get away from Exeter St Davids station until midnight

He said the rescue process was 'very long winded' and could have been done 'sooner than they did'.

Another angry man said: 'I got on at Exeter. I know it is not their fault the train broke down but they could have done the rescue a lot earlier.

'We had to wait three or four hours. It was a bit of a joke.'

The brand new top of the range train broken down around 5.15pm and many passengers did not get away from Exeter St Davids station until midnight.

Great Western Railway thanked passengers for their patience and are offering full refunds and the offer of a free journey.

A spokesman for GWR said: 'We'd to like to thank our customers for their patience following a broken down train in the Exeter area last night. We have offered everyone who was on board the train a full refund as well as a free journey with us at a later date'

The new Class 800 fleet, specially designed and built by Hitachi for the governments 5.7bn InterCity Express Programme (IEP), can travel at speeds of 125mph on diesel power

A spokesman for GWR said: 'We'd to like to thank our customers for their patience following a broken down train in the Exeter area last night.

'While there will be a full investigation to find out exactly what happened, our priority last night was to get customers on-board on their way as quickly and safely as possible.

'We used another train to get them where they needed to go, with staff handing out hot food and drink to customers, and we had additonal staff at Reading and London Paddington to help them complete their journeys.

'We have offered everyone who was on board the train a full refund as well as a free journey with us at a later date.'
A nurse said Wilkins, 23, pictured, was 'very calm' at the hospital when she would have expected her to be 'panicky'

A mother accused of seriously injuring her baby son sold sex services online, a jury has been told.

Elizabeth Wilkins, 23, posted suggestive pictures of herself on the internet offering various sexual services with prices ranging from 95 to 850, Plymouth Crown Court was told.

Dark haired Wilkins and fellow University of Plymouth student Erick Vanselow, 30, are accused of injuring their three-month-old son leaving him fighting for his life.

The boy, who cannot be named, suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken ribs when he was rushed to hospital in September 2016.

Doctors have told the jury that the injuries including brain damage could not have been caused accidentally.

Vanselow told medical staff that he had dropped the baby about a foot, causing him to strike his head on a counter.

Wilkins later told police she had seen Vanselow shaking the baby on an earlier occasion and also claimed he choked her during sex.

Barrister Michael Haynes, for Vanselow, asked Det Con Dave Cross about a the 'soft porn' pictures which were examined by police during the investigation.

Mr Haynes said: 'She [Wilkins] also markets her services, presumably sexual services for certain rates, such as 95 for 15 minutes.'

Det Con Cross said: 'There are various services up to 850.'

Erick Vanselow, left, and Elizabeth Wilkins, right, are accused of assaulting their child and causing GBH. They showed calmness that was 'not normal' in hospital, a court heard

My Haynes read from the website: 'I am open to most ideas and very sexually adventurous, please do not hesitate to contact me.'

He suggested there was a tick box of sex services - many of which had been marked by Wilkins.

Mr Haynes said there were reviews from men who had 'visited her'.

Earlier the court was read an interview by Wilkins - then in the last year of a law degree.

She told officers Vanselow threatened to leave her unless she performed sex acts.

She said: 'There were a lot of times he would be like "if you do not do this, I will leave you".

'It escalated to the point of choking me.'

Prosecutor Jo Martin QC said the baby was assaulted by either the mother, father or both parents on several occasions two years ago at the couple's former home in Plymouth.

The court heard that Vanselow, pictured, has 'inconsistencies' in his version of events

Vanselow, then studying international relations, and Wilkins have also been accused of failing to protect their only child.

The boy was taken to hospital with blood in his mouth in August when he was only five weeks old.

A month later he was taken to casualty with bloodshot eyes - and was released into the care of his father.

The court heard that Wilkins told a nurse she didn't mind seeing an operation to drill into the boy's bones because 'she was used to watching Holby and 24 Hours in A&E'.

He is now two years old and may have developmental problems in the future after spending months in hospital recovering from the injuries.

The couple were accused in court of showing a 'unusual' lack of emotion as the boy battled for survival.

One nurse told the trial the calmness of mother Elizabeth Wilkins was 'not normal'.

The parents have each denied individual counts of assaulting the baby with intent to cause GBH on a day in September 2016.

They also denied causing GBH without intent as well as causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.

Wilkins also denies causing him actual bodily harm in relation to the blood shot eyes incident when Vanselow was out of town at the time.

The trial continues and is expected to last several weeks.
A 37-year-old man has suffered serious burn injuries after he went to a temple and tried to cure his disability using black magic.

Bhawani Shankar Nanda, who has been disabled since birth and cannot walk properly, went to priests in the Vagamunda village of the Kandhamal district in Odisha, India.

A priest is said to have suggested the ceremony - in which Mr Nanda was hanged upside down over a fire - in hope of curing his disability permanently.

Bhawani Shankar Nanda suffered serious burn injuries after he went to a temple and tried to cure his disability using black magic

A brief video captured by one of the temple visitors displays the horror of the moment.

The ritual started by him being hanged upside down with a fire beneath.

Mr Nanda can be seen over the fire as a priest chants mantras and music is made around him.

An assistant to the priest then approaches from the other side and pours clarified butter, fueling the fire.

Disabled Mr Nanda can then be seen being hit by the flames as the assistant sprinkles more of the butter.

The ferocious flames rise to Mr Nanda's body and he can then be seen falling down towards the fire before the priest and his assistant rush to save him.

A video captured by a visitor to the temple shows the priests chanting and adding clarified butter onto a fire. The flames soon grow out of control and Mr Nanda is hurt

Priests rushed to try and move the disabled man away from the flames but it was too late. Mr Nanda was treated at a local hospital for burns to his face, chest and hands.

They hold him from falling down but it is too late to stop the burn injuries.

Locals and the relatives Mr Nanda then rushed him to a nearby hospital where he received treatment.

Mr Nanda is said to be stable and can be seen with burn injuries on his face, chest and hands.

Doctors in the hospital were surprised at the burn injuries and advised he and his family members to not believe in such type of black magic or blind faiths as it could have killed him.

The doctor also suggested Mr Nanda sought seek medical expertise in order to cure his disability rather than visiting the priest and performing black magic rituals.
A mother who lost 20 stone after getting a gastric bypass to achieve her dream body hanged herself because being thin made her feel worse, her husband claims.

Kelly Burndred, 37, weighed 30 stone at her heaviest in 2014, but slimmed down to just 10.5 stone by March 2015 after having weight loss surgery.

The mother-of-one, of Chesterton, Staffordshire, had battled with her weight since she was a child.

Her husband Gareth says she 'suffered most of her life', constantly obsessing about her size and developing post-natal depression after the birth of her daughter in 2003.

Kelly Burndred, 37 (pictured before and after her gastric band) weighed 30 stone at her heaviest in 2014, but slimmed down to just 10.5 stone by March 2015 after having weight loss surgery

Mrs Burndred is pictured with husband Gareth on their wedding day in the early 2000s

Mother-of-one Kelly Burndred (pictured before her weight loss with daughter Jess and husband Gareth) of Chesterton, Staffordshire, had battled with her weight since she was a child

He was hopeful her weight loss procedure would improve her mental health, but it ended up making it worse. 'We hoped, after the gastric bypass, that Kelly would find the happiness she craved. But her depression got much worse. She had blamed all her problems, all her life, on her weight,' he told Stoke on Trent Live.

After two unsuccessful suicide attempts, Mrs Burndred killed herself in April.

After two unsuccessful attempts, Mrs Burndred committed suicide in April 2018

Her devastated husband found her unconscious downstairs but paramedics were unable to save her.

Speaking to the website, he described his battle to cope with his wife's death: 'It's something I wake up in the night with.

'Telling Jess was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I drove to her grandparents and I broke the news.

'I feel guilty, that I couldn't save Kelly, that I didn't spot the signs  if there were any. But at the same time, I know I did everything I could.'

Mrs Burndred's hair fell out after her weight loss procedure, which her husband believes added to her anxiety.

The first attempt on her own life came when Mr Burndred was woken in the middle of the night to his wife running a bath and carrying an extension cable into the bathroom.

She admitted she wanted to kill herself, but he managed to talk her out of it and she began taking medication.

Gareth Burndred and his daughter Jess (pictured) has set up a support group in memory of his wife and her mother Kelly (pictured centre)

Then two days after the couple were watching a documentary on a Hollywood star's suicide. She insisted they watch it together and Mr Burndred thinks this could have been another sign.

Kelly Burndred, 37, (pictured after) weighed 30 stone at her heaviest in 2014, but had slimmed down to just 10.5 stone by March 2015 after having weight loss surgery

Days after she awoke in the middle of the night and said she wanted to go downstairs to be alone.

Her husband made her promise to come back to bed within the hour, but she never returned.

In the morning he ran downstairs when he realised her side of the bed was empty - to find her slumped on the floor.

The Burndred family has now set up Kelly's Legacy to raise awareness of mental health problems in their local area.

Mr Burndred and his daughter Jess have also been placing personalised notes on bridges near their home to reach out to people considering taking their own lives. An inquest into Ms Burndred's death will be later this year.

For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see samaritans.org for details.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on September 14

2018/09/14

At the invitation of the Russian government, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Vice Premier of the State Council Han Zheng will visit Russia on September 16-18. He will co-chair the fifth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov, and the 15th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak.

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Teo Chee Hean, Vice Premier Han Zheng will visit Singapore on September 19-21. He will co-chair with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean the 14th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting, the 19th China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting, the 10th China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council Meeting, and the 2nd China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Joint Steering Council Meeting.

Q: Can you tell us when President Xi Jinping will be meeting with the Venezuelan President? Would it be today or tomorrow?

A: What I know is that they will meet this afternoon.

Q: Could you talk more about Vice Premier Han Zheng's visits to Russia and Singapore and the bilateral cooperation meetings he will co-chair? How does China comment on the current China-Russia and China-Singapore relations?

A: At present, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is at its best level, and pragmatic cooperation in the investment and energy fields has continued to advance. A few days ago, President Xi Jinping and President Putin held their third meeting in this year in Vladivostok and reached important consensus on promoting pragmatic cooperation in various fields under the new circumstances.

Investment and energy cooperation is an important part of China-Russia pragmatic cooperation. During his visit to Russia, Vice Premier Han Zheng will hold the fifth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov, and the 15th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. These meetings will be held for the first time after new governments were elected in our two countries and new chairmen were selected for these two committees. The two sides will review cooperation results in the fields of investment and energy, focus on exchanging views on the implementation of the consensus between the two heads of state, explore measures for deepening cooperation, compare notes on the progress of major cooperation projects, and lay the groundwork for other important meetings between the heads of state and prime ministers of the two countries in this year.

Singapore is China's friendly neighbor. The two countries have established an all-round cooperative partnership marching with the times and carried out fruitful cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Vice Premier Han Zheng's visit is aimed at implementing the important consensus reached by the two leaders, strengthening strategic communication and deepening pragmatic cooperation. During the visit, Vice Premier Han Zheng will meet with Singaporean President Halima, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The two sides will focus on exchanging views on China-Singapore relations, the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern.

The bilateral cooperation mechanisms between China and Singapore at the vice prime ministerial-level include the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting, the Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council Meeting, the Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council Meeting, and the (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Joint Steering Council Meeting. These are the highest-level institutional communication channels between the two sides which have played an important role in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and driving economic and social development of the two countries.

Q: The Venezuelan delegation met with the Chinese side in Diaoyutai Guesthouse this morning. Can you tell us any information about these meetings?

A: President Maduro is on a state visit in China. President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Maduro. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman Li Zhanshu will meet with President Maduro on separate occasions. We will release relevant information in due course.

Q: According to reports, recently a Philippine fisherman was missing in waters off the Nansha Islands. The Chinese side has arranged for search and rescue operations. Do you have more details?

A: We have been informed by the Philippine side that on the afternoon of September 13, a Philippine fisherman fell into water and went missing in waters south to the Commodore Reef in the Nansha Islands. At the request of the Philippine side, China immediately dispatched vessels nearby to that area. The search and rescue efforts are still underway.

Q: The US Treasury Department has put sanctions on a Chinese-based tech company based in Yanbian, Jilin province due to its relationship with the DPRK. Has the Chinese government complained to the US government about these sanctions?

A: China has fully and strictly implemented DPRK-related resolutions of the UN Security Council. At the same time, we oppose any country using unilateral sanctions or imposing "long-arm jurisdictions" on Chinese entities or individuals in accordance with its domestic laws. China has lodged stern representations with the US, urging the US side to stop its wrong action.

Q: There is a correspondent of ours who has been traveling along the Mekong River doing a story about the development there. It is said that the Chinese side has blasted the river to expand it to allow commercial vessels to travel through. Some are welcoming this, but fishermen and conservationists are concerned about it and they perceive the efforts there as part of the one Belt and one Road strategy to control the global economy. Do you have any comment?

Geng Shuang: Where did your correspondent travel to?

Journalist: The border areas of Thailand.

Geng Shuang: Who is doing the construction there at this point? The Chinese side or the Thai side?

Journalist: The Chinese side.

A: I'm not aware of the specific situation you mentioned and have to check on that.

China participates in the Lancang-Mekong cooperation (LMC) as actively as always. In recent years, the LMC initiated by China has achieved rapid development, reaped a series of positive outcomes and been positively responded and echoed by all countries in the Lancang-Mekong area. These outcomes have gradually brought benefits to people of countries in the Lancang-Mekong region.

As to other consequences the blasting may have caused you mentioned, China and other countries in the Lancang-Mekong region always pay attention to prior environmental assessment and protecting local environment when carrying out relevant projects. In addition, any project won't be conducted without the consent of both China and the relevant country concerned.

Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative you mentioned, as a resident correspondent you must know it very well that it is an initiative for economic cooperation which follows the principle of consultation, cooperation and benefit for all and the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and transparency. It always pursues high quality, high standard, sustainability and environmental protection. We all bear witness to the positive outcomes and achievements of the initiative since its inception five years ago. I will share with you one single example here. Up to now, over 130 countries and international organizations have signed MOUs on the cooperation under the Belt and Road with China, which does speak volume to this issue. As we have been stressing, all like-minded countries can be part of the Belt and Road, and we remain open towards and welcome their participation.

Q: Who will lead Chinese delegation to the UN General Assembly and make a speech?

A: I suggest you wait another couple of days. We will release relevant information in due course.

Q: According to reports, the US recently said that China has more to lose and is under greater pressure than the US in a trade war. China's economy looks bad and its business and investment are "collapsing". What's your comment?

A: China's position on the issue of China-US trade disputes is clear and consistent. As we stressed many times, trade war never resolves any problem and will only hurt the US itself and others. As a Chinese saying goes, "Kill one thousand enemies, lose eight hundred soldiers." I believe there is no point arguing the difference between one thousand and eight hundred.

I believe you may have noted that, in public hearings on the proposed tariff increase on $200 billion of Chinese imports, most attendees believed that the tariff increase would harm US enterprises and even destroy relevant industries. The US Chamber of Commerce said in written testimony that the new tariffs would dramatically expand the harm to American consumers, workers, businesses, and the economy. In more than 1,400 written comments submitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, most businesses argued that new tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports will force Americans to pay more for items they use throughout their daily lives, from cradles to coffins.

According to a report issued by the American Chambers of Commerce in China and in Shanghai just yesterday, two-thirds of American companies in China say their business in China have been affected by the first round of tariffs the US imposed on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods. Over 70% of US businesses in China said they would be hurt if Washington's tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods goes ahead. The US government's tariffs will turn out to be just the opposite of their wish.

We again urge the US policymakers to heed the strong call of its industries and customers and the appeal for multilateralism and free trade from the international community. It needs to come back to its sense as soon as possible and stop unilateral and trade protectionist practices.

As to China's economy, according to latest statistics, the GDP grew at a rate of 6.8 percent in the first half of this year. The total imports and exports from January to August registered a year-on-year increase of 9.1 %. The number of foreign-invested businesses newly set up rose by 102.7%. Despite uncertainties and destabilizing factors from the outside, the general trend of steady growth for the Chinese economy remains unchanged. The Chinese government is confident in and capable of ensuring the steady and sound development of the economy.

To sum up, like what my colleague from the Ministry of Commerce and I said yesterday, the Chinese side has received the US' invitation for a new round of trade talks and we welcome that. A spiraling trade war is in the interests of neither side, and dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and good faith make the only viable way out for the problem.
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An 800-acre tropical island in the Pacific Ocean with sandy beaches and stunning greenery has gone on sale for 7.7million.

Lataro Island, which lies off the coast of Vanuatu in the south Pacific, features luxury accommodation and wildlife including owls, eagles, parrots and the endangered coconut crab.

Some 90 per cent of the island is a conservation reserve, with almost four miles of coral reef surrounding it in the immaculate blue ocean.

The owner's residence is made up of four separate buildings connected by covered walkways. It includes a kitchen, bar and dining area as well as a sun lounge area and swimming pool.

An aerial view of Lataro Island, a private spot in the south Pacific which has gone on the market for 7.7million

Some of the luxury buildings stand next to the beach by the clear blue water on the island in the Pacific Ocean

The buildings on the sea front with a backdrop of trees and greenery on the island which is teeming with wildlife

The owner's residence on the island features a swimming pool with deck chairs on the side in the luxury accommodation

The beautiful clear blue water next to the island which features several miles of coral reef and is largely unexplored

There is also a large two bedroom guesthouse, a self-contained caretaker's house, separate staff accommodation for up to eighteen people and a huge maintenance shed.

Many of the buildings are constructed in the Balinese style with plenty of exposed timber and dark tinted glass.

The island's listing says: 'Old growth rainforests, together with a wonderful array of flora and fauna has lain undisturbed for thousands of years.

'The sea surrounding the island is the ultimate playground for game fishing, diving, yachting, everything aquatic and there are several safe moorings for boats up to around 60 feet off the front of the property.

'A great super yacht anchorage is in the bay opposite and is visible from the property but don't expect to see many boats as they are few and far between.'

The island is around 25 miles from Million Dollar Point, where the U.S. dumped a trove of military equipment in the ocean after World War II.

An aerial view of the accommodation on the island, which features four buildings connected by covered walkways

The outside of one of the buildings on the island, in luxury accommodation which has been built in the last three years

A sun lounge area outside one of the buildings, with sofas, deck chairs and a view of the sea and sandy beaches on the island

A picture of the island residence's TV room shows a large sofa, ornate bookcase and enormous television screen
A decade after becoming a Russian Orthodox priest, Stanislav Vakhabov invited a 14-year-old boy from overseas to stay in his Sydney church flat, where he would be locked away and repeatedly sexually molested.

The 36-year-old, also known as Father Christopher, was on Friday jailed for at least five years and seven months for the crimes he committed within his home attached to the back of the Croydon parish.

His teenage victim, whose heavily religious mother sent him to Australia in 2014 to be under Vakhabov's care, was told they would sleep in separate rooms and he would be provided with religious guidance.

Stanislav Vakhabov (pictured) invited a 14-year-old boy from overseas to stay in his Sydney church flat, where he would be locked away and repeatedly sexually molested

He was jailed for at least five years and seven months for the crimes he committed within his home attached to the back of the Croydon parish

Instead, he would be isolated, hugged, kissed on the lips and have his genitals touched by the priest, who gave him alcohol and sedative medication to facilitate his sexual advances.

The elastic waistband of the boy's track pants would be torn as Vakhabov forcefully tried to remove them while on top of him in the single bed he demanded they share - claiming 'there was something wrong' with his couch.

Vakhabov also locked the boy inside his unit while in church and told him he wasn't allowed to leave on his own.

He was found guilty by a NSW District Court jury in February of detaining the teenager for his own sexual gratification, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and four counts of underage indecent assault.

Judge Kate Traill on Friday jailed Vakhabov for a maximum of seven years and six months, backdated to May 2015 and accounting for time already spent in immigration detention at Villawood and on Christmas Island.

'(He) was, in essence, living a double life,' she said.

'He committed the offences during the course of his Christian duties and, in fact, in the church grounds.'

Judge Traill said Vakhabov's 'predatory behaviour demonstrated a severe breach of trust' given his position was 'intimately interwoven' with the offending.

The Moldova-born foreign national became a Russian Orthodox priest in 2004 and came to Australia on a two-year, church-sponsored working visa in 2013.

Vakhabov will be eligible for parole from December 14, 2020 and is likely to be deported once released

The court heard Vakhabov initially made contact with the boy around April 2014 over VK, a Russian social media platform similar to Facebook, and they chatted before communicating via Skype up to four times a week.

The boy had never travelled internationally before but Vakhabov arranged his visa and was his official sponsor.

When first interviewed by police, he 'did not disclose any sexual abuse or inappropriate behaviour' because Vakhabov had told him 'if he told the truth, he would not be allowed to return to his family', Judge Traill said.

She cited comments in his victim impact statement, including that he 'could not fully describe his soul's pain'.

Vakhabov will be eligible for parole from December 14, 2020 and is likely to be deported once released.
Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller launched her latest battle against quitting the EU today promising the 'unspun facts' about Brexit.

The former model-turned amateur politician said she wanted the 'light of transparency' to shine on the Brexit debate.

Ms Miller, 53, has launched a series of campaigns on Brexit since successfully challenging the Government in the Supreme Court over Article 50.

She will speak at next week's Liberal Democrat conference amid continued speculation she wants a full-time political career.

Her previous campaigns have called for a second referendum on Brexit and for the whole process to be called off.

Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller (pictured today in Dover) launched her latest battle against quitting the EU today promising the 'unspun facts' about Brexit

The former model-turned amateur politician posed on the white cliffs of Dover to promote her new campaign

In her latest revolt against Brexit, Ms Miller said: 'Today there are just 196 days to go until our scheduled departure from the European Union.

'The end of 46 years of shared history, experience and endeavour with our European partners and allies. Every day, the hour glass runs emptier, the clock ticks more loudly.

'But where is that settled plan that we were once promised would be so easy?'

She claimed there was 'panic in the air' at the failure of the Government to set out where the Brexit process would end.

She said it would be 'grotesque' if the UK dissolved as an 'unintended consequence' of Brexit and described the current state of affairs as resembling a 'Brex-suicide'.

She added: 'This is not, surely, how it was meant to be? This is not what we want for ourselves or what we wish to bequeath to our children and grandchildren.'

Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street on Wednesday) has set out her blueprint for Brexit and insists it is the only 'credible and negotiable' plan on the table.

Calling on politicians to listen to the thoughts of people 'beyond Zone 2', she claimed they were 'stuck in their Westminster bubble' and were mostly 'impervious' to 'clearly identifiable shifts in public opinion'.

Over the last two months she said she had travelled the country speaking to Britons from 'every background and walk of life' to ask them what they think the outcome of the process should be.

Theresa May has set out her blueprint for Brexit and insists it is the only 'credible and negotiable' plan on the table.

It envisages the UK and the EU in a common trade area for goods, with Britain voluntarily following European rules to ensure current exports and imports continue.

At the same time, the PM wants Britain out of the single marker and customs union so the nation can pursue free trade deals an innovate on services.
An 'unlawful' protest by up to 5,000 prison staff over 'unprecedented' violence and safety concerns has been called off by their union after the Government agreed to drop the threat of court action.

Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, were told to return to work by 1pm following an agreement with prisons minister Rory Stewart.

General Secretary Steve Gillan said he was 'confident a deal is a deal' after the prison service 'backed down' over seeking an injunction against the walk-out.

Prison staff at HMP Wandsworth gathered outside the complex today after staging a 'walk out'

The union will meet with the prison service on Monday, he said.

POA members were accused of 'unlawful' action after they began demonstrating outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am over 'unprecedented' levels of violence.

The action had knock-on effects on court cases, with some defendants in custody unable to be transported to hearings.

Mr Gillan said: 'I'm pleased with the outcome. Well, in actual fact I'm saddened we had to do it in the first place.

'But now we hope for meaningful, constructive dialogue commencing on Monday.'

Prisons minister Rory Stewart said officers were 'putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk'

Thousands of prison staff took part in the demonstrations, the POA said.

It followed a damning report warning of a 'dangerous lack of control' at HMP Bedford, their union said.

A senior judge blasted the strike, saying that industrial action by prison staff was causing 'real problems' with a number of prisoners not arriving for his court.

The Honorary Recorder of Sheffield Jeremy Richardson QC was commenting at Sheffield Crown Court as he decided he would have to abandon an 'important' sentencing involving a gang who sold drugs and guns in Hull.

The judge said at least two of the six defendants who are in custody had failed to arrive at his court and he had been told that a van waiting to transport at least one of them was stuck outside Manchester Prison.

Pictured: Prison officers protest outside Exeter Prison over 'unprecedented levels of violence'

The POA General Secretary called for union members to protest until 'instructed otherwise'

Judge Richardson said: 'Until approximately 45 minutes ago I was blissfully unaware of any industrial action today. The van provided by the transport service is outside Manchester Prison. It cannot get access.'

The judge added: 'I have no idea as to the nature of this industrial action - who is taking it and what it is about.'

Judge Richardson said he would have to abandon the case and list it for another day.

He said: 'That fills me with great displeasure. Its taken a long time to arrange a date when a day can be set aside to deal with sentencing in this important case.'

The judge told two who were on bail: 'In common with you, Im profoundly disappointed that I cannot proceed to sentencing today.'

We are deploying our contingency plans but, by not turning up for work, these prison officers are putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk. Prisons minister Rory Stewart

In addition, the sentencing of 18-year-olds Luca Sanni, Che Stephens, and a third defendant, also 18, was adjourned until September 20 at Luton Crown Court as Stephens could not be produced from custody owing to the industrial action.

The three were due to be sentenced over a knife fight in The Mall in Luton town centre on January 21.

The judge wants all three to be present together for sentencing.

Richard Gilbert, 42, who has been an officer for 14 years at HMP Bedford, told how he is suffering with PTSD and depression after a group of inmates repeatedly kicked him in the head.

In July 2016, he challenged a prisoner in the exercise yard he suspected of having an illegal Sim card.

'I got pushed from behind, fell to the floor and a group started kicking me in the head,' he said.

Pictured: Members of the POA protesting outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London

'Ive got PTSD and depression at the moment and Im heavily medicated for that, and theyre looking to get me out of the service because I struggle to work with prisoners now.'

The officer suffered concussion but the mental impacts have been more persistent from the attack which came, he said, in the year that marked a shift in conditions at the prison.

'That was the turning point when things started to go wrong,' he said.

'We had an influx of NPS (new psychoactive substances) coming in and they were cutting the staff down.'

He was signed off sick for three months and is now on restricted duties in the control room.

The father-of-three faces a medical inefficiency dismissal and a struggle to find a new career.

Prison staff have been 'attacked, spat on, [had] excrement and urine thrown at them, and enough is enough now,' said the General Secretary of the POA union

The inmates were not brought to justice for the attack, the officer said.

Standards across the prison estate have come under intense scrutiny in recent years amid a slew of highly critical reports and a deterioration in safety measures.

Prisons minister Rory Stewart said: 'Prison officers do vital and important work and we urge them to return to their duty stations, in line with their obligations to the law and the prison service.

'It's irresponsible for the POA to encourage their members to take this unlawful action.

'We are deploying our contingency plans but, by not turning up for work, these prison officers are putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk.'

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would be seeking an injunction to stop the action.

HMP Wormwood Scrubs: A Category B prison in Hammersmith and Fulham

POA General Secretary Steve Gillan said the majority of prison officers would be outside prisons in car parks in protest against the 'unprecedented decline in health and safety standards over past six years'.

He said: 'We are coming out in protest to bring attention, under health and safety legislation, to the Government, to the general public, about conditions in our prisons for both prisoners and my members, of the rise in violence, the rise in drugs, the self-harm and everything that goes with it.'

I'm fed up of hearing of my members receiving smashed eye sockets, broken arms, broken legs, broken jaws, being attacked, spat on, having excrement and urine thrown at them, and enough is enough now. POA General Secretary Steve Gillan

Mr Gillan continued: 'Under legislation the Government and employer have a duty of care toward my members, and I'm fed up of hearing of my members receiving smashed eye sockets, broken arms, broken legs, broken jaws, being attacked, spat on, having excrement and urine thrown at them, and enough is enough now.

'We need ministers to start taking control of what's going on.'

The POA, which said it has 20,000 members in England and Wales, said about 90% of prison staff were members of the union.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke had raised the alarm over the potential for a 'complete breakdown' in order and discipline at HMP Bedford.

Inmates have effectively taken control at the violent, overcrowded and vermin-infested jail, his report has warned.

The inspection at HMP Bedford, which concluded last week, found that the prison had the highest rate of assaults on staff - 116 in the last six months.

The inspection also found that five self-inflicted deaths had occurred since the last inspection, the smell of cannabis and other drugs 'pervaded' some of the wings and living conditions were poor - often overcrowded, dirty and vermin-infested.

A report stated that HMP Bedford (pictured) was now in the hands of violent criminals

It emerged in May that HMP Bedford had been placed into 'special measures' after the Prison Service determined it needed additional, specialist support to improve performance.

The facility was hit by a major disturbance in November 2016, reportedly causing 1 million of damage.

The HMP Bedford report is the fourth urgent notification the Government has issued since the scheme was introduced less than a year ago.

The process has also been triggered in relation to HMP Nottingham, HMP Exeter and HMP Birmingham.

In his annual report for 2017/18, Mr Clarke warned that staff and inmates have become 'inured' to conditions unacceptable in 21st century Britain and highlighted how thousands of inmates live in squalid and overcrowded cells, locked up for nearly 24 hours a day.

Official figures published in July revealed that assault and self-harm incidents were continuing to rise, both reaching new record highs, and authorities also face the major task of tackling the flow of contraband.

In the 12 months to March, there were 13,119 incidents of finding drugs in prisons - a rise of nearly a quarter (23%) compared to the previous year.

Prisons minister Rory Stewart (pictured) said prison officers do 'vital and important work' and urged them to 'return to their duty'

New psychoactive substances such as Spice have been described as a 'game-changer' for safety behind bars.

Mobile phones and SIM cards are being discovered at an alarming rate, rising by 15% and 13% respectively in 2017/18.

The prison population almost doubled between 1993 and 2016 and it is forecast to 'steadily' rise by more than 3,000 over the next five years, according to Ministry of Justice analysis, reaching roughly 86,400 places in March 2023.

The MoJ said it doubled the prison sentence for anyone who assaults prison officers and added it would be investing 40 million to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem, with 3,500 new officers to help ease the burden.

A watchdog report warned that inmates had effectively taken control in HMP Bedford.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke pressured the Government to take urgent action, saying a recent inspection of the prison revealed a 'dangerous lack of control'.

Mr Clarke sent an assessment to Justice Secretary David Gauke detailing how 'extremely inexperienced' staff struggled to exert their authority, with prisoners regularly ignoring rules and staff instructions.

He said: 'Despite the best efforts of staff at all levels, there was a dangerous lack of control in many parts of the prison, leading us to fear that there could all too easily be a complete breakdown in order and discipline.

'At times it felt as if prisoners were effectively in control, choosing when or if to comply with directions and consent to authority.'

During the visit an inspector found prisoners throwing food from higher landings.

Mr Clarke said: 'Prisoners' behaviour was very rowdy and unrestrained and the incident had the potential to escalate.

'Staff were unwilling to go upstairs to intervene, and prisoners told the inspector this was not unusual.'

Mr Clarke triggered the 'urgent notification' scheme, which means the Government must respond within a month to set out its response to the findings.
A man has been arrested after driving his car into a crowd of people outside a bar in southern France while shouting Allahu Akbar, witnesses and local officials said.

The 32-year-old suspect, believed to be a local, sped towards a crowd of about 50 outside the bar at around 1am Friday local time, witnesses said.

However, his white Peugeot ran into barriers set up for the town's annual grape-harvesting festival featuring bull-fighting which attracts thousands of people.

Police inspect the scene outside a bar in the southern French city of Nimes after a man drove his car into a crowd standing outside early Friday morning, injuring two people

Two people standing behind the barriers received slight injuries to their legs.

After the crash the man tried to flee but was dragged to the ground by onlookers and 'roughed up' before police arrived.

He was in a state of 'mental confusion' during his arrest and has been hospitalised, public prosecutor Eric Maurel said .

Several witnesses told AFP that the man shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - God is Greatest in Arabic - during the incident.

A source close to the investigation said the man was not known to police for suspected radicalisation.

The man is being held on suspicion of attempted murder.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the man's motives, but said the investigation was being handled by regular police rather than anti-terror police.

Around 50 people were gathered outside L'Instant T bar at 1am when the car smashed into security fencing set up due to the city's grape-harvest festival this weekend (not pictured)
Rosie Duffield (file image) faced the threat of a censure motion before an outpouring of support, said the storm had impacted on her family.

Labour's first ever Canterbury MP has admitted she is considering whether politics is worth it after local activists tried to oust her for speaking out on anti-Semitism.

Rosie Duffield, who faced the threat of a censure motion before an outpouring of support in Parliament, said the storm had impacted on her family.

A group of activists are furious that she joined other Labour MPs and Jewish leaders in a protest outside Parliament earlier this year demanding Jeremy Corbyn finally get a grip on the crisis.

They accuse her of colluding with groups hellbent on causing 'damage to our party' and which 'groundlessly accuse the party of systematic anti-Semitism'.

Ms Duffield told the Guardian: 'Sometimes you have to ask yourself if positives outweigh negatives, and whether it is worth the effect it is having on my family,'

She added: 'It would be really nice if Jeremy could help each MP going through this with a personal statement, to make it clear that people  even those who do it without knowing it  don't do it in his name.

'I am not an anti-Corbyn MP just because I am standing up to anti-Semitism. That is a really clear line we could adopt.'

The Canterbury MP - who secured arguably Labour's result of the night in June 2017 - said the row had been a 'complete distraction' and a 'waste' of time better spent on constituents.

She said: 'It makes me really annoyed. For example, I wanted to go to the fracking debate, and I had a lot of constituents asking me to be part of it, but again today, the third day of this debacle, I've had to deal with the situation in the constituency and with the media.

'I didn't get to write a decent speech, so I didn't feel I could go to the debate, and it's actually something I really care about and my constituents care about.

'So it's a huge drain on my energy, on my time and it's distracting from what I'm really here to do.'

A group of activists are furious that she joined other Labour MPs and Jewish leaders in a protest outside Parliament earlier this year demanding Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at PMQs this week) finally get a grip on the crisis

The censure motion was proposed amid growing concerns that Labour moderates who dare to criticise the leadership face being purged from the party by the hard-left.

The motion against Ms Duffield was not a formal no confidence vote - but did single her out for severe criticism.

It tore into the Labour MP for joining the 'enough is enough' protest against Mr Corbyn held outside parliament in March this year.

Several other leading Labour moderates have lost confidence votes in their local parties after criticising the leadership over the racism row.

Labour MPs Joan Ryan - chair of the Labour Friends of Israel - Gavin Shuker and Chris Leslie have all lost votes in the past week.

They have blamed the votes - which are a precursor to deselection - on the 'intolerant hard left' who have penetrated local branches under Mr Corbyn's leadership.
Gary Gardner (pictured outside Leicester Crown Court) has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for putting money raised for the son of Lee Rigby into his own account

A 'despicable' conman who pocketed money given to a fund meant for the young son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby and then used it to record a music single and prop up his bank account has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Lorry driver Gary Gardner, 56, told charity donors money raised at a truck pulling event would go to the family of the Fusilier killed in the 2013 terror attack.

A jury at Leicester Crown Court was told Gardner, from Medbourne, Leicestershire, instead spent the cash on producing a music single he knew would be a 'flop'.

He was desperate to become a promoter in the music industry and deal with 'emerging music artists', the court heard.

Jailing 56-year-old Gardner for two counts of fraud, Recorder Helen Malcolm QC said: 'There has been an impact on every one of those who volunteered to assist you.'

Accepting that Gardner - who has previous convictions for theft and fraud from 1980 and 1995 - had not set out with the intention to defraud, the judge ruled that around 26,000 had been collected for Jack Rigby.

Recorder Malcolm added: 'Not one penny of the sums that you collected have been paid to Jack Rigby. I accept all the evidence that you worked very hard. In your favour I accept that you did not set out with the intention to defraud.

'The fact remains that what you did was undoubtedly dishonest. I would say it was indeed despicable.

'You used their [the Rigby family] name to collect funds at a time the community felt an upsurge of emotion in their favour.

'Not one penny of the sums you collected has been paid to Jack Rigby. It is an undoubted fact you were in a position of trust. Every single person thought it was for a good cause, each trusted you - and you have let them down.'

The fraudster admitted he spent up to 5,000 donated by the public for Jack Rigby on producing a charity music single, which only made 200

Recorder Malcolm added Gardner had caused 'particular trauma' to Private Rigby's widow, Rebecca, for putting her through another trial when she 'could have expected to be left in peace'.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by Samuel Skinner, prosecuting, Mrs Rigby added: 'It has taken me some time to come to terms with what happened after the murder of my late husband, Lee Rigby.

'Although I did not give evidence at that trial, I found it very difficult sitting in the court through that trial. I feel this matter with Mr Gardner will draw the eyes of the world on us again and it will be like reliving the events of that time.'

Mrs Rigby issued a written statement after he was jailed that read: 'On behalf of myself and Jack I would like to thank the residents of Medbourne, the police and members of the court for all their help and support.

'I would also like to thank the members of the jury for coming to the right and justified conclusion.'

Gardner denied taking money meant for Lee Rigby's son and putting it into his own bank account, telling police in 2016 the 431 transfer from a Nationwide treasures account was made to cover an expense.

The fraudster admitted he spent up to 5,000 donated by the public for Jack Rigby on producing a charity music single, which only made 200.

Opening the crown's case at the start of the one-week trial, prosecutor Samuel Skinner said Gardner also used profits for travel expenses in London as he transferred funds from the charity bank account to his own personal account.

Mr Skinner told jurors: 'The defendant appears to have an enthusiasm for promoting emerging music artists and it is the showcasing of these acts that has swallowed up most of the verifiable donations.

'In any event, the defendant used some of the money for a purpose that the original donors never intended and would not have approved if they had known.

'It appears that the defendant has spent all the money he received.'

The court was told the lorry driver put on truck-pull events in 2013, 2014 and 2015 - fundraisers which were attended by thousands of people, including Fusilier Rigby's widow and his son Jack.

Rebecca Rigby with son Jack at the Vigil of Fusilier Lee Rigby held at Bury Parish Church, Lancashire in July 11, 2013. Mrs Rigby said in court: 'Jack and myself have never received a penny from him'

Members of Lee Rigby's Regiment pull a six-ton lorry at event in Leicestershire organised by Gardiner on August 26, 2013 to raise funds for his son Jack

Giving evidence in the trial, Mrs Rigby said: 'There were talks of climbing Kilimanjaro, there were a number of things he wanted to do to raise funds for Jack.

'He spoke about large money - thousands - and it was as if it would set Jack up for life.'

Mrs Rigby was asked 'Have you ever received any money from this defendant?' to which she replied: 'Jack and myself have never received a penny from him.'

Gardner had denied three counts of fraud but was found not guilty of one count which alleged he failed to keep a record of the amounts raised from fundraisers.

After verdicts were reached, Steven Kennell from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: 'Gary Gardner's beneficiary, the trust set up for Fusilier Rigby's son, never received a penny from him.

'The CPS has presented clear-cut evidence to the court that Gardner did not pass any of the money he raised to the trust fund, and only made the local donations he did make when confronted about his activities.

'Whatever his intentions in starting his fundraising, the jury has agreed his activities constituted fraud, in failing to transfer the funds to the beneficiary and spending funds on the charity single.'

Lee Rigby was brutally murdered in Woolwich in May 22

Mr Kennell added: 'It was the prosecution's case that he has behaved dishonestly throughout, even inviting the Rigby family to attend his events and posing publicly with a presentation cheque to imply he had donated the money.'

In his police statement read to the jury last week, Gardner said: 'The single wasn't a success because of the bureaucracy of Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister and the press.

'They were making out they didn't want to upset any Muslims.'

Jurors heard claims 56-year-old Gardner raised at least 24,000 from various events but only 4,000 made its way to any charity because of his 'enthusiasm for promoting emerging music artists'.

Jack was just two-years-old when Lee was murdered in May 2013 by Islamic extremists in London.

He was killed on May 22, 2013, by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale. They ran him over, used knives and a cleaver to stab and hack him to death.

The men dragged Rigby's body into the road in Woolwich, London, and remained at the scene until police arrived.
Victoria Toth, 24 (pictured) from Orlando, Florida, was arrested or manslaughter over her two-year-old son

A mother has been arrested for manslaughter after she tortured her son and likely 'beat him to death with a toilet seat'.

Victoria Toth, 24, from Orlando, Florida, was arrested for the death of her two-year-old son.

Jacye Martin died from from blunt force trauma to the abdomen described as a 'sucker punch' which caused his insides to 'explode', WFTV reports.

Jacye Martin was malnourished and bruised when police found his body lying unresponsive in his bedroom in apartments in Washington Shores neighbourhood, Orlando.

An arrest report found that Jacye's death could have been prevented if he had been seen by a doctor.

Two-year-old Jacye Martin was found unresponsive by police in his bedroom and died from a 'sucker punch' injury to his abdomen

Investigators believe Jacye's death could have been prevented by Toth who was too 'scared' of getting in to trouble to seek medical attention

Doctors described Toth's behaviour as 'torture'.

Police found a 'broken toilet lid and broken toilet seat' in the bathroom in Jacye's bedroom. The toilet lid and seat appeared to be clean which indicated a 'recent struggle or fight.'

There were also fist-sized holes in the walls, according to police.

The arrest report shows that Toth found Jayce not breathing when she came home from work. Her boyfriend, Johnathan Pursglove, had been looking after the child at their home.

Fist-sized holes in the wall and a broken toilet seat were found in Jacye's (pictured) room. he toilet lid and seat appeared to be clean which indicated a 'recent struggle or fight'

An arrest report (pictured) described Toth's behaviour as 'torture' after she let him slip into a coma after blunt trauma

However investigators believe that Toth sat in the house for days as he slipped into a coma because she was 'scared of getting into trouble'.

Jacye's father, Robert Martin, said he was devastated and heartbroken.

He told WFTV: 'He always had a bright smile on his face. He could brighten up a room with his smile, with his laugh. His laugh was so distinct, it was so cute. It was adorable.'

Toth is charged with manslaughter of a child.
Hurricane Florence's winds were so fierce they caused a Ferris wheel to spin continuously in Virginia.

The ride at the Atlantic Fun Park on 15th Street in Virginia Beach was spotted continuously turning as Florence made landfall with 90 mph winds in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Ferris wheel spun several times during a 10-second video that was posted online by a WVEC reporter.

Hurricane Florence was pushing a life-threatening storm surge for miles inland with screaming wind that was destroying buildings in its path.

Hurricane Florence's winds were so fierce they caused a Ferris wheel to spin continuously in Virginia

The powerful storm already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left hundreds of thousands without power.

In Jacksonville, North Carolina, more than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing hotel at the height of the storm, and many more who defied evacuation orders were hoping to be rescued.

Florence has already inundated coastal streets with ocean water and forecasters say that 'catastrophic' freshwater flooding is expected along waterways far from the coast of the Carolinas.

Screaming winds bent trees toward the ground and raindrops flew sideways as Florence's leading edge moved in for an extended stay along the coast.

Forecasters said this onslaught could last for days, leaving a wide area under water from both heavy downpours and rising seas.

The storm's intensity held at about 90 mph (144 kph), and it appeared that the north side of the eye was the most dangerous place to be as Florence moved ashore.

The ride at the Atlantic Fun Park on 15th Street in Virginia Beach was spotted continuously turning as Florence made landfall

The National Hurricane Center said a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, reported 6.3 feet (1.92 meters) of inundation.

And about 46 miles farther up the waterfront, in New Bern, about 150 people were waiting to be rescued from floods on the Neuse River.

'Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience.' North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned, describing day after day of disastrous weather to come.

Cooper also requested additional federal disaster assistance in anticipation of what his office called 'historic major damage' across the state.

Flooding is seen New Bern, North Carolina, after early storm surges caused the Neuse River to burst its banks on Thursday

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm began buffeting the coast, and more than 12,000 were in shelters.

Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Officials said some 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it's unclear how many did.

The homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely empty, and schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia.

A sign warns people away from Union Point Park after is was flooded by the Neuse River in New Bern, North Carolina

Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches the area on Thursday

Once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (225 kph), the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday night.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as slow and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are 'supplied and ready.'

He also disputed the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico, claiming the figure was a Democratic plot to make him look bad.
A series of horrific cases of abuse and neglect inside nursing homes has led to concerns about the treatment of patients.

Melinda Walsh, from Queensland, said that she would cry after she left her mother Pamela, who was in an aged care facility.

'It could go for a couple of days  four or five days on end and we would find mum will be wearing the same underwear it was really, really distressing for us,' she said.

Melinda Walsh, from Queensland, said that she would cry after she left her mother Pamela (pictured), who was in an aged care facility

Her mother would cry and beg to come home and at one point her living situation was no better than a prison cell, she told A Current Affair.

Prakash Paudyal, 35, was charged earlier this month after secretly-filmed footage by Ayda Celine captured him allegedly assaulting her father.

In the video filmed last month David Nabulsi, 82, can be seen being repeatedly beaten with a shoe at a facility in Seaforth on Sydney's northern beaches.

She told the program: 'It's devastating and mentally I just don't sleep anymore. I'm there seven days a week because I don't trust the people looking after him.'

In Melbourne, Billy Avialiotis, who has cerebral palsy and was in hospital after a brain injury, was captured on video being choked by a nurse.

That nurse has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

Prakash Paudyal (pictured), 35, was charged earlier this month after secretly-filmed footage by Ayda Celine

His sisters just want to know their brother is in the right care and being properly looked after.

Craig Gear, CEO of Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) said staff at aged care facilities need proper training.

'We need to be looking out for abuse and people need to call people like us at OPAN if they're feeling like there are concerns about elder abuse,' he said.

Australia's population of over 65s is expected to hit 8.8million in the next 40 years, according to the Australian Institute of Welfare and Health.

Currently only five per cent of older Australians live in cared accommodations such as nursing homes.

The Federal Government has announced $106million boost to help support the care industry.
JAXA's (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) launch of its HTV-7 resupply ship to the International Space Station has been rescheduled to Friday.

U.S. time. Meanwhile, the Expedition 56 crew members focused on life science and sent down imagery and video of Hurricane Florence on Wednesday.

Mission controllers in Japan have rescheduled the HTV-7's launch to Friday at 4:59 p.m. EDT (5:59 a.m. Sept. 15 Japan standard time) due to weather in the Pacific. The JAXA cargo craft is now planned to deliver over five tons of food, fuel, crew supplies and new science gear to the station Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7:25 a.m.

In space, four Expedition 56 astronauts teamed up throughout Wednesday to study how living in space affects microbes living inside the gastrointestinal system of rodents. Results will help doctors devise plans and treatments to keep astronauts healthy on long-term missions in outer space.

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Florence is headed for the east coast of the United States and forecasted to gain strength before landfall early Friday. As the orbital lab flew 250 miles above the category four storm this morning, the crew took the opportunity to capture photo and video of Florence.

On-Orbit Status Report

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Launch Delay: Due to an unfavorable weather forecast for tomorrow's HTV launch attempt, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has delayed the HTV-7 launch to Friday, 14 September at 20:59 GMT (15:59 CT) with capture on Tuesday, 18 September at 11:25 GMT (06:25 CT).

Rodent Research-7 (RR-7): The crew completed the first of two days of rodent operations for the RR-7 investigation. Crewmembers will perform bone densitometer scans, blood draws, fecal pellet collections, and sampling operations. The RR-7 investigation examines how the space environment affects the community of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of mice (also known as the microbiota). It also looks at microgravity's effects on multiple physiological systems known to affect the microbiota, including the gastrointestinal, immune, metabolic, circadian, and sleep systems. These studies should help explain mechanisms underlying interactions between these systems and the role of the microbiota in these interactions.

Time Perception in Microgravity: The crew perform a session for ESA's Time Perception in Microgravity investigation today. The accurate perception of objects in the environment is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of motor tasks. Time is fundamental to motion perception, sound localization, speech, and fine motor

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons (RADI-N2): Today a USOS crewmember retrieved eight bubble detectors from deployed locations inside the Japanese module (JPM1D5) and hand them over to a Russian crewmember, who will process all the detectors in the Bubble Reader.

Food Acceptability: Crewmember performed the questionnaire. The Food Acceptability investigation seeks to determine the impact of repetitive consumption of food currently available from the spaceflight food system. Results are used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Receptacle Remove and Replace (R&R): The crew removed and replaced the WHC Urine Receptacle and Insert Filter. After replacement, a functionality test of the WHC was performed and the WHC was declared operational.

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Live Event: Serena participated in a live Educational PAO event with Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colorado. A graduate from Poudre, Serena spoke with 100 to 300 students currently enrolled in various levels of physical science classes. Today's event will be incorporated into a culminating activity centered around science and experimental design in space.

Node 3 Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Activation and Data Gather: Yesterday afternoon, ground controllers powered up the Node 3 MCA to checkout the newly installed ORU 2 (S/N F0007) that was installed on 27 August. Controllers gathered data for approximately one hour and performed a Full Calibration while rapid sampling air from Node 1; teams are currently reviewing and interpreting the data collected during yesterday's testing and this morning's Zero Calibration.

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Li-Ion Battery Data Logging: The crew terminated a second charging Autocycle of two EMU Long Life Batteries-2 (LLB-2s) with data logging. By analyzing data from these two Autocycles, ground experts will be able to better understand the charge and discharge capacities of these new and improved LLB-2 batteries as well as compare charging system performance between the on-orbit and ground based systems. Data gathered during the first Autocycle show that the first set of LLB-2 batteries charged last week are a GO for EVA and charged as expected.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Material Science Research Rack (MSRR) Leak Check

N3 MCA Calibrations

Two-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 09/13:

Payloads

Microbial Tracking-2 Saliva Collection

Rodent Research 7 Sampling

Food Acceptability

Tropical Cyclone setup and event

Systems

HTV-7 OBT

Friday, 09/14:

Payloads

BCAT Camera Activities

Meteor System Disk recovery

CAL Fiber cable troubleshoot

Time Perception Survey

Plant Habitat Science Carrier #2 install

Tropical Cyclone Hardware uninstall

Systems

HTV-7 ROBoT Session 2

N2 Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) Installation and Checkout

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Rodent Research Animal Transfer

Rodent Research Operations 1A

Visual and technical inspection of Potok-150MK Air Scrubbing Device in SM.

ISS HAM Service Module Pass

In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Receptacle (UR) and Insert Filter (IF) Remove and Replace

Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan

Rodent Research Operations 1B

Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Power Cycle

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan

 configuration for MRM1

SEPARATSIYA - Flushing Centrifugal Multi-Purpose Vacuum Distiller () and Urine Circulation Loop. Auto distillation of water with pre-treat solution.

Environmental Health System (EHS) - Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing

Rodent Research Operations 1B

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan

Rodent Research Operations 1B

Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Long Life Battery (LLB) Terminate

Rodent Research Centrifuge Setup

Vozdukh checkout for temporary vacuum line via [ ].

Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude

Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan

Rodent Research Operations 1B

 Maintenance

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

Rodent Research Bone Densitometer Scan

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record

Rodent Research Animal Transfer

Rodent Research Operations Review

PROBOY. RS1 Laptop Ops.

PROBOY. Penetration Simulator Ops.

Binary Colloidal Alloy Test - Battery Changeout

Cleanup of Columbus Cabin

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

Time experiment science

Rodent Research Operations 1B

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) - JEM

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) EDV-Y Swap

Rodent Research MELFI Insert

Rodent Research Centrifuge Configure

Columbus Cabin Restore

Rodent Research Operations 2A

Rodent Research Operations 2B

HRF Centrifuge Spin Conclude Final

MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements.

PROBOY. Copy and Downlink Data

Rodent Research MELFI Insert 3

PROBOY. Copy and download data to memory card.

Radi-N Detector Retrieval/Readout

Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover

MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeters from USOS

Food Acceptability Questionnaire

MATRYOSHKA-R.BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and reading data

IMS Delta file prep

Teardown the PS-120 Junction Box and stow, and reconfigure A/L UOP

WORF Laptop Connect

Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Termination

Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Termination

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A weatherman was forced to walk off air during a live broadcast as his TV station was evacuated due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence.

Meteorologist Donnie Cox was forced to evacuate from the TV studio in North Carolina as Hurricane Florence threatened the building with a potentially deadly rise in flood water.

Rivers in the waterfront city of New Bern began to overflow, swamping the streets with flood water and forcing residents to evacuate the area.

Eerie video as WCTI's meteorologists finally evacuate due to rising waters mid-broadcast, leaving just the radar of Florence's rain bands looping on repeat pic.twitter.com/9vxFqB8ZXl  Brian Kahn (@blkahn) September 14, 2018

The weatherman suddenly announced to viewers his newsroom in New Bern would have to be evacuated due to Hurricane Florence

Waves slammed into the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina as Hurricane Florence hit land

Broadcaster WCTI captured the moment the forecaster announced on live TV the station had to be evacuated, as he slowly moves off camera leaving viewers to watch the storm graphic swirling in the background.

As Cox described the situation in Myrtle Beach, he then announced WCTI's sister station would carry on the coverage of the storm as the building needed to be evacuated.

Cameras carried on rolling as he calmly shuffle out of the shot.

He said: '...is going to continue our coverage so we can continue the evacuation of this building because of the rise in water.

'We're going to take you now to the coverage from our sister station in Myrtle Beach.'

He was said to be one of the last members of the team to stay behind to keep residents 'up to date' on Hurricane Florence.

Donnie Cox had to suddenly walk off air during his live broadcast as rising flood water threatened his WCTI station

And gone: Weatherman leaves cameras rolling. New Bern was stuck by a huge storm surge as winds of up to 90mph battered the south-east coast of America

Broadcaster WCTI captured the moment weatherman Donnie Cox announced on live TV the station had to be evacuated

At least 12,000 people sought refuge in shelters in North Carolina and nearly 300,000 customers were reported to be without power

The forecaster initially said he would stay in the newsroom to keep viewers up to date, but less than 20 minutes later he was forced to get out of the building.

He added: 'We have the situation that has developed here at the station and that is water is getting close to the building.

'The building has been evacuated, just so that you know. We are staying here to keep you up to date.'

Hurricane Florence hit the south-east coast of the US last night with winds of up to 90mph and a storm surge of 10 feet.

Around 150 people were left waiting to be rescued in New Bern and in Jacksonville, North Carolina, flood water knocked down gas pumps and trees, while residents were warned to avoid roadways.

More than 60 people including children had to be pulled from a collapsing motel in the city.

The tourist hot-spot of Myrtle Beach was left deserted as many residents fled their homes in fear of the storm.

At least 12,000 people sought refuge in shelters in the state and nearly 300,000 customers were reported to be without power as the outer band of the storm approached.
Rueben Braithwaite, 17, admitted to the murder of Fiona Scourfield at Swansea Crown Court

A schoolboy who admitted killing his stepmother with and axe and a samurai sword at her remote Welsh farmhouse has been jailed for life.

Rueben Braithwaite, 17, admitted to the murder of Fiona Scourfield at Swansea Crown Court in July and has been given life imprisonment today, with a minimum tariff of 15 years.

The body of Mrs Scourfield was found at Broadmoor Farm, near Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, on March 6.

The teenager is said to have carried out the sickening attack after viewing videos of extreme violence, including beheadings and mass killings, on the website 4chan.

Braithwaite lured the 54-year-old victim out of her house by saying there was an injured cat before he used an axe to batter her over the head seven times before slicing her throat with a samurai sword.

After carrying out the attack, he took two photographs of the victim lying in a pool of her own blood, which he intended to upload on the internet.

After carrying out the attack, Braithwaite took two photographs of the victim lying in a pool of her own blood, which he intended to upload on the internet

The body of 54-year-old Fiona Scourfield was found at Broadmoor Farm, near Laugharne in Carmarthenshire, on March 6

Braithwaite told a 999 operator that his motive for the attack was that he was unhappy with his own life and wanted to be arrested. He also claimed he was too scared to commit suicide.

The court heard he planned the murder her the night before as he was laying in bed.

After his arrest Braithwaite told police: 'I wanted to kill her without distress.

'I wanted her dead so that i could have a life. But I didn't want to kill her in any psychotic way.'

Police at the entrance of Broadmoor, a property near St Clears in Carmarthenshire, Wales

The sickening attack was carried out in March this year. Braithwaite has now been jailed for a minimum of 15 years

Braithwaite helped his stepmother look after her menagerie of 32 animals at her log cabin standing in 16 acres of the Welsh countryside.

The court heard March 6 was a 'normal day' - the teenager had come home from school to feed the chickens and goats as usual.

Prosecutor John Hipkin said: 'The boy said after feeding the animals he went outside and grabbed an axe from a workshop.'

After carrying out the attack, he called police about the twisted attack and told them 'I've got blood on my hands'.

'After the blood stopped flowing I used my mobile phone to call the police.'

Braithwaite admitted murder at an earlier hearing. He was 16 at the time of the attack and is now 17.

There were sobs from the public gallery as a victim impact statement from Mrs Scourfield's mother Charlotte was read to the court.

Braithwaite admitted murder at an earlier hearing. He was 16 at the time of the attack and is now 17

Braithwaite was just 16-years-old when he murdered his stepmother Fiona Scourfield (pictured)

She said: 'It is beyond comprehension that he could murder the person who looked after him for the last four years.'

Paul Hobson, defending, said: 'He has committed a dreadful crime against Fiona Scourfield who was devoted to her family, friends and animals.

'He has thrown away his future at the age of 16.

'If he was an adult the starting point for sentencing would have been 25 years.'

Judge Mr Justice Picken jailed Braithwaite for life with the recommendation he serves a minimum of 15 years.

He said: 'You made a clear decision to go and find the weapons and use them with the sole intention of killing Mrs Scourfield.'

He added: 'The savagery of the attack on a woman who cared for you makes it all the more worse.'

Ms Scourfield, who grew up in Laugharne, was a volunteer with the UK German Shepherd Rescue charity.

In a tribute released after her death her family said: 'Fiona was a loving and caring person who will be remembered for her kindness, especially her kindness to animals.

'We would like to thank everyone for their support at this horrific time. It has meant so much to the whole family.

'We are distraught by our loss.'

Today a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons,admitted her murder when he appeared in the dock at Swansea Crown Court

In the aftermath of the tragedy Suzanne Syers, a trustee at the charity, said: 'Fiona basically ran Wales for us.

'She would travel to check on dog welfare and fundraised all over for us, including in Carmarthen's Morrisons and Pets At Home shops.

'She loved what she did with us, she was so passionate about dogs and animals. She came to us eight years ago when we first started the charity. It was then that she adopted her dog, Bruno, who she adored.

'She adored all animals and was so caring. We are all devastated here, she was loved by us all.'

Reporting restrictions were lifted to allow Braithwaite to be named and photographed.
A family of four was sentenced to death by a Chinese court today after being found guilty of murdering their landlord and his whole family.

The criminals killed their landlord as well as their landlord's wife and two grown-up children in 2017 after being urged to pay their rent, according to Qingdao Intermediate Court.

The chilling murder case, which took place in one of China's most modern cities, has shocked the entire nation.

A handout picture released by Qingdao Intermediate Court shows the Li Family in court today

The criminals and the victims lived in the same residential building in the Chengyang District of Qingdao, a major city in east China with more than six million residents.

The criminals have been named Li Jizhong 40, his wife Li Chenghua, 32, his father Li Zhongzhi, 68, and his mother Jin Shanjin, 68. All of them are Chinese nationals, but are ethnically Korean, according to a previous police notice.

The Li family lived on the fifth floor while their landlord's family, the Ji family, lived upstairs on the sixth floor.

Reports from 2017 claimed that the Li family had been living in their rented flat for a month, but had yet to pay their monthly rent of 18,000 yuan (2,000).

The family have been sentenced to death after murdering their landlord and his whole family in November, 2017. The court said the criminals had pleaded guilty and chosen not to appeal

In an online statement today, Qingdao Intermediate Court said that Li Jizhong thought of kidnapping his landlord and the landlord's family after the landlord had repeatedly come to urge him and his family to pay the rent in October, 2017.

The court said Li Jizhong planned to rob the Ji family after kidnapping them, so he and his family 'could have a better life'.

Li Jizhong then convinced his wife and his parents to join the plan, and all of them agreed. They planned to trick the Ji family into their flat and kill them if they resist. The four bought blades, ropes and shoelaces as tools and rehearsed before carrying out the crime in November, 2017.

The court said the Li family duped the four members of the Ji family into their flat one by one on November 14, 2017, before killing them separately.

The chilling murder case took place in Qingdao (file photo), a modern metropolis in China

The court said the Li family first told the landlord - the head of the Ji family - that their TV had broken and needed fixing before detaining him in the bedroom of their flat at around 6pm.

Then they told their landlord's wife they wanted to sign a new contract, tricking her to come to their flat before attempting to kidnap her. The landlord's wife fought back, so they suffocated her.

At around 9pm, the Li family 'invited' the landlord's son to their flat to 'chill out'. As they tried to abduct him, he screamed, so they suffocated him too.

Right after, the landlord's daughter was told by the Li family to go to their flat to 'get the new contract'. She was bound by tapes and was raped by Li Zhongji before dying.

On the day, Li Jizhong took 4,700 yuan (523) in cash and other items worth 675 yuan (75) from the flat of the Ji family, the court said.

At around 11:30pm, it is said that the landlord - who had been kept in the bedroom by force - was killed by the Li family with ropes.

The criminals were tenants of the victims who live in the flat above them in Qingdao, China

The court did not explain if the landlord had witnessed the killing of his family members when he was alive.

After committing the murder, the Li family left their rented flat and fled to Beijing by taxi on the morning of November 15. They were apprehended by the police at around 6pm on November 16.

The court said all of the four criminals had pleaded guilty.

It said the criminals' motives were 'extremely despicable' and their methods were 'extremely cruel'. It added that their behaviour had brought great harm to the society with 'particularly severe consequences'.

Li Jizhong was found guilty of robbery, rape and intentional killing. Li Chenhua, Li Zhongzhi and Jin Shanjin were found guilty of intentional killing. All of them were sentenced to death.

The court said the criminals had chosen not to appeal. The date of the execution has yet to be announced.
Dr Rachid Mekhalfia (pictured) was stabbed in the knee as a gang of three moped thugs stole his 75,000 Swiss watch in Kilburn

A wealthy financier was stabbed with a machete and had his 75,000 Swiss watch stolen by a gang of moped thugs.

Dr Rachid Mekhalfia, 46, was attacked by three men while a mechanic inspected his Range Rover on Palmerston Road, Kilburn.

One of the moped muggers shouted 'stab him, stab him' before he was knifed in the knee at around 7.15pm on August 22.

Dr Mekhalfia, who lives in Knightsbridge, surrendered his 75,000 silver Patek Philippe watch and the attackers fled the scene on moped.

The father-of-four, who runs a wealth management firm, offered 5,000 for information about the attackers after he became frustrated with police's progress.

He told the Standard: 'I am traumatised by all of this. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I could have been killed. I won't open my car window now when I'm stopped, and I always panic whenever I see a moped.

'I knew I had to give the watch up. I've got a wife and four children, it was not worth losing my life over. Everything was happening so fast, I just knew I had to survive.'

He had taken his Range Rover for repairs the day before he was due to start a family holiday.

Dr Mekhalfia, who lives in Knightsbridge and runs a wealth management firm, was attacked by the moped muggers as his Range Rover was being serviced in Palmerston Road on August 22

During the attack the mechanic thought the gang were trying to take the range rover so he tossed Dr Mekhalfia's keys into the bushes, leaving him unable to escape

The victim claims that once police arrived witnesses refused to give evidence.

His attackers were described as black males aged 18 to 25.

Speaking of his 5,000 bounty, Dr Mekhalfia said: 'I want to make a difference. We must bring these thugs to justice.'

It isn't the first time a gang of moped thugs made an attempt on his watch - in January a group armed with hammers and a gun attacked his 200,000 Bentley as he waited in traffic, but Dr Mekhalifa drove away from the group.

'These people do not care who they target, they will do it to anyone, and I am fed up with it,' he said.

'There are not enough police around and these people are getting away with it.'

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

Detective Constable Jess Bannister, from Central North CID, said: 'This was a violent robbery and it is only by sheer luck that the victim did not suffer any long-lasting injuries; however it is still totally unacceptable that three men armed themselves with knives and went to take something that does not belong to them.

'We are appealing for anyone who may have recently bought a watch fitting the description of the one stolen to call police so that it can be returned to its rightful owner.'

The watch has many scratches and the only thing that is new is one strap link.

It also has one noticeable scratch on the glass.

Anyone with information is asked to call Camden and Islington CID on 020 8345 0298 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact them via crimestoppers-uk.org.

The 5,000 is offered by Dr Mekhalfia - it is not a police reward.
Rhian Desouza, 43, pictured at Swansea Crown Court today, has been spared jail after admitting making sexual images of children

A primary school headteacher caught with x-rated pictures of her teenage lesbian lover has avoided jail but banned from teaching for life.

Rhian Desouza, 43, was handed a two-year community order at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children in August.

The court heard she had a secret fling with the girl, who was a willing partner.

But although their relationship was legal, it is against the law to take or make indecent images of people under 18.

Desouza, who was suspended from her role as head of Gellionnen Primary School in Clydach, Swansea, received two such images via Snapchat on her Samsung phone, which police were able to recover using specialist technology.

The court heard her career is in ruins and she will never teach again.

Judge Paul Thomas told her: 'Your reputation and standing in the community, once sky high, has been irretrievable damaged.

'I have no doubt you will lose your job, your status and career. I can see no way you will ever teach again.'

Desouza, of Llanelli, South Wales, shook uncontrollably in the dock as she was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

She was given a two-year community order and told to attend a rehabilitation course and carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Desouza was head at the 190-pupil Gellionnen primary school in Swansea, for five years up until her suspension earlier this year.

The photographs did not relate to any child past or present at the school.

Prosecutor Carina Hughes said: 'Desouza embarked on a relationship with the girl who was 16 at the time.

'She was not under the age of consent and the relationship was consensual.

'The girl sent her two naked photographs of herself on Snapchat. They dropped off her mobile in a short period.'

Desouza, pictured, was suspended from Gellionnen Primary School in Clydach, Swansea, following her arrest

But police became aware of the photographs and were able to find them on the teacher's phone history.

One of the photographs was category A, the most serious, the other was Category C.

The girl's mother told the court that the impact on her daughter was immense and she had become 'socially isolated' since the photographs were discovered.

Georgina Buckley, defending, said: 'This was borne out of a consensual and loving relationship.

HOW THE LAW WORKS Rhian Desouza's relationship with her 16-year-old female lover was legal, because she was over the age of consent. There was also no breach of trust because the girl had never been a pupil of Desouza or attended a school she had worked at. But the law was broken because the Protection of Children Act 1978 prohibits sexual images being made or circulated of anyone aged under 18. Thus receiving the images via Snapchat meant she had committed the offense. Desouza admitted the crime at the first opportunity and her barrister told the court the case was an 'anomaly' because of the unusual circumstances. Advertisement

'There was no breach of trust and this was a lawful relationship,

'The law is that you can have a sexual relationship with someone over 16 but you can't take indecent photographs of them. It is an anomaly.'

Judge Thomas said he when heard about the case he thought only a prison sentence can be justified.

But he told Swansea Crown Court: 'My first reaction was that a prison sentence was inevitable for a headteacher to be found with indecent images of a child.

'Now i am aware of the facts, the scenario is a very different one.'

'The girl was 16 and it was a consensual relationship which is entirely lawful.

'Whether the relationship was wise, decent or appropriate is another matter altogether.

'But this is not a court of morality, it is a court of law.'

Desouza broke down in tears and was hugged by family members as she left the court.

The primary school and Swansea council said in a joint statement: 'We would like to reassure parents that the court proceedings do not relate to any pupil, past or present, at any school the individual has taught at.

'As soon as we were made aware of the investigation by police she was suspended and remains so.

She was headteacher at Gellionnen Primary School, pictured, for five years

'The schools Governing Body continues to undertake the required and necessary internal procedures, but would like take this opportunity to thank parents, carers and the wider community of the school for the overwhelming support they have offered both staff and the school since the beginning of the new term.'

But parents at the school were outraged at being kept in the dark about the charges against the well-respected head.

Some even sent flowers to the school believing Desouza was ill and unaware she was suspended.

One father with a child at the school said: 'She is lucky to have got off - if it had been a male teacher i think he would be behind bars now.

'We place so much trust in teachers especially the head of a school who should set high standards,

'Desouza's behaviour was illegal and immoral in my eyes - i hope the judge is right and she never teaches again.'

The teacher, pictured right at court, was handed 200 hours of unpaid work and told to sign the sex offenders' register for five years

The married mother-of-two has also been described as a 'pillar of the community'.

Her husband Mike has worked as a digital photographer and owns a media company called Skaface Ltd, he is a keen runner and Desouza is involved in a local choir.

He has worked in TV and cinema as a production accounts.

On social media he lists his credits as Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and The Mummy.

Desouza, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, has been head of the Welsh-speaking school - formally known as Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gellionnen - for more than five years.

It has 187 full-time pupils aged three to 11 including a nursery.
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A secret Cold War nuclear bunker which was considered the 'first defence against the Russians and could accommodate 400 politicians underground will open to the public for the first time.

The historic bunker in Barnton Quarry, near Edinburgh, was built in the 1950s in the midst of fear of Soviet power - and remained a secret until the 1980s.

Deep underground in Corstorphine Hill, four miles from the capital, it served as Sector Operations Centre for co-coordinating RAF fighter jets and protected Scotland from attack by Russian long-range nuclear bombers until around 1960.

The historic bunker in Barnton Quarry, near Edinburgh, was built in the 1950s in the midst of fear of Soviet power - and remained a secret until the 1980s. Deep underground in Corstorphine Hill it served as Sector Operations Centre for co-coordinating RAF fighter jets and protected Scotland from attack by Russian long-range nuclear bombers until around 1960

It was used as a control centre where information was analysed, and became a base for a radar air defence system. Later it was reconfigured to become a regional seat of government in the event of a nuclear attack, designed to accommodate 400 politicians and civil servants for up to 30 days

But in the 1990s it fell victim to vandals who torched it and raided the interior for scrap metal. An amateur historian who grew up near the bunker as a child and was fascinated by it became involved in the restoration project when he visited with a friend from Russia. Grant More, 38, volunteered his time to help open the bunker to the public

It was used as a control centre where information was analysed, and became a base for a radar air defence system.

Later it was reconfigured to become a regional seat of government in the event of a nuclear attack, designed to accommodate 400 politicians and civil servants for up to 30 days.

But in the 1990s it fell victim to vandals who torched it and raided the interior for scrap metal.

An amateur historian who grew up near the bunker as a child and was fascinated by it became involved in the restoration project when he visited with a friend from Russia.

Grant More, 38, volunteered his time to help open the bunker to the public.

Mr More said: 'I grew up in the area and am a bunker nut. I used to play around the site of the Barnton Quarry as a kid. 'One of my friends from Russia was over and we went along to the site where there was Martyn Dawson, who part owns the site and is the site manager'

Barnton Nuclear Bunker pictured in 1950s, three miles from Edinburgh city centre which is undergoing a restoration after being abandoned in the 1980s, after which it was vandalised and set on fire

After falling into disrepair following it's 50s heydey, the project began in 2011 and is hoped to be finished by 2021, with a huge telecommunications exchange which could be restored as it once was

A sign for the Emergency Exit at the Barnton Nuclear Bunker, three miles from Edinburgh city centre undergoing a restoration

Mr More said: 'I grew up in the area and am a bunker nut. I used to play around the site of the Barnton Quarry as a kid.

'One of my friends from Russia was over and we went along to the site where there was Martyn Dawson, who part owns the site and is the site manager.

'He's dedicated his life to restoring the place and put a lot of time and money into it. He even sold his house to help with the funds - he's literally went all in. It's one of the largest nuclear bunkers in the UK.'

The bunker was one of 38 which was built in Britain and measures 37,000sq feet.

The bunker was one of 38 which was built in Britain and measures 37,000sq feet

Mr More explained: 'During WWII, the British government devised a large scale radar system which later became the ROTOR radar air defence system to deter the Soviet threat during the Cold War. The bunkers were part of that with the ten foot thick roofs and walls - there's other in Dunbar in East Lothian, Anstruther in Fife and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire'

It was built over three floors, including an operating room with two storeys. The project began in 2011 and is hoped to be finished by 2021, with a huge telecommunications exchange which could be restored as it once was

It was built over three floors, including an operating room with two storeys.

The project began in 2011 and is hoped to be finished by 2021, with a huge telecommunications exchange which could be restored as it once was.

The father-of-two added: 'This sort of building you can't preserve commercially. so there's a kind of symbiotic relationship for the guys running the museum getting the place restored economically and us getting to restore a piece of history.

'During WWII, the British government devised a large scale radar system which later became the ROTOR radar air defence system to deter the Soviet threat during the Cold War.

'The bunkers were part of that with the ten foot thick roofs and walls - there's other in Dunbar in East Lothian, Anstruther in Fife and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire.

The father-of-two added: 'This sort of building you can't preserve commercially. so there's a kind of symbiotic relationship for the guys running the museum getting the place restored economically and us getting to restore a piece of history

Mr More said: 'During WWII, the British government devised a large scale radar system which later became the ROTOR radar air defence system to deter the Soviet threat during the Cold War. The bunkers were part of that with the ten foot thick roofs and walls - there's other in Dunbar in East Lothian, Anstruther in Fife and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire'

Mr More joked that the wives of the eight volunteers were referred to as 'bunker widows' due to the dedication of the team, who turn up every weekend to help out

'Back in the day you needed a control operations centre where all the information was brought in and analysed - Barnton Quarry was top of the command and control hierarchy.

'They spent an immense amount of money on the bunkers then by the late 1950s they were redundant.

'About 400 people used to run shifts at Barnton Quarry in 1956, including fighter commanders and plotters. It was the first line of defence against the Russians.

'But by the time the 1960s came along it went from bombers to long range missiles.

Some 400 people used to run shifts at Barnton Quarry in 1956, including fighter commanders and plotters. It was the first line of defence against the Russians. 'But by the time the 1960s came along it went from bombers to long range missiles

In 1964, Barnton Quarry was reconfigured as Scottish Central Control - a regional seat of government - in the event of a nuclear attack, designed to accommodate 400 politicians and civil servants for up to 30 days

Compressors in the plant room of Barnton Nuclear Bunker, three miles from Edinburgh city centre which is undergoing a restoration after being abandoned in the 1980s

'In 1964, Barnton Quarry was reconfigured as Scottish Central Control - a regional seat of government - in the event of a nuclear attack, designed to accommodate 400 politicians and civil servants for up to 30 days.

'There was diesel generators and water and food supplies on site in preparation for nuclear war.

'In the early 1990s vandals set fire and pretty much devastated the building, so much so it took fire crews spent five days putting it out.

'Then in 2011 we started working on it, but the buildings been open to the elements so we actually spent a good couple of years cleaning it out.

Telephonic equipment used to maintain contact with the outside world in the event of a nuclear disaster now sits in decay

A sign for the Royal Air Force Barnton Quarry pictured in 1950s at the height of the Cold War when the Soviet Union was perceived to be at its most powerful

'The place was gutted by fire and people looking for scrap metal but we've got a lot of stuff in storage like original fire alarm systems and communications equipment.'

Mr More joked that the wives of the eight volunteers were referred to as 'bunker widows' due to the dedication of the team, who turn up every weekend to help out.

He added: 'We turn up every week and work on it, we have a guy who specialises in Cold War telecommunications equipment and an amazing array of people with different skills sets.

Steel and lead lined structures line the walls as reinforcement against nuclear fallsouts should the Soviet Union have unleashed a warhead

The bunker will be open to the public during the weekend of September 29 - 30 as part of Doors Open Day 2018. It has sparked the interest of more than 3,000 people

'We call our wives 'bunker widows' because we work all week then go to work on the bunker each weekend, but no one else will do it.

'It's an important part of our national heritage and I think everyone involved understands that.'

The bunker will be open to the public during the weekend of September 29 - 30 as part of Doors Open Day 2018.

It has sparked the interest of more than 3,000 people.
Two Russian spies were arrested as they tried to spy on a Swiss lab where samples from the Salisbury novichok attack were tested, Switzerland's intelligence agency said.

The two agents - who are not the men accused by Britain of carrying out the nerve agent attack - targeted Switzerland's Spiez laboratory earlier this year and were arrested by Dutch authorities.

It is claimed the pair were carrying equipment which they would have used to hack the laboratory's computers, although Swiss officials said no data had been stolen.

The Federal Intelligence Service said it worked 'actively' with British and Dutch partners on the case involving the Spiez Laboratory that led to the arrests of two Russians.

The two agents are accused of targeting Switzerland's Spiez laboratory (pictured) earlier this year in an alleged attempt to hack the systems of the lab, where Novichok samples were tested

Swiss, Dutch and British intelligence worked together to foil the plot directed at the laboratory near Bern, which houses experts in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

The two men were returned to Russia after their arrest.

'The case of the Russian spies discovered in The Hague and then expelled from The Hague is known to Swiss authorities,' a spokeswoman for the Swiss intelligence services told AFP.

The Swiss spy agency 'actively participated in this operation in collaboration with its Dutch and British partners in prevention of illegal actions against critical Swiss infrastructure,' she said.

The lab tested samples of the Salisbury nerve agent and has also examined chemical weapons which Syrian President Assad is suspected of using during the country's civil war.

It carries out analytical work for the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

In April this year Moscow claimed tests at the Spiez lab had found traces of a Western-produced nerve agent in the Salisbury samples.

Lab chiefs did not comment directly on the claim but said they had 'no doubt' British experts at Porton Down had correctly identified novichok.

Swiss, Dutch and British intelligence worked together to foil the plot directed at the laboratory (pictured) near Bern, which houses experts in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons

Today the Kremlin said it would consider any request by Britain to question the two suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The UK has accused Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov of a plot to poison former spy Sergei Skripal but they claim they were visiting Salisbury as tourists.

They were widely ridiculed after they claimed they had been to Salisbury to visit the city's cathedral.

Britain says the two men are officers in Russian military intelligence - the GRU - who travelled to the UK under false names.

They are not the men accused of trying to hack into the Swiss laboratory.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any request from London to interview them would be considered in 'strict accordance with the law' but so far Britain had rejected any offer to co-operate in the investigation.

A timeline of the key developments in the Salisbury poisoning case Russian agents attacked Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok in 2018 2010 - Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer jailed for spying for Britain, is released and flown to the UK as part of a swap with Russian agents caught in the United States. He settles in Salisbury. March 3, 2018 - Yulia Skripal arrives at Heathrow Airport from Russia to visit her father in England. March 4, 9.15am - Sergei Skripal's burgundy BMW is seen in suburban Salisbury, near a cemetery, where his wife and son are commemorated. March 4, 1.30pm - The BMW is seen driving toward central Salisbury. March 4, 1.40pm - The BMW is parked at a lot in central Salisbury. A police officer stands guard outside the Zizzi restaurant where Sergei and Yulia had lunch before they collapsed in a nearby park March 4, afternoon - Sergei and Yulia Skripal visit the Bishops Mill pub. March 4, 2.20pm to 3.35pm - Sergei and Yulia Skripal have lunch at the Zizzi restaurant. March 4, 4.15pm - Emergency services are called by a passer-by concerned about a man and a woman in Salisbury city centre. Officers find the Skripals unconscious on a bench. They are taken to Salisbury District Hospital, where they remain in critical condition. March 5, morning - Police say two people in Salisbury are being treated for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. March 5, afternoon - Wiltshire Police, along with Public Health England, declare a 'major incident' March 7 - Police announce that the Skripals were likely poisoned with a nerve agent in a targeted murder attempt. They disclose that a police officer who responded to the incident is in serious condition in a hospital. March 8 - Home Secretary Amber Rudd describes the use of a nerve agent on UK soil was a 'brazen and reckless act' of attempted murder March 9 - About 180 troops trained in chemical warfare and decontamination are deployed to Salisbury to help with the police investigation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow might be willing to assist with the investigation but expresses resentment at suggestions the Kremlin was behind the attack. March 11 - Public health officials tell people who visited the Zizzi restaurant or Bishops Mill pub in Salisbury on the day of the attack or the next day to wash their clothes as a precaution. March 12, morning- Prime Minister Theresa May tells the House of Commons that the Skripals were poisoned with Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. March 12, afternoon - Public Health England ask everyone who visited Salisbury town centre on the day of the attack to wash all of their clothes and belongings. Officers wearing chemical protection suits secure the forensic tent over the bench where Sergei and Yulia fell ill March 14 - The PM announces the expulsion of 23 suspected Russian spies from the country's UK Embassy. March 22 - Nick Bailey, the police officer injured in the attack, is released from hospital. March 26 - The United States and 22 other countries join Britain in expelling scores of Russian spies from capitals across the globe. March 29 - Doctors say Yulia Skripal is 'improving rapidly' in hospital. 'Unknown time in the spring' - Dutch authorities expelled two suspected Russian spies who tried to hack into a Swiss laboratory April 3 - The chief of the Porton Down defence laboratory said it could not verify the 'precise source' of the nerve agent. April 5, morning - Yulia Skripal's cousin Viktoria says she has received a call from Yulia saying she plans to leave hospital soon. Dawn Sturgess died in hospital on July 8 April 5, afternoon - A statement on behalf of Yulia is released by Metropolitan Police, in which she says her strength is 'growing daily' and that 'daddy is fine'. April 9 - Ms Skripal is released from hospital and moved to a secure location. May 18 - Sergei Skripal is released from hospital 11 weeks after he was poisoned. June 30 - Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fall ill at a property in Amesbury, which is eight miles from Salisbury, and are rushed to hospital. July 4 - Police declare a major incident after Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley are exposed to an 'unknown substance', later revealed to be Novichok. July 5 - Sajid Javid demands an explanation over the two poisonings as he accuses the Russian state of using Britain as a 'dumping ground for poison'. July 8 - Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess, 44, dies in hospital due to coming into contact with Novichok. July 10 - Mr Rowley regains consciousness at hospital, and later tells his brother that Dawn had sprayed the Novichok onto her wrists. July 19 - Police are believed to have identified the perpetrators of the attack. August 20 - Charlie Rowley is rushed to hospital as he starts to lose his sight, but doctors can't confirm whether it has anything to do with the poisoning. August 26 - Charlie Rowley admitted to intensive care unit with meningitis August 28 - Police call in the 'super recognisers' in bid to track down the poisoners September 4 - Charlie Rowley's brother says he has 'lost all hope' and doesn't have long to live. Independent investigators, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, confirm the toxic chemical that killed Ms Sturgess was the same nerve agent as that which poisoned the Skripals. September 5 - Scotland Yard and CPS announce enough evidence to charge Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov for conspiracy to murder over Salisbury nerve agent attack. September 13 - Britain's most wanted men speak to RT and claim to be humble tourists September 26 - The real identity of one of the two assassins, named by police as Ruslan Boshirov, is reported to be Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga. October 3: New photo emerges that appears to show Col Chepiga on the Wall of Heroes at the Far-Eastern Military Academy, providing more evidence against the Kremlin's denials. Advertisement
Remedios Cruz, one of the first women to enter the Marine Corps infantry, is facing an other-than-honorable discharge from the service after the 26-year-old pleaded guilty to having an intimate relationship with a lower-ranking Marine whom she later married

One of the first women to enter the Marine Corps infantry is being kicked out of the service after she pleaded guilty to having an intimate relationship with a subordinate who she later married.

Remedios Cruz made history when she became one of the three first females to join 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in January 2017.

Shortly before the battalion deployed to Japan in August of that year, she married a lower-ranking Marine in her unit.

When senior commanders learned of the relationship, an investigation was opened and Cruz was accused of fraternization, adultery and accessory to larceny.

In July of this year she took a plea deal in which she admitted to fraternization and had her rank reduced from sergeant to corporal in exchange for avoiding a strenuous trial.

The 26-year-old from Fleischmanns, New York, is now waiting to hear whether she will be issued an other-than-honorable discharge from the service, according to the New York Times.

'The biggest mistakes I've made in the infantry were from my personal relationships,' Cruz told the Times. 'I really want to move on.'

Corporal Cruz made history when she and two other women became the first females to join 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in January 2017

Rules against fraternization - the term used to describe improper personal and business relationships among Marines of different ranks or positions - are deeply rooted in the Marine Corps tradition, aimed at enforcing discipline and structure within its ranks.

When a person is accused of fraternization, commanders are tasked with evaluating the relationship at hand, specifically asking the three questions:

Is there a compromise of the chain of command?

Is there an appearance of partiality?

Is there the potential for good order, discipline, morale, or authority to be undermined?

According to the Times, the officer who oversaw the pretrial hearing in Cruz's case found no probable cause for the adultery and larceny charges brought against her, and recommended that the corporal be administratively punished for fraternizing with the man who later became her husband.

When senior commanders learned of Cruz's relationship with a subordinate, an investigation was opened and the corporal was accused of fraternization, adultery and accessory to larceny

However, her battalion commander, Lt Col Anthony C Johnston, was not so forgiving, and recommended that all three charges go to trial.

As a result, Cruz was given the choice of going to court and risking conviction, or admit to fraternization as part of a broader plea agreement.

She chose the latter, and is still facing harsh consequences.

Cruz, who joined the service as a supply clerk in 2013 and quickly worked her way into a leadership role, will soon receive news on whether she will be ejected with an other-than-honorable discharge, which would mean she'd be stripped of almost all Veterans Affairs benefits.

Her lawyer Jacob R Johnson said in a statement: 'Regardless of the outcome of this case, Corporal Cruz has been a courageous pioneer for women in the military and she has earned a place in Marine Corps history.'
Seven NYPD cops indicted for operating a prostitution ring for more than a year appeared in court on Thursday as prosecutors accused them of having sex on the job while visiting the brothels they allegedly ran.

Forty-nine people in total were charged as part of the investigation.

They include active duty cops Rene Samaniego, 43, Sergeant Carlos Cruz, 41, Giovanny Rojas Acosta, 40, Sergeants Cliff Nieves, 37, Steven Nieves, 32, Giancarlo Raspanti and Sergeant Louis Failla who all appeared at Queens Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The men are accused of not only helping alleged ringleader Ludwig Paz, 51, operate the ring with his wife, but some are said to have engaged the prostitutes while on duty.

Giancarlo Raspanti (left) and Vice detective Rene Samaniego (right) appear in court in Queens on Thursday charged with assisting and operating a prostitution ring between 2016 and 2017

Sgt. Carlos Cruz (left) and Sgt. Louis Failla (right) appear in court on Thursday

Brothers Cliff Nieves (left) and Steven Nieves (right) were also charged in the investigation

Giovanny Rojas was not pictured at court but he is another cop allegedly involved

Prosecutors said in an indictment on Thursday that Ludwig, a retired Vice detective, paid them for inside information in discounts at seven of the eight brothels that were part of the operation in Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island.

Paz's wife Arelis Peralta has also been charged.

She appeared in court with their children yesterday but her husband was not pictured.

The Queens District Attorney says the criminal operation, which also included gambling rooms and an illegal lottery syndicate, raked in $2million between 2016 and 2017.

Paz allegedly used his police knowledge to evade detection by making sure any new clients who visited the brothel took off their clothes before they got inside, ruling out the chance that any undercover cops had come because police officers are not allowed to expose their genitals when dealing with prostitutes while on duty.

He also, it is alleged, paid active duty cops for information so he was able to avoid being raided.

The investigation began in September 2015 after NYPD detectives received a tip-off about an operation.

Over the course of two years, they used wire taps to monitor the group and dismantle the operation.

Retired Vice detective Ludwig Paz, 51, and his wife Arelis Peralta are the alleged ringleaders

The couple's children were also charged and are pictured leaving court with with jackets covering their faces

According to police, Peralta and her husband also operated illegal lottery betting services out of beauty salons

The couple are said to have made $2million from the scheme over a year. They are pictured on a tropical vacation

Paz and his wife have enjoyed a lavish lifestyle over the last several years.

Social media photographs show them on South American vacations and in nightclubs surrounded by bottles of champagne.

Paz, Samaniego, Cruz and Rojas Acosta were all charged with enterprise corruption.

The Nieves brothers were charged with promoting prostitution and operating a brothel for the sole purpose of hosting a bachelor party.

Raspanti is accused of providing Paz with confidential police information in exchange for discounted sex at a brothel, and Failla is charged in connection with allegedly assisting Paz following a brothel raid.

Peralta is charged with enterprise corruption, fifth-degree conspiracy and first-degree promoting gambling.

Police say Paz used his knowledge of the police force to stop raids and even paid active duty cops in discounts at the brothels for inside information

The couple, who have two children, ran seven of the eight brothels, according to police

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said: 'The vast majority of NYPD police officers are honest and dedicated to enforcing and upholding the law.

'However, todays indictments of one former detective and seven current police officers of the NYPD dishonor the badge.

'The main culprit in this case - a retired detective - allegedly used his knowledge of the inner workings of the New York City Police Department to run a string of brothels in Queens, Brooklyn and Hempstead, Long Island.

'These operations stop today.'

Police Commissioner ONeill added: 'These NYPD officers, who swore an oath to uphold ideals greater than themselves, have ruined their own careers and reputations.

'More importantly, they have diminished the great work of tens of thousands of other honest and ethical cops.'
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pushed back on Donald Trump's characterization of news outlets as the 'enemy of the people' in a Thursday appearance at which he cast the president's rhetoric against the media as 'dangerous' and misguided.

'What the president should say is, "This is right, this is good. I'm glad I am being scrutinized,' and that would be so secure and confident," Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post, said.

'But it is really dangerous to demonize the media. It is dangerous to call the media lowlifes, it is dangerous to say that they are the enemy of the people,' he said at an Economic Club of Washington forum.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pushed back on Donald Trump's characterization of news outlets as the 'enemy of the people' in a Thursday appearance at which he cast the president's rhetoric against the media as 'dangerous' and misguided

WON'T BRING US DOWN: Bezos said that Amazon, which has been another frequent target of Trump's criticisms, will survive 'whatever regulations' that the government introduces

Bezos said that the media - like his tech company - will 'be fine' and will 'push through' in spite of Trump's assaults.

He said that Amazon, which has been another frequent target of Trump's criticisms, will survive 'whatever regulations' that the government introduces.

'I do defend the Post,' Bezos explained. 'I dont feel the need to defend Amazon.'

The richest man alive advised the billionaire president not to react to negative headlines so viscerally and vindictively.

'We live in a society where it's not just the laws of the land that protect us. It's also social norms that protect us. And every time you attack that, you're eroding it a little bit around the edges,' he said.

All big institutions should be inspected, including the government and large companies, he said: 'It's not personal.'

'There's no public figure who's ever liked their headlines. It's okay. It's part of the process,' Bezos said, imploring Trump to welcome scrutiny of his government.

Trump has accused Bezos of using the Washington Post to lobby on behalf of Amazon, even though the paper's editor says the company owner has no say in editorial content.

He threatened a review of Amazon's contract with the U.S. Postal Service last spring, but nothing so far has come of the dispute that escalated when Trump claimed the company was bankrupting the government's package delivery service.

'Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon. THEY LOSE A FORTUNE, and this will be changed,' Trump tweeted in April. 'Also, our fully tax paying retailers are closing stores all over the country...not a level playing field!'

Trump noted that Amazon would lose billions if the postal service raised its parcel rates.

'This Post Office scam must stop,' he sniped. 'Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!'

A source told the news website Axios that Trump was 'obsessed with Amazon' and was looking for ways to 'go after' it just as the president decided to rage against the company and drive its stock down. He has moved on, for the time, to other issues such as the mid-terms and the investigation into Russian election meddling led by Robert Mueller.

Bezos brushed off the earlier criticism in an on-stage interview in Trump's frontyard on Thursday.

'We are so inventive that whatever regulations are promulgated, however it works, that will not stop us from serving customers,' he said at the event that was held blocks away from the White House.

The appearance in Washington fueled speculation that Amazon could choose one of three sites in the D.C. area for its second headquarters. Amazon has narrowed its options down to 20 locations.

Bezos would only say that a decision would be made by the end of the year, according to CNN.

He was also tight-lipped about his private discussions with the president, whom he's met with twice since Trump won the 2016 election in New York and Washington.

'Ill keep my conversations with the president to myself,' he said. 'But, yes, Ive had a couple of conversations with him.'
NASA has completed the final test to qualify Orion's parachute system for flights with astronauts, checking off an important milestone on the path to send humans on missions to the Moon and beyond.

Over the course of eight tests at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, engineers have evaluated the performance of Orion's parachute system during normal landing sequences as well as several failure scenarios and a variety of potential aerodynamic conditions to ensure astronauts can return safely from deep space missions.

"We're working incredibly hard not only to make sure Orion's ready to take our astronauts farther than we've been before, but to make sure they come home safely," said Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich. "The parachute system is complex, and evaluating the parachutes repeatedly through our test series gives us confidence that we'll be ready for any kind of landing day situation."

The system has 11 parachutes, a series of cannon-like mortars, pyrotechnic bolt cutters, and more than 30 miles of Kevlar lines attaching the top of the spacecraft to the 36,000 square feet of parachute canopy material. In about 10 minutes of descent through Earth's atmosphere, everything must deploy in precise sequence to slow Orion and its crew from about 300 mph to a relatively gentle 20 mph for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The parachute system is the only system that must assemble itself in mid-air and must be able to keep the crew safe in several failure scenarios, such as mortar failures that prevent a single parachute type to deploy, or conditions that cause some of the parachute textile components to fail.

During the final test, which took place Sept. 12, a mock Orion was pulled out from the cargo bay of a C-17 aircraft flying higher than 6.5 miles. The protective ring around the top of Orion that covers the parachute system was jettisoned and pulled away by the first set of Orion's parachutes, then the remaining parachutes were deployed in precise sequence.

Additionally, Orion parachute engineers have also provided considerable insight and data to NASA's Commercial Crew Program partners. The knowledge gained through the Orion program has enabled NASA to mature computer modeling of how the system works in various scenarios and help partner companies understand certain elements of parachute systems. In some cases, NASA's work has provided enough information for the partners to reduce the need for some developmental parachute tests, and the associated expenses.

Orion will first fly with astronauts aboard during Exploration Mission-2, a mission that will venture near the Moon and farther from Earth than ever before, launching atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket--which will be the world's most powerful rocket. The parachutes for Orion's upcoming uncrewed flight test, Exploration Mission-1, already are installed on the vehicle at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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Thieves have stolen $25,000 of grapes from a Virginia winery during the night.

Almost the entire crop, grown across 3.5 acres at the Montgomery County's Firefly Hill Vineyard, near Blacksburg, have been stolen.

'We still can't wrap our heads around this We're just in the grieving process,' said co-owner Allison Dunkenberger said about the loss of her family's grapes.

It comes just hours before she, her husband, friends and relatives were to trim the fruit from carefully tended vines.

Two to two-and-a-half tons of grapes were removed from 2,500 vines at a Virginia winery - and this is all that remains of the crop

Vineyard owner David Dunkenberger was upset by the brazen theft

Although the value of the fruit is about $25,000, if the time and materials used in caring for them is calculated, the loss is closer $50,000.

Worse still, the company's insurance does not cover theft of the crop according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Dunkenberger suspects that whoever took the grapes had to know something about the winery's operations, especially since the grapes are not visible from the road.

Once the thieves were on the property, they managed to haul away an enormous amount of grapes amounting to two-and-a-half tons from 2,500 vines between sunset and dawn.

Husband David, let his thoughts be known in an outspoken Facebook post: 'To the pieces of cowardly, human scum that came in the night and stole the grapes from my vines, I want to thank you for proving our society has hit rock bottom. May you die a slow and agonizingly painful death so that when you are writhing in pain someone will be kind enough to offer you a drink of wine so you know for what you suffer.'

Thieves worked throughout the night to steal almost the entire crop working from sunset

The family had posted about how they were about to harvest their crop on Facebook

The Dunkenbergers don't live on the vineyard but Allison was at the winery during the day Monday and insists the grapes were still on the vines.

By Tuesday morning, just ahead of the harvest, the fruit was nearly all gone, she said.

The bandits would have needed one large truck or a number of smaller ones to carry the grapes away, she said.

The winery was left with less than 200 pounds of grapes.

The winery has now been forced to close until further notice. The total loss is estimated to be close to $50,000 when labor is factored into the cost

The family had planted the vines 12 years ago and gathered the grapes each year.

'We'll keep taking care of the vines,' she said, and likely will resume operations sometime in the future but for now, Firefly Hill vineyard is closed.

'What hurts the most is what they stole from my spirit and heart. The vineyard was a family experience. My daughters grew up in that vineyard. My family and friends helped me in that vineyard. Most importantly I spent time in that vineyard with my father. Cherished memories spoiled by a bunch of low life, no soul, heartless excuses for human beings,' David wrote the heartbreaking Facebook post.

Investigator Don Link of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office asked that anyone with information about the theft call him at 540-382-6915, ext. 44421.
Labour was accused of putting politics above the national interest tonight after Emily Thornberry said the party would vote against any Brexit deal Theresa May secures.

The shadow foreign secretary said defeat for Mrs May's deal would force the PM to resign and call a general election - possibly before Christmas.

Tories on the Brexit Delivery Group, which includes MPs from Leave and Remain and who want to deliver a smooth exit in March 2019, accused Labour of 'dangerous game playing'.

Business also reacted with fury, with the CBI warning the Opposition was close to 'putting power above principle' and forcing a chaotic Brexit to try and win No 10.

Ms Thornberry's warning makes explicit a threat from Labour to vote down the deal and narrows further the PM's hopes of getting a deal through Parliament.

Without opposition support, just a handful of Brexiteer rebels will consign Mrs May to humiliating and possible terminal defeat.

Labour will vote against any Brexit deal produced by Theresa May and is ready to fight an election before Christmas, a senior ally of Jeremy Corbyn warns today

The Labour warning comes amid a fierce Brexit backlash against Bank of England Governor Mark Carney for his briefing on the risks of no deal.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the influential chairman of Brexiteer Tory MPs, accused Mr Carney of behaving like a 'screaming banshee' for outlining a scenario for ministers where house prices plunge by a third.

Overnight Brexit champion Boris Johnson re-emerged from a storm over his personal life to renew his calls for a clean break from Brussels.

Sources close to Mr Corbyn made clear there was no shift in Labour's position, which has always made the party's support for a deal dependant on six tests.

What are Labour's six tests for Brexit? Labour has insisted it will only vote for a Brexit deal that meets its six tests - and Emily Thonberry claimed today the Chequers plan cannot do so. The tests are: 1. Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU? 2. Does it deliver the 'exact same benefits' as we currently have as members of the Single Market and Customs Union? 3. Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities? 4. Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom? 5. Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime? 6. Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK? Advertisement

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said in July Mrs May's Chequers proposals would fail the tests - a clear signal Labour would whip against the deal.

Ms Thornberry, the current bookies' favourite to eventually replace Mr Corbyn, made explicit the threat to Mrs May in an FT interview.

She said 'I can't see them coming back with a deal that is going to meet our six tests and I can't see them coming back with a deal that will unite the Tory party, for Heaven's sake.'

A Whitehall source told MailOnline: 'For too many people this will smack of putting politics above the national interest.'

Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy said Labour was allying itself with hard Brexiteers on the Tory right.

He told MailOnline: 'This is further evidence of the dangerous game people like the ERG are playing.

'We know that Labour will not vote in the national interest and instead will vote for what is in their political interests on the deal the PM brings back.

'So-called hard Brexiteers are playing right into Labour's hands which is why to get Brexit at all, Tory MPs need to rally around the deal the PM negotiates.'

David TC Davies, the Brexit supporting Monmouth MP, added: 'This is a breach of the promise they made to the electorate when they said they would support the Brexit vote.'

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said it was clear a workable deal was 'just not going to happen' with Mrs May in charge.

Ms Thornberry said defeat of the deal in the coming months would mean there must be a general election to break the impasse.

Ms Thornberry added: 'They are not capable of governing. We're either going to have a general election in the autumn or we're going to have it in the spring.'

Ms Thornberry said she did not believes the blueprint ironed out by the Cabinet at Chequers in July would ever be a working model.

She said: 'I don't think this kind of half-in, half-out of the customs union will work. I think it's just full of red tape and it's going to cost us too much money. It's just nonsense.

''Even if they come back in October, November, and they say, ''this flimsy bit of paper is what you're going to have to agree to, otherwise there'll be no deal''.

'We're not going to agree to either of those.'

Labour's six tests include a comprehensive trade agreement as well as continued co-operation on science, security, research and technology.

The party also wants a deal that provides the 'exact same benefits' from Europe as EU membership.

Sir Keir adopted the phrase after it was first used by David Davis, the former Brexit secretary.

Ms Thornberry said she wanted a national election rather than another referendum to settle Britain's Brexit future.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said in July Mrs May's Chequers proposals would fail the tests - a clear signal Labour would whip against the deal

Bank of England chief Mr Carney was lashed as a 'cracked record' today after details of his rare invitation to brief Theresa May's ministers emerged.

He told yesterday's no deal Cabinet that crashing out could produce a recession worse than the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

Mr Carney (pictured today in Ireland) has warned that a no-deal Brexit could be as disastrous as the 2008 financial crash

And he detailed how banks were being prepared for a catastrophic 30 per cent plunge in house prices. The figure is thought to apply to a worst case scenario 'stress test' and not a forecast but has been seen as scaremongering.

The scenario also outlines spiralling unemployment.

Mr Carney defended his remarks in a speech to the Central Bank of Ireland today: 'Our job, after all, is not to hope for the best but to plan for the worst.'

He warned 'uncertainty around Brexit has had an additional dampening effect' on the economy.

But Brexiteers reacted with fury today after Mr Carney's speech to Cabinet emerged.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Tory in charge of the powerful European Research Group, told MailOnline: 'The Governor of the Bank of England is meant to be able to influence events through the modest movement of his eyebrows, not by imitating a screaming banshee.'

Brexiteer Nigel Evans told MailOnline it was the same gloomy story from Mr Carney.

He said: 'The Governor's pronouncements should be known as Carneyage - that's when you predict doom, gloom and mayhem and get it wrong every time.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured in Westminster on Wednesday) said the Governor was acting like a 'screaming banshee'

Mr Carney's Cabinet briefing emerged after it was claimed British business will be hit by a 'sledgehammer' of red tape and higher costs if the UK crashes out of Europe without a deal.

What is in Theresa May's Brexit blueprint? These are some of the key features of the Chequers plan being pushed by the UK government: A new free trade area in goods, based on a 'common rulebook' of EU regulations necessary. This will require the UK to commit by treaty to match EU rules

'Mobility' rules which will end automatic freedom of movement, but still allow UK and EU citizens to travel without visas for tourism and temporary work. It will also enable businesses to move staff between countries.

Continued UK participation in and funding of European agencies covering areas like chemicals, aviation safety and medicines

A 'facilitated customs arrangement', removing the need for customs checks at UK-EU ports. It would allow differing UK and EU tariffs on goods from elsewhere in the world to be paid at the border, removing the need for rebates in the vast majority of cases. This is designed to avoid the need for a hard Irish border. But in theory it still allows Britain to sign trade deals.

Keeping services - such as banking or legal support - outside of the common rule book, meaning the UK is completely free to set its own regulations. It accepts it will mean less trade in services between the UK and EU.

Continued co-operation on energy and transport, a 'common rulebook' on state aid and commitments to maintain high standards of environmental and workplace protections.

A security deal allowing continued UK participation in Europol and Eurojust, 'co-ordination' of UK and EU policies on foreign affairs, defence and development.

Continued use of the EHIC health insurance card. Advertisement

The CBI said a slew of new Government papers on how Britain would tackle a collapse in talks proved the dangers of failure in Brussels.

The warnings came after Theresa May secured the agreement of her Cabinet to step up preparations for no deal.

A tranche of papers on the impact of crashing out of the EU says motorists would need new 5.50 international permits to use their cars on the continent.

They also warn that if negotiations with Brussels fail ex-pats might be forced to retake driving tests after March next year, as their UK ones will no longer be valid.

Britons with less than six months to run on their passports would also have to renew before travelling to the EU - while traditional-style British blue passports will not start being issued again until late in 2019.

The government played down fears that holidaymakers would be hit with swingeing roaming charges for using mobile phones in the EU - saying the biggest telecoms companies have agreed not to impose extra fees.

CBI director general Carolyn Fairburn said no deal would be devastating for firms.

She warned: 'These notices make clear firms would be hit with a sledgehammer in the event of 'no deal'.

'They also illustrate the extent of the disruption consumers can expect if ideology wins over evidence.'

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: 'Firms still need greater precision from the government in order to be able to plan ahead with confidence.

'Many companies tell us they are deeply concerned by the impression that key information they need in order to prepare for change is being held back due to political sensitivities as the party conference season commences.

'Speed, precision and clarity are of the essence so that businesses can prepare for change.'

CBI director general Carolyn Fairburn said no deal would be a 'sledgehammer' for firms

Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: 'With each release of the Government's technical notes, we get a clearer picture of how dangerous and damaging a sudden no-deal Brexit will be for our small businesses.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We are less than 200 days until we leave the European Union and the Government still has no credible plan for Brexit. The Cabinet should be planning to negotiate a good deal for Britain, not planning for failure or blaming businesses for the Government's chaos.

'The only reason the Government is talking about no deal is because the Tory civil war on Europe prevents the Prime Minister from negotiating a good deal.

'With the clock ticking, Ministers should drop the irresponsible rhetoric and start putting jobs and the economy first.'

One of the papers confirms that 'International Driving Permits' would be needed across much of the EU if there is no deal.

'You may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement action, for example fines, if you don't have the correct IDP,' the document states.

The document says the government will only start providing IDPs at most Post Offices after February 1 next year - which could fuel concerns about an administrative log-jam for people wishing to travel to the continent.

Currently they can only be obtained from around 90 Post Offices nationwide or by mail order from two private companies.

There are two types of IDP required by EU countries, depending on whether they have ratified the 1949 or 1968 conventions on road traffic - meaning some travellers will need both permits.
Ashura, a day of remembrance for Muslims, has almost arrived.

The holy day is observed on the tenth of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Ashura marks the death of Hussain ibn Ali  the Prophet Muhammads grandson  as well as the day Noah left the ark and Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God.

For both Shia and Sunni Muslims, Ashura is a solemn day. Its observed differently among the two sects, however.

Ashura, observed on the 10th of Muharram on the Islamic calendar, is an important day for Shia and Sunni muslims

Shias mourn and focus on the messages that can be derived from the Martyrdom of Hussain. They wear black and parade through the streets chanting.

Sunnis observe Ashura with a fast.

For all Muslims, good deeds and visiting the shrine of Hussain in Karbala, Iraq are encouraged during Ashura.

Ashura significance

Ashura marks the death of Hussain, the Prophet Muhammads grandson, for Shia Muslims. Its a day of remembrance focused on Hussains death in the Battle of Karbala in Iraq.

For Sunni Muslims, it marks the day Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God.

Its observed as a day of atonement for Sunnis, allowing those participating to be forgiven for the sins they committed in the previous year. For them, Ashura is observed as a fast day.

When is Ashura?

Ashura is celebrated on the 10th of Muharram  the first day in the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins in the evening of September 20 and ends the following evening.

Fasting on the day of Ashura

Sunni Muslims mark Ashura with a fast. While abstaining from food and drink, they reflect and seek forgiveness. Shias do not fast, as for them Ashura is not a day in which God asks anything of his followers, but rather a day to commemorate a loss.

The Sunni fast typically falls around Yom Kippur, observed on the tenth of Tishrei on the Jewish calendar. For Jews, this is a similarly somber fast day.
A millionaire aristocrat and Oxford graduate has been announced as the chief of a Scottish clan for the first time in nearly 350 years.

The Clan Buchanan has been without a leader since the last chief John Buchanan died without a male heir in 1681, but its history dates back to 1010AD.

Now one of his ancestors, aristocrat John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan, has been announced as the new chief after an investigation which lasted more than a decade.

He will now be known as 'The Buchanan'.

Married to Lady Paula Buchanan, the father of four, 60, is the manager of the Cambusmore Estate near Callander, Stirling.

John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan, 60, has become the first chief of a Scottish clan for 337 years

Married to Lady Paula Buchanan, the father of four is the manager of the Cambusmore Estate near Callander, Stirling. Pictured: Mr Buchanan, his wife, and their son Bruce

He petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court which regulates Scottish heraldry, to assume the chiefship.

It came about after a quest by genealogist Hugh Peskett to find the rightful chief after his clanswoman grandmother set him the task 50 years ago.

The dedicated historian researched lineage dating back to 1370 in a bid to find the rightful holder of the title.

The Buchanan said: 'I am honoured and proud that my claim to the chiefship of Clan Buchanan has been upheld by Lord Lyon.

'There has not been a chief for a very long time - over 337 years - but there is a thriving community of Buchanan clansmen, clanswomen and septs around the world.

'I look forward to meeting members of the clan, committing myself to clan matters in Scotland and attending some of the popular clan functions that take place overseas.

'My family has been acknowledged as leaders of one of the principal clan septs, the Buchanans of Leny and Arnprior, for many years but we have also believed that we had a good case for the overall chiefship.

The Clan Buchanan has been without a leader since the last chief John Buchanan died without a male heir in 1681, but its history dates back to 1010AD. He will now be known as 'The Buchanan'

He petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court which regulates Scottish heraldry, to assume the chiefship

'It has been a long journey to prove our lineage.'

Mr Peskett said his grandmother would be proud of his achievement.

What is the Clan Buchanan? Clan Buchanan mythology claims that the clan was founded by Anselan O'Kyan, a nobleman who served under Canute the Dane and King Malcolm II. The latter king gave him lands stretching from eastern shore of Loch Lomond and east toward Stirling. The clan didn't get its name until 1240 when Gilbert de Buchanan started to use the name because of new lands he had acquired from another family called Buchananne. The Buchanan Society was formed in 1725 with the aim of supporting poorer members of the clan and to help them with education through grants. One notable member of the Buchanan was James Buchanan who went on to become the fifteenth president of the U.S. Clan Buchanan's mottos are Clarior Hinc Honos (Henceforth the honor grows ever brighter), and Audaces Juvo (I help the brave). Source: The Clan Buchanan and The Buchanan Society Advertisement

He said: 'As a clansman of the Clan Buchanan, it was absolutely fascinating to delve into the history and ancestry of one of the oldest clans in Scotland.

'Tracing hundreds of years of lineage and unpacking the secrets of the past is no mean feat.

'My research took decades to compile and unequivocally confirms the chiefship claim.

'This is a historic moment for Clan Buchanan and I am truly privileged to have played my part. I believe my grandmother would be incredibly proud of what we have achieved.'

The Clan Buchanan is one of the oldest in Scotland.

It has millions of members across Great Britain, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Jamaica among many other countries.

Members are represented by the world's oldest clan society, the Buchanan Society, which was established in 1725 to support members of the clan in times of hardship.

The worldwide Clan Buchanan Society International flies a banner at Highland games around the world which features a lion with tears of sorrow to represent the sadness of clansmen without a chief.

A ceremony will be held in the new year to mark the historic moment.
A woman allegedly threw a newborn baby into a public bin today in the Chinese city of Hefei.

CCTV footage has emerged online showing the woman putting a red bucket, which was said to contain the baby, into a bin before calmly walking away.

The baby was found by a sanitation worker and it had already been dead, it is said.

Footage shows the woman putting a bucket, which was said to contain the baby, into the bin

She is seen calmly walking away afterwards on a street in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province

It remains unclear whether the baby was alive or dead while allegedly being dumped in the bin.

The sanitation worker told Pear Video that she was trying to empty the bin when she saw the body of the baby.

She said she was 'scared' and asked other people to call the police.

Apparently the CCTV footage of the street shows the red bucket had been placed in the bin by a woman in black in broad daylight.

A sanitation worker (pictured) said she found a baby in the bucket while trying to empty the bin

One eyewitness (pictured) told Pear Video that the baby was about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds)

Pear Video quoted an eyewitness who claimed that the baby was about 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) and had thick, dark hair.

Police have launched an investigation into the case, according to Pear Video.

According to the Chinese Criminal Law, if a person is found guilty of abandoning their children, he or she could be jailed for up to five years.
Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti is calling for federal prosecutors to seek an indictment of President Donald Trump if there is enough evidence  to allow the Supreme Court ultimately to settle the issue of whether it's constitutional.

Current Justice Department guidelines argue that a president cannot be indicted while in office, but Avenatti, who has battled Trump over Daniels' push to get relief from a non-disclosure agreement about their alleged affair, wants to put the matter to a court test.

He argues in a new New York Times op-ed and Special Counsel Robert Mueller or other prosecutors should seek grand jury indictments of the president if merited.

Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti is calling for federal prosecutors to seek an indictment of President Trump if warranted, which would set up a constitutional test of whether it is permitted

Then if Trump wants to fight an indictment, the matter would work it's way to the Supreme Court to have the matter decided.

'The fact that Mr. Trump is a sitting president should not derail a process that applies to all Americans, regardless of stature or station. He would still have the post-indictment relief available to all citizens, including the ability to challenge the constitutionality of the indictment,' Avenatti wrote.

He referenced the Paula Jones case, where President Bill Clinton was forced to submit to a deposition in a civil case about conduct before he took office.

Justice Department guidelines state that a sitting president can't be indicted for alleged crimes before taking office

Avenatti represents porn star Stormy Daniels, but penned an op-ed where he discussed the contours of the Russia probe

Avenatti argued that Trump's Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, should be forced to recuse himself from the case if he is in a position to hear it

'Provided there is sufficient evidence to support an indictment of President Trump  and there are many indications that there is  the special counsel, Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 election, and prosecutors from the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, who are investigating payments to my client, Stormy Daniels, and Karen McDougal, should present their evidence to grand juries,' Avenatti argued.

'Those jurors, citizens of our communities, should then determine whether the evidence supports an indictment of Mr. Trump,' he said.

The op-ed appeared hours after Avenatti squared off against Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a contentious interview. After bursting onto cable TV screens with his representation of Daniels, Avenatti has begun exploring a presidential campaign.

'Some also argue that indicting the president would critically impair his ability to lead the country. But this is a White House already engulfed in chaos and daily distractions. And if the House were to initiate impeachment proceedings, it is hard to see how that process would be any less distracting than a criminal indictment,' Avenatti wrote.

Should the case reach the high court, Avenatti argued that Trump's Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, should stay out of it.

'Judge Kavanaughs recusal should be mandatory. The American publics view of impartiality of the rule of law and of the Supreme Court hangs in the balance,' he said, noting that Kavanaugh in his confirmation hearings refused to commit to recusing himself from the case.

Avenatti wrote that the president's status should not insulate him.

'Instead, if the facts and evidence are adequate for indictment, then prosecutors must be blind to the officeholders position  especially so in this case because, unlike in President Clintons case, the investigations relate to how Mr. Trump won the election. Ultimately, the question would almost certainly be decided by a panel of judges previously confirmed pursuant to the Constitution  either in the courts of appeals or, more appropriately, the Supreme Court,' he argued.
Advertisement

Australia is known around the world for its pristine beaches, towering rock formations and breathtaking outback landscapes.

But if you were to choose, what sites would you pick to be the most breathtaking and unique?

In the country's largest ever tourist poll the public will vote for the very first time for what they believe are the Seven Wonders of Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest living organism, stretching over 2, 300km long (the size of Italy and Japan)

Stretching for an impressive 7km, Whitehaven Beach is unlike any beach you've ever seen before

Would the baby-pink waters of Lake Hillier be your choice? Voting is now open for Australian's to vote for their Seven Wonders of Australia

Reaching up to 45 metres in height, Victoria's 12 Apostles are a series of limestone stacks that were formed over thousands of years worth of erosion from the Southern Ocean

A panel of Australia's regional and state tourism organisations, industry insiders and conversation experts have narrowed it down to 50 iconic Australian destinations and the rest is up to Australia to decide.

The shortlisted sites were selected by the panel who valued these sites as essential parts of their states' tourism, natural, cultural or architectural scenes and no fees were charged to be included in the list.

Voters are encouraged to vote based off the answers to a series of questions.

Is the site recognised internationally? Does it hold significant value to Australia? Would you put the site on your bucket list? Does it harness unusual characteristics to make it one-of-a-kind, and does it contribute to Australia's tourism economy?

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra's Australian War Memorial was chosen for being one of the most significant buildings from both an architectural and historical point of view

Parliament House is embedded in the earth overlooking Canberra and was built to 'become one' with the city's landscape

Canberra's Australian War Memorial was chosen for being one of the most significant buildings from both an architectural and historical point of view.

Boasting more than 1,120,000 annual visitors, the memorial serves as a tribute, museum, archive and attraction for both the living and fallen participants of Australia's global military conflicts.

Perhaps the most poignant feature of the memorial is the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. It represents all the nameless heroes who have lost their lives in wars around the world.

Parliament House is embedded in the earth overlooking Canberra and was built to 'become one' with the city's landscape.

Opened in 1988 as part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations, it is a symbolic piece of architecture that promotes accessibility to the public, with visitors given an almost uncommonly-wide degree of access, unlike the majority of the world's political locations.

New South Wales

The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most recognisable buildings and has become symbolic not only of the city of Sydney but the entire country

The Blue Mountains National Park is a breathtaking mixture of both Australian bush and authentic landscapes

The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most recognisable buildings and has become symbolic not only of the city of Sydney but the entire country.

Architect Jorn Utzon won the Pritzkey Prize - architecture's answer to the Pulitizer Prize - for his design which was formed out of innovation, creativity and controversy.

The Sydney Opera House is host to over 1,800 performances and draws 8.2million visitors each year.

The Blue Mountains National Park is a breathtaking mixture of both Australian bush and authentic landscapes.

It is one of the most-visited sites in Australia as its famous for the mist of blue oil which comes off the thousands of Eucalyptus trees that surround the park.

Perhaps the most famous part of the park, the Three Sisters, draws 1.2 million visitors per year.

Queensland

The Great Barrier Reef has its own ecosystem of hard and soft coral and marine life and draws over 3 million tourists each year, making it one of the biggest contributions to Queensland's tourism economy.

Whitehaven beach's pure white sand with its high silica content make the beach a tourist hot-spot and one of Queensland's top sites

The amazing yet delicate Great Barrier Reef runs along much of the Queensland coast and is arguably Australia's most internationally well-known natural wonder.

It is also the world's largest living organism, stretching over 2,300km long (the size of Italy and Japan).

Within it lies a complex ecosystem of hard and soft coral and marine life which draws over 3 million tourists each year, making it one of the biggest contributions to Queensland's tourism economy.

Stretching for an impressive 7km, Whitehaven Beach is unlike any beach you've ever seen before.

Its high level of silica content helps set the sands of Whitehaven Beach apart.

Silica is a substance that is contained in an extremely high-purity form of sand and its pure white colour mixed with the turquoise blue ocean-that twists in and around the sand-make it look like a work of art.

South Australia

The typically dry-lake is filled with flood water once every eight years and has only filled to capacity three times in the last 160 years

The signature highlight of South Australia's Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park,Wilpena Pound is a staggering 800 million years old.

Lake Eyre is Australia's largest lake and also doubles as the lowest natural point in the country.

It spans over 10,000 square kilometres and transforms colours and textures from dawn to dusk.

The typically dry-lake is filled with flood water once every eight years and has only filled to capacity three times in the last 160 years.

Once it is filled it plays host to an abundance of wildlife including thousands of pelicans and silver gulls and bursts with green grass and foliage.

The signature highlight of South Australia's Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Wilpena Pound is a staggering 800 million years old.

The enormous rock formation is a natural amphitheater, formed over the course of millions of years worth of erosion.

Its peaks span 100km around the region's heart and despite it being eight times the size of Uluru, it is considered the hidden gem of South Australia.

Tasmania

Australia's largest and most recognisable remains of colonial and convict heritage, Tasmania's Port Arthur Historic Site is globally significant

Located along the east coast's Freycinet National Park, its almost-perfect curve of pure-white sand and turquoise waters make Wineglass Bay one of the most visited attractions in Tasmania

Australia's largest and most recognisable remains of colonial and convict heritage, Tasmania's Port Arthur Historic Site is globally significant.

The ruins run over 40 hectares alongside the waters of the Tasman Peninsula.

The mixture of 30-some buildings and ruins remain an architectural testament to the origins of our country's early European influence, serving as a haunting relic of the crimes and lifestyles of early overseas settlement.

Reserved as a national park in 1916, Wineglass Bay is one of the oldest national parks in Tasmania.

Located along the east coast's Freycinet National Park, its almost-perfect curve of pure-white sand and turquoise waters make it one of the most visited attractions in Tasmania.

Its surrounding national park is also home to rare birds including the White Bellied Sea Eagles and Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo.

Victoria

The pillars were once connected to the mainland but have since disconnected due to increasing bad weather (only eight apostles stand today)

Known as Gariwerd in indigenous tongue, Grampians National Park is one of Australia's richest locations for Aboriginal rock art

One of Australia's most globally-recognised views is the Great Ocean Road's 12 Apostles.

Reaching up to 45 metres in height, the rock formations are a series of limestone stacks that were formed over thousands of years worth of erosion from the Southern Ocean.

The pillars were once connected to the mainland but have since disconnected due to increasing bad weather (only eight apostles stand today).

The backdrop in which they stand among has become equally as famous, with it being voted by Australian public as the third 'Best Sunset in Australia'.

Grampians National Park is an expansive land of breathtaking canyons, peaks and valleys.

Known as Gariwerd in indigenous tongue, the site is one of Australia's richest locations for Aboriginal rock art.

The land has been home to indigenous peoples for over 20,000 making it a site of significant environmental and cultural value.

Western Australia

Lake Hillier gets its baby-pink colour from the presence of a mixture of bacter and algae which thrive in the high-density salt enviroment.

Perhaps known more for the acclaimed horror film Wolf Creek, which used this eerie crater as it's back drop- Wolfe Creek is the second-largest meteorite crater in the world- making it very much a star in its own right

Located within Western Australia's Goldfields-Esperance region, Lake Hillier is truly a sight to behold.

The salt lake gets its baby-pink colour from the presence of a mixture of bacteria and algae which thrive in the high-density salt environment.

Unlike many salt lakes, Lake Hillier's strawberry milkshake colour is permanent and stands out vividly with the surrounding Pacific Ocean.

Perhaps known more for the acclaimed horror film Wolf Creek, which used this eerie crater as it's back drop- Wolfe Creek is the second-largest meteorite crater in the world- making it very much a star in its own right.

Its mix of red rock soil which surrounds a ring of greenery in its center and sheer uniqueness of its surround atmosphere makes this one of the most visited sites in the Australian Outback.

Its sloping rim can be climbed by visitors after a fairly steep and rocky scramble, however once atop the view inside is truly unworldly.

Northern Territory

How could we leave this one out?: 'The Heart of Australia' Uluru is visited by 300,000 tourists per year and boasts great spiritual significance to the native Aboriginal culture

Formed over 500 million years of weathering, the result is 36 individual red-rock domes that jut out of the earth like varying sized heads

Known world-wide as 'the Heart of Australia' Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) boasts great spiritual significance to the native Aboriginal culture.

This enormous rock is located directly at the centre of our continant and is known for its amazing sunrises and sunsets- which create draw-dropping lighting effects and making its red-earth tones stand out even further.

Despite being the lesser-known sister to Uluru, Kata Tjuta is 200metres higher.

Formed over 500 million years of weathering, the result is 36 individual red-rock domes that jut out of the earth like varying sized heads.

Unlike Uluru, its various disconnected domes make seeing the rock up-close-and-personal a lot more possible.

The lack of commercialisation and man-made boardwalks at this site makes the journey weaving in and around the domes a much more intimate, spiritual experience.

With fifty nominees put forward only seven will be crowned The Seven Wonders of Australia.

Voting is now open at the 7Wonders website with entries closing 7th of October.
A tribute to the late Paul Walker turned into complete chaos when several attendees destroyed a security guard's truck and then got into a fight with the man. The gathering was eventually shut down when police arrived.

Video shows hundreds of car enthusiasts packed into the parking lot of the West Covina Plaza shopping mall in California on Wednesday night for a Paul Walker tribute, which was advertised on Instagram by the Distorted Illusion Car Club.

In the footage, cars are seen spinning out and doing donuts in the parking lot, leaving smoke and streaks of fire behind.

Hundreds of people turned up for a Paul Walker tribute on Wednesday night to honor what would have been his 45th birthday

Several people jumped onto the hood of a security truck and then smashed the windshield

Police in West Covina said they are investigating the violent meet up and are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspects

Another video posted on social media shows several men jumping on the hood of a mall security guard's truck, and another breaking the vehicle's windshield.

Several of the people at the meetup get into a shoving match with the guard before a fight breaks out.

Walker, known for his role in the Fast & Furious movies, died in 2013 in a car crash

The car meet was in honor of what would have been Walker's 45th birthday, but several attendees felt the chaos that ensued distracted from that.

'I love going to car meets but people like this ruin the scene,' attendee Chris Alvar captioned a video showing several guys jumping on the security vehicle.

'This old a** dude really punched him thru the window. Hes the one that started the whole mess by throwing water bottles.'

According to another Instagram user, things at the meet got so bad that cops blocked them in. He said more than 25 cars were towed and multiple people were cited.

Video taken after the meet dispersed shows several tow trucks in the West Covina Plaza parking lot towing away the cars that had been boxed in by officers.

Lt. Travis Tibbetts with the West Covina Police Department said that a second mall security guard was injured during the meet on Wednesday night and they are investigating a felony vandalism and an assault and battery to the two guards.

A fight between several people at the meet up and a security guard broke out

Police said two officers were assaulted during the altercation on Wednesday night

Paul Walker is known for starring as Brian OConner in the Fast & the Furious movies

Walker died at the age of 40 in 2013 when the Porsche Carrera GT he was riding in crashed into a tree and burst into flames

'It's alarming when we see this in the video. The behavior of the people that are gathering at these car meets wanting to beat other people up or just damage property - it's just not acceptable,' Tibbetts told ABC News.

'I think the video is pretty clear and I think there's someone out there that can help us identify who those suspects are that damaged that car and then hurt those security officers.'

According to ABC, the rowdy group had initially gathered in Montebello for the Walker meet but were chased out of the area.

Walker died at the age of 40 in 2013 when the Porsche Carrera GT he was riding in crashed into a tree and burst into flames. He was known for his role as Brian OConner in the Fast & the Furious movies.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the incident on Wednesday or the identity of the suspects in the videos to contact them at (626) 939-8688.
Paul Manafort pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of conspiracy against the United States, telling a court he will cooperate with Robert Mueller's investigation and agreeing to meet with the special counsel team without an attorney

The stunning development that Manafort will assist prosecutors who went after him on a raft of money laundering and tax charges follows a series of earlier indications that Manafort would not cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller.

His cooperation, depending on the extent of it, could provide prosecutors with a valuable tool as they forge ahead with the Russia probe.

Manafort faces up to 10 years in prison for the charges. As part of his plea agreement, Manafort also agreed to forfeit five properties he owned in New York, including his apartment at Trump Tower and his sprawling estate in the Hamptons.

In addition, he will give up a brownstone he owned in Brooklyn, New York, his SoHo, Manhattan, condo, and an apartment in Chinatown. He must also forfeit two bank accounts at Federal Savings Bank and an account at Capital One.

Guilty: This is the moment Paul Manafort stood to accept his guilt at the Washington D.C. federal court hearing presided over by Judge Amy Berman Jackson

In court: Paul Manafort sat and listened as attorney Richard Westling addressed the judge

Kathleen Manafort arrives at court as her husband prepares to plead guilty to federal charges

WHAT'S THE DEAL? Trump tweeted weeks ago that Manafort refused to 'break' in order to get a 'deal.' On Friday he reached a cooperation agreement with prosecutors

Manafort appeared to be in good spirits, flashing a wide grin when he walked into the D.C. federal courtroom wearing a black suit and dark purple tie.

He exchanged no glances with his wife, Kathleen, who sat in the second row and looked unemotional as prosecutors read off the accusations against her husband.

The charges included allegations that Manafort lied to the Department of Justice about his work for a foreign government and that he obstructed justice by attempting to influence potential witnesses in the case.

When Judge Amy Berman Jackson asked Manafort if this was a 'true and accurate statement of what you did in this case,' Manafort replied, 'It is.'

The former Trump campaign chairman pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy against the United States, charges that carry a maximum of five years in prison each. The judge noted that these sentences could not be served concurrently.

Guilty: Paul Manafort, 69, will stay behind bars awaiting sentencing, and faces up to 10 years in prison

He will also face up to three years of supervised release on each count and a maximum $250,000 fine on each count.

Judge Jackson said she will wait to sentence Manafort until she receives a report on the sentencing guidelines from the Probation office. She will also allow on both sides to file objections if they wish to do so.

She also told Manafort that the law will require her sentencing guidelines to be more severe because his actions involved money laundering, obstruction of justice, and off-shore accounts and other 'sophisticated means.'

She said the enhanced guidelines would mean Manafort should face between 210 and 262 months in prison  an amount of time that would have to be capped due to the 10 year maximum sentence.

Judge Jackson also noted that Manafort would not be eligible for parole because it has been abolished for federal cases.

Manafort's defense team agreed that the statutory 10-year maximum 'would be reasonable in this case.' Prosecutors will still have a chance to file a motion asking for a lower sentence, and this could depend on the extent of Manafort's cooperation with the special counsel's office.

Judge Jackson gave attorneys on both sides 60 days to return to file a joint status report in the case.

WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS: 'MANAFORT'S CASE IS NOTHING TO DO TRUMP'

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders issued a statement following the bombshell development in court.

'This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated,' Sanders said.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.' - White House press secretary Sarah Sanders

A cooperation agreement would bind Manafort to answering questions from prosecutors about the gamut of questions about what he knows as they pursue their probe of Russian election interference in the elections and connections between President Donald Trump's team and Russians.

Manafort attended the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Russian in June of 2016 that got set up after a British music publicist reached out to Donald Trump Jr. after getting an offer of dirt on Hillary Clinton.

MANAFORT LOSES TRUMP TOWER PAD AND FACES 10 YEARS IN PRISON

Manafort also will be required to forfeit assets as part of the plea. Prosecutors say he deprived taxpayers of $15 million and laundered $30 million in assets. Manafort used overseas income to purchase homes in the U.S., then took out millions in bank loans to fund purchases here without declaring the money as income.

He faces up to ten years in jail.

Manafort also agreed to forfeit five properties he owned in New York, including his apartment at Trump Tower and his sprawling estate in the Hamptons.

In addition, he will give up a Brownstone he owned in Brooklyn, his SoHo condo, and an apartment in Chinatown. He must also forfeit two bank accounts at Federal Savings Bank and an account at Capital One.

Manafort also owns a home in Alexandria Virginia and a home in Florida.

Manafort bought his upper-floor apartment in Trump Tower in November 2006, using an LLC he controlled called John Hannah LLC. Public records show a purchase price of $3.675 million.

Manafort will give up a Trump Tower apartment with an original of purchase price of $3.675 million

Seized: Paul Manafort loses his brownstone in Brooklyn's upscale Carroll Gardens and his loft in Manhattan's trendy SoHo, which he rented out on AirBnB

Seized: Paul Manafort will lose his lavish Hamptons estate which his first trial had heard was where he spent a fortune on gardening and even karaoke equipment

Keeping: Manafort's wife Katherine will still have use of the Alexandria, VA condo, which was raided by the FBI acting for Mueller's probe

MANAFORT'S WIFE SHOWS NO EMOTION AS SHE WATCHES HIM FLIP

While in court, Manafort appeared to be in good spirits, flashing a wide grin when he walked into the D.C. federal courtroom wearing a black suit and dark purple tie.

He exchanged no glances with his wife, Kathleen, who sat in the second row and looked unemotional as prosecutors read off the accusations against her husband.

When Judge Amy Jackson asked Manafort if this was a 'true and accurate statement of what you did in this case,' Manafort replied, 'It is.'

The former Trump campaign chairman pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy against the United States, charges that carry a maximum of five years in prison each. The judge noted that these sentences could not be served concurrently.

He will also face up to three years of supervised release on each count and a maximum $250,000 fine on each count.

Judge Jackson said she will wait to sentence Manafort until she receives a report on the sentencing guidelines from the Probation office. She will also allow on both sides to file objections if they wish to do so.

She also told Manafort that the law will require her sentencing guidelines to be more severe because his actions involved money laundering, obstruction of justice, and off-shore accounts and other 'sophisticated means.'

She said the enhanced guidelines would mean Manafort should face between 210 and 262 months in prison  an amount of time that would have to be capped due to the 10 year maximum sentence.

Judge Jackson also noted that Manafort would not be eligible for parole because it has been abolished for federal cases.

Manafort's defense team agreed that the statutory 10-year maximum 'would be reasonable in this case.' Prosecutors will still have a chance to file a motion asking for a lower sentence, and this could depend on the extent of Manafort's cooperation with the special counsel's office.

Judge Jackson gave attorneys on both sides 60 days to return to file a joint status report in the case.

'Once again an investigation is concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the president did nothing wrong,' Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said in a statement, CNN reported.

MANAFORT'S ATTORNEY: HE DID IT FOR HIS FAMILY

Manafort attorney Kevin Downing told reporters: 'He's accepted responsibility. And he wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility and this is for conduct that dates back many years, and everybody should remember that,' he said.

Even as Hurricane Florence battered the East Coast, Trump was briefed by his legal team on the bombshell developments Friday.

Under the terms of the agreement revealed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson, Manafort has agreed to submit to further interviews with the special counsel, share documents in his possession, testify in other court proceedings, and waive his right to have a lawyer present during interviews, CNN reported.

Charges where a Virginia jury deadlocked would go away, but only following 'successful cooperation,' according to Judge Jackson. He would serve no more than 10 years in jail, and he will remain incarcerated.

He's accepted responsibility. And he wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life' - Manafort attorney Kevin Downing

The deal not only spares Manafort the expense of a second trial  it spares Trump the spectacle of another court proceeding of his former campaign chair in the weeks before the November elections.

'Is what the prosecutor just said a true and accurate description of what you did in this case?' Judge Jackson asked him.

'I did. It is,' he replied.

An earlier indictment laid out how Manafort lied to get home loans and then used properties to harvest cash.

He 'falsely represented the amount of debt he had by failing to disclose on his loan application the existence of' another mortgage on his Union Street [a $3 million townhouse in Brooklyn] home, for example,' according to the indictment.

When the document [a loan application] was first submitted to Lender B, a conspirator working at Lender B replied: 'Looks Dr'd. Can't someone just do a clean excel doc and pdf to me??' A subsequent version was submitted to the bank,' according to prosecutors.

Statement: Kevin Downing, Paul Manafort's attorney, spoke outside the court to say that his client's guilty plea was for the sake of his family

Taking a tumble: TV cameraman Chris Plater fell while filming Kevin Downing after the attorney had made his statement

The cooperation deal comes after Manafort has already been convicted of federal crimes in a Virginia courthouse, and faces sentencing. It follows speculation that Manafort was following a different path, potentially pursuing a simple guilty plea or even seeking a pardon from Trump.

Prosecutors filed a new superseding indictment against Paul Manafort Friday, as the former Donald Trump campaign chair agreed to plead guilty to federal crimes.

Manafort appeared in court Friday morning in what Special Robert Mueller's office announced was an arraignment and plea agreement hearing that began around 11:00 am.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office sent out the new superseding criminal information laying out a series of charges against Manafort Friday morning.

New exhibits contained in the indictment show Manafort pushing an 'action plan' to go on 'offense' and show 'what Ukraine is doing'  actions that would appear to indicate a U.S. lobbying effort.

Also included is a 2010 memo Manafort wrote to pro-Russian Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovich touting a 'Public and Government Relations program' Manafort said he created.

MANAFORT'S JAW-DROPPING MEMOS: HE WROTE ABOUT 'OBAMA'S JEWS'

One newly revealed document showed Manafort 'orchestrated a scheme to have '[O]bama jews' put pressure on the administration' to support Yanukovych and 'disavow' his rival, Tymoshenko.

This involved putting out stories that 'a senior Cabinet official' who previously criticized Yanukovych 'was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko, who in turn had formed a political alliance with a Ukraine party that espoused anti-Semitic views.'

The government charged Manafort 'coordinated privately with a senior Israeli government official' to issue a statement publicizing the story.

'I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom,' he wrote.

He sought to have the administration 'understand that 'the Jewish community will take this out on Obama on election day if he does nothing,' according to prosecutors.

The New York Times reported that prosecutors charged Manafort with one count of conspiracy and another of conspiracy to obstruct justice  a charge related to witness tampering in the case. The times reported they were dropping five charges dealing with money laundering and lobby disclosure violations.

However the superseding indictment stated Manafort failed to register as a foreign agent, laundered funds, and hid Ukrainian payments that reached $60 million.

Manafort was convicted on eight counts in his first trial last month, and was said to be discussing a plea deal ahead of the second trial - which he has now made

Typically in such cases the defendant must admit to all of the charges against him, even if he does not plead guilty to all the charges.

A plea allows Manafort to avoid a trial in Washington, D.C. Manafort has already been convicted in a federal court in Virginia.

A hearing set for Friday morning was pushed back to 11:00 am, signaling last minute maneuverings in the case.

Manafort's criminal indictment was changed to a plea agreement, special counsel Peter Carr told the Post Friday morning.

The Special Counsel's office released an official statement Friday that did not yet confirm the guilty plea.

'A superseding criminal information against Paul J. Manafort, Jr., 69, of Alexandria, Va., has been filed today in the District of Columbia, which alleges a conspiracy against the United States (money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lying and misrepresenting to the Department of Justice) and a conspiracy to obstruct justice (witness tampering),' according to Mueller's office.

'Additional information will be provided in the near future.'

RUDY'S ALREADY CLAIMED TRUMP IS RELAXED ABOUT PLEA DEAL

Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani had earlier told Politico the president isn't worried about Manafort possibly accepting a plea.

Manafort was scheduled to go on trial in D.C. on September 17, on charges including money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent. Jury selection begins that day with opening arguments to follow a week later.

Before the deal emerged, Giuliani said: 'We can see a reason why he might want to do that. What's the need for another trial?

'They've got enough to put him in jail. His lawyer is going to argue they shouldn't. The judge should decide this. Not Mueller. I think it's pretty clear if they were going to get anything from him, they'd have gotten it already.

'What's the point of further harassing him?'

Manafort was found guilty on eight counts of tax and bank fraud at an August trial in Virginia court. He has yet to be sentenced.

Trump and his team are unconcerned about a possible plea deal, Giuliani said, because they're convinced Manafort has no damaging info on the president.

'From our perspective, we want him to do the right thing for himself,' Giuliani said. 'There's no fear that Paul Manafort would cooperate against the president because there's nothing to cooperate about and we long ago evaluated him as an honorable man.'

A plea deal could benefit Trump in that it would keep Manafort and the Russia investigation out of the news ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

And, given the nature of the charges he was convicted on in Virginia, at 69 Manafort could be facing life in prison simply from those convictions.

Even though Manafort's charges stem from his lobbying business and not his campaign work for Trump, the prosecution came from the Mueller probe of Russia's election meddling.

And Manafort was part of the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting where he, Donald Trump Jr., and Jared Kushner met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer who claimed to have dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Giuliani confirmed that Trump's legal team and Manafort's are in regular contact and that they are part of a joint defense agreement that allows confidential information sharing.

Such an agreement would allow frequent communication between the two men's lawyers. Those contacts could inform Manafort's decision-making as he weights whether to make a deal, whether to cooperate, and whether he believes he is likely to secure a presidential pardon.

Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said the president isn't worried about Paul Manafort possibly flipping

The president has expressed sympathy for Manafort, unlike his reaction to his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to eight counts the same day Manafort was convicted.

'I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family,' Trump tweeted after the Virginia trial's verdict. 'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.' Such respect for a brave man!'

There has been speculation the president could pardon Manafort, which the president has not tamped down.

He has praised his former campaign chairman for not flipping.

'One of the reasons I respect Paul Manafort so much is he went through that trial  you know they make up stories. People make up stories. This whole thing about flipping, they call it, I know all about flipping,' Trump told 'Fox & Friends' last month.

'It's called flipping, and it almost ought to be illegal. ... For 30, 40 years I've been watching flippers. Everything's wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and they  they flip on whoever the next highest one is, or as high as you can go.'

Mueller's final tally: Trump's inner circle of convicts and turncoats - and 25 wanted Russian trolls GUILTY: MICHAEL FLYNN Pleaded guilty to making false statements in December 2017. Awaiting sentence Flynn was President Trump's former National Security Advisor and Robert Mueller's most senior scalp to date. He previously served when he was a three star general as President Obama's director of the Defense Intelligence Agency but was fired. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his conversations with a Russian ambassador in December 2016. He has agreed to cooperate with the special counsel investigation. GUILTY AND JAILED: MICHAEL COHEN Pleaded guilty to eight counts including fraud and two campaign finance violations in August 2018. Pleaded guilty to further count of lying to Congress in November 2018. Sentenced to three years in prison and $2 million in fines and forfeitures in December 2018 Cohen was investigated by Mueller but the case was handed off to the Southern District of New York,leaving Manhattan's ferocious and fiercely independent federal prosecutors to run his case. Cohen was Trump's longtime personal attorney, starting working for him and the Trump Organization in 2007. He is the longest-serving member of Trump's inner circle to be implicated by Mueller. Cohen professed unswerving devotion to Trump - and organized payments to silence two women who alleged they had sex with the-then candidate: porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. He admitted that payments to both women were felony campaign finance violations - and admitted that he acted at the 'direction' of 'Candidate-1': Donald Trump. He also admitted tax fraud by lying about his income from loans he made, money from taxi medallions he owned, and other sources of income, at a cost to the Treasury of $1.3 million. And he admitted lying to Congress in a rare use of the offense. The judge in his case let him report for prison on March 6 and recommended he serve it in a medium-security facility close to New York City. GUILTY AND JAILED: PAUL MANAFORT Found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud in August 2018. Sentenced to 47 months in March 2019. Pleaded guilty to two further charges - witness tampering and conspiracy against the United States. Jailed for total of seven and a half years in two separate sentences. Additionally indicted for mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney, using evidence previously presented by Mueller Manafort worked for Trump's campaign from March 2016 and chaired it from June to August 2016, overseeing Trump being adopted as Republican candidate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He is the most senior campaign official to be implicated by Mueller. Manafort was one of Washington D.C.'s longest-term and most influential lobbyists but in 2015, his money dried up and the next year he turned to Trump for help, offering to be his campaign chairman for free - in the hope of making more money afterwards. But Mueller unwound his previous finances and discovered years of tax and bank fraud as he coined in cash from pro-Russia political parties and oligarchs in Ukraine. Manafort pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of tax and bank fraud but was convicted of eight counts in August 2018. The jury was deadlocked on the other 10 charges. A second trial on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent due in September did not happen when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and witness tampering in a plea bargain. He was supposed to co-operate with Mueller but failed to. Minutes after his second sentencing hearing in March 2019, he was indicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., using evidence which included documents previously presented at his first federal trial. The president has no pardon power over charges by district and state attorneys. GUILTY AND GOING TO WEEKEND JAIL: RICK GATES Pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and making false statements in February 2018. Sentenced to 45 days weekend jail and three years probation, December 17, 2018 Gates was Manafort's former deputy at political consulting firm DMP International. He admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government on financial activity, and to lying to investigators about a meeting Manafort had with a member of congress in 2013. As a result of his guilty plea and promise of cooperation, prosecutors vacated charges against Gates on bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy, failure to disclose foreign bank accounts, filing false tax returns, helping prepare false tax filings, and falsely amending tax returns. GUILTY AND JAILED: GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS Pleaded guilty to making false statements in October 2017. Sentenced to 14 days in September 2018, and reported to prison in November. Served 12 days and released on December 7, 2018 Papadopoulos was a member of Donald Trump's campaign foreign policy advisory committee. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his contacts with London professor Josef Mifsud and Ivan Timofeev, the director of a Russian government-funded think tank. GUILTY AND JAILED: RICHARD PINEDO Pleaded guilty to identity fraud in February 2018. Sentenced to a year in prison Pinedo is a 28-year-old computer specialist from Santa Paula, California. He admitted to selling bank account numbers to Russian nationals over the internet that he had obtained using stolen identities. GUILTY AND JAILED: ALEX VAN DER ZWAAN Pleaded guilty to making false statements in February 2018. He served a 30-day prison sentence and was deported to the Netherlands on his release Van der Zwaan was a Dutch attorney for Skadden Arps who worked on a Ukrainian political analysis report for Paul Manafort in 2012. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about when he last spoke with Rick Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik. His law firm say he was fired. GUILTY: W. SAMUEL PATTEN Pleaded guilty in August 2018 to failing to register as a lobbyist while doing work for a Ukrainian political party. Sentenced to three years probation April 2019 Patten, a long-time D.C. lobbyist was a business partner of Paul Manafort. He pleaded guilty to admitting to arranging an illegal $50,000 donation to Trump's inauguration. He arranged for an American 'straw donor' to pay $50,000 to the inaugural committee, knowing that it was actually for a Ukrainian businessman. Neither the American or the Ukrainian have been named. CHARGED: KONSTANTIN KILIMNIK Indicted for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. At large, probably in Russia Kilimnik is a former employee of Manafort's political consulting firm and helped him with lobbying work in Ukraine. He is accused of witness tampering, after he allegedly contacted individuals who had worked with Manafort to remind them that Manafort only performed lobbying work for them outside of the U.S. He has been linked to Russian intelligence and is currently thought to be in Russia - effectively beyond the reach of extradition by Mueller's team. INDICTED: THE RUSSIANS Twenty-five Russian nationals and three Russian entities have been indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They remain at large in Russia Two of these Russian nationals were also indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 11 were indicted for conspiracy to launder money. Fifteen of them were also indicted for identity fraud. Vladimir Putin has ridiculed the charges. Russia effectively bars extradition of its nationals. The only prospect Mueller has of bringing any in front of a U.S. jury is if Interpol has their names on an international stop list - which is not made public - and they set foot in a territory which extradites to the U.S. INDICTED: MICHAEL FLYNN'S BUSINESS PARTNERS Bijan Kian (left), number two in now disgraced former national security adviser Mike Flynn's lobbying company, and the two's business partner Ekim Alptekin (right) were indicted for conspiracy to lobby illegally. Kian, an Iranian-American was arrested and appeared in court charged with a conspiracy to illegally lobby the U.S government without registering as a foreign agent. Their co-conspirator was Flynn, who is called 'Person A' in the indictment and is not charged, offering some insight into what charges he escaped with his plea deal. Kian, vice-president of Flynn's former lobbying firm, is alleged to have plotted with Alptekin to try to change U.S. policy on an exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and who is accused by Turkey's strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of trying to depose him. Erdogan's government wanted him extradited from the U.S. and paid Flynn's firm through Alptekin for lobbying, including an op-ed in The Hill calling for Gulen to be ejected. Flynn and Kian both lied that the op-ed was not paid for by the Turkish government. The indictment is a sign of how Mueller is taking an interest in more than just Russian involvement in the 2016 election. GUILTY AND AWAITING SENTENCE: ROGER STONE Roger Stone, a former Trump campaign official and longtime informal advisor to Trump, was indited on seven counts including obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress about his communications with WikiLeaks in January 2019. Convicted on all counts November 15, 2019, awaiting sentence Stone was a person of interest to Mueller's investigators long before his January indictment, thanks in part due to his public pronouncements as well as internal emails about his contacts with WikiLeks. In campaign texts and emails, many of which had already been publicly revealed before showing up in Mueller's indictment, Stone communicated with associates about WikiLeaks following reports the organization had obtained a cache of Clinton-related emails. Stone, a former Nixon campaign adviser who has the disgraced former president's face permanently tattooed on his back, has long been portrayed as a central figure in the election interference scandal. 'They got nothing,' he said of the special counsel's investigation. Stone gave 'false and misleading' testimony about his requests for information from WikiLeaks. He then pressured a witness, comedian Randy Credico, to take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify, and pressured him in a series of emails. Following a prolonged dispute over testimony, he called him a 'rat' and threatened to 'take that dog away from you', in reference to Credico's pet, Bianca. Stone warned him: 'Let's get it on. Prepare to die.' CLEARED: GREG CRAIG Greg Craig, President Barack Obama's White House counsel, was indicted for failing to register as a foreign agent. Mueller's investigators uncovered Craig's work on behalf the government of Ukraine while probing Manafort, who did business with Craig. Prosecutors released a grand jury indictment of Craig in April 2019, after Craig's law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP agreed to pay more than $4.6 million as part of a settlement. The prominent firm also acknowledged it had failed to register, and placed much of the blame on Craig, a senior partner there. Craig's lawyer blasted the decision as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion, and prepared to argue that omission of information during an interview is not tantamount to making false statements. The charges stem from a 2012 report Craig and the firm produced on behalf of the Ukrainian government on opposition figure and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She was an opponent of Manafort's client , former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Craig was cleared on September 9 2019. Advertisement

POLITICS, SEX, AND LIES: THE RISE AND FALL OF PAUL MANAFORT In the span of just two years, Paul Manafort has gone from one of Washington's most sought-after Republican lobbyists to a political pariah with a shattered family. 'My life - personally and professionally - is in shambles,' he told Judge T.S. Ellis III, in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on March 7. 'The last two years have been the most difficult years for my family. Humiliated and would be a gross understatement.' He laid it on thicker to the next sentencing judge, Amy Berman Jackson, in Washington D.C. on March 13: 'I will be 70 years old in a few weeks. My wife is 66. She needs me. I need her. Please let me and my wife be together.' Self-pitying certainly, but hardly wrong. Sitting in a wheelchair and contemplating the real prospect of dying behind bars, Manafort was diminished in every way, the extravagantly-tailored and immaculately connected powerbroker who could ask for millions for his counsel now wearing prison green as he asked not for money but compassion. Typically though, the whole story was not on display; in recent years, Manafort had betrayed his wife with a mistress 30 years his junior who he put up in a New York apartment and handed an unlimited credit card. That infidelity was only another staging post on the long and spectacular fall from grace for the 69-year-old former Trump campaign manager, the son of a small-town mayor who went on to work for four U.S. presidents and made his fortune as the Washington mouthpiece for some of the world's most notorious dictators. Today Manafort has few defenders in the nation's capital, after being convicted of tax fraud and money laundering by special counsel Robert Mueller - who first secured a guilty verdict from a jury then a plea deal on the eve of a second trial. Even Manafort's former boss, President Trump, claimed he never would have hired the former lobbyist if he had known about the allegations. 'Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time (he represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole & many others over the years), but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldn't have been hired!' wrote Trump in a Twitter post in June 2018. The president had faced Manafort co-operating with Robert Mueller 'fully and truthfully.' But even that was beyond the ability of Manafort, who Mueller's prosecutors charge lied to them after his agreement to cooperate. The power brokers: Paul Manafort, his future business partners Roger Stone and Lee Atwater, were photographed as young Republican operatives. Stone, a Trump confidante and notorious political dirty trickster is now fighting off the Mueller probe himself; Atwater died in 1991, a former RNC chairman with a reputation for dirty campaigns. All three cashed in on their political work by lobbying those they got elected Manafort, the grandson of an Italian immigrant, was raised in a staunch Republican home in New Britain, Connecticut. When he was 16, his father Paul John Manafort Sr. was elected mayor of New Britain and served for three terms. In 1981, Manafort Sr. was indicted  but later acquitted  on perjury charges in a sweeping city corruption and bribery scandal that also ensnared the police and fire chiefs. After Catholic parochial schools and graduating from Georgetown University Law School, Manafort went on to work as an advisor for Republican Presidents Gerald Ford. It is unclear why he was not drafted for Vietnam. He went on to serve as an advisor to Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole's presidential campaign. But he worked out how to turn political advising into a gusher of cash: by lobbying the very politicians they had helped elect. He co-founded a prominent lobbying firm with ex-Nixon aide Roger Stone, and Lee Atwater, another notorious figure, which shopped their access to top Republicans to U.S. businesses, state and city governments, and anyone who would pay. The lobbying would be punctuated by periods of working for campaigns - guaranteeing the access on which they depended if their candidates won (which by and large they did). That came to embrace the wider world too; the Manafort lobbying roster included brutal regimes willing to pay high fees for his services  including Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Zaire military leader Mobutu Sese Seko. Betrayed: Kathleen Manafort stood by her husband despite his family finding proof of his mistress on Instagram; she attended every minute of his trial and was there when he said he was flipping Manafort went on to found his own political consulting firm in 2005, bringing on his former intern Rick Gates as his trusted deputy. He also continued to take on controversial clients. In 2010, Manafort helped elect Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, head of Ukraine's Putin-allied Party of Regions. The victory paid off  between 2010 and 2014, federal investigators said Manafort's firm earned 'a cash spigot': $60 million in fees from the Party of Regions' political patrons. According to prosecutors, Manafort stashed the funds away in a series of offshore bank accounts and shell companies, and failed to disclose the income in his tax returns. In total, they claim he dodged taxes on $15 million. But after Yanukovych was voted out of power by Ukraine's parliament in 2014, Manafort's fortunes suddenly changed. He stopped getting payments from Yanukovych's wealthy oligarch supporters, and started to have trouble paying his bills. This is when prosecutors claim Manafort started applying for loans using phony financial information. In total, they said he scammed banks out of $20 million. Manafort's then-alleged crimes were uncovered during the course of a special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller, who has been investigating potential Russian interference in the 2016 election and collusion with the Trump campaign. Even before the charges were filed against him, Manafort's personal life had been unravelling, according to years of hacked text messages between his daughters Andrea, 32, and Jessica, 36, that were posted online. According to the messages, Manafort's family had caught him having an affair with a woman who was around the same age as his daughters, renting a pricey house for her in the Hamptons and paying her credit card bill. They discovered the affair after seeing the woman's posts boasting about her expensive travel and dinners on Instagram. Manafort, who was undergoing an emotional breakdown according to the messages, committed himself to a psychiatric clinic in Arizona in 2015. Texts: Manafort's daughters Jessica (left, with now ex-husband Jeff Yohai, who flipped) and Andrea (right with husband Christopher Shand) exchanged text messages which were hacked revealing his affairs and calling him a psychopath. Jessica has changed her name to Bond, her mother's maiden name Fruits of lobbying: This is the condo overlooking the Potomac where the FBI raided Manafort on orders from Mueller. He bought it for $2.75 million, part of a property empire worth conservatively $15 million After he was released in 2016 - claiming he had 'new insight' into himself - he linked up with the Trump campaign and became the candidate's campaign manager during the crucial months surrounding the Republican National Convention. His daughter Andrea took a different view of that. She wrote in a leaked text to a friend, who was not named in the leak: 'Trump probably has more morals than my dad. Which is really just saying something about my dad. My dad is a psycho!!! At least trump let his wives leave him. Plus, Trump has been a good father.' And she also texted: 'Trump waited a little too long in my opinion, but I can attest to the fact that he has now hired one of the world's greatest manipulators. I hope my dad pulls it off. Then I can sell my memoir with all his dirty secrets for a pretty penny.' But getting in tow with Trump in June 2016, his neighbor in Trump Tower, was to prove catastrophic. Trump in fact fired him in August 2017 when questions about Manafort's dealings with Russians in Ukraine started to surface. Manafort returned to his shadowy lobbying life, but then he was caught up in the Mueller probe. In July 2017 his home in Alexandria was raided before dawn; in October he and his loyal deputy Gates were indicted, with charges of tax fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, failing to register as foreign agents and conspiracy against the United States. Manafort's legal strategy was to split the cases in two, meaning two separate trials - one for the monetary charges, the second conspiracy and failing to register as a foreign agent. But before they began, Gates took a plea bargain, turning on his boss, agreeing to cooperate fully and truthfully with Mueller. From there Manafort's path was consistently downhill. In Washington D.C. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, proved tough; she had him locked up before trial when Mueller accused him of witness tampering. Turned: Rick Gates That meant he attended his first trial, in Virginia, from jail, walking in every day with federal marshals and walking out in handcuffs. In Virginia, Ronald Reagan-appointee T.S. Ellis III presided over the first trial in August 2018. Manafort and his supporters might have been cheered by his apparent toughness on the Mueller prosecutors, including berating them in front of the jury, and repeated demands for them to hurry up. But when the jury returned its guilty verdicts on eight of the 18 counts, other legal observers said Ellis was making sure the case could not be appealed. Ellis declared a mistrial on the remaining 10 counts, which meant that Mueller could keep them in reserve for a second trial. And if there were any lingering thoughts that the judge had sympathy for the felon, Ellis told Manafort that he would be wearing prison, not regular, clothing for subsequent hearings. The next month his second trial was due to begin but Manafort then decided, finally, to seek a deal with Mueller, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and witness tampering. He also admitted to most of the 10 charges which the jury could not reach a verdict on the previous month, and - crucially - agreed to cooperate fully and truthfully with Mueller. But he could not even manage that; by November, Mueller filed a court document accusing him of lying in breach of the plea deal. The next month they revealed Manafort's attorney had briefed the White House on his dealings with Mueller. Then in January came a moment which showed Manafort still had the power to shock: Mueller revealed in a court filing that he had passed Trump campaign polling data to Konstantin Kilimnik, his one-time aide who has been named as a suspected Russian intelligence asset. In a February hearing Mueller's prosecutors went further, suggesting Manafort might have lied about passing on the polling data to boost his chances of a presidential pardon. Judge Berman Jackson ruled he had lied and set his sentencing for March; his sentencing in Virginia will come after that. If he were to get a pardon, the peril is hardly over; New York state's attorney general is investigating his tax fraud to see if he could be prosecuted for evading state taxes. Presidential pardons do not apply in state courts. Left in tatters is a reputation, a fortune, and a family. His elder daughter, Jessica Manafort filed to change her name to Jessica Bond in August 2018, after his conviction, telling the Los Angeles Times: 'I am a passionate liberal and a registered Democrat and this has been difficult for me.' Despite the clearly unhappy family, Manafort's wife Kathleen stood by him in the face of his infidelity. She loyally attended each day of his tax fraud trial, always sitting in the row directly behind his defense table. Tarnished legacy: Paul Manafort Sr. was three-term mayor of New Britain, CT Since June 2018, Manafort has been incarcerated in a county jail in Alexandria. Largely held in solitary confinement for his own safety, his health has clearly suffered. He attended some hearings in a wheelchair and his legal team disclosed he had been diagnosed with gout. Perhaps more stinging to his vanity, in a mug shot, the fashion-conscious Manafort sported a jailhouse jumpsuit and shadowy stubble. His brown hair, which he previously dyed, is now tinged with grey. The former lobbyist, who once spent $18,000 on a python skin jacket, has also been forced to attend his trial without socks  because he reportedly balked at the white ones he is required to wear as an inmate. He has depression and anxiety and his lawyers complained he had little contact with his family. In letters submitted ahead of his sentence family members pleaded for leniency. But there were no letters from the rich, powerful Republicans who Manafort had counted as his friends. Manafort's conviction even impacted the legacy of his father, the popular three-term mayor in New Britain, Connecticut, from 1965 to 1971. In August 2018 the city changed a street named after the former mayor from 'Paul Manafort Drive' to 'Paul Manafort Sr. Drive.' Advertisement




A 19-year-old man who turned up at a Chicago hospital was so drunk he didn't know he had been shot in the chest the night before, police say.

The unidentified underage drinker checked in to Roseland Hospital on Tuesday at around 5pm, telling authorities he'd gone out drinking the night before and 'did not realize he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest til this morning', Patch.com reports.

The victim is reportedly in stable condition.

A 19-year-old who checked in to a Chicago hospital Tuesday told police he'd gone drinking the night before and 'did not realize he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest til this morning'. The unidentified victim was last reported in stable condition at Roseland Hospital (above)

Chicago police said the shooting occurred between 3am and 5am in the 7900 block of South Damen in the South Side neighborhood of Gresham.

They have not provided any additional details about the victim or the shooting.

The incident is currently under investigation.
Gilles Barrieau acquired the lions share of the purse money as the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for trotters took the spotlight Thursday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Mile Hill Willie teamed up with Barrieau to win the lone $8,900 two-year-old P.E.I. Colt Stakes trot division in 2:02.4 in a mild upset at 4-1 odds for owner Paul Morrison of Cardigan, P.E. The chestnut son of Armbro Barrister stalked the field from fifth on the rail as divisional leader Little Miss Winnie cut out the fractions for driver Kenny Arsenault. Little Miss Winnie was nailed for the win in the stretch drive but hung on for second while Getting Messi (Corey MacPherson) finished third.

In three-year-old P.E.I. Colt Stakes action, Barrieau visited the winners circle with Windmeredontuworry in a $6,200 division for trainer Terry Gallant of Summerside, who co-owned the son of Armbro Barrister with Eric Johnston of Summerside, P.E.I. Time of the mile was 1:59.3 for the defending Atlantic Triple Crown winner.

The clocking for Windmeredontuworry lowered his own track record by three-fifths of a second.

West River Cindy padded her bankroll in the other division to put her over $18,000 in seasonal earnings for driver Kenny MacDonald, trainer Clare MacDonald and owner Haley Shepherd of Stratford, P.E.I. The Armbro Barrister three-year-old was on top at every call for her win in 2:01.1.

MacPherson had three wins on the 12-dash program including Holy Molie Maggie in 2:01.1, Dusty Lane Jacob in 2:00.3 and Swingirl in 1:58.1.

Campbell visited the winners circle four times on the program to continue his grip over the Red Shores Charlottetown drivers standings. The Winsloe driver won with Glasgow Gracie in a 2:01.4 maiden score, Scoot Out Of Here in 1:58.2, House Of Style in 2:01.4 and Malabrigo in 1:57.2.

Live racing continues Saturday at Red Shores Charlottetown with two programs at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. featuring the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two and three-year-old pacers.

(CDP)

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results  Charlottetown Driving Park.
Rusbel Zamorano-Calderon (pictured) was captured by border patrol agents trying to illegally cross the border

A Mexican man accused of raping his 15-year-old daughter was caught trying to illegally enter the United States.

Rusbel Zamorano-Calderon, 39, was captured by border patrol agents trying to cross the border in Ysleta, around 15 miles south of El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday.

The agents had been on a routine patrol when they found footprints east of the Ysleta Port of Entry, US Customs and Border Protection said.

Zamorano-Calderon was among the group of people found trying to illegally cross the border and taken into custody, the agency said.

Agents quickly discovered he had been previously deported from the United States.

They also learned that he had an outstanding warrant for three counts of rape on his own 15-year-old daughter in Tennessee.

A restraining order is in place to protect the daughter, agents also found.

Zamorano-Calderon is to be remanded to the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office pending extradition to the Polk County Sheriff's office in Tennessee to face three felony rape charges, the agency said.

'The most recent arrest serves as another prime example of the importance of maintaining vigilance along our nation's borders, and the important role that Border Patrol Agents play in helping keep our communities safe,' a spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection said.
A senior officer with the Met Police faces the sack after he was accused of racism for using the phrase 'whiter than white'.

The detective in Scotland Yard's anti-corruption squad is facing an investigation by the police watchdog after he is said to have used the phrase during a briefing to colleagues.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, the term means 'never doing anything wrong', and the detective reportedly used it to mean officers' actions should be beyond reproach.

A detective with the Met Police's anti-corruption unit faces an investigation after he allegedly used the apparently innocuous phrase 'whiter than white'

But a complaint was made over apparent racial connotations of the phrase and investigation has now been launched.

Colleagues are reportedly upset that the man's career has been hit and he faces a probe lasting up to a year for uttering a phrase which is widely used around the country without controversy.

Another Met officer told The Evening Standard: 'It may have been a poor use of language but this is not what the misconduct process is for. This is not corruption, this is not serious wrongdoing.'

The paper reported that other officers are being investigating over the use of seemingly innocuous phrases including 'pale, stale and male' and 'a good egg'.

It is understood the detective in the Met Police case has been put on restricted duties after being served misconduct notice in June.

He will be interviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) at a later date.

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: 'I can confirm that as part of Operation Embley into allegations of serious corruption and malpractice within the Directorate of Professional Standards a notice of investigation has been served on an officer informing them we are investigating the alleged use of language deliberately intended to offend and that had racist undertones.

'A notice is issued to inform an officer at the earliest opportunity following an allegation and to safeguard their interests. It in no way indicates that misconduct proceedings will take place.'
A Nigerian man who featured in the National Crime Agencys top 10 most wanted alleged fraudsters campaign appeared in court today accused of a 12 million scam involving public bodies.

Bayo Awonorin, 44, was originally arrested in 2012 as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering involving public bodies, including Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, but he later fled the country while on bail, Lincolnshire Police said.

He was arrested in Maryland, US, and was successfully extradited after being charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money.

Bayo Awonorin (pictured), 44, is accused of a 12million scam against public bodies

The Lincolnshire force said he has been a wanted man since 2013 in connection with the investigation called Operation Tarlac.

He was traced by Lincolnshire officers from the Economic Crime Unit to the US and through close collaboration with both the UK and US authorities, the force added.

Awonorin appeared in the dock at Lincoln Magistrates Court today.

Wearing a white t-shirt, Awonorin spoke to confirm his name and to give his date of birth.

He also confirmed his nationality as Nigerian and told the court he was of no fixed address.

The court clerk confirmed that Awonorin faces two charges of conspiring with others to defraud public institutions and to convert criminal property.

Awonorin, from Bexley, London, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court (pictured) today

Both offences are alleged to have occurred between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012.

There was no bail application or indication of plea from Awonorin.

He was remanded in to custody and will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on October 15.

Awonorin, previously from Bexley, London, had been the subject of a BBC Crimewatch appeal and the National Crime Agencys 10 most wanted alleged fraudsters campaign in 2016.
Sarah Jessica Parker was ambushed by a group of animal activists during the grand opening of her New York City shoe store on Thursday.

The Sex and the City star was at the Seaport District mingling with fans and shoppers at her new store SJP Shoes when she was confronted by a group of anti-fur protesters.

In video footage obtained by DailyMail.com, a female advocate can be seen asking the actress: 'How do you feel about rocking fur in every single one of your coats?' before adding, 'no compassion at all, your last winter coat had a fur trim.'

Parker, who was visibly uncomfortable, kept her cool and tried to reason with the woman.

Video footage obtained by DailyMail.com shows a female activist (right) approaching Sarah Jessica Parker at her new shoe store and asking 'How do you feel about rocking fur in every single one of your coats?'

The activists appeared to be angry over Parker's Parajumper jacket which had a real fur trim during her trip to Moscow 10 months ago (left). They also shamed her husband Matthew Broderick (right) for wearing a Triple F.A.T. coat with coyote fur

The woman criticized the visibly shocked actress saying she has 'no compassion at all'

The Sex and the City star was at the Seaport District mingling with fans and shoppers at her new store SJP Shoes (pictured) on Thursday when she was confronted by a group of anti-fur protesters

'I am a compassionate person,' she responds.

'So you're going to tell your husband and all the coyotes that get trapped and killed for fur coats as well?' the woman asks, referring to Parker's husband Matthew Broderick.

The 53-year-old actress appears to be at a loss for words and replies: 'I stand..I totally...I stand informed, and I really appreciate it.'

The woman then retorts: 'I understand you're informed about it, but that's not enough.'

The video then skips to show the activist walking away from Parker who tries to get her name.

'Tell me what your name is. Tell me what your name is. Tell me your name.'

The woman ignores her and walks over to the other group of activists who then begin to chant: 'Fur trade, death trade!' repeatedly.

The camera pans to an awkward Parker, who can be heard saying: 'OK. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming by.'

At one point the 53-year-old star appears to be at a loss for words and replies: 'I stand..I totally...I stand informed, and I really appreciate it.'

One protester was seen holding up a sign that read 'SARAH HATES ANIMALS'

Parker stood awkwardly as the group began to chant 'Fur trade, death trade' repeatedly throughout the store until they were finally escorted out by security

She is then seen standing by a shoe stand with her entourage and shaking her head as security tries to round the activists up and escort them out.

A male protester, who cannot be seen in the frame, then takes aim at Parker once more.

'And shame on your husband too, Matthew! For wearing Triple F.A.T. coyote fur, shame on him too! Shame on your husband!'

Parker looks directly into the camera and appears taken aback, but does not respond.

A protester is then seen holding a sign the reads,' SARAH HATES ANIMALS,' and continues to chant before they finally leave the store.

The activists appeared to be angry over's Parker's Parajumper jacket with real fur trim that she was seen wearing during her trip to Moscow 10 months ago.

Broderick, was also seen wearing a Triple F.A.T. coat with coyote fur.
Three men have been arrested for assaulting a 28-year-old British tourist who was on holiday in Cyprus.

The young Brit is fighting for his life in intensive care after suffering from serious head injuries in the resort of Coral Bay, just north of the city of Paphos.

Police have arrested three men in connection with the assault which is believed to have happened at around 1.30am on Wednesday.

The alleged ringleader, a 41-year-old man, will be held in custody for eight days while police investigate the case.

A British tourist, 28, is fighting for his life after being attacked by three men in the resort of Coral Bay, just north of the city of Paphos (stock picture of Coral Bay)

His two alleged accomplices, 27 and 34 years old respectively, will serve a six-day detention order.

The 41-year-old man is thought to be British while the 27-year-old is said to be a Greek Cypriot and the 34-year-old man a Bulgarian national, reports CyprusMail.

According to local media, the 28-year-old Briton was attacked by the suspects at night.

Police found him bleeding on the street and initially presumed that he was drunk.

However, they then quickly realised he had been the victim of an assault.

The young Brit was rushed to the Paphos General Hospital where doctors diagnosed him with life-threatening head injuries.

Three men, aged 41, 34 and 27, have been arrested in connection to the incident early on Wednesday morning

He was then transferred to the Nicosia General Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

After police officers interviewed eyewitnesses in the area where the British tourist was discovered, they arrested the 41-year-old suspect.

The man was reportedly on the island visiting relatives.

Cypriot authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.
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These fascinating extremely rare colourised photographs show the courageous pilots in British and American aircraft that helped defeat Nazi Germany- and the Luftwaffe planes who tried to stop them.

The restored, vibrant images show a variety of World War II warbirds that played a pivotal part in the allied war effort such a the Lancaster bomber and the P-51 Mustang fighter.

It also shows Luftwaffe aircraft - whose pilots engaged the allies in the skies above Europe.

An American B24 plane photographed from above while on mission to Brussels, Belgium on August 3, 1944. The stunning aerial shot shows the vast wingspan of the plane. Early models of the long range heavy bomber, known as the Liberator, were primarily used for transporting cargo and persons of special interest. Some of them were fitted with radar and became effective at antisubmarine patrol, particularly in the mid-Atlantic, where German U-boats previously operated virtually unchallenged

Lt Robert B. Campbell flying over England in 1944 in an Avro Lancaster. The four engine heavy bomber had a large, long bomb bay so could take the largest bombs the RAF had. Specifically it could hold the blockbuster bomb, the largest used by the RAF in the war. It was affectionately known as the 'Lanc' and was one of the most successful bombers during the war

This rare image gives a brief insight into the workings of one of the key bombing planes used by the RAF, the Handley Page Halifax Bomber. The planes flew more than 47,000 missions during the war and were as well as being used for bombing they also took part in towing aircraft and dropping people behind enemy lines

Two Handley Page Halifax bombers on a mission during the war. It was a major part of the RAF's bomber command and often performed strategic bombing missions at night. However it was seen as inferior compared to the rival Lancaster plane because it could not carry the larger blockbuster bombs

At least six B-17 bombers fly over the skies during a flight drill in 1943. The 'flying fortress' was a four-engine heavy bomber used extensively throughout World War II. The first prototype of the plane took to the skies in 1935 and was a formidable opponent for enemy fighters due to its mounted 0.50 calibre machine guns. The plane was used extensively during the Allied breakout and Normandy invasion in June 1944

The snaps also show RAF and USAF officers, as well as members of the Finnish Air Force.

The Luftwaffe was officially established in 1935 and the Condor Legion was sent to aid General Franco, which they did with devastating effect, in the Spanish Civil War.

The German Luftwaffe claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories, while 75,000 of their fleet was destroyed or significantly damaged. Of that, nearly 40,000 were written off.

Their total air fleet production stood at just under 120,000 planes, with a personel of 3.4million pilots in service between 1939 to 1945.

By the time the Second World War broke out, they were the most sophisticated, technologically advanced air force in the world.

They were instrumental in the German victories across Poland and Western Europe in 1939 and 1940 as the countries in their way fell victim to the Blitzkreig.

After the surrender of France, Hitler turned the Luftwaffe against Britain, hoping to destroy the RAF ahead of a German invasion.

But during the the Battle of Britain, outnumbered RAF pilots successfully resisted their German foes.

Graphic designer Nathan Howland, from Brighton, used his expertise to add colour to the images and help preserve the memories of war for future generations to learn from.

Mr Howland, 52, said: 'Many of the images are extremely rare and have yet to be shown to a wider audience.

'To me, most of them encapsulate the dichotomy in the expression that there is beauty in war. It gives us an emotive and moving insight into the fearful altitudes these very young men faced and braved.

'In the midst of it all, there were these extraordinary battle photographers, armed only with a camera who stole themselves from everything around them to bring their eye, the war and the beauty of nature together in profound moments.

Avro Lancasters in formation on an unspecified mission. The four engine heavy bomber was affectionately known as the 'Lanc' and played a key part in the conflict

British Short S.29 Stirling Bomber. The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force

A B-17 unloading a number of bombs from an extreme altitude in April 1945. The 398th Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe, moving to England in 1944. They entered combat in May 1944 and primarily targeted agreed strategic objectives such as German factories

A B-17 of the 339th Bomb Squad 96th BG in a raid over Germany in 1944. The 339th Bomb Squad was stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and flew a number of missions into Germany. The squadron was deactivated in 1963

Two B-17's over England in 1942

B-17G's flying into the sunrise in January 1945. This version of the B-17 included a chin turret, .50 caliber machine guns and a tail gun. 8,680 of the planes were built and converted for a variety of uses such as reconnaissance, troop transport, training and bombing

'It saw my role to lend my skill-set to honouring these moments as best I could, to hopefully provoke a more immediate sense of what it was like to be an airman in wartime.'

Mr Howland added that a 'great deal of research' was invested to make sure the photographs were in as good a condition as possible.

He said: 'Everyone loves a colour image, they bring life, depth, vibrancy, energy and a richness that is lacking in a monochrome image.

'Colourising allows us to see images in a completely new perspective. In many cases it allows the viewer to see much more detail within an image than your eyes would otherwise perceive when looking at something in greyscale. I think it's a little bit of magic.

'My only wish is for people to enjoy the work, and if you look at a colourised image and can't tell that it was ever black and white, then that is the biggest flattery any colourist can ask for.'

The P-47 flying in formation in November 1943. The words 'Ann K' can be seen inscribed onto the front panel of the warplane. The P-47 was a United States fighter-bomber used extensively throughout World War II. It's primary weapon was .50 calibre machine guns, but it would also carry rockets. It gained the nickname 'Jug' due to the profile looking similar to a milk jug

A rare shot of the P-47D allocated to Col. Dave Schilling of the 56th FG - 62nd FS in the brief period just before it was painted for him to become 'Hairless Joe' shortly after D-Day

A group of redirected B-17 bombers from the 398th Air Expeditionary Group on a mission over Munich in April 1945. The 398 Bomb Group flew 195 combat missions, the last being on April 25, 1945. The group was particularly focused on strategic objectives such as bombing warehouses in Munich or shipping yards in Kiel

A P-51B Mustang of the 335th FG being run at visitors at Nuthampstead in England 1944. The American long-range single seater fighter was used extensively throughout World War Two and also in the Korean War. During World War II plucky Mustang pilots said they destroyed more than 4,950 enemy aircraft

A B-24 'War Eagle' on a bombing campaign to Brussels, Belgium on August 3 1944. Speaking of the restoration project, Mr Howland said: 'Many of the images are extremely rare and have yet to be shown to a wider audience'

A P-51 Mustang flying high. The American single seater was designed in 1940 and were often used to escort bombers in raiders over Germany. They were also used as fighter-bombers by both the US Air Force and RAF and helped ensured the superiority of airborne allied forces in 1944

A Finnish Ju88 preparing to take off in 1941. The image was taken during the Continuation War. It was a conflict fought by Finland and Germany against the Soviet Union. It started because the Soviet Union wished to safeguard Leningrad so wanted a part of the Finnish naval base at Hanko. This was rejected they were attacked by the Soviets and had to sign the Treaty of Moscow, handing over parts of southeastern Finland. As tensions between Germany and the Soviet Union grew in 1941 Finland and the Continuation War began

A pilot sits on a Fiat G.50 series II Freccia from the Finnish Air Force in 1941, while another lies under the wing awaiting their orders. Finland were involved in two major conflicts during the war, the Winter War with the Soviety Union in 1939 and the Continuation War between 1941 and 1944

The P-47 prepares for takeoff from an unknown airfield during the Second World War. The P-47 had a roomy and comfortable cockpit and was one of the main fighters used by the United States during the Second World War. From D-Day until VE day P-47 pilots supposedly destroyed 86,000 railroad cars

The Luftwaffe Messerschmitt bf 110 gf. The plane was a twin fighter and was used extensively by the Luftwaffe throughout World War Two. It operated with some success early in the conflict but had a major weakness in that it was not very agile in the air
A promising young attorney in the Tennessee district attorney's office who was also the son-in-law of country star Alan Jackson passed away on Wednesday in West Palm Beach.

Samuel Benton Selecman was just 28 at the time of his death, having been hospitalized for over a week after falling off a boat dock and suffering traumatic head injuries.

He is survived by his wife Mattie, who just weeks before she was set to celebrate her first wedding anniversary must now prepare for her husband's funeral.

In addition to his wife, Selecman is survived by parents Mark and Brenda and brother Cole.

Tragic end: Samuel Benton Selecman passed away age 28 in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, over a week after falling off a boat dock (Selecman and his wife Mattie above in 2017)

Family: He was just weeks away from celebrating his first wedding anniversary with wife Mattie, the daughter of country star Alan Jackson (l to r: Selecman, Mattie, Dani, Denise, and Alexandra Jackson with Alan Jackson)

Selecman and his wife lived in Nashville, where he had been appointed an assistant district attorney for the 20th Judicial District of Tennessee in April of last year.

District Attorney Glenn Fuynk paid tribute to the young man in a statement on Thursday.

'The DAs office is thankful for every day that Ben had the opportunity to serve the people of Davidson County,' said Funk.

'Our prayers are with Bens family. He will be truly missed.'

The incident happened in Jupiter, but it is unclear where as the Jackson family sold their property there back in 2012.

No other details have been released at this time and local police and emergency responders have yet to respond to requests for comment.

A visitation for Bens friends and family take place on Sunday while a service to honor his life will be held Monday.

In lieu of flowers, Selecman's family asks that people consider donating to St. Marys Medical Trauma Center for Brain Trauma Research.
Colin Comiskey pictured outsideHendon Magistrates' Court today, where he was found guilty of assault

A former Saatchi and Saatchi designer was pushed into the road by her furious ex-boyfriend during a row over their pet Rottweiler.

Colin Comiskey attacked designer Ellen Van de Vusse outside her home in London when they became embroiled in a furious row over their dog.

The 35-year-old was in a relationship with Ms Van de Vusse for some three years before their acrimonious break-up, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mo Miah said Comiskey had dropped Lola the dog off at Ms Van de Vusse's home in Fulham, southwest London, on April 19.

Ms Van de Vusse, now a senior account director with marketing agency OK COOL, sobbed as she told Hendon Magistrates' Court how Comiskey 'stormed the house' as he demanded his possessions back.

She explained how she and Comiskey were sharing custody of the animal for four days a week but she asked to make it a week at a time.

She said: 'He started shouting at me about money and my new boyfriend. He grabbed a lead then he walked back into the kitchen and put the lead on Lola.'

After a tussle, Comiskey took Lola out into the street followed by Ms Van De Vusse.

Colin Comiskey and designer Ellen Van de Vusse were in a relationship for some three years before their acrimonious break-up, when they decided to share custody of their pet dog

She added: 'We were just outside the front door and I clipped the collar. He used force at this point. Colin then pushed me down onto the road and ran down the road with her (Lola).

'I was standing in the street watching it. I was going to be sick. I looked down at my arm and it was covered in blood.'

Comiskey, who was unrepresented, denied assaulting Ms Vusse and said the injuries were not his fault.

But Magistrate Alexia Featherstone-Howe rejected his version of events, telling him: 'We have seen photographs of injuries and we do believe these injuries are consistent of pushing and pulling.

'We believe these injuries were inflicted by you.'

Ms Van de Vusse, now a senior account director with marketing agency OK COOL, sobbed as she told Hendon Magistrates' Court how Comiskey 'stormed her house'

Comiskey, from Hammersmith, was convicted of common assault, which carries the maximum of six months jail. He was told not to contact Ms Vusse ahead of sentence on 27 September.

The court heard how the Irishman had turned up drunk at his ex's flat in January this year and hurled a roast chicken at her.

Police were called and found Ms Van De Vusse locked herself in the bathroom of the home they shared at the time in Kensington, London.

In July, Comiskey was sentenced to an 18-month community order for that attack.
The prosecutor who helped jail members of a gang who raped a teenage girl 40 times has now said one of the men deserves to be freed.

Margaret Cunneen said that convicted rapist Mohammed Skaf should be paroled after serving 17 years for a crime the judge described as 'worse than murder'.

She said 'it's time he got out' and believed he was a correct candidate for parole, The Daily Telegraph reported.

'He's done his time. He was 17 and not overly gifted in the intellect department, without being offensive to him, and he served 17 years, he served half his life for something in which he was rather easily led,' she said.

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Margaret Cunneen said that convicted rapist Mohammed Skaf (pictured) should be paroled after serving 17 years for a crime the judge described as 'worse than murder'

Margaret Cunneen (pictured) was one of the prosecutors who helped jail the Skaf Gang in 2002

Mohammed Skaf was up for parole in January of this year but it was denied after a report submitted by Corrective Services said he had shown no remorse for his crimes.

His brother Bilal Skaf will not be eligible for parole until 2033.

That group, which became known as the 'Skaf gang' after their leader, Bilal Skaf, went on a 20-day rampage in which four young women were violated in three pack rapes shortly before the 2000 Olympics.

One of the victims, an 18-year-old woman, was raped 40 times by 14 men over four hours in an attack coordinated by mobile phone. She was then dumped at a train station after being hosed down.

During her ordeal the woman was called an 'Aussie pig', told she was going to get it 'Leb-style' and asked if 'Leb c*** tasted better than Aussie c***'.

Many of the rapists have never been identified and police fear there were more victims who did not come forward.

Mohammed Skaf lured a 16-year-old girl to a park in Greenacre in August 2000 after convincing her he would drive her to look at the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Instead, she was met by him and two men she didn't know, with each of them pressuring her to have sex with them.

When she refused, Mohammed Skaf called his brother, Bilal, who arrived in a van with 11 other men, who would never be identified.

They dragged her to the middle of the park and ripped off her clothes, before Bilal and one of the men raped her while others laughed at her.

She eventually broke free and was rescued by a passer-by.

He said the actions of the men constituted a criminal conspiracy 'involving two groups of men, that was carefully coordinated by mobile phones' (pictured are members of the Skaf gang)

Judge Michael Finnane, QC, who oversaw the trial, wrote about the case in his book The Pursuit of Justice and said it was 'startlingly different' to many other rape cases he had seen.

He said the actions of the men constituted a criminal conspiracy 'involving two groups of men, that was carefully coordinated by mobile phones'.

'When I came to reflect on the facts of this trial, I again found myself wondering what it was that caused Bilal Skaf and the others with him to behave in such a depraved and violent fashion against a completely helpless girl,' he wrote.

'What is still difficult for me to understand is why this serious criminal conspiracy involving so many young men was launched. There was no obvious reason. Unlike many of the rape cases of which I am aware.'

'I consider my sentences imposed on the members of this gang were warranted. Not one of them showed that fear of criminal proceedings or of jail was ever in their minds. They made very little attempt to cover their tracks.'

Then Labor premier Bob Carr said the original 55-year sentence would send a strong message.

'It was certainly a headline grabber, it met community expectations, it sent a powerful message to any punk with violent tendencies on the margins of gang activity that this was very dangerous behaviour,' he said at the time.

However other legal experts felt the sentences were not justified because rehabilitation was not considered, an assertion Mr Finanne rejected out of hand.

It remains to be seen if the endorsement of parole from the prosecuting lawyer will help Mohammed Skaf's cause at his next parole hearing.
The Italian far-right leader and Deputy Prime Minister likened African immigrants to slaves at a European conference on Thursday.

Matteo Salvini's words drew an angry response from Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, who cursed at him in frustration.

Mr Salvini, who heads the League party, has led a popular crackdown against immigration since Italy's coalition government took office in June.

He was speaking at a closed-door session of a conference on migration and security hosted by Austria, which holds the rotating European Union presidency.

The Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini (left) likened African immigrants to slaves at a European conference on Thursday causing Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn (right), to curse at him in frustration

'I heard someone say we need immigration because the population is ageing. I see things completely differently,' Mr Salvini told the session in remarks filmed and posted on his Facebook profile.

He said: 'I'm paid by citizens to help our young people start having children again the way they did a few years ago, and not to uproot the best of the African youth to replace Europeans who are not having children anymore...

'Maybe in Luxembourg there's this need, in Italy there's the need to help our kids have kids, not to have new slaves to replace the children we're not having.'

Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign and immigration minister, was sitting a few places down from Salvini and grew visibly angry as Salvini spoke

He finally interrupted the Italian in French with 'Allez, allez, allez', suggesting he had gone too far.

Mr Salvini (right), who heads the League party, has led a crackdown against immigration since Italy's coalition government took office in June. He said: 'In Italy there's the need to help our kids have kids, not to have new slaves to replace the children we're not having'

'In Luxembourg we had tens of Italian immigrants. They came as migrants, who worked in Luxembourg so that you could in Italy had money to pay for your children,' he said in French, concluding with the exclamation 'Merde alors!'.

Mr Asselborn was apparently referring to the decades following World War Two, when several European countries took in migrant workers to meet the demand for labour during a prolonged economic boom.

The conference, which includes some European and African interior ministers as well as EU officials, was due to wind up on Friday afternoon.

Salvini was also due to hold a joint news conference with Austrian far-right leader and Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache at 4:15 p.m. (1445 GMT) on Friday.
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Parents were outraged after their children were served just two breadsticks for a school meal.

Children in kindergarten at Greenfield Central Schools, Indiana, were given the snacks alongside carrots and applesauce for their lunch.

But education officials argue that the option is considered as a full meal due to the option of cheese dipping sauce that goes with it.

Parents were outraged after their children were served breadsticks (pictured) at a kindergarten at Greenfield Central Schools, Indiana

According to the Indiana Department of Education, cheese is regarded as a source of protein which classed the meal as acceptable to serve in schools.

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told ABC News: 'I just couldn't believe that you could actually just give them regular breadsticks. It has no nutritional value.'

'A lot of kids, its their only meal of the day  they dont get to go home and have a nice meal that a lot of our kids are blessed with.'

Parents argued that they expect their children to have a healthy and filling meal to be able to function throughout the school day.

Greenfield Central Schools superintendent says he is open to changing the menu after dealing with so many parents' complaints.
A mother holding her baby managed to escape unhurt after her phone suddenly turned into a ball of fire right next to her yesterday.

CCTV footage of the incident, which emerged on Chinese social media, shows the woman bolting up from a sofa with her baby in her arm as soon as she saw flames starting next to her.

Similar smartphone explosions in the past have often been caused by third party cables, unauthorised repair or external damage.

The mother in China bolts up from the sofa (right) as soon as fires comes from her phone (left)

Reports from Pear Video and Sina News claimed the handset's brand was Samsung. However, it remains unclear whether or not it had undergone any unauthorised repairs.

The incident reportedly took place in the lobby of a beauty parlour in Shangrao, south China's Jiangxi.

The mother told Pear Video that she was resting on the sofa at the time. Another mother, also holding a baby, was sitting on a sofa opposite her.

A worker at the beauty parlour in Shangrao puts out the fire with a cushion on the sofa

Reports from Chinese media claim the phone in question was made by Korean brand Samsung

She said she had put her phone beside her on her handbag after playing on it for a while, and 'all of sudden it caught fire by itself'.

After the woman vacate the sofa, a worker at the beauty parlour rushed over and put out the fire with a cushion.

Li Fang, a worker at the beauty parlour who witnessed the incident, told Pear Video that she heard the mother screaming before seeing the flames which grew quickly.

Sina News reported that a customer service representative from Samsung suggested the woman bring the phone to a repair centre authorised by the brand for a test before contact the manufacturer to discuss the matters.

MailOnline has contacted Samsung for comments regarding the matter and is awaiting a reply.
A woman from Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh's teenage past claims he and a high school classmate once held her down in a locked room while he covered her mouth and tried to force himself on her sexually.

The bombshell charge, which Kavanaugh flatly denied on Friday, followed 24 hours of speculation about what Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein vaguely called 'information' that she had handed to the FBI.

The alleged teenage party incident was described in a letter from the unnamed woman to Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo, her California congresswoman. Eshoo passed it to Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the rancorous Senate Judiciary Committee that is weighing Kavanaugh's nomination.

In a statement, Kavanaugh told The New Yorker: 'I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.'

The classmate said of the allegation, 'I have no recollection of that.' The woman declined The New Yorker's interview request.

The specifics, however, are riveting. The woman claims in her letter that Kavanaugh and a classmate, both of whom had been drinking, turned up the volume of music in the room so her cries of protest couldn't be heard outside. In her telling of the story, she managed to escape the room.

She also says the memory of the incident drove her to seek psychological treatment.

Brettt Kavanaugh (at right, pictured in his high school yearbook), now a 53-year-old U.S. Supreme Court nominee, was 17 years old at the time a woman alleges he tried to force himself on her sexually  an accusation he flatly denies

FBI request: Diane Feinstein has referred a letter she has received to the Justice Department. It reportedly concerned Brett Kavanuagh's high school behavior

The unnamed woman has reportedly retained Debra Katz, a prominent Washington D.C. attorney involved in the #MeToo movement

Donald Trump made Kavanaugh his second Supreme Court nominee, opening up his life to intense scrutiny from Democrats who want to stymie the president's chances to tilt the court politically to the right

Judiciary Committee Republicans scrambled Thursday to assemble a glowing open letter from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh during his high school years and say 'he has always been a good person.' The letter was released Friday morning.

'For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect,' they wrote.

'Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.'

One signer, former Republican Party spokeswoman Virginia Hume, said on Twitter that she was asked to sign it on Thursday.

Responding to Democrats who speculated that Republicans knew the accusation would surface and prepared for it weeks earlier, Hume tweeted: 'This is absurd. I signed the letter. I learned of it last night.'

Kavanaugh, a Washington native, attended Georgetown Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic institution just across the Maryland border. Trump's first Supreme Court pick, Justice Neil Gorsuch, went to the same elite institution.

The New Yorker reported that the woman had attended a nearby high school.

Kavanaugh graduated in 1983 from Georgetown Prep, an all-boys Catholic school in suburban Maryland near Washington, D.C.

Kavanaugh, who now coaches girls basketball, was captain of his high school varsity team (front, center)

His senior-year high school yearbook included photos of him playing basketball, a sport he now coaches in his spare time, and a panel of acknowledgements and quotes.

One, from Benjamin Franklin's 'Poor Richards Almanack,' reads: 'He that would live in peace and at ease, Must not speak all he knows nor JUDGE all he sees.'

Kavanaugh would later go on to clerk for a Supreme Court justice, serve as President George W. Bush's White House staff secretary, and win an appointment as a judge on the federal bench.

The FBI declined to investigate the material from Feinstein  which she has had since the summer and whose release appeared to have been timed for maximum impact.

Senators will soon vote on whether Judge Kavanaugh will become Justice Kavanaugh. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee want him seated on the Supreme Court when its next term begins on October 1.

Speculation about a sexual-misconduct September surprise ran rampant after Debra Katz, a Washington, D.C. lawyer best known for representing women who make '#MeToo'-style accusations against powerful men, was seen leaving the Capitol.

Judiciary Committee Republicans quickly released a glowing open letter from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh during his high school years and support him

One of the letter's signers, former Republican Party spokeswoman Virginia Hume, said Friday on Twitter that she didn't know about the letter until the previous night

Multiple reports said she was representing the unnamed woman, who now would likely be 53 years old. Katz has not responded to requests for comment.

Feinstein is a liberal California Democrat who has called on her colleagues to slow down the march toward confirming President Donald Trump's pick to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy.

The Washington Post reported Thursday evening that the FBI handed the senator's materials over to the White House instead of opening a probe, and considered it an update to his background check file.

'Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh's background file, as per the standard process,' an FBI official told the Post.

A tight-lipped Feinstein had released a cryptic statement saying that the woman who provided the information about Kavanaugh 'strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision.'

The Georgetown Prep yearbook showed a teenage Kavanaugh shooting hoops in his final high school basketball game

Kavanaugh's yearbook page included these tributes, led off by a quote from Benjamin Franklin in the 1736 'Poor Richards Almanack'

Buzzfeed claimed Thursday that it believes it knows who Kavanaugh's potential accuser is, and has for at least a week, but hasn't been able to reach her to confirm it.

A White House spokeswoman complained Thursday about the timing of the vague and gauzy revelation.

'Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new "information" about him,' Kerri Kupec said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, she said, had 'promised to "oppose Judge Kavanaughs nomination with everything I have," and it appears he is delivering with this 11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation.'

Kupec added that the FBI had already 'thoroughly and repeatedly vetted Judge Kavanaugh, dating back to 1993, for some of the most highly sensitive roles.'

Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told reporters outside a Senate hearing room that he hadn't seen the letter Feinstein is guarding.

'All I know is what I read, and I wouldnt make any judgment of it until I get more information,' Grassley said.

Fellow committee Republican John Cornyn of Texas reacted with a digital eye-roll.

'Let me get this straight: this is statement about secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right,' Cornyn tweeted.

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn mocked the idea of a legitimate bombshell that could sink Kavanaugh

'Let me get this strsight': Cornyn was in disbelief about what appeared to be the substance of Feinstein's letter

Cornyn also pointed out that the FBI had already cleared Kavanaugh and that committee Democrats had their report

In a second tweet, he added that 'the FBI already performed and has reported on a background investigation on the nominee and this has been made available to all Senators on the Judiciary Committee.'

Feinstein received her information in a roundabout fashion. The Intercept reported late Wednesday that the alleged incident was described to someone affiliated with Stanford University, who then wrote to Democratic Rep. Ana Eshoo, who represents the area.

Eshoo passed the letter to Feinstein, but neither lawmaker will describe what's in it. Eshoo's office says it's considered part of an active and confidential constituent-service case.

Feinstein is closely guarding it, refusing to share it even with her fellow Judiciary Committee Democrats.

She complained Thursday during a committee meeting that Republicans were rushing engaged in a 'rush to judgement' as they moved to close the file on Kavanaugh before its full contents could be examined.

Republicans have already provided Democrats with an avalanche of documents, including tens of thousands from his time serving as staff secretary in the George W. Bush White House.

'What in Judge Kavanaugh's records are Republicans hiding?' Feinstein exclaimed.
A bar in New Jersey has been temporarily shut down and may lose its liquor license after video emerged showing multiple women being showered with champagne at the establishment while at least two had lewd sex acts performed on them.

The video was taken at the Hub Hoboken on Saturday night and posted in part to the Instagram story of Kirill Bichutsky, on his account under the username '@slutwhisperer.'

Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the display an 'affront to human decency' and a 'horrific objectification of women,' NJ.com reported.

The Hub issued an apology on Wednesday over social media, the same day it was closed by the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) board.

License holder Teak On The Hudson LLC will have an opportunity to be heard by the ABC board at its meeting on October 25 before the revocation is finalized.

In the meantime, the bar will remain closed, and a criminal investigation is underway.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Bhalla said in a statement he will use his powers 'to make sure it never happens in our city again.'

He added: 'This is not what Hoboken is about, it is not what the people of Hoboken deserve, and I simply will not allow it to happen again under my watch.'

The video, only part of which is shown here, included multiple women laying on the bar at the Hub, being doused in champagne.

One woman laid on her back, topless, while being sprayed with a bottle of the sparkling beverage.

New Jersey's The Hub in Hoboken has been temporarily closed following the posting of video on social media of lewd sex acts being performed by patrons. A woman is shown (left) laying on her back on top of the bar, topless, while she is showered with champagne. Additional footage shows another woman on all fours on the bar while a man places his face in her backside (right)

Another woman was on all fours while her backside was sprayed with champagne, and the bottle was rubbed on the exterior of her body, without penetrating her.

At the conclusion of this clip, club promoter Kirill brings the camera to his own face, with his eyes wide.

Additional footage shows another woman situated on all fours on the bar while a man has placed his face in her backside.

In another video clip that is too graphic to include here, a woman laid on her back while she was vaginally penetrated, digitally, by a man.

The video was taken at the Hub Hoboken on Saturday night and posted in part to the Instagram story of Kirill Bichutsky (pictured), on his account under the username '@slutwhisperer'

The Hub is seen in a file photo. The bar has since apologized for the 'deplorable and unfortunate incident'

After the videos were posted publicly, the ABC board temporarily closed the Hub for business, citing the liquor license holder with 15 offenses, including multiple counts of allowing assault and lewd activity within the establishment.

The Hub responded with the following public statement on Wednesday, addressed to its loyal customers and guests:

'On behalf of management, ownership, staff and all involved in our business, we would like to extend a sincere apology for the deplorable and unfortunate incident that took place on the evening of Saturday, September 8th. The actions of the individuals are by no means behavior we allow, permit nor promote. The individuals involved were escorted out by management and security.

'We have allocated all of our resources and administrative personnel to this matter, in an effort to comply with the Hoboken PD and NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Further, we are taking all necessary measures to prevent anything of this nature from occurring again.'

The Hub responded to its temporary closure with an apology on Wednesday, over social media

Police officers were standing guard outside the Hub's doors, blocking entry, on Wednesday.

'I saw videos of activity that I never could imagine would occur anywhere, especially in a business open to the public,' Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante said in a statement on Thursday, confirming a criminal investigation into the incident was underway.

'To state that this conduct will not be tolerated... is a major understatement. Any other bar owner that thinks they can allow or promote this type of activity in the city of Hoboken will face charges which could lead to a revocation of their license and severe penalties.'

The Hub is located across the street from the Hoboken train terminal.
A child who was accused of hanging 10-year-old schoolgirl Amber Yoon from a tree with a skipping rope will not be charged.

Police decided not to lay charges following an investigation launched into the incident at the Queen of Apostles school in Riverton, in Perth's south.

Investigators concluded they could not determine beyond reasonable doubt that the perpetrator knew the consequences of their actions or acted with malicious intent.

Amber's mother, Belinda Yoon said that whilst authorities believed her daughter, they are not going to press charges.

Scroll down for video

Amber came home from school and told her mother a classmate had tried to kill her by hanging her from a tree (Pictured: Amber's neck after the alleged incident)

Amber's younger brother, Hunter, 9, is changing schools as a result of what happened to his older sister (Pictured: Amber and her mother Belinda)

'It was heartbreaking trying to explain to Amber what was happening, that the police believe her but that they aren't going to do anything,' she said in an interview with 7 News Perth.

'It is a very strange situation. I am not angry at the child who did this, I'm angry that a little girl was terrified and thought she was going to die and seemingly no one is accountable.'

'She's so traumatised by this, and how do I explain to a little girl that no one's at fault for what happened to her?' Mrs Yoon asked.

Belinda Yoon has previously said that the attack on her daughter has not only impacted Amber, who suffers from a severe medical condition, but the entire family.

Amber suffers from a life-threatening condition known as Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula and Oesophageal Atresia (TOF-OA), meaning that when she was born her oesophagus was connected to her trachea.

She has had countless surgeries, is extremely susceptible to choking and can only hear out of one ear.

Last month Amber came home and asked to speak to her mother privately before she burst into tears and told her what happened at the school.

Mrs Yoon was in shock as her daughter told her about the incident, including that a teacher had sternly told her what she was doing was wrong.

Belinda Yoon (pictured) was in shock as her daughter told her what happened, including that a teacher had sternly told her what she was doing was wrong

The school didn't contact Mrs Yoon or her husband and so, after she called a specialist who knew the details of Amber's condition, she called the police.

However what Amber says happened has had a domino effect on the family.

The mother-of-four told Daily Mail Australia: 'When I say this literally devastated our whole family, it really did.

'I can't even describe to you. There were days, especially last week, when we couldn't sleep. Anytime we opened our mouths we just cried.'

Amber's younger brother, Hunter, nine, is changing schools as a result of what happened to his older sister.

'My daughters are just devastated.'

One of Mrs Yoon's older daughters is in her first year of university while another is in Year 10.

WA police confirmed that they will not be pressing charges against the perpetrator, a classmate of Amber, following an investigation launched into the incident

She said one of them recalls holding Amber as she had a serious medical scare, believing her little sister was going to die.

'It is just a mix of anger and hurt,' Mrs Yoon said.

As a result members of the family have missed school, angry at what allegedly happened to their sister.

Mrs Yoon, who was in her second year as a nursing student, has had to withdraw from university so she can help her child get the help she needs as a result.

Amber, who has never complained through countless procedures and wears her scars 'like war wounds' has always been a happy little girl, according to Mrs Yoon.

Despite countless visits to the hospital she has never needed psychological help but last week her mother took her to her first appointment because of what she went through on that Friday.

The bullying that Amber was experiencing was first brought to the attention of the school after Mrs Yoon found a 'heartbreaking' diary entry (pictured) from her daughter as she asked why none of her friends would play with her

'As I was reading them a common theme was recurring and it was the frustration and heartache at the lack of a system that does not yet exist', Mrs Yoon posted on Facebook

The bullying that Amber was experiencing was first brought to the attention of the school after Mrs Yoon found a 'heartbreaking' diary entry from her daughter, her mother said.

'I can't get off my mind why won't my 'friends' won't (sic) play with me,' the young girl wrote in a new diary after ripping out her previous entries, revealed by Nine News.

'And haven't been treating me not (sic) very nice.

'Pray for me please.'

Mrs Yoon said that her and her husband Dave have almost lost Amber countless times due to her medical condition

She described herself as the 'weird girl' and she wrote that nobody would sit with her.

In a meeting two days before Amber was found hanging from a tree school officials said that there was evidence her daughter was being excluded, Mrs Yoon said.

Mrs Yoon has opened up about her daughter's ordeal because she felt as though the school was trying to silence her and she was so angry.

She told Daily Mail Australia: 'We have to do something. I can't let another family feel this pain. There is no feeling like it.

'We have been scared before - we thought we were going to lose her many times.

'But this was so different because it was completely preventable and it didn't need to happen.'

Mrs Yoon told Daily Mail Australia: 'We have to do something. I can't let another family feel this pain. There is no feeling like it'

Mrs Yoon has opened up about her daughter's ordeal because she felt as though the school was trying to silence her and she was so angry

She and Amber have been targeted by people on social media as a result of their claims but Mrs Yoon said she and her daughter have stayed up all night reading positive messages.

'It was nothing but love,' she said.

'She was feeling shame. I was going, 'Baby, you're so brave' and she said 'What, for being bullied?'.'

Mrs Yoon had to tell her ten-year-old the shame wasn't on her.

'I told her people are so inspired by you because you have spoken out.'
A vile online beauty pageant called 'Miss Hitler' has been shut down after attracting neo-Nazi women from across the globe to pose with swastikas and copies of Mein Kampf.

A page dedicated to the horrifying contest on VKontakte - the Russian equivalent of Facebook - asked neo-Nazis to join in the vote and find a winner who was 'radical and fanatical for Hitler'.

The sickening competition had finalists from Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, who were pictured in Nazi uniforms, making the the Hitler salute and holding copies of Mein Kampf.

The page has now been suspended after alleged 'calls to violence' but profile pages belonging to individual entrants, including 'Miss Edelweiss' and 'Miss Eva Braun' are still online.

Miss Edelweiss, from Italy, was one of the contestants in the horrifying 'Miss Hitler' pageant

Miss Marta, from Russia, performs a Hitler salute in front of a flag as she poses for the contest

One contestant even had the Reichsadler  a Nazi emblem with an eagle atop a swastika  tattooed across her back.

The sick page had attracted thousands of views before it was shut down yesterday.

Contest organisers said their aim was 'promoting Hitlerian culture; encouraging interaction between the Hitlerian community; clearing the image of Adolf Hitler, showing [the] beauty of Hitlerian culture' and to 'protect and defend women'.

VKontakte  which is used by 68 per cent of Russians with internet access  has faced a spate of criminal cases against its users for extremism.

After the Miss Hitler contest was drawn to its attention, VKontakte  also known as VK  closed the page and issued a statement condemning hate speech.

'The community was blocked due to violation of our rules,' a spokesperson said.

One entrant had the Reichsadler tattooed on her back (left) while Miss Skuld (right) dressed in a traditional costume for her entry to the sick competition

A poster for the competition on Russian site VKontakte shows the final six contestants

Miss Skuld, from Germany, poses with Iron Crosses and a Reichsadler hat for the contest

'VK is always intolerable to calls for violence, nationalist and extremist propaganda.

'Any person can report illegal, offensive or unreliable content with the help of the "report" button. We review all reports without any exceptions.

'VK has one of the biggest moderation teams and we react as fast as we possibly can  content that violates our rules or the law gets deleted and the violators get banned.'

Sova, which tracks radicalism and human rights violations in Russia, said 658 people were convicted for various forms of extremist speech last year, up from 133 in 2011.

About 90 per cent of the cases involved speech on the internet  and most of these were on social media, which is dominated by VKontakte in Russia.

In response, the website has allowed users to make their accounts fully private and unsearchable.

A flyer for the horrifying event pays tribute to 'fanatical and radical' Hitler enthusiasts
Advertisement

The Boston gas company whose network of pipes exploded on Thursday, destroying 60 homes and killing a teenager, was obliterated by the Lawyer Mayor on Friday as he claimed they were 'hiding from the problem'.

Columbia Gas is the company whose pipes exploded in unison on Friday, causing mass terror in three suburban towns and leaving tens of thousands without power.

On Friday, as residents grappled with the devastating reality of not being able to go home, the company drew the ire Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and the mayor of one of the towns where the explosions occurred.

'Theyre hiding from the problem. If they were here theyd have to see the major whos here from State Police, theyd have to see the governors staff, my staff, the chiefs. Theyd have to see their faces every five seconds.

'Theyre not here,' Lawyer Mayor Dan Rivera said at a press conference.

'Ill be damned if we are going to wait another 6 hours for them to get off their ass,' he told the Boston Herald.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera ripped into Columbia Gas after he claimed the firm did no respond adequately to gas explosions which killed teenager Leonel Rondon and left 12 others injured

This was the aftermath of a gas explosion which destroyed a home in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston on Thursday in a string of blasts which terrorized three different towns and obliterated dozens of homes

A state of emergency has now been declared which, the governor said, allows them to take the probe into what happened out of Columbia Gas's seemingly incompetent hands.

'Today, on a number of very significant issues, we heard one thing and something else happened,' he said.

A Columbia Gas envelope lies singed on the street. The company has come under harsh criticism for its response to the disaster on Thursday

Columbia Gas was due to start replacing its network of old pipes on Monday. It announced plans for the improved works on Thursday morning and said the network was 'ready to be retired'.

It's unclear as of yet whether the over-pressurized gas main, which has been informally blamed for the explosions, was one of the sets of pipes it needed to replace.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, the company said: 'What happened in the Merrimack Valley yesterday was a tragic incident.

'We are saddened to learn of the death of a young man as a result of these events. Our thoughts and continued support are with those who have been injured and affected.'

Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera were both critical of Columbia Gas' response to the emergency

It said its focus was on 'providing as much support as possible' but it offered no apology nor did it take any responsibility for the explosions.

The company did not respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries about the disaster on Friday morning.

Another home in Lawrence, is shown on Friday, the day after the sequence of explosions. Officials are yet to confirm it but they believe the cause was an over-pressurized gas main

The top floor windows of a property in Lawrence were all blown out as a result of the explosions. The gas company whose pipes were the ones which blew were due to replace them over the next few weeks

Part of a home which was affected in Lawrence is shown on Friday. Residents were out walking the streets despite warnings about staying away from the area

Senator Ed Markey tweeted on Friday: 'Shortly before 5pm yesterday, gas explosions ripped across Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, setting dozens of homes ablaze, injuring more than 20, and killing one.

Senator Ed Markey labeled the gas company's response to the disaster 'totally unacceptable' on Friday. Columbia Gas has not replied to DailyMail.com's inquiries

'Columbia Gas didn't post its first update until after 9pm, 4+ hours after the disaster. Totally unacceptable.'

Dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed, 12 people were injured and 18-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed.

According to the state fire marshal, which is still investigating the cause of the accident, it is likely that an over pressurized gas main is what caused it.

It is not known if Columbia Gas was planning to replace it as part of its improvement works.

In its announcement of the project on Thursday, the company said: 'As with many other types of infrastructure, like roads, dams, and bridges, deterioration occurs over time and repairs or replacement are eventually needed.

'The old gas pipes installed in your neighborhood generations ago served us well, but they are now ready to be retired.

'If we do nothing, the cost to maintain and repair these older pipes will be higher than the cost to replace them.

A home in North Andover, another town which saw explosions, is pictured on Friday, the day after the explosions

A house in Lawrence was taped off by police on Friday. Many residents were forced to leave as a safety precaution regardless of whether their home had been blown up

'That is why we are taking proactive steps today, reducing costs to our customers.'

For the people driven out of their homes by the fires, it will be a long time before they can return to normal life, let alone their properties.

On Friday, schools in the area remain closed. The explosions caused 18,000 people across the city to lose power. Rondon was killed by flying debris which hit the car he was traveling in with two friends.

He was out celebrating getting his driver's license at the time.

Gov. Charlie Baker said on Thursday night that state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

The Massachusetts State Police released an image on Thursday of a map showing where the fires are. Officials said there were between 60 and 80 fires at one time

Leonel Rondon, 18, was killed when a chimney fell on his car when a house exploded. He was pronounced dead at Mass General Hospital at around 8:30pm

'This is still very much an active scene,' he said.

'There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why.'

According to The Eagle Tribune, officials have alerted Holy Family Hospital in Methuen to expect multiple admissions.

The Massachusetts State Police said in a tweet on Thursday that residents in the affected areas who have gas service from Columbia Gas 'should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not done so'.

They updated the tweet to say that Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera is asking all residents of South Lawrence to evacuate their homes.

'This is addition to evacuation of all Columbia Gas customers in Lawrence/Andover/North Andover,' state police said. 'Utility cos shutting off several thousand meters.'

Officials warned residents with gas service with Columbia Gas to leave their homes immediately, forcing thousands to flee. Above, a scene on Thursday

Crews work to knock down a fire in a home that was badly damaged in Lawrence on Thursday. The company that owns Columbia Gas says its crews are performing safety checks after a series of fires and explosions erupted in three communities north of Boston

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires.

Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque told The Eagle Tribune that he's 'never seen anything like this.'

Earlier on Thursday, before the explosions, Columbia Gas said in a news release that it was upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhood across the state.

The company said the improvements would lead to long-term benefits including enhanced safety features and reliable service.

Work on the upgraded gas lines was expected to begin on Monday and continue until Friday, with gas service shut off during the installation.
This is the moment all eight riders in a BMX race fall flat on the track after the starting gate malfunctions.

The fall took place last week at the Buckeye Nationals, a BMX race on a speedway track in the state of Ohio.

It is not yet known why the gate malfunctioned but the race did eventually go ahead in the city of Toledo.

Eight riders in a BMX race at the Buckeye Nationals in the state of Ohio were seen falling flat on the track last week

Although it is not yet known why the gate malfunctioned the race did eventually go ahead as planned in the city of Toledo

Surprisingly every race before the professionals took to the track went without the electrical hitch

The race was the Pro Open installment with every race before the professionals going without the electrical hitch.

One of the racers, Josh Smith, who shared the video on YouTube, said: 'I raced the USA BMX Buckeye National in Toledo, Ohio were the gate broke and we all flipped!'

Smith placed third on the final podium when the race eventually got underway.

A review of the action on USA BMX website failed to mention the malfunction, instead praising those who made it to the podium.

One of the racers, Josh Smith, who shared the video on YouTube, said: 'I raced the USA BMX Buckeye National in Toledo, Ohio were the gate broke and we all flipped'

On their website USA BMX praised the racers who made it to the podium but failed to mention the malfunction

Commenters on a Facebook post of the video slammed USA BMX for not organising their equipment properly while others merely poked fun at the mishap

A report read: 'The final (podium) spot went to Ohio's own Josh Smith. The interesting thing about that podium is that two of the three racers are also school teachers (Davis and Smith).

'Josh headed out after the race to prepare for the first day of his 5th-grade class.'

Commenters on a Facebook post of the video slammed USA BMX for not organising their equipment properly while others merely poked fun at the mishap.

Michael Drew posted 'EPIC FAIL!!!' with a thumbs down emoji. Commenting on YouTube, Mel Smith said: 'Hard for a momma to watch.'
Children as young as eight are being used as mules by 'county lines' gangs who traffic Class A drugs into rural areas of the UK.

Gangs from big cities are expanding their spheres of influence into smaller towns and villages where police forces are less able to deal with them.

A conference at the House of Commons has now been told of the increasingly young ages of children groomed to work for them and the extent of the groups' activities.

The gangs are making up to 5,000 a day from selling cocaine and heroin in rural areas and the National Crime Agency (NCA) believe more than 1,000 phones lines are being used in the expanding networks.

City drugs gangs running so-called 'county lines' operations to take substances into rural areas are targeting children as young as eight, it emerged this week

In the last two weeks alone, a teenager who was dealing to pay off city drug dealers was jailed in Bristol, police in the rural Powys county of Wales charged seven people over a county lines plot and a woman has been charged with possession of heroin in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in a case also thought to be linked to the gangs.

Youngsters are drawn in by the promise of easy money, are made to work to pay of 'debts' or simply threatened with violence to get them to work for dealers.

Children can be targeted through social media or at school gates. Some gangs are said to favour using children in care, who are more vulnerable and easier to get involved.

Teenager Cassius Hodson was found with heroin and told police he was dealing to pay off debts to a gang in Bristol

Just last month, officers in Staffordshire smashed their way into two properties in Burton-upon-Trent and found two vulnerable children who were missing from the local area.

The children then run drugs out into rural areas, allowing the top players in the gangs to avoid detection.

Younger children and so-called 'clean skins', those without any history of interaction with local police, are favoured because they are less likely to be stopped.

Cassius Hodson, who was jailed two weeks ago, was picked up by police in the small Wiltshire town of Westbury and was found in possession of heroin and mobile phones.

The 18-year-old told police he had racked up a debt with a gang in Bristol and made to work for them to pay it off.

After his sentencing, local police officer PC Simon Margetts said: 'This is a good example of how getting involved in any sort of drug dealing can lead to your life being taken over and spiraling out of control - soon you are ransomed by drugs and those who deal in them.'

The NCA has identified more than 720 county lines networks running between London and Wales, Merseyside and Cumbria and London and the West Country.

Officers smashed their way into two properties in Burton and found two missing children

One line to Somerset was called the Max Line by the London gang who ran it because it was so lucrative.

Following the conference in Parliament last week, Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock called for a single police force to be the nationwide lead on tackling county lines gangs.

He said: 'In my own county of Cumbria, there have been 78 people convicted of county lines-related offences in the last 18 months, and there have been 22 drugs-related deaths since September. County lines is killing people and causing untold harm to our communities.

'Although there must be a police response, we cannot simply arrest our way out of this problem.
Bob Woodward says he'd release the tapes of the conversations on which he based his book 'Fear' if sources who participated in interviews asked him to.

'Yes, I think that, yes. I think I would,' he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. 'But I, you know, this is meticulously done, trying to cross reference everything and so forth, so I would expect somebody would not want to release their information because they're confidential sources.'

Hewitt proposed the scenario to Woodward in an interview on Friday morning following the Washington Post reporter's claim earlier in the week that an official offered supporting information over the phone before trashing the tome in public.

Woodward had said on a podcast a 'key' person in the Trump administration called him to privately confirm that the details in his book are '1,000 percent true' yet made comments in public that called the Watergate journalist's reporting into question.

Bob Woodward says he'd release the tapes of the conversations on which he based his book 'Fear' if sources who participated in the book asked him to

He has not revealed the identity of that person or any of his other sources.

Woodward told CBS on Thursday that he would 'of course' release them if he felt truly challenged.

'But I  again, I've made agreements with people that these sources are going to remain confidential,' he said.

Woodward told 'CBS This Morning' that he has 'hundreds of hours of tapes with people who were there' when the incidents he recalls took place.

'If you've looked at the book, they're very specific incidents. And it is a kind of  it opens the window,' he said.

Talking to Hewitt on Friday, Woodward said he would not reveal his sources unless he was asked to by someone he interviewed, and that hasn't happened.

'As you know, I protect my sources,' he stated. 'I think that's the, one of the building blocks of good journalism and book writing.'

Hewitt surmised that the president's allies did not read the book before they started assailing it, because 'they would have spun it complimentary' if they had.

For instance, he asked Woodward about claims of collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign.

Woodward told Hewitt he 'did not' see any evidence of the alleged espionage while compiling the book that hit bookshelves on Tuesday.

The non-fiction book chronicling President Trump's dysfunctional White House has caused an uproar in Trump world and tightened the circle of aides who have the president's trust.

Woodward indicated in an interview for The New York Times podcast 'The Daily' this week that there are still foxes in the hen house that Trump still does not know about.

'After the information in "Fear" started breaking last week, one key person who's in office called and said, 'Everyone knows what you said here is true. It's 1,000 percent correct,' Woodward stated. 'And then this person has said some public things that contradict that.'

Bob Woodward said a 'key' person in Trump's administration called him to privately confirm the details in his book 'Fear' are '1,000 percent true'

The newly released book 'Fear' by Bob Woodward is displayed at a Barnes and Noble bookstore

President Donald Trump has called Woodward a 'liar'

He declined to name a name but said he wasn't happy about the situation.

'And I'm not happy but I have a smile on face because the truth in all of this is going to emerge,' Woodward said. 'There's too much evidence, too many witnesses.'

Trump and many of his senior aides have publicly condemned the book, which paints a picture of a chaotic White House where staff will go as far as to steal a letter off the president's Oval Office desk to keep him from implementing a harmful policy.

Vice President Mike Pence, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Counselor Kellyanne Conway, former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, and former top economic adviser Gary Cohn have all criticized the book.

'Fear' has become the fastest-selling adult book since the release of Harper Lee's 'Go Set A Watchman' in July of 2015, Barnes & Noble revealed on Wednesday.

Vice President Mike Pence and former economic adviser Gary Cohn have denounced the book

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter have also denounced 'Fear'

Sarah Sanders and Kellyanne Conway have criticized the book

It had sold 750,000 copies as of Tuesday, the day it became available, according to publishers Simon & Schuster. That figure included pre-orders and audio books.

Simon & Schuster had initially printed 1 million copies of the book.

Woodward told NBC's 'Today Show' on Monday that senior White House aides who have publicly decried his book are misleading the public.

'They are not telling the truth,' he said. 'These are political statements to protect their jobs.'

He said the behavior is 'totally understandable' while defending his reporting.

Trump has called Woodward a 'liar' and threatened to write his own tell-all book.

'The Woodward book is a scam. I dont talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts - and our country is doing GREAT!' he tweeted.
Startling new research has found that Australians are more at risk of skin cancer than previously thought.

In the world-first findings, researchers found that Australians should be making sun screen a day-to-day necessity and not just an application needed solely for trips to the beach.

The research found the terrifyingly high UV output Aussies are exposing themselves to everyday and just how fast it takes to cause some serious damage to not only your skin, but your DNA.

In the world-first findings, researchers found that Australians should be making sun screen a day-to-day necessity and not just an application needed solely for trips to the beach (stock image)

Cities like Melbourne experienced a scarily low two days a year where there wasn't enough UV to get sunburnt (stock image)

The research, conducted by the Australian National University and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research, aimed to diminish the health agencies somewhat old-fashioned recommendations for sun protection- and that it did.

Right now we're told to protect our skin when the UV index reaches three or higher.

The index is calculated by international health agencies who measure the maximum intensity of the sun's radiation- which are usually at it's highest from 10am to 3pm.

But the results, which measured the average total UV output throughout the full day and even surprised the researchers.

Speaking to The Canberra Times, Robyn Lucas from ANU said that she was startled by the results, saying even though they'd gone to the World Health Organisation before on the issue, she's never had the numbers in front of her.

The UV measurements were conducted in the two dramatically different climates of New Zealand's South Island and Melbourne.

'Most people think if it's cold and they're covered, they're fine, but your face and hands are still exposed and those are the most common places for skin cancer' (stock image)

The team found that cities like Melbourne experienced a scarily low two days a year where there wasn't enough UV output to get sun burnt.

And the further north they went, the numbers got scarier.

'I would suspect there would be no days in Canberra [and most of Australia] where you can't get sun burnt,' Professor Lucas said.

Not only did the findings conclude the almost zero days of typically 'safe' exposure to UV- but also the very little time people had to protect their skin.

Professor Lucas said people with typical fair, European skin who were classified as 'type two' would take around 45 minutes to an hour to burn and even less for it to damage their DNA.

'Usually that kind of damage repairs itself before you burn, but the longer you're out, and the older you are, the less you can rely on that,' she said.

For people with extremely fair skin, such as redheads, the window became much shorter- taking only a mere 30 minutes to get sun burnt- and that's in the middle of winter.

'Most people think if it's cold and they're covered, they're fine, but your face and hands are still exposed and those are the most common places for skin cancer.' Professor Lucas warned.

The collected data is sure to shock not only Australians but health agencies who have long been complacent with the 'slip, slop, slap' message that is rolled out every summer.

The researchers want Australians to know it's important to understand that this message of a very summer-specific warning isn't the case anymore.

'Even if the UV index is low, if you're outside for more than 10 or 15 minutes...you're at risk.'
A California husband who fatally shot five people, including his ex-wife, in a deadly rampage thought she had been cheating on him, divorce documents reveal.

Javier Casarez, 54, opened fire at an East Bakersfield trucking company on Wednesday evening killing his ex Petra Maribel Bolanos De Casarez and two workers identified as Antonio Valdez and Manuel Contreras.

Casarez filed for divorce from Bolanos last year because he thought she was cheating on him, ABC 23 reports. Casarez asked the judge to give him access to Bolanos' text messages, but the request was denied.

The divorce was finalized in June, but they were due back in court after Bolanos filed for an unspecified change in orders involving child support and property.

Gunman Javier Casarez (left) and his ex-wife Petra Maribel Bolanos De Casarez (right) had divorced months before he fatally shot her

Antonio Valadez, 50, was the third man killed in Wednesday's deadly rampage

Laura Garcia, 32, and her father Eliseo Cazares, 57, were shot dead in their home on Wednesday by gunman Javier Casarez

The couple had three children together. A GoFundMe set up to help with funeral expenses said they left behind a total of six kids.

Ken County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said during a press conference that the rampage on Wednesday began around 5.15pm when Casarez accompanied by his ex-wife went to T&T Trucking in East Bakersfield, California.

Police said Casarez may have forced his ex-wife, 45, to accompany him to a trucking business.

When they got there they confronted an employee of the T&T Trucking by the name of Antonio Valdez. The husband pulled a large caliber handgun and shot him to death. He then turned the gun on his wife and shot her, Youngblood said.

A third person, Contreras, witnessed the shooting and fled as Casarez shot at him.

Youngblood said Casarez got in his vehicle and drove around until he found Contreras, 50, at a nearby sporting goods store. He then opened fire, shooting and killing the man.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

Bodycam video taken by police shows the dramatic moment that a gunman who killed five people on a rampage in central California on Wednesday took his own life

The video shows Kern County Sheriffs deputies pointing their automatic rifles at Javier Casarez as he stood near a white SUV in what appeared to be a parking lot in Bakersfield on Wednesday

The gunman is seen aiming his gun at himself while a cop yells at him to drop it. He fired a single shot to his stomach

Police said after killing Contreras, Casarez got back into his car and drove to a residence where he gunned down 32-year-old Laura Garcia and her 57-year-old father, Eliseo Cazares.

We believe (Laura) may have tried to intervene to keep the suspect from approaching her father and he shot and killed both of them,' Youngblood said.

According to police, Casarez went to another address where he carjacked a mom with her baby. He reportedly told the woman he was not a bad person before leaving the area and driving to the parking lot of a store where he was confronted by police.

Police are still investigating the motive for the shootings. Casarez, 54, is seen in the above mug shot

Casarez shot fatally shot himself as officers yelled for him to drop his weapon.

Officials believe the rampage was sparked by a domestic violence incident, but dont know specifically what set him off.

Youngblood said Thursday that detectives were looking into whether Bolanos may have been in relationships with Contreras or Valdez.

It appears that the suspect targeted each of his victims, Youngblood said.

After killing his victims, Casarez was confronted by officers in the parking lot of a store where he shot himself in the stomach. His fatal shooting was caught on police bodycam, which was released earlier on Thursday.

The video shows Kern County Sheriffs deputies pointing their automatic rifles at Casarez as he stood near a white SUV in what appeared to be a parking lot in Bakersfield.

As the deputy moves closer to Casarez, the cop yells to him: Put the gun down!

Casarez is heard saying something to the deputy, though it is unclear what it was he said.

The body of Antonio Valadez, 50 years old, lies beneath a sheet outside Bear Mountain Sports, where he was shot

The spree began at 5.17pm at the trucking company (1) where the gunman opened fire, killing his ex-wife

He resisted deputies repeated demands that he drop the weapon as the police sirens wailing in the background add to the tense moments.

Casarez then stops talking to the deputies and turns his body away from them, showing only his back.

At that point, Casarez takes his gun and shoots himself in the stomach, crumpling to the ground after he pulls the trigger.

The deputy and his partner then approach Casarez as he lies on the ground.

The deputy wearing the bodycam checks the SUV, which has one of its doors open, while the other deputy keeps an eye on Casarez.

The video was released hours after the five victims involved in the horrifying mass shooting were identified.

Garcia had several young children. Her family paid tribute to her on social media on Thursday.

'If everyone can keep my cousins kids in their prayers Id really appreciate it!

'People are so cruel and you didnt deserve this!' her cousin Alondra Ortega said.

Youngblood said the mass shooting had become 'the new normal' around the country.

'Six people lost their lives in a very short amount of time. This is the new normal.'
John DeRossett, a 68-year-old accused of starting a shootout with Florida police in 2015, is not protected under the state's 'stand your ground' law, a judge ruled Thursday

A Florida man who said shot at undercover sheriff's deputies because he thought they were kidnappers is not protected by the state's 'stand your ground' law, a judge has ruled.

John DeRossett shot and wounded Agent John 'Casey' Smith during a shootout with Brevard County police on August 20, 2015, after officers arrived at his home to arrest his niece Mary Ellis for prostitution.

When Ellis opened the door an agent allegedly grabbed her to make the arrest, startling her and causing her to call out for DeRossett's help.

DeRossett claims that he panicked when he saw the unfamiliar men grabbing his niece, so he fired a warning shot on instinct.

The now-68-year-old was charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law-enforcement officer as a result of the subsequent shootout.

DeRossett shot and wounded Agent John 'Casey' Smith during the shootout with Brevard County officers who had come to his home to arrest his niece Mary Ellis (right) for prostitution

Ellis is pictured in an ambulance after the incident on August 20 at the home where she was running a prostitution business

DeRossett's defense team filed a motion for dismissal last month, arguing he should be protected by Florida's 'stand your ground' law, a self-defense statute which authorizes the use of deadly force in response to a perceived threat from an attacker.

His lawyers said he 'was under no obligation to sit back, let Mary Ellis be kidnapped by strangers in the night, and do nothing to save her'.

That motion was dismissed Thursday by Circuit Judge Robin C Lemondis, who concluded DeRossett had 'used deadly force in response to a non-existent threat'.

'As there was no imminent threat to [DeRossett], the firing of [DeRossett's] gun was completely unprovoked and therefore unjustified,' the judge ruled.

The case will now move forward to a trial, wherein DeRossett could still claim self-defense.

Ellis testified on her uncle's behalf on Monday, telling the court he had been unaware of her criminal activity.

'I told people I lived with my uncle, and he didn't know,' she said.

Prosecutors disputed her claims, though, arguing that Derossett knew about Ellis' problem with prescription drugs and was aware of her criminal activity, so he shouldn't be entitled to immunity in the case.
wagamama has launched its hot katsu curry - the fiery version of their most popular and iconic dish.

It is the first time the restaurant has created an alternative to their most famous and successful dish.

The katsu curry has been on the wagamama menu with the same recipe since the brand launched in 1992 - the year in which the first ever text message was sent.

wagamama has launched its hot katsu curry - the fiery version of their most popular and iconic dish

The chicken katsu curry has become the most popular dish at wagamama and to celebrate national katsu curry day the pan Asian restaurant has created an extra hot version of their classic dish.

The dish will be available nationally for one week only from September 20 and may become a permanent feature on their menu.

The new dish came about after trips to Japan where Katsu curries are served with varying degrees of heat depending on the customer preference.

Executive Chef, Steve Mangleshot created this spicy version after one of these trips and after months of testing, wagamama, believe they have found the perfect recipe

The hot katsu curry has been tested at wagamama UK's test kitchen 'Noodle Lab' in Dean Street, Soho, London.

Andre Johnstone, the restaurant's Marketing Director, said: 'Our Executive Chef Steve has been raving about hot Katsu sauce from his visits to Japan for years and when we tried it out on some customers at our Noodle Lab in Soho the reaction was so positive we had to do something with this.'
Stephen P. Fagerberg, 55,is accused of stealing more than $450,000 from fare collection boxes

An employee for a Boston transit company has been accused of pocketing more than $450,000 in bus fares.

Stephen P. Fagerberg, 55, of Dedham had a job emptying out bus fare boxes as an 'automated fare technician' while working for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

But after emptying the boxes he is then alleged to have taken the cash home, according to the attorney general's office.

Fagerberg was indicted by a Suffolk grand jury on two counts of larceny over $1,200 in a continuous scheme.

Fagerberg appeared to have become greedy. After working for the transit agency for 12 years, he had worked his way up to a salary of $106,000.

His total pay was nearly $106,000 last year but he allegedly stole four times that amount

In June he was charged for allegedly stealing $80,000, but that total has now risen to $450,000.

The indictment states Fagerberg 'was responsible for fixing and repairing fare collection boxes on MBTA buses in South Boston.'

He was finally caught after a sting operation which included the use of marked bills.

Money that had been spent on the buses was later found to be deposited into his own bank account via a drive-up ATM,' the attorney general added.

He was busted following a sting operation and was caught after marked bills were deposited into his personal bank account

State police assigned to the AG's office, the Massachusetts State Police and the MBTA police all collaborated on the case.

'Subsequent investigation by the AG's office determined that Fagerberg allegedly stole more than $450,000 from MTBA fare boxes,' the AG added. The company now want all of the money back.

'The MBTA has initiated the disciplinary process to terminate this employee and will work with the AG's office to seek restitution,' said T spokesman Joe Pesaturo. 'The MBTA will also pursue any available civil remedies to make the Authority whole.'

The fare boxes will become obsolete in two years when cash will no longer be accepted on buses and trolleys.
Les is going to mean much, much more according to Jane Fonda.

The Oscar-winning actress was out in Los Angeles on Thursday night to promote her new HBO documentary Jane Fonda in Five Acts, where she was asked to comment on the news that CBS had forced Les Moonves to resign from his position amid sexual assault and harassment allegations from at least 13 women.

'Its a shame he didnt behave, [but now] its come back to get him,' Fonda told Variety while walking the red carpet.

The 80-year-old actress then said that the movement was just getting started, and had a long way to go.

'This has been happening for a long time and its been an epidemic of behavior like this on the part of people who have power,' said Fonda.

'I think the #MeToo movement has started an avalanche. And its only the beginning.'

Time's up: 'Its a shame he didnt behave, [but now] its come back to get him,' Jane Fonda said of Les Moonves at the premiere of her new HBO documentary (Fonda on left Thursday, Moonves right in March)

Surrounded: Fonda (above with Harvey Weinstein in 2011) went on to say: 'This has been happening for a long time and its been an epidemic of behavior like this on the part of people who have power'

Earlier in the night, Fonda posed on the red carpet with her fist raised just like in her famous Hanoi Jane image.

Fonda was one of the most public faces in the anti-war movement throughout the years that the United States was in Vietnam, but drew the outrage of many in 1972 when she traveled to Hanoi in North Vietnam.

After touring the area and being heavily photographed with the forces that the US were fighting, Fonda publicly attacked her country for bombing farmland and destroying the dyke system which was crucial to feeding much of the population.

The United States denied ever carrying out such an action.

It was the photograph of Fonda on an antiaircraft gun that would have been used to shoot down and destroy American planes before taking any surviving servicemen captives as POWs that truly angered millions, and is still a great source of outrage for some veterans.

Congress later held hearings to decide if Fonda should be punished for her actions, with many calling her trip an act of treason and the actress a traitor.

Fonda recounted the trip in her memoir

At the same time, false reports began to surface also claiming that Fonda spoke with POWs in North Vietnam and relayed the information they shared with her to enemy troops.

Fonda wrote about the infamous antiaircraft gun photo in her 2005 memoir My Life So Far.

'Someone (I dont remember who) leads me toward the gun, and I sit down, still laughing, still applauding. It all has nothing to do with where I am sitting. I hardly even think about where I am sitting,' said Fonda.

'The cameras flash. I get up, and as I start to walk back to the car with the translator, the implication of what has just happened hits me. Oh, my God. Its going to look like I was trying to shoot down U.S. planes! I plead with him, You have to be sure those photographs are not published. Please, you cant let them be published.'

She went on to write: 'I am assured it will be taken care of. I dont know what else to do. It is possible that the Vietnamese had it all planned. I will never know. If they did, can I really blame them? The buck stops here.

'If I was used, I allowed it to happen. It was my mistake, and I have paid and continue to pay a heavy price for it.'
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A 94-year-old World War II veteran jumped 10,000ft in his first skydive today since parachuting into Normandy on D-Day 74 years ago.

Harry Read took part in the event to fundraise for The Salvation Army's Anti Trafficking and Modern Slavery work in the UK.

At 20 years old, Mr Read was a Wireless Operator and was part of the Parachute Brigade which landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

To avoid attack during war time, the parachute would deploy as close to the ground as possible.

Scroll down for video

Harry Read, 94, jumped 10,000ft in his first skydive today since parachuting into Normandy on D-Day 74 years ago in World War II

He said: 'On that morning at 00.50 hours I parachuted into Normandy and 30 seconds later I was on the ground. It was a very different experience to the one I'm about to undertake.

'This will be my first high level skydive and I'm quite looking forward to the occasion. My doctor has assured me my heart is as healthy as a middle aged man.'

After seeing recent older skydivers and visiting the Normandy battlefields on an anniversary tour earlier this year he was inspired to look into a tandem skydive for himself.

Mr Read is hoping to commemorate the 75th anniversary next year doing a skydive in Normandy and saw today as an opportunity to practice his parachuting skills.

He is a life-long member of The Salvation Army and was awarded France's highest honour, the Chevalier, by order of the Legion d'Honneur in 2016 for the role he played during World War II.

Mr Read added: 'At whatever age we are, we are more than capable of shrinking from something that we feel is beyond us. But, I believe we should not withdraw from a challenge  yesterday is not our best, our best is tomorrow.'

Mr Read is led to the aircraft by chief instructor Ryan Mancey at Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took part in his first high level skydive since he parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944

Mr Read, pictured left as a Wireless Operator during World War II, is hoping to commemorate the 75th anniversary next year doing a skydive in Normandy and saw today as an opportunity to practice his parachuting skills

He has raised more than 4,500 through his JustGiving page supporting The Salvation Army's anti trafficking and modern slavery Unit.

Mr Read, who previously was leader of The Salvation Army in the UK and Australia was not alone in his skydive, jumping with his grand-daughters Lianne, Joanna and his great-grandson Josh.

He jumped from 10,000ft with Ryan Mancey GoSkydive's Chief Instructor who has been skydiving for over 20 years and Roman Cnotalski filming him as the freefall photographer.
How many people died on 9/11?

If you ask most people, theyd say 2,977, which is the official death toll from the worst terror attack on America in its history.

Yet the real number of victims is likely to end up more than double that.

The World Trade Centre Health Program estimates that over 50,000 people have been certified sick as a probable consequence of the attacks, of which over 1,100 have so far died.

Rescuers are seen trying to remove a tree which toppled onto a house and killed two people in North Carolina when Hurricane Florence hit on Friday

Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home in James City, North Carolina, on Friday

Respiratory and digestive disorders account for most of the cases, but cancer cases are rising rapidly too, especially amongst first responders exposed to the worst of the toxic dust that enveloped them when the Towers collapsed.

It is therefore expected that the number of people who died from the after-effects of 9/11 will exceed the number who died ON 9/11 within the next few years.

What will President Donald Trump say about that when it happens?

Will he tweet something like this: 6000 people did not die when terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre. When I left lower Manhattan AFTER the attacks, they had 2,977 deaths. As time went by, it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really big numbers. This was done by Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them to the list. Bad politics. I love New York!

No, of course he wouldnt.

Because being a New Yorker, Trump would never dare to say such an unbelievably inappropriate and offensive thing, knowing the hurt and distress it would cause to all those who lost loved ones in or since the attacks.

For Trump, like all New Yorkers, 9/11 remains very personal.

He was in the city that day.

He claims to have personally known numerous people who died on 9/11, and families whose lives were torn apart by it.

And two days after the attacks, he was seen on TV, helping clear rubble at the scene.

Whenever Ive spoken to him about it, the anger hes expressed has always felt very strong and very genuine.

So no, theres not a cat in hells chance of President Trump saying anything now to question a single death connected to 9/11, however many years later it may occur.

If he did, hed be finished.

Trump claimed the death toll was inflated and it was engineered by Democrats to portray him in a bad light following Hurricanes Maria and Irma

President Donald Trump tosses paper towels into a crowd at Calvary Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico in October following the hurricanes

No US President could surely survive being so extraordinarily callous towards his own people about the most infamous day in the nations history?

Yet Trump had no such qualms this week about being just as extraordinarily callous towards another group of Americans whove suffered just as badly  those in Puerto Rico who have lost their lives as a result of Hurricane Maria last year.

In a series of shocking tweets, he emphatically denied that nearly 3,000 people died, contradicting new official numbers compiled in a study by the nonpartisan George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Trump provided no evidence for his justification in refuting these numbers, and neither has the White House done so since he said it.

They cant, because there isnt any.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossellos, who commissioned the death toll study, said: There is no reason to doubt the validity of these studies, no reason to expect  even though its an estimate  that its not far away from what the accurate toll should be. Neither the victims nor the people of Puerto Rico deserve to have their pain questioned.

Even senior members of Trumps own party think hes talking nonsense.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said: Casualties dont make a person look bad so I have no reason to dispute those numbers. It was devastating, a horrible storm. I toured the entire island. Its an isolated island that lost its infrastructure and power for a long time. You couldnt get to people for a long time. I have no reason to dispute those numbers, those are just the facts of what happened.

Exactly. Theyre just the facts of what happened.

The worst of many terrible things about Trumps response to the new Puerto Rico death toll is that it came right when his whole focus should be on the latest hurricane, Florence, as it barrelled into the Carolinas.

Trees and flood water block a street after Hurricane Maria in Carolina, Puerto Rico on September 22, 2017

Flood water and tree branches are seen blocking a road in Carolina, Puerto Rico in this September 22 photo

Frankly, I expect the President of the United States to be expending every ounce of his energy on ensuring that absolutely everything has been done to minimise potential loss of life today, tomorrow and as long as Florence wreaks its devastation.

The fact hes wasting valuable time engaging in pathetically petty point scoring over a previous hurricane is ridiculous enough.

But far more disturbing even than that is his apparent lack of any empathy for the poor people of Puerto Rico who lost their lives or loved ones, either during the hurricane or from after-effects since the hurricane.

What Trump cant stand is being criticised for not doing enough to help; it cuts to the very heart of his gigantic pride and ego.

After all, Trump has consistently denied any fault for his administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and instead sought praise for his handling of the disaster saying this week that it was an incredible, unsung success.

He boasted: I think Puerto Rico was incredibly successful. It was one of the best jobs thats ever been done with respect to what this is all about.

But nobody wants to hear this kind of self-aggrandising bullsh*t from a President about a natural disaster that killed so many Americans.

All they want to hear is on-going words of comfort, to know their President still cares about them, that he deeply regrets ANY and ALL loss of life, wishes he could have done more, and will try to do so this time around with Hurricane Florence.

Even one death is one too many.

What Trump doesnt seem to understand is that Hurricane Maria wasnt his fault.

Natural disasters happen, and will continue to happen.

When they do, governments must react as best they can.

I dont believe the more severe criticism of the Trump administrations Hurricane Maria rescue operation is warranted given the severe logistical issues involving Puerto Ricos location, and the extent of damage and power failure.

Yes, the operation could have been better, but so could the response to every disaster. I defy any fair-minded person to conclude that President Trumps response was a disaster too.

Rescue workers rush a man to an ambulance after a tree toppled onto a house in Wilmington, killing two other people on Friday in the first fatalities directly linked to Hurricane Florence

This satellite map, captured on Friday at 8am (ET) shows Florence making landfall on the east coast. The outline of the shoreline has been drawn over the image to show the storm's location

So this was not Trumps Katrina, as his furiously indignant tweets seem to suggest he fears.

But it WAS an appalling catastrophe for Puerto Ricans, coming so soon after the horrendously ruinous Hurricane Irma.

And for the President of the United States to say he doesnt even believe the death toll is a disgraceful additional agony for them to endure.

Hurricanes are not a game, to be squabbled over.

Theyre real life, and real death, as we are seeing now with Florence in the Carolinas.

In such moments, a President needs to be Comforter-in-Chief, not someone who pours fuel onto the flames of torment.

Shame on you, Mr Trump.

For once, put your damn ego away and show some bloody heart to these fellow Americans whove suffered so much.
A Missouri man has been arrested after crazy video shows him driving onto the sidewalk to speed around a stopped school bus picking up children.

The video was posted on Wednesday by the Parkway School District and thanks to social media and tips police were able to track down the driver of the out-of-control car.

'If kids were coming towards the bus from these houses, it could have been tragic,' the district said in a Facebook post.

The other car stopped but Matthew McCloskey couldn't wait for the bus to lift the stop sign

The car drove onto the grass to speed around a stopped school bus picking up children

In the footage, the bus stops on a residential street in Ballwin and extends the red stop sign signaling for other drivers to halt. A black car approaching in the opposite direction comes to a stop.

Police identified the driver as 52-year-old Matthew S. McCloskey and arrested him at his home

Out of nowhere a silver vehicle speeds around the black car onto the sidewalk and zooms around the bus. Someone on the bus is heard saying: 'Om my God'. Another man tells someone to get his license plate so they can report him.

Police identified the driver as 52-year-old Matthew S. McCloskey. He was arrested at his home on Thursday for leaving the scene of an accident, driving while suspended and violation of a school bus stop sign.

McCloskey told KSDK that he had borrowed the car from a friend to get to an appointment and the brakes failed forcing him to speed around the bus.

'I think I did a pretty good job of not killing anyone,' he said.

'Everyone is acting like I was trying to avoid the stop sign on the bus, but my freaking brakes went out.'

He said he returned to the scene after he got his brakes to work again, but the bus was gone. McCloskey said he didn't tell police about the faulty brakes because he knew he was already in trouble.

According to the outlet, McCloskey is a registered sex offender and wasn't allowed to drive. He also has 15 open traffic cases on his record and had a suspended license at the time of the incident.

McCloskey said that he had borrowed the car and the brakes failed and that's why he couldn't stop for the bus

McCloskey's record includes several criminal convictions including attempted robbery and attempted rape.

McCloskey brushed off why he was behind the wheel of a car, telling KSDK: 'Do you know how many people drive on a suspended license?'

His estranged wife, Peggy Sue, told the outlet that he put people's lives at risk.

'I think it's horrible,' she said. 'I think he's lost his mind.'

McCloskey was released from police custody and the case was forwarded to municipal prosecutors.
A Texas education committee is backtracking on its recommendation to omit the word 'heroic' when teaching about the men who guarded the Alamo in history class.

The Texas State Board of Education advisory committee revised their recommendation after receiving hundreds of calls and emails opposing last week's recommendation, as well as facing growing backlash on social media.

Those against the change raised concerns that it could water down Texas history.

Their new suggestion says seventh grade students must learn of 'the heroism of the diverse defenders' at the Alamo and of William B Travis' 'victory or death' letter.

The Texas State Board of Education's advisory panel suggested and has now reversed the suggestion for the change in efforts to tackle the restructuring of the curriculum, claiming that 'heroic' was a 'value-charged word'

The Texas State Board of Education's advisory panel suggested the change last week in an effort to tackle the restructuring of the curriculum, claiming that 'heroic' was a 'value-charged word.'

The curriculum currently states that the 'siege of the Alamo and all of the heroic defenders who gave their lives there,' according to Dallas News. The phrase 'and all of the heroic defenders who gave their lives there' would be cut.

'Stop political correctness in our schools,' Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said on last week.

'Of course Texas schoolchildren should be taught that Alamo defenders were 'Heroic'! I fully expect the State Board of Education to agree. Contact your SBOE Member to complain.'

George P. Bush, state land commissioner, also voiced his disdain for a plan to allow students to not have to write a separate assignment about 'the Travis Letter,' written by Lieutenant Colonel William Barrett Travis at the Alamo during the battle.

'This politically correct nonsense is why I'll always fight to honor the Alamo defenders' sacrifice,' he said. 'His letter & the defenders' actions must remain at the very core of TX history teaching. This is not debatable to me.'

'Stop political correctness in our schools,' Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said last week

George P. Bush, state land commissioner, also voiced his disdain for a plan to allow students to not have to write a separate assignment about 'the Travis Letter,' written by Lieutenant Colonel William Barrett Travis at the Alamo during the battle

The letter could be included in overall Alamo teaching, however.

Debbie Ratcliffe, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency, explained to the Dallas News that they had aimed to see if things could 'be reduced by either deleting information, combining standards or clarifying.'

Ratcliffe added: 'That was the goal. They suggested deleting the Travis letter because they think when teachers talk about the Alamo they will absolutely mention it, but not having it outlined specifically just meant teachers would spend less time on it.'

A vote is said to occur in November.

A still from the 1960 movie The Alamo staring John Wayne

The Battle of the Alamo is regarded as the climax of the Texas Revolution, but is regarded as a controversial topic in depicting who the actual heroes were

The Battle of the Alamo is regarded as the climax of the Texas Revolution, but is seen as a controversial topic in depicting who the actual heroes were.

For 'Anglo' United States immigrants at the time, annexation meant freeing the state from the autocratic rule of Mexico and General Santa Ana.

These white Texan immigrants also wanted to maintain slavery as the Mexican government had abolished all forms of the human enslavement in 1829.

'The early depictions of Texas history was good guys against bad guys, white guys against brown guys, democracy against tyranny,' said James Crisp, a historian at North Carolina State University, according to Splinter News.

'Then, there was a counter-story switching good guys and bad guysthe Americans were all racist, taking the Mexicans' land. Both of those stories are way overly simplistic.'
Bryan Rosenthal, 45, was arrested as part of an undercover operation on Tuesday. He showed up to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex and was met instead by police officers

The president of a children's charity in California has been arrested trying to meet up with a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Bryan Rosenthal, 45, was taken into custody in Vallejo on Tuesday after showing up to the meeting where he was confronted by police officers.

He had arranged with an undercover agent, who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, to meet up for sex.

Rosenthal, who is the president of the Cann-I-Dream Foundation, is accused of making similar contact with other kids.

Cann-I-Dream was founded in 2014. Its vague mission statement is to 'make a better life for our children, thus creating a world full of abundance, love, and hope for our future.'

The company had deleted its website and social media pages by Thursday.

According to police, Rosenthal had sent the girl explicit photographs and text messages before their planned meeting.

When police seized his phone, they found similar conversations with other children.

Anyone who fears their child may have been exposed to him is urged to contact the San Francisco Police Department Special Victims Unit at (415) 558-9225.

Rosenthal is the president of the Cann-I-Dream Foundation which seeks to 'make a better life for our children'. He is not thought to be married and it's unclear if he has kids of his own

Rosenthal, who is not thought to be married, was booked into jail on several charges including arranging a meeting with a minor for sexual contact, going to an arranged meeting with a minor for sexual contact, sending harmful material to a minor, communication with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior, possession of child pornography and producing child pornography.

Cann-I-Dream was founded in 2014 and, in a description on its LinkedIn page, says it is dedicated to 'ethical fundraising'.

Its intended beneficiaries are community outreach programs, food banks, stop urban blight campaigns, providing school supplies, and other living essentials, as well as education, and donations to global programs, and children's hospitals.

In addition to running the charity, Rosenthal names himself as the CEO of a cannabis-product testing lab called Levi Laboratories.
Israeli soldiers killed three protesters at the border including an 11-year-old boy, Palestinian medical officials claimed on Friday.

But the following day the Israel's military said their evidence shows the 11-year-old was hit by a rock thrown by protesters.

On Friday the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Shady Abdel-al was killed by Israeli fire. On Saturday a Ministry spokesman said he died from head wounds, without elaborating.

Two Gaza rights groups said he died after being struck 'with a solid object'.

The Israeli army is said to have wounded at least 248 others taking part on Friday in weekly protests at the fortified Gaza Strip boundary.

The ministry removed a baby from their official death toll in May after The Associated Press reported she died from a pre-existing medical condition, not from Israeli tear gas, as it had claimed.

The Israeli military says it used force necessary to repel 13,000 Palestinians who massed at several points at the fence.

Palestinian medical officials claim that Israelis shot dead an 11-year-old boy at the Gaza border on Friday but the Israeli military claim he was hit by a rock as clashes continue

Protesters carry a Palestinian shot and wounded by Israeli troops on the 25th Friday of 'Great March of Return' demonstration

The Israeli military says it used force necessary to repel 13,000 Palestinians who massed at several points at the fence

Some hurled rocks, fire-bombs and grenades at troops under cover of smoke from burning tyres, injuring a soldier, and nine Palestinians briefly crossed into Israel, it added.

Shadi's father Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Al today told Reuters that his son had died as a martyr.

'He used to go every Friday to the marches like thousands of other people,' he said. 'This Friday was his destiny to die as a martyr.'

Another Palestinian, 28-year-old Hashem Hassan, said he saw Abdel-Al being shot 70 metres from the fence, adding: 'He threw a few stones, which flew just a few yards. He posed no threat.'

Asked about Abdel-Al's death, an Israeli military spokeswoman said only that troops had kept to their open-fire regulations.

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to throw stone toward Israeli forces firing tear gas during a demonstration along the Israeli fence east of Gaza City

Friday's dead brought the number of Palestinians killed to 177 since the sometimes violent demonstrations were launched on March 30 to press demands against Israel.

Since March 30, Gaza has also seen shelling exchanges between the coastal enclave's Islamist Hamas rulers and Israel.

An Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper and Israel has lost tracts of forest and farmland to cross-border incendiary attacks.

The US has backed its ally Israel in accusing Hamas of staging the mass-mobilisation to distract from Gaza's poverty and governance problems and provide cover for armed Palestinian border incursions. Hamas denies this.

The Israeli military said that, twice this week, its patrols discovered and dismantled bombs that had been planted for use against them at the fence.

On Friday several Palestinians crawled to the fence to throw a pipebomb at troops, who fired back, the military said. There was no word of casualties.

The protesters want rights to lands Palestinians lost during the 1948 war of Israel's foundation, as well as the easing of a crippling blockade that Israel, with the help of neighbouring Egypt, has placed on Gaza to isolate Hamas and deny it weaponry.

U.N. and Egyptian mediators have been trying to reach a deal to calm Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars in the last decade.

The brokering efforts have been complicated by Hamas's feuding with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has restricted funding to Gaza.
Texas radio host Dan Steffen has been sentenced to life in prison after he admitted to sexually abusing boys and offering to pay $45,000 to have his prosecutor killed

A Texas radio host has been sentenced to life in prison after he admitted to sexually abusing boys and offering to pay $45,000 to have his prosecutor killed.

Dan Steffen, who hosted a syndicated radio show in North Texas under the name Rick Austin, pleaded guilty to eight charges of child sex abuse and attempted capital murder on Thursday, telling the Collin County court: 'I'm pleading guilty because I am guilty.'

The 70-year-old's plea came after prosecutors played chilling radio broadcasts recorded at his home in Plano in which Steffen can be heard gushing over the boys' appearances.

Four boys testified against Steffen, and authorities said they reached out to several others who declined. The admitted pedophile is believed to have dozens of victims.

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Dan Steffen pleaded guilty to eight charges of child sex abuse and attempted capital murder on Thursday, telling the Collin County court: 'I'm pleading guilty because I am guilty'

The 70-year-old hosting a syndicated radio show out of a studio at his home in Plano (pictured)

Steffen came under investigation last year after police received reports that he had been engaging in sex acts with a 16-year-old boy for several years.

When police raided his home they found a steel briefcase containing more than 8,000 images of homemade child porn dating back 20 years.

They also seized a binder of child porn titled 'Dan's Favorite Pictures'.

Police have spent months trying to track down the dozens of boys seen in the photos.

According to court testimony, Steffen met many of the victims through their parents, often working as a babysitter.

He was also reportedly involved in a local Boy Scout troop.

One victim testified that Steffen regularly brought him food and gave him cash in exchange for sex acts because he knew the teen's family was struggling financially, according to the Dallas Morning News.

'I just did it for the money and so I could support my family,' the teen.

Another man, 50, who traveled from out of state to testify, claimed he was abused by Steffen in the 1980s.

He said that as a 13-year-old his stepfather had asked Steffen 'to teach me the facts of life', DMN reported.

A third victim, now 35, explained that he called Steffen 'ice cream Dan' because he regularly bought him frozen treats and other goodies.

Police raided Steffen's home (pictured) in August of last year after receiving reports that he was engaging in sex acts with a 16-year-old boy

In the home investigators found a steel briefcase with more than 8,000 homemade child porn images dating back 20 years along with a binder of child porn titled 'Dan's Favorite Pictures'

After Steffen was arrested last August, he reportedly paid another inmate who claimed to have mob connections to have his brother deliver daily letters to one of the predator's teenage victims and to buy him meals and clothing.

The letters Steffen wrote from prison were often addressed to MMBB, which is believed to stand for 'my most beautiful boy'.

Steffen went on to hatch a plan to have the prosecutor assigned to his case killed, with the help of the same outside connection.

Police obtained a secret recording of a conversation between Steffen and his inmate accomplice in which the radio host said he wanted to do 'whatever it takes' to kill Crystal Levonius, an assistant district attorney.

After he was arrested, Steffen hatched a plan to kill the prosecutor assigned to his case, Assistant District Attorney Crystal Levonius, who testified against him on Thursday (above)

Levonius took the witness stand this week and described the trauma she experienced after learning of Steffen's plot against her.

'I was frightened. I think I was more afraid for my children because they are all very young,' she said.

'Because I was aware of the defendant and I felt like he was the most depraved individual I ever prosecuted. I took him at his word.'

Hours of evidence against Steffen were presented on Thursday, culminating in state District Judge Angela Tucker sentencing him to life in prison.

'You are a predator of the worst kind,' the judge said.
Just as Hurricane Florence created a new emergency along the East Coast, federal workers were due to begin evicting victims of the storm that ravaged Puerto Rico a year ago from the hotel rooms they've been calling home.

Federal Emergency Management Agency workers were due to evict 987 families from their extended stay lodgings on Friday, according to NBC News, displacing scores of women and children that have no where else to live.

Lenisha Smith, a FEMA spokeswoman told NBC, 'The hurricane was almost a year ago. This is not a long-term program, it's supposed to be temporary.'

Just as Hurricane Florence created a new emergency along the East Coast, federal workers were due to begin evicting victims of the storm that ravaged Puerto Rico a year ago from the hotel rooms they've been calling home

Federal Emergency Management Agency workers were due to evict 987 families from their extended stay lodgings on Friday, displacing Puerto Ricans like Jose Santiago (pictured) who will have no other place to live

Maria hit Puerto Rico a year ago next week on Sept. 20, 2017. Families have continued to struggle with power outages and clean water supply since

In this Oct. 5, 2017 file photo, Roberto Figueroa Caballero sits in his home destroyed by Hurricane Maria, two weeks after the storm hit La Perla neighborhood on the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Roughly 8,000 families remain without reliable water service as of last month

Maria hit Puerto Rico a year ago next week on Sept. 20, 2017. Families have continued to struggle with power outages and clean water supply since.

Roughly 8,000 families remain without reliable water service, explained a report this week in The Washington Post.

Many families relocated to the mainland after the storm destroyed their homes, with some 130,000 people leaving the island.

FEMA is offering some of those families rental assistance if they return to Puerto Rico in lieu of paying for their expensive American hotel rooms.

Every family was offered a one-way plane ticket back to Puerto Rico, where they have access to further government services. But the ticket offer expires on Friday, NBC reported.

Some families have found themselves homeless as a result, the report found, or in a mad dash to find new lodging before they check themselves into a shelter.

The pre-determined deadline had the unfortunate timing of coinciding another storm on the East Coast - Hurricane Florence - and a claim from President Trump that Democrats inflated the death toll in Puerto Rico to embarrass his administration.

Trump's assertion, which did not align with the facts, had Republicans from Florida, including gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis, distancing themselves from the president.

The president gave his administration an A+ for its relief efforts and called it an 'unsung success.' He said that he'd put billions toward the effort to rebuild Puerto Rico, which is an American territory but not a state.

'If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list,' he said of the 3,000 residents whose cause of death was tied to Maria. 'Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico,' he tweeted.

Trump refused to back down from the claim and received back up on Thursday evening from Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, who said that a widely-cited study published by George Washington University that served as the basis for for claims that 3,000 had perished dealt with estimates and likely included an inaccurate death toll.

Dobbs pointed to the study that was commissioned by the Puerto Rican government on Thursday and said: 'The president, by the way, is right...The numbers were inflated and the president was right to call out the organizations who threw out science, statistics, and evidence to discredit the Trump administration.'

Trump is standing by claim that Puerto Rico's 3,000 death toll number is inflated and retweeted a segment by Fox News' Lou Dobbs backing his statement on Thursday

In his segment, Dobbs said: 'The numbers were inflated and the president was right to call out the organizations who threw out science, statistics, and evidence to discredit the Trump administration'

Early Thursday Trump vented on Twitter that the 3,000 was inflated and exaggerated

He claimed the exaggeration was engineered by Democrats to portray the president in a bad light following Hurricane Maria and Irma

'The finding wasn't a result of a death toll count, a body count, nor a study of death certificates, but a public health study that subtracted the number of people who theoretically should have died over the same period from the number of people who were reported dead over that period,' Dobbs stated.

He said that following the Milken Institute report, Puerto Rico's governor amended the number of dead from a prior count of 64 to 3,000.

Lynn Goldman, the dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, shared the study's results to CNN last month but said more work was needed for an accurate estimate.

While the number may not be as high as 3,000, the Puerto Rican government has submitted that the official toll was higher than the December 2017 tally of 64.

In an August document it said 1,427 more deaths than normal occurred over the past four months after Hurricane Maria and Irma, compared to death tolls over the previous four years.

On Thursday morning the president exploded on Twitter, saying the reported 3,000 Puerto Rican hurricane deaths was inflated and exaggerated.

'3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico,' Trump tweeted.

President Donald Trump now says the accepted death toll from hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico in 2017 is inflated  and claims Democrats are leveraging the number 'to make me look bad'

Puerto Ricans were left to dig themselves out of debris in the wake of Hurricane Maria last year in dangerous conditions after losing power, running water and cell phone service

'When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000.'

Trump said, 'This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible.'

After Trump came under scrutiny for the comments that were perceived as insensitive to victims of the storm, the White House said that the president was responding to media coverage of the storm.

'As the President said, every death from Hurricane Maria is a horror. Before, during, and after the two massive hurricanes, the President directed the entire Administration to provide unprecedented support to Puerto Rico,' White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said.

Gidley added: 'President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.'

The Milken study compared mortality in the six months following the storm with the number of deaths that would have been expected if it had not hit the island.

'The difference between those two numbers is the estimate of excess mortality due to the hurricane,' the scientists wrote.

The risk of dying during the storm or in its aftermath was 60 percent higher for Puerto Ricans living in the poorest areas, they found.

House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters late Thursday morning that he has 'no reason to dispute these numbers.'

But Ryan also denied that a death toll in the thousands reflects poorly on Trump, saying, 'casualties don't make a person look bad.'

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, a Democrat who tangled with the president over and over while Hurricane Maria made international news, also fired back on Thursday.

Dobbs said George Washington University study did not cite a death toll count, a body count, nor a study of death certificates, the damage of Catani, Puerto Rico pictured above

A shelter is pictured prior to the arrival of Hurricane Maria. An approximate death toll following the hurricane is yet to be made, as the George Washington study was actually an estimate of 'excess deaths'

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz tweeted that Trump is 'delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality' on Thursday

'This is what denial following neglect looks like: Mr Pres in the real world people died on your watch. YOUR LACK OF RESPECT IS APPALLING!' she tweeted.

'Mr Trump you can try and bully us with your tweets BUT WE KNOW OUR LIVES MATTER. You will never take away our self respect. Shame on you!'

Yulin Cruz later called Trump 'delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality.'

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Thursday that his government commissioned the George Washington University study. 'We are confident in that estimate,' he told CBS News.

'There are still over 45,000 folks without roofs, still a weak energy grid,' he said of the U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea. 'If we get another devastation, it is likely to collapse.'

Mayor Yulin Cruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico lashed out at Trump on Thursday, calling him delusional and detached from reality

FEMA administrator Brock Long said Wednesday on MSNBC that 'indirect deaths' are often more numerous than deaths caused immediately by a natural disaster.

'You have people who died after the storm passed because they fell off their roof making repairs, they died in car crashes because the stoplights were off, you have chainsaw accidents, you have accidents with people cleaning up debris,' he said.

A team of researchers at Harvard University announced in May that they believed Hurricane Maria's death toll was 4,600. At the time, the government's death toll stood at 64.

Trump said Wednesday that his administration is prepared for Hurricane Florence, a storm tearing up the Carolina coastline, and insisted that his administration's widely panned response to the devastation in Puerto Rico last year was an 'unappreciated great job.'

'We got A pluses for our recent hurricane work in Texas and Florida (and did an unappreciated great job in Puerto Rico, even though an inaccessible island with very poor electricity and a totally incompetent Mayor of San Juan),' Trump tweeted.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president praised his administration's response to the series of storms in 2017. 'I think Puerto Rico was an incredible, unsung success,' he claimed.
Politicians and peers are undertaking weekly mindfulness classes in Parliament as part of a scheme to combat mental health issues.

So far 185 MPs and Lords have taken up the eight-week course, which is designed to fight depression, anxiety and stress.

One said they 'even managed to sleep well' after attending a class, while another reported: 'I knew I had to do something about stress and work life balance  Mindfulness never crossed my mind till I discovered the course and it is working for me.'

MPs and peers have been turning to meditation as part of a course offering help dealing with stress and depression (file photo)

The sessions are held in Portcullis House, Westminster, and are run by the Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Labour MP Chris Ruane chairs the group alongside Conservative MP Tim Loughton, Birmingham Live reports.

University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre leads the scheme and says on its website that people 'dissatisfied' with life or who have a sense of 'missing out' on joy can be helped by the course.

It states that stress, anxiety, recurrent depression and low mood could be eased by mindfulness.

Weekly sessions are held in the House of Commons with one testimonial saying the class helped them find 'inner peace'

An email inviting peers and MPs to take part reads: '185 Parliamentarians and 250 Staff members have so far attended this course, which consists of eight sessions of 75 minutes.

'Whilst its beneficial to attend all eight sessions, it is certainly understood that this may not always be possible.'

It contained anonymous testimonials from people who have taken part in recent years.

One politician said the course 'empowered' them to 'reframe' their life and fine 'inner calm'.

Classes are free and participants are invited to donate to charity if they attend.
War Machine, the former MMA fighter spending life behind bars for brutally attacking his porn star ex-girlfriend when he found her in bed with another man, issued a groveling apology to her this week in a lengthy interview where he described how Jesus had saved him.

The 36-year-old is in prison in Nevada for beating Mack, 27, and Corey Thomas in bed together in Las Vegas in August 2014. He beat Mack so badly that by the time police found her, she had no teeth and had been sexually assaulted.

War Machine (seen left in a recent picture with his prison wife Ashley Farrington and right being sentenced in 2017) regretted nearly killing his ex-girlfriend Christy Mack and was now a different person

In an interview with filmmaker John Bravo on Wednesday, Machine, who has since married a prison pen pal, said he 'hated' who he used to be and asked for his ex's forgiveness.

'I hate who I used to be.

'There's not a day that goes by that I don't regret that and I hate it.

'Nobody hates me as much as I hate the man that I used to be.

'From the bottom of my heart I apologize to Christy. I'm sorry, Christy. I'm sorry for what happened,' he said.

To Thomas, who abandoned Christy to be beaten and brutalized by the professional fighter to save himself, he said: 'Corey you know, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I pray for you too, I pray for all you guys.'

He added that while he used to blame his ex-girlfriend for his unfathomable violence, he realizes now that he drove her to cheat on him with his 'constant' mistreatment.

'In the beginning, before I found God, it was all her fault.

;Once I found God, my eyes were opened.

Machine attacked his porn star ex Christy Mack, now 27, in August 2014 after finding her in bed with another man. The pair are pictured before then in happier times. He was a professional fighter and, she said at the time, she thought he would have killed her if she hadn't escaped

Mack was so severely beaten that she had no teeth by the time police found her

Mack's horrific injuries are shown, weeks into her recovery. Police said she looked like she had been in a car accident when they found her after she escaped the home and got to a neighbor's to call 911

'I had to look at that night with the truth of the eyes of Jesus. I put that man in my bed with my constant cheating, constant abuse, constant just neglect. I put that guy in my bed.

'I created that situation. I was a big old hypocrite and I ended up hurting someone that I love,' he said.

Machine made an impassioned plea to his remaining fans to not idolize his behavior and instead try to find God themselves.

The woman was in bed with Corey Thomas who fled the home, leaving her to be beaten. Machine, who has found religion in prison, says Thomas was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time'

'I really appreciate all the love and support but I just hope none of you look up to the old me.

'It kills me inside that you guys are still in love with the guy I was, with that alpha male s**t. All the anarchy, all the BS that I used to live.

'I don't want you guys to like that. I want you to realize that what I was was bogus and worthless.

'I want you to learn about the person I am now and avoid my mistakes. I hope you guys don't idolize too much the person I was.

'See Jesus, he's real. He'll change your life, I promise you,' he said.

Machine does not credit prison with changing his life, explaining that he'd been in and out of custody before he nearly killed Mack with his beating.

'I've been to jail 2 or 3 times before. Each time before I got worse. I got more hateful, empty, I just got worse and worse. There's nothing in here,' he said.

He found God through a pen pal who relentlessly preached her faith to him in letters and sent him religious books.

It was religion which brought him together with his wife Ashley Harrington, a mother-of-one who started writing to him when he was in jail.

He turned her on to God and the pair have an 'awesome' relationship, he said.

Mack testified against her ex (seen right in his mugshot) and begged a judge never to grant him parole because she fears he will kill her if he is released. He will not be eligible to be let out until he is 71

Machine's apology is not his first. After his conviction in 2017, he posted a lengthy Twitter statement which read: 'Christy, I am sorry for the man that I was, I am sorry for hurting you.

'One day, when enough time has passed, and when your wounds are fully healed, I hope that you will write to me, or, perhaps, even visit me, so that I can apologize completely.'

Mack testified at his trial in the hopes of keeping him in jail for the rest of his life.

She told the judge that she feared he would kill her if he was ever allowed out of custody.

Mack and Thomas were in bed together when Machine, who legally changed his name to that to boost his career, came home unexpectedly.

He first attacked Thomas, putting him in a choke hold and biting him in their bathroom.

When he let go of his grip, Thomas fled, leaving Mack alone in the house with him.

He beat Mack for ten minutes, knocking out her teeth and sending her in and out of consciousness.

At one stage, he stood over her and said: 'That's it. I have to kill you now.'

She was only able to escape when he vanished from their bedroom to, she believes, retrieve a knife from the kitchen to stab her with.

She ran, naked and bleeding, to a neighbors house and called police.

During the trial, Machines' emotional displays flipped between remorseful and coarsely nonchalant.

He laughed as Mack testified against him at one stage, but mouthed 'I love you' during another hearing.
Hours of squabbling over who was responsible for spending $61,000 to install curtains in United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's government-owned New York City condominium ended Friday afternoon when The New York Times acknowledged that the furnishings were ordered during the Obama administration.

The Times reported that a total of $52,701 was spent in 2017 on the drapery project to cover a sweeping panorama of windows in the nearly 6,000-square-foot penthouse, including the machinery to open and close them with a remote control.

Of that, $29,900 paid for the curtains and another $22,801 covered the motors and installation, according to government contracts.

DailyMail.com identified an additional $8,300 contract award for rewiring the residence to accommodate the contraptions, pushing the total above $61,000.

A United Nations source told CNN that the Obama administration decided how to outfit the residence 'well before the election in 2016,' and that the government bought it unfurnished.

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley caught grief on Friday for the $61,000 curtains installed last year in the State Department's New York City penthouse where she lives, but the orders were placed during the Obama administration, before the 2016 election

The penthouse at 50 United Nations Plaza in New York incudes sweeping views of the New York City skyline to the north and south, requiring drapes that can be easily opened and closed

the Obama State Department decided to spend heavily on motors and remote controls so future UN ambassadors could impress guests with the views

The New York Times originally blamed Haley for the lavish spending but ultimately acknowledged that the Obama administration had authorized it; pictured L-R are former UN Ambassador Samantha Power, former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Presdient Barack Obama

A designer from the State Department's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations 'chose and ordered the curtains shortly thereafter (summer 2016),' the source added.

The Times originally ran its story with the headline: 'Nikki Haleys View of New York Is Priceless. Her Curtains? $52,701.'

By midafternoon it was changed to read: 'State Department Spent $52,701 on Curtains for Residence of U.N. Envoy.'

Editors made 36 separate changes to the article, according to a Microsoft Word comparison, including deleting a reference to 'Ms. Haley's curtains.'

The newspaper's editors explained in a note that the original story and headline 'created an unfair impression about who was responsible for the purchase in question.'

'While Nikki R. Haley is the current ambassador to the United Nations, the decision on leasing the ambassadors residence and purchasing the curtains was made during the Obama administration, according to current and former officials. The article should not have focused on Ms. Haley, nor should a picture of her have been used.'

The Times made three dozen changes to its story, replaced the headline and removed a photo of Haley that let the impression that she was responsible for the spending

This bathroom needs curtains: The master bath in the apartment comes with a view

The residence currently occupied by Haley boasts 7 bedrooms, including two for housekeepers and a pair of master suites

Two of the government contracts for the drapery project are pictured; at top is $22,801 for curtain motors and at bottom is $8,300 for wiring

The curtains were installed sometime between March and August of 2017, while Haley was in charge of the U.S. mission to the UN.

Several news outlets emphasized that the State Department actually wrote checks to the vendor, DFB Sales of Long Island City, New York, in March and April of that year.

That coincided with a hiring freeze and budget cuts across the State Department, ordered by then-Secretary Rex Tillerson.

But a Haley spokesman insisted the Obama administration had ordered the curtains and the equipment to operate them when it relocated the ambassador's residence from the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where it had traditionally been located.

The shift was made due to security concerns after a new ownership group led by a Chinese insurance company bought the storied building. Haley is the first ambassador to live at the new location.

The asking price for rent was $58,000 per month, according to a real estate listing.

It includes 7 bedrooms, including two for housekeepers and a pair of master suites.

But the dramatic views of New York Citys skyline are the main selling point for the property that Haley found out she was inheriting after she got the job.
WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis was arrested in Washington early on Friday morning

Two-time super featherweight world champion boxer Gervonta Davis was arrested early Friday morning in Washington D.C. after an argument at a local club.

According to police, the Baltimore native was seen arguing with Ricardo Jose Rodriguez of Silver Spring around 3am. At some point, the argument turned physical and eventually both men were arrested and charged with disorderly affray, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Davis tweeted Friday morning to assure everyone he was fine.

I am ok, he wrote. Please do not judge me off of the media..they gonna paint me a bad picture every time.

Davis does not have an extensive criminal history, although he was charged with second-degree assault in Maryland, but the charges were later dropped. Daviss accuser, lifelong friend Anthony Wheeler, were seen hugging after the charges were dismissed, according to the Baltimore Sun.

After being stripped of his WBA super featherweight title last year for failing to make the 130-pound limit before a fight, Davis won the title again in April to maintain his perfect 20-0 record

After being stripped of his WBA super featherweight title last year for failing to make the 130-pound limit before a fight, Davis won the title again in April to maintain his perfect 20-0 record, with 19 wins coming by knockout.

The 5ft5 Davis is promoted by former champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., but was taught to box by legendary Baltimore trainer Calvin Ford, who was the basis for the character of Cutty on the acclaimed HBO series The Wire.

In recent years, Davis has been fighting for six-figure purses, but his income should continue to rise as the 23-year old gains more exposure.
A 100-foot fatberg has been cleared after developing in the sewage system of Michigan, clogging pipes and leading to backups.

Metro Detroit officials conducted a $100,000 removal of the 19-ton collection of fats, oils, grease and solids - known as a fatberg - which were flushed down and stuck in pipes.

This particular fatberg is the largest ever found or removed in Macomb County history, according to public works officials.

Now, officials are using this as an opportunity to warn the community of the consequences of pouring grease down sinks or flushing 'non-flushables' down the toilet.

A 19-ton fatberg was discovered last year in Macomb County, Michigan

A fatberg is a build up of fats, oils, grease and solids collected in pipes

'To put it simply, this fatberg is gross. It provides an opportunity, however to talk with people about the importance of restricting what goes down our sewers,' Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said in a news release.

'This restriction was caused by people and restaurants pouring grease and similar materials down their drains. We want to change that behavior,' she added.

Metro Detroit officials say they allocated about $100,000 for the removal.

Part of the clean up was captured on video and shows crew members inspecting the fatberg inside the pipes with a flash flight.

In total the fatberg was 11 feet wide and six feet tall, wedged between an 11-foot diameter pipe.

The clump was found a year ago during routine inspection and the county had used different methods to try to clear it.

It was discovered inside the Lakeshore Interceptor, which serves several Michigan towns including Clinton, Harrison, Chesterfield and Lenox townships and the village of New Haven.

Miller displayed chunks of the fatberg at the Clintondale Pump Station in Clinton Township on Thursday.

It forms when items which are meant to be discarded are poured down drains or flushed down toilets

Different methods were used o clear it, costing the county $100,000

'There was so much sanitary trash intermingled with the grease that our normal methods were largely ineffective,' Joe Schotthoefer of Doetsch Environmental Services said.

'Everyone needs to be environmental stewards. This is all solid waste that should be on the curb, not down your drain,' he added.

Schotthoefer said this was the largest fatberg he has seen in his 25 years in the business.

Miller said that this event 'provides an opportunity to talk with people about the importance of restricting what goes down our sewers', adding that they are to begin a public education campaign to prevent another fatberg like this from forming.

Fatbergs may happen more often than you think.

Last year in Baltimore, Maryland, a fatberg caused one million gallons of sewage to spill into a river and another fatberg weighing 17 tons was discovered in a London sewage system.
Police fired blanks during an active shooter drill at a Pennsylvania high school in order to make students more prepared for a possible shooting by exposing them to the sound of gunfire.

The drill was conducted at Bethel Park High School on Thursday despite strong push-back from parents who expressed outrage over how realistic the exercise was.

Earlier this week the principal had sent an email to parents informing them that the simulation would include an alleged shooter in the building and assuring them that school and local police would be firing blanks rather than real bullets.

In the email, he wrote the blanks will not be fired at anyone, but that the sound would be heard throughout the school.

Several parents responded by contacting local news stations in an attempt to draw attention to the drill and possibly put a stop to it.

Police conducted an active shooter drill that included firing blanks at Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania on Thursday despite strong push-back from outraged parents

Parent Nanette Adams expressed concern that the hyper-realistic drill could upset students and criticized school officials for not providing more details about the exercise

'Students have been prepared; although, I have not been advised about what that preparation consists of,' Nanette Adams, whose son enrolled at the school this year, told KDKA.

'My concern is for students who may have some sort of issue with anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, special needs students.'

Adams criticized school officials for not provide more details about the exercise and expressed concern that it could cause a panic among neighbors if they were unaware of the drill.

'There are homes located nearby, and I have no idea if anyone who does not have a student in the district has been informed that this drill is going to be taking place,' Adams said.

'There's a lot of unknown variables of what could potentially happen if a homeowner nearby heard shots being fired off.'
A chemical weapons expert who appears on Russian TV said he's irritated by the way police treated him during his arrest.

Former research scientist Dr Chris Busby - an outspoken critic of the British Government's handlings of the Salisbury poisoning - was held after officers reported feeling unwell during a raid on his property on Wednesday morning.

Police had initially targeted the address in the sleepy seaside town of Bideford, Devon, over concerns for a woman's welfare.

Pro-Russian nuclear expert Dr Chris Busby was arrested at his home in Devon on Wednesday

However officers complained of feeling unwell and were immediately checked over by an ambulance Hazardous Area Response Team and fire crews.

The 73-year-old was arrested under the Explosives Act and spent 19 hours in custody.

Following his release Dr Busby told the BBC he believed that was down to 'psychological problems associated with their knowledge of the Skripal poisoning'.

Police attended the address initially over concerns about a woman's welfare

But officers complained of feeling ill and were checked by an ambulance Hazardous Area Response Team

The scientist said he was handcuffed and interviewed all night by police who suspected he was making a bomb, but the only substances found at his home were 'innocuous chemicals for research into radiation'.

He returned home that night to find officers had searched his home laboratory and sealed off his property.

He said: 'They destroyed my experiment. It was most irritating.'

Dr Busby said he felt he was being targeted because of his criticism of the Government's current assessment of radiation risks.

The scientist thinks their mysterious illness was 'psychological' due to their fears of the Skripal poisoning

Devon and Cornwall Police said the matter was now not being treated as criminal, but as a matter of public safety.

A spokesman said: 'Following searches within the property, a number of items were found which required expert analysis from specialist officers and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. Police have also been supported by fire and ambulance at the scene.

'Police have worked closely with partner agencies to ensure the safety of the public and the property.

'Enquires have now been completed at the address and it has been deemed that there is no risk to the wider public.

'A 73-year-old man was arrested under the explosives act. He has since been released and no further action will be taken in relation to this incident.'
New charging documents released by prosecutors revealed new details of former Donald Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort's efforts to engage in off-the-books efforts to pressure the U.S. government on behalf of a Ukrainian political party.

Manafort banked $60 million over more than a decade, he admitted in his guilty plea Friday, concealing his earnings, avoiding taxation, and button-holing lawmakers and agency officials on the pro-Moscow government's behalf without declaring his disguised influence work.

A key element involved the creation of the 'Habsburg Group, consisting of European officials, as part of the lobby campaign, and the European Centre for the Modern Ukraine in Brussels as a way to 'distance' lobbying for Ukraine, the government said.

Yet Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates noted their 'client' had an Embassy in Washington  meaning the real client was the government of Ukraine.

New charging documents released by prosecutors revealed new details of former Donald Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort's efforts to engage in off-the-books efforts to pressure the U.S. government on behalf of a Ukrainian political party

A participating company employee said the lobbying was on behalf of the center 'in name only.'

The employee added: 'It's like Alice in Wonderland.'

An employee of another company called it 'a fig leaf' and Ukraine's Party of Regions as 'a fig leaf on a fig leaf.'

The employee in one email referred to the Centre as the 'European hot dog stand for Modern Ukraine.

Although Manafort didn't register as a lobbyist, he wrote detailed memos to Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich summarizing his own efforts and that by a team of lobbyists.

'The purpose of this memorandum is to la out a plan to manage the strategy, public relations and international affairs for President Yanukovich,' Manafort wrote in a February 2010 memo to the Ukrainian president.

Manafort crafted a plan to create a European Centre for the Modern Ukraine in Brussels. One company employee in an email referred to the Centre as the 'European hot dog stand for Modern Ukraine

Guilty: This is the moment Paul Manafort stood to accept his guilt at the Washington D.C. federal court hearing presided over by Judge Amy Berman Jackson

He took steps to 'tarnish' Yanukovich's predecessor, Yulia Tymoshenko, the political rival Yanukovich had jailed.

One newly revealed document showed Manafort 'orchestrated a scheme to have '[O]bama jews' put pressure on the administration' to support Yanukovych and 'disavow' his rival, Tymoshenko.

This involved putting out stories that 'a senior Cabinet official' who previously criticized Yanukovych 'was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko, who in turn had formed a political alliance with a Ukraine party that espoused anti-Semitic views.'

Guilty: Paul Manafort, 69, will stay behind bars awaiting sentencing, and faces up to 10 years in prison

The government charged Manafort 'coordinated privately with a senior Israeli government official' to issue a statement publicizing the story.

'I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom,' he wrote.

He sought to have the administration 'understand that 'the Jewish community will take this out on Obama on election day if he does nothing,' according to prosecutors.

When Congress took up a resolution to criticize Yanukovych, Manafort 'engaged in an all-out campaign to try to kill or delay the passage of this resolution,' according to prosecutors. He directed lobbyists to have a senator place a 'hold' on the legislation, but they didn't reveal they were working for Ukraine.

Manafort used funds stashed in Cyprus to buy a $2.9 million Soho condo, charging thousands per week on Airbnb

He described a 2013 'lunch with congressman Ed Royce,' who is the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and pronounced him 'very sympathetic to our views and possibly willing to help.'

He met with Rep. Robert Aderholt, who according to Manafort was 'minimally interested in Tymoshenko but understood the Russia problem' an was 'very concerned about Russian tactics on natural gas supply.'

The lobbying and organization bore million in payments  but Manafort tried to shield the money. He set up a web of offshore accounts.

In just one instance, he used funds stashed in Cyprus to buy a $2.9 million Soho condo, charging thousands per week on Airbnb. It is one of the properties the government is forcing him to relinquish under the terms of his guilty plea.

He paid $3 million in cash from Cyprus to buy a Brooklyn brownstone.

Manafort cheated the government out of $15 million in taxes, he admitted.

Government charging documents lay out the elaborate plan by Manafort to assist Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, pictured here with Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Manafort also directed efforts to discredit Yanukovich's political rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed after political rival took power

He disguised as 'loans' more than $13 million from entities in Cyprus, according to the government's criminal information. He used a $1.5 million 'loan' to buy a property on Howard Street in Soho, avoiding having to declare it as income.

It was one of multiple loans that were 'shams designed to reduce fraudulently Manafort's reported taxable income.'

He took steps to make his Ukraine lobbying 'as secret as possible.'

The array of Manafort schemes are revealed in a new government charging document released before his guilty plea

An employee whose firm was engaged by Manafort in one email referred to the Centre as the 'European hot dog stand for Modern Ukraine

Manafort undertook a bizarre scheme to have 'Obama jews' pressure the administration to spread stories to make Yanukovich's political rival look bad. He coordinated with a senior Israeli government official to push the story

In 2013, he directed lobbyists to 'write and disseminate within the United States news stories that alleged that Tymoshenko had paid for the murder of a Ukrainian official.

He stated that it should be pushed with 'no fingerprints.'

He emphasized: 'It is very important to have no connection.' A lobbyist objected but persons 'D1 and D2' ultimately complied. He didn't disclose the lobbying.

Manafort 'knew it was illegal' to lobby the government without registering, knew he was lobbying for Ukraine, 'intentionally' led a multi-million lobby campaign without registering, and took steps to keep it 'as secret as possible,' according to the guilty plea he signed.

The Manafort-directed effort 'lobbied dozens of Members of Congress, their staff, and White House and State Department officials about Ukraine sanctions, the validity of Ukraine elections, and the propriety of President Yanukovychs imprisoning Tymoshenko, his presidential rival,' according to the criminal information.
Sarah, a white English girl, was raped by her new husband within minutes of marriage and forced to wear a hijab to hide the bruising where she had been beaten

Sarah's haunted face stares out under a red Islamic head-dress in her wedding photo. Beside her, guests eat cake while celebrating the marriage, conducted by the local mosque's imam at a terraced house in the Home Counties.

Yet Sarah is not a willing bride. She is being made to marry a member of the gang that effectively forced her into sex slavery after abducting her in a Tesco car park in the English suburbs one autumn afternoon. Her captivity lasted for 12 long years.

Within minutes of her wedding picture being taken, the white English girl was pushed upstairs into a bedroom and raped by her new husband, a man she had set eyes on for the first time only half an hour earlier.

It was just one of the unimaginable torments Sarah endured after she was kidnapped as a shy 15-year-old. She had never had a boyfriend. She was studying at college, hoping to train as a midwife.

Sarah's story is described by House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Caroline Cox, who has taken up her case, as the most serious example of sex grooming yet to emerge in this country.

'I know Sarah and her family,' explains Baroness Cox. 'Every sex grooming case is terrible. But the length and cruelty of her abduction make it the worst I have known.'

Sarah's abuse went on while her distraught family's pleas for help were, they insist, ignored by a police force that refused even to list her as missing.

Her family were forced to keep up the search for her on their own after she failed to return from Tesco.

'The police kept saying leave it a few days, she'll come back,' says her mother Janet today. 'But she never did.'

Sarah was snatched five years before the scandal of sexual abuse of young white girls by street grooming gangs was first revealed in 2010, after investigations by the Daily Mail and later by the Government.

The all-pervading culture of political correctness at the time of her abduction meant the gangs, often of Pakistani-British heritage, were ignored by police forces that were terrified of being called racist if they pursued them.

This is the appalling background against which Sarah's abduction took place, as her parents battled desperately to find her.

The kidnap gang were ruthless and bent on making Sarah utterly dependent on them. They hid her in various houses and cut off her contact with the outside world by refusing her a mobile phone or computer. She was raped, beaten and made to swallow strong sedatives every day to make her docile.

During her ordeal she had eight abortions, five of them overseen by the same doctor at an NHS hospital and others in illegal backstreet clinics.

She was made to learn the Koran in Arabic and allowed to speak only in the Pakistani languages of Urdu and Punjabi.

Why did no one do anything? The unfathomable failure to act in cases such as Sarah's was once commonplace  as a Whitehall-commissioned independent review published in July spells out. The review investigated the police's and the Home Office's lamentable reaction to sex grooming in the late 1990s and well into the 2000s. It told of a teenager called H, who was one of 1,500 girls abused by sex groomers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. H's mother told the police her child was in the clutches of a gang, only to be instructed to 'go and get your daughter yourself if you know where she is. It is not the role of the police to run around after 14-year-olds'. Time and again, while reporting on grooming gangs and their victims for more than a decade, I have encountered the same thing: parents regarded by police as hysterical time wasters, while their daughters were dismissed as 'silly girls' who had 'asked for it'. Incredible as it seems, some brave mothers who went to gangs' houses to try to rescue their children were even threatened by police with harassment offences, according to this review. The fact is, the widespread culture of political correctness meant the authorities were deeply afraid of being accused of racism if they went after Asian sex-grooming gangs. Their reluctance to act led to the nationwide scandal of grooming being kept from the general public. Many of the cases recently brought to court  cases that finally resulted in convictions of gang members  have involved girls who were abused up to two decades ago, and whose families' cries for help were conveniently ignored for years. When we asked the police force involved in Sarah's case why they took so long to act, they replied: 'Our understanding of and approach to issues such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery has evolved and improved over the past decade, as is the case with police forces up and down the country. 'We have had major success stories in recent years in these areas, securing lengthy prison sentences for those perpetrating such crimes and establishing specialist support services to help victims. 'Officers are far more aware of issues around vulnerability, while we also have specialist, dedicated resources to deal with such cases, including historic ones. 'Victims of these crimes should have every confidence in our force's ability to tackle criminal exploitation and bring those responsible to justice.' Advertisement

Forced to wear Islamic robes with a head-covering hijab, she had to cook, clean and iron for hours every day.

It was only last year that Sarah, at the age of 26, finally escaped the gang's clutches. 'Ever since I was a young teenager, I have known nothing other than life under the gang's control,' Sarah told me this week, in her first harrowing interview from the secret house where police and social services placed her last year to hide her from her tormentors.

In her years of captivity, she says, she fell victim to Stockholm syndrome, where a prisoner forms an emotional attachment to a captor, believing they must co-operate in order to survive. She became particularly attached to the gang leader, whom we will call Jerry.

She explains: 'I began to think that Jerry loved me because he kept telling me so. He said my parents didn't care for me because English families don't look after their girls like Pakistani Muslim ones.

'I soon felt I couldn't breathe without him. My mind was being twisted. I was dependent on him for food, for clothing, for a roof over my head. He said my family would be killed if I tried to tell them where I was or what was happening to me.'

Sarah's horrific story began in the autumn of 2005. She is the youngest of four children, her father is a builder and her mother a housewife. For legal reasons and her own safety, we cannot use her real name or identify where she was kidnapped, held, or where she lives now.

After college one afternoon she walked to a Tesco food store a few minutes from her house. Her mobile phone rang and she answered. A man's voice said in a Northern accent that he was watching her and had something for her. Would she go over to a black car in the store's car park?

Sarah, to her eternal regret, went naively to the passenger door.

'A man in his mid-30s opened it and in the same Northern accent told me to get in. So I sat in the front seat to hear what he wanted to give me. He instantly drove me away,' she says.

She thinks Jerry found her number after spotting her a few days earlier when she took a minicab with her brother to get a takeaway burger. She had noticed a dark-haired man in a black car staring at her as they got in the minicab with their meal.

Crucially, to book the ride, Sarah had given her number to the minicab firm where friends of Jerry's worked. The gang leader, she assumes, then got hold of it.

In the car with Jerry speeding off, she began to panic. He put his hand on hers and said he would look after her. Sarah was trembling and told him her family would be frantic. It was to no avail.

After half an hour they reached a house next to an industrial estate, where he asked for her mobile phone, taking out the sim card and snapping it in two.

'He took me inside and I saw a lot of Pakistani men in an open-plan room. Jerry led me past them up the stairs to a tiny boxroom with a bed and the curtains taped up,' she says. 'Then he left, closing the door.'

For the first 24 hours she was alone apart from a few visits from Jerry, who brought her bottled water and some curry, which she ate with her fingers.

'I could hear voices in the open-plan room below me. I now know these men were all friends and relations of Jerry and part of his gang that dealt in drugs.'

It was on the second night that Jerry first raped her.

'I was pulling back from him and I was scared,' she remembers. 'I felt angry, dirty and disgusted after he had finished.'

Sarah was an unwilling bride to two husbands who raped her at separate times in her life

As Jerry assaulted Sarah, he told her he had saved her from the gutter where white girls with low morals like her belonged. It was the same mantra that sex gangs tell all the girls they target, as numerous court hearings up and down Britain have revealed.

After seven days in the small upstairs room, she heard a commotion at the front door. She recognised the voice of her brother, who had been searching for her.

It later transpired that he had tracked her after going back to the minicab firm, where staff pointed him towards Jerry's house in a network of streets largely inhabited by Pakistanis.

The brother banged on the door and when it opened, he went in shouting: 'Have you got my sister?'

In the chaos that followed, Sarah's brother was thrown out by Jerry, who refused to let him upstairs, saying it was private.

Such was the fear of the gang locally, says Sarah, that neighbours didn't try to help her brother  and she was too frightened to cry out because the gang had said they would harm her family if she told them where she was.

'I didn't dare shout because I didn't want my brother to get hurt,' she admits now.

A recent Sky TV investigation revealed how sex grooming victims were silenced in this way in one British town  Telford, Shropshire  where gangs have been convicted of systematically abusing girls and threatening to harm their families if they sound the alarm.

The programme interviewed one girl who was raped with a gun to her head by a gang member. The victim  who told Sky she had been raped by 100 different men  told the programme: 'They said they would blow my house up and kill my mum and dad if I told anyone, even rape my mum, too.'

After her brother's visit, Sarah's parents told the police about the house where they suspected Sarah was being held captive. But nothing happened.

In any case, Sarah's abductors were one step ahead. 'The day after my brother came, Jerry said we were moving out,' she remembers. 'The police hadn't come to find me and I was taken to another house.'

There, Sarah was given Islamic robes and a hijab to wear. She was again left in a bare room upstairs. The Western clothes, jeans and a T-shirt, that she had worn to go to Tesco were taken away.

For three hours each morning she had to cook curries, clean and iron for the gang. If she didn't, she was beaten.

She was allowed out of the house occasionally with two of Jerry's sons to go to the local supermarket. 'I had to wear the hijab, partly because the gang ordered me to and partly to hide the bruising to my face and head where I had been beaten.'

Meanwhile, Sarah's mother Janet was continuing her frantic search. 'Her dad and I had been looking for her for two months by this time,' she tells me.

'We had put up missing posters, never stopping. Finally, a friend said he thought he'd seen her in a Pakistani area. We went there every day, showing her photo to people in shops and on the streets.'

After college one afternoon she walked to a Tesco food store a few minutes from her house where she was abducted (stock)

During this relentless hunt, there was an agonising near miss. Jerry's sons and Sarah were in the supermarket when she saw her mother, who was looking for her in the area.

Instinctively, Sarah ran over and hugged her mother. 'Mum asked me who the young boys were,' recalls Sarah. 'I said they were the sons of the man who had taken me away months before.'

But the startled boys quickly hustled Sarah away from her mother, who kept shouting to her: 'Are you in trouble?'

Janet continues: 'When I saw her in the supermarket I couldn't believe it. She was in Islamic dress. I saw from her eyes she was terrified. She begged me not to say anything. She was panicking and obviously scared of the gang we now know was holding her.

'She was scurried off by the boys. But my husband and I followed them at a distance and carefully watched the direction they went.'

Seconds later a black vehicle with Sarah inside and an Asian man at the wheel screeched past them as they stood in the street.

'We saw a flash of blonde hair under a scarf but that was all. We had lost her. We were heartbroken,' says Janet. She reported what had happened to the police, only to be brushed aside again.

What had happened was that Jerry's sons had taken Sarah back to the house and told Jerry her mother was near by.

'He was furious. He ordered me to get into his car,' recalls Sarah. 'He smashed my head against the dashboard and windows, which became splattered with my blood.' Then he drove her quickly to yet another house, in a different town.

In her new home, she was prevented from going out.

One day, out of the blue, Jerry told her he had married her. 'I hadn't been to any ceremony but he showed me the Islamic wedding certificate signed by an imam at the local mosque,' she says. 'I now think this marriage was to make the police believe I was a willing wife if they ever found me.'

Bewildered  she was being given 20mg of Valium each morning to stupefy her Sarah continued her life of hell, regularly being abused and raped.

Inevitably, she fell pregnant. 'After one termination I was fitted with a coil, but Jerry made me go back to the hospital with him and have it removed because he said he could 'feel it' when he raped me,' she says.

'I wasn't allowed to speak to doctors at medical appointments. I had to walk 5ft behind him, keep my head down and wear a hijab. He said I was his girlfriend.'

As if this were not horrific enough, the first abortion didn't work. The five-month-old foetus survived the drugs given to Sarah on a Sunday afternoon in a side room at an NHS hospital.

'I was in labour for nearly 24 hours,' she says, with tears welling. 'I was begging for help. One nurse ran from the room and said she couldn't take it any more.'

On the Monday morning, she was taken for a scan and the baby was still alive.

'I was rushed to the operating theatre, where they surgically carried out the abortion,' she says. 'I don't know if I was carrying a boy or a girl and I hope one day the NHS will tell me, as I cannot forget that child.'

How could all this happen to an underage girl in the modern NHS? Perhaps because Jerry was so intimidating or because the gang network had its tentacles everywhere.

Whatever the case, the rapes and abortions continued.

One day, Jerry announced their marriage was over. Under Islamic rules, he told Sarah three times that they were divorced.

Then she was suddenly married off to another man. On her 'wedding day' in 2012, nearly seven years after the kidnap, she was lying in her room when two women came in carrying a clear plastic bag.

They took out the red dress and told her to put it on. They tied back her hair, put make-up on her and said she was about to marry.

Sarah was pushed downstairs to the ceremony and clapping guests. It was over in minutes and she was ordered back upstairs  with her new husband. 'The women had put petals on my bed in the Muslim tradition,' she says.

'The strange man began putting his hands all over me. I was so weak I couldn't fight him. He raped me as the wedding party was still going on downstairs.'

This shocking episode was the beginning of the end.

Time and again she had tried to run away down the street, only to be grabbed by Jerry and brought back for a beating. But now she managed to escape.

'When Jerry was asleep upstairs one morning, I found his mobile phone and called for a taxi. I took 20 to pay for it from the pocket of his jeans. When the taxi arrived I was in Islamic clothes. I raced out through the back gate and told the driver, a white man who kept asking if I was all right because I was so pale, to take me to where my brother lived.'

She had grabbed the certificate of marriage to Jerry and the red dress. 'They were the only possessions I had,' she explains.

Sarah thought she was free. But Jerry's gang did not give up.

After Sarah left her brother's house a month later, she moved to a flat in a different part of Britain, away from her family, so they could not be threatened by the gang for protecting her.

Yet the gang leader found her through his extensive network of contacts. The coercion, the beatings, the rapes continued.

Finally, after an especially savage beating, a neighbour called the police to report a domestic violence incident. Sarah was taken to hospital and there started to tell police she was a prisoner, sparking inquiries into her kidnap which continue today, more than three years later.

The gang's response was to offer her 30,000 'hush money'  and when she refused it, they broke into her flat and beat her again.

'That was the point where I knew this had to end,' she says. 'I began to tell the police everything and begged them to protect me.'

The gang still tried to silence her. Sickeningly, she says, at one stage a Muslim officer turned off the tape recorder during an interview with her and told her to drop allegations against one of her attackers 'because of lack of evidence'.

She was so frightened, she did so. 'The police officer came from the same community as the gang and has since been imprisoned for child sex crimes himself,' she says now.

And today? Sarah's case is in limbo as police try to gather sufficient evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges against the gang. Baroness Cox has put Sarah in touch with lawyers from the Christian Legal Centre, and she is getting advice from the organisation Mothers Against Radical Islam and Sharia.

Yet unbelievably, Sarah says she has still not totally escaped the gang.

Last week, she tells me, she received a call from Jerry. He had discovered her number but, thankfully, not her secret address.

'Hello white trash,' said the gang leader menacingly, before cutting off the call.
Midday in a busy Hertfordshire town and on a bustling street corner a young girl sits weeping on the pavement, cowering as another girl, bigger and older, pulls her hair, slaps, hits and kicks her.

The full, deeply distressing, assault is captured on a smartphone. Not by chance, but on purpose. The teenage accomplice behind the camera laughs as he films it.

Hours later, the victim  12-year-old Riley-Grace Slater  returned to her home in North London. Her mother Lisa Marie Smith was horrified: I thought she had been raped. All her clothes were messed up, she was in a terrible state, she said this week. And the ordeal didnt end there.

Brazen: Footage posted on social media of a viscous attack on 12-year-old Riley-Grace Slater

A friend forwarded the video of the attack to Riley-Grace, said Ms Smith, 44. Within minutes it was being circulated on social media. She was in tears saying, they are laughing at me, I look ridiculous. Im on the ground and I didnt fight back. Not only had they physically and emotionally hurt her, but then they had attempted to humiliate her on social media.

Its hard to comprehend why anyone would behave in such a way.

The viciousness of the attack aside, by publicising her crime in the way she did, the perpetrator hugely increased her chances of being caught by the police.

But, then, maybe she didnt care. In a world where success is measured by likes and views on social media, today notoriety for something  anything  is better than nothing. And, maybe, also, she wasnt worried about what would happen to her if she was identified. If that was the case, she wasnt far wrong.

Because when police interviewed her about the assault in Borehamwood earlier this month, they decided that she had shown sufficient remorse to be given a caution and a community resolution order. The terms of that order simply required her to write a letter of apology to her victim.

Given the severity of the attack, and its subsequent distribution online, some will doubtless find that hard to believe.

But, in many ways, it explains why a new generation of criminals not only commit crime, but then flaunt their scalps as trophies on the internet for everyone to see.

This masked man amassed more than 16,000 followers in a week after filming himself stealing from a supermarket

Whether it is schoolgirl bullies beating up younger children and posting the footage on Snapchat, thieves amassing thousands of followers on Instagram, or gangs sharing pictures of bloody turf wars on YouTube, social media is now awash with images of crime.

Victims and police appear powerless to stop it  reduced to pleading with the tech giants to remove the footage when it appears.

The fear among experts now is that the urge to record and share crimes on social media is actually fuelling and changing the nature of crime itself. Viewers are desensitised and assaults become more vicious just to look good on film. Indeed there are growing calls for sentences to properly reflect the added impact such activity has on its victims.

In the case of Riley-Grace, police in part based their kid-glove treatment of her attacker on the fact that the victim suffered no serious, long-term injuries. But, as her mother points out, that ignores the fact that what happened to her could re-surface on the internet at any time and is now effectively hanging over her head for ever.

Since it happened, Ive heard from lots of people who have suffered in a similar way, Ms Smith, who runs her own commercial cleaning company, told the Mail. It needs to be taken seriously  it needs to be stopped.

Of course, attention-seeking criminals have always existed  be they terrorists or protesters. But, today, growing numbers of ordinary criminals seek to publicise what they have done online.

Raymond Surette, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida, has studied the growing phenomenon of so-called performance crime.

Whereas crime traditionally was comprised of low visibility events in which the actors strove to hide their identities, in the new media world surreptitious crime competes with a growing number of high-visibility crimes, he says.

A stolen 1951 Triumph Thunderbird worth 10,000 is filmed being set on fire while a youth in a tracksuit and motorcycle helmet looked on

While Professor Surette says it is hard to rule out stupidity in some cases, other explanations include increasing their status among their peers, the search for local and even national notoriety, and an underestimation of the risks of getting caught.

He also points to the fact that when celebrities today fall foul of the law, it rarely damages their career  and in some cases actually enhances it. Take the case of Jeremy Meeks. Dubbed the hot felon after his mugshot went viral on social media, he went on to launch a modelling career and is now engaged to Chloe Green, daughter of multi-millionaire retail tycoon Philip Green.

Such positive outcomes not only change attitudes to crime, but encourage others to copy.

Look at some of the videos that are shared and you will see people treating other humans horribly, enjoying themselves, and not making any effort to hide their identities, says Professor Surette.

This can only happen if they feel that what theyre doing is going out to an accepting, supportive audience and that there will be no negative consequences but only positive ones.

For non-celebrities, especially the young who have no real prospects for fame and success through the regular social channels, if youre going to be a loser you might as well be a well-known loser.

That notoriety can be achieved in this way was highlighted earlier this summer by the activities of a particularly brazen thief on Instagram. In July the masked man amassed more than 16,000 followers in a week filming himself apparently carrying out a burglary and then stealing from a supermarket and a KFC.

In one clip he can be seen breaking into a house using a knife to force open a window, climbing inside and then leaving with a television. His friend filming the footage can be heard saying: Mad ting! He got a TV you know! In another clip he runs into an Iceland supermarket and steals a case of drinks. In a third he enters a fast-food outlet where he steals a customers food and runs away, with a man in hot pursuit.

Not content with that the individual, who went by the name @no.face.ryo and whose motto is no face, no case, even invited those following him to suggest where he rob next.

One suggested he target a Subway restaurant and another that he shoplift from Homebase. The account has now been disabled but its not known whether he carried out these crimes or has been caught.

Sveinung Sandberg, a professor at the department of criminology at the University of Oslo, has also identified a number of reasons why criminals film their crimes.

First, some pictures and films are inspired by the rise of amateur and rape pornography and are recorded to produce such images, he said. Second, some recordings are made to further humiliate the victim in what is a new online culture of humiliation.

Third, as part of a new snapshot culture, pictures and films are recorded on impulse when something extraordinary is happening. The instinct to document when something extraordinary is happening is not new  but what is new is that today we always have a camera available. And that changes a lot.

Another video showed a shameless burglar breaking into a house in broad daylight

A recent court case highlights just that. In July self-confessed Snapchat addict Fatima Khan, 20, was found guilty of arranging the killing of her boyfriend Khalid Safi.

A key piece of evidence was the video she posted of him online dying in a pool of blood. She had added the caption: This is what happens when you f*** with me.

During the trial Khans own barrister described her as a Snapchat queen. He told the court: I dont say that to make light of it. Shes another example of youngsters who seem to live their life through the prism of Snapchat. Its a product of a mobile telephone driven obsession. Its not healthy.

Professor Sandberg also believes that the desire to share imagery online and the ability to post anything and everything is actually causing crimes to be carried out and changing the way that they are committed.

The film element can make violence or assaults more serious than they would have been otherwise to make good films, he says. So it might have started out as a regular attack, but then when filming starts it creates a more destructive dynamic.

In recent months, real concern has been voiced by police in London about the role social media has played in fanning the flames of gang warfare in the capital.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick believes websites and mobile phone applications are partially to blame for the bloodshed.

The fuel for this epidemic of violence, she says, is aggressive communication on social media sites such as Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram  as well as a flood of horrifying YouTube videos showing stabbings, violence and inter-gang mockery.

Concern has also focused on the widespread sharing of homemade gangster rap videos, known as drill videos. Made by the gangs, these serve to threaten rivals, as well as glamorising their crimes.

The commissioner has also told how trivial disputes quickly escalate as impressionable youngsters are goaded to seek violent revenge to keep face or gain street cred.

In 2016 Leoandro Osemeke, a 16-year-old rapper known as Showkey, was stabbed to death at a party in Peckham, South London.

This week, footage of the moment he collapsed on the floor was still available to watch on YouTube. Posted more than a year ago, the distressing footage had been viewed 24,000 times. And while the video is bad enough, the comments section below provides a forum for claim, counter-claim, provocation and further threats. When this newspaper contacted YouTube and asked why such content was allowed on the platform they immediately removed the video, stating that it violated their policy on graphic violence.

A spokesperson said: We have developed policies specifically to help tackle videos related to knife crime in the UK and are continuing to work constructively with experts on this issue.

Other platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat all claim they have a zero-tolerance policy towards content that bullies, threatens, harasses or intimidates, and work to remove explicit material.

But the fear is that reacting to this content after it has been posted is not good enough  it should not be available in the first place.

Such sentiments will chime with motorcycle enthusiasts in Bristol targeted by a gang of thieves. Not only does the so-called Bristol Bike Taker gang boast about their thefts on Instagram by posting images of the stolen bikes, they have even used the site to try to extort money from their victims.

In February a 1951 Triumph Thunderbird worth 10,000 was stolen from a garage in Clifton. Bragging about being in possession of the bike on Instagram, the gang threatened to torch it unless the owner paid them 1,000.

A day after issuing the ransom, the bike was filmed being set on fire while a youth in a tracksuit and motorcycle helmet looked on.

To add insult to injury, the gang then tagged the owner, who was alerted to the theft on social media, in the comments section.

In April, Finlay Thompson also fell foul of the gang when his customised vintage Honda was stolen and then flaunted on Instagram.

It was pictured with the caption Anyone want this scrap?

In response to the thefts police have launched an operation to target the gang. An Avon and Somerset force spokesman said criticism about them not moving to close down the gangs social media accounts was unfair. Instagram actually provided us with valuable intelligence, he said.

Catching criminals who share footage of their crimes in this way will no doubt act as a deterrent. But so too will tougher action by the law. The sharing of sexually explicit footage when done without the subjects consent and with the intention to cause distress  revenge porn  is now an offence.

But with other crimes police and prosecutors are having to make do with existing legislation.

Police in London recently announced that gang members suspected of inciting violent feuds on social media would from now on be treated like terror suspects.

Currently, officers have to prove that videos and social media posts are directly linked to individual acts of violence to secure a conviction for incitement.

But the Terrorism Act allows suspects to be convicted even if videos or posts are not linked to specific violent acts.

Meanwhile, although sentencing guidelines for offences of assault dont list the recording of footage as a specific aggravating factor, it can be deemed by the courts to have increased both the harm caused and the culpability of the offender.

Those who take and share footage while committing a crime to humiliate their victims face harsher sentences, including more time behind bars, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice.

Little consolation, one imagines, for victims like Riley-Grace. Because while the 12-year-olds bruises are already fading, the knowledge that the footage of her attack still exists will remain with her for ever.
A newly released search warrant claims the Dallas cop was trying to open the door with a set of keys when he confronted her and she shot him, a bombshell revelation which significantly undermines her claim she found him sitting inside in the dark.

The report was obtained by DailyMail.com on Friday. It explains why police wanted to search Jean's apartment after his killing for evidence which may inform the Guyger's case.

It says police officer Amber Guyger, 30, did not arrive at Both Jean's apartment to find the door ajar but rather was trying to unlock it with her set of keys when she appeared there last Thursday after a shift.

She 'was attempting to enter apartment 1478, with a set of keys', the officer who wrote the report said, when Botham confronted her at the door.

The report reads: 'During this incident, an off-duty Dallas Police Officer who was wearing a full Dallas Police uniform, was attempting to enter apartment number 1478, with a set of keys.

'An unknown male, inside the apartment, confronted the officer at the door. A neighbor stated that he heard an exchange of words, immediately followed by at least two gunshots.

'The officer possibly believed the subject was an intruder, drew her service weapon and fired at the subject, striking him in the chest.'

Neighbors then heard a brief exchange of words and then gunshots.

Scroll down for video

The report says Amber Guyger, 30, did not arrive at Both Jean's apartment to find the door ajar but rather was trying to unlock it with her set of keys when she appeared there last Thursday after a shift

Guyger, who was arrested on a manslaughter charge three days after the killing, told police she got to the apartment to find the door ajar.

In her arrest affidavit, Texas Rangers write: 'Guyger walked down the fourth floor hallway to what she thought was her apartment.

Botham's family say the cop should also have known that it wasn't her apartment because of his red doormat (above)

'She inserted a unique door key, with an electronic chip, into the door key hole. The door, which was slightly ajar prior to the Guyger's arrival, fully opened under the force of the key insertion.

'Upon the door being opened, Guyger observed that the apartment's interior was nearly completely dark. Additionally, the door being opened alerted Complainant Jean to Guyger's presence.

'Believing she had encountered a burglar, which was described as a large silhouette, across the room in her apartment; Guyger drew her firearm, gave verbal commands that were ignored by Complainant Jean.

'As a result, Guyger fired her handgun two times striking the Complainant one time in the torso. Guyger then entered the apartment and immediately called 911. requesting Police and EMS, and provided first aid to Complainant Jean.

'Due to the interior darkness of the apartment, Guyger turned on the interior lights while on the phone to 911. Upon being asked where she was located by the emergency dispatchers, Guyger returned to the front door to observe the address and discovered she was at the wrong apartment.

'Guyger believed she was in her apartment and confronted by a burglar when she fired her handgun, striking and killing him.'

She said she deduced there was an intruder inside and went in to see Botham's silhouette.

The cop claimed she issued repeated verbal commands, which he ignored, and that she shot him afterwards.

On the couch, a large stack of pillows and blankets are shown in Jean's place

A half-eaten cereal bowl Jean was eating from is shown as well as The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

She claims it was only when she turned the lights on to call 911 that she realized she was in the wrong apartment.

Jean lived in apartment 1478 whereas she lived in 1378.

The layouts are identical but his family have poked holes in her claim that she could have mistaken his apartment for hers because he kept a red doormat in front of his.

Neighbors previously told his family lawyer that before the shots, they heard a woman yelling: 'Let me in, let me in.'

After the shots, they heard a man shouting: 'Oh my God, why did you do that?'

They said those were likely Botham's final words.

The banking associate lived alone in the apartment. He moved to America from St. Lucia to attend college and had won a job at the prestigious PwC firm.

Jean, 26, moved to the US from St Lucia to attend college. His brother has since told how he told him he never walked around with his hands in his pockets because he was afraid of being racially profiled in Texas for being black

Jean's devastated family members cry at his funeral service on Thursday in Dallas

Amber Guyger wipes tears from her eyes as she is booked for manslaughter for the September 6th killing of Botham Jean

His family in the Caribbean say he was terrified of being racially profiled in Texas and never walked around with his hands in his pockets because of it.

Both his family and Guyger say they had never met before Thursday's incident.

Jean's family say he would not have kept his door ajar because it was unsafe, and point out that he had a red doormat at the front of his apartment which would have been impossible for the cop not to spot and realize she was in the wrong place.

'He made sure to let everyone know this.

'They also revealed on Wednesday that Jean, who moved to the US from his native St Lucia in 2011 to attend college, was terrified of being racially profiled as a black man living in Texas.

'He said to me as a black man in Dallas, you don't walk with your hands in your pockets.

'Just so you don't get any profiling,' his teenager brother Brandt told CBS this week.

Jean's mother, Allison, said he would never have sat at home in the dark.

'To hear that his door was open, he would never - and have the lights off - he would never do that.

'He was like me. He does not like the dark.'
Having entered the UK prison system as a transgender woman, the odds were stacked in Karen White's favour from the start.

No matter that aside from donning a padded bra, wig, dress and heels, the 52-year-old was still, anatomically and legally, a male  not to mention a convicted paedophile on remand for GBH and burglary.

For amid the shifting sands of transgender politics, current prison policy recommends a 'flexible approach' towards prisoners.

'Transgender offenders must be asked their view of the part of the prison estate (male or female) that reflects the gender with which they identify,' says Prison Service Instruction 17-2016.

Karen White, 52, was moved to HMP New Hall, a women's prison between Wakefield and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, where, within days of arriving last year, he sexually assaulted four female inmates

Certainly, it didn't take long for prison authorities to move White to HMP New Hall, a women's prison between Wakefield and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire with its own mother-and-baby unit, where, within days of arriving last year, he sexually assaulted four female inmates.

The disastrous decision to move White to a women's prison, which became public last week after he pleaded guilty to the last of several rape charges for offences committed outside prison, is now under intense scrutiny.

White's most recent partner has bravely added her voice to the row.

Speaking exclusively to the Mail this week, she laid bare the extent of the convicted sex offender's manipulation and deceit, uncovering a disturbing and violent past stretching back decades.

She has spoken out on condition of anonymity after suffering violent attacks by White in the past and threats to her life.

Born in July 1966 as Stephen Terence Wood, he was convicted in 2001 for two offences of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child of primary school age, and jailed for 18 months

Her account raises serious questions about how, when his disturbing past was known to prison authorities, White was able to hoodwink officials and get himself transferred to a women's prison.

'If anything, he was an occasional cross-dresser,' reveals the former partner.

'He usually wore men's clothes  jeans and T-shirts  and often didn't shave.

'He showed no interest in transitioning. It confused me. I didn't know whether to say 'him' or 'her' when I spoke to him.'

The woman says White occasionally dressed as a woman, either for nights out at a bar in Huddersfield town centre or if he had meetings with officials in relation to his claims for disability and housing benefits.

While she insists she is not against genuine transgender women prisoners being in female prisons, White, she says, was no such thing.

'There were no appointments at gender identity clinics or anything like that, which is what you would have expected,' she says.

'He didn't take any hormones or medication.

'He was very manipulative and very controlling. He was a liar. He could twist anyone around his finger. I've seen him do it with authority figures. He played the system.

'I got the feeling he was running away from something in his past and that changing his name and identity was part of that.'

A close relative told the Mail this week that White's transgender claims were a lie: 'It's as if he's put on a cloak to disguise himself from what he really is. He's destroyed everybody's life that he's come into contact with.'

Born in July 1966 as Stephen Terence Wood, the son of a Manchester electrician, he was raised by his father after his parents separated when he was a small boy.

He has been estranged from his family for years, ever since they became aware that he had been found guilty of two offences of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

White has always been highly secretive about his past.

He told his latest partner his father was a millionaire but that his childhood was abusive, and said he had worked as a holiday camp entertainer.

White's most recent partner bravely added her voice to the row. Speaking exclusively to the Mail this week she said: 'He was very manipulative and very controlling. He was a liar. He could twist anyone around his finger. I've seen him do it with authority figures. He played the system'

Recent reports suggest he may have worked as a drag artist in Manchester, although he appears to have been a long-term claimant of disability benefit.

And the close relative who spoke to the Mail said he had never held down any job, even though he has an 18-year-old son, who has no contact with him.

Certainly, it seems White could be highly charismatic and flamboyant when he wanted, although he was also quick to anger.

'He could make you laugh,' said his ex-partner this week.

'He knew how to talk to people but he also had a terrible temper and could quickly become violent.'

Most tellingly of all, White's crimes  with a record stretching back at least two decades  were committed as a man.

He was convicted in 2001 for two offences of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child of primary school age, and jailed for 18 months.

He has also committed acts of severe physical violence against another former partner, her daughter and his own son.

A restraining order banned him from contacting his son until he was 18.

At some point, while in prison for those crimes, he changed his name from Stephen Wood to David Thompson.

And in 2003, not long after coming out of prison, he raped a woman  a crime that would go undetected for more than a decade and came to light only when police began investigating White's past after the sexual assaults he committed at New Hall.

The assaults took place between September and November 2017, at New Hall womens prison (pictured) in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Around four years ago, while he was calling himself David Thompson, White moved to the large village of Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire, after securing himself a council flat in a social housing complex.

One of the residents, who is a transgender woman, recalls how White was initially aggressive towards her and 'ruled the block of flats with fear'.

But within a fortnight, he appeared wearing a dress and wig and asked for information about transgender support groups in Manchester.

According to the resident, White was referred to a gender identity clinic in Sheffield but failed to attend three separate appointments: 'Other than wear a wig and put on women's clothing, he made no more effort.'

Meanwhile, however, White used his alleged transgender status to control other residents in the block, threatening to report any who dared to stand up to him for transphobia.

On one occasion he called 999 to report a hate crime when an elderly resident in the housing complex referred to him as 'he' instead of 'she'.

On another, he stabbed an elderly male resident, claiming the pensioner had sexually assaulted him.

But White's arrest for that stabbing and a burglary in 2017 came during a period of heightened sensitivity around transgender issues within UK prisons.

The Ministry of Justice had just updated its policy 'on the care and management of transgender prisoners' after the death of two trans prisoners in male prisons.

Ripping up its previous 2011 policy, the new 60-page policy introduced in January 2017 emphasised the right of prisoners to 'self-identify' and to be treated 'according to the gender in which they identify'.

Previously, prisoners requiring such treatment would have needed a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) or to have had a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

But, citing Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the policy states: 'The primary focus of this policy are offenders who identify as transgender and who have expressed a consistent desire to live permanently in the gender they identify with, which is opposite to the biological sex assigned to them at birth.'

It adds: 'Whilst a GRC is proof of legal gender, the absence of it does not automatically prevent that prisoner being located in the part of the estate consistent with the gender they identify with.'

Yet even so, the policy adds the caveat that 'this will be subject to an assessment of all known risk, security and operational factors'.

Decisions on where to place prisoners such as White are initially taken by a local transgender case board made up of prison managers and psychologists, which must be convened within three days of a prisoner being taken into custody.

Prisoners are allowed to make representations in writing or in person to these boards.

The board considers evidence that the individual has been living in the gender they identify with, and considers any risk factors.

If this board's decision is challenged, a local review board reconsiders the evidence.

Finally, a 'complex case board' can be set up to handle cases involving those at risk of causing harm to themselves or others, and for those aged under 21.

It is believed the decision to place White in a women's prison was made only at the first level, by a local case board.

That board should have taken into account all his previous offending history  but this did not take place in White's case.

It is clear that the Prison Service is under increasing pressure in dealing with what is, according to its own policy document, 'a rapidly developing area of policy'.

Trans campaigners argue that anyone who identifies as female is a woman and must be treated as one.

Anyone who does otherwise is 'transphobic'. In the past, they have dismissed fears that sex offenders may self-identify as female merely to gain access to women's prisons.

The latest figures showed there were 125 transgender prisoners in England and Wales up to the end of March 2017, an increase from 70 in the previous year.

About 25 of those are thought to be in women's jails  and media reports suggest six of them are sex offenders.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said last week that prison managers were making decisions about trans offenders 'in a toxic political environment where some campaigners are pushing very hard on trans rights'.

She added: 'I am asking them to err on the side of caution, as there is emerging evidence that certain men are jumping on the trans bandwagon to access, and harm, very vulnerable women in prison.'

Certainly, given what was known about White's past, it should have been clear that he was not someone who should ever have been allowed around women.

Yet hidden away in the Ministry of Justice's latest prisons policy, PSI 17-2016, is a line that, disturbingly, suggests the same decision could be made again in future.

'Women offenders who present a high risk of harm to other women are managed safely in the female estate.

'Transgender women who present similar risks should be managed in a similar way in the female estate.'

There is precedent for this.

In 2009, a male-to-female transgender prisoner with a Gender Recognition Certificate won the legal right to be transferred to a women's prison even though one of her offences was the attempted rape of a woman.

The Mail understands that the decision to move White back to a male prison was made because the sexual offences he committed against inmates at New Hall were carried out as a man.

Further inquiries by police outside the prison subsequently led to multiple rape charges being made against him.

'We apologise sincerely for the mistakes which were made in this case,' said a Prison Service spokeswoman.

'While we work to manage all prisoners, including those who are transgender, sensitively and in line with the law, we are clear that the safety of all prisoners must be our absolute priority.'

Dr Nicola Williams, from the group Fair Play For Women, says transgender rights are being put before the safeguarding of women prisoners, and that the latest prison policy is open to abuse.

She argues, too, that while the gender identity campaign group was consulted before the latest policy on transgender prisoners was drawn up, no women's rights groups were consulted.

She adds that questions should be asked about whether any male-bodied person should ever be allowed to be fully integrated within a women's prison.

'There is a third option,' she says  'a transgender wing within a male or even a female prison'.

For now, White is being held at HM Prison Leeds, a category B men's prison, where he is awaiting sentencing on October 11.

He has pleaded guilty to stabbing his neighbour and sexual assaults on two inmates at New Hall, as well as a historic rape in 2003 and two counts of raping another woman in 2016.

The rapes were only discovered when West Yorkshire Police began delving into White's past after the assaults he committed while at New Hall.

He denied sexually assaulting two other women in the prison and those allegations have been left to lie on file, along with a further rape allegation against his 2016 victim.

'He's evil,' says the close relative who spoke to the Mail this week.

'To think he is a part of my family really destroys me. He should be locked up for the rest of his life and they should throw away the key.'
An inmate who tried to rape a NYPD officer inside a Brooklyn courthouse on Friday was thwarted by another defendant, according to police sources.

Jeriah Bamugo, 26, was being taken before a judge for arraignment for groping and assault charges, when he attacked the woman. He had been caught twice this week.

The officer tried to transport Bamugo and another inmate from a holding cell into a courtroom at the Schemerhorn Street courthouse at approximately 11.20am, the New York Post reports.

The suspect then allegedly grabbed the officer's neck, pinned her to a wall and snarled 'I'm going to have sex with you.' He is also said to have ripped off the woman's belt while clawing at her pants.

The officer tried to transport Jeriah Bamugo and another inmate from a holding cell into a courtroom at the Schemerhorn Street courthouse, when Bamugo attacked her

The pair fell to the floor but the other inmate quickly stepped in and pushed Bamugo off the woman. Her partner rushed in from the outside area to help the officer.

'She was trying to transport him between cells,' a source with law enforcement said. 'And he threw her to the floor and tried to sexually assault her. Thankfully, he was unsuccessful. Another inmate saved her.'

Another source stated: 'Officers responded within 30 seconds. I saw one guy sprint back into the cells. The inmates immediately started screaming.'

The officer has not been identified but has been placed on modified duty. She did not have a gun her at the time of the assault

'She's a little shaken up but thankfully she's OK,' a source added.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Bamugo had been twice arrested this week.

He was charged with stalking and harassment on Monday but was released on his own recognizance.

The man was detained again on Thursday after he allegedly grabbed a 52-year-old woman's breast at 2.30pm in East Flatbush.

Before fleeing the scene, he is said to have punched the woman in the shoulder.

He was charged with forcible touching and assault as a result.

Bamugo is expected to be charged with attempted rape of an officer, according to police.
Comedian Mark Lamarr has been charged with assaulting and holding prisoner a woman believed to be an ex.

The former Never Mind the Buzzcocks host spent a night in custody after police were alerted to reports of screams in Chiswick, West London.

It is understood that the 51-year-old has been barred from contacting the woman, described as a 'former girlfriend'.

The former Never Mind the Buzzcocks host (pictured, centre, on the comedy quiz) spent a night in custody

Lamarr faces magistrates next month after a neighbour suggested the alleged victim was a former girlfriend

One of his neighbours told The Sun: 'There were screams coming from the house. The next thing police turned up and carted him off in a van.

'Apparently she was a former girlfriend and he would not let her out of the house.'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Lamarr was charged on September 1 with common assault and false imprisonment.

Lamarr (pictured, left, alongside his Shooting Stars co-captain Ulrika Jonsson, far right, as well as Vic Reeves, Matt Lucas and Bob Mortimer) spent a night in the cells

'He was released on conditional bail and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on October 2,' a spokesperson said.

Lamarr, born Mark Jones, found fame hosting The Word in the early 1990s. He captained a quiz team on Shooting Stars in the mid-90s before hosting Buzzcocks for nine years.

His neighbour added that Lamarr keeps a low profile and avoids the limelight. He told the paper that the comedian is 'always pleasant enough.'
Donald Trump's claim that there was a low death toll from Hurricane Maria is the most high-profile intervention in a long-running controversy.

The hurricane hit on September 20, 2017. On October 4, Trump went to the island and said there were six certified deaths related to the hurricane, then said '16 people' had died, citing that as evidence that it was not a catastrophe on the scale of Katrina.

Later that same day, after he left the government of Puerto Rico revised the figure of deaths to 34 - and for the first time specified how they had died.

Governor Ricardo Rosello said 20 deaths resulted directly from the storm, including drownings and those killed in mudslides.

The total of 34 also includes sick and elderly who died in the aftermath of the hurricane, including some who died because oxygen could not be delivered amid power outages. There were also two suicides. That is the only breakdown ever given which showed how the island's government was working out a death toll. None of the dead were named.

In charge: Trump visited the island in October and said either six or 16 people had died; later that day governor Ricardo Rossello said it was 34. Now it is officially 2,975

But the idea of including the sick and elderly and suicides is in line with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines on how to count deaths after a natural disaster.

They tell authorities to record deaths in two forms: directly related disaster death; and indirectly related disaster death.

The CDC say: 'A directly related death is defined as a death directly attributable to the forces of the disaster or by the direct consequences of these forces, such as structural collapse, flying debris, or radiation exposure (

'An indirectly related disaster death occurs when the unsafe or unhealthy conditions present during any phase of the disaster (i.e., pre-event or preparations, during the actual occurrence, or post-event during cleanup after a disaster) contribute to a death.'

That means that if someone is on life support and dies when it switches off because of a power cut, they are to be recorded as a disaster death. But someone who dies while on life support because of heart failure would not be.

Equally someone who dies in a car crash on a mud-covered road would be a disaster death. But someone who dies on the same road in a car crash after it is cleaned up would not be.

In November CNN reporters asked 112 funeral homes for an estimate of deaths related to the hurricane - and came up with 499. They only reached half the island's funeral homes.

By December, the official death toll was stated as just 64, with no breakdown of how that total was reached, but with names made public.

That total remained unchanged for months, with the governor saying it was calculated using the Centers for Disease Controls protocols for recording deaths.

Disaster: Maria Martinez stands next to her house in Yabucoa in eastern Puerto Rico. How many of her fellow islanders died is now a political row

But in February this year CNN and Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism filed lawsuits demanding the island government release death certificates and related data - a demand the government fought for months, at taxpayer expense.

Among their claims was that the dead should have privacy.

In June the government lost and released data which showed that between September and December, compared to the previous four years, there were 1,427 deaths above the average - a huge increase in the death toll.

The government said it would wait for a study it had commissioned by George Washington University to decide on an official death toll revision.

But it did use the figure of 1,427 in a draft funding request to Congress in August.

At the end of August George Washington University published its report which put the number of deaths at 2,975 - not on the basis of counting bodies, or death certificates, but a statistical model of how many people would normally be expected to die versus how many people actually died.

The model had to also take into account how many people fled the island, for which there were no official figures, to come to the 'excess death' total.

That means that its scientists did not definitively link 2,975 people's deaths to the hurricane by examining their death certificates and looking for a cause of death like 'drowning', 'impact of falling trees', or 'life support switched off during power failure'.

But the study did look at what happened with death certificates and was scathing.

Doctors and forensic physicians, who sign death certificates, said they did not receive official guidance from the Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Register (PSVSR) on how to record deaths 'during, or in conditions created by, a disaster'.

'According to PSVSR personnel, a very small number of those completing death certificates did relate the deaths to the hurricane,' the study warned.

'Most other certificates lacked such information. This reduced the number of death certificates that indicated a relationship with the hurricane.'

Put simply, that means it was impossible for the academics to know how many people the hurricane really did kill - which is why the Georgetown academics turned to their statistical model.

That model is accepted by FEMA and Trump's own government agency accepted the estimate.

And there is another way of calculating the death toll: how many dead people's families have asked FEMA for assistance with funeral and burial expenses.

An official revealed to CNN earlier this month that it has paid families of 247 people so far, has 2,350 cases 'in various phases of review and processing' and has rejected 420 applications.

But just 11 rejections were because they were not related to the hurricane - 369 were because they had been unable to contact the person who filed the application.

And that FEMA figure does not include people who have not asked it for assistance.

FEMA does not simply go by death certificates, but asks for further evidence to make sure that the deaths meet the CDC definition of being disaster related, either directly or indirectly.

That means that far from being a Democratic plot, his own government agency, run by a Republican appointee, has already concluded that the death toll is 247 - not the six to 18 he suggested - and could go up by another 2,350.
Every year the world's best surfers descend on Cornwall for the Boardmasters music, skating and surfing festival.

Alongside the music, Boardmasters hosts the World Surf League, which sees more than 200 world-class pro surfers from 25 countries head to Fistral Beach.

Set atop the cliffs overlooking the breathtaking Watergate Bay, it is Europe's largest surf and skate festival.

Born in 1981, the event now sees around 150,000 revellers flocking to the west coast every year. Acts in recent years have included Ed Sheeran, Chase and Status, Craig David and Jamiroquai.

But such high visitor numbers lead to one thing - waste and rubbish. So organisers have worked closely to turn the tide on plastic and help the environment with the event's 'sustainable and environmental strategies'.

Boardmasters partners with Surfers Against Sewage encouraging revellers to join beach cleans to the mammoth post-festival clean up operation.

It has also banned plastic straws and implemented a cup deposit scheme.

More than 60 of the UKs biggest music festivals pledged to ban the use of plastic straws at their events over the summer in a campaign organised by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).

The group of independent festivals, including the likes of Bestival, Boomtown Fair and Shambala, have also committed to eliminate all single-use plastic by 2021.

For more details go to Boardmasters

For information about the festival's sustainability pledge, click here
Apple has launched pre-sales for its hotly-anticipated new flagship smartphones.

The 999 ($999) iPhone XS and 1,099 ($1,099) XS Max are now battling it out to be crowned Apple's fastest selling smartphone of all time.

Last year's iPhone X pre-orders were snapped up in under an hour by Apple fans, with those who missed the window forced to wait until December for a re-stock.

Pre-orders kick-started at 8:01am BST (3:01am ET) on Apple.com/UK and on the Apple Store iOS app.

The most expensive iPhone of all time - the 1,449 512GB XS Max - sold out in its space grey and gold finishes in under half an hour.

Customers looking to buy the phone have been told they must wait up to three weeks for Apple's next batch to arrive.

At the time of writing it is still available in space grey - though the option is expected to sell out in minutes.

The phone is flying off the shelves despite people mocking its eye-watering price this week, with social media users joking that Apple should have named its new flagship handsets the 'excess' and 'excess Max.'

The iPhone XR, Apple's new 'budget' handset priced at $749 (749), will not be available for pre-order until October.

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Customers have been snapping up the iPhone XS and XS Max (pictured) since pre-orders kick-started at 8:01am BST (3:01am ET) on Apple.com/UK and on the Apple Store iOS app

HOW TO ORDER THE NEW IPHONES The iPhone XS and XS Max are available to pre-order from September 14 at 8.01am BST (3:01am ET). They can only be purchased on Apple.com/UK and the iOS app. Customers are first shown a screen that reads 'we're preparing something new' before they are taken to the pre-orders page. Keep hitting the refresh button until pre-sale models go up, then fill in your details. Traditionally, the Apple Store app comes back online ahead of the website  meaning pre-orders are often available ahead of those waiting for the website to refresh. Advertisement

To get your hands on an iPhone XS or XS Max, head to Apple.com/UK or the Apple Store iOS app.

Keep hitting the refresh button until pre-sale models go up, then choose your preferred colour, storage capacity, and fill in your personal details.

Traditionally, the Apple Store app comes back online ahead of the website  meaning pre-orders are often available ahead of those waiting for the website to refresh.

Pre-orders are dye to ship on September 21 in select markets, including the US and UK, with more locations added starting September 28th.

Each phone is available in gold, silver and space grey.

The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR were all announced at a huge Apple event at the company's headquarters in California on Tuesday.

The tech giant announced its biggest and most expensive iPhone yet with the 6.5-inch XS Max, which features a Super Retina display.

It can store up to 512 gigabytes of data, pushing its price tag up from a base price of 1,099 ($1,099) to 1,499 ($1,499) for users who need the space.

As if that wasn't enough, Apple also took the wraps off of the $999 5.8-inch iPhone XS, a device that CEO Tim Cook said is 'by far the most advanced iPhone we have ever created.'

Like their predecessor, the iPhone X, the name is intended to be pronounced as the number 10. But, people are already reading it as X, and that's likely to catch on.

As a result, many have pointed out that it sounds much like 'excess' and 'excess Max.'

On Twitter, Apple fans are simultaneously hailing the sleek new products and dragging the company for its name choice.

Apple has launched pre-sales for its hotly-anticipated new flagship smartphones. The most expensive iPhone of all time - the 1,449 512GB XS Max (right) - sold out in its silver and gold finishes in under half an hour

'The iPhone Xs Max price reflects the name...,' Twitter user @juhasaarinen wrote.

'Apple's new phone's name is iphone XS which like every other iphone would be EXCESSively overpriced,' @Bhavessshh tweeted.

'Did they really name the new iPhone the "excess'?" XS? Is this an SNL skit?' another user commented.

Others found the company's lack of creativity to be a bigger issue, with many simply calling the new names 'dumb' and 'lazy.'

The $999 (999) iPhone XS (right) and $1,099 (1,099) XS Max (left) are battling it out to be crowned Apple's fastest selling smartphone

'These phones really look wonderful, but 'iPhone XS Max' is the worst product name Apple has come up with in this century,' Twitter user @gilbert said.

Tech analyst Patrick O'Rourke joined in, tweeting: 'I want to go on the record now as saying that iPhone Xs Max is a bad name for a smartphone'

Apple also unveiled a more affordable model on Tuesday in a bid to ensure their devices 'reach even more customers,' with the 6.1-inch iPhone XR shipping at $749.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE IPHONE XS AND XS MAX? The iPhone XS and larger XS Max are Apple's latest flagship devices. The pair have a similar design and features to the existing iPhone X - including its much-hyped Face ID unlock system - with a few key additions. They hit stores on September 21, 2018 with the iPhone XS priced at $999 (999) and the XS Max a whopping $1,099 (1,099). Like the iPhone X, the XS has a 5.8-inch OLED screen, while the XS Max boasts a mammoth 6.5-inch OLED display. For comparison, the iPhone XS Max is bigger even than the Galaxy Note 9, which spans 6.4 inches. The XS and XS Max have dual 12-megapixel rear cameras and a dual 7-megapixel selfie camera - just like the iPhone X. Apple launched its iPhone XS and XS Max flagship devices at an event in San Francisco on September 12 Apple has bolstered the batteries loaded into each phone too. It claims the iPhone XS runs for half an hour longer than last year's X, while the XS Max lasts an additional 1.5 hours. Apple's newest phones feature faster processors and better memory capacities than their predecessor. Both are loaded with Apple's new A12 Bionic chip, which Apple claims runs run 15 per cent faster than the A11 chip in the iPhone X. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are shipping in 64GB, 256GB or 512GB  the largest in-built storage ever shipped on an Apple-branded smartphone. They are available in gold, silver and space grey. Advertisement

Rumors had suggested that Apple would be having an 'S' year this time around, with most of the upgrades focused on specs instead of looks, which proved to be mostly true.

Both the iPhone XS and XS Max take a page from the 10th anniversary iPhone X in their design, featuring edge-to-edge organic LED screens, slimmer bezels and facial recognition technology that replaces the home button.

That doesn't mean the devices fall short on upgrades, however.

'These are incredible new iPhones,' said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing. 'The best iPhones we've ever made by a long shot.'

Apple also took the wraps off of the 5.8-inch iPhone XS, which costs $999. CEO Tim Cook described the device as being 'by far the most advanced iPhone we have ever created'

Apple says the phones are 'more waterproof' than their predecessors and the cameras are 'better than ever before.'

The XS and XS Max feature some significant display upgrades. The 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max has a Super Retina display and a resolution of 2,688 x 1,242.

Both phones have improved speakers, a 120Hz refresh rate and Face ID is now speedier, thanks to new algorithms, allowing users to more quickly unlock their device with just their face.

Schiller called this version of Face ID the most secure facial authentication in a smartphone ever.

iPhone XR vs iPhone XS vs XS Max Screen Size: Display Type: Processor: Water Resistance: Battery Life: Fast Charge: Wireless Charge: 3D Touch Display: Dual Cameras: Optical Zoom: FaceID: Weight: Software: Price: Colours: iPhone XR 6.1-inch LCD A12 Bionic IP67 Up to 15 hours Yes Yes No No No Yes 194g (6.84 oz) iOS 12 $749 (749) Yellow, White, Coral, Black, Blue, and Product Red iPhone XS 5.8-inch OLED A12 Bionic IP68 Up to 12 hours Yes Yes Yes Dual 12MP Lens Yes. 2x Yes 177g (6.24oz) iOS 12 $999 (999) Gold, Space Grey, Silver iPhone XS Max 6.5-inch OLED A12 Bionic IP68 Up to 13 hours Yes Yes Yes Dual 12MP Lens Yes. 2x Yes 208g (7.34 oz) iOS 12 $1099 (1099) Gold, Space Grey, Silver Advertisement

The iPhone XS and XS Max feature dual 12 megapixel rear cameras and a dual 7 megapixel selfie camera with bigger sensors and an improved high-dynamic range imaging, called 'Smart HDR,' which results in better lighting and photos with deeper colors.

Along with that, Apple introduced an improved 'bokeh' effect, which adds a blur in the background of portrait mode photos.

Apple says this smooths out the transition from foreground to background and better defines background shapes.

The new slider tool allows users to adjust the depth of field in photos and adjust the camera aperture, to deepen or reduce the depth of field even after a photo is taken.

Apple has bolstered the batteries loaded into each phone too.

The iPhone XS and XS Max have 12 megapixel cameras with bigger sensors and an improved high-dynamic range imaging, which results in better lighting and photos with deeper colors

Apple has improved the 'bokeh' effect, which blurs the background of portrait mode photos. It smooths out the transition from foreground to background and defines background shapes

HANDS ON WITH IPHONE XS MAX Boasting a 6.5inch OLED screen, the iPhone XS Max is the biggest phone Apple has ever made. While on paper the screen may seem almost too big, the curved design means that in the flesh, it's incredibly easy to pick up and handle - and absolutely stunning to look at. There is something of a jaw dropping moment the first time you load up a picture of press play on the movie. Apple's new iPhone XS Max is shown (right) beside the smaller XS That screen is sharp and incredibly bright, and the phone (and even the still present notch) are almost invisible, making this the closest thing yet to Apple's 'all screen' vision. The sound has also had a huge boost, and even in the crowded scrum like experience of the hands on area at Apple's event, audio was loud enough to hear clearly - if you want to annoy the neighbours of fellow commuters, this is definitely the speaker system to do it with. The speed increase Apple has given the handset are also noticeable, with the system feeling far snappier and more responsive - although we weren't able to try to FaceID system, which has apparently been dramatically improved. While many users liked the smaller size of the iPhone X when it was released last year, the Max does the seemingly impossibly - making a big screen phone that really doesn't feel like a big screen phone. It's big enough that you feel you could actually do far more, with emails and documents given a whole new lease of life. Overall, the iPhone Xs Max is probably the handset users of the Plus iPhones have been waiting for - and the extra screen real estate really does make this a phone that manages to balance a big screen with the usability and great feel iPhones are known for. Overall, it's bigger and faster, and if you are willing to spend $1100 on a phone and want the absolute best, then this is the handset for you. -Mark Prigg at the Steve Jobs Theater for Dailymail.com Advertisement

It claims the iPhone XS runs for half an hour longer than last year's X, while the XS Max lasts an additional 1.5 hours.

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are shipping in 64GB, 256GB or 512GB  the largest in-built storage ever shipped on an Apple-branded smartphone.

Apple's newest phones are equipped with faster processors and better memory capacities than ever before, relying on Apple's new, super fast A12 Bionic chip.

The A12 chip is made up of a six-core CPU, which contains two 'performance' cores and four 'efficiency' cores.

Apple unveiled the more affordable iPhone XR to ensure their devices 'reach even more customers,' with the device shipping at $749. Pre-orders for the devices start this week

It's also packed with a four-core GPU that Apple says is '50 percent faster' than the A11 Bionic chip.

On top of that, the phones feature an upgraded Neural Engine, which powers everything from the iPhone's augmented reality features to its dual-lens camera.

The Neural Engine gets a bump up to eight cores, an upgrade from its previous two cores, and can also handle a staggering 5 trillion operations per second.

The iPhone XS and XS Max are now able to open apps up to 30 percent faster thanks to the A12 Bionic chip.

It will also power improvements in AR, Memoji and Siri shortcuts.

The iPhone XS and XS Max are now able to open apps up to 30 percent faster thanks to the A12 Bionic chip. It will also power improvements in AR, Memoji and Siri shortcuts

Both phones will support the use of two phone numbers and data plans, using a physical SIM card and an e-SIM card. This isn't available yet, but will come in a software update later this fall

Another update that may have gotten lost in the fray is that Apple is adding dual SIM support for the first time ever.

That means both phones will support the use of two phone numbers and data plans, using a physical SIM card and an e-SIM card.

The feature isn't available just yet, but will be enabled in a software update 'later this fall.'

In China, where e-SIMs are barred, Apple will even ship a special version of the iPhone XS Max that's equipped to handle two physical SIM trays.

Earlier in the event, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 4, which marks a major step up from the Series 3.
Google's secretive plans in China are attracting renewed scrutiny from privacy advocates.

The tech giant is said to be building a prototype version of a censored Chinese search engine that links users' activity to their personal phone number, according to the Intercept.

In doing so, it would be able to comply with the Chinese government's censorship requirements, increasing the chances that such a product would launch there in the future.

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A bipartisan group of 16 US lawmakers asked Google if it would comply with China's internet censorship and surveillance policies should it re-enter the search engine market there

CHINESE INTERNET CRACKDOWN While China is home to the world's largest number of internet users, a 2015 report by US think tank Freedom House found that the country had the most restrictive online use policies of 65 nations it studied, ranking below Iran and Syria. But China has maintained that its various forms of web censorship are necessary for protecting its national security. It has cracked down on VPNs after the passing of a controversial cybersecurity bill last November that tightened restrictions on online freedom of speech and imposed new rules on service providers. Since the regulation took effect this June, authorities have closed dozens of celebrity gossip blogs and issued new rules around online video content to eliminate programmes deemed offensive. Advertisement

Recent reports have suggested Google plans to build a censored version of its search engine in China, as part of a project called 'Dragonfly.'

The app would have to comply with China's rigid censorship laws, which would mean restricting access to content that government officials consider unfavorable.

Search terms about human rights, democracy, religion and peaceful protests will be blocked from the app.

Linking searches with a user's phone number would allow officials to easily track activity on the platform, potentially allowing them to target political activists, journalists and dissenters.

'This is very problematic from a privacy point of view, because it would allow far more detailed tracking and profiling of people's behavior,' Cynthia Wong, senior internet researcher with Human Rights Watch, told the Intercept.

'Linking searches to a phone number would make it much harder for people to avoid the kind of overreaching government surveillance that is pervasive in China.'

Dragonfly is also designed to replace weather and air pollution data with information provided by an unnamed source in Beijing, the Intercept reported.

The search engine has already been 'essentially hardcoded to force [Chinese-provided] data,' the Intercept added.

It comes as Google faces mounting pressure from US lawmakers to disclose more information about its dealings in China.

A bipartisan group of 16 US lawmakers asked Google on Thursday if it would comply with China's internet censorship and surveillance policies should it re-enter the search engine market there.

More than 1,000 Google employees, six U.S. senators and at least fourteen human rights groups have written to the company expressing concern about its China ambitions

More than 1,000 Google employees, six U.S. senators and at least fourteen human rights groups have written to the company expressing concern about its China ambitions.

Since then, a list has been circulating inside the company detailing seven employees who say they quit their jobs at Google over a lack of transparency.

One of those employees includes Jack Poulson, a research scientists who had worked for Google for more than two years.

Poulson said he resigned because he felt the company was not honoring its commitment to human rights norms in designing the search app.

He told Reuters that executives would not specify to him where the company would draw the line on agreeing to Chinese demands.

'Unfortunately, the virtually unanimous response over the course of three very vocal weeks of escalation was: "I don't know either,"' Poulson said.

Google declined to comment but said it had been 'investing for many years to help Chinese users' and described its 'work on search' for China as 'exploratory' and 'not close to launching'

He was among a handful who resigned, he told the Intercept online publication, which first reported on his action.

Google declined to comment directly on the lawmakers' letter or the resignations but said in a statement it had been 'investing for many years to help Chinese users' and described its 'work on search' for China as 'exploratory' and 'not close to launching.'

Reuters reported last month that Google planned to seek government clearance to provide a version of its search engine in China that blocks some websites and search terms.

Programmers and engineers at the company have created several versions of an Android app, called 'Maotai' and 'Longfei,' one of which has been presented to the Chinese government.

Should it be approved by government officials, a final version could be launched as soon as the next six to nine months.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, said in their letter on Thursday they had 'serious concerns' about the potential step.

READ THE FULL LETTER PENNED BY GOOGLE EMPLOYEES PROTESTING A CENSORED CHINESE SEARCH ENGINE Sign this letter To make ethical choices, Googlers need to know what were building. Right now we don't. So we, the undersigned, are calling for a Code Yellow(1) on Ethics & Transparency at Google. Our industry has entered a new era of ethical responsibility: the choices we make matter on a global scale. Yet most of us only learned about Project Dragonfly through news reports in early August. Dragonfly is reported to be an effort to provide search and personalized mobile news to China, in compliance with Chinese government censorship and surveillance requirements. Eight year ago, after Google Pulled censored websearch out of China, Sergey Brin explained the decision, saying: In some aspects of [government] policy, particularly with respect to censorship, with respect to surveillance of dissidents, I see some earmarks of totalitarianism. Dragonfly and Googles return to China raise urgent moral and ethical issues, the substance of which we are discussing elsewhere. Here we address an underlying structural problem: currently we do not have the information required to make ethically-informed decisions about our work, our projects, and our employment. That the decision to build dragonfly was made in secret, and progressed even with the AI Principles in place, makes clear that the principles alone are not enough. We urgently need more transparency, a seat at the table, and a commitment to clear and open processes. Google employees need to know what were building. In the face of these significant issues, we, the undersigned, are calling for a Code Yellow addressing Ethics and Transparency, asking leadership to work with employees to implement concrete transparency and oversight process, including the following: Signed, (1) A Code Yellow is a standardized process in Engineering for addressing new or long-simmering business-critical problems that span multiple groups. A Code Yellow includes: an executive responsible for the process, an overall owner, a clear list of objectives to be resolved before closing the Code Yellow, and weekly (or more frequent) updates to any interested parties. Source: BuzzFeed News Advertisement

The letter asked if Google would 'ensure that individual Chinese citizens or foreigners living in China, including Americans, will not be surveilled or targeted through Google applications.'

Representative David Cicilline, a Democrat and signer of the letter, wrote on Twitter that 'Google should not be helping China crack down on free speech and political dissent.'

The company could face questions about China when it testifies on privacy issues before a Senate panel on Sept. 26.

Google's main search platform has been blocked in China since 2010, but it has been attempting to make new inroads into the world's largest smartphone market by users.

Google's re-entry is not guaranteed as China has stepped up scrutiny of business dealings involving U.S. tech firms including Facebook Inc and Apple Inc amid intensifying trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.
A starving orca that biologists had hoped to save has been declared dead just 24 hours after the plans were announced.

Efforts to find the sick young creature - which is from a critically endangered population of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest - have come up empty handed.

Known as J50, the desperately ill animal had not been seen since last Friday.

The grim news leaves just 74 whales remaining in a group that has failed to reproduce successfully in the past three years.

The orcas have struggled with pollution, boat noise and, most severely, a dearth of their preferred prey, chinook salmon, because of dams, habitat loss and overfishing.

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A starving orca that biologists had hoped to save has been declared dead just 24 hours after the plans were announced. Pictured is the young orca with her mother

'We're watching a population marching toward extinction,' said Ken Balcomb of the Centre for Whale Research.

'Unless we do something about salmon recovery, we're just not going to have these whales in the future.'

The whales are in such bad shape that experts prepared last-ditch efforts to save the emaciated four-year-old.

A sharpshooting veterinarian fired an antibiotic-filled dart into her, to no avail, and scientists even mulled capturing her so they could treat her for parasitic worms.

As teams scrambled to find her on Thursday, she failed to appear with her pod once again, despite favourable sighting conditions.

Mr Balcomb, who tracks the whales for the US government, declared her dead late yesterday afternoon  though authorities said they would keep looking.

Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA Fisheries, said the agency gives great weight to Mr Balcomb's assessment of the whales, given his long experience monitoring them

But, he said, because the US and Canadian governments have so many resources devoted to finding her, they planned to continue searching today.

'We want to make the most of it to make sure that if J50 is there, we haven't missed her,' Mr Milstein said. 'We haven't given up hope.'

Efforts to find the sick young creature - which is from a critically endangered population of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest - have come up empty handed (stock image)

We are saddened to report that J50 is missing and now presumed dead.

The Center for Whale Research has had a vessel on the water looking for J50 for the past three days. We have seen all the other members of her family (i.e., J16s) during these outings.https://t.co/0jhbXDZBko pic.twitter.com/BMh7I6Xtg3  Whale Research (@CWROrcas) September 14, 2018

Crews in a US Coast Guard helicopter, ten vessels, whale watch crews and other resources on both sides of the border were involved in the search.

Authorities also alerted a network of people who respond when marine mammals wash ashore.

Whale experts feared the orca was dead earlier this month when J50 lagged behind her family and went missing, but she later turned up and was seen with her family.

The distinctive black-and-white orcas, known as southern resident killer whales, have struggled since they were listed as an endangered species in the US and Canada well over a decade ago.

The orcas' numbers are now at their lowest in more than three decades.

Last month it was found that the endangered orca who had been clinging onto her dead calf for more than two weeks and swimming for 1,000 miles, had finally let go of her baby

Another whale in the same pod, known as J35, triggered international sympathy this summer when she kept the body of her dead calf afloat in waters for more than two weeks.

The message, the Cente for Whale Research said in a website post, is that extinction is looming 'while the humans convene task forces and conference calls that result in nothing, or worse than nothing, diverting attention and resources from solving the underlying ecological problems'.

Scientist began to be concerned about J50 in July.

Teams dropped live salmon from a boat as J50 and her pod swam behind  a test to see whether fish could be used as a means of delivering medication.

Drone images taken earlier this month showed J50 much thinner than she was last year.

Her mother, J16, has also declined in condition in the past month.

Researchers were previously monitoring the activity of a grieving mother orca, as she towed her dead calf's body through the Puget Sound, off British Columbia, after it passed away on July 24
SpaceX has announced a new plan to launch a tourist around the moon.

The trip would use the company's Big F***ing Rocket (BFR), a massive launch vehicle that is being designed to carry people into deep space.

'SpaceX has signed the world's first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle - an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space,' the company said on Twitter.

SpaceX gave no further details, but said more information would follow on Monday.

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SpaceX has announced a new plan to launch a tourist around the moon. The trip would use the company's Big F***ing Rocket (BFR), a massive launch vehicle that is being designed to carry people into deep space. Pictured is an artist's impression of the BFR flying around the moon

'SpaceX has signed the world's first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle - an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space,' the company said on Twitter

This is not the first time the California-based company, headed by controversial Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has touted plans to send tourists around the moon.

In February, 2017, SpaceX announced it would send the world's first two space tourists around the moon in late 2018.

That plan called for them to ride on a Dragon crew vehicle, similar to the cargo ships that SpaceX routinely sends loaded with supplies to the International Space Station.

They would have blasted off aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket.

However, the company has remained tight-lipped about those plans in recent months.

The names and identities of those two tourists - and how much they intended to pay - were never revealed.

SpaceX declined a request for more details, but said further information would follow Monday at an event lasting from 5:30pm to 7:00pm ET (00:30 to 02:00 BST).

SpaceX gave no further details, but said more information would follow on Monday. Pictured is an artist's impression of the BFR docked with the International Space Station

The BFR is SpaceX's newest rocket, a super powerful launch vehicle with 31 engines and the capacity to lift 150 tons into space

The BFR is SpaceX's newest rocket, a powerful launch vehicle with 31 engines and the capacity to lift 150 tons into space.

During a speech in Australia last year, Musk said he was hopeful that the BFR would be able to launch and land two cargo ships on Mars by 2022.

'I feel fairly confident that we can complete the ship and launch in about five years,' Musk said.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SPACEX'S PLANS TO FLY TOURISTS AROUND THE MOON? SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launched for the first time five years later than planned SpaceX has announced it will send a tourist to the moon aboard its upcoming Big F***ing Rocket (BFR). CEO Elon Musk has previously promised the BFR would carry cargo ships to Mars as early as 2022, with manned flights scheduled for 2024. It's an ambitious project - one that could ultimately make or break SpaceX - but Musk's company stands to make billions if it can pull it off. However, Musk has a history of underestimating how long his ambitious projects will take to get off the ground. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which launched for the first time to great furore in February, undertook its initial test flight five years later than planned. Musk admitted in July 2017: 'It actually ended up being way harder to do Falcon Heavy than we thought. 'Really way, way more difficult than we originally thought. We were pretty naive about that.' The BFR has yet to undergo any engine tests - which typically take place over the course of several months - and that's before the unmanned flight tests SpaceX will need to carry out long before it can safely transport passengers. It is unlikely the rocket will fly tourists until at least the late-2020s. Other space tourism firms, such as Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, are set to launch civilians into space ahead of SpaceX - though these flights will not breach Earth's orbit. Both firms are expected to take tourists into space before 2025. Advertisement

The top part of the BFR rocket has 40 cabins, which could hold up to six passengers.

The rocket would be partially reusable and capable of flight directly from Earth to the moon using its massive fuel capacity - 1,200 tons of liquid oxygen.

It's an ambitious project - one that could ultimately make or break SpaceX - but Musk's company stands to make billions if it pulls it off.

However, Musk has a long history of underestimating how long his ambitious projects will take to get off the ground.

At nearly 348 feet (106 metres) tall, the BFR (artist's impression) is a truly gigantic spaceship, towering over SpaceX's 229-feet-tall (70 metres) Falcon Heavy rocket

SpaceX says BFR missions to the moon's surface will use the Earth's gravitational pull to whip it around the planet before sling-shotting to the rocky satellite

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which launched for the first time to great furore in February, was originally scheduled to undertake its initial test flight in 2013.

Musk admitted in July 2017: 'It actually ended up being way harder to do Falcon Heavy than we thought.

'Really way, way more difficult than we originally thought. We were pretty naive about that.'

Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX Elon Musk, pictured in September 2017 speaking below a computer generated illustration of his Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), says he wants to enable space travel for 'everyday people'

The BFR has yet to undergo any engine tests - which typically take place over the course of several months - and that's before the unmanned flight tests SpaceX will need to carry out long before it can safely transport passengers.

It is unlikely the rocket will fly tourists until at least the mid-2020s.

Humans have not set foot on the Moon since the final Apollo mission in 1972, capping an era of US national pride.

WHAT IS SPACEX'S BFR? The BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) is SpaceX's newest rocket, a super powerful launch vehicle with 31 engines and the capacity to lift 150 tons into space. It has jokingly been called the 'Big F***ing rocket' by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The top part of the BFR rocket has 40 cabins, which could hold up to six passengers. The rocket would be partially reusable and capable of flight directly from Earth to Mars. Once built, Musk believes the rocket could be used for travel on Earth - saying that passengers would be able to get anywhere in under an hour. This image shows the main body tool of SpaceX's BFR (Big F***ing Rocket) next to a Tesla Model 3 saloon. The tool will be used to build the rocket's fuselage The BFR will eventually complete all missions for SpaceX, replacing its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Musk said in 2017 he was hopeful that the BFR would be able to launch and land at last two cargo ships on Mars by 2022. 'I feel fairly confident that we can complete the ship and launch in about five years,' Musk said. The billionaire plans a manned mission in 2024 and claims other SpaceX's products will be 'cannibalised' to pay for it. The enormous rocket has a fuel tank that can hold 1,200 tons of liquid oxygen. At nearly 348 feet (106 metres) tall, the BFR is a truly gigantic spaceship, towering over the 229-feet-tall (70 metres) Falcon Heavy rocket. The spaceship will take off and land vertically, powered by 37 'raptor' engines, to produce a liftoff thrust of 5,400 tons, lifting a total mass of 4,400 tons. Advertisement

American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to explore the lunar surface in 1969, a moment seen and heard around the world when Armstrong declared 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

Only 24 people in history have ever been to the Moon.

US President Donald Trump has championed plans to put boots on the Moon again, as NASA works on building a lunar gateway that would serve as a launching point for missions heading even further into deep space, such as asteroids or Mars.

The Big F***ing Rocket (artist's impression) will take off and land vertically, powered by 37 'raptor' engines, to produce a liftoff thrust of 5,400 tons, lifting a total mass of 4,400 tons

This is not the first time the California-based company, headed by controversial Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has touted plans to send tourists around the moon. Musk sparked outrage last week when he smoked marijuana during a livestream recorded in California - where the drug is legal

SpaceX is a key commercial partner to NASA, and is working on a crew ship that will make its first flight to the orbiting International Space Station next year.

It successful, the company would restore access to space from US soil for the first time since 2011, when the space shuttle program was retired after 30 years.

Boeing is also hard at work on its crew vehicle, with pioneering flights planned for 2019 as well.

SpaceX currently has a $1.6 billion (1.2 billion) contract with NASA to supply the astronauts living at the ISS, via regular cargo trips on its Dragon spaceship, launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Alarming new traces of 'drilling' have been found on a Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, Russian sources revealed today.

Moscow had already hinted at possible sabotage over damage found to the Soyuz MS-09 and a major whodunnit investigation is underway.

Officials have claimed the damage to the spacecraft appears to have been caused by a drill, and could have occurred on the ground pre-launch - or while in orbit.

Now a source close to the Russian space agency Roscosmos has admitted the damage was more extensive than previously thought.

'Traces of drilling have been found not only inside the spacecraft's living compartment,' said the source.

The damage was also 'on the screen of the anti-meteorite shield that covers the spacecraft from the outside and is installed 15 millimetres from the pressurised hull'.

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Russian astronaut Sergei Prokopyev showed the original 'drilled hole' during a video released by the space agency Roscosmos

A drop in pressure due to an air leak was first detected on the $150 billion (115 billion) orbital station overnight on August 30.

The cause was later discovered to be a two-millimetre hole in the orbital compartment of the manned Soyuz MS-09 space vehicle, which has been docked to the space station for two months.

Russian cosmonauts quickly plugged the hole and restored pressure, patching it up with several layers of epoxy resin - a glue-like substance.

After the hole was sealed cosmonauts carried out photo- and video surveillance of the hole using an endoscope.

A Russian official said last week that the hole appeared to have been punctured using a drill, and could have been caused deliberately by someone on the ground.

Now a source says the extent of the damage was greater than experts first feared.

Sergei Prokopyev (pictured) explained on a video released Monday by the Russian space agency Roscosmos how the crew last week located and sealed the tiny hole that created a slight loss of pressure

'During the analysis of those images, traces of drilling were found on the anti-meteorite shield,' said the source, as cited by Russian TASS news agency.

'The top of the drill came through the pressure hull and hit the non-gas-tight outer shell.'

The latest disclosure comes as Russia was seeking to to calm speculation over the spacecraft damage.

Earlier this week space agency head Dmitry Rogozin held phone talks over the problem with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Both side agreed to 'refrain from any premature conclusions and from presenting any explanations before the investigation is fully completed'.

Initially it was thought the damage could have been caused by a micrometeorite piercing the spacecraft.

This was ruled out and Rogozin - a close Vladimir Putin ally - raised the possibility of sabotage.

He asked: 'What was it: a defect or some intentional acts? Where were these acts carried out? On the Earth or already in orbit?

'Yet again, I am saying: we are not dismissing anything.'

The Soyuz MS-08 (pictured) left Earth on March 21 to transport three members of the Expedition 55 crew to the International Space Station

WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A HOLE IN THE ISS? Theory one - it was caused by a small meteorite A tiny hole appeared in a Russian space capsule locked to the ISS on 30th August. The 'micro fracture' believed to be around 2mm wide in the $150 billion (115 billion) space station was discovered after astronauts noticed a drop in pressure. European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst reportedly put his finger over the hole before crew patched it with tape. The hole was confirmed repaired by Friday (31 August) after cabin pressure returned to normal. It was initially believed to have been caused by a small meteorite and astronauts used tape to seal the leak after it caused a minor loss of pressure. Theory two - it was made deliberately while in orbit However, as the investigation went on it began to look like the hole was made from someone inside as opposed to outside, either back on Earth or in space, the Russian space agency claimed. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said in September that the hole could have been drilled during manufacturing or while in orbit with a 'wavering hand'. He didn't say if he suspected any of the US crew, but the statement has caused some bewilderment. Sources suggest the question of how to fix the hole may have strained relations between Moscow and Houston. Rogozin has since reneged on his statement blaming the media for twisting his words and said that he 'never pointed the finger at U.S. astronauts'. Theory three - it was caused by a worker at Energia A leading theory from an unnamed source at Energia said the hole was made on the ground  potentially caused by 'deliberate interference'  with suggestions the person responsible may have already been identified. Another anonymous source said the hole was drilled by a worker who hid their mistake with a seal instead of reporting it. An unnamed source at Energia told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that '[t]he hole was made on the ground'. According to the source, '[t]he person responsible for the act of negligence has been identified'. Another anonymous source said the hole was not made intentionally but by a worker who hid their mistake with a seal instead of reporting it. The patchwork repair lasted the trip up to the ISS but after three weeks in orbit gradually peeled away. Advertisement

Rogozin said it was 'a matter of honour...to find whoever was guilty' of causing the spacecraft damage - and 'whether it was deliberate'.

The Russian media even speculated that a US astronaut might have sabotaged the spacecraft to delay a possible early return to earth due to alleged sickness of one member of the ISS crew.

But Russia now appears to be focusing on possible damages during the last stage of works or during its 90-day stay in the checkout stand ahead of transportation to the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan.

Roscosmos director Dmitry Rogozin said that the hole could have been drilled during manufacturing or while in orbit. He did not say if he suspected any of the current crew of three Americans, two Russians and a German aboard the station (pictured)

An industry source denied damage was possible before this - and it is thought unlikely to have been tampered with at Baikonur.

'When Soyuz MS-09 just arrived to the final assembly workshop, it was photographed in detail,' said the source.

'No hole and no signs of drilling were found.'
Elon Musk has announced plans to build a medieval watchtower made entirely with lifesize LEGO-like bricks made from dirt dug from underground tunnels.

The billionaire's Boring Company uses massive machines to dig tunnels capable of supporting high-speed transit systems under cities.

Extracted materials leftover from the projects will be used to construct the strange sounding observation post at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

The Boring Company plans to start selling the recycled bricks in two months although it's not yet clear where they will be available.

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Elon Musk has announced plans to build a medieval watchtower made entirely with lifesize LEGO-like bricks made from dirt dug from underground tunnels. The billionaire was recently seen smoking a joint during a podcast, perhaps leading to his latest inspiration

Musk made the announcement via Twitter, where he also confirmed that Boring Company bricks will be handed out for free when used for affordable housing construction projects.

Writing on Twitter, the billionaire said: 'About to finish first TBC HQ building made with Boring Bricks in the shape of a medieval watchtower.

'First Boring Brick store opening in ~two months. Only 10 cents a brick! Rated for California seismic loads.

'Bricks will be free if used for affordable housing projects.'

Musk's Boring Company uses massive machines to dig tunnels that can support high-speed transit systems under cities. Extracted materials leftover from the projects will be used to construct the strange sounding observation post at the firm's headquarters in California. Pictured is LEGO Group chairman Jorgen Vig Knudstorp with some novelty-sized bricks

Musk made the announcement via Twitter, where he also confirmed that the bricks will be given out for free when used for affordable housing construction projects

The Tesla and Space X CEO first tweeted a picture of his firm's underground boring machine in February 2017 with the caption 'Minecraft'  a reference to the popular video game in which players dig large tunnel networks for resources.

In January, the Boring Company presented plans to build the 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting.

It first started work on a test site under SpaceX headquarters in LA at the end of last year. Musk announced his plans to sell the LEGO-like blocks back in March.

Pictured is the watchtower of Torrelodones, in Madrid photographed at sunset. It's unclear how Elon Musk plans to design the headquarters to resemble the iconic medieval architecture

The firm uses massive boring machines to dig tunnels that can support high-speed transit systems under Los Angeles, as well as other cities like Baltimore and Chicago in the future

He tweeted that instead of disposing of leftover earth removed as part of his network of tunnels, he planned to recycle it.

He said these rocks  dug out from under Washington, DC and Los Angeles  could be used to create sculptures and buildings.

'Lifesize LEGO-like interlocking bricks made from tunnelling rock that you can use to create sculptures & buildings,' Musk tweeted at the time.

'Rated for California seismic loads, so super strong, but bored in the middle, like an aircraft wing spar, so not heavy.'

On its website, the company claims that creating bricks will reduce the environmental impacts of its projects  as production of cement accounts for four per cent of global CO2 emissions.

'Lifesize LEGO-like interlocking bricks made from tunnelling rock that you can use to create sculptures & buildings', Musk tweeted in March

The company had already hinted at these plans on the FAQ page on its website. 'First kit set will be ancient Egypt  pyramids, Sphinx, temple of Horus, etc', Musk wrote on Twitter

The SpaceX billionaire also joked; 'And they said I'd never be a rock star...' On the website, the company claims that creating bricks will reduce the environmental impacts of its projects

He later complained he felt his quip had gone 'deeply unappreciated. 'Turns out joking about being a 'rock' star because of digging tunnels (through, uh, rock  hello??) is deeply underappreciated', he tweeted

'First kit set will be ancient Egypt  pyramids, Sphinx, temple of Horus, etc,' Musk subsequently wrote on his Twitter.

The SpaceX billionaire also joked: 'And they said I'd never be a rock star...' , later complaining he felt his quip had gone unappreciated.

'Turns out joking about being a 'rock' star because of digging tunnels (through, uh, rock  hello??) is deeply underappreciated,' he added.

This is not the only bit of Boring Company merchandise Musk has decided to create.

His last novelty item was flamethrowers retailing at $500 (351) each, which he announced back in January.

The company sold 20,000 of them, and Musk tweeted at the time that they were 'guaranteed to liven up any party!'

This is not the only bit of Boring Company merchandise Musk has decided to create. His last novelty item was a flamethrower retailing at $500 (351) each

Each flamethrower, he said, comes with a free fire extinguisher and buyers had to agree to certain conditions before getting the device

'When the zombie apocalypse happens, you'll be glad you bought a flamethrower,' he tweeted at the end of January.

'Works against hordes of the undead or your money back!'

Each flamethrower, he said, comes with a free fire extinguisher and buyers need to agree to certain conditions before getting the device in spring.

The company also offered $30 (21) fire extinguisher, sales for which have now also ended.

The firm said: 'Buy an overpriced Boring Company fire extinguisher! You can definitely buy one for less elsewhere, but this one comes with a cool sticker and the button is conveniently riiight above.'

'I know it's a little off-brand, but kids love it,' Musk wrote about the flamethrower when he first announced it.

Most people initially assumed that the South African entrepreneur was joking.
Microsoft now includes a warning that cautions Windows 10 users to avoid installing browsers from rival companies, including Google Chrome and Firefox.

When users with the latest operating system update from Microsoft attempt to install third-party web browsers, the operating system will surface a pop-up warning.

'You already have Microsoft Edge  the safer, faster browser for Windows 10,' the new warning message tells users.

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Microsoft now includes a warning that cautions Windows 10 users to avoid installing browsers from rival companies, including Google Chrome and Firefox. The operating system shows the pictured pop-up warning when you attempt to install

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR PC INTERNET BROWSERS? Google Chrome  67.63 per cent Mozilla Firefox  10.97 per cent Internet Explorer  7.02 per cent Apple Safari  5.13 per cent Microsoft Edge  4.24 per cent Opera  2.48 per cent Source: Statcounter Advertisement

The feature has been spotted in the beta version of the latest edition of Windows.

In a statement, Microsoft said the warning was being tested with users who are part of its 'Insiders' beta initiative.

However, the warnings do not stop any software being installed.

'The Windows Insider Program enables Microsoft to test different features, functionality and garner feedback before rolling out broadly,' a spokesman said.

'Customers remain in control and can choose the browser of their choice.'

However, not everyone is happy with the prospect of their decision to use third party browsers  which are far more popular with users than Edge  being questioned.

Writing on Twtitter, Texas based software developer Sean Hoffman said: '@MicrosoftEdge What kind of slimy marketing cesspool c**p is this Microsoft?

'I proceed to launch the Firefox installer and Windows 10 pops this up? If I wanted to use your browser, I would.'

This isn't the first time that the firm has attempted to curtail its customers from using other web browsers.

Last year, Microsoft debuted its streamlined Windows 10 S operating system, which debuted on its Surface laptop, that would not allow users to install a third-party web browsers.

It follows rumours that Microsoft is working on a new subscription model for Windows 10 customers that will allow the company to automatically take care of any glitches.

Not everyone is happy with the prospect of their decision to use third party browsers like Chrome (logo pictured) - which are far more popular with users than Edge - being questioned

The Redmond-based technology company currently pushes-out updates with new features to its Windows 10 users twice a year.

However, users have bemoaned the updates, which have been plagued with errors.

Earlier this year, Microsoft was forced to delay its April 2018 update after beta testers unearthed a serious glitch that caused computers with Intel-branded solid state drives to crash.

When the patched update rolled-out, it contained a glitch that triggered the machine to freeze when users opened up the Google Chrome browser.

To solve the problem, Microsoft is reportedly looking to launch a new feature known as Microsoft Managed Desktop - although no release date has been confirmed.

The system will sell the Windows 10 operating system as a service, where users pay a monthly subscription fee to use the latest version of the software, with any glitches and bugs ironed out immediately by Microsoft.
People who are insecure about their romantic relationship are more likely to use Facebook to stalk their exes online, scientists have confirmed.

They are also the most likely to overshare personal information and create a false impression of themselves through their social media accounts.

According to the latest findings, Facebook users with high levels of attachment anxiety are also the most likely to compare themselves with other online users.

Researchers hope that highlighting these links will help people to consider how they feel before logging into a social network, like Facebook.

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People who are insecure about their romantic relationship are more likely to use Facebook to stalk their exes online, scientists have confirmed. They are also the most likely to overshare personal information and create a false impression of themselves through social media (stock)

The study from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway found that adults in insecure relationships may use Facebook to fulfil their attachment needs.

This is particularly the case for people with low self-esteem, or for people experiencing high levels of psychological distress, including anxiety and depression.

Researchers asked 717 adult Facebook users to complete a series of questionnaires, according to research published in the journal BMC Psychology.

People with high levels of attachment anxiety were more likely to compare themselves against other social network users  known as social comparison.

These users were also the most likely to carefully curate their own image online, known as impression management, scientists revealed.

When Facebook users were in a heightened emotional state, they were more likely to disclose personal information in posts on the social network.

These individuals were more likely to use the site intrusively, in a way that meant it impacted upon their sleep, work and social relationships.

People with high levels of attachment avoidance were more likely to engage in impression management on Facebook.

They also had a greater tendency to use the site intrusively, to the detriment of their offline social relationships.

The study from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway found that adults in insecure relationships may use Facebook to fulfil their attachment needs. Researchers hope the findings will help people consider how they feel before logging into a social network (stock)

'Our study is the first to apply attachment theory to better understand why people might engage with Facebook in problematic ways', said Dr Sally Flynn, lead author of the study.

'Our findings suggest that Facebook may be used by some to fulfil fundamental attachment needs, especially for those with low self-esteem, who are experiencing psychological distress.'

As with all research, the team behind the study admit it has limitations, and does not necessarily reflect cause and effect.

'The study may also be limited by its use of self-reported data and probability sampling which have the potential to introduce bias to the findings, Dr Flynn added.

'While psychological distress and self-esteem provide some explanation of the association between attachment and problematic Facebook use, further studies are needed into a range of additional interpersonal factors relevant to attachment.'
Incredible footage shows what is believed to be the submerged remains of a British WWII twin-bomber complete with unused explosives.

A local diver discovered the engines and part of the main body of the craft that crashed into the Goodwin Sands in Kent more than 70 years ago.

At least 60 RAF and German aircraft are believed to have crashed over the ten-mile stretch of shifting sandbanks during fierce aerial battles in 1940.

Many of the airmens bodies were never recovered.

No human remains have been found so far, but as some of the aircraft remains buried under the seabed it likely divers will uncover the bodies of the crew.

Dover Harbour Board recently obtained a license to dredge Goodwin Sands to expand cargo facilities and build a marina  a move which campaigners are looking to suspend in light of the recent historical discovery.

The incredible footage, which was captured by Ramsgate-based diver Vince Woolsgrove, shows the fuselage of the plane scattered over an area at least 260 feet (80 metres) long and 108 feet (33 metres) wide.

A number of intact bombs from the era, which could be live and potentially explosive, have also been found.

The nationality, age and type of the crashed aircraft remains unknown.

However, finding an aircraft with two engines strongly suggests it is the remains of a twin engine bomber, writes 3hconsulting, which provides media support for maritime and foreshore archaeology.

Both engines have fishing net wrapped around them, and divers have speculated that a trawler may have crashed into the remains of the aircraft in the recent past.

According to Dave Brocklehurst MBE, who is Chairman of Kent Battle of Britain Museum near Folkestone, the plane is definitely from WWII and the double banked radial engine indicates that it is likely British, or possibly American.

He is currently working on a formal identification for the aircraft.

Divers will be visiting the aircraft and engines to find out more information about them and possibly even identify the actual aircraft that went down.

Incredible footage shows what is believed to be the submerged remains of what may be a British WWII twin-bomber - complete with unused explosives. Pictured is one of the two radial aircraft engines found on the site

Pictured are broken remains of the aircraft fuselage with anchor chain draped over it. No human remains have been found so far but as some of the aircraft may be buried under the seabed it is believed bodies of the crew could still be out there

One of the propeller blades poking out of the seabed, with fishing trawl net wrapped around the end attached to the engine. A number of intact bombs have been found which could be live and potentially explosive

A local diver discovered the engines and part of the main body of the craft that would have crashed into the Goodwin Sands in Kent more than 70 years ago. Pictured is the Avro 679 Manchester, a British twin-engine bomber developed as the forerunner to the Lancaster

Experts believe it could be that more than one aircraft has been located and further on-site investigation is planned.

The remains were initially detected in a geophysical survey but were not identified as being part of an aircraft.

The wreck was described by Wessex Archaeology, DHBs archaeological contractor, as seafloor disturbance.

In July 2018, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) granted Dover Harbour Board (DHB) a licence to dredge 3 million tonnes of aggregate from the Goodwin Sands, to use as landfill for their Dover Western Docks Revival.

Campaigners say the plan to remove the sand and gravel will not only disturb wrecks but will cause coastal erosion and endanger delicate ecosystems and wildlife.

The sands have seen more than 2,000 shipwrecks. In the Great Storm of 1703, on one night alone 1,200 men were lost on its banks.

In light of the most recent find, campaigning group Goodwin Sands SOS wants the dredging licence to be suspended.

The remains were initially detected in a geophysical survey but were not identified as being part of an aircraft. The aircraft was described by Wessex Archaeology, DHBs archaeological contractor, as seafloor disturbance

In light of the most recent find, campaigning group Goodwin Sands SOS wants the dredging licence to be suspended

Mr Brocklehurst MBE previously spent two months searching war records to identify the locations of aircrafts shot down over the Goodwins.

He previously said: I can tell you with my hand on my heart that there are missing airmen out on the Goodwins.

'We must commemorate and protect the last resting place of our heroes.

His list of 60 lost planes and their crews includes Spitfires and Hurricanes, as well as German Messerschmitts, Dornier Do 17s and Junkers Ju 88s, all shot down and never recovered between May 29 and November 14, 1940.

Battle of Britain Day, which will be held on 16 September, is celebrated every year to commemorate the aerial clash that took place from July 10 to October 31 in 1940, thought to be the first major military campaign fought entirely by the air forces.

In defence of the United Kingdom, the Royal Air Force fought against attacks from Nazi Germanys Luftwaffe in a battle in which Canada, Australia, Poland and New Zealand also took part.

MailOnline has contacted Dover Harbour Board's archaeological contractors for comment.

The incredible footage, which was captured by Ramsgate-based diver Vince Woolsgrove, shows the fuselage of the plane scattered over an area at least 80 metres (260 feet) long and 33 metres (108 feet) wide as well as two engines

Campaigners say the plan to remove the sand and gravel will not only disturb wrecks but will cause coastal erosion and endanger delicate ecosystems and wildlife

Divers will be visiting the aircraft and engines to find out more information about them and possibly even identify the actual aircraft that went down
They tried not to rock the boat.

But that's exactly what happened when two Bitcoin 'celebrities' went head-to-head in front of dozens of onlookers at the CoinsBank Blockchain Cruise.

The four-day event ran from September 7th to 11th, ferrying cryptocurrency fans around Barcelona, Monaco and Ibiza amid big industry figures like John McAfee, the antivirus inventor turned cryptocurrency advocate.

Bitcoin developer Jimmy Song and Bitcoin.com CEO Roger Ver, AKA 'Bitcoin Jesus,' were supposed to debate the merits of Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Cash, but in mere minutes, the event went south.

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Bitcoin developer Jimmy Song and Roger Ver, AKA 'Bitcoin Jesus,' were supposed to debate the merits of Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Cash, but in mere minutes, the event went south

WHAT IS BITCOIN CASH? Last August, Bitcoin, a type of digital currency, was forced by users to split into two, also known as a hard fork, largely as a result of slow transaction speeds. The hard fork led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash. Since its launch, Bitcoin Cash has received mixed support from investors. Some Bitcoin Cash advocates, such as Ver, prefer the digital currency due to its comparatively lower transaction fees, faster transaction rates and ability to scale with its growing user base. On the flip side, Bitcoin diehards believe it is the most valuable cryptocurrency and deny Bitcoin Cash advocates' claims about it being plagued by slow transactions and high fees. Advertisement

In a recording of the 40-minute debate, a cowboy hat-clad Song takes the stage behind a podium that's poolside, facing an audience of swimsuit-wearing men and women.

Song, who was there to argue on behalf of Bitcoin, proposed a 'Lincoln-Douglas style debate' - a one-on-one debate modeled after those held by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

However, within 20 seconds of his speech, it was clear that wasn't going to happen.

Song claimed Ver, who was debating on behalf of Bitcoin Cash, was trying to interrupt him.

'This is what Roger does. Can you sit down please,' Song can be heard shouting on stage.

'...There's no interruptions or anything like that, like [Ver] just tried. We'll keep it civil.

'I want to keep it at a high-level. I think there's way too much Jerry Springer and not enough Supreme Court,' Song added.

It's unsurprising that tempers flared so easily, given that fans of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are notoriously divided.

Last August, Bitcoin, a type of digital currency, was forced by users to split into two, also known as a hard fork. Some users believed that Bitcoin needed to split into two partly as a result of its slow transaction speeds.

The hard fork led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash, which has received mixed support since its launch.

Some Bitcoin Cash advocates, such as Ver, prefer the digital currency due to its comparatively lower transaction fees, faster transaction rates and ability to scale with its growing user base.

On the flip side, Bitcoin diehards believe it's a more stable cryptocurrency and deny Bitcoin Cash advocates' claims about it being plagued by slow transactions and high fees.

Song (left) and Ver (right) began arguing just minutes after the debate began. It's unsurprising that tempers flared since fans of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are notoriously divided

Ver and Song clashed almost immediately after the debate began over who was allowed to speak first. The video continues for nearly 35 minutes after the heated exchange disippated

So it was these differing views that almost ensured the debate was going to crash and burn.

Members of the audience began to shout at Ver, tell him to chill out.

'Do you want to debate me or not? Just sit down,' Song said.

As Ver angled to grab the microphone from Song, saying he was owed an introduction, a man from the audience brought an extra microphone on stage.

That was it for Song, however, who promptly left the stage in a flourish of anger and said he wouldn't debate Ver.

A shirtless man wearing striped swim trunks drowned out Ver's speech on stage with some inaudible yelling.

'If anybody is ambushing anybody, it's Jimmy,' Ver argued.

Last August, Bitcoin was forced by users to split into two, also known as a hard fork, largely as a result of slow transaction speeds. This led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash

The four-day event ran from September 7th to 11th, ferrying cryptocurrency fans through Barcelona, Monaco and Ibiza amid big industry figures like John McAfee

A few minutes later, Song reappeared on stage, grabbed some papers that had blown away and kicked off the debate.

'This is exactly why no one likes to debate Roger because he does stuff like this,' Song exclaimed.

'If he tries to interrupt me again, I will walk off stage. I will not debate him ever again.'

The video continues for another 35 minutes and shows an earnest debate between both men.

However, it wasn't without a bit more name-calling, as Ver referred to Song's first point as 'nonsense' and the pair grilled one another about what books they'd read, according to Coin Insider.

Even Bitcoin, the standard bearer for digital money, has seen a 70 per cent fall from its record high of almost 15,000 ($20,000). In late June, the price of Bitcoin fell below the $6,000 mark for the first time since early November last year, and has barely recovered

The event comes hot on the heels of a new report from MVIS CryptoCompare Digital Assets 10 Index, based in Frankfurt, which has tracked the collapse of digital currencies from an all-time high in January to a recent 80 per cent drop in value.

The losses were led by Ether, the second-largest virtual currency after Bitcoin.

Some have even compared the fall of digital currencies to when the Dot-Com bubble burst in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Apple has been known to charge a premium for its products, but it boggled minds everywhere when it released the $1,000 iPhone X last year.

Apparently that price tag wasn't too much for Apple fans to stomach, however, as the firm upped the ante with this year's premium model, the iPhone Xs Max.

The iPhone Xs Max starts at a whopping $1,099 and costs as much as $1,499 for the model with 512 gigabytes of storage.

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Apple has been known to charge a premium for its products, but it boggled minds when it released the $1,000 iPhone X last year. That is, until it launched the $1,099 iPhone Xs Max

IPHONE XS MAX SPECS Display: 6.5-inch OLED screen Cost: From $1,099 (1,099) Ships: September 21 Battery life: 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X Cameras: Dual 12MP rear-facing, dual 7MP front-facing Powered by: A12 Bionic chip Memory: 64GB, 256GB or 512GB Colours: Gold, silver and space grey Waterproof rating: Up to 2 meters (6.5ft) deep for several minutes Improved augmented reality tools Advertisement

It has become standard fare for Apple to charge more and more for its latest and greatest iPhone model each year.

But last year's launch was a remarkably big price jump, even for Apple.

The iPhone 7 Plus, the high-end model launched in 2017, started at $769. A year later, Apple began selling the iPhone X, which was at the top tier of its lineup, for $999.

Typically, Apple increases each subsequent iPhone model by about $100 per year, but last year it made a jump of $230, which was a shock to even the most loyal Apple consumers.

Some have attributed the price jump to the rising cost of smartphone components, such as OLED screens and more advanced chips and sensors, all of which cost more to produce, especially at the scale Apple needs them.

Typically, Apple increases each subsequent iPhone model by about $100 per year, but last year it made a jump of $230, which was a shock to even the most loyal Apple consumers

However, with component prices being lower than last year, that doesn't seem to explain why Apple is charging more for its latest lineup of iPhones.

Instead, it appears Apple may no longer be seeing its user base grow by leaps and bounds like it used to, hitting a plateau in developed markets like the US and Europe.

To keep generating steady profits, then, it has moved to squeeze more money out of existing iPhone owners by charging more for its new devices.

All the while, Apple has to make sure to not alienate price-sensitive consumers, so it continues to offer lower-end models in its lineup.

In 2017, that was the iPhone 8/8 Plus, which maintained roughly the same prices as previous models, with price tags of $699 and $799, respectively.

The price of an iPhone has skyrocketed over the years. Apple's first generation iPhone (pictured) was priced at $499, while the high-end iPhone Xs Max goes for as much as $1,499

Apple introduced a tiered iPhone lineup with the launch of the iPhone 6 Plus (pictured). With that move, it began appealing to consumers who were willing to pay more for a bigger device

This year, it tried to appeal to all consumers by offering the $749 iPhone Xr.

The iPhone Xr is able to keep its more modest price tag because it features an LCD screen, instead of an OLED display, among other differences.

Apple introduced a tiered iPhone lineup with the launch of the $749 iPhone 6 Plus in 2014. With that move, it began appealing to consumers who were willing to pay more for a bigger device.

'Apple has been intentionally testing the price elasticity of its products in the past few years, and what it found is customers have an appetite for more expensive iPhones,' Wayne Liam, an analyst at IHS Markit, told CNN Tech.

Chinese consumers are especially willing to spring for the top-tier iPhone model, as the Apple brand is viewed as a luxury in the country.

Plus-sized phones also tend to sell better there, so it makes sense that Apple rolled out an ever bigger iPhone this time around.

The iPhone Xs Max is Apple's biggest smartphone ever, boasting a massive 6.5-inch, edge-to-edge display.

The iPhone Xr is able to keep its more modest price tag because it features an LCD screen, instead of an OLED display, among other differences. It appeals to lower end consumers

If US consumers think they're paying a lot for the nearly $1,500 iPhone Xs Max with 512gb, they'd better think again. Buyers in Italy will have to shell out a stunning $1,971 for the device

'I think the Xs Max in gold is going to be a tremendous seller in China,' Avi Greengart, research director at GlobalData, told CNN.

'The preference there is for size and color and utility and a bit of luxury.'

And if US consumers think they're paying a pretty penny for the nearly $1,500 iPhone Xs Max with 512gb, they'd better think again.

Consumers who live in other parts of the world will be forced to pay even more for the premium device.

For example, in China, Russia and the UK, the Xs Max model with the most storage goes for $1,860 and up.

That's not the worst, however. Buyers in Italy will have to shell out a stunning $1,971 for the iPhone Xs Max that can store 512 gigs.
There's a lot of hype around the release of Sony's latest robotic dog. It's called 'Aibo,' and is promoted as using artificial intelligence to respond to people looking at it, talking to it and touching it.

Japanese customers have already bought over 20,000 units, and it is expected to come to the U.S. before the holiday gift-buying season  at a price nearing US$3,000.

Why would anyone pay so much for a robotic dog?

My ongoing research suggests part of the attraction might be explained through humanity's longstanding connection with various forms of puppets, religious icons, and other figurines, that I collectively call 'dolls.'

These dolls, I argue, are embedded deep in our social and religious lives.

Humans share a deep and ancient relationship with ordinary objects, the researcher explains. When people create forms, they are participating in the ancient hominid practice of toolmaking

Spiritual and social dolls

As part of the process of writing a 'spiritual history of dolls,' I've returned to that ancient mythology of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions where God formed the first human from the dirt of the earth, and then breathed life into the mud-creature.

Since that time, humans have attempted to do the same  metaphorically, mystically and scientifically  by fashioning raw materials into forms and figures that look like people.

As folklorist Adrienne Mayor explains in a recent study, 'Gods and Robots,' such artificial creatures find their ways into the myths of several ancient cultures, in various ways.

Beyond the stories, people have made these figures part of their religious lives in the form of icons of the Virgin Mary and human-shaped votive objects.

In the late 19th century, dolls with a gramophone disc that could recite the Lord's Prayer were produced on a mass scale.

That was considered a playful way of teaching a child to be pious. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, certain spirits are believed to reside in figurines created by humans.

Across time and place, dolls have played a role in human affairs. In South Asia, dolls of various forms become ritually important during the great goddess festival Navaratri.

Katsina dolls of the Hopi people allow them to create their own self-identity. And in the famed Javanese and Balinese Wayang  shadow puppet performances  mass audiences learn about a mythical past and its bearing on the present.

Making us human

In the modern Western context, Barbie dolls and G.I. Joes have come to play an important role in children's development.

Barbie has been shown to have a negative impact on girls' body images, while G.I. Joe has made many boys believe that they are important, powerful and that they can do great things.

What is at the root of our connection with dolls?

As I have argued in my earlier research, humans share a deep and ancient relationship with ordinary objects. When people create forms, they are participating in the ancient hominid practice of toolmaking.

Tools have agricultural, domestic and communication uses, but they also help people think, feel, act and pray.

Dolls are a primary tool that humans have used for the spiritual and social dimensions of their lives.

They come to have a profound influence on humans. They help build religious connections, such as teaching children to pray, serving as a medium for answering prayers, providing protection and prompting healing.

They also model gender roles and teach people how to behave in society.

Tech toys and messages

Aibo and other such technologies, I argue, play a similar role.

Part of aibo's enchantment is that he appears to see, hear and respond to touch. In other words, the mechanical dog has an embodied intelligence, not unlike humans.

One can quickly find videos of people being emotionally captivated by aibo because he has big eyes that 'look' back at people, he cocks his head, seeming to hear, and he wags his tail when 'petted' the right way.

Technologies are not in competition with humans, the researcher says. In fact, technology is the divine breath, the animating, ensouling force of Homo sapiens. And, in my view, dolls are vital technological tools that find their way into devotional lives, workplaces and social spaces

Another such robot, PARO, a furry, seal-shaped machine that purrs and vibrates as it is stroked, has been shown to have a number of positive effects on elderly people, such as reducing anxiety, increasing social behaviors and counteracting loneliness.

Dolls can have a deep and lasting psychological impact on young people. Psychotherapist Laurel Wider, for example, became concerned about the gendered messages that her son was receiving in social settings about how boys were not supposed to cry or really show many feelings at all.

She then founded a new toy company to create dolls that could help nurture empathy in boys.

As Wider says, these dolls are 'like a peer, an equal, but also small enough, vulnerable enough, to where a child could also want to take care of him.'

Outsourcing social life?

Not everyone welcomes the influence these dolls have come to have on our lives. Critics of these dolls argue they outsource some of humanity's most basic social skills.

Humans, they argue, need other humans to teach them about gender norms, and provide companionship  not dolls and robots.

MIT's Sherry Turkle, for example, somewhat famously dissents from the praise given to these mechanical imitations.

Turkle has long been working at the human-machine interface. Over the years, she has become more skeptical about the roles we assign these mechanical tools.

When confronted with patients using PARO, she found herself 'profoundly depressed' at society's resort to machines as companions, when humans should be spending more time with other humans.

Teaching us to be humans?

It's hard to disagree with Turkle's concerns, but that's not the point. What I argue is that as humans, we share a deep connection with such dolls.

The new wave of dolls and robots are instrumental in motivating further questions about who we are as humans.

Given the technological advances, people are asking whether robots 'can have feelings,' 'be Jewish' or 'make art.'

When people attempt to answer these questions, they must first reflect on what it means for humans to have feelings, be Jewish and make art.

WHAT IS SONY'S AIBO ROBOTIC DOG? Sony rolled out the first-generation AIBO in June 1999, with the initial batch of 3,000 selling out in just 20 minutes, despite the hefty 250,000 yen (more than $2,000 or 1,500) price tag. Over the following years, more than 150,000 units were sold, in numerous iterations, ranging from gleaming metallic-silver versions to round-faced cub-like models. By 2006, however, Sony's business was in trouble and the AIBO, an expensive and somewhat frivolous luxury, had to go. Last year, Sony revived AIBO with a new version of the 30-centimetre (one foot) hound which costs around 1,300 ($1,750). AIBO is billed as a pet that behaves like a puppy using artificial intelligence (AI) to learn and interact with its owner and surroundings. Sony has revived AIBO, a robot that learns how to interact with its owner and is 'capable of building loving relationships', according to Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai. The new version of the 30-centimetre (one foot) hound will launch in Japan in January (pictured) The reborn AIBO features new actuator technology allowing it move more smoothly and naturally like a real dog. With sensing and AI technologies, AIBO can run toward its owner and detect smiles and words of praise, and can remember what actions please the owner. Its eyes are made of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays making it capable of diverse expressions. The robot comes with an array of sensors, cameras and microphones and boasts internet connectivity, allowing owners to play with the pet remotely via smartphone. Advertisement

Some academics go so far as to argue that humans have always been cyborgs, always a mixture of human biological bodies and technological parts.

As philosophers like Andy Clark have argued, 'our tools are not just external props and aids, but they are deep and integral parts of the problem-solving systems we now identify as human intelligence.'

Technologies are not in competition with humans. In fact, technology is the divine breath, the animating, ensouling force of Homo sapiens. And, in my view, dolls are vital technological tools that find their way into devotional lives, workplaces and social spaces.

As we create, we are simultaneously being created.
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If you're looking for something to inspire your next adventure then this stunning gallery of breathtaking landscapes might fire a spot of wanderlust.

The Weather Channel has revealed some of the scenic submissions in its annual It's Amazing Out There Photo Contest, which is now in its fifth year.

Among the striking shots is one showing the Milky Way dramatically illuminating the glassy waters of Reflection Canyon in Utah.

Another shows a golden sunrise shimmering through a blanket of fog shrouding the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

The overall winner of The Weather Channel contest will be announced on September 20, with other outdoor-focused themes including animals in action and extreme weather.

Scroll down to see some of the landscape photos in the running to take first prize...

David Swindler took this mesmerising image of the Milky Way while hiking around Reflection Canyon in Utah at night

Zach Matthai captured a golden sunrise shimmering through a blanket of fog shrouding the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He says early summer often brings fog to the landmark

Miles Morgan says of this shot: 'The weather coming in from the Pacific Ocean crashes into the Eastern Sierras (California) with mighty force'

Frederic Fix captured this motion shot of waves violently crashing against the shore in Anglet in southwestern France

A shaft of early morning light illuminates the rocky landscape and a powerful waterfall in Yosemite National Park, California, in this shot taken by Casey Horner

Photographer Armound Nour took this colourful autumn image at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee

Marcie Vickers took this amazing road view image while journeying to the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada

Siu Wu captured this dramatic ice formation while taking a winter hike up a windy ridge in the White Mountains, New Hampshire

Los Angeles-based photographer Brandon Yoshizawa took this beautiful image of the Milky Way shimmering over a frozen landscape

David Rieck took this stunning shot while hiking on the Mishe Mokwa trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California

Ryan Minion captured this image of Honker's Island at Moraine View State Recreation Area in McLean County, Illinois. He said the midday sun 'ignited the fog' over the lake to create an 'encompassing light'

Carla Brooks captured the Grand Canyon in Arizona draped in clouds in this beautiful shot

Michael Imhoff captured the late afternoon sunlight streaming through storm clouds over the Pilot and Index peaks in northwestern Wyoming

Kristian Bell took this smouldering photo while hiking in the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy

Benjamin Williamson took a shimmering shot of bioluminescence on the coastline (left), while Daniel Gomez snapped the Milky Way casting a mysterious glow over Stonehenge in Salisbury (right)

Florida-based photographer Adams Serra merely captioned this chilly photograph 'harsh winter'

Mary Machnica said she was 'reaching for the stars' as she stayed up to watch the night sky during a trip to Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border

Derek Gomez took this motion shot of a wave rolling towards the shore with the sun slowly setting in the background

Arizona-based photographer Michael Wilson captured this sunrise shot, with golden light illuminating the red rock

Bob Coorsen ventured to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, to get this breathtaking Milky Way shot

Waves crash against the shore in this atmospheric shot taken by Matt Hunter on the edge of Lake Michigan

Sunrise fog blankets the landscape in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in this shot taken by Michael Yormark. He says 'close examination shows the tips of ancient temples in the distance'

Daniel Barlow journeyed to Keyhole Arch off Pfeiffer Beach in California to get this dramatic shot

Jonathan Fassett snagged this image while flying around the headland of Stokksnes on the southeastern Icelandic coast

Nevada-based photographer Ethan Ruhland said he saw a 'river of clouds' when he looked out at this landscape

Joshua Swanson said he took this night photo at Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island, Antarctica. He said that he could see frozen sea ice running up to the horizon with tidal cracks along the shore. He added that Jupiter, Saturn and Mars were 'very visible' in the inky sky

Tom Bixler said after a week of heavy rain and flooding, Wallaman Falls in the northern region of Queensland, Australia, was 'going like never before'. He took this shot at the base of the falls in a bid to show the 'sheer power and beauty that nature has'

Ivan Gastaldo captured a beautiful sunset reflection while out in the middle of the Florida Everglades National Park

Micahel Lewington took this image of a fiery red sky looming over the Injidup Natural Spa on the coast of Yallingup in Western Australia

Siu Wu was happy to find a perfect reflection while exploring Maligne Lake in the wilds of Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies

Fog sweeps in and hides the view of a bay in Alaska, in this shot taken by Michael Lantz

Jassen Todorov took this striking aerial shot in Andalusia, Spain. He says there are numerous bridges over the 'colourful and picturesque marshlands'

A warm glow emits from a huddle of houses around the archipelago of Lofoten in Norway, in this photo taken by Michael Epel

Jason Schroeder said of this shot: 'In April we got blasted with a huge storm that started with high winds, hail, and freezing rain and then turned to a blizzard that left us a foot of snow. I walked out on our pier in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to capture the waves pounding the lighthouse. I couldn't get very close but the experience was one that will stick with me for a long time. I was in awe'

Michael Epel's submission in The Weather Channel contest shows a foggy dawn sweeping over the Tuscan landscape
Living in a remote town in the Antarctic already means sacrificing quite a lot - weather that doesn't give you frostbite, pubs with roaring fires and fine dining experiences.

But officials in the Antarctic village of Villa Las Estrellas on King George Island ask residents to go the extra mile - and sacrifice their appendix.

But they have a sensible reason.

The remote Chilean town of Villa las Estrellas on King George Island - where appendixes are banned

According to the BBC, the operation must be carried out on people who plan to stay in the Chilean settlement because the nearest hospital is over 600 miles away.

While there are doctors living on the military and research base, none are specialist surgeons able to treat appendicitis, which requires immediate surgery.

This means that before going to the base, residents undergo a pre-emptive appendectomy to avoid any emergency situations.

However, despite the remoteness of the settlement, the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva military base does boast a school, library, post office, radio station, bank and supermarket.

Some of the buildings on the military base in Villa las Estrellas, which is home to around 46 people

An appendix removal is a necessary precaution for anybody staying long-term in the town as hospitals are over 600 miles away

But conditions can be harsh, especially in the winter where temperatures dip as low as -47C and people have to stay indoors, or risk death.

This means that most people just live on the island during the summer, but even this comes with hardship, because daylight is constant.

And fresh vegetables are rare all year round.

Plus, dogs are banned in case they introduce diseases to indigenous wildlife.

But animal companionship (of sorts) may be possible in Villa Las Estrellas because there are two creatures in abundance there - adelie penguins and elephant seals.

It is reported that because they have never been hunted, the penguins often walk without fear right up to their human neighbours.
The runway at East Midlands Airport was closed this afternoon after a Ryanair flight suffered a burst tyre on landing.

The Irish carrier's Boeing 737 had been returning from Barcelona when it experienced hydraulic issues as it descended.

The runway was closed for around an hour while the tyre was replaced and then the aircraft was towed away.

Twitter user James_B took this snap of a Ryanair flight that suffered a burst tyre on landing at East Midlands Airport

All passengers on board the flight were safely disembarked from the aircraft and bussed to the terminal building.

However, the incident is believed to have caused a knock on delay with other departures and arrivals, with some flights diverted to Birmingham and Doncaster airports.

A spokeswoman from Ryanair told MailOnline Travel: 'The aircraft operating this flight from Barcelona to East Midlands suffered a burst tyre on landing at East Midlands Airport.

'Customers disembarked and were transferred to the terminal by bus and engineers will repair the aircraft and return it to service.'

Twitter user James_B, who witnessed the incident wrote: 'BCN-EMA aircraft stranded on East Mids runway only has one of its two nose wheel tyres blown hence parked half way down runway.

The runway at the airport, pictured, was closed for around an hour while the tyre was replaced and then the aircraft was towed away

'Awaiting ground crew to lift & shift the airframe to a remote stand for inspection.'

Just yesterday a stunned plane crew watched in horror as a wheel fell off another Ryanair jet as it took off from Stansted airport.

The plane - destined for Copenhagen, Denmark, with 184 passengers and crew on board - was forced to make an emergency landing after a nose wheel came off during take-off.

The Boeing 737 was diverted to East Midlands Airport, where police held traffic on the M1 motorway adjoining the runway in case disaster struck.

In an amazing twist the hero pilot and crew looked up 'how to land with a flat tyre' in their training manual, which helped them bring the aircraft down safely.
Following their whirlwind romance on Love Island Australia, Grant Crapp split with Tayla Damir just 12 days after the finale aired.

And in the wake of reports the beauty queen has 're-coupled' with co-star Dom Thomas, Grant has revealed he does not approve of the pairing.

'She needs to hit bigger targets and I don't think that's Dom,' the 23-year-old electrician told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

EXCLUSIVE: 'She needs to hit bigger targets!' Love Island's Grant Crapp has claimed his ex-girlfriend Tayla Damir is 'out of Dom Thomas' league' after they debuted their new romance. Pictured: Tayla and Dom in a recent Instagram snap

It's over! After their whirlwind romance on Love Island Australia, Grant (left) split with Tayla (right) just 12 days after the finale aired. It later emerged he had a 'secret girlfriend' back in Canberra throughout filming

Grant claimed he had no issues with Tayla dating other people after their break up, saying: 'If they're happy together, that's fair enough.'

But the tradesman made it very clear he believes Tayla is out of Dom's league.

'I feel like, personally, it's a massive positive for Dom, but for Tayla it's a massive negative,' he said.

'She needs to go something bigger than someone who's just been a contestant on Love Island and didn't even place anything.'

'I feel like it's a massive positive for Dom, but for Tayla it's a massive negative': After reports Tayla 're-coupled' with Dom post-filming, Grant revealed he does not approve of the pairing

Ouch! Grant claimed he had no issues with Tayla dating other people after their break up, saying: 'If they're happy together, that's fair enough.' But the tradesman made it very clear he believes Tayla is out of Dom's league. Pictured: Dom on Love Island Australia

'She needs a to hit bigger targets and I dont think Dom is one of those targets,' Grant added. 'Good on you, Dom, if you can land Tayla, it works really well for him, but for her sake it's not the smartest thing for her.'

The pair have been fueling romance rumours for the past week, sharing loved-up photos to Instagram and spending more time together than usual.

Last week, a video emerged on social media that appeared to show Dom's hand on Tayla's lap, which sent fans into a frenzy.

They look cosy! Tayla and Dom have been fueling romance rumours for the past week, sharing loved-up photos to Instagram and spending more time together than usual

However, Tayla denied the pair were a couple last week's during an interview with NW magazine.

When approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia earlier this week, Tayla's representative also downplayed the rumours.

'The speculation is misguided and any rumours are false. She's single and very happy,' they said.
Mary Halsey became a viral sensation over the summer when her karaoke rendition of Work It caught Missy Elliott's attention.

On Thursday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Elliott had the opportunity to meet her super fan from Rhode Island.

The 47-year-old rapper took Halsey by surprise when she stepped on stage for a duet performance of the 2002 hit single.

Surprise! On Thursday, Mary Halsey, a woman from Rhode Island, had the opportunity to meet her rap idol, Missy Elliott, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Dynamic duo: The 47-year-old rapper took Halsey by surprise when she stepped on stage for a duet performance of Work It

Halsey performed Work It at Goddard Park's annual karaoke event back in July.

'I just found out I have a FUNKY WHITE SISTER,' Missy wrote when she saw the viral video. 'She straight killed Work It, sound effects and all. I love it.'

The video has since accrued over 1.6 views on Elliott's Instagram page.

Group hug: Mary was ecstatic to meet the hip-hop legend

Mary Halsey became a viral sensation over the summer when her karaoke rendition of Work It caught Missy Elliott's attention

'I just found out I have a FUNKY WHITE SISTER,' Missy wrote when she saw the viral video. 'She straight killed Work It, sound effects and all. I love it.' The video has since accrued over 1.6 views on Elliott's Instagram page

Halsey sat down with Ellen on Thursday to discuss her Elliott fandom.



'There was a [karaoke] competition in 2003. The song came out in 2002. And the reaction that I got was so positive that it became my go-to [karaoke] song,' Mary told the show host.

She was later gifted a signed t-shirt and a jacket embroidered with her famous nicknameMissy's funky white sister.

Missy merch: Elliott gifted the Rhode Island fan a signed t-shirt

Memories: Ellen gifted Mary a jacket embroidered with her famous nicknameMissy's funky white sister

Loyal fan: Work It has been Halsey's go-to karaoke song since 2003

Once backstage, Missy introduced Mary to her Instagram followers.

'First I want to thank Ellen for just being AMAZING she will always be blessed because of her HUGE Heart!!,' she captioned a video of her and Halsey.

'Ellen has always used her platform to make others dreams come true like Mary Halsey, who I must say is one of the sweetest souls Ive met!'
He was accused of being rude and insulting as the new presenter of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? earlier this year.

But despite his controversial performance, Jeremy Clarkson will be in the driving seat as host when the show returns next year.

It had a seven-day run in May to celebrate its 20th anniversary year and ITV announced yesterday that it would return in early 2019.

However, Clarkson, 58, who took over the role from Chris Tarrant, was criticised for mocking a contestant in the first episode who requested the ask-the-audience lifeline.

Jeremy Clarkson will be in the driving seat as host when the show returns next year despite controversial presenting earlier this year

The former Top Gear host told the audience: 'Who knew you'd be needed this early?'

Clarkson later admitted that his girlfriend, Lisa Hogan, was 'cross' with him because he had been 'horrid', and he suggested he would be kinder in subsequent episodes.

In the final episode, however, the star of Amazon Prime's The Grand Tour told a contestant they had answered correctly and won 32,000, without first checking the answer. In fact, it was wrong and the contestant lost 15,000.

In another episode, a contestant used the new lifeline called 'ask the host' to consult Clarkson on a driving question, but the presenter was forced to admit that he did not know the shape of a stop sign.

Clarkson, 58, who took over the role from Chris Tarrant, was criticised for mocking a contestant in the first episode who requested the ask-the-audience lifeline

The star tried to disguise the blunder by joking: 'Stopping is for other people.'

Speaking about returning to the show, which was presented by Tarrant from 1998 to 2014, Clarkson said: 'I absolutely loved hosting the anniversary shows and cannot wait to spend a few precious hours away from James May and Richard Hammond, making the new ones.'

Matthew Worthy, of Stellify Media, the production company behind the shows, jokingly advised contestants using the 'ask the host' lifeline: 'Don't use it on questions about fine art, haute cuisine or the scouting association.'

The quiz show was launched in September 1998 and at its peak pulled in more than 19million viewers. The final episode starring Tarrant, 71, aired in February 2014.

The programme spawned versions in countries including Russia, Japan, India and the US, and was the inspiration behind the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

The series made headlines in 2003 when Army major Charles Ingram was found guilty of cheating his way to the top prize by having an accomplice in the audience cough to indicate the correct answers. The application process to be a contestant on the show is open.
It was a story that outraged fans on Wednesday night, after the heartbreak of losing her baby daughter.

And Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has hinted that Jim McDonald will face the fury of his ex-wife Liz after she discovers their so-called 'long lost daughter' Katie is actually an impostor.

Speaking to The Sun Beverley hinted that a whole new revenge plot could be on the horizon after she finds out that Katie is actually Jim's lover, and the pair are working together to con her out of her savings.

Raging: Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has hinted that Jim McDonald will face the fury of his ex-wife Liz after she discovers their so-called 'long lost daughter' Katie is an impostor

She said: 'Listen feisty Liz returns with a vengeance, that's all I can say about that,' she laughed.

'We're a long way off that now but the scenes are just brilliant. You know you get the script and think ''Oh that's good, that's good'' but honestly I could not wait to film them.'

Beverley also hinted that Jim's long-standing love for Liz could see his plan to go south, as he struggles to maintain the facade to work alongside 'daughter' Katie.

She added: 'With what we know now, it would destroy them. There would be no way back for him now with Steve, with Andy or with Liz.'

Angry: The soap star told The Sun that Jim will see Liz's fury after she discovers Jim's 'daughter' is really his girlfriend, in a story which outraged fans on Wednesday night

Fans were outraged on Wednesday night when it was revealed that Jim and Katie were secretly in cahoots to con Liz out of her savings.

Taking to social media in fury, fans admitted they were left sick to their stomach by a scene which saw Jim share a kiss with his 'daughter' Katie, who he claimed has adopted in a mix-up at birth and had been living in Australia.

The episode began following Jim's (Charlie Lawson) bombshell to Liz (Beverley Callard) that their daughter was actually alive, more than 30 years after she was led to believe her baby died minutes after birth.

Liz was left with the difficult decision of whether to reunite and reconnect with her daughter, as Jim admitted he had tracked her down.

In touching scenes Katie (Hannah Ellis Ryan) shared an emotional reunion with Liz, after struggling to contain their emotions, with Jim explaining she had been renamed 'Hannah' by their adoptive parents.

Shocking: Jim had arrived back on the Street to tell Liz that their long-lost daughter was actually alive and had been adopted and living in Australia

Surprising: In an emotional reunion, Liz could be seen embracing her daughter Katie, who she thought had died almost three decades earlier

But despite it seeming that the family could be set to rebuild their special bond, the true nature of 'Katie's' arrival was revealed minutes later.

In a private car chat with Jim, he joked that she had been 'a good daughter,' to which she replied: 'Don't call me that, you know I'm neither.'

The pair then proceeded to share a steaming kiss which left viewers outraged at this surprisingly incestuous relationship.

But later 'Katie's' true identity was revealed, with the brunette posing as Liz's daughter as part of Jim's plan to con her out of her savings, to enact revenge on her and the couple's son Steve for letting him rot in prison.

Unbelievable: Later scenes revealed that Jim was actually in a relationship with 'Katie' who was an imposter as part of a plot to con Liz out of her savings as revenge for leaving him in prison

Naughty! Fans slammed producers for the story which flew in the face of Liz's tragic loss decades earlier, which was strongly praised at the time

Fans were left sickened by the plot, as not only did it sit uncomfortably that Jim was having a relationship with his 'daughter' but they also slammed producers for the story which flew in the face of Liz's tragic loss decades earlier.

Actress Beverley was praised for her performance in the 1992 scenes when her baby daughter was born prematurely and died hours later, especially as such a plot had not been substantially covered in soap before that point.

One tweeted: 'The Macdonald storyline is #sick!!! How could Jim do something so horrific to Liz.'

Another added: 'Didn't but this whole jim/katie storyline... he has never been smart enough to make this up and Liz has always been important to him!'

Unreal: Taking to Twitter in droves, many were stunned to see Jim and Katie share a kiss, even after the true nature of their relationship was revealed

Of course it now remains to be seen whether Jim and Katie's plan will be exposed by Liz or one of her loved ones, especially as Steve will demand a DNA test next week.

Other fans have already claimed Jim's plan will implode as he cannot hide his long-lasting love for Liz, especially as he still called her 'my Elizabeth.'

Adding fuel to the fire, actor Charlie Lawson recently told Digital Spy: 'Jim just wants Liz back, but by that stage, he's in too deep.

'It gives the character a sort of redemption, which is important. Jim's never been a bad man, he just makes mistakes as every man does.'

Coronation Street continues on Friday 14th September at 7:30pm and 8:30pm on ITV.
She recently stepped down as a Myer ambassador after 12 years in the role.

And Jennifer Hawkins has revealed that one of the reasons behind her departure - besides Myer's multi-million dollar losses and plummeting sales - is her desire to start a family with husband Jake Wall.

Speaking at her final runway show for the retailer in Melbourne on Thursday, she told the Herald Sun: 'I'd love to have a family, it's taking the time to look ahead.'

'I want the time to do that': Jennifer Hawkins has revealed she is looking forward to starting a family with husband Jake Wall (left) after walking her final runway show for Myer this week

The 34-year-old former Miss Universe added: 'I want to have the time to be able to do that.'

Jennifer made her final appearance with Myer on Thursday night as she walked in one of their in-store fashion shows on Bourke Street.

At the end of the presentation, she was gifted a bouquet of white flowers and appeared close to tears.

Farewell: Speaking at her final runway show (pictured) for the retailer in Melbourne on Thursday, she told the Herald Sun, 'I'd love to have a family, it's taking the time to look ahead'

Fresh talent: Jennifer has been 'replaced' by swimsuit model and reality TV star Elyse Knowles (right), who signed with the struggling department store in late July

She has now been 'replaced' by swimsuit model and reality TV star Elyse Knowles, who signed with the struggling department store in late July.

Jennifer married Jake Wall in 2013 after eight years of dating.

The power couple have gone on to mix business with pleasure, launching their own tequila line and working on their property development company, J Group Projects.

Power couple: Jennifer married Jake Wall in 2013 after eight years of dating

Jennifer's exit from Myer comes at a perfect time given that the retail giant suffered a record $486million annual loss in 2017-18.

Despite having already slashed costs to remain competitive earlier in the year, sales still plummeted by 3.2 per cent to $3.1billion.

As a result, the department store recorded a whopping loss - its first since publicly listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2009.
It's primary day in New York where Cynthia Nixon and Andrew Cuomo are going head to head in the state's gubernatorial race.

The former Sex And The City star got support at the ballot from her former co-star Sarah Jessica Parker, who was pictured on Thursday in a white shirt, black Madewell jeans and Ray-Ban Wings sunglasses after casting her vote for her long-time friend.

SJP posted a photo to Instagram of her 'I Voted' sticker and wrote: 'One of the best feelings in the world. Very proud to see my dear friend Cynthia Nixon's name on the ballot. Polls open here in the great state of NY til 9p. X, SJ.'

Voted: Sarah Jessica Parker was out and about in New York on Thursday and headed to the polling station to support her former Sex And The City co-star Cynthia Nixon on primary day in a white shirt, black Madewell jeans and Ray-Ban Wings sunglasses

'Best feeling': SJY posted a photo of her 'I Voted' sticker to her Instagram and wrote: 'Very proud to see my dear friend Cynthia Nixon's name on the ballot'

Sex And The City ran on HBO for six seasons from 1998 to 2004 and made Nixon, who played Miranda, a household name.

The actress's decision to challenge incumbent Cuomo marks her first run for political office, and polls have her trailing the current governor by at least 30 points.

Nixon, 52, is married to Christine Marinoni with whom she shares a son, born to Marinoni in 2011.

She also has two children from her former relationship with Danny Mozes and in June, she revealed that her eldest child is transgender.

Election day: Nixon, 52, pictured casting her vote, is running against incumbent Andrew Cuomo in the state's gubernatorial primary

Celebrity designer: Sarah Jessica, who was wearing a pair of black Madewell jeans, also dropped by her shoe store where she chatted to staff and checked out the merchandise

Amy Schumer, who also lives in the Big Apple, had vacillated between Nixon and Cuomo, first donating $10,000 to Nixon's campaign before saying earlier this week she would support Cuomo on election day.

However, the Trainwreck star changed her mind again as she posted to Instagram Thursday that she ended up casting her vote for Nixon.

'We voted. And we voted for @cynthiaenixon couldnt help it,' she explained.

'Thanks to the women who took their time to talk to me about it. When someone disagrees with you be patient and have a conversation. Its most productive,' she added.

Changed her mind: Amy Schumer also posted to Instagram revealing that she voted for Nixon after announcing earlier in the week that she was going to support Cumo

Celebrity support: Cardi B also cast her ballot for the actress and got a shout out from the candidate in return

Voted: Girls star Lena Dunham, also a New York resident, tweeted about why she decided to support Nixon at the ballot box, arguing 'women have to protect each other'

Cardi B also cast her ballot for the actress and got a shout out from the candidate in return.

'Thank you @iamcardib for your support! New York: polls close at 9 p.m. get out and vote! #TeamCynthia,' Nixon tweeted.

Girls star Lena Dunham, also a New York resident, tweeted about why she decided to support Nixon at the ballot box.

'The last few days have reminded me on many levels that women have to protect each other. Hold each other accountable,' she wrote. 'When we falter in that pursuit, everyone suffers. Thats just part of why Im so f***ing happy to vote @CynthiaNixon today.'

Heavy hitters: Former West Wing stars Richard Schiff and Allison Janney shared a video Tuesday explaining why New Yorkers should vote for Nixon

On #teamcynthia: Star Trek star Zachary Quinto tweeted his intention to go and vote for Nixon

Proud: After voting, the actor shared a selfie from outside the polling station and shared that he 'inspired by her campaign and her commitment to real change in New York and beyond...'

Opinion: Filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted that New York voters had 'a chance...to make history' by voting for the Sex And The City star and being part of 'the citizens revolution'

Her candidate: Rosie O'Donnell, an ardent Nixon supporter, also shared a photo of her 'I Voted' sticker

Nixon also got support from former West Wing stars Richard Schiff and Allison Janney and Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto as well as filmmaker Michael Moore, rapper T.I. and Rosie O'Donnell.

However, some famous names opted to support Cuomo, among them rapper Nicki Minaj.

'New Yorkers & all NYCHA residents its time to get JUSTICE,' Minaj tweeted. 'VOTE Thur. Sept. 13 for Gov. Cuomo, Lt. Gov. Hochul & Tish James. They know how to work for the people to make NY even GREATER. Spread the word. See you at the Polls!'

For him: Nixon's opponent Cuomo also got some star support, with Nicki Minaj tweeting the incumbent Democratic governor knows 'how to work for the people to make NY even greater'
She's the little sister of supermodel Kate Moss.

And Lottie Moss made sure she followed in her famous sibling's footsteps as she attended an Urbanears and Tove Lo event, as part of London Fashion Week, on Thursday night.

The model, 20, made sure she stayed in the spotlight as she joined her Made in Chelsea pals, Jess Woodley and Emily Blackwell.

Chic: Lottie Moss made sure she followed in her famous sibling's footsteps as she attended an Urbanears and Tove Lo event, as part of London Fashion Week, on Thursday night

For the event, Lottie showcased her toned figure in a tight-fitting black satin corset-style dress.

She teamed the skimpy item of clothing with a leather jacket, heels and gold detailed handbag.

Lottie showed off her fringe as she styled her blonde locks into a sleek blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of make-up.

Famous trio: The model, 20, made sure she stayed in the spotlight as she joined her Made in Chelsea pals, Jess Woodley and Emily Blackwell

Glamorous: For the event, Lottie showcased her toned figure in a tight-fitting black satin corset-style dress

Mane attraction: Lottie smiled as she left the party

Details: She teamed the skimpy item of clothing with a leather jacket, heels and gold detailed handbag

Chit chat: Lottie chatted on her phone following the intimate performance

Stylish: Jess, 23, appeared to take style inspiration from her pal as she too wore a black satin dress with lace detailing on the side with a camouflage jacket

Elegant:Ashley James looked effortlessly elegant in a black and white velvet wrap dress, with a slit on the leg

Strike a pose: The Celebrity Big Brother star styled her blonde locks into a curly hairdo as she added a slick of red lipstick

Blonde bombshell: Betsy Blue showed off her tiny figure in a plunging black Lycra jumpsuit for the star-studded event

Meanwhile, Jess, 23, appeared to take style inspiration from her pal as she too wore a black satin dress with lace detailing on the side.

She accessorised the ensemble with a cropped camouflage jacket and military-style heeled boots.

Emily, 21, cut a casual figure in black skinny jeans, a tweed blazer and patent leather heeled boots.

Work it: She accessorised the look with platform trainers and a black Nike waist belt

Dotty: Love Island: The Morning After's Arielle Free looked chic in a satin black and white polka dot wrap dress

Keeping it casual: She teamed the item of clothing with a pair of white platform trainers

Cool: Jackson Mawhinney and Tina Stinnes cut an edgy figure in black jeans and trainers

Gorgeous: AJ Odudu looked stunning in a terracotta coloured plunging shirt dress

Also attending the event, were Love Island: The Morning After's Arielle Free, Celebrity Big Brother's Ashley James, AJ Odudu, Jackson Mawhinney, Tina Stinnes and Betsy Blue.

Despite partying with her MIC friends, the model told The Sun that she has shunned reality TV offers because she likes having her own personal life.

The model revealed to Bizarre that she had been approached about MIC, as so many of her pals are on the show, but isn't interested in taking part.

Bold look: Tove Lo made a bold fashion statement with a fluorescent neon green high-neck crop top with high-waisted cut-out trousers

Pretty in pink: India Rose showed off her pink locks as she wore a cool black and white chequered leather jacket

Stylish duo: Ramario Chevoy looked effortlessly cool as he posed with his pal at the star-studded event

Rock it!: Barney Banks wore a pair of skinny jeans, a Levi's t-shirt and a black leather jacket

Glamorous: Natasha Grano looked glamorous in a mustard yellow off the shoulder dress, with a ruffle trim detail

She said: 'I've been asked a lot from Made In Chelsea. Obviously I'm friends with everyone on it.

'It's not for me. I quite like having a private life. I don't like everything being on TV.

'My guilty pleasure, which is really bad, is Ex On The Beach and Geordie Shore. I absolutely love them.'

Funky: Liza Owen rocked a pair of red leather trousers and a funky patterned jumper for the event

Strike a pose: Nikita Andrianova knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm
Drake's rumored new squeezed has denied reports that she cozied up with the rapper over an intimate dinner recently.

The 18-year-old model took to Instagram to clear things up on Friday as she captioned a selfie of herself clarifying her whereabouts this week.

'Coming off an amazing New York fashion week, I feel I need to set the record straight... I did not dine in DC recently. I was happily working & dining in NYC everyday.' she captioned a snap.

Didn't happen: Drake's rumored love interest Bella B Harris has spoken out to say she was not in Washington DC when she is reported to have met Drake for an intimate dinner date

The brunette beauty, who is signed to Elite models, is seen in a plunging white top as she gazes into the camera.

Further quashing the rumors, sources close to Drake told TMZ that the story is false. They also confirmed Bella wasn't in town when the date supposedly took place.

Furthermore a source told UsWeekly, 'There is no way at all they are dating,' the insider says. 'He's never dated her, isnt dating her.'

It was reported by Page Six this week that the God's Plan hitmaker had enjoyed Bella's company during a romantic dinner at RPM Italian in Washington DC on Monday night.

Apparently spotted dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans, the Canadian hip hop star was seeing having a drink at the bar before Bella snuck in the back entrance to join him.

Just friends: Drake was apparently spotted 'getting cosy' with 18-year-old model Bella on Monday

Cosy: The rapper and the teen model were said to have enjoyed a romantic dinner at RPM Italian on both Monday and Tuesday

Summer romance: The pair were first romantically linked earlier this summer

The pair then dined on 'sweet corn agnolotti, spaghetti and meatballs, Mediterranean octopus and roasted salmon', sources told the site.

They eventually left separately, but witnesses claim they were 'getting cosy' all night.

The pair reportedly reunited at the same spot the following night, where Drake invited their server to come see him perform in concert on Wednesday.

The pair have were first romantically linked earlier this summer and are definitely friendly as they follow each other on Instagram.

On August 25 Bella shared two cozy snaps with the Hotline Bling star after visiting him backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC during one of his tour stops.

She captioned the post, 'no place Id rather be,' alongside a blue heart emoji.

This year it was also revealed the In My Feelings hitmaker had secretly fathered a child with adult movie star Sophie Brussaux.

Not in my feelings: On Tuesday, Heidi Klum told Ellen DeGeneres Drake had texted her asking her out, but she ghosted him

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Heidi Klum told Ellen DeGeneres Drake had texted her asking her out, but she ghosted him.

The 45-year-old revealed that a week after she chose him over Joaquin Phoenix during a game of Who'd You Rather on that very same show, he reached out.

But in the meantime she had met 'the love of her life' Tom Kaulitz, 29, so simply ignored Drake's text.
She rose to fame after appearing on Made In Chelsea and Celebrity Big Brother.

And Ashley James made sure she remained in the spotlight as she attended the star-studded YSL Beauty Club event in London on Thursday evening.

The DJ, 31, looked sensational in a black and white velvet wrap dress, which had a daring slit on the leg.

Hollywood glamour: Ashley James made sure she remained in the spotlight as she attended the star-studded YSL Beauty Club event in London on Thursday evening

Ashley oozed Hollywood glamour as she styled her blonde locks into a blow-dried curly hairdo.

She added a slick of glamorous make-up, which included a bold red lipstick for the star-studded evening.

Also attending the event was Jaime Winstone who posed up a storm with model Alice Dellal and All Saints' Melanie Blatt in front of a wall of TVs.

Stunning: The DJ, 31, looked sensational in a black and white velvet wrap dress, which had a daring slit on the leg

Work it: Also attending the event was Jaime Winstone who posed up a storm in front of a wall of TVs

Stylish: The actress, 33, looked effortlessly chic in a orange satin De La Vali trouser suit with a terracotta vest top underneath

Pals: Jaime couldn't resist posing with model Alice Dellal as they had fun at the event

Bust a move!: The actress showed off her dance moves with All Saints' Melanie Blatt

The actress, 33, looked effortlessly chic in a orange satin De La Vali trouser suit with a terracotta vest top underneath.

She accessorised the look with a bold oversized gold necklace and matching hoop earrings.

Jaime styled her brunette locks into a sleek tied back hairdo, with her front strands left loose for a glamorous twist.

Bold look: Ashley Roberts was also at the event and looked pretty in pink as she wore a fuchsia coloured satin shirt with a bold black collar

Pretty in pink: She accessorised the look with oversized and high-waisted grey tartan trousers with a black buckle belt

Glamorous: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 37, showed off her facial features as she styled her blonde locks into a sleek high bun

Stylish: Vanessa White looked stylish in ripped denim mom jeans and a black oversized blazer

Work it: Ella Eyre was also present at the star-studded bash as she showed off her natural flair for fashion

Talented: The songstress, 24, looked effortlessly cool in a pair of high-waisted patchwork denim mom jeans

Dressed to impress: Made In Chelsea's Sophie Hermann dazzled in a low-cut metallic purple mini dress that she teamed with staggering heels and a beaded clutch bag

She added a slick of party-ready make-up, which included smokey eyeshadow, heavy eyeliner and a nude lipstick.

Ashley Roberts was also at the event and looked pretty in pink as she wore a fuchsia coloured satin shirt with a bold black collar.

She accessorised the look with oversized and high-waisted grey tartan trousers with a black buckle belt.

Dapper: Nick Grimshaw looked dapper in a pair of pinstriped trousers and an oversized burgundy coat

Dotty: Love Island: The Morning After's Arielle Free wore a funky satin black and white polka dot dress

Girl gang: Yasmin Lauryn, Caroline Alvares, Ella Eyre, Sophia Saffarian and Lauren Rammell all posed together

Stylish duo: Grace Small and Sydney Lima both rocked different style trouser suits at the star-studded bash

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 37, showed off her facial features as she styled her blonde locks into a sleek high bun.

She added a slick of bold make-up, which included a bright pink lipstick to match her shirt.

Ella Eyre was also present at the star-studded bash as she showed off her natural flair for fashion.

Work it: Professor Greens ex-girlfriend Fae Williams wore a black floral patterned dress as she rocked a bold red lipstick look

Fun: Pips Taylor looked elegant in a grey detailed layered dress as she accessorised with a red heart shaped handbag

Daring: Zara Martin left nothing to the imagination with a black sheer lace top and a chiffon skirt

Chic: Lilah Parsons looked chic in a black trouser suit with a red bra and red heels

Stylish foursome: Irina Lazareanu and Bee Beardsworth posed with their guests at the event

The songstress, 24, looked effortlessly cool in a pair of high-waisted patchwork denim mom jeans.

She teamed the item of clothing with a white crop top and a blue satin bomber jacket.

Also in attendance were the likes of Vanessa White, Nick Grimshaw and Love Island: The Morning After's Arielle Free.

Hollywood glamour: Patricia Bright oozed Hollywood glamour in a plunging red velvet wrap dress

Fun times: Melanie Blatt looked chic in a pair of black skinny jeans with a black fringe jacket over the top

Lady in red: Frankie Herbert knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm at the event in a De La Vali dress
She's accustomed to flying first class, and has even been known to catch a private jet or two.

But on Friday, Roxy Jacenko put the luxury on pause after she was forced to fly economy on budget airline Jetstar for some last-minute business in Melbourne.

The flight was far from smooth, with the 38-year-old's employee Holly Asser vomiting into a sickness bag after the plane suffered some turbulence during landing.

Roxy Jacenko's economy flight from hell: The PR queen (left) looked mortified during a rare Jetstar trip as her employee Holly Asser (right) vomited into a sickness bag due to turbulence

'She came over bad when we were landing due to some turbulence,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia after the ordeal.

'She considered puking in her handbag initially! Thank goodness for the sick bag.'

The high-profile publicist and her puking protege were in Melbourne to work on a 'top secret event'.

Ordeal: '[Holly] came over bad when we were landing due to some turbulence,' Roxy explained. 'She considered puking in her handbag initially! Thank goodness for the sick bag'

Earlier this year, Roxy dropped thousands of dollars on first-class Singapore Airlines flights to London with her husband Oliver Curtis and their children.

Flying first class with Singapore Airlines costs upwards of $12,500 per adult.

Also joining the family on the trip was Roxy's Sweaty Betty PR employee Grace Garrick, who was helping look after the kids, Pixie and Hunter, at the time.

$12,500 per adult! Earlier this year, Roxy dropped thousands of dollars on first-class Singapore Airlines flights to London with her husband Oliver Curtis (left) and their two children

Clearly enjoying the perks of working for Australia's most famous publicist, Grace also flew first class.

Roxy is no stranger to flying by private jet either.

She flew privately to visit Oliver in jail while he was serving time for insider trading in Cooma, and in July she made a similar luxury trip from London to Sicily.
Foxfinder (Ambassadors Theatre)

Verdict: Unintentionally hilarious

Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

Verdict: Deafening



Collectors of dramatic kitsch should hurry to the Ambassadors for an unintentionally comic tale set in rural bleakness.

Playwright Dawn King fancies herself as an expert in dystopia, a fancy word for Leftie pessimism. The programme even includes Dawns tips for writing dystopia.

Her story is set in an England where farmers have their output checked by State officials. Those who fail to grow enough food for this presumably post-Brexit Britain may have their farms given to more skilful agriculturalists who can produce the supplies needed by a starving populace.

In this world, the fox has become an enemy of the people, so feared that it has assumed quasi-devilish standing.

Iwan Rheon as Inspector William, a trained foxfinder reared to the role by state supervisors

The play opens with farmer Samuel and his wife Judith in their bare kitchen. Dark lighting. Rudimentary furniture. Ambient scary chords. And ooh-arr yokel accents which would not pass muster on The Archers.

William, 19, a trained foxfinder, reared to the role by State supervisors since he was five, arrives to inspect the farm for signs of the hated vermin.

As the story unfolds, the allegory whacks us over the head time and again: here is a brutal, desperate State whose citizens live in terror; the little people have never had it harder; and foxes, which do not even seem to exist, are the enemy. Oh yes.

What prize tommyrot. I happen to live in a rural area. Round our way, farmers hold officialdom in cheery contempt. Foxes? The State loves them. Ditto badgers.

Iwan Rheon brings a robotic emptiness to William, the foxfinder. Paul Nicholls, Heida Reed and Bryony Hannah play the rustics.

At Wednesdays final matinee a few lines went wrong and others were hard to hear.

Good set, though, with woodland backdrops and an onstage tree.

The production is like a cross between Orwell and the Two Ronnies sketch about The Phantom Raspberry Blower Of Old London Town.

Throw in some stuffed dead rabbits and clunky sound effects (heavy rain that stops at the press of a button) and  whooo!  its dystopia.

We were meant to be terrified. But I thought it a hoot.

Stage adaptations of cult films attract cultist audiences who whoop and cheer.

So it proved on Tuesday at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, where a high number of forty-something women screamed their delight at Heathers.

Winona Ryder starred in the 1988 film, a dark satire on American high school life.

Heroine Veronica is a reluctant member of a gang of teenage school bullies. After bedding a handsome outsider called JD, she turns into a murderer.

Veronica and JD are soon picking off the baddies, be it by poisoning them or shooting them. Such larks!

In the stage version this not-so-cute story has been set to rock-pop; the music painfully loud, the tunes humdrum.

Carrie Hope Fletcher, as Veronica, looks at least ten years too old. I was more taken by Jamie Muscatos JD, who achieves a chiselled coolness.

The best moment comes with My Dead Gay Son, when a double funeral is turned into a hammy hymn to tolerance.

There is also much about teenage suicides. If you have lost someone to suicide, you might want to give this a miss.

QUENTIN LETTS

Haunting fable of family grief

Primed by my wife, who sobbed her way through Alice Sebolds bestselling book, I was expecting this play to be a real sniffle-fest.

In the event, the beauty of Bryony Laverys spellbinding adaptation and Melly Stills eloquent staging of the story about a teenage girl whos been raped and murdered is that it doesnt simply make you mist up. Instead, it welcomes you into its world as a tale of longing, redemption and eventual letting go.

Laverys version is a river of eddying currents taken from Sebolds story, starting with the murder of narrator Susie Salmon and moving steadily to the open sea of the ending.

Its highly cinematic, with short scenes in heaven and on earth interpenetrating as the dead Susie tries to help her family while they blunder through their grief. But it works brilliantly on stage because Sebolds characters are fully embodied and the audience less imprisoned by Susies narration.

There are poignant performances from Jack Sandle as the father struggling to cope with his confusion and Emily Bevan as the mother who isolates herself emotionally, while Ayoola Smart proves herself a rising star as the gutsy sister. But its Charlotte Beaumont who focuses the show as Susie, finding the active joy in a potentially passive victim.

Perhaps she could have held the closing lines a little longer, but they do stay with you, and if I didnt well up then, Im not so sure now.

PATRICK MARMION
He walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of his new Hulu streaming series The First on Wednesday night.

But hours later, Sean Penn was hanging ten in the Malibu surf.

The 58-year-old actor showed off his impressive abs as he carried his surfboard back to his car with the top of his wet suit pulled down and carrying his surfboard.

Fit: Sean Penn, 58, showed off his impressive abs as he carried his surfboard back to his car with the top of his wet suit pulled down after a surfing session in Malibu Thursday

In addition to his pecs, he also showed off bulging biceps as he strolled along in flip flops.

The double Oscar winner is an avid surfer and spent time on the waves with pals.

In his latest project The First, Penn plays an astronaut chosen to be part of the first manned mission to Mars.

The drama series was created by Beau Willimon who created the American version of House Of Cards for Netflix.

Impressive muscles: In addition to his pecs, the double Oscar winner also showed off bulging biceps as he strolled along in flip flops

Day job: Hours earlier, on Wednesday night, Penn attended the Los Angeles premiere for the Hulu original series The First posing for photos with his co-star Natascha McElhone

On Wednesday night, he posed for photos at the special screening with his co-star Natascha McElhone.

The British actress, 48, plays the visionary aerospace magnate who oversees the mission to the Red Planet.

Penn was dressed in a black two-piece suit with a white shirt left unbuttoned at the collar for his publicity appearance.

Natascha, 48, wore a blue and green patterned gown with a v-neckline and added a silky black tailored jacket decorated with silver sequins and a pair of black open-toe heels.

Meaty roles: In the series, Penn plays an astronaut who's chosen to be on the first manned mission to Mars and Natascha is the visionary aerospace magnate who sends him there
Ali Oetjen has returned to work after filming her season of The Bachelorette.

The 32-year-old, who is an advertising executive for radio station Mix 102.3 in Adelaide, was back in the company of her colleagues on Friday.

The blonde appeared to be in lively spirits as she chatted with her co-workers while strolling back to their office after a coffee run.

Business as usual! Ali Oetjen has returned to work after filming her season of The Bachelorette. The 32-year-old, who is an advertising executive for radio station Mix 102.3 in Adelaide, was back in the company of her colleagues on Friday

Ali put on a leggy display in skintight trousers, which she paired with a chic black blazer and white top.

She completed her look with leopard print shoes and accessorised with statement earrings and a delicate necklace.

Styling her hair in a high ponytail, the former Bachelor star also displayed her miraculously wrinkle-free complexion during the outing.

Earlier this year, a top cosmetic surgeon revealed that Ali likely had 'Botox injections to her forehead' to achieve this distinctive 'frozen' look.

All smiles: The blonde bombshell appeared to be in lively spirits as she chatted with her co-workers while strolling back to their office after a coffee run

Who's making Ali smile? The reality TV star put on a leggy display in skintight trousers, which she paired with a chic black blazer and white top

Network Ten debuted the first teaser trailer for The Bachelorette on Wednesday.

The advert, inspired by Marilyn Monroe's routine from the 1953 musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, featured Ali in a red gown singing along to The Supremes' You Can't Hurry Love.

Many fans flocked to Twitter to observe how 'cringeworthy' the promo was, with one writing: 'This clip gave me severe second-hand embarrassment... what a mess.'

Coming soon! Network Ten debuted the first teaser trailer for The Bachelorette on Wednesday

Ali rose to fame on the first season of The Bachelor starring Tim Robards in 2013. She placed third, behind runner-up Rochelle Emmanuel-Smith and winner Anna Heinrich.

She mostly stayed out of the spotlight until returning for the debut season of Bachelor In Paradise earlier this year, where she (briefly) found love with Grant Kemp.

The Bachelorette will air on Network Ten later this year
Jackie 'O' Henderson celebrated her charity single Honey Money topping the Australian iTunes chart earlier this week.

And despite the song's surprise success, the KIIS FM host revealed on her breakfast radio show on Friday that it had been unexpectedly taken down.

Jackie, 43, admitted there was an issue with copyright infringement involving Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

'This is such a disaster!' Jackie O's number one single Honey Money has PULLED from iTunes over copyright infringement involving Iggy Azalea, it was announced on Friday

'This is such a disaster,' Jackie said on air.

Jackie explained to Beau Ryan, who was filling in for regular host Kyle Sandilands, that the issue concerned the cover art that producer 'Intern' Pete Deppeler had made.

Pete had crudely Photoshopped Jackie's face over a professional image of Iggy.

Awkward! Jackie explained to co-host Beau Ryan that the copyright issue concerned the cover art (right) that producer 'Intern' Pete Deppeler had made. Pete had crudely Photoshopped Jackie's face over a professional image of Iggy (left)

What will Iggy say? Despite the song's success, Jackie revealed on her breakfast radio show on Friday that it had been taken down from iTunes due to a copyright issue. Pictured: Iggy Azalea

'The cover art work is horrific,' Jackie said.

'It's my head really badly Photoshopped onto someone else's body. I didn't know who it was It looked a bit like a p***take.'

'You were trying to make me look hip hop or something.

'What's wrong with just me? I've got a heaps of photos out there. I've done a million photo shoots for this station, I have a lot of photos that you could use.'

What a mess! 'Intern Pete has apparently chosen Iggy Azalea's body for me to be Photoshopped onto and that is a copyright infringement and we now have to take it down [from iTunes] until we get new artwork,' Jackie explained

'Anyway, Intern Pete has apparently chosen Iggy Azalea's body for me to be Photoshopped onto and that is a copyright infringement and we now have to take it down [from iTunes] until we get new artwork,' Jackie explained.

She added that people who have already purchased the single will need to buy it again when it is re-uploaded, because the original has been removed from the media library.

On Thursday, Honey Money unexpectedly reached number one on the iTunes charts, less than two days after it was released.

Success! Despite being a novelty song to demonstrate that it is possible to make a hit single quickly and with little effort, Honey Money has raised money for good cause. Proceeds from the track have gone directly to farmers affected by the drought. Pictured: Kyle and Jackie O

Jackie and her KIIS FM colleagues wasted no time in celebrating the achievement.

Footage posted to the show's official Instagram account showed Jackie, Beau and their staff dancing on the desks while listening to the catchy tune.

Despite being a novelty song to demonstrate that it is possible to make a hit single quickly and with little effort, Honey Money has raised money for good cause.

Proceeds from the track have gone directly to farmers affected by the drought.
She's the Balinese-based stylist who was booted off the current season of The Bachelor.

And Cat Henesey-Smith paid homage to her island home, when she appeared in an Instagram video in Sydney, alongside former co-star Romy Poulier on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old paraded around in a staple fashion piece commonly worn by Australian tourists in Bali - a Bintang singlet - while singing a tune about the Indonesian island.

Like a tourist! Bachelor 'villain' Cat Henesey (pictured centre) paraded around in an iconic $12 Bintang singlet, while singing a tune about her beloved island home Bali, in an Instagram video on Wednesday

'So our last night of Bachie life. Look who we've got!' Romy, 30, exclaimed in the video which was captured in a hotel room at The Star in Sydney.

In a fit of frenzy, Cat jolted towards the camera and began belting out lyrics to a ballad, referencing her beloved home island, Bali.

'I'm from Bali, Bali. I'm from Bali Bali,' Cat vigorously sung.

Antics: 'I'm from Bali, Bali. I'm from Bali Bali,' Cat vigorously sung in an Instagram video posted by former co-star Romy Poulier (pictured) on Wednesday

While belting out the melodic tune, Cat performed a hip-hop move known as the body roll.

The brunette also drew attention to her attire, which consisted of a Bintang singlet, commonly worn by tourists in Bali.

Known for being the best-selling brand of beer in Indonesia, Bintang is produced by a subsidiary of Heineken.

A woman of many talents! While belting out the melodic tune, Cat performed a hip-hop move known as the body roll

Worth approximately $12 Australian dollars, the brand's singlets are often worn by tourists and can be purchased at online retailers such as eBay.

The Instagram video comes after 'mean girls' Cat and Romy sensationally left The Bachelor last Thursday night, alongside fellow villain Alisha Aitken-Radburn.

Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins took a tearful Cat aside and booted her off the program after learning of her 'bullying' behaviour.

Bali-stic! Worth approximately $12 Australian dollars, the brand's singlets are often worn by tourists and can be purchased at online retailers such as eBay

'I don't think I'll ever speak to him again,' Cat proclaimed. 'It's changed my opinion of Nick.'

She added: 'If someone is going to believe what other girls have to say before they get to know me, they're not the right guy for me anyway.'

Romy meanwhile received a rose from Nick, but turned it down and chose to leave the show.
Quentin Tarantino is one of the biggest directors in Hollywood.

So it's no surprise he got not only Brad Pitt, but also Leonardo DiCaprio, to star in his latest flick Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

The dashing duo were both present on set in Los Angeles on Thursday.

A-listers! It's no surprise Quentin Tarantino got not only Brad Pitt, but also Leonardo DiCaprio, to star in his latest flick Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Brad, 54, kept things quite casual, opting for a plain black t-shirt, classic-cut jeans and chocolate brown shoes.

He accessorized with a leather belt and had apparently covered one of his arm tattoos with nude-colored tape.

The Fury heartthrob's light locks were styled back, and he was completely clean shaven.

Leonardo, aged 43, looked to be having a good time, and even managed a small grin at one point.

Dapper! Leonardo, aged 43, looked to be having a good time, and even managed a small grin at one point

He was wrapped up in a thick brown leather jacket, which itself was layered over a brown turtleneck.

A singular gold medallion necklace and metal-framed aviator shades rounded out his period appropriate look.

He parted his hair on the left and was also sported a completely clean-shaven look.

Of course Reservoir Dogs director Quentin Tarantino, 55, was on hand as well.

Enjoying himself! Of course Reservoir Dogs director Quentin Tarantino, 55, was on hand as well

The multiple Oscar-winner wore a simple steel blue polo shirt.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is scheduled to be released by Sony Pictures on July 26, 2019.

The film sees DiCaprio play Rick Dalton, the former star of a western TV series, while Pitt plays Cliff Booth, his long-time stunt double.

The pair embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves once again in the film industry they no longer recognize in the Hollywood of 1969, the year of the Charles Manson murders.
She's been stealing the spotlight at her red carpet appearances this week.

And Teyana Taylor kept the streak alive as she commanded attention in a pin stripe suit dress in New York on Thursday.

The 27-year-old entertainer was the epitome of sophisticated chic in her floor length ensemble for Rihanna's 4th annual Diamond Ball.

Sophisticated: Teyana Taylor, 27, kept the streak alive as she commanded attention in a pin stripe suit dress in New York at Rihanna's Diamond Ball on Thursday

Daring to impress, the muse of Kayne West showcased her unique style as the sartorial choice featured a classic white shirt and tie.

Her gorgeous gams were covered as the dress boasted long train that billowed along the red carpet.

The fashion forward look was accompanied by a pair of back high heel boots and a blunt bob haircut.

Rihanna's black-tie event at Cipriani Wall Street in New York is always a star-studded affair with celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cardi B and Emily Ratajkowski making an appearance last year.

Impressive: Daring to impress, the muse of Kayne West showcased her unique style as the sartorial choice featured a classic white shirt and tie

Best face forward: Teyana performed her signature growl face for the crowd

The 2017 bash raised $5 million and was hosted by Dave Chappelle and featured performances by Kendrick Lamar and Calvin Harris.

Attendees will have the chance to bid on a number of items such as On The Run II tour package, a Mariah Carey Las Vegas experience package, a Fenty Beauty holiday bundle and lots more.

Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans will receive the 2018 Diamond Ball Award.

Floor length: Her gorgeous gams were covered as the dress boasted long train that billowed along the red carpet

Fashion forward: The fashion forward look was accompanied by a pair of back high heel boots and a blunt bob haircut

The gala will benefit Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation, which will provide funding to education projects and scholarships, emergency response programs and micro-grants.

Rihanna launched the foundation in 2012 in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, and with the intent of improving the quality of life of young people around the world through health, education and the promotion of arts and culture.

Issa Rae will host Rihanna's fourth annual Diamond Ball and Childish Gambino will perform.
Lindsay McCartney was unimpressed when Andrew Shaw rejected her for another girl - Peggy Lawrence - during the second season of Britain's Take Me Out in 2011.

But seven years later, the couple are now happily married and living in Australia, and even celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary last week.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Scottish lass Lindsay shared the pair's remarkable story, admitting she 'wasn't even looking for love' when she applied for the show.

EXCLUSIVE: You CAN find true love on Take Me Out! A couple who met on the UK dating show tell their extraordinary story of getting married and moving to Australia... and how she forgave him when he initially chose another girl. Pictured: Lindsay and Andrew Shaw

'I set myself a list of tasks to achieve by the time I turned 21 and one of them was to be on TV. I didn't care what it was, it could have been a game show - anything. I literally just did Take Me Out for a bit of fun,' she said.

Lindsay revealed her first impression of Liverpudlian Andrew wasn't great, admitting: 'He was alright, nothing too spectacular!'

Nonetheless, she decided to leave her light on during her now-husband's segment - but he ended up choosing another woman.

'He actually did not end up picking me, at all! He took out a girl named Peggy and they went on the date. He hated it, apparently,' she said.

Love story with a twist! Lindsay was unimpressed when Andrew rejected her for another girl during the second season of Britain's Take Me Out in 2011. But seven years later, the couple are now happily married and living in Australia. Pictured during a recent trip to the Gold Coast

Lindsay admitted she was 'arch enemies' with Peggy as a result of the televised love triangle, describing her as 'fake and plastic fantastic'.

'Andrew thought that she was not in it for the right reasons either,' she added. 'It was all about her and her career, but he really wanted to find love again.'

After Andrew broke things off with Peggy, he surprised Lindsay by getting in touch.

'Three weeks later, he contacted me saying, "Hey, you're the girl in the red dress. My family was in the audience and they told me I should have picked you. I didn't even look at you. I'm so sorry."

'I was like, "Yeah whatever, d**khead!"'

They've come a long way! Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Lindsay shared the couple's remarkable story, admitting she 'wasn't even looking for love' when she applied for the show

Lindsay initially refused Andrew's date requests but, after speaking to her family about the situation, decided to give him a second chance.

Andrew travelled four hours to Scotland to take Lindsay out on a date and they soon became inseparable, spending every subsequent weekend together.

And even after Lindsay dismissed Andrew's onscreen portrayal as 'arrogant', she found herself falling in love with him in real life.

Nine months later, Andrew proposed by writing 'Will you marry me?' in the sand while on a beach holiday in Florida.

Globetrotters: The couple married in Dorset in southwest England, spent their honeymoon in Cuba and eventually relocated to Australia four years ago. Pictured on their wedding day

Happy couple: Nine months after reconnecting after meeting on Take Me Out, Andrew popped the question by writing 'Will you marry me?' in the sand while on a beach holiday in Florida

The couple married in Dorset in southwest England, spent their honeymoon in Cuba and eventually relocated to Australia four years ago.

Lindsay revealed that moving Down Under was always her life plan.

'I told Andrew it was a condition when I met him that I wanted to come to Australia for my nursing,' she said. 'I just knew there were better opportunities for nursing in Australia. That's something I've always wanted to do.

'I got the better end of the deal because I got him chasing me. We are now planning in the near future to have kids. At the moment we have a dog, he's our fur baby!'

Meanwhile, the lovebirds recently bought a house together in Melbourne.
He's been promoting his new film White Boy Rick at film festivals in Toronto and Telluride and at a screening in New York.

And on Thursday, Matthew McConaughey returned to his native Texas for a special screening of the movie at the Austin Film Society.

The actor, 48, introduced the based-on-a-true-story crime drama and after the screening, took part in a Q&A with filmmaker Richard Linklater.

Publicity tour: Matthew McConaughey returned to his native Texas Thursday for a special screening of his new movie White Boy Rick at the Austin Film Society

The AFS was founded by Linklater, who cast the actor as Wooderson in 1993's Dazed and Confused.

The comedy remains a cult classic and helped put both Linklater and McConaughey on the map.

Linklater, 58, who was born in Houston, posed for photos ahead of the screening with McConaughey.

Reunited: The AFS was founded by Houston-born filmmaker Richard Linklater, who cast the actor in one of his most beloved roles - as Wooderson in 1993's Dazed and Confused

Pals: The two Texans chatted away as they posed for photos together before the screening. The pair were both casually dressed, wearing shirts left untucked over jeans

White Boy Rick is set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic.

McConaughey plays a working-class father Rick Wershe Sr. whose teenage son, played by newcomer Richie Merritt, becomes an undercover police informant and then a drug dealer.

Ultimately, Junior is abandoned by his law enforcement handlers and ends up being prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison.

The movie opens in theaters nationally on September 14.

Star: McConaughey did interviews with local TV outlets as he continued to promote White Boy Rick, which is set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic and based on a true story
Tekashi 6ix9ine was shoved on stage by an overzealous fan during his concert in Russia before the concertgoer was stomped out by the rapper's crew.

Video of the rapper performing in Moscow surfaced on YouTube Thursday which showed a man much bigger than the 22-year-old rapper pushing him over.

After the fan made contact, he seemingly tries to run off when he is dragged to the ground by Tekashi's security.

Scroll down for video

Ouch: Tekashi 6ix9ine (pictured earlier this month) was shoved on stage by an overzealous fan during his concert in Russia before the concertgoer was stomped out by the rapper's crew

Incident: Video of the rapper performing in Moscow surfaced on Thursday which showed a man much bigger than the 22-year-old rapper pushing him over

The crew than surrounds the man and brutally stomps on him.

Tekashi - who has been well documented for his troubles with the law - seemingly stayed out of the beatdown.

It's probably a good thing for him to show some restraint overseas as he is currently facing up to three years in prison for a sex video of a 13-year-old he posted in 2015.

Not so fast: After the fan made contact, he seemingly tries to run off when he is dragged to the ground by Tekashi's security

Not pleased: Tekashi tried confronting the man but the crew had gotten to him first

The rapper was up in court last month after breaking the terms of his probation by getting arrested twice.

'He has violated his plea agreement,' Assistant District Attorney Sara Weiss told Manhattan Supreme Court. 'The defendant should be sentenced to a state prison sentence of one to three years.'

The hip hop star, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, wore a neon yellow Adidas tracksuit to the hearing, as was accompanied by a team of minders.

Hubbub: The crew than surrounds the man and brutally stomps on him

Uh oh: It's probably a good thing for him to show some restraint overseas as he is currently facing up to three years in prison for a sex video of a 13-year-old he posted in 2015.

The 22-year-old, known for his rainbow-colored hair and extensive facial tattoos, was arrested on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy Airport after returning from the European leg of the tour, having missed a court date in a case in which he's accused of choking a 16-year-old in Houston's Galleria Mall back in January.

He was the busted in Brooklyn in May for unlicensed driving, and accused of assaulting a cop and obstruction of governmental administration.

Trouble: Tekashi 6ix9ine is facing up to three years in prison for a sex video of a 13-year-old he posted in 2015

Busted: The rapper was up in court on Thursday after breaking the terms of his probation by getting arrested twice

Suit was at the cleaners: The hip hop star, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, wore a neon yellow Adidas tracksuit to the hearing, as was accompanied by a team of minders

The original crime occurred in October 2015, when he pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance.

The incident involved a 13-year-old girl who was seen 'engaging in oral intercourse' with Taquan Anderson, who was also charged, while Tekashi stood behind her and made thrusting motions with his pelvis.

In another video, the girl was seen sitting naked on Tekashi's lap while Anderson groped her breasts.

Distinctive: The 22-year-old is known for his rainbow-colored hair and extensive facial tattoos

Underage: The original crime occurred in October 2015, when he pleaded guilty to one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance

Grim: The incident involved a 13-year-old girl who was seen 'engaging in oral intercourse' with Taquan Anderson, who was also charged, while Tekashi stood behind her and made thrusting motions with his pelvis

As part of his plea deal, Tekashi was ordered to obtain his GED and not commit another crime for two years. If he did so, he would be given probation for three years and not have to register as a sex offender.

Last month Tekashi was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in Queens after a visit to a strip club.

It came after reports he was flaunting a $750,000 chain and between $15,000 and $20,000 in cash inside the bar
She's 80 years old and has been making movies since 1960.

And on Thursday, Jane Fonda was the center of attention at the LA premiere for HBO's documentary about her life and career, Jane Fonda In Five Acts.

The veteran Hollywood icon looked stunning for her age, posing on the red carpet in a black sweater cinched at the waist with a wide leather belt and a pair of sparkly black flared trousers.

Star: She's 80 years old and been making movies since 1960. And on Thursday, Jane Fonda was the center of attention at the LA premiere for HBO's documentary about her life and career

Fonda carried a shiny gold purse and wore a gold watch.

Her short blonde hair was styled in teased out curls that framed her face.

She accessorized with an eye-catching diamond, gold and platinum necklace and matching diamond, gold, and platinum earrings, both of which were designed by jeweler David Webb.

The two-time Oscar winner was made up with black mascara, blusher and matte pale pink lip color.

In the spotlight: The feisty veteran actress is the subject of Jane Fonda In Five Acts which premieres on HBO on September 24

Close: Her son Troy Garity, 45, from her marriage to political activist Tom Hayden, showed up to support his mother on her big night

Looking good: Fonda looked stunning in a black sweater cinched at the waist with a wide leather belt and a pair of sparkly black flared trousers, along with a gold David Webb necklace

Fonda's Grace And Frankie co-star Lily Tomlin showed up to support the screening.

The 79-year-old was dressed in a black tunic and black slacks along with a black duster and added a colorful necklace.

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen also attended, with the former Cheers star, 70, wearing a fawn check jacket with brown tie.

Steenburgen, 65, opted for a full-length bright red dress fastened with a black belt and black shoes with silver embellishments on the toe.

Co-star and friend: Fonda's Grace And Frankie co-star Lily Tomlin, 79, showed up dressed in a black tunic and black slacks along with a black duster and added a colorful necklace

Celebrity couple: Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen came out to help celebrate the documentary

Watched the movie: Other famous faces on the red carpet included Rosanna Arquette, left, and Don Johnson, right

Style statement: Rosanna Arquette wore a black top decorated with an image of Fonda's mug shot from her arrest at the Canadian-US border in November 1970

Rosanna Arquette showed her support by wearing a long-sleeved black top decorated with an image of Fonda's mug shot from her arrest at the Canadian-US border in November 1970 as she returned to America following a speaking engagement.

Arquette, 59, paired the top with a silver skirt and black shoes and left her long blonde hair loose.

Former Friends star Lisa Kudrow, 55, arrived wearing a camel-colored coat over a black blouse and skinny back pants with black heels.

Pals: Rosanna certainly looked happy to reunite with her buddy

Solidarity: The two ladies saluted together

Actress Saffron Burrows, 45, looked lovely in a sleeveless blue dress with silver detailing.

She posed for photos with Fonda, who's a friend.

Jane Fonda In Five Acts is set to premiere on HBO on September 24.

Stylish: Former Friends star Lisa Kudrow, 55, arrived wearing a camel-colored coat over a black blouse and skinny back pants with black heels

Pretty: Actress Saffron Burrows, 45, looked lovely in a sleeveless blue dress with silver detailing
She is the Russian beauty vying for Nick Cummins' heart on The Bachelor.

And with filming completed weeks ago, it was back to work for personal trainer Dasha Gaivoronski.

The 32-year-old was seen on Grange beach, in her adopted hometown of Adelaide, shooting a campaign for an activewear brand on Friday.

She's got the moves! The Bachelor's Dasha Gaivoronski put on a busty display and showcased her incredible figure in an activewear photo shoot on Grange beach in Adelaide, on Friday

The stunning single mum flaunted her trim figure in a matching black and white ensemble, with white trainers.

Her plunging crop top accentuated her ample assets and exposed her toned torso while the leggings flattered her slender pins.

She posed under a wharf and struck a few poses to showcase the stylish outfit, alternating between empowered hands on hips to candid looks.

Strike a pose: The stunning single mum flaunted her trim figure in a matching black and white ensemble. Her plunging crop top accentuated her ample assets and exposed her toned torso

Photo shoot: The stunning single mum flaunted her trim figure in a matching black and white ensemble, with white trainers

Flexible: The brunette took her modelling game to the next level by performing a handstand

Handstand: Photographers captured an impressive moment

Stretching: Dasha then showed off her flexibility by performing lunges and stretches

The brunette took her modelling game to the next level by doing a handstand.

Dasha then showed off her flexibility by performing lunges and stretches.

The reality star and the camera crew then moved out to the shore where they worked on capturing perfect motion shots.

Beach shoot: The Bachelor contestant and the camera crew then moved out to the beach where they worked on capturing perfect motion shots

In motion: She appeared in her element as she jogged along the shore

Ready and waiting: She was all smiles as she prepared for the next take

Next take: Later in the day, Dasha and her team changed locations to the Grange jetty

On set: Dasha shared a laugh with the crew

Dasha appeared in her element as she jogged along the shore as the camera crew followed closely behind.

Later in the day, Dasha and her team changed locations to the Grange jetty.

Working hard: The reality TV darling changed into a teal and white outfit

Jump: Her halterneck top once again flattered her toned upper frame, while the high-waisted leggings showed off her trim pins

Squat: Dasha also highlighted her very pert derriere

Stretch: Dasha performed a stretch on a wooden railing

The reality TV darling changed into a teal and white outfit.

Her halterneck top once again flattered her toned upper frame, while high-waisted leggings showed off her trim pins.

Dasha was pictured sharing a laugh with the camera crew.

Model looks: For the final shot of the day, the fitness star performed a series of stretches

Outtake: She used the jetty's fence to help extend her quad and hamstring muscles

Extend: She proudly flaunted her plump posterior

After a moment of fun, they got back to work with Dasha showcasing some of her workout moves.

She did several jump squats using a bench to leap from, as the camera crew captured her movements.

For the final shot of the day, the fitness star performed a series of stretches using the jetty's fence to help extend her quad and hamstring muscles.
They've enjoyed a simultaneous rise to fame, thanks to their breakout roles as lovers in the hit paranormal Netflix series Stranger Things.

And Natalia Dyer, 21, and Charlie Heaton, 24  who have been romantically linked in real life since last year  looked as loved up as ever when they stepped out for a Miu Miu party at Maxfield Store in West Hollywood, California, on Thursday night.

The lovebirds, who arrived at the bash holding hands, showed that they were also sartorially in sync as they made an entrance in fashionable ensembles.

Loved up: Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton looked as loved up as ever when they stepped out for a Miu Miu party at Maxfield Store in West Hollywood, California, on Thursday night

Brunette beauty Natalia stepped out in a sparkling denim jacket, which she teamed with a matching miniskirt and an animal-print top.

Wearing her lustrous brown locks in voluminous waves, she highlighted her natural beauty with a light dusting of flattering makeup.

With a small black patent handbag matching her trendy boots, she walked alongside her British-born beau, who cut a dapper figure in a dark blazer over a blue striped shirt with grey trousers.

Sartorially in sync: The lovebirds, who arrived at the bash holding hands, showed that they were also sartorially in sync as they made an entrance in fashionable ensembles

Rise to fame: They've enjoyed a simultaneous rise to fame, thanks to their breakout roles as lovers in the hit paranormal Netflix series Stranger Things

Romance: Their romance was confirmed in December 2017, following months of speculation

The co-stars headed back to work on the highly anticipated third season of Stranger Things in the early summer, with the show set to return this autumn.

Natalia recently revealed that she and her beau keep things light on the set of the show, as do most of her co-stars.

'Hes great. Its a lot of fun, we goof off a lot,' she told US Weekly. 'The whole cast does. Were all very close so we always have a great time on and off [set] ... sometimes its even hard to stop laughing, stop goofing off. Its been really lovely!'

She said that the chemistry between her character and Charlie's is of the 'push-pull' variety, and that 'theres some tension there,' as she thinks 'they probably fight a lot.'

Since confirming their romance, the lovebirds have stepped out together at a number of exclusive soirees. Pictured in Paris in May 2018

Hit show: They have earned themselves legions of fans thanks to their roles in Stranger Things

Natalia continued, 'Theyve both had this shared trauma. Theyve both gone through this experience together and I think that brings people closer.'

She said that the characters have had a complementary effect on each other since the show's inception.

'I think also what was kind of cool about Jonathan and Nancy, especially in season one, was that they brought out qualities in each other that maybe werent there without the other,' she said.

Following months of rumours they were dating, Natalia and Charlie killed the speculation when they stepped out on December 2017 at the London Fashion Awards.

Co-stars reunited: Their Stranger Things co-star Joe Keery was also spotted at the bash, arriving with his girlfriend Maika Monroe

Mellow: The actor, 26, opted to wear a bright yellow short-sleeved shirt with cropped jeans

Screen role: Joe plays Nancy Wheeler's ex-boyfriend Steve Harrington in the paranormal show

Charlie plays Jonathan Byers in the supernatural series, while Natalia portrays Nancy Wheeler.

Back in October, 2017, US officers refused Yorkshire native Charlie entry into the country after discovering cocaine and he was sent back to the UK, missing the Hollywood premiere for the second season of Stranger Things.

A source connected to the show told MailOnline at the time: 'Charlie is not being charged with any crime, and does not face legal action if he returns to the US.'

After being sent back home following the incident, the father-of-one issued a statement, which read: 'My planned travel to the U.S. last week was affected by an issue at US immigration, and I am working to rectify it as soon as possible.

'I do want to clarify that I was not arrested or charged with a crime, and cooperated fully with the US officials at LAX.'

We are family: Sisters Rumer and Scout Willis were also among the attendees on the night

Eye-catching: The daughters of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis caught the eye in their ensembles

Good jeans: Rumer turned heads in a stone-washed denim dress, teamed with a fanny pack

It's fashion: Scout, meanwhile, stepped out in a loose-fitting white blouse with blue bottoms
She's been busy at New York Fashion Week attending a host of parties and runway shows for the past few days.

But Alessandra Ambrosio was back on mommy duty as she enjoyed a fun day of rollerblading with daughter Anja, nine, and son Noah, six, in the Santa Monica neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Thursday.

The lingerie model, 37, looked happy and relaxed as she enjoyed some quality time with her children after a hectic few days in the Big Apple.

Family time: Alessandra Ambrosio was back on mommy duty as she enjoyed a fun day of rollerblading with daughter Anja, nine, and son Noah, six, in Santa Monica on Thursday

The Brazilian bombshell kept things casual as she slipped her long legs into jeans, teamed with a baggy black Lauren Moshi motif T-shirt in homage to late British music icon David Bowie.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel pulled her brunette locks into a tight bun, and shielded her eyes from the summer sun with a pair of circular shades.

Alessandra completed her low-key look by wearing a red plaid shirt from Rails tied around her waist, while carrying her essentials in a practical black leather backpack.

Going fresh-faced for the occasion, the model beamed as she played with her kids and held on to her daughter's hand tightly as they skated along the boardwalk.

Reunited: The lingerie model, 37, looked happy and relaxed as she enjoyed some quality time with her children after a hectic few days in the Big Apple at New York Fashion Week

Alessandra announced her split from her childrens' father, businessman fiance Jamie Mazur, in March after 10 years together.

In August, she went public with her romance with Italian fashion entrepreneur Nicolo Oddi.

Nicolo created his line Alanui with his sister Carlotta in 2016, but not much else is known about the Italian.

Since going public with their relationship, the couple have attended a number of high-profile fashion events together, including the Tommy Hilfiger catwalk show in New York City earlier this week.

Low-key: The Brazilian bombshell kept things casual in jeans, teamed with a Lauren Moshi T-shirt in homage to late British music icon David Bowie and a Rails plaid shirt around her waist

The catwalk model recently hung up her stilettos as she retired from Victoria's Secret to focus on spending more time with her children.

Alessandra and partner of 10 years Jamie went their separate ways for good after reports of their split first emerged in March this year.

A source told Us Weekly at the time: 'They [have] been trying to keep their split on the down low.

'But Alessandra has been out and about ready to mingle and hasn't been taking Jamie to anything.'
She plays a woman challenging gender norms in her latest movie role.

So Keira Knightley naturally sported an androgynous ensemble as she promoted her new flick, Collette, on The Late Show with Seth Meyers in New York City on Thursday night.

The actress, 33, who is renowned for her demure red carpet style, showed off her fashion versatility as she switched things up in an offbeat trouser suit for her appearance.

Fashionista: Keira Knightley sported an androgynous ensemble as she promoted her new flick, Collette, on The Late Show with Seth Meyers in New York City on Thursday night

The Atonement star looked sensational in a navy, velvet blazer, which boasted a contrasting white lining that complemented her crisp white shirt.

She teamed the piece with culotte trousers that comprised both velvet and chiffon fabrics, the latter falling in pretty pleats.

An eccentric bejewelled bow tie, black court heels and a designer clutch bag completed her fashion-forward outfit.

Suits you! The actress, 33, who is renowned for her demure red carpet style, showed off her fashion versatility as she switched things up in an offbeat trouser suit for her appearance

Gorgeous: The Atonement star looked sensational in a navy, velvet blazer, which boasted a contrasting white lining that complemented her crisp white shirt

The beauty's Hollywood waves added to the retro feel, her curled brown tresses cascading around her face in a strong side-parting. Her make-up look was equally alluring, with Keira sporting a brown smokey eyeshadow and nude lipstick.

Keira has been hot on the promotional trail of Colette, her first movie release of the year, in recent days.

The screen star's movie is based on the life of the author of the same name who lived from 1875 to 1954, dying at age 81.

Stunning: She teamed the piece with culotte trousers that comprised both velvet and chiffon fabrics, the latter falling in pretty pleats

Bow-tiful: An eccentric bejewelled bow tie, black court heels and a designer clutch bag completed her fashion-forward outfit

Set in the early 20th century, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette is pushed by her overbearing husband, Henry Gauthier-Villars, to write novels under his name in the biopic.

When they become bestsellers, she fights to make her talents known, challenging gender norms of the time. Dominic West plays her husband.

Speaking on Good Morning America earlier in the day, Keira touched on the importance of the movie: 'The film focuses on the early years of her life, when she was married to first husband, who took credit for her first four novels. It's about the fight for her own voice, feminism and gender politics.'

Colette also sees the actress share a steamy kiss with co-star Eleanor Tomlinson, as the character explores her sexuality.

Keira elaborated: 'They were a celebrity couple, and her husband was brilliant at marketing. He marketed her and didn't give her voice, but she took her voice back.'
They first met on Love Island back in June 2016, getting engaged just six months later in New York City.

And as Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen gear up for their wedding day on Saturday, the happy couple have shared a teaser trailer for their reality show, Olivia and Alex Said Yes.

The reality stars give a behind-the-scenes look at their glittering nuptials as they are seen posing for smitten photoshoots, practicing their vows and discussing the extortionate floral bill.

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Steamy: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen gear up for their wedding day on Saturday, the happy couple have shared a teaser trailer for their reality show, Olivia and Alex Said Yes

Love you: The reality stars give a behind-the-scenes look at their glittering nuptials as they are seen posing for smitten photoshoots, practicing their vows and discussing the extortionate floral bill

Blonde beauty Olivia, 24, was seen sultrily dancing up a storm with her beau, clad in a plunging burgundy sequin gown as the trailer began.

Teasing the pair's star-studded nuptials. Alex, 27, said: 'You're invited to the wedding of the year.'

The glamorous couple are seen practicing their vows while gazing into one another's eyes.

Alex is then seen posing up for a selfie in his wedding suit, as a irate Olivia says: 'You taking a selfie now?'

Sparkle: Blonde beauty Olivia, 24, was seen sultrily dancing up a storm with her beau, clad in a plunging burgundy sequin gown as the trailer began

To have and to hold: Alex shot Olivia a smitten look as the pair went through their vows

The couple are seen balking over the cost of their wedding, with Alex shocked at a quote they have received.

Olivia says: 'The original quote was 20,000' as he responds: 'What, for flowers?'

Alex is also seen reacting with horror as Olivia cuts her foot open, with blood streaming out during her shoot in the stunning gown.

As the star gets made-up she discusses her hunky beau's playful nature, saying 'he can get naked wherever he likes, as long as I'm there' before posing with her shirtless husband-to-be.

Olivia and Alex Said Yes airs on TLC on September 28 at 9pm

The trailer comes after Olivia reportedly had a row with her former best friend and Love Island co-star, Cara De La Hoyde, over bridesmaid duties.

20k: The couple are seen balking over the cost of their wedding, with Alex shocked at a quote they have received

Selfie: Alex is then seen posing up for a selfie in his wedding suit, as a irate Olivia says: 'You taking a selfie now?'

Hot couple: Olivia shows off her curves in a bridal inspired white gown

The business woman has since declared that she realises who her 'real friends are' after her pal revealed she is no longer attending her wedding.

Writing in her column for this week's new! magazine, Olivia admitted she and Cara 'haven't spoken for a bit', but insisted 'everything is fine' between the pair.

The Love Island star's reported feud comes after she exclusively revealed to MailOnline last year that she was turning into a bridezilla.

Having met on the 2016 series of ITV2's Love Island, Olivia and Alex came in second place behind Cara and her fiance Nathan Massey.

Saturday nuptials: Olivia and Alex looked excited ahead of their wedding

Following their stint on the popular series, the couple quickly moved in together in her native Essex in August 2016, before Alex popped the question during a romantic trip to New York that December after just five months of dating.

Olivia revealed that she's feeling the pressure of organising her special day, admitting that she's on the path to becoming a bridezilla after saying yes to a 2,069 Sophia Tolli dress on the TLC reality show in May.

She said: 'I think I might turn into Bridezilla at some point, just waiting for it to happen.'
Peter Andre and Emily MacDonagh were dubbed 'ridiculously adorable' when they teamed up to present a cooking segment on Friday.

The Mysterious Girl hitmaker, 45, and his wife, 29, looked smitten as they flirted and joked around while making a lamb kleftico dish during their 'Cyprus Kitchen' stint on Lorraine.

And fans couldn't resist being charmed by the duo's loved-up display, flocking to Twitter to remark on their playful chemistry together.

Cute couple: Peter Andre and Emily MacDonagh were dubbed 'ridiculously adorable' when they teamed up to present a cooking segment on Friday

'Pete and Emily are ridiculously adorable,' one viewer wrote, while another added: 'I really like Emily and Peter Andre.'

A third fan commented: 'Anyone else just love Peter Andres wife Emily? She seems so nice!'

Emily certainly didn't hold back on teasing Greek-Cypriot Peter in the segment while he demonstrated his flair for the language by listing the ingredients in Greek.

As he rattled off 'tomatoes, potatoes and peppers' in Greek, Emily interrupted: 'Are you sure? That just sounds like the English word with a bit added on the end!'

Family man: Peter was also joined by his kids with Katie Price, Princess, 11, and Junior, 13, and his four-year-old daughter Amelia with Emily

Sweet: The Mysterious Girl hitmaker, 45, and his wife, 29, looked smitten as they flirted and joked around while making a lamb kleftico dish during their 'Cyprus Kitchen' stint on Lorraine

Charmed: And fans couldn't resist being charmed by the duo's loved-up display, flocking to Twitter to remark on their playful chemistry together

Peter cracked up laughing, before replying: 'I'm almost sure.'

They showed off their playful nature once again while preparing the lamb shanks for the oven.

'They should make a movie out of this and call it the 'Lambshank Redemption',' he said triumphantly to Emily.

The brunette beauty started giggling, prompting an amused Peter to say: 'Don't laugh out of pity!'

Banter: They showed off their playful nature once again while preparing the lamb shanks for the oven. 'They should make a movie out of this and call it the 'Lambshank Redemption',' he said triumphantly to Emily as she laughed despairingly

Beachside outing: The segment showed Peter taking three of his kids to the beach and soaking up the Cypriot sunshine

The Mysterious Girl hitmaker rounded off the segment by speaking in Greek to the camera, before kissing a smiling Emily on the cheek and explaining: 'That means I love you.'

Their TV appearance comes after Peter's troubled ex Katie Price was reportedly banned from the school gates after screaming profanities at estranged husband Kieran Hayler's new girlfriend Michelle Pentecost.

The former glamour is said to have left fellow parents shocked as she screamed 'are you enjoying f***ing my husband' to her estranged ex's new love as she arrived to pick up her children, Jett, 5, and four-year old Bunny.

Witnesses of the showdown raised their concerns with the school's headteacher, who in return asked for the bankrupt star to not return, according to The Sun.

First day at school: It comes after Peter had marked an educational milestone for his four-year-old daughter Amelia on Wednesday

'Katie shouted "are you enjoying f***ing my husband" and some of the parents who were there were really shocked,' a source alleged.

'Some of them went to the head teacher and asked them to ban her from the gates.'

Meanwhile Peter marked an educational milestone for his four-year-old daughter Amelia on Wednesday.

He took to Instagram to share a shot of his wife stepping out with their offspring for her first day at school. This comes after Peter recently admitted that he burst into tears as he waved off his two eldest children  Princess, 11, and Junior, 13  for their first day at high school.

His heartfelt post on the image-sharing app comes days after Katie missed their children Princess and Junior's big day at high school as she partied with her new toyboy Alex Adderson, 25, in Mallorca.
Roxanne Pallett threatened to leave Celebrity Ghost Hunt, shortly before her high-profile exit from Celebrity Big Brother.

The former Emmerdale star's newly-released scenes in the Channel 5 show follow her quitting both CBB and Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls under extremely dramatic circumstances.

Shot before the actress, 35, entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, her Celebrity Ghost Hunt appearance saw her threaten to leave the ghost hunting series during a spooky seance.

Scared: Roxanne Pallett threatened to quit Celebrity Ghost Hunt, after making high-profile exits from Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Island

Not having it: The embattled reality star, who falsely claimed Ryan Thomas had punched her on purpose in the CBB house, threatened to leave the ghost hunting show during a spooky seance

It comes just weeks after the embattled reality star ignited a storm of controversy when she falsely claimed Ryan Thomas had punched her repeatedly on purpose in the CBB house.

Roxanne appeared in the Channel 5 show alongside TOWIE star James 'Diags' Bennewith and Love Island's Georgia Harrison, as well as host Rylan Clark-Neal, with the group hunting for spooks in Germany's Black Forest.

The group were seeking to prove the presence of ghosts, with experts using an EMF sensor, which would light up when a spirit was close.

Roxanne was sat with Rylan when lights on the sensor began flashing near where they were.

Wow: The group were seeking to prove the presence of ghosts, with experts using an EMF sensor, which would light up when a spirit was close

Shock horror: Roxanne, 35, was sat with Rylan Clark Neal when lights on the sensor began flashing near where they were

A terrified Roxanne said: 'I can't cope. I've had enough.'

She continued: 'Guys I've really had enough. I'm not f***ing about here. I've had enough. It's back and I'm leaving, I need to go now.'

The group then moved to the bathroom where the former Emmerdale actress said: 'I don't like it. It's making me feel really upset. I've just got this really bad energy.'

The star jumped and said she felt something move behind her.

As Roxanne and Georgia went fully into the bathroom and shut the door, she screamed loudly as the device flashed again.

Exit? A terrified Roxanne said: 'I can't cope. I've had enough.' She continued: 'Guys I've really had enough. I'm not f***ing about here. I've had enough. It's back and I'm leaving'

What was that? The group then moved to the bathroom where the former Emmerdale actress said: 'I don't like it. It's making me feel really upset. I've just got this really bad energy'

Oh dear: As Roxanne and Georgia Harrison went fully into a bathroom and shut the door, she screamed loudly as the device flashed again

She later said: 'I just sensed something bad happened there. I was uneasy.

'When the door closed behind us it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.

'I just had to get out of that room.'

Roxanne quit Celebrity Island after five days after the bonfires caused her to have flashbacks of being caught in a house fire.

Fear: She later said: 'I just sensed something bad happened there. I was uneasy'

The actress walked off the show earlier this year after the smell of the fire triggered traumatic memories of being involved in the blaze when she was aged 16.

Last month, Roxanne caused ructions on CBB after she accused ex Coronation Street star Ryan, of 'repeatedly and deliberately punching' her.

She later quit the house and admitted she was wrong after seeing Ryan's devastation.

She branded herself 'Britain's Most Hated Woman' last week when she sensationally quit the house after falsely accusing 'broken man' Ryan - in what came to be known as 'Punchgate'.
Cheyenne Tozzi has given birth to her first child.

The Australian-born model, who was extremely private regarding her pregnancy, was seen tenderly cradling her newborn baby as she stepped out in Sydney on Friday.

Looking every bit the besotted mum, the 29-year-old was accompanied by several friends as well as her model boyfriend, Marlon Teixeira, 26.

She's a model mum! Cheyenne Tozzi stepped out with her newborn baby in Sydney on Friday, after keeping the birth of her baby a closely-guarded secret

Mummy's little girl? Cheyenne appears to have welcomed a girl, with the tot seen swaddled in a pink blanket on Friday

Cheyenne and Marlon have not released any details about the arrival of their newborn, keeping the baby's name, sex and birth date a secret.

However, they appear to have welcomed a little girl, with the tot seen swaddled in a pink blanket on Friday.

While most new mums opt for comfort after giving birth, Cheyenne slipped into a stylish ensemble.

Chic! While most new mums opt for comfort after giving birth, Cheyenne slipped into a stylish ensemble

You beauty! The Cronulla-born model donned blue jeans and a crisp white button down, paired with a patterned blazer

Multi-tasking mama! Cheyenne cradled her tot as she made her way to her car

She donned blue jeans and a crisp white button down, paired with a patterned blazer and Gucci loafers.

The Mexican Vogue cover girl shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of reflective glasses and carried a small milk bottle.

Later, Cheyenne pulled out a pram as several of her friends joined her and the baby on a walk in the warm spring weather.

On the move: Later, Cheyenne pulled out a pram as several of her friends joined her and the baby on a walk in the warm spring weather

Cute! The model's pals were besotted with the newborn, seen peeping into the pram with smiles plastered across their faces

The model's pals were besotted with the newborn, seen peeping into the pram with smiles plastered across their faces.

Cheynne's mum, Yvonne, was also in attendance, and carried her grandchild as the group made their way into a cafe.

Cheyenne's beau Marlon took on daddy duties, cradling his sleeping tot after he and Cheyenne arrived back at home.

Out and about: Friday's outing was the first time Cheyenne has been pictured in public since giving birth

Cheynne's mum, Yvonne, carried her grandchild as the group made their way into a cafe

Last month, Cheyenne spoke about her pregnancy with Harper's Bazaar Australia.

Like most expectant mums, the model said she was nervous about raising a child.

'Of course I'm freaked out about parenting, but Tahyna (her actress sister) has a little girl who I know will be close to mine, and my family always has lots of love and humour and support. We're strong women. I've got role models,' she added.

Cheyenne will also be supported by boyfriend Marlon, who is one of the world's most in-demand male models.

The couple confirmed their pregnancy back in June, saying they were 'thrilled' to be starting their family.

Daddy duty! Male model Marlon was seen cradling his baby with a milk bottle in hand
She is joining the London Fashion Week schedule for the first time for a show celebrating the 10 year anniversary of her fashion brand.

And Victoria Beckham celebrated her debut runway show in the capital by showing off her flexibility in a fun Instagram shot on Friday.

The former Spice Girl, 44, pulled off her famous 'leg pose' at the end of the catwallk, lifting her slender leg high up in the air and pulling it forward, as her other leg rested on the ground.

Flexible Spice: Victoria Beckham celebrated her debut runway show at London Fashion Week by showing off her flexibility in a fun Instagram shot on Friday

Not her first time: Victoria, 44, is known for her signature pose and extreme flexibility

She captioned the photo: 'Morning stretch! Kisses from London #lfw #vbsince08.'

The fashion guru looked typically chic for her show preparations, clad in a trendy camouflage jacket paired with black slim-fit trousers and sandals.

Her tresses were teased into soft curls and she kept her signature smoky eye make-up for the day.

Victoria is gearing up for her first ever London Fashion Week Show, where she will host a spectacular to celebrate her decade in the fashion industry.

Leggy: Victoria is gearing up for her first ever London Fashion Week Show, where she will host a spectacular to celebrate her decade in the fashion industry

The show, to be held on Sunday, September 16, will hosted at Mayfairs Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, next to the Victoria Beckham flagship store on Dover Street.

VB's famous leg pose was debuted in March 2016 when she shared a snap of herself with her perfect pins opening further than a 90 degree angle - and with her stiletto-heeled foot pointed gracefully.

She later joked that her impressive posture was down to ballet.

'It's amazing what you can do in culottes...those ballet classes are paying off! Thank u @edwardbarsamian and @voguemagazine! Kisses from LA x vb,' she wrote.

Reclining casually on a sofa on a luxurious-looking hotel room she looked sensational in a pair of loose-fitting black culottes and a strapless top, giving the illusion of a jumpsuit.

Work it: VB's famous leg pose was debuted in March 2016 when she shared a snap of herself with her perfect pins opening further than a 90 degree angle - and with her stiletto-heeled foot pointed gracefully

Her brunette locks were styled in her favourite 'do, pulled back into a long ponytail with a touch of lift at the roots.

The mother-of-four originally trained as a dance instructor as her family wanted her to have a fall back career. She studied tap, jazz and ballet at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey.

Speaking about Poshs pose, Kirsten McCarron, founder of PureBallet dance classes, said: You need to be dedicated to get results like that.

She has done ballet since she was young, which helps, but for great flexibility you really have to stick at it.

The pose was later copied by stars including Kourtney Kardashian and Amanda Holden.
They were pictured kissing during a romantic stroll in Paris back in April.

And Coco Sumner, 27, and Josephine de la Baume, 33, looked as close as ever as they enjoyed a night out at London hotspot, the Chiltern Firehouse on Thursday.

After walking the red carpet at the premiere of new Netflix series Maniac earlier in the evening, Sting and Trudie Styler's daughter Coco continued the night with Josephine, the ex-wife of musician Mark Ronson.

Date night: Coco Sumner, 27, and Josephine de la Baume, 33, looked as close as ever as they enjoyed a night out at London hotspot, the Chiltern Firehouse on Thursday

Musician Coco was dressed in a smart tailored suit for her night out, while French actress Josephine chose a flowing midi dress in a burnt orange hue, teamed with silver boots.

The rumoured couple made a low key exit from the celeb-favourite haunt, jumping in the back of a waiting car.

Earlier in the evening Coco posed for the cameras at the world premiere of the Emma Stone and Justin Theroux Netflix series Maniac in London.

Celeb connections: Musician Coco is the daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler while French actress Josephine is the ex-wife of musician Mark Ronson

Heading home: The rumoured couple made a low key exit from the celeb-favourite haunt, jumping in the back of a waiting car

While Coco walked the red carpet, Josephine could be see looking on.

Josephine and Coco have been spotted together on numerous occasions, with the pair even sharing a passionate kiss while out and about in Paris in April.

According to TMZ, beauty Josephine filed for divorce from her 42-year-old DJ husband Mark Ronson in May 2017 - citing irreconcilable differences as reason for their split.

Chic: Josephine chose a flowing midi dress in a burnt orange hue, teamed with silver boots

Party look: The French star looked gorgeous in the pretty dress and quirky accessories, which also included a monogrammed clutch bag

The site reports that Josephine listed April 21 as their official date of separation, which is five months shy of their sixth anniversary.

Mark married the beauty in a lavish ceremony in Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France, in September 2011.

BRIT Award winner Mark first met his bride in 2009, and the pair managed to pull together their wedding plans fast enough in 2011 to kick off the ceremony just six months after he got down on one knee.

Where to? The pair looked in good spirits after their fun night at the celebrity -favourite bar

Romance? The pair have been spotted on a number of occasions together, including a sighting back in April in Paris where they were seen kissing

Split: According to TMZ, beauty Josephine filed for divorce from her 42-year-old DJ husband Mark Ronson in May 2017 - citing irreconcilable differences as reason for their split

Coco has also previously spoken openly about her sexual preferences, revealing she was in a two-year relationship with Australian rocker Lucie Von Alten in December 2015.

She told The Evening Standard Magazine: 'I don't believe in any specifications. I think forever I was trying to figure out maybe what I am.'

Coco also said she never needed to come out to her family and friends as they always knew she fancied women.

Premiere: Earlier in the evening Coco walked the red carpet at the world premiere of the new Netflix series Maniac, while Josephine looked on

Invites: The rumoured couple didn't walk the star-studded red carpet together

She said: 'They knew already. So I didn't need to. I've never come out to anyone.

'My friends always knew and I always knew.'

Sting and Trudie have four children, Mickey, 33, Jake, 32, Coco, and Giacomo, 21, while Sting has daughter Kate, 35, and son Joe, 40, from his first marriage, to actress Frances Tomelty.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse star Leslie Grossman has urged fans to be 'patient' for the long-awaited crossover between Murder House and Coven.

The actress, 46, addressed the disappointment aired by viewers after the first episode returned to screens on Wednesday, marking the latest in the Ryan Murphy anthology series.

Speaking in an interview with TV Guide on Thursday, Grossman said: 'I know that people were like, "What is this? I was told it was going to be a Coven and Murder House crossover!"

Wait for it: American Horror Story: Apocalypse star Leslie Grossman urged fans to be 'patient' for crossover on Thursday... as the show had its lowest-rated premiere yet

'You have to be patient with Ryan's vision of what this is going to be. And I can promise you that the dots are going to connect and it's going to be really satisfying.'

Explaining that it's a 'new take on the story' with a 'satisfying payoff' she added: 'I would hope that they could just let the story unfold and see the journey that we're being taken on.'

Despite the excitement for the 10-part series in the run-up to its release, The Wrap revealed the show had it's lowest rated premiere yet with just 3.08 million viewers tuning in, compared to Murder House's 3.18m in 2011 and Asylum's 3.85m in 2012.

Not yet: Fans were annoyed that the crossover between Murder House and Coven (pictured) hadn't happened, and she explained, 'You have to be patient with Ryan's vision'

The episode titled The End opened in the near future in Beverly Hills in 2019 with celebrity Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt [Leslie] swigging green juice while she got her hair quaffed by her beautician Mr. Gallant [Evan Peters].

An alert popped up on her phone warning of an international 'Ballistic Missile Threat' inbound to Los Angeles, and then her father called from Hong Kong, telling her to get into a car he'd provided that would take her to a safe place immediately.

Joan Collins also made her debut as the grandma of Evan Peters' character, named 'Nanna' Evie Gallant, and the episode saw her become a cannibal while staying in Outpost 3 to try and survive the nuclear war.

Intense: The premiere opened in the near future in Beverly Hills in 2019, and saw Joan Collins make her debut as the grandma of Evan Peters' character, and became a cannibal

While the crossover has yet to happen it was hinted at, as the son of Murder House characters' BDSM 'Rubber Man' Tate Langdon (played by Peters) and Vivien Harmon (Connie Britton) made an appearance as an adult.

Born of human (Vivien) and spirit (Tate), Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) is said to be 'the antichrist' and was last seen in the first series as a child, but made an ominous arrival in Apocalypse when he took people from Outpost 3 to 'a sanctuary'.

Medium Billie Dean Howard [Sarah Paulson] had warned in Murder House that 'a child born of human and spirit will usher in the end of times', so his character is likely to play an important role in the story to come.
She's become a regular on the social scene after finding love with Lee Elliott on The Bachelorette.

And Georgia Love stunned at Myer's runway show in Melbourne on Friday.

The 30-year-old revealed her trim pins in a black and white polka-dot frock, as she posed for photos in front of the media wall.

Spot on! Georgia Love, 30, revealed her trim pins in a white polka-dot frock at Myer's runway show in Melbourne on Friday

Georgia accessorised the ruffled design by label Mossman, with white Wittner ankle boots, a pink shoulder bag and drop earrings.

The former reality star swept her brunette locks into a topknot, and added a pink satin bow.

Georgia's striking facial features were enhanced with a dewy foundation, bold brows, lashings of mascara and a glossy nude lip.

The Ten reporter sat front-row as she watched Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles take to the runway.

Front-row: The Ten reporter sat front-row as she watched Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles take to the runway

The sighting comes just weeks after Georgia celebrated her two year anniversary with Lee Elliott, after meeting on The Bachelorette.

Georgia took to Instagram in August to share a loved-up post that read: 'Two years ago we stood atop a hotel in Singapore, a few rose petals around and a few more cameras.'

'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.'

Milestone: The sighting comes just weeks after Georgia celebrated her two year anniversary with Lee Elliott (pictured), 27, after meeting on The Bachelorette

'Happy anniversary my Lemon, my Michael Cameron, my love.'

'Thank you for taking me on two, wonderful, happy, loving and fun-filled trips around the sun. Let's take a few more, why don't we?!'

Lee, 27, also publicly commemorated his special anniversary with Georgia, penning a heartwarming Instagram message.

'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.
It was speculated that The Real Housewives of Sydney would not be returning to screens for a second season.

However on Friday, Lisa Oldfield, 43, hit back at the claims, stating that it couldn't be further from the truth.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, while promoting World Play-Doh Day this Sunday, the mother-of-two got candid about the reports that have been swirling since last year.

EXCLUSIVE: 'That's just speculation!' Reality star Lisa Oldfield (pictured), 43, said the rumour that the Real Housewives of Sydney has been axed is 'false', in an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Friday

'That's not true, it's completely false, that's just speculation,' Lisa said.

'By no stretch of the imagination have we been told The Real Housewives of Sydney won't be renewed, we have very much been told to sit tight, and asked that we aren't allowed to do anything drastic with our hair or anything like that.'

She continued: 'We are still very much beholds to our contracts, we still have to ask very much to have permission to do anything like I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

'We are always reminded that we are ambassadors for The Real Housewives brand and to not sign up to anything that could affect the brand.'

Round two: 'Thats not true, it's completely false, thats just speculation,' Lisa said of the reports

It comes after Woman's Day claimed on Monday that insiders confirmed the series 'won't be renewed' for a second season.

The publication alleged that the series has been finally axed for good after the 'mean girl' behaviour on the first season failed to resonate with viewers.

Last year, Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh told The Daily Telegraph that the series went 'too far'.

'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake and have no redeeming features,' he said.

After setting the record straight on the rumours, Lisa revealed to Daily Mail Australia her upcoming work projects.

Priorities: 'By no stretch of the imagination have we been told The Real Housewives of Sydney won't be renewed, we have very much been told to sit tight,' she added

'I've got a show in the pipeline at the moment, diametrically opposed and could not be any different to the housewives (franchise).'

'It's in planning mode now and once it gets the green light I will go back to Matchbox Pictures (a film and television production company) and plan to do that.'

'It's a documentary that I'm hosting, it's a very scandalous and historical documentary. Information will be forthcoming soon. It's a project that we've been working on for six months and I can't wait,' she revealed.

Lisa added that while she's working on new projects, family is her number one priority.

New venture: 'I've got a show in the pipeline at the moment, diametrically opposed and could not be any different to the housewives (franchise).' Lisa is pictured with sons Harry (left), 6, and Albert (right), 5

'At the end of the day, the documentary is nice, but it's really about reprioritising and what's really important are my kids, nothing really else matters.'

More information on the documentary will be released in early 2019.

For information on World Play Doh's family day or to buy tickets go to Eventbrite.


Vogue Williams has shared updates on life as a new mum as she gets to grips with breastfeeding and the lack of sleep.

The Irish star, 32, welcomed her first child, a baby boy, 30, with husband Spencer Matthews last Wednesday.

But it's been ten days of mixed emotions for Vogue who joked about feeling like a 'milking cow' as she pumped milk for her little one on Thursday night.

Tired: Vogue Williams has shared updates on life as a new mum as she gets to grips with breastfeeding and the lack of sleep

The new mum shared updates on her Instagram Stories, posting a photo of her electric breast pump with the crying laughing emoji and the declaration: 'I'm a milking cow.'

Earlier she posed a selfie of herself cosying up to her baby boy, as she complained about her 'tired stingy eyes.'

And unfortunately for Vogue she didn't get much of a chance to catch up on sleep as by Friday morning she was sharing another bleary-eyed selfie as she asked her followers: 'Will he go back to sleep if I'm reaaallllly quiet.'

Pumping: It's been ten days of mixed emotions for Vogue, who welcomed her son last Wednesday, who joked about feeling like a 'milking cow' as she pumped on Thursday

Sleepless nights: Earlier she posed a selfie of herself cosying up to her baby boy, as she complained about her 'tired stingy eyes'

Earlier this week Vogue defended her choice to briefly return to work just days after welcoming her first child.

The presenter, 32, gave birth to a baby boy on September 5 and on Wednesday shared a update with her followers that she had 'work today', a week after her son arrived.

The star also posted videos of herself thanking her 'glam squad' for her hair and make-up, which appeared to draw the ire of some of her fans.

Fuming: Vogue has defended her choice to briefly return to work just days after welcoming her first child with husband Spencer Matthews

New mother: The presenter, 32, gave birth to a baby boy on September 5 and on Wednesday shared a update with her followers that she had 'work today', a week after her son arrived

Hitting back at the comments, The Jump star said it was her choice, that she had only taken part in one shoot and urged followers not to 'parent shame' her.

She wrote: 'So many messages about going back to work yesterday.

'1. It's my choice and I feel happy to,

'2. I'm not fully back to work yet. It was one shoot.

Backlash: The star also posted videos of herself thanking her 'glam squad' for her hair and make-up, which appeared to draw the ire of some of her fans

Defence: Hitting back at the comments, The Jump star said it was her choice, that she had only taken part in one shoot and urged followers not to 'parent shame' her

'3. I only intend on taking jobs where I can have my baby with me as I'm breastfeeding so we shall be glued together for the next few months.

'4. I don't get maternity leave in my job so I'll obviously be going back sooner than others.

'5. Let's not start the parent shaming already. He is eight days old and a VERY happy loved baby.'

Hitting back: On Friday the star added a thankyou to her fans for their support. Writing underneath a picture of herself, Vogue said: 'To the Mummy shamers out there, get a life'

On Friday the star added a thankyou to her fans for their support. Writing underneath a stunning picture of herself in a red floral dress, Vogue gushed:

'It feels nice to be able to dress up and feel comfortable in my old clothes again! Thank you for all the lovely comments yesterday, they really picked me up. To the Mummy shamers out there, get a life.'

'Im not sorry Im out and about feeling good, Im the happiest Ive ever been! Probably the most tired Ive ever been too but its more than worth it.'

The couple - who tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in the Scottish Highlands in June - welcomed a 'beautiful and healthy' baby boy last week.

Taking to Instagram, the presenter posted: 'This morning at 3:55am, we welcomed our son into a quiet London hospital... He is beautiful and healthy. We feel truly blessed.'

Baby boy:The couple - who tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in the Scottish Highlands in June - welcomed a 'beautiful and healthy' baby boy in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Vogue shared a heartwarming snap of the tiny tot in a striped baby gro, resting her hand gently on the infant's feet.

Meanwhile, former Made In Chelsea star Spencer, 30, chose to announce the news with an arty black and white image of his hand clasping his newborn's, reposting the same message as his wife.

Vogue also took to her Instagram stories to write 'I'm so in love'.

The pair, who have yet to reveal the baby's name, were inundated with well wishes from their delighted followers and celebrity friends.

Recently Vogue gushed over her marriage to Spencer, admitting that the couple are 'delighted' with themselves.

The star revealed during an interview with the Independent that she is happiest when she is in a relationship.

However despite finding happiness with former MIC bad boy Spencer, she claims she has previously been hurt in the past.

Prior to her relationship with Spencer, Vogue was married to Westlife's Brian McFadden for three years, and before that she was with graffiti artist Al Hester, aka Maser for six years.

The Irish beauty has also been linked to British actor Laurence Fox and rapper Professor Green, who was previously married to Spencer's former co-star Millie Mackintosh.

However Vogue suggested that she has never been one to stray, adding that when she falls for someone it is very much about that one person, especially Spencer.

Cute couple: Recently Vogue gushed over her marriage to Spencer, admitting that the couple are 'delighted' with themselves

When questioned about the pace of their relationship, after meeting in January 2017 and getting married in 2018, she said: It hasn't been that long and it's quite crazy to think how far we've come in that time.

But it doesn't feel weird either, it just feels like it was always meant to be this way.'

Vogue joked that she has accepted the fact her little boy, whose name is yet to be announced, will have an English accent.

However she cheekily added that you can get away with a lot more with an Irish accent.
She's a part-owner of activewear label JAGGAD.

And AFL WAG Rebecca Judd modelled the collection's latest pieces at Myer's runway show in Melbourne on Friday.

The 35-year-old revealed her washboard stomach and trim pins in a crop top and full-length leggings.

Not an inch to pinch! AFL WAG Rebecca Judd, 35, revealed her washboard stomach as she modelled her own activewear label at Myer's Melbourne runway show on Friday

Rebecca was all smiles as she strutted down the runway in front of reality TV's creme de la creme, including Georgia Love.

The mother-of-four sported a black crop top with the text JAGGAD on the front, teamed with coordinating tights that featured bold pink, red and white panels.

Rebecca added white Adidas sneakers and her sparkling wedding ring to the look, and styled her long brunette locks in a half-up, half-down do, with textured waves.

Trim: The mother-of-four sported a black crop top with the text JAGGAD on the front, teamed with coordinating tights that featured bold pink, red and white panels

The look: Rebecca added white Adidas sneakers and her sparkling wedding ring to the look, and styled her long brunette locks in a half-up, half-down do, with textured waves

Keeping to a minimal makeup palette, the brand ambassador showed off a dewy complexion, bold brows and a natural lip.

Finishing off Friday's runway show, Rebecca was joined on the catwalk by Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles, 25.

Known for her trim figure, Rebecca told Daily Mail Australia in May her day on a plate.

The model revealed a typical menu to include muesli for breakfast, focaccia for lunch, and meat and vegetables for dinner.

Familiar face: Finishing off Friday's runway show, Rebecca was joined on the catwalk by Myer ambassador Elyse Knowles (right), 25

'Breakfast is usually muesli and a strong latte,' Rebecca told Daily Mail Australia.

'Lunch I'll grab my fave brown rice sushi or a focaccia, yum!'

Rebecca said that for dinner, she and her AFL star husband Chris Judd, 34, typically tuck into fish or meat with vegetables.

'Dinner I usually will have meat or fish and vegetables which Chris and I both love.'
Chris Hemsworth's wife is the envy of most women with her glamorous life and attractive husband.

And on Thursday, Elsa Pataky seemed particularly excited as she leaped into the air, while taking a joyride on the London Eye.

Taking to Instagram, the 42-year-old revealed her impeccably toned physique in a singlet and floral print skirt, by Byron Bay designer Spell.

Jumping for joy! Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky (pictured), 42, showed off her age-defying figure as she leaped into the air on the London Eye on Thursday

'London flying!' Elsa captioned the photograph.

Elsa paired her white slogan singlet and skirt with a brown fedora hat and gold t-bar sandals.

The sighting comes after the mother-of-three revealed that her lean frame comes at a price.

Playing tourist: Taking to Instagram, the mother-of-three highlighted her trimphysique while taking in the sights of London

In January, Elsa credited her age-defying body to green juices, weight training and always making time for yoga - even if it is just before bed.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping, the blonde beauty said she always strives to make fitness a priority, even if it means taking her three children with her to the gym.

'Trust me, most kids can have fun just about anywhere, including a gym,' she said.

Beach life: Elsa lives in Byron Bay, located north of Sydney, with husband Chris Hemsworth (pictured), 35, and their three children

Elsa explained that yoga is 'great for toning your booty' and is something she can follow, just before bed.

'At that hour, the kids are tucked in bed and I have some time to myself before I go to sleep,' she told Good Housekeeping.

'I'll either do a quick, heart-pumping exercise or a relaxing yoga flow - it depends on how I'm feeling that day.'

Elsa married Melbourne-born actor Chris Hemsworth, 35, in 2010, and the couple share three children, daughter India Rose, six, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, four.
She's the model, fashion blogger and beauty entrepreneur who has just wrapped up an 'epic' New York Fashion Week.

And Elle Ferguson revealed the secret behind her picture-perfect look, in an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

The blonde bombshell said that she swears by TRESemme hair-care products to maintain her glossy, wavy locks.

Picture-perfect: Beauty entrepreneur Elle Ferguson has revealed the secret behind her enviable look as she wraps up an 'epic' New York Fashion Week

'I cannot leave the house without hairspray, it holds the curl in. A lot of people are afraid of using hairspray, but the right one that you can brush out and play with is a game changer,' Elle told Daily Mail Australia.

'The TRESemme Extra Hold Long Lasting Hairspray has to be one of the best hairsprays I've ever used. The part is, it brushes out at night and adds texture to your hair,' the star added.

Elle, who rose to fame after co-founding fashion blog They All Hate Us with Tash Sefton, went on to admit that she previously suffered from bad hair days.

Secrets: 'I cannot leave the house without hairspray, it holds the curl in. A lot of people are afraid of using hairspray, but the right one that you can brush out and play with is a game changer,' Elle told Daily Mail Australia on Friday

'My hair and the rain don't mix, but I do love a treatment as it brings my hair back to life, which means no bad hair days,' she said.

Elle attended New York Fashion Week last week, as an ambassador for hair care brand TRESemme.

In between attending shows and heading backstage, the Sydney-based personality fit in a series of photo shoots, taken in the streets of the Big Apple.

Jetsetter: Elle attended New York Fashion Week last week, as an ambassador for hair care brand TRESemme

One photo sees Elle highlighting her slender figure in a flirty white frock by Ulla Johnson, accessorised with a black quilted Chanel handbag and a KATE CATE black leather belt, cinching in at her waist.

Her luscious locks fall behind her toned back, and she beams at the camera.

While another photo sees Elle sporting a striped Balenciaga sweater, tucked into a lightwash denim skirt by Ksubi, teamed with a coordinating jacket, a red Acne handbag and Jimmy Choo heels.
Production has begun on the hotly-anticipated final film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, currently labelled Episode IX.

And Mark Hamill teased fans with an amusing tweet on Friday, seemingly hinting at the title for the ninth film in the sci-fi opera franchise.

The actor, 66, simply wrote: 'THE (to be continued...)' and fans saw the funny side as they tried to make up their own endings to his tweet.

Star Wars Episode IX: Mark Hamill left fans in hysterics as he teased new film's title in a cryptic tweet on Thursday

If the title does start with 'the' like in Mark's tweet, then it would be the fifth film in the franchise to start that way, following The Empire Strikes Back, The Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens, and The Last Jedi.

Mark is reprising his role as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, alongside returning cast members Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran.

While it wasn't clear whether the Star Wars legend was giving a preview at the title for the new film, fans jumped at the opportunity to give their own suggestions.

He's back: The actor is set to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker (pictured), alongside returning cast mates Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran

Twitter users took to the social media platform in their droves, sharing hilarious guesses to try and continue the title.

One suggested 'the porgs have risen', while another said: 'The Force Awakens The Last Jedi From His Nap?'

Others used memes to describe their anticipation for the next word, or any news on what the title could be from the Joker voice actor.

Going with it: While it wasn't clear whether the Star Wars legend was giving a preview at the title for the new film, fans jumped at the opportunity to give their own suggestions

Episode IX will be directed by J.J Abrams, who revealed he 'wanted to go beyond, and do better than we did in 7 (The Force Awakens).'

In July it was announced that Abrams will use unreleased footage of Carrie Fisher, which was shot for 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in the next Star Wars film to give the latest trilogy a 'satisfying conclusion.'

Fisher died in 2016 at the age of 60 after she finished work on The Last Jedi, and she has played Leia Organa since the first Star Wars film, which debuted in 1977.

'Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character,' Abrams said in a statement.

In honour: In July it was announced that unreleased footage of late Carrie Fisher (pictured in The Last Jedi), which was shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will be used in the next film

'With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carries legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.'

Production on the new chapter began earlier this month, and John and Oscar were spotted shooting scenes outside London last month.

Billy Dee Williams is returning to the franchise for the first time since the original trilogy, and new members of the cast include Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, both of whom are also currently taking on unnamed roles.
She was just in New York for fashion week.

And Emma Roberts showed off her runway-worthy style credentials as she grabbed dinner at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The actress, 27, looked absolutely amazing in a flirty tweed pink crop top and pencil skirt by Storets as she headed inside the hotel, busy on her phone.

Simply chic! Emma Roberts showed off her fresh eye for style as she headed to the Chateau Marmont on Thursday in Los Angeles in a runway-worthy look

The actress wore her blonde locks down in a sleek and straight style tucked away behind her ears.

She dressed up the look with a pair of red, retro-style sunglasses and glossy beige heels.

Adding a casual touch was her off-white tote, which she had slung over her shoulder.

Emma looked absolutely radiant with a peachy hue of blush and matching slick of lipstick on.

Busy bee! The We're The Millers actress left her car, busy chatting away on her phone

Hello gorgeous! The actress made a head-turning display in her sophisticated yet trendy Storets ensemble

Dressed to impress and chatting away on her phone from the moment she left her car, it looked to be another busy afternoon for the actress.

And Emma's schedule is set to get a lot more jam-packed, with the recent premiere of American Horror Story: Apocalypse.

Emma has starred on the hit horror series since 2013.

The star has appeared in 33 films during her young career. Her resume includes: America's Sweethearts (2001) alongside Aunt Julia Roberts, Nancy Drew (2007), Scream 4 (2011), Empire State (2013), We're the Millers (2013) and In a Relationship (2018).
The baby is here.

Slick Woods and her beau, fellow model Adonis Bosso, welcomed their baby boy Saphir, he announced on Friday morning on social media.

The beauty went into labor soon after showing off her naked baby bump at Rihanna's Savage x Fenty runway show during New York Fashion Week on Wednesday night.

New mom: The baby is here. Slick Woods and her beau, fellow model Adonis Bosso, welcomed their baby boy Saphir, he announced on Friday morning

The daddy: Woods and her beau at an event in NYC earlier this summer

Adonis confirmed the baby had arrived with a social media message that said: 'Fatherhood.'

Soon after stepping backstage at Rihanna's show, the 22-year-old model went into labor, according to TMZ.

An ambulance was reportedly called and she was rushed to the hospital.

Good timing: Woods went into labor as soon as she stepped off Rihanna's Fenty runway in NYC on Wednesday evening, according to TMZ

The timing is incredible for the catwalker.

Just before she went into labor she became an instant celebrity thanks to her eye-popping outfit at the show.

Not only did she have a very big bump, but she looked incredibly fit in the extremely skimpy outfit that include straps and pasties.

Woods' Instagram account exploded after the event - she now has almost 700K followers.

And she has been heavily searched online after she won the night on the Fenty catwalk.

Woods came to fame two years ago when she modeled for Marc Jacobs.

The mastermind: Rihanna handpicked Woods for the show and put her in the outfit

Star: The boy will be named Saphi, the site claimed. She has yet to issue a statement

At Fenty on Wednesday, Slick closed the Neverland meets lost girls themed show in her very daring look.

The beauty was dressed in a string one piece with cut-outs to highlight her bump, teamed with glitter-adorned stockings and killer heels.

Nipple covers, sparkling hoop earrings and a black velvet headband completed the runway look as Slick strutted past the FROW and posed with a hand on her bump.

This is where it happened: The beauty backstage at the show just before she went into labor

Work it: Woods' Instagram account exploded after the event - she now has almost 700K followers

Rihanna asked her muse to model for her lingerie collection after declaring she wants to empower women through her designs.

'Women should be wearing lingerie for their d**n selves,' Rihanna told Vogue in an interview. 'I can only hope to encourage confidence and strength by showing lingerie in another light. You don't have to stick to one personality with lingerie; it's fun to play around.

'You can be cute and playful one week and a black widow next week. You can take risks with lingerie. I want people to wear Savage x Fenty and think, 'I'm a bad b****. I want women to own their beauty.'

Accessories: Slick also rocked glitter-adorned stockings for her catwalk strut

Slick, real name Simone Thompson, revealed she was pregnant with her first child two months ago.

Taking to Instagram, the star was seen sitting on the edge of a pool while flaunting her baby bump.

'In good company,' she captioned the shot taken by British model Leomie Anderson.

Expecting: Slick, real name Simone Thompson, revealed she was pregnant with her first child two months ago

Slick is the face of Rihanna's clothing and beauty line Fenty, has starred in Italian, Japanese and American Vogue and hailed herself as a 'reincarnation of Tupac'.

Reflecting on her success, she told ES Magazine last year: 'I see myself being a new-age Black Panther, doing things that are really important.

'I see myself changing the world,' she continued.

Slick has seen a huge rags to riches rise to stardom and has previously spoken about her past drug abuse and homelessness.

While she was living on the streets at the age of 19, she was discovered by British model Ash Stymest who helped propel her to international success.

Boss babe: Rihanna looked incredible in a sheer dress as she walked the runway
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It won millions of fans all over the world with its fantasy universe full of witches, daemons, and armoured polar bears.

And Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is set to come to life on the small screen, with the first pictures of the set in Llangynidr Quarry in Crickhowell, Wales released.

The hotly anticipated series, which will air on the BBC on 2019, and stars James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson, was originally green-lit in 2015 with an eight-episode series.

Fantasy land: Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is set to come to life on the small screen, with the first pictures of the set in Llangynidr Quarry in Crickhowell, Wales released

Leading Lights: The hotly anticipated series, which will air on the BBC on 2019, and stars James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson, was originally green-lit in 2015 with an eight-episode series

It is based on the books in Pullman's trilogy, Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000).

The striking first photos from the set show the construction of a ramshackle town in the quarry, with a rickety wooden boarding house and soot-stained church dominating the landscape.

A derelict barn with boxes stacked inside was also visible, with brightly coloured pick-up trucks helping with the construction.

Catching the eye was a rust-riddled boat at one side of the quarry, which was perched on a stand, with a quirky looking stone well in the corner.

Mysterious: The striking first photos from the set show the construction of a ramshackle town in the quarry, with a rickety wooden boarding house and soot-stained church dominating the landscape

Ramshackle: Catching the eye was a rust-riddled boat at one side of the quarry, which was perched on a stand

Making for a foreboding landscape inside the stone walls of the quarry, the buildings were mottled in what appeared to be ash, dust and rust as filming gets underway.

It is unclear which location from the book the set features in, but prominent locations in the series include Jordan College, Oxford, the main port of Lapland, Trollesund, Svalbard, the location of the Panserbjorne palace and centre of the Ice Bear government, Bolvangar, the location of the research facility used to experiment on the link between humans and their daemons, and Cittagazze, the 'city of magpies' which is fictional city within a parallel universe.

The series is filming in Wales, Oxford and Bristol, with a script by Jack Thorne - who created Harry Potter And The Cursed Child on stage alongside JK Rowling - and directed by Tom Hooper.

Foreboding: A derelict barn with boxes stacked inside was also visible, with brightly coloured pick-up trucks helping with the construction

Sombre: Making for a foreboding landscape inside the stone walls of the quarry, the buildings were mottled in what appeared to be ash, dust and rust as filming gets underway

The fantasy trilogy, which is aimed at both children and adults, has already been turned into a play at the National Theatre and a 2007 film called The Golden Compass, starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman.

The three books tell the story of Lyra Belacqua, an orphan growing up in the heart of academic Oxford, but who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined.

As she searches for a kidnapped friend, she uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and their daemons - the external version of a person's 'inner-self', which takes the form of an animal.

Scenic: The town made for a striking sight as filming continued on the hotly anticipated TV series

Lyra is drawn into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon known as Dust and in the second novel she is joined on her journey by a boy, Will, whose knife can cut windows between parallel worlds.

As the girl learns more about her parents and her destiny she and Will are caught up in a war against the celestial powers.

The new series will star James McAvoy as the mysterious Lord Asriel and Luther actress Ruth Wilson as the villainous Mrs Coulter.

Logan star Dafne Keen, 13, will take on the lead role as Lyra, with Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda playing aeronaut Lee Scoresby and McAvoy's ex wife Anne Marie Duff, 47, playing Ma Costa.

The dramas producers at TV company Bad Wolf have signed veteran star Clarke Peters to play the Master who helps raise Lyra.

Haunting: The series is filming in Wales, Oxford and Bristol, with a script by Jack Thorne - who created Harry Potter And The Cursed Child on stage alongside JK Rowling - and directed by Tom Hooper

The first set shots come as Deadline revealed HBO will co-produce and distribute the BBC drama, with a second eight episode series of the show already ordered. This would seem to hint the TV series will achieve what the film could not, telling the second story in the trilogy.

HBO is also said to have acquired the worldwide rights to the series outside of the UK.

Although the 2007 film based on Northern Lights was a financial success, making $372m against a $180m budget, Pullman slammed the retelling of his classic tome.

It was over-designed, said Pullman in 2014. There were far too many twiddly bits on the armoured bears. There should have been great sheets of rusted metal instead. And they didnt finish the story.

'They needed an ending that would work for a single film, but one that would also work if it was the first of a trilogy. They wanted both a cliffhanger and a resolution. You just cant do that.

He also revealed he had given the script for the TV seruies his blessing, saying: I was happy to let them get on with it  its their project, not mine.

Showtime: Logan star Dafne Keen, 13, will take on the lead role as Lyra, with McAvoy's ex wife Anne Marie Duff, 47, playing Ma Costa

When the movie was released, it was slammed as anti-Christian by Vatican newspaper l'Osservatore Romano, bringing comparisons with 2005's controversial The Da Vinci Code.

In a long editorial the newspaper criticised the film and the British author of the fantasy adventure Northern Lights, from which the film is adapted.

'In Pullman's world, hope simply does not exist, because there is no salvation but only personal, individualistic capacity to control the situation and dominate events,' the editorial said.

The comment piece added that 'honest' viewers would find the film 'devoid of any particular emotion apart from a great chill'.

In Pullman's fantasy world, created in the trilogy, the Church and its governing body, the Magisterium, are linked to cruel experiments on children aimed at discovering the nature of sin. The Church also attempts to suppress facts that would undermine the Church's legitimacy and power.

Chris Weitz, director of the Golden Compass, still received stinging criticism from the Vatican despite stripping his film version of all references to the Church in a bid to avoid offending religious audiences.

Fantasy film: The fantasy trilogy, which is aimed at both children and adults, has already been turned a 2007 film called The Golden Compass, starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman

Drama: One dramatic scene featured a armoured bear known as the panserbjrn, who Lyra enlists the help of in her battle

Slammed: Although the 2007 film based on Northern Lights was a financial success, making $372m against a $180m budget, Pullman slammed the retelling of his classic tome calling it 'over-designed' (above Nicole Kidman and Dakota Blue Richards)

Backlash: When the movie was released, it was slammed as anti-Christian by Vatican newspaper l'Osservatore Romano, bringing comparisons with 2005's controversial The Da Vinci Code (above author Philip Pullman)

The condemnation from Church leaders followed calls from some Catholic groups in the United States for a boycott of the film.

The American-based Catholic League urged Christians not to see the film, saying that its objective was 'to bash Christianity and 'promote atheism' to children.

A sequel to the hit film never materialised with Philip saying: The girl who played Lyra [Dakota Blue Fanning] is now an adult and Daniel Craig [who played Lord Asriel, her father] is many times more expensive since he became James Bond...

Pullman told the story of Lyra as a baby in La Belle Sauvage, the first in a new trilogy called The Book Of Dust and published in 2017. It was hailed as a masterpiece.

La Belle Sauvage goes back to the very beginning for Lyra, a baby being hunted down by sinister figures as an apocalyptic flood sweeps through Oxford.

Northern Lights also won the Carnegie Medal for childrens books and was later named as the finest Carnegie winner of them all.

New trilogy: Pullman told the story of Lyra as a baby in La Belle Sauvage, the first in a new trilogy called The Book Of Dust and published in 2017. It was hailed as a masterpiece




She's the PR powerhouse who is a mother to two adorable youngsters, Pixie, seven, and Hunter, four.

And now, Roxy Jacenko, 38, has revealed the heartbreaking reason she can't have any more children.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the entrepreneur said her bout with breast cancer in 2016, has meant that it is very unlikely she would be able to add to her brood.

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'It's funny how everyone asks me about more children': PR queen Roxy Jacenko (pictured), 38, has revealed the heartbreaking reason she can't have any more children

'It's funny how everyone always asks me about more children - I think they forget that after having cancer, more children are not a possibility,' she said.

Roxy, who regularly uses the cancer prevention drug Tamoxifen, said that the medicine can take a toll on one's body.

'Radiation and living on the drug does terrible things to one's system,' Roxy revealed.

'Radiation and living on the drug does terrible things to one's system': Roxy said her battle with breast cancer in 2016, and subsequent medication has meant that she is most likely unable to add to her brood

The Sweaty Betty PR founder, who is known to have a close relationship with her two children, added that she's grateful to have them in her life.

'I have two incredible children already,' she said.

Roxy went on to say that she would have limited options should she want to pursue having children.

Challenging: The Sweaty Betty PR founder went on to say her only option would be surrogacy, given the extensive treatment she had for her cancer two years ago

'The only option for me would be surrogacy following my cancer and current treatment.'

Roxy shares her two children with businessman husband, Oliver Curtis.

Roxy hit in a bump in the road in July 2016 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, mere weeks after Oliver was jailed for conspiracy to commit insider trading.

Roxy underwent radiation treatment for six weeks, documenting the surgery to remove the cancer from her breast in a 60 Minutes interview in August.

In November of the same year, Roxy revealed to The Daily Telegraph that she would be on a chemotherapy pill for the next decade.

'I did a test in the US which gives you a percentage of the cancer coming back and it was a bit higher than the oncologist would have liked,' Roxy said.

'I have two incredible children already': Roxy said she was grateful to have her two children, Pixie, seven, and Hunter, four, (both pictured)

'I have a 10 to 15 per cent chance of it coming back,' she added.

Reflecting on her diagnosis, Roxy said her daughter Pixie, then five, 'slept in my bed holding my hand' after the devastating news.

Roxy had a second breast cancer scare in 2017.

Earlier this month, Roxy told Daily Mail Australia that her trials and tribulations have made her stronger.

'I have a 10 to 15 per cent chance of it coming back': Roxy said she wasn't out of the woods, with her taking Tamoxifen for the next decade. Pictured with husband Oliver Curtis

'Life's good. I couldn't ask for better,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'When anyone would say to you, "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger", I used to say, "Would you just shut the f**k up? Seriously?"'

'But the reality is, it is true. We learnt a lot about life during that time. It was a very testing and very challenging time.'
She recently denied that her impossibly perfect pout isn't natural.

But on Friday, model Megan Blake Irwin, 24, set tongues wagging for a different reason when she attended a Miu Miu store event.

Taking to Instagram, the blonde bombshell shared a sultry snap of herself dressed in a pretty, strapless gown at the upscale store.

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Pretty in pink! Model Megan Blake Irwin (pictured), 24, looked effortlessly chic in a strapless floral dress while visiting a Miu Miu store on Friday

Looking radiant, the blonde beauty flaunted her slender frame in the body-hugging frock.

For the outing, Megan opted to wear her shoulder length blonde hair down and slightly wavy.

The Adelaide-born model enhanced her flawless complexion with dewy makeup, lip gloss and dark eye liner.

Flawless: The blonde beauty opted for a dewy makeup look for the outing to the high-end store, adding black eyeliner and lip gloss to add some drama

It comes after Megan denied her pout has been artificially altered.

In an Instagram Q&A, the model responded to a fan who asked her where she got her 'lips' done, hitting out at the suggestion they aren't natural.

As she shared a childhood photo of herself which featured her noticeably plump pout, Megan seemed appalled at the idea she would alter her face.

'I have never had my lips done': Megan hit back at claims her pout is not natural insisting she wouldn't 'change the face her beautiful parents made' (L) In 2016 and (R) in her childhood years

'I have never nor would I ever want to change the face my beautiful parents made,' the avid traveller insisted.

In the same Q&A, Megan also denied that she had altered her perfectly arched eyebrows, claiming they too were all natural.

Posing another question, a fan wrote: 'Love ur brows, do you get them done? Or dyed? If so where xx'

Megan, who has also featured in Bras N' Things campaigns denied this was the case.

'Nope, I don't touch them at all. I just let them be them,' she wrote, under a photo that showcased her near-perfect arch.

It comes after it was revealed Megan is now dating billionaire heir David Mimran, 46, following her split from Miami model, Nicolo Knows in July.

In the past, Megan has also been rumoured to have dated Kourtney Kardashian's ex, Scott Disick.

Sharing a tender snap of herself in a warm embrace with the film producer on Instagram, Megan revealed she met David at Cannes Film Festival.

'We were friends first and realised our connection was nothing less than complete and utter love and respect for one another,' she explained.

'He is the kindest, most lovable person and I am so lucky and thankful to have such an amazing human in my life.'
He is currently in Chicago with Kim Kardashian.

And on Friday, Kanye West shared a photo of his childhood home in the Illinois city.

The former home of the rapper appears to be deserted, months after a row with his charity Donda's House, who later cut ties with him and changed their name to Arts of Culture Inc.

Kanye West shared a photo of his childhood hood in the Illinois city

The property, located on the city's south side, was the home Kanye grew up in with his mother Donda West, who died in 2007 due to complications from cosmetic surgery.

The home was supposed to become the headquarters of a charity he co-founded with friend Rhymefest in 2011 - Donda's House - to help Chicago's troubled youth.

It was supposed to contain a recording studio and a museum.

In May, Rhymefest and Kanye, 41, had a falling out after accusations that the father of three had provided little assistance and 'abandoned' his hometown of Chicago.

Catching up: He is currently in Chicago with Kim Kardashian; pictured Thursday at the city's Avalon Regal Theater with Chance The Rapper

Right before the public falling out, the organization also attempted to separate itself from West, releasing a statement condemning his public support for Donald Trump.

Kanye didn't respond to the accusations - instead wife Kim came to his offense via Twitter; she accused Rhymefest of failing to run the charity properly.

Rhymefest has won two Grammy Awards - including for a song written for Kanye - and won an Oscar with John Legend and Common for the song Glory in 2015.

Happier times: The property, located on the city's south side, was the home Kanye grew up in with his mother Donda West, who died in 2007 due to complications from cosmetic surgery; pictured February 2006 with his mom at the Grammy Awards in LA

Following Kardashian's tweets, the foundation revealed it would no longer use the name Donda's House.

'This has been an incredibly difficult decision but the social media quotes from Kim Kardashian West, as well as the expressed intent of her family running the organization, has brought up to this decision,' it wrote in a statement.

'We will continue to support youth in our endeavors. We encourage Kim and Kanye to indeed pick up the baton of service.'

Drama: The home was supposed to become the headquarters of a charity he co-founded with friend Rhymefest in 2011 - Donda's House - to help Chicago's troubled youth; Rhymefest at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of The Public

The charity announced via Twitter that it was permanently changing its name to Art of Culture Inc, and continues to operate under that name to this day.

Meanwhile all of Donda's House social media channels and websites were reportedly handed over to Kim and Kanye, and have remained inactive since.

The Avalon Regal Theater was also visited by Kanye and Kim during their trip to his hometown; they were joined by Chance the Rapper - also a Chicago native.

Kanye performed there in 1994 at the age of 17; the theater, which first opened in 1927, has been unused for the past decade.

24 years ago: Kanye performed there in 1994 at the age of 17; the Avalon Regal theater, which first opened in 1927, has been unused for the past decade

Last week, Kanye said that he wants to help restore the theater and have a Chicago Comedy Jam there.

The rapper later shared a video of himself going to the studio while in his hometown.

The video features Kanye heading to the studio to while a new track plays in the background.

The clip shows Kanye getting into a Ferrari and driving to a Chicago-area recording studio where he seemingly starts working on new music.

Sneak peek for his fans: The rapper later shared a video of himself heading to the studio while in his hometown

Focused: The video features Kanye going to the studio while a new track plays in the background
Kerry Washington has managed to keep her figure in tip-top shape.

When attending a photo call at at New 42nd Street Studios in NYC for her new play American Son, the 41-year-old actress - who has children Isabelle and Caleb - looked very svelte in a plunging print dress.

Also at the event for the Broadway play were Steven Pasquale, Eugene Lee, and Jeremy Jordan.

Haute stuff: Kerry Washington has managed to keep her figure in tip-top shape. When attending a photo call for her new play American Son, the 41-year-old actress looked very svelte in a plunging print dress

Her look: Kerry's gown had a blue background with pink and light purple flowers all over it. There was also a slit up the side that gave a flash of her toned leg. She added pointy light pink pumps but left a purse at home

Kerry's gown had a blue background with pink and light purple flowers all over it.

There was also a slit up the side that gave a flash of her toned leg. She added pointy light pink pumps but left a purse at home.

The wife of Nnamdi Asomugha wore her hair in corn rows and added diamond earrings for a little sparkle.

American Son's run is only six weeks and the preview is on October 6 with opening night on November 4.

It's directed by Tony-winner Kenny Leon.

Polished: The wife of Nnamdi Asomugha wore her hair in corn rows and added diamond earrings for a little sparkle

The synopsis online reads, 'A Florida police station in the middle of the night. Two parents searching for answers.

'Kerry returns to the Broadway stage alongside Steven Pasquale (American Crime Story, Junk), Eugene Lee (Gem of the Ocean), and Jeremy Jordan (Supergirl, Newsies), in the riveting new play, AMERICAN SON.

'Marking the Broadway debut of playwright Christopher Demos-Brown and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences), AMERICAN SON is a gripping tale about who we are as a nation, and how we deal with family relationships, love, loss, and identity.'

Kerry also has a new show to work on after American Son is over.

Shining bright: The Scandal star's makeup was light but perfect with pink lipstick

In August it was revealed she will star in and produce the Hulu streaming series Old City Blues.

Old City Blues is based the Boom! Studios graphic novel with Oscar winner Gore Verbinski set to direct. Set in the year 2048, the story revolves around New Athens, on the ruins of Greece but is now crawling with high-tech criminals like smugglers, drug dealers and corrupt politicians and powerful corporations.

The show would revolve around the citys Special Police, who try to keep the city in check after the cyborg founder of a tech company is found dead.

At this point it's still not known what role Kerry will take on.

All together now: Washington with Christopher Demos-Brown, Steven Pasquale, Eugene Lee, Jeremy Jordan and Kenny Leon

The Django Unchained star has also been working with Hulu on her upcoming project Little Fires Everywhere, which co-stars Reese Witherspoon. Both leading ladies are executive producing the limited series.

Most recently Kerry moved behind camera and is directing an episode of the Showtime series MILF in Boston. On Monday, she shared a series of photos from the set.

One pic shows a MILF scene slate with the caption: 'The adventure continues. #KerryDirectsSMILF.'

Feeling social: Kerry posed with her American Son castmates on Instagram

She proudly displayed her director's name plate in another photo and said: 'Pinch me. #SMILF.'

And in a third she flashed that million dollar smile: 'Me and My Day 1s @Sho-SMILF. #SMILF #KerryDirectsSMILF.'

Kerry has been vocal on her social media platforms in recent years about her love for directing and wanting to do more of it.
The stars were out in force for London Fashion Week on Friday as designers and models prepared themselves for the upcoming days.

And one big name arriving in Britain's capital ready for the star-studded event was Winnie Harlow as she stepped out at the BFC Show Space venue.

The model, 23, showcased her toned abs in a white crop top teamed with a long mustard trench coat.

Stunning: Winnie Harlow arriving at the BFC Show Space during London Fashion Week on Friday

Winnie accentuated her enviably long and lean legs with a pair of high white boots and high-waisted, light-wash, skinny jeans.

The casual look was finished with some stylish sunglasses and a grey jacket with the hood up.

One of the finalists in the 2014 season of long-running TV contest America's Next Top Model, Winnie kept her hair down and loose to match with her casual ensemble.

The model will no doubt be part of the seven-day, chic event kicked off on Thursday at 1pm BST.

Sensational: The model, 23, showcased her toned abs in a white crop top teamed with a long mustard trench coat

Winnie - who has skin condition vitiligo - recently discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE magazine.

She explained: 'There is a big shift happening in the fashion industry in terms of beauty standards, and I feel Im part of that shift.

'I remember on Americas Next Top Model, Tyra Banks asked me if a photographer told me to cover my skin for a shoot, would I do it?

Out and about: She accentuated her enviably long and lean legs with a pair of high white boots

'I said no. I dont care who it is, or who thinks I should. Im going to stay true to myself.'

She previously lashed out at being branded 'a sufferer' of pigment disease Vitiligo, as she penned on Instagram: '"I'm not a 'Vitiligo Sufferer" I'm not a 'Vitiligo model.

'I am Winnie. I am a model. And I happen to have Vitiligo. Stop putting these titles on me or anyone else.'
Oscar-winner Julianne Moore enjoyed a red carpet date night with her husband Bart Freundlich, 48, on Thursday at the premiere of her latest thriller, Bel Canto, in NYC.

The couple have been together since 1996 and they wed in 2003. Together the stars have two children: Liv, 16,and Caleb, 20.

Moore, 57, looked sizzling in a short black Saint Laurent gown, Chopard jewelry and black open-toed high heels.

So happy together: Oscar-winner Julianne Moore enjoyed a red carpet date night with her husband Bart Freundlich, 48, on Thursday at the premiere of her latest thriller, Bel Canto, in NYC

The flame-haired actress was also joined at the event at the Cinepolis Cinema in New York City by her co-stars Christopher Lambert and Gabo Augustine.

The stunning star revealed that she spent time with her Manhattan neighbor, the international opera star Renee Fleming, to learn to play an opera performer who gets trapped in a foreign hostage nightmare.

But she did not attempt to sing the arias herself, especially as the lyric was in Czech.

Still pretty as a picture: Moore, 57, looked sizzling in a short black Saint Laurent gown, Chopard jewelry and black open-toed high heels

Here she is seen with her daughter Liv in February in NYC

The talented actress from North Carolina speaks some German, but Czech was beyond her. As was recreating a soprano's range.

Bel Canto is the long-awaited film based on the popular 2001 novel of the same name, which means 'beautiful song,"' by Californian author Ann Patchett.

It is a harrowing story based on the 1996-97 Japanese Embassy siege in Peru, when hundreds of diplomats and business people were held hostage by a gang of terrorists.

Moore plays an opera star invited by the Japanese ambassador to sing before the president of Peru.

The crisis finally ended after four months when Peruvian special forces stormed the compound.

In a reversal from her day job, Renee Fleming, 59, who has performed in all of the great opera houses around the world as well as the emotional theme songs in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, sat down and interviewed her Manhattan neighbor for the latest issue of Town & Country magazine.

Good company: The redhead with Christopher Lambert and Paul Weitz

Julianne explained how she prepared for the role.

'I learned about you, I spoke to you, I listened to your music, I sat in classes with good opera teachers and young students, she said.

'I talked to directors, I went to the Metropolitan Opera and spoke to everybody who was there.

'One of the things that I find in research is that if you ask a question, someone will answer it. People are generally open and helpful. They want you to get it right," she said.

All together in a row: Tenoch Huerta, Gisela Chipe, Lambert, Moore, Nico Bustamante, Weitz, Maria Mercedes Coroy, Gabo Augustine, Eddie Martinez

Renee was already a devoted fan of the 2001 novel and its author, Ann Patchett, who dispatched the divorcee on a blind date with a corporate lawyer called Tim Jessell. They married in 2011.

Julianne was in the studio when Renee performed the arias that the red-haired star would then pretend to sing in the movie, but she could not keep silent.

The actress sang along quietly, standing a few feet away from the diva, she admitted. Luckily, it was not picked up by the microphones.

Julianne, who is more of a Beatles fan, said she fell in love with opera when she heard the 'raw' voices.

Silver fox: Lambert is a French actor. He started his career playing supporting parts in several French films, and became internationally famous with the role of Tarzan in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes in 1984

'I think that the tragedy in the modern day (is that) that most peoples access to opera comes through TV, and it all sounds, unfortunately, the same.'

'But being so close to these musical masters, you hear the different qualities of their voices unamplified,' said Julianne.

"But I wish it were more accessible.'

It is a sentiment echoed by Renee, who has argued that if it is to stay relevant opera must become a more open art form - without losing its fiery heart and art.

In the past, when screen actors mimed to professional voices, such as soprano Marni Nixon 'ghost singing' for the stars in West Side Story, The King and I and My Fair Lady, it was kept top secret for years.
She is set to tie the knot with fiance Liam Macauley in just a matter of weeks.

And Great British Bake Off champion Candice Brown was celebrating one of her last nights as a single woman on Friday, as she celebrated her hen party with a booze-soaked afternoon out.

The 33-year-old baking queen sporting a mock bridal veil for the occasion as she cheekily sipped cocktails for the occasion in a slew of videos and snaps posted to her Instagram Stories.

Playful: Great British Bake Off champion Candice Brown was celebrating one of her last nights as a single woman on Friday, as she celebrated her hen party with a boozy night out

In the cheeky snaps Candice could be seen sharing a signature pout with hte camera as it was accentuated by the statement lip she was known for rocking during her time in the Bake Off tent.

The Dancing On Ice star struck a cheeky pose as her friends were seen jumping out of the taxi behind her.

Later snaps also show Candice slurping up a cocktail under the flurescent lighting sign inside the club, with its words reading Normal Gets You Nowhere.

She then captioned the snap in agreement with: 'Nope it gets you NOWHERE.'

Larking about: Flaunting her signature pout, the 33-year-old baking beauty sported a mock bridal veil as she took to Instagram stories to post snaps from the outing

Loving it: Candice was sporting her signature lipstick as she arrived at the club with her pals, just weeks ahead of her wedding to fiance Liam Macauley

Candice is set to wed her fiance Liam later this month in a vintage inspired ceremony, six years after they first met.

The couple announced their engagement last October just over a year after she first appeared on Bake Off, with Candice revealing Liam popped the question where they shared their first date in Bedfordshire.

She told HELLO! magazine: 'I get emotional. Because it's been such an amazing year. I feel very lucky. I've had such incredible opportunities  GBBO opened so many doors  and to top it off he puts a ring on it.

He reached into the glove compartment, got out the ring, got down on one knee and said, "I love you, you are my world. Will you marry me?"

Animated: Candice was pouting up a storm in the selfie videos on her social media, as she prepared to say goodbye to life a single woman before tying the knot

Getting ready: The star's wedding comes almost a year after she announced her engagement to fiance Liam, revealed he popped the question where they shared their first date

Liam continued: 'So I proposed in a car park. But it really meant something to us. Candice just cried for five minutes before she could say, "Yes!"'

Following her 2016 Bake Off victory, Candice and Liam sparked engagement rumours when she wore a show-stopping ring to the National Television Awards.

But she went onto shrug off the speculation of wedding bells in a chat with Loose Women.

She said: 'I know [I panicked everyone with the ring] but I just like wearing jewellery.'

Elated: When inside the bar Candice to post snaps from the hen celebration, showcasing her signature pout
It was revealed last month that his mum Victoria Beckham has employed him to photograph her new luxury clothing line.

And Brooklyn Beckham brought out his trusty camera as he arrived in style to the Pam Hogg S/S19 during London Fashion Week on Friday.

Dressed in a brown bomber jacket and trendy baker boy cap, the 19-year-old looked in his element as he snapped the models on the front row.

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Budding photographer: Brooklyn Beckham, 19, brought out his trusty camera as he arrived in style to the Pam Hogg S/S19 during London Fashion Week on Friday

Despite recently quitting his photography course, Brooklyn proved he was still very much in love with the creative skill.

Always one to take risks with his own fashion, the rising star didn't disappoint as he opted for the eye-catching outerwear which he rolled up at the sleeves to show off his inkings.

Brooklyn completed the look with a pair of three-quarter length black jeans which exposed his white socks.

Fashion show: Brooklyn looked every inch the expert as he photographed the models on the catwalk - including Alice Dellal (R) who went completely topless

Say cheese! Dressed in a brown bomber jacket and trendy baker boy cap, the teen looked in his element as he snapped the models on the front row

Snapping away: Despite recently quitting his photography course, Brooklyn proved he was still very much in love with the creative skill

Trendy: Always one to take risks with his own fashion, the rising star didn't disappoint as he opted for the eye-catching outerwear

Tatt's cool: Brooklyn ensured to roll up his sleeves to show off his inkings

Stylish: Brooklyn completed the look with a pair of three-quarter length black jeans which exposed his white socks

The eldest of the Beckham brood added to the look by popping a baker boy cap on his mane.

While the rest of his famous clan were a no-show at the fashion spectacle, Brooklyn looked like he was having a whale of a time.

As well as snapping pictures of the models on the catwalk, the British native looked like he was impressed by Pam Hogg's new collection.

Following the show, the designer celebrated her collection with a celebrity studded after-party sponsored by CIROC Vodka.

Topping things off: The eldest of the Beckham brood added to the look by popping a baker boy cap on his mane

Happy: While the rest of his famous clan were a no-show at the fashion spectacle, Brooklyn looked like he was having a whale of a time

The FROW: As well as snapping pictures of the models on the catwalk, the British native looked like he was impressed by Pam Hogg's new collection

Meanwhile, former Spice Girl Victoria, 44, has a high regard for Brooklyns ability as a photographer and his first big project was to snap her lucrative collaboration with Reebok, called the Merch Collection, earlier this summer.

A source close to the Beckhams told the MoS: Brooklyn snapping this new campaign has raised a lot of eyebrows around the industry because he is so young and very inexperienced. But Victoria doesnt care, its fantastic experience for him.

It is her dream to have Brooklyn working for her. She trusts his eye and loves the fact hes young. She continually asks for his thoughts on her designs and how they are presented.

On her payroll: It was revealed last month that his mum Victoria Beckham has employed him to photograph her new luxury clothing line

Famous clan: The former Spice Girl has a high regard for Brooklyns ability as a photographer and his first big project was to snap her lucrative collaboration with Reebok, called the Merch Collection, earlier this summer

A source close to the Beckhams told the MoS: Brooklyn snapping this new campaign has raised a lot of eyebrows around the industry because he is so young and very inexperienced'

Victoria took to Instagram to praise Brooklyn, saying how happy she was to see her collection through his eyes.

In 2016, Burberry came under fire for giving him its Brit Collection campaign to photograph, with many claiming he got the job only because of his name.

Last year, Brooklyn released a book, As I See It, featuring pictures he had taken of his life.

Last September he began a four-year course in photography at the world-renowned Parsons School of Design in New York, but left because he was reportedly homesick.

Doting mum: Victoria took to Instagram to praise Brooklyn, saying how happy she was to see her collection through his eyes'

Backlash: In 2016, Burberry came under fire for giving him its Brit Collection campaign to photograph, with many claiming he got the job only because of his name
Her husband, Dan Osborne, revealed on Tuesday that he rang his estranged wife after the Celebrity Big Brother's final to tell her he loved her.

Yet as Jacqueline Jossa, 25, stepped out on Friday in a cute polka dot dress, it emerged that the former EastEnders star had allegedly been in a furious row with the father of her two children.

The former TOWIE hunk reportedly laid into Jacqueline for not supporting him at the CBB's final, which saw him finish third, and instead enjoying a night out on the town - which even saw her getting 'a lap dance from a clown'.

Smiling: Jacqueline Jossa, 25, enjoyed a relaxing time at the Neville Hair and Beauty salon in Belgravia, London on Friday

The couple apparently exchanged heated phone calls following Dan's eviction from the show on Monday, despite being pictured in seemingly happy snaps as they 'reunited' the next day.

A fellow party-goer of the actress' told The Sun: 'Jacqueline was having a great night at Cirque Le Soir on Monday  she even had a lap dance from a clown which isn't something you can say every day.

'But the night took a turn for the worse after she spoke to Dan on the phone outside.'

The source claimed that the couple had an 'almighty row' with Jacqueline screaming and swearing at Dan, who wasn't impressed that she was on a night out during the CBB final.

Cute: Jacqueline stepped out on Friday in a stunning polka dot dress, as it emerged that she had been in a furious row with the father of her two children, Dan Osborne

Having some fun: The pair reportedly argued after Jacqueline enjoying a night out on the town - which even saw her getting 'a lap dance from a clown' - instead of going to the CBB final

'He had really hoped to see her in the audience when he left the house. It certainly wasnt the welcome home he was looking for,' the source added.

A spokesman for Jacqueline said: 'She watched the Celebrity Big Brother final from a hotel with friends cheering on Dan and then they went out to celebrate his brilliant achievement.

'She was not at the final at Elstree studios as she didn't want to be on live TV.

'Dan was upset Jacqueline wasn't there but all was sorted amicably and the situation quickly resolved. Jacqueline is very proud of Dan's recent achievements in the house.'

Jacqueline, 25, was pictured on Friday wearing a stunning white and black polka dot dress after being spotted leaving the Neville Hair and Beauty salon in Belgravia, London.

Casual: The soap star paired the outfit with a black hat, which she could be seen carrying, and similar coloured shoes

Troubled: Shortly before the finale, Jacqueline spoke to OK! Magazine, where she revealed that her former TOWIE beau entered the Elstree compound while they were still figuring out where their marriage stood

She paired the outfit with a black hat, which she could be seen carrying, and similar coloured shoes.

On Tuesday the couple were seen enjoying their family's reunion as Dan arrived at the home the pair shares.

He was spotted sharing a hug with his elated daughter Ella, three, after weeks away from his wife and offspring.

During his exit interview, Dan found himself once again defending his friendship with Gabby Allen, despite them fiercely denying they ever enjoyed a fling.

Cosy? During his exit interview, Dan found himself once again defending his friendship with Gabby Allen, despite them fiercely denying they ever enjoyed a fling

He said: 'You're in a house with the lads, and they bantering the life out of me, I'm like "boys please just ease up for a day." I had to like reconfirm Gabby we're mates.

'For the first few days we felt like we had to keep a bit of distance, I don't want people to talk rubbish, she's a lovely girl and we just get on genuinely.'

Shortly before the finale, Jacqueline spoke to OK! Magazine, where she revealed that her former TOWIE beau entered the Elstree compound while they were still figuring out where their marriage stood.

She said the 'timing wasn't great' for Dan to enter the Big Brother house, but did hope the reality TV star wins the competition - despite their current marital woes.
They're both successful models with a collection of catwalks, photoshoots and magazine covers to their names.

So it came as no surprise that Winnie Harlow and Georgia May Jagger were selected to walk the runway at Matty Bovan's show during London Fashion Week on Friday.

The models looked sensational as they both rocked bold ensembles and worked their best angles on the catwalk.

Work it: Winnie Harlow and Georgia May Jagger were selected to walk the runway at Matty Bovan's show during London Fashion Week on Friday

Winnie, 24, wore a peach coloured midi dress with black graffiti and writing all over it.

She teamed the item of clothing with a cropped denim waistcoat which had several different colours and patterns of embroidered detailing on it.

The newly-appointed Victoria's Secret Angel accessorised the look with orange mesh heel boots, with a white bow, as well as a pair of oversized pink earrings.

Strike a pose: The models looked sensational as they both rocked bold ensembles and worked their best angles on the catwalk

Bold look: Winnie, 24, wore a peach coloured midi dress with black graffiti and writing all over it

Fashion statement: She teamed the item of clothing with a cropped denim waistcoat which had several different colours and patterns of embroidered detailing on it

Details: The newly-appointed Victoria's Secret Angel accessorised the look with orange mesh heel boots, with a white bow, as well as a pair of oversized pink earrings

Chic: Winnie styled her raven locks into a sleek swept back hairdo, as she added a slick of make-up

Leading lady: Only recently, Winnie was announced as a new Victoria's Secret Angel

Winnie styled her raven locks into a sleek swept back hairdo, as she added a slick of make-up.

Meanwhile, Georgia, 26, looked unrecognisable as she rocked a bold pink hairdo instead of her blonde locks, which was swept back into a voluminous quiff.

The model, whose famous father is Mick Jagger, dazzled in a holographic gold dress and legging ensemble, which cinched in at the waist with a yellow belt.

She accessorised the look with a yellow strapped side bag, green toed heel boots and oversized sequined earrings.

New look: Meanwhile, Georgia, 26, looked unrecognisable as she rocked a bold pink hairdo instead of her blonde locks, which was swept back into a voluminous quiff

Gold!: The model, whose famous father is Mick Jagger, dazzled in a holographic gold dress and legging ensemble, which cinched in at the waist with a yellow belt

Ethereal: She accessorised the look with a yellow strapped side bag, green toed heel boots and oversized sequined earrings

Impressive: The models were watched by a star-studded audience, which included fashion designer legend, Vivienne Westwood

Unbelievable: Fans were left stunned by some of the eclectic looks in the fashion event

Living it up: Georgia was also seen putting on a jovial display as she larked about backstage at the show

Amazing: With her dyed pink tresses scraped back into a wild up-do Georgia was certainly runway ready ahead of the show

The models were watched by a star-studded audience, which included fashion designer legend, Vivienne Westwood.

Only recently, Winnie was announced as a new Victoria's Secret Angel.

After starting her career as a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2014, the Canadian model, 24, will now be taking to the coveted Victorias Secret Fashion Show in November.

The exact moment Winnie found out she had earned her wings has been uploaded to Models Daily's Twitter account and it has also been reported she went on to make the official announcement at the IMG VIP Lounge by Principessa Prosecco.

Talented: After starting her career as a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2014, the Canadian model, 24, will now be taking to the coveted Victorias Secret Fashion Show in November

Exciting times: The exact moment Winnie found out she had earned her wings has been uploaded to Models Daily's Twitter account

Front row: Nick Rhodes (right) attended the star-studded fashion event

Stylish duo: Harriet Verney and Bunny Kinney rocked retro-looking ensembles for the catwalk

Fun times: Harriet also posed with Jefferson Hack on the front row

Winnie - who has skin condition vitiligo - also recently discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE magazine.

She explained: 'There is a big shift happening in the fashion industry in terms of beauty standards, and I feel Im part of that shift.

'I remember on Americas Next Top Model, Tyra Banks asked me if a photographer told me to cover my skin for a shoot, would I do it?

Star-studded: Vivienne Westwood also attended Matty Bovan's catwalk and sat front row

'I said no. I dont care who it is, or who thinks I should. Im going to stay true to myself.'

She previously lashed out at being branded 'a sufferer' of pigment disease Vitiligo, as she penned on Instagram: '"I'm not a 'Vitiligo Sufferer" I'm not a 'Vitiligo model.

'I am Winnie. I am a model. And I happen to have Vitiligo. Stop putting these titles on me or anyone else.'

London Fashion Week officially kicked off on Friday, although there were some shows on Thursday, and will end on Tuesday.
She is one of the most in-demand supermodels in the world.

And Martha Hunt showed off her fashionista status as she attended the Backstage Secrets exhibition photocall in Beijing, China alongside famed photographer Russell James on Friday.

Swedish model Elsa Hosk also got in on the action as she put on a fun and flirty display while blowing kisses alongside Russell at the glamorous event.

Gorgeous: Martha Hunt showed off her fashionista status as she attended the Backstage Secrets exhibition photocall in Beijing alongside photographer Russell James on Friday

Martha looked sensational as she flaunted her slender frame in a dainty baby pink dress with a midriff-cinching berry coloured waistband.

Buttons fell down the centre of the gorgeous midi-length number and she teamed the look with a pair of matching sky-high heels.

The North Carolina native added to the look with a body chain and wore her tresses in a wavy side-parted style.

Flirty: Swedish model Elsa Hosk also got in on the action as she put on a fun and flirty display while blowing kisses alongside Russell at the glamorous event

Stylish: Martha looked sensational as she flaunted her slender frame in a dainty baby pink dress with a midriff-cinching berry coloured waistband

Martha enhanced her naturally striking features with a statement red lip.

Joining Martha was blonde bombshell Elsa who showed off her long legs in a hot pink tuxedo style dress.

Elsa boosted her height in a pair of silver high heels and opted for a pretty blush-infused make-up look.

Barbie! Joining Martha was blonde bombshell Elsa who showed off her long legs in a hot pink tuxedo style dress

The catwalk queen's shoulder length blonde locks were styled in a flicked manner at the ends.

Proving Russell was very much adored in the fashion industry, both Elsa and Martha put on a fun and animated display with him.

Russell made for a very dapper appearance as he mingled with the supermodels in a slick black suit and crisp white shirt.
Cindy Crawford and Tara Reid attended the Daytime Hollywood Beauty Awards in Los Angeles on Friday.

Crawford, 52, looked radiant in an off-the-shoulder red dress, while Reid, 42, dazzled in a powder blue ball gown.

The mid-day award show took place at AVALON  a Hollywood nightclub.

Dressed to impress: Cindy Crawford and Tara Reid attended the Daytime Hollywood Beauty Awards in Los Angeles on Friday

Lovely ladies: Crawford, 52, looked radiant in an off-the-shoulder red dress, while Reid, 42, dazzled in a powder blue ball gown

Cindy, the founder of Meaningful Beauty, received the Brand Of The Year award on Friday afternoon.

The supermodel along with several doctors launched the anti-aging skincare line back in 2014.

'It's the feedback from our customers that tells us we're succeeding in what we set out to do all those years ago,' she said during her acceptance speech.

'It has been a great more than four years.'

Honoree: Cindy, the founder of Meaningful Beauty, received the Brand Of The Year award on Friday afternoon. The supermodel along with several doctors launched the anti-aging skincare line back in 2014

Tara presented the Sleeping Beauty Award to Beboea marijuana company that specializes in natural health remedies.

The Sharknado star wore her blonde locks in soft curls, and her glam included a bright pink lip.

She was joined on the red carpet by comedian Tommy Chong.

Pretty princes: Tara presented the Sleeping Beauty Award to Beboea marijuana company that specializes in natural health remedies

Pals: Reid was joined on the red carpet by comedian Tommy Chong

Actress Meagan Good was also in attendance.

The Think Like A Man star rocked a skintight hot pink dress and matching pumps to the afternoon soiree.

She presented the Innovation Award to Dr. Jason Champagnea plastic surgeon who specializes in eyebrow transplants.
The stars were out in force during London Fashion Week on Friday, the second day of the week long event.

And Poppy Delevingne joined Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman at the Anya Hindmarch's Chubby Cloud installation at Whitehall's Banqueting House.

The statuesque model, 32, sported a glamorous mint suit which showcased her ample cleavage while attending the unique exhibition.

Glamour: Poppy Delevingne, 32, sported a glamorous mint suit which showcased her ample cleavage while attending the unique exhibition at Whitehall's Banqueting House

Poppy teamed her ensemble with a rainbow coloured clutch bag which added a touch of sparkle to the stunning outfit.

But to not out-stage her fellow stars, the older sister of catwalk model and actress Cara Delevingne opted for a pair of trainers to finish off her attire.

She accentuated her features with deft touches of makeup, while her willowy blonde hair was neatly styled.

Host: Claudia Winkleman, 46, wore a protective onesie while performing a live reading of bedtime stories from the comfort of a giant cloud-like beanbag

Comfy? The BBC1 show presenter wore a protective onesie while performing a live reading of bedtime stories from the comfort of a giant cloud-like beanbag

Stunning: The model accentuated her features with deft touches of makeup, while her willowy blonde hair was neatly styled

Poppy had good company on the evening, with Claudia Winkleman, 46, also in attendance.

The BBC1 show presenter wore a protective onesie while performing a live reading of bedtime stories from the comfort of a giant cloud-like beanbag.

She sported her usual style of thick black eyeliner and a heavy fringe, giving that rock chic vibe.

Radiant: Poppy teamed her ensemble with a rainbow coloured clutch bag which added a touch of sparkle to the stunning outfit

Sleepy? Bedtime stories were read by the famous guests, including Poppy Delevingne

Casual: To not out-stage her fellow stars, the older sister of catwalk model and actress Cara Delevingne (left with Anya Hindmarch) opted for a pair of trainers to finish off her attire

Anya Hindmarch announced she would no longer be presenting her collections in line with the traditional London Fashion Week schedule.

In February the designer placed chubby heart balloons around Britain's famous landmarks.

Continuing the theme, her chubby cloud event saw visitors be able to climb on and sink into the worlds largest beanbag inspired by her autumn/winter 2018 collection.

The exhibition, which started today, lasts for three days.
Rachael Harris welcomed her second child, son Otto, on August 25.

The 50-year-old's rep confirmed to People on Friday that she and her husband Christian Hebel, 42, brought home a baby brother for their 2-year-old son Henry.

'He joins big brother Henry Hebel in his attempt to expand his parents hearts more than they thought humanly possible,' stated the rep.

Welcome! Rachael Harris welcomed son Otto on August 25; (pictured March)

The Lucifer star shared the happy news of her pregnancy during an appearance on Live With Kelly And Ryan in February.

She did not reveal if she was pregnant, or using a surrogate.

She told the hosts she had 'breaking news' and a 'world exclusive'.

Happy family: She and her husband Christian Hebel, 42, brought home a baby brother for their 2-year-old son Henry; (pictured 2017)

'Breaking news!' Rachael revealed she's expecting her second child during an appearance on Live with Kelly And Ryan in February

'Myself and my husband are expecting baby number two!' she said to cheers from the crowd. (Live with Kelly And Ryan is currently shooting in the Bahamas.)

She responded by jokingly referencing Oprah's famous 'You get a car' moment, but telling the audience: 'You get a baby, and you get a baby, and you get a baby!'

Harris and her violinist husband Christian Hebel, 42, are already parents to Henry, who was born in July 19 2016.

Doting mom: The Lucifer star with her son Henry, who was born in July 19 2016

At the time, she didn't reveal if Henry was born via surrogate but she didn't appear to be pregnant at an event a few months prior.

The creative couple tied the knot in a very low-key ceremony at New York City Hall in May of 2015.

Rachael wore a simple grey dress, while their famous friends N eil Patrick Harris, his husband David Burtka and Kelly Ripa acted as witnesses.

Cuddles with daddy: The actress regularly shares pictures of her husband and son on social media

The pair married after an eight-month engagement.

Christian got down on one knee and popped the question while they were in Italy to attend David and Neil's wedding.

Rachael was previously married to actor Adam Paul from 2003 till 2008.

The blonde has been starring in Lucifer since 2016, and is also well-known for her roles in The Hangover, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid and Suits.
A highway patrol car was travelling more than 120km/h without flashing lights or sirens when it T-boned another car in a crash that's left a Sydney woman in a coma.

NSW Police confirmed the details a day after Gai Vieira's family made an emotional plea for a statewide ban on high-speed pursuits.

Ms Vieira was critically injured in the collision at a Cronulla intersection on August 5. Her two-year-old grandson escaped unhurt.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy on Friday said the incident was "regrettable" and police were taking it very seriously.

"Police officers do not wake up in the morning thinking they're going to be involved in crashes," he told reporters in Sydney.

"We don't want this to happen and we want the community to be safe.

"The critical investigation team will be investigating the fact ... the lights and sirens were off (and) whether it was reasonable."

The assistant commissioner said in some circumstances police could conduct pursuits without lights and sirens.

He said the patrol car - which was chasing another driver who was allegedly using a mobile phone - clocked 124km/h in a 70 zone before the crash.

Investigators have already spoken to a dozen witnesses and are trawling through airbag data, in-car and dashcam footage, as well as NSW Police's automatic number-plate recognition system to identify cars around at the time to work out exactly what happened.

Mr Corboy said the collision was "complicated" and he'd not speculate if criminal charges could be laid.

Ms Vieira's husband of 43 years, racehorse owner Bert Vieira, on Thursday promised to dedicate his life to stopping high-speed pursuits in NSW.

In an emotional plea, he told reporters his wife "never stood a chance" in the collision.

"This should never have happened," he said through tears.

Mr Vieira wants NSW to ban or at least restrict high-speed police pursuits as is the case in Victoria and Queensland.

Mr Corboy on Friday said police were happy to offer any support to the family and address any concerns they have.
Ethiopian hotel owner Taeme Lemlem, 75, sips a coffee at his hotel which was once destroyed during the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Eighteen years after the guns fell silent following Ethiopia's bloody border war with Eritrea, the frontier town of Zalambessa is a quiet, rubble-strewn outpost crossed by a road to nowhere.

But change could be on the horizon after the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed to re-establish relations, raising hopes that trade will resume and towns like Zalambessa will boom again.

"There's no question," said Tirhas Gerekidan, a hairdresser in the town. "If the road opens, things will change."

Both small and large businesses in Ethiopia, one of Africa's fastest-growing economies despite widespread poverty, would be expected to benefit from the border re-opening.

But analysts warn that Eritrea, which under President Isaias Afwerki has become one of the world's most closed societies with an unwelcoming business climate, may not share the economic spoils of the new era of engagement.

"The potential for this accord... to revitalise its economy is huge," said Seth Kaplan, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in the United States who has studied Eritrea's economy. "The great unknown is what will Isaias do."

Eritrea, once a province of Ethiopia that incorporated the single nation's entire coastline, fought a decades-long independence war before voting to leave in 1993.

The decision landlocked Africa's second-most populous country -- although Ethiopia continued to export through Eritrean ports until a border dispute erupted into war in 1998.

- 'Systematically bulldozed' -

Eritrean troops poured south into Zalambessa which is the last Ethiopian town on the main road between the countries' capitals.

Eritrea then "systematically bulldozed" it, the local Catholic bishop wrote in a 2003 letter to the United Nations Secretary General.

"There wasn't anything left. All we found were rocks that weren't even a metre in size," said Taema Lemlem, the owner of a cafe in the town.

A peace treaty ended fighting in 2000, but hopes that the frontiers would re-open were scuppered when Ethiopia rejected a UN-backed effort to definitively settle the border question two years later.

Hairdresser Terhas Gerekidan foresees an economic boom

The road from Zalambessa to Eritrea is blocked by the military, and the once-bustling trade hub where cactuses sprout from conflict-damaged buildings is eerily quiet.

Barred from Eritrea's ports, Ethiopia shifted its sea trade to neighbouring Djibouti, investing heavily in a railway and other infrastructure as it became one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

But facing soaring debt and a foreign exchange shortage, Ethiopia's new prime minister Abiy Ahmed announced in June that he would privatise key state-owned companies including Ethiopian Airlines and Ethio telecom.

- Like slavery -

Getachew Teklemariam, a consultant and former Ethiopian government adviser, said that while the economic reforms and warming relations were not necessarily linked, they could both reinvigorate the economy.

"The rapprochement relieves resources from the military buildup that has been going on over the years," Getachew said.

Eritrea responded to Ethiopia's rejection of the UN border settlement with an extensive crackdown on dissent that in turn deterred investment.

Repressive policies stifled its emerging entrepreneurial class, dissidents were arrested and an indefinite military service programme was mandated that drew comparisons to slavery from the UN.

"Eritrea has done almost everything it can to keep foreign investment out," Kaplan said.

Hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have fled abroad, partly to avoid conscription which many migrants say contributes to poverty.

- 'Listening to gunfire' -

Isaias insisted the mandatory national service was necessary to deter Ethiopian aggression, but has not commented on the scheme's future since the thaw with Addis Ababa.

Kaplan suggested Eritrea may not change its hardline policies or become more welcoming to foreigners, but could instead seek investment for two of its most promising sectors -- ports and mining.

The Ethiopia - Eritrean border

Getachew added that trade between Ethiopia and Eritrea had been fraught even before the war.

The smuggling of Ethiopian contraband through Eritrean ports and Asmara's manipulation of its nakfa currency strained relations and contributed to the border conflict.

"My fear is now, even after all these years, our regulatory capacity is not really strong enough to avoid those sorts of malpractice," he said.

And even though Ethiopia is eager to access Eritrea's more cost-effective ports of Assab and Massawa, Getachew warned that both are believed to be run-down after trade dried up following the war.

In another sign of the rapid rapprochement, Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Meles Alem this week that roads to Assab were already being repaired to enable rapid use of the port.

Residents living along the frontier are hopeful that cross-border trade will begin to flourish and occasional shootouts between Ethiopian and Eritrean troops will end.

"While other people were listening to music, we were listening to gunfire," said Taema, the cafe owner. "Being open is better than being closed, and peace is better than war."
The Security Council in April 2018 approved a US-drafted resolution that urged Morocco and the Polisario to prepare for talks, setting a six-month deadline for action

The UN envoy for Western Sahara is planning to convene talks before the end of the year between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front on ending their decades-old conflict, the Security Council president said Wednesday.

Horst Koehler, a former German president and ex-director of the International Monetary Fund, briefed the council behind closed doors on his efforts to restart talks after a 10-year break.

"There is a lot of support from the council for his approach and for his proposal to see if he can try to bring the parties together by the end of the year," said British Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Allen, whose country holds the council presidency this month.

Koehler will be holding consultations with "all the parties involved" on "modalities, format and everything else," Allen told reporters after the meeting.

Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for control of Western Sahara from 1975 to 1991.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been deadlocked since the last round of UN-sponsored talks in 2008.

Morocco maintains that negotiations on a settlement should focus on its proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara and rejects the Polisario's insistence on an independence referendum.

The Security Council in April approved a US-drafted resolution that urged Morocco and the Polisario to prepare for talks, setting a six-month deadline for action.

A council diplomat, who spoke on background, said the envoy was hoping to send invitations in September to the parties to attend talks -- before the deadline expires in October.

A settlement in Western Sahara would allow the UN peacekeeping mission there, known as MINURSO, to end its mission at a time when the United States is seeking to reduce the cost of peace operations.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to cancel a trip to Algeria at the last minute in February 2017

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will pay a visit to Algeria on Monday, her second since 2008, the official APS news agency reported.

Merkel was forced to cancel a trip to Algeria at the last minute in February 2017 after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika fell ill with acute bronchitis.

During next week's visit, Merkel is set to meet the ailing 81-year-old, who suffered a stroke in 2013, as well as Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, APS reported on Thursday.

"This visit will be an opportunity to assess economic relations between Algeria and Germany," the news agency said.

It said more than 200 German companies from industrial sectors including the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical trades are present in Algeria.

In the first seven months of 2018, Algeria imported $1.9 billion (1.6 billion euros) worth of German products, making Berlin the North African country's fifth largest supplier, according to Algerian customs figures.
Russian Tupolev Tu-95 turboprop-powered strategic bombers, pictured above the Kremlin

The Pentagon has protested after US fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers west of Alaska, in the latest incident of its kind.

F-22 Raptor fighters from NORAD intercepted and visually identified the long-range Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bombers overnight Tuesday, said the joint US-Canadian command, charged with aerospace warning and control for North America.

The four-engine Cold War-era turboprop bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, were escorted by two Russian Su-35 fighters, NORAD said in a statement Thursday, adding that the Russian planes stayed in international airspace and never penetrated the US or Canadian zones.

NORAD jets followed the Russians until they left the air defense identification zone, a perimeter in which the military surveils air traffic, and which extends for about 200 miles (320 kilometers) off Alaska.

The incident took place during Russia's largest-ever military drills, Vostok-2018 with nearly 300,000 troops and all types of military equipment in eastern Siberia.

NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said he did not see the air incident as "directly part of Vostok although it is very much related to it."

In May, US fighter jets also intercepted two Russian Bear bombers in international airspace off western Alaska.

In April 2017, NORAD and the Pentagon said Tu-95 bombers were spotted in international airspace on three occasions -- twice near the Aleutians and once near mainland Alaska and Canada.

That was the first sighting of such Russian long-range bombers around Alaska in about two and a half years, a Pentagon spokesman said at the time.

Tensions between Russia and the United States and its NATO allies are running at levels not seen since the Cold War.
A Huthi rebel inspects a burnt armoured vehicle on September 13, 2018, near the eastern entrance to the city of Hodeida

The UN's Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths has met the country's Huthi rebels in a push for new peace talks, as fighting continued Friday around the strategic port city of Hodeida.

Griffiths travelled to the Omani capital Muscat to meet the rebels after they refused to attend negotiations in Geneva last week.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of the Huthi delegation, and fellow rebel official Abdelmalak al-Ajri discussed the reasons for their absence from Geneva with the United Nations envoy, the rebel-run Saba news agency said.

The first negotiations between Yemen's warring sides in two years were scheduled to start last Thursday, but a Yemeni government delegation left after the Huthis decided not to attend.

The rebels had accused the UN of failing to guarantee the return of their delegation from Switzerland to the Yemeni capital Sanaa and to secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

This Thursday's discussions also covered the "necessary measures" needed for fresh talks set for "as soon as possible", Saba reported.

Hamid Assem, a member of the Huthi delegation, told AFP on Friday there had been no breakthrough.

"There has not been progress regarding the discussions while we have not received the guarantees," he said by phone.

Griffiths is also scheduled to visit the Yemeni capital Sanaa, held by the Huthis, and Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition against the rebels.

- Dozens killed in fighting -

A destroyed motorcycle after fighting between pro-government fighters and Huthi rebels near the port city of Hodeida on September 13, 2018

The last talks between the Huthis and the Yemeni government, led by President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, took place in Kuwait in 2016.

Those negotiations faltered over power-sharing and the rebel withdrawal from key cities including Sanaa.

They collapsed after 108 days and the rebel delegation was subsequently stranded in Oman for three months due to a coalition air blockade.

After the failure of the Geneva talks, deadly clashes resumed around the Huthi-held port city of Hodeida, a vital entry point for aid to a country teetering on the edge of famine.

Sixteen rebels died in a coalition air strike in the far south of the city on Thursday evening, according to military and medical sources in the province.

Three pro-government fighters were killed the same evening when a military vehicle was hit by a shell to the east of Hodeida city.

Over 60 people have died in fighting around Hodeida since Wednesday, when Yemeni government forces said they seized two major supply routes into the port city.

The Huthis launched a counter-offensive on Thursday to retake the roads, which link Hodeida to Sanaa, military sources told AFP.

"Sporadic fighting took place in Friday in various areas around the city," said a government military source.

Separately, in Yemen's Mahra province of Mahra, two coalition soldiers died Friday morning when their helicopter crashed due to a technical fault.

The pilot and co-pilot were killed during an operation targeting "terrorists", the coalition said.

- Imams appeal to worshippers -

The remains of a car reportedly destroyed in an air strike is pictured near the eastern entrance to Hodeida on September 13, 2018

Facing intense pressure in Hodeida, the rebels have used their Al-Masirah television channel to implore their supporters to fight for the city.

At Sanaa's Dhi al-Nourain Mosque, popular with Huthi supporters, an imam leading Friday prayers made an appeal: "Hodeida cries out to everyone, Hodeida belongs to all Yemenis, it must be defended."

Religious leaders called on worshippers to help civilians who had fled the fighting.

The UN said Friday the situation around Hodeida was "alarming" and threatened aid deliveries.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it was "extremely concerned about the series of security incidents in Hodeida city", saying they affected "sites critical for the humanitarian response in Yemen."

In August, WFP said it had provided emergency food assistance to some 700,000 of the around 900,000 people in the province considered to be at severe risk.

But the United Arab Emirates, which is a key part of the Saudi-led coalition, has indicated the military operations would continue.

"The liberation of Hodeida is the key to the solution in Yemen," the UAE's foreign affairs minister Anwar Gargash wrote on Twitter.

"The noose is tightening" on Hodeida, he added.

Since Riyadh and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015, around 10,000 people have been killed in a conflict which has sparked a grave humanitarian crisis.
Eritrean women expressing their joy as two land border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea were reopened for the first time in 20 years on September 11, 2018

Ethiopia and Eritrea will attend a summit in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to sign an agreement cementing the thaw between the two former Horn of Africa enemies, a UN spokesman said Friday.

Saudi King Salman will host the signing ceremony in Jeddah to be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq did not provide details, saying the Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders would sign a "further agreement helping to cement the positive relations between them."

On Tuesday, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea reopened two land border crossing points for the first time in 20 years, clearing the way for trade between the two nations.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility.

Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute.

A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it.

A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea the disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - An Iranian court sentenced a close ally of former hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison, semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.

The report quoted Tehran Justice Department chief Gholamhossein Esmaili as saying Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei was sentenced to five years for plotting and conspiring to commit crimes against national security, one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic system and six months for insulting officials.

The sentencing can be appealed within 20 days.

In this Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 photo, Alireza Alihosseini, an Iranian salesclerk at a kitchenware shop, shows Chinese-made goods to customers at the Grand Bazaar, in Tehran, Iran. It's hard not to see China wherever you look in Iran. From Chinese goods flooding markets to its business people eager for deals as Western business interests flee, Iran likely will further embrace Beijing as an alternative market for its crude oil and financial transactions amid uncertainty over the nuclear deal. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Esmaili also said there are other cases against Mashaei in court and they will be announced after the prosecution process.

In March, Mashaei was detained after he burnt a copy of a court verdict sentencing Hamid Baghaei, another Ahmadinejad ally, to 15 years for misuse of public funds when he was Ahmadinejad's vice president.

During Baghaei's trial, Ahmadinejad repeatedly appeared outside the court criticizing many officials, including the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani.

Ahmadinejad repeatedly criticized the Judiciary chief and accused him as an oppressor, accusing his allies over misusing public funds, and called the body as "Ruthless" and "Oppressive".

Several of Ahmadinejad's allies are in jail over similar charges.

In February, former hard-line president asked the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei to immediate change of the country's Judiciary chief and free presidential and parliamentary elections.

Later in August, he also asked President Hassan Rouhani to resign and said Iranians do not trust Rouhani.

Ahmadinejad, who called himself as "Servant of the nation", has brought attention to himself since he was barred from running in 2017 presidential election elections which Hassan Rouhani won.

The former President is not popular between his former allies now. Many of them condemned his recent measures in the county's politics.

While president, he famously questioned the Holocaust and claimed there were no gays or lesbians in Iran.

In this April 12, 2017 photo, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of former hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, arrives to the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran. The semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that a court has sentenced Mashaei to six-and-a-half years in prison. The report quotes Tehran Justice Department chief Gholamhossein Esmaili as saying Mashaei was sentenced to five years for plotting and conspiring to commit crimes against national security, one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic system and six months for insulting officials. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

FILE - In this May 11, 2013 file photo, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran. The semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, that a court has sentenced Mashaei to six-and-a-half years in prison. The report quotes Tehran Justice Department chief Gholamhossein Esmaili as saying Mashaei was sentenced to five years for plotting and conspiring to commit crimes against national security, one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic system and six months for insulting officials. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - One of Colombia's most-decorated police officers has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a criminal ring that illegally intercepted the private communications of prominent politicians and business leaders.

Gen. Humberto Guatibonza led an anti-kidnapping police unit and headed Bogota's police until he retired in 2016. He was arrested Wednesday on six charges including criminal conspiracy.

Three other retired officials had already been arrested. Prosecutors maintain that the group sold information obtained from illegally hacking into private communications. Among its clients were major companies and politicians looking to spy on unions or potential rivals.

Discovery of the criminal gang comes nearly a decade after the dismantling of another clandestine spy network comprised of corrupt intelligence officials who spied on journalists, supreme court magistrates and critics of former President Alvaro Uribe.
UKHIYA, Bangladesh (AP) - The dazzling displays of color emerge amid the mud and monsoon rains of Bangladesh's refugee camps: vibrant flower headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup worn by young Rohingya girls.

These girls are among 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who were forced to flee their homes after the military in neighboring Myanmar launched a brutal campaign of violence against the minority group last year. Many left all their cherished belongings behind, and their new lives in the cramped, chaotic camps are devoid of luxuries.

But for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the girls decided to treat themselves to something special: makeovers. They bought makeup and headbands from vendors in the camps, hoping the adornments would help them look beautiful to relatives they visited during the holiday.

In this June 27, 2018, photo, from left, Ranjeda, 9, Rumana, 10, and Zesmin, 10 pose for a portrait in front of their classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

The girls say it can take them up to an hour to complete their look. But the process is one that brings them much-needed joy, given all they have endured.

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Rumana, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Ranjeda, 9, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Dil Kayas, 12, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Shamshoda, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Taslima, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Zesmin, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Wisma Bi Bi, 12, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Astafa, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this June 27, 2018, photo, Nazifa, 10, poses for a portrait in front of her classroom in Chakmarkul refugee camp, Bangladesh. Amid the misery and mud of Bangladesh's refugee camps, Rohingya girls have found small moments of joy by adorning themselves with flowery headbands and elaborately-drawn makeup. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - In a Brazilian presidential election marked by uncertainties, there is little doubt about one thing: Evangelical voters will have a major impact.

They could tip the balance thanks to their growing numbers, presence in remote areas and poor neighborhoods and organizational muscle, especially since corporations have been banned from making contributions directly to candidates in the wake of a the country's huge corruption scandal.

Attempts to woo evangelicals are apparent on the campaign trail ahead of the Oct. 7 election. In recent weeks, one leading candidate wept while receiving prayers during a service at an evangelical church. Another promised no legislative changes to Brazil's abortion ban. A third held meetings with several of the most influential pastors in Sao Paulo, Brazil's richest and most populist state.

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, evangelicals raise their hands in prayer as they listen to a song during a service at the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In a Brazilian presidential election marked by uncertainties, there is little doubt about one thing: Evangelical voters will have a major impact. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

"The evangelical vote is very organic in that pastors and bishops have a relationship with followers that influences how they vote," said Antonio Lavareda, who has written several books on Brazilian politics. "It's the opposite in the Catholic Church, where, despite having more congregants, priests have less direct influence."

Evangelicals already have a large influence in national politics. The so-called "evangelical bloc" in Congress is made up of 87 representatives and three senators, about 15 percent of all federal lawmakers.

Their votes were instrumental in the 2016 impeachment and ouster of President Dilma Rousseff for illegally managing the federal budget. Joao Campos, a congressman and pastor who helped lead the bloc, said then that opposing Rousseff was a way to defend the poor who had lost jobs in the wake of scandals over kickbacks from construction companies to politicians.

Evangelical voters in Rio de Janeiro also helped propel Marcelo Crivella, a bishop in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, to mayor of Brazil's most famous city in 2016.

Brazil, a deeply religious country slightly larger than the continental U.S., is home to the world's largest number of Catholics - some 123 million, according to the latest census in 2010. But evangelicals are growing and now number 42 million, or about 20 percent of the total population.

And there is little comparison when it comes to political activism. While the Vatican frowns on clergy running for office, many evangelical leaders plunge into politics.

The influence of evangelicals extends into media. Edir Macedo, the founder of Crivella's church, owns Record TV, one of the largest broadcasters in Brazil. Evangelical churches are also major buyers of airtime, so religious programs can be seen at just about any time of the day.

Silas Malafaia, one of the most influential pastors in Brazil, makes no apologies for trying to influence the votes of parishioners from his more than 50 churches.

During a recent interview with The Associated Press, he said proudly he had helped elect 25 representatives and five senators. His own brother is a state representative for Rio de Janeiro.

"I help candidates get elected by lending them my image and words," said Malafaia, who from the pulpit and on social media argues that left-leaning candidates promote "moral garbage" with liberal stances on gay marriage and abortion.

Malafaia has been outspoken in his support for Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right congressman and former army captain who has promised to crack down on crime and root out corruption in politics.

"In Brazil, we need a macho like him," Malafaia said, adding that Bolsonaro will "defend all the values and principals of the Christian family."

Last weekend, Malafaia visited Bolsonaro in the hospital, where the candidate was recovering after being stabbed during a campaign event Sept. 6.

"God is an expert in turning chaos into a blessing," Malafaia said in a video that he posted on YouTube from Bolsonaro's hospital room.

Albanita Alves, a housewife who attends Malafaia's Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, says she will follow her pastor.

"We have the liberty to choose our candidate," Alves said. "But as a man of God, (Malafaia) has a wider vision than we do, so it's important that we see his point of view."

Last month, Bolsonaro, who is Catholic, teared up while receiving a blessing at a Baptist church in Rio de Janeiro. Geraldo Alckmin, a former Sao Paulo governor who also is Catholic, was a special guest during a meeting of pastors in the state last month. Marina Silva, a former environmental minister who belongs to an evangelical church, recently promised evangelicals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third largest city, that any changes to abortion law would have to be done via plebiscite and not by Congress.

The evangelical vote could be more important than in the past because the electoral field is so splintered, with more than a dozen candidates scrambling for advantages.

Now that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been bumped off the ballot for a corruption conviction, Bolsonaro is leading in the polls - apparently with the aid of evangelical backers.

While he gets roughly 26 percent in polls of all voters, he is backed by 33 percent of voters who identify as evangelical, according to a poll by research institute Ibope released Tuesday.

Ten percent of evangelicals backed Alckmin and Marina Silva and 7 favored Ciro Gomes. Trailing behind so far was Fernando Haddad, who has taken over da Silva's spot for the left-leaning Workers' Party, though the poll was conducted before he received da Silva's formal endorsement for the presidential run.

The poll interviewed 2,002 people Sept. 8-10 and had a margin of error of two percentage points.

"Today the candidates most in line with our values are Alckmin and Bolsonaro, but we still need to talk to them to know what each is proposing," said Bishop Robson Rodovalho, a founder of Sara Nossa Terra, a network of evangelical churches across Brazil.

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, pastor Silas Malafaia points to his congregants during a service at the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Malafaia, one of the most influential pastors in Brazil, makes no apologies for trying to influence the votes of parishioners from his more than 50 churches. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, an evangelical kneels in prayer as she waits for pastor Silas Malafaia to speak at the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Attempts to woo evangelicals are apparent on the campaign trail ahead of the Oct. 7 election. In recent weeks, one leading candidate wept while receiving prayers during service at an evangelical church. Another promised no legislative changes to the country's abortion ban. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, pastor Silas Malafaia delivers a sermon backdropped by a screen with a message that reads in Portuguese: " Reasons to pray; Elections, You and your family", during a service at the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Evangelicals already have a large influence in national politics. The so-called "evangelical bloc" in Congress is about 15 percent of all federal lawmakers. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 2, 2018 photo, a woman makes a contribution using her debit card, to the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Evangelicals could tip the balance in the upcoming election thanks to their growing numbers, especially since corporations have been banned from making contributions directly to candidates in the wake of a massive corruption scandal. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 2, 2018, photo, a woman distributes leaflets that features evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia with two political candidates, to congregants filing out of the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While the Vatican frowns on clergy running for office, many evangelical leaders plunge into politics. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 2, 2018, photo, a woman holds her bible, and an electoral leaflet promoting two candidates that was distributed at the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The evangelical vote in Brazil could be more important than in the past because the electoral field is so splintered, with more than a dozen candidates scrambling for advantages. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

This Sept. 2, 2018 photo shows a political sticker that features evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia with two political candidates on the back window of a van parked in front of the the Assembly of God Victory in Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I help candidates get elected by lending them my image and words," said Malafaia. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2016 file photo, Senate leader Renan Calheiros points to an exit as suspended President Dilma Rousseff looks to leave the Senate chambers after addressing lawmakers, during a recess of at her impeachment trial, in Brasilia, Brazil. Votes from the so-called "evangelical bloc" were instrumental in the 2016 impeachment and ouster of Rousseff. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - In this June 19, 2017 file photo, Mayor Marcelo Crivella talks with the media in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Evangelical voters helped propel Crivella, a bishop in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, to mayor of Brazil's most famous city in 2016. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File)

FILE - In this 1994 file photo, Bishop Edir Macedo, head of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, leads a service in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Macedo, the founder of the church where Rio's mayor is a bishop, owns Record TV, one of the largest broadcasters in Brazil. Evangelical churches are also major buyers of airtime, so religious programs can be seen at just about any time of the day. (Samuel Martins/JB via AP File)

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2018 file photo, Jair Bolsonaro, National Social Liberal Party presidential candidate, greets supporters during a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil. Now that former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has been bumped off the ballot for a corruption conviction, Bolsonaro is leading in the polls, apparently with the aid of evangelical backers. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018 file photo, Brazilian presidential candidate Marina Silva strikes a winner's pose as she campaigns in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil. The former environmental minister who belongs to an evangelical church, recently promised evangelicals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third largest city, any changes to abortion law would have to be done via plebiscite and not by Congress. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Geraldo Alckmin, presidential candidate with the Social Democratic Party, greets supporters as he campaigns in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. In a Brazilian presidential election marked by uncertainties, there is little doubt about one thing: Evangelical voters will have a major impact. According to a poll by research institute Ibope released Tuesday, ten percent of evangelicals are backing Alckmin. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Sept. 12, 2018 photo, Ciro Gomes, presidential candidate with the Democratic Labor Party, holds up a miniature statue of "Padre Cicero," a priest who is venerated by Brazilian Christians, after a supporter gave it to him during his campaign rally in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil, a deeply religious country is home to the world's largest number of Catholics. But evangelicals are growing. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The last session of Danish submarine inventor Peter Madsen's appeal against his life sentence for the murder of Swedish reporter Kim Wall was abandoned Friday after a juror collapsed during closing remarks.

Officials at the Eastern High Court in Copenhagen adjourned the hearing without setting a new date.

Madsen, in a dark blazer, black T-shirt and grey pants, had listened quietly during the closing remarks, in which the prosecutor demanded life, saying the motive was sexual and the crime was planned.

Betina Hald Engmark, defense attorney of Peter Madsen, arrives for the verdict of the appeal in the case of Peter Madsen, at the Eastern High Court in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday Sep. 14, 2018. Danish submarine inventor Peter Madsen, who was found guilty of the torture, sexual assault, murder and dismemberment of a Swedish reporter, challenged his life sentence. (Tariq Mikkel Khan/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

In Denmark, a life sentence is on average 16 years, but can be extended if necessary. Madsen wants a time-limited sentence, not an open-ended prison term.

Prosecutor Kristian Kirk called Madsen's acts "despicable," saying he had "sadistic fantasies," and an interest in so-called snuff videos where women are tortured and killed, and he likely filmed the killing.

No video of Wall's murder has been found. Kirk said snuff videos which Madsen had not produced himself had been found on his personal computer.

Kirk said Wall's dismembered torso had multiple stabs, including in the genitals and that semen had been found in Madsen's underwear. He also said Madsen had brought along tools he normally didn't take when sailing.

Madsen denies murdering Wall, saying she died accidentally inside the submarine. He has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea. He has not appealed the conviction, however.

The cause of death has never been established.

On April 25, Madsen was found guilty by the Copenhagen City Court of murder, sexual assault and the dismembering of Wall. The court ruled unanimously that Madsen, 47, had lured Wall, 30, onto his home-made submarine with the promise of an interview.
ROHATYN, Ukraine (AP) - Steven Reece pulls a shield over his face, takes a weed whacker in hand, and begins trimming tall grass in an overgrown, tick-infested Jewish cemetery in western Ukraine where tombstones lie toppled and broken.

For years now, Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister from Texas, has been cleaning Jewish cemeteries and erecting memorial plaques at mass grave sites in Poland, and recently Ukraine. The region, once Europe's Jewish heartland, saw millions of Jews shot and gassed by Nazi German forces during World War II, sometimes with the help of local collaborators.

The 63-year-old American says cleaning up old cemeteries is his way, as a Christian, of honoring Holocaust victims while supporting the surviving Jewish communities here.

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, Steven Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who lives near Atlanta cleans an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine, Aug. 29, 2018. For years now, Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister from Texas, has been cleaning Jewish cemeteries and erecting memorial plaques at mass grave sites in Poland, and recently Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

He also hopes his mission can help alleviate the bitterness and misunderstanding that still festers sometimes between Christians and Jews. Reece explains that he is troubled by the failure of European Christians who mostly stood by passively as the Nazis marginalized, then persecuted and killed their Jewish neighbors.

"To me it means simply bringing together people who are separated by distance, by space, by conflict," Reece said, taking a break during a recent clean-up operation in Rohatyn, Ukraine, which before the war was part of Poland.

"I saw the Jewish cemetery as a way to bring Jew and Christian together in a common place where they could work together with one another."

Outside Ukraine, Reece and his team cleaned seven cemeteries in Poland this summer, including one in Oswiecim, the town where Nazi Germany ran the Auschwitz death camp.

Reece, who grew up in Texas and is now a resident of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, says he is driven by a desire for justice that has been with him since his boyhood in the American South, where the mistreatment and segregation of Black Americans was instituted in law.

"I was in the seventh grade when Martin Luther King was assassinated. That made a tremendous impact upon me," Reece said during an interview in Warsaw. "And when I encountered the issue of Jewish Polish history, due to what happened here, I saw that there is a great injustice."

Part of his mission involves encouraging diaspora Jews to work with local volunteers in Polish towns to continue the cemetery maintenance work. In 2010 he founded an Atlanta-based charity, The Matzevah Foundation, which takes its name from the Hebrew term for headstone. The foundation brings volunteers to Europe from the Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee and partners them with Jewish descendants to care for their ancestral cemeteries.

Since 2012, his organization has carried out 28 projects in 14 different locations with the help of nearly 1,000 volunteers, including some 250 Americans, but also Israelis, local Poles and Ukrainians.

The recent work in Rohatyn was organized by Jewish Rohatyn Heritage, an organization run by an American couple, Marla Raucher Osborn and Jay Osborn, who have been gathering Nazi-damaged headstones scattered in the town and bringing them to the cemetery in Ukraine.

Reece first came to the region in the late 1980s when he was on assignment in Poland as a photo reporter. After graduating seminary, he served for 12 years as a pastor in Warsaw and nearby Otwock, learning Polish and gaining a deeper understanding of what happened in Poland during WWII.

The country was invaded from the west by Adolf Hitler's forces and from the east by Soviet forces. More than 5 million were dead by war's end. Under the German occupation thousands of Christian Poles risked their lives to help Jews, but many did not act, and some joined the plunder and destruction.

Reece, no longer a minister, says he wants to help local Jewish authorities struggling to maintain 1,400 cemeteries across Poland - a legacy of a country once home to the largest Jewish community in the world. That population has dwindled from 3.3 million on the eve of Germany's invasion, to 20,000 today.

Mass grave sites continue to be discovered, and the challenge is made more difficult as Poland's economy grows and construction booms across the country.

Reece said some in the Jewish community at first wrongly suspected he was seeking converts.

"I don't deny who I am - I am a follower of Jesus - but that's the not the point of what I do," he said. "The point of what I do is to reconcile."

Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich said that initially, some were puzzled by Reece. "Steven is so unique, we're not used to people like that," he said.

"But as soon as I met him I realized that he was the real thing," Schudrich added. "There are special, unique, saintly people in the world. It transcends religion, nationality, and ethnicity. Steven Reece is one of them."

___

Gera reported from Warsaw. Associated Press investigative researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report.

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, Steven Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who lives near Atlanta at an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine. For years now, Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister from Texas, has been cleaning Jewish cemeteries and erecting memorial plaques at mass grave sites in Poland, and recently Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, volunteers clean an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, Steven Reece, left, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who lives near Atlanta, with volunteers clean an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine. For years now, Reece, an ordained Southern Baptist minister from Texas, has been cleaning Jewish cemeteries and erecting memorial plaques at mass grave sites in Poland, and recently Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, U.S. citizen Marla Raucher Osborn, a Rohatyn Jewish heritage project leader, left, shows volunteers the gravestones at an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn close to Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)

In this photo taken on Aug. 29, 2018, a volunteer cleans an old Jewish cemetery in Rohatyn, the site of a Jewish Heritage project, close to Lviv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Yevheniy Kravs)
BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on developments related to the war in Syria (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

A senior official says political advisers of the leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany agree that a solution for the rebel-held Syrian province of Idlib should be a political, rather than military, one.

This frame grab from video provided by Central Station for Turkish Intervention, an activist-operated media group monitoring Turkish activities in Syria, that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows a Turkish military convoy heading to some of the 12 Turkish observations points that ring Idlib, Syria, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Turkey sent in military reinforcements Thursday to beef up its positions inside Syria's last rebel bastion Idlib, activists reported, even as the Turkish defense minister said Ankara is still trying with Russia and Iran to prevent a humanitarian tragedy in the case of a threatened Syrian government offensive. (Central Station for Turkish Intervention, via AP)

Ibrahim Kalin, adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, made the comment on Friday after meeting with his Russian, French and German counterparts in Istanbul.

Kalin said the sides agreed that a Syrian government offensive on Idlib would "pave the way to humanitarian crises, to a wave of migration and (destroy) all existing political processes."

He also said that Turkey wants Idlib's current status to be maintained to ensure the safety of civilians, as well as that of Turkish troops stationed in the province.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said German Chancellor Angela Merkel's adviser Jan Hecker, French President Emmanuel Macron's adviser, Philippe Etienne, and Yuri Ushakov, adviser to President Vladimir Putin, participated in the meeting.

They will work toward setting a date for a summit for the four leaders, Kalin said.

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7 p.m.

Germany's foreign minister is pressing his Russian counterpart to prevent potential chemical attacks by the Syrian government and raising concerns over civilian casualties ahead of an expected government offensive to retake Syria's last opposition-held province.

Heiko Maas said at a news conference Friday alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that a broad offensive in Idlib could have "catastrophic consequences for millions of people."

Maas said he and Lavrov also discussed the possibility of President Bashar Assad's government using chemical weapons. He said "it is clear to us that Russia has the ability to influence the Syrian regime, and we are counting on it now being used so that such use of chemical weapons is prevented under all circumstances."

Assad's government and its backers, Russia and Iran, say Idlib is ruled by terrorists, and have threatened to seize it by force.

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4:45 p.m.

A U.S.-backed Kurdish faction in Syria says it has captured an Italian member of the Islamic State group as he was trying to flee to neighboring Turkey.

The People's Protection Units, or YPG, released a video late Thursday of the young bearded man who identified himself as Samir Bougana, known among the extremist group as Abu Abdullah.

The man said he had been in areas once held by the extremists for about two to three years and was captured near the northern city of Raqqa as he was trying to cross into Turkey with his wife and daughters.

YPG is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces that, under the cover of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition, seized Raqqa from the militants in 2017.

SDF captured scores of foreign IS fighters.

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3:35 p.m.

A senior official has confirmed that Turkey has reinforced Turkish troops manning 12 security posts around Idlib as the Syrian army prepares for a military offensive to reclaim control of the province.

The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, and did not provide further information.

Syrian activists said Thursday that a Turkish convoy entered from Kfar Lusin crossing into northern Idlib, heading to some of the 12 Turkish observations posts. A video shot by activists of the monitoring group Central Station for Turkish Intervention showed armored and gun-mounted vehicles and tanks driving through an Idlib road.

Turkey deployed hundreds of soldiers at 12 observations posts that circle Idlib, following a de-escalation agreement it reached with Russia and Iran last year.

___

2:05 p.m.

Syrian activists say residents in the country's last opposition-held province, Idlib, are demonstrating against President Bashar Assad, in defiance of an expected government offensive to retake the territory.

The activist-run Orient News channel reported protests in the town of al-Bab and the provincial capital, Idlib.

Wissam Zarqa, a university instructor, says the demonstrations started after congregational prayers on Friday, which mark the end of the work week in the Muslim world. Fridays have become the customary day of protest throughout the Arab world since the 2011 uprisings that swept through the region.

Zarqa says demonstrators are flying the green, white and black flag of Syria's uprising against Assad.

The government and its backers, Russia and Iran, say Idlib is ruled by terrorists and are threatening to seize it from the opposition by force.

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1:15 p.m.

The Kremlin says that President Vladimir Putin could meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that preparations are under way for Putin's meeting with Erdogan in Sochi on Monday. He wouldn't elaborate on the meeting's agenda, but the two leaders are likely to discuss the tensions in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

The Syrian army, backed by Russia and Iran, is preparing for a military offensive to reclaim control over Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold on the border with Turkey. Turkey strongly warned against the military action, saying it would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.

Russia has urged Turkey to persuade rebels in Idlib to sever ties with al-Qaida linked rebels in the area.

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1:10 p.m.

Turkey's military and defense chiefs have visited areas bordering Syria where the country has reinforced troops amid fears of a looming Syrian government offensive on Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Chief of Military Staff Yasar Guler on Friday inspected troops in the border provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep.

Turkey has been reinforcing the border in recent weeks. Syrian activists meanwhile said new military reinforcements had arrived to beef up Turkish observation points inside Idlib.

The state-run Anadolu Agency reported late Thursday that commando units as well as howitzers, tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavy work machines were sent to the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province as reinforcements

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12:20 p.m.

Turkey's foreign minister says his country is still working for a peaceful solution for Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would hold talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.

Speaking during a visit to Pakistan on Friday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. ... We will continue our efforts on international platforms as well." His comments were broadcast live on Turkish television.

At a meeting in Tehran last week, the leaders of Russia and Iran backed military operations in Idlib despite pleas from Erdogan for a cease-fire.

Turkey fears a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, which straddles Turkey's borders and is home to more than 3 million people.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) - Slovenia's new prime minister used to make people laugh. Handling the disparate demands of his five-party coalition government is unlikely to leave much time for jokes.

Once a satirist who impersonated prominent politicians, Marjan Sarec has taken the helm of a largely centrist government - a rare phenomenon, at least recently, in Central Europe where populists have been on the march from Italy to Poland.

Sarec, who has become Slovenia's youngest ever premier at 40, will face a tough job keeping the minority government afloat. After all, the government's majority in parliament is slim and the right-wing opposition is not going to give Sarec a honeymoon in office.

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 file photo, Slovenian presidential candidate Marjan Sarec talks to the media in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Once a satirist who impersonated prominent politicians, Marjan Sarec has taken the helm of a largely centrist government _ a rare phenomenon, at least recently, in Central Europe where populists have been on the march from Italy to Poland. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)

Enacting too many reforms is not going to be easy in that environment and that could potentially lead to disgruntlement in a country of just 2 million people.

The tight parliamentary arithmetic was evident Thursday when the new government was narrowly endorsed. Only half the 90-member backed the government, just enough to keep away from power the anti-immigrant allies of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Analysts warned it is too early to say whether the elevation of a moderate government spells a turning point in the region.

"At stake now is Europe, more than Slovenia," said Janez Markes, an analyst for the Delo newspaper. "Slovenia at this moment, I hate to say it, is not part of the problem."

The success of the new government could depend heavily on whether Sarec, who gave up a successful acting career when he first entered politics, proves he is up to the task.

Sarec served twice as the mayor of his native Kamnik, in central Slovenia before gaining prominence when he forced a presidential runoff vote last year against veteran politician Borut Pahor.

"It is easier to observe from the side and criticize than to do something," Sarec said Thursday in parliament. "It is time to start working now."

One of the mainstays of Sarec's act was impersonating former prime minister, Janez Jansa, who is now his main right-wing opponent.

With a group of young artists, Sarec hosted a satirical radio show dubbed 'Radio Ga Ga' that was popular throughout Slovenia in the 1990s. Some of his performances show Sarec altering his voice to mock politicians' accents, singing or screaming with a kitchen cloth on his head as an alternative poet.

Saso Hribar, a journalist who worked with Sarec, says he remembers the new prime minister as highly professional and considers him thoroughly prepared for his any of his roles.

"Sarec blew up a good private business when he gave up acting," Hribar quipped.

As the new prime minister, Sarec is certain to face strong opposition from Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party, which won most votes at June 3 election, but not enough to form the government.

Linked to Hungary's Orban, Jansa "will try to do anything to subvert this government," said Darko Strajn, the head of Alternative Academy think tank.

However, Strajn said Sarec is a political "personality in the making," and his readiness to compromise and his negotiating prowess to form the 5-party coalition, should serve him well.

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Ali Zerdin contributed to this report.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland sees itself as a bridge in trans-Atlantic rifts between the European Union and the Trump administration and wants the EU to show "greater empathy" for U.S. sanctions on Iran, the country's foreign minister said Friday.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told The Associated Press in an interview that Washington was "right" to announce renewed sanctions while withdrawing from the international Iran nuclear deal. Poland is making that argument with the EU, Czaputowicz said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda is scheduled to visit the White House for talks with President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Defense, Central Europe's energy security and economic cooperation are among the topics on the leaders' agenda.

Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz says that President Andrzej Duda will discuss boosting the U.S. military presence in Poland and greater U.S. economic involvement when he is hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House next week, during an interview for the Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Trump withdrew from 2015 nuclear accord in May and re-imposed some sanctions on Iran. More sanctions are to be imposed in November. Britain, France and Germany were parties to the nuclear accord, and the EU created a financial support package to bolster the Iranian economy.

"We do not want to have the EU acting against American policy, meaning against these sanctions," Czaputowicz said, adding that Poland is seeking "greater empathy and understanding toward the American policy" and wants to "reconcile, unite" the positions of Washington and Brussels.

During Duda's trip next week, an announcement is expected on improving Poland's defense capability in the face of Russia's increased military activity, Czaputowicz told the AP.

Poland also is lobbying for the 3,000 U.S. troops now deployed in Poland on a rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence, a decision from the U.S. could come early next year, he said.

"It is our goal to raise the security of the people in Poland," Czaputowicz said. "Only the U.S. has a sufficient military force today that Russia" would recognize as a constraint.

Separately, Czaputowicz said Poland would defend its ally Hungary with the European Union. The EU's lawmaking body decided Thursday to pursue action against the Hungarian government for allegedly undermining the bloc's democratic values.

Czaputowicz said Poland would "veto for sure" any proposed punishments for Hungary. The EU is also pursuing a sanctioning procedure against Poland over the right-wing government's alleged rule of law violations.

Clashes with Brussels have raised questions about Poland's attachment to the 28-member EU.

"We are for a strong European Union in the area of its economy, its institutions and democracy that takes into account various points of view," Czaputowicz said in the interview.

Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz says that President Andrzej Duda will discuss boosting the U.S. military presence in Poland and greater U.S. economic involvement when he is hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House next week, during an interview for the Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A federal jury in North Dakota on Friday convicted a Rhode Island woman of helping scam elderly Americans out of millions of dollars, capping a large-scale Jamaican lottery scam case that authorities have been investigating and prosecuting for six years.

Jurors found Melinda Bulgin, 28, guilty of 15 counts of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering, after 3 1/2 hours of deliberations over two days. Defense attorney Kevin Chapman said he likely will appeal.

The Providence woman was the last of 27 defendants. The others all pleaded guilty or were convicted earlier in the scam that authorities say bilked at least 90 mostly elderly Americans out of more than $5.7 million. Authorities identified victims in at least five states: North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and Arizona.

Authorities say scammers called victims about bogus lottery winnings, persuading them to send advance fees or so-called taxes to receive the purported winnings, then keeping the money without paying anything to the victims.

"When they (elderly) were vulnerable, Melinda Bulgin and these other co-conspirators preyed on them," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan O'Konek told jurors.

The case is believed to be the first large-scale Jamaican lottery scam tried in U.S. courts. It began in September 2011, when then-82-year-old Edna Schmeets, of Harvey, North Dakota, was scammed out of about $400,000. During emotional testimony Thursday she described cleaning out her life savings, borrowing money from family and borrowing from the bank, so that she could continue sending checks.

"After that I was broke," she said.

Bulgin was accused of collecting money and funneling it between the U.S. and Jamaica via cheap flights she got through her job with an airline. She eventually was caught at a Jamaican airport in 2015 with nearly $15,000 she hadn't declared to customs officials.

That money came from Nancy Bauke, a 78-year-old widow in Tempe, Arizona, prosecutors said.

Bauke testified she was duped by the scammers even though she had worked as a financial adviser and taught financial planning classes. She said she sent a total of $25,000 to Bulgin and "did not receive one penny" in prize money.

Chapman told jurors that Bulgin's identity could have easily been used by other suspects in the scam, and that when she made admissions to authorities after her arrest in Jamaica she was "a young woman, scared, in a foreign country."

"We cannot trust the evidence in this case," he said.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates lottery scams could be a billion-dollar-a-year industry in Jamaica. The investigation into this scam began in 2012 and has involved the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Justice Department.

"I'm happy for the victims, that we can bring some justice to them," Assistant U.S. Attorney Clare Hochhalter said outside the courtroom.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will witness the signing of a peace agreement between the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea in Saudi Arabia's western city of Jeddah.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday the U.N. chief will travel to Jeddah on Sunday at the invitation of Saudi King Salman.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a "Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship" on July 9, ending 20 years of enmity and formally restoring diplomatic relations.

They also signed agreements to open embassies in their respective capitals, restore flight services and allow Ethiopia to use port facilities in Eritrea.

"This is a further agreement helping to cement the positive relations between them," Haq said.

He said the African Union will also witness the signing.
The results of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections are out, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has won three out of four posts.

As expected, EVMs are once again being blamed for the verdict. Of late, it has become a trend  whether its a local body poll, a state election or now, a students union election  that the losing side will cry foul, and blame the poor EVMs which cant speak for themselves.

Saffron is sweet: ABVP won the posts of DUSU president, vice-president and joint secretary. NSUI has bagged the secretary's post. (Photo: ANI)

Delhi University is the largest and most popular university of India, with lakhs of students enrolled in different courses. The varsitys policies strictly prohibit discrimination of any kind, and students from all over the world apply to it. This diversity among students is demonstrative of the inclusivity of DU, where youngsters from varied social, economic and political backgrounds study together.

The students had been waiting for their representatives to be elected after two weeks of an intensive electoral process. Along with DUSU, approximately 63 other colleges have chosen their representatives through the same process. More than 1 lakh students have used EVMs for the first time.

Participating in this process must have given them a fine experience of democracy.

This years voter turnout was 44.46%, an almost 2% increase from the last time. It is good that the voting percentage has increased  it tells us that students are taking an interest in choosing their representatives.

Although the parent political parties of the ABVP, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and others claim that they do not participate in the DUSU election directly, it is apparent to all that senior leaders of the BJP, Congress and other parties do pitch in with all kinds of resources for their student wings and affiliated organisations.

The fact that heavyweight advocates of the RSS and Congress usually represent the ABVP and NSUI in their legal battles tells us how seriously DUSU is taken by these organisations.

The voting percentage in DU polls tends to go up just before a General Election year, showing an increased interest in politics among students. (Photo: PTI)

You can see pictures in newspapers of the DUSU-winning candidates visiting the Jhandewalan office (RSS) and 10, Janpath (Congress), to get the blessings of their political/ideological bosses.

This university has given senior leaders to almost all parties, whether it is the BJP, Congress, or AAP. From Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goyal and Ajay Maken to the newer crop of Alka Lamba, Tarun Kumar, Sushmita Dev, Anil Chaudhary, Anil Jha and Arvinder Singh Lovely, all were very active in student politics in their university days.

Indeed, the DU election is an indicator of the mood of the nation.

The huge sample size  in terms of number and diversity  gives enough insights to political pundits to take the elections as a pre-study for state Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

There is a traceable pattern to this. If we closely analyse the voting percentage in DU polls close to General Elections, we see that in 2003 and 2004, the NSUI won in DU, and in 2004, the Congress formed the government at the Centre.

Similarly, in 2008, the NSUI won 3 of 4 DUSU seats, and in 2009, the Congress came back to power. From 2010 onwards, the ABVP increased its presence in the DUSU polls, and in 2014, the BJP swept the General Elections.

Of course, these events could be pure coincidences  but isnt this exactly how statistical researches operate? Numbers never lie, and numbers do present a correlation between the DUSU polls and the General Elections.

The interesting point is that the voting percentage in DUSU polls goes up before the General Elections, which shows that students get active in politics just before Lok Sabha polls.

In 2014, while the General Elections had a voter turnout of 66.4% (highest in recorded history), DUSU polls also reflected a turnout of 44.4%, nearly the highest.

ABVP won DUSU polls in 2013 and the BJP swept the General Elections next year. (Photo: PTI/file)

This time round, the DU elections saw a 44.46 % voter turnout, and the ABVP managed to win 3 of 4 seats. The results show that the RSS and its political wings have managed to read the pulse of the youth and of the public better than any other political organisation.

The General Election of 2019 is not too far away  and the DUSU election does not bear good tidings for the Congress.

Last year, after the NSUI won two seats in the DUSU polls, the Congress had been quick to claim that the youth had rejected PM Modi and were looking towards Rahul Gandhi for leadership.

What does the Congress have to say now?

Last year, it was the BJP and ABVP trying to downplay the importance of the DUSU election results. No doubt, the Congress will now do the same  in fact, it has started the process by blaming EVMs.

But data on this election, and earlier elections, are before us  and these give us some very interesting pointers for 2019.

Also read: Why I have little faith in India's youth
Imran Khans visit to the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters in Islamabad on September 12 assumes huge significance and does not surprise his detractors, who have all along been suspicious about Khans extraordinary proximity to the armed forces  especially towards the notorious ISI. During his visit, he was received by the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI head Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar. Interestingly, Khan was accompanied by his Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and some select ministers.

Now, it is the prerogative of a Prime Minister to pay an official visit to any of the countrys institutions, including the ISI.

But there is a definitive and a noticeable pattern in his bonhomie with the countrys armed forces within such a short time. After all, it was only on August 18 that Khan formally took over as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. It has not even been a month since.

Guess who's chief: During his visit to the ISI HQ, Khan was received by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI head Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar. (Photo: Reuters)

Earlier on August 30, Imran Khan had visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) and spent a considerable amount of time with key officials getting briefed on sensitive matters that included prevailing security scenarios, threat perceptions in the Pakistani context, and the armys ongoing campaign against terror.

Additionally, Khan was reportedly thoroughly briefed on Radd-ul-Fasaad, a high-profile anti-terror operation. Developments related to security in Karachi and Balochistan also reportedly came under intense discussion. Later, on September 3, Khan met the Army Chief for a meeting, discussing security and geopolitical situations.

Again, on September 6, Khan was conspicuously present as the chief guest at the "Defence Day" celebrations, which is annually observed in Pakistan to commemorate "victory over India in the 1965 war. High-voltage speeches were made and martyrs were remembered. It is, in reality, just another occasion celebrated to keep the morale of the forces alive. And Khans presence was, quite possibly, an attempt to lend credibility to such an occasion, for it is ordinarily only a ceremonial event bereft of any substance.

The speeches delivered on the occasion by military leaders and Khan gave an erroneous impression that Pakistan had triumphed over India in the 1965 war, reminding the nation of the armed forces what valour is needed in dealing with its so-called inimical forces.

Even if Khan tries to distance himself from the armed forces or the ISI, it won't be easy to extricate himself from the sway of the uniform. (Photo: Reuters)

Again, on September 12, Khan went to the ISI headquarters and his visit was aggressively publicised; the ISI public relations issued a press release. Whats perhaps important is that Khans briefing lasted eight long hours and covered several crucial aspects related to security and defence.

A Prime Minister of the country spending such a long period in the Intelligence hub of the nation means a lot. Let's assume what issues were discussed during Khans stay at the ISI headquarters. Surely, India and Afghanistan were discussed; after all, the ISI does focus a sizable amount of its covert operations on these two countries.

Khan reportedly praised the ISI for its operational readiness.

But what is this operational readiness?

By the process of elimination, it could easily mean stepped-up actions by the ISI in targeting India and Afghanistan. Was it an endorsement to the ISIs nefarious operations by the new Pakistani PM? This is a cogent assumption, given Khans closeness (at least, perceived closeness) to the ISI before and after the July 25 elections.

On Khans part, however, he tried to dispel the prevailing general "misconception" that it is the military in Pakistan that's calling the shots and Khan is its puppet. Clarifying his stand, Khan said that it is a wrong impression that there is a civil-military imbalance in Pakistan. Describing the ISI as efficient, calling it the worlds finest organisation and describing how it is working as the first line of defence, Khan lauded the ISI's achievements. Pakistan experts say Khan ostensibly wanted to put his stamp to the ISI, perhaps, to legitimise ISI actions in the neighbourhood.

The Mask. The Man. The Military. (Photo: Reuters)

It is, however, noteworthy that the images of Khans face, and even his body language, while interacting with and addressing the ISI officials, appear tense and preoccupied. One has to wonder why.

Of course, at this point, even if he tries to distance himself from the armed forces or the ISI  perhaps in order to establish independent credibility  he possibly will not be able to extricate himself easily from the sway of the uniform. After all, the first month of Khans premiership has already, and adequately so, been appropriated by the Army and the ISI.

At the same time, it is also not too late. He needs to undertake some untiring efforts, albeit gradually, to be discreet in his proximity to the outfits believed to have been the forces that promoted Khan to this high office and have supposedly scripted the PMs agenda for internal and external mandates.

It would augur well for Khan and his team to prioritise focus on addressing the perils of the floundering economy and terror issues before embarking on optics generated by his series of interactions with the armed forces. Failing which, a concept of "Naya Pakistan" would continue to go adrift, landing in the deep gorge of oblivion.

Also Read: Why removal of Atif Mian from the Economic Advisory Council is neither a service to Islam nor to Pakistan
Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh Friday said negotiations are underway with the United States (US) over 25 per cent tariff it had imposed on steel imports.

US President Donald Trump had earlier imposed a 25 per cent import tariff on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium.

However, the minister said there would not be any immediate impact on domestic steel exports as India sends a marginal amount of alloy of its shipment to the US.

"Negotiations are still going on (with the US). There may some a sort of understanding... And the other side is that we are to go for certain steps to be taken to safeguard our interest. We will certainly take," he said at Assocham India Steel Summit - Enhancing Competitiveness & Overcoming Challenges.

Singh had earlier said that the 25 per cent tariff imposed by the US on steel import can 'indirectly' affect the domestic sector.

"The US decision to impose 25 per cent tariff on steel imports will have negligible direct impact (on India's export) as India's share of US Steel imports is very small as compared to other countries but there might be an indirect impact," he had said.
BJP MLA Manvendra Singh, who is the son of ailing former Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, is expected to take decision on taking a political course away from the BJP on September 22 at Swabhiman Rally near Jaisalmer-Barmer.

Anticipating rebellion by the MLA, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje did not visit the Manvendras constituency during her Gaurav Yatra campaign for the upcoming Assembly poll in the State. The CM wrapped up the second leg of her Yatra on September 2 at Pachpadra in Jodhpur-Barmer district where Congress too held its rally.

Pachpadra, a town in Rajasthans Marwar region, has turned into a political testing ground for the BJP, the Congress. It has the influential Rajput community to which Manvendra belongs to and derives total support.

It is in Pachpadra that Manvendra seeks to hold show of strength in Swabhiman rally on September 22 and possibly make the major announcement about his political future. The rally is to unite all beyond caste and community and self-respecting people,  he said.

The rally planned as a counter by Rajputs against the Gaurav Yatra of the Chief Minister, according to sources, would be attended by people from chhattees quom (all communities) who would decide the final step to be taken by the former BJP MP and present MLA from Sheo.

According to sources, Manvendra is toying with the idea of either contesting Assembly poll as an Independent or to cross over to another party, like the Congress.

Manvendra, an erstwhile journalist, is reluctant to disclose his cards. The posters pasted around in the region have Jaswant as the main face and marked by the complete absence of BJP leaders.

It is the rally of all respecting leaders who were disregarded by the BJP, a political leader close to Jaswant said and pointed to the total dissatisfaction in the Rajput community against the BJP Government in the State.

A former member of Parliament from Barmer from 2004 to 209, Manvendra was sidelined and suspended from the primary membership of the party after he sought to campaign for his rebel father contesting as an Independent from Barmer in 2014 Lok Sabha poll against the official party candidate Col Sonaram Choudhury . Manvendra was suspended for campaigning for his father which was later revoked by the part 2015.

Rajput have been disgruntled for some time and a reflection of it was when Rajput Karni Sena celebrated the loss of BJP in Madalgarh assembly and Ajmer and Alwar Lol Sabha seats bypolls early this year. Rajputs have also not been happy with Government for not doing enough to ban the controversial film Padmavati.
Hitting out at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for terming the Yogi Adityanath government a big failure, Power Minister and government spokesman Shrikant Sharma said the former Chief Minister was spreading canards as he was frustrated because of the good works being done by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP chief is frustrated after losing the 2017 Assembly polls. Now every day he is levelling charges against the state government over baseless issues and is trying to cover up the corruption and failures of his regime, Sharma said at a press conference in Lucknow on Friday.

Sharma asked, How can a person who could not go along with his family become a leader of the masses?

The state Power Minister said that the SP chief was trying to incite youths against the Yogi Adityanath government by levelling false allegations.

There is no truth in the SP chiefs statement that the BJP government was denying job opportunities to the youth, he said while reacting to Akhilesh Yadavs allegations that the BJP regime had failed to live up to the expectations of the masses.

The Yogi government has opened the door for government jobs for the youth. Recruitment is being done transparently. A probe has been ordered into small lapses without any delay. We have never compromised with lapses and have set high standards in recruitment, the Power Minister said, adding that the government was working on a policy of zero tolerance to corruption and law and order problem.

Akhilesh Yadav was Chief Minister of this big state but he failed to check corruption and malpractice. This led to his defeat in the 2017 Assembly elections. On the contrary, the BJP government is committed to the welfare of 23 crore people of UP and is working with the slogan of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, he said.

On Friday, Akhilesh Yadav had termed the Yogi government a big failure while inaugurating a cycle campaign. He had said that the youths were being deprived of jobs while the farmers were yet to get remunerative prices for their produce.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who completed his three-day visit to South Korea, on Friday signed a twin city agreement (Memorandum of Understanding ) with Seoul Metropolitan Government to bring a mutual cooperation and friendship between the two cities. The two Governments will further work closely in the fields of environment, tourism, waste water and solid waste management, infrastructure and public health among others.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement was signed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Seoul mayor Park Won-Soon in the South Korean capital.

Asking for a close cooperation and friendship with Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kejriwal said, I have an appeal to make-let this MoU between the Governments of Delhi and Seoul not merely be another piece of an official document, let us try and convert it into a living document, since it is being signed for mutual cooperation in multiple fields.

He expressed hope that Delhi will develop on the lines of Seoul which has emerged as a beautiful city in the past 68 years despite being ravaged in the Korean War in 1950.

Further speaking on the event, Delhi CM added, Delhis Urban Development Department will be more than eager to take help from you in whichever manner possible to develop Delhi in a similar way.

Appreciating the idea of Seoul to curb the increasing pollution that occurred in January, Kejriwal said, Seoul had to declare a pollution emergency due to smog, and you took some emergency measures like making modes of public transport free for a few days and you also restricted the number of vehicles on roads during that period. Last Saturday, we carried out the single day biggest plantation drive in Delhi, when more than five lakh (half a million) tree saplings and shrubs were planted across the city. So, I strongly appeal for close cooperation between Delhi and Seoul to combat this menace of air pollution.

The Twinning Agreement focus on nearly 11 areas for exchange of expertise and cooperation, which incudes environment, culture, tourism, smart city, transportation, education, land use planning and management, science and technology, MICE industry, waste water and solid waste management, infrastructure and public health.

Delhi faces an acute water crisis in summer months since it does not have its own sources of water and is dependent on neighboring states for supply of water as decided by existing laws. The only river passing through Delhi - Yamuna, faces serious water pollution problems, which we are trying to fix Kejriwal said after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

According to the MoU, The main purpose between the MoU is to establish friendship and co-operation and create mechanisms for its implementation within the framework of their respective jurisdiction. Further, the two cities will undertake exchanges and interaction between education institutions and sharing experiences of the mutual interests. Delhi government will solicit support of its Urban development Department and other departments for implementing all the relevant aspects of the agreement.

The MoU also asks the Delhi government to create and operationalise a Twinning Cell at the Urban Development Department and to form a committee to support the cell. Besides, it will support activity related workshops, conduct community participation activities, and maintain documentation.

Maintain proper documentation regarding the various activites undertaken in pursuances of agreement and send annual reports to the state government concerned and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs besides placing on the relevant website. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will replicate the same actions at its end, reads the MoU.

The two parties will conduct regular meetings to discuss and communicate over the programmes, projects and activities to be undertaken as per the agreement. Both the city governments will also develop an annual joint action plan and ensure financial resources to support the exchanges and activities.

The Principal Secretary (Urband Development), Delhi government and Director General, International Cooperation Bureau, Seoul, will act as nodal officers for the Agreement. The Twinning Agreement will remain in force till three years from September 14, 2018, and it could be amended by written agreement between the two parties.
Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that if the united opposition failed to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Centre in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the opposition leaders would be forced to sell pakoras on the street.

Yadav said the democratic political order was under great threat and all opposition parties should do their best to prevent the BJP from returning to power again in 2019.

The SP chief said this while flagging off a Save Democracy, Save India cycle yatra in Etawah on Friday.

If we fail to defeat the BJP in the next general election, then be ready to sell pakoras near some nullah as the Prime Minister has already said that methane gas is produced from the gutter and provides employment to youths, Akhilesh said.

The SP president said that democracy would come to an end in the country if the BJP was voted back to power in 2019.

He said the cycle yatra would not stop and it would spread awareness among people about BJPs conspiracy to decimate Indian democracy.

This yatra will save the nations democracy and it will culminate only after dislodging the BJP from power in Delhi in the 2019 poll. People have seen through the BJPs conspiracy against democracy. They have tested their tools during the 2017 Assembly polls and formed a government here. People will give the BJP a befitting reply in the 2019 polls, Akhilesh opined.

The SP chief alleged that the BJP government had denied government jobs to Dalits and backward class youths and if his party returned to power in UP in 2022, the old system of recruitment would be implemented.

Akhilesh also attacked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for suggesting to farmers to stop sowing sugarcane and shift to vegetables.

Hitting out at the BJP, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said, The BJP will use every trick to win elections, like splitting political parties and floating new outfits to split anti-BJP votes, ahead of the 2019 election.

Ram Gopal said the battle of 2019 would be a very tough battle for the party cadre as their survival would be at stake.
In another move against his arch rivals  the Badals, Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday approached the Sikhs highest temporal seat  Akal Takht  seeking excommunication of the former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and SAD president Sukhbir Badal.

Sidhu, who handed over the memorandum to Akal Takht official in the absence of Akal Takht jathedar (head priest) Giani Gurbachan Singh in his personal capacity as a Sikh, alleged the Badal father-son duo for their involvement in the police firing incident on protesters against sacrilege incidents 2015.

He also alleged that the Badals influenced the Akal Takht jathedar to pardon the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case to garner votes of Dera followers.

Sidhu alleged that the Badals misused their power to degrade the sanctity of the highest Sikh temporal seat in connivance with Dera Sirsa sect chief for their political vested interests ahead 2017 state assembly elections, under a multi-crore deal struck by none other than Sukhbir himself.

Demanding excommunication of Badals for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, Sidhu has also requested the Jathedar to summon the father-son duo at Akal Takht. They should be excommunicated from Sikh fold forthwith, he insisted.

In his four-page memorandum written in Punjabi, Sidhu urged the Jathedar to initiate action against the Badals as per Sikh customs.

Excommunication from Sikhism implies expulsion from the socio-religious order of the faith. The five head priests, led by the Akal Takht Jathedar, pronounce such an order.

Later, accompanied by Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, Sidhu told the media persons that, Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir had wilfully issued orders for firing on a gathering of Sikhs who were holding peaceful protest and demanding arrest of accused responsible for sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

I have approached the Akal Takht as a voice of Sikh community, whose sentiments were hurt due to desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, shootout at peaceful protestors and belittled the institution of Akal Takht to please the Dera Sirsa head who was already excommunicated by Akal Takht, said Sidhu.

Sidhu said that when Sukhbir, as head of a panthic party, flouted the Akal Takht 2007 hukumnama of boycotting Dera Sirsa head holding him guilty of blasphemous act and forcing the Akal Takht jathedar to pardon him, what could panth expect from them?

To substantiate his demand, Sidhu said that Sukhbir as the Home Minister then, had ordered the police to open fire at peaceful protestors in Behbal Kalan while on the other hand, he adopted soft attitude towards Dera followers. Police tortured the innocent Sikhs, but Badals never bothered to resist, he added.

Sidhu went on to allege that some Dera followers were involved in sacrilege cases but they too were spared by the previous regime. He alleged that the Dera Sirsa was pardoned one day prior to release of his film, MSG-2, under a multi-crore deal struck by Sukhbir.

Badal challenged the supreme authority of the Akal Takht by calling its head to his residence in Chandigarh and pressuring him to pardon the Dera head, he alleged.

Endorsing it, Jakhar said that though Sidhu had sought religious punishment for the Badals, the Congress party was into tightening the noose through legal course.

Two persons were killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan during a protest against desecration of religious text in 2015. While Parkash Singh Badal was the chief minister back then, his son was the Deputy Chief Minister in the SAD-BJP government and was also in-charge of the home department.

The Akal Takht had pardoned the Sirsa-based sect head  for allegedly appearing in an attire of Guru Gobind Singh during a religious congregation  on the basis of a written apology sent by him through his messenger in 2015.

Three weeks later, bowing to pressure from the Sikh community and hardliners, the Sikh clergy headed by Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh decided to annul its earlier order issued on September 24, 2015.
The Delhi Police has arrested a 30 year-old- woman for theft at her employer's house at Jasola Vihar. Police have also recovered gold, silver, diamond ornaments, watch and other articles worth Rs 60 lakh from the accused.

The accused, identified as Manju, a resident of Jasola Vihar have been also involved in three cases of theft in the area previously. A complaint was received regarding theft by domestic help in Sarita Vihar police station. During investigation it was revealed that the accused was kept without police verification and after theft she didn't returned to house for work which made house owner to suspect her for committing theft, said Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), south east district.

The vicitim said that Manju was not using phone and lived in Jasola Village. She was also not having her address or even photograph. Manju was arrested while she was standing near a temple in Jasola Village, said the DCP.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that she used to look for her targets in colonies and society flats. She used to approach house owners who generally lived alone in the house and allure them to appoint her as domestic help. She used to quote low salary as compare to other domestic helps. Once she gets appointed to work in a house, while working she used to explore cupboards and drawers where expensive articles are kept by the owner. She used to steal them and after that she used to stop coming on work. There are three more cases of theft registered against her in Delhi, said the DCP.
In order to eliminate malaria from India by 2030, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), along with several national and international organisations, will launch Malaria Elimination Research Alliance India (MERA INDIA). ICMR is already undertaking research projects in Jabalpur and Punjab, researchers told The Pioneer.

We already have National Malaria Eradication Programme (NEDP) In India. The alliance will find what the various gaps in the programme are. We will identify various needs of the programme and make much focused research projects, said Dr Manju Rahi, Scientist, ICMR. MERA India will find better drugs and diagnostics for Malaria as one of its focus areas, she added.

Laying emphasis on the two projects, Dr Rajni Kant, Head of Department (HOD), Research Management, Policy, Planning & Coordination, ICMR said, As a part of Malaria Elimination Demonstration Programme (MEDP), we identified two places, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh where malaria is highly endemic and Punjab where malaria is less endemic. We are researching on how malaria can be controlled in highly endemic areas and can be eliminated in less endemic areas. In Mandla, Jabalpur, they will eliminate malaria in three years, he added.

The successful strategies used in these models will be proposed to National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) for nationwide adoption, said Dr Rahi. NVBDCP will be a part of the alliance.

While major stakeholders of the alliance will be union and state health ministries and National Programmes, medical colleges, National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), World Health Organisation (WHO), Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and several Multi National Companies (MNCs) will also be made partners.

Organisations like ours can only conduct research or make policies but we don't make medicines or medical equipments. So, the companies come under corporate social responsibility. These will be made partners to provide several drugs and repellents. MMV can come up with newer drugs, said Kant

The alliance will further focus on facilitating a round table discussion among the organisations to avoid duplication of work, he added, Every organisation has a particular focus area. So, the work will be distributed according to the expertise. This will be more efficient and will prevent duplication of the work, said the HOD.

The Alliance will be launched most probably on November 15 as it marks the foundation day of ICMR.

In Southeast region, so far only two countries have been declared malaria free. While the firs one is Maldives, Sri Lanka was declared malaria free on September 5, 2016.
Pb releases Rs 575 cr for development projects

Chandigarh: Punjab Government on Friday released Rs 575 crore towards pending payments for various development projects and pro-people initiatives. Spokesperson said that Rs 125 crore has been released to Local Government Department to provide civic amenities under urban development projects, and Rs 50 crore to Governance Reforms for providing citizen-centric services in a time-bound manner, along with Rs 200 crore on account of retiral benefits up to July 15, 2018. Rs 200 crore has also been released against power subsidy, in line with the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singhs vision and commitment.

Haryana CM mourns demise of CS Dhesis mother

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has expressed his grief and sorrow on the sad demise of Savitri Devi, mother of Chief Secretary DS Dhesi, who left for her heavenly abode on Friday. She was 90, and was not keeping well from the past few days. Chief Minister, in his condolence message, expressed his deepest condolence to the bereaved family members and prayed the Almighty that the departed soul might rest in peace. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Rajesh Khullar and Director General Sameer Pal Srow also expressed their deepest condolences.

BBMB received Rajbhasha Kirti Award

Chandigarh: Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has received the second prize under boards or autonomous bodies category of Rajbhasha Kirti Awards for excellent implementation of the official language policy during 2017-18 in Region B. BBMB chairman DK Sharma received the prestigious award from the Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu in a prize distribution ceremony organized at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Friday. Sharma congratulated the BBMB officers and employees for the achievement, while exhorting them to maximize use of Hindi language in day-to-day official work.

Punjab notifies PBTI as referral lab

Chandigarh: Putting the food safety campaign under Tandrust Punjab Mission on a fast track, Punjab Government on Friday roped in another laboratory for analysis of samples of food articles being collected during state-wide inspections. Informing this, the state Food and Drug Administration commissioner KS Pannu said that Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) at SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been notified as referral laboratory under Food Safety and Standards Act by FSSAI. Availability of another lab will facilitate quicker analysis of samples followed by faster action on the defaulters, he said.

Haryana invites applications from PGT, TGT

Chandigarh: Haryana School Education Department has invited applications from the Post-Graduate teachers (PGTs) and Trained Graduate teachers (TGTs) working in Government Schools, who are willing to work on deputation in 36 Aarohi Model Schools situated in educationally backward blocks of 10 districts against vacant posts, by September 24. Spokesperson said that willing applicants could apply against vacant post by filling up the option of three choices in the prescribed performa. Applications duly filled in should reach in Aarohi Cell, Shiksha Sadan, Panchkula or through email id: aarohicell36gmail.com within 10 days.

Manita Malik posted as additional director

Chandigarh: Haryana Government has changed the designation of Tourism joint director (administration) Manita Malik to Additional Director (administration), Tourism. The orders regarding posting or transfer of Manita Malik, General Manager, Haryana Tourism Development Corporation have been withdrawn. An order to this effect has been issued by the Chief Secretary Office on Friday.

training prog for CWC, JJB members

Chandigarh: Aiming to further spearhead the child care and protection movement in Punjab, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) and Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children on Friday organised a one-day training programme for the chairpersons or members of Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards. About 130 participants of government and non-government organizations from all over the state participated in the day-long event. Special Chief Secretary-cum-Director General MGSIPA Karan Bir Singh Sidhu emphasised the need to make mechanism of CWCs and JJBs more effective as well as sensitive in their functioning.

SBI celebrates Rajbhasha Diwas

Chandigarh: The State Bank of India, local head office, Chandigarh, on Friday celebrated Rajbhasha Diwas. GGDSD College, Sector-32, Hindi Departments head Dr Pratibha Kumari was the chief guest on the occasion who appreciated the SBIs efforts for doing their work in rajbhasha Hindi. Chandigarh circles chief general manager Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh impressed upon the staff to reach out to the customers in their languages. Prizes were distributed amongst 27 staff members for doing their work in Hindi.

GGSCW-26 celebrates Hindi Diwas

Chandigarh: Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, on Friday celebrated Hindi Diwas. The event was coordinated by Hindi Departments Dr Aradhna Mehtani and presided over by the Principal Dr Jatinder Kaur. On the occasion, students recited poems on the topic Stree Vimash. The importance of bilingualism was discussed, and it was brought to light that Hindi and English are not opposing languages. The importance of staying connected to ones roots and ones mother tongue was illuminated.

HSEB releases date-sheet for half-yearly exams

Chandigarh: Haryana School Education Board (HSEB) on Friday released revised date sheet for half yearly exams, September 2018, for Classes IX to XII of state government schools. The examination will begin from September 20, and end on September 28 for Classes IX and X and on October 3 for Classes XI and XII. Spokesperson said that regular classes would resume for Class I to XII immediately after the end of half yearly exams. Students appearing for state or national or inter-national events or games would be allowed to appear in exams after their return from these events.

RLSP to contest from all seats in Haryana

Chandigarh: The newly-formed Rashtriya Lok Swaraj Party on Friday announced to contest from all seats in Haryana. Its president and former IG Ranbir Singh Sharma, terming the leaders of INLD and Congress party as rejected by the people, said that everyone has lost their faith in all political parties. Sharma maintained that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his predecessor Bhupinder Singh Hooda now could not even win the elections of Mayor, and did not deserve to be MLA. Rashtriya Lok Swaraj Party is the only alternative for the voters in the state, he claimed.

Worlds oldest barbershop now in Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Having groomed the Monarchs of Great Britain for 212 years through nine consecutive reigns, Truefitt & Hill continues the legacy by bringing their sophistication to Chandigarh at Sector 9 by the Lloyds Luxuries Limited. The uber millennials of Chandigarh can now enjoy a traditional hot towel wet shave, haircut, facial, manicure pedicure and simply relax and unwind. Truefitt & Hill also offers a complete grooming range of 150 products for men, including shaving products, fragrances, hair, skin and bath products and shaving accessories.
Congress-led Punjab Government and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday locked in a face-off over the issue of the latter holding a rally at Faridkot.

As the Government denied SAD the permission to hold its scheduled pol-khol rally at Faridkot on Sunday citing intelligence inputs regarding possible threat to law and order, the party took the matter to the corridors of justice.

The party has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the setting aside the government order, dated September 14, refusing permission for the rally, besides asking for directions to the State and other respondents to allow them to hold their peaceful political rally.

The High Courts Single Bench of Justice RK Jain would now take up the matter on Saturday, in a special hearing.

Peeved over the development, the Badals  former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Badal  dubbed the move as broad daylight murder of democracy.

SAD went on to demand dismissal of the Congress government for failing to control law and order in the state, while accusing the government of having surrendered to the radical elements and imposing second emergency in the state.

The denial to permission for holding the rally at Faridkot came hours before Sukhbirs scheduled visit to the venue to review the preparation of its much-talked-about event on Sunday. The decision was conveyed by the District Administration.

Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu cited law and order situation as the reason for denial of permission to the rally. The intelligence inputs indicated that SADs rally could become a flashpoint between the radicals  already staging a dharna there, and the Akali workers  attending the proposed rally.

A senior government official told The Pioneer that the decision was taken in view of the ongoing dharna at Bargari near Faridkot by the Sikh or panthic organisations demanding action in the sacrilege incidents.

It has been observed that in the past few days, the number of their supporters has been increasing, especially after the SADs announcement to hold the rally. This was the main issue of our concern and just to avert any kind of problem, we have decided to reject the permission for the rally, said the official.

Notably, in the recent past, altercations between the SAD supporters and the Sikh leaders and their supporters have been reported  besides series of protests by the Sikh leaders  outside SADs pre-rally meeting past week, outside SADs rally venue at Abohar, among other incidents.

People known that SAD, especially the Badals, are behind the series of sacrilege incidents and also for ordering the firing on the peaceful protestors. They have to answer the people of the state, and the government would soon be punishing them, said a senior Congress leader.

Earlier also, the SAD was forced to shift the venue and even postpone the rally, which it had scheduled to hold on September 15 at Kotkapura. The venue was changed after the intelligence agencies opposed the rally citing threat to law and order.

It has also been learnt that the police had earlier issued the no-objection-certificate (NoC) to SAD for holding the rally, but it was recalled by Faridkot District Administration on Friday.

Informing, SAD spokesperson Parambans Singh Romana said that the government has allowed anti-nationals to protest in Bargari for the last three months, but denied permission to Shiromani Akali Dal. This is totally undemocratic.

It may be mentioned that the Faridkot was among the most affected districts from the sacrilege cases as the first few incidents, and also the firing incident, took place here and in the surrounding areas. The first sacrilege incidents were reported in Bargari, followed by Behbal Kalan firing in October 2015, which had triggered the state-wide protests.

Cornered over the issue of sacrilege from all sections, the SAD had planned a series of pol-khol rallies against the Congress government. Through its Faridkot rally, the party had planned to launch an attack against the ruling Congress for misguiding the people of the state by way of concocted report by Justice Ranjit Singh Commission.

For the rally, SAD patriarch and five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had decided to come out from hibernation to save the party, whose image has suffered a severe hit over the issue, especially after the tabling of Commissions report in the Vidhan Sabha.

Justice Ranjit Singh panel report had named the senior Badal, with the Congress insisting that he was the one who ordered use of force and firing on the peaceful protestors, protesting against the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, at Kotkapura in October 2015.
Haryana Roadways employees unions have announced to hold 24 hours hunger strike and Satyagraha protest on September 20 and 21 against the State Governments decision to allow private buses to ply within and from the state.

The decision was taken during the state level employees Sammelan held at Rohtak on Friday. Sarbat Punia, leader of Haryana Roadways Workers Union said that the roadways employees will hold 24 hours hunger strike at all depots in Haryana. The employees criticized polices action against the protesting employees. We have demanded withdrawal of cases against employees and their suspension by the government, Punia said.

He said that we condemn polices lathicharge on employees who were to hold protest at Vidhan Sabha recently against governments decision of hire more than 700 private buses for the state and enforcement of ESMA. We also demand withdrawal of ESMA, he added.

The Haryana Government had on August 30 imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent the one-day strike from taking place on September 5. Following ESMA, the strike call given by Haryana roadways unions had fizzled out of their union leaders were detained in pre-dawn action at several depots and authorities managed to ply state-run buses on several routes.

The State Government and roadways employees unions had been at loggerheads for a long time now over the issue of hiring of over 700 private buses by the State Transport Department.

As per the Transport Department, Haryana roadways have been able to cater to only 12.5 lakh of the about 33 lakh daily commuters.

Earlier on August 7, commuters were inconvenienced when Haryana roadways employees had taken part in a nationwide strike for the amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act. Around 4000 buses of Haryana roadways had remained off the roads on that day. During the recently concluded State Assembly session, the opposition parties had lashed out at Haryana Government over its alleged failure to resolve the issues of roadways employees and enforcement of ESMA in the state.
With continuous legal hurdles in the implementation of reservation, the reservation policy has not yet achieved the desired goal of fulfilling the targeted quota for SCs, STs and OBCs of the country who constitute a major portion of our population.

The information from 78 ministries/departments about representation of SCs, STs and OBCs as on January 1, 2016, reported by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension says that out of total 84,521 employees in grade A job, 11,312 were SCs (13.38 per cent), 5,005 were STs (5.92 per cent) and 11,002 were OBCs (13.02 per cent). It means still the representation is much less than 50 per cent of the total employees.

But in case of group C (Safai Karmachari) out of total 48,997 employees, SCs were 22,124 ( 45.15 per cent), 3,384 STs (6.91 per cent) and 7,101 OBCs (14.49 per cent), which together constitute near to 66 per cent. Only in group B and C jobs the SCs and STs have filled their quota. The representation of SCs and STs in group A service has increased from 1.64 per cent and 0.27 per cent for SCs and STs respectively in 1965 to said level in 2016. It is fact that only because of the policy of reservation the representation of SCs and STs in governance has improved during last few decades.

It will take some time to ensure their full participation and to come up as competitors, so long as there will be no untouchability, caste-based discrimination and inequalities based on caste system.

The aim of reservation in Central Government job is not to address unemployment or economic development issues rather it aims to give equal participation/representation to a major section of people who were discriminated on the basis of untouchability and caste-based discrimination for a long time.

The time limit of caste-based job reservation has not been fixed for ten years only the political reservation was fixed for ten years and there is also provision of review after each ten years for its extension with constitutional amendment. The OBC reservation is also to address the social and educational backwardness of certain class of people who continue to be socially backward because of their caste/social identity.

The policy of reservation has also limited application and not covered certain areas such as higher judiciary and about 18 national institutions of excellence of the country etc. The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in admission) Act, 2006 Section 4 says the institutions of excellence, research institutions, institution of national and strategic importance specified in Scheduled 4 such as HomiBhaba National Institute, Mumbai and its 10 constituent units, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and minority educational institutions are not covered under reservation.The Act provides 15 per cent reservation to SCs, 7.5 per cent to STs and 27 per cent to OBCs in Central educational institutions, established, maintained and aided by the Central Government.

Globally reservation has emerged as one of the most important instrument of ensuring representation of the marginalized sections who are historically denied participation in governance. It also gives scope of integration of a diverse society such as India based on hierarchical divisions by caste and has created scope of participation of the deprived sections in sharing the responsibility of nation building in many ways. Reservation in India has been proved as an endeavour to unify the caste divided society by democratizing education, employment and governance system and making it inclusive of all caste specially the low caste who are historically out of representation in economic, social and political sphere of social life.

The policy of reservation in practice has its historical context and social realities of our country. India is a multi-religious caste ridden society having most inhuman and rigid form of social practices such as untouchability being practiced till date. The caste system with hierarchical division of society has dispossessed the so called low caste for centuries together by denying them basic human rights and dignity. The Mughal rulers during their rule have not addressed untouchability and caste issues and later the British Government though largely maintained neutrality in socio-religious issues but made an attempt by allowing representatives of depressed classes, term used by the British to represent the untouchable communities, in three Round Table Conferences to present their issues. As a result of which the issues of depressed classes were officially discussed at Government level.

The British Government has done a survey through a census to identify the communities affected by untouchability and other forms of caste-based discrimination. The Census 1931 report revealed that the population of the depressed classes was 5, 01, 95, 770 constituting 21 per cent of the Hindu population and 14 per cent of total population of India. There were only 19 literates in every one thousand population and only two persons belonging to depressed classes were in job of the Central Secretariat. The communal award of separate electorate and separate settlement for the depressed classes demanded by Ambedkar was opposed by Gandhi but it was settled in a pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar popularly known as Poona Pact of September 24, 1932. Reservation has used as a historic political requirement for unity among Hindu communities to avoid the separation of depressed classes.

The formal official reservation of 8 per cent was provided to SCs for the first time in August 1943. Then after independence, reservation of 12 per cent was provided in respect of direct recruitment through open competition. The reservation was raised to 15 per cent with effect from March 25,1970, as per census 1961, in the central Government, Central public sector enterprise, and nationalized and public sector banks and autonomous bodies.

Along with SCs, there is also reservation of 7.5 per cent for STs and 27 per cent for OBCs started in 1993 based on social and educational backwardness with creamy layer cap of Rs 8.0 lakh per annum.

It has been observed that in spite of political positions as MLA, MP, Minister and holding top jobs in administration as IAS , IPS,IFS with economic development, the so called low caste people are not yet well treated socially. Even the change of religion also has not contributed much to improve their social status. Caste identity has been still a vital consideration in social relationship which is independent of economic status because improvement in economic condition does not change much some ones social status in the caste society of India.

All the three pillars of democracy, legislative, executive and judiciary, must have scope of participation of people from all sections of the country to make them more representative and socially inclusive. There are three major areas having policy of reservation, legislative, executive, lower judiciary and educational institutions. Article 16 says about equal opportunity in matter of public employment for all citizens in matter relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State. Article 16(4) says the State shall make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of the backward classes of citizens which in the opinion of the State is not adequately represented in the services. So reservation aims towards representation of those who are not being represented in Government services.

Again 14(4A) also speaks about provision of reservation in matter of recruitment through promotion for SCs and STs which in the opinion of the State are not adequately represented in the services under the State. Education is the foundation for any kind of participation; so the constitution has empowered the State to make provisions of admission to educational institutions, including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the SCs and STs.

(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)
Former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Harish Rawat has claimed that Uttarakhand Government has got no data on the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators now residing in the State. He charged the State Government with merely engaging in rhetoric on the issue of illegal Bangaldeshis and Rohingya Muslims without doing any ground work. The Congress leader said this while talking to the media persons on the sidelines of a cultural programme in Dehradun on Friday.

Asked for comment on the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawats statement on Thursday that the Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living in the State illegally would be thrown out, the former CM said that such statement sans data was unacceptable. Notably, the issue of illegal immigrants in the State had come to fore recently when Khanpur MLA Pranav Singh claimed that many Rohingyas had sneaked into different parts of the Haridwar district.

Made in the aftermath of the political slugfest on the issue of NRC in Assam, the claim by the BJP MLA had prompted the State administration to initiate a process of identifying the illegal immigrants in the State.

Quizzed over the suspension of two officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the National Highway (NH)  74 scam, the former CM said that the State Government must explain why the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials are being kept out of the purview of the investigation.

He said that it is incorrect to say that the NHAI officers have no role in scam as the compensation is disbursed by NHAI.

Harish Rawat reminded that it was the CM who had declared in the State Assembly that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would probe the NH scam. But what happened is that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been probing instead, he said
The sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh welcomed the National Democratic Alliance governments move to hike the price of ethanol for blending with petrol.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved to fix the ex-mill price of ethanol derived out of B-heavy molasses to Rs 52.43 per litre from the prevailing Rs 47.13 per litre.

Till the 2017-18 sugar season, ethanol was allowed to be produced only from C-heavy molasses and its price was fixed at Rs 40.85 per litre.

The NDA government has now allowed the use of B-heavy molasses for production of ethanol.

Cane juice is rich in sucrose content and is used to produce sugar first. The B-heavy molasses, too, have some sweetener in them and only C-heavy molasses do not have sugar content.

UP being the largest sugar and ethanol producer, sugar mills are likely to shift to the new business model of producing ethanol from cane juice instead of sugar.

The move is aimed at incentivising mills to cut surplus production that could prop up prices and proportionately trim oil imports that have weighed on the countrys trade balance and rupee.

An office-bearers of UP Sugar Mills Association said, This is one of the best steps taken by the government to achieve the dual objective of encouraging more production of ethanol as well as of reducing surplus sugar. The revised price of ethanol will compensate for loss of revenue from the sugar sacrificed.

The hike in ethanol price will be an incentive for sugar mills to divert surplus B-heavy molasses for ethanol production, the UPSMA leader said.

The price announced by the government is commercially neutral for millers to produce either sugar or ethanol. And with sugar stocks in the country burgeoning, it will be wiser to divert to ethanol, where cash flow will be faster, he said.

However, some millers are worried because of the state governments decision to impose 12 per cent reservation on B-heavy molasses.

Already, 150 applications have been submitted to the government by sugar mills to avail the Central government policy which extends subsidised loans to sugar mills to build additional capacities for ethanol over the next 2-3 years.

This will help the country in achieving 10-15 per cent ethanol blending with petrol, probably before the target of 2022, said the UPSMA official.
Hours after being released from jail, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday said he will ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till November 1.

"After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early. He had to be in jail till November 1," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department had said in Lucknow on Thursday.

Azad walked out of the jail at around 2:40 am as hundreds of his supporters wearing blue 'Bhim Army' caps had gathered outside the prison to celebrate his release, the Dalit group's national spokesperson Manjeet Singh Nautiyal said.

Many had thronged his residence and distributed sweets in the neighbourhood while a section of his admirers made a beeline to click a selfie with the Dalit leader.

"The Bhim Army will not buckle under pressure from the government and will fight in a constitutional manner to throw the BJP out of power in the general elections," Azad said.

The Dalit leader claimed that he met several inconsolable youngsters inside the jail who were falsely implicated by the police due to their caste.

He said his stay inside the prison had strengthened his resolve to fight against the alleged atrocities being committed against Dalits.

"It's a very long constitutional fight for our rights. It's time for the real battle. The Bhim Army was faltering in the absence of a leader, but I have returned now," the 31-year-old Dalit leader said, adding that he will not contest elections.

Talking about the treatment meted out to him inside the prison, Azad said he was given "dry rotis" and his family was not allowed to meet him.

All that I went through, I will make sure to return it to the BJP with interest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that he will not contest the upcoming elections.

He further said the government was playing politics on the SC/ST Act issue and the Dalit community will give a befitting answer to the BJP in the 2019 elections.

"The March 20 Supreme Court judgment diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was based on the government's views against the law," he said.

"Now, they have passed an amendment bill to restore the original version of the Act. We know what they are trying to do," he added.

Azad, however, denied revealing the Dalit group's plans for the future.

BJP sources in the state said the Bhim Army had played a big part in the win of joint BSP-SP-RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan in the recent Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll.

Azad had written a letter from inside the jail, asking Bhim Army cadres to campaign in support of Hasan and trounce the BJP.
India attaches "highest importance" to its relations with Russia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Friday, as she conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi early next month.

Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months, held extensive discussions with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on ways to boost cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear energy, banking, trade, pharmaceuticals, tourism and space.

"This partnership has strengthened over time and covers a vast agenda involving almost all sphere of human activity. India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Russia," Swraj said after co-chairing the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Technical and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) with Borisov.

Her comments came over a week after she and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held "two-plus-two" talks with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis during which they decided to further boost bilateral strategic partnership.

Putin is visiting New Delhi for the annual summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and official sources said Swaraj and Borisov prepared ground for the summit.

Swaraj held talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday during which they deliberated on how both sides are going to cooperate in the wake of a certain scenario that may emerge when the US sanctions on import of crude oil from Iran come into force on November 4, sources said.

In talks with Borisov, Swaraj also referred to the trade deficit, which is in Russia favour, and sought more exports from India to Russia including of polished diamonds.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector which included setting up of joint venture projects in Russia. They also agreed to go for extensive cooperation between Indian states and Russian regions.

During discussions on connectivity projects, Swaraj conveyed India's strong commitment to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking India, Iran and Russia and several other central Asian countries, the sources said.

"The Deputy Prime Minister and I have conducted a comprehensive review of our relations. I am satisfied with the outcomes of our meeting," Swaraj commented after the meeting.

"I am confident that our deliberations today will further strengthen our cooperation with Russia in all fields in existing and new areas of cooperation," the minister said.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade which in 2017 reached USD 10.17 billion.

"We discussed ways and means to increase this momentum, ensure balanced trade, and remove barriers to trade.

"Two-way investments have already crossed the USD 30 billion target, which we had set for 2025. We have therefore proposed that we enhance this figure to USD 50 billion by 2025," she said.

Swaraj said both sides also discussed the possibilities of working together on projects in third countries.

"As a new dimension of our strategic partnership, there has been a significant expansion in our cultural and tourism exchanges," she said.

Russia and India are on track to bring the trade turnover to USD 30 billion in the coming years, Borisov said.

"Over the past years bilateral trade has reached solid growth rates, which if maintained will help us hit the target of USD 30 billion in the coming years," Borisov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run Tass news agency.

At the same time he underlined the need to put in more efforts to achieve a "breakthrough" in enhancing the trade.

Swaraj noted that a festival of India covering 22 cities over a six month period is currently underway in Russia.

Tourism flows in both directions and has shown impressive growth, she said.

India and Russia are working on further liberalising visa regulations on both sides, Swaraj said as she welcomed the initiative of the Russian government to enable electronic visas for Indian nationals visiting the Russia far East.

"We have identified new areas of cooperation such as agriculture, infrastructure, transport and Science and Technology. We would like to expand our cooperation in the area of space.

"We have agreed to organise the first ever India-Russia Business Summit involving major companies from both sides in early October in India," Swaraj added.

The sources said the two sides also agreed on collaboration between Indian and Russian museums as well as expanding cooperation in areas of science and technology.

The two sides also discussed new areas of cooperation.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The last meeting of IRIGC-TEC was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov Friday reviewed the progress made in the bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interests.

The two leaders co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

"Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors & identify new opportunities! EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov chairing the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological & Cultural Cooperation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, will provide policy recommendations and directions in the concerned fields, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The last meeting of the commission was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for an informal summit in the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi in May during which the two leaders upgraded the traditionally close India-Russia relationship to a "special privileged strategic partnership."

The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in June.

On Thursday, Swaraj met her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and the two leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.

Lavrov also hosted a dinner in honour of Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months.
Praxair's quiet period expires on Tuesday, November 30th. Praxair had issued 20,000,000 shares in its initial public offering on October 21st. The total size of the offering was $240,000,000 based on an initial share price of $12.00. During the company's quiet period, underwriters and any insiders involved in the IPO are prevented from issuing any research reports or earnings estimates for the company because of regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the end of the company's quiet period, it's expected that the brokerages that served as underwriters on the stock will initiate research coverage on the company.
10 hours ago

Air-scrubbing machines gain momentum, but long way to go

NEW YORK (AP)  On a field ringed by rolling green hills in Iceland, fans attached to metal structures that look like an industrial-sized Lego project are spinning. Their mission is to scrub the atmosphere by sucking carbon dioxide from the air and storing it safely underground. Just a few years ago, this technology, known as direct air capture, was seen by many as an unrealistic fantasy.

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DEUTZ Aktiengesellschaft engages in the development, production, distribution, and servicing of diesel and gas engines in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas. It operates through three segments: DEUTZ Compact Engines, DEUTZ Customized Solutions, and Other. The DEUTZ Compact Engines segment provides liquid-cooled engines with capacities of up to 8 liters. The DEUTZ Customized Solutions segment offers air-cooled drives and liquid-cooled engines with a capacity exceeding 8 liters. This segment also supplies reconditioned exchange engines and parts. The Other segment is involved in manufacturing electric and hybrid drive systems for marine applications under the Torqeedo brand, and battery management hardware and software products, as well as focuses on the electrification of drive systems and electric-powered watercraft. It also offers maintenance and repair services for engines. The company's products are used in various applications, such as construction equipment, agricultural machinery, lifting and material handling equipment, ground support equipment, stationary equipment, commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, boats, and other applications. DEUTZ Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany.

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Standard Chartered PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services primarily in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. The company operates through Corporate & Institutional Banking, Retail banking, Commercial Banking, and Private Banking segments. It offers retail products, such as deposits, savings, mortgages, credit cards, and personal loans; wealth management products and services that include investments, portfolio management, insurance and advices, and planning services; and transaction banking services, such as cash management, payments and transactions, and trade financing products. The company also provides corporate finance products and services that comprise structured and project financing, strategic advising, and mergers and acquisitions; and financial market services, such as investment, risk management, debt capital markets, and securities services. In addition, it offers digital banking solutions. The company serves corporations, financial institutions, governments, investors, small businesses, and individuals. It operates through approximately 1,026 branches. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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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

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There is not enough analysis data for Longevity Acquisition.

4.8 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Longevity Acquisition has received 21 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

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MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Longevity Acquisition and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe LOACU will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe LOACU will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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There is not enough analysis data for Katoro Gold.

4.3 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Katoro Gold has received 109 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Katoro Gold has received 64 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Katoro Gold has received 63.01% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Katoro Gold and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe KAT will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe KAT will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Colgate-Palmolive: 887357 Ontario Inc., COLGALIVE S.A., CP GABA GmbH, CP International Holding C.V., CP West East Investment Limited, Cleaning Dimensions Inc., Colgate (BVI) Limited, Colgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited, Colgate (U.K.) Limited, Colgate Business Services of the Americas S.C., Colgate Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Colgate Global Business Services Private Limited, Colgate Holdings, Colgate Inc., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., Colgate Palmolive Ghana Limited, Colgate Palmolive Holding S.Com.P.A., Colgate Palmolive Nouvelle Caledonie Sarl, Colgate Palmolive Tanzania Limited, Colgate Sanxiao Company Limited, Colgate Venture Company Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Asia) Pte Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Blantyre) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Brunei) Sdn Bhn, Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc. y Compania Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive (Centro America) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (China) Co. Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Costa Rica) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominica) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominican Republic) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Eastern) Pte. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Egypt) S.A.E., Colgate-Palmolive (Far East) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Fiji) Pte Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Gabon) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Guyana) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (H.K.) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Hellas) S.A. I.C., Colgate-Palmolive (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Kazakhstan) L.L.P., Colgate-Palmolive (Latvia) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Middle East Exports) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (New York) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Research & Development) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Romania) SRL, Colgate-Palmolive (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Uganda) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Zambia) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Zimbabwe) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive A.B., Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Adria Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Treasury Services Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Belgium S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Bolivia Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Caricom Service Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Central European Management Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Chile S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cia., Colgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Commercial (Hellas) SP LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Commerciale S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive Commericale S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive Compania Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive Company Distr. LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Company GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Cote dIvoire S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cyprus Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Development Corp., Colgate-Palmolive East West Africa Region (Pty) Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Enterprises Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Espana S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Europe (Holdings) Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Finance (UK) plc, Colgate-Palmolive Global Trading Company, Colgate-Palmolive Holding Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Holding Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Hungary Kft Limited Liability Company, Colgate-Palmolive IHQ Services (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Inc. S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Industrial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Industriel S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive International Holding LLC, Colgate-Palmolive International LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Investment Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (BVI) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (PNG) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Investments Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Israel Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Italia S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive JSC, Colgate-Palmolive Lanka (Private) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Latin America Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Manufacturing (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive Maroc S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Mocambique Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive NJ Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Nederland B.V., Colgate-Palmolive Norge A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Participacoes e Investimentos Imobiliarios Lda., Colgate-Palmolive Peru S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Retirement Trustee Limited, Colgate-Palmolive S.A. de C.V., Colgate-Palmolive S.p.A., Colgate-Palmolive Senegal S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Services (Hellas) LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Services CEW GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Services S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Slovensko s.r.o., Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, Colgate-Palmolive Temizlik Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticart S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Transnational Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Ukraine LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Unipessoal Lda, Colgate-Palmolive de Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive de Puerto Rico Inc., Colgate-Palmolive del Ecuador S.A.I.C., Colgate-Palmolive del Peru (Delaware) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Eeska republika spol. s r.o., Colpal CBS S de R. L. de C. V., Consumer Viewpoint Center Inc., Cotelle S.A., Dimac Development Corp., Dominica Coconut Products Limited, EKIB Inc., ELM Company Limited, Elta MD Holdings Inc., Elta MD Inc., EltaMD, Filorga Americas Inc., Filorga Asia Limited, Filorga Benelux SA, Filorga Cosmetiques Polska, Filorga Middle East DMCC, Filorga Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Filorga RU Limited Liability Company, GABA Europe Holding GmbH, GABA International, GABA International Holding LLC, GABA Schweiz AG, GABA Therwil GmbH, Gamma Development Co. Ltd., Global Trading and Supply LLC, Hamol Ltd., Hello Products, Hello Products LLC, Hills Funding Company, Hills Pet Nutrition (NZ) Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Asia Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Canada Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Denmark ApS, Hills Pet Nutrition Espana S.L., Hills Pet Nutrition GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Holding B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Indiana Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Italia S.r.l., Hills Pet Nutrition Korea Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing s.r.o, Hills Pet Nutrition Norway AS, Hills Pet Nutrition OOO, Hills Pet Nutrition Pty. Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition S.p.A., Hills Pet Nutrition SNC, Hills Pet Nutrition Sales Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition South Africa Proprietary Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition Sweden AB, Hills Pet Nutrition Switzerland GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Taiwan Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition Trading (GZ) Co. Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hills Pet Nutrition de Puerto Rico Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition s.r.o., Hills Pet Products (Benelux) S.A., Hills Pet Products Inc., Hills Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Hills-Colgate (Japan) Ltd., Hopro Liquidating Corp., Hygiene Systemes et Services SA, IES Enterprises Inc., Inmobiliaria Colpal S. de R.L. de C.V., Inmobiliaria Hills S.A. de C.V., Innovacion Creativa S.A. de C.V., Kolynos Corporation, Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Espana S.L.U., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Italia S.R.L., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques S.A., Laser Brand Toothpaste, Lournay Sales Inc., Mennen Company, Mennen Interamerica Ltd., Mennen Limited, Mennen South Africa Ltd., Mennen de Chile Ltd., Mennen de Nicargua S.A., Mission Hills Property Corporation, Mission Hills S.A. de C.V., Norwood International Incorporated, Olive Music Publishing Corporation, PCA SKIN, Paramount Research Inc., Penny LLC, Pet Chemicals Inc., Physicians Care Alliance LLC, Productos Halogenados Copalven C.A., Purity Holding Company, Purity Music Publishing Corporation, Refresh Company Limited, Samuel Taylor Holdings B.V., Sanex, Sanxiao Company Limited, Services Development Co. Ltd., Societe Generale de Negoce et de Services (GENESE) S.A., The GDN - The Global Distributive Network SAS, The Lournay Company Inc., The MPDP - The Medical and Pharmaceutic Distributive Platform SAS, The Murphy-Phoenix Company, Tom's of Maine, Toms of Maine Holdings Inc., Toms of Maine Inc., Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., and XEB Inc..
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.

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Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom.

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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.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus  Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way  Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U.  Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited  Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal  Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V..
Valley National Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Lending; Commercial Lending; Investment Management; and Corporate and Other Adjustments. The Consumer Lending segment consists of residential mortgage loans, automobile loans and home equity loans, as well as wealth management and insurance services. The Commercial Lending segment includes the floating rate and adjustable rate commercial and industrial loans as well as fixed rate owner occupied and commercial real estate loans. The Investment Management segment refers to investments in various types of securities and interest-bearing deposits with other banks. The Corporate and Other Adjustments segment represents the income and expense items not directly attributable to a specific segment. The company was founded on November 12, 1982 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc..
Agilent Technologies, Inc. engages in the provision of application focused solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets; Diagnostics and Genomics; and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers application-focused solutions that include instruments and software that enable to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products, as well as the clinical and life sciences research areas to interrogate samples at the molecular and cellular level. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment consists of activity providing active pharmaceutical ingredients for oligo-based therapeutics, as well as solutions that include reagents, instruments, software and consumables. The Agilent CrossLab segment includes startup, operational, training and compliance support, software as a service, and asset management and consultative services. The company was founded in May 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

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Baker Hughes, a GE company provides integrated oilfield products, services, and digital solutions worldwide. Its Oilfield Services segment offers drilling, wireline, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention services; and drilling and completions fluids, completions tools and systems, wellbore intervention tools and services, artificial lift systems, pressure pumping systems, and oilfield and industrial chemicals for integrated oil and natural gas, and oilfield service companies. The company's Oilfield Equipment segment designs and manufactures products and services, including pressure control equipment and services, subsea production systems and services, drilling equipment, and flexible pipeline systems; and onshore and offshore drilling and production systems, and equipment for floating production platforms, as well as provides a range of services related to onshore and offshore drilling activities. Its Turbomachinery & Process Solutions segment provides equipment and related services for mechanical-drive, compression, and power-generation applications across the oil and gas industry, as well as products and services to serve the downstream segments of industry. Its product portfolio includes drivers, compressors, and turnkey solutions; and pumps, valves, and compressed natural gas and small-scale liquefied natural gas solutions. This segment serves upstream, midstream, onshore and offshore, industrial, engineering, procurement, and construction companies. The company's Digital Solutions segment provides sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection, turbine, generator and plant controls, and condition monitoring, as well as pipeline integrity solutions for a range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, metals, and transportation. It serves through direct and indirect channels. The company is based in Houston, Texas. Baker Hughes, a GE company is a subsidiary of General Electric Company.

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First BanCorp (Puerto Rico) is a holding company, which engages in the provision of personal, commercial, and corporate banking services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Mortgage Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment consists of the company's lending and other services for large customers represented by specialized and middle-market clients and the public sector. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment includes consumer lending and deposit-taking activities conducted mainly through FirstBank's branch network in Puerto Rico. The Mortgage Banking segment focuses on the origination, sale, and servicing of a variety of residential mortgage loan products and related hedging activities. The Treasury and Investments segment deals with treasury and investment management functions. The United States Operations segment represents all banking activities conducted by FirstBank on the United States mainland. The Virgin Islands Operations segment includes all banking activities conducted by FirstBank in

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BRP Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets powersports vehicles and marine products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Powersports and Marine. The company offers all-terrain, side-by-side, and three-wheeled vehicles; seasonal products, such as snowmobiles and personal watercraft; and engines for jet boats, outboards, karts, motorcycles, and recreational aircraft. It also provides parts, accessories, and apparel, as well as other services. The company sells its products through a network of independent dealers and distributors, as well as to original equipment manufacturers. The company was formerly known as J.A. Bombardier (J.A.B.) Inc. and changed its name to BRP Inc. in April 2013. BRP Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Valcourt, Canada.

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There is not enough analysis data for BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust.

4.1 Community Rank

Outperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust has received 262 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust has received 155 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust has received 62.83% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BOE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BOE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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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..
Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited.

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Transat A.T. Inc. operates as an integrated international tourism company in the Americas and Europe. It develops and markets holiday travel services in packages, including air travel and hotel stays, and air-only formats to 60 destinations in approximately 25 countries. The company also operates as an outgoing tour operator to purchase various components of a trip locally or abroad and sell them separately or in packages to consumers in their local markets, through travel agencies, or through the Web. In addition, it is involved in the retail distribution activities, such as providing advice to travelers. Further, the company provides air transportation services; and value-added services at travel destinations. Additionally, it offers destination services, such as hospitality and representation, passenger transfers, excursions, tours, sports and other activities; and specialty services, including destination weddings, teambuilding, etc. The company operates under the Transat and Air Transat brands in Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and in approximately 10 other European countries. Transat A.T. Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in MontrAal, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L  Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC Burnside Investor LLC, LMC Chandler and McClintock Holdings LLC, LMC Charlestowne Holdings LLC, LMC Charlotte Ballpark Developer LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Holdings LLC, LMC Cityville Oak Park Investor LLC, LMC Cobalt Holdings LLC, LMC Costa Mesa Holdings LP, LMC Crest at Park West Holdings LP, LMC Denver Gateway I Investor LLC, LMC Denver Gateway II Holdings LLC, LMC Development LLC, LMC Downtown Doral South Holdings LLC, LMC Durham Gateway Holdings LP, LMC Evans School Holdings LLC, LMC Gateway Investor LLC, LMC Gateway Venture LLC, LMC Gilman Square Investor LLC, LMC Horton Street Holdings LLC, LMC Huntington Crossing Holdings LLC, LMC Inactive Companies LLC, LMC Lakeside Holdings LP, LMC Leya Holdings LLC, LMC Living Illinois LLC, LMC Living Inc., LMC Living LLC, LMC Living TRS LP, LMC Millenia Investor II LLC, LMC NE Minneapolis Lot 2 Holdings LLC, LMC New Bern Investor LLC, LMC North Park Holdings LP, LMC Parkfield Holdings LLC, LMC Parkfield Investor LLC, LMC Righters Ferry Holdings LLC, LMC River North Holdings LLC, LMC Spring Street Investor LLC, LMC Stonewall Station Investor LLC, LMC Triangle Square Investor LLC, LMC Venture Developer LLC, LMC Verbena Holdings LLC, LMC West Loop Investor LLC, LMCFX Investor LLC, LMCPNW Marymoor Holdings LLC, LMI - Jacksonville Investor LLC, LMI - South Kings Development Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle Holdings LLC, LMI - West Seattle Investor LLC, LMI - West Seattle LLC, LMI Cell Tower Investors LLC, LMI City Walk Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale Investor LLC, LMI Collegedale LLC, LMI Contractors LLC, LMI Glencoe Dallas Investor LLC, LMI Lakes West Covina Investor LLC, LMI Largo Park Investor LLC, LMI Las Colinas Station LLC, LMI Naperville Investor LLC, LMI Pacific Tower LLC, LMI Park Central Two LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners Investor LLC, LMI Peachtree Corners LLC, LMI-JC Developer LLC, LMI-JC LLC, LMV 1640 Broadway REIT-DC LP, LMV 1701 Ballard REIT-DC LP, LMV 19H REIT-DC LP, LMV 2026 Madison REIT-DC LP, LMV 85 South Union REIT-DC LP, LMV ATown REIT-DC LP, LMV Annapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Apache Terrace REIT-DC LP, LMV Block 42 REIT-DC LP, LMV Bloomington REIT-DC LP, LMV Bolingbrook REIT-DC LP (DE), LMV Central at McDowell REIT-DC LP, LMV East Village I REIT-DC LP, LMV Edina REIT-DC LP, LMV Fremont WS I REIT-DC LP, LMV Glisan REIT-DC LP, LMV Grand Bay REIT-DC LP, LMV II Grand Bay Pod V Holdings LP, LMV II Kierland Holdings LP, LMV II NoMo Holdings LP, LMV II Venture Developer LLC, LMV II Wynwood Holdings LP, LMV Kirkland REIT-DC LP, LMV Little Italy REIT-DC LP, LMV M Tower REIT-DC LP, LMV Millenia II REIT-DC LP, LMV Milpitas REIT-DC LP, LMV NE Minneapolis REIT-DC LP, LMV Oak Park REIT-DC LP, LMV One20Fourth REIT-DC LP, LMV QR Build to Core Manager LLC, LMV Rio Bravo REIT-DC LP, LMV Scottsdale Quarter REIT-DC LP, LMV Tysons REIT-DC LP, LMV Vallagio III REIT-DC LP, LMV Victory Block G REIT-DC LP, LMV Warren Street REIT-DC LP, LNC Communities II LLC, LNC Communities IV LLC, LNC Communities V LLC, LNC Communities VI LLC, LNC Communities VII LLC, LNC Communities VIII LLC, LNC Pennsylvania Realty Inc., LNC at Meadowbrook LLC, LNC at Ravenna LLC, LS College Park LLC, LS Terracina LLC, LV Opendoor Investor LLC, LV Opendoor JV LLC, LW D'Andrea LLC, Lagoon Valley Residential LLC, Lakelands at Easton L.L.C., Legends Club LLC, Legends Golf Club LLC, Len - Little Harbor LLC, Len FW Investor LLC, Len Paradise LLC, Len-Angeline LLC, Len-Hawks Point LLC, Len-Land LLC, Len-Land West LLC, Len-MN LLC, Len-Verandahs LLP, LenCom LLC, LenFive LLC, LenFive Opco GP LLC, LenFive Sub III LLC, LenFive Sub LLC, LenFive Sub Opco GP LLC, Lenalto CMBS LLC, Lencraft LLC, Lennar Aircraft I LLC, Lennar Arizona Construction Inc., Lennar Arizona Inc., Lennar Associates Management Holding Company, Lennar Associates Management LLC, Lennar Avenue One LLC, Lennar Berkeley LLC, Lennar Bevard LLC, Lennar Bridges LLC, Lennar Buffington Colorado Crossing L.P., Lennar Buffington Zachary Scott L.P., Lennar Carolinas LLC, Lennar Central Park LLC, Lennar Central Region Sweep Inc., Lennar Chicago Inc., Lennar Cobra LLC, Lennar Colgate Urban Renewal Development LLC, Lennar Colorado LLC, Lennar Colorado Minerals LLC, Lennar Commercial LLC, Lennar Communities Development Inc., Lennar Communities Inc., Lennar Communities Nevada LLC, Lennar Communities of Chicago L.L.C., Lennar Concord LLC, Lennar Construction Inc., Lennar Cory Road LLC, Lennar Courts LLC, Lennar Developers Inc., Lennar Ewing LLC, Lennar Financial Services LLC, Lennar Flamingo LLC, Lennar Fresno Inc., Lennar Gardens LLC, Lennar Georgia Inc., Lennar Greer Ranch Venture LLC, Lennar Heritage Fields LLC, Lennar Hingham Holdings LLC, Lennar Hingham JV LLC, Lennar Homes Holding LLC, Lennar Homes LLC, Lennar Homes NJ LLC, Lennar Homes of Arizona Inc., Lennar Homes of California Inc., Lennar Homes of Indiana Inc., Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Ltd., Lennar Homes of Texas Sales and Marketing Ltd., Lennar Homes of Utah Inc., Lennar International Holding LLC, Lennar International LLC, Lennar Lakeside Investor LLC, Lennar Layton LLC, Lennar Living LLC, Lennar Lytle LLC, Lennar MF Holdings LLC, Lennar MPA LLC, Lennar MPA WIP LLC, Lennar Mare Island LLC, Lennar Marina A Funding LLC, Lennar Massachusetts Properties Inc., Lennar Middletown LLC, Lennar Monmouth Redevelopers LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture GP Victory Block G Mezz LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II GP Subsidiary LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture II Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture LP LLC, Lennar Multifamily BTC Venture Manager LLC, Lennar Multifamily Builders LLC, Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC, Lennar Multifamily Venture DC LP, Lennar New Jersey Holdings LLC, Lennar New Jersey Properties Inc., Lennar New York LLC, Lennar Northeast Properties LLC, Lennar Northwest Inc., Lennar OHB LLC, Lennar PI Acquisition LLC, Lennar PI Property Acquisition LLC, Lennar PIS Management Company LLC, Lennar Pacific Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Inc., Lennar Pacific Properties Management Inc., Lennar Plumsted Urban Renewal LLC, Lennar Point LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core GP LLC, Lennar QR Build to Core LP LLC, Lennar Realty Inc., Lennar Reno LLC, Lennar Riverwalk LLC, Lennar Sacramento Inc., Lennar Sales Corp., Lennar Sierra Sunrise LLC, Lennar Spencer's Crossing LLC, Lennar Sun Ridge LLC, Lennar Texas Holding LLC, Lennar Ventures LLC, Lennar West Valley LLC, Lennar Winncrest LLC, Lennar at Franklin LLC, Lennar at Jackson LLC, Lennar at Marlboro 79 LLC, Lennar at Monroe LLC, Lennar.com Inc., Longleaf Acquisition LLC, Lori Gardens Associates II LLC, Lori Gardens Associates III LLC, Lori Gardens Associates L.L.C., Lorton Station LLC, Lyons Lennar Farms LLC, Madrona Ridge L.L.C., Madrona Village L.L.C., Madrona Village Mews L.L.C., Majestic Woods LLC, Maple and Broadway Holdings LLC, Menifee Development LLC, Mid-County Utilities Inc., Miralago West Lennar LLC, Mission Viejo 12S Venture LP, Mission Viejo Holdings Inc., Motomic Diagnostics LLC, Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture LLC, Multibank 2009-1 RES-ADC Venture LLC, NC Properties I LLC, NC Properties II LLC, North American Asset Development LLC, Northbridge L.L.C., OHC/Ascot Belle Meade LLC, One SR L.P., PD-Len Boca Raton LLC, PG Properties Holding LLC, POMAC LLC, PT Metro LLC, Pace Drive Holdings LLC, Palm Gardens At Doral Clubhouse LLC, Palm Gardens at Doral LLC, Palm Springs Classic LLC, Palm Vista Preserve LLC, Patuxent Infrastructure Inc., Pioneer Meadows Development LLC, Pioneer Meadows Investments LLC, Plaza Condominium Ventures LLC, Portside Marina Developers L.L.C., Portside SM Associates L.L.C., Portside SM Holdings L.L.C., Portside Shipyard Developers L.L.C., Prestonfield L.L.C., Quail Roost Lennar LLC, RCCF GP II LLC, RCCF GP III LLC, RCCF GP IV LLC, RCCF GP LLC, RES-FL EIGHT LLC, RES-FL SEVEN LLC, RES-FL VISION ONE LLC, RES-FL VISION TWO LLC, RES-GA CASCADE LLC, RES-GA DIAMOND MEADOWS LLC, RES-GA KAP LLC, RES-GA SOUTHERN PLANTATION LLC, RES-GA THIRTEEN LLC, RES-GA TWELVE LLC, RES-GA WEST LLC, RES-IL ONE LLC, RES-NC ONE LLC, RES-PA LSJ LLC, RES-PA POM LLC, RES-TX BOULEVARD LLC, RH Insurance Company Inc., RH MOA BBCMS 2017-C1 LLC, RH MOA CF 2017-C8 LLC, RH MOA LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C4 LLC, RH MOA U 2017-C6 LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 CLASS B LLC, RIAL 2014-LT5 LLC, RL BB FINANCIAL LLC, RL BB INACTIVE LLC, RL BB-AL LLC, RL BB-FL ALHI LLC, RL BB-GA LLC, RL BB-GA RMH LLC, RL BB-IL LLC, RL BB-IN AA LLC, RL BB-IN KRE LLC, RL BB-IN KRE OP LLC, RL BB-IN KRE RE LLC, RL BB-MS LLC, RL BB-NC LLC, RL BB-OH LLC, RL BB-SC BROOKSA LLC, RL BB-SC CLR II LLC, RL BB-SC CLR III LLC, RL BB-SC CLR IV LLC, RL BB-SC CLR LLC, RL BB-SC CRRC LLC, RL BB-SC RACEDAY LLC, RL BB-TN BRISTOL LLC, RL BB-TN LLC, RL BB-TN RACEDAY TOWER LLC, RL BB-TX LLC, RL BB-WV LLC, RL CMBS Holdings LLC, RL CML 2009-1 Investments LLC, RL REGI ARKANSAS LLC, RL REGI Alabama LLC, RL REGI FINANCIAL LLC, RL REGI Florida LLC, RL REGI GEORGIA LLC, RL REGI INACTIVE LLC, RL REGI KANSAS LLC, RL REGI MISSISSIPPI LLC, RL REGI MISSOURI LLC, RL REGI NORTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI SOUTH CAROLINA LLC, RL REGI TENNESSEE LLC, RL REGI VIRGINIA LLC, RL REGI-AL HP LLC, RL REGI-AL VRC LLC, RL REGI-FL CRC LLC, RL REGI-FL ESH LLC, RL REGI-FL FT. PIERCE LLC, RL REGI-FL GDL LLC, RL REGI-FL ITALIA LLC, RL REGI-FL MRED LLC, RL REGI-FL RDI LLC, RL REGI-FL SARASOTA LLC, RL REGI-FL TPL LLC, RL REGI-FL VARC LLC, RL REGI-GA DRAD LLC, RL REGI-GA HAY DB LLC, RL REGI-GA MHU LLC, RL REGI-GA MPD LLC, RL REGI-GA RLR LLC, RL REGI-MO GMB LLC, RL REGI-MO MOSCOW MILLS LLC, RL REGI-MS Double H LLC, RL REGI-MS OCEAN SPRINGS LLC, RL REGI-NC CIL LLC, RL REGI-NC LITTLE WING LLC, RL REGI-NC MLD LLC, RL REGI-NC Mland LLC, RL REGI-NC RALEIGH LLC, RL REGI-NC SUGARM LLC, RL REGI-NM LLC, RL REGI-SC CTL LLC, RL REGI-SC LAKE E LLC, RL REGI-SC TDG LLC, RL REGI-SC TIG LLC, RL REGI-TN OAK LLC, RL REGI-TN SEVIERVILLE LLC, RL RES 2009-1 Investments LLC, RMF Alliance LLC, RMF Commercial LLC, RMF PR New York LLC, RMF Partner LLC, RMF SUB 1 LLC, RMF SUB 2 LLC, RMF SUB 3 LLC, RMF SUB 4 LLC, RMF SUB 5 LLC, RMV LLC, Raintree Village II L.L.C., Raintree Village L.L.C., Ral-Len BM LLC, Ral-Len LLC, Rannel Capital WeWork Series D LLC, Rannel Holdings LLC, Rannel Interests LLC, Rannel Investments LLC, Rannel Mortgage Investments LLC, Rannel Proprietary Investments LLC, Renaissance Joint Venture, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove II LLC, Reserve @ Pleasant Grove LLC, Reserve at River Park LLC, Reserve at South Harrison LLC, Rialto Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Rialto Credit Partnership GP LLC, Rialto Mezz Partners GP LLC, Rialto Mortgage Finance LLC, Rialto Partners GP II LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Debt LLC, Rialto Partners GP III - Property LLC, Rialto Partners GP LLC, Rialto RSSF GP LLC, Riverwalk at Lago Mar LLC, Rocking Horse Minerals LLC, Rutenberg Homes Inc. (Florida), Rutenberg Homes of Texas Inc., Rye Hill Company LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada Holdings LLC, Ryland Homes Nevada LLC, Ryland Homes of California Inc., S. Florida Construction II LLC, S. Florida Construction III LLC, S. Florida Construction LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve LLC, SC 521 Indian Land Reserve South LLC, SPIC CPCO Inc., SPIC CPDB Inc., SPIC CPRB Inc., SPIC Del Sur LLC, SPIC Dublin LLC, SPIC Mesa LLC, SPIC NC Fremont LLC, SPIC Otay LLC, SPIC Springs LLC, San Felipe Indemnity Co. Ltd., San Lucia LLC, San Simeon Lennar LLC, Schulz Ranch Developers LLC, Seminole/70th LLC, Siena at Old Orchard L.L.C., Sierra Vista Communities LLC, Silver Springs Lennar LLC, South Development LLC, Southbank Holding LLC, Spanish Springs Development LLC, St. Charles Active Adult Community LLC, St. Charles Community LLC, Standard Pacific 1 Inc., Standard Pacific Investment Corp., Standard Pacific of Colorado Inc., Standard Pacific of Florida, Standard Pacific of Florida GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Las Vegas Inc., Standard Pacific of Orange County Inc., Standard Pacific of Tampa GP, Standard Pacific of Tampa GP Inc., Standard Pacific of Tonner Hills LLC, Standard Pacific of Walnut Hills Inc., Standard Pacific of the Carolinas LLC, Stoney Holdings LLC, Storey Lake Club LLC, Storey Park Club LLC, Strategic Holdings Inc., Strategic Technologies LLC, Summerfield Venture L.L.C., SunStreet Energy Group LLC, SunStreet Manager LLC, TCO QVI LLC, TICD Hold Co. LLC, TIH Hold Co. LLC, Talega Associates LLC, Temecula Valley LLC, Terra Division LLC, Terra/Winding Creek LLC, The Baywinds Land Trust, The Bridges Club at Rancho Santa Fe Inc., The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Sales Company Inc., The LNC Northeast Group Inc., The Oasis Club at LEN-CG South LLC, The Preserve at Coconut Creek LLC, The Vistas Club at LEN-CG South LLC, Titlezoom Company, Treasure Island Holdings LLC, Treasure Island Member LLC, Treviso Holding LLC, Two Lakes Lennar LLC, U.S. Home Corporation, U.S. Home Realty Inc., U.S. Home of Arizona Construction Co., U.S. Insurors Inc., U.S.H. Realty Inc., UAMC Holding Company LLC, UB 2018C14 MOA LLC, USH - Flag LLC, USH Equity Corporation, USH LEE LLC, USH Leasing II LLC, USH Leasing LLC, UST Lennar HW Scala SF Joint Venture, VII Crown Farm Investor LLC, Venetian Lennar LLC, Vineyard Land LLC, Vineyard Point 2009 LLC, Vista Palms Clubhouse LLC, WCI Communities, WCI Communities Inc., WCI Communities LLC, WCI Towers Northeast USA Inc., WCI Westshore LLC, WCP LLC, WIP Lennar OHB LLC, Waterview at Hanover LLC, West Lake Village LLC, West Seattle Project X LLC, West Van Buren L.L.C., Westchase Inc., Westchase Ltd., Westfield Homes USA Inc., White Course Lennar LLC, Wild Plum JV LLC, Willowbrook Investors LLC, Winncrest Natomas LLC, Woodbridge Multifamily Developer I LLC, Wright Farm L.L.C., and YLRichards4Acres 2015 LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Lloyds Banking Group: A G Finance Ltd, A.C.L. Ltd, ACL Autolease Holdings Ltd, ADF No.1 Pty Ltd, Addison Social Housing Holdings Ltd, Alex Lawrie Factors Ltd, Alex. Lawrie Receivables Financing Ltd, Amberdate Ltd, Anglo Scottish Utilities Partnership 1, Aquilus Ltd, Automobile Association Personal Finance Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services 2 Ltd, BOS (Ireland) Property Services Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 2) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland) No. 3) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages (Scotland)) Ltd, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 1 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 2 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 3 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 4 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 5 plc, BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No. 6 plc, BOS (USA) Fund Investments Inc., BOS (USA) Inc., BOS Edinburgh No 1 Ltd, BOS Mistral Ltd, BOS Personal Lending Ltd, BOSSAF Rail Ltd, Bank of Scotland (B G S) Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland (Stanlife) London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Branch Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Central Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Equipment Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Foundation, Bank of Scotland LNG Leasing (No 1) Ltd, Bank of Scotland London Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Nominees (Unit Trusts) Ltd, Bank of Scotland P.E.P. Nominees Ltd, Bank of Scotland Structured Asset Finance Ltd, Bank of Scotland Transport Finance 1 Ltd, Bank of Scotland plc, Bank of Wales Ltd, Barents Leasing Ltd, Barnwood Mortgages Ltd, Birchcrown Finance Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Financial Services Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Land Development Ltd, Birmingham Midshires Mortgage Services Ltd, Black Horse (TRF) Ltd, Black Horse Executive Mortgages Ltd, Black Horse Finance Holdings Ltd, Black Horse Finance Management Ltd, Black Horse Group Ltd, Black Horse Ltd, Black Horse Offshore Ltd, Black Horse Property Services Ltd, Boltro Nominees Ltd, British Linen Leasing (London) Ltd, British Linen Leasing Ltd, British Linen Shipping Ltd, C.T.S.B. Leasing Ltd, CBRail S.A.R.L., CF Asset Finance Ltd, CF1 Ltd, CM Venture Investments Ltd, Cancara Asset Securitisation Ltd, Capital 1945 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 12 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 3 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 5 Ltd, Capital Bank Leasing 9 Ltd, Capital Bank Property Investments (3) Ltd, Capital Personal Finance Ltd, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2018-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation 2019-1 Plc, Cardiff Auto Receivables Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Cardnet Merchant Services Ltd, Cashfriday Ltd, Cashpoint Ltd, Caveminster Ltd, Cedar Holdings Ltd, Celsius European Lux 2 S.A.R.L., Central Mortgage Finance Ltd, Chariot Finance Ltd, Cheltenham & Gloucester plc, Cheltenham II Securities 2020 DAC, Cheltenham Securities 2017 Ltd, Chepstow Blue Holdings Ltd, Chepstow Blue plc, Chester Asset Options No.2 Ltd, Chester Asset Options No.3 Ltd, Chester Asset Receivables Dealings Issuer Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Chester Asset Securitisation Holdings No.2 Ltd, Chiswell Stockbrokers Ltd, Clerical Medical Finance plc, Clerical Medical Financial Services Ltd, Clerical Medical International Holdings B.V., Clerical Medical Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Clerical Medical Managed Funds Ltd, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Guadalix Spanish Prop Co SL, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Hold Co BV, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Megapark Prop Co SA, Clerical Medical Non Sterling Property Company S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Funding S.A.R.L., Cloak Lane Investments S.A.R.L., Conquest Securities Ltd, Corbiere Asset Investments Ltd, Create Services Ltd, Credit Card Securitisation Europe Ltd, Dalkeith Corporation, Deva Financing Holdings Ltd, Deva Financing plc, Deva One Ltd, Deva Three Ltd, Deva Two Ltd, Dunstan Investments (UK) Ltd, Edgbaston RMBS 2010-1 plc, Edgbaston RMBS Holdings Ltd, Elland RMBS 2018 plc, Elland RMBS Holdings Ltd, Eurolead Services Holdings Ltd, First Retail Finance (Chester) Ltd, Fontwell Securities 2016 Ltd, Forthright Finance Ltd, France Industrial Premises Holding Company, General Leasing (No. 12) Ltd, General Reversionary and Investment Company, Gresham Nominee 1 Ltd, Gresham Nominee 2 Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 1) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 10) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 11) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 12) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 13) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 14) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 15) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 16) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 19) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 20) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 21) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 22) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 23) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 24) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 25) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 26) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 27) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 28) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 29) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 3) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 30) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 31) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 32) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 33) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 34) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 35) Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 36) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 37) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 38) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 39) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 40) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 41) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 44) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 45) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 46) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 47) UK Ltd, Gresham Receivables (No. 48) UK Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No 3) Ltd, Guildhall Asset Purchasing Company (No.11) UK Ltd, HBOS Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS Final Salary Trust Ltd, HBOS Financial Services Ltd, HBOS Insurance & Investment Group Ltd, HBOS International Financial Services Holdings Ltd, HBOS Investment Fund Managers Ltd, HBOS Social Housing Covered Bonds LLP, HBOS UK Ltd, HBOS plc, HSDL Nominees Ltd, HVF Ltd, Halifax Credit Card Ltd, Halifax Financial Brokers Ltd, Halifax Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Halifax Financial Services Ltd, Halifax General Insurance Services Ltd, Halifax Group Ltd, Halifax Investment Services Ltd, Halifax Leasing (June) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (March No.2) Ltd, Halifax Leasing (September) Ltd, Halifax Life Ltd, Halifax Loans Ltd, Halifax Ltd, Halifax Mortgage Services Ltd, Halifax Nominees Ltd, Halifax Pension Nominees Ltd, Halifax Premises Ltd, Halifax Share Dealing Ltd, Halifax Vehicle Leasing (1998) Ltd, Heidi Finance Holdings (UK) Ltd, Hill Samuel Bank Ltd, Hill Samuel Finance Ltd, Hill Samuel Leasing Co. Ltd, Home Shopping Personal Finance Ltd, Horizon Capital 2000 Ltd, Housing Association Risk Transfer 2019 DAC, Housing Growth Partnership GP LLP, Housing Growth Partnership LP, Housing Growth Partnership Ltd, Housing Growth Partnership Manager Ltd, Hyundai Car Finance Ltd, IBOS Finance Ltd, ICC Enterprise Partners Ltd, ICC Equity Partners Ltd, ICC Holdings Unlimited Company, Inchcape Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Financial Services Ltd, Intelligent Finance Software Ltd, International Motors Finance Ltd, Kanaalstraat Funding C.V., Katrine Leasing Ltd, LB Healthcare Trustee Ltd, LB Motorent Ltd, LB Quest Ltd, LB Share Schemes Trustees Ltd, LBCF Ltd, LBG Brasil Administracao LTDA, LBG Capital Holdings Ltd, LBG Equity Investments Ltd, LBI Leasing Ltd, LDC (General Partner) Ltd, LDC (Managers) Ltd, LDC (Nominees) Ltd, LDC GP LLP, LDC I LP, LDC II LP, LDC III LP, LDC IV LP, LDC Parallel (Nominees) Ltd, LDC V LP, LDC VI LP, LDC VII LP, LDC VIII LP, LTGP Limited Partnership Incorporated, Legacy Renewal Company Ltd, Leicester Securities 2014 Ltd, Lex Autolease (CH) Ltd, Lex Autolease (VC) Ltd, Lex Autolease Carselect Ltd, Lex Autolease Ltd, Lex Vehicle Finance 2 Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing (Holdings) Ltd, Lex Vehicle Leasing Ltd, Lime Street (Funding) Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I Holdings Ltd, Lingfield 2014 I plc, Lloyds (Gresham) Ltd, Lloyds (Gresham) No. 1 Ltd, Lloyds (Nimrod) Specialist Finance Ltd, Lloyds America Securities Corporation1, Lloyds Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Branches) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Colonial & Foreign) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Fountainbridge 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (I.D.) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank (International Services) Ltd, Lloyds Bank (Stock Exchange Branch) Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Asset Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd, Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Scotland Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (HP) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Asset Finance (No.4) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds (LM) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Covered Bonds LLP, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 7) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Equipment Leasing (No. 9) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Financial Services (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Insurance Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 11) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 20) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 3) Ltd, Lloyds Bank General Leasing (No. 5) Ltd, Lloyds Bank GmbH, Lloyds Bank Hill Samuel Holding Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank International Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 6) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing (No. 8) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Bank MTCH Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 10) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 13) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No. 17) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Maritime Leasing (No.16) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Offshore Pension Trust Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 1) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension ABCS (No. 2) LLP, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 1) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pension Trust (No. 2) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Pensions Property (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Bank Properties Ltd, Lloyds Bank Property Company Ltd, Lloyds Bank S.F. Nominees Ltd, Lloyds Bank Subsidiaries Ltd, Lloyds Bank Trustee Services Ltd, Lloyds Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group Pensions Trustees Ltd, Lloyds Capital GP Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Properties Ltd, Lloyds Commercial Property Investments Ltd, Lloyds Corporate Services (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Development Capital (Holdings) Ltd, Lloyds Engine Capital (No.1) U.S LLC, Lloyds Far East S.A.R.L., Lloyds General Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Group Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Holdings (Jersey) Ltd, Lloyds Hypotheken B.V., Lloyds Industrial Leasing Ltd, Lloyds International Pty Ltd, Lloyds Investment Bonds Ltd, Lloyds Investment Fund Managers Ltd, Lloyds Investment Securities No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Leasing (North Sea Transport) Ltd1, Lloyds Leasing Developments Ltd, Lloyds Nominees (Guernsey) Ltd, Lloyds Offshore Global Services Private Ltd, Lloyds Plant Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Portfolio Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Premises Investments Ltd, Lloyds Project Leasing Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 3 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No. 4 Ltd, Lloyds Property Investment Company No.5 Ltd, Lloyds Secretaries Ltd, Lloyds Securities Inc., Lloyds TSB Pacific Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Asset Rentals Ltd, Lloyds UDT Hiring Ltd, Lloyds UDT Leasing Ltd, Lloyds UDT Ltd, Lloyds Your Tomorrow Trustee Ltd, Loans.co.uk Ltd, London Taxi Finance Ltd, London Uberior (L.A.S. Group) Nominees Ltd, Lotus Finance Ltd, MBNA, MBNA Direct Ltd, MBNA Europe Finance Ltd, MBNA Europe Holdings Ltd, MBNA General Foundation, MBNA Global Services Ltd, MBNA Indian Services Private Ltd, MBNA Ltd, MBNA R & L S.A.R.L., MBNA Receivables Ltd, Mainsearch Company Ltd, Maritime Leasing (No. 19) Ltd, Membership Services Finance Ltd, Mitre Street Funding S.A.R.L., Molineux RMBS 2016-1 plc, Molineux RMBS Holdings Ltd, Moor Lane Holdings Ltd, NFU Mutual Finance Ltd, NWS Trust Ltd, Nominees (Jersey) Ltd, Nordic Leasing Ltd, Ocean Leasing (July) Ltd, Oystercatcher Nominees Ltd, Oystercatcher Residential Ltd, PIPS Asset Investments Ltd, Pacific Leasing Ltd, Penarth Asset Securitisation Holdings Ltd, Penarth Funding 1 Ltd, Penarth Funding 2 Ltd, Penarth Master Issuer plc, Penarth Receivables Trustee Ltd, Pensions Management (S.W.F.) Ltd, Peony Eastern Leasing Ltd, Peony Leasing Ltd, Peony Western Leasing Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 1) Ltd, Permanent Funding (No. 2) Ltd, Permanent Holdings Ltd, Permanent Master Issuer plc, Permanent Mortgages Trustee Ltd, Permanent PECOH Holdings Ltd, Permanent PECOH Ltd, Perry Nominees Ltd, Prestonfield Investments Ltd, Proton Finance Ltd, R.F. Spencer And Company Ltd, Ranelagh Nominees Ltd, Retail Revival (Burgess Hill) Investments Ltd, SARL Coliseum, SARL Hiram, SAS Compagnie Fonciere De France, SCI Astoria Invest, SCI De LHorloge, SCI Equinoxe, SCI Rambuteau CFF, SW Funding plc, SW No.1 Ltd, SWAMF (GP) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (1) Ltd, SWAMF Nominee (2) Ltd, Saint Michel Holding Company No1, Saint Michel Investment Property, Saint Witz 2 Holding Company No1, Saint Witz 2 Investment Property, Salisbury II Securities 2016 Ltd, Salisbury II-A Securities 2017 Ltd, Salisbury III Securities 2019 DAC, Salisbury Securities 2015 Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 Holdings Ltd, Sandown 2012-2 plc, Sandown Gold 2012-1 Holdings Ltd, Sandown Gold 2012-1 plc, Savban Leasing Ltd, Scotland International Finance B.V., Scottish Widows Administration Services (Nominees) Ltd, Scottish Widows Administration Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Annuities Ltd, Scottish Widows Auto Enrolment Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Europe, Scottish Widows Financial Services Holdings, Scottish Widows Group Ltd, Scottish Widows Industrial Properties Europe B.V., Scottish Widows Ltd, Scottish Widows Pension Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Property Management Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth (ACD) Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Personal Wealth Ltd, Scottish Widows Schroder Wealth Holdings Ltd, Scottish Widows Services Ltd, Scottish Widows Trustees Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Funds Ltd, Scottish Widows Unit Trust Managers Ltd, Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Society, Seabreeze Leasing Ltd, Seaspirit Leasing Ltd, Share Dealing Nominees Ltd, Shogun Finance Ltd, Silentdale Ltd, St Andrews Group Ltd, St Andrews Insurance plc, St Andrews Life Assurance plc, St. Marys Court Investments, Standard Property Investment (1987) Ltd, Standard Property Investment Ltd, Sussex County Homes Ltd, Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, Swan Funding 2 Ltd, Syon Securities 2019 DAC, The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation Plc, The British Linen Company Ltd, The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Mortgage Business plc, Thistle Financing Holdings Ltd, Thistle Investments (AMC) Ltd, Thistle Investments (ERM) Ltd, Thistle Leasing, Three Copthall Avenue Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (10) Ltd, Tower Hill Property Investments (7) Ltd, Tranquility Leasing Ltd, Trinity Financing plc, UDT Budget Leasing Ltd, UDT Sales Finance Ltd, Uberior (Moorfield) Ltd, Uberior Co-Investments Ltd, Uberior ENA Ltd, Uberior Equity Ltd, Uberior Europe Ltd, Uberior Fund Investments Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.2) Ltd, Uberior Infrastructure Investments Ltd, Uberior Investments Ltd, Uberior Nominees Ltd, Uberior Trading Ltd, Uberior Trustees Ltd, Uberior Ventures Australia Pty Ltd, Uberior Ventures Ltd, United Dominions Leasing Ltd, United Dominions Trust Ltd, Universe The CMI Global Network Fund, Upsaala Ltd, Vine Street IX LP, WCS Ltd, Ward Nominees (Abingdon) Ltd, Ward Nominees (Birmingham) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees (Bristol) Ltd 1, Ward Nominees Ltd 1, Waverley  Fund II Investor LLC, Waverley  Fund III Investor LLC, Waymark Asset Investments Ltd, West Craigs Ltd, Wetherby II Securities 2018 DAC, Wetherby III Securities 2019 DAC, Wetherby Securities 2017 Ltd, Wood Street Leasing Ltd, and Zurich Insurance Group - UK Workplace Pensions and Savings Business.
Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Benext, Bionic, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Cloudworks, Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Entropia, Epylon, Ethica Consulting Group, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Exton Consulting, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Gevity, Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Openmind, Openminded, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Salt Solutions, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Trivadis AG, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Workforce Insight, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH.
The following companies are subsidiares of Yum China: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC..
Greene King plc operates as a pub retailer and brewer in the United Kingdom. The company operates through three segments: Pub Company, Pub Partners, and Brewing & Brands. Its brands include Greene King Local Pubs, Hungry Horse, Flaming Grill, Farmhouse Inns, and Chef & Brewer. The company is also involved in brewing, marketing, and selling beer under the Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, and Belhaven Best brands. In addition, Greene King plc engages in the employment, financing, pension trustee, and property businesses. As of April 30, 2018, it operated 2,855 managed, tenanted, leased, and franchised pubs, restaurants, and hotels. Greene King plc was founded in 1799 and is headquartered in Bury St Edmunds, the United Kingdom.

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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.

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4.3 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Hudson's Bay has received 521 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Hudson's Bay has received 295 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Hudson's Bay has received 63.85% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Hudson's Bay and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe HBC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe HBC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V..
There is not enough analysis data for Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund.

4.1 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund has received 179 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund has received 111 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund has received 61.72% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe KYN will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe KYN will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L..
The following companies are subsidiares of The Kroger: 84.51 HQ Building Company, 84.51 LLC, Agri-Products, Alpha Beta, Alpha Beta Company, Ansonborough Square Investors I, Ansonborough Square Retail, Ardrey Kell Investments, Bay Area Warehouse Stores, Beech Tree Holdings, Bell Markets, Bleecker Ventures LLC, Bluefield Beverage, Bluefield Beverage Company, Box Cutter, Brier Creek Arbors Drive Retail, CB&S Advertising Agency, Cala Co., Cala Foods, Cheeses of All Nations, Country Oven, Crawford Stores, Creedmoor Retail, Dillon Companies, Dillon Real Estate Co, Dillon Real Estate Co., Dillons, Distribution Trucking Company, Dotto, Edgewood Plaza Holdings, Embassy International, FM, FMJ, Farmacia Doral, Food 4 Less GM, Food 4 Less Holdings, Food 4 Less Merchandising, Food 4 Less of California, Food 4 Less of Southern California, Fred Meyer, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Fred Meyer Stores, Gerbes Supermarkets, Glasswing Labs, Glendale/Goodwin Realty I, Grubstake Investments, HT Fuel DE, HT Fuel MD, HT Fuel NC, HT Fuel SC, HT Fuel VA, HTGBD, HTP Bluffton, HTP Plaza, HTP Plaza LLC, HTP Relo, HTPS, HTTAH, Harris Teeter, Harris Teeter LLC, Harris Teeter Properties, Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Harris-Teeter Services, Healthy Options, Healthy Options Inc., Henpil, Home Chef, Hood-Clayton Logistics, Hood-Clayton Logistics LLC, Hughes Markets, Hughes Realty, I.T.A., IRP, ITAC 119, ITAC 265, Infusion Solutions of Puerto Rico, Inter-American Foods, Inter-American Products, J.V. Distributing, Jondex Corp, Jondex Corp., Jubilee Carolina, Junior Food Stores of West Florida, KCDE, KCDE  2012, KCDE  2013, KCDE-2 LLC, KCDE-3 LLC, KCDE-4 LLC, KCDE-5 LLC, KGO, KGO LLC, KP Sourcing, KPF, KPF Insurance Services, KPF Insurance Services LLC, KPS, KPS AG, KRGP, KRGP Inc., KRLP, KRLP Inc., Kee Trans, Kessel FP, Kessel Pharmacies, Kessel RCD, Kessel Saginaw, King Soopers, Kiosk Medicine Kentucky, Kirkpatrick West Retail, Kroger, Kroger Community Development Entity, Kroger Dedicated Logistics Co, Kroger Dedicated Logistics Co., Kroger Fresh Fare, Kroger G.O., Kroger G.O. LLC, Kroger Limited Partnership I, Kroger Limited Partnership II, Kroger MC Holdings, Kroger MTL Management, Kroger Management Co, Kroger Management Co., Kroger Management  Corryville, Kroger Management  NMTC Athens I, Kroger Management  NMTC Champaign I, Kroger Management  NMTC Champaign II, Kroger Management  NMTC Cincinnati I, Kroger Management  NMTC Dallas I, Kroger Management  NMTC Danville I, Kroger Management  NMTC Griffin I, Kroger Management  NMTC Logansport I, Kroger Management  NMTC Missouri I, Kroger Management  NMTC Oak Ridge I, Kroger Management  NMTC Olney I, Kroger Management  NMTC Omaha I, Kroger Management  NMTC Portsmouth I, Kroger Management  NMTC Starkville I, Kroger Management  NMTC Topeka I, Kroger Management  NMTC Warrenton I, Kroger NMTC Fremont I, Kroger OZ1 Inc., Kroger OZ1 LLC, Kroger OZ2 Inc., Kroger OZ2 LLC, Kroger OZ3 Inc., Kroger OZ3 LLC, Kroger Opportunity Fund I, Kroger Prescription Plans, Kroger Specialty Infusion, Kroger Specialty Infusion AL, Kroger Specialty Infusion CA, Kroger Specialty Infusion Holdings, Kroger Specialty Infusion TX, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy CA, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy CA 2 LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy FL 2 LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings 2, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings 3, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings I, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy LA, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy TN, Kroger Texas L.P., LCGP3 Home Cooking, Local Mkt LLC, Main & Vine LLC, Matthews Property 1, Mega Marts, Michigan Dairy, ModernHealth LTC, Murrays Cheese LLC, Murrays LIC LLC, Murrays Table LLC, Pace Dairy Foods Company, Paramount Logistics, Pay Less Super Markets, Peytons Fountain, Peytons-Southeastern, Plum Labs LLC, Pontiac Foods, Queen City Assurance, RBF, Ralphs Grocery Company, Relish Labs LLC, Rocket Newco, Roundy's, Roundys, Roundys Acquisition Corp., Roundys Illinois, Roundys Supermarkets, Second Story, Shop-Rite, Smiths Beverage of Wyoming, Smiths Food & Drug Centers, Southern Ice Cream Specialties, Stallings Investors I, Sunrise R&D Holdings, Sunrise Technology LLC, THGP Co., THLP Co., TLC Corporate Services LLC, TLC Immunization Clinic LLC, TLC of Georgia LLC, The Kroger Co. of Michigan, The Little Clinic LLC, The Little Clinic Management Services LLC, The Little Clinic of Arizona LLC, The Little Clinic of Colorado LLC, The Little Clinic of IN LLC, The Little Clinic of Kansas LLC, The Little Clinic of Mississippi LLC, The Little Clinic of Ohio LLC, The Little Clinic of TX LLC, The Little Clinic of Tennessee LLC, The Little Clinic of VA LLC, Topvalco, Turkey Hill, Ultimate Mart, Ultra Mart Foods, Vine Court Assurance Incorporated, Vitacost, Vitacost.com, Woodmont Holdings, and YOU Technology.
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.

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There is not enough analysis data for El Paso Electric.

3.9 Community Rank

Outperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 256 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 192 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment El Paso Electric has received 57.14% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about El Paso Electric and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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Melrose Industries PLC engages in the aerospace, automotive, powder metallurgy, air management, and other industrial businesses in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. Its Aerospace segment provides airframe and engine structures, and electrical interconnection systems for the aerospace industry in civil airframe and defense platforms. The company's Automotive segment designs, develops, manufactures, and integrates driveline technologies; and epowertrains and intelligent all-wheel drive systems. Its Powder Metallurgy segment offers precision automotive components and components for industrial and consumer applications; metal powder for powder metallurgy; and additive manufacturing parts for prototypes. The company's Nortek Air Management segment manufactures and sells ventilation products for the professional remodeling and replacement, residential new construction, and consumer DIY markets. This segment also manufactures and sells split-system and packaged air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, air handlers, and parts for the residential replacement and new construction markets; and custom designed and engineered products and systems for non-residential applications. Its Other Industrial segment provides turbo generators, transformers, and switchgears; develops and manufactures security, home automation, and access control technologies for the residential and commercial markets; and designs, manufactures, and distributes ergonomic products for use in a various working, learning, and healthcare environments. The company was formerly known as New Melrose Industries PLC and changed its name to Melrose Industries PLC in November 2015. Melrose Industries PLC was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Merck & Co., Inc. pays an annual dividend of $2.60 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 3.19%. Merck & Co., Inc. has been increasing its dividend for 10 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio of Merck & Co., Inc. is 91.87%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, Merck & Co., Inc. will have a dividend payout ratio of 38.07% next year. This indicates that Merck & Co., Inc. will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.

View Merck & Co., Inc.'s dividend history.
New Residential Investment pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 8.68%. NRZ has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. New Residential Investment has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio of New Residential Investment is 68.49%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, New Residential Investment will have a dividend payout ratio of 57.80% next year. This indicates that New Residential Investment will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.

View New Residential Investment's dividend history.
Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC.
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.
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF's stock was trading at $75.66 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, VYM stock has increased by 45.8% and is now trading at $110.33.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited.
The following companies are subsidiares of WESCO International: 1502218 Alberta Ltd., ALLNET Technologies Pty. Ltd., AXE Distribution Solutions Trinidad Ltd., Accu-Tech Corporation, Anixter (Barbados) SRL, Anixter (CIS) LLC, Anixter (Switzerland) Sarl, Anixter (U.K.) Limited, Anixter Argentina S.A., Anixter Asia Holdings Limited, Anixter Australia Pty. Ltd., Anixter Austria GmbH, Anixter Bahamas Limited, Anixter Belgium B.V.B.A., Anixter Cables y Manufacturas S.A. de C.V., Anixter Canada Inc., Anixter Canadian Holdings ULC, Anixter Chile S.A., Anixter Colombia S.A.S., Anixter Communications (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Anixter Communications (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Anixter Costa Rica S.A., Anixter Czech a.s., Anixter Danmark A/S, Anixter Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Distribuidor de Soluciones Empresariales e Industriales S.A., Anixter Distribution Ireland Limited, Anixter Dominicana SRL, Anixter Egypt LLC, Anixter Espana S.L., Anixter Eurotwo Holdings B.V., Anixter Fasteners Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Financial Inc., Anixter France SARL, Anixter Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Anixter Holdings Inc., Anixter Holdings Mexico LLC, Anixter Hong Kong Limited, Anixter Iletisim Sistemleri Pazarlama ve Ticaret A.S., Anixter Inc., Anixter India Private Limited, Anixter Information Systems LLC, Anixter International, Anixter Italia S.r.l., Anixter Jamaica Limited, Anixter Japan KK, Anixter Jorvex S.A.C., Anixter Limited, Anixter Logistica do Brasil LTDA, Anixter Logistica y Servicios S.A. de C.V., Anixter Magyarorszag Elektronikus Halozati Rendszer Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft, Anixter Mid Holdings B.V., Anixter Middle East FZE, Anixter Morocco SARL AU, Anixter Nederland B.V., Anixter New Zealand Limited, Anixter Norge A.N.S., Anixter Operaciones y Logistica s De RL De CV, Anixter Panama S.A., Anixter Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, Anixter Pension Trustees Limited, Anixter Peru S.A.C., Anixter Philippines Inc., Anixter Poland Sp.z.o.o., Anixter Portugal S.A., Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc., Anixter Power Solutions Inc., Anixter Procurement Corporation, Anixter Puerto Rico Inc., Anixter Real-Estate LLC, Anixter Receivables Corporation, Anixter Saudi Arabia Limited, Anixter Singapore Pte. Ltd., Anixter Slovakia s.r.o., Anixter Sub Holdings B.V, Anixter Sverige AB, Anixter Thailand Inc., Anixter U.S. LLC, Anixter Venezuela Inc., Anixter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Anixter do Brasil Ltda, Atlanta Electrical Distributors, Atlanta Electrical Distributors LLC, Atlas Gentech (NZ) Limited, Avon Electrical Supplies, B.E.L. Corporation, Brews Supply, Brown Wholesale Electric, Bruckner Supply, CBC LP Holdings LLC, CDW Holdco LLC, Calvert Wire & Cable Corporation, Carlton-Bates Company, Carlton-Bates Company (CBC), Carlton-Bates Company de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Carlton-Bates Company of Texas GP Inc, Central Security Distribution Pty. Ltd, Communication Cables LLC, Communications Supply Corporation, Conney Investment Holdings LLC, Conney Safety Products, Conney Safety Products LLC, Distribuidora Materiales Electricos E-Supply Limitada, EECOL Electric, EECOL Electric Bolivia Ltda, EECOL Electric Corp., EECOL Electric Peru S.A.C, EECOL Industrial Electric (SudAmerica) Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Ecuador Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Limitada, EECOL Power S.A., EECOL Properties Corp, Eurinvest B.V., Eurinvest Cooperatief U.A., Fastec Industrial, HMH Pension Trustees Limited, Hazmasters, Hazmasters Inc., Herning Underground Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply Company LLC, Hill Country Electric Supply, Hill Country Electric Supply L.P., ICV GP Inc., Infast Group Limited, Inner Range Pty. Ltd, Itel Container Ventures Inc., Itel Corporation, Itel Rail Holdings Corporation, J-Mark Inc., LaPrairie, Liberty Wire & Cable Inc., Monti Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply LLC, Obras Y Servicios Sunpark S.A.C., PT Anixter Indonesia, Potelcom Supply, Pro Canadian Holdings I ULC, RECO LLC, RS Electronics, Reily Electrical Supply, SASK Alta Holdings S.A., Services Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios Anixter S.A. de C.V., Signal Capital Corporation, Signal Capital Projects Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply GP Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply Limited Partnership, TVC Communications, TVC Communications L.L.C., TVC Espana Distribucion y Venta De Equipos S.L., TVC International Holding L.L.C., TVC UK Holdings Limited, Tri-Ed Puerto Rico Ltd. Inc., Trydor Industries, Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., WDC Holding Inc., WDCH LP, WDCH US LP, WDI USVI LLC, WDI-Angola LDA, WDINESCO B.V., WDINESCO II B.V., WDINESCO III B.V., WEAS Company S. de R.L., WESCO (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., WESCO Australia Pty Ltd, WESCO Canada GP Inc., WESCO Canada I LP, WESCO DC Holding I LP, WESCO DC Holding II LP, WESCO DC Holding III LP, WESCO DC Holding IV LP, WESCO Distribution Canada Co., WESCO Distribution Canada LP, WESCO Distribution HK Limited, WESCO Distribution II ULC, WESCO Distribution III ULC, WESCO Distribution IV Inc., WESCO Distribution Inc., WESCO Distribution Ireland Limited, WESCO Distribution NL B.V., WESCO Distribution Pte. Ltd., WESCO Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L., WESCO Distribution-International Limited, WESCO Enterprises Inc., WESCO Equity Corporation, WESCO Holdings LLC, WESCO Integrated Supply Inc., WESCO Integrated Supply Polska Spolka z o.o., WESCO Netherlands B.V., WESCO Nevada Ltd., WESCO Nigeria Inc., WESCO Procurement Canada ULC, WESCO Real Estate I LLC, WESCO Real Estate II LLC, WESCO Real Estate III LLC, WESCO Real Estate IV LLC, WESCO Receivables Corp., WESCO Services LLC, WESCO TLD Holdings Co. Ltd., WND Nigeria Limited, WireXpress Ltd., Xpress Connect Supply Hong Kong Limited, XpressConnect Holdings B.V., XpressConnect International B.V., XpressConnect Supply B.V.B.A., XpressConnect Supply Colombia S.A.S., XpressConnect Supply Inc., XpressConnect Supply Mexico S.A. de C.V., and XpressConnect Supply do Brasil Ltda.
Theres nothing ordinary about Saadat Hasan Mantos works, so when it came to making a film based on the prolific author, writer and playwright born in 1912, the team helmed by Nandita Das went all out to cast one of Bollywoods most prolific and talented actors, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The director and actor duo were in Hyderabad on Friday to promote their film Manto, where they not only spoke about their love for Manto and his works but also saw a play written by the playwright himself and staged by Darpan theatre group. Here are a few excerpts from an interview with them:

How did Manto happen?

Nandita: Manto was on my mind since 2012, but it took time for us to consolidate and think which time frame we would like to show to the audience. I have only focused on the most tumultuous four years of his life and how things unfolded for him during Indias partition. There were a lot of

struggles to get everything in place.

Nawazuddin: We have known each other since our Firaaq days and when Nandita said that shes making a movie on Manto, I was happy to be a part of it. As an actor you always strive to perform your best and this role made me dig deeper to perform better.

After a gap of 10 years you ventured into films and that too as a director. Was this a self-imposed break?

Nandita: I was involved with many things during these 10 years. Ive been busy with a Yale fellowship, a monthly column for The Week and my son, who is eight-years-old now. I also wrote and was the Chairperson of the Childrens Film Society of India.

How difficult or easy is it to portray characters with such varied shades?

Nawazuddin: I have been portraying many characters and I do try to take on more challenging roles, which helps me to grow as an actor. For me, every role matters. Maybe all my films cant do well but I try to learn something from each of them.

You wrote Manto keeping Nawazuddin Siddiqui in mind. What was the similarity?

Nandita: I always had him in mind while writing Manto because it is said that if you get the casting right, 70 per cent of your job is done and with Nawazuddin, thats exactly what happened. He looks and feels the part. He has an incredible range as an actor, but fundamentally Manto lies somewhere in his eyes  it was an obvious choice for me. Every bit of him looks like Manto. He even charged a nominal fee of Rs 1 which he has still not taken!

The story is set in the 1940s, do you think todays audience can relate to it?

Nandita: Mantos story will connect to todays audience for sure as it is still relevant and highlights all the struggles they face. In the end, it shows a persons will to speak out and be ones own self  something we all struggle with. People are getting killed even today for speaking their mind, take the case of Gauri Lankesh. The ability to be free-spirited and honest and the desire to speak up is all that matters to me as an individual, a filmmaker and an actor. After all, dont we want to be more truthful, courageous, empathetic, free-spirited and embrace the spirit of Mantoiyat?

You are at present working on eight projects, which is the maximum work any actor has in Bollywood currently. But there was a time when you were struggling due to lack of work. How does it feel to be one of the most sought after actors in the industry today?

Nawazuddin: It feels good to be appreciated, but as an actor I do have miles to go before I can say that I have achieved everything in life. I want to explore as many shades as I can as an actor. Thats the reason I am doing a Tamil film with Rajinikanth.

Just like you are venturing into different platforms, are you willing to be cast in a Tollywood movie as well?

Nawazuddin: I havent been offered anything here yet, but with the Tamil industry opening up for me, I hope I do get called here too. In the end, the role matters, not the language.
Actor Aarav was in news ever since he and actress Oviya started romancing on the Tamil Bigg Boss Season 1 and later he turned her down when she proposed him. Aarav was finally declared as the winner of the first edition. He was flooded with a lot of film offers post his stint in BB, but he was waiting patiently for a good script. Looks like it has paid off now!

Aarav has signed a biggie titled Raja Bheema, an action entertainer that deals with the conflicts between man and animal. In this story, it is an elephant. Directed by newcomer Naresh, an ad filmmaker and former assistant of Manoj of Velvet Nagaram fame, an excited Aarav speaks to DC about his role, how he took training with the elephant and his other films etc.

After Bigg Boss gave me a huge recognition and just like a movie, it reached all the A, B and Centres and even abroad. Though I did a few films earlier, I made up my mind that I should only go for a script that is really big in terms of content which reaches masses.

I stayed calm and patient which is when Raja Bheema happened. It was a fascinating story away from the cliched stuff and I felt this is the one I was waiting for (smiles).

So, who is Bheema Raja, we ask and he grins. Not only the title, the script is also powerful which handles an important issue. Apparently, theres no message kind of stuff and the film has perfect blend of romance, humour, emotions, actions, sentiment etc. And yes, I play Raja and the elephant is named Bheema.

The tall actor says he was given full training with the elephant before commencing the shoot. I was with the elephant for about three weeks, feeding him, and getting friendly with him. The movie is set in Pollachi town and nearby areas. He also reveals that the makers have submitted the bound script to Animal Welfare Board well in advance and got their clearance to shoot with animals.

The heroine of RB is yet to be finalised. Yogi Babu and Munishkanth are part of the film, while talks are on with ace Nasser. Simon of Sathya fame composes music. Bankrolled by Surabhi Films and Satish Kumar, who worked in films which dealt with nature like Peraanmai and Kadamban, is behind the camera.

Ask him about his other movie Meendum Vaa Arugil Vaa, which is yet to see the light of the day, he says, It is a horror flick and is complete.
Babies born to obese mothers are more likely to face complications as newborns, even if the mother doesnt have high blood pressure or diabetes, a new study suggests.

Obesity may be as important as hypertension and diabetes as a modifiable risk factor to improve birth outcomes, the study authors wrote in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

As obstetricians, we have the unique responsibility of thinking about multiple lives, such as the woman carrying the pregnancy and the fetus developing in the womb, said study leader Dr. Brock Polnaszek of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in an email to Reuters Health.

Polnaszek and colleagues studied 3,311 obese women and 3,147 non-obese women who had full-term vaginal deliveries. None of them had diabetes or hypertension.

About nine percent of the babies of obese mothers had complications, compared to about seven percent of infants born to non-obese women.

Specifically, the newborns of obese patients were more likely to have signs and symptoms suggesting a dangerous form of infection called sepsis. But while babies of obese mothers were more likely to appear sick enough for sepsis to be a possibility, bacteria culture tests showed actual sepsis rates didnt differ between the groups, the authors note.

Also, while the rates of these problems were very low, the infants of obese mothers were more likely to have brain damage caused by insufficient oxygen and to need to have their body temperature drastically reduced to protect the brain.

Some risks, such as stillbirth, were attributed in the past to diabetes but have been shown to be complications of pre-pregnancy obesity instead, said Dr. Isaac Blickstein of Kaplan Medical Center and Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Medicine in Jerusalem, Israel. Blickstein, who wasnt involved with this study, researches risks related to maternal obesity.

Obesity needs serious attention, maybe even more than gestational diabetes receives, Blickstein said. Doctors are happy to test women and implement therapy for gestational diabetes, but they fail, in general, to educate their patients.

Because obesity is an inflammatory disease, it can alter the fetal environment, the study authors wrote. This could be exacerbated by the additional effects of strained labor. In the current study, obese women were more likely to be induced, have a prior cesarean delivery, have a prolonged first stage of labor, and need oxytocin during labor. Babies of obese mothers also had higher birth weight.

As the epidemic of obesity continues, this identifies yet another set of serious negative perinatal outcomes, said Dr. Jeffrey Gould, who directs the Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.

Gould, who wasnt involved with this study, told Reuters Health by email, This is a call to action, or rather, a call to two actions. The first is to develop nationally effective strategies to reduce the obesity epidemic. The second is for (obstetricians) to continue to perfect their approaches to the perinatal care of all obese women.
People who have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep may want to seek advice from a doctor and avoid long-term use of sleeping pills, medical experts advise.

Good sleep hygiene and a specific kind of talk therapy may help people create good bedtime habits and figure out why theyre not sleeping well, the experts say in a new resource for patients published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Recent research has shown that use of sleeping pills is very common and that the drugs are linked with serious side effects, such as falls and death, said Dr. Michael Incze of the University of California, San Francisco, who co-wrote the one-page primer.

In 2017, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended a form of psychological counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first treatment for insomnia, followed by prescription and over the-counter medicines. CBT focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that prevent good sleep.

About 10 percent of Americans experience chronic insomnia, and about 30 percent have temporary symptoms.

People who often take sleep medicine should feel encouraged to talk to their doctor about looking deeper into why they may be having insomnia, Incze told Reuters Health by phone.

Available for free, the new patient page offers practical tips about insomnia diagnosis and treatment. It includes a visual scale of therapy options, ranging from "safe and proven to work" on one end to "potentially dangerous" on the other end.

Safe and proven includes sleep hygiene, CBT and short-term use of sleeping pills. Dangerous includes combining sleeping pills with opioids or alcohol, use of sleeping pills by older adults and continuous long-term use of sleeping pills.

Its not always easy to find doctors who do CBT for insomnia right now, even in a big city, and insurance doesnt often cover it, Incze added. Thats where telehealth and mobile apps could come in.

Incze and co-authors recommend starting with good sleep hygiene, that is, creating a peaceful environment for sleep. This includes going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. Instead of staying in bed lying awake, get up and do something relaxing until youre tired enough to fall asleep, they advise. Also, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and create a dark, quiet environment for sleeping with minimal distractions, which means turning off screens on electronic devices and darkening windows.

We see insomnia every day in various ages and walks of life, and it can lead us to consider other concerns such as depression, anxiety and medication issues, said Dr. Ada Stewart, a family physician in Columbia, South Carolina who was not involved with the new publication.

Stewart is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians, which also provides free information about insomnia.

Most sleeping medicines should only be used for a limited amount of time, usually a week or two, and can be addictive and lead to bad outcomes when mixed with alcohol or other drugs, she told Reuters Health by phone.

Side effects can be stronger in older age groups, so these patients should be particularly careful about sleep medicines, especially if mixing with other prescriptions, she added.

I like doing a sleep diary with my patients so we can look at what theyre doing that can impact the way theyre sleeping, she said. Once I have a sleep diary in front of me, I can see whether its a more serious sleep disorder and whether they need a sleep study.

Sleep studies include overnight tests to monitor sleep and look for medical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. Conditions such as stress, anxiety and breathing issues can also affect sleep. The amount of sleep required by different people varies at different points in life, but the average is six to eight hours per night.

Most importantly, talk to your doctor about these concerns, Stewart said. Sleep issues are very common, and many patients dont think to ask questions about it.
Washington: According to a recent study, fewer and fewer women died from breast cancer in recent years, but surprisingly, the decline has been just as large in the age groups that are not screened. The decline is, therefore, due to better treatment and not screening for breast cancer.

As part of the study, the researchers followed all Norwegian women aged 30-89 and identified those who developed breast cancer in the period 1987-2010, before subsequently comparing the number of deaths before and after the screening programme was introduced.

According to Henrik Stovring, one of the researchers, the result didn't favour the breast cancer screening programme. The Danish screening programme was progressively introduced from the early 1990s and was offered nationally to everyone from 2007, three years after the Norwegians, who supplied data for the Danish-Norwegian research project.

"The important result is that we do not find a beneficial effect of breast cancer screening any longer. The original randomised trials examining breast cancer screening were conducted way back in the 1980s, and they showed an effect, but the fact is that the better the treatment methods become, the less benefit screening has," said Henrik Stovring.

Here, he pointed towards one of the paradoxes of screening, the popular but erroneous belief that if breast cancer patients who have been screened to 'live longer' than other breast cancer patients, then screening works. The problem was that with screening, medical doctors detected cancerous tumours earlier than they would otherwise have done. But even if someone who has been screened lives longer as a patient, it is not certain that their life as a whole will be longer. It was important to account for this fact, and the new study showed that screening does not lead to women living longer overall - and this is the study's most important finding.

"The women who were invited to screening live longer because all breast cancer patients live longer, and they do so because we now have better drugs and more effective chemotherapy, and because we have cancer care pathways, which means the healthcare system reacts faster than it did a decade ago. But it does not appear that fewer women die of breast cancer as a result of mammography screening," said Henrik Stovring.

He also pointed out that it is not always beneficial for a woman to be diagnosed with a tiny cancerous growth of e.g. a millimeter in diameter at a mammography. Some of these small nodules are so slow-growing that the woman would have died a so-called natural death with undiagnosed cancer if she had not been screened.

"Now what happens is these women are instead given a diagnosis which isn't going to make anyone happier. Such a breast cancer diagnosis both makes life more difficult and costs a lot of money, but does not ultimately make a difference. The problem is that we were not able to tell the difference between the small cancer tumours that will kill you and those that will not," said Henrik Stovring.

Here he addressed the issue of overdiagnosis which is a growing problem in all Western countries where the approach to medicine and examinations is extensive and where national screening programmes are prevalent.

"It's certainly not my task to decide how the research results should be used, but my suggestion would nonetheless be that we should get together and begin to investigate whether it would beneficial to do something other than screening and whether this could have a better effect. If a doctor could instead examine women's breasts with his or her hands, what is known as palpation, at regular intervals, then we would avoid much of the overdiagnosis," says Henrik Stvring.

The findings are present in the Journal International Journal of Cancer.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday held that former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in a 1994 espionage case and ordered a probe into the role of Kerala police officers.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe Narayanan being framed in the spy case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against the former DGP and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

In 1998, the apex court granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.

He later approached the NHRC claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture suffered by him.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998, awarded him interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.
During the meetings, discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. (Photo: File)

Washington/New Delhi: A week after the "highly successful" first India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top Trump Administration officials.

Doval, who is held in high regard by the Trump Administration, is scheduled to meet the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department today.

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is also likely to meet officials from the US Department of Defense and from a top think-tank community.

However, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Ajit Doval's visit and his meetings.

"India is a very close friend of the United States," the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. She had accompanied Mike Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the two-plus-two Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian-Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations," she said in response to a question.

The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time, she said.

"So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to do more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have," Nauert said.

During the meetings, discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak (Afghanistan-Pakistan) region, in particular, those related to counter-terrorism. It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the groundwork of the potential visit of the US President Donald Trump to India.

Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India. The two sides are currently looking at various dates including President Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2019.

Responding to a question on Mike Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government.

Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognising that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder. "And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone," she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking at a function held at the Saifee Mosque. (Photo: Twitter | ANI)

Indore: Praising the Dawoodi Bohra community for its honesty in trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the world is one family, gives India an identity different from all other countries.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a function held at the Saifee Mosque.

The community's spiritual head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, felicitated PM Modi on his arrival at the mosque for the event, 'Ashara Mubaraka', which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

"The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," the Prime Minister said in his address.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, PM Modi explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the world as one family. "We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the GST (Goods and Services Tax) roll-out and other economic reforms carried out by his government and said members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these steps as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.

The Prime Minister also praised the Dawoodi Bohras, a sect within Shia Islam known for their trading and business acumen, for their efforts in making the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a success.

PM Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's close association with Sydena Mohammad Burhanuddin, the late spiritual head of the Bohra community.

"Mahatma Gandhi met the Sydena during a train journey and they became very close. During the Dandi Yatra, Gandhiji stayed in Saifee Villa (a building owned by the community in Dandi, Gujarat) which was later dedicated to the nation," the Prime Minister said.

The 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (cleanliness fortnight) will be launched on September 15 and will culminate on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, he said.

#WATCH PM Narendra Modi leaves from Indore's Saifee Mosque after attending Ashara Mubaraka - the commemoration of martyrdom of Imam Hussain, organized by the Dawoodi Bohra community. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/lZfgCXnnem  ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018

PM Modi lauded Indore for topping the nationwide cleanliness survey earlier this year. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sydena Saifuddin also addressed the gathering.

The Prime Minister was received by Chouhan and others on his arrival at the Devi Ahilyabai Airport at Indore.
the religious congregation to which the nun who accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her belongs to released the photograph of the victim and the perpetrator seated together in a group. (Representational Image | Pixabay)

Kochi: The Kerala police on Friday filed a case against Missionaries of Jesus for releasing the photograph of the nun with the bishop she has accused of rape.

The Kottayam police has also directed the local police to register victims statement.

Earlier on Friday, the religious congregation to which the nun who accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her belongs to released the photograph of the victim and the perpetrator seated together in a group.

Also Read: Missionaries of Jesus flouts anti-rape law, reveals identity of Kerala nun

The religious orders action flouted the country's anti-rape law, which prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault victims.

The congregation claimed that the May 23, 2015 photograph was taken when the nun was attending a private function along with Bishop Franco Mulakkal. They claimed that the nun had attended several such functions with Mulakkal.

In a press release, the congregation also accused the victim, her five fellow nuns and four others of conspiring against the bishop. It alleged that the nuns had "violated the discipline of the congregation" several times and even refused to renew their vows-- a very important step in the life of a nun in a convent.

The nun has accused Roman Catholic priest Franco Mulakkal of sexually assaulting her multiple time between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop has, however, refuted the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.
The man learnt that the accused had told some youths in the village about the incident, and probably because of the shame he felt, he hanged himself, police said. (Representational Image)

Korba: A 21-year-old man committed suicide after his minor girlfriend was allegedly raped by two men in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, police said Thursday.

The alleged rape took place under Katghora police station limits on September 1, said a police official. It came to light two days ago when the girl, who is 17 years old, revealed it during the investigation of the suicide of Savan Sai, her boyfriend.

Ishwar Das (22) and Khem Kanwar (21) were arrested on the charges of gang-rape and abetment of suicide Wednesday, the official said.

The girl told police that Das and Kanwar accosted them when she was with Sai near a school on the evening of September 1. The accused allegedly thrashed them and raped her in front of Sai before leaving them at the spot, she said.

The next day, on September 2, Sai learnt that the accused had told some youths in the village about the incident, and probably because of the shame he felt, he hanged himself at his house, the police official said.

After the girl told the police about the alleged rape, Das and Kanwar were arrested Wednesday, he said. Further investigation is underway.
New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over the discrimination being meted out to leprosy patients, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and all states to formulate a comprehensive community-based rehabilitation scheme which shall cater to all basic facilities and needs of leprosy-affected people and their families.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, while passing this order on petitions highlighting the plight of leprosy patients, said the scheme shall be aimed at eliminating the stigma that is associated with persons afflicted with leprosy.

Giving a series of directions, the chief justice who wrote the order, said the Centre may consider framing separate rules for assessing the disability quotient of leprosy-affected people for the purpose of issuing disability certificate in the exercise of the power granted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The petitioners had argued that the existing provisions stigmatise and isolate persons affected by leprosy violating their right to live with dignity enshrined in Article 21 of the constitution; they prescribe a differential treatment of persons affected by leprosy.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench said that although leprosy as a disease has been scientifically and medically proven to be curable and manageable with MDT, the fact remains that millions of people and their family members still suffer from leprosy and the social, economic and cultural stigma attached to the said disease. This fact reveals the lack of awareness and the prevailing misguided notions in the society pertaining to leprosy.

Further, the miserable plight of the persons afflicted with leprosy does not end here. It has been highlighted that due to the disability that entails as a result of the disease, the people affected by leprosy suffer additional discrimination in the form of denial of access to health services, education and livelihood options.

At present, majority of the people who are afflicted with leprosy live as a marginalised section in the society deprived of even basic human rights. This has been further brought to the attention of the court that as per the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO), all countries are required to achieve a prevalence of less than one leprosy case per 10,000 persons.

Although India had declared way back on December 31, 2015, that it has achieved the said goal of elimination of leprosy, the progress reports of National Leprosy Eradication Programme have been reporting prevalence rate in certain states. As per the said reports, out of 642 districts in India, only 543 districts have achieved a prevalence rate of less than one case of leprosy for 10,000 persons.

The bench said awareness should be spread about the free availability of MDT at all government healthcare facilities in the country, the prescribed course for MDT treatment and all other relevant information related to MDT. The content and information contained in the awareness programmes should discontinue to use frightening images of people disabled with leprosy and instead should use positive images of cured persons sharing their experiences.

Other directions are the Union and the states are to ensure that drugs for management of leprosy and its complications including the MDT drugs are available free of cost and do not go out of stock at all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) or, as the case may be, public health facilities in the country; all-year awareness campaigns should also be run, by the Union as well as the states, to inform the citizenry that under the NLEP, treatment is provided free of cost to all leprosy cases diagnosed through general health care system, including NGOs.

Awareness campaigns must include information that a person affected by leprosy is not required to be sent to any special clinic or hospital or sanatorium and should not be isolated from the family members or the community.

Further health care to leprosy patients, at both Government as well as private run medical institutions, must be such that medical officials and representatives desist from any discriminatory behaviour while examining and treating them.

Children should not be turned away and attempt should be made to provide them free education; due attention must be paid to ensure that the persons affected with leprosy are issued BPL cards so that they can avail the benefits under AAY scheme and other similar schemes which would enable them to secure their right to food; The Union and the states should endeavour to provide MCR footwear free of cost to all leprosy affected persons.
Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, to emphasise the need for peace and justice, as he visited a mosque in Indore to attend an event organised by the Bohra Muslims. Mr Modi shared the dais with the religious head of Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at the Saifee Nagar at the Ashara Mubarak event which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain and is held annually during the first 10 days of the Shia calendar, coinciding with the Moharram.

Addressing a gathering at the Saifee Mosque, Mr Modi said, Imam Hussain had sacrificed his life for the sake of peace and justice. He had raised his voice against injustice and arrogance. He added that these teachings of Imam Hussain are more important today than those times.

The Prime Minister, who was felicitated by Mr Saifuddin on his arrival at the mosque, showered praise on the Bohra Muslim community for globally spreading the message of co-existence. The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work, Mr Modi said.
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Lucknow: The release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar from jail early on Friday morning, which was being seen as a masterstroke by the ruling BJP to divide the dalit voter base of the Bahujan Samaj Party, seems to have backfired with the released leader saying he had no differences with Ms Mayawati and that she was like a bua (aunt) to him. The Yogi Adityanath government had on Thursday ordered the release of Chandrashekhar two months before his sentence under the National Security Act ended. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that the government had taken this decision on an application by Chandrashekhars mother.

Chandrashekhar walked out of Saharanpur jail at 2.30.am on Friday and told reporters that his release from jail was due to the fact that the state government was scared that they would be rebuked by the Supreme Court. I am sure that this government will again frame some charges against me and send me back to jail within 10 days. They want to keep me in jail till the Lok Sabha polls are over. However, till then I will ask my people to throw the BJP out of power in 2019, he told reporters, making it clear that the BJP would continue to be his target.

Social activist S.R. Darapuri also said on Friday: The release of Chandrashekhar is only because of the Supreme Court factor. The BJP has no sympathy for dalits. The Bhim Army chief, while replying to a question, said he had no differences with Ms Mayawati as she had been fighting for the rights of dalits.
Hyderabad: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has directed Telangana state party leaders to expose corruption in the TRS government. He has asked party leaders to work unitedly to defeat the TRS in the Assembly elections. He reportedly told this to former minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and his brother and MLC Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy who met him separately on Friday at Delhi.

Mr Venkata Reddy speaking to mediapersons said, Mr Rahul Gandhi said the Congress should win the elections. He asked everyone to work in coordination. He directed us to expose the corruption of the TRS government in irrigation projects. He directed us to make the people aware of unemployment and problems of the Dalits. All the leaders have decided to stop groupism and we will be working together," the former minister said.

He said he had urged Mr Rahul Gandhi to give tickets to persons who were in the party from the beginning and also to the youth. Mr Rajagopal Reddy said, Mr Rahul Gandhi discussed the other parties that would be fighting along with us. He has instructed us not to sacrifice any of the winning seats for the sake of the alliance.
Hyderabad: With the increasing dissidence in the party over official candidates, TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao intervened to solve this problem. Mr Chandrasekhar Rao held a teleconference on Thursday with party candidates. KCR told the candidates that it was the candidates responsibility to resolve the dissidence against them from the party leaders. He asked those candidates who were facing dissidence to discuss with their rivals and solve the problem.

He also directed the candidates to enrol voters in their respective constituencies. He asked them to set up booth level committees at the earliest. He asked the candidates to intensify the campaign. After announcing the 105 candidates, those party leaders who were denied tickets raised their voice against the official candidates. The dissident leaders are conducting meetings with their followers against the party candidates. In some constituencies the dissidence leaders are protesting against official candidates every day. The upcoming elections are crucial to the TRS at a time when the Congress is forming a grand alliance of like-minded parties to defeat the TRS.

The TRS leadership did not expect dissidence within the party after announcing the candidates. Ministers KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao are holding discussions with dissident leaders and convincing them. After noticing the seriousness of dissidence, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao decided to intervene himself. He had discussions with TRS MLA Nallala Odelu in the dissolved assembly who was denied a ticket from Chennur in Adilabad district.

Odelu who had locked himself inside his home and had threatened to take drastic steps in protest against the TRS for denying him a ticket, has turned loyalist to the party after he held discussions with Mr Chandrasekara Rao. Mr Chandrasekhara Rao told the candidates to resolve the dissidence in their constituencies; and if they failed he would intervene to solve the issue. TRS sources said if in any constituency, the party candidate was facing severe opposition from within the party, the high command could have a rethink and change the candidate at the last minute.
Bengaluru: While the Central government was celebrating Hindi Diwas on Friday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists took to National Highways and blackened the Hindi text written in signboards and kilometre stones in several parts of the state.

According to KRV president T.A. Narayana Gowda, this was in protest against the alleged imposition of Hindi language on non-Hindi speaking people in the country. The activists blacked the signboards and kilometer stones in Bengaluru, Davangere, Shivamogga and other districts.

The activists called for equal treatment of all the languages spoken in the country and protested the governments move to declare Hindi as national language and then impose it on all the states in the country.

India is a multilingual country with people speaking hundreds of languages. Making Hindi as the official language of Union government is unacceptable and is disrespectful to other languages. If the government wants to celebrate only Hindi Diwas, we condemn the move, Gowda said.

The KRV leader said he would carry on the protest against the imposition of Hindi, until other languages are given equal importance.

It may be recalled that in June and July last year, the Kannada activists had blackened Hindi signboards in metro stations in the city.
Srisailam/Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he would not be scared by court notices as he had not indulged in any criminal activity but had only fought for the genuine cause of Uttara Telangana, which would have been affected by the Babli dam. He was speaking at Srisailam a day after a court in Dharmabad, Maharashtra, had issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with an agitation eight years ago against the construction of the Babli barrage across the Godavari river. Mr Naidu was the Opposition leader in undivided AP at that time.

IT minister Nara Lokesh said that Mr Naidu would appear before the Dharmabad court on September 21. I heard about the non-bailable warrant issued against me and others in connection with an agitation in 2010 against the Maharashra government for constructing the barrage at Babli. I did not do any criminal activity. The Maharashtra police detained us and sent us to Hyderabad in a special aircraft, Mr Naidu said.

He said that he had challenged the Maharashtra police that they could take whatever action they wanted even for a peaceful protest. After this, we heard about the notices after a long gap of eight years. Well think of about our steps in this connection, he said. Mr Naidu was served the non-bailable warrant for not appearing for court hearings since 2013. He is said to have received the summons when he was in Tirumala on Thursday.

The AP government is likely to appeal in the court to exempt Mr Naidu from future appearances since he holds a public office which keeps him busy and makes him travel a lot. Mr Naidu and 15 others were charged under the Indian Penal Code for offences such as assault, use of criminal force, deterring public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, and criminal intimidation, among others. Our party men will appear before the Dharmabad court on September 21, said TD AP unit president Kala Venkat Rao.
New Delhi: Twentyfour years later, the Supreme Court said on Friday that former Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan was arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty in a 1994 spy case. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Dr Narayanan Rs 50 lakh compensation.

Observing that the reputation of former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, has been tarnished by Kerala police, which arrested him in an alleged 1994 espionage case, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the state to pay in eight weeks a compensation of `50 lakh to him for malicious prosecution.

Giving this relief to Mr. Narayanan, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud also set up a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge D.K. Jain to determine the appropriate disciplinary action that could be recommended against the then investigating officers  S. Vijayan, the then inspector, special branch, Thiruvananthapuram city, K.K. Joshwa, the then dy. SP, CB CID, Thiruvananthapuram, S. Siby Methews, the then DIG (crimes) of the special investigation team who investigated the so-called ISRO Espionage case.

The bench allowing the plea of Mr Narayanan further clarified that the amount of Rs 50 lakh compensation would be in addition to the Rs 1 crore defamation suit he had filed in a Kerala civil court which is still pending. It is for the scientist to decide whether he wants to pursue the civil suit or not, the court said. The bench passed the historic verdict on an appeal filed by Mr Narayanan challenging a 2015 judgment of Kerala high court refusing to order disciplinary action against the erring police officers for falsely implicating him and others in the case. The CBI, which had earlier taken up the espionage case, had also stated in a report that no case was made out against Mr Narayanan and others.
Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah will launch his party's poll campaign for the Assembly elections on Saturday. Mr Shah will address a public meeting in Mahbubnagar and meet party leaders from state to booth level to get the party in shape for the upcoming elections. He will also begin the exercise of selection of candidates. The party will make known its list of candidates after the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission.

BJP state president Dr K. Laxman said Mr Shahs campaign will create pol-itical tremors in the state and check the alliance between the TRS and the MIM. He termed the alliance between the TRS and MIM as a most dangerous one and alleged that both the Congress and TRS worked hand in glove with the MIM and helped it to grow from a galli party to a Delhi party. He predicted that MIM will become a hanging rope for the TRS.

Mr Shah will arrive at Begumpet airport by a special flight at 11.30 am. The BJP state unit has arranged a grand reception for him at the airport. He will offer prayers at Lal Darwaja temple in the Old City at 2 pm and will head to Mahabubnagar later where he will launch the party's poll campaign by addressing a public meeting at MVS College Grouds,at 3 pm.

Dr Laxman said Mr Shah will address another public meeting in Karimnagar in the next 15 days. Telangana people are fed up with Congress, TDP and TRS rule. They want change in the upcoming elections and are looking at the BJP as a better alternative for all. Voting for Congress and TRS will amount to voting for MIM, he said. He has demanded that the EC conduct elections only after inquiring why lakhs of votes were deleted from the voters list.
Thiruvananthapuram: The students of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Cottonhill here, protested against the water shortage on Friday.

The school which has over 6,000 students needed around 50,000 litres of water daily and used the water of the KWA, a well and a borewell. The well dried up on Thursday. Though six tanker lorries were used to transport water from the KWA to deal with the shortage, there was not enough force to pump the water to the high-rise points on the campus, including the portion where the SSLC wing of the school functioned.

Though the school approached various authorities, including the Mayor and MLAs for help, the issue could not be sorted out. Though water was supplied to parts of the campus, it did not solve the problem.

The students boycotted the classes in the afternoon shouting slogans demanding water supply.

M.S. Kabeer, a teacher of the high school section, told Deccan Chronicle that they could not suspend the classes for a day as most of the parents will be in offices during the time. As it is a girls school, students could not be sent home when parents were present. Hence, classes continued till evening, said Kabeer.
Perhaps the leadership of the BJP should have consulted its pater familias Mohan Bhagwat before adopting their new slogan for the 2019 general election: Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP (Invincible India, Steadfast BJP). In his address to the World Hindu Congress in Chicago, Mr Bhagwat urged Hindus to unite because an isolated lion could be hunted down by a pack of wild dogs. Was the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) suggesting that the organisation formed to unify and empower Hindus almost a century ago was nowhere close to its goal of Hindu invincibility?

If Indias largest community, the Hindus, feels as vulnerable as a lion separated from its pride after nearly 10 years of BJP rule at the Centre  (the combined tenure of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and the late Atal Behari Vajpayee), surely the party must share some responsibility for the corrosion of invincibility within its primary support base.

While Atal BJP reaffirms the partys ideological commitment to a strong nation, it is also a nod to its brahmin voters. The play on the word Atal is a giveaway. The BJP is harking back to the legacy of its first Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, a brahmin, to gather together its upper caste voters for Mr Modis re-election in 2019.

Taken together, the lion in distress metaphor of Mr Bhagwat, the promise of an invincible (Hindu) nation and the dream of an Atal BJP present the broad contours of the 2019 election strategy of the party, centred on uniting Hindus of all shades and colours.

However, increasing acrimony around the divisions of caste makes it more and more apparent that a party and an ideology that came to power to unite the Hindus has left them more disunited than ever before. This time around the BJP will be forced to go beyond its time-tested divisive strategy of Hindus versus Muslims. Religious polarisation may have gone as far as it could.

Recognising the limited purchase of the communal card today, other plans are afoot therefore to ensure that Hindus of all hues coalesce behind the BJP. For this, the BJP is aware that it will have to woo every caste division of Hindu society separately.

Considered a party of upper caste Hindus, it would have been unthinkable only a few years ago that upper caste activists would throw stones or shoes at the BJP chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Or that these castes would call an all-India strike against the Narendra Modi government for diluting the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, using Parliament to actively subvert a Supreme Court order.

Even a senior brahmin leader from Uttar Pradesh like Kalraj Mishra has come out into the open to warn the government that the upper castes are angry over the BJPs measures that appear to support the misuse of the SC/ST Act against other castes. In addition, the upper castes are also exercised by the Narendra Modi government pitching for reservations in promotions for the SC/STs.

Upper caste anger against the party that speaks for them could be genuine. But some of these demonstrations appear orchestrated. They have come so late in the day  more than a month after the Modi government amended the SC/ST Act to nullify the Supreme Courts verdict  that one wonders whether there is more to them than meets the eye. It is worth noting that these agitations have been largely symbolic, and that the upper caste anger has not surfaced in those parts of India where the BJP has no stake. It also stretches credulity that a senior leader like Kalraj Mishra would go public with his criticism donning his brahmin hat without a nod and wink from the powers that be. Perhaps there was little harm in a little public criticism if it helped to project the Modi government as a partisan of dalit interests.

When it comes to voting, the upper castes, the BJP seems to believe, may have no option but to support the party in 2019. That may explain the exceptional lionising of the partys tallest brahmin leader, Atal Behari Vajpayee, after his death. The BJP wants to make sure that when the lion is in distress, the upper castes will not hunt with the hounds.

But it is not only the brahmins, vaishyas and rajputs who are upset with the Modi government. Other forward castes like the Marathas, Jats, Patels and Kapus have been agitating for reservations. The road to including economic criterion for reservations is being laid through the Justice V. Rohini Commission on re-categorisation of the Other Backward Classes. For the OBCs who may be drawn to their own caste-based parties, the BJP is projecting itself as their champion, having given the National Commission for Backward Classes statutory status.

The dalits are being told that the government is their best protection against atrocities by the upper castes. The overturning of the Supreme Court decision by the government, to retain the stronger provisions of the SC/ST Act, is the BJPs best argument for its commitment to dalit empowerment.

However, it wants them to give up the term dalit or oppressed to refer to themselves. The term draws from the struggles of the commnunity itself. Instead, they are asked to call themselves Scheduled Castes, a category that reduces them to passive clients of a patron government.

Insistence on the patron-client nomenclature separates dalits from their own struggles of resistance that have been led by their own leaders rather than by the political parties. The dalits are effectively being told to isolate their future from agitations against the Una flogging of dalits, the treatment of the Bhim Army and the incarceration of its leader Chandrashekhar, and the Bhima-Koregaon violence. They must commit their future with the pride of lions, not join the wild dogs.

So while its own governance has increased the turbulence between castes, the lion in distress is trying all the tricks of the trade to get them to line up behind it and keep the hunting dogs at bay.

The writer is a journalist based in New Delhi
After Nepals last-minute decision to pull out of the India-devised military drills of the seven-nation Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sector Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Pune (September 10-17), there is not much left to the imagination. Its plain to see whats happening in India-Nepal ties. Kathmandu is clearly making a calibrated attempt to rework its foreign, economic and defence policies away from its earlier moorings in India to one that privileges China in an open, unhesitant, attempt to balance New Delhi.

A more proximate relationship with China poses obvious practical difficulties one of massive physical distances. Kathmandu announced, as it sent a negative message to New Delhi over Bimstec military drills, that Beijing was making available four of its seaports and two dry ports for the transit of Nepals international trade. This is a process over which India has always had a monopoly. For Nepal, the nearest Chinese port is some 2,600 km away, unlike Indian ports. So there must be something attractive about the Chinese offer. The ports seem part of a wider infrastructure package that includes building a road between the two nations.

Many smaller countries entering into a long-term politico-economic agreement with China have come to grief. Sri Lanka is one example. Malaysia cancelled ongoing projects. For now, however, Nepal (from the RSS-BJPs analytical prism, we can say Hindu Nepal) has placed more trust in China than in India.

New Delhi does need to introspect. Was the 2015 blockade of Nepal (although India itself wasnt involved) by Nepals Madhesi interests whore seen as pro-Indian the cause of mistrust for Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli, who is widely thought to be inclined toward China?

India should also see why military drills were at all needed for Bimstec (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal). If the concern was anti-terrorism, which is one of Bimstecs 14 focus areas along with economic development indicators, this could have been addressed otherwise. It doesnt appear India had prepared the ground politically for all Bimstec nations to readily accept military exercises with India. Nepal seemed to be signalling that while economic and technical cooperation within the Bimstec framework was fine, being a part of an India-driven military effort was not kosher while Kathmandu was wooing Beijing.

Its also feasible that Nepals last-minute withdrawal from the Pune exercises was instigated by Beijing. That puts an even worse construction on relations between India and Nepal. Its of interest that while Kathmandu was busy saying nyet to the seven-nation military exercises mooted by India, it was announcing its participation in a military drill with China, a process that had begun a year ago.
Neither psychiatry nor medical science had yet detected hormones determining sexual orientation. But gay activity was not worn on sleeves, even though it had acquired social acquiescence. (Representational Images)

If there were no Article 377 in the decades before and after Partition, would Anjuman-e-Jaanbazgan (society of the valiant) been an open, registered organisation in Hyderabad? It probably would. In fact, as long as the feudal hangover lasted, such societies operated in Delhi, Lucknow and Rampur almost everywhere, but they were underground.

These groups were led by baankas or dandies who groomed young boys into sex. Secrecy was imposed subsequently on these groups by Victorian morality, which expanded in direct proportion to the colonial order.

The motto for love life in the days of latter Mughals could well have been borrowed from ancient Greece. Women are for business; boys for pleasure. This imbalance is very much at the heart of Ismat Chughtais 1942 classic Lihaaf, or Quilt. The protagonist is awestruck at the Quilt rising like an elephant. Obviously Begum Jan and her maidservant, Rabbo, were reaching their climax. Begum Jans need for assigning extracurricular work (masseuse) to Rabbo arose because Nawab Sahib was, after a fashion, more inclined towards other men. This cyclical sport was side by side with straight relationships. Segregation of the sexes was clearly promoted stag binges. Neither psychiatry nor medical science had yet detected hormones determining sexual orientation. But gay activity was not worn on sleeves, even though it had acquired social acquiescence.

The latter Mughal period was a paradise for gays. This paradise was lost with the coming of the British with their Victorian baggage. While anti-sodomy laws pushed the gay community into secrecy, Western education opened up other areas of enlightenment too. Womens liberation among them. Ironically, this led to the multiplication of gays for peculiar reasons.

Aggressive womens movement, in its turn, liberated to a point where men began to nurse nostalgia for good old romantic femininity.

Motia hiraye gayee, Rama

Kaise dhoon dhoon, (search)

Dhoondat, dhoondat,

baorae gayee, Rama

(I have lost the pearl, my fathers gift,

O Rama, how to find it?

I am going mad searching

for it.)

The pearl has been lost in a moment of passionate ecstasy.

This raw ecstasy in the folk song is not the stuff of sex today when urban emancipation conditions sexual behaviour.

Bihari Lal Chaube (1595-1663), describes a devar husbands younger brother, a constant in erotic Hindi poetry, throwing a flower playfully on his sister-in-law.

Goosebumps of joy appeared on her limbs,

Mistaking them for insect bites

I hastened with a jar of ointment.

But when she smiled I

guessed the truth

and stayed my hand.

Even Ghalib (1797-1869) puts his urbanity aside in her presence.

Is nazakat ka bura ho, woh

bhaley hain bhi to kya

Haath aayein to unhein haath

lagaye na baney

(Though wonderful she be, I hesitate to touch her, such is the delicacy of her form.)

Raghupati Sahai or Firaq Gorakhpuri (1896-1982), describes:

Woh hai ghuncha, ghuncha jo dekhiye

Woh hai choomiye to dahan dahan.

(Look at her, and she is a half open bud.

Kiss her and she is all mouth.)

This is a report from a situation of docile submission, not aggressive emancipation.

John Keats in his letters could address Fanny Brawne as My dear girl. Try the patronising tone on the professional MBA you are trying to date and she will hurl a paperweight at you.

There were other digressions. For instance, folks travelling to England for the first time in the 1960s were recipients of a tract from the British high commission listing the dos and donts. Among the donts was a paragraph in italics: A single woman may invite you to her apartment for tea and refreshments. This must not be taken for license. Journey was being undertaken by men from backgrounds of sexual segregation. That the tract did not warn one about the risks of accepting gentlemens hospitality was presumably because Victorianism had not quite faded in the 60s.

In those days the androgynous appeal of Twiggy, the modelling sensation, was the big draw. The fashion industry had marketed flat-chested girls, looking like boys, as the new sex symbols. The trend had been initiated by the haute couture in Paris. Balenciaga and Givenchy were in love and presumably had copious sex too, as did others in that business. You were a square if you were straight.

If men were going to be so unidirectional, women too were beginning to experience things they called freedom. All generalisation are hopelessly inadequate. The freedom was in fact a device to protect self-esteem, increasingly bruised by the casual indifference of men. Womens emancipation clashed headlong with the femininity which poetry, thumri, folk songs and love letters had burdened our aesthetics with for centuries.

The emancipated, professional woman is light years away from the village belle who lost her pearl during sex. In asserting her gender equality does the contemporary woman cause her partner to feel inadequate who then begins to withdraw from women for emotional security? In brief, the belle who lost the pearl is more relaxing; the emancipated woman is more challenging.

Freudian complexities, which attend evolving man-woman equations, causes some of the youth of both sexes to find greater comfort, relaxation and friendship in seeking out persons of their own sex for all-purpose relationships. The withdrawal of men from the market causes women to move in the other direction.

This sociologically conditioned augmentation of the LGBT community is only a fraction of those who are gay or heterosexual for hormonal reasons.

Social reasons for this increase will cause the stream to join the torrent, a function of many streams, which could lead to unsettling demographic changes.

The Supreme Court judgment brings out of the purdah which was hidden. Does a whole body of poetry on that which was behind the curtain become kosher too? It is great poetry from Chaucer and Iqbal to Jafar Zatalli, Chirkeen, Rafi Ahmad Khan, Mahshar Enayati, Abba Changezi, Uriyan Hyderabadi. Do we have their lordships permission to bring it all out in the open?

The writer is a senior journalist and commentator based in New Delhi
The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, also marks the biggest tragedy in Islamic history. (Representational image)

The month of Muharram is upon us, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Even before the advent of Islam, Muharram was one of the four sacred months in which war and bloodshed were forbidden.

In Islamic traditions, the 10th of Muharram, is said to be amongst the most blessed of days. It is believed that on this day God accepted Adams appeal for forgiveness, rescued Prophet Jonah from the fishs abdomen, restored the health of Job, saved Abraham from the fire of Nimrod, granted Solomon his kingdom, anchored Noahs ark at Mount Judi after it had been sailing for six months.

The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, also marks the biggest tragedy in Islamic history. Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad was martyred at the battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The tyrannical Yazid had declared himself ruler of the Islamic caliphate and ordered allegiance from Imam Hussain, who rose against those who acted falsely in the name of Islam. He refused to legitimise the unjust rule of a debauch tyrant.

Imam Hussain continued to fight valiantly till his head was severed from his body while he prostrated in prayer. Imam Hussains sacrifice continues to remind us the difference between falsehood and truth, the difference between Islam as taught by Prophet Muhammad and the false version as exploited and propagated for political gains.

Sadia Dehlvi is a Delhi-based writer and author of Sufism: The Heart of Islam.
November this year will probably see the South Korean brand launching the first ever foldable smartphone. (Image: Samsung/Twitter)

We are already holding our breath for the foldable smartphone which is expected to be uncovered by the end this year by Samsung. While that is still some time away, the company is highly likely to launch a Galaxy smartphone with as many as four cameras which, surprisingly, will be at the rear.

Leaks had already been suggesting of Samsung planning to execute such a move and now, the company has itself released a picture through its Twitter handle stating 4X fun. This clears our doubts further. As per the image, the Galaxy smartphone with four rear cameras will be getting unveiled on October 11. The company has not officially confirmed any model name and it doesnt usually announce phones during this time of year.

Moreover, November this year will probably see the South Korean brand launching the first ever foldable smartphone which, after that, will be available commercially. We cannot expect this unconventional device to come out in October though since the companys chief signaled its possible unveiling at the Samsung Developers Conference (SDC), San Francisco, to be held in November.

Reports also suggest that the device at the October event could be the new Galaxy A series device which is expected to get a set of three cameras along with an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, nothing could be commented on and, in order to find out which device will sport the four camera setup, if it comes, we need to wait till October 11.

(Via)

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Wilmington: Hurricane Florence smashed into the US East Coast on Friday with howling winds, torrential rains and life-threatening storm surges as emergency crews scrambled to rescue hundreds of people stranded in their homes by flood waters.

Forecasters warned of catastrophic flooding and other mayhem from the monster storm, which is only Category 1, but physically sprawling and dangerous. The port city of Wilmington woke on Friday to the sound of exploding electrical tran-sformers with strong gu-sts throwing street signs and other debris as well as water in all directions.

The storm made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7.15 am, the National Hurricane Centre said. Ken Graham, the NHCs director, warned the slow pace of the storm exacerbated its danger even to areas outside its immediate path.

The longer you have this hurricane wind flow, the longer you push that water well inland, he said. Rescue workers in North Carolina meanwhile were scrambling to save people stranded in their homes. Video footage showed parking lots in the riverfront town of New Bern turn into shallow lakes of dirty gray water as heavy rain fell. New Bern Police Lt. David Daniels said that between 150 and 200 people were rescued so far, with others still waiting for help.
Making his first appointment after assuming office as DMK president, M K Stalin on Friday named former Union minister T R Baalu as the party's principal secretary, placing him fourth in the pecking order.

Baalu, an influential leader from the Cauvery delta region, is one of the senior leaders of the DMK and was the party's pointsman in New Delhi for close to a decade.

Baalu, who was part of H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujral, A B Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh's council of ministers, had held various portfolios including the high-profile highways and shipping ministries.

Baalu succeeds S Durai Murugan, who was elected Treasurer of the DMK last month when Stalin took over as the party president after his father M Karunanidhi's death on August 7.

The appointment of Baalu to the fourth important position in the DMK is aimed at consolidating votes of the influential Mukulathor (Thevar, Kallar and Maravar) community in the Delta region.

Baalu, though always contested polls in and around Chennai, the DMK feels his appointment can bring his community closer to the party. Baalu's son T R B Rajaa represents the Mannargudi constituency in Tiruvarur district.

Political observers and DMK insiders say the party feels an influential leader with the stature of Baalu was needed to woo the Mukulathor community, which has traditionally leaned towards the AIADMK.

"With the votes of the community now certain to split between the AIADMK led by EPS-OPS and rebel Dhinakaran, the DMK feels this is the best chance to split the votes and bring a sizeable chunk towards the party," a senior leader told DH.

Both O Panneerselvam and T T V Dhinakaran belong to the community, whose influence is spread across more than half-a-dozen districts in Tamil Nadu. Baalu's appointment is likely to revive the turf war between the former Union minister and his colleague S S Palanimanickam, who also hails from Thanjavur. Palanimanickam, though close to Karunanidhi, does not enjoy the same equation with Stalin.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE  Former Upland Borough Council President Ed Mitchell was sentenced Friday to 65 to 348 months in a state correctional facility for a years-long kickback scheme involving the owner of an Eddystone security system company.

You are a thief, Common Pleas Court Judge John Capuzzi told Mitchell before imposing sentence. You stole from the taxpayers under the guise of being Robin Hood, except you were the recipient of the alleged benevolence. You are greedy. You are pompous. You violated your oath of office, you denigrated the position of borough councilman, you defiled the Borough of Upland and you made fools of the electorate.

Mitchell was convicted following a jury trial in July on 42 of 44 counts, including six counts each of theft by deception and restricted activities, 12 counts of criminal conspiracy and 18 counts of bribery.

He was somewhat ironically acquitted on two counts of intercept communications concerning secret cameras installed in borough offices, the discovery of which led to his downfall.

Mitchell, 76, of Fourth Street, a Republican, served on council for 17 years until his resignation Monday, including eight as president until he was replaced by Christine Peterson in 2016.

Thomas Willard, former owner of Eddystone security system company Logan Technology Solutions, testified at trial that he paid kickbacks to Mitchell over a period of about six years in exchange for securing no-bid contracts at borough properties.

He would make sure that the jobs would go through properly, said Willard. We worked out a deal where I would cash the checks and he would get some money from each check from the jobs.

Investigators found there were more than 275 invoices and payments to Logan totaling $914,000 between October 2009 and December 2015.

Willard entered an open guilty plea to all 82 counts against him prior to Mitchells trial and was sentenced Thursday to 23 months of intermediate punishment, largely for his cooperation with the case.

Among the contracts provided to Logan was a $30,300 payment for police dashboard cameras that Willard said he never ordered. Willard said he and Mitchell concocted a story that the equipment had been stolen and that Willard should rebill the borough for more than $15,000 in replacement parts.

Willard and Mitchell were ordered to pay joint restitution of $45,762 to the borough for those bills.

Jurors also heard from numerous borough personnel and Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Timothy Deery, who recorded an interview with Mitchell while serving a search warrant at his home in August 2016.

Was there a time when you signed off on  that check knowing you were going to get part of that nut? Deery asked in that interview.

Not all the time, but there were times, yes, replied Mitchell on the tape.

Mitchell estimated it had happened no more than 25 or 30 times over five years in that interview, but said it could be higher. He also said the payments he received were never more than $800.

But one former Logan employee testified that Willard had once directed him to retrieve a $5,000 kickback from a check cashing business and deliver it to Mitchell at his house.

In addition to the kickback scheme, Mitchell was accused of secretly recording fellow council members and others using covert cameras and microphones that Willard placed in the secretarys office and council chambers, allegedly at Mitchells direction.

The cameras were discovered by then-mayor and current borough Manager Michael Ciach in March 2016. Willard testified that Mitchell directed him to install the cameras and microphones, and that Mitchell had remote access to the recording system through his phone.

The discovery of the cameras prompted the CID investigation that eventually resulted in Mitchells and Willards arrests.

Ciach told the judge Friday that Mitchell was a vindictive man who would go after anything he could to gain leverage over you if you crossed him  including loved ones  and then brag about it afterward.

Capuzzi also heard from borough resident Denise Crawford, who said she had been duped into convincing neighbors that Mitchell was trustworthy and worthy of their vote, as well as current council Vice President Moira Crawford, who said Mitchell had violated his oath to protect and serve the borough.

Mr. Mitchell lined his pockets with taxpayer monies and while doing so harmed every resident of our borough, said Moira Crawford, speaking on behalf of council. The funds that Mr. Mitchell took could have been used for projects within our borough, including, but not limited to, services for senior citizens, our youth, capital improvements, as well as equipment, to name a few.

Mitchell did not speak pending an appeal on advice of co-counsel John Flannery and William Davis, but his daughter and wife addressed the court.

My father has made the choice all his life to be the man who gets things done, said Pamela Mitchell. He has held me accountable, been brutally honest, expected much and wanted little. He has done nothing but try to make my life, my familys life, better, and the same can be said with the community he served and the town which he calls home.

Ive never known Ed to take a bribe or do anything illegal that he has been charged with, said Mitchells wife of 49 years, Linda. While Ed doesnt attend church as much as I would like, he has been a faithful, loving husband, a great father and a truly good neighbor to our community and school.

Flannery argued that Mitchell suffers from a host of health problems and that the six years sought by Assistant District Attorney Mary Mann amounted to a life sentence.

Flannery characterized the crimes Mitchell was convicted of as a blip in the radar of an otherwise exemplary life, with no prior convictions on his record. He said Mitchell does not live a lavish lifestyle and has resigned his position on council amidst the humiliation of his conviction.

But Mann noted Mitchell had only resigned on Monday  after receiving his monthly stipend last Thursday. She added that that any infirmities he might be suffering from could be addressed by the Department of Corrections and that Mitchell still does not appear to have taken any responsibility for his actions.

In fact, if you look at the presentence investigation he claims he didnt do it, she said. He doesnt care what he did. As he stands here today, I would suggest to you that he still doesnt care what he did. He didnt care when he was doing it and he doesnt care now.

Mann asked that Capuzzi impose a prison sentence to send a message that this type of behavior cannot be tolerated by elected officials. The judge, who also spent 16 years on Yeadon Borough Council and the Marple Township Board of Commissioners, let Mitchell have it with both barrels before imposing sentence.

You exhibited total disdain for the mayor, the other members of council, the borough employees and the people of Upland, Capuzzi said. Much like a child predator, you slowly groomed these somewhat naive and trusting persons into thinking you had the best interests of the borough at heart. As a result, council  to its detrimental reliance  abdicated much of its responsibility and oversight. You evolved into a ruthless dictator who took revenge on anyone who had the audacity to question your actions.

Capuzzi added that he found Mitchells denial of receiving kickbacks in the presentence report was pure baloney and that he deserved no leniency due to his age or health.

In addition to prison time, Mitchell will serve four years of probation and will refund his monthly stipend for September to the borough. He will be eligible for early release on good time in 54 months.

Flannery asked that his client be allowed to remain on bail pending the appeals process, but the judge denied the motion and ordered Mitchell taken into custody immediately.
NEWTOWN  A statewide teachers union has made its recommendations for candidates in this years state House and Senate races.

The Pennsylvania State Education Associations Political Action Committee for Education (PSEA-PACE) for the Southeast region formally put itsr support behind state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, and state Reps. Alex Charlton, R-165 of Springfield, and Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, during a press conference at Marple Newtown High School Thursday afternoon.

The three incumbent GOP legislators gave thanks to the organization and local educators who supported them for the upcoming Nov. 6 general election.

To have the privilege and the honor of having their endorsement means so much to me, said McGarrigle. Its not always easy to get the votes you need to bring the money in to education; its always a fight, but we think its a fight worth fighting for every single day.

Charlton, a father of three including two school-aged girls, said he cant have kids growing up without good teachers helping them along the way and he wants to keep passing legislation that benefits students and teachers.

As parents and teachers, Quinn noted, is to be able to pass on what theyve had to the next generation.

Thats why I support the families and teachers of Pennsylvania, he said. I really just want to say thank you and its an honor.

In a prepared statement, PSEA Southeast Region President Korri Brown said the legislators that they understand the issues and have been leaders in the Legislature in working to ensure that our schools are safe and properly funded.

The lawmakers were applauded for passing budgets that increased education funding, adding $60 million in safe school grants and, for McGarrigle, authoring legislation that would change the graduation Keystone Exam requirements.

In addition to McGarrigle, Quinn and Charlton, incumbents from Delaware County fared well with state Reps. Brian Kirkland, D-159 of Chester, Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Nether Providence, Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, and Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, earning recommendations. An open seat in House District 162, currently held by outgoing Rep. Nick Miccarelli of Ridley Park, had Democrat Dave Delloso also earning a recommendation from the union over Republican Mary Hopper.

The exclusion of challengers earning recommendations in these races was apparent, but McGarrigles Democratic opponent, Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney, still sees education as being an equal opportunity regardless of zip code.

Tim will work with the American Federation of Teachers PA and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers  who have enthusiastically endorsed his campaign  as well as any group interested in making that plan become reality for the students and families of Delaware and Chester counties, said Kearneys campaign manager Sam Thomas late Thursday.

Forty candidates were interviewed for the recommendations from January through August which included completion of a 20-page questionnaire.
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.
SALT LAKE CITY  On Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Capitol Theatre, the Chick Corea Trio, featuring bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and jazz drummer Marcus Gilmore, will appear for the first time in JazzSLC's 24-year history.

For the jazz series' founder Gordon Hanks, this is a dream come true.

Since the beginning of the series, weve always wanted to have Chick Corea in any musical combination, the trio or the entire band, play at the Capitol Theatre," he said in an interview. "Wed almost given up when a time slot became available late last spring. With a bit of juggling, we were able to move things around to accommodate the trio, and what a wonderful way to start the concert series.

That might be an understatement.

Corea has amassed an amazing 64 Grammy nominations with 22 Grammy awards, as well as three additional Latin Grammy Awards. There are only three other jazz musicians in the history of the Grammys who have received more nominations and Corea, 77, still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

One of Corea's great gifts is how he has reimagined the piano. In an interview with NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, the musician explained that for him, the piano is a very complex drum.

"I think of the piano like that," Corea said. "Like a great big marimba. Or a percussion instrument. There's so many possibilities of putting it together when you've got 10 mallets and 88 drums."

Saturday night's concertgoers can expect everything from classic jazz arrangements to bebop to blues to symphonic chamber music recomposed as jazz.

Thats the deal about Coreas work, Hanks said. Ive seen him perform countless times and its always a surprise what he brings to the stage. In a sense, it reminds me of a magic act. Whats he going to pull out of the hat now?

The genius and generosity of Coreas talents extend to his trio members, and they get ample time to display their own talents.

Bassist Del Puerto is one of the bass world's greats. At 17 years old, Del Puerto won the Best New Jazz Artist at the International Jazz Festival in Havana, Cuba, and brings with him an impressive array of jazz tributes.

Not to be outdone, drummer Gilmore, the youngest member of the trio, picked up the drums at the age of 10 and was greatly influenced and encouraged by his grandfather, the legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes.

In an interview with the New York Times_,_ Gilmore spoke of his own drumming style. I always wanted to be a drummer who knew how to get around the drums," he said. "But also I wanted to be a taste drummer  one who knows how to interact as opposed to bashing everything. I want my work to be musical.

That musicality will be on display Saturday night, as the Chick Corea Trio brings to the stage the best of jazz. In so many ways, Corea is jazz, and for Hanks, having him in Salt Lake is a gift.

"This concert will not disappoint," he said. "Its truly a rare opportunity to see one of the greatest musicians of our time perform here in Salt Lake City."

If you go 

What: Chick Corea Trio

When: Saturday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South

How much: $39.50 for adults, $10 for students with valid ID

Web: artsaltlake.org
Scott is a big man, with hands that could crush a coconut. His soft-spoken demeanor belies his past. He joined a gang with his cousins in his early teenage years for protection, and then in a fight over the mistreatment of a girl, he fired a shot into the chest of one of those cousins. Scott was 17. He was convicted of manslaughter and spent the next 13 years in prison. I always believed in God, he says. But I had this dual life, go to church and then have to fight to survive. Prison mostly separated Scott from the gang life. He spent long hours in the kennel or isolation. Its there that he read scriptures, earned his GED, and prayed, a lot. Theres not a lot to do, and youre left alone to talk to God. It changed me.

According to Prison Policy.org, the United States locks up more people per capita than any other nation  2.3 million people. Based on a combination of incarceration rates, recidivism, equality in jailing and sexual violence in prisons, U.S. News and World Report ranks Utah as the 6th best corrections facility in the country  mostly due to low incarceration percentages per population.

In Utah, there are opportunities to earn high school diplomas and technical certificates, theres even a yoga instructor certification program. There are also 1,500 church volunteers from 20 different denominations serving at corrections facilities in Utah. Talk to them and theyll tell you how rewarding it is, and how difficult. Its hard for people to change. And these are some people who have done some very bad things, says one volunteer. We try to focus on understanding God and on the forgiveness of Christ.

Inmates gather on Sundays for religious instruction, to sing hymns and to pray. Ecclesiastical leaders do cell visits. It was hard for me, says Scott, because I could only visit with them when I was out of isolation, so it was kind of hit or miss. Still, he kept up his studies. But moving into more contact with other prisoners was tense. There are rival gangs, and there was a gang associate of the man Scott killed. He made it known that he was coming for me, Scott says. I tried to avoid it, but you cant be weak in prison. So we went at it. That rage came back. Its something Ive battled with since I was a little boy, the anger. It didnt look good on my record.

Adopting a new moral hierarchy is perhaps the hardest change we can make. When the top of your hierarchy is to survive, its difficult to supplant that with a belief in God. Psychologist Carl Jung teaches that the top spot on our moral hierarchy is what determines behavior. So if it is survival, you can see how every action would be to ensure that, no matter what the law or the conscience dictates. When a belief in God transcends survival, then behavior softens, decisions are based on what God would have you do. Thats a tall order to face alone.

Our corrections people and all those volunteers deserve our appreciation and admiration. But they also deserve our help. When Scott was released, he struggled to assimilate. He had a domestic violence scuffle and was caught selling marijuana. I had no other way to make money, he says. Theres that survival need rising back to the top of the moral hierarchy. He spent another five years in prison.

For those of us on the outside looking in, its easy to judge, requiring bad people to change or stay locked up forever. But behavioral change relies on a lot of factors, and even if you learn to center your life on God, you still carry past experiences around that try to inform your decisions. You have to consciously override them by enlisting peers to help, changing your environment and constantly reminding yourself of who you want to become.

A good example of this is the GIs returning from World War ll. Many came back from the Pacific theater addicted to opium. The military worried that they would have a huge problem with addicts. Turns out most kicked the habit. They were in a new environment, with supportive peers and a track to success provided by the GI Bill. They had all the right influences in their lives to help them change.

Scott has been out for the second time now for four months. I work a lot, he says. I dont do drugs or alcohol. I read my scriptures every day. I go to church. According to a Pew Research Center study in 2012 of all 50 states, 73 percent of prison chaplains consider religion-related programs in prison to be absolutely critical to successful rehabilitation of inmates. The rehabilitation shouldnt end when an inmate is released. And it shouldnt be limited to programs and assigned volunteers. The change belongs to all of us.

Certainly not every person released from prison is going to make it. Recidivism rates in Utah are about the same as the national average, just under 40 percent. We can help improve that number by helping people like Scott find and keep a job, include him in our Sunday worship and guide him to environments that dont conjure up past behaviors. After all, if God is at the top of our moral hierarchy, then how we treat our fellow man should be influenced by how God would have us act.
SALT LAKE CITY  You can't make this kind of stuff up. Scientists have recovered historic Utah artifacts hidden away in a closet for decades on a college campus over a thousand miles away.

Later this month, the Natural History Museum of Utah will debut the first public exhibit of newly found artifacts related to renowned scientist, environmentalist and Civil War soldier John Wesley Powell, one of the earliest explorers of the American West for whom Lake Powell is named. He gained notoriety for leading the Powell Geographic Expedition, a three-month river trip down the Green and Colorado rivers in 1869 that included the first official U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon.

Recently transferred to the Natural History Museum of Utah, the objects were in storage at Illinois State University, according to Marjorie Chan, professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, who was a guest speaker at Illinois State in March 2017.

"When I first saw them at Illinois State in the closet, I was just amazed that they had survived all that time," she said. "It was really impressive to me that it was some of the geology faculty that had preserved them."

Many of the objects have ties to Utah Native American tribes, she noted, giving them even greater significance to Beehive State history. She said the artifacts were put in the closet after objects with ties to Illinois history were designated for display at the school's museum, leaving the other Powell objects relegated to storage.

"They had just been there for about 20 years," Chan said. While visiting the central Illinois campus, she was made aware of the Powell items by a faculty member upon learning of her fascination with Native Americana.

"He said you might be interested in seeing these things that we have stored in the closet that was from Powell," she said. "When he brought them out, I said, 'Oh my gosh, these are really old and some of them look like Ute material.'"

In what she describes as a serendipitous moment, later that day the faculty member told her "today was John Wesley Powell's birthday (March 24)."

"The one day that we took these (items) out of the closet is his birthday. That was a sign," Chan said. "John Wesley Powell's ghost is calling out to me and he wants me to help find a home for these items."

She was allowed to bring the objects back to Utah to be shown beside artifacts already in the museum's collections.

On Sept. 22, the Natural History Museum of Utah will unveil a number of artifacts collected by Powell and his cartographer, Frank Marion Bishop, during their explorations of the southwest, curator of archaeology Lisbeth Louderback said.

Included in the exhibit are a number of Native American baskets, a Native American child's wearing blanket, moccasins and a wooden bow with its sheath, she said. Also on display will be several original sepia drawings by noted American painter and Utah artist Dean Fausett, which illustrate the Powell expeditions.

"It's really nice to see them coming to a museum that can care for them," she said. "We're already doing conservation work on a lot of these objects."

"It's also important that they're coming back home," Louderback said. "This is where he did a lot of work and he interacted with a lot of the Native American tribes in Utah. A lot of these objects were made by (tribe members)."

She said the cultural artifacts help tell the story of anthropological history collected by Powell, well-known in Utah for his famed Colorado River expeditions in 1869 and during 1871-72, usually accompanied by Bishop.

"It's fascinating to see objects that were actually collected by Powell," Louderback said. "It's a testament to his expeditions, his knowledge and his interactions with the native tribes. It's a remarkable story."

Meanwhile, Don Fowler, professor emeritus of historic preservation and anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno and noted Powell expert, said having an opportunity to share a new connection to Powell and his long history with Utah is something to be treasured.

"He was one of the very first people to study the native people in a sort of systematic way," he explained. "He is more important to the history of the West and to Utah because he fought for rational use of water in the West."

He said Powell was considered as a staunch supporter of land conservation and preservation, as well as championing responsible irrigation systems and state boundaries based on watershed areas to prevent conflicts between states regarding water rights.

His views, however, were not shared by many powerful business and political leaders of the day, he noted, which prompted them to ignore Powell's suggestions in favor of water-hungry farming despite the West's arid conditions that made agriculture particularly challenging.

During his life, Powell served as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, where he lost one arm, was appointed the second-ever director of the U.S. Geological Survey and became the director of the Bureau of Ethnology at the Smithsonian Institution, a position he held until his death in 1879.

Fowler said Powell's legacy was one of distinction and historical significance.

"He was a founder of American anthropology, a founder of the U.S. Geological Survey and a genius in terms of water (conservation)," he said. "And he ran two agencies at the same time out of one office with one secretary. Impressive."
SALT LAKE CITY  Any flavor of "juice" inhaled through an electronic cigarette is better than the taste of burning tobacco, according to one former heavy smoker.

"People want to get away from the taste of tobacco," said Lewie Lambros, director of the Utah Smoke Free Association and co-owner at Vapor Dreams, a popular vape shop in Bountiful. He said the industry offers thousands of flavor combinations and it is the option for a pleasurable taste that clenches smokers and helps them stop smoking more harmful cigarettes.

Those flavors, however, are now under siege by the United States Food and Drug Administration, which on Wednesday said the taste is too enticing to minors, leading to ever-increasing use and nicotine addiction rates among teens.

"It's definitely a big concern that these products are out there and that kids are getting access to them," said Brittany Karzen, marketing manager for the Utah Department of Health's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. The FDA, she said, is taking steps to regulate the industry before the "epidemic" trend reverses decades of progress.

A 1998 Master Settlement Agreement, resulting from a multistate lawsuit filed against cigarette manufacturers, prohibits tobacco companies from advertising, promoting and marketing its products to minors.

And retailers, especially in Utah, shouldn't be selling products to minors anyway, Karzen said, referring to state law that requires anyone buying tobacco products to be 19. But at least 11 percent of kids in Utah report that they use e-cigarettes regularly and 20 percent have tried it, according to the health department's 2017 Student Health and Risk Prevention survey results.

Karzen said research shows nicotine is bad for the developing brain.

"Whether it is chewed, smoked or vaped, it primes the brain for addiction, predisposes them to mental health challenges and can make learning more difficult," she said. "These are big concerns for parents."

She suggests that parents help educate kids, as well as themselves, about the variety of products available, to help combat the problem and "talk to kids about it early." The department recently launched thetobaccotalk.org with suggestions to help.

"Nicotine is so addictive. Once a kid is hooked, they'll find additional ways to meet that nicotine need," Karzen said, adding that the rising popularity of e-cigarettes, even among youth, could lead to a greater number of kids turning to traditional tobacco products.

E-cigarettes began surfacing around 2007, making the industry still relatively new. States are slowly adopting laws to regulate them, but the FDA hasn't taken a definitive stand until now, citing concern for a greater number of youth who are likely becoming addicted to nicotine because of the flavors  an unforeseen consequence, the agency claims.

The FDA gave the five largest e-cigarette manufacturers 60 days to produce plans to stop underage use of their products. If they fail, the agency plans to block sales with product restrictions.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, however, has said he aims to cut nicotine levels in regular cigarettes to help more people quit smoking. Smokers might then be directed to alternatives, including e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine to the user without the carcinogenic properties of cigarettes.

Karzen said the majority of Utah kids report "bumming or borrowing" e-cigarettes from friends or family, as Utah boasts a low rate of sales to minors. The young users, however, often don't know what is in them and are drawn to it because "it tastes good."

New technology also make it easier to use, she said.

Lambros, who smoked for 19 years, tried everything to quit and started his own business selling e-cigarettes and nicotine cartridges of varying nicotine content because vaping worked for him. It's been seven years since he smoked a tobacco cigarette and he said he could now go a month or more without even thinking about picking up his vaporizer.

The ability to control the nicotine levels in an e-cigarette cartridge, he said, as well as putting the equipment to your mouth, "gives the brain time to heal and get away from the addiction."

"You slowly start to wake up and wonder what you've been doing all those years," Lambros said.

The FDA action, he said, is unfairly jeopardizing vape shops when flavored energy drinks and flavored alcohol remain unregulated and are potentially more harmful than e-cigarettes.

He's afraid that making the most desirable products, flavored e-juice, unavailable would lead people to make their own or buy from questionable salespeople who are not taking the necessary precautions when mixing their own toxic nicotine products.

A better solution, Lambros said, is creating stricter penalties for kids caught using e-cigarettes. Underage alcohol drinkers used to lose their driving privileges for years, he said, adding that a small monetary fine and community service "is nothing for most people."

"We need to increase the penalty for them so they know it is serious," he said. "Youth need to be held accountable for their actions. They need to see that using something they're not old enough to use has punishments to it."

Lambros and other vape shop owners told the Deseret News they require age identification for every customer served. They frown on illegal identification and report its use  not only to keep themselves safe from regulation and fines, but also to keep teens from getting into trouble.

The agency's recent move, he said, is a "knee-jerk reaction" and doesn't consider the large numbers of people e-cigarettes are helping.

He estimates having helped thousands of customers cut back on their nicotine consumption, getting a handle on addiction. And, the percentage of people who choose tobacco-flavored e-juice, he said, is very low.

The most popular products at Salt Lake City's House of Hookahs are the fruit flavors, specifically combinations of tropical or common fruits like cherry and apple. A lot of people prefer menthol or mint flavors, too. But a lot of the flavors mimic popular cereals and candy that are marketed to children.

If the FDA has its way and ends up banning flavored cartridges, it would not only cripple the vaping business nationwide, Lambros says it would drive a lot of former smokers back to the more harmful habit they worked hard to get away from.

"We want to protect the kids, I get that," he said. "The part I don't hear anybody say is that adults enjoy the taste of flavors, too. These products are designed for adult use and we don't want kids using them."

Correction: An earlier version incorrectly stated the legal age to purchase tobacco in Utah is 18. It actually is 19.
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah's top federal law enforcement officer said one "important detail" is being overlooked in the heated debate over medical marijuana in the state.

"Marijuana is against the law, federal law," U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber said Thursday. "That very important aspect cannot be lost in this discussion."

The use, production, distribution and transportation of marijuana violates federal law, he said.

"That has not changed, and although there are talks about change, it's the current state of the law, and it's my obligation to enforce federal law," Huber told reporters during a roundtable discussion in his office.

"I'm not a policymaker, don't get into the politics behind these things," he said. "My main concern is law enforcement."

Utah voters will decide in November whether to allow doctor-approved marijuana treatment for certain medical conditions. Opponents of the proposal say the ballot initiative is a guise for legalized recreational marijuana.

READ: The money behind Utah's contentious medical marijuana initiative

Huber said it is "to be determined" how his office would enforce federal law in Utah if the initiative passes.

"It's an interesting question. It's one I ponder as I observe the political process on this," he said. "I can't really answer that.  When a case is presented to me, I'll review it."

During the roundtable, Huber cited statistics showing the ill effects of legalized marijuana use from a newly released federal Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area report that has studied the impact of recreational marijuana in Colorado since 2013. Huber and other state and local law enforcers are part of the area's executive board, along with officials from Colorado, Montana and Wyoming.

"I believe that in the future, if this becomes part of Utah culture, based on the studies of Colorado and their experience, my job and my partners' job will become even more difficult in addressing the criminal concerns that are attendant to any form of medical marijuana or marijuana legalization," he said.

As of June 2017, there were 491 retail marijuana stores in Colorado, compared to 392 Starbuck's stores and 208 McDonald's restaurants, according to the report.

"That's striking to me," Huber said.

Huber said felony arrests in "Marijuana USA" are up when they would be expected to be down. The report also found violent crime increased 18.6 percent and property crimes 8.3 percent in Colorado since 2013.

"I can't really answer the question of 'What are you going to do?'" he said. "But we enforce these laws now and I suspect we will enforce federal law in the future."

Other findings in the report include:

 In 2017, one 1 of 5 traffic deaths were marijuana related compared to one out of 10 in 2009.

 Colorado drug task forces conducted 144 investigations of black market marijuana, resulting in 239 felony arrests and 7.3 tons of marijuana seized.

 Colorado past month marijuana use, ages 12 and older, has increased 45 percent comparing yearly averages before and after legalization and is higher than the national average in every age category.

 The yearly rate of marijuana-related hospitalizations increased 148 percent after the legalization of recreational marijuana.

 The average THC potency in tested Colorado marijuana sold in 2017 was 19.6 percent for flower and 68.6 percent for marijuana concentrate products.
SALT LAKE CITY  Longtime Salt Lake Tribune columnist Robert Kirby apologized Thursday for his behavior toward Utah writer and blogger Courtney Kendrick at a symposium earlier this summer.

Kirby's Facebook response followed a Facebook posting by Kendrick Wednesday that described an encounter between the two at a Sunstone Education Foundation event in Sandy in July, which has not been disputed by Kirby. Kendrick told the Deseret News she was hesitant to say anything at all about what occurred, knowing she would likely "face terrible reactions."

I am going to relate a story that happened to me a few months ago that depicts ways that women are often treated by... Posted by Courtney Clark Kendrick on Wednesday, September 12, 2018

"You never want to have to tell this story  first, because you dont want to live it, and second, because you dont want to relive it in the telling of it," Kendrick said. "But when I think of my daughters being treated like I was  or countless women have been  you cant help but feel compelled."

Kendrick wrote that she had met Kirby for the first time, just before appearing in a conference session together. And what happened later left her feeling "embarrassed and belittled."

"The very first thing he said to me when we were alone in the convention center hallway was, 'Let's pretend I picked you up from an escort service and we'll walk over to that table over there together and sit down and chat,'" Kendrick wrote. "I was there as a colleague and fellow writer, and he didn't know me at all. And wasn't he supposed to be the guy who we could be safe around? The progressive man with the newspaper column we all love, right?"

Kendrick wrote that Kirby also offered her a marijuana edible, which she accepted. She noted she felt uneasy about it, but felt "pressured" to please someone she considered having celebrity status.

"And here's the thing, I would like to say that at that point I had the wherewithal to have some sense in me," Kendrick wrote. "The truth is, I was still stunned and shocked, and inside me remained that voice, 'Just please him' and 'He's a big deal, you don't want to reject him.'"

Kendrick wrote that Kirby later announced to the symposium participants, without her permission, that she was "high."

"I was then completely blindsided when he proceeded to tell everyone in our session later on that I was high, because he  the great Robert Kirby  gave me weed," Kendrick wrote. "No permission, no checking with me, he just announced it to the crowd as if it were a punchline, rewarded with huge laughs."

On Thursday, Kirby posted a link on his Facebook page to Kendrick's post and added his own response, which included an apology as well as some other commentary on the encounter.

"I owe Courtney Clark Kendrick a sincere apology," Kirby wrote, in part. "I had no idea that I made her feel this way back when I was joking around at Sunstone. Much of what she describes in her account took place, albeit without some of the more sinister intentions many have alluded to. The simple fact is that she deserves an apology from me and I herewith offer it to her  now that Im aware of how I made her feel."

Kirby and Tribune Editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce did not respond to multiple requests from the Deseret News for comment.

Kendrick wrote that while she shared a written account of the encounter with Sunstone organizers, she hadn't planned on taking any other action until reading a Kirby column earlier this week about the recent conduct of McKenna Denson at an Arizona church meeting.

"Kirby wrote an awful column about an assault survivor," Kendrick wrote.

Kendrick told the Deseret News that she neither asked for, nor hoped for, an apology from Kirby.

"The conversation is much more important than his reaction to it," Kendrick said. "I think men need to know that  an apology doesnt mean your behavior goes away. We still need to have the conversation. And sometimes that means it will be a public conversation."

Kirby notes in his posting that he believes the incident could have been resolved "amicably" if Kendrick had contacted him sooner. He also underscores that his comments were meant to be humorous.

"Given the abrupt nature of our meeting, I misjudged how she would take my sense of humor," Kirby wrote. "For that and any discomfort Ive caused her, I deeply apologize."

Kendrick told the Deseret News that Kirby's insistence that he was joking, and that she didn't get the joke, isn't a viable excuse.

"Saying that the victim doesnt understand humor is a tired tactic that no longer stands," Kendrick said. "First of all, my sense of humor is not negated by not wanting to be called an escort. And second of all, its not even funny in the first place. How is calling a woman an escort funny?"

While Sunstone did not respond to inquiries from the Deseret News Thursday, the organization posted a notice to its Facebook page on Friday announcing Kirby will not be invited to participate in future symposiums.

"Sunstone was recently made aware of an incident where Robert Kirby, who was one of our final presenters, made a comment in a private conversation that violated our anti-harassment policy at the 2018 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium. All presenters are made aware of our policy against harassment. We have since communicated with all parties, and the Sunstone board has decided that for the foreseeable future, Mr. Kirby will not be invited to present at future Sunstone events," the statement says.
SALT LAKE CITY  The percentage of Utah public school students proficient in language arts and mathematics was largely unchanged from 2017, according to 2018 SAGE test data released Thursday by the Utah State Board of Education.

However, the number of students who opted out of the end-of-level Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence tests dropped slightly from the previous year, with 4.5 percent of students in school districts not taking the test compared to 5 percent a year ago. Also, 11.6 percent of charter school students opted out, down from 13 percent in 2017.

Statewide, the opt-out rate dropped from 5.9 to 5.3 percent, which is an improvement but still below federal accountability standards, which require states to test 95 percent of their students.

Among demographic groups, English learners had some of the lowest proficiency levels, with just 14.8 percent proficient in language arts and 17.5 percent proficient in mathematics.

Asian students had the highest proficiency in mathematics  54.8 percent  compared to 46.3 for all students. White students had the highest proficiency in language arts, 50.75 percent, compared to 45 percent for the state.

Students who are white, Asian or multiracial outperformed other minority groups. There were small gains in proficiency among all racial and ethnic groups.

"Students who are economically disadvantaged also struggle more with proficiency than students who are not, but again there were small gains in proficiency here, too," the state press release states.

Overall, mathematic proficiency held steady at 46 percent of public school students and increased slightly in language arts from 44 percent to 45 percent.

The data showed strong results in some of the state's most rural places.

For instance, 73 percent of students at Belknap Elementary School in Beaver School District were proficient in math in 2018, up from 64 percent the previous year. Seventy-one percent of Belknap students were proficient in language arts, compared to 67 percent a year ago.

Math and language art proficiency was up in the Cache School District, with 64 percent proficient in math in the 2017-18 school year, up from 60 the previous year.

In Salt Lake County, Granite School District's Oakridge Elementary School experienced significant gains in proficiency over the previous year, with 81 percent of students proficient in math compared to 64 the previous year. In language arts, 78 percent of students tested proficient in language arts, up from 68 percent a year ago.

Two charter schools that specialize in math, science and engineering also posted impressive scores.

Seventy-seven percent of students at the Academy of Math, Engineering and Science in Salt Lake County were proficient in language arts and 64 percent in math, both improved from the previous year.

At the Utah County Academy of Sciences, 78 percent of students were proficient in language arts, according to new results, slightly down from the previous year. But 69 percent of student were proficient in math, the latest results show.

To see how your neighborhood school performed, visit datagateway.schools.utah.gov/Assessment/SAGE/2018.

The report does not include science proficiency scores for grades six through eight nor growth scores in science for any grade, but science scores are expected to be released later this fall.

In December 2015, the State School Board updated Utah's science standards. After a year to train teachers on the new standards, updated assessments that match the new standards were introduced during the 2017-18 school year.

Those assessments are in a "validation process" to ensure they match the new standards, according to a State School Board Press release.

SAGE testing, which has been administered to students in grades three through 11 since 2014, is being phased out because the state's contract with the test maker has expired.

RISE tests will be rolled out for students in grades three through eight later this year, while students in grades nine and 10 will take the Utah Aspire Plus exam. High school juniors will continue to take the ACT exam.
UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION  3 stars  Samuel Hunt, Merritt Patterson, Will Graham, Gary Cole, Bobby Campo, Gianna Simone; PG-13 (thematic content and related disturbing images); in general release

The 2014 film Unbroken was the story of a man who had to stay on his feet to survive. Unbroken: Path to Redemption is about a man who must come to his knees to save his soul.

In both cases, the man in question is Louis Zamperini, the real-life Olympic runner who spent 47 days at sea and wound up in a prisoner of war camp after surviving the crash of his bomber in World War II.

Harold Cronks Path to Redemption follows the aftermath of Zamperinis ordeal, after he returns home to California to resume his normal life. Naturally, theres nothing normal about it.

Though family, friends and perfect strangers all treat him like a hero wherever he goes, Zamperini (here played by Samuel Hunt, replacing Jack OConnell) struggles to leave his demons behind, suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. While he tours the country encouraging citizens to buy war bonds, he turns more and more to drinking for self-medication, compounding an already difficult situation.

Things brighten for a time when, during a forced three-week furlough in Miami, Zamperini meets a young woman named Cynthia (Merritt Patterson). They quickly fall in love, marry and try to settle down back in California. Zamperini even starts to train again, hoping to qualify for the 1948 Olympic Games.

But an injury derails the comeback, and Zamperini struggles to find work since his war service prevented him from completing his college degree. His drinking increases as pressures mount, putting additional strain on his young family, which soon includes a little girl.

Throughout it all, Zamperini blames God for his trials and suffering  and he even flirts with the idea of returning to Japan to enact vengeance on his captor Watanabe, aka The Bird (David Sakurai), who still haunts his dreams. His agonizing journey is eventually aided by the sermons of Billy Graham (played by Graham's grandson, Will Graham).

The plot offers an interesting foil to Zamperinis plight in Unbroken, and both films were adapted from the original Laura Hillebrand book (Path to Redemption covers the books final third). Though Cronks film isnt nearly as powerful as Angelina Jolies drama (which was penned by Joel and Ethan Coen and draws on the more cinematic elements of the story), the director still does a nice job of drawing things out just long enough to see how the same defiant resolution that saved Zamperinis life in the war is now preventing him from healing his soul.

Hunt is solid as Zamperini, and Patterson puts in a notable performance as Cynthia. It might have been better to get a clearer feel for Zamperinis spiritual state early on, since though there are hints as to his condition, the theme becomes much more explicit in the films third act and the transition feels somewhat clumsy. But in general, Unbroken: Path to Redemption's moving story offers a spiritual complement to its more action-packed predecessor.

Unbroken: Path to Redemption is rated PG-13 for thematic content and related disturbing images; running time: 98 minutes.
SPANISH FORK  As a pair of fast-growing wildfires south of Spanish Fork torched more than 68,000 acres and an estimated 5,000 people remained evacuated, Gov. Gary Herbert warned conditions could worsen.

"There are hundreds of homes in the pathway of a very devastating fire. If they burn, we will have the biggest loss monetarily in (the history of) the state of Utah," Gov. Gary Herbert said Friday evening following a meeting with fire officials and local leaders in Spanish Fork.

"This is a real emergency with the potential to be a significant emergency depending on what happens over the next couple of days," Herbert said, speaking from the Ponderosa Event Center.

The Pole Creek Fire more than doubled in size in a matter of hours following evacuations late Thursday, growing to 54,000 acres on Friday. It is zero percent contained, fire officers announced Friday. The nearby Bald Mountain Fire is burning 14,500 acres.

The fires are now the top two fire priorities in the U.S, officials said. A Type 1 fire crew has taken over command.

So far, only a fence has been damaged in the lightning-caused Pole Creek Fire, but several homes and cabins were threatened, said Sgt. Spencer Cannon, spokesman for the Utah County Sheriff's Office. Winds died down Friday, slowing the fire's growth, he added.

Herbert said if winds again pick up, conditions could "become even worse."

"Boy, if you've got any sway with the man upstairs, let's see what we can do to help with the weather," he said.

In Spanish Fork Canyon's Covered Bridge community, the home of Joanna Oldham and her husband, Nate, was among those threatened. The Bald Mountain Fire on Friday raged about 4 to 6 miles away from the house that once belonged to his grandmother.

When they learned they needed to evacuate Thursday evening, the family borrowed a trailer and scrambled to pack documents and stuffed animals under an eerie, orange sky, Joanna Oldham said.

"We can handle losing a home and the structure of that home," Oldham said. "For me, the fear in this fire is imagining what it's going to look like when we get back if this fire sweeps through. Is that still going to be home, when all of your memories and your attachments have to do with that beautiful terrain, and the trees, and your environment and the people that surround you up there?"

At a meeting Friday morning, Oldham said fire managers indicated their efforts early in the day would concentrate in other areas more at risk, intensifying the family's concern their community would go up in flames.

The parents and their children, ages 2, 4 and 6, are staying with family in Mapleton. "We keep telling them just to keep praying, and that everything is going to be OK. And they believe us. I just hope that's true," Joanna Oldham said.

U.S. Senate candidate for Utah Mitt Romney also spoke at the community meeting the Oldhams attended.

"I reach out with my own feelings, and hope and pray that the homes are able to be preserved," Romney said. He said he was impressed by firefighters' hard work protecting homes and that more resources were needed to prevent wildfires from spreading.

Cox said Romney wasn't campaigning and came to the meeting because he wants to figure out how the federal government can better fight wildfires, but an audience member disagreed.

"Save it for later. You're campaigning," the woman shouted as Romney spoke.

Both Cox and Romney have been critical of federal firefighting efforts this year.

On Thursday, Cox said the U.S. Forest Service exhibited "inept" decision-making in monitoring the fire and allowing it to burn early on instead of suppressing it. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During the press conference Friday evening, Herbert also answered questions about the U.S. Forest Service's fire management.

"As you've heard them say, hindsight is always 20/20," he said, adding that there will be "time to analyze this" and have conversations later about how to manage forests. "But it's not time to finger-point today.  Let's get the fire out."

U.S. 6 had reopened Friday, but U.S. 89 remained closed in both directions near the fire. The Nebo Loop Road and Nephi Canyon Road were closed at the turnoff from state Route 132 in Juab County.

Evacuations remain in place for the towns of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge, in addition to the Covered Bridge area and a stretch of U.S. 89 from the junction of U.S. 6 to Indianola.

It was not clear how many homes in the other communities Friday were directly at risk. No homes in Woodland Hills were threatened, said Mayor Wendy Pray.

Cannon estimated that 5,000 evacuees had packed up and were staying with friends, family or elsewhere by Friday morning. Many ate lunch and commiserated at an evacuation center at Salem Hills High.

The Pole Creek Fire is burning 3 miles from the smaller fire threatening the Oldham family's home, and the two infernos  at the conjunction of Utah, Juab and Sanpete counties  are threatening to merge.

The fires joining could either help or hinder firefighting efforts, depending on where they join, said Brook Chadwick, forest fire management officer with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

A cabin that has been in Jared Finch's family for more than 50 years lies within the anticipated meeting point of the two fires near Nebo Loop, he said Friday.

"It's not a fancy cabin. It's got running water, but you can't drink it. The electricity is off of a generator. It's pretty rustic," Finch said. "For us, it's just a lot of memories." His extended family has long met at the cabin to snowmobile in winter and rides horses in summer, and replaced the roof in June.

Other wildfires in the past have torched several acres not far from the cabin, he said, but "we've never been at this much risk of losing it."

Jason Curry, spokesman for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, said the twin fires are roaring at a time when firefighters already are fatigued from a long, dry season. Volunteer fire groups in particular have played a bigger role this summer, especially in timber-heavy regions, he said.

"There is a lot of stress and cumulative fatigue that builds up," he said. "People are tired and are continuing to the job they do well." Supervisors have reminded crews to make careful decisions and not put themselves in unnecessary danger, he added.

Herbert cautioned Utahns, while driving through the area, to be aware of the more than 1,000 firefighters who are expected on scene to fight the fire in coming days.

Contributing: Ashley Imlay, Jed Boal, Mary Richards

Correction: A previous version incorrectly spelled the surname of the Oldham family as Oldhan.
SALT LAKE CITY  U.S. Senate candidate Jenny Wilson challenged Mitt Romney and the Trump administration Friday, saying Romney has been "absent" and that recent environmental deregulation is putting Utahns' health at risk.

"I often get asked if he's even in town," Wilson said. "An absent candidate will be an absent senator."

She listed ways that she has been an "engaged candidate," including her seat on the Salt Lake County Council, working on issues such as the opioid crisis, clean air, and other environmental issues involving local rivers and canyons.

Wilson added that the nation needs a new generation of leaders who actually understand what is happening in the community.

"I have concerns that Romney doesn't represent that," she said of the Republican nominee in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Romney's campaign spokeswoman MJ Henshaw said calling him absent would be inaccurate.

"Yesterday, he was at Snow College meeting with a crowd of more than 800 students," Henshaw said. "This morning, he spent time with firefighters, first responders, and others affected by the Pole Creek Fire and Bald Mountain Fire to understand how these fires can (be) better fought and prevented."

Wilson focused Friday morning on air pollution, saying the Wasatch Front has especially high health risks from pollution because of the geography and population growth.

She said she was an early proponent for improving Utah's air, organizing a pollution-related task force when other agencies or governments were not coming together to address the issue.

Wilson talked about efforts Utah has made to improve air quality, such as building bike lanes, increasing public transportation, and even refineries investing in ways to decrease their emissions.

But she warned the progress Utah has made in improving air quality could be erased "quicker than a shaken Etch A Sketch" if the Trump administration continues its deregulation efforts.

Wilson said Trump and others in Washington are putting corporations before average citizens, both in environmental and economic issues.

Removing environmental regulations saves corporations money, she said, but will pollute the air and damage people's health. Similarly, she said, the most recent Republican tax bill prioritized corporations and investors over lower- and middle-income families.

"It's about time the government gives people a break," she said, "not corporations and the very wealthy."
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  The official report on last month's death of a Draper firefighter battling a California wildfire reveals that thousands of gallons of flame-retardant were dropped on him from a Boeing 747 mistakenly flying only 100 feet above the treetops.

The pilot and a supervisor flying ahead in a small guide plane led the giant modified jetliner nearly into the trees on Aug. 13 because the pilots failed to recognize that there was a hill in the flight path, according to the Green Sheet report by the state's firefighting agency.

Because of the near ground-level release, the retardant struck with such force it uprooted an 87-foot tree that fell on Matthew Burchett, a 42-year-old battalion chief for Draper who was helping with the Mendocino Complex Fire north of San Francisco.

Another large tree was snapped by the force of nearly 20,000 gallons of liquid and three firefighters were injured, one seriously.

The guide pilot "made a 'show me' run" for the 747 pilot over the intended path for the retardant drop, and marked the path for the jet with a smoke trail, according to the report.

"Obscured by heavy vegetation and unknown to the (747) pilot, a rise in elevation occurred along the flight path." The ground sloped up about 170 feet so quickly that the 747 cleared the hilltop in just two seconds, according to the report.

The guide planes have two people aboard, a pilot and an "air tactical supervisor." California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Mike Mohler could not immediately say if either would face investigation or discipline for not identifying the hill.

The retardant drops were intended to help secure a fire break cut through the trees by a bulldozer to stop advancing flames. Burchett and the other three firefighters were working on the hill next to the firebreak when the drop was announced over a radio and firefighters were told to "Clear the area out."

The four did not respond to the warning, though the report says that "when personnel are working under a tree canopy, supervisors must ensure the drop path is cleared."

It is not uncommon to have firefighters under retardant drops, Mohler said, though he could not say if the four firefighters knew they were in the flight path or why they didn't acknowledge or act on the radioed warning.

"We have ground troops under aircraft, it's not unusual at all. It's part of what we teach," he said.

A firefighter who can't move out of the way is trained to lie spread-eagled, face down, toward the oncoming aircraft, one hand holding the top of the helmet as it takes the brunt of the impact from the falling slurry and air turbulence that can threaten to lift a firefighter off the ground.

Burchett was crushed by the uprooted tree, while the others were stuck by falling tree debris. Two had deep muscle contusions and ligament damage. One also suffered broken ribs, while the fourth firefighter had scratches and abrasions.

Burchett joined the Draper Fire Department in May after serving the Unified Fire Authority for 20 years. He went to California last year to help fight wildfires and became the liaison between California and all of Utah's firefighters.

The report warns that some firefighters have used their cellphones to record retardant drops, which can be distracting and harm their ability to recognize the danger and take evasive action. But it does not say if any of the four injured firefighters was taking video at the time.
SALT LAKE CITY  Sen. Jeff Flake would prefer a Democrat in the White House who works to bring decency to politics and recognizes the virtue of compromise over President Donald Trump.

"If there is a Democrat who would restore those values, yes," the Arizona Republican said Friday in response to a reporter's question.

"I don't think we can ever say 'my party, right or wrong.' Some of the positions that the president has taken and some of the behavior he's exhibited I think are not conservative and shouldn't be Republican," Flake told the Deseret News.

Flake, a vocal critic of Trump, spoke to the BYU Management Society in Salt Lake City. He is a BYU graduate and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the Provo-based university.

Last year, Flake, who isn't seeking re-election, wrote a $100 check for Democratic Alabama Sen. Doug Jones in his race against Trump-endorsed Republican Roy Moore.

Flake, 55, said he worries about the direction of the Republican Party, and will continue to speak out after he leaves office in January.

"I do hope that somebody does run in the primary against the president. This is his party right now, that's plain. But it won't always be. Two years from now I hope it gives way to someone else," he said.

He mentioned Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse as possible GOP challengers.

As for running for president himself, Flake said he has not ruled it out, "but that's not in the plans."

Referencing the speech he gave after deciding not to run again, Flake said Americans can't accept as normal the continued degradation of politics and the conduct in the executive branch.

"Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused in countenance as telling it like it is, when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified," he said.

Flake said when that conduct comes from the top of the government, it's "dangerous to a democracy." He said it doesn't project strength but a "corruption of the spirit" and a "moral vandalism."

After his speech, Flake said he's not among those who believe Trump's behavior warrants impeachment. He said he hopes "for the country's sake" Congress doesn't go that direction because it would lead to an endless cycle of trying to disqualify opponents rather than defeat them at the ballot box.

Flake shared several personal stories about civility and the lack of civility in politics.

During a Senate debate on his amendment to lift the U.S. travel ban to Cuba, a Republican colleague  many Republicans opposed the measure  said all Flake wanted to do was drink mojitos on the beach. A Democrat moved to have the comment stricken from the record.

When Flake asked why he did that, the senator replied, "Aw, Flake. I know you're Mormon. I know you don't drink. I was just protecting your honor."

That kind of magnanimity across the aisle is rare in the "shirts and skins" environment of Congress, Flake said.

Flake, who served 12 years in the House before winning the Senate seat, has heard vitriol from his own party for simply being nice to Democrats.

When former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords attended her first State of the Union speech after being shot, Flake sat next to her and helped her stand during former President Barack Obama's "applause" lines, making him the lone Republican on his feet in a sea of Democrats.

Flake said he received "furious" text messages from fellow Republicans.

"They didn't see it as a kind gesture. They saw it as consorting with the enemy," he said.

A congratulatory tweet to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine on being chosen as Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016 also drew Republican wrath that Flake described as "unhinged, irrational fury."

"That is the kind of conditioned response we have to a shattered politics," Flake said.

Flake said he would have liked to serve another term in the Senate but not in the current environment.

"I think sometimes pendulums do swing, and sometimes with a vengeance," he said. "I do think in the end this fever will break and we'll be ourselves again."
A Star is Born: Gaga Talks About Instant Connect With Cooper

As A Star is Born is set to release on October 5, the excitement around it seems to be building up with each passing day. The movie has already received a lot of appreciation at its premiere in the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival and is all set to open the Tokyo International Film Festival too. Recently, Bradley Cooper, who is making his directorial debut, and Lady Gaga, who is making her Hollywood debut, shared their experiences of working with each other with E! Online.





Cooper told, "The thing that I was very aware of from the beginning and I cherish even to this day is how much we both had at stake because it was a first for both of us. We knew that we were really going to have to rely on each other because it's scary putting yourself out there to this degree."





Further, Lady Gaga mentioned that her instant connection with Bradley and his acting tips helped to discover the artist in her. She said, "I feel honestly completely humbled and grateful to be here sitting next to him," adding, "In a lot of ways I feel like Bradley unveiled me. It was his idea to strip away the makeup, to go back to my natural hair and for this to be Ally's character."





A Star is Born is apparently the remake of a 1937 film with the same title. The story is about two artists who fall in love with each other. Bradley Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a rockstar with substance addiction, who helps Ally (played by Gaga) - a struggling actress. Fans just can wait to see how charming Bradley and Gaga look as a couple on the silver screen.





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Source: eonlinethumbs
Orange is providing significant investment to MainOnes West Africa submarine cable system.

Through this partnership Orange will acquire additional capacity, thereby reinforcing its position in the African telecommunications ecosystem. MainOnes current cable system comprises a 7,000km submarine cable, which was launched in 2010 and has landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal.

The partnership between Orange and MainOne Company will provide for the construction and installation of two new branches and stations. These will connect the cable to Dakar in Senegal and Abidjan in the Cote dIvoire by mid-2019. Orange will be the owner of the cable station in Dakar. Oranges investment represents a major milestone for this project. Orange Marine, a 100% subsidiary of the Orange Group, has been chosen to manage the installation of these two new branches.

The new cable connection will provide better connectivity to local populations, as well as enabling lower prices and access to new services. Orange will benefit from multiple Terabits per second of additional bandwidth for the development of fixed and mobile data in Africa. More specifically, this cable extension is an opportunity to improve connectivity and offer a broader range of services for both Orange Cote dIvoire & Sonatel. In addition, MainOne offers an alternative route that guarantees the protection of voice and data traffic passing through the other cables in the area  SAT3 WASC SAFE and ACE.

"Orange's ambition on international networks is both to meet the needs of our affiliates in their interconnection with the Internet world and to increase our leadership on the international data services wholesale market. This partnership with MainOne will allow us to strengthen our presence, with new significant assets in West Africa, said Jerome Barre, Chief Executive Officer of Wholesale and International Networks.

The development of new digital services in Africa has fostered huge social and economic developments over the past few years. Through this new partnership, Orange is set to secure and improve direct access to high-speed broadband services in two of its most important countries, Senegal and the Cote dIvoire, said Alioune Ndiaye, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa.

MainOnes Chief Executive Officer Funke Opeke reiterated the companys vision for a connected West Africa: Our objective is to bridge the digital divide between and within West Africa and the rest of the world. We are committed to deepening broadband penetration across West Africa and believe our investments in technologically advanced subsea infrastructure will continue to liberalise the international bandwidth market, further support Orange and other wholesale customers, and ultimately result in improved digital services in the region.
At the starting of this month, famous leakster Ice Universe had posted a tweet in which the user wrote Samsung followed by Camera Camera Camera Camera. At that time, it was speculated that the South Korean giant would launch a new Galaxy smartphone with four cameras. Samsung has somewhat confirmed the development by uploading an event invite which says 4X Fun. Though the invitation gives the date of the event as October 11, it does not provide any information regarding the venue. You can watch the live stream of the event on news.samsung.com/global, www.samsungmobilepress.com, and www.samsung.com/galaxy.

Samsungs newest Galaxy device is bringing more ways to express yourself than ever before. Capture the fun with Samsung as the company celebrates the launch of the new device with A Galaxy Event on October 11, 2018, Samsung said on its website. It could be possible that the South Korean giant may incorporate two cameras on the front as well as at the back. Given that smartphone manufacturers are now resorting to three camera setups for better photography, Samsung may launch the smartphone with three cameras at the back. It could also be possible that the 4X denotes the 4X optical zoom on the camera. Well have to wait to get some clarity on the development.

There are already some reports which are claiming that Samsung, LG and Nokia may launch phones with five cameras. Samsung is also said to launch a foldable smartphone. During an interview in August, CEO of Samsungs Mobile Division, DJ Koh confirmed that the company is developing a smartphone with a foldable display, called the Galaxy F and is keen to be the first to deliver it to the market. Adding to this information, Koh has now hinted that more details of the device could be unveiled this year at the Samsung Developer Conference that will take place from November 7-8 in San Francisco.
Taiwan biomedical sector urged to create AI-based business models

Successful combination of Taiwan's IT and biomedical advantages can help shape new industry ecosystems and create innovative AI-based business models at a time when the global healthcare industry records a higher ratio for investment in AI applications, according to experts at a recent forum held in Taipei.

At the forum, jointly hosted by PwC Taiwan and Taipei Medical University, a representative from the government Board of Science and Technology said that the future of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries will highlight the combination of digital medicine, regenerative medicine and precision medicine technologies. The government hopes to promote the application of big data to the R&D of pharmaceuticals and the combination of biotech and pharmaceutical technologies and economy to explore new business models.

PwC Taiwan vice president HC Tseng said that Taiwan is a world leader in the ICT sector and well-known for its medical services. She stressed that the country's health insurance data bank and biobank are golden data minerals for clinical information, providing the best opportunity for Taiwan to develop digital medicine and AI applications.

On the same occasion, Brian Williams, PwC's global healthcare strategy director, cited the firm's 2017 Digital IQ Survey as indicating that 74% of the players in the global medical and healthcare sectors have plans to invest in AI applications in the next three years, much higher than the corresponding ratios for high tech, manufacturing and finance industries, indicating that AI will see wider and deeper applications to the healthcare and medical sectors.

HC Wu, president of Asustek Cloud and Austek Healthcare, opined that in the future, data can serve as a medium for connecting patients, hospitals, makers of medical supplies, pharmaceutical makers, and contract research organizations into an industry ecosystem to create innovative business models.

Frank Kung, co-founder of US-based Vivo Capital, commented that AI is really a very good tool but clear-cut business models must be worked out before the technology can be well applied to the biomedical sector. He stressed that only first-class biomedical teams can manage to collaborate with world-class firms and source sufficient funds to support medical technology innovations.
Non-bailable warrant against Chandrababu Naidu, 15 others in 2010 case

A court in Maharashtra has issued a non-bailable warrant against Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in connection with the 2010 agitation staged by them over the Babli project across the Godavari river.

Judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district NR Gajbhiye issued the order, directing the police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by 21 September.

Besides Naidu, state water resources minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, social welfare minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) were among the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers booked in the case.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, were arrested and lodged in a Pune jail in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on the ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All of them were released later, though they had not sought bail.

The court order, dated 5 July, which was to be executed by 16 August, and later extended to 21 September, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

They have been charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code, including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidus son and state information technology minister N Lokesh said his father and the other TDP leaders would appear in court.

He (Naidu) fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested, Lokesh said.

The chief minister is currently camping in Tirumala, near Tirupati, attending the annual Brahmotsavam of the Lord Venkateswara temple there.
Instruments in the landscape: this is how Sren Johansen and Sebastian Skovsted, the founders of Copenhagen-based firm Johansen Skovsted Arkitekter, define the various buildings that they have designed inside Tipperne bird sanctuary. Located alongside the west coast of the Danish peninsula, this natural reserve is an important stopping point on the migration path of many birds species, in addition to be the most ancient spot for their monitoring in the entire European continent. The main goal of Johansen Skovsted Arkitekters design is to make it accessible to the public by providing it with a few basic equipment, while at the same time respecting its delicate balance.

A continuous ring road links a visitor center  hosted in the existing Tipper House, whose original external features have been integrally preserved  a small workshop and the two main viewpoints (an observation tower and a bird hide).
A call has been made for better communication between Donegal County Council, Irish Water, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, businesses and the public to be included at an earlier stage when planning major works.

Cathaoirleach of the Stranorlar Municipal District Cllr Patrick McGowan said he been informed that Irish Water has awarded a county-wide rehabilitation contract which involves the replacement of 40km of pipework across 13 separate locations in Donegal.

The contract is commencing in September 2018 and pipe laying works will carry on for 14 months, which will generally run to the end of 2019.

The Ballybofey South backline towards Crossroads is one of the 13 sections of pipe.

Cllr McGowan said the contractor is developing a full programme of works in consultation with stakeholders, including Donegal County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Work on the Ballybofey South backline is indicated to commence later this year and will continue until March 2019.

The consultation will include agreement on what measures are required for appropriate traffic management. He said Irish Water intends to regularly update Elected Representatives of progress and of detailed programme dates for each section of pipework as they become known.

Cllr McGowan said businesses and the public included in traffic planning at an earlier stage by way of town hall meetings and or a leaflet drop prior to any contract being signed so that the public concerns can be incorporated not left to the good will of an contractor after the contract has already been agreed and signed .

There is a massive difference between road works in a busy town streets and works to a country road but in recent years I dont see where the road traffic managment plans cater sufficiently for all the obvious concerns, he said.

I have raised this issue with senior council officials and will be raising it again at the next council roads SPC meeting to get some common sense included in what should be a win win for everyone.

We all lobby to get roads and other infrastructure investment in our areas but I dont see any reason why all possible consideration should not given to traffic management and the effect on the wider community at a earlier stage as opposed to hit and miss consultation just as the contracts starts. .
Irish Water is investing 400m in water and wastewater facilities in Donegal, the third largest capital investment by them anywhere in the country.

Paul Fallon, Infrastructure Programme Manager with Irish Water said the discharge of untreated raw sewage is "not acceptable" and following on from an EPA report in 2014 which identified 44 locations nationwide where this was happening, Irish Water pledged that this practice will have stopped by 2021. 11 of those 44 sites were in Donegal and these are being whittled down with a series of major projects, some complete, others in the pipeline, but Irish Water is determined that nationally their 2021 deadline will be met.

Mr Fallon was speaking in Bundoran's Great Northern Hotel at the official opening Irish Water's 25m wastewater investment project in Bundoran, Killybegs, Glencolmcille and Convoy.

He said the opening of the four wastewater plants means that raw sewage is no longer being discharged into waterways or the sea in Bundoran, Killybegs, Glencolmcille and Convoy.

He said 11 of the 44 towns identified by the EPA were in Donegal and Irish Water were working their way through these with developments ongoing and planned.

Michael McGarvey, Director of Services, Donegal County Council said the overall figure of 400m was hugely significant and will see investment in water treatment, waste water, networks and other improvements.

Mr McGarvey said that with the exception of one issue remaining in Mountcharles, that the discharging of untreated waste into Donegal Bay was no longer happening.

He said the level of investment in Donegal was the third highest in the country. It's understood Dublin and Cork the only counties with greater investment.

This four town/village project opened today was carried out by Veolia Water Ireland. It will ensure many benefits for the four areas including environmental benefits, improved bathing water quality for surfers and swimmers, enhanced amenity value and the capacity for future population growth.

Working in partnership with Donegal County Council, Irish Water invested in the construction of two new wastewater treatment plants in Bundoran and Killybegs where raw sewage was being discharged out to sea.

The works in Bundoran have put a stop to the discharge of the equivalent of 9,600 wheelie bins of raw sewage per day into the sea while in Killybegs, the equivalent of 3,300 wheelie bins of raw sewage are now no longer being discharged. A new wastewater treatment plant was also construted in Glencolmcille while wastewater infrastructure upgrade works are complete in Convoy.

Tony McLoughlin TD, in the absence of Deputy Joe McHugh, who could not attend the opening due to illness, said: Prior to the completion of these works, Bundoran and Killybegs were two of the 44 locations around Ireland where wastewater was being discharged into the sea untreated. It is hard to believe that this was permitted to occur for so long considering the importance of the vibrant surfing and sea recreation that takes places in the region."

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Seamus O Domhnaill said the "opening was a good news story" and that but for the involvement of Irish Water it was "not probable" that Donegal County Council would have been able to make the level of investment (25m) that was made in the four towns/areas: Today is a red letter day for these four communities who will benefit greatly from this 25 million investment by Irish Water."

He outlined how important the works were at centres such as Bundoran which relied on the tourism market, Killybegs which was a fishing/tourism hub, Glencolmcille where Sliabh Liag was proving a huge tourist attraction and Convoy, where clean waters would add to the quality of life of so many.

The upgrade works will increase the treatment capacity of each of the plants to meet the current needs of the towns and to allow for future growth. The works will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations and with the conditions of the Wastewater Discharge Licence (WWDL) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also improve the water quality of nearby coastal areas, protecting bathing areas and the aquatic environment from pollution.

* Further coverage in Tuesday's Donegal Democrat and Donegal People's Press.
Parents of pupils at Bay Estate National School are still in the dark about how they will be able to access the school when roads close as contractors move in to carry out works from Monday, 17th September.

Hazelwood Avenue is due to close for 16 weeks so that Coras Pipelines can update sewerage systems in Bay Estate on behalf of Irish Water.

A letter from Coras Pipelines which was sent out to Bay Estate N.S.

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, school principal Martina Rafferty explained how Irish Water representatives had travelled to the school on Thursday morning to talk through the road closures and allow school staff to voice any safety concerns they had.

The school principal explained that Irish Water representatives had shown her a road traffic management plan which she said seemed "very doable". However, the plan has not been shared with residents or pupil's parents yet. Ms. Rafferty told how she was putting pressure on Louth County Council to help distribute the plan to parents by Friday, September 14.

Ms. Rafferty said: "We have 750 pupils here. We're very concerned to get this information out to parents. Our school is in the centre of Bay Estate and there is very heavy traffic here at times.

"We have requested that Louth County Council draw up a letter which we can issue to parents before the weekend.

"My main concern is for the safety of the children. We want to have the road traffic management plan in place ahead of time so that we can reduce any mishaps and minimise disruption for local residents in the estate."

Ms. Rafferty has also contacted members of Dundalk Gardai to police road traffic safety during the road closure.

READ: Anger at timing of road closure in Dundalk
If you go down to Tesco Extra today you might get a big surprise - an avocado the size of your head.

Tesco Ireland has announced that they will be selling Avozillas, giant avocado five times the size of a normal fruit, in 80 stores across Ireland, including the Dundalk store from this morning.

But avocado lovers are being urged to snap them up as there are very limited supplies.

Tesco says: "There is a limited supply of these giant avocados, which are approximately five times the size of a regular avocado, so avocado fans are encouraged to snap them up quickly this weekend while stocks last as when they are gone they are gone.

"Priced at 4 these giant avocados are ideal for large families for making a family sized portion of guacamole, or perfect for avocado aficionados keen to impress dinner guests with a prawn and avocado starter."

Tesco Ireland Fresh food buyer Ciaran Doyle said: This limited stock of Avozillas is exclusive to Tesco. They are extremely rare and come from just four trees grown by one of the worlds biggest suppliers of avocados in South Africa. Deliveries will be going into eighty of our stores across the country on Friday morning and will be available this weekend while stocks last.

Avozillas are naturally produced and not genetically modified. Just four trees produce the Avozilla supply in the lush forest outside of Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo, South Africa. The Avozilla is a cross between two types of avocado; the West Indian and Guatemalen varieties.

As these trees are not available for commercial sale, there is very limited supply of the fruit at the moment.
By Trend

The US supports the construction of a gas pipeline providing the transportation of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field to Europe, the US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said at a briefing, according to TASS.

Perry added that the United States stands for competition. He confirmed that the US supports another pipeline delivering Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe.

Diversification of energy sources is a strategic task for the EU, he said. SGC is one of the most important projects in this direction, he noted.

He expressed confidence that the project will be completed in time and its capacity will grow over years.

The SGC is one of the priority projects for the EU, and it provides for the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.

On May 29, Baku hosted the launch ceremony of the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor project, and on June 12, the opening ceremony of TANAP pipeline was held in the Turkish province of Eskisehir with the participation of the presidents of Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev, Turkey - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ukraine - Petro Poroshenko and Serbia - Alexander Vucic.

Thus, the first gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field coming out of the Sangachal terminal expanded for Shah Deniz-2 project and passing through the expanded South Caucasus Gas Pipeline, has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor. The next stage was the commissioning of the TANAP gas pipeline, through which the gas will enter the territory of Turkey and will pass on further to Europe.
Flare, an Australian startup specialising in HR and payroll technology, has secured a Series B investment of $21 million, led by New York VC firm Point72 Ventures.

The round includes Australian funds Acorn Capital, Tank Stream Ventures, Reinventure and BridgeLane.

The investment caps off a year of growth for Flare. Since the companys last major investment of $7 million in August 2017 it has doubled its customer base to over 200 clients. Its platform is currently used by over 100,000 employees across Australia.

The new funds will contribute to the local growth of Flares onboarding, fully-integrated HR and payroll product suite, and its expanding financial wellness and benefits platform.

This round serves as Point72 Ventures first investment in an Australian company. Point72 partner Pete Casella will take a position on the board of Flare.

Flare has reimagined the role that a workplace can play in your financial life. By focusing on the employer  employee relationship, they can empower individuals to take control of their money at the source, driving financial wellness across entire organizations said Pete Casella.

For Flare founders Dan Cohen and James Windon the new funding round is an opportunity to build out the long term goals of the company.

We want to level the playing field in Human Resources and Payroll  thats why we give away our core suite of tools for free, so that we can help every company automate their processes, simplify their onboarding and payroll and become an incredible place to work. Weve built a platform that lets Aussie businesses build an employee experience that competes with Facebook or Google, Flare CEO, Dan Cohen said.

Were now starting to see the results of our effort to change workplace culture and financial wellness in workplaces across Australia. We will be building a world class technical team and rolling out a series of tools and technologies over the next two years designed to achieve that goal.

Managing Director James Windon said, We want to help Australian workers take their first steps to manage their career development and financial health. When people have more information and control over their money, particularly their pay, they can make smarter decisions about how to spend it. This is something that Point72 have embraced and have believed in.

Founded in 2015 in Sydney, Flare provides a complete HR suite with a fully integrated payroll solution, enabling businesses to transform the way their employees engage with the company. Through an open API, the platform integrates with a wide range of existing products, including leading accounting suites and systems.
Staff from the European Commission, in liaison with staff from the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, visited Athens from 10 to 14 September for the first post-programme mission to Greece. Staff from the European Stability Mechanism participated in the meetings in the context of its Early Warning System.

Following the completion of the ESM programme, Greece is reintegrated into the European Semester of economic policy coordination. The Commission has also activated the enhanced surveillance instrument under Regulation 472/2013 for Greece, effective with the end of the programme.

The mission held discussions on the situation and key challenges facing the Greek economy in the post-programme period, as well as the state of play and next steps in the implementation of Greeces commitment to continue and complete the key reforms launched under the programme. This included discussions on the fiscal situation and outlook, which will feed into the preparation of Greeces Draft Budgetary Plan for 2019, to be submitted to the Commission by 15 October, as well as on the implementation of the Non-Performing Loans resolution strategy.

The mission was also an occasion to meet with representatives of political parties, social partners and banks, with a view to updating them on the modalities of engagement in the post-programme period and exchanging views on key policy issues.

Close dialogue on economic policy challenges and priorities will continue going forward. The first quarterly enhanced surveillance report will be issued in November, together with the Commissions Autumn Package under the European Semester.

For media queries, please contact Nicos Keranis, tel.: +49 69 1344 7806.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has today published the 2017 statistics on non-cash payments, which comprise indicators on access to and use of payment services and terminals by the public, as well as volumes and values of transactions processed through payment systems. Statistics are published for each EU Member State, in addition to EU and euro area aggregates and comparative data.

Payment services[1]

The total number of non-cash payments in the EU, comprising all types of payment services[2], increased by 7.9% to 134.0 billion in 2017 compared with the previous year. Card payments accounted for 52% of all transactions, while credit transfers accounted for 24% and direct debits for 19%.

The number of credit transfers within the EU increased in 2017 by 5.5% to 32.1 billion. The importance of paper-based transactions continued to decrease, with the ratio of paper-based transactions to transactions initiated electronically standing at around one to ten.

The number of cards with a payment function in the EU increased in 2017 by 2.0% to 812 million. With a total EU population of 513 million, this represented around 1.6 payment cards per EU inhabitant. The number of card transactions rose by 11.2% to 69.2 billion, with a total value of 3.1 trillion. This corresponds to an average value of around 44 per card transaction. Chart 1 below shows the use of the main payment services from 2000 to 2017.

The relative importance of each of the main payment services continued to vary widely across EU countries in 2017 (see Annex).

In 2017, the total number of automated teller machines (ATMs) in the EU decreased by 1.0% to 0.43 million, while the number of point of sale (POS) terminals increased by 9.9% to 13.5 million.

Chart 1 Use of the main payment services in the EU (number of transactions per year in billions, estimated) Source: ECB.Note: Data have been partially estimated for periods prior to 2010, as methodological changes were implemented in previous years and some corresponding data are not available. The historical estimation done by the ECB ensures comparability of figures over the entire period. Statistics are also collected on e-money payments and other payment services, which accounted for 3.7% of the total number of EU transactions in 2017.

Retail payment systems

Retail payment systems in the EU handle mainly payments that are made by the public, with a relatively low value, high volume, and limited time-criticality.

In 2017, 43 retail payment systems existed within the EU as a whole. During the year, around 57 billion transactions were processed by those systems with an amount of 44.0 trillion. 22 of these systems were located in the euro area, where they processed almost 42 billion transactions in 2017 (i.e. 73% of the EU total) with a value amounting to 31.6 trillion (i.e. 72% of the EU total).[3]

There continues to be a notable degree of concentration in EU retail payment systems in 2017. The four largest systems in terms of number of transactions (CORE in France, STEP2[4], BACS in the United Kingdom and RPS in Germany) processed 60% of the volume and 64% of the value of all transactions processed by EU retail payment systems. Chart 2 shows the number and value of transactions processed by EU retail payment systems in 2017.

Chart 2 Retail payment systems in the EU in 2017 (value of transactions in EUR trillions (left-hand scale) and number of transactions in billions (right-hand scale)) Source: ECB.

Large-value payment systems

Large-value payment systems (LVPSs) are designed primarily to process urgent or large-value interbank payments, but some of them also settle a large number of retail payments. During 2017, 12 systems settled 842 million payments with a total value of 702 trillion in the EU.[5] The two main LVPSs in the euro area (TARGET2 and EURO1/STEP1)[6] settled 143 million transactions amounting to 528 trillion in 2017, i.e. 75% of the total value. In the non-euro area EU countries, CHAPS Sterling[7] in the United Kingdom is the largest LVPS in terms of value and number of transactions.

Outside the EU, Continuous Linked Settlement[8] (CLS) is the most important large value payment system processing, inter alia, euro and other EU currencies. CLS (all currencies) settled 198 million transactions with a value of 1193 trillion in 2017. Chart 3 below shows the number and value of transactions processed by LVPSs in 2017.

Chart 3 Large-value payment systems in 2017 (value of transactions in EUR trillions (left-hand scale) and number of transactions in millions (right-hand scale)) Source: ECB.Note: Other EU LVPSs exclude CERTIS, which act as both LVPSs and retail systems.

Annex

For media queries, please contact Stefan Ruhkamp, tel.: +49 69 1344 5057.

Notes:


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There's a lot of hype around artificial intelligence as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but will AI really help with cybersecurity? Criminals who run cybercriminal businesses also are capable of using the AI to commit crimes. It's logical that if one person is smart enough to develop cyberprotection technologies that utilize AI, then thoughtful, creative criminals can use AI to penetrate those AI-created protections.

AI has been around since about 1959. It has had its ups and downs until 2011, when IBM's Watson became a television celebrity by beating Jeopardy!'s reigning champs.

Now IBM regularly has television commercials promoting Watson for myriad uses, including detecting problems with aircraft and elevators. At the same time, these ads make AI appear commonplace and part of our current culture, rather than as some esoteric complex computer technology.

AI in Cybersecurity

It is important to understand what machine learning is and how it relates to AI. To oversimplify, machine learning is a computer's ability to recognize things. Artificial intelligence is a computer's ability to mimic human understanding.

However with all the marketing hype found on the Internet, it is oftentimes difficult to understand when someone really is referring to AI or machine learning.

"I actually don't think a lot of these companies are using artificial intelligence," Malwarebytes CEO Marcin Kleczynski told Wired. "It's really training machine learning. It's misleading in some ways to call it AI, and it confuses the hell out of customers."

Malwarebytes is a provider of machine learning threat detection software.

Machine learning can be very beneficial in the deployment of cybersecurity detection systems, as it enables devices to learn what to watch for.

Curb Your AI Enthusiasm

No matter what security vendors may say, ask any security profession and they will tell you there is no "Silver Bullet."

"To be fair, AI definitely has a few clear advantages for cybersecurity," wrote Tomas Honzak, director of security and compliance at Good Data, in a recent Dark Reading post. "In reality, like any technology, AI has its limitations."

One of these limitations is our reliance on information the AI has learned. It is clear that an AI has the same learning curve as a human intelligence: Both have to see something or make a mistake before it can learn.

"Even when the malware is detected, security already has been compromised and damage might already have been done," Honzak pointed out.

The first time (at least) that an AI sees something abnormal, it may not react to the change in time to block the action or activity.

Another important limitation of AI is that we view it only from the defenders' side, when in fact the same tools are available to the attackers.

"If you're using AI to better detect threats, there's an attacker out there who had the exact same thought," Honzak cautioned. "Where a company is using AI to detect attacks with greater accuracy, an attacker is using AI to develop malware that's smarter and evolves to avoid detection."

The ability for attackers to make use of products to bypass security measures is most clear with antivirus products. While signature-based antivirus products were effective at detecting malicious software in the early days of the Internet, by some accounts antivirus products are 100 percent ineffective at detecting ransomware. This lack of utility is not because antivirus has gotten worse, but because the virus creators have gotten better.

Attackers use the same types of tools to ensure their malicious software will bypass commercial antivirus products. To address this limitation in signature based antivirus, products came on the market that would run software in a "sandbox" to test whether it was malicious or not.

Attackers then started adding timers into their software to execute only within a window, after which the sandbox would expire. The cat and mouse game continues. We surely will see the same game played with AI.

"Once attackers make it past the company's AI, it's easy for them to remain unnoticed while mapping the environment, behavior that a company's AI would rule out as a statistical error," Honzak wrote in his Dark Reading piece.

One more limitation -- and there are others not discussed here -- is the ubiquity of processing power available. While businesses across the globe have been turning to the cloud for elastic processing, so have attackers.

As far back as 2011, likely before many legitimate businesses were exploring cloud computing, attackers were using the power of AWS elastic compute to crack password files. There is no reason to assume attackers will not take advantage of products developed for legitimate businesses to defeat AI defenses.

Conclusion: AI Offers Hope

While the limitations detailed above may suggest a death knell for cybersecurity AI, that is not the final conclusion to draw. Just as AI needed IBM's Watson to make AI accessible, the development of AI for cybersecurity purposes continues.

We currently use humans for detection. If AI can realize its goal of mimicking human intelligence, then it will equal or surpass the human ability to detect threats.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.

Peter Vogel has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2010. His focus is on technology and the law. Vogel is Of Counsel at Foley Gardere, and focuses on cybersecurity, privacy and information management. He tries lawsuits and negotiates contracts dealing with IT and the Internet. Before practicing law, he received a master's in computer science and was a mainframe programmer. His blog covers IT and Internet topics. Email Peter.

Eddie Block has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2017. His focus is on information security and data privacy. Block is an associate at Foley Gardere. Before practicing law, he spent 20 years as an information security professional in a variety of roles, from network security management to chief information security officer for the State of Texas. His blog covers information security and data privacy topics.


Yahoo Japan is the single biggest online platform for elephant ivory sales in Japan, according to a new TRAFFIC investigation, which recorded a staggering 4,414 ivory items plus 35 whole tusks for sale over a four-week period in June and July 2018.

The latest findings were revealed Thursday in "System Error, Reboot Required: Review of online ivory trade in Japan," which finds the overall number of elephant ivory items for sale on Yahoo Japan had fallen by 55 percentfrom 9,788 to 4,414compared to a similar survey in 2017. However the study found that the combined total value of ivory traded fell by only 16 percent, to JPY 37.8 million (USD 340,626) over the same time period, largely because of an increase in the sales of whole tusks, from 22 to 35.

Under current Japanese legislation, only sales of whole ivory tusks have to be registered, but two of the tusks were sold without appropriate documentation.

The buoyant ivory sales on Yahoo Japan were in marked contrast to other major Japanese retail platforms, notably Rakuten-Ichiba, Rakuma and Mercariall of whom introduced voluntary ivory bans in 2017 following international concerns about the sale of ivory in domestic markets fueling demand and leading to the poaching of elephants. Shops selling ivory were no longer identified on Rakuten-Ichiba and there was a significant reduction in ivory advertisements on Mecari (up to 98 percent) and on Rakuma, although a number of cryptic advertisements, use of code words, and rapid turnover in ivory products indicated some ongoing persistent trade.

"The major online retail outlets in Japan have aligned their policies with those of the international communityapart from Yahoo Japan, who appear to undervalue the impact and risk of continuing to trade ivory," said Tomomi Kitade, head of TRAFFIC's Japan office and lead author of the report.

Some 88 percent of the trade in ivory observed on the Yahoo Auction website, part of the Yahoo Japan group, lacked proof-of-legality. The platform has also previously been identified as a source in the illegal export of 3.2 tonnes of ivory to China over an 18 month period up to April 2012.

TRAFFIC's surveys also attempted to assess the impact of new regulations that came into force in Japan in June 2018, which call upon any businesses, as opposed to private individuals, selling ivory to display their registration details. However, according to the study, "Non-compliance with the requirement to display business registration was relatively high overall, ranging from 22% to 52%. Furthermore, discerning whether the legal requirement applies to the many anonymous sellers on auction, CtoC (Customer to Customer) and SNS (Social Networking Sites) platforms presented a serious challenge."

Although there is a government scheme for voluntary product certification, the study found its use sparse amongst online retailers and nearly non-existent on other platforms.

"The Japanese government should urgently introduce measures that effectively ban unregulated CtoC trade, while all e-commerce companies should introduce voluntary bans on ivory products and collaborate with initiatives such as the Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online," said Kitade.

"Ivory Towers: An Assessment of Japan's Ivory Trade and Domestic Market," a TRAFFIC study released in December 2017 revealed how poor regulation of the domestic ivory market in Japan had led to illegal exports of ivory, particularly to the Chinese market.

Japan's lack of adequate regulation of its domestic ivory market means the country is failing to live up to its commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which calls on countries to take every measure to ensure domestic ivory markets do not contribute to elephant poaching or illegal trade.

"WWF through its representatives in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America will be calling upon Yahoo Japan to institute an immediate voluntary ban on trading elephant ivory through its platforms. Japan is in urgent need of policy reform to eliminate unregulated ivory trade effectively from its domestic market and to live up to international expectations," said Margaret Kinnaird, WWF wildlife practice leader.
By Azernews

POS-terminals will be forcibly installed in a number of facilities in Azerbaijan, Evez Guliyev, director of the Tax Legislation Department of the Tax Policy Department of the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan, told Trend.

Guliyev noted that there are no restrictions in connection with POS-terminals in the country, an entrepreneur can set up a payment system on his site at his own will.

Today about 77,000 POS-terminals are installed in Azerbaijan. Terminals are installed on facilities, most commonly used by the population. In places of retail trade, catering and, mainly, hotels where there are no payment terminals, POS-terminals will be forcibly installed, Guliyev said.

The number of POS terminals in the country was 65,706, of which 37,715 were installed in Baku, 27,312 in other cities and regions of the country. The number of POS terminals since the beginning of the year in Azerbaijan increased by 235, or 0.36 percent.

Earlier, the CBA reported that in January-July, 2018, turnover on payment cards via ATMs and POS-terminals in Azerbaijan totaled 9.86 billion manats ($5.8 billion), which is 20.2 percent more than the figure of seven months of last year. The total number of transactions with payment cards during the reporting period amounted to 65.27 million (an increase of 20.7 percent).

The law On non-cash payments was adopted in order to strengthen accounting in the financial system, through the development of non-cash payments.

The law envisages a limit for cashing operations. Banks and postal operators will charge a simplified tax (1 percent of the sum) for cashing of means kept in bank accounts of legal entities and private entrepreneurs.

Under the law, trade and public catering entities (registered as VAT payers), with the annual turnover exceeding 200,000 manats ($117,600) will have a right for limited volume of cash payments (not exceeding 30,000 manats ($17,600) per month), while a limit of 15,000 manats ($8,800) will be set for other taxpayers.
(Photo: Zambia Tourism)The Victoria Falls forms a spectacular bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe showing the might of water.

The World Council of Churches has long been concerned about the impact of water privatization, and this week for the first time the council brought multi-stakeholders together to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva to talk about it including private-public partnerships.

The Sept. 12 gathering assembled those from India resisting water privatization, Aquafed, the federation of private water operators along with representatives of the WCC-Ecumenical Water Network (EWN).

The WCC-EWN opposes water privatization saying it is a public good and it has joined campaigns to reverse the process in countries including in Germany, Greece, Philippines, etc. and in some 200 cities where water was privatized.

"This is the first time we have had multi-stakeholders coming together to talk about water privatization from different perspectives," said WCC-EWN coordinator Dinesh Suna.

Present were people from the churches, private water operators, people trying to bridge the gap between the private sections, communities and others.

"We have not had this type of cooperation in the past," Suna told the gathering.

He said it was an initial discussion on the magnitude of water privatization, scrutinizing it as a human right, looking to accessibility, affordability, quality, accountability and non-discrimination and the likes.

The United Nations says that three in 10 people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and six in 10 people do not have access to safely managed sanitation facilities.

Water is not only the concern of the WCC, which represents some 560 million Christians from mainly Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox traditions as well as Evangelicals.

Pope Francis has said the availability and care of the world's water sources must be a global priority.

In his encyclical Laudato Si' (On Care for Our Common Home), the word "water" appears 47 times, 22 occurrences within articles 27-30 which treat the subject of water specifically.

'SOLE MOTIVE PROFIT'

R. Ajayan, convenor of the Anti-Coca-Cola Resistance movement in Plachimada, Kerala, India said, "when the sole motive is to make profit, how can we expect the private water companies to cater to the needs of the poor?"

He described how his group took to the Coca-Cola copmapny to the courts "due to their plundering of the water in Plachimada."

Ajayan, noted, "Only three percent of the planet's water is fresh water," and he said the main reason for the short supply of drinking water is pollution.

"Some observers warn that if important steps are not taken water will become a major source of conflict," he cautioned.

Thomas Van Waeyenberge, the senior adviser for Aquafed, noted that five out of eight people in the world are served by public-controlled water, two out of eight by the private sector and two by none.

"To facilitate effective water services around the world, it would take 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars. Therefore, collective action is needed. Public-Private Partnerships is the way forward."

Van Waeyenberge noted that when there was rapid privatization of water resources in the world it had been seen as a "silver bullet"

"We do not look at in a holistic approach...we will need all kinds of partnerships," he said.

Food & Water Watch conducted a comprehensive survey of the water rates of the 500 largest U.S. community water systems.

ACCOUNATBLITY

It is a Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization group which focuses on corporate and government accountability relating to food, water, and corporate overreach.

It found that large for-profit, privately owned systems charged 59 percent more than large publicly owned systems in the largest water rate survey of its kind in the country.

The WCC reported that water activists were doubtful of private operators' intent saying their track record is far from satisfactory.

Dr. Rajendra Singh, World Water Prize Laureate of 2015 World Water Week, who has driven decentralized water solutions said, "private companies are not the solutions...Focusing on community participation is the answer."

Singh noted, "When somebody can bath every day -- when water comes there is happiness, peace, and prosperity and it gives creativity and innovation in life."

Privately owned water utilities were common in Europe, the United States and Latin America in the mid and late 19th century, Wikipedia says.

Later their importance gradually faded until the early 20th century due to an inability to expand access and as publicly owned utilities became stronger.

Private water utilities resurfaced in the early 1990s after privatizations in England and Wales promoted by the then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the fall of communism and the ensuing global emphasis on free-market policies.
(Photo: Ivars Kupcis / WCC)Maude Barlow awards the Blue Community certificate to World Council of Churches' Olav Fykse Tveit on Oct. 25, 2016 at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

Water has always been sacred and the access to it and sanitation is a basic human right linked to the protection of creation, to which most faiths are signed up.

In its quest for climate and water justice, the World Council of Churches has announced it wants to cast out its bottled water and has joined the Blue Communities Project.

Maude Barlow, co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, on 25 October awarded the WCC a "blue community certificate" and launched tap-based public water fountains at Geneva's Ecumenical Centre along with WCC general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit.

As chairperson of the Council of Canadians and chair of the Washington, DC-based Food and Water Watch she delivered a keynote address at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva calling for humanity to come together to protect the earth's water heritage and share it more equally.

WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL

Her call is in line with the sixth of the globally-supported 17 Sustainable Development Goals to transform the world and goal 6 is is to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

In his welcome Tveit said, "We want to lead by example. We want to be a member of this community, with a program that is not only saying, but also doing it. Let us care for this day as a gift from God."

Barlow chose words from the August 2015 report of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network which she said expressed her thoughts perfectly.

"Foremost among the most important issues of justice and peace are the critical issues of eco-justice, of our proper relationship as people of faith to God's creation and to each other, given our utter and complete dependence on ecological integrity of the earth.

"Protecting water and assuring just distribution of this life-giving resource is among the most critical of eco-justice issues," she asserted.

The United Nations says that 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990, but 663 million people are still without.

By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.

At least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is fecally contaminated

Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population using an improved drinking water source has increased from 76 per cent to 91 per cent.

GLOBAL WATER SCARCITY

Water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is projected to rise. Over 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds its recharge.

Between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of the global population using an improved drinking water source has increased from 76 per cent to 91 per cent.

Barlow said, "Believe it or not, we are facing a water crisis."

She warned the world is running out of accessible water, citing the UN report on World Water Day 2016 showing the demand for water will increase by 55 percent in the next 15 years and, by that time, water resources will only reach 60 percent of world demand.

It is not only Africa, India, the Middle East and Australia that are in crisis, but so are "water-rich" countries, such as Canada, the Blue Planet Project founder said.

She referred to China, where since 1990, more than half of the rivers have disappeared and Brazil which faces massive droughts in part due to the destruction of the Amazon.

"Lack of clean water kills more children than all the forms of violence, including war," said Barlow.

Tveit explained that the three basic criteria of becoming a blue community are: recognizing water as a human right; saying "no" to the sale of bottled water in places where tap water is safe to drink; and promoting publicly-financed, owned and operated drinking water and waste water treatment services.

He said that over the past decade, through the Ecumenical Water Network, the WCC has brought the voice of the faith communities into the global discourses on the human right to water and sanitation.

It does this working in close collaboration with the UN mechanisms related to the right to water. Further, the World Council of Churches has had very close cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church and other churches that are not members of the WCC.

Tveit said Pope Francis's encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si, is part of the contribution of faith communities and this says that climate change is real and mainly "a result of human activity."

The papal document says that solving climate change means protecting the planet and vulnerable people, and we must hear "both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor."

Francis says faith can guide us. "The entire material universe speaks of God's love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains  everything is, as it were, a caress of God."

Many civil society groups argue that the commoditization and commercializing water distributing is harming the poorest of humanity, by impeding their right of access to it.

Dr. Rajendra Singh, "the water man of India," said in a video call, "In the 21st century water commercialization is creating a disaster. This is a big threat for this century."

Singh's stance was supported by David Boys, deputy general secretary of Public Services International, who said PSI was been part of the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network since its inception.

"We have to recognize there are groups working against social justice... We have to make this a political topic then we can turn many more cities into blue communities," said Boys.

OSLO ACCORDS

Gidon Bromberg, an Israeli who is a co-director of EcoPeace/Friends of Earth Middle East, said, "We feel water is being held hostage by the political process particularly by the Oslo (peace) Accords."

He said that for the last 22 years all Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations have been held hostage to the all-or-nothing approach, and that solving water issues would benefit all.

Jordanian Munqeth Mehyar, a co-director of EcoPeace, explained that the Jordan River is a shared eco-system bordering Jordan, Palestine and Israel and is linked to Syria which has major control of the key tributary to the river.

Nader Al-Khateeb, a Palestinian and a co-director of EcoPeace, said, "Nobody should be denied access to water. It is illegal and unfair. We need to fairly share resources to avoid future conflicts."

He said the Middle East is "blessed with sunshine" which can help the use of renewables for water desalination "instead of fighting over limited resources."
While many schools have addressed LGBTQ sexuality and gender by focusing on bullying prevention, one team of professors wanted to recognize the more neglected narratives: the ordinary ways LGBTQ conversations circulate inside schools. In order to unearth these discussions, Jen Gilbert of York University in Toronto, Nancy Lesko of Columbia Universitys Teachers College, and Jessica Fields and Laura Mamo of San Francisco State University began to ask school communities to share stories about LGBTQ sexuality and gender. This collection of stories would eventually become The Beyond Bullying Project.

In 2014, the research team worked with the Bay Area Video Coalition to set up a simple audio-video recording booth in three schoolsin San Francisco, New York, and Minneapoliswhere students and staff could talk about anything related to LGBTQ sexuality or gender. Depending on the level of consent participants gave over the two-week project, the team compiled the stories for research or shared them on beyondbullyingproject.com . The project continues to expand; it is now in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico. The researchers plan to adapt their website as an educator resource.

Education Weeks Emily Lytle recently spoke with Gilbert on how the project is redefining LBGTQ issues as something more than just a problem that education is tasked with solving.

Why do you think its a challenge to discuss LGBTQ sexuality and gender in schools? What advice do you have for K-12 educators when it comes to bringing these conversations inside the classroom?

Gilbert: I think that there always is this sense of danger and risk when [a discussion about] sexuality comes close to children. It does take some courage for teachers to talk about LGBTQ issues with young people because they worry that theyre introducing something; that theyre corrupting children and youth with these topics. When really, what was so remarkable about this project is that all these young people and all these teachers already have these very personal, intimate relationships with LGBTQ issues. And not because they themselves are necessarily gay or lesbian or trans.

All these young people and all these teachers already have these very personal, intimate relationships with LGBTQ issues."

In fact, the thing that was so remarkable was that all these young people had gay uncles or lesbian cousins, and they were really engaged in the political debates that were circulating around schools. None of them needed to be introduced to these issuesthey were leading the way. And how the school thought about its role in preventing bullying was really behind what young people were already doing and thinking about.

The question is: Is public education going to be a place where we talk about these issues that are so important in the lives of young people? Are we going to be a significant player in these conversations and debates, or are we going to cede that territory to media, pop culture, religion, and so on? I really think its important for education to play a role in this conversation.

We want to protect young people from bullying; we want to ensure that every student feels safe when they go to school. But, its also important for educators and teachers to remember that sexuality and gender are a part of all our lives in the most ordinary, intimate ways. Talking about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans issues in schools means talking about friendship, family, disappointment, or political views. You can talk about what it means to support a friend through a difficult time, or what it means to have a conflict between what your family wants for you and what you want for yourself.

You chose schools that were already providing a space for LGBTQ conversations. How might you approach schools differently if they were not in a major city or were not as open to these conversations?

We do young people in rural areas a disservice when we imagine that they are somehow behind their urban counterparts. These days young people have access to the internet; they live these rich lives online. They know about all of this, no matter where they live. The first thing is for teachers to recognize the sophistication of the young people in their classrooms.

Also, we tend to put these LGBTQ issues in curricular pockets. We cordon them off in these safer spotssex education, for instanceand while its important to talk about these issues when we talk about sexual education, its also important for it to be a part of ordinary conversation, to be not such a big deal. Its important to have the idea of LGBTQ people, communities, and culture come up in English class, everyday conversations, discussions of films, or what people are talking about in the cafeteria.

You captured student stories in these booths, as well as teachers. Why do you believe that teachers were an important part of the project?

It was important for us to include teachers because we were thinking about the school as a community. Its not only what young people think; theyre also living alongside teachers, librarians, community workers, and principals. The principals, the community workers and the teachers aides all told stories. We had this sense that the school is sort of an organic whole, and all these players are contributing to these narratives that are circulating just slightly below the surface around LGBTQ issues.

And as it turned out, some teachers were themselves gay or lesbian and were or were not out at school. Some came out in the booth, but they werent out to their students. One teacher had been out for a really long time and talked about what it meant to be living through these changes around the perceptions of LGBTQ teachers. Other teachers had gay brothers. All these adults had really complicated relationships to LGBTQ sexuality and gender that needed room to be expressed, as well.
Fifteen-year-old Jaimie Moreano is on YouTube all the time.

She can learn how to do anything she wants using the video-sharing platform. She uses it to watch hair and makeup tutorials and get-ready-with-me videos to see whats cool to wear.

But makeup tutorials arent the only videos she watches on the popular video platform.

When Im doing my homework, Ill look up how to solve a problem on YouTube, said Moreano, a sophomore at Locust Valley High School outside New York City. I like it because its really easy to follow. I can pause it, or I can rewind it if I have a question.

Shes part of a majority of Generation Z kids who have a higher preference for learning from YouTube and videos, compared with printed books. That shifting preference is driving curricula and technological changes in some school districts, but also raising questions and concerns about the downsides of relying too much on video.

In a survey released last month of people ages 14 to 23the so-called Generation Z groupYouTube ranked the highest as a preferred learning tool. Fifty-nine percent picked YouTube as a learning preference, 57 percent chose in-person group activities, 47 percent picked learning apps or games, and 47 percent chose printed books. The studyconducted by a global market research firm, The Harris Poll, on behalf of education company Pearsonexamines the differences between Generation Z and Millennialsdefined as ages 24-40when it comes to their outlooks, values, and experiences in education and the use of technology.

The Generation Z age group has a specific brand relationship with YouTube, said Peter Broad, the director of global research and insights for the education company. When younger learners are looking for answers, theyre going to the most straightforward, familiar force, and for them thats YouTube.

The Google-owned platform is full of explainers and tutorials and content that is short and easily digestible, he added.

Grasp the Concept

Those Generation Z preferences are driving significant changes in some school districts.

In the Mineola school district outside New York City, Superintendent Michael Nagler has been encouraging teachers to use more video in the classroom. The district has a YouTube channel for educators and students, with videos covering topics from growth mindset to science and math lessons. Videos complement the regular curricula and give students real-life connections about why theyre learning something, Nagler said.

If all the facts and figures are available on the internet, then students dont need to sit and listen to you, Nagler said. But whats the bigger connection? Videos can give them that bigger connection, engaging them in the content and lesson itself.

Despite his enthusiasm for the power of video learning, Nagler emphasizes that teachers still need to be the ones guiding students through the content.

The members of Generation Z seem to agree. According to the Pearson study, 78 percent of respondents said that teachers are very important to learning and development.

For younger learners who have grown up with technology, its all about efficiency and using any resource they can get their hands on easily, Broad said.

They want to learn as quickly as possible, he said. Their assumption is that [the answers they need] will be available to them.

YouTube is a good source when Moreano has a test coming up, she said. She just types crash course on whatever subject the test is on and shell find YouTube videos of people simplifying everything, helping her to really grasp the concept.

Privacy and Content Concerns

Educators and researchers alike agree that young peoples tendency to gravitate toward YouTube has to do with the fact that theyve grown up with this technology and expect it to always be available to them. The website launched in 2005, around the same time the Generation Z age group was growing up.

Andrew Biggs, a social studies teacher at New Technology High School in Napa, Calif., said that students like YouTube because its on-demand content.

For students, the strength of video is that you can play and pause it as many times as you want, without having to feel like youre inconveniencing someone, Biggs said. It also makes sense to use it for learning because a lot of students already use YouTube recreationally.

The video-sharing website is widely popular among kids and young adults.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 85 percent of U.S. teenagers use YouTube, and 32 percent say they use the video-sharing platform more often than other social media platforms. Forty-seven percent spend three or more hours a day on YouTube, according to the Pearson study.

YouTube, however, has recently been accused of targeting children with advertisements and violating the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, Education Week reported in April. More than 20 consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that YouTube has been gathering data of children to target advertisements.

It has also been criticized for recommending inappropriate content to children, said Josh Golin, executive director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, one of the advocacy groups that filed a complaint with the FTC. YouTube recommends videos that contain extremist viewpoints, conspiracy theories, violent and adult content, he said.

The platform is also designed to keep you watching one video after another, exposing kids to risks, Golin said. Its something educators should think about before sending students to YouTube for educational purposes, he added.

Students also have concerns.

Eva Clark-Dupuy, a junior at New Technology High School, said she uses YouTube as a learning tool because its more accessible to her.

Its a free app, she said. Its easy to look at. You get millions of results when you search something.

But the downside of YouTube being a free-for-all space, she said, is that anyone can upload a low-quality or misleading video, and the videos could contain inappropriate content.

Other students are concerned that the video-sharing platform is becoming more commercialized.

Even the YouTubers themselves are advertising products, and you dont know whether to believe them or if theyre just getting paid to say that, said Ben Danialian, a senior at Mineola High.

The Role of Visual Learning

The preference for YouTube and videos signals a shift in learning styles, Pearsons director of global research and insights said. The role of video and visual learning is essential in rising learners and the generation to come, Broad said. Pearson has also found that there is growing interest in other video-based learning platforms like Khan Academy.

Some teens are turning to YouTube because they find that its easier to understand something when they watch someone explain it visually. It also helps that they can pause and rewind a video if they dont understand it right away.

Watching a video can be more helpful than having someone lecture at her, Clark-Dupuy said.

Sometimes learning from a textbook doesnt help me, she said. Sometimes its much easier to watch a video on a topic. If I have a visual, its easier to grasp.

The visual aspect of videos isnt the only reason younger learners are turning to YouTube. They also find the videos more relatable than books.

Moreano said that YouTube is almost more personal than reading a book, because you see them and what theyre actually doing, and not just what theyre writing.

She also gets to follow people her age, which makes the video-sharing platform better than a book, she said, because books feel old to me.
On the first day of every semester, I ask my students, who are aspiring teachers, to define diversity. They look at me with blank stares and I am met with silence. I wait, and eventually someone raises her hand (its always a young woman) and she whispers skin color.

This is the answer I expect (it is the same every semester) and I always react the same way. I pause, consider, and say, Skin color? What do you mean by that, exactly? The embarrassed young woman, put on the spot, turns a deep shade of red and doesnt respond. Someone eventually answers, also whispering, Like, black and white?

This goes on for a long while. Students whispering, me pushing. Eventually I have a board full of words like skin color, black, white, brown, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, straight or gay, bi, trans, family life, ways to learn, shy or outgoing   The list is long and often includes words that are not politically correct, since I capture the language my students use.

My students hate this exercise.

I love it.

It lets them know, right off the bat, that in this class we are going to grapple with issues that are going to make them uncomfortable. This is important because they are going to be teachers. Its especially important because they are mostly young, white women.

I teach my universitys introduction to education class, where we explore issues of social justice, diversity, and democratic education. It is not a methods class, so I dont cover lesson or unit planning. Instead, we consider the ways schools function within their communities. We read books like The New Jim Crow , Tell Me How It Ends , Schoolgirls , Refugee , George , and The Hate U Give ; a mix of nonfiction and fiction works that deal with racism, immigration, and gender.

On average, I have 25 students in each class. Generally, at least 20 of them are white women. This mirrors the national numbers for white female teachers .

Hard Conversations

My students are good people. Many of them grew up working class and are the first in their families to go to college. They want to teach because they love children and they want to help them learn.

Often, though, the idea that they will teach children who are different from them, who have had different experiences and faced different challenges, simply does not register. They define themselves as normal because they are white and Christian. They love to claim color-blindness, proudly, as if this is the right answer.

Many of my students do not follow the news. They dont see it as being relevant to their work as teachers. They know they will need to help students learn to read, multiply, and conduct scientific experiments. Somewhere along the way, history and current events fall off the list.

I, too, am white and female. In these ways, I remind my students of themselves. Some assume that I will share their beliefs and values, and that I will keep politics out of my class. This perceived kinship gives me a way in.

I never pretend to be a neutral party, and I never ask my students to think the way that I do. But I push students to consider things that they have never thought about before: the school-to-prison pipeline. Transgender 4th graders. Whether or not teachers should be armed. How to reach families that seem unreachable. Children with mental illnesses. Families that are hungry.

These subjects come up through planned readings, and in informal conversations about current events. These are often hard conversations for my students to undertake.

Staying Flexible

Reading George, for example, a middle-grade fiction book about a young transgender child, challenges them as some struggle to use a characters correct pronouns, question their own biases and assumptions, and begin to think about if and how they might use this book in their own future class.

Semester after semester, I remain surprised by how little my students know about topics that have never touched them. Last year, when we read The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, I learned that my students had never heard of the murder of Emmett Till. My students questioned how something like this could have happened in America.

I wanted my class to debate ways to improve urban schools and systemic racism after reading Alexanders book, but I realized they needed more context. I had to remain flexible and meet my students where they were. Before having that conversation, we watched the PBS documentary The Murder of Emmett Till. It is impossible to talk about the school-to-prison pipeline, or systemic racism more generally, without knowing about Jim Crow, Emmett Till, and lynching.

I teach by asking open-ended questions. When a student said, One teacher on every floor of a high school should be armed, I simply replied, Say more about that. This produced a rich conversation after the shooting in Parkland, Fla., engaging multiple students with strongly opposing points of view. Students spoke about safety and race, masculinity, and mental illness. My job was to facilitate rather than give a right answer.

I tell my students small things about myself, because my own life is relevant to the way I teach, the things I understand, and the things I still grapple with.

I talk to them about my first year of teaching, and how, as a white teacher in an urban school, I didnt even know what I didnt know . I share what I have learned as the parent of a child with ADHD that I didnt know as an elementary school teacher, imparting to them how I might have been more flexible. I talk to them about how I struggle with what it means to be a woman finding her (sometimes public) voice.

At the end of each class session, students complete anonymous one-minute writes. I prompt them to write just a sentence or two to let me know how class went. Given the topics we cover, I always brace myself for these assessments, but they are generally positive. Students share ways in which their long-held beliefs were challenged and how they were exposed to concepts and ideas about society they had never considered. They admit that it was hard, but they almost never complain.

Why This Work Matters

Teachers need to learn the histories that shape communities that are different from theirs. This will take time. They need to ask hard questions, listen well, and confront their own biases. They need to be challenged without anger. They must learn in the safe environment that they will one day need to create for their own students.

Fundamentally, white teachers and white students (not to mention those who are straight, male, Christian, able-bodied, and middle-class) need to begin to check their own privilege, which is challenging because it is scary. As we acknowledge that we have privilege, we have to decide what to do with it. Hopefully, we will decide to become allies and activists.

Our countrys history is rich, messy, and complicated, and our future is bound to be the same. We need to prepare teachers for it.
Tenth Year of Food & Drink Festival

A bumper crowd are expected for this weekend's Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival.

Adam Henson, farmer and presenter of BBC Ones Countryfile will be the special guest on Saturday and Sunday.

The Food and Drink Festival is run by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture as a way of showcasing local producers and the contribution they make to the economy.

Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, Geoffrey Boot MHK, said: This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Food & Drink Festival, which has become one of the largest and most popular events on the Island.



Our research estimates the event itself is now worth 250,000 to the local economy. But the real focus is to showcase the variety and quality of Manx produce to the people of the Isle of Man as well as those from further afield.
By Trend

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the secondary school No. 28 in Savalan residential area of Mashtagha settlement in the Sabunchu district of Baku.

The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the school.

President Ilham Aliyev viewed conditions created here.

The head of state then met with the school staff and posed for photographs together with them.
















Blue Plaque for Suffrage Activist



Sophia Goulden

Douglas Borough Council have honoured the life and work of a women's suffrage activist with a blue plaque.

Sophia Goulden, the mother of British suffragette movement leader Emmeline Pankhurst, was born in Lonan and owned a home in Douglas, where she and husband lived after they retired.

The blue plaque has been placed at her former home at 9 Strathallan Crescent.

The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor following a short ceremony.
Dormant Bank Accounts to be raided by Government?

Money in dormant bank accounts on the Isle of Man could be given to local charities.

A consultation exercise has been launched by the Treasury and asks for peoples views on the Dormant Assets Bill 2018.

Under the plans, money held in dormant bank accounts would be transferred to a central fund and to allow a proportion of the amounts transferred to be distributed for charitable purposes in the Island.

Account owners would have the right to reclaim their money indefinitely.

The process will run for 6 weeks and conclude on 19 October 2018.
Mike Vercnocke is the Island's new man in Brussels

Mike Vercnocke has been appointed as the Isle of Mans Head of Brussels Office.

He joins the Isle of Man after 11 years as Head of the London City Office in Brussels, where he worked since 1995, when he joined the European Commission on secondment from the Bank of England.



Mr Vercnocke replaces David Corlett, who returns to the External Relations Directorate in the Cabinet Office where he will head up the government team focusing on the implications for the Isle of Man as a result of Brexit.
Parents encouraged to get their children's eyes tested

Parents on the Island are being urged to get their childrens eyes tested.

Manx Blind Welfare Society and RNIB Isle of Man have partnered up with the Islands opticians to highlight the importance of eye tests for children and to encourage parents and carers to get their childs sight tested.



All children who receive an eye test will receive their very own Nellyn the Bear (Manx for Little Champion).

Eye tests are free for all children under the of 16 and those under 19 who are in full-time education.

The Rotary Club has funded the initiative through the Lockington Marshall Trust which was established to aid Manx charitable organisations.
IOM Prison Officers support striking UK colleagues

Prison officers and staff from Isle of Man Prison showed their support for officers in the UK earlier.

Over 5000 officers in England and Wales took part in the UK-wide demonstration over safety improvements in jails and a reduction in violence and overcrowding.

The P-O-A union says it's had "constructive" talks with the UK government about attacks on staff in jails.

The union posted a picture of staff outside the Island's prison in Jurby earlier.
By Trend

Armenias declaring war against Azerbaijan complicates the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Theodore Karasik, senior advisor to Gulf State Analytics, Washington DC, told Trend Sept.14.

The National Assembly of Armenia has adopted a decision to declare conditional war against Azerbaijan in the sidelines of Shant-2018 drills scenario.

He noted that Armenia's announcement of this particular exercise is coming on the heels of the Armenian president's meeting with Putin as well as the usual turbulence in Yerevan's own political landscape.

Such announcements are rhetorical in nature, said the expert, adding that but nowadays, because of hypermedia, the conflict will continue both in cyberspace, but also on the ground.

Obviously settlement is complicated by such pronouncements, added Karasik.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.



The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Washington, DC - September 14, 2018 - Exposure to banned nerve agents remains a major public health concern globally, especially because of the recent air-release of these agents in Syria. One main problem is the difficulty of determining whether an exposure has occurred. Now, a new study demonstrates that the mammalian microbiome can act as a "sentinel" due to its high responsiveness to exposure. The research is published on September 14 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

In this study, the investigators exposed Sprague Dawley laboratory rats to the nerve gas soman, which is similar to sarin, an agent believed to have been released in Syria. Soman and sarin are organophosphates, which are used in certain pesticides and nerve gases. They block the normal breakdown of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, causing overstimulation of nerves, muscles, and certain glands. In large doses, these compounds interfere with the mechanism that turns off nerve transmission, causing suffocation.

The investigators examined the microbiome for changes at 72 hours post exposure. "Our aim was to determine specific features of physiologic injury resulting from mild exposure to soman," since these might provide warning symptoms and identify people needing treatment, said first author Derese Getnet, PhD, Research Scientist, Integrative Systems Biology Program, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, MD.

The most notable changes in the microbiome were the detection of the bacterial genera, Facklamia, Enterobacter, and Bilophila, and the beneficial-to-plants genus, Rhizobium. "It was very interesting to see Rhizobium grow in the presence of organophosphate since it is a known class of organism associated with bioremediation," said Dr. Getnet. Rhizobium is normally not associated with intestines, but the presence of organophosphate might have given it a brief advantage over competing microbes.

"These signatures of exposure are detectable for at least 72 hours following exposure, and they persist not only in symptomatic animals, but also in asymptomatic animals," said Dr. Getnet. "It should be possible to detect these changes before any symptoms develop, or if asymptomatic exposure has occurred." Dr. Getnet also noted that an advantage of this form of sampling is that it's non-invasive, and that sites and subjects can be screened on a routine basis, absent specific knowledge of exposure.

This is important because during nerve agent attacks, it is very difficult to determine the boundaries of the affected area, as well as who has been exposed. Additionally, the onset of symptoms is unpredictable, causing estimates of exposure based on symptoms to be inaccurate.

"The motivation behind this research is to identify novel signatures for nerve agents and organophosphate exposures that can quickly be adapted into the clinical pathology workflow of urine chemistry and microbiology, without the need to develop novel technology and clinical standards," said Dr. Getnet. He noted that this work is "proof of concept" only, and more research will be necessary to determine the sensitivity of the sampling to each toxicant, as well as the signals for all of the different organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents.

To this end, there will be no need to develop novel platforms. Rather, existing technologies will simply need to be refined, said Dr. Getnet.

These developments could be very important for protecting civilians as well as the armed forces from nerve agents, or organophosphate toxicants, said Dr. Getnet. The work could also enable hospitals to determine whether a person has been exposed not only to nerve agents, but to organophosphate pesticides and to fire retardants, both of which can also be quite harmful.

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The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of more than 30,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.
A recent achievement in the field of protein research allows for better tailored pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects; the method was developed by two University of Copenhagen researchers

Protein research is one of the hottest areas in medical research because proteins make it possible to develop far more effective pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diabetes, cancer and other illnesses.

However, while proteins have great potential, they also present great challenges for scientists. Proteins have incredibly complex chemical structures that make them difficult to modify. As a result, researchers have been looking for a tool to modify them more precisely, without increasing a drug's side-effects.

"We often run the risk of not being approved by health authorities because protein-based drugs lack precision and may have side-effects. Among other things, this is because of the serious limitations with the tools that have been used up until now," according to Professor Knud J. Jensen of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Chemistry.

Together with his research colleague, Sanne Schoffelen, he has developed a new protein-modifying method that promises fewer side-effects and could be pivotal in furthering the development of protein-based pharmaceuticals. Their work has been published in the distinguished journal, Nature Communications.

Protein structure is like an intricate ball of yarn

Researchers call the method "His-tag acylation". Among other things, it makes it possible to add a toxic molecule to proteins that can attack sick cells in a cancer-stricken body without attacking healthy ones.

"Proteins are like a ball of yarn, a long thread of amino acids, which are turned up. This method allows us to precisely target these intricate structures, as opposed to making uncertain modifications when we don't know what is being hit within the ball of yarn. In short, it will help produce drugs where we can be far more confident about where modifications are being made, so that side effects can be minimized in the future," says Knud J. Jensen.

Modified proteins must target precisely

The fact that His-tag acylation can accurately target these complex yarn-like protein structures also makes it possible to produce drugs with entirely new characteristics.

For example, researchers can now attach a fluorescent molecule to proteins in such a way that a microscope can be used to track a protein's path through cells. The primary function of these proteins is to transport cancer fighting molecules around to sick cells, so it is important to carefully follow their path throughout the body in order to safely produce medications that don't have unintended side-effects.

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WASHINGTON -- Use of probiotics is linked to reduced need for antibiotic treatment in infants and children, according to a review of studies that probed the benefits of probiotics, say researchers in the U.S., England and the Netherlands.

Their study, supported in part by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics and published in the European Journal of Public Health, found that when the results from twelve studies were pooled together, infants and children were 29% percent less likely to have been prescribed antibiotics if they received probiotics as a daily health supplement. When the analysis was repeated with only the highest quality studies, this percentage increased to 53%.

The findings are very intriguing, the researchers say. "Given this finding, potentially one way to reduce the use of antibiotics is to use probiotics on a regular basis," says the study's senior investigator, Daniel Merenstein, MD, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is also director of research programs in the department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about two million cases of antibiotic resistant infections yearly in the U.S., resulting in 23,000 deaths. Reducing the use of antibiotics is one strategy in combatting resistance.

"We already have evidence that consuming probiotics reduces the incidence, duration, and severity of certain types of common acute respiratory and gastrointestinal infections," Merenstein says. "The question is whether that reduction is solidly linked to declining use of antibiotics, and we see that there is an association."

"More studies are needed in all ages, and particularly in the elderly, to see if sustained probiotic use is connected to an overall reduction in antibiotic prescriptions. If so, this could potentially have a huge impact on the use of probiotics in general medicine and consumers in general," says the study's lead author Sarah King, PhD, from Cambridge, UK.

How probiotics help fight infections, especially those in the respiratory track and lower digestive tract, is not clear. However, Merenstein says, "There are many potential mechanisms, such as probiotic production of pathogen inhibitors, immune regulation, among others.

"We don't know all the mechanisms probiotic strains may leverage. But since most of the human immune system is found in the gastrointestinal tract, ingesting healthy bacteria may competitively exclude bacterial pathogens linked to gut infections and may prime the immune system to fight others," he says.

The probiotics used in the reviewed studies were strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

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In addition to King and Merenstein, authors include Daniel Tancredi, PhD, from the University of California, Davis; Irene Lenoir-Wijnkoop, University of Utrecht, Netherlands; Kelsie Gould, Hailey Vann and Grant Connors, MLS, from Georgetown University; Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD, International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics; Jeffrey A. Linder, MD, MPH, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; and Andi L. Shane, MD, MPH, Emory University School of Medicine.

All authors received compensation for travel and lodging by International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) to attend the 2016 Annual ISAPP Meeting in Turku, Finland where the manuscript was conceived. King received an honorarium from ISAPP as partial compensation for time spent conducting this systematic review. Tancredi reports receiving consultation fees from Pfizer Consumer Health for providing statistical education. In addition, he has received research and travel support from ISAPP. Lenoir-Wijnkoop was employed by the Danone Company during the conduct of this study. Sanders consults with numerous companies engaged in probiotic business, but does not have any financial stake in any company. She serves on scientific advisory boards for Danone, Yakult, DannonWave, Clorox and Winclove. Merenstein has been an expert for Bayer and Pharmative. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Connect with GUMC on Facebook (Facebook.com/GUMCUpdate), Twitter (@gumedcenter) and Instagram (@gumedcenter).
Bottom Line: An analysis of hospital visits in California shows trends in injuries inflicted by law enforcement officers in the line of duty and how those injuries were associated with the race and ethnicity of individuals they encountered.

Why The Research Is Interesting: Public concern about the use of police force has heightened but not much data are available about the resulting injuries.

What and When: 92,386 hospital visits in California from 2005 to 2015 were identified as resulting from "legal intervention injuries" (defined in injury codes as being inflicted by police or other law enforcement agents in the course of arresting, attempting to arrest, suppressing disturbances, maintaining order or other legal action)

What (Study Measures and Outcomes): All visits with injury codes classified as legal intervention injuries in men ages 14 to 64; the study analyzed trends in injury rates and disparities across racial and ethnic groups.

How (Study Design): This was an observational study. Researchers were not intervening for purposes of the study and cannot control all the natural differences that could explain the study findings.

Authors: Renee Y. Hsia, M.D., M.Sc., of the University of California, San Francisco, and coauthors

Results: Rates of injuries inflicted by law enforcement officers increased from 2005 to 2009 but declined through 2015, and black individuals were at greatest risk of these injuries per capita. The proportion of these injuries involving firearms, such as shootings by police, declined. In addition, an increasing proportion of emergency department visits associated with legal intervention injuries were associated with co-occuring behavioral health diagnoses.

Study Limitations: Results could have been affected by changes in hospital coding practices; there could be differences across race and ethnicity in reporting to clinicians that police inflicted the injury; and the study cannot determine in instances where force was used whether it was excessive.

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Related Material: The invited commentary, "Understanding Police Use of Force via Hospital Administrative Data: Prospects and Problems," by Ojmarrh Mitchell, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida, Tampa, also is available on the For The Media website.

To Learn More: The full study is available on the For The Media website.

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.2150)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Links will be live at the embargo time http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.2150

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. Every Friday, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.
Nearly a year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, Michigan State University researchers have been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to study communication following the disaster.

The Department of Media and Information researchers will use the funds -- $404,873 -- to explore the way information spread during and following the hurricane.

With power lines down across the island and most major means of communication destroyed, communicating safety and storm updates was difficult.

"A well-equipped free press that reports on important issues facing the country is essential in maintaining a well-informed citizenry," said Bruno Takahashi, an associate professor and co-director of journalism graduate studies. "In times of crisis, this role gets magnified as information provided by the news media serves functions in the prevention and response phases of a disaster."

The project began thanks to a rapid response grant from the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The grant allowed MSU Ph.D. Media and Information graduate Yadira Nieves-Pizarro to conduct preliminary research about radio communications in Puerto Rico after the hurricane, in parallel to her dissertation work on political talk radio.

In the aftermath of the disaster, radio was the only mass form of communication on the island. Last December, Nieves-Pizarro, who is now an assistant professor in the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, interviewed 16 radio workers who said they were unable to travel due to flooding, debris and depleted transportation resources, at times limiting their information coverage to what they could see from their station windows.

When possible, members of the community traveled to news stations where broadcasters shared their stories about what was happening elsewhere.

Communication efforts faced additional obstacles due to confusion in the role of the news media and government officials. With no formal training, broadcasters became first responders, transforming news stations into community centers for refugees seeking shelter and supplies.

Plans are now being made for Takahashi and Chavez to travel to Puerto Rico in January for further research.

"NSF is the top organization that funds scientific research," said Manuel Chavez, director of the Information and Media Ph.D. program. "For us to be granted this money is a fantastic opportunity, and we are more than thankful they thought that our proposal could help journalists and policy makers."

While in Puerto Rico, the team will gather data through focus groups and interviews with reporters and Puerto Rican residents, as well as documentation from news organizations. They will also map which areas are still without electricity.

The information will help them to conduct a more in-depth analysis of why infrastructure in Puerto Rico failed and how crisis communication was utilized before, during and after Hurricane Maria. All the research will eventually be compiled to produce a book, website and documentary about the storm's impact on disaster reporting and the lives of Puerto Rican residents.

Beyond the academic research, the goal is to produce policy recommendations for effective communication in places that share similar cultural and contextual characteristics with Puerto Rico. The suggestions will help guide government agencies and reporters when future natural disasters strike.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to help people and governments figure out what to do when natural disasters the size of [Hurricane] Maria hit any state in the U.S.," Chavez said. "We couldn't be more delighted -- not just about the academic research component, but also the opportunity to contribute to governmental decision-making changes that can help people."

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In addition to Takahashi and Chavez, the research team includes several colleagues from Puerto Rico.
By Trend

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijans Embassy in Poland on Sept. 12 organized an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Warsaw.

Prior to the event, the participants viewed an exhibition on Azerbaijan. The exhibition, which will run for a month, aims to promote Azerbaijans tourism opportunities in Poland, and raise the Polish societys awareness about Azerbaijan.

Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Hasan Hasanov and Mazowieckie Province Governor Zdzislaw Sipiera viewed the exhibition.

The Azerbaijani delegation then visited a monument "In memory of fighters for independent Azerbaijan and Poland", which is the symbol of friendship and brotherhood between the Azerbaijani and Polish peoples.

An official reception on the centennial of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic then was held at the Royal Palace in Warsaw.

In his opening remarks, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Hasan Hasanov greeted the event participants on behalf of Azerbaijans First Vice President, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva. He described the Azerbaijan-Poland relations as excellent. The ambassador hailed the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's role in promoting Azerbaijans culture and history and implementing humanitarian projects both in the country and abroad.

Ambassador Hasanov pointed to numerous events initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, saying they contribute to the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Poland.

The Azerbaijani ambassador then highlighted the history and activities of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which existed for only 23 months.

On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Hasanov said that as a result of the Armenian aggression, 20 percent of the Azerbaijani lands were occupied, more than one million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their native lands. He thanked the Polish government for supporting the settlement of the conflict based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani ambassador also highlighted the history of diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Poland.

Polish Undersecretary of State Bartosz Cichocki said that the Poles participated in the establishment of the Azerbaijani state 100 years ago. The Polish Undersecretary of State noted that his country supports efforts towards finding a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of international law.

The event also featured a concert of Azerbaijani and Polish musicians.
BOSTON, MA (Sept. 13, 2018) -- Airborne marine biologists were amazed by the sheer abundance and diversity of large marine wildlife in their recent aerial survey of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the only marine national monument on the East Coast, about 150 southeast of Cape Cod. Scientists with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium documented more than 600 animal sightings in just four hours, including a "superpod" of about 250 common dolphins and a rare sighting of a giant manta ray.

The researchers, aboard a small, four-seat airplane, saw the equivalent of three animal sightings every minute. They also spotted hundreds of Risso's dolphins, some rarely-seen beaked whales, pods of bottlenose dolphins, and the bizarre-looking giant ocean sunfish, also known as the mola mola. The 605-total seen during the September survey nearly doubles the survey team's previous sighting record of 339 animals in April 2018.

"This was an amazing number of animals to see in such a short period of time and the highest count we've seen so far in our surveys," said Dr. Ester Quintana, head of the survey team. "The marine monument is known as the 'Serengeti of the sea' for a reason."

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a critical hotspot of biodiversity on the edge of the continental shelf where the shallow seas off of New England drop sharply into the deep waters of the northwestern Atlantic. On September 16, the monument will celebrate its two year anniversary. In 2016, President Obama designated three underwater canyons that are deeper than the Grand Canyon, and four seamounts as tall as the Rockies, as the first American marine national monument in Atlantic waters. At the moment, is still the most strongly protected area in U.S. Atlantic waters. However, in 2017, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke recommended to President Trump has recommended weakening the area's protections.

"It's simply impossible to overstate the uniqueness of this habitat and its value as the most protected region in the U.S. Atlantic," said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium. "And let's be clear about what it protects: Us. Our way of life. Our values. Our future. The monument should be here to stay."

Given the great distance offshore, documenting the marine life in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts is a challenge. During the 4-hour aerial survey, the team spotted 335 common dolphins, 30 bottlenose dolphins, 2 beaked whales, 3 ocean sunfish (mola mola), and a giant manta ray. The manta was an especially unexpected sight because the species is very rarely seen this far north. All of the dolphin groups included many calves and juveniles, reinforcing observations that the monument is a nursery area for several species.

This was the fourth in a series of aerial surveys of the monument that began in summer 2017, and the number of sightings by the scientists during this survey was higher than any other, nearly double the number of animals observed last fall.

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Dropbox of Images from the Survey: (Credit: Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pfubufoq0kckt4y/AABFFu2K1cV90IOQyVMPejGfa?dl=0

INTERVIEWS WITH DRS. QUINTANA AND KRAUS UPON REQUEST.

CONTACT: Tony LaCasse, tlacasse@neaq.org, 617-877-6871
Moving spins across ever larger (but still small) distances makes for a big advance in spintronics

Should you care that scientists can control a baffling current? Their research results could someday affect your daily living.

Physicists have managed to send and control a spin current across longer distances than ever before - and in a material that was previously considered unsuitable for the task.

We'll return to what that strange sentence really means. But a spin current is a current that is kept going without relying on a simultaneous current of electrical charges.

"We've transferred spins more than 80 microns in an antiferromagnet," says Arne Brataas, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Physics, and head of the university's recently launched Center for Quantum Spintronics (QuSpin).

Eighty microns - a mere 8/100 000th of a metre - is that so impressive?

"We're not exactly sending signals to the other side of the city. But this is far in the world of nanoelectronics," says Brataas.

Nanoelectronics forms the basis for all the smart technology we surround ourselves with.

Right about now you can start doing your happy dance. That's because 80 microns is getting to be a great enough distance to matter to people besides the scientists who are interested in knowledge for its own sake.

QuSpin has been collaborating with international physicists, including several in Germany and the Netherlands. The results are so intriguing that they are being published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.

So what is spintronics?

The technology of the future may depend on spintronics. If you don't know what it is, you might as well learn about it. But you can also jump ahead to the next section if you just want to learn about its practical uses.

Atoms have several parts. Electrons are the negatively charged particles, as many of us learned in science class.

But electrons don't only have a charge, they also have spin, an apparent internal rotation.

The spin has a direction, which is the basis of magnetism. A ferromagnetic material has a preference to align the spins in one particular direction. These materials are the magnets that you put on the refrigerator door.

Antiferromagnetic materials are also magnetic, but you don't notice their magnetic quality. The atoms in the material alternate between spins in opposite directions. These alterations effectively zero out the total spin so that the material itself does not have a magnetic moment. These materials don't work on your refrigerator door.

How spins are organized can therefore have very clear consequences for how a material behaves. The spin can be exploited.

Magnetism can transfer signals

Brataas and his colleagues aren't currently focusing so much on practical uses, so that's up to us to do.

Today's technology transmits signals in a computer's microchips by means of an electric charge. In an electrical current, electrons and spin both flow through the material.

But in the future a spin current will be able do parts of the same job, using magnetism to transmit the signals instead, without electrons passing through with the current.

What are the benefits of spin currents?

Well, for one, a spin current can sometimes flow more readily than an electrical charge current, since only the spin moves and not the electrons. This results in less energy loss in transmitting the signal.

A spin current does not generate a lot of heat. As the transistors on microchips have become ever smaller, overheating has become a growing problem, causing microchips to melt. Using spin current means smaller transistors can be used -another practical feature as new electronic gizmos pop up everywhere.

Spin current can also be controlled much more quickly. So all the new gizmos can be a lot faster.

Controlling spin current

These results would not be nearly as exciting if physicists couldn't control the spin current at the same time. But they can.

Physicists can start the spin current by applying an electric field at one end of the material. The signal flows through the material without the electrons moving from one end to the other.

Physicists can also do the opposite at the other end, and transfer the spin current to an electrical current.

They have managed to do this at temperatures approaching room temperature. Granted, 200 degrees Kelvin - or -73.15 degrees Celsius - is a bit chilly for a room, but it falls within the range of naturally occurring temperatures on Earth. The researchers expect that they will be able do this experiment at a more comfortable room temperature pretty soon as well.

The research group used the antiferromagnet hematite, an iron oxide (Fe2O3), in their experiments.

The results this time are clearly just a step along the way. The research team will continue to test other materials and look at how these materials respond to different types of influences.

High risk, but important

NTNU's QuSpin was awarded Norwegian Centre of Excellence (SFF) status last year, a highly regarded recognition. The centre was created to combine theory with experimental physics in the spintronics field and can already show world-leading results.

"The centre focuses on high risk projects of major importance in many different directions," says Brataas.

The status that SFF confers provides more stable research funding, since QuSpin is guaranteed support for ten years. The funding facilitates high-risk research that can fail too. And they do, all the time.

Many of their experiments do not match the theories or vice versa, and that is important in its own way. But some experiments are spot on, and they can have particularly great significance.

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International cooperation

SFF status has also provided greater opportunities for collaborating with other top researchers. You don't receive SFF status without having already shown that you can perform at the very highest level within the field of study.

The key researchers are all affiliated with QuSpin at NTNU in either full-time or part-time positions.

NTNU has contributed significantly to the theoretical basis for the experiments. Researcher Alireza Qaiumzadeh has been central to this work, as has Associate Professor Rembert Duine at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

The experiments themselves were carried out at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where Professor Mathias Klaeui oversees them. Both Duine and Klaeui are affiliated with QuSpin through part-time positions at NTNU.

In addition to the SFF status, which provides more predictable funding for the research group, Brataas has also been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant of NOK 19 million from the European Research Council.

Reference: Lebrun, R; Ross, A; Bender, S. A.; Qaiumzadeh, Alireza; Baldrati, L.; Cramer, J.; Brataas, Arne; Duine, R. A.; Klaui, M.. (2018) Tunable long-distance spin transport in a crystalline antiferromagnetic iron oxide. Nature. vol. 561 (7722).
A study in the journal Bulletin of Marine Science describes a new, blood-red species of octocoral found in Panama. The species in the genus Thesea was discovered in the threatened low-light reef environment on Hannibal Bank, 60 kilometers off mainland Pacific Panama, by researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama (STRI) and the Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia (CIMAR) at the University of Costa Rica.

Scientists established the new species, Thesea dalioi, by comparing its physical traits, such as branch thickness and the bright red colony color, with the only other species in the genus in the eastern Pacific, T. variabilis.

T. dalioi is named for Ray Dalio, a supporter of marine exploration. Its name is intended to recognize Dalio's valuable contributions to marine research and public outreach. Hannibal Bank, part of the Coiba National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a coastal seamount and a biodiversity hot spot that has only been explored recently. "After just two expeditions using submersibles down to 300 meters, we have identified 17 species of octocorals for the Hannibal Bank, including the discovery and description of three new species," said Hector M. Guzman, marine ecologist at STRI and one of the authors of the study.

Light-dependent coral and algae, as well as other life-forms found in low-light environments, live on mesophotic reefs: meso means middle and photic means light. These reefs, such as the one where T. dalioi was found, are considered fragile habitats with a high diversity of corals, algae and sponges. They are also generally neglected in most environmental and conservation policies because they are difficult to reach. Hannibal Bank is one of the spots requiring more attention for its protection. "The present study should provide the basis for further research on the genus and contributes to the diversity and distribution knowledge of octocorals from the mesophotic zone in the eastern Pacific Ocean," said Odalisca Breedy, marine biologist at CIMAR and one of the authors of the study.

"Medical researchers have identified therapeutic benefits derived from both soft and hard corals such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, bone repair and neurological benefits," said Guzman. "But our ability to contribute to the understanding of soft corals and their habitats, depends not only on steady funding for the use of submersibles, but also on our continued ability to obtain permission to work in Coiba National Park."

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The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The Institute furthers the understanding of tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, trains students to conduct research in the tropics and promotes conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Website. Promo video.

Reference: Breedy, O..; Guzman, H. M. (2018): A new alcyonacean species (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia) from a seamount in the tropical Pacific Ocean. In: Bulletin of Marine Science. DOI: 10.5343/bms.2018.0027
Washington - The Optical Society (OSA) has announced its intent to establish a global network of regional environmental centers aimed at better understanding and forecasting the local impacts of climate change. The Global Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Network project was unveiled by OSA at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

"While climate change is measured on a global level, its impacts will affect different regions in different ways," said Dr. Tom Baer, head of OSA's International Photonics Advocacy Coalition (IPAC). "It is crucial that we have a better understanding of how impacts such as changing weather patterns and sea level rise will affect cities and regions at the regional level."

The OSA, through IPAC, is leading discussions to create the project's first two centers in Northern California, jointly with the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University; and in the United Kingdom, with the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. The new centers will bring together public and private decision makers, environmental scientists, and technology developers to provide more precise and useful information needed to measure and address regional impacts of climate change. Additional regional centers spanning the globe are being pursued.

"Leaders at every level of government and in the private sector face increasing demands for better data to address the challenges of a changing environment," said Elizabeth Rogan, OSA's chief executive officer. "Rapidly improving technology can provide more precise information and presents exciting new opportunities for improved predictions of regional impacts."

OSA supports the Global Climate Action Summit and is committed to help participating subnational governments and private interests meet environmental commitments through the Global Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Network. OSA participated in the Summit's Science to Action event on 11 September 2018 which brought together researchers, businesses, subnational governments and other stakeholders undertaking climate action. In partnership with the Stanford Photonics Research Center, OSA will co-host a round-table discussion on 15 September 2018 entitled, "Better Metrics for More Effective Decision-making: The Need for a Regionally based Global Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Network."

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About IPAC

IPAC, an initiative of The Optical Society (OSA), serves to unite the optics and photonics community around public policy platforms that transcend national borders, offers opportunities for collaboration with other scientific disciplines, and benefits industry and commercial sectors worldwide. IPAC brings together experts from industry, academia, and government to educate policymakers and influencers about photonics technologies; collaborate and coordinate among industry, government and academia to advance knowledge of photonics and its impact on many important areas of science and technology; and advocate for funding for science and technology initiatives with important societal impact.

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Contacts:

OSA

mediarelations@osa.org

Stanford University

Prof. Tom Baer, tmbaer@stanford.edu

University of California, Berkeley

Bob Sanders. rlsanders@berkeley.edu

University of Strathclyde

Dr. Scott McGrane, scott.mcgrane@strath.ac.uk
MISSOULA - University of Montana Professor Diana Six will receive the 2018 Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award on Sept. 21 for seminal contributions to the understanding of bark beetles ecology, forest adaptations and climate change.

Presented by the American Computer and Robotics Museum and Montana State University, this prestigious award honors scientific, technical and literary pioneers who have made significant contributions to the understanding and preservation of the biodiversity of life on Earth.

Edward O. Wilson is an American biologist, researcher, theorist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has written more than 20 books and hundreds of technical papers. He's widely considered to be the world's leading expert in myrmecology - the study of ants - and has discovered hundreds of new species. Wilson personally presents the award whenever possible. "I'm incredibly honored to be receiving this award," Six said. "It's named for one of my heroes and one of the most important scientists of our time. E.O. Wilson has not only contributed in major ways to our understanding of the world around us, but he works tirelessly to develop approaches to address some of the most important issues we and the planet are facing."

Six's own work focuses on a different group of insects. A professor of forest entomology and pathology - insects and pathogens affecting trees - in UM's W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, she conducts research on bark beetle ecology and management, including how bark beetles may affect the ability of forests to adapt to climate change. Her latest study, published in July in Frontiers in Plant Science, found that mountain pine beetles may avoid certain trees within a population due to genetic differences that result in resistance. She also studies the evolution and maintenance of symbioses, particularly among bark beetles, ambrosia beetles and fungi. Her work includes extensive collaboration with scientists in the U.S., South Africa, Sweden and Germany.

Previous recipients of the Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award include Jennifer Doudna for seminal and pioneering contributions to the development of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology; Dan Wenk, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, for leadership and undaunted dedication toward the preservation of biodiversity in the park; Sir Alec Jeffreys, a professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester, for the invention of DNA fingerprinting; Lynn Margulis for the development of the theory of symbiogenesis; and UM Professor Emeritus Steve Running, for pioneering and seminal scientific work with climatology.

"Looking at the list of previous recipients, I must say I feel a bit overwhelmed," Six said. "These people have had such enormous impacts in so many ways. It is very special to be included among them and to be recognized for my work using genetics, ecology and symbiology to develop a better understanding of bark beetle ecology and management and the potential for our forests to adapt to climate change."

"Diana receiving this prestigious award is nothing short of fantastic and is very well-deserved," said FCFC Dean Tom DeLuca. "She is a source of inspiration and a great researcher. It is wonderful to see her recognized for her creativity and dedication to her science."

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Both the Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Awards and the George R. Stibitz Computer and Communications Pioneer Awards will be presented on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 at Montana State University in Bozeman. A free public forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Stand Union Building ballrooms. Doors open at 6 p.m., and early arrival is suggested.
Agriculture that appears to be more eco-friendly but uses more land may actually have greater environmental costs per unit of food than "high-yield" farming that uses less land, a new study has found.

There is mounting evidence that the best way to meet rising food demand while conserving biodiversity is to wring as much food as sustainably possible from the land we do farm, so that more natural habitats can be "spared the plough".

However, this involves intensive farming techniques thought to create disproportionate levels of pollution, water scarcity and soil erosion. Now, a study published today in the journal Nature Sustainability shows this is not necessarily the case.

Scientists have put together measures for some of the major "externalities" - such as greenhouse gas emission, fertiliser and water use - generated by high- and low-yield farming systems, and compared the environmental costs of producing a given amount of food in different ways.

Previous research compared these costs by land area. As high-yield farming needs less land to produce the same quantity of food, the study's authors say this approach overestimates its environmental impact.

Their results from four major agricultural sectors suggest that, contrary to many people's perceptions, more intensive agriculture that uses less land may also produce fewer pollutants, cause less soil loss and consume less water.

However, the team behind the study, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge, caution that if higher yields are simply used to increase profit or lower prices, they will only accelerate the extinction crisis we are already seeing.

"Agriculture is the most significant cause of biodiversity loss on the planet," said study lead author Andrew Balmford, Professor of Conservation Science from Cambridge's Department of Zoology. "Habitats are continuing to be cleared to make way for farmland, leaving ever less space for wildlife."

"Our results suggest that high-yield farming could be harnessed to meet the growing demand for food without destroying more of the natural world. However, if we are to avert mass extinction it is vital that land-efficient agriculture is linked to more wilderness being spared the plough."

The Cambridge scientists conducted the study with a research team from 17 organisations across the UK and around the globe, including colleagues from Poland, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Colombia.

The study analysed information from hundreds of investigations into four vast food sectors, accounting for large percentages of the global output for each product: Asian paddy rice (90%), European wheat (33%), Latin American beef (23%), and European dairy (53%).

Examples of high-yield strategies include enhanced pasture systems and livestock breeds in beef production, use of chemical fertilizer on crops, and keeping dairy cows indoors for longer.

The scientists found data to be limited, and say more research is urgently needed on the environmental cost of different farming systems. Nevertheless, results suggest many high-yield systems are less ecologically damaging and, crucially, use much less land.

For example, in field trials, inorganic nitrogen boosted yields with little to no greenhouse gas "penalty" and lower water use per tonne of rice. Per tonne of beef, the team found greenhouse gas emissions could be halved in some systems where yields are boosted by adding trees to provide shade and forage for cattle.

The study only looked at organic farming in the European dairy sector, but found that - for the same amount of milk - organic systems caused at least one third more soil loss, and take up twice as much land, as conventional dairy farming.

Co-author Professor Phil Garnsworthy from the University of Nottingham, who led the dairy team, said: "Across all dairy systems we find that higher milk yield per unit of land generally leads to greater biological and economic efficiency of production. Dairy farmers should welcome the news that more efficient systems have lower environmental impact."

Conservation expert and co-author Dr David Edwards, from the University of Sheffield, said: "Organic systems are often considered to be far more environmentally friendly than conventional farming, but our work suggested the opposite. By using more land to produce the same yield, organic may ultimately accrue larger environmental costs."

The study authors say that high-yield farming must be combined with mechanisms that limit agricultural expansion if they are to have any environmental benefit. These could include strict land-use zoning and restructured rural subsidies.

"These results add to the evidence that sparing natural habitats by using high-yield farming to produce food is the least bad way forward," added Balmford.

"Where agriculture is heavily subsidised, public payments could be contingent on higher food yields from land already being farmed, while other land is taken out of production and restored as natural habitat, for wildlife and carbon or floodwater storage."

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In a first study of its kind study, researchers have found that a common chemical consumers are exposed to several times a day may be altering insulin release. Results of the study, led by scientists at the University of Missouri, indicate that the Food and Drug Administration-approved "safe" daily exposure amount of BPA may be enough to have implications for the development of Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

"Bisphenol A is an endocrine disrupting chemical that is used to manufacture thermal paper receipts, plastics and a wide range of consumer products," said Frederick vom Saal, an endocrinologist and Curators' Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science, and a co-author on the study. "Experiments with human and mouse pancreatic cells have revealed that low-dose exposure to BPA, in the presence of glucose, triggers an insulin response. We wanted to test the potential effects of BPA in humans to see whether it held true."

In both of the studies, subjects were orally administered a safe dose of BPA, which led to the same amount of BPA in their blood that customers might encounter by handling a cash register receipt; or, the same subjects received a placebo exposure for comparison. Insulin responses were then assessed through an oral glucose tolerance test in the first experiment or a hyperglycemic clamp in the second experiment. Results of both studies showed that BPA altered insulin release relative to the placebo exposure in the subjects. In animal studies repeated BPA exposure resulted in insulin resistance.

"This exploratory study needs to be replicated because it suggests that BPA exposure at a dose considered safe by U.S. regulators could alter glucose-stimulated insulin responses in humans," vom Saal said. "Our study is an initial step toward investigating whether exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as BPA, contributes to insulin resistance and eventually Type 2 diabetes."

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The study, "Experimental BPA Exposure and Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Response in Adult Men and Women," was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. R.W. Stahlhut with the University of Missouri also contributed to the study as first author. Funding was provided by The Passport Foundation and Environmental Health Sciences. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.
Juan Maldacena of the Institute for Advanced Study has been named the 2018 recipient of the Richard E. Prange Prize and Lectureship in Condensed Matter Theory and Related Areas. Dr. Maldacena will receive a $10,000 honorarium and deliver a public lecture entitled "Black Holes and the Structure of Spacetime" at the University of Maryland, College Park on October 2, 2018. He will also present a Condensed Matter Theory Center/Joint Quantum Institute seminar entitled "Wormholes and Entangled States" on Monday, October 1.

The Prange Prize, established by the UMD Department of Physics and Condensed Matter Theory Center (CMTC), honors the late Professor Richard E. Prange, whose distinguished professorial career at Maryland spanned four decades (1961-2000). The Prange Prize is made possible by a gift from Dr. Prange's wife, Dr. Madeleine Joullie, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania.

Maldacena received his Ph.D. in 1996 at Princeton University, focusing on black holes in string theory. Just a few years later, he received a MacArthur Fellowship and tenure at Harvard University. He studies quantum gravity, string theory, quantum field theory and quantum entanglement. Among his honors are the Albert Einstein Medal, the Lorentz Medal, the Fundamental Physics Prize, the Dirac Prize and Medal, the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics, the Sackler Prize, a Packard Fellowship and a Sloan Fellowship. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Maldacena is most known for his 1997 solo theoretical discovery of a deep connection between gauge theories, which describe the world of particle physics at the microscopic scale, and quantum gravity, which describes the physics of gravitational forces holding the universe together. This famous Maldacena gauge-gravity (or AdS/CFT) duality, arguably the most important theoretical physics result of the last 30 years, has remained a topic of great fundamental interest in particle physics, string theory, gravity, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics, and is one of the most actively-studied topics in theoretical physics. In particular, Maldacena conjectured that certain strongly-interacting quantum field theories are equivalent to certain weakly-interacting theories of gravity, leading to new insights in all of physics. This work of Maldacena, receiving in excess of 10,000 citations, is among the most cited papers in all of science over the last 20 years.

Maldacena's Prange Prize lecture will be given in Room 1412 of UMD's John S. Toll Physics Building at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2, and is open to the public.

At the University of Chicago, Richard Prange received his Ph.D. under Nobelist Yoichiro Nambu and also worked with Murray Gell-Mann and Marvin Goldberger. At the University of Maryland, he edited a highly-respected book on the quantum Hall effect and made important theoretical contributions to the subject. His interests extended into all aspects of theoretical physics, and continued after his retirement. Dr. Prange was a member of the Maryland condensed matter theory group for more than 40 years and was an affiliate of CMTC since its inception in 2002.

"Richard enjoyed a fascinating and fulfilling career at the University of Maryland exploring condensed matter physics, and even after retirement was active in the department," said Dr. Joullie. "He spent the very last afternoon of his life in the lecture hall for a colloquium on graphene, followed by a vigorous discussion. And so I was happy to institute the Prange Prize, to generate its own robust discussions in condensed matter theory."

"The Prange Prize provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge transformative work in condensed matter theory, a field that has proven to be an inexhaustible source of insights and discoveries in both fundamental and applied physics," said Dr. Sankar Das Sarma, who holds the Richard E. Prange Chair in Physics at UMD and is also a Distinguished University Professor and director of the CMTC.

Since its initiation in 2009, the Prange Prize has been awarded to Philip W. Anderson, Walter Kohn, Daniel Tsui, Andre Geim, David Gross, Klaus von Klitzing, and Frank Wilczek.

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Parking is available in the Regents Drive Garage, across the street from the Physics lecture hall; an attendant will direct visitors within the garage. A free ShuttleUM bus runs to and from the College Park Metro station at about eight-minute intervals. Directions to the College Park campus can be found here: http://www.cvs.umd.edu/visitors/maps.html
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with the Vertebrate Genome Laboratory (VGL), New York, this week are publishing the first-ever whole genome for the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)

AMHERST, Mass. - Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with the Vertebrate Genome Laboratory (VGL), New York, this week are publishing the first-ever whole genome for the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). It is one of 14 being released to the public data repository for use by researchers studying evolution, disease, genetics and conservation, says lynx team coordinator Tanya Lama, a doctoral candidate in environmental conservation at UMass Amherst.

The researchers will hold a press conference on Wednesday Sept. 12 at the VGL at Rockefeller University in New York to announce the genome releases.

Lama, who is also affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey's Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, says that as a conservation genetics tool, the genome provides information about the genetic health, demographic and evolutionary history of the species. It also helps to describe the viability of resident animals using precise estimates of population size, gene flow and adaptive genetic variation across real-world landscapes. This information is critical to wildlife management and policy decisions, she adds.

In particular, she and colleagues hope to learn more about the relationship between Maine lynx and neighboring populations in New Brunswick and Quebec, and their connections to the core lynx population in eastern Canada across "a formidable barrier," the St. Lawrence River.

Lama points out, "Genetics can help us better understand the dynamics of the Maine lynx population and whether it will remain viable into the future. If populations become small and isolated, they're more vulnerable to demographic and environmental changes and are at a higher risk of becoming locally extinct."

Listed as threatened in 2000 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canada lynx is a North American feline native to the boreal forest across Canada and in similar habitat in the northern United States, notably Maine. A recent recommendation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting the lynx from Endangered Species Act protections.

If delisted, a monitoring program will be developed and information on the status of the Maine lynx population and its connectivity to neighboring populations will be extremely important to developing conservation strategies. Even in recovery, Lama says lynx will require monitoring and conservation action to track climate change and habitat loss.

Her co-advisors Stephen DeStefano, leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and John Organ, chief of the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program, say the connectivity between Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec lynx populations south of the St. Lawrence is key to viability, and genomic tools can help ensure appropriate conservation measures are developed.

Organ notes, "Connectivity among these populations south of the river will likely be essential to their persistence and if necessary, land conservation strategies would be designed to facilitate movement and gene flow across the landscape."

For this effort, Lama coordinates a team that includes DeStefano and Organ, plus conservation geneticist Warren Johnson at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Jennifer Vashon and colleagues at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and bioinformatics experts at the VGL at Rockefeller University.

Lama says for her, this week's public genome unveiling is not the end, but the beginning of years of analysis to follow. As conservation geneticists, she and Johnson at the Smithsonian will analyze data, produce reports and interpret findings that will be of great use to conservation teams across the rest of the lynx's distribution in Minnesota, Montana/Northeastern Idaho, Washington, the Greater Yellowstone area and Colorado.

Johnson says that a visible and iconic species like the lynx "provides a great opportunity to explore the complex biological, ecological interactions among species and the natural environment and serves as a great model for using genomic approaches to inform our decisions."

DeStefano adds, "Anytime we can get more information on their population fitness, we'll take it. A lot of conservationists are deeply interested in the future of this beautiful cat," he notes.

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Support for this work came from the Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, with in-kind contributions from the Smithsonian Institution, Rockefeller University and the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit program.
PHILADELPHIA - Primary care clinics experienced a significant decline in influenza vaccinations as the day progressed, researchers from Penn Medicine report in a new study published in JAMA Open Network. However, "nudging" clinical staff to order vaccines using a behavioral economics technique known as "active choice" may help curb some of that drop off, the study suggests. The study is the first to show how clinic appointment times can influence influenza vaccination rates.

"As the day progresses, clinicians may have less time to spend on discussing the vaccine with patients," said lead author Rebecca Kim, MD, MPH, a resident physician in the primary care track at Penn Medicine. "Our findings show that time of day is an important factor in vaccination rates and could help to inform the design of future interventions to improve vaccination rates."

Researchers found that vaccination rates dropped significantly throughout the day across 11 primary care clinics part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System over a three-year period (2014 - 2017) - from 44 percent at 8 a.m. to 32 percent at 4 p.m.

In the third year, the team implemented a nudge in the electronic health record (EHR) at three of the clinics, which prompted medical assistants to "accept" or "decline" an influenza vaccination order for eligible patients for the clinicians to review. They found the intervention was associated with a 9.5 percent increase in vaccinations, which is nearly a 20 percent relative increase compared to practices with no intervention.

"In the United States, influenza vaccination rates have been suboptimal at about 40 percent for nearly a decade," said study senior author Mitesh S. Patel, MD, MBA, an assistant professor of Medicine and director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit. "Our study indicates that nudges in the EHR could be an effective and scalable approach to increase vaccination in the primary care setting."

While rates did improve with the nudge in place, they still declined as the day progressed, suggesting further strategies may be needed to address the variations in care by time of day, the authors said. The research builds off a 2017 study from the same team that found implementing a "nudge" in the EHR was associated with a six percent increase in flu vaccinations for one practice compared to practices with no intervention. The researchers not only included more practices in the latest study, but also directed the nudge alert to only medical assistants, rather than to physicians, to eliminate any redundancy - which may have helped improve the vaccination rates, the authors said.

"Importantly, this intervention was directed to staff, not clinicians," Patel said. "At a time when physicians are often overburdened with alerts and facing burn out, these types of well-designed nudges can address these issues while improving patient care," Patel said.

Next, the researchers aim to expand the "nudge" intervention across more primary care practices within the health system to further study and improve upon the approach. If these types of interventions were implemented in all 36 primary care practices, for example, in Philadelphia and the suburbs, the researchers estimate that 5,000 more patients would be vaccinated in a year.

The concept of "nudging" comes from the field of behavioral economics and is about intervening--often in small, subtle ways--to improve decision-making and ultimately patient care. Patel and colleagues from the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit in prior research have shown the value of nudge strategies in a wide range of areas, including opioid prescribing behavior, cancer screening, and more recently with cholesterol-lowering statins.

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On September 17 and 18, the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, which is a collaboration between the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation and the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, will host a "Nudge Units in Health Care" Symposium on the Penn Medicine campus. Executive leaders and representatives from 20+ health systems across the United States and Canada will convene to share insights and engage in designs sessions for those looking to launch their own nudge units.

Co-authors on the study include Susan C. Day, MD, MPH, Dylan S. Small, PhD, Christopher K. Snider, MPH, and Charles A. L. Rareshide, MS.

Support for the study was provided by UPHS via the Nudge Unit.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided more than $500 million to benefit our community.
US-based Nozomi Networks, a leader in real-time cybersecurity and operational visibility for industrial control systems (ICS), and Germany-based Help AG have partnered to broaden Help AGs delivery of services to customers in industrial automation, manufacturing, power and building operations industries across the Middle East.



Help AG is a leading provider of cyber security services, consultancy and solutions in the Middle East.



Help AG will work with and resell the Nozomi Networks solution, said a statement from the company.



Stephan Berner, chief executive officer, Help AG, said: As the regions trusted security advisor, we are committed to addressing every aspect of cyber security across all verticals. Industrial plants and critical infrastructure have become prime targets for politically and financially motivated cybercriminals in the Middle East.



At the same time, rampant digitisation of the sector is increasing the attack surface area, exacerbating the risk, he said.



Our careful technical analysis of the market-leading ICS products, has given us the confidence that Nozomi Networks offers the most comprehensive and innovative solution. We are eager to deploy these platforms in our customers environments to stem the growing threat of attacks against industrial systems, he added.



Deep knowledge of the complexities of ICS networks, continuous innovation and expertise in artificial intelligence have made Nozomi Networks the leader in real-time cybersecurity and visibility for industrial control networks.



Now in its fourth generation of technology, and with offices around the world including a new office located in Dubai, Nozomi Networks is the preferred partner for leading vendors in IT cybersecurity.



Its proven solutions support hundreds of thousands of devices in more than 500 installations spanning energy, manufacturing, mining, transportation, utilities and critical infrastructure. Nozomi Networks has a proven solution for mapping, monitoring and identifying OT threats. It easily integrates and shares ICS information with large-scale IT/OT environments.



Through this agreement with Nozomi Networks, the reseller will be able strengthen its offering to the industrial sector with a security platform that enables comprehensive mapping, monitoring and detection of cyber threats in ICS networks, it said.



Marcus Josefsson, director - Middle East and Africa, Nozomi Networks, said: Help AG has a proven track record and an impressive base of customers that rely on them to overcome the sophisticated cyber threats businesses today face.



This on-the-ground expertise in consultancy and solution delivery perfectly compliments the technology edge that our company delivers, offering an unmatched value proposition to customers, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Medical research based on big data has the potential to transform healthcare, especially when it comes to diagnostics and treatment.

Big data research however, also harbors a risk to sensitive patient data; one example is an attack on servers or internet clouds by cybercriminals.

Now a joint research team from Germany, Austria and Denmark has received an EU Horizon 2020 Research Innovation Action Grant of 4.5 million Euro that aims at securing patient data from hospitals.

The team's goal is to develop a new cloud infrastructure that does not require any patient data to be sent to a vulnerable central storage. Instead it only exchanges the learned representations which are totally anonymous by default.

Motivating patients to get involved in medical research

This new system will give the patient more control with his or her own data.

Computer scientist Richard Rottger, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), says:

- Patients are often asked if they will share their medical data for research. They should have the right to accept and decline every time a researcher asks permission to use their data. And of course they should have the right to revoke previously given consent at any time. It is crucial that patients can do this easily - it could be with an app or simply by SMS texting. I believe that better patient service may motivate patients to get more involved in medical research, and this may benefit all parts.

Hospitals are not allowed to share health data

Protecting patient data safety and at the same time making it available for research is a huge challenge. Today it is impossible.

It is not unusual that individual hospitals collects patient data, that can never be used by researchers outside that hospital.

Today legal barriers prevent the exchange of raw patient data between institutions, countries, etc. In the EU, this barrier has recently become even harder to overcome due to the EU General Data Protection Regulation, that took effect on May 25th 2018.

Research in rare diseases suffers

- If we talk about, for example, data from patients with a rare disease, each hospital may have a very small database for each rare disease - based on maybe five patients in total. That is a very small database. If all hospitals could find a way to legally and safely share their data, they could together have access to a much larger database for each rare disease, explains Rottger.

A key concern in safety of patient data is storage. For many institutions to have access, the data needs to be accessible in one central repository, i.e. a central cloud.

- Central storage becomes a central point of attack and thus very vulnerable. Our idea is to use machine learning to develop models for sharing information without the need to transfer the data. This will enable the hospital - or whoever the data owner is - to keep full control over the data at any time but they can still cooperate with other institutions, said Richard Rottger.

Using data to improve breast cancer diagnostics

The team also believes that science will gain from the easier access to work with data from other institutions than one's own.

For example, several genetic tests for diagnosing and treating breast cancer are in use. These genetic tests measure the abundance of selected marker genes to draw their conclusion. The problem is that these marker genes were identified by machine learning methods using data from less than 5000 patients in total.

- 5000 persons are not very many, and there is no doubt that researchers would prefer to have a much larger data set. Alone in EU, there are almost 500.000 new cases of breast cancer per year, but due to current legislation, it is not allowed to include data from these patients in the tests. This illustrates, how very far away from using big data in medicine, we are, says Richard Rottger.

About the project

Projektet skal lbe i fem ar. Dets titel er "Trusted digital solutions and Cybersecurity in Health and Care".

Leading institution is Technische Universitat in Munchen (Germany). Partners: Philipps-University of Marburg (Germany), Medical University of Graz (Austria), University of Southern Denmark, SBA Research gGmbH, University of Maastricht (Holland), Concentris Research Management GmbH, Research Institute AG & Co KG (Austria), and Gnome Design SRL (Romania).

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a $1 million challenge grant from FedEx Corp. towards the establishment of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education Center at Lone Oaks Farm. The site is designed to provide youth education and 4-H activities in West Tennessee, but many programs will be available to youth from throughout the Mid South. The gift from FedEx is contingent on Lone Oaks Farm meeting its fundraising goal by raising other support from businesses, foundations and individuals.

The proposed STEM Education Center at Lone Oaks Farm will be a central hub for all youth groups visiting the farm for day and overnight experiences. The center will consist of an instructional facility, demonstration farm and overnight lodging for 64 students. During their visit, students will learn about cutting-edge technology like GIS, drones and genetic technology, while at the same time providing outdoor experiences like stargazing and nature walks. While these experiences will connect students to agriculture and natural resources, the larger goal is to ignite excitement and enthusiasm about STEM, regardless of which field of study a student pursues.

"With the support of FedEx and other donors, Lone Oaks Farm will become nationally and internationally recognized as a premier facility where STEM education, agriculture, science, conservation, community development and recreation overlap to create a place truly like no other," said Tim Cross, chancellor of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.

The University of Tennessee secured the 1,200 acres of farm property, located in Hardeman County, in 2015 with the intent of building a premier youth and adult education center, and a host site for the Tennessee 4-H program. Lone Oaks Farm has since then hosted more than 2,500 students from 15 counties in West Tennessee, providing a superior environment for STEM education.

"The goal is to create programs at Lone Oaks Farm that are academically rigorous, hands-on and fun, while also aligning with state learning standards in STEM," said Ron Blair, director of STEM education at Lone Oaks Farm. "This will enhance students' educational experiences while preparing them for STEM-related standardized testing."

If the challenge is achieved, the FedEx gift, along with the additional matching contributions, will allow Lone Oaks Farm to serve an estimated 30,000 students a year.

Those interested in participating in the matching gift should contact Michele Sides, director of advancement for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture at 731-435-9665. For more information about Lone Oaks Farm, visit the website loneoaksfarm.com.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrates 50 years of excellence in providing Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery and service. ag.tennessee.edu.

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From a humble plastic bag to ultra-light airplane wings - polymers are everywhere. These molecules are long chains of atoms that are chemically joined to play many roles that we all love (organic photovoltaics) and hate (indestructible plastic pollution). Polymers are useful in liquid form as well: the difference between tomato puree and ketchup is merely 0.5% of xanthan gum, which is a polymer made from sugar. Ketchup is thick but not sticky, all thanks to the xanthan chains that are so long that they interpenetrate and form an entangled web that resists flow. The same principle also underpins high tech applications like ink jet printing.

There is a possibility to decrease the amount of thickening additives, without compromising their effect on flow, which would save costs and minimize the environmental impact. If we connect the ends of three linear chains to a single point, the result is called a star polymer. Due to this branched architecture, webs of star polymers are dramatically more entangled, than their linear cousins of the same mass. To explain how this entanglement works, let us start with the concept of a random walk. Imagine you are on a hike and you play a game: toss a coin four times and take a step left for every heads, and a step right for every tails. You will most often end up two steps away from the starting point. In fact, if we multiply the final distance by itself, 2x2=4, it is equal to the number of random steps. This is the law of diffusion, and it governs the motion of small molecules like water.

For polymers, we have to take the random walk to higher dimensions. Imagine you are on a hike again, but this time you bring a hundred friends and for safety, you all link up with a rope. Every member starts playing the random walk game, but the rope has some slack, so it takes a while for you to feel the pull of the entire team. This kind of motion is a random walk, embedded in another, slower random walk. Here you need to take 4x4=16 random steps to move a distance of two steps. Next, imagine hundreds of rope teams all mingled up so densely that you only have room to move up or down the line of your own team. The effect of the crowd brings us to 16x16=256 steps. Can you guess how many steps would you need if we add an extra branch to the middle of each rope team? Hint: it is not 256x256=65536. It takes a staggering 65536x65536=4.3 billion random attempts to get merely two steps away.

This result has been shown in a recent study "5D Entanglement in Star Polymer Dynamics", by Airidas Korolkovas published in Advanced Theory and Simulations, a new journal focusing on breakthroughs in the science of modelling. A unique computer algorithm was invented to capture the billions of steps needed for entangled polymers. It runs on a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) and takes advantage of texture mapping, an often-overlooked functionality. Originally, this feature was designed for video games, but here it has been repurposed to calculate the molecular forces inside a little polymer droplet. Using a streamlined physics model, this simulation runs hundreds of times faster than traditional code. It opens new horizons on the time scales that can be addressed in scientific computing. This can further push the frontiers for the latest generation of supercomputers, like the recently opened Summit in Oak Ridge National Lab, USA, which has almost 30,000 GPUs.

The effect of higher dimensional entanglement can be observed in real life, using an instrument called neutron spin-echo. This machine shoots tiny subatomic particles, called neutrons, and listens to the echo of their nuclear spin as they scatter, or bounce off the polymer sample. A prime example is the IN15 beamline at the Institut Laue-Langevin, France, where the entanglement of linear polymers was first discovered. Thanks to constant upgrades and to upcoming new facilities like the European Spallation Source, Sweden, an experimental proof of the simulation prediction for star polymers may soon be within reach. A combination of high performance computing and neutron scattering is a powerful tool of discovery for new materials that improve our quality of life and respect the environment.

###

The full study can be accessed here:

https://doi.org/10.1002/adts.201800078

The source code and the article preprint are free for download at: https://zenodo.org/record/1305227

https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.08508

Dr. Airidas Korolkovas, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Sweden, and a long-term visitor at the Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, France.

E-mail: korolkovas@ill.fr

Tel.: +33457428420
September 14, 2018 - The "patient-centered medical home" (PCMH) approach is an important tool for providing coordinated care for the millions of American children with special healthcare needs. But most of these special-needs children don't have access to care consistent with the PCMH approach, reports a study in the October issue of Medical Care. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Despite extensive efforts over more than a decade, more than two-thirds of children with special healthcare needs aren't receiving "PCMH-concordant" care, according to the study by Monica Perez-Jolles, PhD, of University of Southern California and Kathleen C. Thomas, PhD, MPH, of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Inequities in PCMH-concordant care are more common in certain subgroups, including children with higher functional impairment.

More Progress Needed in Providing PCMH Care for Kids with Special Needs Children with special healthcare needs are those with "a diagnosis of mental illness and/or the presence of a chronic physical or developmental condition that requires a higher use and range of health services compared to the general population." A national survey estimated that about 15 percent of children have special healthcare needs, and that 23 percent of US families have at least one child with special needs.

Because of their complex needs for healthcare and other services, these children are at risk for fragmented care or duplication of services. The PCMH approach - focused on delivering care that is accessible, family-centered, coordinated, comprehensive, culturally competent, compassionate, and high-quality - is an important part of efforts to improve outcomes for children with special healthcare needs.

In 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement endorsing the PCMH approach for children with special healthcare needs, stating that "every child deserves a medical home." Drs. Perez-Jolles and Thomas write, "This study sought to elucidate how much progress have we made on that promise."

Using nationally representative data (the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey) from 2003 to 2013, the researchers analyzed parent/caregiver experience concordant with PCMH care. The survey included data relevant to four PCMH characteristics: accessible, family-centered, comprehensive, and compassionate care. The authors examined the implementation of PCMH-concordant care overall and across the PCMH characteristics measured.

The findings suggested that only 31 percent of children with special healthcare needs were receiving PCMH-concordant care, based on a composite score consisting of total average scores across all four characteristics. On analysis of individual characteristics, more than 80 percent of children experienced care that was comprehensive and compassionate, while about 60 percent received accessible and patient-centered care.

About 87 percent of children with special healthcare needs had at least moderate functional impairment. These children were less likely to experience PCMH-concordant care - especially those with a high level of functional impairment. Several other characteristics were also linked to lower levels of PCMH-concordant care, including non-white race/ethnicity, lower parental education, low household income, living in a home where English is a second language, and being uninsured or on public health coverage. There were also significant differences by metropolitan area and region.

"Overall, our results showed that just under a third of children with special healthcare needs reported experiencing PCMH-concordant care and there was high variation across components," Drs. Perez-Jolles and Thomas write. "Thus, despite strong support for this care model, we still have a long way to go to reach 'every child'...with implementation of [PCMH care].

The researchers conclude: "Despite increased parent perception of care that is concordant with medical home care over time, disparities remain among high-need children with special healthcare needs." The authors believe their findings may be useful in tracking special-needs children at higher risk of healthcare inequities, and in tailoring PCMH care to meet the unique needs of these subgroups.

###

Click here to read "Disparities in Self-reported Access to Patient-centered Medical Home Care for Children With Special Health Care Needs"

DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000978

About Medical Care

Rated as one of the top ten journals in health care administration, Medical Care is devoted to all aspects of the administration and delivery of health care. This scholarly journal publishes original, peer-reviewed papers documenting the most current developments in the rapidly changing field of health care. Medical Care provides timely reports on the findings of original investigations into issues related to the research, planning, organization, financing, provision, and evaluation of health services. In addition, numerous special supplementary issues that focus on specialized topics are produced with each volume. Medical Car is the official journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the health, tax & accounting, finance, risk & compliance, and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer, headquartered in the Netherlands, reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide.

Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
September 14, 2018 - Children who experience some type of adverse event following initial immunization have a low rate of recurrent reactions to subsequent vaccinations, reports a study in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, the official journal of The European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

"Most patients with a history of mild or moderate adverse events following immunization [AEFI] can be safely reimmunized," write Gaston De Serres, MD, of Laval University, Quebec, and colleagues. Although recurrent AEFIs can sometimes occur after repeat doses of vaccine, this study suggests that the risk of recurrent AEFIs after re-vaccination is relatively low, especially when the previous reaction was mild or moderate.

Safety of Repeat Vaccination after Initial Reactions - 'Passive Surveillance' Data In Quebec, healthcare professionals are legally required to report any "unusual or severe" AEFI related to a "passive surveillance" system similar to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) used in the United States. The analysis included 5,600 patients with AEFIs reported to Quebec's passive surveillance database from 1998 through 2016, all of whom required further doses of the vaccine to which they reacted. (The analysis excluded seasonal influenza vaccine, which changes from year to year.)

Of 1,731 patients with available follow-up data, 1,350 patients were re-vaccinated: a rate of 78 percent. Most of the re-vaccinated children were under two years old; about one-half of the AEFIs were allergic-like reactions.

Sixteen percent of patients experienced some type of recurrent AEFI after re-vaccination. In more than 80 percent of cases, the recurrent reaction was no more severe than the initial reaction. The researchers analyzed potential risk factors for recurrent reactions, including:

Patient Characteristics. Children under age 2 were more likely to be re-vaccinated and less likely to have recurrent reactions, compared to older patients. Recurrence risk was similar for males and females.

Type of AEFI. Recurrence rate was similar for patients with most types of initial AEFIs. The risk was highest (67 percent) for patients with large local reactions with "extensive limb swelling." For patients who had allergic-type reactions, the recurrence rate was 12 percent. Severe allergic events (anaphylaxis) were very rare after re-vaccination.

Severity of AEFI. Patients with more severe initial AEFIs were less likely to be re-vaccinated: only 60 percent of children with severe reactions were re-vaccinated, compared to 80 percent of those with less-severe reactions. Within this selected group, patients with severe AEFIs were less likely to have recurrences: eight versus 17 percent.

Type of Vaccine. The recurrence rate did not differ significantly for different types of vaccines. The re-vaccination rate was highest (90 percent) for children with AEFIs to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines.

Prior to this study, there have been limited data on the safety of reimmunizing patients who had a prior AEFI. The study is one of the largest to estimate the rate of recurrent AEFIs by type of reaction and type of vaccine - key information for healthcare providers and parents/caregivers making decisions about further immunization. The results support the safety of continued vaccination especially when the previous reaction was mild or moderate.

The study provides helpful information on the risk of recurrent reactions to specific vaccines and in patients with different types of initial reactions. Dr. De Serres and coauthors suggest that vaccine adverse event passive surveillance systems could be adapted to include "systematic and standardized follow-up" to provide more complete information on recurrence risk and other outcomes for children with AEFIs .

###

Click to read "Rate of Recurrence of Adverse Events Following Immunization: Results of 19 Years of Surveillance Ii Quebec, Canada"

DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002162

About The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal(PIDJ) is a complete, up-to-the-minute resource on infectious diseases in children. Through a mix of original studies, informative review articles, and unique case reports, PIDJ delivers the latest insights on combating disease in children -- from state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques to the most effective drug therapies and other treatment protocols. It is a resource that can improve patient care and stimulate your personal research. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal is the official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases

About The European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Now in its 36th year, The European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) forms the basis for European investigators interested in infectious diseases in children and infection prevention in childhood. The society is engaged in a number of activities including the organisation of multicentre trials, international exchange of infectious disease fellows, and an annual meeting. Membership includes subscription to The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal in addition to many other benefits.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the health, tax & accounting, finance, risk & compliance, and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer, headquartered in the Netherlands, reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide.

Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
Bevdeforges said: It's also the case that there are something over 35,000 towns in France and it's hard to draw generalizations about them based on size or whether or not they have a train station. In some ways it comes down to the old bromide about "location, location, location" - suitability for your needs is best determined by visiting the place in person. The other major factor to consider is access to those services you are likely to need in retirement - including medical personnel and services (English speaking?), hospitals, public transport, roads for getting to shopping and other services, shops and/or grand surfaces (i.e. big stores), etc. etc.



However, making a few trips over to scout out potential areas is half the fun of retiring to France (or wherever).

Cheers,

Bev Click to expand...

Exactly right. Pretty sure that no-one has been everywhere - but you can try and thin the options down significantly based on what's important to you and your family. Prior planning prevents p-poor performance.If you need an airport for visits to and from as one of your desires, if you just simply always wanted to live "there!", have a mountain view, go fishing, whatever.But as you mentioned, I do think that a lot of people don't really think enough about what happens when we start to become frail or infirm, or sadly, when a partner eventually dies. Will we be all alone in a secluded village? Or what if our partner has a stroke? Afterwards, can we get them the right help nearby? Visit them easily? Get carer support?I don't want to keep moving forever, so I want to get it right, at least to an acceptable extent. Sure we can never see the future. But if I live long enough, all the evidence says there will come a time when I can't drive. Or if my wife can't, if I pop my clogs first. So a train or a bus service that is going to be fairly close and run at least a few times a day is a biggie for me.Locals supermarkets, shops, sure. But I don't mind making a big trip every now and then to a city for a big store or two, or specialist places, or even a more regular trip to more local places. But I don't want them to be 2 hours or more away. I'm going to get grumpier as I age, I think! So, easy (comparatively) is good - for me.These things seem as if they should be obvious, but they are not always. Mostly we haven't needed to consider them before now.One person's needs and wants can be very different to others. Brits and their relatives may want to go back and forth regularly, for us it will be a visit every few years from a brother, and hopefully mostly annual visits from Australia from my daughter and her husband. So being close to an airport for us is no real issue anyway. We can always travel to one every now and then. Or our visitors can get to us, when we go a bit dotty...Examples are fine, but they are only examples. The best advice, it seems to me, is to think of your likes and dislikes consciously. Think what could happen as you age, and what you might need. To me it seems that a fair size location of maybe several thousand, or being quite close to a place that big, is likely to provide sufficient support, as long as a bigger place is not too far away for anything requiring more/specialist support. Maybe a little checklist?Not just age-related stuff. What are you going to do in the meantime anyway, anyway? Join clubs, associations, activities, eat out a lot, lots of cultural events? Learn a new hobby, take up painting or pottery or boules or what? Grow pigs, or herbs, or do yoga? Travel to other places locally, or see more of Europe regularly? Will that work well in your chosen location?Whatever, you choose, it's very hard to decide without going there, or just passing by. In my case there have been a couple of places that should have been ideal, but we simply liked some MUCH better than others after staying a few weeks! Sometimes I see things differently from my wife, so we have to compromise. But we are pretty thorough as we want it all to work. Financially we can't afford for it not to - it would be awkward, anyway. There are still always issues along the way, but we remain optimistic.Find out what the locals really pay for similar properties in the area, etc, and think really, really hard about run-down places, or isolated places. They can look so great in summer. Different in winter when it's cold and something breaks. If French people are not buying them, should you?If there is any chance at all, go for a few weeks or more, in winter. See how it appeals then - chances are it will be very different than in summer) and what a few other places are like. It's much cheaper to get a holiday rental in winter - a month often costs about the same as a week in summer! It was expensive for us to do it too, but it is really worth it.
Hi,

We will be moving to Salou in October. Hoping to get some advice on how to find local babysitters for our two year old for the occasional afternoon/night out. Would need someone who speaks English. Also, curious about what the going rate is.



Thanks!
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On September 17, 1787, Americas Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution, recognizing all who are born in the United States or by naturalization, have become citizens. On Monday, Sept. 17, Chattanooga State Community College will celebrate Constitution Day with a full day of events that will include a voter registration drive, Constitution trivia and the documentary screening of 13th, before culminating in a Constitution panel discussion with special guests Congressman Chuck Fleischmann and Dr. Danielle Mitchell.



As an Honors American Government project approved by political science Assistant Professor Dr. Elizabeth Norell, and organized by students Jim Fry and Justin Abercrombie, the topic of the discussion will be The Role of the Constitution Today: How Can We Cross the Political Divide? beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Erlanger Health Science Center, room 1087. The event will be a moderated discussion. Audience members will be given note cards to write down their questions before they are given to the guest speakers.



Chattanooga States Constitution Day events are co-sponsored by the Social and Behavioral Science Division, Media Services, Student Life and the Student Government Association.

For more information, contact Dr. Liz Norell at elizabeth.norell@chattanoogastate.edu or call 423-697-2512.
Samsung Electronics and Google said they are working together to offer an enhanced smartphone messaging experience, accelerating the industry initiative toward global Rich Communication Services (RCS) coverage and interoperability.



This collaboration will ensure that Android Messages and Samsung Messages will work seamlessly together and with RCS messaging, enabling features like the ability to chat over wi-fi, create rich group chats, see typing indicators and read receipts, and share high-resolution photos and videos across platforms.



Working together, Google and Samsung will ensure that their messaging clients, Android Messages and Samsung Messages, work seamlessly with each companys RCS technology, including cloud and business messaging platforms. To date, Google and Samsung have collaborated to introduce RCS to select Samsung devices; as part of this expanded collaboration, Samsung will work to bring these RCS features to existing mobile phones beginning with the Galaxy S8 and S8+.



New Samsung Galaxy smartphones will also natively support RCS messaging, starting with those on a set of carriers that have or will soon launch RCS. This means that consumers and brands will be able to enjoy richer chats with both Android Messages and Samsung Messages users.



At Samsung, we adhere to a model of open collaboration to bring premium experiences to our customers across products, said Patrick Chomet, EVP and head of Product & Services Innovation Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.



By furthering our robust partnership with Google, we will bring a richer messaging experience to our customers, letting them seamlessly chat with their friends and family across messaging platforms. This collaboration will help further the industrys momentum toward advanced messaging and global RCS coverage.



Weve been working with the mobile industry to upgrade the messaging experience on Android with RCS, said Anil Sabharwal, vice president for Communications Products and Photos at Google. Samsung has been a major contributor to this initiative, and our partnership will further advance our shared vision of a substantially improved messaging experience on Android for users, brands and the broader Android ecosystem.



As a further benefit of this expanded partnership, developers and brands that create RCS Business Messaging experiences (based on GSMA Universal Profile 2.0) using the Google or Samsung Messaging-as-a-Platform (MaaP) services will be able to reach both Android Messages and Samsung Messages users, bringing richer business messaging to many more users.



This collaboration further accelerates the adoption and availability of RCS globally, enabling an enhanced messaging experience across the entire Android ecosystem.  TradeArabia News Service
Friday, September 14, 2018

About AEA The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association and the largest in its field. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEAs mission is to improve evaluation practices and methods worldwide, to increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action. For more information about AEA, visit www.eval.org.

Hello, my name is, owner of Censeo Group , a northeast Ohio program evaluation firm that supports educational agencies and nonprofit organizations in evaluating their programmatic efforts. We northeast Ohio evaluators are excited to welcome you to Cleveland for Evaluation 2018.Check out the Rad Resources below for a list of Cleveland-focused Twitter feeds. Why Twitter? Well, its an easy and quick way to learn about upcoming events and a good place to learn about new evaluation results and research findings.Its easy to post a link and quickly share information with followers, but is Twitter an effective way to share work and build knowledge in the evaluation community? Research about the impact of tweeting on article or report downloads and citations has been equivocal. One study found a correlation between Twitter activity and higher citation rates in the area of ecological research . However, other studies have not found differences in the number of citations based on whether or not the author is on Twitter . Although there might not be a clear correlation between Twitter and citations, there is a benefit of using Twitter to disseminate evaluation or research findings. Twitter users who have a large following and compelling or interesting findings, have a greater chance of sharing findings with an audience wider than colleagues who would read a scientific journal, for example increasing visibility on Google searches. Tweeting about a project or finding, a relatively quick task, could amplify the message and communicate with a wide and varied audience.Add these Twitter handles to your feed to get a sense of what is happening in Cleveland and find places to visit during the conference.Destination Cleveland @TheCLE#HappyinCLE @happyincleCleveland Magazine @ClevelandMagCleveland Foundation @CleveFoundationDowntown Cleveland @DowntownCLECleveland Scene @ClevelandSceneWest Side Market @WestSideMarketCleveland Metroparks @clevemetroparksJayne Corso, the voice behind the @aeaweb Twitter page has written a number of AEA 365 posts about evaluators who tweetuse the #Eval18 hashtag to tweet about or follow tweets about the AEA 2018 conference.Were looking forward to the fall and the Evaluation 2018 conference all this week with our colleagues in the Local Arrangements Working Group (LAWG). Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to contribute to aea365? Review the contribution guidelines and send your draft post to aea365@eval.org
Hurricane Florence may be more than 1,300 miles away, but USAA is putting thousands of San Antonio workers on the front lines to handle the expected deluge of claims over the weekend.

About 1 million of the San Antonio-based financial services companys customers lie along Florences path in Virginia and the Carolinas, though that estimate changes as the storm progresses, said Wayne Peacock, president of USAA Property & Casualty Group.

Around 5,000 San Antonio employees will be on hand to deal with claims over the weekend, Peacock said. USAA received more than 50,000 claims after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and the Gulf Coast last year, according to figures provided by the company.

USAA has shut down its operations from Virginia to South Carolina to allow employees there to evacuate. Calls normally handled by those workers will be rerouted to USAA teams in San Antonio, Tampa, Phoenix and Colorado Springs.

RELATED: San Antonio commuters urged to plan for flash flooding this afternoon

But the company expects to send in more than 100 adjusters to assess members property damage once the storm abates.

The company has also situated four mobile response units from Georgia to Virginia, though they could move depending on where damage needs to be assessed, Peacock said. USAA has a team of three in-house meteorologists tracking the storm, he said.

USAA had experimented with using drones and fixed-wing aircraft to take aerial footage of damage for use in the claims process prior to Harvey and expects to deploy that technology in Florences aftermath, Peacock said.
In collaboration with Emirates Red Crescent, Abu Dhabi Airports organised a trip for 31 orphans on August 31 to Sir Bani Yas Island as part of its Flight of the Children of Zayed initiative.



The initiative falls within the framework of Abu Dhabi Airports ongoing corporate social responsibility and Year of Zayed program. Abu Dhabi Airports is committed to organising various social initiatives and sponsoring charities in line with its vision of becoming the worlds leading airports group.



As a part of the initiative, Abu Dhabi Airports collaborated with various authorities including the Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship, Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism, the Tourism Development & Investment Company who sponsored the recreational activities and accommodation on the island, and Abu Dhabi Aviation who provided air transportation.



The initiative included a safari on the island and a variety of water sports. The children also planted trees bearing their names and received souvenirs from the island to remind them about their experience.



Abu Dhabi Airports commended the staff across all the organisations involved that contributed, coordinated, and implemented the Flight of the Children of Zayed initiative.



Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi Airports launched several initiatives in celebration of Year of Zayed including the adoption of the Year of Zayed Immigration stamp at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in collaboration with Airport Immigration; the Meir Al Khair campaign, whereby employees of Abu Dhabi Airports collectively donated funds to purchase needed households goods and distribute it to less fortunate families within the UAE in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan; and mounting the Year of Zayed logo on one of the Capitals airport Air Traffic Control Tower. - TradeArabia News Service


WeWork is opening a new location in the Kress Building in downtown San Antonio.

The co-working giant will take up five floors in the building at 315 E. Houston Street and open by late 2019. It anticipates having 1,105 members.

We have had our eye on San Antonio for a while and we are thrilled to be expanding the WeWork footprint in Texas, said Nathan Lenahan, general manager for WeWorks Texas & Mountain West Region, in an emailed statement. This location is our 13th in Texas and it is the perfect space. We are excited to see our member community continue to grow and flourish in a city as amazing as San Antonio.

WeWorks website said the San Antonio space is coming soon, with locations also planned for Baltimore, Boulder, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City.

WeWork is looking to hire a community manager and an account executive for strategic growth in San Antonio, according to recent job postings.

WeWork already has spaces elsewhere in Texas, including in Dallas, Houston and Austin. The companys locations are a mix of private offices and common space, and feature Wi-Fi, printers, private phone booths, bike storage and other amenities.

A shared workspace starts at $190 a month, while a private office starts at $450, according to WeWorks website. The company also offers headquarter space and office suites as well as a pay-as-you-go membership plan.

miszler@express-news.net | Twitter: @madisoniszler
An eighth-grade science teacher at Alamo Heights Junior School was named the 2019 Texas Teacher of the Year on Friday at an Austin awards luncheon.

Jeff Wheatcraft will represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year competition, according to the Texas Association of State Administrators, which facilitates the annual statewide award.

He has taught for six years at Alamo Heights ISDs middle school, where he created the science, technology, engineering and math program to feed into the districts high school rocketry program.

Wheatcraft, 38, is also a storm chaser, a passion he shares with his students. As part of a program he launched, students learn the science behind weather prediction and build tornado probes, then guide Wheatcraft to deploy the probes in supercell thunderstorms.

During development of the projects, I purposefully selected questions that even I myself do not have the answer to, Wheatcraft wrote in his application for the state award. My students can no longer count on me to bail them out when the going gets tough. As with all the projects in the class, students learn that failure is an option that leads to success and is part of the process.

A panel of judges picked Wheatcraft from 20 nominees for Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year. Rhonda Pena, a fifth-grade math teacher from Mission Consolidated ISD, was named the 2019 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year but was not chosen for the overall award to advance to the national competition.

Both winners received a small cash award and a commemorative trophy, said Amy Francisco, TASA spokeswoman. Kevin Brown, TASAs excutive director  and Alamo Heights ISDs former superintendent  congratulated Wheatcraft and Pena in a Friday statement.

They have distinguished themselves among thousands of outstanding, dedicated teachers across our state and nation who have answered the call to serve others, Brown said.

Wheatcraft, reached Friday evening after he drove back from Austin, was not chasing a storm. This is rain, he quipped.

He said he was shocked when his name was announced as the winner at the Bullock State History Museum event and was excited to represent his community, school district and state in the national competition.

Its just surreal. I wasnt really expecting to win. There were a lot of great teachers there, Wheatcraft said.

His STEM class has gone from 66 students with just three girls to 170 students last year, including 82 girls. The class shares its research with college students and faculty through a partnership with St. Marys University.

The value of a teacher is not in the ability to drown students in knowledge, but to give them the wisdom to use that knowledge appropriately while solving humanitys toughest problems, Wheatcraft said in his application.

Wheatcraft also taught for six years at Kirby Middle School in Judson ISD. He has been nominated twice for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.

He has a bachelor of fine arts in art education from Arizona State University. After college, Wheatcraft moved to Texas with his wife and did odd jobs, according to his application. He painted walls and worked as a car porter and a photographer at the Tower of the Americas before his wife got pregnant with their first son.

He then entered an alternative certification program intending to teach art, but his counselors insisted he take certification tests for a high-needs area, so he earned a science certification.

Wheatcraft taught art for a year at Kirby Middle and then transitioned to science, a subject he fell in love with, creating a scientific documentary production project and taking students to the Gulf Coast, according to his application. He led the gifted program for the schools science department before leaving for Alamo Heights.

Wheatcraft also works with the service center for the states educational Region No. 20, based in San Antonio, where he trains other teachers. The other Region 20 teacher of the year, Andrea Greimel of the Carvajal Early Childhood Center in San Antonio ISD, was one of three finalists for Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year.

From 40 regional teachers of the year  one elementary and one secondary teacher in each region  independent judges chose six finalists and narrowed those down to the final two, Francisco said.

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
For Tanja Dibrell, everything came into focus on the steps of the Harris County courthouse.

Her husband was in jail, her job was on the rocks, and now a judge had just told her she was on the verge of losing her kids to the state. Ten years of addiction had brought her to this point.

It was a moment of clarity, she said. I was either going to choose drugs or my children.

But her lawyer had a suggestion - a small specialty court, aimed at getting parents and their kids back together.

For more than a decade, the little-known 18-month program has helped more than 200 parents navigate through the complicated Child Protective Services system as they go through rehab and treatment under the structured supervision of a drug court-like model. So far, it seems to be a recipe thats worked.

From 2014 through at least the start of 2017, according to county records, none of the more than two dozen parents who completed the program and regained custody of their children have ended up back in the court.

Despite its successes, Harris Countys Family Intervention - Infant Toddler Court is struggling to expand not due to a lack of funds or to legal roadblocks but something more basic - the logistical difficulty of identifying would-be participants who can otherwise easily get lost in the tangled family court system.

Historically weve never had large numbers, which doesnt make sense with the number of kids in Harris County, said Sarah Bogard, the program director. But one of the issues has always been with the growth of the program.

***

The court started in 2004, under then-Judge Bonnie Hellums, who had a background in counseling. In a decade on the bench, Hellums had seen a parade of broken-hearted parents struggling with substance abuse as they fought to keep custody, often without enough support to succeed.

I thought, Theres got to be a better solution, she said. So she spearheaded the creation of a new specialty court. The goal was simple: provide better outcomes for families impacted by drug use.

The court targeted parents looking to get sober and facing the possibility of losing custody.

After CPS got involved and the case made it before a judge, theyd have the option to shift the proceedings to Hellums, to a court that could offer more specialized support. The program wasnt for anyone, just those who met certain criteria - such as interest participating, a known substance abuse problem, family reunification as a main goal, and no recent felony assault charges.

During the four-phase program, parents would typically start inpatient drug treatment before progressing to a sober living environment and outpatient care. And, crucially, theyd typically get more frequent visitation with their children than through regular CPS channels.

Thats largely how the program works today, though theres been some growth and changes along the way. The biggest boon came in 2010, when a grant helped the program expand its offerings for families with children under three, adding special services and bumping up visitation from once a week to at least twice.

I want the best chance and opportunity for the largest amount of families and children in our community because our children frankly deserve that, said Judge Alicia Franklin York, whose court houses the program.

Today, the roughly 20 court participants are typically reunited with their children for good after just over 80 days in the program, according to Bogard.

Though the punitive nature of drug courts has drawn some criticism in recent years, the family intervention court strives for a more-carrot and less-stick approach thats yielded results.

In general, what we have found is that these specialty courts - especially when they deal with children - have been a good thing, said Bob Sanborn, president of the non-profit advocacy group Children at Risk. The idea is that theres more of a personal approach and more of a specialized approach instead of just a black-and-white law-and-order approach.

The numbers seem to back that up. Over the course of a year-long data collection period ending in 2016, the program got 60 percent of children under age 3 back with their sobered-up parents, according to court data. Statewide, that number was only 18 percent in the same population, according to data from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

And - given the added support and reduced time in placement - Family Intervention Court kids are less likely to be on psychiatric medications, which saves money in terms of medical care and regular screenings.

***

Dibrell kept her drug use under wraps for more than a decade before an outburst at her childrens daycare facility drew attention from CPS.

A Houston native, the mother of three came from a family with a history of substance abuse - but no one around her thought shed go down that path. She got good grades in school, went to community college, and held down a job.

But at 23 - on the heels of her fathers death - she started partying.

It was something I could control in the beginning, she said. Over time, she turned to harder drugs, eventually settling on cocaine and PCP. She had a child, her brother went to prison, and each time something major happened in her life she withdrew further into her addiction.

Even though she was working by day, she was smoking PCP in the backyard by night.

Still, she said, I was leading what I thought was a normal life.

Finally, she found herself on the steps of the courthouse that day in 2016. After the concerned daycare worker had flagged CPS about her case, Dibrell hadnt managed to comply with anything asked of her - until finally a judge took away her kids.

Three months later, she started Family Intervention Court.

***

Since its inception, one of the barriers for the Family Intervention Court has been the difficulty of identifying and referring eligible participants.

Theres no system to automatically refer everyone who might be a good fit, so its a combination of tips from judges, nudges from tuned-in defense lawyers - like the one who piqued Dibrells interest - and old-fashioned pawing through court filings.

We now have somebody reading every affidavit that is filed and identifying potential clients, Bogard said. After evaluating each of the more than two dozen filings that come in every week, a program representative goes to the court to see if the parent is interested and if the judge is willing to move the case over.

Its one of those things that a judge might not have it in their mind when they have a case in front of them unless somebody suggests it, Bogard said. About 60 percent of cases dont qualify because the parent doesnt have a drug problem or is facing more serious criminal charges.

About every other week we are adding someone to the program, Bogard said. But were trying to expand. In an ideal world, our cases would be identified at the point of investigation.

****

Dibrell graduated from the specialty court in a Christmas-time ceremony last year. She finished rehab and outpatient treatment, got her own apartment and got her kids back.

She had some slip-ups along the way to that milestone but, despite a relapse and a drunken driving charge, managed to stay in the program.

Now she no longer spends her nights getting high in secret. Instead, on one recent Friday, she and a group of other Family Intervention Court grads got together at a diner on Westheimer, laying plans for an alumni volunteer group. They made plans to hold bake sales, make holiday stockings for kids, and maybe offer mentoring for people still struggling like they were not that long ago.

I want to help other women, Dibrell said. Because what I found in addiction is addicts are not bad parents, its just that they have a disease  and I feel like if they have the proper help they can succeed.
When the majority of voters across the country head to the voting booth in November and again in 2020, the politics of health care will not be far from their thoughts.

Thats the finding of the fourth annual Texas Medical Centers national consumer survey, released Wednesday, which gauges attitudes on health issues, ranging from support of President Donald Trumps policies to whether foods laden with fat and sugar should cost more.

Titled, The Nations Pulse, the survey questioned 5,038 people across 50 states, including 1,018 people in Texas. Respondents were both Democrats and Republicans but also included those who identified as Independent.

Nearly two-thirds, or 61 percent, said they would be likely to only vote for candidates who promise to make fixing health care a priority. Additionally, the majority of voters said it was important that candidates share their views on such hot-button issues as expansion of Medicaid. Those views held both in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and in the 17 states, including Texas, that did not.

Across all political parties, 60 percent of Texans favored a Medicaid expansion, according to the survey. This comes despite years of steadfast opposition from state leaders. It also closely mirrors a similar survey in June by Houston-based Episcopal Health Foundation and the Kaiser Family Foundation that found 64 percent of Texans wanted a Medicaid expansion.

Survey responses at a glance Likelihood to only vote for candidate who wants health care fixed: Democrats: 68 percent Republicans: 60 percent Independent: 53 percent Plan to vote for Donald Trump in 2020: U.S (all parties).: 37 percent Texas (all parties): 38 percent 2020 Trump voters who would change their mind if uninsured rate rises: Republicans: 35 percent Independents: 37 percent Democrats: 60 percent Texans who support Medicaid expansion: 60 percent Texans who support Medicare for all: 55 percent Support lowering legal blood alcohol limit while driving to 0.0 percent: U.S.: 46 percent Texas: 48 percent Think foods that lead to obesity should cost more: U.S. 51 percent Texas: 56 percent Source: Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute See More Collapse

RELATED: Texans want state leaders to do more to solve states health care crisis

But perhaps most striking was that Medicare for All health coverage  once politically unthinkable in Texas found surprising favorability with 55 percent in the state saying they would support it. That compares with 59 percent nationwide, the survey found.

With health care so expensive and increasingly unaffordable, the respondents told us that it is important to try to fix it, said Dr. Arthur Tim Garson, director of the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute which led the study.

While the bitter health care debate of a year ago has slipped mostly out of the headlines, it apparently has not slipped from peoples minds, political operatives from both parties said Tuesday.

Neither Glenn Smith, an Austin-based progressive consultant, nor Jamie Bennett, vice president at Potomac Strategy Group, a right-leaning political consulting firm, were especially surprised when told of the survey results.

I think (health care) is the most critical domestic issue that we face today, said Smith, adding that worries about affordability and access are ever-present in peoples lives.

Health care is a very important issue for our elected leaders to solve, agreed Bennett in an email, It makes up the majority of the federal budget and affects every American at some point in their lifetime. I think health care will continue to be a central issue in the mid-terms and 2020 presidential election  especially given the inaction from the federal level.

Looking ahead to 2020, the survey zeroed in on Trump supporters. Of the 37 percent of voters nationwide who planned to vote for the president, more than a third of Republicans and 37 percent of Independents said they would change their mind if his policies led to an increase in the uninsured.

Such potential defection did not surprise Smith. That is one of the things that could knock significant numbers from his base, he said.

Garson cautioned, though, the presidential race is still two years away. You dont know until Election Day what people will do, he said,

RELATED: Struggling town hasnt lost its faith in Trump

There were differences, however, in how party affiliation affected priorities. While reducing costs was considered the highest priority across the board, Democrats listed universal coverage as next, while Republicans and Independents said affordability was the second highest priority.

In other issues, the survey found nearly half of Americans, including those in Texas, supported lowering the legal blood alcohol limit while driving to 0.0. It is currently .08 in Texas. Also, an overwhelming majority in all states wanted the age of buying tobacco products raised to 21, and more than half said that foods that lead to obesity should cost more.
A Bexar County Sheriffs Office deputy was arrested, then fired Thursday after police said he crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler on Interstate 35 in Selma.

The drunken driving charge stemming from that accident isnt the first time that Deputy Joseph Martinez, 27, had gotten into trouble.

Martinez, who had been on unpaid administrative leave since April, had been disciplined by the sheriffs office four separate times since June 2017 in connection with two hazing incidents and two alleged assaults against inmates. Hes also facing criminal charges in the assault cases.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said he personally visited Martinez at the Central Magistrates Office to fire the deputy.

Salazar said he cant act capriciously or arbitrarily in firing a deputy, even after they commit multiple policy violations, due to a framework of laws and civil service rules and a contract.

READ ALSO: Inmate allegedly assaulted Bexar County deputies searching his bunk

I know it may seem incomprehensible to somebody whos not in this world, he said, but thats something that every major agency has to work with. We have that framework.

He said he was able to act Thursday because of the course of conduct that began in 2017 and continues to this day.

Youre talking about somebody that since April hasnt been working here, Salazar said.

According to a statement from the Selma Police Department, Martinezs most recent arrest occurred after he crashed into the back of the semi-truck about 3 a.m. in the 14800 block of Interstate 35 North. His vehicle then smashed into the highways center divider. Police said Martinez smelled of alcohol.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor, and booked into the Bexar County jail after he was medically cleared. Bail was set at $800.

According to Elizabeth Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs office, Martinez was hired by the sheriffs office in December 2014. He was a member of the jails Special Emergency Response Team.

READ ALSO: Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy arrested for assault Sunday morning

He was put on unpaid administrative leave in April after the sheriffs office received four complaints accusing him of assaulting an inmate.

His problems within the office, though, stem back to at least June 2017.

Salazar said Martinez was involved in a hazing accident at a SERT party that month and another in August. He was placed on administrative leave but returned to work according to civil service rules.

In January, the sheriffs offices Public Integrity Unity had again started disciplinary proceedings after he was accused of assaulting an inmate, but then the four additional complaints were filed, resulting in his second stint on administrative leave.

In May, he was charged with two counts of assault and two counts of official oppression in connection with two separate alleged assaults against inmates.

Martinez is the 19th deputy arrested in 2018. Salazar said the high number of arrests is due to his administrations proactive stance in rooting out the bad apples.

READ ALSO: Bexar County deputy arrested on drunk driving charge; 17th deputy criminally charged in 2018

Were taking a proactive stance, he said. Were actively seeking it out. If you call it looking for trouble, thats what were doing. Were out there looking for people that are breaking the law, breaking policies; and were going to hold them accountable to the extent that we can.

But Salazar also noted that hes working to form an Early Intervention Unit that will work to identify at-risk deputies and help them in any way they can. For example, if the unit learns a deputy has a drinking problem, they may work with the deputy to get counseling before theres an arrest for drunken driving or worse.

The Deputy Sheriffs Association of Bexar County has expressed concern about some of the proposed program, Salazar said, prompting negotiations between the two organizations that have delayed the units rollout.
Construction manager Robert Brogan was on his way to buy concrete Wednesday morning when a disaster unfolded before his eyes.

He was driving south on U.S. 281 near Hildebrand Avenue when an 18-wheeler in the next lane lost control on a curve, rolled on its side, slid about 100 feet into the median and hit two light poles.

Brogan, 32, pulled over to the shoulder of the highway. The trailer was on fire. He saw smoke and flames rising right behind the cab.

He got out of his car and ran toward the burning wreckage.

I knew I had to get the guy out, he recalled.

He was one of four good Samaritans whose bravery allowed the driver of the big rig to walk away from the disaster uninjured, police said. The cab and trailer were burned to a crisp, and the busy highway was closed for hours, snarling traffic across San Antonio. Police plan to honor the four men.

That morning, Brogan said, he acted on instinct. He peered inside the cab. The drivers seat was empty, and he couldnt see anyone. He tried to kick in the windshield, but the glass was too thick. Seconds were passing. He knew that once the fire reached the trucks gas tanks, chances for a rescue were slim.

I looked over at the shoulder and saw a white Chevy truck with some guys in it and PVC pipe in the back, Brogan said. I figured they were some kind of contractors, so I asked if they had a hammer.

The three men worked for a San Antonio plumbing company. They, too, had instinctively stopped to help. One of them quickly handed over a hammer. Brogan started banging on the windshield.

The plumbers climbed out of their truck, one grasping a metal breaker bar, a long version of a socket wrench. He smashed the cabs skylight, which was perpendicular to the road.

More seconds passed.

Brogan and the three men saw the driver huddled in a corner in the back of the cab.

By that time, you could really feel the heat forming in the back of the truck, he said. We kept yelling at (the driver), but he wouldnt respond. We dont know if he crawled back there because he was scared. We couldnt tell if he had a concussion or was unaware of his surroundings, or what. But he was really shook up.

The plumbers implored the driver in Spanish to stand up. Finally, he did and the four rescuers helped drag him out of the cab through the busted-out skylight.

Everyone scrambled to the side of the highway. The tires started popping and everything went haywire, Brogan said. The fire got to the gas tanks, and it was like an inferno.

Brogan and a woman had called 911 the moment the accident happened; police and firetrucks arrived within 10 minutes, he said. The dispatcher had asked about the trucks contents. In a twist of good luck, the semi was carrying neither gas nor hazardous materials.

The driver kept saying, plastico, Brogan said. His biggest concern was showing that he had his passport.

Police said the driver, Sebastian Salinas, 28, an employee of MS Transportation in McAllen, wasnt injured. He couldnt be reached for comment Friday. Joe Garcia, the companys safety coordinator, said Salinas had been given a week off, with pay, and was in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Garcia said he would not be reprimanded.

He was honest with us, he said. He said he was going 55 around a curve, too fast for a semi. He said he was just happy he didnt hit anyone, it was just him.

Salinas had asked for contact information for his rescuers so he could reach out and thank them upon his return, Garcia said.

The wreck closed the highway between downtown and the Quarry for almost 12 hours. By the time the fire was extinguished, the truck was encased in a huge blob of plastic.

Rough upbringing

Shortly after the crash, Brogan was back at work. There was concrete to inspect and buy.

Its amazing in retrospect how a series of coincidences prevented a tragedy, he said.

He had just paid a visit to the corporate office of Gehin Custom Homes, his employer of nearly three years, near San Antonio International Airport. He was heading down U.S. 281 toward a concrete slab company.

But heres the thing: He was supposed to have made this trip the week before. Hed gotten too busy at work and postponed it.

Its one of those weird situations where you think, If I had made the trip last week   he said later. And what if those plumbers hadnt been there? I mean, who carries a breaker bar in their car? If those guys hadnt been there at that specific time, they wouldnt have broken through the glass, and we wouldnt have been able to get the driver out in the five to eight minutes before things went up.

The day after the crash, Brogan was rushing to prepare a model home for a grand opening that night at a new subdivision in New Braunfels, where he lives with his wife and their two children, ages 7 and 9.

The air-conditioning condenser wasnt working right, and Brogan kept running from inside the house to the water meter in the front yard, again working against the clock.

He stopped briefly for an interview.

Nah, hes no hero, he said.

You just look at the flame, and the flight-or-fight instinct kicks in, he said. Adrenalin gets you going. I didnt think, I just acted.

Andrew Rios, a master plumber and owner of Arios Plumbing, said his three workers did not want to be interviewed.

They just did what anybody else would do, he said. They just did what they were supposed to do. Theyre not looking for fame or special treatment. They were able to do a good deed, because the Man Upstairs was watching.

When Brogan got home that night, his wife, Vanessa Apuan, a stay-at-home mother who also attends college and works at night at a hotel in San Marcos, asked how his day went.

Fine, he said.

Oh, wait. He had forgotten to tell her: He and three guys helped pull a driver from a burning semi in San Antonio.

She goes, Well, its nice of you to let me know, five hours later, Brogan said with a grin.

Asked why he is one of those people who runs toward danger instead of away from it, Brogan said it likely has to do with his upbringing.

Born in Arizona, he was 9 when he was removed from his biological parents, who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. His father would later die of an overdose. Brogan spent six years in foster care, living with 60 other children in a group facility.

I think when you grow up with poverty, with seeing stuff (like drug addiction), you just learn to deal with adversity and keep moving along, he said.

At 15, he was adopted by a couple who lived at the foster care facility. They became his role models and instilled in him the values that enabled him to escape poverty, go to college, succeed in business, and become a good husband and dad.

To want to help.

Brogan moved to Texas three years ago to be close to his adoptive parents, who now live near Canyon Lake.

Before leaping up to go check on the condenser, he said he hoped the truck driver wasnt traumatized by what happened in those 30 seconds on that busy highway.

But the first thing my wife said was, Hes probably got kids, he said. So at least hes home. Hes safe. And those kids still have a father.

Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje
A young Hispanic activist who lived most of his life in San Antonio gave up a court challenge against the U.S. government Friday, opting to be deported rather than remain in jail while a long legal fight loomed.

Sergio Mapache Salazar was born in Mexico but had been living here legally under a program known as DACA that allows some immigrants to defer deportation.

He withdrew his intent to seek voluntary departure and instead agreed to the removal order by an immigration judge.

After discussing it with my attorneys, that is whats best for me, unfortunately, Salazar told Immigration Judge Justin Adams. Salazar appeared at Fridays hearing via video from a Laredo jail.

Salazar, 18, could be deported within the next week. He plans to live with a grandmother in Monterrey, Mexico, his lawyers said.

Courtesy

Salazar has lived in the U.S. since his parents brought him here when he was 2. He had been living legally as a recipient of temporary legal immigration status under the DACA program.

He is a graduate of Roosevelt High School and aspires to make films, according to the advocacy organization Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES.

RAICES had filed for a renewal of his DACA status, but it was denied this summer. Salazar was arrested Aug. 3 as federal agents moved to deport him. He had left a camp outside of an office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the North Side, where he and others had been protesting ICE.

He has been in jail for more than a month as ICE lawyers filed paperwork alleging he is a national security risk because of social media postings reportedly threatening law enforcement.

Salazar denies making threats.

Salazars lawyers, immigration attorney Javier Maldonado and Cristian Sanchez with RAICES, said a number of things went into the decision to change course from last week, when Salazar initially sought to seek to leave voluntarily.

Hes a young kid. As an 18- 19-year-old, hes scared, Maldonado said. He added that a decision on Salazars voluntary departure might not have come Friday. Even if Salazar won, the government could appeal, leaving him in jail until an appellate immigration court ruled.

What it came down to is with voluntary departure, if it was denied, a finding of national security risk might go on his record, Sanchez added. Such a finding might affect Salazars chances to ever return legally to the U.S.

The tool they use is to hold them in jail for weeks (so) that it becomes too much to bear, Sanchez said. For an 18-year-old who never hurt anyone or isnt violent, that was too much.  They targeted him because he protested against ICE. They put him in a no-win situation.

ICE responded that it does not target unlawfully present immigrants for arrest based on advocacy positions they hold or in retaliation for critical comments they make.

Any suggestion to the contrary is irresponsible, speculative and inaccurate, the agency said. ICE prioritizes its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security.

Lawyers for ICE last week told the judge they had planned to use evidence that included screen grabs from what they contend was Salazars Twitter account to show why they consider Salazar a safety threat.

The FBI had obtained a search warrant for the tweets, which were never made public. He was never charged criminally.

Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
As a weather disturbance over the Gulf of Mexico makes its way into South Central Texas, meteorologists warned afternoon commuters to be on alert for flash flooding.

The system was expected to reach the Texas Gulf Coast early this morning, the National Weather Service said late Thursday.

NWS meteorologist Cory Van Pelt said San Antonio rain chances are forecast to increase throughout the day.

If we get some heavy rain  areas around town could be flooding pretty quickly, especially before the afternoon commute, Van Pelt said.

The weather system is expected to bring between 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, with isolated pockets up to 8 inches Friday through Sunday.

READ ALSO: Flash flooding, up to 8 inches of rain possible this weekend in San Antonio

The rainfall this weekend could be enough to push San Antonio to, if not past, the record for the wettest September, the weather service said.

As of Thursday evening, the city has gotten 11.37 inches of rain, reaching the third-wettest September. The record is 15.78 inches set in 1946.

A flash flooding watch for 7 a.m. today to 7 p.m. Saturday evening has been issued for the Edwards Plateau, downtown San Antonio, Rio Grande Plains and Coastal Plains.

While the morning commute may be relatively quiet, drivers are urged to be extra cautious and check the weather as they make their way home or pick up children from school in the afternoon and evening.

San Antonio Fire Department officials urge commuters to have plans with their employers in case flooding prevents them from reaching their jobs.

SAFD spokesman Woody Woodward said the department cannot stress the Turn Around, Dont Drown message enough.

Firefighters said a vehicle can stall out in just a few inches of water. After that, all it takes is a foot or two of water to float a 3,000-pound car downstream.

READ ALSO: New FEMA maps show areas of San Antonio most likely to flood

Meteorologists said that with the ground already saturated, it wont take much rainfall this time around to cause flash flooding from rainwater runoff.

The weather service warned that the Rio Grande, the upper Nueces, Frio and San Antonio rivers are prone to flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

San Antonio residents can call 311 or dial 210-207-6000 to report weather-related issues including flooded streets, downed trees on public roadways, flashing or malfunctioning traffic lights, and low water crossings.

Bexar County also has a website to check for parts of roadways that have been closed as a result of flooding  www.bexarflood.org.
Radisson Hotel Group will be introducing two of its brands in central China, with the signing of two new hotels - Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley - in the citys high-tech business and development zones.



These two hotel properties will provide high-quality accommodation and world-class facilities for the rising number of domestic and international visitors attracted to Wuhans economic zones.



The capital of Hubei province, Wuhan is a bustling metropolis that is home to approximately 10 million people. Nicknamed the Detroit of the East, this city has one of Chinas largest automotive industries and a thriving manufacturing sector, which has attracted many major Chinese and international companies.



Wuhan is a leading industrial hub in China and developments like ETD Zone and Optics Valley demonstrate how the country is progressing globally in terms of high-tech industry, manufacturing and scientific research, said Katerina Giannouka, president, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group. With their international accommodation and world-class facilities, including flexible Mice venues, Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley will be perfectly suited to this emerging global city.



Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone is an impressive new lakeside property located in Wuhans Economic & Technological Development Zone. Developed by Wuhan Liantou Peninsula Real Estate Co., Ltd, this 355-room upper-upscale hotel will open its doors in the first quarter of 2020. The hotel will rise eight stories from the banks of Hou Guan Lake. Designed in a contemporary style, this property will provide a full range of facilities, including international, Chinese and Italian restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, spa, fitness centre and childrens playground, plus nine meeting rooms and a 1,600-sq-m grand ballroom.



Scheduled to open in June 2024, Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley is set to launch in Donghu New Tech Development Zone, an important medical research and science park also known as Optics Valley. Developed by Wuhan Donglian Real Estate Co., Ltd, the property will feature 220 contemporary rooms and suites, and an array of upscale facilities, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty Chinese restaurant, lobby lounge and fitness centre. Catering to the needs of corporate guests, the hotel will provide a business centre, function rooms and a ballroom.



Both new hotels are easily accessible, with Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone only 45 minutes drive from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley just over an hours drive via major highways. Central Chinas largest air gateway, Tianhe offers worldwide connections to cities including London, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney and San Francisco.



Radisson Hotel Group has firm plans to expand in Asia Pacific, with 77 Radisson Blu hotels and 58 Radisson hotels in operation and under development. - TradeArabia News Service
The Air Force training command said Thursday that a problem with varying levels of oxygen concentrations in the cockpit was identified as the major factor in unexplained physiological events that have sickened dozens of T-6 Texan II pilots this year.

The San Antonio-based command, which has investigated malfunctions in its onboard oxygen generation system since it grounded the T-6 in February, also revealed how it plans to fix the problem.

So far, technical efforts to date and analysis of data collected have determined that pilots have been exposed to significantly changing levels of oxygen concentration, Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, head of the training command, said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

He said the system sometimes was producing more oxygen than a pilot needs, which caused problems for some aviators.

Problems with the onboard oxygen generation system, or OBOGS, on the training plane had prompted as many as 11 pilots with the 12th Flying Training Wing to refuse to fly the aircraft. They took the action after aviators had suffered unexplained physiological episodes  called UPEs by the Air Force  that can incapacitate pilots and even lead to their deaths.

Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, recently told the San Antonio Express-News that investigators had found the root cause of the problem and would begin making fixes.

Kwast said symptoms experienced by some of the pilots were similar to a lack of oxygen, lack of carbon dioxide or other related conditions.

The Air Force Materiel Command created an independent review team to investigate the problems. Investigators learned that the OBOGS filter and drain valves failed at a much higher than anticipated rate. These parts were repaired or replaced.

The Air Force has said that the OBOGS shutoff valve, which funnels air from the engine into the system, failed at a much higher rate than expected. Inspections showed that 85 percent of the shutoff valves inspected failed in the open position, allowing unrestricted air flow. Investigators also found that the same percentage of inlet filters had evidence of moisture but with no significant effect to airflow.

Given that some oxygen system components failed at higher than expected rates, the T-6 Program Office on Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, directed inspections on a more aggressive timeline. Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, commander of the 19th Air Force, said that purging excess moisture from the system appears to keep the OBOGS operating more efficiently over time.

Texan II pilots, meanwhile, have been given extra training and procedures to help them respond to possible oxygen system malfunctions. The training command will add study materials for T-6 aviaiors that will focus on identifying symptoms, responses and corrective procedures for all types of events, not just hypoxia.

More fixes are on the way as well. The Air Force has started a redesign of the T-6 OBOGS system to stabilize the variation in oxygen levels pilots breathe  a process likely to take from two to four years. Experts also are working with the planes manufacturer to adjust the OBOGS software algorithm to stabilize oxygen concentrations.

The Air Force said those measures should reduce physiological events, but more will be done, including a broader redesign. New maintenance procedures drawn from several different Air Force and Navy T-6 bases also will be introduced.

Brig. Gen. Edward L. Vaughan, who leads the Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team, will collaborate with Air Force officials and other military branches to determine if the OBOGS measures planned for the T-6 will be applicable across other aircraft that use the oxygen system.

The OBOGS failures resulted in at least 61 reported unexplained physiological episodes during the first six months of this year. The Texan II resumed flight in March as the Air Force announced a more frequent cleaning, testing and maintenance schedule for the oxygen system while the search for a root cause ensued.

The Navy grounded its T-45 Goshawk, a jet trainer, after pilots suffered similar physiological episodes. Hypoxia, a lack of oxygen that is potentially fatal, was suspected when an instructor pilot and student bailed out of a T-45 from Naval Air Station Kingsville that crashed Aug. 14, 2016.

Other possible causes of UPEs involve hypocapnia, a state of reduced carbon dioxide in the blood, and hypercapnia, excessive carbon dioxide in the blood, usually caused by inadequate respiration.

The T-6A grounding came after 22 physiological episodes were recorded in January, the most ever seen in the single-engine, two-seat turboprop since it was introduced in 2000. The training command declared it safe.

Pilots harbored doubts and complained that months of investigation by the Air Force, Navy and NASA had yet to explain why the system failed or how it would be fixed. Some argued that they were not told about the severity of reported physiological episodes.

The Air Force, though, has said it is keeping pilots in the loop.

Since our T-6 operational pause, we have made every effort to communicate with every instructor and every student exactly what weve found, Doherty, the 19th Air Force commander, said in the statement Thursday. Transparency remains of utmost importance to use as we all work together to ensure that our pilots are safe and know the way ahead.

sigc@express-news.net
The City Council unanimously passed a $2.8 billion budget for the new fiscal year Thursday that holds the line on San Antonios tax rate while increasing spending on street maintenance and making a historic investment in affordable housing.

Council members heaped praise on City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Assistant City Manager Maria Villagomez and Budget Director Justina Tate for deftly navigating the sensitivities, competing interests and political potholes that are generated in the nations seventh-largest city.

Im happy and grateful that for the second year in a row, the document, I think, overwhelmingly says to every single San Antonian, We hear you. And while that may be the case every year, its certainly the case this year, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, noting that the city is required by law to pass a balanced budget. But in order to balance the budget, we also have to balance the many desires and needs of an incredibly complicated community.

In approving the budget, council members didnt just cast a single vote. Instead, the process required several votes, including many line-item issues that required recusals because of conflicts of interest by individual members. There were also votes on setting the ad valorem tax rate.

READ ALSO: City Council supports housing task force's recommendations

Typically, city officials state early on that theyre seeking to keep the rate flat or reduce it, which has been the case for more than two decades here. Budget officials are able to calculate expected revenue from the targeted rate, which is composed of two rates: one that generates funding to pay off debt related to bonds and another thats used for maintenance and operations, or M&O.

When the vote for the latter was up, Councilman Greg Brockhouse pounced. He made a motion to reduce the tax rate, which would effectively decrease the citys revenue and alter its budget. He called for a 1 percent reduction in a portion of the overall rate  reducing the M&O rate from 34.677 to 34.330 cents per $100 of taxable valuation.

That amounts to a $3.9 million reduction in the budget. Brockhouse suggested that the city recoup the funds from the $25 million its planning to spend on addressing a looming affordable housing crisis.

I look forward to this being the first of many multiple years of property tax reduction, and I ask the council to consider, in addition to Housing Policy Task Force, to consider the fact that we can increase affordability by reducing property tax rates, as well, he said.

Brockhouses motion crashed, receiving support only from Councilman Clayton Perry.

Nirenberg told the San Antonio Express-News that Brockhouses reduction would save the average homeowner $6 per year in property taxes.

Representatives of several so-called delegate agencies receiving city funding, some for the first time, offered appreciation for financial support, only to be called hogs at the trough by longtime council gadfly Jack M. Finger. Earlier, he criticized the meetings invocation, offered by an atheist for the first time in the citys 300-year history.

Later, in a wide-ranging statement from the dais, Councilman Manny Pelaez chastised the Finger attacks. He said he was proud to stand with the delegate agencies that share their subject-matter expertise to take on issues such as domestic violence prevention, veterans services, help for victims of sexual assault and more.

READ ALSO: City's poverty rate declines, but income doesn't budge

Somebody came up here and said, The Almighty was shaking his head because of the invocation, or something silly like that. Instead, I would say that the Almighty would visit upon us very serious judgment if we didnt do what needed to be done for the most vulnerable of San Antonians. And this budget does that, Pelaez said.

Thursday marked the second time the current City Council has approved an annual budget, and it was the last spending plan that Rey Saldana would approve from his term-limited District 4 seat. He reminisced and joked about his tenure and the work he and his colleagues did over the past eight years.

I started this job when I was 24, and eight budgets later  they say that time flies when youre having fun. Not true, he said, laughing. It feels like eight years. I wouldnt describe it as fun.

Saldana noted that implementing programs can take multiple cycles and recalled his work addressing illegal dumping by adding an extra bulky-item curbside pickup and drop-off locations. And he championed the most basic form of government, where officials mingle with their constituents at the gas station or grocery store and where those residents concerns or ideas can manifest into city projects that better San Antonio.

The senior member of the council, who remains the youngest on the dais, also talked about San Antonios changing landscape during his tenure.

It actually got me thinking about what 2011 looked like, compared to 2018. I thought to myself: Man, the Big 3 were still with the Spurs at that time. The Rivard Report was just an internal Express-News memo. I think about the fact that Pre-K 4 SA was still just a call center at Southwest Airlines, and what else? Oh, The Pearl was just a former retired plant that people knew nothing about.

READ ALSO: Council green lights scooter ordinance; official vote expected in October

Councilman John Courage, a liberal Democrat elected from perhaps the most conservative district in the city, said he fully supported the citys spending plan, which takes effect Oct. 1, because it addresses critical needs in San Antonio.

I believe this budget is fair and equitable, not only just to the city but to every single council district, including my district, District 9, he said. Whether its streets or sidewalks or housing or public safety or public health  this budget addresses those critical needs.

The balance of the council made similar comments before voting to approve the budget.

The mayor, whos fighting against three proposed charter amendments pushed by the local fire union, said from the dais that San Antonians have a municipal government focused on improving streets and sidewalks, police and fire services.

I wont get into AAA bond ratings and so forth, but you can rest assured that when it comes to your tax dollars, youre getting more services in the city of San Antonio than any other citys citizens are getting in the country, he said. What did we get through this entire process? Im confident to say that the basics in this years budget are better covered than Ive ever seen as long as Ive been a resident of San Antonio.
I sit here wondering what have we really done in the 17 years since the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001?

We went to war in Afghanistan then escalated to a second front in Iraq. We have killed radicalized Muslim soldiers and civilians and bombed their mud huts, but the extremists still exist. To date over 6,000 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives and over 52,000 U.S. soldiers have been injured. It has also cost you and me, the United States taxpayer over $7.6 trillion in defense and homeland security costs. And yet, the war(s) continue.

For the blood spilled and the money spent, what do we have to show for it? We still have soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other Middle Eastern and African countries. For what? Is there actually a commitment to conquer the enemy as we did in World War II after Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor? What is our end game and what are the indicators that we have won the war and that our troops can come home? Or, are we to be content while our war makers continue to spill American blood and spend American money on Middle Eastern sand?

I welcome any of our D.C. lawmaker elites, executive branch gurus, and Pentagon prowlers to answer the questions I pose. If we dont have a good reason to be there now, why are we still there? If we dont have an absolute commitment to vanquish our enemy like we did in World War II, we should not have committed our troops overseas in the first place.

David Gay, Alamo Heights

Real proof

Re: In cahoots with Cruz? Your Turn, Sept. 9:

The writer thinks that the Express-News is favoring Ted Cruz over Beto ORourke because it published an article about ORourkes run-ins with the law years ago.

He then challenges the paper to publish a side-by-side list of each candidates stand on the issues theyre campaigning on to prove that they arent biased toward Cruz.

Were the Express-News do that, it would show for sure that they were in the tank for Cruz  such a comparison would immediately send ORourkes campaign down in flames with the people of Texas!

AL Koppen, Fair Oaks Ranch

No free speech

Two things happened recently that gives a calibration point on President Donald Trump and his followers.

First, a senior official in the White House wrote a derogatory op-ed in the New York Times. He failed to sign it, but the Times published it anyway. The president went ballistic and urged the attorney general to find out who wrote it so he could be fired , or as he intimated, tried for treason.

Second, a young high schooler and his two buddies in Billings, Montana went to a Trump rally to be able to see the president firsthand. The young man was in the group situated immediately behind the president while the cameras ran. The kids facial expressions denoted less than approval of what was said. Soon, on live TV, a lady dressed in black eased into the group and removed the boy.

Apparently, free speech is not allowed in Trump circles. Get the man a copy of the Constitution and show him the First Amendment. His attitude displays a threat to our democratic republic.

Stan Grayson

Violence already

The president is predicting violence if the midterm elections go badly for him. Ive been sensing violence for two years; ever since he did that ugly imitation of a handicapped reporter; ever since he made that clip of himself pummeling a figure marked CNN; and Ill never forget his comment, punch that guy in the face, Ill pay the damages; and ever since he bragged about being able to grope women anytime he wanted to. And no one cared!

A Trumpian in Florida just won a primary and is now running against a black opponent. The Trumpian candidate made a comment that we shouldnt monkey this up. Forgive me if I assume that this is a deliberate act of violence.

Now the president says he is coming to Texas to campaign for another Trumpian. That means two hours of violent insults. No ideas, no lifting thoughts, just violent insults.

No, Mr. President, your candidacy and presidency have always been about violence. Mr. President, read the last chapter of Sen. John McCains book The Restless Wave. The chapter is called Regular Order. I realize that the term translates to you as violence but our founders called it democracy.

Bobby Riley

A treasure

Re: S.A. must empower families with more school options, Another View by Quincy Boyd, Sept. 9:

Ms. Boyd is a community treasure. She is following her passion. She uses her time, talents, treasure, training and thoughts to increase school choice options for families in San Antonio. Last October, she spent time with Top Scholars at Sam Houston High. Students were able to gain insights from her about the admissions process at Americas most selective colleges and universities. Today, the three seniors in the group she spoke to are freshmen at the University of Notre Dame, Wellesley College, and Austin College. These are great postsecondary options available to emerging leaders from low-income families.

Community investment is a key ingredient in responding to three questions she raises. Her daughters will likely attend a high school that prepares them for college. The girls will have a chance to demonstrate excellence in rigorous academic classes. They will have opportunities to lead, to create, to collaborate and to build their self-confidence. Ms. Boyd wants (and works so that) other families have those same opportunities.

Knowing that these values matter to parents throughout San Antonio, the opportunity exists to transform existing high schools to match these demands. Sam Houston High  quietly for the moment  is participating in this transformation. The day is coming when families on waiting lists will have the option of confidently enrolling their children in the Pride of the Eastside.

Jason D. Mims, Lt. Col., ret., U.S Army
AUSTIN  The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday morning that could put an end to a nearly six-year legal battle over whether the city reneged on an agreement to use donated land next to the Hays Street Bridge for public space.

Many East Side residents hope a ruling in their favor could prevent the construction of a five-story apartment complex that they fear would block views of the iconic bridge and price out those who live around it. But city leaders say the complex is cleared for construction no matter what the court decides after City Manager Sheryl Sculley approved it in July.

For the supreme court justices, the cases importance rests in large part on the issue of whether municipalities are immune from being sued for breach of contract, a concept known as governmental immunity that seeks to prevent the municipalities from being hamstrung by costly lawsuits.

The idea that the government can do no harm is so against the fundamental principles of this country, said Amy Kastely, an attorney for the Hays Street Bridge Restoration Group, which filed the lawsuit against the city in 2012. Im optimistic. The law is on our side.

The citys attorneys expect a decision in three or four months, spokeswoman Thea Setterbo said.

We felt good after the arguments, Assistant City Attorney Debbie Klein said. We do feel the questions were on-point.

Related: Conservation Society leader on Alamo Plaza, whiny developers and the fight for historic preservation in San Antonio

The restoration group, a nonprofit that led the preservation of the East Side landmark, sued the city in an attempt to block it from transferring the 1.7-acre property, at 803 N. Cherry St., to a company controlled by developer Eugene Simor. He and another developer, Mitch Meyer, are now preparing to build the apartment complex there.

The restoration groups leaders say they arranged for beer distributor Budco Ltd. to donate the land to the city with the understanding it would be used as public space - perhaps a visitors center, public restrooms, or parking for school buses.

But the city says it never made such an agreement. On Thursday morning, its lawyers cited a city document from 2001 declaring an intent to foster residential development next to the bridge.

The city, which has hired two outside attorneys to represent it in the case, argues that nothing is left to be decided because it already complied with a 2014 judgment from Bexar County District Court, which said it must devote the proceeds from the land sale to the bridges restoration.

This case is not about a park. The judgment was not about a park, Michael Truesdale, an attorney with Austin firm Enoch Kever who represented the city, told the justices. The judgment required us to apply and allocate funds and thats what happened here.

After the property was sold in 2014, the city used its $295,000 in proceeds to offset its share of the cost of the bridges conversion into a pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, which was completed in 2010, city attorneys said.

We were essentially reimbursed for the funds we put out, Klein said.

Related: San Antonio Realtors group fires CEO, raising concerns

A few months after selling the land, the city provided a grant equal to the purchase price to Simors company to use in developing the property.

Kastely questioned why the city would have kept pursuing its appeal of the 2014 decision if it had obeyed the district courts order.

You cant appeal a judgment that youve satisfied - it just isnt done! The reason is its a waste of time, she said after the oral arguments.

One of the justices, Jimmy Blacklock, also seemed to scrutinize the citys argument, asking, If your position is you satisfied the judgment in 2014, what were you doing all those years when you litigated the case?

Truesdale said the city kept fighting the case because it wanted a decision on the governmental immunity issue.

Nearly 50 opponents of the citys sale of the land met at 6 a.m. Thursday morning to take a charter bus up to Austin in order to attend the oral arguments, packing into a courtroom just north of the Texas State Capitol building.

The bridge needs breathing room. If you develop all the land around it with five-story buildings, which could still happen, it might as well be a tunnel, said Gary Houston, who has been involved in the restoration group since it was created 18 years ago.

He said he was present at discussions with the city about the donation of the land, and that city officials made verbal agreements to use it as public space.

Obviously, if we had it all to do over again, we would have had more stipulations, he said.

Related: City asks Texas Supreme Court to dismiss Hays Street Bridge case

Another issue at hand in the case is whether a court can require municipalities to perform a certain action  known in legal jargon as specific performance  rather than simply order monetary damages.

The supreme courts chief justice, Nathan Hecht, asked Kastely what remedy the city could make now that the property has been sold. She responded that the city could still construct a visitors center or other public facility.

This is one of those rare cases in which monetary damages is not adequate to remedy the groups injury, Kastely said. The group sought to benefit the community. They did not seek a payment for their fundraising services.

She said after the oral arguments that she hoped the supreme court would rule against the city, which could send the case back to district court. If the restoration group then learned through discovery that the city had not devoted the proceeds of the land sale to the bridge, the court could order the city to rescind the sale, she said.

But the citys attorneys say that outcome is not possible. Because the city already obeyed the 2014 decision, the only consequence of a negative ruling from the supreme court is how it would impact future instances in which the city might enjoy immunity, City Attorney Andy Segovia said.

The lawsuit hinges on a memorandum of understanding between the city and the restoration group in which the group agreed to raise funds to pay back the city for money it spent refurbishing the bridge.

The memorandum said the city would ensure that any funds raised by the restoration group would be used to renovate the bridge. The city claimed that the land donation didnt count as funds, and thus didnt need to benefit the restoration, but the district court ruled otherwise.

Related: San Antonio home prices continue swift rise while market remains tight

After the city appealed the 2014 decision, Texas 4th Court of Appeals overturned it, ruling that the city couldnt be sued on the contract because it enjoys governmental immunity.

The supreme court has considered four or five other governmental immunity cases over the last few years in an effort to define the legal concept, Kastely said. Texas is one of the few states that still allows for municipalities to be immune to breach of contract claims, she said.

Kastely hopes to see governmental immunity abolished in Texas, saying it allows municipalities to break contracts and gives the other parties no legal remedy. But Klein, the assistant city attorney, said the state legislature has already waived governmental immunity for many types of contracts.

The Texas Municipal League, an organization that represents 1,158 Texas cities, submitted an amicus brief in support of the city, saying that governmental immunity serves to protect the public from the costs and consequences of improvident actions of their local governments.

Segovia thinks the court might be increasing its interest in governmental immunity as cities enter more frequently into complicated agreements that expose them to litigation, such as public-private partnerships.

As cities take on more and more complex issues obviously to what extent a city has liability becomes of interest to a body like the supreme court, he said.

Richard Webner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering real estate and development. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rwebner@express-news.net | Twitter: @RWebner
AirAsia has been named Best Low-Cost Airline by travel magazine Business Traveller Asia Pacific for the seventh year in a row.



The award was presented at the annual Business Traveller Asia Pacific Travel Awards luncheon held at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong today.



AirAsia has won the accolade in every edition of the Travel Awards since the category was created in 2012.



AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said: Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are very honoured to receive this award, and to know even business travellers are looking to us to get the best value."



No other airline can offer the same low fares, unbeatable frequencies, better food and inflight wifi, while also boasting the latest digital innovations - facial recognition, BigPay money app and BIG Loyalty - that we can. We are proof that low cost doesnt mean low quality, and we are thrilled our frequent travellers agree.



The publication is read by more than 30,000 frequent travellers from around the globe who take an average of 19 business trips a year.



Since debuting in April 1982, Business Traveller Asia Pacific has provided a valuable resource for frequent travellers and served as a dynamic platform for their concerns. - TradeArabia News Service
Brac Airport has said it has resumed talks with Air Serbia over the introduction of flights from Belgrade. In a statement, the airport said, "Quality contacts have been made with the new Air Serbia management, with the aim of re-examining options for flights between Belgrade and Brac at a recent meeting". Earlier, the General Manager of Brac Airport, Tonci Peovic, noted, "We have been in talks with Air Serbia for a number of years. They are interested in flying to Brac. They are considering linking the flights with Zadar. Introducing services from Belgrade is a high priority for them with an ATR 72-500 aircraft".





Serbian tour operators have requested for Air Serbia to introduce services to the Croatian island in 2019. A letter of intent by agencies was submitted to the Serbian carrier earlier this year in which agencies committed themselves to purchasing seventy seats per flight. News of a possible service between Belgrade and Brac first surfaced in 2015 when Croatian media reported that Air Serbia would begin a one weekly seasonal flight from the Serbian capital to the island in May of that year. However, the carrier rebuffed such claims at the time, noting it had no immediate plans to fly to Brac. Air Serbia currently maintains year-long flights to Zagreb and seasonal services to Dubrovnik, Split and Pula.





Brac Airport noted it had also entered talks with several other carriers including Titan Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, ASL Airlines France, Eurowings, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Jet2.com, Flybe and Blue Air. "We hope that at least some of these companies will make a decision to start flights to Brac as early as the 2019 summer season", the airport said in a statement. During the January - August period, Brac handled 22.199 passengers, representing an increase of 34.8%, despite the number of aircraft movements declining 4.6% to 1.870. Brac Airport has already overtaken in 2017 end-of-year result which amounted to 21.596 travellers. The growth was generated following the completion of the first phase of the airport's runway extension project last year, allowing airlines to deploy larger aircraft to the island.
BRIDGEPORT  A woman called police Thursday evening after her husband shot an alleged intruder at their home.

The accused intruder was found shortly after the shooting with a gunshot wound to the stomach, police spokesman Av Harris said around 11:20 p.m. Thursday. Dispatch reports indicated the shooting victim is 22-years-old.

He was transported (to the hospital) as trauma two, which is non-life-threatening injury, Harris said, adding that additional details would be released Friday morning.

Police raced to the 100 block of Rainbow Road around 8:30 p.m. after getting a call from a woman, reporting a shooting. Dispatch reports indicated that the mans wife called 911 and said her husband shot someone at their Rainbow Road home.

As police were rushing to the area, another 911 call came into the dispatcher center  this time from the alleged intruder who had been shot. He told police he was at the intersection of Old Town Road and Reservoir Avenue, reports indicated. That intersection is down the street from Rainbow Road.

Several officers canvassed the area, searching for a gunshot wound victim for nearly 15 minutes. But the man was not at the intersection he had reportedly been near when he called 911.

Around 8:43 p.m., the gunshot wound victim was found in the 100 block of Barnum Avenue, Harris said.

The investigation into the shooting remains active.

Anyone who witnessed this or any other crime, can contact Bridgeport police at 203-576-TIPS.
STAMFORD  Police say five shots were fired into a Shippan office building during the overnight hours on Friday.

Police said the bullets shattered two plate-glass windows on the third floor of the Vineyard Vines building on Harbor Drive.

Capt. Tom Barcello said investigators do not believe anyone was targeted in the shooting and no one was inside the building when the incident occurred.

The safety and security of our employees is our No. 1 priority, said Nicole Sutliff, a spokeswoman for Vineyard Vines, who referred questions to Stamford police.

The building overlooks the East Branch of Stamford Harbor. Barcello said the shots could have been fired from across the water in Kosciuszko Park or Woodland Cemetery. He said they could have also come from the hurricane barrier property or a passing boat.

Barcello said investigators do not have a motive for the gunfire.

Police on Friday searched the park, cemetery and barrier properties for shell casings or other evidence. A police K-9 also searched the area.

Barcello said the double-paned windows made it difficult to determine the origin of the shots.

More for you Gun scare prompts downtown Stamford office evacuation

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Attorney Laura Shattuck, of Parrino|Shattuck PC, was selected by her peers for inclusion on the 2019 list of the Best Lawyers in America. With this distinction, Shattuck ranks among the very best private-practice attorneys nationwide.

Attorneys listed in the 25th edition of The Best Lawyers in America were selected after a peer-review survey that confidentially investigated the professional abilities and experience of nominated lawyers. Recognition by Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor.

Shattuck, a longtime resident of Fairfield, was selected for the list in the practice area of family law. Her selection comes on the heels of numerous other recent awards, including being recognized for lifetime achievement among Americas Top 100 Attorneys.

Shattuck is a partner and co-founder of Parrino|Shattuck PC. She devotes her practice to representing clients in all areas of family law. She is actively engaged in litigation and has substantial experience working on sophisticated cases.

For the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 7.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in nearly 60,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion is considered a singular honor.

Parrino|Shattuck PC, at 285 Riverside Ave. in Westport, represents individuals in a wide range of family law matters. For information, visit parrinoshattuck.com or call 203-557-9755.

Impact Fairfield County grant available

Impact Fairfield County has announced a $100,000 grant opportunity to nonprofits for significant projects or programs that reach underserved populations and highlight unmet needs in the area. It is anticipated that Impact Fairfield County will award one or two grants of $100,000 each, determined by membership on May 1.

To apply for an Impact Grant, an organization must be a nonprofit that operates in Fairfield County, and applying for a new project or program or the significant expansion of an existing program that solely serves residents of Fairfield County

Applying for a grant starts with a letter of inquiry. Organizations may only submit one application each grant cycle. Letters of inquiry will only be accepted online beginning Oct. 17 and will be due Nov. 14.

Potential applicants may attend an optional information session, which will be held on Tuesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Coffee will follow from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the offices of the Fairfield Countys Community Foundation, 40 Richards Ave., fourth floor, Norwalk.

RSVP is required by Friday, Sept. 14, to grants@impactffc.org. Due to limited space, only one representative from each organization may attend.

Benefit concert

at Fairfield Theatre Co.

The 10th annual ROCK4RV CJD Benefit Concert will take place Sept. 22 from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Fairfield Theatre Co. Warehouse. The event is in memory of Robert Vitanza, a former Fairfield County resident who died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in 2008.

Area ROCK4RV bands will include Simple Jim (with Mike Vitanza) and the School of Rock Fairfield All-Star Band. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Funds raised go to The CJD Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to supporting individuals and families affected by the rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease.

Live music, food trucks, a face-painter, photo booth, raffles and more will be featured at the event.

Tickets are $20 in advance at fairfieldtheatre.org, or $25 at the door. Tickets for kids 12 and under are $10. Raffle tickets will be available on site.

Town orthodontic practice welcomes Landin

Patricia A. Bendick and her staff have welcomed Melissa Landin to Fairfield Orthodontic Associates, at 111 Beach Road in Fairfield. Primarily serving the communities of Fairfield, Westport, Easton and Weston, Fairfield Orthodontic Associates has patients from throughout Fairfield County.

Originally from Newtown, Landin grew up in a home attached to a dental office. Her father is a general dentist and her mother was his hygienist for many years. Filling in at the front desk and as the dental assistant when needed, dentistry was always something Landin thought of as a career.

Landin attended Fairfield University and completed both her dental and orthodontic training programs at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. Prior to enrolling in dental school, Landin excelled in General Electrics leadership-development program, the Financial Management Program.

Landin is trained in both early childhood and adult orthodontics. Committed to learning the newest technologies and staying abreast of the current orthodontic and dental trends, Landin maintains active memberships in the American Association of Orthodontics, American Dental Association and Connecticut State Dental Association.

For information about Landin, visit fairfieldorthodonticassociates.com or contact203-256-9500 or ffldortho@gmail.com.

St. Pauls to welcome rector

St. Pauls Episcopal Church will celebrate the installation of its 16th rector, the Rev. Curtis Farr, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. during a service open to the public.

Suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, the Right Rev. Laura Ahrens, will preside over the Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming of a New Rector. The Rev. Ranjit Mathews Rector, of St. James Episcopal Church in New London, will preach.

Services are on Sundays at 8 and 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
By Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net

Srinagar:- On Friday, August 31, the Jammu and Kashmir State Administrative Council (SAC), currently under the Governors rule, announced elections for the Municipalities and Panchayats in the state. The announcement, however, did not go down in a state that is in chaos over confusions and controversies over various issues. The extent of the unhappiness can be gauged by the fact that even the two mainstream state partiesPDP and NCthrough which New Delhi is ruling the state, have decided to boycott the elections. Even national parties like the Congress have said that the situation is not conducive for elections in the state.

The political parties in the state believe that government of India is keen to abrogate Article 35 (A) of the Indian Constitution and before that, they want to conduct the election in the state under any condition.

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Elections for municipal bodies will be conducted in four phases with polling dates between October 1 to 5. Similarly, elections to panchayats will be conducted in eight phases with polling dates between November 8 and December 4.

It is pertinent to mention that the Valley has been on edge after a group of people reportedly affiliated with right-wing parties filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding the scrapping of Article 35 (A) that gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Many political workers in the state have fled from their homes and are underground after the militants issued a warning to people against participating in the coming election. In a video message on August 28, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo said those filing nominations should take along shrouds as well. And remember, we have brought hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid, he said. Be ready for that, he added.

In a press conference, National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah stated that his party will not participate in these elections unless the Centre takes effective steps for the protection of Article 35-A.

He said the decision of the state administration to hold urban local body polls and panchayat elections were taken in a hurried manner and without taking into consideration the prevailing situation created by the powers that be by unnecessarily fiddling with Article 35-A.

Days after the National Conference (NC) decided to boycott the elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also announced that it would also stay away from the electoral exercise at this juncture.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: The situation created by linking panchayat polls with the case pending in Supreme Court on Article 35A has created apprehension in the minds of the people, who see an assault on the special constitutional position of the state It was unanimously resolved that the party would stay away from the electoral exercise at this juncture.

The last panchayat polls in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2011 after a gap of about 37 years. The polls, held for 4,098 sarpanch and 29,402 panch constituencies, had witnessed a record 80% turnout.

There are 47 municipal council and committees in Kashmir division and 37 in Jammu division. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has 73 wards while as the Jammu Municipal Corporation consists of 71 wards. There are three municipal councils each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

Two hundred additional central police companies are being deployed to maintain security during the polls.

Mustafa Kamal, additional general secretary of the National Conference while talking to TwoCircle.net said, The political parties exist because of the people and right now people are very much against themwe arent able to carry out political activities, our workers arent safe in their homes. New Delhi is not taking the ground realities into consideration; they have to understand the parties through which they are ruling are becoming irrelevant day by day due to their hostile policies towards people of Kashmir.

Kamal added that The gap between New Delhi and Kashmir is widening, they are losing electoral ground in Kashmir.

We decided to boycott the election because the Government of India told the Supreme Court to defer the verdict of Article 35 (A) till the elections are done in the state. So people here have apprehensions that after elections GOI may tinker with the Article. We have to respect the sentiments of the people Tahir Syeed, additional spokesperson of PDP, told TwoCircles.net, adding, New Delhi has to understand that they are shrinking our space in Kashmir.

However, with regional parties deciding to boycott, only the BJP said it was gearing up for the elections so far and the chances are getting more and more seats are high in the absence of the main two parties.

The graph of PDP and NC is going down in the valley and they fear they might lose the election that is why they are making Article 35 (A) an issue right now. But we have decided to contest the elections with full enthusiasm despite militant threats, said Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP), State Spokesperson Altaf Thakur, adding, we are fighting elections for Bijli, Sadak and Pani.
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.

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iShares MSCI Denmark ETF's stock was trading at 60.79 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EDEN shares have increased by 86.5% and is now trading at 113.35.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

The Central University of Kerala (CUK) is again in the news now for all the wrong reasons. A senior PhD scholar was dismissed from the hostel after the university authorities went for a police case and arrest when he broke a glass pane in the hostel. An assistant professor who criticized it on the social media was also removed from the post of the head of the English and Comparative Literature Department while another student was dismissed for his Facebook post. And the University reportedly issued a circular on August 14 barring students and teachers of the institution against responding to the media on the issues.

The acts of the university authorities have invited sharp criticism and protest from students, academicians and civil rights activists alike. The CUK chapter of the Ambedkar Students Association organised an event of collective reading on Ambedkars Annihilation of Caste in the university on September 13. On September 11, the organisation had submitted its demands before the Pro-VC as the VC, Dr Gopakumar, was not available, and accordingly, a meeting has been arranged to be held between the students and the VC on September 18. Civil rights activists and academicians from Kerala expressed their solidarity and support to the democratic rights of the teachers and students of the CUK in a joint statement issued on September 9. The Kasargod district committee of the Left Democratic Front has called for a comprehensive probe into the alleged irregularities in the university.

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In another development, a few glass panes were broken during the protest march held by the SFI and DYFI to the campus on Wednesday, and the university authorities reportedly filed a police case against four students. Even though protest is going on in the campus, classes are being held as usual as the student organisations have decided not to boycott classes till the meeting on Tuesday September 18.

The incident related to the latest happenings took place in July. Ganthothi Nagaraju, a senior PhD scholar hailing from Telangana and active member of the Ambedkar Students Association, broke the glass pane of a fire alarm cabinet in the hostel. Nagaraju who had completed his MPhil from the University of Hyderabad was a close friend of Rohit Vemula (who committed suicide in 2016 protesting caste discrimination). He had lost his mother a month back and had not received his fellowship for months, and hence was understood to be mentally depressed and frustrated at the time. He was reportedly suspended from the hostel on July 9. He admitted to the authorities of breaking the glass pane (which cost less than Rs 200) and got ready to pay fine for the same. But the authorities registered a complaint with the police, who arrested him on August 9 under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. He was remanded for 5 days on the trivial charge, before getting bail on August 14, but has to report to the Bekal police station every Saturday. Nagaraju was actively involved in the protests in the university for democratic rights, including better hostel facilities, and he has now been out of the hostel altogether.
Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited.

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Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and creditor and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its field sales force, advice centers, and online, as well as through independent insurance advisors and affinity relationships. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset, cash management, transaction banking, and treasury services to institutional clients; correspondent banking and trade finance services for financial institutions; and short-term funding and liquidity management services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, governments, and central banks. Royal Bank of Canada has a strategic partnership with Royal College Of Physicians & Surgeons Of Canada to support the needs of Canada's medical specialists. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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EnQuest PLC operates as an oil and gas development and production company, explores for, extracts, and produces hydrocarbons in the United Kingdom, North Sea, and Malaysia. It primarily holds interests in the Magnus, Kraken, the Greater Kittiwake Area, Scolty/Crathes, Alba, Thistle/Deveron, Heather/Broom, Alma/Galia, and the Dons area. The company also has interests in the PM8/Seligi and PM409 production sharing contracts in Malaysia. In addition, it holds interests in 10 operated production licenses and 3 production hubs. As of December 31, 2020, the company had proved and probable reserves of 279 million barrels of oil equivalents. Further, it is involved in the construction, ownership, and operation of an oil pipeline; marketing and trading of crude oil; and leasing activities. EnQuest PLC was incorporated in 2010 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.

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Targa Resources Corp. provides midstream natural gas and natural gas liquids services. It also provides gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil and storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products. It operates through the following business segments: Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation. The Gathering and Processing segment includes assets used in the gathering of natural gas produced from oil and gas wells and processing this raw natural gas into merchantable natural gas by extracting NGLs and removing impurities; and assets used for crude oil gathering and terminaling. The Logistics and Transportation segment includes all the activities necessary to convert mixed NGLs into NGL products and provides certain value added services such as storing, fractionating, terminaling, transporting and marketing of NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; storing and terminaling of refined petroleum products and crude oil and certain natural gas supply and marketing activities in support of its other businesses. The company was founded on October 27, 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Teledyne Technologies: Alia Corporation Inc, Bolt Technology Corp, Bowtech Products, CARIS, CDL do Brasil Equipamentos e Servicos Submarinos Sociedade Empresaria Ltda., CETAC Technologies, DALSA, Demo Systems, Detcon Holdco Inc., Ensambles de Precision S.A. de C.V., Falcon Analytical, Frontline Test Equipment, GMI Group Holdings Limited, Hafmynd ehf, Hanson Research Corp, IST Oldham Instruments India Private Limited, Industrial Control Machines, Intelek, Intelek Limited, Intelek Pension Trustees Limited, Intelek Properties Limited, LeCroy (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd., LeCroy Corporation, Lidar Aviation Services Inc., Maple Imaging LLC, Micralyne Inc, Ocean Design Ltda., Oldham Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Oldham Simtronics SAS, Oldham-Winter GmbH, PDM Neptec, Reynolds Industries Limited, Rhombi Canada LP, Rhombi Holdings Limited, Rhombi Netherlands B.V., Rockwell Scientific Company, Simtronics AS, TDY Jersey Limited, Teledyne Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd, Teledyne BlueView, Teledyne Bogatin Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Bowtech Limited, Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Teledyne C.M.L. Group Limited, Teledyne CARIS B.V., Teledyne CARIS Inc., Teledyne CARIS UK Ltd., Teledyne CARIS USA Inc., Teledyne CDL Inc., Teledyne CDL Limited, Teledyne Catalyst Enterprises Inc., Teledyne Computer Access Technology Corporation, Teledyne Controls LLC, Teledyne Cougar, Teledyne Czech s.r.o., Teledyne DALSA (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Teledyne DALSA Asia-Pacific Ltd., Teledyne DALSA B.V., Teledyne DALSA GmbH, Teledyne DALSA Inc., Teledyne DALSA Industrial Products Inc., Teledyne DALSA K.K., Teledyne DALSA Semiconductor Inc., Teledyne Dalsa, Teledyne Defense Electronics LLC, Teledyne Denmark A/S, Teledyne Detcon Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging Inc., Teledyne Digital Imaging US Inc., Teledyne Energy Systems Inc., Teledyne Europe Holdings C.V., Teledyne France, Teledyne France SAS, Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Limited, Teledyne Gavia ehf., Teledyne Germany GmbH, Teledyne Hanson Research Inc., Teledyne ICM SA, Teledyne ICM SPRL, Teledyne Innovaciones Microelectronics S.L.U., Teledyne Instruments Inc., Teledyne Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Teledyne Japan Corporation, Teledyne Korea Ltd., Teledyne Labtech Limited, Teledyne LeCroy AB, Teledyne LeCroy Delaware LLC, Teledyne LeCroy GmbH, Teledyne LeCroy Inc., Teledyne LeCroy India Trading Private Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy Japan Corporation, Teledyne LeCroy Korea Ltd., Teledyne LeCroy OakGate Inc., Teledyne LeCroy S.A.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy S.R.L., Teledyne LeCroy SA, Teledyne LeCroy Singapore Pte. Ltd., Teledyne Limited, Teledyne Micralyne Inc., Teledyne Monitor Labs, Teledyne Monitor Labs P.R. Inc., Teledyne Netherlands B.V., Teledyne ODI, Teledyne Optech Inc., Teledyne Paradise Datacom Limited, Teledyne RD Instruments, Teledyne RD Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne RESON, Teledyne RESON A/S, Teledyne RESON B.V., Teledyne RESON GmbH, Teledyne RESON Holding B.V., Teledyne RESON Inc., Teledyne RESON Pte. Ltd., Teledyne RESON UK Limited, Teledyne RISI Inc., Teledyne Rad-icon Imaging Corp., Teledyne Redlake MASD LLC, Teledyne Reynolds Inc., Teledyne SG Brown Limited, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, Teledyne Scientific Imaging GmbH, Teledyne Scientific Imaging Limited, Teledyne Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB, Teledyne Singapore Private Limited, Teledyne TSS Limited, Teledyne Taiwan Company, Teledyne Technologies (Bermuda) Limited, Teledyne Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Teledyne Technologies International Corp., Teledyne Technologies Israel Ltd., Teledyne Tekmar Company, Teledyne UK Limited, Teledyne VariSystems, Teledyne VariSystems Inc., Teledyne Wireless LLC, Teledyne e2v, Teledyne e2v (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Teledyne e2v (Overseas) Holdings Limited, Teledyne e2v Asia Pacific Limited, Teledyne e2v Limited, Teledyne e2v Semiconductors SAS, and The Oceanscience Group Ltd..
FREDERICKTOWN, Ohio  Two men in their 100th year of life, who were part of the Fredericktown FFA in 1933 and among the first to wear the official FFA jacket, helped commemorate its history during a special ceremony Sept. 8 at Fredericktown High School.

Linden Scheff and Neil Overly, both 99, helped unveil a new historical marker constructed with funds from the community and the Ohio History Connection, which pays homage to former FFA adviser Gus Lintner, and his efforts to design what would eventually become the organizations nationally recognized blue and gold jacket.

Overly said the 1930s were a tough time economically, and his father barely had enough money to buy his son the jacket, but he was grateful for the gift.

It was just a plain jacket, but it was a good one, Overly said.

Similar appearance

The jacket looked much the same as FFA jackets do today  made of blue corduroy with gold emblems and lettering. The un-insulated jacket is a simple jacket, but one the FFA organization has embraced.

The reason their adviser had the jacket made was because in 1933, the Fredericktown FFA Band was chosen to perform at national convention in Kansas City, Missouri, and members needed something appropriate to wear.

Scheff said he didnt think he was good enough to go with the group and perform in Kansas City, but his adviser convinced him otherwise.

It was quite an honor, said Scheff.

After high school, both men spent their lives farming.

The unveiling ceremony was held inside the Fredericktown High School gymnasium, where the two men uncovered a bronze Ohio historical marker weighing 225 pounds, with an inscription that tells the story of the jacket and how it all got started.

Other FFA chapters were also in attendance, with a crowd of about 400.

For their efforts, both men received large plaques with re-prints of what the back of their original FFA jacket would have looked like  complete with the FFA emblem and a brass nameplate.

Scheff said he plans to display his plaque inside the old Fredericktown School House. Overly said he hopes to find some space to hang his plaque inside his own home, but so far the weight of the thing is proving a challenge to mount.

Making memories

The current Fredericktown FFA adviser, Debra Burden, said it was a memorable experience for the whole chapter and community. The public was asked to bring their own FFA jacket, and many did.

They (students) were excited to see the older members pull out their jackets and see the differences, Burden said.

Our whole entire gym was filled, said Maribeth Pozderac, chapter president. Its definitely something that I take a lot of pride and joy in.

Holly McClay, former member and the current Ohio FFA vice president, said she didnt realize just how many former FFA members were in the Knox County area.

It was really awesome to have the support, not only from our own chapter, but also the other communities, she said.

In addition to the memorial, which stands about three feet tall, the village of Fredericktown also announced new signs that will be posted at the various entrances to the village to let motorists know about the FFA history. The memorial itself will be placed outdoors, somewhere near the front of the high school.
CANFIELD, Ohio  After more than a 30-year absence, mule racing made its return to the 2018 Canfield Fair, Sept. 3. For many years, mule racing was an attraction for racers and spectators alike, where competitors raced in sulkys as well as bareback.

Racing Superintendent Elwood Woolman wanted to see more Canfield Fair nostalgia, and the fairboard endorsed it. Sara Campbell, niece of the late Doug Campbell, who was involved in racing at Canfield Fair for many years, helped restart mule racing at the fair.

Eleven mules traveled to the Canfield Fairgrounds for a chance at the 2018 mule race champion title and to be the first to take home The Doug Campbell Memorial Trophy.

Eleven mules traveled to the Canfield Fairgrounds for a chance at the 2018 mule race champion title and to be the first to take home The Doug Campbell Memorial Trophy.

Riders

Jason and Marcia Crist from Greenville, Ohio, hauled in six mules, four of which returned to the final heat to compete for a purse of $500. Jasons riders included four who travel on The Ohio High School Rodeo Association Circuit: Emma Jarvis, Katelyn Bookman, Grace Serna and Abagail Schmit, along with the Crists. Danielle Helch, Troy Stewart and Sandy Mahler traveled from Pennsylvania for the return of the event. Campbell, riding on behalf of Don Campbell, and Paige Sanor, riding on behalf of Dick Roush, hauled in from North Jackson and East Palestine, Ohio.

The racing consisted of three heats, and the top two from each heat advanced to the finals.

Bookman won first place. Marcia Crist took home second place and Jason Crist was third.
Tell legislators farmers need help to weather growing financial crisis

WASHINGTON  As farmers endure a growing financial crisis in the farm economy, 350 National Farmers Union (NFU) members participating in a fly-in to Washington D.C. this month emphasized the need to pass the 2018 farm bill and urged Congress to provide long-term support for farmers amid an escalating trade war.

The members advocated for a farm bill conference report similar to the current Senate bill, the renewable fuel standard and pushing back from what appears to be an ad hoc trade policy being generated by the White House.

Farm incomes are down 50 percent over the past five years  even without the tariff tit for tat with countries like China, said Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan, who participated in the fly-in.

Farmers Union remains an advocate of fair trade, but this is not the time to put family farms at the tip of the spear.

Members heard from various legislators who agreed.

Theres a crisis in the making for many North Dakota farmers, and they deserve better than being treated like collateral damage in the administrations trade war, said U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

Amid ongoing trade uncertainty, farmers and ranchers need a strong, bipartisan bill that protects crop insurance, gives growers much-needed predictability, and expands not shrinks their access to global markets.

Family farmers and ranchers are in the midst of the worst decline in the farm economy in decades, and they want to see action from their federal representatives, said NFU President Roger Johnson. It is critical right now for family farm agriculture to have the support of Congress and the administration.

Legislators honored

During the fly-in, NFU honored 26 U.S. senators and representatives who support issues that are important to the organization. From Ohio, Democrats U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur both received NFUs Golden Triangle award again this year.

Ohios family farmers dont have better friends in Washington than Sherrod Brown and Marcy Kaptur, said Joe Logan. Year after year, through tough policy problems and hard votes, Marcy and Sherrod put people first and honor the hard work and unique American perspective of rural Ohio.

Logan said that Kaptur and Brown were both advocates for a common-sense farm bill. He also noted that their support for reforming the Affordable Care Act were key to their awards this year.

From Pennsylvania, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey also received the award.
LEXINGTON, Ky.  Debra Muse, 63, of Wallingford, Kentucky, was sentenced Sept. 11 to 60 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Joseph M. Hood, for conspiracy to commit crop insurance fraud and crop insurance fraud.

Muse was also ordered to pay $1,656,275 in restitution.

Background

Muse pleaded guilty on April 16, 2018, and admitted to urging and assisting co-conspiring farmers to file false tobacco crop insurance claims with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, with the intent to help the farmers obtain crop insurance proceeds to which they were not entitled.

These crop insurance claims contained falsified reports of tobacco production.

Muse, a crop insurance agent and employee at Clays Tobacco Warehouse during the period in question, admitted that she created multiple false documents, including Clays Tobacco Warehouse sale bills and shipping reports, to help farmers hide their crop production from their insurance adjusters and falsify the quality of the tobacco.

These documents, which misrepresented the volume and quality of the farmers crop production, led to inflated payments from the farmers crop insurers, which are reinsured by the federal government.

Judge Hood found that, as a result of Muses fraud, she caused the federal government to pay out $5,917,515 in crop insurance indemnity payments to agricultural producers to which they were not entitled.

The farmers included Muses clients and the clients of other insurance agents, who used falsified documents Muse created in filing their own fraudulent insurance claims.

Under federal law, Muse must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence; upon her release, she will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for five years.
Agricultural expert Fisher German is advising that farm businesses will require strategic advice more than ever in the coming years after the Agricultural Bill was introduced to Parliament.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, has introduced the Agricultural Bill to Parliament.

The Bill provides the basis for future farming policy post Brexit, and the legislation looks to deliver an environmentally-focused form of agricultural support for future generations after nearly half a century under EU rules.

Fisher German has welcomed the Bill, but cautions that further details need to be understood before the impact on businesses can be assessed, adding that advice on the future structure and direction of agricultural businesses will be essential as further details emerge.

David Kinnersley, of Fisher German, said: It is very positive to see the Agricultural Bill introduced to parliament so that the shape of the post Brexit England farm policy can be seen.

There has been little detail on this before now, so the Bill gives businesses something more tangible to assess and a timeline to work to.

Agricultural policy is devolved, so todays announcement is primarily relating to future English legislation.

There is a great deal of detail which will determine what are appropriate actions to take, and there is still the unresolved matter of post Brexit trade arrangements which will arguably have a greater long term impact.

Some of the key points we can take from the Bill include the phasing out of direct payments over the seven years from 2020 to 2027 and de-linking them from the requirement to farm land which is seen as a route to enable farmers to use the income to prepare for the demise of direct payments. This may be to fund retirement, investment or diversification and could facilitate new entrants.

It also details the introduction of the new Environment Land Management system from 2019 which will be developed to reward farmers and landowners for environmental benefits.

The proposals also include measures to increase productivity and investment, for example on soil health and sustainable livestock farming.

The overall direction of the policy, away from direct farm payments and towards public benefits, has been long debated and widely expected.

It presents opportunities as well as threats for different businesses, but the detail of the policy and funds available will be required before more can be said at this stage.

However it is clear that good strategic advice on the future structure and direction of agricultural businesses will be needed more than ever over the coming years.
Farmers can expect a "seismic shift" in farming support which will mean re-writing the budgets and forecasts of many British farming businesses.

The policy shift towards farming subsidy being paid for the delivery of public goods under a new system of environmental land management contracts will be of "great concern" for farmers, according to chartered accountant Saffery Champness.

Farmers in England and Wales will see their direct payments phased out over a 7-year transition period, with those receiving larger payments seeing reduction at a quicker rate.

For 2019 and 2020, direct payments will be made on the same basis as now. There will then be an agricultural transition period in England between 2021 and 2027 as payments are gradually phased out.

Richard Cartwright, of Saffery Champness said the move by the government is a "seismic shift" which will offer farmers "little comfort".

"It should be noted that government has said that all farmers will see some reduction to their payments from the start of the transition," Mr Cartwright said.

"Farming is generational, its very nature requires long term planning, business profitability is subject every year to uncertainty because of external factors and the future basic payment system will now be structured so that those providing the greatest public benefits will receive the greatest rewards.

"Whatever Brexit may yet bring in terms of trade and markets, imports (of chemicals and fertilizer for example) and impact on exchange rates remain unknown," he added.

Mr Cartwright said farmers should undertake an analysis of business budgets and forecasts in the face of uncertainty.
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.
Michael Gove has proposed to "restrict" live animal exports rather than outright banning the practice once the UK leaves the EU.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Defra Secretary appeared to back-peddle on his beliefs.

Asked if Britain would "see an end" to live exports, Mr Gove said: "We're going to see restrictions on live animal exports, certainly, and we're consulting at the moment."

Asked if he was "minded to ban them", the Defra Secretary replied: "I'm minded to restrict them, yes. And I'm looking at the evidence to see how we can take appropriate steps.

"We're gathering evidence at the moment and we want to make sure that we can do this in the right way."

The comments follow Mr Gove's call for evidence looking at a potential ban, launched earlier this year.

Taking action on live animal exports forms part of the governments programme of reforms for the UK agricultural industry once the UK leaves the EU. It also forms part of Mr Gove's pledged 'Green Brexit'.

However, Labour's shadow environment minister, David Drew said Mr Gove is back pedalling on his promise to ban live exports.

We are demanding that Michael Gove now clarifies the Governments position on banning live exports," he said.

Meanwhile, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has pledged to "robustly defend" what is a "legitimate and important" activity for the sheep industry.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive said the NSA remains opposed to any ban on live exports.

We cannot see how it could operate, as it would go against all government policy on trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Mr Stocker explained.
A farm business consultancy has encouraged farmers to join its new Farm Action Groups in a bid to learn from both each other and industry experts.

Precision Grazing will initially be forming 5 regional groups in the South West England, East and Midlands, North England, South Wales and North Wales.

The groups are for sheep and beef farmers with breeding, rearing or finishing enterprises.

The focus is improving on business profitability in a sustainable way. The benchmarking results will allow each group to decide on their primary areas of focus for each year; for instance direct marketing and lamb finishing.

Applicants must be actively farming, have the authority to make changes to the business, be open minded to new ideas and contribute to discussion.

Farmers wishing to apply must also agree to share their production data and host a group visit once every three years.

The first meeting in November will be free to attend and will take place in each of the regions. After that, those who wish to join will pay a 300 fee followed by 11 monthly payments of 49.
African swine fever has now been confirmed in four wild boar in Belgium raising fears the deadly virus could pose a major threat to the UK.

African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in the Etalle district near the French border.

The finding brings ASF closer to the UK and highlights how the virus can be moved long distances to reach new pig populations.

There is no effective vaccine to protect swine from the disease. And, while the disease poses no direct threat to human health, outbreaks can be devastating with the most virulent forms lethal in 100 percent of infected animals.

The National Pig Association (NPA) said the news is "very concerning" as it represents a big jump geographically.

NPA chief executive, Zoe Davies said: We are doing everything we can to ensure the virus does not reach the UK pig herd. Our approach is 3 pronged.

The first messaging to all pig keepers to ensure they are doing all they can to keep the disease out, for example, biosecurity on farm, being aware of any visitors that might have been to infected areas and, of course, reinforcing the message about not feeding food waste or any pork products to pigs.

We are also urging producers to prepared for the worst and think about contingency planning, if the virus does make it here, which will result in movement bans and other restrictions, Ms Davies said.

Feeding feral pigs

The pig industry are working with Defra to increase messaging to public about not feeding feral pigs or leaving rubbish near where they may be active.

They are also warning people coming to the UK from elsewhere about the risks of bringing in meat products and proper handling.

Lastly, the NPA are putting pressure on government to manage the risks better and work with UK Border Force to increase messaging at entry points to the UK, mainly ports and airports.

Ms Davies added: Our focus is on making sure we do absolutely everything we can to keep the virus out  the consequences of ASF reaching our pig herd are enormous, but it will only take one mistake to let it in.

We also want to ensure we are fully prepared, so we will be ready should the worst scenario happen.

If the disease were to reach the UK it would have a devastating effect on the export market and would also mean the humane culling of pigs on infected premises to prevent further spread.
News that Vivergo, the Hull-based ethanol producer, will close permanently at the end of the month is distressing, but it holds lessons for us all.

At roughly 1.1 million tonnes of wheat annually, it was an important customer of UK agriculture and played a vital role in supporting the domestic price of feed wheat. Spot prices in the region fell immediately on the news, closing 5-7/tonne down on the day.

The uncomfortable lesson of this sorry situation is, however, that as markets change variety choice becomes the first means of risk management.

At roughly 8% of UK wheat production, Vivergo played a pivotal role in supporting the livelihoods of arable farmers, principally those across the north-east, but also further afield. The impact of its closure will be felt for several years, says Andrew Newby, KWS UK managing director.

Central to how farmers recover from this loss of market will be variety choice, says Mr Newby, as what is sown this autumn will largely determine income levels next year when it will likely be sold.

He believes the loss of such a big domestic consumer should encourage all those in the grain trade to re-evaluate the variety advice given to farmers.

The loss of Vivergo should serve to encourage everyone from the grain trade to farmer groups and farmers themselves, to re-evaluate how we approach end-use markets. Over the past few years the UK has produced more of the type of wheat our domestic and export markets demand, but I fear that we are heading back to the days of wall-to-wall feed wheat for which there is static domestic demand and little export demand and, consequently, little value, explains Mr Newby.

While our future trading relationship with Europe is still undecided, we cannot afford to overlook the importance of exports since the UK still produces a significant exportable surplus. Low protein (c. 11.5%) quality wheats of the Group 2 sector and the biscuit wheats of the Group 3 category that hold the greatest appeal to foreign buyers, because theyre either a straight fit with their systems (Group 2 wheats) or because they cannot be found elsewhere (Group 3 wheats). These types represent the lowest market risk of all wheats, he adds.

While varieties from these market groups hold the greatest appeal to exporters, the introduction of new types with high yield potential over the past few years means they are as competitive with feed wheats (for yield).

The beauty of varieties such as KWS Siskin and KWS Barrel is that they yield close to that of KWS Kerrin so while they may be quality wheats, even if they are grown as feed the gross margin is largely the same. But crucially, as quality wheats they will attract a price premium over feed meaning the financial returns are often better, says Mr Newby.

Markets can and do change and growers need to think dynamically about variety choice if they are to retain options in the future. Having a variety that fits more than one outlet will be instrumental to farm incomes in the years after Brexit so now is a good time to start considering variety choice based on what markets they offer, he says.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)the ability of a microorganism (bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite) to resist the effects of a drugis a serious, complex and costly public health problem.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PDF, 148 pages), each year in the United States at least 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. Combating AMR requires multifaceted efforts in both the healthcare and veterinary sectors.

What's new October 28, 2021: FDA cleared the APAS Independence with IC Chromogenic MRSA BD Analysis Module and the APAS Independence with IC Chromogenic MRSA TFS/S Analysis Module (K200839), an in vitro diagnostic test system for the automated assessment of microbial colonies on chromogenic culture media to aid in screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

October 28, 2021: FDA cleared the VITEK 2 AST- Streptococcus Cefotaxime (0.125 - 8 g/mL) (K210287), an abbreviated and automated version of a broth microdilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of Cefotaxime with Streptococcus species.

October 27, 2021: FDA cleared the Thermo Scientific Oxoid Lefamulin Disc (20g) LMU20 (K210873), a disk diffusion assay for in vitro susceptibility testing of Lefamulin, a first-in-class antibiotic for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.

October 20, 2021: FDA cleared the MTS Piperacillin-Tazobactam 0.016/4 - 256/4 g/mL (K211672), a gradient diffusion assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of Piperacillin-Tazobactam, a combination antibiotic that is used to treat various bacterial infections.

The FDA's role and strategic approach

Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a growing global threat. In 2014, the White House announced the National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), underscoring the need for a coordinated inter-agency response to this threat. The FDA has been and continues to be integral in these efforts.

Several of FDAs Centersincluding the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), and the Office of the Chief Scientistplay key roles in combating AMR.

The FDA is dedicated to addressing the challenges AMR presents by helping to preserve the effectiveness of currently available antimicrobial drugs and promoting the development of new medical products that can help reduce the emergence and spread of AMR bacteria.

Working with both domestic and international partners, the FDA is proactively addressing the complex challenges associated with the growing threat of AMR by:

Facilitating efficient product development to address AMR, including the development of new antimicrobials, diagnostic tests, and vaccines

to address AMR, including the development of new antimicrobials, diagnostic tests, and vaccines Promoting the appropriate and responsible use of antimicrobials and disseminating information promoting interventions that help slow the development of resistance

and promoting interventions that help slow the development of resistance Supporting the development and enhancement of tools for conducting surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance so stakeholders can better track, treat, or respond to AMR outbreaks

of antimicrobial use and resistance so stakeholders can better track, treat, or respond to AMR outbreaks Advancing regulatory science to develop the tools, standards, and approaches to facilitate the translation of breakthrough discoveries in science and technology into innovative, safe, and effective medical products

To achieve this mission, the FDA will continue to work collaboratively with Congress, its partners at other U.S. government agencies, and other stakeholders to find additional ways to prevent, detect, and address AMR.

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Product development

The FDA works closely with product sponsors and other government agencies to facilitate efficient product development to address AMR, including new antimicrobial drugs, biologics (including human vaccines), and diagnostics.
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The much-awaited trailer of Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh starrer Thugs Of Hindostan would be out in a couple of days and film-maker Aditya Chopra has planned to release it on a very special date. Yes, Thugs Of Hindostan's trailer is scheduled to release on Yash Chopra's birth anniversary on September 27, as Aditya Chopra wants to honour and commemorate his father and dedicate the trailer to his name.

Robo 2.0: Why Is Rajinikanth's Chitti Seen Making The Cuckoo Noise? Details Revealed Here

However, the film-makers of Thugs Of Hindostan are tight lipped about the matter and refused to give in any details about the trailer release. An official spokesperson from the production house opened up to HT by saying, "We will let you know as soon as the plans are firmed up," and just walked away.

Thugs Of Hindostan is made on a whopping budget of Rs 300 Crores and is touted to be the most expensive Bollywood film ever to be made. Also, the film-makers spent massive amounts of money on building 2 ships weighing 2-lakh kilos each and sailed it on a tiny island in Eurpoe, Malta, where the shoot was held. It is reported that over 1000 people were involved in constructing the ships, which includes international designers and ship-makers and the cost runs into several crores.

Robo2.0: Will The Rajinikanth Starrer Be The First Indian Film To Cross Rs 2000 Crores Worldwide?

Also, the film-makers are planning to auction the 2 ships as a memorabilia and will sell it to the highest bidder, when the movie almost will near its release date.

Thugs Of Hindostan is directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya and is produced by Aditya Chopra. The film stars Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh in lead roles and is scheduled to hit the theatres on November 7, 2018. For the first time, we'll get to see Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan on the silver screen in Thugs Of Hindostan.

Bikini Diaries: Bruna Abdullah Ups The Ante In Her Latest Beach Pictures! View Them Here!
Shahrukh Khan To Join The Marvel Universe?

Stephen Wacker, the Vice President of Creative Development at Marvel told Indian Express, "If we make Indian content, we have to put Shah Rukh Khan. He has to be in it."

There's A Superhero In All Of Us

Stephen added, "It's the belief that there is a hero inside all of us. Within each of us is the belief that we can be better than who we are. I think that's exciting for everybody."

That's Going To Be An Interesting Thing For Marvel

''We want to find a way to create characters that have a home in this world so we can bring Indian culture to the core North American Marvel fan. Let them understand a different part of the world too. I think that's going to be an exciting thing for Marvel. My hope is that the fan in India feels just as much part of the Marvel universe as some kid in New York."

King Khan On His Debut In Hollywood

Recently when Shahrukh Khan was asked why he hasn't done a Hollywood film yet, the superstar in his witty style had said, "They have to look at me; I can't look at them. I look at the moon every day, but I don't reach for it."

Further revealing that he's never been offered an opportunity so far, the actor added, " I have never been offered an opportunity. I don't even know if I am good enough to do it - I think my English is a little weak."
 Q  #OruKuttanadanBlog  . .         .. .    ..!!    .. Sync sound .  Shamnad S Karunagappally (@ShamnadSKnpy) September 14, 2018

Good Response After Interval?

According to the above tweet regarding Oru Kuttanadan Blog, the film has everything in to please the family audiences. Praises are there for Mammootty's performance as the lead character Hari.

A Clean Family Entertainer?

In the above tweet, it has been mentioned that one shouldn't expect a mass movie in Oru Kuttanadan Blog but instead it is a movie filled with comedies, which can be watched with family.

Not Upto The Mark?

Here is another tweet regarding Oru Kuttanadan Blog, in which it has been mentioned that the movie is a below average fare.

#OruKuttanadanBlog First Half



 All characters except rai laxmi decent performance

 BGM and overall sound designs 

 Mamootty Screen Presence 

 2 Songs in first half 

 DOP , Locations 

 Over the first half with a suspence.

 Overall superb first half.  Rahul Shaji Rj (@Rahulrj_offl) September 14, 2018

Interval Report

Here is another report regarding the first half of the movie. According to the tweet, the first half of the movie is indeed a superb one. Mammootty's screen presence, songs, BGM, cinematography etc., have been praised.
Best Cinematographer - Sanu John Varghese

Popular Cinematographer Sanu John Varghese has been adjudged the SIIMA Awards 2018 (Malayalam) award for the Best Cinematographer for his scintillating work in the film Take Off, which was one of the most appreciated movies of 2017.

Best Playback Singer (Female) - KS Chithra

Legendary singer KS Chithra has bagged the Best Playback Singer (Female) award. She win the award for her song from the film Kambhoji.

Best Playback Singer (Male) - Vineeth Sreenivasan

The song Jimikki Kammal had emerged as one of the most popular Malayalam songs of all time. Vineeth Sreenivasan won the Best Playback Singer (Male) for the wonderful rendition of this song.

Best Music Director - Shaan Rehmaan

Shaan Rehmaan had a fabulous 2017 with the musician delivering one of the all time hits, in the form of Jimikki Kammal. He won the SIIMA Award 2018 for the Best Music Director (Malayalam).

Best Debut Actor (Female)

Nimisha Sajayan did impress one and all with her performance as Sreeja in the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum. Rightly, she has been adjudged as the Best Debutant Actor (Female) at SIIMA Awards 2018.

Best Debut Director - Mahesh Narayanan

Take Off was one of the biggest hits as well as the most acclaimed movies of 2017. Its director Mahesh Narayanan has won the award for the Best Debut Director.

Best Debut Actor (Male) - Antony Varghese

Antony Varghese did make an impressive debut as a lead actor with the highly appreciated film Angamaly Varghese. The actor won the SIIMA Award for the Best Debut Actor (Male) for his performance as Vincent Pepe in the movie.

Best Actor - Nivin Pauly

Nivin Pauly's portrayal character named Kurien Chacko was indeed one among the major talking points of Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela. The actor won the Best Actor(Malayalam) trophy at the SIIMA Awards 2018 for his brilliant performance in the movie.

Best Actress - Aishwarya Lekshmi

Aishwarya Lekshmi's portrayal of the character Aparna from the film Mayaanadhi continues to fetch her laurels. Aishwarya Lekshmi has won the Best Actress (Malayalam) title at the SIIMA Awards 2018 for her performance in the much acclaimed film Mayaanadhi.

Best Director - Lijo Jose Pellissery

Lijo Jose Pellissery, who came up with Angamaly Diaries, which gained nationwide attention, has been adjudged as the Best Director at the SIIMA Awards 2018 (Malayalam)
DNotes Global Releases Four Pillars of Business Success Audio Book via DNotes Pay and PayPal

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / September 14, 2018 / DNotes Global, Inc. has announced the release of its audio book version of Improve Your Odds: The Four Pillars of Business Success. The company has confirmed that buyers will have two options for payment, using either PayPal or DNotes Global's innovative DNotes Pay tool.

Consumers who choose to use the DNotes Pay option can purchase the entire audio book in mp3 format for $0.50 worth of DNotes at the Four Pillars of Business Success website. PayPal users can obtain their copy of the audio book for $5.00 at that site.

DNotes Global Chief Technology Officer Theodore Hauenstein noted that this was one of the first use cases for the company's new automated online payment system, and a great way to showcase the tool's capabilities for managing even small transactions.

"We have previously emphasized the ease-of-use features of the DNotes Pay tool," Hauenstein said. "It's designed to be simple to implement, effortless to use, and powerful in its capability to deliver digital content automatically once a purchase is made. It's also a less expensive option for many merchants, since it can spare them setup and maintenance fees and the only transaction costs are the small blockchain transaction fee for each sale."

DNotes Global CEO Alan Yong highlighted the importance of demonstrating the tool's capabilities in a real-world setting and emphasized his company's commitment to bringing its DNotes digital currency into the mainstream economy. "When we introduced DNotes Pay to the world as a proof of concept," Yong said, "we did so with the goal of helping to change the way we all think and talk about online commerce."

"This is the digital age now, and I continue to believe that anything and everything that can be digitalized will eventually be digitalized. What does that mean for online commerce, though? For many digital product creators, traditional payment systems are often too cumbersome, too complex, and too expensive to maintain. The digital age requires us to be more innovative in the way we approach these problems. DNotes Pay is the type of innovative solution that the world needs in this new era of digitalization."

For DNotes Global, the audio book offering is both a test case for its new payment tool and an opportunity to expose more people to the power of digital currency. As part of that effort to expand the reach of the DNotes digital currency, Yong has also committed to gifting DNotes to buyers who use the PayPal option to purchase his book. Accordingly, he has offered to send 100 DNotes to each of the first 1,000 buyers who make a purchase using PayPal.

Yong's book is a guide for entrepreneurs who want to learn more about how to create and build a business that can overcome the odds and achieve true success. It draws upon wisdom and insight the author gained over the course of his over four decades of experience as a technology innovator and business leader and covers ideas and strategies that can help any business leader build a stronger and more successful company.

About DNotes and Alan Yong:

DNotes co-founder Alan Yong is a well-regarded visionary who established Dauphin Technology in 1988. He is the author of the book "Improve Your Odds: The Four Pillars of Business Success" and is well-regarded as a "thought leader" in the cryptocurrency industry.

DNotes is a digital currency noted for its consistent and reliable growth, and innovative initiatives that actively engage women, young people, small businesses, workers, and others - effectively inviting the world to participate in the digital currency revolution.

To purchase the audio book, please visit: https://fourpillarsofbusinesssuccess.com/audio-book/

For more information on DNotes Global, please visit: https://dnotesglobal.com/

Media contact

Name: Alan Yong

Email: mailto:media@dnotesglobal.com

SOURCE: DNotes Global, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/511951/DNotes-Global-Releases-Four-Pillars-of-Business-Success-Audio-Book-via-DNotes-Pay-and-PayPal
Annual event for manufacturing decision makers and 3DEXPERIENCE platform users takes place during China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, Sept. 19-23

Strategic production line workshops in partnership with McKinsey Company's Digital Capability Center and Tsinghua University among agenda highlights

Dassault Systemes' booth at CIIF to show 3DEXPERIENCE platform as catalyst and enabler for change

Dassault Systemes (Paris:DSY) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) will explore how turning supply chains into value networks enables industry to imagine and produce sustainable experiences, at Manufacturing in the Age of Experience, its annual event for industry decision makers, influencers and 3DEXPERIENCE platform users. The event will take place in Shanghai during the China International Industry Fair, September 19-23, 2018.

Demos, virtual experiences, panel discussions, customer testimonials and workshops will delve into strategies and tactics for changing the business of manufacturing in the context of today's global Industry Renaissance, where new categories of industrials are creating new categories of solutions for new categories of consumers.

"The Industry Renaissance extends beyond digitalizing manufacturing to combine virtual worlds with real operations. Its transformations are occurring so fast that companies must either embrace it today or disappear tomorrow," said Florence Verzelen, Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions, Field Marketing and Global Affairs, Dassault Systemes. "Leaders are separated from everyone else by the speed at which they can develop insights from real-world big data and incorporate those insights into the knowledge and know-how they use to create and deliver experiences. Manufacturing in the Age of Experience is designed for manufacturers that are ready to rethink their production for 21st century sustainable innovation."

This year's event features a two-day Executive Learning Expedition for decision makers. Among the highlights is "Manufacturing in Action," interactive technical and strategic workshops structured around a virtual and real production line in partnership with McKinsey Company's Digital Capability Center and Tsinghua University. These workshops will address the use of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for IoT and manufacturing analytics, supply chain optimization, manufacturing engineering, production execution, and lean management.

A plenary session will deliver industry insights on future manufacturing trends, achieving operational excellence, and embracing the manufacturing shift, from Dassault Systemes, its partners, its customers, and industry thought leaders including:

Dr. Karel Eloot, Senior Partner, McKinsey Company

Professor Li Zheng, Ph.D., Supervisor and Vice President, Tsinghua University

Dr. Michael Grieves, Executive Director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design (CAMID), Florida Institute of Technology

Laurent Champaney, President, Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers

Christian Neckelmann Reventlow, Head of Vestas Manufacturing Systems, Vestas

Bruno Latchague, Senior Executive Vice President, Global Field Operations Americas, Global Brands, Indirect Channels, Dassault Systemes

Florence Verzelen, Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions, Field Marketing and Global Affairs, Dassault Systemes

Guillaume Vendroux, CEO, DELMIA, Dassault Systemes

In parallel, Dassault Systemes will exhibit at CIIF (China International Industry Fair), booth A131-Hall 7.2, where 3DEXPERIENCE platform users can participate in demonstrations and virtual reality experiences to discover how virtual worlds help them to reduce risk, improve and predict operational performance, remove barriers between potential business partners and enable new business models, and train tomorrow's workforce.

Social media:

Share this on Twitter: Manufacturing in the Age of Experience returns to Shanghai Sept. 19-23 during CIIF to explore value networks for sustainable innovation 3DEXPERIENCE

Connect with Dassault Systemes on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube

For more information:

To register: https://events.3ds.com/manufacturing-age-of-experience

Manufacturing in the Age of Experience: https://ifwe.3ds.com/manufacturing/strategy

The Industry Renaissance: https://ifwe.3ds.com/industry-renaissance

Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com

About Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systemes' collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 220,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.

3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass logo and the 3DS logo, CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, ENOVIA, DELMIA, SIMULIA, GEOVIA, EXALEAD, 3D VIA, BIOVIA, NETVIBES and 3DEXCITE are registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913006054/en/

Contacts:

Dassault Systemes

Press:

Corporate France

Arnaud MALHERBE, +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com

or

North America

Suzanne MORAN, +1 (781) 810 3774

suzanne.moran@3ds.com

or

EMEAR

Virginie BLINDENBERG, +33 (0) 1 61 62 84 21

virginie.blindenberg@3ds.com

or

China

Grace MU, +86 10 6536 2288

grace.mu@3ds.com

or

India

Santanu BHATTACHARYA, +91 124 457 7111

santanu.bhattacharya@3ds.com

or

Japan

Yukiko SATO, +81 3 4321 3841

yukiko.sato@3ds.com

or

Korea

HeeSoo YOON, +82 2 3270 7831

heesoo.yoon@3ds.com

or

AP South

Magdalene TAN, +65 9487 1206

magdalene.tan@3ds.com
TOKYO, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Japan is the first Asian consumer of olive oils, which imports mainly from Spain

At a press conference held in Tokyo, Olive Oils from Spain has presented to the Japanese market, the new olive oil promotion program, co-financed by the European Union.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/743238/Olive_Oil_World_Tour_Logo.jpg )



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/743240/Olive_Oil_Japan.jpg )



Teresa Perez, manager of Olive Oils from Spain, has presented this ambitious promotional initiative during which she has counted on the participation of the well-known influencer Maomi Yukki, an expert in gourmet issues.

The campaign will be deployed in airports, train stations and shopping centers. Olive Oil World Tour will install an innovative space in which the public will be able to discover everything around Olive Oils and where the information will coexist with a complete sensory experience: the Olive Oil Lounge.

Throughout its three years of life, the Olive Oil World Tour will develop various performances with the aim of getting its target to become fans of Olive Oils. Thus, the image and campaign messages will be included in the information media of the leading airlines of the Asian continent.

In addition, a digital campaign that includes programmatic, geofencing and paid social - a multi-channel online strategy that introduces Olive Oils in travellers' mobile phones. The website and Facebook make it possible for olive oil culture to be accessible from any terminal.

This initiative is part of a global promotion strategy with actions in Europe and the United States. Campaigns under the motto "Let's Make a Tastier World" will invite consumers to discover the benefits of Olive Oils.

Teresa Perez highlighted the collaboration with the European Union: "It is the first time that a program of this scale has been launched, that will allow us to transmit the benefits of Olive Oil throughout the world, getting closer to the travellers of the 21st century."

Japan imported around 55,000 tons of olive oils in 2017, which makes this country the first consumer in Asia. 97% of these came from the European Union. It stands out, on the rest, that Spain exported about 60% of the Olive Oils consumed in Japan.

http://oliveoilworldtour.jp/

https://www.facebook.com/OliveOilWorldTourjp/

Viviana Millan Urquijo

viviana.millan-ext@havas.com

+34-608-649-872

+34-914-569-090

Antonio Martinez

comunicacion@interprofesionaldelaceitedeoliva.com

+34-650-760-139
SHENYANG, China, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 18th World Winter Cities Association for Mayors Conference (WWCAM Conference) was held in Shenyang on Sept. 12, 2018. The conference invited 41 city groups and 52 chamber of commerce groups from 30 countries, according to Shenyang Municipal Government. With the theme "winter city, better life", WWCAM probed into the planning and construction management of winter urban, and the construction and green development of smart city. WWCAM will also innovate, as well as promote the exchanges and cooperation among winter cities so as to solve development problems around the world.

Since the first WWCAM Conference was held in Sapporo, Japan in 1982, it has been held every two years for 36 years. Building on its past success, this conference breaks through the limitations of member cities and warmly invites winter city representatives from countries facing common challenges across five continents, injecting new vitality into the exchanges among cities in the world.



"Cities of high latitude and altitude face more severe heating, traffic and environment problems." During the conference, Lara Fritts, Director of Salt Lake City's Economic Development Department said: "Salt Lake city plans to use 100% renewable energy for community electricity support and reduces 80% of greenhouse gases by 2040, allowing every citizen to enjoy fresh air in cold winter. Inspired by our Resources Plan, Shenyang government is in deep and close cooperation with us to transform from coal-based to renewable energy source."



At the conference, 15 mayors or representatives from Sapporo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Vancouver, Canada; and Clermont-Ferrand, France, introduced their cities' experiences and achievements, and gave related suggestions to building new smart cities with higher quality and efficiency, and developing green cities with more sustainable development.



48 business associations from 18 countries and 60 related enterprises from Liaoning, including Ambo Group of the United States, Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan, Orrin Group of Finland, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Shenyang Broad Group and Shenyang Tourism Group, attended the Winter Cities Business Cooperation Meeting, with about 150 people joining. During the meeting, more than 20 foreign enterprises and over 50 Chinese enterprises conducted one-to-one project connections on tourism, IT, environmental protection and other fields.

"Making Life Better", clearly features not only the good wish and earnest pursuit of people around the world to better life, but also the inescapable historical responsibility of city management. Jiang Youwei, mayor of Shenyang, said that Shenyang is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with other cities, deepen practical cooperation and promote sustainable and healthy development of the city. Meanwhile, many city mayors and chamber of commerce representatives also expressed their willingness to strengthen communication with Shenyang, vigorously develop international cultural tourism industry projects, and share experiences and achievement of precise urban planning, delicate development and lean management.

Image Attachments Links:

http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=319339
Andersen Global named the members of the European Regional Board of Directors. This regional board will advise the global organization on issues critical to the continent to ensure that the group is working in a seamless way across the different countries of the region, practice areas, industries and also on the management of common protocols.

The European Regional Board of Directors, led by Co-Managing Partners for the European Region, Andrea De Vecchi and Paolo Mondia, will develop the strategy for the region and also participate in its implementation. The board is comprised of 14 top tax and legal Partners from Andersen Global member firms and five from collaborating firms, who will collaborate closely with Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen Tax LLC CEO, Mark Vorsatz, to consider and provide guidance on direction and operations in Europe.

The announcement of the EU Regional Board today at its first meeting in Portugal signals Andersen Global's major expansion through Europe over the past four years, having added presence in several major economic hubs, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Switzerland, through its member firms and collaborating firms.

"We are proud of Andersen Global's growth in Europe and have experienced an increase in clients demanding cross border services. Now is the time to implement a common governing group that will bring all the members in our region together in a coordinated way," said Andrea De Vecchi. "In March of 2017, Andersen Global had 57 locations worldwide and today we have over 110. In the past year we added a new presence in Europe in significant markets such as the United Kingdom. But the most important thing about this growth is that we all share the same vision and core values regardless of location."

Paolo Mondia added, "We truly believe that creating a supportive and rewarding environment that also helps every member of the firm to work closely with other offices, as well as participate in common training programs, will help in the knowledge-exchange between the different countries. The European Board of Directors will support this determination."

The members of the new European Regional Board of Directors have significant reputations as leaders in their respective markets and industries. The members are:

Andrea De Vecchi , Regional Managing Director for Europe (Milan) Co-Chair

, Regional Managing Director for Europe (Milan) Paolo Mondia , Regional Managing Director for Europe (Lugano) Co-Chair

, Regional Managing Director for Europe (Lugano) Jean-Philippe Bindschedler , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Switzerland (Lausanne)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Switzerland (Lausanne) Pierre Bouley , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in France (Paris)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in France (Paris) Mark Gorman , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Ireland (Dublin)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Ireland (Dublin) Luis Nobre Guedes , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Portugal (Lisbon)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Portugal (Lisbon) Stefan Kraus , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Germany (Cologne)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Germany (Cologne) George McCracken , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax LLP (London)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax LLP (London) Ersin Nazali , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Turkey (Istanbul)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Turkey (Istanbul) Toni Prat , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Spain (Barcelona)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Spain (Barcelona) Michael Probst , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Luxembourg (Luxembourg City)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Luxembourg (Luxembourg City) Alessio Rossi , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Germany (Dusseldorf)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Germany (Dusseldorf) Paolo Trevisanato , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Italy (Venice)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in Italy (Venice) Ruben Van Aarle, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax Legal in the Netherlands ('s-Hertogenbosch)

In addition, the following collaborating firm Partners will contribute to the board as adjunct participants:

Marcin Matyka , Managing Director/Partner at A2Z Tax Legal (Warsaw)

, Managing Director/Partner at A2Z Tax Legal (Warsaw) Nakis Kyprianou , Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Nicosia)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Nicosia) Nikos Siakantaris , Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Athens)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Athens) Karoly Radnai , Office Managing Director/Partner at OrienTax (Budapest)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at OrienTax (Budapest) Gabriel Lansky, Office Managing Director/Partner at Lansky (Vienna)

"Transparent and leading participatory management that represents the best interest of our Partners is extremely important to us," said Mark Vorsatz. "We value the breadth of the experience of each of these board members as we seek to not only create a premier global firm with the absolute best-in-class service, but also grow and shape a global firm that will set these standards for generations."

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 3,500 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 112 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005065/en/

Contacts:

Andersen Tax

Megan Tsuei, 415-764-2700
AstraZeneca joins Horizon's Genomics Discovery Initiative

CRISPR knockout and activation libraries are a key toolset in early research

crRNA libraries are an efficient and convenient platform for gain- and loss-of-function studies

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon" or "the Company"), a global leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies, today announces AstraZeneca has adopted its Edit-R crRNA libraries as part of AstraZeneca's drive to establish a functional genomics discovery platform. AstraZeneca also joins the Genomics Discovery Initiative (GDI), a collaborative functional genomics screening community facilitated by Horizon.

AstraZeneca has been evaluating Horizon's Edit-R human whole genome crRNA library for gene knockout since late 2017, and will soon add the Company's platform of arrayed synthetic crRNA libraries for CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation (CRISPRa). The libraries offer a powerful tool for functional genomic screens in drug discovery, providing deeper insight into biological mechanisms for the purpose of understanding disease progression, host-pathogen relationships, drug interactions, and pathway analysis.

Horizon's Edit-R CRISPR-Cas9 synthetic crRNA libraries for both knockout (loss-of-function) and activation (gain-of-function) enable whole genome analysis in an arrayed format, allowing researchers to carry out high-content, multiparametric analyses on a one-well-per-gene basis. The portfolio includes catalog libraries for popular human and mouse gene families, in addition to druggable gene targets and the whole human genome. Bespoke collections are also available to support researchers working with a specialized gene target list.

Terry Pizzie, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Discovery, commented: "Our ongoing relationship with AstraZeneca is providing valuable insights into the scope and capabilities of CRISPR screening, which will be of benefit to the research and discovery community, ultimately bringing drugs to market faster.

Steve Rees, Head of Discovery Biology, IMED Biotech Unit at AstraZeneca, said:"The scientific support and degree of collaboration with the scientists at Horizon has been really impactful in ensuring we are able to harness the full potential of the platform. We have been impressed with the performance of the Edit-R synthetic crRNA, and look forward to feeding our drug discovery pipeline with data generated from the CRISPRa crRNA libraries.

Horizon's Genomics Discovery Initiative (http://dharmacon.horizondiscovery.com/about-us/genomics-discovery-initiative/) brings together visionary research institutions and investigators, to serve as a network for education, trends, advancements, and sharing of best-practices. The Initiative has over 60 member institutes worldwide, has generated multiple shared publications, and hundreds of published whole genome siRNA screens.

For more information about Horizon's CRISPRa reagents and screening services please visit:

http://dharmacon.horizondiscovery.com/crispr-activation/ and www.horizondiscovery.com/research-services/functional-genomic-screening/crispr-screening

ENDS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005123/en/

Contacts:

Zyme Communications (Trade and Regional Media)

Katie Odgaard

Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947

Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
LONDON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

As Apple announces three new iPhone models, CASETiFY launches the slimmest, most protective engineered iPhone cases, compatible with iPhone XS, XS Max & XR.

CASETiFY is the world's 3rd largest (2nd in U.S.) tech accessories brand, and the most followed tech accessory brand on social media.

CASETiFY's trademarked shock absorbing QiTech material is 2m drop protection proven -- making the new line of Impact Cases 2x the military grade standard.

drop protection proven -- making the new line of Impact Cases 2x the military grade standard. Known for innovation and originality in the tech space, CASETiFY's all new designs are fully customisable -- in a range of fonts, colours and designs using personal photos, stickers, and letters.

Alongside the release of the new flagship impact cases, CASETiFY unveils a complete rebrand, including updated logo and website redesign.

Available in signature designs including best-selling floral, marble, quotes and custom art collections, along with the personalised glitter and leather cases -- the all-new Impact Cases provide the ultimate 'Real Cute, Real Tough' protection across all the new iPhone devices. With the raised bezel for top to bottom screen protection and minimal profiling to avoid bulk, CASETiFY creates the slimmest (2.8mm) cases available.

"In the tech accessories industry, protective phone cases still lack variety, while the fashion cases sacrifice protection. Our best-selling, drop-tested Impact Cases are the ultimate answer to what customers have been asking for," said Wes Ng, CEO and Co-Founder of CASETiFY. "In addition to being a canvas for creativity where our customers can choose from thousands of designs to express their style -- or customise their own -- they are the slimmest, most protective phone cases on the market."

The new protective iPhone cases are available for shipping before the new iPhone release.

Impact iPhone XS cases and Impact iPhone XS Max cases retail for GBP39. Impact iPhone XR cases retail for GBP45, available at Casetify.com.

About CASETiFY:

Seven years ago, CASETiFY saw a category that had been long ignored. Today, reaching 1 in 7 millennials, CASETiFY has become the publisher and platform for creativity and self-expression through offering quality device cases. Brand collaborations include Pharrell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Saint Laurent, Thom Browne, and many more. Additionally, CASETiFY has partnered with key retail partners including Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Amazon, Colette, Lane Crawford, and more.

For more information, please contact: zoja@whitehair.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/744211/4.jpg
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Further to Invuo Technologies AB's last business and funding update on 19th July, we are providing updated guidance and outlook.

Due primarily to uncertainties created by the company's unclear funding position, the expected acceleration in MeaWallet orders has not yet transpired. In the absence of further MeaWallet order signings, and in the absence of a positive outcome to a tax arbitration case, we now expect our working capital position to enter a critical position at the end of October, versus our earlier expectation of year-end 2018. Management is of course highly focused on these elements.

Given the current situation, Management has accelerated its engagement in discussions with potential investors. Multiple discussions on investments in, and potential buyers of, the company and its primary businesses are currently being held. The outcome of these discussions, as well as any further alteration to our working capital position, will be conveyed to the Market.

For further information, please contact:

Martin Schedin, CFO, martin.schedin@invuo.com, +46-8-564-878-00

This information is such that Invuo Technologies AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 10:50 on September 14, 2018.

About Invuo

Since 2001 Invuo has been providing its proprietary solutions and systems for mobile phone transactions. Invuo operates in two main business areas; mobile phone payment solutions provided through the brand MeaWallet, and distribution of e-products. www.invuo.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/invuo-technologies-ab/r/revised-financial-guidance,c2618219

The following files are available for download:
OSAKA, Japan, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Kansai University launches the Institute for Innovative Global Education (IIGE) platform to nurture students with global career mindsets to plan their own careers as active members of the global workforce of the 21st century.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/744230/Kansai_University_COIL.jpg )

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/744229/Kansai_University_COIL_IIGE.jpg )



The IIGE platform is funded by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and supported by the American Council of Education (ACE) and US Embassy in Tokyo. The IIGE platform is an online and project-based exchange program for students in Japan to interact with counterparts in the USA. One of its main goals is to promote exchange between students in Japan and USA to strengthen relations between the two countries. The IIGE is a five year project with MEXT funding of 25,000,000 JPY per year.

"The IIGE platform evolved from the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) teaching method that I launched at Kansai University nearly four years ago," explains Professor Keiko Ikeda, Vice-Director, Center of International Education at Kansai University and KU Coordinator for Global Network for COIL, State University of New York. "In COIL-based teaching, we use information and communication technology to connect students at KU with their counterparts in other countries. COIL aims to encourage students to pursue collaborative projects that are designed to instill wide ranging skills such as management and international communication."

Their COIL Plus program includes short visits abroad for students at partner universities. Notably, one of the strengths of the COIL approach is that students interact 'virtually' via the internet thereby giving thousands of students the opportunity to take part in projects.

"COIL is a cost-efficient way for many students to work on international projects and the approach overcomes differences in term times and curricula between universities in Japan and the US," says Ikeda. "At KU approximately 1000 students have participated in the COIL program over four years. It is difficult to envisage so many students taking part in standard exchange programs without taking further actions to encourage them to go abroad. The COIL program is one of such endeavors at KU."

Universities in Japan participating in the IIGE program

MEXT selected a total of nine universities in Japan for the program with Kansai University having the role of managing the IIGE platform to facilitate the activities of the program.

Kansai University (leading role as facilitator of the platform for the other Japanese universities in the project)

Chiba University

Kagoshima University

Nanzan University

Osaka City University

Sophia University

The University of Tokyo

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

TokyoUniversity of the Arts

University of Ryukyus (Okinawa)

Gateway to global careers

"One of the ultimate goals of IIGE is to nurture students with 'global career mindsets'," says Ikeda. "Our experience with COIL education has shown that many students who finish the COIL projects eventually plan their own career tracks with global perspectives. The IIGE is a gateway to global careers."

Further information

Mr Shinji Udagawa

Kansai University

International Education Support Team

3-3-35 Yamate-cho, Suita-shi, Osaka 564-8680 JAPAN

TEL: +81-6-6368-1950

EMAIL: sekai-kokusai@ml.kandai.jp



Websites

Kansai University COIL program

http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/Kokusai/coil_2/
The shareholders of Active Biotech AB (publ) are invited to the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting to be held on Thursday April 4, 2019, at 5.00 pm in the Company's offices, Scheelevagen 22 in Lund, Sweden.

ENTITLEMENT TO PARTICIPATE

Shareholders who wish to participate in the Meeting must (i) be recorded in the register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Friday March 29, 2019, and (ii) notify the Company of their intention to participate in the Meeting not later than on Friday March 29, 2019.

Shareholders who have trustee-registered their shares must re-register the shares in their own name to be entitled to participate in the Meeting. Such registration, which may be temporary, must be completed on Friday March 29, 2019. Accordingly, shareholders must inform the trustee of this request in ample time prior to this date.

There are a total of 145,236,480 shares and votes in Active Biotech AB. The Company holds no treasury shares.

NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION

Notice of participation in the Meeting can be made in writing to Active Biotech AB (publ), Attn: Susanne Jonsson, P.O. Box 724, SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden, by telephone +46 (0)46-19 20 00 or by e-mail to susanne.jonsson@activebiotech.com (mailto:susanne.jonsson@activebiotech.com). The notice shall include name, personal/corporate identity number, number of shares held, daytime telephone number and, if applicable, the number of advisors (not more than two) that will accompany the shareholder at the Meeting.

Shareholders represented by proxy shall issue in writing a dated and signed power of attorney for the proxy. If the power of attorney is issued on behalf of a legal entity, a certified copy of a registration certificate or corresponding document that indicates the authorized signatory shall be appended. The original power of attorney and, where applicable, the registration certificate should be submitted to the Company at the address indicated above well in advance of the Meeting. Proxy forms are provided at the Company's website, www.activebiotech.com (http://www.activebiotech.com), and sent to shareholders that so request.

PROPOSED AGENDA

Opening of the Meeting Election of Chairman of the Meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes Approval of the agenda of the Meeting Determination of whether the Meeting has been duly convened The Board of Director's proposal to approve sale of property Closing of the Meeting

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

Resolution to approve sale of property (item 7)

Active Biotech has on March 13, 2019, entered into an agreement regarding the sale of the Company's property Forskaren 1 in Lund, Sweden, with a newly formed investor collective led by the real estate company Estea AB.

The purchase price amounts to SEK 275 million. Active Biotech's largest shareholder, MGA Holding AB, has, on the request of Estea, declared its willingness to participate with up to 40 percent of Estea's equity financing. Hence, the sale is conditional upon the approval of the shareholders of Active Biotech.

The Board of Directors proposes that the Meeting resolves to approve the sale.

Resolution in accordance with the Board of Directors' proposal requires support by more than half of the votes cast at the Meeting. MBA Holding AB's votes shall thereby not be considered.

________________________

DOCUMENTATION, ETC.

Shareholders are reminded of their right to request information under Chapter 7, Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act. The Board of Directors' complete proposal for resolution and statement pursuant to item 7 on the agenda, along with an independent fairness opinion, will be held available at the Company's premises, Scheelevagen 22 in Lund, Sweden, and at www.activebiotech.com, not later than three weeks prior to the Meeting, and will be sent to shareholders that so request. For information about the processing of your personal data, please refer to

https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf (https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf).

Active Biotech's corporate registration number is 556223-9227 and its registered office is in Lund, Sweden.

Lund, March 2019

Active Biotech AB (publ)

The Board of Directors

NOTICE OF EGM OF ACTIVE BIOTECH AB (PUBL) (http://hugin.info/1002/R/2238457/882068.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Active Biotech via Globenewswire


ALBANY, New York, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The global cancer biomarkers market has been growing at a fast pace, owing to the research and development activities. The developing economies hold promising growth opportunities for the market players, which is likely to accelerate the growth of the market in the near future. According to the market research study by Transparency Market Research, the global cancer biomarkers market is predicted to register a strong 11.80% CAGR between 2017 and 2025.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg )



Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=479

The major factors that are encouraging the growth of the global cancer biomarkers market have been mentioned below:

The rising incidence of cancer and the growing focus on technological advancements are the key factors that are projected to accelerate the growth of the global cancer biomarkers market in the next few years.

The rising use of cancer biomarkers in drug development and discovery is another major factor, which is estimated to enhance the growth of the cancer biomarkers market in the coming few years.

The increasing focus of key players on the research and development activities is expected to create potential growth opportunities in the next few years, thus accelerate the growth of the overall market in the near future.

In addition to this, the increasing focus on personalized medicine and companion diagnostics are likely to enhance the growth of the cancer biomarkers market across the globe.

Request a Sample of Cancer Biomarkers Market:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=479

Rising Prevalence of Cancer to Drive North America and Asia Pacific Market

The global market for cancer biomarkers has been categorized on the basis of geography into the Middle East and Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Latin America. Among these segments, North America is anticipated to account for a large share of the global cancer biomarkers and register a healthy growth rate in the next few years. The strong growth of this region can be attributed to the rising prevalence of cancer and the development of the healthcare services. In addition to this, the growing demand for enhanced diagnostic tests and healthcare services are some of the other key factors that are predicted to accelerate the growth of the North America cancer biomarkers market in the next few years.

Request a Custom Report athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=479

Furthermore, the Asia Pacific market for cancer biomarkers is projected to register a healthy growth rate in the next few years. The presence of a large patient pool and the rising awareness among people regarding the maintenance of good health are some of the key factors that are projected to accelerate the growth of the market across Asia Pacific in the next few years. Moreover, the rising geriatric population and the rising disposable income of consumers are further estimated to accelerate the market growth in the near future.

Browse Press Release:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/cancer-biomarkers-market.htm

Rising Focus on Research and Development Activities to Enhance Market Growth

The global market for cancer biomarkers is extremely competitive in nature and is projected to witness a stiff competition among the leading players in the next few years. The rising investments for research and development activities and the increasing focus of key players on innovations and advancements are some of the key factors that are projected to enhance the growth of the global cancer biomarkers market in the next few years. Some of the leading players operating in the cancer biomarkers market across the globe are QIAGEN, Agilent Technologies, bioMerieux SA, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Illumina, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Genomic Health, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Novartis AG.

Popular Research Reports by TMR:

Tumor Ablation Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tumor-ablation-market.html

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/tumor-ablation-market.html Prostate Cancer Therapeutics Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/prostate-cancer-therapeutics-market.html

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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VAUGHAN, Ontario, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

CannTrust secures supply agreements in all Atlantic Provinces

CannTrust Holdings Inc. ("CannTrust" or the "Company" (TSX: TRST), one of Canada's leading licensed producers and most trusted brands of medical cannabis is also emerging as a leader within the adult-use recreational cannabis market. Today, CannTrust announced supply agreements with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. CannTrust has now achieved national distribution for its three recreational brands - liiv, Synr.g and Xscape - and has a long-term strategy to be a market share leader in the Canadian recreational space.

"We are pleased that all of the Atlantic provinces selected CannTrust as a trusted retail partner. Our portfolio strategy has been well received with provincial boards and has resulted in listings across all brands. The momentum will only grow as we begin to share our quality products with Canadians across the country in October," says Brad Rogers, President, CannTrust.

Beginning October 17, Canadians from coast-to-coast will have access to CannTrust's quality, standardized cannabis products grown in the company's Niagara, Ontario perpetual harvest facility, which is setting new industry standards for product excellence and cost effectiveness. CannTrust's recreational brands will be available in a broad range of formats including dried flower, pre-rolled joints, oil and capsules.

CannTrust is investing in future innovation with significant investments and advances in nanotechnology that will enable the Company to produce cannabis-infused beverages that are neutral in taste, and clear as water. This proprietary technology will further accelerate CannTrust's dominance in this emerging area within Canadian and global markets.

This week, CannTrust announced plans for an exclusive partnership with Breakthru Beverage Group - the largest Canadian beverage alcohol broker of premium spirits, wine and beer brands. Breakthru will establish a cannabis-focused sales brokerage company to represent CannTrust's specialty products to Canadian adult consumers.

About CannTrust

Since its inception in 2014, CannTrust has led the Canadian market in producing a standardized product.

As a federally regulated licensed producer, CannTrust brings more than 40 years of pharmacy and healthcare experience to the medical cannabis industry. CannTrust currently operates the recently completed 250,000 sq. ft. Phase One redevelopment of its 450,000 sq. ft. Niagara Perpetual Harvest Facility. The 200,000 sq. ft. Phase Two redevelopment is expected to be operational in the third quarter and the projected 600,000 sq. ft. greenhouse expansion has begun and is fully funded. The industry's broadest product portfolio is prepared and packaged at the 60,000 sq. ft. manufacturing centre of excellence in Vaughan, Ontario.

CannTrust is committed to research and innovation, as well as contributing to the growing body of evidence-based research regarding the use and efficacy of cannabis. Our product development teams along with our exclusive global pharma partner, Apotex Inc., are diligently innovating and developing products that will make it easier for patients to use medical cannabis. We support ongoing patient education about medical cannabis and have a compassionate use program to support patients with financial needs.

For more information, please visit: http://www.CannTrust.ca.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which are based upon CannTrust's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based upon the expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances, including those relating to: the completion of the Breakthru transaction and the timing, including the purchase of common shares, and the use of proceeds therefrom, as well as the resulting business relationship between Breakthru and CannTrust; and, future product offerings of CannTrust. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with: satisfaction of all closing conditions of the Breakthru transaction; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally; the ability of CannTrust to implement its business strategies; competition; crop failure; and other risks.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, CannTrust does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for CannTrust to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in CannTrust's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2018 (the "AIF") and filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. The risk factors and other factors noted in the AIF could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information.

The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright  2017 CannTrust Holdings Inc.

To arrange an interview, please contact: Sybil Eastman at Strategic Objectives, Tel: +1(416)366-7735 X254 | Email: sybil.eastman@strategicobjectives.com
Strong European Colocation Demand Drives Expansion

INTERXION HOLDING NV (NYSE:INXN), a leading European provider of carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data centre services, today announced an increase in its 2018 annual capital expenditure guidance range to 425 million to 450 million, reflecting new capacity expansions in five markets, together with land acquisitions for future expansions.

"Interxion continues to benefit from strong colocation demand dynamics across our Big 4 and Rest of Europe markets," said David Ruberg, Interxion's Chief Executive Officer. "Accordingly, we remain in expansion mode, while continuing to see favourable trends in pre-sold metrics led by deals signed in the Platform segment."

Interxion has today announced the following expansion initiatives:

In Amsterdam, Interxion will add 2,700 square metres ("sqm") of equipped space and 7 megawatts ("MW") of customer power to its AMS10 data centre. This third phase ("AMS10.3") is scheduled to become available in 2Q 2020. The capital expenditure for this expansion will be approximately 50 million;

In Marseille, Interxion will complete its MRS2 data centre by building out the remaining 1,600 sqm and adding 3 MW of customer power. This phase ("MRS2.4") is scheduled to open in 2Q 2019. The capital expenditure associated with this expansion will be approximately 25 million;

Smaller expansions are commencing in Germany and Switzerland. In Frankfurt, Interxion will increase equipped space in its FRA6 data centre by adding 400 sqm. This phase ("FRA6.6") is scheduled to open in 4Q 2018 and the associated capital expenditure will be approximately 5 million. In Dusseldorf, 400 sqm will be added to DUS2, scheduled to become available in 2Q 2019. The capital expenditure for this phase ("DUS2.3") will be approximately 5 million. In Zurich, Interxion will add 300 sqm of equipped space and 2 MW of customer power at ZUR1. This phase ("ZUR1.6") is scheduled to become available in 1Q 2019 with associated capital expenditure of approximately 10 million; and,

Lastly, Interxion continues to seek opportunities to acquire land in a number of existing markets, with multiple transactions in progress at the current time. Some of these transactions are expected to be completed in 4Q 2018.

About Interxion

Interxion (NYSE: INXN) is a leading provider of carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data centre services in Europe, serving a wide range of customers through 50 data centres in 11 European countries. Interxion's uniformly designed, energy efficient data centres offer customers extensive security and uptime for their mission-critical applications. With over 700 connectivity providers, 21 European Internet exchanges, and most leading cloud and digital media platforms across its footprint, Interxion has created connectivity, cloud, content and finance hubs that foster growing customer communities of interest. For more information, please visit www.interxion.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from Interxion's expectations include, but are not limited to, the difficulty of reducing operating expenses in the short term, the inability to utilise the capacity of newly planned data centres and data centre expansions, delays in connection with the development of new data centres or data centre expansions, significant competition, the cost and supply of electrical power, data centre industry over-capacity, performance under service level agreements, and certain other risks detailed herein and other risks described from time to time in Interxion's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Interxion does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this report.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005040/en/

Contacts:

Interxion

Jim Huseby, Tel: +1-813-644-9399

Investor Relations

IR@interxion.com
TOKYO, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Tacton, a global leader in Configure Price Quote solutions (CPQ) for the manufacturing industry, announced today the establishment of a new office in Tokyo this month. The new office marks a deepened level of commitment to the Asian market. It also enables Tacton to better support Japanese customers during the digital transformation and evolution towards Industry 4.0.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/744080/Tacton_Systems_Frederic_Laziou.jpg )



With over 20 years of experience in the CPQ software industry, Tacton has been working closely since 2010 with several partners in Japan and about 30 manufacturing customers like Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation and RYOBI MHI Graphic Technology Ltd. The reseller partners include Exa Corporation, NTT data MHI information Systems, Kozo Keikaku Engineering, Toshiba Digital Solution and the service partner Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI).

With offices already established in Sweden, Germany, USA and Poland, Tacton will now expand its global reach with a new office in Japan. Situated in the Ginza district of Tokyo, the new office will serve Tacton's partners and clients in Japan. The wholly owned subsidiary will also enable Tacton to better serve growing demand for its CPQ and smart manufacturing solutions within Asia at large.

"We look forward to establishing closer working relationships with our Japanese partners," says Frederic Laziou, CEO of Tacton Systems. "Japan is one of the world's most successful manufacturing countries, having invented the lean manufacturing philosophy Kaizen. The next step is smart manufacturing. Tacton is ideally positioned to meet this demand and take customers to the forefront of Industry 4.0."

The new office will bring Japanese customers even closer to Tacton's advanced products, including engineered-to-order solutions, which are very much in demand.

"Traditionally Japanese manufacturers have been ETO (Engineer-To-Order) oriented," says Haruko Kato, Regional Channel Manager of Japan, Tacton Systems. "With Tacton, manufacturers can accelerate their digitalization and automation in both the design and order process corresponding to their customers' needs, while increasing speed and reducing the cost during global expansion."

Tacton's smart manufacturing solutions are helping some of the world's leading manufacturers operate more efficiently and sell more effectively. These include AI based CPQ software, Visual Configuration, Design and CAD Automation-plus integration with all major ERP, CRM and PLM systems.

About Tacton Systems

Tacton has been connecting customers, products, and factories for smarter manufacturing since 1998. A global leader in advanced Configure, Price and Quote (CPQ) solutions, Tacton offers a cloud based digitalization platform that makes it dramatically simpler to design, configure, and sell complex products. Unlike other CPQ solutions, Tacton's core technology originates from AI research and links up the entire operation - from sales to engineering and manufacturing, supporting integration with all major manufacturing software systems. Many of the world's leading global manufacturers are benefitting from Tacton solutions, including ABB, Bosch, Caterpillar Propulsion, Daimler, MAN, Mitsubishi, Siemens and Yaskawa. Tacton is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with additional regional headquarters in USA, Germany and Poland. Along with many strategic partners and resellers across the globe. Learn more at www.tacton.com .

Contact:

Frederic Laziou, CEO Tacton Systems

Email: frederic.laziou@tacton.com

Tel: +46-709-56-43-12
Dark Side of the Moon - the single most valuable artwork in rock history - can be seen and purchased alongside nearly 100 epic original cover art pieces at San Francisco Art Exchange beginning September 15

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The legendary original artwork for Pink Floyd'sDark Side of the Moon, considered to be the single most valuable artwork in rock history, will be exhibited and available for acquisition at the San Francisco Art Exchange (SFAE) gallery September 15 to October 20, 2018.

Valued at a multi-million-dollar figure, the original artwork from Dark Side of the Moon - released 45 years ago - was designed by the creative team of Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson, creators of some of rock's most memorable album covers including Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy. When Dark Side of the Moon was released, there was no mention of the band's name or album title on the cover, adding to the mystery and intrigue behind what was being called one of the most incredible albums ever made. It went on to sell 50 million copies, remaining on the Billboard charts for 741 weeks while the cover art became a visual icon, symbolizing the band itself and helping turn Pink Floyd into one of the biggest bands in the world.

Dark Side of the Moon will be accompanied in the exhibition by nearly 100 epic original works utilized for the covers of iconic albums such as Wish You Were Here, Abbey Road, Rubber Soul, Meet The Beatles, The Wall, Beggars Banquet, Candy-O (Alberto Vargas), Ummagumma, Hair, The Best of the Doors (The Doors), Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, Johnny Cash'sAt Folsom Prison, and Yes album originals including Relayer and Yesshows, along with scores of other of the most memorable and revered popular images of the 20th century.

Bands represented by the art in this collection include Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Yes, The Doors, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Blind Faith, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Lou Reed, Queen, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jethro Tull, and many more.

The unlikelihood of mounting an exhibition of this kind and scope again may make this a once in a lifetime collection to view in person. These original works come from many private, corporate, and artists' collections from around the world, all gathered together in one place by SFAE co-founders Theron Kabrich and Jim Hartley, whose 20-years of experience with pop culture artists and photographers has allowed for this exhibit's existence.

"We have assembled a collection of many of the rarest and most important original paintings, drawings, and photographs that appeared on the covers of some of the most famous albums of all time," said Hartley. "This is a museum-quality collection which will only be open to the public for six weeks. Collectors are already making plans to fly to San Francisco to experience this historic exhibition. At the close of the exhibition the artwork and photos will return to the collections from which they came or be delivered to those who purchase them from the show. Some of these works have never been seen in public before, except at SFAE over the years, and none have ever been exhibited together anywhere."

Kabrich added, "This exhibition is like a snow flake: Beautiful, amazing, fascinating to see until it melts. It was only possible because we started this market and sold many of these works directly from the collections of the artists and photographers that they are offered to us now to exhibit. Others come directly from the artists and photographers themselves. It all comes together based on years of trust. Who else could do this? No one, at least not right now. Not even a museum. By virtue of the fact that we all but invented this market and were 'there' before anyone else, we are the only ones who could pull all these amazing art pieces together and in a relatively short period of time. With one degree of separation a straight line is pretty short."

To receive the exhibition catalog please contact SFAE by email: info@sfae.com or telephone 415-441-8840.

A preview of the exhibition will be scheduled for the press.

About San Francisco Art Exchange

San Francisco Art Exchange are the pioneers of the original art and photographs of pop culture. Focused on popular iconography from the worlds of film, art, music and history, they are guided by the thesis that popular iconography is the language a culture uses to speak to itself in real time and later memorializes those communications as important parts of historical record.

SFAE has sold original artwork of iconic album covers for the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, among many others. The gallery has also concluded landmark sales of rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Johnny Cash and Muhammad Ali, to name a few. In addition, SFAE has represented treasured music and movie-related artifacts from private and celebrity archives, such as the Playboy Collection and the Brown Derby Collection.

At its downtown San Francisco gallery, SFAE has hosted live events by everyone from music superstars Brian Wilson and Graham Nash, to civil rights legend Clarence Jones and Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm. The gallery's most recent project was the sale of a rare portfolio of photographs of President John F. Kennedy, celebrating the centennial of his birth in cooperation with the Kennedy Foundation, with a percentage of the proceeds benefitting the foundation.

This month, Inc. Magazine named SFAE as one of the 5,000 fastest growing small businesses in America. Their story is being told in a documentary currently in production.

For sales and inquiries, please contact: San Francisco Art Exchange sales@sfae.com or call 415-441-8840.

For more information:

http://www.sfae.com/

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MUNICH, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Report states: "Its true value is to those who want to deliver the next generation of commerce experiences*"

commercetools, a global leader in next-generation commerce software, has been named a "Contender" in The Forrester Wave: B2C Commerce Suites, Q3 2018. In the report, Forrester gave commercetools the highest possible scores in the platform architecture, product vision and road map, and delivery model criteria.

According to the report, "The platform is ideal for those planning to take a 'strangle and replace' approach to migrating off a legacy platform. Its true value is to those who want to deliver the next generation of commerce experiences."

Recognizing the needs of enterprises for a more nimble, flexible commerce solution, commercetools pioneered the use of microservices for shopping applications and integration with other business systems. The commercetools platform employs an API-first, cloud native approach that enables brands to quickly add commerce to channels and devices beyond traditional web shops, as well as be more agile and fast-to-market to capitalize on developing opportunities.

"Commerce is going through a renaissance," said Dirk Hoerig, commercetools' founder and CEO. "Enterprises are rejecting the lock-in model of early-generation commerce platforms with their costly and slow upgrades and maintenance cycles that don't allow enterprises to react quickly to market developments. Our vision started with the idea that organizations should have more freedom, more choice and more agility when it comes to online commerce. Global brands are now experiencing that freedom with our platform."

commercetools received a 5/5 score in the product vision and road map criterion, and the Forrester report notes that a vendor with a score of 5 in this criterion is "leading in response and vision to industry trends in personalization, omnichannel, and mobile commerce." The report also states that the company's "continuous DevOps model eliminates the painful upgrade cycle that drives most platform users to undertake expensive re-platforming projects."

commercetools also received the highest score possible in the expanded sales channels criterion, which Forrester describes as suites that provide "superior capabilities relative to others" and a "best-in-class, API-first headless commerce, purpose-built architecture that has been validated by clients."

To download a complimentary copy of the report, please visit: https://ok.commercetools.com/forrester-wave-2018

About commercetools

commercetools is a next-generation software technology company that offers a true cloud commerce platform, providing the building blocks for the new digital commerce age. Our leading-edge API approach helps retailers create brand value by empowering commerce teams to design unique and engaging digital commerce experiences everywhere - today and in the future. Our agile, componentized architecture improves profitability by significantly reducing development time and resources required to migrate to modern commerce technology and meet new customer demands. It is the perfect starting point for customized microservices.

Visit http://www.commercetools.com for more information.

With offices in Germanythe United States and the Netherlands, B2C and B2B companies from across the globe, including well-known brands in fashion, E-Food, and DIY retail, trust commercetools to power their digital commerce business.

*The Forrester Wave: B2C Commerce Suites for Q3, 2018; Forrester Research, Inc.

Media Contact

Stephanie Wittmann

commercetools Corporate Communications

E. press@commercetools.com

M. +49 173 6155601
ABC/Randy HolmesGarth Brooks has already sold close to 85,000 tickets to his mega-concert at Notre Dame Stadium since tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. ET Friday morning.

Just when you think you have seen it all as an entertainer, today happens! the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year says. I cant wait to see all of you in October.

Some single seats still remain for the Saturday, October 20 show near South Bend, Indiana. Garths fall date will be the first concert ever held at the home of the Fighting Irish.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The excitement in the air was palpable as ground was broken at the future site of Morning Pointe of East Hamilton. Nearly 200 people attended this momentous occasion, which celebrated the start of construction on Morning Pointe Senior Livings sixth community in Hamilton County. Greg A. Vital, president and chief executive officer of Morning Pointe Senior Living, praised the location in his introductory remarks, describing Hamilton County as a great place to live, work, and retire. Mr. Vitals speech brimmed with optimism about Morning Pointes future and compassion for the seniors that Morning Pointe of East Hamilton will serve.



Six local dignitaries also spoke at the event: Tres Wittum, a representative of Tennessee senator Bo Watson; Sabrena Smedley, chairperson of the Hamilton County commission, District 7; Bill Hullander, Hamilton County commission trustee; Mike Dunne, Hamilton County communications manager, representing the county mayor; Sandra Brewer, vice president of member-investor services, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; and Amy French, the senior manager of programs at the Chattanooga chapter of the Alzheimers Association.

Each of these speakers expressed their enthusiasm for the project and for Morning Pointe itself.Ms. French hailed Morning Pointe as a leader in the battle against Alzheimers, consistently increasing local awareness, contributing to anti-Alzheimers research and, most importantly, compassionately caring for those who currently live with the disease. She reminded the audience of the old adage it takes a village to raise a child, adding that the rearing of that child does not stop when the child becomes an adult, but continues throughout the childs life. By caring for area seniors, Morning Pointe communities are a part of the village. In a sense, the 1500 Morning Pointe associates across the Southeast are raising the people who helped to raise them as children, providing aid and comfort to a very deserving population. Morning Pointe makes it [the Alzheimers Associations mission] happen, Ms. French said. We could not do it without the collaboration we have with communities like Morning Pointe.At the conclusion of the ceremony, Clyde Edwards, a U.S. Army veteran and resident at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga  Shallowford, spoke unprompted to the crowd, calling Morning Pointe of Chattanooga  Shallowford a great place to be. Theres always something going on, Mr. Edwards said. There are many great people working there, taking care of us. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there.The $35 million, 24-acre campus will consist of three phases, beginning with a 73-unit craftsman-styled assisted living and Alzheimers memory care community. Phase II will feature a 120-unit independent living center on 11 acres to compliment the full range of services designed to meet the needs of the 55+ population. Phase III will be a 60-unit, freestanding The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimers Center of Excellencea secured environment dedicated to the care of residents with Alzheimers disease and other memory care needs. Morning Pointe expects completion of the first phase by fall of 2019. The development team for the project includes Nashville architect HFR Design and Chattanooga-based companies East Tennessee Specialty Builders and Alzheimers memory care architect Neuhoff Taylor. Chattanooga-based MAP Engineers will provide civil engineering.

The senior campus will offer high-quality amenities including walking trails, exercise paths and beautifully landscaped grounds. The communities will also feature fine dining with local, farm-fresh foods through Morning Pointes Farm to Table program, life enrichment and professional health and wellness services. Daily activities will feature innovative therapeutic programs, including the Meaningful Day program and physical and occupational therapies, to ensure the highest quality of care for residents.



Independent Healthcare Properties LLC, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based senior healthcare services company, is the developer, owner and manager of 31 Morning Pointe Senior Living and The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimers Memory Care Center of Excellence communities in five southeastern states.

"Morning Pointe Senior Living is the regions choice for assisted living and Alzheimers memory care, with six locations currently serving the Tennessee Valley in Chattanooga, Collegedale, Hixson and Athens. IHP was founded in 1996 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow," officials said.


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 14, 2018) - TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSXV: TXR) (FSE: TX0) (OTC Pink: TRXXF) is pleased to announce further assay results from the Company's summer field program on the Yellowknife City Gold project.

High grade gold assays from grab sampling have extended the strike of the Gull and Rater Lake zones. As previously reported these new targets are in the same mafic volcanic geology that also hosted the Giant and Con mines, and are within TerraX's Core Gold exploration area. The highlight assays are 171.0 g/t Au, 5.60 g/t Au, 5.29 g/t Au, and 4.49 g/t Au on the Rater Lake zones, and 72.0 g/t Au, 52.5 g/t Au, 29.0 g/t Au, and 12.95 g/t Au on the Gull Lake Zone.

David Suda, President and CEO stated: "The results of our summer field work continue to feed our pipeline of drill targets." David Suda further stated: "It is highly encouraging to see surface results which extend potential strike to the Giant mine structure."

These gold zones are interpreted as being the continuation of the Giant Mine gold system. The Rater Lake structure has been followed for 300 meters north, and then appears to be offset to the west on the Akaitcho Fault, possibly continuing as the Gull Lake structure for another 1200 meters north. A second sub-parallel zone appears on the south side of Rater Lake with high grade values up to 171 g/t Au. (see map available here). The multiple gold bearing structures in this area enhance the expanding resource potential of the Northbelt Core Gold Area.

Assay values from grab sampling at Gull and Rater Lakes range from nil to a high of 171.0 g/t Au. Sampling included insertion of certified standards and blanks into the stream of samples for chemical analysis. Samples were prepared at ALS Chemex's laboratory in Yellowknife and shipped to their Vancouver facility for gold analysis by fire assay and other elements by ICP analysis. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service. It should be noted that, due to their selective nature, assay results from grab samples may not be indicative of the overall grade and extent of mineralization on the subject area.

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell, Executive Chairman of TerraX, who is a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Yellowknife City Gold Project

The Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") project encompasses 772 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project's potential as a world-class gold district.

For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"DAVID SUDA"

David Suda

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Samuel Vella

Manager of Corporate Communications

Phone: 604-689-1749

Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684

svella@terraxminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.
SEATTLE, Sept 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LumiThera Inc., a commercial-stage medical device company focused on developing photobiomodulation (PBM) therapies for ocular disorders and diseases, announced that it will participate in the combined exhibition of the 18th EURETINA Annual Meeting and the 36th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), held in Vienna, Austria from the 20th to the 26th of September 2018.

EURETINA actively promotes new diagnostic developments, advances in vitreoretinal surgery, the development and application of new drugs, and changes in the treatment of macular degeneration.

LumiThera will debut the Valeda Light Delivery System for the treatment of dry AMD in the exhibition hall and will host a symposium on PBM technology entitled, "Photobiomodulation: An Innovative, Mitochondria-targeted Therapy for Dry AMD and Other Ocular Diseases" on September 20th.

"Valeda is our first commercial product and we are excited to launch at EURETINA," stated Clark E. Tedford, President and CEO of LumiThera. "We are also delighted to be sponsoring a symposium on PBM with four experts in the ophthalmology field. We believe the symposium will provide researchers and physicians the background, science, and patient benefits of PBM therapy and the latest on the development of the Valeda Light Delivery System for the treatment for dry AMD."

"I have been conducting research in PBM in ocular indications for many years and LumiThera's efforts to bring this therapy to the physicians and patients is incredible," commented Janis Eells, Ph.D., Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "I am happy to moderate the PBM symposium and look forward to teaching others about the potential of PBM therapy in ocular disease."

LumiThera recently presented top line data from the LIGHTSITE I study at the ARVO conference in May 2018 and has a multi-center trial in Europe planned to begin in the near term to further support clinical and anatomical benefits with the Valeda Light Delivery System. The therapy consists of a series of light-based treatments to the retinal cells, resulting in improved energy production and addressing inflammation, ischemia and metabolic dysfunction that contribute to disease.

About LumiThera, Inc.

LumiThera is a commercial-stage medical device company focused on treating people affected by ocular disorders and diseases including dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in adults over 65. The Company is a leader in the use of PBM for treatment of acute and chronic ocular diseases and disorders. The Company is developing the office-based Valeda Light Delivery System to be used by eyecare specialists as medical treatments.

The Valeda Light Delivery System has been granted authorization to use the CE Mark by an EU Notified Body as required for commercial use in the European Union only. Valeda is not approved for use by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA.

2018 LumiThera, Inc., All rights reserved.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Best-in-class companies across Africa recognised at Cape Town's The Table Bay Hotel

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan honored its Best Practices Awards recipients at its annual Growth, Innovation & Leadership Awards banquet held on September 13, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa at The Table Bay Hotel. The event brought together top leaders and innovators to celebrate their success.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards are presented each year to companies that are predicted to encourage significant growth in their industries, have identified emerging trends before they became a marketplace standard, and have created advanced technologies that will catalyze and transform industries in the near future.

"Our Awards program has now been in existence for more than fifteen years," said Jeff Frigstad, Global Sr. Vice President, Best Practices, Frost & Sullivan. "These Awards come from the rigor used by our talented team of 2,000 thought leaders from over 50 global offices working with more than 200,000 clients to locate the best."

Awarded companies include:

Afrique Telecom - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Communications Services Enabling Technology Leadership Award

Brown Button Foundation - 2017 African Sterilized Childbirth Kit Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

EmptyTrips - 2018 South African On-demand Logistics New Product Innovation Award

Enviro Loo - 2017 Southern African Dry Sanitation Company of the Year Award

Fidson Healthcare - 2018 Nigerian Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

Gemalto - 2018 Middle Eastern & African Smart Cards Customer Value Leadership Award

Guidepost - 2018 South African Diabetes Management Services Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award

Kiara Health - 2018 African Health Product and Technology Distributor Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

NuRAN Wireless - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Tower Infrastructure Enabling Technology Leadership Award

RedCloud Technologies - 2017 Sub-Saharan African Enterprise Software for Financial Services Visionary Innovation Leadership Award

redPanda Software - 2017 South African Enterprise Software for Retail Customer Value Leadership Award

Rift Valley Energy Tanzania - 2017 East African Renewable Energy Development and Distribution Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

SqwidNet - 2018 South African LPWAN Enabling Technology Leadership Award

Utility Systems - 2018 Sub-Saharan African Smart Water Management Solutions Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award

Vodacom - 2018 African IoT Technology Innovation Award

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices.

For further information about the Awards Banquet, please contact a member of the Best Practices Team.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, collaborates with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that could make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Samantha Park

P: 210.247.2426

F: 210.348.1003

E: samantha.park@frost.com

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CHICAGO, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Virtual Router Market by Component (Solution (Integrated and Standalone) and Service), Type (Predefined and Custom), End-User (Service Provider (Telecom, Data Center, and Cloud) and Enterprises), and Region - Global forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market size is expected to grow from USD 116.8 million in 2018 to USD 331.5 million by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.2% during the forecast period.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg )



For more Insights on this report, Speak to Our Analyst:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=222860236

The major factors driving the growth of the Virtual Router Market are the decrease in CAPEX and OPEX, growth in demand for SDN and NFV, and the increasing need for mobility. Furthermore, growing demand for private cloud and virtual router applications across network segments are expected to provide significant growth opportunities in the market.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Virtual Router Market"



54-Tables

47 -Figures

125 -Pages



https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/virtual-router-market-222860236.html

The integrated solutions segment is expected to be the larger contributor in the Virtual Router Market during the forecast period.

The integrated solution includes virtual router offerings integrated in a large SDN and NFV suite. Major network providers, such as Cisco and Juniper, offer virtual router capabilities within their NFV suite. Service providers and carriers can enable the virtual router capabilities within their network, which is offered by the players at various network segments, such as IP network, virtual mobile packet core, and cloud/NFV infrastructure. The integrated solution segment has a large market share in the global Virtual Router Market, as the major players, such as Cisco, Juniper, Ericsson, and Nokia, are offering integrated virtual router solutions.

The managed services segment is expected to have the larger market size during the forecast period.

Managed services include outsourced services, such as infrastructure management and other support and maintenance services, to monitor activities from the customers' network to data centers. Virtual router vendors assist their customers efficiently to manage routing functionality, risk, and security within their networks. IBM and HPE are the key service providers in the Virtual Router Market.

North America is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.

North America is the major revenue generating region in the global Virtual Router Market. The region has witnessed the maximum adoption of virtual router solutions, due to the increasing complexities in network infrastructure across all the service providers. In the North American region, enterprises in the US and Canada are expected to significantly adopt virtual router solutions. Therefore, the region is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.

The major vendors in the global Virtual Router Market are IBM (US), Cisco (US), Ericsson (Sweden), Huawei (China), Nokia (Finland), Juniper (US), net Elastic (US), Brocade (US), HPE (US), Arista Networks (US), ZTE Corporation (China), Carbyne (Israel), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point Software (Israel), Ross Video (Canada), Inventum (India), Drivenets (Ha-Sharon), 128 Technology (US), TRENDnet (US), Linksys (US), TIME (Malaysia), ACCESS (Japan), Allied Telesis (Japan), Connectify (US), and 6WIND (France).

Request for PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=222860236

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Shelly Singh

MarketsandMarkets INC.

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USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com





Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/virtual-router-market.asp
Invesco Income Growth Trust plc

LEI: 549300DI4285Q8ZFO135

Result of AGM

Result of the Annual General Meeting of Invesco Income Growth Trust plc held on

14 September 2018:

All of the resolutions put to shareholders at the Meeting were passed by show of hands.

Proxy votes lodged with the Registrar in respect of each resolution were as follows:

Resolution Votes For Votes Against Votes Withheld (including votes at the discretion of the Chairman)

Ordinary resolutions:

1. 14,267,503 0 10,650 2. 14,235,238 35,214 7,701 3. 14,274,629 0 3,524 4. 14,239,094 8,718 30,341 5. 12,867,751 1,374,091 36,311 6. 12,916,848 1,330,964 30,341 7. 12,916,060 1,331,752 30,341 8. 14,242,623 26,500 9,030 9. 14,269,427 800 7,926

Special resolutions:

10. 14,218,783 41,938 17,432 11. 14,232,957 34,764 10,432 12. 13,952,501 317,726 7,926

Total Voting Rights were 58,551,530.

The full text of the resolutions passed was as follows:

Resolutions:

The following Ordinary Resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 14 September 2018:

1. To receive the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 31 March 2018.

2. To approve the Annual Statement and Report on Remuneration.

3. To approve the Company's Dividend Payment Policy to declare four dividends in respect of each accounting year, with one payment in respect of each calendar quarter.

4. To elect Tim Woodhead a Director of the Company.

5. To re-elect Hugh Twiss a Director of the Company.

6. To re-elect a Jonathan Silver Director of the Company.

7. To re-elect Roger Walsom a Director of the Company.

8. To appoint Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's auditor and to authorise the Audit Committee to determine the Auditor's remuneration.

9. THAT:-

the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time prior to the date of the passing of this resolution ('the Act') to exercise all powers of the Company to allot relevant securities (as defined in that section) up to an aggregate nominal amount (within the meaning of sections 551(3) and (6) of the Act) of 4,879,294, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date fifteen months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, but so that this authority shall allow the Company to make offers or agreements before the expiry of this authority which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.

The following Special Resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 14 September 2018:

10. THAT:-

the Directors be and they are hereby empowered, in accordance with sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time prior to the date of the passing of this resolution ('the Act') to allot equity securities for cash, either pursuant to the authority given by the preceding resolution 9 or (if such allotment constitutes the sale of relevant shares which, immediately before the sale, were held by the Company as treasury shares) otherwise, as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited:

(a) to the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue in favour of all holders of a class of equity securities where the equity securities attributable respectively to the interests of all holders of securities of such class are either proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of relevant equity securities held by them or are otherwise allotted in accordance with the rights attaching to such equity securities (subject in either case to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or legal, regulatory or practical problems under the laws of, or the requirements of, any regulatory body or any stock exchange in any territory or otherwise); and

(b) to the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to a rights issue) of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of 1,463,788

and this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date fifteen months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, unless the authority is renewed or revoked at any other general meeting prior to such time, but so that this power shall allow the Company to make offers or agreements before the expiry of this power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired; and so that words and expressions defined in or for the purposes of Part 17 of the Act shall bear the same meanings in this resolution.

11. THAT:-

the Company be generally and subject as hereinafter appears unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 ('the Act') to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of its issued ordinary shares of 25p each in the capital of the Company ('Shares') PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT

(i) the maximum number of Shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 8,776,874 shares;

(ii) the minimum price which may be paid for a Share shall be 25p;

(iii) the maximum price which may be paid for a Share must not be more than the higher of: (i) 5% above the average of the mid-market values of the Shares for the five business days before the purchase is made; or (ii) that stipulated by the regulatory technical standards adopted by the EU pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation from time to time;

(iv) any purchase of Shares will be made in the market for cash at prices below the prevailing net asset value per Share (as determined by the Directors);

(v) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution unless the authority is renewed at any other general meeting prior to such time;

(vi) the Company may make a contract to purchase Shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which will be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of Shares pursuant to any such contract; and

(vii) any shares so purchased shall be cancelled or, if the Directors so determine and subject to the provisions of Sections 724 to 731 of the Act and any applicable regulations of the United Kingdom Listing Authority, be held (or otherwise dealt with in accordance with Section 727 or 729 of the Act) as treasury shares.

12. THAT:-

the period of notice required for general meetings of the Company (other than Annual General Meetings) shall be not less than 14 clear days.

Invesco Asset Management Limited

14 September 2018
SUINING, China, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 5, a "green" brainstorming session took place in Suining, a city in the western Chinese province of Sichuan. This meeting, called the "2018 Green Economy Suining Conference," attracted nearly 300 renowned Chinese experts, scholars and entrepreneurs. They gathered under one roof and engaged in multifaceted and in-depth exchanges regarding green development, with Suining as the focal point.

In 2007, Suining was still an area that has not yet freed itself from its deeply rooted traditional agricultural model. But that year, Suining also swore to blaze a new trail in development, to change ingrained traditions and to dart forward into the future.

In the past decade, greenness has put a new sheen on the city. Through industrial structure modifications, traditional industries have been replaced by electronic information, machinery and equipment, intelligent manufacturing, new materials, modern logistics and other emerging industries. After a decade of green urbanization and construction, the urban area now boasts a per capita park and green space of 12.86 square meters, a completed greenery coverage rate of 41.35% in and an incomplete grassland coverage rate of 37.47% . Guanyin Lake, a body of water in the middle of the city, has a surface area of 14.8 square kilometers, and Suining is also among the pioneers in China to commence "sponge city" construction. In the 2018 edition of the "State of China Cities" report, jointly published by UN Habitat and the Urban Planning Society of China, a photo of the city Suining adorned the front page with the theme "Green Urbanization in China". This landscaped city has also garnered a variety of coveted accolades and sought-after titles such as "Green World City" and "International Park City".

Between September 26 and 27, the Green Development Science and Technology Conference will be held in Suining under the central theme of "Clean Energy: New Drive for Green Growth". Top experts, scholars and renowned enterprises from both home and abroad will once again convene and trade views on hot topics such as clean energy and energy storage, new energy vehicles, green finance, cooperation of green cities on the "One Belt One Road," rural village revitalization and innovative development. They will engender the point blank integration between science, technology, green development and all aspects pertinent to the people.
ATLANTISJAPAN GROWTH FUND LIMITED ("AJGF" or the "Company")

(a closed-ended investment company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 30709)

RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

14 September 2018

At the Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") of the Company held on Friday, 14 September 2018, Ordinary Resolutions 1 to 8 and Special Resolutions 1 to 3 as set out in the AGM Notice dated 20 July 2018 (the "Notice") were duly passed.

Details of the voting results, which should be read alongside the Notice sent to shareholders, are noted below.

Ordinary Resolution For Against Abstain Discretionary 1 28,654,837 1,100 2,920 126,258 2 28,642,475 13,511 2,871 126,258 3 28,615,282 40,655 2,920 126,258 4 28,615,282 39,555 4,020 126,258 5 28,651,966 1,100 5,791 126,258 6 28,639,682 14,484 4,691 126,258 7 28,637,492 15,574 5,791 126,258 8 28,643,186 9,880 5,791 126,258 Special Business by Special Resolution For Against Abstain Discretionary 9 28,653,187 1,100 4,570 126,258 10 28,644,632 3,504 10,721 126,258 11 28,596,867 45,409 16,581 126,258

Note -A vote withheld is not a vote in law and has not been counted in the votes for and against a resolution.

The Special Resolutions were as follows:

Special Resolution 1

"THAT the Company be generally and, subject as hereinafter appears, unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 315 of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) (the "Companies Law") to make market acquisitions (within the meaning of section 316 of the Companies Law) of its issued ordinary shares, provided that:

i. the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 7,346,918 or that number of ordinary shares which is equal to 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital on 20 July 2018;

ii. the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is 0.01;

iii. the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share will not exceed the higher of (a) 5 per cent. above the average of the middle market quotations (as derived from the Official List) for the 5 consecutive dealing days ending on the dealing day immediately preceding the date on which the purchase is made; and (b) the higher of the price quoted for the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid as stipulated by Article 3(2) of EU Buy-back and Stabilisation Regulation (No. 1052 of 2016);

iv. any ordinary shares purchased may be cancelled or held in treasury;

v. the authority hereby conferred shall, unless renewed, expire at the conclusion of the Company's AGM in 2019;

vi. the Company may make a contract to purchase ordinary shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority and may make a purchase of ordinary shares pursuant to any such contract concluded before the authority expired notwithstanding such expiry; and

vii. any purchase of ordinary shares will be made in the market for cash at prices below the prevailing Net Asset Value per ordinary share."

Special Resolution 2

"THAT the Directors of the Company be and are generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 291 of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) to exercise all powers of the Company to issue ordinary shares at a premium to the then prevailing Net Asset Value, up to a maximum number of 4,901,213 ordinary shares (representing 10% of the ordinary share capital as at the date of this notice), provided that such authority shall expire at the conclusion of the Company's AGM to be held in 2019 (save that the Company may prior to the expiry of such period make any offer or agreement which would or might require such ordinary shares to be issued after such expiry and the Directors of the Company may issue such ordinary shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired)."

Special Resolution 3

"THAT the pre-emption rights granted to Shareholders pursuant to Article 11.3.1 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company shall not apply in respect of the issue of up to 4,901,213 ordinary shares (representing 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital excluding treasury shares as at the date of this notice), issued at a premium to the then prevailing Net Asset Value, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Company's AGM to be held in 2019 (save that the Company may prior to the expiry of such period make any offer or agreement which would or might require such ordinary shares to be issued (or sold from treasury) after such expiry and the Directors of the Company may issue (or sell from treasury) such ordinary shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired), unless such resolution is previously revoked by the Company's shareholders by further special resolution.

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, a copy of the Special Resolutions will shortly be available for inspection on the National Storage Mechanism which is located at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM .



Enquiries

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL

Tel: 01481 745001


(AMF Autorite des Marches Financiers)

Regulatory News:

Genkyotex(Paris:GKTX) (Brussels:GKTX):

Genkyotex shares

ISIN code FR00011790542 Euronext Paris Brussels Date Number of shares

making up the

share capital Number of voting rights August 31,

2017 77,917,255 Theoretical number of voting rights(1): 77,917,255 Number of voting rights exercisable at a shareholders'

meeting(2): 77,851,344

(1) In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMF's General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights.

(2) Less shares stripped of voting rights.

About Genkyotex

Genkyotex is the leading biopharmaceutical company in NOX therapies, listed on the Euronext Paris and Euronext Brussels markets. A leader in NOX therapies, its unique therapeutic approach is based on a selective inhibition of NOX enzymes that amplify multiple disease processes such as fibrosis, inflammation, pain processing, cancer development, and neurodegeneration.

Genkyotex's platform enables the identification of available small-molecules that selectively inhibit specific NOX enzymes. Genkyotex is developing a pipeline of first-in-class product candidates targeting one or multiple NOX enzymes. The lead product candidate, GKT831, a NOX1 and NOX4 inhibitor is evaluated in a phase II clinical trial in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, a fibrotic orphan disease) and in an investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trial in Type 1 Diabetes and Kidney Disease (DKD). A grant from the United States National Institutes of Health (U.S. NIH) of $8.9 million has been awarded to Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to fund a multi-year research program evaluating the role of NOX enzymes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease that results in fibrosis of the lungs, the core component of the program will be to conduct a Phase 2 trial with the GKT831 in patients with IPF. This product candidate may also be active in other fibrotic indications. Its second product candidate, GKT771, is a NOX1 inhibitor targeting multiple pathways in angiogenesis, pain processing, and inflammation, currently undergoing preclinical testing.

Genkyotex also has a versatile platform well-suited to the development of various immunotherapies (Vaxiclase). A partnership has been established with Serum Institute of India Private Ltd (Serum Institute) and could generate approximately 150 million in future revenues for Genkyotex, before royalties on sales.

For further information, please go towww.genkyotex.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005199/en/

Contacts:

Genkyotex
Engineers India Ltd (EIL) said its board of directors in a meeting on Thursday 'considered the proposal for acquisition of 100 percent paid-up share capital of PDIL from President of India.'

New Delhi: State-owned engineering consultancy firm EIL said on Thursday it will bid to acquire government's 100 percent stake in Projects and Development India Ltd (PDIL). It, however, did not give details saying they were confidential.

In a regulatory filing, Engineers India Ltd (EIL) said its board of directors in a meeting on Thursday "considered the proposal for acquisition of 100 percent paid-up share capital of PDIL from President of India."

The Board gave "the approval of bidding for the same by way of Share Acquisition Route," it said. "Other details cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality of the matter."

The government in October last year invited bids from EIL or other similarly placed PSUs to buy out its 100 percent shareholding in consultancy firm PDIL.

Miniratna PSU Projects & Development India Ltd (PDIL) is under the administrative control of Chemical and Fertilizers Ministry.

"The Government of India has 'in-principle' decided to disinvest 100 percent of its shareholding in PDIL through strategic disinvestment with the transfer of management control to Engineers India Ltd (EIL) or other similar Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)," said the Preliminary Information Memorandum inviting Expression of Interest floated in October last year.

Earlier this year, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) acquired government's 51.11 per cent stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) for Rs 36,915 crore. This had helped the government meet its sell-off (disinvestment) target for 2017-18 fiscal.

Founded in 1978, PDIL provides design engineering and consultancy services. It serves fertilizer and allied chemical industries, oil and gas sector, power and infrastructure sectors in India and internationally.

EIL too is the similar business. It however is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Founded in 1965, it provides design, engineering, procurement, construction, and integrated project management services primarily for oil and gas and petrochemical industries.

In order to bring in efficiency in functioning of public sector undertakings, the government is pushing for merger of similarly placed firms. The Cabinet has approved the merger of SBI with its five associates.

There are six consultancy firms, which may merger into EIL to create a mega-consultancy firm. The firms are MECON, Telecommunications Consultants India (Ltd), Engineering Projects (India), WAPCOS and PDIL.

Rationale behind the move is that merger would help create a big company that can compete globally and put India on the global map of doing turnkey projects.

EIL is the biggest state-owned consultancy firm in the country which provides turnkey engineering solutions to projects in India and abroad.

As of March 2017, the paid up capital of PDIL is Rs 17 crore. As of September 2017, PDIL has 363 permanent and 116 contractual employees.
Ahead of the 2019 polls, the government on Wednesday announced a Rs 15,053-crore procurement policy allowing states to choose a compensation scheme and rope in private agencies for procurement to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

New Delhi: Fertiliser stocks on Friday gained as much as 12 percent after the cabinet approved a Rs 15,053 crore new procurement policy to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

Ahead of the 2019 polls, the government on Wednesday announced a Rs 15,053-crore procurement policy allowing states to choose a compensation scheme and rope in private agencies for procurement to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

Reacting to the development, Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers made handsome gains of 11.96 percent and 9.15 percent, respectively, on the BSE.

Shares of National Fertilizer surged 4.81 percent and Rama Phosphates settled over 3.25 percent higher.

Coromandel International gained 2.41 percent while Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals and Basant Agro Tech India jumped 2.17 percent and 1.71 percent, respectively.

Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers also rose marginally by 0.66 percent.

The new umbrella policy 'Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (PM-AASHA) was approved in the cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the budget this year, the government had announced that it will put in place a fool-proof mechanism to ensure minimum support price (MSP) to farmers. It had asked think-tank Niti Aayog to suggest a mechanism in consultation with the Agriculture Ministry and states.

Under the PM-AASHA, states would be allowed to choose from three schemes -- existing Price Support Scheme (PSS), newly designed Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Pilot of Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS) -- to undertake procurement when prices of commodities fall below the MSP level.
Shivinder Singh had filed a lawsuit in the NCLT against brother Malvinder saying alleging 'oppression and mismanagement' at their joint businesses.

Mumbai: The ailing matriarch was able to get the warring brothers -- Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, to call a truce in the Fortis stake sale saga. Co-founder Shivinder Singh has decided to withdraw petition filed in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), a quasi-judicial body for corporate governance, media reports said.

He had filed a lawsuit last week against older brother Malvinder and former chief of financial services firm Religare Enterprises Sunil Godhwani, alleging "oppression and mismanagement" at their joint businesses

That out of respect for their mother, the parties have already started mediation and as per the request of the mediators to constructively progress the mediation, the petitioners wish to withdraw the captioned Petition, without prejudice to their rights and contentions. All rights of the petitioners are hereby reserved, read the filing.

However, Shivinder Singh's lawyer, Ranjana Gawai has said the petition was not withdrawn yet and is being withdrawn, according to a Times of India report.

On Tuesday last, Shivinder accused older brother Malvinder of putting the company in a debt trap.

In his 43-page petition in the NCLT, Shivinder charged Malvinder, 45, and Sunil Godhwani, former chairman of Religare Enterprises Ltd of putting the company in a debt trap and acting prejudicially to the interest of its creditors and shareholders.

Malvinder and Godhwani "used their respective positions to perpetrate or cause others to perpetrate illegal financial transactions and various acts of mismanagement by and through RHC, leading to massive losses to RHC and its subsidiaries, and a depletion of the wealth," the petition said.

In his petition, Shivinder alleged that the signature of his wife Aditi Singh, who had held the post of managing director of RHC Holdings, was forged. "There are also instances of the petitioner No 3 (Aditi Singh) being shown as present for a board meeting when she was in fact abroad.

"A resolution of the board of the company dated 25 September 2014, demonstrates the presence of petitioner No 3 in the board meeting, while in fact sh,e was out of the country from 24 September 2014, till 28 September 2014... ," he said.

Shivinder further said: "Aditi Singh merely held the post of managing director on paper and had no role to play in the day to day workings of the company...has always been a homemaker who played no part in the functioning of RHC Holdings."

RHC Holding Pvt Ltd is a non-banking financial company owned by the families of Singh brothers. Currently, Malvinder Singh is the managing director of the firm.

The case comes in the wake of financial troubles at the group businesses RHC Holding, Religare Enterprises and hospital chain, Fortis On Healthcare.

Last month the brothers had accused Godhwani. In a statement, they had then said: "Godhwani used his position to conceive and orchestrate a series of transactions over the better part of a decade that led to our Group's debt load by 2016. It is clear that he used our trust in him to exercise undue influence and has taken advantage of the faith bestowed by both families."

Fortis, which operates about 30 private hospitals in India, accepted an investment offer from Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd in July, ending months of speculation over control of the company. Last month, Fortis shareholders' approved the sale of their company to Malaysias IHH Healthcare with plans to immediately invest Rs 4,000 crore.

The two brothers, who now own less than 1 percent of Fortis, have denied allegations that they siphoned funds from the hospital operator.

The brothers also sold their controlling stake in drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories, founded by their family, to Japan's Daiichi Sankyo Co in 2008.

--With agency inputs
Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek said the cancelled tenders were re-issued by making changes to promote 'Make in India' initiative of the government.

New Delhi: Government tenders worth over Rs 15,000 crore were cancelled due to highly discriminatory conditions against domestic companies, a top official said Friday.

Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Ramesh Abhishek said the cancelled tenders were re-issued by making changes to promote 'Make in India' initiative of the government.

He said a lot of government departments and PSUs are discriminating against Indian companies by having highly discriminatory tender conditions, and the issues are being actually addressed now.

"We find that now we are getting more and more industry complaints and they point out how the tender conditions are completely crazy. Nobody can justify that.

"We have got more than Rs 15,000 crore of tenders by various government departments cancelled and they are re-tendered because the conditions were completely unacceptable. I think, Indian industry needs at least level playing field," he said here at a function.

The government issued public procurement order, 2017 in June last year to promote manufacturing and production of goods and services in India and enhance income and employment in the country.

Concerns have been raised by top government authorities on the restrictive and discriminatory clauses being imposed against domestic manufacturers and suppliers in tender documents for public procurement.

The DIPP has asked the departments and public sector units (PSUs) for issuance of guidelines and notifications relating to declarations of items with sufficient local capacity, domestic content.

Under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, it was envisaged that all central government departments, their attached or subordinate offices and autonomous bodies controlled by the Centre should ensure purchase preference be given to domestic suppliers in government procurement.

It also provides 20 per cent margin of purchase preference, while the minimum local content required shall ordinarily be 50 percent.

Further, talking about improving ease of doing business, Abhishek said the government is taking several steps in this direction but still lot needs to be done.

He said the innovation ecosystem is generally weak in the country as firms are not investing significantly in research and development-related activities.

"We have a complex regulatory environment despite lot of improvement being done. Still there are lot of complexities that we need to address," he said.

He emphasised the need to put special focus on reducing cost of production, flexible policies on labour, easy land transactions, logistics, cut in regulatory burdens, adoption of standards and increasing export competitiveness.

The DIPP secretary said the proposed new industry policy would be approved soon by the government.

The DIPP would issue a series of recommendations in the policy on "what all we need to do about increasing export competitiveness," he added.

Speaking at the event, Environment Secretary CK Mishra said industry and government should work together for a "responsible growth".

"Ministry of Environment should not really be seen as a regulatory ministry but a development ministry whose charter is really to help industry grow in a manner which does not adversely impact the environment," he said.

Mishra added that there is a need to find a balance between environmental conservation and development.

India is committed to reducing its emission intensity by 30-35 per cent by 2030 and "let me tell you that the present emission norms which we are suppose to globally achieve, that is a reduction by about 20 percent by 2020, we will do much better than that," he added.
By Ayenat Mersie NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than 2 percent on Thursday, with Brent slipping back from four-month highs as investors focussed on the risk that emerging market crises and trade disputes could dent demand even as supply tightens. The International Energy Agency warned that although the oil market was tightening at the moment and world oil demand would reach 100 million barrels per day (bpd) in the next three months, global economic risks were mounting. 'As we move into 2019, a possible risk to our forecast lies in some key emerging economies, partly due to currency depreciations versus the U.S

By Ayenat Mersie

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell more than 2 percent on Thursday, with Brent slipping back from four-month highs as investors focussed on the risk that emerging market crises and trade disputes could dent demand even as supply tightens.

The International Energy Agency warned that although the oil market was tightening at the moment and world oil demand would reach 100 million barrels per day (bpd) in the next three months, global economic risks were mounting.

"As we move into 2019, a possible risk to our forecast lies in some key emerging economies, partly due to currency depreciations versus the U.S. dollar, raising the cost of imported energy," the agency said.

"In addition, there is a risk to growth from an escalation of trade disputes," the Paris-based agency said.

Brent crude oil fell $1.56, or 2 percent, to settle at $78.18 per barrel. The global benchmark on Wednesday hit $80.13, its highest level since May 22.

U.S. light crude settled down $1.78, or 2.5 percent, at $68.59 a barrel.

Both benchmarks marked their biggest single day percentage drop in almost one month.

The market tumbled early in the session as investors focussed on the bearish elements of the IEA report, said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.

Prices slipped again after U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet that the United States was under no pressure to make a trade deal with China, Yawger said.

U.S. companies in China are being hurt by mounting trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, according to a survey, prompting U.S. business lobbies to urge the Trump administration to reconsider its approach.

The White House has invited Chinese officials to restart trade talks as it prepares to escalate a trade war with China with tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

(GRAPHIC: Iran oil exports to Asia - https://tmsnrt.rs/2CEzade)

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry praised members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia for their work in preventing a spike in oil prices during a visit to Moscow.

Oil prices were up on the week, buoyed in earlier sessions by a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude inventories, weakness in the U.S. dollar and a reported fall in U.S. production, Commerzbank said in a note. [EIA/S]

U.S. crude production fell by 100,000 bpd to 10.9 million bpd last week as the industry faces pipeline capacity constraints.

Though weekly output slipped, the United States likely surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia earlier this year to become the world's largest crude oil producer, based on preliminary estimates from the Energy Information Administration.

Although the EIA does not publish crude production forecasts for Russia and Saudi Arabia in its short term outlook, it expects that U.S. output will continue to exceed Russian and Saudi production for the remaining months of 2018 and through 2019.

(GRAPHIC: U.S. oil production growth is stalling - https://reut.rs/2CPGl2p)

(Reporting by Ayenat Mersie; Additional reporting by Christopher Johnson in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
At the Bengal Global Business Summit held in the city in January, the government had signed an MoU with Ola to create 5,000 jobs in the city. The launch of fleet services on Thursday is a step in that direction.

Kolkata: Cab hailing service Ola on Thursday launched its fleet service here in which vehicles would be given on lease to driver-partners. West Bengal Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said.

At the Bengal Global Business Summit held in the city in January, the government had signed an MoU with Ola to create 5,000 jobs in the city. The launch of fleet services on Thursday is a step in that direction.

"The launch of Ola Fleet is a result of the MoU with 50 cars being given initially to the driver-partners. The company will invest Rs 350 crore and the number will be scaled up in future," he said.

Transport secretary B P Gopalika said that the cab aggregators, both Uber and Ola, should ensure that prices do not surge more than what had been allowed by the government.

The government has allowed a maximum surge of 45 percent over base fare for app-cab operators in the city.

Any complaint about abnormal surge would be dealt with strongly, he said.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, other members of OPEC and Russia are to be admired for trying to prevent a spike in global oil prices, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said after meeting Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia, other members of OPEC and Russia are to be admired for trying to prevent a spike in global oil prices, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said after meeting Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow.

U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports, which come into force in November, have already cut supply back to two-year lows, while falling Venezuelan output and unplanned outages elsewhere will also keep the supply-demand balance tight, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.

"The kingdom (Saudi Arabia), the members of OPEC that are opting their production to be able to make sure that the citizenry of the world does not see a spike in oil price ... are to be admired and appreciated, and Russia is one of them," Perry told reporters.

The United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia are also working together to make sure the world has access to affordable energy, he added.

Oil prices fell on Thursday, slipping back from four-month highs as investors focused on the risk that emerging market crises and trade disputes could dent demand even as supply tightens.

Russia's Novak said earlier this week that his country could raise output if needed and warned of uncertainty on the market due to the upcoming U.S. sanctions against Iran's oil exports.

In September, the Middle East-dominated Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and a group of non-OPEC producers, including Russia, will meet in Algeria to discuss the market situation.

During the meeting with Perry, Novak said he proposed creating a joint investment fund to develop new projects, adding the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) could be part of such a fund.

The RDIF supports this idea and will propose possible parameters for such an arrangement soon, it said in a statement.

Perry and Novak also touched on the topic of gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2, that would double Russia's export capacity via the Baltic Sea. In July, Washington repeated a warning to Western firms invested in the pipeline that they were at risk of sanctions, saying Moscow was using the project to divide Europe.

Perry, who also met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, told the officials that the Trump administration opposes Nord Stream 2 because it would concentrate a single route of Russian gas into Europe, "one vulnerable to disruption and risks of over reliance for European customers," his spokeswoman, Shaylyn Hynes said.

The United States is boosting its own gas exports to Europe, including to Poland and Lithuania, through liquefied natural gas, or LNG shipments. LNG is more expensive for Europe than gas pipelined from Russia, but Washington is emphasizing the reliability of U.S. LNG.

Russian state energy company Gazprom has in the past cut off gas to Ukraine, and onward to Western Europe, during price disputes in deep winter, and imposed bans on customers reselling gas to other countries.

Perry told the Russian officials that the Trump administration welcomes competition on energy from Russia, but "Moscow can no longer use energy as an economic weapon," Hynes said.

Novak said Nord Stream 2 was a "commercial project", which Russia hoped would continue to be developed and that the United States would approach rationally.

Perry did not rule out the introduction of sanctions against Nord Stream 2, but said neither leaders of the two countries, nor their energy ministers, wanted to get to the point where sanctions against the project would be engaged.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Olesya Astakhova and Timothy Gardner in Washington; writing by Polina Devitt; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Mark Potter)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Shivinder had filed a lawsuit last week against older brother Malvinder and former chief of financial services firm Religare Enterprises Sunil Godhwani

As Shivinder Mohan Singh withdrew his petition against Malvinder Singh from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the stock market reacted favourably. Shares of Religare Enterprises s are up at 6.21 percent at Rs 45.30 at 1 PM on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Shivinder had filed a lawsuit last week against older brother Malvinder and former chief of financial services firm Religare Enterprises Sunil Godhwani, alleging "oppression and mismanagement" at their joint businesses.

A two-member bench of NCLT headed by its Chairman Justice M M Kumar on Friday allowed Shivinder to withdraw his plea. However, a counsel for Religare Enterprises, which was also a respondent in the case, said there were allegations against the company of siphoning off funds by the Singh brothers.

"We want to recover that amount from them," said senior counsel Abhinav Vashistha appearing for Religare.

On this NCLT said: If you wish to initiate any proceedings, move a separate application.

Shivinder on Thursday said he has decided to withdraw his petition in NCLT against Malvinder and Godhwani, as desired by his mother.

His plea in this regard in NCLT said: "Out of respect for their mother, the parties have already started mediation and as per the request of the mediators to constructively progress the mediation, the petitioners wish to withdraw the petition, without prejudice to their rights and contentions."

Passing an interim order over Shivinder's earlier plea, the principal bench of NCLT on 6 September directed to maintain status quo over the shareholdings and composition of RHC Holding board.

As on 27 August, Malvinder and Shivinder were the promoters of Religare on behalf of PS Trust while RHC Finance and RHC Holding were the promoter groups, according to data available on bourses.

The tribunal had also issued a notice to Malvinder along with Godhwani and other respondents over Shivinder's petition alleging "oppression and mismanagement" of RHC Holding.

It had also allowed both parties -- Shivinder and his wife Aditi Singh -- and other party Malvinder to inspect documents and take photocopies of the records of RHC Holding.

Here is the full text of the petition:

The Honble NCLT today granted my request to withdraw the petition of oppression and mismanagement I had filed against my brother Malvinder and Sunil Godhwani. I am indebted to the Court for accepting my request.

The request to withdraw was made after repeated urging by my mother  and family  that Malvinder and I participate in mediation as a final attempt to resolve amicably the inter se issues between us.

The decision to file the case was made with a very heavy heart and after careful deliberation. The decision to withdraw was weighed equally seriously. I did so because my primary goal remains to address and resolve the groups issues through constructive and transparent engagement with Daiichi Sankyo and our other creditors. It is clear that my brother and I cannot do so together. To that end, I intend to use the mediation process to get to a critical decision. Namely, whether my brother or I take full responsibility for resolving the groups issues with Daiichi Sankyo and other lenders.

In the event mediation fails, I intend to reassess and start a fresh action if that is what it takes to address all issues and start afresh.

To ally justifiable skepticism, let me be clear: the decision to disassociate from my brother and tread an independent path stands.

Shivinder Singh

September 14, 2018
NCLT granted Shivinder Mohan Singh's request to withdraw the petition of oppression and mismanagement he had filed against his brother Malvinder

Mumbai: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Friday granted former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's request to withdraw the petition of oppression and mismanagement he had filed against his brother Malvinder and ex-Religare chief Sunil Godhwani.

"The NCLT today granted my request to withdraw the petition of oppression and mismanagement I had filed against my brother Malvinder, and Godhwani. I am indebted to the Court for accepting my request," Shivinder said in a statement.

Shivinder had earlier this month filed an application before the Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) alleging that collective and ongoing actions of Malvinder and Godhwani led to a systemic undermining of the interests of the companies and their shareholders.

Confirming the move, Shivinder told PTI: "I have applied to withdraw the petition before NCLT, that is coming up for hearing."

"There is a mediation process that has been kicked off and if it does not work I have the option of refiling it," he added.

Following the latest development, shares of Religare Enterprises were trading over 6 percent at Rs 45.30 at 1.02 PM.

Shivinder Singh's petition in NCLT

Shivinder Singh had moved NCLT to remove his elder brother Malvinder from the board of RHC Holdings alleging "blatant acts of mismanagement" by him and also asked to reconstitute the board of the company.

Shivinder had alleged "illegal and unlawful manipulation of records" of RHC Holdings including forging of signature of his wife Aditi Singh, while asking the NCLT to declare that Malvinder and ex-Religare chief Sunil Godhwani caused grave prejudice to the interest of the company by acting in "collusion with each other".

The younger brother had also requested the tribunal to allow him or his authorised representatives to inspect the statutory records of RHC Holdings and taking copies thereof.

He had prayed to "reconstitute the Board of Directors of Respondent No. 1 company (RHC Holdings) in exclusion of Respondent No. 2 (Malvinder Mohan Singh) and/or his officer, agent, servant or representative".

Shivinder also requested NCLT to "direct Malvinder Mohan Singh and Respondent No. 4 (Sunil Godhwani) to restitute the undue gains made by themselves which lead to losses being suffered by the petitioners and RHC Holdings".

Shivinder prayed NCLT to direct Malvinder Singh and Sunil Godhwani to "restitute and restore the wealth of RHC Holdings which got eroded due to their unlawful actions" and disclose "their assets, bank accounts and net worth".

The petition filed through law firm RRG & Associates also asked NCLT to direct Malvinder "to return the funds unlawfully taken from Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises".

Shivinder requested NCLT to direct Malvinder and Godhwani "not to alienate any interest in any asset anywhere so that recoveries can be effected against them".

NCLT issues notice to Malvinder Singh, Sunil Godhwani

Passing an interim order over Shivinder's earlier plea, the principal bench of NCLT on 6 September directed to maintain status quo over the shareholdings and composition of RHC Holding board. The tribunal had also issued notice to Malvinder along with Godhwani and other respondents over Shivinder's petition alleging "oppression and mismanagement" of RHC Holding.

It had also allowed both parties -- Shivinder Singh and his wife Aditi Singh -- and other party Malvinder Singh to inspect documents and take photocopies of the records of RHC Holding.

RHC Holding Pvt Ltd is a non-banking financial company owned by the families of Singh brothers. Currently, Malvinder Singh is the managing director of the firm. As on 27 August, Malvinder and Shivinder were the promoters of Religare on behalf of PS Trust while RHC Finance and RHC Holding were the promoter groups, according to data available on bourses.

Singh brothers blame Godhwani for the group's troubles

"The Group's troubles today stem from the Group's association with Sunil Godhwani who had started his association in Religare as its CEO in 2001," Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh said in a joint statement in August.

Godhwani had stepped down as the chairman and managing director in 29 July, 2016. Subsequently, he assumed charge of the CEO in Religare Enterprises. After the Ranbaxy sale closed in 2008, it was decided that Godhwani will lead our family office in addition to his role in Religare, and from 2008-end, he had full management control of RHC Holding and its subsidiaries, it added.

He was expected to be a responsible trustee and steward of the family's resources and consequently our reputation, the statement said. "Godhwani used his position to conceive and orchestrate a series of transactions over the better part of a decade that led to our Group's debt load by 2016," it added.

With inputs from agencies
Even if the London court rules in favour of the Indian government, one can count on the wily Mallya to go on appeal and use every other trick in his bag to stall his extradition.

The London court has reserved its order for 10 December 2018 on the Indian governments petition for extraditing the fugitive and erstwhile liquor baron Vijay Mallya. That is now going on for some time now. But then we cannot possibly expect a foreign court to show the same urgency as we can from our own. And in any case there is no guarantee that the London court is going to rule in the Indian governments favor. Even if it does, one can count on the wily Mallya to go on appeal and use every other trick in his bag to stall his extradition.

In this backdrop, we must move against his properties which have been already attached. Fortunately for us, it is estimated to be worth Rs 14,000 crore, enough to pay off the outstanding of the 17 Indian banks estimated to be about Rs 9,000 crore. Even if the secured creditors have to share the spoils with employees and taxes, the amount should be ample. Indeed, the newly minted fugitives economic offences law was tailor-made for the likes of Mallya who take flight to salubrious climes and thumb their noses at the Indian government and banks from foreign shores and courts.

Under the fugitives law, he can be tried in absentia of course with the right to be heard through his counsel. The special court constituted under the Anti-Money Laundering law 2002 enjoys vast powers under the fugitive law to bring the fugitive to quick justice. It throws up filmy spectacle---police holding the near and dear ones of the accused so that he comes scurrying to surrender from his hideout.

The only difference is the fugitive law focuses on the fugitives properties so he might come scurrying back to India to bring the summary trial under it to a screeching halt. It is, therefore, a very good law, the one that first lays its hands on the fugitives properties in the hope of then scalping them when they are smoked out. Even if it is not able to scalp them, denuding them of their properties and paying back the dues to the exchequer, employees and banking system would be a great achievement.

The Modi government and all the 17 banks must fire on all four cylinders to turn the wheels of summary justice under the fugitive law without loss of time.

It is possible that when the receiver goes for the sale of his considerable properties, he may not receive as much as expected given the fact that some of them may be duds or be taken as distress sales by the vultures. But whatever the extent of realizations, intuitively it wont be as dreadful as in the National Company Law Trust (NCLT) proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016.

Banks must thank their stars that they are not before the NCLT but before the special court under the fugitive law and that the fugitives attached assets would suffice.

Even if the banks have to take a haircut in view of suboptimal realizations, Mallya would be left holding the can. What greater satisfaction can the Indian taxpayers have! They were miffed to see him smoking a cigar held at an arrogant angle contentedly with a smirk on his face. It would be a poetic justice to tell him that all his Indian properties have ended up in a smoke for him. This type of economic justice wont be any less sweet than obtaining his scalp.

In any case in financial crimes, the emphasis should be on restorative justice which is why US courts set so much store by disgorgement orders. The fugitives law at the end of the day is nothing but a massive disgorgement order.

Let then the two proceedings---extradition and trial under the fugitive law---go on parallelly. If Mallya is extradited in the course of the proceedings before the special court or decides to voluntarily surrender to the Indian jurisdiction unable to stand the heat of the summary proceedings under the fugitive law, it is a win-win situation for the Indian government and the 17 banks he owes money to.

(The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan)
Supreme court asked advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, counsel for Rani, to submit a copy of the petition to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on 17 September a plea filed by a petitioner in nikah halala and triple talaq case, seeking protection after facing an acid attack on Thursday at Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwikar and DY Chandrachud considered the plea of Shabnam Rani, who was attacked allegedly by her brother-in-law and has been hospitalised. She has also sought better health care.

The court asked advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, counsel for Rani, to submit a copy of the petition to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government.

Numerous petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the prevalent practices of nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims saying it was violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

While polygamy allows a Muslim man to have four wives, 'nikah halala' deals with the process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from the second person after the consummation.

In her plea against nikah halala and polygamy, Rani had alleged that her husband divorced giving her triple talaq and forced to perform nikah hala with her brother-in-law.
Shabnam Rani, one of the women who filed a petition against nikah halala and polygamy in the Supreme Court, was attacked with acid in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Thursday

Shabnam Rani, one of the women who filed a petition against nikah halala and polygamy in the Supreme Court, was attacked with acid in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr on Thursday. According to reports, the acid attack was carried out by her brother-in-law and his friends.

According to Dainik Jagran Rani was assaulted at her in-law's house on Wednesday. The acid attack took place next day on Thursday morning when Rani was on her way to the police station to register a complaint with the SSP about the assault.

Rani was rushed to the local hospital and her condition is said to be stable, reported India Today.

Rani hails from Delhi and was married off to Bulandshahr eight years ago, said the report. She had earlier accused her husband of divorcing her through triple talaq and forcing her to perform nikah halala with her brother-in-law, after which she filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging practices of nikah halala and polygamy.

The Supreme Court in July sought a response from the Centre on a fresh plea challenging practices of polygamy and nikah halala among Muslims, as it referred the matter to a constitution bench that has been already asked to hear a batch of similar petitions.

The apex court, had last year banned the age-old practice of instant triple talaq among Sunni Muslims.

Nikah halala is a process in which a Muslim woman, who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce, has to first marry another person and get a divorce from the second person after consummating the marriage.

Last week, armed assailants attacked Farzana, another Muslim woman who filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking abolition of the nikah halala practice. According to Times of India, Farzana and her brother were attacked in Uttar Pradesh's Sikandrabad. The woman was reportedly getting threats to withdraw the PIL and had already lodged a complaint with the police. The condition of the woman's brother is extremely critical.
A week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration.

Washington: A week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration. Doval is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department Friday.

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is likely to meet officials from the Department of Defence and from the think-tank community. However, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Doval's visit and his meetings. "India is a very close friend of the United States," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. She had accompanied Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the 2+2 Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations, she said in response to a question. The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time. "So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to doing more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have," Nauert said.

During the meetings, discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak region in particular those related to counter-terrorism. It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the ground work of the potential visit of President Donald Trump to India. Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India. The two sides are currently looking at various dates including Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2019.

Responding to a question on Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government. Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognising that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder. "And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone," she said.
Taking his criticism for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a step further, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday slammed former President Pranab Mukherjee for attending an RSS event in the past.

Hyderabad: Taking his criticism for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a step further, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday slammed former President Pranab Mukherjee for attending an RSS event in the past.

On being asked about RSS's reported invitation to Congress president Rahul Gandhi to attend its event, Owaisi criticised Mukherjee and said, "After understanding the RSS ideology we have been fighting against it. If anyone else wants to repeat the stupidity and immaturity that Pranab Mukherjee has done by going there, they will bring ruin on themselves. RSS believes in Hindu nationalism and the majority of this country has faith in Indian nationalism. If anyone wants to understand RSS they must read books by their prominent leaders. As much as I am concerned, no such question arises. I have always been against RSS and its ideology and will always be."

The former President in June this year attended the Third Year Sangha Shiksha Varga (SSV) event organised at RSS headquarters in Nagpur and addressed the RSS workers. He also said that RSS follows an ideology which has created hatred since the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. "RSS has ensured that minorities are not treated as equal citizens by believing only in Hindu nationalism," he added.

Owaisi also reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement to his party workers in which he had said that "We are the light and opposition is the darkness and it is for you to choose in the upcoming elections."

"Prime minister has created enough darkness by ensuring that the prices of petrol and diesel go beyond common people's means. This is having a cascading effect on the poor people and on every item of food. The prime minister has created darkness in the future of the youth by not living up to the promise that he had made to the youth of country that he will provide them jobs. He has created darkness in the name of cow wherein people are being lynched in the name of a cow protection, whether Dalits or Muslims. The light will only come when BJP is removed from power. As of now, there is only darkness of hatred and darkness of anger in the minds of youth because this government has failed to deliver," Owaisi said.

When asked about fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya and his latest antics, Owaisi referenced Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy's assertions and said, "If a BJP Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy is using innuendos to attack an important minister of his own party. Why isn't Swamy openly saying who downgraded that lookout notice? Why is he afraid of uttering that name? What is stopping him to go to the court of laws?"
At least 42 people have died since the onset of a serious fever in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh in the first week of September.

At least 42 people have lost their lives since the onset of a deadly fever in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh since the first week of September. The state has been grappling with inadequate sanitation at the local level and a shortage of facilities to provide treatment to the sick. The Majhgavan town in the district, and the adjoining districts Badaun and Shahjahanpur, have also been affected.

On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh health minister Sidharth Nath Singh visited Bareilly and took stock of the situation of public healthcare in the district, CNN-News18 reported.

"In December 2017, the state government prepared a work plan to deal with vector-borne diseases. Under the plan, apart from taking slides, a test has to be performed through a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit to know whether the person is suffering from malaria. As the plan has not been implemented properly in this case, I immediately suspended district malaria officer (DMO) Dr PK Jain," the health minister said.

He accused Jain of "carelessness".

Singh also ordered the suspension of Additional Director (Health) SK Agarwal, district health officer Ashok Kumar and in-charge of Jagatpur Hospital, Sunita Bhardwaj. The state government has constituted three teams of doctors to look into the cases in Bareilly and Badaun, Uttar Pradesh DG (Health) Padmakar Singh said.

The Times of India reported that on Wednesday, a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also arrived in Bareilly to investigate the cause of the fever. Entomologists (people who study insects), who were part of the team, collected samples from a pond in Behta Bujurg village in the Majhgavan block. Dr Vineet Shukla, chief medical officer, said that the NCDC team had collected samples of insects to find out the species present in the villages. "The team is also conducting surveillance on what more steps need to be taken to control the disease," he said.

The state's rapid response team has found the presence of the plasmodium falciparum (PF) malaria in Bareilly's Majhgavan block. This region has witnesses the most casualties due to the disease.

Hindustan Times reported that a huge number of patients came to the Bareilly district hospital and other health centres on Wednesday, suffering fever and bouts of shivering. The report quotes Vineet Shukla as saying that there have been over 1,500 patients with fever-like symptoms since 29 August.

What is Plasmodium Falciparum malaria?

Plasmodium Falciparum is one of the four kinds of protozoa that cause malaria. It causes the most severe kind of malaria. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the symptoms of PF malaria include: fever, chills, headache, muscular aching and weakness, vomiting, cough, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. These are usually followed by organ failure-like symptoms, which then commonly lead to coma and death.

PF malaria could be fatal if not treated within 24 hours since the start of the clinical symptoms. For diagnosis of the falciparum malaria, cases of unexplained fever should be investigated between the first seven days to three months since the first and last exposure respectively. A person who experiences fever in the duration should immediately seek diagnosis and treatment.

With inputs from agencies
The Bihar government on Thursday approved a scheme for providing interim relief of Rs one lakh to those affected by mob violence besides speedy trial of such cases.

Patna: The Bihar government on Thursday approved a scheme for providing interim relief of Rs one lakh to those affected by mob violence besides speedy trial of such cases.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of the state cabinet in Patna, chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretarriat Department, Sanjay Kumar told reporters.

The scheme provides for an interim relief of Rs one lakh which would be made available to victims of mob violence within a month of the incident.

Besides, all such cases will be heard at fast track courts which would ensure completion of trial within six months and a final compensation amount, inclusive of the interim relief, would be paid thereupon, the Principal Secretary said. The decision has been taken in keeping with recent guidelines issued by the Supreme Court with regard to mob violence, he added. Notably, in the last one week, the state has witnessed mob violence in as many as three districts where crowds have taken the law in their own hands and beaten to death men orwomen allegedly involved in some sort of crime.

Another important decision taken at the cabinet meeting is the approval of recommendations of a high-level committee whereby contractual employees in various government departments would get benefits at par with the regular staff, the Principal Secretary said. Nod was also given for entering a loan agreement, for the purpose of building village roads, with the BRICS New Development Bank from which $350 million are to be borrowed, he said.

As per the loan agreement, the money would be borrowed under a Multi-Tranche Financial Facility and a loan of $45 million would be taken for Tranche, he added. A sum of Rs 122.71 crore was also approved for construction of a building which would house the Aryabhatt Knowledge University based in Patna, he said. Green signal was also given for releasing a total sum of Rs 241.42 crore towards payment of salaries, arrears and post-retirement benefits to teaching and non-teaching staff of 28 colleges.

Approval was also accorded for payment of Rs 14.98 crore  of which the state has contributed 40 percent  to UNICEF for its Social Mobilization Network scheme which involves campaign to achieve cent per cent vaccination of children, he added. Another Rs 4.54 crore would be paid to UNDP for Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network which would ensure proper storage and distribution of vaccines, he said.
The police had written to the CBI in July to conduct the psychological autopsy and received the report on Wednesday evening, the official said.

New Delhi: The psychological autopsy report of the 11 members of the Chundawat family who were found dead under mysterious circumstances in North Delhi's Burari on 1 July, concurs with Delhi police probe into the case, an official said.

It states that Lalit Chundawat had encouraged the other family members to follow a set of rituals to find a way to God, he said.

The police had written to the CBI in July to conduct the psychological autopsy and received the report on Wednesday evening, the official said.

A couple of other reports are also awaited from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, CBI, and they would be studied in tandem with the psychological report, he said.

Psychological autopsy attempts to study a person's mental state by analysing medical records, interviewing friends and family and conducting research into their state of mind prior to death, police said.

The officer said the CBI, who were handed over the diaries the family had written over a span of 11 years which talked about attaining God, concurred with the police investigation.

According to sources, the police, during investigation, had found that one of the members, Lalit Chundawat, had visitations from his dead father and would dictate certain things to his family members.

The psychological autopsy report has also highlighted these observations, they said.

Ten of the 11 members of the family were found hanging from an iron mesh in the ceiling of the house, while the body of 77-year-old Narayan Devi, the head of the family, was lying on the floor in another room of the house.

Her daughter Pratibha (57) and her two sons - Bhavnesh (50) and Lalit (45) - were among the deceased.

Bhavnesh's wife Savita (48) and their three children - Maneka (23), Neetu (25), and Dhirendra (15) were also found dead.

Others who were found hanging were Lalit's wife Tina (42), their 15-year-old son Dushyant and Pratibha's daughter Priyanka, who was engaged last month and was to marry by the year-end.
Rahul Gandhi demands Arun Jaitley's resignation over Mallya's escape, JNUSU polls today, fuel price continues to rise and more stories to follow through the day.

Congress, BJP spar over Vijay Mallya's escape: Both the Congress and the BJP are involved in a blame-game over fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's statement in London that he met finance minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament before fleeing off to UK. While BJP and Jaitley have denied the charges saying that Mallya accosted him inside the corridors of Parliament, Congress MP PL Punia claimed that he was witness to the interaction and that Jaitley had a "long" conversation with Mallya. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi demanded Jaitley's resignation. Meanwhile, reports said that Supreme Court lawyer Dushyant Dave has revealed that he had offered advice to the SBI-led consortium of banks to move a plea against Mallya days before he fled from India. However, the banks did not take any action, allowing Mallya to escape.

Fuel price hike continues, petrol up by 13 paisa/litre: Petrol prices are on a relentless upward march. On Thursday, petrol was up by 13 paisa at Rs 81 per litre  an all-time high in Delhi, while diesel was sold at Rs 73.08 per litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. Fuel rates have been on fire since mid-August, rising almost every day due to a drop in rupee value and rise in crude oil rates. Petrol price has risen by Rs 3.65 a litre and diesel by Rs 4.06 per litre - the biggest increase in rates witnessed in any month since the launch of daily price revision in mid-June last year.

Kerala nun rape case: A division bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that the prima facie investigation into the alleged rape of a nun by bishop Franco Mulakkal was being conducted in a fair mannner and refused to offer any direction on its conduct or handover. The nun had registered a case with the Kerala Police more than a month ago.

JNU to vote today in student body elections: The Jawaharlal Nehru University will conduct the students union election on Friday for deciding the faces of new its student union. The main contenders are the Left Unity, the Dalit-centric Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA), the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the right-wing ABVP. Four independent candidates are also contesting the polls.

ABVP wins 3 out of 4 posts in DUSU election 2018, EC denies providing EVMs for the poll: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) emerged as winners in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections in the poll results announced on Thursday. ABVP's Ankiv Basoya, Shakti Singh and Jyoti Choudhary, won the posts of president, vice-president and joint secretary respectively, while NSUI's Akash Choudhary was elected as the secretary. However, amid allegations of EVM rigging, the EC has denied supplying EVMs for the elections, claiming that the same were procured by the university privately.

Justice Ranjan Gogoi appointed as new CJI, to take oath on 3 Oct: Justice Ranjan Gogoi was on Thursday appointed as the 46th Chief Justice of India with President Ramnath Kovind signing the warrant. He is all-set to take oath as the new CJI on 3 October as CJI Dipak Misra will retire on 2 October.

Kidambi Srikanth takes on Korea's Lee Dong Keun in Japan Open quarter-final: India's Kidambi Srikanth, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018, is up against Korea's Lee Dong Keun in the singles quarter-final of the Japan Open on Friday. In the earlier round, the seventh-seeded Indian didn't break a sweat as he avenged his Asian Games loss to Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki Vincent with a clinical 21-15, 21-14 performance.

Ig Nobel Prize winners announced: Can riding roller coasters ease the passage of kidney stones? Why are monkeys so good at aping humans? To what degree is human saliva a suitable cleaning agent? The questions you were too afraid to ask have been answered, and the brave researchers who took this task upon themselves, awarded. Yes, its time for the 2018 Ig Nobel Prize! The subjects of research may make you laugh, and the Ig Nobel may very well be a parody of the prestigious Nobel Prize, but this is research that also makes you think.

Apple Watch Series 4: A doctors perspective: The most interesting announcement by far from the Apple Special Event on 12 September was the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 4. Yes, new iPhones were announced, but its in the Watch that we saw the most advances. Among the many new features added to the Watch were fall detection and an in-built ECG that can diagnose atrial fibrillations. It certainly sounds like an exciting advancement, but are these features really that beneficial to our health? Will they save lives? Later today, well be speaking to doctors to hear their opinions of Apples new medical marvel.

Not everyone will be happy with Game of Thrones finale, says Kit Harington: As Game of Thrones maniacs are waiting for the winter to hit Westeros, actor Kit Harington has given an insight into one of the most-anticipated seasons next year saying not everyones going to be happy with the way the epic show ends. The 31-year-old actor, who plays one of the many fan favourite characters, Jon Snow, in the HBO series, compared the expected reaction of the fans to the ending of cult shows such as The Sopranos and more recently, Breaking Bad.
Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft, expected to be delivered beginning September 2019, will be 'much superior' than that negotiated by the UPA

New Delhi: The negotiations for procurement of 126 Rafale jets under the UPA government fell through as state-run HAL did not have the required capability to produce the jets in India in collaboration with French company Dassault Aviation, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Thursday.

Sitharaman also said that an unprecedented intervention in 2013 by then Defence Minister AK Antony when the cost negotiation committee was giving final touches to the deal put the final nail in the coffin.

After rounds of negotiations with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Dassault Aviation felt that the cost of the Rafale jets will escalate significantly if they were to be produced in India, she said during an interaction with PTI editors and reporters at the agency's headquarters in New Delhi.

"Dassault could not progress in the negotiations with HAL because if the aircraft were to be produced in India, a guarantee for the product to be produced was to be given. It is a big ticket item and the IAF would want the guarantee for the jets. HAL was in no position to give the guarantee," she said.

When contacted, Antony said he would not like to comment now on Sitharaman's remarks.

Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft, expected to be delivered beginning September 2019, will be "much superior" than that negotiated by the UPA, and her government is getting the planes for nine percent cheaper than what was earlier agreed upon.

The previous UPA government started negotiating in 2012 with French Dassault Aviation to buy 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). The plan was for Dassault Aviation to supply 18 Rafale jets in fly-away condition while 108 aircraft were to be manufactured in India by the company along with HAL. However the deal could not be sealed.

The Congress has demanded answers from the government on why HAL was not involved in the new deal. Sitharaman said the UPA deal collapsed as HAL did not have the capability to produce 108 aircraft in India.

"Even during negotiation with HAL, Dassault felt that the cost with which the HAL will produce will be far higher than the aircraft produced in France. That was the reality," she said.

The defence minister said the then government could have come forward and pumped in resources into HAL, but they did not. She said she has no intention of undermining HAL, but "why could not the then defence minister say that we will pump in all the required resources into the HAL. He could have done it. That was not done," Sitharaman said, adding that the current government was initiating steps to strengthen the state-run aerospace company.

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore. The Congress has been alleging irregularities in the deal.

Rebutting charges of corruption in the deal, the defence minister also asserted that people of the country have put a closure on the issue as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There is a trust in the prime minister. He is not going to be corrupt. So with all this, I think mentally, people of India have reached a closure on it, saying there is no corruption here," she said.

Sitharaman ruled out calling the Opposition parties for a meeting to allay their concerns over the Rafale deal, saying they are "throwing an allegation" without any basis as well as showing no concern for operational preparedness of the air force.

In a hard-hitting attack on Congress, she said the party was running short of issues and corruption was a plank on which it utterly failed.

"It is one of the cleanest governments India has ever seen. On corruption, the Congress is very frustrated. The party will have to learn from this government.

"I am saying this with a certain sense of confidence and not arrogance. The defence ministry is being run without any middleman and in a transparent way. We have proved that defence procurement can happen without middlemen," she said.

On Antony's intervention, she said he held back the file at a stage where he did not have any role to play. However, she did not elaborate on reasons for Antony's action.

The Congress has repeatedly criticised the deal for the 36 Rafale jets, alleging that the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government.

Sitharaman said the Rs 526 crore figure refers to the bare aircraft, capable of just flying and landing, and does not take into account the avionics, arsenal and other associated technologies that make it a complete fighting machine.
The problem of hate speech is compounded when propagated by members of the press. This is because unlike the situation where the person making the hate speech is a politician or an ordinary citizen/internet user, the media is expected to be comparatively neutral while reporting events.

Common discourse on social media, its impact on mainstream media and the way people communicate with one another and disseminate information has come under a lot of analysis recently, especially due to the lack of discretion.

In fact, a popular TV news anchor recently created a stir when he named the activists and lawyers in connection with the Bhima Koregaon raids 'Urban Naxals' and 'Maoists' on his prime time show.

Human rights activists had proposed that the channel should be sued for hate speech on grounds of instigating communities and threatening national security. A filmmaker had even hinted that it was the use of the term, Naxalite, for Sudha Bharadwaj (one of the five activists arrested for the Bhima Koregaon violence) by the same anchor, which led to her arrest. The bigger issue which emerges is whether statements/language by the media, which incriminate certain individuals in cases like the Bhima Koregaon raids, amount to hate speech.

What hate speech entails

Under European Union (EU) law, illegal hate speech is understood as "public incitement to violence or hatred directed to groups or individuals on the basis of certain characteristics, including race, colour, religion, descent and national or ethnic origin". While hate speech is not defined in any Indian legislation, the 267th Report of the Law Commission of India states that hate speech is "an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief and the like".

The report in the Law Commission further clarifies that hate speech is "any word written or spoken, signs, visible representations within the hearing or sight of a person with the intention to cause fear or alarm, or incitement to violence."

Hate speech is an exception to freedom of speech. As recognised by the Law Commission Report and by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal versus Union of India, speech can be restricted under Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution (provision dealing with restrictions on the right to freedom of speech) only when the speech reaches the threshold of incitement. Speech which is merely offensive or unpopular cannot be restricted.

Incidents of hate speech in India

Incidents of hate speech in the past have generally involved politicians. For instance, last month the Supreme Court sought response from the Uttar Pradesh government while hearing an appeal challenging the Allahabad HC order which dismissed a petition against Yogi Adityanath in a 2007 hate speech case; the petition was filed in the aftermath of a hate speech by Adityanath (at that time the BJP parliamentarian from Gorakhpur) which led to riots in Gorakhpur in January 2007.

When JNU student leader Umar Khalid was attacked in August 2018, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack as a hate campaign using social and mainstream media. Some also attributed the attack to hate speech by the media. As a 2016 article in The Indian Express noted how Khalid was vilified on Times Now where the news anchor called him more dangerous to this country than Maoist terrorists and anti-national.

In 2015, civil rights activists, including Vrinda Grover and Kavita Krishnan, wrote an open letter to Arnab Goswami stating their intention to boycott Times Now - the letter stated how Goswami had subjected participants in his programme, News Hour, to hate speech and demonised human rights activists. The letter specifically condemned Goswamis use of the terms, Naxal, terrorist and terrorist sympathiser, noting that the use of these terms and other forms of hate speech is a gross misuse of the medias immense power.

Laws dealing with hate speech in India

The provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which tackle hate speech are:

Section 153A  Under this Section, a person who uses words (written/spoken) which promote or attempt to promote disharmony/enmity/hatred/ill-will between different groups or castes or communities on grounds including religion, language or caste is liable to be punished.

Sections 295A and 298  The provisions criminalise acts intended to outrage or wound the religious feelings of any individual or class.

In March 2014, in Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan versus Union of India (AIR 2014 SC 1591), the Supreme Court directed the Law Commission of India to define hate speech and recommend laws to curb the menace of hate speech in the context of speeches by politicians. In March 2017, the Law Commission submitted Report No. 267 titled, 'Hate Speech' which recommended the addition of two more provisions in the IPC. The provisions were intended to criminalise hate speech which causes incitement to violence and speech that causes fear, alarm or provocation of violence in certain cases. The recommendations of the Law Commission with respect to hate speech were incorporated with some changes in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018. However, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 which was passed in August this year does not make any changes relating to hate speech to the IPC.

Interestingly, the Supreme Court in an earlier case had dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) which sought directions to prohibit politicians from making "provocative and hate speeches" on grounds that this would violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech.

Hate speech by media

The problem of hate speech is compounded when propagated by members of the press. This is because unlike the situation where the person making the hate speech is a politician or an ordinary citizen/internet user, the media is expected to be comparatively neutral while reporting events. The media being the fourth estate has considerable influence over the society and it is easy for the line, between fact-reporting and the personal or political views of a journalist, to be blurred.

When prominent journalists start branding human rights activists as Maoists and anti-nationals, it becomes hate speech because of its potential to incite members of the public to commit acts of violence/hatred against the activists based on the views held by them. This appears to be true in case of the attacks on Umar Khalid and perhaps, even in case of the activists arrested in relation to the Bhima Koregaon incident.

The media enjoys greater freedom from defamation in order to allow fair comment by the press. However, hate speech is different from defamation as hate speech does not merely tarnish the reputation of the subject of the speech, but can lead to persecution of the person against whom the hate speech has been made. The media has a greater responsibility to not indulge in hate speech merely because of the views held by an individual. Hate speech can amount to trial by media which results in further harassment of those individuals and has a chilling effect on free speech.

The author holds a Master of Law (LL.M.) degree from University of Cambridge
Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.

Bengaluru: Accusing the BJP of attempting to topple his government, Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday warned of legal action against "certain kingpins' who, he claimed, were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to pull down his ministry.

Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.

"Whether they keep the resorts or shanties ready, I am ready for everything," he told reporters.

"Presently payments are being made in advance. I won't say more now. You will get to know about it later," he said.

The chief minister alleged that certain "kingpins" had been roped in to topple his government.

"Am I not aware of it? Will I keep quiet? Don't I know where the money is being collected and who the kingpins are behind collecting money? I have already initiated measures necessary for legal action. I will take every decision to give a strong and stable government," he said.

Without mentioning names, Kumaraswamy said that "these kingpins" were into gambling, had abetted a coffee planter in killing his wife and son and were those who had set a Bengaluru municipal office on fire nine years ago.

These people were collecting money to topple his government, he alleged.

Asked why no action has been taken against those trying to "topple" the government, Kumaraswamy said he was not at all disturbed by what was going on and felt quite comfortable watching this "futile exercise".

He also took a jibe at the state BJP for issuing one deadline after the other, predicting the end of the government. "The next deadline is Monday. Most probably the deadline will extend to 2 October and then to Dasara. I think it will go on extending," Kumaraswamy quipped.

The BJP trashed the charges, saying that it had never indulged in any such activities.

Former deputy chief minister R Ashok challenged the chief minister to spell out the names of those trying to destabilise the government, instead of using words like "kingpin". "We don't have such intentions and do not want to get into such activities. We will think of forming the government only if it collapses on its own due to internal strife," he said.

Meanwhile, JDS' coalition partner Congress said it has decided to lodge a complaint with the Income Tax department and Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking a probe into reports that crores of rupees have changed hands for the toppling game.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said "reports have emerged in the media that Rs 100 crore has been exchanged".

"Certain reports have stated that this person has taken money... another has received money and speculate that a certain number of people (MLAs) are leaving (the party). So we decided to complain to the Income Tax Department and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the veracity of the reports," Parameswara said.

He dismissed any threat to the coalition government. On Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi's statement that his brother and minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has his own faction within the party, he accused the media of blowing his statement out of proportion.

"There is no such thing. Yesterday (Thursday) also I made this very clear to HD Devegowda and HD Kumaraswamy when I met them at their homes. I told them that there is no major problem as projected. I reiterate that the government is stable" Parameshwara said.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister DK Shivakumar.

The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday termed Hindi as the symbol of socio-political and linguistic unity of the country and pitched for the translation of literature of regional languages into it.

New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday termed Hindi as the symbol of socio-political and linguistic unity of the country and pitched for the translation of literature of regional languages into it.

Addressing an event organised on the occasion of 'Hindi Divas', Naidu said Hindi was the main communication language among the freedom fighters of the country and it was spoken and understood by most of the people in the country.

"It was the symbol of social, political, religious and linguistic unity of the country. Even today, these qualities make it acceptable among all other languages," he said. The vice president said all Indian languages were vibrant and each of them had its own literature, dictionary and idioms. "There should be more translation into Hindi, the literature of all regional languages, so that we can access the literature of all Indian languages easily," he said.

Naidu said it was not a matter of debate whether Hindi was the best among all Indian languages as there were many other languages which were older and more vibrant than Hindi. "Sanskrit is the mother of all languages and there are many regional languages which are very vibrant," he said. Naidu said Hindi was an easy and acceptable language spoken and understood by most of the people.

He said language plays an important role in the implementation of government welfare schemes in a country and the schemes will be successful only when people get the benefits. For this, it is important that the government works are done in people's language, he said.

"If we desire that our democracy continues to be progressive and becomes stronger, then we will have to use Hindi in the functioning of the Union government and the regional languages in the functioning of the state governments. Every state has immense contribution in Hindi getting the present status," he said. In his speech, Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed his greetings to Hindi aficionados.

"Language is not only an expression of cultural heritage but also national pride. We should all commit ourselves on the occasion of Hindi Divas to promote Hindi as well as other Indian languages. This will strengthen the country," he said.
The Missionaries of Jesus released a Preliminary Inquiry report and a press release targetting the 44-year-old nun from Kerala who was allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese.

The Missionaries of Jesus released a Preliminary Inquiry report and a press release targetting the 44-year-old nun from Kerala who was allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese. The religious group also slammed those supporting the nun who raised the issue, calling the rape case a 'conspiracy' against Mulakkal and the Church. They also released a picture of the nun with the bishop in a clear violation of the Supreme Court guidelines that prohibits anyone from publicly revealing the identity of a rape survivor, reported Times Now.

Nuns are blackmailing the Church and Bishop Mulakkal

In the press release, the congregation claimed that six nuns are blackmailing the Bishop from Jalandhar to malign the name of Mulakkal and the Church. "Blackmail is being cunningly used and along with a conspiracy group, attempts are being made to malign the church. Six nuns are working against the Church with some clear-cut agenda and some organisations are backing them without knowing the truth. Some political leaders are also hand in glove with them and causing deep hurt to the Church and the Congregation," the statement, originally published in Malayalam, said.

The statement claimed that that earlier the nun had two demands, which was rejected by the Church body. The first demand was for a new independent congregation in Bihar and the second was that the rape survivor should be made the regional mother general of the congregation.

After the Church rejected the demands the nun asked for permission to leave the nunnery and get married. She subsequently returned and expressed a desire to the Counsel at the congregation to withdraw her application of leaving the nunnery. The release further claimed that since then the nun has been working on an agenda with a conspiracy against the Reverend father and Mother General. The congregation is now filing a petition with the DGP of Kerala Police.

What the preliminary inquiry report claims

The Church body in a three-page Preliminary Inquiry report claimed that the allegations against Bishop Franco Mulakkal were baseless and part of a larger conspiracy. They also said that the nuns have been influenced by rationalists to make such accusations against the Bishop, India Today reported.

They accused the nun and her friends of tampering with the visitors register and the CCTV system in the report, the The News Minute reported. Victims friend was handling the visitors' register in the convent, they must have tampered with this. The victim had forcefully taken control of the CCTV system from Mother Superior, the internal report released by the Missionaries of Jesus said. The report also said that the nuns had fallen prey to the ideas of rationalists.

The report also questioned credibility of the nuns claims by saying that if she had actually been sexually assaulted, she would not have accompanied the Bishop who is accused in other events and trips, according to The News Minute.

Their statement said, "The Missionaries of Jesus has understood that the allegations about the Bishop repeatedly raping the nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016 is false and is part of a conspiracy. In the month of May in 2015, the sister had invited the Bishop for a function and even after that, it has been found that the sister has taken part in a lot of functions with the Bishop. Any woman, who was raped by a man, would never attend functions or travel with that man. This is a truth that cannot be denied.

Currently being heard by a bench of the Kerala High Court, the matter has invited widespread outrage, with protests taking place in many parts of Kerala. Protests against the delay in the Bishop's arrest have been going on outside the Kerala High Court for eight days now. The police have also been accused of not taking the investigation seriously.

Earlier on Monday, the Missionaries of Jesus congregation condemned the protest by five nuns in Kerala, seeking justice for the rape survivor. The congregation also called the nun's allegations against the bishop "baseless" and said they "cannot crucify an innocent".

Meanwhile, an affidavit was filed by the state deputy superintendent of police K Subhash which stated that Mulakkal had committed unnatural sex against the consent of the nun. The affidavit, filed in the Kerala High Court on 10 August by the investigating officer, states, "(D)uring the course of investigation so far conducted and the available evidences collected so far, it is revealed that the accused committed unnatural offences and committed rape repeatedly on different dates between 5/5/2018 and 23/09/2016 on the victim, against the will and consent of her by abusing his dominance over her as Bishop of Jalandhar after confining her in room number 20 of St Francis Mission Home Kuravilangad." (sic)

The Kerala Police has asked Mulakkal to appear before the investigating team on 19 September. The decision to summon the clergyman was taken after a meeting chaired by Sakhare, Inspector General (Ernakulam range), which was also attended by Kottayam district superintendent of police Harisankar and Vaikom deputy superintendent of police K Subhash amid mounting pressure on police to initiate action against Mulakkal.

"We reviewed the entire case today (Wednesday) and there are contradictions in the statements of the victim, the accused and the witnesses. So, we have asked the bishop to appear before us on 19 September, when the Investigation Officer would question him.

"The contradictions in the statements have to be cleared, or else there could be issues," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Sakhre told the media in Kochi soon after a review meeting on the case.

With inputs from agencies
The alleged victims and other inmates of the shelter home, which is located in the Bairagarh area of Bhopal and had a branch in Hoshangabad district until 2017, submitted a complaint to police Friday evening.

Bhopal: Inmates of a privately run residential facility for disabled children in Bhopal Friday accused its founder of sexually abusing two girls and three boys.

Opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh latched onto the issue, alleging that government authorities had ignored a complaint filed in the past against the shelter home's founder who is also its director.

The alleged victims and other inmates of the shelter home, which is located in the Bairagarh area of Bhopal and had a branch in Hoshangabad district until 2017, submitted a complaint to police Friday evening.

Earlier in the day, nearly 40 inmates of the shelter home visited the Congress office in Bhopal, where the party's state media cell chief Shobha Oza held a press conference. "A girl had complained about sexual harassment by the director to the Hoshangabad collector in February 2017. The complaint was found to be correct but no FIR was registered," Oza alleged.

However, the Hoshangabad branch was closed following the complaint, Oza said. Afterwards, another physically challenged girl and three boys were allegedly sexually abused by the director, the Congress leader claimed.

The victims filed a complaint with the Director of the Social Justice Department of the state government on Friday.

Later in the evening, the victims along with Congress leaders reached the TT Nagar Police Station in Bhopal to file a complaint.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Dharmendra Choudhary said police have received the complaint, and a probe is being conducted.

No FIR has been registered yet, another police officer said.
The Supreme Court on Friday awarded Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist S Nambi Narayanan a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for wrongful arrest in 1994 on espionage charges.

The Supreme Court on Friday awarded former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist S Nambi Narayanan a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for wrongful arrest in 1994 on espionage charges. After a 24-year long legal battle, a bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, awarded compensation to the rocket scientist for loss of reputation and mental agony.

The Supreme Court bench also directed that a committee be constituted, headed by retired Supreme Court judge DK Jain, to investigate into the role of the Kerala police officers, who were involved in falsely implicating the scientist under the Official Secrets Act. The court observed that Narayanan was "needlessly arrested and tortured".

Narayanan has been fighting the case since 1994 to clear his name in the espionage case and for compensation. He had filed a plea in Supreme Court for action against the police officers involved in wrongly accusing of passing secret scientific documents to outsiders and external agencies. He had accused the Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau of torturing him with a view to extracting statements from him, according to The Bar and Bench.

Narayanan, along with another ISRO scientist D Sasikumaran, was arrested in 1994 as the Kerala Police had claimed had passed on secret documents, including those relating to cryogenic engines to other countries, especially Pakistan. The case was handed over to the CBI within 20 days of being registered, but the agency found the case to be false. The CBI also found the Kerala police and Intelligence Bureau to have acted "unprofessionally" in the matter, News18 reported.

Narayanan was exonerated after the CBI's closure report was accepted by a Kochi court in 1996. However, in May 1996, the then Kerala government ordered a re-investigation, which was quashed by the Supreme Court in 1998. Narayanan subsequently moved the National Human Rights Commission, seeking a compensation of Rs 1 crore for his trials and tribulations. The NHRC had ordered for an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh, which was upheld by the Kerala High Court in 2012.

However, a division bench of the Kerala High Court turned down his plea for action against erring police officials, leading to the present appeal in Supreme Court.

Post the Supreme Court verdict, Narayanan spoke to the media and said that there was "no evidence against him" and that "the people who framed him thought they could get away with what they had done". He, however, said that he was hoping for a CBI enquiry as he fears that there is a "conspiracy from another country involved in this".

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also tweeted in support of the Supreme Court order.

I welcome the SC Orders on the Rocket Scientist Nambi Narayanan. He was a victim of the international jealousy against Indias capability to produce worlds cheapest satellite launching rocket launchers. Shame on UPA  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) September 14, 2018

Read the full text of the Supreme Court judgement, first reported by The Bar and Bench:
The ISRO spy case first surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan and Sasi were arrested on charges of handing over India's indigenous space technology to Pakistan with the help of two Maldivian women

Friday's Supreme Court verdict in the 'ISRO spy case' is just another victory for former Indian scientist Nambi Narayanan who had been fighting a 24-year-long battle for justice after he was falsely charged with espionage.

Narayanan, who was cleared of all charges by the CBI and the Supreme Court earlier, had sought action against senior police officials for framing him and his colleague in the infamous ISRO spy scandal. The court held that the scientist's arrest was needless and unnecessary while acknowledging that he was subjected to immense mental and physical torture. It ordered the setting up three-member panel headed by former Supreme Court judge DK Jain to probe the framing of Narayanan in the spy case, and also granted him a compensation of Rs 50 lakh.

The scandal not only halted the careers of two brilliant scientists  Narayanan and D Sasi Kumar  but also set behind by years, the progress made in the cryogenic engine development programme, which was meant to power the heavy lift Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for deploying heavy communication satellites.

The ISRO spy case first surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan and Sasi were arrested on charges of handing over India's indigenous space technology to Pakistan with the help of two Maldivian women who overstayed their visas in India. However, the CBI cleared them in 1995 and since then Narayanan has been fighting legal battles, first to clear his name, then for compensation, and finally against three police officials who destroyed his reputation, career, and subjected him to torture.

The three police officials in question are then top police officer Siby Mathews, KK Joshua and S Vijayan, who are all now retired.

As Narayanan's fight comes to an end, here is a look at how the case developed:

How the case began

The seeds of the case, which is still unfortunately known as the ISRO spy scandal, were sown on 20 October, 1994, when the Kerala Police in Thiruvananthapuram filed a case against a Maldivian citizen Mariam Rasheeda, under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Section 7 of the Foreigners Order, 1948  the charges a foreign national attracts for overstaying in India despite the expiry of their visa, according to The Indian Express.

However, the police later concocted a theory that Rasheeda was in contact with Narayanan and Sasi with the help of a businessman and the two scientists had agreed to transfer technological secrets with Pakistan. The police later also named the ISRO scientists, Russian Space Agency Glavkosmoss India representative Chandrasekhar, another Maldivian national Fauzia Hassan, and Bengaluru-based labour contractor SK Sharma.

But according to a report in The Pioneer, the real motives behind the case spawned back to the tussles in the power corridors of Kerala. The newspaper alleged that the Kerala Police was on the lookout for foreign nationals overstaying in Kerala on home ministry's orders, when they came across Rasheeda. Rasheeda had contacted the city police commissioners office and came in contact with another senior police official, Raman Shrivastava, at the time to get her visa extended. It was at a follow-up meeting on the issue when Vijayan came in contact with Rasheeda and promised to help her. Vijayan, reportedly, made overtures to the Maldivian woman, who in turn insulted him and threatened to report him to Shrivastava.

Siby Mathews who was a DIG at the time wanted Shrivastava out of his way, reportedly, to gain an out-of-turn promotion. The newspaper alleges that the duo conspired to take revenge and frame Rashida and Shrivastava. The case, however, eventually became a tool for multiple agencies and players to extract different gains.

Shrivastava's name cropping up in the concocted conspiracy had another political effect. He was known to be close to the then chief minister K Karunakaran, who shared a bitter relationship with AK Antony (also of the Congress) as the latter lost the chief minister's berth to the former. One of the reasons perhaps that nobody encouraged the police to drop a concocted case was that Shrivastava's conviction cast aspersions on Karunakaran, who was eventually forced to quit in March 1995, under pressure from Antony, and Congress coalition partners Muslim League and Kerala Congress (M).

The foreign sabotage angle

After the whole spy angle came into play, the scientist's questioning was taken over by the Intelligence Bureau. Narayanan, in his autobiography, has alleged that the IB's real target was the ISRO. He claims that the Indian intelligence officers were acting in connivance with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

"My investigation showed that the spy case was the illegitimate child of the US-French agencies with the intention of burying me and the ISRO in the cemetery," The Indian Express quoted from his book.

He claims that at the time the US was dead against India developing an indigenous rocket launch technology as it would have harmed its commercial interests in space research. The US not only denied India the technological know-how but also pressured Glavkosmos, an official space affairs entity of the former Soviet Union, to abandon the deal relating to the exchange of technology. The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) led by the US contended that the cryogenic engines could be used by used by India to power its military. However, as a report in The Wire points out, that a cryogenic engine was especially unequipped to deal with military situations as it takes days to fuel the engine whereas military equipment usually needs to be ready to use on short notice.

The report stated that had the deal gone through in the 1980s, it would have cost India only Rs 230 crore.

However, after the technology was denied, a group of scientists led by Narayanan started working to perfect an indigenous cryogenic engine when the CIA moved in sabotaged the project.

"Actually their target was ISRO and they succeeded in preventing the country from developing the cryogenic engine," Narayanan, who was Project Director of Cryogenic Engine when he was implicated in the case, said.

"If ISRO had achieved cryogenic engine technology, the organisation would by now have been in a position to return to government billions of dollars," he said referring to the commercial aspect of the technology. The main objective of those behind the case was clear and it was to 'demoralise' Indian scientists, he pointed out.
Narayanan said that there was a strong ground to suspect the hands of the CIA behind the case as the US was upset with Indias move to enter into a deal with Russia to develop the cryogenic technology.

Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan had waged a legal battle for 22 years for action against three police officers who spoiled his life and career by falsely implicating him in the infamous ISRO espionage case.

However, the Supreme Court has given him more than what he asked for when it constituted a three-member committee headed by retired apex court judge justice DK Jain to ascertain whether action needs to be taken against the erring officials and ordered a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to be paid by those involved in the investigation for his wrongful arrest.

The scientist did not attach much importance to the compensation as he believed that no amount of money can compensate the trauma he and his family underwent since he was arrested on 30 November 1994 and pushed into jail for 50 days.

His lawyer C Unnikrishnan said that the three-member committee constituted by the apex court is a wider canvas where not only the scientists plea for action against the officials but also the forces behind them will come under scrutiny.

It is a landmark judgment. The scientist has got justice with the court constituting the committee under a retired judge to find out the role of the officials. The committee can find out forces if any behind them. The court will then decide what action should be taken, he added.

The kin of former chief minister late K Karunakaran, who was forced to resign in the wake of the case, are already geared to make use of the opportunity to bring to light the people who used the scandal to oust the leader from power.

Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of Karunakaran said justice in the case will be complete only when politicians who worked behind the curtain are brought to light. She said that she would provide the details of these people if she gets an opportunity to depose before the committee.

If I am denied the opportunity, I will take legal recourse as I want the soul of my father to feel the justice. I was with him when the drama to drag his name into the scandal unfolded. I know all the people who have pulled the strings. I will reveal their names and what they did before the committee, said Padmaja, who is an office bearer of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

The scientist is least interested in politics. He suspects the involvement of bigger forces behind the case. He had alleged the hands of CIA behind the fabrication of the case in his autobiography Ormakalude Brahmanapadam (Orbit of Memories) published last year.

He alleged that the conspiracy was planned to sabotage Indias rapid progress in developing the cryogenic rocket, an ambitious project of space agency he headed at the time of his arrest. He has even revealed the name of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) official who he claimed had a liaison with the American spy agency.

According to him, Rathan Sehgal, who headed the IB team that investigated the espionage had a close relation with a female CIA spy in the ISRO. He was removed from service after his links with the spy agency was established.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which demolished the case, found that IB was privy to the arrest of the innocent scientists. In its report submitted to the court, the agency said that the IB team had acted unprofessionally.

Though IB officials took custody of the accused for questioning, their revelations were not communicated to the state police. The IB men, who tortured Narayanan while interrogating him, did not submit the interrogation reports as required by the law.

The interrogation reports of four other accused were unsigned and undated due to which the identity of the IB officials who questioned them could not be ascertained. They did not verify the statements of the accused. The CBI felt if the intelligence had done this, it could have cleared the air and saved the reputation of the scientists.

Narayanan said that there was a strong ground to suspect the hands of the CIA behind the case as the US was upset with Indias move to enter into a deal with Russia to develop the cryogenic technology. The Americans scuttled the deal India had reached with Glavkosmos, the Russian space agency, in 1991 to buy seven cryogenic rocket engines along with a complete transfer of technology by imposing sanctions on ISRO and Glavkosmos.

"The ISRO could have developed the cryogenic technology 15 years ago if the deal had materialised. The delay has benefitted the Americans and the French, who had tried to sell their engines to India minus technology. Both of them could be involved in the espionage case or maybe it was neither of them. An investigation is essential to find this out," the scientist said.

He believes that a faction in the Congress party, which was ruling the state then, may have used it to further their agenda to unseat Karunakaran from power. He said that the Congressmen had no role in manufacturing the case.

It is in the interest of the country to find out who manufactured the false case and what was their motive. We have lost millions of dollars due to the delay in developing the technology, Narayanan said.

He said that the compensation was secondary to him. However, he said that the officials who trampled with the life of innocents should also have been imposed a fine so that it will be a lesson to their colleagues in the force.

The police have a feeling that they can get away with anything. This attitude should change. I am sure the Supreme Court judgment would help in changing the mindset of the law enforcement machinery, he added.

The CBI had recommended action against former director general of police Siby Mathew and two retired superintendents K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were responsible for the arrest of the scientists. While Siby and Vijayan have refused to comment on the verdict, Joshua said he had no role in the arrest of the scientist. He said he had only recorded the case dairy.

Narayanan declared that he has ended the battle. I have been running after this case for the last 24 years. Now I need to spend some time with my family. I will, therefore, close the chapter here, he told Firstpost.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students will vote on Friday in the students' union polls, which will test the electoral fortunes of eight candidates eyeing the top post in the politically active campus.

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students will vote on Friday in the students' union polls, which will test the electoral fortunes of eight candidates eyeing the top post in the politically-active campus.

All arrangements have been made by the election authorities for the Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union (JNUSU) polls, which are being closely watched in the aftermath of various controversies which rocked varsities across the country in the recent past.

The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students Federation (DSF) and All India Students Federation (AISF) have come together to form the United-Left alliance.

The alliance has fielded N Sai Balaji of the School of International Studies as its presidential candidate.

DSF's Sarika Chaudhary will be contesting for the post of vice-president, SFI's Aejaz Ahmad Rather will be contesting for the post of general secretary and ASIF's Amutha Jayadeep will be contesting for the joint secretary's position.

All three of them are from the School of Social Sciences.

The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has fielded Vikas Yadav of the School of International Studies for the president's post. Lijy K Babu of the School of Life Sciences will be contesting for the post of vice president.

Md Mofizul Alam will be contesting for the post of secretary, while Ngurang Reena of the School of International Studies will be contesting for the post of joint secretary.

The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has fielded Lalit Pandey for the president's post, Geetashri Boruah for the vice-president's post, Ganesh Gurjar for the post of general secretary and Venkat Choubey for joint secretary's post.

Besides the routine campaigning, the candidates in JNU are also supposed to participate in the presidential debate and answer questions that follow.

The event, a sought after affair, was held on Wednesday night on the lines of the US Presidential debate and will be a deciding factor for the union elections.
It was a fiery presidential debate ahead of the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) polls, with candidates alleging that 'anti-national' elements were present on the institute's campus and the country was turning into 'lynchistan'.

New Delhi: It was a fiery presidential debate ahead of the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) polls, with candidates alleging that "anti-national" elements were present on the institute's campus and the country was turning into "lynchistan".

The election to the JNUSU president's post is scheduled to be held on Friday.

In his speech, United-left panel candidate N Sai Balaji, a frontrunner for the top post, said, "Mobs are allowed to kill people and get away with it as they have the backing of the RSS and the central government, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country has been turned into lynchistan."

"Demonetisation was a failure, there are no jobs as promised and there is a constant attack on higher education," Balaji said Wednesday night.

"The year started with violence of Bhima Koregaon and we recently saw the arrests of activists and academics. This government is employing intimidating tactics. Here V-C is destroying the university, which the students have to reclaim," he said.

Referring to the Supreme Court's order that decriminalised homosexuality, Balaji said the "future is rainbow and not saffron".

Lalit Pandey, the candidate of the right wing ABVP, alleged that there were "anti-national" elements present on the campus and promised to "fix" them if voted to the post.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal's student wing has fielded a candidate for the first time in the JNUSU elections.

Its candidate Jayant Kumar much like the Congress-affiliated NSUI's nominee, Vikas Yadav, attacked the Centre over reducing funding for higher education, and lowering the number of seats at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and scuttling with its reservation policy.

The Birsa Ambedkar Phule Student Association's (BAPSA) presidential candidate, Thallapelli Praveen, said his party represents the voice of students from oppressed classes on the campus.

Praveen asked students to think beyond the left and right binary.

"The Left parties say that the BAPSA should not be voted for otherwise the ABVP will come. The ABVP is alive and among us and that is the contribution of Left politics on campus. Just don't get caught in the banner of left and right politics and work for the oppressed," he said.

Demanding their right to be included in the election process, some members of the university's Visually Challenged Forum formed a human chain in front of the stage, delaying the presidential debate further.

"We have written several times to the Election Commission (EC) about how the election process is inaccessible to us," said Dheeru Yadav, the convenor.

"We want to use braille for asking questions in the debate but we are not allowed. We have no arrangements for ourselves in the voting process. There are no sign language interpreters and hence the election process is not accessible for the hearing impaired," he added.

Ritesh Tomar, another member of the forum, said, "The EC did not listen to our demands for asking questions in the braille format. The members think it will raise doubts of manipulation in the mind of contenders. For the EC, the doubts of candidates are more important than making election accessible".

Besides routine campaigning, candidates in the JNUSU polls are supposed to give speeches about their agenda at the presidential debate, which is followed by a round of questions.

The event was conducted on the lines of the US presidential debate and is a sought after affair. The JNUSU debate is a deciding factor for the union elections.
At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state. The Kerala government has sent a memorandum to the Home Ministry giving details about the loss of human life, properties, infrastructure and crops and sought about Rs 4,700 crore as compensation, a senior government official said.

New Delhi: The Kerala government Thursday sought Rs 4,700 crore as compensation from the central government for the damage caused by the recent floods, termed as the worst in a century, officials said.

At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state. The Kerala government has sent a memorandum to the Home Ministry giving details about the loss of human life, properties, infrastructure and crops and sought about Rs 4,700 crore as compensation, a senior government official said.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature. Accordingly, the Kerala government sent the memorandum, the official said. As per the existing guidelines, the central government will soon send an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) for on-the-spot assessment of damage and additional requirement of funds.

The IMCT report will be considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union home secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a high-level committee, chaired by the home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the NDRF.

The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines on State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), another official said.

State Disaster Response Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 percent for general category states and 90 percent for special category states of hilly regions every year according to the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

According to the guidelines, the Centre provides its allocation to SDRF of each state in advance in two installments. In case of any natural calamity, the state meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the State Disaster Response Fund already available at its disposal.

On 21 August, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state. This was in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in State Disaster Relief Fund of the state.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that the final report, which will have all details on the Majerhat bridge collapse, will take 'some more time'.

The West Bengal government on Friday released the preliminary report on the Majerhat bridge collapse on Friday. The report has stated that the public works department (PWD) is responsible for the mishap.

Speaking at a press conference, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The PWD was informed about the condition of Majerhat bridge in 2016 and was asked to begin maintenance. Since PWD didn't start working, the responsibility of the collapse lies with them."

She further said that the investigation committee, which was formed by her after the mishap, had even mentioned metro construction as a reason behind the collapse along with the negligence of PWD. "Action will be taken against the guilty." she said.

Banerjee also announced that a new structure will be built to replace the bridge, adding that it will take a year for the completion of the construction. The existing structure will be demolished first.

On Thursday, Banerjee had said that the final report, which will have all details on the bridge collapse, will take "some more time".

Three people were crushed to death and 24 were injured on 4 September after a portion of the 40-year-old bridge collapsed.

A primary report submitted by the PWD chief engineer had said that the nearby metro construction work had affected the Majerhat Bridge.

However, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is executing construction of the Joka-Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh metro corridor in the vicinity of the Majerhat bridge, denied any relationship of metro construction with the incident.

RVNL chief project manager/line AK Roy said the collapse of the road overbridge (ROB) girder over canal portion was a "mid-span failure of RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) girder, which are very old and of longer length of approximately 40 metres".

"There is no relationship of metro project construction with this mid-span failure of RCC girder of the ROB. In fact, the condition of piers on both ends are clear indication of this," he had said in a statement.

With inputs from agencies
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said that the BJP after winning the 2014 Lok Sabha election the had shown 'arrogance and audacity'

Kolkata: Accusing the BJP government at the Centre of "showing audacity and arrogance", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Friday it has failed in all respects and will be defeated in the Lok Sabha 2019 election.

She charged the BJP with bringing in "militant Hinduism" and claimed many people had been lynched while speaking during a programme by a Bengali TV news channel.

"The BJP had secured only 31 percent votes and won 283 seats (in the 2014 general election). It cannot be repeated again. They have failed in all respects and cannot survive (in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll)," she said during 'Rising Bengal' programme.

"We (TMC) want to see the country united. We don't support militant Hinduism," said Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress chief and a strong critic of the BJP.

After winning the 2014 Lok Sabha election the BJP had shown "arrogance and audacity", she said.

"They have done demonetisation but 99.3 percent old currency notes have come back. What was the need for it? Was it for making black money white," Banerjee asked.

She added, "Crude prices were falling in the international market but petroleum prices in the country were rising".
Mamata Banerjee said that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and government from the two European countries during the Bengal Global Business Summit.

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she will visit Germany and Italy to attract overseas investments to the state.

According to officials, her visits will be between 16-28 September.

She would be accompanied by Industries and Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Chief Secretary Malay De and Additional Chief Secretary Hari Krishna Dwivedi.

"I am going to Frankfurt and Milan to bring in more business and industry to the state. We will be holding two meetings  one in Frankfurt and another in Milan," she told reporters at state Secretariat Nabanna.

Banerjee said that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and government from the two European countries during the Bengal Global Business Summit this year.

Banerjee said two committees comprising ministers and senior officials had been constituted to deal with any emergency and natural calamity during her foreign tour.

Speaking on the partial collapse of the Majerhat bridge, she said that a probe committee led by the chief secretary had submitted the preliminary report, following which the state had decided to demolish the bridge and build a new one within a year.

Banerjee accused the Centre of "showing audacity and arrogance", and claimed that the BJP would be defeated in the 2019 general elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reached out to the Dawoodi Bohra community in Madhya Pradesh by addressing a gathering and meeting with the community's religious head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the Saifee Nagar mosque in Indore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reached out to the Dawoodi Bohra community in Madhya Pradesh by addressing a gathering and meeting with the community's religious head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the Saifee Nagar mosque in Indore.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accompanied the prime minister.

Modi lauded the community's leaders for emphasising the importance of peace and togetherness. He said that previously, the imams or religious heads had "raised their voices against oppression and pride", and that these lessons are "important for the world today".

"I have faith that Syedna and the Bohra community is working together for the mission to maintain peace and unity in our country," Modi said. He greeted the people with "Ashara Mubaraka", and thanked the people for letting him address the meeting.

Modi's outreach to the sect of the Muslim community comes at a critical time for the BJP, as Madhya Pradesh gears up for Assembly elections. Chouhan also spoke to the community and praised Modi for "working tirelessly" for the people of the country.

The Dawoodi Bohras are a sect within Shia Islam. Thousands of community members arrived in Indore from various parts of the world to hear Saifuddin's sermons. Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in the state, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.

In view of the prime minister's visit, security was ramped up, Indore range Deputy Inspector General of Police HC Mishra said. About 3,500 policemen have been deployed in the city, Mishra added.

This is the first meeting between the prime minister and Syedna, who is the 53rd religious head of the community.

With inputs from agencies
A report prepared by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry states that between 2004-05 and 2011-12, a large percentage of the workforce across states moved away from agriculture.

Editor's Note: Although the Department of Agriculture, Punjab claims that the state is the food bowl of the country, the sector is increasingly facing a human resources crisis in the form of a growing migrant labour shortage, a sector that contributed 17.23 percent to the state GDP in 2016-17. The scene is no different either when it comes to the depleting migrant workforce in the state's micro, small and medium enterprises. This is the first of a two-part series that attempts to study the impact of the shortage of workers in the agriculture sector.

Ludhiana: Free meals, payment in advance, free liquor to ease aching limbs after a hard days work. Migrant labour in Punjab, mainly from Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the mainstay of the states agriculture sector, has never had it so good. The problem, however, is the decreasing availability of this labour. Ask Baljinder Singh, a farmer with a 10-acre holding in Dakha village. Come sowing season in mid-June, Baljinder parks himself at Ludhiana railway station, rushing towards the general compartment of arriving trains, to try and hire migrant workers for his farm.

Landowners like Baljinder flocking to railway stations across the state started some years back when government programmes like Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) led to a sudden shortage of labour available to work in Punjabs farms and MSME units. Farmers like Baljinder now have to deal with a contractor who brings migrant labour in groups to Punjab for seasonal farming. Bargaining, not just over wages, but the extent of 'luxuries' the farmer can provide the workers, happens at the railway station itself. The highest bidder gets the labourers.

The shortage of labour is increasing every year, said Baljinder. In 2011, they would sow paddy in Ludhiana for Rs 1,200 per acre, but now demand Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per acre, he said.

Punjabs dependence on migrant labour began since the adoption of the wheat-paddy crop cycle during the Green Revolution. Then, migrant farm workers were plentiful and cheap, needed mainly for sowing the paddy and the lifting of wheat and paddy crop.

The shortage has raised labour costs

But conditions are somewhat better for them at home now, said Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman of Punjab State Farmers Commission.

Recent years witnessed large-scale development in Bihar that provided employment to the local labour that earlier used to migrate to Punjab for jobs, said Jakhar. This has created a seasonal shortage of farm workers in Punjab. Renowned economist and Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab, Sardara Singh Johl added that the labour shortage has resulted in an increase in labour costs and increased dependence on machinery.

Yet, Punjab does still attract migrant workers. Santosh Kumar, 40, a migrant worker from Darbhanga in Bihar, who shuttles between seasonal farming and non-farming sectors in Ludhiana, has been working in Punjab for the past 10 years.

While government schemes like MNREGA provide a decent living, our children cannot live an above average life and get a proper education with that alone, said Santosh. So I decided to come to Ludhiana and work as farm labour during wheat and paddy season and get employed in a hosiery factory as a packer for rest of the year, earning a good livelihood.

Gurpreet Singh, 46, a contractor who provides farm labour to landlords in Sangrur district said that traditionally Punjab had sown paddy in May, and that had led to depletion of groundwater resources. This forced the state government to introduce Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act in 2009 and the sowing period as per the law became mid-June, said Gurpreet.

There is a lull between the period of wheat harvesting in March and paddy sowing, as a result, workers return to their native places and find other work triggering a labour shortage, he said.

Most of the workforce moved away from agriculture

No accurate figures of the number of migrant labour in the state are available. Lakhwinder Singh, head of the Economics department, Punjabi University in Patiala said the figures of 2011 census on migratory labour were not out, as a result, no precise data on them could be estimated after 2001 when research done by Lakhwinder put the number of migrant workers in the state at 8,19,254.

When that study was conducted, there was a general perception that rural residents from other states had stopped coming to Punjab, said Lakhwinder. However, that study showed that rural to urban migration was still on. That study had pointed out that a large chunk of the migrant workforce (6,95,615) comes to Punjab as casual labourers. More than 90 percent of these workers are able to find work in agriculture only up to 50 days in a year. There are three peak seasons  wheat harvesting, paddy sowing and paddy harvesting  when the migrant workers are most needed and after the peak season they usually go back to their native places.

A report prepared by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) states that between 2004-05 and 2011-12, a large percentage of the workforce across states moved away from agriculture.

There are two critical factors that affect the movement of labour away from the agriculture sector, the report added. The first is the 'Pull' factor where, as an economy matures, there is a natural movement of excess workers from low productivity agriculture to higher productivity manufacturing and services, where wages are relatively higher. The other is a weakening 'Push' factor, where social welfare programmes such as MGNREGA, has in effect been boosting rural incomes and incentives.

Daily wages under MNREGA in Bihar is Rs 168 and in Uttar Pradesh Rs 175. Interestingly for Punjab, the daily wage is Rs 240. Yet, labour is in short supply.

The author is a Ludhiana-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the poor health of the State-owned HAL was partly responsible for the collapse of the Rafale deal under UPA

New Delhi: The controversy surrounding the Rafale deal is far from over. The political slugfest, charges by the Opposition and rebuttals from the government are revealing new facts every day. The latest one is from Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who told PTI that the poor health of the State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was partly responsible for the collapse of French combat aircraft deal under the UPA headed by Manmohan Singh.

The defence minister's statement, it seems, is in response to questions raised by the Congress, which on several occasions flagged that HAL  part of the negotiation during UPA-2  was kept out the NDA's inter-government agreement. Whether her replies soothe the agitating political nerves of Opposition parties or not, the observation that HAL did not have the required capability to produce jets in India has brought the focus back to Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), which in the last couple of decades have become a drag on the Indian economy and moreover, failed the Indian forces seeking better equipment.

Sitharaman is correct that the UPA government and even Indian Air Force (IAF) doubted the performance of HAL. It is time political leaders also discuss and analyse, for example, why HAL and a foreign company  Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI)  both State-owned and founded at around the same time, are poles apart when it comes to delivering world class technology to the forces and also in reaping profits?

The answer perhaps lies in the confidential minutes of the meeting accessed by Firstpost pertaining to the visit of then MoS defence Jitendra Singh to HALs Sukhoi engine division at Koraput in early May 2013 when Manmohan was negotiating with France to purchase 126 Rafale fighter jets. The division was responsible for manufacturing engines for all Sukhoi fighter jets under a licensed contract with Russia. The UPA minister's visit was in the backdrop of a confidential government assessment of HAL division that suggested that the "engines under Phase-IV, where some of the components are made from raw materials and some of the components are received directly from Russia, are being produced by HAL but there was a short fall in meeting the target".

The assessment further said that in the production year 2012-13, HAL (Koraput) was to deliver 34 engines (manufacture) to meet the requirements but only four engines were produced before 31 March, 2013 and three more engines are about to be in the final phase of assembly.

"Insufficient number of production lines, inadequate floor space and lack of a skilled/trained workforce at HAL (Koraput) has now become an irrevocable process due to the high lead time required to overcome these aspects. There is a significant gap between the projected vision of HAL vis-a-vis IAF arisings. There is also a shortage of adequate hangar space to keep engines and it was observed that the engines awaiting induction are kept in open space, which in the long run will have serious flight safety ramifications. The HR management at HAL has failed to address the manning deficiencies and loss of expertise through a system of mandatory overlap of new recruits with retiring personnel. This has led to human errors in machining and at times during assembly of engines. The HAL (Koraput) division has indicated an inability to supply critical spares like turbine blades, combustion chambers outer casings. It has been unable to fulfill Repair, Manufacture and Supply Orders (RMSO) some of which are as old as 2006. Supply of 773 High Pressure Turbine Rotor blades and 697 Low Pressure Turbine Rotor blades has been pending since 2006," the UPAs confidential report had stated.

The assessment was prompted by the Indian Air Force's missive to the Secretary (Defence Production) in 2012, which had observed that HAL was clocking a high cycle time for production and had inadequate capacity for lines of production.

It also reveals the poor health of HAL in at least one of the several units across the country. Then Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) Air Marshal S Sukumar, during the meeting, raised questions on performance of HAL in repair and overhaul of AL-31 FP Engine. Para 2.2 says it all: "DCAS brought out that HAL is not able to meet the Repair and Overhaul (ROH) arising and hence, IAF is sending the engines abroad under Long Term Repair Agreements (LTRA) considering the gap between arising and internal capacity of HAL. It was also brought out that there are delays in ROH of retables due to non-availability of spares. HAL explained that because of the LTRA operated by IAF, Russian side delays supply of spares to Koraput as it suits their commercial interest. This is affecting the ROH of engine aggregates and retables.

Para 2.2 (1) reveals that then MoS defence was not satisfied with HAL response and had observed that in case capacity was not enhanced, IAF may directly enter into agreement with the foreign manufacturer.

"RRM (Raksha Rajya Mantri) directed that HAL should be the nodal agency responsible to meet the requirement of IAF. However, if, HAL is not in a position to meet the requirement of IAF due to its capacity constraint or any other reasons, IAF may directly enter into aero engine LTRA with Russian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), in consultation with Department of Defence Production. He also directed IAF to place its firm task for three years and submit estimated arisings till 2020-21. Accordingly HAL will work out the plan for fulfilling the requirement of IAF and submit to Ministry of Defence. Future plan of HAL for augmenting the capacity from 50 to 105 ROH engines per annum was explained. While macro level planning has been done for the same, details are being worked out. Augmentation of capacity needs to be expedited in consultation with Air headquarters. RRM (Jitendra Singh) directed that the augmentation of ROH facility be taken up on top priority," the report said.

Sitharaman, in her latest statement, also clarified that her intention was not to undermine HAL, but required resources were not pumped into the State-run company by the UPA government. The minutes when UPA was negotiating for Rafale may not provide the complete picture but it surely indicates that our DPSUs are underperforming and not able to meet the expectations of the forces.

For example during Singh's visit, quality issues pertaining to AL-31FP engines were discussed and it was revealed that there was an issue of bearing and engine regulator failure.

"The failure of inter shaft and inter rotor bearing is attributable to low oil pressure during operation and design aspect concerning the type of bearing. A joint investigation was conducted and findings were discussed by the OEM with HAL, RCMA and IAF. Recommendation of the committee needs to be implemented by HAL and IAF on priority. OEM is also to be pressurised to forward the pending recommendations by 13 July, 2013. Joint action by HAL and IAF is needed to obtain the balance recommendation at the earliest Four out of 22 power cards involved in the engine regulator KRD-99B, have been failing regularly. It was informed that the unit is repaired by the replacement of cards from the OEM, where supplies are limited. Parallely indigenisation of KRD and its cards has been taken up and the same is under validation testing. It was decided that in the long term, HAL should make efforts towards indigenisation of the presently-used analog version. Development of a digital version of KRD should be taken up subsequently."

There are some other critical and sensitive observations made in the UPA report, which are undoubtedly scathing against HAL for non-performance. In the ongoing war of words, it may benefit the DPSUs if the debate is also focuses on improvement of overall research and development efforts and production standards of State-owned defence companies.
The Tamil Nadu government has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit, or commute sentence in certain cases.

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded to the Union home ministry a recommendation of the state government to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case for its view, officials said on Friday.

The state government has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit, or commute sentence in certain cases.

The judicial division of the home ministry will examine the legal position of the case and take a view as per the law, a home ministry official said.

According to Article 161, the governor of a state shall have the power to grant pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.

However, officials have earlier said, the governor has no power to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and will have to consult the Centre as per law since the investigation into the assassination was carried out by a CBI-led team.

The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu had on 9 September recommended to the governor to release the convicts, a move hailed by most political parties in the state.

The CBI-led Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), probing the larger conspiracy aspect behind the assassination, had a few months ago conveyed to the Supreme Court that the investigation into the case was "still open" and letters rogatory have been issued to different countries, including Sri Lanka, where some persons required to be investigated were currently residing.

Under Section 435 in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the state government will have to act only after consultation with the central government to remit or commute a sentence.

On 10 August, the Centre had opposed in the Supreme Court the proposal of the Tamil Nadu government to release the seven convicts, saying that setting them free would set a very wrong precedent.

According to the Supreme Court verdict, the state government cannot remit sentence of any convict in cases probed by a central agency and the Centre's approval is mandatory for releasing the killers of Rajiv Gandhi as the case was probed by the CBI.

"The central government, in pursuance of Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, does not concur with the proposal of Tamil Nadu government contained in the communication letter dated 2 March, 2016 for grant of further remission of sentence of these seven convicts," the government had said in its reply to the apex court.

On 21 May, 2018, the MDMA had informed a bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the probe into the case was "still open" and letters rogatory have been issued to different countries, including Sri Lanka, where some persons required to be investigated were currently residing, another official.

"Under these circumstances, there is no material ground to alter the stand taken by the central government in the recent past," the official said.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at a poll rally on the night of 21 May, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu by a woman suicide bomber, identified as Dhanu.

Fourteen others, including Dhanu herself, were also killed in the explosion.

The MDMA, set up in 1998 on the recommendations of Justice MC Jain Commission of Inquiry, had probed the conspiracy aspect of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and is headed by a CBI official and comprises officers from IB, RAW and Revenue Intelligence and other agencies.

In its May 1999 order, the top court had upheld the death sentence of four convicts  AG Perarivalan, Murugan, Santham and Nalini  in the assassination case.

In April 2000, the Tamil Nadu governor had commuted the death sentence of Nalini on the basis of the state government's recommendation and an appeal by former Congress president and Rajiv Gandhi's widow Sonia Gandhi.

On 18 February, 2014, the top court had commuted the death sentence of Perarivalan to life imprisonment, along with that of two other prisoners  Santhan and Murugan  on grounds of a delay of 11 years in deciding their mercy pleas by the Centre.

The other three convicts are Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Payas.

The apex court had in March dismissed a plea by Perarivalan seeking recall of the May 1999 verdict upholding his conviction. The charge against Perarivalan was that he had purchased two nine volt battery cells meant for detonating the bomb.
Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015 while he was heading TERI, a non-profit based out of Delhi.

Former TERI chief and environmentalist RK Pachauri will be charged with sexual harassment after the Saket district court in Delhi dismissed the defence's arguments in a 2015 case, reports said.

Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015 while he was heading The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a non-profit based out of Delhi.

He has been charged with sexual harassment under Section 354A, which can attract rigorous imprisonment up to three years; assault or using force to outrage the modesty of woman under Section 354 and for outraging the modesty of a woman by using words, gestures or acts under Section 509 of the IPC.

According to reports, the Saket district court said sufficient evidence is available to move ahead with the case, while rejecting the defence's argument that his cell phone was hacked.

The complainant's lawyer, Prashant Mendiratta told CNN-News18 that the three Sections  IPC 354, 354A and 509  which were added to the case by the police are crucial in the case. He also said that the case should be fast-tracked as there has already been delay in the case.

Meanwhile, the complainant released a statement expressing relief with the Saket district court order. "Chuffed to bits. This has not been easy. This is a big big leap towards the truth. I am relieved and exhausted fighting Pachauri," the complaint said, according to ANI.

Pachauri also told CNN-News18 that he was out of the country, whereas his lawyer said that the evidence submitted in the case is weak. The next hearing in the case is scheduled on 20 October, when the charges will be filed.

History of the case

Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015. He stepped down as the chairperson of the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change in February 2016 and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the director general. The woman researcher who accused him of sexual harassment in November quit her job at TERI, alleging she was treated badly. TERI had denied the charges.

On 8 February, 2016, Pachauri was appointed as executive vice chairman of the organisation. Following severe criticism, he went on indefinite leave from the organisation on 12 February, 2016.

On 26 February, Pachauri had secured an order from another city court making it mandatory that the media houses publish or telecast the coverage of the case with a title that "in any court the allegations have not been proved and they may not be correct".

The interim order had further said, "When such information is published in any page of a magazine or report, then it should be in the middle of the page in bold letters and it should be five times larger than the font in which the article is being published."

In April 2016, a few months after the charge sheet was filed against him in the alleged sexual harassment case, Pachauri had slapped a civil suit against lawyer-activist Vrinda Grover and another person for allegedly making defamatory statements against him outside the courtroom to the media in connection with the case.

Pachauri has sought damages of Rs 1 crore for "false and frivolous allegations" which, he argues, could prejudice his case.

With inputs from agencies
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to release Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar who is detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the 2017 Saharanpur violence

Chandrashekhar, the founder of the Bhim Army who has been in jail since June 2017, was released from the Saharanpur jail late in the night on Thursday. In a statement to the media, the Uttar Pradesh police said they decided to release him early because of his mother's request. Chandrashekhar was supposed to be in jail till 1 November, otherwise.

According to NDTV, hundreds of Bhim Army supporters reached outside the Saharanpur jail on Thursday night to welcome their leader. Soon after his release, Chandrashekhar hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and vowed to throw it out from power in 2019.

Govt was so scared that they are going to be rebuked by Supreme Court, that they ordered an early release to save themselves. I'm confident that they'll frame some charges against me within 10 days: I'll ask my ppl to throw BJP out of power in 2019: Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar pic.twitter.com/h9JmBfQGmm  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 14, 2018

Chandrashekhar, also known as Ravan, 30, was arrested in June 2017 in connection with the 5 May clashes in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur. According to ANI, Chandrasekhar was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie.

According to media reports, the police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 12,000 on information about Chandrashekhar's whereabouts before they were able to eventually arrest him.

On 2 November, 2017, the Allahabad High Court had granted bail to Chandrashekhar. However, a day before his release, he was booked under the NSA, thus preventing his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till 1 November.

But on Thursday, a Home Department spokesperson said that, "After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early."

NSA was invoked against Chandrashekhar, has a cult following among the Dalits, and five others in the case. While three people were released earlier, Chandrashekhar, Sonu and Shiv Kumar are still in jail. Sonu and Shiv Kumar will also be released early as the district magistrate of Saharanpur has been directed to release them.
Merely four days before Mallya fled the country, the State Bank of India was advised by lawyer Dushyant Dave to move court to prevent Mallya from fleeing.

The controversy over liquor baron Vijay Mallya's escape from India, and the arising suspicion that investigating agencies and government inaction may have given him enough time to flee, refuses to die down.

On Friday, several media reports suggested that the lending banks suspected Mallya to be a flight risk, yet they delayed taking action despite legal advisors suggesting otherwise.

Merely three days before Mallya fled the country, the State Bank of India was advised by lawyer Dushyant Dave to move court to prevent Mallya from fleeing. The SBI management had reportedly sought Dave's advice stating hat it had an inkling that Mallya could flee the country.

"I advised SBI to approach the Supreme Court on 29 February, 2016, for getting an order restraining Mallya from leaving the country SBI chairperson and people at the top within the government knew about this meeting and the advice given by me. However, there was no action taken on it," Dave told The Indian Express. Dave claimed that four top SBI officials were supposed to meet him the following day to get an order from the Supreme Court restraining Mallya from leaving the country but the bank officials did not turn up.

"I have no doubt something happened after I gave my advice," Dave told India Today TV.

However, the SBI has officially denied Dave's claims asserting that there was no laxity on its part.

Interestingly, similar reports about Dave advising the bank to move court had emerged earlier as well. A report in The Times of India, published 10 March, 2016, also stated the same thing, adding that Dave advised taking immediate action to restrain Mallya from going abroad.

Speaking to India Today, senior advocate and former Attorney-General of India Mukul Rohatgi also opined that a more aggressive approach and prompt action could have avoided the investigating agency and the government a lot of embarrassment. Rohatgi said that the legal system allowed two courses of action: Either the SBI could have moved Supreme Court requesting that Mallya's passport be impounded, or it could have asked the court to issue orders restraining him from travelling abroad. But the bank took too long to act on its own inhibitions and Mallya was safely docked away in London two days later. He hasn't returned since.

Furthermore, the Central Bureau of Investigation has also previously publicly expressed its displeasure over laxity from the bank's side. According to a report in The Economic Times, CBI chief at the time, Anil Sinha lashed out at banks for unduly delaying in filing complaint against Mallya, incidentally on the same day as Mallya fled.

"Despite our repeated requests, the banks did not file a complaint with CBI... We had to register the case on our own initiative. The question is that the undue delay in identifying & reporting such a fraud has jeopardized the cause of justice to the offenders benefit, giving them opportunity to divert funds and destroy evidence. All of us must ponder over this issue," Sinha had said.

Meanwhile, outside of this activity, it is relevant to point out that the CBI is also facing tough questions as to why did it downgrade an earlier lookout notice issued against Mallya. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also tweeted on the issue alluding that the prime minister must have been in the know before CBI downgraded its 'detain' on arrival notice to 'inform'.

However, the CBI in its defence had said that the 2015 look out notice of "detain" was an "error" in judgment because he was cooperating in the probe and there was no warrant against him.

CBI sources said when the first Lookout Circular was issued on 12 October, 2015, Mallya was already abroad. Upon his return, the agency was asked by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), if Mallya should be detained as sought in the Lookout Circular to which the CBI said there was no need to arrest or detain him as he was a sitting MP and there was no warrant against him, they said.

It said the agency only wanted information on his movements, they said.

Besides, the probe was in an initial stage and the CBI was collecting documents from the IDBI in the Rs 900 crore loan default case, they said.

The CBI issued a fresh Lookout Circular against Mallya in the last week of November, 2015 asking airport authorities across the country to "inform" it about Mallya's movements, thus replacing its previous circular which had sought detention of the businessman if he attempted to leave the country, they said.

The Lookout Circular depends on the issuing authority and, unless it asks the BoI to detain a person or to stop him from boarding a plane, no action is taken.

The sources said Mallya travelled abroad in October and returned in November, then made two trips in first and last week of December and also a trip in January, 2016.

In between, he had appeared for questioning thrice since the lookout notices were issued  once in New Delhi and twice in Mumbai between 9 and 12, December 2015.

The agency sources said that the change in the notice was an error in judgement and since he had been cooperating, there was no reason to stop him from moving abroad.

However, on 2 March, 2016, Mallya left the country and has been in the United Kingdom where he has been fighting the extradition case.

With inputs from PTI
Sushma Swaraj and Russian deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov reviewed bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

Moscow: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov on Friday reviewed bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

Sushma Swaraj and Borisov co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted:

Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors & identify new opportunities! EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov chairing the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological & Cultural Cooperation. pic.twitter.com/JJE3UPX8Ds  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 14, 2018

IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation.

The Commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, provides policy recommendations and directions in the fields concerned.

The meeting comes ahead of Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to India next month for the annual bilateral summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin have already met twice this year  at an informal summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi in May and then again on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in South Africa in June.

Soon after her arrival on Thursday, Sushma Swaraj met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and according to spokesperson Kumar, both leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called for dharnas and protests across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after a court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation staged by them over the Babli project across the Godavari river.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called for dharnas and protests across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after a court in Maharashtra issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation staged by them over the Babli project across the Godavari river.

Judicial Magistrate First Class of Dharmabad in Nanded district NR Gajbhiye issued the order, directing the police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by 21 September. Naidu and others, then in the Opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, were arrested and lodged in a Pune jail in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on the ground that it would affect the people downstream. All of them were released later, although they had not sought bail.

However, TDP leaders have alleged that the arrest warrant is politically motivated. This is nothing but a conspiracy by the BJP to intimidate the TDP. The BJP is afraid of the alliance that the TDP is forming in Telangana and the arrest warrant, which had expired, has been renewed to intimidate us, Telangana TDP president L Ramana told The Indian Express. It is revenge politics by BJP, Modi and Amit Shah, TDP leader B Venkanna said, describing the process as "witch-hunting".

The court order, dated 5 July and supposed to be executed by 16 August  but corrected to 21 September, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident. Besides Naidu, state water resources minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) were among the TDP workers booked in the case. They have been charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code, including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Reacting to news about the court order, Naidu's son and state information technology minister N Lokesh said his father and the other TDP leaders would appear in court. "He (Naidu) fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said. The chief minister is currently in Tirumala, near Tirupati, attending the annual Brahmotsavam of the Lord Venkateswara temple in Amaravati.
By Yann Le Guernigou PARIS (Reuters) - The EU's top economic official said on Thursday he feared 'little Mussolinis' might be emerging in Europe, drawing a furious response from Italy's far-right interior minister who accused him of insulting his country and Italians. Frenchman Pierre Moscovici, who is the European Union's economics affairs commissioner, said the current political situation, with populist, far-right forces on the rise in many nations, resembled the 1930s when Germany's Adolf Hitler and Italian fascist chief Benito Mussolini were in power

By Yann Le Guernigou

PARIS (Reuters) - The EU's top economic official said on Thursday he feared "little Mussolinis" might be emerging in Europe, drawing a furious response from Italy's far-right interior minister who accused him of insulting his country and Italians.

Frenchman Pierre Moscovici, who is the European Union's economics affairs commissioner, said the current political situation, with populist, far-right forces on the rise in many nations, resembled the 1930s when Germany's Adolf Hitler and Italian fascist chief Benito Mussolini were in power.

"Fortunately there is no sound of jackboots, there is no Hitler, (but maybe there are) small Mussolinis. That remains to be seen," he told reporters in Paris, speaking in a jocular fashion.

Moscovici, a former French finance minister, mentioned no names, but Matteo Salvini, who is a deputy prime minister and heads Italy's anti-immigrant League, took it personally.

"He should wash his mouth out before insulting Italy, the Italians and their legitimate government," Salvini said in a statement released by his office in Rome.

Salvini took advantage of the spat to set out once again his grievances with France, which he accuses of not doing enough to help deal with migrants from Africa and of having plunged Libya into chaos by helping to oust former strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

"EU Commissioner Moscovici, instead of censuring his France that rejects immigrants ... has bombed Libya and has broken European (budget) parameters, attacks Italy and talks about 'many little Mussolini' around Europe," Salvini said.

TOO MUCH DEBT

In other comments at the Paris event, Moscovici said Italy needed to cut wasteful spending and prioritise investment and infrastructure spending that will help stimulate growth and productivity.

"It's in Italy's interest to reduce its very high public debt," Moscovici said. "It would be a lie to think one can invest more with a higher deficit. If that happens, you end up with more debt and less capacity to invest."

Italy is preparing its 2019 budget, a process that has heightened tensions within the governing coalition, which comprises Salvini's League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.

Yields on Italian bonds have risen sharply, reflecting investor concerns about the stability of Italy's finances.

Moscovici said it was critical for Rome to come up with a workable budget.

"The Italian budget needs to be credible, credible at a nominal level but also credible in terms of the structural reforms that are required," he said. "There needs to be a significant effort on the structural side."

Moscovici added that he was working closely with Italy's finance minister in what he described as a "constructive climate" and said he hoped that would continue.

(Writing by Luke Baker and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Richard Lough and Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Amit Shah would pray at the temple of Goddess Mahankali in the old city of Hyderabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mahabubnagar

Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah is all set to sound the poll bugle for the ensuing Assembly elections in Telangana with a public meeting at Mahabubnagar on Saturday, a party leader said Friday.

During his day-long visit, Shah would pray at the temple of Goddess Mahankali in the old city of Hyderabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mahabubnagar, state BJP president K Laxman told reporters on Friday.

After the public meeting, he would meet the party's state office-bearers and district unit presidents at Kothur in the evening to discuss the strategy for the elections, before returning to Delhi.

Laxman slammed the proposed "unholy alliances" between Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) on one side and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and "communal" All India All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on the other.

The parties are trying to do "Karnataka-type politics" in Telangana, he alleged.

The reported comments of AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi that his party can stake claim to chief ministership, though it may not have majority strength post-elections, similar to HD Kumaraswamy becoming the chief minister in Karnataka, should not be taken lightly, Laxman claimed.

Congress, TRS, TDP and the communists have helped AIMIM grow by joining hands with it in the past and "people need to be alert," he said.

"MIM, which is thought to be a rope, is going to be a noose," he added.

The TRS government has not celebrated 'Telangana Liberation Day' on 17 September (when erstwhile Nizam state merged with the Indian Union in 1948) as part of implementing AIMIM's agenda, the BJP leader charged.

BJP is the only strong alternative to these parties and Shah would make it clear, he said.

BJP would contest all the 119 Assembly segments in the state on its own, Laxman said.

Telangana would be the gateway to the south to BJP after Karnataka and Union ministers and other leaders would visit the state for campaigning, he said.

His party would go to the people urging them to elect a BJP government as they had given opportunity to all the parties, he said.

Candidates with winning chances would be identified after the announcement of poll schedule, he added.
Hitting out at the BJP, Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) KE Krishna Murthy said the saffron party was foisting cases against Naidu as part of a 'political conspiracy.'

Amaravati: A day after a court in Maharashtra issued an arrest warrant against him, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said he did nothing wrong and had only tried to protect the interests of north Telangana by opposing the Babli project on the Godavari.

Hitting out at the BJP, Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) KE Krishna Murthy said the saffron party was foisting cases against Naidu as part of a "political conspiracy."

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, NR Gajbhiye, had issued the order against Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project.

The magistrate directed police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by 21 September.

Addressing a public meeting at Sunnipenta in Kurnool district this afternoon, the chief minister said: "What I did eight years ago was only to protect the north Telangana region and ensure no damage happened to Telugu people due to the construction of the Babli project... We will think what to do about the police case (and the arrest warrant)."

He said Maharashtra Police deliberately arrested him and other TDP leaders on the (then united Andhra Pradesh) border when they went to protest against the Babli construction.

"I told the police then itself that I did nothing wrong and they could do whatever they wanted. At one point, they said they have filed cases and later said no cases. They then forcibly brought us back in a special flight to Hyderabad. And now they (Maharashtra Police) are saying notices and arrest warrant have been issued," Naidu said. "We will think what to do about it," he added.

Addressing the gathering, Murthy alleged that the BJP rule resembled that of the British regime. "BJP is foisting cases against Chandrababu as part of a political conspiracy. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi fears that Chandrababu Naidu will prevent him from becoming the prime minister again," he said

Other ministers spoke separately to the media at different places in the state and condemned the arrest warrant issued against their leader.

"Issuing an arrest warrant without even serving prior notices is atrocious. This is hurting the self-respect of Andhra people," Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said.

State TDP president and energy minister KKV Rao, Urban Development Minister P Narayana, and Civil Supplies Minister PP Rao were among those who condemned the arrest warrant and termed it a witch-hunt by the Centre.

Naidu and others, then in the Opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.
What both Satya Pal Malik and New Delhi don't seem to realise is that many people in Jammu and Kashmir feel that the elections are being forced on them.

Satya Pal Malik, the newly-appointed governor of Jammu and Kashmir has shown urgency in announcing the dates of the panchayat and municipal polls in the state. This is an indication that New Delhi is expecting the situation on the ground to change by holding these elections. The Jammu and Kashmir administrations suggestion that the grassroots democratic process is more important than debating the concerns raised by the state's political parties over Article 35A of the Constitution has only made things murkier.

What both Malik and New Delhi don't seem to realise is that many people feel that the elections are being forced on them. There are also fears that the BJP-led Centre is planning something "sinister" with regard to Article 35A after the polls. On the last time that elections were held in Kashmir, in April 2017 for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, there was extreme violence and the polling percentage was in single digits.

A top government official said, How can you provide security to 30,000 people who will be contesting these elections? Despite the security concerns, he (governor) thinks that polls constitute the best instrument for bringing things in order in the Valley...But he is only doing what he has been mandated to do  to bring peace.

But that peace, says Gul Mohammad Wani, a noted political commentator based in Srinagar, can only be achieved through a sustained dialogue process with separatist groups, and giving assurances to mainstream political parties that their collective voice matters.

Wani said, When mainstream parties are shying away from the polls, what is the significance of the exercise? It only creates suspicion and mistrust."

What has made things worse for Governor Malik is his latest posturing that the two regional parties  the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party  should not take a position on Article 35A or Article 370, because this is not the right time.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, whose party, the National Conference, has called for a boycott of upcoming polls, said that if the Centre had linked Article 35A with local body elections for the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council, the party would have boycotted those polls too.

He said that the central government, which sought adjournment of the hearing on Article 35A till municipal and panchayat elections are held in the state, is itself responsible for creating a dangerous situation.

Two of the largest mainstream political parties, which have had three three chief ministers in the state, are boycotting the elections. If the government thinks that the credibility of the elections will not be an issue even without their participation, the government is free to do so, Abdullah said.

In the Kashmir Valley, almost every major political outfit has expressed unwillingness to participate in the polls. As the situation stands, a boycott of polls seems imminent. The threat of militants will only keep voters further away from polling booths.

There is a misconception in New Delhi that peace and polls are two sides of a coin. They are not, Abdul Rehman Veeri, senior PDP leader and former law and parliamentary affairs minister, said. For any political party that represents democracy in Kashmir, it is not an easy decision. New Delhi must understand why we did it (boycott). But it doesn't seem to willing to do so.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution empowers the legislature in Jammu and Kashmir to define permanent residents of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents. However, the stand taken by Jammu and Kashmirs new governor on the issue, which has already forged some unity between the mainstream and separatist camps, has sent all kinds of wrong signals.

When Malik was called from Bihar to replace NN Vohra, his arrival in Jammu and Kashmir had set the rumour mills on fire. For a long period, speculations were rife that the Narendra Modi-led government was not pleased with the former governors handling of the situation in Kashmir. Malik, the first governor of the state with a political background, is a member of the BJP. He has accepted that he has been sent to initiate a political process. But on the question of Article 35A, he has so far remained tight-lipped, or termed it as a "non-issue."

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's comments in the Supreme Court that the law is gender discriminatory have made things worse.

After the apex court put off the hearing in the case till January 2019, the governors administration termed the local body polls as long overdue. If the elections are not held, an official in Raj Bhavan said, then the state will have to wait for another year. The last panchayat and the municipal elections were conducted in 2011 and 2005 respectively.

But given the political uncertainty in the Valley, holding the polls will not exactly be a cakewalk for Raj Bhavan, especially since the state's two principal political parties have announced a boycott, and the threat of large-scale violence looms large.
Surjewala questioned why did the finance minister even after having knowledge of Mallya's escape to UK, did not choose to alert the 'CBI, Serious Fraud Investigation Office and MEA'

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Centre over erstwhile liquor baron Vijay Mallya's claim that he met finance minister Arun Jaitley before leaving India. Surjewala questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue and asked why he is "afraid to conduct a fair investigation" in the matter."

"If the prime minister still does not take action, it will be established that the 'chowkidaar' (guard/protector) is not a bhagidaar (participant), but a gunaahgaar (criminal)," the Congress spokesperson.

Surjewala accused Jaitley of not taking action to stop Mallya from leaving the country, saying that he did not alert the CBI, Serious Fraud Investigation Office or the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Congress spokesperson referred to party MP PL Punia's claim that he saw Jaitley and Mallya engaged in a conversation in the central hall of Parliament before the latter left the country. He said, "This contradicts Jaitley's claim that Mallya caught up with him in a corridor."

Surjewala also said that in March 2016, a debate was held in Parliament on the issue, but Jaitley did not speak about having met the former liquor baron.

The Congress has held a series of press conferences on this matter after Mallya earlier this week made the startling claim about having met Jaitley before leaving India. Surjewala made similar allegations against the Centre in a press conference on Thursday as well.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the CBI had aided Mallya's "great escape" by changing the "detain" notice to "inform", adding that it was "inconceivable" that this was done without Modi's approval.

With inputs from PTI
Lalzirliana, who is also the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president, was served a show cause notice by the party's disciplinary committee on Tuesday asking for his explanation on why disciplinary action should not be taken against him in the wake of news reports which claimed he was joining the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF).

Aizawl: Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana on Friday tendered his resignation from the Lal Thanhawla cabinet, officials in the Chief Minister's Office said.

Lalzirliana said he has not resigned from the primary membership of the party. His resignation brings to the fore the internal squabbles in the ruling Congress before the state Assembly elections, due in December.

He said he had to resign as he could not fulfill the aspirations of the people of his Tawi constituency as the Lal Thanhawla government refused to create a separate Saitual district even after promising the people to do so.

Lalzirliana, who is also the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president, was served a show cause notice by the party's disciplinary committee on Tuesday asking for his explanation on why disciplinary action should not be taken against him in the wake of news reports which claimed he was joining the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF).

His resignation is most likely to be accepted, sources in the ruling Congress said.

Lalzirliana, accompanied by his supporters submitted his resignation to Lal Tahnhawla's principal secretary Lalramthanga as the chief minister is away, sources said.

He was given time till 3 pm Friday to furnish his explanation, which Lalzirliana refused to do and announced his resignation to the Congress party workers at the weekly political session held at the Congress Bhavan.

During the meeting, which was held earlier in the day, he hinted that there was conspiracy to remove him as vice-president of the MPCC as well as from the post of the minister.

"I have no intention to explain and reply to the show cause notice as there is no need to do so," he said.

He claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the 2008 Assembly election had even promised the people of his constituency that Saitual district would be created if he (Lalzirliana) was elected.

Lalzirliana had first won the then Saitul Assembly constituency, now Tawi seat, in 1998 when the Congress was completely routed by the MNF-Mizoram People's Conference combine. He was among the six Congress legislators in the 40-member house and the only one from Aizawl district.

He won from his home turf for four consecutive terms and was inducted as minister in 2008 when the Congress stormed back to power. He was made a minister again in 2013.
Former VHP president Pravin Togadia said he will lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on 21 October to 'awaken' the government on the Ram temple issue.

Lucknow: Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Pravin Togadia on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of coming to power by promising a Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh but dumping the issue thereafter.

Addressing a rally at the Janakpuri ground in Akbarpur, he said: "They always said that 'we will build a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya when we come to power with a majority'... now, four years have passed, and look, nothing has been done."

"The BJP came to power at the Centre due to votes of crores of Hindus. Now, they only remember the welfare of Muslim women... that's how they have betrayed you," the former VHP leader said.

Togadia asked the BJP leadership that if a law could be enacted on the triple talaq issue, why couldn't a law be made to facilitate the construction of the Ram temple.

He said he will lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on 21 October to "awaken" the government on the issue.

Togadia accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of forgetting the "supreme sacrifices made by hundreds of people during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement" and pointed out that Modi had not visited Ayodhya even once in the past four years.
Patole was elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket from Bhandara-Gondiya in 2014 defeating NCP heavyweight and former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Mumbai: Former MP Nana Patole, who had resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress earlier in 2018, was on Friday appointed the chairman of the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress.

The announcement about Patole's appointment was made by All India Congress Committee general secretary Ashok Gehlot.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed ex-MP Nana Patole as chairman, Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress of the AICC with immediate effect," Gehlot's statement read. Patole is currently vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

Patole was elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket from Bhandara-Gondiya in 2014 defeating NCP heavyweight and former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Patole, however, quit the ruling party in December, 2017 accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of failing to address issues of farmers. He joined the Congress in January this year.

Patole said on Friday that the post he has been appointed to is an important one in the party and earlier incumbents included senior leaders like Rajesh Pilot and Balram Jakhar.

"For the first time, it (chairmanship) has gone to Maharashtra. The organisation's chief automatically becomes member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," he said.

He added that the Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress raises agricultural issues and helps the party formulate policies on them.
In the latest development in the Vijay Mallya controversy, Rahul took to Twitter on Friday to allege that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) handling Mallya's case changed the conditions of investigation with the 'approval of Prime Minister'

In the latest development in the war of words over the Vijay Mallya controversy between Congress and the BJP government, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) downgraded the Lookout Circular (LoC) against Mallya, with the "approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

In the tweet on Friday, Rahul said "Mallya's Great Escape" was aided by the CBI. "The CBI reports directly to the prime minister. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the prime minister," he said. Former MP Jaipal Reddy on Friday also slammed the government and said that the government "let Mallya flee the country".

Mallyas Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the Detain notice for him, to Inform. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 14, 2018

On Thursday, the CBI had clarified that the change in a 2015 lookout circular against ex-liquor baron Mallya from "detain" to merely informing about his movements was an "error" in judgement because he had been cooperating in the probe and there was no warrant against him.

CBI sources said that when the first LoC was issued on 12 October, 2015, Mallya was already abroad. Upon his return, the agency was asked by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), if Mallya should be detained as sought in the LoC. The CBI replied that there was no need to arrest or detain him as he was a sitting MP and there was no warrant against him.

The agency said that since the probe was in an initial stage and documents were being collected from the IDBI in the Rs 900 crore loan default case, the CBI issued a fresh LoC against Mallya in the last week of November 2015 asking airport authorities across the country to "inform" it about Mallya's movements, thus replacing its previous circular which had sought detention of the businessman if he attempted to leave the country.

Mallya, who was the former Kingfisher Airlines chairman, on Wednesday created a political storm when he claimed he had met the finance minister before leaving India.

Reporters asked Mallya, who appeared before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in the case regarding his extradition to India, whether he was "tipped off" to leave the country. "I left because I had a scheduled meeting in Geneva. I met the finance minister before I left, repeated my offer to settle with the banks. That is the truth," he responded, without naming the minister.

The statement set in motion sparring between the Congress and BJP, with both parties accusing each other of being lax with the loan defaulter.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not waste time in responding to Mallya's claim. He said Mallya's "statement is factually false in as much as it does not reflect truth". In a Facebook post, Jaitley said that Mallya had "misused" his privilege of being a member of the Rajya Sabha and "paced to catch up" with him while he was walking out of the Rajya Sabha.

India has requested Mallya's extradition from the United Kingdom so he can face trial on fraud and money laundering charges.

With inputs from PTI
The BJP might be in trouble, even so, Rahul Gandhi is hardly the leader who can lead the Congress charge against cronyism.

The optics are not looking good for BJP in the Vijay Mallya case. Politics is a game of perception. And as Lee Atwater had said back in the 1980s, perception is reality. In the final scheme of things, it matters little whether scummy bankers arranged easy loans for the debt-ridden liquor baron, whether his misadventures were facilitated by phone-banking or whether his NPAs were evergreened in the UPA era. It matters little whether a crooked babu looked the other way when Mallya was busy diverting his loans to shell companies or whether a corrupt officer gave him a tip-off at the right time.

These facts are of academic interest in elections. What matters is a simple story. The tycoon scooted away when NDA was in power, now claims that he met the Union finance minister and offered to settle the loans before he did so and the CBI now admits that it goofed up in handling the case. Congress must be licking its chops. The BJP has been pushed to the backfoot, forced to defend itself ahead of elections.

The Congress president has wasted no time. He first demanded the resignation of Arun Jaitley. On Friday, he trained his guns on the prime minister. Rahul Gandhi needs to tone down his excitement a wee bit. For all the real and perceived misdemeanors of those he is targeting, Rahul lacks the moral authority to target anyone  much less demand anyones resignation  on charges of corruption. Pots usually refrain from labeling a slur on kettles.

The BJP, however, should have no comfort on that count. It is struggling to counter the Congress narrative that one of the most powerful ministers in Narendra Modi cabinet helped the disgraced industrialist fly away from India.

In one stroke, Congress charge dilutes the seriousness of the legal battle the Government of India has waged in extraditing Mallya from the UK. It also discredits the reforms NDA has undertaken by bringing in tough laws such as Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code to clean up the NPA mess and weakens the impression that the government is tough and uncompromising on crony capitalists. Most importantly, it sullies the prime ministers image of incorruptibility.

Theres been a give-and-take between the BJP and Congress on Mallya that makes for little substance but great political theatre. The controversy erupted when the fugitive businessman, who is facing charges of money laundering and an extradition attempt from India, told reporters in London that he had met Jaitley before he left for Geneva when he apparently repeated an offer to settle with the banks. The finance minister was quick to rebut his claim and clarified in a Facebook post that he had not given Mallya any appointment to meet him since 2014.

Jaitley, did, however, reveal that Mallya had misused his privilege as a Rajya Sabha member and caught him briefly while the minister was walking out the House to enter his room and made a settlement offer. Jaitley held that having been fully briefed about his earlier bluff offers, without allowing him to proceed with the conversation, I curtly told him there was no point talking to me and he must make offers to his bankers. I did not even receive the papers that he was holding in his hand.

Mallyas subsequent clarification, that no formal meeting took place and he happened to meet Jaitley in Parliament and had no formal meeting scheduled with him seems to buttress Jaitleys statement. Congress, however, claims that one of its leaders PL Punia had seen Jaitley talking discreetly with Mallya for 15-20 minutes on 1 March, 2016 (a day before he fled) and has demanded Jaitleys resignation and a probe.

It is unclear why Punia had kept quiet for so long if he was in possession of such explosive information. Or if he had let it on internally to the party, why Congress chose not to bring it to public notice till now. It is inconceivable that any political party will let go of such an opportunity. It is unlikely, however, for this theatre to provide any specific answers. The more important thing is to try and understand why the CBI changed the 2015 Look Out Circular against Mallya from detain to inform that may have allowed the liquor mogul to escape.

This is an interesting angle to explore. As usual, Rahul has jumped the gun and claimed that CBI had approval from the prime minister in quietly downgrading the notice and leading to Mallyas Great Escape.

Mallyas Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the Detain notice for him, to Inform. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 14, 2018

Rahuls direct charge against Modi stems from his longstanding desire to show that the prime minister is not incorruptible or inhabitant of a higher moral universe but as guilty as rest of the pack. If such an allegation sticks even partially, Rahuls political battle becomes easier.

CBI claims that it changed the Look Out Circular (LOC) from detain order against Mallya to inform because the detain order was unsupported by evidence, backed by no warrants and issued in error.

According to a report in Indian Express, the CBI sent an LOC request on 16 October, 2015, to immigration authorities asking them to detain Mallya upon his arrival from the UK. More than a month later when Mallya was about to land in India, the CBI issued a fresh LOC asking immigration to keep them informed instead of detaining Mallya on arrival.

The newspaper reports: CBI realised that if Mallya was detained, he would have to be arrested and they did not have enough evidence to do so. The report also quotes a CBI officer, as saying, We were still in the initial stage of the probe. All documents had not been obtained. No bank had approached us with a complaint till then. We believed that Mallya would cooperate better with the probe if he was not arrested.

This obviously means that the first LOC was issued in error. The CBI admits its mistake and insists that there was a slip-up but no foul play.

The LOC with detention request had no legal basis as no non-bailable warrant, a requirement under law, had been issued against him (Mallya), Times of India quoted an agency source, as saying. On why his passport wasnt impounded despite the lodging of a cheating and criminal conspiracy case against Mallya in July 2015, the report clarifies that according to a Supreme Court judgement, the passport of a person can only be impounded when he has been charge-sheeted or if a trial is pending against him.

The report also says that a CBI officer had inadvertently ticked the detain box during the first LOC and the error was subsequently corrected in the next one. The agency apparently had no reason to suspect that Mallya was flying the coop because he was a frequent flyer abroad with large business interests and was cooperating with the probe.

For instance, as news agency PTI has reported, Mallya travelled abroad in October and returned in November, then made two trips in first and last week of December and also a trip in January 2016. In between, he had appeared for questioning thrice since the look-out notices were issued  once in New Delhi and twice in Mumbai between December 9 and 12, 2015.

It does seem as if CBIs move to downgrade the LOC was a procedural response and not any grand conspiracy to let Mallya off the hook. The agency did impound his passport, secured non-bailable warrants and charge-sheeted him once the probe established his crime. Whether or not there is any truth in CBIs claim, the problem with Congresss stance is that when it comes to Mallya, it is unable to adopt a holier-than-thou posture.

The BJP has accused the Congress of flouting all norms to offer a sweet deal to Mallyas Kingfisher Airlines to keep the airline afloat during the UPA regime. A party spokesperson cited four purported bank letters accusing the UPA of restructuring loans to assist Mallya and claimed it seems the Airlines wasnt owned by Mallya but by Gandhi family in the proxy. Benefits that Gandhi family got out of Kingfisher Airlines via business class upgradation, free tickets, etc, is in public domain.

Even if one considers these as posturing, the fact remains that former prime minister Manmohan Singh had gone on record in November 2011 to say that his government would try to find ways and means to help Kingfisher Airlines emerge out of trouble. The airline was deep in crisis by then.

In 2017, reports emerged of letters purportedly from Mallya written to then finance minister P Chidambaram (dated March 2013) and prime minister Singh (dated October 2011) apparently seeking favours in loan disbursals.

Both Singh and Chidambaram later claimed that these were ordinary piece of letters marking routine transaction.

Allegations of helping Mallya have been raised directly against Rahul as well.

#WATCH: Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi claims that Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad put pressure on him to not complain against Vijay Mallya who Rizvi says had encroached upon a Shia Waqf Board property near Meerut. pic.twitter.com/MnJBmJZAR7  ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2018

The trouble with Congress approach is that it seeks to weaponise a systemic issue with NPAs  dealt at length by Raghuram Rajan in his recent letter  into a political tool to hunt BJP. While the BJP may have lot to answer for, and indeed appears vulnerable before the narrative of helping Mallya, the Congress cannot wield a double-edged sword without injuring itself.

This is even more so because the party is helmed by a dynast who is not exactly Ceasars wife on corruption. He and his mother Sonia Gandhi are out on bail in the National Herald misappropriation of assets case and in a recent order, the Delhi High Court has dismissed their pleas challenging the income tax notice seeking a tax reassessment for fiscal 2011-2012. The court has ruled that the I-T department has the power to reopen tax proceedings.

Incidentally, in August this year, the Delhi HC had rejected Rahuls plea to restrain the media from reporting on this issue.

Income Tax matter: Counsel for Rahul Gandhi also asked Court to restrain media from publishing the matter, High Court refused to stay media reporting https://t.co/DAIy4OOBpM  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018

It raised speculation over why the Congress president, who claims to bat for freedom of expression would seek to gag the media.

BJP/RSS believe the freedom of expression must be policed & controlled. I believe this freedom is a fundamental democratic right. My father lived and died in the service of India. The views of a character on a fictional web series can never change that.#SacredGames  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 14, 2018

The BJP might be in trouble. Even so, Rahul is hardly the leader who can lead the Congress charge against cronyism. That would be the deepest of ironies.
Reuters

A bipartisan group of 16 US lawmakers asked Google on 13 September if it would comply with Chinas internet censorship and surveillance policies should it re-enter the Chinese search engine market.

The questioning added to the pressure on Google to disclose precautions it would take to protect the safety of its users if Chinese regulators allow its search engine to operate.

More than 1,000 Google employees, six US senators and at least fourteen human rights groups have written to the company expressing concern about its China ambitions.

On 13 September, Jack Poulson, a research scientist who had worked for Google for more than two years, said he resigned because he felt the company was not honoring its commitment to human rights norms in designing the search app.

Poulson told Reuters that executives would not specify to him where the company would draw the line on agreeing to Chinese demands.

Unfortunately, the virtually unanimous response over the course of three very vocal weeks of escalation was: I dont know either, Poulson said.

He was among a handful who resigned, he told the Intercept online publication, which first reported on his action.

Google declined to comment directly on the lawmakers letter or the resignations but said in a statement it had been investing for many years to help Chinese users and described its work on search for China as exploratory and not close to launching.

Reuters reported last month that Google planned to seek government clearance to provide a version of its search engine in China that blocks some websites and search terms.

Members of the US House of Representatives, including liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, said in their letter on 13 September they had serious concerns about the potential step.

The letter asked if Google would ensure that individual Chinese citizens or foreigners living in China, including Americans, will not be surveilled or targeted through Google applications.

Representative David Cicilline, a Democrat and signer of the letter, wrote on Twitter that Google should not be helping China crack down on free speech and political dissent.

Other signers include Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee.

The company could face questions about China when it testifies on privacy issues before a Senate panel on Sept. 26.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, said on 13 September that Google would be invited to testify on a number of issues. He wrote on Twitter that Google had worked with China and Russia on censorship but no longer wanted to do a technology deal with the US Defense Department.

Googles main search platform has been blocked in China since 2010, but it has been attempting to make new inroads into the worlds largest smartphone market by users.

Googles re-entry is not guaranteed as China has stepped up scrutiny of business dealings involving US tech firms including Facebook and Apple amid intensifying trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.
tech2 News Staff

After Samsung, Huawei is taking a dig at Apple as it nears the launch of its flagship on 16 October in London. Unlike Samsung, which had mocked the iPhone X unibrow, Huawei has thanked Apple in its posts for "keeping things the same".

On 12 September, Apple launched the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. While the iPhone X's upgraded version the XS looks identical and the XS Max is the largest Apple iPhone ever. The iPhone XR which is the most economical of the lot, starting at Rs 76,900, comes with a 6.1-inch LCD display.

Tipping on factors such as design, colour variants and 'innovation', Huawei is promoting its phone this year. The Mate 20 series will also be the first series to be housing the latest generation Kirin 980 SoC which was announced at IFA.

It claims that its upcoming phones from Mate 20 series are more innovative than the recently launched offering from Apple as they will move 'beyond consistency', 'beyond horizon' and 'beyond intelligence'. Huawei conveys this by showing a man running on a circular track which looks similar to the golden ring on Apple's 'Gather round' invite. After taking a lap, the human moves ahead.

Thank you for keeping things the same. See you in London. 16.10.18 #HigherIntelligence #HUAWEIMate20 pic.twitter.com/ZhZHj9Xg3s

 Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 12, 2018

Thank you for supporting us as innovators. See you in London. 16.10.18 #HigherIntelligence #HUAWEIMate20 pic.twitter.com/pvQr7mlzd1  Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 12, 2018

Thank you for letting us be the real hero of the year. See you in London.16.10.18. #HigherIntelligence #HUAWEIMate20 pic.twitter.com/blwOcweRj1  Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 12, 2018

It must be noted that Huawei had surpassed Apple last year in the race to become the number two smartphone seller in the world.

Huawei is expected to launch the Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro and the Mate 20 Lite. It will succeed the Mate 10. These phones will also house Huawei's latest chipset Kirin 980 SoC which was launched at the IFA 2018.
Indo-Asian News Service

Samsung has said it is working with Internet giant Google to offer improved messaging experiences that would allow users to engage in group chats and video calls and transfer large files without the need for additional apps.

The collaboration will ensure that Android Messages and Samsung Messages will work together seamlessly, and it will boost coverage of Rich Communication Services (RCS), an upgrade to the SMS messaging system, Yonhap news agency reported.

The South Korean tech giant said it would work to bring RCS features to existing mobile phones beginning with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus.

It also said its new Galaxy smartphones will natively support RCS messaging, starting with those on a set of carriers that have or will soon launch RCS.

"By furthering our robust partnership with Google, we will bring a richer messaging experience to our customers, letting them seamlessly chat with their friends and family across messaging platforms," Patrick Chomet, executive vice president at Samsung's Mobile Communications Business, said in comments posted on the website of Samsung Mobile Press on 12 September.

"This collaboration will help further the industry's momentum toward advanced messaging and global RCS coverage."

"Our partnership will further advance our shared vision of a substantially improved messaging experience on Android for users, brands and the broader Android ecosystem," Anil Sabharwal, vice president for communications products and photos at Google, said.

The move comes at a time when many people are opting to use popular messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and WeChat instead of traditional SMS messaging.
Kavya Narayanan

The Apple Watch is back with Series 4, and this time with a huge leap in its use of medical technology.

The Watch can detect the heart rate with remarkable accuracy  sensitive enough to pick up on heart arrhythmias, Jeff Williams, COO of Apple Inc said at the launch event.

Medical tech is an industry in itself, evolving rapidly. And with the Series 4, Apple evidently wants to take a bite.

Platforms like Cerebro (an AI-based app for nurses to monitor patients efficiently) and DxtER (an AI-based engine that monitors vital signs for people suffering from critical conditions) are aimed at monitoring vital signs in patients for quick response in an emergency.

But the Apple Watchs electrocardiogram (ECG) feature isnt in it for that critical moment of life-or-death.

No, this feature is geared up for the long haul  on the wrists of people living with an illness that isnt going away anytime soon. A first-line of monitoring for people with heart conditions and irregular heart rates.

In the world of wearables, this is a first, complete with US FDA certification!

A win for the tech-abled hypochondriacs? I think so.

An international study warns of heart conditions among Indians having increased to 34 percent in the 26 years ending in 2016. For the 14 lakh urban Indians that live with heart disease today, the ECG feature on Series 4 offers a means of keeping tabs on your heart rate and rhythm as frequently as they feel the need to.

While monitoring heart rate in itself is not unusual for a wearable to be able to do, the new Apple Watch can record impulses during the resting heart rate  when theres no strenuous physical activity being done.

When the ECG app is opened and the digital crown held down, two separate sets of sensors on the Watch  one in the back crystal, and another in its base begin duty. The sensors used to measure these impulses are electrodes  a characteristic of ECGs  which detect electrical impulses from minute electrical changes on the skin surface with every pulse.

The readings from these sensors are relayed to a software algorithm, which processes it into a tidy, detailed report that could be exported and printed for a doctor to evaluate if the need arises.

Whats impressive is not just that the Watch has an ECG feature, but the level of micro-computing and medical tech that it packs in.

Traditionally, an ECG of this kind called a surface ECG would use a series of electrodes (between five and twelve), placed on the limbs and chest. By placing them on different parts of the body, it captures a comprehensive pattern of the hearts impulses from multiple angles.

The result of an ECG is a composite of all these inputs  an accurate, reliable scan of the hearts thumps and pulses. An ECG can pick up on illnesses like arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm) and heart attacks. The new Apple Watch intends to give its users access to these pithy powers by placing a finger on its digital crown for a mere 30-seconds.

It sure sounds like a feat the way Apple sold it.

But is an ECG report from your trusty Apple Watch Series 4 something a doctor would entertain?

We asked a leading cardiologist at the Krishna Cardiac Care Centre in Mumbai, Dr Ashok Panjabi to set the record straight.

Here's what he had to say:

What do you think about the new ECG feature on the Apple Watch Series 4?

Its certainly not the first portable device to record an ECG. There have been a few others shaped like pagers, complete with leads that connect to the skin.

Portable ECGs have been available for years. What this offers is more convenience than a novelty.

Does the ECG report from the Watch hold any medical value?

Firstly, the report that this Watch gives you isn't an 'ECG' in the traditional sense. Its a rhythm strip  a record of the hearts electromagnetic impulses over a period of time.

In a wearable device, it is likely recorded with a single lead (electrode), unlike a traditional ECG that has 12 such leads.

So, it certainly isnt a replacement for an ECG by any stretch of the imagination. It could be useful as a screening tool for heart disorders, but not much more than that.

Does FDA approval make it any more reliable?

FDA approval is definitely an important thing for a product from a safety and a quality standpoint. If it passes the stringent tests and requirements of the FDA, it is with good reason.

But whether its reliable is a different question altogether.

So a Watch with an ECG feature can't be trusted?

The problem is that an (ECG) is a sensitive thing.

It can be disturbed easily, it can pick up on a persons anxiety and nervousness, on signals from the environment. This is assuming the instrument itself works without errors.

Theres a good reason doctors recommend (ECGs) from an experienced professional. They are most reliable when done in a controlled environment and looked at by a trained professional.

As a heart monitoring feature, is it good for anything? At all?

Heart rate monitors have been part of many wearable technologies before this. An ECG, though, is less common.

I can imagine that with an ECG app, there would be some degree of processing involved. The user would still have to be knowledgeable about how to read an ECG properly.

One trouble I foresee with having one on your wrist is that it could cause for alarm in people that are perfectly healthy. This isn't more harm than help.

I've had people with no major problems rush to me in a panic after having seen something they think isn't normal. Instances like this can trigger anxiety and panic in people. This could be both a nuisance and concerning at the same time.

Would you entertain a patient's ECG report from an app?

Sure, I would have a look at it.

I view it as a screening tool, but not as a reliable scan for a medical diagnosis of any kind. For more serious illnesses, there are complex heart scans that depend on accurate results from an ECG. I would not make any such decisions using a rhythm strip from a watch.
In the face of global condemnation, Myanmar's leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday said that the handling of Rohingya Muslims  7,00,000 of whom have fled to Bangladesh amid a brutal military campaign  could have been better.

Hanoi: In the face of global condemnation, Myanmar's leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday said that the handling of Rohingya Muslims  7,00,000 of whom have fled to Bangladesh amid a brutal military campaign  could have been better, but still defended security forces from charges of civilian atrocities.

Myanmar's army is accused of mass rape, killings and setting fire to thousands of homes in the aftermath of an August 2017 attack by Rohingya militants on security outposts. A report issued two weeks ago by a specially appointed UN human rights team recommended prosecuting senior Myanmar commanders for genocide and other crimes.

"There are of course ways in which, with hindsight, I think the situation could have been handled better," Suu Kyi said, responding to questions during a one-on-one discussion at the World Economic Forum's regional meeting in Hanoi.

She still defended Myanmar security forces, saying that all groups in western Rakhine state had to be protected. "We have to be fair to all sides," Suu Kyi said. "The rule of law must apply to everyone. We cannot choose and pick."

Suu Kyi said the situation was complicated by the myriad ethnic minorities in the area, some of which are at risk of disappearing entirely and which include not just the Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists.

Although the violence in Rakhine state has eased, Myanmar has to deal with its aftermath, especially the repatriation of the Muslim Rohingya who fled and the underlying causes of tension that makes them targets of discrimination and repression in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar.

Suu Kyi said that Myanmar is prepared to take back those who fled, but their return has been complicated by the fact that two governments are involved. Aid workers say conditions for a safe and orderly return of the refugees have not been met.

Suu Kyi also rejected criticism over the show-trial conviction last week of two Reuters news agency reporters who helped expose extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya men and boys. The reporters were both sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on charges of possessing state secrets. US Vice President Mike Pence is among those who have condemned the verdicts and called for the journalists' release. "The case has been held in open court," Suu Kyi said.

"If anyone feels there has been a miscarriage of justice I would like them to point it out. They were not jailed because they were journalists. They were jailed because ... the court has decided they have broken the Official Secrets Act," she said. Suu Kyi noted that the two can appeal their sentences. The lawyers for the journalists have said they will do whatever they can to get their clients freed.

The two men testified that they had been framed by the police. The case has drawn worldwide attention as an example of how democratic reforms in long-isolated Myanmar have stalled under Suu Kyi's civilian government, which took power in 2016. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said that Suu Kyi was mistaken in saying the case was handled in accordance with the "rule of law."

"She fails to understand that real 'rule of law' means respect for evidence presented in court, actions brought based on clearly defined and proportionate laws, and independence of the judiciary from influence by the government or security forces," he said in a statement. "On all these counts, the trial of the Reuters journalists failed the test."
By Alvaro Murillo SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Thousands of Costa Ricans kept up a fourth day of marches and a wide public workers strike on Thursday to protest a proposed fiscal reform, dealing their centre-left president his first major test since taking office in May. President Carlos Alvarado, 38, won a run-off election against a conservative rival in one of Central America's most stable nations, known for its eco-tourism.

By Alvaro Murillo

SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Thousands of Costa Ricans kept up a fourth day of marches and a wide public workers strike on Thursday to protest a proposed fiscal reform, dealing their centre-left president his first major test since taking office in May.

President Carlos Alvarado, 38, won a run-off election against a conservative rival in one of Central America's most stable nations, known for its eco-tourism.

He called for dialogue with protesters this week and on Thursday met with University of Costa Rica representatives, saying he aimed to reach agreements.

"This is the best way to take on the situation. We all want the best for the country," Alvarado said on Twitter.

The demonstrations are some of the largest in a decade.

Thousands of unionised public employees began striking on Monday to reject the tax proposal, which is under discussion in Congress, arguing that it would disproportionately affect the middle and lower classes.

The reform would convert the country's 13 percent sales tax to a Value Added Tax, affecting more products and services.

On Thursday, strikers protested in the capital and university students marched towards the presidential residence, escorted by police officers.

The largely peaceful demonstrations in a country known for its chilled-out "pura vida" approach to life did have several moments of unrest.

On Tuesday, a San Jose supermarket was looted and the entrance to a gasoline refinery was blocked, and on Wednesday, a splinter protest group tried to enter the Legislative Assembly, clashing with police. The same evening, a communications tower in the city of Puerto Limon was set afire.

(Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Dan Grebler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is expected to plead guilty to federal charges as part of a deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller's office. A court filing Friday shows a plea hearing is set for later Friday morning.

Washington: Former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was expected to plead guilty Friday ahead of a second trial on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work, a new court filing shows.

It is not clear whether any agreement with prosecutors would require him to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into possible coordination between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia.

In the new filing, prosecutors dropped the bulk of the charges against Manafort, filing new paperwork that includes just two counts but that resembles in many ways the original allegations made in an indictment last year.

The charges were contained a criminal information, a document that can only be filed with a defendant's consent and typically signals a deal has been reached. The charges include conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The allegations do not involve his work with the Trump presidential campaign.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. He was facing a second trial Monday on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

It's unclear how the possible deal might affect Manafort's pursuit of a pardon from President Donald Trump. The president has signaled that he's sympathetic to Manafort's cause, and in comments to Politico, his attorney-spokesman Rudy Giuliani said a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

Manafort has aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.

At the time of Gates' plea, Manafort issued a statement saying he "had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence." And during his Virginia trial in August, Manafort's lawyers spent considerable time painting Gates as a liar, embezzler, philanderer and turncoat who would say anything to get a lighter prison sentence.

Pleading guilty would allow Manafort to avoid a trial that was expected to last at least three weeks and posed the potential of adding years onto the seven to 10 years he is already facing under federal sentencing guidelines from his conviction in Virginia.

A jury found Manafort guilty of eight counts of tax evasion, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

In the Washington case, prosecutors were set to lay out in great detail Manafort's political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the U.S. for Ukrainian interests without registering with the Justice Department as required by the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. Manafort was accused of concealing from the IRS tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from his Ukrainian patrons and conspiring to launder that money through offshore accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.

Manafort had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. Even after his indictment last October, though, prosecutors say he continued to commit crimes by tampering with witnesses. The discovery of his witness contacts led to a superseding indictment in June and Manafort's jailing ahead of his trial.

In addition to the witness tampering counts, Manafort had been formally charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, conspiring to launder money and lying to the FBI and Justice Department about the nature of his work. Court papers indicated that he could have faced between 15 and 19 1/2 years in prison under federal guidelines.

The charges do not relate to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has pleaded guilty to two federal charges as part of a cooperation deal with prosecutors. The deal requires him to cooperate 'fully and truthfully' with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Washington: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has pleaded guilty to two federal charges as part of a cooperation deal with prosecutors which requires him to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The charges against Manafort are related to his Ukrainian consulting work  not Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which is the central issue in the special counsel's investigation.

Friday's move gives Mueller another successful conviction while allowing Manafort to avoid facing another costly public trial.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson said in court Friday that Manafort must participate in interviews and debriefings, provide documents and testify in future cases.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. He was facing a second trial Monday on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

It's unclear how the possible deal might affect Manafort's pursuit of a pardon from President Donald Trump. The president has signaled that he's sympathetic to Manafort's cause, and in comments to Politico, his attorney-spokesman Rudy Giuliani said a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

Manafort has aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.

At the time of Gates' plea, Manafort issued a statement saying he "had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence." And during his Virginia trial in August, Manafort's lawyers spent considerable time painting Gates as a liar, embezzler, philanderer and turncoat who would say anything to get a lighter prison sentence.

Pleading guilty would allow Manafort to avoid a trial that was expected to last at least three weeks and posed the potential of adding years onto the seven to 10 years he is already facing under federal sentencing guidelines from his conviction in Virginia.

A jury found Manafort guilty of eight counts of tax evasion, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

In the Washington case, prosecutors were set to lay out in great detail Manafort's political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the U.S. for Ukrainian interests without registering with the Justice Department as required by the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. Manafort was accused of concealing from the IRS tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from his Ukrainian patrons and conspiring to launder that money through offshore accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.

Manafort had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. Even after his indictment last October, though, prosecutors say he continued to commit crimes by tampering with witnesses. The discovery of his witness contacts led to a superseding indictment in June and Manafort's jailing ahead of his trial.

In addition to the witness tampering counts, Manafort had been formally charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, conspiring to launder money and lying to the FBI and Justice Department about the nature of his work. Court papers indicated that he could have faced between 15 and 19 1/2 years in prison under federal guidelines.
By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea will open a joint liaison office on the North's side of the heavily militarised border on Friday, a South Korean official said, as hopes rise for progress in stalled denuclearisation talks at a summit next week. The joint liaison office, seen as the start of a de facto embassy, is another step towards closer cooperation between the two Koreas. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold their third meeting this year in Pyongyang next week, when it is hoped they can help resolve a diplomatic impasse between the United States and North Korea.

By Joyce Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea will open a joint liaison office on the North's side of the heavily militarised border on Friday, a South Korean official said, as hopes rise for progress in stalled denuclearisation talks at a summit next week.

The joint liaison office, seen as the start of a de facto embassy, is another step towards closer cooperation between the two Koreas.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold their third meeting this year in Pyongyang next week, when it is hoped they can help resolve a diplomatic impasse between the United States and North Korea.

The South Korean government had hoped to open the office by August but it was delayed when denuclearisation talks between the United States and North Korea stalled after an historic summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June.

However, Kim sent a message to South Korean envoys last week that he wants to achieve denuclearisation during Trump's first term. That followed what Trump described as a "very warm" letter from Kim requesting another meeting, which rekindled hopes for progress.

The two Koreas previously communicated by fax and special phone lines, which were at times cut off when inter-Korean relations sank, but will now be able to "communicate 24 hours, 365 days", South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said this week.

Vice minister-level officials from North and South respectively will head the new office and will also serve as permanent negotiation representatives at weekly meetings, Baik said.

"We will manage inter-Korean relations stably and hope that this will also help the progress of denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the United States," he said.

About 50-60 people each from North and South Korea will attend an opening ceremony for the new office on Friday, the unification ministry said.

It is located in Kaesong on North Korea's side of the border, about 60 km (37 miles) from Seoul and 141 km from Pyongyang.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Paul Tait)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
India has not been able to secure membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group because of China's veto, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday.

Washington: India has not been able to secure membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group because of China's veto, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday, asserting that the US will continue to advocate for New Delhi's membership in the elite grouping as it meets all the criteria.

India has been seeking entry into the 48-member elite nuclear club, which controls nuclear trade, but China has repeatedly stonewalled its bid.

While India, which is backed by the US and a number of western countries has garnered the support of a majority of the group's members, China has stuck to its stand that new members should sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), making India's entry difficult as the group is guided by the consensus principle. India is not a signatory to the NPT.

"Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a consensus-based organization. India has not been able to secure membership as a result of opposition from China," Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told a Washington audience.

"We have deemed that we're not going to limit our own cooperation with India based on a Chinese veto. Of course, we moved ahead with a STA One authorisation and we certainly believe that India meets all of the qualifications of the nuclear supplier's group and will continue to actively advocate on behalf of India's membership, Wells said in response to a question.

He said by granting Strategic Trade Authorisation (STA-1) status, the US has placed India in the inner circle of America's closest allies.

"It reflects just the intimacy of the strategic partnership," she said in response to a question at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think-tank.

The senior State Department Official hoped that the nuclear deal with India would finally see light of the day with the approaching of its 10th anniversary.

"With Westinghouse coming out of bankruptcy, we now have an opportunity to cross the finish line to really culminate in what was this historic process that began a decade ago to be able to have one of our premier companies provide in some of the safest and cleanest fuel that will benefit, tens of millions of Indian citizens," she said.

"It's a really another exciting chapter that hopefully we can close. Certainly, we will be supporting Westinghouse as it continues its conversations with India," she said.

US President George W Bush had signed the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal, approved by the US Congress, into law on 8 October, 2008.
A series of gas explosions one official described as 'Armageddon' left at least 10 people injured and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighbourhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and turn off gas and electric lines to prevent further damage.

Lawrence: A series of gas explosions one official described as "Armageddon" left at least 10 people injured and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighbourhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and turn off gas and electric lines to prevent further damage.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. "There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Governor Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers. "This is still very much an active scene," he said. "There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why."

Hours after the explosions, the utility's parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area. "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident," Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement. "The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community."

Baker previously said authorities hadn't heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the company's response "adequate." By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires. Schools in all three communities were canceled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.

"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated." With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighbourhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4.30 pm EDT Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbour's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighbourhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

"It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe." Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante was warning residents in the Colonial Heights neighbourhood to evacuate but said traffic had become a problem.

"People need to get out of this area safely," he said at the time. "It's really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous." Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometres) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

"Lawrence is a very resilient community. We're going to get through this together," Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.

Gas explosions have claimed lives and destroyed property around the US in recent years. A buildup of natural gas triggered an explosion and fire that killed seven people in apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2016.

In 2014, a gas explosion in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood killed eight people and injured about 50. Consolidated Edison later agreed to pay $153 million to settle charges after the state's Public Service Commission found Con Ed violated state safety regulations. A gas leak had been reported before that blast.

A 2011 natural gas explosion killed five people in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and that state's largest gas utility was fined by regulators who called the company's safety record "downright alarming."
Pakistan's Supreme Court has allowed Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) to continue their activities in the country.

Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court has allowed Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) to continue their activities in the country. A two-member bench Wednesday rejected an appeal by the government against an interim order of the Lahore High Court on 5 April which had allowed the two groups to continue their welfare work.

The high court had restrained the government from interfering with the social work of the two groups and also allowed their legal activities. Earlier, the Pakistan government had banned companies and individuals from making donations to JuD, FIF, and other organisations on the UN Security Council sanctions list. JuD chief Saeed termed the apex court verdict as a "victory of justice and truth".

Officials said JuD's network includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance service. The two groups have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers. Saeed was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. He was released from house arrest in Pakistan in November.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.
President Vladimir Putin suggested on Wednesday that Russia and Japan sign a peace treaty this year, ending World War II hostilities 'without any preconditions' as a territorial dispute has led to decades of deadlock.

Vladivostok: President Vladimir Putin suggested on Wednesday that Russia and Japan sign a peace treaty this year, ending World War II hostilities "without any preconditions" as a territorial dispute has led to decades of deadlock.

But Putin's sudden proposal was received coolly in Japan, where a government spokesman said the two countries should first resolve the dispute before signing a peace deal.

The dispute between Russia and Japan centres on four islands in the strategically-located Kuril chain which the Soviet Union occupied at the end of war in 1945 but are claimed by Japan.

It has kept the two countries from signing a peace accord that would formally end their wartime hostilities. "We have been trying to solve the territorial dispute for 70 years. We've been holding talks for 70 years," Putin said at an economic forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"Shinzo said: 'let's change our approaches.' Let's! Let's conclude a peace agreement, not now but by year's end without any preconditions," Putin said, prompting the audience to break into applause.

Not a joke

"It is not a joke," Putin added, suggesting the two countries commit to solving the territorial dispute in the text of the peace deal. Putin said the conclusion of such a deal would create a better atmosphere and allow Russia and Japan to "continue to solve all outstanding issues like friends."

"It seems to me that this would facilitate the solution of all problems which we have not been able to solve during the past 70 years." The Japanese prime minister said the two countries "have a duty to future generations."

"Let us walk together mindful of the questions, 'If we don't do it now, then when?' And 'if we don't do it, then who will?'," Abe said, speaking before Putin. "We are both fully aware that it will not be easy."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to reporters, described Putin's proposal as an impromptu idea and said the two leaders had not yet discussed it. "Putin intends to solve this problem," he added.

A Japanese government spokesman said the country's stance had not changed. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said a treaty with Russia would be signed "after resolving the issue of the attribution of the Four Northern Islands," referring to the disputed territory.

On Monday, Putin had seemed to pour cold water on suggestions that the dispute could be solved soon. "It would be naive to think that it can be solved quickly," Putin said after meeting Abe on the sidelines of the forum.

Putin trolls Abe

Some diplomats said Putin's proposal was a non-starter. A former Russian deputy foreign minister, Georgy Kunadze, said he doubted Putin wanted to solve the territorial problem in earnest.

"This is called trolling. Putin does not expect anything," Kunadze told the Echo of Moscow radio station. He suggested Abe would never accept a deal that would be political suicide.

Alexander Gabuev, head of the Russia in the Asia Pacific Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, suggested Putin's proposal was a sign of frustration at a dearth of Japanese investment.

"This appears to be just emotions and an attempt to put pressure rather than anything real," he told AFP. Putin and Abe have held numerous meetings over the past few years in a bid to solve the dispute over the islands.

The two countries have launched various economic projects on the islands in areas such as the farming of fish and shellfish, wind-generated energy, and tourism. Russia's deputy foreign minister Igor Morgulov told Russian news agencies that Putin's announcement would not require any changes to the current format of negotiations.

The Kurils, which lie north of Japan's Hokkaido island, have been controlled by Moscow since they were seized by Soviet troops in the dying days of World War II. The four islands whose population stands at some 20,000 people are known in Russian as Iturup, Shikotan, Habomai and Kunashir.

Putin's predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev travelled to Kunashir in 2010, becoming the first Russian leader to visit the disputed islands and provoking fury in Tokyo.
China is using latest biometric and surveillance technology including installing QR codes on homes of the Uyghur ethnic community in the Xinjiang to track their movement and get instant access to the personal details of people living in the area, a report in the Human Rights Watch said.

China is using latest biometric and surveillance technology including installing QR codes on homes of the Uighur ethnic community to track their movement and get instant access to the personal details in Xinjiang province, a report in the Human Rights Watch said.

Though authorities claim that the QR codes  featured in locales other than Uighur homes as well  help with population control and delivery of services, according to the charity, it's being used to monitor Turkic Muslims and repress the expression of "Uighur identity including the community's religion, language and culture" in daily life.

Human Rights Watch between March and August 2018 interviewed 58 people affected by the Strike Hard Campaign living outside China as part of the report.

Beijing, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping sees religion as something that must be "Sinicised", it says, adding that the increased repression of the Uighur identity is part of China's plan to achieve "ethnic unity" and suppress threat from "Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions between Uighurs who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority".

According to the Human Rights Watch, "Officials scan the 'smart' door plates with mobile devices before entering homes to monitor the inhabitants," it said.

Nurmuhemmet, a local, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, said, "Starting from spring 2017, every home, where one enters, theres a QR code. Then every two days or every day, the cadres come and scan the QR code, so they know how many people live here, and starting around then, they would ask (our) visitors Why are you here?... In the evenings the cadres would check as well."

The charity informs that QR codes are also installed on certain types of knives, including kitchen and craft knives, which are then linked the codes to their ID card numbers in the Xinjiang province, home to most of the Turkic Muslims. In Xinjiangs capital, Urumqi, all liquids  including water  lighters, and powders are also banned from public transport, it said.

According to the report, besides QR codes, China is also using a predictive policing programme based on big data and machine learning analysis, in Xinjiang. Known as the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), the "tool aggregates data about people, often without their knowledge, and detects deviations from what authorities deem 'normal', such as the failure to pay phone bills, and treats them as indicators that a person may be politically 'untrustworthy'".

The IJOP generates lists of people considered threatening to the authorities; the police then apprehend them, interrogate them, and detain some of them, it adds.

Interviewees also told Human Rights Watch that the police and neighborhood officers often check peoples phones for problematic content, messages, or apps, without explanation or any official documentation. Some interviewees also said that people were forced to record their gait in police stations.

The Human Rights Watch also says that it has documented "Xinjiang authorities directive to authorities to collect biometrics, including DNA samples, fingerprints, iris scans, and blood types of all residents between the age of 12 and 65".

"These biometrics, as well as 'voice samples', are collected as part of the passport application process; in addition, DNA and blood types are being collected through a free annual physical exams program called Physicals for All," the report added.

Though Human Rights Watch said that it's unclear how Beijing might be using the biometrics , it said that the amount of information that the authorities have on people is "enough to frighten many from that region".

The increased surveillance is part of the Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism that the government launched in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in 2014 to promote "ethnic unity", the report claims.

According to a United Nations Human Rights Panel report released in August this year, China is running a secretive system of internment camps in Xinjiang, where Uighurs undergo political education. China, has denied those claims an termed them as centres for vocational training.

Interestingly, the Xinjiang province, which Turkic Muslims, refer to as East Turkestan, is "the fulcrum of Xis signature Belt and Road Initiative policy", and therefore, finding a solution to the problem of the Uighurs distinctive belief in Islam and Turkic identity, is not just culturally but also economically.

HRW claims that repression in Xinjiang has reached new heights after party secretary Chen Quanquo was transferred from Tibet to Xinjiang in August 2016, and since Xi came to power in March 2013. Besides, China has often said that "sincising" religion is important to combat hostile forces in China.

Terming China a "security state", HRW accused China of committing massive human rights abuses in Xinjiang, not seen in decades in China. Sophie Richardson, China director at HRW, said that "the campaign of repression in Xinjiang is a key test of whether the United Nations and concerned governments will sanction an increasingly powerful China to end this abuse.

Xinjiang is home to Turkic Muslim ethnic minorities: the two biggest groups being the 11 million Uighurs and the 1.6 million Kazakhs. Once in the majority, Turkic Muslims now comprise only about half of Xinjiangs population, and have never enjoyed the autonomy promised to them under Chinese law, it claims.

According to the report, China sees the Turkic Muslims, particularly the Uighurs, as a threat to the Chinese state especially because of their demand for greater freedoms and autonomy under the current government; a section of the community also demands a separate state.

The report says that the use of modern technology has helped the government tightened its net of surveillance around the community. The community's affinity to protect the Uighur identity including their religion, culture, and language as well as autonomy is seen against China's plan for "ethnic unity".

Since the 1990s, Chinese authorities have been using different methods such as prioritising Mandarin over Uighur language in education to banning baby names with religious connotations such as Medina, to "minimise, if not eradicate", the "Uighur identity, including religion, culture, language, and aspirations of independence", the report says.

The government runs several other programmes under it including sending fanghuiju teams to villages  some 200,000 cadres were employed under it  regularly visit and surveil people, and subject them to political propaganda, and its latest avatar Becoming Family  a homestay programme where more than a million cadres spend at least five days every two months in the homes of Xinjiang residents primarily in the countryside.

Use of technology like facial recognition was also witnessed in some security checkpoints, the report said.

Quoting domestic Chinese tourists, it added that Turkic Muslims in the area are seen as "terrorists" and "separatists" and made to go through more stringent security controls as compared to Hans, the ethnic majority in China.
Hurricane Florences leading edge battered the Carolina coast on Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with winds of 135 kilometres per hour for a drenching siege that could last all weekend.

North Carolina: Hurricane Florences leading edge battered the Carolina coast on Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with winds of 135 kilometres per hour for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Tens of thousands were without power.

Winds and rain were arriving later in South Carolina, and a few people were still walking on the sand at Myrtle Beach while North Carolina was getting battered. Heavy rainfall began after dark.

Forecasters said conditions will only get more lethal as the storm smashes ashore early on Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and crawls slowly inland. Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3 feet of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Florences winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 225 kilometres per hour earlier in the week, and the hurricane was downgraded from a terrifying Category 4 to a 1. But North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper warned: Dont relax, dont get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality.

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm approached, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Forecasters said that given the storms size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

It truly is really about the whole size of this storm, National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact  and we have that. The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as sluggish and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are supplied and ready, and he disputed the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico, claiming the figure was a Democratic plot to make him look bad.

Schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia, airlines cancelled more than 1,500 flights, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied out.

Around midday, Spanish moss blew sideways in the trees as the winds increased in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Some of the few people still left in Nags Head on the Outer Banks took photos of angry waves topped with white froth.

Wilmington resident Julie Terrell was plenty concerned after walking to breakfast past a row of shops fortified with boards, sandbags and hurricane shutters. On a scale of 1 to 10, Im probably a 7 in terms of worry, she said. Because its Mother Nature. You cant predict.

Forecasters European climate model is predicting 2 trillion to 11 trillion gallons of rain will fall on North Carolina over the next week, according to meteorologist Ryan Maue of Weather Models. Thats enough water to fill the Empire State Building nearly 40,000 times.

More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate over the past few days, and the homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions. Homeless after losing her job at Walmart three months ago, 25-year-old Brittany Jones went to a storm shelter at a high school near Raleigh. She said a hurricane has a way of bringing everyone to the same level.

It doesnt matter how much money you have or how many generators you have if you cant get gas, she said. Whether you have a house or not, when the storm comes it will bring everyone together. A storm can come and wipe your house out overnight.

Duke Energy Co said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its 4 million customers in the Carolinas, and outages could last for weeks. Workers are being brought in from the Midwest and Florida to help in the storms aftermath, it said.

As of 11 pm, Florence was centred about 135 kilometres east-southeast of Wilmington, its forward movement slowed to 7 kilometres per hour. Hurricane-force winds extended 130 kilometres from its center, and tropical-storm-force winds up to 315 kilometres. A buoy off the North Carolina coast recorded waves nearly 30 feet (9 meters) high as Florence churned toward shore.

Scientists said it is too soon to say what role, if any, global warming played in the storm. But previous research has shown that the strongest hurricanes are getting wetter, more intense and intensifying faster because of human-caused climate change.

Florences weakening as it neared the coast created tension between some who left home and authorities who worried that the storm could still be deadly. Frustrated after evacuating his beach home for a storm that was later downgraded, retired nurse Frederick Fisher grumbled in the lobby of a Wilmington hotel several miles inland.

Against my better judgment, due to emotionalism, I evacuated, said Fisher, 74. Ive got four cats inside the house. If I cant get back in a week, after a while they might turn on each other or trash the place.

Authorities pushed back against any suggestion the storms threat was exaggerated. The police chief of a barrier island in Florences bulls-eye said he was asking for next-of-kin contact information from the few residents who refused to leave. Im not going to put our personnel in harms way, especially for people that weve already told to evacuate, Wrightsville Beach Police Chief Dan House said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN will stand with Pakistan

Islamabad: The UN should resolve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner and Turkey supports Pakistan's efforts to find a peaceful solution, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday as he held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi here.

During their talks, both sides agreed to enhance the bilateral economic and strategic cooperation.

"Turkey supported the view that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by the UN in a peaceful manner," Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Qureshi in Islamabad.

"The (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make it successful," the Turkish foreign minister said.

Qureshi said that Turkey supported Pakistan's effort for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue at the UN.

"At the UN conference there will be a separate meeting on Kashmir on the side. It happens every year but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on Kashmir," Qureshi said.

Turkey has been backing Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2017 had advocated a multilateral dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. India, however, asserted that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Cavusoglu said Pakistan and India suffered more than any other nation due to terrorism.

Qureshi said that the Turkish foreign minister assured support for Pakistan at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. He said that the two sides also discussed the regional situation including in Afghanistan, Iran and Kashmir.

The Turkish foreign minister also congratulated Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan on forming the new government in Pakistan.
By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is prepared for Israeli criticism of elements of its coming Middle East peace plan, the U.S. envoy to the region said, even as Washington faces growing Palestinian accusations that it will be heavily tilted in favour of Israel. In an interview with Reuters, Jason Greenblatt, a chief architect of the long-awaited peace initiative, said U.S

By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is prepared for Israeli criticism of elements of its coming Middle East peace plan, the U.S. envoy to the region said, even as Washington faces growing Palestinian accusations that it will be heavily tilted in favour of Israel.

In an interview with Reuters, Jason Greenblatt, a chief architect of the long-awaited peace initiative, said U.S. negotiators had entered the pre-launch phase of the plan, despite a boycott by Palestinian leaders.

But he declined to specify a time frame, except to say it would not be announced at the U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York later this month, or offer any details of a proposal that has drawn deep scepticism even before its unveiling.

Pushing back against widespread perceptions among Palestinians, Arab officials and independent analysts that the peace plan is likely to be decidedly pro-Israel, Greenblatt made clear that both sides can expect parts they will like and dislike.

Were going to have to defend the plan to Israelis and Palestinians. We are ready for criticism from all sides, but we believe this is the best path forward for everyone, he said as the administration moved to finalise an initiative led by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

But there was no immediate explanation of what might disappoint Israelis, who have been largely pleased with President Donald Trumps Middle East policies but have at times been rattled by suggestions he might ask them for significant concessions.

Doubts have mounted over whether Trump's administration can secure what he has called the "ultimate deal" after it cut off aid to the Palestinians and ordered the PLOs office in Washington shut, further angering Palestinian leaders and reinforcing their refusal to engage in U.S.-led diplomacy.

The Palestinians have refused to participate in the U.S. effort since December when Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital and then moved the U.S. embassy there.

In late August, Trump hailed the embassy move as a success but said, without elaboration, "in the negotiation Israel will have to pay a higher price because they won a very big thing."

Trumps aides later played down his comments.

It is unclear how the U.S. plan would deal with the sensitive issue of Jerusalem. Palestinians want the city's eastern part as their future capital.

ARAB WORLD'S ROLE

The Trump administration hopes Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies will support its peace plan once it is released but does not expect them to "try to push the Palestinian people into a deal that the Palestinians dont want," Greenblatt said in the interview on Wednesday.

Some U.S. officials have privately said they were counting on Arab states to use their influence with the Palestinians to convince them to come to the negotiating table.

Saudi Arabias King Salman recently has reassured other Arab countries and the Palestinians it will not endorse any plan that fails to address key Palestinian concerns.

The Trump administration has signalled it is unlikely to be deterred from rolling out the plan even if the Palestinians continue their boycott.

With the political component of the plan at the point where it covers all core issues of the decades-old conflict, We do have to get the economic portion of the plan finished, Greenblatt said. A successful economy is critical for the Palestinians."

That is widely expected to include international funding proposals for the impoverished Gaza Strip.

U.S. officials have also been non-committal about whether the plan would endorse the creation of a Palestinian state, as the Palestinians have long demanded.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said earlier this week that we will not succumb to U.S. threats and bullying.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland; Editing by Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Last week, speaker of the Georgian parliament Irakli Kobakhidze said that political council of the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to support self-nominee for the post of Georgia's president Salome Zurabishvili. People immediately began to discuss possibility of a new political tradition: if Zurabishvili will become president, she can fulfill her duties as president based not on the interests of any party or group, but society.

Nomination of a female candidate is unusual for modern political establishment of Georgia, but current situation may be affected by romanticism of Georgia's political history, which goes back to the era of legendary Queen Tamara. Meanwhile, everyone remembers Salome Zurabishvili's statement about responsibility of Mikhail Saakashvili's team for the five-day war of 2008. After these words, many people saw Zurabishvili's determination, concluding that it would be difficult to manipulate her.

Nevertheless, Salome Zurabishvili's nomination can be viewed as a diversion before nomination of a "true favorite", since rumors about possible support for Zurabishvili from the ruling party have leaked into Georgia's media long ago. Victory of the candidate from the United National Movement (UNM) is the biggest threat for the Georgian Dream. Opposition nominated former foreign minister Grigol Vashadze as presidential candidate. He's a man who has considerable authority in Georgia. It should be noted that political cleansing, typical for present-day Armenia, didn't take place in Georgia after Mikheil Saakashvili left the country, that's why positions of ex-president's colleagues from the UNM are still strong in the republic.

Zurabishvili's second rival is David Bakradze - a candidate from the European Georgia movement, which, according to public opinion polls, is rapidly gaining popularity.

Opposition already began to talk about upcoming electoral fraud. It's rumored that now the Georgian Dream is waiting for the right moment to nominate candidate from the party.

As for Salome Zurabishvili, she fits into the Georgian political environment (she worked in France for a long time), so sometimes she just can't understand what's expected of her, and who she should talk with. However, there's a common ground that brings together the Georgian Dream and Zurabishvili: she doesn't plan to join any political alliances with any opposition parties, which the ruling party fears the most.

Finally, support for any candidate is also determined by the Russian factor. Situation in Transcaucasia right now isn't that favorable for Moscow. Recently, former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan noted on Russian TV that there's possibility of his "triumphant" return to Armenian politics. It's pretty expensive to have an opportunity to speak on the Russian federal channel. If political tensions in neighboring Armenia will escalate, Georgia will have to think about its own stability.
In a non-controversial voice vote, the US house also passed a bill to ban American people from slaughtering dogs and cats for human consumption. The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, 2018, imposes a fine of $5,000 (over Rs 3,50,000) for each violation. In another resolution, the house has urged all countries including China, South Korea and India to end the dog and cat meat trade.

Washington: A resolution has been passed in the US House of Representatives asking countries like China, South Korea, Vietnam and India to end the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, saying there is no place for such practises in a compassionate society.

In a non-controversial voice vote, the US house also passed a bill to ban American people from slaughtering dogs and cats for human consumption. The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, 2018, imposes a fine of $5,000 (over Rs 3,50,000) for each violation. In another resolution, the house has urged all countries including China, South Korea and India to end the dog and cat meat trade.

"Dogs and cats are meant for companionship and recreation. Tragically, more than 10 million dogs are killed for human consumption every year in China," said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. "There is no place in our compassionate society for these practices. This bill is a reflection of America's values, and sends a strong message to all nations that we will not stand for this inhumane and cruel treatment," she said.

The act was sponsored by Republican Vern Buchanan and Democratic Alcee Hastings, both of Florida. "Dogs and cats provide love and companionship to millions of people and should not be slaughtered and sold as food," Buchanan said. The resolution urges the governments of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, and all other nations to adopt and enforce laws banning the dog and cat meat trade.

Consumption of dog meat is common in some parts of North East India  mostly Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. It also urges these countries to increase their efforts to prevent any leather or fur byproducts of such trade from entering international markets and use their food safety laws to crack down on the sale of dog and cat's meat.

The bill amends the Animal Welfare Act. It affirms the US commitment to the protection of animals and to advancing the progress of animal protection around the world, she said. In addition, the bill prohibits people from knowingly transporting, possessing, buying, selling, or donating: a dog or cat to be slaughtered for human consumption, or dog or cat parts for human consumption, setting a maximum fine of $5,000 for violations.

"More than half the households in America have a dog or cat as part of their family. We should send a clear message that slaughtering these beloved animals for food is unacceptable and will be punished," Congressman Vern Buchanan said. The animal welfare organisation, the Animal Wellness Action (AWC) also welcomed the passage of the two legislations.

"The dog meat trade  claiming 30 million lives a year  is the world's largest form of dog exploitation, said Marty Irby, AWC executive director at Animal Wellness Action. The dog meat trade is widespread in South Korea, where meat traders slaughter and kill millions of dogs for the table after they are raised on thousands of "farms." In China, dog meat butchers gather up street dogs and and kill them.
Xiaomi has released two new video teasers for the Mi 8 Youth Edition. This reveals Blue with Purple and Twilight Gold gradient colors with glass back.

Xiaomi introduced the Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition and the Mi 8 SE in China back in May, now the company has sent out invites for the launch of a new smartphone in Chengdu, China on September 19th where it is expected to introduce the Mi 8 Youth Edition. The invite has the number 8 and the other image has a smartphone with dual rear cameras arranged vertically.

Xiaomi smartphone with the model number M1808D2TE got certified by TENAA in China a few days back, so this could be the smartphone. This reveals a display with a notch and minimal bezels, a metal frame, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Edition (M1808D2TE) rumored specifications

6.26-inch (22801080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass display

Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU

8GB LPDDR4x RAM with 128GB storage, 6GB RAM with 64GB storage, 4GB RAM with 32GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD

Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI

Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD)

12MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP secondary camera

24MP front-facing camera

Fingerprint sensor

Dimensions: 156.475.87.5mm; Weight: 169g

Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) 22 MIMO , Bluetooth 5 LE, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C

3250mAh battery with fast charging

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Youth Edition is expected to come in Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Gray, Silver, Green, Blue-Violet gradient, Purple-Gold gradient colors. We should know the price when it goes official next Wednesday.

Source 1, 2, 3
Apple is adding new features to HomePod including the ability to search by lyrics, set multiple timers, make and receive phone calls and more. It is also bringing support for Spanish in the US, Spain, and Mexico, and expands support in Canada with Canadian French.



The update also brings the popular Apple Watch feature; Find my iPhone, so users can ping any of their nearby devices to find them. With iOS 12, Apple introduced Siri Shortcuts where Siri learns user routines and suggests shortcuts on iPhone and iPad. Now, these shortcuts are accessible on HomePod. The new Shortcuts app personalizes shortcuts for HomePod with a series of tasks.

Additionally, it now lets you search by lyrics to play a particular song, artist or genre. It also brings support for multiple named timers. Users can conveniently use HomePod to make and receive phone calls. To make a call, simply ask Siri to call someone from Contacts or say the number to call. Incoming calls are automatically directed from iPhone to HomePod and users can answer the call by asking Siri to answer the phone.

Source
Samsung Electronics and Google have announced that they are working together to offer global Rich Communication Services (RCS) coverage and interoperability. This will enable features like the ability to chat over Wi-Fi, create rich group chats, see typing indicators and read receipts, and share high-resolution photos and videos across platforms.

Both the companies will work together to ensure that their messaging clients, Android Messages and Samsung Messages, work seamlessly with each companys RCS technology, including cloud and business messaging platforms. As part of the collaboration, Samsung will work to bring these RCS features to existing mobile phones* beginning with the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

However, upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones will also natively support RCS messaging, starting with those on a set of carriers that have or will soon launch RCS. Developers and brands that create RCS Business Messaging experiences based on GSMA Universal Profile 2.0 using the Google or Samsung Messaging-as-a-Platform (MaaP) services will be able to reach both Android Messages and Samsung Messages users.

Patrick Chomet, EVP, and Head of Product & Services Innovation Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics said:

At Samsung, we adhere to a model of open collaboration to bring premium experiences to our customers across products. By furthering our robust partnership with Google, we will bring a richer messaging experience to our customers, letting them seamlessly chat with their friends and family across messaging platforms. This collaboration will help further the industrys momentum toward advanced messaging and global RCS coverage.

Anil Sabharwal, Vice President for Communications Products and Photos at Google said:

Weve been working with the mobile industry to upgrade the messaging experience on Android with RCS. Samsung has been a major contributor to this initiative, and our partnership will further advance our shared vision of a substantially improved messaging experience on Android for users, brands and the broader Android ecosystem.

Source
The chief of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Thursday that Tehrans missile attack on an Iranian Kurdish rebel base in northern Iraq last week was a warning to hostile powers, Iranian state television reported. As Reuters writes in the article Iran says missile attack on Kurdish dissidents a warning to hostile powers, the Guards fired seven missiles at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an armed opposition group that fights for greater autonomy for Irans Kurdish community.

Iranian media said at least 11 people were killed. The attack against the terrorists in Iraqs Kurdistan conveys a message to the enemies, particularly those superpowers who think they can impose their evil plots on Iran and bully us, state TV quoted Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to destroy U.S. military bases across the Middle East and target Israel within minutes if attacked by the United States and its regional allies.

All those who have forces, bases and equipment within a 2,000 km (1,200 mile) radius should know that our missiles are highly precise.

Israel sees Irans regional influence and involvement in conflicts from Yemen to Syria as a threat to Israels own existence.

The tension between Tehran and Washington, foes for decades, has heightened since May, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Tehran. Frances Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the missile strikes and said it was worried by Irans activities, notably its missile development.

In August, Washington reimposed sanctions on the acquisition of U.S. dollars by Iran, and its trade in gold and precious metals. The sanctions were among those lifted under the deal in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.

In November, heavier U.S. sanctions are expected on Irans oil sector, a lifeline of its economy. Washington has urged Irans oil buyers to cut their imports of Iranian crude to zero. Iran has denounced the call as nonsense.

The European Union, China and Russia, all parties to the nuclear pact, are working to maintain trade with Iran, which has threatened to stop complying with curbs on its nuclear work if it fails to see the economic benefits of relief from sanctions under the deal.
Moe's Southwest Grill Announces New Leadership for Marketing and Operations

September 14, 2018 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA, GA - Moes Southwest Grill, a leading fast casual restaurant franchise, announces new leadership for marketing and operations - Verchele Wiggins Roberts has been appointed to Marketing Vice President and Jonathon Gilliam to Operations Vice President.

Verchele Wiggins Roberts, Vice President, Marketing

Responsible for driving multi-channel global marketing strategy to increase brand relevance and engagement, Verchele is additionally leading culinary innovation to develop new products and build on existing platforms.

Most recently, Verchele was the Marketing Vice President at United Services Automobile Association (USAA) where she led national advertising campaigns, content marketing and creative development for all lines of business. Prior to USAA, Verchele spent 14 years at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) where she led global marketing and branding efforts for some of the worlds largest hotel brands including Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Verchele began her brand management and marketing career at Proctor & Gamble (P&G) working on household brands including Vicks, Crest and Scope.

Joining the Moes Southwest Grill brand is an exciting opportunity to market a consumer brand with strong brand equity and an existing loyal fan base, said Verchele Wiggins Roberts. I look forward to leading an incredible team to capitalize on our unique positioning in the segment through digital marketing and brand engagement.

Jonathon Gilliam, Vice President, Operations

Jonathon Gilliam joins Moes as Vice President of Operations to lead company and franchised operations as well as training across the brands portfolio. Jonathon will support our franchise system with continuous operations improvements including product quality, consumer experience and best in class training programs.

Jonathon previously served as the Operations Vice President at SusieCakes where he led culinary and guest services operations. In addition, during a 10-year career at Jamba Juice, Jonathon held several operations leadership positions where he built international training, operation and marketing functions from the ground up while driving significant brand growth.

Its an exciting time to be in the fast casual restaurant industry and Im thrilled to join Moes Southwest Grill on this journey, said Jonathon Gilliam. Moes has a group of dedicated franchisees and operators that are passionate about the brand and I look forward to working with them as we continue to grow the portfolio in current and new markets.

Moes Southwest Grill has been serving craveable southwestern food since 2000. Our fans know us for the unique and fun Welcome to Moes! greeting, famous queso and free chips and salsa with every order - just to name a few. To stay connected to all things Moe's, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To find the nearest location to you, visit www.moes.com.

About Moe's Southwest Grill

Welcome to Moe's! Founded in 2000 and based in Atlanta, GA, Moe's Southwest Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves high quality and fresh southwestern food. Moe's has an extensive variety of menu items to please the entire family - from burritos to specialty items like quesadillas, nachos and stacks. Whether you visit one of our 700 franchised locations or have us cater your next event, free chips and salsa come with every order, and each restaurant has a salsa bar and serves our famous queso. Moe's Southwest Grill has been recognized as the Brand of the Year in the Fast Casual Mexican Restaurant category for two years in a row based on the 2016 and 2017 Harris Poll EquiTrend Studies. Check us out online at www.moes.com to find a store near you, and then connect with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Media Contact:

Ashley Kraynak

Account Manager

Ashley.Kraynak@allisonpr.com

O: 646.428.0619

M: 570.239.9147

SOURCE Moe's Southwest Grill

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Ken Peplowski with Danny Sample will present a duo jazz concert benefiting volunteers in Medicine Clinic on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at New Monumental Baptist Church. The concert is underwritten by Nancy & Ken Dryden and Patten & Patten, Inc.



Bio on Ken Peplowski:

A native of Cleveland, Oh., Ken Peplowski was already experimenting with jazz in his early teens, playing in the school stage bands and also by jamming with many of the local jazz musicians. "By the time I hit high school, I was teaching at the local music store, playing in our family band, and playing jazz gigs around town while still getting up early every day for school."



After a year of college, Ken joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow.

In 1980, Ken moved to New York City and was soon playing in a variety of settings, from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz. "Everything's a learning experience in jazz music - there's always an element of the unpredictable." In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone. Peplowski wound up signing with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded extensively for the label and his discography as a leader or co-leader now numbers over forty CDs made for a variety of labels, including releases made for Europe and Japan.Ken refuses to predict where jazz is headed: What's in the future? "Who knows? I love all kinds of music, and I'd like to find more opportunities to bridge the gaps between different musical styles - I consider myself an interpreter of material - if something interests me, I try to put my own spin on it, without thinking or worrying about playing in any particular style. Basically, I like a challenge, I'm a sucker for a good melody, and I love playing for audiences, big or small."And he has certainly achieved these goals, be it in small clubs, the Hollywood Bowl, headlining in Las Vegas, the Newport Jazz Festival, pops concerts, European festivals  clubs, or at home in NYC doing everything from playing on the soundtracks to Woody Allen movies, to taking on the role of music director for interactive French and Italian cookbooks.The litany of musicians Ken has collaborated with includes Mel Torme, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Hank Jones, Dave Frishberg, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Harrell, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Houston Person, Steve Allen, Woody Allen, and Erich Kunzel, among many others.This is not Ken Peplowskis first Chattanooga concert, he was a headliner during a 1993 Nightfall show, accompanied by none other than pianist Danny Samples Trio.

Bio of Danny Sample:

Danny Sample was born in Memphis, took up piano at an early age, and was performing R&B and jazz by age 10. Before graduating from college with a degree in mechanical engineering, he had toured with Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, and opened for Grover Washington and B. B. King. Since then, Sample has shared the bandstand in the Chattanooga area and around the country at various clubs, colleges, private engagements and festivals such as the Oregon Mount Hood Jazz Festival, the Hill City Jazz Festival, Birmingham City Stages, Memphis in May, the Riverbend Festival, Nightfall Concert Series, and the grand opening of the Bessie Smith Hall, when his group opened for Koko Taylor.


Treasury Secretary Mnuchin invites senior Chinese officials to discuss ways to end the dispute. Talk might be cheap, but it is certainly better than another round of multi-billion-dollar tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China. In a move to defuse trade war tensions, Beijing has welcomed Washingtons offer to hold another meeting to sort out their differences.

As Asia Times writes in the article China welcomes trade war talks with United States, the Chinese side believes that the escalation of the trade conflict is not in the interest of either party, Gao Feng, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said at a regular news briefing. China has indeed received an invitation from the US and holds a welcoming attitude to it.

News that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had invited senior Chinese officials for talks comes just under a week after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports worth US$500 billion. He also made it clear he was ready to impose tariffs worth $200 billion on goods very soon if President Xin Jinpings government refused to back down.

Next round

So far, the two economic superpowers have imposed tariffs of 25% on more than $50 billion of each others exports. The next round is likely to make thousands of products, ranging from dishwashers to Fitbit fitness trackers and food seasonings, more expensive for American consumers.

In response, China has vowed to retaliate with tariffs on another $60 billion of US exports, including meat, coffee, furniture and auto parts. With the $200 billion round of tariffs looming, this is probably the best time for the US to go back to the table with a take it or leave it type of trade demand, Robert Carnell, the chief Asia-Pacific economistat investment bank ING, said in a note.

In Washington, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow sounded a cautious note about the possible outcome of talks. Secretary Mnuchin who is the team leader with China has apparently issued an invitation, Kudlow told Fox Business Network. Talking is better than not talking, so I regard this as a plus.
Defense Minister of Israel Avigdor Lieberman paid a two-day working visit to Tbilisi. This is the first visit to Georgia of an influential Israeli politician and statesman, and, more importantly, the first visit of the head of the defense department. The political leader of the Israel Defence Forces visited Georgia amid the difficult geopolitical situation in the region due to the unsettled Caucasian conflicts and the ongoing war in Syria.

Lieberman and his Georgian colleague Levan Izoria discussed the reserve system, which is now being implemented in Georgia and largely adopts the Israeli experience, cybersecurity, and also, for the first time, signed a declaration on the development of cooperation in the defense sphere. Izoria called the document historical, meaning that the declaration creates a legal basis for Georgia's cooperation with one of the strongest military powers, not only of the region but of the world. The Georgian minister said that "Israel would resume assistance to Georgia in the defense sphere." The term would resume is a hint at the previous stage of the relationship, which began right after the five-day war and has come to an end only now. Lieberman laid a wreath at the memorial of Georgian servicemen who died for territorial integrity and also held talks with the Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, who according to the Georgian constitution, has the real power in the country, like the prime minister in Israel.

However, the purpose of the visit of the Israeli Defense Minister to Georgia remains a mystery. Today, the situation in the Greater Middle East region is not that favourable for the Israeli Defense Minister to waste time on ceremonial visits. The head of the Israeli Defense Ministry did not visit Georgia even during the reign of Mikhail Saakashvili when the military cooperation was much more intensive than now: Georgia purchased dozens of UAVs in Israel, and some units of the Georgian army underwent specialized training on the Israeli bases. It is precisely known that Israelis were preparing snipers for the Georgian army. But the 2008 war crossed out virtually all areas of the military cooperation. Israel stopped selling Georgia drones and forbade its instructors to train military specialists for the Georgian army. The main factor here was a consideration of Russias interests.

However, as a result of the last decade events, a new situation has developed in the region: Israel actively cooperates in the military sphere with Azerbaijan, which buys weapons of Israeli production. There are logistical issues, that is, a diversification of the ways of arms delivery to a buyer country. There are other aspects of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Doctor of Military Sciences Vakhtang Maisaya spoke about these issues with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- What is the real purpose of Lieberman's visit to Tbilisi?

- Of course, it was about logistics and communications, if not basic, then auxiliary ones. But to an even greater extent, this visit is a manifestation of Israel's interest in developing relations with Georgia in the light of the regional alignment and growing role of Iran in the South Caucasus.

Israelis closely monitor the development of relations between regional players. It is possible that Israel really plans to resume the military-technical cooperation with Georgia. It was interrupted 10 years ago when the Israeli side imposed an embargo on contacts in the military sphere with Mikhail Saakashvilis Georgia.

- And what is the regional context?

- It is linked with Turkey as the most important player. But the most obvious is the successful development of the Israeli-Azerbaijani cooperation. It has been developing very dynamically in recent years. At the same time, Azerbaijan maintains good relations with Moscow, that is, the cooperation with Baku does not create additional risks and problems.

Azerbaijan purchased weapons in Russia for $ 5 billion. For the modern world and our region, this is a huge figure. In addition, before the last meeting of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, the media speculated a lot about the possible entry of Azerbaijan into the CSTO.

The resumption of the military cooperation between Israel and Georgia is not so much related to the bilateral as to the regional issues. At the same time, the current Georgian leadership confirms the unchanged course towards the rapprochement with NATO and the EU.
News

Officials regroup on Pelican Island Bridge plan

GALVESTON

With one plan to build a new bridge to Pelican Island apparently dead, local officials still are committed to getting a new bridge built eventually, they said.

How that happens, exactly, remains to be seen and a new solution could be years away, officials said.

Galveston Mayor Jim Yarbrough on Thursday said the city would not sign an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the construction of a new $91 million bridge that was proposed to be built between Galveston and Pelican islands.

Yarbrough informed the departments top local official about the citys decision, he said. The Texas Department of Transportation did not make an immediate decision about how it would react to the citys announcement.

We are aware of the latest developments regarding the future of the Pelican Island Bridge, said Quincy Allen, the district engineer for the departments Houston division. At this time, we are reviewing all available options and we will determine how best to proceed.

Yarbrough expected the department would begin to designate other projects to receive the $45 million it had put aside for a bridge to Pelican Island, he said on Thursday.

The city cited the money it would be required to commit as part of the agreement as the reason for walking away from the deal.

A draft agreement presented to the city by the transportation department estimated local governments would need to pay $40.4 million toward the cost of building the bridge, but added that a final amount would be based on actual costs.

Yarbrough repeatedly estimated the potential local cost of the bridge to be higher, as much as $50 million.

The city could not enter into an advance funding agreement because the charter prohibits the city from taking on large amounts of new debt without a citywide vote, Yarbrough said. The city would need months to organize and hold a vote, if the council was so inclined.

The announcement the city wouldnt enter into an agreement with the department doesnt put the project back at square one, said Jeff Sjostrom, the president of the Galveston Economic Development Partnership, which has helped in planning the new bridge.

It kind of circulates us around again for another round of conversations, Sjostrom said. At the end of the day, this is another lap around the track on the project. The bridge is going to be rebuilt. It has to be replaced.

Future plans will be able to incorporate some of the work thats already been done, including million of dollars in engineering and planning work completed by Galveston County in the past two years, Sjostrom said.

I think all the options are out there and have been explored, he said

A future bridge might need to be a different design and be oriented differently from the $91 million bridge in order to be more affordable for the city, Yarbrough said.

Instead of a 75-foot-high bridge, the city might opt for something lower, which could limit the kinds of traffic that can pass through the Galveston Ship Channel, Yarbrough said.

A lower profile bridge might allow the city to keep the option of rail service to Pelican Island as well, he said.

A cheaper proposal might also have to more closely follow the footprint of the current bridge, which would bring it nearer to Texas A&M University at Galveston campus.

The university has been advocating for a new bridge to end north of the campus, which would limit the amount of traffic going through the area. Moving traffic away from the school still is a priority for the university, said university spokesman Bill McClain.

Well work with anybody that wants to build a bridge, McClain said. Weve made our position clear where we want it to go. Thats around the campus.

The universitys campus has grown in size and enrollment in the past 10 years, and there are plans for future expansion, McClain said. The school wants to avoid a road project that would disrupt that growth.

If it ran through the campus, wed have to think real hard about what we do in the future, McClain said.

While working on a new plan, the city might advocate for legislative changes that make building a new bridge less expensive, such as lobbying for the bridge to be considered part of the state highway system.

Roads that are on system are open to more funds for maintenance and construction.

For that, the city already turned to Texas A&M University officials for help, and talked about what the school can do in the coming year, Yarbrough said.

They are willing, I think, to go to the legislature to help the on-system process, Yarbrough said.

The city should have been more serious about the planning of the bridge two or three years ago, Yarbrough said. With planning beginning anew, he said he hoped the city could come up with a better plan.

Sometimes, we make decisions because there are extraneous factors that come into the picture, he said. There may be some better designs that come as a result of this.
Exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Baku's liberation from the Dashnak-Bolshevik occupation opened today in the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. As Vestnik Kavkaza's correspondent reports, Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey have always been close, which was demonstrated when Baku was liberated through joint efforts of the Caucasian Islamic Army and Azerbaijani corps," he said.

"Azerbaijan went through a lot, and today it's an independent and prosperous country. Events that happened 100 years ago once again prove how close we are. It prepared us for today and tomorrow. Even though we're two different countries, we're still one nation," Erkan Ozoral said.

Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Naila Velikhanli, also noted importance of the fact that Azerbaijanis and Turks liberated Baku from the Dashnaks hundred years ago together.

"Sons of Azerbaijan and Turkey fought together during liberation of Baku, which shows how close we are," she said.
Ubisoft has announced that, as part of a meaty season pass for Assassins Creed Odyssey, Assassins Creed III is getting a remaster treatment for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Assassins Creed III Remastered includes all of Assassins Creed IIIs post-launch content, meaning the Benedict Arnold missions, the Hidden Secrets Pack, and The Tyranny of King Washington  as well as Assassins Creed Liberation Remastered.

Assassins Creed III Remastered puts you in the role of Connor, an Assassin of Native American and British descent who fights a secret war during the American Revolution, says Ubisoft.

Assassins Creed Liberation Remastered follows the deadly Aveline de Grandpre as she travels from the streets of colonial New Orleans to ancient Mayan ruins.

Both Remastered editions support 4K and HDR on PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and PC, as well higher-resolution textures, an improved lighting rendering system, and other graphical improvements. Gameplay mechanics and ergonomics are also getting revamped.

Interestingly, Assassins Creed III Remastered will be part of the $40 season pass featuring two episodic story arc (in December and Spring), the second with Atlantis as main setting, but its also releasing standalone.

You can check the trailer below.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Georgian Wine Festival 2018 kicks off for a second time on Shardeni Street - GeorgianJournal
A call has been made by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for Russian authorities and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to increase efforts to resolve the ongoing stalemate regarding the reinstatement of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), Insidethegames.biz reports.

The IPC statement comes as the WADA Executive Committee prepares to meet in the Seychelles on September 20, where the situation regarding RUSADA is set to be discussed.

IPC President Andrew Parsons has expressed his concerns about the lack of progress made over the past six months.

"Since the IPC suspended the RPC in August 2016 a lot of progress has been made and both the Russian Paralympic Committee and WADA should be applauded for getting the situation to this point," he stated.

"However, the stage we are at now is exactly where we were at six months ago and the IPC is growing increasingly concerned at the ongoing stalemate between RUSADA and WADA. In the last two years a lot of positive change has occurred in Russia regarding anti-doping. RUSADA is now functioning well and Russian athletes are amongst the most tested and scrutinised athletes in the world," he said.
Apple HomePod gets new features like Siri integration, Spanish language and more News oi-Karan Sharma Apple added new features to HomePod including improved Siri integration and Spanish language support.

On September 12 Apple launched its most awaited iPhone for this year. Now the company is adding new features to its HomePod. Apple is improviApple HomePod gets new features like Siri integration, Spanish language and enhance the capabilities of the smart speaker to search by lyrics, set multiple timers, make and receive phone calls and more. The tech giant has also added support for Spanish in the United States, Spain and Mexico. Along with that, it has also expanded its support for Canadian French in Canada.

Here are the changes Apple added to its HomePod

Search by lyrics: In addition to asking Siri to play a particular song, artist or genre, now it's easy to ask Siri to "play the song that goes 'I'm a rebel just for kicks now." Now you can ask Siri

Set multiple timers: HomePod now supports multiple named timers. Set a timer for the cake, another one for lasagna and another one as a reminder to dim the lights - using just your voice.

Make and receive phone calls: Conveniently use HomePod to make and receive phone calls for crisp and clear audio quality. To make a call, simply ask Siri to call someone from Contacts or say the number to call. Incoming calls are automatically directed from iPhone to HomePod - just ask Siri to answer the phone - and for missed calls, it's as easy as asking, "Hey Siri, who just called?" Using the audio picker on iPhone, calls can be moved from HomePod to iPhone at any time.

Find My iPhone: The popular Apple Watch feature comes to HomePod, so users can ping any of their nearby devices to find them.

Siri Shortcuts: As Siri learns routines and suggests 'shortcuts' on iPhone and iPad, these same shortcuts are now accessible on HomePod. Personalizing shortcuts for HomePod with a series of tasks is easy with a new Shortcuts app. For example, "Hey Siri, good morning" could run a morning routine and order coffee from a coffee shop's app, turn on the kitchen lights from the Home app and share the first few calendar appointments for the day - all with one simple, customizable command.

Source

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Four members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have been detained during a special operation carried out by police in Ankara, the police said in a message Sept. 14, Trend reports.

Work is underway to detain another terrorist who managed to escape.

During searches, documents and video materials were found in the apartments of the detainees, proving their participation in illegal armed groups in the territory of Syria.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ update brings September 2018 security patch News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The new update brings along some improvements and fixes for a number of vulnerabilities for both the Samsung and Android's software.

Samsung has started rolling out a new update for its flagship devices Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+. The new update brings along the September 2018 security patch. Recently, Samsung had also released a similar update for the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 9. While the Galaxy Note 8 has received slow-motion video recording support and AR emoji feature, the Galaxy S9 update had received only the security patch with the update. It is expected that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will receive the Bixby 2.0 support via an app update which is likely to arrive later this year.

The new update brings along some improvements and fixes for a number of vulnerabilities for both the Samsung and Android's software. The new update bounces the firmware version for the Galaxy S9 to G960FXXS2BRl1 and G965FXXS2BRl1for the Galaxy S9+. Samsung has always been prioritizing the budget and mid-range Galaxy devices when it comes to releasing updates. The flagship devices have been last in line to receive the updates and security patches. However, with the company rolling out September update for its flagship devices, it appears that Samsung has finally acknowledged the user's demands of receiving a timely update for the flagship devices.

As for the availability of the update, Samsung has started rolling out the update for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in a number of European countries. It is expected that the update will be available for the other regions soon as an OTS update. However, users can also check for the update manually by heading to the settings > software update > Download updates manually in order to download the update manually.

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy S9 features a 5.8 -inch Super AMOLED display which offers a screen resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels. For screen protection, the device uses a Corning Gorilla Glass 5. In terms of optics, the GalaxyS9 packs a 12MP primary camera with an LED Flash and to capture selfies and to make/receive video calls there is an 8MP front camera. The device also supports 4K video recording.

Under the hood, the S9 is powered by an Exynos 9810 octa-EMEA SoC which is paired with 4GB of RAM. The S9 is available in two storage variants including 64GB and 256GB which can be further expanded up to 400GB via microSD card.

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UK mass spying regime violated human rights: European Court of Human Rights

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 03:30PM

The UK government's mass surveillance program known as "Big Brother" violated human rights and had "no real safeguards," the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has said in a landmark ruling.

Ruling in the case, which was brought by a group of journalists and rights activists, Europe's top rights court in Strasbourg, France, said Thursday the interception of journalistic material also violated the right to freedom of information.

The ECHR judges voted by five to two that the mass trawling for information violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights guaranteeing the right to privacy, ruling that the safeguards governing the selection of the data were "inadequate".

"While the Court was satisfied that the intelligence services of the United Kingdom take their (European human rights) Convention obligations seriously and are not abusing their powers, it found that there was inadequate independent oversight of the selection and search processes involved in the operation," the court said in a statement.

However, the European court also ruled that sharing information gained with foreign governments did not break any codes.

The UK surveillance program was revealed by American whistleblower Edward Snowden as part of his sensational leaks on US and British spying practices.

Snowden revealed that US and UK intelligence services had been collecting bulk data, including telephone calls, messages and internet communication, whether or not people were suspected of a crime.

During an interview with the The Guardian newspaper, Snowden warned that the practices of UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) were "worse than the US."

Snowden, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Agency (NSA), is still living in exile in Russia after leaking the information.

Since the legal challenge began, Britain has been forced to reform its surveillance laws, and the government claims that there is new legislation that contains more privacy protections.

Civil liberties campaigners who brought the case hailed the judgment as a landmark victory against the mass surveillance that governments have defended as an important tool in fighting terrorism.

Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, a British civil liberties and privacy campaigning organization, said the ruling "vindicates Mr. Snowden's courageous whistleblowing."

"Under the guise of counterterrorism, the UK has adopted the most authoritarian surveillance regime of any Western state, corroding democracy itself and the rights of the British public," Carlo said in a statement. "This judgment is a vital step towards protecting millions of law-abiding citizens from unjustified intrusion."

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UK rejects poisoning suspects' claims, reiterates they were Russia agents

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 02:57PM

Authorities in Britain have rejected claims by two Russians suspected of poisoning a double spy in March in the English town of Salisbury, repeating their previous statements that the pair were Moscow's agents and had carried out the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

A UK government spokesperson said Thursday that the two men's interview with a Russian state TV in which they claimed they had been in Salisbury earlier this year only for tourism was simply not true.

"The government is clear these men are officers of the Russian military intelligence service - the GRU - who used a devastatingly toxic, illegal chemical weapon on the streets of our country," said the spokesperson.

"Today ... they have responded with obfuscation and lies."

The remarks came after Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Borishov appeared on the RT news channel and said they had been wrongly accused by Britain and had been visiting Salisbury for tourism.

The two, who have been charged by British prosecutors for the attempted murder of the Skripals and a police officer who tried to help them, say they traveled to Salisbury to see the city's world-renowned monuments, including its famous cathedral.

"Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town," Petrov said in the RT interview, while Boshirov added, "There's the famous Salisbury cathedral. It's famous not only in Europe, but in the whole world."

The British lawmaker who represents Salisbury in the British Parliament said that the two were not telling the truth about their trip.

"Salisbury welcomes tourists from around the world and is very much open for business," said John Glen, the Member of Parliament for Salisbury and a government minister, in a tweet on Thursday.

"But the Petrov/Borishov statements are not credible and don't match the widely accepted intelligence we have on these individuals," he added.

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Big Win: Britain's GCHQ Spygrid Violates Right to Privacy, ECHR Rules

Sputnik News

18:08 13.09.2018(updated 18:48 13.09.2018)

A major court ruling on Thursday said that the UK had violated European law, serving as a victory to privacy advocates worldwide. The news comes days after five nations charged with global surveillance released a memo urging tech companies to use workarounds to internet encryption.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Thursday that Britain's Cheltenham-based surveillance bureau, the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), had violated personal privacy laws.

The Big Brother Watch and Others v. the United Kingdom case concerned complaints lodged against GCHQ on the bulk interception of communications, intelligence sharing with foreign governments, and obtaining communications data from communications service providers, a press statement said.

The list of applicants involved 16 entities, including Big Brother Watch, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union and many others.

The ECHR voted 5-2 in favour of the plaintiffs, stating that the bulk interception regime violated Article 8 of the ECHR, which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.

It also said that there was "insufficient oversight" from both the selection service providers and "filtering, search and selection of intercepted communications for examination," the court stated, also accusing GCHQ of improperly selecting "related communications data" for examination.

However the court said that the operation of bulk interception regimes "did not in and of itself violate the Convention," but recognized that it needed to meet certain criteria via its case-law.

The court also voted 6-1 that the British spy agency's bulk collection protocols violated Article 8, adding that both its bulk collection and methods of obtaining data from service providers also violated Article 10 because it failed to safeguard confidential material used by journalists. The court agreed that sharing data with foreign governments did not violate either articles.

The court also unanimously rejected complaints from a third group of applicants related to domestic procedures for "challenging secret surveillance measures," citing Article 6, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and Article 14 prohibiting discrimination.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000 contains the statutory basis for intercepting data and gathering data from service provider regimes, and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 will "will make significant changes to both regimes", the statement read.

However, the court did not consider the 2016 IPA provisions as the Act was not in force at the time.

The court also stated that this was not the first time it had ruled on cases involving bulk interception of data, referencing the June 2018 Centrum For Rattvisa v. Sweden case. Swedish authorities related to signals intelligence did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a ECHR ruling concluded.

It also mentioned Weber and Saravia v. German and Liberty v. the United Kingdom, two landmark cases involving provisions in the G10 Act.

"However, Big Brother Watch is the first case in which the Court specifically considered the extent of the interference with a person's private life that could result from the interception and examination of communications data (as opposed to content)," the court's Q&A read.

The court case began after Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor, blew the whistle on Britain's infamous TEMPORA program, which allowed GCHQ to collect massive amounts of data using bearers, or underwater fiber optic cables used by service providers.

Snowden also exposed America's the NSA's data-collecting PRISM and Upstream programs, which US authorities claim was valid under the Foreign Intelligence Service Act (FISA).

The developments also come after the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand-collectively called the 'Five Eyes'-released a memo urging tech companies to use 'backdoor' technology to circumvent encryption protection in late August. "Privacy laws must prevent arbitrary or unlawful interference, but privacy is not absolute," the Australian Department of Home Affairs statement read.

 Sputnik

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Russians Accused in UK Poisoning: 'Coincidence' They Were in Salisbury

By Ken Bredemeier September 13, 2018

Two Russian men accused by Britain of carrying out the March poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury, England, said Thursday it was just an "incredible, fatal coincidence" they were in the city at the time of the attack.

Britain quickly rejected the claims made by the two men, Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, in an interview on the Kremlin-funded RT channel.

London renewed its assertions that the men were officers of the Russian military intelligence service GRU and lied about their involvement in the poisoning of one-time Russian agent Sergei Skripal.

"The government is clear," Britain said, that the men "used a devastating toxic, illegal chemical weapon on the streets of our country." British authorities say the GRU dispatched the agents to Salisbury to poison Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the nerve agent Novichok.

"We have repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March," Britain said. "Today, just as we have seen throughout, they have responded with obfuscation and lies."

Boshirov and Petrov have been charged in absentia with carrying out the attack. In the television interview, they denied they were GRU agents and claimed to work instead in the nutrient supplements business. The suspects said they visited Salisbury to see its famous cathedral and did not know Skripal or where he lived.

"The whole situation is an incredible, fatal coincidence, and that's that," Petrov said. "What is our fault?"

Both Skripal and his daughter recovered from the attack, but a woman who came into contact with a discarded perfume bottle that contained the nerve agent died.

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Wasp ESG Provides Air Support to CNMI Recovery Efforts

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180913-10

Release Date: 9/13/2018 2:56:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Alexandra Seeley, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 11 Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The USS Wasp (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), provided air assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) following Typhoon Mangkhut Sept 12.

"The MEU assembled teams on board in order to provide water support on the island and generators for the local population if necessary" said 1st Lt. Cameron Field, combat cargo team embarkation officer. "We also had company-sized teams of Marines ready to assist with debris clean up at a moment's notice."

As support efforts continue, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 is engaged in Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) activities in Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Two ships within CTF 76, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), are supporting FEMA requests for assistance through the tasking of personnel and distribution of supplies, throughout the CNMI.

Following Navy and Marine Corps ESG aerial surveys to ensure safe movement of equipment, multiple types of aerial vehicles are on standby to assist in any future DSCA operations, including an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the "Island Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 and MV-22 Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262.

"We want to be prepared for anything," said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan McAllister, Tactical Control Squadron (TACRON) 12, Detachment 1 assistant officer in charge. "Making sure that our planes are ready to go at any moment for support is our top priority."

To prepare for operations, the ships must position themselves to ensure launch and recovery of aircraft is effective and timely. This is all accomplished through coordination and communication between watch officers on all ships, who must maintain precise time, distance and speed to ensure aircraft have a place to land or refuel. According to McAllister, having a ship in the right place is the most critical aspect of conducting air movement between the islands.

"It was fortunate Wasp was in the right location for quick aid," said McAllister, "Our ability to be closer to shore allowed us to be forward pressing and flexible in accomplishing our mission."

Wasp ESG continues to work with officials with efforts focused on augmenting and supporting FEMA in conjunction with Guam and local officials.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Syria's rebel-held Idlib with members of Russia's Security Council on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Reuters reported citing the RIA news agency.

Putin told the Security Council he was concerned by militant activity in the last major rebel-held stronghold in Syria, Peskov noted.
ITF Team Nears Historic Testing with HMS Queen Elizabeth

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180913-07

Release Date: 9/13/2018 1:15:00 PM

From F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md (NNS) -- The F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) is nearing another milestone as they prepare to embark two F-35Bs on board the United Kingdom's newest aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for First of Class Flight Trials (Fixed Wing), or FOCFT (FW), this fall.

Nearly 200 ITF personnelactive duty U.S. and U.K. military, DOD civilians as well as contractors from DOD and industrywill join the ship's 1,500-person crew in making history when the two jets land on the British carrier. The event will be the first time an F-35 has ever landed on a foreign vessel and it helps bring an end to the eight-year hiatus since a British aircraft carrier last operated a fast jet from its deck.

"It'll be the return of fixed-wing maritime aviation to the U.K.," said Royal Navy Cmdr. Stephen Crockatt, U.K. team lead at the ITF. "From there on, the U.K. F-35B Lightnings can partake in supporting the defense of our realm from both land and sea, wherever the U.K. government decides."

During two FOCFT (FW) phases, held back-to-back this fall, the team plans to perform a variety of flight maneuvers and deck operations to develop the F-35B operating envelope on Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers. They will evaluate jet performance on over 200 test points during different weather and sea conditions as well as the aircraft's integration with the ship.

The FOCFT (FW) is the culmination of a decade of planning with individuals from U.K. and U.S. governments and industry partners in both countries.

"It has been a genuine team endeavor from the start," said Dave Atkinson, BAE Systems lead for FOCFT (FW), based in the U.K. "No one individual or no one organization can do everything on something of this scale. The detailed knowledge you need about the ship, the aircraft and the environment; you really must have a team ethos."

While planning for test events typically doesn't start that far ahead, Atkinson said all the moving parts and specific equipment needed to integrate the jet and carrier, coupled with the simultaneous design and development of the two, the lead time "had to be extensive to bring many elements together."

As ship and jet development on both sides of the Atlantic neared completion, engineers and pilots from the Pax River ITF and BAE Systems dove deep into writing the test plan, a 300-plus page manual detailing the FOCFT (FW) execution.

In order to do so, pilots and engineers experimented with over 3,000 takeoffs and landings in BAE Systems' F-35/QEC Integration Simulatora full motion, dome simulatorbased in Warton, England, to discover "where the edges of the test envelope are," said Royal Air Force Sq. Ldr. Andy Edgell, FOCFT (FW) lead test pilot at the Pax River ITF.

"That was where we really got the first idea of how far can we push this aircraft on [a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier] deck," he said. "The Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are incredibly unique."

Edgell said there are a few "British traits" built onto HMS Queen Elizabethnotably, a ski jump ramp at the front and iconic twin islands on the flight deck separating the Bridge and Flight Control (FLYCO)and each create variances to typical flying operations experienced on an American naval vessel.

"First drafts of the test plan were authored in early 2017, and the team spent months in 2018 further sculpting and crafting each detail to complete the document in time to start the required training flights prior to the trial," said Timothy Marge, FOCFT (FW) lead project engineer at the Pax River ITF.

"It is a constant goal of flight testers to get a complete and thorough test plan finalized as early as practical," Marge said. "After countless working groups, hours and hours of authoring, compiling and technical editing, two days of technical review, and four hours of executive review, our 362-page masterpiece was done."

The test plan holds a couple of responsibilities, according to Marge. First, it outlines how the team will conduct safe, efficient and effective flight test aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Second, it details the team's training and workup requirements that are typically conducted many weeks prior to the actual test event.

The ITF team began FOCFT (FW) workups in the summer of 2018 with additional simulator runs at the full-motion Warton facility and at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Manned Flight Simulator where they could add a control room with test engineers. The control room is a "huge risk mitigator" Edgell said, because it allows constant monitoring.

"They see every aspect of how the aircraft is performing and coping to different situations," he said. "With thousands of parameters being monitored it is possible that they will identify emerging issues a long time before it becomes apparent to the pilot."

As workups were underway, other personnel got to work ensuring the ITF team and their support equipment could integrate onto the ship; items like galley attire, flight deck clothing and hearing protectionall of which hold different requirements than that of a U.S. Navy shipto determining how to adapt U.S. equipment to U.K. power supply and even the currency personnel need to use on board had to be addressed.

Since June, the team has focused on live flying workups refreshing their skills on day and night field carrier landing practices, ski jump takeoffs and vertical landings. The team also conducted rolling vertical landings in preparation for another unique British development.

"[Rolling vertical landings] are an important phase of the workups because another unique aspect of going to the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier is that we will be conducting experimental testing of a novel recovery landing techniquethe Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing," Edgell said.

The Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) is a British endeavora capability at least a decade in the makingthat will allow pilots to return to ship with more stores on the aircraft after a mission, Atkinson explained.

"SRVL tests are truly experimental," Edgell said. "It involves landing a fast jet onto an aircraft carrier with forward relative speed but without the braking assistance typically provided by an arresting gear and hook. It's going to be a really rewarding moment for British aviation to watch that procedure actually take place."

"This is quite a massive trial, not only for the U.K., but for the ITF," Crockatt said.

A third FOCFT (FW) phase followed by operational testing is scheduled for 2019. Together, the tests will help the U.K. Ministry of Defence reach F-35B initial operating capability (maritime) in 2020.

As a Tier 1 partner in the F-35 program, a group of U.K. personnel have been embedded with the ITF at Pax River and Edwards Air Force Base, California, conducting flight tests since the program's System Design and Demonstration phase. To date, the U.K. is home to nine British-owned F-35B Lightnings located at Royal Air Force Marham with the "Dambusters", or No. 617 Squadronthe RAF's first F-35B squadron. The RAF is scheduled to declare initial operating capability later this year. In all, the RAF and RN are programmed to purchase 138 F-35Bs over the lifetime of the program.

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USS Rhode Island Returns from Sea Trials

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180913-06

Release Date: 9/13/2018 1:09:00 PM

From Commander, Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs

KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) returned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., Sept. 12, after successfully completing their first at-sea period in two-and-a-half years.

The 15 days at sea tested every aspect of the boat's integrity after its 33-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va. The EROs are a complex, major shipyard availability during which the submarine will be refueled and upgraded before returning to support the country's nuclear deterrence strategy, extending the life of the submarine more than 20 years.

"I am very proud of the crew's performance over the past three years," said Cmdr. Nirav Patel, the commanding officer of Rhode Island. "The crew accomplished amazing feats to deliver our strategic asset. Everyone is very excited to be back on the waterfront."

Preparing for sea trials requires the crew to work long days including fast cruises, where the boat stays inport but the crew drills like they are at sea, testing their ability to respond in scenarios like damage control and combat systems drills.

Sea trials recertifies the hull at test depth and also tests and certifies their tactical weapons and propulsion systems. The crew also continues to work on the proficiency and training.

Rhode Island will undergo more system upgrades and certifications to be ready for a full patrol in about one year. The crew will soon complete a crew split, where the boat divides into a submarine's usual "blue" and "gold" crews, from their one "green" crew that was maintained during their shipyard period.

"The crew performed admirably and put in a lot of hard work to battle through sea trials without issues," said Master Chief Yeoman David Wright, Rhode Island's chief of the boat. "It was a great feeling having the boat out to sea and watching the crew operate underway."

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Yemeni forces attack Saudi military base in Najran with ballistic missile

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 08:47PM

The Yemeni army's missile units, backed by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have retaliated against the Saudi-led coalition's devastating attacks on Yemen by firing another homegrown ballistic missile on a Saudi military base in Najran.

The short-range Badr-1 missile hit a newly-built base in the southern Saudi region of Najran with high precision, a military source close to the Yemeni army told the Arabic-language al-Masirah television network on Thursday night.

The missile attack inflicted casualties on the Saudi enemy and caused material damage to the base, the source said.

In recent months, Yemeni forces have in several cases managed to target Saudi positions using their domestically-manufactured missiles in retaliation for the Al Saud regime's military campaign against their war-torn homeland.

Meanwhile, the Houthi Ansarullah movement and its voluntary forces are engaged in fierce clashes with Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the strategic Hudaydah province in western Yemen.

In the most recent clashes, Yemeni troops and their allies launched attacks against the gatherings of Saudi mercenaries in the Kilo 16 district of Hudaydah, killing more than 45 of them and injuring several others, the media bureau of Yemen's Operations Command Center announced in a statement on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its Arab allies waged a devastating military attack against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of reinstalling Hadi and crushing the Ansarullah movement.

The campaign has so far killed some 15,000 Yemenis and injured thousands more. Over 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster.



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Yemen war a 'living hell' for children, warns UNICEF

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 05:22PM

A representative for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says the ongoing conflict in Yemen has made the impoverished Arab country a "living hell" for children.

Meritxell Relano said on Thursday that more than 11 million children were facing the threat of food shortages, disease, displacement and acute lack of access to basic social services.

"The conflict has made Yemen a living hell for its children," Relano said. "An estimated 1.8 million children are malnourished in the country. Nearly 400,000 of them are severely acute malnourished and they are fighting for their lives every day."

According to Relano, UNICEF has provided over 244,000 severely malnourished children with therapeutic treatment since the beginning of 2018, in addition to micronutrient treatment to over 317,000 children under five.

"The situation of the families without jobs, without income and in the middle of the war, is catastrophic," she said.

UN humanitarian coordinator Lise Grande said in a statement that the human cost and the humanitarian impact of the conflict is unjustifiable.

"Parties to the conflict are obliged to do absolutely everything possible to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and ensure people have access to the aid they are entitled to and need to survive," the statement read.

According to media reports, doctors have weighed toddlers with protruding rib cages and skeletal limbs in a malnutrition ward of a hospital in the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

Twenty children, most under the age of two, being treated at the ward in Sab'een Hospital were among thousands of children suffering from severe malnutrition in the impoverished country.

In mid-November last year, the international charity Save the Children warned that more than 50,000 children in Yemen were expected to die by the end of the year as a result of disease and starvation caused by the stalemated war in the country.

In the latest act of aggression against children, an attack by Saudi Arabia killed 40 children aged from six to 11 who were being taken on a school trip. Eleven adults also died. Local authorities said that 79 people were wounded, 56 of them children.

Saudi Arabia launched a brutal war, code-named Operation Decisive Storm, against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Yemen's former president and a staunch ally of Riyadh, and crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.

Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression.

The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. The United Nations has said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger.

Several Western countries, the United States and Britain in particular, are accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.

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UN warns about worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen's Hudaydah

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 03:06PM

The United Nations has warned about the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen's blockaded Hudaydah as fighting between the country's army troops, backed by fighters from the Houthi Ansarullah movement, and militiamen loyal to former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi resumed in the port city following the collapse of the latest round of UN-brokered peace talks.

"The situation has deteriorated dramatically in the past few days. Families are absolutely terrified by the bombardment, shelling and airstrikes," said the UN humanitarian coordinator, Lise Grande, in a statement on Thursday, as the lives of 300,000 inhabitants hang in the balance in the port city.

The fresh UN-backed peace talks were scheduled to be held in the Swiss city of Geneva late last month, but they were aborted after the world body failed to meet conditions set by Yemen's Houthis, including transfer of wounded people to hospital for proper treatment and guarantees on the safety of Houthi delegation. Ansarullah later accused the Saudis of planning to strand the delegation in Djibouti, where their plane was to make a stop en route to Geneva.

The two sides held their last UN-sponsored negotiations in Kuwait in 2016 in a bid to hammer out a "power-sharing" deal but they fell apart after the Saudi-backed side left the venue.

Backed by Saudi-led airstrikes, Emirati forces and militants loyal to Hadi launched the Hudaydah offensive on June 13 despite international warnings that it would compound the impoverished nation's humanitarian crisis as the country traditionally imported 90 percent of its food, mainly through the port.

The coalition of aggressors has, however, failed to make any major gains in the face of stiff resistance from Houthi fighters and their allied forces.

"The mills in Hudaydah feed millions of people. We're particularly worried about the Red Sea mill, which currently has 45,000 metric tons of food inside, enough to feed 3.5 million people for a month. If the mills are damaged or disrupted, the human cost will be incalculable," Grande added.

Saudi Arabia and some of its allies, including the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan, launched a brutal war, code-named Operation Decisive Storm, against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Hadi and crush the Ansarullah movement, which plays a significant role in aiding the Yemeni army in defending the country against the invading coalition.

The movement has also been running state affairs in the absence of an effective administration since the onset of the imposed war.

The imposed war initially consisted of a bombing campaign, but was later coupled with a naval blockade and the deployment of ground forces to Yemen.

Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. The United Nations has said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger.

Several Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.

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Scores of Saudi mercenaries killed, injured in Yemeni army offensives

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:17PM

Dozens of Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have lost their lives when Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Committees launched offensives against their positions in the country's strategic western province of Hudaydah.

The media bureau of Yemen's Operations Command Center announced in a statement on Thursday that Yemeni troops and their allies launched attacks against the gatherings of Saudi mercenaries in the Kilo 16 district of Hudaydah, killing more than 45 of them and injuring several others.

The statement added that eight Oshkosh Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and a number of military vehicles belonging to the Saudi-backed militiamen were destroyed in the assaults as well.

Separately, two children were killed when Saudi warplanes pounded a residential building in the Haydan district of Yemen's mountainous northwestern province of Sa'ada.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that the air raid also caused immense material damage to the targeted area.

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 Hadi back to power and crushing the 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.

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US Senator eviscerates White House over Saudi crimes in Yemen

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:25AM

A US Senator has given the administration of US President Donald Trump a dressing-down for brazenly denying the evident killing of Yemeni civilians by Saudi Arabia and its allies and for continuing to assist a Saudi-led coalition in an invasion of Yemen.

"How can the Trump administration deny what everyone can see with our own two eyes?" said Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday, ABC News reported.

"It is as clear as day that the Saudi-led coalition is recklessly  and likely intentionally  killing innocent civilians and children and they're doing it with US bombs and so-called targeting assistance," Senator Murphy said.

His comments came after the White House "certified" that the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)  the two main aggressor regimes in the war on Yemen  had taken steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians in their military operations.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a certification required by law, claimed late on Tuesday that the two Arab countries were taking "demonstrable actions" to minimize civilian casualties in Yemen.

'We should all be ashamed'

Senator Murphy, who is also a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tartly dismissed that "certification."

"These certifications are a farce and we should all be ashamed that our government is turning a blind eye to likely war crimes," he said.

The development comes amid growing pressure to halt the US support for the Saudi-led coalition, which includes refueling military aircraft, sharing intelligence, and selling advanced weaponry to the aggressor regimes.

Saudi Arabia and some of its allies launched a brutal war against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had earlier resigned and abdicated his responsibilities.

The Houthi Ansarullah movement then took over state matters to prevent the country from plunging into administrative chaos.

The Saudi-led war has devastated the country and left some 15,000 people dead.

Last month, a report by the United Nations (UN) said that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and militia allied to them were responsible "most direct civilian casualties" and were targeting residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention facilities, civilian boats, and even medical facilities.

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US Air Force F-22s intercept Russian nuclear bomber off Alaska

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 08:08AM

The US Air Force has intercepted two Russian nuclear-capable jets flying near Alaska, according to a statement by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The interception took place on September 11, when the USAF sent a pair of F-22 Raptor stealth jets to escort two Russian Tu-95 bombers away from American airspace, NORAD announced Wednesday.

Two Sukhoi Su-35 Flankers were also accompanying the long-range bombers.

The Russian pilots were flying "west of mainland Alaska" but never entered American or Canadian airspace, the statement said.

"The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace" and were intercepted after flying into the US Air Defense Identification Zone, which runs some 200 miles off Alaska's western coast.

Earlier in the day, the Russian military released video on Twitter showing a pair of Tu-95 "Bear" bombers and a pair of fighter jets taking off from an airbase in eastern Russia.

The was the second time this month that the USAF scrambled F-22s to escort Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska.

The previous encounter occurred south of the Aleutian Islands on September 1 but the Russian Tu-95s were not escorted by Russian fighter jets back then.

A similar interception took place in May, when two Tu-95s bombers flew within 55 miles of Alaska's west coast, military officials told Fox News. The Russian planes did not enter US airspace on either of the previous two occasions.

The Russian military has recently launched its largest military drill since 1981, called the Vostok, or "East". According to the country's defense ministry, the exercise involves some 300,000 troops and over 1,000 aircraft.

US refuses to certify Russian aircraft for Open Skies Treaty

Meanwhile, Russia's state news agency TASS reported Wednesday that the US had refused to certify Russia's advanced Tu-214ON surveillance plane for inspections under the Open Skies Treaty (OST).

The OST allows its 34 members to carry out unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of each other using certain aircraft.

"In breach of the Open Skies Treaty provisions, the head of the US delegation refused to sign the final document, without giving any explanations or reasons, and citing direct instructions from Washington," he said. "We insist that the US side return to the Open Skies Treaty framework and demand that the current situation be explained with reference to the treaty's provisions."

The aircraft, equipped with Russian-made digital observation equipment, was inspected by 72 experts from 23 OST countries earlier this month and all of them members except for the US confirmed its compliance.

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NATO, Russia Drill Their Military Forces Amid Raised Tensions

RFE/RL September 13, 2018

British, French, Italian, and German jets have simulated flight interceptions over Western Europe as part of NATO maneuvers to deter Russian planes from entering alliance airspace.

The NATO drills on September 12 came at the same time that Russia was showing off its most sophisticated air-defense system as it practiced fighting off a mock attack during military maneuvers of its own, the largest it has ever conducted.

The activity comes amid persistently high tensions between Russia and the West over Moscow's actions in Ukraine and Syria and its alleged interference in elections in the United States and European countries.

In the NATO drills, fighter pilots from alliance members simulated the interception of a Belgian military transport plane en route to Spain. Visual inspections were made by flying off the wings at speeds of 900 kilometers an hour.

NATO has some 60 jets regularly on alert to defend its airspace. A record 870 interceptions were recorded of Russian aircraft in the Baltic region in 2016.

"NATO is relevant. This is not theoretical," Spanish Air Force Lieutenant General Ruben Garcia Servert said aboard the Belgian plane.

As he spoke, Italian Eurofighters flew close to the cockpit to simulate interceptions, later joined by British Typhoons and French Mirages.

The European members of NATO are looking to display their commitments to their defense in the face of criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump that alliance members are not contributing enough financially to the alliance.

The Western alliance is currently negotiating an agreement that would have each member's air force defend any other's airspace under a "single sky" concept.

Currently, each country defends its own airspace, although other members help defend the airspace of the Baltic states, which do not have enough fighter jets of their own.

NATO is planning to hold its biggest maneuvers in 16 years when it conducts the Trident Juncture drills in Norway in October and November.

The drills will feature more than 40,000 troops, including some from non-NATO members Finland and Sweden.

Meanwhile, Russia is conducting massive military exercises across its central and eastern regions, weeklong war games the Defense Ministry said would involve some 300,000 personnel -- twice as many as the biggest Soviet maneuvers of the Cold War era.

Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the drills in eastern Siberia on September 13 and insisted that they were not targeted at any country.

"Russia is a peaceful nation," Putin said at a firing range in the Chita region. "We do not and cannot have any aggressive plans," he added.

On September 12, the war games involved Russia's newest S-400 surface-to-air defense system, which NATO considers a threat to its aircraft.

Moscow last year signed a contract to sell the S-400 system to Turkey, angering NATO and particularly the United States, which threatened to suspend delivery of its F-35 stealth aircraft to Ankara.

The drills simulated a "massive missile attack" by an "unnamed enemy," military official Sergei Tikhonov said.

The exercises, which also involve Chinese and Mongolian soldiers, will run through September 17.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/29487179.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.

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Kosovar Cabinet Approves Draft Law On Reforming Security Forces

RFE/RL's Balkan Service September 13, 2018

Kosovo's government has approved a draft law to gradually transform the country's security forces.

Rustem Berisha, minister of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), told a September 13 cabinet meeting that the proposed law "determines the competences, organization, and functioning of the KSF as a multiethnic, professional force, protecting the territorial integrity of the interests of Kosovo citizens."

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said that any step to transform the KSF will be done "in line with our strategic partners in NATO, especially the U.S."

Kosovo has long sought to turn the country's security forces into a national army, despite bitter opposition from Serbia and from the ethnic Serb minority in the northern part of the country. The plan has also failed to win support from Kosovo's Western partners.

The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo said it was "not consulted on the timing of this announcement" and will have to "analyze the draft laws to understand their purpose and effect."

It also said that its recent efforts have been concentrated on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which it considers "the most important step for progress in the near future."

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade, backed by Russia, refuses to recognize Kosovo as a state.

In a statement e-mailed to RFE/RL, a NATO official said that "any change in the structure, mandate, and mission" of the KSF will require constitutional amendments, adding that the alliance supports the development of the force "under its current mandate."

Lawmaker Igor Simic of the Serbian List that represents Kosovar Serbs warned that the party will reject any plan to form a Kosovar army.

"The only legal military formation in Kosovo, according to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, is KFOR," the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in the country, Simic said.

Ahead of the government's decision, Kosovar President Hashim Thaci welcomed the idea of creating a national army, but only in partnership with NATO and the country's allies.

"I think that proceeding with the issue today is the wrong moment because we do not need to send such a message to our allies," he also said.

A year ago, Thaci withdrew draft legislation on creating a national army that required approval from Kosovo's ethnic minorities, following international pressure.

At that time, Kosovo's ethnic Serbs said they wouldn't back the change.

Washington and the Western alliance warned that they would reduce military cooperation if Kosovo converted its lightly armed, NATO-trained security forces into a regular army without changing the constitution and consulting all groups.

With reporting by AP and Balkan Insight

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovar- cabinet-approves-draft-law-on-reforming- security-forces/29488523.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.

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US President Donald Trump blasted former Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with foreign diplomats after he left the State Department.

John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people. He told them to wait out the Trump Administration! Was he registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? BAD! Trump tweeted, The Hill reports.
Greece, US Discuss Creation of Air Base on Karpathos - Reports

Sputnik News

15:46 13.09.2018(updated 15:52 13.09.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Greece and the United States are discussing the establishment of another US military base on Greek territory, specifically plans to deploy US Patriot air defense missile systems and F-22 Raptor fighters to the island of Karpathos, the Wall Street Journal newspaper reported on Thursday.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal said, citing sources in the US administration, that Washington was negotiating a possible boost in its military operations in Greece. The news outlet, in particular, referred to the increase in the use of military and air bases by US military personnel.

Last summer, a source in the Greek National Defense Ministry told Sputnik that the US aircraft deployed at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey might be redeployed to Karpathos island, situated between Crete and Rhodes.

According to the Greek ANT1 TV channel, the issue of the Karpathos air base will be discussed during the upcoming meeting of Greek National Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and his US counterpart Jim Mattis.

The United States has been steadily increasing its military presence in Greece. Earlier in the year, the two parties agreed to deploy the US drones at the Larissa Air Force base in Greece. In addition, the two parties are planning to send US F-35 fighters to a base in the Greek city of Volos.

 Sputnik

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US Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Tu-95 Bombers West of Alaska - NORAD

Sputnik News

03:30 13.09.2018(updated 03:36 13.09.2018)

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that Tu-95MS strategic bombers have carried out patrol flights over the three northern seas surrounding the country and the Arctic Ocean as part of the international large-scaled Vostok-2018 military war games.

"Two NORAD F-22 'Raptor' fighter jets positively identified and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bombers at approximately 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018," the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a press release.

 Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv

The Russian bombers, which were accompanied by two Su-35 fighter jets, remained in international airspace and at no time entered US or Canadian airspace, the release said.

The Vostok-2018 international drills are being held under the leadership of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in the Russian Far East and the adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean on September 11-15.

The war games, which involve nearly 300,000 servicemen, tens of thousands armored vehicles, helicopters, aircraft, and drones, are set to become Russia's largest military exercise in past 37 years. Chinese and Mongolian troops also participate in the large-scaled maneuvers.

 Sputnik

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Deputy Secretary Sullivan's Meeting With Humanitarian Organizations on the Situation in Yemen

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

September 13, 2018

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan and USAID Administrator Mark Green met yesterday with international and non-governmental organizations to discuss the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and to brief the group on the Secretary's certification to Congress under section 1290 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. They discussed recent efforts by the United Nations' Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to bring Republic of Yemen Government and Houthi representatives to Geneva for consultations. The Deputy Secretary reiterated the Administration's full support of the UN-led political process and stressed that there is no military solution to this conflict. The Deputy Secretary and the Administrator discussed the importance of all parties continuing to support the UN Special Envoy; avoiding further escalation of the conflict  including in Hudaydah; coordinating efforts to address Yemen's economic and humanitarian situation; and committing to a process to reach a comprehensive political agreement that will bring peace, prosperity, and security to Yemen. Participants expressed concern about escalating violence in Hudaydah and noted that the continuing dynamic of desperation in Yemen necessitated measures that would yield tangible results and a sense of improvement.

The Deputy Secretary thanked the NGOs for their continuing cooperation and this frank dialogue. He reaffirmed the United States' concern about the risk of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly of a humanitarian nature. He said the United States will continue to call on all parties to respect the law of armed conflict, take feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians, and conduct thorough and transparent investigations into alleged violations.

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Blockades 'expose' the innocent, to the 'ravages of economic war' - UN sanctions expert warns

13 September 2018 - Economic sanctions must not be allowed to degenerate into blockades which "expose people to the ravages of economic war in peacetime" said the UN independent expert on the effects of sanctions on human rights.

Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy, pointed out on Thursday, that civilians affected by blockades do not benefit from the protection of the Geneva Convention, which is aimed at safeguarding civilians during war time.

Sanctions usually lead to countries, or groups of countries, refusing to trade with a targeted State, but a blockade prevents the targeted State from trading with other potential partners.

Briefing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Mr. Jazairy said that people in Iran and Venezuela risk being badly affected, were any blockade to be imposed, while the situation for those in Syria  already suffering grave human rights abuses  would have even worse consequences.

In Yemen, one of the poorest countries on earth, which imports almost all of its food, fuel and medicines, civilians were weakened further by a total blockade imposed in November 2017, preventing all humanitarian aid and commercial trade - including food and fuel - from entering the country.

In Gaza, where residents have lived through an Israeli blockade for more than a decade, after the militant group Hamas gained control of the enclave, civilians have suffered from a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

In August, UN Political Affairs chief Rosemary di Carlo told the Security Council that humanitarian aid in the Middle East should not be held hostage to politics.

"There is a need for differences between States to be resolved through peaceful means as advocated by the UN Charter, while avoiding exposing innocent civilians to collective punishment," said Mr. Jazairy, expressing concern about the growing practice of unilateral sanctions, where a particular country bans companies and corporations from doing business with a sanctioned state.

Referring to a recent meeting in Brussels with European Officials, Mr. Jazairy told the Council that he has urged the EU to limit "secondary sanctions", which go beyond targeted countries.

He said he would focus on making humanitarian exceptions to internationally imposed measures effective, until States lift all sanctions that lead to human rights infringements.

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Security Council extends mandates of UN peace operations in Libya, Colombia through next September

13 September 2018 - By unanimous agreement on Thursday, the Security Council extended the mandates of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Organization's Verification Mission in Colombia.

Adopting resolution 2434 (2018) the Security Council extended, until 15 September 2019, UNSMIL's mandate as an integrated special political mission to support an inclusive political process, taking into account economic development and improvements in national security, within the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement and the UN Action Plan for the country.

The 15-member Council also decided that UNSMIL should undertake a range of other tasks, including supporting key national institutions, monitoring and reporting on human rights, coordinating international assistance and providing advice and assistance to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in its efforts to stabilize post-conflict zones - including those liberated from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).

Adopting a separate resolution 2435 (2018), the Security Council also extended by a year, the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.

In the resolution, the Council reaffirmed its "full commitment" to the peace process in Colombia and expressed its willingness to work with the Government to further extend the mandate of the Verification Mission, with the assent of all the parties involved.

The UN Verification Mission was established in July last year, to verify the reintegration of former FARC-EP rebels into civilian life, as well as the security guarantees for former rebels, their families and wider community.

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Afghanistan Peace Talks Stick on Bases: US Wants 2, Taliban None

By Ayesha Tanzeem September 13, 2018

Negotiations between the United States and the Afghan Taliban for a political settlement to end the protracted war in Afghanistan are stuck over the issue of maintenance of U.S. military bases in the country, according to Waheed Muzhda, a former Taliban official in Kabul who remains in regular contact with Taliban leaders.

The "U.S. wants the Taliban to accept at least two military bases, Bagram and Shorabak. The Taliban are not willing to accept it," Muzhda said, adding the insurgent leaders are unwilling to accept anything more than a nominal number of troops required to secure the U.S. diplomatic mission.

US combat forces unwelcome

High-level sources in Washington who deal with Afghanistan confirmed to VOA on condition of anonymity that maintenance of certain military bases in Afghanistan was a top priority for the U.S. government.

Christopher Kolenda, a retired colonel and former Pentagon adviser who held informal talks this year with the Taliban in Doha, said the insurgent group considers U.S. combat troops an occupying force and wants them out.

"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," he said in an interview with the VOA.

He said the Taliban did show some willingness to allow foreign troops to train Afghan forces, but only if a new government formed after a negotiated settlement, that would likely include the Taliban, agreed to their presence.

Following Kolenda's initial contacts with the Taliban, in which retired U.S. diplomat Robin Raphel also accompanied him, Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia at the U.S. State Department, met Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar, in July.

The meeting was widely believed to be a response to Taliban demands to negotiate directly with the United States, rather than the Afghan government in Kabul, which they consider a "puppet regime."

President Ashraf Ghani has offered the Taliban unconditional negotiations anytime, anywhere.

Other Taliban priorities

Prisoner release is another high priority for the Taliban, according to Muzhda.

Reuters reports Taliban officials are preparing a three-to-four member delegation for another round of talks with the United States and want the group's prisoners freed to "meet again for another great cause."

The third major demand, an implementation of Shariah, or Islamic law, is more for the optics.

The Taliban accept 80 percent or more of the current Afghan constitution, he said, but think the current constitution was formed under what they term the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan.

Khalilullah Safi, an Afghan peace activist who has previously worked with Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, an international group that has organized several meetings on Afghanistan that included the Taliban, agrees the group largely accepts the Afghan constitution.

Cease-fire

Hopes for peace talks received a boost after an unprecedented cease-fire in June this year, on Eid-al-Fitr, a Muslim holy festival marking the end of Ramadan, led to several days of almost calm in the otherwise volatile country.

But violence picked up pace after the cease-fire was over, with the Taliban launching major offensives and putting Afghan security forces under severe pressure.

Safi said one reason for the increase in violence was that the Taliban wanted to prove that a fatwa by up to 2,000 Muslim scholars outlawing suicide bombings and denouncing Taliban violence had no impact on the morale of their cadre.

Others believe the Taliban want to strengthen their position before possible negotiations with the U.S.

US air bases

The Bagram air base, about 60 kilometers north of Kabul, is the largest military base housing U.S. forces in Afghanistan. It includes runways capable of handling aircraft of any size.

When high-level U.S. officials such as the secretaries of state or defense visit Afghanistan, their planes land in Bagram, before taking helicopters from there to Kabul for meetings. The latest such trip was when Secretary of Defense James Mattis arrived in Bagram earlier this month.

Shorabak, a military base in Helmand province in the south of the country, houses U.S. and Afghan forces. The province produces most of the world's opium. The drug trade helps fuel the insurgency. It is also one of the most volatile provinces with the highest number of casualties among foreign troops.

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Arab Media: Saudi, Coalition Cut Off Main Road From Port of Hodeida

By Edward Yeranian September 13, 2018

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen appears to be making gains around the port of Hodeida, which is held by Houthi rebels. Media reports say forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have captured "Kilometer 16," a strategic corridor linking Hodeida to the capital, Sana'a, cutting off a key supply route used by the rebels. The development comes days after the Houthis missed U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Geneva.

The Houthis' al-Masira TV broadcast video of a coalition airstrike on a bus terminal in Hodeida and a number of vehicles that had caught fire. It was not clear when the attack took place. The government and rebel forces are battling for control of the port, which serves as a vital lifeline for people throughout Yemen.

The military advances come a day after both U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certified to Congress that the coalition was making progress in avoiding civilian casualties. The military operation had been paused to allow peace talks to take place.

Washington-based Gulf analyst Theodore Karasik says VOA that the Houthis' failure to send a delegation to the Geneva talks prompted the coalition to step up its operation to recapture Hodeida. Crucial humanitarian aid goes through the port, although the Yemeni government accuses the Houthis of using the port to smuggle weapons.

"The UAE and Saudi Arabia are very clear about the failure of the Geneva talks and both Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are pursuing the Hodeida operation and are beginning to expand their capture of Houthi (held) lands...," he said.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say they are providing funds and supplies to support aid efforts in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis blame the coalition for choking off imports into the country.

Hilal Khashan teaches political science at the American University of Beirut. He thinks that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are anxious to end the war in Yemen and of bolstering cooperation in the Gulf in the face of Iran. The Saudi Riyadh Daily newspaper, he says, even broached the subject of eventually ending a dispute with neighboring Qatar.

"It referred (in its Thursday edition) for the first time since the beginning of the (Yemen) war in 2015 to U.S. efforts to bring the countries of the GCC together in order to confront Iran," said Khashan.

Khashan says, "U.S. efforts to create an Arab NATO require ending the blockade of Qatar (by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt)." Riyadh and its allies imposed an embargo on Doha in June 2017 after maintaining that Doha was supporting terrorist activities in a number of Middle East states. Qatar has denied the accusations.

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Not Tough Enough, Say Critics Of Trump Order On Foreign Meddling In U.S. Elections

RFE/RL September 12, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order aimed at punishing foreigners who interfere in U.S. elections, although Democrats and some Republicans immediately said the action did not go far enough.

The order, signed on September 12 behind closed doors with no press coverage, came amid continuing criticism of Trump and his administration for downplaying threats to the U.S. elections, particularly from Russia, after allegations of meddling in the 2016 presidential vote that Trump won.

Military and law enforcement agencies have warned that the upcoming November 6 congressional elections could also be at risk from foreign meddling. That vote will determine control of Congress.

National-security adviser John Bolton said the order gave the State and Treasury departments the authority to decide on appropriate sanctions, which would include freezing assets, limiting access to U.S. financial institutions, and travel restrictions.

"The president has said repeatedly that he is determined that there not be foreign interference in our political process," Bolton said. "I think his actions speak for themselves."

The order would nevertheless leave the president the decision-making authority on whether to impose the harshest of the measures.

Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, said the United States was not yet seeing the intensity of Russian interference that was seen in 2016. He also said the order was not specifically aimed at Russia, and he cited China, North Korea, and Iran as other possible threats.

"It's more than Russia here," he told reporters.

Trump has repeatedly downplayed the U.S. intelligence findings about alleged Russian interference, even as Congress has moved to impose strict penalties against Russia and others for things that include election meddling.

"There has been no evidence of a foreign power altering the outcome or vote tabulation in any United States election," Trump said in making the latest announcement.

However, U.S. lawmakers said Trump's executive order did not do enough to protect the U.S. electoral system.

"Today's announcement by the administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it," Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said in a joint statement that advocated further legislation.

"We must make sure Vladimir Putin's Russia, or any other foreign actor, understands that we will respond decisively and impose punishing consequences against those who interfere in our democracy," they added.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said, "While the administration has yet to share the full text, an executive order that inevitably leaves the president broad discretion to decide whether to impose tough sanctions against those who attack our democracy is insufficient."

The Democratic National Committee said that Trump's executive order "does nothing to hold Russia accountable" for 2016.

Separately, new legislation currently making its way through Congress would impose even harsher punishment against Russia, including things like cutting Moscow off from sovereign-debt markets.

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown said the executive order should not take the place of "mandatory sanctions required by law" and should not slow Congress's efforts to approve new legislation.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and The Washington Post

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-trump-election-meddling- sanctions-iran-china-putin/29486636.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.

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Florida Reservists deploy for Georgia to provide hurricane relief

By 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs / Published September 13, 2018

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Approximately 140 Reserve Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing deployed to Georgia Sept. 13, to provide hurricane relief.

Wing Airmen launched four HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two combat-search-and-rescue King HC-130P/N aerial refueling aircraft to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia to pre-stage for relief operations. A C-17 Globemaster will transport the rest of the rescue equipment and personnel from Patrick AFB to Moody AFB.

"We train constantly for situations like this. Our Airmen are highly specialized and have the ability to utilize their expert combat life-saving skills and aircraft to provide relief and rescue," said Col. Kurt Matthews, 920th RQW commander, who flew disaster relief missions during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which led to 1,043 lives saved.

In September 2017, the wing deployed to Texas and flew disaster relief missions in response to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey saving 235 people, 21 dogs and five cats.

The rescue team includes combat-rescue aircrew, maintenance and support personnel, as well as Guardian Angel Rescue Teams consisting of pararescuemen, combat rescue officers and a survival evasion resistance escape specialists. Among their proficiencies include trauma medicine, swiftwater rescue and nighttime hoist operations which will allow the team to operate a 24-hours a day.

"Its times like these we can't thank the civilian employers of our Reservists enough for the sacrifices they make to allow Reserve Citizen Airmen time off to support potential crisis situations. Air Force Reservists and their civilian employers are integral part of our national defense," said Matthews.

The Wing has a 50-year history of saving lives, and its Airmen have rescued more than 3,000 personnel in peacetime and in combat.

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Alaksa ANG mobilizes in advance of Hurricane Florence

By Tech. Sgt. N. Alicia Halla, 176th Wing Public Affairs / Published September 13, 2018

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS)-- Thirty-six Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing, and approximately three short tons of Alaska Air Guard equipment, departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Sept. 12 to assist with emergency response efforts for Hurricane Florence.

With less than a day's notice, members of the 176th Operations, Maintenance and Mission Support Groups, along with supporting personnel, moved into action to get the team relocated and ready to assist fellow Americans.

"Our Airmen are always ready to support disaster relief in and out of state," said Brig. Gen. Darrin Slaten, 176th Wing commander. "The challenging environment we train in here in Alaska, and our unique set of capabilities, makes us a great fit for responses across the United States and in the Pacific. While specific states have not yet asked for assistance, we can shift our training area to a spot that we can respond from more quickly."

The team from the wing will join members of the New York and California ANG.

The Alaskans flew a C-17 Globemaster III from the 144th Airlift Squadron, with Guardian Angel personnel, a rescue vehicle, raft and alert equipment, to Moffett AFB, California. There, California Air Guardsmen will board before meeting the rest of the team at Dover AFB, Delaware.

The remaining Airmen, to include HH-60 Pave Hawk aircrew, maintenance and other support personnel, traveled on a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II headed to Dover AFB to await specific relief effort tasks.

"Everything is going to depend on what that storm does," said Lt. Col. Matthew Komatsu, a combat rescue officer with the Alaska National Guard and Guardian Angel mission commander. "That's why we're leaning forward and getting there early so that as the storm figures things out, we can dial in right behind it  to get in there and rescue people."

Guardian Angel teams are comprised of a combat rescue officer and a pararescueman who have specialized medical training, which can be especially beneficial during a natural disaster and its aftermath.

"The National Guard is always ready to serve the nation," Komatsu said. "I think what makes this wing special is we have a really aggressive team that just wants to get the mission done. We don't care if it's 4,000 miles away or four miles away, we are here to help people wherever they're at."

Alaska Governor Bill Walker expressed solidarity with fellow state governors.

"Alaskans stand in support for those who are bracing themselves for Hurricane Florence," Walker said. "I extend to the East Coast the Alaskan spirit of pulling together and offering help in a time of need."

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The United States is losing its influence over world events, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in an interview published Thursday, Daily Sabah reports.

"I think that the soft power of the United States is being reduced at the present moment," Antonio Guterres told The Atlantic.

This, he suggested, is dangerous because there "is no way to solve most of the problems in the world without" the US.
Northern Command Provides Response Support for Hurricane Florence

Sept. 13, 2018

U.S. Northern Command

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command is leaning forward and actively posturing Defense Department forces in preparation for Hurricane Florence.

While homeland defense is the North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northcom's No. 1 priority, Northcom also plays an important role in disaster response by providing unique military capabilities to FEMA in support of state requests.

Northcom also serves as the overall synchronizer of all DoD support to FEMA.

Below is a roundup of the DoD support that Northcom and its subordinate commands are postured to provide prior to Hurricane Florence making landfall:

-- The National Guard has activated more than 2,700 Army and Air National Guard members from multiple states to support response and recovery efforts in the affected states. The National Guard is also postured to support affected states with high water transportation, debris reduction, commodity distribution, shelter management assistance and rotary wing aviation search and rescue operations.

-- The Defense Logistics Agency has mobile distribution centers established in the region and is prepared to provide and distribute more than 281,000 gallons of fuel. They have also prestaged 60 generators and transformers, and are prepared to provide shelf stable meals and bottled water in coordination with FEMA.

-- The Army Corps of Engineers has deployed 18 personnel on a Temporary Emergency Power Planning and Response Team, and has alerted for deployment other team leader, assistant team leader, logistics subject matter expert, a temporary power planning and response team, a power systems expert, and one company from the 249th Engineer Battalion.

-- The Corps has also deployed thee deployable tactical operations center vehicles to assist with communication capabilities.

-- The Corps has fully-engaged teams actively monitoring and managing dams to make as much water storage available as possible. Teams will continue to monitor and manage these dams throughout the storm.

-- Northcom provided Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, as a federal staging area, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, North Auxiliary Airfield, South Carolina, and Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, as incident support bases to support forward distribution of supplies/equipment to the affected areas. The Defense Logistics Agency is managing these operations.

-- Northcom provided a defense coordinating officer with a defense supporting staff element to the FEMA Regional Response Coordinating Centers in Regions III and IV, Joint Field Office, or other locations as required, to provide DoD regional knowledge, requirements validation and liaison, including as necessary state/emergency preparedness liaison teams.

-- U.S. Fleet Forces Command ordered nearly 30 Navy ships in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, area to get underway to reduce the risk of damage to ships and piers during high winds and seas.

-- Northcom has available amphibious ships USS Kearsarge and USS Arlington, along with embarked elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Expeditionary Strike Group 2 command element. The ships will be positioned to provide defense support to civil authorities from the sea should support be requested.

-- In response to potential flooding, DoD is preparing ground transportation/high-water capable vehicles to move personnel and cargo in the affected areas.

-- DoD is also preparing to provide rotary wing aircraft, swift water boats and rescue personnel in support of flooding in the affected areas.

-- DoD is providing personnel and equipment to support marshalling operations at the incident support base in Delaware.

-- Northcom is responsible for homeland defense and defense support to civil authorities. Northcom's role in disaster response is in support of the lead federal agency, FEMA, while working closely with state and local officials.

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West Virginia and other states send hurricane teams

By Capt. Holli Nelson | West Virginia National Guard September 13, 2018

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- The West Virginia National Guard was ramping up efforts today to prepare for the impact of Hurricane Florence on the Mountain State, while simultaneously lending support to neighboring National Guard units and federal agencies.

The WVNG has dispatched numerous joint-enabling teams (JET) from the Army Interagency Education and Training Center (AITEC) to locations in the path of Hurricane Florence. As of Wednesday, 13 Soldiers have deployed to the National Guard Coordination Center, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

JET members have advanced training in homeland defense and response and will serve as additional assets and liaisons for National Guard units' requirements at the national level in coordination with the NGCC. In addition, the WVNG's swift water rescue team, a joint endeavor with Clendenin and Glasgow Volunteer Fire Departments, is on standby for staging and deployment depending on the tracking of the storm.

At the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, 20 Air Guard personnel have been working hand-in-hand with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 3 to prepare a staging area for disaster relief supplies. Since yesterday, nearly 70 tractor-trailer loads of water, food, tents, cots, blankets and fuel arrived at the airbase where the supplies will await distribution as needed pending Hurricane Florence's impact.

"We're staging commodities here in anticipation of a potential flood hazard in West Virginia," said Randy Branson, a logistics planner for the Response Division of FEMA Region 3, and team leader for the staging operations at the 167th AW. "We're operating under what we call a surge. The post-Katrina Emergency Management Relief Act of 2006 gave FEMA the ability to move assets in advance of a presidential declaration of an emergency to be prepared for a disaster declaration."

Gov. Jim Justice authorized the WVNG to bring up to 50 Guard members into a duty status Tuesday for preparation and staging at locations across the state. Communications checks within the WVNG and with county emergency operations centers remain a top priority through the planning and preparation stage. County liaison kits are being prepared for deployment so that WVNG liaison officers can relay county needs to the state EOC (emergency operations center) as quickly as possible for response.

"Our Guard folks and our state and local emergency management and response agencies are working as one cohesive team in this process and I commend them on this effort," said Justice. "There are still a lot of unknowns at this point and we want every one of our citizens to be safe throughout this ordeal. I urge you all to continue to prepare for this storm, monitor local reports and heed any warnings from our agencies working around the clock."

Other states not in harm's way from the storm have been sending assets to the areas in the path of the hurricane. They include:

--Members of the Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron mobilized Wednesday to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to provide humanitarian support for Hurricane Florence relief. About 12 Oregon Air National Guardsmen departed from the Portland Air National Guard Base on a California Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft headed to Dover. The Airmen are prepared to conduct rescue operations as well as establish air fields that may become inoperable due to the hurricane. Along with the Airmen, the Special Tactics Squadron brought inflatable Zodiac boats, all-terrain vehicles, and mini-bikes to aid in their operations.

--Thirty-six Alaska Air Guard members of the 176th Wing and approximately three short tons of Alaska Air Guard equipment departed Wednesday to assist emergency response efforts for Hurricane Florence. The team from the wing will join members of the New York and California Air National Guard units.The Alaskans flew a C-17 Globemaster III from the 144th Airlift Squadron, with Guardian Angel personnel, a rescue vehicle, raft and alert equipment, to Moffett AFB, California. There, California Air Guardsmen will board before meeting the rest of the team at Dover AFB, Delaware.

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President Trump authorizes sanctions against U.S. elections meddling

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 07:53, September 13, 2018

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Wednesday to punish any foreign interference in U.S. elections, a latest attempt by the administration to show its resolution to fight against elections meddling, said U.S. officials.

The order will direct the intelligence community to assess if any foreign individual, entity or country has interfered in a U.S. election, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told reporters at a conference call held at Wednesday noon.

After an up-to-45-day assessing period, the gathered information will be passed to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, who also have 45 days to decide if they should go forward with the sanctions, explained National Security Advisor John Bolton who jointed the call.

The sanctions will be automatically triggered if any foreign interference has been found, said Coats, adding that the U.S. State and Treasury departments, sharing the intelligence information, could impose additional sanctions "if the automatic sanctions we deem is not enough."

The sanctions could include blocking the assets of the individuals and entities within the U.S. jurisdiction, prohibiting U.S. individuals and entities from engaging in transactions with or investing in the entities involved.

Bolton, describing the order as a mandate that "goes to any action that's taken with the intent of interfering in the election," also said it was not "country-specific."

The order came weeks ahead of the U.S. midterm elections which will be held in November.

Robert Mueller, a special counsel, has been looking into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, a claim that has been denied both by Moscow and Trump himself.

Trump has repeatedly denounced Muller's investigating as a "witch hunt." Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been attacked by U.S. lawmakers for not being tough enough against Russia after the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Moscow has influenced the 2016 elections.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Chris Van Hollen said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the newly-signed order "recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it."

"The United States can and must do more," they said.

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Chinese Navy Short on Carrier-Based Fighters, Only Has Problem-Ridden J-15

Sputnik News

22:00 13.09.2018(updated 22:01 13.09.2018)

With China's first indigenously designed aircraft carrier, the as-yet-unnamed Type 001A, set to join the country's first carrier, the Liaoning, in active service in the coming months, the People's Liberation Army-Navy is confronting an interesting problem: it doesn't have enough fighter jets to fill both ships.

The Liaoning can carry 40 aircraft, but operating with a short take-off and arrested recovery system instead of a catapult means that a good portion of its air forces are rotary-wing aircraft  helicopters. It only carries 26 of the PLA-N's carrier-based Shenyang J-15 fighters. When the Type 001A, now in its second stage of sea trials, begins active patrols in the coming months, it won't have enough J-15s to form a complete squadron: according to the PLA Daily, the service only has 40 of the jets.

Love for the fourth-generation J-15 jet is seldom shown in Chinese circles. The Asia Times noted that Chinese media has disparaged the plane in numerous ways, including referring to it as a "flopping fish" for its inability to operate effectively from the Chinese carriers, which launch fixed-wing aircraft under their own power from an inclined ramp on the bow of the ship.

The J-15's engines and heavy weight severely limit its ability to operate effectively: at 17.5 tons empty weight, it tops the scales for carrier-based fighters. The US Navy's F-18 workhorse, by comparison, is only 14.5 tons.

Down the line, the PLA-N will likely install a catapult launching system on a future carrier  leaked photos suggest that such a design is already in the works. The US Navy's carriers have used catapults for decades, along with the French Navy's carrier, the Charles de Gaulle. Catapults launch the plane forward quickly, with its engines already at full blast, enabling it to obtain a greater takeoff speed and thus carry more armaments and fuel.

In early July, Sputnik reported the PLA was seeking to replace the J-15, which also suffers from major problems with its flight control system and has seen a number of high-profile crashes in recent years. Some sources speculate the new plane may be based on the JC-31 Gyrfalcon, a test aircraft also built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

A "new carrier-based fighter to replace the J-15" is being developed, Lt. Gen. Zhang Honghe, deputy head of the PLA Air Force, told the South China Morning Post in July.

Sputnik spoke with Russian military expert Vasily Kashin at the time about the prospects of replacing the J-15, and he said the plane likely isn't going anywhere soon, noting that with regular upgrades, we should expect the J-15 to continue to serve as the backbone of the PLA-N's air force in the coming years.

"I don't expect the first carrier-based J-31s to reach an initial stage of combat readiness before the mid-2020s. Until then, they will have to make do with the J-15," the expert noted.

"Years ago the Chinese decided to save some money and, instead of buying several Su-33s from Russia for their subsequent license production in China, they opted for a Su-33 prototype in Ukraine," the T-10K-3, Kashin said. Sukhoi's Su-33 began life as a modification of the older Su-27 Flanker, to be used on the Russian Navy's own Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, a sister ship of the Liaoning with the same bow launch ramp.

"Acquiring the plane, which was no longer fit to fly, they started developing an improved copy," Kashin said. The J-15 arose as a reverse engineering of the prototype, which Task & Purpose noted brought with it all the problems of that process, including an incomplete understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the airframe. The first J-15 took to the skies in 2012.

"As a result, the development of the J-15 took more time and more money than expected, and the first planes proved less than reliable," Kashin pointed out. "By spending some more time and money, the Chinese will apparently solve the problems they now have and will get a fairly reliable and powerful carrier-based fighter."

 Sputnik

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Korean officials meet to discuss past, future agreements

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 07:37AM

Military officials from South and North Korea have begun working-level talks to formulate the details of former agreements and lay out the contours of a deal to be signed at the end of an upcoming summit between the leaders of the two former foes.

The military negotiations kicked off at Tongilgak, a North Korea-controlled building in the truce village of Panmunjom, within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas, on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said in a report.

According to the South Korean military, Pyongyang recently made the proposal for the talks through a letter, which Seoul later accepted.

Each side has sent a three-member delegation to the talks, the English-language Korea Herald newspaper reported, adding that army Col. Cho Young-keun, who deals with North Korea policy at the Ministry of Defense, is leading the delegation from Seoul while the delegates from Pyongyang are led by Col. Om Chang-nam.

The two delegations are expected to discuss a series of issues such as removing the DMZ guard posts on a trial basis, jointly excavating the remains of fallen troops from the Korean War in the buffer zone, and disarming the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom.

The meeting is also expected to focus on preparations for the third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which is due in Pyongyang on September 18-20.

The results of the military negotiations are likely to be incorporated into the military accord that is expected to be officially adopted by Moon and Kim in the upcoming inter-Korean summit.

During a summit in April, Moon and Kim agreed to hammer out a practical scheme to turn the areas around the Northern Limit Line (NLL)  a de facto maritime boundary  into a "maritime peace zone" in an attempt to avoid accidental military clashes and guarantee safe fishing activities.

The two Koreas fought a war in the early 1950s. It ended with a truce and not a peace treaty. Ever since, the US military, which fought in the war on behalf of South Korea, has maintained massive presence in the region, holding up the prospect of alleged North Korean aggression.

But Kim initiated a rapprochement with South Korea in January, and soon met with Moon  the one time in April and another time in May. The two Koreas have since been advancing their relations.

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Treasury Targets North Korea-Controlled Information Technology Companies in China and Russia

U.S. Department of the Treasury

September 13, 2018

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced North Korea-related designations, continuing the implementation of existing sanctions. Today's action against two entities and one individual targets the revenue North Korea earns from overseas information technology (IT) workers.

"These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals. Treasury is once again warning the IT industry, businesses, and individuals across the globe to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects by doing business with companies like the ones designated today," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "The United States will continue to fully enforce and implement sanctions until we have achieved the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea."

OFAC designated Jilin, China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co., Ltd. (a.k.a. "China Silver Star" or ), its North Korean CEO, Jong Song Hwa (), and its Vladivostok, Russia-based sister company, Volasys Silver Star.

China Silver Star is nominally a Chinese IT company, but in reality it is managed and controlled by North Koreans. As of mid-2018, China Silver Star had earned millions of dollars from collaborative projects with Chinese and other companies. In early 2017, a North Korean IT worker and employee of China Silver Star created Volasys Silver Star as a Russia-based front company, most likely to facilitate the circumvention of identification requirements on freelance job fora and obfuscate the North Korean workers' true nationality from clients. In early 2018, Volasys Silver Star employees, many of whom had moved to Russia from China Silver Star, had earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in under a year. Although nominally run by a Russian individual, Volasys Silver Star is also in fact managed by North Koreans. As its CEO, Jong Song Hwa set company goals for China Silver Star, and he controls the flow of earnings for several teams of developers in China and Russia.

China Silver Star and Volasys Silver Star were each designated under two authorities: for having engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea (E.O. 13722); and for operating in the IT industry in North Korea (E.O. 13810). Jong Song Hwa was designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, China Silver Star.

The United Nations Security Council acknowledged in Resolution 2397 of 2017 that the revenue generated from North Korean workers overseas contributes to North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Indeed, China Silver Star is associated with the UN- and U.S.-designated Munitions Industry Department (MID) of the Workers' Part of Korea and the UN- and U.S.-designated Korea Kuryonggang Trading Corporation (Kuryonggang). The MID is responsible for overseeing North Korea's ballistic missile programs, and Kuryonggang is primarily responsible for the procurement of commodities and technologies to support North Korea's defense research and development programs and procurement.

As a result of today's action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from dealing with any of the designated persons.

Furthermore, as noted in the recent Supply Chain Advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State, with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the IT industry, among other industries, has heightened risk of involving North Korean labor. North Korea sells a range of IT services and products abroad, including website and app development, security software, and biometric identification software that have military and law enforcement applications. North Korean firms disguise themselves through a variety of tactics including the use of front companies, aliases, and third-country nationals who act as facilitators. Businesses should be aware of deceptive practices employed by North Korea in order to implement effective due diligence policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements across their entire supply chains.

Identifying information on the individual and entities designated today.

####

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IRGC cmdr warns all terrorists within radius of 2000 km

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Beirut, Sept 13, IRNA -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari referred to recent missile attack on terrorist positions in Iraqi Kurdistan saying it was a warning to all terrorists within the radius of 2000 km.

Jafari made the remarks in an interview with Lebanese TV Chnnel 'Al-Manar' Thursday.

Earlier IRGC announced the firing of seven missiles at the base of the terrorists following a missile attack on the position and gathering of one of the terrorist groups on Saturday.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in a statement explained the missile strike on Saturday against the location and meeting of the terrorist groups commanders, and emphasized, 'The sons of the Iranian nation in the army and other armed forces and intelligence and security institutions, determined to protect borders of Iran, and the repetition of evil acts by terrorists hired by the enemies is facing more harsher responses.'

The IRGC said in its statement, 'In the wake of the recent evil acts by the terrorist groups affiliated to the global arrogance in the recent months from the Iraqi Kurdistan region against the border areas of Iran by sending various terrorist teams, creating insecurity and committing acts of sabotage to disturb the security and calm of people in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdestan and Kermanshah, punishing the terrorists was put on the agenda of IRGC.

Jafari urged all these terrorists and bases to be aware of Iranian missiles' precision.

US plots to sow discord among different ethnic groups in Iran have failed, Jafari reiterated.

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Russia expects IAEA to ensure implementation of Iran nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sept 13, IRNA/TASS -- Russia expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure stable implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program, Russia's Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov stated during the session of the IAEA board of governors.

'We expect that the IAEA will continue to fulfill its role of an unbiased arbitrator and to provide a stable base for further implementation of the JCPOA,' he said. The Russian side will do 'everything to maintain and fully implement the comprehensive agreements on the Iranian nuclear program, which serve the interests of the whole international community.'

According to the diplomat, the IAEA report suggests that Tehran continues to follow all stipulations provided by the JCPOA.

Ulyanov thanked the Iranian partners for 'demonstrating such a responsible approach even in current, extremely difficult conditions.'

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed between Iran and six international mediators (the UK, Germany, China, Russia, the US and France) on July 14, 2015. On January 16, 2016, the parties to the deal announced the beginning of its implementation.

Under the deal, Iran undertakes to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of the abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program.

On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. He promised to reinstate former anti-Iranian sanctions and impose tighter ones.

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Iran's missile strike on Iraq-based terrorists sends message to enemies: IRGC cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 09:26AM

The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the recent retaliatory missile strike against the terrorists based in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region sends a "meaningful" message to the enemies, who imagine they can bully Iran.

"IRGC's recent revenge against the terrorists conveys a highly meaningful message to the enemies, particularly those superpowers who think they can impose their evil plots on us and bully us," Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Thursday.

Thanks to its intelligence and command work and the deployment of precision-guided missiles, Ja'afari said the IRGC managed to target a gathering of terrorists in the Iraqi Kurdistan region in revenge for their deadly attacks on Iranian security forces in Iran's Kordestan Province.

"This capability sent a very decisive message to all enemies," said the senior general, warning "those who have forces, bases and equipment within a 2,000-kilometer radius around Iran" against any potential attack on the country's soil.

The IRGC on Sunday confirmed that it had fired seven short-range missiles at a gathering of terrorist commanders in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Following wicked actions taken by terrorist groups affiliated with the global arrogance from the Kurdistan region against Iran's border areas in recent months, the IRGC decided to counter and punish the aggressors, the IRGC said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said the US had been provoking Iraq's terrorists over the past year to launch assaults on Iranian soil despite an earlier promise not to do so.

The Iranian general said Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should not allow the establishment of such anti-Iran bases and rather extradite the remnants of "criminal" elements to Iran or deport them.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi also said Iran will not follow a policy of appeasement when it comes to its security issues and the violation of its sovereignty by terrorist elements.



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'A Highly Meaningful Message': Iran Acknowledges Air Strike on Iraqi Kurds

Sputnik News

00:06 14.09.2018

The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed the strike in a statement.

Iran's IRGC chief commander, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, acknowledged that Iran had conducted the September 8 missile strike on Kurdish militants in Iraq, saying such acts convey a "message" to the enemies of Tehran.

"IRGC's recent revenge against the terrorists conveys a highly meaningful message to the enemies, particularly those superpowers who think they can impose their evil plots on us and bully us," Jafari said Thursday.

At least 11 people were killed and between 20 and 30 were wounded during the strike, in which seven short-range missiles were fired at a gathering of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) commanders. PDKI is an armed opposition group which Tehran views as terrorists.

"The strike targeted a conference held by the political office of the party this morning," Major General Jabbar Yawar, a spokesman for Iraq's Kurdish Peshmerga security forces, said after the strike, according to Reuters.

According to the PDKI, the gathering took place in Koya, in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

In his statement, Jafari warned "those who have forces, bases and equipment within a 2,000-kilometer radius around Iran" against any potential attacks on the country's soil, PressTV reports.

Tehran says the missile strike was undertaken in response to numerous attacks against Iran's border areas in recent months.

On Wednesday, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri claimed that the US had been provoking Iraqi Kurdish militants over the past year to launch assaults on Iranian soil, despite an earlier promise not to do so, PressTV reports.

The general called on Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan authorities to take action to prevent the establishment of anti-Iran bases and called on them to extradite "criminal" elements to Tehran or otherwise deport them.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also released a statement saying Tehran will not abide by policy of appeasement when security issues and violations of Iran's sovereignty are on the table.

 Sputnik

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Turkish officials have said they would meet the construction workers at Istanbuls new airport after they staged a protest on Sept. 14.

Demiroren News Agency reported that security forces fired tear gas at hundreds of workers who were protesting dangerous working conditions at the site as it prepares to open next month.

Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of IGA, the company that was founded to build Istanbuls thirdairport, said in a statement after the protest that officials will meet the workers.

IGAs statement said the workers were aggrieved because they had to wait under the rain on the morning of Sept. 14 as their shuttles arrived late to take them to the construction site.

Samsunlu will meet the representatives of the workers and find ways to solve the issue, the statement said, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Japan Successfully Tests Missile Interceptor off Hawaiian Coast

Sputnik News

03:48 13.09.2018(updated 03:50 13.09.2018)

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully demonstrated its ability to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile in a Tuesday test off the coast of Hawaii, marking another step toward self-sufficiency in missile defense as the US Navy grows weary of performing the role in Japanese waters.

The destroyer JS Atago of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force shot down a dummy missile fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, on Tuesday, a statement by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) reported the following day.

The Japanese warship detected and tracked the missile, then "developed a fire control solution, and a Standard Missile-3 missile was launched," the statement said, according to the Washington Examiner.

"The SM-3 successfully intercepted the target above the Pacific Ocean," the statement said, "a significant milestone in the growing cooperation between Japan and the US in the area of missile defense."

"This successful test is a major milestone verifying the capabilities of an upgraded Aegis BMD [ballistic missile defense] configuration for Japan's destroyers," MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said, according to Defense News. "This success provides confidence in the future capability for Japan to defeat the developing threats in the region."

The Atago, lead ship of her class of the same name, is similar in capabilities and appearance to the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. Together with the four Kongo-class destroyers, Japan has six ships equipped with the Aegis Combat System.

Defense News noted that the US Navy has been pushing for Japanese missile defense to be moved to Aegis Ashore sites instead of being dependent on sea-based systems, so that it can use its ships for other purposes. While the ship-based Aegis system is much older and more well-proven, an Aegis Ashore system is presently operating in Romania and Poland, and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are eager to implement both versions of the system.

In late July, Sputnik reported that the Japanese Defense Ministry had set aside as much as $2.2 billion more for the system, promising an increase of its previous budget by 20 to 30 percent. Two systems are already in the process of being deployed in the northwest and southwest of the island nation, for an estimated cost of $890 million.

Aegis has had a stellar missile defense record, with 38 of of 47 tests being deemed successful according to the MDA, including Tuesday's test.

That said, a January test of the same missile  SM-3 Block IIA  by US and Japanese forces failed to lock on to an incoming mock missile during a test also performed off the coast of Hawaii, Sputnik reported at the time.

However, a report published by the Los Angeles Times in 2017 about another missile defense system used by the US, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. That report revealed that, not only have many of the missile thrusters failed during simulation testing, causing the interceptor to stray from its flight path, but also that top GMD contractors have glossed over the issue, insisting that the simulations have been successful, Sputnik reported.

Reuters noted that while countries such as Russia have expressed concern about Japan fielding the Aegis system in greater capacity, since it can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. Japan insists its systems are for self-defense only.

 Sputnik

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Japan Successfully Tests Ship-Launched Interceptor Rocket Over Pacific

Sputnik News

00:53 13.09.2018

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Japanese navy, in its first test of an upgraded ship-launched SM-3 interceptor rocket, successfully destroyed a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean, the US defense contractor Raytheon announced in a press release on Wednesday.

"A Raytheon Company SM-3 Block IB missile intercepted a ballistic missile target, marking the first time Japan has tested the sophisticated interceptor," the release said.

In the Japanese test, the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, and the interceptor was launched from the Japanese ship Atago, verifying the destroyer's capability of deploying the latest version of the SM-3, the release explained.

The SM-3 interceptor is a defensive weapon deployed to destroy enemy rockets with a direct hit rather than an explosive warhead, according to the contractor.

Japan currently employs the SM-3 Block IA interceptor, but the IB variant's improved seeker and upgraded control system enables engagements with a larger set of threats, the release noted.

 Sputnik

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Putin vows to beef up army to better defend Russia, allies

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:02AM

Russia's President Vladimir Putin says his country's military practices are defensive and offensive in nature, and has pledged to strengthen Russia's armed forces and provide them with the "latest weapons and technologies" to help them better protect the country and its allies.

The Russian president arrived in the country's Siberia Zabaikalsky region on Thursday to observe the massive military exercise, called Vostok-2018, on Thursday.

The exercise, described by Russia's Defense Ministry as the country's largest drill since the end of the Cold War, involves more than 300,000 troops and also incorporates contingents from China and Mongolia.

The drill started on Tuesday and is scheduled to run at five ranges in Russia's Far East and in the waters of the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk until September 17.

Putin praised the "mastery" of the Russian army and its "capacity to face down potential threats" after watching the drill at the Tsugol military training ground near the borders with Mongolia and China.

"Our duty to our country is to be ready to defend our sovereignty, our security, and our national interests and, if we must, to support our allies," the Russian president said following a huge military parade.

"Therefore, we will continue to strengthen our armed forces, equip them with latest weapons and technologies and develop international military cooperation," he added.

Putin said the Vostok-2018 drill demonstrated that the Russian army was capable of countering military threats.

Russia has described the drill as purely defensive in nature, but NATO has already condemned it as a rehearsal for "large-scale conflict," saying it would monitor the exercise closely, as will the United States, whose relations with both Moscow and Beijing have been fraying.

The Western military alliance of NATO has boosted its presence in Eastern Europe for the duration of the Russian drill.

Putin said the Russian government advocated peace and declared that his country was a "peace-loving state."

"We do not and cannot have aggressive plans," the president said. "Our foreign policy is aimed at constructive cooperation with all countries that are interested in it."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier said that the exercise was "justified" in "the current international situation" given the "aggressive and unfriendly" attitudes toward Russia.

NATO has often held military maneuvers near Russia's western borders, stationing advanced military hardware. It has also been trying to co-opt more countries from near Russia.

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EU Court Upholds Sanctions On Russian Energy Companies, Banks

RFE/RL September 13, 2018

BRUSSELS --The European Union's General Court has upheld the bloc's sanctions regime against Russian bank and energy companies over Russia's involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

"The General Court of the EU upholds restrictive measures adopted by the Council against a number of Russian banks and oil and gas companies in connection with the crisis in Ukraine," the court said in September 13 statement.

Energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom Neft, as well as the banks DenizBank, PSC Prominvestbank, Sberbank, and Vnesheconombank had sought to annul the sanctions imposed on them by the EU in 2014 as a response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine, where the conflict has killed more than 10,300 people in the last four years.

The EU sanctions restrict the access of the Russian banks and gas companies to some financial transactions and certain sensitive goods and technologies, as well as to capital markets in the EU, and prohibit the provision of services required for certain oil transactions.

The court said that the "stated objective of the contested acts is to increase the costs of Russia's actions to undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, and to promote a peaceful settlement of the crisis", and that "this objective is consistent with the objective of maintaining peace and international security."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-court-upholds-sanctions-on-russian- energy-companies-banks/29487711.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.

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EU Prolongs Russia Sanctions Until March 2019

RFE/RL September 13, 2018

BRUSSELS -- The European Union has extended by another six months visa bans and asset freeze against 155 Russian and Ukrainian individuals, as well as 44 companies, for undermining or threatening the independence of Ukraine.

"An assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the sanctions regime," The EU council said in a statement issued on September 13.

The list of sanctioned individuals includes the Donetsk separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko who was killed in an explosion in the eastern city on August 31.

It also includes a deceased member of the Russian Duma, Iosif Kobzon.

EU sources told RFE/RL that both were likely to be de-listed at a later stage but that the bloc wanted to ensure that their potential assets held in the EU aren't passed over to someone else when they are removed from the list.

The sanctions were first imposed in March 2014 over Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine and its seizure and illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula. They have been renewed every six months since then. They have been now extended until March 15.

Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine and its support for separatists in a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people since April 2014, has heightened tensions with the West.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-prolongs-russia- sanctions-until-march-2019/29487483.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.

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Top Republican Lawmaker Calls For Stronger U.S. Action Against Russia

Mike Eckel September 13, 2018

WASHINGTON -- A top U.S. Republican lawmaker has called for more to be done to punish Russia for its "aggressive acts" in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere, as pressure grows in Congress to move more forcefully against Moscow.

The September 13 comments by Representative Ed Royce (Republican-California) came one day after President Donald Trump's administration unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening election security, ahead of midterm congressional elections in November. The measure set up the potential for sanctions on foreign countries or people who interfere in U.S. voting.

But congressional Republicans and Democrats have joined a push for more concrete actions against the Kremlin, a push that has contrasted with some of Trump's past calls for a more conciliatory policy toward Russia.

New bipartisan legislation introduced in August -- titled the Defending American Security From Kremlin Aggression Act of 2018 -- proposes new sanctions and other punitive measures, going beyond those imposed last year in legislation that Congress passed nearly unanimously, over Trump's objections.

Among other things, the bill would impose sanctions on any Russian energy transactions, prohibit licenses for U.S. citizens and companies hoping to engage in Russian oil projects, and also curtail Russia's ability to issue new sovereign debt.

Prospects for the bill are uncertain, particularly with lawmakers gearing up to campaign ahead of the midterm elections.

At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on September 13, Royce said he thought the Trump administration had not been doing enough.

"We cannot expect Vladimir Putin and his corrupt associates to change their behavior in Syria, Ukraine, or anywhere else until we prove we will hold them to account," he said. "Those still engaged in significant business with designated Russian individuals and entities need to pay a price."

Several lawmakers pressed sanctions officials from the State and Treasury departments on whether the Trump administration could do more not only against Russia, but also Iran and North Korea.

Manisha Singh, an assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs, estimated that sanctions have cost Russia "tens of billions of dollars."

Other lawmakers, including Democrat Thomas Suozzi, pointed to Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi, pressing Assistant Treasury Secretary Marshall Billingslea on why the administration wasn't targeting the company, which makes fighters jets and passenger planes.

Billingslea also said officials will aggressively enforce the sanctions that the Trump administration recently announced it was reimposing on Iran. Earlier this year, Trump said he would roll back the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement against Tehran.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/top- republican-lawmaker-calls-for-stronger-u-s- action-against-russia/29488512.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.

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US Believes Sanctions Have Cost Moscow Tens of Billions of Dollars - State Dep't

Sputnik News

20:29 13.09.2018

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US sanctions against Russia have cost Moscow dozens of billions of dollars, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Manisha Singh said during a congressional hearing on Thursday.

"We assess that our sanctions, cumulatively, have cost the Russian government tens of billions of dollars, on top of a broader impact on state-owned sectors and chilling effect overall on prospects for the Russian economy," Singh told the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

Singh noted that the United States has targeted with sanctions Russia's main state-owned weapons trading company Rosoboronexport, major power company EurosibEnergo and Russian oil giant Surgutneftegaz.

Washington has also imposed sanctions on the heads of Russia's major state-owned banks and energy firms, Singh said.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Moscow has repeatedly denied all allegations of meddling, calling such accusations absurd and invented to excuse the election loss of a presidential candidate as well as deflect public opinion from actual instances of election fraud, corruption and other pressing issues.

 Sputnik

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Vostok-2018 Drills Show Russian Army Capable of Countering Threats - Putin

Sputnik News

07:35 13.09.2018(updated 09:36 13.09.2018)

TSUGOL RANGE (Russia) (Sputnik)  Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday at the Tsugol Range in Russia's Zabaikalsky Territory to attend the main stage of the Vostok-2018 maneuvers.

Vostok-2018, set to become the largest military exercises held by Russia in over 30 years, are scheduled for September 11-17 at five ranges in the east of Russia, and in the waters of the Sea of Japan, Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. According to previous estimates, about 300,000 troops were set to participate in the maneuvers. The drills have gained an international status, with troops from China and Mongolia set to take part in one of the stages.

"Russia is a peaceful state, we do not have and cannot have any aggressive plans," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at the Tsugol range.

However, the Russian army must be ready to protect national sovereignty and security as well as to support the country's allies, Vladimir Putin stressed.

"Our duty to our country and Motherland is to be ready to protect sovereignty, security and national interests of our country and, if needed, to support allies," Putin said.

In addition, the Vostok-2018 war games demonstrated that the Russian army is capable of countering significant military threats, Putin stressed."You demonstrated the military prowess, showed your capability to successfully counter potential military threats," Putin said addressing to the troops that participated in the drills.

Putin further stressed that he highly assessed the performance of the Russian army and navy in the Vostok-2018 drills.

"Today here, at the Tsugol range in the Zabaikalsky Territory, the most active stage of the [Vostok-2018] drills came to an end. You demonstrated the high-level performance. All units and formations have fulfilled the set tasks," the Russian president added.

The president also stated that the Russian army and navy had never faced such a difficult exam.

"Our army and navy have passed such a difficult and big exam for the first time All components of the troops' combat readiness, preparedness of the management bodies, units and formations as well as the organization of their cooperation are subjected to comprehensive checks," Putin explained.

The president went on noting that the Armed Forces will be further boosted, supplied with weapons and equipment of latest generations. Moreover, military cooperation will be further developed.

The large-scaled Vostok-2018 war games involve troops from the Eastern and Central Military Districts, the Northern Fleet and the Airborne Troops, as well as some units from the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Earlier, the Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov said that the exercises were preceded by a full cycle of preparatory measures, including sudden checks, as well as command and staff training.

For example, a surprise inspection of the Northern Fleet took place in mid-August, while similar inspections of the Central and Eastern military districts happened later that month.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin stressed last week that the Vostok-2018 war games are not anti-NATO event despite claims made by Western media, and that they are held several thousand kilometers away from Russia's western borders. The official noted that 91 observers from 57 countries, NATO Military Liaison Mission and EU Delegation to Russia attend the large-scaled exercises.

Vostok-2018, involving nearly 300,000 servicemen, 36,000 vehicles and over a thousand aircraft, is Russia's largest military exercise since the Zapad drills in 1981. The exercise involve Russian land, air and naval forces, while Chinese and Mongolian troops will also take part in one of its stages.

 Sputnik

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Saudi Arabia buys Israeli 'Iron Dome' system amid detente: Report

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 08:06AM

Saudi Arabia has reportedly purchased a missile system owned and operated by Israel as the two regimes move towards making their secret relations public.

Citing high-level diplomatic sources, the Emirati news website al-Khaleejonline reported on Wednesday that Riyadh had purchased the so-called Iron Dome system from Tel Aviv following US-mediated secret meetings in Washington.

The report said that the deal, worth more than tens of millions of dollars, is expected to be implemented in December, with the first missile system being placed on the Saudi border with Yemen, where the kingdom is waging a deadly war.

Initially, the sources said, Israel refused to sell "Iron Dome" to any Arab country under the pretext that it would endanger the regime's "interests in the region."

After Washington's intervention, however, Tel Aviv agreed to the sale.

"Saudi Arabia will pay for the completion of the Iron Dome deal in excess of tens of millions of dollars, and there are pledges to be signed through the US mediator that this system does not pose any danger to the security of Israel and its allies in the region in the near or long term," the diplomatic sources said.

They also noted that Saudi Arabia will buy more military equipment from Israel if the system operates well.

"If the Iron Dome succeeds in intercepting rockets that pose a threat to the kingdom, there will be talks with Israel to buy additional military systems and open the door for military exchanges between the two sides," the sources said.

Haaretz on Thursday said Israeli officials had "strongly" denied the sale, without naming them.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations, but they are widely believed to have secret liaisons. Latest reports say the two regimes are working behind the scenes to establish formal contact.

Critics say Saudi Arabia's flirtation with Israel would undermine global efforts to isolate Tel Aviv and affect the Palestinian cause in general. They say Riyadh has gone too far in its cooperation with the Israelis as a way of deterring Iran as a regional rival.

Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a brutal war, code-named Operation Decisive Storm, against Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall the country's former Riyadh-allied regime and crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

The offensive initially consisted of a bombing campaign, but was later coupled with a naval blockade and the deployment of ground forces into Yemen.

The imposed war, however, has so far failed to achieve its stated goals, thanks to stiff resistance from Yemeni troops and allied Houthi fighters.

Several Western countries have been supplying Saudi Arabia with advanced weapons and military equipment, sparking widespread criticism by human rights groups.

Riyadh has also boosted its defenses against retaliatory missile attacks by the Houthi movement, which mostly targets military positions south of the kingdom and other key areas.

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Kushner was behind clandestine Saudi-Israeli alliance: Bob Woodward's book

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 13, 2018 07:04AM

US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was behind the clandestine alliance between Israel and Saudi Arabia, American investigative journalist Bob Woodward has claimed in his new book, "Fear."

According to Woodward, Kushner pushed this plan despite the opposition of some senior White House officials, namely Defense Secretary James Mattis, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and then-National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Kushner started working on a Tel AvivRiyadh alliance shortly after President Trump captured the White House in early 2017, suggesting that the president's first foreign trip would include visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel, the journalist wrote.

Woodward stated that Kushner had stronger ties to the most senior officials in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet.

He added that Kushner faced constant challenges from senior US officials over who should be the top Saudi official to work with.

Woodward wrote that senior US intelligence officials wanted former intelligence chief and crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef to work for the US but Kushner preferred Mohammed bin Salman.

Kushner "had important and reliable intelligence that the key to Saudi Arabia was the deputy crown prince, the charismatic 31-year-old Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS," Woodward reported.

"The message from them was that Kushner better be careful," Woodward wrote about Kushner's rivals in the White House. "The real solid guy was the current crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, who was known as MBN. He was the king's nephew credited with dismantling Al-Qaida in the Kingdom as head of the Interior Ministry. Showing favoritism to the younger MBS would cause friction in the royal family," Woodward noted.

Woodward wrote that Tillerson believed that "engagement with MBS should be taken with a grain of salt. The US could work hard on a summit, and in the end have nothing."

In June 2017, bin Salman replaced his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as the first in line to the Saudi throne. Nayef is reportedly under house arrest.

The young prince then launched a self-promotion campaign meant to consolidate his grip to power, as part of which hundreds of royals and high-profile business man were arrested and tortured over "corruption" charges. Most of them were later released under hefty cash settlements with Riyadh.

Bin Slaman has also tried to portray himself as a "reformist" and advocate of women's rights by introducing a string of economic and social changes.

Under bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, the kingdom has stepped up its overtures towards Israel.

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Target Yemen: Spain, US Confirm Support for Riyadh After Civilian Massacres

Sputnik News

22:43 13.09.2018

The Spanish government walked back its cancellation on Thursday of the sale of 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, which has been devastating Yemen's infrastructure and killing civilians in an effort to oust the Houthi government.

Meanwhile, the US affirmed its support for the Saudi-led coalition on Wednesday within hours of a bombing that left more than a dozen dead.

Since Saudi Arabia drew international outrage after killing more than 40 children in a bombing attack on a bus in Yemen on August 9, some demonstrable, if small, steps have been taken by a number of governments to weaken the monarchy's blows to the war-ravaged nation, which is gripped by one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history.

But it appears that for every step taken forward, two are taken back. Spain's former government signed a contract to sell the bombs to Riyadh in 2015, but after years of the crisis in Yemen worsening and specifically after the bus attack, Spain halted the sale, although the Spanish Defense Ministry wouldn't explain why. Local media reported that the administration of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez would pay back Saudi Arabia for the 9.2 million euros it had already fronted for the bombs.

Spanish journalist Helena Villar says the deal was just a drop in the bucket. According to Amnesty International, Spain is one of the biggest arms suppliers to Saudi Arabia in the world. "The fact is that it is a minimal decision if we consider that between just 2015 and 2017, Spain, according to Amnesty International, exported 932 million euros in war supplies to Saudi Arabia," Villar told Sputnik News.

"A suspension of arms sales that does not reach 10 million euros is only about 1 percent of the material sold to the Saudis between 2015 and 2017," she added.

Workers at a government shipyard in the south of Spain protested the halt of the bomb sale, arguing that Saudi Arabia may retaliate by cancelling its purchase of five warships at a price of 1.8 billion euros. Villar rejects that reasoning, telling Sputnik News that the halting of the bomb sales "did not affect" the sale of warships, which, she noted, "were also going to be used in the Yemen war."

"In addition to the controversy of selling arms to a country that violates human rights and is the author of massacres in Yemen," Villar said, the mayor of the town the shipyard sits in, Cadiz, who belongs to the leftist party Podemos, has also been heavily criticized for supporting the contracts in the name of job creation. "It should be noticed that one of the main problems in Spain is unemployment, but a huge leftist sector criticized him for putting the employment of workers in his city before human rights," she told Sputnik News.

Spain reversed its decision to halt the bomb sale to the Saudis on Thursday. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced the cancelation, later telling a local radio station, "After an intense week's work by various ministries  including the Foreign Ministry  the decision is that these bombs will be delivered to honor a contract from 2015, which was made by the previous government and in which no irregularity has been detected that would bar it from happening."

The reversal came one day after a coalition bombing of a bus station in Hodeidah, a port city that serves as a lifeline for Yemen, as it is used to bring in essential supplies. Yemeni journalist Ahmad Algohbary reported the attack that left between 15 and 20 killed and more wounded, including children.

Borrell downplayed the potential for Spain's precision bombs to cause collateral damage or loss of civilian life and infrastructure, arguing, "You don't get the bombings that you get with less sophisticated weapons that are dropped rather randomly and which cause the kind of tragedy that we've all condemned."

"It must not be forgotten that the European Parliament requested the cessation of arms sales to Saudi Arabia in November 2017," Villar said. Nonetheless, "Saudi Arabia has always been a close ally of Spain. In fact, last April, King Felipe VI was received by Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman in his palace with all of the honors."

Within hours of the bus station bombing on Wednesday, UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef al-Otaiba published an op-ed in the Washington Post declaring that "the UAE is absolutely clear about our vision of the region and the partners who share it."

Spain, however, is not the only country reassessing its support for the coalition in which Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the most overtly hostile actors.

The bomb used by Saudi Arabia on August 9 was supplied by the US State Department. Another bombing on August 23 of a transport vehicle carrying people fleeing violence in Hodeidah killed at least 22 children and four women, while another four children were killed the same day. The US has also been supplying the Saudis with targeting information and intelligence, helping to enforce the Saudi naval blockade of the country (and exacerbating the already widespread food insecurity and famine), and has even sent US soldiers to help the Saudis find and destroy Houthi weapons.

On Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certified to Congress that Saudi Arabia and its coalition partner the United Arab Emirates are taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of civilian casualties and destruction of civil infrastructure. That came after a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the US' defense spending bill, which required that the government assess the actions of its partners or curtail its support for them. "I endorse and fully support Secretary Pompeo's certification to the Congress that the governments of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are making every effort to reduce the risk of civilian casualties and collateral damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from their military operations to end the civil war in Yemen," US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in a statement.

 Sputnik

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Israel Rejects Reported Selling of Its Iron Dome Missile Systems to Saudi Arabia

Sputnik News

14:38 13.09.2018

Iron Dome is a sophisticated vehicle-mounted system capable of detecting threats and eliminating incoming missiles and rockets using a shotgun-like blast.

Israeli security officials have vehemently rejected reports that Saudi Arabia had allegedly purchased Iron Dome missile defense systems from the Jewish state, according to Haaretz.

Their remarks came after the Emirati news website Al-Khaleej Online cited diplomatic sources as saying that the deal, which is estimated at tens of millions of dollars, is due to enter force in December, when Iron Dome batteries will be deployed on Saudi Arabia's southern border with Yemen.

Saudi officials have declined to confirm the sale, which the sources claimed allegedly reflected warmer ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

According to Al-Khaleej, the deal, which was ostensibly mediated by the United States, stipulates further plans to clinch an agreement on full-blown military cooperation between Riyadh and the Jewish state.

With Riyadh rejecting allegations about bolstering its relations with Tel Aviv, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recognized Israel's right to exist earlier this year.

In a separate development, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported in June that Salman and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held secret talks in the Jordanian capital Amman.

In November 2017, Netanyahu admitted that despite having no diplomatic relations with Riyadh, Tel Aviv had developed "contacts" with Saudi Arabia, which he said "have been kept in general secret."

 Sputnik

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Turkey Amasses Forces in Idlib Ahead of Damascus Offensive

Sputnik News

02:31 14.09.2018

Turkey has sent convoys of troops to the province, despite its defense minister having said a military operation would drag the enclave toward disaster.

Turkey has sent convoys of troops to reinforce its presence in Syria's province of Idlib, the only remaining terrorist stronghold in the country, according to a report by Haaretz. The reinforcements come despite Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's recent warnings against a military solution.

Akar said during a meeting with foreign ambassadors Wednesday that a military operation would drag the region toward a humanitarian catastrophe, Anadolu News agency reported.

"We are working with Russia, Iran and other allies to bring peace and stability and to stop a humanitarian tragedy," Akar said, according to Anadolu.

Haaretz cited activists of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who reported earlier this week that a convoy of Turkish forces entered the province from the Kfar Lusin crossing in northern Idlib and then moved to some of the 12 Turkish observation points scattered throughout the province border.

Another monitoring group, the Central Station for Turkish Intervention, shot a video of armored vehicles and tanks driving by an Idlib road.

Both groups claimed the convoy was headed to two different observation points. Ankara has not yet commented on the reports.

The Turkish military has deployed 12 observation points that ring Idlib as a part of a de-escalation agreement reached with Russia and Iran last year, which aimed to freeze the lines of conflict, effectively making Ankara the protector of the province, Haaretz reports.

In recent weeks, the Syrian government has amassed forces to the south of Idlib and recently launched a massive bombing campaign against terrorist positions. However, the bombing has died down in the last 24 hours, which some view as a sign of an upcoming ground operation.

On September 11, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan published an article in the Wall Street Journal, in which he wrote that "the world would bear responsibility" for not acting to stop the Idlib offensive and the humanitarian catastrophe that is supposed to inevitably follow the military operation.

"All members of the international community must understand their responsibilities as the assault on Idlib looms. The consequences of inaction are immense," Erdogan said.

The United States, in a somewhat similar fashion, issued a warning to Russia Wednesday that Moscow would "bear responsibility" for the "humanitarian crisis" that would occur if Syrian forces attacked the terrorist enclave.

In August, Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, also claimed that a military operation in Idlib would be a "disaster, not just for the Idlib region, but a disaster in terms of Syria's future," during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

 Sputnik

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U.S. Condemns Separatist Plan For 'Elections' In Eastern Ukraine

RFE/RL September 13, 2018

The United States has joined the European Union in condemning plans by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to hold "elections," calling them "phony procedures" that undermine peace efforts in the region.

"The United States condemns the announcement of a plan to conduct 'elections' in the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics,'" State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on September 12.

"Given the continued control of these territories by the Russian Federation, genuine elections are inconceivable, and grossly contravene Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements," she added, referring to September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict.

She said that by "engineering phony procedures," Moscow was exhibiting "its disregard for international norms and is undermining efforts to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine."

On September 8, EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini also criticized the plan and called on Moscow to use its influence to stop the planned November 11 vote from taking place.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry also decried the announcement by the separatist officials in the Donbas region.

"If fake 'early elections' are conducted, their outcome will be legally void, they will not create any legal consequences, and will not be recognized by Ukraine or the global community," the ministry said in a statement on September 7.

The separatists have vowed to hold elections to choose the region's parliament and a new leader.

Donetsk separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko was assassinated by a bomb blast in a city cafe on August 31. Denis Pushilin, the chairman of the "people's council" was selected as the acting head until the November 11 vote to select a new leader.

More than 10,300 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April 2014 in the conflict, which erupted as Russia fomented separatism after Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych was pushed from power by huge pro-European protests in Kyiv.

Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine and its seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula led the United States and EU to impose sanctions against Moscow and has heightened tensions between Russia and the West.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-condemns-russia-backed-separatists -donbas-election-plan/29487151.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.

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VANCOUVER, September 14, 2018 - Nevada Clean Magnesium Inc. (TSXV: NVM; Frankfurt-M1V; OTCQB: MLYFF) (The "Company") today announced that it intends to raise up to $250,000 by way of a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units ("Units") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per Unit. The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") final acceptance.

The Offering

The maximum Offering is for gross proceeds of up to $250,000. The Offering is not subject to any minimum aggregate subscription. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of Nevada Clean Magnesium (the "Common Shares") and one Common Share Purchase Warrant (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one Common Share for a period of two years at a price of $0.08/share.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance of the securities. The completion of the private placement and payment of any commission and fees remains subject to the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for working capital.





Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Forward-Looking Statements



Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include that we will conduct and close a private placement and that we can become a a major U.S. producer and distributor of primary, high grade, low cost magnesium metal. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including the Company's dolomite reserves may not be mined because of technical, regulatory, financing or other obstacles, the market price for magnesium may make our resources uneconomic, we may not be able hire and retain skilled employees, and other risks associated with being a mineral exploration and development company. We may not be able to close with interested investors on our intended private placement because of perceived risks or market conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.



To Reach Nevada Clean Magnesium Please Contact:

Edward Lee, CEO at (604) 210-9862



For additional information please visit our website at http://www.nevadacmi.com or view our profile at http://www.sedar.com.



You may also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.





Copyright (c) 2018 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.


Babli case: Naidu plans to gain political mileage!

The Telugu Desam Party leaders in Andhra Pradesh might be crying foul over the issuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant by the Dharmabad court in Maharasthra against their party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in connection with the 2010 Babli project agitation.

They have also been alleging that it is part of Operation Garuda by the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre to trouble Naidu.

Minister Prattipati Pulla Rao went to the extent of saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was envious of Naidu, who got the invitation from the United Nations Organisation to address the meeting on sustainable agriculture.

The Dharmabad first class judicial magistrate court directed the police to produce Naidu and the other leaders before the bench on September 21, around which time Naidu would be leaving for New York. If Naidu doesnt appear, he will have to face the arrest immediately.

But heart in hearts, the court order came as a blessing disguise for him. At a time when the TDP is planning to test its waters in Telangana in association with the Congress party in the ensuing elections, it would fetch a lot of mileage for him if he is arrested, since the case pertaining to his fight for the interests of Telangana on the Babli project.

Sources in the TDP sources said Naidu was keen to attend before the court not only to declare his respect for the judiciary but also for political considerations.

Since the elections are due in Telangana in November or December, Naidu can claim that the BJP was resorting to witch-hunt ever since the parties parted ways in March this year, sources said.

"Chandrababu Naidu did not even seek bail when he was arrested by the Nanded police when he had staged the protest in the interest of undivided Andhra Pradesh. We will obey, if the court asks us to appear", Naidu's son and Andhra IT minister Lokesh said in his reaction to the news of non-bailable warrants.

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Weeks after selling off the massive Matrix Corporate Center in Danbury, the estate of a Long Island developer found a Greenwich buyer for a smaller office building on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk.

A limited liability company controlled by Greenwich-based Hanover Real Estate Partners spent $16.5 million to acquire the five-story building at 535 Connecticut Ave., which serves as the headquarters for Crius Energy and with multiple other tenants having offices in the building including Belvoir, OperationsInc and UBM.

The transaction resulted in a conveyance tax payday of nearly $300,000 for the city of Norwalk and the state of Connecticut, according to Rick McQuaid, town clerk.

At last report under principals Kenneth Boyle and Reed Miller, Hanover Real Estate managed some 2.7 million square feet of real estate in 12 states, including a Hampton Inn & Suites near Mystic Aquarium in eastern Connecticut that had been the lone property it listed owning in its home state.

The building had been purchased in July 2014 for $13.5 million by Matrix Property Group, whose principal Glen Nelson died in December 2016 and which hired Avison Young to help it find a buyer for 535 Connecticut Ave. The city of Norwalk last appraised the property at $17.6 million.

Since Nelsons death, Matrix has been shopping portions of its real estate portfolio, with Fairfield-based Summit Development reaching a deal last month to acquire the onetime Union Carbide headquarters in Danbury that totals 1.2 million square feet of space.

In 2016, the electricity and natural gas supplier Crius Energy chose 535 Connecticut Ave. as its new headquarters, relocating from downtown Stamford with $8 million in state assistance with the promise to more than double its local workforce to 435 people. OperationsInc had moved to the building from Stamford as well, four years earlier.

We decided to (move) here ... due to its location, which is close to the highways, tons of retail and most importantly to the cities where my employees live, said OperationsInc CEO David Lewis in response to a Hearst Connecticut Media query. Matrix has been a very challenging landlord. We are thrilled with the change of ownership and look forward to putting Matrix in our rearview mirror, and to working with Hanover as we enter the final year of our current lease.

It is the second significant sale on the Route 1 corridor that feeds Connecticut Avenue into the Boston Post Road in Darien, with the newly renamed Darien Crossing acquired in July for $4.9 million by a joint venture of Norwalk-based Fletcher Development and Silver Heights Development of Westport. Known as Darien Green under former owner Normandy Real Estate Partners, the complex spans two buildings at 320-330 Boston Post Road.

The 535 Connecticut Ave. offices in Norwalk were built 30 years ago and total about 180,000 square feet, with 74 percent of the space leased, according to Avison Young. Prior tenants included the University of Phoenix, with the online college having used portions of the building as a southwestern Connecticut campus before closing the location in 2013.

It is one of three large multitenant office buildings along Connecticut Avenue, along with the RiverPark office building at 800 Connecticut Ave. that is home to travel website giant Booking Holdings, which had a third of its space available as of June according to the Norwalk brokerage firm Choyce Peterson; and 200 Connecticut Ave., which had a 30 percent availability rate.

Includes prior reporting by Chris Bosak.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Theodore Huber of Westport will serve three years in prison and pay $1.3 million, after a jury convicted him and three others of reaping trading profits based on insider information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Between 2009 and 2014 via an intermediary, Huber, 56, used information from a CMS employee as the basis for trades at Deerfield Management, a New York hedge fund focused on health industry stocks, with the firm profiting by more than $7 million according to the office of Robert Khuzami, deputy U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
GREENWICH  U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal came to Greenwich Friday to show support for federal legislation to provide more resources toward the fight against opioid addiction.

A bill is expected to be voted on by the U.S. Senate next week.

This is a sweeping measure that has bipartisan support, strong support on both sides of the aisle, because there is nothing partisan about the opioid epidemic, Blumenthal said during a morning press conference at Town Hall also attended by First Selectman Peter Tesei, Police Chief James Heavey and others. It affects Republicans and Democrats and everyone else.

The bill, tentatively scheduled for a Monday vote, includes requirements for drug companies to disclose payments to nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, money for drug take-back programs and additional support for law enforcement departments.

It also include $1.5 billion in funding over three years for programs that provide treatment for people suffering from substance abuse, which Blumenthal said could result in $5 million to $10 million going to Connecticut.

This money is inadequate to fully address the problem and we need to be very realistic about the challenges, Blumenthal said, adding deaths from opioids has reached 1,000 per year in Connecticut and 72,000 nationwide. It does also provide support for some prevention programs and we know addiction for many families begins in the medicine cabinet at home. Ridding the medicine cabinet of unused or unnecessary powerful pain killers can help forestall young people from having access to them.

Blumenthal said he would push Senate colleagues to do more, and hopes for support from the White House where President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to fight the epidemic.

This kind of investment has to be a priority, Blumenthal said. Its investment in our children to prevent them from being lured or enticed into lifetimes of addiction and disease.  I hope the president will put money where his mouth is, literally, and he will commit resources and invest. Its not just money spent, its investing in preventing this problem before it burgeons out of control.

Other senators are visiting their home states this weekend to mobilize support before the vote next week and put additional pressure on the administration to do the right thing, he said.

Blumenthal, who is a town resident, praised Tesei for the steps he has taken as first selectman to deal with the opioid problem, which have included efforts to educate people about the dangers of the drugs and to identify and reach out to those who need help.

We cannot get to the source, Tesei said. We truly need the leadership of our federal government and Senator Blumenthal to focus on the suppliers of these drugs. We all know there are merits to pain remediation but at the same time theyre highly addictive and they really take over peoples lives.

According to Heavey, Greenwichs last fatal overdose was in October 2017, after 17 overdoses and five fatals in 2016. He noted the recent gift by Greenwich Hospital, which equipped all Greenwich police cars with supplies of Narcan, a drug that counteracts overdose effects, and already has resulted in the saving of a life in town.

This is an issue where we have to try everything whether its human services or EMS and police and first responders, Heavey said, calling Narcan another tool in our toolbox.

Heavey also noted the receptacle in the lobby of the Greenwich Public Safety Complex where people can drop off drugs for safe disposal, 24 hours a day, no questions asked.

Fridays press conference was also attended by Greenwich Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Zack, Greenwich Emergency Medical Services Director of Operations Patrick OConnor, Superintendent of Schools Ralph Mayo and town Commissioner of Human Services Alan Barry.

Heavey and Barry co-chair the Greenwich Prevention Council. Next week, officials expect to release results of a survey of Greenwich students about the drug issue.

We have to get more creative and smarter in what were doing in terms of developing strategies so we can truly have an impact, Barry said.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
The YWCAs annual Player of the Year contest moved into the final four months of play recently with Leia Berla continuing to pace a field of 59 players who had participated in 10 or more games since the first of the year.

After play in August, Berlas average score stood at 60.3 percent for 20 games, giving her better than a 2 percentage point lead over runner-up Sharon Santow, whose average was 58.2 percent for 18 appearances. Carole Hue was third with 58.0 for 12 games, followed by defending champion Terry Lubman, with 57.9 for 15 games, and Mary Scarfi, with 57.6 for 25 games.

Rounding out the Top 10 in the contest, for which anyone who plays in at least 15 games during the year automatically becomes eligible, were: sixth, Jerry Jacobs, 57.4 percent; seventh, Eleanor Gimon, 56.8; eighth, Renate Fremuth, 56.3; ninth, Susan Vock, 55.9; and 10th, Lois Spagna, 55.3.

Todays quiz: We continue this week with the current series of quizzes on basic bridge probabilities. In the following problem, you are given your own and the dummys holding in two different suits, and are determine the best percentage play in the specified circumstances.

YOU: H K5, D K5; DUMMY: H AQ63, D AJ4

You are in six spades and are missing the ace of trumps. The opponents have set up a club winner for themselves with their opening lead, so you must try to get rid of this loser (you have only one club left in your hand) before playing trumps. Should you cash the K-A of hearts and then try to get rid of the club loser on the queen of hearts, risking a ruff by the opponents, or should you cash the king of diamonds and then finesse the jack which, if it wins, will allow you to throw your club loser on the diamond ace?

Answer: As in last weeks quiz, this is simply a matter of comparing percentages. The diamond finesse will work only 50 percent of the time, while attempting to discard on the third round of hearts will succeed whenever the opposing hearts are divided 4-3, a 62 percent possibility. Moreover, if the hearts happen to break 5-2 (31 percent) and it is your right-hand opponent who has the doubleton, all is not yet lost, as you can overtrump him and try the diamond finesse for your slam.

The weeks duplicate results:

Greenwich YWCA weekly open duplicate: North-South, 1. Lee Getz-Michael Grant, 2. Leia Berla-Eleanor Gimon, 3. Ann and Fred Jones, 4. Mary Albertell-Colleen Hopkins, 5. Renate Fremuth-Barbara Thompson; East-West, 1. Mary Scarfi-Lois Spagna, 2. Dave Babson-Dorothea Bellafiore, 3. Karen Fox-Betsy Grant, 4. Betty Cutting-Mary Oztemel, 5. Mary Grimm-Grif McClellan.

Central Greenwich Bridge Club weekly duplicate, 9/7: North-South, 1. Sandy and Kurt Schaffir, 2. Marilyn Gordon-Regina Pitaro, 3. Dave Babson-Dorothea Bellafiore; East-West, 1. James Chung-Joe Roe, 2. Barbie Jackson-Lolly Raphael, 3. Bob Drissen-Dean Goss.
GREENWICH  Mexican Independence Day was marked Friday morning in Greenwich with a celebration outside of Town Hall.

Town resident Leoncio Florez-Velazco raised the Mexican flag and Robert Genna sang the Mexican national anthem as the town saluted the country, which marks its independence from Spain on Sunday.

We are blessed to have a broad cross section of our community here to celebrate this wonderful occasion, First Selectman Peter Tesei said at the ceremony. This occasion is not just about the date of Mexican independence, it is also an opportunity for Greenwich to celebrate those residents who are of Mexican descent and heritage. This is an integral part of what we do as a community. We bring people together and we celebrate their pride in their native lands and the history and culture that it brings.

The flag raising ceremony, in its second year, was the brainchild of town resident Ann Blumensaadt. She offered remarks at the ceremony in both English and Spanish.

While she is not Mexican herself, Blumensaadt grew up in Texas and was in school with many Mexican classmates. That formed a lifetime attachment to the countrys culture, and she wondered why Greenwich held days for other countries, but not Mexico.

The town of Greenwich should be thanked for allowing us to do this, Blumensaadt said. Tesei later thanked her for her energy and inspiration in setting the event in motion.

A crowd of close to 30 people attended, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumethal, D-Conn.; state Rep. Michael Bocchino, R-151; Bocchinos Democratic opponent in the November election, Stephen Meskers; several members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation and Tax Collector Howard Richman.

Andrea Cadena Cornejo from the Mexican Consulate Generals office in New York City also attended Fridays flag raising and thanked Greenwich for its show of support.

Its an honor for me to be with you here today to celebrate the 208th anniversary of the independence of Mexico, Cadena Cornejo said. I would like to express the Mexican governments gratitude to the people of Greenwich. You have been a remarkable ally to our country and to our Mexican humanity. We have talked with people that live here who are not just Mexican nationals. There are second generations here and communities that are living here, blending in and creating new things in their new homes. Its a win-win relationship where we are building with each other, cooperating with each other and enriching each other culturally.

Mary Lee Kiernan, president and CEO of YWCA Greenwich, brought with her copies of the new resource guide book put together in partnership with the town to provide information about services available to new immigrants. Tesei acknwledged the outreach effort, an initiative of the First Selectmans Diversity Advisory Committee, and noted it was available in both Spanish and English.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
In her book Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content, Ann Handley, chief content oficer of MarketingProfs, wrote, "In an online world, our online words are our emissaries; they tell the world who we are."

Related: Become a Better Business Writer in 2 Easy Steps -- a No-Tears Guide

And that truth is rarely more important than when you're trying to build online influence. The words you use when posting on social media, writing a blog post, sending an email or offering advice will either increase or decrease your authority.

Sadly, these seven common mistakes from "non-writer" wannabe influencers hurt online authority. Avoid them at all costs.

1. Using passive voice when it's unnecessary

English speakers follow sentences best with an actor-action-object cadence. Passive voice, though, removes the actor from the sentence altogether. "The boy threw the ball" is active voice, while "The ball was thrown" is passive.

To your readers, passive voice feels like trudging through mud. It's difficult and uninteresting.

Active voice, on the other hand, feels like slipping down a slide -- they couldn't stop if they wanted to. And this principle doesn't just apply to fiction writing, it applies to your online writing. Keep the actor at the beginning of the sentence whenever you can and your readers will thank you for it.

Here's how former University of Kansas journalism professor John Bremmer put it in Words on Words: A Dictionary for Writers and Others Who Care About Words: "Active voice is [the] vigorous voice, unashamed to say whodunit. Passive voice is preferred by the weak, the cowardly, ashamed to name the fink who told them what they are evasively telling you."

Related: 2 Very Visible Mistakes That Make Your Web Copy Look Unprofessional

2. Using too little white space

In grade school, you probably learned to write using long paragraphs of text (four to five sentences) with small indents between each.

Today's online world, however, demands something much different.

Readers prefer short paragraphs with spaces in between because they are easier to read, particularly on a mobile device.

3. Having too many points in a single piece of writing

With every piece of writing, avoid trying to make more than one point. Every social media post, email and message should have a single goal -- just one thing to explain. Otherwise, your writing will quickly become cluttered and unclear.

Have one point, get to it quickly and be done with it.

Related: These Are the Most Misspelled Words in Every State

4. Pretending that grammar doesn't matter

Someone has probably told you something to the effect of, "Grammar doesn't matter. Just be yourself with your writing and people will love it."

That's true ... partly.

You do need to be yourself when you write -- have a unique and distinguishable tone of voice. But, you should also use correct grammar or you risk coming off as unintelligent to your audience -- unless, of course, you're intentionally breaking grammar rules for a purpose.

Generally speaking, though, avoid bad grammar. Forty-three percent of online users think that grammatical errors are unattractive and 35 percent think that good grammar is outright appealing.

5. Transitioning thoughts too quickly

Sloppy transitions make writing difficult to read. In its purest form, writing is the explanation and organization of thoughts. And if those thoughts don't clearly transition from one to another, then readers will struggle to understand the point you're trying to make.

Don't think that your readers already understand your own mental leap from evidence to assumption. Take your time to explain your reasoning and how you've come to those conclusions.

Related: 3 All-Too-Familiar Writing Patterns You Need to Eliminate From Your Marketing Copy Today

6. Depending on cliches

In On Writing Wonderfully: The Craft of Creative Fiction Writing, author Pawan Mishra says, "Cliches are the viruses that infect your writing with diseases."

Writing with cliches is easy. It takes very little time to think of a cliche (because it's a cliche) and they often spit themselves onto the page without the writer even noticing. Unfortunately, those cliches will make you seem uninteresting and incapable of coming up with your own comparisons.

Instead, put a new spin on an old cliche or use a fresh metaphor. Your writing will have a far great impact and gain you far more influence when it's uncluttered by cliches.

7. Ignoring the reader's perspective

Most people who write online -- whether social post, email, message or blog -- do so selfishly. They write because they want to write, because they have a story they want to tell or because they want to teach something, not because their audience is interested in it.

Before putting pen to paper, consider your audience. Who are they? What do they want? What are they struggling with? And, most importantly, how can you help them?

By starting with those questions, not only will your writing be more relevant to the people that you're trying to influence, it'll pack a bigger punch and build a bigger following.

Related:

7 Writing Mistakes Non-Writers Make When Trying to Build Influence Online

Lack of Global Legal System Pushing Competent Creative Writers into a Tizzy in Entertainment Space

Become a Better Business Writer in 2 Easy Steps -- a No-Tears Guide



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Choosing a great name for your company is much trickier than most founders first believe. The best brand names wander into our subconscious, unnoticed. They assimilate smoothly into different parts of our lives and take on real meanings, whether you're talking about jumping into an Uber, going on a Tinder date or Whatsapping a friend.

Related: 8 Mistakes To Avoid When Naming Your Business

Those names dont just sneak into our sentences; they stick in our minds, and roll off the tips of our tongues.

Still, there is more to a great name than its just being memorable. A great name needs to be solid, and offer the right foundation for a company to build upon. As if this weren't enough, a frequently overlooked factor is the fact that the perfect name needs to be available.

In the early 1900s, you could choose just about any name without running into problems, but considering that there have been 6.7 million trademark applications over the last three decades, modern companies really need to think outside of the box to find names which not only stick, but wont end up initiating a dreaded cease-and-desist letter.

So, how can companies find a name that makes their brand explode, rather than their brains?

1. Know your audience.

To avoid choosing a name that bombs, brands should start on the right foot, by first identifying what they want their name to represent about their brand.

Starting with a clear idea of exactly what message you want to send, and whom you want your brand to resonate with will help you first choose a style (preeminent, playful, pragmatic, modern, intriguing, powerful) which will be the north star through the sometimes windy road to choosing a brand name.

For example, if you are selling consumer-based products, and your target consumers are millennials, or generations Y or Z, you will have a bit more flexibility to think outside the box, with intriguing names like Urban Decay or playful names like Squatty Potty. However, if you are a corporate company aiming for baby boomers, you'd be smart to choose something more classic, like Stone Eagle Advisors or Zenith Capital.

Related: How To Choose A Name For Your Company

Once you have a clear idea of who your target audiences are, and then what you want your brand name to convey to these people, you can then choose a brand name style which encompasses these answers. Then create a one- or two-sentence project statement to keep your naming efforts laser focused. Here are some examples:

Our company needs something thats modern and really shows that were on top of all the best things in the market.

We need an elegant name that immediately sounds like a high-end womens fashion brand.

2. Start with the right foundation.

The next step is to come up with the different ideas and images to convey in your name which are inherently linked to your brand. Instead of focusing on the descriptive element -- i.e., what you sell -- focus on expressing one or two other core concepts that are essential to your brand, culture and values.

For example, if you are a food-delivery startup, your ideas could convey images of healthy living, ethically sourced products or great customer service and quick delivery time.

Zappos, one of todays ecommerce success stories, whirled up a modern name which depicts speed but also has a connection to the Spanish word for shoes, zapatos.

While experimentation will figure in, at this early stage of the process, you'll find that less is definitely more. Instead of starting off with a white board resembling that unforgettable scene from A Beautiful Mind, hone your ideas down to three to six of the words or themes that are most essential to your brand.

3. Know the danger zones

Once you and your staff have your style, themes and purpose clear in your heads, its time to get out the lab coats -- and lots of coffee -- and really start experimenting. But before trying out different names, you should know which areas to avoid. With so many trademarks out there, the freedom to use almost any particular English word is becoming slim. The common danger zones are:

Single English words

Power words -- like f orce, united, omni, icon

Symbolic words - like bridge, spring, sage, rocket

But just because you cant use one stand-alone word doesnt mean you cant combine these words into something original. Types of names that have been attached to powerful brands have included:

Transmutations -- Zappos, Zumba

This and that -- Haute and Bold, Crate & Barrel

Compounds -- SnapChat, WordPress

Visual Story -- Ice Mountain, Red Bull

Blends -- Groupon, Instagram

While compounds and transmutations are great, we always recommend that name-shoppers say the words out loud o make sure they stay within the following three guidelines:

Is the name easy to say? It should roll off the tongue, rather than twist it.

Is the name easy to hear? Consumers should be able to hear your brand name, then quickly tap it into Google to find you.

Is the name easy to spell? Simple misspellings such as Flickr, Xero and Lyft are much easier to trademark, but if they are hard to spell, problems could result.

4. Harness the collective genius, and weirdness!

Considering the more than 6.7 million trademark applications to date, and the fact that there are only 171,476 words in the English language, choosing a great new name which is awesome, and available, requires creativity. Generally, we have found that brands that harness the collective genius of the crowd hit the jackpot more quickly. Find a team that can help you try out some different brand name types for size. Here are some results:

Transmutations, like Spotify, Bloomio, Grammarly. In recent years, transmutations -- a real word with an added suffix -- have exploded in popularity. Starting with your list of obvious keywords, themes and ideas, get out your thesaurus, think of slang and use horizontal thinking strategies.

Then come up with a second, more creative and unique list of words based around the same themes. For companies looking for a more modern touch, the suffixes io, -a, ify, ity, and ya, are your best bets. For companies aiming for a more classic, sophisticated air, classic suffixes like eus or ian may be more suitable.

Compounds, like SnapChat, YouTube, WordPress, Facebook. Compounds offer a relatively simple, but effective means of finding names which have not already been trademarked. These tactics can allow for some really powerful sounding names, which sound like global brands rather than mom and pop stores. Think: DigitalFuel or GrowthQuest. The only limits are your imagination.

This and that names. Think Hall & Oates. Doubling up can create some killer combos that simply might not work on their own. Generally, the best this and that names do not use descriptive elements related to actual products, or services. Thus, we are unlikely to see the next big accessories company brand itself Zippers & Leathers, or Patches & Purses.

Later down the line, when your creative geniuses have created a shortlist of potential brand names made from transformations, compounds and this and that combos, you should bring impartial judges on board to help you choose the best of the bunch.

Find a diverse group, preferably people in the same demographic as your target market. Then present them with a shortlist of four to seven names that meet your initial criteria. At this stage, it is important not to overshare or influence their decisions. Simply ask which brand your judges would be most interested in learning more about, and which name best aligns with your core principles. You may be surprised with the results!

Related: 8 Ways to Pick a Great Name for Your Business

If you follow these tips, you and your team should be able to come up with a kick-ass brand name that will capture attention, stick in peoples minds and stand the test of time.

Remember: When it comes to naming a brand, fortune favors the brave!

Related:

How to Make Your Brand Explode Rather Than Your Brain: Tips for Choosing the Right Name for Your Company

Make a Name for Yourself: 4 Expert Tips for Choosing a Name and Trademark

The Most Common Words U.K. Companies Use for Their Business Names (Infographic)



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Your companys logo is the visual figurehead of your brand, so its important to get it right. Whether intentional or not, every detail of your logo will influence people who see it. That's why nothing should be arbitrary.

Related: Expert Explains What Makes the Best Logos So Good

In fact, its in your best interest to make sure that every logo design choice is intentional and communicates the message you want to convey, because thoughtless design choices lead to misleading or confusing logos.

Worse, thoughtless choices can lead to logos that dont say anything at all.

What follows is a deeper look at the psychology of logo design, in terms of fonts, shapes, lines, colors and composition -- and how these elements affect your logo's influence on customers' purchasing decisions.

The psychology of fonts

Fonts have a psychological impact on people. The emotion they generate is directly tied to the shape of the letters and our psychological response to those shapes. So, how do you know which font style will work best for your business?

The Software Usability Research Laboratory (SURL) at Wichita State University ran a study that examined the traits people associate with varying fonts. Among the people surveyed, traditional fonts including Arial or Times New Roman were categorized as stable and mature, but were also considered unimaginative and conformist.

In contrast, fonts described as youthful and casual fonts -- like Comic Sans -- were considered happy and casual.

Most important in anyone's font decision is certainty that the company name is legible and readable. Youd be surprised how many logos weve seen that are unreadable. And, really, how can you remember a business if you dont know the name of that business?

The psychology of shapes in logo design

All logos -- whether they include an icon and text, an icon only, or even just text -- have a shape. The three major categories -- geometric, abstract and organic -- all come prepackaged with their own psychological associations.

Geometric shapes

Geometric shapes look man-made. Mathematically precise squares, perfect circles and Isosceles triangles dont tend to appear in nature. So, using these shapes communicates a sense of order and power. The various types:

Related: Why Small Businesses Need Strong Logos

Squares and rectangles convey stability, reliability, strength, order and predictability. Think of the bricks used to build sturdy, stable buildings. If you want your logo to communicate strength and reliability, consider incorporating squares or rectangles.

Circles are never-ending. So, they may be the right choice if you want to make consumers think of harmony, unity, eternity or timelessness. Curves are also considered feminine; and, as such, circles communicate softness, gentility and femininity.

Triangles are a directional shape. As a result, they change meaning depending on how they are positioned. When right side up, triangles convey power, stability and upward momentum. Inverted triangles suggest instability or downward momentum. And, triangles pointing to the side convey movement and direction based on where the triangles point is facing.

Abstract or symbolic shapes

Symbols are simplified shapes that represent something specific in a culture. And, because symbols have clear, common meanings, they are relied upon heavily as a visual language.

Stars can convey patriotism or religion or even "show business" and "Hollywood " depending on how they are used.

Hearts can be used to communicate love, relationships and marriage, while broken hearts represent break-ups, divorce and sadness.

Arrows, meanwhile, suggest a direction, movement and travel. These are commonly used in businesses that ship and deliver goods. FedEx and Amazon are examples of logos that use these symbols well. The arrow in the FedEx logo is subtle and created from negative space -- an unexpected surprise. Amazons logo features an arrow that serves triple duty signifying a package being delivered, the company's range of products (from A to Z) and the recipients resulting smile.

Organic shapes

Organic shapes include the shapes of organic items occurring in nature (rocks, leaves, tree bark, amoebas, water ripples, etc.). This category also encompasses any irregular non-symbolic shape, even if it's not inspired by nature. When utilizing organic shapes, keep these guidelines in mind:

Natural shapes like leaves, grasses, representations of water, and trees tend to have a soothing effect on the viewer. This is why they often appear in logos for spas and holistic medical businesses.

Shapes with jagged angles may create feelings of anxiety, while shapes with soft curves make them feel more relaxed.

Shapes that dont resemble anything recognizable are open to the viewers interpretation. This means that you will need to work harder to communicate a specific message through other design elements and branding choices.

The psychology of lines

Lines divide space. They create definition and form. They communicate direction. Lines tell us where to stand and where to drive. But, beyond their practical function, they can also communicate a great deal aesthetically. In fact, geometric line art logos are popular in logo design trends this year.

Thin lines, in particular, are delicate and may appear fragile. They communicate elegance and femininity. They can also imply frailty, weakness or flexibility. Alternately, thick lines suggest strength and rigidity. They appear more traditionally masculine than thin lines. Thick, bold lines are used to draw focus and create emphasis where they appear.

Straight lines imply order, structure and predictability. They may also be perceived as rigid or harsh. Curved lines, on the other hand, offer more energy and dynamism.

Then there's positioning: The position of your line in space impacts the psychological effect that the line creates.

Horizontal lines run parallel to the horizon. As a result, they contain the least visual energy of all line positions. They feel comfortable and safe.

Vertical lines run perpendicular to the horizon. They appear to rise straight up from the earth, filling them with the potential visual energy to tip or fall. Vertical lines draw the eye upward. And, as such, they are often used in religious iconography to draw focus upward to the heavens.

Diagonal lines suggest movement and action. Diagonal lines can be positioned anywhere between horizontal and vertical. This makes them very expressive and the least stable of all the line positions.

Smooth lines are clean, calming and restful. Depending on their context, they can convey confidence, fluidity or ease.

Jagged and zig-zagging lines are filled with tension. These dynamic lines change direction quickly, communicate erratic movement, and irregularity. They can suggest excitement or anxiety, confusion or danger.

The psychology of colors

Color contributes the strongest emotional trigger in your logo design repertoire because colors are strongly linked to emotions in the human psyche. Whether our interpretation of colors is hardwired into our brains or is due to cultural influence -- or a combination of the two -- there is a generally accepted language of color.

Its also important to bear in mind that how you mix your colors in a single design also has psychological implications for your viewers. For instance:

A multitude of bright colors appears youthful, childlike, or full of energy.

Black and white is a classically elegant combination that implies maturity and sophistication.

Monochromatic schemes allow you to embrace more vibrant colors while maintaining a softer, more unified feel.

Combining neutrals with an accent color allows you to take advantage of the emotional influence of a strong, bright color without the childlike implications.

Choose your colors wisely to elicit appropriate brand-appropriate emotions. Your color choices should always embody the personality of the brand.

The psychology of composition

Fonts, shapes, lines, and colors are the building blocks for a great logo design. But dont forget that how you compose those elements also impacts how the logo is perceived and the message it sends. Here are some important considerations to think through when you choose a logo design:

Size denotes importance. The larger an object is the more focus it draws and the more important it seems.

Western audiences read from left to right. So, things appearing on the left side of the logo will be viewed first and perceived as the most important.

Loosely spaced items surrounded by negative space look more restful than items that are closely spaced. If you choose to emphasize negative space, be careful not to leave too much or the logo may lack coherence.

Scattered or irregular placement suggests playfulness, chaos or rebellion, while orderly, symmetrical arrangements communicate formality, stability, and conformity.

Layering items together creates visual relationships, so be mindful of how you combine shapes and lines.

Related: 5 Secrets for Making Your Logo Stand Out

Overall, every detail of your companys logo will influence people who see that logo. You can communicate a lot -- and do it efficiently and effectively -- if you understand your brand and make informed, thoughtful choices regarding fonts, colors, shapes, lines and composition.

Related:

How Your Company's Logo Influences Purchase Decisions

4 Logo-Design Options to Boost Your Startup's or Small Business's Marketing Campaign

Make a Name for Yourself: 4 Expert Tips for Choosing a Name and Trademark



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Around Midland and around the world, loving and leading all people to deeper life in Jesus Christ.
Shooting victim says he was pointing his gun at Rittenhouse
Except for the extremely fishy penta-camera setup that leaked at the beginning of this month, the Nokia 9 is a fairly mysterious device. The same goes for the rumored Nokia X7, which is believed to be the Snapdragon 710-powered smartphone that the company is readying to launch later this year.

And now this - two photos of alleged Nokia 9 and Nokia X7 front glass panels giving us a good idea of how both devices would look like from the front. Oh, and the good news is that the notches are nowhere to be seen.

It appears that the Nokia 9 has a very slim chin and side bezels while the upper one is just big enough to house the earpiece, the front camera and the accompanying sensors.



Alleged display panels: Nokia 9 display  Nokia X7

The Nokia X7, on the other hand, has slightly thicker bezels all-around due to presumably being a less expensive handset. It's also a pleasant surprise to see that the Nokia X7 isn't bit by the notch bug like its smaller siblings the Nokia X5 and Nokia X6.

Source (in Chinese)
So

The two men who allegedly tried to murder the Skripals and allegedly murdered one other and tried accidentally killing several others in the same process. Allegedly are gay and allegedly sell health drugs to weightlifters and allegedly these drugs are steroids and allegedly they are Russian spies and allegedly they are specifically GRU spies and allegedly Putin sent them and allegedly they were set up by the MI6 and allegedly they smuggled the drugs into Europe and allegedly basically guilty of being Russian and allegedly.they were dead already

Source: Russian novichok hitmen have been killed to cover up crime | Daily Mail Online

Allegedly the probable story: They are part of the Russian (Gay Jewish) mafia making routine visits overseas. They travel to Europe for illegal business (drugs, prostitution, etc) The Brits know this and chose them as the patsies because MI6 knew they would not be able to come forward publicly to prove a legitimate purpose for being there. Putin wants nothing to do with them, but probably sent a message as he laughed, that they were on their own and needed to do the RT interview and make the best explanation for why they were there. Let the European or Russian media figure out the truth  I guarantee it will not show they are Russian agents

{Maybe gay, drug runners and having been ruined for life by the British. But they are not Russian Agents and they just were Russians at the wrong place at the wrong time.All Russians (Maybe all foreigners?) are fingerprinted at the border as they cross and MI6 knew who they were a longtime ago}

The bullshite from both sides (admittedly 75% from the British) could fertilize every farm on the planet.RT did a sloppy interview under pressure by Putin as he laughed and said, I hope that they will show up and tell everything themselves. There is nothing particularly criminal there, I assure you,

The real issue is; Britain has lied non-stop about the whole Skripal thingy

Time to get some real reporting done and quit ALLEGEDLY speaking about it (RT lets do your job!)

And I love it 

A Soap Opera has got nothing on this.Putin is playing Britain like a violin

WtR

Here is the interview by RT

The perfection of allegedly




Haiti - News : Zapping...





UNIBANK : Partial functioning of metropolitan ATM network

UNIBANK informs that it is currently unable to supply its entire metropolitan network of ATMs because it can not obtain from the Central Bank (BRH) quality notes adapted to ATM machines.



Arrest of police officer robber

Wikenson Pierre-Louis, a police officer of the 26th promotion of the National Police of Haiti assigned to the police station of Saint-Louis du Nord (North West Department), was apprehended on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 in the city of Les Cayes (department of South), following the robbery of a store in the city of Les Cayes. According to police authorities, the alleged thief had been operating for a month in the southern department before his arrest.



Some appointed ministers could be prosecuted

Government Commissioner Me Clame Ocnam Dameus announces that he will request the files of the ministers who made false declarations to the DGI with a view to prosecuting them.



Dismantling of a network of counterfeiters

Wednesday the National Police of Haiti (PNH) announced the dismantling of a network of counterfeiters in Port-au-Prince earlier this week. More than 4 people were arrested, a 9mm pistol, false seals from various institutions were seized.



Procurement with UN agencies

On Wednesday, more than 250 Haitian entrepreneurs attended the Business Seminar on Procurement Procedures with United Nations Agencies and Programs.



Weather : Storm Isaac

The storm Isaac was this morning about 500 km east of Martinique and moves to the West at 24km / h with sustained winds of 95km / h. According to the planned trajectories, Isaac should move south of Haiti about 400 km offshore day and evening Saturday. Haiti's Hydro-meteorological unit (UHM) believes that for the moment the storm Isaac does not represent any direct threat to Haiti, but continues to monitor its displacement in order to keep the population informed of the evolution of the situation.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Justice : The war continues between the State Lottery and the ANTB





Marie Margareth Fortune, Director General of the Haitian State Lottery (LEH) condemns with the utmost rigor the arrest last weekend of 17 sellers of Borlette in the commune of Carrefour operated arbitrarily at the instigation of the National Association of Tenants of Borlette (ANTB) for unjustifiable reasons.



Informed of the situation, the Coordinator of the LEH of the commune of Carrefour accompanied by the judge of Peace of this jurisdiction, on behalf of the LEH, intervened to demand the immediate release of these sellers.



Following the hearing, the titular judge ruled in favor of the Haitian State Lottery and gave full rights to the LEH to play its role of regulator of games of chance in Haiti, according to the law.



On the other hand, the Justice of the Peace, in the presence of the members of the ANTB declared "From now on, these salesmen must formally avoid working under the aegis of this Association which could not in any case replace the LEH."



Note that this is the second defeat since the beginning of the month of the ANTB in court after its failure at the Prosecutor's Office of Jeremie, following a seizure of equipment and illegal gambling equipment https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25520-haiti-justice-the-antb-in-jeremie-loses-in-its-legal-action-against-the-state-lottery.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25520-haiti-justice-the-antb-in-jeremie-loses-in-its-legal-action-against-the-state-lottery.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25278-haiti-justice-illegal-games-arrests-of-haitians-and-dominicans-in-delmas-65.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24650-icihaiti-security-margareth-fortune-of-the-leh-threatened-with-death-will-not-give-up.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-23378-icihaiti-notice-illegal-use-of-the-logo-of-the-national-lottery-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23279-haiti-economy-lottery-of-the-haitian-state-between-pressures-and-open-conflict.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-18149-haiti-social-the-borlettes-refuse-to-respect-the-rules-of-the-game.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















Irene M. Bunny Potts, 71, passed away due to natural causes on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at Missouri River Center in Great Falls.

Wake services began at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 13, 2018, and will continue until her funeral service, which will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2018, all at Our Saviours Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Bunnys online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com/.

Bunny was born on February 12, 1947, in Rocky Boy to Thomas and Ruth (Favel) Gardipee Sr. She was raised in Rocky Boy, graduating from Havre High School in 1965. Bunny continued her education at Haskell University, obtaining her bachelors degree in business in 1969. She married Melvin Potts and had three sons, two of whom passed away young. After her marriage, Bunny lived in Hobbema, Alberta, Canada, for close to 20 years with her husband before returning to Rocky Boy in the late 1980s. She worked for the Chippewa Cree Tribe in a clerical capacity for many years, most recently as an enrollment clerk, and served as the band administrator for the Montana Band.

Bunny was a kind, caring woman whom most referred to Mom or Auntie, and who enjoyed playing hand game, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles and reading, especially the gossip rags. She also was a huge fan of the Lifetime channel.

She was preceded in death by her sons Curtis W. Belcourt and infant son; grandson Noah Gardipee; parents Tom and Ruth Gardipee, Sr .; and siblings Louise, Dirinda, Anna, Thomas Jr., and Loverne Gardipee.

Bunny is survived by her son James (Collette) Gardipee; two grandchildren, Tyrell and Mason Gardipee; adopted daughter Kendra Simon; brothers Allan Gardipee, Sr. and Vern Gardipee, Sr .; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.
Havre City Council will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

The meeting agenda is:

Call to order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll call

Minutes

Committee reports

Public comment on agenda items 1 through 2. For items not on this agenda, public comment will be taken at the end of the agenda. Comments here are limited to one minute.

Regular agenda 

1. Resolution No. 3788  A resolution assessing a special property tax against certain property in the city of Havre, Montana, for failure to pay a reasonable charge for nuisance weed control on their property under the authority of Section 9-6-7 of the Havre City Codes.

2. Consider request from Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter to allow a variance to City Ordinance 6-2-15 Prohibiting Animals in City Parks, by allowing dogs in Pepin Park from 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 for a fundraiser.

Council initiatives

Public comment on nonagenda items  Limited to any public matter within the jurisdiction of the City Council not on this agenda. Comments here are limited to three minutes.

Adjourn

Additional information on any of these items is available in the City Clerks Office.

The next Council meeting is Monday Oct. 1.
Chapter V of the International P.E.O. Sisterhood scholarship recipients Kaci Nicholson, from left, Carlee Brown and P.E.O. Chapter V memberLigia Arango pose for a photograph.

Press release

Chapter V of the International P.E.O. Sisterhood has announced its Montana State Univeristy-Northern scholarship recipients for the 2018-19 scholastic year.

Chapter V awarded a scholarship to Havre High School senior Kaci Nicholson. Nicholson is attending Northern pursuing a biology degree.

Carlee Brown, a current Northern student pursuing a degree in criminal justice is the other recipient of the MSU-Northern scholarship.

Chapter V Martha Kuhr Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Northern student Bridgette Greenwood.

Courtesy photo

P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization in which women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.

True to the mission of promoting educational opportunities for women, education is the primary philanthropy of the P.E.O. sisterhood. The P.E.O. sisterhood proudly sponsors six international philanthropies, designed to assist women with their educational goals. Grant and loan recipients-as well as Cottey College students- need not to be members of P.E.O. With the exception of students that receive International Peace Scholarships, each recipient is sponsored by a P.E.O. chapter. This allows the chapter members to be a "meaningful" part of their student's life.

For more information contact any Chapter V member.
Press release

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Societys signature activity and is one of the largest community fundraisers in the world. It is a unique event that offers everyone in the community the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and fight back against this terrible disease.

Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

Because Relay For Life is a community event, anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate. Teams are formed from businesses, clubs, families, friends, hospitals, churches, schools and service organizations.

To learn more about how to become involved with Relay For Life, people can come to the next meeting Monday at 6 p.m., at the Chinook Eagles. People can also contact the following organizers for more information: Donna Tilleman, [email protected], 265-6507; Kyndra Hall, [email protected], 945-2411, or Reba Domire, [email protected], 390-1343.
A crowd listens to Amber Spring, chair of the Suicide Awareness Walk Committee, speak Thursday on the Montana State University-Northern campus before the Suicide Awareness Walk begins.

About 100 people gathered on the Montana State University-Northern campus Thursday in awareness a major problem in north-central Montana and in the nation - suicide.

The Fourth Annual Suicide Awareness Walk was held to give a platform for those whose lives have been impacted by suicide and to raise awareness for mental health, Suicide Walk Committee Chair Amber Spring said.

Many at the event were wearing purple and teal clothing and ribbons, the symbol of suicide awareness.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Durward, APRN, PMHNP-BC, said suicide is a huge issue in the community. As a provider who treats a magnitude of disorders, including suicidal tendencies, she said she was at the event to show support for her patients, families and the community.

"It's important to see how it impacts everyone's life," Durward said. "Break the stigma."

She added that she is also an instructor in Northern's nursing program, teaching mental health nursing including issues of suicide.

Also in attendance at the suicide walk were many nursing students. The event is to celebrate the survivors of suicide and create a bonding experience, Durward said, letting people know that they are not alone and that hope is always nearby.

One of the participants in the walk, Susan Somers, said suicide is as much of a local issue, because of the state and region's high rate of suicide, as it is a national issue.

Her father committed suicide, she added, and she was at the event to bring awareness because of that.

The Gardipee family was in attendance at the event in remembrance of Jesse James Gardipee, who died in 2014. He had taken his life, his Aunt Kathy Koop St. Mark said, and his family did not know anything was wrong. She added that they were at the event to share in the experience, pay honor to her nephew and listen to other people's stories.

"There is always someone out there," St. Mark said, adding that, for those who are contemplating suicide, they are never alone and people are always willing to help. "One day can make a difference."

She said since her nephew's suicide the family has come every year, bringing the whole family, including Gardipee's widow and child.

Spring said the event was to pay tribute to those who have died and to increase awareness of the problem in the community.

"We plan this annually in an effort to bring suicide out of the darkness," Spring said.

She said the awareness walk is also for people who are struggling with depression to have a place to feel safe to talk about their problem and to get help if they need.

It gives a platform to people who have had an experience with suicide, as well, to feel safe to share their experiences and heal, she added.

She said the awareness group is also offering two certified trainers to provide Mental Health First Aid classes and three certified trainers for Youth Mental Health First Aid classes. People who are interested in those classes can contact Deidre Reiter at Bullhook Community Health Center at 395-4305.

The community has shown it wants more education and to learn how they can help people in crises, Spring added.

"I reflected on how different our society treats mental health from physical health," Spring said. "With physical health we offer all kinds of preventative screenings ... and then we have continued follow up before we conduct another yearly screening. But how do we address mental health concerns?

"We are afraid to ask questions, sometimes we don't even know the right questions to ask and that includes our medical providers," she said. "When someone says they're sick, we say 'I hope you feel better soon, let me know if you need anything.' But what do we do when their struggles have to do with their moods, with their emotion and their mental health? Changes start with us individually."

She added that this year's theme is "Be The One To," that people should be the one to make the change.

Experiences with suicide

Many community members spoke about their own experiences with suicide.

Jamie Smartt, who works in the special education department in Havre Public Schools, said that a year ago, before the school year started, she was low. She wasn't necessarily suicidal, but she did want to die, Smartt said. Her husband had tried to help her, taking her to Great Falls to get treatment, but because she was unsure if she was suicidal or homicidal, she was turned away. She said the rejection of care was devastating and she came back defeated.

She had two young kids, Smartt said, but even that wasn't enough of a deterrent from her seriously considering taking her own life. It was only her faith in God that had kept her from suicide, she added.

Later, she found that she had low hormone levels, Smartt said, and that was a factor in her depression. She added that now she is taking medication and receiving treatment sees a whole new world.

"My life is so different a year later," she said. "I have friends here that saw me during that time, and they tell me that I glow now and I don't want to die. I'm happy."

Smartt said reaching out is hard, but anyone at the high school should not be afraid to talk to her.

Krystal McDougall, who also works at the high school, said when she was a little girl she was bullied. At the age of 10 she asked her mother for a knife, McDougall said, adding that was when she turned to God.

Her uncle committed suicide years later, she said, and it was hard on the family.

She added that she has a younger brother with autism who helped her and keeps her strong. She said she knows getting help is difficult, but one of the reasons she took an emotional turn for the better was because she couldn't bear to think her brother would lose his sister.

"Every time I tell my story, it makes me stronger," she said, adding that people should reach out if they are in crisis.

"If you guys see anybody, be their friend, show them that you're there for them," McDougall said.

Alexis Dvorak, a Northern nursing student, said that a little over a year ago, her father died from cardiac arrest. When he was in the ICU she and her children went to go see him, but her now ex-husband did not want to go. Her mother, who couldn't take seeing her husband in that condition, helped Dvorak, taking care of her kids while she went to go see her father all day, every day. It was hard watching her father die, she said, and after her mother left, Dvorak took her kids with her to the ICU every day.

Her then-husband was not answering her calls at the time, she said, and she and her kids went to Helena to see him. He told her that he did not want to be married to her any more, after a month of her having the kids alone.

"And that was really my breaking point," Dvorak said.

She knew her ex-husband kept a gun in his car and after having a fight with him, both of them yelling and screaming in front of the children, she took her kids outside. She said she remembers them crying because they were not use to seeing their parents fight like that. After buckling them in their car seats in her car, she went to her ex-husband's car, she said, sitting in it ready to kill herself.

"I could hear my kids screaming as I held the gun in my hand," Dvorak said, "and that's the only thing that stopped me."

She then called her aunt, Dvorak said, and her aunt talked her down and prayed with her. A few weeks later she left her ex-husband, and has never felt like that again.

"If it hadn't been for my kids I wouldn't have made it that night," She said. "For me, I didn't know what else to do. I didn't have anything left in my life except my kids, thankfully."

After that her friends and family were a big help in getting her back onto her feet and enrolled in the nursing program at Northern, she said, adding that her entire life turned around after that.

"I found out that if I just asked there were so many people that were willing to help us," Dvorak said. "I was able to get back on my feet, but it took a lot of help, and I had to ask for that help."

"If you just ask one person a lot of times they can help you reach out to other people, which was a big thing for me," she added, "If my aunt hadn't helped me I don't know what I would have done."

She added that she prayed a lot, and God helped her through that time, along with her aunt who gave her a safe place when she needed it.

Shanda Myers, who also works at the high school, said she lost her brother when he was 15 years old. They had been through a lot together, she said. Her brother was diagnosed at a young age with bipolar disorder, she said, adding that he was on a "roller-coaster" of medications. By 15 he was doing well; he still had his struggles but he was well-liked, Myers said. She said she remembers that he had just gone to the school dance a few days before he committed suicide.

It has been six years and it is still raw, the pain doesn't go away but it is something that you learn to live with, Myers said. She named her son Spencer after her brother to honor his memory, and she can't wait to tell her son about who he was named after.

"If any of you are in high school or if you know someone ... please come talk to us," Myers said. "We have experience with this, and all I want to do is help other people."

The Key Club

Havre Daily News/Derek Hann People walk around the Montana State University-Northern campus Thursday during the Fifth Annual Suicide Awareness Walk.

Local Havre High School Key Club members Devyn Solomon, Kylynn Jarman, Jordan Jarman and Mckenzie Tommerup were also at the event to show the club's support for suicide awareness.

"There is so much (people who are suicidal) haven't experienced yet," Tommerup said.

Solomon said they were at the event to show a system of support exists for people who are struggling with depression and contemplating suicide.

They also had signs that they held during the walk. Solomon had a sign with a large semicolon, a symbol to show continuation. Tommerup had a sign that said, "Dare to Continue," followed by a semicolon as well, done in the colors of the suicide walk. Kylynn Jarman had a sign with in bold words that read, "Always Keep Fighting," with her sister, Jordan Jarman, holding a sign that said, "Life: Your story isn't over yet."
Keep notes

As with everything in HR, its essential to document thoroughly. Every meeting youve had with this employee should have been written down, every action point needs to have been recorded. This gives you a great framework to then craft a plan. You should be able to spot any emerging patterns of behaviour; when do they start becoming aggressive? It is in certain situations? How can you both move forward together to lessen any productivity lull?

A report from Robert Half found that more than half of employees (52%) have lost their temper on the job. Of those who admitted to seeing red, 64% said it was directed at a colleague whilst 34% said it was aimed at a manager. Bearing that in mind, its always advisable to keep notes on any and all incidents that unfold in the office.

Create a positive working environment

For all the talk we give around fostering a valuable culture, how many organizations can say, hand on heart, that their workplace environment is truly positive? A Deloitte report claims that 94% of executives and 88% of employees think a strong culture is integral to business success  yet, despite this, less than one in three leaders said they fully understand their organizations culture.

This disparity between claiming to foster a healthy culture and actually putting in the effort can seriously harm employees productivity and morale. One negative experience has the potential to derail an otherwise exemplary employee.

Start disciplinary procedures

If youve done all you can do, and the employee is still being rude and passive aggressive, its time to start their disciplinary meetings. As HR leaders, many of us were drawn to the role to help people realize their full potential  which can be difficult if one bad apple is ruining the bunch. Even in this stage, its important to err on the side of caution. Dont go into the meeting guns blazing, reading to start firing at will. After all, there may be legal consequences.
Know your team

Ensure that you maintain regular contact with your team and get to know your employees. Greet them, have interactions with them. This helps develop important connections but you will then also be in a position to notice if there are any changes in their behaviour, for example, withdrawal, irritability, unexplained absences or a drop in performance at work.

Such changes may be indicators that the employee is going through some emotional difficulty and finding it hard to manage.

Have a conversation if you are concerned

A simple conversation will clarify your concerns with the employee and may be a first step to helping them find support. Make sure the conversation occurs in a discrete and private place. Be clear that you are concerned. Give specific examples. Ask Are you okay?, Is something concerning you?, Do you want to talk about it?, Can I do anything to help?

Listen

Listen to what the person is saying without interrupting. At the end, summarise what you have heard to check that your understanding is correct. Do not make judgements or assumptions about what they have said.

If youre unsure about any comments they have made, clarify with an open question that allows the person to talk in more detail about their issue, rather than providing a simple yes or no.
Researchers from NeuRA and UNSW have made a major discovery in schizophrenia research that could open doors to new treatments, research and therapies.

In one of the biggest breakthroughs in schizophrenia research in recent times, Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and UNSW Sydney has identified immune cells in greater amounts in the brains of some people with schizophrenia.

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, has the potential to transform global schizophrenia research and open new avenues for developing targeted immune cell therapies.

One in every 100 Australians lives with schizophrenia. No single cause of schizophrenia has been identified, and this has prevented the development of a cure. The current treatments for schizophrenia are designed to suppress symptoms rather than target underlying causes of the disorder. These drugs only partially relieve symptoms and can produce unwanted side effects.

Most scientists have had a long held belief that immune cells were independent from the brain pathology in psychotic illnesses, said Professor Shannon Weickert, who is the chair of NSW Chair of Schizophrenia Research based at NeuRA and the School of Psychiatry, UNSW.

In our study, we challenged this assumption that immune cells were independent of the brain in psychiatric illness and made an exciting discovery. We identified immune cells as a new player in the brain pathology of schizophrenia, said Professor Shannon Weickert.

Current schizophrenia research has focused on the status of three brain cells: the neurons; the glial cells, which support the neurons; and the endothelial cells, which coat the blood vessels. Employing new molecular techniques allowed Professor Shannon Weickert and her team to identify the presence of a fourth cell, the macrophage, a type of immune cell in the brain tissue of people with schizophrenia who show high levels of inflammation.

Immune cells have previously been ignored as they had long been viewed simply as travelers just thought to be passing by, undertaking surveillance work. They have never been a suspect until now, said Professor Shannon Weickert.

To find immune cells along the blood brain barrier in increased amounts in people with schizophrenia is an exciting discovery. It suggests immune cells themselves may be producing these inflammatory signals in the brains of people living with schizophrenia.

We have observed in people with schizophrenia, the glial cells, one of the local residents, become inflamed and produce distress signals which change the status of the endothelial cells.

We think this may cause the endothelial cells to extend sticky tentacles, so when the immune cells travel by some are captured. These cells may transmigrate across the blood brain barrier entering the brain in greater amounts in some people with schizophrenia compared to people without the disorder, said Professor Shannon Weickert.

This discovery shows that specific immune cells are in the brains of some people with schizophrenia in close enough proximity to the neurons to do damage.

Professor Peter Schofield, CEO of NeuRA, said this innovative new research has the ability to possibly alter the diagnosis and treatment schizophrenia.

This breakthrough demonstrates the value of the NSW Governments support for Professor Shannon Weickert as NSW Chair of Schizophrenia Research, which has delivered new insights that the community seeks, said Professor Schofield.

Professor Shannon Weickert is encouraging a cross-collaborative approach between neuroscientists and immunologists globally, to work together to develop treatments targeting this abnormal immune pathology of schizophrenia.

This opens whole new avenues for therapy, because it suggests that the pathology of schizophrenia could be within the immune cells and the immune cells could be contributing to the symptoms of schizophrenia, said Professor Shannon Weickert.

UNSW Sydney
Emergency team: Prepare, be cautious, help neighbors

Henderson Countys emergency management team had three major messages as agencies prepared for up to 15 inches of rain this weekend when the Florence reaches the mountains as a tropical cyclone:

Prepare now, with supplies such as water, medicine, batteries and food.

Keep neighbors in need in mind.

Use common sense and dont take risks  like driving around barricades into floodwaters.

The good news is its been downgraded, County Manager Steve Wyatt said as he opened a 30-minute briefing about storm preparations on Friday morning. Bad news it does not know where it wants to go and its taking its time getting there.

Here are highlights of the briefing:

Landslides likely

The latest forecast shows the remnants moving west toward Greenville, South Carolina, and reaching Western North Carolina as a tropical cyclone and depression.

The initial forecast is for 5-10 inches of rain and there are some areas that could see 15 inches, (particularly) around the Blue Ridge Escarpment  the eastern downhill side of the mountains. Thats going to increase the likelihood of flash flooding," Emergency Management Director Jimmy Brissie said. "We will see flash flooding and we will see some landslides, especially in areas where weve seen them before. So if you live in those areas be very aware of your surroundings. Parts of Edneyville, Bat Cave and Gerton are subject to the heaviest rain.

First signs of the tropical system could come this afternoon with clouds, followed by rain on Saturday with the heaviest rain on Sunday into Monday.

The county Emergency Operations Center will be activated at 8 a.m. Saturday and will remain open 24 hours a day until the threat is past. Reach the EOC at 697-4728. People can also go to readync.gov or call 211, a clearinghouse for services.

Rest assured, all fire departments, all law enforcement agencies stand ready to assist along with our private industry partners including Duke Energy, hospitals and other agencies, he said.

Brissie and other officials urged people to prepare now for the storm and to be cognizant of their elderly or homebound neighbors and people with special needs.

The first 72 hours is on you, he said. As the manager said the other day, weve got 120,000 neighbors.

Prepare for worst

We need to be prepared for the worst, hopefully thats not going to happen, Sheriff Charlie McDonald said. The more we prepare for the worst case scenario, well be better prepared to take care of ourselves and our neighbors. We do want to be our brothers keeper. Refrain from calling 911 for anything except for absolute emergencies. The system can be overtaxed very quickly.

McDonald said motorists who drive around barriers and into floodwaters endanger themselves and the rescuers who save them.

Every year people are swept way, he said. It does not take a lot of water to wash a vehicle from the roadway. Weve lost people in years past. Please think about first responders who have to respond to accidents that could have been prevented.

Pregnant evacuee visit Park Ridge

Jimm Bunch, president and CEO of Park Ridge Health, said the hospital because of its proximity had already seen three pregnant women who had evacuated from the coast.

Thats one of the areas were going to be staffing and overstaffing, he said. Well add staffers and theyll be called in as needed. All our physicians are on call in various specialties. If you need us, well be there.

Virtual health care is free

Pardee President and CEO Jay Kirby noted that the hospital had gassed up all seven generators and amped up staffing in advance of the storm.

If you have a need during this time, urgent care will be there, our emergency department will be there, he said. In addition, Pardee UNC Health Care has waived the fee for its virtual care services, a service that usually costs $49. (see below for details). You can talk to a physician on your tablet, your computer or your phone. During this hurricane that visit will be free.

We err on side of safety

The county school system is moving buses to space places  away from trees or other objects that may come down on them  monitoring the weather and deploying teams to check out roads and inspect school buildings.

Just like any inclement weather situation were always going to err on the side of safety, he said.

Duke lowers Lake Summit water

Duke Energy reported 340,000 customers on the coast without power by 11 a.m. The utility has staged 20,000 crew members to restore power as soon as conditions allow. In Duke Energeys mountain zone were expecting to begin seeing effects on Saturday afternoon, said community relations manager Craig DeBrew. To put it simply, were planning for the worst and hoping for the best. Duke has drawn down the water level at Lake Summit by 7 feet.

Other updates

As western North Carolina prepares for the potential effects of Hurricane Florence, United Way of Henderson County also reminds residents to use 2-1-1 to find local resources that will help them deal with the storms impact.and aftermath.

People who need help can dial 2-1-1, or 888-892-1162, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for information about local resources. In case of a life-threatening emergency, however, callers should dial 911. The free, confidential service connects people to essential health and human services and is open and ready to provide local information about shelters, food and water, housing, disaster assistance, health resources and other needs throughout and after the storm.

NC 211 call specialists across North Carolina will continue to offer residents in all corners of the state the most up-to-date information about storm resources in their area. This service will not only be important during rescue and relief efforts, but will also be needed in an extended period of recovery and rebuilding. The service is also available via text by texting Florence to 898211. Users may opt to receive updates.

The NC Department of Public Safety and North Carolina Emergency Management also encourage residents to download the ReadyNC mobile app, an all-in-one tool to help people get ready for everything from traffic jams to hurricanes to ice storms. The app gives information on real-time traffic and weather conditions, river levels, evacuations, power outages and nearby shelters.

Virtual care

In addition to their customary emergency response plan and protocol, Pardee UNC Health Care announced today that UNC Health Care will waive fees associated with its virtual care service, UNC Urgent Care 24/7, in anticipation of Hurricane Florence. This service from UNC Health Care provides patients with real-time access to physicians via phone, tablet or computer. Virtual visit fees for the service will be waived for care beginning at 12:00 a.m. Friday, September 14th through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 16th. Patients must be physically located in North Carolina during their virtual visit as required by medical licensing regulations. The service typically costs $49 or less per visit, depending on patients insurance, and offers simple, convenient care from anywhere in North Carolina for non-emergency medical issues. Appropriate conditions include allergies, coughs, fever, headaches, nausea, insect bites, pink eye, sore throat, rash, vomiting and more.

Pardee activated its emergency operation plan (EOP) on Tuesday, Sept. 11 and has been in communication with state, county and local officials daily. In addition to staffing plans to address increased patient volumes, Pardee reports having essential supplies, medications, food and water to self-sustain operations for an extended period of time. While the hospital prepares everyday for unexpected events and patient volumes, we recognize that Hurricane Florence is a serious storm and our community will likely need our services in the coming days, said Jay Kirby, president and CEO of Pardee UNC Health Care. We are prepared and our team is ready.

Pardee officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide ongoing updates via Facebook and Twitter.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said doctors who kept information from women affected by the cervical cancer scandal should apologise in person.

He also said he agreed with the finding by Dr Gabriel Scally in his report that some of the treatment of women "bordered on misogyny".

Mr Varadkar said there must be "grace, compassion and open disclosure" in the health service.

He said legislation for mandatory disclosure alone would not bring this about, adding that a voluntary open disclosure policy was already in place and was "botched" in the cervical cancer cases.

There needs to be cultural change and training for staff on how to break bad news similar to that provided to younger medical professionals, the Taoiseach said.

"There's certainly a degree of misogyny, there is an attitude among some healthcare professionals, and it's a very old-fashioned attitude, that if something bad has happened it's OK not to tell the patient because it wouldn't make a difference anyway and it might just upset them more," he said.

Mr Varadkar said the Government and the HSE had already apologised to the women affected.

Stephen Teap, whose wife Irene died of cervical cancer, said some medics felt they had "the authority to do whatever they want" and that "it's their opinion, whatever they want to do, goes".

Mr Varadkar said doctors, nurses and midwives were "some of the best, most-dedicated, most compassionate and hardest-working people in the country" and he would not offer "some sort of blanket condemnation".

Aftermath

Free repeat smear tests will be available until the end of the year despite the Scally report finding no quality issues with labs used to read samples.

Repeat testing for every woman was offered by the Government in the immediate aftermath of the scandal emerging and has heaped pressure on the system.

Speaking after the publication of Dr Scally's report, Health Minister Simon Harris said there would be no "knee-jerk" reaction.

However, when asked if the decision to extend free repeat smears was a knee-jerk move, a spokeswoman for the minister said it was a genuine response to women who might be feeling concerned.

"It was one of the key questions being raised on the helpline and doctors also raised it with the minister," she said.

"The level of increased uptake shows that many women did wish to get the reassurance of a repeat smear.

"The minister believes a key question answered by Dr Scally is that women can now have confidence that the labs being used are up to standard."

Between May and July, more than 100,000 tests were carried out, up 46pc on the same period last year, but it is not clear how many were repeat tests.

A small number will have to be repeated as samples expired and could not be safely read.

As of July, all slides are being transferred in the six-week time-frame necessary for screening, the HSE said.
The wearing of hoods by gardai policing a housing protest was "not correct", Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said.

However, he also argued that officers showed restraint "in the face of physical and verbal abuse from a very small minority".

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Gardai faced criticism as masked members were assigned to police up to 1,000 people protesting against activists being evicted from a property in Dublin on Tuesday evening.

Garda members stood in front of number 34 North Frederick Street while men in balaclavas from a private security group removed activists from the building.

Tense

Mr Harris said that as the atmosphere at the protest grew tense, a small number of public order officers were deployed to ensure public safety.

He said the use of fire retardant hoods by officers for their safety was a matter for the commander on the ground to decide based on a risk assessment.

The form of dress used at the event "was not correct as it is policy that if it is deemed necessary to use the hood then it should be used in tandem with a protective helmet".

Mr Harris said that a deputy commissioner had issued a directive to all garda personnel to reinforce this requirement.

He had also asked for a report on what lessons could be learned from the event.

Mr Harris said gardai respect the right of people to protest peacefully, adding that his organisation's role was to facilitate lawful demonstrations while protecting the rights of others to "do their lawful work safely", in this case the carrying out of an order of the High Court. He said the objective in any such operation was to ensure public safety.

Mr Harris said that members of An Garda Siochana "showed restraint in the face of physical and verbal abuse from a very small minority".

He also condemned alleged racist abuse suffered by a garda member.

"The people who had occupied the building left the building peacefully in accordance with the High Court order," Mr Harris said.

"Subsequent to this, a small crowd failed to leave the area despite repeated warnings from An Garda Siochana under the Public Order Act and five people were arrested."

Of those arrested, two are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on October 2.

Four people were hospitalised following the incident, according to a statement released by Take Back The City, a network of 18 grassroots activist groups who are "working together to take direct action" against Ireland's housing crisis.

Removed

The activists were removed from the property as they had been defying a High Court order and remained in the building for a number of weeks.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the right to protest but said it must be non-violent and within the law.

He said in this case there was a High Court order to vacate the premises.

Mr Varadkar also said "like a lot of people, I didn't like to see a private security firm in balaclavas".

The Taoiseach said gardai were wearing hoods and ski masks due to the risk of fire or something being thrown at them, and to protect their identities.

However, he added that in all cases they had their identification badges visible.
There is no "magic wand" to tackle the scourge of drugs, amid concerns from a GAA club about children being groomed into dealing crack cocaine, Drugs Minister Catherine Byrne has warned.

The Fine Gael minister received a letter in recent days from Setanta GAA Club warning of a drugs crisis in the Ballymun community.

The club warned that the problem has increased tenfold in recent times and called for urgent intervention.

"We as a community organisation see young people being groomed into dealing on a weekly basis due to the Government's failure to deal with the youth unemployment in our community while also cutting resources in other areas such as housing, youth development and policing," the letter read.

The minister, who is working on a response to the organisation, said she has read the letter after an earlier error saw her inadvertently move it from her inbox.

Ms Byrne acknowledged there have been funding difficulties in recent years for local drugs task forces, but said that is being reversed and the Government is "moving in the right direction".

She said that while she expects an increase in funding in next month's Budget, there is "no magic wand" that addresses the complex area of drugs and addiction.

The issues raised in the club's letter related to various departments.

Emergency

Ms Byrne said she will meet club officials in the coming weeks if they wish.

However, she resisted calls to impose emergency targeted measures in Ballymun.

"My concern is that this is not only happening in Ballymun," she said.

However, she acknowledged that the issue was now "very worrying" for the community.

"It's very worrying for everybody, for children themselves and their families," Ms Byrne said.

"The biggest nightmare any parent could have is children getting involved in and sucked into drugs."

Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (BLDATF) called for a reinstatement of funding for the schemes nationwide, which they said has been cut by 30pc.

"We are very concerned that local addiction support and youth organisations, which have endured severe funding reductions over the past 10 years, are now having massive additional loads being placed upon them," the task force said in a statement issued in response to the open letter sent by the club.

"The BLDATF would advise the Government to prioritise areas where crack cocaine is adding to already over-burdened communities."

Restructuring of the governance of task forces and a new manual is under way, and a meeting on those issues was held this week.

The Government's current drugs strategy is only a year old and was developed in consultation with people on the ground and must be given a chance to work, Ms Byrne said.
All gave some; some gave all. Here's how to honor veterans this year
Last week, at Niti Aayogs global mobility summit, Move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted a shining vision of the future of mobility in the country. We want to build India as a driver in electric vehicles, Modi said, adding that clean mobility powered by clean energy is our most important weapon in our fight against climate change.

While the world braces for a mobility revolution, India is hardly in the drivers seat when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). Many had hoped that the PM would unveil a policy for electric mobility. What they got instead was the promise of one. We will soon put in place a stable policy regime around electric and other alternative fuel vehicles, Modi said. Policies will be designed as a win-win for all and enable huge opportunities in the automotive sector.

The auto industry and environmental groups have watched as the Indian leadership has tossed around loose statements over the past year about Indias EV goals. The lack of a clear strategy has made it difficult to distinguish ambition from policy-backed targets.

In 2017, the then power minister, Piyush Goyal, pronounced that India was aiming for 100% EV sales by 2030. This year, a senior government official said that 30% of vehicles on Indian roads will be electric by 2030. And then, Union transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, said that an EV policy was not required, despite disclosing only a few months earlier that a policy was in the works.

At the summit, the heads of top auto companies, from Hyundai to Mahindra, outlined their own visions for Indias automotive sector and for paths towards a fully electric future that were in line with their respective companies objectives. They appealed to the government to play a more proactive role.

A country, without a plan, will not do. A national policy takes into account the industrys position, the needs of the population and challenges to come up with a roadmap that includes what the government can and will do to support the industry and public. International experience has shown that the government has an important role in creating a market for EVs and shaping an industrial policy that encourages automakers to align their production with the targets set by the government.

There is a reason automakers are invested in India and keen to see how its EV policy shapes up. It is the fourth largest market of automobiles, and the largest market for two-wheelers. In 2017 alone, 24.5 million conventionally powered automobiles were sold in India and these are likely to grow to 84. 53 million by 2030, according to the Niti Aayog. By comparison, only about 2000 battery electric cars were sold last year, an International Energy Agency (IEA) report said. More than 12 million cars will be added to Indian roads between 2017 and 2030, per Niti Aayog data.

Activists have pushed further, saying that India needs more than policy; it needs a mandate for producing zero-emission vehicles. The transport sector not only generates about a quarter of Indias carbon emissions; it is also a major source of air pollution. There is no point having more EVs if the vehicles are run on coal-generated power.

In a report, the International Energy Agency went so far as to suggest that net carbon emissions might increase in India with greater EV adoption if Indias energy mix remained heavily coal-dependent.

Current emission standards and fuel economy standards are not strong enough to push the industry towards EVs, Anumita Roychowdhury at Centre for Science and Environment argued.

The transition towards electric mobility requires not just private sector participation but also massive public buy-in. A recent online survey commissioned by Climate Trends found that of the 2,178 people surveyed, an overwhelming majority believed that air pollution was the best reason to buy an electric vehicle. The fact that it costs less per kilometre to recharge and drive an EV as opposed to a petrol or diesel vehicle was an important factor for most people.

But potential buyers would need more than noble intentions and potential future economic gains to choose EVs over vehicles powered by a conventional combustion engine. The economics have to make sense even in the short term, there has to be adequate charging infrastructure and options in the market.

The PMs comments at the conference signal that India is on the right path. But the time for signalling is over. It is time for getting a move on.

Malavika Vyawahare is a freelance journalist . She writes on energy and environment

The views expressed are personal
In foreign policy, it is important for national leadership to choose its rhetoric carefully and back its words with at least modest action. Words not backed by any action can undermine a countrys credibility and perhaps even its deterrence.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the Balochistan issue in his Independence Day speech in 2016, he seemed to signal an important Indian policy shift. At least that is how his reference to Balochistan was widely interpreted. But since then, India has been totally silent on the issue, although Balochistan  Pakistans Achilles heel  threatens to become the new East Pakistan because of military killings and mass graves. India has even denied visas to some exiled Baloch activists.

Take another key issue: the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). In 1960, in the naive hope that water largesse would yield peace, India gifted the bulk of the Indus systems waters  and the largest three of its six rivers  to Pakistan under the IWT. The Indus treaty remains a colossus on the world stage: It is by far the worlds most generous water pact, both in terms of the downstream countrys share of the waters (80.52%) and the aggregate volume of average yearly flows reserved for it (167.2 billion cubic metres). Still, an ungrateful Pakistan has waged covert or overt aggression almost continuously and is now using the IWT itself as a stick to beat India with, including by contriving water disputes and internationalising them as part of a water war strategy.

Against this background, Modi raised the hope that India would finally revisit the IWT by seizing on the Pakistan Senates unanimous March 2016 resolution calling for the treatys re-evaluation. Indeed, while chairing a September 2016 internal meeting on the IWT, Modi warned, Blood and water cannot flow together. Setting in motion the treatys reappraisal, an inter-ministerial committee of secretaries was established, and officials said that India would now assert all its rights under the IWT, including fully utilising its share of the allotted waters and expediting its long-delayed hydropower projects.

But two years later, India, alas, appears to have returned to the former state of affairs. The committee of secretaries, headed by the PMs principal secretary, has fallen by the wayside. Apart from completing the small, 330-megawatt Kishenganga project after 11 years, India has shown little urgency on Indus Basin water projects. Even as Punjab and other states feud bitterly over water, Indias failure to adequately harness the resources of the three smaller rivers reserved for it results in Pakistan receiving substantial bonus waters. Just these extra outflows to Pakistan are many times greater yearly than the total volumes under the Israeli-Jordanian water arrangement.

Indias zigzag policy is most apparent from the recent meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The IWT calls for the PIC to meet at least once a year. The previous PIC meeting, like the one before it, was convened after almost 12 months  on March 29-30 this year. The next meeting was not due until 2019, yet India held a fresh PIC meeting just five months later.

The recent August 29-30 meeting, held in Lahore, marked the first bilateral engagement since the new military-backed Imran Khan government took office in Pakistan. With Pakistans international isolation deepening and its economy in dire straits, the military there is tactically seeking peace talks with India while still employing terrorists in a proxy war. Through such talks, it also hopes to legitimise the government it helped install through a manipulated election. But with Indias own elections approaching, talks with Pakistan will be politically risky for the ruling BJP.

The PIC discussions  and a prospective foreign ministers meeting in New York  illustrate how Modis government is seeking to engage Islamabad in other ways. In fact, India has given permission to Pakistans Indus commissioner and two other officials to shortly begin a tour of inspection of Indian projects in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. In the past, such a tour has been used to collect new information so as to mount objections to Indian projects. In keeping with its broader strategy to foment discontent and violence in J&K, Pakistan seeks to deny J&K people the limited water benefits permissible under the IWT.

While the US has dumped international pacts at will (from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to the Kyoto and Paris accords), India still clings to the worlds most-lopsided water treaty, adhering to its finer details, even as Pakistan refuses to honour the terms of the central treaty governing bilateral relations  the 1972 Simla peace pact. Pakistan also flouts its commitment to prevent its territory from being used for cross-border terrorism. The Indus may be Pakistans jugular vein, yet a visionless and water-stressed India has let the IWT hang from its neck like the proverbial albatross. Make no mistake: Only by asserting its Indus leverage can India hope to end Pakistans unconventional war.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist and author.

The views expressed are personal
Actor Shahid Kapoor and wife Mira Rajput welcomed their second child recently. Zain Kapoor, as they have named their newborn son, received several wishes and gifts from his parents fans, family and friends.

Mira took to Instagram on Friday to thank her fans for their wishes. Thank you to all those who have sent some beautiful gifts for Zain, she wrote in a post on her Instagram stories. Mira also asked her fans to send the gifts intended to her son to those more in need. We are so fortunate and extremely grateful for all we have, but there are families and babies who are much more in need. Please send your products/gifts to those in need instead and make another babys world a happier place, she added.

Mira brought her son home last Friday after giving birth to him on Wednesday at Mumbais Hinduja Hospital. She was visited by her mother, sister and Shahids mother Neelima Azeem, brother Ishaan Khatter, father Pankaj Kapur and his wife Supriya Pathak.

Shahid tweeted on Wednesday that he is pulling out of his upcoming film, Batti Gul Meter Chalus promotions because as his elder daughter Misha is not well. He said that he puts his family and children above all else and hopes to resume promotions for the film.

The last few days have been tough, he wrote. Misha running very high fever and Zain just came home. Have had to miss some promotions. Just 9 days to go for Batti Gul Meter Chalu to release but being a parent is above all else. Hope to resume promotions very soon.

Neelima spoke to SpotboyE about Zain and said, Shahid and Mira now have a complete family. I am in the best phase of my life. Misha has been the love of my life ever since she was born. And now, Zain joins her. He is a beautiful child. We all have toiled very hard in our lives and now just reaping happiness.

She continued, He is gloriously good-looking. I see a bit of everyone in him. He will turn out to be as handsome as his father and chacha (Ishaan).

Shahid will be seen in Batti Gul Meter Chalu which will release on September 21. It also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam.

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In person, Taapsee Pannu is every bit the feisty woman you see on screen. But theres an easy-going side to her as well. Conversations with the actor are usually fun, and intense, too  those are also the traits of her character, Rumi, in Anurag Kashyaps Manmarziyaan, out today.

Theres a part of me, a part you in Rumi... every girl will see a glimpse of themselves in her, says Taapsee. She is looking forward to the films release, after which she moves on to her next Tamil and Hindi film projects. And in between, theres Sujoy Ghoshs Badla. The actor chats with us about films, and marriage plans with Danish shuttler Mathias Boe.

Read| Manmarziyaan celeb review: Abhishek Bachchan is the modern Mr Darcy, Vicky Kaushals lightning

Looking at Pink (2016), Naam Shabana (2017), this years Mulk, and now Manmarziyaan, seems youve become the go-to star for strong female characters.

(Laughs) I agree Im getting a lot of them... I wish all good female-fronted films that are being made come to me first. Right now, Im in such a happy space as far as film offers are concerned. Some drastically different roles, different genres are being offered to me. People ask if I fear getting typecast and stereotyped, and Im like, Look at the genres Im delving into, be it action, be it the shy girl in Soorma, a lawyer in Mulk, now Rumi, whos like fire I think being strong is something that resonates with my personality, its on my face. Right now, Im struggling to get a Judwaa (2; 2017) (laughs).

Your social networks are a proof of the fun youve had shooting with Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Anurag Kashyap on the sets of Manmarziyaan. Tell us a little more about it.

Yes. Abhishek and Vicky are totally chilled out. As far as Anurag is concerned, I think we both are shamelessly honest. I used to literally bully him on the film sets, and he has pampered me. Being a spontaneous actor, Id tell him, Sir, jaldi shoot karo, mood ja raha hain, and hed run around like a headless chicken (laughs) so that things worked out faster and he could take my shot. I usually finish my scenes in one or two takes, and he understood that.

But how do you do it in just one or two takes every time?

I psych my brain out before I do it. Im very good at manipulation. Also, shooting is all about waiting, and Im not good at that. You can make me work for 14 hours at a stretch, but dont make me sit.

Working with Amitabh Bachchan in Pink and Badla, now with Abhishek in Manmarziyaan  it seems youre getting really close to the Bachchan family?

Yes, and Im looking forward to working with Jaya (Bachchan) ji, Aishwarya (Rai Bachchan) and, hopefully, in the future (Abhisheks child) Aradhya, too (laughs). Im buddy-like with Amitji and that will never change. Weve already done two films together. I can message him anytime and he also messages me. I know Abhishek through him and that bridge is always there in my head.

Reports say that youve replaced Aishwarya in a cop drama produced by Shailendra Singh?

That film isnt happening anytime soon. Kabhi yeh replace hota hain, kabhi aur. I really dont know the status.

Badminton player Mathias Boe has been dating Taapsee Pannu for quite sometime.

Any plans of taking your relationship forward with Mathias anytime soon?

No, Im not getting married anytime soon. Thank God, Abhishek isnt around when Im answering this question, as he finds my reply weird. I keep saying this: that Ill get married when I am ready to have a kid. I wont have a kid without getting married for sure. Other than that, to be with someone youre really in love with or you enjoy spending time with... for that you dont have to be married, right?

Author tweets @Shreya_MJ

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285pp, Rs 599; Penguin

Narayanan was 14 when he left his home in a remote Kerala village in 1943. During dinner table conversations decades later he spoke about riding buffalo through verdant fields, about trudging 15 km one way to school in the nearest town, Shoranur. He rarely spoke about his own father, whom he escaped along with the suffocations of rural life when he ran away to join the Royal Navy. For the next 26 years, even as he sailed the oceans, became an officer, and was one of the many men in the armed services who participated in building independent India, he sent home money every month to ensure that his younger brothers and sisters  there were six  were fed, clothed and educated. He married my mother at 40 and died a month after I turned 18. My father was a punctual man.

I thought of him a great deal, of the travels of my extended family to the Middle East and to the US, and of my own years growing up in Mumbai, the city that hosts many sub-national diasporas, as I read Chinmay Tumbes India Moving.

An outstanding volume that looks particularly at the many migrations that Indians have undertaken in the modern age, it, in the authors words, shows how 25 million people who traced their roots to India in the past three centuries were dispersed across the world from Japan to Jamaica. It stresses that the country currently sustains the worlds largest and longest voluntary migration episode in migration history. The author has labeled the phenomenon, which doesnt seem to have a terminal date, the Great Indian Migration Wave.

While touching on everything from Udipi restaurants and the most famous Bunts in Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty, to Khoja Muslim enterprise, Odias in Surat, and areas that have historically seen high rates of migration, India Moving also examines the mass migrations caused by the Partition of India in 1947, the refugee crisis that pushed the country to get involved in the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the forgotten refugee crisis that accompanied the Japanese invasion of Burma. Flashback to photographs of children in frilly frocks posing with Burmese ayahs in the albums of now-dead relatives; to their stories of eating leaves as they trudged from Burma to Manipur.

The history and experiences of Indian communities across the world vary: While Idi Amin drove away Indians from Uganda in the 1970s, tensions in Surinam led 100,000 Surinamese Indians to move to the Netherlands in the 1970s, and Fiji continues to have a fraught relationship with its Indians, Singapore and Mauritius host vibrant, ever-growing communities, and curry-eating UK has been fundamentally changed by the subcontinental influx, Brexit notwithstanding.

Read more: Excerpt - India Moving by Chinmay Tumbe

For the insider-outsider, Tumbes observations on sub-Indian diasporas are particularly interesting: Using census data on languages, I conservatively estimate the internal diasporas of ten major languages  Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Kannada, Telegu, Malayalam and Tamil  that are spoken by over 90 per cent of the Indian population to collectively stand at over 60 million people, more than double the size of Indias international diaspora. He looks at internal displacement as a result of development projects and violence and observes that more than 40 million people have been displaced within India due to development-related projects since Independence. He states that the more privileged castes have historically been more mobile, that The lack of substantive spatial mobility continues to disempower the lowest-ranking castes of India. This is due both to the lack of capital that allows only for short-term migration and to the absence of informational networks.

The migration networks fostered by priests, warriors and merchants over centuries gave their descendents a major informational advantage over the SCs and STs that is as important as the economic advantages in grabbing new opportunities, Tumbe writes, adding elsewhere that these factors have also stunted the development of the diasporas of the Adivasis and the Dalits. Indias villages might have moved beyond shadow pollution and hopefully also from Ambedkars view of them as sinks of localism and dens of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism, but caste continues to impede migration in many cases.

Chinmay Tumbes work is valuable because it opens our eyes to these inequalities even as it dazzles us with cheerful factoids about Indian migration: Marie Rozette, a freed slave of Indian origin was one of the richest women in Mauritius in 1790, Punjabi indentured labourers built the Uganda railway in the 1890s, the Goan diaspora in Portugal includes twice migrant people of Indian origin from Angola and Mozambique, erstwhile Portuguese colonies, and recent emigrants to Barcelona are drawn from the Ravidasias of Punjab.

A faculty member at IIM(A), Tumbe has the popular professors talent for interspersing pages of what could have been dreary text with unexpected bursts of understated humour. So in a section on migration from Ratnagiri in coastal Maharashtra, an area also justly famous for its Alphonso mangoes, the reader is informed of the legislative debate in the 1930s on how passengers were being displaced by mango parcels in the month of May on the packed steamers plying between Mumbai and the Konkan.

Penguin (Chinmay Tumbe)

Here he is on Charles Darwin in Mauritius in 1836 just as African slaves were being replaced by indentured labour from India: When he (Darwin) did get to see Indians for the first time on the island, he keenly jotted down his observations, as he had done only a few months earlier on the finches in the Galapagos Islands that would eventually lead him to theorize on the evolution of species

And then there is the hilarious picture of a Dr M Ramaswamy, only his head emerging from a wooden cupboard transformed into a steam chamber by an attached pressure cooker (ah, that appliance beloved of every Indian!). The caption states the good doctor ran an Ayurvedic centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to help WW2 veterans overcome depression.

What does the future hold? In the 21st century, as the southern states of the nation experience greater development, Tumbe foresees an influx of northern migrants and perhaps the growth of nativist movements against them. Indian women, who have mostly moved only after marriage  with some exceptions like the skilled Malayali nurse -- might move in larger numbers as education levels rise; climate change and its attendant devastation might lead to more Bangladeshis moving to India, and as the Indian economy prospers, more Europeans and North Americans too might seek employment here.

Watch: Books & Authors - Interview with Chinmay Tumbe, author of India Moving; A History of Migration (full)

If the major ideological battle of the 20th century was between capitalism and communism, in the 21st century it is likely to be between cosmopolitanism and nativism, Tumbe says.

This is an exceptional book not just because of the research and thought that has gone into it but also because it leads the reader to understand recurring patterns in the life of this nation and its many linguistic, religious, and caste communities, and to grasp afresh that, for Indians, family ties have always been a binding force. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the motivations of a long-departed parent. And for that I am grateful.
In September 2006, representatives of Brazil, India, Russia and China met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, and expressed their interest in multilateral cooperation. The initiative was of historical significance as it was the first closely knit grouping of emerging market economies. It was the first ministerial meeting of what came to be known as the BRIC countries , which preceded a summit in 2009. BRIC became BRICS with South Africas inclusion in 2010.

If one were to look at the share of these five countries in global gross domestic product (GDP), BRICS would seem like an extremely successful initiative today. This figure increased from 14.5% in 2006 to 21.4% in 2017. The increase looks even more impressive when compared with the share of the US  the worlds largest economy  in global GDP. In 2006, the difference between the share of the US and BRICS in global GDP was 9.9 percentage points. This came down to 0.2 percentage points in 2017. Nothing can be a bigger proof of increasing economic multi-polarity in the world than this. (See Chart 1: BRICS and US share in global GDP)

However, another set of statistics punctures the optimism around the convergence in GDP shares of BRICS economies and the US. The GDP growth rate of BRICS nations was significantly higher, and widening its lead, than the world-average and the US GDP growth numbers in the years before the first BRICS ministerial meeting in 2006. It was this trend which probably gave the confidence to these countries to create a club of their own. This, unfortunately, was going to change very soon. In 2008, the US confronted its worst financial crisis in decades. Given the weight of the US in the world economy and its linkages with other countries thanks to globalisation, this soon mutated into a worldwide recession. The global headwinds to economic growth were particularly severe for the BRICS countries. Their GDP growth rate fell sharply, and even a recovery in the years since has not been able to restore to the BRICS the pre-crisis edge they had in terms of economic growth rates over the world and the US. (See Chart 2: BRICS, World and US GDP growth)

Both the statistics described above capture equalisation of important economic variables in the global economy. But given the fact the per capita incomes in BRICS countries are significantly lower than in developed countries such as the US, there is an element of perversity in the equality in terms of GDP growth of advanced countries and emerging market economies.

Had the crisis not erupted and were purchasing power to remain at pre-crisis levels in the world, especially in advanced countries, export demand would have continued to power the growth engines of developing countries, especially the BRICS nations. Unit value of exports, a useful measure of export earnings, for BRICS countries was growing sharply in the pre-crisis period, crashing after 2008. This trend is in concurrence with the GDP growth figures discussed above. (See Chart 3: Unit value of exports for BRICS countries)

While GDP growth rates have recovered somewhat, the initial recovery in unit value of exports has reversed once again. This statistic seems even more troubling when it is seen along with the changing relation between economic growth and trade in the world economy. We look at the ratio between percentage growth in the trade-GDP ratio and GDP growth for the global economy. The value can tell us about the trade-creation potential (or lack of it) of GDP growth. This figure has been negative for four consecutive years (latest data available is till 2016), a trend which has never been seen since the 1960s. (See Chart 4: ratio of growth in trade-GDP ratio and global GDP)

This means that growth in world GDP has actually been leading to a reduction in world trade. This suggests that global trade has been in troubled waters for quite some time. Trade wars are bound to make this worse. The global crisis gave a tectonic shock to the global economy in 2008. Even after 10 years, it is difficult to say how exactly the fault lines will change.
A luxury hotel, a shopping mall, an electric traction system of Delhi Metro Rail, a housing complex in South Delhi, trees, power pylons and telecom towers are among the 176 obstacles posing a potential safety risk to planes approaching the city because they are on the flight path, according to the operator of the airport.

On Thursday, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a consortium led by GMR Group, issued notices to companies, government agencies and individuals asking them to furnish details of the structures, which, according to it , were infringing the height restriction around the airport, two officials aware of the matter said. The details sought included the height of the structures and their vintage.

According to an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) who spoke on condition of anonymity, the owners will be asked to remove the obstacles in some cases, and if they fail to do so, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will initiate demolition of the structures. AAI is one of the partners in the GMR-led consortium.

In some others, the owner might just have to install a light on the top of a building or remove a water tank that may be infringing the height restriction. This will vary case to case.

If the approach path of a flight is not clear, it is obviously a safety issue. But whether a building is an obstacle has to be calculated through the distance and height (of a structure), and the height of an approaching plane in that area. There is a set formula for that and there is a possibility that some buildings might have come much later without the approval, said VK Kukar, a former Air India Pilot.

As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Height Restrictions for Safeguarding of Aircraft Operations) Rules, 2015, any construction coming up within 20km of an airport has to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from AAI. Based on the latitude and longitude, AAI decides whether it is an obstacle or not, and issue NOCs accordingly.

DGCA has issued orders asking the owners of the obstacles to furnish a plan to DIAL showing location, height of the structure, date of construction, distance from aerodrome reference point and any other relevant details. The notices have been issued following a high court order on July 30, said an official at the DGCA, the aviation regulator, requesting anonymity.

The Delhi high court on July 30 directed South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Haryana Urban Development Authority and the Noida Authority to ensure that no further construction took place around the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The flight approach path includes certain areas in Gurugram and Noida. The HC also expressed its displeasure over the failure of DGCA and DIAL to remove 365 obstacles from around the airport that pose a threat to aircraft security.

As the airport operator, DIAL has been working continuously to ensure flight safety by protecting obstacle limitation surfaces around the airport. Based on the findings of the obstacle survey, DIAL has been proactively approaching owners / occupants of buildings, cell phone masts (base stations) and trees. Due to the persistent follow-up by DIAL, more than 50 obstacles have been removed so far, said a spokesperson for DIAL.

Most of the houses among the 176 obstacles are located in the residential area of Vasant Kunj, and light poles in the Delhi cantonment area. There are also cellphone masts and other communication towers on the list as also Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, and the Jaypee Vasant Continental Hotel in Vasant Vihar.

Delhi Metros spokesperson Anuj Dayal said, The Delhi Metro has received a communication regarding this issue. The same will be looked into and we shall reply suitably. Raj Singh Gehlot, chairman of the Ambience Group that runs Ambience Mall, said the company is yet to receive the notice and will reply when it does so.

A spokesperson for Jaypee Vasant hotel said, We have not received any notice and we have (an) NOC regarding (the) height.

All the flats in Vasant Kunj are built by Delhi Development Authority and there is no builder flat. Height standard was decided by DDA and no floor has been added by residents, said B Manchanda of the All Residents Welfare Association (ARWA) of Vasant Kunj

Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy, who filed a petition in the Delhi high court related to aviation safety, said that the matter is listed for hearing on Monday.

According to DIAL, the survey was conducted in 2016-17 and based on international guidelines related to height restriction around airports.

Structures which are not removed by owners and are constructed without NOC (no objection certificate) issued by AAI or in violation of norms will be demolished after following due process defined in The Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by Buildings and Trees etc.) Rules, 1994. These structures are located in various areas around airport. The norms protect area around 20 kms of the airport. However most of the identified obstacles are within 4 kms, DIAL said.

The last such survey was conducted by DIAL in 2010; this is the first time the airport operator has issued notices, though.
Parts of the Aravalli Range, which act as groundwater recharge zones for the national capital region (NCR) around Delhi, are likely to be excluded from the natural conservation zone (NCZ) category in a move that could result in real estate development in the areas and which has been criticised by environmentalists.

The Haryana Town and Country Planning (HTCP) departments September 17 meeting agenda mentions its decision to exclude several Aravalli stretches from the NCZ which includes sanctuaries, major lakes and water bodies. A large part of the area being cleared for development is bhood, or sandy foothills of the Aravallis that act as water recharge zones.

The NCR Regional Plan, 2021, restricts construction and encourages conservation in NCZ areas. All of the Aravalis is categorized as NCZ in the plan.

The decision to exclude the sandy foothills was taken after the HTCP departments recent verification exercise to determine whether these areas conform to the NCZ criterion. The decision comes on the heels of a Supreme Court verdict this week ordering the demolition of buildings located in Kant Enclave in Haryanas Faridabad , also in the Aravallis.

The bhood areas do not meet the definition of NCZ. It is a very sensitive matter so I cannot elaborate on it now. A survey was conducted and these areas were decided to be excluded, said Haryanas assistant town planner Babita Goyal.

The 2021 NCR as well as the Haryana Sub-Regional Plan, 2021, categorise Aravallis as NCZ, where constructions are restricted.

The Haryana government had categorised some of these Aravalli stretches as status yet to be decided and reopened them in 2014 for ground-truthing to ascertain their forest status.

The agenda of the September 17 meeting, circulated to various government departments, says that both status yet to be decided areas and confirmed NCZ parts have been recommended for exclusion. This means they can be opened up for real estate development.

The agenda document states that the Haryana forest department has objected to the exclusion of the Sarai Khwaja land and the green field colony project land from NCZ.

All these areas listed to be excluded in the agenda are part of Aravallis and they fall under NCZ, where no real estate construction is allowed, said Gurgaon-based environmentalist Chetan Agarwal.

The bhood areas are one of the pristine aquifers that should be protected for drinking water supply to water scarce region of northwest India. Opening it up for development will be a mistake, said Shashank Shekhar, assistant professor of geology at the Delhi University.

The NCR Planning Board can overrule HTCPs decision.

In July 2017, the Haryana government wrote to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) saying that certain parts of uncultivable hills cannot be categorised as Aravallis as they have been used for roads, buildings and other such projects.

The Union environment ministry told the NGT that areas categorised as uncultivable hills, foothills, ravined hills, grassy foothills, and the rocky area between hills in NCR will be treated as Aravallis. The development will boost real estate in Gurugram and Faridabad.
Congress leader Ajay Maken on Friday demanded repolling for the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) alleging that the elections were rigged after the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stopped due to technical glitches.

The Congress leader also demanded that the voters in the elections must exercise their franchise by stamping the ballot paper instead of pressing the button.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Maken said: Despite the EVMs being functional, voting got suspended. Till the sixth round, National Students Union of India (NSUI) was neck and neck with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The major question that I want to raise is that whenever an EVM stops working and is repaired, the result always comes in favour of the ABVP. How is it possible?

Maken also claimed that the EVMs used in the elections were not supplied by the Election Commission (EC) of India. Yesterday, the EC issued a letter that they have not issued any EVMs to the University for polling. Not only that, the Delhi University also didnt issue any letter clarifying from where they got the EVMs, he said.

On Thursday, ABVP swept the elections by winning three out of four posts of the DUSU, including that of the president, vice president and joint secretary positions, while NSUI only managed to secure the secretarys post.

Ankiv Basoya was elected as the new president of DUSU while Shakti Singh and Jyoti Choudhary were elected as the vice president and joint secretary, respectively. NSUIs Akash Choudhary bagged the position of secretary.
The taps, pipes and washroom fittings of a house in east Delhi belonging to advocate Prashant Bhushans wife and her siblings were found stolen on Wednesday, police said.

Though the house was unoccupied for the last nine months, the family got an electricity bill of Rs 500 for the last month, prompting him to suspect someone had either stayed in it for a few days or visited it on multiple occasions.

A case under Indian Penal Code section 308 (theft in a building) has been registered at the Anand Vihar police station and investigation is on, said Meghna Yadav, deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara).

The house and the plot belongs to Bhushans wife and her siblings and has been on sale for the last nine months, Bhushan said. Since all prospective buyers want to pay half the money in black, we have been unable to sell it, said Bhushan, who lives with his family in Noida.

Lal Bahadur, caretaker of Bhushans home in Noida, would visit the house every few days for cleaning and maintenance. The last time I visited the house was in mid-August. But when I went on Wednesday, I found the bathroom fittings had been stolen, said Bahadur.

Bhushan and Bahadur approached the police and requested them to check CCTV footage of nearby homes for clues. I have no idea who the thieves are but the crime suggests they are skilled in plumbing work. The electricity bill of an unoccupied house suggests they either stayed here for a few days or made multiple visits to carry out the crime, said Bhushan.

While the three gates of the house did not appear to be broken or unlocked, Bhushan suspects the thieves may have entered through the terrace.
Love Sonia

Director:Tabrez Noorani

Cast: Freida Pinto, Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha

Rating: 3.5/5

Of the lakhs who are pushed into flesh trade in India every year, less than 1 per cent manage to find their way out. Love Sonia is the story of one such girl, played by Mrunal Thakur with heart-breaking vulnerability. Trafficked from a poverty-ridden village in India to Mumbais red-light district, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, there are no surprises in her story. You have read these headlines in newspapers, watched these stories on screen. Just like those newspaper articles, director Tabrez Noorani is sincere in his intentions and unsubtle in his style.

Sonias sister Preeti (Riya Sisodia) is sold off to a local moneylender Dada Thakur (Anupam Kher) by her impoverished father (Adil Hussain) on the promise that he will find a job for her in Mumbai. Desperate to find her sister, Sonia offers herself to the moneylender and soon finds herself in a brothel run by Babu (Manoj Bajpayee) in the citys red-light district, Grant Road. The horrors are unrelenting as Bajpayee breaks her down; the film challenging you to look away all the while.

Sonias descent into narak, as she and other characters often call the sex trade, is so brutal and horrific that people were glued to their seats, pin-drop silence in the theatre during interval. Love Sonias first half is indeed not for the squeamish.

It is a pity then that the filmmaker felt compelled to give it an almost a fairy-tale ending. Post-interval, Sonias journey to Los Angeles feels nothing more than a device to introduce cameos by Hollywood actors (Demi Moore and Mark Duplass). At times, it feels like a different movie, full of light and hope, a world away from the bleak Mumbai brothel. The unconvincing twist is perhaps the biggest disservice to the film.

Mrunal Thakur plays the lead in Tabrez Nooranis Love Sonia.

Other than the Hollywood veterans, Love Sonia has cameos by several actors who have earned their cred on the indie scene. Freida Pintos older prostitute who wants to bring Sonia down a notch, Rajkummar Raos compassionate social worker, Richa Chaddhas sex worker with a heart of gold and Bajpayees menacing pimp are all inspired turns but cannot take the focus away from films lack of plot points and erratic narrative.

The story of Love Sonia is familiar but that doesnt make it any less unbearable, especially when it comes to under-age girls being forced into sex slavery. The dehumanization that follows and sickening violence is made more chilling by the intent to treat is just another business. As Bajpayees character keeps on emphasizing in the film, his business is being affected every time a girl goes missing. The callousness with which he offers Sonia to a client for the price of a cigarette underlines the same point  she is no more than merchandise to him, she could have been an animal for all he cares.

Love Sonia is well-meaning enough to impress that point on you, only if it had the pause and depth that made you take the thought home.

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Muslim Ekta Manch leaders, along with other members from the Muslim community, on Thursday, continued their dharna outside the mosque in Sheetla Mata Colony that was sealed by officials of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Wednesday.

The leaders said that they will be take up the issue with deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh and police commissioner KK Rao in the coming days. Around 40 protestors sat on a dharna on Thursday, as regular visitors to the mosque offered prayers in the open.

For the first time in nearly two years, I couldnt offer namaz inside the mosque. I am a simple man, and dont understand the complexities of law and religion. I just hope that the issue is solved before the Friday prayers, said, Rashid, a resident.

Around 20 to 30 people offer namaz in the mosque inside a three-storey residential building on a daily basis, with the highest occupancy recorded on Fridays, members of the Muslim community said.

We wish to reiterate that the mosque was the target of right- wing outfits and it was pressure from these groups that led to its sealing. However, we are determined to continue our sit-in till the seal is removed and the mosque is thrown open to worshippers again. As members of the minority community, we have decided to approach the deputy commissioner and the police commissioner, seeking their intervention in undoing what the MCG has done, Haji Shehzad Khan, chairman of Muslim Ekta Manch, said.

Aftab Ahmed, vice president of Haryana Congress, lent his support to the protesters on Thursday and was seen interacting with members of the Muslim community.

I assured people sitting outside the mosque that they will receive support from the Congress in their fight against the injustice meted out to them. We also wholeheartedly support their decision to stage a sit-in outside the mosque, Ahmed said, holding the BJP government in the state responsible for this situation. State BJP leaders lost little time to hit back at the Congress, saying that the comment by the Congress leader will only fan unrest.

The remark by the Congress leader will trigger tensions and polarise communities. The Congress is trying to protect an illegal structure. If they have any proof attesting to the legality of this structure, they should present it before the public, said, Raman Malik, spokesperson for the BJP in Haryana.

On Wednesday, MCG officials sealed 11 buildings at Sheetla Mata colony, including the three-storey mosque, as these structures have come up after September 2016, within a 300-metre radius of the ammunition depot of the Indian Air Force. They said these structures were built in violation of a direction issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The move came a week after members of some right-wing groups allegedly held protests outside the mosque following the installation of a loudspeaker on its premises, claiming that the prayers were too loud.

Following the sealing, the Gurugram police deployed close to 100 personnel at the spot to ensure law and order. On Thursday, more than 40 police personnel were present at the spot.

There was sufficient police force on the ground and no untoward incident was reported. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, said inspector Narender Kumar,SHO, Sector 5 police station.
BJP president Amit Shah will hold a massive rally in Mahbubnagar near Hyderabad on Saturday, launching the partys campaign for the upcoming Telangana assembly elections.

Shahs visit would galvanise the party cadre to gear up for the battle, BJP state unit president Dr K Laxman told reporters in Hyderabad on Friday.

Shah will pray to goddess Mahankali in the old city before proceeding to Mahbubnagar, where he would address a massive public meeting to start the election campaign, Laxman said.

Before his return, Shah will meet the partys state unit office bearers and district unit presidents in Kothur to instruct them on the elections.

Laxman dismissed talks of having a secret understanding with K Chandrashekar Raos (KCR) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), saying TRS was closely associated with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

There is no possibility as the TRS is closely associated with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), he said, and warned that TRSs plan to use the MIM as a rope to climb up to power would turn out to be a noose for it.

Laxmans comments came against the backdrop of MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi saying that like H D Kumaraswamy became chief minister with less number of seats in Karnataka, there was a possibility for his party to stake claim to the top post if the situation arose.

Asserting that BJP was the only strong alternative to TRS in Telangana, Laxman said his party would contest all the 119 assembly segments in the state on its own.

The people of Telangana have seen the rule of all the parties in the past. Now, it is time they give an opportunity to the BJP, he said.

Describing the proposed grand alliance of the Congress, the TDP, the CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi as unholy and unethical, the state BJP president alleged that the Congress was trying to repeat Karnataka-type experiment in Telangana.
Protests have erupted across Andhra Pradesh after an arrest warrant was issued against chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and others in connection with a case dating back to July 2010. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleges a conspiracy to target Naidu after he exited the NDA government.

Naidu, who was arrested eight years ago on the charges of leading a violent protest, intimidation and obstruction of public servants from discharging their duties, received the non-bailable warrant on Thursday night from the Maharashtra police, while he was participating in Bramhotsvams in the temple of town of Tirupati.

While in opposition, he led the protest against the then Maharashtra state government headed by Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for raising the height of the Babbli project that allegedly hurt the irrigation interests of north Telangana in then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

The issue of arrest warrant triggered a barrage of protests led by TDP across the state, suspecting a conspiracy to target Naidu after he parted ways with the NDA government. Coincidentally, film actor Sivaji in a media interaction predicted that Naidu would be arrested soon as part of Garuda operation allegedly launched by the NDA government against the opposition leaders.

TDP politburo member and Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that the serving of arrest warrant was part of a conspiracy allegedly hatched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Rebutting the TDP leaders charges, BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana said the TDP was trying to politicise the matters related to judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Chief Ministers Office closeted with legal experts. A section of party leaders in Telangana reportedly are favouring Chandrababu Naidu to attend the court in person so as to let it be an evidence of alleged BJP vendetta.

A criminal lawyer Karnati Ramamohan Rao from Vijayawada told HT that the government could better engaged a lawyer on CMs behalf either to plea for a recall in the local court at Dharmabad or obtain stay orders in Mumbai High Court over the arrest proceedings in order to avert an inter-state rift between law enforcement agencies.

Naidus agitation at that time intended to expose the then ruling Congress governments in Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra and at the Centre over their alleged disregard for irrigation needs of the undivided state, especially the water-starved Telangana region. There is no government led by the Congress anywhere in the states and even at the Centre now. Instead, its the BJP that replaced in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

Ironically, the Congress and the TDP are now part of the grand alliance against the K Chandrashekhar Raos Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
A court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation staged by them over the Babli project across the Godavari river.

Judicial Magistrate First Class of Dharmabad in Nanded district NR Gajbhiye issued the order, directing the police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, were arrested and lodged in a Pune jail in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on the ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All of them were released later, though they had not sought bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state water resources minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, social welfare minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) were among the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers booked in the case.

They have been charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code, including assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidus son and state information technology minister N Lokesh said his father and the other TDP leaders would appear in court.

He (Naidu) fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested, Lokesh said.

The chief minister is currently camping in Tirumala, near Tirupati, attending the annual Brahmotsavam of the Lord Venkateswara temple there.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
The Assam government has decided to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking an order that re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be completed before the claims and objections exercise begins amid concerns that many illegal immigrants may have made it to the draft, a top official said.

The state government is also miffed that it does not have the details of those who have been excluded. The draft included 2.89 crore people while 40,07,707 were left out.

In its affidavit to the court before the next hearing on September 19, the state government is also expected to urge the court to order NRC authorities to suo moto include a section of original inhabitants and those from other parts of the country who have been left out of the draft, without having to go through the harassment of filing claims, a top official said.

Those who should have been out seem to have gotten in and some of those who should have been in are out. We are also going to urge the court that re-verification should be completed before the people submit claims and hearings start, said LS Changsan, Principal Secretary, Home and Political Department.

Suggesting that the state government had been kept out of the loop by Prateek Hajela, the state coordinator of National Register of Citizens, Changsan said the state government would also request the Supreme Court that it be told of the modalities and details of the re-verification exercise being proposed by Hajela.

The verification needs to be done in a well planned and thorough manner, she said.

The Supreme Court, after going through the district wise details had said it was considering the necessity of re-verification of at least a 10% sample of those who have been included from every district. The Court had asked Hajela to submit a report on the time frame for such an exercise.

The court is also in the process of finalizing the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the claims and objections exercise once the stake holders submit their views on the submissions made by Hajela.

Officials said the state government was caught completely off guard by Hajelas recent submissions to the court that only 10 out of the 15 documents could be submitted afresh in the claims exercise.

Changsan pointed out that in the initial draft of the proposed SOP prepared by the Centre, in consultation with the state government and the NRC secretariat it was clearly mentioned that all the documents that could be submitted at the time of application could be submitted again.

We will ask the court to allow submission of all 15 documents afresh by those who have been excluded, Changsan said.

The state government is also going to request the court that it be given the details of those who have been excluded from the NRC. The NRC exercise is a Supreme Court mandated one and the data has not been shared with the state government.

We are compelled to ask for it to be prepared on the law and order front, for security planning and to ensure no targeted discrimination happens, Changsan said adding how the state government has not been given any details yet.

Meanwhile, in another indicator that there is lack of coordination between the NRC secretariat and the state government, the latter is in the process of making a common database of declared foreigners, doubtful voters and those whose cases are pending with the foreigners tribunals.

Initially, this database was to be designed by Hajela. We have asked the Border Organisation to prepare our own database now, Changsan said. The details of those who are in the NRC and who are out will be added to it later once we have those details, she said.
M K Azhagiri this week secretly met his supporters in key Tamil Nadu districts to discuss plans to form his own political party after his younger brother MK Stalin refused to take him back in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The DMK expelled Azhagiri in 2014 for disciplinary reasons. His supporters say Azhagiri was forced to consider launching his own political outfit because Stalin, as DMK president, didnt respond to his overtures after their father M Karunanidhis death on August 7. Azhagiri had said that he would accept Stalin as his leader but he was rebuffed, supporters said.

Isakki Subbaya, a political aide of Azhagiri, said on Friday that discussions are on to launch a new organisation called Kalaignar Ezhuchi Peravai (Kalaignar Renissance Organisation). Karunanidhi was fondly called Kalaignar (the artiste) by the DMK cadre.

Our leader is discussing the next steps. We have already shown our strength by conducting a peace rally (in Chennai) on September 5 to remember the 30th day of our president Karunanidhis demise. Soon we will launch an organization called Kalaignar Ezhuchi Peravai, Subbaiyah said.

Azhagiri, however, said Subbaiya was speaking for himself. I have revealed my stand many times. I want to work with the DMK. People who are administering DMK should respond to my proposal, said Azhagiri.

Sources close to Azhagiri said that the he has held secret meetings with his supporters to discuss the launch of a new organisation. As of now, supporters from Trichy, Kanchipuram, Sivaganga, Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, and Thanjavur have taken part in the meetings. Theni district supporters met Azhagiri on Thursday and urged him to launch a party or organisation for the Thirupparankundram and Thiruvarur assembly by-elections, said a top Azhagiri loyalist who didnt want to be named.

He asked us to wait for some time until the unveiling of the bronze statue of Karunanidhi in December (in Madurai).

Azhagiris loyalists said he doesnt want plans to be leaked. Even now the first option is to join DMK. But if that is not possible then, he will launch his own party, said another loyalist who did not want to be named.

Tharaasu Shyaam, a political analyst in Chennai, said Azhagiris party will face challenges.

Azhagiri does not say anything clearly about what his new party/organization will stand for. In case he does launch a party, it will have no impact except in the four southern districts of Tamil Nadu, he told HT.

Shyaam said Azhagiris first test, if he forms his own party, would be the upcoming Thiruvarur and Thirupparankundram by-elections. The constituencies fell vacant after the death of M Karunanidhi and AIADMKs AK Bose.
West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has reached out to community leaders, asking them to urge Muslims to refrain from displaying weapons in processions on the 10th day of the first month of the Muslim calendar, Muharram.

Some Shia Muslims self-flagellate with chains and swords in remembrance of the killing of the Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussain, in the Battle of Karbala (modern-day Iraq) in the 7th century. The practice has been discouraged in recent years with clerics urging people to donate blood instead.

We have reached out to leaders of the community to ensure Muharram is observed in a way that does not hurt sentiments of members of other communities. We urge Muslims to shun the practice of carrying swords during processions not only because the practice has no sanction in Islam but also because such communal forces as BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) are trying to foment trouble around this practice, said TMC parliament member Idris Ali.

The BJP and its affiliates have justified brandishing of weapons during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in West Bengal, citing the tradition of display of swords and sticks during Muharram. The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the TMCs initiative. We welcome the move. It marks a moral victory for us, said BJP Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh.

Several influential imams have advised Muslims not to carry weapons on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, which falls on September 21.

Muharram is our mourning month. Please do not indulge in the display of sticks and swords during processions. These have nothing to do with Islam... Please do not do anything that strengthens the hands of the communal and divisive forces, said Kolkatas Nakhoda mosque imam Maulana Shafique Qasmi at an event Ali on Wednesday.

Maulana Imdadul Rashidi, an imam from Asansol, called brandishing weapons during Muharram un-Islamic.

Rashidi had won praise earlier this year when he urged for peace even after his son was killed in a communal clash. His appeal calmed tensions.
Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar, who was released from Saharanpur jail on Friday morning, announced his support for the opposition alliance and sounded a conciliatory note with Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, calling her his aunt.

The Uttar Pradesh government had ordered Chandrashekhars immediate release on Thursday citing a plea by his mother 15 months after he was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh for a series of clashes in Saharanpur in May 2017 that left one person dead and many injured.

Chandrashekhar had formed the Bhim Army along with his associate, Vinay Ratan Singh, in July 2015 to empower the Dalits and the marginalized. However, after the clashes, his popularity increased, especially among the young. It was evident on Friday when a large number of young people reached Saharanpur jail.

His release in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, seen as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys outreach to Dalits, who constitute about 21% of the states population, and to counter the BSP, could boomerang as Chandrashekhar blamed the BJP for his arrest and announced that he will support the prospective Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance in the next general elections.

I will support the ( prospective SP-BSP) alliance, he said, when asked which political group he would prefer in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He ruled out contesting the 2019 polls, saying he preferred to work for empowering Dalits and the downtrodden.

After the clashes, the Bhim Army was seen as an emerging rival Dalit force to the BSP in the western Uttar Pradesh but the organization supported the grand alliance of BSP-SP-RJD-Congress in the Kariana by-poll.

BSP chief Mayawati had called Bhim Army a product of BJP to counter her party after the 2017 clashes but Chandrashekhar, after his release, described her as his aunt, saying their blood was same.

She has struggled a lot and I respect her. She is growing old and sometimes she appears to be in trouble due to her age. But she is still serving the people through politics and I respect her a lot, he said.

Chandrashekhar said he was released as the Uttar Pradesh government was scared of being rebuked by the Supreme Court and also wanted to take political mileage. They (BJP) cannot fool Dalits, he said, alleging the BJP stood for communalism.

Hundreds of Bhim Army supporters and Chandrashekhars family had gathered outside the jail, chanting slogans of Bhim Army Zindabad and Chandrashekhar Zindabad as their leader walked out. Overwhelmed supporters garlanded him and distributed sweets to express their happiness over his release.

Bhim Armys district president Kamal Walia claimed that Chandrashekhars release was the victory of the peoples faith in him and would infuse a new strength and vigour among the outfits supporters.
Sep 14, 2018 | By Thomas

Polish 3D printer manufacturer Zortrax has released the Zortrax Inkspire, the company's first desktop DLP 3D printer which marks the company's entrance into the the resin 3D printing market.

The Zortrax Inkspire uses a high resolution LCD screen and UV LED backlighting to cure photopolymer resin layer by layer. "With 50x50 microns XY resolution and 25 microns minimal layer height it is up to 9x more precise than leading SLA 3D printers. Because the entire layer is projected onto the photopolymers

surface all at once, it is also up to 8x faster.", states the company. With its microscopic precision, the Zortrax Inkspire is designed for engineers, designers, jewelers or dental prosthetists.

The Zortrax Inkspire has a max build envelope of 74 x 132 x 175 mm (2.9 x 5.2 x 6.9 in). It can work as a basic production unit in 3D printing farms offering low to medium scale manufacturing capabilities. With one printer making 50 to 80 parts in 1h 30min, 30 printers working together can offer an approximate monthly output of 360,000 to 500,000 parts. Zortrax states.

One Zortrax Inkspire can 3D print 77 HDMI cover caps in 1h 30min.

The technology at work in laser-based stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing follows very similar principles. In SLA, the precision is constant, but the speed of operation is in inverse proportion to the amount of workspace taken by the model. In DLP, the speed of operation is constant, but the precision falls as the amount of used workspace increases. Zortrax expects its Inkspire DLP 3D printer could offers constant high speed and precision regardless of how much of the workspace is used.

In Zortrax UV LCD technology, UV light is processed in three distinct stages. First, it hits a polarizing film arranged along a horizontal axis. Only a part of the spectrum vibrating horizontally gets through. Such horizontally polarized light then goes into an array of liquid crystals. Each crystal can let it pass unchanged or rotate it 90 degrees. In the last stage, the light hits another polarizing film, this time arranged vertically. If a liquid crystal between those two films does not rotate the light, the pixel is off because the horizontally polarized light cant get through the vertically polarized film. But if the light is rotated, it can pass through both films and the pixel is on.

Zortrax will release its own Zortrax Resin Basic, but Inkspire will be compatible with any resin that can be cured by light with a 405 nm wavelength.

Along side the Zortrax Inkspire, the company will also release Zortrax Ultrasonic Cleaner, a device that automatically cleans models using high frequency sound waves propagated in a cleaning liquid. In addition, a number of additional functionalities will be added to Z-SUITE, its slicing and 3D printing farm management software, to make it compatible with the Zortrax Inkspire DLP 3D printer.

The system is scheduled to be released in Autumn 2018, and will cost around $2,699.

Specs of Zortrax Inkspire Resin UV LCD 3D printer

Printing:

Technology: UV LCD

Pixel size: 50 microns (0.05 mm)

Layer thickness: 25, 50, 100 microns

Print speed: 20-36 mm/h

Device:

Build volume: 74 x 132 x 175 mm (2.9 x 5.2 x 6.9 in)

Support: Mechanically removed - printed with the same material as the model

Light source: UV integrated light (wavelength 405 nm)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB

Operating system: Android

Processor: Quad Core

Touchscreen: 4 IPS 800 x 480

Available materials: Zortrax Photopolymer Resin Basic

External materials: Applicable

Software:

Software bundle: Z-SUITE

Supported file types: .stl, .obj, .dxf, .3mf, .zcodex

Supported formats: .cws, .zcodex

Supported operating systems: Mac OS X / Windows 7 and newer versions

Weight and physical dimensions:

Device (W x D x H): 210 x 210 x 420 mm (8.3 x 8.3 x 16.5 in)

Shipping box: 315 x 312 x 530 mm (12.4 x 12.3 x 20.9 in)

Shipping weight: 10.5 kg (23.1 lb)

Device weight: 9.2 kg (20.3 lb)

Net weight: 7.6 kg (16.8 lb)

Temperature:

Ambient operation temperature: 20 - 30 C (68 - 86 F)

Storage temperature: 0 - 35 C (32 - 95 F)

Electrical:

AC input: 110 V ~ 5.9 A 50/60 Hz 240 V ~ 2.5A 50/60 Hz

Maximum power consumption: 50 W

Posted in 3D Printer

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Anthony wrote at 9/19/2018 4:35:20 AM:First of all, this printer isn't DLP, it's LCD based. I can't understand how a site dedicated to 3d printing technology would get this fact wrong. Second, it's far too expensive for what is substantially a remodeling of products which is widely available on aliexpress at $300-400 priceJoe F. wrote at 9/18/2018 10:49:17 PM:A couple things: "In SLA, the precision is constant, but the speed of operation is in inverse proportion to the amount of workspace taken by the model. In DLP, the speed of operation is constant, but the precision falls as the amount of used workspace increases." On a SLA printer, the precision is constant only if the optics provide that capability using a F-Theta lens. The laser spot will start to diverge on standard optics as you move to the outer region around the center. What is the basis for the loss of precision due to workspace on a DLP? Is it because the light is a fixed quantity and the more mirrors reflecting it, the less overall light per pixel? Or are you talking about optics as well aka pincushioning or barrel distortion? All LCD panels use two polarizing filters as part of their basic function, so there is nothing special going on here that any other LCD printer doesn't have themselves.David wrote at 9/14/2018 4:39:45 PM:I'm not sure what it thinks differentiates it from something like an Anycubic Photon costing 1/6 as much? I mean it's not quite a rebadge, but all the functional parts look substantially the same principle, so where's the selling point of spending $200O+ more on this? You'd buy a Formlabs Form 2 if you're spending this kind of money, surely?




Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar who has been in prison since his arrest in June last year, was released from Saharanpur jail early Friday morning.

He was arrested on June 8 last year from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh and was booked under the National Security Act after caste clashes in western Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur, which left one dead and many injured. On November 2 last, his detention under the NSA was extended by another six months.

Chandrashekhar, after his release from the Saharanpur jail, was quoted by ANI as saying, The government was so scared that they are going to be rebuked by the Supreme Court, that they ordered an early release to save themselves.

I am confident that theyll frame some charges against me within 10 days, he said.

The Bhim Army founder accused the state government of misusing its machinary. I will continue my fight for marginalised people against injustice, he added.

Hundreds of Bhim Army supporters who gathered outside the jail, chanted slogans Bhim Army Zindabad and Chandrashekhar Zindabad as their leader walked out. Overwhelmed supporters garlanded him and distributed sweets to express their happiness over his release after 15 months in jail.

Bhim Armys district president Kamal Walia claimed that Chandrashekhars release was victory of peoples faith in him and will infuse a new strength and vigour among the outfits supporters.

Bhim Army supporters had gathered outside the district jail at night anxiously waiting for release of their leader but district administration strategically released him at around 3 am in order to avoid any chaos.

Chandrashekhers mother, brother and other family members also arrived there and welcomed him with garland. Bhim Army supporters then took him in a procession.

Chandrashekher had formed Bhim Army along with his associate Vinay Ratan Singh on July 21, 2015 to empower dalits and marginalised people.

The Bhim Army has influence in Saharanpur though it has supporters in all parts of western UP.

Its leaders claim that the organisation has so far opened 300 schools in Saharanpur and neighbouring districts which provide free education to children of dalits and marginalised people.

Amid the Bhim Armys rising popularity, Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati had accused the BJP of propping it up to target the BSP in order to build an alliance of all castes in UP.
Hours after Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar alias Ravan was released early Friday after over an year in jail, Uttar Pradeshs ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress sparred over his arrest and release.

Chandrashekhar, the founder of the group of Dalit youth, was arrested on June 8, 2017 for clashes between Dalits and the police in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur on May 9, that left one dead and many injured. The violence broke out during protests against a police baton charge on people opposing caste violence in the districts Shabbirpur village on May 5.

Arrested from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, he was booked under the National Security Act. On November 2 last, his detention under the NSA was extended by another six months.

Zeeshan Haider, a spokesperson of state Congress unit, said: Now, the question arises (that) if he is a culprit, they why has he been released? And if he was not the culprit, then why was he kept behind bars at all or for so long?

He alleged that the BJP, prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Aditynath want to divide Dalit votes as the 2019 general elections draw close.

BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak, however, refuted the Congress charge. We dont indulge in vendetta politics as is evident from our decision to release the Bhim Army chief. Just see what all he had said after his release, proving all the more that we werent guided by political consideration, he said.

Hours after being released from jail, Chandrashekhar said he will ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, reported PTI.

Chandrashekhar, who had formed Bhim Army along with his associate Vinay Ratan Singh on July 21, 2015 to empower Dalits and marginalised people, also accused the state government of misusing its machinery to keep him in jail.

According to Uttar Pradeshs principal secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar, the decision to release Chandrashekhar was taken after his mother filed a mercy application to the state government. He added that the situation in Saharanpur and other circumstances were also analysed before the decision.
A day after Congress leader PL Punia claimed that Union finance minister Arun Jaitley met liquor baron and then member of Parliament Vijay Mallaya on March 1, 2016, a day before he fled the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries aware of the ministers schedule refuted the claims, pointing out that the minister had a busy schedule on that day.

Persons aware of Jaitleys schedule for the day, when the meeting is supposed to have taken place inside the Central Hall of Parliament, said the minister had a packed itinerary on March 1. According to one person aware of the developments, Jaitleys itinerary on March 1 included attending the parliamentary board meeting starting at 9.30am, which was followed by a meeting in the Prime Ministers room an hour later. The minister walked to the Rajya Sabha through the Central Hall, and was in the Upper House between from 10.55 am to 11.45 am; he left for his room then; at noon he left for Vigyan Bhawan where he was attending an official function where the then President Pranab Mukherjee was present. The minister did not return to Parliament that day.

After Mallya told reporters in London that he had met Jaitley in Parliament and offered to settle his unpaid loans before flying out, and the finance minister said there was no formal meeting but that Mallya had accosted him briefly in Parliament, Punia alleged that he had seen the two in conversation in the Central Hall of Parliament on March 1 and the two held an elaborate 15-20 minute meeting.

Punia demanded to see the CCTV footage of Central Hall.

The Congress, which has been demanding the resignation of Jaitley, however dismissed the BJPs explanation, (PL) Punia has stated that he saw Jaitley in conversation with Mallya in the Central Hall of Parliament. Punia even asked to go through the CCTV footage and also said he was ready to quit politics if proven wrong. Why is Jaitley silent on this? Neither the government nor Jaitley have been able to controvert it, Congress partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters.
The Modi government will impose penalties on state governments, insurance companies and banks for delays in settling crop insurance claims of farmers, by far the biggest hurdle in the flagship Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana scheme (PMFBY), according to an official familiar with the development.

Penalties for payment delays, which stoke discontent among farmers, signal an aggressive approach to boosting the performance of a programme central to the governments farm agenda. Farmers often receive compensation after year-long delays. Timely claims settlement is critical to the schemes success.

The government had launched the PMFBY in 2016-17, dismantling two previous poorly-designed schemes and replacing them with a simplified programme. Yet, the farm ministry has had to troubleshoot systemic hurdles in the new scheme.

Farmers pay between 1.5 and 2% of the total premium. The rest is shared 50-50 between the Centre and states.

Over the past year, the government has relied on a raft of technologies  from remote sensing to Android apps  to iron out bottlenecks.

State governments will have to pay penalties if they do not pay farmers within applicable deadlines after the Centre pays its share of subsidy, the official said.

Insurance firms will have to pay penalties at the rate of 12% for payments delayed beyond a month. Banks are also proposed to be fined if they do not submit actuarial data on time, the official said. The changes have been vetted by the Prime Ministers Office and the finance ministry, a second official said.

I do not think penalties are a good idea because a lot of improvements are already taking place. There are many stakeholders in the insurance scheme. State governments often provide yield loss estimates to insurance companies very late, said Rajeev Chaudhary, the chief risk officer of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.

Tussles between states and insurance companies over estimates of crop losses and computation of claims are a key bottleneck. Often, insurance companies suspect fudging of data.

For transparent estimation of crop losses, the most crucial step, the ministry has developed an Android app for hand-held devices and harnessed satellite technologies

Pointing out drawbacks in the PMFBY, the governments committee on doubling farmers income, in its report, Risk Management in Agriculture, had said the number of bidders in the drought-prone rainfed areas have been relatively lesser, resulting in premium rates as high as 25%. This points to cherry-picking or the practice of insurance firms selectively bidding for low-risk areas.

The number of farmers, who opted for insurance, fell 17% to 47.9 million in 2017-18, from 57.4 million in 2016-17. Area coverage under the scheme rose to 57.1 million hectares in 2016-17, the initial year, from 52.4 million hectares in 2015-16, when a different insurance regime was in force. However, in 2017-18, the area insured fell to 47.5 million hectares. Of the total premium of ~19,000 crore in kharif 2017, payouts have been made to the tune of ~14,000 crore.
A 35-year-old woman was allegedly shot dead by her estranged husband in Kamla Nagar colony of Rohtak city on Friday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Rubina, who hailed from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh and was married to Feroz Khan of Ghaziabad, UP.

Police officials associated with the investigation said Rubina and Feroz had shifted to Rohtak around 8-10 years ago and they have two children. They have been estranged for the past few months and living separately. Feroz repairs gas stoves.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Shivaji Colony police station in-charge Rajender Singh said, The incident took place around 10am when victim Rubina, along with her roommate Kiran Mehta, was going to market on a scooter. Feroz came on a bike along with an accomplice. He allegedly stopped her scooter and fired at her. Rubina was taken to PGIMS Rohtak where she died during treatment.

The police have booked Feroz and his accomplice under Sections 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and are making efforts to arrest them. The body of the deceased was sent for the postmortem.

Police said the images of the accused were captured in a CCTV camera near the spot and they have recorded the statement of the victims roommate, who was accompanying her when she was attacked.

The two children of the couple live with Feroz and Rubina used to meet them regularly. Police suspected their marital dispute behind the incident.
Karnatakas ruling Congress has decided to approach the Income Tax Department and the states Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party has offered money to some of its legislators in a bid to topple its alliance government with the Janata Dal (Secular).

Addressing the press on Friday, home minister G Parameshwara said the decision was taken based on media reports that legislators belonging to the Congress had been approached by the BJP in a bid to get them to switch loyalties.

We discussed the developments in state politics, Parameshwara said after holding a meeting with irrigation minister and Congress strongman DK Shivakumar. The media has been reporting that money has been offered to some of our leaders. So, we have decided to file a complaint with the I-T Department and the ACB, he said.

Parameshwara said he was surprised by the reports and, hence, wanted the matter probed, because these were matters related to money being offered. They can check based on the complaint, he said, adding that the decision was based on media reports. This is a complaint the Congress is filing, not the state government, he said.

Over the past two weeks, discontent had come out in the open in the partys Belagavi district unit, sparking the latest round of speculation that some MLAs were unhappy with the government and had been in touch with the BJP.

The fight had begun over disagreements to elections of a cooperative bank in the district, with the influential Jarkiholi brothers expressing anger against MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is also the chief of the womens wing of the party, for allegedly challenging their hold over the district.

Several rounds of parleys have been held to placate state minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and his younger brother and Congress MLA Satish, both of whom had publicly aired differences with some leaders in the party, especially Shivakumar.

Addressing these differences, Parameshwara said matters were blown out of proportion. I have clarified previously, too, that there is no threat to the government and I repeat that now, he said. Ramesh Jarkiholi was not available for comment.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, too, criticised the BJP saying he was aware of the developments. I know who the kingpins are, who are collecting money for this. Will I be quiet? I know the background of the people trying to topple the government, he said.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader said the Jarkiholis were in touch with him. Let them ready a resort or whatever else, I know how to ensure that the government remains strong and united, he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, rubbished the allegations saying it was ready to face any probe. Neither does the BJP have any interest or inclination to any such thing, said S Prakash, the partys state spokesperson.

These are false allegations being leveled against the BJP to divert attention away from the failure of the parties to control their own MLAs, he said.
In another blow to the Congress in the north east, veteran leader and four time Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang resigned from the party on Thursday evening.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, 84-year-old Lapang cited sidelining of seniors in the party as the main reason behind his decision.

Lapang was removed as the partys Meghalaya unit chief last December. He had earlier made it clear that he would not contest the assembly polls held in February this year.

Lately the AICC has been embarking upon a policy of phasing out senior and elderly people. In my opinion it means the service and contribution of the senior and elderly people is no longer useful to the party, he stated in his resignation letter.

This restriction made me frustrated and compelled me to be no longer comfortable to be in the party, he wrote.

Lapang also sent copies of the letter to ten others including Sonia Gandhi, Congresss Meghalaya in-charge Luizinho Faleiro and former Meghalaya chief minister and present Congress legislature party leader Mukul Sangma.

The Congress had lost power to the National Peoples Party-led coalition, which includes BJP, in the assembly polls in February.
There has been a 47% increase in the number of rape cases and more than 100% increase in cases pertaining to kidnapping of women in Haryana since September 2014-August 2015, statistics tabled in the recent assembly session showed. The data revealed 26% increase in molestation cases between September 2014-August 2015 and September 2018.

Worrying trend

As compared to 8,126 cases of crime against women registered from September 2014 till August 2015, over 10,000 cases were registered from September 2017 till now, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in a statement tabled in the assembly.

On the whole, there has been a 27% increase in crime against women between 2014-15 and 2017-18. The chief minister said the crime rate did not decrease in districts where women police stations were opened.

He said that first information reports (FIRs) registered by the police indicated a rising trend of crime against women from April 2015 to June 2018.

Statistics tabled in the state assembly indicate that the number of rape cases registered by the police from September 2014 to September 2015 were 961. The number increased to 1,026 in 2015-2016, was up to 1,193 in 2016-17 and 1,413 in 2017-2018.

Similarly, the number of cases pertaining to kidnapping of women and girls was 1,664 between September 2014-August 2015. They increased to 2,330 in 2015-16, 3,055 in 2016-17 and were 3,494 in 2017-18. There has also been a steady increase in molestation cases in the state  from 1,833 in 2014-15 to 2,320 in 2017-18.

Also read: School exam topper alleges rape, Haryana CM Khattar promises justice

Liberal registration of FIRs behind surge

Director general of police BS Sandhu said the data indicates an increase in crime against women because of free registration of first information reports (FIRs). With the setting up of women police stations and because of Supreme Court orders on registering FIRs, there has been a surge in the number of cases registered statewide.

About 20% of the rape cases every year are being cancelled as they were found to be false during the investigation. This year, the police detected 37 honey trap cases, which will fall flat, the DGP said.

Statistics show that 327 rape first information reports (FIRs) were cancelled by the state police in 2017, as many as 138 FIRs were cancelled in the current year till June 2018.

Cases of death due to dowry harassment have seen a decrease. In 2014-15, the police registered 260 cases of dowry death that came down to 202 from September 2017-18. Cases of dowry harassment also came down from 3,408 in 2014-15 to 2,896 in 2017-18.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised the Dawoodi Bohra communitys reputation for integrity in trade as he listed his governments measures to help honest business in the bid to achieve double digit growth for the country.

Stressing Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or concept of the world as one family gives India an identity that is different from rest of the world, he said the Bohra community, a sect among Shia Muslims, was an example of this.

I share a very old relationship with the Bohra community. I am grateful that the community has always showered me with love, he said.

Highlighting their patriotism, community service and peace loving nature, he said that Bohras were spreading Indias message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam all over the world.

He was speaking at the Ashura Mubaraka function organised by the community at Indores Saifee Mosque where its religious head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, was present. As per community leaders present, Modi was the first prime minister to address Bohras during their 10-day ceremony every year to mourn the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammads grandson Imam Hussain.

The prime minister also said the Bohras are known for their honesty in trade and have set an example for others.

He said in the past four years, the government had made it clear that everything had to be within the ambit of the law.

We have introduced GST (goods and service tax), made laws like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and several others to encourage honest business, he said, adding that the Bohra community, most of whom are in trade and commerce, were taking maximum advantage of it.

But its also true that all the fingers are not equal. There are some people among us for whom cheating is the way of business, he added.

PM Modi said that having achieved 8% growth in the last quarter, the country is now eyeing double digit growth and despite all the challenges before us, I am confident that the way we are progressing, we will achieve it.

He said record investment and production took place in the country in the last four years giving boost to the Make in India programme.

Announcing launching of Swacchata hi Seva fortnight, which will last till October 2, the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, he said he would talk to those engaged in cleanliness campaign from all sections of society through videoconferencing on Saturday.

He said though Clean India campaign was started by the government, the people of the country had taken it to heart. There were toilets only in 40% houses in the country four years back but now the number had gone up to more than 90%, he added.

The PM also congratulated people of Indore and Bhopal which are the top two cities in the country on cleanliness ranking.

Pointing out the achievements of his government, Modi said that it had pledged to provide housing for all the poor in the country by 2022. Till now we have handed over keys of their houses to 1 crore people. This is not a mere announcement, it has already happened, he said.

He said Ayushman Bharat scheme aimed at providing health insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh per year per family to 50 crore Indians in one of the most ambitious schemes ever tried out anywhere in the country.

We are going to cover a population equal to the US, Canada and Mexico. The trial is already going on and we will launch the scheme on September 25, he said.

The Prime Minister arrived in Indore in the morning to attend Ashura Mubaraka, during which the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community is holding a nine-day religious discourse since Wednesday.

Thousands of community members have arrived in the Madhya Pradesh city from various parts of the world to hear Syednas sermons. There are 2.5 lakh members who live in the state, mainly in the districts of Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Madhya Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present during Modis visit ahead of the assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh by the end of this year.
The Delhi high court on Friday refused to stay the ban on anti-inflammatory medicine Ace Proxyvon, one of the 328 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs banned by the Centre, but allowed its manufacturer Wockhardt to sell it till Tuesday to sell till September 18, the next date of hearing.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru, in an interim order, asked the health ministry to place before it all relevant records based on which it had arrived at the decision to ban the medicine. This court is not passing any interim order and there is no stay on the ban. However, some stock is already there in the distribution network. This court considers it to be apposite that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners (company) subject to the stopping of the production, the court said.

The court was hearing a plea by Wockhardt Limited, which had challenged the Centres notification of September 7 banning Ace Proxyvon, an FDC drug prescribed for people with painful rheumatic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. FDCs are two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio into a single dosage form.

Ace Proxyvon, sold in a tablet form, is a mixture of three salts -- aceclofenac, paracetamol and rabeprazol -- a combination which is banned.

The pharma major, which claims to have been manufacturing and selling the drug for over 11 years, contended that it has not been provided with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) report, based on which the decision to ban it was taken.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Kaur Acharya submitted that hearings have been given to the petitioner in compliance to the orders of the Supreme Court.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday termed the English language a disease left behind by the British, stressing that Hindi was the symbol of socio-political and linguistic unity in India.

Yeh bimari jo angrezi wala chhod kar gaya, is bimari se hamein mukt karna chahiye: (this disease that English left behind, we should rid ourselves of this disease), he said at an event organised on the occasion of Hindi Divas at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Naidu said the Constituent Assembly (which framed the Constitution) had accepted Hindi as one of the official languages of the country on September 14, 1949.

Have we been able to fulfil the wishes of the Constituent Assembly? he asked.

Interestingly, the assembly also adopted English as an official language at the same meeting.

Naidu, who usually begins speeches in various states in the local language before reverting to either Hindi or English, also said it is very important that we encourage our mother tongue.

Naidu said language and emotions go together. If you want to reach out to peopleunderstand them, then you have to properly express your emotions. It is easier to express your feeling in ones mother tongue, in an Indian language. This is everybodys experience. Thats why one should speak in ones mother tongue at home.

The vice-president pitched for the translation of literature in regional languages into Hindi. He said Hindi was the main language of the freedom fighters, and it was spoken and understood by most of the people in the country.

It was the symbol of social, political, religious and linguistic unity of the country. Even today, these qualities make it acceptable among all other languages, he said.

If we desire that our democracy continues to be progressive and becomes stronger, then we will have to use Hindi in the functioning of the Union government and the regional languages in the functioning of the state governments. Every state has immense contribution in Hindi getting the present status, he said.

When foreign dignitaries come to India, they speak in their own language, Naidu said, adding, ...we should understand this spirit.

Naidu said all Indian languages were vibrant and each of them had its own literature, dictionary and idioms. It was not a matter of debate whether Hindi was the best among all Indian languages as there were many other languages which were older and more vibrant than Hindi, he added.

Sanskrit is the mother of all languages and there are many regional languages which are very vibrant, Naidu said, according to the news agency Press Trust of India.
A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges against Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), for allegedly outraging the modesty of a female colleague in February 2015.

Metropolitan magistrate Charu Gupta discharged him of four other sections  sections 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354 (D) (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 341 (wrongful restraint)  stating that prima facie these cases had not been made out against him.

Police had Pachauri under seven sections out of which the court ordered framing of charges under sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354 A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

I order framing of charges under these sections. Let the charges formally be framed on October 20, the judge said.

Pachauris lawyer Ashish Dixit said, The court without even hearing any defense from the accused has discharged my client in four of the seven charges. Now it is for the prosecution to prove the allegations in accordance with law.

As far as my client is concerned, he has not violated any law which shall be proved during the trial, he added.

Since Pachauri was not present in the court on Friday, the charges would be formally framed against him on October 20, which is the next date of hearing.

The police had filed a case against Pachuari in February 2015 on the complaint of a female colleague following which he was granted anticipatory bail by the Delhi high court in March 2015.

Later, he was granted regular bail by the trial court in July 2016.

The police had filed a 1,400-page chargesheet against him on March 1, 2016 under seven sections contending that there was sufficient evidence against him. A supplementary charge sheet was also filed in March 2017 after the police said it had retrieved several deleted e-mails and chats exchanged between the accused and the complainant.

A final report filed by the police had also claimed that the deleted WhatsApp chats, text messages, retrieved from the cell phones, computer hard disks and other devices, were not fabricated, allegations which Pachauri had denied.

In May 2015, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Teri had found Pachauri guilty, a decision which was challenged before the Industrial Tribunal.
A priest, arrested on Thursday in connection with a murder in Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district, has confessed he also killed three other people, including his brother, police said.

Officials said a naked body was found with its head smashed in a pool of blood near a temple in Mandi Bamora town under Bina police station, 186 kilometres east of Bhopal, on September 10. The body was later identified as that of Pramod Vishwakarma, 40, a resident of Bina town.

During the investigation, it was found that Vishwakarma was last seen with the priest Rajesh Tiwari alias Ramakant Tiwari alias Rameshwar Panda, a resident of Shastri ward in Bina. During interrogation, Tiwari confessed to having committed the crime, Binas sub-divisional officer of police Rakshpal Yadav said.

Yadav said Tiwari told the police he had given Rs 15,000 to Vishwakarma three to four years ago to get a fake mark sheet for a degree in bachelor of education with 75% marks printed on it. However, Vishwakarma neither gave him the marks sheet nor did he return his money despite several reminders.

Tiwari took Vishwakarma to Mandi Bamora on a train on the pretext of giving him some money and gave him a sedative mixed in a cup of tea. When Vishwakarma fell unconscious, Tiwari attacked him with a blade and a screwdriver resulting in his death on the spot. Tiwari smashed Vishwakarmas head against a stone to conceal his identity.

Yadav said Tiwari also confessed to having murdered one Sultan Singh, a resident of Bina, after a dispute with him over drinking liquor on August 25. Tiwari murdered 30-year-old Singh in his house and burnt his face before dumping the body.

Tiwari also admitted that he killed his brother Hariom Tiwari in October 2017after a domestic feud and latter allegedly beating him. He had also allegedly killed Kamala Bai Ahirwar, a resident of Bina, in 2009, said the police officer.

Yadav said Tiwari would be produced in the local court and the police would urge for his custody for further interrogation after his admission regarding his involvement in four murders.

(With input from Anupam Pateria in Sagar)
A marginal farmer in Panna district, 413 km north of Bhopal, found a diamond worth Rs 30 lakh, said a government official on Friday.

Prakash Sharma found the 12.58 carat diamond on a land he had leased near his village Janakpur, said Panna district diamond mining officer Santosh Singh. The diamond has been deposited in our office. Its quality is good, said Singh.

According to our gem experts the diamonds starting price can be around Rs 30 lakh. The price can go up further during an auction next month, he said.

Sharma told journalists he was overjoyed. He had been digging the 2525 feet land for two years to find a diamond. I didnt engage local labourers, as I couldnt afford them. I will invest the money once I get from the auction in business and farming, he said.

According to the mining officer, 11% of the amount from the auction will go to the state government.
For the first time ever, at least 2,500 transgender monastics and seers will participate in the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad early next year under the banner of the Kinnar Akhada.

Kinnar village on the banks of the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Allahabad,will serve as a hub of culture and religion and work to spread awareness of the situation in the aftermath of the partial scrapping of Section 377, said Acharaya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who heads the order.

The Kumbh Mela will be held between January 15 and March 4 on the banks of the Sangam.Members of the Kinnar Akhada will share the culture of the transgenders, their rituals and lifestyle with the world community during the religious congregation, said Tripathi.

As transgenders from different parts of the country will arrive during the Kumbh, our objective will also be to unite transgenders, sort out their issues, eliminate misconceptions about them, inform people about their rights and the Supreme Court ruling (quashing Section 377). Besides we will spread a message among masses about the position the transgenders hold in the Sanatan Dharma (mainstream Hinduism also known as the eternal faith), added Tripathi.

On 6 September, the Supreme Court ruled that gay sex among consenting adults was not an offence, reading down the British-era section 377 of the penal code that penalised people for their sexual orientation. The Section had become weapon for the harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and subject them to discrimination, chief justice Dipak Misra observed.

A series of religious and cultural programmes will be held in the village every evening and folk artistes from different parts of the country will perform there, Tripathi added.

Talks are underway with Kumbh Mela Authority (KMA) officials to get land in the mela kshetra to set up the Kinnar village. We will meet the commissioner of Allahabad division in this regard soon, said Tripathi.

Kinnar Akhada seers had attended the annual Magh Mela in Allahabad early this year . Since then, they have been seeking recognition for the Kinnar Akhada from the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the apex body of Hindu saints, but to no avail.

Swami Narendra Giri, the ABAP president, said, The Kinnar Akhada is a self-proclaimed monastic order of transgenders. They are not part of the 13 akhadas. Hence, there is no reason to give them recognition.

Kumbh mela officer Vijay Kiran Anand said the KMA will begin the procedure of allotting land to set up camps from November-December. If the Kinnar Akhada members approach the authorities, their request will also be considered favourably, he added.
The Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP governments two key officers, the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary (vigilance department), have shot off letters to administrative secretaries, which highlight Haryana bureaucrats slothful approach in implementing cabinet decisions.

On September 11, the cabinet branch that functions under the chief secretary sent a most urgent memo to all administrative secretaries, seeking reports about the status of the implementation of cabinet decisions.

The cabinet branch had set 2 pm of September 12 as the deadline for submitting the reports through special messengers, according to official records.

It has been observed that decisions taken by the cabinet are not being implemented by the administrative departments despite the lapse of three months as mentioned in cabinet letters conveying the decisions, the cabinet branch said in its letter.

The administrative secretaries were requested to implement the cabinet decisions at the earliest.

The government also sought implementation report from the frontline bureaucrats about the cabinet decisions pertaining to their departments since January 1, 2018.

This letter is a testament of the governments inability to rein in the bureaucracy. Often this issue crops up in our informal meetings. This problem pertains to certain departments, said a cabinet minister, who did not want to be identified.

Next month, the first-ever BJP government will complete four years in office under the command of the first-term MLA Khattar, the RSS Pracharak-turned chief minister.

It is this lack of command and control, coupled with administrative inexperience of most of the BJP ministers and the MLAs, which has been at the root of governments inability to tackle the bureaucracy effectively and get its policies implemented.

The letter in question underlines the anxiety of the government, which is already in a poll mode and has been taking a slew of populist decisions preparing the ground for the high-stakes Lok Sabha polls next year.

No response on graft complaints

In another instance of the poor health of the administration, additional chief secretary (ACS-vigilance) on Thursday sent a letter to the administrative secretaries and the heads of 29 different departments, seeking replies about corruption complaints/source reports of the vigilance department.

As per this letter, (of which HT has a copy), the vigilance department is yet to receive responses of 211 corruption complaints and source reports.

In spite of repeated reminders no replies have been received, the letters says, pointing out that the vigilance department has been sending complaints to the departments for enquiry/comments.

The vigilance department will hold meeting of the chief vigilance officers on September 26 to discuss the issues it has referred to these departments.

The departments with maximum number of pending complaints and from which the vigilance department is awaiting comments are town and country planning (25), development and panchayats (31), urban local bodies (24), ), cooperation (15) school education (11), transport (10) home and police (10), public health engineering (10) and PWD (9).

This is not for the first time that the vigilance department shot off such a missive. In April this year, it had sent a similar letter ahead of a meeting, pointing out how the departments were not responding to over 202 corruption complaints despite repeated reminders to submit comments.
The Supreme Courts observation on the arrest of S Nambi Narayanan, who was accused of selling the countrys rocket technology to enemies, is a big victory for the former space scientist but a clear setback for faction-ridden Congress in Kerala and CPI(M)-led state government that vigorously pursued the case.

The court has also constituted a judicial commission to inquire into the role of police in Kerala and asked the state government to give Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the scientist, who headed the cryogenic division of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) when he was arrested in 1994.

No other litigation can match the alleged spy scandal for the sheer heat it generated for 25 years in Kerala politics and by the looks of it will continue for some more time. The top courts decision to constitute a judicial commission is set to open a floodgate of politicking on the issue.

Many books have been written about the case and a Bollywood director had even announced a biopic on the scientist, who had to pay a heavy price along with former chief minister K Karunakaran in the sordid drama. It was not merely politics alone as many scientists have claimed the case delayed the countrys ambitious cryogenic engine development programme meant to deploy heavy satellites in orbit.

Narayanan had introduced liquid fuel propulsion technology in the country in the late 1970s when his senior APJ Abdul Kalam was the head of the solid propulsion system. Kalam rose to great heights while Narayanans world crashed when he was arrested with another scientist D Sasikumar on charges of allegedly selling space secrets to two semi-literate Maldivian women in 1994.

When humiliation was heaped from all sides at one point I thought of ending my life. But later I thought I shouldnt go down as a traitor. I lived my life for the truth to emerge, he said while speaking to the Hindustan Times during an earlier interaction.

The soaring political career of Karunakaran was affected and former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao and his son Prabhakara Raos names also cropped up during the investigation into the case. Sidelined in the party later, Karunakaran was forced to quit and float his own outfit. He came back to the party a few years before his death.

Soon after the verdict, Karunakarans daughter Padmaja Venugopal said the conspiracy against the father was hatched by five political leaders and claimed their roles will come out in the course of the judicial probe. She also said she will reveal their names if the commission calls her to depose before it.

Let the truth come out. My father did not get justice. Former PM Narasimha Rao cheated my father. He took undue haste in seeking his resignation, her brother K Muralidharan, who is a Congress MLA, said.

Political observers say the verdict could create tension in the state Congress and many questions will crop up against senior leaders like AK Antony and Oommen Chandy, who led a formidable group against Karunakaran. Antony succeeded Karunakaran as the chief minister after he resigned in the wake of the spy case in 1994.

Acting Pradesh Congress Committee president MM Hassan had admitted two years ago that leaders like him really regret leading a coup against the Leader, as Karunakaran was known in the state.

It is preposterous to point accusing fingers at some leaders, said Congress leader Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan, considered to be close to Chandy. The former chief minister refused to comment, saying let Padmaja come out with those names.

Interestingly, the then deputy inspector general of police in the eye of the storm Raman Srivastava, whom Karunakaran vociferously defended and was attacked for doing so, is the police advisor to the current Pinarayi Vijayan government. Communists had held a series of protest against Srivastava then, but he later made Kerala his home.
A full 24 years after he was falsely implicated as a spy and arrested by the Kerala police, the Supreme Court on Friday restored the honour of former space scientist S Nambi Narayanan, ordered the state to pay him Rs 50 lakh in compensation for putting him to  immense humiliation and instituted a probe into the fabrication of the case.

Liberty and dignity of the appellant (Narayanan), which are basic to his human rights were jeopardized as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, was compelled to face cynical abhorrence, ruled a bench led by chief justice of India Dipak Misra, invoking the public law remedy by granting him compensation.

The entire prosecution initiated by the State police was malicious and it has caused tremendous harassment and immeasurable anguish to the appellant, the bench said.

Read: Heat yet to settle, Isro spy case returns to haunt Congress in Kerala

Narayananan,now 76, a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), was arrested in 1994 on charges of spying by Kerala police. He was later exonerated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the case on the state governments order. CBIs closure report was accepted by a magistrate in May 1996. Although the state attempted to re-investigate the case, it was stopped from doing so by the top court, where Narayanan challenged the move.

The Supreme Court has clearly stated that it was an illegal arrest. It also identifies and acknowledges the suffering and humiliation I have gone through, Narayanan said in Thiruvananthapuram. The highest court of the country has accepted what I said. They (Kerala police) fabricated the case. The technology they said I stole and sold did not even exist then, he said, responding to the order.

The Kerala police arrested Mariam Rasheeda  a Maldivian woman  on October 20, 1994 for overstaying in India after the expiry of her visa. The arrest rapidly turned into a honey-trapping scandal allegedly involving two senior ISRO scientists, some businessmen and others. They were accused of passing on secrets related to ISROs cryogenic rocket programme to the woman, who in turn allegedly supplied them to Russia and Pakistans Inter-Service Intelligence.

In 1996, a CBI investigation cleared all the accused including Narayanan, who was instrumental in designing the systems used in Chandrayaan lunar probes, the Mars orbiter mission Mangalyaan and the Polar Launch Satellite Vehicle, the workhorse of the Indian space programme. It concluded that the entire scandal had been fabricated by Kerala police officers who had investigated the case.

The bench headed by CJI Misra also allowed Narayanan to proceed with a civil defamation suit in which he can claim more compensation.

Kerala has to pay Nayaranan within eight weeks. The order came on Narayanans petition demanding compensation from the State for the malicious prosecution launched against him.

There can be no scintilla of doubt that the appellant, a successful scientist having a national reputation, has been compelled to undergo immense humiliation. The lackadaisical attitude of the State police to arrest anyone and put him in police custody has made the appellant suffer ignominy. The dignity of a person gets shocked when psycho-pathological treatment is meted out to him, the court said, holding that a Constitutional court must take recourse to public law to compensate Narayanan.

The scientists arrest was a violation of his fundamental right, promised under Article 21 of the Constitution, the court said. And, such a situation, it added, invited public law remedy because life commands self-respect and dignity.

CJI Misras bench also accepted the scientists request to hold an enquiry and take action against the police officers who framed him in the espionage case. A three-member committee headed by former judge of the Supreme Court, DK Jain, was entrusted with the task. Both the Centre and Kerala have to nominate an officer each.

The Centre will bear the cost of the enquiry and provide logistical facilities to the committee, the court said, rejecting Keralas opposition to the panel.

In 2001, the National Human Rights Commission ordered an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh for Narayanayan. Meanwhile, the state government decided not to take any disciplinary action against its police officers. The scientist approached the top court and pleaded that the prosecution had a catastrophic effect on his service career as a leading and renowned scientist at ISRO. An irreparable and irremediable loss and setback had also been caused to technological advancement in space research in India, he contended.

Kerala maintained that there was sufficient evidence against the scientist. It even accused Narayanan of preparing to leave the country. CBI supported Narayanan and insisted that there were no incriminating records against him. Kerala said the CBIs finding was unacceptable and itself required a probe.
An ageing bridge in Kolkata will demolished for a new one to be built within a year, said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, nine days after part of the structure collapsed, killing three people.

The Majerhat bridge, built in the mid-1960s, was in a precarious condition but repairs were held up because of bureaucratic red tape.

A committee headed by chief secretary Malay Kumar De, probing the cause of the September 4 accident, held the primary responsibility lay with the state public works departments (PWD) which did a poor maintenance job.

Revealing the salient features of its report that was submitted to her on Friday, Banerjee also said the report has indicated that the construction of Metro Rail that was going on close to the bridge also perhaps contributed to the disaster.

She approved the reports suggestion that the existing structure be pulled down and a new bridge built.

The negligence by PWD is unforgivable. The time they spent in sending files from one section to another should have been used for taking precautionary measures. Traffic on the bridge should have been restricted. Other measures could have been taken, said the chief minister.

The police, which are investigating the case, will take appropriate measures against those involved in negligence. No one would be spared, she added.

Banerjee has set a deadline of one year for completion of the new bridge.

We want to complete it at the earliest but not at the cost of compromising with quality, Banerjee said, adding that the chief secretary will monitor the entire process of demolishing the rebuilding the bridge.

The Majerhat bridge was one of the two arterial links between Kolkata and South 24 Parganas district. In its absence, lakhs of people travelling between the two districts are put to terrible inconvenience every day.

The chief minister has entrusted Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee and police commissioner Rajeev Kumar for finding alternative routes till the new bridge is opened.

There is one route that can be used for public transport, but it will require a manned level crossing to be set up by the railways. Officials from the railways and the state PWD are discussing various aspects of this new route. The state will bear the cost, she said.

Two days after the collapse of the bridge, Banerjee said 20 bridges in Kolkata and Howrah are working past their expiry dates meaning thereby, these structure are past their design life.

Before the Majerhat bridge collapse. 26 people died when the under-construction Vivekanada flyover collapsed in crowded Burrabazar, the wholesale business hub of the city, on March 31, 2016.

Engineers flagged since then the precarious condition of Kolkatas flyers after that, but repairs were delayed because of red tape and lack of funds.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday extended his intense exchange of allegations with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the government it leads, this time targeting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which, he alleged, helped businessman VIjay Mallya flee the country in 2016. In doing so, he also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mallyas Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the Detain notice for him, to Inform. The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM, Rahul Gandhi, 48, tweeted.

Gandhis fresh attack relates to a change in a 2015 lookout circular that initially required government agencies to detain Vijay Mallya. This order was later changed and required the agencies to only inform the CBI if the businessman enters or exits the country.

With hindsight, the CBI says it was an error in judgment to make this change but points that the probe, back in 2015, was still in an early stage and there was no warrant against him.

Vijay Mallya, the liquor baron who founded the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, fled India in March 2016 even as a debt court in Bangalore was set to act against him for defaulting on loans issued by several banks led by the state-owned State Bank of India.

He is in London and fighting an effort to get him extradited to India. A court will pronounce its verdict in this case on December 10.

The Congress presidents attack is part of the oppositions continuing offensive against the ruling BJP in the run up to the 2019 general elections.

On Thursday, Gandhi accused finance minister Arun Jaitley of colluding with Mallya and allowing the criminal to flee, triggering a stinging comeback from the BJP which dismissed the charge.

Countering Gandhi, Union minister Piyush Goyal said it was the Gandhi familys relations with Mallya that caused banks to loan money to Mallya in violation of all norms.
Internal differences within Congress in Mizoram took a turn for the worse on Friday after senior leader and state home minister R Lalzirliana resigned as the member of the Lal Thanhawla cabinet.

The move comes two days after the disciplinary committee of the party served a show-cause notice to Lalzirliana, who is also the Congress state unit vice-president, over reports that he could join a rival party.

It is true that I have resigned from the cabinet, but I am still a member of the Congress. I would not like to disclose the reasons for my decision, he said over the phone from Aizawl.

The 69-year-old, who represents Tawi seat in Aizwal, also held the charge of power and electricity, rural development and excise and narcotics portfolios and was the second most powerful person in the cabinet headed by chief minister Thanhawla.

Mizoram goes to polls later this year and the move by Lalzirliana could affect the Congress.

He came to the Congress Bhawan and told us about his decision to quit the cabinet before submitting his resignation, said Congress Legislature Party (CLP) secretary Lalrinmawia Ralte.

It can be assumed he was unhappy with the governments failure to turn Saitual division, which falls under his seat, into a new district despite assurances by senior party leaders. He said he has to listen to his people, Ralte, who is also political secretary to Thanhawla, added.

The show cause notice was served on Lalzirliana on Wednesday asking him to furnish his reply within Friday after he made statements about offers from various parties to join them and reports about him being in the list of official candidates of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) for the upcoming election.

Though the Congress leader refused to divulge his next move, MNF office-bearers said Lalzirliana might be switching sides soon.

We have had several rounds of talks with Lalzirliana on him joining our party. There is every likelihood of him contesting the next polls under our banner, said MNF chief Zoram Thanga.

Lalzirliana hasnt quit the Congress as he would then cease to remain a member of the assembly. On the other hand, if he is expelled from the party, he would be free to join any other party, he added.

Despite the formation two pre-poll alliances by smaller regional parties, the upcoming election is likely to be a straight fight between Congress and MNF, which is part of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the Bharatiya Janata Party-led conglomeration of anti-Congress parties in the region.
Two months ahead of assembly elections in Rajasthan, poll officials said names of over 6.5 lakh duplicate/fake voters will be deleted from the states electoral rolls.

The election department of Rajasthan has undertaken an exercise to weed out duplicate voters from electoral rolls. Rajasthan has 200 assembly constituencies and 5.75 crore electors.

As part of this cleaning up exercise, 6,52,814 names of voters who are duplicate, dead or have shifted their residence have come to light. The total number is based on the Form 7 details collected by the election department. Form 7 is an application for objecting to inclusion of name or seeking deletion of name in the electoral roll.

Additional chief electoral officer Rekha Gupta said the department has been working at three levels to clean up the electoral rolls  demographical similar entry (DSE) check, door-to-door verification, and details collected through Form 7. On this basis, 6.52 lakh voters have been found to be duplicate and their names will be deleted from the voter list.

Gupta said the department will publish the final voter list on October 3.

Chief electoral officer (CEO) Anand Kumar said only 1.66 lakh probable duplicate voters were found on the basis of DSE check. DSE involves matching voters with same names in the electoral list on parameters of age, fathers or husbands name, gender, address and photos.

Kumar said on the basis of the voter lists, 81.37 lakh duplicate voters were found. After the DSE check, 79.71 lakh were verified and only 1.66 lakh doubtful voters were left. A field verification of these 1.66 lakh voters was done and the figure of doubtful voters then dwindled to 39,000 whose names will be deleted, said Kumar.

Last month, the Rajasthan Congress had raised objections over alleged irregularities in the voter lists and claimed that there are 42 duplicate voters in the state.

The Congress had approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Supreme Court requesting that the election departments in the poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh weed out fake voters.

The ECI had on August 30 removed CEO Ashwini Bhagat after complaints regarding his style of functioning and appointed Anand Kumar in his place.

Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma said, The election commission data shows that our complaint was valid. We will check the figures to see that they have been thoroughly verified.
Indias Mental Health Care Act is one of the most progressive legislations on mental health globally, and should be read as a bill of rights for people with mental disorders. Fundamentally, the Act enshrines equality for mentally ill people with those who have physical health problems in all matters related to health care. Conceptually, it transforms the focus of mental health legislations from supposedly protecting society and families by relegating people with mental disorders to second-class citizens, to emphasising the provision of affordable care, aligned with the preferences and needs of the affected person, financed by the government, through the primary care system.

Involuntary treatment and confinement in mental hospitals, which have historically been associated with profound depravity and abuse of human rights and which have been robustly contested by the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has been greatly reined in with stringent procedures to ensure that these are restricted to the rarest of circumstances with systemic supports to enable the right of the person to make his/ her own decision.

However, it is hard to imagine these visionary ideals finding their way into the grim realities of the lived experiences of the tens of millions of Indians living with a mental disorder and the countless more of their family members and friends who are also affected. The National Mental Health Survey of India (2016), the largest exercise to count the numbers of people affected by mental disorders, reported that one of every ten adults experiences a clinically significant condition. Nearly 90% of these people have received no care at all in the past year.

The recent observation that some of the victims of the horrific series of lynchings in our country were people with mental disorders is a tragic reminder of their vulnerability. Indeed, no other health condition in this country has such astonishing levels of unmet needs for care. Scarcity is the mother of invention, and this is so true of health care innovations in India, a country where the majority of people get too little of the care that they desperately need, while a few get as much care, never mind if it is actually needed, that they can pay for. And the care that many receive, whether too little or too much, is often not aligned with scientific evidence. In the case of mental disorders, for example, only a tiny fraction of the population will have access to brief psychosocial interventions, one of the most effective classes of treatments in medicine.

As with so many other formidable challenges facing our people, the community has been at the heart of innovative solutions. A variety of community actions have illustrated paths to mental health care which is affordable, evidence based, empowering and equitable. Prominent amongst these are the use of community based workers to deliver mental health care.

The community health worker, including cadre such as the ASHA worker and the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife, are the foundation of our public health care system. Indeed, they have played a central role in the success of our public health programmes which substantially reduced maternal and child mortality. Even as they are slowly, but surely, winning these age-old battles, they present a unique human resource to be deployed to helping people with mental disorders to recovery.

Over the past decade, some national health care programmes (such as for adolescent health) and NGOs have begun to task community-based workers to provide low intensity psychosocial interventions. Sangath, an NGO I co-founded in Goa in 1996, has pioneered the design of an entire suite of psycho social interventions for delivery by persons from the local community with no prior professional training in mental health. These interventions have targeted a range of conditions, from autism in childhood, emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents, depression, drinking problems and psychosis in adults, to dementia in older people. Through rigorous public health trials, we have demonstrated, time and again, that such interventions are not only effective but, importantly, highly desired by people who are affected by these disorders. There is no longer any doubt about whether community health workers can be trained and supervised to deliver clinically effective psychosocial interventions. The challenge before us now is how to go beyond pilots and research studies and scale these innovations up in routine health care.

Sangath is currently embarking on a series of projects seeking to achieve these goals, by embedding its proven interventions for delivery through existing community health workers and counsellors of the public system, in partnership with state governments. In New Delhi, we will train ASHA workers to deliver parent-mediated interventions for children with autism. In Madhya Pradesh, we will design digital interventions to train and support ASHA workers to deliver brief psychological therapies for depression. In Goa, we will train primary care based counsellors and community based workers to reduce the burden of depression in the population. Each of these models for scaling up could offer opportunities for wider adoption across the country.

No NGO can ever match the mandate, reach and resources of the state for taking health care to Indias vast and diverse population. For this to happen, we will need a structural rethink in how we plan and implement mental health care. The doctor and hospital-centric approach which dominates must be balanced with a robust investment in community based care, as was done with such great results for maternal and child health.

The recent decision to rebrand the primary health care sub-centre as a Health and Wellness centre, with a mid-level provider trained in community health, offers a major new opportunity. Coordination between mental health professionals, primary care providers and community workers is essential to address the longterm nature of many mental disorders and the need for integrating clinical and social care. Only then will the creativity and science, which harnesses civil societys talent and instinct to care, be able to play its rightful role in realising the vision of the National Mental Health Care Act.

The author is the Pershing Square Professor of Global Health at Harvard Medical School and is affiliated with the Public Health Foundation of India and Sangath.
This course at Madhya Pradeshs Barkatullah University is not intended to increase academic knowledge, but instead teach how to be a sanskari wife - or husband.

The Bhopal-based varsity is all set to introduce a three-month course - open to all beyond its students - to instil sanskars (traditional values) among the young generation, but seeks to forestall any criticism, saying it is not gender-specific and designed to teach how to develop healthy relationships and live a fulfilling life.

According to sources, a meeting attended by all heads of departments of the university was held on September 4 to discuss its design and syllabus and it was decided the course will be prepared by professors of different departments including sociology and psychology.

Barkatullah University vice chancellor Dr DC Gupta said the course was being designed to improve relations between different members of a family.

In view of rising societal problems and intra-family relationship, we have decided that there is a need for such a course. The course will not be gender-specific. It would be designed in a manner that anybody can take admission in it, he added.

Students were divided in their reactions.

Asma Khan, who is the final year of the bachelor of military science course, said, I welcome this course if it is for both women and men. But the syllabus should be based on moral science and logic. The course shouldnt include any excerpts and character from any religious books because that we can learn at home.

First-year bachelor of arts student Saurabh Singh said, The university should concentrate more on quality education than doing social work. This course is more for publicity than a genuine effort to contribute to society.

Meanwhile, Rajneesh Agrawal, a leader of the states ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said, It is the duty of a university to develop the mind of youngsters by imparting education on humanity, science and technology. If educationists feel that such education is required for the youngsters, they can go ahead. We should rely on them.

However, opposition Congress feels that such courses should be introduced in the syllabus of elementary classes.

State Congress unit spokesperson, JP Dhanopia said: Nowadays, there is a need of instilling sanskar in the new generation but that shouldnt be done at level of university but at the level of elementary education. This is a very serious thing and they should do it sincerely and with sensitivity.
The Odisha government cannot decide on the relocation of tigress Sundari, accused of mauling a woman earlier this week in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district, to Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh without the approval of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

The womans death had triggered outrage among locals, with villagers burning down a range office, a beat house and several boats of the forest department.

The tigress had been relocated in June under the countrys first inter-state translocation drive to boost Satkosias sagging feline population.

Odisha forest and environment minister Bijoyshree Routray clarified that the state was not authorised to take a decision on Sundaris relocation.

We have requested the Wildlife Institute of India to find out about the safety of the tigress and what steps are needed to be taken. If it is not relocated, we will make necessary arrangements so that the safety of the animal and the villagers is ensured, Routray said, adding that no decision has been taken so far to relocate the feline.

Field director of Satkosia Tiger Reserve Sudarshan Panda also said that there was no likelihood of the tigress Sundari being relocated back to Bandhavgarh.

Unless we get post mortem report and WII gives its report, nothing can be done at this stage, he said.

On Thursday, Angul district collector Anil Samal had said that the forest department officials and the district administration had decided to send the tigress back to Bandhavgarh within the next fortnight as the villagers were not allowing the post-mortem of the woman.
A parliamentary panel that has studied the Doklam military standoff between India and China last year praised the government for its overall handling of the crisis, but cautioned that Chinese infrastructure built uncomfortably close to the tri-junction with Bhutan had not yet been dismantled.

The standing committee on external affairs headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor submitted the report on Sino-India relations, including Doklam, to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan on September 4. The report is publicly available. The committee also includes Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The report includes submissions by senior government officials to the panel, which emphasised that the standoff in Dolkam was clearly the result of an effort to compromise our security.

The standoff at the India-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction began on June 16, 2017 when the Peoples Liberation Army entered Doklam in a bid to alter the status quo in violation of Beijings existing understanding with both India and Bhutan. The issue was eventually resolved with the disengagement of border personnel on August 28 last year.

The committee would commend the governments overall handling of the crisis as it managed to send necessary signals to China that India will not acquiesce in its unilateral and forceful attempts to change the status quo at any of Indias territorial boundaries, the parliamentary committee report said.

Then, it went on to issue a note of concern. However the committee remains concerned that Chinese infrastructure built uncomfortably close to the tri-junction has not been dismantled, said the panel, which engaged in special discussions on road construction activities in the Doklam area.

It has also been informed to the committee that Chinese had built the track across Batang La-Meruga-La-Sinchela Ridge Line over the last 25 years. It has been clear to the committee that PLA took advantage of the absence of Bhutanese troops in Bhutans territory, the committee observed, urging the government to constantly engage with Bhutan on the subject of North Doklam as to dissuade the PLA from making direct ingress into Southern Doklam in future and trying to shift the tri-junction point southwards.

The committee added: Even if they have withdrawn their troops from Doklam for the time being, Chinas strategic intentions should not be taken casually.

For any strategic reasons, Chinas efforts to alter the status quo are not good news for India as the Doklam region is close to the Siliguri corridor. Indias seven north eastern states are connected to the mainland through the narrow corridor.

In the past too, Chinese troops had entered Doklam, and the report cites examples of the PLA doing this as far back as in 1966.

Their (PLA) entering the area poses concerns from the perspective of the tri-junction point. The issue which arose in 2017 was because of the Chinese troops came with a stated intention of building a road to the Jampheri ridge, then foreign secretary S Jaishankar told the panel. Jampheri ridge is closer to Siliguri.

Some opposition members of the panel praised the valiant efforts by the army, but were unconvinced that Indian diplomacy had proved up to the task.

Some also were concerned that the government was spinning what they considered a setback as a victory. However, no one pressed for a note of dissent to be included in the report. Chairman Tharoor is learnt to have told the members that when national interests are concerned political differences stop at the border.

When reached for comment on the reports content, Tharoor said: While I am not denying any of these claims that sources may have told you, you must understand that I cannot confirm them. The report speaks for itself and I have nothing to add.
Ajaz Hussain Munshi is a consummate storyteller. In the one-horse town of Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, he is the go-to guy if you want to know about the border towns rich history, its unremarkable present, and the fiercely fought war with Pakistan in 1999.

Ajaz, however, comes into his own when he steps into his family-run museum, which was set up in 2004 in the memory of his grandfather, Munshi Aziz Bhat, one of the leading traders of the Silk Road in the 20th century. The 54-year-old social activist is the curator and his brother Gulzar Hussain Munshi the director of the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum of Central Asian And Kargil Trade Artifacts, a modest three-room repository, located at their home that has a sweeping view of the mountain town and the glacier-fed Suru river that runs along it.

While government-run museums such as the British Museum in London and Dr Bhau Daji Lad City Museum in Mumbai are naturally in another league altogether, family or community-run museums are important because they preserve a range of micro historical, cultural and political identities. They [community and family-run museums] preserve material culture  objects and architecture that surround people  from getting lost, explains art historian and independent curator Latika Gupta. They also serve to make visible histories that dont find place in mainstream national narratives, which construct a countrys history in a way that often leaves out entire regions and their layered histories. Gupta was involved in the re-curation of the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, under the aegis of a fellowship from Bangalore-based India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), and the INLAKS Foundation. Niche museums also help artists and curators to work with materials they would not usually have access to, says Arundhati Ghosh, executive director, IFA.

Other examples of such bespoke cultural repositories include the Museum of Innocence in Istanbul, Turkey, which evocatively captures the everyday life and culture of the city, the Museum of Things in Berlin, Germany, which chronicles the product culture of 20th and 21st century, and a range of environmental and transportation museums in the US.

A registration certificate of a resident of Hunderman Village. Other objects on display at the Museum of Memories also include old currency and coins. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Closer home, there is the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and the Living and Learning Design Centre, Kutch, Gujarat. While the former preserves the dying art of block printing, the latter focuses on the preservation, revitalisation and promotion of the craft heritage of Kutch.

In Kolkata, West Bengal, economist, writer, and musician Rongili Biswas has set up a museum at her house in the memory of her father, Hemanga Biswas, political activist and member of the Indian Peoples Theatre Association. His ideals and politics are relevant to todays India... I am also finishing a film on the peace mission of 1960 that he undertook through riot-affected Assam. At a time when the National Register of Citizens is being debated, his work and the journey and the museum are reminders that peace is possible even in troubled times, says Biswas. Ours is a small museum a personal space. But there is interest. We do get visitors, especially those interested in music. Cinematographers take a lot of interest in his notes and musical instruments.

STORY OF THE ROAD

The story of Kargils Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum is particularly interesting because the Silk Route is the backbone of the institutions 3,500-plus collection. The Silk Route comprised ancient terrestrial and maritime trade routes that connected the East and the West. Though silk was the major item exported from China (hence the name), many other daily and luxury goods were also traded on this route. But it was not only goods that flowed along the arteries [of the Silk Route] that linked the Pacific, Central Asia, India, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean in antiquity; so did ideas, writes historian Peter Frankopan in his very engaging book, The Silk Roads. Among the most powerful ideas that spread via this route were those that concerned the divine: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism; Zorastrianism, Judiasm, Christianity and Islam.

The 200-year-old Hunderman Village was part of Pakistan between 1949 and 1971, then India after 1971. It was caught in wars the two countries fought in 1965, 1971 and 1999 . (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Three trade arteries of this route passed through the Ladakh region, making Kargil equidistant from other trading centres such as Leh, Srinagar, Zanskar, and Baltistan (now in Pakistan), and therefore an important trading entreport, and its bazaar a commercial hub where commodities, ranging from silk to slaves, were transported, traded and taxed.

Munshi Aziz Bhat started trading in 1915. After a few years, he diversified his business by building a sarai (inn) for merchants at Kargils Caravan Bazaar. The trade collapsed after the Partition of India and the closing down of borders in 1947, forcing the businessman to shut down the sarai. The mercantile and cultural artifacts that are on display at the Munshi Aziz Bhat museum were discovered accidentally from this inn.

IDENTITY MATTERS

Despite being an important cultural and trade contact point, Kargil has no state-run museum to showcase the towns rich past. But, thanks to the efforts of the Munshi family, there is now one more museum. The Museum of Memories at Hunderman Village, around 10 kilometers from Kargil, is at one of the unlikeliest of locations: along the India-Pakistan border. While the museum is managed by a few local families of Hunderman, the Munshi family helped them to set it up, curate the traditional items and popularise it.

The repositorys setting is one of the best in India: From the mountain road snaking around the hill opposite the 200-year-old village, Hundermans old stone houses, which are home to two galleries, look like a giant honeycomb clinging onto a mountain face, with green fields, apricot trees and a brook in the front. The museum captures the difficult life story of a border population whose lives have been shaped by military events: They were a part of Pakistan (1949-71), then India after 1971, and caught in wars the two countries fought in 1965, 1971 and 1999. The objects on display comprise border identity cards, old coins and notes, arms and ammunition, traditional clothes and items of daily use.

Though such bespoke museums dont always get curatorial and infrastructure support that mainstream museums get, it would be wrong to label them as amateur efforts. They not only come from a solid understanding of what is valuable but also stoke certain kind of scholarship. These museums in Leh/Kargil are part of the larger trans-Himalayan culture, says Abeer Gupta, director, Krishnakriti Foundation, Hyderabad. These museums represent micro-identities and question flattened narratives about India-Pakistan/Buddhist-Muslim.

A revenue record document with Mughal emperor Shah Jahans royal seal, Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Abeer, who has worked extensively in the Ladakh region, says that in the last 10 years he has seen many local families investing in family museums, due to a certain economic solvency brought about by tourism. Its also heartening to note, he adds, that the locals are resisting offers from richer collectors to buy their family heirlooms and other items because the owners know that they will lose not just agency over the items and also they [items/artifacts] may get lost among other things in larger museums.

AN EXPENSIVE PURSUIT

A museum is an elaborate and expensive affair. To attract visitors, it needs funds, space, interactive exhibits, good research,and a digital strategy. In India, many of the 800 state-run museums find it difficult to meet these requirements due to lack of funds. In the latest budget, the Centre allocated ~80.60 crore to the ministry of culture for museums. This amount, say, experts, is hardly enough for management of the countrys cultural resources.

Unsurprisingly, the challenges before the niche ones are much more varied. For example, the Munshi Aziz Bhat museums collection of material objects has no intrinsic value. Its value lies in the cultural, economic, social and political contexts the objects were embedded in. The histories of the objects and that of the collection are what make this story unique. [So] the challenge that lay before Latika [Gupta] was how would she frame the collection in such a way that it reflects both the history of the objects and that of the collection itself, and bring to the fore the important geographical location that Kargil occupied on the India-Pakistan border, explains Suman Gopinath, programme officer, Archival and Museum Fellowships, IFA.

Amateur curator Ilyas Ansari with traditional utensils, Museum of Memories, Hunderman Village. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

We definitely need funds for maintenance, better display of artefacts, museum building, art shop but the state government has not listened to our pleas though we have offered to give land for a new museum, says Ajaz Munshi. We want people to know that there is a Kargil beyond the 1999 war. While museums in Zanskar and Leh have received support, we seem to be pariahs for the state.

Hundermans Museum of Memories problems include lack of expert curatorial support, funds, regular supply of electricity and even community support. I did not know that our traditional items would be of any interest  we dont have that exposure, education. But when Ajaz bhai and his nephew Muzammil explained their importance to me, I realised their value, says Mohammed Illyas Ansari, the heart and soul of the museum. Many of his neighbours, he says sadly, are still reluctant to part with their personal items for the museum.

The lack of footfalls is another mega challenge. In 2015, many of Indias government-run museums recorded fewer than 100,000 annual visitors. In comparison, the Louvre (Paris), drew 8.6 million that year. Experts say this is because Indians lack a museum-going culture since cultural histories are hardly taught in schools.

In this rather challenging situation, can family/community museums flourish? Engagement, says Latika Gupta, is key. There are still museums which see large numbers of visitors such as the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum or the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai. So when museums have excellent exhibitions and programmes, there are visitors, she says. IFAs Gopinath says that their fellowship wants to nudge the museums to open up their collections, make them spaces of research, rather than mausoleums that nobody visits.

Despite these stiff challenges, Deepthi Sasidharan, director, Eka Cultural Resources and Research, Delhi, is optimistic about the future of family/community-run museums in India. Established museums may have the resources but many of them lack vision and outreach, she says. They are too process-driven, while community museums are passion driven.

Thankfully, the people who run these niche and bespoke museums arent lacking in it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met finance minister Arun Jaitley and top officials ahead on Friday evening ahead of a key meeting this weekend to review the state of the economy.

The crucial review meeting on Saturday comes against the backdrop of a weakening rupee, high oil prices and a widening current account deficit.

The expectation that PM Mods review would discuss possible fiscal and monetary steps that could be taken has lifted investor sentiment at the stock market over the last two days. The National Stock Exchange had closed 1.28 per cent higher on Friday but over the week, the index had weaken 0.64 per cent.

The weaker rupee and rising fuel costs are politically-sensitive issues in the run up to general elections next year and had united opposition parties to join a Bharat bandh first called by the Congress this week. The opposition has blamed PM Modi for the rough patch, with the Congress alleging that the government had only focussed on the top 15-20 industrialists and not common people and farmers.

Petrol and diesel prices peaked yet again on Friday after petrol went up by 28 paise a litre and diesel by 22 paise.

The rupee has depreciated more than 12% so far this year on a widening current account deficit (CAD) and higher oil prices.

Subhash Garg, the economic affairs secretary, tweeted earlier this week that there was no fundamental rationale for the rupee to depreciate to the low levels of the previous session and reflected the overreaction of market operators.

Government and RBI will do everything to ensure that rupee does not slide to unreasonable levels, he said on Wednesday.
With two months to go for assembly elections, the BJP in Rajasthan has come out with a constituency-specific strategy to improve on its chances of victory.

The party has segregated 200 assembly constituencies of the state into three categories  A, B and C. The first category includes BJP strongholds where the party is confident of victory. The second category includes seats that could go either way and the third category includes those constituencies where the party is weak.

There are about 70-80 seats where the party has rarely lost and these constituencies form the A category. Then, there are about 100 seats where the party has won as well as lost the elections in the past. In some of these seats, the margin of victory or loss has been very narrow, a senior party leader, who did not wish to be named, said.

In the C category, the BJP has included about 20 seats where the party candidates have lost successively in the past two or three elections, he said.

The BJP leader said that this particular strategy was based on the past election record and feedback received from ground-level party workers, and the party was yet to carry out a comprehensive survey.

The BJPs strategy is to focus more on C and B category seats. Our aim is to transfer seats in C category to B category and those in B category to A category, he said.

While the party will be focussing on the poll booths, it will also be using services of union ministers and other senior party leaders. The deployment of leaders will also be influenced by caste factors. For instance, in districts bordering Haryana, we will be sending a Jat leader. Similarly, in Sriganganagar, we will be sending some tall leader from Punjab, he said.

While refusing to comment on the partys constituency- specific strategy, state BJP president Madanlal Saini said, Our assessment of any seat always takes into account the feedback received from the booth-level and other party workers. Our senior party leaders, both at the national level and state level, will be assigned different constituencies for leading the campaign as and when required. There is no reason why we should not be aiming to win all the 200 seats.

During his recent visit to Jaipur, BJP chief Amit Shah had said that the elections in three states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh  would set the tone for 2019 general elections.

While BJP is focussing on Congress, smaller regional parties that have pockets of influence in the state could also play spoilsport on some seats. Smaller parties such as BSP and INLD could influence final outcome in about 20-22 seats, particularly in eastern Rajasthan. BSP has won 5-6 seats in the past and other parties too have won based on the caste factor, said Prakash Bhandari, a political analyst. In 2008, when Congress won 96 seats, it had to seek support of six BSP MLAs, who had later defected to the Ashok Gehlot-led government.

In 2013, BJP had come to power with thumping majority in Rajasthan winning more than two-third seats. Subsequently, in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the party won all 25 seats. The party suffered a setback in by-polls held in January this year, losing two Lok Sabha and one Assembly seat by heavy margins. An assessment done by the party had blamed wrong candidate selection, adverse caste equations, and tardy implementation of GST for the partys bypoll debacle.
A 25-year-old woman was killed by a stalker who stabbed her more than 38 times in Indores affluent Sanghi Colony on Thursday night, said the police.

Kamlesh Sahu, the accused, was arrested and sent to jail for allegedly attacking Supriya Jain. Police rushed Jain to the nearby CHL hospital, where she was declared dead on Friday.

MIG police station inspector T Kazi said Sahu and Jain were schoolmates in Sagar district. Jain proposed Supriya around six years back, but she refused.

Sahu had then slashed his wrists to frighten Jain and make her accept his proposal. Police said soon after the incident Jain moved to Indore to complete her studies. Six months back, Kamlesh traced her and proposed her again but she refused. He had managed to trace both her office and residence through Facebook and used to stalk her, Kamlesh told police.

Qazi said around seven days back he decided to kill her and was waiting for an opportunity.
The Supreme Court on Friday put on hold Delhi high courts day-old order granting bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in an alleged terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, stopped Watalis release after the NIA rushed with its appeal before the court. Arguing for the NIA, attorney general KK Venugopal said it was a serious case requiring the top courts intervention, and Watalis release would hamper the ongoing investigation in the terror-funding case against him. He was arrested in August last year.

In its appeal, the NIA said it had recovered a document from Watalis house in Kashmir in which his accountant had maintained details of the money he received for disbursement to various Hurriyat leaders. Signed by Watali, the note records payments received from the LeT chief, Pakistan High Commission in India and Hizbul Mujahideen chief, Mohammad Yusuf Shah.

Appearing for Watali, a lawyer from Kashmir argued that his client was a 75-year-old businessman and a reading of the police report does not warrant any case cognizable by the NIA.

Watalis lawyer dared the central agency to bring on record any document to undermine the soundness of the HC judgment. After a brief hearing, the bench posted the matter to September 26.

On Thursday, a bench of the Delhi HC headed by Justice S Muralidhar, had allowed Watalis bail plea.

The documents (seized in the case) do not enable this court to prima facie conclude, as the trial court has in its order stated, that appellant (Watali) received money from A-1 (LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed) or PHC (Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi) or others and was passing on the said funds to the Hurriyat leaders for funding terrorist activities and stone pelting, the high court had said.
The Maha Kootami (grand alliance in Telugu) formed by the Congress, TDP and CPI received fillip on Friday with Prof M Kodandaram-floated Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) joining it after talks with the constituents the night before.

We are joining the grand alliance following talks with the Congress, Telangana TDP and CPI leaders on Thursday night, Kodandaram, a former Osmania University professor and a key leader of the Telangana statehood movement, said.

We have proposed that the alliance should be formed on the basis of a mutually agreed programme that reflects aspirations of the Telangana movement, he said.

Once a protege of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao during the movement for separate Telangana, Prof Kodandaram had led the agitations as the chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC).

However, after the TRS came to power, Kodandaram remained with the TJAC for the implementation of promises, which led to differences between him and KCR and recently, he floated the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).

Kodandaram said the alliance would work out a common minimum programme based on the agenda of Telangana martyrs who had laid down their lives for the separate state.

This agenda should be given a legal status once the alliance comes to power and all the alliance partners, including the prospective chief minister should be part of the committee for the implementation of the agenda, he said, adding that the seat sharing process would be initiated once the agenda was prepared.

The CPI(M), however, has refused to join the Grand Alliance and has announced an alliance with Jana Sena Party headed by popular actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan.

We cannot be part of any alliance that has the Congress party in it. On the other hand, we have requested the CPI to support our alliance, CPI(M) state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram said.

Rahul forms screening panel to select candidates

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appointed a three-member screening committee to select party candidates for the assembly polls.

The committee headed by Bhakth Charan Das comprises Jothimani Sennimalai and Sharmishta Mukherjee as members.

The committee will arrive in Hyderabad on Sunday to start the screening of the list of candidates submitted by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee and submit it to the party president for approval, a senior PCC leader said.

A delegation of the TPCC leaders led by state party president Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy held discussions with Rahul Gandhi at the AICC war room in New Delhi over the selection of candidates and also the grand alliance formed with the TDP, CPI and TJAC.

Rahul is learnt to have suggested that seat sharing talks could be held based on the winning chances of the candidates, rather than demand from the alliance partners.

The bottom line of the alliance formation is to defeat the TRS and the formation of a Congress government in Telangana. There is no compromise on that. Rahul felt that there is no need to sacrifice seats where the Congress has fair chances of victory. He, however, asked all party leaders not to speak on the seat sharing openly till the completion of talks, former MP Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy said.
Thailands ambassador to India Chutintorn Gongsakdi has expressed his disappointment over procedural issues in accepting foreign assistance for relief work after floods wreaked havoc in Kerala in August .

The ambassador posted a tweet on Thursday evening, in which he referred to the issues with the offer of foreign help.

Thailand had proposed government-to-government assistance but it was politely refused by India, Chutintorn said. Business-to-government assistance by Thai companies registered in India was then proposed by the authorities. He claimed he was politely advised not to be present at handing over ceremony where the companies would handover the relief amount. The ambassador said he has asked Thai companies registered in India to proceed without his presence.

I saw the suffering & I knew the private sector wanted to contribute. I just tried to find a way while respecting host governments guidelines. I believe in perseverance... I hope they contribute the Rs 54,00,000, he said in reply to a tweet.

India does not accept foreign aid for relief work and had sensitised its foreign missions to convey the message to their respective governments.The contribution from Thai companies was to be handed over to the Resident Commissioner of Kerala in New Delhi. The amount would be donated to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

The ambassador also posted a letter from the embassy to Thai companies expressing the envoys inability to attend the functions to hand over the relief supplies.

The ministry of external affairs did not respond to a query about the envoys tweets.

Rs 1,236-crore spent on relief work: Minister

An amount of Rs 1,236 crore has so far been spent by the Kerala government on relief works to overcome the devastation caused by the deluge last month, industries minister EP Jayarajan said on Friday.
The Madhya Pradesh police have zeroed in on a businessman from Uttar Pradesh, who allegedly sold looted goods and provided money and drugs to alleged serial killer Aadesh Khambra.

Khambra has confessed to murdering 33 people, including 30 truck drivers and cleaners, in four states.

Bhopal inspector general of police Jaydeep Prasad said they suspect Khambra and the gangs he worked with may have been involved in several similar murders and loot also in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. This is apart from the four states he has confessed to committing murders in  Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

A businessman from Uttar Pradesh used to take the looted goods from Khambra and give ~25,000 to ~50,000 per truck to him depending upon the value of the goods. The businessman managed other affairs except for the killings, said Prasad.

He provided the drugs that Khambra used to sedate his victims with before strangulating and killing them. His arrest, once it takes place, is expected to expose more cases from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha.

Prasad said they have been approached by the Uttar Pradesh police with a number of unsolved cases of missing truck drivers and cleaners. During interrogation, Khambra told us he might have committed crimes in Uttar Pradesh but needed to know about the specific cases to recall each one of them.

Police say Khambra worked with gangs that operated at different levels. The people involved at a particular level were unaware of the functioning of the others. Police believe Khambra might have been involved in crimes from 2007 onwards and not 2010, as he had claimed.

Khambra, a resident of Mandideep in Madhya Pradeshs Raisen district, was arrested from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. His accomplices  Jaikaran Prajapati and Tukaram Banjara  were earlier arrested for robbing a goods truck after killing its driver and cleaner last month, said police.

Madhya Pradesh police initially thought Khambra was a tailor-turned-petty criminal. But he confessed to having killed at least 33 people, mostly truckers, over the past eight years to make more money.

Prasad said, besides murders of truck drivers and cleaners, Khambra was allegedly also involved in the murder of a couple and their son at the behest of a contractor, Pawan Singh Solanki, who has been arrested.

Rahul Lodha, Bhopal (south) superintendent of police, who is leading a team for Khambras interrogation, said Khambra is a tough nut to crack.

He is also playing his cards very tactfully. His statements are well-calculated to get an advantage at a later stage. Khambra says he became a criminal as his father, who was a subedar in the army, imposed too many restrictions on him.

Lodha called Khambra a shrewd criminal. He had been arrested earlier four times in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lodha said he did not attract the polices attention regarding his heinous crimes.

He could have gotten away this time too if his accomplice, Jaykaran, had not spilled the beans and we had not interrogated him scientifically and psychologically, said Lodha.

Police are trying to know about the whereabouts of Ashok Khambra, who was supposed to be Aadesh Khambras role model. Ashok lived in Mandideep and allegedly used to murder truck drivers and cleaners.

He had escaped from police custody while on way to Bhopal more than a decade ago. Since then, his whereabouts are not known, police said.
While flagging off the Hadauti leg of Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra from her home turf in Jhalawar on Friday, chief minster Vasundhara Raje took a dig at the opposition for seeking a court ban on inauguration and foundation-laying of development works during her yatra.

Raje kicked off her four-day Gaurav Yatra in Hadauti region from Jhalawar district on Friday after worshipping at the Kyasara temple in Dag region.

Later, while addressing a public meeting in Dag, Raje said, I was to inaugurate the completed development works and lay the foundation stone of sanctioned works on which crores were either spent or were planned to be spent, but the opposition, in despair and frustration, sought a court ban on it during my yatra.

She said that the opposition feels if such inauguration ceremonies are held during yatra, it could consolidate peoples belief that our government sticks to its word.

Raje asked Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh to inaugurate and lay the foundation of development works worth

Rs 320 crore in Dag region after her yatras departure from the region.

Slamming the opposition Congress for not carrying development of Jhalawar during its tenure, Raje said, Although the polls are round the corner, our state government never observed any partiality in development works in the state.

Enumerating her association with her electoral home district of Jhalawar, Raje said, People of Jhalawar have always extended their support and Jhalawar is like a family to me.

She said that Jhalawar has given her the strength to serve people. Raje claimed that development works worth

Rs 17,000 crore are either running or completed in the Jhalawar district.

Raje said her government has waived off farm loans up to Rs 50,000, while around 65,000 teachers have already been recruited for government schools and around 35,000 more will be recruited.

Raje said her state government has opened seven new government medical colleges in Rajasthan which would help resolve the scarcity of doctors.

Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh, Dag MLA RC Suneriwal and other BJP leaders were present during the public meeting on Friday. Raje would cover 17 assembly constituencies of Kota division in next three days.
The Khajuria family will never forget the nerve-racking moment when three militants forcefully entered their home and held them hostage for nearly two hours.

Ishwar Dass Khajuria, the 90-year-old head of the family, said the AK-47 assault rifle-wielding terrorists turned up at their house in Jhajjar Kotli of Jammus Reasi district around 8pm on Wednesday.

They were speaking good Hindi and Punjabi. They spoke like us. They asked us to give them something to eat. We told them that food hadnt been cooked as yet but we can cook [for them]. They refused and then we gave them three to four packets of biscuit and some apples, Dass said.

The militants, who escaped after attacking a check-post in Jhajjar Kotli, told the Khajuria family they had come from Pakistan and had not eaten for five days. Dass said the militants were between 20 to 25 years of age and carried backpacks.

They asked the family to give them some clothes and to switch off all the lights but their neighbours had already come to know about their presence. Dass said the militants also asked his eldest son to arrange for a vehicle because they wanted to go to Srinagar but they told them they will not be able to get any as it was late in the night.

Then they asked us whether there is any mosque in the village and does the village have Muslim families. We said that neither we had any mosque nor do we have Muslim families in this village, he said.

The militants seized their two mobile phones and demanded a smartphone, saying that the devices were of no use to them.

One of Dass daughters-in-law, Geeta Devi, fainted soon after seeing the militants at their house. One of the terrorists checked her pulse and asked the other family members to give her some water to drink, he recalled.

They talked very nicely to us. They did not abuse any of us and assured us no harm, said the old man, who retired from the defence services after serving in ammunition depots.

But, they did threaten us while leaving. They said that if we dared to disclose about them to anyone, we would be killed, he said.

Sudarshan Khajuria, Dass son, said the militants wanted to take his brother Abhishek with them while leaving but the family refused and surprisingly they did not object and disappeared into the jungle.

Raj Kumar of Dhirthi also had a nightmarish experience on Thursday morning when the militants barged into his house around 10am on Thursday. Kumar was working in his fields in front of his house when he saw the militants talking to his wife as they asked her for food.

Kumar somehow conveyed his wife to leave the house along with their three children. Kumar also left his house on the pretext of bringing food and called up the village numberdar Balwant Singh.

By then security forces had reached Kumars house and an intense gun-fight ensued in which one of the three militants was killed, Singh said showing the pockmarked walls of Kumars house.

Another family in the Kumars neighbourhood had to hide under a cot inside their house as the shootout between the militants and security forces started. Ravi Kumar and his wife Ritu Devi with their two daughters, aged four months and four years respectively, could not come out of their house till 5pm when the operation was declared over.

All the militants were killed after the shootout.
Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) tried to execute a major terror operation in UP on Thursday, 18 years after the twin blasts in Arya Nagar that left 80 people injured on August 14, 2000.

The operation in 2000 was part of a coordinated attack in UP. On the same night (August 14, 2000), a bomb went off on board the Sabarmati Express near Roshan Mau station in Faizabad. Many were killed and injured in the incident.

On August 15, few people were injured in a blast in the canteen of UP Vidhan Sabha.

On August 8, an operative of Hizb mishandled an RDX bomb that went off killing all the four module members in Agra. The explosive was meant for detonation during the I-Day parade in Agra Cantonment. This was revealed by one of the handlers after his arrest.

Working jointly with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) back then, Hizbul had drawn many operatives from SIMI for its non-Kashmir operations. The attacks executed at multiple locations were the first of its kind.

The terror group (HM) was the first to have used ammonium nitrate (instead of RDX) in Kanpur and Lucknow. No where before that the terror group had used fertilisers as explosive packed in pressure cookers and detonated through a remote controlled device.

Sources said HM had laid the groundwork for major operations in UP between 1997 and 2001. The Indian Mujahideen whose Mahmood Ghaznavi brigade was responsible for many blasts in UP stuck to ammonium nitrate.

However, HM shrunk its activities after SIMI cadres were arrested across the India and the outfit was banned by the then NDA government. Those behind the IM followed the Hizbs groundwork and logistics, which they used to further operations.

The Hizbul apparently never lost sight of UP, particularly Kanpur where it had taken roots with the help of SIMI, said a senior official.

That is why many times the surveillance intercepted conversations about attacks on defence establishments and IIT-Kanpur, said the official.
The momentum is building up in Punjabs paddy fields with stakeholders, including the central and state governments, agricultural universities, machine manufacturers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), gearing up to educate and equip farmers against stubble burning after the harvest in October and November.

Groups such as the Association of Active NGOs (AAN) in Bathinda district have domain experience as they played a proactive role in managing stubble without burning it last year, too.

AAN coordinator Sandeep Aggarwal says that for more than 20 days in October and November last year, activists worked in villages collecting the stubble that was transported in tractor-trailers to be kept at a common place from where it was taken to biomass power plants and cow sheds.

NGO workers in teams of 20-25 managed the stubble from more than 4,000 acres of paddy fields in the villages of Behman Dewana, Gobindpura, Balluana, Behman Dewana, Bir Talab, Bir Behman and Har Rangpura, he says. They found that farmers want to get rid of the paddy stubble in an environment-friendly way too but are not in a position to spend on the machines. When we deployed our volunteers, they readily joined us. They provided their tractors and equipment, he says.

Bathinda tehsildar Sukhbir Singh Brar says the administration played the role of a coordinator in this campaign.

Also read: Bracing for stubble trouble: How Punjab plans to stop the fire

Holistic approach

NGO Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) has been running a campaign against crop residue burning for eight years.

The scale at which commodity of great value is being converted to fumes has far-reaching implications. It engulfs public health and causes economic losses, says Umendra Dutt, the executive director of KVM, based at Jaitu.

Besides organising public dialogues across Punjab to motivate farmers against stubble burning, the KVM runs vans in villages that distribute printed material to farmers to generate awareness.

Straw burning should be seen in a context that is an intersection of the broader agricultural paradigm, the cropping systems specific to Punjab and forms of technologies adapted. The problem is ingrained in the system, hence it calls for a systemic approach and not quick fixes, he says.

Among the solutions suggested are mulching, composting, incorporation into soil, using as cattle feed, animal bedding, biogas/bio CNG, and baling. We evolve the solution with the involvement of farmers, adds Amar Singh Azad, the research director at KVM.

Farm tool bank

The Young Inventive Farmers Group set up a farm tool bank in Qadian block of Gurdaspur for Rs 25 lakh with assistance from the government last year. The group bought Happy Seeders and rotavators to rent out to farmers. Group president Avtar Singh Sandhu says the group succeeded in getting farmers to give up stubble burning after this years wheat crop was harvested in 500 acres at Bhambari in Qadian, Sallopur in Kahnuwan and Sahari in Dhariwal block.

Biomass plants offer hope

The three private biomass plants in Muktsar and Fazilka districts offer an environment-friendly alternative to the stubble burning challenge. There are two such plants in Muktsar, namely the Malwa Biomass Plant at Gulabewala and the Universal Biomass Plant at Channu village. The third is at Gadda Dob village of Fazilka district.

Balers are used to collect paddy stubble from the fields. The machine takes an hour to make bales out of straw in one acre of paddy field. On an average, one acre produces 12-15 quintals of bales, which are then sold to biomass plants for Rs120 to Rs 130 a quintal.

Dinesh Bhardwaj, assistant manager at the Gulabewala plant, says, In the last season, we bought about 1.2 lakh tonnes of stubble, which was used to generate electricity after processing. We sell the electricity to the power department.

Narinder Singh Bhullar, the general manager of the biomass plant at Channu, says, Farmers can earn well by selling the bales. The problem of pollution will also be tackled.

Also read: Machines to manage 40% of paddy stubble in Punjab

Working day and night to bring positive change

Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working in the fields of Punjab this paddy season to motivate farmers against burning the crop residue to check air and soil pollution. Assistant editor Gurpreet Singh Nibber spoke to Ritesh Bhatia, the chief executive officer of India Paryavaran Sahayak (IPS) Foundation that has reached out to 50,000 farmers in the state. Excerpts:

We are nearing the paddy harvest season in Punjab. What has been your experience working in the fields with farmers so far?

We started working with the farmers four months ago. I feel there is going to be a positive change this time and we will see a steep fall in paddy stubble burning. Machines and technology are rolling in with the intervention of the state and central government agencies. NGOs are also working day and night to bring a positive change. Farmers have understood the ill-effects of stubble burning and the benefits of not burning the residue.

What has been your role in this movement?

We are working on two fronts. One is mass awareness generation for which the activity is going on through multiple channels. We are using multimedia and meeting farmers personally to motivate them against stubble burning. We have the support of the state agriculture department, corporate houses and Krishi Vikas Kendras of Punjab Agricultural University. Two, we have formed 60 self help groups led by a change buddy, a farmer who has adopted good farming practices and stopped stubble burning. The change buddy motivates a group of 10-12 farmers by helping them get rid of the crop residue. We are supporting these groups financially.

How big is your NGOs reach?

We have reached out to 158 villages in five districts of Punjab. We have covered 1.8 lakh acre under paddy in Rupnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur and Barnala.

What challenges do you see when harvest begins next month?

Due to the delay in paddy transplantation by five days from June 15 to 20 this time, farmers are under pressure this time because they will have a shorter window to prepare their fields to sow wheat. Farmers cite this short period as the reason for burning paddy stubble. They find it the easiest and fastest way to dispose of the straw. This is the first year when the central and state governments have come out in direct support of farmers. It may take more time than expected for machinery and technology for managing stubble to reach the farmers.

(Inputs by Kamaljit Singh Kamal and Sarbmeet Singh)
Pakistans envoy to the UK has been called back to Islamabad to explain his behaviour at a television awards ceremony in London after videos emerged showing him making a speech in an apparently inebriated condition.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recalled high commissioner Sahebzada Ahmed Khan, a career diplomat who did a brief stint as vice-consul in Pakistans erstwhile consulate in Mumbai during 1992-93, and said in a tweet on Thursday that he was dismayed by the actions of the envoy.

In the videos that have gone viral, Khan can be seen behaving erratically and speaking incoherently for several minutes at the IPPA Awards 2018 ceremony held at Londons O2 arena on September 9. It is believed the high commissioner was drunk while he was on stage, Pakistani media reported.

The audience can be heard laughing as the envoy invites several celebrities to join him on stage. The diplomat is seen engaging in lighthearted banter with veteran actor Javed Sheikh, who has some difficulty in understanding what he is talking about.

At the time, actors such as Ahsan Khan, Sarwat Gilani and Mehwish Hayat were on the stage. The comperes for event can be seen trying to suppress their laughter while Khan is speaking.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Foreign Office said it had received news through electronic and social media regarding the recent incident involving our high commissioner in London. It said the matter was discussed with the foreign minister, who had sought a written explanation from the envoy.

The foreign minister has called him to the headquarters for explanation as well, the statement added.

A day later, Qureshi took to Twitter to reiterate the Foreign Offices position. I am dismayed by the actions of our high commissioner to the UK and have asked him to return to Pakistan and provide an explanation for his behaviour at the IPPA awards held in London, Qureshi tweeted.
US President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian election meddling as part of a plea deal, prosecutors told a federal court in Washington on Friday.

Manafort, 69, also pleaded guilty to two criminal counts, becoming the most prominent former Trump campaign official to plead guilty in Muellers investigation.

In a statement, the White House distanced Trump from the veteran Republican operative who helped get him elected against the odds in 2016.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said of the Manafort news on Friday. It is totally unrelated.

The probe has cast a shadow over the Republicans presidency. Manaforts decision to cooperate deals a political setback to Trump ahead of congressional elections on Nov. 6.

Manafort made millions of dollars working for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians before taking an unpaid position with Trumps campaign for five months.

He led the campaign in mid-2016 when Trump was selected as the Republican presidential nominee at the party convention.

Moscow has denied interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has said there was no collusion.

Manafort on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice brought by Muellers team. Other counts were dropped.

Guilty plea

A Virginia jury convicted Manafort last month on bank and tax fraud charges. Prosecutors had accused him of hiding from U.S. tax authorities $16 million he earned as a political consultant in Ukraine to fund an opulent lifestyle and then lying to banks to secure $20 million in loans.

The jury in that case deadlocked on 10 counts that on Friday were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Jury selection was due to begin on Monday in a second Manafort trial on charges including conspiring to launder money, conspiring to defraud the United States, failing to register as a foreign agent and witness tampering.

Instead Manafort entered the plea.

Trump last month praised his former aide for not entering into an agreement with prosecutors, as the presidents former personal lawyer Michael Cohen had.

On Twitter on Aug. 22, Trump wrote: Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break - make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man!
A Redmond-based information technology staffing company was asked to pay over USD 300,000 to its 12 H-1B employees for paying them far below their salary and has been imposed a penalty of over USD 45,000 for violating the labour provisions.

The US Department of Labour Wage and Hour Division (WHD) during an investigation found the company, which has offices in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, violated the labour provisions of the H-1B visa programme by paying its guest workers far below the required wages, a media release said Thursday.

As a result, People Tech Group Inc has been asked to pay its 12 employees USD 309,914 and has been slapped with a penalty of USD 45,564, it said.

Investigators found that the company paid entry-level wages to H-1B computer analysts and computer programmers who performed the work of much more experienced employees and should have received higher prevailing rates, the Department of Labour said.

The People Tech Group also failed to pay workers for the time when it did not provide them work, as the law requires, the department said.

The intent of the H-1B foreign labour certification program is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of US workers exists, said Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Carrie Aguilar in Seattle.

The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to safeguard American jobs, level the playing field for law-abiding employers, and ensure no one is being paid less than they are legally owed, Aguilar said.

The Wage and Hour Division has listed nearly 30 companies as willful violator employers under the H-1B programme.

As per the list maintained since 2013, a majority of willful violators are Indian Americans or companies owned by them. At least 10 companies, which includes eight willful violators, have been debarred or disqualified from hiring foreign guest workers on H-1B visas.
Thousands attended the funeral of Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, near the Sharif family home at Jati Umra on the outskirts of Lahore on Friday evening.

Kulsooms body was taken to venue for the funeral prayers at Sharif Medical City, near Jati Umra, in an ambulance that was followed by a vehicle driven by Sharif himself. He was accompanied by cleric Tariq Jamil, who led the prayers.

The massive crowd included top politicians, thousands of supporters of Sharifs PML-N party and well-wishers.Security at the venue was tight, and barbed wire was used to separate high-profile dignitaries from ordinary citizens. Despite these measures, footage on television showed politicians being jostled by the crowd as they were led to their places.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was temporarily released from prison, arrives to attend funeral services for his wife, Kulsoom, in Lahore. (Reuters Photo)

A protective human chain was formed around Sharif, his brother Shehbaz Sharif and Tariq Jameel as the prayers were offered.

Kulsoom, 68, once referred to as the only man in the PML-N for her brave opposition to former dictator Pervez Musharraf after her husband was jailed and forced into exile in Saudi Arabia, died in London on September 11 after a long struggle with cancer. She was diagnosed with lymphoma in August last year.

Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, talks to reporters in Islamabad. (AP File Photo)

Her casket reached the provincial capital of Lahore on Friday morning on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from London. The body was received by members of the Sharif family, including Shehbazs son Hamza Shahbaz, and later transported to Jati Umra.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Muhammad Safdar, who were given jail terms by an anti-corruption court earlier this year, were granted parole for five days to attend the funeral.
A top US think tank has recommended publicly naming Pakistan-based terrorists and their groups to shame their host and the release of intelligence on their location as part of measures to be adopted if the Trump administration wants to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan.

A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) further suggests stripping Pakistan of its status as a non-NATO ally of the US, which comes with significant military benefits, and even declaring it a terrorist state, an old demand.

If Washington is serious about ending the war in Afghanistan  including through a peace settlement  it needs to put significant pressure on the Taliban and Haqqani Network in Pakistan, not just in Afghanistan, Seth G Jones, a former defence department official who served in Afghanistan and now heads the Transnational Threats Project at CSIS, writes.

The report, The insurgent sanctuary in Pakistan, comes at a time when the Trump administration appears to be holding out to Pakistan an offer of a fresh start with secretary of state Mike Pompeos recent visit to Islamabad that followed months of unrestrained public bashing  including an accusation of lies and deceit by President Donald Trump  and denial of security aid.

Despite mounting pressure from the US, a key provider of financial aid and guarantor of largesse from global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, Pakistan continues to not take decisive action against terrorists and has claimed it has pushed the Afghan Taliban back into Afghanistan. It has also alleged Afghanistan is sheltering terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.

The report says the Afghan Talibans entire leadership is based in Pakistan  the top shura or council of senior-most decision-makers, its second-tier organisational formations and their members, and the regional shuras in Peshawar, Quetta and Waziristan.

Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhunzada, his deputies Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mohammad Yaqub, and senior leaders Abdul Qayyum Zakir, Ahmadullah Nanai, Abdul Latif Mansur and Noor Mohammad Saqib are among those based in Pakistan, according to the report.

Citing interviews with Western government official, Jones argues the Pakistan government  especially the ISI  has provided several types of assistance. It has given money, intelligence and strategic guidance to the Taliban and Haqqani Network and has helped provide medical care for Taliban fighters.

The report concedes the Pakistani military has taken some action against terrorists and militants based in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan but not carried out sustained operation against their network in Balochistan.

The US needs to re-think its strategy toward Pakistan, Jones writes, and recommends a set of punitive measures on an escalatory ladder.

Provide more public transparency about Pakistan activities, he argues. Name the Taliban and Haqqani leaders living in Pakistan and declassify intelligence including satellite imagery  of Taliban locations in Pakistan.

Other steps are finding and targeting Taliban leaders in Pakistan and those of al-Qaeda, Islamic State and other groups, continuing the freeze on security aid (the Trump administration has already suspended $2 billion), suspension or termination of its non-NATO ally status and preventing Pakistans access to multilateral financial lenders.

Jones also recommends declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism. After all, US and other Western intelligence agencies have collected an abundance of information about Pakistan ties to terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and India, from Lashkar-e-Taiba (or Jamaat-ud-Dawah) to the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network.
A cutting-edge 'health house', a home built entirely from concrete and identical stilt houses for identical twins are among the extraordinary self-build projects to look forward to in the 18th (yes, really!) series of Grand Designs.

Presenter Kevin McCloud will be back next Wednesday, September 19 to guide us through seven new episodes, following passionate people determined to make their dream homes a reality.

Inevitably, nerves and patience will be tested as each family battles with spiralling costs, contractor problems and the elements refusing to play ball. In Kevin's words, there's more of the "ambitious, crazy, wholesome fare that makes Grand Designs what it is".

"The majority of people we film have a degree of self-belief, thats what's got them there in the first place," he says. "That brings with it a belief that I hear again and again, which is, 'This project is going to come in on time and on budget.' My answer is, 'I've never really seen a project do that.'"

So what can we expect from each episode?

Burnt-out folly

The first episode takes us to Aylesbury Vale, an agricultural area in the northern half of Buckinghamshire.

Here, Spanish architect Jimmy and his wife Mimi are embarking on an epic mission to convert a Grade II-listed folly into a family home.

Gutted by fire and with crumbling stonework, it throws up a wealth of issues  and thats before they realise it's built on an Anglo-Saxon burial ground. Oh and just to ramp the stress up further, they've got a baby on the way.

Rising like a phoenix: Jimmy and Mimi give their folly a modern makeover / Channel 4

Surf's up

In the second episode we meet Harry and Briony, who have left London behind for the rugged coastline of north Cornwall.

Not content with a big move, this adventurous couple are dead set on building a radical steel and glass surf house inspired by James Speyer's Ben Rose House.

The Illinois modernist classic famously featured in cult Eighties film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Needless to say, they won't be having any days off themselves...

"So many people know that movie," says Kevin. "Our couple had never gone to Illinois to visit [the house], so this programme ends up as an interesting lesson on what happens when you pursue an idea on a whim."

The first Grand Designs 'health house'

Born and Elinor's plans have a serious motive behind them  both their sons suffer from life-threatening allergies and are often in and out of hospital.

As such, they must navigate a niche set of challenges to ensure their new Richmond home is as safe as possible.

In a show first, their 'health house' will be built with low toxin materials and feature a mechanical ventilation system that filters the air. The couple have Kevin firmly on side  he was diagnosed with asthma aged 16.

"I'm very careful about the air quality where I live and anywhere where I like to stay, but for these guys, it's a totally different ball game," he says.

"They've used solvent-free, low-VOC paint, they've used a minimum number of glues and the MDF in the building only contains trace elements of formaldehyde and no varnishes.

"They've produced a house that's beautiful  glorious  it just also happens to have been built with health in mind."

Grand Designs 2017: a look back through the highlights 1 /49 Grand Designs 2017: a look back through the highlights Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down Architect Micah Jones and wife Elaine decide to build their own home in County Down as property prices in Belfast mean their dream home is out of reach... Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down Micah is a shed fanatic on a tight budget, and so it makes perfect sense to build the family home based on a shed-like design... Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down The new build is based on the footprint of the agricultural buildings that were on the site before... Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down ...and the bottom half of the house is clad in the stone reclaimed from their demolition. Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down It is an upside down house, with the bedrooms on the ground floor in the concrete half of the house... Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down The semi open-plan living area upstairs is made from cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels that took a matter of days to construct, while a stone-clad interior wall links the upstairs and down, and serves as a reminder of what came before. Grand Designs: The ultimate shed in County Down The staircase is constructed from the offcuts of CLT - the large pieces of wood popped out for windows. See more Grand Designs... Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills Kevin McCloud outside the entrance to the house that Stephen and Elizabeth Tetlow built. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills The skin of the house is broken to provide light and even an outdoor terrace. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills The house snakes around the meadow, hugging the ornamental garden that forms a centrepiece. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills The double height atrium is unlike the hallway of any house ever seen on the show. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills The roof timbers on display inside highlight the structure of the house even in the kitchen. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills The sinuous curves stretch seemingly on forever in the upstairs corridor. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills McCloud and the couple inside the conservatory that hugs the side of the house. Grand Designs: Blackdown Hills Every piece of timber on the roof is different - all 4,600 of them! Grand Designs: Herefordshire Thhis house sits in the couple's eight-acre smallholding in Herefordshire where Rowena manages the goats, sheep and chickens. Grand Designs: Herefordshire The huge curved window is the eye of the house, providing breathtaking views. Grand Designs: Herefordshire The huge Hobbit-style door is overlooked by an equally Middle Earth curved window. Grand Designs: Herefordshire Ed admits that the house is sparsely furnished at the moment, but that designing and making his own furniture is his next step: "I can't wait." Grand Designs: Herefordshire Kevin McCloud and Ed and Rowena Waghorn admire the view of the surrounding hills from the great hall's first-floor balcony. Grand Designs: East London The trio outside the front door of the house which was hand timber clad by Joe. Grand Designs: East London Kevin McCloud on the roof terrace of the house built by Joe Stuart and Lina Nilsson. Grand Designs: East London Joe and Lina found a tiny plot of land in east London, three miles from Canary Wharf. Grand Designs: East London The land is on the site of a former coffin workshop and cost 73,000. Grand Designs: East London At just 83 square metres (893sq ft) the couple had to work to squeeze in as much as they could to the space, with no inch wasted. Grand Designs: East London The plans included a vast top floor kitchen-living area... Grand Designs: East London two bathrooms Grand Designs: East London and outside space on the bijou roof terrace. Grand Designs: East London McCloud says the property is a "tiny house with a view to infinity". Grand Designs: East London McCloud perches on the open staircase which brings light down to the lower levels. Grand Designs: Peak District earth house A hole in the ground with a car park aesthetic is how Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud describes this property in the Peak District. Grand Designs: Peak District Ecologist Fred Baker grew up in a Peak District village near Bakewell in Derbyshire and, despite many of his childhood friends deserting it for work and careers, was determined to stay there with wife Saffron and children Billy and Grace. Grand Designs: Peak District Construction ran months over deadline thanks largely to the lack of a mortgage - and no budget in mind - when the owners started and bad weather added to the delays. Grand Designs: Peak District Deep underground will lie three bedrooms and two bathrooms, while a sun-drenched middle floor will house a living room and kitchen that during the day will draw heat into the house through the south facing row of windows, while at night rubber-sealed, massively thick wooden shutters will seal off the home from the outside world, keeping in the heat. Grand Designs: Peak District Surveying the mesmerising stonework cladding the finished house, McCloud hails it as a buried concrete fortress wrapped in stone and timber in a heroic and momentous landscape. Grand Designs: Peak District Fred admits: I couldnt have done this without her. Saffron has taken my dream and turned it into our dream. Grand Designs: Peak District Surveying the mesmerising stonework cladding the finished house, McCloud hails it as a buried concrete fortress wrapped in stone and timber in a heroic and momentous landscape. Grand Designs: Herne Hill Kevin McCloud with Beth Dadswell and Andrew Wilbourne in the courtyard of the former dairy. Grand Designs: Herne Hill Floor to ceiling steel-framed windows bring in plenty of light to the living room. Grand Designs: Herne Hill A latticework of rusting girders perches over the courtyard that McCloud calls "a little Eden". Grand Designs: Herne Hill A skylight illuminates the former dark and dank dairy, and the newly created rear courtyard brings in even more light to the house. Grand Designs: Herne Hill The bespoke, deliberately imperfectly made tiles in the kitchen were used throughout the house. Grand Designs: Haringey home Couple Penny Talelli and Mark Edwards are determined to mix their love of period and contemporary design when building a home for their family of four. Read more Grand Designs: Haringey home They find a plot of land with a gate house that dates back to 1854 on a steep hill in north London, which they aim to restore and build a huge zinc-clad modern black box behind. Grand Designs: Haringey home Penny and Mark decide to blend old and new with the interior design, too. Grand Designs: Haringey home This steel staircase provides instant wow-factor when you walk into the home. But is the overall result the impressive fusion architecture this couple were hoping for? Scroll right for more episodes... Grand Designs: Malvern Hills The ambitious build started with a difficult excavation into fractured granite with risk of landslip. > Read more Grand Designs: Malvern Hills Wooden homes are common in New Zealand, but how does this unusual structure fit into Worcestershire's Malvern Hills? Grand Designs: Malvern Hills Inside, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows maximise the views and light



Concrete crazy

Over in Lewes for episode four, Adrian and Megan are busy realising their dream for a family dwelling built entirely from concrete.

Adrian has been obsessed with the hard grey stuff since his time as a semi-professional skateboarder in Aberdeen, but it remains unknown whether such a cold, minimalist material will offer the right environment for bringing up their three young children.

Identical everything

Identical twins Nik and Jon live identical lives in many ways. They work together, drive identical cars, have matching dogs and now, theyve decided to build two identical modern-industrial homes next door to each other.

Their twin houses are perched on stilts with giant floor-to-ceiling windows, maximising the magnificent views across a picturesque mill pond. Why change the habit of a lifetime?

"This is an exercise in getting stuff right, having two tries instead of one," says Kevin. "Two minds are better than one, a joint creative strategy, and trying to get the best out of a pretty low budget that they both have. I like that very much."

Return to Leominster

Steph and Alex's modular-style black barn-house is set in an old gravel pit on the site of her grandparents' farm.

Steph had been longing to return to Leominster in Herefordshire for 20 years before finally moving back.

Her architect is her oldest friend  they played here as children  and together they have built an agricultural-inspired house with a corrugated steel roof and aluminium cladding. From the road, it looks just like a traditional barn

Catching-up with the King of Cob

This series' final 'revisit' takes us back to Kevin 'King of Cob' McCabe's, 'cob castle'.

A master in the ancient art of cob building  wrestling houses out of mud and straw with his bare hands  Kevin didn't want to build any old cob house. He set himself the challenge of meeting the highest environmental performance targets ever set.

In 2013 when his original episode was broadcast, Kevin's house didn't even have windows. Five years later, he has finally finished his soil and straw masterpiece.
Design Biennale

At Somerset House until September 23, Design Biennale packs this splendid old palace and courtyard with exhibits from 40 countries and cities on six continents, all dealing with Emotional States  how design touches our feelings.

Pictured: designer Nassia Inglessis with her installation from Greece.

John Nguyen/PA Wire
Healthcare BPO Market

Extensive Study of Healthcare BPO Market Research Report is added on MarketResearchFuture.com with Latest Advancement. Detail analysis on possible segments with sub segments of the Healthcare BPO Market.  Outlet till 2023

Healthcare BPO Market  Scenario

The healthcare BPO helps remove the complexity of tedious tasks. The healthcare BPO services enrich resource allocation, boost financial performance and increase the effectiveness of healthcare providers.

The healthcare BPO provides services such as: medical billing & collection medical billing, medical coding, medical data entry, medical records indexing, medical claims processing and others. Technological improvements in medical care & the rising demand for health services from geriatric population are driving a sea of change in the healthcare industry. Moreover, digital technologies have transformed the processes from electronic records to telemedicine.

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However, errors in the healthcare sector, especially in the patients medical records can cost lives. Medical bills also contain large number of errors as changing billing rules and regulations are rarely updated on time. Increasing patient inflow result in the occurrence of these types of mistake in the healthcare organizations. Healthcare BPO services can help in avoiding critical billing mistakes as a dedicated team of trained professionals handle medical data entry tasks with maximum accuracy.

Increasing number of healthcare organization, to avoid the critical mistakes in medical billing, and increasing need for cost saving drives the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing number of recovery audits, increasing patient inflow, and increasing prevalence of diseases have provided fuel to the market growth. Furthermore, increasing need a number of medical aspects such as minimizing critical mistakes, the cost saving, number of recovery audits, number of healthcare organizations, patient inflow, demand for niche services, overall demand for delivering better services and better healthcare expenditure have fuelled the growth of the market.

However, on the other hand doubts over service quality may hamper the growth of the market over the review period

The global healthcare BPO market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period 2017-2023.

Key Players:

Accenture

Catalent

Charles River Laboratories International

Cognizant Cyber Securities

Covance

IBM

And more.

Segmentation:

The Global Healthcare BPO Market Is Segmented On The Basis Of Services, Into Pharmaceutical Services, Payer Services, And Provider Services.

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Healthcare BPO Market  Regional Analysis

The Americas dominate the global healthcare BPO market owing to the presence of strong economic conditions and huge development in healthcare domain. Moreover, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in 2014, recovery auditors identified and corrected USD 2.39 billion as overpayment and USD 173.1 million as underpayment. They also suggests that collectively 1.1million claims were registered to recover USD 2.57 billion.

Europe holds the second position in the market owing to healthcare spending has expanded slightly in UK and Germany. Western Europe continues to see a need to save money on healthcare because of a slight drop in financial growth and obstinate economic pressure. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the healthcare expenditure in Germany was EUR 321 billion in 2014, France recorded the second highest level of current healthcare expenditure of EUR 237 billion, followed by the United Kingdom of EUR 223 billion.

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to more number of developing nations present in this region, for instance, countries like India and China are encouraging the growth of the healthcare IT domain. Furthermore, increasing patient population from cancer in developing countries will directly increase the demand for various diagnosis & treatment methods and it will boost the growth of the market. Moreover, Healthcare spending in Asia expanded in 2016 due to an extension of state healthcare programs and the increasing affluence of the population. India, in specific, saw expansion in its healthcare expenditure due to a government resolution to enhance healthcare services, which is estimated to further will boost the market growth

The Middle East & Africa is expected to hold the least market share due to less availability of medical facilities, and less development in the healthcare domain. However, countries such as Qatar and Kuwait are focusing more on healthcare domain and developing medical facilities, which will boost the market growth in this region.

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Fact-based market research, penetrating industry insights and validated forecasts to help you make better decisions for a stronger future

Research Report on Netherlands Frozen Food Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Key Players, Overview and Forecasts  2024

14 September 2018

Netherlands frozen food market is expected to reach USD 1.77 billion by 2024 and is anticipated to grow further over the forecast period. Increasing employment and working women are among the factors driving the growth of frozen ready meal in the country. Changing lifestyle, consumer preferences for frozen is anticipated to boost market for frozen food produce over the projected period. Furthermore, hectic schedule and increasing work burden leads to less time for house chores such as cooking food which in turn is projected to boost the demand for frozen food products market in the projected period. Convenience, flavor, and high nutritional value compared to fresh food products makes frozen food popular among consumers. Availability of varieties of flavors and increasing popularity of Italian dishes have made frozen pizza popular in the country.

As people in the Netherlandss mostly preferred organic and domestically produce food, the market players are increasing awareness regarding frozen food category and are also focusing on adding nutritional value to cater larger population. Rising awareness regarding healthy and nutritious foods is anticipated to create more demand for frozen vegetables in Netherlandss frozen food market. Increasing investment by food giants for new product development and extension of existing brand with added benefits are the factors expected to boost the market for frozen food market in the near future. For instance, Dr Schar introduced gluten free and healthy frozen pizza brand

Offline distribution channels such as supermarket, hypermarket, and small stores has dominated the frozen food industry owing to the prevailing penetration of supermarket in rural areas. Presence of wide food choice, food comparison capabilities, and convenience offered by online retailer is anticipated to boost the online distribution channel over the projected period.

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Leading companies in this market are adopting new product development and technological innovation strategies to sustain in competitive environment and expand their presence in the market. Frozen food products are largely undifferentiated in the Netherlands which makes it more difficult to retain buyers and manufacturers to compete through pricing and consumers brand loyalty. As Dutch people prefer healthier and gluten free products, companies are focusing on providing healthier and gluten free products to increase their market penetration and food offerings. For instance, in 2017, Dr Schar introduced gluten free and healthy frozen pizza brand Schar.

Segmentation by food type, 2014  2024 (USD Million)

 Frozen ready meals

 Frozen fish/seafood

 Frozen meat

 Frozen pizza

 Frozen potato products

 Frozen bakery products

 Others

Segmentation by distribution channel, 2014  2024 (USD Million)

 Offline

 Online

Key players analyzed:

 Oerlemans

 Duca Frozen Food

 West Food Group

 Permira

 Dr. August Oetker KG

 Unilever

 Royal Cosun

 3F Frozen Fish Food

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Pipeline

13 September 2018

Miami Beach is a famously glamorous destination, but travelers who want a more affordable chance to explore can check out the first US location of a hip European hostel chain.

Generator, which has popular hostels in European cities like London, Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Copenhagen, is opening its first US outpost in Miami on 12 September.

The new accommodation is 15 minutes from the airport and a two-minute walk from the shores of Miami Beach, simplifying things for those looking to spend as much time as possible in the Florida sun.

Miami is famous for its incredible art deco architecture, popular beaches and Cuban influence. The new hostel is described as fusing "old American glamour with Cuban spice". There are 105 rooms in the hostel - but that doesn't mean you have to be hanging out in a bunk bed; 65% of the rooms are private and all shared rooms, private suites and female-only dorms have en-suite bathrooms.
Industry Update

Appointment

13 September 2018

Gui Jaroschy

Appointed Director of Bar & Restaurant Concepts at Generator

At Generator Miami - FL, USA

Gui Jaroschy brings a multitude of experience in the beverage industry as a prolific mixologist and consultant, collaborating with renowned brands and organizations, such as Williams Sonoma, Patron Tequila, British Airways, The Smithsonian Museum, Delano Hotel and The James Beard Foundation. Most recently, he served as the Director of Bars at The Freehand, which was named Best American Hotel Bar at the coveted Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards under his leadership. As Generator's Director of Bar & Restaurant Concepts, Jaroschy will oversee and implement all activities pertaining to conceptualizing the brand's bar and restaurants.

Generator Voted by Fast Company as one of the top 50 Most Innovative Global Companies, Generator is one of Europes fastest-growing hospitality brands, located in the most central locations across Europe including Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Madrid, and Miami Beach. more information

Recent Appointments at Generator Glenn Valencia - General Manager 13 September 2018  A seasoned veteran with a strong track record, Glenn Valencia brings an understanding of the hospitality industry that is specialized to the luxury, boutique, and lifestyle sectors in Miami. With over 15 years of experience, Valencia has held various positions at some of the world's most recognized hotel brands, including The Standard Miami Beach, Soho Beach House, The Charlee Hotel, Palihouse Hotel, and most recently, The Freehand Miami, where he most previously served as General Manager. read more

Daniel Roy - Executive Chef 13 September 2018  With an extensive background in the hospitality scene in Miami, Executive Chef Daniel Roy will execute all food and beverage operations of the bars and restaurants at the brand's first U.S. property. Staying true to his Florida roots, Roy garnered most of his experience working in the kitchens of top Miami culinary destinations, such as 3030 Ocean, 15 Steps, Stubborn Seed, Matador Room, and Commonwealth Miami, learning under renowned chefs such as Jeremy Ford and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. read more
Industry Update

Appointment

13 September 2018

Glenn Valencia

Appointed General Manager

At Generator Miami - FL, USA

A seasoned veteran with a strong track record, Glenn Valencia brings an understanding of the hospitality industry that is specialized to the luxury, boutique, and lifestyle sectors in Miami. With over 15 years of experience, Valencia has held various positions at some of the world's most recognized hotel brands, including The Standard Miami Beach, Soho Beach House, The Charlee Hotel, Palihouse Hotel, and most recently, The Freehand Miami, where he most previously served as General Manager. As Generator Miami's first General Manager, Valencia will oversee and lead operations and management at the property.

Generator Voted by Fast Company as one of the top 50 Most Innovative Global Companies, Generator is one of Europes fastest-growing hospitality brands, located in the most central locations across Europe including Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Madrid, and Miami Beach. more information

Recent Appointments at Generator Gui Jaroschy - Director of Bar & Restaurant Concepts at Generator 13 September 2018  Gui Jaroschy brings a multitude of experience in the beverage industry as a prolific mixologist and consultant, collaborating with renowned brands and organizations, such as Williams Sonoma, Patron Tequila, British Airways, The Smithsonian Museum, Delano Hotel and The James Beard Foundation. read more

Daniel Roy - Executive Chef 13 September 2018  With an extensive background in the hospitality scene in Miami, Executive Chef Daniel Roy will execute all food and beverage operations of the bars and restaurants at the brand's first U.S. property. Staying true to his Florida roots, Roy garnered most of his experience working in the kitchens of top Miami culinary destinations, such as 3030 Ocean, 15 Steps, Stubborn Seed, Matador Room, and Commonwealth Miami, learning under renowned chefs such as Jeremy Ford and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. read more
Appointment

13 September 2018

Michael George, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, announcement today that the hotel and resort management company's leadership team is continuing to strengthen by adding Amanda Hawkins-Vogel as SVP of Operations. Crescent, based in Fairfax, Virginia is a nationally recognized operator of premier hotels and resorts throughout the United States, Canada & Caribbean.

Prior to joining Crescent, Hawkins-Vogel served as VP of Operations for Sage Hospitality, overseeing properties across several states.
The death of Mac Miller caught many by surprise. It's been over a week since his passing and it's still difficult to accept the fact that the Pittsburgh emcee is gone. Over the past week, we've seen tributes on Twitter and Instagram for many of his peers and friends. His ex-girlfriend, Ariana Grande, shared a photo of the rapper a few days after his passing but didn't share much. One could only imagine the type of pain she's dealing with now. Today, she went back to Instagram to remember the late rapper.

Ariana Grande penned an emotional tribute to Mac Miller on Instagram today. She shared a clip of the two of them having dinner while the rapper shared an anecdote and she's heard giggling in the background.

"i adored you from the day i met you when i was nineteen and i always will. i cant believe you arent here anymore. i really cant wrap my head around it. we talked about this. so many times. im so mad, im so sad i dont know what to do. you were my dearest friend. for so long. above anything else. im so sorry i couldnt fix or take your pain away. i really wanted to. the kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. i hope youre okay now. rest." She wrote on Instagram.

Ariana Grande faced a lot of backlash following Mac's death. Many fans blamed her for the rapper's substance abuse issues. However, multiple people, including Ariana Grande's brother and Mac's close friend, came to her defense and praised her for always being there for him.
Forty years ago, China's GDP was $175 billion. Today, it is more than $12 trillion, which is growth of 68%. Over forty years, China has grown from the tenth to the second largest economy in the world. These were some figures discussed by Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK at the "Vision China" event, hosted by China Daily.

Photo taken on July 28, 2018 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai where the first ever International Import Expo will be held.

This coming November, China is set to host its first ever International Import Expo. Ambassador Liu said that the UK will be a country of honour at the event. The Ambassador said "I sincerely hope that China and the UK will follow the trend of the times, and seize the invaluable opportunities of China's further reform and opening up in the new era. Together we will create a brighter future".

British exports to China have increased by 64% since 2010, according to a recent House of Commons briefing paper. In 2017, UK exports to China were worth 22.3 billion, up from 17.4 billion in 2016, and their highest level on record, surpassing the previous high of 19.1 billion set in 2014.

Earlier this month, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said, in a statement, that the UK and China had agreed to "actively explore the possibility of discussing a top-notch free trade agreement between the two sides after Brexit".

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was meeting with Minister Zhong, and with China's General Administration of Customs. The two parties reached an agreement which allows the import of UK dairy products made with milk from third countries. The agreement is estimated to be worth 240 million over 5 years to the UK.


Financial Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2018

Brisbane, Sep 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Your Directors present their report on the consolidated entity (Group) consisting of Sayona Mining Limited Sayona Mining Ltd ( ASX:SYA ) ( OTCMKTS:DMNXF ) and its controlled entities for the financial year to 30 June 2018.The consolidated Group's principal activity during the financial year has been the identification, acquisition and evaluation of mineral exploration assets, focusing on lithium. During the year, the Company undertook feasibility studies on the Authier Project in Canada and exploration activity on a number of projects in Australia and Canada.There were no significant changes in these activities during the financial year.Review of OperationsThe Company's primary focus during the year has been on completing the studies required to commence the development of the Authier project, including the Definitive Feasibility Study. Authier is a near-term development project and cash-flow generation opportunity. The Company believes it will create significant share value-uplift potential for shareholders as the project advances towards development.To view the full report, please visit:About Sayona Mining Ltd

Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia.

Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au
Last week, Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger was arrested for fatally shooting Botham Shem Jean, a 26-year old black man, in his own home. Jean was Guyger's neighbor, and she accidentally entered his apartment instead of her own. Jean was unarmed, but Guyger shot and killed him none the less, mistaking him for an intruder. How a trained officer didn't realize she had forced her way into another man's apartment, didn't recognize her surroundings, and proceeded to kill a man in his own home, is insane enough. Now, Fox News is running a smear campaign against Jean.

Fox television in Dallas released a story about how police discovered a small amount of marijuana in Jean's apartment after he was murdered. "Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jeans apartment after deadly shooting," tweeted Fox 4. This would not be the first time Fox has attempted to smear a victim of police brutality. The internet immediately reacted to the distasteful campaign. "This smear is despicable," stated the former director of the Office of Government Ethics. "The man was minding his own business in his home when an intruder tried to break in and then killed him."

https://twitter.com/_/status/1040380398973448192

https://twitter.com/_/status/1040387661188423681

https://twitter.com/_/status/1040384678455398400



Guyger was charged with manslaughter on Sunday before being released on a $300,000 bond.
Back in July, Bella Hadid and The Weeknd were seen partying and living their best lives in Tokyo, singing karaoke, going to The Robot Restuarant and even attending the Mori Building Digital Art Museum where Bella dubbed Abel her "muse forever." It was the first time the former couple was spotted together after their previous break-up, and now it seems like they may really be back together.

Since their Tokyo excursions, Bella and Abel have enjoyed ice cream dates, couple party attendances and many more hangouts that let us know they are both off the market. Another video shared of the couple sees Bella planting a kiss on Abel as they dine at a restaurant - everybody loves a good Snapchat filter.

"It's like I'm finally getting to the point where I can just think about what I want to do and the places I want to go," Bella said last year after her break-up with Abel. "I want to be as independent as possible and worry about myself rather than anyone else."

Clearly, she's ready to have someone to lean on and not be as independent.
Open a bag of frozen shrimp from Walmart. Toss the packaging in the trash.

Two routine tasks, but they represent final commercial destinations for ethane molecules freed from Texas shale, a journey that has not only taken them hundreds of miles to Houstons massive petrochemical complex, but also around the world and back again in the carefully choreographed dance of global supply chains.

Each day, hundreds of trucks and rail cars move pellets of ethane-derived polyethylene from petrochemical plants, such as Exxon Mobil's in Mont Belvieu, to the Port of Houston. There, the pellets are loaded by the ton onto container ships and bound for ports like Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where the molecules of hydrogen and carbon will be transformed yet again  into plastic wrap, trash bags and packaging for farm-raised shrimp found in freezer sections of grocery stores in Houston and across the country.

PART 1: How the ethane molecule changed the Gulf Coast  and the world

Ultimately, the shipments of polyethylene, the worlds most common plastic, will bring billions of dollars into the Houston economy and generate jobs for factory workers, longshore workers and truck drivers. Patrick Jankowski, chief economist at the Greater Houston Partnership, estimates the growth in U.S. plastics exports  dominated by the Gulf Coast and expected to double by 2030  will have created some 10,000 local jobs in the region by early next decade.

About the series: Ethane is simply described as C2H6. But that molecule, a byproduct of natural gas, has triggered a petrochemical boom that is reshaping the Gulf Coast, the energy industry that lives here, and global markets for plastics, resins and other petrochemicals. We followed that molecule from a Texas shale field where it is found, to the petrochemical plant where it is transformed into ethylene, the basic building block of most plastics, and to the Port of Houston, where it is shipped to Asia and other emerging consumer markets.

Nobody could have ever foreseen the U.S. becoming a major exporter of plastics, said Neil Chapman, a senior vice president at Exxon Mobil. Its a byproduct of shale gas. Thats whats truly amazing about this breakthrough.

Industrial orchestra

Roughly three-fourths of the nations waterborne polyethylene exports leave from the Port of Houston, which is expected to move some 7 billion pounds of the plastic this year, up 35 percent from 2017. Each day, hundreds of 40-foot-long containers filled with plastics resins, primarily polyethylene pellets, are shipped from the port.

The container terminal seems a cacophony of noises  roaring trucks, whirring cranes and clanking containers. But each piece of equipment has specific notes to play in an industrial symphony that requires precision.

The newest cranes, which reach nearly 300 feet into the sky and cost $11 million each, can load an average of 35 containers an hour, reaching across ships that are 22 containers or nearly 180 feet wide. Four cranes can load a ship, which typically carries about 2,500 containers, in about 18 hours.

Louis Alberti, a crane operator for the past 15 years, routinely lifts two 20-foot containers at a time in a maneuver called twin picking. He swings them up and over stacks of containers on the ship and tucks them into tight, secure positions, where theyll stay for the weeks-long ocean crossing.

Alberti, 48, is among the workers benefiting from the boom in plastic exports, which has led to more hiring, more overtime and extended hours at the port, which now operates until 11 p.m. Albertis 22-year-old son, Jimmy, recently got a longshore job at the port, while Alberti, a third-generation longshore worker, is racking up overtime.

With new night shifts that pay time-and-a-half, Alberti said he has doubled his annual earnings from roughly $100,000 to $200,000 by working 60 to 80 hours a week.

Its hard, but you have to work through it, said Alberti, 48. I cant imagine having a nine-to-five job. Id probably be bored.

PART 2: Petrochemical plants turn ethane into building blocks of plastic

Polyethylene accounts for about 15 percent of the cargo leaving the Port of Houstons Bayport container terminal. After the ships are loaded, they will navigate what has become the nations busiest ship channel. Vessels routinely squeeze through the narrow waterway by aiming directly at an oncoming ship before getting pushed safely aside by the water pressure generated by the wakes. The pilots call it Texas chicken.

Within a few hours, the ships will reach the Gulf of Mexico, beginning a two-to-three-week journey that will take them though Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean and onto Asia.

Next stop: Singapore.

The Port of Singapore is the worlds biggest transshipment port  an intermediate stop where cargoes are unloaded, then reloaded onto the other ships that will take the containers to their ultimate destinations.

This is where Alex Dam makes his polyethylene connection.

Dam is executive vice president of Thanh Phu Plastic Packaging, a Vietnamese company that makes packaging for brands such as the Chicken of the Sea, a unit of Thai Union International, and Huggies disposable diapers, made by the Dallas company Kimberly-Clark.

Just a few years ago, said Dam, his company was buying polyethylene pellets, also called resins, from Middle Eastern and Asian chemical makers, which sold them more cheaply than U.S. companies. Then came the flood of ethane.

"The shale gas is changing a lot of the trend," Dam said.

Exxon Mobil sells a premium resin to Thanh Phu Plastic Packaging, which typically orders 10 containers, or 250 tons, of polyethylene pellets at a time, shipped from Singapore to the port in Ho Chi Minh City. Dam's plant is located about 15 miles from the port, in the southwestern part of the city.

The plants operations are run primarily by computers, which control a process known as blown film to turn polyethylene pellets into flexible plastic packaging. The tiny pellets are fed by the thousands into a hopper, then funneled into a heated tube, where they are melted, compressed, formed into circles and inflated into spheres, much like glass blowing.

We make it like a bubble, Dam explained.

Rising middle class

The automated process forms the bubbles into different shapes and thicknesses by adding thin layers of polyethylene  so thin they are invisible to the human eye. The blown plastic is then cooled and run through rollers that flatten them in into rows of film.

The number of layers in the packaging depends on the products they will protect. Plastic bags that hold seafood, for instance are thicker and stronger so they wont crack when frozen. Diaper packaging is thinner, more flexible and soft to the touch.

About 500 people work in the plant, about the same as 10 years ago. The critical difference is many of the jobs have shifted from assembly line work to skilled positions requiring technical abilities, computer literacy and higher levels of education. Today, one in five of the plants employees are engineers, part of a rising middle class that is fueling a rapidly growing consumer economy in Asia.

From plastic pellets to plastic bags Polyethylene pellets are turned into plastic bags in a process called film extrusion or "the tubular film process." In fact, it's a lot like blowing bubbles ... and then squashing those bubbles.

The global middle class is forecast to more than double from 2 billion people in 2010 to more than 5 billion by 2030, with Asia accounting for 90 percent of the increase, according to the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. As middle classes grow in places like Vietnam, China and India, the demand for electronics, cars, food and other consumer products, all with components or packaging made of plastic, is expected to follow.

Global polyethylene demand is growing about 4 percent a year, projected to hit 100 million metric tons  more than five times North American consumption  in 2018 and 120 million tons by 2023.

That trend is driving the billions of dollars in petrochemical investment along the Gulf Coast, with nearly all of it targeting foreign markets. For example, all the polyethylene produced from Exxon Mobils $6 billion expansion in Mont Belvieu and Baytown is headed overseas.

This is a really dynamic market, Cindy Shulman, Exxon Mobils vice president of plastics and resins. Its growing because global living standards around the world continue to improve, and thats a great thing.

Price of progress

All this progress has not come without costs, some dear, to the environment. Fears are growing that the world is drowning in plastics; measured by weight, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050, according to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, an environmental advocacy group.

About one-third of all plastics are used once and thrown away. Of the worlds roughly 6.5 billion metric tons of plastic waste, only 9 percent was recycled and 12 percent incinerated. The rest is sitting in landfills, oceans or other parts of the environment, where it will take more than 400 years for much of it to degrade.

If production and waste management trends continue, 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste  equivalent to the weight of 35,000 Empire State buildings  will be in landfills or the environment by mid-century, according to a study by the University of California Santa Barbara and the University of Georgia. At least 8 million tons of plastic end up in the worlds oceans each year.

Neil Carman, clean air director of the Lone Star Chapter of the national advocacy group Sierra Club, said he worries more about the impact of drilling, fracking and petrochemical processes. Exxon Mobils Baytown complex, for example, has a history of exceeding air pollution limits, which last year led to a federal court to impose $20 million in penalties on Exxon Mobil. The company is appealing.

At well sites, emissions from diesel engines that power fracking foul the air while disposal wells used to hold spent fracking water have been linked to an increase in earthquakes. The main component of natural gas, methane, is a powerful greenhouse gas that escapes during drilling and production, contributing to climate change.

Were still in the process of uncovering these enormous public health and environmental effects, Carman said. Were not doing enough to assess these impacts and address them.

Industry responds

Exxon Mobil and other petrochemical makers are researching ways to increase the amount of recycled materials in their products while developing thinner, lighter plastics that use less material while maintaining their strength and flexibility.

Shulman said the thinner and stronger plastics allow companies to use 40 percent less packaging. That means less plastic is required for each product, reducing the amount that gets thrown out.

It costs less to ship these products. They take up less room on the shelves, she said. They keep food fresh longer.

Chicken of Seas frozen shrimp, protected in the packaging made in Vietnam, will end up on freezer shelves in stores such as Walmart, Target and Kroger, and ultimately on the plates of consumers in Houston and around the country. As families tuck into gumbos or seafood stews, they probably wont give a second thought to packaging that brought the shrimp from farm to table, or the trash bag where the packaging will end up.

They are merely conveniences of modern life, conveniences made possible by a natural gas well called Eagles in East Texas, and thousands of others like it in shale fields across America.

***

Jordan Blum is a senior energy reporter at the Houston Chronicle since 2015. He has extensively covered the industry from the 2014 bust in oil prices to the more recent boom in West Texas' Permian Basin. He has written about everything from Texas' national lead in renewable wind power to the Houston area's growing dominance in petrochemical and plastics manufacturing. Previously, Jordan was an award-winning reporter at The Advocate in Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a statehouse reporter and education writer, and then as the newspaper's Washington Bureau chief. Jordan is a New Orleans native who graduated from Texas Christian University with a journalism degree before going back to work at daily newspapers in Louisiana.

Graphics by Charles Apple

Design by Rachael Gleason



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MONT BELVIEU - They say geography is destiny, but in this small city east of Houston, the force shaping its history, economy and future is geology.

Mont Belvieu is built atop a salt dome formed more than 100 million years ago from deposits likely left by an ancient inland sea that cut across the North American continent. For more than 60 years, energy companies have used it as a natural storage tank, carving out salt caverns some 3,000 feet deep to hold millions of barrels of petroleum products.

PART 1: How the ethane molecule changed the Gulf Coast  and the world

Today, those caverns are increasingly filled with ethane and other natural gas liquids that feed the plastics and chemical industries, making Mont Belvieu and its neighbor to the south, Baytown, the focal point of the Gulf Coast petrochemical boom. Here, where rice fields once stretched as far as the eye could see, Exxon Mobil alone has invested some $6 billion to dramatically expand its 36-year-old plastics plant as well as its sprawling refining and chemicals complex in Baytown.

About this series: Ethane is simply described as C2H6. But that molecule, a byproduct of natural gas, has triggered a petrochemical boom that is reshaping the Gulf Coast, the energy industry that lives here, and global markets for plastics, resins and other petrochemicals. We followed that molecule from a Texas shale field where it is found, to the petrochemical plant where it is transformed into ethylene, the basic building block of most plastics, and to the Port of Houston, where it is shipped to Asia and other emerging consumer markets.

At these plants, the ethane molecules that squeezed through fissures in shale rock, flowed up a Texas well and traveled more than 150 miles by pipeline, will undergo chemical changes to transform them from once-overlooked byproducts of oil and gas drilling into one of most ubiquitous materials on earth. Hundreds of other pipelines stretching across Texas and beyond will carry millions more barrels of natural gas liquids from U.S. shale fields, converging near the salt dome under Mont Belvieus Barbers Hill.

All roads lead to Texas, said Kim Haas, Exxon Mobils operations manager, and specifically the Baytown area.

Where hydrogen meets carbon

Barbers Hill rises 85 feet above sea level, a mile-wide distortion in an otherwise flat landscape. First settled more than 175 years ago and named for an early rancher, Amos Barber, the area began attracting oilmen after another salt dome called Spindletop began gushing crude in 1901.

The first successful Barbers Hill oil well was drilled in 1916, and annual production peaked at more than 8 million barrels in 1931. About 25 years later, Barbers Hill got a second life when Warren Petroleum, a Tulsa company that became part of Chevron, starting drilling caverns to store petroleum products.

The community, however, was jolted in 1985 by fires on Barber Hill that killed two Warren workers, forced the evacuation of Mont Belvieusc 2,000 residents, and led the city to distribute letters to newcomers warning of the serious danger and possible death that came with living there. The population fell to about 1,300 by 1990.

But with improved safety, the recent petrochemical boom has revived the community, whose population has more than doubled since 2000 to about 6,000 residents. Today, Barbers Hill sits atop roughly 150 caverns potentially holding some 300 million barrels of petroleum products.

This is the next stop for the natural gas liquids produced by Exxons subsidiary XTO Energy. Here, processing plants known as fractionators use varying pressures and temperatures to break the natural gas liquids into components, each with a slightly different combination of carbon and hydrogen, including butane (C4H10), propane (C3H8), pentane (C5H12) and, of course, ethane (C2H6).

The ethane is piped 10 miles to Exxon Mobils Baytown complex, which is simultaneously one of the nations oldest and most modern plants. The refinery was built nearly a century ago by one of Exxon Mobils predecessor companies, Humble Oil. A chemical plant was added in 1979 and expanded in 1997.

Four year ago, Exxon Mobil launched another Baytown expansion, which, with the associated expansion of the sister plant in Mont Belvieu, is the companys biggest U.S. industrial investment since Exxon and Mobil merged 20 years ago. The projects vastly increase Exxon Mobils capacity to process ethane into ethylene, the basic chemical building block of most plastics, and then into the most common plastic, polyethylene.

At the peak of construction, nearly 6,000 people worked at the two sites. The expanded Baytown facility, which began operations in late July, can produce about 9 billion pounds of petrochemicals a year, including 3.3 billion additional pounds of ethylene.

The focus of the Baytown expansion was eight furnaces, each costing more than $100 million and standing 23 stories tall  nearly the height of NRG Stadium. The furnaces, built in Thailand, are the heart of a plant known as a cracker, which gets its name from the process that uses extreme heat to crack ethane molecules in half and trigger chemical reactions that form ethylene.

A brief, 102-year history of Barbers Hill and Baytown Mont Belvieu is now the natural gas liquids capital of the world thanks to its massive complex of underground storage and petrochemicals and plastics manufacturing. But it all started with efforts to drill oil in salt domes similar to the groundbreaking Spindletop discovery.

Kevin Campbell keeps track of much of the process in his job as a hot ends coordinator, monitoring the operations and safety of the furnaces  the hot end of the cracking process. These control room jobs can easily pay $70,000 a year.

Exxon Mobil runs four overlapping 12-hour shifts, the first beginning at 4 a.m. Campbell, who works an early shift, sits in a control room, darkened to make it easier to see his console, where hes observing digital images and the constant flow of data to track furnace operations.

He and his colleagues compare the job to flying an airplane, mostly uneventful, but requiring strict oversight and cool, rapid decision-making when needed.

Right now its calm, Campbell said. But its not boring. Its very exciting.

99.9 percent pure

The ethane enters the Baytown plant as a gas, fed by pipeline into a furnace, where its injected with steam and heated to more than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit  hot enough to melt gold and silver.

In less than a half-second, the process breaks the ethane molecules, which contain two carbon and six hydrogen atoms, into two radicals each containing one atom of carbon and three of hydrogen. That frees the carbon and hydrogen atoms to recombine, forming ethylene, made of two atoms of carbon and four of hydrogen (C2H4), as well as byproducts such as propylene (C3H6), carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

The heated gas then moves to through a series of towers, where it is cooled, reheated, pressurized and cooled again  to minus-200 degrees  to remove byproducts and impurities. Finally, the ethylene is funneled through a 355-foot tower known as splitter, where any remaining ethane is removed and recycled.

The result: 99.95 percent pure ethylene.

The ethylene is piped back to Mont Belvieu, where some will be stored in the salt caverns, but most will feed another process that will change the hydrocarbons liberated from Texas shale once again.

Where the Baytown complex used heat and pressure to crack ethane into ethylene, Exxon Mobils Mont Belvieu plant relies on chemical reactions to fuse trillions of ethylene molecules into polyethylene.

The process begins in a chemical reactor, a tall cylindrical tower thats fed ethylene by pipelines at least 10 inches in diameter. The reactor operates like a blender, mixing ethylene with a catalyst made from silica, alumina and proprietary materials that Exxon Mobil wont disclose.

The catalyst, a fine powder that feels like dust, sparks a chemical reaction that fuses the ethylene molecules together. By mixing different catalysts from specific materials, manufacturers can produce different grades of plastic with varying levels of strength and flexibility.

From ethane gas to plastic pellets The ethane gas produced by shale fracking can be turned into the raw ingredients for making plastics via a process called crackling. Heres how that works:

The Mont Belvieu plant opened in 1982, producing mainly low-grade, flexible polyethylene used in plastic wrap and food packaging, and expanded nine years later to produce plastic for more rigid products, such as milk bottles. The most recent expansion, completed late last year, is dedicated to high-performance polyethylene that is light, flexible and strong.

Paul Fritsch is the plant manager. A chemical engineer by training, he has worked with Exxon for nearly three decades, overseeing expansions as far away as Singapore. He can touch almost any plastic in a supermarket and identify the type of polyethylene.

"When I go grocery shopping," he said, "I pick up the packaging and look to see if it's one of our customers."

Polyethylene comes out of the chemical reactors as a powder, similar to laundry detergent. It's fed into a purging tower where nitrogen and steam remove any residual ethylene and hydrocarbons that didn't properly bond.

The powder is then transported to hoppers that funnel the material to an extruder, which melts the plastic, compresses it and pushes out in dough-like strands of polyethylene, much like a pasta maker. Each extruder can churn out 200,000 pounds of polyethylene an hour.

As the strands come through the extruder, they are sliced by a large spinning blade into semi-translucent pellets. The pellets go into a centrifuge, where they are cooled by water, then spun dry, much as a salad spinner pulls moisture from lettuce leaves.

Made in America

After quality testing, the plastic is loaded into as many as 35 rail cars, each holding about 200,000 pounds of polyethylene pellets, and shipped throughout the country to customers who shape the polyethylene pellets into finished plastics products. About 40 percent of the polyethylene is made for the domestic market.

Polyethylene pellets marked for export are mechanically packaged in 55-pound bags, each holding about 1 million pellets. Every hour, the plant fills about 10,000 bags, which are loaded onto pallets, each holding 55 bags, and trucked to a 70-acre storage yard. As many as 100,000 pallets are kept for up to 45 days until they can be loaded into containers and shipped out of the Port of Houston.

Our production is 24 hours a day, Fritsch explained, but the Port of Houston isnt open 24-7.

With the expansions completed, Exxon Mobils Mont Belvieu and Baytown campuses together cover about 3,400 acres, the equivalent of three Houston downtowns. The Mont Belvieu plant, which has doubled its polyethylene output to 5.5 billion pounds a year, is now the second-largest plastics plant in the world, after the Borogue complex in Abu Dhabi.

The Baytown and Mount Belvieu plants together employ 7,500 people, and Exxon Mobil estimates that the number doubles to 15,000 when counting contractors and jobs at local suppliers, restaurants and other businesses that support the plant. Exxon pays more than $150 million a year in local taxes and fees.

The plants also have contributed to a surge in exports that has made Houston one of few regions in the country that exports more than it imports. That brings new money into the area  tens of billions of dollars that can be used to expand business, hire workers and increase wealth.

Were going to have things that are made in America again and getting shipped overseas, Fritsch said. Thats whats exciting about shale gas. Its the explosion of industry again in the U.S.

Part 3: Read how ethane freed from Texas shale ends up in Asia as plastic packaging

***

Jordan Blum is a senior energy reporter at the Houston Chronicle since 2015. He has extensively covered the industry from the 2014 bust in oil prices to the more recent boom in West Texas' Permian Basin. He has written about everything from Texas' national lead in renewable wind power to the Houston area's growing dominance in petrochemical and plastics manufacturing. Previously, Jordan was an award-winning reporter at The Advocate in Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a statehouse reporter and education writer, and then as the newspaper's Washington Bureau chief. Jordan is a New Orleans native who graduated from Texas Christian University with a journalism degree before going back to work at daily newspapers in Louisiana.

Graphics by Charles Apple

Design by Rachael Gleason



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SAN AUGUSTINE  Working in nearly 100-degree heat, sweating through mud-stained coveralls, four roustabouts wrestled with 30-foot sections of pipe that would follow a drill bit plunging some 13,000 feet into the earth, then turning nearly 90 degrees to chew through another 10,000 feet.

About this series: Ethane is simply described as C2H6. But that molecule, a byproduct of natural gas, has triggered a petrochemical boom that is reshaping the Gulf Coast, the energy industry that lives here, and global markets for plastics, resins and other petrochemicals. We followed that molecule from a Texas shale field where it is found, to the petrochemical plant where it is transformed into ethylene, the basic building block of most plastics, and to the Port of Houston, where it is shipped to Asia and other emerging consumer markets.

Over the next few weeks, the well would be drilled, fracked and completed, freeing molecules of hydrogen and carbon that would rush through fissures in the dense shale rock and flow through the well as natural gas. But accompanying the natural gas particles was another, more complex molecule, containing two atoms of carbon each attached to three atoms of hydrogen.

That molecule, described chemically as C2H6, is transforming the Gulf Coast economy and reshaping global markets, from Europe to the Middle East to Asia. Known as ethane, the molecule is the catalyst for the petrochemical boom that has attracted tens of billions of dollars of investment, created tens of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, expanded exports, and fed the growing demand for consumer goods in China, India and other developing nations.

The impact of ethane is perhaps the most remarkable development in the remarkable story of the shale revolution. Less than three years ago, ethane was a largely unwanted byproduct of oil and gas drilling, much of it burned away in the natural gas stream flowing to power plants, businesses and homes, or flared off at well sites.

But today, ethane is feedstock for nearly half of U.S. plastics production and a valuable export to chemical companies around the world. As ethane flows from Texas shale fields, chemical and energy companies are building and expanding plants to take advantage of the cheap, plentiful raw material, plowing more than $140 billion into the Gulf Coast alone.

Its absolutely extraordinary this is happening in the United States, said Neil Chapman, Exxon Mobil senior vice president. I can assure you nobody predicted this in 2000 or even 2005.

U.S. ethane production is projected to reach 2 million barrels a day by 2020, double the output at the height of the last drilling boom in 2014. On the journey from wellhead to market, ethane molecules will change forms several times as they are separated from natural gas, heated to become ethylene, processed into polyethylene, and ultimately extruded and molded into packaging and products that will appear on shelves in stores from Houston to Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City.

But it all starts here, at a natural gas well in East Texas.

Dancing with pipe

The Haynesville shale stretches across 9,000 square miles, straddling much of the Texas and Louisiana border. XTO Energy, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, began drilling the shale here a decade ago.

This particular drilling site is nicknamed Eagles  XTO names its sites after college mascots  and the well called Eagles DU #H1, the DU for drilling unit and the H for Haynesville. On a blistering July day, the 170-foot-tall rig had already made the turn from vertical to horizontal drilling, a gradual process that entails shifting at 10-degree angles every 100 feet until the bit travels sideways.

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Oilfield workers ran more pipe into the well, manipulating the rigs 10,000-pound, hydraulically-powered tongs, called an iron roughneck, to screw the pipe sections together and drive them into the well. About 100 pieces of 30-foot steel piping laid next to the rig, each lifted by cables and guided by workers until it was vertical, awaiting the grasp of the iron roughneck.

Its kind of like a dance, said Rick Cannon, an XTO vice president of production operations. The pipe is pretty flexible, but you have to go slow.

The Haynesville region was among the first shale formations exploited by the drilling and fracking techniques that spurred the shale revolution. A decade ago, pioneering companies such as Chesapeake Energy of Oklahoma City and Petrohawk Energy of Houston began drilling the shale play to unlock natural gas reserves long thought to be inaccessible. XTO wasnt far behind.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the Haynesville holds about 175 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, the nations second-largest gas reserve after the Appalachia region, which includes the Marcellus and Utica plays. Haynesville production hit a record 10.4 billion cubic feet of gas a day in 2011, fell to 6 billion cubic feet day in 2016 as natural gas prices plunged, but has since rebounded to 8.5 billion cubic feet a day.

As temperatures rose above 95 degrees, the men kept feeding the pipe to the rig, laboring through relentless heat and humidity. The work would go on 24 hours a day, in 12 hour shifts, interrupted only by mechanical failures and lightning, which can strike the tall, metal rigs.

Over the 40 days it took to drill the well, anywhere from six to 20 people worked at the site at any given time. Drillers and directional drillers piloted the process. Mud loggers monitored the geology, gas flow and drilling fluids. Floorhands  better known as roughnecks  kept the drilling area and piping clean and organized. The company man, or well site manager, oversaw the operation.

Drilling pipe, which follows the drill bit and sets the well, would later be removed and replaced by casing pipe, cemented in place to line the well and give it structural stability, and tubing pipe, through which the oil and gas would flow.

Crews would test the structural integrity of the well and confirm that the volumes of hydrocarbons were sufficient to insure the well would produce for years to come. About a month later, the fracking crews would get started.

Semi symphony

Less than a mile from Eagles well, past scattered small farms, lay another drilling site, called Fighting Camels, after the mascot of North Carolinas Campbell University. Here, fracking crews were already at work.

The fracking site presented a deafening symphony of diesel motors. Dozens of semi-trucks powered the equipment that pumps millions of gallons of a water, sand and chemical mixture into the wells at high pressure, and dozens more trucks moved on and off the site delivering the water, sand and chemicals needed to crack the shale rock and release oil and gas.

The shale revolution is widely credited to the innovation and determination of one man, the late George P. Mitchell, son of a Greek immigrant and founder of The Woodlands. Mitchell, after striking it rich in oil, spent 35 years stubbornly focused on developing the Barnett Shale near Dallas, a play known for years as the Wildcatters Graveyard.

Mitchell, however, persisted, eventually combining hydraulic fracturing with horizontal drilling to unlock the complex shale rock. Mitchell didnt frack his first profitable well until 1998, but with that success, he sold his company four years later for more than $3 billion to Devon Energy of Oklahoma City.

How fracking works In 2000, hydraulic fracturing -- fracking -- made up less than 2 percent of all oil production in the U.S. Today, fracking accounts for more than half. Heres how fracking works: The shale boom was soon underway, producing oil and gas from Texas to North Dakota to the Northeast. It placed the United States among the worlds biggest energy producers, roiling global markets and upending more than 40 years of geopolitics.

The shale boom was soon underway, producing oil and gas from Texas to North Dakota to the Northeast. It placed the United States among the worlds biggest energy producers, roiling global markets and upending more than 40 years of geopolitics.

And along with oil and gas came large volumes of another petroleum product known as natural gas liquids.

Three primary components can come out any successful well: crude oil, natural gas, which is essentially methane, and natural gas liquids, primarily ethane, butane and propane. Ethane is the most prevalent natural gas liquid, or NGL, and used solely as a feedstock for petrochemicals.

In oil-rich areas such as the Permian, the NGLs flow out of wells as liquids in the stream of crude. In shale plays containing mostly natural gas, such as the Haynesville, ethane comes out as a gas, which is later separated from the methane.

At the fracking site, Tucker Energy Services of McAlester, Okla. led the operations for XTO. Workers, dragging heavy cables and chains, wore closed-channel headsets so they could hear each other, even from a few feet away, over the roar of the truck engines and other equipment.

Nick Cregan, a fracking field engineer with Tucker, was cooling off in the operations trailer as he prepared for the next fracking stage, the section of well that would get pounded by the high-pressure water, sand and chemical slurry.

Cregan travels here from his home in Oklahoma, nearly 300 miles away. He works two weeks on, one week off, spending too many nights in San Augustine hotel rooms while leaving his wife and four children behind. But the money is too good to pass up.

It can be challenging and its tough work, Cregan said. Theres a lot of family time you miss out on. Its hardly ever in your backyard.

Beginning with a bang

Fracking begins with a bang  literally. Small explosive charges are lowered into the well, armed beginning at a depth of 200 feet, and detonated to create the initial fractures in the steel casing and shale rock. Next, the mixture of water, chemicals and sand are pumped into the well at a rate of 4,500 gallons a minute.

The sand, known in the industry as proppant, keeps the tiny fissures open; the chemicals help oil and gas to flow more easily from shale reservoirs.

The first wells fracked in the Haynesville shale consumed about 2 million gallons of water and 2 million pounds of sand. They were fracked in fewer than 10 sections, or stages.

What fracking gets you Natural gas liquids account for only a quarter of what comes out of an average gas well. The rest is essentially methane. The mix from an average well:

The Fighting Camels well consumed 22 million gallons of water, most from privately owned ponds, and 16 million pounds of sand. Fracking crews targeted 52 stages, each a 130-foot section of the well.

The fracking proceeded with the efficiency of a factory. The sand went into a mixer where it was combined with water. Fracking chemicals were added to help lubricate the well and improve the flow of the slurry and the resulting production.

The pumping trucks then forced the mixture into the well and through perforations created by the explosions, shattering the shale rock and releasing the gas. Its like an assembly line  the water, sand, pressure pumps and the well, said Buddy Davis, the Tucker Energy Services manager overseeing the site.

The Fighting Camels well began producing two months later, the Eagles well three months after that. Some of the gas flowed into pipelines that fed into Exxon Mobils English Bay pipeline system. Along the way, a processing facility separated the gas, essentially methane, from the natural gas liquids.

From there, the stream of natural gas liquids was piped to Mont Belvieu, located about 35 miles east of Houston, where the ethane was separated from any other natural gas liquids. But it wasnt the final destination for these hydrocarbon molecules.

Its just the beginning of a transformation that is changing the flow of international commerce.

Part 2: Read how Houston-area petrochemical plants transform the game-changing ethane molecule into the building blocks of plastic.

***

Jordan Blum is a senior energy reporter at the Houston Chronicle since 2015. He has extensively covered the industry from the 2014 bust in oil prices to the more recent boom in West Texas' Permian Basin. He has written about everything from Texas' national lead in renewable wind power to the Houston area's growing dominance in petrochemical and plastics manufacturing. Previously, Jordan was an award-winning reporter at The Advocate in Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a statehouse reporter and education writer, and then as the newspaper's Washington Bureau chief. Jordan is a New Orleans native who graduated from Texas Christian University with a journalism degree before going back to work at daily newspapers in Louisiana.

Graphics by Charles Apple

Design by Rachael Gleason

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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.
Jennifer and Farzad Askari didnt want to build a new home, but by the time they finished remodeling one they bought in Tanglewood, they might as well have because they went through nearly every phase of new-home construction.

The couple, who both work as oil traders, already lived in Tanglewood, but it was Farzads dream to live off of Tanglewood Drive. They found a 1990s Mediterranean-style home and decided it was exactly where they wanted to live, even if it didnt come close to matching the more contemporary vision they had.

So after a year of working with their interior designer, Lucinda Loya Interiors, their architect, Javier Medina of Origin Architects, plus a builder and engineering firm, LBJ Construction and BEC Engineering and Consultants, the Askaris moved into a dramatically different space than what they saw the first time they looked at it.

Gone are the arched doorways, numerous hallways, awkward entrances and a nearly hidden staircase. Closets are bigger and better arranged, and a new backyard pool and new landscaping make the exterior a different place to play.

MA+DS Home Tour What: A tour of nine modern homes in Houston When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 Where: 2212 Colquitt (studioMET); 6001 Charlotte (Builders West); 1214 W. Drew (MASA Studio Architects); 5336 McCulloch (refuGe Design Studio and Carnegie Homes); 5138 Glenmeadow (On Point Custom Homes); 5003 Glenmeadow (Hollenbeck Architects); 5519 Lynbrook (Origin Architects); 1306 Rosedale (Intexure Architects); and 4223 Whitman (Design DCA) Tickets: $40 in advance, $50 on tour day; mads.media/2018houstonmht/ See More Collapse

This modern makeover is one of nine homes that will be on the Sept. 22 Modern Architecture + Design Society Home Tour, an annual event that opens a handful of homes to people who are fans of modern design. In addition to Medinas Origin Architects, other firms whose work is included on the tour are studioMET, Builders West, MASA Studio Architects, refuGe Design Studio and Carnegie Homes, On Point Custom Homes, Hollenbeck Architects, Origin Architects, Intexure Architects and Design DCA.

And the homes are scattered throughout Houston, in Tanglewood, Colquitt Court, Montrose, Southampton, Lamar Terrace, Meyerland, Museum Park and Lynn Park.

When I first started talking about the project, I was using the term transitional, and the term just turned into modern, Jennifer Askari said. I left it to the team to take the ideas to the next level because I just dont think like that. But once everything was finally up, and we were able to see it  and now finally living in it  we have redefined what modern is to us. Even though its a modern house, its very livable, very functional, very homey and, most importantly, clean lines.

Even if most of new-home construction in Houston remains traditional, people of all ages are embracing a more contemporary  if not completely modern  look with less ornate detailing, less crown moulding and fewer arched doorways.

Medina called this home the most adventurous project hes worked on in the five-and-a-half years hes operated his architecture firm. Though the bulk of his work remains traditional architecture, more clients are asking for more contemporary designs.

I had this modern energy bottled up until recently. Now we have a nice mix of traditional, contemporary and transitional work, Medina said. Younger people are more receptive to modern design but, ironically, people who grew up with the midcentury aesthetic want that back and are gravitating to modern style.

The Askaris, who have a 3-year-old daughter, are one of those families who started out not wanting a traditional home but not quite envisioning what modern could mean to them.

If you had asked me five years ago if I wanted to live in a modern home, I would have said no, theres no way, Jennifer said. The concept of modern has changed over time. Coming into this project, I was adamant that I always want to feel comfortable in my home. I want to be able to go to my home and feel relaxed and not just stiff sitting there.

With the quantity of work at the Askaris 6,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home  they didnt change the homes footprint, but they revamped nearly all of its floor plan  many people might have simply waited for a home with a better fit to come on the market.

But Jennifer said that their choice was driven by location. Farzad has wanted to live off the beautiful Tanglewood Drive  its wide boulevard and canopy of live oaks rival the natural beauty of Broadacres  for years.

The house had the arched windows youd expect to see in a Mediterranean-style home, plus its stucco and stone exterior was awash in earthtones. The stone is still there, but new rectangular steel windows and white stucco modernize the look.

Removing walls and hallways wasnt just about completely reframing the homes interior; it took a fair amount of structural engineering by BEC Engineering and Consultants for safety issues and to strengthen newly wide-open spans.

In the foyer, a geometric black-and-white marble design amid dark wood flooring and a contemporary staircase with a thick glass side make it hard to believe the space once looked very plain. Originally, the staircase wasnt even inside the front door  you had to access it from a hard-to-find bedroom wing on the side of the home.

Another hallway that ran along the family room, breakfast area and kitchen was removed to create a bigger open space. They also created a small bar between the great room and the dining room, which earlier didnt have direct access from the kitchen.

Perhaps the biggest transformation is the kitchen. Formerly a traditional space with wood-stained cabinets, tan granite counters and a mosaic tile backsplash, the space now sparkles with white Silestone counters, Carrara marble backsplash and, on one wall, contilevered open shelves that hold gleaming white dishes.

An under-the-stairs powder bathroom that once had pink wallpaper and a white porcelain pedestal sink has morphed into the sexiest half-bathroom in the city, wrapped in wallpaper that looks like gorgeous natural stone and chunky modern plumbing fixtures.

Every bathroom got a makeover, with a first-floor guest Jack-and-Jill that had only a walk-in shower gaining a bathtub. The master suite grew when they eliminated hallway space from the original staircase. Now, Jennifer and Farzad each have their own, and the bathroom is a combination of stone tile and glass. Theres a hexagonal pattern on the floor and herringbone style on a feature wall backing the glass steam shower and freestanding bathtub.

diane.cowen@chron.com
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Three years ago, Lavette Pixley and her son thought they could ride out a massive storm fed by Hurricane Joaquin as it moved through the Atlantic. Then they woke up to a flooded apartment and had to be rescued by firefighters.

As Hurricane Florence approached on Thursday afternoon, hours from making landfall, Pixley and her 8-year-old son, Tayon, left their apartment for Ridge View High School, where the American Red Cross is operating a shelter. This time, Pixley said, they chose to take no chances.

Im scared. We have bad memories from last time, she said. Its better to be somewhere dry and safe.

By Thursday evening, Pixley, 46, was lying on a cot provided by the Red Cross, and Tayon was playing with his Spider-Man stuffed toy. They were among 85 people who had traveled from across the state to seek shelter here in the states capital. The majority are from Richland County, which includes Columbia, but some drove from as far as Charleston, about 115 miles away.

Hurricane Florence began to make its presence felt in the Carolinas on Thursday with heavy wind and rains. The storm, which was growing in size, had winds of up to 100 mph. Some areas were expecting a storm surge as high as 13 feet.

Derrec Becker, a spokesman for South Carolinas Emergency Management Division, said authorities are most concerned about how much rain the Carolinas are expected to receive over the next several days

If it gets to that point, were looking at catastrophic flooding, he said. Were talking about flooding that could potentially result in fatalities.

Authorities urged residents to evacuate to safety. More than 4,500 people had checked into shelters in South Carolina, and authorities said they had space for more than 34,000 across 64 shelters.

At Ridge View High School, a combination of cots, air mattresses and sleeping pads lined the walls of the schools gymnasium, where most people rested in the early evening. Some slept, while others read or watched videos on their tablets.

Outside the gymnasium, the Red Cross set up a place for activities and games for children. Crayons, colored pencils and other art supplies blanketed one table, while another had Connect Four games and a Spider-Man puzzle. An older man taught three children how to play chess, while another used a deck of cards to play solitaire.

William Weiselberg, who moved from New York to Myrtle Beach four years ago, arrived at the shelter by accident. He left his home Tuesday afternoon, intending to travel to Atlanta, where he planned to stay with friends. While driving, his friends told him they had a medical emergency. So he checked into a Holiday Inn and overheard a sheriff talking about the shelter at the high school. Weiselberg, 67, said he was skeptical of the condition of the shelter, but he thought he would at least check it out.

My idea of a shelter is youd rather die on the street or sleep in your car or whatever before you go into a shelter, he said. Shelters in New York are known for being violent places. You dont want to be there.

But Weiselberg said he was pleasantly surprised by the shelter and expected to stay there instead of the hotel. Since he arrived, he has played cards and read a book.

Still, he worries about the state of his house, which is about a mile away from the Atlantic Ocean.

Sterlin Casseus, 22, arrived from Charleston on Wednesday afternoon. Casseus, who previously lived in Florida, said he evacuated for Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Im probably going to ride it out here until Saturday or Sunday, until things calm down, he said. Its real comfortable. They have plenty of water, food, whatever you need. Its kind of home away from home.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
When so much has been written about the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, one of the best-known Latin American visual artists in the world from the 20th century, why keep doing it?

Thats a question that Maria Hesse asked herself in the introduction of her book, Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life. The Spanish version, published last year, received much acclaim, and now the University of Texas Press brings it to English-speaking readers.

One never ceases to find revealing glimpses of Fridas fascinating life and work, Hesse proposes; the artist told many stories and details about herself, about real events and imagined ones, in her diaries and conversations. Trapped in a malformed body from birth, Frida endured near-deadly accidents. She also considered her turbulent marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera an accident. But Kahlo filled her life with passionate lovers, political activism and profuse creativity as well. Her life was a constant up and down between pain and joy, weakness and strength.

Hesses book is

Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life Written and illustrated by Maria Hesse Translated by Achy Obejas University of Texas Press 152 pages, $21.95 See More Collapse

a vibrantly illustrated biography of Kahlo that the author chose to tell in first person, embodying the painter with her own innovative style, her drawings and graphics flowing seamlessly with the narration.

Hesse, 33, is considered one of the leading illustrators and graphic designers in the world of Spanish publications. She has illustrated books such as Bowie: Una biografia, about David Bowie, and Orgullo y Prejuicio, a Spanish version of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, among others. Her work transcends the publishing world to art galleries; most recently she was one of the artists participating in the Las Meninas art project, in which 80 sculptures flooded the streets of Madrid interpreting versions of Spanish Golden Age painter Diego Velazquezs masterpiece.

The author created the book with an adult audience in mind, although it has a halo that evokes Saint Exuperys The Little Prince, where adulthood fuses with childlike innocence.

How is it that Hesse, a Spanish author who has never visited Mexico, decided to put her brush and pen in Fridas life? She answers in this Q&A.

Q: How did you come up with the idea to create this book?

A: I really liked Frida Kahlo, but I had never thought about making a book about her. I had a meeting with Lumen, my publisher in Spain, to show them my portfolio, where I happened to have a drawing of Frida. Thats when the idea of making the biography came up. I decided to do a lot of research. I bought books that were not published in Spain, and I even showed my first draft to (Mexican author) Martha Zamora, who has written two beautiful books about Frida.

Then there was a moment where I realized I needed to narrate the book in the first person because I thought it was the best way to reflect her feelings. She painted her emotions in her canvases, and this is what I wanted to highlight.

Q: Why Frida? Do you feel a connection with her?

A: Its an inexplicable connection. I think what I like most about Frida is the honesty of her artwork because she always did it for herself  not to sell paintings. This allowed her to paint what she really wanted, without any imposition.

I am also fascinated by her character, her way of being. There are visual artists who have done more important things when it comes to vindicating women in the art world, but I think Frida had a special magnetism. So yes, perhaps there are things in which, somehow, I find similarities and connections with her.

Q: What has this project meant for you, combining writing with your illustrations?

A: Its been a very important project in every sense for me. I do not consider myself a writer, so I wrote the text with much respect for the profession. It was imperative for me to do a lot of research, and I had to review my work many times. But its wonderful to make a book that is entirely yours.

Q: You have a distinctive illustration style in your books. How would you describe it?

A: I would rather let other people talk about my style. At the beginning of my career, I had many inspirations. Enki Bilal (a French comic artist and filmaker born in former Yugoslavia), Rebecca Dautremer (a French illustrator), Egon Schiele (Austrian painter from the 20th century) ... But little by little, you begin to detach from them. You find a space where you feel comfortable; you feel like yourself. This comes with a lot of hard work; it reveals itself.

Q: What would you like to say to your potential readers in the U.S.?

A: I would tell them that this book was made with much love, where they will find an intimate Frida. They will discover that there were more things besides the pain in her life. Its a book full of illustrations that help readers completely immerse themselves into the universe of Frida.

Q: Whats next for Maria Hesse?

A: I am working on a personal project now that isnt a biography. I have never visited the United States, but its something I have always wanted to do. (In the meantime) I am going to Mexico for the first time in September, and it makes me feel very excited because, after Fridas book, an essential connection was created.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter.com/oliviaptallet
WASHINGTON - In one of the new Democratic-sponsored health care ads airing in Houston for congressional candidate Lizzie Pannill Fletcher, a woman examining a pill bottle asks: "Hey Audrey, why in the heck are these prescriptions so expensive?"

In an ad in San Antonio with black-and-white photos of unnamed Texans, Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones blames second-term U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, the Republican she hopes to unseat, for a precarious grip on health care felt by many Texans.

"These are the faces of the more than 300,000 people in this part of Texas who could lose their health care coverage because they have a pre-existing condition or will no longer be able to afford the premiums," Jones says in the ad.

Ads dont always tell the whole story: Hurd was one of 20 Republicans who defected from his party at a pivotal moment last year  the repeal of the Affordable Care Act by a narrow margin in the GOP-run House.

With or without details, Democrats across the country are unleashing a fusillade of commercials and campaign tactics tied to health care, the issue many see as the ticket to regaining control of the House in November.

The ads are a big investment: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees spots in the Houston area are the first of a $2 million, six-week broadcast and cable buy backing Fletchers drive to unseat nine-term GOP incumbent John Culberson.

Candidates are using that pulpit both to bludgeon Republicans for unfinished business on health insurance and to accentuate personal appeals.

Mary "MJ" Hegar, of Round Rock, who is trying to unseat eight-term GOP Rep. John Carter, released a health care ad last week highlighting her injuries in Afghanistan, and the tattoos that cover them.

"When I took a round through my helicopter windshield, the bullet fragmented across my arms and leg. I immediately learned how important quality medical care is and its why Ill fight politicians and insurance companies to lower the cost of health care," Hegar says in the ad, filmed partly in a tattoo parlor.

Issue resonates in Texas

Even before all the new ads, 44 percent of 3,998 ads aired in Texas in August in congressional campaigns mentioned health care, according to a study by the Wesleyan Media project based on ad tracking. Nationally, 37 percent of the ads had a health care link.

Democrats reliance on health-care issues is a stark reversal from recent elections, in which "repeal Obamacare" became the Republicans clarion call in campaigns for Congress.

The political offensive reflects polls that show voters deepening concerns about health insurance costs and what they pay for prescriptions. Those concerns hold special significance in Texas: Federal court proceedings in Fort Worth initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 19 other GOP attorneys general could lead to all or part of the nations health insurance law being declared unconstitutional.

The laws protections for health insurance consumers with pre-existing conditions - which the Trump administration has chosen not to defend in the Fort Worth courtroom - are especially popular.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released last week found that 75 percent of Americans consider it "very important" that those protections remain law, with 4 in 10 very worried that they or a family member will lose coverage if the protections are overturned in court.

That result mirrored findings in a Texas Medical Centers national consumer survey released this week showing that more than 6 in 10 say they are likely to only vote for candidates in November who promise health care fixes.

Polls give Democrats an overwhelming advantage when voters are asked which party can best deal with health care issues. An NBC-Wall Street Journal survey last month put the Democratic advantage at 18 percent, the highest in more than a decade of asking the question.

GOP fights back with the economy

Republicans unleashed their own array of ads this week, marking national parties first heavy entry into the battle for House control. They were largely silent on health-care matters, instead trumpeting the strength of the economy and immigration while skewering Democrats for alleged ethical transgressions and ties to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Jack Pandol, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, expressed no concern about the effect of the Democrats onslaught. He contends Democratic divisions over moving to a single-payer insurance system that showed up in primary elections will gird his party this season.

Pandol raised the specter that a single-payer system  an unlikely outcome in Congress any time soon - would bring lead to massive tax increases and rationed care.

"What weve seen over and over again in polling across the country and in Texas is that when voters see Democratic support for this government-run health-care plan, they run away as fast as they can," he said.

Brad Woodhouse, executive director of the advocacy group Protect Our Care, says the Democratic debate on single-payer - also known as "Medicare for All" - was largely limited to primary races and shouldnt be an issue in the fall campaign.

"Republicans have lied and demagogued on health care for years. They were the ones who came up with the term death panels, which never existed," he said. "We are not in charge. Its not our policies or programs or governance that voters are going to express their views on in November. This is a referendum on Republican office-holders."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, said of Democratic candidates tactics: "Democratic pollsters told them that they need to stoke peoples fears about eliminating coverage for pre-existing conditions and the like."

Speaking to reporters, he added: "The argument that the only way you can cover pre-existing conditions is to continue with the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, is simply untrue. There are ways to cover pre-existing conditions and still give people choices when it comes to their health care coverage rather than mandate one-size-fits-all, which is what Obamacare did."

Looking for middle-ground with Trump

National Democrats last weekend chose U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to President Donald Trumps weekly radio address.

"Apparently, our Republican colleagues are afflicted with their very own special type of pre-existing condition, called amnesia. They have forgotten about all the suffering, for so many, before the Affordable Care Act became the law of the land," Doggett said in his national address.

In an interview, Doggett said that while traveling his district in recent weeks, people spoke of their fears of losing protection for their pre-existing conditions if Paxton and allies win their suit. People with diabetes are especially troubled, he said.

"Its the kind of pre-existing condition that will result in being denied entirely, excluded from protection they need most or leading to unaffordable premiums for their coverage," he said.

Doggett said that even if Democrats win control of the House in November, health care solutions would be uncertain.

"Well move from a situation of worst to just bad," he said, noting the prospect of vetoes to Democratic-drawn bills.

The strategy in a Democratic-run House, he said, would be adding health-care provisions to must-sign bills such as those that fund the military  or crafting bipartisan legislation that might appeal to Trump.

He noted the presidents expressed support of allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of drugs directly with manufacturers, prohibited now by law.

"That may be an issue where we can have a victory, Trump can have a victory and, more importantly, all those people who are being gouged can have a victory," he said.


Completes Oversubscribed Placement

Melbourne, Sep 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Bluechiip Limited ( ASX:BCT ), is pleased to confirm that, further to the ASX Release dated 10 September 2018, the Company has completed the share placement (Placement) of ordinary shares that has raised $5.5 million of funding.The Company has allotted 93,220,339.00 fully paid ordinary shares at $0.059 (5.9 cents) each to raise a total of $5.5million. After the allotment of the above securities, the Company has 490,253,716 fully paid ordinary shares on issue.Attached is the Appendix 3B (see link below) in relation to the Placement.To view the release, please visit:About Bluechiip Limited

Bluechiip Ltd (ASX:BCT) understands that every sample - stem cells, blood, eggs, sperm and other biospecimens - is critical, so our objective is to manage each one with optimal quality in the most efficient way. Bluechiip's advanced management solution is the only one that provides sample temperature with ID in cryogenic environments to. Most importantly, this delivers confidence in every sample.

Bluechiip's unique patented technology is a MEMS-based wireless tracking solution that contains no electronics. It represents a generational change from current tracking methods such as labels (hand-written and pre-printed), barcodes (linear and 2D), and Radio Frequency Identification. Bluechiip tags are either embedded or manufactured into storage products such as vials or bags. Each product can be easily identified, and critical information such as sample temperature, is detected by readers and stored in the Bluechiip software. In addition to functioning in extreme temperatures, the Bluechiip(R) Advanced Sample management solution can survive autoclaving, gamma irradiation sterilization, humidification, centrifuging, cryogenic storage and frosting.

Bluechiip's technology has applications in healthcare, including in cryogenic storage facilities (biobanks and biorepositories), pathology, clinical trials and forensics. Other key markets include cold-chain logistics/supply chain, security/defence, industrial/manufacturing and aerospace/aviation.

Bluechiip: Delivering confidence in every sample.
NOTE: This editorial has been edited to reflect that the income limit to qualify for Medicaid in Texas is $3,454 a month for a family of three, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. A previous version gave an incorrect figure.

Politicians have a bad habit of proclaiming they know what the public wants without ever actually listening to what people are saying.

Any elected official trying to figure out whats on constituents minds ought to hold an occasional town hall to talk with them directly. If, however, the official is intimidated by the prospect of getting up close and personal with a ticked-off voter, he or she could at least pay closer attention to polls.

Take the latest consumer survey by the Texas Medical Center. It polled more than 5,000 people in all 50 states, including more than 1,000 Texans, and discovered most think its a good idea to expand Medicaid. In fact, 64 percent of those polled in the 17 states that have not expanded Medicaid said they think more people should be covered by the federally supported health insurance program.

Most Republican politicians in Texas, from Gov. Greg Abbott on down, have vehemently opposed any expansion of Medicaid even though the federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost. They grandstand as if their recalcitrance is fueled by public will, but the TMC poll showed 60 percent of Texans think the state would be healthier if more people had Medicaid insurance.

Theyre right. An additional 1.2 million of Texans would have health insurance if the states program were expanded under the Affordable Care Act. That includes nearly 625,000 Texans who cant afford to buy private health insurance but make too much to qualify for Medicaid under the states current eligibility rules.

Texas is tied with Alabama for having some of the most stringent Medicaid eligibility rules in the nation, according to healthinsurance.org, a health policy blog for consumers created in 1994. A mother with two children who earns more than $3,454 a month would not qualify for Medicaid in Texas.

Texas need only take a look at two other Southern states, Arkansas and Kentucky, to see it is hurting people by not expanding Medicaid. The rate of low-income residents who delay medical treatment dropped from about 40 percent to less than 30 percent in Arkansas and Kentucky after they expanded Medicaid. Meanwhile in Texas, the delayed treatment rate during the same period increased slightly from 32 percent to 34 percent.

Texas elected leaders apparently arent bothered by the fact that sick Texans arent getting medical treatment because they cant pay for it and cant get on Medicaid. They dont seem to care that counties are stuck relying on property taxes to support public hospitals. Instead, politicians blindly walk in lockstep to oppose Medicaid expansion because it is part of Obamacare.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is so consumed with sticking a fork into the Affordable Care Act that he has enlisted the state in an expensive, misguided court battle to have the law declared unconstitutional. President Donald Trump wants that too, but Trump is hell bent on reversing everything President Barack Obama accomplished regardless of the damage that results.

Texas is paying an unnecessary price to prove it is a red state, including the loss of $65.6 billion in federal funding over 10 years to expand Medicaid. Theres also the $36.2 billion in federal taxes being paid by Texans during that period that will instead help pay for Medicaid expansion in other states. The Trump administration is giving Texas $25 billion over four years to help pay the hospital bills of indigent patients who dont qualify for Medicaid under the states current rules. But that funding ends in 2021.

The TMC survey also showed 55 percent of the Texans polled support a Medicare for All approach to providing health insurance. That flies in the face of politicians raging against socialized medicine. With health care so expensive and increasingly unaffordable, the respondents told us that it is important to try to fix it, said Dr. Arthur Tim Garson, director of the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute.

That should be the goal of the states elected leaders. They should be fixing Texas health care system so fewer people fall through the cracks. Instead, they are letting federal dollars paid by Texas taxpayers fly away to other states that have better sense.
If Democrats are going to have any hope of winning control of the Senate, they have to overcome a very tough math problem.

Right now, while it looks as if Democratic incumbents in places such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are likely to survive, the polling averages show four of them - Bill Nelson in Florida, Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota, Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Joe Donnelly in Indiana - locked in extremely tough races.

Heres the rub. Democrats must keep all those seats and also net two GOP seats on top of that - most likely in Nevada and Arizona, which are also very close - to get from 49 to 51 seats and win the Senate. If one of those four Democratic incumbents lose, Democrats must flip three GOP seats, which is very hard. If two of those incumbents lose, Democrats must flip four GOP seats, which is really, really, really unlikely.

In other words, its hard enough for Democrats to flip just Arizona and Nevada - but with each incumbent seat they lose, Democrats must expand their net pickup from Republicans by one more seat to offset it. Thats daunting.

Today I spoke to J.B. Poersch, the president of Senate Majority PAC, the biggest super PAC spending to elect Democrats to the Senate. He conceded that the situation is challenging.

Weve got a long way to go, Poersch conceded to me. But I dont think the Republicans expected to be playing goal line defense the way they are.

This basic math problem is partly the result of the fact that Nelson - the only one of the four incumbents in a state that Barack Obama won twice - is in a much tighter race in Florida than many had hoped against GOP Governor Rick Scott.

When I pressed Poersch on this, noting that many Democrats believe Nelson is running a lackluster campaign, he declined to admit that Nelson is struggling. Instead, he said Democrats should have always expected the race to be close. Were running against a sitting eight-year governor with all the financial resources in the world, Poersch said. Of course its going to be close.

In fairness, as tough as the situation is for Democrats, it is looking worse for Republicans than most people expected. After all, the map favors Republicans, because a lot of Democratic incumbents are on defense in states President Trump carried. Yet, there are plausible, if very narrow, paths to a Democratic majority.

Poersch argued, for instance, that Tennessee - where Democrat Phil Bredesen is mounting a surprisingly strong challenge - is more in play than many believe.

Republicans are doing 16 weeks of consecutive television and radio there, Poersch said. There is no way they anticipated having to go this far and this deep in Tennessee. . . . We believe weve held a lead here for some time.

The thing is, though, that Tennessee looks like a must win for Democrats if they are to gain the majority. It goes back to that math problem again: If a Democratic incumbent loses in one of those four states, Democrats have to flip Tennessee in addition to Arizona and Nevada to win the Senate. The only alternative is running the table in all those six states other than Tennessee.

So Tennessee is probably crucial. When I asked Poersch about this, he said: Theres a way to get to the majority without Tennessee. But its a high priority.

What about Texas?

Which brings us to Texas, where Beto ORourke is mounting a surprisingly strong challenge to Ted Cruz. When I asked Poersch if his group would invest in the race, he demurred, saying only: Were looking at it closely, and were reserving the right to help, though he did describe ORourke as the best Democratic statewide candidate in Texas in 25 years.

This raises a dilemma. Given how easily a Democratic majority can get derailed by a single loss somewhere - and given that in this political environment, anything can happen, as we saw in Alabama - you would think national Democrats might invest in Texas, if only to try to pull off a miracle. Along these lines, Democrats might also consider investing in Mississippi, where Democrat Mike Espy could conceivably pull off a shocker. Because its a multi-candidate jungle primary on Election Day, if no one reaches 50 percent and Espy finishes in the top two, it would force a late-November runoff in which Espy could conceivably prevail.

And if Democrats do not invest in Texas (or Mississippi) - and ORourke (or Espy) falls just short, and Democrats fall once seat short of the majority - the recriminations will be extreme. Asked about this, Poersch conceded the difficulty of the situation. In a cycle with a map as wide as this, you have to give yourself many possibilities, he allowed. As for whether that results in national spending in Texas, well, well just have to wait and see.

Sargent writes The Plum Line blog, a reported opinion blog with a liberal slant  what you might call opinionated reporting from the left.
Having worked since 1961 to build the modern Republican Party of Texas, I care about the Republican brand now and into the far future, during and after the presidency of Donald Trump.

I should disclose that I backed Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential primaries and in the fall supported a Libertarian Party ticket composed of two former Republican governors. For this reason, some in the GOP  and certainly the president himself  might dismiss this essay as just the grumbling of a sore loser (pronounced loozah).

However, there are in fact many things Trump has done that I readily applaud: his judicial nominations, tax reform and the deregulation of American business.

I am nonetheless deeply troubled by a White House in turmoil; by the lack of Trump appointees in key agencies and embassies; by the chilling ease with which he accuses critics of treason and being enemies of the people; and by his negative fixation on U.S. Sen. John McCain, a true American hero, alive and dead.

When Trump does something uncalled for, many Republicans will simply say he was better than Hillary Clinton. But in case they havent noticed, shes not around any more. To keep raising the choice we faced in 2016 as an excuse for Trumps behavior today is akin to saying I crashed into your parked car because road construction forced me to turn down your street.

I may be a political has-been, but I dont understand why Republican members of Congress refuse to speak out against the mean and petty things Trump says and does. Yes, he is more popular with the base than they are. But they have not just refrained from criticizing the president  they have fallen all over each other to praise him.

Many Christian pastors have likewise lost credibility for overlooking Trumps amorality, past and present. They seem to care more about the appointment of judges than the Book of Judges. (Thats the one about God punishing the Israelites for falling into idolatry.)

If pressed on Trumps marital infidelity, filthy language and plain un-Christian attitude toward others, these divines usually say, Well, he is an imperfect man, and we believe in forgiveness.

Truly, we are all imperfect and always in need of forgiveness. But few of us are as imperfect as Trump, and we expect our faith leaders to be more concerned about the moral example set by whoever is president than who sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Maybe its not quite a case of rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods. Lets just say that such pastors are awfully enthusiastic about Caesar these days.

Theres a direct parallel between them and the liberal feminists who forgave Bill Clintons loutish and misogynistic behavior because they liked his judicial appointments. In the #MeToo era, many of these women are finally willing to condemn Clinton for his actions toward Monica Lewinsky and the vicious things his henchmen said about other love interests.

Perhaps much sooner than 20 years, those who now excuse Trumps behavior will be similarly embarrassed and regretful.

Love Story, the sappy book and movie of the early 1970s, gave us the indelible line, Love means never having to say youre sorry. I have a political version: Democracy means never having to say youre sorry. None of the 63 million people who voted for Trump need apologize.

Instead, they and all of us should expect Trump to think and act as the leader of the entire country, instead of just one segment of it. When a grave crisis comes, as it does for all presidents, we will want him to bring us together and, if necessary, to comfort and encourage us  not to condemn or belittle his opponents.

When the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, President Reagan spoke to us almost as the nations father, giving us renewed faith in the future and ourselves. I fear that if something like that occurred today, our president might say, I like astronauts who dont get blown up, OK?

Because Trump will likely always be Trump, the burden falls to us to uphold our values and standards as Republicans. We should encourage our elected officials and candidates to speak up when they are troubled by something President Trump does or says. We should commend them when they do. And we should stand up and speak out ourselves.

We need to do this for our own self-respect and as a strong statement to our children and to the electorate that Donald Trumps personal behavior, past and present, is inconsistent with our values as a party and as a people.

Chase Untermeyer, a Houstonian, was director of presidential personnel for President George H.W. Bush. This piece is adopted from a speech delivered to the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club.
A Nova Scotia mansion on the market is generating a lot of interest from buyers across Canada  probably because the 7,000 sq.-ft. home can be purchased for less than what many pay for a cramped condo in some major Canadian cities.

The Mounce Mansion, located in Nova Scotia's scenic Annapolis Valley, has been on the market for just five days, but has already attracted interested buyers from as far away as B.C., realtor Wanda Graves told The Huffington Post Canada.

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"It's a property that's breathing on its own," said Graves, chuckling.

"We are so surprised with the amount of interest it's created and how it's taken off online."

Graves listed the house Monday, and posted the details to the Eastern Valley Real Estate Facebook page later that day.

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The post has gone wildly viral, she said, and visits to the Eastern Valley Real Estate website are through the roof.

With all those clicks come interest, and Graves said she's already booked solid with back-to-back showings over the weekend.

Take a tour of the Mounce Mansion. Story continues below:

Mounce Mansion For Sale In Nova Scotia See Gallery

The seven-bedroom, three-bathroom house sits on three acres of land overlooking the Avon River. And the sheer size of the house, combined with a large property, is a steal of a deal with an asking price of $434,900.

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"I think a lot of people are comparing it with their markets  it's a lot more house and land for the price than what you get in some of Canada's bigger (real estate) markets," said Graves of the interested buyers flying in from Toronto and B.C. to tour the property this weekend.

The 107-year-old home not only comes with ornate hand-carved woodwork, original decorative wall murals, and a butler's pantry  it also has a rich Maritime backstory.

According to the Avon River Heritage Society, the house was a gift from Thomas Mounce to his new bride Annie Mosher in 1909. It was built by local shipbuilders, and the couple styled rooms based on the countries they toured while on their two-year honeymoon.

Graves said some updates  mostly to the kitchen and bathrooms  were done in the 1980s. But much of the home remains in its original condition.

As for the home's potential, Graves said it would make a lovely space for a family. She says people have also inquired about turning it into a bed and breakfast, wedding venue or retail space.

For comparison, here's what $434,900 will buy in large Canadian cities:

In Vancouver, you can buy this 883 sq-ft. condo, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms:

In Calgary, this 1104 sq.-ft, three-bedroom, three-bathroom house could be yours:

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In Montreal, you could own this three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex:

And in Toronto, you could buy this one-bedroom, one-bathroom loft:


and Salt Lake Potash to Study Benefits of Cost Sharing at Lake Wells

Perth, Sep 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Potash Limited ( ASX:APC ) and Salt Lake Potash Limited ( ASX:SO4 ) ( LON:SO4 ) are pleased to advise that the Companies have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and Co-operation Agreement to undertake a joint study of the potential benefits of development cost sharing for each Company's project developments at Lake Wells.Highlights:- Australian Potash Limited ( ASX:APC ) and Salt Lake Potash Limited ( ASX:SO4 ) ( LON:SO4 ) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding and Co-operation Agreement to study the potentially very substantial benefits of sharing infrastructure and other costs at Lake Wells- The Companies will conduct a joint study into the merits of developing aspects of their respective Lake Wells projects together (the 'Study')- The Study will initially focus on a shared costs model around infrastructure developments- The Study will also address at a high-level the potential for cost sharing on common evaporation and salt processing developments- Both Companies' projects at Lake Wells will proceed independently in parallel with the Study with no impact on either Company's timelinesThe Companies' substantial project holdings at Lake Wells are contiguous (see Figure 1 in link below) with many common infrastructure elements, including access roads, proximity to the Leonora rail terminals, and potential power and fresh water solutions. Both Companies anticipate substantial potential Capex and Opex benefits from some level of infrastructure sharing, with further potential benefits arising from shared or common evaporation and salt processing facilities.A paleochannel extending in excess of 140 kilometres traverses the Companies combined tenement holding over Lake Wells. Recently both APC and SO4 have been granted initial mining leases over their respective projects at Lake Wells. The mining leases and tenement areas for the Study are depicted in Figure 2 (see link below).APC's scoping study released in March 2017 indicated a staged development producing 150,000 tpa rising to 300,000 tpa(see Note below) of premium grade Sulphate of Potash (SOP) from its stand-alone development. APC has a 2012 JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (calculated from drainable porosity) of 14.7 Mt(see Note below) of SOP (derived from a total of 72 Mt contained in total porosity).SO4's scoping study released in August 2016 indicated a staged development producing 200,000 tpa rising to 400,000 tpa on a fully ramped basis. SO4 has reported a total JORC Mineral Resource at Lake Wells of 80-85 Mt of SOP (Stored Resource).Logistics and InfrastructureEach Company's project is based on heavy haulage road transport from Lake Wells to the rail head at either Malcolm (280kms) or Leonora (300kms), utilising the same haulage route. There is compelling logic in pursuing the economies of scale inherent in a (larger) shared solution as well as sharing the capital costs for road upgrades, haulage equipment and other transport and handling facilities. There is similar synergy potential in shared power, air transport, accommodation and process water costs.Both projects have very similar brine chemistry given they are essentially hosted on the same paleochannel. Naturally they will also experience the same climatic conditions, meaning the process flowsheets for each project should be very similar. This offers the opportunity for potential additional savings by a co-operative arrangement extending to evaporation and salt processing facilities.The Companies have agreed to constitute a joint study team to carry out an initial assessment of the merits of infrastructure cooperation. The team will also conduct a high-level review of potential benefits of upstream operational synergies. A substantial part of the Study work will be outsourced to independent engineers and both Companies intend to continue with their independent project developments in parallel with the Study.Note: Refer to ASX announcement 23 March 2017 'Scoping Study Confirms Exceptional Economics of APC's 100% Owned Lake Wells Potash Project In WA'. That announcement contains the relevant statements, data and consents referred to in this announcement. Apart from that which is disclosed in this document, Australian Potash Limited, its directors, officers and agents: 1. Are not aware of any new information that materially affects the information contained in the 23 March 2017 announcement, and 2. State that the material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the 23 March 2017 announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.To view figures, please visit:About Australian Potash Ltd

Australian Potash Limited (ASX:APC) is an ASX-listed Sulphate of Potash (SOP) developer. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Lake Wells Potash Project located approximately 500kms northeast of Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields.

Following the release of a Scoping Study in 2017, APC has been conducting a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) into the development of the Lake Wells Potash Project. The Company is aiming to release the findings of the DFS in H2 2019.

The Lake Wells Potash Project is a palaeochannel brine hosted sulphate of potash project. Palaeochannel bore fields supply large volumes of brine to many existing mining operations throughout Western Australia, and this technique is a well understood and proven method for extracting brine. APC will use this technically low-risk and commonly used brine extraction model to further develop a bore-field into the palaeochannel hosting the Lake Wells SOP resource.

A Scoping Study on the Lake Wells Potash Project was completed and released on 23 March 2017. The Scoping Study exceeded expectations and confirmed that the Project's economic and technical aspects are all exceptionally strong, and highlights APC's potential to become a significant long-life, low capital and high margin sulphate of potash (SOP) producer.
Views exchanged on marine genetic resources at international conference

September 12,2018 | Source: IISD

At the first session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), the informal working group on marine genetic resources (MGRs), continued to exchange views on:



-- scope;

-- access and benefit-sharing (ABS); and

-- intellectual property rights (IPRs).



Expressing caution, with the US, about monetary benefit-sharing due to costly, difficult, and lengthy commercialization of MGRs, JAPAN called for a practical and realistic ILBI, and for deciding at a later stage on the scope in relation to MGRs.



The US, with Canada and Iceland, opposed by the FSM and Mexico, cautioned against including MGRs ex situ. CARICOM, the US, and Switzerland supported applying the ILBI to MGR collection only after entry into force.



Bangladesh, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Ecuador favored including both fish used as a commodity and as a source of MGRs under the ILBI. The US, Honduras, and Iceland opposed including the use of fish as commodity. The Russian Federation called for fishing and marine scientific research (MSR) to be carried out freely, noting, with others, that fisheries are already regulated by the Fish Stocks Agreement. FIJI argued that genetic resources from fish used as commodity should be regulated under the MGR regime.



India stressed that the value, rather than the volume, of exploited resources should be a differentiating criterion. IUCN urged distinction based on use, rather than purpose of initial taking.

 1992-2018, IISD Reporting Services

Theme(s): Others.
Climate change and environmental degradation are social justice issues in Indigenous communities, experts say

by Anya Zoledziowski

September 12,2018 | Source: StarMetro Calgary

Chantal Chagnon, a Cree social justice activist, has seen first-hand how Albertas climate has changed rapidly, and she said its affecting Indigenous ways of life.



And shes not alone in her assessment.



According to multiple experts and activists, resource extraction and pollution have drastically altered the provinces waterways and forests, putting a strain on Indigenous practices, such as hunting, fishing and trapping.



Chagnon pointed to southern Albertas 2013 flooding as evidence that natural disasters affect Indigenous communities particularly hard.



Siksika is still recovering from the flood  its crazy, Chagnon said. They still have damaged buildings up in Morley because of the flood, they still have buildings that have black mould in them.



Were seeing this polarization of our weather patterns around the globe and its definitely reflected in (Alberta) in a big way, she added.



According to academics and activists, climate change and Albertas ongoing reliance on resource extraction threaten physical, cultural and spiritual ways of life in Indigenous communities. This reality has led to a chorus of voices saying Canadians should view environmental issues as social justice matters.



The people who are most at risk or most vulnerable, and are on the front lines of climate change, are generally those who have not contributed in any substantial way to large-scale carbon emissions, said Ashlee Cunsolo, the director of the Labrador Institute of Memorial University.



Cunsolo has researched the impacts of climate change on Inuit communities, drawing from knowledge held by Inuit elders in northern regions of Newfoundland and Labrador.



Even subtle alterations to climate and environment can drastically alter daily lives in Indigenous communities, said Cunsolo.



This is one of those mass inequities globally right now, she added, noting that in some northern regions of the globe, average temperatures have increased by more than 2 C, despite the international communitys goal to slow global warming.



For Inuit, this extreme increase in average temperatures has made travel conditions unusually unsafe.



In the last few years in particular, more people are either going through the ice or getting stranded or stuck in storms, Cunsolo said. Before, (ice) would freeze up and it would stay cold and frozen. Now, were getting cold, warm, cold, rain, cold. Its all over the place and it creates unusual conditions.



She added that poor ice conditions prevent Inuit from going out on the land to hunt and gather food  a sign that climate change deeply affects Inuit ways of life.



As a result, Inuit communities have to cope with grief and loss in addition to grappling with diminished access to their food supply, Cunsolo said.



Were putting a tremendous amount of burden on certain humans on this planet, even though they were not the ones who caused the situation in the first place.



In Alberta, Jessica Cardinal, who is Metis from Kikino and sits on the steering committee for the advocacy group, Indigenous Climate Action, voiced concerns about resource extraction in the province.



She listed logging in the boreal forest as one development that threatens Indigenous lifestyles.



Forests sustain complete ecosystems. Thats where all the animals live, where all the good berries are, where the medicines are, because the trees protect what is in there, Cardinal said.



Cardinal said that many northern Alberta Indigenous communities rely on wildlife like moose, deer and rabbit, but when forests are clear-cut, those food sources disappear.



In addition to supporting plants and animals, trees supply many Indigenous communities with vitamins and minerals through their sap.



Part of the traditional ways of living includes tapping trees, so you can tap trees for the different juices they have. Cardinal said. (Sap) is one of the things that Indigenous peoples use to sustain themselves.



Rapid industrialization and colonialism have continuously threatened Indigenous ways of living, Cardinal said.



We still need places in the bush where we can go and connect to the land.



She added that Albertas Indigenous communities are fighting to protect the land by connecting to traditional knowledge  despite what she says are Canadas efforts to erase Indigenous knowledge.



Cardinal also urged non-Indigenous Albertans, particularly those living in Edmonton and Calgary, to recognize that ongoing resource development and climate change impact them as well.



If you live your life in a city, you dont really understand how rapid the industrialization is, how much forest is being cleared daily up north in the boreal forest, she said.



Cardinal added, What happens to the water outside of Calgary, affects Calgary, so that needs to be continuously highlighted  if we dont, as a society, start taking better care of our land and water, everybody is affected.



The Keepers of the Athabasca is a group run by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities devoted to protecting the water and watershed lands of the Athabasca River Basin.



One of the groups leaders, Jule Asterisk, said Indigenous communities are the hardest-hit by climate and environment shifts because climate change is so much more noticeable when youre actually not just living close to the land, but depend on the land.



Although the public often turns to climate scientists to learn about climate change and environmental degradation, Asterisk said that Indigenous peoples also hold relevant expertise.



People in the city would notice an extreme climate event, of course, like a flood or fire, but they wouldnt notice the little subtle changes, Asterisk said, adding Indigenous peoples in Alberta pick up on minor fluctuations in the Athabasca.



It wasnt just climate scientists who were noticing these changes, Asterisk said. Its also people who were close to the land because they work with the land, and also because they have spiritual and emotional connections to their traditional territories.



Chagnon agrees.



She said Indigenous peoples feel the effects of industrialization, including mining and oil and gas directly.



This is our home. Where are we going to go if we pollute all of our waters? If we pollute all of our land? Were not going to have anything to drink or any food to eat for future generations, Chagnon said.



And the devastating impacts have already encroached on Indigenous lifestyles, Chagnon said.



A lot of our traditional hunting and trapping and fishing lines are unusable, whether its because the animals have gone away because of the amount of noise, or the sheer pollution, Chagnon said. Or simply because once you do catch an animal, it is so sick with cancer and the amount of toxins in its system that we cant eat it.



Thats all it takes to strip Indigenous communities of their traditional ways of life, she added, before explaining that environmental degradation also has psychological and spiritual consequences.



Our responsibility is to the land, so when the land is devastated the way it has been, it takes a lot out of us, Chagnon said. We cant go to those traditional places where we would pray or ceremonially hunt because they arent left.



While Indigenous activists and community members combat climate change every day, Chagnon said Canadians also need to step up their efforts.



(Indigenous peoples) are the stewards of the lands, were the ones who protect the land, and we will keep going back to the land, Chagnon said.



Environmentalism and reconciliation go hand-in-hand and thats something that we really need to address  not only as a community, but as a province, and definitely as a country, she said.

 Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. 1996 - 2018

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul passes law to ban bottom trawling fisheries of all territorial sea

September 12,2018 | Source: WEBWIRE

The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul approves legislation to ban harmful fishing practices, protecting marine ecosystems allowing an increase in productivity, and ensuring the future of fishing. Signed into law by Governor Jose Ivo Sartori, the State Policy for Sustainable Development of Fishing was built by fishers with Oceanas support.



The new law is an important step on the way for other public policies promoting sustainable fishing to be debated, proposed, and passed in other states as well as at federal level. The measures include taking bottom trawling out of Brazils territorial sea  a 12-nautical-mile-wide area extending along the entire coast of the state, with about 13,000 sq km.



Fishers believes that the passing of the fishing regulation will greatly improve fishing in Rio Grande do Sul, which used to be one of the most important states in Brazils fishing industry.



According to the presidents of the states fishing community associations, the industry is facing collapse: damaging fishing practices have caused reduction in several species and more than 90% of the states fish industries have closed their doors in the past 30 years.



The law signed yesterday was built with the participation of representatives of all fisher community associations in the state, fishing vessel owners and the support of the NGO Oceana. That included over six months of data analyses that resulted in the document aimed at changing the reality of fishing in southern Brazil.



Brazil celebrates a major victory to protect an extremely important area for fishing in the country. Rio Grande do Suls sustainable fishing policy is an example of how fishing and the environment can go together, says Oceana vice-president in Brazil and oceanographer Ademilson Zamboni.

 WebWire 1995 - 2018

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
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UN experts urge prompt ratification of landmark Latin America and Caribbean environment treaty

September 13,2018 | Source: Reliefweb

UN human rights experts* welcome the adoption of the landmark Escazu agreement and are now urging States in Latin America and the Caribbean to sign and ratify as quickly as possible a ground-breaking environment treaty for the region.



The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean was adopted on 4 March 2018 in Escazu, Costa Rica, and will be open for signature on 27 September at the UN General Assembly in New York.



The treaty is the first of its kind in the world to include specific binding provisions for the protection and promotion of people, groups and organisations that promote and defend human rights in environmental matters. It was negotiated under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) and is the only binding treaty stemming from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).



This landmark regional treaty not only guarantees good governance and basic democratic rights but is also an enabler for environmental protection and sustainable development, the 27 UN experts said in a joint statement.



There is a special emphasis on people and groups in vulnerable situations and measures to try to help those most in need. We welcome the focus in this treaty on overcoming the barriers and difficulties that hinder the full enjoyment of human rights related to the environment, which is especially crucial in Latin America and the Caribbean, they added. They also praised the treatys explicit recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the acknowledgement of the cultural diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean and of their peoples.



The Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David R. Boyd, drew particular attention to Article 1 of the treaty, which recognises everyones right to live in a healthy environment.



The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, said: This agreement is a major leap forward in the protection and safeguarding of human rights defenders in environmental matters. By establishing specific binding provisions, Latin American and Caribbean States are not only recognising the acute and alarming situation faced by environmental defenders in countries of the region, but are also taking concrete steps to reaffirm their role and respect, protect and fulfil all their rights.



Provisions in the treaty aimed at ensuring access to information and justice, in the various languages used in each of the countries, and fostering public participation and cooperation were also welcomed by the UN experts.



In keeping with international human rights obligations, the regional agreement sets important standards that will be fundamental in addressing some of the worlds most pressing challenges such as climate change, land degradation, water pollution, natural disasters and the depletion and unsustainable use of natural resources, the experts stressed.



The experts added that States should adopt, in their strategies for achieving the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, an approach that encompasses the whole of society. They also pointed out that an essential aspect of States international human rights obligations is to ensure protection, respect and support for individuals who raise concerns about adverse human rights impacts, including climate-induced displacement and in the context of development projects where business is involved.



This approach would allow everyone, particularly those in more vulnerable situations  including older persons, access to timely and reliable information, so that they could participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives, and seek redress and remedy when their rights have been infringed.



By signing and promptly ratifying this ground-breaking treaty, Latin American and Caribbean States will reinforce their strong commitment to environmental protection and human rights and, above all, will send out an unequivocal message in favour of multilateralism, solidarity, equality and regional integration, while encouraging partnerships with other regions, the experts said.



In following up on the agreement, States should also ensure that business activities and investments do not come at the cost of adverse environmental and human rights impacts. In this context, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide the globally agreed framework for the respective duties and responsibilities of States and business enterprises, so as to prevent and address business-related impacts on human rights. In implementing the agreement, States should also be mindful of the varied and disproportionate impact of environmental matters on women and girls, and the specific challenges faced by women human rights defenders, and ensure that all actions taken incorporate a gender perspective.



The regional agreement is open for signature by the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and requires a minimum of 11 States to become operational.

Theme(s): Others.


Arnhem Land Drilling Update, and Further High Grade Ni Co Cu Au Assays at Piedmont Project

Brisbane, Sep 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Alligator Energy Ltd ( ASX:AGE ) announces Arnhem Land drilling update and further high grade Ni Co Cu Au assays at Piedmont Project.HighlightsArnhem Land Drilling- Two holes completed into Cahill Formation beneath unconformity - strong alteration in TCRD18-001 and graphite evident in TCRD18-002;- No anomalous scintillometer indications of uranium as yet;- Uranium price hits US$27 per lb, up more than 30% in 12 months.Piedmont Ni Co project- Range of significant grades from sampling of 0.49 to 2.24% Ni, 0.02 to 0.19% Co, 0.12 to 6.38% Cu and 0.6 to 60.8g/t Au;- Significant Ni Co results in the Laghetto - La Balma 2-3 km trend provide infill continuity;- Unexpected high grade Cu from Castilo di Gavala southern licence;- First assays from historic Gula prospect reveal Au potential with two grab samples in excess of 40g/t Au;- Magnetometer trial surveys completed and being processed.Significant geochemical rock chip sample assays include:Laghetto North: Sample P18-S102 - 1.73% Ni, 0.09% Co, 0.43% CuCastilo di Gavala: Sample P18-S176 - 1.31% Ni, 0.04% Co, 0.87% CuSample P18-S177 - 6.38% Cu, 0.75% Ni, 1.39g/t AuLa Balma: Sample P18-S131 - 2.24% Ni, 0.19% Co, 0.09% CuLa Balma SE: Sample P18-S121 - 1.21% Ni, 0.09% Co, 0.11% CuSample P18-S122 - 0.86% Ni, 0.06% Co, 0.18% CuGula: Sample P18-S160 - 0.93% CuSample P18-S170 - 60.8g/t Au, 0.38% CuSample P18-S159 - 41.5g/t AuVallar: Sample P18-S109 - 10.45g/t AuAGE's CEO Greg Hall commented today: "The drilling in Arnhem Land was initially slow but has now picked up. Two holes have been completed with unconformity depth and underlying Cahill Formation drilled as anticipated. No anomalous scintillometer readings have as yet been observed, however strong alteration consistent with historical uranium intersections have been identified. Downhole lithological and structural data is being utilised to revise the continued drillingThe Piedmont results are very exciting and add further support to the Laghetto-La Balma mineralised trend through the confirmation of infill Ni-Co occurrences along strike. The exceptional polymetallic results at Castilo di Gavala confirm the credentials of this exciting new project, further supported by the anomalous high Au values identified at Gula".Arnhem Land uranium drilling initial updateAlligator advised on 4 September the commencement of its Alligator Rivers Uranium Province (ARUP) drilling program, targeting its advanced TCC4 uranium prospect. Two holes of the planned program have been completed to date with a third currently in progress.The two holes completed on Line 3 (refer Figure 1 in link below) have confirmed the unconformity depth at approximately 180m down hole depth. The underlying Cahill Formation was then intersected as anticipated and continued to depth in both holes. While no anomalous counts per second (CPS) have been observed through hand held scintillometer readings as yet, TCRD18-001 had significant alteration near the base of the sandstone, and moderate chlorite alteration / chlorite schists in the Cahill. The second hole TCRD18-002 exhibited some graphitic shears and schists in the Cahill. Both the chlorite alteration and graphite have been associated with either historical uranium intersections or deposits.Alligator is updating its modelled cross sections with lithology and stratigraphic information as it proceeds, which will assist to inform and adjust immediate future drilling. The RC drilling of the pre-collar on hole TCRD18-003 is now underway.The spot price of uranium has reached US$27 per lb as of 12 September, up more than 30% in 12 months. This fairly continuous price improvement can likely be attributed to Cameco's earlier announcement of its indefinite suspension of uranium production at McArthur River Mine - the largest uranium mine in the world - combined with suppressed production by other producers. Along with this, there is also approximately 10GW nuclear power (about 2.5 to 3% pa) being added to the global nuclear power base annually through new reactor construction.Piedmont Project, northern Italy - Final batch of sample assay resultsAlligator Energy Limited (Alligator or the Company) is pleased to announce the release of the second and final batch of assay results received from its detailed on-ground geochemical sampling and mapping work at its Piedmont nickel-cobalt-copper project in northern Italy. Piedmont is a farm-in/joint venture project with Chris Reindler and Partners (CRP) (ASX Announcement: 1 February 2018).From May to July 2018, AGE's exploration team completed substantial on-ground geological and structural mapping, along with extensive geochemical sampling and a ground-based magnetometer survey around historical mines and other prospective sites within the project area.Alligator, along with our Farm-in and JV partner CRP, will evaluate the effectiveness of the ground magnetometer data and assimilate this with the geochemical data and regional interpretation to establish the best way to advance this Province scale opportunity through further ground work, geophysics and drilling. Due to recent changes in Italian mining law, an environmental survey is required prior to drilling and hence this will most likely delay a drilling program into the European Spring of 2019.Piedmont Geological Setting and Exploration progressFigure 2 (see link below) shows the location of Alligator's interest in the Piedmont Project tenements, including those granted which are part of the CRP Farm-in and Joint Venture arrangement, those under application either in the Farm-in or directly applied for by Alligator.A review of historical results and technical papers, combined with on-ground observation, indicate the region is a major gabbroic mafic complex, with sub-volcanic layered intrusive structures leading down to depth. The region of interest appears to extend some 30kms in length, by 2 to 3kms wide. From previous work, the dominant sulphide mineral is pyrrhotite, with minor amounts of pentlandite and chalcopyrite.Phase one exploration work has included the collection of 167 surface rock chip samples from within the current licence areas, of which the remaining 90 surface sample assay results have now been received. A further 5 samples have been collected for petrographic studies to determine mineral types within the samples, which will assist with the selection of future possible processing techniques.Of the 167 samples collected to date, 159 are located within the Alpe Laghetto licence area. Figure 3 (see link below) above shows the distribution of all samples collected to date and Figure 4 in link below shows the distribution of samples from the second batch of assay results over the Alpe Laghetto licence area plotted by Ni %. Three prospects have returned results >1% Ni within this second batch of results, being Laghetto North, La Balma and La Balma SE.The Laghetto-La Balma trend has produced further exciting results through infill sampling highlighting a more continuous trend than first anticipated. High grade Ni results from the Laghetto North (1.73% Ni) and La Balma SE (1.21% Ni) prospects have shown Ni Co mineralisation extending between the two recognised historic prospects. This adds greater continuity to the mineralisation trend through on-ground identification of further mineralised outcrops infilling the previously identified 2-3km trend. Further structural and geological similarities have been observed at these new prospects and correlations can now be drawn through existing magnetic geophysics conducted simultaneously with the 2015 EM survey undertaken by Nyota, with processing undertaken by AGE. Future work will continue to determine the level of continuity and structural setting within these mineral lenses.First sample results from Castilo di Gavala in the southern-most EL (refer Figure 3 in link below) show the potential of "pipe" style mineralisation in the region with exceptionally high Cu-Ni grades returned in sample P18-S177 of 6.38% Cu and 0.74% Ni. This is supported by a second grab sample P18-S176 returning 1.31% Ni and 0.87% Cu. Additionally, moderate Co and Au credentials occur at the prospect returning 0.04% Co and 1.39g/t Au also. And with just two samples collected to date further sampling is highly anticipated.Another new prospect sampled during this phase was the historic Gula mine (see Figure 3 and 4 in link below). Sampling at the Gula prospect has returned highly anomalous Au in conjunction with a moderate Cu occurrence. Sample P18-S170 represents the stand out result, returning 60.8g/t Au and 0.38% Cu. This is supported by 41.4g/t Au and 0.93% Cu in samples P18-S159 and P18-S160 respectively. Sampling highlights can be seen below in Table 1:(see link below)Six samples have been taken on the Cani licence area at Vallar, to the north of the Laghetto licence (refer Figure 3 in link below). The Cani licence and Vallar prospect represent a small Au prospect with several small historic mines. Initial reconnaissance of this licence area identified three of these historic mines and six samples were collected from the historic Vallar mine. The highlight of this sampling being 10.45g/t Au in P18-S109.The location of all samples can be seen above in Figure 3 (see link below) which provides an overview of all sampling and identified mineral occurrences.Samples were selected on a geological basis and collected as grab samples in a non-systematic nature as part of a reconnaissance mapping program around historic nickel prospects and mines within the AGE/CRP tenure. Sampling was completed using a geopick, with locations recorded utilising a hand held GPS. The program was designed to be representative of the variety of rock types and sulphide levels observed in the project area. Results are comparable to the previously unverified historic mining grades of the district and provide encouragement that, along with identification of lateral and depth continuation, potential exists for economic discoveries to be made within the district.Future WorkFrom May to July 2018, AGE's exploration team completed substantial on-ground geological and structural mapping, along with extensive geochemical sampling and a ground-based magnetometer survey around historical mines and other prospective sites within the project area. The magnetometer survey results will be processed and interpreted in the coming weeks.Alligator, along with our Farm-in and JV partner CRP, will evaluate the effectiveness of the ground magnetometer data and assimilate this with the geochemical data and regional interpretation to establish the best way to advance this Province scale opportunity through further ground work, geophysics and drilling.Note that due to changes this year in Italian mining law, an environmental survey is required prior to drilling and hence this will most likely delay a drilling program into the European Spring of 2019.Project BackgroundThe Piedmont Project is located within an historic mining district with cobalt, nickel and copper mining taking place from the late 1800's to the end of WWII. Cobalt production grades of over 0.2% and nickel grades of over 2% were recorded as historic mine grade estimates within the Project area.Alligator considers the Piedmont project prospective for Fe-Ni-Cu-Co massive sulphide deposits in gabbroic and mafic rocks. Previous work on the metallogenesis of the Hercynian orogeny of the Alps completed by Omenetto and Brigo in 1974 drew strong similarities with Sudbury type ores regarding the sulphide assemblages. Bigioggero et al. 1979 made a division of the deposits within the project area based on the metal association and geological settings, these categories were:1) Mineralisation in layers of the cyclic units, proximal to metasediments2) Mineralisation in layers of the main gabbro3) Mineralisation in pipesAlligator are exploring for all 3 mineralisation types. Virtually no modern exploration has been completed within the district, until a recent EM survey highlighted targets proximal to historic workings.Piedmont Project Deal StructureAlligator entered a Binding Heads of Agreement with CRP on January 31st to earn into the Piedmont Cobalt Nickel project (see AGE ASX Press Release 1 Feb 2018). In summary, Alligator's farm-in agreement comprises:- Up front payments in shares and cash;- A total of $650,000 to achieve 51% project ownership from completing both the Phase 1 and 2 Work Programs; and- Option to increase ownership to 70% through a further $1.25 million program of workAlligator and CRP have agreed to collaborate on other Ni, Co, Cu opportunities within Italy as deemed suitable to both parties.Alligator has now completed the establishment of an Italian company AGE EV Metals S.r.L. This company is a fully owned subsidiary of Alligator and will contain the targeted 51% interest in the Piedmont Project (when earned) plus other EL's and applications which may be obtained. The Company has been considering additional opportunities within the region and recently announced the application for two further exploration permits (ASX Announcement: 23 August 2018).To view tables and figures, please visit:About Alligator Energy Ltd

Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) is an Australian, ASX-listed, exploration company focused on uranium and energy related minerals, principally cobalt-nickel.

Alligator's Directors have significant experience in the exploration, development and operations of both uranium and nickel projects (both laterites and sulphides).
Federal officials expressed confidence the six nuclear power plants in Hurricane Florence's path are safe, but some experts aren't so sure, warning that flooding and torrential rains could overwhelm their defenses.

The six nuclear power plants in North and South Carolina sit directly in the storm's projected path, according to Mary Catherine Green, spokeswoman for Duke Energy, which owns all six.

Accidents, disasters and safety Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Companies Duke Energy Corporation Electric power industry Energy and utilities Floods and flooding Hurricane Florence Hurricanes Natural disasters Nuclear energy Severe weather Tropical storms Utilities industry Weather

Duke's Brunswick Nuclear Plant and its Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant near Raleigh, both in North Carolina, are the closest to where the hurricane is forecast to make landfall, Green said.

In a press briefing, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the FEMA Office of Response and Recovery, said the agency was not concerned about the power plants in the storm's path "at this time."

"Those power plants are, one, obviously hardened. Two, they have backup generators for power and we will rapidly assess any impacts to a nuclear power plant post-storm," Byard said in a call with media. "Obviously, it's something that we track and monitor but at this time we're not concerned with any issues pertaining to the nuclear power plants."

However, The Union of Concerned Scientists, a science-oriented public policy organization, is concerned about the Brunswick plant's ability to withstand the storm, because of what the group says is a lack of publicly available information about the plant's readiness. According to the group, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not released public information validating that the plant has been properly updated to protect against flooding.

In 2012, Duke Energy reported to the NRC that there were hundreds of "missing or degraded flood barriers" at the plant. The follow-up report sent to the NRC by Duke Energy in 2015 was not made publicly available, according to The Union of Concerned Scientists.

NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said if the report wasn't made public it may have been because the report contained security-related information, but he wasn't aware of the 2015 report's status. Hannah said the Brunswick plant was up to code ahead of the storm.

"We have inspected their storm protections. We have looked at their preparations," Hannah said. "We're satisfied they met current NRC requirements."

Flooding at nuclear plants became more of a concern after a 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan caused one of the worst nuclear disasters since the 1986 Chernobyl incident. Three nuclear reactors melted down at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, releasing dangerous radiation into the surrounding area.

Since the 2011 incident, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has updated its requirements for nuclear power plants regarding natural disasters, according to former NRC chairman and managing director of the ND2 group Nils Diaz.

"These are 5-foot, 6-foot thick containment buildings," Diaz said. "Everything is put up high to prevent intrusion of a normal hurricane, but beyond that they have additional protections that are provided."

Diaz said he did not think there would be issues with the power plants in the upcoming storms.

NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said the Brunswick plant is properly fortified to withstand hurricanes of Florence's strength, and there are plans in place to shut down if necessary.

"The [Brunswick] plant already has procedures in place both to shut down well in advance of hurricane effects actually occurring on site," Burnell said. "The plant also has procedures in place to reinforce what are already robust defenses against flooding to ensure that it will remain safe as the storm passes by."

Burnell said the NRC has inspectors on site at Brunswick to monitor the plant as the staff go through their storm procedures, which he said is standard practice for the agency.

He said each plant has resident inspectors on site, and one or two additional inspectors at sites that are expected to be more directly impacted by the storm.

"We have staff at every site on the Carolinas for these plants where there's the expectation of significant effects from the storm," Burnell said.

Emergency planners have contemplated the risks of a hurricane-related nuclear power plant issue on the East Coast. A hurricane simulation exercise conducted by FEMA and the Energy Department this spring considered how to respond to damage at a nuclear power plant, according to The Associated Press, which first reported the exercise.
(CNN) -- At least five people, including a mother and her infant, have died in North Carolina as Tropical Storm Florence slowly moves through the Carolinas, officials said Friday.

After coming ashore as a Category 1 hurricane, Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm Friday afternoon.

Two people died in Wilmington after a tree fell on their house, the city's police department said.

"WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house," police tweeted Friday afternoon. "The father was transported to (New Hanover Regional Medical Center) with injuries."

The hospital said it has received three injured patients.

In the town of Hampstead, emergency responders going to a call for cardiac arrest Friday morning found their path blocked by downed trees. When they got to the home, the woman was deceased, Chad McEwen, assistant county manager for Pender County, said.

The fourth person who died was a man in Lenoir County who was hooking up a generator, Gov. Roy Cooper's office said. Another man in the county who was checking on his dogs outside was killed in what his family thought was a wind-related death Friday morning, emergency officials said.

Florence is inching along after making landfall in North Carolina, trapping people in flooded homes and promising days of destruction and human suffering.

Storm surges, punishing winds and rain are turning some towns into rushing rivers -- and the storm is expected to crawl over parts of the Carolinas into the weekend, pounding some of the same areas over and over.

"The storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days," Cooper warned residents at a news conference.

In the besieged city of New Bern, rescuers had plucked more than 200 people from rising waters by midmorning, but about 150 more had to wait as conditions worsened and a storm surge reached 10 feet, officials said. That number was down to 40 later in the day.

By Friday, Florence already had:

 Sapped power to more than 717,000 homes and businesses in North and South Carolina, emergency officials said.

 Forced 26,000 people into more than 200 emergency shelters across the Carolinas.

 Pushed more than 60 people to evacuate from a hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after part of the roof collapsed, city officials said.

 Prompted 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 40,000 electric workers to mobilize in response.

 Canceled more than 1,100 flights along the East Coast on Friday and Saturday.

Follow the storm's path

Key developments

 Florence's location: By 5 p.m., Florence's center was about 25 miles northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and was crawling at 3 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

 Prolonged, dangerous winds: Tropical storm-force winds extend 175 miles from Florence's center. The storm is expected to lumber into far southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina through Saturday, punishing the area with rain and damaging winds.

 Flooding for miles: Up to 40 inches of rain, and storm surges pushing water inland and not allowing rivers to drain, "will produce catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding," the National Hurricane Center says. "You're going to have flooding miles and miles inland," the center's director, Ken Graham, said.

 Record gusts: Wilmington's airport recorded a 105-mph wind gust -- the fastest measured since Hurricane Helene hit the city in 1958, the National Hurricane Center said.

 Nuclear plant shutdown: A nuclear power plant in Brunswick, North Carolina, shut down operations because of the storm, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Twitter. "Plant procedures call for the reactors to be shut down before the anticipated onset of hurricane-force winds," agency spokesman Joey Ledford told CNN. Federal officials had said midweek they weren't concerned about that facility or five other nuclear plants in the storm's path, calling them "hardened." Expert scientists, however, had said they were worried about Brunswick because of scant public information about its readiness.

Rescues and narrow escapes

Florence's rain will bring 40 inches to some parts of the Carolinas, forecasters said. Rainfall totals will be similar to those in hurricanes Dennis and Floyd in 1999, the National Weather Service's Chris Wamsley said

"The only difference is, back then it was within 14 days," he said. With Florence, "we're looking at the same amount of rainfall in three days."

One of the rescuers in New Bern was Jason Weinmann, a retired Marine who has a military troop transport vehicle he bought at a government auction.

He picked up 10 people on one run and took them to a shelter. Jennifer Morales, 20, said there was 3 feet of water in her home.

"It was pretty bad. We didn't know where to go," she said.

Why Florence is extremely dangerous

Peggy Perry, who was rescued by another group in New Bern, said rising water forced her into the upper level of her home.

"In a matter of seconds, my house was flooded up to the waist, and now it is to the chest," said Perry, who was trapped early Friday with three relatives. "We are stuck in the attic."

Swift-water rescue teams from out of state helped local rescuers evacuate people whenever conditions allowed. One team from Maryland helped with about 40 rescues in New Bern starting Thursday, member Mitchell Rusland said.

Craven County, where New Bern is located, had logged more than 100 service calls from residents trapped on their roofs or in their cars, county spokeswoman Amber Parker said.

In Belhaven, the Pungo River roared into town, crashing up against homes at a waist-high level and higher late Thursday and early Friday, video from Amy Johnson showed.

A terrifying night

In Morehead City, Brooke Kittrell rode out the storm Thursday and Friday with her boyfriend aboard their docked boat, hoping it didn't break loose and slam something.

She succeeded -- staying awake all night, retying broken dock lines in howling winds. But there were times she thought they wouldn't survive, she told CNN.

"I honestly cried," Kittrell said. "I was born and raised here and been through every storm the last 30 years, but this one seems to be doing more damage than we expected."

By Friday morning, the shore was flooded, and buildings were damaged, in video she put up on Facebook.

In Jacksonville, North Carolina, city officials posted photos of toppled gas pumps and a downed trees early Friday, warning residents to take shelter and avoid roadways.

Officials in several states have declared states of emergency, including in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland, where coastal areas are still recovering from summer storms.
Delta Fire Update

I-5 is open this morning with some traffic control between Lamoine and Pollard Flats. The Delta Fire is 60,018 acres and 28 percent contained. The U.S. Forest Service says 17 homes have been destroyed.

Shasta County District Attorney Cracks Down on Carr Fire Fraud

The Shasta County District Attorney's Office continues its crackdown on fraud surrounding the Carr Fire. Nine arrests have been made in a two-day sting operation to catch unlicensed contractors. Those 9 scammers are now facing felony charges for posing as contractors in times of a disaster.

Redding Police Arrest Suspect in Explosions Case

Redding Police have arrested a suspect connected to a series of high-profile incidents involving explosives in Shasta County. Police say Daniel Kuykendall, 51, has been on the run since February. His arrest was part of a larger sting operation - leading to five arrests and the seizure of thousands of dollars of drugs and cash.

Anderson Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Inappropriate Relationship with a Student

A high school teacher in Anderson is behind bars this morning on suspicion of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Police arrested Daniel Schafer, 35, of Redding, who is a former teacher of Anderson New Tech High School. Police are investigating the case, along with the Shasta County District Attorney's office. No further details have been released.

Road Closure in Yuba City

Starting tonight at 7 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., Second Street will be closed in Yuba City. This closure will allow crews to put in new girders for the second street under-crossing. The Fifth Street bridge will remain open to vehicles only.

Construction on Oro-Quincy Highway

Repair work on the Oro-Quincy Highway southeast of Oroville will be delayed another year. Heavy rainstorms damaged the road in January of 2017. Several state and federal requests for funding still need to be completed. Construction will begin around April of 2019 and repairs should be finished by the fall.

Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall in North Carolina

Hurricane Florence has made landfall as a Category 1 storWrightsvilleville beach, North Carolina. The national hurricane center says maximum winds are around 90 miles per hour. More than one million and a half residents along the coast have been told to evacuate their homes.
Imperial Valley News Center

Coders, Technologists, and Conservationists Tackle Wildlife Trafficking Challenges at Zoohackathon 2018

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of State will host the third annual Zoohackathon in Madrid, Spain; Mumbai, India; San Diego, California; and Entebbe, Uganda, September 15-16, 2018; and in New Delhi, India, September 22-23, 2018. The Zoohackathon events bring together coders, designers, university students, and conservation enthusiasts to combat wildlife trafficking through digital and technological innovations.

Wildlife traffickingthe poaching, illegal transit, trade and sale of wildlifedecimates the worlds most iconic species and generates more than $10 billion a year for transnational organized criminal networks that profit from the illicit sales of exotic pets, delicacies, jewelry, and traditional medicines. The problem is global in scope, it is pervasive, and it has devastating impacts: it threatens security, undermines the rule of law, fuels corruption, spreads disease, robs local communities of their natural resource bases and livelihoods (including the economic benefits derived from nature-based tourism and hunting), and pushes species to the brink of extinction.

At each Zoohackathon site, participants have 24-48 hours to code apps and other programs in response to challenge statements provided by conservation experts, who are fighting against wildlife trafficking on the frontlines. At the end of the hackathons, teams present their work to a panel of judges, and the judges nominate a winner; each site winner is eligible for a global prize.

This years Zoohackathon is organized by the Department of States Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in conjunction with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other international entities.
Imperial Valley News Center

Have Your Food and Eat the Wrapper Too

New Orleans, Louisiana - According to the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year. This plastic waste can take up to 400 years to break down in the landfill, harming animal life, polluting cities, or overwhelming landfills. To combat the harmful environmental effects of plastic, many companies are seeking to replace excess plastic packaging with edible materials. Using innovative technology and plant-based materials like seaweed, organizations have developed numerous packaging alternatives safe for human consumption.

To highlight these inspiring alternatives to plastic, Food Tanks brings you 18 innovations in edible packaging. These organizations are working to reduce plastic waste, support a healthy environment, and influence consumer behavior.

1. Apeel Sciences

Apeel, a translucent peel that slows water loss and oxidation from Apeel Sciences, works to extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables and reduce the amount of rotten, wasted food. The California-based company, Apeel Sciences, used plant-derived materials found in peels and skins in creating Apeel to naturally lengthen the shelf life of perishable foods. The sheer coating keeps air out by acting like a second peel and is completely edible. Apeel is trying to reduce the amount of food lost for producers, suppliers, retailers, and consumers.

2. Bakeys

Bakeys, an edible cutlery company, was founded in India to try to provide a waste-free and chemical-free alternative to disposable plastic, wood, and bamboo cutlery. The founder, Narayana Peesapaty, created Bakeys out of concern for groundwater depletion and the danger of plastic toxins on human systems. The cutlery is made of a blend of sorghum, rice, and wheat flours, completely biodegradable, and vegan-friendly.

3. Coolhaus

Coolhaus is a Los Angeles-based ice cream sandwich company that offers their creations in an edible potato wafer paper wrapping. While not all of their products are packaged in edible packaging, Coolhaus offers this potato wrapping as an eco-friendly alternative to their other plastic-based wrappers. To reduce catering and event packaging waste, Coolhaus imprints the tasteless potato wrappers with specific logos or brands using edible ink for each event.

4. Do Eat

Belgium-based company, Do Eat, combines water and potato starch to create a gluten-free, vegetarian, edible package for sandwiches, bagels, cookies, and other individual foods. As an alternative to plastic food packaging, Do Eat packaging is completely edible, biodegradable, and home compostable. The neutral flavor allows the packaging to be paired with savory or sweet foods and can be grilled with its contents. Do Eat founders, Thibaut Gilquin and Helen Hoyois, are attempting to change consumer waste behavior without consumers noticing a difference.

5. Ecovative

Ecovative is a design and packaging company working to develop, produce, and market environmentally friendly products to work in conjunction with the Earths ecosystem. The New York-based company begins at the cellular level by using mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus, to grow packaging for wine bottles, cold storage, or any product needing support. Ecovative uses various nutrients and environments to grow the mycelium packaging which creates differing strengths and flexibilities. While Eben Bayer, a co-founder, says the packaging is, in fact, edible, he encourages consumers to compost it to use as fertilizer.

6. E6PR

A Mexican-based start-up, Eco Six Pack Ring or E6PR, is trying to replace the plastic six-pack ring that holds beer cans by combining compostable matter and by-product waste to create an eco-friendly six-pack ring. Plastic six-pack rings often make their way to the ocean greatly harming sea life, which inspired E6PR to create an environmentally and animal friendly product. These biodegradable and compostable ecorings completely break down if left in the wild or in water and do not harm animals digestive tracts. The ecorings are also 100 percent edible, but the company does not encourage human consumption due to possible contamination on the journey to the retail store.

7. Evoware

Evoware, a seaweed-based packaging company, works to reduce plastic waste by replacing plastic food packaging with edible, dissolvable, and biodegradable packaging. The tasteless, odorless packaging comes in various sizes to fit sandwiches, cereals, or coffee sachets and is customizable for specific colors and brand logos. Along with reducing plastic waste, the Indonesian-based company collaborates with local seaweed farmers to try to reduce carbon emissions, increase farmers incomes, and maintain clean shores. Evoware is trying to provide an eco-solution to plastic waste while improving the livelihoods of Indonesian seaweed farmers.

8. Loliware

Loliware is a biodegradable, edible cup company founded and designed by Parsons School of Design graduates, Chelsea Briganti and Leigh Ann Tucker. Loliware uses seaweed, organic sweeteners, and fruit and vegetable coloring to produce natural, non-toxic cups that are FDA approved to eat. According to Briganti and Tucker, Americans throw away 25 million plastic cups every year which inspired them to create Loliware. Loliware is trying to change the packaging industry by providing edible products as a solution to one-use plastic cups. The company is currently in the midst of launching an edible straw with the hope to expand their products and decrease the abundance of single-use plastics.

9. Monosol

Monosol, an Indiana-based packaging company, utilizes water-soluble film technology to create sustainable packaging that completely dissolves in water. A division of Japan-based parent company, Kuraray, Monosol partners with various businesses to provide an eco-friendly alternative to packaging of all sorts including detergents, personal care products, and food goods. Because the packaging is transparent, tasteless, and odorless, Monosol is trying to replace the wrapping for foods such as oatmeal and spices.

10. NVYRO

NVYRO, pronounced en-vi-ro, transforms Cassava plants, also called tapioca, into single-use biodegradable and edible packaging to offer an alternative to polystyrene and plastic food packaging. The Cassava plant is a sturdy raw material, which is then broken down and processed through thermal compression moulding making NVYROs products water-resistant for 75 minutes and oil resistant for several hours. Based in the United Kingdom, NVYRO offers a wide variety of products ranging from plates and cups to take-out containers in the hopes to replace current single-use plastic and paper goods.

11. Poppits

Florida-based startup, Poppits, is a toothpaste company using water-soluble pods to attempt to reduce the need for plastic toothpaste tubes and caps. In efforts to eliminate plastic pollution, Poppits use food-grade edible film to house single-use toothpaste pods that completely dissolve when brushing, which are packaged in sustainably sourced, biodegradable cardboard and recyclable aluminum. Poppits inventor, Wayne Solan, hopes to decrease bathroom mess while providing an edible and environmentally friendly toothpaste package.

12. Scoby

Polish design student, Roza Janusz, drew inspiration from vegetable cultivation to create Scoby: Living Packages, an edible, recyclable packaging, for her graduate project at the School of Form in Poznan, Poland. Scoby, short for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, is a growing, living organism most known as the membrane found in kombucha. Janusz uses extracts from agricultural waste to feed Scoby which then grow into edible and compostable packaging. Janusz wants farmers to grow their own Scoby to limit wasteful packaging practices and instead create zero-waste packaging.

13. Skipping Rocks Lab

London-based start-up, Skipping Rocks Lab, uses seaweed and plant materials to create waste-free alternatives to plastic packaging. Their first product, Ooho, dubbed water you can eat, strives to provide the convenience of plastic water bottles without the environmental impact. Ooho is a spherical, flexible package made of seaweed that holds water and can be eaten like a grape. While Ooho is currently only sold at events, Skipping Rocks Lab is working on getting Ooho into stores to help reduce the amount of plastic water bottles ending up in the oceans and prevent millions of kilograms of CO2 from ever being emitted.

14. Taste No Waste Project

Montreal-based anthropological researcher and industrial designer, Diane Leclair Bisson, uses culture-specific research to inform sustainable food packaging innovations that seek to change consumer interaction with food containers through the Taste No Waste Project. The Taste No Waste Project replaces disposable food containers with edible ones made from tomatoes to offer a possible waste reduction solution and a new gastronomic experience. By creating an edible container, Diane hopes to generate a more meaningful interaction with food and its packaging, which she thinks can be an agent for cultural change.

15. TIPA

Inspired by the compostability of an orange peel, TIPA, an Israeli-based sustainable packaging company, creates packing material that looks and feels like plastic with one large difference: its completely home compostable. Daphna Nissenbaum and Tal Neuman founded TIPA as a potential solution to the worlds growing plastic waste problem. TIPA combines bio-materials and technology to create flexible, plastic-like packaging that is 100 percent biodegradable and leaves no toxic residue.

16. Tomorrow Machine

A Swedish design company, Tomorrow Machine, questions the lifespan of plastic food packaging through their own packaging series, This Too Shall Pass. The packages in the series have the same life-span of the contents they hold whether its juice, rice, or oil. The edible packaging for oil is made of wax-coated sugar, which cracks open like an egg then melts under water. The designers behind the food packaging series work to build a more sustainable world through research, technology, and new materials.

17. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Two chemical engineers, Peggy Tomasula and Laetitia Bonnaillie, of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the USDA, are trying to reduce food spoilage by using casein proteins found in milk to create an edible wrapping product similar to plastic wrap. The researchers recently combined an alkali compound to the casein wrapping, which they state keeps oxygen out of food 500 times better than petroleum-based wrappings and is resistant to humidity, temperature, and moisture. Because the wrapping is made of the casein protein, the researchers suggest use with other dairy products or provide an allergy warning.

18. WikiCells

Inspired by the methods of nature, WikiCells are edible skins that encase food or liquids to create a protective barrier from the outside world. Harvard Professor, David Edwards, came up with the idea to use various natural food particles held together by nutritive ions to construct a completely edible skin as an alternative to plastic packaging. With the help of designer Francois Azambourg, Edwards brought WikiCells to fruition with the hopes of WikiCells products being sold in bulk, similar to fruits or vegetables, which the consumer could later wash at home. Incredible Foods commercialized WikiCells and now sell the products in the United States as Perfectly Free bites.
Peace at a price: scientists see threats to Colombias environment

West Lafayette, Indiana - After more than five decades of hostility that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, Colombia has embarked on a new era of peace. But the peace brings its own risks: a chaotic transition could leave the countrys richly diverse forests unprotected and, ultimately, lead to a loss of resources and species that would harm rural populations.

Scientists are urging the Colombian government to plan for the future of its forests as soon as possible.

Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) implemented a peace treaty in 2017, putting an end to more than a half century of fighting. Now, scientists are worried about the effects on the countrys important ecosystems as people pushed to urban areas by violence return to their rural homes and government and private interests look to the forests as prime opportunities to expand mining and agricultural interests.

During its existence, FARC unintentionally staved off deforestation and protected significant ecosystems, said Jeff Dukes, a Purdue professor in the Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Biological Sciences, and co-author of a paper that addresses the issues facing Colombias environment.

Fighters were growing drugs there but in general keeping out large-scale conversion of land, Dukes said. When you have a major political change like this, theres the possibility that youll get much more pressure for development on the land. Having peace is a good thing, but if there isnt a lot of thought and protection for forests given up front, there could be massive biodiversity loss and loss of resources throughout Colombia.

A paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment lays out the concerns about the forests, which cover about 460,000 square kilometers, or 30 percent of the country. The findings are based on a 2016 meeting in Medellin, Colombia, organized by Purdue biological sciences graduate student Alejandro Salazar, that brought together climate and environmental scientists from Purdue, several Colombian universities  Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad EIA, EAFIT University and Universidad Nacional de Colombia  as well as Columbia University, the University of Exeter, the University of Miami and the Max Planck Institute.

Colombia  like the rest of the world  is also experiencing changes to its climate, including rising temperatures and reductions in precipitation. Deforestation could further dry out the climate and threaten the habitats of many vulnerable animal species.

If the peace agreement makes access to forest resources more feasible, deforestation rates and habitat fragmentation could spike, the authors said. As natural habitat is fragmented or lost, species will face elevated risks of population decline and extinction.

Forest clearing has already increased since the peace agreement was signed. In 2016, deforestation jumped 44 percent in Colombia. The authors said it will be up to the government to balance ecosystem needs with the desire to utilize land that had been occupied by rebels for so long. They suggest increasing environmental monitoring to understand how ecosystems are changing and using that information to develop strategies for protecting the countrys natural resources.

Based on other examples of political transitions, Colombia would benefit from thinking very carefully about what it wants its environmental future to look like and what sort of environmental stewardship needs to take place, Dukes said.

Purdues Qianlai Zhuang, professor of agronomy and earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, and Maria Uribe, a graduate student in ecological sciences and engineering, were also authors on the paper and contributed to the organization of the 2016 meeting in Colombia. Funding for the project came from: Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad Eafit, the Purdue Research Foundation, ICETEX, the Purdue Climate Change Research Center, the Colombia-Purdue Initiative and the Colombian Student Association at Purdue. Other partial funding was from Colciencias, the Ayudar Foundation from the University of Exeters College Benefactors and the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The United States and UN Sanction Libyan Militia Leader Ibrahim Jadhran

Washington, DC - Today, the United States, in coordination with the UN Security Councils Libya Sanctions Committee, imposed financial sanctions on Libyan militia leader Ibrahim Jadhran. In accordance with todays UN listing, which was proposed by Libyas Permanent Mission to the UN, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Jadhran pursuant to Executive Order 13726. Consequently, all of Jadhrans assets within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him. In addition, the corresponding UN sanctions require all UN Member States to impose an asset freeze and travel ban.

In June 2018, forces led by Jadhran violently attacked and seized control of the Libyan oil ports Ras Lanuf and Al Sidra. This created an economic and political crisis that cost Libya more than $1.4 billion in revenue and set back efforts to promote political progress and stability in Libya.

Libyas oil facilities, production, and revenues belong to the Libyan people. These vital Libyan resources must remain under the exclusive control of the legitimate National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the sole oversight of the Government of National Accord (GNA), as emphasized in multiple UN Security Council Resolutions.

Todays action shows that the United States and the international community will take concrete and forceful action in response to those who undermine Libyas peace, security, or stability.
Russia-backed Sham Elections in Ukraine

Washington, DC - The United States condemns the announcement of a plan to conduct elections in the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. Given the continued control of these territories by the Russian Federation, genuine elections are inconceivable, and grossly contravene Russias commitments under the Minsk agreements. By engineering phony procedures, Russia is once more demonstrating its disregard for international norms and is undermining efforts to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine.

The so-called peoples republics that Russia created have no place within the Ukrainian constitutional order.

The United States remains fully committed to diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-instigated conflict in eastern Ukraine. U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering.
Apple has been coasting on the brilliance of Steve Jobs ever since his death in 2011. It seems that Jobs may also have made a huge mistake that's now coming back to haunt his company.

Apple under Jobs famously created the iPod/iTunes ecosystem, which leapfrogged over existing MP3 players and even free illegal downloading by making it insanely easy to buy songs and (later) video content.

That ecosystem was largely responsible for the iPod's success, which laid the groundwork for the iPhone and Apple's subsequent dominance of the consumer electronics market. It was arguably the smartest move Jobs ever made.

However, when Jobs set up the contracts with content providers (big studios, mostly), he decided to use a subscription/licensing model (similar to software) rather than sell users rights to a single copy of that content (similar to DVDs.)

Under copyright, the content creators own the content. Thus, while you can own a book (the board, paper, ink, etc.), you don't own the contents of that book. You do, however, own that single representation of the content. That's why you can sell that book without concern for copyright.

Jobs could presumably have set up iTunes so that a purchase meant a purchase of a single representation of that content. Instead, he set it up so that you're buying not that single copy but a subscription to download that content.

As a result, when you "buy" a piece of content through iTunes, it's not like a DVD that you can stick in your library and play whenever. It's like buying a DVD that the studio (the content owners) can alter or erase whenever they want to.

Previously, the difference has been moot. The iTunes environment made it feel as if you had moved your CD, DVD, and Blu-ray collection online. Because online libraries "feel the same" as your bookshelves at home, most people don't care.

However, according to Forbes magazine, Apple's relationship with some of the studios is breaking down, and some of the studios are beginning to pull their content out of iTunes. This effectively means the content in question will no longer be available to the users who purchased it.

To make matters worse, Apple will apparently not be obligated to refund your money, on account of impenetrable legalese in the user agreement. Apple may choose to refund, but apparently, it's treating the obligation as like a subscription: The longer you've "owned" the content, the less likely Apple is to give you a refund.

While Apple is no doubt within its legal rights to treat users this way, 99.9 percent of iTunes users think that they've purchased a single copy of the content (downloadable on multiple devices), and, therefore, by making the content unavailable, Apple is stealing.

As of now, this problem appears to be limited to a small number of customers and a small amount of content. However, the situation could easily metastasize into a PR debacle. The reason? Media consolidation.

At this point, the big media conglomerates (like Disney) control so much content that they're more powerful than any of the companies that distribute the content. Witness, for example, Disney yanking its content off Netflix.

Let's suppose that Disney decides to do the same with iTunes. While consumers realize that Netflix content changes (and costs a very low monthly fee), consumers think of their iTunes purchase as content for which they've paid a premium price.

If, as looks likely, that content starts disappearing, consumers are going to be furious and chances are they're going to blame Apple rather than Disney. Why?

Because to make consumers whole, Apple will need to refund billions of dollars--which they're not going to do, as evidenced by the stance they've already taken.

Disney, however, could easily and relatively painlessly make those consumers whole by offering, with proof of purchase, free subscriptions to their services or continuous access to that content through Disney's own service. Indeed, such a program could help Disney capture viewers for its service, similar to the "free to try" business model.

Regardless of how the PR plays out, though, Apple ends up losing the consumers' trust, which will inevitably blunt iTunes revenue. Indeed, since I read the Forbes article, I've decided to completely stop purchasing "keeper" content on iTunes. I'll either rent only or buy the actual Blu-ray, thank you very much.

The larger hit to Apple, however, might be to the company's brand image. According to the most recent Apple 10K filing with the SEC, the company claims $5.7 billion in "goodwill," an intangible that forms the core of Apple's estimated $170 billion in brand equity.

A 10 percent reduction in goodwill (for instance) resulting from this massive failure to manage consumers' expectations would therefore tarnish Apple's brand equity to the tune of $17 billion. And that's not chump change, even to Apple.
Want to try secret dishes before they hit the menu at Shake Shack? On September 18, the company is opening its newest restaurant in Manhattan's West Village. It's where you'll be able to be among the first Americans to try experimental fare like black sesame milk shakes or seafood burgers.

That's because the restaurant is built on top of a newly created innovation kitchen, where Shake Shack chefs will be free to improvise as they please to create potential new menu items. It's the first of its kind for Shake Shack, part of a project more than two years in the making that includes the company's new home offices, which opened on the building's third floor in April.

"For all these years, our office was literally a hallway in Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group," says Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti. "Then we got our own floor, then we went public and kept growing from there. Now we've kind of grown up. We're moving out of our parents' house."

Inc. stopped by the new headquarters, restaurant, and innovation kitchen earlier this month. Here's the first public look inside.

Built in an old printing building at 225 Varick Street, the office keeps much of its original architecture. The space, designed in collaboration with architect Michael Hsu, is minimalist, with mostly white walls and natural colors.

The Park, an open area for lounging or collaboration, is meant to pay homage to the first Shake Shack location, in Madison Square Park. Plants and large windows give it an outdoorsy feel. Staff, visitors, and workers from the restaurant below can come hang out in the Park--which is separated from the work stations by a row of offices to minimize noise.

The library or "Shhhhroom," a pun on the name of Shake Shack's 'Shroom Burger, is a place for silent work or reading. The shelves are stocked with cookbooks and novels. Glass doors help keep things quiet.

Garutti's office separates the Park from the employee work stations. Shake Shack's headquarters, which is home to 165 people, features an open floor plan. Music plays from the office-wide speaker system throughout the day. "We take work-life balance seriously. Employees can work from home as needed," says Andrew McCaughan, the company's VP of design and development. "But at the end of the day, we built the space so that people would want to come to work."

The kitchen isn't stocked with burgers--staffers have to go downstairs for that. But there are healthy snacks, and beer on tap.

Employees can use mounted tablets to reserve the offices and breakout rooms. "There's a tension there with an open office," McCaughan says. "You're fostering collaboration, but a lot of people need a quiet place."

Down at street level, the newest Shake Shack location advertises its status as a test hub. Shake Shack culinary director Mark Rosati says the company expects to try a wide range of menu items, from new types of non-meat patties to veggie-based side dishes to, yes, the Japan-inspired black sesame milk shake that just happens to be founder Danny Meyer's favorite. "We've talked about a Surf 'n' Shack--a burger with lobster meat on top," Rosati says. "We're going to do so much in here."

A sign hangs in the Shake Shack home office: The bigger we get, the smaller we have to act. "We have treat each Shake Shack like it's the only one in the world," Garutti says. That means not only laser-focused training and quality control, but also incorporating some the local neighborhood's characteristics, like old-looking brick facades, cafe-style sidewalk seating, and a rainbow pride neon sign.

Customers in the new Shack place their order at kiosks. "This space is a canvas to test and innovate not only on the culinary side," McCaughan says, "but on the guest experience side as well." There will still be one register staffed by a human.

The innovation kitchen is directly below the new restaurant. "Until now, we've always bootstrapped it," Garutti says. "All our innovation was done at any Shack where we could find some space. We'd whip up some recipes before they needed the grill for burgers at 11 a.m." Chefs here have a huge range of fresh ingredients available to them for the sake of experimenting. They can receive feedback instantly: Customers who try a test item upstairs in the restaurant will be asked to share their thoughts via the kiosks or a brief written survey.
It's no secret that the airline industry produces an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically CO2 (carbon dioxide). In fact, it's estimated that airlines produce approximately 2 to 3 percent of all manmade CO2 emissions, which many scientists believe are a leading cause of climate change.

Yesterday, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz revealed that United had committed to reducing the company's greenhouse gases 50 percent by 2050. According to Munoz:

Achieving this goal would eliminate 21 million metric tons of CO2 in the atmosphere per year, or the equivalent of taking 4.5 million cars off the road; that's all the cars in Los Angeles and New York City combined.

While this announcement makes United the only U.S. airline to commit publicly to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, when Oscar Munoz talks, the industry listens. I wouldn't be surprised if American, Delta, Southwest, and other airlines soon follow United's example.

Part of United's commitment will be fulfilled by using less fossil fuel, which will be accomplished by burning biofuels (which are produced from such things as seaweed and agricultural waste) instead of regular jet fuel. To this end, today United will fly the longest biofuel flight to date in the industry -- Flight 44 from its hub in San Francisco to Zurich, Switzerland -- using 16,000 gallons of biofuel blended with regular jet fuel in a 30:70 ratio.

United Airlines pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. That would be the equivalent of taking 4.5 million cars off the road, said CEO Oscar Munoz. https://t.co/S5187o57xQ pic.twitter.com/IBj6BJExv0 -- Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) September 13, 2018

According to Munoz, while United's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be good for the earth, it will also be good for the company's bottom line. Says Munoz:

The price of oil went up by nearly 50 percent in the past year, and prices are expected to continue to rise. Fuel costs us more than $15,000 every minute. In fact, we spend more on fuel than ground operations, facilities, and landing fees -- combined. So, when investors and analysts demand to know how we intend to control fuel costs and increase profits while keeping ticket prices low, our sustainability advantage becomes crucial.
Turnover is expensive and we all want our best employees to stay in our business, right? Of course, right. Except that sometimes you want even the best and the brightest to go out to other companies. While I've advocated this for years, I was somewhat surprised to see the Harvard Business Review do the same.

Ryan Bonnici, the chief marketing officer of G2 Crowd, gives four reasons why he encourages his best employees to look around, and take a new job if it suits them.

Employees want development, not lip service. Openness allows conversations to thrive. There are benefits to their leaving. They're more likely to return.

Stop, and think about those things. If you're the CEO of a Fortune 100 company, you've probably got someone who reads articles for you, and your company has enough jobs, locations, and variety of work that you probably can sculpt the ideal career for many people. But, if you're a small to medium-size business, you can't offer all the development any one person needs.

Bonnici, for instance, is the chief marketing officer. G2 Crowd doesn't need two chief marketing officers. So, if he has an employee who wants to move into the C-suite, the only wan Bonnici can do this internally is to quit. While that would be a noble sacrifice, it's not at all practical.

Many people want growth and development, and that sometimes requires leaving. This leads us to Bonnici's next point: conversations.

Many of you have had an experience where you hand in a resignation letter with two week's notice only to be escorted to the parking lot. Why? Your boss doesn't want you taking any secrets to the competitors. Laying aside the sheer stupidity of this (if you're going to steal information, you'll do it before resigning), it prevents managers from planning ahead.

On the other hand, if you build a relationship with your employees and they know that you'll support them in their moves, they'll talk to you first. Having this support also means that you'll know when they are restless or want growth so you can help find it internally, if possible. In other words, being supportive of quitting means you can help retain as well.

Bonnici's next claim is that it is good for the business, and I agree with him 100 percent. He talks about how an employee who leaves on a positive note can continue to be a good brand ambassador, and I agree 100 percent. Any time I get the chance to talk about my former employer, Wegmans, I'm thrilled.

But, I'd like to add another reason: You need diversity. The same person isn't going to bring in a different perspective. You want new people to come in and that means old people going out. Sure, you don't want a constant revolving door, but you do want new ideas, and that means some turnover is good.

And lastly, Bonnici is a fan of the "boomerang" employee. Your employee left, learned some things, and then wants to come back. Excellent. Or your employee left for what she thought were greener pastures, found out they weren't, and wants to come back. That's great too. You've got a dedicated employee who knows what a great organization you've got.
Back in 2007, east London MC Ghetts dropped his mixtape Ghetto Gospel, aged 21.

Back then, I was very outspoken about how I viewed the world, the musician, born Justin Clarke, tells me in a pub in Shoreditch, around six miles from where he was born in Plaistow. Today I see it somewhat differently.

Ghetts has gone onto become one of the UKs most respected rappers, releasing a number of mixtapes, as well as his 2014 debut album Rebel with a Cause. Now, more than a decade after Ghetto Gospel, he has followed it up with Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament.

Where several of his peers dipped out of grime and into pop with an eye on the UK Top 40, or else teamed up with American grime fans such as Drake or Kanye West, Ghetts has steered clear of the hype, and that unflagging loyalty to his musical roots appears to have paid off.

On the new album he re-evaluates much of what he said on the first Ghetto Gospel. Theres a different tone; hes more considered; gentle with whichever person happens to draw his attention. Hes not preaching. Just observing.

Got a child, he says with a proud smile, answering what he thinks was the biggest turning point for this new mentality.

If you take an artist to a scene of violence and they draw a picture, are we gonna tell him he painted the wrong picture?

His recent single Black Rose ft Kojey Radical sparked a positive discussion about how society treats black women. It was inspired by his six-year-old who is heard at the beginning of the track asking why there are no dolls that look like her in the shops. Ghetts admits he was surprised at quite how much people have been talking about it.

When I make music, its therapeutic, he says, explaining how he walks into the studio with a blank page (literal and metaphorical), with no hopes other than that people might appreciate it.

Im blessed enough to be able to make my own decisions, he says. But a song like Black Rose  I did it because it was how I felt. I had my own space. The discussions off the back of it was an amazing surprise to me. Even though Ive made songs in that realm before, Ive not led with videos, so maybe in the past the message has been lost.

His daughter keeps asking him how many views the video has on YouTube (almost 200,000, at the time of writing).

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There is a parental voice on New Testament: on Next of Kin he speaks from the perspective of a mother carrying her childs coffin, recounting stories of street violence and children dying from knife crime with a powerful empathy.

I always feel like were quick to say, Why are these kids doing this? he says. But were past that. People have lost friends. The people telling these kids to put the knives down are the same people who are going into other countries and bombing the s**t out of them. So, I dont like getting involved in those campaigns, but I did want to speak on the issue. I understand the feeling when youve lost someone, and youre face to face with somebody who had involvement in that.

Becoming a father saw the MC adopt a more considered lyrical approach

As for the religious reference in the title of his new album, despite growing up around two devout parents, Ghetts doesnt think theres any one right religion. I believe in good people, he says. Im not preaching, Im definitely as f***ed up as everyone else, but I feel things.

Hes a fan of drill, a form of rap featuring dark beats and violent lyrical themes that emerged in Chicago. It was pioneered by the likes of Chief Keef in the early 2010s before making its way to south London, where it was popularised by artists such as 67 and K-Trap. Amid a spike in violence in London, both politicians and certain parts of the UK media have been quick to accuse the genre of fuelling tensions between warring gangs.

Whats the root of the problem? Its not the music, Ghetts says. The music is reflective of whats going on. If you take an artist to a scene of violence and they draw a picture, are we gonna tell him he painted the wrong picture? Thats the reality, he drew it.

Picking which artist to feature on certain tracks happened naturally, he says, when he listened back to the early recording and realised that an artist such as the rapper Little Simz would be perfect on a song like King. A certain persons voice can help bring a whole lot of sauce, he adds.

Once the album was done, he invited visual artists into the studio to hear a few tracks. The results formed his Ghettsibition, a show held in a gallery space beneath the railway arches of Shoreditch. His music is reimagined as a manga-style comic strip, a painting of Little Simz reclining in a throne, photographs of men clustered around a quad bike (Ghetts is a biking enthusiast). Theres an exquisite photo of the women in his life, spanning several generations, in traditional dress. They are all smiling, joyful.

Portrait artist: works on display at Ghetts exhibition in London

All of Ghettss music is made right there in the studio. He doesnt do ready-made beats (no disrespect to anybody) and he loves working with musicians, coming from a musical family himself: his brother served as the musical director for the jazz band that features on New Testament.

You can hear how hes become more comfortable with his own voice: Where he was more top heavy and sharp on the first Ghetto Gospel, he no longer feels the need to be quite so hyped up all the time  and so the dynamic on New Testament is deeply immersive,

He gets a phone call: Alright? Is he there yet? F***s sake. Alright. He puts his phone back down. Ive got someone picking up a coffin for me.

Realising he may need to explain in a little more detail, he adds: I had one already, this is why Im upset. I did a shoot with a coffin and I didnt want to keep it in my yard, so I got rid of it. I left it somewhere in a bush. And now Im doing a different shoot, and I need another f***ing coffin.

It could easily be a prop from his burgeoning film career. This autumn will see the release of The Intent 2: The Come Up  the follow-up to Kalvadour Peterson and Femi Oyenirans 2016 crime thriller  starring Ghetts as lead character Jay, whose ambitions are crippled by his allegiance to Hackney crime boss Beverley (Top Boys Sharon Duncan-Brewster). Ghetts was only supposed to record the soundtrack (Id never acted a day in my life) but was persuaded to audition and ended up filming on location in London and Jamaica.

It looks sick, he says. Sick. This is like  Kidulthood was amazing because it represented the time. This represents the time now.

I got the film bug, he admits. I want to write something, maybe more of a Black Mirror kind of thing. Nothing wrong with a good old gangster film, but the stories Ive written for music are more in that realm.

Ghetts scoffs at the mention of news articles asking whether grime is either dead or struggling to survive as the drill and Afrobeats genres grow in popularity .

I feel that its weird that grime MCs even react to it, Ghetts says, pretending to huff, and leaning back in his chair, arms folded. Ive seen people reacting to something thats not true.

I love grime with my heart, he continues. I know a lot of people in the culture have love for me, but Ive always deemed myself more of a tempo specialist. Im not defined by a genre  a genre cannot define the artist. I respect grime enough to represent it because thats what made me, that gave me my first listeners, and I will never deny being grime. Grime itself will never die.

I can see a culture. Loads of people complain but Im really into evolution. He gives a bashful smile at the mention of how he once considered pursuing a career in science.

Drill is an evolution of grime, grime is an evolution of garage, garage is an evolution of drum and bass, he says, voice rising enthusiastically. And when youve got different characters coming in, putting things in the pot, and one day it goes BANG! He throws his hands apart to demonstrate. Its the same energy.

Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament is out now
Some of the worlds largest cities, including London, Paris and New York, have revealed they are no longer increasing their climate-harming carbon emissions  and pledged to cut them further.

Greenhouse gas pollution from 27 of the worlds largest cities has been on a downward trajectory for five years thanks to a switch to renewable energy and cleaner transportation systems, it emerged at the Global Climate Action Summit, an event being held in San Francisco to encourage deeper worldwide commitments to save the environment.

Recommended Thousands gather across the world to demand action on climate change

The pledges fly in the face of scepticism from US president Donald Trump, who pulled the US out of the Paris agreement and has cut environmental protections while encouraging coal and fossil fuel production. California governor Jerry Brown referred to the president as a liar, criminal [and] fool when it came to climate change, after announcing his own state would aim for 100 per cent clean energy by 2045.

The conference, which is hosting thousands of leaders, climate activists and business representatives, has already seen several other major commitments to cut carbon emissions.

City leaders representing 650 million urban dwellers around the world are committing to leading the fight against climate change as part of a coalition called C40.

Scientists have calculated global emissions need to peak by 2020 and then decline steeply if the ambitious targets set by the Paris climate agreement are to be met.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

As globally emissions are still rising, mayor of Paris and C40 chair Anne Hidalgo welcomed the incredible achievement the cities had made in leading the way towards this target.

Within the C40 group, 73 cities have now committed to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The UN secretary-generals special envoy for climate action, Michael Bloomberg, said: To prevent the worst impacts of climate change, we have to cut greenhouse gas emissions even as the population grows.

Cities are showing that it can be done  and that the same steps theyre taking to reduce their carbon footprint are also strengthening their local economies, creating jobs and improving public health.

In a speech, Mr Bloomberg called the conference a way to broadcast that the US is still committed to the cause.

Climate change is a global challenge and Washington ought to be leading from the front, he said.

Mr Trump announced last year that he would be walking away from the Paris agreement, which commits nations to set ambitious plans to cut emissions. He has also stated he thinks global warming is a hoax perpetrated by China.

Many people around the world wrongly concluded that America was walking away from climate action when Mr Trump pulled the country out of the Paris agreement, Bloomberg said, stressing that nothing could be further from the truth.

Besides the commitment by cities, the summit has seen a pledge by business and political leaders in the US and Europe to increase the capacity for electric vehicles by making massive investments in charging points.

The summit has not been without controversy, with hundreds of protesters gathering outside to protest to the California governor about his failure to rein in the states oil extraction.

Protestors also stormed the stage as Mr Bloomberg delivered his speech, prompting him to quip that only in America could you have environmentalists protesting an environmental conference.

Additional reporting by agencies
One of the major factors behind the global financial crisis was a downturn in the US housing market, and in turn, one of the major effects of the meltdown was chaos in the UK property market.

House prices tumbled: the average UK propertys value plunged by 20 per cent over 16 months, while transaction levels slumped from 1.65 million in the decade up to the crisis to 730,000 in the year to June 2009.

It took six years for prices to return to pre-crash levels, and growth has continued since, although it has slowed in recent months (in Northern Ireland, prices are still nowhere near their pre-crisis peak), and transactions have yet to recover.

Slower market

This slowdown in activity prompted the government to take action, and several measures were introduced in a bid to stimulate more house buying. In 2010, stamp duty was abolished for first-time buyers, and in 2013, the help to buy scheme was introduced, offering buyers an equity loan of 20 per cent of a propertys value, interest-free for the first five years, provided they could stump up a 5 per cent deposit.

But transaction levels have slowed again lately. With consumer prices rising and most households facing a financial squeeze, property purchases are low on the list of priorities for most Britons. Even the approaching end of help to buy has failed to stir up the market.

Changing borrowing trends

Despite these schemes, home ownership has become heavily dependent on the bank of Mum and Dad, with Legal & General predicting that a quarter of all UK housing transactions this year will rely on cash from parents. The rise in parental assistance has been driven in part by house price growth, but also by tighter lending criteria, both of which have sent deposits soaring. Lenders have become a lot more circumspect about agreeing to mortgages, while regulation has also played a part.

London

The London market has, of course, followed a different trajectory to the rest of the UK since the crisis. From 2009 onwards, foreign money started flooding into prime property in the capital, with a mixture of investors and private buyers attracted by reduced prices and low prices.

As prices at the top end of the market began to rocket, so too did the value of property throughout the rest of the city. The borough of Hackney recorded the highest house price rise in the UK in the 20 years to 2018, with prices soaring by 568 per cent, outstripping even high-end boroughs like Kensington & Chelsea.

This rip-roaring market has changed the capital in many ways. Home ownership has moved further out of reach for most citizens, with the average price now more than 13 times the average Londoners salary. This has contributed to an exodus of young people from the capital, and the think tank IPPR has advocated a five-year property price freeze, making housing more affordable as other prices and wages continue to rise.

What does the future hold?

The outlook is far from clear. A decade after the financial crisis rocked the market, its now facing another period of upheaval: Brexit. The UKs departure from the EU has plunged the property market (and most others) into uncertainty, with predictions ranging from a housing bubble, to a crash, to nothing at all.

Prices in the capital have already begun to fall back, and experts have warned that a no-deal Brexit would bring with it a 30 per cent chance of a London house price crash.

Meanwhile, Bank of England governor Mark Carney said this week that leaving the EU with no deal in place could lead to a financial crisis as bad as the crash 10 years ago, with house prices potentially falling 35 per cent in a worst case scenario.
British Steel is to cut 400 jobs, including roles in the UK, in order to secure a sustainable future, just two years after the company began trading.

The firm was created in 2016 by the sale of Tata Steels Long Products Europe business to Greybull Capital, a deal that saved 4,400 UK jobs.

The cuts will affect managerial, professional and administrative roles at its operations throughout the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.

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The company operates manufacturing plants in Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and Teesside, and carries out research and development in Rotherham.

British Steels finance chief said the recent weakening of the pound and the euro had implications for the group because the raw materials it uses are all traded in US dollars.

Roland Junck, the companys executive chairman, said: Following our launch and early growth as a new company, its important our business continues to evolve. Its imperative we enhance our products and services and become more competitive so we can increase our foothold in the market.

However, the pace of change we need in this challenging industry requires further and continued investment along with more agile and efficient operations.

To help us achieve this, we have to make difficult decisions and our plans unfortunately include the proposed reduction of 400 roles across our global workforce.

Mr Junck added: Were sad to be making this announcement, particularly for our colleagues who could be affected. The skill and dedication of our employees has helped us come a long way in a short period of time.

However, its vital our transformation continues so we can build a sustainable future for the whole business, nearly 5,000 employees and many more people in the supply chain. Were confident these proposals will help achieve this.

A spokesperson for the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee said the announcement will come as a body blow to the workforce who have already made huge sacrifices to make the business sustainable.

The spokesperson added: We recognise these are challenging times for UK steelmakers, and its high time the government stepped up and delivered for us by supporting investment in strategic steel assets.

However it is particularly disappointing the company has chosen to cut jobs so soon after celebrating a second successful year and first quarter profits of 21m.

The company must now comply with its European and UK consultation obligations and present the detail behind the proposals to employee representatives. Throughout the consultation process the trade unions will challenge every job reduction and seek to mitigate the impact of the companys proposals on our members.
JD Wetherspoon has reported a jump in sales in the last year, but warned prices are likely to rise over the coming 12 months.

The discount pub chain said like-for-like sales went up 5 per cent in the year to 29 July, while revenue rose 2 per cent to 1.69bn, and pre-tax profit increased by 4.3 per cent to 107m.

Tim Martin, the groups chairman, used the results statement to reiterate his support for a hard Brexit.

There will be a huge gain for business and consumers if the UK copies the free trade approach of countries like Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Israel, by slashing protectionist EU import taxes (tariffs), on leaving the EU in March next year, he said.

If parliament votes to end tariffs and rejects the Chequers deal, consumers and business will benefit additionally by avoiding a cost of 39bn, or 60m per UK constituency, in respect of the EU divorce payment  for which there is no legal obligation.

Unfortunately, some individuals, businesses and business organisations have mistakenly, or misleadingly, repeated the myth that food prices will rise without a deal with the EU.

In fact, the only way prices can rise post-Brexit is if parliament votes to impose tariffs. The EU will have no say in the matter, provided that the government does not sign away the UKs rights in a deal in the meantime.

Mr Martin said an end to tariffs would reduce shop and pub prices, however, he also warned that prices at Wetherspoons branches were likely to rise in the near future, because the chain is unwilling to cut costs at the expense of customer service.

I think what well do is keep our prices as low as we reasonably can, they might have to go up a little bit, and just do the right thing and hope that is compensated by rising sales which will pay for the cost increases, he told the BBC.

Wetherspoons has begun replacing EU-made products such as champagne with British items, and said it intends to buy less beer from the EU and swap it for brewers in the UK and outside Europe.

Earlier this week, the group imposed a ban on dogs in its pubs.
A mother whose four-year-old son has just completed 10 months of targeted chemotherapy for an aggressive brain tumour has called for every child to have access to testing that can help minimise the risk of life-long kidney damage and hearing loss.

Alex Hobbs had his last session of chemotherapy a week ago but he would have had another three gruelling months ahead if genomic testing of his cancers unique DNA markers had not flagged him as eligible for a clinical trial.

The Europe-wide study is trying to establish whether a bespoke chemotherapy regime for medulloblastoma, the most common cancerous brain tumour in children, can cause fewer side effects without impacting survival, and Alex was its first UK participant.

For Alexs parents Anthea and David, this began with an impossible choice between the uncertainties of the trial and wanting to give Alex the best chance of a healthy life.

Anthea told The Independent that it would have been unimaginably worse to have options taken off the table because of a lack of funding or by living in the wrong part of the country.

Today The Brain Tumour Charity has announced it will fund testing for every British child with medulloblastoma for at least two years, meaning many more may find out theyre eligible for the trial. But it is also pushing for the NHS to guarantee funding for all patients.

He was going downhill pretty quickly Anthea Hobbs

The first time Anthea and David noticed anything was wrong was a Friday in September 2017 when Alex began to lose his balance.

We noticed he was stumbling like he was a little bit drunk, and his eye was turning in like a squint, says Anthea. Wed say, Come on Alex, what are you doing with your eyes? Youre being silly, and hed correct it.

We thought theres definitely something not right here, but I thought he had an inner ear infection.

As it didnt seem urgent Anthea booked to see the GP first thing on Monday morning. The GP pretty much saved his life at that point, Anthea says. It was a big tumour and he was going downhill pretty quickly.

Alex was sent straight to the local hospital in Watford and diagnosed in two hours. They were blue lighted to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London on Tuesday morning and on Friday Alex had eight and a half hours of surgery to remove his tumour.

Anthea describes that week as incredible, but just horrendous. Even though the tumour was removed in its entirety there was a lot of treatment ahead.

However the road could have been much longer if the hospital had not just become part of the SIOP PNET 5 trial, which has been running in Europe since 2014 and is recruiting 360 participants.

A great step forward Dr Anthony Michalski

This trial is providing the ability to give children treatment that is tailored to their tumour and signals a great step forward in brain cancer management, says Dr Antony Michalski, paediatric oncologist at GOSH and chief investigator in the UK for the SIOP PNET 5 trial.

Working with our European colleagues, we are able to reduce treatment for children with lower-risk tumours as well as researching ways of improving outcomes for children with standard-risk disease.

Genomic medicine is the practice of analysing the suite of human DNA markers and mutations and their effects on health and disease. In cancer, as cells multiply the tumours collect a host of mutations that can make them harder to treat or more likely to spread.

(Anthea Hobbs)

Over the last two decades doctors treating medulloblastoma have built up a panel of these biomarkers, which Alexs tumour was checked against. These key genes can give clues on whether the tumour is likely to have left cells in the body that could cause a relapse, and how they might respond to treatment.

Patients at low or standard risk are eligible for the trial and 10 years from now it will assess differences in kidney function, hearing loss and nerve damage between the two groups of patients given either the usual treatment, or treatment tailored to their biomarkers.

However, the primary measure of whether this tailored treatment is effective is survival.

All the evidence suggests the only difference should be that patients given tailored treatment have fewer long-term side effects. But this can only be proven for certain with the clinical trial and this requires patients like Alex, and parents like Anthea and David to accept some degree of uncertainty.

We had the weekend to decide. The consultant came to talk to us on Friday and said Alex has been deemed as standard risk, Anthea says.

He said: We have this clinical trial, here is some information, we need you to tell us by Monday because he needs to start treatment.

The options were explained and the likely side effects of the 48-week standard chemotherapy were set out against 36-week tailored chemotherapy he would receive if he was selected for that part of the trial. But the final decision had to come from Anthea and David.

Its cold, but it has to be, Anthea says. Youre kind of damned if you do, damned if you dont. You want him to have the maximum he can have, because with this cancer if it comes back its very hard to treat.

But with chemo, the longer you go on the more your body cant tolerate it. So theyve tried to switch out some of the chemo that has an effect on your kidneys and your hearing, and swap in ones they still know are effective.

There isnt an effect on the survival rate, apparently. But its so hard to know when its the beginning of a trial.

As chemotherapy can be brutal and could have a lasting effect on Alexs life, they decided to participate.

Any research that can help us get closer to a cure, while reducing the long-term effects, has got to be worth it for Alex and for future generations, Anthea said.

As the chemotherapy progressed the medical team had to make changes to the regime: a drug called vincristine had to be omitted in a few cycles because it was damaging the nerves in his hands and feet.

Alex also has some kidney damage, and if he had been on the longer standard course of treatment there would have been more treatment choices to make.

When The Independent spoke to Anthea on Thursday, one week after his final chemotherapy session, Alex was playing on the trampoline. He had already been out on his scooter to help pick up his sister from school and his mum remarked on the way he has taken the last year in his stride.

(Anthea Hobbs)

I do think the NHS should be funding these tests, and not a charity as theyre only going to be able to do it for a certain amount of time.

Adults have a choice [in the treatment they want], this is kids and we have to make that choice for them. Thats impossible in itself, but to then to be faced with not being in the right area, not having funding  I couldnt even imagine that.

Currently the The Brain Tumour Charity is funding testing for medulloblastoma biomarkers at a cost of 2,200 per child and will do so for at least two years. Alongside York-based OSCARs Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity, the charity is also supporting UK children to join the PNET 5 trial as well.

Marie Hughes, who co-founded OSCARs six months after losing her son, said: We saw first-hand how the treatments used to fight brain tumours had a devastating effects on Oscars body and mind.

Neil Dickson, who is vice-chairman of the Brain Tumour Charitys board of trustees, added: The Brain Tumour Charity aims to halve the harm caused by brain tumours, as well as doubling survival.

We believe this trial will help us to achieve that goal by protecting some children from a level of harmful treatment which they do not need to survive their tumour.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: Genomic medicine is already helping to improve the lives of many patients, including children with cancer.

Later this financial year we aim to introduce the use of whole genome sequencing into routine NHS clinical care, as part of the new Genomic Medicine Service, where there is evidence that there will be real benefits for everyone with cancer and rare diseases.
Wearable health monitors such as the Apple watch and the rise of genetic disease risk testing could swamp the NHS by sending the worried well into hyperdrive, doctors have suggested.

The stark warning comes from a major review by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) looking at the impact new technology will have on the health service and warning its potential to improve diagnosis could also cause unnecessary alarm.

Its release on Friday comes less than 24 hours after health and social care secretary Matt Hancock announced he would clear away NHS road blocks that are preventing start-ups offering new technology to patients.

Doctors have already had to adapt since the advent of Google meant symptoms can be rapidly checked against an encyclopaedia of rare diseases online. But this could become a bigger issue when health trackers might flag symptoms and risks of disease yet to cause any problems, and new roles will be needed to help patients interpret these risks.

Almost pre-empting the concern, on Wednesday Apple announced its new watch, which has a built-in heart echocardiogram that uses electrical impulses to measure heart rhythm and can call emergency services if it detects a wearer falling and not moving.

The worried well will be sent into hyperdrive, said Richard Kerr, the consultant neurosurgeon who chaired the RCS Future of Surgery Commissions report. GP practices and A&Es will undoubtedly see more patients who are concerned about what this information means for them.

Better early diagnosis is good news for patients. Prevention, or early intervention, is always better than cure. That said, the NHS will need to be ready to handle an influx of patients with potentially valid concerns about their risk of falling ill in the future.

The spread of cheap genetic testing that could flag patients at particular risk of certain diseases, as is already the case with the breast cancer gene BRCA1, is likely to have a particularly big impact on surgical capacity.

Advances in genetic testing could mean having to carry out more prophylactic or preventative surgery  we all recall the Angelina Jolie effect, Mr Kerr added.

The actor revealed in 2013 that she opted for a preventative double mastectomy after testing of the BRCA1 gene mutations showed she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer.

This led to a doubling in referrals for the test, and as more risk marker genes are identified and technologies become cheaper, more people are likely to come forward with questions about what they can do to lower their risk.

Surgeons will have a key role in explaining to patients the balance of risks from surgery with the potential for their disease to materialise later in life, but the NHS will need to greatly expand its genetic counselling services, Mr Kerr said.

Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Show all 10 1 /10 Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Subarachnoid vessels The runner-up image came from Matt MacGregor Sharp, a PhD student at the University of Southampton. The super-high resolution image shows a normal artery at the surface of a rats brain and was taken with a powerful scanning electron microscope. These subarachnoid vessels supply blood to the brain and also act like a drain to remove toxic waste products. Matt Macgregors team are trying to show that failure to remove waste by these vessels is one of the underlying causes of vascular dementia. The researchers took the image using a technique called freeze fracture, where tissue or cell samples are frozen and then split apart to reveal the hidden layers within the sample so they can be studied in extreme detail. Sitting above the brown brain tissue, the artery appears blue, and its surrounding layer, the pia mater, is shown in purple. Matt MacGregor Sharp, University of Southampton, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Explosive beginnings Winner: Endothelial cells line all blood vessels in the body, forming a barrier between the circulating blood and the vessel wall. They also help to protect blood vessels from damage and release important chemical messengers which help to control blood pressure. The winning researcher, Courtney Williams, is a Masters student and PhD candidate at Leeds University. Her lab are developing new ways to map the growth of new blood vessels within their surrounding landscape in 3D. Understanding the complex secrets of blood vessel formation could be harnessed to boost the regrowth of damaged blood vessels after a heart attack, and halt blood vessel growth when its counterproductive. Courtney Williams, Leeds University, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize A snapshot of platelet production - Reflections of Research Supporters Favourite This image from Abdullah Obaid Khan, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, won the supporters favourite. What look like precious jewels are actually platelets forming within the bone marrow. Platelets are the smallest of our circulating blood cells with a hugely important role in preventing bleeding. However, they also play a role in the formation of clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Abdullah Obaid Khan and his team are studying rare bleeding disorders. Abdullah Obaid Khan, University of Birmingham, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Cardiac collagen web - Shortlist This colourful image shows the web-like, network of the smallest blood vessels in the heart  the microvessels. Magenta marks the outer collagen layer of the vessels; while orange marks their inner lining and blue the cell nuclei. Dr Neil Dufton, Imperial College London Dr Neil Dufton, Imperial College London, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Heart to Heart - Shortlist This piece shows four ventricles (from a mouse) arranged into the shape of the hearts four normal chambers. The researchers have used fluorescent markers to recognise certain proteins and created the image using of hundreds of images assembled together. Dr Elisa Avolio and Dr Zexu Dang, University of Bristol Dr Elisa Avolio and Dr Zexu Dang, University of Bristol, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Loving artery - Shortlist This image shows a cross section of an artery and the different layers which make up the artery wall. Affiliate Professor Silvia Lacchini, University of Glasgow Silvia Lacchini, University of Glasgow, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Oxidative inkblot - Shortlist This colour explosion shows one of the culprits in cardiovascular disease  an enzyme called NADPH oxidase. The enzyme is considered Janus faced because it is important in health, as well as disease. This picture shows the active enzyme in patients who have high blood pressure. Dr Livia de Lucca Camargo, University of Glasgow Dr Livia de Lucca Camargo, University of Glasgow, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Neon skeleton - Shortlist This image shows the developing blood vessel system of a two day old zebrafish embryo. The researchers used gene enhancers (the on-off switches of genes) to switch on fluorescent markers in different types of endothelial cells  the important cells which line all blood vessels. All blood vessels switch on the red marker, while the veins also switch on the green marker, resulting in yellow veins and red arteries. Dr Svanhild Nornes, University of Oxford Dr Svanhild Nornes, University of Oxford, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Calcium reef - Shortlist This image shows calcium in blood vessel cells from people who have high blood pressure and resembles Australias Great Barrier Reef. Dr Rheure Alves-Lopes, University of Glasgow Dr Rheure Alves-Lopes, University of Glasgow, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research Under the skin  best of the British Heart Foundation 2018 image prize Budding blood vessels - Shortlist This image shows the growing blood vessels in the mouse retina. In red you can see all the blood vessels and in yellow/green you can see the blood vessels that are actively growing (a process called sprouting). PhD candidate Kira Chouliaras, University of Oxford Kira Chouliaras, University of Oxford, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research

Medical professionals will also need to be vigilant to the risk of misdiagnosis and over treatment that this proliferation of personalised health information could bring, he added.

There is unfortunately the danger that the unscrupulous of our profession could prey on the fears of patients, convincing them that treatment is necessary, where it is not.

This follows Mr Hancocks comments in a speech at the headquarters of private video GP appointment company Babylon where he set out his vision for increasing the adoption of new technology in the NHS.

We need to harness technology in the NHS. If we need to we will change the rules so we can harness new technology in a way that works for patients and practitioners, he said in advance comments given to The Telegraph.

In the same piece, the former culture secretary said global innovators such as Babylon were vital and he wanted to work with them, adding that everyone should be able to register with the companys London-based NHS service.

Currently the groups expansion to Birmingham has been blocked by NHS bosses concerned that it wouldnt be able to guarantee these patients key services such as cancer screening if they register with a practice in another part of the country.

There are also concerns from GP groups that the funding model is not set up to cope with healthier tech-savvy young people swapping to Babylon and leaving practices with older patients with more health needs.
In 1996, Jason Lutes was 28 years old and looking for a new project to turn his writing and illustration skills to. He was living in Seattle, then something of a capital of cool thanks to the rise of the grunge scene and the burgeoning dot com boom, and had just completed a comics project called Jar of Fools, which ran a page a week in the citys independent newspaper The Stranger.

Jar of Fools was sort of a response to Lutes experience at art college; his course didnt hold with teaching the mechanics of comics and graphic novel creation, so he decided to teach himself how to do it, pretty much making up the story as he went along.

But when Jar of Fools ended, Lutes wanted to do something different. He felt he had grasped the fundamentals of the graphic novel form and wanted to see what else he could do with it. I wanted to do something long, he says. I wanted to know what an epic story would look like in comic form. He pauses, then laughs. I wanted a book on my shelf with my name on it on a nice, thick spine.

Well, hes got that. Berlin, which has just been released by Canadian publishing company Drawn and Quarterly, has a spine a smidgen over two inches thick. And it holds in place almost 600 pages of graphic storytelling that is quite astonishing in its scope, breadth and execution.

Berlin follows a handful of characters as they navigate life in the German capital between the years 1928 and 1933. Lutes black and white art is richly detailed and his grasp of plot, pacing and characterisation really brings the protagonists to vivid life.

The story follows art student Marthe Muller, who arrives in Berlin in 1928 to study and meets journalist Kurt Severing. Their story entwines with that of a family that is being driven apart by differing political viewpoints, with mother Gudrun leaning towards the communists and her husband and son becoming enchanted by the rise of the right-wing.

(From Berlin. Copyright Jason Lutes, image courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly.)

Through their eyes we see the momentous events of these tumultuous years, including the International Workers Day march on 1 May 1929, or Bloody May Day, which descended into violent running battles and death.

Though Lutes characters are well-rounded and have lives of their own, they live under the inevitable shadow of what we as readers know is to come: the rise of Nazism. Lutes describes himself as having to become a time-traveller, but a time-traveller with amnesia in order to put himself in the heads of his characters and allow them to see, by degrees, what was happening around them but not have the benefit of the historical perspective we as readers have.

Lutes hadnt been to Berlin before starting work on the book, and had no special interest in the place or that period of history, until he saw a book of photographs of the end of the Weimar Republic that immediately pre-dated the rise of the Nazi chokehold on Germany.

(From Berlin. Copyright Jason Lutes, image courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly.)

Id seen the movie Cabaret, and by that point Id probably seen at college the silent film Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis [from 1927], he says. So when I decided in 1996 that I was going to do a series set in Berlin in the 1920s, it was mainly from seeing these photos of the Weimar Republic.

The Weimar period ran from the end of the First World War up to 1933 and the emergence of Nazism. During the mid to late 1920s, it saw Germany experience both economic and cultural growth, and is referred to as the Golden Twenties. Lutes spent the next two years researching Berlin in the declining years of the Weimar Republic  especially the intricacies of the architecture, which he reproduced to amazing detail in the book  and in doing so found perhaps surprising parallels with the city in which he was living.

Seattle at that time was a city filling up with young people, he recalls. There was a lot of music, the grunge era was taking place, it was getting a lot of media attention as the place to be. I felt on some unacknowledged level that there was a connection between Seattle and Berlin. They were places that held a magnetic attraction for a whole variety of people, and you gravitated there if you were a musician or an artist or gay or, I dont know, a crackpot genius scientist.

(From Berlin. Copyright Jason Lutes, image courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly.)

By the end of 1998, Lutes felt ready to begin work on his magnum opus. But that was 20 years ago; why is Berlin only being published to great acclaim in 2018? He says, My plan was to tell the story in three chapters, released in monthly instalments. I figured the whole story would take maybe just a few years to tell.

He stuck to his schedule initially, producing 96 pages of story and art in the first year. Berlin was initially released as a monthly comic by Canadian company Black Eye, but after the first four issues the company folded. Fortunately, another Montreal-based publisher, Drawn and Quarterly, stepped in to continue the story.

Then, life got in the way (I fell in love, had kids, I needed to take in outside work) and his grand schedule slipped. But he kept working on Berlin, and it kept being released in episodic form, if perhaps more sporadically than he would have liked.

Although Lutes wanted Berlin to be less of an organic piece than Jar of Fools, he still didnt want to plot it too tightly. He calls his method structural improvisation: he plotted out the major happenings in Berlin between 1928 and 1933 and then set the characters in motion, and they would move towards these events and become involved in them to varying degrees, but theyd be living their lives as well because thats what people do.

Each of the first two chapters of Berlin was collected together as they were finished, and now the third one is finished theyve all been brought together in a huge, handsome and thickly-spined volume. It hangs together almost seamlessly but Lutes can trace his own evolution as a cartoonist from the early chapters in the 1990s to the most recently completed episodes. I learned the value of white space, he laughs. At the end I tried not to do as many detailed backgrounds of Berlin architecture as I was doing in the beginning.

(From Berlin. Copyright Jason Lutes, image courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly.)

But the prolonged completion of Lutes magnum opus has had an effect he could not have predicted when he began work on it. When he started writing and drawing Berlin in the late Nineties, many parts of the West were experiencing a period of optimism, a sense of living through change. Bill Clinton was in the White House, Tony Blair was in No 10. The internet was growing. Everything felt different.

Two decades on, things have changed again, and not for the better. In fact, there are many people drawing direct comparisons between the rise of the right in Britain and the US and the growth of Nazism in 1930s Germany, making Jason Lutes Berlin terrifyingly relevant.

In my worst nightmares back in 1996, I never expected to see the resurgence of Nazism, he says thoughtfully. But now, its a crazy kind of experience having worked on this book for so many years and to see whats happening in our societies.

(From Berlin. Copyright Jason Lutes, image courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly.)

Just like in real life, no one in Lutes book wakes up one morning and suddenly decides they are going to be a Nazi. Things happen by degrees, people are changed, they are influenced by events and what they are told by political factions. Berlin is a salutary warning for our times.

Lutes lives with his family (and some chickens and pigs) in Vermont. He also teaches a comics course at college, which is a far cry from when he studied art himself and was told comics werent on the syllabus. How does he feel after finally bringing the 20-year journey with his Berlin cast to a close?

A sense of relief, in many ways, he says. But Im also super-excited to get to work on the next thing.

The next thing is going to be what Lutes calls a revisionist Western, set in Arizona in 1865, at the end of the American Civil War. Its a period that Lutes finds fascinating because there were a whole host of cultures converging on the same place at the same time, creating at the same time clashes but also a sense of possibility.

It sounds like a book with as much resonance to today as Berlin, with an added bonus for the cartoonist. Lots of wide open spaces, he laughs, and hardly any buildings.

Berlin by Jason Lutes is out now. Published by Drawn and Quarterly, 35
A space observatory at the centre of swirling alien conspiracy theories has asked for patience as it continues to be locked down.

The Sunspot Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico caught the attention of the world when it was shut down by FBI agents who reportedly swooped on the facility after arriving in elite Blackhawk helicopters.

It led immediately to suggestions the advanced technology inside of the facility spotted something it shouldnt  such as proof of extraterrestrials, UFOs or even some baseless speculation that the observatory had spotted that the sun has started dying. The fact the observatory is only about 120 miles from the site of the Roswell UFO incident has only fuelled speculation.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. 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Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. 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Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

The FBI and the administrators of the facility have said only that the shutdown happened because of a security issue.

In the days since, the sheriff's department has said it has no idea what is going on. And the lockdown continues with no new information.

Recommended Alien theories swirl as FBI mysteriously evacuates space observatory

Now, the observatory itself has spoken out to thank people for their patience. But it didnt reveal any more about what is actually going on.

The National Solar Observatory, which manages the facility, gave an update on Facebook that was shared on the observatorys own page.

AURA  our management organisation  is addressing a security issue at Sunspot Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure, the NSO said.

That post was responded to with a flurry of comments from followers who asked why the NSO was continuing to keep the facts secret. Many mentioned alien conspiracy theories, or speculation that observations had shown there was something wrong with the sun.

Another message on the observatory's website references the intense interest in the closure and says that administrators are working hard to open the facility again.

With the excitement this closure has generated, we hope you will come and visit us when we do reopen, and see for yourself the services we provide for science and public outreach in heliophysics, it reads.

That message was also posted on the observatory's Instagram page and was greeted with a flurry of curious messages.

Why dont you just tell us what is going on? wrote one. This is not cool. FBI needs to be frank.
Most of Cornwall and parts of Devon were formed millions of years ago when a section of France collided with Great Britain, according to a new study.

England, Wales and Scotland were previously thought to have formed when the ancient landmasses of Avalonia and Laurentia merged over 400 million years ago.

Now, geologists from the University of Plymouth have found evidence in the rocks of southwest England that suggests the region is quite distinct from the rest of the country.

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Deposits left by underground volcanic eruptions across the region suggest the landmass of Armorica, which contains modern-day France, also played a part in creating Britain.

Dr Arjan Dijkstra, who led the study, said this was a completely new way of thinking about how Britain was formed.

It has always been presumed that the border of Avalonia and Armorica was beneath what would seem to be the natural boundary of the English Channel, he said.

But our findings suggest that although there is no physical line on the surface, there is a clear geological boundary which separates Cornwall and south Devon from the rest of the UK.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. 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The researchers examined 22 sites across Devon and Cornwall, and found a boundary that runs roughly from the Exe estuary in the east to the town of Camelford in the west.

Rock samples from these ancient sites were taken back to the lab and subjected to intense chemical analysis to understand their past. The scientists published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

In more recent history, Britain was connected by a land bridge to mainland Europe that allowed humans and animals to migrate between the regions, but the new discovery shows an even deeper connection.

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We always knew that around 10,000 years ago you would have been able to walk from England to France, Dr Dijkstra added.

But our findings show that millions of years before that, the bonds between the two countries would have been even stronger.

It explains the immense mineral wealth of southwest England, which had previously been something of a mystery, and provides a fascinating new insight into the geological history of the UK.

This area contains an abundance of valuable metals like tin and tungsten. These metals are also found in Brittany and other parts of mainland Europe, but are not common throughout the rest of the UK.
The scientists who discovered hopping on a rollercoaster ride is an effective way to cure kidney stones were among those recognised at this years Ig Nobel awards.

The prize-giving ceremony at Harvard University  organised by the US magazine Annals of Improbable Research  celebrates strange-but-true scientific findings.

The prize for medicine was awarded to US researchers looking at the efficiency of rollercoasters in helping people pass kidney stones more quickly.

Professor David Wartinger, of Michigan State University, began exploring the subject when one of his patients had a kidney stone dislodged by the Thunder Mountain ride at Disney World in Florida.

The medical scientist then built a model of the renal system and tested it out on various rides to prove the theory. He now recommends a quick and rough rollercoaster ride to anyone suffering with kidney stones.

It literally rattles the stone loose, Professor Wartinger said.

Anybody whos trying to generate benefit from our research should be looking for a rollercoaster, which doesnt have to be fast, but you want a rollercoaster that is quick and rough with a lot of up-and-down and side-to-side motion, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

In fact, the really fast coasters that go 100mph and drop hundreds of feet dont really work very well.

I cant tell you about a general consensus, but I can tell you that for the last decade that weve been aware of this research, weve recommended it for our patients with great success.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

Nobel Laureates were on hand to present prizes at the 28th annual Ig Nobel ceremony, dedicated to unusual yet entirely practical scientific work. The organisers honour findings that make you laugh, then make you think.

A group of international researchers who showed wine experts can reliably identify the presence of a single fly in a glass of wine by smell alone were awarded the prize for biology.

A Japanese doctor who devised a self-colonoscopy technique won the medical education prize, while Spanish researchers won the peace prize for measuring the effects of swearing while driving.

Dr James Cole, an archaeology lecturer from the University of Brighton, was also recognised, taking home the nutrition prize for quantifying the calorific value of eating a human body.

After finding other animals provided much greater calorie return, he questioned the idea that human ancestors devoured members of their own species for strictly nutritional reasons.

It is possible that some of our ancestors may have eaten members of their own species out of necessity  but it is more likely perhaps to think of the cannibalism act within a social framework rather than a nutritional one, he said.
Knife crime has risen to the highest level since 2010 in England and Wales, new figures have revealed as police say stabbing investigations are being made harder by social media.

In the year to June, more than 21,100 offences were dealt with by the criminal justice system, seeing perpetrators jailed, given community orders or cautioned.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice showed around two thirds of offences are possession of a blade, followed by possession of an offensive weapon and threatening someone with a knife or offensive weapon.

Three-quarters of offenders were being convicted for the first time, making them more likely to escape prison, while repeat offenders were jailed in the majority of cases.

Overall 36 per cent of knife and offensive weapon crimes offences resulted in an immediate prison sentence  the highest proportion on record  and just 11 per cent a caution.

Rory Stewart, the justice minister, said: Knife crime is horrifying  it causes catastrophic damage to families with tragic consequences. We need sentences that punish anyone who commits knife crime and deters anyone from doing it in the future.

These figures show we are catching and prosecuting more of those carrying a blade, and we are sending them to prison for longer.

But we will continue to do more and through the governments Serious Violence Strategy, we are also working to prevent young people from ever picking up a knife in the first place.

 Cressida Dick on London knife crime spike: 'We clearly, as a city, have a big problem'

The strategy, which outlines intensified prevention work, cited potential drivers of a nationwide increase in violent crime including the county lines drug trade and incitement on social media.

But it was heavily criticised for omitting a leaked Home Office document saying government funding cuts to the police may have encouraged offenders amid the loss of more than 20,000 police officers since 2010.

Some senior police officers have also raised concern that a dramatic fall in the use of stop and search has emboldened offenders to carry knives in the belief they will not be discovered.

The decline is now starting to reverse at the call of the government and police leaders, who say the spread of body-worn cameras has causing the number of complaints to fall and reassured officers fearing racism accusations.

The mayor of London has dedicated another 122 officers to the capitals Violent Crime Taskforce, which was launched in April in the wake of a spate of stabbings and shootings.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, senior murder detectives said the murder rate had slowed from a peak around Easter, where the figure for London briefly overtook that in New York.

But 2018 could still set a grim record after the milestone of 100 murders was reached at the earliest point in the year since 2008, with a fatal arson in Greenwich.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Wood, head of homicide at Scotland Yard, said he could not predict what the toll could be by the end of the year.

Im confident that we are suppressing the level of violence generally, and thats what ultimately leads to murders, he added.

Im concerned that it looks a bit more frenzied that we have perhaps seen. There is clearly some very violent cases and we have got some where there are groups undertaking the attacks.

More than 60 per cent of this years killings in London were stabbings and the other killings including other forms of assault, shootings, strangulation and arson.

The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Show all 21 1 /21 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo, 18, was killed in a fight in Chislehurst on 10 January 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Hasan Ozcan Hasan Ozcan, 19, was stabbed to death on the Gascoigne Estate in Barking on 3 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Sabri Chibani Sabri Chibani, 19, was stabbed fatally in the chest in Streatham on 11 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Promise Nkenda Lord Promise Nkenda, 17, was stabbed to death in Canning Town on 14 February 2018 Facebook The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lewis Blackman Lewis Blackman, a 19-year-old rapper from Kentish Town, was stabbed to death in Kensington on 18 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Abdikarim Hassan Abdikarim Hassan, 17, was stabbed to death near his home in Camden's Peckwater estate on 20 March - less tahan two hours before another man was stabbed to death nearby Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Kelvin Odunuyi Kelvin Odunuyi, a 19-year-old rapper known as DipDat and Lampz, was shot dead in Wood Green on 8 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lyndon Davis Lyndon Davis, 18, was chased down and stabbed to death in Chadwell Heath on 14 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Tanesha Melbourne-Blake Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham on 2 April PA The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Amaan Shakoor Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot dead in Walthamstow on 2 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Israel Ogunsola Israel Ogunsola, 18, was stabbed to death in Hackney on 4 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, a 17-year-old rapper and aspiring architect, was shot dead in a Kennington Street on 5 May Handout The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jordan Douherty Aspiring rapper Jordan Douherty died of his injuries outside a birthday party in Romford on 23 June Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Katrina Makunova Katrina Makunova, 17, was stabbed to death in Camberwell on 12 July 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Latwaan Griffiths 18-year-old Latwaan Griffiths was fatally stabbed on 25 July and died in hospital after being thrown off the back of a moped in Camberwell Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Guled Farah Guled Farah, 19, was shot in Walthamstow on 22 September Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Ethan Nedd-Bruce Ethan Nedd-Bruce, 18, died after he was shot outside a party at a flat in Greenwich, south-east London, on 22 October. He had also been stabbed, but the gunshot wound was the cause of death. Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jay Hughes Jay Hughes, 15, died was fatally stabbed outside a chicken shop in Bellingham, south-east London, on 1 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Malcolm Mide-Madariola Malcolm Mide-Madariola, 17, was found suffering from a stab wound outside Clapham South Tube station on 2 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 John Ogunjobi John Ogunjobi, 16, died in front of his parents after he was stabbed in Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, on 5 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Aron Warren Aron Warren, 18, was found stabbed in a flat block in Greenwich on 8 December and died at the scene Metropolitan Police

Just over half of the killings have taken place in public places and the rest in peoples homes, leaving 76 male victims and 24 female victims dead. A total of 40 were under 25 and the remainder over.

The Metropolitan Police have so far classified 22 homicides as gang-motivated and 21 as domestic abuse.

Detectives said the time needed to bring cases to trial was getting longer because of the huge amount of data they need to examine on phones and social media use.

To gain information that is not held on devices in the UK, police must send letters of assistance to social media companies and other authorities abroad, with varying success.

Det Ch Sup Wood said a lot of work was underway to speed up the process, which is currently taking up to 18 months.

The reality is more and more of everyones lives and therefore more and more evidence we need is existing in the virtual rather than physical world, he added.

There are a lot of people working really hard to try and get us to a better place but it will remain a challenge for some time.

The officer said online evidence doesnt have any boundaries, describing how social media companies based in one country can be holding the information on servers in another.

Social media will come into play one way or another when identify what caused it or we are looking to understand the victim and suspects, he added, following several murders linked to incitement on platforms including Snapchat.

Police have been calling on the government to increase the funding given to stretched forces responding to an increase in violence, demand and the terror threat.

Speaking to officers at a national conference this week, the home secretary Sajid Javid vowed to fight for more money in a government-wide spending review.
Two men accused of attempting to murder a former Russian spy in Salisbury have denied any involvement, insisting they were in the town to visit its famous cathedral.

In an interview with the Kremlin-funded RT network, the men said they did not work for Russian military intelligence and denied any knowledge of novichok or their alleged target Sergei Skripal.

A Downing Street spokesman dismissed the interview as lies and blatant fabrications, which were an insult to the publics intelligence.

Claims made by the men, who say their real names are Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, have drawn widespread ridicule on social media.

Here are some of them:

It wasnt a business trip

Petrov said: We planned to go to London and let loose, so to speak, it wasn't a business trip.

The claim begs the question as to why the two men, who claim to work selling sport nutrition products, travelled to the UK using business visas.

As Ben Wallace, the security minister, told the House of Commons on 12 September: On 2 March, two individuals, using the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, flew into Gatwick airport on flight SU2588 from Moscow. They mingled with other passengers, travelling on business visas and genuine Russian passports.

Police have confirmed that the suspects had travelled to the United Kingdom before.

(Metropolitan Police)

We planned to go to London and let loose

A timeline of the suspects movements, drawn up by the Metropolitan Police and evidenced with extensive CCTV footage, does not include any meetings, sightseeing or general merry-making in London.

They stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, where they arrived on the evening of 2 March. Investigators found traces of novichok in their room, which sits far from the British capitals famed nightlife districts and historical attractions.

The pair travelled directly to Waterloo station on the morning of 3 March, and there was a maximum gap of less than two hours between their arrival in London from Salisbury and getting back to Bow that evening.

Recommended Woman dies after being exposed to novichok in Amesbury incident

They left London even earlier on 4 March and arrived back at 4.45pm.

By 6.30pm they had collected their luggage and were on the Tube back to Heathrow, where their flight to Moscow departed at 10.30pm.

The average length of holidays by foreign tourists visiting London alone in 2017 was five days.

It was impossible to go anywhere, we got wet to the knees

Investigators say the two men visited Salisbury on a reconnaissance mission on 3 March that lasted for less than two hours, then returned the following day to launch the attack.

Petrov explained the short first visit by saying: We were there for, we tried to walk around the city, but since the city was covered in snow, we were able to only for a half an hour, we got wet.

Boshirov added: No media, no TV channels are showing that on that day, the 3rd, there was a collapse in that city, a snow collapse, it was impossible to go anywhere, we got wet to the knees.

There was no widespread disruption to television broadcasts or internet connections in London or Salisbury on 3 March.

The UK was experiencing widespread travel disruption caused by snow and cold temperatures, but the pair had no trouble catching trains to and from Salisbury.

CCTV images show them walking with apparent ease on almost completely clear pavements.

Moscow enjoys average daytime temperatures of 2C in March, and -5C at night, bringing plenty of snow and slush.

(Metropolitan Police) (Met Police)

They returned to Salisbury to go to the cathedral

Boshirov said friends suggested visiting the wonderful town because of its internationally famous cathedral, known for its 123m spire.

And its clock, which is one of the first ever created and is still working, he added.

Salisburys attractions, including nearby Old Sarum and Stonehenge, are indeed numerous  and well-signposted.

But police said the pair spent only two hours in Salisbury on 4 March, arriving at the railway station at 11.48am and departing at 1.50pm.

Minutes after their arrival they were caught on CCTV near Mr Skripals house in Wilton Road, Salisbury, moments before police believe novichok was smeared on the door handle.

Walking from Salisbury station, Mr Skripals home sits in the opposite direction to the city centre and cathedral.

The nearest they were caught to the attractions was in Fisherton Street, within minutes of catching a train back to London.

Both suspects on Fisherton Road near Salisbury railway station on 4 March (PA)

I didnt know anything about the Skripals before this situation

Borishov denied knowing where Mr Skripals house was or realising he had been close to it, adding: Maybe we passed by it, maybe we didn't pass by it, I don't know, I hadn't heard. I hadn't heard this surname, I didn't know anything about them before this situation, this nightmare with us started.

Mr Skripal, a former GRU colonel who turned for MI6, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Russian court in 2006 for treason by espionage  in a case that received huge media coverage in the country.

International media coverage was garnered by the 2010 spy swap that saw him handed to British authorities in exchange for Russians.

And the story of his poisoning, the Kremlins denial of involvement and conspiracy theories, has been leading Russian national and international news outlets since March.

Former Russian military intelligence colonel Sergei Skripal at a hearing at the Moscow District Military Court in Moscow in 2006 (AFP/Getty Images)

We are ordinary entrepreneurs

If they chose to follow the mantra no publicity is bad publicity, Boshirov and Petrov could substantially increase the profits of their supposed sport nutrition business.

But when questioned by RT, the men offered few details other than explaining their extensive travel around Europe was entirely legitimate.

Boshirov said: Eating right, a healthy lifestyle  we don't want to bring attention to this, to get deeper into these questions, I wouldn't want people among our clients to suffer.

We did not have novichok

Petrov called the allegation that they smuggled the nerve agent into the UK in a counterfeit perfume bottle total nonsense.

Boshirov said it would be silly for men to carry womens perfume.

They did not explain how traces of novichok were found in their hotel room at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London.
Ministers are seeking a court injunction to halt a prison officers strike over an unprecedented wave of violence and safety issues in British jails.

Prison staff have taken industrial action after the government was issued an official warning over the deteriorating jails for the fourth time in nine months.

The Prison Officers Association (POA), the trade union for jail staff, has ordered its members to demonstrate outside prisons in England and Wales from 7am until instructed otherwise.

But the union is taking "unlawful" action, putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk, the government has said.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it would be seeking an injunction to stop the action.

Prisons minister Rory Stewart said: "Prison officers do vital and important work and we urge them to return to their duty stations, in line with their obligations to the law and the prison service.

"It's irresponsible for the POA to encourage their members to take this unlawful action. We are deploying our contingency plans but, by not turning up for work, these prison officers are putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk."

But ahead of the protest, Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA, said the rise in violence against staff in prisons was laid firmly at the feet of government and HMPPS, saying they had overseen the demise of the prison service over the last eight years.

Today he told reporters: "We are coming out in protest to bring attention, under health and safety legislation, to the Government, to the general public, about conditions in our prisons for both prisoners and my members, of the rise in violence, the rise in drugs, the self-harm and everything that goes with it."

"Under legislation the Government and employer have a duty of care towards my members, and I'm fed up of hearing of my members receiving smashed eye sockets, broken arms, broken legs, broken jaws, being attacked, spat on, having excrement and urine thrown at them, and enough is enough now.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 4 November 2021 A spectacular display of the Northern Lights seen over Derwentwater, near Keswick in the Lake District PA UK news in pictures 3 November 2021 Police and demonstrators at a Extinction Rebellion protest on Buchanan Street, during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 2 November 2021 A person walks along the Basingstoke canal near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 1 November 2021 Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during Cop26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 31 October 2021 Extinction Rebellion activists protest in Edinburgh as the Cop26 conference begins in Glasgow Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2021 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Mapuche leader and Minga Indigena Lead Coordinator Claflin Lafkenche (right) alongside indigenous delegates at a ceremonial gathering at the Tramway in Glasgow in a symbolic gesture to mark a unified demand for climate justice PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2021 Ocean Rebellion put on a display of puking oil heads ahead of climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow EPA UK news in pictures 28 October 2021 A man dressed as Santa Claus outside Selfridges in London as the department store unveils its Christmas windows on Oxford Street PA UK news in pictures 27 October 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak during a visit to Fourpure Brewery in Bermondsey, London, after the chancellor announced a cut to beer taxes in his budget PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2021 Activist Steve Bray demonstrates with a toilet outside the gates of Downing Street, after MPs voted in Parliament against the Environment Bill, allowing companies to pump raw sewage into UK rivers and seas, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 October 2021 Second World War veteran James White, 96, at the opening of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, marking the start of the remembrance period PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2021 Richard Ratcliffe holds up a photo of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as he protests outside the Foreign Office while on hunger strike, part of an effort to lobby the UK foreign secretary to bring his wife home from detention in Iran Getty UK news in pictures 23 October 2021 Partner of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Stella Morris and Editor in Chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsson attend a protest ahead of the appeal hearing over Assange's extradition, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 22 October 2021 Palace Gardener Justine Howlett adds the finishing touches to pumpkins bearing the face of Henry VIII and his wives, at Hampton Court Palace. PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2021 Flooded fields near Lingfield in Surrey, after southern England was hit overnight by heavy rain and strong winds from Storm Aurore moving in from France PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2021 A wing surfer enjoys the strong winds as they surf in the sea off of Hayling Island in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 19 October 2021 Actor Jude Law holds hands with Little Amal, a 3.5-metre-tall puppet of a nine-year-old Syrian girl, as it arrives in Folkestone, Kent, as part of the Handspring Puppet Company's 'The Walk' PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2021 A view over Southend-on-Sea in Essex, which is set to become a city in tribute to Sir David Amess MP, who spent years campaigning for the change Getty UK news in pictures 17 October 2021 Members of the Essex Bangladeshi Welfare Association pay their respects by floral tributes laid at the scene where Sir David Amess MP was killed at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea Reuters UK news in pictures 16 October 2021 Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, Priti Patel and Lindsay Hoyle pay respects to Sir David Amess at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea, the site of his death EPA UK news in pictures 15 October 2021 A person lays flowers at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else PA UK news in pictures 14 October 2021 A red deer stag during rutting season in Bushy Park, Richmond, south west London, which is home to over 300 red and fallow deer PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty

Last year, the government won its High Court bid to obtain a permanent ban on industrial action by prison officers, in a move unionists warned would leave only a matter of time before a member of staff would be killed.

Figures published by The Independent last month show a third of prison officers who leave the service quit within a year of starting, prompting concerns the crisis in jails is being exacerbated by dwindling retention rates.

Meanwhile, the total number of prison officers resigning from their jobs has more than doubled in the last two years, with one in 16 officers resigned last year, compared with one in 33 officers two years before and just one in 100 in 2009/10.

PA contributed to this report
The elections watchdog misinterpreted spending rules surrounding donations by the official Brexit campaign during the EU referendum, the High Court has ruled.

Campaigners from the Good Law Project (GLP) won a legal challenge against the Electoral Commission over election spending by Vote Leave, arguing that the watchdog failed in its duty to regulate the referendum process.

In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Leggatt said the Commission had misunderstood the definition of referendum expenses in relation to Vote Leave, a campaign group fronted by leading Brexiteers including Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

Recommended 50 MPs and peers demand crime agencies investigate Vote Leave

The row centres on Vote Leaves donation of 620,000 to Canadian online advertising firm AggregateIQ (AIQ) at the request of another Brexit campaigner, Darren Grimes, founder of the youth group BeLeave.

This donation breached strict electoral spending rules as it took Vote Leave over its 7m spending limit by almost 500,000.

Campaigners launched the case in October last year, after the Electoral Commission said there were no reasonable grounds to suspect incorrect reporting of campaign spending or donations by Vote Leave.

The watchdog later launched a probe into both Vote Leave and Mr Grimes, concluding that both had incorrectly reported their spending.

Vote Leave was fined 61,000 and Mr Grimes was handed a 20,000 fine by the commission  and both were reported to the police.

The High Court agreed with the watchdog that Vote Leave had broken the rules, but found that it had also misinterpreted the rules in the advice it gave to the campaign.

Mr Justice Leggatt said the commission had misinterpreted the definition of referendum expenses, adding: The source of its error is a mistaken assumption that an individual or body which makes a donation to a permitted participant cannot thereby incur referendum expenses.

As a result of this error, the Electoral Commission has interpreted the definition in a way that is inconsistent with both the language and the purpose of the legislation.

Jolyon Maugham, director of the Good Law Project, said: It is now clear that the Electoral Commission gave unlawful advice that encouraged Vote Leave to carry on spending. And it gave it selectively  no such advice was given to Stronger In.

The regulator, charged with ensuring the referendum was fair, in fact unlawfully tilted the playing field in Leaves favour.

Matthew Elliot, the former chief executive of Vote Leave, said the campaign had been left in a complete Alice in Wonderland situation.

Writing on the Brexit Central website, he said: Vote Leave asked for, and received, the Electoral Commissions advice. We followed that advice.

Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Show all 14 1 /14 Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Internal divisions in the Conservative Party have exploded into a bitter public row over Boris Johnsons disgusting criticism of Theresa May. Some senior Tories furiously denounced the former foreign secretary after he accused the prime minister of having wrapped a suicide vest around Britain Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Sajid Javid, Home secretary Sajid Javid, the home secretary, rebuked his former cabinet colleague and said: I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences. He told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show that the public wanted politicians to use measured language BBC/PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide But other MPs leapt to Mr Johnsons defence, as dividing lines ahead of a possible leadership contest begin to take shape. The Uxbridge MP has repeatedly criticised Ms Mays Chequers plan and used a newspaper article on Sunday to suggest it amounted to wrapping a suicide vest around the British constitution. His latest salvo at the prime minister prompted immediate condemnation, with one minister publicly vowing to end Mr Johnsons career over the matter PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Alan Duncan, Foreign minister Alan Duncan, a foreign minister who worked in Mr Johnsons team for two years, wrote on Twitter: For Boris to say the PMs view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. Im sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isnt now, I will make sure it is later. Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide James Brokenshire, Housing secretary Housing secretary James Brokenshire added his voice to the criticism, calling Mr Johnsons comments wrong He said: I think he is wrong on this...I think the tone that he has used isnt right and I think that we just need to be very focused on actually moving forward with the Chequers plan. AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Zac Goldsmith But as Tory hostilities spilled over into open public warfare, Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, an ally of Mr Johnson, hit back at Mr Duncan. He wrote: There are a number of possible motives behind this tweet, but given its author, we can be certain principles arent one of them. Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Jacob Rees-Mogg Senior Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Independent he thought Mr Johnsons suicide belt accusation was little more than a characteristically colourful catchphrase. He added: I agree with the sentiment. The criticism of Boriss wording merely serves to highlight his point. It means more people hear of Boriss criticism of Chequers and many will agree with him. Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Nadine Dorries Nadine Dorries, another Brexit supporter, said Mr Johnsons opponents were terrified of his popular appeal, adding: Dont underestimate the vitriol thatll be directed towards Boris today. He delivered the Leave vote, Remainers and wannabe future PMs hate him. If Mr Johnson became leader and prime minister he would deliver a clean and prosperous Brexit, she said Rex Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Andrew Bridgen Andrew Bridgen said Ms May was to blame for her leadership problems. Asked if Mr Johnson had put a bomb under her leadership, Mr Bridgen said: I think that Theresa May did that herself when she put forward the Chequers proposals without consulting widely prior to that. Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Steve Baker, former Brexit minister Steve Baker, the former Brexit minister, warned Ms May the Conservatives faced a "catastrophic split" if she did not jettison her Chequers plan. Mr Baker, who quit the government in July over the scheme, said: When negotiating, the prime minister needs to demonstrate her intent and also her power to deliver. "If we come out of conference with her hoping to get Chequers through on the back of Labour votes, I think the EU negotiators would probably understand that if that were done, the Tory party would suffer the catastrophic split which thus far we have managed to avoid. But he insisted he did not want a change in the Conservative leadership, saying Brexiteers did not want to be in a position of conflict with our own prime minister Reuters Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Tom Tugendhat The deep divisions on the Tory benches were laid bare as Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee and is a possible leadership rival to Mr Johnson, also hit out at the former foreign secretary. Recalling how he encountered a suicide bomber in Afghanistan during his time in the army, Mr Tugendhat told Mr Johnson to grow up. He said: A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died in horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isnt happy. PA Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Alistair Burt Alistair Burt, another Foreign Office minister who worked in Mr Johnsons team, said: Im stunned at the nature of this attack. There is no justification for such an outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful analogy. If we dont stop his extraordinary use of language over Brexit, our country might never heal. Again, I say, enough. AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide It comes amid that Ms Mays former aides drew up a dossier on Mr Johnsons sexual encounters with the aim of undermining his leadership prospects. The document was compiled in 2016, when the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP was seen as the main rival to Ms May in her bid to enter No 10. Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquaters (CCHQ) both denied having leaked the 4,000 word memo after it was circulated around Westminster AFP/Getty Boris Johnson 'suicide vest' Brexit jibe causes Tory divide Mr Johnson confirmed that his 25-year marriage to wife Marina had ended AP

During the judicial review, the Electoral Commission tried to avoid admitting that it had given that advice to us, but we were able to establish that they had  and the judges clearly ruled in the preliminary hearing that we had received that advice.

Yet we are now told that, by having followed that advice, we broke the law.

An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: The Commission welcomes the courts consideration of this aspect of electoral law.

The court arrived at the same conclusion as the Commission did in its investigation  that Vote Leave should have accounted for the expenditure on the digital services firm, Aggregate IQ  although it found an additional reason for reaching that conclusion.

The Commission imposed sanctions on Vote Leave for this offence and others found during the investigation.
The Labour Party and trades union bosses have stood by Mark Serwotka after he claimed Israel could have created the antisemitism row that has plagued the party.

Mr Serwotka, who leads the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), told a fringe event at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference on Tuesday that the Jewish state could have created a story that does not exist in order to distract attention from atrocities he said it has committed.

The comments, revealed by The Independent, come after Labour was engulfed in a bitter row in the summer on its handling of allegations of antisemitism in its ranks.

Recommended Union leader suggests Israel created Labour antisemitism row

Labour has refused to comment on the remarks, or to respond to questions on whether the party would launch an investigation into Mr Serwotkas conduct.

The TUC also did not directly condemn Mr Serwotkas comments and failed to respond to questions over whether he would remain president of the umbrella body, a position he was elected to this week.

Asked about his remarks, a spokesperson said: The TUC opposes antisemitism and discrimination of all kinds, as do our member unions. All TUC unions have a commitment to tackling racism and promoting equality in their rules.

If anyone experiences antisemitism, or any form of discrimination in the union movement, they should be confident that they can raise it with their union, and their union will take their concerns seriously.

The row centres on remarks made by Mr Serwotka at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign event, where said he deplored antisemitism but claimed accusations against Jeremy Corbyn were the result of something sinister going on.

He said: I think it is unfortunate that the Labour Party allowed a lot of this to drag on in a way that actually did not help anybody.

In a year when Donald Trump has moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in a year when dozens of Palestinians including children were gunned down  unarmed innocent civilians  by the Israeli military, in a year when the Americans are cutting off aid ... isnt it a vile world when, instead of being on the front foot, denouncing these atrocities, demanding an independent and sovereign state for the Palestinian people, we have had a summer of asking ourselves whether leading Labour movement people are in any way antisemitic?

He added: Im not a conspiracy theorist, but Ill tell you what  one of the best forms of trying to hide from the atrocities that you are committing is to go on the offensive and actually create a story that does not exist for people on this platform, the trade union movement or, I have to say, for the leader of the Labour Party.

Euan Philipps, a spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, said the speech was a stark illustration of how deeply embedded antisemitism is within the Labour movement and called for Mr Serwotka to resign as PCS general secretary.

Protests against Labour antisemitism Show all 14 1 /14 Protests against Labour antisemitism Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters clashed during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of the Jewish community hold a protest against Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism in the Labour Party AFP/Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters hold placards and flags during a demonstration, organised by the British Board of Jewish Deputies for those who oppose antisemitism, in Parliament Square Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during the protest PA Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester blows through a shofar during the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of London's Jewish community protest in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP John Mann speaks during a protest against antisemitism PA Protests against Labour antisemitism People protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party as Jewish community leaders have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he has sided with antisemites again and again PA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour politicians Stella Creasy and Chuka Umunna leave after attending the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A pro-Jeremy Corbyn protester holds a placard during a counter-protest Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A support of the Labour Party hold up a placard during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Jeremy Corbyn supporters during the demo Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester holds up a sign reading For the many, not the Jew AFP

However, the union has stood by him, with a spokesperson saying: Mark spoke at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign fringe event at the TUC  an organisation PCS is affiliated to.

He made the point at the start of the meeting that we need to oppose antisemitism in society and within the Labour movement.

But we should not allow the issue of antisemitism to be used by people who are attempting to silence Palestinian voices as they legitimately struggle for their rights and a sovereign state.
An animal shelter in the path of Hurricane Florence has warned it will euthanize animals if it cant find people to adopt them before the storm hits.

Jewel Horton, manager of Pender County Animal Shelter in North Carolina, said on Wednesday that local government-run animal shelters were filling up fast and that those that hit capacity must make space.

This means putting down animals to reduce overcrowding.

We are avoiding euthanasia at all costs, Ms Horton said. That's why we're begging for assistance.

Organisations such as the Pender County Humane Society are helping to facilitate adoption and are working to clear space in the shelter without having to sacrifice any animals.

For us, animals are more important than things, said Julie Lamacchia, who is president of the Burgaw, North Carolina-based Humane Society.

Things can be replaced - anything can be replaced - but you can never replace a life, whether it's a person or an animal.

Killing animals is the last thing the shelter staff want to do, Ms Horton said.

Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Show all 20 1 /20 Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Barmen protect their business from the storm and the opportunists Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Many supplies have run out as Hurricane Florence approaches in Nichols, South Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence seen from space on September 12 AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Students of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern, North Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Rescue workers are on the scene in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Sixteen hours before Florence even hits land, the Neuse River bursts its banks and floods New Bern, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help three children out of their flooded home in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A boardwalk is damaged in Atlantic Beach on North Carolina's coast Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Union Point Park in New Bern is closed Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A child sits in Conway High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre in South Carolina AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Locals voice their disapproval of the storm in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help children from their flooded home in James City Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A man floats down his street in a metal tub after the Neuse River burst its banks in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Electric lines are affected in Wilmington, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Floods in New Bern, North Carolina as Florence approaches Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Waves crash over a pier on Atlantic Beach in North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence is seen from the International Space Station as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the US NASA/Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast This NOAA/RAMMB satellite image taken on September 10, 2018, shows Hurricane Florence off the US' east coast in the Atantic Ocean AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast In this NOAA satellite handout image, Hurricane Florence is shown travelling west and gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda on September 10, 2018 Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Firefighters rescue people by boat in New Bern, North Carolina Getty

Usually, when the shelter in the town of about 4,100 people nears capacity, she gets the word out and residents respond.

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Even in the days before Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Ms Horton was able to find enough homes for the shelter's animals. But Matthew didn't hit North Carolina head on.

People are fleeing this state like no tomorrow, Ms Horton said. There's just not people here to take these animals on.

And as more residents leave under mandatory evacuation orders, the county shelter expects their cages to get more crowded.

Ms Horton said she's bound by law to accept every animal that comes through her doors.

It's important they clear out as many animals as possible now, before the storm hits, because once it does, Horton expects her shelter to get way more cramped.

When we start hitting recovery mode, space is going to be an issue, she said. Getting people here to help us is going to be an issue.

What to do with pets in a storm is a perennial question, challenging owners, activists and officials every hurricane season.

Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Twitter, encouraged residents to consider their pets in their disaster preparations.

Make a plan and practice it with them, the agency encouraged.

Organisations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States have become more aggressive about responding to disasters, especially after Hurricane Katrina.

One poll after the devastating 2006 storm found that 44 percent of people who chose not to evacuate did so because they didn't want to leave their pets behind. But still, plenty of animals were abandoned - more than 100,000, according to the Louisiana SPCA.

As many as 70,000 died throughout the Gulf Coast.

On Tuesday, the ASPCA issued a plea to pet owners, asking them to evacuate their animals, too, and gave them instructions for doing so.

We can't stress enough how important it is to incorporate pets into evacuation plans to keep families together and pets safe, Dick Green, head of the ASPCA's disaster response unit, said in the statement.

In a separate statement, Mr Green encouraged animal shelters to plan ahead, too.

It's imperative that animal shelters take proactive, necessary measures, and collaborate with other agencies if necessary to keep the animals in their care safe during emergency situations, he said.

The ASPCA and other groups are on the ground in the Carolinas, assisting with local animal relocation efforts.

In Pender County and other areas, animal lovers have used social media and word of mouth to try to pull off a large-scale pet rescue.

Samira Davis, a Wilmington resident, volunteered on Monday to help the Pender County Humane Society coordinate animal relocation. She said they've done a good job - for now.

We've probably saved between 30 and 50 animals, but there are about to be so many more in need, she said.

What's more, the local Humane Society is strapped for cash, and Ms Lamacchia worries that Hurricane Florence is going to further sap their resources.

This storm is going to wipe us out, she said. If we don't get people to step up and foster and donate, it's really going to limit our efforts.

The Washington Post
A mother and her infant child were killed when a tree fell on their house in North Carolina  the first of at least four reported fatalities of Hurricane Florence.

Police in the city of Wilmington, located on the coast where the storm blew ashore on Friday morning, confirmed the individuals were killed when a tree fell on the home in Mercer Avenue. Media said emergency crews had been working to save the pair, but their efforts were in vain; a man  the husband and father of the victims  was also hurt and transported to hospital.

As news of the deaths was confirmed, emergency crews from the fire department knelt and prayed outside the house, a moment captured by NBC journalist Lester Holt. A remarkably touching scene in Wilmington NC as firefighters huddle in prayer for 2 victims in partial house collapse, he wrote. Some time after that, a third and fourth fatality were reported.

The citys police force had initially confirmed it was working to free people from a house where a tree had fallen. Reports said the emergency team had with them an specialist in performing amputations, should that have been required.

Shortly afterwards, it posted another tweet that read: WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Centre with injuries.

 Hurricane Florence winds rip American flag to pieces

The city of Wilmington, which has a population of just under 120,000, is a few miles from Wrightsville Beach, where Hurricane Florence came ashore at 7.15am. At that point, according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), the storm had winds of a relatively modest 90mph and had been downgraded to a category 1 storm. Yet the centre said it still bore with it the threat of catastrophic freshwater flooding.

Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Show all 20 1 /20 Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Barmen protect their business from the storm and the opportunists Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Many supplies have run out as Hurricane Florence approaches in Nichols, South Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence seen from space on September 12 AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Students of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern, North Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Rescue workers are on the scene in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Sixteen hours before Florence even hits land, the Neuse River bursts its banks and floods New Bern, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help three children out of their flooded home in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A boardwalk is damaged in Atlantic Beach on North Carolina's coast Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Union Point Park in New Bern is closed Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A child sits in Conway High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre in South Carolina AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Locals voice their disapproval of the storm in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help children from their flooded home in James City Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A man floats down his street in a metal tub after the Neuse River burst its banks in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Electric lines are affected in Wilmington, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Floods in New Bern, North Carolina as Florence approaches Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Waves crash over a pier on Atlantic Beach in North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence is seen from the International Space Station as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the US NASA/Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast This NOAA/RAMMB satellite image taken on September 10, 2018, shows Hurricane Florence off the US' east coast in the Atantic Ocean AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast In this NOAA satellite handout image, Hurricane Florence is shown travelling west and gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda on September 10, 2018 Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Firefighters rescue people by boat in New Bern, North Carolina Getty

CNN said that soon after police confirmed the deaths of the mother and her child, a third fatality was reported from Pender County in North Carolina. That victim, a woman, also died Friday morning after emergency responders were unable to get to her due to downed trees and debris in the road, said Chad McEwen, the assistant county manager for Pender County. Mr McEwen said 911 had been called for the woman in cardiac distress in the town of Hampstead.

Officials also reported a fatality in Lenoir County. The office of the states governor, Roy Cooper, said the person was killed in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator.

To those in the storms path, if you can hear me, please stay sheltered in place, Mr Cooper said at a news conference in Raleigh. He said Florence would continue its violent grind across the state for days.

Authorities said more than 60 people, including many children and pets, had to be evacuated from a hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina, after strong winds caused parts of the roof to collapse.

On Friday afternoon, the Associated Press said a weakening Hurricane Florence was almost at a standstill over southeastern North Carolina. At 2 pm, it was centered about 35 miles west-southwest of Wilmington, and about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east-northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was crawling west at just five mph.

The National Hurricane Centre said Florence was forecast to keep moving farther inland across the Carolinas through the weekend before turning towards the central Appalachian Mountains early next week. At 5pm, the NHC said Florence had been downgraded to a tropical storm.
Electricity is out for more than a half million people along the US eastern seaboard now that Hurricane Florence has arrived with its devastating winds and heavy rains, but the storm is more than just a challenge of personal resolve and architecture for those in the path of the torrent  for many, it is a test of medical charity and hospitality, with potentially deadly consequences.

North Carolina's governor Roy Cooper said the hurricane was "wreaking havoc" on the coast and could wipe out entire communities as it makes its "violent grind across our state for days." He called the rain an event that comes along only once every 1,000 years.

"Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless," he said. "It's an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave."

Hundreds of National Guardsmen have been deployed and hundreds of calls have already come in for assistance as a result of the storm. Flooding and storm surges have hit many areas of the Carolina coast, leading to a number of rescues  often in boats  to help those stranded.

As residents in the impact zone of Florence prepared for what could be weeks of isolation and loss of power, officials across the state this week implemented plans to continue caring for the most vulnerable in the area by evacuating hospitals, nursing homes and medical facilities up and down the 300 miles worth of coastline where the storm was expected to leave its mark.

Recommended North Carolina residents ignore Hurricane Florence evacuation orders

However, some workers from across the country are making their way towards the devastation.

One caravan travelling into Florence, South Carolina, operated by the healthcare company Fresenius Medical Care, plans on meeting the storm halfway, and then setting up a remote command centre that will jump-start dialysis clinics in the region that would be otherwise unable to care for the thousands of patients whose lives would be threatened without their treatment.

Without water or power we cant dialyse our patients. Its a very vulnerable, susceptible patient population because they need to dialyse up to three times a week, and this is a life sustaining treatment, David Sweet, the regional vice president of Fresenius and a leader of the caravan, said on his way towards the hurricane from Alabama.

Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Show all 20 1 /20 Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Barmen protect their business from the storm and the opportunists Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Many supplies have run out as Hurricane Florence approaches in Nichols, South Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence seen from space on September 12 AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Students of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern, North Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Rescue workers are on the scene in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Sixteen hours before Florence even hits land, the Neuse River bursts its banks and floods New Bern, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help three children out of their flooded home in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A boardwalk is damaged in Atlantic Beach on North Carolina's coast Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Union Point Park in New Bern is closed Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A child sits in Conway High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre in South Carolina AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Locals voice their disapproval of the storm in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help children from their flooded home in James City Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A man floats down his street in a metal tub after the Neuse River burst its banks in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Electric lines are affected in Wilmington, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Floods in New Bern, North Carolina as Florence approaches Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Waves crash over a pier on Atlantic Beach in North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence is seen from the International Space Station as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the US NASA/Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast This NOAA/RAMMB satellite image taken on September 10, 2018, shows Hurricane Florence off the US' east coast in the Atantic Ocean AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast In this NOAA satellite handout image, Hurricane Florence is shown travelling west and gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda on September 10, 2018 Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Firefighters rescue people by boat in New Bern, North Carolina Getty

Just days without treatment could be deadly for some, Mr Sweet said: If they dont dialyse, they might end up in the hospital or end up in a mortality situation.

There are roughly 30,000 patients who rely on dialysis in the states where Florence is expected to impact and Fresenius operates more than 400 clinics in the area. Mr Sweet and his cohort plan on setting up a large camp at one of those clinics  complete with generators and even ice machines  and from there will fan out to clinics with deliveries of essentials like petrol and diesel that will help get treatment schedules for patients back on track as soon as possible.

The company stresses that all dialysis patients are welcome, not just their own.

Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Friday morning as a Category 1 storm, hours after tropical storm-force winds began battering the coasts where as many as 1.7 million people are under evacuation orders.

The storm slowly lost its power as it made its way closer to the US  a relief for many on the ground worried about their homes but still a source of concern for government officials, with life-threatening storm surges and flooding expected

Mr Cooper was one of several governors to declare states of emergency and issue evacuation orders on the coast. Virtually every state from Georgia up to Maryland, and the District of Columbia, have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm. Mr Cooper had even asked President Donald Trump to declare a state of disaster in his state before the storm made landfall  a rare request for a disaster declaration to be made before the disaster had manifested.

Some in the evacuation zones  areas close to the shore that are particularly vulnerable to flooding and strong winds  elected to stay in spite of those warnings, or did so because they lack resources to travel to safer areas and free shelters.

For some, the decision to shelter in place in evacuation zones has already proven to be a disaster.

In New Bern, North Carolina, heavy flooding has already left hundreds in need of rescue, with around 100 people having been rescued overnight between Thursday and Friday. Rescue teams say they are working as hard as they can to bring those individuals to safety, but the deluge of calls for help has stacked up on the five swift water rescue teams operating in the area, assisted by the Cajun Navy volunteer rescue group.

"WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU," the city of New Bern tweeted around 2am on Friday. "You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU."

 Hurricane Florence winds rip American flag to pieces

Cheri Parnell, a hospice nurse who lives in Hampstead, North Carolina, said that she plans on staying in part because she feels a need to help her patients she says she knows will not be able to make it out of the evacuation zone.

Ms Parnell said she does not necessarily think that she will be able to physically get to her patients  many of whom have just months to live  after Florence wreaks havoc on the area, but that she thinks being close and knowing what they are going through will help her to instruct family with patients on what to do.

All of her colleagues, she said, have evacuated to safer zones. She is the last one standing and able to help her patients  and in this case she is willing to risk her life to help them enjoy theirs.

Theyre special people. I would not leave them, Ms Parnell said. Ive still got to make their lives as good as can be.
 Close Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleads guilty

Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort will cooperate with prosecutors from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation after pleading guilty to two charges to avoid a second criminal trial.

The charges include conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

As part of a plea deal, the rest of the charges in the Washington DC case, as well as the deadlocked charges from a previous case in Virginia will be dropped at the time of sentencing ot upon "completion of cooperation" prosecutors have said.

The allegations do not involve his work with the Trump campaign. It is not clear whether any agreement with prosecutors would require him to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Manafort was facing a second trial set to begin on Monday on charges related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

It's unclear how the possible deal might affect Manafort's pursuit of a pardon from President Donald Trump. The president has signalled that he's sympathetic to Manafort's cause, and in comments to Politico, his attorney-spokesman Rudy Giuliani said a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Manafort is already facing eight to 10 years in prison after being convicted in Virginia on eight counts of bank and tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts relating to $16m (12m) laundered through shell companies overseas.

As the former campaign chairman is expected in court later today, you can follow live updates below.

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is close to reaching a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, according to reports.

Manafort, 69, is said to be negotiating with prosecutors over possible guilty pleas to avoid facing a second trial just weeks after he was convicted of bank and tax fraud.

It is not clear whether any deal would include cooperation with the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Manfort is awaiting trial for conspiring to launder money and defraud the United States and failing to register as a foreign agent for the tens of millions of dollars he earned lobbying for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in Washington DC on Monday but ABC News has claimed a deal could be announced on Friday.

Its close but not there yet, one of the sources said about negotiations over a deal.

Speculation over the potential impact of a deal on Mr Trumps presidency is increasing, with Democrat strategist Scott Dworkin writing on Twitter: If Manafort flips I bet Donald Trump will resign within two weeks.

Others suggested cooperation was unlikely and Manafort was angling for a pardon from the president.

Joshua Dressler, a law professor at Ohio State University, suggested Manafort was considering cutting his losses and avoiding the time and money needed to defend himself against a second trial.

With eight convictions already in place, and more possible convictions awaiting him, it seems that he has been bloodied up enough to see the light, Mr Dressler said.

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Manafort is already facing eight to 10 years in prison after being convicted in Virginia on eight counts of bank and tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts relating to $16m (12m) laundered through shell companies overseas.

Last month, after Mr Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen entered his guilty pleas in court, the president praised Manafort for refusing to break, adding: Such respect for a brave man!

Manafort worked on Mr Trumps presidential campaign for five months, including three as chairman, before resigning in August 2016.

He was at a controversial meeting at Trump Tower in 2016 where Russians offered dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Rick Gates, the campaigns deputy chairman, testified against Manafort, his former business partner, at the trial in Virginia and could be called in the second trial in Washington.

The second trial could reveal further details about Manaforts Russian connections, including his ties to Konstantin Kilimnik, a Ukrainian-Russian political consultant said to be linked to Russian intelligence.

Prosecutors claim Manafort and Mr Kilimnik conspired to tamper with witnesses.

Mr Trump denies any collusion with Russia and has repeatedly branded the Mueller investigation a rigged witch hunt.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Donald Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors as part of a plea deal  creating a huge legal and political headache for the president.

As part of a deal in which the 69-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges, one of conspiracy against the United States and one of witness tampering, the man who was manager of the Trump campaign during the crucial period when he secured the Republican nomination for president, has agreed to help the team of special counsel Robert Mueller. A court in Washington DC said a 17-page document outlined the details of that agreement.

According to reports from inside the federal court in Washington, Manafort told judge Amy Berman Jackson: I plead guilty. The judge said Mr Manafort had agreed to be reinterviewed by Mr Muellers team, to hand over any documents and to testify before other investigative bodies  such as a congressional committee. He has agreed to do so without the presence of his lawyer. Yet NPR reported the cooperation agreement did not include matters involving the Trump campaign.

Recommended Follow live updates with Paul Manafort set to plead guilty

Either way, the White House very quickly moved to downplay the link between Mr Trump and anything that Manafort had admitted.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated, said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary.

Mr Trumps main lawyer, Rudy Giuliani echoed her comments, saying that the plea has nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign and said that the president did nothing wrong.

The plea hearing before US District Court judge Jackson means Manafort avoids going through a a second trial, which was scheduled to begin this month on charges of money laundering and lobbying violations. He was already facing eight to 10 years in prison after being convicted last month in Virginia on eight counts of bank and tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts relating to $16m (12m) laundered through shell companies overseas.

Fridays drama was the latest victory for Mr Mueller, was who is investigating Russias interference in the 2016 election, and possible collusion by the Trump campaign. Mr Mueller, a former director of the FBI is also looking into whether Mr Trump obstructed justice. The president has repeatedly denied there was any such collusion and dismissed the probe as a witch hunt.

 Donald Trump calls Paul Manafort 'a good man' following eight counts of bank and tax fraud

Manaforts plea deal is by far the most consequential result yet from Mr Muellers 15-month probe into the circumstances surrounding Russias alleged interference with the election. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Manaforts deputy Richard Gates and foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos, have already pleaded to various charges, including lying to FBI investigators. None of charges are directly related to any misconduct by the presidents campaign.

Alex van der Zwaan, an attorney, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators during the investigation, and was sentenced to 30 days in prison in April 2018. He was the first to be sentenced in the probe. Earlier this month, Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days for lying to agents.

Mr Trump has frequently pointed out that Manafort was only with his campaign for a few months; he joined in March 2016, with a focus on ensuring the former reality television star obtained sufficient commitments from delegates attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, to secure the nomination. A month before the July convention, Manafort officially became manager of the campaign after Mr Trump fired Corey Lewandowski.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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In August, as controversy grew about Manaforts work for former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, he was fired from the campaign and replaced by Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway.

One of the episodes that Manafort was present at, and which prosecutors have probably already questioned him about, was the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with Kremlin-linked lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Also present at the meeting were Mr Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, his son-in-law Jared Kusher, and Rob Goldstone, a British music producer who represented a Moscow-based singer and his powerful father, who already knew the Trump family.

The meeting had been organised after Mr Trump Jr was told the Russian lawyer had information about Hillary Clinton. In the end, he claimed she only wanted to talk about lifting US sanctions against Russia.

Mr Trump, who personally helped draft his sons press statement about the incident, has dismissed the significance of the meeting on several occasions.

Speaking in Paris, where he was attending 2017 Bastille Day celebrations with Emanuel Macron, he told reporters: My son is a wonderful young man. He took a meeting with a Russian lawyer, not a government lawyer, but a Russian lawyer. It was a short meeting. It was a meeting that went very, very quickly, very fast.

He added: I think from a practical standpoint most people would have taken that meeting. Politics isnt the nicest business in the world, but its very standard.

As part of the deal announced on Friday, Manafort, in addition to any jail time he may serve, has undertaken to forfeit four homes  three in New York, and one in Virginia. He will also give up the funds from five bank accounts.

The New York Times said on Friday that the filing document placed with the court detailed a rich trove of new information about the way Manafort sought to try to advance the interests of the former president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, between 2006 and 2014.

They refer to previously undisclosed work with a senior Israeli government official and two European consultants to discredit Yulia Tymoshenko, a political opponent who Mr Yanukovychs government prosecuted and ultimately jailed.

It said Manafort admitted to coordinating with the Israeli official, who prosecutors did not identify, on an effort to pressure Jewish officials in the Obama administration, who Mr Manafort called [O]bama jews at the time.

The Jewish community will take this out on Obama on election day if he does nothing, Manafort wrote.

Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Fridays developments marked another victory for Mueller.

If the resident moves to pardon Manafort or impede his cooperation in any way, it would constitute an attempt to obstruct justice, he said.

Mueller and his team must be allowed to finish their investigation without interference by President Trump or his Republican allies.
Andrew Cuomo has defeated progressive activist Cynthia Nixon in the New York Democratic primaries, paving the way for his third term as the states governor.

The incumbent Democratic governor won comfortably, receiving more than 65 per cent of the total vote with more than 90 per cent of districts reporting.

His victory followed a contentious and closely watched primary season, in which a wave of progressive candidates sought to shake up the Democratic establishment in Albany. Mr Cuomo held a decisive lead over Ms Nixon leading up to Thursdays vote, with his progressive opponent trailing by 41 per cent in a poll published just before the election.

Ms Nixon received nearly 278,000 votes compared to Mr Cuomos 534,922 in data received an hour after polling sites closed, with 49 per cent of districts reporting.

We started with nothing and we earned every single vote, Cynthia Nixon said on Thursday in her concession speech. We had fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state.

In a follow-up tweet, the progressive candidate wrote, This isnt just a symbolic victory.

This campaign forced the Governor to make concrete commitments that will change the lives of people across this state, she continued.

The defeated gubernatorial candidate saluted Zephyr Teachout, who ran against Letitia James for attorney general, as well as Jumaane Williams, who ran against Kathy Hochul for lieutenant governor, in her concession speech.

Neither won their elections, as Ms James secured a historic win to become the state attorney general while Ms Hochul held onto her seat as lieutenant governor in Albany.

The Associated Press called the victory at 9.30pm. With Thursdays victory, Mr Cuomo will appear on the November election ballot as the Democratic Partys official nominee, spurring immediate speculation about a presidential bid in 2020 against Donald Trump.

In an interview with The Independent ahead of the primaries, the actress and first-time candidate made it clear that her campaign against Mr Cuomo was just the beginning of her political career in New York.

 Cynthia Nixon calls for ICE to be abolished

I want to make it clear that I have been fighting for a lot of these issues much longer than from the start of this campaign, she said on Tuesday, adding, Im not going anywhere.

Mr Cuomo has situated himself as one of the presidents most vocal critics as governor, attacking him over his alleged falsities and criticising his hard-line policies impacting immigrants arriving at the US-Mexico border and beyond.

New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Show all 18 1 /18 New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek East River State Park in Brooklyn Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Third Avenue in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Bergdorf and Goodman on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek AMC Empire, 42nd street in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Fulton Street in Brooklyn Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek A passenger with his pet on the G-train in Brooklyn Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Bowery in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Whyte Avenue in Brooklyn Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Times Square in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Squibb Park in Brooklyn Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Broadway in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Seventh Avenue in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Oculus Church Street in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Models get ready in the Manhattan Centre on 34th street Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Third Avenue on 149th street in the Bronx Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan Richard Koek/Lannoo New York New York: A Visual Hymn by Richard Koek New York New York: A Visual Hymn Lannoo

Mr Cuomos opponents  including Marc Molinaro, the Republican gubernatorial candidate for New York who ran unopposed in Thursdays primary elections  have attacked him on state issues, from the citys failing subway system to a major gap in education funding for lower-income schools compared to those in upper class neighbourhoods across the state.

Ms Nixon could still stand in Novembers midterm elections against Mr Cuomo under the Working Families Party, which endorsed her earlier this year. It remains to be seen whether she will continue campaigning for that role.
The Dalai Lama has sparked anger after declaring that Europe belongs to the Europeans.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader also said that refugees should return to their native countries and assist with developing them.

The 14th Dalai Lama was speaking at a conference in Malmo, Sweden which is home to a large immigrant population, according to the Business Times.

Receive them, help them, educate them ... but ultimately they should develop their own country, the 83-year-old said, when speaking about refugees.

I think Europe belongs to the Europeans.

He was speaking in the aftermath of a divisive election in Sweden in which a far-right party, Swedish Democrats, made electoral gains, although they were beaten by the country's centre-left coalition.

The Dalai Lama also said that Europe was morally responsible for helping a refugee really facing danger against their life.

Social media users condemned the comments, calling the Dalai Lama a bigot of the first order and a hypocrite.

The spiritual leader is followed by millions of Buddhists around the world. He is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, but has made controversial comments about refugees in the past.

Europe, for example Germany, cannot become an Arab country, he said in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 2016, in which he also said that there were too many refugees in Europe.

The Dalai Lama is a refugee himself. He led thousands of his followers from Tibet to India in 1959 after the Tibetans protested against Chinese limits on their autonomy.

The 83-tear-old continues to live in exile in northern India today.
Russia has responded to Theresa Mays claim the two suspects in the Salisbury poisoning case were guilty of lying, labelling the prime ministers comments unacceptable.

The British leader said the men had employed blatant fabrications when they denied involvement and claimed they visited the city to visit its historic cathedral and "world-famous" 123m spire.

But Vladimir Putins press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the Kremlins position had not changed.

[We remain] unambiguous, transparent and consistent, he said.

It is unacceptable to associate the Russian leadership or government with what went on in Salisbury. More so to blame Russia of lies following a statement by two civilians. These men are ordinary citizens with no relation to government.

Asked if Mr Putin had watched the widely-ridiculed interview, Mr Peskov said: I dont know. Its unlikely he saw it all. I dont think he had time ... he has no comment to make.

The men who identify as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov are charged with attempting to kill double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the Soviet-designed nerve agent novichok. The Skripals survived the 4 March attack in Salisbury, but a local resident later died after apparently having contact with the poison.

Recommended The implausible claims made by Russians accused of novichok attack

Mr Petrov and Mr Boshirov appeared on the state-funded RT channel, saying they visited Salisbury as tourists and had nothing to do with the poisoning. They denied the British claim that they were Russian military intelligence officers, saying they work in the nutritional supplements business.

He indicated the Kremlin would not actively assist British investigators to get access to the suspects. They had committed no crime by Russian law, "nor elsewhere in the world"



"It is up to the men if they agree to interview," he said. "We don't organise interviews."

But Mr Peskov said Russian authorities would deal with an application with the UKs request to interrogate them if it comes  "in strict accordance with agreements." He added that Britain had stonewalled repeated Russian offers to conduct a joint inquiry.

There is a mechanism of legal assistance regulated by bilateral documents and international law, Mr Peskov told reporters.

Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Show all 19 1 /19 Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Salisbury train station The two suspects charged in relation to the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal at Salisbury train station at 16:11hrs on 03 March 2018 Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Suspects Suspects Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, Russian nationals, approximately 40 years old, who travelled on a Russian passport. It is likely that they were travelling under aliases and that these are not their real names Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Evidence Bottle and applicator recovered by police from Charlie Rowleys address in Muggleton Road Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Evidence A counterfeit perfume box that was discovered by nerve agent victim Charlie Rowley, who later gave it, and the bottle inside, to his girlfriend Dawn Sturgess Metropolitan Police/AFP/Getty Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Rowley has previously said he felt lucky to be alive after giving a perfume bottle that contained the nerve agent Novichok to his girlfriend Dawn Sturgess, who later died Metropolitan Police/AFP/Getty Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Suspeccts The CPS has issued European Arrest Warrants for the extradition of 'Boshirov' and 'Petrov' in connection with the Novichok poisoning attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March Metropolitan Police/PA Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Boshirov' at Gatwick airport Movements in detail - At 3pm on Friday, 2 March, the suspects arrived at Gatwick airport, having flown from Moscow on Aeroflot flight SU2588 Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Petrov at Gatwick airport From the airport it is believed that they travelled by train into London, arriving at Victoria station at approximately 5.40pm Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Salisbury train station, 11:48hrs on 4 March 2018 They then travelled on London public transport to Waterloo station and were in the area between approximately 6pm and 7pm. They travelled to the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, East London, where they stayed on Friday, 2 March, and Saturday, 3 March. On Saturday, 3 March, they left the hotel and took the underground to Waterloo station, arriving at approximately 11.45am, where they caught a train to Salisbury, arriving at approximately 2.25pm Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack City Stay Hotel in Bow Road Police officers stand outside the City Stay Hotel in Bow where on Sunday, 4 March, 'Boshirov' and 'Petrov' made the same journey from the hotel as they did the previous day, again using the underground from Bow to Waterloo station at approximately 8.05am, before continuing their journey by train to Salisbury Getty Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Wilton Road, Salisbury, 11:58hrs on 4 March 2018 CCTV shows them in the vicinity of Mr Skripals house and we believe that they contaminated the front door with Novichok Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Fisherton Road CCTV image of both suspects on Fisherton Road, Salisbury at 13:05hrs on 4 March, 2018 Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Salisbury train station, 13:50hrs on 4 March 2018 They left Salisbury and returned to Waterloo Station, arriving at approximately 4.45pm and boarded the London Underground at approximately 6.30pm to London Heathrow Airport Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV  Heathrow airport security, 19:28hrs on 4 March 2018 From Heathrow Airport, they returned to Moscow on Aeroflot flight SU2585, departing at 10.30pm Metropolitan Police/PA Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Scene investigations The police investigation was carried out over 6 months. Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found on March 4 in a critical condition on a bench outside the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury AFP Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Victims Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, right, and his daughter Yulia Rex Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Victims Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey who rushed to the aid of the Skripals was also taken to hospital in a serious condition after falling ill when attempting to help them PA Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Victims Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother of three, died after falling ill when partner Charlie Rowley gave her a perfume bottle that contained the nerve agent Novichok Facebook/AFP/Getty Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Scene investigations The home of Charlie Rowley in Muggleton Road, Amesbury, where he and Dawn Sturgess were exposed to the deadly nerve agent Novichok PA

The UK said the attack received approval at a senior level of the Russian state, an accusation Moscow has fiercely denied.
South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have opened a joint liaison office Friday for round-the-clock communications between the two sides.

The opening ceremony was held at about 10:50 a.m. local time (0150 GMT) outside the liaison office building in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong, according to a pool report from South Korean reporters.

The Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea is seen from the Taesungdong freedom village inside the demilitarized zone during a press tour in Paju, South Korea. The rival Koreas on Friday have opened their first liaison office near their tense border to facilitate better communication and exchanges. [Photo: IC]

About 50 government officials and experts from the two sides attended the ceremony, including officials in charge of inter-Korean affairs and experts on the Korean Peninsula affairs.



The office was a follow-up measure on the agreement reached by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit on April 27 at the border village of Panmunjom.

The two leaders agreed to hold their third summit in the DPRK's capital Pyongyang for three days from Sept. 18.

"(The joint liaison office) is a symbol of peace created by both the South and the North," South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said in a congratulatory speech.

Cho said the office will become a round-the-clock communications channel between the two Koreas under a new era of peace.

"It is more meaningful to launch the joint liaison office ahead of the historic summit meeting in Pyongyang between the leaders of the North and the South," said Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) of the DPRK in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

Cho and Ri signed an agreement on how to run the joint liaison office at a meeting room on the third floor of the four-story building. South Korean and DPRK officials would use the second and fourth floors each of the building.

South Korea will station some 20 officials in the office, while the DPRK will deploy a similar number of officials there.

South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung will serve as a co-chief of the office, together with Jon Jong Su, vice chairman of CPRF of the DPRK. The co-chiefs will visit the joint liaison office once a week for a regular meeting.

In the office, the two sides were expected to discuss issues on inter-Korean cooperation, including ways to modernize and connect roads and railways of the two Koreas, in accordance with a progress in talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

In addition to it, South Korea and the DPRK would discuss various peninsula issues through the liaison office channel as it is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

"(The joint liaison office) is an inter-Korean channel that opens 24 hours a day and 365 days a year," Moon Chung-in, special advisor to the South Korean president for unification, foreign affairs and national security, told a press conference with foreign correspondents here Thursday.

The special advisor called the office a "very positive change and development" in inter-Korean relations as South Korea can directly approach the DPRK at any time.

Kim Eui-keum, spokesman for the South Korean presidential Blue House, told reporters earlier in the day that it will become a strong bridge linking the two Koreas under the still uncertain situations on the peninsula.

The spokesman said the picture of the officials from South Korea and the DPRK harmoniously staying in the same office was anticipated to spread to the entire peninsula.
These issues are very complex as we exchanged before and not amenable to soundbites. Regarding your entry on Hannahs case, your blog entry unfortunately propagates several of the mistakes from the media.

Your assertion that the scientific question of Autism etiology belongs to the medical community rather than Hollywood Stars is correct. I also agree that Hollywood opinions are more likely to be broadcast to millions because of their position in the media. This heightened awareness is nothing but a positive thing for the million families struggling with this difficult, and all too common, disorder. Jenny McCarthy is an Autism Mom looking for answers and rattling some cagesgood for her. Amanda Peet is a new mom who believes in the importance of vaccines to protect her babygood for her too. Dont attack the moms, listen to them.

Managing Editor's Note: The following is a letter sent to Dr. Steven Novella, a neurologist at Yale University, from Dr. Jon Poling. (We've printed the letter with permission.) Dr. Novella is the founder of The New England Skeptical Society (meetings, 1st Tuesday of the month, on the lawn of the House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA. BYOB (bring your own blinders.) and is a contributing editor to Quackwatch. Dr. Poling is a neurologist/PhD and the father of Miss Hannah Poling. Dear Dr. Novella,

In criticizing the journalism of Mr. David Kirby, you wrote:

He refers again to the Hannah Poling case, a girl with a mitochondrial disorder who developed a neurodegenerative disorder with features of autism after getting a fever from vaccines.



ActuallyHannah has diagnoses of DSM-IV Autism (by JHU/KKI psychology) and mitochondrial disorder (by two metabolic experts). The only degeneration that occurred (along with 6mos of total growth failure) after 18mos of NORMAL development followed vaccination and nothing else! Of course, any scientist can obviously point out that temporal correlation in a single case never proves causation. Rule number one of pediatrics though is LISTEN TO THE MOM. Are 10s of thousands of autism moms over the last decade suffering from mass hysteria induced by Hollywood? Not likely.

You also noted:



This special case - which is not a case of autism being caused by toxins in vaccines - says nothing about the broader vaccine-autism debate.



The only thing unique about my little girls case is the level of medical documentation5 to 20% of patients with ASDs have mitochondrial dysfunction. Many other cases where mitochondrial testing is WNL is because "we never looked" not because the testing would be "within normal limits." Most mitochondrial experts will tell you that the dots of autism and mitochondrial disorders are strongly connected.

Finally, you say:



The case was settled (not judged in Polings favor, but settled) because both sides realized it was a special case that could not be extrapolated to other vaccine-autism cases.



The case was not settled, it was conceded by medical representatives of Sec HHS. We are obviously pleased with the HHS decision to concede our case, but we had NOTHING to do with the concession. This was a unilateral decision from HHS (recall that HHS is the respondent, rather than the vaccine maker, as manufacturers have blanket liability protection afforded by the Vaccine Injury Program established in 1986) I will not speculate on the obvious questionwhy concede? Hannahs case was positioned to set precedent as a test case in the Omnibus Autism Proceedings for potentially thousands of other cases.

With regard to the science of Autism, I have no argument with the assertion that a single case does not prove causation of a generalized autism-vaccine link. What the case does illustrate though is a more subtle point that many physicians cannot or do not want to comprehend (ostensibly because vaccines are too important to even question). Autism is a heterogeneous disorder defined by behavioral criteria and having multiple causes. Epidemiological studies which have not found a link between autism and aspects of vaccination do not consider the concept of autism subgroups. Indeed, in a heterogeneous disorder like Autism, subgroups may indeed be vaccine-injured but the effect is diluted out in the larger population (improperly powered study due to inability to calculate effect size with unknown susceptible subpopulation). I think former NIH Director, Dr. Bernadine Healey explained it best in that population epidemiology studies are not granular enough to rule-out a susceptible subgroup.

Furthermore, science has not systematically studied the children who fell ill following vaccination to determine what the cause(s) for their adverse reaction was. It would follow that if you never tried to understand why a single child developed encephalopathy following vaccinationyou wouldnt have the first clue as to what aspects of vaccination you could alter which could increase the relative risk of that adverse event (whether it be thimerosal, live virus, or too many). Could the susceptibility be a mitochondrial genetic haplogroup similar to Chloramphenicol toxicitysure it could! Why did a few Alzheimers patients die of fatal encephalitis following administration of the failed AN-1792 vaccine, but the majority had no ill effects (vaccine didnt work though)?

Definition: Autism is a heterogeneous systemic disorder with primary neuropsychiatric manifestations due to complex genetic and gene-environmental interactions likely affecting synaptic plasticity early in childhood development. This new theory of Autism is rapidly replacing the old guard dictum that Autism is a genetically predetermined developmental brain disorder of synaptic formation/pruning that is set in motion prenatally. By the 10 year rule of science, your time is about up!

Until the biological basis of ASD subgroups are better understood, further epidemiological and genetic studies regarding Autism causation will be relatively meaningless. We need good science to be able to address these complex issues which parallel nicely the emerging story of genetic and environmental influences in Parkinsons disease. Perhaps some Parkinsons researchers want to take a crack at Autism?

Recommended SCIENCE reading for the evening:



Altered calcium homeostasis in autism-spectrum disorders: evidence from biochemical and genetic studies of the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier AGC1. Mol Psychiatry 2008 Jul 8. (The discussion includes thimerosal as a potential toxin that could trigger further perturbations of calcium homeostasis leading to neuronal injuryand in a mainstream Nature publication no less)

Thank-you Dr. Novella and his band of skeptics for continuing the debate.

Dr. Jon Poling

Jon S. Poling MD PhD

Managing Partner, Athens Neurological Associates

Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia

Diplomate, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

ASN Certified in MRI and CT Neuroimaging
A secondary airport of an Asian capital, and an island that is not exactly up there with Bali or Barbados as a dream travel destination: that does not sound a particularly promising air link. Yet it turns out that this is the worlds busiest air route by a country mile.

The two ends of the perennially chart-topping link are Seouls Gimpo Airport (which was eclipsed when the much bigger, smarter Incheon opened in 2001) and Jeju Island, which for many Koreans constitutes the most accessible holiday getaway.

Accordingly, last year there was one departure between the two every eight minutes on average, carrying 200 passengers.

The trip details are very similar to London-Dublin: 280 miles, 70 minutes block time. Most links of this length would be operated by narrow-bodied Airbus or Boeing jets. But I flew between the two on an Airbus A330. From Korean Air's perspective it was a worthwhile misuse of a long-haul, wide-bodied aircraft to meet the demand for lift, and to profit from the preparedness of passengers to pay an average of 72 each way.

If you like your island to be volcanic with beaches, rather like the Canary Islands, Jeju is a very pleasant place to be. And it is as far south as Crete. Well worth checking out if you happen to be in Seoul; book well in advance and travel off peak, and you will find there are plenty of seats around the 25 mark.

The headline figures revealed by Routesonline, for its World Routes 2018 gathering in Guangzhou this weekend, come as no great surprise. Second place, a long way behind the 13.4 million passengers on Gimpo-Jeju, is the link between Australias two biggest hubs, Sydney and Melbourne. Nine million passengers a year show how desperately needed a high-speed rail link is between the two cities.

But the Australian intervention is the sole non-Asian route in the top 10. Domestic routes in Japan, India, Indonesia, China and Vietnam fill most of the rest of the places, with Hong Kong-Taipei the only international link (6.7 million passengers a year).

Looking at the top 100, the average route length was 722 miles (the same as Birmingham-Barcelona) and the mean fare was 130.

The UK makes an appearance for being one end of both the longest and the most expensive route in the top 100: London Heathrow to New York JFK, where the average one-way fare is 490. I imagine that is skewed by a lot of high-value business travel.

But the LHR-JFK link, with 8,145 passengers a day on average, has now been supplanted as the busiest international route starting or ending in Europe by Heathrow to Dubai  which has 8,795 a day.

New York JFK is also one end of the busiest route in North America: the transcontinental link to Los Angeles International.

And for the cheapest? Head for Turkey. The link between Izmir in Turkey and Istanbuls second airport, Sabiha Gokcen, has an average fare of only 42 for 200 miles of air travel (the same as London to Amsterdam or Paris).

With Turkish Airlines, there are plenty of 98 lira fares available  currently just under 13, which happens to be the same as Air Passenger Duty in the UK. Its a great time to be an air traveller, but not to be an airline.

Researchers used OAG Schedules Analyser to calculate the top 500 routes by seat capacity, then used data provided by Sabre Market Intelligence to figure out how many of the passengers were occupied
Britains oldest mother of quads is 50 and became pregnant after using an inheritance to fund IVF treatment in Cyprus. Using sperm from her husband, four embryos were implanted  one subsequently died, but one divided to become twins.

Tracey Britten lives apart from her partner, who is a roofer, but claims he will visit to help. She says shes been desperate for another child for more than a decade, although her first three children are in their thirties and she already has eight grandchildren. The babies will be born by caesarean section in two months, at 32 weeks, and the cost to the NHS to care for them will be hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Apart from the increased health risks to mother and babies, what was going through this womans mind when she started a course of hormone therapy aged 50? Tracey says she doesnt look or feel her age  neither did I when I was 50  but surely she was going through some kind of midlife crisis?

At that age, I persisted with a turbulent relationship in spite of advice from all my friends, then opted for a disastrous marriage in Las Vegas, followed by divorce. I definitely had a mental hiccup and my values (and hormones) were all over the place.

Tracey might be fit and well, but caring for four tiny babies with part-time support from a man who is working is a herculean task. I know that mothers are getting older, and that there are double standards because we dont criticise older fathers in the same way  but they generally dont do all the mopping and wiping. Those pictures of Ronnie Wood looking knackered with his two-year-twins last week tell you everything you need to know about older dads. They cant cope.
National hospital waiting lists hit a record high in August, with more than 718,000 people waiting to be seen or treated by a doctor.

The increase comes despite an intensive validation process by the HSE, which was heavily criticised by GPs.

Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show Augusts waiting list included 11,718 patients suspended from the overall list for a variety of reasons, including not being clinically fit for treatment.

Last month Health Minister Simon Harris blamed the suspensions on poor data, including letters being sent to old addresses, but critics have pointed out that people could have died during the period they were on a waiting list.

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More than 48,000 children were on waiting lists to be treated or seen by a doctor at the end of last month.

More than 16,000 have been waiting more than a year for an appointment.

Total inpatient and day case treatment lists are down, but the waiting list of people waiting to be seen by a consultant for the first time for assessment is up by nearly 3,000.

Outpatient waiting list numbers reached 514,585 last month, while 74,189 were waiting for inpatient or day case procedures.

Almost 20,000 patients were waiting more than 18 months to be seen.

More than 63,000 were waiting on an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant.

The statistics show Galway University Hospital has the biggest inpatient, day case and outpatient waiting lists in the country, with more than 50,000 patients waiting.

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Galways outpatient waiting list was 39,883 at the end of August and the inpatient and day case list was 10,181.

The NTPF figures are released across nine separate lists.

The figures comes amid reports that a major overspend at the Department of Health has dashed plans for tax cuts or increased spending in next months budget.

Last week, the INMO warned that the HSE had no plan to deal with expected hospital overcrowding in winter.

Irish Patients Association spokesman Stephen McMahon said tackling A&E overcrowding is one way to deal with the issue.

If you can sort out the emergency department overcrowding, that means then that patients who have been waiting for the hip replacement or other treatments can actually get access on the day that it was planned, said Mr McMahon.

Political opponents claimed waiting lists have rarely come down under the government.

Sinn Fein health spokeswoman Louise OReilly said the figures are proof that the governments plan is not working.

There has hardly been a month since this government came to office where the total number of people on waiting lists has decreased, she said.

The situation is out of control and the minister for health and the government just continue to follow flawed and failed plans.

We need to see sustained and intelligent investment in the public health system to tackle waiting lists.

Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said the figures show the government is failing to get to grips with the challenges facing the health system.

He said: Todays figures on waiting lists are a damning indictment of eight years of mismanagement of the health care system by the Fine Gael government.

In spite of spending more money every year on health care, Fine Gael-led governments have managed to turn those waiting lists back from months into years.

The current performance by Minister Harris is not good enough. Its clear that this Government is bereft of ideas and competence on health care.
We had our first Ear to the Ground editorial meeting last week ahead of production getting into gear for the new season.

There was plenty of debate around the table about whether this has been a watershed year for many farmers.

In particular, the theory goes that dairy farmers are looking for ways to scale back their expansion and beef farmers are just giving up this winter, opting instead to flog their silage for a small fortune and avoid the hassle and risk of trying to over-winter stock.

I must admit that I've yet to meet a dairy farmer who is planning to reduce numbers permanently.

At home we've taken the same steps as most others in culling animals that might've been a 50-50 in any other year, as well as preparing for an earlier dry-off date and looking for customers for surplus replacement heifers.

General tiredness is probably the biggest factor on farms right now, rather than urgent requirements to reverse recent expansion.

I see it in myself in the last week: no great appetite for tackling new jobs, counting down the days and hours to the end of the current cycle of work, hauling myself off to bed at embarrassingly early hours in the evening.

Small things suffer during these periods.

I find myself with a shorter temper, getting stressed and annoyed unnecessarily over things that in hindsight don't matter a damn. This takes a toll on the people around you, whether they are working with you or just having to put up with you.

Tricky little jobs like reversing a trailer into a tight spot or getting the bloody computer to talk to the printer again suddenly become ball-breakers.

I also found myself getting a bit slack with safety procedures, like leaving off the hi-viz that I'd been haranguing everyone about all year. That's when the awful mistakes happen, and God knows I've reported on enough of those to know better.

So I was a happy camper when I got on a Ryanair flight to Warsaw in Poland last Thursday to see if I could build on my first daffodil exports last spring.

The grain and straw was all in and sold; surplus daffodil bulbs were packed and delivered, while the rest were planted in superb conditions and in record time.

My summer flowers are coming to an end and it's just a case of togging it out each morning to cut and pack a couple of pallets.

There is always the niggly concern that a consignment might get rejected somewhere for some reason.

It's a bit like when you have livestock - there's no reason why any of them should be getting sick but that doesn't mean that it's not going to happen.

I think farmers tend to underestimate the low level of constant stress associated with the responsibility of running a farm.

For example, I've just claimed that we're on easy street with the flowers because we've only a few more weeks' supply left and all the crop is there ready to be cut in the field. But if a hail-storm or big wind comes it could devastate the crop.

It's unlikely but it's the kind of stuff that doesn't let you ever breathe too easy until it's all over.

It was the one thing that struck my dad quite forcibly when he hung up the milking clusters for good. Whether it is for an animal that goes sick or a delivery that goes wrong, that background stress of always being on call was suddenly gone.

Of course, getting on a plane to sell flowers isn't exactly what my wife would call restful.

But it's the start of the wind-down phase - which is something that every farmer should build into their calendar.

The long cold winter followed by a challenging summer has forced everyone to work longer and harder than ever.

Every farmer needs to acknowledge that to themselves. More importantly they need to do something to counter it. That is, do less for a while. Chill out. Say no to the optional jobs, or contract them out.

As an aside, I was raging with Ryanair a few weeks ago when they cancelled my return flight home from visiting flower farms in Lincolnshire.

They sent a text about four hours before I was due to fly. I couldn't find another Ryanair flight home that evening from any airport that I could drive to in time. And I had a Dutch agronomist coming to visit me the next day at an exorbitant rate, so I was going to do all in my power to get home.

I ended up forking out about 300 to catch an Aer Lingus flight home.

A week later I filled out a Ryanair compensation form without much expectation of a full refund. Lo and behold a more than full refund landed in my account within a week.

When I thought a bit more about it I realised that without Ryanair I would never have been able to get over to the likes of Lincolnshire or Poland, or fly in agronomists from Holland.

It is the affordable international access to markets and people that has built my farm business.

It is the often maligned cheap flight model that allows me to access labour from Romania that all my picking depends on.

Come to think of it, if anyone deserves a bunch of flowers, it's got to be Michael O'Leary.

Darragh McCullough farms in Meath and presents Ear to the Ground on RTE television
A large dairy farm in Northern Ireland is trailing a new system that reduces ammonia emissions while producing liquid nitrogen fertiliser at the same time.

This concept, developed by Norwegian company N2 Agri, involves passing manure or digestate through a plasma reactor to produce the liquid nitrogen fertiliser.

This process, says the company, will ultimately save farmers up to 20pc of their artificial fertiliser costs, and reduce their ammonia production levels.

Although the concept has moved beyond the prototype stage, it is still being tested around the world; one on a pig farm in Denmark and the other on a 650-cow dairy farm near Templepatrick in Co Antrim.

This farm is run by Robin Bingham and his son George, who installed a biogas plant a year ago that produces electricity and supplies it into the national grid. In total, the farm has 1,200 cows and runs a zero-grazing system, where the fresh grass is harvested and delivered to the cows daily.

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The plasma reactor was installed at the farm two months ago on a trial and is already producing liquid nitrogen, which has been spread on test plots at the farm.

N2 Agri says its goal is to fundamentally improve the global food production by enabling farmer to produce their own fertiliser from manure, air and renewable energy.

The company says the savings on artificial nitrogen costs would cover the cost of the plasma reactor in six or seven years.

The technology involves the plasma reactor fixing nitrogen from the air and adding it to the manure. This causes a reaction that stops ammonia losses as well as emissions of other greenhouse gasses - and it removes bad odour.

The system increases the nitrogen content in the manure, transforming it from a waste problem into a high-value fertiliser.

Henk Aarts, N2 Agri business development director, says: "Our objective is to empower livestock farmers through introduction of a low-cost, scalable fertiliser production on the farms.

"Our ultimate goal is to substitute chemical fertilisers with fertiliser produced locally on the farm from, manure, air and renewable energy.

"We can also upgrade biogas digestate to a higher-value fertiliser with our technology."

The company has plans to embark on more trials further afield in places like South Africa.

Mr Aarts adds: "We are not in the phase of selling machines yet, but want to show our plasma reactor and explain the working principles to the stakeholders.

"Our reactor is not fully developed, but we want to test it under farm conditions in an early stage to get experience with different types of manure and biogas digestate and to do field trials on different crops, which on the Bingham farm are grass plots."

The key argument to convince farmers to use this plasma reactor is to explain how they are losing so much nitrogen from their livestock and slurry which is later supplemented by artificial fertiliser spread on the ground.

In fact, there is 2.13 million tonnes of ammonia lost on European livestock farms each year - a huge loss of potential fertiliser.

One of the founders of N2 Agri is Rune Ingels, a chemical engineer who spent almost 30 years working in the fertiliser industry, more recently with Yara, before resigning to embark on his own ideas.

Digestate

He explains how farmers lose nitrogen and are forced to pay out for expensive artificial fertiliser.

He says: "We need above 95pc moisture content in the manure to make the system work. Slurry has 50pc free ammonia but digestate has around 70pc free ammonia.

"Just over 50pc of the total nitrogen available in slurry is lost before it can be spread on the ground. However, using our system we can make more nitrogen available for plants, which are also taken up quicker by the plants, increasing their growing rates and yields.

"There are some tweaks needed to the system the Binghams are using as it is primarily installed to test yields at the moment."

George Bingham says the system interested him as it promotes environmentally friendliness.

"Using this plasma reactor system will help us achieve our goals of farming in a more environmentally friendly way while at the same time, sorting out my ammonia quotas," he says.

"I see this as a potential game-changer across the world helping farmers get more from their farmyard slurry and saving them money.

"For me, reducing or even eliminating my chemical fertiliser bill is one of the main benefits of this system.

"The system has only been installed one month and we have already produced our own liquid nitrogen and spread it on some grass test plots to see if the theories of faster plant growth with higher yields are feasible."

It is anticipated that a farm with 150 to 200 cows will need one 25kW plasma reactor; so a 600-cow herd would need three units. However, the reactors can be scaled, according to Mr Aarts.

"We can change the sizes of the reactor to suit the herd," he says. "We don't have exact prices as yet but I can tell you a reactor is cheaper than a milking robot and is the same size as one."
Gardai are treating a hay barn fire in Cappamore, Co Limerick on Saturday night as malicious.

The barn, a lean-to and 70 round bales of hay located at Turagh, Cappamore  on the edge of the village  were destroyed.

It is an outside farm belonging to popular Cappamore dairy farmer and Limerick IFA rural development officer, Roger Keogh.

Roger had recently bought the hay which cost around 3,000. With the fodder shortage ongoing it is crucial to his operation. The gutted barn and lean-to cost over 40,000.

Limerick Fire and Rescue Service received the call at 10.49pm on Saturday night. One water tender and two water tankers quickly responded from Cappamore and the city. They fought the blaze until after 2am. Gardai from the Bruff district were also called.

A garda spokesperson said: It appears that it was deliberately set on fire. Gardai remained at the scene overnight to preserve the scene until forensic examiners came from Henry Street at around 7.30am on Sunday morning. It is being looked at as if it was a malicious act.

The first thing that every farmer in east Limerick will worry about is if it is connected to the spate of hay barn fires in 2015.

The armed regional response unit were deployed by then chief superintendent, David Sheahan to allay fears amongst the agricultural community.

Gardai stress there is no connection between the hay barn fire on Saturday night and the ones in 2015.

The fire would have been bigger only for the actions of local man Mikey Cleary who saw the smoke.

He jumped in his tractor, went to the yard and proceeded to pull bales of hay out into the field.

They cannot be fed to cattle due to smoke damage but it did mean the blaze could be contained faster by the fire service.

Roger wished to thank Mikey for his bravery.

Id also like to thank the people in the village and in the community since the fire. They have been very sympathetic to me. Id like to thank everyone for their support and help, said Roger, who also praised the fire service in Cappamore and city for their fast response and for preventing even more damage to his property.

There is a slatted shed adjoining the hay barn. If the fire had spread to that it would have taken the roof off it, said Roger.

Cllr Noel Gleeson said he was very disappointed when he heard that the hay was deliberately set on fire.

Cllr Gleeson said it would be a massive blow in any year but especially this year when fodder is so scarce and expensive.

He encouraged anyone who has information to go to the gardai.

Bruff gardai are appealing for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the Turagh area of Cappamore on Saturday evening to contact them on 061 382940.
Chief vet Sheila Voas has insisted high animal welfare standards are in place when calves are transported from Scotland (Animal Equality/PA)

Scotlands chief vet has insisted high welfare standards are in place when animals are transported overseas, branding a recent TV programme about the practice alarmist.

Sheila Voas, who is Scotlands chief veterinary officer, said she wanted to reassure the public on the issue.

Ms Voas spoke out after ferry company P&O announced it was halting the transportation of live calves from Scotland after the screening of a BBC documentary.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon however said she was concerned by that decision.

Ms Gougeon said while she was shocked by some of the scenes of young animals being transported in the programme, she stressed there was nothing in it that suggested any harm had been done or there was any breach of any welfare standards by anyone transporting the calves from Scotland to Northern Ireland, Ireland or continental Europe.

Heading home after informative couple days northern Spain talking to researchers about results of long distance calf transport project + seeing for myself. Evidence based policy making at work. pic.twitter.com/gzGGl5IRWd  Sheila Voas (@CVOScotland) August 9, 2018

Writing in The Times, Ms Voas said much of the commentary around the practice could be politely referred to as alarmist.

The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a years worth of research to determine the effects on the calves of these journeys.

Ms Voas stated: As Scotlands chief veterinary officer I want to reassure the public that Scotland has a responsible dairy industry that cares about the welfare of these animals and is subject to the highest standards of welfare as regulated by European law.

She added: There are a small numbers of calves being transported to Spain for fattening and production. These are male dairy calves which otherwise would have no productive purpose in Scotland.

Some reports have distorted the reality of these journeys.

Ms Voas said she had recently travelled to Catalonia to see a consignment of calves arrive, saying the animals were bright and alert when they were unloaded.

She added that while typically the overall journey to Spain takes about 100 hours the calves spend more than half of this time resting or being fed, unloaded off their transport, at control posts.

Quite clear @scotgov have been supporting live exports of dairy calves for years so not surprised @NicolaSturgeon wont welcome @POferries ban. There is an ethical alternative to shipping or shooting dairy calves, farmers need support for more ethical rose beef production.  Mark Ruskell (@markruskell) September 13, 2018

The chief vet said: For the majority of Scots who enjoy milk and meat but want this to be produced as humanely as possible, I hope I have reassured people that we are committed to ensuring that livestock being transported are supported by high welfare standards.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell raised the issue at First Ministers Questions.

He asked Nicola Sturgeon whether the chief vets views represent the official position of the Scottish Government and urged her to congratulate P&O Ferries decision.

The First Minister said the issue was more complex than the impression given in some of the coverage and praised the chief vets clarity on the issue.

She said there is no hard evidence that the strict EU regulations on animal welfare are being breached.

Mr Ruskell later called for Scottish farmers to be given more support for ethical rose veal production.
Amazon's plans for a huge 300m-plus data centre on the site of the former Jacob's biscuit site in south Dublin should be carefully assessed so they don't impact any future housing schemes beside it, Irish Life Assurance has told An Bord Pleanala.

The financial services firm has appealed a decision by South County Dublin Council to approve planning permission for the massive 23,283 sq m (250,616 sq ft) data centre at the site in Tallaght.

Amazon already has a data centre at the location, which is housed in a 20,892 sq m (225,000 sq ft) former factory building on the site, known as Building A.

A property investment fund controlled by Irish Life Assurance - now part of Canadian firm Great West Lifeco - owns land next to the old Jacob's site.

It said it may seek to build houses on the site in the future and is seeking assurances that the construction of the new data centre facility won't cause undue noise that might affect future residents.

Irish Life Assurance said that it has no objections to the development of the data centre itself, but is concerned about potential adverse noise impacts for its site.

The land controlled by Irish Life Assurance is next to the Luas Red Line, and is bounded by a proposed long-term, high-capacity public transport route, and the greater Dublin cycle network, its planner has told An Bord Pleanala.

Although the land is located in an area dominated by business use, residential development is, in principle, allowed there.

"There is an acknowledged need to increase housing output in light of the current shortage of housing," noted Irish Life's agent, Sheehan Planning in a submission to the planning watchdog.

"This urgent need has been addressed in recent and emerging government planning policy and guidelines, particularly for locations with good public transport accessibility beside urban centres," it added. "We believe that the potential of such lands to accommodate residential development should form part of the assessment of adjacent applications, in line with policy and zoning."

It has asked An Bord Pleanala to attach conditions to any planning permission for the latest Amazon development that will mitigate noise in order to "protect the future residential amenity" of the Irish Life site.

The electricity grid connection to the overall Amazon site is currently being upgraded

Power consumption for the existing Building A and the new site is expected to top 83MW.

Meanwhile, Facebook yesterday opened their own new 300m data centre in Clonee, Co Meath.
THE Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) whose members advise 230bn of UK pensions has recommended that its members vote against Ryanairs report and accounts and the re-election of chairman David Bonderman next week.

The LAPFF intends to attend next week's controversial Ryanair AGM.

In a statement, the Forum said its recommendations reflect significant concerns about Ryanairs treatment of its workers and handling of recurring strikes by employees.

These matters have highlighted long-running questions about the companys governance, LAPFF said.

The Forums members hold about 230bn of pension fund assets, it plans to attend the meeting in Dublin on 20 September and will ask the board about these issues.

LAPFF represents more than 75 local authority pension scheme funds from across the UK with combined assets of about 230bn.

Cllr Ian Greenwood, LAPFFs chair, said: Ryanair has failed to adequately address concerns about the companys troubled relationship with its employees and the potential impact on its business. The company faces more strikes and allegations of poor working conditions continue to emerge. Questions about the companys business model and governance now pose a threat to shareholder value.

Mr Bonderman has been chairman for too long and there are significant doubts about his independence. He has failed to take a lead on employee relations and making sure customers are happy. Ryanairs employment issues highlight long-standing concerns about governance and in particular Mr Bondermans oversight role as chair of the board and his ability to influence the CEO, Michael OLeary.

In a statement Ryanair claimed all of the resolutions that will be put to shareholders at next weeks AGM will pass.

Ryanair shareholders will pass all AGM resolutions by a large majority this year, including the nomination of directors and chairman, as they have done in all previous years. They appreciate how fortunate we are to have an outstanding chairman like David Bonderman guide the board and the airline.
A question mark has been placed over plans by Emmet O'Neill's Kouchin to build a new six-storey hotel in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

Last month, in the face of local opposition, Dublin City Council gave the go-ahead to Kouchin Holdings to construct a 71-bedroom hotel at Donnybrook Rd and the Cresent, Donnybrook.

The investment firm was seeking planning permission for a 78-bedroom hotel but the number of rooms was then reduced to 71 in response to concerns about the scale of the development.

Mr O'Neill is a nephew of Denis O'Brien and in 2014 he sold his Smiles Dental business for 36m.

However, the businessman now faces a fresh challenge to building the hotel after two appeals were lodged to An Bord Pleanala against the granting of Kouchin's planning permission.

The two appellants are Donnybrook Tidy Towns and Paula Murphy.

In its initial objection against the plan, the Donnybrook Tidy Towns group claimed that the scale of the proposed development constitutes gross over-development of the site.

Their objection also claimed that Donnybrook village is not designed for, or capable of, taking on the extra traffic associated with the planned hotel.

In her objection, local resident Paula Murphy stated that the proposed building will be entirely out of place in that location and not in keeping with any of the surrounding structures.

Planning consultant for Kouchin, Kevin Hughes told Dublin City Council that the revised proposed development represents an appropriately-scaled development "which will not give rise to any undue impacts on the amenity of any adjacent properties in Donnybrook".

The application by Mr O'Neill's Kouchin to build the hotel is set against an industry landscape in which there is a significant lack of hotel accommodation available in the capital, as recently claimed by the Irish Hoteliers Federation.
Ardagh Group Chairman Paul Coulson attending the conference Racing Toward A Trillion: The Future of U.S.-Irish Business at the American Ambassadors Residence in Dublin yesterday. Photo: www.doug.ie

Packaging giant Ardagh Group is to consider increasing automation at its US plants on foot of labour difficulties.

The company's chairman Paul Coulson told an event in Dublin yesterday that the company has encountered problems with the labour pool - including drug use, with the country in the grip of an opioid crisis.

"The US is a great market but it has its issues. Its economy is growing so well that it's pretty much, in many places, at full employment. And if you talk to a number of industrialists and people who are manufacturing in particular - it's actually quite difficult," Mr Coulson said.

"The labour pool is difficult. It's difficult to get people who are drug free, etcetera etcetera, and to train people. We're having to put a lot of emphasis and investment into training people and retraining people because it's difficult to get people. Also labour costs in some areas are quite high."

He said high healthcare costs are one of the reasons for that.

Mr Coulson was speaking at an economic conference centred on the relationship between Ireland and the US. Asked about the effect of Donald Trump's tax changes, which are designed to incentivise companies to do more business in the United States rather than in countries like Ireland, Mr Coulson said there was "no doubt it's encouraging people to do things in the US".

He said however that this may contribute to the labour difficulties

"One of the issues with more plants staying at home or being set up, will be where is the labour pool coming from? Because if you've got reduced immigration into the country, I think that's going to become an issue there.

"I think one of the things you'll see, and certainly one of the things we have to look at because of the issue on labour cost and labour availability, is more automation of our plants. That's something we will have to look at."

Speaking alongside Mr Coulson was Bernie Cullinan, the chairperson of Cork-based Crest Solutions, which provides services to manufacturing companies.

Crest is moving in to the US for the first time, Ms Cullinan said, because a customer had decided to manufacture in the US rather than in Ireland.

"The customer who's given us the first order of a schedule was going to do that work here in Ireland - they've already got a number of plants here. And now it's become more attractive for them to do it in the US. So that's why we're going in," Ms Cullinan said.

Mr Coulson said businesses looking to enter the market should be aware of differences in the regulatory regime. "I suppose if we had our time again we might have taken a more conservative approach to the anti-trust regulators, when we were acting as a consolidator.

"Regulation there is very different than here. It tends to be more combative and confrontational than what you're used to. It's just the structure of the system and it's something that you need to get your head around. And not just anti-trust regulation but also environmental regulation. The whole lot - it's quite different from Europe in that sense."
Telecommunications infrastructure provider Cignal has refinanced and expanded a debt facility to 65m, giving it headroom to invest in new telecoms and broadband communications towers.

The company, which was launched in 2015 with the acquisition of a portfolio of 400 communications towers from state-owned forestry company Coillte, is owned by French investment fund, Infravia Capital Partners.

Cignal acquired the masts from Coillte for about 70m.

The company has invested 15m in its tower infrastructure over the past 18 months, which includes the acquisition of new masts and the construction of additional ones.

It now has more than 500 towers around the country.

The acquisition of the Coillte masts was backed by a 31.5m facility supported by Bank of Ireland. The bank acted as the lead arranger for the new facilities, and has brought in AIB as a joint lender. The fresh financing was sealed in July.

Cignal CEO Colin Cunningham said the new facility would "support the next phase in our growth plans".

The company's chairman, Donal O'Shaughnessy, said that the firm remains committed to providing "valuable infrastructure to help provide telecoms and broadband services to local communities".

The most recent set of publicly available accounts for Cignal show it had fixed assets worth 72.2m at the end of 2016. It now has 18pc of the Irish market for infrastructure supporting mobile, fixed wireless broadband communications and broadcast services, with a customer base that includes all the main mobile services providers in Ireland, the emergency services and FM radio stations.
RYANAIR insisted the biggest threatened strike in its history likely won't take place on September 28 - as the airline said it expected to have comprehensive agreements in place with all pilots and cabin crew throughout its European bases over coming weeks.

The budget airline faces industrial action by cabin crew in five EU countries on September 28 in the latest bout of labour unrest within the airline.

However, Ryanair marketing director Kenny Jacobs insisted there was every chance the industrial action in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands may not proceed.

The airline has now agreed a framework for a deal with unions representing the bulk of its Italian cabin crew.

Mr Jacobs said he expected comprehensive labour deals in all Ryanair markets by Christmas.

"I expect we will get to Christmas with deals done with everyone - and that takes away the uncertainty," he said.

"The risk of disruption will go away - we will do deals with the unions."

"Some 90pc of Irish pilots have accepted the deal so you now see a very stable situation in Ireland."

"Across Europe it is the same - we have deals done with all of the big pilots unions and cabin crew unions."

"We will make further progress across the rest of the autumn. We think the situation is stable and that there may not be a strike on September 28."

"If there is, it will be small and it will not be successful."

"Ryanair's management and board are serious about working with unions. I think we have done an incredible job - we are only recognising unions for nine months. In those nine months we have deals done, collective labour agreements, with pilots and cabin crew unions in most of our markets."

"We have made incredible progress in nine months."

"Once we have the rest of these deals done, it takes away the risk of disruption caused by strikes."

"Other than that, life goes on, bookings go on and our customers keep booking cheap fares with us."

He acknowledged the airline had faced industrial turmoil this summer - but denied that it had any significant impact.

"We have had a number of strikes over the summer," he said.

"No flight to or from Cork was cancelled. We did have some disruption in Dublin. But we now have an agreement in place with our Irish pilots so we don't expect disruption in Ireland."

"Across the rest of Europe - this morning we announced we have an agreement in place with the Italian cabin crew."

"We haven't received notification of a strike on September 28. If there is a strike - and there may not be - if there is one we will manage the disruption which will be very small. Customers don't need to be worried."

"Like every strike that we have had, 96pc of Ryanair flights operate normally."

"When there are strikes and they don't work, it is better for the unions to come and talk to us."

"They have caused minimal disruption."

He insisted a far bigger issue were delays encountered at their core Stansted base - an issue it has already raised with UK authorities over extra resources for air traffic control etc.

"Stansted is not related to strikes - Stansted had an unique summer because Europe had an unique summer caused by disruption. That disruption was caused by air traffic control shortages and strikes by French air traffic control personnel."

Mr Jacobs said that while Stansted accounted for roughly 15pc of London's air traffic, it had almost 50pc of flight delays.

He again insisted the industrial turmoil over recent months has had no impact on Ryanair's passenger numbers.

"When you have fares from Euro 35 across Europe across the full year, that will keep customers coming back to Ryanair. That doesn't change."

He said the airline is preparing for a bumper 2019 season - and have already confirmed a 20pc expansion of their Cork presence with a likely increase in passenger numbers from 900,000 to more than 1.1 million.
A Swiss activist investor is mounting a campaign to block Aryzta's 800m capital increase, arguing the troubled McDonald's bun maker should instead sell assets and slash management layers, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Gregor Joos aims to amass a stake of at least 3pc through his investment company Larius Capital, insiders said, asking for anonymity because the campaign has not yet been announced publicly.

The fund is seeking co-investors and may try to reach 10pc through alliances with other shareholders, they said.

Aryzta's management has failed to turn the company around, Joos has told chairman Gary McGann. In a letter seen by Bloomberg News, he said the Zurich-based company should sell its ailing North American business and its 49pc stake in French frozen-food company Picard Groupe, urging Aryzta to focus more on Europe.

An Aryzta spokesman confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment further.

"What the activist is doing can be very dangerous for Aryzta, because it can start a squabble at a company that's already battered and fighting for survival," said Patrik Schwendimann, an analyst at Zuercher Kantonalbank.

"Asset sales are welcome, but everyone knows they're in financial hardship and can't get a good price" he said.

The activist has been involved in campaigns against Swiss asset manager GAM Holding, Credit Suisse Group and Gategroup through RBR Capital Advisors, where he was a partner.

Aryzta stock has lost about three-quarters of its value this year as it tries to reduce a mounting debt load.

Shares were up in recent days however, including a rise of as much as 5.8pc yesterday.

The baked goods maker has been trying to sell its stake in Picard without success, and has made multiple profit warnings due to lost contracts and rising costs.

Mr Joos's letter asserted that the company should engage in zero-based budgeting, an accounting concept made popular by 3G Capital, forcing managers to justify every expense, as often as each quarter.

He suggests Aryzta could also cut its tax bill by moving its headquarters from Zurich to another Swiss canton. (Bloomberg)
For any young Beatles fan who never got the chance to see the Fab Four live, the Let It Be musical gives you a taste of what it may have been like.

The show allows the audience to sing along with more than 40 hits from John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

Unfortunately the lads from Liverpool had so many hits, not every Beatles classic gets covered throughout the show.

"It was really hard to narrow it down and you never realise how many great songs The Beatles had until you need to pack it into a two-hour musical," says Emanuele Angletti, who plays Paul McCartney.

Let It Be performed in the Empire Theatre in the heart of Liverpool on September 3.

Audience members in their 70s and 80s twisted and shouted like it was 1962 as the four tribute act members gave pitch perfect performances.

Straight from London's West End, Let It Be has been touring the UK and is heading for Ireland on September 17.

And like the original Beatles, this tribute act has its Irish connections.

John Brosnan, who plays George Harrison, has family from Co Kerry and his daughter is currently studying in Trinity College Dublin.

Coincidentally, the real George also has ties to the Emerald Isle. His maternal grandfather, John French, was from Wexford. He also had cousins living in Drumcondra.

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"I'm really looking forward to going back to Ireland to perform, I can't wait to see what the crowd is like," says Brosnan.

He has some great one-liners throughout and gives a great rendition of George's hit solo track 'Got My Mind Set on You', a firm favourite with those who visit Copperface Jacks on the weekend.

The stand-out performer of the show, however, was John Lennon (Michael Gagliano), who injected some humour into the evening and gave an emotional acoustic performance of Imagine.

He mastered the John Lennon-look and some of his mannerisms almost to perfection.

Michael Gagliano has already appeared as John Lennon in the new Let It Be show in North America, Canada and Japan, as well as on the West End with the original show.

Two encores brought fans right back with Let It Be and Hey Jude, which had everyone in the crowd on their feet.

The audience came together for what seemed to be an emotional night for some, who remembered their young and carefree days.

The main criticism of the show, however, was the lack of a solid storyline. It was more like watching a band perform a tribute act than an actual musical, but in some respects that was okay.

Each member knows how to sing and play so the standard was a lot higher than your average tribute band.

The main thing is you leave with a smile on your face and playing The Beatles on your Spotify for the following week.

Let It Be comes to the Gaiety Theatre will be on from September 17 to September 22, Mon - Sat evening 7:30pm, Wednesday & Sat Matinee: 2:30pm

Tickets: From 21

Booking details:Gaiety Theatre Box Office South King Street, Dublin 2. 10 am  7 pm / Mon  Sat (subject to performance schedule)
Anyone addicted to the emotional rollercoaster that is Channel 4's One Born Every Minute will be delighted to learn that RTE have made a similar series focusing on Irish and Ireland-based parents and staff at The Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin.

It's the world's longest running maternity hospital and sees the arrival of 24 brand new babies every single day and the new series, which kicks off tonight, was filmed this year, 24 hours a day, over the course of 21 days.

The fly on the wall documentary follows parents, their families and hospital staff as they experience the moments that will change their lives and be remembered for generations to come.

There are extremely highs and devastating lows captured by the cameras which go inside the operative theatre and chart the happy tears of the arrival of a healthy newborn as well as the sadness of those times when a baby has a fatal foetal abnormality or ends up in NICU fighting for their life.

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The first episode sees grandmother of 18, Kay, accompanying her daughter Nicola to the labour ward to welcome baby Lar, who will be named after his recently deceased grandfather.

Also featuring in tonight's episode, on RTE2 at 9.30pm is young engaged couple Shauna and Daryl, who are expecting their first child together, and Monaghan couple Aine and Arno who have just discovered that their child in the womb has a life-threatening condition.
Squatters in a Dublin city centre property are to be served with legal proceedings demanding they leave and deliver up "vacant possession" to the owner.

Barrister Padraig D Lyons told the High Court Friday that a group had forcibly entered a four-storey Georgian building at 41 Belvedere Place, Dublin 1 on 8th September and were still trespassing.

Mr Lyons, representing MJH Property Management Limited, with an address in Middlesex, England, said his application was similar to court orders granted earlier by the court in relation to property in Summer Hill and North Frederick Street, Dublin.

He told Mr Justice Anthony Barr he did not know if the group in occupation of the previously vacant Belvedere Place building was the same or were connected to the squatters controversially removed by hooded security guards and gardai from the North Frederick Street property.

Judge Barr granted MJH Property Management short service of the companys intention to seek High Court orders directing the trespassers to vacate the premises and deliver up vacant possession.

Mr Lyons told the court that certain developments had partially taken place to the two top storeys which, as a result, may be unstable.

Judge Barr was also told by Carol OFarrell, counsel for Dublin City Council, that a settlement had broken down between the local authority and a mother of three young children with regard to her leaving a house she had broken into in Coolock over a week ago.

The Council had been seeking orders directing the removal of Ms Clare Elliot from the Coolock property together with her three children, the oldest of which is seven.

Ms OFarrell said Ms Elliot had been made an offer of emergency accommodation but negotiations with her had broken down.

She asked that the proceedings be put into next Tuesdays High Court list.
A mother-of-one was found slumped drunk over the wheel of her crashed car with an open can beside her and her toddler crying and sweating in the back seat, a court heard.

Investigating gardai at the scene in west Dublin found the accused woman (34) smelling of alcohol and slurring her speech while her two-year-old child was "highly distressed".

The woman tested more than four times the drink-driving limit.

She is facing jury trial after Judge David McHugh decided that the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level. He adjourned the case at Blanchardstown District Court.

The accused is charged with being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven, as well as being drunk in charge of a vehicle. She has not yet entered pleas.

The offences are alleged to have happened at Nangor Road, Clondalkin, at 3.30pm on June 24 last.

Garda Ciaran Murray said he was on patrol when he saw a Seat Leon at the side of the road. It appeared to be crashed and there was smoke coming from the engine, he said.

He found the accused slouched over the steering wheel with an open "alcoholic beverage can" beside her.

Her speech was slurred when she was spoken to and there was a smell of alcohol coming from her, he said.

There was a two-year-old child in the back seat, highly distressed.

The accused was brought to a west Dublin garda station where a blood sample she provided had a reading of 219mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Judge McHugh refused jurisdiction and adjourned the case for the DPP "to consider the situation".

Defence solicitor Valerie Buckley applied for free legal aid and the judge said he would "revisit" the issue of legal aid on another date.
A psychiatric nurse has been jailed for a year for assaulting another nurse with a syringe filled with sedating, anti-psychotic medication.

Kofi Kankam (48), of the Clarin, Athenry, denied a charge of assaulting Emer Hyland, causing her harm, at the psychiatric unit at University Hospital Galway on February 5 last year.

Ms Hyland, who is in her 20s, told the hearing at Galway District Court that gardai came into the male ward with a patient that evening who was very unwell.

She was dealing with another patient at the time who had absconded. She was sitting in the nurse's station having just got off the phone from speaking to security about that patient when she suddenly felt a sharp pinch in her left side.

Nurse Donna Long and Kankam had been standing behind her. Ms Long was holding a kidney dish which contained two syringes, prepared for the patient gardai had brought in.

She jumped up and saw blood coming from her side. She and Ms Long went into a linen closet to examine her side. Kankam came in and said he was sorry.

Management were made aware of the incident and while Ms Hyland was brought to A&E for treatment, Kankam was told to go home.

Ms Hyland said she had been traumatised by the incident. Counsel for the accused said his client had returned from Africa to face the charge and he asked the judge to suspend any sentence. "It should be ended," Judge Mary Fahy said, before imposing a 12-month sentence.
Gardai have busted an organised crime gang known as the 'Hole in the Roof' group who officers suspect have been behind at least 45 robberies nationwide in the past year.

Detectives targeted the Romanian organised crime gang as part of a massive surveillance operation.

They suspect the group has been terrorising the country for more than five years.

The eastern European group is thought to have netted more than 1m worth of stolen cash and cigarettes and is believed to have been military trained.

Gardai announced details of yesterday's operation which led to the arrest of four people - three men and one women - during the course of 11 dawn raids in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

All the suspects are Romanian nationals - a woman in her 20s and the three men aged in their 30s and 40s.

The four were still being held last night at various stations where they were being questioned under the provisions of anti-gang legislation.

Gardai believe that the gang members have based themselves in Enniscorthy because of its easy access to Rosslare Europort, which is around half an hour's drive away.

"All the information indicates that they use the port to come in and out - it seems that Enniscorthy was deemed a handy location because if there was any hassle they could just flee the country through the port," a senior source said.

The major organised crime gang has links throughout the European Union and is suspected of a multitude of similar crimes throughout the UK and continental Europe.

More than 50 gardai, including armed officers from the South Eastern Regional Armed Support Unit and the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB), were involved in the raids, as well as gardai from Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and Wexford.

"The search operation began simultaneously at 6.30am at 11 houses in the Enniscorthy area," a Garda spokesman said.

"During the course of the searches, gardai seized cash, electronic devices including phones and satellite navigation systems, walkie talkies, car key reader, small quantity of cigarettes, and financial documents.

"Assistance was received from the dog handling unit attached to the Customs at Rosslare Port during the searches."
Report: Dr Gabriel Scally and Lorraine Walsh, who received an incorrect smear test result, during the launch of the report. Picture: Collins

CervicalCheck has not carried out any of its own inspections of the laboratories doing cervical screening for four years.

No quality assurance site visits to any laboratory in the United States or Ireland has been carried out since 2014.

The revelation is contained in the report of Dr Gabriel Scally, who visited the labs as part of his investigation of the CervicalCheck scandal.

Although he says that, from his evidence, there is no reason not to continue to use the labs, he is critical of the level of monitoring of the services by CervicalCheck.

He said it is surprising the quality assurance inspections of the labs have not been conducted for such a length of time.

"This is surprising and not in line with best international practice, which would suggest visits every three years unless there was a reason to actively change the schedule," he said.

"Any decisions moving quality assurance visit schedules either forwards or back should be discussed and minuted at a high level within the organisation."

He found that the early rounds of quality assurance checks of the labs done by CervicalCheck were limited in their governance, design and effectiveness.

"Opportunities were missed to develop the quality assurance process and the absence of a further visit to all sites by 2017 has resulted in a failure to assure aspects of the quality of provision," he warned.

CervicalCheck is now expected to carry out inspection visits of the labs in the coming weeks.

A separate investigation is also to begin into the decision of the CPL lab in Austin, Texas, which was used by CervicalCheck up to 2013, to outsource tests from Ireland to Honolulu and Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the number of complaints to the Medical Council from patients about alleged poor communication by doctors has remained consistently the number one grievance over many years.

It follows the distressing accounts of women and families affected by the CervicalCheck controversy about the insensitive attitude of some doctors when they were given the delayed copies of audits showing they had received the wrong smear test result.

There were 151 such complaints in 2015, and 136 in 2016. Last year the doctors' watchdog received 126 of the allegations against doctors.

Most never go to a full inquiry and efforts are made to resolve the issue, with doctors in several cases making an apology. Not all the complaints are upheld and in some cases the patient may notify the Council due to other issues which are outside the control of the doctor.

In the case of the CervicalCheck audit reports, it has already emerged that several doctors felt it was not their task to tell the women and relatives about the results.

They believed it should be CervicalCheck which should contact the people involved and provide a one-to-one meeting explaining the background.

CervicalCheck had several of the audit reports on its files for at least two years before it sent them to the doctors in 2016 saying to pass them on to patients.

In cases where a patient was deceased it was suggested the woman's treating doctor merely record it on her file.
Much of what goes on in the surgery between the doctor and patient remains unspoken.

But the consistent and collective accounts from women and bereaved families affected by the CervicalCheck scandal provides compelling evidence that some of our medics have a major problem with communication, if not compassion.

Powerful testimonies were recounted by women who had developed cancer, or bereaved relatives when they received delayed audit reports revealing details of wrong smear test results. One family was told "nuns don't get cervical cancer".

It is the first time it has been graphically told by so many. But the reality is that it is well known that doctors in this country are the subject of many complaints to the Medical Council, which regulates the profession every year.

Most come from aggrieved patients who take the major step of lodging a complaint.

Communication is the highest category of complaint made to the regulator every year. Last year, doctors ended up having to answer to 126 of these allegations compared to 68 involving clinical investigations and examinations.

Poor communication can amount to "miscommunication", not explaining a diagnosis or treatment plan in an understandable or clear manner, a disagreement, or simply a personality clash".

The Medical Council has said that in "a large number of cases these issues can be dealt with by a simple apology where appropriate or with mediation".

Chief executive Bill Prasifka said: "When communicating with patients, a doctor should be honest and give all relevant information. A doctor should welcome questions from patients and respond to them in an open, honest and comprehensive way."

Medical students now get classes in communication and doctors' insurance companies remind them regularly how getting it wrong can lead to litigation.

Dr Gabriel Scally, who detailed the CervicalCheck encounters in his report, pointed out most of the doctors were male.

It is an urgent issue for training bodies to tackle. Many a good doctor can end up letting themselves down with a bad manner.
The wearing of hoods by gardai policing a housing protest was "not correct", Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said.

He has also asked for a report on what lessons can be learned from the event.

However, the new Commissioner argued that officers showed restraint "in the face of physical and verbal abuse from a very small minority".

Gardai have faced criticism as masked officers were assigned to police up to 1,000 people protesting against activists being evicted from a property in Dublin on Tuesday evening.

Garda members stood in front of number 34 North Frederick Street while men in balaclavas from a private security group removed activists from the building.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night defended the right to protest, but said it must be lawful.

Mr Harris said that as the atmosphere at the protest grew tense, a small number of public order officers were deployed to ensure public safety.

He said the use of fire retardant hoods by officers for their safety is a matter for the commander on the ground to decide based on a risk assessment.

Mr Harris said the form of dress used at the event "was not correct as it is policy that if it deemed necessary to use the hood then it should be used in tandem with a protective helmet".

Mr Harris said that a deputy commissioner has issued a directive to all Garda personnel to re-enforce this requirement.

Mr Harris said gardai respect the right of people to protest peacefully and said his organisation's role is to facilitate lawful demonstrations while protecting the rights of others to "do their lawful work safely", in this case the carrying out of an order of the High Court.

He said the objective in any such operation is to ensure public safety.

Mr Harris also said that members of An Garda Siochana "showed restraint in the face of physical and verbal abuse from a very small minority".

He also condemned alleged racist abuse suffered by a Garda member.

Mr Harris said: "The people who had occupied the building left the building peacefully in accordance with the High Court order.

"Subsequent to this, a small crowd failed to leave the area despite repeated warnings from An Garda Siochana under the Public Order Act and five people were arrested."

Of those arrested, two are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on October 2.

Four people were hospitalised following the incident, according to a statement released by Take Back the City. This is a network of 18 grassroots activist groups who are "working together to take direct action" against Ireland's housing crisis.

The activists were removed from the property as they had been defying a High Court order to remain in the building for a number of weeks.

The order was issued on August 28, when those occupying the house were told to vacate it by 2pm the following day.

Mr Justice Michael Quinn granted the owner of 34 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1, injunctions requiring persons unknown to vacate and cease trespassing at the building.

The Taoiseach has defended the right to protest but said it must be non-violent and be within the law.

He said in this case there was a High Court order to vacate the premises. Mr Varadkar also said: "like a lot of people, I didn't like to see a private security firm in balaclavas".

He said gardai were wearing hoods and ski masks due to the risk of fire or something being thrown at them, and to protect their identities.

However, he added that in all cases they had their identification badges visible.
Double murderer Colin Howell has been discreetly let out of prison to visit his father's grave.

The former dentist, serving a minimum of 21 years for killing his wife and his ex-lover's policeman husband, was temporarily released yesterday morning.

Accompanied by prison officers, he paid his respects at Kernan Cemetery in Portadown, Co Armagh where his father Samuel is buried.

Samuel Howell passed away on July 21.

His son did not attend the funeral service, which was held at Portadown Baptist Church on July 28.

However, he was granted temporary release yesterday to visit his grave.

A source said: "It was a brief visit to allow him to pay his respects to his father.

"He was handcuffed the whole time, accompanied by prison officers, and the whole thing lasted little more than an hour or so. He was returned to prison later in the day without incident."

The Prison Service declined to comment.

Howell is serving a 21-year jail term for the double murder of his wife Lesley (31) and Trevor Buchanan (32), the RUC officer husband of his then lover Hazel Stewart.

Their bodies were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock in 1991. Police originally thought the pair had died in a suicide pact after discovering their partners were having an affair.

But nearly two decades later Howell suddenly confessed to both killings and admitted he had made it look like the pair had taken their own lives.

He later said he came forward as he thought God was punishing him.

He pleaded guilty to the murders in 2010 and implicated Stewart in the plot, giving evidence against her at a trial that gripped Northern Ireland.

In March 2011 Stewart was unanimously convicted of both murders and ordered to serve at least 18 years behind bars.

The extraordinary case was later turned into a controversial ITV drama, The Secret.

Howell is also serving a five-and-a-half-year sentence for sexually assaulting five female patients while they were under sedation at his dental surgery in Ballymoney.

Samuel Howell died suddenly at Craigavon Area Hospital.

At the time, prison sources indicated that there was a reluctance for the funeral to be seen to descend into a media circus due to Colin Howell's attendance.

They had indicated that arrangements would be made for a more discreet visit.

In his book about the murders, Let This Be Our Secret, journalist Deric Henderson said Howell was always close to his father, a former manager at a Government Training Centre.

He wrote that Howell later said of his relationship with his father: "I was dad's little buddy."
A teenage girl killed in a late night crash near the Derry and Donegal border was an "amazing" person, a devastated friend has said.

Laura Szewc died in the accident close to Nixon's Corner on the Letterkenny Road at 11.30pm on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old, a student at North West Regional College, was born in Poland but raised in Derry.

Laura, from the Cornshell Fields, had been a passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa which is believed to have hit a tree. Two of her friends who were in the car were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash and police have launched an appeal for witnesses.

Her friend Jenny Deane told the Belfast Telegraph that Laura's family, friends and the entire community were devastated about the young woman's death.

"Laura was an amazing girl," she said.

"She was just so full of life and energy. She didn't just walk into my house, she burst in. It is truly awful, she had a bright future ahead of her.

"She was working away and studying at the North West Regional College. She was doing her A-levels in Polish. She wanted to become an interpreter and to travel. It's just heartbreaking.

"Her mother is absolutely devastated, she can't take it in, she can't accept it."

Jenny visited the scene yesterday to pay her respects.

"I went down this morning to the crash scene and laid flowers for Laura beside the tree," she added. "My heart was breaking. Everyone is just broken by this.

"I've had people messaging me all day that I didn't even know knew Laura. She had that effect on people, everyone loved her. She was so happy. I never saw her in a bad mood.

"She loved her friends and her family and her music. She volunteered at a local farm and loved animals.

"It's just so sad. People will remember her as being the life and soul of the place. She was infectious, so funny and so outgoing. It's a tragedy."

Yesterday friends of the popular teenager took to social media to express their shock and sorrow over her death.

"You never know what's around the corner," wrote one friend. "You were one in a million, Laura.

"This just proves only the best looks over us. I'll never ever forget the memories with you. I am absolutely heartbroken."

Another wrote: "Absolutely heartbreaking. One of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Life is so cruel. Only just yesterday we were laughing together."

And another said Laura "always made everyone smile".

SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said the community was "in shock".

"This is a terrible tragedy," he said.

"The community is in shock and sadness today that this girl has lost her life on our roads.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and with her friends.

"It's important that they are there for each other and that we are here for them."
CHILDREN as young as 12 are now seeking help for serious eating disorders across Ireland.

A shock new report by the Eating Disorder Centre in Cork (EDCC) also revealed that boys are chronically less willing to present for help than girls.

Incredibly, more than 33pc of those now attending the EDCC are aged between 15 and 20 years.

However, people in their 60s have also presented for help.

It is now estimated that up to 5pc of Ireland's population are affected by eating disorders of various kinds.

Alarmingly, anorexia nervosa - the best known and most feared of all eating disorders - has the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition.

The report, prepared with the support of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Department of Health, outlined a vast range of ages for those now presenting for help.

Researcher Dr Cormac Sheehan noted that a startling 89pc of EDCC respondents were female.

The study noted that while eating disorders tend to impact on women more than men, the sheer number of female respondents indicated that men are likely to be unwilling to engage with support services.

"Women are often more likely to seek help than men for health issues including things like going to the GP," he said.

"So it could be that men are less willing to come forward (over eating disorders)."

Dr Sheehan said the report also underlined the long-term cost of such disorders.

These range from the physical health of the person involved through to the economic cost in terms of time off from school and work as well as the fall-out for concerned family members.

Dr Sheehan said the worry caused by a young person's eating disorder can be very traumatic for parents.

The report was compiled through surveys, conducted on an anonymous basis, with those attending EDCC services.

On average, around 70 people are now attending weekly support services at the centre which opened a decade ago.

Until it began operations, those seeking specialist help for eating disorders faced having to attend overseas clinics.

A key finding of the EDCC report is the importance of early intervention for those who are battling an eating disorder.

"The message is very clear - seek help and talk to someone if you are worried about a possible eating disorder," Dr Sheehan said.

The EDCC has been supported by Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Junior Health Minister Jim Daly.

Research has indicated that, as a side-effect of spiralling weight issues in modern society, the number and severity of eating disorders are increasing dramatically.

The HSE are hoping to roll-out dedicated child and adolescent eating disorder teams nationwide.

Special support hubs will be established in Dublin, Cork and Galway with smaller support centres in Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Sligo and Cavan.
Scheme: Business Minister Heather Humphreys, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy at the launch of the agency. Photo: Justin Farrelly

The initial pipeline of development under the Government's new housing plan will provide just 10,000 homes - and the first won't be delivered until 2020.

It promised that the new 1.25bn Land Development Agency (LDA) will deliver 150,000 homes in the next two decades.

Current estimates on the number of new homes needed to meet demand stands at as much as 35,000 per year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended the plan and its timescale, saying: "If this was the only thing we were doing, it would be legitimate criticism, but it's not."

He pointed to other measures being taken under the Rebuilding Ireland initiative and how up to 20,000 homes will be built this year.

He said the LDA would accelerate new home building "so that we reach that magic figure of somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000".

Mr Varadkar was joined by a host of ministers to launch the new agency, which he said would come to be seen to be as significant as the ESB, Aer Lingus or the IDA.

The plan has already faced criticism. Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan and People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the scheme, claiming it amounted to privatisation of public land.

Mr Varadkar dismissed such criticisms as "ideological" rather than being "concerned about the interests of real people".

Fianna Fail TD Darragh O'Brien claimed that the Government's repeated announcement of housing plans were causing "fatigue" among people seeking homes.

The LDA has been tasked with managing State-owned land to facilitate developments in which at least 40pc of the units are social and affordable housing.

It has start-up funding of 20m, an interim chief executive in former Nama chief financial officer John Coleman, and an initial site list to provide more than 3,000 homes. The LDA is in discussions with State agencies for land that could yield another 7,000.

The agency is a commercial organisation and will provide land for residential development either by the State or in joint ventures with developers. There will be a requirement that at least 30pc of developments are affordable homes and 10pc are social housing.

As part of her criticism, Ms O'Sullivan said there was "no clarity on what they mean by affordable".

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said affordability was defined as someone paying no more than a third of their income on mortgage repayments.

He said that existing schemes cater for individuals earning up to 50,000 and couples on a combined 75,000 with house price caps of 320,000 in the Greater Dublin Area and 250,000 elsewhere.

He said: "We'll be working on those types of affordability requirements".

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Health Minister Simon Harris opened the Dublin Simon Community's step-up/step-down facility in Dublin 8 yesterday, which will provide medical care to homeless people. Photo: Alan Rowlette

The public's expectation of a 'giveaway' Budget has been dashed by a 600m black hole in spending by the Department of Health.

The increasingly ineffective Health Minister Simon Harris is receiving a furious backlash from his Cabinet colleagues as he fails to manage his departments finances.

Despite the overspend, a record number of patients  514,000  are now on hospital waiting lists.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe could even be forced to introduce a raft of revenue-raising measures to counteract the health deficit.

The 9pc Vat rate could be increased, along with hikes in carbon and gambling taxes. The growing gap in the countrys finances also means long-promised tax cuts for middle-income families are under threat.

At Wednesdays Cabinet meeting, Independent ministers reacted angrily to news they would have to curb their spending demands due to the overrun in health.

Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone is understood to have told Mr Donohoe she expects to receive funding for childcare. And Disability Minister Finian McGrath insisted on his demands being met.

Fine Gael ministers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Mr Harris over his inadequate handling of the health service.

In previous years, the deficit in health was filled by a surplus in the Department of Social Protection due to a rapid drop in unemployment.

However, the social welfare budget is coming in on target and there will be no additional revenue to plug the hole in healths finances.

Yesterday, the Independent Alliance demanded at a meeting with Mr Harris to discuss the overrun in health spending. Junior Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said: "We cannot keep throwing money at health and not getting the response for the people of this country."

Transport Minister Shane Ross - who is still pushing for the introduction of a 'granny grant' for relatives providing childcare - warned the overspend will "limit the pot".

"Of course it's going to affect everyone's demands, it's going to limit what's available in the pot so I think the constraints and the warnings that have been issued by the Minister for Finance should be heeded," he said.

Mr Donohoe insisted he was "determined" to introduce tax relief and a social welfare package despite expenditure pressures in health.

However, he refused to answer questions on the cause of the massive hole in the Department' of Health's budget.

The health service is haemorrhaging funding particularly in the acute hospital area, which has suffered record overcrowding and a summer trolley crisis.

A source familiar with the Budget negotiations said the health spend is overshadowing the entire process.

"Ministers are going around talking about spending 100m here and 200m there when, in reality, the money will all be needed for health. It's the elephant in the room," a Coalition source said.

Even before 2018, the former HSE chief Tony O'Brien warned that the deficit could be as high as 800m this year.

By the end of last February, hospitals were in the red for 45m and it has continued to escalate.

A particular pressure is the rise in patients over 75 years of age, who need hospital care and longer stays.

The income from private patients is also not meeting targets.

The health service will account for a quarter of total gross Government spending at 15.3bn this year, with almost a third of total health spend, 4.7bn, going to hospitals.

There are also spending overruns in the community, with unexpected demands such as the allocation of a medical card to CervicalCheck victims and their families.

An expenses package, involving reimbursement for illness-related costs, was also not budgeted for.

Pressure is also on levels of recruitment in the health service - running at 371 staff per month - as well as the ongoing cost of pay deals, overtime and agency staff and new drugs.

Spending on agency staff has been "consistently out of line" with actual spending, ranging from 52m to 154m above projected levels from 2015 to 2017.

In 2019, money for pay and beds will be a major financial headache.

The Government will have to find a significant slice of the 120m to pay GPs to return fees to pre-recession levels. This will be done on a phased basis.

It also needs to pay the first tranche of the 200m in back pay to consultants.

It is also facing demands for 34m from staff in Section 9 HSE-funded agencies who want salaries to be benchmarked at public service rates.

Mr Harris needs more than 40m for a winter initiative and will be under pressure to deliver on additional beds to avoid another record number on trolleys.

The health service received an extra 685m in current and capital funding in last October's Budget and will be wanting to top that next month, particularly to kickstart Slaintecare - which is the blueprint for the future of the health service.
Mairia Cahill has rejected an apology from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, challenging her party to explain its handling of child sex abuse allegations.

"I think Mary Lou's statement was cowardly and woeful, and that is me being kind to Mary Lou," Ms Cahill said.

Ms McDonald "unreservedly apologised" to Ms Cahill and two other women after a police ombudsman report found evidence suggesting the man accused of raping the former senator was suspended from Sinn Fein some time around 2000 as it was suspected he was abusing children.

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman also found the RUC received intelligence which suggested the Provisional IRA was investigating the child sex abuse accusations against Martin Morris. However, the suspicions about Mr Morris were never reported to the police by Sinn Fein.

Ms Cahill alleged she was interrogated by an IRA "kangaroo court" in 2000 - but the PSNI only began investigating Mr Morris 10 years later.

Ms McDonald said she "deeply regrets" the party did not have mandatory reporting procedures in place at the time of Ms Cahill's ordeal.

"I have no doubt that the three women at the heart of this report have been through an ordeal," she said.

"I want to commend their bravery, in particular the bravery of Mairia Cahill for waiving her anonymity," she added.

However, Ms Cahill did not accept the apology and challenged Ms McDonald to explain Sinn Fein's handling of the child sex abuse allegations.

"For me this did not go far enough," said Ms Cahill.

"She should also publicly admit I was subjected to an IRA investigation. She should go back to the drawing board and come back with a response to the main remaining questions."

Ms McDonald's statement did not respond to any questions surrounding the evidence suggesting Sinn Fein suspended Mr Morris over child abuse concerns or the failure of the party to bring these concerns to the police.

Fine Gael Minister Regina Doherty said: "The apology by Ms McDonald is contemptible and totally inadequate. What about the way she and other party members condescendingly and publicly dismissed Ms Cahill's long quest for the truth and justice? Sinn Fein has yet to admit the person Ms Cahill alleged abused her was a party member and IRA man and that the IRA investigated it but police were never alerted to the issue by Sinn Fein."

Ms Cahill has alleged she was raped by Mr Morris, a suspected IRA man, in 1997 and 1998, when she was 16.

He has always denied the allegations and was acquitted of rape when his trial collapsed in 2014.

The Ombudsman report found Ms Cahill was failed by the police handling of the investigation. It found an inconsistent approach to the investigation of some people suspected of IRA membership, but no evidence anyone was protected from prosecution.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton offered an apology as he said Ms Cahill and two other women were failed by the police.

Ms Cahill, a grand-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, revealed in 2014 she had several meetings with then Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams about her abuse claims.

The meetings were said to have occurred in 2010. Mr Adams has insisted the party did not engage in any cover-up. He denied claims by Ms Cahill that she was subjected to an IRA "kangaroo court".
A WOMAN who presented a satirical presidential bid for the Aras race before Dublin City Council has said she "had to take it to an outrageous level to make her point".

Speaking this morning, radio presenter Norma Burke said she is protesting the quality of candidates presenting themselves for the 2018 presidential race.

Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn slammed Ms Burke's satirical approach and described her as a "major self-promoter".

The council ultimately decided not to endorse any candidate for the upcoming presidential election following "bizarre" and "outrageous" scenes at City Hall yesterday.

In an on-air row on RTE Radio One's Today with Sean O'Rourke programme, Cllr Flynn said he believes she "completely disregarded and disrespected the other candidates".

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Donning the alias 'Bunty Twuntingdon-McFuff', Ms Burke introduced herself to Dublin City Council yesterday as a PR executive and "the PR brains behind the Brexit bus".

She was one of six presidential hopefuls who were invited to a special meeting of the council to deliver a five-minute pitch on why they should be nominated for the race.

They included Sarah-Louise Mulligan, Peter Casey, Norma Burke, Gemma O'Doherty, John Groarke and Marie Goretti. However, it was Ms Burke's presentation that received the loudest reaction.

The newest candidate in the race suggested burning dead people for fossil fuels and turning the Aras into a hunting lodge and spa. She also suggested the possibly of creating a new reality television show to our screens called 'In Your Aras' and said she would use the post to create "powerful contacts" for her own personal gain.

Ms Burke said she is eligible to put herself forward for president, as she is over 35 years of age and an Irish citizen, but her bid was "performance as protest".

"I'm protesting against the quality of candidate, I was in the character of this woman who runs a PR firm and who has set up an office in Dublin post-Brexit," she said.

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"It was pretty outrageous, in order to make the point I was making I had to make it outrageous.

"Otherwise people might have taken me seriously. So many candidates are presenting bizarre ideas, someone genuinely wants to bring back hanging.

"If I didn't make it outrageous, people may not have got it, they may have thought it was real.

"I covered serious issues, the point was I looked at the subjects through the lens of a grotesque character."

Cllr Mannix Flynn slammed Ms Burke's approach and said she had "no regard for the other candidates".

"It wasn't Monty Python, it wasn't funny, it was highly disrespectful and inappropriate," he told the programme.

"She had no regard for the other candidates. By the time the others came up to the platform, they were completely undermined by the ridiculous nature of her pitch.

"At no stage did Norma tell us this was a protest, a legitimate protest," he continued.

"It only became a protest when I challenged her outside. There are some candidates who want to be nominated who have ridiculous ideas, but this turned into utter contempt.

"This wasn't funny, this was the council chambers, subject to protocol and code of conduct."

He claimed she was "an absolute disgrace".

Ms Burke continued; "Let me make my point", before he interrupted her, saying; "You don't have a point Norma."

Ms Burke then referred to an incident in 2016 when Cllr Mannix Flynn held a window ledge protest at Dublin's City Hall, where he called for the disbanding of the Artane Band, to which he replied; "You simply used the platform for your own ego, madam.

"You disregarded your own candidates. Nobody was being affected by me on the window ledge", before adding; "You are full of self-want."

Ms Burke replied; "You voted not to put anyone forward [at the presidential nomination] because you thought none of them were worthy of office."

Veteran RTE journalist David Davin-Power entered the debate, saying; "I hope I'm not shouted down, but Norma did us all a great service by highlighting the quality of the candidate.

"It is true that a lot of the candidates are runners and riders and quite a few loose horses. "Some of the platforms they are running on are completely absurd.

"It is self-promotion, people who have been successful in their own field and now feel they can branch out into politics."

He continued; "Dublin City Council certainly have a lot to answer on how people are allowed make their pitch.

"All Norma had to do was write to say she was rocking up. Could you just rock up and make a pitch to be Lord Mayor?

"You have to do many years, yet they seem to allow anybody to make a pitch for president.

"I salute Norma for highlighting what is in danger of descending into a farce."
Ryanair cabin crew in five countries are set to go on strike on September 28 in another blow to the airline as it battles continuing labour unrest at the company.

Cabin crew who are union members in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands will stage the 24-hour strike, heaping pressure on Ryanair management to bring an end to the labour strife that has dogged the carrier for a year.

The planned strike by cabin crew follows hot on the heels of a strike by unionised staff Ryanair pilots in Germany on Wednesday this week. That saw the airline cancel 150 of its German flights.

Union leaders in the five countries where cabin crew are set to remain grounded on the strike day claimed that Ryanair management "choose to ignore the law and with [sic] the bullying culture that is part of the company's culture for decades".

They claimed in a strike notice that for decades Ryanair has dictated its orders and "faced no real challenges from employees' representatives and have demonstrated to trade unions that [they] are incapable of maintaining a meaningful conversation during the talks".

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary this week dismissed claims that the airline engaged in bullying tactics. He told TV channel CNBC that claims the airline had bullied trade unions were "complete rubbish".

Ryanair said last year that it would recognise unions. Since then, it has been trying to hammer out collective labour agreements across Europe.
Officers carry out a forensic search of the yacht at Castlepark Marina in Kinsale. Photo: Provision

Gardai are questioning three men after boarding a yacht off the Irish coast as part of a major drugs investigation.

The boat, a 14-metre Jeanneau-built Sun Magic class sloop, was boarded by gardai with the assistance of Naval Service and Customs and Excise personnel as part of a planned operation.

An armed boarding party from the LE Eithne intercepted the vessel off the Co Kerry coast and the operation later concluded just off the Co Cork coast near Kinsale.

It followed an intelligence-led operation with the sloop having been under surveillance for some time by Naval Service units, including patrols ships and a maritime reconnaissance plane.

The vessel entered Irish waters from the Azores but is understood to have started its journey from just off Central America.

Three men found on board the vessel are currently being questioned by detectives.

Two are Irish and believed to be from the Co Louth area. The third is understood to be an East European national. All are understood to be in their late-20s or mid-30s.

The boat will now undergo a specialist forensic search operation.

The search will be conducted at a secure boatyard in Kinsale where the yacht will be kept under armed guard for several days.

However, no drugs were found by Garda and Naval search teams during the initial inspection while the vessel was still at sea.

A Naval Service vessel berthed in Kinsale harbour yesterday as part of the security operation.

The search may take a number of days to complete with specialist marine teams expected to dismantle large parts of the yacht's hull as part of the painstaking operation.

Specially trained drugs sniffer dogs will also be used in the search.

The sloop is understood to have operated mainly in parts of the French Caribbean over recent years.

Described as being in very good condition, the vessel is also equipped with multiple solar panels to operate its onboard electrical and navigational systems.

The three men detained are currently being questioned under drugs regulations at Bandon divisional garda station.

They can be held for an initial period of 24 hours but, if required, can be questioned for up to seven days.

Irish agencies acted in concert with the European police anti-drug trafficking group, which is based in Lisbon, Portugal, and is supported by both police and naval agencies across the EU and North America.
The husband of a Dublin woman who died after routine surgery to remove a gallstone has said her condition deteriorated so quickly she would have never known she was about to die.

Patricia Bishop, a mother-of-three, was only 66 when she went into St James's Hospital on September 22, 2016, for a procedure which should have seen her up and about the next day.

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But during the operation her bowel was punctured and Patricia got sepsis, leading to multi-organ failure and death.

A verdict of medical misadventure was returned at the inquest last week into Patricia's death. Dublin Coroner's Court heard that her doctor had "never before seen a case of sepsis like this".

Now, as the second anniversary of her death approaches, Tom Bishop - her husband of 46 years - has recalled with disbelief the horrifying sequence of events that saw Patricia go from a healthy woman, who was looking forward to going sea swimming, to being surrounded by her family as her life support machines were switched off.

"On Tuesday, September 20, Trisha went in for a scope, and a gallstone was found, and the surgeon said he could tackle it that Thursday, so that's when she went in to St James's," Tom said at his home in Drimnagh.

"I left her in at 9am and they rang me at 11am to say she was done but not to hurry in because she was recovering from the anaesthetic.

"I visited her at around 4.30pm. They were keeping her in overnight anyway, and on the Friday morning I got in and Trisha had difficulty breathing. She was panting for breath.

"The doctors said they thought it might be a reaction to the anaesthetic, and Trisha knew she wasn't getting out that day either," he added.

"I went in the next morning and Trisha was sitting out at the side of the bed, still panting for breath, and the nurse was taking her blood pressure. Then she went to get another machine to check her bloods.

"Then this woman came in and asked me to leave for a moment.

"I was in the corridor when she came out at around 10.30am and told me 'get your family in'.

"I rang Trisha's brother. Then they said they were taking her down to ICU, and as they were wheeling her in the doors she said her last words to me.

"It's the strangest thing when I think back on it now, but it shows how unaware she was about what was happening."

Tom said Patricia asked him: "Did you pay the credit card?"

He added: "Trisha was sedated because they had to put tubes and things into her, and she never woke again. That was my wife gone."

Patricia had gone into multi-organ failure and despite attempts to save her Tom was told there was no hope.

"It's a strange experience watching them turn off the machines," he said.

"The screens started to go blank one by one, and I didn't know when she was alive or when she was dead. It's terrible."

At last week's inquest, Finbar McCarthy, consultant gastroenterologist/physician at St James's Hospital, said he hoped never to see a case like it again.

He said Ms Bishop experienced some discomfort after the procedure but he felt at the time that this was normal following the surgery.

"When I examined her the following morning at 8am her heart rate and blood pressure were normal and she had no fever.

"These are the early warning signs for sepsis," Dr McCarthy said.

Three hours later her condition deteriorated so rapidly that she was transferred to intensive care.

Patricia developed sepsis due to a perforation of bowel tissues during the procedure and died eight days later on September 30.

"Trisha was so full of life. She loved swimming, and she was a great skier too. She could master anything," Tom said.

"We were married for 46 years and have three great children.

"She was super, really super. She'd want to have been super to marry me.

"I met Trisha first when she was 14, and we started going out to the pictures when she was 15."

All around their house on Slievebloom Road there are photographs of Patricia and Tom.

Asked about the verdict of Patricia's death by medical misadventure, Tom said he thought it reflected the truth of what happened.

"I think it's an accurate verdict. There was nothing really wrong with Trish when she went into hospital. It was supposed to be fairly routine surgery," he said.

Tom said he had no idea what sepsis was until it claimed Patricia's life.

"I think an awareness campaign would be a good thing, so that more is known about the early symptoms. It appears to be rampant," he added.

Last month the family of a Finglas teenager made a similar appeal after their son died suddenly from sepsis.

Sean Hughes (15) died in January after initially developing a chest infection.
US President Donald Trump's promise to 'make America great again' can translate into even higher growth rates in Ireland because the two economies move in step, the top economics adviser to the White House has claimed.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) data yesterday showed the Irish economy continues to outperform its European peers, in significant part thanks to close US ties.

But there are fears Mr Trump's anti-trade agenda will strain those ties - particularly after the US imposed tariffs on some EU exports.

Yesterday Kevin Hassett, chair of President Trump's economic advisers, said the Irish economy is more responsive to the US than any other economy it had measured.

He said that according to official estimates here and in the US, Irish gross domestic product (GDP) increases 1.5pc for every 1pc of growth in the US.

This index is known as the 'Beta' - a measure of how responsive one economy is to another.

"The Beta for Ireland is the highest one we've estimated... if you accept that we've made the US economy grow at 3pc instead of 2pc, then that means that GDP in Ireland - if you get a normal effect - will be 10pc-15pc higher a decade from now than it would otherwise be." However, the transmission of US growth to Ireland may be negatively affected, if the links between the countries are weakened by trade barriers or the shift towards protectionism in the US.

As he defended the White House economic agenda at an event for business leaders hosted by the US Embassy in Dublin yesterday, Mr Hassett said the US tax reform this year was partly inspired by Ireland's low corporate tax regime. The US slashed corporation tax from 35pc to 21pc.

"I think we wouldn't have a tax bill without you guys because we could point to how successful you were, and now that we have a much more visible corporate tax what's going to happen is the advantage of going to Ireland with future activity is smaller.

"It's not Ireland's fault that the tax law in the US was written by somebody who was taking acid... it just made no sense whatsoever what they were doing."

The Irish economy grew around six times faster than the European average in the three months of April, May and June and is on course to come close to matching last year's 7.2pc expansion.

Growth here was driven by higher technology exports in particular. Average growth in the EU was 0.4pc.
The ill-fated introduction of water charges was doomed from the start, according to a new report by researchers at NUI Galway.

The university's Whitaker Institute hosted a conference yesterday in which delegates heard how the Irish Water debacle was a classic example of 'How Not to Do Public Policy" - the title of the session.

The report's author, economist Jim O'Leary, said: "A sense of trying to achieve too much too soon is suggested by the approach to the overall water sector reform programme.

"In examining policy on water, our reading of the evidence is that it was driven by a vision that would have been more appropriate for a seven to 10-year timeframe than a three to five-year period."

While he commended the Commission of Taxation for its proposals that led to the successful blueprint for establishing the Local Property Tax, he said the government "ignored its (the commission's) proposals on water charges" and "were in several essential respects the antithesis of what government chose to do".

The report found that "the universal free allowance and metering were made before their implications were properly understood and without the alternatives being rigorously assessed".

"At the end of the day, the government decisively lost the battle for the hearts and minds of the people," Mr O'Leary said in reference to massive anti-water charge demonstrations around the country before the introduction of water charges was finally scrapped.

Alan Ahearne, director of the Whitaker Institute, said: "What we have learned is that good policymaking requires all options and all aspects of the options to be investigated and that policymakers should be careful not to let perfect be the enemy of good."
Q: Dad is in a nursing home in Galway. His house is in Dublin. None of us live there now and we plan to rent it out. Its near UCD but we dont want students living in it and dont have time to get tenants and manage it. While shabby, its structurally sound. Are there companies who do all this and is it expensive? How would the rent factor into Fair Deal?

A: A number of estate agents offer full service lettings which range from cleaning and refurbishing to vetting and managing tenants. Terrie Dunne is one, based in Greystones (terriedunne.com).

She told me, We do everything from furniture removal, painting, flooring, updating kitchen/bathrooms, even down to fitting new light-bulbs. We handle the RTB registration and advise on legalities etc. You could expect to pay around 8pc of the rental income for a full ongoing property management service. Handling the letting would be an additional 5pc.

In relation to your second question, there are two implications: letting your fathers property will mean that the rent forms part of his overall income, in addition to whatever pension etc, he has. Under Fair Deal, 80pc of this is taken as a contribution toward his care (although the amount will never exceed the actual cost of care).

The second issue is that 7.5pc pa, for a maximum of three years (i.e. 22.5pc) will be billed on the asset (the house), and you can choose to pay, or defer it on a loan arrangement until after he passes.

If he is currently on Fair Deal, you will already know this.

It would be worth talking to an accountant in order to assess whether he would, in fact, be better off coming out of Fair Deal and paying for the nursing home privately.

Q: My husband and I moved here from Canada after our marriage two years ago. We have decided to stay and buy a house and both of us have good jobs. We have CAN$48,000 which is in Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) through savings, an inheritance from an aunt and wedding gifts to use as a deposit. What is the best way of transferring it here and will an Irish bank accept it as a deposit?

A: I cant see any Irish bank turning it down, as long as you meet normal anti money laundering procedures and checks. Get together those bank statements to show the different deposits.

The other issue is the actual transfer. A money transfer organisation like TransferWise may be one of the best options  a quick check tells me (at time of writing) that CAN$48,000 will convert to 31,388.97, using a rate of 0.65797 (this is very good as the actual inter-bank rate is 0.66), costing you a fee of $294.23 (193.55).

Currency Fair is another you could try, but just be sure that RBC will facilitate such a transfer remotely (some banks insist you present yourself for an amount of this size).

Once you have it lodged in a bank here, you can go mortgage shopping. My advice is always to engage a broker for this to do the heavy lifting on paperwork. It will cost you around 500 (some are free if the loan is large enough) and is money well spent. Best of luck with the move, and welcome!

The Ryan Review

The Central Bank issued an excellent report on the state of Long Term Mortgage Arrears (LTMA), examining the 29,000 cases which stubbornly remain in arrears over two years.

The findings show that the average loan is 206,000, at 90pc loan-to-value with 66,000 owing in outstanding arrears.

The 2+year category is the largest component of the remaining LTMAs, so why on earth are they all simply not scooped up and flogged off (to Vultures or otherwise)? They are terminal basket cases, completely incapable of being serviced by their owners, after all.

The answer, as with so many things, can be found by following the money. The report looked at the Cure and Exit approaches taken on these loans. Cures happen when borrowers engage with lenders (the completion of a Standard Financial Statement, which is mandatory since 2013 is twice as likely to see success in reducing arrears, than a case without one).

Exits tend to be when they dont, resulting in the voluntary or forced sale of property.

The reasons banks dont go full tilt at them is because theyre engaged a game of who blinks first. Repos are very expensive  more so in Ireland than anywhere else. It puts banks off, especially if the propertys in negative equity. But a large number engage in what the report calls a wait and see approach, as house prices rise, the books look better anyway.

Theres method in their madness, in other words.
Another view of the hall and staircase

The detached residence as viewed from the rear garden on this substantial site

There's no doubting the popular draw and screen presence of telly architect Dermot Bannon as the lynchpin presenter of his RTE hit show Room to Improve. But the lanky (and sometimes cranky) one with the penchant for box extensions has been given a run for his money more than once on air by Cormac Sugrue, the builder Bannon often favours with many of his on-screen one-off house projects.

Appearances by Cormac of Sugrue Builders have lit up Twitter more than once with a largely female contingent clamouring to express a swooning appreciation for the tradesman's talents.

But proving that Sugrue, the family firm of 40 years, is up for more than extensions, is the firm's latest one-off project at Malahide just completed on behalf of Red Emerald.

In the aftermath of the crash wipeout, surviving boutique firms like Sugrue, which were careful through the boom years, have been quickly clambering upmarket, taking a niche for luxury new one-off homes which can be built over a year or two on sites in luxury locations.

All across the capital, a few strong small to mid-sized firms have been making a name for themselves in period home conversion and extensions with quality bespoke workmanship and finishes not seen since Irish building outfits employed their own craftsmen and ran them on strict apprenticeship systems of old. Now these firms are moving into one-off home building at the very top end.

Located at Streamstown Lane in Malahide, The Brambles is a double fronted four-bedroom new home with more than a few differences on board.

The approach throughout is for full on quality hand craft, just like in the days of old.

Not least is the vaguely Georgian-inspired modern designer staircase in solid oak. It's zany, arresting and stylish in equal measure and a triumph of bespoke carpentry.

This home has bespoke skirts, bespoke hardwood doors, patio doors by Munster Joinery and solid wood floors in the main receptions.

Craftsman joiner Peter McAuley is in evidence upstairs with his limed oak interiors in the master bedroom's walk-in dressing room closet and similar work in a second bedroom.

Downstairs McAuley Kitchens has provided a hand painted and bespoke kitchen with a wide planked limed wood floor. There's a large island unit in Charleston Grey, stone worktops and upstands with an additional feature solid walnut worktop. It comes with a large traditional food larder.

There's a Quooker boiling water tap and all units are Neff.

The house comes in at an A3 BER with passive house characteristics for energy efficiency.

Accommodation includes a lobby, a main hall, a sitting room, a family room, home office, a guest wc and a kitchen and dining room at ground floor level.

Upstairs all bedrooms have bathroom suite access while the master chamber has an ensuite and a walk-in dressingroom. Bedroom three also has a dressing room. Some wardrobes here are by Dakar. The list of top notch makers goes on. The house has top notch Villeroy & Boch bathroom ware including a svelte stand alone tub and ware by Roseberry with showers by Kohler and also by Hansgrohe.

The house has been designed by MTW Architects and wired by Auden Electrical.

The asking price for the property is 1.595m through Savills North Dublin.
Jennifer Aniston (49) has been keeping a low profile of late, but it doesn't stop the press going wild with headlines like 'Her Latest Love!'. According to one recent report, her latest love is well, her career. In any case, it's an excuse to rethread Jen's stance on relationships, by now her defining characteristic: "It's pretty crazy," she says. "The misconceptions are, 'Jen can't keep a man,' and 'Jen refuses to have a baby because she's selfish and committed to her career'. Or that I'm sad and heartbroken."

Many would kill for Aniston's lot in life, yet without a child in the mix, it seems she shall forever be 'Poor Jen'. And she's not alone: happily married Cameron Diaz (46) can send Insta love notes all she wants to Benji Madden, but her child-free status requires patient and public explaining time and time again.

Eileen Reilly, who runs the Child Free in Ireland blog (childfreeinireland.wordpress.com) notes: "Aniston's case highlights a number of cultural assumptions - the first is that it is acceptable to enquire into a woman's maternity status. For women who are assumed to have passed the age of having children, it is normal to enquire into why not. Aside from the obvious gender bias, this line of questioning belies another assumption, namely that marriage and family life are viewed as the proper occupation of women."

Certainly, these ongoing narratives around motherhood and those with a child-free existence seem to have endured. Where mothers are selfless, saintly and fulfilled to their baby vomit-flecked eyeballs, the latter are somehow the opposite of that: selfish, suspicious, and lacking. When it comes to preconceptions about non-mums, Marian Keyes hit the nail on the head in a brilliant tweet: "I always INSIST on paper receipts from ATMs because as a childless woman I've 'no stake in the future'. Kill all the trees cos I've no kids!" she wrote.

Fellow novelist Sheila O'Flanagan (60) spoke recently about her decision not to have children of her own: "My thing is that I had enough self-awareness of myself to know that being a mother was not something I wanted to do," she says. "People who have small families or big families, that's the choice they lead and want to lead."

Elsewhere, comedian Joanne McNally, who explored her child-free status in the documentary Baby Hater, opines that having a child is "eight pounds and three ounces of pure responsibility and commitment".

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Very few mothers speak out honestly about their gripes on being parents. For that, it's seen as the most enriching thing a woman can do, and soon becomes seen as a biological instinct and the overwhelming norm rather than a cultural choice. The good news is that a growing number of women are biting back against this conceit of motherhood as an imperative. The Economist reported that Ireland's child-free rate runs at around 20pc. What's more, the average age at which Irish women gave birth to their first child rose from 24.8 years in 1975 to 30.5 years in 2014. And with visibility around the freedoms and advantages of a child-free life growing by the day, the idea of child-free women somehow being 'lesser' or unfulfilled is also being sent firmly out to pasture.

Deirdre Molloy (48), director of the Dublin Fringe Festival production Boy Child, notes that her younger self assumed she would marry and have children.

"When it didn't happen, I'm one of the lucky ones in that it genuinely didn't bother me," she says. "At 40, I remember people saying, 'you can freeze your eggs or have a baby on your own'. Right now, I love my life and can't imagine motherhood being a part of it. I admire parents hugely, but it's the hardest and most thankless job in the world."

Far from encountering countless invasive questions about why she has remained child-free, Deirdre says she doesn't come across it a huge amount. "It's there in the ether alright, but anyone who judged me for not having children would get a serious earful," she says.

Like Deirdre, renowned DJ Sally Foran (37) believed years ago that she too would eventually become a mother: "If you'd told me 10 years ago that I'd be single and wouldn't have a child, I'd be like, 'oh s***'.

"I'd say some people think I'm a bit of a party girl and to them that's why I haven't 'settled' down," she adds. "But all that's happened is I'm coming closer to the age where I'm realising it might not be that tragic if I didn't have a child." In her 20s, Sally worked as a nanny, and has a keen awareness of just how demanding childcare can be. "I'm good with kids and I love kids, but I know the work involved and I have a realistic take on things - that's why I'm not terrified I won't have children. And I have noticed fewer people asking, which is a good sign." Yet in the ongoing debate, Sally makes a strong case that being child-free is a fluid state. "If I decide to have a child, I'll be ready for it. I'm not categorically not having kids," she says.

Writer Fiona Byrne (42) married her husband seven years ago and, almost immediately, the queries about starting a family began to roll in.

"People say, 'you'd be so amazing at it', and I'm like, 'yeah, I'd be a great carpenter too'," she says. "I used to have stock answers to the questions, but now I let the silence hang in the air. I've made it clear that I don't have a child. If anything, I'm getting the flipside of the 'lesser' debate more - I get 'you're so lucky, I wish I had your life'."

There certainly seems to be a shift in the right direction, where women who haven't had children for whatever reason no longer need to be 'figured out'.

"You just don't know what any particular person is going through and I think people should be more sensitive to that," says Deirdre. "Ideally, every woman should be able to privately or publicly do what they want and not worry about how they will be judged for it. But for now, women without children are judged as either a prospective baby-maker or a failed one."

World Childless Week runs until September 16
Theres a big story behind 14 Henrietta Street, the Georgian townhouse and former tenement building that officially opens as Dublins newest museum today.

But its the small details that hit home.

The nail sticking from a wall, where somebody once hung their washing line or coat. A hand-written notice in the hallway, warning against tampering with anny ting (sic). Tales of residents opening their doors at night, so cracks of light could help children find their way to the loo. Or the moment we see fading Raddle Red paint in the hallway, and I twig why several older Dubliners on my preview tour seem so enchanted.

When we were kids, you couldnt go near it, one gent says of the famous tenement colour. Your clothes would be destroyed.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Watching a video in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Detail of 'Mrs Dowling's Flat', an installation showing 1960s tenement living in 14 Henrietta Street. Image: Marc OSullivan. No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan Detail of Mrs Dowling's Flat. Image by Marc OSullivan The back hallways in 14 Henrietta Street give a stark view of the community spaces in a tenement dwelling. Banisters and painted walls have been preserved. Photo: 14 Henrietta Street / Paul Tierney No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council Condition of the rooms in 14 Henrietta Street in the 1980s. Photo: Dublin City Council The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery Plasterwork detail at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A note remains scrawled onto a hallway wall at No. 14 Henrietta Street, warning off any person "who tampers with anny ting (sic)". Photo: Donal Corkery A portrait of Lady Molesworth in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The stairwell at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Inside No. 14 Henrietta Street. The final room on the tour is a fully furnished, 20th century replica flat. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

But back to that big story - Dublin City Councils rescue of this historic 18th century building from rot, and its stabilisation, conservation and adaptation as a museum. The 4.5 million project took a decade, and its craftsmanship feels both sensitive and quietly inspired (from centuries-old floorboards beneath our feet, to wallpapers and linoleum reproduced from dangling scraps).

Just as detailed was the gathering and curation of artefacts and oral histories. I guess you could call the results a tenement museum. But labels quickly show their limitations on a visitor journey that starts with a dark door on a distressed street, and quickly disappears down a rabbit hole of Irish social history.

People feel like theyre going to get a sense of ghosts or something, but its really homely, says Tracey Bardon, our guide for the 75-minute tour  herself raised in a tenement on Sean McDermott Street.

I always feel welcome and cosy, like I belong in here.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Watching a video in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Detail of 'Mrs Dowling's Flat', an installation showing 1960s tenement living in 14 Henrietta Street. Image: Marc OSullivan. No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery Detail of Mrs Dowling's Flat. Image by Marc OSullivan The back hallways in 14 Henrietta Street give a stark view of the community spaces in a tenement dwelling. Banisters and painted walls have been preserved. Photo: 14 Henrietta Street / Paul Tierney Condition of the rooms in 14 Henrietta Street in the 1980s. Photo: Dublin City Council The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery Plasterwork detail at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A note remains scrawled onto a hallway wall at No. 14 Henrietta Street, warning off any person "who tampers with anny ting (sic)". Photo: Donal Corkery A portrait of Lady Molesworth in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The stairwell at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Inside No. 14 Henrietta Street. The final room on the tour is a fully furnished, 20th century replica flat. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council

As the tour starts, you may wonder what shes talking about. No. 14 was built in 1749, and following an overview of Henrietta Streets Georgian heyday, we step into a first-floor drawing room. Its unfurnished, but a scale model and musical instruments embedded in the plasterwork hint at the former splendour of a building that began life as the home of Lord Viscount Molesworth and his family.

The townhouse was a vessel designed to display their wealth and space, we learn  a dose of Downton Abbey in Dublin.

Its next chapter was not so glamorous. After the Acts of Union, power shifted to London, and Dublin and Ireland entered a period of economic decline. 14 Henrietta Street was occupied by lawyers, courts and even a barracks during the 19th century. By 1877, a landlord called Thomas Vance had torn out its grand staircase and carved it into 19 separate flats. By 1911, it was home to 100 people.

The change comes vividly to life when Tracey opens a door leading from Georgian grandeur into a distressed-looking hallway. Light dips. Temperatures cool. And theres that murmur of recognition as the Raddle Reds and Reckitts Blues reveal themselves.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Watching a video in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Detail of 'Mrs Dowling's Flat', an installation showing 1960s tenement living in 14 Henrietta Street. Image: Marc OSullivan. No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Detail of Mrs Dowling's Flat. Image by Marc OSullivan The back hallways in 14 Henrietta Street give a stark view of the community spaces in a tenement dwelling. Banisters and painted walls have been preserved. Photo: 14 Henrietta Street / Paul Tierney No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council Condition of the rooms in 14 Henrietta Street in the 1980s. Photo: Dublin City Council Plasterwork detail at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A note remains scrawled onto a hallway wall at No. 14 Henrietta Street, warning off any person "who tampers with anny ting (sic)". Photo: Donal Corkery A portrait of Lady Molesworth in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The stairwell at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Inside No. 14 Henrietta Street. The final room on the tour is a fully furnished, 20th century replica flat. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery

No. 14 is the first time weve had a chance to really explore the history of the urban so-called working classes, says Dr Ellen Rowley of UCDs School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, who was a consulting curator on the project. The unique thing about Dublins tenements was that they were framed in these most glorious neoclassical spaces. She describes a museum of memory, and a challenge to avoid a privileging of one history over another.

By now, were truly backstage. Gathering around a tight stairway, Tracey tells us how front and back doors were often left open in tenements, with people using the houses as shortcuts between streets. You can imagine the use and abuse they would have got, she says, recounting a story of one man who took a horse up to his flat. But one night the horse got the better of the floor and went though onto the family underneath.

By the time we reach the basement, its clear were on a journey thats as much about the life of Dublin as this single building. The air is dank. A picture of the Sacred Heart sits over a hole-in-the-wall fireplace and an overcoat is stretched on the bed (Traceys father called them duvets with arms, she recalls). At their worst, tenements were rife with disease, overcrowding and rats.

Broader social issues were obviously at play, but short videos beamed onto walls as we go keep the story human. This is a space where lives were lived, babies born, women worked, families grew... and tea was made, a narrator says.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Watching a video in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Detail of 'Mrs Dowling's Flat', an installation showing 1960s tenement living in 14 Henrietta Street. Image: Marc OSullivan. No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan Detail of Mrs Dowling's Flat. Image by Marc OSullivan The back hallways in 14 Henrietta Street give a stark view of the community spaces in a tenement dwelling. Banisters and painted walls have been preserved. Photo: 14 Henrietta Street / Paul Tierney No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council Condition of the rooms in 14 Henrietta Street in the 1980s. Photo: Dublin City Council The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery Plasterwork detail at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A note remains scrawled onto a hallway wall at No. 14 Henrietta Street, warning off any person "who tampers with anny ting (sic)". Photo: Donal Corkery A portrait of Lady Molesworth in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The stairwell at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Inside No. 14 Henrietta Street. The final room on the tour is a fully furnished, 20th century replica flat. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery

That hits the heart. The grander spaces I find too sparse (14 Henrietta Street will benefit greatly from future plans to fully furnish Georgian rooms and add a shop or bookstand), but I understand why the journey is choreographed in this way. Its about layers and folk memory as much as factual history. When we watch archival footage of children playing in the street, several visitors start singing along to their songs. Tracey encourages them. It feels like a flickering community spirit breathing life into the building.

The final room is an understated wow moment  a door opened to reveal a replica flat crammed with the cosy bric-a-brac of family life. There are China dogs on the mantelpiece, a toy gun slung off a bed, a whiff of carbolic soap on the way out the door. This is the homeliness Tracey was talking about. It almost hums with nostalgia.

The last tenement families moved out of No 14 in 1979. By then, housing policies were changing, suburbs sprawling, and Henrietta Street was cut adrift. Its unique collection of early 18th century houses may be as important to the record of settlement in these islands as... Clonmacnoise or Wood Quay, as Dublin City Council said in its 2006 conservation plan. Some houses may have fared better than others. But it still sits grimly on its own, just a short walk from OConnell Street.

Will this thoughtful restoration change that? 14 Henrietta Street lacks the interactive whistles and bells of new attractions like EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum or Titanic Belfast, yet it feels emotive and authentic. It makes me think about Dublins historical growing pains, its rich social history, but also  and importantly  the housing crises of today.

And the community out-reach continues. As I leave, a man stops by with a few pages of his family tree. He used to live at No 14, he says.

The story doesnt end here.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan The basement No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery Detail of 'Mrs Dowling's Flat', an installation showing 1960s tenement living in 14 Henrietta Street. Image: Marc OSullivan. The piano nobile at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery A hallway at No. 14 Henrietta Street, with its 'Raddle red' and 'Reckitt's Blue' colouring. Photo: Pol O Conghaile Watching a video in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Detail of Mrs Dowling's Flat. Image by Marc OSullivan The back hallways in 14 Henrietta Street give a stark view of the community spaces in a tenement dwelling. Banisters and painted walls have been preserved. Photo: 14 Henrietta Street / Paul Tierney No. 14 Henrietta street in the 1980s, before its restoration. Photo: Dublin City Council Condition of the rooms in 14 Henrietta Street in the 1980s. Photo: Dublin City Council Plasterwork detail at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery A note remains scrawled onto a hallway wall at No. 14 Henrietta Street, warning off any person "who tampers with anny ting (sic)". Photo: Donal Corkery A portrait of Lady Molesworth in No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo: Pol O Conghaile The stairwell at No. 14 Henrietta St. Photo: Donal Corkery No. 14 Henrietta Street. Photo by Donal Corkery Inside No. 14 Henrietta Street. The final room on the tour is a fully furnished, 20th century replica flat. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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Whatsapp A replica flat at 14 Henrietta Street is crammed with the bric-a-brac of tenement family life. Photo: Marc OSullivan

Visitor Information

Tours cost 9 (book online at 14henriettastreet.ie). If you have memories of growing up in Dublins tenements, email info@14henriettastreet.ie.

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Ryanair is to launch a new, twice-weekly service between Cork and Budapest from April 2019, the airline has announced.

The news came at the launch of its Summer 2019 schedule from Cork Airport today. New routes to Malta, Poznan and Luton had previously been confirmed.

Ryanair will grow its Cork traffic by 20pc next year, it says, delivering 1.1 million customers through Ireland's second-busiest airport.

The news comes at the end of a bumper week for air travel, during which Aer Lingus announced new transatlantic routes to Montreal and Minneapolis-St Paul, and Portuguese airline TAP unveiled plans to fly between Dublin and Lisbon.

Air connectivity in Ireland is growing at pace this year, with Cork Airport's passenger numbers forecast to increase by 4pc and Dublin on course to surpass 30 million passengers for the first time in its 78-year history.

"With the support of our Munster passenger base and regional stakeholders, we look forward to a strong and vibrant 2019 with further growth to come, said Cork Airport Managing Director, Niall MacCarthy.

Ryanair also announced a new pilot training partnership with Cork-based international flight school, Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA), today.

The Ryanair/AFTA Mentored Pilot Programme will create 50 new jobs, it says, and train up to 450 new pilots across Europe over the next five years.

Ryanair is one of Irelands world class business successes and this announcement confirming the next generation of Ryanair pilots will be trained in Cork is a most welcome one," said An Tanaiste, Simon Coveney, at the launch.

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An ancient network of trade routes connecting east with west, the Silk Road has fascinated travellers for centuries.

Now, a new four-part ITV series follows actress Joanna Lumley as she makes the epic 7,000-mile journey from Venice to Kyrgyzstan, visiting Albania, Turkey, Georgia, Iran, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan along the way.

The series was filmed over three trips - the longest stint being a month, which Lumley admits is quite unusual.

"None of us wanted to do a month," she admits, "but suddenly Iran said, 'You can come and film here,' so we had to skid to a halt, turn around on our tracks and go straight off."

In spite of the unexpected length of time spent away from home, she describes the adventure as "sensational".

Below are some of her highlights from the trip - as well as ways you recreate it. "I couldn't have loved it more," she says.

Surprised by Uzbekistan

Expand Close Entrance portal to Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. PA Photo/thinkstockphotos. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Entrance portal to Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. PA Photo/thinkstockphotos.

"I just thought, 'What can it really be like?' It sounds as though it will be a few old stones on a street and a dusty camel and an old something. But it's the most sophisticated place, with boulevards, tree-lined streets, opera houses, great architecture. It's a fabulous and beautiful place. So all my preconceptions [were] dashed."

Longing for Iran

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"My family has always travelled. The furthest west any of us was born was my father in Lahore, which is now in Pakistan but was part of India back then. But my mother's parents travelled all the way across to Persia. My grandmother said of all the countries in the world she would like to live in, having travelled so much, it would be Persia. So I couldn't wait to get to Iran."

Falling for Georgia

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"The mountains, the clean air, the emptiness... the wines! We had to go to Tbilisi, the capital, and I thought, 'Oh, I would much rather be up in the mountains', but Tbilisi is gold. Please go there if you can. I hope lots of people will go to Georgia, because it really is easy to get to. You don't have to take much trouble - you can fly there and no visa is needed. It's a totally brilliant country, and it's far away and adventurous."

How to recreate the trip

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Whatsapp ITV Handout Photo from Joanna's Lumley's Silk Road Adventure, in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. PA Photo/ITV/Burning Bright.

Travel writer Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent was a producer on the series and spent a year researching and designing Lumley's journey. She's now teamed up with adventure travel company, Silk Road Adventures, to create and lead several tours following directly in Lumley's footsteps - meeting the same people and staying in the same hotels. All prices include accommodation, meals, transportation and guides, flights are extra.

The 13-day A Silk Road Adventure: Georgia and Azerbaijan ventures into local homes, wineries and workshops. Visit cliff-top monasteries, learn the secrets of Azeri silk and hike through mountain meadows. Departs June 3, 2019 and costs 3,650/4,095pp (two sharing).

The 16-day A Silk Road Adventure: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan travels from the Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara to the snowy peaks of Kyrgyzstan's 'Heavenly Mountains'. Sleep in yurts under the stars, swim in mountain lakes and meet Kyrgyz eagle hunters. Departs August 30, 2019 and costs 3,65/4,095pp (two sharing).

The 12-day A Silk Road Adventure: Iran visits cosmopolitanTehran, the Dasht-e-Lut desert and the ancient wonders of Persepolis. Departs April 7, 2019 and costs from 3,240/3,635pp (two sharing).

For more information, visit silkroad-adventures.com.

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Someone came in the other day with her empty wine bottle and filled it up with shampoo and conditioner, says shopkeeper Olive Finn.

Finn is one of the many grocers around the country tapping into, and facilitating, the idea that a consumer can shop without incurring any waste.

The zero waste, or minimal waste, movement is growing with aplomb in Ireland. Consumers are saying no to packaging. They enter a shop with their own empty containers and leave the shop, having filled those containers with the goods they need.

No more plastic bags when buying meat. No more shampoo or shower gel bottles. No more cling film or tin foil. No more disposable nappies, and even, no more disposable sanitary towels (washable cloth options and moon cups are gaining attention).

Instead, a refill method where customers fill up their own containers with whatever they need and pay by weight.

So how is this done?

In 2016, French mother-of-two Bea Johnson published her revolutionary book Zero Waste Home showing how her family accrued as little as a one-litre-jar full of waste in one year.

Her modus operandi was, and is, to refuse, reuse, and recycle. Refuse junk mail and plastic spoons and forks in takeaways; reuse any containers or jars you already have; and recycle everything that can possibly be recycled.

Keep cups, stainless steel straws and lunch boxes, bamboo toothbrushes, homemade deodorants, homemade cleaning products (bread soda is a thing of many uses), and reusable sanitary pads and reusable nappies all are espoused.

Beeswax wraps which you use instead of cling film - we cannot keep them on the shelves. Theyre flying out the door, Finn explains.

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Dublin shops like the Small Changes Wholefoods store, Minimal Waste Grocery, and Cork shops like the Twig Refill station and Organico (which will open an isolated zero waste shop before Christmas), and farmers and country markets across the country, are a small example of zero-waste-friendly shops. Facebook groups like Zero Waste Ireland, Zero Waste Baby/Children Freecycle Ireland are forums where encouragement and support is offered to newcomers to the zero waste idea.

Timi Nicholson, a mother-of-two who lives in Dublin and runs the @Simple.NoWaste.Life Instagram page, says her family produces less than 200 grams of landfill-bound waste every month. They estimate theyve saved hundreds of euros just on bin charges alone. They no longer subscribe to a bin service.

It took us about nine months to be able to come down to a level where we decided to unsubscribe to the organised waste bin service.

We used to put out the bin once every two months. That wasnt that much anyway. But now we produce approximately 200 grams of landfill waste a month. On better months we do about 150 grams.

She added: We looked at our grocery shopping and decided that we were only going to buy loose vegetables. I was looking for where I could buy meat, fish and cheese without packaging. That was one of the biggest challenges. There were a few awkward moments.

I had to write to one of the big supermarkets saying that I would like to do this. And they said no, youre not bringing your own glass into our shop. I said I understand you think there is a health hazard, but Im willing to take the hazard, but they said no way'.

The local Polish shop would sell all the ham and cheese that we need, and I told the owner I want to save you money by not using any cling film and they were fine with that.

I went to a butcher and they didnt mind me bringing my own container, even though they looked at me [oddly] at the start, and now they say oh the green lady is here.

Olive Finn explains to her customers that they shouldn't expect to shop with the same speed if they're trying their hand at minimal or zero waste.

Its slow-motion shopping, thats what were telling people."

The first week we opened, people were saying what do I do? How do I do it? You can bring in your old shampoo bottles and refill it with non-chemical shampoo.

"You can come in here and get unbleached cotton bags called the Twig bags and fill those, so then theres no need to have to carry big jars full of lentils and nuts out of the shop.

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Jennie Jacques-De-Cisneros from Minimal Waste Grocery in St Anne's Park, Dublin tells Independent.ie: When we started last year, apart from zero-wasters as you might call them, people would ask oh whats this about? and wed say you just buy what you need and bring in your own containers, and theres no plastic. Their eyes would be glazing over thinking who is this hippy?, and theyd back away.

But she added: The change has been unbelievable. I really think that Blue Planet II has turned it around. People are really interested in reducing plastic. Now [the demand is] night and day. Its unreal.

Hannah Dare from Organico in Bantry is hoping to have her zero waste shop open by Christmas.

Im examining every single aspect of what we do. Its very challenging. Ive real admiration for people who can come in with a small bag and say this has been our waste for the last two months.

A lot of it is resisting buying things first of all. Were so programmed to just buy and not even think.

She added: The biggest challenge for me is parenting. Trying to minimise waste as a family, its just challenging. I used cloth nappies when my children were small.

The amount of waste you generate as a parent is quite shocking. I try to reuse bags and reuse paper bags by putting them back into the shopping bags again.

Were not buying any more shower gels in plastic bottles. Soap is absolutely fine. We have the shampoo bars, the next thing Id like to stock is really nice tasting [zero-waste-friendly] toothpaste.
Gardai have renewed their appeal for anyone with information about Giedre Raguckaite, the 29 year old woman who was last seen in Hoey's Lane on May 26, to get in touch with them.

Family and friends of Lithuanian national raised the alarm last month as she hasn't been heard from since June 6, and she has been reported as a missing person in both Lithuania and Ireland. She is described as being 5'5" in height with a slight build, and has blonde hair and green eyes.

An incident room has been set up in Dundalk Garda Station and a Garda spokesperson appealed for anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Diedre to contact them at 042 9388400.

A 29 year old man has been arrested and charged following a robbery at Cluan Enda Stores, St Alphonsus Road on Saturday.

The man entered the shop at 5.45pm and forced the shop assistant to hand over a small amount of cash. He fled on foot and was subsequently arrested by Gardai close by.

Gardai also arrested a 28 year old man who was standing in the middle of the road at Oldbridge, Toberona, waving two iron bars over his head. The incident happened last Tuesday, September 4 at 7pm.

A 16 year old youth who attempted to steal a bicycle from Halfords, Dundalk Retail Park, on Tuesday afternoon, was arrested.

Gardai are investigating two burglaries to houses at College Heights in the early hours of Saturday, September 8.

The occupants of a house discovered that a mobile phone, laptop and bicycle were stolen sometime between when they went to bed at 2am and 5.15am.

The occupant of a neighbouring house found a person in the sitting room around 5.15am. The person left when requested, taking with them a packet of cigarettes.

A 50" Hitachi television set was stolen during a break-in to a house at Glenwood on Saturday evening between 5pm and 9.30pm.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving during the past week. Two people were also found to be in possession of illegal drugs after they had been arrested and taken to Dundalk Garda Station. A 24 year old man from Newry was found to have cocaine with a street value of 40 on Thursday while a 27 year from Monaghan faces charges in relation to possession of cannabis and illegal tablets worth 110.
The Junior Cert results are pending. Secretly I'm not in the least bothered.

It's only the Junior Cert after all. Who ever asks 'what did you get in your Junior Cert?' Nobody.

Having said that, if he fails I'll kill him! He's warned me already that Irish is looking a bit dodgy but I'm remaining optimistic. No child of mine is going to fail Irish.

To celebrate the day that's in it the 16 year old has asked to go to a 'Results Ball' in a town 45 minutes away.

We all know 'Results Ball' is just code for a p*** up but I told him he could go on three conditions: he didn't get into any fights, he didn't do drugs and he was contactable by phone at all times.

Himself said I was mental letting him go and it took a substantial amount of not so gentle persuasion to get him on board.

'They'll all be drinking!' he admonished. Yes, I said, they probably will but I would hope we have instilled enough cop on in the young fella for him to know that if he comes home in The Horrors that will be the end of his social life until he's 18.

'I went to the cinema when I got my Inter results,' Himself tells the 16 year old proudly. Even I rolled my eyes at that. 'God you were a dry shite,' I tell him. 'Anyway that was 35 years ago, times have changed.'

'Why, what did you do?'

'Well I told my parents I was going to the cinema but really I was in a pub called Randalls drinking Ritz and shifting fellas.'

Himself jumps up and starts pacing the living room floor. 'Jesus Christ will you stop telling him stuff like that! He's going to think it's perfectly alright to...'

'To what? Drink Ritz and shift fellas?? Firstly I don't think they make Ritz anymore and secondly I don't think he's into fellas...You're not...are you?'

The 16 year old looks highly amused. 'No mam. I'm not gay.'

Thank God for that because I really don't think his father would cope. He's really looking forward to the day when his son brings home good looking girls and he can cast a gamey eye over them! If the child turned out to be gay that would spoil all his fun.

I can only hope in this case, the apple DOES fall very far from the tree and he doesn't become the terror of a teenager that I was when I was his age. Please God let him have inherited some of his father's common sense and squareness.

And if he does turn out to be a chip off the old block, I'll just have to suck it up and chalk it down to penance. But I really do hope what goes around doesn't come around.

Me nerves!
Home Instead Senior Care in Wexford is hosting a series of free Dementia Workshops during September, to mark World Alzheimer's Month.

An estimated 55,000 people in Ireland are currently living with some form of dementia, a figure which is expected to increase dramatically in the years ahead. The workshops will take place at Home Instead's Wexford office in Clonard Village with the aim of educating local families about the disease and sharing the organisation's expertise in the area.

'Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have become a critical issue for health care professionals in Wexford, not to mention the families and family carers who are affected', said Anne O'Brien, Operations Manager at Home Instead Senior Care Wexford.

'In hosting these workshops, we hope to ensure that local families have a greater understanding of the causes behind the disease, how it affects a patient and what can be done to provide the highest possible levels of care to those who suffer from it', said Anne.

'Many of the older people we care for have dementia, so we've witnessed at first-hand the distress and loss that older adults can face. Family members often play a large part in providing care for relatives with dementia and we want to support them in this crucial work by providing them with expert advice and tips on how to deal with the challenges they face', she said.

The next Home Instead workshop will take place today, Tuesday, September 11 from 6.30pm to 8pm, followed by another on Tuesday, September 18 from 7pm to 8.30pm and Wednesday, September from 8pm to 9.30 pm. Anyone in the community who has an interest in learning more about dementia can telephone 053 918 4042 to book a place. World Alzheimer's Month aims to raise awareness about dementia and to challenge the stigma surrounding it, as the number of people affected by the disease grows annually. world Alzheimer's Day is September 21.
Lidl New Ross store manager Edgar Shole, Rory Fanning and Paddy Butler in Lidl New Ross. Rory presented Paddy with a barbecue at the event

While based just outside Bunclody at Clohamon, Slaney Foods is a truly global operation. Providing quality Irish beef to nearly 25 countries worldwide, the company most recently signed a major deal to export to China, a market which in all likelihood will only grow in importance as they keep one eye on developments concerning Brexit.

'It's come along very nicely,' Managing Director Rory Fanning said of the China deal. 'It takes a little bit of time to get everything in place and deal with new specifications, but we've done a lot of work with the Department of Agriculture to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The other week we had our first three containers ship out to China and three more are planned for next week. It's part of our weekly production here now.'

'I do sense further growth in Asia as well,' he continued. 'While demand in Europe is stable at best, it's growing in the far east.

There's also wealth and perhaps a larger economic growth being seen there, which is required for a growth in the market. Despite Brexit though, Britain and Europe are our main markets.'

Brexit is a newly formed word which is uttered often at the Clohamon plant. Rory and his colleagues, like the rest of us, are left watching the news to see how the political situation surrounding Britain's exit from the EU plays out, however, it has more drastic implications for the company than most.

'Britain is our number one market,' he said. 'A hard Brexit could be a very bad thing for our business and the farmers who supply us. We need politicians on the British and European side to sit down and come up with a softer Brexit, but until the political scene sorts itself out, it's something that's very difficult to prepare for. It's a matter of watching the news and seeing what happens.'

At any given time, Slaney foods employs 400 to 450 staff and deals with around 3,000 suppliers and farmers of all sizes. There were huge concerns from both sides after Larry Goodman's ABP Foods took a 50% share in the company back in 2016, culminating in IFA organised protests at the plant. However, two years on, Rory is confident that fears from all parties have now been allayed.

'Business has continued very steadily, which from the point of view of the employees as well, I suppose is a good thing,' he said. 'The deal with ABP puts us within the top three producers in Europe. As well as that, ABP has brought a knowledge and a know-how which is a great help in terms of accessing new markets. It's a very good thing in terms of growth.'

While farmers' fears may have been allayed on this issue, the current fodder crisis is dominating their thoughts currently and concerns had been expressed over factories taking advantage of farmers looking to shift stock at the height of drought conditions.

'We would say we're working with the farmers and the important thing is making sure that the animals are finished to the best quality as always,' Rory said.

'There were three to four months there where the grass just didn't grow, which is bound to have had a huge impact. We're working with local suppliers to try and get the best return for them from the market. I think farmers are very resourceful and they will find light at the end of the tunnel.'

As a Wexford company, Slaney Foods was the ideal poster child for German supermarket giants Lidl's 'Lidl Loves Wexford' campaign.

The company's Hereford Beef range has not only captured the hearts of the Irish public, but has been a success for Lidl right across Europe.

'The thing about Lidl when they came in, is that they were so interested in Irish produce,' Rory explained. 'There is no doubt that Irish beef products are genuinely the best in the world and Lidl decided that the Hereford breed wasn't as well known.

'People were tending to go for the Angus steaks and that type of thing. So they decided to look at another option and Herefords have been a huge part of Irish cattle farming for centuries.

They came to us and within our 3,000 farmers we set up a supply chain, starting out at 50 cattle per week and building up to four or five times that.

'It's something which is predominantly Wexford and South East Farmers as well, so it really was a good fit for the Lidl Loves Wexford campaign.'

With Lidl being such an important customer, Rory was delighted to attend their customer appreciation night in New Ross last week where a top of the range Webber barbecue was handed over to one lucky customer as a prize.

As Slaney Foods' global expansion continues with gusto, the lucky winner is not the only one who is cooking with gas!
Speaking at a Wexford conference on drugs, the homelessness campaigner Fr. Peter McVerry called for the decriminalising of small quantities of drugs for personal use.

Addressing the theme of the conference which was hosted by the County Wexford Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Fr. McVerry of the Peter McVerry Trust which provides support services for homeless people in Dublin, said it is inevitable that there should be a link between drugs, crime and social exclusion.

He told the 120-strong attendance that he recently encountered a situation where a young man was arrested and brought to court for possessing 2 worth of cannabis. Apart from the fact that he now has a criminal conviction restricting his chances of working and travelling, this approach is a waste of police resources and state funding, he said.

Fr. McVerry said the decriminalising of small amounts of drugs for personal use would allow the Gardai to free up their time to go after more serious drug dealers.

Task Force chairman Declan McPartlin said that in the 15 years since the group was established, illegal drugs have become much more widely available in the county with a range of new types of drugs now easily available over the internet.

'Although we do have a strong national drugs strategy, we don't have the resources to adequately implement it', he said, calling on the government to allocate sufficient resources to tackle what has become a major problem in every town and village throughout County Wexford.

Tony Geoghegan of Merchants Quay Ireland said the traditional response to drug treatment in Ireland is based on a medical model with a supply of methadone to those addicted to heroin. However, he said that while methadone is very effective in tackling opiate addiction, it is not an appropriate or adequate response to tackling the new range of drugs that have become available such as Spice and stronger strains of cannabis.

Mr. Geoghegan said young people who get caught up with these types of drugs need the counselling, vocational skills training and group therapy programmes offered by services such as the Cornmarket Project in Wexford.

Speaking on behalf of Wexford Local Development, the conference sponsors, Brian Kehoe said those who become entrenched in substance misuse are much more than just a label, they are the sons and daughters of those who live and work in our communities and they deserve the support to be able to break away from destructive behaviour. Wexford Local Development offers supports in addition to the assistance offered by the Cornmarket Project which is an initiative of WLD, he said. Bred DeGaye, coordinator of a family support service in Wexford, said that often when a parent or other family member discovers drug use in the family there are feelings of shame which can lead to isolation and she urged anyone in this situation to contact the group for support.
The countdown is on to this year's Wexford Business Summit which takes place on October 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wexford County Council.

The event is taking an interactive approach this year that focuses simultaneously on helping to directly expand business opportunities and improve bottom line performance. The #WexBizSummit is sponsored by Zurich Insurance, in partnership with the Sunday Business Post, LEO Wexford, the EPA and Wexford County Council.

An panel of speakers will outline their experience of life in business.

Paddy Power will discuss '30 years of mischief, mistakes and things they don't teach you in marketing school'.

The Google Garage will help people to understand the secrets to engaging online advertising and analysing data, while food company Flahavan's will outline how being green gave them an edge.

The summit is expected to attract up to a thousand guests and showcase over 70 exhibition stands from a broad range of business sectors.

In addition to that, there will be opportunities to pitch your business idea to large multinational organisations in the Meet the Buyer corner; get investment through the Angel's Den; or take a stand for your business.

To book a stand contact Roisin on roisinoneill@wexfordchamber.ie or 053 91 22226.
One hundred pupils who attended Shanbough NS in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s attended a reunion at the Glen Bar in Glenmore and at the school.

Organised by Mag Helen O'Connor, the reunion began at Shanbough NS where principal Kate Foran O'Keeffe welcomed everyone and showed them rollbooks going back to the early 1900s. The small school had classes with only two or three pupils, but this led to close bonds developing between classmates which have lasted the test of time and at the reunion old friendships were rekindled in the classrooms they shared four decades or more ago.

Having enjoyed stepping back in time the large group travelled the short distance to the Glen Bar where they caught up over drinks in the function room.

They enjoyed looking back through old photographs and meeting up with friends, many of whom they hadn't seen since school.

Mag said: 'The school only had 23 pupils when I was there and the biggest class had five pupils. Some of us met up at a tractor run for our dear former classmate Brian Fortune over the summer and we were saying we hadn't seen so and so for such a long time.'

People travelled from as far away as Limerick and Dublin to attend the event which was an emotional occasion for some.

'It was emotional. We shared some wonderful stories from our school days and old photos and the photos are still coming in to a WhatsApp group.'

Photos of groups of pupils like Mairead Lee Barry, Mike Waters and Mag Helen from their Communion and Confirmations were recreated, updated by a few decades but unchanged in many ways.

'Another reunion is planned. It was such a lovely evening,' Mag said.
Cold Feet returned in 2016 and a new series will air this year.

James Nesbitt poses in the winners room at the 61st BFI London Film Festival Awards on October 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI)

James Nesbitt arrives for GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 at Tate Modern on September 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

James Nesbitt poses at the Irish Arts Center Gala at The New York Athletic Club October 4, 2002 in New York City, New York. Nesbitt's movie, "Bloody Sunday" opens tomorrow. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

James Nesbitt poses at the Irish Arts Center Gala at The New York Athletic Club October 4, 2002 in New York City, New York. Nesbitt's movie, "Bloody Sunday" opens tomorrow. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

James Nesbitt takes part on the first day of the Northern Rock All Star Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort on August 26, 2006 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

James Nesbitt in 2002, left, and in 2017, after his second hair transplant, right

He's in the business where looks are as important as talent and actor James Nesbitt is more than happy to attribute some of his success to his hair transplants.

The 53-year-old has been vocal about how he underwent several procedures on his scalp in recent years to battle signs of baldness. And while many of his on-screen colleagues discreetly go under the knife to enhance their appearance, Nesbitt told Independent.ie that one of the best things he ever did was help break the stigma for men like him.

Some men it doesnt bother, but there are men that it does and its a difficult stage to go through. Im married to my own vanity and I just didn't fancy going bald.

I made the decision to talk about it because there are an awful lot of actors who dont talk about it, which I thought was just absurd. I just thought, Look, if Im going to be bald one day and then have hair the next, people will know it doesnt just come from eating carrots.

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It was great, and I think the fact that I did talk about it helped with the taboo and by being open it has taken away the stigma attached it.

I dont think [hair transplant] harmed my career  and I dont want to give the impression that you cant work by being bald. I just felt this was an option and Im lucky I did.

Nesbitts smash hit crime drama Lucky Man is enjoying a third season on Sky 1 and the Antrim man recently finished filming another series of TV hit Cold Feet.

The Ballymena-born star this week joins fellow A-listers Saoirse Ronan and Ronan Keating to launch World Barber Day, taking place on Sunday, September 16, in aid of UNICEF.

The initiative is the brainchild of Conor and Hugh McAllister, co-owners of the well-known UK and Ireland barber chain, The Grafton Barber.

When Conor was setting up Grafton Barber he did assistant hair work on films, so we met on Bloody Sunday and just became firm friends, Nesbitt said. "He was always a larger than life character but interested in giving something back.

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The BAFTA nominee, whose high-ranking credits also include The Hobbit and Cold Feet, will be heading along to his local barbershop in Peckham, South-East London to get behind the cause.

Barbershops are very much part of the community. The idea that theres a common language spoken in different counties in barbershops, we felt we could do something on a global stage to help.

Nesbitt is currently enjoying a well-earned break from the cameras, his first extended holiday in 30 years.

Im doing a musical next March called This is My Family and then Ill probably be filming for the rest of the year, so Im going to spend as much time with my daughters and at my house in Portrush, he said.

Although his glittering career sees him travel the world over, Nesbitt is as keen as ever to do more at home.

Northern Ireland has been so good to me and Im so incredibly proud to come from there. Theres more to be written about the past, present and possibly future of Northern Ireland, and I really want to be part of that because its important to me that my art reflects where I come from.

Also, its always a bit of craic working at home.

To make a donation please go to www.worldbarberday.com, or visit a participating barbershop.
Pictures revealing part of a community which was flooded to create a reservoir have been captured from the air.

The images capture part of history which is usually submerged and were taken by a Garda Air Support Unit during a routine patrol.

But the pictures are anything but routine.

Old farm machinery and the stone ruins of a homestead can now be seen as water levels have dropped at the man-made lake in Wicklow, Ireland.

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What would have been high ground before the area was flooded to create a reservoir in the 1930s now appears as an island surrounded by tree stumps and sandy mounds.

The layout of the homestead is still visible in the pictures.

Online, people were fascinated to see the images of Blessington Lakes, also known as Poulaphuca Reservoir, and expressed amazement that grass was starting to grow on the uncovered land once again.

One of the most captivating images shows the rusted remains of farm machinery.

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The pictures were taken on September 13 and shared on social media the following day by An Garda Siochana.

Blessington Lakes were created in the late 1930s as the new Irish Government looked to improve infrastructure and create a reservoir to supply Dublin.

The move was not without controversy at the time as communities were uprooted and not all farmers in the area were fully reimbursed for the loss of land.

While patrolling the Wicklow division The Garda Air Support Unit noticed the ruins of a homestead and a piece of farm machinery (mowing bar) on a raised piece of land which had previously been submerges in the lakes. pic.twitter.com/JIco4vlgit  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) September 14, 2018

Tom Bowen, who runs the website Beneath The Poulaphuca Reservoir about the lakes history and who lives nearby, is pleased that the recent pictures have created a buzz online.

Its just a reminder of what it is  that theres a history below that lake, he told the Press Association.

I do agree we needed to create it (the reservoir) but that it had consequences.

As the generations roll on its accepted as a lake.

Previous low water levels have revealed the stumps of what would have been a tree-lined road.

Bowen added: I can see the lake and the beaches and islands that are beginning to appear. Ive seen it lower than this but its not expected to (return) because of the lack of rainfall.

Irish Water describes 2018 as seeing unprecedented dry spells which has led to drought conditions.

A Water Conservation Order  a hosepipe ban  remains in place until September 30 to safeguard water supplies.
Military service is compulsory for men in South Korea. Photo: Reuters

A dozen South Korean music students have been accused of conspiring to gain weight to avoid compulsory military service.

The authorities said the students discussed on a messaging app how to rapidly bulk up as a way of failing the army's medical examination.

According to 'The Korea Herald', they ate high-calorie foods such as pizza and hamburgers five times a day, with one gaining 30kg in just six months.

The men, all vocalists who attended the same college, also reportedly debated eating "high-calorie protein shakes, supplements and drinking a lot of aloe juice to retain water weight".

Some suggested acting "crazy" on purpose.

All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 35 must serve for at least 21 months in the army.
Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is seen during a meeting with Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace during the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi, Vietnam September 13, 2018, REUTERS/Kha

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's civilian leader, yesterday strongly defended a court decision to jail two Reuters reporters who were arrested while investigating alleged war crimes against Rohingya Muslims.

In her first public comments on a case viewed as a new low for press freedom in Myanmar, the Nobel Peace laureate denied the seven-year sentence imposed on Wa Lone (32) and Kyaw Soe Oo (28) had anything to do with freedom of expression.

"They were not jailed because they were journalists, they were jailed because...the court has decided that they have broken the Official Secrets Act," she said.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in December while reporting on the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in the village of Inn Din, Rakhine state, last September.

Seven Myanmarese soldiers have since been sentenced to 10 years of hard labour for their role in the crime.

The subsequent jailing of the reporters has been widely condemned by international leaders. Reuters has maintained the two men were framed on "false charges" intended to "silence their reporting and intimidate the press".

But Ms Suu Kyi argued that the court's judgment was based on the rule of law.

"They have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgment was wrong," she said.

"The case has been held in open court, if anybody feels there has been a miscarriage of justice I would like them to point it out."

Mike Pence, the US vice-president, also called for their release, tweeting that they should "be commended - not imprisoned - for their work exposing human rights violations & mass killings".

Human Rights Watch said that Ms Suu Kyi failed to understand the real meaning of the rule of law.

More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled western Rakhine state after government troops led a brutal crackdown last autumn.

An independent UN investigation has since called for the country's most senior military generals to be prosecuted for genocide and war crimes.
Firefighters battle a house fire in North Andover, one of multiple emergency crews responding to a series of gas explosions (Mary Schwalm/AP)

A series of gas explosions an official described as Armageddon has killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

It looked like Armageddon, it really did, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters.

There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

Expand Close Flames consume a home in Lawrence, a suburb of Boston (WCVB via AP) / Facebook

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Governor Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

This is still very much an active scene, he said.

If you have natural gas please do not return to your home. We are working with Columbia Gas to identify the specific areas at risk so that other residents can return home  Andrew W Maylor (@AWMaylor) September 14, 2018

There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why.

Hours after the explosions, the utilitys parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by todays incident, Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement.

The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community.

ADVISORY

Power company will be shutting OFF power to all of #Lawrence, #NorthAndover, and #Andover to assist in the #Gas situation.  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Mr Baker previously said authorities had not heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the companys response adequate.

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires.

Schools in all three communities were cancelled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighbourhood near the citys high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights.

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Whatsapp People cover their faces to protect themselves from heavy smoke from a fire in Lawrence (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP)

Mr Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was levelled from an explosion.

I couldnt imagine if that was my house, said Mr Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. Its total destruction. Id be completely devastated.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighbourhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing.

Resident Ra Nam said he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4.30pm local time on Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out.

Minutes later, Mr Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbours house and the ground shook.

Mr Nam said a woman and two children had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

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Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurised but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier on Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighbourhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened.

It was not clear whether work was happening there on Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames.

In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighbourhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

Its definitely a scary situation at the moment, he said. Its pretty severe.

MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed a vehicle parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councillor Marc Laplante was warning residents in the Colonial Heights neighbourhood to evacuate but said traffic had become a problem.

People need to get out of this area safely, he said at the time. Its really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires you cant even see the sky.

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border.

Lawrence is a very resilient community. Were going to get through this together, Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.
A headmistress has been given a community order after she was found with indecent selfies sent by a teenage girl.

Rhian Desouza, 43, received two pictures from the girl who had sent them over the social media app Snapchat.

A court heard on Friday while it would have been lawful for the pair to have been in a sexual relationship, it was a criminal offence for an adult to possess and indecent images of a person aged below 18.

Desouza was headteacher at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Gellionnen primary school in Swansea when she began the relationship with the teen, who had not been a pupil of hers.

Prosecutor Carina Hughes told Swansea Crown Court the girl's mother found text messages on her daughter's phone between her and Desouza and alerted police.

Desouza was arrested and officers seized her Samsung smartphone, where they managed to retrieve two revealing photos of the girl sent between May and June this year.

The photos were only found using specialist software as they had been deleted from the phone, either automatically or by Desouza herself.

Miss Hughes said: "They appeared to be selfie images, possibly sent over the Snapchat app."

Desouza, a mother-of-two, answered no comment in her interview but later pleaded guilty to two counts of making an indecent image of a child under 18.

The teenage victim's mother told the court in a statement her daughter was now a "shadow of her former self" after the police involvement.

The mother said: "She (Desouza) prioritised her own sexual gratification over the needs of our daughter.

"If you cannot trust a teacher, then who can you trust?"

Georgina Buckley, defending, said Desouza had lost "not only her profession but her vocation" after being told she would not be able to work with children again.

Judge Paul Thomas QC described the case as "unique" and "unusual".

The judge said: "The girl was not under the age of consent.

"However this is not a court of morals, but a court of law."

Desouza, from Five Roads, Llanelli, West Wales, was sentenced to a two-year community order.

She was made to sign the sex offenders' register for five years, and given a sexual harm prevention order which bans her from using social media under another name.
A no-deal exit from the European Union would deliver a "hammer blow" to the British economy, the head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned.

The business body's director general Carolyn Fairbairn said the country should get behind Prime Minister Theresa May's Chequers proposals as a blueprint for a Brexit deal.

She warned against "throwing everything up in the air" by tearing up Chequers and seeking an alternative solution at this late stage in negotiations, with fewer than 200 days to go to the scheduled date of Brexit in March 2019.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Fairbairn said; "I'm afraid that this is happening in the here and now, so the urgency of stepping back from the cliff-edge is growing daily.

"The hammer blow to our economy would be enormous and I think many smaller businesses can't properly prepare and that just doubles the potential impact if we go over that cliff.

"We have to have a deal."

In an apparent rebuff to Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab's claim that firms such as John Lewis have been using EU withdrawal as an excuse for poor performance, Ms Fairbairn told Today: "They have not.

"They have actually been getting on with things and what we need now more than anything else is confidence from our politicians in business. The world is watching, and we need that confidence to come from politicians on all sides."

Ms Fairbairn said Thursday's documents setting out Government preparations for a no-deal Brexit made "tough reading" for businesses, who were faced with the prospect of additional bureaucracy and barriers to trade.

"What they show more than anything else is the sledgehammer that would hit our economy if we went over that cliff," she said.

She called for more help for smaller businesses, who were "really struggling" to get ready for Brexit.

But she said: "The real focus has to be unlocking the withdrawal agreement, getting transition, pulling back from the cliff-edge. That is the only route forward.

"Businesses also think we should be getting behind the Chequers proposals because that is a way through this."

Ms Fairbairn said: "The thing I think we can hang on to now is that we have the beginnings of a framework for a plan. The withdrawal agreement is 80% there - we now need all diplomacy to focus on the Northern Ireland border.

"The Chequers proposal has much of what our economy needs. It delivers frictionless trade - that is vital.

"We have the beginnings of a blueprint. Let's work with that

"The idea of having 1,000 different myriad options, throwing everything up in the air would be another hammer blow to the economy. Let's work with what we have."

Ms Fairbairn said the UK and EU had a mutual interest in avoiding a no-deal scenario, which could cost Europe as many as 1.2 million jobs.

"I think that what we are hearing from the European Commission and from (EU chief negotiator) Michel Barnier is a welcome for the Chequers proposals," she said. "They want to build on it."
Hurricane Florence has killed a mother and child in North Carolina.

The Wilmington Police Department said the two were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to a hospital for treatment.

North Carolinas governors office said a third person was killed while plugging in a generator.

Expand Close The hurricane has torn buildings apart and hundreds have been trapped by rising water (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) / Facebook

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The hurricane came ashore early on Friday, pounding the state with torrential rain and high winds.

Forecasters have been predicting catastrophic flash flooding. The National Hurricane Centre in Miami says more than 16 inches of rain have fallen at locations in southeast North Carolina and another 20 to 25 inches is on the way.

The hurricane has torn buildings apart and knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. #FlorenceNC  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 14, 2018

More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel and hundreds more were rescued elsewhere from rising water.

WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, the city of New Bern tweeted around 2am local time. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.

Please share this safety info for #Florence:

If trapped in a building, go to the highest floor.

Do not climb into a closed attic; you may get trapped by rising floodwater.

Get on the roof only if necessary.



Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. pic.twitter.com/Hna2aGpmMP  FEMA (@fema) September 14, 2018

The giant, 400-mile-wide hurricane unloaded heavy rain, flattened trees, chewed up roads and knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

Forecasters say the biggest danger is the water as the storm surge along the coastline and the prospect of one to three-and-a-half feet of rain over the coming days could trigger catastrophic flooding inland.

Some of our beloved bears have wandered off. These statues, which New Bern is known for, are extremely heavy & bolted down at sponsoring businesses. This one ended up in the middle of S. Front St! pic.twitter.com/jvCohJiesY  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 14, 2018

By early afternoon, Florences winds had weakened to 75mph, just barely a hurricane and well below the storms terrifying Category 4 peak of 140 mph earlier in the week.

But the hurricane had slowed to a crawl as it traced the North Carolina-South Carolina shoreline, drenching coastal communities for hours on end.

The town of Oriental had taken more than 18 inches of rain just a few hours into the deluge, while Surf City had 14 inches and it was still coming down.

Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper said. Its an uninvited brute who doesnt want to leave.

This storm is going to continue its violent grind across our state for days. Be alert. To those in the storm path, if you can hear me  please stay sheltered in place. Do NOT go out into this storm. - Gov. Cooper. pic.twitter.com/YEWgyCIJit  Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 14, 2018

Mr Cooper said the hurricane was wreaking havoc on the coast and could wipe out entire communities as it makes its violent grind across our state for days. He said parts of North Carolina had seen storm surges  the bulge of seawater pushed ashore by the hurricane  as high as 10 feet.

Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7.15am at Wrightsville Beach, a few miles east of Wilmington and not far from the South Carolina line, coming ashore along a mostly boarded-up, emptied-out stretch of coastline.

Expand Close There was extensive damage to Tidewater Brewing Company in Wilmington (Chuck Burton/AP) / Facebook

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It was expected to begin pushing its way westward across South Carolina later in the day, in a watery siege that could go on all weekend.

For people living inland in the Carolinas, the moment of maximum peril from flash flooding could arrive days later, because it takes time for rainwater to drain into rivers and for those streams to crest.

Expand Close A boat was wedged in trees during Hurricane Florence in Orienta (Angie Propst.AP) / Facebook

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Preparing for the worst, about 9,700 National Guard troops and civilians were deployed with high-water vehicles, helicopters and boats that could be used to pluck people from the floodwaters.

Authorities warned, too, of the threat of mudslides and the risk of environmental havoc from floodwaters washing over industrial waste sites and hog farms.
Shares in banking group Investec surged as its board announced plans to spin off its asset management division.

The South African group expects the separated Investec Asset Management (IAM) business to be listed on the London Stock Exchange within the next 12 months.

It expects the move to simplify the companys structure, while focusing IAM and the remaining group on their respective growth plans.

As an independently listed company, IAM will be better positioned to accelerate its growth and have an enhanced ability to attract and retain investment talent, the group said.

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It follows a strategic review of the group, having recently divested some of its non-core businesses, expanded its wealth management platforms and simplified its banking business.

The news sent the firms shares up 10% in morning trading, pushing it to the top of the FTSE 250.

Investec Asset Management has around 109 billion in third-party assets under management, and serves global clients from offices in the likes of London, Cape Town, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and Luxembourg.

The spin-off would mean the remaining group would be made up of Investecs specialist bank and wealth manager.

The strategy going forward is to drive improved returns through growing market share in its niche businesses, enhancing its digitalisation offering, attracting discretionary funds under management, implementing cost efficiency initiatives and driving further collaboration between the Specialist Banking and Wealth and Investment businesses, Investec said.

The remaining group is well positioned to deliver on these objectives and increase its return to shareholders over the medium term.

Hendrik du Toit, who will become joint chief executive of the group with Fani Titi on October 1, will lead the spun-off Investec Asset Management business.

The separation of IAM is still subject to approval by regulators and shareholders, but is expected to be completed within the next year.

IAM management is expected to retain its stake in the company, while the remaining group will keep a minority holding.

Mr Titi and Mr du Toit said: We are confident that the proposed demerger and listing of IAM provides the simplicity of structure and focus to enhance the long-term prospects of IAM and the remaining group for the benefit of our shareholders, clients and employees.

Investec has a heritage and culture of which we are proud, shaped by the dedication and commitment of our employees and the support of our clients.

We look forward to working closely as joint group CEOs during this phase of our evolution and to implement this transaction which we expect will create significant shareholder value over time.
Paul Guadalupe Gonzales, from Los Angeles, faces 10 counts of extortion, fraud, and petty theft against at least 10 women over the past two years.

A "dine-and-dash" dater is facing years in prison for allegedly forcing a string of first dates to pay for their expensive meals by sneaking out of upscale restaurants after he had finished eating.

Paul Guadalupe Gonzales, from Los Angeles, faces 10 counts of extortion, fraud, and petty theft against at least 10 women over the past two years. The 45-year-old would reportedly chat to women online, offering to take them to restaurants across the city, before vanishing without a word after dining.

Appearing in court in Pasadena for his preliminary hearing, Mr Gonzales listened as women testified about their experiences dating him.

Martha Barba said she met him for a meal at an upscale eatery called Houston's.

"I didn't want to go. He didn't look like his pictures. I wasn't attracted to him," she told the 'NY Daily News'.

"He kept saying, 'I got you. Order whatever you want. It's on me. Don't worry about it'," Ms Barba said. "He ordered steak, wine, salad, just whatever you could order."

At one point, Mr Gonzales stood up to take a call and suggested she order dessert while he stepped away to talk, she added. He allegedly never came back, forcing Ms Barba to pay the $120 (100) bill.

According to police, Mr Gonzales ordered expensive wines, steaks, lobster and desserts during more than a dozen dates in which he ran away without paying. He apparently did little to cover his tracks. Mr Gonzales has pleaded not guilty, but if convicted could face up to 16 years in jail.
Hurricane Florence already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

Hurricane Florence has hit the US coast leaving streets inundated with ocean water and tens of thousands of homes without power.

The centre of the hurricane made landfall near Wrightsville, North Carolina, bringing with it life-threatening storm surges and 90mph winds.

The hurricane is now located almost 105km southwest of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

The National Hurricane Centre warned there would be "catastrophic" fresh water flooding over a wide area of the Carolinas.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A man rides his bike around the waterfront docks before Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Washington, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Tree leaves and branches are seen on the street as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz People sit at a bar and drink during a "Hurricane Party" as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri Water from Neuse River starts flooding houses as the Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz People walk on a local street as water from Neuse River starts flooding houses upon Hurricane Florence coming ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz The Bank of America is seen covered in plywood as the Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz A man drives his vehicle around the Union Point Park Complex through floodwaters as the Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Waves from Hurricane Florence pound the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland) Docks broken by water from Neuse River are seen floating as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz A work truck drives on Hwy 24 as the wind from Hurricane Florence blows palm trees in Swansboro N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland) The Bank of America is seen covered in plywood as the Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz A member of the U.S. Army walks through floodwaters near the Union Point Park Complex as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in New Bern, North Carolina, U.S., September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz A firefighter tapes off a street due to a downed power line as Hurricane Florence comes ashore in Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri Waves from Hurricane Florence pound the Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland) Police officers have the road leading to Emerald Isle blocked off to traffic as Hurricane Florence starts to hit Emerald Isle N.C., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom Copeland) / Facebook

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More than 60 people had to be evacuated from a motel at risk of collapse in Jacksonville. Parts of buildings ripped apart by the storm flew through the air.

Authorities in the North Carolina city of New Bern said there are around 150 people waiting to be rescued from rising flood waters.

The US National Hurricane Centre said that a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, recently reported 6.3ft of inundation. Emerald Isle is about 84 miles north of Wilmington.

Screaming winds bent trees and led to near-horizontal rain as Florence's leading edge whipped the Carolina coast to begin an onslaught that could last for days, leaving a wide area underwater from both heavy downpours and rising seas.

The storm's intensity diminished as it neared land, with winds dropping to around 90mph.

Governor Roy Cooper has warned of an impending disaster.

He said: "The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come.

"Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience."

Mr Cooper requested additional federal disaster assistance in anticipation of what his office called "historic major damage" across the state.

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm began buffeting the coast, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts are less dire.

Prisoners were affected, too. North Carolina corrections officials said more than 3,000 people were relocated from adult prisons and juvenile centres in the path of Florence, and more than 300 county prisoners were transferred to state facilities.

Officials said some 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it is unclear how many did.

The homes of about 10 million are under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Forecasters said conditions will deteriorate as the storm pushes ashore near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and makes its way slowly inland.

Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11ft of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3ft of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Although it was once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140mph, the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday night.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause enormous damage similar to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses.
An X-ray of his skull showing the skewers path through his head. Photos: Shannon Miller and Medical news network / AFP

A 10-year-old American boy is recovering after he was attacked by insects and tumbled from a tree, landing on a meat skewer that penetrated his skull from his face to the back of his head.

But miraculously, that's where Xavier Cunningham's bad luck ended. The skewer missed Xavier's eye, brain, spinal cord and major blood vessels, 'The Kansas City Star' reported.

Xavier's harrowing experience began on Saturday when yellow jacket wasps attacked him in a tree house at his home in Harrisonville, near Kansas City. He fell to the ground and started to scream.

His mother, Gabrielle Miller, ran to help him. His skull was pierced from front to back with half a foot of skewer still sticking out of his face.

Ms Miller tried to reassure her son, who told her "I'm dying, mom" as they rushed to the hospital. He was later transferred to the University of Kansas Hospital, where endovascular neurosurgery director Koji Ebersole evaluated the wound.

Expand Close An X-ray of his skull showing the skewers path through his head. Photos: Shannon Miller and Medical news network / AFP / Facebook

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Whatsapp An X-ray of his skull showing the skewers path through his head. Photos: Shannon Miller and Medical news network / AFP

"You couldn't draw it up any better," he said. "It was one in a million for it to pass five or six inches through the front of the face to the back and not have hit these things."

There was no active bleeding, allowing for a removal surgery on Sunday which was complicated by the fact the skewer wasn't round; it was square, with sharp edges, and twisting it could cause severe injury.

Doctors think Xavier will recover completely.
Eye of the storm: An image taken from aboard the International Space Station shows Hurricane Florence approaching the east coast of the US States. Photo: Getty Images

US President Donald Trump has rejected an official conclusion that around 3,000 people died due to the devastating hurricane that hit Puerto Rico a year ago.

Mr Trump said yesterday the death toll had only been 18 when he visited the US territory shortly after the storm, and claimed the higher figure had been inflated by the Democrats to "make him look bad".

He made his comments on Twitter as a large swathe of America's east coast was expected to be battered by Hurricane Florence today.

Brock Long, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned that Florence could "kill a lot of people".

Florence was to be the first major test of FEMA since its response to the Puerto Rico disaster, which was widely criticised. In the year since Hurricane Maria devastated the island, the Puerto Rican government's official death toll has risen several times.

Last month, it was placed at 2,975 after the government commissioned an independent study by public health experts at George Washington University. The study concluded the number of people who died in the months that followed the storm, because of its effects, had been underestimated.

But Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: "3,000 people did not die in the hurricane that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from six to 18 deaths.

"As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..." He added: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising billions of dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico."

Mr Trump said people who died for any reason - "like old age" - had been added to the total. Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Democrat mayor of San Juan in Puerto Rico, called Mr Trump "delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality". In Washington, senior Republicans distanced themselves from the president's remarks.

Paul Ryan, the Republican house speaker, said he had "no reason to dispute" the death toll of 3,000. He added: "Casualties don't make a person look bad. It was a horrible storm."

Ahead of Florence striking the US east coast, Mr Trump spoke with political leaders in the Carolinas and offered "whatever is needed," Sarah Sanders, the White House spokesman, said. Last night, winds from Florence began lashing coastal areas in the two states. The eye of the storm was expected to come ashore near Wilmington, North Carolina, where businesses were boarded up and streets deserted.

Tens of thousands of buildings were expected to be flooded, with up to 40 inches of rain in places, causing billions of dollars in damage.

Around 1.7 million people had been ordered to evacuate, airlines cancelled more than 1,000 flights to the area, and up to three million homes and businesses were expected to lose power.

"Get out of its way, don't play games with it, it's a big one, maybe as big as they've seen," Mr Trump said. "We'll handle it. We're ready, we're able. Protection of life is the absolute highest priority."

Florence is forecast to dump up to a metre of rain in some areas after it makes landfall in North and South Carolina.

"This rainfall would produce catastrophic flash flooding and significant river flooding," the NHC said.

Life-threatening storm surges rising up to four metres high were also being forecast in some areas along the coast, as well as the possibility of tornadoes in North Carolina.

"This is going to be a Mike Tyson punch to the Carolina coast," said Jeff Byard, an associate administrator at FEMA. "This is not going to be a glancing blow," he added, warning of power outages, road closures, infrastructure damage and potential loss of life. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, takes part in a panel discussion about investing in Detroit at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

The United States' elected leader and its most powerful banker are fighting over who is smarter. Really.

President Donald Trump yesterday scoffed at JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon's claim that he could "beat" Trump and is just as tough and smarter than the president.

"The problem with banker Jamie Dimon running for President is that he doesn't have the aptitude or 'smarts' & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess - otherwise he is wonderful," Mr Trump tweeted. "I've made a lot of bankers and others look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy."

He appeared to be responding to Mr Dimon's remarks in which he told reporters at JPMorgan headquarters in New York that "I think I could beat Trump".

"Because I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is. I would be fine," Mr Dimon said. "He could punch me all he wants, it wouldn't work with me. I'd fight right back."

Mr Dimon also suggested his wealth was earned, and not given to him by his father - another jab at Trump, whose father Fred gave him $1m in financing, millions drawn against his future inheritance and a share of his real estate holdings.

Mr Dimon quickly clarified that he is not running for president and should not have made the remarks.

The pair have a mixed relationship. The banking executive fully supported Mr Trump's corporate tax cuts that passed late last year, but has expressed frustration with the White House's positions on immigration and trade.

Mr Dimon (62) is chairman of the Business Roundtable, a powerful lobbying group representing CEOs of the US's largest corporations and often seen as a voice for American business.

Mr Trump often brags about his academic pedigree. He went to Fordham University and has an undergraduate degree from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school.

"I'm like a really smart person," he has said, and tweeted in 2013: "Sorry losers and haters, my IQ is one of the highest - and you all know it! Please don't feel so stupid or insecure, it's not your fault."

Mr Dimon has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Meanwhile, former US president Jimmy Carter yesterday said he saw little hope of the US changing its human rights and environmental policies as long as Mr Trump is in the White House - but warned fellow Democrats looking to oust the current administration: Don't go too far to the left.

"Independents need to know they can invest their vote in the Democratic Party," Mr Carter said in his annual report at his post-presidential centre in Atlanta, where he offered caution about the political consequences should Democrats "move to a very liberal programme, like universal health care".

That is delicate - and, Mr Carter admitted, even contradictory - advice from the 93-year-old, and underscores the complicated political calculations for Democrats as they prepare for the November mid-terms and look ahead to the 2020 presidential election.

"Rosie and I voted for Bernie Sanders in the past," Carter said, referring to wife Rosalynn and their support for the Vermont senator, an independent who identifies as a democratic socialist, over establishment favourite Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary.

He also pointed to California's environmental policies as the model for combating climate change.

Still, Mr Carter stressed, Democrats nationally must "appeal to independents" who are souring on the current administration. Mr Trump's job approval rating, according to Gallup, has dipped to 40pc, mostly because of declining support among independents.

Mr Carter alluded to arguments from self-identified progressives that Democrats will sacrifice votes on the left if they don't embrace the liberal base: "I don't think any Democrat is going to vote against a Democratic nominee," he said, and insisted he's not asking the left to sacrifice its goals, only to see that winning elections is necessary to accomplish any of them.
Pope Francis waves at the public as he arrives to lead his weekly general audience at the Saint Peter's square, in Vatican, on September 12, 2018. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis yesterday accepted the resignation of an American bishop, Michael Bransfield, and at the same time authorised a fellow bishop to investigate allegations Bransfield sexually harassed adults, Vatican officials have said.

The development, announc- ed just as a highly anticipated meeting between Francis and US cardinals and bishops was beginning, lent a dramatic twist to the emergency gathering, called to address another scandal involving an ex-US cardinal.

Bransfield had been implicated in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia sex abuse case, but he denied ever abusing anyone and claimed vindication years ago. He continued with his ministry until he offered to retire, as required, when he turned 75 last week.

The Vatican said Francis accepted his resignation yesterday, announcing the decision at the exact moment the US delegation was arriving at the Apostolic Palace for the meeting.

Francis appointed Baltimore Bishop William Lori to take over Bransfield's diocese in West Virginia temporarily. Lori said Francis had also instructed him to "conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bishop Bransfield".

The revelation was the latest development in a sequence of events in the US that began with the June announcement that one of the most senior US cardinals, Theodore McCarrick, had been accused of groping a teenage altar boy in the 1970s. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after an investigation found the allegation credible.

Fraud inquiry into Sistine Chapel choir

Pope Francis has launched an investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving the 550-year-old Sistine Chapel Choir.

Two directors of the choir are accused of using proceeds from concerts for their own personal ends, according to media reports.

No further details of the alleged misuse of funds were released, but the Holy See said the inquiry by Vatican magistrates has been ongoing for some months.

Choristers sing at all papal Masses and also travel the world performing concerts.
The Kremlin has said it will consider any request by Britain to question the two suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The UK has accused the two Russian men, who appeared on Russian television on Thursday, of the attempted murder of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any request from London to interview them would be considered in "strict accordance with the law" but so far the British had rejected any offer to co-operate in the investigation, the Tass news agency reported.

"Only this week, we heard an official statement from London, which said that they did not plan to employ the legal assistance mechanism and send any requests to Russia.

"It is London's official stance and we regret to say that it is impossible to make any assumptions, unfortunately," Mr Peskov said.

"In case we receive an official request from London, it will definitely be considered in strict accordance with the law, there is no doubt about that."

Expand Close Attack: The suspects, believed to be travelling as Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov. Photo credit: Metropolitan Police/PA Wir / Facebook

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Whatsapp Attack: The suspects, believed to be travelling as Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov. Photo credit: Metropolitan Police/PA Wir

In their RT television interview, the two men, who gave their names as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, said they had visited Salisbury as tourists and had nothing to do with the attack on the Skripals.

Their claims were dismissed by Downing Street as "lies and blatant fabrications".

Britain has said the two men are officers in Russian military intelligence - the GRU - who travelled to the UK under false names.

Ministers have made clear they have little expectation of being able to extradite them from Russia to stand trial in the UK.

However the Government has warned that if they ever leave the country again they will be arrested and brought to Britain to face justice.

"They are wanted men and we have taken steps to ensure that they are apprehended and brought to justice in the UK if they ever again set foot outside Russia," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Thursday.

The two men were widely ridiculed after they claimed they had been to Salisbury to visit the city's cathedral, "famous for its 123-metre spire".

They said they had cut short their visit and returned home early without visiting Stonehenge because of the snow.
Mr Trump spoke of a conspiracy to make him look bad (AP)

US president Donald Trump has disputed the official death toll from Hurricane Maria last year, and falsely accused Democrats of inflating the Puerto Rican count to make him look as bad as possible.

Public health experts have estimated that nearly 3,000 people died because of the effects of Maria. But Mr Trump, whose efforts to help the island territory recover have been persistently criticised, said just six to 18 people had been reported dead when he visited two weeks after the storm.

He also suggested that many had been added later if a person died for any reason, like old age.

Mr Trumps comments come as the US east coast braces for another massive storm in Hurricane Florence.

He said of the Puerto Rico death toll: This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico.

Even some Republicans suggested the president had gone too far.

Expand Close People are still living in damaged homes in the Viequez area, of San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp People are still living in damaged homes in the Viequez area, of San Juan, Puerto Rico (AP)

Casualties dont make a person look bad, House Speaker Paul Ryan said. So I have no reason to dispute those numbers.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said: I dont think its bad to say we could have done better in Puerto Rico.

He also said he thought Mr Trump sees every attack on him as sort of undercutting his legitimacy.

Especially upset were Republican politicians in Florida, a state with a substantial Puerto Rican population.

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Governor Rick Scott, who is running for the US senate, tweeted: Ive been to Puerto Rico 7 times & saw devastation firsthand. The loss of any life is tragic.

A spokesman for former US representative Ron DeSantis, who won the Florida Republican primary for governor with Mr Trumps support, said he did not agree with the presidents tweets.

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The White House defended the president.

Spokesman Hogan Gidley said: As the president said, every death from Hurricane Maria is a horror. Before, during, and after the two massive hurricanes, the president directed the entire administration to provide unprecedented support to Puerto Rico.

President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman has cut a cooperation agreement with US prosecutors and intends to plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian consulting work.

The deal allows Paul Manafort to avoid a second trial that had been scheduled to start next week in Washington.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.

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Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court on Friday that Manafort had struck a cooperation agreement. He did not elaborate on the agreement.

Manafort told the judge he wants to plead guilty.

His second trial would have been related to Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

The White House said Manaforts decision to plead guilty and cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller is totally unrelated to the president.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders said: This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman has pleaded guilty to two federal crimes after cutting a deal with US prosecutors and agreeing to cooperate with the special counsels Russia probe.

The move allows Paul Manafort to avoid a second criminal trial and ends his fight against investigators in the Russia probe.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case.

On Friday, prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court that Manafort had struck a cooperation agreement and would plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian political consulting work.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, Manaforts attorney Kevin Downing said.

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The charges do not relate to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which is the central issue in the special counsels investigation into possible contacts between Mr Trumps campaign and Russia.

Still, the move gives Mr Mueller another successful conviction while allowing Manafort to avoid facing another costly public trial that this time focused on allegations that he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Ukrainian interests.

Mr Mueller also gained a key cooperator in Manafort, who participated in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer that Donald Trump Jr attended despite it being described as part of a Russian government effort to aid his fathers campaign.

A grand jury used by Mr Mueller has heard testimony about the meeting.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the Manafort case has nothing to do with Mr Trump.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.

The president did nothing wrong, said Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trumps attorney, in a statement. Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.

Under the terms of Fridays plea deal, prosecutors dropped the bulk of the charges against Manafort, filing new paperwork that includes just two counts that resemble in many ways the original allegations made in an indictment last year.

The charges include conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

It is unclear how the possible deal might affect Manaforts pursuit of a pardon from President Donald Trump.

The president has signalled that he is sympathetic to Manaforts cause.

Manafort has aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.
US President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to co-operate with the special counsels Trump-Russia investigation.

Manafort has pleaded guilty to federal crimes and avoided a second trial that could have exposed him to more time in prison.

The deal gives special counsel Robert Mueller a key co-operator who steered the Trump election effort for a pivotal stretch of the 2016 presidential campaign.

Paul Manafort cooperation is agreement is hugely significant, yes.  Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) September 14, 2018

The result also ensures the investigation will extend far beyond the November congressional elections despite entreaties from the presidents lawyers that Mr Mueller bring it to a close.

It is unclear what information Manafort is prepared to offer investigators about the president or that could aid Mr Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

But his involvement in key episodes under scrutiny, and his leadership of the campaign at a time when prosecutors say Russian intelligence was working to sway the election, may make him an especially valuable witness.

The agreement makes Manafort the latest associate of Mr Trump, a president known to place a premium on loyalty among subordinates, to admit guilt and work with investigators in hopes of leniency.

Another victory for Mueller as Manafort pleads guilty, admits allegations against him and agrees to cooperate. We must reserve judgment on the value of his cooperation, given hes had joint defense agreement with Trump, hopes for a pardon and has admitted to obstructing justice.  Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) September 14, 2018

Manafort had long resisted the idea of co-operating even as prosecutors stacked additional charges against him in Washington and Virginia.

Mr Trump had saluted that stance, publicly praising him and suggesting Manafort had been treated worse than gangster Al Capone. Mr Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, had suggested a pardon might be a possibility after the investigation was concluded.

Then came Fridays development when Manafort agreed to provide any information asked of him, testify whenever asked and even work undercover if necessary.

Mr Mueller has already secured cooperation from a former national security adviser who lied to the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian ambassador, a campaign aide who broached the idea of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and another aide who was indicted alongside Manafort but ultimately turned on him. Mr Trumps former personal lawyer has separately pleaded guilty in New York.

Expand Close Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani had suggested the US President might pardon Manafort (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani had suggested the US President might pardon Manafort (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Fridays deal, to charges in Washington tied to Ukrainian political consulting work but unrelated to the campaign, was struck just days before Manafort was to stand trial for a second time.

He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case. The two conspiracy counts he admitted to on Friday carry up to five years, though Manaforts sentence will ultimately depend on his co-operation.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing said outside court.

The agreement does not specify what, if anything, prosecutors hope to receive about Mr Trump, but Manafort could be well-positioned to provide key insight for investigators working to establish whether the campaign co-ordinated with Russia.

He was among the participants, for instance, in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians and Mr Trumps oldest son and son-in-law that was arranged for the campaign to receive derogatory information about Democrat Hillary Clinton.

If Manafort cooperates with investigators as he's reportedly agreed to do, he'll not only be a valuable source on potential Trump campaign conspiracy with Moscow, but also on the other criminal activities of Putin's oligarchs in Europe and the US. That should worry Putin greatly.  Evan McMullin  (@EvanMcMullin) September 14, 2018

He was also a close business associate of a man who US intelligence believes has ties to Russian intelligence. And while he was working on the campaign, emails show Manafort discussed providing private briefings for a wealthy Russian businessman close to Mr Putin.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted the Manafort case was unrelated to Mr Trump, and Mr Giuliani said: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.
Priyanka Chopra couldnt have been more in love. Every time she is spotted by the paps, she has a glittering smile on her face. With that glint in her eyes, she looks the happier than ever. Is that what true love does to you?

The power couple Nick Jonas and PC, recently enjoyed a trip to Mexico, and now the lovebirds have returned to Los Angeles. The newly-engaged duo walked hand-in-hand, snuggling up, laughing with each other and chatting as the paps clicked them.

Also Read: We Want Someone To Hold Our Hands Just The Way Nick Jonas Does With His Fiance Priyanka Chopra!

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Did you notice Priyanka Chopras head-to-toe pink outfit. She looked elegant in the comfy suit. They were spotted with their close friend and Hollywood producer Brian Grazer.

A few days ago, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra were spotted at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Nick shared a picture captured by Priyanka Chopra in which he can be seen enjoying the beer alongside a picturesque view. Take a look!

Fans are eagerly waiting for Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas wedding. Are you too?

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas Mothers Dancing To A Punjabi Song Will Remind You Of A Typical Desi Bash
1. Before The Show Begins, Here's A Tour Of Bigg Boss 12 House Which Has A Beach Theme This Time!

Going by the pictures, it seems, the Bigg Boss 12 house has a beach theme this time.

2. Newly-Engaged Duo Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas Paint The Town 'Pink', Enjoy A Fun Date-Night In Los Angeles

The power couple Nick Jonas and PC, recently enjoyed a trip to Mexico, and now the lovebirds have returned to Los Angeles. The newly-engaged duo walked hand-in-hand, snuggling up, laughing with each other and chatting as the paps clicked them.

3. From Munna Bhai To A Star, We Totally Agree With Rajkumar Hirani's Take On Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Journey

People had to beat him up in that scene and they really did that! I told him 'Nawaz you've done an amazing work, you're a great actor!' But in my head, I never thought that Nawazuddin Siddiqui would become such a huge actor that he is today, he was quoted as saying by IANS.

"I do not believe in the categories. I feel if I act well, people will definitely appreciate me and recognise me. In today's time, it does not matter whether an actor is in supporting role or in the lead role. What matters is the performance.

5. Uday Chopra Wants India To Legalise Marijuana And For The First Time People Agree With Him!

I feel India should legalize marijuana. Firstly, It's part of our culture. Secondly, I think if legalized and taxed it can be a huge revenue source. Not to mention it will remove the criminal element associated with it. Plus and most importantly it has a lot of medical benefits, he tweeted.
Manufacturers world over have been switching to 'BPA-free' plastics ever since research in the recent past has been highlighting the ill-effects that the chemical BPA used in plastics has on our health.

Bisphenol A (BPA)the chemical that is used to harden plastic food containers and in the lining of metal cans to prevent corrosionhas earned a bad rap due to the plethora of health issues it is claimed to be causing.

media.az

BPA is said to have a harmful estrogen-mimicking effect that is the root cause of all sorts of health issues. The list of health ailments includes low sperm count, the risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer and early puberty.

Before you go and replace your bottle with a BPA-free plastic bottle of water, you should know that recent research is now suggesting the BPA-free products may be just as harmful, suggest a study published in the Current Biology.

satoshinakamotoblog.com

The chemicals used to replace BPA in plastics can leak out and affect both the sperm and eggs of the reproductive organs in men and women, just like it does in animals claims the study.

The two chemicals bisphenol (BPS) and bisphenol (BPF), the most commonly used replacements for BPA can disrupt your hormonal balance just as much or more than BPA. Although, BPS is less likely to leach into your food or drinks when heated in a container they could also result in weight gain if there is a high level of BPS in the container.

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BPS has also been found to disrupt the normal functioning of a cell. A study by Cheryl Watson at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston revealed that even picomolar concentrations (less than one part per trillion) of BPS can lead to metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, birth defects and even cancer.

At the end of the day, BPA-free doesnt mean chemical free and BPA-free chemical substitutes have shown to have their own set of health ramifications. Look for food packaged in glass or tetra pak or stainless steel and try to avoid heating food in any kind of plastic as much as possible.
Gurugram may be touted as the Millenium City, but crimes against women do not seem to be stopping at all. This is something that the Haryana government itself has accepted.

According to statistics tabled in Haryanas assembly on Wednesday, National Capital regions of Gurugram and Faridabad have topped the table in overall crime rate against women in the state.

3,768 in Gurugram and 3,440 in Faridabad sexual assault cases against women were recorded between August 2014 and September 2018, the Times of India reported. 555 cases of rape and 2,308 cases of molestation and kidnapping against women and girls were recorded in Gurgaon alone.

Similarly, in Faridabad 352 cases of rape were registered in the same period while the figures for kidnapping and molestation have touched 1,656 cases so far. Overall, the state has a total of 37,161 cases registered during the past four years.

Gohana MLA Jagbir Singh Malik had questioned in the assembly if crimes against women had seen any decline in the last few years. He had also questioned the credibility of women police stations in curbing crime against women, which is why the data was presented in the assembly.

The crime showed an increase in the number of rapes cases over the years. Since August 2014 to September 2015, Haryana saw 961 rape cases. However, the state government admitted to the fact that districts that sheltered women police stations had shown a decline in the number of offences.

Haryana DGP B S Sandhu told TOI that there was an increase in the number of cases against women because all women complaints had been converted into cases. He further claimed that the police officials had busted 47 gangs in the state.

Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry though blamed the state policemens lethargic attitude for the same adding, There is no doubt that Haryana is not a safe place for women. All that is happening is against the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao slogans. We have seen the incidents in which the girls have even been forced to end their lives.
India, China, Russia, Myanmar and several other countries have found an alarming place in a report by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres; that revealed appalling levels of harsh retaliation and intimidation against those organizations that cooperate with the United Nations in defending human rights issue.

The ninth report by the secretary general elaborates the level of retaliation and intimidation against human rights defenders in each country that includes allegations of killing, torture, arbitrary arrests, public stigmatisation campaigns which also target victims of such abuses, the TOI reported.

The report lists 38 countries, some of which are even members of the Human Rights Council. The report is being referred to as only the tip of the iceberg and that many more of such incidents are reported to the U.N.

Certain laws and legislations are obstructing human rights organizations from cooperating with the U.N that includes restricting their funding capacity, especially from foreign donors. The report has been divided into Annex 1 and Annex 2.

The countries named in Annex 1 of the report, in which new cases are listed are Bahrain, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Countries named in Annex 2, where the UN has been following up, and where cases are ongoing, are Algeria, Bahrain, Burundi, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

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Foreign Contribution Regulation Act Of 2010 Being Used To Restrict Work Of NGOs In India

The report mentions that by refusing to renew or grant licenses, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act Of 2010 is being used to thwart NGOs human rights work in India that cooperate with the United Nations.

The report also mentioned that fear of retaliation was quite evident no only in the field where people are too scared to speak with U.N personnel but even in the most safe places such as the U.N headquarters in New York, Geneva or elsewhere.

The report also brings to the forefront the fact that many of these non-governmental organizations, activists and experts have been labelled as terrorists by their governments. This leads to a disturbing trend of national security and counter-terrorism strategies to block U.N access to such communities and civil society organizations.

Assistant Rights Chief, Andrew Gilmour said that governments can do so much more to stop reprisals, ensure that they do not recur and hold those responsible to account for their actions.
Missionaries Of Jesus, the Jalandhar-based congregation which has been in the middle of the controversy involving Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun has once again come out in support of the Bishop.

The convent which the victim nun belongs to has concluded that there was no rape and the Bishop was innocent.

The Missionaries Of Jesus which set up an internal probe commission said that the victim along with 9 others, including 5 nuns, conspired against the Jalandhar Bishop and framed him with wrongful intent.

The shocking slander doesn't end there. The so-called findings of the inquiry further go on to allege that the victims friend was handling the visitors register and they tampered with it, adding that the victim took control of the CCTV from Mother Superior.

The commission also goes on to claim that contrary to the claim of the nun, the Bishop didnt stay in Kuravilangad convent on May 5, 2014 when she was allegedly raped.

ANI

What is even more shocking is a blatant violation of law by the Missionaries Of Jesus in an attempt to cover up the rape allegation.

The congregation has revealed the identity of the nun who has made the complaint against the bishop, which is a clear violation of the Supreme Court directions which states that the identity of the rape survivor cannot be revealed.

Along with the press statement, the congregation has released the picture of the nun seated near the Bishop.

BCCL

According to Missionaries of Jesus, the photograph was taken a day after the first incident of alleged rape took place. And according to them, the fact that the nun can be seen sitting in the company of the bishop was proof that she had not been sexually assaulted the previous day.

The Missionaries of Jesus has understood that the allegations about the Bishop repeatedly raping the nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016 is false and is part of a conspiracy. In the month of May in 2015, the sister had invited the Bishop for a function and even after that, it has been found that the sister has taken part in a lot of functions with the Bishop. Any woman, who was raped by a man, would never attend functions or travel with that man. This is a truth that cannot be denied, the statement said.

This is not the first time the MJ Congregation has tried to defend Mulakkal and question the character of the victim, who is a member of their own congregation.

Earlier they had claimed that the 44-year-old nun was having an affair with a married man.

They had also gone after the five nuns who are currently protesting in Kochi demanding the arrest of Mulakkal accusing them of siding with anti-church forces and rationalists. Accusing them of involving in a conspiracy against the bishop and the convent, the Congregation had also questioned the source of funding for the protesting nuns.

BCCL

Meanwhile, the Kerala Police which had registered a case some 80 days ago against the bishop is still dragging their feet when it comes to arresting him. He has reportedly been served a notice, asking him to appear for questioning on 19th of this month.

The Bishop who had been initially avoiding the media has in the past couple of days appeared on almost all leading channels claiming his innocence.

According to the complaint by the nun, she was subjected to rape by the bishop 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
The Internet and social media may have brought us all closer together, but there's one disconcerting reality of this online space: serial killers who have easy access to prey on vulnerable people.

Over the years, numerous cases of serial killers who used social media to hunt down people have surfaced. Many of these cyber killers function with a confidence that no one can track them down. But that's never the case. More recently, the grisly story of Japan's infamous Twitter serial killer left people in utter shock. Here's all you need to know about the man behind the gruesome killings.

AFP

Who is the Twitter Killer?

A man named Takahiro Shiraishi is said to have been behind the carefully-planned killings. According to The Sun, growing up Shiraishi was an extremely shy boy. During his years in school, his parents went through a rough divorce. He went on live with his mother and sister. During his years in school, Shiraishi was forced to do odd jobs at supermarkets to meet the family's financial needs.

Why is he called the Twitter Killer?

A few years later, Shirashi set up two Twitter accounts one of which was called "I want to die" and another "A professional at hanging." He described himself as being an unlucky in love and seeking company and also promised to help people suffering from suicidal thoughts.

AFP

How did he kill his victims?

He is suspected of luring people with suicidal tendencies via Twitter by telling them he could help them in their plans or even die alongside them.

On the morning of Halloween last year, police uncovered a grisly house of horrors behind Shiraishi's front door: nine dismembered bodies with as many as 240 bone parts stashed in coolers and tool boxes, sprinkled with cat litter in a bid to hide the evidence.

He is suspected of murdering and chopping up people he lured on social media, and storing their body parts in cool boxes. It is believed the severed flesh - found covered with cat litter in a suspected bid to hide evidence - belonged to eight women and one man.

Prosecutors pressed charges after five months of psychiatric examination showed Shiraishi could be held criminally responsible.

Agency Inputs:AFP
Truck drivers at the Integrated Check Post at the Wagah border crossing with Pakistan. Police in India have apprehended a man suspected of killing dozens of truck drivers over the past decade. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images)
Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Fluido, the leading Salesforce advisor and consulting partner in Nordics and a recognized leader in cloud consulting, implementation and training services. Executing on its strategy to help clients navigate the next in their digital transformation journey, this acquisition strengthens Infosys position as a leading Salesforce enterprise cloud services provider, and enhances its ability to provide clients an unparalleled cloud-first transformation.

Fluido, is one of the largest and longest tenured independent Salesforce Platinum Consulting Partners in Europe and an Authorized Salesforce Training Delivery partner in the Nordics. Fluido brings to Infosys globally recognized Salesforce expertise, alongside a world-class agile delivery process that simultaneously simplifies and scales digital efforts across channels and touchpoints.

With offices in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Slovakia, Fluido elevates Infosys presence across the Nordics region with developed assets and deep client relationships, a great team and an effective local culture. Fluido customers are represented across industries, such as manufacturing, energy, retail and telecommunications, to whom Fluido delivers services that span from strategy consulting to implementation and training.

Ravi Kumar, President and Deputy COO, Infosys, said, This acquisition demonstrates Infosys commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem to address our clients digital priorities. Fluido will be an important addition to the Infosys family, bringing a unique combination of market presence, deep salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training, that combined with our existing capabilities will help companies reimagine and transform their businesses. This acquisition also aligns to our efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions in which we operate.

Fluido Founder and CEO, Kai Makela added, Over the past eight years Fluido customers have seen tremendous success as the scope of our Salesforce deliveries have grown. With Infosys we will now be able to provide truly global scalable services while maintaining the close relationship with our customers. With digital experience playing a key role in customer success, we are excited to have the opportunity to work with Infosys to help Fluido customers change the way they connect with their customers. Both the scale and breadth of the Infosys portfolio of offerings, broad industry expertise and enterprise cloud adoption is an exciting opportunity for Fluido customers, and our people.

"Both Fluido and Infosys are important partners in the Salesforce ecosystem that are each driving outstanding customer experiences by utilizing the worlds leading CRM platform, said Tyler Prince, EVP, Industries and Partners, Salesforce. Together, their combined expertise will further drive our customers digital transformations across industries in the Nordics and European market.

The acquisition of Fluido is expected to close during the third quarter of fiscal 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.

About Fluido

Fluido is the leading Salesforce Consultancy and Partner in the Nordics. Fluido offers consulting, development and integration services tailored for customer needs to help them reach their goals, transform and create outstanding customer experiences by utilizing Salesforce technology. Fluidos customers include both large globally operating enterprises and growth companies across industries in all Nordic countries. Fluidos headquarters are in Espoo, Finland, with additional offices in Denmark, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden. www.fluidogroup.com

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning our future business opportunities and growth prospects. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.
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Vice President Pence to Speak at 13th Annual Values Voter Summit

Contact: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, 866-FRC-NEWS, 866-372-6397



WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Saturday, September 22, Vice President Mike Pence will address the 13th annual Values Voter Summit taking place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Pence will be the first sitting Vice President to address the Summit taking place September 21-23. Last year, President Donald Trump was the first sitting president to address attendees at the Values Voter Summit.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"Values voters waited eight years for a leader who puts America's mission first and respects the values that made America into a great nation. In 2016, values voters were instrumental in the election of President Trump and Vice President Pence. "Values voters will be coming to our nation's capital eager to continue the restoration of faith, family, and freedom in American life. Vice President Pence has been a vital part of the Trump administration's efforts to restore religious liberty, uphold the sanctity of human life in our policies and rebuild America's economy. "Since the early days of the campaign, President Trump allied himself with values voters, promising to put an end to the eight years of relentless assault on the First Amendment. Poll after poll has revealed that Values voters remain committed to an administration that is committed to keeping their promises and restore American's fundamental freedoms," Perkins concluded.

Confirmed speakers include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Dr. Ben Carson, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows, actor Dean Cain, former Rep. Dave Weldon, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Oliver North, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Dr. Bill Bennett, Joel Rosenberg, Dana Loesch, David Daleiden, along with Tony Perkins, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips, Dr. Paul McHugh, Fox News Radio's Todd Starnes, Brigitte Gabriel, David and Jason Benham, George Barna, Activist Mommy Elizabeth Johnston, and Gary Bauer, among many others.

Values Voter Summit is sponsored by FRC Action, American Values, AFA Action, Christian Healthcare Ministries, Inspire Investing, United in Purpose, and Family Research Council. The Heritage Foundation and Patriot Voices are co-sponsors of the event. An exhibit hall, book signings, radio row, media row, and much more will be packed into this three-day conference.

Pre-registration for media credentials is required. Please contact media@frc.org to obtain credentials.

For a schedule and more information on this year's Values Voter Summit, please visit: www.valuesvotersummit.org


The move follows South Australias adoption of stricter rules on registration renewals for Takata-affected vehicles.

Steve Spalding, RACQ head of technical and safety policy, said owners with the more serious alpha airbags have had plenty of warnings since the recall was announced at the start of the year.

Alpha airbags pose a serious risk to the safety of drivers and passengers and could explode at any given moment  theyve already taken so many lives, Spalding said. Frustratingly, some owners have not taken these warnings seriously and havent had the necessary recall work done  so we support the state stepping in.

Spalding urged drivers who had received a recall notification for the alpha airbags to take immediate action.

Stop driving immediately and get it replaced  this isnt something you can put off, Spalding said. You can also proactively check if your vehicle is affected by entering your registration details online.
Unfortunately, weve seen big business rewarded for bad behaviour for too long, says Powell. Theres a level of community expectation around paying claims, and the moment you go against it, youre saying that youre not prepared to be reasonable and meet what a normal person would expect.

Powell believes there are three key facets to helping restore the image of the wider insurance industry.

First of all, we need to behave with integrity in everything we do, says Powell. We didnt pick the name Integrity by accident. But across the industry, managers need to hold staff accountable to act with integrity, and management needs to be similarly held accountable by the board.

The testimony around the Royal Commission suggests that for many insurers, life and otherwise, this has been an ongoing issue. Claims have frequently been denied for seemingly arbitrary or overly technical reasons, which leaves policyholders feeling frustrated or cheated.

Secondly, the focus needs to be on customers, Powell continued. Customers today have more power and choice than ever before thanks to social media, increased competition. Many of the larger institutions dont seem to have caught up to that  if youre not putting the customer at the centre, youre going to lose out.

As an example, take the complexity that often peppers modern insurance policies. Legal terminology, jargon and sheer length combine to the extent that many consumers  even operating with professional advice  do not necessarily have the capability to properly engage with their policies. Rather, this is an area that requires innovation to make things as simple as possible.

A typical modern policy document will run 150 to 160 pages, says Powell. Were in the process of finalising our policy document and PDS now, but it will be much simpler and less than half that length.

Simpler tools will provide greater clarity for consumers, enabling greater trust in the process.

The third thing is to operate with respect and fairness, towards both clients and advisors, says Powell. Too often the industry merely tolerates advisors as intermediaries, but they can actually serve a valuable role for the insurer and client alike. So, insurers should actively partner with them and build everything so the advisor and policyholder can deal with you as easily and practically as possible.

The fundamental purpose of insurance is to look after people who need it, when they require it most. Accordingly, this means that insurers must work to provide the products their charges require.

A one-size fits all product doesnt work anymore, says Powell. Consumers need to have choice, and organisations need to be innovative, not only by providing improvements to existing products, but by providing both new complementary products and products that allow new markets to be entered.
Three northern Massachusetts residential communities were rocked last night by dozens of gas-fueled explosions and fires that erupted within minutes of each other, straining fire crews and forcing evacuations.

One man was killed and about 25 injured, including at least two firefighters, and dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged in the series of explosions that started at about 4:30 pm.

There were more than 60 fires, many erupting simultaneously across the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. At one point in the early evening, the Massachusetts State Police said there were 70 calls of fires, explosions or gas odors to answer.

Andovers fire chief said last night there had been 38 fires and 17 gas leaks in his community alone.

Thousands of customers of Columbia Gas were evacuated and told to stay away from their homes until all gas lines could be shut off, all lines could be cleared, and the homes could be declared safe. Employees of the company started inspecting more than 8,000 houses  a process that was continuing this morning.

As a safety precaution, the electric utility serving the towns  National Grid  shut off power to all homes in the area as the skies darkened. Police closed off all roads leading into the area, while encouraging residents to leave on roads leading out of the towns.

Early reports pointed to over-pressurized natural gas lines as a possible cause but the matter is still being investigated.

Columbia Gas has been working on a major project replacing gas lines in the three communities, although it is not known if that had any effect on the situation.

According to the companys website, a third party supplier last month struck a gas line, knocking out service for about 250 customers in Lawrence.

Columbia Gas is part of NiSource, which, according to its website, serves 3.5 million natural gas and 500,000 electric customers nationwide.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which oversees pipeline safety, said it is dispatching a team to investigate.

The NTSB investigated Columbia Gas over a gas-explosion in West Virginia several years ago in which three houses were destroyed and several others damaged. The agency found Columbia Gas responsible due to corrosive pipes from ineffective maintenance and a failure to install remote control valves.

First responders from neighboring towns are assisting in putting out fires, policing neighborhoods and roads, and assisting residents.

Gov. Charlie Baker said that restoring safety and getting people back into their homes were the main priorities but that the state would work with federal authorities to investigate and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Topics Massachusetts
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a national retail insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, has acquired the assets, employees and operations of Vanbridge LLC, a specialty insurance intermediary, program management and risk advisory services business.

Headquartered in New York, N.Y., Vanbridge provides products and services at the intersection of the insurance, private equity and hedge fund industries. Vanbridge focuses on alternative asset management, corporate and individual high net worth clients and solving risk-related issues utilizing insurance and alternative capital.

The addition of Vanbridge to EPIC adds an additional 45 team members to the firm. Upon joining EPIC, the business will operate as Vanbridge  an EPIC Company. Phil Moyles has been appointed executive vice president and will report to Peter Garvey, CEO of EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants. Moyles will also become a member of EPICs Executive Committee. He will continue to lead the Vanbridge operations as a part of EPIC.

Cozen OConnor LLP, led by partners Martin Schrier and Jess Alexander, served as EPICs legal advisor. John Kraska of Dowling Hales and Michael Halsband of Drinker Biddle represented Vanbridge in the transaction.

Source: EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Topics Mergers Agencies New York
Federal investigators were dispatched to three towns just outside Boston after dozens of explosions and fires along NiSource Inc.s natural gas network left at least one person dead and 13 injured and displaced over 8,000 customers.

Massachusetts State Police reported 39 incidents on the network in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Thursday. The blasts appear to be pipeline explosions, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday in a briefing. Shares of NiSource plunged as much as 11 percent to $25.03 at 10:22 a.m. in New York, the biggest intraday drop since November 2008.

NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters in Washington the agency sent a go-team of investigators that will arrive in the affected area at about noon local time to begin what he said is likely to be a long inquiry.

Certainly things we will be looking at will be the design of the pipeline system, any maintenance or upgrades that may have been done or in the process of being done on the pipeline, the integrity management system of the pipeline operator, he said. This will be a multi-disciplinary investigation, well be looking at a number of things.

Pipeline work before the explosions creates a higher potential for a financial impact to the utility, CreditSights Inc. analysts Nick Moglia and Andy DeVries said in a note to clients Friday.

Unlike other gas utility explosions that unfortunately occur every few years, this one appears to have been caused by the utility working on the gas lines immediately before the explosions occurred, the analysts said. That could point to a higher potential for gross negligence rather than just a corroded pipe.

Ken Stammen, a NiSource spokesman, said in an email he could not confirm the details cited in the analyst note.

Leonel Rondon, an 18-year-old Lawrence resident, died after a house explosion sent a chimney crashing into his car, the Associated Press reported. Thirteen people were received at Lawrence General Hospital for injuries related to the explosions from smoke inhalation to blast trauma, according to the hospitals Facebook page. One critical patient was transported to a Boston trauma center.

Andover Police Department Lieutenant Eddie Guy told NBCs Today television show Friday morning that officials believe the blasts were caused by over-pressurized gas lines. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the NiSource unit responsible for the local network, said in a statement that its crews would need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and carry out a safety inspection.

Aging Infrastructure

National Grid Plc, which operates the electric utility in the area, was asked to shut power to all of Lawrence and North Andover and pockets of Andover, spokeswoman Christine Milligan said. The supply cuts were affecting about 18,000 customers as of 7 a.m., National Grid said on its website.

In April, Columbia Gas filed a petition with the states Department of Public Utilities to increase annual revenues by $24.1 million in part to help the company replace aging infrastructure. All three towns were listed as areas where neighborhood lines would be replaced, the utility said on its website Thursday.

Replacing leak-prone infrastructure is a leading priority, the utility said in April. However, it will take a number of years to eliminate the aging pipe from the gas distribution system.

San Bruno

The incident, in an area thats home to the famous Phillips Academy Andover whose alumni include George W. Bush and Humphrey Bogart, took place just as Hurricane Florence slammed the coast of the Carolinas farther south on the East Coast, threatening to leave 3 million homes and businesses without power.

The explosions  just days after the eight-year anniversary of a deadly blast on a PG&E Corp. gas transmission line in San Bruno, California  may intensify the growing opposition across New England to using gas to heat homes and produce electricity. The San Bruno tragedy killed eight people and triggered more than $1 billion in fines and penalties.

Some residents in Andover have been told they can return to their homes, city officials said early Friday. Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera had asked impacted residents to evacuate. Two schools in Lawrence will be used as shelters for evacuees.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said the states mutual aid fire mobilization plan has been activated and that it was sending staff to the three towns, as well as four structural task forces. The U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is also sending a team to support the emergency response efforts, spokesman Bobby Fraser said in an email.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Massachusetts
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has named Jamie Mullarkey as head of Property & Energy, Canada. In this role, Mullarkey leads property and energy underwriting in Canada with teams based in Toronto and Vancouver.

He succeeds Yvonne Steiner who has decided to leave Swiss Re.

Mullarkey brings 10 years of industry experience to this role, as a broker and underwriter. Since joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2011, he has worked on the Property team including rotations abroad to specialize in natural catastrophe modelling and international business. Most recently, he was underwriting team leader, Northeast. responsible for the growth of the property book in New England and upstate New York.

Topics Property Canada Swiss Re
A federal appeals panel has reversed a judges 2016 ruling that Douglas County, Nebraskas insurance carrier must pay $5 million to two men wrongfully jailed in the killings of a Murdock couple.

Nick Sampson and Matthew Livers sued after being wrongfully jailed when former Douglas County crime lab chief David Kofoed planted evidence against them. They were to split the award.

But a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 11 ruled that St. Paul Travelers Cos. has no duty to cover Kofoeds liability in the case.

Kofoed was convicted of planting blood evidence in a car to bolster the case against Livers and Sampson, who were later exonerated in the 2006 shooting deaths of Sharmon and Wayne Stock, Livers aunt and uncle, at the Stocks Cass County farmhouse.

A Wisconsin couple, Jessica Reid and Gregory Fester II, were eventually convicted of killing the Stocks and are each serving life in prison.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Nebraska
Ohio awarded another round of prizes totaling $2.4 million in its global technology challenge seeking scientific breakthroughs to address the U.S. opioid crisis.

The dozen winners from six states and Canada were judged the most promising of nearly 60 proposals submitted in the second phase of the Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge.

Each winning team receives $200,000 to advance its technical solution. Among winning ideas were a device to treat withdrawal symptoms in opioid-addicted infants and a glove that changes color when first responders come into contact with an opioid.

Ohio Third Frontier Commission Chairman David Goodman, whose high-tech development panel is leading the effort, said since it was launched last fall, the competition has drawn attention from around the world.

We asked the world to think outside the box, be creative and send us their ideas, Goodman said. They came from average citizens, researchers and health care professionals and people personally affected by opioid addiction themselves.

The challenge emerged at the urging of Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a potential 2020 presidential contender who called in last years State of the State address for the commission to invest up to $20 million in generating science and technology ideas to fight the scourge thats plagued Ohio and other states across the U.S.

What the panel came up with was a two-pronged effort, which included the $8 million Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge and a program of research-and-development grants. Commissioners made up to $12 million available in grants and awarded $10 million.

Prize winners announced Wednesday are eligible to compete for four $1 million grants that will be made available in the final product phase of the challenge. Focused on refining and priming technical concepts for market, the last phase begins immediately and runs through September 2019, officials said.

Winners of the second phase were:

Apportis LLC, Dublin, Ohio: For an integrated platform that allows patients to connect electronically to licensed health care professionals and opioid addiction resources. The platform would be accessible at clinics, hospitals, shelters and kiosks.

Brave Technology Coop, Vancouver, Canada: For an online platform, including a mobile app, for remote supervision of people who use drugs in isolation, providing them with community-based support and access to overdose prevention and response.

DynamiCare Health, Boston: For a digital platform using incentives that support recovery to help patients struggling with opioid addiction.

Innovative Health Solutions, Versailles, Indiana: For a device that using electrical nerve stimulation behind a patients ear to address symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

InteraSolutions, Orem, Utah: For an opioid risk assessment screening app that identifies patients with risk factors for opioid abuse.

OpiSafe.com, Denver, Colorado: For an automated patient monitoring system for opioid prescribers providing alerts related to factors including opioid dosage, pain levels and toxicology results.

Prapela Inc., Concord, Massachusetts: For a specially designed vibrating pad to help treat opioid-exposed newborns with postnatal drug withdrawal syndrome.

relink.org, Aurora, Ohio: For a website that enables people struggling with addiction to find recovery service providers and related database development and pilot studies.

University of Akron, Akron, Ohio: For a specially designed glove that will change color upon a first responders contact with an opioid.

University Hospitals, Cleveland: For a computer-aided dispatch technology for opioid surveillance and tracking in real-time.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin: For a smartphone app that uses a suite of tools to increase patients coping ability, recovery motivation and emotional support to prevent relapse of opioid abuse.

Vuronyx Technologies, Woburn, Massachusetts: For paper analytical device test cards that are portable and self-contained to allow first responders, law enforcement agents, medical professionals and crime scene investigators to quickly and reliably test for the presence of opioids.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Tech Ohio
The company that created OxyContin is offering free doses of an opioid-abuse treatment as part of its offer to resolve more than 1,000 lawsuits accusing the drugmaker of helping fuel the opioid crisis, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Purdue Pharma has repeatedly said it will give away doses of a new version of buprenorphine  which helps wean people addicted to opioids off the drugs  as part of any settlement, according to four people familiar with the talks sponsored by state attorneys general and a federal judge. They asked not to be cited by name as the negotiations are confidential.

The new version of the drug is based on a patent that lists billionaire physician and past Purdue president Richard Sackler as one of six inventors. Sacklers father co-founded Purdue. A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the talks.

Its another sign that opioid makers and drug wholesalers are looking for an exit from litigation over their alleged role in a crisis that kills more than 100 Americans daily that could result in billions of dollars in penalties. Bloomberg News reported last week that Endo International Plc is seeking to resolve all lawsuits over its Opana painkiller to cap its legal exposure and get out of an industry-wide settlement.

Id have to say this is a pretty clever move, said Richard Ausness, a University of Kentucky law professor. Over the last 20 years, Purdue hasnt shown any real contrition or remorse, so I see this offer of free step-down drugs as a savvy negotiating tactic to limit what they have to pay in any settlement.

Buprenorphine, first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002, has been shown to be effective for treating opioid use disorders. Its available in tablet and film forms, although Sacklers patent references a wafer that could dissolve faster. Its held by Rhodes Pharmaceuticals LP, a drugmaker also owned by the Sacklers.

A lawyer for Rhodes Pharmaceuticals said that if a drug is developed it would not be for any profit.

Sacklers patent was first reported by the Financial Times.

Last week, the FDA signed off on another version of Buprenorphine. Other approved forms of medication-assisted treatment include methadone and naltrexone.

Purdues offer adds to its efforts to refashion the company as an advocate for fighting the addiction crisis while fighting back court cases. Its also helped fund distribution of opioid-overdose antidote naloxone, purchased ads in the press touting its efforts, and pledged $3.4 million to a nonprofit firm developing a cheaper version of naloxone.

Purdues pledge fits a pattern of its fellow defendants making charitable efforts that could build goodwill and facilitate settlement talks. Wholesaler Cardinal Health Inc. has given at least $3 million to about 70 organizations while McKesson Corp. seeded a stand-alone nonprofit dedicated to fighting the opioid-abuse crisis with $100 million.

Purdues offer might provide treatment options desperately sought by communities and states suing the company, but its also likely a tactic to shave off their financial contribution to a global settlement and appeal to U.S. District Court Judge Dan Polster, who is overseeing the litigation, said Alexandra Lahav, a University of Connecticut School of Law professor.

If this is part of settlement talks, then its not just about goodwill  its really saying, Im sweetening the deal,' she said. Whatever people are willing to agree to, they can do. The question is, is the judge going to feel if the companies are doing enough in light of exposure?

Societal Costs

More than 49,000 people died from an opioid overdose last year, an increase of almost 7,000 from the previous year. The governments accuse drugmakers and wholesalers of downplaying the health risks and overselling painkillers benefits through marketing campaigns. Plaintiffs are seeking to recoup the societal costs of dealing with addictions and overdoses as part of a settlement they hope would be similar to the 1998 Big Tobacco accord that ultimately generated $246 billion.

Polster has urged the sides to reach a settlement that helps address the roots of the opioid problem and not just move money around. Purdues offer appears to meet that on some level, Ausness said. This kind of free-drug offer is a tangible, non-monetary benefit of a settlement, he said.

Companies facing lawsuits regularly seek ways to influence public opinion. Researchers at Harvard Business School who studied 20 years of lawsuits against public companies found that targeted local advertising increased by 23 percent after lawsuits were filed, and that they increase the probability of a favorable outcome.

The consolidated case is In Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, 17-md-2804, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (Cleveland).

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits USA Drugs
As Hurricane Florence churns toward the Carolinas, bearing a potentially lethal ocean surge and winds and torrential rains, the federal government is marshaling its forces to help communities prepare and recover.

President Donald Trump said Thursday afternoon that he was briefed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, first responders and law enforcement officials, who are ready for the storm to make landfall Friday. We are with you! Trump tweeted, along with a satellite map showing the swirling mass heading toward the U.S. coast.

The governments preparation wasnt without controversy as Trump earlier disputed the death toll in Puerto Rico due to 2017s Hurricane Maria, saying on Twitter that 3,000 people did not die. The administration has been criticized for its response to Maria and Trump was lambasted by Puerto Ricos leaders and congressional Democrats for seeking to discredit an assessment commissioned by the island territory and conducted by researchers at top U.S. universities. Several key Republican lawmakers said they were confident in the accuracy of Marias death toll despite Trumps claims.

Heres a look at what the federal government, which has 4,000 employees involved in the effort, is doing to prepare as the winds and rain start bearing down on the Carolinas.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Homeland Security Department arm that was criticized for its poor response to Hurricane Maria and other disasters last year, has been the centerpiece of the Trump administrations preparations for the storm.

More than 1,000 FEMA workers are preparing to respond to Florence and other storms with teams deployed to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia ahead of landfall to assist with evacuations, conduct search and rescue, and help distribute food, water and other needed items after the storm. Among the prepositioned resources are more than 11 million meals, 18 million liters of water, 60 thousand cots and 1 million blankets, according to the White House.

The agency is also helping the Trump administration manage expectations. We call them disasters because they break things, FEMA administrator Brock Long said during a briefing Thursday. The power is going to go out.

EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency, which is the lead agency for spills of oil and other toxic substances on land, is monitoring more than three-dozen Superfund, oil production facilities, and chemical storage sites that may be in the path of the hurricane. The agency is also monitoring drinking and waste water sites that could be in harms way.

We have teams of on scene coordinators and equipment ready to deploy, said Reggie Cheatham, director of the EPAs Office of Emergency Management.

Duke Energy Corp. was ordered two years ago to clean up coal-ash ponds in North Carolina that posed risks to the environment and public health. The company wont be done in time for the storm, leaving the sites vulnerable to spills that can unleash the waste. The state is also a major producer of poultry and hogs, and man-made lagoons that hold manure also could be at risk of overflowing into fields and nearby waterways.

Energy Department

The Energy Department is monitoring the storms impact to millions of utility customers as well as the status of refineries, nuclear power plants and other sites in Florences path. The agency says it has deployed employees to emergency operations centers in the Carolinas to help.

Additionally, more than 40,000 utility workers from at least 17 states stand ready to assist with turning the power back on, the department said.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent agency, is sending inspectors to nuclear plants that could be damaged by the hurricane, including Duke Energys Brunswick plant on North Carolinas southern coast  directly in Florences projected path.

Military

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than 200 employees on Florence duty and has already received $6 million mission assignment dollars from FEMA, according to the Corps Ray Alexander. The agency is also monitoring five of their dams in Virginia and dams they own in Virginia and North Carolina.

The Coast Guard has shallow water rescue boats as well as rescue aircraft at the ready.

The Navy has sent about 30 vessels out to sea from bases in the Norfolk, Virginia area, to protect them and the docks from the storm.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters USA Hurricane North Carolina Virginia Pollution FEMA
For North Carolina-headquartered global insurance broker AmWINS Group Inc., Hurricane Florence isnt just a storm that will affect insureds  many of its own employees and agents are also directly in the storms path.

With 385 employees between Charlotte, Burlington, and Morehead City N.C. and Charleston, S.C., and 7,000 retail agents in the region, the global insurance brokerage was busy preparing this week for what could be one of the worst hurricanes to hit the Carolinas in decades.

This will be a significant storm for AmWINS, our clients, and the industry, said Josh Ammons, senior vice president of Property in AmWINS Brokerage of the Carolinas.

AmWINS offices along the coast of Morehead City, N.C., and Charleston, S.C., were closed because of mandatory evacuation orders earlier this week. At the companys headquarters in Charlotte, AmWINS was taking a wait and see approach as of Wednesday until it was known what Florences impact on that area would be.

Safety is a top priority for us. If we have any concern about employees getting to the office or their safety we will make the call to close the office and put their safety first, said Ammons, who was born and raised in North Carolina.

The hurricane began its landfall as a Category 2 in the Carolinas on Thursday night, but was downgrading to a Category 1 shortly before midnight EST. Florence was expected to reach its peak in the region Friday morning, with heavy rains lingering through the weekend. According the to the National Hurricane Center, dangerous storm surge is expected across the coast of the Carolinas and rain fall of up to 40 inches could occur in some areas of North Carolina. Storm surge of up 11 feet was also possible in North Carolina.

As an insurance brokerage with more than 5,000 commercial and residential policyholders in the region that could be potentially affected by the storm, many employees who were evacuated are now working remotely to assist their clients. Tucker said the company sent a bulletin with preparation and claims info to all retailers with policies in North and South Carolina and a Hurricane Update page is up on AmWINSs website. Tucker said they will be ready to jump in when the storm is over, too.

Certainly, when the storm passes we will have a lot of work on our hands and we have the resources to handle an event like this, said Harry Tucker, executive vice president and National Property Practice leader for AmWINS, who is based in New York. This is our time to shine  this is what we do.

Ammons said he personally started reaching out to agents and insureds last weekend to let them know Florence was shaping up to be a significant event. Most carriers have binding moratoriums in place so placing new business and renewals has come to a halt. He has been focused on being proactive and providing carriers claims call-in numbers to clients and letting them know we are there for them personally and professionally.

AmWINS staff has been communicating with the companys coastal agents and offering them a place to stay that is out of harms way, including in their own homes.

Ive seen so many people going above and beyond, Ammons said.

As is often the case with catastrophes, some coastal residents will not heed evacuation orders and instead ride out the storm. They will be looking for support from their agents to start the recovery as soon as possible, Ammons said.

Its their businesses and homes and their livelihood so there are a lot of people are sticking around, he said.

The biggest concern he has heard from agents is about the potential for storm surge, how that is defined in the policy, and flash flooding. Ammons said many insureds further inland dont purchase flood insurance unless they are required to do so by a lender. And many of those who do have the coverage purchase the minimum requirement, which typically doesnt include business interruption coverage.

With preparations and evacuation orders in effect since early this week and the storm expected to last through early next week, lost income to businesses will be significant.

Ammons said another concern is the large number of homes in North and South Carolina that are wood frame, which may not hold up well to a hurricane of Florences magnitude.

The population of the Carolinas has also grown since the last major storm, particularly along the coast, meaning there are more residents that will be affected and fewer who have been through a major hurricane.

Its difficult to understand the impact of the growth we have seen over the last decade on the Carolina coastline, he said. Building codes are updated and we are putting a lot of trust in that  but we still have a lot of condos and single-family residences that are wood-frame construction so this storm will definitely be a test.

Ammons said because storms like Florence dont happen every year, people often question what their insurance is paying for.

Its frustrating for them, but the reality is its for times like these  when it happens our carriers are going to be there to pay the claims, he said.

Tucker said its still too early to tell what the losses from Florence will be, but the insurance industry will play a crucial role in the rebuilding and recovery process.

For us as professionals we need to do everything we can to make sure the claims get paid in accordance to the policy as quickly as possible and that we bring peoples lives back together, he said.

AmWINS is also prepared to assist any employees or its partner agents and brokers who could deal with losses.

At the end of the day we are all human; we are all affected and expect our own AmWINS family could be impacted and will do whatever we can to work with them through this process, Ammons said.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Agencies Hurricane North Carolina
Five years ago, encouraged by home builders and an anti-regulatory zeal, lawmakers in North Carolina joined other states in weakening building code requirements.

Its a decision they may regret as Hurricane Florence takes aim at the Carolinas.

The Legislature in 2013 increased the amount of time between updates to its building code from three years to six. That means that updates that set new standards for elevating the floors in flood-prone homes arent in effect, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes Inc., a non-profit disaster safety organization.

In 2015, state regulators also eliminated a requirement that storm shutters be permanently anchored.

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety called out North Carolina for the changes in a report issued earlier this year, and lowered the states score in an assessment of building codes in hurricane-prone states.

This change means the state residential code will always be one or two cycles behind the latest national model codes, the report said. South Carolina, also under threat from Hurricane Florence, considered similar legislation lengthening the cycle between building code adoption from three years to six, but it did not advance, according to the report.

Florence Spurs DowDuPont Plant Closures: Companies Storm Update

By not keeping pace you are shifting the cost to the consumer and they dont even know it, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president of the Tallahassee, Florida-based Federal Alliance for Safe Homes said in a phone interview. If you invest on the front end, it is going to cost a little more but you can avoid the losses all together in most cases.

Recommended codes are issued every three years by the International Code Council, a Washington-based nonprofit that brings together builders, engineers, local code officials and other experts to translate the latest science into updated model building codes. Safety advocates and insurers encourage states to follow those model codes.

Chapman-Henderson said the shift in North Carolina reflected a push from builders, who argue that new codes make houses more expensive, reducing demand.

Teri Edwards, executive officer of the Carteret County Home Builders Association in Morehead City, said the move to decrease the amount of time between code updates came as regulators and permit officers were having trouble keeping pace with code makers model code updates. Still, she said, cost was also a factor.

Hurricane Takes Center Stage at North Carolina Builder Gathering

We arent going to hurt anybody, Edwards said by phone.We want to make sure we arent changing codes just for the sake of changing codes.

The National Association of Home Builders points out that other states, including Utah, Michigan and Minnesota, have also legislated a six-year cycle.

The six-year cycle is reasonable in that the codes have matured over the past 20 years, especially as it relates to structural design, the trade group said in an emailed statement.

Dominic Sims, the chief executive officer of the International Code Council that issues the model codes every three years, disagrees, calling six years an arbitrary length of time that doesnt make much policy sense.

We are going to make sure the best science is available every three years in the hopes state governments and local jurisdictions make the right decision, Sims said in an interview. I think the safe thing to say is staying current with building codes is a good practice.

Easing Off

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety report found that other storm-prone states have been easing their building codes even as the effects of global warming escalates amid increasing anti-regulatory sentiment among state officials, and the desire to avoid anything that might hurt home sales.

While no single meteorological, physical, or economic attribute is responsible for the damage caused by these events, evidence shows that strong, well-enforced building codes reduce loss and facilitate recovery, the group said in their report.

North Carolinas 2013 decision means that code requiring at least one foot of elevated space known as free board in certain residential homes in flood prone areas wont be in effect. In 2015, the North Carolina Building Code Council deleted a requirement that shutters in areas subject to high winds be permanently installed, according to the Insurance Institute.

While many homes were built before the new codes would have taken effect, without them houses rebuilt after the hurricane wont be required to use the most up-to-date codes, said Debra Ballen, general counsel and a senior vice president at the Insurance Institute.

The expectation is there are going to be a lot of things that go down. A lot will be destroyed by storm surge, Ballen said. We want to have those homes built to the best possible, most modern codes.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation Hurricane North Carolina
CSAA Insurance Group has named Junna Ro vice president of corporate compliance and employment law.

For the past six years, she has led the corporate compliance and ethics function for the company.

In addition to maintaining oversight of regulatory compliance and ethics, Ro will now manage the employment law team, which provides strategic business and legal advice to the company on labor, employment, and benefits matters; and handles the companys custodian of records function.

Ro joined the company in 2005 as senior counsel, and has served as lead attorney for the employment law team.

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Topics California
Depending on the terms of your employers 401(k) plan, catch-up contributions made to 401(k)s or other qualified retirement savings plans can be matched by employer contributions. However, the matching of catch-up contributions is not required. Also, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limits the total amount of annual contributions to 401(k)s by both the employee and employer.

As a result, it's important to understand the rules and restrictions regarding contributing to 401(k)s and whether a catch-up contribution will be matched or not.

Key Takeaways Many employers match 401(k) retirement plan contributions made by employees, up to a certain percentage of their salary.

The maximum amount that an employee under the age of 50 can contribute to a 401(k) is $19,500 for 2020 and 2021.

Catch-up contributions of an additional $6,500 are available to workers age 50 and older for 2020 and 2021.

Catch-up contributions can be matched but are often subject to maximum caps outlined in the plan.

What Is Retirement Plan Matching?

Your employer can match your contributions to your qualified retirement plan using various methods. The employer could contribute a set amount each year or decide not to match at all, depending on the terms in the plan.

Typically, employers match a percentage of employee contributions, up to a certain portion of the total salary. Occasionally, employers may elect to match employee contributions up to a certain dollar amount, regardless of employee compensation.

If an employer elects to match employee contributionsor deferralsit is generally based on a calculation that limits the total amount that the employer is required to contribute. For example, an employer might match 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of their annual compensation. In other words, the employee would contribute 6% of their salary while the employer would provide a match in the amount of 3% of the employee's salary.

Matching contributions to a 401(k) from your employer are generally limited by a calculation derived from the employees salary and contribution amounts.

How Catch-Up Contribution Matching Is Handled

The IRS allows plan participants age 50 and older to make annual catch-up contributions to encourage those nearing retirement to bulk up their savings. For 2020 and 2021, the allowable catch-up contribution for 401(k) plans is $6,500 per year. However, catch-up contributions can only be made by employees who have maximized their traditional salary-deferral contributions.

Contribution Limits

The maximum amount that an individual plan participant can contribute to a 401(k) as of 2020 and 2021 is $19,500. For an employee's catch-up contribution to be qualified for a match by their employer, the employee would need to contribute $19,500 first.

The employers 401(k) maximum contribution limit on any match is actually set quite a bit higher, at $37,500 per year for 2020 and $38,500 for 2021. As a result, the combined maximum amount that could be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is $57,000 ($19,500 + $37,500) in 2020 and $58,000 ($19,500 + $38,500) in 2021. This means that your employer can potentially contribute much more than an individual to a 401(k), although this is not at all usual.

Catch-up Contribution

Employees aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $6,500 for 2020 and 2021, for a total employee contribution of $26,000 ($19,500 + $6,500). As a result, the maximum contribution amountincluding from the employercan be $63,500 ($37,500 + $26,000) in 2020 and $64,500 ($38,500 + $26,000) in 2021 for those aged 50 and over.

However, if your plan allows for employer matching of catch-up contributions, the total amount of employer funds that can be contributed is still subject to the matching rules specified by your plan. In other words, the employer might set a dollar-amount limit or cap for the total amount that they'll match and contribute.

Whether 401(k) contributions come from the employee or employer, all contributions are subject to the annual contribution limit dictated by the IRS.

Example of Catch-Up Contribution Matching

Let's say, as an example, an employee who's over 50 years old earns $50,000 per year. The employer offers a 50% match and established a maximum amount of $3,000 that the employer will contribute in one year.

The employee wants to make a catch-up contribution and as a result, needs to contribute at least $19,500 to be eligible. If the employee contributes $19,500, the employer's match based on the percentage would be $9,750 or 50% of $19,500. However, the employer would have already hit the $3,000 limit and therefore, would not be matching anything beyond the $3,000 already contributed.

On the other hand, let's say the employer had a generous matching program and didn't have a $3,000 maximum match, but instead, paid up to the $37,500 employer limit for 2020. The catch-up contributions would be matched since the employee's total contributions for 2020 would be $26,000 (or $19,500 + $6,500), and the total match would equal $13,000 for the year.
September 14, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Christopher McFadden, CEO of NxGold, discusses with Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable his company's two far-flung exploration projects.

Maurice Jackson: Joining us today is Christopher McFadden, the president, CEO, and director of NxGold where the focus is on high-grade gold in world-class districts.

Mr. McFadden, for someone new to the story, who is NxGold Ltd. (NXN:TSX.V) and what is the thesis you're attempting to prove?

Christopher McFadden: NxGold is a relatively new junior gold explorer listed on the TSX. We are looking to make significant discoveries in good mining jurisdictions with large volumes of high-grade gold that we could eventually convert into mining operations to improve, and increase shareholder value.

Maurice Jackson: Let's discuss NxGold's project portfolio, beginning in Western Australia with Mt. Roe. Where in Western Australia is Mt. Roe located?

C. McFadden: Our projects in Western Australia are in a region called the Pilbara. Western Australia is obviously a very large state in Australia. The Pilbara is northern Western Australia, not quite all the way to the top. It's about 1,500 kilometers north of Perth where not far from the coast there's a fairly large rural town, called Karratha on the coast, and we're 30 kilometers to the south of Karratha.

Maurice Jackson: Now, how many hectares is Mt. Roe, and what type of lithology is prevalent there?

C. McFadden: It's a relatively small project area. We have two blocks; the total land package is 1,200 hectares. In terms of the lithology, there's lots of different basalt flows, and in some cases some felsic flows that are being interpreted to be eroded and then covered with various sequences of the Roe style sediments and basalt flows.

What I say to people is this part of the world's crust is some of the oldest rocks that are known on the planet. Some of these rocks I believe are two to three billion years old. That it's perhaps a bit like a deck of cards that have been shuffled and moved, and changed over time and over geological history. So, it's quite a complex geological setting on our project area.

Maurice Jackson: Maybe it is too early to determine, but would you define Mt. Roe as a placer deposit, and if yes, what does that mean for shareholders?

C. McFadden: I think it probably is too early to say. I think it's fair to say the project area has potential for the paleo-placers style of mineralization, but it is too early to determine if it's the dominant style on the property. An interesting point that will be of interest to shareholders is that our geologists have recently been focused on an older interpreted epithermal type vein mineralization on the property as well, that may have been the source of the recently announced stream sediments anomalies.

I think it was the 8th of August we put out a release showing some of the findings of some stream sediment work that we've done. We'll probably talk about the nuggets later on in our discussion, but there we have found what we call hackly or rough textured gold nuggets on the property, which may have come from epithermal veins. So that, I think, is of great interest, and a strong potential for us on this project in that we possibly have a number of different types of nuggets, and therefore types of their potential sources of those nuggets.

Maurice Jackson: Speaking of those nuggets, do they appear to be generously sprinkled throughout Mt. Roe?

C. McFadden: What's very interesting is that we've been able to find nuggets in a number of places. We've been collecting them in the northeast of the project area, and also down the northwest. Down the western side of a ridge, our project has a ridge line that passes down the length of the project area, and that ridge is probably two kilometers or a bit longer. And, we've been finding nuggets quite consistently along that ridge line, and in some pockets they seem to be a lot more concentrated, but as I mentioned previously, the number of the nuggets particularly those in the northern areas, are these flattened, what others in that area are calling melon seed like nuggets, and they are like watermelon seeds in terms of even their size and their shape, and that they're squashed and they're flat. And, if you look at them very closely, and look at them under a magnifying glass you can see little divots in them where they've been pressed and pushed against little grains of sand, and other material. And, they do look exactly like a watermelon seed.

What we've also got, and these are the nuggets we've been collecting along the western side of the project area, they tend to be rough and hackly. Very different style of nugget, where you can see that they haven't been squished, they haven't been squashed and rolled between this other material. So, that's what making us think that perhaps that they're coming out of epithermal veins, and we've been finding them hopefully close to their source.

Maurice Jackson: You alluded to the nuggets having the watermelon seed shape, which is alluvial. How does that factor into the thesis that this may be an extension of the Witswaterand?

C. McFadden: Well, that's a very interesting academic argument that others in the area are leading. I mean, it would be wonderful if the Pilbara was the same as the Wits, and was able to produce the same levels of gold. That would be a magnificent result, but I think it's probably too early to say that we have a similar area or similar geology, or the same style, or same size region. We're aligned with the thinking of our peers in the area that the melon seed nuggets are part of what looks like potentially a marine paleo-placers system, but there's a long way to go in the work to be done in the area. It's less than two years since the comparison was first made, so I think there's a lot of academic and geological work that needs to be done first.

Maurice Jackson: NxGold is approximately 30 kilometers south of Karratha, a well-known mining town; tell us about the infrastructure surrounding Mt. Roe.

C. McFadden: It's an absolutely fantastic place to be. My past history, I used to work at Rio Tinto many, many years ago, and I think those that know the mining industry would understand that the Pilbara is the home of the Australian iron ore industry. There are three significant iron ore producers there: Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue, producing huge volumes of iron ore out of the Pilbara.

Those companies have been developing infrastructure in Karratha, and around the Pilbara regions for 5060 years now. So, Karratha is unique, in my view, and in terms of world mining. There's a huge port there for iron ore shipments to Asia. There's a huge railway line coming in from the Rio Tinto operations, and the railway line is, as the crow flies, probably five or six kilometers from our project area. We can drive to our project area on a sealed road except for the last two or three kilometers, which is a dirt road.

Karratha is a service and infrastructure home for the Pilbara, and for the iron ore industry. So, there's huge numbers of service providers there, drilling companies, equipment hire. There's a labor force. There's accommodation, there's services such as hospitals and schools, etc. Karratha is a wonderfully established town. For us, the beauty is that it means we can stay in Karratha; we don't need to build a camp, which saves us a lot of money.

We can obtain all the services we need at very competitive rates in town, because there are so many providers there. There's an airport that has a number of direct flights to Perth every day. As remote as Karratha, and as remote as the Pilbara is, it's very, very well serviced. It's a wonderful location, a wonderful place to be.

Maurice Jackson: One of the virtues you just alluded to is capital expenditures. There won't really be an issue here, because the infrastructure's already in place. I can attest to it myself; I was in Karratha last year, but it goes without saying here, but let's just clear the air here. How would you define the mining jurisdiction?

C. McFadden: Western Australia one of the key mining states in Australia, where at the federal level Australia is a very safe and mining friendly country. So, the federal laws are very easy to operate in. Western Australia itself, and the state is responsible for licensing, is often listed as the top three to five mining jurisdictions in the world in terms of its security of tenure. It's an environmental management and other regulations, it's a great state in which to operate. For an exploration company, it's one of the best plant places in the world to be, and that's one of thesis: if you like of NxGold, we generally we try to operate in fertile countries in good jurisdictions where it's safe. Where investment is protected, where there is rule of law, and a consistent and even-handed approach to regulation.

Maurice Jackson: How about community relations, and specifically with the indigenous people there?

C. McFadden: Yes, again, it's given the work that's been done by the majors on the iron ore front, and other explorers in the region. The indigenous groups in Australia are fairly sophisticated in terms of how they consider mining and exploration. They understand the industry, and they generally work in partnership with miners and explorers. Our peers in the area are making good progress with obtaining mining tenure, etc. So, we expect that our engagement with the indigenous groups will be of a similar ilk.

One of the challenges I think in that area is that, because of the recent interest in the area, there's perhaps a capacity issue, and there's a lot of applications and paperwork that is being done. So, there is a bit of a backlog in terms of the indigenous groups ability to deal with all the matters in front of them, but you know our dealings with the group so far have been excellent. We don't have any particular heritage issues on our ground that we are aware of, but we're working with the indigenous people to make sure that we're operating the right way, and we're not offending anybody, and that we're working with them in partnership.

Maurice Jackson: Please provide us with an exploration update on Mt. Roe.

C. McFadden: We've had people in the field recently that was announced on the 8th of August. Now, our approach is to, even though we've ticked the main box, we've got gold on the licenses, you can go with a metal detector and you can pick up nuggets pretty much basically off the ground. It's quite remarkable, and is new, too, in my experience. We're taking a step back from that, and just trying to work out where this gold comes from.

So, we're going back to basics. Our approach is to take a very systematic approach, follow a process of mapping of soil sample within sediment stream sampling. There's quite a lot of drainage in the area that we've been taking some samples from. And we announced recently, that we've got over a kilometer of hits from some stream sediment. There's been some panning of that, and visible gold in those samples. So, that's all now in the laboratory getting a more detailed assessment of the material that was collected at the time. We're hoping for those sampling tasks in the next few weeks.

The labs are very busy at the moment, so it is taking a bit longer than we'd hoped, but once we get those results, we're in the process of doing some geophysics as well that it is being flown I think this week. So, we'll get those results from the geophysics, we'll get the geochemistry and then we'll work out what we're going to do next in the next phase if you like of the exploration on the ground. It may well involve some drilling to get a better understanding of what's going on under the ground. We may consider looking at some large bulk samples, it just depends on the results that we get from the work that we've recently done. So, we'll take a very systematic approach, one step at a time, and every dollar we spend has to be justified by the results that we have.

Maurice Jackson: Mr. McFadden, we've covered the flagship project, Mt. Roe; let's discuss your second gold project, Kuulu. Where's Kuulu located, and how many hectares is this project?

C. McFadden: It's a fascinating case study if you like. Kuulu is the project that we basically recapitalized the company on about 18 months ago. The project is in Nunavut in northern Canada, so you could not get a more different place than Nunavut and the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Western Australia is always very hot and dry; Nunavut is almost Arctic conditions where our project is located, and so our geologists love going from one to the other. The temperature change can be extraordinary. The Kuulu project is larger, it's about 4,000 square hectares. It's just north about 40 kilometers north of Rankin Inlet in Nunavut.

Maurice Jackson: What can you share with us regarding the lithology there?

C. McFadden: The interesting part of this project, and what got us so excited about it initially, was that it's directly a long strike from the Agnico Eagle Meliadine project that is currently being constructed, and will be in operation I think next year; 2019 they're looking to commence production. That is a world-class deposit, and it will be a significant mine producing I believe, 400,000 to 500,000 ounces a year, possibly more. It's a large deposit, many millions of ounces at a significant grade. So, we are up strike along the fault that Meliadine is located on.

Maurice Jackson: And are the drills turning there?

C. McFadden: They're not at the moment. We have some challenges with that project from an access point of view. We don't have a surface rights license at this stage from the Inuit Association that's based in Rankin Inlet. We're working with them to try to obtain that, we have numbers of walk-up drill targets there. We have been able to take advantage of previous work done on the license area, and some of our own geophysics that we did last year, to identify some very exciting targets where we're hoping to drill as soon as we can, but working with the local people we've been able to identify that they are concerned about drilling during the hunting season. And the impact that increased activity, particularly with helicopters and drill rigs, the impact that may have on caribou, in particular, and other animals that they hunt.

So, given the concerns that the local people have about hunting, and the impact on the animals, and their hunting activities, we have agreed that at this stage, we will drill over winter only. We're still in discussions with the local people, and we have a number of visits and the meetings planned over the next few months to try to achieve that goal. But, we have all the other permits that we require in order to undertake exploration activities on that license area.

Maurice Jackson: Mr. McFadden, before we discuss the management team, are there any reversionary interests on these projects?

C. McFadden: With Mt. Roe, we have an 80% interest in that project. The vendors from whom we acquired the project have a 20% interest in that project. We are currently funding all of the exploration work ourselves, and we have an obligation to fund 100% of the work through to completion of any feasibility study that may be undertaken on that project should it get to that point.

For the Kuulu Project, we are currently earning into that project from the vendors. We have to meet certain expenditure obligations in order to earn our interest, but given the difficulties we're having with the surface licenses those spending obligations and requirements are currently on hold, pending the satisfactory conclusion of the license situation.

Maurice Jackson: Now, realizing that you are an exploration company, what is management's philosophy? Are you looking to build a mine or arbitrage?

C. McFadden: We're looking to build a mine. Certainly, my background in the majors is to make a significant discovery, and then progress that discovery through to development and operations. Of course, who can predict what happens along that journey; it's a long journey. So, we'll just have to see what happens at the time, and take all interest into consideration, and obviously the interest of shareholders.

Maurice Jackson: Switching gears, I learned from Rick Rule and Doug Casey that the people running the business are equally, if not more important, than the latent material in the ground. Mr. McFadden, please introduce us to your Board of Directors, and what unique skill sets do they bring to NxGold?

C. McFadden: We have a board that has vast experience in the mining sector. Let's start with our chairman, Leigh Curyer. Leigh is currently the CEO of NexGen Energy, and was the founder of that entity. I think a lot of investors will be aware of NexGen Energy, and the great success that company has had in the uranium space in Saskatchewan with the Arrow deposit. He worked in private equity and reviewed numerous mining opportunities in the uranium space, and prior to that he worked in a precursor to Uranium One, and was heavily involved and was responsible for permitting one of Australia's uranium mines. So, Leigh has close to 20 years of experience in the resources sector. He is a great leader of NexGen. Perhaps I'm a bit biased there, but I remain the chairman of NexGen, so I managed to see Leigh operate on a regular basis, and he's got a great team and great leadership, and he's a very strong strategic thinker in terms of project developments and community relations, etc. So, Leigh's great to have on our board, and he's a great leader of our board.

Trevor Thiele. He is an Australian, and he's based in South Australia. He's quite close to our Mt. Roe Project. Trevor is our leader of our Audit Committee, he's a financial veteran in the resources, and primary industry sector in Australia. Very detailed, focused leader in the accounting sphere, and has a great business mind, and great business acumen and is a very strong director.

We have Richard Patricio, who is based in Toronto. Richard's a lawyer by training, and again he's a very strong strategic thinker, particularly on the legal side and awareness, and he's switched on and plugged in to the Toronto market, and the people there.

And finally, we have Karl Laufmann, who is a recent addition to our board. He's based in Perth, and Karl is in the financial industry. He has over 20 years of experience in capital markets in Australia, and internationally and is very well connected. And again, very strong on his strategic thinking and he's awareness of the market, and the gold, particularly the gold industry in Australia and in Western Australia in particular.

Maurice Jackson: Tell us about Christopher McFadden, what makes him qualified for the task at hand?

C. McFadden: I've been in the mining industry for over 20 years now. I'm a lawyer by training, and I started out in the Melbourne legal sector, particularly working in natural resources and energy. And initially, I worked as an in-house lawyer with Rio Tinto in Melbourne, and also in London. So in that 15 years, I was with Rio Tinto initially as a lawyer, and then for the last seven or eight years as a commercial general manager leading teams to transact large acquisitions, and large disposals, but also large joint ventures on the exploration sphere.

I managed to work across the globe in many commodities at various stages of exploration and development. So, I would say that with my global experience, and my experience negotiating joint ventures and managing joint ventures, and managing exploration projects in many places with many different people, and many different cultures with many different challenges, because no two projects are the same. I've been able to develop a very strong skill set in mining and exploration in particular.

Maurice Jackson: What can you share with us about the technical team?

C. McFadden: As a small company we have only one technical team member on full-time staff, and that's our VPX, Darren Lindsey. Darren is highly experienced in gold exploration around the world, with particular experience in Northern Canada, and Nunavut in particular. Darren has worked in across the all spheres of the gold sector. He's worked in majors, he's worked in juniors, and he's worked in development projects, and he's also been a CEO in a past life. So, he clearly understands capital markets, and what drives shareholders and what drives interest in juniors so, he's a wonderful member of our team. He's technically very experienced, and highly skilled, and very methodical and a clear thinker. So, he's a wonderful person to work with, and he's very excited about our projects and on working very hard to make that discovery.

Maurice Jackson: Let's get into some numbers here. Tell us about your share structure.

C. McFadden: It's a relatively simple structure. The company was recapitalized in early 2017; it was previously a shell company. We have done two capital raisings since that time so, we currently have approximately 80 million shares issued and outstanding. We have quite a number of warrants, there's about 45 million warrants, and about 7 million options. So, fully diluted, the total is roughly 130135 million on a fully diluted basis.

Maurice Jackson: How much cash or cash equivalents do you have?

C. McFadden: At this stage, about CA$5 million. We've completed a capital raise a couple of months ago, which has restocked us very nicely. So, we're quite well funded at this stage.

Maurice Jackson: And, what is your burn rate?

C. McFadden: We try to run very lean. Obviously, we don't have huge full-time staff so, our burn rate all in including my salary is just over a $1 million a year subject to travel requirements. And obviously, with projects in different parts of the world that can be one of our higher costs, but relatively low costs.

Maurice Jackson: Talk to us about the cash flow distribution, what is the ratio between cash spent, and tangible assets on the balance sheet?

C. McFadden: The primary focus is to put money into the ground into exploration. So, at least 7075% of our cash is spent on exploration.

Maurice Jackson: How much debt do you have?

C. McFadden: We have $0 debt.

Maurice Jackson: Who are some of your institutional investors?

C. McFadden: Primarily most of our shareholders are high net worth and we have individuals we know from our NexGen experience. So at this stage, we don't have any really large, dominating institutional shareholders.

Maurice Jackson: What is the float?

C. McFadden: It's relatively small because we have some very loyal and long-term shareholders, and so at this stage, I suggest perhaps a 2025% of the market cap would be the float.

Maurice Jackson: Are there any redundant assets such as a patent mining claim?

C. McFadden: No, there are not. At this stage, we really just have the two projects so it's very clean.

Maurice Jackson: Are there any change of control fees, and if there are what are the terms?

C. McFadden: No, there aren't.

Maurice Jackson: Alright, sir, you survived the storm. Mr. McFadden, multilayered question here. What is the next unanswered question for NxGold? When should we expect results, and what will determine success?

C. McFadden: It is a multilayered question there, that's a challenging question. We have a systematic approach to exploration. So, we're looking for results out of Mt. Roe in the next couple of weeks in terms of the lab results to just follow-up on our last announcement. And then, from there that will determine the work that's done, and then I suspect that if we're drilling or bulk sampling, there'll be results that will flow from that.

In terms of success, obviously, success would be a significant discovery, but it's probably a bit early to get there. If we're drilling, success will be a better understanding of our geological setting, and if we are pursuing those epithermal veins, well then if we can make some hits with those, that'll be incredibly successful and very powerful.

Maurice Jackson: Mr McFadden, what keeps you up at night that we don't know about?

C. McFadden: As a long-term mining person, one thing that does keep me up at night, obviously, is the safety where we get people in helicopters or working heavy machinery, that's all obviously a consistent stress. A big one for me is really Kuulu and getting land access there. That is one that is very important to us, because that is a significant project with great potential. That's what keeps me awake at night other than the constant concern about share price and share performance, which I think is a minute by minute concern for every mining industry professional.

Maurice Jackson: And last question, what did I forget to ask?

C. McFadden: That was a very comprehensive interview, Maurice, I'm not sure you forgot to ask anything, but one thing perhaps is just in terms of our market cap and the potential that we represent by being in the Pilbara, and also being with our Kuulu Project. If you compare us to some of the other players in the Pilbara, I think it's arguable that we are undervalued. With success I think there's great potential for our market cap to rise significantly. I think that's where the interest probably lies in our company, and the opportunity that our current, relatively low share price represents.

Maurice Jackson: Mr. McFadden, for someone listening that wants to get more information on NxGold, please share the contact details?

C. McFadden: I think the best place to start would be our website www.nxgold.ca. We have our corporate presentation on the website you can access. We obviously have access to past results, and we have profiles of our directors and senior management there as well, and hopefully it's comprehensive and easy for prospective investors, and those that are interested to follow.

Maurice Jackson: And as a reminder, NxGold trades on the TSXV symbol NXN. For direct inquiries, please contact Travis McPherson at 604.816.2686. He may also be reached at tmcpherson@nxgold.ca. NxGold is a sponsor of Proven and Probable and that we are proud shareholders for the virtues conveyed in todays interview.

And last but not least, please visit our website www.provenandprobable.com where we interview the most respected names in the natural resource space. You may reach us at contact@provenandprobable.com.

Christopher McFadden of NxGold, thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable.

Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.

Disclosure:

1) Christopher McFadden: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: NxGold. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: NxGold.

2) Maurice Jackson: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: NxGold. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: NxGold is a sponsor of Proven and Probable. Proven and Probable disclosures are listed below.

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Your lunchtime bulletin.

GET INFORMED ...

IRELAND: Gavin Duffy has secured the presidential nomination from Waterford City and County Council.

IRELAND: Weather watchers will have their eyes on the skies in the coming days as Hurricane Helene creeps closer to Ireland.

IRELAND: A desperate Meath mum has revealed her huge struggle to meet everyday living costs as she helps her teenage son battle a rare form of cancer.

WORLD: Hurricane Florence has already inundated streets on the US east coast with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power amid fears the storm will bring catastrophic freshwater flooding over parts of the Carolinas.

BUSINESS: Ryanair have signed a set of agreed principles with the three main cabin crew unions in Italy which, they say, will form the basis of a comprehensive Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).

SPORT: Cardiff manager Neil Warnock believes Harry Arter will patch up his differences with Roy Keane and play for the Republic of Ireland again.

... SOME DISTRACTION

SHOWBIZ: The new series of Big Brother will be the last to air on Channel 5, it has been confirmed.

VIRAL: Just when things couldn't get more dramatic between the Kardashian sisters Khloe has revealed that shed pick Kim, not Kourtney, to be her daughters legal guardian if something ever happened to her.

FEATURE: In 1918, the world faced an epidemic worse than the Black Death. The disease could not have arrived in Ireland at a worse time. The war meant that many doctors were at the front and there was no national health service. How well did the country cope? Robert Hume investigates
By Eamon Quinn

Official figures confirming very strong economic growth will give comfort to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe ahead of his budget but the jury is still out on whether the surge supports a potential increase back up to 13.5% from 9% in the Vat rate levied on hotels and tourism, economists said.

The CSO said the second- quarter figures were free of the huge distorting effects caused previously by multinationals shifting huge amounts of intellectual property into or out of their Irish companies.

The conventional measure of economic growth, GDP, used by the European Commission for budget-setting rules, showed the economy climbed 2.5% in the second quarter from the first quarter and surged 9% from a year earlier.

The 2.5% quarterly expansion was by far the fastest in Europe  posting a growth rate which was over six times the median for many other European countries in the same period.

That means the Government will have to revise its own annual growth projections. However, CSO senior statisticians said it was striking in the quarter that so-called modified measures of economic growth designed to reflect activity in the domestic economy without the distortions caused by the accounting by multinationals, told the same story of strong growth.

Construction and areas such as hotels and restaurants were up sharply in the quarter. Conall Mac Coille, chief economist at Davy, said that it would be a nitpicking exercise to find negative news in the second quarter figures, as jobs growth was clearly driving peoples income.

Investment in construction is up from a very low base and exports were up, he said, adding that fears that the tax cuts of US president Donald Trump would hurt the Irish economy hard had so far not been realised.

The international sector is not pushing the pause button in investment plans. That is good news, he said.

However, Mr Mac Coille said that the Brexit-driven weakness of sterling against the euro had brought some effect on Irish exports to the UK.

Austin Hughes, chief economist at KBC Bank said: We still have an artificially inflated GDP growth because of the particular buoyancy of the multinational sector and that remains in place.

There is also in these numbers signs of an improvement in domestic demand, particularly the pick-up in consumer spending and construction.

The broader economy is strengthening.

Alan McQuaid, chief economist at Merrion said that the Department of Finances GDP growth forecasts for this year were far too low.
By Eamon Quinn

Ireland along with three other EU countries are the most exposed to the UK crashing out of the EU without any deal, Moodys Investors Service reiterated in a report, as the UK government published a final huge batch of advice to businesses to plan for that worst outcome.

EU countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Cyprus, and Malta could experience negative consequences because of the strong links with the UK, the ratings firm said.

The trio of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta share the strongest links with the UK through supply chains, Moodys said.

In particular, Ireland sources nearly half of all imported intermediate goods for production processes from the UK. Following Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands have the most substantial flows of funds. Portfolio investments are most pronounced in relation to Ireland, while foreign direct investment positions vis-a-vis the Netherlands are a primary driver of those financial linkages with the UK, its report said.

On the UK exiting without a deal, Moodys said: The UKs withdrawal from the EU without an agreement to replace existing arrangements  a risk that has risen materially in recent months  would damage the UK economy and be credit negative for a range sectors and debt issuers in the UK and Europe.

We still think the UK and the EU will eventually reach an agreement to preserve many, but not all, of their current trading arrangements, particularly around trade in goods, said Colin Ellis at Moodys.

However, we believe the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without any agreement has risen materially, he said.
The Government is to invest 24 million towards a science, technology, engineering and mathematics facility at Dublin City University.

The development is part of a 50 million project that will support the growing demand for STEM graduates at DCU's Glasnevin campus.
Thousands of Irish people living in Britain will have their rights protected even if there is a no deal Brexit comes to pass next March.

The development was confirmed in one of 28 technical notices on Brexit published by Downing Street yesterday as Britain separately warned the EU it will refuse to pay its 44bn divorce bill if no Brexit deal is reached.

As Chief Justice Frank Clarke predicted that Ireland could become a safe haven for businesses, Britains department for exiting the EU assured Irish citizens living in Britain of their rights.

In a detailed briefing note, the department wrote: If you are an Irish citizen you would continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK, as now. You are not required to do anything to protect your status.

In addition, you would continue to enjoy the reciprocal rights associated with the common travel area in the same way that British citizens in Ireland would if there is no deal.

These rights include the right to work, study and vote, access to social welfare benefits and health services.

The clarity was given as British Brexit secretary Dominic Raab warned the EU that London will not pay its 44bn divorce bill if there is no deal.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Raab said that the government would not pay the terms of the financial settlement if there fails to be a Brexit deal, saying that theres no deal without the whole deal.

Ratings agency Moodys also separately warned that Ireland could be just as badly damaged by a no deal Brexit as Britain, saying we could bear a loss in output commensurate with that of the UK.

However, contradicting the claim, Mr Justice Clarke said Ireland could become a safe haven for businesses and international disputes if Britain leaves the EU as it will mean we will be the only common law EU member state.
Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon's welcoming a decision to halt the sale of the final Magdalene Laundry site in Dublin.

His motion at last night's meeting of Dublin City Council was backed by at least 80% of members.

It means the Sean McDermott Street site will not be sold to a Japanese hotel chain.

Tonight the elected members of DCC voted overwhelmingly to halt the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott St.



Im proud of my city & looking forward to ensuring an appropriate memorial is placed there to honour the victims & survivors of institutional abuse.   Gary Gannon TD (@GaryGannonTD) September 13, 2018

"The next step is we all go back into a room, the Lord Mayor had initiated a commission to decide on the custom memorial that is going to be placed in that location," said Mr Gannon.

"I'm really looking forward to taking part in that process and in fairness to the Lord Mayor he has been great on this issue so I am looking forward to working with him to ensure that we get a suitable memorial."

The last laundry to close, Sean McDermott Street closed in 1996.

The building was then transferred to the ownership of Dublin City Council.

The council had been considering selling the property on a two-acre site to a Japanese hotel chain.

At a special meeting on Thursday evening, 37 councillors voted to retain ownership, with just eight voting against and two abstaining.

Survivors of the Magdalene Laundries applauded from the public gallery as the result of the vote was read out.

A number of protesters had gathered outside Dublin Castle ahead of the debate.

Some held signs saying no sale, others held aloft posters which read our land is not yours to sell.

Proposing the motion last night, Mr Gannon said: We acquired that building in 1996 during a transfer sale with a religious order who previously owned it.

In doing so we became custodians not only of its bricks and mortar but its terrible legacy of torture, incarceration and abuse."

Digital Desk
By Cormac OKeeffe and Juno McEnroe

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said gardai policing a property repossession on Tuesday showed restraint in the face of physical and verbal abuse, but said the way in which face-covering hoods were used by the Public Order Unit was not correct.

In his first public statement in response to the policing controversy, the commissioner acknowledged concerns regarding the hoods, but only in the sense that they should have been worn with a helmet.

He did not accept claims by politicians of heavy-handed tactics and military-style policing and, from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), of disproportionate tactics.

His statement came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he, like a lot of people, didnt like to see a private security firm in balaclavas.

The men, acting for a landlord in executing a High Court order to repossess a property on Dublins North Frederick St, were captured on video and camera wearing balaclavas. Members of the Public Order Unit wore ski masks.

Mr Harris said An Garda Siochana respected the right of people to protest peacefully and that its role was to facilitate protest while protecting the right of others to do lawful work safely. He said a graduated approach was taken to policing of the event on Tuesday, and that at the start, three community policing officers attended.

As the atmosphere at the event grew more tense, a small number of public order officers were deployed to ensure public safety, he said.

The use of a fire-retardant hood by public order officers is a matter for the operational commander on the ground and is designed to protect the safety of our members based on a risk assessment.

However, the form of dress used at the event was not correct as it is policy that if it is deemed necessary to use the hood then it should be used in tandem with a protective helmet.

A directive has issued today from deputy commissioner, Policing and Security, to reinforce this requirement to all personnel.

Mr Harris said those who occupied the building left it peacefully, but a small crowd failed to leave the area and five people were arrested.

A number of protesters were hospitalised for injuries received during the repossession.

The commissioner said he has requested a report from the Dublin assistant commissioner to see what lessons can be learnt.

Last night, the ICCL tweeted: We welcome Commissioner Harris statement that the use of balaclavas by gardai at Frederick St was not correct. Were heartened that he has requested a report from Asst Commissioner Pat Leahy and ask that it be made public.
Four members of a Romanian organised crime group, suspected of carrying out commercial burglaries nationwide, have been arrested under anti-gang legislation.

A major Garda operation, involving more than 50 officers, resulted in the seizure of cash, electronic devices, including phones and a car key reader.

The garda team met for a briefing at 5.30am yesterday, drawing members from five divisions  Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, and Wexford.

They were supported by the South Eastern Regional Armed Support Unit and the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The operation was co-ordinated from the South Eastern Regional Organised Crime Unit under the direction of Detective Superintendent Michael Hennebry.

In raids commencing at 6.30am, 11 homes in the Enniscorthy area of Co Wexford were searched.

During the course of the searches gardai seized cash, electronic devices, including hones and satellite navigations systems, walkie-talkies, car key reader, a small quantity of cigarettes, and financial documents, said a Garda statement.

It said that assistance was received from the Dog Handing Unit attached to Customs at Rosslare Port during the searches.

Gardai arrested four people, three men (two in their 20s and one in his 30s) and one woman (in her 20s).

The four, all Romanian, were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. The provision they were detained under relates to knowingly participating in, or contributing to, the activities of an organised crime group.

It is thought the gang flies members in and out of the country, typically for a number of months, when they engage in criminality before being flown out and replaced by another crew.

The searches were made under Operation Thor, the dedicated initiative aimed at burglary gangs.

This outfit, it appears, was suspected of being behind a rising number of commercial break-ins to service stations and rural shops in which cash and cigarettes were stolen. Some 1,000 in cash was retrieved yesterday. A search and arrest operation is continuing.
There are significant deficits in the follow-up paediatric assessments provided to children identified with permanent hearing loss, a study has found.

A survey carried out by medical researchers showed more than 70% of consultant paediatricians expressed concern that a limitation on resources could pose a serious risk to children due to the potential for a missed or delayed diagnosis.

Less than half of paediatricians who see children with hearing loss said they had adequate opportunity to seek advice and second opinions for complex cases.

The current medical management of infants and children with PCHL in Ireland is inadequate and puts our most vulnerable at risk, the report said.

The study which is published in the latest edition of the Irish Medical Journal found that timely access for children suffering deafness to related services such as MRI scans, genetics and ophthalmology was also limited.

The Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Programme (UNHS), first piloted in Cork in 2011, was implemented nationally in 2014.

A total of 106 children were identified with permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL) in 2016  an incidence rate of 1.66 per 1,000 babies screened.

The study said it is estimated there are a similar number of older children with later diagnosis of hearing loss who also require assessment.

One of the reports authors, Dr Joanne Balfe of Tallaght University Hospital, said the screening programme was appropriately funded and resourced with specially trained screeners and audiologists.

However, Dr Balfe said the rollout of the UNHS programme did not include funding for associated paediatric services. In addition, no new consultant posts dedicated to deal with PCHL have been developed.

This survey indicated significant deficits in the availability of appropriately trained paediatricians to assess and manage infants in a timely fashion, which is in contrast to the equity and quality of the UNHS screening component, Dr Balfe said.

Under the programme, all infants with permanent childhood hearing loss should have a paediatric assessment performed promptly to determine the need for investigations for the cause of the hearing loss.

Early paediatric assessment allows the identification and management of potentially treatable causes and provides an opportunity to prevent or reduce disability, Dr Balfe said.

She claimed assessments also allowed doctors to identify other associated conditions including potentially fatal irregular heartbeat as well as liaising with agencies and organisations who would provide support services.

Dr Balfe said waiting times for an assessment should only be a few days but specifically within six weeks of birth to identify and treat a condition associated with hearing loss known as congenital CMV.

Less than a quarter of 37 consultant paediatricians surveyed said they could carry out assessments within that timeframe.

The survey found that the waiting time for assessments was beyond the recommended timeframe in the majority of cases: it averaged 14.4 weeks but in one case a child had to wait 52 weeks before being assessed.

The report also revealed that only 18% of paediatricians who assessed children said they had received specific PCHL training.
A new land agency will unlock state-owned sites for private development to facilitate the construction of thousands of affordable homes.

Acres of unused sites nationwide will be sold by the 1.25bn Land Development Agency (LDA), with the first homes potentially opening their doors in 2020.

The Government made the promises and said the commercial body would have real powers, could buy private lands and had already identified huge State land sites for development.

Initially, up to 10,000 homes are planned on sites such as Dundrums 35-acre Central Mental Hospital lands in Dublin and on the 14.5-acre St Kevins site in Shanakiel, Cork.

Agency CEO John Coleman, former finance officer with Nama, said from day one work can begin on delivering 3,000 homes on targetted sites. The first would be delivered in 2020, he said.

The Government is comparing the setting up of the LDA to the establishment of the ESB, IDA and even Aer Lingus.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy expects to bring names of the agencys new board to Cabinet next week. But legislation to give the agencys powers, including compulsory purchase orders, may not be passed until next year.

Under the plan, developers will have to agree to requirements such as ensuring the site has 30% affordable housing and 10% social housing.

This is the first time that such a requirement with state land has been put in place, this is the first time that such an agency with such a strategic focus on state land for the public good has been set up in Ireland, said Mr Murphy.

We are going to break the boom and bust cycle of housing that has so badly affected two generations of our people in recent history. To properly break that damaging cycle in housing, we have to alter our attitude and our approach to land.

The agency will have the flexibility to develop sites itself or to develop larger projects in joint partnerships with developers. It will unlock sites, such as hospital lands, barracks or depots, for development.

Initially, the land agency will deliver 3,000 homes on eight sites identified across the country. Nonetheless, the Government believes it could deliver as many as 150,000 homes over the next 20 years.

Pressed about how much an affordable home would cost, Mr Murphy said the target was that properties could be bought for 320,000 in Dublin and 250,000 outside the capital.

It is expected that the new agency plans to designate 30 developments zones or sites in Dublin as well as another 10 in Cork.

Speaking on RTE, Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin said the plan was more of Fine Gaels private sector-lead housing strategy that is failing to meet social and affordable housing need now.

Homeless charities, such as the Simon Community, questioned why almost two-thirds of new homes on the sites would be private.
The State must use the new 1.25bn Land Development Agency to finally unlock the potential of Corks docklands, which have capacity for some 15,000 homes.

That was the message from Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath last night as details of the agency and its target sites were announced.

The Cabinet was told yesterday that the agency believes Corks sprawling 300-acre docklands region has the potential to become one of the largest city regeneration programmes in Europe, with 15,000 homes and the potential to accommodate 25,000 jobs.

It has identified strategic landbanks in the north and south docks  both private and State-owned  including Irish Rail sites near Kent Station, Port of Cork lands at Tivoli, the former Ford site off Monahan Rd, which was bought from Nama by private developers recently, the ESBs power station on the Marina, and other sites owned by Bord na Mona and the National Oil Reserves Agency, which it believes could be used to ease the housing crisis.

The Cabinet was also told that building the Eastern Gateway bridge at Tivoli, proposed over a decade ago, is a vital piece of infrastructure required to open up the south docks for development.

Artist impression of The Eastern Gateway Bridge, part of the Dockland Development plan

Mr McGrath said: Theyve been kicking the tyres on the docklands project for years now but have failed to provide the kind of hard money and practical government support that is really needed to kickstart what could be a really exciting urban regeneration project.

The focus from Government has to be on delivery and this new announcement will be judged like all the other ones  by what it actually delivers on the ground.

Cork Chambers director of public affairs, Thomas McHugh, said the agency will improve the viability of strategic urban landbanks in the north and south docks.

Aerial shot of the damage caused by a fire at St. Kevins derilict building on Corks Northside. Picture Evan Shelly.

This is a key step in realising the vision of Cork as a high-density and vibrant second city region, he said.

That said, Government must continue to be responsive to market conditions beyond specific sites.

Delivery and viability across the sector must be key considerations for all Government departments.

The agency also plans to target the former St Kevins asylum site on Lee Rd, which was gutted in a suspected arson attack last year.

Sinn Fein councillor Thomas Gould, who has been calling for almost a decade for the site to be used for housing, gave a cautious welcome to the move.

Hopefully this new agency will be able to put a plan in place and deliver proper infrastructure to open up this site, he said.

But it will need money and delivery timelines, otherwise this will be just another quango.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald said the site is perfect for residential development given its location between UCC and CIT on the southside, and the large industrial estate in Hollyhill, which includes Apples European headquarters.

It will also need significant funds to address traffic and transport issues to make the development accessible and sustainable. But it will also increase the need for a northern ring road, he said.
By Christy Parker

A proposed wind farm development will have catastrophic consequences for a Co Cork towns public water supply, according to a health and safety expert.

Tom Morley, a retired mechanical engineer and a member of the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (Nebosh), made the observation at a public meeting in Youghal, hosted by Blackwater Valley Wind Aware.

The group opposes plans by German energy company Innogy, through its subsidiary Innogy Renewables Ireland Ltd and in partnership with Dublin-based Highfield Energy, to construct 25 wind turbines, 150m tall, on a 3,500-acre site at Lyrenecarriga. The site, in Coillte and private ownership, transects the Cork/Waterford border.

Objectors claim the development will negatively affect 274 homes.

Mr Morley warned the project would involve excavating hundreds of thousands of tons of rock and soil. He believed the excavations could equate to 40 tons of high tensile reinforcement steel per turbine base, plus over 25,000 tonnes of concrete in total. Over 18,000 tonnes also stand to be extracted for substations and roads.

He said the stockpiled residue would infiltrate underground and overground streams from where water is pumped upwards to an intake filter system at Boola before being dispensed to Youghals 8,000-approximate population.

It is a foregone conclusion, he said, that Youghals water will be contaminated, undrinkable, discoloured, silty, and muddy.

The engineer said the local authority would have to dredge blocked intakes and disinfect the water, resulting in Youghal water having a nasty taste and possibly being suspended for days on end.

Mr Morley further predicted that pressurisation on underground streams would raise the levels, flood the water basin, and subsequently contaminate private water wells nearby.

Waterford County Council was refused planning 18 years ago for a landfill facility in the area amid fears it would seep into underground streams.

Blackwater Valley Wind Aware chairman Paddy Massey said when he spoke to Innogy representatives, they seemed unaware of the water supply issue.

Meanwhile, Innogy is awaiting an An Bord Pleanala decision on designating the scheme strategic infrastructure development, enabling it to bypass local authority approval and go straight to the board.

The company says it is engaging with many project stakeholders to identify any risks associated with the project, which will take into account all environmental receptors, including water. It says further meetings with the local community are planned.

The action group is contesting Waterford councils executive refusal to amend its 2011 development plan to exclude wind farms at Lyrenecarriga.
Posted on: September 14, 2018 3:53 PM

Dioceses and congregations of the US-based Episcopal Church along the Carolina coast and further inland are offering guidance, resources and prayers to Episcopalians in the line of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall earlier today, bringing destructive winds, waves and rain. It is one of a number of responses to a range of extreme storms lashing countries from the Pacific to the Atlantic. In the Philippines, churches and schools are being used as evacuation centres as Typhoon Mangkhut wreaks havoc. Mangkhut is also affecting the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Islands.

The eye of Florence is on track to pass over or near Wilmington, North Carolina, with hurricane-force sustained winds before making its way across South Carolina and weakening over the next few days, according to a forecast from the US National Hurricane Centre. Authorities warn the worst damage could be from storm surge on the coast and steady rain, which have the potential to cause dangerous flooding.

Hurricane Florence is an uninvited guest, but she is just about here anyway, Governor Roy Cooper said Thursday morning, according to the Wilmington Star News. My message today: Dont relax. Dont become complacent. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today, the threat becomes a reality.

Episcopalians are taking that threat seriously. Services and church activities have been cancelled from the Episcopal Church in Okatie, South Carolina, near the Georgia state line to St Timothys Episcopal Church in Greenville, North Carolina. Diocesan officials have been in contact with Episcopal Relief & Development and are communicating emergency info to their church members. And many Episcopalians on the coast have heeded evacuation orders or else are hunkering down as the storm approaches.

There seems little doubt that Hurricane Florence is going to have a tremendous impact across the communities of our diocese, and many are projecting that it will be the most devastating storm that our state has experienced in decades, East Carolina Bishop Robert Skirving said on Wednesday (12 September) in a letter to the diocese, which includes coastal North Carolina.

Florence and Mangkhut are just two of a number of storms, hurricanes and typhoons currently lashing land across the globe: Gordon is attacking the Greater Antilles, Cuba, The Bahamas, and the US; Helene is affecting West Africa, Cape Verde, and the Azores; Isaac is bearing down on West Africa and the Lesser Antilles; and Olivia is impacting Hawaii; and Barijat is impacting the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Vietnam. Joyce is currently gathering pace off the Azores.

A high definition camera outside the International Space Station captured this stark and sobering view of Hurricane Florence at 7.50 am EDT (11.52 am GMT) on Wednesday 12 September:
Ryanair says there is still time to agree deals with unions and avert a major strike across four European countries later this month.

It made its comments yesterday as it announced plans to recruit and train up to 450 pilots under a new training programme at a Cork flight school over the next five years. The deal will create 50 jobs at Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA)  doubling the business.

The airlines marketing director, Kenny Jacobs, said despite the industrial unrest during the summer, increased staff costs as a result of union deals, and rising jet fuel costs, the airline has kept disruption to a minimum and kept fares low.

And he said despite the threat of strikes by airline staff in Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands on September 28, a deal with Italian unions announced yesterday can be replicated with unions in other countries over the next two weeks.

If there is disruption at all it would be very small, he said. I noticed a reported that this will be the biggest ever strike but there may be no strike because we will continue to meet these unions between now and September 28. There may be no strike and if there is it will be small and we will manage it.

He also said they plan to have industrial relations deals in all of its markets Christmas.

I expect we will get to Christmas with deals done with everyone  and that takes away the uncertainty, he said. The risk of disruption will go away  we will do deals with the unions.

Some 90% of Irish pilots have accepted the deal so you now see a very stable situation in Ireland. Across Europe it is the same  we have deals done with all of the big pilots unions and cabin crew unions.

He said Ryanairs management and board are serious about working with unions.

I think we have done an incredible job  we are only recognising unions for nine months. In those nine months we have deals done, collective labour agreements, with pilots and cabin crew unions in most of our markets. Other than that, life goes on, bookings go on and our customers keep booking cheap fares with us.

The new training programme with AFTA, worth an estimated 3m, will train pilots over 16-months from zero hours to ready to fly a Boeing 737.

Ryanairs head of crew training, Captain Andy OShea, insisted its pilots will have the best rosters in aviation, with captains earning up to 200,000 a year.

He also guaranteed job security as the airline begins to take delivery next year of the first of its new 201 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

AFTA managing director, Captain Mark Casey, described the new contract as monumental and transformative for the flight school.

The programme will give successful applicants a clear path towards a long and successful career as a Ryanair pilot, he said.

The airline plans to recruit up to 1,000 pilots per annum over the next five years. Tanaiste Simon Coveney hailed AFTA as a major success story.

AFTA has established itself as an industry leader in training and this announcement confirms that, he said.
By Joe Leogue

Students will next week protest outside a new student accommodation building in Cork over the housing crisis and its impact on those pursuing third-level education.

The joint demonstration by UCC and CIT students unions will follow a separate housing protest set to take place in Cork tomorrow.

The Accommodation Rally for Affordable Housing will start in UCC next Thursday at 11am.

Protesters plan to march from the campus to the recently opened Amnis House Student Accommodation, at the site of the former Esso petrol station on Western Road.

UCC Students Union deputy president Kelly Coyle said the housing situation in Cork is at breaking point.

What we have seen over the last couple of years is that rents have gone up while standards have gone down, said Ms Coyle.

The situation is at breaking point and students cannot take any more.

Ms Coyle said the demonstration will focus on Amnis House in protest at the cost of rooms, ranging from 210 to 225 a week, in the student accommodation complex.

Our worry is when more private student accommodation buildings come on the market in the next couple of years, they will all be charging the same amount, she said.

However, according to its website, all rooms in Amnis House are booked out for the forthcoming academic year.

Theres a difference between being willing to pay, and having to pay out of necessity, said Ms Coyle.

Weve spoken to students staying there who are doing so because they have no place else to go.

There are parents taking out second mortgages, students taking on extra jobs to pay these prices because there is nothing else available.

There is nowhere else to go, and just because rents can be set at these prices doesnt make it morally right; students have enough to be paying for, she said.

Ms Coyle said the Students Union is hoping to generate momentum behind the movement in Cork ahead of a national demonstration next month, when unions across the country will join forces in Dublin to protest the lack of housing availability.

Meanwhile, People Before Profit has organised a protest for Cork City tomorrow following the events in North Frederick St in Dublin this week. Demonstrators are expected to gather on Grand Parade from 2pm.
Embedding weights in hairstyles and hems of clothing to conceal their true weight are among the lengths patients with an eating disorder will go to to hide their illness, doctors at a special treatment unit in Sligo University Hospital (SUH) have found.

A paper published in the Irish Medical Journal (IMJ) highlights the difficulties doctors and nurses face when trying to treat eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness.

Entitled The Experience of the Management of Eating Disorders in a Pop-up Eating Disorder Unit, the paper outlines a variety of sabotaging behaviour that patients engaged in, including

Hiding batteries in sanitary towels on weighing days

Gripping of scales with toes

Animated conversation or typing vigorously on a laptop or vigorous tooth-brushing to micro exercise  requests for windows to be opened in order to shiver/micro exercise

Not going to the toilet on weighing days

Food concealment

The unit at SUH was set up in 2014 and has treated 20 acutely ill patients, 18 female, mean age 22.

Patients are nursed in a ward with continuous cardiac monitoring, one-to-one continuous supervision, complete bed rest and careful calorie monitoring. However, because the patients are often inventive in their resistance to treatment, the paper says a cross-disciplinary approach is needed to manage them safely in a general hospital setting.

The paper describes how a separation period is enforced whereby phones, computers and electronic equipment is removed from the patient, as staff have experienced cases of bullying by peers on electronic devices.

The paper concludes that multidisciplinary cooperation and communication is essential for successful outcomes and that collaboration, appropriate clinical skills and patience are the keys to success with this cohort of patients.

Separately, an evaluation of services at the Eating Disorder Clinic Cork (EDCC), which offers support to people aged 12-60, has found a high level of satisfaction among clients.

The report, due for launch at UCC today, notes a 95% satisfaction rating.

Anorexia Nervosa was the most common diagnosis and the average onset age of eating behaviour disorders was 14.5 years. The average age of diagnosis was 20.

Clients said they encountered a number of ongoing challenges in recovering from their eating disorders including uncertainty around diagnosis, comorbidities (such as anxiety and depression), financial burden, hospitalisation, underemployment, and absenteeism from work, college or school.

The report, by Dr Cormac Sheehan, research officer Department of General Practice, UCC and psychologist /researcher Grace Kelly, recommends an integrated care approach to treating eating disorders and that the EDCC invest in other areas of activity outside of the one-to-one counselling offered.
Three men are being quizzed on suspicion of drug trafficking and an impounded yacht is being searched under armed guard following a multi-agency intelligence-led operation off the coast.

Garda forensic experts were combing the French-flagged Sun Magic 44-type yacht at Castlepark Marina in Kinsale, Co Cork, last night, where it remained under armed guard alongside a Customs cutter.

It is understood that no drugs have been found so far, but the finger-tip search is ongoing and could take some time.

It is also understood that data from navigational equipment and communications devices found on board will play a key role in the investigation.

The period of detention of the three men who were arrested on board as it sailed off the southwest coast was also extended last night.

They are being detained in Bandon Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 of the Drugs Trafficking Act and can be held for up to seven days.

The yacht was intercepted early yesterday morning by a Irish Naval Service vessel, the LE Eithne, off the southwest coast.

It is understood that it had sailed across the Atlantic from South America.

It is also understood that the vessel had been under surveillance for some time as part of an operation involving gardai, Revenue Customs, the Irish naval service, and the Irish air corps.

The vessel was tracked and monitored by an Irish air corps Casa aircraft as it neared the Irish coast.

It provided crucial information as the LE Eithne closed in, before an armed boarding party was dispatched to board the suspect vessel.

Gardai search the Sun Magic 44 model yacht. Picture: Dan Linehan

They arrested three men on board before taking control of the vessel and sailing it under escort into Kinsale Harbour, where it was tied up alongside the Revenue Customs cutter Faire.

Meanwhile, the LE Eithne remained off Kinsale, guarding the harbour.

A security source said the entire operation had a high level of operational security.

A statement from Revenue confirmed its officers involvement in the operation but declined to comment further for operational reasons.

However, chief superintendent Con Cadogan described the operation as ongoing and fluid and said that, as well as searches of the vessel, searches on land were also taking place.

He said the entire investigation will take some time.
By Joe Leogue

The Government attempted too much too soon when it tried to introduce water charges, according to a new report on the failed efforts to implement a tariff as part of the establishment of the Irish Water utility.

The finding is one of the conclusions made by the Whitaker Institute, a NUI Galway-based organisation that yesterday hosted a conference on How (Not) To Do Public Policy.

During the conference, it presented findings on the States success in implementing the local property tax and failure to introduce water charges.

Jim OLeary, senior research fellow at the Whitaker Institute and author of the report, argued that the Governments attempt to design Irish Water in such a way that it would pass the Eurostat test  thus allowing the utility to independently borrow to finance its investment programme  was a treacherous policy.

That effort to classify Irish Water as a utility outside the general government sector was challenging, Mr OLeary suggested, due to Eurostats complex and elusive classification methodology, one that was not adequately anticipated by Irish policy-makers.

The objective of passing the Eurostat test also had strong and unhelpful implications for water charges. In simple terms, it meant that the average household charge had to be higher than it would otherwise have been, said Mr OLeary.

Policymakers failed to appreciate the scale of the regime change being attempted and to design a set of suitable arrangements that would have eased and lengthened the transition.

A sense of trying to achieve too much too soon is suggested by the approach to the tariff Structure, said the report. The same is true of the overall water sector reform programme.

All in all, in examining policy on water, our reading of the evidence is that it was driven by a vision that would have been more appropriate for a 710 year timeframe than a 35 year period.

The report said there was a serious disconnect between policy design and implementation unlike in the case of the local property tax, which was successfully introduced because its design was infused with a keen awareness of the importance of anticipating implementation challenges.

Meanwhile, UCDs Department of Environmental Policy also launched a report yesterday on the factors influencing the failure of domestic water charges in Ireland.

The reports authors, Peter Clinch, UCDs professor of Public Policy, and UCD researcher Anne Pender, found that the protests against water charges were representative of 30% of all Irish households, at most.

It said the other 70% paid for water services, either as Irish Water customers, via group water schemes, or by privately funding their own wells and wastewater treatment.

The UCD report identified five factors that helped generate the opposition to such charges: whether water services are perceived as public, private, or social goods; levels of public trust in Government; personal values; framing of water charges policy; and the timing of the introduction of water charges.

The campaign [against charges] appears to have won the PR battle to present water services as a social good rather than an economic one and took advantage of falling trust in Government around the time of the economic crisis, said Prof Clinch.
Irish duo Domhnall Gleeson and Lenny Abrahamson are back together for a gothic horror story set in an old English house, writes Esther McCarthy

Having worked together on eccentric Frank, Domhnall Gleeson and Lenny Abrahamson again join forces with a very different project.

In gothic ghost story The Little Stranger, Gleeson plays Dr Faraday, a man called to assist at Hundreds Hall, owned by the Ayres family for generations. There, in 1940s England, he finds a household in decline and a family in turmoil.

For Abrahamson, back to work following an extended Oscars campaign for Room (it was nominated for four, including the director himself, and won best actress for Brie Larson), it offered him the chance to immerse himself in something different.

Id read the novel when it came out and Id wanted to do it since then, he said. It was just such a whirlwind, the whole Room thing, and it was really good for me to just be able to say Whats the fixed point? and it was to just proceed with the plan as it had been beforehand.

Even though there are things out there and things get sent, it isnt like theres a ready made pile of extraordinary projects. The projects Ive been developing for a reason and thats because I really care about them. That doesnt change.

Though in some ways The Little Stranger feels like a departure Abrahamson has always mixed it up, telling different stories ever since he first captured our attention with the terrific Adam & Paul, about two Dublin heroin users.

This is different in many respects, thats for sure. Its period, its a drama which has a ghost story aspect to it. I dont think Ive directed it like a genre piece. Certainly some of the advertising for it emphasises those aspects. And there is a gothic dimension for sure.

I think there are things about it that are similar to the previous films. Characters who dont know themselves very well, Ive always been interested in those. Its there in What Richard Did, its there in Frank.

The movie, also starring Ruth Wilson and Charlotte Rampling, sees him return to work with Gleeson, who joked the filmmaker is like the Horse Whisperer in always knowing what to say to inspire his cast.

Its sad to say but sometimes you find yourself protecting yourself on set a little bit because youre unsure of what is required or youre unsure of what people want, said Gleeson. So youre like: Maybe Im exposing myself in a way that isnt a good thing. When Lennys walking over with an idea or a note, Im always excited about that, Im happy, because I know its going to help. Its going to open things up and make things more exciting or more clear. Thats not always the way.

CHANGING ROLE

Domhnall Gleeson with director Lenny Abrahamson and co-star Ruth Wilson. Picture: Brian McEvoy

The actor was originally offered another role in the film, he said, before approaching Abrahamson about the character of Dr Faraday, who in the novel is in his forties (Gleeson is 35).

With Domhnall Id always take that seriously because I know he wouldnt have said it, wouldnt have been interested in it, if he didnt have a really big taste in his mouth about it, says Abrahamson. I was convinced and we got Lucinda Coxon, the screenwriter, to shift the story around a little just to allow that to work. I think what it does is, for a contemporary audience particularly, is it allows the relationship between Faraday and Caroline to hold for longer as a real possibility.

It created an energy in the centre of the film that I think is really important.

Gleeson adds: I was just kind of fascinated by him from the opening page. A lot of the time the action thats written in scripts, as opposed to the dialogue, is incredibly boring. Lucinda had written this brilliant script, the action that was there was really important.

The way they would just describe moments with Faraday, I found the ambiguity of it not confusing, but compelling. That there was more there, it wasnt just ambiguous for its own sake. Its important to wonder whats going on underneath because he doesnt know himself. I just got drawn into that world and then obviously the notion of being on set with Lenny everyday for a prolonged period of time is just incredibly attractive. The material just felt so deep, it felt so full. And I knew that Lenny was the right person, always, to explore something where theres more than meets the eye.

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE

In the movie, Gleeson again presents us with a convincing English accent. Its something he seems to have perfected in numerous roles recently, and Abrahamson revealed that the actor likes to stay in accent between takes on a shoot.

I had a couple of bad-accent incidences when I was younger, he says. As time went on I realised it was just not something I wanted to worry about. It just felt to me like less of a gamble. Its just about not having to go: Oh shit, whats the accent? before the start of a take, or scrap the take because your accent wasnt good. Its the worst.

On this one the accent is very particular, and probably about the trickiest one Ive done. Theres a bit of Warwickshire in there so its not just posh English. There are a couple of country vowels in there, but it cant feel like an accent where youre constantly surprised by it, cos thats just distracting.

Abrahamson will soon start work on an adaptation of Sally Rooneys acclaimed new novel, Normal People, which has been long-listed for the Booker Prize.

The TV series centring on two people from the West of Ireland, produced by Element Pictures, will be made for BBC Three. Why did he feel it would work best on the small screen?

Its episodic in a way because it moves through time over the course of a number of years, and theres something about being able to look in real detail at very specific conversations they have, at days they spend together.

I feel like I dont want to be pigeonholed as somebody who does book adaptations, but its for television which is a little bit different, and its just so good I couldnt not do it.

Shes an amazing writer, Sally Rooney, because she writes in a very simple way about very real things yet its just so rich and insightful. This is a film about two young people falling in love. Its the first time in many years that Ive read something which captures what that really is like.

In the meantime, however, his focus if very much on the goings-on in a strange house in England.

The Little Stranger opens in cinemas next Friday
By Ellie OByrne

ACTOR and playwright Karen Cogan is revisiting her roots in Drip Feed, her self-scripted one-woman show set in Corks gay scene in 1998.

Drip Feed, Cogans second play, tells the story of Brenda, a lesbian woman in her thirties living a life at once hedonistic and lost, looking for love and finding rejection in Irelands second city, in an era where homophobia was still rife.

I had the idea that I wanted to revisit the feeling of 1990s Cork, Cogan says.

Post-divorce referendum, pre-marriage-equality referendum was a really interesting cultural moment for the queer community in Ireland.

Now in her 30s and having lived in London for the past 11 years, Cogan was in her teens when she came out and began frequenting Corks handful of LGBT haunts in the late 1990s. Although informed by her experiences, Brendas story is not her own; she says her memories of the time are coloured by youthful excitement.

My awareness was quite teenage and unclear, she says. They were letting people into Sir Henrys nightclub underage and I remember it all as super exciting, but in hindsight of course it was extremely small and limiting.

A smattering of bars and clubs catered to Corks LGBT community in the 90s: Loafers bar on Douglas Street, since closed, was a hub and the only visibly gay bar in the city for many years, while clubs like Sir Henrys were a mixed crowd, but gay-friendly. The Other Place on South Main St and, years later, LINC (Lesbians in Cork), offered community supports, health advice and social opportunities.

But the flip-side of this burgeoning sense of community was the ever-present homophobia. So many of my friends experienced horrendous homophobia in the streets, Cogan says. Theres a moment in the play where Brenda recounts being spat at by a man in the street while shes holding hands with her girlfriend. Thats something that really happened to a friend of mine, who was 18 at the time.

Cogan left Cork in 2002 and lived in Dublin for five years before going to London to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). It had been her ambition to act since childhood, and her second attempt at getting one of RADAs notoriously competed-for places: she previously auditioned at 17, and didnt get in.

Yet now, eight years after her graduation, shes making waves as much as an emerging playwright as an actor. Her first play, The Half Of It, picked up a Stewart Parker Trust Award last year following a sold out Dublin run.

Dripfeed itself has been commissioned by a production company for television development and just enjoyed a run in Edinburgh. She has several other ambitious writing projects on the go.

I find myself not wanting to take up loads of my writing time with acting. This could be transient, I dont know. I might go back to acting on other peoples projects in the future. I dont want to be negative, but there were just a lot of disappointing scripts: a lot of it is still very male-centric.

Oh Duubliin Friiiinge the shoows the shoows are caalling..

My Ireland antenane are up & I can't wait to get home for @dublinfringe @oonaghmurphy & I are taking Drip Feed to @projectarts for 5 SHOWS ONLY and we would like it to be a party. COME! #DripFeedhttps://t.co/MgNtvFT5pq  Karen Cogan (@KarenMCogan) August 30, 2018

Ever since the Waking The Feminists campaign shone a spotlight on imbalanced gender representation in Irish theatre in 2016, theres been an increased awareness that theatre hadnt exactly offered a diversity of voices, and Cogan says the same is true in the UK.

Theyve just published a study to see how many female playwrights are being put on big stages, and its still shocking, she says. Change is in the ether, but its still slow. Not to get too political but the structures were working with are inherently patriarchal. Its going to take time and it cant just be women and queer people pushing for change: it has to come from the top.

It was, then, partly her quest for female roles real enough in their flaws that set her on her current writers trajectory. You hear a lot from male writers on the grotesqueness of bodily functions and this kind of inner monologue of the male mind. Its still not so normal to hear that from the female perspective. I really wanted to go deep into Brendas heart and mind, and the awfulness of her in many ways.

Drip Feed by Karen Cogan runs during Dublin Fringe Festival from Sept 19-22 in the Project Arts Centre. www.fringefest.com
Posted on: September 14, 2018 2:34 PM

Bishop Urbano Duarte, an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Northern Argentina, died in hospital this week after a short illness. Almost 1,000 people gathered for his funeral and burial in his home town of Potrillo on Tuesday, the day after the 67-year-old bishop died in hospital.

Noticeable among the mourners, including Wichi and Toba [indigenous] Christians, from the Anglican and other churches, were many schoolteachers, who paid a glowing tribute, The Diocesan Bishop of Northern Argentina, Nick Drayson, said. Whenever Urbano Duarte was around we knew there would be peace  he was a gentleman and a quiet leader.

Urbano grew up in village of El Yuto, where he came under the influence of the pastor, Felipe Gutierrez, who subsequently trained him for the ordained ministry, and whose shoes he filled when Felipe died in 1999.

El Yuto was abandoned due to flooding in 1999, and Urbano accompanied Felipe and his people to Potrillo, where they established a church in Barrio Nuevo  the new neighbourhood.

Urbano was also a trained schoolteacher, much loved for his quiet and thorough manner, and specialised in helping children with studies in their own language, Wichi Lhamtes, which is taught by law alongside the Spanish curriculum.

When school Number 433 was rebuilt with a modern building, the government asked the community if they would like any other improvements, and Urbano asked for a new church. This was inaugurated in the presence of the provincial authorities in 2013, and was subsequently the site of the consecration of the indigenous bishops in 2016 and the funeral of Urbano in 2018.

Bishop Nick was referring to the consecration of three indigenous bishops: Urbano, a Wichi; Bishop Crisanto Rojas, another Wichi, and Bishop Mateo Alto, a Toba. They have paid moving tributes to the friendship and depth of their colleague, as they have shared in many journeys, and ministry together these three years, including two trips to Peru for conferences, Bishop Nick said. Urbano was well-known to be the one who travelled most to far-flung communities and was most in contact by phone with church members and leaders.

He was skilled at resolving disputes, listening, and encouraging, and enjoyed receiving new members and opening new churches! A well-known Catholic priest who spoke at his funeral described Urbano as a real Wichi, and a real Christian. He will be greatly missed.

Bishop Urbano leaves a wife, Lucia, and five children.
In 1918, the world faced an epidemic worse than the Black Death. The disease could not have arrived in Ireland at a worse time. The war meant that many doctors were at the front and there was no national health service. How well did the country cope? Robert Hume investigates

A very sad coincidence

The Cork Examiner reported the story of two young men from Grattan Street  aged 17 and 21  next-door neighbours and former schoolmates, who had been struck down with influenza on the same day. When their illness worsened, they were taken to hospital together. On 20 July 1918, at the very same time, 7.30 a.m., they both died. The sickness often took hold with startling speed: John Kavanagh from Dublin was in good spirits one day, threatening to cut off his friends hair with shears, but dead by eleven oclock next morning.

Royal Cork Yacht Club member, Patrick Doherty, succumbed in only five hours. Timothy Hegarty, a young man from Curragh Road, Cork, suddenly died on his way to the chemist on 15 July. In Belfast a dancer dropped dead on stage.

Whats in a name?

The illness was nicknamed the Spanish lady because it was first recorded in Spain. Offended Spaniards dubbed it the Naples soldier, and the Japanese called it American influenza.

Blitzkatarrh was the name the German army used; while for British and Irish troops it was Flanders grippe. Where it came from nobody knew. Some said a military camp in Kansas, or Etaples, northern France; others blamed mustard gas and battlefield fumes, or a German biological weapon. One recent study suggests it originated from chickens and ducks in China, and was transported by labourers to the Western Front.

Sickly symptoms

Sore throat, headache, fever and black skin proved telltale signs. Seamus Babbington from Carrick-on-Suir recalled: I got it bad and was in bed for a month, and the blackest man in Africa was not blacker.

Influenza arrives in Ireland

Troops sailing home took the flu into Dublin and Cork. The first recorded outbreak was on USS Dixie off Cobh in May.

From the ports the disease swept across Ireland in three waves: mild in spring 1918; lethal in autumn 1918; and moderate in early 1919.

The Freemans Journal described its arrival in military terms as the advance guard of an invasion of disease, against which health authorities would have to direct their barrage. In October 1918 The Cork Examiner recorded it spreading at an alarming rate: Scarcely a household in Clonakilty did not have at least one person in bed with flu. At Carrigaline no letters were delivered owing to the local postman being confined to his room with the disease. Many policemen were laid up in Tipperary; and all over Ireland the number of prison warders off sick was thought to make escapes more likely. Doctors were on foot night and day, reported the Tipperary Star, but were baffled how to cope with the mysterious malady.

A shortage of gravediggers in Dublin meant coffins being stacked 18-high in the Union Hospital mortuary. In Falcarrach, Donegal, the priest took a corpse to the graveyard in a wheelbarrow because relatives were too weak to help.

The top scientists of the day considered the disease was carried by bacteria and was no more deadly than the Russian Flu of 1889-92. Consequently the authorities did not make it notifiable until the third outbreak in spring 1919. Only in 1933 was it identified as a virus (H1N1A).

Today, flu is especially dangerous for the very young and the elderly, but the Spanish Flu mainly affected those aged 25-35, still in vigour, as The Cork Examiner put it.

Irelands response: Admirable advice

A man prepares anti-flu spray for London buses.

Public authorities must reorganize their services at once, be mentally alert and physically active, declared The Freemans Journal on 8 November. But it acknowledged that 90 year-old Sir Charles Cameron, Superintendent of Public Health, lacked the energy and physical powers necessary to deal with the task. Dublin GP, Kathleen Lynn, called for returning soldiers to be quarantined, as in Australia, and their uniforms fumigated to avoid infecting family and friends.

The inside of the nose should be washed with soap and water, recommended the Limerick Leader.

Dublin householders were encouraged to wash their floors with Americus disinfectant, and flush the toilet with carbolic. Streets were sprayed with Jeyes fluid, and trams and railway carriages scrubbed, though authorities stopped short of generously spraying passengers with disinfectant, as happened in Spain. Nor was handshaking or kissing outlawed, as in Arizona and Richmond, Virginia.

Meetings of large groups of people risked spreading the disease; therefore markets, fairs and election rallies were called off.

Many local boards of health recommended that schools be closed. But headteachers were slow to comply since the disease was described as virulent but not dangerous.

Theatres were shut in Cork City, and the Lunatic Asylum banned all visitors  except to the dying.

Limerick City ordered cinemas to close their doors; dances were cancelled in Fermoy, Co. Cork for several weeks; and the GAA final between Tipperary and Wexford was postponed.

Meaningless measures

Emergency hospital, Camp Funston, Kansas, 1918.

Much of the advice offered, such as the avoidance of overcrowding in dwellings and good food was either impractical or spurious.

A Dublin doctor rather worryingly recommended lozenges containing formaldehyde; while his archbishop called people to earnest prayer, to deliver them from danger. Better that churches had closed, as in Canada, France and Switzerland.

One government official asked people to clean their teeth regularly, another to chew onions; while the News of the World suggested readers eat plenty of porridge.

As a young girl, Molly Deery from Lifford, Donegal, recalls being told to keep to the side of the road if someone in a house had it.

Pointless potions

Lack of scientific knowledge and clear government advice left the door open for unscrupulous companies to exploit peoples fears.

Gallahers maintained that a pinch of their High Toast snuff would prevent influenza. Another expensive product, Genaspirin, maintained that it thoroughly repulses influenza attacks; while a mouthwash promised: you cannot catch influenza if you use MILTON. Thompsons Influenza Specific claimed to act like magic; and Dr Williams Pink Pills for Pale People promised a miraculous cure.

Impact on Ireland

Although nothing compared to the Great Famine, Spanish Flu in Ireland was responsible for many more deaths than the Easter Rising, War of Independence and Civil War combined. For those spared, writes Dr Caitriona Foley (The Last Irish Plague, 2011), recovery was a long and frustrating process some never regained full strength or vitality.

A terrible toll: Spanish Flu in numbers
Esther McCarthy caught up with actress Ruth Wilson as she jetted into Dublin for the premiere of Lenny Abrahamsons latest movie, The Little Stranger.

When Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson sought a female lead for his eagerly awaited follow-up to Room, he looked no further than Ruth Wilson.

The top British actress, he felt, would bring layers and mystery to Caroline Ayres in The Little Stranger, the story of a troubled family living in a house which may hold a dark secret.

Who better than the reliably great Wilson, who has brought depth to such characters as the genius psychopath Alice in Luther, the complicated Alison Lockhart in The Affair, and Marisa Coulter in the forthcoming adaptation of His Dark Materials.

I think its pretty much that you read it and go: Oh, that intrigues me or: Thats different to what I did last time, she says of choosing her roles.

It can be a combination of things. Then there are other characters where you go: Shes a mystery. Like Marisa Coulter in His Dark Materials. Shes described as the mother of all evil. Well thats great to play! A cesspit of moral filth  brilliant! I want to know what that is, she says.

We meet in Dublin just hours before the European premiere of The Little Stranger, where shes looking forward to beingreunited with Abrahamson and co-star Domhnall Gleeson.

She laughs when I tell her both men had paid her the ultimate Irish compliment, that shes great craic.

During the filming of it we didnt really go out much, didnt have much opportunity to have a laugh.

But last week we were in New York when it was opening there. And we went out afterwards and had a great fun time.

It was funny because certainly in that film, there are a lot of repressed people on the screen. Those characters are deep, theyre hiding things, they dont understand themselves, theres conflict or trauma in them.

So its really important to have some banter and lightness around it. Even when we werent acting there was a certain intensity inside the set, inside the environment.

It wasnt the most lighthearted filmmaking experience that Ive had but theyre really funny. We had a great old time last week and I hope to have one tonight as well.

She is simple elegance personified in gold heels, white cut-off trousers and a cream blouse when we meet to talk about her career.

Although she has certainly become known for playing complex women, she says she primarily seeks out stories which surprise and intrigue her, and that was what she felt from Abrahamsons film.

It was partly that I didnt understand it. I knew that it was good, that it was interesting, I loved the characters. But I didnt quite understand it and I was mystified it.

"It also got under my skin, there was something unnerving about it. Thats what drew me in. I thought: This is unusual and I want to keep digging at it. Its sort of a mix of things and thats intriguing. It kind of darts on the line of all sorts of genres. Its like nothing else youve read.

In the movie, adapted from the bestselling novel, Gleeson plays Dr Faraday, a GP called to the home of the Ayres family in 1940s Warwickshire.

He befriends the once-wealthy family whose home is now crumbling down around him, while trying to win the affections of Wilsons Caroline in the multi-layered mystery.

It wasnt a normal romance and it didnt play out like a normal romance, says Wilson.

Its about patriarchy, its about class, theres so much going on that you could lean into any of those themes in a scene. These people are so different as well, really odd birds.

A lot of that is relevant now, that toxic masculinity, or toxic patriarchy that Caroline was feeling adverse to, even though she didnt really understand it. I dont think she comes to any clarity until near the end of the film. Shes stuck in a social order which she hates and which keeps her, in a way, burdened and claustrophobic.

She enjoys playing such interesting women as Caroline and others.

To me thats what its about. Everybody has multi layers to them, no ones purely good, no ones purely evil. More and more I get more excited by that.

Unfortunately I have a brain which will go into that anyway, even if its not on the page. I think Ive trained my brain to become more curious in that way and look at it that way.

I find it quite awkward and self-conscious to just say a line as me. I cant do that.

Growing up with three older brothers, Wilson didnt realise that a career as an actor was a possibility when she was younger. Her mother sent her and her siblings to a drama club just to get us out of the house and even though she joined drama societies at college, it was history that she studied.

I was not sure I just didnt know how to get into the industry, she says, adding that her family find the world of her career: Completely bizarre. But theyre dead proud.

In a way its good, it grounds me. When I go back home, we dont talk about my world.

But they have been kept involved in her next project, a three-part series based on an astonishing secret within her own family. Her beloved paternal grandmother, Alison Wilson, discovered upon her husbands death that he led a double life, a secret her family only learned when she passed.

Now the story is being dramatised in a series, Mrs Wilson, with Ruth playing her grandmother on screen.

She tells the extraordinary story which inspired the project, which she is also executive producing.

My grandmother wrote a memoir which was written in two parts and left them to us when she died. She died when I was 22, so I knew her really well  apart from this massive secret of her life, which shed kept to herself.

She married Alexander Wilson, who was my grandfather, and it turned out that he was a spy in the interwar years. He wrote 27 spy novels and he had many wives who he never divorced, and they never knew about each other,she says, adding that she believes her grandmother knew of one other woman, but others have since been uncovered.

See photos from last night's European Premiere of @TLSmovie in association with Pathe and #VMDIFF19. A wonderful first event to celebrate our new title sponsorship with @VirginMediaIE. Huge thank you to @lennyabrahamson, cast & crew for a wonderful night https://t.co/mKZ6fForD3 pic.twitter.com/xU05MTHSt2  Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (@DublinFilmFest) September 13, 2018

We found out a lot more since she died, and we have since met all these other family members. My dad has met all these half brothers and half sisters. All of the wives died, and all of them kept the secret.

Its been really fascinating  its been down to the next generation to discover it. So this drama is inspired by my grandmothers memoir, its through her point of view.

Making the drama, also starring Keeley Hawes, Iain Glen and Cork-born actor Fiona Shaw, has been a profound experience, she agrees. Its the hardest thing that Ive ever done.

I executive produced it as well, got it going, so I was there from the beginning.

I got the siblings to read the script before we started filming, kept them well informed. I had this adrenaline flowing through me all the time.

It felt like she was sitting in me, or whatever. The journey was pretty weird.

The time I was filming in the 60s, when she was finding things out, I found really hard. There were moments when Id be sitting thinking about my grandmother and feeling enormous pity and affection for her, what she had to go through. It was an incredible experience.

Wilson also confirmed recent speculation that she will not be in season five of The Affair but said her departure was not connected to any pay parity issue.

She has spoken in the past of about the issue but also feels its complex.

Its difficult in our industry, because its grey and because its based on value and how do you measure value? Do you measure it by the work youve done?

"Do you measure it by how popular what youve done is? Do you measure it by the amount of awards youve got? How do you measure value? Its very hard. I dont know.

At the moment we have more confidence to fight for more, when we wouldnt have done before, or wouldnt have even considered that we were getting paid so substantially less.

The Little Stranger opens in cinemas on September 21.
September is the new January. But,without the festive burnout, increased waistlines and frantic Google searches to locate several recipes as to how best to use up/conceal the leftover turkey in each and every meal.

Everything is crisper and more golden. No longer do we have to run the gauntlet of leaving the bedroom windows open at night, in the hope of reducing the temperature in the sweatbox which we appear to have slept in during the summer months.

No more shouting my personal pest control into wakening by hissing, Do you hear that? That buzzing? Turn on the light! Im pretty sure its a mosquito/mythical winged creature/hound of hell! GET RID OF IT!

For the most part, September is the month which gets it right. It is a beautifully worded apology making amends for the erratic weather of previous months.

It heralds the beginning of the cosy season. You can wear clothing, actual layers, without feeling as if you have been put on a timeout in a sauna, bedecked in thermals with hidden hot water bottles sewn into the fabric.

I have never been one for new year resolutions but in recent years I have looked upon September as a veritable clean slate. A fresh start.

The kids go back to school with pristine, fully stocked pencil cases and bags  spoiler, this wont last.

In fact, prepare yourself for the notes to begin, advising you to replenish said supplies regularly. Because, it is apparent my children eat glue sticks and twistables.

It is the onlylogical explanation as to how quickly the aforementioned dwindle in number. Or completely vanish.

Candles, casseroles and jumpers; this is where my allegiance lies. The sweet, sweet knowledge that you do not have to suffer through another barbecue for at least a year.

Or have to nod your approval at charred burgers and limp sausages whilst inhaling noxious fumes from citronella torches. Give me a hearty stew, a syrupy glass of red and a robust period drama as the nights draw in over al fresco, salmonella-threatening soirees any day.

Then there is the telly. Like A/W fashion, it is just better than its summer sister. The sparse schedules of the previous months become plump with luscious offerings.

If there was a klaxon to sound off the beginning of such glorious tellybox programming, it would surely belong to that of The Great British Bake Off

GBBO is a veritable balm for the soul. A refuge from the woes and stresses of everyday life. For one hour and fifteen minutes, once a week, it assures us that we can and will triumph and overcome all adversity.

Including, but not limited to, a soggy bottom. Here, beneath dappled sunshine and oer green fields, we are invited into the cosy haven of baked goodness. Even when the task seems insurmountable and you havent quite managed to incorporate sufficient air into your Genoese (oooh err vicar etc!), there is still a prevailing sense that all, it will indeed, be ok.

Who also knew that Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, a most unlikely pairing on paper if ever there was one, were in fact the on-screen duo that we never quite knew that we needed?

GBBO heralds the beginning of the A/W viewing and suddenly the shininess of Netflix becomes slightly dimmed. We are primed for the sojourn on the sofa where, gasp, we actually may watch a programme in real time and not clog up the box with infinite recordings of things we will never get around to watching.

Viewing, during the autumnal months,becomes more of an occasion. An opportunity to grab a blanket, a platter of suitable snackage and tune in.

There is a stillness in the evenings  as if each and every individual is making preparations for their own personal hibernation.

We speak often of the unhurried pace of the summer months. Yet, there is a similar tranquillity to those of the autumn and winter offerings.

The darkened evenings mean no longer having to negotiate bedtimes, mealtimes etc. There is a more natural rhythm. It becomes slower. Almost sloth-like.

Low lit lamps cast long shadows on the walls. A match crackles, burns and tickles the senses with smoky tendrils. Radiators hum and gurgle into being, roused from their summer slumber. The thumping of bare feet on floors is now dulled by the padding of wool.

The dry and brittle scent from the previous scorched months is replaced by a deep, mossy and clean aroma. It is that window of opportunity for us to embrace before the icy rains and wind descend.

September is my January. The fresh start. Enrobed in a blanket of rust and golden hues which guides and eases us gently into the winter the most wonderful time of the year!
Ive written before about The Artists Way, a 12-week programme designed by Julia Cameron to help unblock creativity.

Im superstitious about the book at this stage, rereading it before I embark on any new project. Im currently on week four, which contains the dreaded Reading Deprivation task.

Thats right: No reading. No novels, no newspapers, no websites. You cant listen to the radio or podcasts, watch TV or movies.

You cant consume words of any kind because Cameron reasons that, we gobble the words of others... rather than cook up something of our own.

She writes that without distractions, we are once again thrust into the sensory word. With no newspaper to shield us, a train becomes a viewing gallery.

"With no novel to sink into and no television to numb us out, an evening becomes a vast savannah in which furniture  and other assumptions  get rearranged... if you are not reading, you will run out of work and be forced to play.

As you can imagine, it is absolutely torturous. I thought I would be good at it but I dont think I realised that I equated silence with being alone rather than being left with my own thoughts all the time.

When Im in the gym, without a podcast, all I can hear is the sound of my runners hitting the treadmill. A car journey to Cork City is eerily quiet.

I have a doctors appointment at 9.30am and a therapy session at 2pm and no way of filling the hours in between.

I go to see the Tactile Encounters exhibition at the Glucksman Gallery, and Heroes and Villains at the Crawford Gallery (both very good), before wandering around Brown Thomas and nearly convincing myself that a Givenchy handbag would be an investment and an heirloom piece.

At home that evening, I stare at my bookshelves mournfully, whispering Ill be back, I promise, to all the unread novels.

It reminded me of when I was a child and had committed some egregious crime; my father would ban me from reading for a few days. I didnt care about being grounded  hanging out with people? Outside? No thanks!  so this was the most effective way of ensuring I didnt reoffend.

Those were dark times, grasping at the box of Ready Brek in the morning and scanning the ingredients list over and over again, just to have some words to consume, then spending hours doing English homework that should have taken 30 minutes.

The adult version of that is writing copious amounts of work emails, which is not cheating, before you ask, because I am very busy and important and I need to be professional, OK? (Narrators Voice: Its probably cheating.)

I dont watch television but I usually spend around three hours every evening reading so last night I practically sat on my mothers lap and forced her to talk to me.

Mother: I think I might just read another chapter of my 

Me: Dont even think about it, lady.

My friends keep sending me interesting articles but I cant open them which means I dont know what Trumps Darkest Hour is about  has he been impeached?

Please god hes been impeached!  and I also dont know whats happening in Angelina and Brads increasingly messy divorce. (#TeamAngelina).

How did people survive before the printing press? Before the internet and TV and radio? Did they all just sit around, play cards, and have deep, meaningful conversations?

In The Artists Way, Cameron lists a few things you can do when youre not reading: Make curtains, go dancing, write letters. Sort out your closets.

Bake a cake. Repot some plants. Paint the bedroom. Spoiler alert  I have done none of these things because I am useless and lazy.

What the Reading Deprivation has done, however, is highlight to me how much of my day I spend lost in another world. Instead of being mindful, of staying focused in this moment, right now, I am all too eager to find a way of escaping. How many of us do that?

How many of us say we are so busy and stressed but if we actually took stock of the time that we spent watching TV, reading, or listening to podcasts, how many extra hours would that give us back? Hours that we could spend writing that book weve always wanted to write.

We could take an evening class to practise our Spanish or learn how to make pottery. Why are we always searching for ways to check out of our own lives, to sleepwalk through our days?

Why are we so afraid of the silence that emerges when we dont fill up our days with endless noise? What is it we think we will find there, in the dark? Pain? Or even worse, forgotten hopes and broken dreams?

I am glad the Reading Deprivation task only lasts for one week. I love books too much and reading is too important to me to forgo it completely.

This column isnt about encouraging people to read less  please dont do that! Books are essential for fostering imagination and creativity and empathy.

Read more! Support your local bookshops! But if you want to be a writer, at some point you will need to put down the book and pick up the pen.

LOUISE SAYS

BUY: The Lighthouse Cinema hosts the Children Books Ireland conference on September 22-23  this years theme is Dreams and Nightmares. Full disclosure  Im speaking with the wonderful Sarah Moore Fitzgerald on the Saturday.

WATCH: Simone George and Mark Pollocks TED talk about the tension between acceptance and hope. Eight years after Mark lost his sight, he fell out the window of a third story building and woke up paralysed. This video is incredibly inspiring and the palpable love between Pollock and George will bring tears to your eyes.
By Francis Vergunst, Helen Louise Berry, and Massimiliano Orri.

Extreme heat has gripped the northern hemisphere in recent months, and the year 2018 is on track to be among the hottest ever recorded.

Higher global temperatures are expected to have detrimental effects on our natural environments and our physical health, but what will they do to our mental health?

New research from an international team of scientists suggests that one of the most tangible impacts may be an increase in suicide rates.

Suicide is already among the leading causes of death worldwide. For people aged 15-55 years, it is among the top five causes of death. Worldwide nearly one million people die by suicide each year  more than all deaths from war and murder combined.

Using historical temperature records from the United States and Mexico, the researchers showed that suicide rates increased by 0.7 per cent in the U.S. and by 2.1 per cent in Mexico when the average monthly temperatures rose by 1 C.

The researchers calculated that if global temperatures continue to rise at these rates, between now and 2050 there could be 9,000 to 40,000 additional suicides in the U.S. and Mexico alone. This is roughly equivalent to the number of additional suicides that follow an economic recession.

Spikes during heat waves

It has been known for a long time that suicide rates spike during heat waves. Hotter weather has been linked with higher rates of hospital admissions for self-harm, suicide and violent suicides, as well as increases in population-level psychological distress, particularly in combination with high humidity.

People cooling off in an urban beach at Madrid Rio park in Madrid, Aug. 5, 2018 during this summers extreme heat. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Another recent study, which combined the results of previous research on heat and suicide, concluded there is a significant and positive association between temperature rises and incidence of suicide.

Why this is remains unclear. There is a well-documented link between rising temperatures and interpersonal violence and suicide could be understood as an act of violence directed at oneself. Lisa Page, a researcher in psychology at Kings College London, notes:

While speculative, perhaps the most promising mechanism to link suicide with high temperatures is a psychological one. High temperatures have been found to lead individuals to behave in a more disinhibited, aggressive and violent manner, which might in turn result in an increased propensity for suicidal acts.

Hotter temperatures are taxing on the body. They cause an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, reduce sleep quality and disrupt peoples physical activity routines. These changes can reduce well-being and increase psychological distress.

Disease, water shortages, conflict and war

The effects of hotter temperatures on suicides are symptomatic of a much broader and more expansive problem: the impact of climate change on mental health.

Climate change will increase the frequency and severity of heat waves, droughts, storms, floods and wildfires. It will extend the range of infectious diseases such as Zika virus, malaria and Lyme disease. It will contribute to food and water shortages and fuel forced migration, conflict and war.

These events can have devastating effects on peoples health, homes and livelihoods and directly impact psychological health and well-being.

But effects are not limited to people who suffer direct losses  for example, it has been estimated that up to half of Hurricane Katrina survivors developed post-traumatic stress disorder even when they had suffered no direct physical losses.

The feelings of loss that follow catastrophic events, including a sense of loss of safety, can erode community well-being and further undermine mental health resilience.

Building resilience through community

Scientists caution that there are no quick fixes.

Vigorous greenhouse gas reduction strategies will reduce the chance of dangerous runaway climate change and help mitigate the worst effects of climate change on mental health, but these efforts may not be sufficient.

Installing more air conditioning units, for instance, may not significantly reduce suicide rates or mitigate the effects of extreme heat on health and well-being. Adaptation, including substantial investment in mental health services, will be essential.

Unfortunately mental health services remain woefully underfunded and over-burdened in most parts of the world. While government budgets are stretched to cope with front-line disaster relief, communities will bear the burden of responding to these challenges.

Building resilience through increased social connectedness within and between communities will be vital.

Research is a matter of life and death

Mental health problems have diverse manifestations that vary across contexts and throughout a lifetime. They are the result of long and intricate causal pathways. Climate change is not an isolated cause of suicide, but one of several factors.

Integrating these pathways into a conceptual framework  for example using systems thinking  is a crucial step toward developing public policy, practice and research that will equip us to respond to climate change.

Climate change is a daunting global public health challenge without ready solutions and we have been far too slow to take the risks seriously. We have also missed promising opportunities to use climate change as a mechanism to promote improved mental health.

There is an urgent need for research that informs our understanding of the mental health consequences of climate change so that we can prepare for the challenges ahead.

For some, it really is a matter of life or death.

International suicide prevention and support hotlines can be found here.

This article was written by Francis Vergunst of Universite de Montreal, Helen Louise Berry of University of Sydney and Massimiliano Orri of McGill University and was originally published on The Conversation Read the original article here.
More than seven years ago, Shane OFarrell was killed in a hit and run. The Dail has backed a commission of investigation into the incident. The family last month wrote to the justice minister seeking action. Why is this being put on the long finger, asks Michael Clifford.

ON August 7, the family of Shane OFarrell wrote to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

The letter pointed out that their son and brother Shane was unlawfully killed on August 2, 2011, when he was violently struck and killed by a defective, mechanically propelled vehicle while out riding his bicycle on the N2 public road near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

The letter went on:

The family for a long number of years now has sought through various established administrative, statutory and other legal regimes in the state and also through its own independent investigative efforts to establish the full truth as to the material circumstances of Shanes unlawful killing.

The OFarrell family has not been alone in this respect. Through their persistent efforts, the case of Shane OFarrell was debated in the Dail last June.

The motion called for the Government to establish a commission of investigation into the circumstances around Shane OFarrells death. That motion in turn came on foot of publication of a report from the Garda ombudsman (Gsoc) which failed to answer many of the questions posed by Shanes family.

The Dail motion was passed by a majority of two to one, with the minority-government benches opposing it.

So why is the Government stalling? Why does Mr Flanagan not either establish a commission, as per the will of the Dail, or refuse to do so if he believes it is unwarranted and the Dail motion undeserving of action?

The circumstances around the 23-year-olds death raise a number of alarming questions about the criminal justice system.

He was out for a cycle on August 2, 2011, a break from studying for his final exams in UCD. A few miles outside the town, he was struck by a motorist, 38-year-old Zigmantas Gridzuiska, a native of Lithuania who had been living in this country for some years.

Zigmantas Gridzuiska

Gridzuiska had a history of drug abuse and he should not have been driving a vehicle on that day. He had a number of convictions in his native country before arriving in Ireland.

On January 11, 2011, seven months before he killed Shane, he was convicted of theft in Monaghan Circuit Court but his sentence was adjourned for a year. The judge said if he got into trouble with the law in the interim he would be immediately put in prison.

On May 9 at Ardee District Court, Gridzuiska was convicted of theft yet was not brought back before Monaghan Circuit Court where he would have been immediately imprisoned.

Two days later, he was convicted in Dundalk District Court of speeding. On June 8 at Carrickmacross District Court, he was convicted of possession of heroin. Just over a month later, he was in Newry District Court charged with theft. And then, on July 25, he was back in Monaghan, the district court convicting him of failure to display a tax disc.

By August 2, Gridzuiska was on bail for a number of these offences. He had been ordered to sign on three times a week, but at one stage hed been detained in the North and quite obviously couldnt have signed on.

He had breached bail a number of occasions, had been in receipt of suspended sentences which should have been activated, yet he remained free to go about his business, irrespective of the law.

One hour before his car struck Shane OFarrell, the culprit was stopped by gardai at a checkpoint. The vehicle was noted to be unroadworthy and not to have an NCT certificate. Yet Gridzuiska was allowed to proceed.

After he struck Shane, Gridzuiska failed to stop and was only apprehended after an intervention from his girlfriend.

By that stage, he had 42 convictions in courts between his native country and this jurisdiction. Seven of those convictions were for possession of heroin.

At a subsequent trial, he was ultimately convicted on a charge of failing to stop and remain at the scene, for which he received a suspended sentence on condition he leave the country.

Had the law taken its course, Shane OFarrell may well be alive today. His family is certainly of that opinion and of a mind to get answers as to why their son died violently.

The OFarrell family first made an official complaint to GSOC in 2012. Two years later, then justice minister Alan Shatter asked the ombudsman to open a public-interest investigation into the matter.

At issue were 56 allegations against the conduct of various members of An Garda Siochana at various points in the narrative leading up to the hit-and-run incident.

On May 30 last, GSOC published a report in which it said there was no case for criminal charges to be brought against any member. The publication was accompanied with a release that said a disciplinary investigation into some of the allegations would proceed.

THE publication of the report prompted the Oireachtas motion for a commission of investigation, which was passed by the two-to-one majority.

During the Seanad debate in June, senator David Norris put it thus: What state of mind was this person in driving a car  an untaxed, uninsured, untested car? That car was subsequently tested and it was found that when one turned the wheel to the left, it continued to the left until it stopped and the same when it was turned to the right.

Senator Padraig MacLochlainn pointed out that the Dail had given the justice minister a democratic mandate to set up an inquiry and the case must now be put in the hands of a wider public inquiry because this is a whole-of-justice system failing.

It is not just a failing of An Garda Siochana but of the whole system. That is the ministers responsibility.

Senator Padraig MacLochlainn

In the days before that debate, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he wasnt ruling out a public inquiry. During the debate, Mr Flanagan said he wasnt either, but would have to wait until GSOC had completed the disciplinary investigation.

This line was echoed in a response that his office gave to the OFarrell familys letter last month.

It would be improper of the minister to preempt the findings of the current active investigation by commenting where he is not permitted to do so, wrote the ministers private secretary.

It, therefore, remains the position that, when the investigation of these events are completed, the question of what further action might be taken will be considered.

Shane's mother, Lucia, holding a picture of her late son

So now, seven years after their son was killed, the OFarrell family are being told the answers to the questions they seek will have to be further long-fingered.

Gsocs criminal investigation took four years to complete (six from the time the OFarrell family first made a complaint). That is not unusual. The ombudsmans office is under-resourced, a reality that the government has been reminded of

repeatedly.

The law under which Gsoc operates is restricted. There are narrow parameters within which it must operate. For instance, its brief is to determine whether criminal or disciplinary charges are justified, not what exactly happened.

Even in the event that Gsoc had, for instance, determined that criminal charges should have been brought against a member, that would not fully inform the OFarrell family as to how there was a breakdown in the criminal justice system that left them bereaved.

What if Gsoc finds that a member should face disciplinary sanction? Then the matter reverts to An Garda Siochana to determine the sanction and another process is set in train.

It is not fanciful to suggest that any disciplinary process could take at least another two or three years. And there is also the possibility that no disciplinary action will be recommended.

Irrespective of all that, the OFarrell family will still not receive the answers to which they are entitled.

The position of the justice minister on the issue is curious, to put it at its mildest. In June, he was under political pressure to set up the inquiry. This came from both the democratic mandate in the House and the campaign by the OFarrell family to have their concerns addressed.

Minister Charlie Flanagan

In a mature democracy, Mr Flanagan would either have complied with the wishes of the Dail, or taken the political heat and explained why, as minister, he was of the opinion that a commission of investigation was not warranted.

Instead, he kicked the can down the road. The excuse he offered has little weight.

There would be absolutely nothing to stop the establishment of a commission at a time when Gsoc is conducting its investigation.

In 2014, the Oireachtas set up the OHiggins commission of investigation into complaints of malpractice made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe. At the time there were outstanding disciplinary actions against at least one member in relation to one of the cases to be examined by OHiggins. The commission went ahead regardless and there was nothing controversial about doing so.

The late Shane O'Farrell

To use an outstanding disciplinary matter as an excuse not to proceed is little short of insulting to the OFarrell family.

All of the indications are that the minister is merely putting off the day when he would have to decide. And in all likelihood the dreaded day wont arrive this side of a general election  and who knows who might have their shoes under the ministers desk after that.

If Mr Flanagan believes that the threshold for holding a commission has not been reached, he should be obliged to say so and, preferably, provide reasons and context.

If he should so choose, he might explain why, in this instance, unlike many similar cases, he did not even bother with a scoping inquiry to determine whether or not to press ahead to the statutory inquiry level.

It may well be that the minister or his officials are of the opinion that a commission would not further the understanding, or uncover more facts about the case. But there is an obligation to state the case as to do otherwise leaves the OFarrell family in the dark.
By Brendan OBrien

Brian Kerr expects the Republic of Ireland side will do enough next month for Martin ONeill to ride out the remnants of the storm that has engulfed the Derryman in the last week.

The Republic face Denmark and Wales in the Nations League in October after a tempestuous spell which included the 4-1 drubbing to the Welsh in Cardiff and the fallout  Stephen Wards leaked WhatsApp message included - from Roy Keanes disputes with Harry Arter and Jonathan Walters.

Tuesdays battling 1-1 draw with Poland in Wroclaw was critical in dousing the flames that had been licking at the feet of ONeill and his assistant, despite the fact that it was otherwise a meaningless friendly, and Kerr is of the opinion that the worst of the conflagration is over.

It depends on how it turns around because until now they could justifiably say it has worked quite well because the end product is how the results have gone - if thats the criteria in the whole evaluation process, results.

Now, I would think that whole criteria is a bit more extended than that. Its also whats happening next. What are we preparing for? Are we prepared for the future? Is it easy to watch, nice on the eye?

And what we saw blatantly last week, it wasnt easy to watch. It wasnt easy on the eye. We got thumped. Will it last long? Results in the next two games are important but I dont see us losing the next two games. I think well get a draw or a win in either.

Thats not based on the Polish result. Kerr was taken aback by the difference in tempo and general intensity between the Nations League games and various friendlies played around Europe last week but he doesnt get the sense that the FAIs support for the management team has been compromised.

Nor that it will.

I dont think there will be the same sense of pressure from the media, and within the FAI they seem to be solid. The last manager, (Giovanni) Trapattoni, left because of the publics discontent with him, and the medias discontent, and the FAI had to respond to that. Previous to that, (Steve) Staunton, it was the same.

So what will it be this time? I dont think the FAI discontent will come because of financial issues associated with their contract issues, the amount of money involved.

The only way the FAI are going to be affected is by the discontent of the public or the media. The media do affect the FAIs thinking but the public can only affect the FAIs opinion by their refusal to go to matches and while the media are showing a lot of discontent the public can be easily be swayed by a good result, as we saw the other night.
Significant interventions in housing or the property market can often prompt mixed views, writes Juno McEnroe

The new Land Development Agency (LDA) is ambitious but will reap no immediate results or benefits.

Nonetheless, if followed through with, the unprecedented use of empty State ready-to-build sites and acres of land could make urban living more sustainable and more affordable.

The LDAs facilitation of private developments must be overseen properly. Vast landbanks and sites could now be unlocked and finally built on.

And we should not underestimate how much State land is there to help ease the housing crisis. Housing expert Mel Reynolds recently noted that between local authorities and Nama, three quarters of land primed for development in Dublin is in the ownership of the State.

That is shocking when you think there are 10,000 homeless people, surging purchase and rental costs, and complaints that it is all down to supply.

This radical plan to use State-owned sites, such as old hospital lands, transport depots or barracks, for property development will have developers rubbing their hands with glee. The construction industry called the LDA a game-changer.

But we must be careful. There cant be a situation where house or land prices surge even more if these land banks are put up for sale or developed.

Furthermore, there must be cast-iron guarantees that the promised 40% affordable and social housing builds are delivered, especially where prime sites such as south Dublins Dundrum are developed.

Many opposition TDs will also want to know why the State or local authorities are not developing the sites, instead of lining the pockets of developers as was alleged yesterday.

One thing is for sure. The fruits of this initiative will be a long way off. It will be years before any of these low-cost homes open their doors. The first wont be sold until at least 2020, LDA chief John Coleman admitted.

The promise is that the agency could deliver as many as 150,000 homes over the next 20 years. As it is, the Government says some 30,000 homes are needed annually and the LDA, with 1.25bn, will build  on its own or with developers  many thousands of those.

There is much debate still to come around this agency. Furthermore, the plan still also needs to get through the Dail, under the Fine Gael-led minority government.

One of the first tests for the agency will be how the 35-acre site in Dundrum, the old central mental hospital, is developed.

First steps for this will be taken by 2020 and will either prove the LDA is working or is just another quango which has failed to deliver low-cost homes for communities.
Posted on: September 14, 2018 3:18 PM

Churches in Zimbabwe have been urged to take steps to help curb the cholera outbreak in the country. Yesterday (Thursday), the countrys Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo, told journalists that there were 3,766 cases of cholera in the outbreak; whuch had claimed 25 lives. The World Health Organisation (WHI) said the disease was spreading rapidly in the capital Harare.

Churches are faced with a special challenge, because they gather thousands of people every week and it is in such gatherings that the spread of the pandemic can be accelerated, Dr Dr Kenneth Mtata, the General Secretary of the national ecumenical group the Zimbabwe Council of Churches said. So the Church is being called to cooperate with the instructions coming from the Ministry of Health and all those who are working to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The Church will also need to act as a catalyst for the broader healing of the nation, he said, When the first outbreak came out in 2008, it was a reflection not only on how the failing systems was panning out in urban areas, but also on the health of our politics.

Dr Mtata warned that the outbreak was not a time to play politics and place the responsibility on the political party of the minister of health "I think that is short sighted, he said. This is not a time for us to score political goals. It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate that as Zimbabweans it is possible for us to go beyond our political positions and remember the words of the Apostle Paul: that when one part of the body is in pain, the rest of the body is in pain with it.
Around 190,000 people will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives but help and advice is available, writes Cormac Sheehan

In Ireland each year, close to 1,800 new cases of eating disorders are diagnosed.

It is difficult for those experiencing an eating disorder to find the right help and support.

Since 2008, the Eating Disorder Centre Cork (EDCC), has been providing one-to-one support for people directly impacted by eating disorders, and also reaching out to their parents and families.

The Department of General Practice, UCC, in conjunction with the HSE, conducted a service evaluation of the EDCC, and the findings are overwhelmingly positive.

So who uses the service? I suppose many of us imagine that those with eating disorders are in the younger age bracket, so people may be surprised to hear that the EDCC provides support to people right up to the age of 60.

Trish Shiel, the clinical manager at EDCC, says the statistics show that eating disorders in middle age are increasing. Low self-esteem can be a factor, and poor body image.

As co-author of the EDDC evaluation report, our research shows the centre provides support to people aged between 12-60. The clients are overwhelming female, almost nine in 10. One third of those attending are aged 15-20.

Its hard to estimate the numbers experiencing an eating disorder, but about 190,000 people in Ireland will go through the experience at some point in their lives.

Currently, the EDCC has 80 clients, with the majority attending weekly or fortnightly. People travel from Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford, as well as Cork city and county.

Having an eating disorder affects people physically and mentally, but also impacts on their social, family, school, college and work lives and is a financial burden, but people can and do recover.

Ms Shiel urges people not to suffer in silence and seek help and advice.

The key findings of our report are that clients of EDCC encountered a number of ongoing challenges in recovering from their eating disorders.

These included  but were not limited to  uncertainty around diagnosis, comorbidities (more than one illness), financial burden, hospitalisation, underemployment, unemployment, loss of earnings, and absenteeism from work, college, or school.

During todays launch of the report at the Western Gateway Building in UCC, one woman who attended the centre, will outline her personal story.

For her, the centre has been a place of specialised treatment and consistent support.

To have access to their services in Cork city has been a life-line to survival for her.

Ms Shiel says when they started the service in 2008, the aim was to do everything they could to the benefit of the client, and the findings of our evaluation show they are doing just that  with a 95% satisfaction rate from clients.

Although funded by the HSE, the EDCC has to operate a sliding scale payment, based on income, for one-to-one support.

The majority of people who attend the EDCC have a low income per year. Despite the cost of using the service, transport costs, travel, and time off work, the clients expressed gratitude for the person-centred care provided by the EDCC.

But there is a need for future research that will lead to improvements in diagnosis and integrated care, which in turn will improve early interventions and respond to comorbidities.

Grace Kelly, who co-authored the report, says that due to the health needs of the EDCC population, and in order to provide the best opportunity to intervene early and respond to comorbidities, an integrated care approach is needed.

The Eating Disorder Service, HSE Model of Care for Ireland (2018) is a welcome framework for adhering to this integration.

Respondents to our research described the EDCC as invaluable to their recovery, offering care and support, not just in terms of their eating disorder but helping them plan for the future.

One respondent said: The service is wonderful, they helped me get my life back. It is a constant battle with an eating disorder, and I get a little stronger each session.

The parent of a child with an eating disorder said: I know I can bring concerns to the therapist and I can seek support from people who understand and are non-judgmental. They help me ask the right questions, and support my child who is vulnerable.

I believe further research is needed on community health services like the EDCC.

UCC is ideally positioned to do this research, with expertise in health and social care.

We hope to do further research into the aetiology of eating disorders and associated social and cultural pressures that may lead to the development of an eating disorder.

Ms Kelly believes further research is needed to understand the challenges faced when recovering from an eating disorder, the impact of changes in food consumption, and the experiences in accessing health care for eating disorders.

The launch of the report today offers an opportunity to highlight the work of the EDCC, but more importantly it raises awareness about eating disorders nationally.

Dr Cormac Sheehan, research officer, Department of General Practice, UCC.

The launch of the EDCC evaluation report will take place at the Western Gateway Building, UCC, at 1pm today with Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Mental Health Minister Jim Daly.
Female health scandals are almost two a penny. Health Correspondent Catherine Shanahan says it is high time for a health service chief keen to hear what women want

In 1999, an Oxford-based GP Ann McPherson addressed a conference in Dublin called Women Taking Control of their Health.

The conference was co-hosted by the Womens Health Council, set up in 1997 on Michael Noonans watch, a health minister whose legacy will forever be tainted by the tragic fate of Bridget McCole.

Also, 1997 was the year of the hugely controversial C case , when a 13-year-old girl, pregnant and suicidal as the result of a brutal rape, was brought to Britain by social workers for an abortion, more accessible in Ireland now than it was then, but still with some way to go.

Dr McPherson is reported as telling the conference that patients who participate in decision-making might have improved health outcomes.

She pointed out that women, in general, have more contact with the medical profession than men: Through childbirth, contraception, taking children to the doctor, being carers, and through medicalisation of the menopause.

The conference also heard from Noreen Kearney, then chair of the Womens Health Council, who said the consultation process that led to the setting up of the council showed women still lacked essential information about their health.

The council was established in a year when female health issues regularly dominated the political agenda, casting the State in a very poor light.

Fast forward to 2008 and that same council, set up by statutory instrument to advise the health minister on all aspects of womens health, disappeared when a female health minister, Mary Harney, announced a major programme of agency rationalisation in the health sector.

It is probably more accurate to refer to it as having been a disappearance rather than a merger, said Gabriel Scally in his just-published report on the CervicalCheck scandal.

The reason the establishment of the WHC makes it into the Scally report is to highlight there was a period when womens health was taken very seriously in this country  albeit at the time when we were one of just two EU countries yet to licence emergency contraception and when we were in the crosshairs of the UN Human Rights Committee over our restrictive abortion laws and constitutional entrenchment of gender inequality.

Still an all, the council was a step forward, producing authoritative reports on a wide range of issues pertaining to womens health.

Eight years after the demise of the WHC, another authoritative report on a womens health issue, was produced: The Surgical Symphysiotomy ex-gratia payment scheme.

Compiled by Judge Maureen Harding Clark at the behest of the then health minister Leo Varadkar and presented to current Health Minister Simon Harris in 2016, it couldnt be more different in tone to the Scally review.

Harding Clark writes: Compassion did not overturn common sense when it was apparent that personal recollections were simply not corroborated by the contemporaneous medical records of the symphysiotomy delivery.

Even though many women complained of lifelong disability as a result of what in hindsight can only be viewed as a barbaric procedure, where doctors cut through the fibrous cartilage of the pubic joint to widen the birth canal  their voices are absent in the report.

In contrast, the voices of doctors are very much in evidence. A chapter looking back at the clinical reports of the major maternity units for the latter half of the 20th century includes extensive commentary from consultant obstetricians explaining and justifying their use of symphysiotomy.

Linda Connolly, a sociologist and director of the Social Sciences Institute at Maynooth University, wrote in the Irish Examiner at the time that Harding Clarks report reflects a view that women gave birth because men help them and intervene to save their lives.

She writes that the report is informed by a group of male medical experts, with little attention to perspectives in childbirth studies that empower pregnant women and which prioritise womens experience.

The Scally review, conversely, is informed by the women whose health was not protected by the largely male consultant workforce in whom they had placed their trust.

Instead of patronising the victims, it takes the view that the medical experts have a case to answer.

At a press conference following the launch of the report last Wednesday, Scally described their behaviour as verging on misogyny.

The point was made, he said, that many of the major controversies about maltreatment of patients or denial of reproductive rights in the Irish healthcare system have involved women being damaged.

The number of women damaged by our health service is staggering. Yes, plenty of males have been damaged too, but who can recall a major health scandal involving men?

Women were the victims of the Anti D/Hep C scandal, given infected blood products by the State to supposedly safeguard the health of future babies.

Bridget McCole, who died fighting for compensation, is the unfortunate poster woman of that generation.

Numerous women were damaged by the dodgy obstetric practices of one Michael Neary, whose use of symphysiotomy left many with lifelong incontinence and pelvic pain.

The mental distress the State subjected single mothers to by placing them in mother and baby homes, taking their babies and putting them up for adoption, continues to traumatise families.

The failure here to legislate in any meaningful way for termination of pregnancy has led to repeated criticism by the United Nations human rights committee which only last year ruled that our abortion laws had subjected Siobhan Whelan, denied access to an abortion in 2010, despite being diagnosed with fatal foetal syndrome during her pregnancy, as cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.

The findings of the Scally review provide no reassurance that treatment of women has moved on in any meaningful way.

Indeed, it is Scallys view that paternalism is an ongoing pervasive problem in the health service, particularly at hospital consultant level, which is male-dominated.

As Prof Connolly remarked when discussing the Harding-Clark report: This story is far from over and it remains another example of Irish womens bodies on trial.

Perhaps the only way to ensure that womens voices are heard in the health service is to appoint someone who listens to them.

Gabriel Scally for director general of the HSE, anyone?
People looking for a dramatic development in the shadowy area of security and intelligence may be already lining up to dismiss the expected proposals from the Policing Commission.

Calls from certain quarters to set up a separate agency to conduct all such operations, along the lines of MI5 in the UK, appeared not to have convinced the Government-appointed expert body.

However, those calls had never really been analysed in detail in public, including the enormous complexity, and costs, involved.

Not that the commission has ruled it out as such, as it is thought to indicate in its forthcoming report that this new office could, over time, be the first step towards such a security agency.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is due to publish its report, laying out a model for policing and oversight, early next week.

With the strong caution that the full details of its proposals are not known, the Irish Examiner understands the report recommends:

A new security body, positioned above the States key security service (An Garda Siochana) and all other agencies and departments with such functions (Irish Defence Forces, Revenue Commissioners, and Department of Foreign Affairs)

The office will report directly to the Taoiseach, in effect becoming the Governments advisory office on national security

It will be headed by a national security co-ordinator

The office will have its own staff and budget, though details on the size, composition, seniority and skill-set of the staff are not yet clear

The body will gather and integrate the intelligence from the agencies and co-ordinate their activities

It will draw up a national security and intelligence strategy for the country and devise priorities (from short-term to long-term) for the respective agencies

There is a lot that is unclear at the moment and there will be issues  both big and small  that will have to be ironed out.

It is understood some of the commissions recommendations in this area, and others, are not prescriptive as regards detail.

As is well known with the establishment of oversight bodies such as Gsoc and, more recently, the Policing Authority, legal clarity on the roles, and powers, of the new office will be crucial.

A key issue will be the authority of the office and its co-ordinator in relation to the operational agencies and their heads.

The proposed model does not reflect the worst fears of An Garda Siochana  but it will still send shockwaves through its Security and Intelligence section.

The proposal may herald, particularly over time, a significant shakeup of Irelands security and intelligence infrastructure.

Of course, it will be still up to the Government to accept, reject, modify, mothball, neutralise, or simply just ignore, any of the commissions recommendations.
Because our partners or husbands invariably earn more than we do, we are more likely to give up our jobs once we have children, and so we continue to be under-represented in positions of authority, suggests Joyce Fegan.

WHERE are all the women? What are they doing with their time? Thats what I want to know.

Because they certainly arent running the country, thats for sure, not its councils, its boardrooms, its government, its universities, its companies or its newspapers.

Women only make up 18.1% of directors of Irish-registered ISEQ20 companies. At CEO level, women lead about 10% of our companies.

In Dail Eireann, only 22.2% of our TDs are women. In the Dail previous to the 2016 general election, just 15% of our deputies were women. At local council level, 21% of the countrys councillors are women (and have been since the 2014 local elections), but only 16% of councillors were women after the 2009 elections.

Ah, sure, thats probably because there were no women to vote for, you might say. You know, you could be on to something there, because, in the 2014 elections, of Fianna Fails candidates, only 17.3% were women.

Yet, when I turned on the radio this week, all I heard were male politicians talking about womens cervixes, including Fianna Fails health spokesman, Stephen Donnelly. The same happened when I tuned into the final debate on RTE before the referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

I watched two male politicians discussing whether women could be trusted to control their own uteruses. Now, in fairness to Health Minister Simon Harris, he did point out the irony of the arrangement.

But back to finding out where all the women are. Are they hiding out in newsrooms? Editors offices, perhaps? No, theyre not there, either, because all the editorships of our national newspapers are male. There are some female news editors, for sure, but the buck stops with the men.

Are the women hanging out in education? In the hallowed halls of universities? Yes, actually, you can find some there; quite a lot. Women make up 45% of all academic staff at our higher-level institutions, but men hold around 75% of the professorships and about two thirds of the associate professorships.

The biggest job of all? Taoiseach. Weve had 14 of those, and, no, not a single woman to be found there, either.

So, where are they?

Women are silently holding the very fabric of this society together.

According to our 2016 TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change) report, 70% of the family care work in Ireland is carried out by women.

And why is this? There are a few reasons. Women, on average, in Ireland, earn 14% less than men. In some professions, this is as high as 30%. So when boy meets girl, and they get married and have a baby, and the baby needs childcare, that man and woman sit down and look at their books.

Oh, look, Mary, our mortgage is 2,000 a month, I earn 3,000 a month, and you earn 2,000 a month and the creche is going to cost 1,500 a month, says John.

John, do you not think it would make sense, considering childcare is so expensive and I earn less than you, if I was to mind baby Lucy full-time? Mary says: No one is going to mind our baby as well as one of us. They both agree.

Mary and John have a second baby and a third baby, and as their lives get busier and busier, they feel they made the right decision.

But the odd time, between frantic school runs, endless washing machine cycles, and hurried grocery shops, Mary worries that her working friends will judge her for staying at home. But she reminds herself that she is working, too, doing very fulfilling work, and just because it is unpaid labour doesnt mean it is less than.

Meanwhile, Marys best friend, Cathy, who works as a dental nurse for 40 or so hours a week and is married to an electrician, Mike, is worried that she should be spending more time with her two young children. But when Cathy and Mike looked at their books, they wouldnt have had a chance of staying afloat on just the one salary.

In Irish society, there seems to be a line, that unnamed glass ceiling: Childcare.

No matter how feminist our partners or colleagues are, with massive childcare costs, the lower salary, so often the womans, is forgone, so that the mother can do the priceless work of childcare and of running the home. Not only does she go unpaid, but her pension, in years to come, will be greatly reduced, too.

Where two jobs are being kept down, there is still all the housework and childcare to do, and little time or change left over to do anything else, never mind joining boards, running for politics, or changing the dynamics of our society, a society which is not family-friendly and where workplaces have such rigid operating systems that there is no breathing room for little ones who come down with tummy bugs or who star in school plays.

Scally Report

In the 200-page Dr Gabriel Scally report into the CervicalCheck scandal this week, one line stood out:

The major controversies about maltreatment of patients or denial of reproductive rights in the Irish healthcare system have involved women being damaged.

Male dominance in the Irish healthcare system was also mentioned.

It left me wondering, if women werent busy holding the fabric of this society together, doing 70% of the primary care work in the home, and, instead, had the opportunity to be on boards, in councils, in government, in university professorships and in newspaper editorships, would this scandal, or the many others, have ever happened?

If our various corridors of power were more representative of the people that make up Irish society, what kind of Ireland would we have?

Because when everyone has a seat, and a voice at the table, male, female, trans, gay, straight, bi, able, disabled, young, old, working class and other, better societies get built, and not just for women, but for all of us.
Asia Bangladesh Police Say NGOs Discourage Rohingya Repatriation

Rohingya refugees stand in a line to collect meat from a relief distribution center in the Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Aug. 23, 2018. / Reuters

DHAKA  Bangladeshi police in Coxs Bazar district stated in an internal report that local and international non-governmental organizations and UN agencies were discouraging Rohingya Muslim refugees from being repatriated to Myanmar.

The internal report, prepared at the end of June by district special branch officials, stated that there was no concrete evidence of this allegation.

It also mentioned that few NGOs were willing to share information regarding funding and suggested that the Bangladesh government confer with the district special branch before allowing foreign funding to be given to NGOs operating in the area.

The report was prepared under former Coxs Bazar police superintendent AKM Iqbal Hossain, who was transferred on Sept. 9 and was unable to be reached for comment. The newly appointed ABM Masud Hossain will soon assume the post.

Coxs Bazar deputy commissioner Kamal Hossain, however, contradicted the report and said on Sept. 10 that development partners were being monitored but that no specific allegations had been made in regards to the repatriation of the Rohingya. Some 700,000 Rohingya fled northern Rakhine State in Myanmar beginning in August 2016 after attacks on security posts prompted Myanmar Army security clearance operations.

An official at the Inter-Sector Coordination Group, which is coordinating the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, in Coxs Bazar seeking anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue told The Irrawaddy the group had heard about the allegations in the police report.

The police officials who prepared the report were already transferred. We explained the matter to the concerned authorities. The RRRC [refugee relief and repatriation commission] office is inquiring about the issue, said the official.

We are working closely with our partners, said refugee relief and repatriation commissioner Mohammad Abul Kalam, the lead officer coordinating refugee and Rohingya issues in Coxs Bazar, when asked about the allegation that Rohingya are being discouraged from repatriation.

Help Coxs Bazar executive director Abul Kashem explained why he thought the police would have made such an allegation.

Basically, most of us are talking about the dignified and protected repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland. People could misinterpret this as discouragement, said Kashem.

Rohingya Repatriation Movement convener Hamidul Hoque Chowdhury, in Coxs Bazar, defended the police report.

Although we do not have specific evidence, the nature of the development activity and the delay in repatriation give us the sense that these groups are interested in extending the crisis, he said.

NGOs and even UN agencies want them [the Rohingya] here. It creates jobs with handsome salaries. And this has happened year after year. They dont want the Rohginya to be repatriated, he said.

Not a single Rohingya was repatriated in the last year, he added.

Mia Seppo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh, told The Irrawaddy: The UN does not consider the conditions in NRS [Northern Rakhine State in Myanmar] conducive for return. That said, the UN will not stand in the way of anyone who wants to return voluntarily.

Currently, 86 local and 36 international NGOs are implementing various projects along with 11 UN agencies at various Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.

Over 50 non-governmental organizations working in Rohingya camps were named recently in various dailies since Aug. 17, stating that their operations in Ukhiya and Teknaf were banned.

On March 6, the NGO Affairs Bureau set a framework for the local and international aid organizations to bring transparency and accountabilities to their activities.

In the framework, the NGOs were asked to provide all information to the Coxs Bazar district administration and the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission regarding development activities, project implementation, funding, and employees.
Asia Indian Nuns Demand Justice for Sister Allegedly Assaulted by Bishop

A woman consoles a nun during a protest demanding justice after an alleged sexual assault of a nun by a bishop in Kochi, in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sept. 13, 2018. / Reuters

NEW DELHI  A group of Indian Catholic nuns are staging a rare street protest in the southern state of Kerala demanding justice after an alleged sexual assault of a nun by a bishop.

Police have called the bishop named in the complaint for a second round of questioning next week. The bishop has denied wrongdoing.

The case comes at a time when the Christian community, which accounts for 19 percent of the states population, is reeling under an erosion of trust as sexual abuse cases involving the clergy pile up.

Five priests were arrested last month in two different sexual assault cases, while last year, a Catholic priest who was trying to flee the country was arrested after a minor he is accused of having sex with gave birth.

The nun in a letter said she wanted the Vatican to intervene. She said she was forced to make matters public after several attempts to seek justice from within the church failed.

The protest, now in its sixth day in Kochi, Keralas financial hub, is gathering momentum as the locals, activists, writers and politicians come out in support.

A man, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, lay in front of the stage where the protesting nuns sat. A nun coordinating the protest dismissed allegations that they were trying to disgrace the church.

Our fight is for the truth. We will not back out unless the truth is established and the nun is given justice, she told Reuters.

The Catholic Church in Germany acknowledged a depressing and shameful legacy of sexual abuse on Wednesday after a leaked study said clerics had abused thousands of children over 70 years.

The leaked study was published on the day that Pope Francis, who has made several attempts to tackle a spreading sexual abuse crisis that has badly tarnished the Churchs image worldwide, summoned senior bishops from around the world to the Vatican to discuss the protection of minors.
Asia Malaysian Police Question Those Paid Out of $972M in Najib's Account

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak walks out of a courtroom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 8, 2018. / Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR  Malaysian police investigating a scandal at state fund 1MDB are questioning more than 50 individuals who received payments from a sum of $972 million that entered the personal bank account of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, an official said on Thursday.

A total of $4.5 billion was misappropriated by high-level officials of the fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and their associates, the US Justice department has said.

The fund, founded by Najib, is at the center of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including Singapore Switzerland and the United States.

Police are recording statements of those who received funds from Najibs personal account, among them some with political affiliations and foreigners, said deputy police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

We are in the process of taking their statements, Noor Rashid told a news conference. Asked if any of the 50 would be charged in the investigation, he replied, There is a possibility.

Reuters could not immediately reach a spokesman for Najib to seek comment.

A total of 132 money laundering transactions have been identified and further investigations are being pursued, the police said in a statement later.

Police added that statements have been taken from 64 people, including Najib and his daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib, with more to come, as they track down those involved, or persons of interest, in the scandal.

Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, have been barred from leaving Malaysia after his decade in power ended in a shock election defeat in May, and the new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, relaunched an investigation into the troubled fund.

The scandal erupted in 2015 after media reports that about $681 million was deposited into Najibs bank account.

Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining the funds were donations from a Saudi royal and the bulk handed back.

Noor Rashid said a total of $972 million went into Najibs account, however, after moving through accounts linked to several companies, some of which he named as Good Star Limited, Aabar and Tanore.

Malaysian and global investigations, including chargesheets filed by the US DoJ, have identified these firms as among those used to allegedly siphon off billions of dollars from 1MDB.

Many of the transactions happened overseas and the police have sought the help of foreign agencies, Noor Rashid added.

Najib has pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges against him this year in connection with a former 1MDB unit.

His lawyer was also charged with money laundering on Thursday.
Burma Lawmaker Asks Govt to Let Minority Language Teachers Don Traditional Dress

Ethnic Karen celebrate Karen New Year in traditional dress in Yangon in 2013. / Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy

Mon State  An ethnic Karen lawmaker is asking the Education Ministry to let ethnic language teachers in government schools wear their traditional dress.

Nang Moe Moe Htwe, who represents Karen States Hlaingbwe Township in the Upper House of the national Parliament, sent a letter to Education Minister U Myo Thein Gyi on Thursday on behalf of some of the ethnic Karen teachers in her constituency.

She said the intent was to encourage Karen youth to appreciate and know how to wear their traditional garb.

Some people do not wear their traditional dress at our traditional festivals. But it is a problem not only among the Karen community. Many of our ethnic people have the same problem, she told The Irrawaddy.

In her letter, she asks the Education Ministry to let all ethnic Karen teachers in Karen State wear traditional dress.

It was not only ethnic Karen teachers from my township who wanted to wear their traditional dress. Other ethnic Karen teachers in Karen State also wanted to wear their traditional dress for sure, the letter says.

During the previous military regime, Myanmars many ethnic minorities were not allowed to study their own languages. With the start of democratic reforms earlier this decade, however, the government began hiring ethnic minority teachers to teach their native tongue in government schools but requires them to wear the standard white and green uniform.

Nang Moe Moe Htwes letter is the first time the union government has been asked to let teachers wear their traditional dress.

Since she posted the request on Facebook, other ethnic minorities have expressed support and suggested that other minority language teachers be allowed to wear their traditional dress as well.

Nai Rot Ga Kao, program coordinator for research and advocacy from the Mon National Education Department, said it was important for the government to recognize ethnic minority teachers. He suggested the government let them wear their traditional dress at least once a week if not every day.

Nai Rot Ga Kao said Mon language teachers in Mon State started wearing traditional dress when the democratic reforms began but had to stop last year, when the government introduced a minority language teaching curriculum, made the teachers civil servants and required them to adhere to the standard uniform.

The government should even allow ethnic [minority] students to wear their traditional dress as in Thailand, where students are allowed to wear their own traditional ethnic dress one day a week, he said.
Burma Parliament Blocks Request for Review of 3,000 Kaman ID Cards

A Kaman family from southern Rakhine's Ramree Township who moved to Yangon's Htuak Kyant Village in 2017. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONAn urgent proposal calling for the review of the issuing of more than 3,000 pink identification cards which state the holder is ethnic Kaman, which were recently issued by the immigration department to Rohingya in southern Rakhines Ramree Township, was blocked by upper house on Monday.

Arakanese upper house legislator Daw Htoot May submitted the motion on Monday this week but didnt receive any response from parliament by Wednesday. The following day she approached the house speakers office to inquire about the lack of response. She recounted the verbal explanation from upper house speaker U Mhan Win Khaing Than to The Irrawaddy by phone on Friday, saying that the speaker claimed her proposal doesnt meet the Hluttaw Laws Article (164).

The article stipulates that an issue related to public interest or an urgent matter shall receive a Hluttaw decision and parliament shall not accept the proposal to discuss the issue if the relevant ministry has already taken action. The Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population previously told The Irrawaddy they had no plan to review the case.

The Kaman party has filed a complaint with the government but there has been a lack of action from the relevant ministry. I have explained those points and urged for a parliament debate to be allowed. I have tried my best, but all my efforts were in vain, said MP Daw Htoot May.

However, she claims that she will try to raise the issue by any means via a parliament channel. The MP had already inquired about the disputed Kaman ID cards with local authorities and reiterated that the IDs which had recommendations given by Ramrees Kyauk Ni Maw Village trustees and Kaman community leaders. She criticized the unclear methods authorities used to label the recipients as genuine Kaman.

Daw Htoot May pointed out, for instance, that despite the fact that the names of recommenders in regular NRC application forms appear in Burmese or Arakanese, the applicants names apparently had religious Islamic titles such as Abdu. She elaborated saying that since late 1990, almost all Kaman people were officially granted pink cards with stating their regional code (11).

She said that during military administration, especially around 1990, the immigration department used to register the NRC applications with abbreviations for each town such as RRE for Ramree, KPU for Kyaukpyu and SDW for Thandwe townships respectively. It is also locally known as tri-fold card.

Surprisingly, MP Htoot May has learned that some of RRE-registered applicant names reappeared among the 3,306 recently issued IDs.

As far as I know, no Kaman uses Islamic religious names nowadays in Ramrees Kyauk Ni Maw. If Naypyitaws immigration department truly believes that the applicants are genuine Kaman, then let me say that something is totally wrong here, said Daw Htoot May.

During communal riots between Rakhine and Rohingya communities in 2012, some Kaman were subjected to violence and dozens of their houses were burned to the ground as members of the Rakhine community thought Kaman were assisting members of the Rohingya community in getting the pink identification cards. Hundreds of Kaman were also forcibly displaced and kept in camps for years with authorities citing the segregation was a precaution against further clashes.

As of today, none of those displaced have been allowed to return to their original homes and many Kaman from Ramree and Kyaukphyu townships have sought new lives in Myanmars commercial city Yangon and some in Mandalay. MP Htoot May corroborated Kaman social media and Kaman Party claims that by the end of 2017, there were less than one hundred Kaman in her constituency of Ramree.

Over IDs 3,00o being issued for Ramree Kaman is unrealistic. If they, the Napyidaw officials, are strictly maintaining their stance, this issue will certainly affect the Union in a matter of time. They should review [this case] before it is too late, said the MP.

She suggested that the government be transparent and collaborate with Kaman society groups and parties as well as Rakhine residents for a re-examination process on this issue.

Kaman Social Networks, U Tun Ngwe, explained that most Kyauk Ni Maw residents received tri-fold cards during the military regime which gave them full citizenship rights as Muslims. However, the immigration department used the term Rakhine/Islam in the application, with Rakhine referring to the place where the applicant lives in rather than their racial background. When the military government revoked the tri-fold cards in order to replace them with pink cards, Muslim residents from rural areas in Ramree were unable to return them.

U Tun Ngwe said the government should resolve the issue with transparency rather than hiding its wrongdoings. He said Kaman society and the Kaman National Progressive Party dont recognize the new ID recipients as Kaman. He recalled that in 2017, some Kyauk Ni Maw Muslims went to Naypyidaw to discuss citizenship rights and requested to be scrutinized in line with the 1982 citizenship law.

He suggested the possibility that the immigration officials might have avoided using the controversial term Rakhine/ Muslim in the ID card, replacing it with Kaman for new applicants.

The government should announce this case to the public with transparency. We Kaman dont want to see a black spot in our history. As you know we have previously been asserted by the Arakanese community who said that the Kaman represent a doorway for Bengalis. We dont officially recognize the ethnic Kaman but they should be granted citizenship in my opinion, said U Tun Ngwe.

He urged the government to seek a pragmatic, rigorous approach to create a win-win situation for every group.

The Kaman minority is one of the 135 officially recognized ethnic groups and one of the seven ethnic subgroups of Rakhine State. Unlike the Buddhist Arakanese, the Kaman are Muslim. They have been residing in Rakhine for centuries. During the Arakan Kingdom, the Kaman served as royal archers, but this profession vanished when the kingdom fell to the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty in 1784. Nowadays, there are about 45,000 ethnic Kaman Muslims across the country.
News US Sanctions Russian, Chinese Tech Firms over Funds for N. Korea

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin walks toward a group of reporters at the White House in Washington, US, July 26, 2018. / Reuters

WASHINGTON/SEOUL  The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a China-based tech firm, its North Korean CEO and a Russian subsidiary, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of US sanctions.

The new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co, its North Korean chief executive Jong Song Hwa, and a Russian-based sister company, Volasys Silver Star, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Mnuchin warned companies across the globe to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects.

South Koreas foreign ministry said the move was in line with the United States resolve to keep up sanctions to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula while carrying out dialogue.

A manager at Yanbian Silverstar, who would only give his family name Jin, said the allegations were impossible.

Ive never heard of Jong Song Hwa, he told Reuters.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has maintained sanctions pressure on Pyongyang in an effort to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, which are a threat to the United States.

Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June at a summit in Singapore where Kim agreed in broad terms to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. North Korea has however given no indication it is willing to give up its weapons unilaterally, as the Trump administration has demanded.

Washington has also accused Russia of violating UN sanctions on North Korea by granting work permits to North Korean laborers despite Russias denial of any such actions.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Moscow on Thursday of seeking to cover up breaches of UN sanctions on North Korea by Russians.

Vicious Slander

North Koreas official KCNA news agency said US accusations that it was responsible for cyber attacks in 2014 and 2017 were a smear campaign and a man sanctioned by Washington earlier this month did not exist.

Washington charged and sanctioned Pak Jin Hyok and a Chinese-based front company he worked for, Chosun Expo, over the 2017 global WannaCry ransomware cyberattack and the 2014 cyberassault on Sony Corp.

Park worked as part of a team of hackers, known as the Lazarus Group, to try to breach multiple US businesses, including defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp, US officials said, though there was no evidence the company was breached.

KCNA said Pak was non-existent and the act of cyber crimes mentioned by Washington has nothing to do with us.

The US farce of prosecution is none other than a vicious slander and another smear campaign full of falsehood and fabrication designed to undermine the DPRK, KCNA said, referring to the countrys official name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

In reality, the US is the chief culprit responsible for posing security threats in cyberspace.
News Yangon Govt Loses $2.3m in Bus Services: Auditor General

More than 100 new city buses arrived at Peoples Park in Yangon via Thilawa Port, on June 7 2017. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONYangon Auditor General Daw Khin Than Hla said the two public-private partnership bus companies  majority owned by the Yangon Region governmentmade 3.5 billion kyats ($2.3 million) in losses during the 2017-18 fiscal year.

In 2017, the regional governments 70-billion-kyat ($45 million) investment in the two companies Yangon Bus Public Co. Ltd. (YBPC) and Yangon Urban Public Transport Co. Ltd. (YUPT), was met with some skepticism among lawmakers. In May this year, MPs requested that the auditor general examine the governments spending.

The auditor general Daw Khin Than Hla said the companies havent made any profit yet, using the report for the 2016-17 fiscal year to prove her point in parliament on Friday.

She said a total of 3.5 billion kyats was made in losses during the 2017-18 fiscal year. The YBPC made a loss of nearly 3 billion kyats ($1.9 million) while the YUPT made 603 million kyats ($390,000) in losses.

In the 2016-17 fiscal year, the YBPC made 1.1 billion kyats ($710,000) in losses, while YUPT gained 25.5 million kyats ($16,500) in profits.

Daw Khin Than Hla suggested that it is necessary to ask for more realistic bus fares based on the distance of a passengers journey in order to earn a profit.

The regular maintenance of buses, enforcing rules and regulations along bus lines and expanding bus routes are also needed in order to make the service for more convenient for commuters, she added.

Yangon regional lawmaker U Kyaw Zay Ya said the MPs will ask for accountability and responsibility from the government for losing billions of public budget in the upcoming session.

We cant just allow this loss of public budget. We need to find ways to reduce the losses, he said.

Currently, there are 25 bus companies including YBPC and YUPT operating 119 bus lines in Yangon with more than 6,000 buses.

The lawmakers are set to discuss the auditor generals report in an upcoming session of parliament.
Commentary The Importance of Reading Between the Lines

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is seen in 2016 with Border Affairs Minister Lt-Gen. Ye Aung (far left), Defense Minister Lt-Gen. Sein Win (second from left) and Home Affairs Minister Lt-Gen. Kyaw Swe (right). She described the three generals as rather sweet during a Q&A session in Singapore last month. / The Irrawaddy

Without the ability to read between the lines of a countrys political rhetoric, grasping the nuances of its politics is virtually impossible. Myanmar is in a very complex situation indeed, one that requires more reading between the lines than most.

Lacking this ability, many would-be analysts of Myanmar fall victim to a tendency to badly misread the situation here.

The most recent example can be found in the international reaction to a reply that Myanmars de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, gave when she was asked about the likelihood of another military coup in the country. Speaking after delivering a lecture in Singapore in late August, she said she wasnt worried about the matter, adding with a laugh that all three of the generals in her cabinet are rather sweet. The audience, most of whom were Singaporeans or people from other Asian countries, reacted with laughter.

I think many people in the audience got it right, and that the many others in Myanmar who watched it online understood clearly what she meant. That is, they were well aware that in her description of the generals, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi didnt really mean that they were sweet.

But many foreign observers, especially Westerners, didnt get it at all. They were provoked to outrage by her words. Some analysts for Western media, including those participating in a discussion on CNN, interpreted it that way; they believe she really likes the generals and enjoys having them as ministers in her cabinet. Thats simply wrong. In fact, the State Counselors comment was a humorous one, delivered with a laugh and a witty lookand her audience understood this. As she said it, the audience laughed along with her. And the moderator responded laughingly with a comment about her very charming reply.

Similarly, I am sure many people in Myanmar watching online fully grasped that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi chose the words rather sweet because she is unable to offer an opinion such as rather bad, given the countrys hybrid political situation and the militarys constitutionally privileged position of power. Another important fact is that she knows she cannot control the military.

Some viewers may also have misinterpreted a comment the State Counselor made while addressing the likelihood of another military coup, when she said, Our relationship with the Army is not that bad, you know. Her tone was clearly ironic. Reading between the lines, one can see that she views the relationship between the military and her government as not goodor even that its terrible.

Such faulty interpretations are understandable. Myanmars politics are more complicated than most. But without being able to read between the lines on some key issues, it becomes very difficult to make sense of the situation. If we can grasp such nuances, we can understand the reality.

The intelligence information weve gathered backs up the assessment of sour relations between the military and the National League for Democracy-led government.

Even those comments made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Singapore left the military unhappy, because the State Counselor said her government was trying to amend the undemocratic articles of the Constitution that guarantee the militarys political power, such as the rules stating that 25 percent of seats in Parliament are occupied by unelected military appointees and that three key Cabinet positions are filled by military officersthe very same officers she described as rather sweet.

One former high-ranking Army official who is close to the commander-in-chief confided that the top military leaders feel that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi chose the wrong time and place to talk about amending the Constitution, given the many problems the country faces.

In fact, when the NLD was in opposition in Parliament under the previous government from 2011 to 2016 and discussed amending the Constitution, the military never showed the slightest interest in the idea. It has always firmly taken the position that its job is to safeguard the Constitution. And in the absence of a political miracle in the country, this stand is highly unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

On Aug. 27, when social media platform Facebook announced that it had removed the account of military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, along with 17 other military-related accounts and 52 Facebook pages associated with the military, the military leaders suspected the government of involvement in the closure. That might not be the case.

But such deep suspicion of the NLD-led government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the military has created an atmosphere in which she must choose her words carefully, and comment indirectly, in order not to offend the military leadership.

So, to truly understand Myanmars politics, please try to read between the lines.
Friday, September 14th, 2018 (3:46 pm) - Score 3,208

The remote rural Orkney islands, specifically the tiny isles of Papay and North Ronaldsay, could be about to see an improvement to their dire local broadband ISP speeds after Openreach (BT) reportedly agreed to at least investigate the practicalities of delivering faster connectivity to the area via a new wireless link.

A significant chunk of mainland Orkney has already benefited from the regional Digital Scotland project with Openreach, which has enabled the island to move away from an old Microwave link and instead deploy superfast broadband via the operators Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) network (this is supplied by a new sub-sea fibre optic link).

The aforementioned network covers around 75% of homes and businesses (8,500 premises) via 54 new street cabinets, but it doesnt reach everywhere. For example, the two outlying islands of Papay and North Ronaldsay continue to complain of both unstable connectivity and speeds that struggle to deliver more than 0.5Mbps.

Liam McArthur, Orkneys MSP, said (The Orcadian): It has been suggested to me that radio links could be established quite easily and cost-effectively for both Papay and North Ronaldsay. While this may not achieve the same speeds as some other options, it may at least offer the benefit of a solution in the nearer future. I welcome the fact that BT has agreed to investigate the practicalities of installing radio links.

Apparently the new radio link, if approved, could lift local broadband speeds up to around 8Mbps. Admittedly this is still fairly dire for 2018 and its even below the Governments proposed USO download speed of 10Mbps+, as well as the Scottish Governments proposed 30Mbps+ under the R100 programme. Nevertheless going from c.0.5Mbps to 8Mbps would at least be a fairly noticeable jump for local residents.

At this stage its unclear precisely what sort of deployment this would be, although we assume that Openreach will seek to build a new Microwave link to feed the local exchange on each island (i.e. giving more capacity to the existing copper line ADSL service). Its worth noting that this is also one of the few areas that has yet to be upgraded to support BTs 21st Century Network (21CN).
September 13, 2018



POCATELLO  The 2018 annual I Love ISU scholarship campaign concluded Thursday, Sept. 13, raising $280,285.63 in pledges for scholarships for Idaho students.

This years total exceeded this years goal of $275,000 set for the campaign.

Once again the community stepped up and supported scholarships for Idaho students, said 2018 I Love ISU Chair Kevin Jones, head of loss mitigation at ISU Credit Union. We want to thank each and every donor and all the volunteers who helped with this effort. These contributions provide essential support for the scholarship recipients and benefit our entire community.

The I Love ISU campaign has been conducted in Pocatello for 36 consecutive years. This annual campaign is the most recognizable fundraising effort at Idaho State University. Volunteers dedicate their time to contacting local business owners, alumni and ISU employees requesting their support for scholarships. This years I Love ISU Co-Chair is Richy Gaona, general manager of the Pocatello La Quinta Inn and Suites.

Each person that contributes or participates throughout the campaign has been affected by the scholarship money in multiple ways, Gaona said. Each story and perspective touches the hearts of everyone involved directly with I Love ISU.

More than 200 volunteers gathered pledges through weeks of peer-to-peer contacts and other activities.

The winner of this years C. Moore Bucks Cup, a prize given to the calling team that had the most pledges committed, went to the Idaho State Journal, which received 165 pledges. The Pocatello Rotary Clubs raised the most funds, collecting more than $29,000.

Calling teams consist of community members and ISU faculty and staff. The campaign included Pocatello, Chubbuck, American Falls, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls and surrounding communities.

Wed like to send a giant Bengal thank you to all the donors who so generously supported the campaign and to the volunteers who worked so hard to help us exceed our goal, said Kallee Valentine, ISU annual giving director. All this effort and money raised will ultimately benefit students.

Last year in 2017, I Love ISU raised $253,773 in pledges for scholarships for Idaho students.

This years announcement was made at the I Love ISU Campaign Celebration and Pocatello/Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours held Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Pond Student Union Ballroom. Food and beverages were sponsored by the University Financial Group. Other sponsors of the I Love ISU campaign include Idaho Central Credit Union, ISJ Media and the ISU Alumni Association.

For more information on the campaign, or to give a gift, visit iloveISU.org or contact Kallee Valentine at (208)-252-0515 or valekall@isu.edu.
In the past days, weeks, months, and years the mask has come off Google, the company that was once considered cool and benevolent, to reveal a festering, pus-filled pit of hypocrisy and corrupt values.

In recent days we have seen a number of employees resign, including one of the companys most senior engineers, over Googles agreement with the Chinese Government to deliver a censorship-ridden search engine product.

However, we should not be surprised at this, because Google is no stranger to censorship.

Since Google acquired YouTube back in 2006, giving it a near monopoly in the online video space, the search company has progressively eroded the freedoms of what was once a vibrant grassroots video content producing community, attempting to reduce it to a rump of political correctness.

With YouTube, it all began a couple of years back when the video subsidiary of Google decided that it was good policy to demonetise inappropriate content.

In other words, YouTube would not run ads on alternative news and opinion channels because their political and news content differed from what Google deemed to be acceptable political and news content that was served up by the mainstream media.

Over the past couple of years, we have seen YouTube censor popular non-politically correct sites, giving them content violation strikes. Often without warning, Google has simply deleted their accounts, which included sometimes hundreds of uploaded videos and hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

The latest and most high-profile account to be deleted from YouTube to date has been Alex Jones, renowned for his conspiracy and alternative right leaning news channel Infowars. Like him or hate him, Jones had 2.6 million YouTube subscribers. Thats as many people as would occupy a small- to medium-sized state in the US. Yet, the account and its years of archived videos were simply deleted.

Jones is not the only example, just the highest profile case. In general, most of the alternative media, not just on the right but also on the left, has been under attack. Left-wing comedian Jimmy Dore  a nemesis of Alex Jones  has also had his alternative news YouTube channel demonetised.

However, Google subsidiary YouTube is not the only example of the values rot that has infected the organisation. The parent company itself has fallen victim to the obnoxious, putrid, ideological stink of its own creation.

Does anyone remember James Damore?

In summary, Damore, a Google engineer, was fired from the company in August 2017 for daring to suggest in a memo that perhaps reverse discrimination in hiring practices was not the way to go. For instance, if only 20% of applicants for jobs were women, how was it fair, reasonable and good policy to give 50% of the companys jobs to women?

For that 10-page memo, Damore was given his marching orders. This was a young competent man who loved Google and believed he was making a positive contribution to the company by drafting the memo for discussion.

Of course, the mainstream media, eagerly fed no doubt by Googles corporate relations team, had a field day painting Damore as an anti-diversity bigot. However, the mainstream media and its foibles is another story.

The irony of the Damore saga is that Googles dismissal of Damore for being anti-diversity is a blatant case of the pot calling the kettle black. If there is any organisation on planet earth that is guilty of discrimination and being anti-diversity, it is Google.

Witness the latest saga in the ongoing corporate scandal that is Google. The right-leaning alternative media site Breitbart unveiled a leaked video of a 2016 Thank God its Friday meeting of Google employees and bosses a few days after the US Presidential election won by Donald Trump.

In the course of that meeting, everybody whos anybody  barring Eric Schmidt  addressed the meeting. Both Google founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, and a myriad other senior Google bigwigs addressed the throngs of employees.

Incredibly, the entire meeting was devoted to the tragedy that had befallen the US with the election of Trump. Each and every single senior executive bemoaned the election result, which robbed Hillary Clinton of the presidency, and promised that Google would utilise its resources and do everything in its power to rectify the result.

The idea that an entire companys senior executive team would hold such homogeneous political views is disturbing enough in itself. However, even more horrific is that the entire crowd of hundreds  perhaps thousands  of employees also appeared to be 100% in agreement with those views.

There may have been a few dissenting souls in the audience, but if there were, they were not about to commit career suicide by opening their mouths.

So this begs the obvious question: if Google is the epitome of virtuosity and diversity, where are the examples of diverse views?

As many commentators in the alternative media have noted since the Google meeting video surfaced, about 50% of the Americans who voted in the 2016 US Presidential elections voted for Trump. So why would it not be reasonable to expect that half  or at least a significant percentage of Google employees  would be Trump voters?

Some of the more cynical among us may sneer and say that Trump voters are just a bunch of deplorables  dumb rednecks, who are not smart enough to work at Google. However, observation tells me that this is not the case. So this can only mean that Google discriminates against people who do not conform to its ideological viewpoints. People such as conservatives and libertarians.

When you have an entire organisation singing from the same political, philosophical and ideologically homogeneous songbook, you no longer have a business enterprise. You have an insidious and dangerous cult. And that about sums up Google.
A Queensland-based provider of services around MySQL, MariaDB and related services has been bought by Catalyst IT Australia.

Open Query was founded by Arjen Lentz, a member of the Australian free and open source community, nearly 11 years ago.

MySQL is now a part of Oracle after the company acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010. MariaDB is a fork of MySQL and is run by Monty Widenius, one of the original quartet who created MySQL.

Catalyst is a company that was started in New Zealand in 1997 and is an experienced open source integrator.

The company offers support and custom development for Drupal, SilverStripe CMS, Moodle, Samba and other software, as also fully managed hosting on AWS and other platforms.

Lentz said: Catalysts core values are very much aligned with those of Open Query, which is why we are particularly pleased with this outcome.

Catalyst has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Human resources outfit PageUp People, which was hit by a massive data leak that it made public in June, apparently has been receiving post-breach advice from the local office of the biggest PR agency in the world  Edelman.

That much has emerged in an email that Edelman Australia managing director Scott Thomson sent to iTWire editor Stan Beer on Thursday.

"In transparency, we were providing some support to PageUp through the situation," Thomson said in the email, the main purpose of which was to allege, without even an iota of proof, that this writer had reviewed a book about data breaches because of a pecuniary interest.

The strategy adopted by PageUp was not rated very highly by one of Australia's best-known legal and cyber experts, Helaine Leggat.

Referring to the coverage of the PageUp incident in iTWire, Thomson wrote: "Sams coverage has been highly critical. We respect and value a free press, but leaving aside the various arguments against Sams misinformed positions, we would have thought his strong stance would have warranted an opportunity for the client to provide comment, which I dont believe they were given."

This statement, incidentally, was made on behalf of a company that does not have any media contact phone number or email address on its site. The same company that hides information about a breach affecting millions, putting one notice in one location and a second in another location.

Thomson continued: "Moreover Sams two most recent references are exploitative  to promote a book by authors who are clearly interested in selling services off the back of these incidents.

"I assume there is some relationship between the authors and Sam/ITWire  either social or commercial, although nothing [is] disclosed."

Thomson's reference is to my review of a book written by well-known Australian IT personality Peter Coroneos and brand consultant Michael Parker. Titled The Cyber Breach Communication Playbook, the book provided some pragmatic advice for companies caught in a post-breach world, and reviewed 14 breaches from around the world, including the infiltration at PageUp.

Prior to my emailing Coroneos to ask for a copy of the book for review, the last time I had contact with him was in 2004 when he was heading the Internet Industry Association and Australia was in the process of negotiating a free-trade agreement with the US.

If that is a close commercial or other relationship, then Thomson is a genius when it comes to public relations.

He also tried to ascertain whether there would be further coverage of the PageUp disaster. "It would be great to understand if Sam is likely to be filing more commentary about the PageUp incident, as if he plans to persist then we would appreciate the opportunity to address various flaws in the positions he has taken, as well as address the ethics of exploiting these situations for personal gain."

And this from the local boss of the biggest PR agency in the world who probably takes home a six-figure sum for such efforts. If this is typical, then one needs to hold grave fears for the future of PR in this country.
The demand for executives in the Australian ICT sector waxes and wanes on a monthly basis, but was second only to the financial sector in demand for August as the countrys jobs market trends towards its highest level in seven years.

The latest executive demand index from recruitment firm EL Consult reveals a flat result (no movement up or down) for ICT in August  the second best result for the month of all business sectors  with demand relatively broad, coming from all regions including Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT. And even in the financial sector, executive demand in August was up by just 2% over the previous month.

Although it has been volatile recently, the (ICT) index has been rising since 2016 and reflects both the need to cut costs and power marketing and sales efforts, EL notes.

Across the board, in all business and industry sectors, EL reveals that although executive demand fell 4% in August, it is now at its highest level since 2011 in trend terms as economic activity continues to rise.

Grant Montgomery, managing director of EL Consult, says the employment outlook is strengthening, despite a 4% adjustment for the month.

As was predicted by the EL Index 18 months ago, it is now clear that the economy is strongly pushing ahead", he said.

"At the time, we reported that the EL Index results then represented the most positive start to a year we had seen in at least four years.

"It hasnt stopped. The reason is that businesses expand their management team when they a confident in the future and expanding. It is a big investment and they are the first to go if there is any sign of a downturn.

And right now, businesses are continuing to expend their management hire, albeit with some small month-to-month volatility.

And with record growth in the economy, we seem to be throwing off any concerns about the US trade wars with China.

Gosh, with growth like this, Australia may one day be as big as Apple and Google combined, Montgomery said.

He said says businesses were continuing to hire executives, although there would be some volatility month-to-month.

Trade talks are continuing and, in fact, an increase in tariffs between China and the US may be a good thing for Australia as it makes the relative terms of trade between China and Australia better.

However, China may be affected in such a way that they decrease the amount of exports they raise. This could affect Australia over the medium term.

According to Montgomery, Australian employers seem to be too busy to be worrying about political ructions.

The political situation may have been explosive, but the world keeps on turning. Its OK, despite trade wars and political circuses.

Canberra has been called toy town and sometimes its difficult to believe that they understand what is going on in the big cities of Australia.

GDP forecasts continue to be strong, despite the drought affecting farm-based revenue.

Montgomery said the private sector was providing the impetus for the overall demand increase.

The private sector continues to provide the lions share of positions," he said.

Among the sectors, the Management index is being affected by a change in dynamics.

We are seeing a great deal more manager positions being advertised, because theyre bumping up titles to manager level and decreasing the rigid qualifications that may be required in other sectors such as Finance or Engineering.

There are more service industries that need managers, rather than direct doers. In August, the smaller states put in positive results, but the overall index was pulled lower by the larger regions. The ACT led the way, prompted by gains in the Engineering, Financial and Information Technology sectors. Overall, in the month, the financial sector led the way to be the only region to finish in the black.
Russian security vendor Kaspersky Lab has had a tough day in court over an appeal it has brought against a ban imposed on the use of its products in the US public service, with the three-judge federal appeals panel questioning the arguments put forward by the company's lawyers.

According to a report in Nextgov, one of the company's lawyers, Scott Christensen, argued that Kaspersky Lab had been singled out for the ban  known as a bill of attainder.

Christensen's other argument was that the ban had taken a financial and reputation toll on Kaspersky that was not in proportion to any security benefit obtained by the US Government.

Kaspersky lost two cases to challenge the ban in May. As iTWire reported, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the US District Judge for the District of Columbia, dismissed both suits brought by the company.

In December 2017, Kaspersky filedagainst a September 2017by the Department of Homeland Security on the use of its products in the public service.

And in February this year, the company filed a case against a ban by Congress, codified in the National Defence Authorisation Act for the fiscal year 2018, claiming that the ban was unconstitutional.

Justice Kollar-Kotelly said Kaspersky had failed to prove in court that the NDAA was a bill of attainder; such a bill was defined as "a law that legislatively determines guilt and inflicts punishment upon an identifiable individual without provision of the protections of a judicial trial".

On Friday, Judge David Tatel responded to Christensen's plea to lift the ban, by saying that Congress' aim in putting the stricture in place was attempting to protect the security of US computer systems, rather than imposing any punishment on Kaspersky Lab.

Another of the judges, Judge Harry Edwards, disagreed with Christensen's claim that the ban had taken a financial and reputation toll on Kaspersky that was not in proportion to any security benefit obtained by the US Government.

You [say] the magnitude of the imbalance is significant  Given our concern about Russian intrusion into our national affairs, I dont see an imbalance, Justice Edwards said. Given real-world circumstances, that doesnt seem so to me at all.

Christensen also argued that the ban had been hastily put in place without the hearings or debates that are normally gone through before this kind of action is taken, indicating that the main objective was to punish Kaspersky.

But the third judge on the panel. Judge Lewis Yellin, disagreed, saying that the Kaspersky issue had figured in a number of Congressional hearings over 2017.

After the hearing concluded for the day, another Kaspersky lawyer, Ryan Fayhee, told the media: The effect of this ban is completely disconnected with the genuine articulable threat posed by cyber security. To limit it to that one company in a 750-page must-pass bill reveals exactly what this is."

The ban is due to take effect on 1 October.

Asked for the company's take, a Kaspersky Lab spokesperson said: Today, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard our arguments on the appeal and Kaspersky Lab remains hopeful that in the end the court will find the law unconstitutional after full consideration of the case on the merits.

Pursuing this appeal is significant, as the law and the subsequent district courts decision have set a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for the global technology community. Labelling any company as a national security threat just because of its origin, does little to address cyber security risks; therefore, alternatives for a global cyber security risk management and mitigation strategy with general applicability to all IT vendors must be considered.

"Furthermore, the world benefits from global cyber security collaboration, and only by working together, can we preserve and secure the Internet as a global good.

Despite the ongoing litigation, Kaspersky Lab continues to extend its offer for co-operation, collaboration and an open dialogue to concerned parties.

"The company also continues to advance its Global Transparency Initiative, an ongoing commitment to demonstrating the integrity and trustworthiness of its products, through open collaboration with governments and organisations worldwide.
At least five employees have quit Google in protest at the company's plans to launch a censored search engine app in China, with senior research scientist Jack Poulson being the most prominent among them.

Poulson told The Intercept, the website that broke the news about that Google was planning to launch a censored version of its search engine for the Chinese market, that he had raised the issue with his managers at the beginning of August.

By mid-August, he decided that he could longer work at the company and resigned, leaving at the end of August. Poulson said that it was his "ethical responsibility to resign in protest of the forfeiture of our public human rights commitments".

The news about the China plan broke on 1 August. Subsequently, there have been reports about internal unrest among Google employees over the project, which is codenamed Dragonfly.

A letter circulated about the "urgent moral and ethical issues" surrounding the project was sent around inside the company.

There have also been reports that managers at the company were trying to shut down access to any material connected to the project. Another report said that engineers had used search queries from a Chinese Web directory service owned by Google to develop blacklists for the censored search engine.

Poulson told The Intercept that he was of the opinion that the censored search engine plan went against the principles governing Google's artificial intelligence project, which said the company would not use technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights".

He expressed concern over both the censorship and the fact that customer data would have to be hosted in China. Google had a censored search engine operating in China from 2006 to 2010 but quit the country after its servers were hacked.

Poulson's resignation letter said: "Due to my conviction that dissent is fundamental to functioning democracies, I am forced to resign in order to avoid contributing to, or profiting from, the erosion of protection for dissidents.

I view our intent to capitulate to censorship and surveillance demands in exchange for access to the Chinese market as a forfeiture of our values and governmental negotiating position across the globe. There is an all-too-real possibility that other nations will attempt to leverage our actions in China in order to demand our compliance with their security demands.

The censored search engine project is said to have begun after a meeting between Google chief executive Sundar Pichai and Wang Huning, a senior figure in the Chinese Communist Party, last December. Work on the search app was begun during the Western spring of 2017 and had been fast-tracked after the Pichai-Huning meeting.

After the meeting with Huning, Google decided to open an artificial intelligence research centre in Beijing. In May 2018, a Google file management app was released for Chinese Internet users. And in July, Google released a Guess The Sketch game on WeChat, the main Chinese messaging and social media platform.

Programmers created a customised Android search app with different versions known as Maotai and Longfei and these had been demonstrated to Chinese government authorities.

Since The Intercept's first report, about six weeks ago, Google has made no public statement about the project, though it has been asked for a statement on at least a dozen occasions.

The final version of the app is expected to be launched in the next six to nine months, provided approval is granted by Beijing.
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Alumni to be Honored at Homecoming 2018

Sept. 13, 2018

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  Recipients of the 2018 Illinois Wesleyan University Alumni Awards will be honored during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 5-7.

Dr. Steve Doran 79, Debo Olaosebikan 06, and John and Pat (Lashbrook) Jordan (57 and 59, respectively), will be recognized at the annual Alumni Awards Reception on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Centers Young Main Lounge.

Steve Doran 79

Dr. Steve Doran '79, an oral surgeon in Bloomington, Illinois, will be presented the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is presented to an alumnus or alumna who has made a distinguished contribution to society, has achieved distinction in his or her profession, or has demonstrated civic leadership. In 2011, the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) presented Doran with the Presidents Award for outstanding contributions to the dental profession. Since then, he has made 12 oral surgery mission trips to Haiti and Honduras, in addition to his participation in the Gary S. Johnson 71 free extraction clinic and four ISDS Mission of Mercy clinics. He presently serves on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal and John Scott Health Services. He and his wife Joy, a retired Illinois Wesleyan piano instructor, have provided generous financial support and summer employment for many IWU students.

Debo Olaosebikan 06

The 2018 Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award will be presented to Debo Olaosebikan 06 in recognition of outstanding professional achievement and civic leadership.

Olaosebikan is the chief technology officer and co-founder of Gigster, a smart software development service utilized by top businesses including Staples, Airbus and MasterCard. Olaosebikan came to Illinois Wesleyan from Nigeria as a Presidential Scholar at 16 years old and was named the IWU Anderson Scholar for 2005-06. Olaosebikan pursued graduate-level physics at Cornell University, where he represented Cornell in a collaboration with MIT, Stanford and Caltech to build the worlds first electrically activated silicon laser, a project supported by $6 million in grants. Olaosebikan has demonstrated his dedication to promoting education through a variety of scholarships and educational opportunities for students in Nigeria, including CATCH AFRICA, a scholarship competition for secondary school students.

John and Pat (Lashbrook) Jordan (57 and 59, respectively).

This years Loyalty Award, presented to alumni or friends of the University who have made large service or financial contributions to Illinois Wesleyan, will be given to John and Pat Jordan (57 and 59).

While students, both chaired the Religious Activities Commission of the student government and were active in other organizations. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan, John studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University and earned a graduate degree in divinity from Drew University. Pat went on to earn a masters degree and taught in New Jersey for 15 years. She served as president of the Education Association, was active in Citizens for Public Education, and also served as the district reading specialist. The Jordans lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, while John worked for the United Methodist Church, but later returned to Illinois, where he served as the Executive Director of the University of Illinois YMCA. John joined the IWU Board of Trustees in 1992 and has served on many committees, including the committee for re-accreditation. They served as emcees for the Golden Titans homecoming dinner in 2017 and have been loyal supporters to the University through their donations and service.

By Rachel McCarthy 21
Jacksonvilles electric utility and City Hall filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to void a controversial decade-old agreement obligating local ratepayers to help build and eventually buy power from two planned nuclear reactors in Georgia, a significant escalation in a fight over the future of the only active nuclear power project in the United States.

The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, one of the co-owners of the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion project, also filed a federal lawsuit against JEA on Tuesday accusing the Jacksonville electric agency of having a clear intent to breach its contract, abandon its obligations and to undermine and disrupt the future of the project.

The dueling lawsuits cap off weeks of tension between the two agencies.

JEA has sought for months to get out of the 2008 purchase-power agreement it signed with the authority, the subject of acidic letters the two agencies have traded in recent weeks. Since the project began  a run of years during which the federal government supported nuclear power, and the industrys prospects seemed much brighter  the Vogtle expansion has seen a number of cost overruns and delays. JEAs obligations have ballooned with it.

JEAs financial obligations likely top $2.25 billion over the 20-year life of the agreement.

The citizens and ratepayers in northeast Florida rely on JEA to manage the electric utility system in a prudent manner and to protect them from unjust, ill-considered, or extortionate contracts, lawyers for JEA and the City of Jacksonville wrote in their lawsuit.

But, the lawyers wrote, under the purchase power agreement with Georgia authority, ratepayers are burdened for 20 years by the obligation to fund a project in which JEA retains no ownership interest, over which JEA has no management or budgetary control, and from which ratepayers may never receive any electricity or capacity notwithstanding the massive unconditional financial obligations incurred.

In a nutshell, JEAs lawsuit argues the board of directors overstepped its authority when it signed off on the 2008 purchase-power agreement. Neither state nor local law allows a Florida public agency to enter into the kind of agreement JEA has with the authority, the suit said. JEA wants a judge to void the contract.

The agreement locks JEA into paying construction debt whether the reactors are eventually built or not.

These hell-or-high-water contracts specifically provide that the buyer has no right, under any circumstances, to abandon the contract or be relieved of its contractual obligations, the authoritys attorneys argued.

The authority is asking a federal judge to impose the purchase-power agreement on JEA and is also seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

JEAs actions in denying the enforceability of the (agreement) have already created uncertainty in MEAGs ability to fulfill its own obligations under the (agreement), as well as uncertainty in determining whether to proceed or cancel the Vogtle Project, the agencys lawyers wrote. MEAG has been forced to expend money, time, and attention to deal with that uncertainty.

Plant Vogtles co-owners  the private utility Georgia Power, the authority, the City of Dalton and Oglethorpe Power  recently said the cost of Vogtle had increased by $2.3 billion, pushing the project cost up to about $27 billion and triggering a requirement that the co-owners vote to continue the project. MEAGs vote is Sept. 24, though JEA has pushed for the owners to delay voting until Oct. 31 or later.

MEAGs lawsuit showed no indication that vote will be delayed.

CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES

JEA argued the circumstances surrounding the Plant Vogtle project have changed substantially since the former general contractor, Westinghouse Electric Company, filed for bankruptcy last year.

Westinghouse had agreed to absorb most of the cost overruns for a project that was initially projected to cost $9.5 billion. Since the bankruptcy, however, the co-owners must reimburse the new construction contractor for overruns, making JEAs own financial obligations open-ended.

There appears to be no end in sight to the ever-increasing cost and delays plaguing the construction of the project, JEA said.

JEA had no say in the new structure of the Vogtle project.

The authority, however, argued that JEA has experienced some changing circumstances of its own that might be driving the need to exit the Vogtle contract. MEAGs lawsuit draws attention to the contentious talks at the end of 2017 and earlier this year over possibly selling JEA to a private operator.

Those talks aligned with the time the authority says JEA informed the agency it wanted to exit the Vogtle project.

OVERSTEPPED AUTHORITY?

JEA and city lawyers said the purchase-power agreement violates the Florida constitution and that the utility never had the authority to sign off on it in the first place.

In short, they argued the law doesnt allow a public agency to jeopardize their financial stability by becoming financially entangled with private enterprise. The one exception is if that agency has joint ownership of the venture, which in the case of Vogtle, JEA does not.

Although JEA is obligated to help pay construction debt, purchase power for 20 years and provide short-term liquidity at the authoritys demand  up to $75 million, which doesnt have to be reimbursed for up to two decades  Jacksonville ratepayers have none of the rights of a co-owner in the project.

The suit said the Jacksonville City Council should have also signed off on the agreement back in 2008.

The substantial, open-ended, and unlimited obligations borne by JEAs ratepayers are not balanced by either ownership or management control in the project, the suit said. There is a complete absence of any JEA oversight or discretion, which constitutes an improper delegation of JEAs spending power.

As a result, the utility and city lawyers said, the Vogtle agreement is imprudent, ill-considered, and injurious to the public.
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Julia Salazar, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has won the Democratic primary for state senator from Brooklyn and neighboring areas in New York, defeating a long-serving incumbent she claimed was in the back pocket of the realtors.

Coverage of her campaign, however, read like a salacious tabloid, and had a weird set of Middle East connections.

The right of center Tablet, oriented to Jewish affairs, raked her over the coals for her assertion that she is Jewish. She was raised Catholic but she says she converted while at Columbia University. The Tablet piece did not offer any proof that she did not convert. As an undergraduate she alleged that the Salazars had been Sephardic Jews, but that could well be true even if her family practiced Catholicism.

The Tablet piece was more concerned with her trajectory. She began by being pro-Israel and complaining about the Palestinians opposing their Nakba or calamity to the Shoah or Holocaust of the Jews. But a visit to the West Bank and being excluded at the Jordan border by Israeli authorities led her gradually to sympathize with the plight of the Palestinians

The Democratic Socialists of America as an organization favor BDS (Boycott, Disinvest and Sanction) on Israel for its Apartheid policies toward the Palestinians it keeps stateless). Her DSA membership is likely part of what made her assertions of Jewish identity controversial.

But it bears pointing out that Salazars trajectory is not uncommon even among American Jewish millennials raised in the faith. Dov Waxman points out:

In a major survey of American Jews by the Pew Research Center in 2013, for instance, only a quarter of Jews aged 18 to 29 believed that Netanyahus government was making a sincere effort to bring about a peace settlement with the Palestinians.

We still live in a country where the imperial subjection of brown people and women is a powerful latent ideology that has taken over the podium at the White House. I have to say I was shocked when I realized how powerful a meme colonialism still is among supposedly liberal American elites.

Then the Daily Caller, a pro-Trump right wing outlet that skates right up to the boundaries of the Alt-Right, outed her against her will as one of the women who had accused David Keyes of sexual assault. Keyes was the international spokesman for far right Likud prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Salazar protested having been named by the Daily Caller, but in any case Keyes just took a leave of absence after numerous similar accusations surfaced from 11 women. The Daily Caller, in typical dastardly fashion, said it couldnt find evidence that Salazar had filed a police report after the incident.

So Salazar got entangled in the #MeToo movement, and doubts were cast on her narrative because she, like many assaulted women, chose not to go to police and suffer through the trauma all over again. On current evidence, youd have to take her word over that of Keyes, unless maybe you were a Likudnik male chauvinist pig.

Given how Netanyahu abuses and assaults the stateless Palestinians over which he rules as colonial viceroy, it should come as no surprise that his office has been dogged by a string of sexual harassment scandals (though not centering on the PM himself.)

All these negative experiences and media hit jobs had no effect on Salazars campaign, and given the district in which she won her primary, she is highly likely to be a New York state senator.

But what struck me is how differently she was treated by the corporate media than male politicians like Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Binyamin Netanyahu himself.

Journalists dont routinely bring up Rubios false claim that his family fled Communism (they came from Cuba in 1956 for business). The press doesnt assume that Trump is guilty in the numerous sexual assault accusations that have been launched against him before he bought the silence of his accusers. Otherwise they would refer to him as the rapist president. But The Daily Caller wanted to know why Salazar hadnt filed a police report against Keyes. It isnt as if Trump has left a paper trail for most of his private life! And right of center news sites let Trump get away with dozens of whoppers every day, but obsessed about Salazars inconsistencies.

Netanyahu is under heavy duty police investigation for bribing and coercing the Israeli press and for other crimes of corruption. But he is written about with enthusiasm or at least measured respect in US newspapers. He boasted on camera of destroying the Oslo peace accords, but the New York Times still manages to blame the Palestinians for that one.

Salazar deserves to have her politics reported on, not just her personal life. But it is true that they seem to have overlapped in some ways. We can now flesh out the Tablet article about her trajectory by taking into account how she was allegedly mauled by a member of the staff of the prime minister of Israel, which along with her experiences on the ground in Palestine could help account for the way she cooled to mainstream Zionist propaganda.

That a member of DSA, with its stance on BDS, could get elected to the state senate in New York is a huge deal.

While Salazars colleague, Cynthia Nixon, lost her bid to be the Democratic standard bearer in the New York governor race, she got 100,000 more votes than had her opponent, Andrew Cuomo, received the last time he ran for office. It is just that turnout was enormous and so Cuoma easily won.

-

Bonus video:

i24 News: Julia Salazar Accuses Netanyahu Spokesman of Sexual Assault
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Paris (AFP)  France admitted Thursday that it instigated a system that led to torture during Algerias independence war, a conflict that remains hugely sensitive six decades on.

President Emmanuel Macron is set to acknowledge that mathematician Maurice Audin, a Communist pro-independence activist who disappeared in 1957, died under torture stemming from the system instigated while Algeria was part of France, his office said.

Macron, who was due to visit Audins widow later Thursday, will also announce the opening of archives on the subject of disappeared civilians and soldiers, both French and Algerian.

During the 1954-62 war, which claimed some 1.5 million Algerian lives, French forces brutally cracked down on independence fighters in the colony ruled by Paris for 130 years.

Hundreds of thousands of young French men were conscripted to fight in a conflict that left deep scars in Frances national psyche as it wound down from being a colonial power after World War II.

The French state has never previously admitted that its military forces routinely used torture during the war.

Macron, the first president born after the conflict, sparked controversy on the campaign trail last year by declaring that Frances colonisation of Algeria was a crime against humanity.

He later walked back the comments, calling for neither denial nor repentance over Frances colonial history and adding: We cannot remain trapped in the past.

On Thursday he will visit the widow of Audin, whose disappearance has long been a source of fascination in France.

An assistant professor at the University of Algiers, Audin was 25 when he was arrested at his home by French paratroopers, accused of harbouring armed members of the Algerian Communist Party.

He was tortured repeatedly in a villa in the Algiers neighbourhood of El Biar.

His widow Josette was told 10 days later that the mathematician had escaped while being transferred between jails.

This remained the official version of events until 2014, when Macrons predecessor Francois Hollande acknowledged that Audin died in detention.

Historian Sylvie Thenault said the French states acknowledgement that Audins death resulted from a system pointed to a broader recognition of wrongdoing.

Through recognition of the states responsibilities in the disappearance of Maurice Audin, have the states responsibilities in all disappearances in Algiers in 1957 not been recognised? she wrote on The Conversation, a news website.

Featured Photo: POOL/AFP/File / Michel Euler. French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy on the campaign trail last year by declaring that Frances colonisation of Algeria was a crime against humanity.
On September 10, US President Donald Trumps national security advisor John Bolton launched a frontal attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC).

At the beginning of the George W. Bush presidency in 2002 Bolton was the main architect of a strategy against the ICC, which was just starting its work. This policy was abandoned three years later in favour of constructive cooperation between the United States  which does not recognize the ICCs jurisdiction  and the court in The Hague. Under Obama, for example, Washington helped get two ICC suspects arrested and transferred to the court.

That policy is now over. In Boltons attack, he called the ICC ineffective, unaccountable, and indeed, outright dangerous. He said the US will not cooperate with the ICC, will provide no assistance to the ICC and will not join the ICC.

One of the reasons behind American anger is the ICC Prosecutors move towards opening investigations on crimes committed in Afghanistan after 2003. Fatou Bensouda announced last November that she has asked the judges for a green light to open such investigations. Even if the bulk of alleged crimes are attributed to the Taliban, the Prosecutor indicated that some US soldiers and agents could also be prosecuted for acts of torture on prisoners of war.

Bolton laid out his strategy to undermine the ICCs work. But it could be that his attacks help to rally support for the ICC.

A century without apology for Namibian genocide

Genocide cannot be forgotten. Or rather, the victims never forget. More than a century after the massacres of Herero and Nama people in former German South West Africa (now Namibia), the descendants of victims are still calling for reparations. Their representatives, supported by members of German civil society, are pressing Berlin for a formal apology.

These massacres perpetrated by the German imperial army are considered by many historians to be the first genocide of the twentieth century.

On August 29, 2018, Germany returned to Namibia human remains of Hereros and Namas exterminated at the time. The ceremony took place in a protestant church in Berlin. But this is far from enough for leaders of victims associations, who want an official apology from the top. They also complain that negotiations are taking place between the two governments, without any direct representation of their communities. In Germany, some intellectuals also denounce this high-handed approach, colonial style of the German authorities. They are calling for all the former colonial powers to hand back human remains from their ex-colonies and dare to open a debate on dark chapters of human history.
Earlier this week, Abimael Guzman, the leader of Perus Shining Path guerrillas, was handed a second life sentence for a 1992 car bombing that killed 25 people, alongside nine fellow leaders.

It was the first time the Shining Path had attacked a civilian target in the Peruvian capital, Lima.

Known by his revolutionary name Chairman Gonzalo  in reference to his admiration for Mao Tse Tung, founder of the Chinese communist party  Guzman was captured 26 years ago and has been in jail ever since.

Here AFP takes a look at the rebel figure and his guerrilla organization accused of murdering thousands of people.

 What is the Shining Path? 

Perus Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) describes it as a subversive and terrorist organization that sought to fight its way into power.

In 1980 it began an armed conflict with the government and Peruvian society, committing very serious crimes that constitute crimes against humanity. The Shining Path was responsible for 54 percent of the victims of the conflicts victims, according to the TRC.

Now 83 and serving two life sentences, Guzman was a university professor of philosophy who, once seduced by Maoist ideology, became a near messianic leader of his group.

He was known as Puka Inti  meaning red sun in the Quechua language that is spoken by around 13 percent of the population  but his preferred moniker was Chairman Gonzalo.

Inspired by Mao, Guzmans group emerged from the oppressed regions of the Andes and attempted to launch a peoples war from the countryside towards the city.

 How did it operate? 

Guzmans directives simplified Maoism and made it more violent, the TRC said, proclaiming the militarization of the Communist Party and the society resulting from the revolutions triumph.

General Marco Miyashiro, a member of the squadron that captured Guzman in 1992, told AFP: They promoted what they called the fifth form of battle. Its a combination of armed propaganda, guerrilla combat, collective assassination and sabotage.

One of the bloodiest mass killings committed by the group was in 1984 in the southwestern Ayacucho region, where they murdered 117 peasant farmers who refused to support them.

In 2003, the TRC said some 70,000 people were killed over 20 years of conflict from 1980 to 2000 in fighting between the army and guerrillas from the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement groups.

 Has it been defeated? 

Almost all of its leaders have been captured but its remnants, headed by Victor Quispe Palomino, or Comrade Jose, still operate in the largest valley of coca leaf production in Peru, allied with drug-traffickers  cocaine is made from coca leaf.

The historic leaders deny they are directing the dissidents but Miyashiro believes the rebels are regrouping, taking advantage of popular discontent in universities and unions, while the factions operating in coca growing territory are acting as advanced troops.

Authorities have identified at least two organizations they suspect of being legal extensions of the Shining Path: The Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights (MOVADEF), a group of families of imprisoned guerrillas, and Conare, a union committee of radical teachers.

When MOVADEF attempted to register as a political party, it was rejected on the grounds that its ideological base supporting Guzmans thinking, according to sociologist Carlos Tapia.

 Whats left of its ideology? 

According to Tapia, organizations linked to the Shining Path are merely filling a vacuum because of a lack of political representation for their ideas.

For the last two decades, Peru has suffered from a crisis of political parties due to public disenfranchisement with the governing process.

Theres no one to battle them ideologically, to prevent MOVADEF from gathering momentum. Once election season is over, everyone forgets (about politics), he told AFP.

 Is there repentance and reconciliation? 

The short answer, is no. Despite recognizing its defeat and no longer calling for armed rebellion, Osman Morote, a member of the Shining Path leadership, told Caretas magazine from his jail cell: Prison is tough but it will never subdue us, even less so weaken our profound conviction that the future belongs to the proletariat and the people.

Reconciliation, from the TRCs perspective, is between a state and the victims of state-sponsored terror.

But for many experts, the Shining Path must repent if it is ever to enter politics as a legal entity.
A court in Sarajevo on Friday jailed two former Bosniak Muslim soldiers for war crimes against Serb civilians in the region of Srebrenica during the Bosnian War.

Izet Arifovic was found guilty of killing three Serb civilians detained by Muslim soldiers at the start of the conflict in 1992, and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Arifovic, 58, killed two people in front of a Srebrenica police station in July 1992, judge Stanisa Gluhajic said.

The court said the men had been armed civilians who had handed over their weapons and surrendered to Muslim soldiers who had attacked their village, Zalazje.

The victims had been among at least nine detained civilians from the village, all of whom were killed in unclear circumstances.

Their remains, apart from one of them, were found in 2010 in a mass grave in Zalazje.

A month earlier, Arifovic had killed a civilian in the village of Ratkovici, judge Gluhajic said.

Meanwhile, former Bosniak soldier Suad Smajlovic was sentenced to 14 months in prison for firing rounds into the corpses of Serb civilians who had been put on a truck for transport in July 1992.

A third suspect, Amir Salihovic, who faced charges of taking Serb detainees to an unknown location, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The 1992-1995 war between Bosnias Croats, Muslims and Serbs claimed some 100,000 lives.

According to victims groups, 2,428 Serb civilians and militaries were killed in the Srebrenica region during the conflict.

A war crimes retrial of Srebrenica Muslim wartime commander Naser Oric started earlier this month.

In October 2017, Oric was acquitted by a Sarajevo court of killing three Serb prisoners at the start of the war.

The ruling was overturned in June for procedural reasons.

Serb forces slaughtered some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Srebrenica massacre, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II.

Some 50 former Serb militaries were sentenced for the massacre, deemed genocide by the international justice. They include Bosnian Serb wartime political and military leaders, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.
A court in Sarajevo on Friday jailed three former soldiers  two Bosnian Muslims and one Serb  for war crimes against civilians during the countrys devastating 1992-95 war.

Izet Arifovic was found guilty of killing three Serb civilians detained by Muslim soldiers in 1992, and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

In the first incident, Arifovic, now 58, killed two people outside a police station in Srebrenica in July 1992, judge Stanisa Gluhajic said.

The victims were armed civilians who had handed over their weapons and surrendered to Muslim soldiers who attacked their village, Zalazje.

The victims were among at least nine detained civilians from the village, all of whom were killed. The remains of eight of them were found in 2010 in a mass grave in Zalazje.

A month earlier, Arifovic also killed a civilian in the village of Ratkovici, judge Gluhajic found.

A Bosnian Muslim comrade in arms, Suad Smajlovic, 52, was sentenced to 14 months in prison Friday for firing rounds into the corpses of Serb civilians loaded onto a truck for transport in July 1992.

In a separate trial, the tribunal sentenced former Serb soldier Milisav Ikonic to nine years in jail for repeatedly raping a 20-year-old Muslim woman in the eastern town of Rogatica.

In July 1992, he took the woman from a school where she was detained, to an apartment where he had pushed her on a bed, hitting her, before he raped her, judge Halil Lagumdzija said.

Ikonic, now 59, raped the woman repeatedly over six days, which resulted in physical and psychological wounds, the judge added.

The 1992-1995 war between Bosnias Croats, Muslims, and Serbs claimed some 100,000 lives.

According to victims groups, 2,428 Serb civilians and fighters were killed in the Srebrenica region alone.

A retrial of Srebrenica Muslim wartime commander Naser Oric on warcrimes charges started earlier this month.

In October 2017, Oric was acquitted by a Sarajevo court of killing three Serb prisoners at the start of the war, but the ruling was overturned in June for procedural reasons.

Serb forces slaughtered some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Srebrenica massacre, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II.

Some 50 former Serb soldiers were sentenced for that crime, deemed genocide by the international justice system. They included Bosnian Serb wartime political and military leaders, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

More than 20,000 women and girls were raped during Bosnias war.
Research team using NSF grant for development of soil sensor to aid food production

Friday, Sept. 14, 2018

MANHATTAN  When addressing the ongoing global problem of food scarcity, a key element toward ensuring a successful crop yield is healthy soil conditions.



The need exists for a sustainable method of attaining real-time data on soil health to aid farmers in making better decisions related to food production. In response, the combined efforts of a group of scientists and engineers at Kansas State University are expected to produce a sensor that will provide the agricultural community with continuous measurements of needed data such as soil moisture content, available nutrients and microbial activity.



The team, headed by Stephen Welch, professor of agronomy, has recently been funded by a National Science Foundation Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research, or EAGER, award of $300,000 to develop such a sensor.



"Our sensor will be unique as it will be powered by microorganisms that already exist in the soil," said Stacey Kulesza, assistant professor of civil engineering and co-investigator for the EAGER. "And if successful, its use will help farmers to make more informed decisions about agricultural practices."



Other researchers in the two-year project titled "Sustainable Biosensor Integration for Precision Management of Agricultural Soils" are Prathap Parmeswaran, assistant professor of civil engineering; Ganga Hettiarachchi, professor of agronomy; and Ryan Hansen, assistant professor of chemical engineering.



The anticipated result of the funded work will be twofold. First is the development and validation of an impedance spectroscopy sensor powered by a subsurface microbial fuel cell. Then additional data provided by the sensor and fuel cell will be used to create a continuous-time, mathematical/computer simulation model for predicting valuable soil data relevant to crop growth.



"This project will strengthen the collaboration among engineers and agronomists by establishing this new multidisciplinary team to address the issue of global food shortages," Kulesza said.



"A team goal is to be among the leaders in generating new knowledge about tomorrow's challenges facing farmers in Kansas and farmers worldwide," she said.






(ANSA) - Rome, September 14 - Italy and Germany have not yet reached a deal on Friday for the return of migrants registered in Italy at the German border, which German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had said on Thursday was ready to go and just needed signing.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini will continue talks with Seehofer on Friday in Vienna on the sidelines of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, where Salvini will also meet with EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Salvini is featured on the cover of this week's European edition of TIME magazine with a photo captioned "the new face of Europe", calling him "Italy's immigration czar who is leading the mission to undo the EU".


(ANSA) - Vienna, September 14 - Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday "I am convinced that in a few months' time we'll find ourselves governing Europe together with Viktor Orban".

Addressing a press conference with Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache, Salvini said "the sanctions against the Hungarian government and people are a political act, a madness by that leftwing Europe that is not resigned to change".

Salvini and Orban recently hailed each other as "heroes" of each other at a meeting in Milan.

Orban's nationalist Fidesz party and Salvini's anti-migrant Euoskeptic League are expected to be among the populist parties who will do well in the European Parliament elections on 23-26 May next year.


(ANSA) - Geneva, September 14 - After Spain, Greece too has overtaken Italy as a destination for seaborne migrants, the International Organization for Migration said Friday.

Out of a total of 74,501 arrivals in the Mediterranean from January 1 to September 12, the IOM said, 32,272 were in Spain, which accounted for 43% of the landings.

Greece came second with 20,961 while Italy's 20,343 arrivals were its lowest total since 2014.

Meanwhile Premier Giuseppe Conte said "OK to rescues but we can't take all the migrants".


We still have a long way to go before the gender representation becomes more equalized, but the field at large indicates hopeful trends about women working in the role or desiring to do so in the future.

By Kayla Matthews, Productivity Bytes.

Research indicates data science is a promising career path, and its a field likely to offer job security and growth for the foreseeable future. Women are still significantly underrepresented, though.

Statistics across multiple studies confirm females only fill about 15 percent of data scientist roles, although some investigations show totals approximately 10 percent higher.

We still have a long way to go before the gender representation becomes more equalized, but the field at large indicates hopeful trends about women working in the role or desiring to do so in the future.

Rising Attendance at a Worldwide Womens Data Science Event



In recent years, its been increasingly common for people around the globe to band together and stand up against school violence, a lack of support for the environment and science and womens rights, to name but a few.

However, another event called Global Women in Data Science (WiDS) highlights the growing representation of female data scientists. Like the other events mentioned above, its too big for one city, but the anchor event happened in March 2018 at Stanford University and included a live-streamed conference that an estimated 100,000 people watched. Moreover, WiDS 2018 encompassed over 170 regional events in more than 50 countries.

Statistics from past events of this kind revealed a third of the participants are industry professionals, while the others are professors or students. The 2017 edition of WiDS attracted 75,000 people, and the details of the more recent conference mentioned above indicate attendance is increasing at an impressive rate.

More Providers Offering Data Science Options



Algeria is one of the largest countries in North Africa. The majority of its residents are under 30, and it has a higher-than-average unemployment rate compared to other nations in the region.

Code 213 is reportedly the first coding school in the country, and it aims to reduce the unemployment route through youth education. The educator offers four different tracks, including one in data science.

Each student will be immersed in a six-month program emphasizing a learn by doing approach. Then, they complete six-month internships. Code 213 also hopes to train at least 50 percent women through its programs.

At the university level, Saudi Arabia recently made history by training its first group of female data scientists through a partnership between Dell and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). PNU is the worlds largest university for women, and the program saw 57 students complete degree programs in data science or big data analytics this semester.

Dell previously performed an investigation and found a lack of workplace readiness was a substantial barrier for Middle Eastern countries wishing to be competitive in the digital age. The PNU program helps solve that issue. People in computer science must know numerous things to facilitate career growth, but solid academic teaching undoubtedly gives them a strong start.

A Promising Amount of Female Representation in Established Programs



Its also an excellent sign that the universities that have offered data science degrees for a while report a more balanced gender representation than people might expect.

The University of California at Berkeley established a Data Science Division in the Spring 2016 semester and enrolled 300 students then. However, enrollment numbers for the Spring 2018 semester were over 1000, making the program the fastest-growing option in Berkeleys history. A report indicates the gender balance is approximately 50/50, too.

Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Georgia also has a minor in applied statistics and data analysis. Representatives from the college say it stresses that people can study numerous things besides data science and still end up with that career path. At KSU, about 40 percent of the people in the data science programs are women.

Helping Girls Maintain Interest in STEM Careers Could Pay Off



When girls show an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers during their youth, the foundations could be laid for later data science work as adults. However, they often lose interest before its time to choose their college courses. A study by Microsoft and KRC Research aimed to find out why that happens.

It highlighted how if girls get encouragement from their parents, teachers and mentors, theyre more likely to stick to their paths than if they dont have such feedback. Positive outcomes also increase when girls are exposed to inclusive classroom environments where people value their opinions.

An additional study investigated the perceptions of six-year-old girls and boys about gender biases related to an activity involving programming a robot. They found it reduced the gender gap in technology interest by 42 percent and increased self-confidence by 80 percent. However, researchers said the activity did not reduce ingrained stereotypes about which gender was better with robotics tasks.

They emphasized the need to teach STEM activities as early as elementary school. Moreover, they believe having women in STEM careers talk to kids about their work might help, but they hadnt verified that theory before releasing the research.

Data Science Becoming More Diverse



These examples show that although the gender gap isnt gone, its closing in the data science sector.

If people pay attention to the reasons why girls lose interest in STEM too and try to minimize them, even more progress should become evident.



Bio: Kayla Matthews discusses technology and big data on publications like The Week, The Data Center Journal and VentureBeat, and has been writing for more than five years. To read more posts from Kayla, subscribe to her blog Productivity Bytes.

Original. Reposted with permission.

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(ANSA) - Rome, September 14 - Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Friday that Malta didn't "give a damn" about its migrant rescue duties and was instead steering boats into Italian waters.

Salvini also that he was ready to sign an agreement with Germany on the return of migrants if Berlin helps it get the terms of the Sophia mission in the Mediterranean overhauled.

Salvini, who has spearheaded the new government's tough stance on migration which has seen NGO-run rescue ships denied access to Italy's ports, says Sophia placed too much of the burden for receiving asylum seekers saved at sea on Italy.

The German government said that it reached a deal with Rome for the return of migrants registered in Italy at the German border but Salvini said Thursday that the agreement has not yet been finalised.

"The agreement with Germany, which I have not signed yet, will be limited to November and will be at zero cost," Salvini said regarding the deal that would see Germany accepting one rescued migrant from Italy for each one it turns back.

"It won't regard past cases and it will be signed if Germany gives us a hand on changing the rules of the Sophia mission, which, because of the government of (ex-premier Matteo) Renzi, has seen 45,000 people disembark in Italy.

"I'm ready to sign, but it must be favourable to us". Italy wants the Sophia landing remit to be expanded so that ports outside Italy are also included.

Salvini denied German assertions that the migrant return accord had already been "clinched".

Salvini declared that Malta "doesn't give a damn" about its migrant rescue duties, to the detriment of EU solidarity and to Italy.

"There is an (EU) member State that is very much not giving a damn about its duties, with repeated cases of multiple ships, also in difficulty in Maltese waters, ignored and accompanied towards Italy, ignoring solidarity," he said.

Further, Salvini said Salvini said he would soon go on a mission with European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos to African countries which migrants leave from.

Addressing a press conference in Vienna with Austrian counterpart Herbert Kickl, Salvini said "we agreed with European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on joint missions to African countries migrants leave from to drive home the message that Italy and the EU have no intention of allowing more arrivals, as for example the 57,000 Nigerians of the last year and a half", Salvini said.

Salvini also said migrants could be identified on board rescue ships to facilitate so-called "lightning repatriations".

Speaking with Austrian counterpart Herbert Kickl, he said the migrants would be directly taken to origin countries with which there are relevant accords.

"Among the new innovative and effective measures we can't rule out an identification on the ships, once migrants have been rescued from the boats," said Salvini.

Salvini added that Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn used "vulgar" language in a verbal spat with him earlier.

"We are awaiting in a few minutes' time the Luxembourg minister to continue the debate with calm tones, he was vulgar before," said Salvini, flanked by Austrian counterpart Herbert Kickl.

Earlier Salvini said "we don't need to have new slaves to replace the children we no longer produce" and Asselborn swore "merde alors", a vulgar expression meaning "drat", before saying "deal with your money to help feed your children".


(ANSA) - Piacenza, September 14 - Centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) MEP Cecile Kyenge, formerly Italy's first black minister, went on trial Thursday for calling the anti-migrant League party racist.

The trial of Kyenge, once likened to an orangutan by a League heavyweight, is the result of a libel suit filed by League leader Matteo Salvini.

During a PD supporters' yearly get-together in Parma, Kyenge said the League was a "racist" party.

The League, while pursuing a crackdown on migrants, has always denied it is racist.

Sending her to trial in January, preliminary investigations judge Stefania Di Rienzo said Kyenge had implicitly compared the League to the Nazis.

Kyenge has been the target of League abuse for years.

Last year, when the League was still called the Northern League, MEP Mario Borghezio was ordered to pay the Congo-born former integration minister Cecile Kyenge 50,000 euros in compensation for a racist slur.

"I can't afford it, I'll have to sell my house," commented Borghezio, who has a history of controversial anti-immigrant remarks and actions.

Borghezio, interviewed on April 29, 2013 after Kyenge's appointment, reportedly said among other things that "Africans are Africans and belong to an ethnic group very different from ours".

He also complained that Kyenge, who was educated in Italy to become an ophthalmologist, had taken away a health post that he said should have been given to "some Italian doctor".

In another remark that was not covered by last year's verdict, Borghezio claimed Kyenge would impose her "tribal traditions" from the Congo on Italy.

"This is a bonga bonga government, they want to change birthright citizenship laws and Kyenge wants to impose her tribal traditions from the Congo," said Borghezio.

Other politicians with the Northern League have faced legal action for comments against Kyenge.

Former Senator Ermino Boso, interviewed a few days after Borghezio on May 1, 2013, reportedly said Kyenge should have "stayed home in the Congo".

In November 2013 Northern League Senator and former minister Roberto Calderoli was charged with defamation aggravated by racial discrimination after he compared Kyenge to an orangutan.

That remark by Calderoli was one of the first and probably the worst, but not the only such slur against the eye doctor.

Earlier in 2013 Northern League Padua Councillor Dolores Valandro posted on Facebook that someone should rape Kyenge "so she knows what it feels like" in response to a report of an Italian woman who was allegedly raped by an African man.

Borghezio has a track record of anti-immigrant acts.

In 2000 he was lampooned on TV for his efforts to clean up, with dusters and spray, trains allegedly used by foreign prostitutes and immigrants.

Kyenge recalled several episodes of alleged League racism on social media Friday, saying "is the League racist? Judge for yourselves".

She posted headlines including When Salvini Sang: 'Smell the Stink, the Neapolitans are Coming'; Calderoli: When I See Kyenge I think of an Orangutan; League: Separate Carriages For Non-EU Migrants; and Borghezio: 'Bonga Bonga Government: Kyenge A F**king Bad Choice'.


(ANSA) - Rome, September 14 - There are no dictators in Italy, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Friday after European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Thursday called populists such as those in Italy's government "little Mussolinis".

"I don't share the words of Commissioner Moscovici," Tajani said.

"The European Commission must not use offensive language towards member States.

"As an Italian I say there are no dictators in our country".

Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday Moscovici should "wash his mouth out" after the remark Deputy Premier and Labour and Industry Minister Luigi Di Maio said the remarks were "intolerable".

Both men lead populist parties, the anti-migrant Euroskeptic League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.

Moscovici said that the rise of European populists showed that "today there is a climate that very much resembles the 1930s. Certainly, we must not exaggerate, clearly there isn't Hitler, perhaps little Mussolinis".


A group of 38 students and 5 adults from St Brigids College, Callan, were delighted to be involved in the recent visit of Pope Francis.



Organised by the school Trustees CEIST, this event involved stewarding in the Phoenix Park on the day of the Papal Mass and acting as umbrella bearers for the Ministers of the Eucharist to direct members of the congregation to Holy Communion.



The volunteer group set off for Dublin on Saturday 25th August in high spirits.

They were grateful to be accommodated in Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin with a number of other school groups.



Following an initial welcoming ceremony they travelled to the Phoenix Park to meet with the other student volunteers and receive final details and training regarding the duties.

The students were thrilled to have the opportunity to see the logistics involved in such on a large scale event.



To see the whole seating, hospitality facilities emergency areas and as an added bonus being there as sound checks and rehearsals were underway as they went through the duties they had to carry out.

Upon return to the host school accommodation and following a wonderful meal, students were treated to a Ceili Mor where they had an opportunity to meet with other young people from every corner of Ireland.



The Sunday morning of the Popes mass was an early start at 4.30am as the group set off travelling by bus and on foot to the Phoenix Park.

Despite the constant rain and wind, spirits were high and as members of the public arrived the students swung into action assisting people to find their areas.



Work continued throughout the day and during the liturgy and at the end of it all, a very tired but happy group wound its way back to the bus.



The community of St Brigids College and of Callan can be very proud of this wonderful group of girls who represented themselves with honour in the once-in-a-lifetime event.
For the first time ever, St. Canices is taking part in the Credit Union All Ireland Art Competition!

This years theme The Force of Nature and has been designed to encourage participants to get thinking green by depicting their visions of a clean pollution and litter free environment and also to get thinking about the impact the local environment has on the community and the vital importance of protecting it.

Winners, will go on to represent St. Canices Credit Union at regional level and from there, regional winners will progress to the national awards ceremony in Dublins Croke Park in February 2019.

St. Canices Credit Union is delighted to have Paul Young from Cartoon Saloon, Caroline Schofield, Artist and Facilitator for Open Circle Community Arts Collective and Mary Butler, Arts Officer for Kilkenny County Council on the judging panel.

The national art competition is now in its 35th year and each year almost 30,000 people submit entries through more than 200 participating credit unions. The competition has no age limits and is open to children aged seven years and under right through to 18 years and over. There is also a category for those with physical or intellectual difficulties.

The annual competition is part of the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) commitment to supporting the artistic development of both young and old in communities throughout Ireland. Producing and creating art can have many benefits for adults, such as reducing stress and aiding the development of creative problem-solving skills. For children, painting and creating art can nurture fine motor skills and neural development, while allowing them to express their emotions.

Entry forms with full details and rules are available to pick up in your local branch of St. Canices Credit Union or can also be downloaded on www.stcanicescu.ie. The closing date to submit finished entries to St. Canices Credit Union is Friday 19th October 2018.
Green Party Councillor and Local Government spokesperson Malcolm Noonan has launched a stinging attack on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and his track record in office.

Following the Ministers recent comments on local authority performance in delivering social housing, Cllr Noonan said that delays in the delivery of housing lay not with local authorities but within inefficiencies and red tape in his own Department. He said that rather than pulling powers from local councils, he would be better placed to give more autonomy to them in order to deliver quality housing at a faster pace.

"The Minister continues to look for scapegoats to blame for rising homelessness and lack of affordable or social housing, now hes blaming local authorities," he said.

"I would propose that he would take a critical look at the workings of his own Department and to give councils more freedom to deliver housing, to frontload capital funding and to let us do what we do best; build good quality homes and communities."

Cllr Noonan said that the time lag between proposing a scheme and delivery could be as long as four years. He said that this was unacceptable and that many options existed in Kilkenny City and the countys scheduled towns to construct or renovate innovative schemes that would eat into the housing list, freeing up more private rented dwellings and easing the pressure.

"Our housing and planning staff are exploring all options to deliver housing but the delays are coming from Minister Murphys department. I do think that we have the capacity to deliver a lot of housing in the city centre of Kilkenny, particularly on the brewery site but we need to rethink the whole model of development there," he said.

"I am disappointed that Loughmacask was not advanced before the Western Environs as it should have been under the sequential rule in our Development Plan and I do have concerns around future water supply capacity to advance housing on the scale required. But our situation is not unique; there needs to be greater collaboration between the Department of Housing, local authorities and Irish Water to ensure that there is a seamless approach to reaching targets under Rebuilding Ireland. Minister Murphys comments at this time are unhelpful and counterproductive to such an aspiration."
The school friends of a young Kilkenny woman who is battling cancerhave come together to help raise funds so she can seek life saving treatment abroad.

Alice Taylor, who is 25 and from Ballycallan, is battling stage 3B cervical cancer and was given a terminal diagnosis, earlier this summer.

Family and friends are taking up the battle for Alice and are spearheading a fundraising campaign that will allow her to access new treatments in the USA or UK - this will potentially cost hundreds of thousands of euro but, they say, it is the only option Alice has.

This Sunday, September 16, a 5k Walk for Alice will be held in Kilkenny.

Organised by a group of her former school friends, the walk will raise money to contribute towards the life saving immunotherapy treatment Alice needs.

A core group of six ladies from the Loreto Class of 2011 are organising the fundraiser with the support of everyone in their year group that they have been in contact with. Their alma mater has also been supportive of the event, the ladies former principal Colm Keher allowing the school to be used as a base for the walk.



Registration for the walk will be in the Loreto Secondary School, Granges Road, on Sunday, September 16, between 11.30am and 12 noon. Taking part will cost 20 for adults, 10 for under 18s or a family can take part for 30.

The walk will set off from the school, where it will later finish up with tea/ coffee and cakes for all participants. A raffle will also be held on the day. Volunteers to help with the event and especially donations of cakes and buns would be gratefully accepted.

100% of all proceeds will be given to Alices family to go to her treatment fund.

We are asking the people of Kilkenny to come together as a community and help give a young woman the fighting chance she deserves, said Kate Naughton, one of the organisers with Michelle Carroll, Eimear Hogan, Georgina Power, Louise Whitely and Olivia Hutchinson.

The walk will begin at the Loreto, go through Irishtown and over St Francis Bridge (the new bridge), turn left towards Greens Bridge, along the Riverside Walk to Talbots Inch before walking back to the school.

If you cant make it to the walk you can still donate at www.gofundme.com/ hqzzx-save-alice or Google search for GoFundMe Save Alice.

For further information on the walk or to contact organisers of the event go to Walk for Alice on Facebook.

A petition has also been launched calling on the government to make the life saving drugs available to Alice and all women with cervical cancer who would benefit from it.
Graham Adams writes in The Listener:

There is a rooster that regularly announces its presence from beyond my back fence. When it started crowing one morning last week, I immediately thought of Helen Clark . I had just read that she had told Stuff journalists heads would have rolled if the Labour Partys youth camp sex assaults had occurred on her watch because, under her leadership, people didnt keep their jobs. She added that she wasnt sure if she would have released the internal report but made it clear: I would have handled it differently from the start. The inescapable implication of her comments was that Jacinda Ardern is either too weak, too nice, too inexperienced or too indecisive  or maybe a combination of all these failings  to be an effective PM faced with this sort of problem. And, of course, very unlike her tough and decisive Labour predecessor.

Not helpful as he points out:

As a journalist colleague emailed after reading the Stuff report: I bet Ardern just loves having Clark back in New Zealand.

While Im all in favour of Helen keeping up the commentary. Shes in the media several times a week, at times. Probably in there more often than 80% of the Cabinet.

Clark continues to assert her toughness, time after time. When she faced off against Sir Ray Avery over his proposed charity concert at Eden Park in July, she boasted: Hes probably picked the wrong person to try to bully in directly attacking me. And Clarks high opinion of her own toughness extends now to claiming that she was too strong a personality for the UN to accept as Secretary-General. Stuff reported her saying her run at the top job was stymied because four of five of the great powers didnt want a strong personality type. It was a view she repeated to the NZ Heralds Simon Wilson. Describing the run-up to the UN race, and the need to stand up to Russia, the United States and China, she said: The tragedy is that the world is looking for leadership. We had some conversations as to whether I should present as not a strong leader. Pretend that I was an ineffectual person who wouldnt say boo to a goose. But that wasnt me. We are obviously meant to accept that Clark was the outstanding candidate to lead the UN but the international organisation was far too scared of her strong, outspoken personality to actually select her.

I dont think Clark lost because she was too strong. I think she lost due to geopolitics.

In fact, rightly or wrongly, many of us who arent devotees of the Cult of Helen remember just how often she was frightened by a goose hissing at her in New Zealand. We remember her timid reforms to the Employment Contracts Act that saw the union movement further weakened under her watch; her backing away from the Closing the Gaps programme to lift Maori; and her blocking Maori from taking their case over the foreshore and seabed to the Maori Land Court. When thousands of protesters marched on Parliament, she would not leave her office to address the crowd, instead labelling them haters and wreckers. Perhaps more than anything else, we remember her unwillingness to follow Jim Andertons lead when he was suspended from the Labour caucus for voting against selling the BNZ in 1989. Her famous line that she hadnt come this far to go down in a hail of bullets with Jim Anderton was for many a vivid reminder of the narrow limits of her courage.

Pragmatism over principle.

Jacinda Ardern is much tougher than she looks  and her prime ministership is possibly going to be braver and more transformational than Clarks ever was.

Jacinda has shown toughness. Her best moment came as she executed Metiria Turei and effectively forced her from the Green co-leadership. That took real steel.

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Red Nicholson writes at The Spinoff:

Yesterday, Labour ministers Carmel Sepuloni and Iain Lees-Galloway were invited by the Spinal Trustto spend the day in wheelchairs, in order to highlight the challenges a wheelchair user might face getting around parliament. A well-intentioned PR stunt that no politician, particularly given the fortnight Labour has had, could easily turn down. After all, how could anyone resist the temptation to make a gag about sitting by his statements, eh minister? That said, as a veteran wheelchair user myself, I reckon there is only one context in which it is OK to have a go in a wheelchair, and it is this: You are a curious nine-year-old. There is also one context where it might be considered a particularly bad look to be playing wheelchair dress-ups:

You are the minister for disability issues, seeking to understand the needs of disabled people.

I think the intentions were very good, but Nicholson has a point that it wasnt well thought through.

Carmel Sepuloni, as minister for disability issues, should know better than this. Dressing up as a disabled person for an afternoon is no less disrespectful than if a Pakeha minister for Maori affairs thought it might be helpful to paint their skin brown for a day to better understand the needs of Maori. Or if a male minister for womens issues wore a dress for an afternoon in order to appreciate the barriers facing women. The only difference here is that wheelchairs seem to have developed into some sort of whimsical lark for able-bodied people, as a fun way to get around, making this particular dress-up act somehow seem less offensive. Its not.

Fair points.

The purpose of the stunt was, according to the Spinal Trusts twitter account, to help the minister better understand the needs of disabled people. The minister herself said that sitting in the chair helped her to gain some insight into how accessible parliament is. But the minister shouldnt have to play dress-ups to appreciate either of these things. In fact, there are already wheelchair users working in parliament, so if accessibility was of such concern, the minister could surely have respected these individuals lived experience enough to sit down and listen to their perspectives, instead of playing pretend for the day.

Its a bit like when people sleep rough for a day to help the homeless.

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Mosaic Fertilizer, the world's largest phosphate mining company, has agreed to pay nearly $2 billion to settle a federal lawsuit over hazardous waste and to clean up operations at six Florida sites and two in Louisiana, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday.

"The 60 billion pounds of hazardous waste addressed in this case is the largest amount ever covered by a federal or state . . . settlement and will ensure that wastewater at Mosaic's facilities is properly managed and does not pose a threat to groundwater resources," the EPA said.

The EPA had accused Mosaic of improper storage and disposal of waste from the production of phosphoric and sulfuric acids, key components of fertilizers, at Mosaic's facilities in Bartow, New Wales, Mulberry, Riverview, South Pierce and Green Bay in Florida, as well as two sites in Louisiana.

The EPA said it had discovered Mosaic employees were mixing highly corrosive substances from its fertilizer operations with the solid waste and wastewater from mineral processing, in violation of federal and state hazardous waste laws.

"This case is a major victory for clean water, public health and communities across Florida and Louisiana," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

Mosaic CEO Joc O'Rourke said the company is "pleased to be bringing this matter to a close" and pledged to be a good environmental steward. The Minnesota-based company was formed in 2004 by a merger of IMC Global with the crop nutrition division of Cargill.

Mosaic officials in Florida said the EPA investigation and negotiations for a settlement have been going on for eight years over practices that everyone in the phosphate industry was doing as well.

The settlement with the EPA, the Justice Department, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will have no impact on Mosaic's continued employment or on its future mining expansion plans in DeSoto, Hardee and Manatee counties, they said.

Thursday's settlement will become final upon approval by the court. The first step in this process is a 30-day public comment period, which is now open, said Julia Valentine, an EPA spokeswoman.

First discovered by an Army Corps of Engineers captain in 1881, Florida's phosphate deposits today are the basis of an $85 billion industry that supplies three-fourths of the phosphate used in the United States. Although phosphate mining provides a major financial boon to the small communities in which the mines are located, it also leaves behind a major environmental mess.

The miners use a dragline with a bucket the size of a truck to scoop up the top 30 feet of earth and dump it to the side of the mine. Then the dragline scoops out the underlying section of earth, which contains phosphate rocks mixed with clay and sand.

The bucket dumps this in a pit where high-pressure water guns create a slurry that can be pumped to a plant up to 10 miles away.

At the plant, the phosphate is separated from the sand and clay. The clay slurry is pumped to a settling pond, and the phosphate is sent to a chemical processing plant where it is converted for use in fertilizer and other products. The sand is sent back to the mine site to fill in the hole after all the phosphate is removed.

A byproduct, called phosphogypsum, is slightly radioactive so it cannot be easily disposed. The only thing the miners can do with it is stack it into mountainous piles next to the plant. Florida is such a flat state that the 150-foot-tall "gyp stacks" are usually the highest point in the landscape for miles around. They contain large pools of highly acidic wastewater on top.

"Mining and mineral processing facilities generate more toxic and hazardous waste than any other industrial sector," Giles said. "Reducing environmental impacts from large fertilizer manufacturers operations is a national priority for EPA."

Mosaic's production of pollution is so great that in 2012, the Southwest Florida Water Management District granted the company a permit to pump up to 70 million gallons of water a day out of the ground for the next 20 years. Mosaic is using some of that water to dilute the pollution it dumps into area creeks and streams so it won't violate state regulations.

The EPA investigation was prompted by a 2003 incident in which the Piney Point phosphate plant, near the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, leaked some of waste from atop its gyp stack into the edge of Tampa Bay after its owners walked away.

That prompted EPA to launch a national review of phosphate mining facilities, Valentine said. That's how inspectors found workers were mixing the corrosive substances from the fertilizer operations with the phosphogypsum and wastewater from the mineral processing, she said.

That mixing was something everyone in the industry did, according to Richard Ghent of Mosaic's Florida operations. The EPA said that violated both state and federal law and put groundwater at risk. It has previously gotten settlements from two other companies, one of which, CF Industries, has since been taken over by Mosaic.

Despite the mishandling of the waste, Debra Waters, Mosaic's director of environmental regulatory affairs in Florida, said the company has seen no change in the area's groundwater, which EPA officials said was correct.

The fact that the negotiations have been going on for so many years, Waters said, "should indicate that there's no imminent threat."

The company will invest at least $170 million at its fertilizer manufacturing facilities to keep those substances separate from now on. Mosaic will also put money aside for the safe future closure of the gypsum stacks using a $630 million trust fund it is creating under the settlement. That money will be invested until it reaches $1.8 billion, which will pay for the closures.

The South Pierce and Green Bay plants, both in Polk County, will soon shut down, with the closure of the gyp stacks already underway, Waters said.

Mosaic will also pay a $5 million civil penalty to the federal government, a $1.55 million penalty to the state of Louisiana and $1.45 million to Florida, and it will be required to spend $2.2 million on local environmental projects to make up for what it has done.

Mosaic, which runs television ads touting its importance in growing crops to feed the world, has donated to both the Florida Republican and Democratic parties, and to state lawmakers such as Rep. Dana Young, Rep. Jake Raburn and Rep. Ben Albritton.

The company has previously run afoul of the EPA on its air pollution standards. Meanwhile, though, it was rated one of the top 50 employers in America based on salary and job satisfaction. Mosaic employs about 1,200 people in Hillsborough County alone.
(ANSA) - Vatican City, September 14 - Pope Francis said on Friday during an audience with Catholic charitable organisations working in Syria, Iraq, and surrounding countries, that the reasons for migration must not be ignored. "We can't close our eyes to the causes that have forced millions of people to leave, with pain, their own land," the pontiff said. "At the same time, I encourage all those involved and the international community to renew their commitment in favor of a safe return home for the displaced. Ensuring their protection and future is a duty of civilization," he said.


Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of United Nations Command and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at an event in Seoul on Wednesday / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won



The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) authorized South Korea vehicles and personnel to cross the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to support construction of communication infrastructure that will be used in inter-Korean business projects.



"Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Commander of United Nations Command, authorized vehicles and personnel from the Republic of Korea to cross the Military Demarcation Line today in the eastern transportation corridor to support construction of communication infrastructure to be used between the Republic of Korea and North Korea," said the UNC press release, Thursday.



"The approval allows more material than what is needed to repair communication lines, and will result in the construction of a communication building."



The decisions came amid a reconciliatory mood ahead of the third inter-Korean talks on Sept. 18-20 where the leaders of the two Koreas will discuss specifics of the North's denuclearization process and possible economic assistance by the South.






EU to transfer migrants off Greek islands Steps up planning for exodus if Assad attacks Idlib, in Syria

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 14 - The European Commission is planning in collaboration with Greece to transfer thousands of migrants from centers on the Greek islands to alleviate severe overcrowding on them.



It will be doing so ahead of an expected mass exodus of refugees if the Syrian regime attacks the northwestern province Idlib, reports the Financial Times. "The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said this week that 30,000 people had been displaced from their homes by air and ground attacks by the Syrian regime and its allies in the Idlib area, while a full assault could drive out 800,000," it noted.



The outlet added that European migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos next week will be meeting with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras for an initial evacuation of 3,000 people. The European Commission confirmed that periodic evacuations of the most vulnerable asylum seekers had been going on for some time to alleviate the centers on the Greek islands, involving transfers to the mainland but without compromising the EU-Turley accord.



Since August 2017, 32,000 migrants and asylum seekers have been transferred and another one of 3,000 people is being assessed. Brussels is trying to speed up the process given the particularly difficult situation at the Moria camp. This is the reason for Avramopoulos' trip to Athens next week. (ANSAmed).








Officials of the South and North unveil the building name of an inter-Korean liaison office during the opening ceremony, at the North's city of Gaeseong, Friday. / Joint Press Corps
ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Russia on Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation in Syria's Idlib area, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.



The meeting comes following a trilateral summit between the two leaders and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, where no accord was reached.



Diplomatic sources in Ankara said the meeting on Monday will likely take place in Sochi.



"We will continue our efforts with Iran and Russia, and we will also continue our efforts in international forums," Cavusoglu said, speaking at a joint press conference in Pakistan with his Pakistani counterpart.



He said the appeal for a ceasefire deal in Idlib has received "enormous support" from many countries, including the United States, as well as various organisations.



"Turkey is open to cooperation with everyone on efforts to fight terrorist groups in Syria," he said.


ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 14 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area for today: MARRAKECH - The Oasis Festival will begin with house and techno music (until 16/9). ROME - Foreign Press headwuarters - 2pm. Press conference following visit by High Commissioner Filippo Grandi. CASABLANCA - Boulevard Festival for emerging performing artists in Morocco will begin (until 23/9).



RABAT - Jazz festival continues in Chellah (until 16/9).



OTRANTO - The 10th edition of the Festival of Mediterranean Journalists continues (until 16/9).



TUNIS - 4th edition of the 'Summer School on Migration' (until 15/9). ABU DHABI - The exhibition 'Japanese Connections: the Birth of Modern Decor', continues at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi and includes a series of paintings and etchings from the XIX and XX centuries that highlight the dialogue between the East and the West (until November 24).



ROME - 'Estate in Biblioteca, il Cinema Legge il Mondo', a festival of Italian and foreign films in Rome libraries, organized in collaboration with MedFilm Festival (until September 27). (ANSAmed).




ROME - Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is working on "innovative and efficient solutions" to manage a group of 184 migrants who arrived in small boats on the island of Lampedusa on Friday, according to sources in the Interior Ministry.



One option under consideration is a fast repatriation of Tunisian migrants by using charter flights, and sources said authorities are studying ways to speed up the identification process in order to do so.



Sources said the new arrivals show how "Malta, for the umpteenth time, has unloaded the problem onto Italy".


Libya is not safe to return migrants to, UNHCR tells Salvini 'Appalling conditions in detention centers'

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 14 - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has stressed that Libya is not a safe country to send migrants back to.



Grandi was responding to a question on the position taken on the issue by Italian deputy prime minister and interior minister Matteo Salvini. He added that people were staying in appalling conditions in many detention centers in the country and that he had only rarely in his life seen such harsh conditions. The High Commissioner added that EU solidarity had not yet been seen and that a mechanism to distribute the migrants who land on Italian shores was needed to avoid crises like the recent one with the Diciotti coast guard ship. (ANSAmed).




New Delhi, September 14: The Chinese Foreign Ministry yesterday denied reports of its border guards crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the Indo-Sino borders. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told the Global Times that the Chinese border guards had consistently followed the relevant agreements between the two countries. He termed the incidents as a part of a routine patrol in the Chinese territory.

According to Indias ex-Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran such issues could be solved through border meeting. Speaking to ANI, Saran said, There are mechanisms to tackle it, one's border meetings between those who are at borders of India-China, if they can't resolve then they can take it to the higher level. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also slammed media. He said that border issues should be solved through mechanism rather than through media.

In September, reports surfaced in the media that the Chinese Army transgressed into Indian Territory three times in August and came as much as within 4 km of Indian land space in Uttarakhand's Barahoti area. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) crossed into the Indian Territory on August 6, 14, and 15. Troops of both the countries were involved in the 73-day long standoff in Bhutans Doklam last year which ended on August 28, 2017.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Little did Army Cadet Thakur Chandresh Singh knew that his proposal to her girlfriend, on a very significant day of his life i.e. on pipping ceremony, would turn out to be a double delight for him. Not only did he became an officer in the Indian Army, but also the love of his life accepted his unprecedented proposal. The 25-year old Singh proposed his girlfriend Dhara Mehta on September 8, after graduating from the Officer Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.

Lieutenant Singh went down on his knees to propose Dhara, and she accepted the proposal. The newly commissioned officer had planned the proposal since the day he cleared his Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. Both were in a relationship for the past three-and-a-half years. Lieutenant Singh had shown the picture of Dhara to his family three years ago. He had called his parents and Dhara for the pipping ceremony.

The couple met at St Joseph College of Arts and Science in Bangalore in 2012. Though, both of them had different subjects but had Hindi as a common subject. Singh failed in the first SSB attempt, but Dhara supported him and motivated him. He took one year to respond to Dharas proposal. Lieutenant Singh was commissioned into the Rajputana Rifles.

In this semester a total of 268 cadets was commissioned as officers at a passing out parade at the OTA on September 8. Cadets from Afghanistan and Fiji Islands also completed their year-long training and joined the armies of their respective countries. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna reviewed the parade and presented various awards including the 'Sword of Honour' to Battalion Under Officer Siddharth Singh, gold medal to Battalion Under Officer Raveena Punia.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 11:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, Sep 14: The Supreme Court on Friday granted a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to former senior scientist of ISRO, S Nambi Narayanan, who was falsely implicated in an espionage case by the Intelligence Bureau and Kerala Police. While granting Nambi Narayanan Rs 50 lakh compensation, the apex court also said his arrest was 'needless'.

"The arrest of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan is needless and unnecessary," the top court observed, granting him compensation of Rs 50 lakh. Narayanan has been paid a compensation of around Rs 11 lakh so far. He sought a probe for being allegedly falsely implicated in an espionage case. Paid compensation of around Rs 11 lakh, he has filed a suit seeking Rs 1 crore as damages. India, France to Collaborate on ISRO's First Human Space Mission.

Narayanan had moved the top court callegnging the Kerala High Court judgment upholding the state government's decision not to take action against the officials who had falsely implicated him in the case. Narayanan said he was seeking a fresh probe as he wanted to know the motive behind the case which caused a 15-year delay in the development of cryogenic engine, resulting in a loss of billions of dollars to India. ISRO Keen to Outsource PSLV, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.

According to his lawyer C Unikrishnan, Narayanan -- who studied in the Princeton University and worked with National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- came to India to work with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), refusing the offer of US citizenship. Narayanan told the court that his dream was that India becomes a space power.

Narayanan was working on a cryogenic engine when he was arrested on November 30, 1994, in a fabricated case and jailed for 50 days.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 11:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
An inscription of Hindu God Ganesha on an Indonesian currency note is yet again going viral on the internet. While Indonesia has a majority of Muslim population, it is interesting that the country's note has the image of a Hindu God. The 20,000 rupiah note recently caught the fancy of people as it has the picture of Ganpati alongside the photo of writer-activist Ki Hajar Dewantara. 87.5 per cent of the population in Indonesia is Muslim. The flip side of the note has a picture of a classroom with children studying. The theme of the note is that it supports education.

Although the country has just three per cent Hindus, they decided to showcase the inclusivity of the country when it comes to religion. The country is quite known for their symbolism. Also Garuda Indonesia, their national airline is named after the holy bird which has references in the ancient scriptures of Ramayan. Also, Ramayana ballets are popular in the country. Lord Ganesha's 108 Names! From Vinayaka to Vighnaharta, Chant These Names During Ganesh Chaturthi 2018.

Here is Indonesia's 20,000 rupiah note:

Indonesia 20,000 rupiah note

When senior BJP leader L.K Advani visited Jakarta in July 2010 to attend the World Sindhi Conference, he was impressed by the healthy respect the Muslim majority has for Hindus and vice versa. It is believed that the Indonesian has a history of Hindu culture which has been carried forward. The country has plenty of other Hindu motifs to represent the beliefs of its Hindu population.

The mascot of the Indonesian military is Hanuman, and the Bali tourism logo is inspired by Hindu mythology. Their Bandung Institute of Technology has Ganesha as its logo. It is also said that in 1997, the value of several Asian countries was reducing and after being suggested they printed notes with an image of Ganesha which solved the problem. The belief is said to be still carried on.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 10:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Santa Clara, CA Attorney Ray Gallo has filed a lawsuit against Attorney Ray Gallo has filed a lawsuit against Google on behalf of individuals seeking compensation for invasion of privacy. Gallo says that if you do not use Gmail but sent an email to a Gmail user, Google intercepted it and processed it for advertising purposes, and you may be owed $5,000 under the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

Google Gmail Lawsuit

Google Email-Scanning Settlement

Google Gmail Litigation Background

Do You Qualify?

Google made money by intercepting and processing emails you sent to Gmail users. My firm has been fighting Google in Court for three years, says Gallo. We've seen the evidence and gotten the court rulings. Now, it's time to collect on peoples claims for damages.Gallo filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara Superior Court (Case No. 18CV324895), alleging that plaintiffs (non-Gmail users) never consented to Googles intercepting, scanning, analyzing and cataloging the contents of their emails for advertising purposes. Googles alleged actions violate state laws that prohibit electronic communications from being intercepted without the consent of all parties involved in the communication.According to the complaint, Google first said that it collected and maintained user data solely to make its services work better, but subsequently began collecting and combining user data for ad targeting and other commercial purposes.By obtaining users personal information, Google has dominated online advertising. By delivering ads targeted to susceptible buyers, Google can sell more advertising and command higher prices for ads, to the tune of $95.4 billion of advertising revenue in 2017, accounting for 87 percent of Googles total revenue that year.According to federal court records,in 2016. In a separate class action settlement filed by the law firm in September 2015 (United States District Court Northern District of California, Case No. 15-CV-04062-LHK ), Google agreed to stop intercepting emails sent to Gmail users for advertising purposes, but Matera sought only injunctive and declaratory relief, not damages.For the past three years Gallo has been prosecuting civil privacy cases against Google. Gmail's architecture was designed to intercept emails before they reached the inbox and process them to extract and create data for advertising uses. Without consent, this is wiretapping, says Gallo. Federal law requires only one party to consent, while some states' laws require that all parties (sender and receiver) consent.Google reported to Gallo and his law firm that it stopped intercepting and processing emails for advertising purposes in late September 2017. The ,settlement was final, and the federal court's injunction issued, in February of 2018. One month later Gallo filed new litigation seeking damages for certain non-Gmail users who emailed Gmail users.The claims arise under state statutes that require two party consent to intercept electronic communications, much like the statutes that require both parties to a phone call to consent to it being recorded, Gallo explains. The California Invasion of Privacy Act provides for a court to award $5,000 per violationthat means $5,000 per email sent and illegally intercepted by Google. It is money that is owed by Google to each person who never actually or implicitly consented to Gmail intercepting his or her emails sent to Gmail users.In the course of these lawsuits, Gallo and his team has reviewed 130,000 documents, and obtained Google's representatives testimony.If you reside in California (or one of a few other states), have never had a Gmail account (i.e., you use an email provider other than Gmail such as Yahoo, Microsoft or AOL), and you sent an email to an @gmail.com email address you may be owed $5,000.Although this case is about privacy, Gallo suggests that you submit your claim with an email that you would not mind others reading, since it will be used in the litigation and may become a public document. Also, to make things simpler, choose an email that was sent to just one person. Make sure that the email was received by a @gmail.com email address and was sent no later than September 27, 2017.Qualifying non-Gmail users in California and a few other states can sign up at https://emailprivacy.gallo.law. The site automates consumers getting lawyers and access to their statutory remedies easily. Gallo urges you to seek legal help now because all claims expire soon. All California claims expire this month (September 2018), and attorneys need time to file your lawsuit.
Putin and Erdogan to meet Monday in Russia on Idlib Following lack of accord in trilateral summit with Rouhani

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 14 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Russia on Monday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation in Syria's Idlib area, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.



The meeting comes following a trilateral summit between the two leaders and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, where no accord was reached.



Diplomatic sources in Ankara said the meeting on Monday will likely take place in Sochi.



"We will continue our efforts with Iran and Russia, and we will also continue our efforts in international forums," Cavusoglu said, speaking at a joint press conference in Pakistan with his Pakistani counterpart.



He said the appeal for a ceasefire deal in Idlib has received "enormous support" from many countries, including the United States, as well as various organisations.



"Turkey is open to cooperation with everyone on efforts to fight terrorist groups in Syria," he said. (ANSAmed).




Sinai coasts are safe, Egypt tells Israel Calls for tourists to come, warning remains

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, SEPTEMBER 14 - Egypt has asked Israel to annul warnings to its citizens to avoid visiting the Sinai Peninsula and said that its tourist spots along the coast are protected by tight security, reports Yediot Ahronot. Nevertheless, the Israeli Council for National Security confirms that even now there is a serious risk of attacks against tourists, including Israelis, by local armed groups that support the Islamic State (ISIS). It thus has called on Israeli citizens to avoid the area. Egypt's deputy ambassador to Israel, Kamel Galal, has told an Israeli MP that over the past few years thousands of soldiers have been sent to the Sinai to keep the northern and southern parts separate.



The southern section is more popular with tourists. As a result, the newspaper said, the MP - Merav Ben-Ari - has asked the Council for National Security to reexamine the warnings, in part to contribute to strengthening relations with Egypt. (ANSAmed).




A Bethlehem man's attack on another man included hitting the victim in the face with a circular saw, Fountain Hill police said.

Police called Wednesday afternoon to the 800 block of Cherokee Street found Angelo Villamil with a bleeding cut on his cheek.

Angelo Villamil said he was arguing with Jorge Villamil when Jorge hit him in the face with the saw and then put him in a choke hold.

The victim struggled for air and tried to get Jorge Villamil to release him, according to police. During the struggle, Jorge Villamil allegedly bit down on the victim's finger and told the victim he would kill him.

Police did not detail if the men were related. Property records show Angelo Villamil owns address in the 900 block of Mechanic Street where Jorge Villamil's lives.

Jorge Villamil, 52, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and making terroristic threats.

He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of 10 percent of $25,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A woman who went on a bank robbery spree in Pennsylvania and New Jersey last year with an accomplice - once in which they dressed as nuns - was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Swahilys Pedraza-Rodriguez, 20, of New Haven, Connecticut appeared in U.S. District Court in Newark Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

On Wednesday, her partner, Melisa Aquino Arias, 24, of Passaic, was sentenced to 37 months in prison in the same court.

They each pleaded guilty earlier this year to three federal crimes, bank robbery, attempted bank robbery, attempted conspiracy to steal from a bank.

Over three months in late 2017, authorities say and court papers show, the two women donned elaborate clothing disguises in four crimes/

They only managed to get $2,900 in one crime.

The duo first wore nuns' habits at a Citizens Bank in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 28, 2017.

Federal authorities say Arias was the lookout as Pedraza-Rodriguez took out what appeared to be a gun and demanded money from a teller. But Arias signaled her partner that they should leave, and they did, without the cash.

On Sept. 20, 2017, they tried to pry open an ATM machine at a Keystone Bank in Scotrun, Pennsylvania. Arias drove - they both wore hijabs - and Pedraza-Rodriguez wielded the screwdriver, but she could not pry open the machine in the bank's drive-through.

Seven days later, they robbed a Spencer Savings Bank branch in Garfield of the $2,900. They asked a bank employee about opening an account, and then Arias, wearing a blue hijab, pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun.

And on Oct. 15, 2017, the women struck at the NVE Bank in Teaneck. But by then, investigators had a lot of information on their routine, and saturated the media and police with information about their spree.

In Teaneck, Arias wore an orange hijab and Pedraza-Rodriguez a black head covering. They again approached an employee about opening an account, but the employee was on to them, and the women knew it.

They fled the bank without cash and employees called police and provided a good description, leading to two Leonia police officers arresting them at gunpoint on Route 80 West.

Both women will be under federal supervision when they are freed from prison, and have to pay $2,900 in restitution to Spencer Savings Bank.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Northampton Area School District student with special needs was sexually assaulted by another student on her school bus, according to a lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed in federal court says the 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted Dec. 18 by a boy who was either age 12 or 13.

The lawsuit says an aide on the bus failed to notice the assault and failed to stop it.

Three days after the incident the girl had a "manic episode" and tried to open the door of the bus while it was moving, the lawsuit says. When the bus stopped, she ran off it and was taken home via alternative transportation, the lawsuit says.

She tried to kill herself twice after the incident and required extensive hospitalization after each attempt, the lawsuit says.

The bus was en route to Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, where the girl received special education, the lawsuit says.

Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Executive Director Charlene Brennan said she needs time to review the complaint before she can respond.

The girl is identified only as "K.U." in the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday and assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Edward G. Smith. Her hometown isn't listed in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says the girl reads and writes at a third- or fourth-grade level despite her age. She suffers from autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety disorder and mood instability disorder, the lawsuit says.

Attorney Michael D. Shaffer of Philadelphia seeks in excess of $150,000 in the lawsuit.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Shawn Christy continues to post to Facebook while evading police, this time to say he was injured in a getaway.

In a post to his father's Facebook page Thursday, Christy said he hurt his knee and has been slowed down by the injury.

Christy's mother said they notified federal agents of the message.

Christy should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Do not approach him and call 911 immediately, police said.

Authorities have offered $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Christy has been on the run for more than two months after threatening President Donald Trump and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli.

Christy, a Maple Shade, New Jersey, native who last lived in McAdoo, Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, has been spotted as far away as Kentucky and has stolen vehicles, weapons and other items. He is wanted on various local warrants, including out of Northampton County.

He is also sought on a federal warrant issued June 19 alleging Facebook threats stating, "Keep it up Morganelli, I promise I'll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump," authorities have said.

Last week, prosecutors said he broke into a Luzerne County business and stole another gun among other items.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Plainfield Township officials say they disagree with the state's decision to waive permits for a former quarry collecting stormwater near a proposed sewage treatment facility.

The township has appealed to the state's Environmental Hearing Board regarding the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's decision to waive permits regarding a former quarry near the Grand Central Sanitary Landfill.

"The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental protection made its determination regarding a waiver and the board of supervisors felt the need to protect its interest," Township Manager Tom Petrucci said.

Synagro Technologies Inc., in coordination with Waste Management, which owns the landfill, and the Green Knight Economic Development Corp., has proposed building a plant that would convert sewage sludge into Class A biosolids. The treated material can be used as fertilizer or fuel.

The proposed plant would be near a water-filled quarry. Several years ago, the DEP designated the former quarry to be used as a sedimentation basin on the property.

The DEP ruled in August that it will waive any permits for this project that would typically be needed for developments near a body of water The permits would not be needed for an existing sedimentation basin.

"Upon review of the information provided and DEP's historic knowledge regarding basin number 2," an Aug. 10 DEP letter reads, "DEP has determined that the basin was engineered and is presently being maintained as a sediment basin and stormwater control facility."

At the Sept. 6 Planning Commission meeting, commissioner Robin Dingle asked Synagro representatives to supply the 2008 DEP permits and permit application that led to the designation of the quarry as a sedimentation basin.

Synagro representatives included paperwork in their planning submission that indicated the DEP's designation of the quarry as a sedimentation basin but they said they would need to locate the actual 2008 paperwork.

"This is an existing sedimentation basin for the landfill," Synagro lawyer Elizabeth Witmer said at that meeting. "That is what it is operating as now. That is what it will continue to operate as.

However, the township has filed an appeal that challenges that position. The township listed 17 objections in its Sept. 11 letter to the hearing board.

The objections assert that continued use of the basin and adding fill to the quarry will cause contamination of the water. The quarry is "hydrologically or otherwise connected to the Little Bushkill Creek and its watershed," the letter reads.

The township argues that the body of water should not be eligible for waivers and the DEP was incorrect to issue those waivers.

"As such, the failure of the Department (of Environmental Protection) to require a permit for the placement of additional fill Into Sedimentation Basin No. 2 fails to protect, preserve and maintain water quality in the Little Bushkill Creek," the appeal states.

Petrucci said the appeal is in its infancy and the parties will need to go through discovery with the hearing board.

The Planning Commission's review of the proposed plant will likely continue as the appeal process plays out. A date for the next meeting has yet to be set.

John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Victim ID'd, P'burg shooter still on the loose, prosecutor says

An Easton area man was shot early Friday morning near a Phillipsburg bar after a "stupid drunken argument," according to the friend who drove him to Easton Hospital.

The victim, who suffered two or three gunshot wounds, didn't say much during the trip to the Wilson Borough medical facility, his friend said.

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office confirmed the shooting -- which was reported about 1:30 a.m. -- and that the victim was alive.

The man was in the Hilltop Bar at 148 Hudson St. before the shooting, the friend said. The friend didn't give his name.

The driver said he lives not far from the hospital and wasn't in the bar. His dark, four-door Honda, which was parked at 3 a.m. in the lot outside the emergency room, had a small hole in it and there was blood inside, he said.

The car was behind crime scene tape and two prosecutor's office detectives were processing it.

The driver apparently got lost on the way to the hospital and pulled into the Penn Jersey market at 22nd and Northampton streets, borough police chief Chris Meehan explained. The driver called 911 at 1:38 a.m. and explained he was trying to take a man who had several gunshot wounds to the hospital, Meehan said. A borough police officer arrived and escorted the car to the hospital, which is a few blocks away, Meehan said.

It appeared the shooting happened in or near Pear Alley just outside the bar.

Phillipsburg police and prosecutor's office detectives were investigating as the block was sealed off between Lewis and Filmore streets. Several yellow evidence markers were placed and investigators searched the area using flashlights.

Michael Finken, 46, of Lewis Street in Phillipsburg, said he heard three gunshots about 1:30 a.m., then a five-second pause then three more shots. He muted the TV and looked outside but didn't see anything, so he figured it was fireworks, he said.

Finken usually works nights as a forklift operator, so he's used to being up at the hour, he said.

Apart from arguments outside the bar, the block is pretty quiet, he said.

Ten minutes later he saw flashing lights.

"I guess it was gunshots," he said. "... You don't believe it at first. You brush it off, figuring somebody is playing around. ... No matter where you are, you ain't gonna to be safe."

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
For the second time in two years, Killeshin and Graiguecullen will lock horns in the Laois SFC, when they face off in O'Moore Park tonight.

In a weekend of derbies, this one is perhaps the closest of them all, and their meeting last year offers hope that this will be another closely contested affair.

Killeshin's one-sided win over Ballylinan in Round 2 was an impressive display, and they have a maturing side with a lot in their favour.

Eoin Lowry is playing really well at the moment, Evan Lowry and Shane Bolger have matured, and Stephen Attride is one of the best defenders in the county

After their loss to Portlaoise, Graiguecullen got back on track with a win over Crettyard Gaels last time out, but could be vulnerable here. Killeshin are underdogs, though not by much.

The Graiguecullen forwards will find it a lot tougher this weekend against a more mobile Killeshin rearguard. They need to get more out of Aaron Forbes, who started the competition with two goals against O'Dempsey's but hasn't kicked on since.

When they met last year, Ambrose Doran and Chris Hurley got the all-important goals in a 2-11 to 0-15 victory, and both of those have struggled with ankle injuries this year, and are yet to make an appearance in the SFC this year.

In their absence, it certainly narrows the gap between the sides, but on the balance of things Graiguecullen probably hold the slight advantage. They have the experience of games like this and have the better recent record against Killeshin.

Killeshin have yet to show they can mix it at this stage of the competition, and tonight's game is the chance for them to make a statement, but they still come in here as underdogs.

Verdict: Graiguecullen
Services for almost 60 people with various physical and intellectual disabilities who are supported by the RehabCare Day Service in Portlaoise will grind to a halt when staff go on strike over pay restoration.

Twelve staff at the RehabCare Day Service at 22 Lower Main Street, Portlaoise will stop services on Tuesday, September 18 to send a message over a one percent pay cut that was agreed to be restored.

According to local staff, who are backed by Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), they feel like they have no other option but to take strike action as they say they are entitled to pay restoration by way of an established pay link with the public sector health service workers.

"Unfortunately the Department of Health and HSE refused to sanction a confidence - building payment of 1.5 million required to pay our members one percent of pay restoration in October 2018 therefore leading to industrial action," was written in a statement by local RehabCare workers.

Marina Ryan is the Programmes Facilitator at RehabCare in Portlaoise and she will take part in the strike. Ms Ryan told the Leinster Express that they do not want to strike but they feel they have to.

We are part of the Section 39 organisation workers that will be taking industrial action next Tuesday.

The main thing for this strike is to do with the one percent pay restoration that we were guaranteed that we would get back that hasnt been completed to us yet.

We were supposed to get that back in February. There was a strike organised for February, that was postponed because the union [SIPTU] had gone into talks with the Department of Health and they said they would pay the money for us by September. At the moment that money hasnt been paid to us and this is why we are taking industrial action again, Ms Ryan told the Leinster Express.

The RehabCare services on Main Street will fully close on Tuesday. Some of the people Rehabcare support have intellectual disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health issues and physical disabilities.

Section 39 workers all over the country will close their services all over the country on Tuesday and a demonstration will be held outside the Department of Health at Baggot Street, Dublin.

We are hoping it will send the message to the TDs and the Department of Health that we are providing vital services on a daily basis, supports to clients in the communities and families that need that if their son or daughters comes in during the day, most families are working that they know when the person is with us that they are supported for the day, Ms Ryan added.

Nicola Keenan is the Supervisor at Portlaoise Rehabcare.

People we provide the service for have a routine and they are going to be out of sync of their routine on Tuesday so it is going to have a bigger impact on them, Ms Keenan said.

Some of the 12 staff members in Portlaoise will protest outside the building on Main Street while other will join the protest in Dublin.

Staff at the Portlaoise service are calling on the community to support them on Tuesday when the strike is planned to go ahead.
A strong turnout of early years providers from Kildare will attend a special event in Dublin next month, aimed at highlighting the need for greater investment in childcare in Budget 2019 next month.

The Early Childhood Ireland event will take place at Buswells Hotel on Thursday, 4 October. Members of Early Childhood Ireland will travel from throughout the country to attend.

The organisation has 209 members in Kildare, ranging from small, independently-owned childcare services to multi-site operators.

All members of the Oireachtas are being invited to the pre-Budget event  to meet their local childcare providers and find out more about why greater investment is needed in the sector.

Speaking in advance, Frances Byrne, Director of Policy and Advocacy with Early Childhood Ireland, said a strong turnout of providers and politicians is expected from Kildare.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for early years providers to meet directly with their elected representatives, she said. TDs and Senators from all major parties are expected to attend, and we look forward to having strong representation from Kildare.

As the membership organisation for early years providers nationwide, Early Childhood Ireland wants our national politicians to hear first-hand from local service-providers about the realities they face on the ground. Our Meet the Members event is the first of its kind and will provide a unique opportunity for hardworking providers to bring their concerns directly to their elected representatives. They will also call on politicians to recognise the need for greater investment, which must be a crucial part of Budget 2019.

Ms. Byrne concluded: Affordability for families goes hand-in-hand with quality for children and sustainability for providers. None of these things can be achieved without a significant and sustained increase in investment from Government.

The voices of our members are a crucial part of this process and, with this event, members of the Oireachtas will have an opportunity to learn from their perspectives. Our members from Kildare will play a key role in this event.

SEE ALSO: High costs of child care in Kildare
Two new primary schools will open next year in Leixlip and Maynooth as part of 13 new primary schools due to open in 2019.

The largest patron of Irish-medium schools in the country, An Foras Patrunachta (AFP) has today announced that it intends to apply for the patronage of 13 new primary schools due to open in 2019.

The new schools were confirmed by the Department of Education and Skills earlier this year.

Two of the primary schools to open in 2019 will be in Kildare, with eight in Dublin and one each in Wicklow, Meath and Cork. The process for awarding patronage of these schools will be confirmed by the Department of Education and Skills in the coming weeks and is based around parental demand and provision of choice.

The announcement by AFP today was made at an event to mark the launch of its Gaelscoil4All campaign which aims to ensure all children in Ireland have the option to attend a gaelscoil.

Speaking at the campaign launch, General Secretary of An Foras Patrunachta, Caoimhin O hEaghra said: The demand for places in Gaelscoileanna continues to grow at a rapid rate with many of our schools oversubscribed. We hear regularly from parents who wish they could send their child to an Irish-medium school but dont have that option available to them, and that demand is backed by national research. It is fitting that were launching this campaign during Bliain na Gaeilge, the year-long, State-supported programme to celebrate 125 years of the revival of the Irish language. In line with this programme, AFPs vision is to provide all children with the opportunity to access Irish-medium education of the highest quality. In order to do this, we need more schools.

An Foras Patrunachta is currently the patron for over 70 schools in 22 counties across Ireland. It was established to provide choice for parents, recognising the rights of parents to enrol their children in a school with a spiritual ethos that reflects their beliefs. From its inception, AFP has provided parents with this choice by establishing schools of differing spiritual ethos such as multi-denominational, inter-denominational or Catholic.

Mr O hEaghra added: AFP is committed to providing choice for parents who want Irish-medium education with their preferred ethos. Our schools are equality-based, diverse and welcoming of all pupils regardless of their socio-economic background, religious beliefs or ethnicity. We support our schools in providing excellent education, and in creating and fostering an Irish-speaking community. The particular talents of individual pupils are recognised, nurtured and developed through the continuous work and support provided by our teaching staff. This is reflected in the excellent academic achievements of students in AFP schools."

The campaign will also have support from Gaeloideachas, the member organisation for Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, who provide support and advocacy on behalf of school communities.

Information for parents interested in a new gaelscoil for their area can be found on the campaign website, www.Gaelscoil4All.ie, along with answers to parents most frequently asked questions about gaelscoileanna, and further information on how the patronage of the 13 new schools will be determined.
Im very,pleased to report that Mrs. T is getting better, slowly butit appearssurely. Two weeks after her release from New York-Presbyterian Hospital, her stamina is gradually increasing and her spirits are quite good. It helps greatly, of course, that shes (A)and (B) back in our New York apartment again. She spent the better part of a month in a pair of windowless intensive-care units in which the doctors and nurses, competent and caring though they were, seem to have gone out of their way to wake her up whenever she fell asleep. As for the foodwell, well skip over that. Things arenicer at home, where we can sit on the couch together, watch movies, and dine on home cooking, some of it prepared by the two of us and some by a neighborhood friend.

So far Mrs. T hasnt felt up to leaving the apartment for anything other than follow-up visits to her doctors at New York-Presbyterian, but were planning a visit to our Connecticut farmhouse, where well drive around the countryside, open the mail, and enjoy the quiet pleasures of being elsewhere. Weve also scheduled an October visit to Philadelphias Penn Transplant Institute in order to resume the process of getting her listed for transplant there (shes already listed in New York).

My own life, which was turned upside down when my beloved spouse waswithout warning in Cape May last month, has started to right itself. Im seeing friends andagain, and later today Ill be taping the latest inof podcasts in which Titus Techera and I talk about films (were discussing Nicholas Rays). As for, which has been on a brief hiatus, Peter Marks, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and I are recording a brand-new episode next week.

To the countless people who sent their good wishes to the two of us, we are and will always be grateful beyond words. You warmed our hearts at a time when the world looked dark. Yes, we still have a long, unpredictable slog ahead of us, but we are both full of hope.
The Norwegian Ambassador, Else Berit Eikeland, will open the Athy Heritage Centre Museum/Shackleton Museum latest exhibition On Thin Ice on Tuesday, September 18 at 2 pm.

The 6th class students of Scoil Phadraig Naofa will also be in attendance during the visit of the Ambassador to the exhibition, which runs until Thursday 27 September.

On Thin Ice captures the dramatic climate changes today,with stunning images, and the story of the unique frozen expedition.

Throughout the winter of 2015, the research vessel Lance was purposely frozen into the Arctic ice at 83 North, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The Norwegian Polar Institute completed numerous tests and research activities on the environmental changes in the Arctic, as climate changes are most visible in this region.

The exhibition demonstrates tangible evidence on the profound consequences of climate change in the Arctic. Endangered species risk losing their territories due to melting glaciers, and rising sea levels constitute a severe concern for both animals and people in the future.

From January to July 2015 the ship drifted with the ice, as the scientists on board studied the effects of the new thin, first-year sea ice from winter until spring. The Lance spent 111 days attached to an ice floe, and 68 scientists from 11 countries, 27 support staff, and a ship crew of 20 were involved.

The Norwegian Young Sea Ice Expedition 2015 (N-ICE2015) gathered knowledge that will contribute towards making us better equipped to understand and predict our global destiny. The work of analyzing and understanding the data collected will continue for several years.

The exhibition is free to all schools however booking is essential.
Builders at a social housing development in Kildare town have reached a stale mate with Kildare County Council after their efforts to remove scaffolding from the site this morning were halted by the council.

JRS Scaffolding was subcontracted to build 32 houses at Dunmurray Rise in Bishopsland, Kildare town, but have cited fears that they wont get paid for their work as the reason behind removing their equipment from the site.

Owner Alan Sherlock told the Leader that KCC let them take down some of the 32 scaffolds this morning but by the afternoon that had all changed.

We are owed money, said Alan. They (KCC) let us take our equipment down this morning and that changed in the afternoon. They havent given us a reason other than it is their site and they are not letting us take anything off their site.

Kildare County Council and MDY Construction of Staplestown, Naas signed a contract for the construction of the new homes in Dunmurray on March 9 last and MDY subcontracted the work to JRS.

We are a new company. We have four trailers all ready to be loaded tomorrow morning at 8am but the security on the site is going to stop us from doing so. I dont know what is going to happen  we are going to be there at 8am trying to get our stock back  maybe the gardai will have to be called.

The development is funded by the Government under the Rebuilding Ireland, Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness and it was anticipated that the units would be delivered early in 2019.

Kildare County Council in response said "the council has taken measures to secure and control the site and is dealing with contractual matters in relation to the site."

SEE ALSO:Contracts signed on 32 social houses for Kildare town
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A man allegedly caught in possession of approximmately 120,000 worth of drugs has been refused bail.

Robert Strzelczyk (35) with an address listed as 32 Moorefield Park, Newbridge appeared before Naas District Court on September 13 last charged with possession of MDMA, and possession for sale and supply.

It is alleged that on March 5 2018, 80,000 worth of drugs was found at the above address.

Detective Garda Seamus Doyle said that a makeshift laboratory with three machines used for manufacturing MDMA pills was also found.

On the same date at an address in Aughrim Street, Dublin 7, it is alleged that 40,000 worth of Ketamine was found.

Detective Garda Seamus Doyle told the court that there were objections to bail because of flight risk, because Mr. Strzelczyk has no ties to the country.

Evidence was also given that a BMW and motorbike were seized, and that gardai are satisfied there are no other assets.

Mr. Strzelczyk will appear back in court on September 20 for book of evidence
Sadly rural living is not part of the vision for Ireland according to Principal of St Joseph's NS Aughavas Seamus McTiernan.



Planning issues, afforestation and no funding to renovate derelict homes are some of the reasons the small national school could lose a teacher next year.

The 'Aughavas Calling' campaign which sought and still is seeking families to move to the area and boost their student numbers is St Joseph's NS to keep three teachers in the school was very successful according to Mr McTiernan.

The campaign attracted five new families to the locality, but the new families have children who have not yet reached school-going age.



Ironically we usually have about 10 children under school-going age in the catchment area, but the figure is closer to 20 now, the principal said.

However, Mr McTiernan said they received numerous enquiries from large families seeking a new way of life, but with only a limited number of homes to buy or rent in the parish, they had little to offer them.

Just this week, the campaign has put out a plea for a house in the area to suit a family with three children, who wish to move to Aughavas.



St Joseph's NS only enrolled two new pupils so far this term, to keep their staff numbers they need at least four more primary age children before September 30.

The school which has 47 pupils enrolled will be reduced to two teachers in 2019 if they don't get their numbers up to 51.

A minimum cohort of 54 pupils is needed before the third teacher can be re-appointed, if one goes this year.

Seamus told the Leitrim Observer, Aughavas has no village or housing estate, any of the derelict homes need a lot of work and planning permission is impossible to get.



He commented the biggest obstacle to rural living is not emigration or no work, it is basic housing.

Mr McTiernan hit out saying that there has to be a scientific solution to the planning issue in Leitrim but added there is no political will there and says it seems sadly rural living is not part of the vision for Ireland and the plan seems to be have everyone living in towns.



He noted that one of the new families that bought a house in Aughavas is a farming family from a neighbouring parish who couldnt get planning permission to build on their land.

Mr Tiernan said the Government needed to rethink its policies on afforestation and planning for one-off housing, or even more rural communities will struggle to survive.

Seamus said the 'Aughavas Calling' campaign was not just for the school but for the parish which recently lost its post office. He asked What will the community be like in 10 -20 years?



From his experience on Cumann na mBunscoil, he acknowledges that every rural parish in Leitrim is under threat.

While the population rose slightly in Leitrim, he noted this rise is along the N4 or in bigger towns, not in rural communities.

On a more positive note though, due to the success of the campaign there are a number of young children in Aughavas which means the future does looks brighter for St Josephs NS.

Tarmon Matters

St Patrick's NS, Tarmon conducted a campaign 'Tarmon Matters' seeking new families to the area to help keep their two teachers and to secure the school for the future.

The success of the campaign is questionable, but Tarmon NS did attract four new pupils and have secured their two teachers.

One junior infant and three others pupils started in Tarmon NS this September, and have a total of 20 pupils enrolled.

Principal Fiona Reynolds, said they are delighted with the increased students from three different families and said they can hold these numbers for the next two years.

But due to a lack of housing in the parish, they did not attract any new familiesoutside of the county.

The Tarmon Matters Campaign will continue to help fight against rural decline and secure the future for the school. It is a constant fight, but we will keep going she stated.

Stand With Glan

Curravagh NS in Glangevlin, West Cavan had a very successful campaign and welcomed 17 pupils through the doors this month, securing their two teachers.

Children from three new families started and the Stand With Glan campaign are processing more families who are eager to move.

The future

It is clear to see that campaigns to save rural schools will become a fixture in the county in the coming year. As the Leitrim Observer prepares next week's 'First Day at School' photo feature we can see the divide between town and rural schools increase.

Some schools such as Drumeela NS and Drumboylan NS only welcomed in one junior infant this year while larger schools in Carrick-on-Shannon, Kinlough and Manorhamilton are dealing with numbers in the high 30s.

Also read: Planning, forestry and falling incomes are devastating farming in Leitrim
Cllr Justin Warnock has put forward a proposal calling on Leitrim County Council to seek Designated Special Status for Co Leitrim under the 2020-2040 National Planning Framework (NPF).



Putting forward the motion at Septembers meeting, Cllr Warnock pointed out: Leitrim is Irelands most rural county and our uniqueness as a sparsely populated county made up of small villages, rural communities and small farms is what defines us as a people. The NPF as it is structured when implemented, will starve this county of the financial resources needed to sustain and grow our rural based economy and will be the final nail in the coffin for Leitrims indigenous people, he warned.

Cllr Warnock said that when the NPF was launched he had told Minister Damien English the plan contained nothing for rural Ireland.



We saw last week news about the four closures of the post offices in Leitrim and we also heard from An Post that there was no necessity for any village with a population of less than 500 to have a post office. That is ridiculous.

We have to stand up and say Leitrim is a special case, insisted Cllr Warnock.



Cllr Mary Bohan backed the motion and Cllr Des Guckian said the messages should be sent out that if there is no special status for Leitrim coming from whatever party is in government then they get no votes at the next election.

Cllr Sinead Guckian said there was clarity needed on the future of one-off housing under the NPF and associated strategies, stressing the push towards a European model of providing housing in centralised villages was eroding the culture and history of rural Ireland.



Cllr Sean McDermott and Cathaoirleach Sean McGowan agreed with the Cathaoirleach adding: the 2020-2040 document may be a vision for Ireland but were being left on the hind teat.

Although the motion was passed, Director of Service, Joseph Gilhooly, pointed out the public consultation process on the NPF framework has ended.

At no stage in this public consultation process was there a suggestion to seek special designated status for Leitrim as outlined in this Notice of Motion.

However, taking into account the framework being at National level, it is highly unlikely such requests would have been considered, he said. He said the next stage of implementat is the adoption of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, with a draft expected at the beginning of October.



This will allow the Council another opportunity to shape and influence the detail for our region and to reflect the positioning of Leitrim in same, he said.

However Cllr Warnock responded stating: There is nothing that cant be amended in the Regional Spatial Economic Plan.

The council will now issue correspondence on this motion to the assembly currently meeting to discuss the Spatial and Economic Plan.

Also read: "Heartbroken to say goodbye" - The closing of Killargue Post Office
ONE of Limericks biggest employers is gearing up for a further extension, in a move which could see up to 100 new jobs.

The Limerick Leader understands from high-level sources that Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, which manufactures contact lenses in the Plassey National Technology Park could announce the positions before the year is out, or early next year.

Mayor James Collins has welcomed the move, but (referring to the Northern Distributor Road) said: We need to be mindful that we put the proper infrastructure in place.

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care has announced its intention to seek an expansion at its facility in the east of Limerick city.

The proposals would bring an extension to the main building comprising the construction of an extended production hall. There would also be a new two-storey block to support the production, and a single storey loading bay.

The staff car park would be extended under the plans to provide for 104 new car parking spaces.

A company source stated: Were always looking to secure investment, but you can not have an absolute guarantee of a project being delivered. Often years ahead of time, we put planning permissions in place, so when we go to bid for projects, we know the permissions are ready to go.

Mayor Collins said from the planning application  which needs to be lodged in the next fortnight  we can only surmise Johnson and Johnson is looking for permission for a large expansion of its facility, and jobs will be created off the back of it.

We created 3,000 jobs last year and we probably need to create 3,000 every year for the next while. A lot of my focus as mayor has been on trying to generate jobs and get people back working, he said.

The mayor, however, urged the government to step in to ensure the proper services are in place around job creation.

We need the government to step up and provide funding to put the transport infrastructure in place, he said.

Meanwhile, the Limerick Leader has also learnt this week that plans by Johnson & Johnson to erect a second wind turbine outside its factory will be back on the table in the new year.

What we wont want to be doing is rushing it. At the end of the day, we want to be good neighbours. We are all from around here. Were not going to please all the people all the time, but we want to do everything we can and be as good a neighbour as we can, the source added.

Initial plans for a second wind turbine were shelved after opposition from residents.

Johnson & Johnson declined to formally comment, as did IDA Ireland, with a spokesperson saying it is a companys own prerogative to confirm jobs announcements.

Johnson & Johnson, one of Limericks biggest employers with close on 1,000 people on its books in the city, will need to provide the council with planning documents in the next fortnight to progress its case.
AHANE GAA Club have invited all involved in the school bus crash to their homecoming for the Limerick hurlers and Liam MacCarthy.

The head-on collision involving the school bus and a car occurred shortly after 8am on Thursday, September 6 at Ardvarna, Lisnagry. Seven teenagers and the driver were in the bus, while there were two occupants in the car.

A spokesperson for University Hospital Limerick (UHL) said four casualties were assessed  three teenagers and one adult and all four were discharged on Thursday.

The mini-bus had just started its journey for St Marys Secondary School, Newport when the accident happened.

This week, Colm Barry, chairperson of Ahane GAA Club, extended a special invite to the teenagers, bus driver and car occupants to their homecoming on Sunday, September 30.

A large group of players are expected to join with Ahanes Dan and Tom Morrissey to bring Liam MacCarthy back to the famous club.

A number of the pupils are involved with the GAA club. Colm said they are very welcome to come along, meet Dan and Tom and get their photograph taken with the Cup as a gesture of community spirit.

Luke Reddan, aged 15, has been branded a hero for running half a mile to get help for his fellow crash victims as blood poured from his head. After the crash he said there was a lot of falling and screaming.

I lost my phone but I was able to get out and run home, Luke told the Irish Sun.

Kevin Cusack, school principal, said the students are making good progress and said they stepped up to the mark after the accident.

They offered support to their fellow students on the bus following the accident.

The older ones looked after the younger ones, said Mr Cusack, who also commended the actions of the bus driver.

The students were talking very highly of him and they praised him, said Mr Cusack, who is from Murroe.

Neighbour, Sean Hasset went to help after he heard a loud bang.

Kids were screaming on the bus. We were trying to calm the children down. At that stage it was hard to tell who was injured and who wasnt.

My biggest worry was the kids and to see that the kids were OK. We were just trying to calm them down a bit, said Sean, who added that gardai, Limerick Fire and Rescue Service, and ambulance personnel were quickly on the scene.

Mr Cusack said it was really inspirational to see the emergency services working at the scene and also praised staff in UHL for their care. He also thanked his staff for how they reacted and implemented their critical incident policy.

Castleconnell gardai are investigating the accident.
THE Limerick garda division is set to get a boost in the coming weeks with the arrival of nine new recruits.

The probationer gardai, who passed out last week, will initially be attached to garda stations in the city allowing for the transfer of some personnel to stations in the Bruff and Newcastle West districts.

Its understood no final decision has been made by Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche as to how many gardai will be transferred from the city following the arrival of the probationer gardai.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who took up the role at Garda Headquarters last week, attended the latest ceremony at the Garda Training College in Templemore which saw 185 members being attested.

It was the third attestation to have taken place in 2018 and brings the number of new recruits this year to around 600.

A further 200 recruits are due to attest in November.

Following their arrival in Limerick, it is expected the nine new recruits will initially be assigned to community policing units in the city.

Ten probationer gardai took up duty in Limerick at the beginning of July following their passing out ceremony.

We will put them out on the beat, get them to know the people in their areas, get contacts and build up the communications with young people, said Chief Supt Roche at the time.
CONSTRUCTION work has started on Limerick Institute of Technologys new 14m engineering campus.

The development, which is expected to create around 100 permanent jobs and 134 construction jobs, will see the Moylish-based IT open a new engineering-focused campus beside Tesco at Coonagh Cross, with the first students expected a year from now.

LIT said that construction was underway and that Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton had this Friday confirmed that funding of just over 11.6 million has been provided to deliver phase one of the project.

The first phase of construction has already begun on the brownfield site on the north side of the city and comprises the full fit out of more than 5,000 square metres of previously unused space with state of the art teaching, learning and research facilities.

This will provide for an additional 542 places on LITs engineering courses, an expansion which is considered essential to support industry demand in the region, LIT said.

This work at Coonagh marks the beginning of a 150 million planned physical development investment across LITs six campuses - Moylish, Limerick; Clare Street, Limerick; Thurles, Tipperary; Clonmel, Tipperary; Ennis, Clare and the new campus at Coonagh.

LIT President, Professor Vincent Cunnane described the new campus as a critical piece of infrastructure not just for LIT but for Limerick and the Mid-West region.

The Coonagh campus will be the first major piece of infrastructure on the Northern Distributor Road, essentially the start of Limericks Knowledge Corridor  a piece of infrastructure that will play a major role in helping to sustain the economic development of the Mid-West into the future.

At LIT we are working closely with local industry to ensure Coonagh will also be the first port of call for business leaders and companies seeking out graduates with specific skill sets, up-skilling employees, and assisting with research that will ensure this region remains at the forefront of mechanical and electrical engineering development for decades to come.

Ultimately LITs campus at Coonagh will provide the research and educational support to the industry that much of the regions economic growth is predicated on, while strengthening LITs role as an economic generator at the heart of Irelands fastest-growing regional economy, said Prof Cunnane.

The development of this new campus is a community effort led by staff and local stakeholders, and would not have been possible without their input and the support of the Higher Education Authority and Department of Education, he continued.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of our local Oireachtas representatives and previous local ministers on getting this substantial project to this stage. It is important too to recognise Minister for Education, Richard Bruton for his continued interest and support, and the commitment of Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell OConnor, he added.

The campus at Coonagh will provide exemplary state of the art education and research space and I am looking forward to its doors opening in time for the next academic year.
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Years ago, before I was shown the door, I briefly taught at the Manhattan School of Music within their graduate program for aspirant orchestral musicians. My intention was to impart some knowledge about the history of the orchestra in order to shed light on the decline of orchestras and of orchestral performance  and to suggest that young musicians might be able contribute constructively.

I boldly inflicted both reading and writing assignments.

The class was large (it was in fact required)  more than 50 instrumentalists. The majority tolerated my course. A vocal minority found it revelatory. And equally vocal minority found it an imposition; they refused to read or write. (The administration backed the dissidents.)

One day I brought my friend Larry Tamburri to address the class. At the time, he was CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, where he had succeeded in creating a unique institutional culture. The NJSO musicians were partners. Some sat on the board. Some had artistic input. Astoundingly, Larrys strategy enabled him to negotiate contracts with the players without the participation of attorneys.

(Subsequently, as CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Larry discovered himself unable to achieve what he had accomplished in New Jersey. I noticed, sometime later, that when the Pittsburgh Symphony players went on strike in 2016, they insisted on distinguishing themselves from the institutional identity of the PSO. This us-versus-them mentality, pitting musicians against management, remains pervasive.)

In my class, Larry drew two circles on the blackboard, a big one and a little one. The little one, he explained, signified the traditional institutional role of orchestral musicians. The big one showed what orchestral musicians needed to become: full institutional participants. Larry said that he was having trouble finding young big-circle instrumentalists for his orchestra.

In my various orchestral adventures and misadventures, I had occasion to take part in the ritual of contract negotiations as CEO of the Brooklyn Philharmonic in the 1990s. I discovered that members of the orchestra with whom I thought I had a decent personal relationship became different people when seated on the opposite side of a table. A counter-example is the South Dakota Symphony, about which I have often written in this space. That is an orchestra full of big-circle musicians.

In PostClassical Ensemble  the renegade DC chamber orchestra I co-founded fifteen years ago with the conductor Angel Gil-Ordonez  our big-circle contingent includes our principal trumpet, Chris Gekker. Now in a late phase of his career, Chris is one of the best-known brass players in the US. No other member of PCE is more keenly engaged by the intellectual content of our programing. Chris is also one of two PCE players who sits on our board of directors (the other being Bill Richards, our splendid principal percussionist).

Chriss big-circle attitude, I am certain, has something to do with a decision he made at the age of 25. Even though he had access to membership in major orchestras, he decided that he would pursue a different career trajectory and restrict his orchestral playing to part-time positions. So he became principal trumpet of both Orpheus and of the Orchestra of St. Lukes in New York. He occasionally subbed as principal trumpet with the New York Philharmonic, or the San Francisco Symphony, or the Santa Fe Opera. And he simultaneously pursued a free-lance solo career including jazz and recording gigs. So he retained independence.

Chris grew up outside DC. Hes recalled: My parents were both European immigrants; my sister and I are the first Americans in our family. In addition to hearing various languages spoken at home, there was music; they both knew a good deal, and my father was a fine amateur pianist, playing Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, and his beloved Russian music. Outside the house, in the 1960s, the sounds of soul and rock bands were everywhere, and I began playing in bands very early, so I had exposure to a lot of music.

Chriss unusual qualities as a person correlate with his eclectic background. I also believe that his professional independence correlates with his unusual qualities as a trumpeter. His style of playing is utterly personal  but subtly so. The clarion swagger many associate with the trumpet is not for him. Rather, he has developed a lyric vein of his own.

I cherish many memories of Chris Gekker in performance with PostClassical Ensemble  e.g., the cantabile solos in the second movements of both Gershwins Concerto in F and of Shostakovichs Piano Concerto No. 1 (our soloist, Alexander Toradze, called Chris free as a bird  he creates on the fly). But mainly I remember his contribution to Silvestre Revueltass fabulous score for the film Redes  music we have both performed and recorded. With the Mexican bandas of his childhood always in his ear, Revueltas is a creative and demanding composer for brass. His tuba parts are unique. In Redes, he creates a work-out for solo trumpet that is grueling and rewarding in equal measure.

Near the end of this hour-long film, there is an exquisite muted trumpet solo marked piano. I have produced Redes performances (the film with live music, plus exegesis) with more than half a dozen American orchestras. Chris is the only player who has so much as attempted to play this solo really softly, let alone pulled it off memorably. Our Redes recording documents his first take, at the tail end of four days of rehearsal and performance. Accompanying a funeral procession (one of this films many indelible episodes, with cinematography by Paul Strand), it sounds like this, with PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordonez:

Chris once shared with me his sublime second movement solo in Gunther Schullers recording of Gershwins Concerto in F, with Russell Sherman at the piano. It sounds like this

Typically, Chris had something interesting to say about it:

Gunther used the original Paul Whiteman Band scoring  which you didnt hear in those days. The Gershwin estate actually tried to stop him. They only wanted the symphonic version to be known. The trumpet solo in that standard orchestral version is marked with felt crown  so its usually played with a soft hat mute, often literally a cloth hat or beret. In the Whiteman version, its marked megaphone mute. No one knows exactly what that means  no such mute exists nowadays. Gunther brought one for me to use. In the original Whiteman performances, the solo was played by Charlie Margolis, who was the premier free-lance trumpeter in NYC during the 20s, commanding triple scale wherever he played, and in constant employment by radio company orchestras. The original parts, which Gunther used, just had peoples names on them, not trumpet 1, trumpet 2, etc. Bix Beiderbecke was in the band, he was a notoriously bad reader, so there is a trumpet part for him but it is mostly blank; according to Gunther he was expected to be onstage but was not given much to do during the Concerto.

Chriss most recent CD is titled Ghost Dialogues. The music is intimate. It ranges in style from classical to jazz. I was especially stirred by the title number, composed by Lance Hulme; Chris is here joined by the terrific saxophonist Chris Vedala. In an interview in Fanfare Magazine, pegged to Ghost Dialogues, Chris renders his high school impressions of Miles Davis and Maurice Andre, of Bobby Hackett and Ray Nance, of John Wares posthorn solo in the Bernstein/NY Phil Mahler Third and says I loved the sound of the trumpet played softly.

Chris Gekker is also a teacher  and has been a member of the faculty of the School of Music at the University of Maryland (College Park) since 1998. I have no doubt that his special qualities as a person make him a special pedagogue.

In fact, this past summer he became the first member of the School of Music faculty to be named a Distinguished University Professor.

For a filmed interview with Chris Gekker, by PCEs resident film-maker Behrouz Jamali, click here.
RAISING vital funds for Limericks Neonatal unit with a local charity helped to secure a group of students at Colaiste Nano Nagle on Sexton Street top marks in their CSPE exams.

On Wednesday, more than 2,700 students received their long-awaited Junior Cert results in schools across the city and county.

At Colaiste Nano Nagle, students Natalia Chroniak, Kumud Gogna, Lauren Kelly, Lucy Malone, Abbie OKeeffe, Caitlin ODwyer and Isabel Hayes achieved As in CSPE; Civic, Social and Political Education.

In our school we also seek to raise our students social consciousness, to look outside themselves and consider the needs of others, newly appointed principal Sinead Moloney said.

In this CSPE class students raised vital funds for Limericks Neonatal Unit with a local group Lights for Limerick. The girls are so deserving.

Staff at the school are delighted with their students hard work, she added.

It is a testament to their hard work and dedication over the last three years and to the commitment of our teaching staff who strive to unleash the hidden potential in each and every student in our school, Ms Moloney said.

Nano Nagle student Ms Gogna is well on her way to achieving her dream of a medical career with As across all Higher Level subjects.

Kumud is an exemplary student who is excelling both inside and outside the classroom, Ms Moloney said. She was also voted student of the year by her peers in May at the Student Excellence Awards.

At Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh, six students secured top grades in their exams, each taking home 10As. Emily Calton OKeeffe, Ide Ni hIfearnain, Seoda O Caoimh, Eva McMahon, Joe Tanner and Muireann Ni She achieved 10 straight As. 

The entire school community is very proud of all our pupils who received their results, principal Donncha O Treasaigh said.

Ardscoil Ris students also collected very impressive results this week. Students Fergal Egan, Adam Stap- leton, Kieran Richardson and Alexander Gniazdowski each secured 9As.
RESIDENTS in a Limerick suburb fear that simmering tension between two groups from nearby estates will escalate, having been sparked by a recent murder.

Gardai are currently investigating a serious public order incident that took place on Monday evening, in which a car is understood to have travelled at speed across a green, which is a popular play-area for children in the quiet housing estate of Cluain Dubh, on Father Russell Road.

Hostility between the two groups has escalated in recent months following the murder of a young man. In a separate incident earlier this year, the windows of a house in Cluain Dubh were shot.

If there had been children playing there, they would have been hit and they could have been killed, one resident in the area told the Limerick Leader.

One person who is involved in the area said that residents fear that these public disputes will escalate.

They know guns are involved following the shooting recently. They are worried about the safety of their kids. People in the area say they are waiting for something to happen.

The incident on Monday evening is understood to have followed an earlier road-traffic collision, which is suspected to have been deliberate.

According to several sources, the car appeared to be waiting in the estate for the other group to arrive. Once the second group was spotted, the car took off at a great speed in the groups direction. Once the car came to a stop, a heated dispute ensued between the two groups.

Both cars believed to be involved in the collision were seized for technical examination and no arrests were made. A major garda investigation has been also been launched.

Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea has strongly condemned the incident as hooliganism.

Its not fair, Deputy ODea said. People are trying to rear their families, pay their taxes and act in a law abiding way and they have to put up with this hooliganism, this outlawism.

People seem determined to bring disruption into the area, he added. It's just utter lawlessness.

Inspector Ollie Kennedy, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, said: We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything in or around Cluain Dubh, the Father Russell Road or St Nessan's Road, to contact us, with any information they may have.

I would also appeal to anyone who might have been driving around the area between 6pm and 7pm on September 10 and who may have dash cam footage, to contact us in Roxboro on 061-214340, The Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station.
Apr 29, 2021, 7 AM

The Oct. 3 Robert A. Siegel auction of material from the William H. Gross collection of the United States presents many remarkable stamp and postal history rarities. This 1851 cover bearing the first issues of both Canada and the United States carries an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000.

Known as the Prince Edward Pony, this 1861 Pony Express cover from San Francisco to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is unique in three important aspects, according to Siegel.

A strip of four of the 1847 10 stamps franks this cover mailed from San Francisco to New York, the only such cover known to originate from the West coast.

Postmarked Dec. 10, 1918, and franked with two of the 6 airmail stamps issued that day, this cover is described as the only recorded genuine cover with the 6 stamp mailed on the first day of issue.

By Matthew Healey

For most of the past 25 years, the top of the market in United States philately has been dominated by one collector: William H. Gross. As first reported by Linns in the March 5 issue, he is now bowing out, and the resulting sale promises to be a once-in-a-generation event.

On Oct. 3, Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries in New York, in association with Charles F. Shreve and Tracy L. Carey, will offer the first part of United States Treasures: the William H. Gross Collection at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, in the form of a teaser sale of 106 selected lots.

Bring your millions. Presale estimates for this initial offering range from $8.4 million to $11.6 million, with many, many items having six-figure estimates. And those figures may prove to be conservative.

Bill Gross, as he prefers to be known among his stamp friends, has made billions as one of the worlds leading bond traders. In the early 2000s, he also began making headlines for some high-profile acquisitions of the philatelic kind.

With the famous 2005 swap of his unique Inverted Jenny plate block (price: $2.97 million) for the unique 1868 1 blue Franklin Z grill stamp then owned by Donald Sundmans Mystic Stamp Co., he became the first modern collector to complete a 19th-century U.S. collection and, indeed, the only person ever to achieve completion as it is currently defined by the Scott catalogs.

The Gross collection has become a legend in its own time, the ne plus ultra of U.S. philately, overflowing with unique items, best examples, largest blocks and spectacular covers.

Gross also made headlines for his generous underwriting, to the tune of $10 million, of a glamorous new visitor gallery at the Smithsonians National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., which opened in 2013.

Previous sales of Gross worldwide collections set a number of records, including for a single-day stamp sale  $9.1 million  attained for his Great Britain collection. He donated the entire amount to charity.

Gross tailed off building his U.S. collection about three years ago. Now, according to Shreve, the time had arrived to let someone else have fun with his stamps.

Shreve said that he and Scott Trepel, the president of Siegel, had appraised the entirety of the Gross collection at $42.5 million at the time of Gross recent divorce from his wife, Sue, although Shreve stressed that the sale has nothing whatsoever to do with the divorce.

There is such a wealth of exceptional material in the Gross collection, Shreve said, that it was difficult to know how to approach its dispersal.

He and Trepel decided that a major goal of the sale had to be to draw new collectors into the upper echelons of the hobby. To that end, they hand-picked some of the most spectacular items from across the broad range of the Gross collection to kick off an extended series of sales.

A new collector is not going to be interested in pursuing a 15 Z grill, Shreve said, referring to one of the more esoteric rarities of the 19th century. But you can get them interested in iconic items with a story behind them.

The first sale is going to get all the publicity from media and the collecting community, Shreve continued. Therefore, Siegel took pains to make a splash, with an extensive press campaign and luxurious 240-page sale catalog.

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Never mind lengthy descriptions: Each lot is accompanied by an entire scholarly article, lavishly illustrated with historical images, provenance listings, condition notes and census and literature references.

Nobody, not even Sothebys or Christies, has ever put out a stamp auction catalog like this before, Shreve said.

Hard copies are available from the auction house for $50 ($75 overseas), but a PDF version can be downloaded free of charge.

The now-famous 1 Z grill (Scott 85A), a unique survivor of an obscure experiment to press wafflelike patterns into stamp paper to prevent their reuse, is not included in the first sale.

Shreve said the Treasures sales will continue with a second installment in the spring of 2019 and probably one or two more after that. Later, there may be sales devoted to narrower areas such as postal history or plate blocks, he said.

Asked whether the withdrawal of a leading collector and the release of such a major philatelic holding onto the market might be expected to have a damping effect on prices, Shreve said the opposite was likely true.

Bill has already not been an active buyer in three-four years, he said. His absence has emboldened some collectors to come back at it harder.

Buyers who might previously have sat out the bidding rather than compete against such an aggressive and moneyed rival now feel they have a chance to get the goods.

Those who are fearful dont see the market we see, Shreve added.

He said the Siegel firm is fortunate to deal with numerous million-dollar collectors who arent familiar faces at stamp shows or on the exhibit circuit, but they do buy.

When asked to compare the Gross sale to past landmarks, Shreve didnt hesitate to mention the Ryohei Ishikawa sale offered by Christies in 1993.

That was the occasion on which the Japanese investor sold his world-class collection of U.S. stamps for $9.5 million, and a novice collector named Bill Gross jumped into the hobby for the first time since childhood.

The Ishikawa sale presented his entire collection, amounting to hundreds of lots, in a single two-day event. Shreve hopes that the extended schedule for the Gross sale will prove more conducive to bidding.

You have to give people a chance to catch their breath, he laughed.

One of the highlights in the Gross sale was also a star item for Ishikawa: an 1851 cover bearing the first issues of both Canada and the United States. The letter traveled from Montreal to England via New York, and is franked with Canadas 1851 3-penny Beaver (Scott 1) and a strip of five of the 1847 5 Franklin stamp (Scott 1).

Described as one of the most outstanding covers in all of classic worldwide philately, it is the most visually spectacular of three such covers known.

When it sold in 1993, The New York Times reported that its anonymous Italian buyer paid what was then a record price for a piece of U.S. postal history.

That buyer, identified in the Gross catalog as a jubilant Guido Craveri, later sold the cover to the Israeli businessman and collector Joseph Hackmey, who in turn sold it privately to Gross in 2010.

Siegel has estimated the cover at $600,000 to $800,000. All items in the sale will be subject to Siegels standard 18 percent buyers premium added to the hammer price.

Another amazing piece of postal history in the sale is an 1851 cover bearing a strip of four of the 1847 10 Washington stamp (Scott 2), sent from San Francisco to New York. It is the only known cover with that stamp to have originated on the West Coast and traveled east.

The U.S. post office did not distribute the nations first stamp issue  which appeared two years before the California Gold Rush  in the West, and the stamps must have been taken or sent there privately.

The letter traveled down the Pacific coast on a ship called the Carolina to the Isthmus of Panama, then part of Colombia. It made the short overland crossing to Chagres on the Caribbean side, and then by boat up the east coast of the United States. The journey took six to eight weeks.

The cover does not seem to have been offered at public auction until 1992, when it was sold by Siegel as part of Leonard Kapiloffs collection. It was sold by Siegel again in 2005 to Hackmey, and acquired from him by Gross in 2010. Its estimate is $150,000 to $200,000.

One of the most iconic stamps in the sale is the sole unused 2 Hawaiian Missionary in existence. Printed in 1851 at a newspaper office in Honolulu for use by Hawaiis first white settlers, these crude early stamps are as fragile as they are rare. Just 15 genuine examples survive of the 2 (Scott 1), which paid the local rate. Five are in museums and only one is unused.

The unused 2 stamp, which is completely sound, was featured in the famous 1995 Honolulu Advertiser sale of Hawaiian stamps belonging to Thurston Twigg-Smith, a descendant of the missionaries. Two years later, at the Pacific 97 international stamp show, Gross acquired it from Greg Manning.

Siegel expects it to fetch $500,000 to $750,000.

The legendary Pony Express service, which ran for just 18 months in 1860 and 1861, is represented by four covers, including an astonishing one sent to Prince Edward Island, Canadas smallest province. It is franked with a $2 red Horse and Rider stamp of the first Pony Express issue (Scott 143L1) and a U.S. 1860 5 brown Jefferson, type II (30A) and 10 green Washington, type V (35).

The sale catalog notes this cover is unique in three respects: It is the only Pony Express cover to that destination, the only $2 red on a cover to a foreign destination, and the only combination of the 1860 5 with a Pony Express stamp.

The cover was bought by Gross at the 2004 sale by H.R. Harmer of one of the last parts of the famous Dale-Lichtenstein collection. That marked the first time the Prince Edward Pony had been offered publicly, and indeed the first time it had ever been seen by most collectors.

It is not known how or when Alfred F. Lichtenstein, who died in 1947, acquired it. He bought several Pony Express collections intact over the years, and the cover could have been in any one of them. Its existence had been rumored for decades, and its eventual appearance caused a stir.

It is estimated to bring $300,000 to $400,000.

Not every item in the Gross sale is a mega-bucks trophy. A Lincoln-Johnson campaign cover from the election of 1864 is estimated at just $2,000 to $3,000. This rare piece of election memorabilia, printed by Louis Prang in Boston and mailed to Minnesota franked with two 3 rose stamps (Scott 65), is one of several Lincoln-related pieces offered.

A run of stamps and covers with hand-carved fancy cancels from Waterbury, Conn., and other towns are estimated in some cases at $1,000 or $2,000 apiece.

One of the more surprising items in the sale is a somewhat scrappy first-day cover from 1918. Although the 6 orange Jenny was the third stamp issued for airmail service that year, the Scott catalogs list it first because of its low denomination, assigning it the Scott catalog number C1.

Incredibly, no other genuine first-day-of-issue covers exist for this stamp  several fake ones are around  and the one owned by Gross was unknown to the philatelic world until 2007, when it showed up in a collection consigned to Siegel and was bought by Gross.

The reason for its rarity is that although the stamp was issued on Dec. 10, 1918, the reduced airmail rate for which it was prepared didnt come into effect until nearly a week later.

In those days, new stamps did not have elaborate first-day ceremonies or publicity launches to get the attention of collectors. It is likely that few noticed the arrival of the new 6 Jenny.

One who did was a government philatelist named Joseph B. Leavy, who curated the Smithsonians philatelic collection from 1913 to 1921. Evidently privy to knowledge of the new release, he put a pair of the 6 stamps on a letter to himself, paying the regular 2 postage plus 10 special delivery fee.

Leavys insider trading did not make him wealthy; the only record of the covers prior sale is a penciled note on the back stating it sold in 1943 for $125.

This time, the FDC of Scott C1 carries an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

Those wishing to attend the sale will find further details on the Siegel website.

Note that advance reservations are required to attend. As always, bidders should read the terms and conditions carefully.
Sep 14, 2018, 7 AM

Canada Post offers gratitude for all civilian and sworn members of the country's police forces with this stamp design.

By Molly Goad

The final stamp design in Canada Post's Emergency Responders set was revealed Sept. 14 in Ottawa, Ontario, at the Ottawa Police Association, home to the Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial. This design salutes the country's police force.

Canada is one of the safest countries in the world due in large part to the civilian and sworn members of our police forces, who perform critical  and often dangerous  work with compassion, integrity and professionalism, Details magazine, Canada Posts publication for collectors, stated. Internationally respected for their expertise, our police officers are also deployed to countries around the world to assist in times of crisis.

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A new stamp design in the five-stamp set was unveiled every day this week, culminating on the Friday, Sept. 14, issue date. The set includes five nondenominated permanent-rate stamps paying the basic domestic rate (85) produced in two formats: as self-adhesives in a booklet of 10 (two of each design), and in a souvenir sheet of five with moisture-activated gum.

The other stamps in the series recognize Canadian paramedics (Monday, Sept. 10), Canadian Armed Forces (Tuesday, Sept. 11), search and rescue experts (Wednesday, Sept. 12), and firefighters (Thursday, Sept. 13).

William Lam Design designed the stamps and souvenir sheet, and Shiro Nishiguchi illustrated them. Colour Innovations printed them by five-color lithography in quantities of 400,000 booklets of 10 (Canada Post ordering number 414091111), and 80,000 souvenir sheets (404091107). The stamps measure 48 millimeters by 26mm, and the souvenir sheet is 160mm by 180mm.

The booklet cover and selvage of the souvenir sheet show images representing all five stamps.

Canada Post is issuing five official first-day covers, one per stamp. Each pictorial cancel shows an item related to the responder and is postmarked in the location of the stamp unveiling. For example, the Ottawa cancel for the police officers stamp includes a police badge (414095131). Canada Post produced 11,000 of each FDC (set of five 4140941131).

The stamps can be purchased in a booklet of 10 (two of each design), or a pane of five. Each stamp also has its own first-day cover. The stamps will be available for purchase on canadapost.ca and at postal outlets on Friday, Sept. 14.
Credit: Corinne Schiavone Nine Inch Nails kicked off their Cold and Black and Infinite tour Thursday night in Phoenix, and the show featured the band's first ever full performance of their 1992 EP, Broken.

Along with the Grammy-winning song "Wish," Broken also features a cover of "Physical (You're So)" by Adam and the Ants and the track "Happiness in Slavery," which NIN hadn't performed since 1995. Fan-recorded footage of the performances is streaming online now.

Trent Reznor and company are touring behind their new album, Bad Witch. The trek will hit Phoenix again Friday night.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
How well do you know yourself? New research suggests that people are pretty good at knowing how they're acting, with one exception: whether they're being jerks.

According to a study posted on the psychology preprint server PsyArXiv, people are relatively accurate judges, moment to moment, of whether they're acting outgoing or shy. They're also good judges of whether their behavior is conscientious and reliable or a bit more haphazard. But people aren't quite as good at gauging whether they're being rude.

"There might be some biases that prevent people from recognizing their own agreeable behaviors or disagreeable behaviors," said study co-author Jessie Sun, a graduate student in psychology at the University of California, Davis. [Understanding the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors]

Know thyself

Most previous studies on how well people know themselves have been done on long-term personality traits, Sun told Live Science. But Sun and her graduate adviser, Simine Vazire of UC Davis, wanted to probe how well people understand how they're acting from one moment to the next.

Finding out took a Herculean effort and nine years of work. The researchers asked college students to spend time wearing audio recorders that would automatically activate every 9.5 minutes between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. to record 30 seconds of audio each. These participants would then be emailed or texted surveys four times a day asking them to recall how extraverted, agreeable, conscientious or neurotic (a measurement of their level of worry) they were during a particular hour of the day.

Though the researchers collected data for more than 400 participants over several years, the current study used data from 248 participants, all of whom answered questions about their day-by-day traits for two weeks and wore the audio device for one of those weeks. It took five years just to transcribe audio and get outsider observers to rate behavior for the first year's data, Sun said.

Self-perception's limitations

Six laboratory assistants rated each participant's audio clips to see how their observations compared with people's self-awareness. The six raters were generally in agreement with one another about how the people they were observing acted: 93 percent of the changes in ratings of extraversion, 76 percent of the changes in ratings of conscientiousness, 73 percent of the changes in ratings of neuroticism and 62 percent of the changes in ratings of agreeableness were due to real changes rather than disagreement among raters or other statistical noise. [7 Thoughts That Are Bad For You]

Participants' ratings of their own behaviors agreed with outside observers for extraversion, or how outgoing they were being, and for conscientiousness, or how reliable and responsible they were being.

But the agreement between participants and outside observers was much smaller for neuroticism and for agreeableness.

Some of this could be because the outside observers had only audio to go on, and they couldn't read cues like body language, Sun said. But there are probably a couple of other reasons to consider, she said. Neuroticism isn't necessarily an obvious trait  a person can be anxious and worried on the inside without showing it on the outside. Thus, she and Vazire suspect that participants were accurate in rating their own level of neuroticism, but that trait was invisible to outside observers.

Agreeableness, on the other hand, is not so hidden.

"People should be able to hear when a participant is being kind versus being rude," Sun said. The weak agreement between how participants thought they were acting and what observers heard could be because people get defensive about whether they're a jerk and would rather deny it. On the other hand, Sun said, mistakes went both ways: Some participants thought they were being rude when observers rated them as kind and polite. Those people might be particularly agreeable sorts who hold themselves to impossibly high standards in daily interactions, Sun suggested.

Recognize and reflect

It might be interesting in the future to find out what kinds of people make which kinds of mistakes about their self-awareness, Sun said. The findings are also important for psychology researchers, who often rely on self-reports in their studies.

"We can trust these measurements for extraversion and conscientiousness, and probably neuroticism," she said, "but maybe not agreeableness."

Another question, Sun said, is whether people can be prompted to recognize their behavior from moment to moment and hour to hour, and perhaps to reflect upon it. If you act like a jerk, she said, it's usually useful to recognize your mistake quickly so you can make apologies. That's why understanding one's short-term behavior  not just one's overall personality  is important, she said.

"It's a more useful form of self-knowledge than knowing that, in general, you're a jerk," Sun said.

The research is under review in a peer-reviewed journal.

Original article on Live Science.
It's hard to find your place when you're the new kid in town  especially when you're the only kid with a tusk the size of a baguette jutting out of the center of your forehead.

That didn't stop one young, orphaned male narwhal from making fast friends with a gang of 10 male beluga whales in eastern Canada. For three years in a row, the gray-speckled narwhal has been spotted cavorting with the same band of snow-white belugas in Canada's St. Lawrence River  a body of water that flows from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean, located about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) south of the Arctic habitat where narwhals are typically found.

How did the toothy young narwhal get so far south? He probably fled there after his Arctic habitat lost too much ground to climate-related ice melt, according to biologists at the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM)  a nonprofit whale-conservation group based in Quebec, Canada.

And what's he doing there? Just bro-ing out, by the looks of things.

"[The narwhal] behaves like it was one of the boys," Robert Michaud, the president and scientific director of GREMM, told the CBC. "They are in constant contact with each other.  It's like a big social ball of young juveniles that are playing some social, sexual games."

Aerial footage shot by GREMM shows just how close-knit this nonconventional pod has become.The young narwhal travels where his beluga bros travel. He surfaces when they surface, blows bubbles when they blow bubbles and doesn't shy away from playful rubbings when that's what the pervading mood calls for. He is, according to GREMM scientists, part of the fraternity.

While any news involving narwhals is automatically noteworthy and delightful, blended families like this might not be so unusual, Michaud told the CBC. As ever more Artic ice is lost to climate change, Arctic creatures are forced to swim south in search of new hunting grounds. Some stray Arctic beluga whales, for example, have wandered as far south as New Jersey while in pursuit of a friendly face to cozy up to. (Sometimes, these wayward whales mistake boats for fellow whales, resulting in serious propeller-related injuries.)

"Due to the climate change being observed in the Arctic, there is a chance that these two related species (the beluga and narwhal belong to the same family: Monodontidae) might find themselves in one another's company more and more frequently in the decades to come," GREMM researchers wrote on the website Whales online. "We already see this phenomenon in other species, such as the polar bear and the grizzly, which have even been observed to interbreed."

These polar-grizzly hybrids have sometimes been called "pizzly" or "grolar" bears. And if those polar portmanteaus tickle your fancy, here's another one: "narluga." According to one 1993 paper, it's possible that previous generations of narwhals and beluga whales got up to some inter-cetacean hanky-panky to create a hybrid species of their own (nicknamed "narluga"). The resulting creature, which left behind a massive, toothy skull in Greenland, had physical features that looked analogous to those of both belugas and narwhals  but even bigger.

What fate awaits the lone narwhal bro of St. Lawrence River? Time  and more epic drone footage  will tell. For now, take heart that if a blubbery, tusk-faced orphan can forge lasting friendships with a seemingly homogenous clique, you can too!

Originally published on Live Science.
J50 photographed on Sept. 7 near San Juan Island, Washington. The juvenile orca is ailing, and NOAA is considering a plan to capture her, if she's still alive.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials are considering taking desperate measures to rescue a debilitated endangered killer whale (Orcinus orca), but it might be too late.

J50, or Scarlet, is an ailing young orca who hasn't been seen off the coast of Washington since Sept. 7. Last night (Sept. 13), the Center for Whale Research, a nonprofit conservation and research group based in Washington, declared Scarlet to be dead. However, Scarlet has gone missing for more than a week in the past, only to reappear. So search teams from NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard are operating under the assumption that she is still alive and are thus continuing their search from the air and the sea.

If Scarlet is found, NOAA plans tocapture her for rehabilitation in captivity until she is healthy enough to return to the wild.

"NOAA Fisheries' focused objective is that J50 survives in the wild and ultimately contributes to the recovery of southern killer whales," Chris Yates, NOAA's assistant regional manager for protected resources on the West Coast, said during a news conference Wednesday (Sept. 12).

The agency had success with the rescue and rehabilitation of a young orca once before, in 2002, but it was a challenging endeavor. If Scarlet is still alive, her health is deteriorating rapidly, and it's unclear if capture would prove too stressful for this delicate orca.

Scarlet is a 3-year-old female (born in December 2014) who is part of the J pod, one of three small groups of orcas (also called killer whales) within the endangered southern resident killer whale subpopulation. The J pod also includes J35, or Tahlequah, a female whose calf died a half-hour after it was born on July 24. Biologists watched the grieving mother carry her dead calf around for hundreds of miles for more than two weeks. [In Photos: Response Teams Try to Save Starving Killer Whale]

Scarlet is one of the few reproductive-age females in this group, and her death would be a blow for this struggling group of killer whales. The southern resident killer whale subpopulation has declined from 98 individuals in 1995 to just 75 now, according to NOAA.

Since early August, teams of biologists and veterinarians in Washington and Canada have been working together to closely monitor Scarlet's health. When weather conditions allowed, the teams collected breath and fecal samples from Scarlet and administered antibiotics through a dart.

But Scarlet continued to struggle. Her "peanut head" became more pronounced as the layers of fat disappeared from the base of her head. She had trouble keeping up with her family and occasionally went missing for days at a time, making biologists fear the worst.

Scarlet, or J50, is so emaciated that she's lost the fat at the base of her head and has what scientists call "peanut head." (Image credit: Katy Foster/NOAA Fisheries Permit No. 18786-03)

When Scarlet was spotted again on Aug. 12, fishers with the Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe in western Washington, attempted to feed Scarlet fresh salmon by delivering the live fish through a tube placed in the water and pointed in her general direction. They're not sure if Scarlet chowed down on the easy prey, but even if she did, her health continued to decline.

A fecal sample revealed that Scarlet may have had a common parasite that doesn't cause problems in otherwise-healthy marine mammals but can be devastating for emaciated animals like her, NOAA reported. But before veterinarians could administer a dewormer or another dose of antibiotics, Scarlet disappeared.

Nearly two weeks passed before Scarlet was spotted again, and on Sept. 6, veterinarians were able to administer medication for a second time. But after seeing how thin Scarlet had become, experts said she would need more attentive rehabilitation to recover from whatever illness she has  and that would mean bringing her into captivity.

"It was striking to me how thin she was," Dr. Joe Gaydos, a veterinarian with the University of California, Davis Wildlife Health Center, said during a news conference Wednesday (Sept. 12). "She was thin when I saw her two weeks before, and I was surprised at how thin she had really become  the thinnest killer whale that I've ever seen."

In 2002, NOAA captured Springer, an orphaned young orca who was struggling to survive. Springer had to be taught to avoid humans and boats once she was released but has since gone on to have two healthy calves, according to NOAA.

NOAA officials recognize how invested the public has become in the plan to save Scarlet, and on Tuesday (Sept. 11), the agency announced two public meetings scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 15 and Sept. 16) in Washington state to hear the public's views. Now that at least one group has declared Scarlet dead, it's unclear if those meetings will happen as planned.

Following the Center for Whale Research's declaration last night, NOAA posted a message on its Facebook page: "We have not given up."

Although it's possible that Scarlet is gone forever, NOAA teams are "aggressively searching again today [Sept. 14]," Jim Milbury, a spokesman for the agency told Live Science.

Original article on Live Science.
Terrance Boyd Dixon hitched a ride to California from Oregon. He was going to stay with a friend in Concord for just a few weeks before heading back home to his wife, police say.

Thats when things reportedly went horribly wrong.

Dixon stole the friends credit card, and when the two got into a confrontation over that, he grabbed a fireplace poker and stabbed the victim to death with it, authorities said.

The 55-year-old suspect turned himself in several weeks later on Aug. 14 after escaping in the victims stolen car back to his home in Bandon, Ore., to say goodbye to his wife, said Lt. Mike Kindorf, a spokesman for the Concord Police Department.

Dixon now faces charges for murder with enhancements of using a deadly weapon  the fireplace poker. Special allegations were also added to Dixons charges for having prior felony convictions on his record for robbery and attempted murder in Washoe County (Nevada), according to the Contra Costa County criminal complaint.

His extradition hearing will be held in mid-October.

The slaying occurred on July 27 on the 1200 block of Pine Creek Way, according to the Concord Police Department.

Michael Downie, 64, was found dead in his home by friends, police said.

Dixon had hitchhiked to California for the visit with Downie after the victim invited him to be a houseguest, Kindorf said. Twelve hours before Dixon picked up the fireplace poker, he allegedly stole Downies credit card and made purchases with it.

Its our belief the victim confronted Mr. Dixon about the use of his credit card and something escalated that led to the murder, Kindorf said.

Dixon then allegedly stole Downies blue 2013 Hyundai Veloster before fleeing back to Bandon  because he wanted to be reunited at least one last time with his wife before he got caught, Kindorf said.

Whats unclear, Kindorf said, is whether Dixon stole the car purely to get away or if it was premeditated for financial gain.

Dixons alleged crimes were disturbingly similar to an attack nearly a decade ago in Washoe County (Nevada) that netted him a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder.

In that case, Kindorf said, Dixon befriended someone, beat the victims head with a club and stole the victims car.

It is fairly identical to whats happened here, Kindorf said. We established a definite pattern with the previous crime and this crime.

Dixons wife, who was not identified, did not appear to know anything about Dixons crimes until he turned himself into the Bandon Police Department, Kindorf said.

The Bandon Police Department did not immediately return calls for comment. A woman who answered the phone said there was only one patrol officer on duty Friday at the seven-person department.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
SFPD /

The president of a Vallejo childrens charity who arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual contact in San Francisco was met instead by police, officials say.

Bryan Rosenthal, 45, of Vallejo, was arrested on Tuesday when he showed up to meet the girl, police said on Thursday.
A woman found critically wounded Thursday in northwestern Webb County died at a local hospital, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

DPS said she had head trauma. The discovery occurred around the area where Melissa Ramirez, 29, of Laredo, was found slain on Sept. 4. No arrests have been made in connection with that case. Anyone with information on either case is asked to call DPS at 956-728-2201.
A woman has been arrested for violently shaking a 72-year-old woman, causing an injury to her neck, according to Laredo police.

Julie Hoinoski, 54, was charged Saturday with injury to an elderly person.
As Hurricane Florence barreled closer toward the Carolinas late Thursday, President Donald Trump had time to endorse a book by a booster who called him the "most sound-minded" president ever.

Appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox News show Sept. 5 to promote her new book, "Mad Politics: Keeping Your Sanity in a World Gone Crazy," Gina Loudon, who describes herself as a member of the "Donald Trump for President Media Advisory Board," proceeded to call the anonymous New York Times op-ed from a senior official within the Trump administration part of the "Trump derangement syndrome." She then explained how she used her background in psychology to determine the commander in chief's mental fitness.

"My book actually uses science and real data and true psychological theory to explain why it is quite possible that this president in the most sound-minded person to ever occupy the White House," Loudon told Hannity on Sept. 5.

The Fox News host had a response ready for the sound bite for Loudon, who was one of the president's most reliable on-air talking heads in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

"Literally, liberals heads are going to explode at what you just said," Hannity said to a laughing Loudon.

"That's the fun part of the madness is just watching them go crazy over the fact that he's really pretty unfazed by them," said Loudon, referring to Trump, "and I believe that. And I know him."

"And that's what drives 'em nuts," said Hannity, referring to the president's detractors.

"And that's what drives them crazy," said Loudon, who refers to herself as "Dr. Gina."

A little more than a week later, the president co-signed an endorsement of Loudon's book given earlier by Kayleigh McEnany, the national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee. McEnany, the former on-air pundit, tweeted, "Keep up the great work you do for the @realDonaldTrump movement, Gina!"

It got the attention of the president, who has praised or congratulated other supportive Fox News personalities, such as Judge Jeanine Pirro and Gregg Jarrett, for recent books that went on to be bestsellers. "Gina is Great!" Trump tweeted late Thursday.

Her book, ranked no. 436,949 in Amazon's bestsellers rank as of early Friday, refers to her as "America's favorite psychological expert." Her website says she has a PhD. but it doesn't say in what field.

The Daily Beast reported on Thursday that Loudon obtained her PhD in "human and organizations systems" from Fielding Graduate University, an online school headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. On her LinkedIn profile, Loudon lists her PhD from Fielding Graduate being in "human development," adding that she has certification in "Body Language Interpretation, and Hypnotherapy."

Jason Browning, a producer and spokesperson for Loudon, told The Post, "She has many degrees, including a PhD, all in the field of psychology. I see it as a distinction without a difference. Similar to how someone with a PhD in Design Science might also say they have an Engineering PhD."

Regnery Publishing, which describes itself as "the leading publisher of conservative books," described Loudon, their client, as a "PhD level psychological expert" in a Thursday tweet.

Loudon, who describes herself as one of the founding writers at Breitbart, a right-leaning news site once led by Steve Bannon, said she has used her "psychological expertise" as part of the Trump administration's fight against the opioid epidemic, according to the biography listed on her website. In October 2017, she recorded a video from Trump Tower for the president's Facebook page in which she introduced herself as Dr. Gina before talking about the crisis.

"In my professional experience, I've seen this devastating plague hit unsuspecting victims who didn't know they were doing something dangerous," she said, "and once they've taken the drugs, the addictive mechanism can lead a victim to heroin use or even death."

In "Mad Politics," Loudon makes several claims supporting her stance that Trump is the "most sound-minded person" to be president. Browning told The Post that Loudon "gives credit to his [Trump's] upbringing, life experience, personality, birth order, and more." One is how the president's Myers-Briggs type, the questionnaire that assigns letters to human traits, is ENTJ - Extraversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judgment. In that part of the book, Loudon points to a description on a website called 16Personalities.com that lists the ENTJ type as "the Commander," according to the Daily Beast.

"The ENTJ has mad presidential skills!" she wrote, the Beast reported.

Whether Trump's endorsement of Loudon signals a spike in her book sales remains unclear. However, the Amazon customer reviews for Loudon's book, which was published Sept. 4, offer a glimpse on the nation's current state of political discourse: deeply divided. In the 40 customer reviews, the partisanship shows: 60 percent of customers gave the book a five-star ranking, while 35 percent entered in a one-star rating. Those who gave it high marks tend to be more favorable to the president.

"If you are looking for a book making the case for Trump and tearing leftist arguments apart, this book gives you that in a very unique way," said one positive reviewer. "I have never owned a book with so many endorsements from people I trust."

Others who are skeptical of Loudon, her background or are against Trump are not as fond of the president's most recent author endorsement.

"The writing is turgid, which is amazing for a book written at the 6th grade level," wrote one reviewer, who claimed to be a psychologist. "It is a not a thought piece; it is a political screed. And the 'psychological analysis?' I could not stop laughing. It would earn an F in an Intro Psych course."
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump took fresh aim Thursday evening at former secretary of state John Kerry, accusing him of engaging in "illegal" meetings with an Iranian official.

In a radio interview this week to promote a new book, Kerry said he had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "three or four times" since leaving office, and that their discussions included the nuclear deal that Trump has since scrapped.

Kerry said such meetings are appropriate, later explaining during a television interview on Fox News that "every secretary of state, former secretary of state continues to meet with foreign leaders, goes to security conferences, goes around the world."

In a Thursday night tweet, Trump took a different view, echoing criticism from conservative pundits from recent days.

"John Kerry had illegal meetings with the very hostile Iranian Regime, which can only serve to undercut our great work to the detriment of the American people," Trump said. "He told them to wait out the Trump Administration!"

The latter assertion was a reference to a question Kerry fielded in his Fox News appearance about whether he has told Iranians to "wait out" Trump until there is a new president. Kerry did not answer directly.

"I think everybody in the world is talking about waiting out President Trump," said Kerry, a former senator from Massachusetts who was the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.

In his tweet, Trump asked whether Kerry had complied with the Foreign Agents Registration Act. That statute requires those who represent the interests of foreign governments in a "political or quasi-political capacity" to disclose those relationships and details about their activities.

It was not clear from Trump's tweet why he thought Kerry would need to register.

Others who have criticized Kerry have suggested that he might have violated the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating on behalf of the U.S. government without authorization.

There are only two known instances in which individuals have been indicted on a charge of violating the Logan Act - most recently in 1853 - and neither indictment resulted in conviction, according to legal experts.

A spokesman for Kerry, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's Thursday night tweet, has previously dismissed suggestions of illegal acts.

Trump also targeted Kerry in May after a Boston Globe report about his meetings with officials involved in the Iran nuclear deal, which he helped craft while secretary of state under President Barack Obama.

In a tweet at that time, Trump accused Kerry of "possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy" and criticized him for having negotiated "very badly."

"He was the one that created this MESS in the first place!" Trump wrote at the time.

When asked Friday about Trump's claim that Kerry's contacts were "illegal," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would "leave the legal determination to others," but he called Kerry's actions "unseemly and unprecedented."

"A former secretary of state engaged with the world's largest state sponsor of terror, and according to him, he was talking to them, he was telling them to wait out this administration," Pompeo said at a news conference at the State Department. "You can't find precedent for this in U.S. history."

In recent years, both U.S. political parties have accused each other of undermining a sitting U.S. president on Iran policy.

In 2015, while the Obama administration was seeking a nuclear deal with Iran, 47 Republican senators led by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomenei, warning that Congress could alter the deal after Obama left office.

Democrats at the time accused Republicans of undermining the president's foreign policy.
Two more lawsuits were filed today against Pasha Mediterranean Grill after a suspected salmonella outbreak at the restaurants Wurzbach Road location sickened several hundred people.

The latest legal action comes on top of two other lawsuits filed in the past week against the restaurant.

Metropolitan Health District has been investigating the outbreak and trying to determine the source of the foodborne illness.

RELATED: Inspections: Multiple S.A. favorites cited for gross violations

One of the law firms who filed suit  the Lange Law Firm, based in Houston  said in a news release that 347 people have reported becoming sick, while 14 people have been hospitalized. Metro Health did not immediately respond to a request for updated numbers this afternoon.

Pasha co-owner Kamran Hajivandi said the restaurant chain has insurance. Theyre working hard to resolve this matter, he said of the insurance carrier.

One of the lawsuits filed today was lodged by four customers who reported they became ill after dining at Pashas location at 9339 Wurzbach Road on Aug. 31 or Sept. 1. Three of those people went to emergency rooms seeking relief from their symptoms, while the fourth was admitted to Methodist Stone Oak Hospital for 3 days, the lawsuit said. The patient who was hospitalized was diagnosed with a salmonella infection.

Those four plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages.

A separate lawsuit was filed today by a San Antonio man who became ill after dining at the restaurant Aug. 30. He also went to an emergency room. He did not specify the amount of damages he is seeking.

RELATED: 100s sickened after eating at S.A. grill. officials say

Nine people have joined another lawsuit that was filed last week against Pasha. Those patrons, who range from 13 to 49 years old, dined at the restaurants Wurzbach Road location on Aug. 31 and later became sick. Three of them tested positive for salmonella, the lawsuit said. The plaintiffs include a cheerleader at the University of the Incarnate Word and a San Antonio police officer.

A fourth lawsuit was filed earlier this week on behalf of a U.S. Navy veteran who became ill after eating at the restaurant on Aug. 31 and was later hospitalized at Brooke Army Medical Center. His doctors conducted tests and determined he had been infected by salmonella, the lawsuit said.

Houston law firm Ron Simon & Associates said it has been retained by more than 70 customers who became sick after eating at Pasha between Aug. 30 and Sept. 2. That law firm said in a news release that one Pasha employee, who was present when Metro Health went to the restaurant to investigate, reported seven employees had been sick in the days leading up to the health departments intervention.

All of the lawsuits were filed in Bexar County.

Peggy OHare is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare
San Antonio police credit four good Samaritans with pulling a driver out of his burning truck on U.S. 281 and he walked away from the crash unscathed.

The four men happened to see the crash Wednesday and had to work fast.
The Alamo was a heroic battle against tyranny, not ethnicity.

The only reason the Alamo is worth celebrating as a state, national and international treasure is because it was a historic defense against tyranny. It was not a battle between ethnicities.

Anglo settlers had come to Texas and pledged allegiance to the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which was based on the U.S. Constitution after Mexico got its independence from Spanish colonial powers.

The Anglos were not against Hispanics. Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna declared himself to be a dictator and the Emperor of the West. He was patterning himself on Napoleon, who created an empire.

Steven F. Austin and the colonists sent a delegation to appeal to the Mexican government to restore the Constitution of 1824. That is why they used a Mexican flag with 1824 in the conflict.

Juan Seguin, Jose Antonio Navarro and other Tejano Hispanics fought along with Anglos against the dictator/emperor Santa Anna.

There may have been a clash of cultures between Anglos and Hispanics in the years afterward and, of course, there has been discrimination, but the Battle of the Alamo was for a form of government, not to discriminate against Hispanics.

It was Lopez de Santa Anna who was tyrannizing Hispanics in Mexico.

That is the story that socialists and those who want to divide America hate and why they want to remove this story from the Alamo.

We must never surrender nor forget. Americans of all backgrounds can unite around limited government with constitutional limits.

Allan E. Parker Jr. is president of The Justice Foundation in San Antonio.
Well if theres one person that will be sorely missed in Longford town from now on its going to be Rose Kane of Kanes Travel who is heading off to South Sudan this week to work with the UN.

Speaking to Humans of Longford the local woman says she is both nervous and excited to be making the move.

For the last 16 years Rose Kane has worked in the family business on Ballymahon Street and as she says herself, seen some amazing places through the business including Argentina, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, Ghana, Chile, USA and India.

It was in 2011 when Rose took a break from Kanes and spent six months in Afghanistan as a UN volunteer where she was based at the airport in Kabul, that life, as she knew it, began to change.

The seeds for more adventure had been sown!

When I go to South Sudan I will be responsible for travel arrangements in and out of the mission, she says before pointing out that she is ready for a new challenge and any new adventures that come her way.

It's also a great privilege to get this opportunity but I am going to miss my family and friends; my friends in Longford Scuba Divers and all my friends in St Christopher's.

Rose has been secretary of St Christopher's Services Fundraising Executive for the last few years and is also very involved with the local Scuba Divers.

When I return home, I'll be able to join my friends in Mullaghmore on dive outings with the Search & Recovery unit of the LD Scuba Divers and thankfully, I'll be able to maintain my role, she adds.

Meanwhile, Rose is also very proud of her association with St Christopher's Services, which she insists, is a wonderful organisation.

St Christopher's is really a fantastic organisation; it depends very much on voluntary work to support the services and it's a pleasure to be involved with such great people doing such great, positive work.

But for now, Rose must bid farewell to all that and pack her bags for what surely will be the adventure of a lifetime!



Yes, I still have a fair bit of packing to do, she smiles.

Read Also: Supporting the vital work of Co Longford Scuba Divers Search & Recovery Unit
A Romanian organised crime network known as the 'Hole in the Roof' gang who were arrested yesterday as part of a major surveillance led operation are believed to be behind a number of break-ins in Co Longford including this week's raid at Stonepark filling station.

Four people were detained yesterday by detectives which coincided in 11 dawn raids in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

The three men and one woman are being linked to an eastern European group that is thought to have secured more than 1m worth of stolen cash and cigarettes during the course of 45 robberies nationwide in the past year alone.

Garda sources have this morning informed the Leader that the group are being investigated over a number of break-ins currently under investigation in Longford.

The latest of those occurred as recently as this week when a group of three men broke into Stonepark's Top Oil petrol station.

ALSO READ: Gardai look for clues after three man gang raid Longford filling station

Investigators are probing whether the quartet currently being quizzed by officers at various stations across the country under anti-gang legislation can be traced to that and other investigations within the county.

One of the reasons behind that thinking fall largely as a result of the methods used by the gang to gain access to the property and the items gardai have since seized.

During the course of yesterday's dawn raids gardai seized walkie talkies, which the gang were observed using during the course of the Stonepark raid.

A small quantity of cigarettes were also seized, items which were taken by the raiders.

Gardai are now trying to establish whether the cigarettes retrieved can be traced back to the Stonepark burglary.

The Leader also understands senior officers are looking into whether the gang are responsible for a series of other heists that have yet to be solved.

Among them includes an early morning raid at Kiernan's Centra in Drumlish.

ALSO READ: Gang make off with substantial haul in overnight Drumlish raid

Like the Stonepark incident, the suspects gained entry to the premises by disabling an alarm system before making their way inside.

And like that episode cigarettes were the items of choice along with a small quantity of cash.

The Leader also understands gardai are examining the gang's suspected involvement in a burglary at Kearney's Filling Station in Granard last November.

For more on this story, see next week's Longford Leader.
A.G. Underwood Calls on Education Secretary Devos to Scrap Plan to Eliminate Key Protections for Students from Predatory For-Profit Schools

School & Education, Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 14 2018

Gainful Employment Rule Helps Ensure that Students Can Make Informed Decisions  and Not be Left Vulnerable to Exploitation and Fraud by Deceptive For-Profit Colleges.

New York, NY - Sept. 14, 2018 - Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood  part of a coalition of 21 Attorneys General  today formally opposed U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos plan to eliminate the Gainful Employment Rule  a critical federal protection for students who attend for-profit educational institutions.

In formal comments filed with the U.S. Department of Education today , the Attorneys General argue that Secretary DeVos plan to eliminate the Gainful Employment Rule violates the Departments legal obligations and disregards strong evidence that accountability standards are needed to protect students and taxpayers who interact with these for-profit schools  and often find themselves mired in onerous debt.

The Trump-DeVos Department of Education continues to put special interests ahead of the students theyre supposed to serve  and our coalition of Attorneys General will continue to fight back, said Attorney General Underwood. The Gainful Employment Rule plays a vital role in ensuring students can make informed decisions about their education, rather than leaving them with a mountain of debt. By seeking to eliminate the rule, Secretary DeVos is willfully allowing students to be left vulnerable to exploitation and fraud by deceptive for-profit colleges.

The Gainful Employment Rule enforces the Higher Education Acts requirement that applicable programs prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. The rule was prompted by concerns that some career-focused programs leave students with unaffordable levels of debt relative to their post-graduation earnings, leading to widespread loan default.

The Gainful Employment Rule has two key aspects:

The rule helps prospective students make informed choices by requiring schools to provide information about the programs average debt load, the loan repayment rate of students who enroll in the program, the percentage of students who graduate, the number of graduates who obtain employment in a field related to the program, and average earnings of graduates. The rule also assesses whether schools programs provide education and training to their students that lead to earnings that will allow students to pay back their student loan debts. If the programs repeatedly fail these metrics, federal student loans and grants would no longer be provided to those programs.

Secretary DeVos proposal to do away with the Gainful Employment Rule comes less than a year after a coalition of 19 Attorneys General sued DeVos and the Department of Education for violating federal law by refusing to enforce this rule. That lawsuit remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The Attorneys General argue in their formal comments today that by rescinding the Gainful Employment Rule without replacing it with similar protections for students, the Department harms students and taxpayers and undermines the Higher Education Act.

Todays comments name institutions that have been the subject of state law enforcement actions and that have engaged in predatory practices which the Gainful Employment Rule was created to protect against.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 14 2018

SCPD: The incident took place in the men's restroom of Walmart.

SCPD are seeking the man who forcibly touched another man in Commack.

Commack, NY - Sept. 14, 2018 - Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the man who forcibly touched another man in a Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the man who forcibly touched another man in a Commack store in July.

A man entered the mens restroom at Walmart, located at 85 Crooked Hill Rd. on August 28 at approximately 12:45 p.m. and approached another man. The suspect then forcibly touched intimate parts of the other mans body. The victim immediately backed away, exited the room and reported the incident to the store manager, who called the police.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, Spanish speaking, approximately 40 years old, crew cut with black, greying hair, black mustache, approximately 5 foot 6 inches tall, medium build. He was wearing glasses, black sweatpants, a dark grey tee shirt and dark shoes.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Big E is offering a free shuttle van that meets CTrail Hartford Line trains at Union Station on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation, which operates CTrail passenger service, will be at Big E this year, handing out Hartford Line literature and answering questions from a table in the Connecticut Building on the Avenue of States, said Ron Dresner, of Dennis PR Group, which handles promotion for CTrail.

The shuttle is timed with the rail schedule, said Jennifer Murphy, regional property manager for Appleton Corp. at Union Station. For example, the first CTrail train arrives at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The van is set to arrive at the passenger pick up on Frank B. Murray Street at 10 a.m.

A timetable for the Hartford Line is available at hartfordline.com/fares-schedules.

On Saturday and Sunday nights, the last van is set to leave the Big E at 8:50 for a train departure at 9:35.

Murphy said its hard to tell how popular the service will be. Amtrak hasn't seen a spike in demand on its Hartford Line trains.

Passengers can buy tickets for Amtrak and CTrail Hartford Line trains at each station except those in Windsor and Windsor Locks. Fares vary depending on distance traveled, but a one-way ticket from New Haven to Springfield, the longest distance possible, is $12.75. A return trip is also $12.75.

A table of fares is available hartfordline.com/fares-schedules/ticketing.

Murphy said the Big E might expand its shuttle to more days a week if there is enough use.
HOLYOKE -- A popular event that highlights the annual spectacle of thousands of hawks heading south for winter returns to the Mount Tom State Reservation Sunday.

Hawks at Mt. Tom, a six-year old event organized by Holyoke veterinarian Linda Henderson and others, offers visitors the chance to view the migration and to see hawks, owls and other birds of prey up close in live demonstrations.

As broad-winged hawks and other species head south each September, observers can see hundreds -- and sometimes thousands -- of the birds as they follow thermal updrafts along New England's mountain ranges.

The Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke ranges, as well as Mount Sugarloaf in Sunderland, are prime viewing locations.

Sunday's schedule includes:

All day: Visitors can observe the migration from the Goat Peak and Bray towers, where MassAudubon naturalists and experienced birders will help spot the hawks and offer information.

10 a.m.: Naturalist Marcia Wilson offers her popular "Reading with Owls" program, featuring live owls. Wilson also reads an owl-themed children's book and teaches owl calls.

12 p.m.: Tom Ricardi, a retired Massachusetts Environmental Police major, has introduced generations to the world of birds through his live raptor demonstrations. Ricardi operates a raptor rehabilitation center in Conway, and a selection of the birds in his care -- usually an array of hawks, falcons, owls and eagles -- are the stars of his show.



2 p.m.: Marcia Wilson returns with her husband, wildlife photojournalist Mark Wilson, for their program featuring live owls from New England and beyond. The Wilsons operate Eyes On Owls, offering their program at schools, museums and other venues throughout New England and New York.

Organizers said the event times could change according to the weather. Warm weather last year -- which can stress the captive birds -- forced some of the live demonstrations to begin earlier.

Additional activities for children include face painting and mask making.

The event is free, but the Department of Conservation and Recreation will charge the reservation's standard vehicle entry fee: $5 for Massachusetts residents, $10 for non-residents. Entrances to the reservation are on Route 5 in Holyoke and Route 141 on the Easthampton-Holyoke border.
On the day that gas explosions caused massive damage to Lawrence, Andover and North Andover homes, the gas company that serves those communities announced it was "improving natural gas service" to the state.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts posted to its website on Thursday that it would be upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhoods across the state. It did not state when that work would begin or where.

Late Thursday afternoon, however, emergency crews in the Merrimack Valley were racing to answer emergency calls with more than 70 properties that were either burning, had exploded or had an odor of gas coming from them.

Columbia issued a brief press release Thursday evening that gave no answers to what had happened or the scope of the problem.

"The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community by supporting first responders and completing safety checks on our system and in the surrounding area," the utility released in a statement.

Gov. Charlie Baker at a press conference Thursday evening described the utility's response to the crisis as "adequate."

By Thursday night one person was dead and at least 10 others injured in the explosions. Thousands of others were unable to return to their homes.

Lawrence and the towns of Andover and North Andover had opened shelters after officials urged anyone with Columbia Gas in those communities to evacuate their homes. In addition, all residents of South Lawrence were asked to evacuate their homes.

Baker said officials did not expect further explosions, but that crews would continue to investigate. In addition, officials said that each home in the area with a gas line connection would need to be checked.

According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, gas lines that had become over-pressurized were the cause of the explosions and fires. What caused that over-pressurization, however, is not yet known.
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant apologized Friday for the "inconvenience" to customers in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover following a series of explosions that left more than two dozen injured and one dead.

Thousands were evacuated from the three Massachusetts communities Thursday. Fires sparked in 60 to 80 homes in the Merrimack Valley Thursday, with gas-pressurization leading to explosions in homes serviced by Columbia Gas. More than two dozen were treated for injuries.

Leonel Rondon, an 18-year-old from Lawrence, was in a car parked in a driveway when a chimney fell on the vehicle, fatally injuring him. Yet to be determined amounts of damage were caused to homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, leaving thousands of residents uncertain when they can return home and what they will find.

Columbia was publicly criticized by Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera for a lack of communication with the public and officials.

"The least informed and the last to act have been Columbia Gas," Rivera said during heated remarks. "It just seems like there's no one in charge, they're in the weeds."

Columbia was criticized for their delayed response immediately following the series of explosions, which began late Thursday afternoon. The company released a statement five hours later.

"My very family is displaced," Rivera said, adding that there are residents who "watched houses blow up right next to them" are left afraid and without answers from their utility company.

The mayor of Lawrence said Columbia "promised hundreds of teams of technicians, none of which materialized." He said Columbia "wasted last night, calling the other utilities to come in. My understanding is they didn't want to foot the bill for them to be here."

Photos: Andover, Lawrence, North Andover fires and explosions 114 Gallery: Photos: Andover, Lawrence, North Andover fires and explosions

By Friday afternoon - following a series of statements released by the company - Rivera called upon Columbia to address the public by 4 p.m. Friday.

Bryant's remarks were held shortly after Rivera's given deadline.

He said the company has workers on the ground and is seeking assistance from sister companies in Pennsylvania and Ohio, who are expected Saturday.

On when residents should expect to return home, Bryant said they can expect to be "back home" Saturday and Sunday.

As of Friday afternoon, less than half of the 8,000 Columbia Gas customers have their gas shut off by workers.

More than 18,000 households in Massachusetts remain without power, a request made of the three communities in the Merrimack Valley. In the fallout, Rivera said he and officials of Andover and North Andover were asked to evacuate portions of their communities and shut utilities off.

Bryant said the company is cooperating with local, state and federal officials who are investigating the cause of the explosions.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt announced the investigation Friday morning.

NTSB officials will look into the design of the pipeline system, maintenance of the pipeline and the emergency response to the disaster.

The utility company was cited by name by NTSB officials during the press conference announcing the investigation into the disaster.

Citing a slow response by Columbia Gas, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency and announced Eversource would take over as project manager

"This is something that a gas company hopes never happens," Bryant said.

The explosion occurred six years after the company accepted responsibility for a gas leak that caused an explosion in downtown Springfield. The blast leveled a strip club and a day care center. The explosion resulted in 18 first responders injured. The company reached an $850,000 settlement with the city in 2013.
The natural gas company whose fuel lines caused a deadly wave of fires and explosions in the Merrimack Valley on Thursday has been fined $100,000 by state regulators over the last eight years.

The violations by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts include failing to follow safety procedures while repairing a leak, puncturing a gas line and improper pressure testing, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities said Friday

Fires and blasts erupted across Andover, North Andover and Lawrence Thursday afternoon, sparking a massive emergency response, injuring more than two dozen people and killing 18-year-old Lawrence resident Leonel Rondon.

It was the largest gas pipeline accident in the United States since 2010, according to Reuters, and sparked a demand for answers from residents and public officials that Columbia Gas has so far failed to provide. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera slammed the company as the "least informed" and "last to act" at a press conference Friday, and Gov. Charlie Baker stripped Columbia of control of the response after declaring a state of emergency.

An overpressurized gas line is suspected to have led to the fires and explosions, which generated more than 150 calls for emergency services, led to the evacuation of thousands of people and prompted National Grid to cut power to the area. The exact cause of the incident is still unclear.

Information released by the Department of Public Utilities shows that this is not Columbia Gas' first brush with state regulators.

In 2011, the company was fined $15,000 for an issue with leakage classification and response procedures in Taunton, and another $15,000 for installing a service line at improper depth in Brockton.

Columbia Gas has also faced fines relating to gas pressure regulations.

In 2011, it was fined $12,500 for improper gas standards and pressure testing at a Brockton project. The company was hit with another $15,000 for failure to provide their crews with proper maps and inability to produce pressure test records in Attleboro.

Columbia Gas was also cited for puncturing a gas line in Springfield in 2012, causing an explosion that leveled a Worthington Street strip club and injured 17 people. DPU did not note any fine related to the incident, but the company settled with the City of Springfield for $850,000 in 2013.

The company also paid a $7,500 penalty for insufficient corrosion control and lack of welding qualification records on a Bridgewater project in 2012. Columbia Gas' most recent violation was in 2017, when it paid a $35,000 penalty for failing to follow safety regulations while using a leak repair kit.

A subsidiary of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts' parent company NiSource was also cited by federal regulators for two major explosions in Ohio in the last three years, the Boston Globe reported. The most recent, in 2017, killed a mother and her 18-year-old son.
Crews going door-to-door will need to check 8,000 gas meters in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover before those evacuated will be able to go home, officials said early Friday morning.

In a press conference after midnight, Gov. Charlie Baker and leaders from the three communities emphasized that ensuring homes are safe to return to is the primary task following a series of gas explosions and fires that left part of the Merrimack Valley looking like a war zone Thursday afternoon.

"If you live in South Lawrence, don't come back to your homes until we tell you to come back to your homes," Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera said. "We're not sure that's going to be anytime soon."

Officials also released a few new details early Friday morning, including that area firefighters had responded to some 60 to 80 structure fires in the three communities as well as several homes that exploded. Approximately 25 people were treated for injuries, including one fatality. Eighteen-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed after the chimney from an exploding house landed on the car he was sitting in parked in the home's driveway.

Many of those injured were treated for minor injuries and released. Thousands of others have been evacuated from their homes and asked not to return until given the all-clear.

That process could take time. Baker said teams of natural gas technicians, police and utility workers were going to each of the 8,000 meters impacted to manually turn the gas off.

"The people of Lawrence, Andover and North Andodver must be assured that their homes are safe to return to," Baker said.

Baker also said the state has brought in support from other utility companies.

Missing at the press conference were any representatives from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the company that operates the gas lines and service in the Merrimack Valley. The company issued a brief statement more than five hours after the explosions saying it was responding to the incidents and would issue updates as they became available.

Baker said there were "several folks from the federal government who have arrived and they're going to do the review and the how did this happen piece."

"We'll work to investigate how this occurred and hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions," he said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety and the National Transportation and Safety Board representatives were on the ground and participating in the investigation.

Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said in his communities, it was primarily homes north of Route 28 that were impacted.

"If your gas has not been shut off, it will be shut off," Flanagan said. "For the households south of Route 28, you may return to your house. If you have shut off your gas, do not turn it back on. Wait for a natural gas technician."
The shared sense of shock and disbelief among residents from Lawrence, Andover and North Andover had not worn off by late Thursday night following a series of dangerous gas line explosions in the area.

Shortly before 9 p.m., at least one fatality was confirmed in the tragic explosions: 18-year-old Leonel Rondon, of Lawrence, was killed after a chimney fell on the car he was inside of Thursday afternoon. He died at Mass. General Hospital later that night.

Reports indicate at least 10 other people were injured, and at least one person was in critical condition.

"I've lived here 30 years ... I can't imagine, or have ever envisioned, a utility company blowing up homes," Don Bradley said Thursday at the Andover Senior Center, where evacuated and displaced residents were offered a place to stay and eat.

The impacted gas lines are operated by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, and it is unclear at this time what caused the series of explosions. Across the three communities, authorities responded to at least 39 fires and 70 properties for either fires, explosions or gas odors.

Hours after the explosions, Columbia Gas responded in a statement and thanked first responders. There was no update on why the explosions had occurred, but the company said it would "continue to share information as it becomes available."

Bradley, of Andover, said he does not usually answer his landline phone, but on Thursday, he decided to.

"It was a robocall, that's how I found out," Bradley said, before echoing the sentiments of Andover Fire Chief Michael B. Mansfield, who compared Thursday's scenes to "a war zone."

"The nation prepares us for this massive hurricane, and Andover gets hit with something like from Iraq or Afghanistan," Bradley added.

Some houses were completely decimated from the explosions and subsequent fires. A cluster of homes across the northern part of Andover and southern Lawrence were where many of the explosions occurred, according to a map provided by Massachusetts State Police.

Firefighters from across the region, many connected through the fire department mutual aid system in northern New England, showed up in the Merrimack Valley to aid in the massive response. Firetrucks, police cars and emergency vehicles flooded streets, creating road blockages and a chaotic scene.

"There were five to six helicopters above my head ... all these sirens and everything," said Andover resident Zahiya Hassan. She said her son's friend described the scene as "apocalyptic."

"It was just that feeling," Hassan added. "Seeing the Red Cross driving by, I couldn't believe it. This stuff happens in movies."

Hassan was resting when she got the call to evacuate, and quickly grabbed her purse and golden retriever dog, Simba, whose "nose was going everywhere...he must be smelling, catching something," Hassan added.

Her husband, Owais, said it took him 2.5 hours to get home from Bedford, and he was rushing home to see his wife and dog.

The two were unsure where they would spend the night. The Andover Senior Center did not allow dogs to stay inside, but they felt unsafe going back to their home, where the smell of gas had lingered hours earlier.

A teacher from Phillips Academy preparatory school in Andover said he and his fellow staff, who live in houses provided by the school, were unable to return for the night due to gas concerns. Students at the school, however, had separate dorms that were approved for safety following the explosions.

Over in Lawrence, Sonal Shukla said her husband acted quickly to evacuate himself and their young daughter. Just two houses down, smoke poured out of a home that caught fire.

"My little one was sleeping at the time," said Shukla, who was out running errands when the calls came in. "She was scared, because she woke up from sleeping, and heard all of the sirens and the traffic."

Shukla and her family went to her mother Julie Vaz's home in Andover for safety, but their backup plan soon failed: shortly after arriving, Vaz got the call to evacuate as well.

"We don't care about our stuff," Vaz said, adding the most important thing was that they all made it out safely.
Gov. Charlie Baker has declared a state of emergency following explosions and fires that killed a teenager and injured 25 others.

More than 8,000 homes were evacuated as gas poured into homes in Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover Thursday afternoon. Now, the state is bringing in Eversource to help with clean up.

A state of emergency can be declared by the governor of Massachusetts in the event or imminent threat of a natural or man-made disaster. A state of emergency may cover a specific municipality, multiple communities, or the entire Commonwealth.

At a press conference Friday afternoon the governor expressed frustration with the response by Columbia Gas, the company that provides gas service to the communities impacted.

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera said he was angry when addressing the performance of Columbia in the aftermath of the explosions.

"The least informed and the last to act have been Columbia Gas," Rivera said during heated remarks. "It just seems like there's no one in charge, they're in the weeds."

Baker said he'd made the decision to bring in gas-provider Eversource to help with the response, putting faith in that company's ability to do a better job than Columbia.

Rivera said Columbia was the only group responding that did not have a command center set up with public safety and government officials and said the company was "hiding."

Andover Town Manager Andrew P. Flanagan said in a statement he applauds Baker's decision "to use the full force of his office."

"People want to go back to their homes, and I am confident that this is a giant step in the right direction," Flanagan said. "Our attempts to work closely with Columbia Gas during this crisis have been met with little more than phone calls unreturned and questions unanswered."

An over-pressurization led to more than 60 individual fires and several explosions in the three communities affected.

First responders received more than 150 calls for help Thursday night, officials said at a press conference Friday morning.

Leonel Rondon, 18, was sitting in a parked car in Lawrence when a chimney fell onto the car, killing him.
It has been more than 12 hours and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton's phone calls to Columbia Gas Massachusetts have gone unanswered.

Moulton, who represents Massachusetts' sixth district, wrote on Twitter late Thursday that the president of Columbia Gas had not responded to his phone calls. Moulton did not specify who he was calling, but Steve Bryant is the president of the gas company.

"Got the number of the Columbia Gas president and have tried him multiple times with no answer. Everyone wants answers. And we deserve them," Moulton tweeted at 10:18 p.m. Thursday, after landing in Boston. The Congressman said he was en route to Andover. He represents parts of Andover and North Andover, both heavily affected by the explosions.

As of 10 a.m., Moulton had not received a callback, according to a spokesman for his office.

Leonel Rondon, 18, was killed when a home exploded, sending a chimney through the roof of a car he was inside. At least two dozen others were injured.

Fires broke out in homes that use Columbia Gas in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence Thursday afternoon. Explosions and fires, likely caused by an over-pressurized gas line, drove thousands from their homes.

At least 18,000 customers remained without power Friday morning.

The company released a statement Thursday night saying it was committed to safely restoring service to affected customers but has not issued an explanation of what went wrong. The explosions and fires are under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Columbia Gas has not returned messages and emails from MassLive requesting comment.
After a series of gas-related fires and explosions in the Merrimack Valley, thousands remain without power and unsure when they will be able to return home.

Firefighters from numerous communities in Massachusetts responded to some 60 to 80 structure fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Thursday into early Friday morning.

By Thursday night, more than two dozen sought treatment for injuries, a teenager was fatally injured and thousands were unable to return home.

As of shortly before 6 a.m. Friday morning, 18,634 households in Massachusetts are without power.

Of those outages, about 10,500 are in Lawrence, 5,400 in Andover and just under 2,000 in North Andover.

Utility crews will need to check some 8,000 gas meters in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover before those evacuated will be able to go home, officials said early Friday morning.

"If you live in South Lawrence, don't come back to your homes until we tell you to come back to your homes," Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera said. "We're not sure that's going to be anytime soon."
A leader of the Trece Loco Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 gang in the Boston area has been sentenced to serve 35 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to his part in killing a 16-year-old boy with machetes.

Jairo Perez, 27, is a Salvadoran national who went by the street name "Seco." He was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Boston, prosecutors said.

Perez was convicted along with two other men, Edwin Gonzalez and Edwin Diaz, in the Jan. 10, 2016, murder of an East Boston boy the gang thought was a member of a rival organization.

The three men cornered the boy on a residential street in East Boston late at night and Perez, Diaz and Gonzalez struck him dozens of times with machetes, while a fourth gang member, Rigoberto Mejia, shot the boy with a firearm, prosecutors alleged in court documents.

Within days, the group had been betrayed by a cooperating witness and Perez was recorded admitting his part in the murder and telling the witness where he buried the murder weapons on Deer Island, where they were recovered by authorities.

Perez entered guilty pleas to charges under the RICO statutes in May 2018.

Following his initial sentence, Perez will be subject to five years of supervised release and deportation.
Officials give update in Lawrence after fires and explosions killed one, injured 25 Posted by MassLive on Friday, September 14, 2018

Massachusetts officials will provide an update Friday morning on a series of gas explosions that led to the excavations of thousands of homes, more than two dozen injured and the death of a teenager.

State and local officials are expected to discuss next steps for Lawrence, Andover and North Andover recovery efforts.

Columbia of Gas of Massachusetts posted to its web site on Thursday that it would be upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhoods across the state. It did not state when that work would begin or where.

Late Thursday afternoon, however, emergency crews in the Merrimack Valley were racing to answer emergency calls with more than 70 properties that were either burning, had exploded or had an odor of gas coming from them.

Gov. Charlie Baker at a press conference Thursday evening described the utility's response to the crisis as "adequate."

Lawrence and the towns of Andover and North Andover had opened shelters after officials urged anyone with Columbia Gas in those communities to evacuate their homes. In addition, all residents of South Lawrence were asked to evacuate their homes.

Federal safety officials have opened an investigation into the disaster Friday morning.
There's no timeline for residents forced to evacuate their homes to return after fires and explosions hit dozens of sites in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

Schools in all three communities, sent into darkness after electricity was shut off Thursday night, are closed Friday.

Asked whether additional explosions and fires are expected in the Merrimack Valley area, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said based on the information they have available, the answer is no.

Columbia Gas said its crews were responding to reports of multiple fires, according to a statement provided by the company after 9 p.m.

"I would say the response so far has been adequate," the governor said. "But there's a lot more work that's left to be done."

Officials with turn to the question of how the explosions and fire happened after they handle public safety issues, Baker said.

The depressurization of gas lines and the shutoff of electricity were part of efforts to ensure there would be no more fires, according to Baker.

"This is still an active scene," Baker added as local police and state authorities are handling the power outage and attempting to prevent accidents in heavily trafficked areas.

Baker joined officials from Lawrence, Andover and North Andover at a press conference just before 9 p.m.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said the affected area is south of the Merrimack River. There are no issues in the part of the city north of the river, according to Rivera.

Rivera urged people from the southern part of the river to stay away from their homes.

Rivera did not put a specific number on the explosions and fires.

"We did have multiple fires, multiple explosions during the day," he said.

Rivera called Lawrence a "resilient" city of 80,000 people. "We're going to be OK," he said.

Andrew Maylor, the town manager for North Andover, said 12 to 14 homes in his town were affected.

Andrew Flanagan, the town manager for Andover, said there were more than 30 reports of fires this afternoon in his community. "There is no clear timeline" for when residents can return to their homes, he said.

Schools and senior and youth centers are serving as available shelters, he added.
AMHERST -- The Select Board at Wednesday's meeting unanimously approved a food license for a proposed hot pot restaurant.

The co-owners, Jiarui "Jeremy" Liu and Jian Huang, said they plan to open the eatery, to be called North Hot Pot, at the former Michael's Billiards, 20 Belchertown Road, across the street from a Cumberland Farms.

Hot pot is a culinary style where customers cook their meal in a pot of hot broth or soup at their table, then flavor it with sauces and condiments. Examples of food to be cooked in the heated pot include thinly sliced beef and lamb, vegetables, seafood and poultry.

The men, from China, both graduated college in May. Liu earned a degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst and Huang from UMass Boston.

Although the board approved the food, or common victualler license, Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the business must also receive permission from the fire department because of the cooking style.

Liu told the board that they intend to comply with all the rules "to make sure everything is safe."

Select Board member Alisa Brewer said that another restaurant, in the past, attempted to serve via the hot pot method but ended up not doing so.

"It got difficult," Brewer said. "There was a large bit of confusion."

Liu and Huang said they hope to open North Hot Pot sometime in November.

Although Michael's Billiards, which was a full service barroom, had a full liquor license from the town, the North Hot Pot owners said they do not plan to sell alcohol and would not seek to renew that license when it expires on Dec. 31.

"We wish you the best of luck," Select Board Chairman Doug Slaughter said.

The map below show the location of the proposed North Hot Pot restaurant:
Bob Woodward's "Fear: Trump in the White House" sold more than 750,000 copies on its first day, setting a record for veteran publisher Simon & Schuster.

The famed investigative reporter's unflattering look at the workings of the Trump administration sold more than 750,000 print books, ebooks, and audiobooks on Sept. 11, the first day it went on sale. It broke existing sales records for the 94-year-old publishing house.

"Bob Woodward's 'Fear' is selling with the force of a cultural phenomenon, in extraordinary numbers across the board, in hardcover, ebook, and audio editions. Based on immense pre-publication and ongoing interest, the reading public clearly has an enormous appetite for what we believe, as Woodward says, is 'a pivot point in history,' " said Jonathan Karp, president and publisher of Simon & Schuster in a statement.

Trump has attacked Woodward and his book repeatedly since excerpts were first published in The Washington Post, where Woodward works.
PALMER -- The community celebrated the new $17.2 million, 17,800-square-foot Emergency Department at Baystate Wing Hospital on Friday with a ceremony attended by about 200 that included the organization's leadership along with local, state and national political leaders.

The facility is scheduled to open for patients Tuesday at 5 a.m.

"This is a happy day," Baystate Health President and CEO Mark A. Keroack said. Referring to Mike Moran, the president and chief administrative officer of the organization's eastern region that includes Wing and Baystate Mary Lane outpatient center in Ware, Keroack said, "Mike, I really owe you a debt. Thank you so much."

Several of the speakers thanked Moran for his administrative expertise guiding the construction process.

"This facility allows highly qualified providers to do their best work," Moran said.

Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, said, "This truly is a fabulous day."

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, touted Baystate's progress and the state's commitment to health care, saying all children have health insurance and only 3 percent of adults do not.

"American people ought to have decent health care," Neal said.

The congressman discussed the "arithmetic of health (care)," saying the industry represents $3.4 trillion dollars, or 17 percent of the country's gross domestic product. He said Baystate Health relies on the federal Medicare program for half of its revenue, with Medicaid adding another 15 percent.

"At Baystate Health, you are part of the high quality health care" system in Massachusetts, Neal said.

State Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, thanked Neal for his many years of advocacy and government work.

"We are very fortunate to have your services in Congress," Smola said.

Baystate Wing's Chief Medical Officer, David Maguire, explained the difference the new emergency department would make for patient care. He said that instead of patients hearing the screaming and desperation and crying of others in pain and distress, the new quarters would give privacy and shield patients from having to also experience with their ears the suffering of others.

Maguire called the transformation "a change from an emergency room to an emergency department -- we are literally in a room right now."

The change was needed to maintain the dignity of patients, he said.

Tours of the new emergency department were given to everyone who attended Friday's ribbon cutting.

"I think it's fantastic," Palmer resident Joanne McDiarmid said after walking through the facility.

"I think it's wonderful to have that right here in town," resident Linda Niemczura said.

Among hospital staff who guided attendees on a tour inside the new facility was Kim Davis. She has been with Baystate since 1997, and is the nurse manager in charge of emergency services at Wing and at Mary Lane, which, although no longer an acute care hospital, maintains a 24/7 emergency department.

"What's interesting," Davis said, was that employees were skeptical the new emergency department would ever get built, and almost cannot believe the new facility is now ready to open.

"Staff are really excited to work in this new place," she said.

Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Steven Lowell said "this has been years in the making." He also is vice chairman of the Baystate Wing Hospital board of directors.

In a written statement, Moran said: "This new facility allows our expert care team to provide the highest quality care and experience to the communities that we serve."

The 12,000 Baystate Health employees care for nearly 1 million people in Western Massachusetts.
SPRINGFIELD -- Adrian Hinds, 28, took the witness stand in his own defense Friday, claiming he was an innocent victim, not the perpetrator, in a Westfield hammer attack.

Hinds said he only picked up a hammer from his apartment to use in self-defense, and only used it repeatedly on the heads of two neighbors -- Nathan Cherniak and Miranda Arthur-Smith -- because they were attacking him.

The two victims have testified Hinds carried out an unprovoked attack on them and their dog.

Hinds testified all his actions were in self-defense, saying Cherniak was armed with a knife and Arthur-Smith was spraying him with pepper spray.

Hinds is accused in Hampden Superior Court of six crimes, including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, in connection with an incident March 23, 2016, at the Southwood Acres apartments in Westfield. Arthur-Smith and Cherniak were roommates in one apartment there and Hinds and his mother lived in another.

Hinds testified he didn't call police at any point because he didn't think police would help him. He said he repeatedly reported instances of his tires being slashed to Westfield police and they would not do anything.

Judge David Ricciardone rejected defense lawyer Dana Goldblatt's motion to dismiss all charges against Hinds. Goldblatt said the prosecution presented no evidence to warrant even sending the case to the jury.

Goldblatt said the prosecution didn't present evidence of an intent to murder on the part of Hinds.

Ricciardone said the hammer being used specifically "in the area of the head repeatedly" supports sending the armed assault with intent to murder to the jury along with the other charges.

Hinds was partway through his direct testimony when the trial ended for the day Friday. On Monday he will continue his direct testimony and then be cross-examined by Assistant District Attorney Janine Simonian.

Hinds testified that he sometimes heard people at the apartment complex yell out to him, "Lynch that n-----."

After an objection from Simonian, Ricciardone instructed jurors that there was no allegation Cherniak and Arthur-Smith yelled that out. Cherniak testified he is Asian, adopted into a Jewish family.

Hinds said when he first met Cherniak at the complex, "We became close acquaintances, friends, I'd say." He said he cut off contact when Cherniak asked him to sell drugs.

Cherniak, during his testimony, said he never asked Hinds to sell drugs, and said he cut off contact with Hinds when his behavior became increasingly strange.
Suspended trooper Kevin Sweeney pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with the overtime scandal that has rocked the Massachusetts State Police and resulted in more than 40 troopers coming under investigation.

Authorities say Sweeney, a member of the now-defunct Troop E, pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds and one count of wire fraud. A plea agreement filed in federal court asks for a prison sentence of 8 to 14 months, 12 months of supervised release and restitution of $11,103.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Boston said Sweeney was paid more than $5,900 in overtime cash for shifts he did not work. He is one of six troopers accused of skipping or partially working specialized overtime shifts on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Metropolitan tunnels system targeting aggressive drivers.

Sweeney, 40, of Braintree, earned $218,512. That included $97,000 in overtime pay.

"Sweeney admitted that between Sept. 1, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2016, he was paid over $5,900 for overtime shifts that he either did not work at all or from which he left early," authorities said. "Sweeney concealed his fraud by submitting fraudulent citations designed to create the appearance that he had worked overtime hours that he had not, and falsely claimed in MSP paperwork and payroll entries that he had worked the entirety of his overtime shifts."

Records show on Dec. 14, 2016, Sweeney claimed to work what was known as an Accident Injury Reduction Effort patrol shift from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. He claimed he wrote eight citations and submitted copies of the citations to supervisors.

Sweeney was not on patrol, investigators learned by checking data for his cruiser radio. He also did not conduct any driver history checks during the shift. The state Registry of Motor Vehicle database showed none of the motorists Sweeney claimed to have cited that day actually received a citation.

Authorities also say on Dec. 21, 2016, the RMV had copies of two of the citations Sweeney claimed to have written during the shift, but a closer inspection revealed that Sweeney had falsified the times of those citations on the copies submitted to the State police. His cruiser radio was not activated during the shift.

Sweeney was under investigation for skipping shifts during AIRE and X-Team patrols. MassLive learned Sweeney was flagged for skipping as many as 26 AIRE shifts.

The other five troopers charged in the case are: former Lieutenant David Wilson, 57, of Charlton; Trooper Gary Herman, 45, of Chester, and former Trooper Paul Cesan, 50, of Southwick, former Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood, and retired Trooper Daren DeJong, 56, of Uxbridge.

More than 40 troopers were suspended or resigned amid the overtime cash theft allegations.

MassLive has learned the state Attorney General's office convened a grand jury as the office conducts a separate investigation into the alleged theft.
Update 9:19 p.m. Number of people at Lawrence General Hospital is now at 10. One is in critical and one is in serious condition.

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Four people have been taken to Lawrence General Hospital after a series of explosions and fires erupted in Merrimack Valley late Thursday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed at 7 p.m. that four people were being treated. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

Officials in Andover said three people -- a firefighter and two civilians -- were injured. It was not immediately clear if those three people were of the four taken to Lawrence General Hospital, or in addition to those four people.

State Police say there have been 70 responses to fires, explosions and odors of gas in Lawrence and North Andover.

An exact cause of the fires is not yet known, but the blazes appears to be from gas line explosions.

Residents who have Columbia Gas have been told to evacuate immediately. Any residents who know how to safely shut off their gas have been asked to do so.

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera tweeted Thursday evening that any residents looking for information about the fires should dial 211.
Any Lawrence residents looking for information while firefighters from across Massachusetts battle flames from gas line explosions should dial 211, officials said.

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera tweeted Thursday evening that the line would have information on the fires and explosions in South Lawrence.

Residents looking for information on the gas and fire incidents in South Lawrence should dial 211.



Residents buscando information de los fuegos en south Lawrence Marquen el 211.  Dan Rivera (@danrivera01843) September 13, 2018

Massachusetts State Police have confirmed that there are 39 locations of explosions or fires affecting Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

Residents who have Columbia Gas have been told to evacuate immediately. Any residents who know how to safely shut off their gas have been asked to do so.

It is not yet clear if anyone has been injured.

An exact cause of the fires is not yet known, but it appears to be from gas line explosions.
PITTSFIELD - A 32-year-old man from Hudson, New York, was ordered held without the right to bail Thursday after pleading innocent in Berkshire Superior Court to charges that he raped an 18-month-old child.

Gary P. Montana is charged with aggravated rape of a child with force, aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14, and posing a child in a sexual act.

Judge John Agostini ordered Montana held without the right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing that will determine if he should continue to be held for up to 120 days without bail. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Montana is one of two people accused in the rape, which is said to have occurred on Jan. 1, and involved an 18-month old boy.

Montana and Erica Emerling of Pittsfield were indicted on the charges by a Berkshire grand jury on Aug. 8.

Emerling was arraigned on the charges on Aug. 27, according to the Berkshire Eagle. She pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance on the condition she have no contact with the child. She is due back in court on Feb. 8 for a hearing.

Montana was arrested Aug. 27 at his home in Hudson by New York State police who were acting on a fugitive from justice warrant issued by Massachusetts.

He had been held without bail in Columbia County, New York since his arrest until last week when he waived his right to a rendition trial and was transported back to Massachusetts, according to Hudson Valley 360.

Officials have not disclosed details about any relationship Emerling and Montana had with each other, or with the child.
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton expressed frustration with the leadership of Columbia Gas Thursday night, saying the company's president did not return phone calls following a wave of gas explosions and fires that left Andover, North Andover and Lawrence in chaos.

Moulton, whose district includes North Andover and parts of Andover, said on Twitter that he was headed to the scene after landing in Boston around 8:30 p.m.

Got the number of the Columbia Gas president and have tried him multiple times with no answer. Everyone wants answers. And we deserve them.  Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) September 14, 2018

Moulton's tweet did not specify the name of the executive, but Steve Bryant is president of Columbia Gas Massachusetts. MassLive has reached out to Moulton's camp for more information.

It is also unclear whether Columbia Gas executives have called Moulton since he tweeted about their lack of responsiveness at 10:18 p.m. Columbia Gas did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

The company released a statement earlier Thursday night stating their commitment to resolving the problems, but has not so far offered any explanation for what went wrong.

"Columbia Gas crews are currently responding to reports of multiple fires in Lawrence. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident," the statement said. "The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community by supporting first responders and completing safety checks on our system and in the surrounding area."

At least 10 people were injured and one killed after explosions and fires began breaking out Thursday evening at homes relying on Columbia Gas in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

18-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed when a home exploded, sending a chimney crashing through the roof of the car he was occupying.

The blasts and fires, possibly caused by over-pressurized gas lines, sent smoke billowing through the three Merrimack Valley communities as fire crews from across the region responded to give aid. State police said authorities responded to 70 properties for either fires, explosions or gas odors.
SPRINGFIELD -- Around one hundred people came out in Springfield Thursday to honor the lives of Jaser al-Rakah and Theeb al-Yami, two international students and natives of Saudi Arabia who died in Wilbraham this summer while attempting to save drowning children.

Al-Yami, 27, and Al-Rakah, 25, dove into the icy waters of the Chicopee River on June 29 in an attempt to save two young children who were caught in the river's current.

The children were ultimately rescued and carried to safety, but Al-Yami and Al-Rakah were themselves overcome by the river.

The young men, who were also cousins, were honored at a ceremony held at the Rivers Memorial Hall at Western New England University in Springfield Thursday night.

At the time of their deaths, Al-Yami was a student at the University of Hartford in Connecticut while Al-Rakah attended Western New England University. Both men were involved in the schools through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, said David Stawasz, assistant vice president of marketing communications for WNE.

Officials from both schools were in attendance Thursday night, along with family members of the victims who traveled from Saudi Arabia.

At the event, posthumous degrees were awarded to Al-Yami and Al-Rakah, and a number of people spoke about the significance of what the young men had done.

The night's keynote remarks were made by Gale D. Candaras, former state representative and senator. Candaras said that the two schools were coming together in "shared loss" over the tragic incident.

Candaras said that the two young men "selflessly put themselves in peril to try to save the children."

WNE President Anthony S. Caprio said he felt both students acted "on an instinct to do good" in their split-second decision to dive into the river and attempt to save the struggling children. "They were spontaneous, they were caring, they took action," Caprio said. "They tried to do the right thing."

Caprio further called Al-Yami and Al-Rakah "truly heroic."

Saleh Keshawarz, the department chair for the University of Hartford's engineering department, took to the stage to describe Al-Yami, who he said was one of his best students.

"Theeb was a student you never forgot," Keshawarz said, describing the young man as "always smiling," and having "a happy, positive outlook about life."

"These two young men gave their lives for two young boys -- needless to say they are in paradise today," said David Sepanek, the grandfather of one of the children who was saved.

Sepanek, who is also chairperson for the Ludlow Housing Authority, also read an Arabic prayer to commemorate the actions of Al-Yami and Al-Rakah.

At the end of the evening, all of the students from WNE and the University of Hartford were invited onstage to stand with Dr. Mohammad Saleem Bajwa as he spoke.

Bajwa, who is a member of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts, said that Al-Yami and Al-Rakah had done "the best of deeds" in attempting to save the children.
NORTHAMPTON -- Oumou Kanoute, the 20-year-old Smith College student at the center of a recent controversial incident on campus, has penned a public letter about her experience, calling it a "nightmare" and outlining policy reforms she believes are necessary at the school.

On July 31, campus security was called on Kanoute as she ate lunch in a dining area at the school. Kanoute claims the call was made because a staff member believed she did not "belong" at the school because of her race.

A Smith employee recently refuted Kaoute's interpretation, arguing security was called not because of racial bias but because Kanoute was eating in a building that was closed for the day.

Kanoute's recent letter was published on the website of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU recently announced its intention to provide counsel to Kanoute for the incident.

Smith College reports that no lawsuits have been filed against the school relative to the incident and that administrators are in communication with the ACLU.

In Kanoute's letter, she makes several "demands" for reform at the school -- including a call for a controversial practice called "affinity housing" for students of color.

According to Merrimack College, the idea behind affinity housing is that it "allows students connected through a well-defined affinity to live together in an intentional community guided by shared values, goals, and activities."

Some political activists and academics have suggested such housing along ethnic lines -- effectively letting only students of a specific race live together.

The student group Affinity Housing at Smith College, for instance, is dedicated to implementing affinity housing at the school.

"The supposed 'integrated housing' system currently on campus forces (people of color) into unsafe spaces," alleges one post on the group's Facebook page. "It does nothing to uphold principles of equity or justice. While affinity housing is not a perfect solution, students of color have expressed their need for a house that truly values their labor."

Critics of the policy have often qualified such a practice as ethnic "re-segregation."

Harvard Professor Jim Sidanius, in a 2009 interview with Diverse magazine, claimed that race-based affinity groups actually cause more tension, not less.

"Ethnically oriented, student-based organizations such as the Afro-American Studies Association or the Latin American Student Association create more (racial) tension," Sidanius said in the interview. "Once students joined these organizations, it increased their own ethnic identification and gave students the feeling that they were being ethnically victimized by other student groups."

We are demanding affinity housing not because we want it, but because we need it. In a society void of racism, students... Posted by Affinity Housing at Smith College on Thursday, April 19, 2018

The topic of such groups was broached at Smith College in February when famed civil rights figure Ruby Bridges -- who was one of the first African American children to integrate into a white school in the South in the 1960s -- visited. Bridges was questioned by a student about what she thought about affinity housing.

"Hearing my message today, how do you think I might feel about that?" Bridges said. "It's time that you find common ground. Try a little harder."

Despite such criticisms, many students are interested in the benefits such groups might provide.

Other reforms that Kanoute demands in her letter that Smith adopt include "new policies and training that address race and gender" and that the school "take more steps to address the history of Black students and the school's legacy of institutional racism."

Kanoute added that she desired "a more fitting commemoration of Otelia Cromwell," Smith's first black graduate.

Since the incident, Smith has promised increased anti-bias training, released multiple statements, attempted to facilitate a meeting between the staff members and Kanoute, and hired two civil rights lawyers to investigate the incident. That investigation is ongoing.

The incident garnered international news coverage and inspired protests at the school, as well as a rally in downtown Northampton against "anti-blackness."
SPRINGFIELD - A 34-year-old man was arrested for drug distribution after narcotics officers said they saw him selling crack cocaine.

Julio Rivera, of White St., was arrested at about 1:20 p.m., Wednesday, and charged with distribution of a Class B drug, said Ryan Walsh, Springfield Police spokesman.

Narcotics detectives said they observed drug activity in the area of School and High Street. Police stopped Rivera a block away near Union Street and arrested him.
SPRINGFIELD -- The U.S. Navy Band Northeast will perform a free concert on Wednesday night at Forest Park that will begin with an aircraft parachute leap by members of the Navy Leap Frogs.

The public performance begins at 6 p.m. at the Forest Park ball field complex, featuring the U.S. Navy Band Northeast -- Rhode Island Sound. The event is sponsored by the city's Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management.

In case of rain, the concert will move to Van Sickle Auditorium.

The concert will open with the Navy Leap Frogs landing in the center of the ball field complex. A typical Leap Frog performance consists of six jumpers leaping out of an aircraft at an altitude of 6,000 feet, according to a press release.

After performances, the Leap Frogs make themselves available to the public to answer questions about the Navy and the Navy Special Warfare Community, as well as to sign autographs.

Established in 1974, Navy Band Northeast is based on board NAVSTA Newport and is one of 11 official U.S. Navy bands worldwide, responsible for "providing musical support for military ceremonies, recruiting, morale and retention programs, and community relations," the release said.

The region's Navy Band consists of 35 professional Navy musicians and supports more than 300 engagements annually throughout an 11-state area. It is under the direction of Lt. Joel Borrelli-Boudreau.

The band's music ranges from rhythm and blues to classic rock.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said the city is honored to host the Navy Band.

"The longstanding tradition of traveling throughout the Northeast provides residents an opportunity to honor our service men and women by attending the concert," Sarno said. "I look forward to a beautiful night in Forest Park and encourage all of our residents to join me in honoring our service men and women."

Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Director Patrick Sullivan said Forest Park will provide "a beautiful backdrop" for the Navy Band.

"It was great news for our city when they contacted Mayor Sarno and offered to play here for our residents," Sullivan said. "This is a unique opportunity for our city, and we encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a beautiful evening in the park."
Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  Shireen Senos film, Nervous Translation, has been hailed as one of the best Filipino films of 2017 and has consistently been featured in film festivals around the world  just within a year since it premiered at Cinema One Originals Film Festival. Along the way, it has also picked up a couple of awards, including the Asian Talent Award for Best Script Writer at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival.

The film is about a shy eight year old (played by Jana Agoncillo) who finds a pen that can translate her thoughts and feelings. It had its international premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival earlier this year. It also has made its way into the prestigious New Directors/New Films festival where The New Yorkers film critic Richard Brody called it the best recent evocations of a childs life and thought. It played at the Museum of Modern Art during the film festival, which is responsible for introducing then-emerging talents such as Christopher Nolan and Pedro Almodovar into a bigger audience.

Nervous Translation is many things to its filmmaker but it is also a personal one. Aside from basing most of the lead characters experiences from her own childhood, Seno describes her film and her six-month old baby as twins, having shared the same journey.

We shot the film when I was three to four months pregnant and premiered it internationally in Rotterdam about a month before I gave birth, Seno says. It has now screened at 14 festivals, and 16 more have been confirmed. I have only been able to attend the ones in Asia because of baby Aki  her longest flight so far has been four and a half hours when she was only three months old! [...] It is an immense joy to be a parent as well as a filmmaker. Seeing Aki grow is a daily reminder to savor this period in our lives because it goes by fast!

Nervous Translation though has had a longer gestation period, from its beginnings in Senos stay at the Venice Biennale College Cinema in 2013 to its premiere in 2017. This is her second full-length film since Big Boy, an experimental narrative about a boy in 1950s Mindoro who is pulled from both ends every day in order to stretch him.

A big challenge was finding support after the initial momentum had died down, says Seno of giving birth to her second film. And after finally securing the bulk of our budget, having to make the film in six months. Lastly, shooting while three to four months pregnant  it was definitely a struggle to stay focused. The journey has its share of delays, but I like to think everything happens in its own time. In the meantime, I was able to do some curating and film programming of my own, allowing me to explore and learn from the creative processes of others.

Nervous Translation will be screened next at the Tate Modern where it will have its U.K. premiere.

In this interview, Seno discusses growing up in two worlds, the relation of consumerism and the post-martial law years, and how her parental instincts became part of Nervous Translation. Below are edited excerpts from the interview.

I noticed that in write-ups, especially for the film festivals, there's always a mention of you as Japanese-Filipino, not just being Asian. Did this duality have a big effect on your film or the way your film has been viewed elsewhere?

I am actually full Filipino and happened to grow up in Japan. I think so, yes  there is a kind of duality that comes out in my work, but it's not that simple either. I was born to Filipino parents in Japan in the early 1980s. My mother was a teacher at an international school, and my classmates came from 56 different countries. It was liberal and empowering  with my teachers and classmates from all over the world instilling in us the idea that the world was ours, with a definitive push towards America and the western world  but all the more confusing. That's why I gravitate towards films about the pressures of growing-up  not really understanding the forces at work around us, only feeling the push and pull of these forces.

After moving to Manila in 2009, I began to make up for lost time spent outside these islands. I heard from John [Torres, the films producer] and other friends of ours about how families here in the 80s with loved ones abroad would send cassette tapes back and forth to keep in touch. I realized how fortunate I had been to have grown up with my family in one place, although the drawback to that was growing up without a strong sense of home or roots. So you could say Nervous Translation is a mix of my own memories of displacement and those of fellow children in the Philippines at the same time.

I was born three days before Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. That means I was three years old when the People Power Revolution happened after 21 years of dictatorship and martial law, and Cory Aquino became president of the new democracy. In Tokyo, we didn't really talk about politics or what was going on in the Philippines at the time. My mother worked hard at the international school, and even taught private lessons at home after school and on weekends to save more money. She made my sisters and I do math drills like Mad Minute at home so that we would ace them in school. My parents would also test me on my spelling over dinner, asking me to spell out words like 'chrysanthemum'.

You also mentioned before that Nervous Translation was kind of a transition for you as a director, like in terms of communicating and being on set. How did you go through that?

Nervous Translation is mainly based on my own experiences, although unlike Yael, I was not an only child. I had two older sisters who were a big influence on me. But I have always been a shy person, and perhaps I am still hiding behind the camera more than I should be. I yearn to be less of a perfectionist, to embrace the uncertain, and continue to learn by making mistakes.

It is through filmmaking that I hope to learn to connect more with others, instead of retreating inwardly. But I find it really difficult to 'direct' people and usually prefer to be a distance from them. In Big Boy, we worked almost entirely with non-actors, kids without any acting experience, who were very much rooted in the towns where we were shooting.

For Nervous Translation, I wanted to shake things up a bit and try something new. I opened up to the idea of casting a child actor, especially with our time constraint  we had about six months to make the film. Luckily, we ended up with Jana Agoncillo, who became known for her starring role on a drama-comedy T.V. series called Ningning in 2015. When we met Jana, her charisma was undeniable, but it was clear that she had become accustomed to a certain kind of acting for television  the way children are made to appear cute in their dialogue and sing-song way of talking. We had a gut feeling we could get her to tone that down though, if we could get her to relax. Jana was such a pleasure to work with. She was the funniest person on set in between takes, but when it came time to shoot, she put her game face on.

The script itself is very minimal, with actions rather than words. I didnt want Jana to overact, so we chose not to explain the psychology behind Yaels actions, only for her to do them and in a fairly deadpan way.

There's something very specific about Japanese consumer technology and the late 1980s. I'm guessing this is the magic of Yael's childhood. How did that relate to how you wanted to tackle diaspora in the film?

I used to clean the soles of my shoes when I was a child. It was a kind of a therapeutic ritual for a shy kid obsessed with order. Opening the film with Yael arriving home and cleaning the soles of her shoes brings us straight into Yaels world and acts as a conduit to the scenes where she cooks in miniature without having to explain or establish things. I think shoes are indeed important  they are like material witnesses to the day-to-day of our lives, and I wanted to connect that to the infamous collection of shoes Imelda Marcos had to leave behind during the People Power Revolution, testifying to the Marcos insatiable greed.

I was thinking of diaspora through products  the lives of goods and objects as much as people. I believe that the middle class has the potential to change our society but our colonial mindset and classist tendencies run deep. After People Power, there was so much potential. It was an amazing outburst. We overthrew a dictatorship. But then it kind of just turned into this shallow, consumerist society [and] that we're still where we are today, in a sense, because we really didn't get past the surfaces of things.

I had a dream one night that I was told to go to my relatives and find the pen for nervous translation. When I woke up, I thought, how perfect that would be  to have a pen for nervous translation, as opposed to having a nervous breakdown! I think we grow up brainwashed by modern society to think that there are products to solve our problems, when in fact our problems lie in a disjunct between our the world around us and the world within.

I believe that the middle class has the potential to change our society but our colonial mindset and classist tendencies run deep.

In the film, I love that the absence surrounding Yael is filled by a recording of her father's voice. And it becomes part of her routine. Can you tell us more about that tape?

I grew up without many words but a strange mix of sounds. My father was a man who spoke more through his actions. But thank goodness for his mystery and humor, and for showing me how to make something out of nothing. He would go biking around our middle-class Tokyo neighborhood and come home with stuff he found left on the street  twin-cassette boomboxes, electronic parts, furniture, you name it  and would find a way to make them work or find another use for them. And if I didnt know how to do something and asked him for help, he would look at me blankly and say, Experiment!

When I was three years old, my father would pick me up from my half-day at kindergarten and take me with him to work doing admin and office help for a small English school. I remember falling asleep on a tatami (Japanese straw mat) floor to the sound of the photocopy machine. When he had finished his work for the day, he would take me with him by train to Akihabara, the electronics district of Tokyo, a visual and aural feast for the senses for anyone, let anyone a three year old. Back then in the 80s, there were a lot of outdoor live demonstrations for new products, not just electronics, but everything from cooking knives to barking toy dogs. Before you even arrived at the spot, you would hear a man's voice, projected on a loudspeaker, essentially whipping up stories for these products, to make you come closer and watch. Sometimes, my father would leave me there on the street, engrossed in these strange audiovisual performances, without even telling me. I didn't worry too much though  somehow I knew he would come back for me.

I knew very early on that the sound needed to be very minimal  just the humdrum patterns of the mundane everyday, a mix of human and mechanical voices and sounds, various gradations of breath, wind, whispering, whistling, the voices of objects.

Are there movies, or pop cultural products that served as references or inspiration for Nervous Translation?

The Spirit of the Beehive by Victor Erice and The Small Town by Nuri Bilge Ceylan were two films that had a profound impact on me while making Nervous Translation, for their depictions of childhood as both magical and tragic.

In terms of music, I knew the 80s was dominated by cheesy ballads and disco, with the alternative being our very own versions of New Wave and punk. I came across a blog documenting our underground scene and was intrigued by a compilation album released only on cassette tape called Subterranean Romance: The Rise of the Martial Law Babies. There was one track that I really felt fit the mood of the film  a track called XC by Integrated Circuit, which played the part of the band The Futures in the film. Luckily, I was able track down Nitto Palacios, the man behind this track and the entire album, which he produced in a lovingly lo-fi way, similar to our own approach to filmmaking.

I've mentioned this to an author I interviewed recently, that when adults look back at childhood, there's kind of some gloss to it but we rarely remember the pains and the loneliness of childhood, which is what was depicted in Nervous Translation, and in Big Boy as well. Was this perception through the child's eyes something that you wanted to put in your films?

These films are attempts at making sense of things but also really just accepting the mysteries and misunderstandings that come with growing up. We all have our hang-ups over the way we were raised. As I get older, and I guess with each film, I feel myself becoming more understanding of my parents at the same time, I feel myself becoming more and more like them. There is a scene in the film where Yael is dragging her mother's body on a bridge. We didn't quite shoot it the way I wanted it exactly, because the gap under the concrete railing of the bridge turned out to be so big that Jana could have fallen through. My parental instincts definitely got the better of me, and for good reason.
Manmarziyaan  touted as his first attempt at telling an out-and-out romance  has the unmistakable punch you would expect from Kashyap.

Rating:

Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Abhishek Bachchan

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Love story, made with passion and the signature stamp of a director, will always be captivating, more so, if its helmed by a non-conformist director like Anurag Kashyap. Here female lead too, is someone who rarely comes across in any Bollywood film. She is feisty, uncompromisingly honest, demands what she desires, and so, a far cry from millions of sharp, quick-witted girls who often adorn the silver screen. With a mind of her own, she is someone who even announces to the man she has just tied the knot with that she is not a virgin.

Manmarziyaan  touted as his first attempt at telling an out-and-out romance  has the unmistakable punch you would expect from Kashyap. More than the story, Kashyaps film is served by a clutch of utterly committed, unselfconscious performances from actors who genuinely understand and believe in the material. Its clear that the three leads are completely in sync with their roles, with the rest of the cast too, pitching in competent performances.

But Manmarziyaan is as edgy as it gets, with broadly a comic approach to the material in the first half that serves so well.

The free-spirited Rumi (Taapsee Pannu) is a typical Punjabi kudi in a middle-class household in Amritsar. She and Vicky (Vicky Kaushal) is a pair who cant stay out of the bedroom. When theyre caught red handed by Rumis family, pressure builds up within the family for her to get married. Having lost her parents, she is also dependent on her uncle and aunt for survival. But Vicky gets cold feet, possibly due to commitment phobia, and keeps avoiding her request to bring his parents over and ask her hand in marriage. Rumi knows what she needs to do: she gives up on him and agrees to an arranged marriage. And thats when Robbie (Abhishek Bachchan), a businessman from London, enters the proverbial love triangle.

Kashyap extracts the best from the cast. Had it not been the inclusion of two characters  Vickys and Rumis  filled with madcap idiocy on paper itself, the film would not have been elevated to this screwy level. The credit for it must be shared with story, screenplay and dialogue writer Kanika Dhillon since, Manmarziyaan, despite telling a story that one has seen umpteen times before (of a girl having to choose between her former lover and her husband), has an intriguing quality of its own. A triangle of this kind is, perhaps, almost as old as cinema itself. But even when you think of Gumrah, Gharaonda, Ek Pal or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Taal, to name a few, Kashyaps three lead players fit into a glib yarn only because they knew that they were playing unusually frenetic people, and lend wacky touches to their roles.

In many ways, it subverts audience expectations at times, and develops the kind of genuine emotional power that keeps it from being just another romance saga. Its beauty is that even when it doesnt upend expectations, or fails to avoid any generic resolutions it refuses to fall into stereotypes of male and female behaviour.

The strength of such a film comes from its actors. There is an unvarnished innocence to Pannu you all will be decidedly captivated by. Though she flies off the handle, she remains unapologetic about it; plays her emotions raw, and is stripped of endearing cuteness or winsomeness to win attention; she keeps it just all in check. That as an impulsive, fiery, almost wild at times, and controlling woman, she doesnt fall to prey to overdoing it, and doesnt allow a single false note, is also because of her co-actor Kaushal. For him this was a challenge: a role that was least expected of him to sink his teeth into. He looks and acts every bit like a rapper and a DJ, who cares a damn about the film. His world centres around Rumi, and beyond her, he doesnt even want to know anything. He excels as a sloshed loser discarded by Rumi when she agrees to marry Robbie. In other scenes, his not being able to fathom Rumis insistence on getting married, extract some of the finest moments of the film.

Bachchan, who returns after a two-year break, doesnt have a role to die for. As the quintessential do-gooder husband, who inexplicably wants to marry a girl he knows, has a past. He could be Devgn of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or Shreeram Lagoo of Gharaonda. Only here, he makes more sense with his composure and sensible remarks. Lets talk, he tells Rumi when he finds her still pining for Vicky.

There are other moments when Rumi asks Robbie why he wanted to be with her when he knew about her relationship with Vicky. These and the constant one-liners keep the film on a high-energy intensity throughout.

Composer Amit Trivedi and cinematographer Sylvester Fonseca provide other key elements to lift the film higher. Trivedis unconventional compositions, in particular, are perfectly matched with the tempo of the film.

What fails in this 157-minute messy love and romance tale is the lack of freshness in the finale. It also has unoriginality with expected obviousness. After a superb first half, when all of us enjoy the Punjabi lines laden with humour, there comes a time when the film just stops. Or, refuses to move forward. For the most part, this is a film that will have you tingling with pleasure from a charming start. Instead of giving us a heart-pounding finish, the tepid end looks forced, as if, one of the leads, wouldnt have it otherwise.

The writer is a film critic and has been reviewing films for over 15 years. He also writes on music, art and culture, and other human interest stories.
CHICOPEE -- Westover Air Reserve Base will host an exercise to test the National Disaster Medical System on Saturday, Sept. 15.

"This is all about our training, you have to be trained up when you're ready to go," said Senior Master Sgt. Andrew S. Biscoe, acting chief of Westover public affairs.

The exercise scenario will involve a tropical storm and simulated mass casualty. The event will cause the regional emergency and medical services to be activated and support the overflow of patients to area hospitals.

The National Disaster Medical System is a joint effort between Westover, the Veterans Affairs Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare system. Multiple local, municipal, state and regional hospitals and ambulance services are also involved.

"As Reservists, we train to step up when called upon - and we've done it many times in the past," Col. Scott Durham, commander of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover said in a statement. "This exercise will not detract from any efforts needed to assist the Southeast as Florence passes; Westover ARB is a FEMA staging base and we stand ready to support if tasked."
AMHERST --"Government is an interest group, and is not to be looked upon romantically," said conservative columnist George Will.

Will and Ilan Stavans, cultural critic and host of New England Public Radio's "In Contrast," met on stage at Amherst College Thursday night for a point-counterpoint discussion.

While the event at Johnson Chapel was billed as a talk on "globalism and its discontents," Will held forth on conservatism, claiming the political philosophy -- based upon natural rights, free markets, and small government -- is the best way to go.

"Before government interferes with the freedom of an individual, they must state a compelling reason for doing so," he said, while counseling a "presumption of skepticism about what government does."

On affirmative action, Will said there are two rationales for the practice -- one, to remediate past wrongs, and two, to create an "ideal mix" at colleges and universities.



"Princeton could fill its classes with people who scored 1600 on their SATs," he said, noting that there could be "very good reasons" for not doing that. "But I don't want the government stepping in."

Will said a lawsuit by Asian-American students naming Harvard University is headed for litigation soon, and that "the moral of this story is, there will always be winners and losers."

Will defended government by "worthy elites," but said such status should not be inherited. He said Harvard used to educate just "Boston Brahmins" and didn't admit Jews. "The SAT test changed American society," he quipped.

Stavans asked the columnist to describe his views on climate change.

"I'm not skeptical of climate change. Of course it's changing. It has never not changed," said Will. "There was a time when this place was covered with glaciers."

He said he's skeptical that scientists have isolated the causes of climate change -- or that "every actor on MSNBC" understands climate science. "When the science is more convincing, I'll be convinced," he said.

On public education, Will said he would give everyone free choice: "I would completely voucherize pubic education. Cash it at whatever school you want, and watch the competition."

As the population ages, and as social security and health care costs expand, globalism is the way to grow the economy fast enough, Will averred. Right-wing populism could reverse global markets "with predictably calamitous results," he said, including "stagnation" and "entrenchment of those at the top."

When prompted by Stavans, Will poked fun at "helicopter parenting," at "gender studies majors" who graduate with massive student debt, and at the phenomenon of "participation trophies."

Will in 2016 left the Republican Party and urged his peers not to support then-GOP nominee Donald Trump. "This is not my party," he said at the time. Will then registered as an unaffiliated voter.

Thursday's talk was the first of several "point-counterpoint" discussion the college plans in coming months.

Stavans said the point is to bridge political divides, to support respectful dialog, and to break down ideological silos, where "we are exclusively receptive to voices that sound like ours."

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, called on Congressional leaders Friday to immediately convene a hearing on gas explosions and fires that damaged homes and injured residents of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Thursday.

The senators, who met with first responders and local officials during a visit to the command center in Lawrence Friday, asked the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to look into how the incident occurred and what must be done to prevent future gas explosions.

Im in Lawrence today, meeting with local officials, law enforcement, and first responders about yesterdays devastating gas fires and explosions. Everyone is working together to make sure people are ok, and to get families back into their homes as soon as its safe. pic.twitter.com/XQVmqY6hgr  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 14, 2018

Warren and Markey specifically requested that representatives from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and natural gas distribution industry brief the panel on the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, which killed one and injured more than two dozen people.

The hearings, they said in a letter to Committee Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Bill Nelson, will allow Congress to "examine whether regulators have adequate authority and resources to detect and remedy violations, respond to natural gas accidents in a timely manner and ensure better operating procedures for companies linked to repeated misconduct."

The explosions, which resulted in between 60 to 80 fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Thursday evening, have been linked to natural gas distribution pipelines operated by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a NiSource subsidiary.

Prior to the incident, Columbia Gas announced activities to upgrade sections of its distribution lines in the area.

More than 25 people were injured and at least one person, 18-year-old Leonel Rondon, of Lawrence, was killed in connection with the explosions and fires, according to reports.

The senators noted that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts was also responsible for a 2012 explosion that injured 18 people in Springfield.

Markey and Warren's letter came shortly after National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt announced that officials had opened an investigation into the series of gas explosions and fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

Federal safety officials will investigate the pipeline system's design and maintenance, as well as the emergency response to the disaster.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat, joined Warren and Markey in meeting with first responders and local officials Friday.

On the ground in Lawrence getting an update from the Governor, Mayor Rivera, Town Manager Andrew Flanagan and coordinated local/state/federal response. Thank you to the first responders from across the entire Commonwealth who have been working through the night to keep us safe. pic.twitter.com/VwXQvuZnyx  Niki Tsongas (@nikiinthehouse) September 14, 2018

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker suspended his campaign throughout the weekend in order to help coordinate the response to natural gas fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

"Earlier this morning, the decision was made to suspend Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito's campaign schedules through this weekend as state and local emergency management officials assess and respond to Thursday's events in the Merrimack Valley," Baker/Polito campaign spokesman Terry MacCormack said in a statement.

Overpressurized gas lines Thursday night caused gas explosions or leaks at 70 properties, killing one person, damaging homes and forcing 8,000 people to evacuate. The response and investigation continued Friday.

This weekend, Baker had been scheduled to appear at a fundraising event for Republican auditor candidate Helen Brady, meet with the SEIU Massachusetts State Council and attend community events in South Boston and Braintree. Polito had planned to attend community events in North Andover and Peabody.

Baker's Democratic opponent, Jay Gonzalez, on Friday postponed a scheduled campaign stop in Newton with U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Brookline.

Gonzalez put out a statement saying his heart goes out to the family of the man killed and to the people forced to leave their homes.

Gonzalez also said he was "outraged by the slow response from Columbia Gas to the devastation caused by its gas pipelines."

Baker had called Columbia Gas's response "adequate," but "incomplete" and said, "there's a lot more work that's left to be done."

Gonzalez said, "Columbia Gas's response was anything but adequate and the company needs to be held accountable for its slow response and any other actions that contributed to yesterday's tragedy."

This story was updated with additional quotes from Baker.
A man sent to prison as a teenager for shooting off-duty Springfield police officer Carlo Damato is one of two inmates whose sentences will be reconsidered under a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling issued Friday.

The court ordered the reconsideration men's lengthy prison sentences, handed down when they were juveniles, amid a changing judicial landscape in which such sentences are seen as disproportionately harsh.

The cases could have potential implications for other youthful offenders given long sentences for crimes other than murder.

Fernando Perez was 17 years old in 2000 when he committed two robberies in downtown Springfield and attempted a third -- ending with him shooting and injuring Damato.

Perez was convicted of multiple charges including armed robbery and armed assault. A judge sentenced him to 32.5 years in prison, of which he must serve 27.5 years before being eligible for parole.

Maksim Lutskov was 16 in 1999 when he and two others broke into a Springfield house with the intention of robbing it. During an altercation with the people in the home, Lutskov fired the gun, hitting the man who lived there.

Lutskov was convicted of armed home invasion, assault and other charges and given a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.

Both men appealed their sentences.

The difference between then and now relates not to the particulars of their cases, but to judicial precedent. A 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case, Miller v. Alabama, and a 2013 Supreme Judicial Court case, referred to as Diatchenko, both held that sentencing a juvenile homicide offender to life in prison without the possibility of parole is unconstitutional.

As a result, the mandatory sentence of life without parole for a juvenile convicted of first degree murder was turned into a sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

But Lutskov and Perez argued that their sentences are now disproportionate, since both were sentenced for non-homicide offenses to longer prison terms before being eligible for parole than juvenile murderers.

In the Lutskov case, Justice David Lowy found that Lutskov's mandatory minimum sentence is disproportional. Lowy said the SJC now requires judges to follow an individualized process and consider mitigating circumstances related to a juvenile's age before imposing a sentence that is harsher than the sentence for murder.

Since Lutskov was given a longer sentence without that individualized process, the Juvenile Court will have to hold a new sentencing hearing to reconsider his sentence.

Perez's case is different because he did receive a new hearing after the Miller case was decided. That hearing came after the SJC decided in August 2017 that Perez's sentence, like Lutskov's, was disproportionate.

At that hearing, a judge decided that there were "extraordinary circumstances" in Perez's case that justified the longer sentence.

Justice Scott Kafker, in Friday's decision in Perez's case, clarified what "extraordinary circumstances" means and overturned the ruling of the lower court judge.

Kafker wrote that under the state constitution, a longer sentence may only be justified if both the crimes themselves and the characteristics of the juvenile present extraordinary circumstances that justify harsher treatment.

Kafker wrote that there were extraordinary circumstances in Perez's crime that justified a long sentence -- the harm to the detective, and the fact that Perez acted of his own volition in shooting him.

But he found that Perez's personal circumstances do not justify the longer sentence. Perez's father abused his mother, they moved frequently and Perez's beloved uncle was murdered. A different uncle, meanwhile -- a criminal who the judge called a "monster" -- moved in with the family and recruited Perez to commit crimes. Perez had low intelligence and was diagnosed with mental health problems.

"The crime spree was vicious and comparable to murder," Kafker wrote. "But the Commonwealth will not be able to demonstrate that there is no reasonable possibility of rehabilitation within the probationary period provided to juvenile murderers given the defendant's lack of criminal history, his low intelligence and mental health problems, and his terrible upbringing."

Kafter directed the Superior Court to amend Perez's sentence to make him eligible for parole after the same length of a time -- 15 years -- as a juvenile murderer.

Because Perez has already served that time, it will be up to the state parole board to decide whether to release him.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort will reportedly plead guilty to a new set of federal criminal charges Friday, according to officials.

Reports of the planned plea came as Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office filed a new, smaller set of charges against Manafort -- just two of the seven felony counts he had been facing.

The new charges, which replace the current indictment in the Washington case against the former Trump campaign chairman, include: Conspiracy against the United States, for alleged money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act and lying and misrepresenting to the Department of Justice; and conspiracy to obstruct justice through witness tampering.

The plea deal would reportedly limit the amount of time Manafort could be sent to prison to 10 years. It would also allow the longtime political operative to serve the sentences from his separate cases concurrently, a source familiar with the discussions told Politico.

Manafort DC Superseding Criminal Information by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

Manafort is set to appear at a preliminary hearing for his second trial Friday at 11:00 a.m.

The longtime political operative was found guilty last month of eight financial crimes in a trial that came as part of the special counsel investigation into Trump associates.

A mistrial was declared on 10 other counts that the jury could not reach a consensus on.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Asked why no action is taken against such people, HDK said he felt quite comfortable watching this 'futile exercise'.

Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in alleged toppling game, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: Accusing the BJP of attempting to topple his government, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday warned of legal action against "certain kingpins who, he claimed, were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to pull down his ministry.

Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.

"Whether they keep the resorts or shanties ready, I am ready for everything," he told reporters.

"Presently payments are being made in advance. I won't say more now. You will get to know about it later," he said.

The chief minister alleged that certain "kingpins" had been roped in to topple his government.

"Am I not aware of it? Will I keep quiet? Don't I know where the money is being collected and who the kingpins are behind collecting money? I have already initiated measures necessary for legal action. I will take every decision to give a strong and stable government," he said.

Without mentioning names, Kumaraswamy said that "these kingpins" were into gambling, had abetted a coffee planter in killing his wife and son and were those who had set a Bengaluru municipal office on fire nine years ago.

These people were collecting money to topple his government, he alleged.

Asked why no action has been taken against those trying to 'topple' the government, Kumaraswamy said he was not at all disturbed by what was going on and felt quite comfortable watching this 'futile exercise'.

He also took a jibe at the state BJP for issuing one deadline after the other, predicting the end of the government.

"The next deadline is Monday. Most probably the deadline will extend to October 2 and then to Dussehra. I think it will go on extending," Kumaraswamy quipped.

The BJP trashed the charges saying that it had never indulged in any such activities.

Former deputy chief minister R Ashok challenged the chief minister to spell out the names of those trying to destabilise the government, instead of using words like 'kingpin'.

"We don't have such intentions and do not want to get into such activities. We will think of forming the government only if it collapses on its own due to internal strife," he said.

Meanwhile, JDS' coalition partner Congress said it has decided to lodge a complaint with the Income Tax department and Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking a probe into reports that crores of rupees have changed hands for the toppling game.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said, "Reports have emerged in the media that Rs 100 crore has been exchanged".

He said Congress has decided to lodge a complaint with the I-T department and ACB to find out the facts.

"Certain reports have stated that this person has taken money...another has received money and speculate that a certain number of people (MLAs) are leaving (the party).

So we decided to complain to the Income Tax Department and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the veracity of the reports," Parameshwara said.

He dismissed any threat to the coalition government.

On Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi's statement that his brother and minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has his own faction within the party, he accused the media of blowing his statement out of proportion.

"There is no such thing. Yesterday also I made this very clear to H D Devegowda and H D Kumaraswamy when I met them at their homes. I told them that there is no major problem as projected. I reiterate that the government is stable" Parameshwara said.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar.

The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.
Retinal Vascular Occlusion (RVO) is the build-up of blood or other fluids in the retina of the eye, which prevents it from properly filtering light caused by the blood clot. RVO may result in a sudden loss of vision, which can be permanent if not treated urgently. RVO is a common vascular disorder and one of the most common causes of vision loss worldwide. Taking into consideration other eye diseases RVO is the second most common cause of blindness after diabetic retinopathy. RVO affects one eye. However, approximately 6%-14% of cases it can also affect both eyes. RVO has an incidence rate of 2.2 cases per 1000 of general population older than 40 years and 5.4 cases per 1000 of general population older than 64 years.

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The global retinal vascular occlusion market is experiencing growing demand due to increasing older population, increasing screening, greater emphasis on restorative procedures, the urgency of the RVO treatment, and others. The market restraints are the complications such as the risk of bleeding, infections, pain, especially during surgery, the high cost of retinal vascular occlusion treatment, lack of eye care infrastructure, and lack of focus on other diseases by developing regions, and others.

The global retinal vascular occlusion market is expected to reach USD 20.7 billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 9.5 % during the forecast period 2017-2023.

Segments

The global retinal vascular occlusion market has been segmented on the basis of types, condition, diagnosis, drugs, surgery, and end user.

Based on the types, the market has been segmented as retinal artery occlusion & retinal vascular occlusion.

Based on the condition, the market has been segmented as non-ischemic and ischemic.

Based on the diagnosis, the market has been segmented as fundoscopic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, and others.

Based on the drugs, the market has been segmented as an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), corticosteroid, anticoagulants, fibrinolytic, and others.

Based on the surgery, the market has been segmented as laser retinal photocoagulation, chorioretinal venous anastomosis, radial optic neurotomy, and others.

Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals and clinics, research and academics, and others.

Key Players

Some of the key players profiled in the report are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals LLC, Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., AstraZeneca PLC, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Teva pharmaceutical industries, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and others.

Regional Analysis

The Americas account for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care, especially, of the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the greater number of ophthalmology procedures due to greater healthcare penetration in the U.S. and Canada drives the retinal vascular occlusion market. The high concentration of the major hospitals in the developed countries of this region coupled with good reimbursement rates is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, the large share of ophthalmology procedures, especially, the retinal vascular occlusion surgery treatment in the returns of hospitals favors the market. The large number of pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. is also a cause for the faster development of retinal vascular occlusion market in the US. The high development of the microsurgery field in developed regions such as the U.S. and Europe is a strong driver of the market.

Europe is the second largest market in the world due to growing pharmaceutical industry and healthcare penetration. The European market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. Germany is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period due to its large pharmaceutical and microsurgery devices industry.

Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast-growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of healthcare industry in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future retinal vascular occlusion market in the region. However, the low expenditure on ophthalmology and eye care coupled with the lack of insurance penetration in the developing regions is a dent in the market.

Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a poor growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development. Other regions are expected to be laggards due to the poor social development and tribal identities such as sub-Saharan Africa. The focus of the governments of poor countries on fulfilling basic healthcare relegates the retinal vascular occlusion market to the background, which hampers the development of the market.

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Detailed Table of Contents:

1. Report Prologue

2. Introduction

2.1 Definition

2.2 Scope Of The Study

2.2.1 Research Objective

2.2.2 Assumptions

2.2.3 Limitations

2.3 Market Structure

2.4. Market Segmentation

3. Research Methodology

3.1 Research Process

3.2 Primary Research

3.3 Secondary Research

3.4 Market Size Estimation

3.5 Forecast Model

4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.2 Restraints

4.3 Opportunities

4.4 Mega Trends

4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators

Continued

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by Ray Schultz , September 13, 2018

The White House has taken down the archive of its 1600 Daily newsletter without first informing the public, the Sunlight Foundations Web Integrity Protect (WIP) says in a report issued on Tuesday. The quiet removal puts the White House in possible violation of the Paper Reduction Act, the Foundation charges.

The archive was eliminated last December during a redesign of the White House site: www.whitehouse.gov. The email newsletter continues to be sent daily, but the WIP writes that No 1600 Daily archive is currently available on the whitehouse.gov domain. URLs for past 1600 Daily posts currently lead to removed pages.

This has led to questions about whether the takedown was deliberate or inadvertent.

Without communicating clearly with the public, were left to guess exactly what the takedown means, if the removed content was targeted to achieve some undisclosed end, and which of its responsibilities the White House may have shirked, writes Andrew Bergman in a Thursday blog on the Sunlight Foundation site.

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Bergman adds, As WIP has often noted, under the Paperwork Reduction Act and the White Houses own Office of Management and Budget guidance, the government is required to provide adequate notice when initiating, substantially modifying, or terminating significant information dissemination products.

In response to a query by WIP, Deputy White House Press Secretary Lindsay Walters issued a statement saying 1600 Daily is an email newsletter, meant to be read in the Inbox.

Walters adds: It is optimized for mobile devices and for viewing across email service providers.

Bergman reports that links to the Web version of the newsletter are frequently tweeted from @WhiteHouse. However, links from previous tweets, for example, from August 22, 2018 or August 24, 2018 (both with over 1,800 retweets and over 7,000 likes), current lead to the most recent 1600 Daily post.

Bergman notes that an inadvertent removal would imply that the overhaul itself was done in a hasty or unsystematic manner, such that a key public-facing archive was not accounted for.

The newsletter was launched by the Trump administration in March 2017. The first issue attacked the Affordable Care Act, and in general the e-letter promotes the Trump administrations political agenda.

Last year, the newsletter was the subject of a spate of media reports when it cited a satirical Washington Post article as an example of praise for its then-newly released budget, Bergman writes.

The WIP also charges that there are no archives of the current version of the WhiteHouse.gov website under President Donald Trump. Past administrations archives are stored on the National Archives and Records Administration website .
by Thom Forbes @tforbes, September 14, 2018

The Beetle is puttering out again, although -- again -- it may not be for the last time. Volkswagen said yesterday that the car that launched one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the 20th century will be discontinued next July as it shifts its focus to electric vehicles.

The car entered mass production after World War II, and it debuted in North America in 1949, and within two decades, became one of the worlds best-selling vehicles. Its fame was solidified with Walt Disney's 1968 film The Love Bug, which features an anthropomorphic Beetle named Herbie that makes a splash on the California racing circuit, writes Jackie Wattles for CNN Money.

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The original version of the Beetle, a rear-engined vehicle that owners often decked out in colorful paints during the flower power era of the 1960s and '70s, ended production in Mexico in 2003. More than 21 million were produced over the car's 65-year lifespan, Wattle continues.

The revamped Beetle, which featured a dashboard flower vase and front-mounted engine, was replaced by a more muscular-looking version in 2011. But neither redesign caught on like the original among its baby boomer fans or younger generations of car buyers, writes Chester Dawson for the Wall Street Journal.

The [original] Beetle was a legend, David Kiley, author of "Getting the Bugs Out: The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Volkswagen" in America tells Dawson. But the tepid response to this latest Beetle is proof that even Baby Boomers have moved on.

Even though the U.S. is the vehicles biggest market today, VW sold only 15,000 Beetles in the country last year. That is less than 5% of the 339,700 cars the company sold in the U.S. in 2017, Dawson continues.

U.S. consumers looking for a small Volkswagen vehicle overwhelmingly prefer the Jetta sedan, or the Tiguan compact sport utility vehicle, the BBC reports.

The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetles many devoted fans, Volkswagen Group of America president and CEO Hinrich J. Woebcken says in a statement.

As we move to being a full-line, family-focused automaker in the U.S. and ramp up our electrification strategy with the MEB platform, there are no immediate plans to replace it. But as we have seen with the I.D. BUZZ -- which is the modern and practical interpretation of the legendary Bus -- I would also say, Never say never, Woebcken adds.

Heres a two-minute National Geographic Channel video about the origins of the Beetle -- the brainchild of Adolf Hitler, who in 1934 told German engineer Ferdinand Porsche to create a car for the common folk along the lines of Ford's Model T.

Heres an episode of Jay Lenos Garage featuring an original and unrestored 1955 Beetle that was still chugging along in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (at least as of last year).

And this is an 18-minute retrospective, directed by Joe Marcantonio, about the classic VW advertising campaigns of the 60s, featuring interviews with some of the Doyle Dane Bernbach alumni, such as George Lois and Helmut Krone, who created them.

The 2019 version of the Bug will be offered in two special models: the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL. It will include convertible and coupe versions, each powered by 2-liter gas engines with 174 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission and average fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon. Pricing starts at $23,045 for the coupe and $27,295 for the convertible, Nathan Bomey reports for USA Today.

The market is moving on, John Wolkonowicz, an independent auto analyst and industry historian in Boston, tellsBloombergs Gabrielle Coppola, Christoph Rauwald and Keith Naughton. The people who wanted them, mostly baby boomer women, bought them, enjoyed them, and theyre on to something else. Younger people dont know what the point is.

Digging even deeper, Wolkonowicz adds: The nostalgia for the 60s is going away as the baby boomer generation is going away. Most baby boomers are getting older and need something easy to get in and out of. Crossovers are easy to get in and out of. Cars are not.

Volkswagen is planning a series of events over the next year to celebrate the vehicle and has created the hashtag #byebyeBeetle.

The Beetle is more than a car, VGA CEO Woebcken says. Its what made Volkswagen an integral part of American culture.

And, speaking as someone who toured Europe in a pale green 1959 Beetle that had flippers for turn signals, it has indeed provided lots of embedded memories in many a boomers mind.
Facebook has released new case studies of local publishers using Facebook Groups to connect and converse with readers, uncover interesting stories within the community and dive deeper into topics that resonate with their audiences.

The case studies are part of the Facebook Journalism Project, which it launched in 2017 to help publishers navigate their businesses in a digital world impacted by the Facebook platform.

One of the case studies focuses on the Texas Tribune and how it facilitated political discussions with its readers using its Facebook Group.

Facebook says a post about teacher strikes on the This is Your Texas Facebook Group run by the Texas Tribune helped bring attention to a state law barring public employees from striking. The Tribune published a story about the law, and it became one of their biggest stories of the year, according to the post.

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The membership-driven Tribune started the group to bring Texans together and discuss the biggest issues facing the state each month. The group has covered topics like education, gun rights and property taxes.

Each month, the Facebook Group, with over 2,000 members, explores a different topic. Only posts that are about the monthly discussion topic are approved on the page.

Discussion is largely led by the community, but Tribune journalists will pose questions, share related stories and facilitate conversations with experts on the Group.

Alex Samuels, the Tribune's community reporter, said its a 70/30 split with the audience leading the way. The group has also been a source for breaking stories and other editorial on the Texas Tribune site.

Amanda Zamora, head of audience growth and engagement at the Tribune, said Facebook Groups are a way to simulate the level of engagement at the 60-plus events it hosts each year.

It matters for us and our business to facilitate quality engagement with our audience  to get to know names and faces. By having that kind of space and delivering that kind of experience, they'll be more engaged, and ideally join our memberships programs, she told Facebook.

Samuels said the monthly topic is chosen with the help of crowd-sourcing ideas. He asks for suggestions with a post to the Facebook Group, and then runs a poll.

Zamora said the goal is still to grow memberships for the publication. We're still in cultivation mode. For us, email is the biggest converting channel for members. For social, she added, this is a great next step for engagement. It's great when stories take and have reach.

Zamora said they plan to do special programming with the Facebook Group this fall.

We're planning on doing referral programming campaign where we incentivize people to get other members to join their program, and incentivize them with rewards.

Other publishers who have found success with the use of Facebook Groups and included in the case study are built around specific topics, ranging from racial tension to local policy to severe weather.

For example, "Discussing Race In Boston" from the Boston Globe Spotlight team was created after an editorial series was published on racial issues in the city. "Gradebook by the Tampa Bay Times" was formed by education reporters at the Tampa Bay Times, as a place for media and the public to discuss education news from Tampa Bay and the state of Florida.

"Hurricane Season: Miami and Broward" was created by reporters and readers of the Miami Herald, giving real-time updates about severe weather during hurricane season for residents of south Florida.

In August, Facebook announced it was investing an additional $4.5 million in programs to support news publishers, extending its initiative to help metro news publishers grow their digital subscriber base and give funding to the NewsMatch campaign.

It's also introducing a new program for nonprofit news organizations and local publishers with membership models, called the Facebook Membership Accelerator program.
Secretary in department of defence production says, 'If China could (reduce dependence on imports productions) then why cannot India'?

Secretary in the department of defence production (DP) Ajay Kumar said public-private partnership in defence in the country is being encouraged to step up arms exports. (Photo: Youtube Screengrab/ Indian Army Ghost Operator)

Kolkata: The secretary in the department of defence production (DP) Ajay Kumar on Friday said India has overtaken China as the world's largest arms importer and should shed the tag.

He said the public-private partnership in defence in the country is being encouraged to step up arms exports and licensing system in some items that had been liberalised.

"India is the world's largest arms importer, a place which earlier belonged to China", he said over video conference from Delhi at a seminar organised by Bharat Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

Kumar said, "If China could (reduce dependence on imports productions) then why cannot India"?

Citing the instance of Mexico, he said the central American country has established a huge aero-manufacturing base and exports to the US and Europe.

According to Kumar, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are responsible for 74 per cent of the global arms trade. "What part of that pie we need to have?" he asked, adding that many countries were willing to buy arms from India.

Kumar said that testing infrastructure would be set up for the private sector also.

Former chief of Air Staff Arup Raha said, "unfortunately India continues to depend on imports for high-end weapon systems".
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 14, 2018

Faced with new privacy rules in Europe and California, the broadband industry lobbying group US Telecom is joining Silicon Valley's Internet Association in advocating for a national privacy law.

"We believe that it's time for our Congress to take steps, to stand up, and develop our own national framework ... that provides consistent, uniform privacy protections for all consumers, regardless of where they go on the internet," US Telecom president and CEO Jonathan Spalter says on the newest episode of C-SPAN's "The Communicators."

Spalter added that broadband providers support a "strong national commitment" to network security, consumer choice, transparency, and appropriate notification in instances of a breach. He didn't elaborate on details such as how consumers would exercise choice, or what kinds of data breaches should trigger notices.

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Earlier this week, the Internet Association endorsed the idea of federal privacy legislation. That organization proposed that privacy protections should be be consistent online and offline, and "technology neutral."

The organizations' call for legislation comes in response to Europe's relatively stringent privacy rules, which took effect in May, as well as a new California law. California's law, slated to take effect in 2020, allows consumers to learn what personal information about them is held by businesses, and to opt out of the sale of that information.

Soon after the measure was passed, a host of companies reportedly began pressing Congress to develop a federal privacy law that would trump individual state laws.

US Telecom member AT&T recently criticized California's law in comments to the Federal Trade Commission. "Internet communications are by nature geography-agnostic, and providers cannot feasibly tailor online services to the disparate rules of many different U.S. jurisdictions," the broadband provider wrote.

California's new privacy law doesn't impose different standards on broadband providers, but the Obama-era Federal Communications Commission passed rules requiring broadband providers to obtain subscribers' explicit consent before mining their online browsing history for ad targeting. (Congress revoked those regulations last year.)

Privacy advocates have long argued that broadband providers should be subject to heightened requirements, noting that internet service providers can glean detailed knowledge about subscribers' online activity by examining all unencrypted traffic that passes through their networks. But broadband providers say they can't effectively compete in online advertising with companies like Google and Facebook if those companies don't have to follow the same privacy rules.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, September 14, 2018

Uncle Bens is winning fans among school kids by creating a program that lets them swap homework time for cooking time.

The Homework Pass Challenge is an extension of the brands Bens Beginners program.

That program, which began in 2012 as a contest designed to encourage parents to spend time teaching their kids to cook, was based on research showing that family time spent cooking together can help kids develop healthier eating habits and strengthen family dynamics.

According to Uncle Bens, its since grown into a multichannel marketing campaign thats delivered bottom-line results for the brand, and resulted in more than $1 million in prize money being awarded to families and schools, benefiting some 27,000 kids.

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(Each of the five families who win a grand prize in the annual contest, which requires submitting an image of a parent and child cooking a rice dish together, receives $15,000. In addition, each winning childs school receives $30,000 for a cafeteria makeover.)

The idea of approaching schools to agree to let students exchange some homework time for cooking time emerged from parents confiding that while they believe in the benefits of cooking with their kids, they lack the time to do it.

The concept also syncs with the growing trend of schools reducing traditional homework for a variety of reasons, including freeing up time for other types of learning, family interaction and play.

Uncle Bens reached out to schools nationwide to arrange homework passes that enable kids to cook with their families every night for a week. The brands site offers a kit and learning activities that tie into cooking, like using measurements as math problems.

So far, a dozen schools have agreed to participate in the homework passes program.

Actress Anna Faris, who says she values time cooking with her own six-year-old son, is helping to promote the program.

Uncle Bens shot a video, being used on its social channels, of kids in a school in Los Angeles cheering as Faris made a surprise visit to announce that their school was going to let them cook in place of their normal homework.

The Homework Pass Challenge was led by Olson Engage, which is Uncle Bens PR agency of record. BBDO San Francisco is the creative AOR on the Bens Beginners campaign.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 14, 2018

California's new net neutrality legislation is "illegal," "anti-consumer," and reflects an attempt by "nanny-state" legislators to constrain consumers, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said Friday.

"Last month, the California state legislature passed a radical, anti-consumer Internet regulation bill that would impose restrictions even more burdensome than those adopted by the FCC in 2015," Pai said in a speech delivered at the Maine Heritage Policy Center in Portland.

"Californias micromanagement poses a risk to the rest of the country," Pai added, explaining that he believes that states can't legally regulate broadband traffic. "Internet traffic doesnt recognize state lines. It follows that only the federal government can set regulatory policy in this area."

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California's law, SB 822, prohibits broadband providers from blocking or throttling traffic, charging higher fees for fast-lane service, and from exempting their own video streams from consumers' data caps. The measure awaits Governor Jerry Brown's signature.

The bill largely restores the Obama-era open internet rules. Those rules, which were repealed last December by the FCC, prohibited broadband providers from blocking or throttling data and from charging higher fees for prioritized delivery. The former rules didn't explicitly ban companies from zero-rating -- or exempting material from subscribers' data caps. But the ex-rules contained a "general conduct" standard that had been interpreted as prohibiting some forms of zero-rating -- including AT&T's "Data Free TV," which allows wireless customers who purchase DirecTV to stream video without burning through their monthly data caps.

On Friday, Pai specifically criticized the ban on zero-rating plans, arguing that consumers like data-cap exemptions.

"These plans ... have proven enormously popular in the marketplace, especially among lower-income Americans," Pai said. "But nanny-state California legislators apparently want to ban their constituents from having this choice. They have met the enemy, and it is free data."

California Senator Scott Wiener, who sponsored the bill, responded in a statement that the law is supported by "a broad coalition of consumer groups, groups advocating for low income people, small and mid-size technology companies, labor unions and President Obama's FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler."

Wiener added that the new law "protects open internet access, the free flow of information, and innovation."
People with certain medical conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), sometimes need to use the restroom urgently. This can be difficult if they are out of the house or workplace, as not all businesses have public washrooms. Many states in the United States have passed the Restroom Access Act, also known as Allys Law, to acknowledge this medical need. Allys Law requires that retail businesses with toilet facilities for employees allow customers with specific medical conditions to access them if the need arises. Read on to learn more about Allys Law, including where it applies and how it works.

What is Allys Law? Share on Pinterest Allys Law is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Allys Law requires retail establishments to allow people with certain medical conditions, such as IBD, to access an employee restroom if no public facilities are available and they need to go. The law got its name from Ally Bain, a young woman from Illinois who has IBD. Doctors have diagnosed approximately 3 million adults in the U.S. with IBD, which includes Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. When Ally was 14 years old and shopping with her mother in a large retail store, she experienced a Crohns disease flare, which included a sudden urge to go to the toilet. There were no public restrooms, so she asked to use the employee restroom. The manager denied Ally access, and she had an accident in the store. Ally and her mother met with Illinois State Representative Kathy Ryg to draft a bill allowing people to use an employee restroom if they have a medical condition and are in urgent need. The bill became law in Illinois in August 2005. Since then, several other states have passed the Restroom Access Act. Allys Law falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This Act protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Examples of some of the conditions that fall under the Restroom Access Act include: Crohns disease

ulcerative colitis

other types of IBD

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

any condition involving the use of an ostomy device

any permanent or temporary condition requiring immediate access to a restroom Allys Law also covers pregnancy as a medical condition in some states.

Where does it apply? The states that currently recognize Allys Law are: Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Illinois

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Ohio

Oregon

Tennessee

Texas

Washington

Wisconsin In most cases, these states have passed the Act as a result of grassroots efforts by those with IBD and their supporters. Other states are currently developing similar laws. In some states, business owners have strongly opposed the Restroom Access Act over fears of liability or concerns that some people will abuse the law. However, there is little evidence to support these worries.

How does Allys Law work? Share on Pinterest In some states, pregnancy is considered a suitable condition for Allys Law. The law in each state usually requires a person to show proof of an eligible medical condition to a business owner or employee. Proof may be in the form of a document that a medical professional has signed stating that the person has a condition that may require the immediate use of a restroom. Alternatively, it might be an identification card that a national organization has issued. The law may vary slightly from one state to another. For example, some states include pregnancy as a suitable condition while others do not. Not all states accept an identification card in place of a signed medical document. Some businesses may be exempt from the Restroom Access Act. Those with fewer than three employees, for example, are not obliged to let a customer use an employee toilet as it may leave the store open to damage or theft. The law does not require retail stores to alter their facilities in any way for people with eligible conditions. Establishments are also not liable if a customer sustains an injury while using an employee restroom unless there is evidence of negligence on the part of the business.

Other support Those with a relevant medical condition, such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis, can seek additional support from the Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America. Members can get an I Cant Wait card, which states that they have a medical condition that requires urgent restroom access. Alternatively, the Crohns & Colitis website provides additional information on IBD. People with Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis can obtain a Restroom Request Card from this website.

What happens if a company refuses? If a business denies a person with valid documentation access to a restroom, they may incur a fine or another punishment. The penalties vary from state to state. In Washington, first-time offenders receive a warning letter. Refusing access for the second time is a class 2 civil infraction. In Massachusetts, there is a $100 fine for a first-time offense, which doubles for a second offense. A person with an eligible condition and valid documentation can contact their local law enforcement agency if a business refuses to give them access to a restroom. If the local law enforcement agency fails to deal with the matter, it is best to contact an elected official, such as: the mayor

the county executive

a local senate representative It may also be helpful to contact local news agencies or a national organization to bring attention to the issue.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris visited Istanbul on 12 September, meeting with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His All Holiness referred to the recent Synod of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as to issues concerning its work, and an exchange of views took place on current issues of common interest to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek government.

Mr. Bolaris also visited the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul and the Sismanoglio Megaro, where he was briefed by the Consul General, Ms. Soultanopoulou, and the Deputy Educational Coordinator, Mr. Gioltzoglou, on issues that are within the Consulate's competence, operation of the minority schools there, and the activity of the Sismanoglio Megaro. He was also given a tour of the Sismanoglio library, which houses a valuable collection of rare books from the collection of the learned Father of the Greek community Meletios Sakoulides.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with representatives of the Board of Directors of the Rumvader Association (Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations) who briefed him on issues that concern the members of Istanbul's Greek minority as well as minority foundation operating issues.
It was a great pleasure for me to meet with His Beatitude, the wise Archbishop Chrysostomos. I am very pleased, following his health troubles, to find him stronger than ever. It always impresses me that, despite the years that pass, he is dynamic as ever. We discussed issues related to the Church, Christians, and Orthodoxy in general.

We discussed the Cyprus issue. We agree that the occupying forces must leave, and the Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance must be abolished. I briefed him on our thoughts, and I am leaving pleased, as always, and with a sense of safety and security.

I thank him very much.
Today, nineteen years after the tragic loss of Giannos Kranidiotis, we honour the memory of a distinguished diplomat, politician, and academic. A beloved politician whose contribution and work were of critical importance to the Greek people.

The legacy of the late Giannos remains alive even today.

A leading proponent for forging Cyprus European perspective, with his initiatives as well as his methodical and tireless efforts, he sealed the Republic of Cyprus accession to the European Union.

At the present critical junction for the Cyprus issue, faithful to Giannos Kranidiotis vision for a reunited Cyprus, we remain committed to the need for reaching a just and viable solution on the basis of the UN resolutions. A decision that will free Cyprus of occupying forces and rights of intervention.
N. KOTZIAS: Good afternoon. We had another meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy. As you know, each time we meet, I want us to have a specific and in-depth discussion on a single topic. In Parliament and in the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, during this past year we have had detailed discussions of the issues concerning Greek-Albanian relations, the issues concerning fYROM  in the future, North Macedonia  and Greek-Turkish relations.

You also know that the country needs more coordination and planning on crisis issues, on major national problems; that we need to prepare for alternative scenarios. In our assessment, to do this successfully we need an institution that exists in many other countries in the world. This institution is a National Security Council, headed by a National Security Advisor, which coordinates the various Ministries, the various services, and, under the proposed law we have begun preparing, will, along with the Prime Minister, consult with and brief the heads of the other parties.

The discussion flowed creatively, and I thank the representatives of all the parties for their observations, criticisms and thoughts. We have decided to work on these in collaboration with them in order to prepare a law that is as good as possible and reflects the countrys needs, and in order for there to be consensus with the opposition parties.

Unfortunately, as always, New Democracy did not share in this good climate and has decided not to discuss the issues we are called upon to resolve  such as the national security issues  and prefers to limit itself to criticism.

The invitation we sent out is being distributed to you. It is dated 16 August 2018. Ill also give you the table of recipients, which each recipient signed on the day they received the invitation. What I want to say is, Mr. Koumoutsakos, and not some representative of his, signed for his receipt of the document on 17 August 2018. Since 17 August, he has had time to either send his thoughts or make observations on the agenda, or even propose that we change the topic of the meeting.

He did not do so, stating falsely that he received the invitation only two days ago, while his signature  which he himself dated  proves that he received it a month ago. And he did this solely to avoid taking a stance on National Security Council issues and to follow a policy that is unprecedented in Greek foreign policy and has never been seen before in the National Council on Foreign Policy, which I have had first-hand knowledge of since the day it was created, because I participated in the planning of the relevant law with Mr. Liakouras at that time.

Simply in order to criticize, to walk out and make statements, having nothing specific to propose in foreign policy. To state falsely that he did not receive the invitation in good time. He has forgotten that he signed for this invitation. This is an example of New Democracys serving its narrow party interests, and we continue to have this phenomenon: rather than focusing on the countrys needs, on international developments or even on domestic developments, its focus is within the party itself.

This isn't just politicking. It is politics limited to the row within New Democracy and how they can show that they can squabble without putting forward arguments and without content. This saddens me a great deal because  including from the standpoint we discussed today  Greece is about to take a bold step in institutional modernization and renewal through institutions that are vital for a country like Greece, which is located at the crossroads of many international crises and problems, in a time of great changes.

We and I personally will do our duty to the country. I will not be dragged into name-calling  as you know, I am not inclined to that. I dont think it is worth the trouble. The country needs a government and ministers, but it also needs an opposition that helps to resolve problems rather than hindering solutions.

Thank you.



JOURNALIST: Minister, who will be on the National Security Council? Will they be ministers? Will they be from the parties?

N. KOTZIAS: First of all, we are at the initial planning stage, and what we want to create is a classical Security Council  classical in the sense of international models  that consists of Ministers as well as ministry officials whose work is related to new crisis phenomena or is related to the countrys security needs.

And we have a second level, where the Prime Minister, together with the National Security Council, will brief the heads of the political parties on the discussions, planning and alternative scenarios formulated on the first level.

This is an innovation of our legislation that doesn't exist in any other country.



JOURNALIST: Will the National Security Advisor be a Minister or a new person?

N. KOTZIAS: The National Security Advisor will not be some Minister in the form of Deputy Prime Minister; he or she will be able to coordinate the other ministries. The National Security Advisor will report to the Prime Minister of the country, but will be on the qualitative level of a Minister, in terms of scientific knowledge and duties. As in the rest of the world, because some people are acting like this is a new invention.

The National Security Advisor  who will coordinate services and ministries, and communicate with the opposition parties  will certainly be appointed by the Prime Minister. But this is the innovation of our law. First he will get the approval of Parliament, in a manner to be provided for by Parliament itself. So he will have parliamentary coverage and confirmation. Thank you.
A local court in Maharashtra has issued the warrant in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over Babli project across river Godavari.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream. (Photo: File)

Amaravati: A local court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project across river Godavari.

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, issued the order, directing police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream. All were released later though they did not seek bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu, former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the TRS) were among the Telugu Desam Party workers booked in the case. They have been charged with the Indian Penal Code offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said his father and other TDP leaders would attend the court.

"He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said.

The Chief Minister is currently camping in Tirumala near Tirupati, attending the annual brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara temple there.
The congregation put out photo in media release issued to publish findings of enquiry commission.

Missionaries of Jesus on Friday controversially released a photograph of the alleged rape victim and the perpetrator seated together in a group. (Representational Image | Pixabay)

Kottayam/Kochi: Flouting the country's anti-rape law, the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the nun who has accused the Jalandhar diocese bishop of rape belongs, Friday controversially released a photograph of the alleged victim and the perpetrator seated together in a group.

The congregation put out the photograph in a release issued to the media to publish the findings of its enquiry commission, which looked into the nun's allegations.

Indian laws prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault victims. The congregation, however, cautioned against publishing the photograph, saying it cannot be held responsible if the press violates the rule.

It claimed that the May 23, 2015 photograph was taken when the nun was attending a private function along with Bishop Franco Mulakkal. They claimed that the nun had attended several such functions with Mulakkal.

The nun has never appeared in public or in front of media after filing the complaint.

In a press release, the congregation accused the victim, her five fellow nuns and four others of conspiring against the bishop. It alleged that the nuns had "violated the discipline of the congregation" several times and even refused to renew their vows-- a very important step in the life of a nun in a convent.

Framing charges against the nuns, the enquiry commission said the congregation was convinced that they were under the influence of "atheists" and their thoughts. It claimed that the visitors' register, a key evidence for establishing Mulakkal's presence in the convent in Kuravilangad where the victim nun lived, was handled by a nun very close to her and they might have tampered with it.

It also accused the victim and her fellow nuns of forcibly shifting to their room the control system of the CCTV cameras from that of Mother Superior. This, the release said, was done to destroy evidence that could reveal their role in the "conspiracy" against the bishop.

The enquiry report was released two days after Kerala police asked Bishop Mulakkal to appear before the probe team on September 19.

The congregation's action invited the ire of Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar, who said it was "clearly illegal". Speaking to a TV news channel, he assured police action against those responsible for it.

The Catholic reform groups staging a protest at Kochi for the last several days seeking justice for the nun also slammed the congregation and said they would initiate legal action.

An office bearer of Kerala Catholic Church Reform Movement (KCRM) said it would initiate legal action against the congregation for disclosing the identity of the victim. He said the Supreme Court had recently observed that the identity of rape victims should not be revealed as they have the right to privacy and cannot live with such "stigma" all their lives.

"We will definitely initiate legal action against the congregation for humiliating her again and again. They are now engaged in naming and shaming the victim. We cannot agree with it," he said.

The nun had recently sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the bishop's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese, questioning why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth" when she had mustered courage to make public her suffering.

She alleged that Bishop Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to "bury" the case against him.

Read: Kerala nun abused by Jalandhar Bishop writes to Vatican seeking justice

The nun has accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.

Also Read: Falsely implicated by anti-church elements: Jalandhar Bishop refutes raping nun
Tamil outfits claimed Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded Cabinet recommendation to Centre and demanded all 7 convicts be set free.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a blast at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near Chennai on May 21, 1991. (Photo: File | PTI)

Chennai: Days after Tamil Nadu cabinet recommended the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, pro-Tamil outfits on Thursday claimed Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded it to the Centre and demanded that all seven be set free forthwith.

Though there was no official word on it from Raj Bhavan, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi led by T Velmurugan claimed Purohit had sent the cabinet's recommendation to the Centre, calling it against the Constitution and a "slight" to Tamil people.

A former MLA, Velmurugan said it was only to avoid legal complications that their release was contemplated under Article 161 of the Constitution by the state. The Supreme Court had also disposed of a related case recently which was earlier a "stumbling block" in freeing the convicts, he said.

Disposing of a petition by the Centre, the Supreme Court had said on September 6 that Tamil Nadu governor was at liberty to decide the mercy petition of A G Perarivalan, one of the convicts.

Under such circumstances, Velmurugan said, the governor should "give his approval for the release of the convicts and abide by the law ". To urge the governor to accord his approval and go by the law, his party would hold a "besiege Raj Bhavan" protest on September 26, he said.

When approached to ascertain whether Purohit has forwarded the state's recommendation to the Centre, a Raj Bhavan official said, "It's confidential and we cannot comment on it".

Tamil Nadu Law Minister C V Shanmugam said there was no formal word on it. "There is no official communique on it," Shanmugam said in a terse reply.

"Under Article 161, the governor of a state has full powers to decide on the recommendations of the state Cabinet," the minister said on the sidelines of a function in Cuddalore.

Tamil outfit "Tamil Desiya Periyakkam" said the governor sending the recommendation to the union home ministry raises suspicion if he was succumbing to "North Indian political pressures".

Under Article 161, the governor cannot exercise his personal discretion and has to just implement the Cabinet's decision, it said.

DMK organising secretary and Rajya Sabha MP R S Barathi backed the release of the convicts and said he felt there was no need to take up the matter with the Centre.

"In my opinion, sending the recommendation to the central government is not necessary. The Supreme Court's direction should be followed," he told news agency PTI. When the Supreme Court has given its direction, the governor has to act accordingly, he said, adding it is "crystal clear" that the apex court has ruled that the state government can take a decision on the issue.

The state's ruling AIADMK, since the days of late J Jayalalithaa, has been for releasing all the seven convicts.

CPI state secretary R Mutharasan dubbed the governor's action as "delaying tactic". "It seems to have been done with the ulterior motive of denying them freedom," he said, adding the sentiments of Tamil people should be respected.

The Congress had, however, deprecated the state government's recommendation. "There can be no compromise on terrorism and terrorists. The state cannot derelict its duty on punishing terrorists. There can be no politics over Rajiv Gandhi's assassins as SC hasn't granted any relief to them. It's time the government takes a cue and follows the same line," Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala had said soon after the Tamil Nadu government made the recommendation.

While the mainstream parties and pro-Tamil outfits staunchly support the release, families of the victims of the blast in 1991 have opposed the move.

Coming together, the families of victims led by the coordinator of their forum S Abbas, whose mother was among those killed, have sought an appointment with the governor to present their views.

The Tamil Nadu government had said on Thursday it was confident that the governor will respect people's feelings which reflect in the cabinet's recommendation.

In its recommendation, the state cabinet said all the seven convicts--Nalini, her husband Sriharan alias Murugan, Perarivalan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Santhan-- should be released.

Murugan, Santhan, Jayakumar and Payas are Sri Lankan Tamils. All the seven convicts are serving life imprisonment and are behind bars since 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a blast at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near here on May 21, 1991. Fourteen others, including Dhanu, the assassin, were also killed.
Gandhi also held a meeting of the party leaders from Telangana.

New Delhi: Congress president Mr. Rahul Gandhi on Friday constituted a screening committee for poll-bound Telangana. He also cleared the appointment of nine new AICC secretaries.

Senior Congress leader Mr. Bhakt Charan Dass is the chairperson of Telangana Screening committee, while Jothimani Sennimalai and Sharmistha Mukherjee have been made panel members.

Mr. Gandhi also held a meeting of the party leaders from Telangana. The meeting was organised to discuss preparedness for the upcoming Telangana assembly elections and to probe alliance possibilities with Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Mr. Gandhi met the party leaders individually and addressed the me-eting saying that alliance with TDP, Communist Party of India and Telan-gana Jana Samithi (TJP) should be explored keeping the interest of the Congress in mind. Mr. Gandhi further added that Congress should not sacrifice seats the party is confident of winning, while discussing the seat-sharing formula.

Many leaders from Telangana are of the view that TDP shouldnt be given more seats as the party does not have a strong cadre base or vote bank now that the state of Andhra Pradesh has been bifurcated.

During the meeting, Mr Gandhi spoke with at least 40 members, infor-med senior Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy. The session makes a good beginning for the election campaign, said Mr Reddy.

Speaking on the possibility of alliances, Mr Reddy said, We are not opposed to alliances per se. With whom and to what degree, these are two questions that are yet to be decided.

The Congress also appointed Nana Patole, a former MP, as chairman of the Kisan Khet Mazdoor (farmers-farm labourers) Congress, with immediate effect.
Watts, a warehouse manager, came across the lifelike silicon toy after searching online for sex doll and paid nearly 1,000 for it.

He was in for a shock, when customs officers at East Midlands Airport seized it and said he had not seen any information listed on the website about its size.

A man who bought a sex doll online has now ended up in trouble as he did not know he had purchased a child-sized version.

Nathan Watts, 29, said he ordered the doll late one night because he felt lonely, the Reading Crown Court was told

Watts, a warehouse manager, came across the lifelike silicon toy after searching online for sex doll and paid nearly 1,000 for it to be shipped from Shenzhen, complete with pink lingerie.

However, he was in for a shock, when customs officers at East Midlands Airport seized it and said he had not seen any information listed on the website about its size.

Watts told cops he had ordered an adult sized doll with Japanese features.

Speaking to the jury, Michael Attenborough, prosecuting, said, "It was lifelike, silicon with a mouth, vagina and anus. It was about 1.3 metres or just over 4ft 3ins, in height.

According to him, the Crown says that it was, in almost all respects, a child in terms of the height, parts and facial features. The only exception to that was that it had fully formed breasts.

When asked if the doll he saw online was what he bought, Watts replied: "It is smaller than I thought it would be."

He added that pictures of the doll on the website showed it set against a white background and that there was no way to compare its height and he had cohosen than particular model because it was on sale.

Ayelen Tunon, defending, told jurors that while it may be a short version it had an adult face and breasts, which a child would not have.

"The doll is 1.3m, the defence cannot hide behind the fact that it is short for a woman but that doll is 22kg, any doll bigger would have been too impractical to ship all the way from China, he added.

Watts, who is a self proclaimed loner, Tunor said, does not have any interest in children.

Watts was cleared of one charge of attempted fraudulent evasion of a prohibition.
PALA counsel Satish Talekar sought interim relief and showed a written assurance not to violate noise pollution rules and HC orders.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday said that it cannot ignore noise pollution during festivals. The high court asked the state government to explain its stand on declaring a ban on DJs and Dolby sound systems. The court was hearing a PIL filed by the Professional Audio and Lighting Association (PALA), opposing the state governments decision to ban DJs and Dolby systems during Ganesh immersions. The court supported its ban saying that despite giving an undertaking, everyone violated noise norms. A division bench comprising of Justices Shantanu Kemkar and Sarang Kotwal kept the matter for further hearing on September 19.

The court directed the state government to file a affidavit at next hearing, explaining its policy warranting such blanket ban on the use of DJs and Dolby systems. With the court having kept the next hearing on September 19, it means that no DJs and Dolby systems will be allowed during Ganesh immersions till September 19.

PALA counsel Satish Talekar sought interim relief and showed a written assurance not to violate noise pollution rules and HC orders.

Advocate Talekar further pointed out that the Ganesh festival was a time in which the demand for DJs and Dolby systems surges. The livelihood of about 20,000 people was

dependent on DJs and Dolby sound systems and therefore, there was an urgent need to remove the ban.

It was rather discriminatory to impose a ban on DJs and Dolby systems, when there was no ban on any other instrument and live performances in orchestras and concerts as well as loudspeakers and public address systems. What was important was that nothing, including firecrackers, machines, DJs, Dolby systems, public address systems, dhols, tashas, zaj, nagara etc. produce sound beyond permissible limits.

The chief government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani supported the ban saying that everyone violated noise norms despite tendering undertakings, and sought time to file a reply.
Global oil demand will peak sooner than expected in 2023 as renewable energy expands and the adoption of electric vehicles grows more quickly, and yet the world will still fall short of the temperature goals adopted in the recent Paris climate agreement, according to a new report released Monday.

The new Energy Transition Outlook report from Norway-based energy consulting and services firm DNV GL sees natural gas surpassing oil as the world's largest energy source in 2026. Gas and renewables like wind and solar will keep growing, while oil will plateau and then steadily fall. Global coal use already is on the downswing.
BRIDGEPORT  A strange series of gas-line explosions that killed one and forced hundreds of people out of their homes Thursday in three eastern Massachusetts communities has left local officials wondering as to the cause and what could be learned from it.

Gas industry officials maintain that the natural gas delivery network is safe, but theyre also awaiting the results of the investigations into the cause or causes of the fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, all north of Boston.

Meanwhile, state officials say they have the resources to handle a similar event here.

Brenda Bergeron, a spokesperson for Connecticuts emergency management department, said plans are in place at the state and local level to handle a major gas explosion and fire. Those plans, she said, are mandated by the state Public Utility Regulatory Authority and involve the states gas companies, local first responders and state emergency management personnel.

PURA is monitoring what likely took place, Bergeron said. Ive talked to Eversource and they have sent mutual aid teams to Massachusetts.

The Associated Press reported that the blasts Thursday in Massachusetts were being blamed for more than 60 fires, a death and about 25 injuries.

Bergeron said PURA conducts 450 site inspections of gas lines and related facilities in Connecticut each year, and that plans to modify, build new ones or upgrade lines are filed with PURA before work is done.

More for you Thousands still out of their homes after gas explosions trigger deadly chaos

(The utilities) design and construct the pipelines, Bergeron said.

And we have gas pipeline safety units, she said. A plan is in place if something happens. Everyone knows what they are going to do in an emergency.

Occasional trouble

Bill Akley the president of Eversource, the energy supply company for most of Connecticut, said that the network of gas delivery pipes in the state can be trusted.

Our top priority is the safety of the public, our customers and our employees, and while we are sending support teams, we continue to retain the resources we need to serve our customers, Akley said.

Our systems are not connected to the Columbia Gas system (the supplier in the Massachusetts markets damaged by Thursdays explosions) and continue to operate safely, he said. We have a comprehensive maintenance and inspection program, and we have an effective leak management program that exceeds the requirements of federal and state pipeline safety regulations.

He added that Eversource crews conducted a safety stand-down (Friday) morning to review gas operating procedures.

We are always evaluating new procedures, technologies and industry best practices to perform at the top standards for the industry, Akley said.

Although gas is seen as relatively safe, particularly when viewed through the lens of the 72 million natural gas customers nationwide, there are sometimes serious accidents.

People in Derby still talk about one such event that occurred on Dec. 7, 1985, in which gas seeped into the sewer line of a three-story building, in which the River Restaurant occupied the first and second floors.

Residents complained about smelling gas that afternoon and just before 4 p.m. an explosion destroyed the building, killing six people. The restaurant owners adult son was badly injured and nine other people were sent to hospitals.

Hundreds of people living in the area of that blast were evacuated while authorities raced to determine the cause of the leak. It was later determined that a construction crew that was repairing a sewer main had punctured a gas line. There was nothing left of the building.

On Feb. 7, 2010 2010, a gas explosions happened at the Kleen Energy Systems power station under construction in Middletown. Five workers were killed almost instantly; a sixth died later from burns. That was caused by the use of natural gas to clean pipes at the plant; this practice has since been deemed unsafe by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

On March 3, 2012, a gas explosion destroyed a house on Howard Avenue in New Haven, and damaged the neighboring homes.

This year on June 12, a gas explosion badly damaged a home in Norwalk. No one was injured in that incident, although one of the residents was a woman who was five months pregnant.

Under pressure

According to the state Public Utility Control Authority, about 30 percent of the homes and businesses in Connecticut have natural gas service. Gas mains are usually run underneath streets and they can be anywhere from 2 and 20 inches in diameter.

Lines from the streets to homes and businesses are usually between a half inch and 4 inches in diameter.

Pressures vary widely along the distribution system. The line from the street to homes carries relatively low pressure, about .25 to 5 pounds per square inch. Principal distribution lines can carry pressures as high as 750 pounds per square inch, or about 20 times the pressure of automobile tires.

A spokesman for Avangrid, the parent company of Southern Connecticut Gas Co. and Connecticut Natural Gas Co., said that the company would not comment on the Massachusetts incidents until more is known about its causes.

Still, the industry maintains that the gas distribution system is safe and is getting safer. A website for the American Gas Association says that natural gas utilities spend more than $22 billion annually to enhance the safety of natural gas systems.

There are about 7,900 miles of distribution mains serving 440,000 gas customers in Connecticut. The industry is installing new plastic lines at a rate of 30,000 miles per year, which it maintains is the safest way to go and will last for decades.

There are three major gas transmission lines that service Connecticut:

Algonquin Gas Transmission: Originates in New Jersey, where it connects to the Texas Eastern Pipeline and runs from Danbury northeasterly to Thompson, with major spurs to North Haven and New London. The Texas Eastern Pipeline originates near the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Iroquois Gas Transmission System: Starts at the Canadian border, enters Connecticut at Sherman and runs southeast through Milford, then offshore to Long Island. This pipeline originates in eastern Canada.

Tennessee Gas Transmission: Starts in the in Texas and Louisiana. It enters Connecticut in Greenwich, runs northeasterly, leaving Connecticut in Suffield, with a spur from Massachusetts to Torrington.
File photo

MIDDLETOWN  Three men are charged with engaging in a vicious attack Sept. 2 that caused injury to a blind woman and left the local Dennys restaurant with numerous upended tables and chairs, forcing the eatery to close for hours afterward for clean-up, according to local police.

Derek Williamson, 29, of Kryvel Road, Meriden, was charged with assault on a blind person, third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief and breach of peace Sept. 2 following a very violent fight at Dennys on South Main Street. A witness told police the man and his twin brother, Daryl Williamson, also of Kryvel Road, Meriden, attacked Erick U. Ortega, 25, of Maplewood Terrace, Middletown, injuring a 50-year-old visually impaired woman in the process, local police said in a report.
Hirani says he is critical of Dutt's actions, though he believes the actor could be flawed but always harmless.

Mumbai: Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani revealed he shot additional portions for 'Sanju', his biographical drama on Sanjay Dutt, to create empathy for the actor after people "hated" him in test screenings.

Hirani said the initial edit featured the actor's story as it was and thus was not liked by people.

"During the shoot I felt 'What am I doing, I'm going wrong.' In fact, when the first edit was ready and we screened for people, they hated him. They said we don't like this man, we don't want to watch him," he said.

"Because I wanted to do a true story, I didn't create any empathy towards him. I said lets not create empathy and show (him) as he is. But later I understood that he is our hero, we need some empathy for him," the director added.

Hirani said he had to add a certain scene in the film to create empathy for its lead character, which was not there earlier.

"The scene where he tries to kill himself after the verdict is out; which he had mentioned to me but we didn't put in the film, I shot it later. It was not in the original script. I thought through this some empathy will come. The initial test reactions were like 'naah we don't like this guy...' Every film is a journey. Some things work and some don't. I still see flaws in the film but you try your best and hope your best is good enough."

The director was in conversation with writer Anjum Rajabali at Indian Film and TV Directors Association's (IFTDA) special masterclass on Wednesday.

Hirani said Dutt's story was so vast, anyone could have picked an event of his life and made a standalone film. The director feels filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, for instance, would have made a great Sanju.

"Everyone view the story through their own perspective. Someone would've made 'Sanju' only on the chapter of how he acquired the gun, destroyed it, and then the case. It could have been a film of it's own. But I thought everyone knew this. The father-son equation interested me more. I was blown away by 'Black Friday'. If Anurag would have heard the story, he may have been attracted to the gun angle and would have made that story. He would have made a great film with that," he said.

The 3 Idiots director is aware of the criticism that film never questions Dutt's intentions as each time it was either with good intentions that the bad choices were made or he was victim of certain pressure.

But Hirani says he is critical of Dutt's actions, though he believes the actor could be flawed but always harmless.

"He goes and sleeps with his best friend's girlfriend but there isn't any reason. Their friendship was almost jeopardised... The other scene where he puts the commode seat on a girl he wants to marry, I am not defending that! It's a terrible action. My perception of Sanju was that he has done so many weird things but he is not a bad man... I felt he had an innocence, he is naughty but he doesn't harm anyone. He didn't pick up the gun, scared people or fired a shot. He made a mistake," he added.

The director once again dismissed the criticism that he has "whitewashed" Dutt's life.

"We made a commentary about certain section of the media and the term 'whitewashed' came into play. Everywhere I go people say I have whitewashed him but I haven't. A journalist asked me, why did you whitewash Sanju and I asked what was Sanju's crime? I am not defending the man but myself and the film. He kept a gun, destroyed it too, lied to his father and was arrested. I showed it all, his drug phase and the way he treated people. So where have I whitewashed?" Hirani asked.
(CNN)  Six people are dead  including the suspect  after a man opened fire at multiple locations in Bakersfield, California, on Wednesday, a local sheriff said.

Officers responded to calls of a shooting at a trucking business just after 5 p.m. local time, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said during a news conference late Wednesday.

Authorities say a husband and wife had a confrontation with a man at the business when the husband shot and killed him. The husband then fatally shot his wife, according to Youngblood. Another subject arrived on the scene and after a short foot chase the gunman shot and killed him.

He proceeded to flee the area and went to a nearby residence where he shot and killed two more people.

The gunman then hijacked a vehicle with a woman and child inside, but they were able to escape safely. He then headed to a nearby highway where he saw a deputy and pulled over. As the deputy confronted him, the gunman turned his gun on himself to take his own life.

The motive and what the gunman's relationship was to the victims is unclear at this time.

Investigators are questioning about 30 witnesses in this case.
The dalits are being told that the government is their best protection against atrocities by the upper castes.

Perhaps the leadership of the BJP should have consulted its pater familias Mohan Bhagwat before adopting their new slogan for the 2019 general election: Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP (Invincible India, Steadfast BJP). In his address to the World Hindu Congress in Chicago, Mr Bhagwat urged Hindus to unite because an isolated lion could be hunted down by a pack of wild dogs. Was the leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) suggesting that the organisation formed to unify and empower Hindus almost a century ago was nowhere close to its goal of Hindu invincibility?

If Indias largest community, the Hindus, feels as vulnerable as a lion separated from its pride after nearly 10 years of BJP rule at the Centre  (the combined tenure of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and the late Atal Behari Vajpayee), surely the party must share some responsibility for the corrosion of invincibility within its primary support base.

While Atal BJP reaffirms the partys ideological commitment to a strong nation, it is also a nod to its brahmin voters. The play on the word Atal is a giveaway. The BJP is harking back to the legacy of its first Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, a brahmin, to gather together its upper caste voters for Mr Modis re-election in 2019.

Taken together, the lion in distress metaphor of Mr Bhagwat, the promise of an invincible (Hindu) nation and the dream of an Atal BJP present the broad contours of the 2019 election strategy of the party, centred on uniting Hindus of all shades and colours.

However, increasing acrimony around the divisions of caste makes it more and more apparent that a party and an ideology that came to power to unite the Hindus has left them more disunited than ever before. This time around the BJP will be forced to go beyond its time-tested divisive strategy of Hindus versus Muslims. Religious polarisation may have gone as far as it could.

Recognising the limited purchase of the communal card today, other plans are afoot therefore to ensure that Hindus of all hues coalesce behind the BJP. For this, the BJP is aware that it will have to woo every caste division of Hindu society separately.

Considered a party of upper caste Hindus, it would have been unthinkable only a few years ago that upper caste activists would throw stones or shoes at the BJP chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Or that these castes would call an all-India strike against the Narendra Modi government for diluting the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, using Parliament to actively subvert a Supreme Court order.

Even a senior brahmin leader from Uttar Pradesh like Kalraj Mishra has come out into the open to warn the government that the upper castes are angry over the BJPs measures that appear to support the misuse of the SC/ST Act against other castes. In addition, the upper castes are also exercised by the Narendra Modi government pitching for reservations in promotions for the SC/STs.

Upper caste anger against the party that speaks for them could be genuine. But some of these demonstrations appear orchestrated. They have come so late in the day  more than a month after the Modi government amended the SC/ST Act to nullify the Supreme Courts verdict  that one wonders whether there is more to them than meets the eye. It is worth noting that these agitations have been largely symbolic, and that the upper caste anger has not surfaced in those parts of India where the BJP has no stake. It also stretches credulity that a senior leader like Kalraj Mishra would go public with his criticism donning his brahmin hat without a nod and wink from the powers that be. Perhaps there was little harm in a little public criticism if it helped to project the Modi government as a partisan of dalit interests.

When it comes to voting, the upper castes, the BJP seems to believe, may have no option but to support the party in 2019. That may explain the exceptional lionising of the partys tallest brahmin leader, Atal Behari Vajpayee, after his death. The BJP wants to make sure that when the lion is in distress, the upper castes will not hunt with the hounds.

But it is not only the brahmins, vaishyas and rajputs who are upset with the Modi government. Other forward castes like the Marathas, Jats, Patels and Kapus have been agitating for reservations. The road to including economic criterion for reservations is being laid through the Justice V. Rohini Commission on re-categorisation of the Other Backward Classes. For the OBCs who may be drawn to their own caste-based parties, the BJP is projecting itself as their champion, having given the National Commission for Backward Classes statutory status.

The dalits are being told that the government is their best protection against atrocities by the upper castes. The overturning of the Supreme Court decision by the government, to retain the stronger provisions of the SC/ST Act, is the BJPs best argument for its commitment to dalit empowerment.

However, it wants them to give up the term dalit or oppressed to refer to themselves. The term draws from the struggles of the commnunity itself. Instead, they are asked to call themselves Scheduled Castes, a category that reduces them to passive clients of a patron government.

Insistence on the patron-client nomenclature separates dalits from their own struggles of resistance that have been led by their own leaders rather than by the political parties. The dalits are effectively being told to isolate their future from agitations against the Una flogging of dalits, the treatment of the Bhim Army and the incarceration of its leader Chandrashekhar, and the Bhima-Koregaon violence. They must commit their future with the pride of lions, not join the wild dogs.

So while its own governance has increased the turbulence between castes, the lion in distress is trying all the tricks of the trade to get them to line up behind it and keep the hunting dogs at bay.
The military effort activated to support relief and search-and-rescue operations after Hurricane Florence hits the East Coast has swelled to more than 7,000 troops, with thousands more standing by on ready-to-deploy orders, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy said Florence, which has prompted more than one million evacuations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, will be met with comprehensive and wide-ranging military relief efforts from every side, including from the ocean, where two amphibious ships are following hard in the wake of the storm.

"The USS Kearsarge and Arlington, which will literally chase Florence in, have Navy and Marine personnel in addition to life-saving assets to include 16 helicopters, and six MV-22 [Ospreys]," O'Shaughnessy said.

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and amphibious transport dock Arlington, both sortied from their Norfolk, Virginia, homeport ahead of the storm, have a light special-purpose Marine air-ground task force aboard ready to engage in disaster-relief efforts, O'Shaughnessy said.

But the ships, which must wait until the worst of the hurricane subsides to approach the coast, likely will not be the first line of relief after Florence makes landfall.

The following bases are staging equipment and supplies for relief efforts, O'Shaughnessy said:

Joint Base Bragg, North Carolina, where 40 high-wheeled vehicles for rescue and transportation, and seven helicopters will also be positioned

North Air Force Auxiliary Airfield, South Carolina

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

Meanwhile, he said, composite truck companies from Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will contribute 80 light medium tactical vehicles, which can clear floodwaters and rescue trapped storm victims or perform house-to-house checks. They can also bring supplies for first responders to high-water areas, O'Shaughnessy said.

LMTVs were pressed into storm duty after Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas last year.

Helicopters are positioned at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, and Fort Bliss, Texas, for search-and-rescue operations, and additional search-and-rescue teams are on call at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, including six HH-60 Pave Hawks and four pararescue teams. Those elements may be among the first called in to search for survivors.

Command-and-control elements will be in place at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida to oversee NORTHCOM rescue efforts.

"We have quite literally surrounded the expected effect area with DoD capability that will be critical in hours and days following the storm's impact," O'Shaughnessy said.

Of the 7,000 troops currently tapped for storm response, about 4,000 are National Guard and another 3,000 are active duty, he said.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has also issued pre-approval for area base commanders to deploy support and aid to their surrounding communities as the storm passes through.

"[Defense Secretary] Mattis' guidance to me is clear," O'Shaughnessy said. "We are anticipating the needs, we are moving forward under our own authorities to assure we can respond as soon as the request is made."

A Category 2 Hurricane as of Thursday evening, Florence's first bands have already made landfall in coastal North Carolina. Winds and rain are supposed to move through a wide multi-state band at least through Saturday, passing through South Carolina and the eastern edge of Georgia before moving north.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Poor oversight and failures in testing procedures led to two non-fatal fentanyl overdoses last year at a VA residential treatment program in upstate New York in which patients acquired the potent synthetic drug from another veteran at the facility, the VA's Office of Inspector General reported Wednesday.

In a similar report in July, the IG found that lax oversight and poor communication among staff were factors in the overdose death of a patient at another unidentified VA residential drug treatment program in 2015. That patient was found dead in a locked bathroom. An autopsy attributed the cause of death to a heroin overdose.

In the case at the Bath, N.Y., VA Medical Center's treatment program, Matthew Helmer, 34, of Hyde Park, N.Y., a resident in drug treatment, was charged in October 2017 with felony counts of drug possession by federal prosecutors, who alleged that he was a "runner" for other veterans in the program, the local Star-Gazette newspaper reported.

In court documents, a VA investigator said Helmer told him that "he knew that [patients] overdosed and were currently in the hospital," but was unaware of how they acquired the synthetic opioid fentanyl, the newspaper reported.

Drug paraphernalia was found in Helmer's room and he acknowledged that heroin was his own drug of choice, the newspaper said.

The IG's report focused on the 170-bed Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (DRRTP) in Bath, a town in New York's "southern tier" near the Pennsylvania border.

The DRRTP is part of the Bath VA Medical Center, the VA's oldest health care facility. The Bath facility was set up in 1865 as the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers returning from the Civil War. It currently serves about 13,000 veterans in the region.

The IG's report noted that "the Veterans Health Administration does not require treatment programs to routinely test for illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, that are trending in the community."

Following the two non-fatal fentanyl overdoses, the Bath center changed its urine drug screening (UDS) methods to include testing for the presence of fentanyl, but the tests went to "a non-VA laboratory with a turnaround time that compromised the timeliness of clinical intervention and overdose prevention," the IG report found.

The result was that "the OIG determined that the facility's fiscal year 2017 positive UDS tracking data was inaccurate."

The report also cited Bath center staff as saying that urine screening results were not properly recorded.

The residential treatment program then went to a system in which "color-coded stickers" were placed on the doors to the rooms of residents with a history of opioid use who were believed to be at high risk for suicide, the IG's report said.

The sticker system was discussed at meetings, but "key staff reported being unaware of its use for residents at high risk for suicide," said the 37-page report by Dr. John D Daigh Jr., assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections.

The report also found that staff at the residential treatment program "did not have sufficient personal protective equipment or training to safely conduct contraband searches of residents' rooms and belongings."

It cited several case studies at the Bath treatment program indicating that drugs including fentanyl were available for those who wanted them.

In the case of a veteran identified as "Resident B," who had recently completed an in-patient program for opioid detoxification, a routine urine test taken 15 days after he became a Bath resident was positive for opioids. On the 19th day, a search of Resident B's room "produced a baggie of unknown pills, a small orange cap with unidentified powder in it, a knife with a blade longer than three inches, straight razor blades, a needle, and a packaging wrapper for suboxone," the report said.

Another urine test was positive for the presence of fentanyl. "On Day 20, Resident B declined discharge planning and was discharged irregularly," the case study said.

In response to the IG's report, Dr. Joan McInerney, director of the VA's New York/New Jersey Health Care Network, concurred with the findings and pledged action to correct deficiencies.

"The Veterans Integrated Service Network will conduct an evaluation of the Bath VA Medical Center processes for fentanyl test results, turnaround times and notification of results. Appropriate action will be taken based on the process evaluation result," McInerney said in a statement.

In the case of the veteran's overdose death in 2015, the IG's report in July found that staff at the unidentified residential treatment program failed to take a number of steps that might have resulted in an intervention.

The patient had refused, or claimed the inability to provide, a urine sample, the report said. In that circumstance, "staff were required to review the appropriateness of residential care to determine whether the patient should continue in the program and, if so, under what conditions. For this patient, no documented action was taken," the report said.

On a Monday morning, a registered nurse on staff found "that the patient appeared to be sweating, had tremors, and was less engaged in treatment. That afternoon, a program psychologist met with the patient."

"The psychologist stated in an interview the patient 'was doing really well in the program' and that there was not anything that stood out to indicate the patient was using drugs or suicidal," the report said. "The next day, the patient entered a single-room public bathroom on the main floor of the facility, which could be locked from within.

"Later that evening, the patient was discovered unresponsive in the bathroom by a maintenance staff member. A Code Blue was initiated; however, the Code Blue team was dispatched to the wrong area," the report said. "They subsequently arrived at the correct location, assessed the patient, and determined that resuscitation was futile because the patient appeared to have been dead for several hours."

The abuse of fentanyl and other opioids has been singled out by President Donald Trump as a main factor in the suicide rates of the civilian and veteran populations.

In July, the Justice Department reported that the number of federal fentanyl prosecutions has more than tripled, from 74 defendants in 51 cases in fiscal 2016 to 267 defendants in 181 cases in fiscal 2017.

"This crisis is devastating," U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in Concord, New Hampshire, on July 12. "But we will not stand by idle. We are not going to accept the status quo. We will not allow this to continue."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Lawmakers met the new commander of Army Futures Command Thursday to ask him why the service needs the new four-star command, and if it would undermine the existing structure in which civilian leadership has authority over developing fielding weapons and equipment.

Just three weeks after the Army officially launched the new commands headquarters in Austin, Texas, newly appointed commander Gen. John "Mike" Murray faced skepticism at a hearing before the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness.

The command is designed to bring all of the Army's modernization efforts under one leader to streamline what has long been criticized as a lengthy bureaucratic acquisition process.

"I am not yet persuaded that a new command is the right answer to the Army's acquisition challenges," subcommittee chairman Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, said. "Relationships with the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, as well as those with the Army's Materiel Command and the Training and Doctrine Command, will be critical. Indeed, it's difficult to envision how all these changes will synchronize in a smooth fashion."

Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, who testified along with Murray, told lawmakers that the Army needed to "put all modernization tasks that generate a warfighting capability under one roof."

"These tasks include warfighting concepts requirements, experimentation, fielding of materiel and non-materiel solutions," McCarthy said. "We are confident that Army Futures Command will address our past modernization shortcomings; this command will now drive accountability, provide agility and solution generation, and produce results, ultimately bridging the future and fielded force."

Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, was also unconvinced that the Army had a need for the new command.

"Many of the functions that the Army Futures Command is expected to address are already being performed somewhere else on the Army staff, and I am concerned that the Army is standing up a four-star organization, with up to three lieutenant generals as deputies, without a clearly defined command relationship and an organizational plan," she said.

Bordallo added that "the law is clear that the acquisition chain of command runs from program managers through the civilian assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology," or ASA(ALT), and that she remained concerned that "over time, the civilian acquisition leadership will be eclipsed by the size and the weight of this new organization, run entirely by general officers."

Murray tried to reassure lawmakers that, as the ASA(ALT), Bruce Jette's role in the Army has not changed.

"He remains solely responsible to the secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; he's the Army's chief scientist, he remains responsible for the acquisition corps -- the civilian and uniformed part of it -- and he is ultimately responsible for the delivery of a materiel solution, once a decision has been made to go down that route," Murray said.

Murray said he has oversight on the research and development of new equipment solutions before the Army decides to make them a program of record.

"If it's a problem prior to milestone decision authority or a materiel development decision ... I have the authority to fix that, because it's a requirements issue or it's a prototyping issue or it's an experimentation issue," Murray said. "If it's past the decision to build a piece of equipment to solve that problem, the responsibility really lies with Dr. Jette, so I have the obligation to work with him."

Murray told lawmakers that the Army had no choice but to change the way it approaches modernization.

"The world has changed since our current ground combat systems were designed and built in the 1970s and 1980s; the rapid pace of technological change, coupled with the speed of innovation we see in the world today, demands that the Army make changes in the way we develop and deliver concepts and capability for our soldiers," Murray said.

"I fully understand the weight of responsibility that now rests on my shoulders ... I am personally and professionally invested to ensure that future soldiers have the concepts and capabilities they need when and where they need them to fight and win on a future, high-lethal battlefield."

Lawmakers wanted to know why some modernization responsibilities were taken away from commands like Training and Doctrine Command and Army Materiel Command.

"What we believe, as the Army senior leadership team, is that it provides much greater clarity and focus for all of our major commands," McCarthy said. "So Training and Doctrine Command hones in on accessing individuals and preparing them to send to the operational force, [while] Forces Command [keeps a] laser focus on readiness  they look solely at the sustaining of the force."

Murray added that there was "a defined handoff" between Army Futures Command and TRADOC.

"What I am really delivering is concepts, organizational structure, and materiel solutions to be integrated by TRADOC," he said. "... The material solutions themselves ultimately get handed off to the acquisition community and ASA(ALT)."

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, said he understood the reason behind standing up Futures Command, but wanted to know what could be expected by 2020.

"If this subcommittee two years from now held a hearing on sort of the before-and-after standing up [Futures Command], what would be the metrics, in terms of what are we going to see happen in two years, that would really be a measuring stick so that we could see that real change is occurring," Courtney said.

Murray did not give specific details on equipment fieldings, but said soldiers would notice a difference.

"I can't do miracles; I am not going to deliver you a new tank, but what I do think you will see is some of the capabilities the cross-functional teams are working will be in production and being delivered and in the hands of soldiers in the next two years," Murray said.

"And I do think you will see a very deliberate effort to align, synchronize and orchestrate across the entire modernization effort, and I think you will see much shorter timelines to deliver capabilities to soldiers."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
Defense Department officials have declined a State Department request to send about a dozen Marines to guard a de facto embassy in Taiwan, Military.com has confirmed.

Military officials were planning to send a squad-sized Marine Security Guard detachment to Taipei City, Taiwan's capital, as soon as next month, a defense official said. That plan has since been scrapped after the State Department's request was denied by Pentagon officials, the source added.

The move was first reported Thursday by CNN.

The State Department had requested the Marines be sent to the American Institute in Taiwan earlier this summer. It would have marked the first time in nearly four decades that Marines would have guarded a diplomatic post there.

There's no U.S. embassy in Taiwan. The U.S. recognizes the "one-China policy," preventing direct diplomatic or military exchanges between Washington and Taipei. Officials in Beijing balked at the idea of basing Marines at the diplomatic post in Taiwan, which they said violated "political preconditions for China-U.S. relations."

"The U.S. ... knows it should exercise caution on this issue to avoid affecting overall bilateral ties," Lu Kang, a Chinese ministry spokesman, said in June.

State Department officials declined to answer questions about who denied the request and why, adding only that they "do not discuss specific security matters concerning the protection of our facilities or personnel."

CNN reported that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made the call to reject the request over resource constraints. It wasn't done to avoid irritating the communist government, the outlet reported.

The American Institute in Taiwan recently doubled in size following the addition of a $250 million facility. It houses about 450 diplomatic staff members.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.
The commander of Army Futures Command told Congress on Thursday the command wants to field a long-range cannon that can shoot out to 1,000 miles.

Gen. John "Mike" Murray testified at a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness to explain to lawmakers how the newly established Futured Command will change the Army's acquisition and modernization process.

Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Mississippi, asked how the service is going to get ahead of near-peer threats such as Russia and China in long-range fires.

Development of long-range precision fires technology is the Army's number one modernization priority. In October, the service unveiled LRPF, along with its five other modernization priorities -- the next-generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift, a mobile network, air and missile defense, and soldier lethality -- as part of a plan to overhaul modernization and build a future force.

"From a tactical fires perspective, we are going through basically a two-step upgrade to our current Paladin, going to the M109A7, which is a new chassis," Murray said. "The next step is coming very quickly. We call it the extended-range cannon artillery. ... We have already shot a ... round out of that tube and more than doubled the range of our current artillery. And the goal is to get that out even further."

For operational fires, the Army is working on a Precision Strike Missile "that will have a range of approximately 499 kilometers," he said, adding, "Our current missile has a range of 350 kilometers."

Murray said the Army wants to get out much farther with strategic fires.

"We are looking very hard and starting down the path of hypersonics and also looking at what we call the Strategic Long Range Cannon, which conceivably could have a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles," he said.

Thats the equivalent of 1,150 land miles.

Murray didn't provide any further details but said in the short term, the Army is adding back "both cannon and rocket artillery into our formations."

In air and missile defense, the Army plans to field mobile short-range air defense, or MSHORAD, "to keep up with our maneuver brigades," he said.

Under a new streamlined acquisition approach, the service was able to shave five years off the development process, Murray said. "The initial estimate was we could field one in 2025. We are now down to [fielding] four battalions in fiscal year 2020. The requirements process was done in 90 days, as opposed to the three to five years."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
A proposed military benefits policy update would give more military families with special needs access to respite care.

Currently, to receive respite care through the Pentagon's Extended Health Care Option (ECHO) program, military families with special needs must also qualify for and be receiving other ECHO program benefits, such as nursing, therapies or medical supplies.

The proposed rule change, however, would remove that requirement for "concurrent ECHO benefit." Instead, families would qualify for up to 16 hours of care simply by being in the ECHO program.

"This proposed rule seeks to eliminate the concurrent ECHO benefit requirement and allow beneficiaries enrolled in ECHO to receive a maximum of 16 hours of respite care per month, regardless of whether another ECHO benefit is received in the same month," states the notice, which was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 17. It is open for public comment until Oct. 16.

If the rule goes through, an estimated 2,924 ECHO users will be able to use the respite program, at an average cost of $1,937 per user, the notice states. The proposed rule is estimated will cost the Defense Department $5.7 million annually (based on fiscal 2017 data).

For families with extraordinary medical challenges, the rule change could be the difference between getting a break and not.

Whitney Fowler's adopted daughter, Libby, 7, had what Fowler said were "severe cardiac defects" when she was brought home from China. Tricare and ECHO have since provided her with lifesaving but long hospital stays, skilled nursing care and other medically necessary services.

While Libby's improved heart health means she can attend schools and no longer requires a full-time, in-home skilled nurse, she does need care by someone who is comfortable with her challenges, which can include a feeding tube.

The respite program could provide Fowler with a break, which could help her better care for her other family members and herself, she said. "My last few years, I haven't even been involved with other military families because I haven't been able to get out. If somehow or another this new rule could change that, it would greatly impacted."

A bigger problem for Fowler is finding a respite care provider who can meet Libby's needs. Non-verbal and with a feeding tube, Libby needs care from someone who is comfortable with her challenges, her mom said.

"It's not just like some grandma or a babysitter; it's not like that at all," Fowler said. "She's wonderful and fun to be around, but she scares people, too, unless they're fully comfortable with that."

-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com.
Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Strunz Dana Chemical Elements

Mineral List  Gold  Pyrite

2 valid minerals. 2 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:  Gold Formula: Au Reference: The Ballarat Star newspaper (1882) Queen Company Black Hill, 28 January 1882.  Pyrite Formula: FeS 2 Reference: The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) Queen Company Black Hill, 25 May 1881

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 1 - Elements  'Gold' 1.AA.05 Au Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts  'Pyrite' 2.EB.05a FeS 2

List of minerals arranged by Dana 8th Edition classification Group 1 - NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS Metals, other than the Platinum Group  Gold 1.1.1.1 Au Group 2 - SULFIDES A m B n X p , with (m+n):p = 1:2  Pyrite 2.12.1.1 FeS 2

List of minerals for each chemical element S Sulfur S  Pyrite FeS 2 Fe Iron Fe  Pyrite FeS 2 Au Gold Au  Gold Au

Regional Geology

Thomas Bell and Robert Atkinson were the main driving forces in establishing the Queen Gold Mining Company in 1878. Mine manager is Charles Klug.Complaints were made in local newspapers by several shareholders (or one shareholder several times), the company was finding apparently much gold but no dividends were being issued. In 1881, the company was raising between 400 to 450 tonnes of ore per fortnight. For the last six months in 1881, the company produced 4857 tonnes of ore yielding 1068 ounces of gold.Robert Atkinson died early 1882. Staff stated Atkinson had kept the finances to himself, and subsequently auditors found money missing.The workings were connected to the United Black Hill underground workings for ventilation. January 1882, a 225 ounce nugget was uncovered. After the initial complaints, much gold was found and dividends issued. In 1883, when gold grades decreased the company approached the Black Hill Company for a decrease in royalties from 15% to 10%. The long suffering Black Hill Company refused stating the Queen Company had taken over a shaft in good repair, and machinery supplied by the Black Hill Company; had promised to sink the shaft 100 feet per year which had not happened; and paid handsome dividends to shareholders while no money was kept for any difficult times. The Queen Company decided to wind up.In November 1886 some leading Ballarat capitalists formed the Queen Jubilee Gold Mining Company to take over the tribute lease abandoned by the Queen Company at 25 acres. The shaft was drained. The lease also included part of the North Queen lease immediately to the north. Only one year later it is reported the company had sunk the shaft a further 100 feet to a depth of 850 feet, with drives east and west at the 840 foot level. Little payable stone was found and operations were suspended. The following year the shaft is idle with desultory mining in shallow ground.

This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found.

Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org

alluvium 38485 Age: Anthropocene (0 - 0.0117 Ma) Description: Channel and flood plain alluvium; gravel, sand, silt, clay; may be locally calcreted Comments: regolith; synthesis of multiple published descriptions Lithology: Regolith Reference: Raymond, O.L., Liu, S., Gallagher, R., Zhang, W., Highet, L.M. Surface Geology of Australia 1:1 million scale dataset 2012 edition. Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia). [5] Paleozoic sedimentary rocks Age: Paleozoic (427.4 - 541 Ma) Comments: Lachlan Fold Belt Lithology: Sedimentary rocks Reference: Chorlton, L.B. Generalized geology of the world: bedrock domains and major faults in GIS format: a small-scale world geology map with an extended geological attribute database. doi: 10.4095/223767. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 5529. [154]

Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

References

Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)

The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1878) Queen Company, 19 July 1878. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1879) The Queen Company Black Hill (to the Ed.), 13 November 1879. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1879) The Queen Company Black Hill (to the Ed.), 22 December 1879. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1879) The Queen Company Black Hill (to the Ed.), 23 December 1879. The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1879) The Queen Company Black Hill (to the Ed.), 23 December 1879. The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1880) Queen Company Black Hill Flat (to the Ed.), 13 January 1880. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1881) Queen Company Black Hill, 25 May 1881. The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1881) Queen Company Black Hill, 06 August 1881. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1882) Queen Company Black Hill, 21 January 1882. The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1882) Queen Company Black Hill, 22 January 1882. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1882) Queen Company Black Hill, 28 January 1882. The Ballarat Courier newspaper (1882) Queen Company Black Hill, 28 January 1882. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1883) Black Hill Company, 01 February 1883. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1887) The Black Hill Company, 14 January 1887. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1887) Black Hill Company, 29 July 1887. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1888) The Black Hill Company, 27 July 1888. The Ballarat Star newspaper (1889) The Black Hill Company, 01 February 1889.
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
Britain has already said it is considering developing its own version of the satellite-based system to rival the EU project.

The government said that while British companies and academics could not bid for future work, it was seeking clarity from the EU about the status of UK-based Copernicus contracts.

British companies and academics will be excluded from the future development of the European Unions Galileo space project if the country leaves the bloc without a deal in March 2019, according to a series of technical notices published on Thursday.

The UK government said in the notice that companies currently involved in Galileo, Europes rival to the United States GPS programme, may face difficulties completing their existing contracts and should contact authorities to try to ensure they can comply with the conditions of their contracts.

Britain has already said it is considering developing its own version of the satellite-based system to rival the EU project.

Regarding the EU Earth observation programme Copernicus, the papers said that in a no-deal scenario, the UK will no longer be able to participate in it or have a role in how it is run.

The government said that while British companies and academics could not bid for future work, it was seeking clarity from the EU about the status of UK-based Copernicus contracts which run past next Marchs exit date.

(Source)
DETROIT, MI - Rapper Swifty McVay of D12 fame has dropped his original song for "Devil's Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge," shot in and around Metro Detroit.

The video (above), exclusively released first to MLive, stars Eminem's brother Nathan Mathers, Jerry Narsh, Ammar Nemo, Lindsay Nicole Will and McVay, who plays Detroit's Mayor in the movie.

About the film: The movie centers around a military veteran, played by actress Jesi Jensen, who, while working as a police officer, is assigned to a supernatural case that's surrounded by urban myth and legend. The film was shot all over Metro Detroit, including scenes at the old Packard Plant. Lake Orion is also prominently featured. The movie is currently in post-production by Eclipp with no release date set yet.

The stars: The film also stars Mathers in his first role, alongside Ammar Nemo, Bobby Laenen and Grover McCants. Famous Bollywood actor Napoleon Duraisamy also has a big role in the movie. WJBK-TV's Amy Andrews is the mayor of Lake Orion and Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh plays a police officer. Portraying the Nain Rouge is martial artist Jesse Dean Crawfis.

"Devil's Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge" was directed and co-authored by Emmy nominated producer Sam Logan Khaleghi. Executive producers are Tel Ganesan of Michigan based Kyyba Films and GB Thimotheose. Istvan Lettang is the cinematographer.

Logan says Michigan was where he wanted to shoot this movie despite there being no more film incentives in the state.

"One doesn't need an incentive program to follow their dreams and execute their ideas. Although incentives are great for attracting business and building new concepts, no one owes anyone anything by way of a program. As nice as it would be to have one, my advice to young filmmakers has always been: if you want to make it happen, you just have to do it and take the first steps."

Extras Needed: McVay and Obie Trice are seeking extras for the music video for their song "Phony," also featured in the movie. If interested, email KyybaFilms@gmail.com

Logan said it was also important to use local talent in this film.

"It was paramount that we not only film in Michigan but showcase many of the talented and hard working individuals from the artistic economy."

For those of you not familiar with the Nain Rouge, legend has it, a red dwarf creature has been haunting Detroit for decades. Even centuries. Detroit even throws a parade each March to liberate the city from the Nain Rouge.

Here is the trailer for the film:
A labor dispute could slow progress on the reconstruction of Cottonwood Drive through Jenison, according to information from the Ottawa County Road Commission, and affect other projects throughout the county and state.

Gov. Rick Snyder is investigating whether contract dates will be enforced, and possible fines if they are not.

The work stoppage began at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4. The dispute is between the Michigan Infrastructure Transportation Association and the Operating Engineer's Local 324. The Ottawa County Road Commission is not a party to the negotiations.

The major local projects impacted include James Street resurfacing between U.S. 31 and Chicago Drive in Holland Township; and resurfacing of Osborn, Bass and Warner streets between 68th Avenue and 104th Avenue in Allendale and Robinson townships. Cottonwood Drive reconstruction work in Georgetown Township, between Baldwin and Bauer, is seeing a partial shutdown due to the labor dispute.

In Kent County, two major projects are affected by the dispute. Road Commission Deputy Managing Director of Engineering Wayne Harrall said non-union personnel have been able to continue some work, but federal funding prohibits them from working on all jobs. Work on 13 Mile Road west of Sparta, from Kenowa Avenue to Peach Ridge; and the widening of Knapp Street East of East Beltline from Dunnegan Street (Grand Rapids Township) to Grand River Drive are affected by the work stoppage. Harrall said earth work is continuing as primary contractors are not involved in negotiations, but paving could be delayed.

About 150 projects statewide are affected. Workers who are not a part of the labor dispute continue to work on the Cottonwood Drive project.

Snyder has called for the unions to resolve the dispute quickly, and has asked the Attorney General for a ruling on whether the situation is legally a labor dispute. The Michigan Employment Relations Commission is offering mediation services.

A press release issued by the governor's office on Sept. 7 said that because the dispute is between contractors and their employees, the Michigan Department of Transportation and other state agencies have limited legal authority to have any effect on the negotiations. The Attorney General's advice on whether the situation is legally a labor dispute or not would provide guidance on actions that MDOT might have to enforce contract provisions, according to the release. Those actions would include activating or denying extensions of time provided for in the contracts and the possible related penalties for late completion.

Snyder also has directed the Executive Office and MDOT staff to begin working on other possible options the state could pursue. These options could include legislation, court action, or other remedies to require both sides in the road-building dispute to return to work on the stalled projects.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Six University of Michigan fraternities opting to disaffiliate from the university and its Interfraternity Council will instead operate as the independent Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council.

The group hopes to challenge recent decisions to institute a winter rush at UM and a city zoning change impacting fraternity housing.

The UM IFC announced the severing of ties earlier this week, noting the following fraternities will no longer have access to the institutions, programs or support structures offered by the IFC or UM:

Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Sigma Phi

Delta Chi

Phi Sigma Kappa

Psi Upsilon

Theta Chi

The disaffiliated fraternities are still subject to rules set by the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Their national charters are not affected by the decision to disaffiliate from UM.

Opting to follow rules set by the NIC could allow member fraternities to continue to participate in a fall rush, rather than eventually switching to winter recruitment like UM's 19 remaining IFC chapters.

Psi Upsilon Executive Director Thomas Fox said the national organization has opted to bring full-time staff members to campus to work with its members to educate them, and the alumni corporation that manages the chapter house has hired a live-in director to help guide the chapter.

"This decision to disaffiliate was - and still is - about preserving our property and association rights in response to a recent Ann Arbor zoning change and the University's announcement to restrict first-semester students from joining fraternities," Fox said in a statement echoed by a number of the fraternities in the newly-independent council. "We seek to find solutions with the city and university that address our concerns and will continue to work with our interfraternal partners to do so."

Stephen Bernstein, general counsel for the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, said fraternity members were concerned about the university's decision to implement a shift of fraternity and sorority recruitment to winter.

The move will bar Greek Life organizations from recruiting first-year students during the fall, beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. The new rules also require recruits to have earned 12 credit hours at UM and be in good academic and behavioral standing.

Bernstein said with sophomores as the primary occupants of Greek houses, students need to know as freshmen where they plan to live the following year before they would even be making a decision on whether to rush in the winter.

Additionally, with fraternity properties switching owners on a somewhat frequent basis, Bernstein said the city's zoning changes could have an impact on fraternities being able to sustain residences.

"The properties wind up being sold. It could be one fraternity operating at a property one day, and then what happens is they close or they have low membership, and it's not operated for a year or two, and then it's sold to somebody else," Bernstein said. "That's the big concern. There have been a lot of meetings between the (North American Interfraternity Conference) and the city. We're hoping the city will put into writing somewhere saying these properties will not be impacted no matter what. We may reach that point, but we haven't yet."

The zoning changes, which require all prospective fraternity and sorority houses to maintain university affiliation for permit consideration, are a concern at the national level, as well.

NIC Chief Communication Officer Heather Kirk said the international organization, which represents 66 national men's fraternities, will advocate for all of its members in the Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council moving forward.

"All of our member fraternities with chapters at UM - whether affiliated or in the Ann Arbor IFC - are concerned about the impact of the city's new zoning ordinance and the University's decision to restrict students' association rights," Kirk said in a statement. "The NIC will continue to advocate for all of its members as we work with City and University to find reasonable solutions that address the critical issues in the community and fraternities' concerns."

City officials were not available for comment Friday.

The zoning rule changes do not retroactively apply to existing fraternities and sororities. Instead, it will take effect only with future permits granted by the city - either permits for newly established fraternities and sororities or for existing organizations looking to expand.

But the changes also mandate that any fraternity or sorority that loses recognition from UM as a result of extreme cases like sexual assault or hazing would have its special-exemption housing permit expire after two years, and the zoning would revert back to single-family or two-family home status.

Fraternity and sorority houses are allowed as special exceptions under Ann Arbor zoning code when approved by the city's Planning Commission. The changes also codify a past practice for permit consideration to include a maximum occupancy component.

According to the IFC, the fraternities choosing to disaffiliate themselves with the university no longer have access to UM's Greek Activities Review Panel, the Social Responsibility Committee, the Hazing Response Team and the Hazing Task Force.

Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council President Michael Salciccioli said he is hopeful the new independent council can work with the city and university to best address issues in the future.

"Our top priority is the health and safety of our members and guests, which is why we have committed to standards that meet or exceed the policies put in place by the University and the UM IFC," Salciccioli said in a statement.

"As the Ann Arbor IFC, we remain concerned about protecting students' associational rights - a concern also clearly stated by the leadership of the UM IFC last spring, as well as the property rights of fraternity house corporations. As we move forward, we will continue to seek a resolution with both the University of Michigan and City of Ann Arbor."

UM Spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen said it would be up to the IFC to determine whether to allow any of the now-disaffiliated fraternities to re-join the council.
Oakland County health officials are recommending that anyone who attended or worked at the Michigan Renaissance Festival over Labor Day weekend be vaccinated for hepatitis A.

The "Oakland County Health Division was alerted this evening (Sept. 13) that an attendee of the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly has a confirmed case of hepatitis A and was ill while attending the festival on September 1," the health department said. "It is strongly recommended that those attending and working the festival on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 get a hepatitis A vaccine by Saturday, Sept. 15, if they have not been vaccinated."

Health Division Officer Leigh-Anne Stafford said a vaccination received within 14 days of contact can prevent the disease.

"Attendees unable to get vaccinated by Sept. 15 are advised to be aware of hepatitis A symptoms, such as sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dark urine and/or vomiting often followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)," the health department said. "Symptoms may appear from 14-50 days after exposure, but average about one month."

Hepatits A is a "highly contagious" viral infection that attacks the liver and is usually spread through contact with contaminated food, water or someone with the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

"It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months," the CDC says. "Although rare, hepatitis A can cause death in some people."
The 17-year-old high school honor roll student who stabbed her friend four times in a classroom Wednesday was laughing, smiling and saying "I'm going to kill you," as she chased the victim with a steak knife, Warren police say.

Tanaya L. Lewis, a senior at Warren's Fitzgerald High School, is now charged with first-degree premeditated murder and jailed without bond pending her trial.

The victim, 16-year-old Danyna Gibson, also a senior at Fitzgerald High School in Warren, suffered stab wounds to her chest and back. Her heart and lung were punctured, Warren Police Detective Donald Seidel said at the teen suspect's arraignment Friday, Sept. 14.

Lewis appeared in court via video feed from the Warren Police Department lockup facility Friday. She was expected to be transported to the Macomb County Jail after the arraignment.

Lewis, without warning, approached Gibson during class and stabbed her twice in the chest, Seidel said. Gibson tried to run from Lewis and was stabbed in the back, causing her to fall to the ground, at which time Lewis delivered a "hammer-fist punch stab" to Gibson's back as she lay on the ground, according to Seidel. The final wound pierced Gibson's lung.

"The defendant was pushed from the classroom by the teacher, the defendant then tried to get around the teacher to get back in the classroom, yelling, 'I'm going to kill her,'" the Warren police detective said. " ... Witnesses said (Lewis) was smiling and laughing as she was chasing the victim."

There were over 20 witnesses, according to the prosecution.

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric B. Smith said there is adequate evidence to indicate Lewis came to school Wednesday morning with intentions to kill Gibson.

No clear motive had been provided, but police say it appears to have involved a dispute over a boy who also attends the high school. The girls, both honor roll students, were friends prior to the attack, investigators said.

"This was over something as simple as the victim being friends with a boy, and we're not talking about relationships or anything like it," Smith said. "This is the kind of high school stuff that every one of us has been through ... and the fact that it ended up this way is astounding to me.

" ... You know, our victim wasn't hanging out in the streets ... She was a great kid doing everything you want from your daughter."

Lewis "committed the most horrific crime there is," the prosecutor said.

Lewis' attorney, Mark Brown, declined to comment following the hearing.

Smith said the defendant's parents and the victim's stepfather attended the arraignment Friday, Sept. 14.

Lewis, wearing a white jumpsuit with short hair and frosted tips, showed little emotion and answered "yes," softly, when asked by Warren 37th District Judge Suzanne L. Faunce if she understood that, if convicted, she may spend the rest of her life in prison.

Faunce scheduled a probable cause hearing on Oct. 4.

Smith said the attack was so abrupt and unexpected that students, who are often quick to record dramatic events with their cellphones, didn't have time to capture the incident.

Fitzgerald High School students and staff held a vigil and balloon release in honor of Gibson Thursday, Sept. 13.

School administrators offered grief counseling to any students in need.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County health department officials say they stand by the achievements of their former animal shelter director, who resigned earlier this week after public outcry over high rates of euthanasia at the facility.

"Her legacy is strong, and her work and contributions are greatly appreciated by all of us," said Adam London, who leads the Kent County Health Department, which oversees the shelter.

Former shelter director Carly Luttmann resigned Monday, Sept. 10, six days after MLive/The Grand Rapids Press published a story about the shelter's euthanasia rate.

The euthanasia rate has been among the highest in the state for the last five years.

In 2017, shelter staff euthanized two out of every five animals it took in, or 39 percent, state records show. The state average that year for all open admission shelters was 14 percent, according to non-profit Michigan Pet Fund Alliance.

Luttmann led the shelter since 2010. Under her tenure, euthanasia rates have dropped "considerably," London said.

When Luttmann started, the shelter euthanized about 70 percent of all cats and dogs they took in, he said.

"I think that a lot of quality improvement has happened under Carly's leadership in the past handful of years," he said. "The euthanasia rate has dropped considerably since she's been there. The number of partnerships has increased. The shelter has won awards and been recognized for quality and great service."

In 2014, the rate was 55 percent. In 2015, it was 64 percent. In 2016, it was 47 percent. In 2017, it was 39 percent.

London avoided taking a stance on the shelter's 2017 kill rate. Only two much-smaller shelters operated by Berrien and Cass counties put down dogs and cats at a higher rate that year, state records show.

"I think we can always do better," London said, "but I'm not sure what the objective, what the superlative really is there, because there's always going to be animals that are very seriously ill, there's always going to be animals that are aggressive and are a danger."

Many animal welfare advocates say the objective is saving 90 percent of all animals taken in. That rate is generally accepted as the benchmark of "no-kill" shelters, as it accounts for animals that are sick and beyond intervention.

London said it's hard to compare rates with other shelters "because the dynamics are always so different."

"I'm not going to get too concerned about how we compare to others," he said. "I want to be concerned about how we compare to our own internal goals and how we can do better as a community ... The internal goal is that we do better. That we do better all the time."

London declined to say why Luttmann resigned, adding that it was voluntary and she was "not pressured out in anyway by us."

He said the work is "incredibly stressful" and it's a job "you can't possibly please everyone with."

"There's always stresses from the community, pressures from the community to do things differently," London said. "Just speaking in general, those things wear on a person. I'm not going to speculate as to what motivated her to make this decision."

The health department did not release Luttmann's resignation letter.

MLive/The Grand Rapids Press submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the letter on Tuesday. It has yet to be fulfilled.

Luttmann previously contended the majority of dogs Kent County euthanized in 2017 were "beyond behavioral intervention" and posed a threat to the public, and the majority of cats were killed because they're feral and couldn't be placed into homes.

"We're the only place that can't say no," London said of accepting animals. "Whether it's unintentional or intentional, I think a lot of the hardest cases, the one's that are the most aggressive, the hardest to adopt out get funneled toward the animal shelter. I think that's OK. We've got the ability to receive and to handle many of those worst or more challenging cases that some of these non-profit shelters just don't have."

The shelter's policies and procedures manual states any dog who demonstrates "aggressive or unsuitable behaviors at the animal shelter or in their previous home environment" will be euthanized if not reclaimed by the end of their legal holding time.

Another section of the manual states a supervisor can overrule the practice in specific cases. The manual does not define "aggressive or unsuitable behaviors."

The detriment of this practice, animal advocates argue, is that Kent County is likely euthanizing pets and strays with treatable behavioral problems -- some of which are likely caused by the shelter stay itself.

Some shelter behavioral problems in dogs stem from fear, owner separation, confinement and new environment, according to Deborah Schutt, board chairwoman of Michigan Pet Fund Alliance.

Some techniques that resolve behavioral problems include playgroups, daily interaction, chew toys, foster programs and walks, Schutt said.

Schutt said the percentage of dogs euthanized by Kent County is high even for dogs rescued from fighting rings.

"I've heard that many think some of those animals, some of those aggressive animals, you know, it's not their fault -- bad human partners, right?" London said. "So they've been in stressful situations that's caused them to be conditioned to act a certain way ... Terribly abusive situations that's no fault of the dog, and we're not ever trying to punish a dog for behavior that it was really trained and conditioned to have.

"Is it the possibility that some of those animals can be rehabilitated through therapy or counseling? Perhaps, and we're willing to look into those options."

He said hiring a "dog therapist" or implementing "specialized reconditioning" is difficult to ask for on a limited county budget. An ideal situation, he said, is partnering with nonprofits and organizations that have those resources.

The shelter's budget was $2.3 million in 2018. The agency is responsible for animal adoption, cruelty and bite investigations, dog licensing and more.

Until Luttmann is replaced, the shelter will be run by the shelter veterinarian, animal control supervisor and environmental health division director.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- A 17-year-old West Ottawa High School student who police say brought a handgun to school is expected to face three charges, including possessing a stolen firearm.

Police have not named the teen pending his arraignment.

Detectives also have not released further details about the teen's motive for bringing the gun.

Ottawa County sheriff's Capt. Mark Bennett on Thursday, Sept. 13 said the teen is expected to be charged with possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and violating a pistol-free zone.

A relative of the teen, in a message to MLive, said the teen found a broken handgun at a junkyard, placed it in his backpack, but then forgot about it.

The relative said the teen inadvertently took the gun to school and another student became aware of it, then notified school staff.

The relative claimed the gun had no bullets and was not operable.

Deputies responded to the school, 3685 Butternut Drive, about 10:30 a.m. Thursday after school administrators learned about the weapon.

Two deputies assigned as school resource officers quickly found the student and recovered the gun.

Bennett said the investigation is ongoing and police continue to conduct interviews and have done searches subsequent to the teen's arrest.

Police said there is no longer a threat to the high school.

The student is in custody at the Ottawa County Jail.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - A West Ottawa High School student accused of bringing a gun to school was arraigned Friday, Sept. 14, in Holland District Court on multiple charges.

Davian Weston, 17, is charged with receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon in a weapon-free school zone.

Bond was set at $5,000, but he can be released by posting 10 percent, or $500.

Sheriff's deputies Kristina Workman and Tonya Kimber, assigned as school-resource officers, arrested Weston at school on Thursday, Sept. 13, without incident. Other students who learned that he had a gun told school staff, who immediately contacted the deputies.

No one was injured or threatened with the gun, police said. Weston had the gun in his possession when he was arrested, police said.

Police have conducted numerous interviews and had not identified any others who were involved. There is no other threat to students or staff, police said.

A family member of the suspect told MLive that the gun was broken. She said he found it at a junkyard and forgot he left it in his school backpack.
A Michigan judge Thursday has halted state regulators' attempts to shut down 98 medical marijuana businesses.

The businesses were about to face cease and desist letters Monday, Sept. 17, from the state's licensing bureau.

Instead, Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello has granted a temporary restraining order that prevents that from happening.

State officials had issued an emergency rule Tuesday, Sept. 11, that allowed 108 medical marijuana businesses that were temporarily operating to continue to stay open until December without a license. But for 98 others who hadn't filed certain paperwork by June 15, they would be facing closure next week.

Denise Pollicella of Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan argued against the shutdown on behalf of her client, a medical marijuana business that she declined to disclose, in the case Montrowe vs. Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

"They gave us the relief I was least expecting," Pollicella said.

Had state officials executed plans to close down 98 businesses, Pollicella said it would have caused nearly 1,000 people to lose their jobs, bankruptcies and businesses would have had to divest millions of dollars worth of marijuana products.

Bureau of Medical Marihuana spokesman David Harns said the bureau had received a copy of Judge Borrello's order and was taking it under review.

The major issue Pollicella argued was the nature of the state's emergency rule, which called for businesses to have submitted certain paperwork by June 15. That was three months ago, Pollicella said, and left businesses no recourse this week.

Pollicella said her client filed their application with the state in January and didn't hear back until April. The business had local approval, but hadn't filed the second part of the application by June 15.

Pollicella said she tried to work with the state before filing a lawsuit -- but they wouldn't budge.

"Filing a lawsuit was the last thing I wanted to do," Pollicella said.

Pollicella said she believes the judge understood the peril that faced businesses who would have been forced to suddenly shut their doors.

"I'm relieved someone finally looked at these facilities like businesses," Pollicella said. "What the judge understood ultimately is that this is confusing, this is complex and for the most part it's not malicious. I don't doubt -- and I agree with the state -- that there are people in this industry who are not good actors."

Medical marijuana businesses now have until Dec. 15 to obtain a state license. After that date, all product sold at a provisioning center would have to be grown, processed, tested and transported at a licensed business.

Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2008, thanks to a vote of the people. The 2008 law established the caregiver model, but did not establish a regulatory framework for businesses -- which is why dispensaries have been operating in legal limbo for the past decade.

In 2016 the legislature created new laws to formally establish and oversee medical marijuana businesses. The first licenses under those new laws have been issued this summer -- and the state was trying to hold businesses to a deadline for compliance.

-- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com.
Qualcomm is seeking to compensate investors for the collapse of its $44 billon acquisition of NXP Semiconductors.

US chipmaker Qualcomm Inc said on Thursday it would buy back about $16 billion of its common stock as part of the previously announced $30 billion stock repurchase plan.

Qualcomm is seeking to compensate investors for the collapse of its $44 billon acquisition of NXP Semiconductors in July due to Chinese opposition.

(Source)
South Carolina residents are leaving the state in droves in preparation for Hurricane Florence's arrival. Governor Henry McMaster announced a mandatory evacuation for counties in the direct path of the hurricane saying, "We're not going to gamble with the lives of the people of South Carolina. Not a one." Not among those being evacuated, however, are several hundred inmates. Officials say they will be monitoring the situation to see whether prison evacuations need to occur. Many worry the inmates will become trapped in unsafe conditions. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

Vice News is reporting South Carolina officials are planning to monitor the situation, keeping open the option to evacuate.

Evacuating prisons is a complicated task, one officials are hoping to avoid. Per a report in The Nation, during Hurricane Harvey in Texas:

Yet those left behind during Hurricane Harvey reported experiencing horrendous, inhumane conditions. A 55-year-old inmate in Texas named David Hartvikson allowed Mother Jones to reprint a letter he wrote in Harvey's aftermath.

Officials say, though, they do not typically evacuate inmates during hurricanes. Per Mother Jones:

The Nation expands on what happened in Texas:

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JACKSON, MI - A Jackson woman accused of stabbing a man to death in the street during an argument last month has been arrested and charged with murder.

Savanna Frinkle, 20, was arraigned Friday, Sept. 14, on one felony count of open murder for the stabbing death of Marvin Bearden.

Frinkle is accused of stabbing Bearden, 63, several times during an argument at about 3:30 a.m., Aug. 30, near the intersection of First Street and Washington Avenue, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hill said.

A witness driving by the intersection saw Bearden being assaulted in the roadway, stopped and yelled at the suspect, ending the assault, police previously said.

Bearden was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health and then to Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor for treatment. He died from his injuries the next day, Hitt said.

Investigators determined Bearden was walking home when he crossed paths with Frinkle and an argument ensued, Hitt said. There is no indication they knew each other prior to the attack, he said.

Police identified Frinkle as a suspect in Bearden's death several days later and an arrest warrant was issued Sept. 11, Hitt said. She was arrested two days later in a home in the 300 block of E. Euclid Avenue.

Frinkle is being held in the Jackson County Jail with bond set at $50,000. She is scheduled for a preliminary examination conference Sept. 21, before District Judge Darryl Mazur.

Open murder allows a jury to decide the degree of murder a person is guilty of if convicted.

Bearden is described as a kind man who was able to continue his kindness and generosity by donating his organs to multiple recipients, according to his obituary.
NEW YORK -- A Western Michigan University graduate who made a name for herself on Broadway has died at age 57, according to a New York Times report.

Mazzie died of ovarian cancer, her husband told the newspaper. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2015.

Mazzie, who lived in the Kalamazoo area at one point, graduated from WMU in 1982. She interned at the Barn Theatre in Augusta.

Some of her most notable roles on stage have included Clara in "Passion," in 1994, Mother in "Ragtime" in 1998, Lilli/Kate in the revival of "Kiss Me Kate" in 1999, and Helen Sinclair in "Bullets Over Broadway" in 2014.

Mazzie was a three-time Tony nominee.

After her diagnosis in 2015, she underwent surgery for removal of her ovaries and a hysterectomy, and also had chemotherapy.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- The first of seven small, energy-efficient homes in Kalamazoo's Eastside neighborhood will be completed today, kicking off the first phase of the Eastside Gateway Project.

After a year of planning, the Kalamazoo County Land Bank broke ground Thursday, Sept. 13, on a project to bring mixed income and eco-friendly housing to the neighborhood.

Last fall, the land bank announced plans to build up to seven approximately 1,000-square-foot, 1- or 2-bedroom homes on Foresman Avenue off East Michigan Avenue.

The homes are called "zero-energy ready" because they are ready to be converted, with the installation of solar panels, to homes that have virtually no energy maintenance costs, according to the county land bank's website.

The homes are built to be 40-50 percent more efficient than a typical new home even without the installation of solar panels, Kalamazoo County Land Bank Executive Director Kelly Clarke said.

"Highly energy-efficient homes are also built to stand the test of time," Clarke said.

The first home is listed at $127,000. The property is built to serve households between 60-120 percent of area median income, Clarke said. In Kalamazoo County, this would allow for two-person household interested in the home to have an income no higher than $66,120 a year based on federal data, she said.

"The mixed income element of this project is an interesting and important one," Clarke said.

The first house was constructed as part of a "fast built" project put on annually by the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan.

Volunteers and partner organizations started work on the leveled lot of land at 7 a.m. Thursday and expect to finish the house by 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14.

Much of the structure was assembled Thursday, Sept. 13, (top) and final siding was installed and the interior assembled on Friday, Sept. 14, (bottom) the second day of the two-day build.

The house will be a little larger than 1,000 square feet with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a full basement. The construction of the first house was made possible with help from the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan, Habitat for Humanity and over 30 other partners.

Jeff Tafel, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan, said most of the work on the house was completed offsite, using relatively modern building techniques to allow minimal time is needed for final assembly of the structure.

"It may look like a very quick projects and like somehow these guys are able to build this home in a day and a half, but it's really taken six months to be able to get here," Tafel said.

The Eastside Gateway project, once completed, will span 11 adjacent parcels that have come into the Land Bank's inventory over the past eight years. Houses that once stood on the parcels have been demolished over the last 50 years. Two were demolished in the 1970s, Clarke said.

More houses will be built on the land over the next two years. The land bank is partnering with Habitat for Humanity, which indicated an intent to build homes on the site, Clarke said.

The project will also include a new walkway and a pocket park, which is planned to be developed over the next six to eight weeks, Clarke said. Those areas will be open to the public.

A second phase of the pocket park will incorporate a neighborhood storytelling project, which aims to gather stories about the history of the Eastside neighborhood from area residents. Eventually, it will feature some of those stories on a solid-surface labyrinth in park. The storytelling project is being undertaken in partnership with the Eastside Neighborhood Association, Eastside artists, the Greater Kalamazoo Arts Council and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.

"It is meant to record the rich history of the east side as told by residents," Clarke said. "So as we're seeing new development going up, we're also making sure we integrate the stories of the past and the history of the neighborhood."
KALAMAZOO, MI -- One year into a new chapter, Western Michigan University's progress is strong, but the effort must continue, President Edward Montgomery said.

In a speech highlighting the university's success during his first year as president, Montgomery reflected on new programs made possible by the $1 million Transformational Initiative Fund, an increase in retention rates and change to the face of the campus on Stadium Drive.

The State of the University Address was part of the Fall Convocation Friday, Sept. 14.

"It's clear that Western Michigan University is strong," Montgomery said, "and it's getting stronger."

This time last year, Montgomery in his first months as president, talked of the future and the priorities of the university to become a school of choice, raise student success and increase revenue sources.

Enrollment, retention and graduation rates were pinpointed as top priorities for the new president.

In fall 2017, WMU reported a lower total enrollment but an increase in freshman students.

Montgomery told the Board of Trustees during its meeting last September that 2017 total enrollment stood at 22,893, which was a 359-student drop from the previous school year.

That marked the sixth straight year fall enrollment dipped.

Although total enrollment was lower, the number of freshmen or new students increased by 5 percent, Montgomery said in 2017.

Numbers for fall 2018 are not yet available.

Western was graduating 54 percent of its students last year, as reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Montgomery said during last year's State of the University Address that 54 percent wasn't "good enough."

In his first year, Montgomery directed over $8 million to efforts toward growing retention, revenue and reputation, he said Friday.

The college devoted nearly $4 million to financial aid, about $1 million to enhance the office of the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and over $1.5 million to better the marketing and strategic communication efforts.

The year has been a success, he said. But the work is not done.

"Challenge a Bronco and you're apt to get run over," Montgomery said about the college's response to the tasks set before them only a year ago.

The college has made many strides toward becoming a school of choice, he said, highlighting the "Soviet-style chic Elmwood Apartments" that were demolished this summer and the plans to revitalize the face of campus along Stadium Drive.

The university is planning new student housing in the place of the old apartments, to be open in 2020. The Bernhard Center, where Montgomery stood for his speech, will be replaced in 2021 by a new student center, he said.

"But make no mistake," Montgomery said, "the strides we have made to make WMU the school of choice are more than just skin deep.

"Our university is undergoing tremendous change," he said. "Together, we have begun to write the next chapter in Western State Normal School's storied history."

Last fall, Montgomery announced $1 million in funding for two transformational ideas to help students be more engaged on campus, raise retention and ultimately get students to graduation.

One of those efforts launched two weeks ago, Montgomery said.

Success@WMU, a peer mentoring program built to bring community to students, was introduced to 4,000 incoming students at the beginning of the school year, he said.

Despite a short deadline, the new program was ready for the incoming class, he said.

"When the motivation is helping students succeed, this community has demonstrated again and again that they can move mountains," Montgomery said.

The other idea given near $500,000 in funding was the creation of the eSports club. This week, about 300 students showed up to learn more about the new program at an informational meeting, he said.

With a goal to attract younger people, Montgomery saw promise in video games to bring students to Western and help them engage in a community, he said.

Montgomery noted other milestones accomplished in the last year, including improvements to curriculum in general education courses and efforts to increase financial aid.

Financial roadblocks for students don't end after they are admitted to school, Montgomery said. When graduation day approaches, but the piggy bank is getting slimmer, students often are forced to drop out, only a few credits shy of their degree, Montgomery said.

The university wondered if grant funding would be the solution, and over 200 students were identified as at-risk of dropping out though nearing the finish line, he said.

When given specific completion grants, a majority have either graduated or are still enrolled, Montgomery said to the applause of the faculty in attendance.

"We can, we are making a difference," he said. "That's what this campus is all about."

Efforts to improve student success are paying off, Montgomery said, noting an increase in retention rates, or the number of students who stay at college through completion.

Retention rates for students at college for the first time rose 2 percentage points, reaching a five-year high, he said.

Additionally, every class from sophomores to seniors reported improved retention, he said.

Montgomery thanked the audience of faculty, staff and administrators for their work on transforming the college.

"Many of our very best ideas bubble up from those working on the front lines," he said.

But change is inevitable, and the work must continue, Montgomery said.

"Continuous improvement, continuous questioning of what, how and why we operate is vital to our success," he said. "We haven't made it to the mountain top, but there has been progress and we are gaining momentum."
After an inspection of a spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico health officials are advising any clients who received "any type of injection" to get tested for HIV, and hepatitis B and C.

The New Mexico Department of Health reports in a news release that an inspection of the VIP Spa identified practices "that could potentially spread blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C to clients."

In the aftermath, the VIP Spa immediately closed after it was issued a cease and desist letter from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Barbers and Cosmetologists Board on Sept. 7.

"It is very important that anyone who received a vampire facial or other injection related service at the VIP Spa in May or June of 2018 come to the Midtown Public Health Office for free and confidential lab testing and counseling," Lynn Gallagher, the health department's cabinet secretary, said in the release.

A vampire facial is also referred to as a plasma-rich protein facial, and should not expose participants to blood-borne infections when done correctly, experts tell CNN. Dr. Kenneth Mark, a certified dermatologist in New York and assistant professor at New York University Langone Health, told the outlet that "as long as proper protocols are followed and there is no sharing of equipment for patients, then it should not be an issue."

Ever get a 'vampire facial'? Depending on where you had the treatment done, we would like to see you for testing...now: https://t.co/4ZqHEUEeci  NM Dept. of Health (@nmdoh) September 11, 2018

The process includes drawing the patient's blood, processing said blood in a centrifuge machine, extracting the plasma and then re-injecting the substance into the person's face/skin with a micro-needling pen.

"So for patients, when they are investigating places for getting these types of procedures, they need to make sure that the places are actually vampire certified," Dr. Michael Dobryansky, a plastic surgeon trained in vampire facials, told CNN.
NASA says it has developed and tested an "umbrella-like" heat-shield that could help future missions into space deliver larger payloads further than currently possible.

The U.S. space agency reports in a news release it tested the Adaptable Deployable Entry Placement Technology, and two other technology demonstration payloads in New Mexico earlier this week. NASA says the heat-shield was developed by the Ames Research Center, and that its umbrella-like designs could be used for "planetary lander and sample return missions."

--

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"NASA's Adaptable Deployable Entry Placement Technology, or ADEPT, is no ordinary umbrella," the space agency reports in a release. "ADEPT is a foldable device that opens to make a round, rigid heat shield, called an aeroshell. This game-changing technology could squeeze a heat shield into a rocket with a diameter larger than the rocket itself.

"Aeroshells slow spacecraft during entry and shield them from heat. ADEPT could be key to future NASA missions that require extra-large aeroshells to protect spacecraft destined to land on the surface of other planets, all without requiring larger rockets."

In the 15-minute test, the ADEPT was subjected to speeds of about 2,300 mph to observe the shield's deployment, aerodynamics and stability as it enters the atmosphere and falls to the surface.

As for what's next, NASA says it plans to conduct a test subjecting the heat-shield to orbital speeds of about 17,000 mph "to support maturing the technology with an eye towards Venus, Mars or Titan and also returning lunar samples back to Earth."

The space agency says it also tested Suborbital Flight Environment Monitor and Autonomous Flight Termination System.
The investment will allow Uber the opportunity to expand its work on self-driving technology.

Uber Technologies Inc is spending millions of dollars in Toronto to open an engineering hub and expand its self-driving car operations, the strongest indication yet that the company is not retreating from autonomous vehicle development despite recent setbacks.

Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said on Thursday that Uber will invest more than USD 150 million over five years to bolster the ride-hailing companys engineering capabilities, with a new office opening in early 2019, and expand its work in artificial intelligence. The San Francisco-based company expects to hire hundreds of new employees, boosting its overall headcount in Toronto to more than 500.

The investment will allow Uber the opportunity to expand its work on self-driving technology, an area where the company has lagged competitors. Uber opened a self-driving car research center in Toronto last year, and named University of Toronto associate professor Raquel Urtasun as head of the organization.

However, Ubers self-driving car business stalled after one if its autonomous SUVs killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, in March. Uber quickly removed its robot cars from the road, laid off hundreds of test drivers and shuttered operations in Arizona, its autonomous testing hub.

Since the Tempe crash, Khosrowshahi, who took over Uber a year ago, has explored options that include more partnerships with companies developing autonomous cars and a potential sale of the self-driving business, sources have told Reuters. The investment in Toronto is a strong signal that Uber will continue to build its own self-driving technology, at least in the near term.

It also follows a USD 500 million investment from Toyota Motor Corp to jointly work on developing self-driving cars, providing the Uber business a badly needed boost.

However, the company still faces battles with regulators and local officials who have raised concerns over the safety of Ubers program.

Six months after the fatal crash, Uber has not resumed testing its cars on public roads, although Khosrowshahi said he expects the company will by the end of the year after undergoing a safety overhaul.

The self-driving unit is a significant contributor to Ubers losses, which in the second quarter were $891 million. Uber said it will not raise additional financing for the Canada investment.

The separate engineering office set to open early next year is Ubers eighth such office outside of the United States, and will be used for building technology infrastructure for Ubers products, such as ride-hailing and food delivery.

(Source)
Dadarao Bilhore, 48, sells fruit and vegetables. His 16-year-old son died in 2015 because he was not wearing a helmet. Study reports 27,000 potholes in Mumbai. More than 3,000 people die every year on Indian roads; that is almost 10 a day.

Mumbai (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Dadarao Bilhore lives in Mumbai. In 2015 he lost his 16-year-old son in a road accident caused by a pothole in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Since then, he has taken on the task of fixing potholes as a form of mourning and atonement.

Bilhore, 48, sells fruit and vegetable. In his free time, he picks up a shovel, sand and gravel and goes out to fill in potholes, earning him the nickname of Dada potholes, pothole dad.

He says he has repaired almost 600 potholes, but has a long way to go. Navin Lade, a Mumbai resident, says he has recorded more than 27,000 potholes in Maharashtras metropolis, a figure local government officials reject.

Whatever the case, the quality of Mumbais roads leaves a lot to be desired, so much so that a campaign is underway to have Mumbai featured in the Guinness World Records as the pothole capital of the world.

Residents complain that the government is indifferent to the situation and blame the authorities for the poor maintenance. Some activists also claim that the repair work is so shoddy that roads must be repaved every year.

Then there is the rain. When it comes road conditions get worse, especially during the monsoon season, as the pavement is weakened creating huge holes.

Government figures show that there were 3,597 road deaths across the country in 2017, an average of ten fatalities per day.

One of those who died was Prakash, Bilhores, a promising student who at the time of the accident was travelling on a motorcycle with his cousin.

Prakash, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered fatal brain damage. His cousin, who was wearing one, walked away with minor injuries.

Prakashs sudden death left a huge void in our lives, Bilhore said. I [. . .] dont want anyone else to lose a loved one like we have. Hence, As long as I am alive and can walk I will get rid of all of these potholes.

In India, road construction has taken on a momentum in recent years, above all thanks to the infrastructural programmes of the current government.

The latest figures from the Highway Ministry from April show that in the past four years the kilometres covered by motorways have doubled, with an average of 27 km of roads built every day, from 4,410 km in 2014-2015 to 9,800 km in 2017-2018.
Vicar of the Custody: We must accept the mystery of the Cross and make it a criterion of life, knowing how to lose in order to win, as Christ did. The parishes of the Holy Land celebrate by lighting a fire, in the sign of the Cross.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - "The apparent defeat of the Cross has become the perennial victory of love" stated Friar Dobromir Jasztal, vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, this morning during the homily for Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. The solemn liturgy was held at 9 am this morning at the altar of Calvary, in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, in Jerusalem.

Today the Christian community joins the rest of the world in exalting the Cross, the discovery of which is marked on May 7th. Like every year, the Mass was celebrated by the vicar of the Custody. The priest carried a relic of the True Cross to the altar, where it remained for the entire ceremony.

During the homily, Friar Jasztal recalled how the Cross is the instrument for the raising of man and the "obligatory passage for the glory of the Resurrection". The Franciscan called on faithful to recognize the mystery of the Cross "in all its beauty and depth", even if this is not enough: "The mystery of the Cross must also become a precise criterion of life. This need frightens us, but if we do not accept it, we cannot be credible Christians and above all our faith becomes sterile and illusory ".

"Jesus undressed himself by becoming obedient unto death", recalls Brother Jasztal. "The Cross is weakness, it is being defeated in the sense of allowing oneself to be trampled and humiliated in order not to renounce loving and being true. It is knowing how to lose in order to win, as Christ did. In other words, one must be able to let oneself be destroyed by the hatred and envy of others, without remaining destroyed inside, remaining free in our love to the end. The logic of the world, devoid of the logic of the Cross, requires us to respond to hatred with hate, thus opening a chain of reaction that ultimately returns our hatred of ourselves. In the end it is no longer the hatred of others that affects us, but it is our own hate that devours from within ". A chain of hatred that only Jesus was able to break through the Cross.

Interviewed by AsiaNews, Friar David Grenier, Secretary of the Custody, comments: "The Cross is at the center of our Christian life. We would like to have a Christian life without 'Crosses', but the story that the Cross is the way of Redemption: without it there is no Resurrection ".

In addition to the Holy Sepulcher ceremony, each parish of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the anniversary. Fr. Ibrahim Shomali, chancellor of the patriarchate, says that the communities celebrate bringing "the gifts of the earth" - grapes and pomegranate - on offer, while the parish priest lights a fire. "The meaning is to thank God for these gifts, and to live the Cross, that is to accept it, to witness it, because it must be seen as 'fire'." In the Christian village of Meilia (Galilee), the exaltation of the Cross was also an occasion for an ecumenical moment, with a procession in the late afternoon attended by Latin, Orthodox and Protestant Christians.
Last months tremors damaged at least 57,000 homes and displaced more than 110,000 people. At least 128 cases of malaria have been reported, including a pregnant woman, two infants and two toddlers. West Lombok needs 3.4 billion rupees (US$ 229,800) to cope with the health emergency.

Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies)  West Lombok authorities in West Nusa Tenggara Province have declared a health emergency after a surge in malaria cases followed multiple powerful earthquakes that rattled the region last month.

West Lombok Regent Fauzan Khalid announced on Friday that he signed the decree on Wednesday. The status will enable us to gather support from the West Nusa Tenggara administration and the Health Ministry to handle the malaria cases because we cant handle it on our own, he said.

The earthquakes that struck Lombok damaged at least 57,000 homes and displaced more than 110,000 people.

In the wake of this, the number of malaria cases in the regency continues to rise. The first case of the disease was found in late August in a camp located in Panimbung village, Gunungsari district.

West Lombok Health Agency chief Rahman Sahnan Putra said the disease had infected 128 people as of Thursday, including a pregnant woman, two infants and two toddlers.

The agencys preventive measures include handing out mosquito nets and mosquito repellent lotions to people in the four districts affected by the disease.

It is estimated that the regency needs as much as Rp 3.4 billion (US$ 229,800) to handle the malaria cases, which includes mass blood surveys in locations infected with malaria.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), almost half of all Indonesians live in areas where malaria is endemic. In Java and Bali, home to just under 60 per cent of Indonesias population, malaria due to the vivax parasite is hypo-endemic.

In the more remote island groups, the incidence of malaria is much higher and infections with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are similar in volume.

Although the overall number of cases is declining, about 16.7 million Indonesians contracted the disease in 2016 alone and almost 60,000 died.
The silence coming in Washington, London and Brussels has left Canada isolated in the West. For diplomatic sources, a "new red line" has been drawn in relations with the Saudis. Analysts and experts note that now criticism means loss of business. Behind the iron fist is Mohammed bin Salmans "thirst for power" with Trump's approval.

Riyadh (AsiaNews)  The diplomatic row between Canada and Saudi Arabia is what Western officials call the new red line" in relations with Riyadh, one of the world's leading oil producers.

The need to protect billions of dollars in business and contracts with Saudi Arabia has led Western capitals, from Washington to London, via Brussels, to remain silent when it comes to the human rights of ordinary Saudi nationals and activists.

Despite the hoopla over the kingdoms reforms that mainstream media have dutifully reported, repression in Saudi Arabia has intensified lately.

The issue came to a critical point in August when Saudi Arabia decided to freeze investments and trade relations with Canada and expel its ambassador, jeopardising an existing military contract worth billions, that could, if cancelled, have negative repercussions for 2,500 families in Ontario, Canada.

The reason for Riyadhs action is Canadian government criticism of Saudi human rights violations. The row with Ottawa erupted after an Arabic language tweet by the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh called for the "immediate release" of activists jailed in the kingdom.

As a result of this tweet, the embassy's Twitter account saw its following jump from a few hundred to more than 12,000. For the Saudis, this was an attempt to "communicate directly" with Saudi people.

As a Western diplomatic source stressed, "using the megaphone" to criticise the lack of respect for human rights is not the best solution. On the other hand, there are no clear channels of engagement in Riyadh and past complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

Riyadh's furious reaction  centred on trade relations  sent a chill down many a Western governments spine, generating fear that they too might be subject to similar reprisals in case of criticism.

This explains why, after years of tensions under former President Obama, Washington decided to remain silent and effectively isolate Ottawa. At the same time, the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has led to renewed close relations through personal ties with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

At the start of the crisis, the European Union had planned to release a public statement effectively backing Ottawa's position on human rights, but the plan was dropped after European and EU ambassadors instead delivered a "demarche"  a formal diplomatic note  in a private meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

"Western countries will very much be wary of openly criticising Saudi domestic policy," said Bessma Momani, a professor at Canada's University of Waterloo. "The Canadian case has proved that lots of business deals could be lost if criticism of Saudi Arabia upsets its rulers."

For some analysts, Western silence is deafening and shows how Saudi Arabia is increasingly using its economic muscle to quell foreign criticism.

"It's pretty clear that [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] is using Canada to send a message to the rest of the world that if you want to trade with Saudi Arabia, then you need to shut up on human rights," noted Nader Hashemi, director of the University of Denver's Center for Middle East Studies at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

For Hashemi, the root cause of the diplomatic crisis with Canada is the crown prince himself. Commonly referred to as MBS, he "is drunk on power, convinced that with Trumps support he can do whatever he wants", Hashemi told Al Jazeera.

The Saudi message boils down to a simple rule, criticise us at your peril, said Thomas Juneau, a University of Ottawa professor with expertise in Canadian foreign policy and the Middle East.
"Our victory is the cross of Jesus, victory before our enemy, the great ancient serpent, the Great Accuser". In the cross "we were saved, in that path that Jesus chose to sink to the very lowest point, but with the power of divinity ".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The cross of Jesus "is our sign of defeat, which causes persecution, which destroys us, it is also our sign of victory because God has won there" and chained Satan said Pope Francis today at Mass at Casa Santa Marta, on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The Pope explained that when we contemplate the cross, the mark of Christians, we contemplate a sign of defeat but also a sign of victory: All that Jesus did during his life failed on the cross - he said - and all the hope of his followers came to an end. We must not be afraid to contemplate the cross as a moment of defeat, of failure. When Paul reflects on the mystery of Jesus Christ, he says some powerful things. He tells us that Jesus emptied himself, annihilated himself, was made sin to the end and took all our sins upon himself, all the sins of the world: he was a rag, a condemned man. Paul was not afraid to show this defeat and even this can enlighten our moments of darkness, our moments of defeat. But the cross is also a sign of victory for us Christians.

The Pope recalled that in the first Reading, the Book of Numbers tells of the moment during the Exodus when the people who complained were punished by serpents. This, he said, refers to the ancient serpent, Satan, the Great Accuser. But, the Pope continued, the Lord told Moses that the serpent that brought death would be raised and would bring salvation. Francis explained that this is a prophecy. In fact, he said, having been made sin, Jesus defeated the author of sin, he defeated the serpent. And Satan, the Pope commented, was so happy on Good Friday that he did not notice the great trap of history in which he was to fall.

As the Fathers of the Church say, Pope Francis continued, Satan saw Jesus in such a bad state, and like a hungry fish that goes after the bait attached to the hook, he swallowed Him. But in that moment, the Pope said, he also swallowed His divinity because that was the bait attached to the hook. At that moment, the Pope said, Satan was destroyed forever. He has no strength. In that moment the cross became a sign of victory.

Our victory is the cross of Jesus, victory over our enemy, the ancient serpent, the Great Accuser the Pope said. We have been saved by the cross, by the fact that Jesus chose to sink to the very lowest point, but with the power of divinity.

Jesus said to Nicodemus: When I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself. Jesus was lifted up and Satan was destroyed. We must be attracted to the cross of Jesus: we must look at it because it gives us the strength to go forward. And the ancient serpent that was destroyed still barks, still threatens but, as the Fathers of the Church say, he is a chained dog: do not approach him and he will not bite you; but if you try to caress him because you attracted to him as if he were a puppy, prepare yourself, he will destroy you.

Our life goes on, Pope Francis concluded, with Christ victorious and risen, and who sends us the Holy Spirit; but also with that chained dog, the devil, whom I must not draw close to because he will bite me.

The cross teaches us that in life there is failure and victory. We must be capable of tolerating defeat, of bearing our failures patiently, even those of our sins because He paid for us. We must tolerate them in Him, asking forgiveness in Him, but never allowing ourselves to be seduced by this chained dog. It will be good if today, when we go home, we would take 5, 10, 15 minutes in front of the crucifix, either the one we have in our house or on the rosary: look at it, it is our sign of defeat, it provokes persecutions, it destroys us; it is also our sign of victory because it is where God was victorious.
The European Parliament approves a report on EU-China relations. The latter urges Beijing to refrain from further military provocations towards Taiwan. Taiwan will vigorously defend against any infringement of its freedom and democracy, and safeguard the well-being of its people, a statement from the Office of the President said.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Taiwans Foreign Ministry expressed its sincere appreciation for the European Parliament after it approved a resolution on the EU-China relations report, which calls for an end to Chinese military intimidations vis-a-vis Taiwan and backs the island nations participation in international bodies.

The European Parliament approved the resolution drafted by Bas Belder, a Dutch MEP and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, during its plenary session two days ago. The votes in favour were 530, 53 against and 55 abstentions.

The resolution reiterates European support for Taiwan's presence in institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It goes on to say that Taiwans continuous exclusion is not in line with the EUs interests, and reaffirms the opportunity for a bilateral investment agreement between Taiwan and the European Union.

The motion highlights the different political developments in Taiwan and China, with a full-fledged multi-party democracy on the one hand and an increasingly authoritarian regime on the other.

The resolution calls on EU and its member states to urge Beijing to refrain from further military provocations towards Taiwan and endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

For example, the European Parliament is concerned about China's unilateral decision to use new flight routes over the Taiwan Strait.

The report encourages renewed talks between the two countries, noting that cross-strait disputes should be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

According to Taiwans Foreign Ministry, the resolution by the European Parliament recognises Taiwan's freedom and democracy.

In the wake of increasing bullying from China, Taiwan urges like-minded countries to squarely face Beijings threats to the rules-based global order and international security and to work together to counteract these actions, the Foreign Ministry said.

The following day, the Office of the President also released a statement expressing gratitude to the EP for adopting the report.

As a responsible member of the global community, Taiwan will continue to uphold regional security and stability, and fulfil its international responsibilities through close cooperation with like-minded countries, the Office of the President said.

In addressing Chinas challenges, Taiwan will vigorously defend its freedom and democracy and safeguard the well-being of its people against any infringement, it added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14)  Accused drug lord Peter Lim now has a half-a-million-peso bounty.

"The government is also ready to give a reward of P500,000 to anyone who can give information on the exact whereabouts of Accused Peter Go Lim, provided that such information will lead to the actual arrest of said fugitive," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message to reporters on Friday.

He also warned Lim's coddlers they could be charged with obstruction of justice if they continue to help the Cebu-based businessman. This is punishable with up to six years of imprisonment.

The Cebu City police have failed to arrest Lim despite the 10-day ultimatum given by the Makati Regional Trial Court which issued a warrant on Lim on August 14. The court also issued a hold departure order to prevent him from leaving the country.

The police said Lim may be hiding "somewhere in Manila." Lim's last known address is in Cebu City, but his exact whereabouts is unknown since he skipped hearings on his drug cases at the Justice Department.

READ: Where is Peter Lim?

Lim is facing an arrest for illegal drug trade conspiracy in the Visayas. His co-accused, self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, earlier told a Senate hearing that Lim was his supplier.

Lim denied any involvement in illegal drugs, including the allegations made by President Rodrigo Duterte that he is part of a Chinese triad leading illegal drug operations in the Visayas. He even personally appeared to the President, his kumpadre (co-sponsor) in a wedding, to clear his name.

Malacanang earlier asked Lim to surrender, assuring him he would be given a fair trial.
The Saudi Arabian coalition has conquered the main communication route linking the port city to the capital. Two military leaders killed from the Shiite rebel militias, who are ready to fight "until death". Madrid sells 400 precision bombs to Riyadh worth 10 million euros. USA, Great Britain, Germany and Italy all selling arms to the Saudis.

Sana'a (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Just days after the failure of peace talks on Yemen scheduled in Geneva under the aegis of the United Nations, the Saudi Arabian coalition has intensified its offensive against the Shiite Houthi rebels . The coastal city of Hudaydah, in the eastern part of the country, is a strategic point for the passage of goods and people and is being targeted by Riyadh and its allies.

Yesterday, sources close to the pro-government forces announced the reconquest of the main communication route linking the port city to the capital, Sana'a, both of which are still controlled by the Houthi. The control of this strategic artery for the country effectively blocks the connections and the source of supplies and armaments for the Shiite rebels.

Added to this is the killing of two of their leaders, who led the rebel troops stationed in the area: General Mohammed Abdel Salam Saleh Atif, head of Brigade 140, and General Ali Salah Mohammed al Qiri, head of the 190 air defense brigade, south of the city.

In recent days, the Saudis and the Emirates have decided to turn up military pressure on the Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, following the continuous failure of international diplomacy and UN peace talks. The last round, scheduled last week, failed even before starting due to the non-presence of the Shiite delegation, which had placed further conditions for participation at the last minute.

Hence the choice of Riyadh to tighten the offensive on Hudaydah, considered of strategic importance for the presence of one of the main ports of the country. However, the Houthi rebels do not seem willing to give in and, according to some sources in the area, "are ready to fight to the death, if needs be".

The extent of the conflict in Yemen is confirmed by the figures: 20 million people depend on humanitarian aid; 17.8 million people suffer from food insecurity; 16.4 million people do not have access to health care. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) the death toll since 2015, the start date of the war, is around 10 thousand dead and 55 thousand injured.

The Paris initiative raises more than one perplexity among humanitarian workers and observers, partly because one of the promoters (the Saudis) is among the main actors in the conflict with armed support for government forces.

The Wahhabi-led coalition is burdened by accusations of violence and loss of human lives "unacceptable" because it is responsible for 51% of deaths among civilians, among whom there are also children.

Meanwhile, Spain has admitted, after a series of confirmations and denials, to the sale of at least 400 precision bombs to Saudi Arabia for a total value of almost 10 million euros. For Madrid it was necessary to "honor the contract", putting aside doubts and uncertainties related to Saudi violence against civilians in Yemen.

In addition, in case of cancellation Riyadh would have replied with the cancellation of the contract which provided for the construction of five corvettes for a value of 1.8 billion euros, to be built at Navantia shipyards in Andalusia, a socialist bastion.

Moreover, Spain is not the only country to sell arms to the Saudis. According to the Tiv index which assesses the volume of arms trade, other suppliers include the United States (5221), the United Kingdom (1279), Italy (137), Germany (118), France (117) and Turkey (52).
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is planning to file a fresh charge sheet against finance ministry officials who were involved in the disbursal of loans from public sector banks to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines, reported The Economic Times quoting people aware of the development.

The CBI has already officially approached the finance ministry and formally obtained relevant documentation to build this case. The CBI team has also questioned some of the finance ministry officials from the relevant period. Currently, it is looking at the acquired documents to widen the investigation against concerned officials.

Earlier, the CBI had seized more than a lakh internal email exchanges dated between 2008 and 2013 during the search of Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallyas residence. These emails included communications with PMO, finance ministry, civil aviation ministry and petroleum ministry, among others, regarding bank loans and supply of aircraft turbine fuel on credit, the report said.

A majority of these email conversations were between Mallya and his key company advisers, regarding the financial restructuring of the airline, particularly AK Ravi Nedungadi, Harish Bhat and A Raghunathan.

These email exchanges were also documented in the report of the corporate ministrys Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

The agency is specifically investigating the role of the then government of India Joint Secretary (banking), Amitabh Verma, as they found several references to him in Mallya's emails.

Amitabh called me to ask how the SBI meeting went, I gave him a detailed report and emphasised the urgency and criticality of getting an adhoc disbursement of Rs 500 crore by March 31. Amitabh said he had spoken to Mr Bhat and that this disbursement would happen, Mallya wrote to Ravi Nedungadi in an email dated March 26, 2009.

The state-owned bank did sanction a credit of Rs 500 crore to Kingfisher by April, which reflected in SBIs annual appraisal report as part of Kingfishers Rs 2,000-crore credit requirements, according to the evidence available with CBI.

The agency believes that public sector banks were forced into lending to Kingfisher without due diligence. Thus, they are looking closely at Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Syndicate Bank.

Until now, the case against Mallya has revolved around him defaulting on loan repayment. This development has, however, opened ways for investigating claims such as the possibility of political intervention of several UPA ministers to make loans available to Mallya.

The CBI is seeking Mallyas extradition in a court in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the CBI on Thursday said the change in a 2015 lookout circular against Mallya from detain to merely "obtain information about his movements" was an error in judgement. The change was because Mallya was cooperating in the probe and there was no warrant against him.
Despite the poor response to the first free return filing facility put up by the tax department in the city, the CGST Commissionerate is ready to open more such centres to help better tax compliance and timely filing, a senior official said on Friday.

As the GST filing still remains cumbersome for a vast majority of taxpayers, the Central GST Commissionerate of the Mumbai East Zone, which is one the largest in the country, has launched a free return filing centre at the Parel area of the city in April but has not met with the desired response.

"Our initial planning was to open 30-50 centres across the city. But we didn't get a good response to the first centre and so we haven't decided to expand it. But if we get request from any taxpayer community then we will go for it. We are ready to open it anywhere," CGST commissioner for Mumbai East, Vijay Risi said.

Risi was talking to the press after launching the commissionerate's first Hindi magazine 'Kanheri' which aims to address the grievances/queries of taxpayers.

"We want to use this magazine for nut just for articles but also to publish some technical information that will be useful to all taxpayers. Next editions will have taxpayers involved as well. They can also interact with us for queries or suggestions on refunds or assistance," Risi said.

The first tax return facility was rolled out in partnership with the Western regional council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
US_China_Trade_Trade war_Tariff

China will not buckle to US demands in any trade negotiations, the major state-run China Daily newspaper said in an editorial on Friday, after Chinese officials welcomed an invitation from Washington for a new round of talks.

China and the United States are set to return to the table with the threat of new US tariffs looming after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin extended the invitation to counterparts in Beijing.

The official China Daily said that while China was "serious" about resolving the stand-off through talks, it would not be rolled over, despite concerns over a slowing economy and a falling stock market at home.

"The Trump administration should not be mistaken that China will surrender to the US demands. It has enough fuel to drive its economy even if a trade war is prolonged," the newspaper said in an editorial.

If the United States imposed new levies on Chinese imports then Beijing "will not hesitate to take countermeasures against US tariffs to safeguard China's interests," it added.

US President Trump said on Twitter on Thursday that the United States holds the upper hand in talks.

"We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us," Trump tweeted. "Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing."

The US administration is readying a final list of $200 billion in Chinese imports on which it plans to levy tariffs of 10-25 percent in coming days, which would ramp up the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters on Thursday that China welcomed the invitation, and the two countries were discussing the details.

A meeting among Cabinet-level officials could ease market worries over the escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the world's two largest economies and raise costs for companies and consumers.

However, the last round of talks, between mid-level US and Chinese officials in August, failed to reach any agreement.
Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), an unlisted infrastructure lending giant with over 150 subsidiaries, has been making headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. The companys debt was downgraded over the past few weeks for default of interest to its bondholders.

The first signs of trouble emerged in June when IL&FS defaulted on inter-corporate deposits and commercial papers (borrowings) worth about Rs 450 crore. Over the next two to three months, at least two rating agencies downgraded its long-term ratings. As a result, the infrastructure giant, which is credited for building the longest tunnel in the country (the Chenani-Nashri tunnel), no longer carries an investment grade rating. This makes it difficult for the company to raise money in future.

The downgrades also caught the attention of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

After its first default, the company outlined plans to bring things back on track, and those seemed credible. They had sensed the trouble earlier, but were late to act, said one of the officials with the shareholders.

The official said the company has assets, but it needs to act immediately, adding that the company must do everything possible to placate bondholders so that the situation does not go out of control.

LIC, with a 25.34 percent stake in IL&FS, is the largest shareholder in the company. Orix Corporate, Japan with a 23.54 percent stake is the second largest shareholder. Other large shareholders include Abu Dhabi Investment (12.56 percent), Housing Development Finance Corporation - HDFC (9.02 percent), Central Bank of India (7.67 percent) and State Bank of India (6.42 percent).

Two analysts partially covering the company say there is very little information available on the companys financials in entirety. Not every subsidiary is listed and senior management of the group does not meet often But now it seems the situation has turned precarious, said one of the analysts.

Only three of the companys subsidiaries are listed  ILFS Engineering and Construction Company, ILFS Transportation Networks and ILFS Investment Managers.

On July 21, the chairman and founder of IL&FS Ravi Parthasarathy stepped down on health grounds and was succeeded by LICs Managing Director Hemant Bhargava.

Debt and defaults

After the first default, a note issued in July by ICRA ratings agency said four of its subsidiary IL&FS Transportation Networks (ILTN) project special-purpose vehicles reported irregularities in debt servicing. A fifth project had to dip into its debt service reserve to pay good on dues.

In August, ICRA downgraded the long-term rating on Rs 4,475 crore worth of debt securities from AAA to AA+ taking into account the companys elevated debt levels due to the funding commitments towards Group ventures.

Another statement by India Ratings said, IL&FS ability to support ITNLs operations has reduced significantly, given the increase in overall debt levels of the IL&FS group. Hence, the agency has removed the notching support for ITNL from IL&FS.

On September 4, IL&FS yet again defaulted on a short-term loan of Rs 1,000 crore from SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), while a subsidiary has also defaulted on Rs 500 crore due to the development financial institution, which reportedly forced SIDBI to ask its chief general manager in charge of the risk management department to resign.

Genesis of IL&FS

Incorporated in 1987, the company was initially promoted by the Central Bank of India, HDFC and Unit Trust of India (UTI) with the objective of promoting infrastructure projects in the country. IL&FS calls itself as an expert from concept to execution and over the years, its focus has steadily shifted from project sponsorship to that of project advisory and project facilitator for development and implementation of projects.

IL&FS acts as the main holding company of the IL&FS Group with most business operations domiciled in separate companies. It is also registered as a Core Investment Company with RBI, as a result of which its operations are restricted to investing in other group companies.

The firm has a demonstrated track record of generating resources by inducting strategic partners or through sale of assets to external investors. During FY11 to FY14, IL&FS realized profit of around Rs 1,461 crore on sale of stake in strategic investments, ICRA said in a report. It consolidated its energy holdings and also sold stake in IL&FS Trust Company Ltd.

However, according to ICRA, these stake sales have been inadequate to meet the further funding commitments to the group companies leading to an increase in the debt levels. With relatively high leverage, it would largely have to depend on strategic sale in various projects/group companies to support various group entities going forward. In addition to the funding support, IL&FS has been extending additional support to the group entities by way of shortfall undertakings which could lead to contingent stress on the balance sheet, it said.

Shortage of cash

Liquidity is definitely very tight , and at the moment, things are very fluid. Certainly with the kind of investors, the situation is scary. It needs to be seen what will be the immediate support by the shareholders? I think there are marquee investors but the willingness and timeliness will be key, said another analyst.

ICRA said while the IL&FS group has opportunistic monetization plan for a number of businesses and projects under its umbrella, progress has been slow, leading to an increase in leverage. Its long-term debt-to-equity ratio has risen to 3.08 times as of March 2018, compared to 2.60 times in March 2017, the agency highlighted.

In a letter to its employees, IL&FS claimed that if funds worth Rs 16,000 crore stuck with concession authorities were released on time, it would not have landed in this mess, said a PTI report.

It is our case that if concession authorities released our monies, which is around Rs 16,000 crore of IL&FS groups liquidity and stuck in claims and termination payments, we would not be in the situation that we are in, the letter said.

Of the above funds, about 60 percent is through non-convertible debentures, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies, said a Bloomberg Quint report. However, it also said the groups consolidated debt increased by Rs 11,211 crore in financial year 2017-18 to Rs 91,091.30 crore as of March 2018.

For now, IL&FS is looking to raise funds to repay its debt and its board is scheduled to meet on September 15. It is likely to seek approval for raising about Rs 3,000-crore loan from LIC and SBI.

Both LIC and SBI among other shareholders have asked it to raise funds by selling its assets or non-core businesses as a pre-condition for putting in additional money in the firm.

One of the analysts quoted above said, There are certain assets which are valuable but a fire-sale would mean that the haircuts (losses) will be larger and hence could create a challenging situation.

According to Care Ratings, the company has plans to raise nearly Rs 8,000 crore  Rs 4,500 crore through a rights issue by September-end and Rs 3,500 crore in line of credit  from its promoter entities for meeting near-term liquidity needs.

India Ratings said the developments over the last few weeks may test IL&FS positioning in the infrastructure development space and could impact its ability to participate in new projects, unless swiftly remedied.

This is already evident as access to funding from both banks and capital markets has taken a hit and the groups plan to deleverage through asset sale could also face additional challenges unless LIC becomes the rescuer yet again.
According to the EOW, the accused colluded with the former promoters of Religare Enterprises, Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh. (Image: Reuters)

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Shivinder Singh, who withdrew his petition from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) against his elder brother Malvinder Singh citing respect for their mother, on Friday said he intends to use the mediation process to resolve differences amicably but his decision to disassociate from his brother stands.

Shivinder further added that in case the mediation falls through, he intends to reassess and start a fresh action against his brother.

It is clear that my brother and I cannot do so (business) together. To that end, I intend to use the mediation process to get to a critical decision. Namely, whether my brother or I take full responsibility for resolving the groups issues with Daiichi Sankyo and other lenders, Shivinder in an email statement.

Shivinder didnt make it clear who will be mediating between the brothers.

Shivinder had earlier on September 4 filed a case against Malvinder and Sunil Godhwani in the NCLT, alleging 'oppression and mismanagement' of RHC Holding, Religare Enterprises and Fortis Healthcare.

Shivinder went on to make serious allegations like misappropriation of funds, forgery and pushing the group into debt trap.

The decision to file the case was made with a very heavy heart and after careful deliberation. The decision to withdraw was weighed equally seriously, Shivinder said.

I did so because my primary goal remains to address and resolve the groups issues through constructive and transparent engagement with Daiichi Sankyo and our other creditors, he added.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported that it may be too late for Shivinder to absolve himself from the financial and legal troubles of the group.

The brothers have lost management control over Fortis and Religare and are facing heat from Japanese drug maker Daichii Sankyo, which is trying to enforce a Rs 3,500-crore arbitration award it got from a tribunal in Singapore. Last month, Fortis shareholders' approved sale of their company to Malaysias IHH Healthcare for $1.1 billion.
business Macro@Moneycontrol I Deconstructing DDA's land pooling policy In this episode, we analyse what DDA's land pooling policy means for homebuyers, investors and even farmers
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A small group of farmers are earning as much as Rs 3 lakh per acre from selling herbs and aromatic plants they grow, highlighting a different picture of India's farming story.

Most of the farmers, who cultivate rice and wheat, manage to earn about Rs 30,000 per acre.

Demands for herbs and aromatic plants such as ateesh, kuth, kutki, karanja, kapikachhu, shankhapushpi have been on a rise owing to increase in consumption of ayurvedic medicines and personal care products.

The market for herbal products is pegged at Rs 50,000 crore, growing at a fast annual clip of 15 percent. While the area of land dedicated to herbs and aromatic plants is very small  6.34 lakh hectares out of the total currently cropped area of 1,058.1 lakh hectares  it is growing 10 percent annually, according to government data.

A farmer growing ateesh  a herb mostly used in ayurvedic medicine  in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh may easily get Rs 2.5-3 lakh per acre. A lavender farmer may make Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh returns per acre.

Considering higher returns on these crops, Bharat Bhushan of Khellani village in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir started growing lavender from maize in his 2-acre plot, as per a report in The Economic Times.

Industries process lavender flowers to obtain oil, dry flowers and other value-added products.

I planted the crop for the first time in 2000 and the returns are four times what I used to get for maize, Bhushan told the paper.

Vidya Karan, another farmer located in Sangla village in Himachal Pradeshs Kinnaur district, pointed out that growing these herbs are beneficial as they require less water and fertilisers.

We dont have to water the herbs too much or spray fertilisers on it, Karan told the paper, adding that this has enabled them to cultivate even when rainfall is poor.

A higher value is sought for these herbs as the supply for most of these plants is limited. "Some high-value herbs like ateesh, kuth, kutki are currently more profitable because of a supply shortage, Amit Agarwal, director, Natural Remedies told the paper.

Agarwal added that on an average a farmer can earn Rs 60,000 per acre by growing herbs if there is demand.

Most of the companies that source these herbs and plants are working with the farmers to maintain a supply chain. For instance, Dabur is working farmers to grow medicinal plants like shankhapushpi in Barmer, Rajasthan. Natural Remedies has a contract farming of herbs on 1,043 acres of land, while Patanjali is helping farmers cultivate herbs on 40,000 acres. Even Himalaya Drug Company is working with over 800 farmers, covering over 3,500 acres, a company spokesperson told the paper.

Demand for oils from these plants is coming from domestic companies dealing in perfumery and cosmetics, Ram Vishwakarma, director, IIIM told the paper.

In FY18, the area of land cultivating medicinal herbs increased by 25 percent  more than 5,000 acres across 19 states, involving 2,400 farmer families, according to a study conducted by Dabur, its CSR head A Sudhakar told the paper.
Indian refiners will cut their monthly crude loadings from Iran for September and October by nearly half from earlier this year as New Delhi works to win waivers on the oil export sanctions Washington plans to reimpose on Tehran in November.

India's loadings from Iran for this month and next will drop to less than 12 million barrels each, after purchases over April-August had been boosted in anticipation of the reductions.

The United States is renewing sanctions on Iran after withdrawing from a nuclear deal forged in 2015 between Tehran and world powers. Washington reimposed some of the financial sanctions from August 6, while those affecting Iran's petroleum sector will come into force from November 4.

India, Iran's No.2 oil client behind top buyer China, does not recognise the reimposed US sanctions, but winning a waiver from the restrictions is a must for New Delhi to protect its wider exposure to the US financial system.

India's oil ministry in June told refiners to prepare for a "drastic reduction or zero" imports from Iran from November.

"Some refiners have either already exhausted or front-loaded their term contract to a large extent, which allows them the flexibility to go to zero if required, or until clarity on the waivers emerge," Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspect, told Reuters.

Washington will consider waivers for Iranian oil buyers such as India but they must eventually halt crude imports from Tehran, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week in New Delhi after a meeting of high level officials.

The Indian government, already facing a backlash over a falling rupee and record high fuel prices, does not want to halt the oil imports from Iran as the Islamic republic offers a discount on oil sales to India.

Government sources said India made this point clear in last week's meetings with US officials and remains engaged with Washington to work out waivers on its oil purchases from Iran.

"We have a special relationship with both the US and with Iran, and we are seeing how to balance this all, and also to balance out the interest of the refiners and end-consumers," said one of the government officials.

But if Washington adopts a tough line, India would have no other choice than to end imports from Iran, they said.

CUTTING IMPORTS NEARLY IN HALF

India lifted about 658,000 barrel of oil per day (bpd) from Iran in April-August, according to data obtained from trade sources by Reuters, and the cuts projected for September and October would drop the daily average over those two months by about 45 percent to 360,000-370,000 bpd.

Indian oil refiners have already given the October loading plans to the National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC), sources familiar with the loading schedule said.

Top refiner Indian Oil Corp wants to lift 6 million barrels each in September and October, while Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals would load 3 million barrels each for those two months, the sources said.

IOC would also lift 1 million barrel for its subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corp in October, they said.

Bharat Petroleum Corp would lift 1 million barrels in September and skip purchases in October, a company source said on Tuesday.

Bharat Petroleum has already drawn more than its fixed volumes - the amount it is obligated to purchase - that were contracted for 2018/19, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Nayara Energy, part owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft, plans to lift 1 million barrels each in September and October, the sources said. But the refiner began reducing its oil imports from Iran in June and aims to completely halt purchases from November.

Hindustan Petroleum, Reliance Industries and HPCL Mittal Energy (HMEL) have no plans to buy from Iran in September and October, they said.

India refiners - excluding Reliance and HMEL, which do not have term contracts with Iran - will together lift about 73 percent of their fixed contract volumes from Iran by end-October, the loading data showed.

IOC, Nayara and MRPL did not respond to Reuters' emails seeking comments.
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Share price of Engineers India advanced 3 percent intraday Friday as company is going to acquires government's 100 percent stake in Projects and Development India (PDIL).

The company's board in its meeting held on September 13 considered the proposal for acquisition of 100 percent paid-up share capital of PDIL from President of India, acting through the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and given the approval of bidding for the same by way of share acquisition route, company said in release.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 206.20 and 52-week low Rs 117.90 on 26 December, 2017 and 19 July, 2018, respectively.

Currently, it is trading 37.8 percent below its 52-week high and 8.78 percent above its 52-week low.

At 13:48 hrs Engineers India was quoting at Rs 128.20, up Rs 3.45, or 2.77 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Fortis Healthcare | In the September quarter, Rakesh Junjhunwala held a 2.65 percent holding in the stock, and FIIs have increased its stake to 41.04 percent from 40.98 percent in the June quarter. In FY21 so far the stock price has risen 0 percent to Rs 125.70 as on October 26.

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Shares of Fortis Healthcare added 1.5 percent intraday Friday after Shivinder Mohan Singh withdrew his petition against Malvinder Singh from the NCLT.

That out of respect for their mother, the parties have already started mediation and as per the request of the mediators to constructively progress the mediation, the petitioners wish to withdraw the captioned Petition, without prejudice to their rights and contentions. All rights of the petitioners are hereby reserved, read the filing.

Shivinder had earlier on September 4 filed a case against Malvinder and Sunil Godhwani in the NCLT, alleging 'oppression and mismanagement' of RHC Holding, Religare Enterprises and Fortis Healthcare.

Shivinder went on to make serious allegations like misappropriation of funds, forgery and pushing the group into debt trap.

The tribunal, which has heard the petition filed by Shivinder, allowed both parties - Shivinder and his wife Aditi Singh and Malvinder - to inspect the books of RHC. NCLT has posted the matter on October 9 for next hearing.

The brothers have lost management control over Fortis and Religare and are facing heat from Japanese drug maker Daichii Sankyo, which is trying to enforce a Rs 3,500 crore arbitration award it got from a tribunal in Singapore. Last month, Fortis shareholders' approved sale of their company to Malaysias IHH Healthcare for $1.1 billion.

At 10:43 hrs Fortis Healthcare was quoting at Rs 145.50, up Rs 1.60, or 1.11 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
(Representational image)

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Shares of Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) rose 2.6 percent intraday Friday after company filed draft letter of offer with SEBI & exchanges for rights issue.

The company at the meeting of the rights issue committee held on September 10, 2018 approved the Draft Letter of Offer (DLOF) dated September 12, 2018 for submission to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Stock Exchanges where the equity shares of the Company are listed.

The DLOF has been submitted to SEBI and Stock Exchanges for seeking in-principal approval for the said issue.

On September 5, 2018 the board had approved the issue of equity shares of the company of face value Re 1 each by way of a rights issue to the existing shareholders of the company on the record date for an amount not exceeding Rs 500 crore.

At 13:32 hrs Hindustan Construction Company was quoting at Rs 14.58, up Rs 0.25, or 1.74 percent on the BSE.

The stock price plunged 53 percent in the last 6 months.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
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Lupin share price gained 2.4 percent intraday on Friday after the US health regulator concluded the inspection of company's Nagpur unit with zero observations.

Nagpur facility is the company's latest site and manufactures oral solid dosage products. The site also houses company's state of the art injectable manufacturing facility.

The pharma major announced the successful completion of an inspection carried out by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at its Nagpur, Maharashtra facility.

"The inspection concluded without any observation. This inspection was a product specific pre-approval inspection," Lupin said.

Meanwhile, the company has received approval for its Atovaquone Oral Suspension USP, 750 mg/5 mL from the USFDA to market a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline LLC's Mepron Oral Suspension, 750 mg/5 mL.

The drug is indicated for prevention and acute oral treatment of mild-tomoderate Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients intolerant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).

Atovaquone Oral Suspension had annual sales of approximately $117.4 million in the US (as per IQVIA MAT's June 2018).

At 11:39 hours IST, the stock price Lupin was quoting at Rs 969.80, up Rs 13.45, or 1.41 percent on the BSE.
Sugar

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Sugar stocks are rallying this Friday afternoon and have given robust gains after the government approved hiking the price of ethanol produced directly from sugarcane juice for blending in petrol by 25 percent.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday raised the procurement price of ethanol derived from 100 percent sugarcane juice to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13. The move would help sugar mills quickly release arrears of cane farmers, which stands at over Rs 13,000 crore, PTI reported.

With this price hike government also aims to increase the investments for the capacity building as experts believe that there is hardly any sugar mill in India that buys sugar cane only for the production of ethanol.

Among the sugar stocks, standout names include Mawana Sugars which zoomed 20 percent followed by Rana Sugars (up 20 percent) which breached upper circuit of Rs 4.20 and saw spurt in volume by more than 15.90 times.

Avadh Sugar, Dalmia Bharat Sugar, Uttam Sugar, Dhampur Sugar and Sakthi Sugars are all trading higher by 20 percent in the afternoon trade.

Ugar Sugar, Dwarikesh Sugar, Bajaj Hindusthan, Triveni Engineering, Shree Renuka Sugars and KCP Sugar Mills are also rally with gains ranging between 18-20 percent.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Vivek Saraogi, Managing Director of Balrampur Chini Mills said, "I am looking positively on ethanol, positively at power and with an export programme, I am not seeing sugar prices go down. If they don't move up substantially, which I don't think they will, they would play in this Rs 31-32 range. So with good capacity, good recovery, Extreme integration and just hoping for some more realisation from the state government."

"We welcome the hike in ethanol prices, especially B-heavy molasses segment and will see heavy bidding for both C & B heavy molasses with price increase and expects blending at 10 percent by next year."

"Balrampur Chini has ethanol capacity of 11.88 crore litres that can increase to 18 crore litres by next year. The company is happy with steps the Central government is taking for the sugar sector and expects revenue at Rs 800 crore post capacity expansion from ethanol."

"We do not see sugar prices going down while increase in ethanol price will definitely deal with sugar surplus," he added.
August 2019 | Sun Pharma - 85 employees reportedly terminated after company shut 2 units

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Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company gained 3-7 percent in the opening trade on Friday on the back of USFDA approval for Xelpros which is used to treat open-angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension.

The company announced USFDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approval for the new drug application (NDA) of Xelprostm (latanoprost ophthalmic emulsion) 0.005% for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

This approval is from Sun Pharmas Halol (Gujarat, India) facility.

Sun Pharma in-licensed Xelprostm from SPARC in June 2015 and this approval will trigger a milestone payment to SPARC. SPARC is also eligible for milestone payments and royalties on commercialization of Xelprostm in the US.

Xelprostm is the first and only form of latanoprost that is not formulated with benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a preservative commonly used in topical ocular preparations. Xelprostm is developed using SPARCs proprietary Swollen Micelle Microemulsion (SMM) technology.

Abhay Gandhi, CEO, North America, Sun Pharma said, This approval, coming less than one month following the approval of CEQUA 0.09%, reaffirms the strength of Sun Pharmas fast-growing Ophthalmics division and its commitment to serving the needs of patients with ocular disorders.

At 09:18 hrs Sun Pharmaceutical Industries was quoting at Rs 664.10, up 2.19 percent and Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company was quoting at Rs 401.75, up 4.77 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Shares of Vedanta rose 5 percent intraday Friday after company announced hydrocarbon discovery in well A3-2 within its operated block KG-OSN-2009/3 within Krishna-Godavari Basin, East Coast of India.

Company holds 100 percent participating interest in the block.

In a regulatory filing, mining baron Anil Agarwal's company which had recently merged oil explorer Cairn India with itself, said it has notified the oil ministry and the upstream regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) about the discovery in well A3-2 in block KG-OSN-2009/3.

"A3-2 is the first exploration well drilled within the KG-OSN-2009/3 block," it said. "Multiple reservoir zones were encountered in the Mesozoic rift formation between the depths of 3351-3944 meters with indications of hydrocarbon during drilling and formation evaluations."

One zone flowed gas to surface during well testing.

"Further appraisal will be required to assess the potential commerciality of this Mesozoic rift discovery," the firm added.

At 14:00 hrs Vedanta was quoting at Rs 232.90, up Rs 9.15, or 4.09 percent on the BSE.

With inputs from PTI
Net asset values of at least 25 mutual fund schemes have been hit after credit rating agencies downgraded the ratings of debt securities issued by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) and its subsidiary IL&FS Financial Services.

The downgrades follow the companies defaulting on interest payments on their bonds.

These mutual fund schemes hold Rs 2,700 crore of bonds and commercial papers issued by IL&FS and its subsidiaries, according to mutual funds monthly portfolio disclosures.

Fourteen of these schemes, as on August 31, had two percent or more of their assets invested in the debt securities of IL&FS and its group companies.

The market is concerned that the bonds issued by other IL&FS subsidiaries like IL&FS Transportation, IL&FS Tamilnadu Power, IL&FS Energy Development and IL&FS Security Services could be downgraded in the near future.

On September 10, rating agencies ICRA and CARE downgraded non-convertible debentures of IL&FS to BB from AA+. ICRA said the downgrade reflects "rising pressure on liquidity at the group level due to sizeable repayment obligations".

ICRA also downgraded the short-term rating for a 40-bln-rupee commercial paper programme of IL&FS Financial Services, a subsidiary of IL&FS, to 'A4' from 'A1+'.

Last week, IL&FS Financial had informed exchanges that the company would not be able to issue any commercial papers till February 28, as it had defaulted on payments on two papers, which were due to mature on August 28 and August 30.

Tata Short Term Bond Fund had a Rs 170 crore exposure to commercial papers of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services, amounting to 3.2 percent of its assets, while Tata Money Market Fund had exposure worth Rs 49 crore, amounting to 2.3 percent of its total assets.

BOI AXA Credit Risk Fund had Rs 100 crore investment in the company's commercial paper and it made up for 6.1 percent of its total assets. Principal Mutual Fund had collective exposure worth Rs 73.51 crore in its portfolio.

In fact, Principal Mutual Fund suspended investments in four of its schemes with exposure to IL&FS Financial Services commercial papers.

According to the addendum on the fund houses website, subscriptions, switch-ins, systematic investment plans and other investments in Principal Cash Management Fund, Principal Ultra Short Term Fund, Principal Low Duration Fund, Principal Arbitrage Fund, have been temporarily suspended to protect the interest of the unit holders

The net asset value of the above-mentioned schemes fell by 1-3 percent on Sep 10. A few schemes also had exposure to debentures issued by the group companies which also took a hit on the schemes NAV.

Six schemes of DSP Mutual Fund had a collective exposure of Rs 380 crore to non-convertible debentures of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.

DSP Credit Risk Fund had an exposure of Rs 220 crore to IL&FS Transportation Networks as of August 31 and it made up for 3.2 percent of the scheme's assets. DSP Regular Savings Fund had 4.6 percent of its assets invested in it, while DSP FMP Series 195 36M Fund had nearly a tenth of its assets invested in IL&FS Transportation.

How does a downgrade or default impact investors?

Such instances impact the net asset value or NAV of the scheme. The impact on NAV can be on two occasions  downgrade and default.

In case of downgrade, the impact gets reflected in NAV immediately as post-downgrade, the bond yields are marked up and prices fall.

In the past, downgrades of Amtek Auto, Jindal Steel & Power and Ballarpur Industries had badly hit the portfolios of some mutual funds.

What are fund managers saying?

DSP Mutual Fund has total exposure worth Rs 253 crore IL&FS Energy Development Company Limited (IEDCL) maturing on June 2019.

A note sent to DSP Mutual Funds investors and distributors stated:



The board of IL&FS Ltd has approved a Rs 4,500 crore rights issue to shore up capital in the board meeting dated August 29, 2018 and the rights issue would be completed by October 30, 2018. The company has also approached shareholders for liquidity support to the extent of Rs 5,000 crore.



IEDCL has already started initiatives to divest its stake in operational SPVs like ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited and wind energy assets, which is expected to generate Rs 1,400 crore of liquidity by March, 2019 compared to repayments of Rs 800 crore till June, 2019. Hence, even without IL&FS Ltd. support, IEDCL can meet debt repayment obligations till June, 2019 (when our NCD matures) through the divestment proceeds.



The major shareholders of IL&FS Ltd are strong institutions like LIC (25 percent), Orix Corporation of Japan (23.5 percent), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (12.6 percent), State Bank of India (6.42 percent) and HDFC (9.02 percent). These marquee investors provide added comfort that the entity will receive the adequate support.



"The current liquidity situation is temporary, based on the following updates received from the company:

"IEDCL has divested part of its investments (like ONGC Tripura) in the past. It has already started efforts to divest the remaining stakes in ONGC Tripura and wind assets. Given the quality and track record of its assets, we believe that they shall be able to monetize these assets over the medium term."

Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund has exposure to IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Co Ltd (ITPCL) across its five schemes. The fund house, in a note to investors, said:

ITPCL, being the thermal power generating subsidiary of IEDCL, is an independent cash flow generating company through the distribution and sale of power. Hence, our lending is secured against the expected cash flows from this thermal power plant. Our investments continue to remain investment grade with no mark downs or haircuts.

What next?

The board of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) has decided to again on September 15 to seek approval for Rs 3,000 crore loan from LIC and SBI.

Mutual fund experts say except liquid fund investors, retail investors who have invested in credit risk funds and other bond funds can remain invested if the fund house assures communicates ability to recover the principal and interest income.

However, if recovery looks difficult, investors can exit the scheme where exposures are very high and which will be ultimately written off if the company defaults. Investors in schemes where exposure is over 4 percent and above are at risk of losing more and may take a call to exit such schemes.
ABVP wins president's, two other posts in DUSU polls, NSUI one

China will not 'surrender' to US demands in trade talks: Report

NSA Ajit Doval in US; to meet Secretary of State and other top officials

SBI denies laxity on its part in dealing with loan default cases, including Kingfisher Airlines

JUST IN | August gold imports at $3.64 billion as opposed to $2.96 billion in July

JUST IN | The exports in the month of August stood at $27.84 billion, up 19.2 percent on a year-on-year basis (YoY) This was also compared to $25.77 Billion in July

JUST IN | ICICI bank is taking JPVL to NCLT under the insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) , according to a CNBC TV 18 report. JPVL Is Jaiprakash Power Ventures. JPVL has loans to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore

ICICI bank is not taking JPVL to NCLT under RBIS February circular. The bank believes that the Supreme Cout has ordered a status quo on the NCLT proceedings. The bank believes it has right to take defaulters to NCLT under the IBC, according to a CNBC TV 18 report.

JUST IN | Finance Minister Jaitley also said that the Government will also take steps to increase exports to reduce the Current Account Deficit (CAD).

JUST IN | The Secretary of Economic Affairs Subhash Chandra Garg stated that issues over Iran sanctions were not discussed in the September 14 meeting.

JUST IN | Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Governement will take the necessary steps to cut down non-essential imports.

JUST IN | The Secretary of Economic Affairs Subhash Chandra Garg stated the five measures announced today may impact by $8-10 billion.

JUST IN | Finance Minister Jaitley also said that the government will exempt the masala bonds issued in 2018-19 from withholding tax.

September 14, 2018 / 10:38 PM IST / 10:38 PM IST That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights.











September 14, 2018 / 10:06 PM IST / 10:06 PM IST JUST IN | Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the mandatory hedging conditions for infrastructure loans will be reviewed with respect to External Commercial Borrowings (ECB)











September 14, 2018 / 10:03 PM IST / 10:03 PM IST JUST IN | Finance Minister Jaitley also said that the government will exempt the masala bonds issued in 2018-19 from withholding tax.











September 14, 2018 / 09:59 PM IST / 09:59 PM IST JUST IN | The Secretary of Economic Affairs Subhash Chandra Garg stated the five measures announced today may impact by $8-10 billion.











September 14, 2018 / 09:50 PM IST / 09:50 PM IST JUST IN | Manufacturing entities will be allowed to access External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) of up to $50 million for a maturity of one year, says Arun Jaitley











September 14, 2018 / 09:43 PM IST / 09:43 PM IST JUST IN | Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Governement will take the necessary steps to cut down non-essential imports.











September 14, 2018 / 10:04 PM IST











September 14, 2018 / 10:01 PM IST JUST IN | The Secretary of Economic Affairs Subhash Chandra Garg stated that issues over Iran sanctions were not discussed in the September 14 meeting.











September 14, 2018 / 09:54 PM IST The Secretary of Economic Affairs Subhash Chandra Garg said that the widening CAD is a concern, and the government is looking at measures to control it. Garg also stated that the government have also identified items where exports can be promoted.











September 14, 2018 / 09:50 PM IST JUST IN | Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also said that the RBI Governor, in his presentation, said that India Economy growth Is higher than the global average.











September 14, 2018 / 09:48 PM IST










Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has ruled out any engagement with the Opposition on issues relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying they do not deserve to be involved after throwing muck on a very sensitive issue concerning India's defence preparedness.

Sitharaman said the government decided to go for procuring only two squadrons of Rafale jets as an emergency measure in the wake of China and Pakistan significantly ramping up their air power by inducting stealth fighters.

"Is there any point of calling them and explaining? They are misleading the country with something which was not even agreed to during the UPA government. You are throwing an allegation saying there is a fraud. You did not care for operational preparedness of the air force," she told PTI in an interview.

The defence minister was asked whether the government will engage with opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the US.

"It (Rafale deal) is an inter-governmental agreement. You (Opposition) have asked us questions and I have given answers to them in Parliament. Then what am I calling them for? What am I going to tell them when I call them?" she said.

The defence minister also asserted that the Rafale deal cannot be equated with the Bofors issue at all as was being attempted by the Opposition, as she has rid the defence ministry from middlemen entirely.

Led by Congress, opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government alleging it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost.

Congress has said the UPA finalised a price of Rs 526 crore per fighter while negotiating a deal to buy 126 Rafale jets, but the current government is buying each aircraft at Rs 1,670 crore when the weapons and avionics onboard the jets will be of the same configuration.

Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft will be "much superior" in comparison to what was negotiated by the UPA.

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets at an estimated cost of Rs 58,000 crore.

Asked whether the controversy surrounding Rafale will hit the flow of foreign funds into the defence sector, she said it will not have any impact as it is very clear that allegations are baseless.

Sitharaman also rejected the Opposition charge that the government was trying to benefit Reliance Defence Ltd from the deal under the offset requirement, saying the government has no role in selecting an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale.

Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

Sitharaman said, officially, she does not know which company Dassault Aviation is partnering with to execute the offset obligations.

"I have not got to know who is Dassault's offset partner.. It is a commercial decision. There are laid down the procedure to check the process of fulfilment of offset obligations. Neither I can accept, nor I can suggest, nor I can reject anybody from going with anybody," she said.

On 27 October, last year, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence laid the foundation for manufacturing facility near Nagpur to manufacture aerospace components and fulfil offset obligation connected to the Rafale deal.

The Opposition has been asking how RDL, with no experience in the aerospace sector, can be chosen as an offset partner while the government has been maintaining that it was officially ignorant of the fact that Dassault has joined hands with RDL to execute offset obligations.

Rejecting charges of corruption in the Rafale deal, the defence minister said the people of the country have put a closure on this "non-issue" as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Flipkart Walmart

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Friday announced it will begin its nationwide protest against the $16 billion Flipkart-Walmart deal in the Capital on Saturday.

The offline merchant association will start the protest from one of Delhi's oldest markets - Chandni Chowk.

CAIT has also called for a "Bharat Trade Bandh" on September 28.

The merchants plan to travel across the country in the next 90 days covering 22,000 kilometers. The aim is to unite merchants against foreign direct investment besides the Flipkart-Walmart deal in India.

"Not only the traders but even farmers, transporters, small industries, consumers, hawkers and other sections of Indian retail trade will join the agitation," CAIT said in a statement.

After an appeal by CAIT last week, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) also asked Walmart and Flipkart to explain their way of doing business in India.

CAIT had filed a petition in the NCLAT against CCI's nod for the Walmart-Flipkart deal.

Walmart has been asked to file a reply by September 20

CCI approved the Walmart-Flipkart deal in August citing that the two parties were not close competitors in the B2B sales nor did they have a combined market share that could raise any competition concern.

The offline merchant association however has been crying foul.

The 90-day protest is expected to conclude on December 16 at Ramlila Ground with a rally.

The protest will also see participation from All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA) and RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
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Here are the stocks that are in news today:

Results Today: REC, Kwality and BF Investment

Vedanta: Vedanta announced hydrocarbon Discovery in well A3-2 within its operated block KG-OSN-2009/3 within Krishna-Godavari Basin, East Coast of India. Company holds 100 percent participating interest in the block.

Redington India: Subsidiary ProConnect Supply Chain Solutions increased its shareholding in Rajprotim Supply Chain Solutions from 76 percent to 88 percent.

Allahabad Bank: Board meeting is scheduled to be held on September 19 to consider the modes/modalities of raising the equity capital of the Bank within the aforesaid overall limit of around Rs 1,900 crore.

Fortis - Shivinder Mohan Singh withdraws NCLT petition against elder brother Malvinder Singh

Engineers India: Board considered the proposal for acquisition of 100 percent paid-up share capital of Projects and Development India (PDIL) from President of India, acting through the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

Cadila Healthcare: Zydus receives final approval from the USFDA for Risedronate Sodium Delayed-release tablets.

HCL Technologies: HCL SSHS (State Street HCL Services) Facility, a joint venture between HCL Technologies and US-based State Street Corporation opened its state of the art IT Centre at Medha Tech Park in Ganavaram, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

HCL Technologies offered to buyback 3.63 crore shares (representing 2.61 percent of its equity shares) at a price of Rs 1,100 per share for an aggregate amount up to Rs 4,000 crore. The buyback offer will open on September 18 and close on October 3.

SBI: Audit Committee of the board appointed Shri Prashant Kumar, Deputy Managing Director, as Chief Financial Officer of the bank with immediate effect.

Sun Pharma and SPARC announce USFDA approval of XELPROS to treat open-angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Dr Reddy's Laboratories: Company launches Neostigmine Methylsulfate Injection, USP in the US market.

Lupin: Company receives USFDA approval for generic Atovaquone Oral Solution USP.

Wipro: Company and Anaplan partner to deliver best-in-class cloud enterprise performance management solutions.

PPAP Automotive: CRISIL has reaffirmed its credit rating of the company on the long term bank facilities to A+/Stable and the short term bank facilities at A1.

IL&FS Engineering Construction and Company: CARE Ratings had assigned credit rating of A1+ (SO) for the proposed issue of Commercial Papers of the company for an amount upto Rs 100 crore. Since, the company had not mobilised any fund for the aforementioned Commercial Paper issue programme, CARE has withdrawn the said rating.

Jain Irrigation Systems: US subsidiary acquired ETwater, innovator of intelligent irrigation technology and in the vanguard for creation of the smart irrigation controller. Although acquisition small, it will help fortify Company's position in the US smart agriculture market with Internet of Things (IoT) and also to scale up operations in the said geography.

5paisa Capital: Board approved the right issue size i.e. 1,27,39,022 equity shares of Rs 10 each at issue price of Rs 80 each aggregating to Rs 101.912 crore.

IIFL Holdings: Company has received the No objection letter from NSE in order to file the draft Composite Scheme of Arrangement with National Company Law Tribunal.

Tata Communications: Campany partners with the company in Myanmar for cloud enablement.

Mahanagar Gas: Promoters of the company, GAIL (India) and BG Asia Pacific Holdings Pte have executed an amendment agreement to the joint venture agreement in order to record some changes in the understanding between them as captured in the said JVA.

IL&FS Transportation Networks: Brickworks Ratings revised its rating for company's non-convertible debentures worth Rs 3,550 crore to BB-(SO) from AA-(SO).

Sunteck Realty: Company has been assigned A1+ credit rating from ICRA for commercial paper of Rs 150 crore.

RDB Realty & Infrastructure: Company has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with HYT Engineering Company Private Limited and the name of the JV is HYT-RDBRIL (JV).

Veritas (India): Company has incorporated a subsidiary named as GV Offshore Private Limited in Mumbai.

India Infraspace: Company has acquired 1,61,500 (100 percent) equity shares of Shaurya Casting Private Limited.

Maruti Suzuki: Company increases Baleno production to cut down waiting, delight customers.

Simplex Castings: Company has incorporated an wholly owned subsidiary company Simplex Castings International Pte. Ltd. at Singapore.

Arman Financial Services: Board approved issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) aggregating up to Rs 27.5 crore on a private placement basis.

Balasore Alloys: Samuel Onyeabor Nwabuokei has resigned from the directorship and position of non-executive director of the company due to personal reasons.

CL Educate: Sudhir Bhargava tendered his resignation from the post of Chief Financial Officer, citing personal reasons.

Voltas to invest Rs 1,000 crore on its home appliance foray

NBCC to buy HSCC for 285 cr

Shareholders ask IL&FS to raise funds by selling assets, non-core biz

PNB invites bids from ARCs/FIs for 21 NPA accounts to recover Rs 1,320 cr

United Bank Of India revised MCLR w.e.f September 14

Emami Paper Mills board meeting on September 21 to review the status of raising of Funds for future expansion or acquisitions via QIP/Right issue/Private placement/GDR/ADR/FCCBs
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has decided to reduce regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms such as WhatsApp and Skype as they drive data consumption on networks, reported Mint.

The rise in data consumption on telecom networks because of such apps may be a result of less regulation on such platforms. TRAI will seek views on regulating OTT players for the second time.

We have reduced the scope of that paper. We have already issued recommendations on net neutrality and previously on differential pricing. Now, very few issues are left with respect to OTT. We have to look at regulatory imbalance (with respect to telecom operators). But telecom operators themselves are saying OTTs are helping data consumption, a senior TRAI official told the paper.

OTT refers to applications and services that are accessible over the internet and ride on operators networks.

Earlier, the telecom operators were pushing for a regulatory framework around OTT players as they saw applications like Skype, WhatsApp, Viber as competitors who were cutting telecom revenues in the voice call and messaging segment. They wanted a level play as, unlike these apps, the operators were subjected to regulatory levies and licensing conditions.

The operators now, however, seem to be content as these applications are driving data consumption on their networks.

Operators are now happy that data consumption is happening through WhatsApp. WhatsApp calls ride on data and costs very little in terms of data usage. In any case, most telecom operators are giving unlimited free voice calls. So the arbitrage opportunities are reducing day by day, the official told the paper.

In March 2015, it had floated a consultation paper on whether OTT players offering voice, messaging and video call services through applications should be brought under the licensing regime. The regulator has also sought information on whether OTT growth was affecting the traditional revenue stream of operators, among other issues.

Back then, voice calls accounted for a relatively larger share of a telecom operators revenue. While it still continues to be an important source of revenue, operators are now focusing more on data. In the April-June period, the average revenue per user (ARPU) from voice was Rs 73 for Idea Cellular, while data ARPU was Rs 82. The rise in operator's revenue stems from an increased data usage on account of these apps.

Some telecom operators are still of the view that a level playing field needs to be established.

"It is true the issue around revenue loss has reduced with most operators offering free voice calls. Operators do earn revenue from data being consumed, but they also have to make significant investments in their networks to be able to carry these huge amounts of data. We want the same service, same rule. If these apps are not subjected to levies on revenue that they earn, then that should apply to us also. Apart from this, there should be a level playing field when it comes to legal enforcement, Rajan Mathews, director general, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), told the paper.
The central government has called on leading IT companies to develop a framework that will detect and send alerts for suspicious transactions in its ambitious PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) health insurance scheme, reported The Economic Times.

The government is planning to appoint partners for this project in the next four months after holding consultations starting this week, senior officials aware of the development told the paper, adding that firms such as IBM, L&T Technologies, Lexis-Nexis, IQVIA and Wipro have already expressed interest in designing such a framework.

The move comes after directions were issued from the highest quarters of the government that the scheme should have zero tolerance for fraud.

Also read  Ayushman Bharat scheme: A look at the challenges ahead of the launch on September 25

Last month, the health ministry had released anti-fraud guidelines for states implementing PMJAY, known as Ayushman Bharat.

Health insurance schemes/programmes are prone to fraud, abuse and leakages, which not only impact the programme financially but also often lead to endangerment of peoples health. Therefore, it is important to prevent, detect and deter fraud effectively through robust processes, trained manpower and timely action backed by state-of-the-art IT systems, the Centre said in a proposal document, reviewed by the paper.

Also read  Opinion | There are many holes in the Ayushman Bharat health shield

During the consultations, the government look at the best practices, policies, procedures and IT solutions available across the globe to develop a robust fraud prevention, detection and control system for the scheme. The Centre's flagship national health protection scheme will provide coverage to nearly 55 crore people and benefit 10.74 crore households.

There are a lot of checks and balances already, but the government wants to have a software which can have triggers (when fraud is occurring) and is looking for agencies to help identify all those suspicious transactions. Many international companies that do this have shown interest, a second official told the paper.

Also read  Here's how to check if you are eligible for health insurance under Ayushman Bharat

After the consultations, the Centre will invite bids from companies to provide the service pan-India. The government may bring on board multiple partners based on the frameworks design, the official added.

While IBM, L&T Technologies, LexisNexis and Wipro did not respond to the paper's query, US-based firm IQVIA said it could not comment on the development.

The Centre is reportedly preparing personalised cards, which need to be shown when treatment is sought in empanelled hospitals, for identified beneficiaries to make the scheme fraud-free. These cards are expected to be dispatched from this weekend to district headquarters, from where they will be distributed to the beneficiaries, an official told the paper.
N Chandrababu Naidu

A local court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in a 2010 case related to an agitation by them over the Babli project across river Godavari.

The judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district, N R Gajbhiye, issued the order, directing police to arrest all the accused and produce them in the court by September 21.

Naidu and others, then in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh, had been arrested and lodged in a jail in Pune in connection with the agitation staged by them near the Babli project site in Maharashtra, opposing it on ground that it would affect the people downstream.

All were released later though they did not seek bail.

The court order, dated July 5 and supposed to be executed by August 16 but corrected to September 21, was issued on a petition filed by a Maharashtra resident.

Besides Naidu, state Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu, former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined the TRS) were among the Telugu Desam Party workers booked in the case.

They have been charged with the Indian Penal Code offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was the leader of opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh then and the case has been pending trial all these years.

Reacting to the news about the court order, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister N Lokesh said his father and other TDP leaders would attend the court.

"He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," Lokesh said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will hold a roadshow in Bhopal on September 17 and later address around 15,000 office-bearers of the party, Madhya Pradesh Congress Media Cell chairperson Shobha Oza said.

Gandhi will arrive at the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal around 12.45 pm on September 17, she said.

"He will then head to Lalghati Square, from where he would start the roadshow. It will pass through the old city areas, including Royal Market and Peer Gate, before reaching BHEL Dussehra Maidan via New Market," Oza added.

She said Gandhi would address and interact with the office-bearers of the party at BHEL Dussehra Maidan.

"About 15,000 office-bearers would attend the programme. Party workers can also meet him during the roadshow," she added.

Gandhi will be in an open bus during the roadshow, which will cover a distance of 12 kilometers between Lalghati Square and BHEL Dussehra Maidan.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today expressed his inability to 'work normally' to BJP President Amit Shah, NDTV has reported. The BJP is said to send a team to Goa on September 17 to explore the alternatives, sources have told the news channel.

The Goa BJP held a meeting of its state-level core committee, on Friday, against the backdrop of Parrikar's hospitalisation. The core committee later met Parrkiar.

The party's core committee comprises three MPs from the state (two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha) as well as senior leaders.

Parrikar, who returned from the US after a medical check-up on September 7, was admitted to a private hospital at Candolim in North Goa district on the evening of September 13. He was earlier admitted to a hospital in the US, where he was undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment for nearly three months. Since his return last week, Parrikar has not attended any official meetings.

Deputy Speaker and BJP MLA Michael Lobo told the media that he met Parrikar at the hospital and the chief minister was fine.

Last week, the Congress, which is Opposition in Goa, had written a letter to the Governor expressing fear that Manohar Parrikar may dissolve the Assembly as he is "losing grip" over allies and facing intra-party politics.
telangana,telangana assembly polls 2018,tdp,assembly elections 2018,tdp telangana manifesto

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called for protests across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana after a court in Nanded district of Maharashtra issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 13 others in connection with a case dating back to July 2010.

The Judicial Magistrate (First Class) NR Gajbhiye has directed the police to arrest all the accused and produce them in court by September 21, The Indian Express has reported.

In response to the issuance of the arrest warrant against him, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said he did nothing wrong. Addressing a public meeting at Sunnipenta in Kurnool district on September 14, he said: "What I did eight years ago was only to protect the north Telangana region and ensure no damage happened to Telugu people due to the construction of the Babli project... We will think what to do about the police case (and the arrest warrant)."

He said the Maharashtra police deliberately arrested him and other TDP leaders on the (then united AP) border when they went to protest against the Babli construction. "I told the police then itself that I did nothing wrong and they could do whatever they wanted. At one point, they said they have filed cases and later said no cases. They then forcibly brought us back in a special flight to Hyderabad. And now they (Maharashtra police) are saying notices and arrest warrants have been issued," Naidu said.

TDP leaders have termed this move political vendetta by the BJP. This is nothing but a conspiracy by the BJP to intimidate TDP. The BJP is afraid of the alliance that TDP is forming in Telangana and the arrest warrant, which had expired, has been renewed to intimidate us, Telangana TDP president L Ramana was quoted as saying by the paper.

Meanwhile, BJP Andhra Pradesh unit president K Lakshminarayana has said, There is no BJP or Centre hand behind the warrants. To our information, the case has been going on since 2016. Some TDP leaders attended the court. Because Naidu did not attend 22 times, the non-bailable warrants are issued, Mumbai Mirror has reported.

Naidus son N Lokesh, who is also the Information Technology minister in his fathers cabinet, said Naidu and the other TDP leaders will appear in court.

What is the case against Naidu and the other TDP leaders?

On July 18, 2010, around 40 TDP leaders led by Chandrababu Naidu had crossed over from Telangana to Maharashtra to stage a protest at Babli barrage in Nanded district. At that time, these TDP leaders were in the Opposition in undivided Andhra Pradesh. They were protesting against constructing a dam over Godavari river as the water flow to downstream areas in Telangana would be affected.

Nanded MP Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar and Nanded MLA Omprakash Pokarna had vehemently opposed the protest and demanded strict action against the TDP leaders.

As a result, they were arrested by the Nanded police and lodged in a Pune jail. They were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, which pertain to criminal intimidation, criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, among others.

Naidu was sent back on a flight while the others were told to leave the same evening.

Why have arrest warrants been issued now?

The arrest warrant was issued by the Dharmabad court on July 5, to be executed by August 16. Recently, a Nanded resident moved the court saying no action was taken on the previous arrest warrant. Hence, another warrant was issued for September 21.

Who all were indicted in the case?

TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, state water resources minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, social welfare minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined TRS) were among those booked in the case.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, on Friday, termed Hindi as the symbol of socio-political and linguistic unity of the country and pitched for the translation of literature of regional languages into it.

Addressing an event organised on the occasion of 'Hindi Divas', Naidu said Hindi was the main communication language among the freedom fighters of the country and it was spoken and understood by most of the people in the country.

"It was the symbol of social, political, religious and linguistic unity of the country. Even today, these qualities make it acceptable among all other languages," he said.

The Vice President said all Indian languages were vibrant and each of them had its own literature, dictionary and idioms.

"There should be more translation into Hindi, the literature of all regional languages so that we can access the literature of all Indian languages easily," he said.

Naidu said it was not a matter of debate whether Hindi was the best among all Indian languages as there were many other languages which were older and more vibrant than Hindi.

"Sanskrit is the mother of all languages and there are many regional languages which are very vibrant," he said.

Naidu said Hindi was an easy and acceptable language spoken and understood by most of the people.

He said language plays an important role in the implementation of government welfare schemes in a country and the schemes will be successful only when people get the benefits.

For this, it is important that the government works are done in people's language, he said.

"If we desire that our democracy continues to be progressive and becomes stronger, then we will have to use Hindi in the functioning of the Union government and the regional languages in the functioning of the state governments. Every state has immense contribution in Hindi getting the present status," he said.

In his speech, Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed his greetings to Hindi aficionados.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi

Congress leaders in Telangana Friday met party president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and discussed the partys preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The leadership gave 'in principle' nod to the proposed electoral alliances but stressed on retaining seats where the party is in a position to win, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

The party's state leaders have been advised not to make inappropriate comments to the media and to stay united for the elections, he said.

"Definitely, this is a major boost for senior Congress leaders of Telangana. We will go back to Hyderabad with renewed enthusiasm and work for Congress party victory in Telangana," he said.

The state congress has proposed to form a broad-based alliance with TDP, its rival for decades, CPI and others to take on the ruling TRS in the assembly polls.

The parties are, however, yet to get down to talks on seat sharing for the elections. Telugu film actor and producer Bandla Ganesh and TRS MLC R Bhupathi Reddy joined the Congress in Delhi Friday. They were welcomed into the party fold by Gandhi.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, a delegation of party leaders met DGP Mahender Reddy and "complained of unnecessary police harassment of Congress leaders and workers," a Congress release said. The party leaders claimed that "old and even dead cases" were being revived only to harass Congress leaders, according to the release.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov reviewed the progress made in the bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interests.

The two leaders co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

"Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors & identify new opportunities! EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov chairing the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological & Cultural Cooperation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, will provide policy recommendations and directions in the concerned fields, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The last meeting of the commission was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for an informal summit in the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi in May during which the two leaders upgraded the traditionally close India-Russia relationship to a "special privileged strategic partnership."

The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in June.

On Thursday, Swaraj met her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and the two leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.

Lavrov also hosted a dinner in honour of Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months.
In August 2014, The Lancet  perhaps the worlds best-known medical journal  had published An Open Letter for the People of Gaza, criticizing Israel in the wake of the 2014 Gaza conflict.

Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the journal since 1995, had taken a lot of heat, with Sir Mark Pepys, ex-Head of Medicine at University College London saying, Hortons behaviour in this case is consistent with his longstanding and wholly inappropriate use of The Lancet as a vehicle for his own extreme political views.

It has greatly detracted from the former high standing of the journal. Richard Horton had responded then with a telling rebuttal: How can you separate politics and health? The two go hand-in-hand. Horton, it appears, truly stands by that line, as he has inserted his fingers into the most bountiful political pie of all  the Indian General Elections.

In an editorial Comment on the Lancet, published on the 11th of September, the editor of a medical journal  journals whose editorial slants strive hard to be non-partisan, and indeed, are expected to be thus  appears to have done what could be considered egregious: he has written a stump speech for PM Modi ahead of 2019, saying Modi is the first prime minister of India to have prioritised universal health coverage as part of his political platform under the 'Ayushman Bharat' programme.

His editorial went on to say that Rahul Gandhi has yet to match the prime ministers Modicare in terms of his own partys health offerings to the people of India. This political opinion in a medical journal is the subject of our Story of the Day.

What did The Lancet say?

Health should be an important issue in India's coming general election, says Horton in his comment, and yes, we agree that it ought to be. But soon after that, also launches into the specifics of a programme that has not been launched yet. September 25 is the launch date of the Ayushman Bharat, a National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). The government has lofty plans under this scheme. The website for the programme claims:

Ayushman Bharat  National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) will provide financial protection (Swasthya Suraksha) to 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational categories of urban workers families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data (approx. 50 crore beneficiaries). It will offer a benefit cover of Rs. 5,00,000 per family per year (on a family floater basis).

AB-NHPM will cover medical and hospitalization expenses for almost all secondary care and most of tertiary care procedures. AB-NHPM has defined 1,350 medical packages covering surgery, medical and day care treatments including medicines, diagnostics and transport.

To ensure that nobody is left out (especially girl child, women, children and elderly), there will be no cap on family size and age in the Mission. The scheme will be cashless & paperless at public hospitals and empanelled private hospitals. The beneficiaries will not be required to pay any charges for the hospitalization expenses. The benefit also includes pre and post-hospitalization expenses. The scheme is entitlement based, the beneficiary is decided on the basis of family being figured in SECC database. When fully implemented, the AB-NHPM will become the worlds largest government funded health protection mission.

Richard Horton said the prime minister has grasped the importance of health not only as a natural right of citizens, but also as a political instrument to meet the growing expectations of the emerging middle class of India, which is engulfed in a "swirling epidemic of non-communicable diseases".



Ischaemic heart disease is the leading individual cause of disease burden in India. The contribution of cardiovascular diseases to total deaths has almost doubled since 1990.



The number of Indians living with diabetes has grown from 26 million in 1990 to 65 million in 2016.



The incidence of all cancers increased by 28 percent between 1990 and 2016, with new cases of cancer reaching 11 million.



Those who suffer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have risen from 28 million (1990) to 55 million (2016).



And while India is engulfed in this swirling epidemic of non-communicable diseases, the country is also in the grip of a mental health emergency. India could claim 18 percent of the world's population in 2016, yet it accounted for 37percent of global suicide deaths among women and 24 percent among men. The death rates from suicide in India were 21 times higher among women and 14 times higher among men than global averages in 2016. Suicide is the leading cause of death among 1539-year-olds.



To make his case  a rightful one  that India is indeed engulfing in a swirling epidemic of non-communicable diseases, he listed five Lancet papers which paint a rather damning picture of Indias health status.

Real numbers; terrible crisis.

But it was another usage of the word crisis that Horton latched on to, to make his point. Referring to Gandhi's statement of There is a full-blown crisis in India at the London School of Economics last month, The Lancet editor-in-chief said the Congress president was referring to a "job crisis", but the five papers published across three Lancet specialty journals have revealed that there was also a "health crisis" in India.

Horton went on to add, Rahul Gandhi has spoken about a modernising impulse in India and the possibility of a transformation of 13 billion people. Modi has grasped the importance of health not only as a natural right for India's citizens, but also as a political instrument to meet the growing expectations of India's emerging middle class.

Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to prioritize universal health coverage as part of his political platform. Rahul Gandhi, despite his promises to help lower castes, tribal communities, and the rural poor, has yet to match Modicare. There is now every prospect that as the BJP and Congress set out competing and contrasting visions for India's future, health will rightly become a decisive issue in next year's general election.

Horton in the article, said Modi's stated goal is to build a new India by 2022. Listing pretty much all the stated objectives of the government as seen on the website, Horton went on to add, Together, these twin programmes should improve access to quality health services and reduce out-of-pocket health expenditures, it said.

Horton went on to further extol the virtues of Mr Modi and his yet-to-be-launched programme: After years of neglect, the Indian Government has at last recognised the perils of public discontent about health.

While we are at it, what is the status of NHPM?

A large part of the success of NHPM  termed the worlds largest health insurance scheme  hinges on the participation of the private sector. The private sector does provide about 75 percent of outpatient care and 60 percent of inpatient care in all of the country.

Even before the announcement of the scheme, the government has been exhorting the private sector to increase its participation in more public-private partnerships (PPP). Mint said, In 2017, the government think tank NITI Aayog proposed that the ministry of health and family welfare adopt the PPP model to provide diagnosis and treatment for major non-communicable diseases in smaller cities. The majority of patients prefer the private sector over the public sector for healthcare services. According to the Economic Survey 2018, the expenditure by the government healthcare providers accounted for only 23 percent of the current health expenditure.

The PPP model has been tried out in a few states. Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand attempted to use the PPP framework to set up secondary and tertiary care facilities. Uttar Pradesh has also recently announced that it will establish more than 1,000 hospitals under the PPP model. The Haryana government, in July, entered into a PPP agreement with the Kerala-based Meditrina Group of hospitals for cardiac care. So, private sector participation is key to the success of the scheme, and therein lies the rub.

Not even 1 percent of the private hospitals expected to be empanelled to provide services under the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) carry a quality tag, says Mint. The health protection mission aims to cover more than 100 million poor and vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization in India where more than 70 percent of all health services are provided by the private sector.

According to a PwC-CII report, at least 160,000 more hospital beds are required for the implementation of the scheme as the government intends it. As of now at least 6000 private hospitals are likely to join the AB-NHPM but not all of them may meet the eligibility criteria for what may be considered quality care, as not all of them may be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), according to Quality Council of India, which is an autonomous body aimed at ensuring that standards are maintained in various sectors including the health sector. NABH evaluates healthcare providing organisations through rigorous self- and external evaluations.

Harish Nadkarni, CEO of NABH said to Mint, Currently, we have around 540 NABH-accredited hospitals in India which is a very small number. All these hospitals may not join Ayushman Bharat. NABH accreditation indicates that a hospital has best-in-class services and gives hospitals additional benefit as these hospitals will get more in the base rate in the scheme as compared to the non-accredited ones. It is totally a commercial decision and a private hospitals discretion to join or not to join the government scheme.

The government has spun its acchhe din weave on this issue as well, with Alok Saxena, joint secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, hoping that things would change considering the incentive carrots that are being dangled. He said, More and more NABH-accredited hospitals should join Ayushman Bharat because of the incentives. NABH-accredited hospitals will be paid 15 percent higher rate and entry level NABH hospitals will be paid 10 percent higher for the same package than non-accredited ones.

The programme is still in its nascent stages. At least 29 states and Union territories have started working on the implementation of the scheme, according to the Union health ministry. Pilot projects have been started in 16 Union territories, while other states will launch pilot projects before the launch of the scheme this month, on the 25th, the birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Saxena went on to explain, We will try to ensure that we provide quality healthcare through private hospitals. Getting entry level accreditation from NABH is not very difficult and there should be around 2,000 entry-level NABH hospitals, which is low.

It is the just the starting of the scheme. If not immediately, gradually the quality healthcare systems under Ayushman Bharat will fall in place. We are empanelling hospitals according to their specialty and super-specialty such as cardio, neuro and nephro. Even before empanelment, the government will do reality checks of the hospitals if they have the required equipment and tools to provide quality healthcare.

But quality healthcare and still-reluctant participation from the private sector are hardly the only challenges that the scheme faces. The scaling up from the existing Rashtriya Swaasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to the NHPM is the educational equivalent of applying for a Masters in astrophysics right after UKG.

RSBY had a coverage of 30,000 rupees while NHPM has 5 lakhs; RSBY offered limited services while NHPM offers high-end procedures too (many of which are largely available only in private sector hospitals); the premium for RSBY was Rs 300 to Rs 400 while we still do not know what the premium for NHPM will be; RSBY insured a total population of 18 crore people, whereas NHPM hopes to insure nearly thrice as many, at 50 crores!

The government will foot about 22 percent of the overall financing of the programme (with 60:40 centre-state split), while about 67 percent is going to be from household out of pocket expenditure. About 11 percent will come from local bodies and other schemes and private insurance.

Analysts have noted many foreseeable challenges  enrollment of ghost beneficiaries; impersonation; doctors performing procedures not required; unnecessary conversion of OPD patients as inpatients, thus taxing an already taxed healthcare system which, in many cases, has neither the infrastructure nor the personnel support; unscrupulous hospitals charging fees even though the scheme is cashless; and of course the lack of education among the people insured under the scheme about what they are eligible for and what not and how they can prevent being taken for a ride.

These are not small challenges. There needs to be greater clarity about how the scheme will run, and achieve what it hopes to  a happier, healthier India.
China's real estate investment moderated in August on slower construction and home sales, as authorities' tight controls on the sector continued to take out speculative heat.

Real estate has been one of the few bright spots on China's investment front, partly due to robust sales in smaller cities where government efforts to tame hot property prices were less stringent.

A slowing property market could sharply increase the risks to China's economic outlook, especially if a tit-for-tat trade war with the United States worsens.

China's economy, the world's second-largest, is already under pressure from a vigorous multi-year government financial deleveraging campaign to tackle debt risks, and developers have faced a funding squeeze as authorities tightened lending to the sector, although funding appears to have improved of late.

Growth in real estate investment, which mainly focuses on residential but also includes commercial and office space, rose 9.2 percent in August from the same period a year earlier, easing from a 13.2 percent rise in July, Reuters calculated from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data out on Friday.

Property sales by floor area, a leading indicator of market demand, rose just 2.4 percent in August from a year earlier, marking a four-month low and down from a 9.9 percent gain in July. In year-to-date terms, sales rose 4 percent in the first eight months.

New construction starts measured by floor area grew at the slower pace of 26.6 percent in August from a year earlier, compared with a 32.4 percent gain in July, Reuters calculations showed.

The numbers however remained solid and funding conditions for China's real estate developers have improved as policymakers implemented growth-boosting measures that boosted overall liquidity.

Developers raised 10.67 trillion yuan ($1.56 trillion) in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent from the same period a year earlier, the NBS said. The growth rate compared with a 6.4 percent increase in January-July period.

That was partly reflected in higher land purchases by area, which rose 15.6 percent in January-August compared to a year earlier. It grew 11.3 percent in the January-July period.

"Housing investment could hold up at around 9-10 percent on average for 2018, given the notable reduction in housing inventories, strong land sales, and still-positive developer sentiment," said Tianjie He from Oxford Economics.

Daniel Yao, Head of Research for JLL China, also expects the slowdown in China's residential housing investment to be offset by the "large-scale" construction of rental housing for the rest of this year with strong government support.

August property investment still exceeded analyst forecasts for the full-year. A Reuters poll this week showed property investment was expected to grow 8 percent in 2018, faster than previously thought.

Central bank data this week showed household loans, mostly mortgages, rose to 701.2 billion yuan in August from 634.4 billion yuan in July.
Fishermen return to shore before Typhoon Mangkhut hits the main island of Luzon, in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, in Philippines, September 14, 2018. REUTERS/Erik De Castro - RC1170B18780

Philippine authorities were evacuating thousands of people from the path of the most powerful typhoon this year, closing schools, readying bulldozers for landslides and placing rescuers and troops on full alert in the country's north.

More than 4 million people live in areas at most risk from the storm, which the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii categorized as a super typhoon with powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category 5 Atlantic hurricane.

Typhoon Mangkhut is on course to hit northeastern Cagayan province early Saturday.

It was tracked on Friday about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph), Philippine forecasters said.

With a massive raincloud band 900 kilometers (560 miles) wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon could bring heavy to intense rains that could set off landslides and flash floods, the forecasters said.

Storm warnings have been raised in 25 provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, restricting sea and air travel. After the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts Mangkhut will plow into the Chinese mainland early Monday morning south of Hong Kong and north of the island province of Hainan.

Though it will weaken from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, it will still be packing sustained winds of 175 kph (109 mph).

The observatory warned of rough seas and frequent heavy squalls, urging residents of the densely populated financial hub to "take suitable precautions and pay close attention to the latest information" on the storm.

The gambling enclave of Macau, next door to Hong Kong, suffered catastrophic flooding during Typhoon Hato last August that left 10 dead and led to accusations of corruption and incompetence at its meteorological office.

On the Chinese mainland, the three southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are coordinating preparations, including suspending transport and moving people to shelter inland, the national meteorological agency reported.

Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub, has set up 3,777 shelters, while more than 100,000 residents and tourists have been moved to safety or sent home.

The province has recalled more than 36,000 fishing boats to port, while train services between the cities of Zhanjiang and Maoming have been suspended and all ferry services between the Guangdong and Hainan have been put on hold.

Fujian province to the north of Guangdong is also closing beaches and tourist sites and preparing other measures depending on conditions, the agency reported.

Philippine Office of Civil Defense chief Ricardo Jalad told an emergency meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte that about 4.2 million people in Cagayan, nearby Isabela province and outlying regions are vulnerable to the most destructive effects near the typhoon's 125-kilometer (77-mile) -wide eye.

Nearly 48,000 houses in those high-risk areas are made of light materials and vulnerable to Mangkhut's ferocious winds. Across the north on Thursday, residents covered glass windows with wooden boards, strengthened houses with rope and braces and moved fishing boats to safety.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said by telephone that evacuations of residents from risky coastal villages and island municipalities north of the rice-and corn-producing province of 1.2 million people have started and school classes at all levels have been cancelled.

"The weather here is still good but we're moving them now because it's very important that when it comes, people will be away from peril," Mamba said. A change in the typhoon's track prompted authorities to rapidly reassess where to redeploy emergency teams and supplies, Mamba said.

Duterte asked Cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work if needed, and told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid. "It would depend on the severity of the crisis," Duterte said. "If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help."

The typhoon is approaching at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, and farmers were scrambling to save what they could of their crops, Mamba said.

The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages. Officials said other northern provinces started evacuating residents Thursday from high-risk areas, including in northern mountain provinces prone to landslides.

Duterte cancelled his appearance at a missile test firing aboard a navy ship off northern Bataan province due to the approaching typhoon.

On Guam, where Mangkhut already passed, residents dealt with flooded streets, downed trees and widespread power outages. Government agencies were conducting damage assessments and clearing roads, according to the Pacific Daily News.

About 80 percent of the US territory was without power but it was restored by Thursday morning. Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.

Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over 5 million in the central Philippines in 2013.
Russian Foreign Minsiter Sergei Lavrov (R) meets with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in Moscow, Russia September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin - RC1F41F7B8F0

India attaches the "highest importance" to its relations with Russia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, as she conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral ties ahead of President Vladimir Putin's planned visit to New Delhi early next month.

Swaraj, who is visiting Russia for the third time in 11 months, called on Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov and two leaders co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Technical and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) meeting.

Swaraj, in a statement after the meeting said: "India and Russia enjoy a special and privileged strategic partnership.

"This partnership has strengthened over time and covers a vast agenda involving almost all sphere of human activity. India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Russia".

The commission has met in the run up to the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit which is expected to be held in India early next month, she said, adding that both sides are currently working to prepare for this summit.

President Putin is expected to visit India for the summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Deputy Prime Minister and I have conducted a comprehensive review of our relations. I am satisfied with the outcomes of our meeting," Swaraj commented after the meeting.

"I am confident that our deliberations today will further strengthen our cooperation with Russia in all fields in existing and new areas of cooperation," the minister said.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade which in 2017 reached $10.17 billion.

"We discussed ways and means to increase this momentum, ensure balanced trade, and remove barriers to trade.

"Two-way investments have already crossed the $30 billion target, which we had set for 2025. We have therefore proposed that we enhance this figure to $50 billion by 2025," she said.

Swaraj said both sides also discussed the possibilities of working together on projects in third countries.

"As a new dimension of our strategic partnership, there has been a significant expansion in our cultural and tourism exchanges," she said.

Russia and India are on track to bring the trade turnover to $30 billion in the coming years, Borisov said.

"Over the past years bilateral trade has reached solid growth rates, which if maintained will help us hit the target of $30 billion in the coming years," Borisov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run Tass news agency.

At the same time he underlined the need to put in more efforts to achieve a "breakthrough" in enhancing the trade.

Swaraj noted that a festival of India covering 22 cities over a six month period is currently underway in Russia.

Tourism flows in both directions and has shown impressive growth, she said.

India and Russia are working on further liberalising visa regulations on both sides, Swaraj said as she welcomed the initiative of the Russian government to enable electronic visas for Indian nationals visiting the Russia far East.

"We have identified new areas of cooperation such as agriculture, infrastructure, transport and Science and Technology. We would like to expand our cooperation in the area of space.

"We have agreed to organise the first ever India-Russia Business Summit involving major companies from both sides in early October in India," Swaraj added.

The IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

The last meeting of IRIGC-TEC was held in New Delhi in December, 2017.
Japan (Image: Reuters)

Japan upgraded its assessment of capital expenditure for the first time in nine months as companies ramp up spending on equipment and software to better cope with growing labour shortages.

The government left unchanged its overall assessment that the economy is recovering at a moderate pace in its monthly report for September, released on Friday.

It also flagged the possibility that a trade war between the United States and China could hurt Japan because a large portion of Japan's exports to China are used to make smartphones destined for the US market.

Capital expenditure is rising, the government said in the report, which marked an upgrade from last month's assessment that capex was rising only gradually.

The government upgraded capital expenditure after it revised up economic growth in the second quarter due to an increase in business investment, a government official told reporters.

The upgrade also follows a stronger-than-expected rise in machinery orders in July, which is considered a leading indicator of business investment.

Japan's workforce is shrinking due to its rapidly ageing population and companies across a broad range of industries are investing more in automation and IT systems to operate with fewer staff.

More capital expenditure should push up economic growth, but a series of retaliatory tariffs between the United States and China weighs on the outlook.

Around 40 percent of Japan's exports to China are electronic parts, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and industrial robots, the monthly report said.

Manufacturers in China use parts and equipment from Japan to make smartphones and computers, which account for around half of China's exports to the United States, the report said.

Japan's role in the global supply chain makes it vulnerable to a decline in Chinese exports to the United States, a government official told reporters.

The government left unchanged its assessment that consumer spending is recovering, but it did acknowledge a decline in spending on domestic travel and dining out due to a series of torrential rain storms.
The US is prepared to take the "strongest action" against countries and entities who are found not complying with the Trump administration's sanctions on Iran, including reducing to zero the purchase of crude oil from the country, a senior official has told lawmakers.

The US pulled out of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran in May and will reimpose sanctions on the country's oil sector in November. The Trump administration says it wants to cut Iran's oil exports to zero - which would deprive the Iranian government of its biggest source of hard currency.

"We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Manisha Singh, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing Thursday.

Responding to a question from Congressman Eliot Engel, the Indian-American official said the Trump Administration has been talking to all its allies and partners and trying to convince them to fully implement the new Iranian sanctions which the US has imposed following its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from Iran to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions, making it clear that there would be no waivers to anyone.

Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iran supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal).

"If any of the major buyers of Iranian crude, which is China, India, Japan, South Korea, an Europe, if they refuse to sharply cut their purchases, are we really prepared to cut their banks off from the global banking system, which is the penalty under the US sanctions? Are we really prepared for that?" Engel asked.

"In response, we are prepared to take the most serious actions possible on Iran. We need to demonstrate to the Iranian regime that we will not tolerate its development of a nuclear programme for illicit purposes," Singh said.

The flawed Iran nuclear deal was determined not to be the right vehicle to address the range of Iran's malign behaviour, she said.

"We are having conversations with our allies, and our goal is to get purchase of Iranian crude oil down to zero by November 5. That's a critical goal for us," Singh said in response to question from Congressman Engel.

"We are talking with all of our allies, including the countries that you mentioned, helping them to understand that the only way that we can achieve this global goal of Iran's nuclear program not commencing is through partnership and cooperation with our allies as you have indicated," she said.

"We are trying to explain to them that the bigger picture here is we need to work together on putting this pressure onto Iran, and the sales of oil are a critical way to do that. We are prepared to take the strongest actions possible on people who will not assist us in complying with this new range of sanctions that we are putting back into place," Singh said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have directed teams from the State Department and Treasury Department to travel together, she said, adding that the team has visited over 30 countries so far and talked through with them US' withdrawal from the Iran deal.

"We're trying to help them understand what it means for them. We are trying to engage in all kinds of diplomatic conversations to make sure that our allies don't feel like we are going it alone. We are explaining to them that we need to work as a global community to address Iran's range of malign behaviour," Singh said.

"China is Iran's top, top oil purchaser. Will they get to zero by November?" Engel followed up with another question.

"We are working will all countries, including China, to get them to zero. We've made it clear that unless we act as a global community, Iran's behaviour is not going to change," Singh said.
The UN should resolve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner and Turkey supports Pakistan's efforts to find a peaceful solution, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said as he held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

During their talks, both sides agreed to enhance the bilateral economic and strategic cooperation.

Turkey supported the view that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by the UN in a peaceful manner, Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Qureshi.

"The (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) group that has been formed over Kashmir in the UN, we will stand with Pakistan and try to make it successful," the Turkish foreign minister said.

Qureshi said that Turkey supported Pakistan's effort for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue at the UN.

At the UN conference there will be a separate meeting on Kashmir on the side. It happens every year but it is different this time because a new UN report has come out which sheds light on Kashmir, Qureshi said.

Turkey has been backing Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year had advocated a multilateral dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. India, however, asserted that the Kashmir issue is an bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Cavusoglu said Pakistan and India suffered more than any other nation due to terrorism.

Qureshi said that the Turkish foreign minister assured support for Pakistan at the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

He said that the two sides also discussed the regional situation including in Afghanistan, Iran and Kashmir.
An order by the chief information commissioner (CIC) to upload information on every tree felling drive in Delhi, since September 2011, has at last been implemented in 2018, with the Delhi government uploading the details on its website recently, revealing that 1,12,169 trees have been cut from 2005 to 2017.

https://tinyurl.com/ybsyw2t4 ) The information is available on the website

The given information is comprehensive and includes such other aspects like how to apply for tree felling permissions, the number of permissions applied for along with the names of the applicants and so on.

Besides the CIC order, it was thanks to advocate Aditya N Prasad who pursued this CIC order and in 2017 filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking compliance of the CIC order.

Initially, in 2011, a second appeal was filed by Delhi resident Saurabh Sharma, member of the Joint Operation for Social Help, a non-government organization (NGO).

He appealed that the details of the provisions of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act be published on the website of the department.

Mr Sharma wrote in his complaint to the CIC that, Section 4 of the RTI Act, envisages suo moto disclosures by all public authorities. The forest department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (India) (GNCTD) deals with the Delhi Tree Preservation Act. If any tree has to be felled, an application has to be moved with the tree officer, and if the tree officer does not respond within 60 days then the permission is deemed to have been granted. Further if there is a request for felling from the same area on more than two occasions, then no permission shall be granted. This process is quite unclear. Furthermore, there is a tree helpline for complaints against tree felling. The details of all these may please be put up on their website, for the general public and for effective monitoring.

Shailesh Gandhi, in his decision on 5 August 2011 as CIC had ordered the Delhi government to upload the following information from time to time, form 1 September 2011, on its website:

1) Details of permissions given for felling and pruning trees, together with the details of applicants, the number of trees, locations, the status of the application and detailed reasons for approval or rejection of the same. This shall be done for all applications received after 1 September 2011.

2) Details of complaints received on the tree helpline, together with the details of the number of trees threatened/ cut, location(s), the status of the complaint and status of prosecution undertaken till the date of final disposal. This shall be done for all complaints received after 1 September 2011.

3) The department shall also publish details regarding monitoring done, if any, for effective implementation of the directions of the High Court of Delhi in the matter of Kalpavriksh vs Union of India & Others W.P. (C) 1772/2007, with regard to the de-concretisation carried out by various civic agencies. All documents and correspondences done with the civic agencies in this regard shall be published on the website.

4) The department shall also publish on the website the projects/studies/surveys undertaken, if any, regarding biodiversity in the neighbourhood parks. All civic agencies carrying out any construction work shall also display, along with the monetary costs and details of the project, the environmental cost, indicating the number of trees being felled.

Based on Mr Sharmas complaint, the CIC issued a notice dated 23 February 2011 to the additional principal chief conservator of forests, GNCTD, to provide information on the total number of applications received by the department, seeking permission felling/cutting trees in the year 2009-10 and the total number of complaints received by the department on the tree helpline in the year 2009-10. But CIC did not receive a reply.

CIC Mr Gandhi observed the following in his detailed order:

In the landmark judgement of MC Mehta vs Union of India, the scope of Article 21, which deals with the right to life was enlarged and the right to human health and healthy environment along with the right to enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for full enjoyment of life were incorporated in its ambit. Right to clean environment was also comprehended as a right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

In the United Nations conference on the human environment, known as the Stockholm Declaration of 1972, one of the principles enunciated at the convention is that the natural resources of the earth, including air, water, land, flora and fauna and specific representative samples of natural ecosystems must be safeguarded for the benefit of present and future generations through careful planning and management as appropriate.

In the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development (UNCED), held at Rio De Janiero, it was resolved that environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in the decision-making processes.

The CIC also observed that, The object of the Act is to provide for the preservation of trees in the state by regulating the felling of trees and for the plantation of adequate number of trees to restore ecological balance and other matters connected therewith. This law is necessary to prevent ecological disturbance and to maintain ecological balance. The ecological balance has been disturbed due to indiscriminate felling of large numbers of trees in the rural and urban areas due to the growing pace of urbanisation, industrialisation and increasing population, which has led to erratic rainfall, recurring famines and floods, soil erosion, etc. Moneylife contacted Mr Gandhi for his comments on how his eight year old order has been implemented now. He says, Most RTI users show little enthusiasm to ensure implementation. RTI activists should obtain orders from commissions on important matters and then ensure implementation by following Aditya Prasad's lead.

Mr Gandhi adds, Section 18 (1)(f) of the RTI act mandates that it is the duty of the Commission to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person, in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Act. This is an extremely powerful and significant provision, which must be used by citizens and commissions to get suo moto disclosure of information. I had issued over a hundred orders under this, and had tried to monitor implementation of some of them.

I congratulate advocate Aditya Prasad who has shown the commitment of pursuing the implementation. It is an irony that now the CIC refuses to even register a complaint unless an RTI application is first made to a public information officer (PIO). By such regressive behaviour it has reduced its authority. Ratnakar Gaikwad, former CIC of Maharashtra had also given some landmark orders on my complaints, he added.

Some of the important provisions of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, are:-

Section (9): Procedure for obtaining permission to fell, cut, remove or dispose of, a tree.-

1. Any person desiring to fell or remove or otherwise dispose of, by any means, a tree, shall make an application to the concerned tree officer for permission and such application shall be accompanied by attested copies of such documents as may be prescribed in support of ownership over the land, the number and kind of trees to be cut, their girth measure at a height of 1.85 metres from ground level and the reasons therefore, copy of sajra showing clearly the site and khasra numbers of the property.

2. On receipt of the application, the tree officer may, after inspecting the tree and holding such enquiry as he may deem necessary, either grant permission in whole or in part or for reasons to be recorded in writing, or refuse permission.

Provided that such permission may not be refused if the tree:-

i. is dead, diseased or wind fallen; or

ii. is silviculturally mature, provided it does not occur on a steep slope; or

iii. constitutes a danger to life or property or

iv. constitutes obstruction to traffic; or

v. is substantially damaged or destroyed by fire, lightening, rain or other natural

causes ;or

vi. is required in rural areas to be cut with a view to appropriating the wood or leaves thereof or any part thereof for bona fide use for fuel, fodder, agricultural implements, or other domestic use.

3. The tree officer shall give his decision within sixty days from the date of receipt of the application: Provided that no permission shall be granted to any person from the same area on more than two occasions during the same year, subject to a maximum area of one hectare at a time.

4. If the tree officer fails to communicate his permission on request within the period specified under sub-section (3), the permission referred to in section 8 shall be deemed to have been granted.

5. Every permission granted under this Act shall be in such form and subject to such conditions, including taking of security for ensuring regeneration of the area and replanting of trees or otherwise, as may be prescribed.

Section 10. Obligation to plant trees: Every person, who is granted permission under this Act to fell or dispose of any tree, shall be bound to plant such number and kind of trees in the area from which the tree is felled or disposed of by him under such permission as may be directed by the tree officer: provided that the tree officer may, for reasons to be recorded in writing , permit lesser number of trees to be planted or trees to be planted in any different area or exempt any person from the obligation to plant or tend any tree.
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Nanded (Maharashtra)/Hyderabad, A Maharashtra court has issued non-bailable warrants against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and 14 others in a 2010 case pertaining to an agitation against the Babli Barrage on River Godavari, an official said here.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharmabad Court (Nanded) N.R. Gajbhiye on Thursday issued the NBWs against Naidu and his cabinet colleagues, Irrigation Minister D.U. Rao, Social Welfare Minister G.Kamalakar and 12 others.

The police have been ordered to arrest them and produce them before the court at the next hearing on September 21.

The incident took place when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had organised massive protests over what it termed the "illegal constructions" of the Babli Barrage project by the Maharashtra government allegedly to divert Godavari River waters from Telangana region of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

At that time Naidu was the Leader of Opposition in the state and along with 40 legislators, had entered the barrage vicinity flouting prohibition orders clamped there.

The police had caned some protesters and later arrested all of them.

Later, as Naidu refused to take bail, he was sent back to Hyderabad by a flight, and subsequently cases were filed against all agitators on various counts.

The court orders came after a petitioner moved the Dharmabad court seeking to know why the earlier arrest warrants were not executed.

The TDP on Thursday reacted sharply to the warrants against Naidu and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the conspiracy. TDP leader Buddha Venkanna told reporters in Vijayawada that the Bharatiya Janata Party is resorting to witch-hunting.

Naidu's son and state IT Minister N. Lokesh told the media that while legal opinion on the issue has been sought, the Chief Minister would attend the court hearing next week.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
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Portretele vesele ale lui Alice Mann documenteaza majoretele de tobe din Africa de Sud, surprinzand mandria si performanta grupurilor tinere, exclusiv feminine, care practica acest sport competitiv: Sunt interesata sa examinez relatia dintre comunit ...
The newly restored Consumer Advisory Board (CAB) of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lack diversity and depth of perspective, a group of members of the former CAB said in a statement.

In June, Acting Director Mick Mulvaney disbanded three boards advising the consumer watchdog, including the CAB. The CFPB announced this week that Mulvaney has reassembled the boards, appointing a new set of experts who will serve a one-year term.

We are disappointed that the current administration of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) chose to only appoint nine members to this new CAB. While each of the individual members is qualified in her or his own right, the fact that there are so few of them means that Acting Director Mulvaneys CAB lacks sufficient diversity and depth of perspective, the former members said.
James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

A 26-year-old Odessa man died Thursday afternoon in a two-vehicle wreck in Pecos County, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Andres Borjon was driving a Ford-450 northbound on State Highway 18, about 10 miles north of Fort Stockton. A 39-year-old Midland man driving a Volvo truck tractor towing a semi-trailer also was northbound on SH 18. The truck tractor driver slowed down to make a left turn, and Borjons pickup hit the trailer, according to the press release.
A UTPB adjunct faculty member suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with a student at Lee High School was arrested Thursday in Bexar County, according to a press release from a Midland ISD spokeswoman.

The man identified by both Midland ISD and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin as Nicholas Conn is being held in Bexar County jail.

Conn, 27, was being held Friday on a $75,000 bond for a second-degree felony charge of improper relationship between an educator and a student as well as a $75,000 bond for second-degree felony charge of sexual assault, according to Bexar County records.

If convicted of a second-degree felony charge, Conn could face up to 20 years imprisonment.

UT Permian Basin has been made aware of very troubling criminal charges brought against part-time, adjunct faculty member Nicholas Conn, Communications Manager Tatum Guinn wrote. None of the current accusations made against Mr. Conn took place on the UTPB campus or involve UTPB students, faculty or staff. However, UTPB takes all such allegations very seriously, and Mr. Conn has been relieved of his teaching and all other duties while a full investigation is conducted.

A warrant for Conns arrest was issued by the Midland ISD Police Department, according to an MISD spokesperson. But because he was not in Midland at the time, the warrant was handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service office in San Antonio.

Conn, who is not an MISD employee, previously provided private tutoring services for some MISD band students, according to the release.

This relationship was discovered because another student overhead something and alerted campus administration, according to the release.

We commend our students who brought this to our attention, and as always, we strongly encourage our students to say something anytime they recognize something suspicious or concerning, Midland ISD Executive Director of Communications Lacy Sperry said in the release.

The information was taken very seriously and investigated by our Midland ISD Police Department immediately, which led to an arrest.

Conn is listed on the UTPB website as starting his first season as principal trombonist with the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale and as a member of the Lone Star Brass in 2016
Illinois House Republicans have pulled support from a downstate lawmaker, citing allegations about his behavior and claiming a zero tolerance policy on harassment of any kind, but declining to provide further details.

Republican state Rep. Jerry Lee Long of Streator said in a telephone interview that he can be a pretty demanding boss. He did not answer questions about what might have led House Republican leader Jim Durkins organization to pull its support.

As of right now, I have no intention of dropping out of the race, Long said.

Durkins unusual move to pull support from a sitting lawmaker comes amid a series of harassment and abuse allegations in state politics. Last month, Republican state Rep. Nick Sauer resigned following a report of accusations he sent nude photos of an ex-girlfriend to other men online. On the Democratic side, House Speaker Michael Madigan ousted his chief of staff Tim Mapes after a House employee said she endured years of harassment by Mapes, who also served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Durkins decision came without warning.

Over Labor Day weekend, the House Republican Organization was made aware of allegations into Rep. Longs behavior, Durkin spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in a statement without elaborating on those allegations. We immediately brought in a third party firm to investigate these allegations, and upon completion of their report on September 12, a decision was made to withdraw support of Rep. Longs campaign, restrict access to all caucus resources and recommend he step down from his position.

Demertzis did not respond to questions about the identity of the third party firm or what it found.

At the request of the complainant for privacy, there is no other information we can release at this time, the statement read.

Long is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Lance Yednock of Ottawa in a race thats among a few hotly contested campaigns for Illinois House along Interstate 80. In 2016, Long defeated Democratic incumbent state Rep. Andy Skoog after all sides spent more than $3 million there.
Its about the water, not the wind, with Hurricane Florence making an extended stay along the North Carolina coast.

Forecasters say it cannot be emphasized enough that the most serious hazard associated with slow-moving Florence is extremely heavy rainfall, which will cause disastrous flooding that will be spreading inland.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14)  No civilian court will issue an arrest warrant and travel ban order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for now.

Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda on Friday asked the Department of Justice reply within five days on Trillanes' comments. It also asked Trillanes to file a rejoinder on the agency's petition for an arrest warrant and hold departure order against the senator after five days.

During the hearing, Trillanes' chief legal counsel Rey Robles presented evidence proving there is no basis for President Rodrigo Duterte to void the amnesty granted to the senator in 2011.

Robles presented the media report of Trillanes filing his amnesty application, but Alameda said it is secondary evidence. The judge asked for a copy of the application form. Robles said they will get an affidavit from the officer who facilitated Trillanes' amnesty application in January 2011.

Robles said the burden to present evidence should fall on the DOJ.

Trillanes welcomed the decision of Alameda.

"I am encouraged na ang ating lower courts are asserting their independence. They're doing the right thing so far," he said.

Branch 150 handles Trillanes' rebellion case which was dismissed in 2011. But the prosecution insisted since his amnesty was voided through Duterte's Proclamation 572, the case is still active and they have to present their evidence against Trillanes.

On Thursday, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 also deferred to issue an arrest warrant and hold departure order, pending a response from Trillanes to the motion. The court had dismissed a separate coup d' etat case.

CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Sonora Opera Hall View Photos

This weekend is packed with a variety of events. Friday through Sunday at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora is the Sierra Quilt Show featuring many quilts, exhibits, vendors, and food.

As reported here Saturday is the annual 49er Festival and Chili and Salsa Cook-off will take place this Saturday. There is a 7AM pancake breakfast at the Groveland Community Center, then an 1849 reenactment of a gunfight, followed by the parade at 9 AM featuring the Orange Crush Band from Summerville High School.

There is still time to get tickets for Sonoras Golden Regiment Band fundraiser Saturday morning. Details are here.

Also Saturday morning, Californias largest volunteer event, the Great Sierra River Cleanup, has two local projects for volunteers to participate in. This is the 2nd annual cleanup event along Sullivan Creek. Participants should arrive by 8:30AM Saturday at the Peppery parking lot near the Mono Way bridge crossing of Sullivan Creek. Trash and graffiti will be removed along a 1/2 mile stretch of the creek, contact information and details are here. The project is sponsored by the Tuolumne County Land Trust, a non-profit organization working to protect special places. New Melones will also have a clean up event, as detailed here.

Saturday is the Big Dreams organizations Starry Night fundraiser. As reported, the playground remains unfinished, and in need of further funding. The event listing is here.

The Word Of Life Fellowship Hall in Mi-Wuk is hosting a dinner, dance, live music and a silent auction to support the Lighthouse ministry, their food pantry and community dinner, based out of the Red Church in Sonora. Details are here.

The G.N.A.T. P.A.C. (Geeks, Nerds, Artists and Thespians of the Performing Arts Center) at Calaveras High School are proud to present Help Us, Mr. Holmes Friday, September 14th through the 16th at the Calaveras Performing Arts Center. Ticket information is here.

Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, directed by Mari Shineis is being performed by the Murphys Creek Theater. Opening week was last weekend and performances continue through September 30 on weekends.

Sierra Reperatory Theater is performing Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

at the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia.

Saturday at the Westside Pavilion catch Big Head Todd & The Monsters, The Gin Blossoms and Tonic. Sunday, Boy George and the Culture Club and the B-52s are at Ironstone.

Sunday from 4  6:00 PM in the Sonora Opera Hall will be the Constitution Day Celebration and Poster Contest hosted by Liberty Institute USA a local non-profit. Guests will experience a Colonial theme celebrating the adoption of the Constitution with prizes for those who come in Colonial-era costume. A Colonial dinner will be served at 6:00, more details are in the event listing here.

Sunday is the 46th Annual Columbia Fine Art Show sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Over 45 artists will be displaying their paintings, pottery, photography and sculpture on the beautiful, shady streets of Columbia State Historic Park. Details are here.
San Andreas, CA  With the typical harvest time for cannabis coming up later this month Clarke Broadcasting queried Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio about enforcement activities under the ban ordinance that has been in full effect since early June.

The countys weather allows for two, maybe three harvests a year at outdoor grows, as the sheriff points out. While the distinctive wafting skunk smell is a way to determine whether there may be a grow nearby, indoor grows, especially those with highly efficient filtration systems may not be in any way discernible by scent. We are still doing our flights and are still getting numerous complaints on our tip line and when we locate grows or get tips we continually move forward to investigate, DiBasilio shares.

Asked if he could estimate how many illegal operations are currently operating, he replies, There is still a handful of outdoor grows  I cant give you an exact numberbecause I think that a lot of these folks have gone back under the trees under the brush and indoors.

However, he says, one thing is for sure, I know that there is a lot less than there was last year at this timejust because we are seeing so many sites that were registered or unregistered types that are abandoned and there is nobody there any more. All the growers that we will call legitimate that had registered and were getting licenseshave pretty much left because they dont want to risk their state license  and the ones that were illegal, a lot of them have left because we put a lot of pressure on them during last years Terminus and this years Green Wave operations.

Indoor Grows A Continual Challenge

Asked if it is harder now to hide outside grows, he replies, There are so many of us out there now, multiple agencies, and so many [growers] who have left, the remaining stick out like a sore thumb. Chuckling, he jokes that under the current ban, looking for more than the six plants legally allowed under state law makes his job real easy. And if we see them outside its illegal anyway because all of it has to be done indoors [following local rules].

To help zone in on illegal indoor grows, DiBasilio says that citizens tips are essential and have not decreased since last year, adding that residents seem more comfortable reporting potential illegal activities. He emphasizes that to his knowledge his office has never seen a marijuana grower go after someone after being turned in. Report it, he says, If you see things going on the house has been vacant but people see coming and going at weird hours or [if you] hear humming noises [indicative] of indoor fans.

Asked if the illegal and highly toxic chemical carbofuran has turned up locally during illegal grow raids, DiBasilio shares, That is the only chemical that we have run across that was basically banned in the United States and we found small quantities at three grows  in Burson, Railroad Flat and Mountain Ranchand they were handled as such through hazmat because my guys are hazmat trained. He adds that the countys code compliance and environmental health departments may know of a few others.

Environmental Issues, Changing Laws

It is a timely topic, because use of that substance is reportedly being seen more frequently at operations busted on public lands. Due to the dangers it potentially poses to wildlife and even water supplies, it is the partially why federal and state officials launched a summer-long crackdown focusing in those areas. DiBasilio notes that his office has not received any extra funding from agencies to specifically deal with it.

The sheriff adds that his department works closely with Fish and Wildlife and the Water Boards to ensure that potential environmental issues at every grow site gets addressed by the appropriate agency. Mostly, he says, They are embedded in our teams when we go out. When they are not present, we will inform them and if it is extravagant, we will wait for them to arrive.

As for the rollout of state regulations, he grouses a bit, The Sheriffs Association gets informationat the state level about changes being made, even minor and its constantly changingamazing how many in a month, maybe 15 or 20, and it is challenging to keep up. He advises anyone with an interest or need to stay abreast to regularly monitor the states Bureau of Cannabis Control website.

Asked if he expects things to ease a bit down the line, he retorts with another chuckle, that he is regularly in touch with Colorado law enforcement. [They] are still experiencing a similar situation  and they have had a legal industry since 2013!
Sacramento, CA  Former Mother Lode Assemblymember Kristen Olsen was arrested in the Citrus Heights area for driving under the influence at 10:50PM Wednesday September 12.

The CHP reports they were alerted by a 911 call and after pulling Olsen over, near I-80 and Greenback Lane, Olsen did not pass a field sobriety test. She was arrested and booked into Sacramento County Jail.

Olsen released a statement today saying; I regret having made an inadvertent, careless mistake last night. As you can imagine, Im embarrassed and horrified. I apologize to my family and constituents for this incident. It was a hard lesson to learn.

Hours before the incident at 7PM Olsen posted to facebook; I have more car problems than anyone I know, but at least I had a wonderful  truly wonderful  tow truck driver who saved me from being stranded on Hwy 99 and drove me and my car from Stockton all the way to the Mini Dealership in Sacramento. He even bought me water and salt and vinegar chips. Thank you Wayne for making my rough afternoon a little less stressful and a lot more safe!!

Olsen is on the Stanislaus Board of Supervisors. She was a California Assembly Republican Leader when serving as the Assemblymember for the 12th district from 2010 to 2016. Olsen represented the Mother Lode prior to redistricting.
volunteers and garbage removed from Elseys Pool View Photos

Sonora, CA  Time to roll up the sleeves, grab some boots, gloves and the kids to take part in a good cause that helps the local environment.

Join the non-profit Tuolumne County Land Trust this Saturday (Sept. 15th) for the Sierra Conservancys 10th annual Great Sierra River Cleanup going on in the region and right here in Sonora at the Sullivan Creek and Elseys swimming hole. Brian Kermeen with the trust details why the cleanup is so important, The scalped canyon is a hidden scenic gem right next to Sonora. This creek flows into the Tuolumne River and is an important water source for the state. Sixty-percent of Californias developed water comes from the Sierra Nevada.

Combined with the coastal cleanup also taking place on Saturday Kermeen shares that it is the largest volunteer event in the state. Locally, volunteers are asked to meet at the Peppery Restaurant parking lot next to the bridge on Mono Way at 8:30 a.m. Kermeen details what volunteers will need. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes and gloves; bring a refillable water bottle, and a bucket. He adds, Children under 18 will need to have a waiver signed by a parent. Kermeen comments kids with adults that are not their parents should call (209) 743-2033 before Saturday to be allowed to participate.

Trash and debris will be removed along Sullivan Creek upstream and downstream of the Mono Way Bridge, including Elseys swimming hole, where the focus will be to remove graffiti.

The event is slated to end at noon. Over 100 volunteers showed up at last years cleanup, as reported here. Shaking his head, Kermeen details, Last year we found a variety of items. Everything from a sewing machine to a California king size mattress.

For details on this event and others this weekend, click here.
The investiture -- formal swearing-in -- ceremony for Judge David Counts as presiding U.S. district judge for the Midland/Odessa & Pecos Divisions of the Western District of Texas was Thursday at the Horseshoe Pavilion. Chief Judge Orlando Garcia presided.

The formal swearing-in ceremony was attended by U.S. district and magistrate judges, who sat on the stage, as well as local and state judges.

Counts was nominated by President Barack Obama on March 15, 2016, to the seat vacated by Judge Robert Junell, who took senior status on Feb. 13, 2015. After his nomination expired on Jan. 3, 2017, with the end of the 114th Congress, Counts was re-nominated on Sept. 7, 2017, by President Donald Trump, according to a press release from the U.S. district court. The U.S. Senate confirmed Counts on Jan. 11 by a vote of 96-0. He received his judicial commission on Jan. 17 and was sworn in on Jan. 18.

Counts served as a state and federal prosecutor for much of his first 23 years of law practice in Austin and San Antonio. He was appointed in July 2009 to serve as U.S. magistrate judge for the Midland/Odessa Division of the Western District of Texas.

He has been an active member of the Texas National Guard since 1989 and currently holds the rank of colonel. He is serving in his 12th year as the state judge advocate of the Texas Military Forces, overseeing judge advocate personnel and the deployment of legal services in the Texas Army & Air National Guard.

Counts deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 and was awarded the Bronze Star and also has been awarded the Legion of Merit. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College and is a past chair of the Military Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

The Knox City native earned a bachelors degree from Texas Tech University and his juris doctor from St. Marys University School of Law. He and his wife Jill, have three adult children, Jennifer, Sarah and Matthew, and three grandchildren.
Two more Texas death row inmates - a North Texas man who murdered a newlywed couple and a convicted child killer from East Texas - now have execution dates on the calendar.

The first of those is Alvin Braziel, a Dallas County man now scheduled for execution on Dec. 11, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel.

The now-43-year-old was sent to death row for the deadly 1993 attack of Doug and Lora White, who Braziel approached on a Mesquite jogging trail. After demanding money and finding the couple had none, Braziel shot the man and raped the woman at gunpoint before killing her, too, a jury found.

He wasn't linked to the crime until 2001, when a DNA match led police to him as the primary suspect. At that point, he was already in prison for another sex crime.

On appeal, his attorneys raised claims of sub-par representation earlier in the case, after trial lawyers failed to bring up his abusive upbringing, family history of mental illness and childhood head injury as possible reasons to consider a life sentence instead of death.

READ MORE: E. Texas mom gets life term in baby's sex assault, death

But the courts turned him down and on Wednesday his attorneys declined to comment.

The second of the newly scheduled execution dates is for Blaine Milam, who is slated to die on Jan. 15.

Milam was sentenced to die for the 2008 slaying of his girlfriend's toddler during a alleged botched exorcism the couple attempted in his trailer in Rusk County.

The child, 13-month-old Amora, was beaten with a hammer and covered head-to-toe in bite marks, with injuries so extensive a medical examiner testified that it wasn't possible to tell how the little girl died.

The case was tried in Montgomery County after extensive pre-trial publicity forced a change of venue. Milam's then-girlfriend, Jessica Carson, was sentenced to life in prison without parole, while Milam was sent to death row in 2010.

On appeal, his attorneys raised claims of prosecutorial misconduct, earlier bad lawyering when his trial attorneys failed to present evidence about his "drug induced psychosis" at the time of the slaying.

His lawyer declined to comment.

The state of Texas has executed eight men this year, including two Houston-area serial killers. Including Milam and Braziel, there are another 10 men scheduled for execution in the coming months.
It's been a decade since the Houston area was pummeled by Hurricane Ike, leading to months of headaches and years of repairs to property and industry.

The Category 2 hurricane made landfall on Sept. 13, 2008, just after 2 a.m., hitting Galveston first and then moving onto the mainland and blazing a trail of damage.

GALVESTON'S MOMENT: Looking back at the 1900 hurricane that wiped out Galveston 116 years ago

Though it was a Category 2 storm, it packed a Category 5 storm surge, which spelled doom for island property, most notably along the Bolivar Peninsula. Winds topped out at 110 miles per hour here in the Houston area. The area was lucky as the hurricane, elsewhere, at its peak was a Category 4.

Its girth -- winds of hurricane force spanned 120 miles and those at tropical-storm force spread over 275 miles -- made for epic storm surge with 10- to 13-foot water levels along Galveston Island and flooding of 13 to 17 feet on the Bolivar Peninsula. Water rose up to 20 feet in parts of Chambers County, the National Weather Service reported.

THE LONG ROAD BACK: Dramatic then and now photos show how Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston

It got downgraded to a tropical depression as it hit Dallas later that night at around midnight. As the hurricane moved north and into Canada as a powerful storm it dumped a record amount of rainfall on Ontario. Oddly enough the remnants of the storm made it to, of all places, Iceland by Sept. 17, 2008.

Those of us who were here in Houston at the time can share tales of long lines to buy gas or ice, power outages that lasted days and even weeks, and haggling with insurance adjusters. Sixty-one percent of the flood losses were not covered by insurance, adding to the misery after Ike.

At the height of the outages, 2.6 million of us were without power, and it took an army of CenterPoint employees, with help from out-of-state crews, to get the area back online.

As Houstonians seem to make the most out of a traumatic community event, hurricane parties abounded. The city of Houston had a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for a short time and people bonded over the hardships and neighbors finally met each other.

A ROUGH ONE: Mighty Hurricane Carla battered the Texas Gulf Coast in 1961

There was also something called the "Ike Baby Spike" according to the New York Times which visited a Houston hospital the following May as the Women's Hospital of Texas prepared to open a a new expanded wing to accommodate a summer of births.

In all, Ike cost the Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas areas some $29.5 billion, ranking it behind Katrina and Andrew in terms of most expensive hurricanes.

In the wake of the storm, Galveston has come out better than ever with increased development in the area and a sense of renewal, although as hurricane season begins each year some fearful eyes turn to the Gulf of Mexico.

SEE IT IN PHOTOS: Hurricane Alicia hit the Houston area 35 years ago this week

The name Ike was retired in 2009 from the revolving list of hurricane names due to the damages and deaths it brought.

An April 2009 FEMA report on Hurricane Ike includes studies on how local infrastructure held up against the hurricane and offered recommendations for further construction in the area. As bad as Ike was, the consensus by analysts was that it could have been much, much worse.

Later, in 2017, Houston would experience Hurricane Harvey making Ike look like a dress rehearsal.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com
No public comments were made Tuesday night during the public hearings for the proposed tax rate increase and the 2018-2019 City of Plainview Budget.

The Plainview City Council will consider adoption of the proposed tax rate and city budget on Sept. 20 and Sept. 25.

The tax rate is proposed to increase to 0.8318. This is a 0.2006 increase from the current rate of 0.6318.

The proposed budget has set expenditures at $54,714,490. City Manager Jeffrey Snyder said the staff worked hard during the budget sessions to reduce the deficit in the general fund. The deficit estimated for the proposed budget is $27,630.

The council accepted the recommendation from city staff regarding the Ballot for Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees Election for Place 11, 12, 13 and 14. Recommendations were for Place 11, incumbent Randy Criswell, city manager for the city of Canyon; Place 12 Bert Lumbreras, city manager for the city of San Marcus; Place 13 incumbent Byron Black, current Chair of the Impact Fee Committee for the city of Burleson; Place 14 David Rutledge, mayor of Bridge City. Council approved the recommendation with a vote of 6-0.

The council also passed on the first reading of an ordinance approving a negotiated settlement between the steering committee of cities served by Atmos Energy regarding the Company's 2018 Rate Review Mechanism Filings. The current customer charge is set at $15.50 and the proposed rate is $16.10. The council approved the ordinance on a 6-0 vote.

District One representative Nelda Van Hoose was absent.

The council then met in a closed meeting to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. No action was taken.
Bob Owen /Staff file photo

Software developer Globalscape turned down an offer to acquire all of its shares at $4.15 per share, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The San Antonio-based company received the offer Thursday. Globalscapes board carefully considered the proposal, noting the company has not conducted and is not conducting a sale process, and concluded that the company is not for sale.
Note: This is a Just a Taste review, which the Express-News does soon after a restaurant or bar opens to give our first impressions.

Remember chemistry class? The beakers and torches and jars of mysterious bubbling fluids? Its all that plus booze at the new Cellar Mixology.

The basement-level speakeasy is a sister project to the new Toro Kitchen + Bar location in St. Paul Square. Diners upstairs access Cellar through a hidden door mounted with a bright red telephone. Or you can just open the unmarked door outside.

Descend a creaky staircase  a neon rose hangs overhead, long used as a symbol of secrecy and discretion  hang a sharp right, and youll find Hector Vargas, the bars manager, holding court. At any given moment, he might be rolling semifrozen spheres around in a bath of sodium alginate, decanting a steamy ribbon of liquid nitrogen or, because it is a bar after all, pouring a beer.

RELATED: The Bar House is Schertz's newest nightlife spot

Cellar is, above all, an act of showmanship. Sometimes that translates into brilliant drinks, and sometimes potentially brilliant drinks get lost under an avalanche of modernist technique. But whatever the outcome, Cellar is currently serving up one of the citys more memorable bar experiences.

On the menu: Some of Cellars libations are best appreciated with a side of mythology textbook. Take the Aphros, for example. In the Ancient Greek origin poem Theogony, the goddess Aphrodite rises from foam  or aphros, in Greek  created when Cronus, who would later sire Zeus, severed the genitals of his own father, the deity Uranus, and tossed them into the sea.

Once you know the story  which Vargas is happy to share  its hard not to ponder on when he inverts a nitrous oxide-charged canister and expels a frothy cap of vanilla foam atop a coupe glass filled with rum, mango nectar and elderflower liqueur. Vargas finished the drink with a spritz of coconut essence, for a combined effect reminiscent of a pina colada, but infinitely more entertaining.

Two very different drinks came in very familiar rocks glasses.

RELATED: Review: Dough raises the bar for pizza downtown

Down the Rabbit Hole is a some-assembly-required sipper customers complete by pouring a vial of lemony liquid into a glass of ice and crimson bitters garnished with a dehydrated orange wheel affixed by a tiny clothespin. Henrys Old-Fashioned is a muscular shot of bourbon garnished with a tangle of Spanish ham skewered on a steel spike. The former delivered an overpowering assault of sugar and cardamom, and the latter was hamstrung by an acrid air of burnt hair.

And then things got weird.

Cellars spherifications are presented as a trio of spoons, each containing a small portion of cocktail encapsulated in a glistening orb of sodium alginate. The mojito variation includes a petite mint leaf, and biting into it is a degree removed from chewing on a mildly boozy stick of Doublemint.

The bars Spicy Margarita is probably San Antonios most divergent interpretation of that classic drink. Cellars is made by flash-freezing tequila along with lemon, pineapple and ginger juice. The drinks assembly is a fun show, and the finished product is even more likable when scooped up with a spoon.

After a drink or two at Cellar mixology, stepping back onto the reality of East Commerce Street felt a little like ending a vacation at Narnias boozy next-door neighbor  and I walked away a tiny bit happier knowing even fantasyland has a 5 oclock.

Location: 1142 E. Commerce St., 210-592-1075, cellarmixology.com, Facebook: @cellarmixology.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Paul Stephen is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen
As summer starts to loosen its 100-degree grip, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is turning its attention outdoors with the opening of its new courtyard oyster bar today.

The oyster bar at the Southern-inspired Pearl restaurant and brewhouse will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, serving only drinks for a soft opening that will roll through through the weekend into Monday.

The full oyster bar menu will kick in at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with fresh Gulf and East Coast oysters, iced shrimp, Alaskan king crab, a daily raw-fish crudo and caviar service with kaluga or white osetra caviar with creme fraiche and a bag of Zapps potato chips. Two-tiered seafood towers will feature oysters, crab, shrimp and a daily chefs crudo with touches like avocado-horseradish mousse.

RELATED: The Bar House is Schertz's newest nightlife spot

Drink options include six housemade beers on draft, packaged wine and champagne and a frosty Southerleigh Punch served in a pouch with a blend of red, white and rose wines, Fresca and fruit juice. Southerleigh chef and owner Jeff Balfour calls it an adult Capri Sun.

The oyster bars hours will match Southerleighs  11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday  and both the oyster bar menu and main menu will be available indoors and outdoors.

Made from reclaimed industrial steel and windows salvaged from the historic Pearls old Bottling Department, the oyster bar indulges Balfours lifelong affinity for seafood.

Growing up in Galveston, I was peeling shrimp and shucking oysters for as long as I can remember, he said.

RELATED: San Antonio to get second Hopdoddy Burger Bar location

The bar, which faces the broad courtyard outside the Pearls food hall, will also give visitors an easier walk-up option to get a Southerleigh beer to go, Balfour said.

In other Southerleigh news, Balfour said the restaurants second location, Southerleigh at Brooks on the citys South Side at The Greenline park, has moved its projected opening date to May or June of next year. Good news for oyster fans: that location will have an oyster bar of its own.

Mike Sutter is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic. Read more of his stories on mysanantonio.com and ExpressNews.com, our subscriber site. | msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking
Dear Mr. Premack: I am 50 and ready to prepare my estate plan and medical directives. I have strong opinions about artificial life support. I do not want any extraordinary or artificial methods used to prolong the process of my death if I have a terminal illness and cannot communicate at the time. I am concerned that my personal choices about this most intimate topic  my own death  could be interfered with if a doctors or a hospital systems religious convictions are different than my own. I am particularly concerned since the Bishops declaration instructing Catholic hospital systems to place their dogma above my personal choices. Are there any ways in which I can retain control over my medical care? - SM

Catholic health care systems have been aggressively expanding in the U.S. It is estimated that one-sixth of the hospital beds available in the U.S. are part of the Catholic system. Some medical insurance policies may financially push policyholders into using the Catholic system as their in-network provider. Additionally, the taxpayers pay billions (in 2011, $27 billion and it has just increased from there) to the Catholic system to provide care under programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the Sixth Edition of its Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services in June 2018. Specifically, all health care providers that are affiliated with or are part of the Catholic hospital system are bound by the Bishops declarations that:

 a Catholic health care institution  will not honor an advance directive that is contrary to Catholic teaching. and that Each person may identify in advance a representative to make health care decisions as his or her surrogate in the event that the person loses the capacity to make health care decisions. Decisions by the designated surrogate should be faithful to Catholic moral principles .

For individuals who are faithful Catholics, those requirements should pose no problem. But for individuals from other faiths, for Catholics who disagree, or for those who are secular these declarations are a huge problem. Should an individuals personal medical choices be subjugated to religious principals which that individual does not hold? From the individuals perspective their own freedom of religion/conscience could be submerged below the larger institutions freedom of religion just because the individual seeks medical assistance.

To compound the issue, the Trump Administration has opened a new Conscience and Religious Freedom effort in the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The Director is Roger Severino, who stated that, No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by ones deepest moral or religious convictions (that is, the doctors or hospitals religious convictions should take priority over the patients religious/conscience convictions).

In March 2018 HHS proposed a federal regulation to protect doctors and hospitals from being coerced into participating in activities that violate their consciences. If the regulation is adopted, there is a question whether a doctor and hospital could legally refuse to remove life support for a patient with a Directive to Physicians by claiming it would violate the doctors/hospitals religion.

If this issue is important to you, meet with your attorney to update your Medical Power of Attorney to instruct your Agent to keep you away from any hospital system that may refuse to honor your legal wishes due to its own religious dogma. Pre-planning the selection of physician and hospital system is a step to help you retain control, and to see that you will not be denied medical services on religious grounds. Using online forms will not help achieve this goal; you need to meet with your attorney. Additionally, talk to your insurance company to see which hospitals are in-network and if necessary, change insurance companies when able to do so.

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
STRATFORD  Police dogs and their two-legged partners are often at much greater risk than other cops.

When the K9 unit responds to something, theyre usually the first ones going into a building to search, Stratford Police Lt. Celeste Robitaille said recently. Because of that, theyre four times more likely to get shot than any other officer.

Robitaille has been working with police dogs since 1997. She oversees the Stratford police K9 unit, which is made up of three dog/officer teams.

During the day shift, Officer Jose Dias works with his Hex, who turned 3 in June. Hex is a German Shepard.

Its stressful at times, Dias said. But its the best job.

The midday shift is covered by Officer David Sheean and his K9 Rebel, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepard.

And the night shift is under the watch of Officer Stephen Santoro and Logan, a Belgian Malinois and the baby of the trio at 2 years old.

A lot to learn

Every police dog is trained for a specialty  all three on the Stratford police force are trained in narcotics.

At first, the Stratford K9 unit got its dogs from a local pound. Now, the process is more involved. Hex, Rebel and Logan were all imported from overseas.

Robitaille said European countries tend to breed dogs for sport and work, with a focus on temperament and nerve testing. She said breeding in the U.S. focuses more on pedigree and dog-show preparation.

In their homelands, the three Stratford police dogs learned obedience, aggression control, evidence retrieval, tracking and handler protection. But that wasnt all they had to be taught.

Their training is ongoing; its non-stop, Robitaille said.

Sizable investment

The need for frequent training and re-certification comes with a cost, but its nothing like the expense of kicking off a K9 unit.

The initial cost is the big one, Robitaille said. That includes purchasing the dog, at least six weeks of schooling, overtime for officers and getting the car equipped for the K9.

That cost, per team, is an estimated $13,500 for training and housing, and another $9,000 to $10,000 for outfitting police cars for the dogs.

Hex, Rebel and Logan each have bullet and stab protective vests, which were funded by Stratford residents, Dias said.

Now, the unit is looking to upgrade its Ace Hot-n-Pop system, which is wired throughout the cruisers to detect temperature flow, and alerts the officers when the car shuts off or reaches a certain temperature with a police dogs inside.

Right now we have older models and theyre spotty, Dias said, adding that sometimes the signals are interrupted when officers go into buildings.

He said it will cost about $900 per cruiser to upgrade the systems, which will come equipped with an app that sends alerts to officers.

Loving dogs

Since the dogs go home with the officers and become a part of their families, the job isnt one any cop can handle.

If you love dogs, though, its the best job youll ever do, Robitaille said.

Dias was accepted as a K9 handler in December 2016 after applying three times. Robitaille said he spent hundreds of hours of his own time researching.

When choosing the right dog for an officer, Robitaille said, its all about the way the team interacts.

I looked at body language, Robitaille said. When choosing the dog for Dias, she said, she looked at nine dogs.

The two other teams joined the department in April 2017. Robitaille said she chose Rebel and Logan from a group of 13 dogs.

Typically, police dogs will be in service for seven to nine years before they retire. Robitaille said some dogs retire sooner, others later, based on their health. Once the dogs retire, their handlers have the option to buy them from the department  for $1.

Work mode, playtime

Not every police department has a K9 unit, so Stratford helps other towns and cities to with narcotic busts or searches.

When the police dogs are responding to a scene, they know it.

Just how an officer will get a feeling of adrenaline responding to something, the dogs will have a similar reaction, Dias said.

Hex, Rebel and Logan were trained not to bark while responding to an incident.

We dont encourage them to bark, Dias said, adding that it wastes the dogs energy.

Once the job is done, the dog is given a command that tells it the work is over. Then theyre rewarded with a favorite toy.

Rebel, sitting recently next to Sheean outside their police cruiser, obsessively eyed his favorite toy while the officer held it over his head.

Its like a trade-off system, Dias said.

Robitaille said once the dogs are given the command that work is over, they become like any other household pet dog.

Hex would give you kisses all day, Robitaille said through laughter, standing behind the police station recently, with Hexs front paws near her shoulders as he licked her face. Hes so sweet.

Donations to the Stratford K9 unit can be dropped off at the Stratford Police Department at 900 Longbrook Ave.
Norwalk Police Dept.

NORWALK  Two friends were hanging out at a local motel when an argument over money ended in an assault, police said.

Police said Djuan Paulk, 41, of Glendenning Street, Norwalk, and an unidentified woman were at the Red Carpet Inn on Thursday when Paulk noticed $25 were missing.
In theory, teamwork and technology should go hand in hand. And they usually do -- to an extent. But just because each plays a big hand in determining a company's success does not mean one should depend on the other. Technology, by design, is meant to improve efficiencies and the overall customer experience, but it cannot replace the purpose of a lean and competent team.

For example, UCHealth, a hospital and clinic not-for-profit, is moving its innovation team into the same building as health professionals and technology experts at the Catalyst Health-Tech Innovation company, in Denver.

The goal of the collaboration is to combine team members' knowledge and expertise --by having them work together in the same space -- to facilitate breakthroughs that discipline by UCHealth's team alone could not have achieved.

"Healthcare is not going to be reimagined just through established healthcare organizations or startups," Catalyst HTI co-founder Mark Biselli told Modern Healthcare. "We have to do it together."

Of course, technology will play an important role in that collaboration. But the team executing the strategy is key. And this is something I myself learned as part of my military training. In that context, I learned that though technology is undoubtedly a great enabler, it is the way in which cross-functional teams combine their skills and expertise toward a single desired outcome that ultimately breeds success.

Related: It Takes More Than Tech to Get Teams to Collaborate Effectively

The first thing to do: Hand things off to high-performing teams.

Certainly, organizations need the right tools to produce groundbreaking products. No one can build a smartphone with some rocks and a hamster on a wheel. The problem, though, is that it is easy to take the "tools" sentiment too literally or to assume that a 50-50 partnership exists between teams and technology.

A high-performing team will always be more valuable than a piece of tech because that team will ultimately dictate how to identify and introduce technology, then accelerate its use. Though different people bring different areas of expertise to the team, everyone is working toward one common goal.

Instead of putting the onus on technology to get you across your own finish line, empower a high-performing team to get you there. Here's how:

1. Play to individuals' strengths.

A Refresh Leadership study found that 48 percent of employees polled thought their skills were underutilized at work. Given the often ambiguous challenges facing today's organizations, a cross-functional team is the optimal structure. Rather than simply build a talented team or plug deficiencies with tech solutions, construct a cohesive unit where all members can contribute their individual strengths and talent to the overall mission.

This type of cross-functional specialization certainly is not unique to business. Composers don't create enduring symphonies by copying and pasting in the same melody for each instrument. Though that may make the tuba alone sound a bit dull, it's the synthesis of the other instruments that will create the harmonies and make a symphony a masterwork.

From my experience in the military, I can attest that the strike force is the pinnacle of the cross-functional team construct. Assaulters, snipers, mortars, machine-gunners, fire supporters, pilots, interpreters and other experts each specialize in very specific areas of responsibility. But it is only by combining these specialties that many of the world's most capable teams are born.

The lesson: Like a world-renowned composer or decorated strike-force commander, put your emphasis on leveraging your team's individual strengths -- in the interest of shared achievement.

Related: 3 Ways to 'Transcend the Tech' in Your Team's Communications

2. Don't hesitate to add on to your high-performing team.

Everyone knows that the purpose of a team is to accomplish what the individual cannot. Unfortunately, too many business leaders let their pride prevent them from embracing this adage. Worse, they may simply plug every capability gap with a new piece of tech. That shouldn't happen.

They should instead remember the individual strength each team member possesses, then empower those individuals to complete the tasks that will reach that ultimate goal.

Routinely assess what your team does -- and does not -- do well. Look at the progress of any project and determine whether the team has the skills and resources it needs in order to get the job done. If someone needs to acquire another skill to carry out a task, help that person learn it. If you need another team member to fill a gap, bring that person on.

An example: NASA looked outside its walls to help its astronauts deal with solar-particle storms. For 30 years, NASA had struggled to crack the code on predicting these occurrences, so it opened up the problem to external experts.

A former telecommunications engineer spearheaded the breakthrough by correctly simplifying the problem to a magnetic coupling issue involving Earth and the sun, a conclusion he reached using his own knowledge.

The lesson: Keeping its sights on the ultimate objective, NASA looked outside the organization to find a solution. So, follow its model: Utilize the capabilities of your team, but don't be afraid to engage outside stakeholders or subject-matter experts to get the results you need.

Related: 3 Steps to Happy Collaboration Between Your Engineering and Business Team

3. Collaborate with candor.

In Gallup's 2017 State of the American Workforce study, two-thirds of respondents said they experienced -- for one reason or another -- some level of disengagement at work. Building a unified team does not stop with adjusting the division of labor; it demands a culture of collaboration. Use every available opportunity to create an environment where trust, empowerment and candor are present.

Adam Waid, a former director of marketing at Salesforce, recalled, in a company blog, a time when a previous team was clearly functioning suboptimally. The manager sent an anonymous survey to the team asking about ways in which team dynamics and efficiencies might be improved. After compiling the results, he brought the entire team in for a candid discussion.

The revelations were less than earth-shattering and predominantly involved issues related to hurt feelings, bumpy structural changes and lack of appreciation, but the impact was profound. Waid remembers his manager walking away from the session amazed by how critical the candid discussion had proved in helping the team build trust and improve communication. Old-fashioned human interaction -- not tech -- helped open that door to improved team dynamics.

The lesson: Waid's experience proves that though technology is a valuable resource that teams can use, it cannot -- and should not -- replace a well-optimized team. Imagine that Waid's manager or the executives at NASA -- or even my military leaders -- had used only technological solutions to innovate. Each may have made some incremental movement, but it's unclear whether they would have made substantial movements, maintained cultures of innovation or established teams capable of perpetual problem-solving and organizational innovation. But who knows for sure?

Until machines can fully replace human consciousness, we will all have to complete the team goals needed to elevate our companies the hard way, and by the hard way, I mean the right way. Build or partner with a high-performing cross-functional team and empower it to accelerate tech across your enterprise, not the other way around.

Related:

What Military Service and NASA Can Teach About the Value of Teams Over Tech

5 Tips for an Effective Team Retreat

Cultivate These 5 Attributes to Turbocharge Team Performance



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images), Staff / (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Margot Lee Shetterly, the author of Hidden Figures, the book that became the blockbuster film about three African-American women working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will give a free lecture Thursday at St. Philips College.

The talk will begin at 11 a.m. in the Watson Fine Arts Center at the community college, 1801 Martin Luther King Drive. Parking is also free and the lecture is open to the public on a first-arrived, first-seated basis.
Two people who say they were sexually abused by a former Conroe priest nearly two decades ago say the Houston regions highest-ranking Catholic official failed to properly investigate their alleged assaults.

The accusations against Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who has led the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 2006, come just weeks after DiNardo called for more transparency into the churchs handling of sexual abuse allegations and as he prepares to meet with Pope Francis and two other prelates on Thursday to discuss the controversy.

But a man and a woman who allege they were abused by the priest, Father Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, said in interviews that their claims were not taken seriously by DiNardo.

La Rosa-Lopez, 60, who recently served as the pastor at St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Richmond and the episcopal vicar for Hispanics, was arrested by Conroe police Tuesday and charged with four counts of indecency with a child, following the filing of a police report by the male victim on Aug. 27.

La Rosa-Lopez has denied the allegations, church officials said in a written statement.

The archdiocese flew the alleged male victim to Houston to speak with DiNardo on Aug. 10, where he recounted the sexual abuse that he said he suffered at the hands of La Rosa-Lopez when he was a high school student and the priest was based at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe.

DiNardo, the male victim told the Houston Chronicle last month, was dismissive of his story and told him, Well, you shouldve told us earlier.

An arrest warrant filed by Conroe police on Monday said the female victim decided to make a police report because of the perceived duplicity of Cardinal DiNardo given his recent public statements about recent priest sex scandals and because of the churchs failure to adequately protect children from La Rosa-Lopez.

The man and woman also discussed their concerns about DiNardos response with the Associated Press. The Chronicle does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.

The archdiocese defended its handling of the matters in a statement Wednesday.

Church officials said that after they learned in 2001 that La Rosa-Lopez had kissed and touched (the alleged female victim) inappropriately, they referred the matter to Texas Child Protective Services, or CPS. The statement said the priest denied touching the then-teenage girl inappropriately, and that the girls family decided not pursue the matter, relocating out of the country that same year. After the allegations were presented to the Archdiocesan Review Board in 2003, the statement said, La Rosa-Lopez was permitted to return to parish ministry in 2004.

For the last 17 years, no other allegations of inappropriate conduct involving minors were presented against Father La Rosa-Lopez until 2018, the statement continued.

The archdiocese said that when the alleged male victim formally reported on Aug. 10 that hed been sexually abused for several years starting in 1998, the allegations were immediately reported to CPS, as well.

We take these matters very seriously, which is why we reported the information we received from both individuals to CPS  and removed Father La Rosa-Lopez from ministry, archdiocese officials said. Church officials said they are cooperating with the official investigation.

In the early 2000s  and amid a wave of scandals involving child abuse  Catholic leaders established guidelines that, among other things, called for notifying law enforcement of any such allegations made against clergy.

Spotlight on abuse

The renewed focus on clergy sex abuse in the Catholic Church follows the release this past summer of a Pennsylvania grand jury report that detailed allegations against more than 300 predator priests and said there were at least 1,000 child victims, and likely far more, in that state alone.

Pope Francis found his trip to Ireland overshadowed by a former Vatican officials accusation that the pontiff knew about past sexual misconduct by ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick since 2013 and rehabilitated him despite sanctions imposed on McCarrick several years prior. Francis dismissed the claims by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who the New York Times reports was aligned with conservatives unhappy with Francis inclusive vision of the church and found himself iced out after Francis election as pope.

DiNardo climbed through the Catholic ranks after being ordained in Pittsburgh. He later moved to Houston, and in 2007 became the first cardinal from a Southern U.S. diocese, the Chronicle reported at the time. In addition to leading the Galveston-Houston areas 1.7 million Catholics, he serves as head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.

He said recently that the handling of the McCarrick case represented a grievous moral failure within the church and called for conclusive answers in the matter, as well as a plan of action for dealing with such allegations in the future.

But the alleged male victim, now 34, said he was not satisfied with DiNardos response to his accusations.

He told Conroe police that he reached out a year ago to his local parish in Portland, Ore., which put him in touch with the Galveston-Houston archdioceses victims assistance coordinator. The arrest warrant says he was interviewed by the coordinator and DiNardo, then offered counseling services.

It was a dismissive tone, the man told the AP. In the back of my head, I was thinking about his comment. I was so mad afterward.

He said he was told that the allegations had been referred to Conroe police and CPS, but that hed been unable to locate any such reporting, according to the arrest warrant. So he went to the police himself. I filed it myself. I had to, he said.

He identified other potential victims to Conroe police.

It was not just me, it was me and a few other guys, said the man, who grew up in Conroe. Now I still have certain trust and self-esteem issues, especially with intimacy. And on the spiritual side, its gone for me. I dont believe in any of that crap.

The man said the abuse started when he was 14 and continued until he was 16.

I went to seminary when I was 12, 13, 14, and (La Rosa-Lopez) kind of took me under his wing because my parents worked all the time, he said. The affection towards me started getting weird, and started going from affection to touching, from touching to making out, from making out to making out with no clothes on.

Grooming behavior

The alleged female victim reported that La Rosa-Lopez was serving as her confessor when he abused her. She told Conroe police that the priest engaged in grooming behavior that consisted of kissing and heavy petting. She said the behavior culminated on April 4, 2000, after a confession in his office. She said La Rosa-Lopez removed his white collar and began kissing her and pressing himself against her. Two days later, she told police, she was alone with the priest in the church kitchen following a practice for the Passion of the Christ play when she says he began fondling her, and reached underneath her shirt and bra to touch her breasts with his hands.

According to the arrest warrant, the female victim believed she was in a romantic relationship with La Rosa-Lopez and recorded incidents in a diary. The victims father found the diary and determined that it was about La Rosa-Lopez, confronted the priest and reported the issues to church officials. The result, the warrant states, is that La Rosa-Lopez was transferred from the church and the girls family moved from Conroe.

But upon returning to Conroe in 2010, she read in a Catholic newspaper that La Rosa-Lopez had been promoted and assigned his own church in Richmond. She told police that she followed up with church officials and was told that the priest had been placed in an administrative position from which he had no contact with children or teenagers. She told the AP that officials had her meet with La Rosa-Lopez and he apologized.

Michael Norris, leader of the Houston chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, urged victims and witnesses of abuse within the church to contact police.

An incendiary charge has been leveled against the highest ranking U.S. Catholic official: that he promised to keep an accused predator priest away from kids but for years did not, he wrote to the Chronicle. Houston Catholic officials, including (DiNardo), must address this promptly and honestly.

In a press statement released Wednesday, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston confirmed that they had received the allegations of sexual abuse from both victims. However, they said that they had immediately reported the allegations to CPS.

We take these matters very seriously, which is why we reported the information we received from both individuals to CPS  and removed (La Rosa-Lopez) from ministry, the statement read. To anyone affected by any form of abuse by anyone who represents the Church, the Archdiocese deeply regrets such a fundamental violation of trust, and commits itself to eliminating such unacceptable actions.

Catherine Dominguez and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

massarah.mikati@chron.com

robert.downen@chron.com
The former owner of more than 500 animals that were seized from a house on the South Side last week surrendered his animals to the city Friday.

Animal Care Services impounded the animals  which included 136 snakes and more than 400 mice and rats  on Sept. 5, but the custody of the animals long-term had not been determined.

ACS officials celebrated the surrender as a victory, noting their primary focus had been getting the animals out of poor conditions where they likely could have perished.

Efforts to contact Thomas Eichelberger, the former owner, who lives in the 500 block of Kayton Avenue, were not immediately successful. His attorney, Barrett McKinney, declined to comment on why Eichelberger had decided to turn his animals in.

RELATED: San Antonio's Animal Care Services cites irresponsible pet ownership in recent dog attacks

ACS is working with approved animal rescues locally and nationally to place the surrendered animals. As part of the agreement, the former owner does not have to pay normal boarding and medical fees for the animals, which would have amounted to about $20,000, according to Animal Care Services Assistant Director Shannon Sims. The agency footed the bill instead.

Sims added that ACS will likely stay in contact with the former owner.

"Just by nature, we tend to make sure we keep eyes on individuals like this," Sims said. "It is, in many ways, kind of like a sickness, and if it goes untreated, they will revert back."

Officials have not decided whether to file animal cruelty charges.

RELATED: Stolen ACS dog found, suspect arrested from West Side home

The investigation began at the end of July when ACS received a report of animal neglect concerning snakes and rats, according to a search warrant.

Eichelberger was not home when an officer showed up to investigate, but the officer was able to access the garage, where he noticed a strong odor of ammonia, several rats, and no climate control, despite high temperatures. He posted a notice of violation for standard of care and a heat advisory notice, according to court documents.

Over the next month, ACS officers continued to investigate. Sometimes Eichelberger cooperated. Other times, he refused to allow the officers inside, the search warrant said.

When officers were able to enter, they found a cluttered home with a small walking path carved through the rooms. Dozens of snakes, all constrictors, were kept in containers that often appeared too small, soiled and lacked adequate water, the search warrant said.

From our subscriber site: San Antonio team begins relocating animals from leaking Northwest Side pond

The rats were kept in containers in the garage, and officers noted poor living qualities for them as well.

"Multiple rats could be heard audibly sneezing and (the chief veterinarian for Animal Care Services) was able to see nasal discharge, including some bloody nasal discharge, on some of the rats and advised that they had upper respiratory (issues) due to long-term unsanitary living conditions and felt that they were housed in a cruel manner and without adequate care to maintain them in a good state of health," the search warrant said.

Eichelberger admitted he had been unable to clean the animal containers because he did not have running water and said he was unable to afford air conditioning as well.

On Sept. 5, ACS executed the search warrant, and, with the help of a herpetology expert from the San Antonio Zoo, seized all 136 snakes, as well as 415 mice and rats. It was the largest seizure in ACS department history, according to ACS Spokeswoman Lisa Norwood.

RELATED: New San Antonio law requires pet owners to give their animals shade

The snakes were a variety of patterns and colors, and Eichelberger was breeding them for sale, Norwood said. At least half a dozen of the larger snakes measured more than 7 feet long, and one was an estimated 18 feet.

Animal Care Services, which primarily deals with cats and dogs, has faced significant challenges in boarding the seized animals and have received help from a variety of organizations, Sims said.

There is no limit to the number of snakes a person can own in San Antonio so long as they have satisfactory living conditions, Norwood said.

Chapter 5-109 of the city's animal ordinance says any non-venomous snakes a person keeps that are over three feet and or 15 pounds have to be in a safe cage or enclosure that prevents the possibility of escape and provides adequate freedom of movement.

S. M. Chavey is a staff writer for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here. | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | 210-250-3122 | Twitter: @smchavey
Authorities have identified the 14 suspects swept up Thursday in an East Side drug raid.

Nine of the arrests occurred in the 600 block of Morningview Drive, where last week FBI agents had arrested an additional nine suspects. The remaining five were picked up later on warrants.

Click through the slideshow above to see all the suspects arrested Thursday in the raid.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said most of the 14 suspects arrested Thursday have "violent criminal histories," and court records indicate multiple suspects are members of the Blood Styxx gang.

McManus also said it was a "safe bet" that some of them were involved in a shooting on Sept. 2 that injured four people, including a 2-year-old child, but did not provide any evidence supporting the claim.

RELATED: 9 arrested in drug sweep on East Side Thursday

"This effort, I believe, will change the tone and tenor of things that have happened here on Morningview," McManus said.

Officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bexar County Sheriff's Officer, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and U. S. Marshals were among those participating in the raid.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns
A San Antonio man tried sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at the San Antonio Behavioral Health Care Hospital, according to police.

Maximino Reyes, 33, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child.

RELATED: Driver accused of hospitalizing 4 in VIA bus stop crash asks for forgiveness after arrest

The 13-year-old girl was at the hospital under emergency detention, according to Reyes' arrest affidavit.

Reyes, who was also at the facility, walked into the room the girl was waiting in and touched her inappropriately, according to the affidavit. He left briefly and then walked back in, exposed himself and attempted to sexually assault her, according to the affidavit.

Hospital staff went into the room shortly after they saw Reyes leave and found the girl curled up in a corner, according to the affidavit.

The abuse was allegedly caught on the hospital's security cameras, according to the affidavit.

San Antonio Behavioral Health Care Hospital officials could not be reached for comment.

Reyes was arrested on a $100,000 bond, according to jail records.
Its not easy to set a new standard for stupid in 2018, but a few left-wingers on Twitter managed it during Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hearings.

They claimed to have seen one of Judge Kavanaughs former law clerks, Zina Bash, making a white-power symbol while sitting behind him at the opening session of the hearings.

Less discerning viewers wouldnt have noticed the alleged signal at all, or if they had, would have easily mistaken it for Bashs hand at rest in something like a gesture of OK.

It was declared a national outrage by a #resistance tweeter who has 200,000 followers, and the activist and author Amy Siskind said the supposed gesture alone should disqualify Kavanaugh (she deleted the tweet, but still suspected that Bashs hand represented something nefarious).

Its not clear how the hand-signal theory was supposed to make sense. Why, if Judge Kavanaugh is a stealth white-power candidate, would someone on his side go out of her way to advertise that fact on national TV?

On the other hand, if Judge Kavanaugh is a brazen white-power candidate, why does a supporter have to rely on such a subtle gesture to signal his true colors?

Who was the audience for the gesture? A racist underground initiated in a series of secret symbols and handshakes that would be activated to lend its full support for Kavanaugh?

Who knows, and who cares? For an element of the left, the Trump era has been an open invitation to lose their minds, one they have gladly accepted for fun and profit, since there are few things said about the president that can be too extreme or irrational to find an audience.

It was quickly pointed out how insane the hand-signal theory was. Zina Bashs husband explained that his Mexican-born wife is Mexican on her mothers side and Jewish on her fathers side, and her grandparents survived the Holocaust. She is a most unlikely secret convert to the alt-right.

Besides, the white-power signal, depending on seeing a W for white and a P for power in the traditional OK sign, isnt really a thing. The idea was pushed by trolls to fool credulous liberals into picking it up. The Kavanaugh hearing was a coup for them.

Even if the Zina Bash hand-signal theory didnt get traction in the mainstream, its propagators tell us something about the spirit of todays left, which is bilious and enraged.

The natural idiom of the out party in American politics is suspicion of, verging on paranoia about, the party in power, which is almost always considered alien, corrupt and despotic.

But the left also is in the grips of a feeling of inflamed impotence, especially when it comes to the Supreme Court. The Democrats couldnt confirm Barack Obamas pick, Merrick Garland, for the late Antonin Scalias seat, yet President Donald Trump has two high-court picks and counting. These seats, by their reckoning, are therefore stolen  although their disposition was subject to normal democratic processes. The Democrats could have had control of all the Supreme Court picks over the past several years if theyd managed to hold the Senate in 2014 and the presidency in 2016. They could do neither.

Then theres the lefts racial theory of America, which is basically a conspiracy theory. It believes in a deeply embedded, all-pervasive white supremacy. Even Brett Kavanaugh, as credentialed and establishment a figure as you can find, is a suspected vehicle for racism.

Finally, Trump has done almost nothing to try to allay the fears about him the way a traditional politician would. Driving his opposition yet more bonkers might well serve his interests in a 2020 re-election campaign  but in the meantime, unhinged people have a more and more prominent place in our public life.

The new standard for stupid in 2018 isnt much of a landmark. It will be eclipsed soon enough.

comments.lowry@nationalreview.com
When Barack Obama took the oath of office as president in 2009, George W. Bush wished him well and left the political stage, determined to never publicly criticize his successor. It is a vow he kept for the entire eight years of Obamas presidency. Indeed, Bush has given only one political speech since leaving office  and that was for his brother Jeb in 2016.

Even when Obama attacked him repeatedly from the presidential bully pulpit and reversed many of his policies, Bush kept silent. Bush did it not simply as a courtesy. He understood better than almost anyone the incredible pressures of the presidency and felt it was his moral duty not to make the job any harder. So, he adhered to the standard of grace and decency to which all former presidents should aspire.

For a while it seemed that Obama  the beneficiary of Bushs grace and decency  would follow the 43rd presidents example. But a little more than 18 months after leaving office, Obama has apparently decided that he is too important to stay on the sidelines.

Obama broke his silence in a speech to students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he declared that he had fully intended on following a wise American tradition of ex-presidents gracefully exiting the political stage but changed his mind because this is one of those pivotal moments when every one of us as citizens of the United States need to determine just who it is that we are. (With all due respect, this is exactly how many conservatives felt about his time in office).

Rather than maintain even some semblance of presidential dignity  rallying Democrats around a set of principles without attacking the sitting president  Obama launched into an unrestrained, full-frontal assault on his successor. President Trump, Obama warned, is a threat to our democracy who rose to power by tapping into Americas dark history of racial and ethnic and religious division. The former president castigated not just Trump but all Republicans. The politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican party, he declared. Republicans are subsidizing corporate polluters, weakening worker protections, shrinking the safety net, attack[ing] voting rights and cozying up to Russia  all while campaigning on an appeal to racial nationalism thats barely veiled.

It was the most hyperpartisan speech delivered by a former president in modern memory. If Obama were really concerned that Trump is behaving in a manner beneath the dignity of his office, then the answer is to set a better example for presidential behavior  not join him.

Moreover, Obamas charge that racist dog whistles put Trump in the White House is a calumny against the millions of decent, patriotic Americans who voted for the president. If all these Trump voters are driven by racism, as Obama declares, then why did so many of them vote for Obama? The American National Election Study found that 13 percent of Trump voters in 2016 backed Obama in 2012. A Post analysis after the 2016 election found that, of the nearly 700 counties that twice voted for Obama, one-third went for Trump.

These Obama-Trump voters bought into Obamas promise of hope and change but never got what they were promised  so they decided to give Trump a chance.

And their bet has paid off. Under Trump, the economy is finally improving for many of these forgotten Americans. Wages are rising at the fastest pace in nine years. Consumer confidence is at the highest level since 2000. Manufacturing jobs are growing at the fastest pace in 14 years. Job layoffs are at a half-century low. Since Trump took office, the number of Americans working part-time because they could not find full-time work has dropped by nearly 700,000, and the number of Americans working full-time jobs has increased by 3 million.

And what is Obamas message? When you hear how great the economy is doing right now, Obama said, lets just remember when this recovery started. Ironically, that was precisely the message that drove Obama voters to Trump in 2016. Polls show that in 2016, half of Obama-Trump voters said their incomes were falling behind the cost of living, while another 31 percent said their incomes were merely keeping pace. Yet during the election, they kept hearing from Democrats how well the economy was doing and that they should be grateful for eight years of Obama. Well, now their lives are finally improving  and they are grateful to Trump.

Democrats like to talk about all the hallowed presidential norms that Trump is breaking. But now it is Obama who is breaking presidential norms with his self-serving foray into partisan demagoguery.
President Donald Trumps antics in his Crazytown White House inevitably dominate the headlines. Meanwhile, however, his wrongheaded policies are damaging far more than the nations dignity and honor.

Hampered by inexperience and incompetence, the administration is pursuing a radically un-American agenda that should alarm progressives and conservatives alike. Trumps warped worldview is guiding federal government policy, with awful  and worsening  consequences for the nation and the world.

A few lowlights:

More than 2,600 children of would-be Latino immigrants were ripped away from their families at the border, and 416 remained in federal custody last week at facilities around the country. It is likely that many will never see their parents again. This zero-tolerance policy was an appalling exercise in gratuitous cruelty.

Trump has reversed decades of environmental policy, adopting the 18th Century view that coal is the energy source of the future. He does not believe in climate change, though its effects are evident in rising seas, raging wildfires, deadly heat waves and the opening of a heretofore undreamed-of Arctic shipping lane. The administration seems determined to ensure that Europe, China and India reap the economic benefits of an inevitable global shift to a clean-energy economy.

Under Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department has abandoned traditional civil rights enforcement. No longer is the focus on protecting and expanding the rights of minorities such as African-Americans, women, Latinos and the LGBT community. Instead, the government is now more concerned about alleged reverse discrimination and what it describes as threats to religious freedom. In particular, onerous voting laws that disproportionately affect minority groups are just fine with the Trump administration.

White supremacist views have made their way into the mainstream of political discourse. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad? former president Obama asked last week. No answer from the White House thus far.

Housing Secretary Ben Carson wants to impose stiff work requirements on public housing tenants and raise their rents. He is also moving to gut Obama-era rules designed to identify and remedy patterns of housing segregation, criticizing federal efforts to integrate neighborhoods as failed socialist experiments.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has largely failed in her war against public schools, though not for want of trying. Her proposal to spend $1.4 billion on private and charter schools went nowhere. But she has had a negative impact on public education merely through her studied inattention. In higher education, she has proposed rule changes regarding for-profit colleges that critics say will leave students more vulnerable.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke bizarrely blamed the recent devastating wildfires in California on environmental terrorist groups. He was apparently referring to environmental groups that have lobbied to put more forested land off-limits to logging  a trend that Zinke is determined to reverse. But the excess fuel that turbocharged those fires consisted mostly of chaparral and scrub brush, not the trees that would have been taken out by the logging industry.

U.S. diplomacy is in tatters, a state of affairs that is less the fault of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo than of his predecessor Rex Tillerson and, above all, Trump. Tillerson simply failed to fill hundreds of vital positions. Trump, from the beginning, has been a hugely destructive loose cannon. He has gone out of his way to offend, insult and demean some of our closest traditional allies while lavishing praise on autocrats such as Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong Un of North Korea.

Trumps shift from free trade to protectionism is already being felt by growers and manufacturers whose products have been affected by reciprocal tariffs. But the ultimate impact will come years from now, and it will be huge: What Trump has done is encourage the other great economic powers  Europe, China and Japan  to go their own way without relying so heavily on the United States. Trumps unilateralism threatens to leave us on the outside looking in.

The point is that things dont look better if you ignore Trumps tiresome act. In many ways, things look worse.

eugenerobinson@washpost.com
From 22,000 miles above the Earth's surface, a weather satellite run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration captured high-resolution imagery of Hurricane Florence's menacing eye.

In the footage, whipping winds, clouds and thunderstorms swirl around a bowl-shaped area of calm.

"Wow, looks totally angry," wrote Carole Dorsey in the comments of a NOAA tweet sharing the clip.

"Mother Nature is both beautiful and terrifying," chimed in Erin Madden.

The imagery was taken by NOAA's GOES-15 satellite at 7 a.m. on Tuesday when the storm was moving 17 mph west-northwest with winds up to 60 mph extending from its center.

Gaining strength and expanding in size, the storm was headed toward the East Coast as "an extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane by Tuesday afternoon.

The National Hurricane Center projects the monstrous storm will deliver catastrophic flooding and lashing winds to the eastern parts of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina when it reaches landfall Thursday and into Friday.

ALSO: 'Big and vicious': Hurricane Florence closes in on Carolinas

The amount of rainfall and destruction depends on the storm's exact path and whether it lingers or moves on and dissipates.

More than 1.5 million people have been ordered to evacuate coastal areas ahead of the storm.
- The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will welcome Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to its fold ahead of 2019

- Ambode is battling with Jide Sanwo-Olu, a former commissioner for training and establishments and Femi Hamzat for the APC ticket

- The PDP in Lagos calls Ambode a big personality that will be accepted by any opposition party

The Lagos state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, September 13, said it would welcome Governor Akinwunmi Ambode into its fold if he decided to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The publicity secretary of the party, Taofeek Gani, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The report said Gani spoke following reports that Jide Sanwo-Olu, a former commissioner for training and establishments in the state, had been adopted by the APC leaders to succeed Ambode.

READ ALSO: 2019: Tinubu reportedly seals Ambodes fate

The report said the APC chairman in Lagos state, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, had told newsmen on Wednesday, September 12, that the governorship ticket of the party was open to all aspirants.

Legit.ng understands that the former commissioner for works, Obafemi Hamzat, is another aspirant seeking the job of Ambode with Sanwo-Olu.

Gani said that the party would be glad to receive Ambode into its fold if he decided to leave APC for whatever reason.

Any forward-looking party would not have rejected its main opponent joining it, especially a big personality like Ambode.

We are ready to welcome him (Ambode) to our party, if he decides to join for any reason. We are very ready to accept him, if he decides to join us.

You see PDP is a party for all, so far value will be added. We cannot turn down our opponents, especially a big personality like Ambode.

Therefore, he is welcome. His joining us will definitely add value and boost our chances to win the state, he said.

The PDP spokesperson said the party would accord him all the rights and privileges with the existing members to realise his political ambitions.

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Currently, Deji Doherty and Jimi Agbaje are among those who have picked the PDP nomination forms for the governorship ticket.

Legit.ng earlier reported that a day after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state officially declared his bid for a second term, reports filtered in that there is a threat to impeach the governor.

The impeachment threat is not unconnected to an alleged ongoing rift between Ambode and the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Nigeria News: Nigerians Buying form for Politicians; Loyalty or Political Propaganda? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared that he has nothing against minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, over his governorship ambition

- He said he expected a minister to behave as a minister and not as a commoner

- Ajimobi, however, said that Shittu's temperament was not suitable for the position of a state governor

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has declared that he has nothing against the minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, who is also aspiring to be the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 election.

Legit.ng regional reporter in Oyo state, Newman Babson, reports that while speaking during an interview with Channels Television said: "I have nothing against him, I just like people to live with decorum."

READ ALSO: Breaking: President Buhari appoints new DSS boss weeks after Dauras sack

The governor said that he expected a minister to behave as a minister and not as a commoner, adding that a minister should maintain discipline.

Ajimobi said that it was wrong for him to say that he would support his candidature since he is not yet a candidate

The governor noted that Shittu's temperament was not suitable for the position of a state governor, saying that he was very cantankerous.

Ajimobi said that having worked in an oil industry where he rose to the apex of his career, he knew a standard of behaviour expected of a would be state governor which he lacks.

"I will never support a person who will continue to insult party leaders. A person who will be violent and cantankerous. We can both support Buhari and yet disagree.

The governor added that if the minister changed his style and be more united with others, there might be a better relationship between them.

He also believed that a would be governor was expected to have attained an enviable status in his career, pointing out that to have spent about 30 years in the bar without being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) gives room for concern.

It should be recalled that the governor and the minister have for long been at loggerheads with each other. The minister himself has declared that if the gubernatorial flag was given to somebody else in the state, the party would lose.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that loyalists of the late former governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, under the aegis of the Lamist Movement defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, pledging their support for the party in the 2019 elections.

Election 2019: I represent the future - 36-year old APC presidential aspirant says | - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- A group has called on Nigerians to continually support the activities of troops of the Nigerian Army

- CUPS said some forces are out to distract the military on its fight against terrorists

- according to the group, some of the comments against the Nigerian Army have been wide off the mark from the realities on ground

The Coalition of United Patriots and Statesmen (CUPS) has urged Nigerians to disregard dark forces desperately out to distract the Nigerian Army on its onslaught against Terrorism in the country.

The national convener of the CUPS, Gabriel Agibi, who briefed journalists in Abuja said Nigeria almost lost its respect as a sovereign nation prior to the advent of this administration when terrorism peaked and insurgents began to slice parts of the country to themselves as they wished.

Agibi, however, said the story changed with the coming of the current administration when normalcy was returned for a long period of time.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt leaders blow hot over appointment of new DSS DG, accuse Buhari of being tribalistic

He said the attempt by the terrorists to re-launch an attack after almost three years of suppression by the Nigeria Armed Forces has unfortunately given room to all kinds of comments and opinions that stand logic on its head.

Agibi said: "Some of the comments have been wide off the mark from the realities on ground , that makes it imperative for our group to interject as a way of clarifying the issues with a view to understanding what actually are on ground.

"Since the coming of the current administration, the Nigeria military has achieved a lot in terms of tackling insurgency that at for a long period of time it became difficult for the terrorists to operate or to launch attacks.

"Many of their commanders were arrested within the period under review and brought to book, their operational bases blown to pieces and many of them surrendered due to fear and owing to the superiority of the military."

READ ALSO: Breaking: President Buhari appoints new DSS boss weeks after Dauras sack

He also noted that many people living in internally displaced persons camps have relocated to their communities and many have been reunited with their families. He said that clear evidence of this can be seen on both local and international media across the world.

"It is therefore not only beastly but also moronic for anybody who is conversant with the progress made within the period under review to try to cast aspersion on the military as an institution or on the person of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

"The call by one CUPS and its Leader, one Idris Ahmed asking President Muhammadu Buhari, to sack the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, therefore not only lacks basis but is asinine if not insane.

"The group masquerading as the authentic CUPS and registered in the United Kingdom has failed to point out how and where it arrived at the allegation that COAS is incompetent in the face of aggressive insurgency, or where his action or inaction constitutes criminal negligence, or where he had lent himself to acts of corruption or conspiracy to defraud the Nigerian State or where any of his actions amounted to treachery.

"A keen observer of the actions of the COAS would realize that all these allegations are none just non-existent but wickedly concocted for reasons not relating to security issues.

"The COAS has since joining the army won some of the best awards and medals that the discipline offers and had served in very responsible positions while giving good account of himself in all the assignments given to him.

"For somebody to wake up and accuse such a fine officer of incompetence shows that the person either does not know the meaning of the word or that he is trying to be mischievous.

"Apart from the several awards he received within the country, Buratais efforts in fighting insurgency has been recognized worldwide and is evident in his receipt of the highest military award in Brazil in 2017 for the role he played in subduing insurgency in Nigeria.

"It is to his credit that the insurgents no longer take hostages or stay to challenge the Nigerian state but flee at the sight of the Nigerian military," Agibi added.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that residents of Gudumbali community in Guzamala local government area of Borno state have said that peace has been restored after a gun battle between troops of the Nigerian Army and some member of the Boko Haram terrorists.

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The residents said the militants from Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group struck on Friday, September 7, causing panic. They however said the terrorists were immediately repelled by troops who returned fire.

Confirming the resident's reports, the members of the civilian Joint Task Force said the attack by the terrorists had caused panic among residents in the community.

Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Some northern leaders are towing the path of the PDP board of trustees in streamlining the list of presidential aspirants from the zone

- Those profiled already include Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki

- Details have also emerged relating to the reason Atiku visited some Yoruba leaders in Lagos recently

As the match to 2019 becomes intense, it has been learnt that critical stakeholders in the northern part of Nigeria have been meeting to decide on candidates to support for the presidential election.

Though seems to be some other aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it is certain that the battle will be between incumbent Muhammadu Buhari and who, among the major contending forces, that finally springs up from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Currently, the PDP is believed to have at least 13 aspirants. While some are considered contenders, the others seem to be pretenders, according to feelers from within the party and the north.

READ ALSO: 2019: Tinubu reportedly seals Ambodes fate

Legit.ng learnt that just like the board of trustees of the PDP is working to streamline the number of those contending for the party's ticket, some northern chiefs are also closely looking at the aspirants and trying to work out a deal that would not cause frictions or further tear the region's unity apart.

"Yes, there are plans," a northern elder told Legit.ng in the evening of Thursday, September 13. "The unity of the north is more important to us and so we are doing what we can to see who we will throw our weight behind.

The northern leaders are reportedly considering the pros and cons of picking any of Kwankwaso, Saraki, Atiku and Tambuwal Credit: Legit.ng

Source: Depositphotos

"You already know that the APC has President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP will also come out with one person. But what we want is a fair contest. So the pressure is on the PDP to come out with a widely accepted candidate and some of us seem to know who is widely accepted across the country among the aspirants."

Privileged information shows that Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president, may emerge as the consensus candidate of the PDP if the moves by the party's board of trustees and the stakeholders are successful.

Out of the 13 aspirants, it is learnt that four have already being pencilled for consideration with further analysis ongoing.

"But as you know the major point is to support a candidate of northern extraction that is sellable across the country so we decided to do the cut down for the opposition to align its focus with ours.

"We cut down the number of aspirants to four: Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Aminu Tambuwal," the source said explaining that the situation is still sensitive.

Bukola Saraki

Bukola Saraki was one of the top politicians who left the PDP in the days of Goodluck Jonathan as the president. His faction, the nPDP, fused into the APC. However, the Senate president claims he never had a smooth ride since his emergence.

READ ALSO: Breaking: President Buhari appoints new DSS boss weeks after Dauras sack

While his travail, alleged victimization in the APC and the advantage of his young age are recognised, the fear among the core leaders in the region, it was learnt, is that Saraki does not represent the ideal northern posture needed for the PDP. Saraki may have also understood this argument as he is believed to have bought two nomination forms, one for the presidency, the other to return to the Senate should the first ambition fail to get him the ticket of the PDP.

Atiku Abubakar

In the beginning, Atiku Abubakar faced stiff opposition to his aspiration because of what analysts believe was his cosmopolitan posture. Though from the north, there was initial fear that he had close ties with some southern elements. However, some of his supporters argue that what the nation needs presently is unity and the north must start focusing on having a solid relationship with the south in order to develop evenly. There is also the push to have the north east given a chance in 2019. Apart from being ravaged by insecurity, the zone is the only part of the region that has not governed the country since Tafawa Balewa.

But Atiku has two major challenges, the first being the allegation that he was indicted in corruption issues involving a former US lawmaker, Williams Jefferson.

In defence, the Atiku campaign organization maintained in a text message to Legit.ng that: "The former ex-congressman was convicted of 11 out of the 16 count charges in 2009, it is important to note that two of the five count charges he was found not guilty of bothers on the alleged bribing of foreign government officials as explained in the foreign corruptions practices act. This means that Atiku Abubakar was in no way attached to that case and his innocence has since been proven."

The second challenge has to do with how he can convince the likes of Sule Lamido to work for him should he emerge the PDP candidate as a section of Nigerians anticipate. But the PDP aspirants had earlier vowed to rally round any of them that emerges after the party primaries.

Rabiu Kwankawso

The discussion around Rabiu Kwankawso, a former governor of Kano with massive followership in the state, had been a heated one, Legit.ng was informed. To some members, he represents the ideal northern philosophy and policy. The fear, however, is that he may not garner the same level of followership or support in the southern part of the country as well as in some of the northern states.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal

For Aminu Tambuwal, the deliberation around his candidacy has more about appeal. He made a major mark as speaker of the House of Representatives when he defected from the PDP at the time and joined the APC, a platform through which he became the governor of Sokoto.

It is learnt that leaders in the north recognise the advantage of having someone from the caliphate that represents the core part of the refion. His youthful age is also considered as an advantage.

The challenge for Tambuwal, however, is that his candidacy may be hard to sell. If he gets the ticket, it could be nearly impossible for him to win his Sokoto state because he is considered to lack a huge support base.

Legit.ng learnt that the northern leaders making this considerations have liaised with the Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, and the Ohanaeze N'digbo of the south east.

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"This was the reason Atiku was summoned by the Afenifere to a meeting in Lagos recently," a loyalist told Legit.ng.

At the meeting with the Yoruba leaders, Atiku was reportedly quizzed on his stand on restructuring which the group holds dearly. It was also learnt that the Afenifere agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with him to hold him accountable to his promises. As a follow up, leaders of the Afenifere and Ohaneze met with Atiku again at his Abuja residence as well.

Legit.ng earlier reported that ahead of the coming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, about six presidential aspirants reportedly made a safety plan in case they fail to clinch the presidential ticket of the party in 2019 general elections.

Nigeria News 2018: Why President Buhari Cannot Control Killings in Nigeria | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit Newspaper
- Elders under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum have rejected the removal of Matthew Seiyefa as acting DG of the DSS

- They accused the president of being Nigerias most sectional, narrow, parochial and tribalistic leader since 1960

- They said Buhari picked a man who already retired from the DSS to lead, because of ethnic affinity; and stated that the president does not care about Nigerias oneness

President Muhammadu Buharis removal of Matthew Seiyefa as the acting director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), has been condemned by some elders under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum.

In a statement released on Thursday, September 13, the elders accused the president of dividing Nigeria more than any other leader in the nations history, The Cable reports.

Legit.ng gathers that they asserted that Buharis action shows his vote of no confidence in one Nigeria.

In the statement, the forum described the removal of Seiyefa, a Bayelsa man, who was made acting DG of the DSS after the sack of Lawal Daura over the National Assembly siege, as a disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country.

READ ALSO: Nigerian security agency seizes 436 voter cards, 192 national ID slips from foreigners in Katsina

They continued: The I-dont-care and in-your-face attitude of the president in restoring Nigerias security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country.

Since 1960, Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional, narrow, parochial ,and tribalistic like the current president who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into 97 percent and 5 percent.

We have looked critically at the profiles of the acting DG who was removed and the one Buhari just appointed and it is crystal clear that Bichi does not come with any experience close to that of Seiyefa.

The only qualification for this appointment is therefore only the rabid nepotism of the president which has seen him always masking personal and sectional interest as national interest.

Besides, Bichi is an out-of-the -system man drafted by Lawan Daura in the days of his nepotism rule at the DSS. The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa, from our findings, are all southerners, which may explain why the president picked a man who already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity.

That the president went ahead to deep himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity, cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.

We reject this appointment and we do not shy in telling Mr President that he no longer pretends that the country is one under him.

In the last few days, there have been fears coming from the international community about the dangers that would come the way of Nigeria if Mr President returns for another term. With his latest action, we add that the country is not safe in the remainder of his first term."

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, September 13, named Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The new DSS boss is now to take over from Matthew Seiyeifa; and the announcement was made by Garba Shehu, the presidents spokesperson.

DSS invade National Assembly - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- The sum of N19.8 billion has been released by the Osun state govt, for the settlement of salary and pension arrears owed to workers

- The money would be used for the payment of August salaries, backlog of the salaries and pensions for September to December 2015, as well as bonuses

- The payment comes on the heels of the September 22 governorship election in the state

The Osun government says it has released N19.8 billion for the settlement of salary and pension arrears owed all categories of workers in the state.

Bola Oyebamiji, the state commissioner for finance, announced this at a news conference on Thursday, September 13, in Osogbo, NAN reports.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt elders reject appointment of new DSS DG

Legit.ng gathers that Oyebamiji said the governor gave the directive following consultations with labour leaders and other stakeholders.

He explained that the money would be used for the payment of August salaries, backlog of the salaries and pensions for September to December 2015, in addition to leave bonuses.

The commissioner said that part of the amount was the N16.6 billion Paris Club refund received from the federal government while the additional N3 billion came from other sources.

He commended the workers for their sacrifice, resilience and unflinching support to the present administration in the state as well as their dedication to duty in the last seven years.

The governments action comes on the heels of the September 22 governorship election in the state.

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that labour unions in Osun state issued a 7-day notice to the government that it would embark on strike action over the non-payment of salaries areas, pensions and gratuity.

A joint press statement between the labour unions said the strike became necessary following the failure of an earlier agreement between them and the state government in December, 2017 to generate results.

State of Osun is correct - Gov Aregbesola - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
- Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has allegedly refused to back down from his resolve to find a replacement for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019

- The last minute meetings held to salvage Ambodes governorship position reportedly did not yield results, as Tinubu allegedly refused to budge

- There is, however, some hope that the APC national leader may come around, as he is said to have gone to Lagos to consult with his supporters on the matter

Indications allegedly emerged on Thursday, September 13, that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is yet to back down from his decision to find a replacement for the incumbent governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the 2019 gubernatorial election.

According to Punch, a last minute move was made by President Muhammadu Buhari, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to save Ambode.

READ ALSO: Osun govt releases N19.8bn for settlement of salary, pension arrears

Legit.ng gathers that Tinubu was subsequently summoned to Abuja to meet with the president, following his meeting with Oba Akiolu, which did not produce favourable results.

The Abuja meeting was reportedly influenced by Aisha Buhari, the wife of the president, who was said to have been called on, by members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, a body currently being headed by Governor Ambodes wife, Bolanle.

Details of the meeting remain sketchy; however, it was gathered that Tinubu refused to back down from his alleged resolve to back another individual in 2019.

The APC leader has reportedly thrown his weight behind Jide Sanwoolu, who has already submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms for the governorship, on the platform of the APC.

A source with knowledge of the matter reportedly stated: The issues are many  alleged sidelining of party elders, the scrapping of PSP waste management initiative, the sacking of highway managers, award of contracts to a few cronies, ignoring advice from party leaders  they are many, and Asiwaju did not see how all could be resolved without Ambode leaving.

However, the presidency has put pressure on Asiwaju and although the man has yet to back down, there is hope because he has gone back to Lagos to consult with his followers in the mandate group. We hope that all will be well.

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, September 12, said the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in charge of choosing the Lagos state governorship aspirants of the party in the 2019 general elections.

The party made the statement following reports of the alleged rift between Tinubu and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ambode's second term is shaking, says Lagos woman - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- Scores of Boko Haram insurgents were killed in raid by Nigerian troops at Tumbun Rego in Borno state

- The insurgents were said to be camouflaged under foliage and inside abandoned buildings within the settlement

- One of the Boko Haram vehicles was tracked and located as it was entering the settlement

The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole on Wednesday, September 13, conducted air raids against Boko Haram terrorists at Tumbun Rego on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno state.

Legit.ng gathered that the attacks were conducted in successive waves, involving the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni and Alpha Jet combat aircraft as well as Mi-35M helicopter gunships supported by Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.

The raids resulted in the killing of scores of insurgents and destruction of their vehicles, a statement sent to journalists by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, revealed.

According to the statement: "The Boko Haram fighters were initially well camouflaged under foliage and inside abandoned buildings within the settlement. However, timely intelligence enabled the ISR platforms to track and locate one of the BHT vehicles as it was entering the settlement.

The vehicle was engaged and destroyed by the attack aircraft. Subsequent waves of attack targeted the scores of insurgents that emerged from their hiding places after the attack on the vehicle. These were engaged in turns by the attack aircraft and neutralized.

In another development, the ATF conducted several ISR and close air support missions throughout the night of Wednesday, September 12 and early morning Thursday, September 13 in support of troops of the 145 Nigerian Army Battalion, ensuring that the recent terrorist attack at Damasak was thwarted.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, visited Maiduguri again on Thursday, September 13, assess progress of the operation as well as boost the morale of the frontline troops.

He seized the opportunity to commend the commanders and personnel of the ATF for their efforts while urging them to sustain the momentum of operations with a view to locating and destroying all remnants of the insurgents within the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno.

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Legit.ng had reported that Damasak local government area of Borno state was under crossfire between Nigerian soldiers and Boko Haram fighters.

A military source had told the News Agency of Nigeria that the military and the terrorists engaged in a heavy gun battle. He said that the insurgents stormed the town to attack a military formation in the evening but they met stiff resistance from troops.

Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- A socio-political group in Lagos says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should stop dictating the political pace of Lagos state

- The group said the political atmosphere in Lagos is unnecessarily overcharged due to the shenanigans of one individual

- It said Lagos cannot continue to pay homage to the insatiable appetite of a political tarantula

The Lagos Democracy Advancement Forces, a socio-political group, says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should cease to dictate the political pace of the state.

The groups convener, Mark Adebayo, made the comment at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday, September 13, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Lagos governorship: Tinubu allegedly maintains position on Ambode

Legit.ng gathers that the group opined that the political atmosphere in Lagos is unnecessarily overcharged due to the shenanigans of one individual desperate to maintain a political stranglehold on the state.

Adebayo insisted that there is a need to stop the state from continuing to be a pawn on the chessboard of an individual.

He said: Lagos state cannot continue to be in the pocket of Asiwaju Tinubu. 2019 provides an auspicious opportunity for a mass political revolution by Lagosians to liberate the state from continued political and economic enslavement.

Lagos state, with a population of almost 30 million people, is a mini Nigeria and cannot continue to pay homage to the insatiable appetite of a political tarantula.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that amidst reports of a rift between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC national leader gave the nod for all aspirants to participate in the Lagos primary election.

Governor Ambode has declared his intention to run for a second term as governor of the state, but faces stiff competition from two formidable aspirants, Femi Hamzat and Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Meet British painter who's beautifying Lagos - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
- The factional leader of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, Mamman Nur, has allegedly been killed by his closest lieutenants

- Nur was allegedly killed on August 21, after a long period of disagreement with his subordinates

- A major disagreement had allegedly broken out after the release of the school girls abducted in a secondary school in Dapchi

- The military is yet to react to this alleged development

Mamman Nur, the factional leader of the Boko Haram sect loyal to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), has allegedly been killed by his fighters who rebelled against him.

According to Daily Trust, Nur was allegedly killed by his closest lieutenants on Tuesday, August 21.

Legit.ng gathers that Nur was the one who led the rebellion against Abubakar Shekau in 2014, which led to the emergence of the Abu Musab Al-Barnawy faction of the sect.

A source with knowledge of the matter reportedly stated: Mamman Nur, who was killed on August 21, is the actual leader of the Boko Haram faction after they parted ways with Shekau.

READ ALSO: Lagos cant continue to pay homage to Tinubu - Group

He (Nur) only put Habib in the front as shadow leader because of his father (Mohammed Yusuf). The name Al-Barnawy is only being heard as symbolic leader.

He was meant to lead, so that followers would remain committed to the cause championed by his late father but he (Nur) is the major link of the faction with the Islamic State; the chief strategist around Lake Chad, including their cells in Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

According to another reported source, Nur was killed after long period of disagreement with his subordinates who established relative authority and contacts over the years.

The source reportedly added: The commanders became disenchanted with Nurs style of leadership; they saw him as not as rough as Shekau.

They followed him in staging the revolt because the argument back in 2014 was that Shekau was a hardliner who killed almost everyone, both Muslims and Christians who disagreed with his brand of Islam.

But according to some of the fighters, after establishing his base in Lake Chad, Mamman Nur too deviated from the real course and compromised on so many occasions.

According to the source, a major disagreement had broken out after the release of the school girls abducted in a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe state.

He said: The negotiation of the release of the girls did not go down well with some close associates of Mamman Nur who released the girls unconditionally, following a directive by Al-Baghdadi.

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Nothing was paid before the girls were released and besides, Mamman Nurs soft approach and close contact to governments and different levels angered his foot soldiers who rebelled against him and thereafter executed him.

The military is yet to react to this alleged development.

Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the wife of Mamman Nur was said to be among the many members of the group that were killed in the Lake Chad region after a heavy bombardment by the Nigerian military.

The military said she died in the confrontation that got her husband severely injured.

Survivors of Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit Nigeria
No doubt Nigerians are doing exceptionally well for themselves outside the country. They are either graduating with first class honours or receiving achievement awards by the British counsel.

It has just been reported that a young Nigerian man Edirin Okoloko has been appointed as a judge by the United State governor Jay Inslee. Okoloko was appointed into the Snohomish County Superior Court.

According to Inslee, he disclosed that the middle-aged man was appointed because of his clear dedication to the legal profession.

Nigerian man Edirin Okoloko appointed as judge in USA Photo: The Guardian

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nigerian feminist reveals why children should not bear their fathers last name

Inslee said: Edirin has a clear dedication to the legal profession and a successful history of bringing justice to some of our states most vulnerable crime victims. He will be an excellent addition to the bench in Snohomish County.

The Guardian further reported that Okoloko bagged a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Nigeria and received his law degree from the Seattle University School of Law.

Edirin Okoloko appointed as judge in USA Photo: The Guardian

Source: UGC

Okoloko was said to have worked for 13 years at the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, where he is a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney working on murder, assault, child abuse, as well as other abuse cases.

He has also worked in the offices of violent crime, property crime, and district court units. Okoloko also represents the office on the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team which investigates incidents of suspected excessive force by police officers.

UPDATE:

On Tuesday, October 23, Okoloko was sworn in. His swearing in video was shared on Twitter by one Oke Umurhohwo (@Stalyf) with the caption: A Nigerian, Edirin Okoloko was sworn in as a judge today in the US State of Washington.

Watch video below:

Okoloko has successfully prosecuted four murder trials and has been recognised by his office for completing a high volume of jury trials.

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Edirin Okoloko with some of his colleagues Photo: The Guardian

Source: UGC

Before working as a prosecutor, the Nigerian served as a judicial law clerk for former Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes.

Congratulations!

Project Fame Winner Olawale Ojo - Why I Became a Cab Driver | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng
- The charge daffaires of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria says his country is not a Father Christmas

- The diplomat said Chinas financial involvement in Africa is a win-win situation which is mutually beneficial

- He described the China-Africa cooperation as strong, ongoing and never ending

The charge daffaires of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, Lin Jing, says China is not a Father Christmas, but rather, looking for a win-win partnership with Africa and Nigeria.

Jing made this declaration on Thursday, September 13, in Abuja, at a roundtable on the Review Dialogue on the just concluded 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), NAN reports.

Legit.ng gathers that at the roundtable organised by the Centre for China Studies, Jing shed light on the cooperation between China and Africa, particularly Nigeria with regards to free interest loan from China to the continent.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram terrorists allegedly kill factional leader

China has never been a Father Christmas as you can see from the theme of the just concluded FOCAC, which is China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation.

It is a win-win cooperation and to join hands to build a closer and stronger community with a better future between China and Africa. So, our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Sometimes, China gives loan and takes later. Sometimes we give and ask in return," he said.

Jing said that China-Africa relations were gaining global attention as their practical cooperation has brought about dramatic changes in the economic landscape across Africa and real benefits to both people.

While allaying fears of another debt trap in Africa, he explained that China was ready to work closely with each African country to ensure that a debt trap was avoided in Africa-China relations.

Through consultation and dialogue, we have been able to solve problems in our cooperation, including the debt payment; and we are ready to closely work with African countries, he said.

The envoy further explained that China loans only accounts for 8.5 percent of Nigerias foreign debt profile.

He said that China was committed to the development of FOCAC and to deepening China-Africa comprehensive strategy and cooperative partnership.

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Jing said the success of FOCAC had fully demonstrated that the relationship between China and Africa has a solid foundation, adding, China-Africa cooperation is strong and it is ongoing and never ending.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a former minister for education, Oby Ezekwesili, criticised the decision of African countries to borrow from China, after the Asian country announced a $60 billion facility in aid and loan to Africa.

She said African leaders lack the will to carry out bold and costly reforms that will attract private sector investment into critical sectors of the economy.

What is the problem with Nigeria? - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- The best graduating medical student from Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, Esther Adaobi Azom, has been awarded a brand new car worth N5.7m

- Alongside the car, she was also given the sum of N500k plus another N250k courtesy of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

- Esther was among the 43 Final Year Medical students who passed with eight distinctions, the equivalent of First Class in other disciplines

Talk about rewarding excellence, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti is currently trending on social media after the best graduating medical student was gifted with a brand new car and over half a million naira.

It was a happy and surreal moment for Esther Adaobi Azom who not only made her school proud but her family and friends. She was awarded a brand new car worth N5.7m, courtesy of owner of Cosharis Motors, Cosmos Maduka. She was also given the sum of N500k plus another N250k courtesy of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

Adaobi had distinctions at every level, from her first year in the University to the final year. It was disclosed that in her MBBS examinations, she had distinctions in the three courses namely  medicine, surgery and community medicine.

READ ALSO: I dare all actresses sleeping with my husband - Kunle Afods wife spits fire

READ ALSO: Mother of twins caught after dumping one of her babies in a bush

Speaking at Ado-Ekiti during the induction ceremony, the CMD revealed: Three out of the 43 first set of Medical Doctors who have completed their training at ABUAD will undergo their housemanship in UCH, Ibadan.

Esther Azom was full of joy as she received her car gift

Source: UGC

The Founder and Chancellor of ABUAD, Are Afe Babalola, SAN was filled with pride as he described the unprecedented feat of the medical students as unique in many ways. He went on to state that the accomplishments made ABUAD the first university in the country to produce medical doctors in six-and-half years after the commencement of its MBBS programme.

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He said: "Apart from scoring 100 percent in their first final medical examination, eight out of the 43 students that sat for the examination made distinctions  the equivalent of first class in other disciplines."

This is coming after social media was thrown into outrage as reports of the Best Graduating Student of Mass Communication, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Best Somadina Nwabuwa, was honoured for his outstanding performance with an undisclosed cash price as well as a live chicken and yam tuber.

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Rapper Chinko Ekun Interview: Nigerians are Hypocrites When it Comes to Music | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Senator Ayogu Eze is set to be formally welcomed to the All Progressives Congress

- Vice president Yemi Osinbajo is expected to grace the ceremony tagged Welcoming the Big Fish

- The leadership of the party will be led by the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

Senator Ayogu Eze, who represented Enugu north senatorial district between 2007 and 2015 will formally be received into the All Progressive Congress (APC) at a ceremony expected to be graced by vice president Yemi Osinbajo.

Vanguard reports that the national chairman of APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is expected to lead members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to the event tagged Welcoming the Big Fish.

Among others also expected at the welcoming ceremony are Governor Rochas Okorocha, former governor Orji Kalu, Chris Ngige, all APC National Assembly members from the south east among others.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt elders reject appointment of new DSS DG

Speaking ahead of his declaration, Eze said he rebuffed pleas to return to the PDP which he represented for two terms in the Senate.

He said: No amount of pressure will make me return to the PDP. I believe in the leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

''I will tell you that the leadership style of these people attracted me to the APC. I dont believe that Enugu state should remain in opposition because we must continue to build our state better and we cannot achieve that by continuing to remain in opposition.

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''If you look at both the APC and PDP today, you will find that the APC is masses based party free from godfatherism and that is why Nigerians are reaping the benefit of good governance which we will continue to experience. Unlike the PDP where you see a cabal controlling the party and the people which is dangerous to our development.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Senator Ayogu Eze, a former lawmaker and 2015 PDP governorship aspirant in Enugu state defected to the APC.

Before moving to the APC, Eze had engaged in intensive consultations with political associates and stakeholders in Enugu and the ruling party,

A grand reception is being planned to officially receive the two-time senator, who has already registered as an APC member in his ward.

Senators, lawmakers defect from APC - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, says if given the mandate to rule Nigeria, he will open up the economy to attract foreign investment

- He expresses the confidence that Buhari will hand over if he loses the 2019 presidential election

- The presidential aspirant raises alarm over alleged death threats he has been receiving from unknown persons

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has played down suggestions that there is a serious rift between him and ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Atiku, who is hoping to get the nomination of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, September 13, told journalist at the partys secretariat in Lokoja that the disagreement between he and the former president was not as serious as thought, The Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt elders reject appointment of new DSS DG

He stated that any grey areas between both of them would be addressed after he gets the nomination of his party.

The presidential aspirant said if given the mandate to rule Nigeria, he would open up the economy to attract foreign investment, thereby creating jobs for youths.

He expressed the confidence that President Buhari would hand over if he loses the 2019 presidential election.

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Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar has said his life and that of members of his family are under threat due to his decision to contest the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation reports that presidential aspirant made the statement in a petition to President Buhari titled petition over criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of members of my family, and cyber stalking using mobile phone number 08148228704.

In the document dated September 7, 2018, Atiku requested for more police protection for himself and his family following the threats.

Nigeria Latest News: Atiku Abubakar - Exclusive Comments About The Elections | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng News
- Speaker Yakubu Dogara confirms that the PDP nomination form for the House of Representatives was bought by his constituents

- Dogara says he was planning to leave the House of Representatives having served there for 12 years

- The speaker reveals that he is yet to sign the PDP nomination form since he is still consulting

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has reacted to his alleged defection from the All Progressives Party (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he has even obtained a nomination form.

There had been reports that Dogara got the PDP nomination form to return to the House of Representatives even though he had yet to formally announce his defection from the ruling APC.

READ ALSO: 2019: Tinubu reportedly seals Ambodes fate

"Earlier today, I was presented with the PDP @HouseNGR nomination form by my constituents. They urged me to relinquish membership of the ruling APC & stated reasons such as the blatant injustice and outright disregard for democratic principles being perpetrated within the party.

"I feel deeply honoured by this kind gesture; however, I will not fill this form until I have consulted with those supporters who remain in APC. I thank my people for their unwavering support so far, and remain unshaken in my belief that all power belongs to God," he said in his tweets.

"I had even considered stepping aside as Ive held this position for close to 12 years but as my constituents have asked that I seek re-election, then I must heed their call.

"Representing my people has been an honour and no one should have to suffer the indignity of begging before being allowed to exercise a constitutional right," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, September 13, it was claimed that some residents of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi state have presented the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms to the speaker and urged him to leave the ruling APC.

About 1000 people on Thursday thronged his Abuja residence, saying they decided to purchase the PDP form for the Speaker as a result of high level injustice meted on them by the APC.

Hon Mohammed Aminu Tukur, Alhaji Adamu Jambil and Mrs Amina Saleh, who led the delegation and spoke on behalf of the constituents, said their new political platform is Dogara Peoples Party as they will follow him wherever he goes, a post on Dogaras website announced.

It quoted Hon Aminu Tukur as telling the speaker that the APC is now plagued by injustice and dictatorship, contrary to their expectations that under President Muhammadu Buhari, the party will be fair to all.

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The day Buhari joined partisan politics in 2002, I was the only person from Bauchi that travelled and I have been with him since then. Mr Speaker, I swear to almighty God that spared my life.

I and our people will vote for you and we urge you to heed to our cries and accept this form. We pray that God returns you to your seat. APC is not a religion as it is neither Islam nor Christianity," Tukur said.

Legit.ng earlier reported that there was a rowdy session at the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 24, as 15 senators dumped the ruling APC.

The senators, including Dino Melaye and Abdul-Azeez Nyako, announced their defection at the Senate plenary on Tuesday, July 24.

Senator Kwankwaso Rabiu announces his Presidential Bid (Election 2019) | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng News
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, September 13, named Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS). Bichi is now to take over from Matthew Seiyeifa who replaced sacked Lawal Daura as the acting DG.

The president's special assistant on new media, annoucing the new appointment on Twitter, provided a list of the DGs of the security agency from 1990 till date.

The appointment is, however, generating animated reactions from Nigerians across different social and political divides.

While some believe that the appointment is a welcomed development, premising their argument on the competence of the new DG, others accuse the president of tribalism in his choice of the new DG.

Legit.ng in this piece collects some critical reactions to the new appointment, capturing those who are in support of the move, those who are against, and those that appear to sit on the fence; those whose opinions are neither in support of the president's move or against it.

Those who oppose the appointment:

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt leaders blow hot over appointment of new DSS DG, accuse Buhari of being tribalistic

Those in support of the presidents move:

Those with sarcastic reactions, and those sitting on the fence:

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Legit.ng earlier reported that a former member of National Assembly, Ighoyota Amori, on Friday, August 10, advised security agencies to learn from the recent constitutional breach at the National Assembly by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the eventual sacking of Daura, saying it was lesson for being overzealous.

Amori, said this in Abuja adding that rather than professionalism, the incident demonstrated partisanship and abuse of power by DSS.

DSS invade National Assembly - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Ibikunle Amosun said politicians are the ones using divisive tendencies to perpetuate political instability in Nigeria for their selfish interest

- Amosun made this known in Bayelsa state where he paid a condolence visit to Governor Seriake Dickson

- He maintained that the politicians are not committed to the development of the country.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has disclosed that Nigerias socio-economic problem is caused by unpatriotic politicians, saying they were not committed to the unity and development of the country.

Leadership reports that Amosun made this known on Thursday, September 13, when he paid a condolence visit to Governor Seriake Dickson over the death of his mother, Goldcoast Dickson, at his Toru-Orua village in Sagbama local government area of the state.

He maintained that politicians were the ones using divisive tendencies to perpetuate political instability in the country for their selfish interest.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt elders reject appointment of new DSS DG

The governor was accompanied on the condolence visit by Abdulkabir Akinlade, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun state; Senator Lekan Mustapha, (Ogun East), Senator Tolu Adebiyi, (Ogun West), members of House of Representatives and top government officials, among others.

According to him, It is easy to say Bayelsa is far away because of distance but our visit here is a lesson for all of us, that it is we politicians that usually divide ourselves.

Look at Governor Dickson, look at me and look at mama, all the way from Ogun state. Nobody will know that his mother has roots in Ijebu land until you tell them.

So it is a lesson for us that we are better off when we talk more of things that unite us and bind us together and speak less of those things that divide us. This visit is a very good example of that handshake across the Niger.

We have been monitoring your achievements in Bayelsa so I say well done. You will leave in a blaze of glory. People will remember you for your good works because Governor Seriake Dickson, came saw and conquered.

Commiserating with Dickson, he said the quality of leadership the governor was providing for his people only gave a clear insight into the reputation and the quality of person of his late mother.

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He conveyed the condolences of the Awujale of Ijebuland and other top traditional rulers and Ogun State to the Dickson family on the death of his mother.

In his remarks, Governor Dickson expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Governor and all Ogun people for the show of concern, care and love.

He restated the position of the Dickson family to establish a cancer awareness centre to prevent avoidable deaths from cancer.

He commended Governor Amosun for providing effective governance in his state for almost eight years.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun, announced that he was eyeing a seat in the Nigerian Senate during the 2019 general elections.

The governor declared his intention to contest to represent Ogun Central senatorial district at the Senate.

The report said the governor disclosed this at the state executive council meeting of the All Progressives Congress held at MITROS suites, Ibara, Abeokuta, the capital of the state.

Nigeria News Today: Goodluck Jonathan Wants To Teach Again | Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
(CNN)  A least nine people were killed and more than 40 wounded after a driver of a SUV intentionally crashed into crowds at a busy public square in central China late Wednesday evening, local government officials said.

Videos and photos circulated on social media purportedly show large crowds of up to several hundred people running frantically from the square in different directions, amid bodies laying scattered on the ground.

The incident, which occurred in the city of Hengyang, in Hunan Province, left at least 46 people wounded, three of them severely, officials confirmed.

"There was a vicious incident that a person drove deliberately into crowds at Mijiang Square," the the local government said in a press statement.

The motive for the crash, which occurred about 7:35 p.m. (7:35 a.m. ET), has yet to be determined. The driver, identified only by a surname, Yang, was taken into custody at the scene of the incident.

Hengyang is located about 330 miles (530 kilometers) north of Guangzhou.

Similar acts of violence been reported throughout China in recent years, many of which were carried out due to personal grievances.

But the Chinese government has long worried about the potential for extremists or separatist groups to carry out similar attacks. To that end, Beijing has carried out mass security operations and cracked down on dissent in Tibet and the far western province of Xinjang, home to large minority groups.

Rights advocates have accused China of carrying out a campaign of systemic mass detention of tens of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims minorities in political re-education camps without being charged or tried.

The Chinese government has forcefully denied the allegations.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Car 'deliberately' crashes into crowd in China killing nine."
- Danjuma Ayiku's family is upset with his girlfriend and prophet Shepherd Bushiris church after they tried to resurrect him

- The family claims Danjuma's body was kept from them while the attempted resurrection took place

- The family is now preparing to collect his body and give Danjuma a proper burial

The family of a Nigerian man Danjuma Ayiku has accused prophet Sheperd Bushiri's church and Ayiku's girlfriend of keeping his body away from them.

The girlfriend who was identified as, Thelma Hanyane, was apparently trying to bring Danjuma back to life with the help of the church, as pastors from prophet Shepherd Bushiris church were assisting the heartbroken young lady.

However, the resurrection was reportedly meant to take place on Sunday, September 9.

READ ALSO: Pretty young lady who married months ago survives gas explosion (photos)

Danjuma and Thelma in happier days together (Image Source: The Daily Sun)

Daily Sun reported that Ayiku's sister heard people were visiting her brother's body in the mortuary to rub oil on his body. It was further reported that the deceased had been living in South Africa for 16 years until his death on Friday, August 31.

Late Ayiku and Thelma reportedly began their relationship in June and lived in Tshwane, South Africa.

Thelma's church believed in resurrections but she never attempted it. Afterwards, Thelma called her boyfriend's family to inform them of his passing. However, she refused to allow anyone to identify him. He was identified by officials from the Nigerian Union in South Africa.

The family later heard that Ayiku's corpse was smelly and swollen and his nose was bloody and his neck bruised but the young lady refused anyone from identifying him except the Nigerian Union. Late Ayiku will now be buried on Saturday, September 15.

However, the angered family are preparing to collect his body as they are very upset that Thelma began making funeral arrangements without their knowledge. She decided to take over the funeral rites because she felt they do not have enough money for a befitting burial.

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She added that the body was in a bad condition because the fridges at the mortuary are faulty but the Pretoria West Hospital where the deceased's body was kept, denied this accusation.

However, Prophet Bushiri couldn't be reached for comment on the attempted resurrection.

Nigerian Pastor Reveals How He Got the Gift of Prophecy at a Young Age | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit
- Senator Magnus Abe says APC lawmakers will do all within the constitution to bring the Senate president position back to the party

- Speaker Dogara refuses to sign PDP nomination forms supporters bought for him

Senator Magnus Abe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said senators of the ruling party are opposed to having the opposition holding two most important posts in the Senate.

READ ALSO: Southern, Middle Belt elders reject appointment of new DSS DG

The lawmaker who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC told journalists after submitting his governorship nomination form at the national secretariat of the party, that Senate president Bukola Saraki should have known that defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would affect his position as Senate leader.

Senator Abe however, said APC lawmakers will do all within the constitution to bring the Senate president position back to the party.

I believe the Senate President, in taking the decision to leave the ruling party would have known and actually should know that the party will not be pleased with that position because the reason he won as the President of the Senate is because APC won the election and won the majority in the Senate, he said.

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Meanwhile, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has reacted to his alleged defection from the All Progressives Party (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he has even obtained a nomination form.

There had been reports that Dogara got the PDP nomination form to return to the House of Representatives even though he had yet to formally announce his defection from the ruling APC.

Nigeria Election 2019: What are Bukola Sarakis chances against President Buhari? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Stakeholders from Kogi PDP have kicked against plan to give an automatic ticket to Senator Dino Melaye

- The PDP leaders warned against any form of imposition of Melaye on them

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Lokoja/ Kogi constituency on Thursday, September 13, rejected plans for an automatic ticket for Senator Dino Melaye.

The party after a meeting in Abuja with PDP leaders and delegates from the constituency said the Kogi West PDP already had an arrangement on the Senate seat for the district.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Ogbeha said, members of PDP in the district asked that a level-playing field be allowed for free and fair primaries, rather than an automatic ticket.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Jonathan also appointed southerners as DG DSS - Nigerians divided over Buhari's appointment of Bichi

Vanguard reports that the PDP leaders warned against any form of imposition of Melaye on them.

They said such imposition would affect the rebuilding process currently ongoing by the party in the state, and consequently affect the chances of the party.

Also speaking, the chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, said the meeting is an ongoing consultation with stakeholders from Kogi West on its plans to give automatic ticket to Senator Melaye.

Secondus said such consultation followed an MoU signed by the PDP and rAPC.

READ ALSO: Speaker Dogara refuses to sign PDP nomination forms supporters bought for him, says he is still consulting with APC supporters

He further urged the stakeholders from the district to have an understanding and yield to the request of the NWC in the spirit of give and take.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Kogi West Elders Forum (KWEF), a faction of the Kogi state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected Melaye.

The group claimed that Melaye cannot be given automatic ticket to recontest for the Kogi West senatorial seat.

They accused the senator of being too controversial for the party and claimed he has lost his popularity among the masses and so cannot win any election.

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The group chairman, Hon. Shaibu Momoh, made this known at a press meeting in Lokoja over the weekend.

Name a Nigerian politician who is not corrupt - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Unconfirmed report has emerged that Nigerias finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, has allegedly resigned. Daily Trust quoting anonymous sources stated that minister resigned.

However, in an update, an aide to the minister has insisted that the she has not resigned her position as earlier reported.

Daily Trust had said it did not have information about when Adeosun submitted her resignation letter

The source cited by the newspaper had said the resignation followed the allegation of not participating in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and obtaining a certificate that the NYSC have disowned.

The minister, according to the report, had reportedly felt that her position is becoming untenable and is hurting President in Muhammadu Buhari in the run up to the 2019 election.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported an anti-corruption group, Say No Campaign, called for probe into the certificate scandals involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and the minister of finance, Adeosun.

In a statement signed by its Co-convener, Ezenwa Nwagwu, the group said it has, through the legal instrument of the Freedom Of Information Act, written to the relevant authorities to respond to the allegations against the duo.

Nwagwu said there were obvious discrepancies in the two certificates presented by Senator Adeleke to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) needs to verify the authenticity of the result.

What Should President Buhari do to Adeosun Over Alleged Certificate Forgery? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Suspected herdsmen have reportedly raided three communities in Adamwa state

- The reports have it that the suspects burned down many houses in the communities

- The communities include Gon, Bolki and Nzomosu in Numan local government area of the state

Suspected herdsmen on Thursday, September 13, reportedly launched attacks on three communities in Adamawa state, burning down many houses.

Channels TV reports that the affected communities include Gon, Bolki and Nzomosu in Numan local government area of the state.

Legit.ng gathered a lawmaker representing Numan constituency in the National Assembly, Honourable Sodom Tayedi, made this known on Friday, September 14.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Jonathan also appointed southerners as DG DSS - Nigerians divided over Buhari's appointment of Bichi

According to her, the gunmen during the attack shot sporadically into the air and set houses ablaze, forcing residents to scamper to safety. Meanwhile, the number of casualties have been ascertained.

Tayedi maintained that the gunmen mobilised from Abbare, a border community between Taraba and Adamawa state.

She further disclosed that the military have been informed of the attack and they assured that troops have been deployed to the area.

The lawmaker, however, accused security agencies of stationing in Abbare of negligence noting that she wonders why they could not prevent the attack which has been consistent from that axis.

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Police authorities could not confirm the attack as calls put through to the police spokesman, Habibu Musa, were not answered.

meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that new attacks by suspected herdsmen on two communities in Kaduna state left about 10 persons dead and several others injured.

properties were also looted and houses razed during the predawn attacks which reportedly occurred at in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state.

The herdsmen entered the villages and killed about 10 people, a witness said, preferring not to be named.

Mass burial organised by the Benue state government for victims of herdsmen attack - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, has reportedly begun moves to remove Yakubu Dogara as speaker of House of Representatives

- Dogara on Wednesday, September 12, received PDP nomination form allegedly obtained for him by his constituents

- He was absent at last month national executive committee meeting of the APC in Abuja

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has reportedly begun moves to remove Yakubu Dogara as speaker of the house of representatives.

TheCable reports that Oshiomhole has been meeting with party members, particularly lawmakers in the lower legislative chamber, in a bid to remove Dogara.

Legit.ng gathered that the online news media reported that the APC chairman intensified efforts to oust the speaker after news broke that he would seek reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

READ ALSO: Nothing can stop Buhari from winning 2019 election - Shehu Sani

Some constituents of Dogara presented PDP nomination form to him on Thursday, September 13, and urged him to leave the APC.

Dogara has not publicly announced his defection from the ruling party though he has not been participating in its activities.

He was absent at last month national executive committee meeting of the APC in Abuja.

During the Bauchi south senatorial district bye-election, the PDP won in Bogoro local government area of the state where the speaker hails from.

The nations number four citizen told his supporters on Thursday, September 13, that he was asked to beg for the ticket of APC.

After Senate president Bukola Saraki left the APC, Oshiomhole moved against him, asking him to either resign or be removed.

It was gathered that another source told TheCable that the party appears divided over the move to remove the speaker.

Ever since the news of Dogaras defection, Adams Oshiomhole has been meeting with representatives and top APC chieftains to see how they can impeach Dogara, the source said.

But they are at an impasse now, because some of them are saying that there will be chaos if they attempt to impeach Saraki at the same time.

We dont know what their final decision will be but they are not agreeing, and the party chairman seems to be the one who wants them gone, but the lawmakers believe that they do not have the required numbers to pull off such a feat.

Reacting to reports of Dogaras planned exit on Thursday, September 13, Yekini Nabena, acting spokesman of the APC, said the speakers political future is bleak.

According to the online medium, Simon Egbebulem, spokesman of Oshiomhole, neither answered calls nor replied a text message sent to him on the allegation.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, reportedly picked up the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form.

Although he has not officially left the All Progressives Congress (APC), there has been report that the speaker has been making moves to join the PDP.

Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Controversial media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, mostly known as Daddy Freeze took to his Instagram page to give an insight of how his life has been since he started the Free the Sheeple movement.

The radio presenter and social critic explained that the pastors he spoke against tried to frustrate his life. According to him, they tried to make him lose his job as well as stifling his income, but he is still holding down strong.

Freeze actually tried to sympathise with Pastor Yomi Kasali, a clergy man who is also quite vocal about corrupt practices in the church.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Kasali also questioned the frequent request of seeds by another pastor, Funke Felix-Adejumo.

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While preaching in his church recently, Reverend Kasali said Funke was fleecing members of their money and that judgement is coming on her very soon.

Freeze is no doubt not on friendly terms with most pastors seeing as he is their greatest critic. It therefore doesn't come as a surprise that he feels that such pastors are also attacking him in every way possible.

In his post on Instagram, he explained how he got in touch with Kasali, to show concern.

He wrote:

"I had to call him the other day while he was in the US to show my concern, because from my experience with these people who stop at nothing if you dare speak out against the lies many of them are telling, you are in for a lot."

READ ALSO: Nigerian lady shares cute photos of herself as she clocks 50

He further explained that he was the aim of their attacks for years after he started to speak up against them. According to him, he lost some of his clients, and he no longer got jobs as an MC.

He wrote:

"They fought me on every realm, I lost every business client, I used to MC a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 events monthly and I used to charge more than a million Naira per event. I havent MCed in 2 years.

"They went as far as trying to get me sacked from work so I can be without much of a crown and frozen.

"All I do now is teach the Bible from home online and in my weakness his great strength prevails.

"My egbon, I pray that the river of truth that is flowing from your mouth, NEVER ceases and in the weakness of whatever persecution may come, Gods strength in you will prevail! ~FRZ."

In Nigeria, speaking up about anything can be faced with a lot of criticism, but Freeze seems unperturbed and he is still doing his thing.

Daddy Freeze on Nigerian Pastors and British Royals | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Eze Madumere submitted his gubernatorial nomination form to the APC

- The impeached deputy Imo state governor expressed confidence in his ability to develop the state

- He called the attention of the people to the impeachment plot against him

The controversially removed deputy governor of Imo state, Eze Madumere, in what may be considered an action in defiance of Governor Rochas Okorocha submitted his nomination form to the All Progressives Congress.

Premium Times reports that Madumere submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday, September 13, as he vies for the governorship seat of the state.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Uche Onwuchekwa, Madumere said it was time to change the narrative of the state. He expressed confidence that with his experience, he can change the fortune of Imo.

Madumere was said to have arrived the secretariat at 11:30 a.m. and was received by the director, organising, APC, Abubakar Kari.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Jonathan also appointed southerners as DG DSS - Nigerians divided over Buhari's appointment of Bichi

Speaking to the journalists, he said he was at the APC national secretariat to submit his expression of interest and nomination form to contest Imo governorship election on the ground that he wants to provide good governance and true leadership to the people of Imo state.

He asked the people not to judge him based on the oppressive treatment being meted out to him including the impeachment plots against him but rather, on his wealth of experience, competence and leadership style.

According to him, he has the administrative astuteness to turn the political and socio-economic fortune of the state around. He called on the people of Imo to support him, assuring them of a leadership that will make them find fulfillment and restore their dignity.

He said the time to change the narrative in Imo state for the better is now.

I believe with my cognate experience in corporate world, public sector and equipped with needed competence, I will turn around the political and socio-economic fortune of my people. I have already laid down the foundation on the things we shall set out to achieve, captured in my seven point agenda, which will be unveiled in few days.

I am not in the governorship race because I have been treated unjustly by anyone. No. Not at all! Do not pity me for the onslaught here and there, including impeachment plots for standing for justice, equity, fair play and good governance. Please do not feel for me over unwarranted humiliations for standing with the people and saying no to oppressive policies.

As an astute administrator and experienced noble politician, I believe that with vast human and natural resources in the state, we do not have any business being at the lowest layer in the comity of states. We shall not only make eloquent promises; we shall make promises that we can keep. I say so because I have integrity; and leadership without integrity is fraud.

So, I will be entering into a social contract with my people. I shall be appealing to the members of our great party, first to give me a chance; and then to the entire good people of Imo to join me in the journey of grace, where we shall all find fulfilment and our dignity restored," he said.

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Meanwhile, Honourable Tony Nwulu, a member of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the UPP, on Tuesday, September 11, picked up his nomination form in the party headquarters in Abuja.

Nwulu, 39, is the sponsor of the Not Too Young To Run bill in the green chambers that was subsequently passed by President Muhammadu Buhari, opening up the political space for young politicians in the 2019 elections and beyond.

Nigeria News Today: No Lawmaker is in the House of Assembly for the People on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Senator Ademola Adeleke has reacted to alleged attacks on his campaign convoy

- The PDP candidate also boasted that nothing would stop his victory during governorship election holding in the state on September 22

- He, however, said that his six point agenda would redeem Osun state

The candidate of People Democratic Party (PDP) in the forth coming Osun gubernatorial election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has described his six point agenda as the path of redemption and collective prosperity of the people of the state.

Legit.ng reports that in a statement signed by the director of media and publicity, Ademola Adeleke campaign organization, Olawale Rasheed, the governorship hopeful made this known while receiving members of Osun Democratic Society over recent attacks on his campaign convoy.

READ ALSO: APC chairman Oshiomhole allegedly begins moves to remove speaker Dogara

He said that the attacks were designed to stop his bid to lead Osun to redemption, declaring that, "I am further determined to campaign and win this election for the good of our people.

"I thank you for your solidarity visit. My agenda is for people , by the people and for the people. When I put the agenda together, our party leaders and technocrats also vetted and validated our plans. It is all about the people and how to return prosperity in place of hunger and want."

The PDP candidate reiterated his earlier policy statement that workers would enjoy prosperous time under his administration, adding that he would be a governor who truly serve the people.

He said: "I will be a governor who truly serves the people, who brings food on the table, who fights corruption, who pays salaries regularly.

"Every worker deserves his pay. Our government will address workers' entitlement and welfare upon assumption of office. I have the capacity to deliver on this and other key progrmames as contained in our six-point agenda.

"As a performing senator, I have focused on delivering dividends of democracy to my people. I ensured full implementation of constituency projects with all honesty and transparency. As a governor, I will continue this track record of performance, public servants, artisans, teachers, market women and down trodden poor will have a joyful life."

Adeleke implored the people of the state to persevere and deploy their voting cards to end the suffering and bring joy by voting him as governor, assuring that, "I will not disappoint you as governor of Osun state."

Speaking earlier, the leader of the society, comrade Hammed Ajagbusi condemned recent upsurge in political violence in the state, especially against opposition leaders, urging security agencies to act quickly to stem the the incident.

He said: "We are here in solidarity with the PDP candidate. Attacks and violence are serious threats to the democratic process. We urge security agencies to act quickly."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that an election observer and monitoring group, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa), on Thursday, September 13, in Osogbo, the state capital expressed worry about incident of vote buying in the state.

Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The APC in Bauchi has chosen its state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, as its gubernatorial candidate ahead of 2019 polls

- The ruling party in the state has also lent its support to President Muhammadu Buhari in his rerun ambition for the forthcoming presidential election

- The APC said that this decision was taken based on the consideration that the Abubakar-led government has touched the lives of the average indigenes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, as its presidential and gubernatorial candidate respectively for the 2019 general elections, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Finance minister Kemi Adeosun allegedly resigns

Abubakar Al-Saddique, the press secretary to the governor, said in a statement in Bauchi on Friday, September 13, that the party took the decision at its stakeholders meeting on Thursday, September 14, at the Government House, Bauchi.

Al-Sadique said the meeting also reaffirmed the partys earlier decision to adopt indirect primaries for the election of its candidates for the 2019 poll. The decision becomes necessary in view of the massive infrastructural development and stability in the nation and in Bauchi State.

There is improved security and prudent management of resources that have been witnessed under these great leaders, he stated. He quoted the stakeholders as saying that the APC government had initiated policies that had touched the life of the common man hence the adoption of the president and the governor.

He said the people of Bauchi state were satisfied with the commitment of the president and the governor to combating insurgency and other criminal activities.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor, Alhaji Audu Katagum, has advised all those seeking elective positions in the state to reach out to the electorate who will take the final decision on their ambition.

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Gov. Abubakar has not anointed candidates and I want to warn all of you against vote buying. The party is working out ways of checking electoral fraud during the conduct of the primaries, Katagum said.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that there had been voiced opinions by political critics as to what influenced the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bogoro local government area of Bauchi during the recent Senate by-election in the state's south senatorial district.

Although the APC won the polls in every other local government area in the constituency, the trend was broken in Bogoro, the federal constituency that speaker Yakubu Dogara had represented since 2007, with the PDP winning nearly twice as much votes as the APC in the local council.

Election-2019: (Dont) mark your calendar - On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The federal government has responded to the predictions of two British-based institutions, HSBC and The Economist, over the 2019 general elections

- HSBC had said Nigerias economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term

- The federal government describes the prediction as fake news

The federal government has described the predictions on the 2019 general elections by two British-based institutions, HSBC and The Economists, as fake and a psychological warfare against the anti-corruption policies of the current administration.

Vanguard reports that the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this when he paid an advocacy visit to Channels Television on Friday, September 14.

The minister said: We have all read that the intelligence unit of the Economist said the PDP will defeat the ruling APC in 2019. We have also read that the international financial institution, HSBC, said Nigerias economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term.

READ ALSO: Rivers police stop suspected IPOB arsonists

Let me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore, qualify as fake news. It is a psychological warfare by those who have been badly hit by our policies. Our fight against corruption has meant that many financial institutions, especially banks, that fed fat on the proceeds of corruption are no longer able to do that.

Also, international publications that used to feed fat on questionable supplements paid for by the federal government have seen a drastic reduction in such patronage, as the administration cuts down on frivolous spending that was the order of the day in the past.

Therefore, it is natural that these institutions and publications would not wish to see another term for this administration. The truth, however, is that only the good people of Nigeria will determine who presides over the affairs of the country, not any bank or media establishment, irrespective of their influence or self importance.

The parents and wards of the 8.5 million school children, who are being fed every school day under our home-grown school feeding system, are feeling the impact of this Administration. The more than six million farmers, who have joined rice production since this Administration came on board, know what this government has done.

Nigerians, who are enjoying more stable electricity after power production has more than doubled, know better. The 500,000 unemployed graduates who have benefitted from our N-Power programme know that these naysayers are only thinking about themselves. So we are not bothered."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) faulted The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and HSBC, a multinational banking and financial services company, for their report that a second term for President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the economic development of Nigeria.

The APC in a statement sighted by Legit.ng said they were nothing but the usual doomsday prophesies about the Nigerian nation.

Nigeria Latest News: Not Too Young to Run Pay a Visit to APC and PDP - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- A senior aide of Kemi Adeosun reportedly claimed the minister has not resigned her appointment

- The minister was allegedly at her office and her aides performing their normal duities after the unconfirmed report of her resignation broke

- The aide, who spoke to the press, said the news of her resignation was an attempt to distract the minister

An unconfirmed report by Nigerian newspaper, Tribune, claims that the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, has not resigned her appointment.

Recall that a Nigerian newspaper, Daily Trust, broke the news of her alleged resignation earlier today, September 14.

Adeosun, who was accused of using a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate, has not come out to confirm the report of her resignation.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Jonathan also appointed southerners as DG DSS - Nigerians divided over Buhari's appointment of Bichi

Director of Information, Mr Hassan Dodo, also said he had no information concerning Adeosuns alleged resignation.

However, an unnamed senior aide of the minister, who spoke with Tribune claimed that the report of the minister's resignation is untrue and merely fabricated to distract her.

The aide said: It is not true. You should notice that we have not spoken on this matter since July 7 when the issue of NYSC certificate broke.

It is an agenda that they are pursuing and we will not help them to authenticate that.

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I am here with you. You can also see the other aides and security details at their duty posts.

Even the Minister is in her office right now carrying on with her work. Dont mind them."

There was also normalcy at the minister's office with the aides going about their daily activities and the minister was reportedly in her office until 3.55pm when this report was filed.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Daily Trust said it did not have information about when Adeosun submitted her resignation letter.

The source cited by the newspaper said the resignation followed the allegation of not participating in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and obtaining a certificate that the NYSC have disowned.

The minister, according to the report, felt that her position is becoming untenable and is hurting President in Muhammadu Buhari in the run up to the 2019 election.

What Should President Buhari do to Adeosun Over Alleged Certificate Forgery? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Ahead of th Osun governorship election, 16,000 staff would be deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

- The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission would ensure that citizens votes count in the Osun gubernatorial election

- Yakubu also noted that INEC is only interested in the processes of the election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, September 14, in Abuja, said it would deploy 16,000 staff for the conduct of Osun governorship election on September 22.

INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on YIAGA Africa Watching The Vote (WTV) Series with the theme Ending the Scourge of Vote Buying and Selling in Nigerian Elections.

Yakubu said the commission would ensure that citizens votes count in the Osun gubernatorial election.

READ ALSO: Adeosun has not resigned - Aide insists

According to him, INEC is only interested in the processes of the election and not in the outcome of the elections because the outcome is in the hands of citizens.

He said that the commission had strengthen the electoral process, adding that the era of ballot snatc*ing and other irregularities often experienced during any election was gradually ending.

The deployment of ICT has enhanced openness and transparency, we have come this far, votes count and will continue to count and votes will continue to be the determinant of who wins an election.

So, now we are confronted with another challenge as a commission and that is the menace of vote buying, we have said over and over that it is a challenge and a shame on our electoral system.

INEC will rise to this challenge just as we have risen to previous challenges in our electoral processes and am very sure that we will overcome.

The problem is hydra- headed, therefore will require a number of approaches involving all stakeholders, INEC, security agents, political parties, civil society, media and the citizens to come together to address this challenge.

The INEC boss said that the commission would move to curb vote buying by first addressing the issue of violations at polling units.

He said that the commission would use the Osun governorship election coming up in the next eight days to actually make a statement against vote buying.

He said the commission would make it in a way that it would not be possible for voters to expose their ballot papers to agents with a view to exchange it for money.

Ezenwa Nwagwu, Board Member, YIAGA Africa said that vote buying increased because of the credibility of the electoral process by INEC.

According to Nwagwu, politicians now know that they can no longer snat*h ballot boxes, so the only option is to induce voters.

He said that there was need for traditional and religious leaders to begin to talk to their people to shun vote buying because they were mortgaging their future.

Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa said that the group carried out a survey on vote buying because it was concerned with the trend in elections.

He appealed to INEC not to allow voters into the voting cubicle with their phones as a move to forestall snapping their ballot papers to show before collecting money.

He urged citizens to vote for their conscience and vote people with credibility and good character rather than for money, gifts and food items.

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Legit.ng previously reported that Osun state governorship election will be used to send a strong message to vote buyers and sellers according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral umpire issued this as a warning ahead of the general elections coming up in 2019.

Olusegun Agbaje, resident electoral commissioner in Osun state disclosed this in Osogbo at a sensitisation forum for media executives and reporters ahead of the Osun state governorship poll on Wednesday, September 5, Punch reports.

Ekiti State REC Reveals How INEC Will Stop Rigging In Forthcoming Election | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Due to managing to take a bit of holiday (and that meant not keeping up with the news) and being distracted by CalPERS (that will hopefully tail off by the end of the month) I have been neglecting Brexit. Even though I am writing this post in the form of an update, it is as much a forcing device for reader to tell me about stories and issues I may have missed that would affect some of the tentative conclusions below.

As this very far remove, I dont see anything that has happened in the last two weeks that would change the very high odds of a crash out next March.

The EU graciously offering some token concessions is not tantamount to a softening of position. The new we are gonna have a deal date is now November, moved back from October. This is not a surprise; some commentators have opined that the negotiations could go as late as January.if there were actual negotiations, as opposed to the EU having to figure out what to do with UK inaction followed by obviously unworkable offers.

Jean-Claude Juncker making positive noises about Checquers is awfully reminiscent of his behavior during the 2015 Greece negotiation, where he would regularly try to play a more central role in the dealmaking than he really had, only to be slapped down or quietly pushed to the sidelines. Juncker has been looking statesmanlike compared to 2015, but that is also not hard with the likes of David Davis and Boris Johnson setting a baseline.

Another rumor, that the EU would let the UK largely out of the defining the future relationship seems dodgy. If you recall early on, many Tories, including some noisy Ultras, were insisting that the UK not agree to the Brexit bill unless it also got an iron clad trade agreement along with it. Someone apparently pulled them aside and told them it was impossible to get a trade pact done in anything less than a few years, with five a realistic minimum.

Shorter: quite a few people on the UK side were noisily of the view that the UK should firm up its trade deal as much as it could before Brexit because it would have more negotiating leverage then than during the transition period. Since all the exit agreement would include is a political statement of intent, its not binding.

However, the idea that the UK would manage to get an exit agreement done but decide to omit or fudge the future relationship part would seem daft, until you remember that we are already well into asylum territory. The UK needs to come to an agreement as to what sort of trade/legal relationship it wants with the EU going forward. If it cant get that done in the context of a transition deal, pray tell how will it ever sort that out?

It makes every sense for the EU to be as gracious-appearing as it can be, not just for appearances sake, but for the historical record.

The Chequers plan is dead, yet May keeps flogging it. Even EU business leaders are telling the UK to get real. From the Financial Times earlier this month:

German business leaders have raised the alarm over the state of Brexit negotiations and are urging the UK government to soften its position ahead of make-or-break talks with Brussels in the coming weeks Mr [Joachim] Lang [director-general of Germanys BDI industry federation] also voiced criticism of the UK position as set out in Londons recent Brexit white paper, in particular with regard to its proposal on trade. Among other points, the paper calls for a post-Brexit scenario in which the UK remains part of a single market for goods with the EU, while excluding the free movement of services, capital and people. The UK says it wants to keep the free movement for goods but become independent with regard to the other freedoms. We believe that cannot work, said Mr Lang. Separating goods from services and the flow of people and finance, he added, was simply not possible in the modern economy. When we sell a piece of machinery today, we dont just sell the product. We also sell services, data and maintenance, he said. You cannot pick one freedom but leave the other three on the sidelines. That simply does not work with modern industrial goods. We are not selling a piece of chocolate. His stance was supported by Bernhard Mattes, the president of Germanys VDA car industry federation, which represents groups such as Volkswagen, Daimler and Bosch. Mr Mattes told the FT: When you sell an industrial good you dont just sell iron, steel and plastic  there is always a service that comes with the product.

Honestly, this is all you need to know about the Checquers plan. As with every half-baked UK idea, it does not solve the problem it purports to solve. But these barmy proposals allow British pols to present themselves falsely as being oh-so-reasonable and depict the EU as obstructionist when they reject them.

No progress on the Irish border. No surprise, but this is yet another crash out is coming indicator.

Possible fading cred of the Ultras not likely to make much difference. Over the weekend, Richard North described how the Ultras alternative to Mays Chequers plan was widely ridiculed by the UK press. On the one hand, finally having the media willing to treat the rabid Brexiteers with scorn is long overdue. However, even in decline (if that is really happening), they still have enough votes in Parliament, and enough loyalists in the heartlands to be able to thwart reasonable outcomes, and in particular, a retreat.

Latest dire warning unlikely to have the impact it should. Yesterday, Mark Carney told the Cabinet that Brexit could be as crippling as the crisis of 2008.

Carney is wrong. A crash-out would be worse.

I hope to work this out in more detail in a future post, but the short version is that the financial crisis hit the heart of the financial system. While as we saw, the potential knock-on effects were catastrophic, the concentrated nature of the banking system in the UK and Europe meant that the authorities could identify the institutions and markets that were failing. They had to scramble to find and in some cases create the mechanisms to rescue them, but as we saw, the scale of the problem, although it taxed them to the max, was not beyond the operational capacity of central bankers, financial regulators, and politicians to handle on an emergency basis (as we know, for reasons of convenience and intellectual capture, they were uninterested in holding executives accountable, in restructuring the financial system so as to reduce the risk of large crises, and providing adequate support to real economy victims of the crisis).

The UK civil service is so crippled it cant even manage to prepare competent Brexit white papers. How is it going to negotiate a trade with the EU and every other country with which it needs to enter into new treaties, let alone negotiate a new airlines pact, gear up massively for new customs requirements, while coping with the immediate chaos of a crashout or hard Brexit at the end of 2020? Another ugly secret is given the UKs inability to get anything done, it is highly unlikely to be in all that much better shape at the end of a transition period than it will be in March 2019 (however, the damage would be less by virtue of the EU and multinationals being better prepared).

The point is that the UK government will be utterly overwhelmed. It will face real economy problems it is not remotely equipped to handle, and worse, for which it is making hardly any preparation, and will also be hit with stress to its banking system and a probable banking crisis.

The one difference with 2008 is my guess is the damage will not come as fast and dramatically as the Lehman collapse, but will accelerate as real economy and financial upheaval play into each other.

Again, I hate to seem high level and unduly simplistic, but it does not seem that anything significant has changed in the last two weeks. Please feel free to correct me if you think I am wrong, or as important, flag developments that could lead to shifts in due course.
Sinn Feins general election candidate for Tipperary, Ciara McCormack, has stated that the alternative options for preventing post office closures need to be given due consideration.

Post offices are much more than a black and white profitability issue, she says.

They are the basis for so much more in our rural communities, particularly in acting as a focal point for elderly citizens and local small businesses.

This government could have tried to build on the development of post offices by exploring other avenues of diversification, such as adding ATM services, computer and print facilities and hubs for rural bus services.

Last June this government had the opportunity to pursue the establishment of a community banking system which could have been a great asset to enhance An Post. However, they rejected it.

The Sparkasse model of community banking is widely used in Germany and New Zealand and provides a concrete blueprint for how we can modernise our services for rural Ireland. However, the vested interests of the state and the pillar banks shot down any such initiative, as it infringed upon the monopoly power of these banking institutions where they control 95% of the credit market.

Yet, Minister Denis Naughten is treating these post office closures as an inevitable and irreversible process. We need to think beyond this fatalism; alternative options are there and need to be explored.

Why did the Department of Finance and Department of Rural Affairs state that there was no compelling case for community banking and then announce plans to close down over a hundred post offices two months later?

Its a blatant false economy that will lead to a knock-on effect of closures in small businesses, damaging the social and economic fabric of rural Ireland even further.
A Tipperary company plans to create up to thirty new jobs following a partnership with a major Chinese firm.

The link up between Horan Automation and Consulting, a robotics and automation company based in Drangan, and Chinese firm Boxline is targeted at the European market.

Senior management from the Chinese side visited the Drangan site today (Friday) where the announcement was made.

Horan Automation founder Gerry Horan described it as major development for his company and he predicted a bright future for the new partnership.

He said it was hoped to generate twenty to thirty jobs in automation engineering and sales and marketing over the next three years and all those jobs would be based at the Tipperary plant.

Boxline boss Hongtu Du said his firm was delighted to link up with Horan Automation and he looked forward to a successful future for the new operation.

The tie-in with Boxline will help open the huge European market to Horan Automation. The firm is now an Enterprise Ireland client and this opens doors to new markets across the continent.

Boxline China enters into the partnership as a strong player turning over 127 million in robot sales per annum with 200 manufacturing staff.

Among those present for the announcement in Drangan were representatives of the Chinese Embassy who welcomed the new initiative.

Gerry Horan told the audience that the future for industry is in robotics and automation because as a result of falling populations, there won't be enough workers to make the things that people need.

Horan automation was first established by Gerry and Kathleen Horan and quickly grew into an automation company specialising in bespoke robotic applications and end of line automation. The company is well known in Irish industry circles servicing mainly the pharmaceutical and food/beverage markets.

In 2017, Horan Automation enjoyed a period of huge growth and change mainly resulting from its recognition of the need for sales and marketing. The business began to re-structure and focus on making savings throughout the production process.

Emma Lacy, Chief Operations Officer comments - In 2017 we took a strategic look at the business, from the sales stage to design, manufacturing, installation, integration and right through to service. We found that lots of positive changes could be made to improve the way we did things and pass a saving on to our customers. However, we always remained focused on one thing, maintaining the high quality that our machines are known for.

At this stage we decided to audit our suppliers and chose to partner with Boxline China. This company was attractive to us because it is an integrator of high quality Kuka robots as we are, and their machines are to a very high standard. We also found that we complemented their sales process and they complemented ours. From the beginnings of a supplier and customer relationship therefore blossomed a great export opportunity.

After recognising a great partnership opportunity, Horan Automation approached Enterprise Ireland who was delighted to support this Joint Venture business. Enterprise Ireland awarded Horan Automation with an innovation grant which then allowed them to research the European markets that had a demand for high quality robotic cells at a competitive price.

MD Gerry Horan explained why he feels a Joint Venture is necessary to move forward. We are delighted that our business in Ireland is booming but we see huge potential in the European market. We are being naturally approached often to supply into Europe but up to now we havent had the resources necessary. With the support of Boxline China and Enterprise Ireland, our own staff skills and knowledge and our proximity to Europe all the pieces of the jigsaw are in place for us to progress forward. The robotics and automation market demand is predicted to explode and we are now in a position to meet this demand.

The new company, Boxline Europe, has already begun trading in Europe.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined NATOs enduring value to the United States in a keynote speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC on Friday (14 September 2018). He set out three main reasons why the Alliance makes the US more secure, powerful and prosperous.

Firstly, by preserving peace and stability in Europe, NATO provides the foundation for prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. Secondly, the Alliance helps to spread democratic values that have benefitted the world at large. Thirdly, NATO Allies boost Americas military power, including with two million active service personnel, cutting-edge capabilities, world-class intelligence, and 28 US bases across Europe.

The Secretary General added that NATO Allies are making real progress on defence spending. Since President Trump took office, NATO Allies across Europe and Canada have spent an additional $41 billion on defence. For nearly seven decades, the United States has been able to call upon its close Allies and friends in NATO, he said, adding that we are far stronger together than apart.

Read the full speech
Thank you,

Dr (Kay Coles) James,

For that generous introduction.

And for inviting me to speak with you today.

I also want to thank the Heritage Foundation for your steadfast support, over many years, for the values that NATO holds dear.

I will be brief in my introduction and then I look forward to your questions and comments afterwards.

Today I want to speak to you about the value of NATO.

NATO is very important to Europe.

Thats widely recognized.

But it is also very important to the United States.

Let me mention three main reasons why.

First, peace and stability in Europe are of vital interest to the United States.

Second, NATO Allies share and support the fundamental values which are at the heart of American society.

And third, NATO Allies boost Americas military power.

So first:

NATO was forged in the aftermath of two World Wars.

Which led to the loss of 90 million lives.

And widespread economic devastation.

When we consider NATOs value today, we need to take into account the devastating loss of life and the ruinous economic costs of a major war in Europe.

For nearly 70 years, NATO has helped to preserve peace and stability in Europe.

This has provided the foundation for an unprecedented period of prosperity.

For all NATO Allies.

Including the United States.

Europe and North America together represent half of the worlds economic output.

And while we now have our disagreements over tariffs, it does not change the fact that Europe and North America are each others biggest trading partners.

So peace and stability in Europe are the foundation for continued prosperity.

On both sides of the Atlantic.

Second, we share fundamental values that we protect and defend together.

Democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.

They are the foundations of our free societies.

But they are also the foundations of our engagement with the rest of the world.

These values are magnets for other countries.

And lead them to join our Alliance.

After the Berlin Wall came down, former Warsaw Pact countries and the Baltic States all joined NATO.

Others have followed.

And more countries aspire to join.

NATO has helped to spread democratic values, free enterprise, and stability to millions of people in the eastern part of Europe.

This represents a historic geopolitical shift.

That has benefitted the United States.

And the world at large.

Third, NATO Allies boost Americas military power.

They have nearly two million service personnel on active duty.

And cutting-edge capabilities.

France and the United Kingdom contribute 30 percent of NATOs nuclear ballistic-missile-submarine fleet.

Americas NATO Allies also maintain dual-capable aircraft for nuclear delivery.

To enhance our deterrence and keep the peace.

Furthermore, Americas NATO Allies employ tens of thousands intelligence personnel.

Many of them working in close coordination with their US counterparts.

Giving the United States better eyes and ears than you would otherwise have.

From tracking submariners in the Arctic to identifying terrorists that seek to harm us.

NATO allies also hosts twenty-eight American main operating bases across Europe.

These bases in Europe are not only for Europe.

They enable the US to project military power across the wider Middle East and Africa.

Providing a clear strategic advantage in the fight against terrorism and other threats.

For example, the US Africa Command is based not in Africa, but in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 6th Fleet  which operates from the Barents Sea to Antarctica  is headquartered in Naples, Italy.

And when US troops are wounded in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, they are flown for quick treatment to Ramstein, Germany.

When thinking of the value of NATO to the United States, I am also reminded of what Secretary Mattis once told me.

That never in his entire career had he fought a war without NATO allies at his side.

The US never has to fight alone.

This week we marked the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

After those attacks, NATO invoked our collective defense clause  Article 5  for the first  and only  time.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of European and Canadian soldiers have fought alongside the United States in Afghanistan.

More than a thousand have paid the ultimate price.

And today, NATO allies continue to stand with the United States.

Not only in Afghanistan.

But also in the Global Coalition against ISIS.

And in deterring an increasingly assertive Russia.

For nearly seven decades, the United States has been able to call upon its close Allies and friends in NATO.

No other power can match that.

No other power in the world has so many friends and Allies.

So NATO supports the prosperity, the values and the security of the United States.

But it is clear that Allies need to invest more and better in our shared security.

All NATO Allies have agreed:

To stop cuts to defense budgets.

To increase spending.

And to move towards spending 2% of GDP on defense by 2024.

We are making real progress.

Last year, NATO Allies across Europe and Canada boosted their defense budgets by a combined 5.2%.

The biggest increase, in real terms, in a quarter of a century.

This year will be the fourth consecutive year of rising defense spending.

The trend was down.

Now its up.

We still have a long way to go.

But we are moving in the right direction.

Let there be no mistake.

NATOs credibility as an alliance relies on sharing the costs of defense fairly.

As you know, President Trump has been outspoken on this issue.

And I have thanked him for his leadership on defense spending.

Since President Trump took office, NATO Allies across Europe and Canada have spent an additional $41 billion on defense.

At our July Summit, all NATO Allies agreed to redouble their efforts on defense spending.

This will be a main focus of the defense ministers meeting next month.

And I will continue to work intensively with all Allies to ensure that we deliver on our pledge.

In an uncertain world, we have much more to do.

As we work together to safeguard the freedom and security of our nearly one billion citizens.

On both sides of the Atlantic.

Yes, we do have our differences.

And robust debates.

But two World Wars, a Cold War, and the ongoing fight against terrorism have taught us that we are far stronger together than apart.

We have always been united in our core collective defense mission.

Thats why NATO is the most successful  and the most valuable  alliance in history.

Because it embodies the vital transatlantic bond.

A bond that guarantees our prosperity, our security, and our freedom.

In Europe  and in North America.

Moderator [Mr Kay Cole James, President of the Heritage Foundation]: Mr Secretary, thank you very much for that. It was a comprehensive view of how important NATO is to the United States and how important the United States is to NATO and it's the fact that they're mutually beneficial is the key to its success all these years. We have spent decades here at the Heritage Foundation, talking about the importance of European security in NATO, and were just very privileged and very honoured to have you here today, to address all of this.

We have a lot of people in the audience that are eager to ask you some questions, but I think I will take the privilege of being here with you, to ask the first one. And thats to ask you about the Arctic. Russia is clearly remilitarising the Arctic, they're building some new bases, some old bases have been reopened, and yet there's not a lot of at least official talk, I should say, in the concept of the strategic concept of NATO, about the Arctic. You come from a country very close to the Arctic. We'd be very interested in what you think how NATO should be thinking about Arctic security.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: First of all, the Arctic is extremely important and we see, as you said, an increased Russian presence with modern military capabilities in the Arctic. And thats also one of the reasons why NATO is adapting our military posture, not only the Arctic, but in general. But that also has some consequences for the Arctic. We are, for instance, strengthening our maritime posture, investing more in naval capabilities. We have just agreed to establish a new Atlantic Command with a headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and that will address also some of the challenges in the Arctic. And we are also doing more when it comes to improving surveillance, reconnaissance. I know that countries close to the Arctic, or at least close to the bordering the North Atlantic, like Norway you mentioned, Denmark, the UK, are investing in more modern capabilities which can address the challenges we also see in the High North.

You are right that I am come from a country which is close to the Arctic. Actually more than that, half of Norway is in the Arctic. So, you have to remember that the Arctic is not only the North Pole, the Arctic is everything north of the polar, or the Arctic Circle, which is for instance half of Norway. So, what we do, for instance in Northern Norway or in Greenland or in the North Atlantic, it's also extremely important for the Arctic.

Having said all this, I would like to highlight the following: is that we used to say that we have low tensions in the High North, and I still believe it is important to try to keep tensions down in the High North. And the reality is that partly because this is a very vulnerable area for also environmental reasons, we are also working together with Russia, addressing some of the challenges in the High North. Something called the Arctic Council and several NATO Allies are members of the Arctic Council; Russia is a member. We work together with them on search, rescue, environmental cooperation and managing big fish stocks up there. And I believe that there is no contradiction between being strong, present, but at the same time see the potential for cooperation in the High North.

Moderator: Thank you. Now we'll open it up the audience. If I could just ask you to raise your hand, we have people with microphones, if you could just wait to get the microphone, identify yourself very briefly and if you could keep the questions brief we'd really appreciate that, because we only have so much time here. So, let's get started. Luke, you want to get it started?

Question: My name's Luke Coffey, I'm the Director of the Foreign Policy Centre here at the Heritage Foundation. Thank you, Secretary General Stoltenberg, for your great defence of the importance of NATO to the US, and to the Alliance as a whole in the 21st century. British Parliamentarian and Chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat, recently proposed this, what I think is a great idea, to name the new NATO Headquarters after Senator John McCain, and I think that there would be bipartisan support on this side of the Atlantic, and there were some positive signals from the other side of the Atlantic on this idea. So, I was wondering if you could tell us what you thought about this proposal personally and if NATO as an Alliance is actively considering this great idea. Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]:NATO Allies and I personally very much respect the late Senator John McCain for many reasons, but not least because of his very strong support and commitment to NATO, to the transatlantic bond. He travelled often to NATO Allied countries in Europe. I met him many times in Brussels, in Munich and elsewhere, and also of course in Washington, and he had a lifelong career in support of NATO and the values that NATO defends. I also had the honour of participating in the funeral of Senator McCain, a couple of weeks ago here in Washington, and I know that all Allies respected him very much and honour his memory. NATO doesnt have a tradition of naming buildings after politicians. You know, we are 29 Allies with a lot of presidents, kings, heads of state and government, so we havent introduced that tradition. So, I'm certain that we will be able to honour John McCain, but not necessarily through naming a building. And actually, we honour John McCain every day through the fact that we stand together in NATO and deliver a strong transatlantic deterrence and defence.

Question: Thank you, Secretary General. Jeff Rathke from the American Institute of Contemporary German Studies. Two questions, if I could. The often we hear criticism from Washington about the contributions that Germany makes to the Alliance, in particular its level of defence spending. I'd be interested in your comments on how you see the trends in Germany and what issues you prioritise in your dialogue with Germany, and also whether you think there's any grounds for fear that NATO Allies in the East might provoke a conflict with Russia.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: First, on whether NATO Allies would provoke a conflict with Russia. We will not. NATO is a defensive Alliance. NATO has proven that for many, many decades and the increased presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of the Alliance is a defensive response, a proportionate response to what we have seen Russia being responsible for, Ukraine, Crimea, illegally annexing Crimea, destabilising eastern Ukraine, and therefore, NATO is and will remain a defensive Alliance. And thats the case for all Allies.

When it comes to Germany, we all agree, also Germany, that Germany has to invest more in defence. So, thats something we agreed at the NATO Summit in July. We have stated that also before and Germany has started to increase defence spending. And they have actually put forward a plan to increase defence spending by 70% over a decade, which is significant and this is money which will be helpful to modernise their armed forces, to buy new modern equipment, and they have started this build up. I welcome that because what Germany does really matters, because the German economy is so big, so when they start to move it also affects the total defence spending of NATO. Burden-sharing within the Alliance is of course very much about defence spending, but is also about what we call contributions and capabilities, and Germany is contributing, for instance to the NATO presence in Afghanistan, is the second largest force contributor to our mission there and they are responsible for the northern part of Afghanistan, they're one of the lead nations or framework nations. And Germany is also contributing to other NATO missions and operations, in Kosovo, but also for instance being a lead nation for one of the battlegroups, the one we have in Lithuania. So, the short answer is to that yes, Germany should do more, but Germany agrees and they have started to invest more in defence.

Moderator: Other questions? Here in the middle.

Question: Thank you very much. My name is David Nikuradze and I represent Georgian television station Rustavi in Washington DC. Secretary General, I wonder if there is any update about NATO enlargement and Georgia's possible membership. Thank you, Sir.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: We had a very good meeting with the Georgian President in Brussels during the Summit. I met with President Margvelashvili and we addressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between NATO and Georgia. NATO strongly supports the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and of course we dont in any way recognise the presence of Russian forces in parts of Georgia. We also reiterated at the Summit in July, NATO Heads of State of Government, that Georgia will become a member of NATO. We help Georgia with implementing reforms, we provide political support, practical support. We have established a training centre - training and evaluation centre in Georgia, and we help with implementing reforms of defence and security institutions. So, Georgia is making progress, we welcome that. We will continue to support Georgia and help Georgia as it moves towards closer Euro-Atlantic integration, including towards membership in NATO. Let me also add that we are extremely grateful for what Georgia does for NATO. Georgia participates in NATO exercises, contributes to our NATO Response Force, but not least Georgia is one of the main partners, sending troops, contributing with troops to our mission in Afghanistan. So, Georgia is important for NATO and NATO is important for Georgia, and we continue to strengthen our partnership.

Moderator: Mr Secretary, let me shift the topic a little bit. You're talking about what NATO is doing and how important it is to our mutual security, but let me shift the question to public diplomacy and public support for NATO, both here and in Europe. It's been over 30 years since the Cold War ended. The challenges today from Russia are somewhat on the one hand they're similar, on the other hand they're entirely different. Many younger people, who were not alive during the Cold War, are being asked to support and even participate in some cases in military operations on behalf of NATO. Can you say a few words about how we need to go beyond sort of making the case, if you will, to states and politicians and experts, to the public at large, about how important NATO is to the security, particularly for younger people?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Of course we can never take the support for NATO for given and new generations, who have not who dont remember, who have never experienced a war, of course it's a different thing for them. But having said that, I think the good news is that, when we look at the opinion polls, theres actually strong support for NATO, not especially in the United States. And the support for NATO has increased I can't remember 60 something per cent. So, it's a strong support for NATO in the United States, as it is in European Allied countries. And according to the latest figures from the Pew Research Institute, the support is at an historic high level. So, the challenge is, in a way, to maintain that high and bipartisan support for NATO. I think thats partly about showing that NATO is important, both when it comes to collective defence in Europe, deterring Russia and any other potential adversary from attacking any NATO Allied country. But it's also showing that NATO's able to respond to some of the new threats and challenges, in cyber, hybrid, and therefore NATO is modernising its cyber capabilities and responses to hybrid threats, and of course in the fight against terrorism. The fight against terrorism is not a completely new challenge, it has been there for many years, but NATO is playing a key role, both in our presence in Afghanistan We have to remember that the reason why we are in Afghanistan is to prevent Afghanistan ever again become a safe haven for international terrorists. And there are many problems in Afghanistan, but at least we have prevented Afghanistan from once again becoming a platform for launching terrorist attacks against our own countries. Now we are also starting a training mission in Iraq. So, NATO is able to respond to many different challenges. Let me add one more, and thats, for instance, the migrant and refugee crisis in Europe. NATO is also helping to respond to that, with our presence in the Aegean Sea, where we help to implement an agreement between Turkey and EU on stopping the flow of illegal migration over the Aegean Sea.

Moderator: Now let's go over this way.

Question: Idrees Ali. I cover the Pentagon for Reuters. The Russian disinformation sort of idea is nothing new, but it's gained attention after the 2016 elections here. Could you sort of talk about the Russia disinformation campaign and how thats developed over the past few years, and specifically how you see sort of Russia using disinformation in Macedonia, ahead of their referendum later this month?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: As we have seen many examples and we have seen many reports about how Russia tried to meddle in our democratic political processes, in different NATO countries and in partner countries of NATO. Also through disinformation, using social media and so on. And we also have seen that in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, which is now close to which will have a referendum on 30th September on the name deal, and if they agree to that deal they can become a member of NATO. We also have seen Russia, for instance, trying to not only prevent the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 to become a member of NATO, but also try to prevent Montenegro from becoming a member. We have seen a failed coup attempt there. And we have seen they're using media and social media disinformation to try to influence political processes in different European and NATO Allied countries.

NATO is responding to this in many different ways. This is partly about cyber defence, it's partly about responding to disinformation and propaganda, and I think that the best way to respond to propaganda is not with propaganda. But the best way to respond to disinformation and propaganda is to provide the facts, the truth. The truth will prevail. And therefore what we try to do is provide the facts. NATO as an Alliance can do so, the Headquarters, we have some Centre of Excellence on these issues, but of course also the different member states have a particular responsibility to respond, to be aware, and to see the dangers of Russia trying to meddle in domestic political processes. I also strongly believe that a free and independent media is extremely important in responding to any attempt to spread disinformation and propaganda. So, a free independent media that is able to ask the difficult questions, to be critical, to check their sources, is also extremely important to establish resilience against any outside attempt to meddle in our political processes.

Question: Hi, Amanda Macias. I cover the Pentagon for CNBC. I'm wondering if you can discuss the unique situation Turkey is in with their desire to buy the Russian missile system, S-400 and also wanting to buy the F-35. Can you talk about those two big ticket items and how they conflict with each other?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: It is a challenge and it is well known that there is a disagreement between Turkey and especially the United States on this issue. Decisions on acquisition of military capabilities is a national decision, but what is important for NATO is of course interoperability, that the different systems can work together. And I have discussed this many times in Ankara, also discussed it in Washington, and I hope that it's possible to find a solution, because what we see now is a challenge for all of us, that there is this disagreement on the issue of S-400, the Russian air defence system which Turkey has decided to buy, and also the decision and actually Turkey being part of the F-35 programme. And I also welcome the fact that there is a direct bilateral dialogue between Turkey and the United States on this issue, and also the fact that NATO has been a kind of platform for this dialogue. I know that this was an issue that was addressed for instance during the Summit in July in NATO.

Let me add then one more thing, and that is that Turkey is a very important Ally for NATO for many reasons, but not least because of its geographic location. If you look at the map you see how big Turkey is, but also how Turkey is bordering Iraq, Syria, and you will understand why Turkey has been so important in the fight against ISIS/Daesh. Infrastructure bases, air bases have been extremely important in the success we have had in degrading and fighting ISIS. Turkey is also important when it comes to dealing with the migrant and refugee crisis. They host millions of refugees. And they are important to implement the agreement between EU and Turkey on managing the flow of migrants over the Aegean Sea. Turkey is also the Ally which has suffered, without a comparison, most terrorist attacks, and it's important that we understand that this is something which really is appalling, to see the high number of terrorist attacks in Turkey. And they also suffered a failed coup attempt.

So yes, there is a problem, there is a challenge, with the decision to buy S-400 combined with the F-35. I welcome the dialogue - this is addressed. But at the same time it is important to recognise the importance that Turkey is playing to the whole Alliance.

Moderator: Let's go back over here.

Question: Courtney McBride with Wall Street Journal. Thank you for doing this. Youve discussed contributions and capabilities a little bit, but are you concerned that some of the public discussion of NATO, particularly with respect to burden-sharing, has been framed in financial terms? And sort of how do you counter that narrative? And then separately, if you could give us your thoughts on PESCO and just how that relates to NATO, whether that is potentially a risk that member states may reorganise their priorities and perhaps to the detriment of NATO?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: So, burden-sharing within NATO is not only about spending, it is also about, as I said, contributions. So European Allies sending troops to Afghanistan, European Allies being responsible for some of our battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance, and capabilities, so different weapon systems and so on. But burden-sharing is also about money; it's also about spending. So if you, by financial terms, mean spending, I am not concerned about the fact that we are also discussing spending in NATO. Actually I am raising that issue in all my meetings, because NATO Allies have to invest more in defence. All NATO Allies reduced defence spending after the end of the Cold War because then tensions went down. I have told many audiences like this before, that in the 1990s I was Minister of Finance in Norway and then I was responsible for cutting defence spending in Norway, so I know exactly how to do that. And that was in a way the natural thing to do, because when tensions went down then it's right to reduce spending, as long as we are able to increase defence spending when tensions are going up. And therefore later on, as Prime Minister of Norway, I was also responsible for starting to increase defence spending. And therefore I also call on all Allies to invest more. And, you know, during the Cold War, most Allies spent 3% of GDP on defence. Now we call on them to spend 2%. The good news is that they have really started to move. When we made the decision back in 2014, it was only three Allies that spent 2% of GDP on defence. This year, we expect eight Allies to spend 2% of GDP on defence. And also, those who spend less have really started to increase. And as I said, last year we had 5.2% real increase in defence spending, across Europe and Canada, the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War. And since Trump became President, NATO Allies - European NATO Allies and Canada - have increased defence spending by US$41billion. So, we are really going in the right direction. We are pushing for more, but we have seen a significant shift. I dont know whether I answered the questions, but I at least addressed the issue of spending.

PESCO, which is this structured cooperation within the European Union on defence. I welcome stronger EU efforts on defence, because I believe that that can contribute to fairer burden-sharing; it can develop military capabilities in Europe and it can also address the fragmentation of the European defence industry which actually adds to the cost of developing new capabilities in Europe. I support this, as long as this is not developed into an alternative to NATO. As long as this is complementary to NATO, we should welcome EU efforts on defence. It has been clearly stated from European leaders, from the EU, that this is not about duplicating NATO, this is not about creating an alternative to NATO, but this is about strengthening the European pillar within NATO. And, as long as thats the case, we should welcome it, because we need more European capabilities, we need more European cooperation on defence. For instance, the US has one type of main battle tank; in Europe they have seven. So, it is much less economy of scale, much more costly. So, if the European PESCO cooperation can address the fragmentation of the European defence industry that will actually be good for all of us. But European EU efforts on defence can never replace NATO, partly because if you look at the facts and the figures, when UK leaves EU 80% - 80% of NATO's defence expenditure will come from non-EU Allies. So, thats no way that can replace NATO. And this is not only about money, but also about geography, because if we look at geography you have in the North you have Norway, Iceland, North Atlantic; in the South you have Turkey and some other Allies, and in the West you have Canada, United States and UK. And, of course, any credible defence of Europe needs those capabilities and also the geography of these Allies to be effective in defending Europe. So yes, I believe in stronger European defence; I believe in stronger EU efforts on defence, but not as an alternative, but something which is complementing NATO.

Moderator: The last time the NATO Strategic Concept was published was in 2010 and there's a lot thats happened since then. There's been the invasion of Ukraine, Arab Spring, the migrant crisis and the Russian intervention in Syria. Is it time to update the Strategic Concept?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Some argue in favour of that some people like to do that. I think that it's not a must to do so, as long as we are able to adapt our strategy and adapt NATO to a changing world. And thats exactly what we have done. So yes, we have not a new Strategic Concept, but we have a new strategy. Meaning that we have actually proven that we have changed NATO fundamentally, because we have implemented the biggest adaptation of NATO since the end of the Cold War. For the first time in NATO's history, we have battlegroups, combat-ready troops in the eastern part of the Alliance; four battlegroups in the three Baltic countries and Poland. We have tripled the size of the NATO Response Force, the High Readiness Force we have. We have just agreed to a new readiness initiative, with 30 battalions, 30 battleships and 30 air squadrons, ready to move within 30 days or less. We have stepped up our fight against terrorism and we are doing much more when it comes to cyber and hybrid and so on. So, as long as NATO is able to change through what we do on the ground  I'm not saying that the Strategic Concept is not important, but I'm saying that actions are actually the most important thing, and we have been able to adapt NATO.

Moderator: We have time for one more question. See if I can go over here. Well, there's some very hands in the corner back there. Thank you.

Question: Hello Sir, my name is Grzegorz  [inaudible]. I am a student of Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security. I've got for you a question connected with Eastern Flank. Last week, Estonian counter-intelligence arrested two men for espionage for Russia. One of them was a Major in Estonian army headquarters. Could you, sir, tell us anything about damages countered by that espionage activity? Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: What we have seen is a more assertive Russia; a Russia which has invested in many different types of capabilities, also in intelligence. But I will not comment on intelligence. That will be just undermining what NATO is doing and NATO Allies are doing in the area of intelligence. But what I can say is that because we see a more assertive Russia investing in modern capabilities, modernising their armed forces, exercising in much bigger formations, as we, for instance, now see in the ongoing Russian exercise in the far east, and not least because Russia has been willing to use military force against neighbours - in Georgia and Ukraine - thats the reason why NATO has implemented the biggest reinforcement to our collective defence. And thats the reason why NATO Allies have started to invest more for the first time since the end of the Cold War. NATO is not mirroring tank-by-tank or plane-by-plane what Russia is doing, but we are responding when we see that the security challenges are changing with a more assertive Russia.

Then I would like to underline that Russia is there to stay. Russia is our neighbour, and NATO is not seeking confrontation with Russia. But for us, there is no contradiction between being firm, strong in our approach with Russia, as we are, but at the same time seeking dialogue and try to reduce tensions with Russia. Because Russia will not go away. Russia will remain our biggest neighbour. And I know very well, as a Norwegian politician coming from Norway, a small country bordering Russia, that it is possible to have a firm, predictable approach to Russia, but at the same time work for dialogue with Russia. Even during the coldest period of the Cold War, small Norway was able to have a working relationship with Russia on defence and security issues. Our military speak regularly with the Russian military up in the North, on energy, environment, with the border line, but that was not despite NATO, despite Norway's membership in NATO, but it was because of Norways membership in NATO, because NATO membership provided the strength and the platform to engage with Russia. So, I say this because we will all be losers if we move into a new Cold War, a new arms race. So, we have always to find that balance between being firm, predictable, delivering credible deterrence and defence, but at the same time trying to develop a better relationship with Russia, including arms control and a political dialogue with Russia. And thats exactly what NATO is doing.

Moderator: Mr Secretary, we've run out of time. We thank you very much for your time, for coming here to the Heritage Foundation. We know it's personally your first visit here, but we hope to see you again in the future. Maybe we can make this a regular event, an annual report to the Heritage Foundation on the state of NATO. But we really appreciate your speech, appreciate the time youve spent with the audience here. It's been a very in-depth analysis and a comprehensive review of what's going on. So, please everyone, join me in a round of applause for the Secretary General.
On 14 September 2018, the NATO Political Affairs and Security Policy Division organised a meeting at NATO Headquarters with an inter-ministerial delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss the development of an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme (IPCP) between NATO and Bahrain. The Bahraini delegation was headed by the Undersecretary for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

During the meeting, they discussed the areas of cooperation relevant to the Kingdom of Bahrain with senior officials from the International Staff and International Military Staff from NATO.

In the margins of the talks between the NATO and Bahraini delegations, the Undersecretary for International Affairs of Bahrain Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.
(Natural News) The old folk wisdom an apple day keeps the doctor away just got an upgrade, thanks to the work of Italian researchers. Only now, its cucumbers instead of apples, and heart doctors instead of regular ones. In their study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, they showed that the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) can protect the endothelial cells that line the inner part of the vascular system. A water/ethanol extract made from the common gourd is shown to prevent inflammation caused by lipopolysaccharides.

The vascular system transports almost everything throughout the body. If its integrity is broken, it causes serious health problems such as heart diseases. Endothelial cells are important to vascular integrity. They are vulnerable to lipopolysaccharide, which triggers inflammation in the endothelium layer. Inflammation results in heart problems such as coagulation, thrombosis, and vasoconstriction.

There are protective molecules that can attenuate the negative effects of pro-inflammatories. Researchers are constantly looking for sources of these bioactive compounds in the medicinal plants found in folk medicine.

In the Ayurveda system of traditional Indian medicine, the cucumber is used to treat skin irritation and inflammation. The gourd originated in India, but it has been cultivated all around the world.

An earlier study reported that an extract made from cucumber is a strong antioxidant, while others have concluded that its aqueous extracts can reduce the inflammatory effects of ulcerative colitis. However, there has been no study that covered the anti-inflammatory properties of the vegetable. (Related: Two plants endemic to Iran and East India found to be effective against inflammation, hyperthyroidism.)

Testing the protective benefits of cucumber extracts

Researchers from the University of Bologna tested a water/ethanol extract made from cucumber on an in vitro model of endothelial cells. They used aortic endothelial cells harvested from slaughtered pigs as the basis for their experimental cell cultures.

First, they tested the cytotoxicity of the cucumber extract at doses of 0.02, 0.2, and 2 milligrams per milliliters (mg/mL). They proceeded to conduct a number of in vitro tests that exposed treated and untreated pig aortic endothelial cells to 10 micrograms of inflammatory lipopolysaccharide.

In each group, the researchers measured gene expression of endothelial cell markers, the types and amount of cytokines and chemokines that were released during the test, and the occurrence of in vitro angiogenesis. The last is the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones; it is considered to be a negative effect if it is triggered by lipopolysaccharides because the growth of the new vessels is uncontrolled.

Cucumber can protect endothelial cells from toxic lipopolysaccharides

The researchers reported that the cucumber extract mitigated inflammation in pig endothelial cell cultures. Depending on the dose, it was able to prevent the toxic effects of lipopolysaccharides, an endotoxin that is produced by many harmful bacteria. The larger the dose, the better the effectiveness of the treatment.

The extract improved the expression of ZO-1, a tight junction molecule that kept the endothelial cells bound to the endothelium. Untreated cultures displayed larger numbers of detached and round cells.

Furthermore, the extract inhibited the expression of TLR4, a gene that controls the sensitivity of endothelial cells to lipopolysaccharides. Lower levels of TLR4 activity reduces the chances of inflammation taking place in the endothelium.

The cucumber extract also prevented the secretion of inflammatory substances that appear either early (seven hours) or late (24 hours) after the treatment. At the same time, it improved the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines that prevent inflammation. It also raised the secretion of cytokines that prevented inflammatory angiogenesis.

Last but not least, the extract induced the expression of vascular protective Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), an enzyme that manages the number of protective genes present. HO-1 prevents apoptosis, thrombosis, and atherogenesis.

If you want to learn more about natural remedies for inflammation and other health problems, visit NaturalMedicine.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

BMCComplementAlternMed.BioMedCentral.com

JACIOnline.org

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com
(Natural News) Do a Google search on the worlds most evil corporations, and agri giant Monsanto is guaranteed to appear all over the first page. Despite the billions the company has spent over the years in lobbying Washington, fixing scientific studies proving the danger of its products, and basically doing whatever it takes to fool the public, Monsanto is now in serious trouble, and people around the globe are waking up to just how corrupt, evil and power hungry this behemoth truly is.

In the latest blow to the company, American lawyers have announced to a European Parliamentary special committee that they are in possession of explosive documents regarding Monsantos affairs in both the United States and Europe.

And the hits keep coming 

Monsanto is famous for its role in the evolution of genetic modification of crops in the United States. Its genetically modified seeds and compatible herbicides  particularly the now infamous glyphosate-based Roundup  have established it as an international agricultural powerhouse. For years, the agri giant appeared untouchable, destroying peoples lives with its toxic products apparently without consequence.

The independent media and groups like the Organic Consumers Association fought for more than two decades to reveal the true extent of Monsantos evil to the world and to hold the company accountable for its actions around the globe.

Then, in March 2015, the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced the result of its examination of five organophosphate pesticides, including glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Monsantos Roundup herbicide product. Since many other supposedly independent studies had claimed that glyphosate was not dangerous to humans, the IARCs study caused shockwaves around the globe.

The IARCs report stated:

For the herbicide glyphosate, there was limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The evidence in humans is from studies of exposures, mostly agricultural, in the USA, Canada, and Sweden published since 2001. In addition, there is convincing evidence that glyphosate also can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Almost immediately, Monsanto became the target of over 5,000 lawsuits by farmers and others who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma as the result of their use of Roundup. (Related: Thousands of people now have non-Hodgkins lymphoma due to glyphosate exposure, warns legal firm thats suing Monsanto.)

And the lawsuits have been successful. In August, Monsanto was ordered to pay a former school groundskeeper from San Francisco $289 million, after the court found that years of using the companys Roundup product contributed to the development of the cancer that the man is now dying from.

What we have is the tip of the iceberg, U.S. lawyer Robert Kennedy Jr. told Euro News. And in fact we have documents now in our possession, several hundreds of documents, that have not been declassified and some of those are explosive. These documents, Kennedy claims, are pertinent to what Monsanto did here in Europe. And thats just the beginning.

Since the courts verdict, the number of lawsuits filed against Monsanto has increased to 8,000.

The courts finding comes at a dangerous time for Monsanto and its new owner Bayer. Roundups registration in the European Union (EU) was only increased by five years to 2022, instead of the 15 years it was previously granted. And the EU is considering revoking the license as early as later this year.

Interestingly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined back in 1985 that glyphosate was carcinogenic (cancer-causing), but then mysteriously reversed its position in 1991. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the EPA continues to insist that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer. The state of California has added glyphosate to its Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to be cancer-causing. (Related: EPA hid truth about glyphosate and cancer for decades to protect Monsantos corporate profits.)

One wonders: How much more evidence does the U.S. government need before it finally acknowledges that Roundup  and its manufacturer, Monsanto  is evil?

Discover the truth at Monsanto.news.

Sources for this article include:

EuroNews.com

RT.com

TheTopTens.com

IARC.fr[PDF]

OrganicCnsumers.org
(Natural News) We may be seeing a new energy-efficient type of electronic paper in the near future. An article in Chalmers Chemistry and Chemical Engineering describes how Swedish researchers developed a prototype that possesses all of the vibrant colors of a LED display while requiring only 10 percent of the energy used by a tablet reader.

According to the recently published findings in the scientific journal Advanced Materials, the e-paper measures less than a micrometer in thickness. It is very flexible, especially when compared to its thicker and stiffer LED counterparts.

The electronic paper was developed by Andreas Dahlin and Kunli Xiong of the Chalmers University of Technology. Dahlin is an assistant professor and Xiong is his doctorate student.

The two researchers were previously looking for ways to add conductive polymers on nanoscale structures. They came to realize that their material could be adapted to make paper-thin electronic displays.

One year was all it took for them to roll out the prototype, which consists of several pixels so far. (Related: Help me, Obi-Wan: Optical trap display technology allows graphics projection into the air.)

Electronic paper saves energy by reflecting light instead of generating it

Dahlin explained that their electronic paper is very different from an LED or LCD display, which lights itself up from within. An e-paper passively reflects any light that hits its surface. That means it is best used in areas with strong lighting.

While it will not work very well in darkness, the new e-paper only uses 10 percent of the power consumed by earlier models of electronic paper. Given those older e-papers, in turn, use far less energy than a tablet that relies on an LED display, that translates to a lot of electricity savings.

The surface of the new electronic paper is covered in polymers that can adjust the amount of light they absorb and reflect. These polymers guide the electric signals as the latter course through the whole display. This guidance enables the paper to generate high-resolution images.

While the prototype is not yet able to be produced in large numbers, Dahlin and Xiong have built several pixels for testing purposes. The pixel-sized electronic paper can produce the red, green, and blue colors that combine into all the other colors available on an LED display. The next step for them is to build bigger pixels that can cover a big enough area to serve as a working display.

We are working at a fundamental level but even so, the step to manufacturing a product out of it shouldnt be too far away, Dahlin said. What we need now are engineers.

Drawbacks and potential uses for the new e-paper

A potential drawback to the Chalmers-designed electronic paper is its use of gold and silver as materials. Dahlin clarified that the surface of the paper is made of gold, but it is only 20 nanometers thick in comparison to the rest of the paper, which is less than a micrometer as it is.

But at present, there is a lot of gold wasted in manufacturing it, he admitted. Either we reduce the waste or we find another way to reduce the production cost.

In his estimation, the most appropriate application for his teams electronic paper is for displaying information in brightly lit places, such as outdoor environments or public areas. Signs and information screens made from the e-paper could replace their older, non-electronic predecessors.

E-paper equivalents would improve the flexibility of signage since the entire sign does not have to be replaced whenever it needs an update. It will also not consume as much electricity.

Learn more about upcoming technologies by visiting FutureScienceNews.com.

Sources include:

Chalmers.se

Geek.com
(Natural News) When a competitor offers a superior product or service and your clients start to take notice, what can you do? A smart businessperson would try to find out what is so much better about the competition and try to offer something just as outstanding.

Of course, learning the secret to others successes might require a fair amount of effort on your part and it could even mean questioning everything youve learned about your industry, so you could simply attack your competition and try to ruin their reputation instead.

Thats exactly what a group of cancer industry doctors who feel threatened by a highly successful naturopathic doctor in the Philippines are doing, fabricating complaints against her to try to keep her from healing sick patients who are bringing them a lot of repeat business.

Dr. Farrah Agustin-Bunch is famous in the Philippines for helping cancer patients get better without resorting to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Shes a healthcare legend in her country, with the many people whose lives she has saved singing her praises from the rooftops.

Oncologists and other doctors take a different view, however, as they see their patients  along with their money  flocking to her clinic. Although Dr. Farrah is a licensed medical doctor, the medical industry there is demonizing her. Much like the FDA in the U.S., the Philippine FDA has shut down her clinic and even threatened her and her family.

As if that werent bad enough, now her fellow doctors are turning on her in a concerted effort to gather complaints about her. The noteworthy lack of complaints against her has been in her favor until now, and since her patients dont have anything bad to say about her, these doctors are joining forces and trying to come up with some complaints of their own.

In messages that have been circulating on the internet, doctors have been openly soliciting complaints about her after being prompted by an FDA director who said they could help anonymously. Theres even a form letter provided that doctors can follow, listing their patients age, gender, and illness.

Tellingly, it stops short of saying Dr. Farrahs treatment harmed them  a claim many cannot make. Instead, it just lists the interventions she gave them and the outcome. Apparently, theyre going after people for whom her treatment didnt work  and it appears to be a lot more difficult to find such cases than it is to find people for whom their own treatments like chemotherapy ultimately failed.

The example letter states: I am writing this on behalf of my patient as a concerned physician and it says that the doctors dont need to include their own name, nor do they need to include their patients name. In fact, they shouldnt as it is a violation of privacy. In other words, anyone could make up whatever they want and submit it, and no one would ever be able to follow up on the claim to determine its credibility. Sneaky!

Disappointed doctor just wants to continue helping people

Dr. Farrah has managed to stay above it all. You can see how mature and confident she is in her interview with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, on Brighteon.com. It also comes through in her passionate writing on her website, where the disappointed doctor wrote that the job of a physician is to take care of their patients needs, and this sometimes involves recommending different approaches than other doctors would. Openly criticizing other doctors isnt just unprofessional and an ethical violation, she says  it also doesnt help the patient. In fact, she says this type of criticism is essentially degrading the medical profession and reducing it into a business rather than to save lives.

She goes on to point out that if patients were really happy with the treatments offered by conventional medicine, no one would know her or seek her services. Perhaps if these doctors put more effort into improving their own offerings, they wouldnt have to worry about what the competition is doing.

Sources for this article include:

DrFarrah.online

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) If you see someone talking to themselves, they might not be crazy: They might just be a secret agent. The Pentagon has just invested a staggering $10 million in a California companys Molar Mic technology. The Molar Mic allows users to send and receive radio transmissions discretely with a device that attaches to the molar tooth. The nearly-invisible device eliminates the need for external microphones, headsets and earpieces.

Once this technology hits the streets, youll really never know whos watching. The investment from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will fund field testing and the deployment of the Molar Mic, which is being heralded as the next Bluetooth.

Sonitus Technologies, the wireless communications tech company behind the Molar Mic, received funding early on from In-Q-Tel, the non-profit investment arm of the CIA. But now, the device is ready for more in-depth testing.

Peter Hadrovic, CEO of Sonitus, wont say if CIA operatives are already using the device, but did say that Molar Mic has been to Afghanistan and has been used in stateside rescue operations.

How the Molar Mic works

For transmitting audio, the Molar Mic features a mouthpiece thats equipped with a waterproof microphone, which is tailored to fit the wearers teeth.

After its put in place, all the wearer has to do is speak normally and the device will send the audio to a radio transmitter, worn on a loop around their neck. The neck transmitter then sends the audio to a second radio unit worn on another body part. The second transmitter will then send the audio to the recipient.

For receiving transmissions, things work a little differently. As Futurism explains:

The mouthpiece translates the incoming audio into vibrations on the teeth. These vibrations travel through the bones in the jaw and skull to the inner ear, which automatically translates them back into sounds. The result is audio that sounds like its coming from within the persons own head.

According to Hadrovic, users should be able to understand transmissions from the get-go, but that reception will get better as the user adjusts to the device. Over the period of three weeks, your brain adapts and it enhances your ability to process the audio, he explained.

In 2017, parajumpers from the 131st used Molar Mic during Hurricane Harvey rescue operations in Texas.

Hadrovic says the military was happy with the products performance during their operations, which involved a lot of water, helicopters, and a lot of external noise.

This guy is standing in neck-deep water, trying to hoist a civilian up into a helicopter above. He says, There is no way I would be able to communicate with the crew chief and the pilot if I was not wearing your product,' Hadrovic recalled.

The future of communication

Theres no doubt that a similar device will eventually make its way to the civilian market, though it may take a few years. GPS, cellphones and other common tech we use today all started somewhere, after all.

As we look to the future human-machine interface the human creates a lot of information, some of it intentional, some of it unintentional. Speaking is one form of information creation, Hadrovic commented.

Once youve made something digital, the information can be interspersedWe have a tremendous wealth of opportunities to communicate out of the person and back to the person, information that can be either collected from them and processed offline and given back in a nice feedback loop. What weve done is invested in the platform that will support these future elements, he contended.

The future of communication is exciting to some, while concerning for others. As our connectivty increases, privacy and freedom decreases. People today are already glued to their cellphones, and their cellphones track their every move and word. What will happen when these devices are attached to our teeth or mounted inside our heads? Privacy, and the freedom that comes with it, could soon be a thing of the past.

See more coverage of military technology at MilitaryTech.news.

Sources for this article include:

DefenseOne.com

Futurism.com
(Natural News) Despite what the liberal-loving media may want you to believe, fake news is not a conservative phenomenon. The 2016 election saw the term get popularized, but perhaps the best use of the phrase was when President Donald Trump told CNN they were fake news. As you might suspect,fake news was first a tool of the political left. It, and other slanderous terms, like anti-science, are used by the left-wing as a way to silence truth-tellers, whistleblowers and anyone else who may stand in their way.

Esteemed investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson, author of the 2017 book The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote, has spoken out about how fake news has been the left-wings modus operandi for quite some time.

Attkisson has worked as a reporter for CBS News and as a foreign correspondent for CNN, and now hosts her own show called Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. But in her best-selling book, she explains how fake news started out as a propaganda term wielded by the Left  before President Trump turned their own fake news against them.

How fake news became reality

While doing research for her book, Attkisson found that her search for the origins of fake news as a term led her to one place: An organization funded by Google. At that time, Googles parent company, Alphabet, was led by Eric Schmidt  one of Hillary Clintons largest campaign donors and a top strategist for her 2016 presidential bid.

Attkisson was inspired to investigate the phrase fake news after catching on to the mainstream medias direct focus on fake news in conservative media and their push to make it a national conversation topic. Soon enough, she says, it became clear that the mainstream media had been given their marching orders on propagating the term fake news.

During a TEDx talk at the University of Nevada, Attkisson posed a pertinent question: What if the whole anti-fake news campaign was an effort on somebodys part to keep us from seeing or believing certain websites and stories by controversializing them or labeling them as fake news?

Her suspicions about the intent behind this agenda led her to First Draft  a company who announced theyd be pairing up to tackle malicious hoaxes and fake news reports. First Draft, as it turns out, was funded by Google  during the first election cycle.

The smear industry rages on

President Trump has managed to turn the term fake news against the liberal media  but now, theyve got a new insult. Attkisson warns that the term media literacy is now being used to tell people which news outlets are trustworthy and which ones are not. Liberal, mainstream sources are predominantly favored, to no ones surprise.

Media literacy advocates are busy trying to get state laws passed to require that their version of media literacy be taught in public schools, Attkisson noted. She concluded her TED talk, stating, When interests are working this hard to shape your opinion, their true goal might just be to add another layer between you and the truth.

Across the globe, journalists who dare to reveal truth are being fined, jailed or otherwise shut down. Even in the U.K., conservative voices are being attacked; journalist Tommy Robinson was thrown in jail after exposing a Muslim-run pedophilia ring  because he defied the chosen narrative.

Attkisson says that the smear industry is worth billions of dollars  which focuses on targeting public figures and people who voice dissenting opinions and expose truth. The industry of fake news and media literacy was built to target anyone the establishment wants to take down  and to push false narratives, as directed by the powers that be.

A smear artist told me that nearly every image that crosses your path on a daily basis whether its on the news, on a billboard or on a late night comedy show. All of it was put there for a reason, often by someone who paid a lot of money for it to be there, Attkisson noted in a recent statement.

Read more stories exposing the truth of the leftist propaganda at Lies.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

Medium.com

TheHill.com
Turtles might seem like the world's steadiest creatures, but their population is in serious decline  and that's bad news for the planet.

New research paints a dire picture of turtles as 61 percent of the 356 species of turtles are already threatened or extinct.

In a new study published in the journal BioScience, a team of scientists from various institutions reveals that turtles are one of the most threatened among the major vertebrate groups. This could, the authors say, have serious consequences on the ecological landscape.

"Turtles contribute to the health of many environments, including desert, wetland, freshwater and marine ecosystems, and declines may lead to negative effects on other species, including humans, that may not be immediately apparent," Jeffrey Lovich, lead author and U.S. Geological Survey scientist, explains in a press release from the University of Georgia.

The Disappearance Of The World's Turtles

As far back as the age of dinosaurs millions of years ago, turtles have roamed the Earth. However, the destruction of their habitats, disease, climate change, and over-exploitation for pets and food have caused their population to drop dramatically.

Whit Gibbons, senior author and professor emeritus at University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Odum School of Ecology, says in a statement that the purpose of the study is to inform people about the numerous, critical ecological roles of turtles.

Turtles Are Crucial To The Food Chain

One of the important qualities of turtles is how diverse they are when it comes to food. Turtles can be herbivores, omnivores, or carnivores, and range from specialists who feed on just a handful of food sources or generalists who have a wider spectrum of choices. This diversity allows them to have a major impact in food webs of their habitats all over the world.

In some areas, the sheer density of the turtle population make them an integral part of the ecosystem. With their number, other species that feed on them and their eggs are assured a large pool of potential food.

Turtles Disperse Plant Seeds

For plants, turtles are also extremely important as they distribute the seeds of many plant species. When they eat, some seeds are not destroyed by the digestive process and instead make its way out of the animal's body in convenient dispersal. Certain seeds even germinate better after going through this process.

Some turtles are the main dispersal agents of certain plants and their seeds, so their disappearance can hasten the extinction of these flora as well.

Turtles Create Homes For Other Animals

Turtles may carry a convenient shelter on their back, but they apparently make habitats for other creatures.

The Agassiz's desert tortoise and the gopher tortoise are both known to dig burrows that are used as habitats by other species including bobcats, foxes, rabbits, snakes, spiders, insects, amphibians, and other reptiles. Some plant species also sprout from the burrow entrances.

These are only a few yet very crucial roles that turtles play in the ecological landscape. Unfortunately, many species are in serious decline and in danger of disappearing completely.

"Our hope is that everyone will be encouraged to engage in concerted efforts to conserve their well-earned legacy as part of our natural habitats," Gibbons says.
A worker suspended out of an open window managed Friday to use squeegees to apply protective film over that cracked window on the 36th floor of the Millennium Tower  work that helped convince city building inspectors to call off their threat to declare the building a hazard.

While a crew of 11 was involved in the job, NBC Bay Areas exclusive video shows only one at a time could actually lean out along the side of the troubled tower to seal off the cracked window next to it.

The work was rushed after the citys Department of Building Inspection issued a threat to yellow tag the building as a safety hazard unless the window was protected and more scaffolding was installed below to protect pedestrians from the possibility of falling glass. That scaffolding was going up while the work above was going on.

Tom Miller, an attorney for the towers homeowners association, said he was told late Thursday that proposed strategy had convinced the city to lift the threat.

"We were able to give DBI what they wanted in terms of their demands we were able to tape up the window this morning, secure it in place," Miller said, "and also move forward with our investigation early next week."

That investigation, he said, will involve examining the failed window along with others directly above and below. "To open it up and find out what happened, what caused that crack in the first place."

The investigation may settle whether the window failed because of pressure from the tower that is now leaning 18 inches to that side.

The cost of the scaffolding installation alone was $150,000 as homeowners are already saddled with mounting litigation bills and consultant costs.

"It requires a bit of forbearance by all the people in the building," Mayer said.

"This has been a stressful and to some extent needlessly stressful," he added, saying that residents look forward to seeing the scaffolding come down as soon as possible.

"Having that wrapping around the building just continues the heightened anxiety," Mayer said.
Members of the California Air National Guard departed for the East Coast late Thursday night to help Hurricane Florence rescue efforts.

The 129th Rescue Wing loaded up their gear and took off from Moffett Field in Mountain View, headed into the eye of the storm that thousands fled from the past two days.

The unit is specially trained in rescuing people by helicopter, whether theyre on the ground or in water.

"Unfortunately, if everyone doesnt get out, we may see people on roofs with help signs and things like that," Major Ben Copley said. "The goal is to get as close as possible and be ready to go."

Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 late Thursday night but is expected to linger, meandering along the South Atlantic Coast for 36-48 hours, officials said.

The citizen airmen were also deployed last year to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
In a major step toward transparency in the local Catholic Church, the bishop of the Diocese of San Jose has announced he will release a list of the names and the status of every priest who has been found to be credibly accused of abusing minors within the diocese.

In an open letter, Bishop Patrick McGrath called priests' sexual abuse of minors "horrific and heartbreaking" and the subsequent cover-up by bishops "a crisis unprecedented in modern times." McGrath said he and the diocese stand with the victims, survivors and their families.

"There is a need for reform; there is a need for transparency in the way the Church responds to allegations of the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, even as we continue our efforts of preventing abuse and fostering a safe environment for all," McGrath wrote. "We cannot defend priest-perpetrators and those bishops and others who enable or protect them. The only way that we can address the failed leadership of so many in the Catholic Church in the United States and around the world is for the Diocese of San Jose to do what we know is right and just."

McGrath said he, church leaders and independent consultants together will develop a plan of accountability for past abuse as well as a path for preventing any future abuse.

One of the initial steps of transparency is releasing the priests' names, which McGrath said will come by mid-October. He said the diocese also will hold listening sessions in which victims and their families will have the opportunity to be heard.

McGrath also called for an independent review of all Diocese of San Jose records on clerical sexual abuse in the name of transparency, improving the church's response to victims and preventing future abuse.

"I hope that releasing these names will help the innocent victims, survivors and their families to take the next step on their journey to wholeness," McGrath wrote, "and that it will give others who have not spoken out the strength and trust to come forward."

Here is the bishop's letter in its entirety:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Recent revelations of the horrific and heartbreaking crime of the sexual abuse of minors by priests  and the systematic cover-up by bishops  have fueled a crisis, unprecedented in modern times, in the Catholic Church. There is a need for reform; there is a need for transparency in the way the Church responds to allegations of the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, even as we continue our efforts of preventing abuse and fostering a safe environment for all.

I and the entire Diocese of San Jose stand with the victims, survivors, and their families. We cannot defend priest-perpetrators and those bishops and others who enable or protect them. The only way that we can address the failed leadership of so many in the Catholic Church in the United States and around the world is for the Diocese of San Jose to do what we know is right and just.

I have begun a process of consultation with lay and priest leaders of the Diocese. This past week, I met with members of our independent Diocesan Review Board, chaired by the Honorable Edward A. Panelli, a retired Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. I have also met with the Diocesan Consultors, a group of priests who advise me.

Together, we will chart a path forward for the Diocese of San Jose to provide a public accounting of what has already happened and to review and strengthen our efforts to protect minors and vulnerable adults. Here are the initial steps we are undertaking:

1) Listening Sessions - Over the next six weeks, I will hold three Listening Sessions throughout the Diocese. These meetings will focus on seeking input from people in the pews on the pathway to reform, listening to those who have been victimized by clerical sexual abuse either directly or in their families, and praying for God's grace to be our only guide. I invite you to be part of this effort by your presence or your prayers.

 Saturday, September 22, 10 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Hall in Palo Alto

 Tuesday, October 2, 7 p.m., at Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose

 Wednesday, October 17, 3 p.m., at Santa Teresa Parish in San Jose

2) Release of Names  By mid-October, we will release a list of the names and the status of every priest who has already been found to be credibly accused of abusing minors within the Diocese of San Jose. I hope that releasing these names will help the innocent victims, survivors and their families to take the next step on their journey to wholeness and that it will give others who have not spoken out the strength and trust to come forward.

3) Independent Examination of Allegations of Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults  The Diocese of San Jose has arranged for former FBI Executive Assistant Director, Dr. Kathleen McChesney, and her firm, Kinsale Management Consulting, to oversee an in-depth independent review of all records of the Diocese pertaining to the sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable adults committed by any cleric appointed by the Diocesan Bishop to serve in the Diocese. This review of files will also seek to determine how diocesan leadership handled allegations of sexual abuse when they were received. As a result of the examination, there may be additional offenders identified and their names will be released at the completion of this review. We have also asked Dr. McChesney to make recommendations as to how we can improve our processes for responding to survivors of abuse, preventing future abuse, and being accountable and more transparent for the actions of offenders and those who may have enabled or protected them.

The reforms that we must undertake at this moment must be based on the principles of the Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People that have produced positive change since 2002 an unswerving focus on protecting minors and vulnerable adults and a necessary voice for the laity in determining whether an allegation is true. Any genuine reform must forcefully integrate these principles in a framework of accountability that applies to bishops in their personal lives and administrative actions.

In this time of crisis in our Church, we must turn to the Lord in our prayer, and we must act justly. Without both, our efforts will not succeed. May God bless us all and lead us in this work.

With every best wish and kind regard, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Patrick J. McGrath

Bishop of San Jose
A shooting Friday afternoon in Fremont prompted a nearby elementary school to shelter in place as a precaution, police said.

Fremont police said there were no victims in the shooting and an investigation is ongoing.

School officials at Forest Park Elementary said classes proceeded as normal during the precuationary shelter in place.

No other information was immediately available.
Crews have removed a 19th century statue near San Francisco's City Hall that some have said is racist and demeaning to indigenous people.

Workers used a crane to remove the statue early Friday as a group of Native Americans chanted and beat drums.

The statue depicts a Native American at the feet of a Spanish cowboy and a Catholic missionary.

It is part of a group of statues depicting the founding of California.

Morning Star Gali of the International Indian Treaty Council told that she wanted to witness the removal.

She says Native Americans fought for the statue's removal because they don't want their children to witness their people being treated in a degrading and stereotypical way.

A San Francisco board voted unanimously on Wednesday to remove it.
A series of gas explosions an official described as "Armageddon" ignited dozens of fires across three communities north of Boston, killed at least one person and forced entire neighborhoods in the Merrimack Valley to evacuate Thursday.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead later in the evening. More than 20 others were treated for fire-related injuries.

Firefighters raced from one blaze to another, scrambling to fight flames engulfing homes in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence while utility crews rushed to shut off gas and electricity.

"I've been in the fire service for almost 39 years and I've never seen anything like this in my entire career," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said at a Thursday night news conference. "It looked like Armageddon, it really did. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see plumes of smoke in front of me from Andover. It just looked like an absolute war zone. It's something I've never experienced in my fire service career and I hope I never experience it again."

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency suspected the explosions were caused by an "over-pressurization of a gas main" belonging to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, which services the area, but officials who responded to the area were still investigating what happened.

"This is still a very active scene," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why."

Aerial footage of the area from NBC10 Boston's helicopter showed smoke billowing from several houses while firefighters battled massive flames at others, and some homes that appeared to have been torn apart by blasts.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire said he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler was on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom come from his neighbor's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house, but the basement was on fire.

North Andover Selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighborhood gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes.

"It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe."

Massachusetts State Police said some 70 fires, explosions or investigations of gas odor had been reported.

Andover officials said firefighters responded to 38 blazes across town.

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence. Solomon, who responded to Lawrence to help, said there were so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

Another 12 to 14 fires were reported in North Andover, Town Manager Andrew Maylor said.

State police urged all residents in the three towns with homes serviced by Columbia Gas to evacuate Thursday afternoon, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.

"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated."

With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.

Schools in all three communities were canceled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents. The Red Cross of Massachusetts was helming relief efforts for evacuees. Officials said anyone looking to donate supplies, volunteer or make a monetary contribution can visit the redcross.org.

Andover residents who live on the North Reading side of town were allowed to return home shortly after midnight. Officials from all three towns said there is no timeframe yet for when other residents might be allowed to return to their homes.

"This has obviously been an incredibly difficult day," Gov. Baker said. "At this time I ask everyone to think of the family who lost a loved one today and to pray for everyone who has been injured."

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires.

Many businesses closed as a precaution due to the fires, but McAloon's Liquors in North Andover was still open as of 8 p.m. Owner Bill Buco said he would stay open until police told him to close. There were long lines for essentials like water.

"My customers need service. They need water, they need milk, they need bread," he said.

Baker said state and local police would patrol the three communities overnight and officers were stationed at intersections directing traffic.

"My heart goes out to the families in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who are trying to pick up the pieces after dozens of fires & gas explosions in the area," U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a tweet Thursday. "Grateful to all our first responders working to help. Massachusetts is strong - we will recover & rebuild."

Hours after the explosions, Columbia Gas' parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident," Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement. "The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community."

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Gov. Baker said he told the utility company that it must bring in additional resources and develop a safety plan for each of the communities.

Early Friday, the utility issued a statement saying its crews need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection.

"Additional support is being provided by crews from several affiliated Columbia Gas companies and other utilities," the statement said. "We expect this will be an extended restoration effort, and we will work tirelessly to restore service to the affected customers."

The blasts caused widespread disruption through the northeastern part of the state.

The MBTA suspended train service on the Haverhill line north of the North Wilmington Station. Friday's commuter rail service on the Haverhill line is scheduled to operate only between North Station and Reading Station. The agency said shuttle buses would be available at the Haverhill and Bradford stations to take passengers to the Anderson-Woburn Station on the Lowell commuter rail line.

The Amtrak Downeaster canceled several trains Thursday during the evening commute due to the fire department activity in the area.

All off-ramps on Interstate 495 from exits 41 through 45 were shut down Thursday and remained closed as of 6 a.m. Friday morning. Exit 45 reopened. On ramps remained open to allow for evacuations. The northbound and southbound ramp for Exit 45 on Interstate 93 was also closed Thursday and remained closed Friday morning, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said.

"The @CityOfBoston is here for the people of Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence tonight," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted. "I thank all of our first responders, including @BostonFire & @bostonpolice who are working hard with many others to keep everyone safe."
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Friday denied an allegation of sexual misconduct from when he was in high school, seeking to defuse a potential threat to his confirmation as a handful of key senators remained silent on whether they would vote for him.

In a statement released by the White House, Kavanaugh said: "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time."

Senate Republicans insist Kavanaugh's confirmation remains on track. But the allegation has inflamed an already intense political battle over President Donald Trump's nominee. It also pushes the #MeToo movement into the court fight, less than two months before congressional elections that have seen a surge of female Democratic candidates.

The New Yorker magazine reported that the alleged incident took place at a party when Kavanaugh, now 53, was attending Georgetown Preparatory School. The woman making the allegation attended a nearby school.

The magazine says the woman sent a letter about the allegation to Democrats. A Democratic aide and another person familiar with the letter confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that the allegation is sexual in nature. Two other people familiar with the matter confirmed it concerned an incident alleged to have occurred in high school. They were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The AP has not confirmed the details of the alleged incident in The New Yorker's account. Two sources told NBC News the allegation was sexual in nature, but both said the letter writer was not specific in describing Kavanaugh's alleged behavior. One source told NBC News the conduct described could allege sexual assault, but said it could also be a lesser allegation  and added the individual making the allegation would have to be more specific with law enforcement officials for any investigation to be able to move forward.

Rallying to Kavanaugh's defense, 65 women who knew him in high school issued a letter saying Kavanaugh has "always treated women with decency and respect." The letter was circulated by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983," wrote the women, who said most of them had attended all-girl high schools in the area. "For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect."

The show of support for Kavanaugh was organized by his former law clerks. Three women reached by AP said they were first asked to sign the letter on Thursday.

The swift pushback comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, notified federal investigators about information she received about the nominee.

Feinstein won't disclose the information publicly, but the FBI confirmed it has included it in Kavanaugh's background file at the committee, now available confidentially to all senators.

Kavanaugh's nomination has divided the Senate and the new information complicates the process, especially as key Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, are under enormous pressure from outside groups seeking to sway their votes on grounds that a Justice Kavanaugh might vote to undercut the Roe v. Wade ruling. One activist group favoring abortion choice, NARAL, called on Kavanaugh to withdraw from consideration.

The Judiciary Committee, which has finished confirmation hearings for Kavanagh, still plans to vote next Thursday on whether to recommend that he be confirmed by the full Senate, a spokesman said.

The White House called Feinstein's move an "11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation."

Collins held an hour-long phone call with Kavanaugh on Friday, her spokeswoman confirmed. It had been a previously scheduled follow-up to an initial visit that Kavanaugh made to her office in August. It was not immediately clear if they discussed the new information.

If Collins or Murkowski should vote for Kavanaugh, he is likely to be confirmed. Every other Republican in the Senate is expected to vote yes  and some Democrats from Trump-won states may join them  though it remains to be seen if the misconduct allegation will cost him any support.

Feinstein said in a statement Thursday that she "received information from an individual concerning the nomination." She said the person "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision."

The FBI confirmed that it received the information Wednesday evening and included it in Kavanaugh's background file, which is maintained as part of his nomination. The agency said that is its standard process.

Feinstein's statement that she had "referred the matter to federal investigative authorities" jolted Capitol Hill and threatened to disrupt what had been a steady path toward confirmation for Kavanaugh by Republicans eager to see the conservative judge on the court.

Feinstein, who is up for re-election this year, has held the letter close. Democratic senators on the panel met privately Wednesday evening and discussed the information, according to Senate aides who were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some senators, including the No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, learned about the information for the first time at the meeting, according to one of the aides.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., declined to confirm reports that the congresswoman had forwarded a letter containing the allegations to Feinstein. The spokeswoman said the office has a confidentiality policy regarding casework for constituents.

A White House spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, said the FBI has vetted Kavanaugh "thoroughly and repeatedly" during his career in government and the judiciary.

She said Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators  including with Feinstein  has sat through over 30 hours of testimony and publicly addressed more than 2,000 questions. "Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," she said.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican and a member of the committee, was also skeptical.

"Let me get this straight: this is statement about secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right," he tweeted.

Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was unaware of the information until it was made public, according to a GOP committee aide. Kavanaugh has undergone six federal background checks over his time in government, including one for the nomination, the aide said.
What to Know A series of gas explosions Thursday caused 60 to 80 fires in homes in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence in Massachusetts.

Evacuations remain in place as federal officials arrive in the state to investigate the cause of the explosions.

An 18-year-old died after an explosion caused a chimney to land on his car and 25 others were treated for injuries.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday he is declaring a State of Emergency for the Merrimack Valley due to the way Columbia Gas has handled a series of natural gas explosions that killed a teenager, injured 25 others and left dozens of homes in smoldering ruins.

Based on that declaration, Baker said he is authorizing the chairman of the Department of Public Utilities to give Eversource management control over the effort to restore utility services.

"I certainly believe at this point that it is in the best interests of the people of Lawrence and North Andover and Andover for us to get a new team leading this effort," the governor said. "And I do believe this will lead to a better game on the ground."

Bill Akley, President of Eversource Gas Business, said there will be a 3-phase effort to restoring gas to customers which is not a short-term restoration effort.

"We will bring every resource available and we will work around the clock and we vow to have an open communication with all the officials  the governor  to keep everybody apprised of the status and obviously the progress as we work through this event," Akley said.

Columbia Gas will still be working with Eversource as a collaborative effort.

Authorities said an estimated 8,000 people were displaced at the height of Thursday's post-explosion chaos in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, the three north of Boston towns rocked by the disaster. Most were still waiting, shaken and exhausted, to be allowed to return to their homes.

Baker said he and the other community leaders tried to give Columbia Gas an opportunity to deal with the situation, but the company repeatedly failed to honor statements they had made.

"Today, on a number of very significant issues, we heard one thing and something else happened," he said. "The follow-through just wasn't there. We don't have time. We need to get on with this."

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera was also heavily critical of the gas company.

"Since yesterday, when we first got word of this incident, the least informed and the last to act has been Columbia Gas," he said. "It seems like there's no one in charge. Like they're in the weeds and they've never seen this before."

"Neighbors who watched their houses blown up next to them have no understanding of why that happened and what's being done to fix it," he added. "This is real people and real issues."

Todays incidents have been traumatic for residents of #Lawrence, #Andover + #NorthAndover. Thankfully, neighbors helped neighbors + 1st responders jumped into action. Despite the fluid situation, local, state + federal partners are working to ensure these communities are safe.  Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) September 14, 2018

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes in the three communities, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening. Another 25 were injured.

Gas and electricity remained shut down Friday in most of the area, and entire neighborhoods were eerily deserted.

Brenda Charest stood anxiously on her front porch while a crew checked her undamaged home before giving her the all-clear to return Friday. On Thursday, she had come home to a hissing sound in her basement and a strong odor of natural gas.

"We took off. I said, 'Pack up, we're out of here,'" said Charest, who went with her 93-year old father and cat to a relative's home. "It was scary. We didn't know anything."

On Thursday, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield described the unfolding scene as "Armageddon."

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts.

"There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover," Mansfield told reporters.

Shelters remain open at the Parthum School at 255 East Haverhill St. in Lawrence, the Arlington Middle School at 150 Arlington St. in Lawrence, the field house at North Andover High School at 430 Osgood St. and the Cormier Youth Center at 40 Whittier Court in Andover. About 400 people stayed there on Thursday night.

Columbia Gas had mostly remained silent since the start of the incident, issuing its only public statements via press releases. That changed on Friday afternoon when Steve Bryant, president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, spoke publicly for the first time. He did not try to rebut the claims made by Baker and Rivera, opting for a more diplomatic approach.

This has been an incredibly difficult day for everyone. I ask everyone to think of the family of Leonel Rondon who lost a loved one today, and to pray for everyone who has been injured.  Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) September 14, 2018

"I'm not saying the governor's wrong at all," Bryant said. "The governor has the same interests as we do, which is restoring service as quickly as possible. If the judgment of the governor is bringing Eversource into the mix, that's what we will do and we will support that approach to this."

Bryant said gas service has now been shut off for about 3,200 of the 8,000 customers who were forced to evacuate, and he expects to have all of them shut off and power to be restored by the end of the weekend.

He said there are nearly 300 technicians working in the field now, and another 100 are expected to arrive on Saturday.

A claims hotline is being set up at 1-800-590-5571, and a claims center will open at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Public Library.

The towns of Andover and North Andover have set up lists of streets that have been cleared so residents can go online to find out if it is safe to return to their homes.

"If you're not on the safe list, assume you remain in the evacuation zone and we're doing everything we can to get you home as quickly as possible," Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanigan said. "We're with you, we're working around the clock, all of our local resources have been deployed, and we'll continue to work until we get our residents home."

Even if they are cleared to return home, officials stressed that residents should not turn their gas back on themselves.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency initially blamed Thursday's fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still looking into what happened.

Bryant said he does not know what caused the series of explosions, and said it will be up to the National Transportation Safety Board team that arrived Friday to determine that.
A Cicero police officer who was shot Thursday on Chicago's Southwest Side underwent surgery and is recovering in the hospital, authorities said.

Officer Luis Duarte had surgery to remove the bullets in his arms, legs and stomach after he was shot four times during an attempted traffic stop near Interstate 55 and Cicero Avenue.

Sergeant Joe Melone with the Cicero Police Department's Detective Bureau tweeted early Friday morning that Duarte was "out of surgery, alive, and with his warrior spirit."

"Please pray for our officer and his family," Melone wrote.

A spokesman for the town of cicero said Duarte is "resting... following a series of surgeries involving his wounds." Ray Hanania said Duarte is in good, stable condition.

Duarte, who was involved in an investigation at the time, was shot just after 5:15 p.m. as he and his partner attempted to pull over a vehicle in traffic attempting to get on the expressway. The vehicle would not stop, so the officers boxed it in with their cruiser, police said. The driver of the vehicle then got out and began shooting at the two officers who were in their squad car, police said. Duarte, 31 years old and a four- to five-year veteran of the force, was struck multiple times.

At some point during the exchange of gunfire with police, a citizen who police said is authorized to carry a concealed weapon was in the area and began shooting at the suspect with the police.

"We were lucky enough to have a citizen on the street there who is a concealed carry holder and he also engaged in gunfire with the offender," Supt. Jerry Chilada Jr. with the Cicero Police Department said.

The suspect was hit at least once by gunfire but it was not known if Cicero police or the armed citizen fired that shot, police said.

The suspect was in Chicago police custody.

A Cicero police officer has been shot during a police investigation in Chicago at I-55 and Cicero Ave. Officer condition is unknown. Please avoid the area and make way for emergency vehicles as intermittent closures will be in effect. pic.twitter.com/WdCcRpfKZg  Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) September 13, 2018

The Illinois State Police were investigating the officer-involved shooting aspect of the case, per standard procedure, officials said.
The deadly gas explosions which roared through neighborhoods north of Boston Thursday, were eerily reminiscent of a similar disaster which hit Chicagos River West neighborhood in January of 1992.

On that bitterly cold day, building after building began erupting in flames, with neighbors describing the roof of at least one building being blown sky high. Many residents said they heard the hiss of gas roaring through their homes, just prior to the explosions.

Some people saved themselves by hearing some strange noises and turning their heaters and stoves off, homeowner Tim OMahony recalled Friday, in front of his surviving building where a plaque commemorates the tragedy. Four people died in the fires, and at least 18 buildings were either damaged or destroyed.

While a formal cause was never determined, federal investigators said the origin of the incident was a Peoples Gas vault near Erie and Green, where work was being done when the incident occurred. All that was known for certain is that high pressure gas somehow surged past a system of regulators and valves which were designed to decrease it to the lower pressure which is needed for normal use.

Forty times the normal pressure of one quarter pound per square inch, OMahany says he was told.

Natural gas, which is the nations most abundant fuel, travels long distances under high pressure.

All these pipelines are designed for this kind of pressure, says the Illinois Institute of Technologys Dr. Hamid Arastoopour. They only adjust it to very low pressure coming into your home.

Indeed, while the 1992 River West explosions were traced to a common regulator designed to lower the pressure for an entire neighborhood, Peoples Gas has dramatically upgraded much of its system to a medium pressure grid, where regulators exist at each building. (Those are the familiar round devices you may see on or near your gas meter).

There has never been a repeat of the Chicago tragedy. The companys David Lazzaro told NBC5 that roughly 2800 miles of Peoples system has been converted to that medium pressure (22 psi) standard. And technology has advanced radically since the 1992 incident, with other safeguards instituted to automatically shut off gas in some areas if surging pressure is detected.

The company said it is working to complete a total upgrade by 2033.

In the meantime, investigators are still trying to determine what happened in Massachusetts. Congressman Seth Moulton tweeted Thursday night that he had spoken with one federal official who told him the blasts sounded exactly like the 1992 incident in Chicago.

It could be human error, Dr. Arastoopour told NBC 5. Or it could be that some of the pipes are not really new---that they are very, very, old.

The formal investigation is in the hands of the National Transportation Safety Board, which has responsibility for all pipeline incidents.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro - who led an investigation into Catholic clergy members in his own state, revealing horrifying allegations of child sexual abuse - met with Democratic attorneys general and candidates in Chicago Thursday, giving advice as to how Illinois should proceed with its own inquiry.

In Chicago for a meeting of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, Shapiro noted that it took close to 100 staffers to look into years and years of files that detailed the alleged abuse of more than 1,000 children at the hands of 301 priests, using information discovered through secret archives.

The more than 1,300-page grand jury report, released in August, revealed lurid details of rape, abortions, confessions and cover-ups - sparking outrage and sending shockwaves through the Catholic Church.

"I think we're seeing in this country a moment of reckoning, not just involving the Catholic Church but involving large institutions," Shapiro said Thursday.

"These church leaders, priests and bishops would lie to parishioners on Sunday, they would lie to law enforcement," he continued. "They'd lie to the media, they'd lie to the general public. They would shield these predator priests from the arm of the law and then they would write it all down."

Outgoing Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has initiated an investigation of all six Illinois dioceses and state Sen. Kwame Raoul, the Democratic candidate looking to replace her, said that if he is elected he will continue that effort.

"In an effort to preserve the reputation of the Catholic Church there's been such a cover-up," Raoul said Thursday.

GOP candidate for attorney general Erika Harold said she also planned to "make such an investigation a priority," saying, "I fully support using the investigative and legal tools of the attorney generals office."

At the Vatican Thursday, Cardinals DiNardo and O'Malley from the U.S. met with Pope Francis with plans for a worldwide summit on protecting children in February.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago said a "mass of healing" for the church will be held at the city's Holy Name Cathedral, with an ad hoc group of concerned Catholics encouraging others to wear red as a silent sign of protest.

Cupich met with Chicago priests in a closed-door session Wednesday night, described by several as a somber and worthwhile conversation.

As Raoul said he sees it, the Pennsylvania grand jury report is instructive for examining how Chicago Public Schools may have handled reports of abuse as well.

"Protecting children and bringing out the truth has to be our highest priority," Raoul said. "I can't think of a higher priority."

Madigan has spoken with either bishops or attorneys for each of the six Illinois dioceses and plans to meet with them in person in the coming weeks.
An Ohio man with an extensive background in analyzing concrete and minerals came to Connecticut to talk crumbling concrete basements with dozens of people struggling with the issue.

Nick Scaglione owns Concrete Research and Testing, LLC, and has examined concrete core samples from Connecticut basements for more than a decade, making him very familiar with the issue that has resulted in more than 700 people filing complaints with the state.

Scaglione was brought to Connecticut by a grassroots group trying to learn more about how it can develop standards to test basements to see if they have the crumbling concrete problem, and to test the stone used in concrete before it gets mixed to see if it contains enough of the naturally occurring mineral pyrrhotite to cause a problem.

Experts say when exposed to air and/or water, pyrrhotite can cause concrete to crack and crumble.

Scaglione explained to a standing room only crowd at South Windsor Town Hall that in Canada, one of the only other places with the crumbling concrete problem, a basement with just 0.23 percent pyrrhotite is considered compromised.

However, Scaglione cautioned that the rock used in Canada in concrete has different qualities than the rock used in north central and north eastern Connecticut that has the crumbling concrete problem, making it impossible to simply adopt the same standard Canada uses.

That has Scaglione convinced that developing a standard for a permissible level of pyrrhotite in basements or the rock used to make it, will require time, and money, something in short supply in Connecticut right now.

Earlier in the day the University of Connecticut announced it will fund a one-year research project to come up with a uniform testing method for concrete, that could then be used to develop a system that rates a basement's potential for failure.

The university says it had been trying to secure funding and assistance from the state and federal government the past two years with no luck, so in the end, it decided to provide the funding and resources on its own.
President Donald Trumps tweets and comments about the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico are not sitting well with members of the Puerto Rican community in Connecticut.

I think that Puerto Rico was an incredible unsung success, President Trump said from the Oval Office.

On Thursday morning, the president sent out two tweets rejecting a thorough review that Hurricane Maria claimed 2,975 lives in Puerto Rico.

To hear that coming from the highest person in the nation, the president of the United States, it is very disrespectful, said Jhonathan Rivera, co-founder of Puerto Ricans United in New Haven.

President Trump tweeted 3 thousand people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico before falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the death tool to make him look as bad as possible.

To me one death is too much, Daniel Diaz said, 3,000 is extreme, but my problem with this president is that he failed to recognize the crisis that Puerto Rico was going through.

Diaz is the chairman for Arte, Inc., a New Haven non-profit that helped collect supplies and raised more than $130,000 for hurricane relief on the island.

The support from the people here in Connecticut has been unbelievable, said Yesenia Rivera from Connecticut Puerto Rican Agenda.

But Rivera said the president and federal government failed the Puerto Rican population.

To go there and toss paper towels to the people of Puerto Rico, its ridiculous, she said.

Diaz said Puerto Ricans rebuilding after Maria are resilient.

What is very difficult for us as Puerto Ricans as taxpayers is to survive the insults from our own president, he said.

Diaz added he is worried about this hurricane season.

If thats how you treat American citizens, he said, whats going to happen now in North Carolina and South Carolina?
Local businesses are coming together in Plainfield to collect supplies for victims of Hurricane Florence.

Organizers are planning to load up a trailer to send to North Carolina.

Any kind of support for supplies, Leon Lefevre, an organizer. Canned goods, water, non-perishables.

They are collecting supplies with help from local businesses. There are drop off spots at Stanton Equipment, The Music Lady, Plainfield Town Hall, Tarahan Allstate Agency.

Its people helping people, Lefevre said. Thats all it is. A couple of us got together and its just blossomed into this. Every time that there is a catastrophic disaster, we do it.

Some members of the Connecticut National Guard left Wednesday to head south to help with hurricane relief after Florence comes ashore.

They did the same thing for victims of Hurricane Harvey and other recent hurricanes.

We have cars, just come in they make their rounds you take everything out and then theyre on their way, said Tara Bjorkland, who works at the Tarahan Allstate Agency.

They begin collecting supplies Thursday, and will send the trailer to the Carolinas as soon as its full.
Speaking at a press conference Friday, the mother of Botham Jean said it was time that people recognize that her son's life "matters."

"To have my son smeared in such a way I think shows that there are persons who are really nasty, who are really dirty and are covering up for the devil Amber Guyger," Allison Jean said.

The family also called for the immediate firing of Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, questioning why her toxicology results have not been released.

"The issue is, why is Botham Jean being investigated as if he is the criminal?, family attorney Benjamin Crump said.

Family attorneys and Jean's mother were critical of information in recent search warrants and details leaked to media outlets that they believe are intended to damage the character of Jean.

A search warrant released Thursday by the Dallas Police Department contradicts what Guyger initially told investigators after she fatally shot 26-year-old Jean inside his apartment, mistaking him for a burglar in her own residence.

According to the detective filing the report, on the night of shooting, Guyger "was attempting to enter apartment 1478, with a set of keys. An unknown male inside the apartment confronted the officer at the door. A neighbor stated he heard an exchange of words, immediately followed by at least two gunshots."

That statement contradicts what Guyger later told investigators, claiming "the door was slightly ajar the room nearly completely dark, and that she spotted him from across the room and shot him."

During Jeans funeral, the Dallas Police Department released a search warrant detailing property seized from Jeans apartment, though they didnt say if that property belonged to Jean or Guyger. Among the items seized was a small amount of marijuana. Jean's attorneys said the mention of marijuana being among the property seized is a "disgusting attempt to assassinate his character."

Other items that were listed include, two bullet casings, a laptop, a ballistic vest with police markings, a black backpack with police equipment and paperwork, an insulated lunch box, a metal marijuana grinder and two RFID keys. The document does not disclose whom the items belonged to.

Along with greater transparency, the familys attorneys would like Guyger fired from the Dallas Police Department and for her toxicology report to be released.

Crump says the marijuana allegedly found inside Jeans apartment is "completely irrelevant," and the Jean family does not know whom it belonged to. Crump said any attempt to use the alleged discovery to divert focus from the circumstances of Jeans death is "nothing but a disgusting attempt to assassinate his character now that they have assassinated his person."

This adds absolutely nothing of value for solving this crime and for it to be released this day, I dont believe in coincidences. This was an intent to come after this young mans character, which is impeccable by the way, said Lee Merritt, who also represents Jean's family.

An attorney with the Washington Law Firm spoke on behalf of the Jean family and asked why Guyger was able to walk free after discharging her weapon.

There is no question in our mind that on that night, he was in his apartment, he had a lawful right to be in his apartment. When you walk that apartment complex, when you walk that hallway, even if you were sleepy, walking that long hallway is going to give you the opportunity to wake up. But one thing is clear. When she [Amber Guyger] left where ever she was on that night, she didnt have any problems remembering where her keys were, she didnt have any problems remembering where her car was parked. In fact, she never stopped to ask somebody, can you tell me where my apartment complex is located because Im tired? She was able to find all these places without any assistance, and when she took the life, the excuses came.

Dallas police initially reported Guyger was an off-duty officer and was acting as a citizen. Okay, if she was an off-duty police officer, then she was acting as a regular citizen. Are you telling the citizens of Dallas that is a regular individual would kill somebody, that you allow them to walk around on their cellphone? In the crime scene and not immediately arrest them? None of it makes sense.

Washington goes on to say that this is all due to the lack of training that the officer received at the Dallas Police Department.

Its a training issue that we have in Dallas, it has always been the issue that police officers pull the trigger and ask questions later, Washington said.

Bothams mother, expressed her discontent at how her son was being portrayed to the public.

The information received yesterday is, to me, worst than the call that I got on the morning of Friday, Sept. 7," she said. "I dont know my son has to be involved in such, and I want to find out whether the toxicology reports on Amber has been released because she was the murderer. I want to find out whether her apartment has been searched, whether her car has been searched and also on the Saturday when we spoke to the Texas Ranger, he was saying that there was no reason in his mind that she ought to have been locked up. So there was enough time for three days that she roamed the streets after committing such a crime. So far, my family and I have only been asking for a fair hearing for my son.

It is time that we recognize that lives matter. My sons life matters," Jean said. "At 26-years-old, he had done so much so if you extrapolate what he could have done had he reached my age, then you would have seen how much I have lost.

She plead for the Texas justice system to find the truth and to find justice for her son.
What to Know Leonel Rondon, of Lawrence, was sitting in an SUV in his driveway when a a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car.

The 18-year-old, who had just received his driver's license and was celebrating with friends, was pronounced dead several hours later.

At least 25 people were injured as a result of Thursday's gas explosions and fires in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

The teenager who died Thursday when a brick chimney dislodged by a gas explosion fell on his vehicle had received his driver's license earlier that day.

A family friend said Leonel Rondons father took his son to get his drivers license before dropping him off to celebrate with friends.

He said the father later saw the Chickering Road home burning on television, but had no idea it was his son who was killed.

When he realized that it was his son, it was just so sad, the Rondons family friend Luis Medina said. This family is broken apart from this accident.

Rondon, 18, from Lawrence, was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and pronounced dead Thursday evening.

"He was a good kid. Always DJ'ing, always trying to better himself in school," said longtime friend Anthony Gil.

Gil said "Leo" had just obtained his driver's license a few hours earlier and stopped by the Lawrence home to celebrate with friends. He said the young men were in the car listening to music when the house exploded.

"They were just there hanging out. I guess the mom was gonna cook for them...and once she turned on the stove, it blew up I guess," Gil said.

Passengers in the vehicle got out and tried to move the chimney but couldn't, The Associated Press reported.

Gil said others who were sitting in the SUV were also injured. The extent of their injuries is unclear.

Rondon's grieving family said they can't believe the young man is gone. They said instead of helping him celebrate a new chapter in his life, they are now planning his funeral.

Rondon, a musician who went by the name DJ Blaze, according to the AP, had just begun his junior year at Phoenix Charter Academy.

Lawrence Public Schools said in a statement Friday the community was deeply saddened by the loss of Rondon and recalled the teen's drive to graduate as "a model to classmates."

"Staff and students knew him as an outgoing, light-hearted, hands-on learner who particularly loved science and excelled in biology and math," the statement said.

School officials said prior to Phoenix Charter Academy, Rondon attended the Oliver School, UP Oliver Academy, and Lawrence High School.

"He will be greatly missed both in school and at home, and his family, friends and loved ones are in the thoughts of everyone throughout the Phoenix network and Lawrence Public Schools," read the statement.

Grief counselors will be available to students at the schools.

Medina said Rondon leaves behind three siblings in addition to his mother and father. Funeral arrangements have not yet been set, but the family is raising money for the services through a GoFundMe page.

At least 25 people were injured as a result of Thursday's gas explosions and fires across the towns of Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions that one official described as "Armageddon" ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes in the working-class towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity.

Gas and electricity remained shut off Friday in most of the area, and entire neighborhoods were eerily deserted. Authorities said all of the fires had been extinguished overnight and the situation was stabilizing.
Cuba said Thursday the United States is continuing to withhold important information that could help in the investigation into mysterious incidents that have injured some two dozen Havana-based American diplomats, including some with brain damage, since late 2016.

After meeting with U.S. officials at the State Department, members of a team Cuba assembled to look into the incidents said their requests for patient records and other information had again been rebuffed and rejected anew Washington's assertions that the injuries were caused by targeted attacks.

"The Cuban side is completely unable to support the hypothesis of health attacks and brain damage as reported by the State Department," said Dr. Mitchell Valdes Sosa, chief of the group of Cuban scientists and physicians. "Nothing was presented that could add up to sustain such a thing."

The Cuban delegation renewed calls for the State Department to release to it specific medical records and other data about the victims in order for it to be studied.

It also repeated demands that Washington stop referring to the cause of the symptoms as "health attacks" in the absence of definitive proof and denounced reports citing U.S. officials as saying that investigators may be narrowing their suspicions about the cause and culprit behind them.

"The State Department has been treating theories as if they were facts," said Johana Tablada, a senior Cuban diplomat who led the team.

Thursday's meeting was held as American authorities search for answers into mysterious "health attacks" that began two years ago in Havana and amid growing frustration among national security agencies and members of Congress about the lack of answers on what and who caused the injuries.

Recent reports have suggested investigators are focusing on the possibility that some sort of microwave device may be responsible and that Russia, which has long had close ties with Cuba, is the leading suspect for the attacks.

The State Department, however, has denied that any conclusions had been drawn.

"We still don't know the cause, we still don't know what or who is responsible for health attacks that took place that affected our personnel in Cuba," spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on Thursday.

NBC News, citing U.S. officials and others briefed on the investigation, reported this week that Russia is the main suspect in an investigation into the attacks that led to brain injuries in both Cuba and China.

That suspicion, they say, is backed up by evidence from communications intercepts amassed during a lengthy and ongoing investigation involving the FBI, the CIA and other U.S. agencies. But the evidence is not conclusive enough to put the blame on Moscow.

Nauert did not address a Cuban request for "a dispassionate examination of health reports of U.S. diplomats in Cuba according to the rules of science" but said the meeting would "involve private medical information that is coming forth from some of our people."

The Cubans, however, said no such information was shared beyond what was previously available in a published medical journal report, which they and others have found to be inconclusive

Those reports have raised protests from Cuba, which does not dispute the symptoms but insists there is no evidence to support any assertion that they were caused by premeditated attacks on its soil or that there is evidence to point too a perpetrator.

Cuba has repeatedly denounced the U.S. accusations as politically motivated and unproven and did so again on Thursday. "Stop using the word 'attack.'"

Twenty-five U.S. Embassy workers in Cuba, as well as one at the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, China, have been affected by mysterious health incidents that began in the fall of 2016. The range of symptoms and diagnoses includes mild traumatic brain injury, also known as concussion.

The last case from Havana was confirmed in June. The U.S. said two embassy staffers were affected in a single occurrence in late May in a diplomatic residence at which both officers were present. Those were the first confirmed cases in Havana since August 2017.

Thursday's meeting was organized after Cuba complained that Washington has refused to share key details about the affected Americans' medical conditions. Sosa said the talks were a "productive and very cordial scientific meeting but we received no new information."

In classified briefings with congressional aides and lawmakers last week, the officials repeated that they had not come to any conclusions about what caused the injuries or who might be responsible for them, according to officials familiar with the meetings.

Initial speculation had centered on some type of sonic attack, owing to strange sounds heard by those affected. But an interim FBI report in January found no evidence that sound waves could have caused the damage.
A big U.S. meatpacker has agreed to pay $1.5 million to 138 Somali-American Muslim workers who were fired from their jobs at a Colorado plant after they were refused prayer breaks, a federal anti-discrimination agency said Friday.

Cargill Meat Solutions, a division of Minnesota-based agribusiness company Cargill Corp., also agreed to train managers and hourly workers in accommodating Muslim employees' prayer breaks at its Fort Morgan beef processing plant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

Wichita, Kansas-based Cargill denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation, the federal agency said. The dispute dates back to the firings of the workers in late 2016 after management rescinded policies allowing Muslim employees to take short breaks for prayer.

In 2017, the agency found that the workers had been harassed and discriminated against for protesting the unannounced policy change that denied them opportunities for obligatory prayer. Hundreds of Somali-Americans work at the plant in Fort Morgan, northeast of Denver.

In a related announcement, a Teamsters union local that was supposed to represent the workers will pay them $153,000 to settle discrimination complaints.

The federal agency said it determined that Teamsters Local Union No. 455, based in Denver and in Fort Morgan, failed to advocate for the Muslim workers in their dispute with Cargill and even harassed them because of their race, religion and national origin. The workers were dues-paying union members.

Union officials denied wrongdoing. But the local unit agreed to pay the workers, undergo training in handling grievances, and publicize employee rights to be free of discrimination based on race or national origin.

"In its capacity as a bargaining representative for its members, labor unions have an obligation to represent their members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability," Elizabeth Cadle, the federal agency's regional district director, said in a statement.

Like other U.S. firms that employ Muslim line workers at meatpacking and processing plants, Cargill managers must balance religious accommodations with demands of processing meat in an operation that frequently runs 24 hours. Managing possible disruptions not only slow production but can create safety issues for line workers.

"Providing our employees with religious accommodation is an important part of engaging and supporting our employees, and our policy has remained consistent for more than 10 years," Cargill Meat Solutions president Brian Sikes said in a statement.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group, and Qusair Mohamedbhai, a Denver attorney who represented the workers praised the settlement.

Mohamedbhai said in a statement that he welcomed "Cargill's commitment to continue to communicate its longstanding prayer accommodation practices."
Millions in the path of Hurricane Florence this week chose to leave for safer ground or ride out the storm.

Brendan McLean and Allison Miller were supposed to exchange vows Friday in Charleston, South Carolina, where they got engaged last November, but the city is now under a mandatory evacuation order.

So this week, theyve scrambled to plan their wedding at home in Texas instead of on a Charleston plantation.

We said Monday morning we'll wake up and say yes, or no, and that's when we started notifying our bridal party and all of our guests that we were going to cancel the wedding in Charleston, Miller said.

But rain or shine, the couple said they're getting married. So, the day they've spent 10 months planning for  they had five days to plan.

It's pretty ridiculous once you say it out loud, Miller said, laughing.

The parents of the maid of honor provided the venue: the backyard of their new Plano home.

The tables, dishes and flowers were all donated. They say Mavericks owner Mark Cuban even covered the catering after a friend of the bride sent an email asking for help.

We've been so overwhelmed by disappointment in the beginning, but then, the love and support of people, just sort of this outpouring from everywhere, McLean said.

But perhaps most importantly, the dress made it back from South Carolina just in time for their wedding day, re-imagined thanks to Mother Nature.

The couple will exchange vows on Friday evening, rain or shine.
Sexual assault charges against a former La Jolla Country Day School (LJCDS) teacher stem from a sexual relationship he had with a student at the school in 2016, according to an affidavit filed in San Diego County Superior Court.

Jonathan Sammartino, 35, was arrested Tuesday near San Jose on three felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, including one count of statutory rape and two counts involving sex acts with a minor, San Diego Police Department Lt. Brent Williams said.

According to the SDPD's arrest warrant affidavit, Sammartino had a romantic and sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female LJCDS student between April and September 2016.

The relationship occurred both while the student was in school, enrolled as a senior, and after her graduation, according to the affidavit.

Sammartino, who is the son of U.S. Southern District of California Judge Janis L. Sammartino, was 33 at the time and employed by LJCDS as a full-time instructor.

The affidavit said Sammartino and the student met at his home and in his car multiple times over the five-month period to engage in sex acts. Sammartino would wait outside the student's home as she snuck out to meet him.

The student filed a criminal report against Sammartino with the University of California, Berkeley police on Aug. 22, 2018, two years after the alleged relationship was reported to have ended.

At the time of his arrest, Sammartino was working at The Harker School in San Jose. He has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, the school said.

Sammartino started at The Harker School this year. Officials with the school said charges against the teacher weren't filed until last week, weeks after a background check was completed.

Sammartino taught upper-level social science courses in LJCDS's Upper School (high school) from 2012 to 2016. He also lectured at UCSD, according to his staff bio on The Harker School's website.

LJCDS said it was notified of the incident Wednesday through the school's background check system and the incident was later confirmed to them by police.

LJCDS's Head of School Gary Krahn sent a letter to parents Thursday saying it was notified of Sammartino's arrest on Wednesday. Detectives told school officials the alleged sexual assault incidents happened away from campus.

"As a community rooted in trust and dignity, I am profoundly sorry that this incident has occurred with a person in a position of trust," the letter read in part.

Krah encouraged anyone with information regarding Sammartino to contact him directly or SDPD Detective Sgt. Ron Bailiff at (619) 531-2781.

SDPD is investigating the case.
While business leaders, elected officials and activists from around the world gather in San Francisco Thursday for the Global Climate Action Summit, indigenous activists rallied to call out California governor's "hypocrisy" on fossil fuel and call on the summit to not make profit-driven decisions.

Activists with Brown's Last Chance campaign have been voicing their concerns and pushing back on Gov. Jerry Brown's inaction on the state's fossil fuel extraction and oil drilling, the processes which activists say undercuts other climate progress the state has made.

Native Environmental Activist Tom Goldtooth speaks to NBC Bay Area at the Rise for Climate, Jobs, Justice event in San Francisco on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.

Native American leaders with It Takes Roots coalition and allies gathered in Jessie Square in the morning, holding up signs that read "Stand with communities, not corporation," and Carbon pricing is colonialism."

Brown, a Democrat, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke at a news conference on the first full day of the San Francisco summit that is partly a rebuke of the Trump administration.

The leaders said in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that thousands of cities, states and other groups remain committed to reducing global warming without Trump's support.

"I think he'll be remembered, on the path he's now? I don't know. Liar, criminal, fool," the governor said.

Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing from the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord. His administration is also pursuing policies that would boost methane emissions and roll back California's strict vehicle emissions standards.

Bloomberg and Brown said they calculate the country is within striking distance of the reduction in greenhouse gases previously promised by the U.S.

Asked about the hundreds of protesters outside the conference claiming the Brown could do more in California, the governor reiterated his ambitious goals for battling greenhouse gas emissions at all levels.

"I believe California has the most far reaching plan to deal with any emissions as well as oil consumption and production," Brown said.

Bloomberg then chimed in and compared the mostly indigenous protesters outside the summit to people who want to build the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"We've got environmentalists protesting an environmental conference. It reminds me of people who want to build a wall along the Mexican border to keep people out from a country we go to for vacations. Something's crazy here," Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg said the same thing again later in the day when protesters interrupted his remarks with a chant "our air is not for sale." Demonstrators were then removed by security.

Two people were arrested at the rally outside Moscone Convention Center, according to San Francisco Police Department. Jiaspi Gomez, 19, of San Diego was arrested for trespassing and Chistopher Moulton, 29, of San Francisco, for Resisting, Obstructing or Delaying a Peace Officer; Refusing to Comply with a Lawful Order of a Peace Officer; Pedestrian in a Roadway, police said.

Ten people were escorted from inside the convention center but they were not arrested, according to SFPD.

Meanwhile, participants of the summit are expected pledge trillions of dollars in spending on cleaner energy and getting out of investments in fossil fuels, though a new United Nations report raises questions about how effective such promises have been.

That report says businesses and lower levels of government have the potential to cut enough greenhouse gases emissions to keep global warming below the danger point of another 2 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 1 degree Celsius) from now. However, the same report says so far, 8,000 pledges from those groups haven't accomplished much.

Thousands of politicians and business leaders from around the world are expected at the two-day invitation-only summit at the Moscone Center, as well as peripheral events throughout the city. Summit spokesman Nick Nuttall said he is not aware of any U.S. government officials attending.

Messages to the U.S. Department of Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency were not returned.

The summit comes as the Carolinas along the eastern U.S. seaboard prepares for Hurricane Florence and 2018 is on pace to be the fourth hottest year on record globally. The eight warmest years in more than a century of record keeping have all been in the past 13 years.

Conference speakers include the mayors of Paris and San Francisco, actors Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford, and primatologist Jane Goodall.

"For Gods sake, stop electing leaders who dont believe in science. Or even worse, pretend they dont believe in science for political self-interest," Ford said. "Never forget who youre fighting for."

The 2015 Paris agreement commits countries to set their own plans for cutting climate emissions.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned this week that the world must rapidly shift from dependence on fossil fuels to prevent "runaway climate change."

The Global Climate Action Summit included a report that 27 major cities around the world have seen emissions decrease over a five-year period and are now at least 10 percent lower than their peak.

The cities include Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and San Francisco. Together the cities include about 54 million people.

The report came from C40 Cities Climate Leadership, a group whose board is headed by philanthropist and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In a speech, he called the conference a way to broadcast that the U.S. is still committed to fighting global warming.

"Climate change is a global challenge and Washington ought to be leading from the front," Bloomberg said.

The cities include Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and San Francisco. Together the cities include about 54 million people.

The report came from C40 Cities Climate Leadership, a group whose board is headed by Bloomberg.

In a speech, he called the conference a way to broadcast that the U.S. is still committed to fighting global warming.

"Climate change is a global challenge and Washington ought to be leading from the front," Bloomberg said.
An alleged kingpin of a global drug ring is in federal custody in Los Angeles after being extradited from Colombia on charges he conspired to bring millions of dollars worth of cocaine from South America to Mexico for eventual sale in the United States, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.

The extradition late Thursday of Victor Hugo Cuellar-Silva resulted from a coordinated, international law enforcement operation that has led to arrests of co-conspirators on three continents, federal prosecutors said. Federal authorities also arrested seven defendants named in a 22-count indictment filed in Los Angeles that alleges how the organization obtained ton-quantities of cocaine manufactured in South American labs; used airplanes, submarines and "go-fast" boats to move the narcotics to Mexico; and then used various means to smuggle the loads across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Significant quantities of cocaine were delivered to and subsequently sold in the Los Angeles area, prosecutors said. In addition to the extradition of Cuellar-Silva and Thursday's arrests of co-defendants in California and Massachusetts, six other defendants are pending extradition after being taken into custody in Colombia and Thailand, according to prosecutors.

Authorities continue to work to secure the arrests of a number of fugitives, including Angel Humberto Chavez-Gastelum, the alleged ringleader of the international trafficking ring, believed to be in Mexico. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, is unique in charging high-level traffickers across the entire drug-distribution supply chain -- from Colombia-based supply sources, to Mexico-based investors and transportation coordinators, to U.S.-based stash-house operators and distributors, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Cuellar-Silva is alleged to have been the organization's top representative in Colombia, where he oversaw operations for Chavez-Gastelum, a Mexican national who has been designated by the U.S. government as one of the world's most-wanted drug traffickers, prosecutors said. Federal prosecutors allege that Chavez-Gastelum's drug distribution network controlled its own supply routes from Colombia to Central America, and from Mexico to the United States.

Prosecutors also contend that Chavez-Gastelum's alleged criminal organization also was responsible for at least two killings, with one victim's torture and dismemberment captured on a video that has been obtained by law enforcement authorities.

"This drug ring has spread death and misery across the Americas and to other parts of the world, which makes this case among the most significant drug trafficking cases ever brought in this district," U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said. "We are deeply grateful to the government of Colombia for helping us bring one of the key defendants to justice. Prosecutors in my office are united with our domestic and foreign partners in the fight against drug trafficking. This case shows that law enforcement will apply all of its resources to dismantle international criminal organizations that terrorize communities both here and abroad."

Over the course of a three-year investigation, law enforcement authorities around the world seized about 7,700 pounds of cocaine, with a potential U.S. street value of $500 million, prosecutors allege.

Significant seizures during the investigation included:

-- about 3,000 pounds of cocaine recovered when a plane that departed from Venezuela crashed into the Caribbean Sea;

-- about 2,000 pounds of cocaine contained in bales floating off the coast of Tumaco, Colombia;

-- more than 1,500 pounds of cocaine and over 65 pounds of methamphetamine seized from a Tijuana stash house;

-- about 175 pounds of cocaine seized during two operations in Azusa;

-- nearly 110 pounds of cocaine and one-half pound of methamphetamine seized in Montebello; and

-- more than 15 pounds of cocaine, $125,000 in cash, and a firearm seized in North Hollywood.

"This organization is responsible for the manufacture and cross- continent distribution of exorbitant amounts of cocaine, a complex money laundering conspiracy, and a myriad of violent crimes to include murder," said Daniel Comeaux, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration associate special agent in charge. "The indictment, arrests and extradition demonstrate the international reach of the Southern California Drug Task Force, and we will continue to work with our U.S. and international law enforcement partners to bring transnational criminal organizations to justice."

During Thursday's operation, authorities arrested seven defendants named in the indictment. They are:

-- Hugo Atienzo, 55, of Azusa;

-- Juan Antonio Brizuela, 29, of Lompoc;

-- Richard Dennis, 54, of Studio City;

-- Gerardo Mojarro, 42, of South Gate;

-- Jesus Manuel Monrreal, 33, of Van Nuys;

-- Jonathan Zamora, 28, of Cerritos; and

-- Amparo Yokasta Melo Peguero, 44, who was arrested in her hometown of Boston. The six defendants arrested Thursday in Southern California were arraigned on the indictment Thursday afternoon, which each entering not guilty pleas.

Chavez-Gastelum, Cuellar-Silva, and three other defendants are charged with participating in a continuing criminal enterprise. If they were to be convicted of just this charge, Chavez-Gastelum would face a mandatory life sentence because he is accused of being the principal manager of the enterprise, and the other four would face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years in federal prison, according to federal prosecutors.

In addition to the continuing criminal enterprise and the related allegations of two murders, the indictment alleges a series of drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering offenses. All of the defendants named in this case, if convicted, would face decades in federal prison due to the amount of narcotics involved in the case, prosecutors said.

"This extradition serves as a stern warning to other fugitives who think they can evade U.S. law enforcement by hiding out in another country," said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles. "I commend the government of Colombia and all of our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners for their hard work. Their support was instrumental in our joint effort to dismantle international criminal organization's ability to bring dangerous drugs into our communities and ensure the perpetrators of such attempts are brought to justice."

This investigation previously resulted in the extradition from Colombia to Los Angeles of two other drug shot callers who allegedly were responsible for orchestrating cocaine shipments by aircraft from Colombia to Mexico in conjunction with Chavez-Gastelum's organization.

Those two defendants previously extradited to the United States are both pending sentencing, prosecutors said.
An appellate court has found that a convicted sex offender has been denied due process in the nearly 18 years since he finished his prison sentence, but continued to be held in state mental hospitals without the allegation of his being a sexually violent predator ever going to a jury.

In the ruling issued Wednesday, a panel of California's Second Appellate District agreed with a Los Angeles Superior Court decision that George Vasquez, now 45, should be released.

The court faulted a "systemic breakdown in the public defender system" in the years of delays that put off the commitment trial to which Vasquez was entitled when the Los Angeles County District Attorney petitioned to have him declared a sexually violent predator.

"This breakdown forced Vasquez to choose between having prepared counsel and a timely trial," wrote Justice Gail Ruderman Feuer in her opinion.

The office of the Los Angeles County Public defender declined to comment. The District Attorney's Office has not revealed whether it will try another appeal. Absent that, the case will return to mental health court, which issued the ruling last year that Vasquez should be released without the long-delayed commitment trial.

According to his attorneys Robert S. Gerstein and Mark P. Brandt, Vasquez remains held at the Coalinga State Hospital, a high security facility that houses primarily sexually violent predators, and provides treatment programs. The attorneys are hopeful Vasquez will now be freed within two months.

At age 21, Vasquez was convicted in 1995 of four counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14. He served five years in state prison, then on his release was transferred immediately to a state mental hospital.

The law permits a convict to remain detained temporarily as an alleged sexually violent predator on the opinion of two therapists and a judge's finding of probable cause, but requires trial to make the final determination. At the time, a commitment was limited to two years, and any extension required a new trial. And yet, Vasquez is in his ninth two-year period without a single commitment trial.

In Vasquez's case, that trial was repeatedly delayed as new lawyers were repeatedly appointed to take his case. Some asked for continuances on the grounds they were not prepared.

Vasquez agreed to the delays, but his attorneys argued he cannot be held responsible, given the option of going to trial and having his fate presented by an attorney who did not feel prepared to represent him.

"Enough is enough," Vasquez objected after his fifth attorney "requested yet another continuance," as the episode was recounted in the appellate opinion. Superior Court Judge James Bianco relieved the Public Defender's Office and appointed Brandt, who moved to dismiss the DA's petition.

The years of delay and the affirmed ruling leave undetermined the underlying question of whether Vasquez is in fact a sexually violent predator, and whether his release due to a breakdown in the justice system will imperil public safety.

His attorneys pointed out that after a later examination of Vasquez, one of the clinical psychologists no longer classifies Vasquez as an SVP, though other therapists disagree. Though barring another appeal and a reversal, a jury will never be asked to make that decision.

"It is the state's burden to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that this man is a continuing danger," said Gerstein. "And we haven't gotten to that."

Gerstein noted the opinion references cutbacks in the public defender's office, at one point involving the elimination of paralegal positions and half the attorney staff.

In recent years, the office has undergone turmoil, and the position of Public Defender had remained unfilled two years until last month, when County Supervisors appointed attorney Ricardo Garcia.
What to Know Target is hiring 13,000 seasonal employees in LA

Nationwide hiring events begin Oct. 12

New employees will begin at $12 an hour

Target announced Thursday it plans to hire 13,000 seasonal employees in Los Angeles. The company also plans to hire 28,000 seasonal employees across California and 120,000 across the country.

The company will host hiring events nationwide starting Oct. 12 through Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There will be a chance for eligible applicants to interview on the spot and receive a conditional job offer during the weekend events.

Employees hired after Sept. 16 will begin at $12 an hour minimum wage. The retailer is committed to increasing its minimum hourly wage to $15 per hour by the end of 2020.

New seasonal employees will be expected to help guests find the perfect gift for everyone on their wish lists, stock shelves with the latest toys, decorations and holiday meal essentials.

Fulfillment and distribution centers employees will process freight to stores and fulfill online orders, including receiving, picking and loading items.

This year, Target is investing more than $2 million to reward team members working during the busy holiday season as part of its work.win.give. appreciation program.

One lucky employee will be randomly selected to receive a $500 holiday gift card and an opportunity to donate $500 to the local community organization of their choice.

Additionally, Target will celebrate the grand opening of its Mission Viejo small-format store on Nov. 11, 2018, and will begin hiring 100 team members at an event on Sept. 18.

Candidates for Targets seasonal positions and those interested in a distribution center role can apply at TargetSeasonalJobs.com.
What to Know Gov. Andrew Cuomo has thwarted Cynthia Nixon's attempt to become the latest insurgent liberal to knock off an establishment Democrat

Cuomo, who always led in the polls and outspent his rival more than 8 to 1, seldom mentioned Nixon by name during an often-nasty campaign

With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans more than 2 to 1 in NY, Cuomo becomes the automatic front-runner in the general election

Gov. Andrew Cuomo easily beat back a primary challenge from activist and actress Cynthia Nixon on Thursday, thwarting her attempt to become the latest insurgent liberal to knock off an establishment Democrat.

Cuomo, who always led in the polls and outspent his rival more than 8 to 1, seldom mentioned Nixon by name during an often-nasty campaign, instead touting his experience, achievements in two terms as governor and his work to push back against President Donald Trump.

In his moment of victory, Cuomo was oddly silent, skipping his own election-night party in Manhattan to celebrate with family at the governor's mansion in Albany. He put out a tweet that said simply "Thank You New York." His campaign declined to issue a statement.

"It's New York's obligation to stand up and lead and lead against a lot of these changes in Washington that are totally opposite of who we are as New Yorkers and what we believe," he said earlier at his Westchester County polling place. "There is a divisiveness coming out of Washington that I think is cancerous to this nation."

Thursday's results were good across the board for Cuomo, whose preferred candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general also survived contentious primaries. And despite Nixon's loss, liberals celebrated victories for several left-leaning challengers who ousted longtime legislative incumbents. Click here to track results live in NY's other primary races.

With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans more than 2 to 1 in New York, Cuomo becomes the automatic front-runner in November's matchup with Republican Marc Molinaro and independent Mayor Stephanie Miner.

Nixon, a longtime education activist and actress best known for her Emmy-winning role as lawyer Miranda Hobbes on HBO's "Sex and the City," was counting on a boost from liberals looking to oust establishment politicians. She called herself a democratic socialist and pointed to recent congressional primary victories by New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts' Ayanna Pressley as evidence that underdog challengers can defy the odds.

When that didn't happen, Nixon thanked supporters and credited her campaign for helping to push Cuomo to the left and show that liberals have a shot at making big changes.

"Before we take our country back we have to take our party back," she said. "This is an incredible moment for progressives but it's not just a moment. It's a movement."

Cuomo, who won with about 65 percent of vote, secured endorsements from Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and even Nicki Minaj, and spent much of the race touting his own liberal accomplishments such as same-sex marriage, gun control and paid family leave. And he increasingly made the race about pushing back against Trump and other Republicans. At the same time, he dismissed Nixon as a naive dilettante and mocked her work as an actress.

"If it was all about name recognition," he said earlier this year, "then I'm hoping Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Billy Joel don't get into the race."

Despite the rhetoric, Cuomo took Nixon seriously, spending $8.5 million, largely on ads, in the final weeks of the campaign to answer attacks that he has not invested enough in New York City's beleaguered subway system and failed to deliver on upstate economic development promises.

There were indications that the 52-year-old Nixon's aggressive campaign pushed the incumbent governor to the left on several issues, including legalizing marijuana and addressing crumbling public housing in New York City.

"Cuomo is no idiot," said Fordham University political scientist Christina Greer. "The winds of change right now are with insurgent candidates and not necessarily with incumbents. ... He didn't just slightly pivot, he full-on leapt to the left."

While he may have won, Cuomo, a former U.S. housing secretary and son of the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, did not escape the primary unscathed.

During the campaign's only debate, Cuomo snuffed out speculation that he might run for president in 2020, pledging to serve a full four-year term if re-elected.

He was mocked for saying America "was never that great" during remarks criticizing Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

He invited Clinton to a celebratory opening of the final span of the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge over the Hudson - only to keep the bridge closed after engineers warned that pieces from the old, largely disassembled Tappan Zee Bridge could hit the new structure.

Cuomo claimed to have no knowledge of a Democratic Party mailer that questioned Nixon's support for Jewish people - despite Cuomo's control of the party and a recent $2.5 million contribution to its campaign operations. Cuomo's spokeswoman later acknowledged that two former aides volunteering on the campaign were behind the piece.

Nixon, who is raising two of her children in the Jewish faith, demanded an apology that never came.

In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, incumbent Kathy Hochul, a former congresswoman from Buffalo, defeated challenger Jumaane Williams, a New York City councilman who had promised if elected to serve as a check on Cuomo.

Cuomo's pick for attorney general, New York City Public Advocate Tish James, won a four-way Democratic primary.

Nixon now must decide whether she wants to run on the November ballot as a candidate for the third-party Working Families Party, thanks to a New York state law that allows candidates to run on multiple ballot lines. Early in the campaign, Nixon said she would stand aside if she lost the Democratic primary, but it remains to be seen whether the party can remove her name from the ballot.
What to Know The true death toll of Hurricane Maria, a near-unique disaster, has fueled debate since the first days of the storm

The Puerto Rican electrical grid collapsed after the storm hit, spawning a long and deadly tail for the storm

Puerto Rico has accepted that 2,975 people died because of Maria in the six months after landfall, though the president recently denied that

Disabled and elderly people were discharged from overwhelmed hospitals with bedsores that led to fatal infections. Medical oxygen ran out. People caught lung infections in sweltering private nursing homes and state facilities. Kidney patients got abbreviated treatments from dialysis centers that lacked generator fuel and fresh water, despite pleas for federal and local officials to treat them as a higher priority, according to patient advocates.

There was Ernesto Curiel, a diabetic who died of a heart attack after weeks of walking 10 flights twice a day to fetch insulin from his building's only working refrigerator. Alejandro Gonzalez Vazquez, 47  unable to obtain his anti-psychotic medication, he committed suicide instead of boarding his flight back to the U.S. mainland. Juana Castro Rivera, 52, dead of leptospirosis, a disease transmitted by contaminated water. After several visits to a community clinic, she was diagnosed  too late  by a hospital in a neighboring municipality.

The joint project interviewed 204 families of the dead and reviewed accounts of 283 more to tell the stories of heretofore anonymous victims. Dozens more have contacted the Quartz, CPI and AP since their results were first reported.

Along with post-storm conditions, each death has a complex mix of causes that can include serious pre-existing conditions and individual decisions by patients, caregivers and doctors, making it difficult to definitively apportion blame in every case. But critics say many could have been saved by better preparation and emergency response.

"I was looking for help and no one came," said Maria Gonzalez Munoz, who spent 30 days after the storm caring for her disabled sister in her blacked-out home.

Ramona Gonzalez, 59, died a month after the storm, from sepsis  caused, says her family, by an untreated bedsore.

The Gonzalez home is 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the convention center that served as headquarters for thousands of federal and local emergency responders for more than a month after the storm. Maria and her brother took Ramona to a hospital twice, and tried to get her aboard a Navy medical ship in San Juan harbor, but couldn't save their ailing sister.

"No one was asking after us, no one from the government," said Gonzalez Munoz, 66.

The hurricane's true death toll has fueled debate since the first days of the storm, in large part because of the near-unique nature of the disaster.

The United States' deadliest hurricanes have killed most of their victims with powerful winds and flooding in the hours and days immediately before and after landfall. The National Hurricane Center says that Katrina struck Louisiana and other states in 2005 it caused 1,500 direct deaths and 300 indirect ones from causes like heart attacks and failed medical equipment.

Largely due to decades of neglect and years of fiscal crisis, the Puerto Rican electrical grid collapsed into the United States' longest-ever blackout after Maria hit on Sept. 20, 2017. That spawned a long and deadly tail for the storm, with hundreds of deaths coming long after the first weeks of the storm, as medical equipment failed and sick people weakened in the suffocating heat.

Researchers from George Washington University hired by Puerto Rico's government estimated last month that 2,975 people had died because of Maria in the six months after landfall, a number Puerto Rico accepted as official.

Though Trump continued to assert this week that his administration's efforts in Puerto Rico were "incredibly successful," both the local and federal governments have been heavily criticized for inadequate planning and post-storm response. The GWU report found that Puerto Rico had no plan for communication with its citizens in a crisis. The Center for Investigative Journalism found in May that the island's health department had no emergency response plan for hospitals and other medical facilities.

As for the Trump administration, more than half of federal emergency personnel in Puerto Rico were not qualified for their assigned tasks as of October 2017, a month after landfall, according to a Sept. 5 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Puerto Rico's health secretary and governor did not respond to requests for comment. The public safety secretary said he was willing to speak but was not available to comment in time for publication of this report

An after-action report by FEMA found it had underestimated the food and fresh water needed, and how hard it would be to get supplies to the island. Puerto Rico was understocked in part because Hurricane Irma struck two weeks before Maria, battering the U.S. Virgin Islands. Staff was depleted because of wildfires and other major natural disasters.

In an op-ed written in USA Today, FEMA administrator Brock Long said the report was not an admission of failure.

"Nothing can be further from the truth," he wrote. "Instead, the report is a transformational document intended to build upon successes."

Ramona Gonzalez's sister said she had long suffered from a degenerative brain disease that left her unable to get out of bed starting more than two years before the storm. Without air-conditioning, fresh water or power, she developed steadily worsening bedsores. She was admitted and sent home twice from overwhelmed San Juan hospitals, even though her relatives said they were unable to treat her sores.

Desperate, Ramona's siblings tried to get her aboard the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship that had arrived in Puerto on Rico Oct. 3. But patients needed to be referred by San Juan's main public hospital rather than showing up directly for treatment, a complicated process. Maria Gonzalez tried unsuccessfully to get a referral from her sister's overwhelmed private hospital to the public one to the hospital ship.

"I called someone at the medical center but they put me through to another number and then someone called and said it had to be handled by a doctor over there," Maria Gonzalez said. "I said, 'But she's really bad. At least let her on the boat a few days because the heat is killing her!"

On Oct. 19, Trump said he graded the federal response to Maria as an "A-plus" and a 10 out of 10.

"We have done a really great job," he said.

Ramona Gonzalez died in hospital the next day. Her doctor did not answer phone calls or text messages seeking comment.

Tom VanLeunen, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, said the Comfort returned to San Juan on Oct. 26 and moored at a pier accessible to the public, which allowed more than 6,000 patients to be seen before it left on Nov. 20.

Over the last year, the CPI, Quartz and AP project collected hundreds of reports from Puerto Ricans who believed their relatives had died because of the storm. The names of the dead were matched against a database of death certificates released by the Puerto Rican government after a lawsuit by the CPI.

Of those that matched, journalists interviewed as many relatives of the dead as possible and reviewed responses sent to the project through online surveys when relatives couldn't be reached.

Most of the deaths in the database are considered indirect, meaning they were not caused by winds or flooding but rather made more likely because of factors like the lack of power, fresh water and medical supplies after the storm. The project did not interview the patients' doctors and the death certificates themselves make no link to Maria. The Puerto Rican government acknowledges that hundreds or thousands of deaths should have been classified as storm-related but weren't, due to doctors' lack of training on how to correctly fill out death certificates.

An analysis of every single death in Puerto Rico from the onset of Maria until the end of 2017 found that fatal incidents of sepsis, a life-threatening complication of infection, rose nearly 44 percent, to 325, when compared to the average of the previous three years. Kidney-related fatalities rose nearly 43 percent, to 211.

The analysis also showed big jumps in deaths related to respiratory diseases, accidents, and suicides, as well as increases in deaths among Puerto Ricans ages 30 to 44, despite the widespread belief that the disaster mostly affected the aged.

Dr. Cruz Maria Nazario, an epidemiologist and professor at the medical school of the University of Puerto Rico, said the island's medical system had failed in the hurricane due to a lack of long-term preparation that continued up until the days immediately before Maria landed.

"These are deaths that could have been avoided," Nazario said.

Puerto Rico's governor said last week that his administration has adopted new measures to better prepare for a disaster like Maria although he warned of limitations given the U.S. territory's economic crisis.

Rossello said two warehouses filled with water and food are operating in the island's north and south coasts, and that another two will open soon. Prior to Maria, there were none.

He also said the government now has lists that identify vulnerable populations, including those who live in nursing homes, and direct emergency lines have been installed in some nursing homes and other vulnerable locations.

Puerto Rico has one of the United States' highest rates of kidney failure but federal and local emergency plans classified dialysis as a relatively low priority for emergency supplies of fuel and water, despite pleas from patient advocates, said Angela Diaz, executive director of the Renal Council of Puerto Rico, a non-profit group that tries to improve conditions for kidney disease patents.

With public water systems down due to lack of power after the Category 4 storm, Puerto Rico's 46 private dialysis centers swiftly ran out of specially treated water necessary for dialysis, forcing them to ration care, she said.

"We were there at FEMA headquarters practically shouting, 'This site doesn't have water, it hasn't arrived,'" Diaz said. "They came, eventually. But the thinking at first was, they're private, they need to take care of it themselves."

Orlando Lopez Martinez developed diabetes decades ago and the disease damaged his kidneys and forced him to begin dialysis toward the end of 2014. When Maria hit, he had just undergone surgery on an infected foot.

The private center in far western Puerto Rico where he received 4 hours of dialysis three days a week shut down, and he missed four days of treatment over more than a week, according to friends and family.

When it reopened, it rationed dialysis and Lopez received two hours of dialysis per session, less than half of what he received before the storm, friends and family said.

"His face changed color completely. His face was really pale. He got dialysis and changed back, his face got color. But in those days after the storm he looked pale, yellowish, really bad," said Lady Diana Torres, the mother of Lopez' 10-year-old daughter Paola.

Lopez died on Oct. 10. He was 48. The official cause of death was a heart attack brought on by kidney disease.

There was no answer at the publicly listed number for Lopez's primary doctor.

This month, Paola wrote about her father when her teacher asked the class to hand in short essays about the people they considered their hero.

"In my memories, I have my super hero, strong and protective, who takes care of me and loves me," she wrote. "He had a lot of battles, but in the last battle, Hurricane Maria beat him."

Associated Press Writers Danica Coto and Colleen Long and data journalist Larry Fenn contributed to this report.

Visit the interactive database of victims at: hurricanemariasdead.com.
A Miami-Dade police officer has been arrested amid allegations he molested an underage girl.

Lt. Braulio Gonzalez was arrested Thursday as a result of an ongoing investigation, Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said in a statement.

"Detectives from our Special Victims Bureau arrested a member of our agency. To say that I am shocked and disturbed at these serious allegations is an understatement," the statement read. "As I have said before, no one is above the law and I offer the victim in the case, my assurance of our commitment to a thorough investigation."

The Miami Herald reported that the 44-year-old Gonzalez was a member of the department's Special Response Team. He was charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child, and armed kidnapping.

An arrest warrant said the girl told a psychologist she was fondled repeatedly by Gonzalez when she was between the ages of eight and 10. The warrant also said Gonzalez pointed a gun at the girl's head and threatened to kill her sibling unless she went with him to another room.

The warrant says the victim and the lieutenant have not had a relationship in five years. The Florida Department of Children and Families said they have opened a child protective investigation on the case.

Gonzalez was being held without bond Thursday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

"These are extremely serious allegations involving the victimization of a vulnerable child. The charges represent a breach of trust by a law enforcement officer who has sworn to protect the community and uphold the law," the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said in a statement. "All victims of sexual crimes should feel confident that their voices will be heard and the alleged crimes against them will be investigated. No one is ever above the law."
The Miami-Dade Florida Task Force One team is on standby in South Carolina and prepared to medically assist people as Hurricane Florence pushes ashore near the Carolina coastline.

Around 80 members of the task force are in Charleston, along with dogs and water vessels to protect and rescue residents who may be affected by the potentially catastrophic hurricane.

"Us being the Swiss Army knife of rescue services, whatever we need to do medically, I'm ready to help support that mission," said Dr. Ben Abo, the medical director of Task Force One.

The team has a large supply of medical equipment, including anything they need to prepare for severe injuries that require surgeries.

Florence's storm surge is expected to be the most dangerous part of the storm, which will bring flooding as it's set to make landfall late Thursday or Friday.

Tens of thousands of people were already without power as the storm approached the Carolina coastline Thursday.
What to Know Its finally Friday, South Florida - and NBC 6 has you covered with the top stories you need to know for the day.

Its finally Friday, South Florida - and NBC 6 has you covered with the top stories you need to know for the day.

Weather wise, a mild morning will turn into a hot afternoon with scattered storms and highs in the lower 90s.

No. 1  Hurricane Florence makes landfall in North Carolina

The Category 1 storm finally saw its eye completely arrive on short shortly after 7 a.m. near Wrightsville Beach  with life-threatening flooding and hurricane force winds being felt.

NBC 6 will have complete coverage of the storm, including a special addition of the news at 12 PM while Jamie Guriola has live reports from Wilmington, NC.

No. 2  Former Trump campaign manager set to plead guilty

Paul Manafort has agreed with federal prosecutors to plead guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe. Manafort had previously been found guilty on eight counts of tax evasion in a Virginia court last month.

No. 4  Police release sketch of suspect in beating of high school students

Officials want you to take a good look at a sketch of the man they say assaulted two students on the Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University as both victims continue to recover in the hospital.

No. 4  Broward dental location offering free care this weekend

Smile! This weekend, Beautiful Smiles in Plantation is offering free dental care to children ages 5 to 13. Screenings and cleanings will be held Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM.

No. 5  Hungry for a deal? All Publix subs are on sale for $5.99

No, you did not read that wrong  you can get ANY sub (including the chicken tender) for one low price this week. So, prepare your stomach accordingly!
What to Know Cuomo was able to quash an insurgent primary challenge from Nixon by packaging the power of the establishment while embracing her positions

Cuomo successfully defused some of Nixon's most potent arguments by making them his own

While Cuomo's strategy worked well in the primary, it could make him more vulnerable in the general election

In a year awash with liberal challengers aiming to retire establishment Democrats, Andrew Cuomo was an obvious target.

A consummate insider, Cuomo is the son of a governor who ran his father's campaigns and served as a U.S. housing secretary and state attorney general before being elected governor twice. He's a prodigious fundraiser who rakes in plenty of corporate campaign cash.

Yet Cuomo was able to quash an insurgent primary challenge from Cynthia Nixon on Thursday by packaging the power of the establishment while embracing the positions of his rival - a blueprint that could offer Democrats a path forward as the party looks to confront Republicans and contend with fissures within its own ranks.

Cuomo dismissed the idea that established Democrats are in danger of being tossed out by young, leftist candidates. He called the congressional primaries that produced a surprise victory by Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "fluke," and noted he won her district by a large margin.

"I am not a socialist. I am not 25 years old. I am not a newcomer," Cuomo told reporters Friday in his first public appearance since he skipped his own election night party. "But I am a progressive, and I deliver progressive results."

Cuomo's campaign used a largely traditional approach that relied on key voting blocs - minorities in the Bronx, white Catholics on Staten Island, suburban voters on Long Island - to capture two-thirds of the Democratic primary vote. Cuomo marshaled his powerful allies in organized labor and won influential endorsements from mainstream Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. And he capitalized on his formidable financial advantage, outspending Nixon more than 8 to 1.

At his campaign events, Cuomo touted liberal achievements such as a higher minimum wage, paid family leave, same-sex marriage and gun control. He largely ignored Nixon and instead focused his fire on Republican President Donald Trump, arguing that antipathy toward the president is the one thing that unites all Democrats.

"The fear of Trump is real," he said Friday.

Cuomo told reporters that he ran the same kind of campaign he always has - one that focuses less on intellectual debates about liberal identity and more on results. Voters, he said, "have real problems and they need real help in life. And they don't need theoretical and abstract solutions."

Cuomo successfully defused some of Nixon's most potent arguments by making them his own. Last year Cuomo called marijuana a "gateway drug"; this year his administration released a report recommending legalization. Last year he signed legislation blocking a plastic bag ban in New York City; this year he proposed a statewide ban.

And by acting on those liberal priorities instead of just campaigning on them, he showed off the power of incumbency while bolstering his argument that he's a pragmatist who gets things done.

"He took away her issues," said Baruch College political scientist Doug Muzzio, who said Cuomo had three essential ingredients for victory: money, organization and a message. "All she had was enthusiasm and that isn't enough. It was the progressive surge meets establishment reality."

While Cuomo's strategy worked well in the primary, it could make him more vulnerable in the general election, when he will face Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, an independent. Cuomo's opponents have seized on his leftward moves, hoping they cost him support among independents and more conservative voters.

"He's exposed himself for what he is - someone who will say and do anything" to get elected, Molinaro said Friday.

Cuomo's victory is similar to recent wins by Delaware Sen. Tom Carper and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, who each prevailed this month over liberal primary challengers.

Democrats nationally would be wise to study their victories for tips on how to address growing restlessness within their own party, said Bruce Gyory, a longtime Democratic political consultant who was a senior adviser to former governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson.

"The challenge is can you keep both ends of the party together," Gyory said. "You have to get the energy of the progressives but package it in a way that resonates with suburban voters and in small towns. Cuomo, like Carper and Raimondo, showed they can do both."
What to Know The National Hurricane Center said the eyewall of Florence was onshore in North Carolina and landfall was expected

Actress Olivia Munn blew the whistle on a fellow actor after she learned he was a registered sex offender

A three-time Tony Award nominee known for powerhouse performances on Broadway in 'Ragtime,' ''Passion' and 'Kiss Me, Kate,' has died

Get the top headlines of the day in your morning briefing from NBC 4 New York, Monday through Friday. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Eyewall of Hurricane Florence Onshore in North Carolina

The National Hurricane Center said the eyewall of Florence was onshore in North Carolina and landfall was expected, bringing with it life-threatening storm surge and hurricane strength winds. The storm already has inundated coastal streets with ocean water and left tens of thousands without power, and forecasters say that "catastrophic" freshwater flooding is expected over portions of the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence inches closer to the U.S. East Coast. The National Hurricane Center said early Friday that a gauge in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, recently reported 6.3 feet of inundation. Emerald Isle is about 84 miles north of Wilmington. And about 46 miles north of Emerald Isle in New Bern about 150 people were waiting to be rescued from rising flood waters, WXII-TV reported. The city said two out-of-state FEMA teams were working on swift-water rescues and more teams were on the way. In the North Carolina city of Jacksonville, about 70 people were rescued from a hotel whose structural integrity is being threatened by Hurricane Florence.

2 Years After Disastrous Flood, Florence Scares Small Town

One woman left town. Another prays her house might somehow be spared again. And one man will just wait and watch and hope the water doesn't rise. Few places in South Carolina are more worried about the possibility of disastrous inland flooding from Hurricane Florence's heavy rain than Nichols. When Hurricane Matthew dumped a foot of rain on the area two years ago, the town 40 miles in from the coast lost almost 90 percent of its 261 homes. Forecasters said Florence could bring more than 20 inches of rain to Nichols and the surrounding area as the storm slowly crosses the state over the next few days, touching off catastrophic flash flooding. Nichols' problem during Matthew in 2016 wasn't the rain falling on the town so much as the backup of water from the swollen Little Pee Dee and Lumber Rivers, which meet just downstream. One man drowned after he refused to leave his home.

Olivia Munn Thanks Support From Outside 'Predator' Family

Despite knowing she could be facing a big backlash, actress Olivia Munn nonetheless blew the whistle on a fellow actor after she learned he was a registered sex offender. Her actions  and the reactions of her co-stars and director, Shane Black  as well as the feelings of critics and fans on social media  have virtually overshadowed the latest offering in the "Predator" franchise. Much was riding on the film, "The Predator," from one of Hollywood biggest studios, as well as producers who had shelled out an event-movie sized budget. Even the film's world premiere was a bigger-than-usual deal, set for the lofty Toronto International Film Festival. None of that stopped Munn. "Honestly, there was never a question in my mind whether I should be speaking out and speaking up," she explained at a special screening of the film in Hollywood.

Broadway and West End Star Marin Mazzie Dies After Cancer Battle

A three-time Tony Award nominee known for powerhouse performances on Broadway in "Ragtime," ''Passion" and "Kiss Me, Kate," has died. Marin Mazzie was 57. Mazzie, who battled ovarian cancer starting in 2015, died at her Manhattan home surrounded by close friends and family, said her husband, actor Jason Danieley. Mazzie's broad career went from screwball comedy  in "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Spamalot"  to riveting, dysfunctional moms in "Next to Normal" and "Carrie." She earned other Broadway roles in "Man of La Mancha," ''Bullets Over Broadway," ''Enron" and "Into the Woods."
What to Know Trump sparked controversy Thursday when he denied that 3,000 people died in the aftermath of hurricane Maria

Democratic House of Representatives candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the message by pointing to her own grandfathers death

In response to Trump's tweet, the 28-year-old up-and-coming politician said: My grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted."

President Donald Trumps controversial Thursday tweet in which he denied that 3,000 people died in the aftermath of hurricane Maria left many flabbergasted, one of those was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  who slammed the contentious message by pointing to her own grandfathers death.

In his tweet, Trump rejected a recent government-funded study by George Washington University that concluded 2,975 people died on the island following the storm and also claimed that Democrats intentionally inflated the death toll to make him look as bad as possible.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

The 28-year-old Democratic House of Representatives candidate replied to Trumps tweet, with one of her own: My grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted. Thousands of Puerto Ricans have similar stories. They have lost children, friends, & family members.

She ends her tweet by saying: Instead of finger-pointing, INVEST in the Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico + just transition to renewable energy.

My own grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted.



Thousands of Puerto Ricans have similar stories. They have lost children, friends, & family members.



Instead of finger-pointing, INVEST in the Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico + just transition to renewable energy. https://t.co/ncukYyJsRu  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 13, 2018

Thursdays tweet was not the first time Ocasio-Cortez referenced her grandfathers death. In a Nov. 9, 2017 tweet, Ocasio-Cortez said in part, My grandfather died in PR along with 900 others. The US government will not recognize the lives lost.

Ocasio-Cortez is an up-and-coming politician who is poised to become the youngest congresswoman in history if she wins the midterm election in November.

Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old political newcomer who beat longtime Rep. Joseph Crowley in a stunning primary upset. Melissa Russo reports.

In a stunning win, Ocasio-Cortes defeated one of the House's most powerful Democrats in their New York City district's primary in June. The upset shocked her as much as it did the political establishment.

The Democratic socialist defeated Rep. Joseph Crowley, the No. 4 Democrat in the House who was positioning himself to lead the party after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Born in the Bronx into a Puerto Rican family, Ocasio-Cortez said she was galvanized to run by the year 2016, which she called "a year of awakening" that brought the Boston University graduate to the oil pipeline protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota and Flint, Michigan, where the water system has been in crisis for years.
What to Know New York's Marist College is teaming up with a regional health care company to create a new medical school

The college announced it will join forces with the hospital network Health Quest to create the Marist Health Quest School of Medicine

The new medical school will be the only MD-granting institution between Westchester County and Albany

New York's Marist College is teaming up with a regional health care company to create a new medical school.

The college announced this week that it will join forces with the hospital network Health Quest to create the Marist Health Quest School of Medicine.

Marist is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of New York City. Marist President David Yellen says adding a medical school is "a natural next step" for the college.

The new medical school will be the only MD-granting institution between Westchester County and Albany.

Additionally, the Marist Health Quest School of Medicine will meet the demand for physician education in the national marketplace since, according to a study by the Association of Maerican Medical Colleges, the U.S. may fall short more than 100,000 physicians of its projected need by 2030, Marist College says.

The medical school will have many benefits for our two institutions and, just as importantly, it will have a very positive impact on our region," said Ross Mauri, chair of Marists board of trustees.

Marist and Health Quest say the college will open in July 2022 with 60 students. There will be an estimated 480 students when the school is running at full enrollment after six years.
What to Know Tens of thousands of pounds of pork sausage links sold in a dozen states have been recalled because of concerns about plastic contamination

The Bob Evans Farms recall was issued after customers complained about extraneous material in their food; no injuries were reported

Anyone who may have the sausage in their freezers is advised to toss it or return it to the place of purchase

Tens of thousands of pounds of pork sausage links sold in New York, New Jersey and 10 other states have been recalled because they may contain pieces of clear, hard plastic, federal officials said Thursday.

Bob Evans Farms is pulling nearly 47,000 pounds of products that were produced Aug. 1 after getting customer complaints of extraneous material in the meat, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

The 12-ounce (340 gram) trays are labeled Bob Evans Maple Pork Sausage Links, Brown Sugar and Honey, Fresh from Meijer Maple Flavored Sausage Links or Giant Eagle Maple Pork Breakfast Sausage Links Caramel Color Added. All have a lot code of 8213.

There have been no confirmed reports of injuries, but FSIS says it is concerned many people may have the sausage in their freezers. Anyone who does should toss them or return them to the place of purchase.

Apart from New York and New Jersey, the items -- marked with establishment number "EST 6785" -- were sold in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The FSIS classified the case as a Class II recall (on a scale of one to three), meaning, "This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product."
Police in suburban Philadelphia are searching for a female inmate who escaped custody.

Authorities say 26-year-old Carolyn Quiah escaped from constable custody during a hearing at Secane District Court in Upper Darby, Delaware County, Thursday afternoon. Quiah was charged Wednesday with assault.

Police say Quiah tried to steal a car from an 82-year-old man before fleeing on foot. Authorities say residents should keep their cars and homes locked. Upper Darby Police believe Quiah may be "completely naked" and is in the Primos and Secane area.

Still at large. Believed to still be in Primos Secane area. Please keep your cars and house locked up. As of right now we believe she is completely naked. https://t.co/s5NcQZEzUD  Upper Darby Police (@UDPolice) September 14, 2018

Anyone with information about Quiah's whereabouts is asked to call 911.
With Hurricane Florence barreling toward their home near Wilmington, North Carolina, Allison Hales Jordan and her husband boarded up their house, packed up their car and headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida with their two teenage children.

"When we decided where to go, everybody was going west, but we decided we should go as far south as possible, which is weird since Florida gets hurricanes," said Jordan who works as a preschool director in Burgaw, North Carolina.

Long accustomed to its residents evacuating north or to other parts of the state when hurricanes threaten, Florida was in the unusual position this week of accommodating diverted cruise ships and hotel-room seekers hoping to escape the wrath of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall Friday morning in North Carolina.

State emergency officials said Thursday they had no way of tracking how many residents from the Carolinas had escaped to Florida this week. But Florida hotels were offering special discounts for hurricane evacuees and Florida ports were opening their terminals to cruise ships making unexpected ports of call.

Port Canaveral along Florida's Space Coast had two ships visiting unexpectedly when Hurricane Florence made it impossible to stop in Bermuda.

New York-based Norwegian Escape and its 4,200 passengers stopped at the port Tuesday. Royal Caribbean's Baltimore-based Grandeur of the Seas and its 2,000 passengers was diverted to Port Canaveral on Wednesday and was set to leave on Friday. Passengers on both ships took excursions to theme parks in Orlando, local beaches and the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

The reversal in fortunes in a state that was ravaged by Hurricane Irma last year and threatened by Hurricane Matthew the previous year wasn't lost on Port Canaveral CEO John Murray.

"For the last two years, we've had our ships going to other ports, but this year it's just the opposite for us," Murray said.

Hotelier Harris Rosen was offering steep discounts at his nine hotels in the Orlando area for Hurricane Florence evacuees. The prices ranged from $59 to $79 a night, depending on the hotel, and all pets were welcome. Rosen has been offering the hurricane discounts for decades, but they typically are used by Floridians escaping the coasts.

"I get more hugs and kisses during hurricane season," Rosen said.

From a monorail heading to the Magic Kingdom, Jordan said by telephone that it was weird going to "the most magical place on Earth" when she didn't know what was in store from Hurricane Florence.

"I feel guilty but we're trying to make the best of the situation," Jordan said. "We're trying to find some Disney magic, even when we don't know what we are going to find when we go back and we don't know when we will go back home. We're here even though are hearts are in North Carolina."
What to Know Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chairman, pleaded guilty Friday to two conspiracy counts

In his plea deal, he agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation

The White House quickly said the developments had nothing to do with the 2016 presidential campaign

President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate with the special counsel's Trump-Russia investigation as he pleaded guilty to federal crimes and avoided a second trial that could have exposed him to more time in prison.

The deal gives special counsel Robert Mueller a key cooperator who steered the Trump election effort for a pivotal stretch of the 2016 presidential campaign. The result also ensures the investigation will extend far beyond the November congressional elections despite entreaties from the president's lawyers that Mueller bring it to a close.

It is unclear what information Manafort is prepared to offer investigators about the president or that could aid Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But his involvement in key episodes under scrutiny, and his leadership of the campaign at a time when prosecutors say Russian intelligence was working to sway the election, may make him an especially valuable witness.

The agreement makes Manafort the latest associate of Trump, a president known to place a premium on loyalty among subordinates, to admit guilt and work with investigators in hopes of leniency.

Manafort had long resisted the idea of cooperating even as prosecutors stacked additional charges against him in Washington and Virginia. Trump had saluted that stance, publicly praising him and suggesting Manafort had been treated worse than gangster Al Capone. Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, had suggested a pardon might be a possibility after the investigation was concluded.

Then came Friday's extraordinary development when Manafort agreed to provide any information asked of him, testify whenever asked and even work undercover if necessary.

Mueller has already secured cooperation from a former national security adviser who lied to the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian ambassador, a campaign aide who broached the idea of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and another aide who was indicted alongside Manafort but ultimately turned on him. Trump's former personal lawyer has separately pleaded guilty in New York.

Friday's deal, to charges in Washington tied to Ukrainian political consulting work but unrelated to the campaign, was struck just days before Manafort was to stand trial for a second time.

He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case. The two conspiracy counts he admitted to on Friday carry up to five years, though Manafort's sentence will ultimately depend on his cooperation.

"He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that," Manafort attorney Kevin Downing said outside court.

The agreement doesn't specify what if anything prosecutors hope to receive about Trump, but Manafort could be well-positioned to provide key insight for investigators working to establish whether the campaign coordinated with Russia.

He was among the participants, for instance, in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians and Trump's oldest son and son-in-law that was arranged for the campaign to receive derogatory information about Democrat Hillary Clinton. He was also a close business associate of a man who U.S. intelligence believes has ties to Russian intelligence. And while he was working on the campaign, emails show Manafort discussed providing private briefings for a wealthy Russian businessman close to Putin.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted the Manafort case was unrelated to Trump. Giuliani said he spoke to Trump on Friday about Manafort's plea.

"The president was OK with it," he said. "In a way, it's another indication there is no evidence of collusion. All of these charges predate the time Paul spent with the president. And there's nothing in what he pleaded about collusion."

It's unclear how the deal might affect any Manafort pursuit of a pardon from Trump, though Giuliani told Politico before the deal that a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

In a prepared statement shortly after Manafort's plea, Giuliani also emphasized itl has nothing to do with Trump or his campaign, saying, "The reason: the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth."

Shortly after releasing that statement, Giuliani reissued it without the line "and Paul Manafort will tell the truth."

Though the president's legal team would not comment on the record about the change in the statement, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News the change occurred because an older version of the statement was initially sent out. The source added that Trump's legal team believes Manafort will tell the truth.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort was allowed to plead guilty to just two counts, though the crimes he admitted largely cover the same conduct alleged in an indictment last year. He abandoned his right to appeal his conviction in Virginia and agreed to forfeit homes in New York, including a condo in Trump Tower.

But the guilty plea also spares Manafort the cost of a weekslong trial that could have added years to the prison time he's already facing following the Virginia guilty verdicts. A jury there found him guilty of tax evasion, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

Prosecutors on Friday presented new information about allegations they were prepared to present at trial, which was to have focused on Manafort's political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

That case alleged that Manafort directed a large-scale U.S. lobbying operation for Ukrainian interests but never registered as a foreign agent despite being required to do so under the law, and that he concealed millions of dollars in income from the IRS.

He also failed to disclose his involvement in lobbying efforts made through a group of former European politicians, known as the Hapsburg Group, who pushed policies beneficial to Ukraine, the allegations said.

In 2013, one of the politicians and his country's prime minister met with then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Manafort was later sent an email that the politicians had "delivered the message of not letting 'Russians Steal Ukraine from the West.'"

Another allegation revealed Friday concerns Manafort's efforts to peddle stories to discredit Yanukovych's opponent, Yulia Tymoshenko.

Prosecutors said he spread stories and secretly coordinated with an Israeli government official to publicize the idea that a U.S. Cabinet official was an anti-Semite for supporting Tymoshenko, who had formed an alliance with a Ukrainian political party that had shared anti-Semitic views.

"I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom," Manafort wrote to a colleague, court documents said.
Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the Philippines' northeastern coast early Saturday, its ferocious winds and blinding rain ripping off tin roof sheets and knocking out power, and plowed through the agricultural region at the start of the onslaught.

The typhoon made landfall before dawn in the coastal town of Baggao in Cagayan province on the northern tip of Luzon Island, a breadbasket of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces often hit by landslides. More than 5 million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon but still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a category 4 Atlantic hurricane.

There were no immediate reports of major damages or casualties in the region, where a massive evacuation from high-risk areas was carried out over two days.

Associated Press journalists in a hotel in Cagayan's capital city of Tuguegarao saw tin roof sheets and other debris hurtle through the air and store signs crash to the ground. Cars shook as wind gusts pummeled a parking lot.

With a huge raincloud band 900 kilometers (560 miles) wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, the typhoon dumped intense rain that could set off landslides and flash floods. Storm warnings have been raised in almost all the provinces across the Luzon, including the capital, Manila, restricting sea and air travel.

A few hours after landfall, the eye of the typhoon was nearing the western coast of Luzon facing the South China Sea.

Before it hit land, Mangkhut packed sustained winds of 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph), forecasters said. Even if the typhoon weakens slightly after slamming ashore, its winds will remain very destructive, government forecaster Rene Paciente said.

"It can lift cars, you can't stand, you can't even crawl against that wind," Paciente told reporters late Friday in Manila.

In Tuguegarao, residents braced for the typhoon's fury by reinforcing homes and buildings and stocking up on food.

"It was busy earlier in the hardware store and people were buying wood, nails, tin wire, plywood and umbrellas," said Benjamin Banez, who owns a three-story hotel where workers were busy hammering up wooden boards to protect glass panels.

In 2016, a super typhoon wrought heavy damage to Banez's hotel and the rest of Cagayan.

Ninia Grace Abedes abandoned her bamboo hut and hauled her four children to a school building serving as an emergency shelter. The 33-year-old laundrywoman said the 2016 typhoon blew away their hut, which they abandoned before the storm hit.

"If we didn't, all of us would be dead," Abedes said.

More than 15,300 people had been evacuated in northern provinces by Friday afternoon, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Concerns over massive storm surges that could be whipped inland by the typhoon's winds prompted wardens to move 143 detainees from a jail in Cagayan's Aparri town to nearby towns, officials said.

The typhoon hit at the start of the rice and corn harvesting season in Cagayan, a major agricultural producer, prompting farmers to scramble to save what they could of their crops, Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said. The threat to agriculture comes as the Philippines tries to cope with rice shortages.

After the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts Mangkhut will aim at the Chinese mainland early Monday south of Hong Kong and north of the island province of Hainan. Though it is likely to weaken from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, it will still pack sustained winds of 175 kph (109 mph), it said.

The observatory warned of rough seas and frequent heavy squalls, urging residents of the densely populated financial hub to "take suitable precautions and pay close attention to the latest information" on the storm.

The gambling enclave of Macau, near Hong Kong, suffered catastrophic flooding during Typhoon Hato last August that left 10 dead and led to accusations of corruption and incompetence at its meteorological office.

On the Chinese mainland, the three southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are coordinating preparations, including suspending transport and moving people to shelter inland, the national meteorological agency reported.

Guangdong, China's manufacturing hub, has set up 3,777 shelters, while more than 100,000 residents and tourists have been moved to safety or sent home.

The province has recalled more than 36,000 fishing boats to port, while train services between the cities of Zhanjiang and Maoming have been suspended and all ferry services between Guangdong and Hainan have been put on hold. Fujian province to the north of Guangdong is also closing beaches and tourist sites, the agency reported.

Philippine forecasters said the shifting typhoon could possibly blow toward Vietnam after it exits late Saturday or early Sunday.

In an emergency meeting Thursday, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte asked Cabinet officials from the north to help oversee disaster-response work and told reporters it was too early to consider seeking foreign aid.

"If it flattens everything, maybe we need to have some help," he said.

Mangkhut, the Thai word for mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.

Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing, flattened villages, swept ships inland and displaced more than 5 million in the central Philippines in 2013.

Associated Press writers Jim Gomez and Christopher Bodeen contributed to this report.
The U.S. government will expand its tent shelter for immigrant minors crossing the southwest border to 3,800 beds and keep it open through the end of this year, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.

The facility at Tornillo, Texas, which originally opened with a 360-bed capacity for 30 days, is being expanded based on how many children are in the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, agency spokesman Kenneth Wolfe said in a statement.

Wolfe said the announced expansion was not due to the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy, which led to the separations of more than 2,500 children from their parents. Three months after enforcement of the policy officially ended, more than 400 children remain in government care, away from their parents, many of whom were deported.

Those previous family separations "are not driving this need," Wolfe said. He said 1,400 of the beds will be placed "on reserve status."

Department officials have visited military bases and other properties in Texas, Arkansas, and Arizona that could host more beds for immigrant children, but "no decision to use any of these properties has been made," Wolfe said.

While the government has stopped large-scale separations, thousands of immigrants continue to arrive at the southwest border each month, mostly from Central American countries roiled by gang violence and poverty.

The U.S. Border Patrol said it apprehended nearly 4,000 children unaccompanied by an adult at the southwest border in July, the most recent month for which figures are available. That represented a decrease from May and June, but border crossings historically tend to rise as the summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures in fall.

In Texas, the state with the longest segment of the U.S.-Mexico border, 5,168 children were being held in government facilities in early August, about 500 children short of capacity, according to figures released by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The Tornillo facility is at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of El Paso. The Tornillo port of entry had previously been used to shelter children in 2016.

Reporters were allowed to tour the facility in June , shortly after it was re-opened in the wake of family separations.

At the time, more than 320 children ages 13 to 17 were being held in air-conditioned tents. A facility administrator told reporters that the main complaint he hears from children on site is that the tents sometimes get too cold.

Reporters were not allowed to enter any tents holding children. Two girls who stopped briefly in front of reporters said that they were doing well.
Jair Bolsonaro, a leading presidential candidate whose heated rhetoric has electrified some voters and angered others in a deeply polarized Brazil, was stabbed at a campaign event Thursday and suffered serious abdominal injuries.

Police said the suspected attacker was in custody.

Dr. Luiz Henrique Borsato, who performed emergency surgery, said Thursday night that the right-wing candidate was in serious but stable condition and would remain in intensive care for at least seven days. The first round of Brazil's presidential election is Oct. 7.

The doctor said the two-hour procedure stopped serious internal bleeding and repaired most of the damage from the knifing. The candidate will need further surgery within months for a part of his intestines that was temporarily fixed with a colostomy, the surgeon said.

"We can't say when he will be able to leave hospital," Borsato said. "But in the first hours after the surgery his recovery has been very satisfactory."

Numerous videos on social media showed Bolsonaro, who has promised to crack down on crime in Latin America's largest nation, being stabbed with a knife to the lower part of his stomach while campaigning in Juiz de Fora, a city about 125 miles (200 kilometers) north of Rio de Janeiro.

At the moment of the attack, Bolsonaro was on the shoulders of a supporter, looking out at the crowd and giving a thumbs up with his left hand.

After the attack, he is seen flinching and then goes out of view. Other videos show supporters carrying him to a car and hitting a man who was apparently the suspect.

Police spokesman Flavio Santiago confirmed to The Associated Press that 40-year-old Adelio Bispo de Oliveira had been arrested in connection with the incident.

De Oliveira was beaten badly by Bolsonaro supporters after the attack. The man was arrested in 2013 for another assault, police said.

Luis Boudens, president of the National Federation of Federal Police, told AP that the assailant appeared to be mentally disturbed.

"Our agents there said the attacker said he was 'on a mission from God,'" Boudens reported. "Their impression is that they were not dealing with a mentally stable person. He didn't expect to be arrested so quickly; agents reacted in seconds."

Bolsonaro's son, Flavio Bolsonaro, initially posted on Twitter that the injury was superficial and his father was fine. However, an hour later he posted another tweet saying the wound was "worse than we thought."

He arrived at the hospital "almost dead," Flavio wrote. "His condition now seems stabilized. Please pray."

A statement from federal police said the candidate had bodyguards. In the videos, Bolsonaro does not appear to be wearing a protective vest. Such measures are rare for candidates in Brazil.

"This episode is sad," President Michel Temer told reporters in Brasilia. "We won't have a rule of law if we have intolerance."

Bolsonaro, a former army captain, is second in the polls to jailed ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been barred from running but continues to appeal.

Despite being a congressman since 1991, Bolsonaro is running as an outsider ready to upend the establishment by cracking down on corruption in politics and reducing crime, in part by giving police a freer hand to shoot and kill while on duty.

While Bolsonaro has a strong following, he is also a deeply polarizing figure. He has been fined, and even faced charges, for derogatory statements toward women, blacks and gays.

He speaks nostalgically about the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and has promised to fill his government with current and former military leaders.

Earlier this week, Bolsonaro said during a campaign event that he would like to shoot corrupt members of the leftist Workers' Party, which made da Silva its candidate. The comment prompted an immediate rebuke from the attorney general, who asked Bolsonaro to explain that comment.

His vice presidential running mate, Hamilton Mourao, is a retired general who blamed leftists for the knife attack.

Underling Brazil's divisions, people took to Twitter to either to decry the stabbing and ask for prayers for Bolsonaro or to say the candidate had brought it upon himself and even may have staged it.

The top five trending topics in Brazil were related to the stabbing.

Other presidential candidates quickly denounced the stabbing and many of them decided to suspend their campaign events Friday.

"Politics is done through dialogue and by convincing, never with hate," tweeted Geraldo Alckmin, former governor of Sao Paulo who has focused negative ads on Bolsonaro.

Fernando Haddad, who is expected to take da Silva's place on the Workers' Party ticket, called the attack "absurd and regrettable."

The attack comes at a time of increasingly heated rhetoric, and sometimes violence, related to campaigns and candidates.

In March, while da Silva was on a campaign tour in southern Brazil before his imprisonment, gunshots hit buses in his caravan. No one was hurt, and da Silva, who is in jail on a corruption conviction, was not in the vehicles that were hit.

Also in March, Marielle Franco, a left-leaning black councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro, was shot to death along with her driver after attending an event on empowering black women.

It wasn't immediately clear how the attack on Bolsonaro might reshape a presidential race very much up in the air with the front-runner, da Silva, in jail. In many ways, the incident feeds Bolsonaro's narrative that Brazil is in chaos and needs a strong hand to steady it.

"It's likely that Bolsonaro will use the attack to argue his opponents are desperate, that they had no other way to stop him," said Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at Rio de Janeiro's state university.

A handful of Bolsonaro supporters held a vigil in Sao Paulo on Thursday night, and briefly exchanged insults with leftists. 'They made Bolsonaro a martyr,' said Jonatan Valente, a student. 'I think the left shot itself in the foot because with this attack they will end up electing Bolsonaro.'"

Associated Press reporters Marcelo Silva de Sousa, Sarah DiLorenzo and Victor Caivano contributed to this report.
As Hurricane Florence threatened the U.S. East Coast with devastating storm surge and damaging winds, documents made public Tuesday showed that the Trump administration had recently moved nearly $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the agency tasked with detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.

The funds are detailed in a Transfer and Reprogramming Notifications report from the Department of Homeland Security dated Aug. 31. The documents show about $9.8 million dollars being removed from FEMAs 2018 fiscal year budget and given to DHSs Immigration and Customs Enforcement for enforcement and removal operations. The documents said the money would support the agencys detention beds and transportation and removal program.

The U.S. Secret Service was also listed as a recipient of the reallocated funds for protection of persons and facilities," and other agencies had money moved as well.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) provided the report to MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show Tuesday night. Merkley, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the reallocation happened this summer.

DHS confirmed to The Rachel Maddow Show that the transfers were made, and a department spokesperson claimed the money did not come from any of our disaster response and recovery efforts. DHS said the account supports FEMA headquarters operational expenses and cannot be used for disaster response. It came in under budget for expenses including travel, training and office supplies and money was moved.

However, the documents show that millions of dollars were removed from FEMAs budget for Response and Recovery.

Transferring money between agencies is not out of the ordinary and within the authority for the administration. According to Sen. Patrick Leahy's office, Homeland Security notified Congress on June 30 that it would transfer $200 million from other agencies to ICE, including the funds from FEMA. Leahy, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said the transfer was approved by the subcommittee chairs and no Democrats signed off on it, the Associated Press reported.

But it is unusual, Merkley said, to see millions of dollars being taken from FEMA at the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November.

I find it extraordinary, Merkley told Maddow.

DHS spokesperson Tyler Houlton further defended the department's actions on Twitter Wednesday, writing, "Under no circumstances was any disaster relief funding transferred from @fema to immigration enforcement efforts. This is a sorry attempt to push a false agenda at a time when the administration is focused on assisting millions on the East Coast facing a catastrophic disaster. ... DHS/FEMA stand fiscally and operationally ready to support current and future response and recovery needs."

Hurricane Florence was on a path Wednesday morning to slam into the United States. It was expected to blow ashore early Saturday and dump torrential rain onto the Carolinas.

"This storm is going to knock out power days into weeks. It's going to destroy infrastructure. It's going to destroy homes," said Jeff Byard of FEMA.

Byard added that the agency has all the resources it needs to react to the natural disaster.
A member of the European Parliament made a case for Washington, D.C., statehood and urged the body to call out disenfranchisement during a parliamentary session Wednesday.

Alex Mayer, a United Kingdom Labour Party member representing the East of England region, spoke at a plenary session of the legislative body that governs the European Union to push the body to recognize D.C. residents lack of voting rights at the federal level.

We in the European Parliament call out human rights violations across the world. I see no reason not to do so in this case too, Mayer said. The citizens of D.C. are denied the basic rights that others living in liberal democracies take for granted. It is time that this 200-year injustice was ended.

In a straightforward and stern tone, Mayer said she was baffled to learn that the Districts 700,000 residents lack voting representatives in the U.S. Congress.

Quite frankly, when I first heard that 700,000 U.S. citizens in Washington dont have the right to elect senators and congressman or women, who actually get to vote on laws, I was baffled, Mayer said. Thats more people than live in Malta or Luxembourg disenfranchised.

Mayer referred to a June meeting with Shadow Sen. Paul Strauss (D-DC), the non-voting member of the Senate who represents the District of Columbia.

Strauss thanked Mayer for her comments.

"We're trying to get international attention on the D.C. statehood movement, and one of the things that has worked in the past is international pressure," he told News4.

In her address, Mayer noted that the parliament was voting to reaffirm the state of relations between the EU and United States as one featuring shared values of freedom and democracy.

Statehood efforts for the District have faced a series of challenges despite a wave of progressive support around the country. In 2016, a referendum on statehood received support from 86 percent of voters, though President Donald Trumps victory dashed any remnants of hope for Republican support.

While local officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) are leading a bipartisan push for statehood, national supporters have portrayed the movement as a way to cement Democratic power should Republicans lose control of Congress and the presidency. Republicans fear a 51st state would tip the balance of political power in Democrats favor.
What to Know A grand jury report said Cardinal Donald Wuerl allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to be reassigned or reinstated.

Wuerl issued a new statement saying it is time for new leadership for the Archdiocese of Washington.

Wuerl plans to visit Pope Francis and ask the pope to accept his resignation.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl says it's time for new leadership at the Archdiocese of Washington, in a new statement Thursday.

The embattled D.C. archbishop also confirmed he'll ask Pope Francis to accept his resignation. It's unclear how the pope will respond.

Wuerl said a new leader will help the archdiocese move past the "current confusion, disappointment and disunity."

In a letter to priests Tuesday, Wuerl said he intends to go to Rome in the near future to speak with Pope Francis about the resignation he presented almost three years ago, when he reached the church-stipulated retirement age for bishops of 75.

While bishops are requested to submit a resignation at that age, the pope is not required to accept it, and they continue in their positions unless the pope does accept it.

Wuerl is facing a storm of criticism and calls for his resignation after a Pennsylvania grand jury report said he allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to be reassigned or reinstated when he was the bishop of Pittsburgh.

The report found that some 300 priests abused more than 1,000 children since the 1940s, and Wuerl is one of a string of bishops in six dioceses the report says covered up for them.

Wuerl has asked for prayers and forgiveness for what he calls his lapse of judgment in dealing with reports of abuse by priests.

The archbishop recently called for a "Season of Healing," inviting parishes and parishioners to observe six weeks of Friday prayers in recognition of the pain of the victims and the need for healing.

Earlier this month, a man stood in a Mass Wuerl was celebrating in D.C. and yelled "Shame on you" after Wuerl asked parishioners to keep Pope Francis in their prayers.

The grand jury heard allegations against more than 300 clergy members, according to the report. Most of the victims were boys. Some were teens, while others were prepubescent. Several alleged victims were lured with alcohol or pornography. Afterward, they turned to substance abuse and even suicide to escape the lingering trauma.

All told, more than 1,000 victims were identified from the church's own records and there could be thousands more, the grand jurors concluded.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis summoned the presidents of every bishops conference around the world for a February summit to discuss preventing clergy sex abuse and protecting children  evidence that he realizes the scandal is global and that inaction threatens to undermine his legacy.

The Feb. 21-24 meeting of the presidents of the more than 100 bishops conferences is believed to be the first of its kind and signals a realization at the highest levels of the church that clergy sex abuse is a global problem and not restricted to the Anglo-Saxon world, as many church leaders have long tried to insist.
What to Know A man killed in a fire in Bethesda last year was digging an extensive network of secret tunnels, police say.

A resident of the house put "black-out glasses" on the man and drove him to the house, according to police.

A hole in the basement's floor went down 20 feet and led to "an underground tunnel complex" branching out 200 feet, police say.

A wealthy stock trader's negligence led to a deadly fire that killed a young man who was helping him build a network of tunnels for a bunker beneath a suburban Washington, D.C., home, a lawsuit alleges.

The parents of 21-year-old Askia Khafra sued 27-year-old Daniel Beckwitt and his father on Monday, the anniversary of the fire that killed Khafra in the basement of the Beckwitts' house in Bethesda, Maryland.

Daniel Beckwitt is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in Khafra's death. His criminal trial is scheduled to start in April 2019.

The "hoarding conditions" in Beckwitt's home made the fire spread more quickly and created a maze of junk and trash that hindered Khafra's ability to escape, the parents' wrongful death lawsuit says.

Beckwitt didn't immediately respond to a phone call and text message seeking comment on the lawsuit, which the parents filed in a Montgomery County court. An attorney who represents Beckwitt in the criminal case has called Khafra's death a tragic accident, not a crime.

Investigators found Khafra's charred body in the basement, where a hole in the concrete floor led to a shaft that dropped down 20 feet into tunnels that branched out roughly 200 feet in length.

During a hearing in May, Montgomery County prosecutor Douglas Wink described Beckwitt as a skilled computer hacker who had a paranoid fixation on a possible nuclear attack by North Korea.

Beckwitt's lawyer, Robert Bonsib, described his client as a successful "day trader" who has made millions trading stocks.

Khafra, who lived with his parents in Silver Spring, had met Beckwitt online and agreed to help him dig the tunnels in exchange for Beckwitt's investments in an internet company Khafra was launching.

Dia Khafra, Askia Khafra's father, said during a recent interview that he and his wife, Claudia, tried to persuade Askia to stay away from Beckwitt's tunnels.

"I always feared something dangerous would happen to him," the elder Khafra said.

Beckwitt went to elaborate lengths to preserve the secrecy of his tunnels, tricking Askia Khafra into thinking he was digging them in Virginia, not Maryland, according to authorities.

Beckwitt told investigators he would rent a car, pick Khafra up and drive him to Manassas, Virginia, where he had the younger man don "blackout glasses" before driving him around for about an hour, a police report said. Khafra spent days at a time working, eating and sleeping in the tunnels. He had his cellphone with him, but Beckwitt used internet "spoofing" to make it appear he was in Virginia, according to Wink.

The tunnels had lights, an air circulation system and a heater powered by a "haphazard daisy chain" of power strips that created a fire risk, Wink said.

"These extension cords and power strips created a clear and substantial risk of fire, exacerbated by the piles of paper and garbage throughout the house, and the storage of dangerous chemicals," the parents' lawsuit says.

Wink said Beckwitt ignored "obvious signs" of danger before the fire broke out Sept. 10, 2017. Hours before the fire, Khafra texted Beckwitt to warn him it smelled like smoke in the tunnels. Beckwitt flipped a breaker that turned off lights in the tunnels but turned the power back on after Khafra said he couldn't see, Wink said.

County officials sued Beckwitt over the property's condition, calling it unsafe and a "public nuisance." Beckwitt's father, David, owns the Bethesda property but lives in Burke, Virginia, according to the wrongful death lawsuit.
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos didnt offer any hints Thursday night about where the second Amazon headquarters will be located, but local leaders talked about their bids during his visit to D.C.

Bezos was in town for the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.s milestone celebration dinner at the Washington Hilton.

Northern Virginia, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, are on the short list of possible locations for the second headquarters, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan attended the dinner.

They said they are confident in their bids.

I think we have put forward four great sights, Bowser said. Were a sought after city, highly educated workforce.

We feel very good about the proposal we made, Hogan said. Its very exciting that Maryland, Virginia and the District are on the list.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam didnt make it Thursday night because of Hurricane Florence.

Amazon has promised 50,000 new jobs and construction spending of more than $5 billion.

Bezos didnt announce his decision Thursday, reiterating it will be made in 2018.

We will announce the decision before the end of this year, he said.
A woman is charged with assaulting a child at the day care she ran in the Virginia suburbs of Washington.

A statement from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said 43-year-old Heather R. Whitfield is charged with assault and battery. The release said a boy suffered minor injuries to his lip and arm Aug. 24.

The child's family was initially told the injuries were the result of an accident.

Whitfield runs Heather's Kids, which accepts infants up to preschool-aged students. According to its website, the facility has been open since April 2013 and became a commercial day care center in December 2017.

The Virginia Department of Social Services is investigating the center's operation and licensing.
In an Aug. 30 rally in Evansville, Indiana, President Donald Trump made three unsubstantiated claims about wind turbines, which he calls windmills:

Trump suggested that a single turbine can be responsible for thousands of bird deaths. Birds are killed by turbines, but the real death toll from a single turbine is orders of magnitude lower than this. A 2013 study estimated an average of just over five bird deaths per turbine per year.

He repeatedly referred to problems when the wind doesnt blow. Its true that lack of wind prevents turbines from generating energy, but these pauses do not create problems that power grid operators cant handle.

Trump also stated that living near turbines is noisy, enough to make someone go crazy after a couple of years. Studies indicate that people living near turbines are rarely exposed to average sound levels beyond 45 decibels, which is akin to the hum of a refrigerator. There is no direct evidence that the sound is detrimental to physical or mental health, although it may be annoying to some people.

While each of these claims start with a kernel of truth, Trumps words misrepresent scientists and engineers current understanding of wind power and its limitations. Well tackle each statement individually, but first, here are his full comments on wind power from his rally:

Trump, Aug. 30: Clean power, right? They want to have windmills all over the place, right? When the wind doesnt blow, what do we do? Uh, we got problems. When theres thousands of birds laying at the base of the windmill, what do we do? Isnt that amazing? The environmentalists, We like windmills. Oh, really? What about the thousands of birds theyre killing? Try going to the bottom of a windmill someday. Its not a pretty picture. But, really, when the wind doesnt blow, you got problems. If your house is staring at a windmill, not good. When you hear that noise going round and round and round, and youre living with it, and then you go crazy after a couple of years, not good. And the environmentalists say, oh, isnt it wonderful?

Bird Deaths

Trump has cited bird deaths before in his complaints about wind power, once falsely claiming that turbines kill more than 1 million birds a year, which weve previously debunked. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, annual bird deaths from turbines range from as low as 21,000 to 679,000  numbers that are well below the billions of estimated bird deaths from cats or the hundreds of millions from collisions with vehicles or buildings. The median value is 328,000.

This time, Trump implied that a single turbine might kill thousands of birds. Given that there about 58,000 turbines in the United States, even going with the larger estimate, basic math would suggest that each turbine is responsible for about 12 birds a year. And reports suggest the death toll doesnt go even that high.

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A 2013 study by biologists at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used data from 68 studies published between 2000 and 2012 to estimate the number of bird deaths from wind turbines. The group found that across the United States, the average number of bird deaths per turbine per year was just over five. Thats slightly more than one bird every season.

Of course, some turbines, whether due to height, design or location, take more avian lives than others. But in the 2013 study, even the worst-offending wind facility was responsible for killing fewer than 21 birds per turbine per year. Therefore, its extremely unlikely one would ever come across more than a handful of dead birds at any one time at the base of a turbine  certainly not thousands, as Trump claims.

What Happens When the Wind Doesnt Blow?

Trumps statement about there being problems when the wind doesnt blow, which he mentioned twice and has said before in other settings, incorrectly suggests that a quiet day at the wind farm causes some sort of shock to the electrical system.

Because of fluctuations in the weather, and the inability to perfectly predict those changes, wind power does come with the added challenge of extra variability, and has one of the lower so-called capacity factors of all energy sources, since turbines are not always running.

But Trumps own Department of Energy explains on its website that power grid operators have always had to deal with variability, noting that traditional forms of energy generation, which include coal, are also susceptible to breaks in service that the grid must accommodate. Usually, unless there are failures in multiple places, or extremely high demands  or both at once  grid operators can successfully divert energy to where it is needed most and avoid blackouts.

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The DOE website continues, Adding variable renewable power to the grid does not inherently change how this process of balancing electricity supply and demand works. Studies have shown that the grid can accommodate large penetrations of variable renewable power without sacrificing reliability, and without the need for backup generation.

One of the more prominent studies is the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, which was sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The study concluded that adding up to 30 percent wind energy was completely feasible. In 2017, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, wind power was responsible for 6.3 percent of all utility-scale electricity generation, and no single energy source contributed more than 32 percent.

One of the tactics the study identified as improving overall efficiency  which more than compensated for wind or solar variability  was changing how frequently energy resources were scheduled. By evaluating supply and demand every 5 to 15 minutes instead of every 60 minutes, and then dispatching energy resources as needed, the system could make better use of the reserves it had at any moment and reduce the need to bring online additional generators.

Of course, wind energy would be more efficient if air was always gusting, and this is one reason why its better to set up your turbine in a windier area. But the lack of constant airflow is anticipated by the electrical grid. As a result, its misleading to call these ebbs in generation a problem, when its possible to appropriately manage them.

Turbine Noise: Loud Enough to Drive Someone Crazy?

Trumps third claim revolves around the noise associated with wind turbines; he says living near a turbine could cause people to go crazy after a couple of years. But there is no evidence for that.

Turbines do emit noise, both from the blades swishing through the air as they rotate, and from the mechanical elements inside the turbine, such as the hum from the internal generator.

These elements can create several different types of sound, which vary based on their frequencies and sound wave characteristics, including:

broadband sound (a mix of different frequencies, might sound like whooshing)

infrasonic sound, or infrasound (extremely low frequency sound thats omnipresent in the environment and travels longer distances but also blends into the background; in many cases inaudible)

impulsive sound (swishing sounds that fluctuate in loudness)

tonal sound (specific pitches)

But as the DOE explains, these sounds are typically less than 40 decibels (dBA)  roughly the noise level of a library, or what experts call the lowest limit of urban ambient sound  when measured 437 yards from a turbine. Forty decibels is also the World Health Organizations maximum recommended average nighttime sound pressure level outside bedrooms. Wind farms are usually located as far from residential homes as possible, and while there are no federal laws dictating the distance, local regulations specify volume limits. A 2017 review notes that in most studies there are few people, if any, exposed to an average sound level of over 45 dBA, which is the equivalent of a refrigerator hum.

This doesnt guarantee a person wont hear a turbine at all, and these low volumes can still annoy some people. Anecdotally, many people have complained of headaches, dizziness or tinnitus (ringing in ears), among other symptoms, and have attributed them to turbine noise, sometimes calling it wind turbine syndrome.

But numerous scientific reviews, many of them conducted by expert panels on behalf of states and countries investigating the issue, find no evidence that physical or mental health is directly at risk because of turbines. Wind turbine syndrome is not a recognized disease.

For example, a 2013 systematic review from Australia concluded there is no consistent evidence that wind turbine noise is associated with health effects, noting that the few associations that have been reported may be due to confounding, bias or chance.

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The review added that there was consistent evidence of annoyance, and reasonable consistency that turbines might disrupt sleep, but that it is unclear whether the observed associations are due to wind turbine noise or plausible confounders.

In short, scientists cant definitively rule out health effects, but currently, there is not good evidence that they exist, and even those that are more likely, like sleep disturbances, might be explained by other factors.

Reports by others, including the states of Massachusetts and Oregon, came to similar conclusions.

One of the biggest concerns about wind turbines are the low-frequency sounds, especially the lowest-frequency sound, or infrasound, that turbines give off.

While scientists dont fully understand infrasound, several lines of evidence indicate these frequencies are not damaging:

As part of testing for the U.S. space program, human subjects found infrasound as loud as 130 decibels tolerable for 24 hours. These levels are much higher than anything a person would receive from a turbine, although they were also of a shorter duration.

We are already exposed to infrasound all the time: Our heartbeats and other internal organs  not to mention other natural sources like the ocean  give off amazingly low frequency sound waves all the time.

Other everyday sources of infrasound likely overpower that of turbines anyway. A 2008 Danish report found that traffic on roads next to wind farms was louder than anything the turbines were producing.

Clearly, infrasound is not inherently problematic to humans. Because very low frequencies must have very high amplitudes to be heard, and turbines do not get that loud, any infrasound risk would have to come from inaudible or barely audible sounds. Most researchers do not think these levels are dangerous. A few note that it might be possible for humans to subliminally detect such sounds, although they are unsure of what those effects are, or how damaging they could be.

One of the more plausible mechanisms for adverse effects is sleep disruption. Because poor or inadequate sleep is tied to a variety of health conditions, if someone wakes up more or has trouble staying asleep, its possible turbines could be negatively affecting their health. Several studies have looked at this, with some finding a correlation and others not. The studies, however, rely on self-reported measures of sleep, do not always control for confounding factors, like age, and in some cases people exposed to higher levels of turbine noise had fewer difficulties sleeping  the opposite of what one would expect if turbines were causing sleep problems.

Notably, one 2016 study, which was conducted by Health Canada, Canadas public health department, and published in the Sleep Research Societys journal, SLEEP, found no relationship between sleep disruption and wind turbine noise. The authors describe their study as the most comprehensive assessment to date of the potential association between exposure to wind turbine noise (WTN) and sleep, and the only study to include both subjective and objective measures of sleep. Instead, poor sleep was related to how much caffeine residents consumed and other factors, such as health conditions and sleep medication.

The most consistent finding about wind turbines is that some people say they are annoying and that the louder the sound is, the more annoyed people tend to be. This annoyance, however, is not even always driven by noise. Several investigations have found that whether or not someone could see a turbine was more important than the amount of sound they could hear. The degree of annoyance is also often lower if a person receives an economic benefit, such as owning or partially owning the turbine.

An Alternative Explanation

In some cases, as in the sleep results, its possible that people who have other health conditions are simply attributing their problems to wind turbines. But some scientists suspect another phenomenon might also be involved: the nocebo effect.

The nocebo effect is when a person develops negative symptoms after they are told something is harmful to them  even when the item is completely innocuous. Its a kind of reverse placebo effect. Instead of a sugar pill improving your symptoms, its a sugar pill making you sick, because you were told it was a poison.

Researchers at the University of Auckland tested whether the nocebo effect could be observed with respect to infrasound. The scientists recruited 54 volunteers and showed half of them a five-minute video in which people complained about various maladies they thought had come from exposure to wind farms. The other half watched a video that included the scientific consensus that wind farms are safe. Everyone was then told they would be exposed to 10 minutes of infrasound, although in reality, half the group wasnt exposed to anything at all. Afterward, participants were asked whether they felt any symptoms. Regardless of whether they had been exposed to infrasound, the people who had been primed to suspect a problem reported more symptoms. While this experiment doesnt precisely replicate living near a wind turbine, it indicates the power of suggestion about turbines can be quite strong.

A similar experiment by the same group showed that one could also give positive information about infrasound to get people to believe the opposite. Participants told about therapeutic benefits said they felt better after their infrasound exposure, regardless of whether they actually were exposed to infrasound. In short, people appear to be highly susceptible to both placebo and nocebo effects with respect to turbines.

Other research from 2013 supports the notion that the flurry of health complaints may have more to do with the spread of misinformation about turbines rather than any aspect of the turbines themselves. In the study, which was published in the journal PLoS One, researchers at the University of Sydney analyzed the origin and timing of complaints made to wind farm operators in Australia between 1993 and 2013. Of the 129 people who complained, 73 percent were residents living near the six wind farms the authors described as being targeted by anti wind farm groups. In contrast, nearly 65 percent of wind farms had not registered a single complaint. Ninety percent of complainants, the authors added, made their first complaint after 2009 when anti wind farm groups began to add health concerns to their wider opposition. The researchers argue that these symptoms are instead a kind of communicated disease that comes about because of the nocebo effect.

Whether or not fear over turbines is spreading a disease, the evidence to date does not indicate that turbines themselves directly cause mental illness or disease.

Trumps comments, therefore, on turbines at his recent rally are inaccurate or misleading on all three counts: He exaggerated the number of birds killed by turbines; he mischaracterized what happens on a wind farm when the wind isnt blowing, and he overstated the health risks.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday the city has filed a lawsuit targeting pharmaceutical companies.

These manufacturers and distributors need to pay for the damage they have done, said Walsh, who went on the offensive against pharmaceutical companies the city says has been at the center of the opioid crisis.

Walsh announced that the city has filed a Superior Court lawsuit against 13 opioid manufacturers, four distributors, and one local doctor.

That physician, Dr. Fathallah Mashali of New England Wellness and Pain Management, was sentenced earlier this year to eight years in federal prison for health care fraud.

They put profit ahead of people, knowingly fueling addiction at the expense of human lives, Walsh said.

City officials say they have spent an estimated $64 million in the past four years alone combatting the opioid crisis and more than 700 Boston residents have died from opioid-related overdoses.

The opioid epidemic has inflicted unprecedented suffering on the people of Boston. Boston Medical Center sees this every single day throughout our hospital, said Dr. Michael Botticelli with Boston Medical Center and the executive director of the Grayken Center for Addiction Medicine.

I remember being pushed to prescribe opioids for our patients, whether or not they truly needed them and being gauged on my work as a physician in doing so, added Dimock Center President and CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan.

Walsh says a judgment would not only help pay for costs already incurred but fund treatment for the future.

City departments and taxpayers are shouldering a burden that they did not create and do not deserve, Walsh said.
What to Know Forecasters say Florence is now a tropical storm but will continue to threaten North and South Carolina.

Approximately 1.7 million people in Virginia, North and South Carolina were issued warnings to evacuate.

NBC10 Boston meteorologist Chris Gloninger is reporting live from Wilmington, North Carolina.

Forecasters say Florence is now a tropical storm but will continue to threaten North and South Carolina with powerful winds and catastrophic freshwater flooding.

Florence slammed the Carolina coast Friday as a hurricane when it made landfall at approximately 7:40 a.m., bringing the threat of absolute chaos with it.

NBC10 Boston meteorologist Chris Gloninger braved the fierce 90 mph winds Friday brought by Category 1 Florence.

Already the storm has caused significant flooding near the coast and made 300,000 residents in the state to lose power. As it battered the coast, Florences unforgiving winds lashed at structures and caused at least one gas station canopy to topple over and collapse.

The potentially-catastrophic Hurricane Florence has downgraded to a Category 2 storm as it moves in to the Carolina coast. However, it still poses a major threat.

A major transformer exploded near Gloningers location in Wilmington. Forecasters warn that "catastrophic" freshwater flooding is expected.

At the storms peak, it was announced as a Category 4 on Wednesday and gradually decreased as it approached the coast. However, its lowered category does not mean residents are safe to return to their homes.

Mandatory evacuations were issued Tuesday for 1.7 million residents in the Carolinas and Virginia. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned of an impending disaster.

Historic amounts of rain are expected to fall as a result of Florence. An expert at the North Carolina Emergency Management says storm surge alone is expected to floods tens of thousands of structures.

Potential Florence Storm Surge

This map shows how high the storm surge from Hurricane Florence has a 1 in 10 chance of reaching, measured in feet above ground and with the tide. Click a location to see the possible storm surge height there.
Vacationers from New England will soon have a much more efficient way of getting to Hawaii.

Hawaiian Airlines is ready to announce a brand new nonstop flight from Logan International Airport in Boston to Honolulu International Airport that will debut on April 4, 2019.

The flight, which is scheduled to take about 10 hours, is reportedly the longest domestic flight in U.S. history. The 5,100-mile path surpasses the New York City-Honolulu flight established in 2012.

Round trip flights will cost $617 in the main cabin and $1,776 in first class, the Globe said.
When firefighters in York, Maine, heard about the gas-related explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts Thursday afternoon, they knew they had to hit the road and help. But instead of offering mutual aid by fighting fire on the front lines, they were prepared to fire up some grills and feed hundreds of first responders.

The York Fire Department has a unique vehicle called the SMART Truck. It is a box truck built to be a command center, interview room, rehab unit, and mobile kitchen.

York Fire Chief Chris Balentine said they have driven the SMART Truck to large-scale incidents in southern Maine and New Hampshire, but never as far away as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

He said they had no second thoughts about driving across two state lines to offer help to their fellow firefighters.

"There's an intense mutual aid network  a brotherhood and a sisterhood you can't even describe," said Balentine.

Because the explosions started right before dinner time, Balentine said many of the first responders were working long hours on empty stomachs.

Set up in the Lawrence Market Basket parking lot, they quickly went through all of their water and snacks. Even though the grocery store lost power, Market Basket opened its doors and donated 12 carts of food.

In a few hours, six firefighters from York were able to feed around 500 first responders.

Images of their efforts have been widely shared online. The York Maine Fire Department Facebook page shared photos of their crew grilling and serving hot dogs and hamburgers. The post has been shared more than ten thousand times and has received hundreds of comments praising the department and Market Basket for their efforts.

Some commenters are thanking fire department for "stepping up to the plate" while others are calling their show of support a bright spot on a dark day.
What to Know Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car.

Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said three people were injured in his town, including a firefighter.

Lawrence General Hospital said it treated 13 people for injuries related to the gas explosions.

One person was killed and more than 20 others injured in a series of fires and explosions north of Boston that authorities are blaming on over-pressurized natural gas lines.

Lawrence General Hospital said 13 patients showed up for treatment following the gas explosions that occurred Thursday afternoon. Of those patients, two were critically injured. One was transferred to a Boston hospital for further treatment.

Authorities said that patient, 18-year-old Leonel Rondon of Lawrence, was pronounced dead around 8:30 p.m. at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was reportedly inside a car at 35 Chickering Road in Lawrence when a chimney from a house explosion fell on the vehicle.

Rondon, a musician who went by the name DJ Blaze, had just gotten his driver's license, grieving friends and relatives said.

Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said three people were injured in his town, including a firefighter. Their injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

Hospital officials said some of those they were treating were not directly injured by the blasts but suffered health issues aggravated by the fires, like smoke inhalation.

Lawrence General Hospital Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. George Kondylas, said the hospital tripled its emergency room staff after the incident.

"This is what we train for. We drill for this, we plan for this, we go through exercising anticipating things like this happening hoping that it never does happen," he said. "But we have protocols in place where we're able to mobilize lots of extra personnel to do things like this including our trauma surgeons. But we train for disasters."

He said the hospital hasn't seen any additional patients in some time, so they are hoping the worst is over.

State police said they responded to 70 fires, explosions and investigations of gas odor in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Electricity was cut to residents in all three communities as crews work to prevent further damage.

Officials in all three areas cancelled school on Friday, and courts and some state offices will also be shut down.
What to Know Mark McDonald says high-pressure pipelines that carry gas into communities are fitted with regulators.

If one of those regulators fails, there is a secondary one in place to protect neighborhoods, McDonald explained.

He called the series the gas explosions in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence is "unprecedented."

A series of gas explosions killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas.

Mark McDonald, an expert in natural gas explosions, told the NBC10 Boston Investigators he could not recall a comparable incident with such widespread damage.

This in my recollection, is unprecedented. Its quite a catastrophe and a lot of questions need to be answered, he said.

McDonald explained that high-pressure pipelines carry gas into communities. There are regulators in place that reduce the pressure to a mere fraction by the time the gas reaches homes and powers appliances.

Even if one of those regulators fails, there is a secondary one in place to protect neighborhoods, he explained.

These regulators are inspected or required to be inspected on annual basis to ensure something like this doesnt occur, McDonald said. So its very unusual. There are stopgaps that are supposed to be in place because you can see the catastrophic results.

Its too early to know if human error or equipment failure was the cause of the incident. But McDonald said the century-old pipeline infrastructure in Massachusetts certainly puts the area at greater risk.
What to Know A series of gas explosions Thursday caused 60 to 80 fires in homes in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence in Massachusetts.

Evacuations remain in place as federal officials arrive in the state to investigate the cause of the explosions.

An 18-year-old died after an explosion caused a chimney to land on his car and 25 others were treated for injuries.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday he is declaring a State of Emergency for the Merrimack Valley due to the way Columbia Gas has handled a series of natural gas explosions that killed a teenager, injured 25 others and left dozens of homes in smoldering ruins.

Based on that declaration, Baker said he is authorizing the chairman of the Department of Public Utilities to give Eversource management control over the effort to restore utility services.

"I certainly believe at this point that it is in the best interests of the people of Lawrence and North Andover and Andover for us to get a new team leading this effort," the governor said. "And I do believe this will lead to a better game on the ground."

Bill Akley, President of Eversource Gas Business, said there will be a 3-phase effort to restoring gas to customers which is not a short-term restoration effort.

"We will bring every resource available and we will work around the clock and we vow to have an open communication with all the officials  the governor  to keep everybody apprised of the status and obviously the progress as we work through this event," Akley said.

Columbia Gas will still be working with Eversource as a collaborative effort.

Authorities said an estimated 8,000 people were displaced at the height of Thursday's post-explosion chaos in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, the three north of Boston towns rocked by the disaster. Most were still waiting, shaken and exhausted, to be allowed to return to their homes.

Baker said he and the other community leaders tried to give Columbia Gas an opportunity to deal with the situation, but the company repeatedly failed to honor statements they had made.

"Today, on a number of very significant issues, we heard one thing and something else happened," he said. "The follow-through just wasn't there. We don't have time. We need to get on with this."

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera was also heavily critical of the gas company.

"Since yesterday, when we first got word of this incident, the least informed and the last to act has been Columbia Gas," he said. "It seems like there's no one in charge. Like they're in the weeds and they've never seen this before."

"Neighbors who watched their houses blown up next to them have no understanding of why that happened and what's being done to fix it," he added. "This is real people and real issues."

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes in the three communities, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening. Another 25 were injured.

Gas and electricity remained shut down Friday in most of the area, and entire neighborhoods were eerily deserted.

Brenda Charest stood anxiously on her front porch while a crew checked her undamaged home before giving her the all-clear to return Friday. On Thursday, she had come home to a hissing sound in her basement and a strong odor of natural gas.

"We took off. I said, 'Pack up, we're out of here,'" said Charest, who went with her 93-year old father and cat to a relative's home. "It was scary. We didn't know anything."

On Thursday, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield described the unfolding scene as "Armageddon."

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts.

"There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover," Mansfield told reporters.

Shelters remain open at the Parthum School at 255 East Haverhill St. in Lawrence, the Arlington Middle School at 150 Arlington St. in Lawrence, the field house at North Andover High School at 430 Osgood St. and the Cormier Youth Center at 40 Whittier Court in Andover. About 400 people stayed there on Thursday night.

Columbia Gas had mostly remained silent since the start of the incident, issuing its only public statements via press releases. That changed on Friday afternoon when Steve Bryant, president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, spoke publicly for the first time. He did not try to rebut the claims made by Baker and Rivera, opting for a more diplomatic approach.

"I'm not saying the governor's wrong at all," Bryant said. "The governor has the same interests as we do, which is restoring service as quickly as possible. If the judgment of the governor is bringing Eversource into the mix, that's what we will do and we will support that approach to this."

Bryant said gas service has now been shut off for about 3,200 of the 8,000 customers who were forced to evacuate, and he expects to have all of them shut off and power to be restored by the end of the weekend.

He said there are nearly 300 technicians working in the field now, and another 100 are expected to arrive on Saturday.

A claims hotline is being set up at 1-800-590-5571, and a claims center will open at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Public Library.

The towns of Andover and North Andover have set up lists of streets that have been cleared so residents can go online to find out if it is safe to return to their homes.

"If you're not on the safe list, assume you remain in the evacuation zone and we're doing everything we can to get you home as quickly as possible," Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanigan said. "We're with you, we're working around the clock, all of our local resources have been deployed, and we'll continue to work until we get our residents home."

Even if they are cleared to return home, officials stressed that residents should not turn their gas back on themselves.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency initially blamed Thursday's fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still looking into what happened.

Bryant said he does not know what caused the series of explosions, and said it will be up to the National Transportation Safety Board team that arrived Friday to determine that.
What to Know The Red Cross of Massachusetts opened several reception centers for evacuees affected by the gas explosions.

More than 100 people checked into North Andover High School, one of several schools being used as shelters for residents.

Many of the evacuees are seniors who were transferred to the school from senior centers around Andover.

The Red Cross of Massachusetts is assisting Merrimack Valley residents after a series of fires and explosions that authorities are blaming on a natural gas issue.

Residents were forced from their homes Thursday in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

The Red Cross of Massachusetts has opened several reception centers for those affected by the ongoing gas issue:

Andover Cormier Youth Center - 40 Whittier Ct. in Andover

Parthum Elementary School - 255 East Haverhill St. in Lawrence

Arlington Street School - 150 Arlington St. in Lawrence

Field House at North Andover High School- 430 Osgood St. in North Andover

Lawrence officials announced that additional shelter is available at St. Mary's Church at 205 Hampshire St. and Central Catholic High School at 300 Hampshire St.

More than 100 people had checked into North Andover High School Thursday night. Cots were being brought out as many residents prepared to stay the night. A town official told NBC10 Boston that many people staying at the high school were transported from nearby senior centers.

North Andover police said for anyone who needs a place to go Thursday night with dogs, cats or any pet, they can go to the high school gymnasium.

"Our animal control officer is prepped with food, crates, bowls and blankets for your furry friends. We are here to help," police tweeted.

Red Cross officials are on scene at all four locations and are deploying volunteer workers and supplies to help the affected residents.

Authorities acknowledged this could turn into a long-term response with many homes destroyed.

Officials say they will need more supplies as they go, and the best way people can help is by donating at 1-800-RED-CROSS or at the website. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can also sign up at the website.
(CNN)  Two Russians accused of a nerve agent attack in the UK have admitted they visited the city where the assault took place, but say the purpose of their brief trip was to visit its historic cathedral, and not to poison a former double agent who happened to live in there.

When the men identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov visited Salisbury in March, the city was in the snowy grip of the harshest winter to hit England in years.

But they told the Kremlin-backed RT network that the purpose of their 6,000-mile, three-day trip from Moscow was to visit the "wonderful town," its fine cathedral and other historic sites such as the ancient stone circle at Stonehenge and the prehistoric settlement site of Old Sarum. Friends had been exhorting them for some time to make the trip, they said.

In an interview with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, two men displayed a detailed knowledge of Salisbury cathedral, noting its 123-meter spire and clock, the "first of its kind anywhere in the world."

They claimed to have had nothing to do with the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were found slumped on a bench as the pair were on a train back to London. They might have been spotted in the same street as the Skripals' house, they said, but they had no idea the former spy lived there.

Their account appears to indicate that Russia does not plan to deny the time-stamped CCTV footage produced by Britain that shows the pair at various locations between March 2-4 -- but merely to suggest it had somehow been misinterpreted, and that there was an innocent explanation for everything.

The UK government dismissed the pair's claim that they were merely civilian tourists. "The government is clear these men are officers of the Russian military intelligence service -- the GRU -- who used a devastatingly toxic, illegal chemical weapon on the streets of our country," a government spokesperson said in a statement.

"We have repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March. Today -- just as we have seen throughout -- they have responded with obfuscation and lies."

British prosecutors said last week they had "sufficient evidence" to charge the two Russian nationals with attempted murder and conspiracy to murder in connection with the attack on March 4. Prosecutors say the Skripals came into contact with Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent.

Britain is not applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men as Russian does not extradite its own nationals. However, prosecutors have obtained a European Arrest Warrant and police have asked Interpol to issue arrest warrants too.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Salisbury attack.

We came to see Stonehenge

London's Metropolitan Police last week detailed how the two men arrived at London Gatwick Airport from Moscow at about 3 p.m. on Friday March 2.

The two men told RT they had made their weekend trip to England purely to see tourist sites such as Stonehenge, which is about 10 miles from Salisbury.

But instead of heading west out of London, the pair headed in the opposite direction. Eschewing the wide range of tourist accommodations in Salisbury, they favored a basic hotel in the east end of London.

On Saturday March 3, police said, the men caught a train to Salisbury, arriving at about 2:25 p.m. They left the city less than two hours later to return to London. Police believe the journey was a reconnaissance trip.

Petrov did not dispute the timing. "We came there on March 2, then went to a railway station to see the timetable," Petrov said, according to RT's translation of the interview.

The pair returned the next day to complete their tour, they said, but were apparently thwarted by the inclement weather. "We arrived in Salisbury on March 3 and tried to walk through the town, but we lasted for only half an hour because it was covered in snow."

"Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldn't do it because there was muddy slush everywhere. The town was covered by this slush. We got wet, took the nearest train and came back (to London)."

A tweet by Stonehenge on March 3 shows the historic site was indeed closed on March 3 because of snow.

The following day, they traveled again by train to Salisbury, arriving about 11:45 a.m. Just before midday, CCTV footage showed them in the vicinity of Sergei Skripal's home, where they are believed to have applied Novichok to the front door. Police say the footage was captured "moments before the attack."

The two men said they had indeed returned to Salisbury on Sunday, but it was to see the cathedral and Old Sarum because the weather had improved. Police say the men spent less than two hours there.

"We spent no more than an hour in Salisbury, mainly because of the lags between trains," Boshirov told RT. "Maybe we did [approach] Skripal's house, but we don't know where is it located."

At 1:05 p.m. they were caught on CCTV on Fisherton Street in Salisbury, heading back toward the train station. They boarded a train back to London at 1:50 p.m. The pair passed through passport control at London Heathrow Airport at about 7:30 p.m. before boarding a flight back to Moscow.

The weather wasn't much better there: Photographs from Moscow on March 4 show heavy snow and extensive slush on the city's streets.

Salisbury's Member of Parliament, John Glen, dismissed the statements made by Petrov and Boshirov, saying they "are not credible and don't match the widely accepted intelligence we have on these individuals."

Glen, a Conservative lawmaker, also tweeted that he was "delighted that Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Borishov [sic] were able to see the world-class attractions that #Salisbury has to offer. But very strange to come all this way for just two days while carrying Novichok in their luggage."

'We didn't have perfume'

Speaking to RT, the two men denied having Novichok or any poison with them.

Asked by Simonyan whether they had the perfume bottle that had been shown as evidence by UK authorities, Boshirov said: "Is it silly for decent lads to have women's perfume? The customs are checking everything, they would have questions as to why men have women's perfume in their luggage. We didn't have it."

UK investigators have formally linked the attack on the Skripals to the June 30 poisoning of Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, a couple living in Amesbury, near Salisbury. Sturgess died on July 8 after applying a substance to her wrists from a perfume bottle found by Rowley.

Police say it was a counterfeit bottle with a nozzle that had been specially adapted. They believe Sturgess and Rowley, who was sickened but survived, "became victims as a result of the recklessness in which such a toxic nerve agent was disposed of" by the suspects in the Skripal poisoning.

According to RT, the two men "sounded distressed" about being named by the UK as Russian intelligence agents alleged to have been involved in the poisoning.

"We're afraid of going out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones," Boshirov said.

The RT interview came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had identified the pair and found no evidence of criminal activities.

"We, of course, looked at what kind of people they are, and we know who they are, we found them," Putin told an audience at the Eastern Economic Forum in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. "There is nothing unusual or criminal there, I assure you."

Putin appeared to suggest they should tell their story publicly. "Let them come out somewhere, to you in the media," he said, describing the men as "civilians."

UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the UK Parliament last week that Britain believes the two suspects to be GRU officers.

Russia has been accused by the UK of conducting a disinformation campaign over the attack on the Skripals. Officials from the UK Foreign Office say they have counted 37 different Russian narratives regarding the poisonings in Salisbury.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russians accused over Salisbury poisoning were in city 'as tourists'."
BRIDGEPORT - The annual Columbus Day Parade, a 109 year tradition in the city, will not be in town for its 110th celebration next month.

Unable to resolve a dispute with Mayor Joe Ganims administration over police overtime costs, parade organizers Thursday night voted to move the event from the mile-and-a-quarter Madison Avenue route to neighboring Shelton, where the associated costs will be cheaper.

We had two choices, said former state Rep. Christopher Caruso, who has helped spearhead Bridgeports Columbus Day event for several years. To cancel or move to another city or town. ... I want to thank the mayor of Shelton and city of Shelton. Through their generosity and spirit a 110-year-old tradition continues.

Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, the parades grand marshal last year, said in an interview Friday morning that this years festivities on Oct. 7, the Sunday prior to the Columbus Day holiday, will coincide with Shelton Day. So, Lauretti said, his streets were already going to be closed along the parade route.

Irrespective, I think Id do it anyway, Lauretti said. Traditions are important. ... Look, theres a lot of Italian Americans in this valley who moved here from Bridgeport that appreciate this tradition.

As previously reported, Caruso and organizers of other Bridgeport-based parades have for months been at odds with the Ganim administration, which for the first time last year began asking they help foot related public safety costs.

But those other event organizers have tried to come up with the money owed or altered their routes. This summers Barnum Festival Parade, for example, relocated to Bridgeports Seaside Park to avoid the need to have cops shut down city streets.

As of late June, however, Caruso was still refusing to pay Bridgeport the $7,127 the Columbus Day Parade owed from last year. That, he said Friday, resulted in the police department recently refusing to issue the parade a permit for this October.

Publicly and privately in meetings I made it clear that we werent paying, Caruso said. The bottom line is we cant charge people to watch a parade, and police overtime escalates every year. We looked at the future and said, Were not going to be able to sustain this.

Cop overtime is a constant struggle in Bridgeport. Just this week city finance staff warned members of the City Council that, two months into the new fiscal year, the police department was already on track to be over budget by next July 1.

The cops had spent $8.2 million on overtime when the 2017/18 fiscal year ended June 30  $2.7 million more than the departments $5.5 million budget.

Ganims office in a statement for this story insisted the administration made every effort to try to accommodate the Columbus Day Parade and has worked with other parades as well to help meet public safety and public facilities needs.

We are looking forward to hosting an Italian American Festival in Bridgeport Columbus Day weekend to honor the tradition, the statement concluded. Ganims spokesperson, Rowena White, could not immediately offer more details on that event.

Like canceling Christmas

Caruso chuckled when told of City Halls festival alternative: I would have hoped they would have put more energy into trying to keep a 110-year-old tradition in Bridgeport than to go off and do something totally different.

Bridgeport, however, is hardly alone in asking its parades to help cover related costs. New Haven does as well.

Earlier this year Bridgeport Police Chief Armando A.J. Perez argued if the city is going after the non-profit parades, he would also like to see the for-profit entertainment venues like the arena and the under-construction concert amphitheater pay for the costs of policing their athletic events and musical acts.

Anthony Paoletto, 22, is an ex-Bridgeport Councilman and current member of the Democratic Town Committee.

Its like they canceled Christmas, Paoletto said, recalling all of the years his family attended the Columbus Day Parade. This tradition has gone on over 100 years in Bridgeport. Every other parade has come up with the costs of the festivals they wanted to do and its not right to just leave the city.

Even Kate Rivera, a former school board member who in 2015 successfully lobbied to have the public schools celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day rather than Columbus Day, was sorry to see the parade leave town.

Im not glad to see it go because its a Bridgeport institution, Rivera said. I just wish theyd change the name of the parade. At its base its about celebrating Italian culture. Just dont glorify this sadistic, crazy Columbus.

Columbus critics argue the explorer contributed to the genocide of native Americans.

Meanwhile Madison Avenue, which used to be Bridgeports own so-called Little Italy section, lined with Italian-American restaurants, has gradually changed with the evolving demographics of the city.

One of the last such businesses remaining in that neighborhood is Micalizzis Italian Ice, owned by Jay Piccirillo, who has also been involved in organizing the parade year after year. Piccirillo on Friday lamented the loss of a local tradition, recalling how his mother would prepare a big family dinner afterward.

Im not mad at anybody. Theyre both (Caruso and Ganim) doing what they have to, Piccirillo said, adding that Bridgeport residents should line the streets in Shelton on Oct. 7 along the parade route. Go along. Support it. Sheltons a great city. Its going to be a success.

Caruso said he is open to returning to Bridgeport to celebrate Columbus Day 2019.

If the city decides to change its policy well definitely consider moving back to Bridgeport, he said. It wasnt an easy decision.
Street Closed for Independence Day Events in Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Due to the large number of people expected to attend the Independence Day celebrations in Puerto Vallarta, the Municipal Government through the city's Municipal Traffic Branch announced that they will be rerouting traffic in the downtown area on September 14, 15 and 16, to safeguard event attendees.

On Friday the 14th, the National Day of Charro Parade starts at 11:00 am, so traffic will be restricted along the parade route, which includes Ignacio L. Vallarta, Lazaro Cardenas and Morelos Streets, as well as Paseo Diaz Ordaz and Mexico Avenue up to Panama.

On Morelos Street, traffic will be diverted from Corona to Juarez, which will become a two-way street until the parade passes through El Centro. When the parade ends, all affected streets will be returned to normal circulation.

On Saturday, September 15, the Noche del Grito celebrations start in El Centro at 8:00 pm, so traffic on Morelos Street will be re-directed at Corona, where it will be diverted to Juarez until it reaches Libertad, and continue south on Ignacio L. Vallarta.

On Sunday, September 16, the Independence Day Parade starts at 10:00 am, so traffic will be rerouted on Mexico Avenue at Panama Street, and continue north on Colombia. Morelos and Corona will be diverted to Juarez, which will become a two-way street until it reaches Insurgentes.

The parade will end at Honduras Street in Colonia 5 de diciembre at approximately 11:30 am, at which time all affected streets will be returned to normal circulation.

City authorities are asking all citizens who must travel to El Centro via public transportation this weekend to keep in mind that traffic will be diverted on many of the streets in the downtown area, which will require extra travel time.

In El Pitillal, Las Juntas, Ixtapa, Las Palmas and El Ranchito, all traffic will be diverted along the streets that run parallel to the main squares.
Belgium confirmed this Thursday (13th of September 2018) that they have a case of African swine fever. This confirms that the infection has spread to the west of the EU.

For several weeks now it has been a concern that African swine fever may affect the pigs in Western Europe. This would not mean that there could be import-bans on pigs and pig produces from the non-EU markets. According to the food safety agency (AFSCA Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain) and the SPW (Public Service of Wallonia), from Belgium two boars with the disease around the southern village of Etalle were detected. France, the neighbour has also stepped up their preventive measures to stop the spread of the infection to their farms.

African swine fever virus, 3D illustration. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Since 2014 there has been a steady rise in cases of swine fever across Europe. This however was limited to the Eastern nations, Baltic States and Poland and Germany remained the major pork producer without swine fever fears. Germany has helped the eastern European nations to keep the infection under control and prevent spread.

Humans are not susceptible to this strain of swine fever say the Belgian health authorities. The AFSCA and the SPW on Thursday in a joint statement said, The fight against the disease is not a public health issue but rather it is a challenge for animal health and economic sustainability. They are thus trying to stop the spread of this infection across pig farms. African swine fever can lead to severe hemorrhagic or bleeding among the affected pigs that usually leads to death of the animals. All pigs affected need to be slaughtered and properly disposed since there is no known cure for this infection yet. Around 140,000 pigs had to be culled in Romania in late August when this infection was detected. Romania is Europes second-largest pig farm.

Denmark has planned to build fences along Germany borders to prevent entry of African swine fever. No cases have been detected there so far. Danish Environment and Food Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen has said in a statement earlier, In case of an outbreak of African swine fever, the export to non-EU countries will shut down.

The French farm Ministry said in a statement, The confirmation today of the presence of the virus in Belgium (in the west of the EU) represents a new progression of the disease, which requires an adequate response given the considerable economic interests at stake for the French agri-food chain. Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert called for restrictions on hunting activities and also urged for increasing surveillance of livestock as well as wildlife. The surveillance is to be ramped up in four administrative counties bordering Belgium, Travert said.

Meanwhile there have been 14 outbreaks of the African swine fever across China in the past month. The disease was first reported in Shenyang, the capital of Northeast Chinas Liaoning province. This is close to the Russian border where the infection is spreading for some years now say authorities. At present there are no vaccines against the infection and awareness can prevention of spread are the only measures of control say experts.
Bedfont Scientific Ltd. launches their new and improved FeNO monitor exclusively at the worlds largest European Respiratory Society Congress with a competition to win one.

Medical device manufacturer, Bedfont, who has specialized in breath analysis for over 40 years, has announced a new and improved 2nd generation NObreath. The FeNO monitor will be launched exclusively at ERS, the worlds largest European Respiratory Society Congress, which takes place this year September 15-19th in Paris.

Image credit: Bedfont Scientific

The 2nd generation FeNO monitor is launched after the recent publication of the NICE guidance on Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management, to improve asthma care, which included the NObreath FeNO monitor from Bedfont as a recommended device.

To celebrate the exclusive launch, the second-generation family business will also be holding a competition at their stand where delegates will have the chance to be entered into a prize draw to win a new NObreath.

Jason Smith, Managing Director, comments:
A type of immune cell called the macrophages are known to be one of the first soldiers of the body that can fight off infections and plays a role in maintaining immunity and in inflammation. According to latest research in schizophrenia, these macrophages can become altered and may cause changes in the brain leading to changes in the brain similar to schizophrenia.

The term macrophage in Greek literally means big eater. These cells are capable of eating up or engulfing foreign bodies, infective cells, debris etc and generally maintain the housekeeping within the body. These cells function as first line soldiers when the body encounters an infection.

Schizophrenia breakthrough. Image Credit: Neuroscience Research Australia

Australian researchers have now found that among people with schizophrenia the number of these immune cells within the brain is raised. This is the first time that such a fact has been demonstrated say the experts. Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said in a statement that this was an unsolved mystery for a hundred years and now it is solved. She said that this new suspect is detected to be present at the scene of crime when it was committed. She called the macrophages, a new culprit that could be triggering schizophrenia. The study results appear in the latest issue of the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Schizophrenia breakthrough Play

Schizophrenia is a psychotic brain disorder typically characterized by audio and visual hallucinations and delusions. According to the statistics nearly 100,000 Australians have psychosis. Na definite causes are known and no cure has been developed yet. Till date neurons or nerve cells, glial cells that support the neuron and endothelial cells that coat the inner walls of the blood vessels have been studied for possible mechanisms of psychosis and schizophrenia. The NeuRA researchers have now come up with the fourth compenent that could cause or trigger schizophrenia.

The team found that in their subgroup of schizophrenics, 40 percent showed high levels of inflammation in their brains. Professor Weickert explained, To find immune cells along the blood brain barrier in increased amounts in people with schizophrenia is an exciting discovery. It suggests immune cells themselves may be producing these inflammatory signals in the brains of people living with schizophrenia, she said. She explained that the triggered glial cells could be signalling the endothelial cells of the blood vessels to alter their shapes and to call for the immune cells and capture them. These immune cells can now transmigrate past the blood brain barrier to enter the brain she said. The numbers are seen to be higher among those with schizophrenia compared to normal humans.

At this stage of the research is not known if the immune cells are harmful or helpful. Professor Weickert said, what is clear is that schizophrenia researchers need to collaborate with immunologists to develop target therapies for schizophrenia. She said that may be if the immune cell movement to the brain were stopped, there could be improvement in the condition. More studies in future could help provide answers to the question say experts.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0235-x
Diagnosis of dementia was made via cognitive function tests such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and medical imaging systems at hospitals, a fairly large system for the purpose. As our population ages, an increasing number of people are developing dementia. Thus, easy-to-use dementia detection tests are sought after. In previous studies, diagnoses were made mainly using neuropsychological questions, so habituation to the same questions lowered performance in detecting dementia.

A joint group of researchers from Osaka University and Nara Institute of Science and Technology demonstrated that it was possible to detect dementia from conversations in human-agent interaction. This technique has been realized through machine-learning: a machine learns characteristics of sounds of elderly people who answered easy questions from avatars on a computer.

The researchers proposed machine learning algorithms for detecting signs of dementia in its early stages, developing a dementia detection system using interactive computer avatars. They created a model for machine learning based on features of speech, language, and faces from recorded dialogues with elderly participants. Through machine learning, a computer came to able to distinguish individuals with dementia from healthy controls at a rate of 90 percent in 6 questions (2-3 minutes per question).

The team prepared fixed questions based on neuropsychological tests and random questions not based on specific tests, recording interactive data of spoken dialogues with avatars from 12 participants (individuals diagnosed with dementia by a psychiatrist according to the diagnosis criteria Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV) and 12 healthy controls. They extracted speech, language, and image features from the recorded data, creating a model for detecting dementia and enabling a computer to learn for itself to detect dementia.

As a result, the computer was able to distinguish between healthy controls and individuals with dementia with an accuracy of 92%. It was found that dementia could be distinguished with high accuracy by combining features of dementia, such as delay in response to questions from avatars depending on the content of questions, intonation, articulation rate of the voice, and the percentage of nouns and verbs in utterance.

Senior author Takashi Kudo says, "If this technology is further developed, it will become possible to know whether or not an elderly individual is in the early stages of dementia through conversation with computer avatars at home on a daily basis. It will encourage them to seek medical help, leading to early diagnosis."
The Food and Drug Administration declared Wednesday that vaping among teenagers has reached "an epidemic proportion." The agency told ve major e-cigarette manufacturers that they had 60 days to find ways to keep their products away from minors.

"I use the word epidemic with great care," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a Wednesday news release. "E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous  and dangerous  trend among teens." Yet, as the panel discusses, health advocates warned that the actions may not be strong enough.

This week's panelists are Sarah Jane Tribble of Kaiser Health News, Stephanie Armour of The Wall Street Journal, Kimberly Leonard of the Washington Examiner and Rebecca Adams of CQ Roll Call.

They also look at Arkansas' announcement that more than 4,000 Medicaid enrollees will be suspended for not meeting new work requirements, the Census Bureau's announcement that the nation's uninsured rate was unchanged last year, legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill that will affect the Affordable Care Act and efforts to stem the opioid epidemic.

Among the takeaways from this week's podcast:

The FDA's announcement on e-cigarettes appears to be a turning point on officials' views of how to handle the issue. It was spurred by reports of dramatic growth in teen vaping. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) recently reported that teen use has increased by 75 percent in the past year.

The e-cigarette industry is largely unregulated. Many brands offer a variety of sweet flavors, even though makers of traditional cigarettes are prohibited from doing that.

Arkansas' move to cut adults from the Medicaid expansion program the state rolled out under the ACA is likely to be challenged in court.

The Trump administration has been a strong supporter of work requirements in the Medicaid program and Seema Verma, who heads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, tweeted Wednesday night after the Arkansas announcement that she was excited about the work Arkansas has done to connect beneficiaries to jobs and education.

The Census Bureau's report Wednesday is the first time since the implementation of ACA coverage expansions that the national uninsured rate did not fall.

The Republican-led House is expected to vote soon on a package of bills that will remove or postpone more taxes in the ACA, including the penalty for employers who do not offer coverage for workers and a tax on tanning salons. It is doubtful, however, that the measure will get through the Senate this year.

Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health stories of the week they think you should read, too:

Sarah Jane Tribble: Bloomberg News' "The Secret Drug Pricing System Middlemen Use to Rake in Millions," by Robert Langreth, David Ingold and Jackie Gu

Kimberly Leonard: Harper's Magazine's "Can Hospitals Learn to Better Treat Deaf Patients?" by Katie Booth

Rebecca Adams: The New York Times and ProPublica's "Top Cancer Researcher Fails to Disclose Corporate Financial Ties in Major Research Journals," by Charles Ornstein and Katie Thomas

Stephanie Armour: The Financial Times' "Opioid Billionaire Granted Patent for Addiction Treatment," by David Crow

To hear all our podcasts, click here.

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Participating in spiritual practices during childhood and adolescence may be a protective factor for a range of health and well-being outcomes in early adulthood, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Researchers found that people who attended weekly religious services or practiced daily prayer or meditation in their youth reported greater life satisfaction and positivity in their 20s--and were less likely to subsequently have depressive symptoms, smoke, use illicit drugs, or have a sexually transmitted infection--than people raised with less regular spiritual habits.

"These findings are important for both our understanding of health and our understanding of parenting practices," said first author Ying Chen, who recently completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Chan School. "Many children are raised religiously, and our study shows that this can powerfully affect their health behaviors, mental health, and overall happiness and well-being."

The study was published online September 13, 2018 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Previous studies have linked adults' religious involvement to better health and well-being outcomes, including lower risk of premature death.

For this study, Chen and senior author Tyler VanderWeele, John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb Professor of Epidemiology, analyzed health data from mothers in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) and their children in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). The sample included more than 5,000 youth who were followed for between 8-14 years. The researchers controlled for many variables such as maternal health, socioeconomic status, and history of substance abuse or depressive symptoms, to try to isolate the effect of religious upbringing.

The results showed that people who attended religious services at least weekly in childhood and adolescence were approximately 18% more likely to report higher happiness as young adults (ages 23-30) than those who never attended services. They were also 29% more likely to volunteer in their communities and 33% less likely to use illicit drugs.

Those who prayed or meditated at least daily while growing up were 16% more likely to report higher happiness as young adults, 30% less likely to have started having sex at a young age, and 40% less likely to have a sexually transmitted infection compared to those who never prayed or meditated.

"While decisions about religion are not shaped principally by health, for adolescents who already hold religious beliefs, encouraging service attendance and private practices may be meaningful avenues to protect against some of the dangers of adolescence, including depression, substance abuse, and risk taking. In addition, these practices may positively contribute to happiness, volunteering, a greater sense of mission and purpose, and to forgiveness," said VanderWeele.

One limitation of the study is that it consisted mainly of children of white females of relatively high family socioeconomic status, and therefore might not be generalizable to a broader population, though prior research by VanderWeele suggested the effects of religious service attendance for adults may be even larger for black versus white populations. Another limitation was that the study did not look at the influences of parents and peers on adolescents' religious decisions.

While previous studies of adult populations have found religious service attendance to have a greater association with better health and well-being than prayer or meditation, the current study of adolescents found communal and private spiritual practices to be of roughly similar benefit.

Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/religious-upbringing-adult-health/
A 3 million interdisciplinary research project is to address the growing threat of drug-resistant infections in India. The project will develop innovative diagnostics to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the biggest threats to global public health.

AMR describes the situation when infections agents - including bacteria and parasites such as malaria - become resistant to the medicines used to treat them. The DOSA programme - Diagnostics for One Health and User Driven Solutions for AMR - brings together nine leading academic institutions, five from India and four from the UK.

Medical researchers, diagnostic innovators, economists and social scientists will create cutting edge, rapid diagnostic solutions to fight AMR in settings as diverse as community healthcare, dairy farms and aquaculture. AMR is of particular concern in India, where the levels of infectious diseases are high but public knowledge of diseases and appropriate treatments is low. In India, and across the globe, antibiotic use is regularly carried out without appropriate diagnostics, thereby fuelling the AMR crisis.

Rapid diagnostic tools are either unavailable, too expensive or do not fit people's needs, which leads to antibiotics being used in a trial and error fashion. The three-year DOSA programme will begin with a meeting of the project group on 24-25 September at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

The project is jointly funded by UK Research and Innovation/Economic and Social Research Council, the Newton Fund, and Government of India's Department of Biotechnology.

Indian partners include the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms Bangalore; ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, Kerala; ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana; Silchar Medical College and Assam University, Silchar, Assam.

UK partners include the Universities of Edinburgh, Bradford and Southampton and University of the Arts London.

Lead researcher Dr Till Bachmann, of the University of Edinburgh's Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, said: "DOSA gives us the exceptional possibility to create a deep understanding between user needs and diagnostics innovation.

"The project will focus on community settings in India. It is here where the big drivers of AMR are located, where AMR is a huge burden and where it is exceptionally difficult to implement rapid diagnostics."
A new three-year grant totaling nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Defense will fund University of Illinois at Chicago research on the gene SELENOF and its role in the development of prostate cancer among black men.

White men accounted for about 106 new cases of prostate cancer per 100,000 men for the years 2011-2015. But among black men, nearly 179 per 100,000 were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. A combination of genetics and environmental factors likely play a role in why black men experience a higher incidence of prostate cancer and have worse clinical outcomes, said UIC's Alan Diamond, who will lead the study.

"We believe that reduced levels of SELENOF contribute to the risk of experiencing and dying from prostate cancer and that the differences in the SELENOF gene between black and white men contribute to the increased risk in that population," said Diamond, professor of pathology in the UIC College of Medicine and member of the University of Illinois Cancer Center.

Diamond will ascertain whether the absence of the gene in the prostate reduces the time when prostate cancer appears, the frequency of the tumors, and their severity. The researchers will also study the mechanism by which reduced SELENOF levels contribute to a higher prostate cancer risk and poorer clinical outcomes. The experiments will be conducted in mouse models.

With the assistance of several researchers in UIC's pathology department, Diamond previously reviewed human clinical samples that revealed SELENOF levels were lower in cancer tissue, compared with benign tissue, in the prostate cancers of black men as opposed to white men. Diamond will expand his work studying the differences in levels of SELENOF between black and white men.

In 2015, there were an estimated 3.1 million men living with prostate cancer in the U.S., according to data from the National Cancer Institute. About 165,000 new prostate cancer cases are anticipated in 2018 and nearly 30,000 will die from the disease, accounting for about 5 percent of all cancer deaths, the NCI said.

"We anticipate that our results will identify factors contributing to the disparity in prostate cancer between African Americans and Caucasians and may lead to new biomarkers to identify those men at elevated risk," Diamond said. "Developing new interventions will reduce the high risk of contracting and dying from prostate cancer in men in the United States, particularly black men."
Cairo : Egyptian and Pakistani naval forces conducted drills in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday.

"The drills meant to exchange expertise in order to promote maritime security and stability in the region," Egyptian armed forces said in a statement cited by Xinhua news agency.

The giant Pakistani military ship "SAIF PNS" along with the Egyptian naval ships conducted exercises including inspection of ships and exchange of helicopter takeoff and landing, it added.

Egypt also started joint military exercise with the US known as "the Bright Star" last week at a military base in its Alexandria province.

The military manoeuvres that started from September 8 and will go on till September 20, include land, naval and air forces from Egypt, the US, Britain, France, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, in addition to other 16 states that participate as observers.
Kuala Lumpur : A leading lawyer for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged with money laundering at a court here on Thursday as part of the investigation into state investment company 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, 66, was charged under the anti-money laundering law for receiving money from illegal activities amounting to 9.5 million ringgit ($2.29 million), which were paid by Najib in two transactions in 2013 and 2014 respectively, Xinhua news agency reported.

Abdullah was also charged with filing income tax incorrectly related to the two payments. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The charges were brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which has been investigating the 1MDB case.

Abdullah told reporters that the payments were for his legal services to the then ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and its leading party, the United Malays National Organization over the years.

He also insisted that he had no knowledge of that the money could be possibly from illegal activities like the misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

Najib was arrested in July and faces several charges related to the 1MDB scandal, in which he allegedly channelled almost $700 million from the 1MDB state development firm into his personal bank accounts.

His BN coalition had ruled Malaysia for decades until this year's election which it lost and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's Pakatan Harapan coalition won.
Moscow : Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Friday reviewed bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest.

Sushma Swaraj and Borisov co-chaired the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

"Meeting begins to expand our relationship across all sectors and identify new opportunities!" Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation.

The Commission, after taking stock of bilateral cooperation in various fields, provides policy recommendations and directions in the fields concerned.

The meeting comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India next month for the annual bilateral summit.

Prime Minister Narednra Modi and Putin have already met twice this year - at an informal summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi in May and then again on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in South Africa in June.

Soon after her arrival here on Thursday, Sushma Swaraj met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and according to spokesperson Kumar, both leaders had a good exchange of views on bilateral and regional issues.
Kolkata : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she will visit Germany and Italy to attract overseas investments to West Bengal.

According to officials, her visits will be between September 16-28.

She would be accompanied by Industries and Finance Minister Amit Mitra, Chief Secretary Malay De and Additional Chief Secretary Hari Krishna Dwivedi.

"I am going to Frankfurt and Milan to bring in more business and industry to the state. We will be holding two meetings -- one in Frankfurt and another in Milan," she told reporters at state Secretariat Nabanna.

Banerjee said that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and government from the two European countries during the Bengal Global Business Summit this year.

Banerjee said two committees comprising Ministers and senior officials had been constituted to deal with any emergency and natural calamity during her foreign tour.

Speaking on the partial collapse of the Majherhat bridge, she said that a probe committee led by the Chief Secretary had submitted the preliminary report, following which the state had decided to demolish the bridge and build a new one within a year.

Banerjee accused the Centre of "showing audacity and arrogance", and claimed that the BJP would be defeated in the 2019 general elections.
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his country was peace-loving and that the ongoing Vostok-2018 exercises deemed as the largest military drills since the Cold War, were aimed at developing its defence capabilities.

Speaking at Tsugol, situated close to the borders of China and Mongolia, Putin said the drills would help boost the country's internal security capabilities and to extend a helping hand to allies, reports Efe news.

"Russia is a peace-loving state, we do not have and cannot have any aggressive plans, Our foreign policy is aimed at (development of) the constructive cooperation with all the countries interested in that," Putin said while attending the exercises.

He said that 87 observers from 57 countries have been invited to watch the drills.

"Today, the most active stage of the exercises is completed at the Tsugol training ground in Trans-Baikal territory. You held it at high level: all units and formations fulfilled their assigned tasks," said Putin.

The President added that it was for the first time that the armed forces of post-Soviet Russia have undertaken such a tough drill, involving the participation of around 300,000 soldiers, more than 1,000 aircraft, dozens of ships and 36,000 armoured vehicles.

"We will continue to strengthen our armed forces, equip them with latest weapons and technologies, to develop international military cooperation," he added.

Putin also thanked the Chinese and Mongolian soldiers, who took part in the drills and recalled the historical alliance between the three countries during World War II when they had fought together.

He highlighted the important role the three have been playing in maintaining the stability of the Euro-Asiatic region.
Madrid : Spain's Parliament voted on Thursday in favour of exhuming the body of former military dictator General Francisco Franco from a vast mausoleum complex in north of Madrid.

Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said the new measure was adopted due to the votes of all parliamentary groups with the exception of the conservative opposition Popular Party (PP) and Ciudadanos, who both abstained, Efe news reported.

Calvo added that peace was not possible without justice and that it was "an atrocious aberration" that a dictator who seized power in a military uprising should be buried in a monument alongside the bodies of those who opposed him and were his victims.

Calvo was critical of the PP and Ciudadanos for turning a blind eye to Franco's brutal and internecine dictatorship.

For its part, Ciudadanos said that the exhumation should be ordered by parliamentary decree and that there was no need of such urgency given that Franco had been dead and buried for 43 years.

The business-friendly centre-right party added that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was using the exhumation debate as a smokescreen to conceal his government's weakness and incompetence.
Madrid : Spain's Socialist government on Thursday said it would go ahead with the sale of 400 laser-guided missiles to Saudi Arabia, backtracking on an earlier announcement that the deal could be nixed following the fatal bombing of a school bus in Yemen.

Foreign Minister Josep Borrell told Spanish radio the government saw no reason not to go ahead with the planned sale of the projectiles, Efe news reported.

The Spanish Ministry of Defence had announced on August 16 that it would review the arms sale to the Sunni kingdom after Saudi-led Arab forces struck a school bus in Yemen, killing 15 children.

It said it was prepared to refund the 9.2 million euros ($10.7 million) that Riyadh had already put towards the deal.

The decision alarmed Spanish arms manufacturer Navantia, which feared its contract to build five warships for Saudi Arabia would be cancelled as a retaliatory measure.

The Spanish government said the decision was never officially adopted.

Saudi Arabia and its military allies in the Gulf intervened in the Yemeni civil war against Houthi rebels in 2015.
Brussels : The EU Council on Thursday extended the sanctions imposed on 155 Russian citizens and 44 entities in the country for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The Council prolonged the restrictive measures by a further six months until March 15, 2019, Efe news reported.

"An assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the sanctions regime," according to a statement released by the Council, an institution representing the executive governments of the EU's member states.

The sanctions included the freezing of assets and a ban on travel to the European bloc's territory.

They came in addition to the previous measures taken by the EU in response to the Ukraine crisis, such as economic sanctions targeting certain sectors of the Russian economy and restrictions that only apply to the territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, which were illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, according to international law.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been raging on for four years, after separatist rebels took control of the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, located in the coal-rich Donbass region, in April 2014.
Islamabad : The Pakistan Prime Minister's House will be turned into a campus of a postgraduate institute, said a minister on Thursday while divulging governments plans to utilize official buildings for public use.

Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood told the media that the public was fed up of the previous governments' "royal" ways of living, Geo news said.

The minister said it was important that government officials live in a way that does not waste public money, which is why Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided that he would not stay in the PM House and governors will not stay in Governor Houses to cut down on costs, he added.

According to the minister, the annual expenditure of PM House was Rs 470 million.

Therefore, it has been decided that the PM House will be turned into a top-level educational instate, Mehmood said.

Speaking about reconstruction of other official buildings, Mehmood said the Governor House in Lahore will be used as a museum and art gallery, while the park on the premises will be opened for public.

The Punjab House in Murree will be turned into a tourist complex, while the Governor House in Karachi and the one in Balochistan will be used as museums.
Islamabad : Pakistan on Thursday took "strong exception to the unwarranted reference" against it in the joint statement issued following the 2+2 India-US dialogue in New Delhi last week.

The statement issued after the US Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence met their Indian counterparts called upon Pakistan to ensure that its territory was not used to launch terror attacks on other countries.

At the weekly news briefing here on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said: "Pakistan rejects the baseless allegations. We have also conveyed our position to the US side.

"Mentioning a 'third country' with unsubstantiated accusations in a formal outcome document is inconsistent with established diplomatic norms.

"What is more ironic is that many other thorny issues involving the 'third country' were avoided in the joint statement by the Indian side," the spokesperson said.

He added that the trial of the Pakistanis said to be involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack was ongoing in an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan and "the judicial process shall take its course".

Faisal asked the US to also focus similarly on what he said was "Indian state terrorism" in Jammu and Kashmir.

Responding to a question, Faisal said: "Pakistan is always ready for talks with India for resolution of all outstanding disputes and both the countries are in contact with each other through Track II diplomacy."
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Out-of-state business entities trying to fly under the radar or unaware of Connecticut laws were fined to the tune of more than $1.3 million in the states fiscal year 2018, it was announced by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill this week.

Merrill said her department tries to make it easy for out-of-state entities to register in Connecticut, but many fail to do so. More than 275 companies were fined in 2018 with the heftiest penalty of $30,795 being levied against Independent Health Corp. Almost 5,000 out-of-state entities properly filed.

Merrill said the state needs to keep a record of entities doing business in Connecticut to help protect consumers should a grievance arise.

We do everything possible to make it easy to do business in Connecticut, including creating an online business formation tool to assist out-of-state entities with operating legally in Connecticut, Merrill said in a statement. Although in many cases a failure to register may have been unintentional, in order to ensure accountability to consumers, it is critical that the state maintain a record of businesses in operation.

Attorney General George Jepsen assisted in the enforcement of the fines.

Out-of-state businesses are required to appoint an agent that is able to accept legal papers if court action is taken against the company. Entities in violation of the state law are subject to a $300 fine for every month the company is doing business in Connecticut without legal authority.

A representative from the secretary of the states office said noncompliant companies are discovered in three main ways: self reporting, from other paperwork filed with the state and complaints. The representative said nearly all of the cases are inadvertent.

The fines levied in 2018 range from $300 to more than $30,000. Among the other substantial fines were: Aqua Pharmaceuticals, $28,575; Diversified Holistics Research Foundation, $28,395; Vanguard Temporaries, $25,192; Optos, $24,382; Pero USA, $24,382; Amur Equipment Finance, $23,692; and International Marketing Strategies, $20,520.

In addition to registering, some business corporations are required to pay annual license fees. After gaining authority to transact business in Connecticut, businesses must file an annual report each year.

The state law applies to: business corporations, nonstock corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships and statutory trusts formed outside of Connecticut.

Out-of-state companies may not be aware that they must register before conducting business in Connecticut, however, it is important that they do so, Jepsen said in a release. Registration provides consumers with a layer of security and ensures that all businesses are operating on a level playing field.

The writer may be reached at cbosak@hearstmediact.com, 203-731-3338
#LegalizeIt, a new documentary about medical marijuana, makes no secret about its position on the plant. The film begins with the stark question: Would you break the law to save a life? The documentary, by the producers of (Shark Tank-styled) The Marijuana Show on Amazon Prime, then answers that question with a cavalcade of heartbreaking stories that make a compelling case for legalization.

Related: What This Medical Marijuana Company Can Teach You About Getting Buzz

A Mother's Nightmare

The documentary begins with the story of a 5-year-old named Dahlia.I love my mommy, and my mommy loves me, she announces to the camera. That sweet declaration is followed by a more somber one from her mother, Moriah Barnhart.

I went from having this dancing, affectionate, happy, playing 2-year-old baby girl to having this dying patient in a hospital bed overnight -- literally," Barnhart says, of learning that Dahlia, then age 2, had brain cancer.

We had no life anymore; everything disappeared, explains Barnhart, a single mother who is raising Dahlia and an older son by herself. We lived solely to save Dahlias life.

Barnhart believed that chemotherapy and other pharmaceuticals were poisoning Dahlia. I realized my daughter was going to die unless I did something about it." She then conducted her own research over several months, poring over thousands of online articles, What I found time and time again [was] that cannabis was very efficient for treating the symptoms and side effects of both the disease and its treatment," Barnhart recalls.

I started her on cannabis oil a few months into treatment, she continues, of her decision to put Dahlia on CBD -- or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive constituent of cannabis. The very first night she took the oil, she slept for the very first time through the night," she recalls. "She gained three pounds the first week she was on it.

Related: How This Investor Blazed a Path to Success in the Cannabis Industry

All the science for or against in the whole world doesnt even matter; youre witnessing it with your own eyes.

Will Sad Stories Change Minds?

So, can Dahlias positive experience and that of the other children profiled in #LegalizeIt -- essentially a 30-minute political position statement on film -- help proponents of legalization? Will the heartstrings angle, rather than users' rights, sway lawmakers and voters toward legalization this November in the two states where it will be on the ballot and the two states with medical marijuana initiatives?

Wendy Robbins certainly thinks the strategy can help. Shes director, editor and co-producer (with Karen Paull) of the documentary and spoke to Green Entrepreneur while promoting the film across 10 states. Wed like to see it federally legal, Robbins acknowledged. "The #LegalizeIt focus is, Imagine if you really needed it for medicinal purposes, and you were, in, lets just say, Florida. You can have CBD there, but you cant have THC [marijuanas psychoactive ingredient].' If I go to Alabama or Mississippi, its illegal. I cant take my medicine across state lines legally.

So, if a police officer pulled me over and saw my marijuana, I would end up in prison or jail or get a ticket. Its scary.

Prescription drugs meant to be authorized by doctors (though often obtained illicitly) caused 72,000 deaths last year, and in 2016 drug sales were over $450 billion, according to Robbins, who is herself an entrepreneur (she invented The Tingle head massager) and long-time documentary maker (with two Emmy Award wins and a third nomination). What we do know about cannabis so far is that it doesnt seem like its got side effects, Robbins says, echoing a leading argument for legalization, especially in regards to medical use.

The FDA has even approved a drug (Epidiolex) for epilepsy seizures that contains CBD, Robbins pointed out. So, we see on one level, [the federal government is] saying yes to it. And on another level, theyre saying that cannabis is as harmful as heroin; that makes no sense."

Related: FDA Approves Its First Marijuana-Derived Drug

Justin Strekal, political director of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), agreed. In an interview, Strekal said that appeals both to people's logic and to their sympathies are useful political strategies. These strategies are particularly important for those legalization ballot initiatives in Michigan and North Dakota (marijuana is already legal in nine states.and the District of Columbia) and for the two medical initiatives, in Utah and Missouri.

The whole purpose of a political strategy is to persuade your audience to come to the conclusion of the policy that you wish, Strekal pointed out. For some members of our audience, [depending on whether] were talking to the general public or talking to a certain set of lawmakers, those arguments will resonate better.

Thats why you see, when you look at a map of the U.S., with the states that have implemented the very, very restrictive CBD laws, particularly in the conservative South, almost all of those [legalization measures] were done so because lawmakers felt compelled to do so after meeting children with epilepsy [since CBD reduces seizures]. Thats why [those restrictive CBD-only states] qualifying conditions-lists are often only for intractable epilepsy because the kids with epilepsy were the vehicle to get the message through.

When we discuss changing the law and lobbying our elected officials, "Strekal continued, "one important thing to keep in mind is that it requires sustained pressure, in a country that has been so indoctrinated with propaganda which was originally crafted --and heavily, heavily, heavily rooted -- in racism.

So, when individuals who would benefit personally from therapeutic access step up and go lobby lawmakers, not just once but in a sustained fashion, that has been a critical component to how weve been able to reform laws.

Unfortunately, even by reforming medical programs and reforming state laws to provide therapeutic access for cannabis, we know this is a situation where 31 states have either passed or enacted a medical program, represented by 62 senators -- enough votes to overcome a filibuster -- [but] we still saw, in 2016, 650,000 Americans get criminal charges for cannabis.

Plenty of people still support those criminal breaks on marijuana use, of course. Kevin Sabet is one of them. He's director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida, a former drug policy advisor to three White House administrations, a TEDx talk speaker on legalization issues and co-founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM).

In an email to Entrepreneur, Sabet repeated his stance that the marijuana industry is "hell-bent on becoming the next Big Tobacco" -- with the biggest tobacco and alcohol companies looking to cash in on legalization.

The "heartstrings" strategy toward legalization, Sabet contended, "is one of the most shameful displays I have ever seen.

"The industry has seen this as a successful strategy with passing medical marijuana provisions in states, stating that marijuana can be a cure to treat all kinds of debilitating illnesses and conditions," Sabet said.

"The reality is this," he added: "The industry doesnt care one iota about helping sick kids -- it cares about making profits. If it was just about kids, why not stop at medical marijuana via the FDA? Why do the messages of medical, decriminalization and legalization always get molded together? Because this is about profits, not public health.

He's right, to some degree, judging from how Constellation Brands (maker of Corona beer and Svedka vodka), early this year took a multimillion-dollar minority stake in Canopy Growth, a medical marijuana company in Canada, whose lawmakers in June voted for national legalization.

But Robbins, #LegalizeIt's co-creator, argued that business profits from cannabis aren't a bad thing -- some portion of them goes to taxes. "Profits from adult use of cannabis can be used for education, infrastructure and other positive uses for local communities," she said. An example? Colorado, a "legal" state, has sunk some of its marijuana revenues into education and even a taxpayer rebate," Robbins pointed out.

Related: Marijuana Is a $794 Million Windfall for the States That Have Legalized Adult Use

In fact, Colorado's marijuana tax fund appropriated $118 million to a wide variety of government functions. According to the Colorado publication Westword, about $41 million went to education and public health via a school health-professionals grant and assorted substance-abuse-prevention organizations. Another $16.5 million went to affordable housing and local construction and a local government retail impact grant.

The state's Department of Human Services, meanwhile, applied the $32 million it received to substance abuse, mental health -- and youth marijuana-use prevention and treatment services.

Related:

Can a 'Heartstrings' Approach Help Make Marijuana More Acceptable to Voters?

A Plea to Our Elders: Consider Medical Marijuana Before Opioids

Exclusive: Former MTV and Conde Nast Exec Takes Cannabis CEO Role



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Aside from death, nothing in life is as predictable as taxes  especially in Connecticut in recent years. So its no surprise that both major-party gubernatorial candidates are wooing voters with promises of tax cuts, even as they accuse their opponent of plotting tax increases, particularly on the middle class. But when the political dust settles and the snow flies this winter, our state will need a governor prepared to submit and adopt tax plans carefully contoured to combat our mounting financial crisis.

That crisis includes a looming biennial deficit of around $4.6 billion; spiraling government-worker pension liabilities; mountains of built-up unfunded liabilities; totally unfunded retiree medical benefits; flat property values; one of the weakest economic recoveries in the nation; and net outmigration of our skilled, young, and high-tax-paying populations. Gov. Dannel Malloys massive tax increases precipitated these dire conditions; well-crafted tax plans instituted by the new government can help to ameliorate them.

The first imperative is to stop making things worse. No taxes  whether direct or in the form of tolls or fees  should be raised until Connecticut has addressed the harsh reality that it has promised current retirees outsized benefits and government workers bigger pensions than it can ever realistically pay. More taxes wont raise enough money; as weve already seen, theyll just drive affluent taxpayers from the state and push Connecticuts problems from daunting to insuperable. Businesses and families will continue to be leery of moving to Connecticut  and downright allergic to buying property here  until those outyear mortgages on Connecticuts future are brought down to size. It is time for unrealistic promises and over-the-top spending to be reined in.

The new budget must also reduce or eliminate taxes and fees that generate little revenue while driving high-tax-paying families and businesses from Connecticut. Lets start with the estate tax. Although it brings in comparatively little revenue, it has a significant effect in pushing taxpayers, especially wealthy older taxpayers, out of the state. And they have many choices when deciding where to relocate: all but 13 states, including Connecticut, have repealed their estate taxes.

Connecticut simply cannot afford to be highest-taxed state in the region (or .01 percent below) when it comes to categories like the income tax. Massachusetts has Boston; New York has Manhattan. Connecticut is a beautiful state that we are proud to call home, with many wonderful assets. Its comparative advantage lies in cultivating a competitive environment, with an appreciably lower income tax than its more urban neighbors, where families and businesses can thrive.

Finally, the state should look at reforming the way it permits its municipalities to fund themselves. Perhaps, for instance, municipalities might be granted a constitutionally limited sales-tax authority in exchange for a well-designed property-tax cap that would reduce property taxes proportionally in all locales. Such creative thinking could make for more dynamic  and stable  Connecticut cities, but only if a greater range of revenue options are coupled with strict limits on taxing and spending powers to prevent profligate cities from squandering the opportunity and digging themselves even deeper holes for the future.

Connecticut can save itself. But the path to a fiscally stable and inviting future requires clear eyes, steady hands  and the principled rejection of the blithe promises and tax-and-spend mentality that have characterized the mistakes of the past.

Carol Platt Liebau is the President of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit think tank based in Hartford. Scott Shepard is Yankee Institutes Director of Policy and Research.
Stealing documents off President Donald Trump's desk isn't the only way his top aides are trying to prevent him from taking action on foreign policy. Several administration officials claim that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has found another way to "resist" the president's maximum-pressure strategy on Iran: simply neglect to give the president a document he requested several weeks ago.

The Trump administration is drastically increasing pressure on Iran, including by tightening the financial noose on the regime and banks it uses to fund malign activities across the Middle East. One key tool Trump is considering is to force Iranian banks off SWIFT, the international system that clears trans-border financial transactions. Banning Iran from SWIFT was a crucial plank of the pressure campaign that brought Tehran to the negotiating table earlier this decade.

Iran rejoined SWIFT in 2016 as part of the nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from this year. Now, other top Trump administration officials and lawmakers want SWIFT to banish Iran again, but Mnuchin and his department are internally opposed to using pressure to force SWIFT to take action, three senior administration officials said.

In interviews, the officials said Mnuchin has been slow-rolling the decision-making process to delay final consideration by the president. Following a July 26 Principals Committee meeting on Iran, the Treasury Department was tasked with producing an options memo laying out possible sanctions on SWIFT, its board members or their banks. Almost two months later, the document is missing in action - which prevents Trump from making a decision.

I reached out to Mnuchin, but a Treasury spokesman declined to comment on specific sanctions measures. The spokesman said, "Secretary Mnuchin has led an intense economic pressure campaign against Iran as part of this administration's comprehensive strategy to address the totality of Iran's malign and destabilizing activity."

That has been largely true until now, but the real pressure is yet to come. In early November, the United States will re-impose harsh sanctions on the Iranian financial system, including the Central Bank of Iran. Although the Obama administration reluctantly implemented the sanctions after the Senate passed them 100 to 0 in 2011, Obama officials later praised them.

Frustrated with the delay, Trump asked officials about progress on the new Iran sanctions during a recent visit to Bedminster, New Jersey, two officials said.

SWIFT banned Iranian banks in 2012 under pressure from Congress and some European governments, but many in Europe were upset by what they saw as U.S. strong-arm tactics. This time, some European governments want to preserve the nuclear deal and protect Iran from new U.S. sanctions. If the United States successfully pressures SWIFT to break ties with Iran again, that will be a huge blow to European efforts.

Knowing this, Germany's foreign minister is calling for the European Union to create an alternative to SWIFT. But that's not going to happen anytime soon. Though the board of SWIFT is based in Belgium and operates under Belgian law, the United States still has huge leverage.

To be sure, it's a controversial strategy with serious risks. The move could further damage already troubled U.S.-Europe relations. Even if SWIFT capitulates, there's no assurance Iran will negotiate. Trump's maximum-pressure strategy may fail.

But we'll never know if that's the case if Trump isn't able to actually implement maximum pressure, said Richard Goldberg, who wrote the original SWIFT sanctions legislation as an aide to Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.

"The only hope for the president's strategy to succeed is getting SWIFT to disconnect all the Iranian banks," he said. "And if the Treasury Department waffles one iota on that mission, they are setting the president up for failure."

There's another great argument for cutting Iranian banks off SWIFT: It would hamper Iran's ability to finance the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas and their other regional proxies. SWIFT's own bylaws require it to prevent illegal financial activities - such as funding terrorism. Treasury's position is understandable; Wall Street doesn't like Washington policymakers disrupting their institutions, and there could be economic blowback. But allowing Iran to wantonly abuse international financial systems for illicit purposes weakens those systems in the long run.

"Mnuchin's job as treasury secretary is to protect the integrity of the global financial system, and he's not protecting that integrity if he is allowing sanctioned Iranian banks to stay on," said Mark Dubowitz,chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Senior officials have worked to contain their president by manipulating the policy process for ages. President Jimmy Carter's national security team worked secretly to thwart his stated desire to remove U.S. troops from South Korea. "We began a rear-guard action - delay it, water it down, mitigate the decision as much as possible," Pentagon official Morton Abramowitz said of the effort.

But now, with anonymous officials writing op-eds and senior officials playing hide-and-seek with items on the Resolute Desk, that kind of nonsense has to stop. Mnuchin should make his arguments to the president, give him the information he already requested and let the president decide.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Lift & Co. Corp. (formerly MJ Opportunity Corp.) (TSXV: LIFT) (the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce the closing of its Qualifying Transaction (the "Transaction"), as defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), pursuant to the definitive qualifying transaction agreement dated August 3, 2018 among the Corporation, 2636081 Ontario Inc. (the "Subsidiary"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and Lift Co. Ltd. ("Lift").

In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the Corporation is also pleased to announce the conversion of the Lift Subscription Receipts (as defined below) into common shares of Lift, which were immediately exchanged for post-consolidation Common Shares (as defined below).

The Transaction

The Transaction involved, among other things, the acquisition by the Corporation of all of the issued and outstanding common shares and series A preferred shares in the capital of Lift (the "Lift Shares") by way of a three-cornered amalgamation. As part of the Transaction, Lift amalgamated with the Subsidiary to form "Lift Co. Ltd.", a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

Consolidation and Name Change

In connection with the Transaction, the Corporation completed a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of 1 post-consolidation common share (each, a "Common Share") for every 2.4 pre-consolidation common shares issued and outstanding and changed its name to "Lift & Co. Corp.".

Pursuant to the Transaction, the Corporation issued an aggregate of 68,076,316 Common Shares in exchange for the outstanding Lift Shares (including those Lift Shares issued upon conversion of the Lift Subscription Receipts).

Following completion of the Transaction, the Corporation has an aggregate of 69,960,066 Common Shares issued and outstanding.

It is anticipated that the Common Shares will begin trading (the "Listing Date") on or about September 17, 2018 on the TSXV under the trading symbol "LIFT".

Changes in Board and Management

Upon completion of the Transaction, the officers and directors of MJ Opportunity Corp. resigned and the board of directors of the Corporation was reconstituted to consist of the following persons: Matei Olaru, Daniel Finkelstein, Stuart Miller and Kyle Detwiler.

On the Listing Date, Kyle Detwiler will resign from the board of directors of the Corporation and Deborah Rosati will be appointed to the board of directors of the Corporation. A biographical profile of Ms. Rosati is included below.

Deborah Rosati

Deborah Rosati is an accomplished Corporate Director, entrepreneur, Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and certified Corporate Director (ICD.D) with more than 30 years of experience in technology, consumer, retail, private equity and venture capital. As an experienced Audit Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee chair, Deborah provides extensive knowledge as a Corporate Director in the areas of financial and enterprise risk management, corporate strategy, transformational changes, M&A, corporate governance and CEO and board succession planning. Deborah is the Founder & CEO of Women Get On Board, a leading member-based company that connects, promotes and empowers women to corporate boards. She was selected as a Diversity 50 2014 candidate, and also recognized in 2012 as one of WXN's Top 100 Canada's Most Powerful Women in the corporate director award category.

It is anticipated that the audit committee of the Corporation will be comprised of three directors as follows: Deborah Rosati (Chair), Stuart Miller and Matei Olaru. Ms. Rosati and Mr. Miller are each "independent", as such term is defined within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110  Audit Committees. Each proposed member of the audit committee of the Corporation is also "financially literate", as such term is defined within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110  Audit Committees, and possesses education or experience that is relevant for the performance of their responsibilities as audit committee members.

Senior management of the Corporation now includes Matei Olaru, as Chief Executive Officer, Craig Hudson, as Chief Financial Officer, Kerri-Lynn McAllister, as Chief Marketing Officer, Josh Kerbel, as Chief Technology Officer and Mariana Fonar, as Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel.

Gotham Green Fund 1, L.P. and Gotham Green Fund 1 (Q), L.P.

Prior to completion of the transaction, Gotham Green Fund 1, L.P. ("Gotham Fund 1") transferred 7,043,732 series A preferred shares of Lift and 4,892,839 warrants of Lift to its affiliate, Gotham Green Fund 1 (Q), L.P. ("Gotham Fund Q"). As a result of these transfers, the securities of each of Gotham Fund 1 and Gotham Fund Q which are subject to escrow in connection with the Transaction are as follows:

Securityholder Escrowed Securities Number and Percentage of Securities After Giving Effect to the Transaction Gotham Green Fund 1, L.P. Common Shares 2,093,949 (3.00%) Convertible Debentures $399,950 principal amount of Convertible Debentures (n/a) Warrants 1,283,012 (n/a) Gotham Green Fund 1 (Q), L.P. Common Shares 8,377,107 (11.97%) Convertible Debentures $1,600,050 principal amount of Convertible Debentures (n/a) Warrants 5,132,846 (n/a)

Northern Swan Holdings, Inc.

In connection with the Transaction, Northern Swan Holdings, Inc. ("Northern Swan") has agreed to enter into a lock-up agreement (the "Lock-up Agreement") with the Corporation. Pursuant to the Lock-up Agreement, Northern Swan has agreed to a lock-up of the securities it holds in the Corporation for a period ending on the date which is 18 months following the Escrow Release Date (as defined below), subject to the following lock-up release schedule:

Release Dates Percentage of Total Locked-up Securities to be Released from Lock-up Total Number of Locked-up Securities to be Released Resulting Issuer Shares Warrants 6 Months Following the Escrow Release Date 50% 2,766,113 1,400,000 12 Months Following the Escrow Release Date 25% 1,383,056 700,000 18 Months Following the Escrow Release Date 25% 1,383,057 700,000

Escrow Securities

The following table provides an update to the aggregate securities of the Corporation which will be subject to a TSXV Form 5D  Escrow Agreement in connection with the Transaction:

Escrowed Securities Number and Percentage of Securities After Giving Effect to the Transaction (as indicated in the Filing Statement) Number and Percentage of Securities After Giving Effect to the Transaction (Updated) Common Shares 41,374,528 (59.14%) 35,842,302 (51.23%) Convertible Debentures $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount (n/a) $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount (n/a) Options 1,377,001 (n/a) 1,377,001 (n/a) Warrants 9,215,858 (n/a) 6,415,858 (n/a)

The Subscription Receipts

The subscription receipts of Lift (the "Lift Subscription Receipts") issued pursuant to the private placement completed on August 3, 2018 (the "Subscription Receipt Offering") were automatically converted today for one common share of Lift and, as previously noted, those common shares of Lift were immediately exchanged for Common Shares in connection with the completion of the Transaction. In connection with the conversion of the Lift Subscription Receipts, TSX Trust Company, acting as the Subscription Receipt Agent for the Lift Subscription Receipts, has released the escrowed funds (the date of such release being, the "Escrow Release Date") in accordance with the subscription receipt agreement entered into in connection with the Subscription Receipt Offering.

The Convertible Debentures

The senior unsecured convertible debentures of Lift issued pursuant to the private placement completed on August 16, 2018 were exchanged for senior unsecured convertible debentures of the Corporation in connection with the completion of the Transaction.

Further Details

Further details about the Transaction and Lift & Co. Corp. following completion of the Transaction are available in the filing statement of MJ Opportunity Corp. dated August 29, 2018, which has been filed under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR.

Final acceptance of the Transaction will occur upon the issuance of a final exchange bulletin by the TSXV.

About Lift & Co. Corp.

Lift & Co. Corp. brings media and data together to empower cannabis businesses and consumers with unique knowledge and insights to make better-informed decisions. For consumers, it operates Canada's largest cannabis product-comparison platform, an unrivalled loyalty program and North America's largest consumer cannabis tradeshows. For businesses, it provides unique market, product and consumer insights while connecting businesses and consumers through Canada's most-adopted consumer channels.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position.

The forward-looking information in this news release includes disclosure about the terms of the Transaction and the listing of the Common Shares on the TSXV.

The Corporation made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; and the ability of the Corporation to execute and achieve its business objectives, to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; reliance on key and qualified personnel; and regulatory and other risks associated with the cannabis industry in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

SOURCE Lift & Co. Corp.

For further information: please contact investor relations at the following email address: [email protected]
NEW HAVEN  Attorneys for the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the authority of Connecticut government officials to raid energy efficiency and clean-power programs in order to balance the states budget are hoping for a quick decision in the case from U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall.

Hall spent more than 90 minutes Thursday questioning Stephen Humes, an attorney representing the 12 plaintiffs in the case, including Connecticut Fund for the Environment, New Haven-based Fight The Hike and Connecticut Citizen Action Group. The judge also questioned Assistant Attorney General Philip Miller, who is representing the defendants in the case: Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, state Treasurer Denise Nappier and state Comptroller Kevin Lembo.

The purpose of this (hearing) is to answer some questioning I have lingering in my mind, Hall told attorneys for the two sides. The lawsuit was filed in May and Hall since then has been reviewing the filings for both sides.

Hall adjourned the hearing without offering a hint at when she might issue her decision in the case. But Humes said he doesnt believe a ruling from Hall would take much longer.

Shes obviously thought about this extensively already given the questions she asked here today, Humes said following the hearing.

Much of Halls questioning of Humes focused on the central premise of the plaintiffs legal challenge that using ratepayer money for anything other than its intended purpose violates the Contracts Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Hall asked Humes to cite where there is explicit language that prohibits state lawmakers from raiding the two funds, which were established about 20 years ago.

Humes noted that when the case first started working its way thorough the legal system earlier this year, attorneys for the state were not willing to admit that the bills that the states state ratepayers pay to The United Illuminating Co. and Eversource Energy constitute a contract. Attorneys for the state have now changed their view in the matter, he said.

There is an implicit understanding that the utilities have with the consumer about how the money is to be used, Humes said. The legal framework that makes implicit understanding possible, he said, is established by state utility regulators in rate cases that establish what customers are charged.

Miller conceded that the utilities customers have no choice other than to pay the energy effiency and clean-power charges if they want to get electric service from the companies.

At one point during the proceedings, Miller tried to argue that the plaintiffs lawsuit violates the Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution. That ammenment deals with states sovereign immunity in legal matters. But he withdrew that argument after being rebuked by Hall.

Following the hearing, Miller declined to talk with reporters.

Humes argued the legislatures action that resulted in money being taken from the funds to balance the budget came with no debate discussion.

This was done by the dark of night by a few powerful people, he said, referring to legislative leaders. They would say this was done before so they can do it again.

Humes said the electric utilities act as custodians of the money their customers pay into the two funds. But Hall questioned whether it is realistic to say that the utilities actually control the funds because the money cannot be used for beneficial energy efficiency projects without approval from the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

I dont see how the utilities can promise what will be done with money if it isnt theirs, the judge said.

Halls questioning of the two attorneys played out in front of packed courtroom, including contractors who do energy efficiency work as well as representatives of some of the groups that are plaintiffs in the case.

Leticia Colon de Mejias is founder of Windsor-based Energy Efficiencies Solutions, which provides businesses and homeowners with energy conservation recommendations. Colon de Mejias said she has had to lay off 7 of her 30 employees because of raids of the two funds.

When they took the money, all of the projects stopped, she said.

The legislature directed Malloy, Nappier and Lembo late last year to divert $175 million in energy-efficiency funding to the states general fund over a two-year period to fund a budget shortfall. Lawmakers voted in May to restore $10 million of that amount.

The first transfer of $87.5 million into the states general fund took place June 25. An additional transfer of $77.5 million is scheduled to be made in June 2019.
EAST HAVEN  The chairman of the East Haven Democratic Town Committee is demanding that Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. resign his position and pay all legal fees associated with a recent court ruling.

Chairman Marc Conte made his demands during a news conference Friday in front of City Hall .

The town settled a lawsuit Sept. 12 that will pay $175,000 to former employee Francine Carbone, who filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Maturo.

Carbone also will receive medical benefits until age 65, along with an undisclosed supplement thereafter.

This was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back, said Democrat Josh Balter. . Sexual harassment has no place in our country.

Conte said Maturo has a long history of betraying our town.

Too often when we hear about East Haven, we hear things that are not good about us, he said.

In a statement, Maturo defended the settlement.

Marc Contes calls for my resignation and for me to pay legal fees in connection with the Towns recent settlement of Mrs. Carbones federal and state cases has nothing to do with what is right, what is just, or what is in the best interests of the Town of East Haven, Maturo said in part. Quite oppositely, his calls are an ugly, selfish attempt to exploit a delicate and serious legal situation for political gain. It is simply repugnant that Mr. Conte would seize upon a national movement meant to empower women and use it as a weapon to advance the East Haven Democratic Partys political agenda. Make no mistake about it, that is what he is doing.

Maturo said although we have never, and will never, abet or tolerate injustice, harassment, or wrongdoing in the workplace, we have always defended and indemnified our officials and our employees, including those accused of civil or criminal wrongdoing.

Maturo noted throughout his 18 years in office, he has strategically settled hundreds of cases out of court and the Town has expended millions of dollars in connection with those settlements to protect our community and its employees from financial exposure.

Balter, a lawyer, isnt buying Maturos explanation.

On his Facebook page, Balter said I can tell you that this is a HUGE settlement for the plaintiff and shows the defendant was scared stiff he would lose. Our Mayor is a man who runs our town like a fiefdom and harms our community.

Balter said Maturos actions continue to bring the town down, whether it is the taco comment or something else that paints the town and its people in an unfavorable light.

There is this constant degrading of people in the town, he said.

Maturo said he will not resign.

I have never once allowed partisan pressure or considerations of my own political well-being to undermine my decision-making as Mayor, he said. For the benefit of our great community, I cannot and I will not resign.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect Josh Balter is not a state senator representing the 34th District.
(CNN)  The U.S. announced new sanctions against North Korea Thursday, taking aim at a Chinese company, its North Korean CEO and its Russia-based sister company.

The two information technology companies are actually North Korean-controlled entities, the Treasury Department said in a statement Tuesday that accused the Russia-based company Volasys Silver Star, China-based China Silver Star and its CEO Jong Song Hwa of violating U.S. sanctions.

"These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

He warned the "IT industry, businesses, and individuals across the globe to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects by doing business with companies like the ones designated today."

Thursday's sanctions announcement is the latest sign the U.S. is moving to increase pressure on Pyongyang to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. White House officials acknowledge there's been no progress on denuclearization, even as President Donald Trump considers a second summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon said the U.S. and allies are days away from launching a new effort to more publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs, two defense officials tell CNN.

Defense officials say North Korea is regularly employing "deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions" with ship-to-ship transfers, and while the U.S. and allies have been working quietly to thwart that smuggling, the effort will now become more public in an effort to "name and shame" Pyongyang and its enablers.

The U.S. has been using sanctions to maintain pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, even as it continues to engage in diplomacy.

"The United States will continue to fully enforce and implement sanctions until we have achieved the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," Mnuchin said Thursday.

The UN Security Council has noted that revenue generated from North Korean workers overseas contributes to the country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The Treasury announcement said that North Korea sells a range of IT services and products abroad, including website and app development, security software, and biometric identification software that have military and law enforcement applications. And it urged caution, warning businesses to be aware that North Korean firms use deceptive practices, disguising themselves through the use of front companies, aliases, and third-country nationals who act as facilitators.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US sanctions North Korea tech firms based in China, Russia."
Affluent consumers in Africa are at the forefront of adopting new technologies and social media is now considered the first port of call for news, as they embrace digital technology more rapidly than affluent consumers in Europe.

 Daniel Ernst via 123RF

Despite internet penetration on the continent lagging behind other regions of the world, Africas affluent population have embraced digital technology more rapidly than their European counterparts: in fact, many more of them are watching TV on their tablets, computers and smartphones; and more of them read their newspapers digitally.

International TV channels now enjoy a higher reach amongst the affluent population than national channels

Social media is now considered the first port of call for news amongst a substantial proportion of the affluent population

Growth of international media brands

Digital minded

Social media

Mobile-first

The 5th Affluent Survey Africa, released by Ipsos on earlier this month, revealed that:The bi-annual study measures the media use and consumption behaviour of the top 15% of income earners in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda.In the past two years, there has been a major roll-out of digital television broadcasting services across the continent, increasing the availability and reach of many international media channels. On a monthly basis, 96% of the African affluent population watch an international television network.In fact, on a daily level, the combined reach of international television channels  at 81% - is now higher than that of national channels, watched by 71% of this select group of people.While all types of international media are popular amongst Africas top 15%, the survey results show they are heavily business-news oriented. 69% of the African Affluent look at business-news media brands on a monthly basis, compared to just 44% of the Affluent in Europe.Although internet penetration in Africa still lags much of the rest of the world, this has not stopped the affluent population there from embracing the digital revolution. Two-thirds of affluent Africans claim to watch television on devices other than their TV set; far higher than the 41% claiming to do the same in Europe.Four out of five respondents claim to read digital versions of newspapers some of the time, compared to a little over 70% in Europe and the Middle East. One-fifth claim to mainly read their newspapers digitally.This years survey contains more detailed information on Africans use of social media, which is the top feature used on a mobile phone. Four out of five affluent Africans considers social media influential. Nine out of 10 African Affluents use social media several times a day. 12% consider social media to be their first port of call for news and current affairs. This number is highest in Kenya, where social media are the primary source for news for 25% of the affluent.Africa stands out as a mobile-first continent. With the exception of South Africa and Kenya, the African affluent spend more time visiting websites and apps on their mobile phone than using their desktops or laptops. Practically all (96%) African affluent now own a smartphone, with the highest penetration in Kenya and the lowest in Morocco.The prominence of mobile technology not only affects how Africas top 15% accesses the news: it influences their everyday life more broadly. For example, mobile is the most used digital platform to access personal bank accounts (57%); and 41% of the African affluent use their mobile phone for shopping, only slightly behind the desktop used by 43% for online purchases.The Ipsos Affluent Survey Middle East is part of the Ipsos suite of Affluent surveys, which now covers Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and the USA, spanning 50 countries and reflecting approximately 145 million adults.
NEW HAVEN  Researchers at Syracuse University are prepared to investigate hate, bigotry and obstacles to social justice thanks to a financial gift from philanthropists with New Haven ties.

Marvin Lender of the local frozen bagel pioneering Lender family and his wife, Helaine, made a $5 million gift to Syracuse University, where they met as students in the 1960s, for the Lender Center for Social Justice, which will be dedicated Friday.

The center is really a culmination of what has been, for us, 54 years of doing volunteer work and work in the community, Marvin Lender said. We felt the need to give back to the community.

The center has designated two inaugural faculty co-directors and will select a Lender Faculty Fellow from any of the universitys colleges to direct five Lender Student Fellows in two-year social justice-based projects to be presented at an annual symposium.

Helaine Lender said the purpose of the center is to involve all the disciplines on Syracuse Universitys campus.

We encourage dialogue with everybody, not just a smaller group, she said. Its basically a research center to find out why do people hate and why is there bigotry.

Marvin Lender said the couple believes identifying issues is one thing, but researching and collecting data on them before proposing solutions can be more useful.

Its only a coincidence that the situation today really warrants this kind of an institute, but it was five years ago when we began to talk about it, because we have seen over the last 54 years weve been together that the world really needs a lot of support and a lot of help, and now we need to get ourselves back in a direction that would be positive and productive, Marvin Lender said.

He said he believes his childhood in New Haven, being born to Polish immigrants who fled anti-Semitism in Europe, helped shape his early commitment to social issues.

I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, he said of his home on Baldwin Street. I was surrounded by immigrants just like my parents and my brothers and sisters from Poland.

Helaine Lender said her own childhood as a second-generation American in Brooklyn also exposed her to a diverse community of immigrants.

We have been very fortunate as a couple and as a family to have raised three kids and five grandchildren, all who have our shared values, Marvin Lender said. They have to rely on both of us for the history of our family, but they not only understand it, they appreciate it.

brian.zahn@

hearstmediact.com
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Constitution Day is Sept. 17. The day is set aside to commemorate the development and signing of the countrys most important document, which for more than 230 years has stood as both the plan for the American system of government and through its 27 Amendments, a summary of the political principles of generations of Americans.

This quiz, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted it.
One of the charming oddities of living on a Mediterranean island is that a facet of national identity and indeed islander mentality manifests in how news is reported. In Malta, if it happens offshore, it's not considered news. And if ever you wanted proof of the axiom that no news is good news, a review of Maltese newspapers would prove the point.

Four dailies

News agendas

There are four daily papers on the island:(ToM),(The Horizon) and(The Nation). The latter two are the party publications of the ruling labour party and the official opposition, the nationalists, respectively. Its safe to say that ToM is Maltas newspaper of record analogous to the (former?) positioning of thein the Mother City due its long publishing history. ToM is celebrated for never having missed a days publication even during the Second World War when Malta was the most bombed nation on earth. ToMs editorial stance is decidedly critical of the ruling party and the paper is a fine example of the role of the free press in holding government to account.Lets look at the news headlines for a random date in September  Friday, 7 September 2018.ToM leads with a story about  wait for it  fish slime. As unappetising as the subject sounds, it turns out to be a good news story in that the owners of the various fish farms (circular pens located a few hundred metres offshore) have found a commercial proposition for a malodourous by-product of the farming process and have thus been able to monetise what would otherwise have become a form of marine pollution. You can read the actual article here Since ToM is tabloid in size (but not orientation), it only features two stories on its front page, which is perhaps apt considering the paucity of what passes for news on our sunny little isle. That second article is ostensibly about criticism of a road-widening project, or more accurately the Churchs reaction to the government works department for commencing construction before a permit had been officially issued. By Church we of course mean the Catholic Church (Malta is 95% Catholic). Malta is in the throes of a 700 million road-development programme and the sacrifice of even one tree in the name of road-widening is treated here with the same seriousness that SA newsrooms report on Land Expropriation without Compensation. The environmental impacts of our road-widening schemes arent just front-page news, they are the subject of op-ed columns, think pieces and fodder for much of the letters to the editor and the comments roll which follows the online posting of the stories. As mentioned elsewhere, these comments inevitably degenerate into partisan mud-slinging even on the most apolitical stories.The archipelagos second daily,, also leads with the fish farm story. This is unsurprising since we know from ToMs reportage that this was a press junket. Resource-poor SA newsrooms would be hard-pressed to spare even a cadet reporter to go off on a three-hour boat trip to look at fish pens, but here on island Malta, with nothing much else to report on, fish slime becomes the catch of the day!The political leanings of the remaining two-party publications are evidenced by their news agendas:trumpets Maltas 5,9% economic growth (three times the EU average). What is astounding to me is that I would rank this as the biggest story of the day yet neither of the two independent newspapers lead with it. In truth, Maltas spectacular economic performance is neither rare nor unusual as it has enjoyed a super-powered growth trajectory for the past five years, so perhaps its no longer remarkable (as in different) news.(As a parallel insight, many forms of crime in SA are no longer news because of their prevalence and frequency.), true to form, manages to reference assassinated investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia (DCG) on its front page.In life highly critical of Muscats labour government, in death DCG has become a by-word for the failure of the ruling party to answer the unanswered questions, not least who ordered the car bombing which took her life.I cannot leave the subject of Maltese newspapers without taking a trip down memory lane to review the pdfs of ToMs front pages of 10, 25 and 50 years back A half a century ago in 1968 when ToM was still a broadsheet, readers enjoyed a front-page repast of international news events (an Italian coup trial, Swazilands independence, Israeli/Arab tensions, etc).In 1993, a two-story front page is split between local news (conditions at Maltas only jail) and international (Libya). Already in that second story, the focus has moved from the event (UN sanctions) to the Maltese angle on the news (what the GWUs position is on the UN sanctions).By 2008, the pivot is complete: all the news is local. Island Malta has become the centre of the universe.
This year's Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards celebrated journalism and its contribution to the country's society and democracy with the Gupta Leaks articles awarded the prestigious South African Story of the Year.

The Citizen photographer, Jacques Nelles, named Upcoming/Rising Star.  Danette Breitenbach.

This is what journalism is all about

Exposing the truth

In the era where it has become fashionable to manufacture the truth or alternative truth, tonight we are honouring the people who have made it their business to search and write about the real truth so they fulfil a very important space in our lives. They help us to connect the dots in what is happening in our democracy. For this reason, Standard Bank is proud to be the Sikuvile Awards sponsor.

The Gupta Leaks is also an example of a collaboration between several newsrooms, with Daily Maverick, Amabhungane and News24 journalists working together. Susan Comrie of Amabhungane and one of the journalists that worked on the story says it was a story that had to be told. For us, the story started in 2010 already. The Leaks not only brought it all together but also verified that we were right and that was very gratifying.She adds that collaborating with other newsrooms worked well. Everyone knew what their part was and fulfilled it and the result speaks for itself.The other journalists awarded are Antoinette Muller; Branko Brkic; Pauli van Wyk; Adriaan Basson; Richard Poplak; Adi Eyal; Micah Reddy; Susan Comrie; Angelique Serrao; Stefaans Brummer; Marianne Thamm; Sam Sole; Tabelo Timse; Pieter-Louis Myburgh; Craig McKune; Lionel Faull; Rebecca Davis; Sally Evans; Lester Freamon. The Gupta Leaks also won the Investigative category.Named Journalist of Year for his story on the migrant miners who are sent home many of whom are ill without a proper retirement, Bongani Fuzile of Daily Dispatch says this was a painful story to tell. The suffering of the miners was painful, but it was rewarding for us when the miners did at last receive some sort of compensation. This is what journalism is about.Fuzile was also awarded the enterprise news category award for the story, which was entitled We found them.In previous years, the judges have felt that the photography categories have not been at the standard they ought to be. However, this year they were happy with the entries. This led to The Citizen photographer, Jacques Nelles, named Upcoming/Rising Star for his "Picture of Parachute: The moon walk. Nelles says this is exciting for his future. The award was unexpected as I did not win in the category section, but I am very happy. Photojournalism is what I want to do.News photography category winner Bongani Shilubane was also excited about his award. I am a freelancer, so this award means so much to me. I hope it will open doors for me - maybe even for permanent employment. He won for his entry in the Pretoria News, Scramble to Register.Vaalweekblads Ettiene van Rensburg won the sports photography category award for Half and half. I am humbled by the award. As photographers, it is important for us to share our knowledge amongst ourselves to grow our craft.The Allan Kirkland Soga Lifetime Achiever Award went to former Muslim News editor and renowned writer and poet, James Matthews who received a standing ovation from the gathering.Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile, told the gathering that the journalists honoured this evening help to root out false news, exposing the truth.Commenting on this years entries, 2018 convening judge Mathatha Tsedu, says the entries this year lived up to the dictum of journalism to hold public powers to account. In total, the entries all showed the courage of their conviction and this shows hope for our country. The Awards are a celebration of verified journalism.
SHORELINE  When ordering a cappuccino at Guilfords Cilantro Coffee, Daniela Balzano has a very special request. She would like it served in a porcelain coffee cup.

This is just one step she is making to reduce her carbon footprint.

With this in mind she has created Plastic-Free Guilford to move toward less reliance on plastics in our daily lives. Her mission is simple, What can I do that will help us as a community to raise awareness, create some action, but in ways that its comfortable, she said.

The Guilford resident cites plastic straws, individual produce bags, single-use market bags and water bottles as examples of what people could do without. Plastic-Free Guilford is working with local merchants, restaurants and schools to spread the message.

Balzano is passionate when she talks about the damaging effects of plastics on the environment, especially the oceans.

She quotes a report from the World Economic Forum (weforum.org) that warns, the projected growth in consumption of plastics will impact oceans by 2050, when they are expected to contain more plastics than fish (by weight).

The report also predicts that the production of plastics will use a significant amount of fossil fuel, estimating the entire plastics industry will consume 20 percent of total oil production and 15 percent of the annual carbon budget.

The year 2050 may not be that far off for Balzano, who looks ahead to the next generation. The logo for Plastic-Free Guilford, a child holding a green heart, is a nod to children and their future.

I think thats where change really begins, she said. Thats our next generation, so we have to get them on board now with using less, being resourceful and conscientious, being mindful of what theyre using on a daily basis.

In the very same vein, Guilfords Terri Cain and Branford resident Meg Kilgore have started Bring Your Own groups in their respective towns. Statewide there are a number of BYO groups. Their goal is to eliminate single-use

plastic bags from stores and replace them with recycled paper bags.

Westport banned single-use plastic bags in 2008, and this month the ban goes into effect in Greenwich.

Balzano and Cain have delivered proposed ordinances to the Guilford Board of Selectmen.

In Branford, with some 780 signatures, Kilgore and her group are talking to merchants to get their input on their proposal. And BYO Branford plans to address the Representative Town Meeting in the next couple months regarding enacting an ordinance there.

In Guilford, Cain said her group is very cognizant and sensitive to the effect on consumers.

This is going to involve helping people to change their habits, or rather, asking people to change their habits and in the last years weve gotten into the habit of using these plastic bags everywhere, so to change the habit means it is going to take retraining ourselves and were trying to focus on plastic bags first, Cain said.

To educate the public, BYO Guilford will show the movie Bag It on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. The documentary explores the use of plastic and the effect it has on the environment, marine life and human health.

Cains ordinance calls for merchants to begin using recycled paper bags, with a charge of 10 cents a bag to offset the cost of the bags for the businesses.

Many of the Branford merchants have expressed concern about the ordinances fiscal impact on their establishments, according to Kilgore. This is also of concern to Guilford businesses, like Bishops Orchards.

While the farm market supports the effort and strives to make a positive impact on environmental issues, this is not an initiative that they can accomplish overnight, according to Sarah Bishop DellaVentura, Bishops marketing director. In addition, doing away with all plastic in the farm stand is not possible, due to federal and state food safety regulations.

The problem with the bags is that, coming to a complete halt, you are basically asking businesses to do away with bags that they have spent money on and someone like us and some of the bigger retailers, who order them twice a year and spend $15,000 a year on bags, thats a lot of money to throw down the drain, she said. And then we still have to dispose of them.

While they look at the possibility of switching to paper bags, they are considering a plan to charge a nominal fee, say 5 or 10 cents per plastic bag, and donate the money to charitable organizations, preferably local, that support environmental causes. Bishop said they have always had paper bags for their customers and those strong, durable handled bags cost the business about 17 cents versus about 4 cents for the plastic bags, which she saids, are made from recycled materials and are recyclable.

This is a big project to do, she said. I think the initiative of bringing your own bags is absolutely fantastic. Im behind it 100 percent and we applaud our customers who use their own bags. It puts a smile on our face, we know that theyre doing something great for the environment, theyre not using one of our plastic bags, which is an expense to us, Bishop said.

Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey said he was pleased to hear from Cains group at the Aug. 20 Board of Selectmen meeting.

I think its important that we have a discussion in the public domain about the impact to the environment, particularly since we are a coastal community, he said. The impact to the marine life is substantial and whether we wind up with an ordinance, or not, to me is not the important part. The important part is this is a grassroots effort on behalf of some of the members of our community to try to do something proactive to protect the environment, to protect wildlife and I was thrilled to see it come through.

Balzano knows that eliminating plastics from everyday life is not something that will come easily to every single person and that everyone needs to do it on their own terms.

Its all about a balance, Balzano said. Being extreme usually isnt sustainable; you usually burn out really quickly if youre really extreme, like Get rid of everything,  she said.

So, I think its all about a balance, she said. I think also, not being hard on ourselves, do the best you can do.

Plastic-Free Guilford can be contacted via danielarbalzano@gmail.com, 203-444-2544, Facebook Plastic-Free Guilford. Find the Branford group on Facebook BYO Guilford.
Industry professionals from all over gathered at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg yesterday, Thursday, 13 September, in their droves to honour the achievements of their peers at the 10th Annual Most Awards.

Image supplied.

A decade of Most

The winners for 2018

Media Agency Legend  Celia Collins

Media Owner Legend  Greg Maloka

Media Owner Rising Star  Mike van Tonder

Media Agency Rising Star  Ricardo Lopes

Shepherd Award  Rina Broomberg

Bell Award  Neil Higgs

Independent thought leaders with flair and integrity

Three hundred and fifty people cast 3,590 votes for 88 media owners in nine categories for this years Most Awards for Media Owners Survey, the best response rate since its inception.

Full list of Most Awards winners 2018

Media Owner of the Year AdColony 2nd Alliance Media 3rd Massiv Media Media Agency of the Year The MediaShop (JHB) 2nd PHD 3rd Alphabet Soup Media Agency Legend Celia Collins Media Owner Legend Greg Maloka Media Owner Rising Star Ricardo Lopes Bell Award Neil Higgs Shepherd Award Rina Broomberg Media Owner Lamb Mark1Media 2nd Ultimate Media 3rd Red Cherry Media Media Agency Lamb Initiative Media (Cape Town) 2nd Brand et al 3rd FCB Media Owner Africa Alliance Media 2nd Primedia Outdoor 3rd DStv Media Sales Media Agency Africa Omnicom Media Group Africa 2nd Dentsu Aegis Network Africa 3rd The MediaShop Africa Full-Service Media Agency The Media Shop (JHB) 2nd PHD 3rd Vizeum Traditional Specialist Media Agency Alphabet Soup 2nd Hitch Digital 3rd Posterscope Media Owner Category Awards Media Owner Radio Primedia Broadcasting 2nd The Media Connection 3rd Mediamark Media Owner Cinema Cinemark 2nd Cinevation Popcorn Media Owner Television The Home Channel, BDTV and Ignite 2nd e.tv 3rd DStv Media Sales Media Owner Out of Home Alliance Media 2nd Massiv Media 3rd Ad Outpost Media Owner Newspaper Spark Media 2nd Ads24 3rd Tiso Blackstar Media Owner Magazines Media24 Lifestyle 2nd Ndola Media 3rd Caxton Magazines Media Owner Digital AdColony 2nd Google 3rd Mediamark Media Sales Consultancy AdDynamo 2nd Vicinity Media

Stunning decor set the scene for a celebratory atmosphere which was added to with wine tasting, a pop-up gin bar, fabulous music, comedy, applause and networking, making this the crowning glory of the Most Awards so far.This is a bumper year for celebration, said Sandra Gordon, founder of the prestigious Awards. Not only are we extremely proud to usher in a decade of Most, but we share this milestone birthday with a number of other significant anniversaries. The MediaShop has been in business for 30 years, RMS Media is 25 and Freshly Ground Insights is 10. In addition, we have a crop of 21-year-olds: Kagiso, Mediamark, KayaFM, JacarandaFM, HeartFM and GagasiFM all turn 21 this year.In addition to the Media Owner of the Year Award and the Media Agency of the Year Award, won by AdColony and The MediaShop (Johannesburg) respectively, Most awarded some extra-special accolades. The Media Owner of the Decade was shared by DStv Media Sales and Tiso Blackstar, having both achieved similar results at the Most Awards over the past 10 years, while The MediaShop (Johannesburg) took the Media Agency of the Decade Award.The Most Legend and Rising Star Awards are presented to individuals in recognition of their commitment to the media industry. Respondents submitted nominations for these awards by respondents to the survey and the winner was selected by a panel of previous winners using specially selected criteria. These awards cannot be won more than once.The Most Lamb Awards, for companies that do not receive the minimum number of 30 votes, but who excel in terms of great service delivery and knowledge, went to Mark1Media.The Most Africa Awards are presented to South African based media owner and media agency teams. The Media Owner Africa Award went to Alliance Media and the Media Agency Africa Award was won by Omnicom Media Group (OMG), Africa.The Full-Service Media Agency Award was picked up by The MediaShop (Johannesburg) and the Traditional Specialist Media Agency Award was won by Alphabet Soup.In the radio category, Primedia Broadcasting took top honours while Cinemark won the cinema category. The Home Channel, Business Day TV and Ignition topped the television category. Alliance Media also won the out-of-home (OOH) category and AdColony was ranked number one in the digital category. Spark Media took the honours in the newspaper category and Media24 Lifestyle won the magazines category. The winner in the media sales consultancies category was AdColony.The Bell Award acknowledges an individual with a stellar track record of contribution to the sector. The nominees extend outside of the media owner and agency work environments, acknowledged as independent thought leaders with flair and integrity. The award went to visionary researcher and researcher Neil Higgs, a media maverick who has left an indelible mark on the South African media landscape, having developed and introduced the new SEM (socio-economic measure) household continuum to replace the long outdated LSM (Living Standard Measure).The Shepherd Award acknowledges an individual who selflessly contributes time, knowledge and expertise to improving the media industry. This special award went to Rina Bloomberg, co-founder, with Gareth Cliff, of One on One Productions and CliffCentral. She is a respected mentor, having given a number of radio personalities, including Cliff and Xolani Gwala, their big break on radio. Brad Aigner, MD of research house Freshly Ground Insights (FGI), commented that this years voting led to some surprising results, which indicated the changing state of the South African media industry.Likewise, The Media Agencies also received a record number of votes in 2018.
MAYS LANDING -- A jury has been picked for the murder trial of a man charged in the killing of a New Jersey radio show host in an alleged plot to prevent her from exposing a drug ring.

The 15-member panel -- which includes three alternates -- was selected Wednesday to hear the charges against Ferdinand Augello. He's pleaded not guilty in the 2012 shooting of April Kauffman at her Linwood home.

Opening statements are tentatively scheduled for Monday.

Prosecutors say Augello and the woman's husband, Dr. James Kauffman, wanted to stop her from exposing a drug ring allegedly run by the doctor and the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

Augello is also charged with trying to have James Kauffman killed behind bars. James Kauffman was found dead in his cell in January in an apparent suicide.
Q. We have lived in our home in New Jersey for over 25 years. We believe we meet all requirements for the Senior Freeze. During 2014, my wife worked part-time in New Jersey while I worked and lived in Georgia. I was the primary earner and filed taxes in Georgia, while my wife paid the New Jersey real estate taxes. Do we still qualify?

-- In Jersey for good

A. You're right to question whether you're eligible.

The Senior Freeze has several requirements, said Steven Gallo, a certified public accountant and personal financial specialist with U.S. Financial Services in Fairfield.

These include that you must be 65 years of age. You must have lived and paid real estate taxes in New Jersey continuously since 2006, Gallo said, and you must have lived in the same home since 2013. Your combined income for 2017 must be less than $87,268, and your real estate tax payments must be current.

You can see more details on the requirements here.

Gallo said he's making several assumptions about your situation, including that when you worked in Georgia for the year in 2014, you did not give up your New Jersey residency - meaning that you kept your Jersey driver's license and voted here in the story.

"According to your information, you worked temporarily out of state and filed what I assume was a non-resident tax return in Georgia," he said. "I also assume that you filed a New Jersey resident tax return along with your wife for 2014, taking the credit for any taxes paid to the state of Georgia."

If those assumptions are correct, you were still considered a New Jersey resident in 2014, Gallo said, therefore you are eligible for the Senior Freeze.

"Keep in mind that New Jersey only requires one spouse to satisfy all the requirements for the Senior Freeze and based on your facts, assuming your wife is 65, she would meet all the requirements," Gallo said, noting that you didn't say what your income was, so we hope you meet that requirement, too.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
A day after the chief executive of one of Camden's largest employers was quoted griping about the local workforce, the city's mayor demanded an apology over the remarks he said played to "outrageous stereotyping" of residents.

In an interview with business publication ROI-NJ, Holtec CEO Krishna P. Singh said his firm has not reaped the financial rewards of a 600,000 square-foot manufacturing plant he opened in Camden. The facility was hailed as a much-needed economic engine that would create hundreds of local jobs.

Then-Gov. Chris Christie's state Economic Development Authority gave Holtec $260 million in tax breaks in 2014.

The problem for Holtec, Singh said, has been the firm can't find quality employees while the plant has become a drag on the bottom line. Still, the CEO said he hoped employees would become role models.

Local workers lack the needed skills and work history, according to the interview. Holtec's Camden plant is "costing us millions right now," Singh said in the article.

"They don't show up to work," Singh told ROI-NJ. "They can't stand getting up in the morning and coming to work every single day. They haven't done it, and they didn't see their parents do it. Of course, some of them get into drugs and things. So, it's difficult."

Camden Mayor Frank Moran was "appalled" by the business leader's comments and the "outrageous stereotyping of Camden residents," according to a statement from Moran's office.

"I don't condone Dr. Singh's statement and we demand an apology," said Moran. "I will hold all companies in Camden accountable and expect them to be community conscious and responsible partners. I am committed to making sure that prosperity reaches all neighborhoods and people of Camden."

Moran took to social media Thursday to defend his city from the CEO's criticism. Holtec employs more than 300 people in Camden.

Do not disrespect my city. The people of Camden have more grit & ability to succeed than any other place. I know because I was born & grew up here. The journey to rebuild Camden requires commitment. I will make sure that prosperity reaches the people of Camden. Mayor Frank Moran  City of Camden Gov (@CityofCamdenGov) September 13, 2018

"Do not disrespect my city. The people of Camden have more grit & ability to succeed than any other place. I know because I was born & grew up here. The journey to rebuild Camden requires commitment," Moran said in a Twitter post.

A message seeking comment from Holtec was not immediately returned Thursday. The CEO also drew criticism from a local progressive group and the Camden County NAACP.

In a Facebook post, South Jersey Women for Progressive Change called the comments "racist and classist."

South Jersey Women for Progressive Change is appalled by recent racist and classist comments made by executives at EMR... Posted by South Jersey Women for Progressive Change on Wednesday, September 12, 2018

"The Camden County Branch NAACP strongly condemn the stereotypical and offensive comments from Holtec International CEO Kris Singh," the organization said in a statement.

The NAACP chapter said it would reach out to Singh "to seek clarifications" on the issue.

Critics have questioned the value of tax subsidies to local residents. Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this year called for an audit of the state's Economic Development Authority, citing a focus on generous corporate tax breaks.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Fallout from public comments from a local CEO disparaging Camden workers as lazy continued to reverberate across the town Friday.

Dueling news conferences were held across the city by protesters and local officials. Both gatherings largely criticized what Holtec CEO Kris Singh said in published reports earlier this week that Camden workers, "don't show up to work...can't stand getting up in the morning...didn't see their parents do it... some of them get into drugs."

"I'm sorry there aren't more Camden residents here today but they're at work" said city activist Amir Khan at a rally of several dozen people across the street from Holtec's waterfront headquarters. "As a matter of fact, not only are they at work, they're following in the footsteps of their parents who worked a generation before them."

Khan's comments were met with rousing applause.

He was followed by several other speakers who harangued Singh and called attention to the fact his company had received $260 million in tax abatements to move to Camden, a deal local officials expected would include hiring city residents.

About a mile away, on the other end of Broadway -- once a bustling thoroughfare of a blue-collar manufacturing hub, which, on Friday, featured blocks of weed-strewn lots and dozens of emaciated souls wandering about the streets -- Mayor Frank Moran held a news conference in his office in City Hall moments after the protest ended. Moran said he was "appalled" by Singh's comments. He said he had a "private" conversation with Singh on Friday after the self-made millionaire and founder of Holtec issued an apology for his comments in an article by the business website ROI-NJ earlier this week.

Singh characterized his comments as "out-of-context excerpts" which "misrepresents both the tone and the substance of the interview." Singh also concluded he was "not as articulate as I could have been."

The article also quoted U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, Camden's congressman, as saying: "When you stop to think about it, I say children are that one asset that you can't blame them for anything," he said. "Same thing goes for people who have not had a structure that taught them."

Before the City Hall news conference, protesters roundly criticized Norcross's statement. The congressman did not dispute the accuracy of the comments Friday. But he later said he was referring to opportunities for children. When asked about the analogy to workers in a follow-up question, he said, "those are two different issue we're dealing with."

Norcross and Moran said they would hold a "summit on jobs and career training" in Camden next week. Protesters demanded more accountability from CEOs such as Singh.

Camden has more than $2 billion in development currently underway. Much of that boom has been spurred by tax abatements for companies like Holtec. Local activists say they need more return for the tax windfalls.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which awarded Holtec's tax breaks under then-Gov. Chris Christie, did not immediately respond to a message.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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A state audit of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in Atlantic City says the authority failed to monitor costs and contracts relating to the Miss America pageant and did not commission an economic impact study before agreeing to a significant funding increase for the event.

The CRDA is funded by various casino fees and luxury taxes. The state Office of Legislative Services audit of the authority, which spans January 2014 to December 2017, was released just days after Nia Franklin, Miss New York, was named Miss America 2019 at Boardwalk Hall. The pageant's three-year contract with the CRDA ended with this month's pageant. (So did its contract with ABC, which broadcasted the last six pageants from Atlantic City.)

Miss America, which was down again in the ratings this year, has undergone a rough period of transition as Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of the Miss America board, oversaw an effort to modernize the pageant in the wake of a scandal that ousted the former CEO and jeopardized the pageant's contract with the CRDA.

Controversy was never far behind, though, surging again at the pageant when Miss America dropped its traditional swimsuit competition. Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, had also accused Carlson and pageant leaders of bullying and disregarding her -- a claim both Carlson and an independent internal review denied.

The pageant, founded on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in 1921, returned to New Jersey from Las Vegas in 2013 after nine years, financially unstable and lured home by significant state subsidies.

Under a three-year deal with the CRDA, the authority said it would pay 50 percent of Miss America production costs and 50 percent of building operations costs not to exceed $2,267,000 for each year. The deal also covered Boardwalk Hall security, the cost of meals and transportation for contestants and chaperones and a Miss America arrival ceremony. The CRDA paid a total of $6,801,000 for those first three years.

"The CRDA was unable to provide documentation to support any efforts on their part to monitor the actual costs related to the Miss America Competition," the audit says. The pageant organization was actually supposed to submit reports every 90 days that accounted for the production costs, but the CRDA never provided any reports.

In 2016, the authority greenlit a second three-year contract with the nonprofit Miss America Organization without an economic impact study, the audit says. Under that contract, the CRDA agreed to pay $12,536,000, 80 percent more than the first contract.

While an economic impact study was performed in 2013 that estimated the pageant's return could result in $60.4 million in economic benefit through spending, jobs and tax revenue, before it approved a second contract with the pageant, the CRDA did not commission a follow-up study to see if how much the pageant actually benefited Atlantic City.

A 2016 Bloomberg analysis of data from the state treasury and New Jersey Casino Control Commission spanning 2012 to 2015 showed that revenue from luxury tax and casino parking dropped in the year of Miss America's return and continued to drop for two years.

A second study was performed for the CRDA after the pageant in September 2016, showing just $23.2 million in economic benefits, but that figure included the value of the TV exposure of Atlantic City, something not factored into the previous study.

The pageant previously had a partnership with Dick Clark Productions, which produces "New Year's Rockin' Eve." As part of the pageant's second contract, Dick Clark was supposed to promote Atlantic City in its other productions, including the New Year's Eve telecast. It was also supposed to air a live performance in Atlantic City as part of the broadcast each year. The CRDA was supposed to plan and pay for the performance but it never did, failing to book an act for 2017.

But Dick Clark Productions cut ties with Miss America after the pageant in October 2017, when emails containing misogynistic language about former Miss Americas were leaked from the pageant's former CEO, Sam Haskell.

"We subsequently noted that the authority did not adjust its funding to the MAO as a result of this change," the audit says.

It wasn't until two months later, after Haskell's incendiary emails were made public by HuffPost, that the CRDA sent a letter to Dick Clark and Haskell asking them to talk about a possible breach of contract, with Chris Howard, former executive director of the CRDA, saying that the production company failed to mention Atlantic City during one of its shows, the 2017 Billboard Awards.

The audit recommends that the CRDA "develop and institute monitoring controls" and determine "whether funds were spent in an efficient and effective manner."

Howard, a lawyer in former Gov. Chris Christie's administration who stepped down from his CRDA position in July, declined to comment on the audit report. His predecessor, John Palmieri, a Christie appointee whose tenure as CRDA director started in 2011 and ended in 2016, did not return phone or email requests for comment. In January, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka appointed Palmieri deputy mayor of economic development.

"The CRDA would be well served by severing the funding agreement and finding better ways to invest in community building activities," Palmieri said in a letter to Sam Haskell, the former pageant CEO, after the email leak went public in December 2017. He said the offensive content of Haskell's emails did irreparable harm to the Miss America brand. Both Miss America contracts were approved during Palmieri's tenure.

In April, after Carlson, Miss America 1989, replaced Haskell at the helm of Miss America, presiding over a new leadership stocked with former titleholders, the authority approved $4.3 million for this year's pageant. The pageant received the funding despite Howard's pledge to review the contract in light of Haskell's behavior.

"The CRDA is always open to suggestions that can improve operations and the Board and management are committed to thoroughly review the suggestions of the Office of Legislative Services and implement any appropriate changes," Robert Mulcahy III, chairman of the CRDA board, said as part of a statement on the audit.

A spokesman for the Miss America Organization contacted by NJ Advance Media did not comment on the report.

Staff writer Steve Strunsky contributed to this report.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
In recent years across the land we've seen ghost pepper ice cream, pickled mango ice cream and corn on the cob ice cream. Goat cheese ice cream, lobster ice cream, durian (stinkiest fruit ever) ice cream and other bizarre flavors that make most people want to, well, scream.

Now here comes The Office Tavern Grill, in Summit, Morristown and Ridgewood, with maybe the kookiest concoction ever.

Cheeseburger ice cream. And it's free, but for one day only.

During a brainstorm session for The Office Tavern Grill's next off-the-wall food promotion (they've done buffalo chicken donuts, and wings breaded with potato chips), someone suggested cheeseburger ice cream for National Cheeseburger Day, Sept. 18.

"Really stupid,'' is how Kevin Felice, corporate executive chef for 40NORTH Restaurants, operators of The Office Tavern Grill, characterized the reaction during the meeting.

Hey, sometimes stupid works. Ground chuck, cheddar cheese and applewood-smoked bacon are the primary ingredients. First, the meat, heavy cream and cheddar cheese are cooked at a low simmer in a pan for an hour. That's kept overnight in the walk-in freezer. The next day, egg yolk and sugar are added, then bacon and more cheddar cheese.

The result: an ice cream flavor sure to entice the adventurous and scandalize the purists.

A scoop of the cheeseburger ice cream is free with every burger ordered at one of the three Office Tavern Grill locations on Sept. 18. Two gallons will be available at each location.

"If you like sweet and salty, you will like it a lot,'' said Jennifer Petrella, The Office Tavern Grill's spokesperson. "It definitely tastes like cheeseburger.''

My take? The ice cream tastes strongly of beef and bacon, loaded with meaty, savory overtones. It has none of the sweet creamy richness of say, the Taylor ham ice cream at Windy Brow Farms in Fredon. The cheeseburger ice cream is assertive and in-your-face, and not for those with delicate ice cream dispositions.

The burger not only comes with ice cream but fries, so "if you want to be that guy who dips his fries into the cheeseburger ice cream, you can do it,'' Felice said.

What happens if the cheeseburger ice cream becomes an overnight sensation?

"I'd probably quit my job,'' Felice said, laughing. "All I have is a two-quart ice cream machine. I'm going to be in a rough spot.''

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook and Instagram.
Joe Public founders named 2018 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year

Joe Public founders Pepe Marais and Gareth Leck were announced as 2018 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year at this year's Entrepreneur of the Year competition sponsored by Sanlam and Business/Partners. This just off the back of being announced Loeries 2018 Agency of the Year.





Pepe Marais (back) and Gareth Leck (front)

During their speech, Marais said: I think entrepreneurs can change this country. Im blessed and I think were all blessed to be entrepreneurs. Its tough but its worth it and we grow as people through the journey.



Leck added: Weve been bankrupt. I think we didnt have a boardroom table nine years ago, and now weve got a pretty cool boardroom table and a pretty cool business, so thank you. We are very blessed, as Pepe said.



I interviewed them to find out what the win really means to them and why the recognition and networking that comes with it means even more



What does being named 2018 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year mean to you and for Joe Public United? What does being named 2018 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year mean to you and for Joe Public United? Having been a finalist last year, they re-entered this year with a stronger business and more purposeful approach, which saw them become winners, according to a release sent to Bizcommunity.During their speech, Marais said: I think entrepreneurs can change this country. Im blessed and I think were all blessed to be entrepreneurs. Its tough but its worth it and we grow as people through the journey.Leck added: Weve been bankrupt. I think we didnt have a boardroom table nine years ago, and now weve got a pretty cool boardroom table and a pretty cool business, so thank you. We are very blessed, as Pepe said.I interviewed them to find out what the win really means to them and why the recognition and networking that comes with it means even more

How did you celebrate? How did you celebrate?

Thats awesome! What do you think makes your business model or approach to business unique? Thats awesome! What do you think makes your business model or approach to business unique?

Why did you decide to re-enter the competition this year? Why did you decide to re-enter the competition this year?

Although it is good for the ego, and I knew it would make our mothers proud, the greater intention is always to put our brand, Joe Public, first. We are a fiercely independent, 100% South African-owned entity and recognition like this goes a long way towards affirming to our clients that they are sitting at the right table.

Lets be honest  we are marginalised because we do not add the value we should add, as an industry, to our clients. This is not just the fault of our industry  equal responsibility should be taken by our clients. We are backing wallpaper with billions of rands of media spend, and that should be considered a crime in a country where 30 million people cant afford to eat. So, we are going to take stock of our approach, focus on what we can control, and bring more strategic and creative value to our clients. How else can we expect marketing to grow brands?



So true! Speaking of the state of the industry, what do you think of the current state of entrepreneurship in SA? So true! Speaking of the state of the industry, what do you think of the current state of entrepreneurship in SA?

In short, were a far cry from where we should be. Fix education, overhaul the status quo, inspire more entrepreneurs  and we may just manage to create a country that is a shining example to the world.

Such good advice. Given the local ecosystem, why do you think platforms such as this, that recognise high-impact entrepreneurs, are important? Such good advice. Given the local ecosystem, why do you think platforms such as this, that recognise high-impact entrepreneurs, are important?

What do you mean by being back of the queue? What do you mean by being back of the queue?

What would you say to encourage this years finalists to re-enter next year? What would you say to encourage this years finalists to re-enter next year?

Briefly tell us your entrepreneurial journey. Briefly tell us your entrepreneurial journey.

Newspaper delivery boy age 12 to 18. Turned the army into an entrepreneurial opportunity, without even knowing what we were fighting for. Exchanged my R4 rifle for a 4B pencil. Discovered art. Then advertising. Launched Joe Public Take-Away advertising from Cape Town together with Gareth in 1998. Obsessed with creative excellence and a highly disruptive business model. Sold our business 100% to an international communications giant in 2001. Became bottom-line obsessed. Merged with a C-grade agency in Johannesburg and inherited some large clients. Lost our creative edge. Then, lost our largest client. Realised we could possibly afford to buy our business back. Fought hand, tooth and nail for three years. Bought our business back in February 2009, lock, stock and two smoking barrels. Stared down the greatest recession since the Great Depression. Started building a new Joe Public from the ground up with a band of like-minded individuals who somehow managed to believe enough in our brand to stay the course. Found purpose for our business in 2010. Won a major retail account in 2011  the start of breaking through as a major player in the industry. Broke through by winning major banking account at the end of 2012. Launched four other specialist businesses  Shift Joe Public (Strategic Brand Design), Ignite Joe Public (beyond-the-line), Engage Joe Public (Public Relations) and Connect Joe Public (Digital) between 2012 and 2017. Launched Joe Public School of Growth in February 2018. Digitised our above-the-line offering by May 2018. Ranked Agency of the Year at the 2018 Loeries Awards. Grateful every day for our people, every single one of our clients and for the diversity and challenges of our country. And of course, for our wives, Heidi and Chanti. Finally, were at the start of something truly great.

Quite a journey, and just the tip of the iceberg I'm sure! What are some of the barriers youve had to overcome to get to where you are today? Quite a journey, and just the tip of the iceberg I'm sure! What are some of the barriers youve had to overcome to get to where you are today?

Whats next for Joe Public? In your speech, Pepe, you mentioned that your vision for Joe Public is actually to become an education company, not just an ad agency. Tell us more about this dream and the next steps to making it a reality. Whats next for Joe Public? In your speech, Pepe, you mentioned that your vision for Joe Public is actually to become an education company, not just an ad agency. Tell us more about this dream and the next steps to making it a reality.

Jessica Tennant's articles About Jessica Tennant Jess is Senior Editor: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com. She is also a contributing writer. Jess is Senior Editor: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com. She is also a contributing writer. moc.ytinummoczib@swengnitekram

As entrepreneurs, we arent often appreciated for the role we play within the greater economy as job-creators, so to be recognised and awarded was truly good for both Gareths and my souls.We arrived back at work after the breakfast event to a nearly three hundred-strong gang of Joe Publicans outside our building, all cheering their lungs out. It was very special, to say the least because we believe that without our people we are nothing. We cracked a few bottles of champagne, basked in the moment for a few more minutes and then all got back to business as if nothing ever happened.Our growth purpose: to be the fertile soil that grows our people, our clients and our country. We uncovered this insight back in 2010 after surviving the worst recession of our lives. It made us question our reason for being, as an advertising agency, and it made us dig very deep for an answer.And once we found this answer, authentically, we put it at the heart of our business. It is the driver behind everything we do. Our people, our product, our specialist services, our business tools and processes and our service to our greater community through One School at a Time. It is more than just a line of copy. It is in our DNA and infuses the energy of the Joe Public building  you can feel it the moment you walk through the door.We felt that we came close last year to winning the competition, but we realised that we were not adding enough value to our people, clients and the greater economy, especially after seeing what other entrepreneurs within the Top 10 were doing. So, we decided to do better than our best, and then better, over the course of the last twelve months.By driving excellence in all areas of our business on a daily basis, we managed to improve our creative output remarkably, which increased the value we add to our clients. We had also launched our School of Growth, geared towards improving the standard of the development of our people. We had created tools that could stand as proof of our purpose. So, based on our efforts, we felt we deserved a win and gave ourselves a second chance.That said, we again left this year feeling inspired by what other entrepreneurial businesses are doing and have decided to knuckle down for the next three years and focus on the job at hand. We have an obsessive commitment to steering our ship towards greater creative output and, in doing so, to start the long journey towards correcting the state of our industry.I have a deep belief that the only way to close the poverty gap is to create more entrepreneurs, and, in doing so, create more job opportunities. It is that simple and I do not understand why it doesnt get more focus from our government. In fact, if it was up to me, I would make entrepreneurship a subject at school. I believe that at some level it already is being taught  most likely at private schools  but I have not experienced it in the government schools that I engage with.But if it is being taught, my assumption is that the subject is most likely written by academics, and that is not what is needed. Entrepreneurs are not academic. They are mostly logical and street smart. They are a mix of IQ (intelligence quotient), EQ (emotional quotient), SQ (spiritual quotient) and RQ (resilience quotient).Because there are so few of them. Speak to any true entrepreneur  one of those very few people who has started a business from scratch and worked minimum 16-hour days for the first 10 years of their business existence  and you will find that they always put themselves at the back of the queue. Entrepreneurs also often work in isolation, away from mentorship.Many dont have the means, over the course of the first decade of business, to invest in their own growth. This kind of platform serves as a form of inspiration. For one evening and morning, you get to mix with a bunch of people who speak the same language and who are heralded by the two major sponsors  Business Partners and Sanlam. Both Gareth and I are more grateful just for this than the award.We put people first, ourselves last. Always. We have sleepless nights about doing that, which will serve Joe. We always make decisions based on what is best for the greater outcome, never based on our own egotistical needs. Even awards like this are more about our brand and our people than about us as individuals. I think this aspect in both of us, as people, is what has enabled us to stay married as partners for two decades.Finally, after two decades, we have figured out the truth about the double-edged sword of awards  and with that I mean all awards. One of our senior strategists literally coined the phrase a few weeks ago and I have adopted it as our new mantra: make work that wins awards, not to win awards. There is a distinct difference. Awards are a by-product of our efforts, and if you believe that you have put in the effort towards adding true value to our economy as an entrepreneur, then you deserve to give yourself a second chance.However, I have learned that real impact needs more than a 12-month cycle, and for this reason, we are going to focus our efforts on action first. In time, well see where it all falls.Social phobia. Not being good enough, creatively. Anxiety. To name a few of the smaller obstacles.Deep and authentic transformation within our business is our number one strategy. How else can we produce the calibre of insightful, mass market work that is needed to help grow our clients?Second to that, daily improvement of our product, services and processes. Theres massive room for growth across everything we do.Thirdly, lead our industry back to its rightful place of being seen as a respected partner by captains of our corporate world.And then, yes, to continue to improve the efforts of One School at a Time, with a greater intention to purchase our partner school in Dobsonville, Soweto, privatise it and run it as an incubation hub of what education potentially could look like in our country. Why should creative problem-solving be reserved for marketing alone?
"The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World"



By Sarah Weinman

(Ecco, 306 pp, $27.99)

Consider how much we worry when our children are 15 minutes late. It doesn't take long for a parent's imagination to spiral to the worst.

Rarely, though, do even parents with the most florid imaginations delve to the depths of depravity that serial pedophiles deliver.

It's unimaginably painful to consider what happens when those 15 minutes drag into years.

And though we know more about such felons today, in 1948 these crimes were not as well known as Sarah Weinman's true crime book that begins in Camden explains.



The world was different then.

"The Camden of Sally's girlhood was far removed from the Camden of today," she writes. "There were pep rallies at City Hall and social events at the YMCA. Girls jumped rope on the sidewalks, near houses adorned with marble steps... People didn't dream of suburban flight because there was no reason to leave."

So when 10-year-old Sally Horner came out of Woolworth's with a shoplifted notebook, she believed the man who stopped her really was an FBI agent. She burst into tears when he said he sent girls like her to reform school.

But maybe he could make an exception.

Eventually, he told Sally if they went to his office in Atlantic City, he could fix things. So she didn't get in trouble with her mother, he would phone and say he was the father of one of her classmates, inviting her on a family vacation.

Sally's mother thanked him, and put Sally on the bus herself.

But Frank La Salle wasn't a friendly dad, or an FBI agent. He had already done time for raping five young girls. And now he was given a new one, with her mother's blessing.

Most people think they know the "Lolita" story because of the novel and the film, but the real story is far darker.

By the time Ella Horner became suspicious and called police, it was too late.

Later, Vladimir Nabokov would read about the case, and borrow bits for "Lolita." The middle-aged man obsessed with a young girl. The cross-country trip he took his victim, telling everyone he was her doting father.

Nabokov labored to turn the story into art. But he didn't work hard enough to honor Sally.

Unlike the knowing "nymphet" of Nabokov's novel, Sally was a sweet, albeit resilient innocent. When La Salle came into her room each night, she endured it. When he moved her from Atlantic City to Baltimore to Texas to San Jose, she survived.

And when it finally ended, after 21 months - when Sally finally confided in a trailer-park neighbor, and the real FBI arrived to take La Salle away - she went home, hopeful.

Yet things didn't get much better. Her mother seemed to blame her. "Whatever she has done, I forgive her," she told reporters. Her classmates called her a slut. If it had been so terrible, why hadn't she run away?

Today, we know abducted girls can be brainwashed by their captors, or simply terrified. They may think their families have forgotten them. They may wonder whom to trust.

But in 1950, people just knew Sally was damaged goods.

Still, she finished out eighth grade, and looked hopefully toward high school. One weekend in August, she went to Wildwood. She met a cute boy, and later accepted his offer of a ride home.

Just before midnight, he hit a truck on I-78. Sally was killed instantly. She was 15.

La Salle - by then serving not less than 34, and not more than 41 years - made sure that flowers were sent to the funeral. Her family made sure they were sent back.

Sally lives on in "Lolita." But Nabokov's book is no salute. Told from the molester's point of view, it's a portrait of a perversely precocious tween. But Sally was an obedient child, who had only shoplifted to impress some friends. A brave girl who, right until the end, simply wanted to live.

Weinman's book has its flaws. Sometimes it resorts to guesswork. A single paragraph contains both "It's easy to imagine..." and "It's not difficult to believe..." Sometimes it relies on modern assumptions. Did La Salle really enroll Sally in Catholic schools because they were "a place for complicity"?

But it does one great thing for Sally, and all the other missing, abused children out there. It doesn't portray them as the victims they became. It remembers them as the vibrant girls they were - and will forever, tragically, remain.
The drunken driver accused of killing a Rowan University student in 2013 has pleaded guilty to a vehicular homicide charge.

Derrick Gilliam, 32, of Connecticut, admitted he was driving under the influence when he struck Matthew Uhl, 22, of Little Egg Harbor, around 12:30 a.m. on April 12.

The plea agreement was signed this week and prosecutors will recommend a 5-year prison sentence.

Matthew Uhl

Sentencing is slated for Oct. 26.

That sentence will be served after Gilliam is finished serving a 10-year sentence for robbery in Connecticut.

Uhl, a Rowan senior, was struck while walking with friends along State Street near the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house in Glassboro, where he was a member. He was two weeks from graduation.

Gilliam had alcohol on his breath and an open alcohol bottle was found behind the driver's seat, police said at the time. Gilliam had been living in Gloucester Township and was driving to the Landmark Americana Tap and Grill.

He is currently serving a federal prison sentence for a string of armed robberies in Connecticut in 2014. Gilliam and a few co-defendants robbed seven businesses, including a few banks, a pharmacy, motel and a Pizza Hut. During each of the crimes, Gilliam brandished "what appeared to be a handgun," according to federal prosecutors. He was arrested in July 2014 and has been detained over since.

He was sentenced to more than 10 years in 2016 and will return to New Jersey after that term is complete to serve time for Uhl's death.

The New Jersey case dragged on for several years, both because of his federal charges and because of court challenges over the blood test administered following his arrest in 2013.

Gilliam argued that the police drew his blood without first getting a warrant and that this evidence should be suppressed.

Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson noted last year that the circumstances on the night of the accident were chaotic. Gilliam refused a field sobriety test and was allegedly loud and belligerent at the crash scene, so officers took him to a hospital where he agreed to have his blood drawn.

"The officers were confronted with an emergency situation that justified the warrantless blood draw," Allen-Jackson said at the time. "Consent to be tested was not required."

Uhl's parents, Dawn and Al, called that verdict a "huge victory" at the time. The couple established a scholarship at Rowan that goes to students in their son's major -- business entrepreneurship -- who have a financial need.

They also take part in the annual HERO Walk in Ocean City that's held in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott, who was also the victim of a drunk driver.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.
JERSEY CITY -- A former Kearny school district bookkeeper was sentenced to five years probation after stealing nearly $200,000 from the school system and not filing tax returns.

"I'm very, very sorry," 50-year-old Gina Neri said before being sentenced by Hudson County Superior Court Judge DePascale this afternoon.

On July 10, the North Arlington resident pleaded guilty to theft and failing to file a tax return. As part of the plea deal, she must pay $318,000 in restitution and also file updated tax returns.

Neri was charged in December with second-degree theft by deception for writing checks to herself drawn from the Board of Education's account totaling $190,000 between 2011 and 2017. The district's business office noticed the discrepancies in October and forwarded the case to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Neri was then charged in May with failing to file a tax return, failure to pay, and filing a fraudulent tax return.

Second-degree crimes carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison upon conviction. Neri pleaded guilty to third-degree theft by deception. Third-degree crimes carry a possible sentence of three to five years in prison, but there is a presumption of non-incarceration for first-time offenders.

Neri was immediately suspended from her position in the school district's payroll department after being charged. She later resigned.

Timothy R. Smith represented Neri at the sentencing in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. At the hearing, Smith said there were extenuating circumstances that led to the thefts.

The state was represented by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph A. Pohopin at the brief hearing.
JERSEY CITY  When Hudson County announced last week that it intends to stop housing immigrant detainees in the county jail in Kearny, officials hoped the announcement would quell local furor over the practice.

Judging by Thursday's meeting of the county freeholder board, activists and immigrant advocates remain angry, not just by the county's continued financial relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but also by the freeholders' slow-walk of the promised dismantling of the county's immigrant detainee program. A vote on ending the ICE contract early was promised for Thursday but has been delayed until next month.

"What the majority of people here want is to end this contract," immigrant advocate Mahmoud Mahmoud of West New York, an Independent candidate for the House of Representatives, told the freeholders. "You all ran as Democrats but it seems like you're making decisions like Republicans."

"We should not be incarcerating people for a civil infraction," said Kristen Beatty, co-chair of Hudson County's branch of the North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America.

Thursday's meeting attracted about 100 people, far more than the roughly dozen that usually attend meetings of the nine-member board. The ICE discussion lasted for about three hours.

There were a few activists holding up anti-ICE signs but the crowd was not disruptive. That's not quite what some county officials had been expecting. Before the meeting, sheriff's officers discussed how many times they had to warn a disruptive protester to leave the room before they could arrest them (the final verdict: after three warnings, the protester would be cuffed and place in a jail cell in the county courthouse across the street). One of the officers devised a plan for spiriting the freeholders away through a back exit if they were in danger.

The all-Democratic freeholder board has faced ire from activists and immigrant advocates ever since they voted on July 12 to renew the decades-long contract that allows the county to house immigrant detainees in Kearny. The county's jail has become largely an immigrant detention center as statewide bail reform has led to a declining population of accused criminals.

The ICE contract is expected to bring the county $19 million this year.

Last week, County Executive Tom DeGise, who is facing re-election in 2019, reversed his previous support of the contract and announced he wants the freeholders to approve a plan that would end the contract by no later than 2020. A vote on that plan, expected this week, has been pushed to Oct. 11.

Not everyone present on Thursday is opposed to the ICE contract. One woman, Yvonne Balcer, mentioned that ICE was created following the 9/11 attacks and said she is "appalled" the freeholders would consider ending the contract.

"Your job is to protect this county, which means allowing ICE to do its job," Balcer said.

Lawyers for detained immigrants also urged the county to reconsider the new plan to kill the contract. Ryan Brewer, a supervising attorney with the Bronx Defenders, told the story of a 33-year-old client from Colombia who had overstayed a tourist visa after he met a woman in the United States and fell in love. The man was picked up by immigration officials after being arrested and charged with drunken driving, taken to Hudson County's jail and spent four months behind bars before being freed, he said.

The man is now seeking a Green Card, but he may have been deported entirely if he had been jailed farther away than Hudson County, Brewer said.

Ending the ICE contract "will not fix the injustice borne on immigrants today," he said. "ICE will not stop seizing immigrants."

The freeholders on Thursday also adopted a plan to limit public speaking at its meetings. Members of the public who speak during a portion of the meeting set aside for comments on agenda items can speak for 15 minutes each. The measure adopted Thursday would cut that limit to five minutes.

Anti-ICE activists said they found it "coincidental" that the freeholders would curtail public speaking in advance of October's vote on the new ICE contract. Freeholder Chair Anthony Vainieri said the two items are unrelated and said when the next ICE measure comes up for a vote, he will waive the new, five-minute speaking cap.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
A Jersey City police lieutenant charged with kicking and dragging an innocent man after a fiery car crash in June 2017 wants a judge to dismiss his charges.

Lt. Keith Ludwig argues that the case should be separated from the other cops' cases. The 23-year veteran of the Jersey City police force is charged with aggravated assault and official misconduct for his alleged actions on the night of the crash.

The case stems from a June 4, 2017, high-speed pursuit that started in Jersey City's Greenville section and ended six miles away on Tonnelle Avenue.

The officers were pursuing Leo Pinkston when, on Tonnelle Avenue, officers MD Khan and Eric Kosinki and Francisco Rodriguez shot at Pinkston's car.

Pinkston crashed the car on Tonnelle Avenue near North Street, causing an explosion involving a second car driven by Miguel Feliz-Rodriguez.

The incident that followed was captured on video by eyewitnesses. Officers appeared to kick and drag Feliz-Rodriguez from the burning car as he tried to extinguish the flames.

Ludwig's brief argues that the charges he faces are "wholly unrelated" to the charges against the cops who shot at Pinkston's car and should not have been presented at the same time to the same grand jury.

He said there was "spillover prejudice" against him when a grand jury heard the allegations against him along with the charges against his three co-defendants.

Do you think a judge should throw out the indictments against the officer?

Vote in our informal and unscientific poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.
After years spent working for medical device companies, Jacqueline O'Doherty knew many physicians, nurses and others in health care. But when her father became gravely ill before passing away a few years ago, she found herself frustrated as she tried to get the information she wanted about his care.

"It was incredibly hard to get information, and I knew people and how the medical field worked," she says. "I wondered how other people managed it."

For O'Doherty, who lives in Califon, the experience led to a major career change. Today, she works as an advocate for people in New Jersey and the New York City metro area as they try to navigate their way through what often seems like a health care maze.

One of her tenets is that there are two simple rules that can help anyone, whether they are trying to find care for an ailing relative or determine the best course of testing or treatment for themselves: Ask questions, and be proactive.

"Doctors are often bad communicators," she says. "And they just don't have much time to spend with their patients."

Asking questions and being proactive can be especially critical for anyone interested in getting the best medical care possible at a time when the cost of health care, which now comprises almost 18 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), continues to rise. At the same time, waste and overuse is estimated to be responsible for as much as one-third of all the money spent on health care in this country.

This includes money spent on unnecessary, and expensive, tests and procedures, which sometimes are prescribed or performed by physicians, who, in surveys, concede that they practice what is often referred to as "defensive medicine" because they want to make sure they are protected against any potential lawsuit. Just as likely, others say, are physicians pressured by patients based on something they've seen on television, read on the internet or heard from a neighbor. The overuse of antibiotics, which now threatens to render many of them ineffective, is a well-known example.

Some tests or procedures also can have potential risks, which should be discussed with the doctor in advance and clearly understood by the patient. Or, they can lead to a false-positive result that sends a patient down a path of more tests and more expense, chasing after a diagnosis that ultimately doesn't exist.

"Frequently, I'm called when a patient is confused, scared or doesn't understand what the doctor is saying," says Lorie Gardner, a nurse-turned-patient advocate in Chatham, who says her role then becomes doing research, helping with explanations to her client and functioning as a type of go-between with the physician. "I recently told a group that patients don't hear 80 percent of what a doctor says in a visit. That's where we come in."

One often-cited example of a range of testing that can generate a lot of discussion and anxiety is imaging, which can include X-rays, ultrasounds, CT (computerized tomography) scans and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging). X-rays, which have been around for more than 100 years, and CT scans, first developed in the 1970s, emit low-level radiation, while the dyes used to help create contrasts in the body during a CT scan and, to a lesser extent, an MRI can cause allergic reactions in some people.

These tests are also expensive.

One recent study, done by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that the costs of tests and procedures in this country was higher across the board than in other similarly wealthy countries. The average payment for an MRI in 2014, for example, was $1,149, which is 42 percent more than the average price in the United Kingdom and 420 percent more than the average price in Australia. A CT scan costs on average $896 per scan, compared to $97 in Canada.

It is argued that many of the more than 80 million CT scans done in this country each year are unnecessary. The American College of Radiology, for one, has recommended that CT scans should not be performed routinely for headaches and that most lower back pain does not require an MRI in order to be treated successfully.

But imaging is done so frequently, says Mark Shapiro, chief of radiology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, because it provides a great deal of information in a short amount of time and can help a doctor rule out serious conditions.

"Imaging is at the center of medical care because it provides so much insight into what is wrong with the patient and how to correlate a diagnosis," he says. "Without imaging, the physician would be lost. Even for the simplest things, like a patient who comes in with a fever and a cough, the first thing a doctor will do is order a simple X-ray to rule out pneumonia."

Shapiro also says he understands why the ACR had made its recommendations regarding the use of MRIs for lower back pain, but that the recommendation can be difficult to follow in the real world.

"The formal recommendation is that a patient should not have an MRI unless symptoms have been present for six weeks, or the patient has failed all other courses of treatment," he says. "But physicians will say that the patient is here with back pain and wants an MRI, so they do it. The push in modern medicine is to follow accepted guidelines and standards of care, but it is very hard to hold a patient off for six weeks while they are in pain."

Shapiro says that while he generally believes patients should follow their physician's advice regarding different types of imaging, every situation is different.

"I wouldn't argue with a patient who is feeling better and who doesn't feel imaging is necessary," he says. "But it's a difficult situation. The doctor may have seen some abnormal lab results and be concerned that they are an indicator of something. So I would say I would follow my physician's advice, but there are times when a test may not be necessary."

Because the best answer to questions such as these may not always be clear, O'Doherty says she urges people to take someone with them when they go to the doctor.

"You should always go with a friend, or a patient advocate, or someone with a second set of ears," she says. "They can ask questions, or pick up on something that was said that you didn't. You have to listen, and that's hard if you have just gotten a diagnosis and are feeling overwhelmed. You leave the office and realize you have a zillion questions that didn't get answered."

Both O'Doherty and Gardner say they frequently recommend that their clients get a second opinion.

"If a doctor isn't open to their patient getting a second opinion, then that may not be the right doctor for my client," says Gardner. "My goal is to work in collaboration with the physician and the patient. So I look on a second opinion as an opportunity to find the best protocol for the patient."

Gardner also says that while she will question a doctor about whether a less expensive test might be a better place to start when seeking a diagnosis, in most instances, insurance companies have already mandated that the simpler tests be done before moving ahead to the riskier, more expensive tests or procedures.

"The doctors I work with will say: 'Let's start with the least expensive test, and then go up to the more high-tech imaging,' " she says.

Cost is something manY people with good health insurance don't always think of first, but O'Doherty notes that it's important to find out what your insurance will cover. Even with insurance, a high deductible can make a procedure very expensive.

"You can always shop around for the least expensive place to have a test," she says. "Hospitals can be the most expensive place to go, and if a physician owns a place that does testing and recommends that you go there, you don't have to. But ask about the price, because they won't tell you in advance. The prices are all over the place. The point is to get in front of it and don't get behind it."

O'Doherty says that regardless of your medical issue, there are at least a few questions that should always be asked when discussing a test, procedure or course of treatment with a physician.

"These are five things you should know by the time you leave the doctor's office," she says. "You should always ask: Why are you doing this? What is it for? What are you trying to find out? Are there other things you can do to find the same information? And, what are the risks if you don't do what the doctor recommends?"

While having the answers to these questions should help reduce anxiety, it also may help to remember that, overall, the odds are on your side. Shapiro, at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, notes that, in his experience, most of the imaging test results he has seen were normal.

"Studies have shown that, no matter what you find, patients will get better anyway," he says. "Time is a great healer. Nonaggressive therapies often work best."
Grammy Award-winning guest artist Paquito D'Rivera will join with the NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band today at the J. Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place in Jersey City.

The free show at 6 p.m., will be conducted by retired NJCU Professor Richard Lowenthal and D'Rivera and company will offer a tribute to jazz radio station WBGO Newark and the 80th anniversary of the Benny Goodman Orchestra's performance at Carnegie Hall.

A winner of 14 Grammy Awards, D'Rivera was born in Cuba and grew up listening to Benny Goodman records, which would inspire him to pursue becoming a jazz musician. He has received awards such as the Living Jazz Legend Award from the Kennedy Center, the National Medal of the Arts from the United States, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Hall, and an NEA Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band has been performing waterfront concerts at Exchange Place since 2013, bringing together the University's professional graduates as special guests for shows. Some of these graduates studied at the school as far back as 1960, the year the schools jazz program was created by Lowenthal.

The anniversaries of the Benny Goodman Orchestra's performance at Carnegie Hall and WBGO are significant in the world of jazz. In 1938, the Benny Goodman Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall and made a statement with its racially integrated band. While jazz bands at the time were used to playing on the dance floor, the Benny Goodman Orchestra moved jazz to the concert halls.

Radio station WBGO would first air in 1948 as the voice of the Newark Board of Education before becoming a dedicated outlet for jazz music in 1979, creating a platform for a variety of styles from different eras.

Performers for this years concert will include drummer Rich DeRosa; sax players Mark Friedman, Noelle Rueschman, Bob Magnusson, Dave Noland, and John DiSanto; trumpeters Freddie Hendrix, Nate Eklund, Marcell Bellinger, and Vinnie Cutro; trombonists Rob Edwards, Mike Modero, Danny Hall, and Conrad Zulauf; and faculty members Andy Eulau on bass and Alan Farnham on piano. Vanessa Perea, vocalist and NJCU graduate, will join the band for several numbers from Sarah Vaughn and Benny Goodman.

Food trucks will be on site; seating is first come first served. The pier is on the waterfront at Hudson Street.
A man whose brother was recently arrested for attempting to lure a 14-year-old boy for sex is now facing his own charges after he made threatening Facebook posts about the officers conducting the investigation, authorities say.

Michael Coleman (Police photo)

Michael Coleman, 61, of Little River, South Carolina was in the Trenton area last week when his brother's Burlington County home was searched in connection with an investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

The brother, Joseph Coleman, 54, of Bordentown Township, was arrested in a Robbinsville park, where authorities allege he arrived to have sex with a teen, who turned out to be a detective. He was charged with luring of a child and attempting to engage in an act of sexual penetration with a child.

The Mercer prosecutor's office said Michael Coleman posted this threat on his Facebook page shortly after the search of his brother's home:

"...They notified me they locked up my brother at 3:15 pm in Robbinsville. As of 12:00 am still no word from him...Cop or no cop. Glad I wasn't carrying cause I'm sure I would have had capped one of those over steroids piece of s--ts out. Yes one of you were very lucky I wasn't armed I would have protected my life, my mom's life and her property and got away with it cause it wasn't done by the book...Cops ever roll in on me again like they did today! You better bring body bags cause people will die...So if your not going to do it right then neither shall I."

Authorities investigated the posting and charged Michael Coleman with threatening law enforcement, prosecutors said. He was arrested Thursday morning in Hamilton, and charged with third-degree terroristic threats and fourth-degree harassment.

Michael Coleman identifies himself on Facebook as a retired New Jersey state Department of Corrections officer.

It's unclear why exactly why he was in New Jersey last week. The town where he lives in South Carolina is an area predicted to be hit by Hurricane Florence.

Following his arrest, he was released on a summons and given a court date.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross
A man kicked in the face by police during a 2010 traffic stop can't sue for excessive force without identifying which officer kicked him, but he can seek to prove his rights were violated by a cover-up after the fact, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Emil Jutrowski sued two police officers and two New Jersey State Troopers after the incident in Morris County.

Jutrowski had been drinking at a bar in East Hanover and was pulled over in the town of Riverdale. During a struggle outside his vehicle, Jutrowski alleges he was kicked in the face and suffered a fractured eye socket as he was being held face down on the pavement.

Because of his position, Jutrowski said he wasn't able to see who kicked him. The defendants didn't dispute that Jutrowski was kicked, but none admitted doing it or seeing who did.

Last year, a federal judge in New Jersey dismissed Jutrowski's claims because he wasn't able to identify which officer kicked him and was "essentially asking the court (and as a result, a jury) to guess as to which individual defendant should be held liable."

The judge also dismissed Jutrowski's claim of a conspiracy by the officers to cover up what happened, writing that Jutrowski hadn't provided any evidence the officers had communicated with each other after the incident.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia agreed this week that Jutrowski can't sue for excessive force unless he establishes the personal involvement of each defendant. But the three-judge panel differed from the earlier ruling on the issue of conspiracy.

Citing some inconsistencies between the reports produced by the officers, the appeals court judges concluded that "what Jutrowski put forward concerning alleged federal and state conspiracies to deprive him of access to the courts was sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact" that could be considered by a jury.

Robert DeGroot, an attorney representing Jutrowski, said Friday he would continue to pursue the conspiracy claims in court.

"In effect, the court is saying if the cops act in concert to deprive someone of their constitutional rights, we're going to allow this avenue to pursue them," he said. "Mr. Jutrowski had his constitutional right to a full and fair access to the courts abridged."

The state attorney general's office, which represented the two state troopers, declined to comment on the ruling.
A New Jersey hotline set up to report abuse by priests has had no shortage of callers who have stories of alleged abuse to tell, officials say.

A week after the state Attorney General's office launched a special task force to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey, a dedicated call-in center to allow victims to speak with investigators has been all but overwhelmed.

"The hotline has been receiving a high volume of calls -- such that additional staff was assigned to receive calls -- and some of the calls are reporting multiple victims of abuse," acknowledged Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Division of Criminal Justice.

Indeed, some have complained they have had trouble getting through.

@NewJerseyOAG Ive tried myself and am hearing from a number of survivors that the hotline is not working. But we will keep trying. @TedShermanSL @KellyHeyboer  Confession (@Confessionfilm) September 7, 2018

@NewJerseyOAG been hearing from a number of survivors as well as myself that the hotline is not working properly but we will keep trying until we get thru. @KellyHeyboer @SusanKLivio @TedShermanSL  joe capozzi (@joecapozzi1) September 7, 2018

Aseltine, who would not disclose how many calls have been received, said the state has taken steps to ensure that the hotline is adequately staffed. Calls yesterday to the toll-free number, (855) 363-6548, were being answered almost immediately.

In an interview with NPR, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said the response underscored the need to have hotlines across the country, "because I am certain that this abuse, given the pattern and practices that the Pennsylvania report identified, was not limited to the Northeast."

The move by New Jersey to set up a task force and hotline was taken in the wake of the explosive Pennsylvania grand jury report released in August, which detailed in graphic terms the sex abuse by hundreds of priests who had preyed upon children for decades.

The report sparked a national outcry, with the attorneys general of Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and New York all taking steps to investigate sex abuse by Catholic priests in their individual states.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the two-year probe found a systematic cover-up by senior church officials. "The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up," he said.

In one case, one priest who decided to quit after years of child abuse complaints, asked for, and received, a letter of reference for a job at Walt Disney World.

Advocates in New Jersey have long complained that secrecy within the church has keep the stories of victims here from being told, and applauded the state's establishment of a task force, which will have subpoena power through a grand jury to compel testimony and demand the production of documents.

Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, who has been pushing to eliminate New Jersey's limits on civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse complaints against priests, said the hotline has given voice to survivors forced into silence for years.

"I've been working on this issue for 20 years or more, and have met dozens and dozens of survivors. Some have never talked about it before," he said. "I'm not surprised they want to let law enforcement know what happened to them."

He expects many of those calls have been long and emotional, recalling a conversation with one victim who he said is now reliving the trauma as a result of the renewed public attention, and is having a hard time coping.

"It doesn't go away," said Vitale.

Phillipsburg attorney Greg Gianforcaro, who has brought many sexual abuse cases against the church over the years, said a number of those he has represented have already called the hotline. At the same time, he expressed little surprise that the volume of calls has been substantially greater than expected.

"I predict that the findings from New Jersey's grand jury report will expose even more abuse than Pennsylvania's report has," he said.

Mark Crawford, the state director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said he had anticipated there could well be a great many calls to the state's hotline.

"I suspect they are getting many calls from victims throughout the country who once lived here as a youngster and experienced clergy sexual abuse at that time," he said. "I know this as I myself have received many calls -- far more than the regular volume of survivors reaching out. Some in their 70's who stated they had never spoken to someone, anyone of their abuse before now."

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The owners of The HUB bar in Hoboken should have known where it was headed. After all, they brought in a bad-boy promoter, known as "The Slut Whisperer," who brought with him a reputation for all sorts of horrible behavior.

If you watch the video that got the attention of the police, women are being sprayed with milk and champagne. They expose their private parts, and allow themselves to be penetrated with booze bottles and grimy fingers. They are clearly drunk. Sadly, they also appear to be willing participants.

There is nothing erotic or sexy about the video. It is hedonistic, dehumanizing debauchery in its lowest ugliest, cruelest, most anti-intellectual form.

It made me sad for those women, and angry at the men. The women seem to be enjoying the attention, the boys are getting cheap feels and thrills -- and everyone's cellphones are capturing it all. This is the "on-camera" generation, where privacy and dignity are traded for some kind of lonesome connectivity that some of us can never comprehend.

Exhibitionism for women, voyeurism for men. Either way, it's plain damn unhealthy.

Writing about morality is tough because morality, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.

But there comes a time when the beholders sink to a level where they become "an affront to human decency," as Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the party at The HUB. The local liquor board is investigating charges of assault and lewd activity."

But if the actual incident isn't disturbing enough, hang on.

The party was arranged by a social media phenom named Kirill Bichutsky. Yes, he actually calls himself "The Slut Whisperer." I'm ashamed to say he's a Jersey guy, from Morris Plains.

He has one million Instagram followers.

That last sentence has me taking a break to look for property back to my roots in rural Southern Italy.

One million followers.

Wave the white flag. The America we knew is over.

The Slut Whisperer has thrown this type of party all over the country. Las Vegas, Miami, party cities. But he's been banned in Vancouver. (I'm now taking a break to look for property in Canada)

In one graphic Instagram shot there is a tagline that says, "Feminists want you to die alone with your cats. Kirill wants you to get a yeast infection and meet your future ex-husband."

One million ...

I'm not a social scientist, but something is broken. There is something very horrifying about these young women being such willing victims of abject misogyny.

While "#MeToo" gains momentum, so does the b-word as acceptable in routine conversation. Thank you, rappers. And the c-word is gaining similar ground. Comedian Samantha Bee used it on Ivanka Trump, and she still has a job. This is the world we live in. And too many men and women seem to accept it.

The women's exhibitionism in the Hoboken videos show suggests sex is the only language they know. It shows they think their bodies are the only thing that will attract men.

The men, well, they're being raised by men with no moral barometers. I say that confidently. These boys have no respect for women, and their fathers didn't teach it, let alone enforce it. Both parents should be ashamed. And when I see things like this, I ask what happened to manhood, and the tender, protective manifestations of it, the kind of thing our fathers did silently -- in our world.

I also ask, conversely, where are the fathers who want to punch The Slut Whisperer in his stupid, expletive mouth? I do. Just like I wanted to punch the "Girls Gone Wild" guy." I forget his name. It's not worth looking up. But he's a has-been. The Slut Whisperer will get there someday. Hopefully soon.

But for now The Slut Whisperer has a merchandise site. His motto, plastered over a variety of hats, tees, and sweatshirts, is A--holes live forever.

A tie-dyed shirt that says "Please don't feed the whores drugs" is sold out.

There is a baby shirt that says, "Please don't feed the baby drugs."

God help the child whose child-parents buy that. I don't say that lightly. I really mean "God, help that child."

One million followers. Who are these people? And who raised them?

God help us all.

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Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkDiIonno. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
This story has been updated to include the employment status of the two men.

Another round of indictments in the sexual assault scandal at New Jersey's only women's prison accuses one corrections officer -- who has already been charged with sexual assault -- with helping a fellow guard sexually abuse two inmates.

The indictments handed down Thursday in Hunterdon County say that Ronald Coleman, 39, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania sexually assaulted one inmate between August and October of 2015 and another between January and May of 2016.

In both cases, his coworker, Brian Y. Ambroise, 33, of Union, allowed the women into a "secure area for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with Ronald Coleman," the grand jurors' indictment said.

Under state law, any sexual contact between inmates and staff is a crime because prisoners cannot legally consent.

Ambroise and Coleman are among the seven employees from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility who have been charged with sexually abusing inmates. Four have been convicted.

After a 2017 NJ Advance Media investigation uncovered a pattern of sexual exploitation and assault in the prison, county prosecutors and the Attorney General's Office launched separate investigations, and state lawmakers have proposed a third probe by a special commission. A civil rights probe is also being conducted by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

At least 11 lawsuits have been filed related to the abuses, including two class action suits.

This is the third round of indictments for Ambroise, who worked as a corrections officer at the facility for three years before his arrest in October of 2016. He was scheduled to go to trial on the first charges last fall when a grand jury indicted him for a second time after investigators identified a second inmate he allegedly abused behind bars, according to authorities. Ambroise is accused of sexually assaulting two women in 2015 and 2016.

His attorney, James Wronko, said Ambroise maintains his innocence on all the charges. In regards to the accusation that he helped Coleman, Wronko said this wasn't a case where Ambroise felt he had to obey an order from Coleman because he was a senior corrections officer. He just didn't know that anything illicit was going on, Wronko said.

"He never knowingly did anything to allow Coleman to engage in any inappropriate activities, assuming [Coleman] did," Wronko said.

He said Ambroise is scheduled to go to trial next month on sexual assault charges. He has been suspended without pay since his arrest in October of 2016, according to the Department of Corrections.

It was not immediately clear who is representing Coleman.

The 17-year employee is accused of having sexual relationships with three inmates, according to the prosecutor's office. He is no longer employed by the Department of Corrections, a spokesman said.

Both men were indicted on five counts of official misconduct and two counts each of conspiracy to commit sexual assault and pattern of official misconduct. Coleman was also indicted on three counts of sexual assault in the second degree, the prosecutor's office said.

Inquiries to the Department of Corrections about their employment statuses were not returned Friday.

"The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office will continue to fairly and aggressively investigate all suspected violations of our criminal code, with priority given to crimes of this nature," Prosecutor Anthony Kearns said in a statement Friday. "Justice demands we do so, regardless of who the victim is and no matter who the perpetrator."

Left to right: Officers Brian Ambroise, Thomas Sequine, Anwhar Dixon, Jason Mays, Joel Mercado and Ronald Coleman. At right, civilian staff member Joel Herscap.

Ambroise also faces a federal civil rights lawsuit by an inmate claiming she was abused by him, and a second officer, Jason Mays, and was punished for reporting the abuse.

Mays, 46, was convicted at trial in May of charges related to the sexual abuse of two inmates. His 16-year sentence, handed down in July, is the stiffest yet in the sexual assault scandal at the prison.

Three other employees have pleaded guilty to official misconduct charges instead of going to trial. Under the plea deals, they will not have to register as sex offenders, and one has already received parole, according to public records.

In addition to Coleman and Ambroise, corrections officer Joel Mercado, 38, of Lyndhurst, is also awaiting trial. He is accused of having a sexual relationship with two inmates, authorities said.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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This week the president took a break from precipitating the end times to pat himself on the back for his neglectful handling of the hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico.

The commander-in-chief, who two years ago definitely thought Puerto Rico was a separate country and not a U.S. territory, congratulated himself on the administration's response to the catastrophe.

As near as I can tell that response consisted almost entirely of a photo op where the president landed in Puerto Rico for the afternoon and spent 10 minutes lobbing paper towels into a crowd of desperate U.S. citizens.

Gold star.

Later in the week, his thirst for Twitter drama not yet satiated, the president willed 3,000 people back to life by claiming that "3,000 people did not die" in the disaster. I'm sure the deceased will be thrilled to hear it. Furthermore, he blamed the uproar over the deaths of 3,000 U.S. citiznes -- abandoned by their government and forced to fend for themselves in the wake of a historic storm without fresh water, power or other basic infrastructure -- on his Democratic opponents.

I'm not exactly sure how President Trump thinks the Democrats went about manufacturing 3,000 dead people when they can't even get Joe Manchin, the senator from West Virginia, to commit to a no vote on Kavanaugh, but logic left this place long ago.

The president's politicization of the hurricane victims serves as yet another in an endless string of reminders that we are being governed by a human diaper fire.

The people of Puerto Rico deserved better then and they deserve better now. Unfortunately, help under this president isn't coming any time soon.

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Gov. Phil Murphy says New Jersey is taking a major step toward using wind to fight climate change.

Al Gore, for one, loves it. But one Jersey environmentalist wondered whether his plan is full of hot air.

Murphy announced Thursday that state regulators next week are considering his administration's plan to allow 1.1 gigawatts of energy created by offshore wind farms along the Jersey coast.

That, the Democratic governor said, is a key development in his goal of adding 3.5 gigawatts of wind energy in the state by 2030 -- which he called "the largest and most ambitious wind energy solicitation schedule in the nation."

Murphy said it's also crucial in his ultimate goal of making New Jersey 100 percent powered by clean energy by 2050.

The governor made the announcement during an appearance at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

"Every day that we don't act to reverse the effects of climate change is another day that we abandon our economic, social, and moral obligation to create a safe, clean environment for future generations," Murphy said.

"In the absence of strong leadership at the federal level, states are taking it upon themselves to combat climate change, and I'm proud to say that New Jersey is leading that charge."

Proud to announce that New Jersey is on course to reach 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030  the largest and most ambitious wind energy solicitation schedule in the nation. #StepUp2018 #GCAS2018gov pic.twitter.com/Q7tTgJbvpq  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 13, 2018

That drew praise from Gore, the former vice president and fellow Democrat who has spent the last two decades focused on fighting climate change. Gore is a close friend of Murphy and campaigned for him in New Jersey last year.

After Murphy's announcement Thursday, Gore tweeted:

Exciting news from my good friend @GovMurphy here at #GCAS2018! New Jersey is on track to reach the critical milestone of 3,500MW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. Wow! Its clear that NJ is serious about addressing the climate crisis. #StepUp2018  Al Gore (@algore) September 13, 2018

But Jeff Tittel, president of the New Jersey chapter of environmental group the Sierra Club, said while Murphy's words deserve praise, he will "never reach these goals" unless he "stops dirt fossil fuel projects" in the state.

That, Tittel said, includes new gas-fired power plants and pipelines in the states.

"Unless he stops fossil fuel projects, all his words on renewable energy will be nothing but hot air," Tittel said.

"The governor went to San Francisco to talk about climate change and offshore wind," he added. "When he comes home to New Jersey, he has a lot of work to do."

Murphy's announcement is the latest development in his move to jumpstart a windmill program that stalled under his Republican predecessor, Chris Christie, eight years. Murphy announced he was kickstarting the program just days after taking office in January.

He said the goal is to have 1.5 million New Jersey homes powered by offshore windmills by 2030.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Monday will consider opening application for 1.1 megawatts in offshore wind projects. Murphy said he wants two more windows for 1.2 megawatt applications in 2020 and 2022.

"We're the natural offshore wind state," Murphy told Bloomberg News on Thursday. "It's the amount of the wind that blows on our shores, plus the reality of the offshore shelf of the depth."

Murphy's administration added the move will will create above 4,300 construction jobs in New Jersey and pump $700 million into the state's economy.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz drives to the basket against Detroit. The guard out of Washington was sidelined throughout last season with a shoulder injury.

Carlos Osorio | AP

Anthony Gilbert | For NJ Advance Media

Markelle Fultz, the former first overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, has an opportunity to exceed the expectations of last season. The Philadelphia 76ers are currently on the rise as one of the top tier teams in the Eastern Conference. Interim General Manager and Head Coach Brett Brown was unsuccessful in bringing LeBron James, Paul George, or Kawhi Leonard to Philadelphia.

Once the possibilities of signing a big name during free agency evaporated, Brown stated that the Sixers were star hunting, meaning the franchise will not make a move just for the sake of making one, nor will there be any dramatic shakeups to the roster. Hence the acquisitions of F Wilson Chandler, F/C Mike Muscala, and the signing of their 2017 second round pick (36th overall), Jonah Bolden.

The Sixers brought JJ Redick back on a one-year deal worth $12,250,000 (according to hoops hype), at 34 years old, his best opportunities as a starting shooting guard are behind him, which opens the door for Markelle Fultz to step in and give the team a new option at the two-guard.

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Tim Hawk | For NJ.com

Position-less basketball

Small ball has defined this current time and place around the NBA. The Sixers have their own version with a 6'10" PG in Ben Simmons, and C Joel Embiid who has the athletic prowess and versatility of a guard or forward. Markelle Fultz is a 6'4" lead guard, however with a summer dedicated to improving his jump shot, he can play off the ball, as well as at both guard positions, and small forward.

Simmons is a playmaker who will have the ball in his hands to set the table for the offense, nonetheless, with Fultz as a starter, the Sixers will have multiple ball handlers on the floor, who can distribute the ball, attack the defense, and control the tempo of the game.

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Quick reminder that Markelle Fultz had a triple double in the only game he played more than 25 minutes last season and was the youngest to ever do so  Hoops Reference (@HoopsReference) July 31, 2018

Much to the benefit of the franchise and fans, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz will be the backcourt for the foreseeable future.

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Brian Mahoney Associated Press

2017 No. 1 overall pick

Fultz came into last season with a ton of fanfare. The spotlight was shining brightly as it would on any No. 1 draft pick. However he only appeared in 14 games with averages of 7.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes per night. He technically hasn't played in enough games for people to fairly or unfairly access him as he prepares for his second year.

He will naturally have a chip on his shoulder with something to prove, and therein lies the silver lining. Markelle Fultz is still relatively unknown, and that can work in his favor due to the low expectations. The Sixers won 52 games last season, made a playoff run into the second round, and Ben Simmons walked away with rookie of the year honors. The organization did so well in 2017-18, that the focus shifted from Fultz, and onto more important things such as the 16-game winning streak at the end of the season.

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NJ Advance Media

Rookie contract

Fultz, did not have a full redshirt season like a few Sixers' rookies before him, and while he played a handful of games, he will hope to participate in the entire season as the team approaches training camp.

Financially, the franchise didn't lose much with the young guard on the bench for the majority of last year, due to the NBA collective bargaining agreement and the rookie sliding pay scale. Simmons, and Fultz are entering the upcoming campaign on their rookie contracts which is favorable toward the Sixers as they are getting a discount for a duo of their caliber and upside.

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Blessed to see 20 pic.twitter.com/cT5uDyzH6p  Markelle Fultz (@MarkelleF) May 29, 2018

Youth movement

The Sixers gained valuable experience last season, as the process came together and finally paid dividends. The team has one of the younger rosters in the league, and as the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. Ben Simmons is 22 years old, Joel Embiid, and Dario Saric are 24 years old, Robert Covington is 27 years old, and Markelle Fultz turned 20, this past May.

The best thing for this youthful core is to continue to play together, in an effort to learn how to close out games, win consistently, and form some cohesion. They will continue to bond and grow both on and off the court. This team is in a good place to gel and make a run for a conference title in the next few years.

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Tim Hawk | For NJ.com

Renewed confidence

Under the tutelage Drew Hanlen, CEO of Pure Sweat and NBA Strategic Skills Coach & Consultant, Markelle Fultz trained for the better part of the off season working on his jump shot and all around game.

According to the Bill Simmons podcast, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, who also works with Hanlen, shared some insight on the progress of Fultz, "me and Markelle are really close," Tatum said. "I see Markelle all the time."

Tatum elaborated further stating,"he's getting better, Im excited for him because, obviously, he wants to play. He wants to get out there and show people what he can do."

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Tim Hawk | For NJ.com

Sooner than later

The Sixers did not draft Fultz as a long term project. He obviously fits into a bigger picture that remains to be seen. The possibility of him cracking the starting lineup is a case of when it happens, not if it happens.

His talent, combined with a year to learn the game from afar without the pressure to carry the team or perform on a nightly basis will come in handy in this upcoming second year. Fultz will be more comfortable and NBA ready as he navigates through his sophomore season.

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Skillset

With a wingspan of 6'10" and a superb leaping ability, Markelle Fultz is a uniquely talented athlete. The NBA is a far cry from the PAC-12 conference, yet he averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks while shooting 47.6 percent from the field, and 41.3 percent from 3-point range in 25 games as a first year collegian.

Fultz is a ball dominant guard who has always had possession of the basketball. His role on the Sixers however, will consist of occasionally bringing the ball up the court, controlling and pacing the offense, as well as knocking down open jump shots, and driving to the basket. Neither JJ Redick nor Robert Covington pushes the ball up the court, and they do not create shots consistently off the dribble. Fultz has all the tools to be the combo guard/Swiss army knife that the team really needs.

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2017 rookie class

The 2017 rookie class has some great talent at positions the Sixers need. Most notably, Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma.

Tatum was essentially traded for Fultz in a pre draft deal, and he played extremely well for Boston, starting in 80 games, averaging 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. He saved the best for last, as he stepped up his game in the postseason. He averaged 18.5 points, and he showed that he belonged against Giannis Antetokouumpo, Ben Simmons, and LeBron James.

Donovan Mitchell won the dunk contest during the All Star break and he lead the Jazz to the playoffs while averaging 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals. Utah finished with 48 regular season wins, and a first round playoff victory over the OKC Thunder.

Lonzo Ball received a lot of attention not only for his style of play but also because of his father's outgoing personality and opinionated views. However, Ball had a solid rookie season, appearing in 52 games, with averages of 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.

Ball's teammate Kyle Kuzma was selected late in the first round at 27th overall, however he showed immediate promise pacing the Lakers early with his stellar play, and averages of 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 77 games.

Markelle Fultz's stats do not compare to his fellow classmates, and it will not take a genius IQ to know that he wants to prove himself not only to the critics but also to his peers. Fultz has the ability to play on a high level and he will get his fair share of opportunities very soon.

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Maddie Meyer

Ben Simmons earns Rookie of the Year honors

Not only did Markelle Fultz get injured and miss the majority of the season, he sat and watched as his fellow first year teammate Ben Simmons excelled with averages of 15.8 points on a 54.5 shooting percentage, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, in 81 regular season games, and a first round victory over the Miami Heat.

Fultz did not need any further motivation to come back and achieve as he witnessed his teammate evolve and come into his own on a nightly basis.

Ben Simmons sat out for a full year after breaking his foot during the start of the Sixers' 2016-17 training camp. That time off to rehab and learn the game at the professional level proved to be vital as he hit the ground running last season. He proved to himself and the league that he was the No. 1 overall pick and soon to be the top rookie of all rookies.

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Tim Hawk | For NJ.com

Most improved player

With 14 games under his belt, Markelle Fultz can only go up from last season. He is an all-around athlete that can play both ends of the floor, as well as rebound fairly well for a guard. The better he practices, and shows that he belongs in Head Coach Brett Brown's rotation, the more he will play, and impress.

His averages were modest, but with an expanded role, he can eclipse those numbers and make a legitimate run at becoming the 2018-19, NBA Most Improved Player.

It's not as far fetched as it might sound.

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Prominent most improved players around the league

In the past 4 years, the NBA's most improved players have earned that award and taken their career to the next level. That being said, there is nothing but space and opportunity for Markelle Fultz to rise to the occasion. The season begins on October 16th, in Boston, the perfect place to begin proving people wrong.

Jimmy Butler took the title of the most improved player during the 2014-15 season followed by C.J. McCollum in 2015-16, Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 2016-17 campagin, and most recently Victor Oladipo this past season. Fultz will look to add his name to the list, to erase any doubt that he is a bonefide NBA player, worthy of a number one pick.

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More than meets the eye

The Sixers have not said much publicly about what actually happened to Markelle Fultz, and rightfully so. The facts are that the team made a trade with Boston to move up and select Fultz at No. 1. Shortly after the season began, he suffered a shoulder injury and totally forgot everything he knew about shooting the ball.

He managed to play more towards the end of the season and the first round of the playoffs. Fultz fulfills a bigger role for the team that has yet to come to into fruition, nevertheless, he is the prototype for what this team needs on both ends of the floor.

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Anthony Gilbert covers the Sixers for NJ.com. Follow him on Twitter at @axgilbert.
In a blossoming season of art shows opening in all sorts of venues, faculty exhibitions are often overlooked for the splashier themed exhibits that crop up all over as leaves begin to fall. But is that fair? After all, it's the schools, colleges and universities that are educating and nurturing the artists who will someday be showing their work in those high-end galleries and exhibit venues.

So let's have a look at what the Visual Arts faculty at Mercer County Community College has to offer their students. The college has courses in computer graphics, alternate media, painting, photography, print making, sculpture and video and, in this exhibit, seventeen professors are displaying a wide variety of their areas of proficiency. All works on display have been produced in the last two years. They illustrate that these professors are not only teaching the fundamentals of creating art, they are nudging their students to think and to create works that will cause viewers to pause, ponder, and perhaps learn something new.

Right away, one of the first works that caught my eye was Ingrid Jordan's "Phrenology (2 Heads)." The dictionary definition of phrenology is "The detailed study of the shape and size of he cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities." Keeping those words in mind, the two ceramic heads take on new meaning. One head is crowned with colorful areas labeled spirituality, conscientious, hope, intellectual, mirthful, etc. The areas on the other head are labeled amazon, snapchat, twitter, facebook, google, etc. Not only are the heads very well done, they certainly convey food for thought.

Another work that will get you thinking is Emily Buchalski's "Stains" which comprises two tall panels hanging side by side whose materials used are described as "Pine, Blood." These tall pine pieces are shaped like vintage wooden caskets. One suggests the American flag with stripes and a field of stars. The other is simply blood painted with stripes. The stars are gone.

Then there are works on display that captivate with their innate beauty. One of those is Terri McNichols' profile portrait of a pensive woman painted in watercolor tones then fading to delicate pencil drawing. Titled "RIP Norma Jean," it is a haunting tribute to local artist and artists' model Norma Jean DeVico who died recently.

And there's Kyle Stevenson's "St. Anthony," a scroll of acrylic, velvet, wood and canvas.

This shows the seated man pondering, looking over his shoulder as a large lion leans close on his right and a large chicken and other wildlife closely surround him. And there's a pair of Michael Chovan-Dalton's pigment inkjet prints both in brown tones that appear so textured it's hard to believe their surfaces are smooth. Titled "Trace the Forms That Come and Go," these may be educational tools, but they also have a beauty all their own.

Displayed nearby on a pedestal are Mike Welliver's untitled raku works and Lucas Kelly's wall mounted acrylic and resin on foam and wood, "Standing in the Rain."

There are two oil portraits expertly done by Paul Mordetsky and in the main gallery, displayed as the centered eye-grabber, is Mircea Popescu's mixed media on canvas "Dome." Creating in a very different style from Popescu are Kerri O'Neill's two mixed media works "Soft Tissue" and "Open," both of which have a bit of mystery about them as does Meagan Impellizzeri's acrylic painting "Luminis Torquent" and Tina LaPlaca's digital illustration, "Our Loss."

A fun note of whimsy can be found in Lauren Rabinowitz's mixed media "County Fair" where grey squares with bunny ears float in the clouds above treetops. And Mauro Zamora's acrylic and image transfer on canvas "Commodity Market" stands in a class by itself as it displays shelves bearing commodities and, tottering on an edge, a striped bag of popcorn, surrounded by black teardrop drips.

And then you come to Yevgennly Fiks' installation and video, "Landscapes of the Jewish Autonomous Region." Accompanying text explains the "installation is based on stills of landscapes from the 1936 black-and-white Soviet propaganda film titled, 'Seekers of Happiness,' which narrates the story of a Jewish family from abroad who settle in Birobidzhan."

The wide variety of disciplines exhibited in this show certainly indicate our Mercer County art students are in good hands. Let's bookend our local art scene with this faculty exhibit and that of the college's art students that happens every spring. It's bound to be a good one.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Mercer County College Faculty Art Exhibition

WHERE: The Gallery at Mercer County Community College,

2nd floor Communications (CM) Building

1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor

WHEN: Through October 4. Hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday,

Tuesday, Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Reception, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 19

CONTACT: 609-570-3589. gallery@mccc.edu

Follow NJ.com on Twitter@njdotcom. Find NJ.com on Facebook
In a treasured book called "The Sayings of Buddha," that wise philosopher wrote, "No one saves us but ourselves; no one can and no one may; we ourselves must walk the path," and McCarter Theatre is opening its new season with an adaptation of a novel by an American storyteller who used a similar theme in "The Age of Innocence," and that long one-act play will be running at the Berlind Theatre of the Princeton McCarter Theatre Center through October 7.

Edith Wharton wrote the original novel in 1920, and it was the 1921 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. As she did in her heftier "The House of Mirth," Wharton was revisiting the time and society of her youth, and both that time and that society, subjected to progress and change, would be altered greatly from the world she grew up in, and she looks back at those alterations with both regret and relief.

The primary characters of both Wharton's novel and this adaptation by Douglas McGrath, which is directed by Doug Hughes, form a romantic triangle. A young lawyer named Newland Archer (played by Andrew Veenstra), who lives in a New York City brownstone with his prominent family, is anticipating his marriage to the sheltered and charming May Welland (Helen Cespedes). May's dear friend and cousin, now Countess Ellen Olenska (Sierra Boggess), returns home from her unhappy marriage with an older Polish count and the scandal that ensures, but Newland is now uncertain that he has made the right choice when he befriends Ellen and that friendship blossoms into love. When Ellen decides to divorce the count rather than merely live separately from him, May's family fears social disgrace. Separation may be socially acceptable, but divorce is not. Newland marrying a divorced woman would be out of the question, for it would be career and social suicide for him and disgrace for his Old New York family.

McGrath's stage adaptation preserves Wharton's multi-decade time gap between the story's main section and its aftermath by having Newland played by two actors, Veenstra and Boyd Gaines who's listed in the program as "Older Gentleman." The story can then be seen as a memory play for its leading man.

Veenstra, who recently played "Hamlet" at Lincoln Center, did the first national tour of "War Horse," and cites playing all three male leads in O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" as a career goal, finds his character fascinating and looks at Newland's story and the choice he makes between the two women he loves as not being as dated as the play's elegant sets by John Lee Beatty and gorgeous costumes by Linda Cho.

"I had read the novel in college," said Veenstra, "and been impressed that Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. I also knew the film version directed by Martin Scorsese with Daniel Day-Lewis, just as a student of the industry, but I didn't go back to the film as I did to the novel in preparation. With this play, there are so many levels of storytelling that happen underneath, and I've been finding more of them as we go along.

"I think that, with our current political climate, the questions that Wharton was asking her readers to consider have become much more present. McGrath's adaptation really brings to the forefront some questions like: what is our role in society? What is our responsibility to each other? What are the consequences of making selfish decisions?

Do we have the right to make selfish decisions when our actions have consequences for other people? What happens when the ego puts itself ahead of everyone else in society?

"I believe Newland was a thinker; he was a voracious reader, and I think he was ahead of his time. He resented that his society didn't treat women as the equals of men, but nobody, including his wife at dinner, would talk to him about that; it just wasn't done. He lives in a sort of middle space and finds out that he can't have it all; he wants to be his best self while hurting the least amount of people," said Veenstra who is making his McCarter debut as Newland.

"I've lived in this play for a while now," said Veenstra, "having worked on it at Hartford Stage, and I see it as far more relatable to today's audiences than people might think. Those who have seen it have really responded to the questions of what is our role as part of a family, as part of a community. I've realized that things are far less black and white, and that more and more things are grey; circumstances change things. These two women, May and Ellen, fulfill two parts of Newland's personage. They fit different aspects of what he's looking for. I think that, in this play, McGrath asks audiences when is it wrong to love somebody, or is it ever wrong to love somebody? I don't think the play forces any particular answer on audiences; they can decide for themselves."

Helen Cespedes, who plays May Welland, was at McCarter before for a play reading, but this role is her stage debut there. She's played Cecily in two very different stagings of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" directed by Maria Aitken and David Hyde Pierce and considers that her favorite role so far, but she sees May as a woman very much of her time.

"I love May. She cares deeply about her family," said Cespedes, "and the idea of protecting them, all generations of them, as well as the new family she'll create with Newland, is so precious to her. She was raised with certain values, and I've had to be careful not to impose my own values on her. She didn't have, or didn't think she had, the range of options which I have. She does, in a way, get what she wants out of her marriage to Newland, but that may not be what I personally think is best for her. What she wanted was to be a good wife to Newland, to be a good mother to their children and to maintain the structures of society as she knew them.

"She loves her cousin, worries about her and is committed to helping Ellen fit back into New York society, and she loves Newland. Newland talks to May about Ellen, but as the connection between Newland and May develops, he talks about her less and less.

"If you ask what my favorite moment is in the play," said Cespedes, "I'd say it's watching Boyd Gaines as the Older Gentleman watch the play unfold. He's onstage the whole time and seeing his involvement with this story is like a master class in acting. He's a constant source of inspiration for all of us."

IF YOU GO

"The Age of Innocence"

When: through October 7, Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Where: Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton

How much: Tickets $25 - $90

Contact: (609) 258-2787 or online at mccarter.org.

Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
by Kristina Knight

Kristina: How did the process begin from transitioning TechTarget from a media company to a data company begin?

Mike Cotoia, CEO, TechTarget: This was not an overnight or "flip of the switch" transition, but rather a continuous build on the foundation of our business. At the core of our business we are the largest Enterprise B2B Tech Publisher in the world and our heavy and continuous investment in publishing relevant content across more than 10,000 technology-specific segments has essentially always made us a data company. When you invest in publishing the right purpose-built content you attract a very active and engaged audience while they are researching upcoming enterprise technology solutions. The audience self-selects themselves into our ecosystem (and it is the largest ecosystem in the market with close to 20 million registered members across 140+ enterprise technology focused sites) and we are able to capture all of their purchase-intent insights and behavior which we segment by topical interest, geographic region, and which stage of the buying cycle they are currently navigating. Knowing what our members are focused on allows us to provide a better experience for them by serving up relevant content to help them in their decision process. We then work with our clients by providing them access to real, observed purchase intent data insights so they can prioritize their content marketing and sales efforts and ultimately drive measurable pipeline for their respective organizations. It creates a win for our members, our clients, and for TechTarget and that is a Trifecta I will take anytime.

Kristina: How do you fuel TechTarget's continued success?

Mike: In principle, the answer's very simple. We find, hire and nurture eager, high-potential people across a number of critical roles, from editorial, to product, to sales and marketing. We try to empower them to take on as much challenge as they can, and then we enable them with a pragmatic focus - that if we do this now, we will deliver additional appreciable value to one or more of our key constituencies in the visible future. The strategic part is about who we choose. The tactical piece is about how we focus. And the operational piece is about getting better and better at scaling the whole thing out.

From our clients' perspective, they don't view us as simply a lead or data provider. People throw around the word partnership too freely but I would say we take a company-wide approach to work very closely with our clients. We understand their jobs aren't easy and they are transforming themselves every day into becoming better data-driven marketing and sales organizations. On the surface that sounds pretty straight forward, but we don't sell a solution and then simply let our clients "figure it out." We invest heavily in client support to help assist them in leveraging our suite of Purchase Intent marketing and sales products in order to put them in the best position to succeed. Our team at TechTarget clearly understands that if our clients succeed, everything else will fall into place.

Kristina: Are there any new product announcements/updates TechTarget is working on?

Mike: We typically have two major releases of our foundational Priority Engine real purchase intent platform annually. And we update our other products and services on regular cycles as well. There are three key areas we're especially focused on right now. First is around enabling marketing at both the executional and the strategic levels to improve both their delivery and their strategy. Second is around enabling sales to realize greater productivity and yield. And last, connecting the two, through the combination of our products and our customer success practice, we're helping clients accelerate the combined performance of marketing and sales - call it "M&S ROI" if you will -- using real purchase intent as the critical fuel.

Overall, we continually try to make it as make it as easy as possible for our clients to see results right in Priority Engine so they know exactly how their marketing and sales efforts are paying off against pipeline goals, ABM strategies, nurture effectiveness, etc.

Kristina: Where do you see the focus of the company in the next 5 years?

Mike: We don't see the enterprise tech industry slowing down any time soon, so that's still going to be our core focus from a market perspective. In fact, I think we are in a strong cycle of improved IT spending which is wonderful for our clients. Also, our clients are still in the very early stages of transitioning themselves into data-driven marketing and sales organizations. And if you ask many enterprise B2B technology marketers what type of data they are craving, their overwhelming response is purchase-intent insight data. We have a front row view of where the upcoming projects are happening across the globe because of the purchase-intent data we own through our content and audience investments.

As mentioned earlier, our clients have a tough enough job as it is layering a lot of complexities within their MarTech stack to improve process and strategy. Our purchase intent insight fits directly with core marketing automation, CRM and other platforms they have installed so that they can leverage it seamlessly in everyday workflows for their teams.

The technologies we use to better serve our members and our clients are evolving quickly - things like AI and other improvements for our infrastructure stack - and that's really exciting because not only does it help us deliver more value to our customers, it frees us up a bit to investigate all sorts of adjacent opportunities, be they category related, process oriented and so on. Right now, we believe that, from a MarTech stack perspective, our vendor-agnostic, client maturity-agnostic strategy is the right one. Likewise we believe our primarily direct-to-client delivery model makes the most sense in terms of ensuring maximum value realization. Naturally we are always looking at smart systems plays, partnerships and acquisitions - but it is always with an eye to delivering better to our clients, be they the world's largest enterprise tech companies or new disruptors.

Tags: advertising, advertising data, ecommerce, ecommerce data, internet marketing, TechTarget
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
Currently in New Orleans

59F Clear 65F / 52F
Based in Hong Kong, Zotac also has offices in Korea, Germany, and the United States for its international products. Japan will now be added to the list in an attempt to expand to even more territories.

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

Zotac products are a common find in North America for PC builders and gamers alike. The popular manufacturer probably has the widest range of consumer mini PCs worldwide with models as small as the PI332 to larger VR Ready mini PCs equipped with Nvidia Pascal GPUs. Despite making appearances at Computex every year, however, Zotac does not ship directly to a number of Asian territories including Taiwan and Japan.

Zotac is finally ready to expand to more Asian markets starting first with the announcement of new offices in Japan. According to Zotac CEO Tony Wong, the new hub will allow the company to "further connect with our customers and business partners" in the new region. The Japanese Zotac site is already up and running for users to explore.

No other details have been given by the short press release and so it remains to be seen when the company will begin offering its products to the new regions. Nvidia GeForce RTX cards will be hot items in the coming months should Zotac want to take advantage of the Holiday shopping season.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 45F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.


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Managing Editor

Having lived and worked in Indy on and off since 1977, and currently living in Carmel, I've seen the city change a great deal. I love covering the arts in all its forms, and the places where the arts and broader cultural issues intersect.
The Education Department is reviewing the ruling, said Liz Hill, a spokeswoman.

Judge Mosss decision may lead to changes in how the government handles tens of thousands of existing claims from students seeking to have their loans discharged. But any remedies he orders may soon be blunted: The Education Department is working to completely revise its system for handling future requests.

Even so, the ruling was the latest in a series of judicial rebukes to the Trump administration for trying to shortcut the governments formal process for adopting and eliminating agency rules. Judges have rejected attempts by multiple agencies to eliminate or indefinitely suspend rules they disliked, including new restrictions on methane emissions from oil and gas wells and an immigration pathway for entrepreneurs running technology start-ups.

The loan forgiveness system, known as borrower defense, was created in 1995 but was little used until a few years ago, when a series of failures at for-profit chains like Corinthian Colleges and ITT generated a flood of claims from borrowers seeking relief from large debts incurred for credentials that did little to advance their job prospects.

At the end of last year, the Education Department had nearly 100,000 claims queued up, and many of them had languished for years without a decision. Ms. DeVos suspended a rule change set in motion by the Obama administration that would have granted quicker relief to large batches of defrauded borrowers. It also would have required troubled schools at risk of generating claims to put up financial collateral.

At a conference last year, Ms. DeVos criticized that approach.

While students should have protections from predatory practices, schools and taxpayers should also be treated fairly as well, she said. Under the previous rules, all one had to do was raise his or her hands to be entitled to so-called free money.
Earlier this year, GQ won two National Magazine Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. On Thursday, Conde Nast announced that it was replacing its editor in chief.

Jim Nelson, who edited the mens monthly for 15 years, will turn over the publication at the end of the year to Will Welch, GQs creative director and the editor of its quarterly fashion-focused spinoff, GQ Style.

Ive been at GQ for 21 years and in this job for more than 15  a good, long, productive run, not to mention a ton of fun  and Ive gotten to work with some of the most talented writers, editors, photographers, designers and creative minds in the business, Mr. Nelson said in a statement. So I leave feeling proud and confident in the excellence of the work weve done together, but more than that, grateful.

Before joining GQ, Mr. Nelson worked as a field producer for CNN, an assistant for television writers in Los Angeles and an editor at Harpers Magazine. He followed Art Cooper as GQs top editor in 2003.
This article was reported and written in a collaboration with ProPublica, the nonprofit investigative journalism organization.

Dr. Jose Baselga, the chief medical officer of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, resigned on Thursday amid reports that he had failed to disclose millions of dollars in payments from health care companies in dozens of research articles.

The revelations about Dr. Baselgas disclosure lapses, reported by The New York Times and ProPublica last weekend, have rocked Memorial Sloan Kettering, one of the nations leading cancer centers, in recent days. Its top executives scrambled to contain the fallout, including urgent meetings of physician leaders and the executive committee of its board of directors.

In his resignation letter released Thursday, Dr. Baselga, who also served as the physician-in-chief, said he feared that the matter would be a distraction from his role overseeing clinical care and that he had been extremely proud to work at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
The lone bright spot for liberal insurgents came down ballot, where Democratic challengers in State Senate contests had knocked off six of the eight members of a group of rogue Democrats who had broken with the party in recent years to form a coalition with Republicans in Albany.

Mr. Cuomos victory ensures that no Democratic governor or senator in America lost a party primary in 2018, a sign of how steep a climb Ms. Nixon, an actress and activist, had faced, even before the governors campaign unloaded a sum close to $25 million to blanket the contest in a blizzard of television ads and glossy mailers.

When others were underestimating us, he did not, Ms. Nixon said in her concession speech. And he spent accordingly.

In November, Mr. Cuomo, 60, will seek to match the three terms that his father, Mario M. Cuomo, achieved as governor. He has forcefully denied any presidential ambitions of his own, saying the only way he would not serve through 2022 would be death.

Mr. Cuomo himself had sought to mostly ignore Ms. Nixon in recent months, focusing repeatedly on President Trump. His campaign, meanwhile, methodically pushed to undermine Ms. Nixons credibility in often-caustic terms, tapping into the concerns of New York Democrats that an experienced governor is needed while a hostile Republican occupies the White House.

After a six-month slog versus Ms. Nixon, Mr. Cuomo now faces a less than 60-day sprint of a general election against the Republican, Marcus J. Molinaro, the affable Dutchess County executive who was once the youngest mayor in the nation. He, like Ms. Nixon, is expected to be drastically outspent by Mr. Cuomo. And in a heavily Democratic state in what most strategists predict will be a Democratic year, Mr. Molinaros bid is not seen as a top-tier race for Republicans nationally.
Letitia James became the first black woman to win a major party statewide nomination on Thursday, easily defeating three rivals in New Yorks Democratic primary for attorney general.

[New York Attorney General Letitia James sues the NRA.]

With her win, Ms. James, 59, the New York City public advocate, has positioned herself as a prominent face of resistance to the policies of President Trump, a role that the New York attorney generals office has embraced since Mr. Trump took office.

This campaign was never really about me or any of the candidates who ran, Ms. James said in her victory speech. It was about the people, but mostly it was about that man in the White House who cant go a day without threatening our fundamental rights.

With Democrats outnumbering Republicans in New York State by a margin of more than two to one, Ms. James will be heavily favored in November against the Republican candidate, Keith Wofford, 49, who ran unopposed. If Ms. James wins, she would be the first black woman to assume statewide office, just five years after becoming the first black woman elected to citywide office in New York.
Years of anger at a group of Democratic state senators who had collaborated with Republicans boiled over on Thursday, as primary voters ousted nearly all of them in favor of challengers who had called them traitors and sham progressives.

The losses were not only a resounding upset for the members of the Independent Democratic Conference, who outspent their challengers several times over, but also a sign that the progressive fervor sweeping national politics had hobbled New Yorks once-mighty Democratic machine, at least on a local level.

The most high-profile casualty was Senator Jeffrey D. Klein of the Bronx, the former head of the I.D.C. In that role, he was for years one of Albanys most powerful players, sharing leadership of the chamber with his counterparts in the Republican conference and participating in the states secretive budget negotiations.

[What exactly was the I.D.C.? Read our explainer here.]

But on Thursday, he was defeated by Alessandra Biaggi, a lawyer and former aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, after a campaign in which Ms. Biaggi cornered Mr. Klein into spending more than $2 million, an astonishing sum for a state legislative race. (Cynthia Nixon, in her unsuccessful bid against Mr. Cuomo, spent less.)
If youve stopped being surprised by the flagrancy of President Trumps deceptions, youre not alone. Yet the presidents effort on Thursday to deny the nearly 3,000 American lives lost in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria last year  and to accuse Democrats of inflating the death toll for political gain  should amaze even the most jaundiced Trump-watcher.

Mr. Trump delivered his latest bit of mendacity with a one-two presidential Twitter punch:

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the island AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000 

  This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!
That report has prompted attorneys general in New York and New Jersey to open their own investigations into whether institutions covered up sexual abuse, and prosecutors in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and New Mexico have said they plan to do the same. In Germany, Spiegel Online wrote on Wednesday that it had seen a report commissioned by the German bishops conference detailing 3,677 cases of abuse by at least 1,670 clergymen from 1946 to 2014.

This is not some flaw to be healed through spiritual renewal. This is a pattern of widespread and gross violations of the power a man of God has over a child, and of cover-ups stretching from Pennsylvania and Boston to every corner of the United States and the world.

How have so many pedophiles been allowed into the priesthood? How could so many bishops have so consistently looked the other way or worse, paid off victims or foisted predatory priests on unsuspecting parishes elsewhere? Many explanations have been offered: the all-male priesthood and the celibacy imposed on Catholic priests; the elitism, careerism and clericalism of the church hierarchy; the lack of transparency or accountability among bishops.

All that must be addressed by the pope and his bishops, but not only by them. Cardinal DiNardo and his delegation of American bishops intend to demand not only a full investigation into questions surrounding Cardinal McCarrick, but also better mechanisms for reporting abuse by bishops, and for resolving complaints. Critically, the bishops have listed substantial leadership by laity as one of their goals.

That is essential. Pope Francis has made strides in changing the culture of the papacy and in making the Catholic Church more inclusive, and he seems now to have grasped the gravity of the sickness afflicting the church. But for what is sure to be a defining struggle of his papacy, he will need to look beyond the cardinals, prelates and priests  indeed beyond himself  for answers and solutions.

Any credible effort at reforming the clerical culture of the church, restoring trust, instituting accountability and eradicating the cancer of sexual abuse will require the full participation of experts, prosecutors, victims and many others outside the clergy and the church  women as well as men. If that runs against tradition and practice, so be it.

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FRONT PAGE

An article on Thursday about the challenges presented by Hurricane Florence misspelled the surname of a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, an industry group. He is Brian Reil, not Riel.

INTERNATIONAL

A map with an article on Sunday about disputed government statements regarding the United States military presence in Afghanistan erroneously included more districts among those considered contested than military analysts had said. The figure of 61 percent of districts considered contested that appeared with the map was correct, not the percentage implied by the map.



An article on Thursday about a government studys findings that a large U.S. initiative to help Afghan women has accomplished little misstated when Rajiv Shah left United States Agency for International Development. He left the agency in 2015, not after the Obama administration ended.

NEW YORK

An article on Thursday about the arrest of seven New York City police officers on prostitution, corruption and misconduct charges misidentified the area in Queens through which Roosevelt Avenue runs. It is Corona, not Crotona.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.  First two people were shot dead outside a trucking company on the southeast edge of the city. Then another was killed in front of a sporting goods store whose shelves are stocked with guns, and where on Thursday morning the only sign of what happened was a bullet hole in the wall and a faint drop of blood on the sidewalk. Finally, two more people were killed at a house not far away, before the gunman shot himself in the stomach.

Even by the grim standards of the place with the highest murder rate in California, the shooting spree that killed five on Wednesday night in Bakersfield, sparked by a domestic dispute, has shaken this industrial community.

We have a lot of homicides, up and down the Central Valley, the Kern County sheriff, Donny Youngblood, said.

Mr. Youngblood placed the shootings in the context of the nations epidemic of mass shootings, calling it, our new norm.
[For the latest forecasts and storm news, read our live briefing.]

South Carolina officials have repeatedly urged coastal residents to flee Hurricane Florence, warning of danger and even death. But they have rejected calls to move the inmates of a state prison in a mandatory evacuation zone.

In the path of the storm is the MacDougall Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison about 35 miles northwest of Charleston that houses 651 inmates. The area is under an evacuation order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster.

Spokesmen for the South Carolina prison system and governors office did not return phone calls or emails on Thursday, but an official who answered the phone at MacDougall prison said it would not be evacuated.

At a news conference Wednesday, Governor McMaster said it would be better not to move the inmates.

The analysis so far is that its toward the edge of one of the evacuation zones, and because of its placement and because of the types of buildings and a lot of other considerations, its safer to stay on campus than it is to try to get off, he said. That is the safest place for those people to be at this time.
WASHINGTON  Some of Cubas top scientists and medical specialists denounced on Thursday claims that two dozen American diplomats in Havana had been the targets of mysterious attacks over the last two years.

The experts were careful not to offer a definitive explanation for the episodes, in which the diplomats reported hearing strange noises that led to symptoms similar to those after a minor traumatic brain injury or a concussion.

But they complained that the United States had concluded, with no evidence, that an attack had been carried out to start.

We believe there can be a few individuals who have some sort of illness, said Dr. Mitchell Joseph Valdes Sosa, the director general of the Cuban Center for Neurosciences. But he said the possibility that psychological factors may have played a role could not be eliminated.
WASHINGTON  Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman and one of Washingtons most prominent lobbyists, is close to a plea deal with federal prosecutors to avoid a trial scheduled for next week on charges stemming from work he did for pro-Russia political forces in Ukraine, people familiar with the case said on Thursday.

Mr. Manafort has already been convicted on related bank and tax fraud charges arising from an investigation by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. The negotiations over a plea deal relate to a separate set of seven charges encompassing conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, false statements and violations of a lobbying disclosure law.

It was not clear which charges Mr. Manafort might plead guilty to or whether he would cooperate with Mr. Muellers team in its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, possible collusion with the Trump campaign and obstruction of justice by Mr. Trump. The developments in plea negotiations were first reported by ABC News.

Mr. Manaforts trial on the second set of charges is scheduled to get underway on Monday in United States District Court in Washington. A pretrial hearing, which had been postponed this week, is scheduled for Friday.
Editors Note: September 14, 2018

An earlier version of this article and headline created an unfair impression about who was responsible for the purchase in question. While Nikki R. Haley is the current ambassador to the United Nations, the decision on leasing the ambassadors residence and purchasing the curtains was made during the Obama administration, according to current and former officials. The article should not have focused on Ms. Haley, nor should a picture of her have been used. The article and headline have now been edited to reflect those concerns, and the picture has been removed.

WASHINGTON  The State Department spent $52,701 for customized and mechanized curtains for the picture windows in the new official residence of the ambassador to the United Nations.

The residence is in a new building on First Avenue in Manhattan. For decades, American ambassadors to the U.N. lived in the Waldorf Astoria hotel. But after the hotel was purchased by a Chinese insurance company with a murky ownership structure, the State Department decided in 2016 to find a new home for its top New York diplomat because of security concerns.

The government leased the apartment, just blocks from the delegations offices, with an option to buy, according to Patrick Kennedy, the top management official at the State Department during the Obama administration. The full-floor penthouse, with handsome hardwood floors covering large open spaces stretching nearly 6,000 square feet, was listed at $58,000 a month.
the facts

False.

President Trump rejected the official estimate from the Puerto Rico government that nearly 3,000 people died from Hurricane Maria through a series of misleading or false claims on Thursday.

He cited an outdated tally that officials had acknowledged almost immediately was too low, misleadingly suggested that doubt over the tally did not emerge until a long time later, accused Democrats, without evidence, of inflating the figures and wrongly described the current official estimate as counting all deaths on the island, regardless of whether they were related to the storm.

The 3,000 figure comes from an estimate in a study by independent researchers at George Washington University and commissioned by the Puerto Rico government.

The researchers found that government data documented 16,608 deaths from September 2017 to February 2018  2,975 more deaths than under predicted mortality rates. In other words, researchers explicitly tried to avoid counting people who died for any reason, like old age.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  Three years ago, Lavette Pixley and her son thought they could ride out a massive storm fed by Hurricane Joaquin as it moved through the Atlantic. Then they woke up to a flooded apartment and had to be rescued by firefighters.

As Hurricane Florence approached Thursday afternoon, hours from making landfall, Ms. Pixley and her 8-year-old son, Tayon, left their apartment for Ridge View High School, where the American Red Cross is operating a shelter. This time, Ms. Pixley said, they chose to take no chances.

Im scared. We have bad memories from last time, she said. Its better to be somewhere dry and safe.

By Thursday evening, Ms. Pixley, 46, was lying on a cot provided by the Red Cross, and Tayon was playing with his Spiderman stuffed animal. They were among 85 people who had traveled from across the state to seek shelter here in the states capital. The majority are from Richland County, which includes Columbia, but some drove from as far as Charleston, S.C., about 115 miles away.
BOSTON  Responding to reports of sexual abuse and misconduct over a matter of decades, the state of New Hampshire on Thursday opted not to prosecute former employees of St. Pauls School, one of the most prestigious prep schools in New England, and instead assigned an independent monitor to the campus for up to five years.

Several analysts called the agreement groundbreaking because it places a private school under government oversight and said it could serve as a model for other states on the issue of school sexual abuse.

Gordon J. MacDonald, the New Hampshire state attorney general, entered into the agreement with Archibald Cox Jr., president of St. Pauls board of trustees. The school has been embroiled in damaging reports of sexual misconduct for years. A lawsuit earlier this year, filed on behalf of two alumni of the school, called St. Pauls a haven for sexual predators.

Mr. MacDonald had announced in July 2017 that he was starting a criminal investigation into reports of sexual abuse committed by teachers decades ago and stories about a sexual ritual among some students that figured in the rape trial of a former student in 2015. The attorney general and a grand jury received thousands of pages of documents and heard testimony from two dozen witnesses.
WASHINGTON  Three days after the Trump administration evicted the Palestine Liberation Organization from its offices in Washington, Jared Kushner defended the latest in a string of punitive actions against the Palestinians and insisted that none of them had diminished the chances of a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians.

Speaking on Thursday, 25 years to the day after the Oslo peace accords were signed on the White House lawn not far from his West Wing office, Mr. Kushner said President Trump had actually improved the chances for peace by stripping away the false realities that surround Middle East peacemaking.

There were too many false realities that were created  that people worship  that I think needed to be changed, he said in an interview. All were doing is dealing with things as we see them and not being scared out of doing the right thing. I think, as a result, you have a much higher chance of actually achieving a real peace.

Mr. Kushner said he did not want to be too critical of the Oslo accords, which created the framework for peace negotiations over the last three decades. But he cast his own efforts as a radical break with the past, evincing little nostalgia for the historic images of Bill Clinton drawing together Yasir Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin in September 1993.
The memories that inform WDCH Dreams are usually locked away in a 2,500-square-foot corner in the Los Angeles County Hall of Records, a nearby 1960s high-rise. But even as the show mines the orchestras past, WDCH Dreams speaks to current issues in computing. It uses some of the same artificial-intelligence algorithms that underlie facial recognition, which has become increasingly controversial as its potential for abuse becomes clearer. And Mr. Anadols idea that a building can think and dream is a fanciful version of the so-called internet of things, the fast-growing network of smart objects  home appliances, thermostats, cars, what have you  that are being given a sliver of intelligence with little thought for how to secure them against digital intruders.

The project also loops back to popular culture  in particular, to the films of Christopher Nolan, who in movies like Memento and Inception displays a narrative sleight of hand that transforms everyday experiences like dreaming and remembering into the stuff of wonder and suspense. A key methodology behind WDCH Dreams, a machine-learning technique that originated in a Google lab in Switzerland, has even been called Inceptionism, after the 2010 movie that starred Leonardo DiCaprio as a corporate spy who sets out to manipulate his targets dreams.

Mr. Anadol had made the idea of activating the Walt Disney Concert Halls exterior the subject of his masters of fine arts thesis at the University of California, Los Angeles  and that, in turn, brought him to the attention of Mr. Smith and led to his first commission for the Philharmonic: creating a video installation that transformed the interior of the hall into a virtual tapestry during a performance of Edgard Vareses Ameriques.
Architecture was long called a gentlemans profession, which may have been true if by that you meant one that systematically excluded women for most of its existence. Before World War II, you could count the number of noted female architects on one hand. As late as the 1990s, the percentage of architecture firms owned by women in the United States was still in the single digits.

Today, less than a third of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) membership is female, and a survey of the worlds 100 largest architecture firms by the online design magazine Dezeen found that women occupied just 10 percent of the highest-ranking jobs. The first time a woman won the AIAs Gold Medal, its highest honor, was in 2014. The recipient, Julia Morgan, had been dead for 57 years.

There are signs of improvement, though. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the number of women in the field continues to rise: Women now account for nearly half of the students in architecture schools in the United States; they make up about 40% of those taking licensing exams  up by nearly 50 percent in 20 years.
Last fall, the actress Emma Stone, wraith pale and peroxided, sat in a folding chair on a Silvercup Studios soundstage in Queens. She wore a tank top and a gray coveralls. Her face, fluorescent-lit, was set in perma-scowl.

Whats normal, anyway? she asked the camera throatily.

Good question.

Ms. Stone, in her first major television role, plays a damaged young woman named Annie in Maniac, a half-hour limited series, which begins streaming on Netflix on Sept. 21, and (really) likes to keep its viewers off-kilter. Just when youve found your balance the rug zooms out from under again. And wait: Where did those elves come from? This is a show with side effects.

It was kind of important to us that there is no normal, said the director Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, Beasts of No Nation), who developed the series with Patrick Somerville, a novelist and a writer and producer of The Leftovers.

Maniac is based, as loosely as a snapped balloon string, on a sweetly absurdist Norwegian series with the same name. The original Maniac, set in a mental hospital, centers on Espen, a schlubby inmate and likely schizophrenic who repurposes his bland surroundings for an active fantasy life in which he imagines himself as a cowboy, a war hero, a superspy.
THE FALL OF WISCONSIN

The Conservative Conquest of a Progressive Bastion and the Future of American Politics

By Dan Kaufman

319 pp. W.W. Norton & Company. $26.95.

Fourteen years ago the pundit Thomas Frank asked what was the matter with Kansas. Today the question is, who sank Wisconsin? In The Fall of Wisconsin, the journalist Dan Kaufman laments the states recent trajectory and chronicles the conservative war on its political legacy. That legacy in a word is progressivism: seeded by socialist immigrants from Germany and Scandinavia, nourished by liberal icons like Robert La Follette and Russ Feingold, and sheltered by institutions like the proudly lefty University of Wisconsin at Madison, with a campus where granola crunched underfoot like fall leaves.

No longer. Wisconsin helped deliver the White House to Donald Trump in 2016 and has seen near-unified Republican government since 2011. The state has become a laboratory for conservative policies and a microcosm of the broader populist realignment taking place nationally. Under Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin reduced government spending, sidelined labor, loosened environmental regulations and restricted access to voting. As a result, Kaufman writes, the states roads are the second worst in the country, its renowned universities are bleeding talent and poverty rates have reached a 30-year high.

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Conservatives in Wisconsin deployed a divide and conquer strategy that has pitted traditional Democrats against one another. Walker and his allies targeted organized labor with Act 10, designed to limit the rights of public sector unions to bargain collectively and signed in 2011. (The United States Supreme Court recently approved an Illinois law weakening public sector unions from a slightly different angle.) Huge protests against Act 10 swelled the state capitol, invigorating some but piquing resentment in others. Who are these people with all this time on their hands that they can protest during the day? went a common complaint. Similarly, conservatives attracted blue-collar support for an iron ore mine in Penokee Hills by promising to use equipment made in Milwaukee with union labor. Unions and environmentalists found themselves on opposite sides of the issue.
Juan Felipe Herrera and Lauren Castillos IMAGINE (Candlewick, 32 pp., $16.99; ages 4 to 8) is the perfect complement to Imagine!: Its about a boy with a passion for words. Its an immigrant story, too, and a poem, pastoral at first: If I picked chamomile flowers / as a child / in the windy fields and whispered / to their fuzzy faces, / imagine.  On each new spread, a phrase beginning If I, and ending with the prompt imagine, carries us through the young boys move from his rural village to a city, to a school where he will learn English, write stories, sing in front of class. He will fall in love with words, write songs and gradually mature in the pictures  and finally, he will read his poetry atop the steps of the Library of Congress, as the poet laureate of the United States. A question is posed: If he did that.  We turn the page, anticipating the word imagine that ended each earlier stanza, and are rewarded with imagine what you could do.

Its true: The books author, Juan Felipe Herrera, is a former United States poet laureate. This If I could do it, you can do anything exhortation is standard inspirational speech material, so why did I not find it remotely didactic?

Lauren Castillos perfect illustrations  warm, deftly composed, with the sensual allure of woodcuts (she seems to have combined foam monoprints with ink and digital work)  are so captivating they might on their own overcome a ho-hum story. But this poem is a masterly picture book text: Its precisely chosen words create a world you have to listen to, to think about. When at the end you learn that you were being told this boys story as a spur to your own potentially amazing one, the surprise and the gratification outweigh any sense of a lesson being taught.
Miller shows how, in the absence of moderating institutions and constraints, the radical promise of democracy can slip into despotism, as it did in the wake of the French Revolution. Turning to the present, he sees the surge of right-wing populism that resulted in the election of Donald Trump in the United States and the pro-Brexit vote in the United Kingdom not as a protest against democracy per se but rather as a protest against the limits of modern democracy. As a young man in the 1960s, Miller was enamored of radical left-wing politics, as he relates in sometimes distracting bits of memoir. Today, however, he doubts whether that eras experiments in rule-by-consensus or their present-day inheritors (like the Occupy movement) will ever generate the kinds of alternative institutions that are needed. He hopes for the development of new ways to restore democratic systems and peoples faith in them, but doesnt spell out what those might be.

THE VIRTUE OF NATIONALISM

By Yoram Hazony

285 pp. Basic Books. $30.

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When did nationalism become a bad thing? Only a few decades ago, the Israeli philosopher and political theorist Hazony notes, nationalism was widely seen as a liberating force that could bring independence and self-determination to enslaved peoples. Today, he laments, Western liberals heap scorn on nationalism, which they dismiss as a divisive and sometimes racist impulse. Hazonys book seeks to explain this shift and, in the process, redeem nationalism and reveal antinationalist liberals as the true purveyors of hatred and division.

Hazony defines a nation as a number of tribes with a common language or religion, and a past history of acting as a body. To Hazony, this form of tribalism represents the only legitimate basis for statehood: He contends that the idea of a neutral or civic state, in which individuals of many different backgrounds are bound together by shared principles, is a myth  a fig leaf that covers up the majoritarian realities of multiethnic societies in the United States and Europe. To be a nationalist, according to Hazony, means not only to defend the legitimacy of tribal nation-states but also to advocate a world order in which they can chart their own independent course, cultivating their own traditions and pursuing their own interests without interference. He contrasts this with todays liberal international order of multilateral institutions backed by American power, which he derides as an imperialist project that will inevitably seek to impose its will on all of humanity.

A defense of nationalism may be welcomed by groups whose aspirations for statehood have been thwarted: the Palestinians, for example. But Hazony has bad news for them: There is no universal right to national independence and self-determination. In the end, his broad case for nationalism devolves into a narrow defense of Zionism and Israel, which he portrays as the paradigmatic victim of the hatred encouraged by liberal internationalism.

Hazony is certainly correct that cosmopolitanism can breed arrogance and intolerance, and that criticism of Israel is sometimes hypocritical. But his reductive approach poses a false choice between an idealized order of noble sovereign nations and a totalitarian global government. The world could use a less moralistic, more nuanced defense of nationalism. This book is a missed opportunity.
If I were in jail, George Pelecanos would be on my reading list, right up there with James Lee Burke and Elmore Leonard, who are also favorites of the inmates in THE MAN WHO CAME UPTOWN (Mulholland/Little, Brown, $27). The guys in the general population at the Washington, D.C., jail also go for lady authors, thanks to Anna Kaplan, a roaming librarian the inmates call Miss Anna. One loyal client, Michael Hudson, emerges from behind bars as a bona fide bibliophile. (When he read a book, he was not locked up. He was free.)

Back on the outside, Michael resolves to continue his reading habit, applying for his first library card, checking out some books and declaring himself happy. But he owes people, and in this neighborhood promises and paybacks mean something. So when his major debtor needs a getaway driver for a robbery, Michael is his go-to guy. This is the way good people often get corrupted in Pelecanoss novels, paying their dues for favors received.

Theyre also caught when they get greedy  like a private investigator named Phil Ornazian. Phil has a promising assignment tracking down the wild kids from D.C. who crashed a party in Potomac, Md., raped the teenage hostess and stole her mothers $50,000 bracelet. But then he gets tired of working for chump change and thinks he could be a big-time crook. Pelecanoss characters are prone to that kind of mistake, which is what makes them so human and so doomed.

Explore the New York Times Book Review Want to keep up with the latest and greatest in books? This is a good place to start. Learn what you should be reading this fall: Our collection of reviews on books coming out this season includes biographies, novels, memoirs and more. See whats new in October: Among this months new titles are novels by Jonathan Franzen, a history of Black cinema and a biography by Katie Couric. Nominate a book: The New York Times Book Review has just turned 125. That got us wondering: What is the best book that was published during that time? Listen to our podcast: Featuring conversations with leading figures in the literary world, from Colson Whitehead to Leila Slimani, the Book Review Podcast helps you delve deeper into your favorite books.



This is an author who writes with the steady hand of a man who knows hes driving a cool set of wheels and respects his own mechanical skills. And that reminds us of another thing about a Pelecanos novel: Youll never get lost. His precise descriptions of Washington neighborhoods read as if they were being dictated by someone driving a fast car, maybe a muscle car, something a teenager would look twice at. Or steal.
Pat Brown was an old-style liberal when he was catapulted into office in 1958 during the golden age of the American Century. He believed that government was responsible for providing a strong social safety net, spent millions of dollars to expand the states system of higher education and backed a state anti-discrimination law. He also supported the war in Vietnam. When California was rocked by antiwar protests, inner-city turmoil and a backlash against the states fair housing law, Brown lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan in 1966.

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Jerry Brown was steeped in his fathers political world, but like many of his generation he was repelled by what he saw as the confusion and hypocrisy of government. Coming of age in the 1960s, he opposed the Vietnam War, supported Cesar Chavezs farmworker movement and campaigned for the antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy in 1968. He was a nonconformist critical of the oligarchy, the power establishment elite. Even after he joined it, winning his race for governor in 1974, he canceled the inaugural ball, drove a Plymouth to work, slept on a mattress on the floor of his austere apartment and made E. F. Schumachers 1973 countercultural manifesto Small Is Beautiful required staff reading.

Browns countercultural ethos shared some common ground with traditional conservatives hostility to the governing class. During his first term as governor, he exhorted students at Santa Clara University to depend on your own energy and your own creative potential. He slashed the budget of the states sprawling university system: Faculty members, he said, should accept lower salaries because their work brought them psychic income. Berkeleys high-paid president should look to Gandhis example: He didnt make any money and he was pretty successful.

But Browns calls for reining in state spending took a consequential turn during his re-election campaign in 1978. He decided to accept Howard Jarviss Proposition 13, a referendum initiative to slash property taxes. Declaring himself a born-again tax cutter, he rode the tax revolt wave to a landslide win for a second term. In the wake of the referendums passage, however, state budgets were eviscerated. California educational spending per pupil dropped from near the top of all states to near bottom.

Jerry Browns liberalism has centered on the environment (a problem he deemed more pressing than concerns about whether or not you have the capacity to buy a second car), womens equality and minority rights. But his policies have hurt poor- and working-class Americans left behind by fraying social safety nets, ailing cities and failing schools; they are ever more likely to land in the states exploding prison system.
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Good morning.

Heres what you need to know:

Natures wrath

 Hurricane Florence, which has begun its slow-motion collision with the Carolinas, could dump as much as 40 inches of rain in some areas, prompting concern about secondary effects such as landslides.

This may be the first time weve experienced such a two-punch from these kind of conditions, South Carolinas governor said. We have live updates and a map tracking the storm  with free, unlimited access for our coverage.

As the winds arrived, President Trump disputed the official tally of nearly 3,000 deaths from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, falsely claiming Democrats had concocted the number.

Another giant storm is howling toward the Philippines. Thousands of people were being evacuated as Super Typhoon Mangkhut, a 550-mile-wide behemoth with winds of 173 m.p.h., bore down on Luzon, where four million people are at risk. Were tracking Mangkhut, and we have an explainer on both storms here.
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__________

For two decades, bankers and traders generally traded the reins of Goldman Sachs back and forth.

But the firms chief-executive-in-waiting, David M. Solomon, who started as a leveraged finance banker, has named two other bankers to top positions  a sign of where the strength of the financial powerhouse currently lies.

Perhaps alone among Wall Street firms, Goldman has tended to switch the top job from a banker to a trader. Just take a look at Mr. Solomons predecessors since 1990:

 Lloyd C. Blankfein (trader)

 Henry M. Paulson Jr. (banker)

 Mr. Paulson (banker) and Jon S. Corzine (trader)

 Mr. Corzine (trader)

 Stephen Friedman (banker)

 Mr. Friedman (banker) and Robert Rubin (trader)

The moves tended to reflect the shifting balance of power between the two businesses that long dominated Goldmans operations. Mr. Paulson, for instance, ascended to the top spot in the late 1990s at a time when revenue from merger and acquisitions and initial public offerings was rising. When Mr. Blankfein took the reins, Goldmans top line was ballooning thanks to trading.
Get the DealBook newsletter to make sense of major business and policy headlines  and the power-brokers who shape them.

__________

Electric-car maker Nio shifted quickly into a new gear. On the second day of trading after its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, its shares zoomed up 76 percent. That transformed Chinas answer to Tesla from a carmaker into a tech star.

Some deserved skepticism forced Nio to sell its stock at the low end of the indicated price range. For a fleeting moment, its valuation  nearly $7 billion at Wednesdays close  just about suited the sector in which it operates. Applying rival Geelys net profit margin of nearly 12 percent and its valuation of seven times its forecasted earnings implied a bottom line of just over $1 billion for Nio. That would conceivably be within reach if it could run its manufacturing partners factory at full capacity and then sell every single one of the 120,000 vehicles produced.

With a valuation of $13 billion, much higher expectations kick in. Nio would have to churn out more than twice as many vehicles as current capacity allows and find buyers for all of them. As of August, Nio had delivered just about 1,600 cars, generating $7 million in revenue at a big loss.
The partners behind Boba Guys, a chain of bubble-tea cafes, already made their own infusions and syrups to go with the tea leaves they imported from China, Taiwan and Japan. A few years ago, they got to thinking, why not make the pleasingly chewy tapioca pearls from scratch, too?

It turned out that the industrial machinery used by factories in Taiwan, which produce most of the tapioca pearls for bubble tea, also known as boba, was expensive. And the two Boba founders, Andrew Chau and Bin Chen, didnt have a large enough demand for the product to justify the investment.

But now the company, which started as a Bay Area pop-up in 2011, has 12 locations all over the country and plans to add three more by the end of 2018. This year , Mr. Chau and Mr. Chen finally opened their dream factory, US Boba Company, in Hayward, Calif. The 18,000-square-foot tapioca-pearl plant, a former pasta factory, is a joint business venture with David Fan of Fanale Drinks, a bubble-tea supplier.
Annie Krause moved into a nursing home in Detroit in 2015, when she was 98 years old. She had grown frail. Arthritis, recurrent infections and hypertension had made it difficult for her to manage on her own.

When the facilitys doctor examined her, he found a mass in Ms. Krauses breast and recommended a biopsy  standard procedure to determine what sort of tumor this was and, if it proved malignant, what treatment to pursue. Once diagnosed, breast cancer almost always leads to surgery, even in older women.

If she were a passive person, she would have had a lumpectomy, said Ms. Krauses granddaughter, Dr. Mara Schonberg, an internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. But my grandmother was very strong-willed. She said no, no, no, she didnt want any procedure.

That didnt stop the doctor from recommending a biopsy, however.

Having spent years studying how best to inform older women about breast cancer, Dr. Schonberg said that patients decisions  about screenings and treatments  have proved stubbornly resistant to change.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was the epitome of the very establishment the Democratic left has been frothing against: He raised big checks from big corporate powers. He was a dynastic candidate seeking a third term. He talked about capping taxes and constraining spending.

And he won a resounding victory on Thursday.

Mr. Cuomo turned back a progressive primary challenge from the actress Cynthia Nixon in such emphatic fashion  he won by nearly the same margin as he had four years ago against a little-known and underfunded challenger  that by the next morning, he was back to being asked about 2020 presidential ambitions that he had flatly denied only weeks ago.

The victory was thorough. Mr. Cuomo carried Long Island with roughly 75 percent of the vote. He won the Bronx, his best county in the state, with nearly 83 percent support. His next best borough in the city was its political polar opposite: Staten Island. He flipped parts of the Hudson Valley that he lost four years ago by double digits.

It was upstate. It was downstate, white, black, brown  it was across the board, Mr. Cuomo said on Friday, ticking off his margin in particular districts, even as he said he hadnt fully studied the numbers.
So many electeds and others ran against @TishJames and @LtGovHochulNY  making cynical moves based on their finger in the wind calculus, Ms. DeRosa, who is a state employee, wrote. The people of N.Y. disagreed with them  and the people of New York, and Governor Cuomo were right and they were wrong.

Nonetheless, moral victories were being claimed by Ms. Nixons camp.

There was the so-called #CynthiaEffect, a perception that her candidacy had pushed a centrist governor into embracing ideas like legalizing marijuana (an early plank of her campaign, announced in March, and endorsed by Mr. Cuomo over the summer).

Ms. Nixon said in her concession speech that her candidacy had focused the governors attention on the struggling mass transit system in New York City  Now everyone understands that the governor controls the subways, she said  and on problems at the New York City Housing Authority.

Ms. Nixon and her supporters also touted her criticism of the governors relationship with the Independent Democratic Conference, a rogue group of Democrats that had collaborated with Republicans to help that party rule the State Senate in Albany for seven years.

[What exactly was the I.D.C.? Read our explainer here.]

We have fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state, Ms. Nixon said, after conceding to Mr. Cuomo in a phone call. And we have changed what is expected of a Democratic candidate running in New York.

Mr. Cuomo and his backers scoff at the #CynthiaEffect, saying hes been always committed to progressive ideals and fixing things like subways and public housing. And on Friday, he said that he had provided real-life progressive solutions, for New Yorkers.
As rats scampered among trash cans by moonlight in Chinatown, a procession of tall and very good looking people started entering an old Italian restaurant on Baxter Street called Forlinis. They walked past its grand wooden doors and moved right through the stuffy chandelier-lit dining room, where middle-aged customers looked up from their veal marsala and clams casino to consider the stylish spectacle.

One of the first arrivals was a 20-year-old model/skateboarder with a million followers on Instagram. He flipped his dreadlocks to the side and strode through the place like it was a fashion runway. A thin woman wearing military boots and hoop earrings appeared next and remarked to a friend: Ive never been, but I keep hearing about it. This is my first time. Im so excited to be here. Outside, a fashion designer wearing dark sunglasses and smoking a cigarette shrieked when his date arrived, and he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

The old regulars paid their bills and left, but Forlinis kept getting busier. The dominant attire switched from suits and ties to haute streetwear: Opening Ceremony tote bags, jackets from Balenciaga, at least one pair of Yeezys. The beautiful people were all heading to a birthday in the rear dining room, which soon transformed into a dark lounge filled with stylists, actors, social-media influencers, magazine editors, designers, bloggers and people who didnt appear to have jobs the next day at all. Uniformed waiters frantically served calamari, stuffed artichokes and chicken Milanese. In one booth, a Victorias Secret model filmed her friends gleefully tossing rose petals into the air before posting the video to Instagram.
David Yallop, an investigative journalist who wrote popular books about true crime and conspiracy, including a best seller asserting that Pope John Paul I was murdered as part of a Vatican plot, died on Aug. 23 in London. He was 81.

The cause was complications of pneumonia, his wife, Anna Yallop, said.

Mr. Yallops books railed against what he saw as corruption and miscarriages of justice. They often stirred up controversy because of their explosive allegations, based on what some critics saw as inadequate evidence or vaguely sourced reporting.

In Gods Name: An Investigation Into the Murder of Pope John Paul I (1984) was perhaps the most controversial of all. It delved into the death of John Paul I, who was found dead at 65 in his chambers on Sept. 28, 1978, only 33 days after assuming the papacy.

John Paul was seen by some Roman Catholics as an earnest figure, perhaps ill prepared for the political machinations that faced the leader of the church. He had a history of health problems, and the official cause of death was a heart attack.
Janet Weinberg, an advocate for people with disabilities who found her calling as a top executive and fund-raiser at social service organizations like the Gay Mens Health Crisis, died on Sept. 1 in the Bronx. She was 63.

Her spouse, Rosalyn H. Richter, an associate justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, said the cause was a chronic heart condition.

Ms. Weinberg had been an occupational therapist for a decade when she accepted an offer to join the board of the Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. It was a career transition she had been preparing for after building a reputation as a politically savvy activist for people with disabilities and hoping one day to help a population still affected by the AIDS epidemic.

She had never forgotten an incident in 1985, when she was working as an occupational therapist at a nursing home in Rockaway Beach, Queens, and the community erupted in protest against a city proposal to transfer dying AIDS patients there from hospitals.
Now, as China pushes electric vehicles to mass adoption, Western companies are straining to keep up. Shenzhen, a city of 12 million near Hong Kong, has 17,000 electric buses on the street. The entire taxi fleet will be electric by the end of the year, and its version of Uber is close behind.

Opinion Conversation The climate, and the world, are changing. What challenges will the future bring, and how should we respond to them? What should our leaders be doing?

Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, finds reasons for optimism in the Biden presidency.

Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, finds reasons for optimism in the Biden presidency. What are the worst climate risks in your country?

Select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces.

Select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. Where are Americans suffering most?

Our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths in the U.S.

Our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths in the U.S. What does climate devastation look like?

In Sept. 2020, Michael Benson studied detailed satellite imagery. Here's the earth that he saw  and the one he wants to see.

Despite all this, economic growth in China has been so strong that total greenhouse pollution is still growing, and partly because of that, so are global emissions. Globally, we have simply not made enough progress to put emissions on a downward slope. Until emissions get to zero, the climate problem will keep getting worse, so we have a long way to go.

Governor Browns new pledge is important not just because others may follow, but because the dynamic California economy can help invent much of the necessary technology. It is true that his zero-carbon goal for the states economy is just an executive order and could be reversed. But in California, such newly announced goals from governors tend to be followed within a few years by legislation locking the targets into law.

Chinas leaders have engaged in intensive dialogue with California on climate policy for more than a decade, and they consider the states role to be more important than anything happening in Washington. That is fortunate, given the reprehensible efforts of the Trump administration to take America backward on climate.

As we mentioned, it is not yet clear how a zero-carbon goal for an economy the size of Californias can be met  especially in the time set by the governor, 27 years hence. Governor Brown leaves office at the beginning of next year, so he is making promises his successors will have to keep.

What we do know is that California started setting climate goals during the administration of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican governor, and it has tended to meet or exceed them years early. Goals serve to organize the bureaucracy; they point up gaps in achievement that may need to be filled with detailed policies; they send a powerful signal to inventors that useful technologies or business concepts will find a market. For example, it was a California mandate, copied by other states, that pushed electric cars into the American marketplace.

If China were to follow Californias target in setting an ambitious low-emissions policy, the challenge would be enormous. How do you eliminate emissions from huge industries like steel making or aluminum smelting, or limit oil use in a country of 1.4 billion people pining for cars?
Also this week, Harper's Magazine published a heart-rending, confused and maddening essay by former public radio host John Hockenberry. Appearing in the magazines October issue, it is bleakly titled Exile.

In August 2017  months before the Harvey Weinstein story broke  Hockenberry departed his job as host of The Takeaway, a morning news show on public radio. At the time, his reason for leaving was unclear, but in December, the writer Suki Kim published a story in The Cut in which several women accused Hockenberry of sexual harassment. (Kim also reported her own uncomfortable experiences with him.) According to a report by WNYC, which co-produces and airs The Takeaway, a confidential allegation of harassment had been lodged against him before his contract was terminated, and for years, people he worked with had warned station executives that Hockenberry bullied colleagues, creating a hostile work environment.

Public vilification was clearly traumatic for Hockenberry. He writes of going from someone recognized on the streets of New York City as a journalist, author, and advocate for people with disabilities  he is a paraplegic  to a man terrified of public reproach. At some points in the essay, he takes responsibility for bad behavior toward female colleagues, some of whom he propositioned. At others he explains it away, ascribing it to out-of-fashion Byronic romanticism. But the most frustrating parts of Exile are where he casts himself as the victim of the women who spoke out against him.

Only one of my accusers reached out or responded to my heartfelt queries, he writes. (Why would they?) Elsewhere he describes his childrens experience of his disgrace as a pain I wish on no one, not even my accusers. He invokes his children repeatedly, furious at the toll the scandal is taking on them. Maybe he behaved offensively toward women, he allows, but asks, Is a life sentence of unemployment without possibility of furlough, the suffering of my children, and financial ruin an appropriate consequence?

Luckily, his unemployment isnt total; he is writing for a major magazine after enduring nine months of obscurity. But in the nearly 7,000 words of his essay, as he demands that we consider his misery and embarrassment, he never really grapples with the misery and embarrassment he caused, never thinks deeply about how he affected the lives of the women who changed jobs to escape his advances. Similarly, Maher mourns the loss of Franken in the Senate  as do I  but seems to lack empathy for the woman who is discombobulated by suddenly feeling the hand of a man she admires on her backside.

Reading Hockenberrys essay, it hit me: I feel sorry for a lot of these men, but I dont think they feel sorry for women, or think about womens experience much at all. And maybe thats why the discussion about #MeToo and forgiveness never seems to go anywhere, because men arent proposing paths for restitution. Theyre asking why women wont give them absolution.

Im not interested in seeing these #MeToo castoffs engage in Maoist struggle sessions to purge their patriarchal impulses. But maybe theyd find it easier to resurrect their careers if it seemed like theyd reflected on why women are so furious in the first place, and perhaps even offered ideas to make things better. What ideas? I dont know, but theyre the ones who are supposed to be irreplaceably creative, and theyve got time on their hands.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion), and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter.
On Thursday, Dr. Jose Baselga resigned from his position as chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Earlier this month, ProPublica and The New York Times revealed that hed received millions of dollars from drug and device companies whose fortunes he stood to affect. He also sat on the board of at least six companies, where his fiduciary responsibility to them might conflict with his obligations to the cancer center. Most of his outside income was not disclosed to the journals in which he published, in violation of their requirements.

Although his case is extreme, these kinds of conflicts of interest are virtually universal in the upper levels of academic medicine.

I was an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine for over two decades, and was there in 1984 when we became the first major medical journal to institute a policy that required authors of research articles to disclose all financial ties to companies that could be affected by their research. We had become aware that academic researchers were receiving large payments from drug companies and that it was distorting their work. For example, I once phoned the senior author of a paper submitted to us to ask why he had neglected to mention the side effects of a potent new drug he was testing. Without any apparent embarrassment, he said that the sponsor wouldnt let him. We didnt publish the paper, but another journal did.

In order to get prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, companies must conduct clinical trials to show that the drugs are safe and effective. But drug companies dont have direct access to human subjects, so theyve always contracted with academic researchers to conduct the trials on patients in teaching hospitals and clinics. Traditionally, they gave grants to the institutions for interested researchers to test their drugs, then waited for the results and hoped that their products looked good. The grants were at arms length; the companies didnt design or analyze the studies, they didnt own the data, and they certainly didnt write the papers or control publication.
To the Editor:

Re Trump Rejects a Storms Tally as Gales Blow (front page, Sept. 14):

In the coming days and weeks, President Trumps leadership is certain to be tested as his administration is called upon to deal with what are likely to be devastating effects of Hurricane Florence. Hopefully he will fulfill the responsibility expected of a president without the combativeness with which he continues to approach the Puerto Rican catastrophe.

The presidents insistence that the official death toll from Hurricane Maria is a conspiratorial fabrication and his distorted view of the progress of the islands recovery reflect a characteristic and relentless aversion to truth and criticism.

Hopefully for the good of the country  and especially for residents in the affected states  President Trump will immediately begin to focus his energy on Hurricane Florence and get over his obsession with ratings of past performance.

At all times, and especially during a national disaster, the country expects and deserves leadership without blame or bluster.
OK, this is weird. Theres an economic dispute underway about the causes of the Great Recession  but thats not whats weird. Whats so strange in these days and times is that it is being carried out among well-informed people who actually look at data and argue in good faith. Hey, guys, dont you know that sort of thing went out a couple of decades ago?

Anyway, on one side you have Dean Baker, who has long argued that the burst housing bubble was the main factor in both the slump and the slow recovery, with financial disruption a minor and transitory factor  a view I mostly agree with. On the other side we have none other than Ben Bernanke, who argues in a new paper that credit market disruption was indeed the big story.

This isnt quite a head-on debate, since Bernanke is mainly focused on the first year or so after Lehman, while both Baker and I are more focused on the multiyear depressed economy that lasted long after the financial disruption ended. (Bernankes measures show the same spike and fast recovery as other stress indexes.) But theres still a clear difference.

Unfortunately, I wont be at the Brookings panel where Bernankes paper is discussed. But maybe I can raise the big question I have about his conclusions.
The construction streak of the past few years may be delivering much-needed apartments to a supply challenged city, but some neighborhoods are now on edge.

New buildings around the city are coming under fire for their scale, as residents complain about what these new structures bring: looming shadows, blocked views, new commuters for already overcrowded subways and the loss of longtime landmarks . And, critics add, a single project can be responsible for multiple slights.

One of the latest projects to be touched by controversy is One Clinton, a 134-unit condo in Brooklyn Heights that will start sales this month , represented by the Corcoran Group.

Opponents say that the project, from the Hudson Companies, has done something deeply offensive: bulldoze a library, and a popular one at that, to make way for luxury housing.
Transcription

A novel by Kate Atkinson

From the book:

Godfrey. Youre going to Hertford (Or Hatford?) Walter. This factory here is near Abbots Langley. Near the river. This is the canal. Godfrey. I see. Walter. Near the railway line. This is a pill box, then this barbed wire fence. Then the railway cutting. Ammunition of gunpowder, I think. Theyve put up a notice  No Smoking within 100 yards, you see. Godfrey. Yes. Have you put a cross against it? Walter. Not this one. Its just by Abbots Langley. You can probably (inaudible).

Its 1940 and Juliet Armstrong is swept up in the British war effort when she is recruited to transcribe the conversations of an MI5 officer, Godfrey, and his unsuspecting fascist-sympathizing acquaintances  only to become a spy herself. A decade later, shes leading a comfortably monotonous life as a radio producer when she runs into Godfrey on the street and realizes that certain battles wage on. To be published by Little, Brown on Sept. 25.

About the artist: Michelangelo Lovelace was born in 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio, where he continues to live and work  as a nurses aide and as an artist, painting and drawing vibrant, inherently political scenes of inner-city life. His work has been exhibited at both the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and the Cleveland Museum of Art, and he recently had a solo show at Fort Gansevoort gallery in New York. This fall, Lovelace will represent Ohio in Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesmans For Freedoms 50 State Initiative, in which artists around the country will treat billboards as canvases for civil discourse.
Each week, technology reporters and columnists from The New York Times review the weeks news, offering analysis and maybe a joke or two about the most important developments in the tech industry. Want this newsletter in your inbox? Sign up here.

Hello, readers! Im Farhad Manjoo, your technology columnist  and more important for our purposes today, Im a guy who has been to every Apple iPhone-unveiling event since the first one, all the way back in 2007. (If I were single, this would make a killer Tinder profile, right?)

As you might guess, then, Im sometimes a little jaded on iPhone day, which took place again this week. Apple showed off three new permutations of its smartphone at its newish spaceship headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. In its precise choreography  and after seeing it for the billionth time  Apples rollout for its most important device can feel as formulaic as an episode of Law & Order. Every year, the message is essentially the same: Amazingly, weve somehow made an even better iPhone!

But I come to you today to praise rather than complain. Because this year, I did find myself getting a little out of my seat and my picture of the future expanded to include possibilities I hadnt considered viable before. For the first time in years, I was truly surprised.
But after hearing Ava DuVernay, the director of Selma" and A Wrinkle in Time, speak at the W Hollywood, she cant wait to return to the property. I couldnt believe this quality of an event took place in a hotel. It felt like the kind of event I should have paid hundreds and hundreds of dollars to attend, she said.

Teaching wellness and relaxation in the Maldives

One & Only Reethi Rah is a five-star property in the Maldives. Because guests mostly go there to de-stress and relax, the resort thought they would help them do just that. They have done that with a speaker series where healing experts offer information on Chinese medicine, acupuncture or meditation. The idea is that the hotel is helping guests do what they ready came to do: restore themselves.

Special lessons on lifestyle and hotel amenities

AC Hotels, a Spanish hotel group with over 140 properties geared toward entrepreneurs, has a different focus: they teach guests about the property in which they are currently staying. We call it Unpacked because we are dissecting a beautiful hotel experience for you, said Benoit Racle, the brand director. Its like we are taking every guest on a private tour.

In their hotel rooms guests can watch videos with a scent-maker talking about the hotels special perfume, its architect talking about its design, even its chef talking about the special meat slicer he uses.

There are also live gatherings where experts talk about lifestyle and hospitality. The inaugural evening in Times Square attracted 200 people and included speakers like Dan Barasch, one of the minds behind The Lowline, a proposal for an underground park in New York Citys Lower East Side . Guests attended a cocktail reception after the talk, and after future events, they will play a card game with different conversational prompts on them like What is a Genius?

Kateland Turner, a 27-year-old senior account manager at an experiential marketing agency in New York City, said the speakers were so interesting, she took some ideas to work with her the next day.

I know hotels are increasingly becoming more than places to just rest your head, but this was the first time I had seen something like this that was not just fun, but intellectually stimulating and additive to my work life, she said.
One of the deadliest gas accidents in recent memory occurred in 2010 in San Bruno, Calif., when an electrical failure sent high-pressure gas into an old and faulty pipeline. The ensuing fireball killed eight people and destroyed 38 houses.

Since then, utility companies have been pushed to improve safety and update old infrastructure, an expensive proposition.

In Massachusetts, where some pipelines are a century old, state lawmakers passed a law in 2016 that required utility companies to fix the most significant gas leaks. In April, Mr. Bryant, the leader of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, requested permission to increase rates to pay for upgrades to aging infrastructure. On the day of the explosions, the company had announced that it would be upgrading gas lines in Merrimack Valley, which includes the three municipalities that were hit with fires.

In old mill towns, like Lawrence, some pipes predate the advent of natural gas and were created for another substance, called coal gas. Replacing old pipe with new can cost as much as $1.9 million a mile, said Nathan Phillips, a Boston University professor who has been an environmental activist working on the issue of gas leaks.

About a third of the Massachusetts gas pipeline system is leak-prone and old, Mr. Phillips said.

The fallout from the explosions was overwhelming: Thousands of people were being urged to stay out of their homes, which were deemed unsafe, and others were allowed to return but told not to turn their natural gas back on. As many as 80 buildings had been burned. And some 400 people had wound up sleeping in five shelters that were hastily opened overnight; some of them were likely to be there again on Friday night and, with no promises from officials about when this would be over, maybe for more nights.

Many residents who had abruptly fled their homes without their medications or pets were calling town officials seeking escorts to return home to retrieve essentials. Others who had stayed in their homes were coping with a different problem: no electricity. More than 17,000 customers were without power by Friday afternoon.
Hurricane Issac, 2012

Hurricane Isaac had steamrolled out of south Louisiana, and it was time to find out what was left behind. New Orleans checked out. But Plaquemines Parish, the muddy peninsula that escorts the Mississippi River out to sea, had been cut in half by flooding, leaving no clear path to its southern reaches.

Acy Cooper, a shrimp boat captain with a house way down in the parish, had ridden out the storm in a marina near the city. He was heading down to see the damage himself, taking the primal, and thus more reliable, route: the river.

A photographer and I met him near dusk at an empty ferry landing and off we went, an eight-hour chug down a pitch-black and unnervingly quiet Mississippi. In the darkness behind the river levees, we knew there was ruin. Scores of Plaquemines homes were flooded in Isaac; two bodies were found floating in a kitchen.

Ive reported on far more destructive hurricanes, those that killed hundreds and remapped cities. But Ive never felt the weight of that uneasy interlude, between the blaring chaos of the storm itself and the slow but noisy grind of recovery, like I did that midnight on the Mississippi.

Campbell Robertson, national correspondent
Unfortunately, there are dozens of small children sitting in detention facilities across the country because of the governments unilateral determination that minor crimes render these families ineligible for reunification, said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is leading the lawsuit against the government over migrant family separations.

After President Trump ended the separations in June in response to a broad public outcry, a federal judge ordered the government to return children to their parents. Judge Dana M. Sabraw of the San Diego Circuit Court set a July 10 deadline for reuniting more than 100 children under the age of four, and two weeks later for the much larger group of older children.

Several hundred families are yet to be reunited, including many in cases where the parents were deported. But the most contentious group of those excluded from reunification consists of parents the government has determined do not qualify. A few such cases were raised in federal court last week; with a continuing impasse between the A.C.L.U. and the government, the judge will likely have to rule on the fates of these cases.

The government has a legitimate interest in continuing detention of individuals who posed a flight risk or danger to the community or others in a family detention facility because of that persons criminal history, Justice Department lawyers said in a legal filing that cited some of the courts own standards for review. The question of whether that violates parents rights to due process, they added, should be dealt with in individualized inquiries.

Mr. Barrera, the son of a subsistence farmer, fled El Salvador in 1999 after he was repeatedly accosted by gangs, according to his lawyer, Derek Loh, of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, a nonprofit in Los Angeles. Barely literate and just 17 years old, he crossed the southwest border alone and joined thousands of lechugeros  lettuce people, in Spanish  who migrate through Arizona and California to harvest leafy greens. In 2001, Mr. Barrera obtained temporary protected status, a form of legal protection granted to Salvadorans at the time in recognition of earthquakes that had devastated the country early that year.
We are praying and hoping for the best, she said.

The badly flooded areas were all around town, not isolated to just one spot, said Jameesha Harris, an alderwoman, who heard from constituents whose relatives had fled to their roofs. Downtown is literally underwater, she said.

Since a mandatory evacuation was ordered for New Bern earlier in the week, city officials had tried to get word out. They knocked on doors, left fliers and drove the streets broadcasting on fire truck bullhorns. They offered rides. If you were even afraid that you might flood, said Jeffrey T. Odham, an alderman who made the rounds, then you probably could flood this time.

The state had set up a shelter at a National Guard armory two hours inland, and hundreds had gone. Four local shelters had been set up, as well, for last-minute deciders, and they filled up.

But still, some people remained. They stayed because they were up there in age, on dialysis, because they did not hear of the mandatory evacuation, because they had faith that God would keep them safe, because they loved their homes and did not want to leave, because it had never flooded badly where they lived.

But as Thursday afternoon turned to evening, it had become ever more clear that Hurricane Florence was not going to be like any storm in memory. Surgewaters marched down streets and crept up front porches, knocking on windows and sending people to second floors, then attics, if they had them.

It was close to dark, Id say probably 5, 6 oclock, and these floodwaters were really starting to rise and were rising quickly, Mr. Odham said.

People lost power all over town. A local television station, surrounded by floodwaters, had to evacuate in minutes, the weatherman walking off the set mid-broadcast. Those who did not get out had been told: If there is no room in the attic, go higher. And some did, clambering up onto the rooftops to wait.
WASHINGTON  Members of a federal advisory panel expressed alarm this week that 4,350 low-income people in Arkansas had lost Medicaid coverage because they failed to show they were complying with new work requirements held up by the Trump administration as a model for the nation.

I hope these data scare the pants off people in Arkansas, said Dr. Christopher Gorton, a member of the panel, called the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.

The chairwoman of the panel, Penny Thompson, said the data  the first for any state enforcing a work requirement  were very concerning and very worrisome.

The Trump administration approved Arkansass request to impose work requirements on certain Medicaid beneficiaries in March, one of the first of a wave of applications from Republican-run states. The administration has been encouraging work requirements for a variety of federal support programs, from food stamps to housing subsidies, and because Congress has balked, administration officials have turned to state governments to push ahead.
People often say: 10 years later, are we any safer after this crisis? Do you look around? Do you say to yourself: were in a better place? A worse place? We could have another crisis like this tomorrow? Were in a different place. We have an America 10 years post-crisis in which there are fewer homeowners. Theres a trillion and a half dollars in student loan debt. There are families who are now 10 years in with no raises, people working two jobs. Families live one bad diagnosis, one pink slip away from financial calamity. And they know it. And they read every headline that says, economy great and they think: what the hell happened to my family? And they are right to ask that question, because Americas government has failed them. For the past 10 years weve been talking about banks. Mhm. But in the last two years I would contend weve started to talk about Silicon Valley. Would you break up the big tech companies today? Well, the question is less to me about breaking up, and more about what it is they do that is anti-competitive. We have to wrestle with this question about these companies that aggregate and monetize data in ways that do not create viable markets, and that have no accountability to the people whose data has actually just been taken. Gary Cohn. Can we talk Gary Cohn? Lets talk about Gary Cohn. Lets talk Gary Cohn. O.K. So Gary Cohn works at Goldman all those years. Then moves over to the Trump administration. Hes going to have exactly one thing in his portfolio. And that is, cram through a new tax law. Right. Drive through a new tax law. So what does Goldman Sachs do for Gary Cohn on the way out the door? They hand over somewhere in the neighborhood of a quarter of a billion dollars to Gary Cohn. And money they didnt have to release. And, you know, you might reasonably ask, would they have done that if he had done Teach for America? I think of it as a  that money  as a pre bribe. So Gary Cohn picks up these sacks full of money, goes into government, and rewrites the tax laws, manages to cram it through. And boy, did Goldman once again show. Savvy investor. In the first quarter, the tax breaks that Cohn pushed through saved Goldman Sachs more than a quarter of a billion dollars. You know, theres been a real question about how the party is moving, shifting. Whether its moved left with Bernie Sanders on one side. Where you are in that, and where the center is. How do you place yourself in this? So why do this as party? Because Ill tell you where I place myself. I place myself right in the middle of America. When you look at core economic issues, where is America? About what? Two out of three Americans think we ought to raise the minimum wage. Three out of four Americans, somewhere in there, think that young people shouldnt be crushed by student loan debt, that they ought to be able to get an education without having to take on this kind of debt, and that we ought to do something about outstanding debt. Where are we? I dont know. Somewhere in the 60%, maybe more of people who think we ought to expand social security. There are issues on which were divided. I understand that. But this core economic set of issues. Stronger unions. Ill throw in one more. The importance of better labor rights. On these core economic issues, America is a progressive country.
With speculation about the letters contents circulating this week, Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee, released a different letter on Friday, sent to him and Ms. Feinstein and signed by 65 women who say they knew Judge Kavanaugh while in high school.

Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character and integrity, the women wrote. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.

Mr. Grassley was still planning to move ahead with Mr. Kavanaughs confirmation. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a key vote to advance the nomination next Thursday, and Republican leaders hope to hold a final vote of the full Senate before the end of September to allow Mr. Kavanaugh to be seated before the start of the Supreme Courts fall term next month. Mr. Grassleys aides said that Mr. Kavanaugh had been the subject of six F.B.I. background checks since 1993, and none had turned up anything like the episode in question.

It was not immediately clear how, if at all, the charges would influence senators who must decide whether to give Mr. Kavanaugh a lifetime appointment to the court. Only a small group of moderate senators remain publicly undecided about their votes, and objections from either one of two undecided Republicans, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, could thwart confirmation.

Ms. Collins spent an hour on the phone with Mr. Kavanaugh on Friday, shortly after details of the letter were first published. The call had been scheduled for days, and neither the White House nor Ms. Collinss office would disclose what was discussed.

The White House and outside pro-Kavanaugh groups continued to accuse Democrats of playing dirty, withholding mysterious information until the eve of Judge Kavanaughs confirmation in a last-ditch effort to derail a nominee they have always opposed.

I do not intend to allow Judge Kavanaughs confirmation to be stalled because of an 11th-hour accusation that Democrats did not see fit to raise for over a month, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said on Friday. He added: The claims are wholly unverifiable, and come at the tail end of a process that was already marred by ugly innuendo, dishonesty and the nastiest form of our politics. The American people deserve much better from the Senate as an institution.
Paul Manafort was once President Trumps campaign manager. By the fall of 2018, he was expected to face at least a decade in prison for 10 felony counts. Those counts included financial fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Mr. Manafort is disappointed of not getting acquittals all the way through. He is evaluating all of his options at this point. In the hopes of getting a more lenient punishment, Manafort agreed to fully cooperate with the special counsel, Robert Mueller. Now, federal prosecutors are saying he violated his plea deal by repeatedly lying during their investigation. Manaforts lawyer also allegedly passed information to President Trumps legal team. But this isnt Manaforts first scandal. Controversy has trailed the veteran Republican adviser since his earliest work as an international lobbyist and consultant. In the 1980s, Manafort testified before Congress and admitted to using his political influence to win millions of dollars in contracts from federal low-income housing programs. The technical term for what we do and what law firms, associations and professional groups do is lobbying. For purposes of today, I will admit that in a narrow sense some people might term it influence peddling. That same decade, Manafort advised the Philippine dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, on improving his image in the U.S. Manafort allegedly received $10 million in cash from a Marcos confidante. It was apparently money intended for Ronald Reagans presidential campaign. But the campaign said it never received that money. Foreign contributions to U.S. presidential elections are illegal. Also in the 1980s, Manafort was linked to the prime minister of the Bahamas at a time when the island nation had alleged ties to drug traffickers. Manaforts company said that the goal of its work was to help the Bahamas obtain more U.S. aid to help curb the drug smuggling. Decades later, Manafort would run Trumps presidential campaign. We want America to understand who Donald Trump the man is. Not just Donald Trump the candidate. The composite of his career. Not just from a business standpoint or a political standpoint, from a human standpoint as well. But he resigned five months into the job in August 2016, in the wake of reports that he received more than $12 million from Viktor Yanukovich, the former Ukrainian president and pro-Russia politician. Yanukovich and his political party relied on advice from Manafort and his firm, which helped them win several elections. The Times uncovered that Manafort and others close to Trump met with the Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer in June 2016. That lawyer claimed to have damaging political information about Hillary Clinton. As for this latest brush with controversy, Manaforts lawyers insist that their client has been truthful. But they acknowledge that Manafort and Muellers team are at an impasse.
WASHINGTON  A question has loomed over Washington: What will the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, do when he wraps up his investigation into whether the Trump campaign conspired with Russia and whether President Trump obstructed justice?

The leading theory is that Mr. Mueller will write a report for his supervisor at the Justice Department. That could lead to a new fight: Mr. Trumps lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, has suggested that the White House may then invoke executive privilege and order the Justice Department to keep portions of such a report confidential from Congress.

But there is historical precedent for another model. Echoing a move by the Watergate prosecutor in March 1974, the grand jury with which Mr. Mueller has been working could try to send a report about the evidence it has gathered directly to the House Judiciary Committee. And on Friday, seeking to draw more attention to that option, three prominent legal analysts asked a court to lift a veil of secrecy that has long kept that Watergate-era report hidden.

Specifically, the petition asks a judge to unseal a report that Leon Jaworski, the Watergate prosecutor, used to send Congress the evidence he had gathered about President Richard M. Nixons misconduct. Known as the Road Map, it was a 55-page index describing evidence and citing underlying testimony and tapes, but without any legal analysis or recommendations about whether Mr. Nixon committed an impeachable offense. While the Judiciary Committee had access to the Road Map, it has remained sealed from public view.
Good Friday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today:

 Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, is close to a plea deal with federal prosecutors, people familiar with the case said. [Read the story]

 Mr. Trump denied that nearly 3,000 people had died in Hurricane Maria, claiming that Democrats had made up the number to make him look bad. [Read the story]



 Safiya Wazir, 27, who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan with her family in 1997, won an upset victory in a Democratic primary for New Hampshire state representative. [Read the story]

 Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said she had referred an unspecified matter involving Judge Brett Kavanaugh to federal investigators. [Read the story]
WASHINGTON  The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization worked to shore up support in Washington this week, with boosters of the alliance anxious to retain the support of American conservatives amid criticism by President Trump and ahead of a possible Senate vote next year on expansion.

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, worked Capitol Hill this week to make a case that the alliance was important to American prosperity and security, keeping peace in Europe and bolstering American military might and intelligence reach.

Mr. Stoltenberg has one of the more difficult jobs in international diplomacy, trying to make progress on Mr. Trumps demands for more European military spending, assuring allies that the United States remains committed to Europes defense and trying to keep separate issues of trade and foreign policy that Washington is intent on merging.

But he has proved to be one of the European allies most adept at handling Mr. Trump, maintaining a good relationship despite the White Houses frequent criticisms.
In a statement, the archdiocese said that in 2001, officials were told by a 16-year-old girl and her family that the priest had kissed and touched her inappropriately when he was the parochial vicar at Sacred Heart. It said the officials reported the information to Childrens Protective Services, adding that Mr. La Rosa-Lopez denied touching the girl inappropriately.

Mr. La Rosa-Lopez was briefly reassigned to another church in May 2001 while the allegations were being reviewed, Mr. Dycus said. Mr. La Rosa-Lopez then entered a residential treatment program, Mr. Dycus said, before being assigned to administrative duties for about three years and then being sent to St. John Fisher.

An affidavit filed on Monday said a female victim told the police that after she learned of Mr. La Rosa-Lopezs 2010 appointment as vicar for Hispanics by Cardinal DiNardo, she contacted the church. The archdiocese said it held four meetings with her between 2010 and 2011, and at the final meeting, which the cardinal attended, Mr. La Rosa-Lopez apologized and expressed remorse.

Then, in an interview on Aug. 10 of this year, a 36-year-old man told Cardinal DiNardo that Mr. La Rosa-Lopez sexually abused him from 1998 to 2001, when the man was a high school student and Mr. La Rosa-Lopez was assigned to Sacred Heart. The archdiocese said that, once again, it reported the allegation to Childrens Protective Services. And once again, Mr. La Rosa-Lopez denied the allegations.

Such behavior simply will not be tolerated, the archdiocese said. To anyone affected by any form of abuse by anyone who represents the Church, the archdiocese deeply regrets such a fundamental violation of trust, and commits itself to eliminating such unacceptable actions.

Following Mr. La Rosa-Lopezs arrest, critics questioned why Cardinal DiNardo continued to allow the priest to minister after being made aware of the sex abuse allegations. Both victims told the police they were motivated to file reports because of the media reports on the sex abuse scandal involving the Catholic Church. One said she was motivated by what she perceived to be Cardinal DiNardos duplicity. (Cardinal DiNardo has, for instance, expressed shame and remorse over a grand jury report on clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania.)

Neither person who filed a report could be reached for comment.

We simply do not understand this callous disregard for the safety of children by Cardinal DiNardo and other Houston Church officials, Mr. Norris said in a statement for the survivors network.
Originally, I had finally agreed to genetic testing when Ruby was 3. Back then, whole exome sequencing was not on the table and the testing that was available found nothing, so the imaging of Rubys brain, which the pediatrician speculated could be structurally abnormal, loomed even larger. So be it, I said. What difference would it make to see it? Sedation for an M.R.I. brain scan, I knew, bore real risks.

I read as victories comments in Rubys medical notes such as this one, from a prominent neurologist: Mother does not wish to pursue MR imaging at present, and I think this is very reasonable since it would likely not affect management.

I had in mind the philosopher of science Ian Hackings ideas about labeling. He wrote that to acquire and use a name for any kind is, among other things, to be willing to make generalizations and form expectations about things of that kind, and If you see someone whom you love (or see yourself) as of a kind, that may change your entire set of perceptions. I dont doubt Im oversimplifying Hackings philosophy, but Ill wager hed approve of my using his concept to improve my young daughters life.

I didnt want a label, but finally something forced me back to a doctor, seeking answers.

Ruby and her baby sister, Ellie, and I had visited my friend Marisa in Long Island. On the rocky beach, the girls scrambled gleefully while I darted after them, minding the slippery seaweed, the points of driftwood. Marisa moved slower, free of that maternal pathology, the sense of keeping catastrophe at bay.

Later, in the kitchen, Ruby yelped and took several jagged steps sideways before falling down. I knelt over her and saw her eyes beating to the left, her mouth peeled in a grimace, her body out of her control.

I made myself say it aloud: She just had a seizure. The time had come.

The EEGs and brain M.R.I. were, somewhat surprisingly, normal. But the neurologist suggested we follow up with genetics. So here we were, spilling all the secrets of our blood.

A Facebook group and a website created by a mother said 65 people worldwide were known to have a mutation in GATAD2B. I messaged the mother. The next day, the number was 66. It was truly amazing to see the pictures and videos of these kids, and know that they were just like her.
Count on needing at least a gallon of water a day per person for drinking and basic sanitation. Food should be nonperishable and ready to eat. Medical supplies should include a first aid kit, any prescription drugs or medical devices you need as well as extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. If you take prescription medicine, have at least a weeks worth on hand.

Your kit should also contain blankets and extra clothes, your medical insurance or Medicare or Medicaid cards, a flashlight with extra batteries or chargers, a battery-powered radio and extra cash.

Keep a list of emergency contact numbers, including those of health providers, caregivers, family, friends and neighbors, as well as a list of prescription drugs and medical and assistive devices (including style and serial numbers), in a watertight container. The C.D.C.s care plan may be a useful guide.

If you depend on Social Security or other benefits, switch to electronic payments or direct deposit to will keep payments going when regular mail is disrupted.

Prepare a disaster action plan

Create a support network of family, friends and neighbors who can help with communication, transportation and critical care when other support services or home care are not available. Those in your network should have an extra key to your home and know how to administer your medicines and where you keep emergency supplies.

Talk to your health care provider about what to do in case of a natural disaster. Develop a plan and share it with your support network and practice it. Work with local public or private services and plan ahead for accessible transportation if evacuation is required, and call your local emergency management agency to make sure youre on a list of people with disabilities who will be helped if crisis strikes.

Make sure those in your network know where you will go if you do end up leaving. Sometimes cellphone service is not available in a disaster and it can be difficult to locate people.
The office will be open five days a week, with duty officers on standby on weekends, officials said. Personnel from both Koreas will live at the compound and be on call around the clock.

The office is in a four-story building within what used to be a factory park. The two Koreas jointly ran that park, which was established during an earlier period of warmth in their off-and-on relationship, until the South shut it down in 2016 amid rising tensions over the Norths nuclear arms program.

An agreement to open the new office was first reached in April, when President Moon Jae-in of South Korea and the Norths leader, Kim Jong-un, held their first summit meeting. They originally planned to open it in late August, but the date was pushed back after President Trump canceled a trip to Pyongyang by his secretary of state, citing a lack of progress in denuclearization talks with the North.

South Korea has dismissed concerns that it is opening up to the North too quickly, and that it should insist on more concrete steps toward denuclearization in return. Mr. Moon argues that improving inter-Korean ties will encourage, not deter, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This month he sent envoys to North Korea, who reported that Mr. Kim wanted denuclearization before the end of Mr. Trumps current term, if he were offered the right incentives.

Mr. Moon plans to travel to Pyongyang on Tuesday for his third summit meeting with Mr. Kim. Mr. Moon hopes to help restart the stalled talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

The two Korean leaders also plan to follow up on their April agreement to ease military tensions along the inter-Korean border. At their April meeting, Mr. Moon also offered help with the modernization of the Norths decrepit railways and highways, as an incentive for the North to abandon nuclear arms.

But Mr. Moon reaffirmed this week that inter-Korean ties, including major joint economic projects, could advance only after the North denuclearizes and the United Nations lifts sanctions.
SHANGHAI  As Typhoon Mangkhut starts to land its blow on the northern Philippines, the countrys leaders are haunted by the devastating experience of Typhoon Haiyan five years before, when a tsunami-like storm surge and gusts of extraordinary power overwhelmed the government and the military.

That storm left many lessons. Food and fresh water must be in position before a storm hits, as roads and airports may be closed for a week or more afterward because of fallen trees and other damage. Soldiers and police officers need to fan out to restore order as soon as the typhoon passes so civil society does not collapse in storm-ravaged areas. Evacuation centers need to be built on higher ground with stronger roofs.

Some of those lessons have already been followed ahead of Typhoon Mangkhut. The country has already mobilized the police and the military, which are rushing to prepare the countrys northeast corner for the typhoon.
Over decades, the factory, Titan, formed a gigantic effluent pond of sulfur waste that has acidified. Russian authorities say the pond is the source, while Ukrainians point to current operations at the factory.

Residents who remain in the area close their windows and stay indoors.

Armyansk, a city on the Russian-controlled side with a population of about 22,000, was an eerie ghost town when Abdureshyt Dzepparov drove through in early September. It was unnatural, he said. There were few people in the town. The leaves had fallen off the trees, though it was very early fall, and the grass in the fields was black.

Before the Russian annexation of Crimea, a canal diverting water from the Dnieper River in mainland Ukraine had fed the pond during dry summers. Ukraine, which along with the United States and European nations has refused to recognize the annexation, has since cut this water supply, drying up the pond, concentrating the acid and leaving a residue that is now blowing about.

Residents on both sides of the border have complained of coughing, allergies and a burning sensation in the nose and throat.
BERLIN  The police started evicting protesters from treehouses on Friday in what remains of a formerly vast forest in Western Germany, moving cranes and backhoes into a strip of ancient woodland where activists have lived for years on the edge of a growing open-pit mine.

Pushing their way into the heart of a forest that has existed for 12,000 years, where some 60 treehouses have been built over the past six years, thousands of police officers began cutting trees to reach a central community called Oaktown. They tore down at least one treehouse and detained more than a dozen protesters, on the ground and in the trees, the police said.
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MOSCOW  Over the years, the Kremlin has reached deep into its bag of tricks to silence Aleksei A. Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner and opposition leader. He has been repeatedly jailed, harassed by tax auditors and security agents, attacked with green dye and castigated by the state news media as a traitorous lackey of the West.

But this week, Viktor V. Zolotov, the longtime head of President Vladimir V. Putins personal security detail until taking over the Russian National Guard, took things one step further, releasing a video in which he essentially challenged Mr. Navalny to a duel.

The video, laced with prison slang and boorish threats, could have come straight out of Goodfellas, or maybe a sendup of a gangster movie.

I simply challenge you to a fight  in the ring, on the tatami, whatever, and I promise to make nice, juicy mincemeat out of you in a few minutes, said the speaker, Viktor V. Zolotov. I promise you that before stepping over you and wiping my feet, I will put on a demonstrative show for all the members of the National Guard.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday excoriated John Kerry, who was the top American diplomat in the final years of the Obama administration, for meeting with Iranian officials in what he described as unseemly and unprecedented discussions.

Actively undermining U.S. policy as a former secretary of state is literally unheard-of, Mr. Pompeo said in a brief appearance at the State Departments press briefing room.

His remarks came amid a Twitter spat between Mr. Kerry and President Trump over the American withdrawal this year from the Iran nuclear deal that the Obama administration had brokered.

While promoting his new book, a memoir of his career, Mr. Kerry said this week that he had met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran three or four times since leaving office. He said the discussions included the nuclear deal that Mr. Trump jettisoned in May, and defended the talks on Wednesday by saying that it was not uncommon for former secretaries of state to continue meeting with world leaders long after leaving government service.
Surging floodwaters from Florence and its torrential rains, which experts link at least in part to climate change, have released coal ash  a byproduct of coal burning that contains mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances  into the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. The torrent has also overrun several lagoons of pig waste in the state. The mishaps amplified concerns about an array of danger zones including Superfund sites, chemical plants and the regions large-scale hog farms.

On Friday breaches in a lake at the L.V. Sutton power plant in Wilmington, N.C., opened up, causing coal ash to enter the Cape Fear. North Carolinas Department of Environmental Quality said it had taken water-quality samples on Saturday but that test results would not be available until later this week. Duke Energy, which owns the Sutton plant, said water tests conducted by the company on Friday showed little to no impact to river water quality.

Here is where the dangers lie across the hardest-hit states:

Coal ash ponds

Roanoke Virginia Beach VIRGINIA Norfolk Greensboro Durham Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Flooding reported at Duke Energys H.F. Lee Plant near Goldsboro, N.C. Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Spill reported at the Sutton Power Plant Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Flooding reported at Duke Energys H.F. Lee Plant near Goldsboro, N.C. Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Spill reported at the Sutton Power Plant Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville H.F. Lee plant: flooding Wilmington Sutton plant: spill Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration via Frontier Group

Coal ash is the dusty residue that remains after power plants burn coal to generate electricity. The heavy metals that it contains are linked to respiratory illnesses and cancer.

Energy companies maintain that the way they store coal ash, in earthen pits mixed with water, is safe.

However, last week Duke Energy reported multiple breaches at a lake at its Sutton power plant, in Wilmington, N.C., that caused the inundation of an ash basin on the site. From there the water, which contained coal ash, flowed out to the nearby Cape Fear River.

The Sutton plant has two coal ash ponds, one dating back to 1971 and the other to 1984. The two ponds combined hold 2.1 million cubic yards of coal ash, according to a report prepared for the company. Only one was flooded. It is unclear how much ash has been released.

This was the second breach reported at the site. Shortly after Florence hit, Duke Energy reported a breach of coal-ash storage at the Sutton plant that displaced 2,000 cubic yards of material, the company said, an amount that would fill about two-thirds of an Olympic swimming pool.

Shortly after that, Duke Energy said, three ponds at a plant in Goldsboro, N.C., were flooded but not breached.

The largest spill on record happened in 2008 in Kingston, Tenn., when heavy rains led to the breach of a pond, releasing 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash at a site run by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The cleanup ultimately cost more than $1 billion.

Pig farms

Greensboro Durham Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Sources: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Two North Carolina counties in the path of the hurricanes destruction, Duplin and Sampson, are home the highest concentration of pork production in a state that produces a lot of pork. North Carolina has 9.7 million pigs, producing almost 10 billion gallons of manure annually.

Its 500 times the waste produced by the entire population of Washington D.C., said Alexis Andiman, an associate attorney with EarthJustice, a nonprofit environmental law firm that has sued the state over its handling of animal waste.

The material is collected in open pits called lagoons.

Ten days after the hurricane, the states Department of Environmental Quality reported that waste lagoons at more than two dozen hog farms had discharged at least some of their contents. Five lagoons experienced structural damage and 32 had seen some form of overflow, according to the D.E.Q.s website.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew swamped 14 lagoons in the state. And in 1999, the liquid that escaped when Hurricane Floyd flooded dozens of lagoons wound up in waterways where it killed fish and caused algae blooms, which imperil aquatic life.

Superfund sites

Roanoke Virginia Beach VIRGINIA Norfolk Greensboro Durham Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Source: Environmental Protection Agency Facility Registry Service

The Carolinas are home to more than 70 high-priority Superfund hazardous-waste sites, including a former smelting plant in North Charleston near the coast that is contaminated with arsenic, antimony and other substances linked to health problems including cancer.

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that assessment teams had completed preliminary inspections of 62 sites, with no issues identified. But, on Monday, rivers were still rising and hundreds of roads remained closed. Teams will move into areas still experiencing flooding and road closures when conditions allow, the agency said in a statement.

The agency came under fire last year after hurricanes Harvey and Maria inundated Superfund sites in Houston and Puerto Rico.

Industrial sites have historically been near water, said Prof. Thomas Burke, associate dean at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, who studied chemical exposures after Hurricane Katrina and other storms. That makes them definitely vulnerable, he said. In New Orleans, they caused a toxic gumbo.

Though cleanup is under way at the Carolina sites, and contaminants like arsenic and lead are already capped to keep them in place, flooding still poses a threat. With extraordinary surges and inundation of water, you really have to worry about the integrity of these things, Professor Burke said.

Chemical sites

Virginia Beach VIRGINIA Norfolk Greensboro Durham Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Charlotte Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. VIRGINIA Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA Greenville Jacksonville Wilmington Columbia SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston Est. cumulative rainfall by Monday, 4 p.m. 5 45 in. Source: Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory Program

North and South Carolina are home to more than one thousand sites where toxic chemicals are used or stored, according to a database maintained by the E.P.A.

The regions paper mills, for example, use various solvents to treat the lumber. Across the country, 2,500 chemical sites lie in flood-prone areas, a New York Times analysis found this year.

With flooding, will there be damage to storage tanks? These are things we have to watch out for, said Elena Craft, a senior health scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. Were talking PCBs, dioxins, the worst of the worst, she said, referring to chemicals known to be harmful to human health.
When women run, women win. Thats been the line on getting more women into public office; if only there were more candidates, there would be more elected.

So with a record 257 women running for the House and Senate this year, will there be a record-breaking surge of women in office come January?

Probably, probably not, and maybe. It depends on which office youre following, and what happens in toss-up races over the next seven weeks.

This has definitely been a historic year so far: The 2018 midterms have broken the record for the number of female candidates who filed as well as for the number and share of women who won primaries in House and Senate contests. The number of women winning primaries for the governors office is also the highest ever, and the share is the highest since 2000.

Share of general election candidates who are women HOUSE SENATE GOVERNORS 32% 29% 22% 1994 1994 1994 2018 2018 2018 HOUSE SENATE GOVERNORS 32% 29% 22% 1994 1994 1994 2018 2018 2018 HOUSE SENATE GOVERNORS 32% 29% 22% 1994 1994 1994 2018 2018 2018

There are more woman vs. woman contests than ever before: 33, up from a previous record of 19 in 2002 and the single digits in 1992, the so-called Year of the Woman.

The best chances for women to make history are in the House, where Democratic women won primaries at a higher rate than any other group, male or female. Women of color make up one-third of all House candidates, also a record.

Still, it is possible that the number of women will decline or remain at status quo in Congress and in the governors offices.

How can that be, when the number of women running has shot up so much?

It is mostly because a majority of female candidates are running in House districts that favor the other party  either running for open seats, or challenging incumbents, who almost always win.

Seats currently held by women Seats currently held by women Seats currently held by women









Currently, women hold of the 435 seats in the House. If a woman won in every race where one is running, would make it to the House. But thats unlikely. are unlikely to win because they are running against men in districts that favor their opponents party. women have a chance, but they are running against men in competitive races (toss-ups or leaning toward one party). That leaves women who will likely hold seats. (This includes mostly incumbents, or other candidates in female-only races or in districts that favor their party.) If only these women win the general election, there will be one more woman in the House than there is now.

But if women win all the competitive races and ones where they are favored to win, they will hold 117 seats in the House come January. Still, this is not parity: Even if women win every one of the races with female nominees, they will still occupy fewer than half the seats in the House.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers, half of female nominees in the House are running as challengers, compared with 36 percent of male nominees. Among Democrats, 52 percent of the women in the general election are challengers, compared with 39 percent of men.

The argument has been: When women run, theyre just as likely as similarly situated men to win, said Jennifer Lawless, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia (and a former Democratic House candidate in Rhode Island). Its not that theyre less likely to win this year  theyre just comprising a lot of the challengers.

Pennsylvania, the only large state without a woman in its congressional delegation, is guaranteed to have one because two women are running against each other in the suburbs of Philadelphia: Mary Gay Scanlon, the Democrat, is favored over Pearl Kim, a Republican.

Vermont, on the other hand, will most likely remain the only state never to have sent a woman to Congress; it does have its first woman on the ballot this year, but she is a Republican and the seat leans toward the incumbent Democrat.

Two Democrats, Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, are likely to be the first Muslim-American women elected to Congress.

Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota state lawmaker, celebrated her primary victory in August. Mark Vancleave/Star Tribune, via Associated Press

The large number of Democratic female nominees in the House reflects the energy of the womens marches against President Trump and the historic gender gap among the voters who elected him; Republican women set their record in 2010, when the midterm energy was on the right.

Any Democratic wave is going to disproportionately help women because women disproportionately run as Democrats, Dr. Lawless said. If we see 60 seats flip, we are going to see women get elected at unprecedented rates. If the wave ends up more like a puddle on the sand, its not going to look that different than previous cycles.

Kimberly Peeler-Allen, a co-founder of Higher Heights for America, which aims to elect more black women, said Democratic House nominees like Linda Coleman in North Carolina and Lauren Underwood in Illinois, both challenging incumbents in Republican-leaning districts, have been running intense and face-to-face campaigns, which could make them part of that wave.

llinoiss Democratic congressional candidate Lauren Underwood greets guest during a campaign event in June. Joshua Lott for The New York Times

Thats kind of the secret sauce Ive been seeing, Ms. Peeler-Allen said. Theres going to be a lot of movement.

There are 22 women running in Senate contests this year, up from the previous record of 18 in 2012. Eleven of those women are favored to win  including the six contests where a woman is running against a woman, also a record.

Senate races in which nominees were both women Six races One race 1960 1986 1998 2018 Six races One race 1960 1986 1998 2018 Six races One race 1960 1986 1998 2018

Adding those to the 10 female senators who are not up for re-election, there could be 21 female senators in the next Congress, two fewer than the 23 now serving. But if women win all the competitive races  this includes two Democratic incumbents, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota  there will be 25 women in the Senate, a slight increase but also a record-breaking one.

23 female senators are currently in office 21 women are favored to win or are not up for election 4 are in competitive races 23 female senators are currently in office 21 women are favored to win or are not up for election 4 are in competitive races

It is in the governors races that there is the biggest variability. Six women are now serving, and the record was nine, set in 2004. Just three are running in contests that their party is favored to win: two incumbents, Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island and Kay Ivey of Alabama, and Representative Kristi Noem, who is running for an open seat in South Dakota.

But assume that all of those in competitive races win  this includes Stacey Abrams, a Democrat running in Georgia and Kim Reynolds, the Republican incumbent in Iowa  and you get 10 female governors, again breaking the record by a bit.

6 female governors are currently in office 3 women are favored to win 7 are in competitive races 6 female governors are currently in office 3 women are favored to win 7 are in competitive races

In New York on Thursday, Cynthia Nixon lost her insurgent challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who has already served two terms.

The governors offices have long been the hardest for women to win. Twenty-two states have never had a female governor. Four states could have female governors for the first time this year: Maine, Georgia, South Dakota and Idaho.

We are much more accustomed to seeing women as part of a deliberative body like a legislature, said Barbara Lee, who started her namesake foundation 20 years ago with the initial goal of getting more women elected to executive office. When a woman is running to be the C.E.O., voters need more evidence, traditionally, to see that shes prepared for the role than they do with a man.

Still, Ms. Lee argued that even if the surge of women who filed to run does not lead to a surge of winners in November, it has changed the dynamics of women running for office.

From the day of the Womens March, I felt like, oh my gosh, this is bigger than a moment, she said. The energy I saw that day and in the protests following it, this is the time that it can really be a movement that is long lasting.

But she and others argue that the number of women running this year has been so big that it has changed our image of what a candidate looks like.

This is particularly true for women of color, Ms. Peeler-Allen said, repeating the adage, if you can see it, you can be it.
Think you can move small objects using only the power of your brain? Can you find water using a simple divining rod, or maybe just transmit thoughts telepathically? If you can prove your superpowers, a group of scientists in Germany would love to reward you with 10,000 ($11,700).

The Society for the Scientific Investigation of Para-Sciences (GWUP) is a group of German physicists, biologists and psychologists who believe that people who claim to have super-powers like telekinesis, telepathy or divining abilities should not be dismissed as mere charlatans, but actually studied and allowed to prove their abilities in controlled laboratory conditions. Every year, they invite candidates to the University of Wurzburg, in Wurzburg, Germany, to show off their super-powers and potentially win a cool 10,000 prize. Over 60 people have been tested in recent years, but none of them have been able to claim the coveted prize.

Photo: Juan Antonio Agraz Sandoval/Wikimedia Commons

Were not here to make people look ridiculous, says Rainer Wolf, a perceptual researcher and the man who oversees the yearly tests at the University of Wurzburg. We just want to show that many such claims are nonsense.

But just because the claims are nonsense doesnt meant that the people making them are trying to be deceitful. Wolf and his psychologist colleagues in GWUP are convinced that most of the candidates actually believe they have these special abilities that science cant yet explain. They are trapped in a belief system that they themselves have built over a long period of time and that means a lot to them. They subconsciously forget all the failures and only seem to remember the times that their talents produced amazing results. But when it comes to actual testing, they always fail.

Rainer Wolf puts a lot of time and work into these super-power tests, trying to make them as fair as possible and minimize luck as much as possible. For example, last year, one of the candidates that showed up for testing claimed he had mastered telekinesis and could move small objects with the power of his mind. So Wolf had him move a small piece of paper that had previously been covered with a glass lid, so that wind or other air currents couldnt interfere. The man tried to move the piece of paper for several hours before finally giving up.

There was also a so-called geo-pathologist who claimed to be able to be able to use a small pickax to detect water sources, pipes and even electrified wires. So Wolf had him identify which of the power cables in a university classroom were actually electrified. After preparing for several hours, he got 26 cables right out of a total of 50, which is pretty much the average any normal person would guess, according to the rules of probability.

A third candidate claimed to be able to levitate, but she too failed miserably multiple times before finally accepting defeat.

But one thing that all these candidates, and the dozens who came before them had in common was that they didnt let this failure crush their conviction. In fact, Prof. Rainer Wolf says that this is their true super-power, this ability to find excuses, and retain their confidence in their abilities. Fortune tellers will say that the stars werent properly aligned, spiritualists will say that secret forces prevented them from reaching their goal, while others will simply blame their failure on fatigue or working or stress. Therell always be something, thats for sure.



Even when the results of the tests are catastrophic, candidates will find the strength to continue believing in their abilities. Take, Heinz Krieger, a diviner who swore he could find water using his two divining rods. In a test where out of 10 covered buckets only one actually contained water, Krieger was challenged to find the right bucket in at least 7 out of 13 attempts, in order to prove his gift and earn the 10,000 euro prize. He didnt find the water bucket even once. Still, asked by reporters if he still believes in his super-power, he said of course. He doesnt know why it didnt work during the test, but his super-power is definitely not just his imagination.

So if you think you have a true super-power and are willing to prove it for a chance to win 10,000 euros, go over to the GWUP website and apply. Who knows, you may be the first person to finally convince these scientists and claim their financial reward.

Sources: DW, Der Tagesspiegel
A second Offaly woman is in the running to win the 2018 Miss Bikini Ireland title.

22-year-old Leanne Farrelly from Tullamore is hoping to go one better than 2014 when she entered the same competition as an 18-year-old.

She is again one of the finalists this year and says, "Unfortunately I didnt win in 2014 but decided to come back this year."

Read also: Clara woman in the running to be Miss Bikini Ireland 2018

"Besides the winning, I also came back for the fun and experience. I met so many people through Miss Bikini and made good friendships and am doing so again this year," she added.

"Its so much fun, and you would think because its loads of girls competing for the winning place that we would all not get along but its the total opposite; we all get along and I met lovely girls already," Leanne told us.

"Being one of the finalists is big, because most girls, including myself, would have anxiety and insecurities and feel like we wouldnt have gotten this far, so it is an achievement for me and the goal is to win and represent Ireland in the world final and hopefully it will happen," she continued.

The competition gives women from the ages of 18-35 a chance to take part and become a finalist, a search that began on social media.

The opportunities for the winner are huge with lucrative sponsorship deals to work in the areas of fitness, as well as take part in various magazine shoots.

The overall Miss Bikini winner also receives a cash prize and an all expenses paid trip to the USA for the swimsuit USA competition.

The public are eligible to vote in the early stages of the competition so if you want to vote for Leanne, you can do so as follows:

Text Bikini followed by vote ID: BIKINI 137 to 57003 from Rep of Ireland and 60999 from Northern Ireland. Please note that a charge of 1.00 per text applies, and network charges vary 18+

Lines close at 11pm on October 14.
Tusla has launched National Child and Family Support Week in the Midlands Area  Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath to raise awareness about Tusla family support services

Clinical psychologist David Coleman joins campaign - which is supported by special public events across Midlands area of Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly from Sept 17th- 23rd

Tusla-Child and Family Agency has launched its first ever national promotional drive to highlight the range of services it provides as part of its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) programme.

Tusla National Child and Family Support Week will feature special public events across Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly and will be backed up by a national and regional advertising campaign across media platforms.



There are now almost 863,000 families with children in Ireland and some 1.68 million children in families in Ireland, according to Census 2016. Tusla provides extensive support services to assist all parents, children, and young people as part of its PPFS programme. This programme aims to stop problems experienced by families from getting worse, or from developing into a crisis.

Tusla National Child and Family Support Week aims to create widespread public awareness of Tuslas high-quality PPFS programme, leading to increased engagement with its services by families, parents and children.

Recent studies by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway found that, with regard to help-seeking for a parenting or family problem, personal support networks  family and friends - were the main source of support for the public. Members of the public turned to their local GP primarily if they could not manage a parent or family problem, while increasing numbers of people are asking a teacher for assistance in this area. The findings also suggested that both the public and the media do not clearly differentiate the concept of family support from child protection, and children in care. However, there has been a significant increase in knowledge of Tusla services overall, among the public, in recent years.

Across the four counties a series of events will be hosted to promote the prevention partnership and family support work of Tusla and partner organizations. This will include information stands in shopping centres, talks for parents regarding online safety for children and The Little Things- Our children`s Mental Health, parenting workshops for parents of younger children and parents of teenagers(Limited places  booking to 0906447111 or e-mail triplep.midlands@hse.ie ),coffee mornings, Resilience documentary and discussion workshop, and some family fun events in a number of different venues across the four counties.

Speaking ahead of Tusla National Child and Family Support Week clinical psychologist David Coleman stated: Ive been working in clinical practice with children, teenagers and their families for over 20 years and have consistently seen that preventative help for parents and children is always better than having to respond in a crisis. Ive been jointly involved with Tusla services with some of my clients over the years, and Ive seen, first hand, the high level of support that Tusla and the Family Resource Centre network can offer. If it takes a village to raise a child, then Tusla can help families to connect in with their village, accessing those vital community and parenting supports.

Senior PPFS manager for Midlands Area, Eamonn Farrell said: "Tusla is not just a child protection agency that works independently. Tusla has an expanded child and family support role with a spectrum of specialist services that are provided in conjunction with our partner organizations in the midlands area. Tusla is a cornerstone in supporting families within their communities. If a child or family needs support, Tusla is there to help. Our PPFS programme seeks to work with families at an early stage to resolve problems, to prevent harm, and to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. And we work collaboratively with our partner organisations to strengthen families and communities.
Submitted photo.

Fall Philosophy Forum Series Kicks off Sept. 14 with Dr. Matthew Halsted September 14, 2018

Oklahoma Baptist University kicks off its 2018-19 Philosophy Forum series beginning Friday, Sept. 14. The first event features guest speaker Dr. Matthew Halsted, pastor of First Baptist Church of McLoud, Oklahoma. His lecture titled The Value of Philosophy in Theological Studies will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 p.m.

Halsted began serving as the pastor of FBC, McLoud, in 2012. He graduated from Rose State College and the University of Central Oklahoma with degrees in international studies and philosophy. He also holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Theology/Middlesex University (UK) for his research on biblical intertextuality and philosophical hermeneutics.

The second Philosophy Forum event will take place Friday, Oct. 12. This forum will likewise be held in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 p.m. The announcement for the guest speaker is pending.

OBUs own Dr. Tawa Anderson, associate professor of philosophy and director of the honors program, will speak at the November forum Friday, Nov. 9. His lecture is titled Pascalian Prudence, Virtue, and the Necessity of A-Apatheism. Apatheism is apathy (laziness or unconcern) about theism (the existence, nature, and expectations of God), and characterizes an increasing segment of post-Christian Western society. Anderson will discuss the issue and present a responsive paper from Dr. Randal Rauser, professor of theology and culture at Taylor Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta. The forum will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 pm.

To wrap up the fall Philosophy Forums, a mock debate on the question, Does God Exist? will be held Friday, Dec. 7. The debate will feature Anderson in the negative and senior biblical languages major Jonathan Knox in the affirmative. The debate will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 pm.

To kick off the 2019 portion of the Philosophy Forum series, OBU will host Dr. Gary Habermas in January. Habermas is a research professor of philosophy at Liberty University and one of the worlds leading scholars on the resurrection of Jesus. He will be on campus for the Christian Worldview plenary lectures and will present five lectures that are open to the public. These lectures will take place Monday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., as well as Tuesday, Jan. 15, at both 9 and 11 a.m.
Arrest of Hizbul terrorist: ATS looking for two suspected accomplices

India

pti-PTI

Kanpur (UP), Sep 14: Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has launched a massive manhunt to nab two suspected accomplices of Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) operative Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was arrested from Kanpur, official sources said on Friday.

"Preliminary investigation confirmed that two persons were frequent visitors to Zaman's rented place and stayed with him," Senior Superintendent of Police (ATS) Jogendra Kumar said. One of them had allegedly played a key role in striking a deal with the landlord, Ujiyari Lal Yadav, a former corporator from Shiv Nagar ward from where Zaman was arrested Thursday, Kumar added.

Zaman, a BA drop-out hailing from Jamunamukh in Hojai district of Assam, had come in contact with a person named Osama in the initial months of 2017 and joined Kashmir-based militant organisation HM, Kumar said.

He went on to get training in the forests and hills near Kishtwar, Kumar said, adding Zaman then adopted the name Dr Huraira. After being imparted training, Zaman was sent to Uttar Pradesh to carry out blast during a festival, Kumar said. Kumar said that the arrested HM operative had first surfaced in April this year after a photo of him flaunting an AK-47 rifle with his code name was posted on social media and widely shared.

During questioning, the SSP claimed, Zaman confessed to have taken help of a local youth in hiring rented accommodation very close to GSVM airport formerly known as Chakeri airport which functions as part of the IAF base in Chakeri.

The agency is trying to find out the duration of Zaman's stay in UP, details of his aides, source of funding and specific targets in the city, Kumar asserted.

Ujiyari Lal Yadav said that about two months back a couple of men carrying bags on their shoulders had visited his house and asked about the rented accommodation, while he was standing outside his house.

"They had said that they were from Lucknow and worked for a mobile company as tower engineers and their responsibility included maintenance of cell towers," Yadav said.

Yadav said he had given them a hall on the first floor on rent for Rs 3,400 per month. They paid one month advance and promised to give the identity related documents later.

However, they never provided the documents even though he asked them thrice, Yadav said.

"They promised every time to bring the documents whenever they visited Lucknow, but they didn't," he said. During the probe, the ATS found that the three men had moved in together and they used to come there especially during night hours.

PTI
Akhilesh may even convert to get Muslim votes: UP minister

Big terror attack on major temple in UP foiled

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kanpur, Sep 14: The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad made a crucial arrest, following which a major attack was foiled. The ATS arrested a terrorist of the Hizbul Mujahideen from Kanpur and he has been identified as Qamer Uzzaman, 37.

A resident of Assam, Uzzaman was planning a major strike during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. He had on his radar a prominent temple, Director General of Police, O P Singh said.

Qamer, who was arrested from Kanpur's Chakeri area, had gone missing from Assam. In a video recovered from his mobile, police say, he can be seen surveying temples in the city.

Also Read | Suspected Hizbul terrorist arrested from Kanpur

The state's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) made the arrest with the help of Kanpur Police and the National Investigation Agency. "He was active on social media and had posted a picture of himself in April 2018 with an AK-47, after which he was under our radar," the DGP said.

The photo in which Qamer, who is from Jamunamukh in Assam's Nagaon district, is seen holding an automatic rifle recently went viral on social media.

The caption of the photo suggested he had joined Hizbul, which reads: "Org: Hizbul Mujahideen; Name: Qamer Uzzaman; S/O Ibrahim Zaman; R/O: Assam India; Code: Dr Hurairah; Qul: MA English."

Singh added that Uzzaman is educated with knowledge of computers. He however failed the BA third year exam. He had undergone training in Pakistan in 2017 and had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen there, Singh further said.

Sources say that he had come down to Kanpur and had carried out a reconnaissance of a temple. He was plotting a fedayeen strike on the temple. He was planning on targeting a huge crowd, the police officer also added.
Vijay Mallya has applied for another route to stay in the UK, says lawyer

BJP accuses Rahul, Sonia Gandhi of flying for free in Kingfisher airlines

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 14: The war of words between the BJP and the Congress over the Vijay Mallya issue intensified Friday with the opposition party alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" was an admission of guilt and the ruling party questioning links between the fugitive tycoon and the Gandhi family.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley helped the liquor baron flee India and accused them of maintaining a "conspiratorial silence" about a "meeting" Jaitley had with the defaulter businessman on March 1, 2016.

Holding that Jaitley has lost the legal, ethical and moral right to continue as minister and must resign, he said the silence of the Union minister and Modi pointed at their admission of guilt.

Hitting back, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) media head Anil Baluni fired off eight questions to the Congress. He asked if its president Rahul Gandhi and his mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi did not fly free of cost in Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines in lieu of loans given to it.

It was the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government which "raised and protected" the fugitive tycoon, he said, claiming that Rahul Gandhi suffers from "ideological bankruptcy and does not know what he says, does and understands".

"Why Rahul Gandhi does not answer these questions? Why his lips are sealed when faced with these burning questions. What can be a bigger evidence of corruption than the fact that it was the Congress government which raised and protected Mallya," he said.

At his press conference, Surjewala asked why Modi was "afraid" to conduct a fair investigation in this matter.

"It shows that PM Modi is not just a part of this crime but the main culprit," he said.

If Modi does not act, it will be proved that the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) is not just a 'Bhaagidaar' (partner) but is guilty of protecting a criminal, the Congress leader alleged.

"Multiple skeletons are tumbling out of the Modi governments cupboard unravelling a sinister conspiracy and collusion of government agencies, including CBI, ED, SFIO and others in permitting Vijay Mallya to escape the clutches of law," he told reporters.

In his statement, Baluni cited the then prime minister Manmohan Singh's reported comments in 2011 that Kingfisher Airlines, now defunct, needed to be helped and asked if it was not true that the then finance minister P Chidambaram ignored rules to provide relief to the loss-making airline.

"Is it not true that in exchange for providing (bank) loans to Mallya the then UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and current Congress president Rahul Gandhi travelled free of cost in the airline's business class," he asked.

He also repeated several allegations the ruling party has been levelling at the Congress. The two parties have been training guns at each other after Mallya claimed on Wednesday in London that he had met Jaitley before leaving India.

The finance minister refuted his claim, saying he had never give him an appointment but the businessman misused his privilege as a member of Parliament to accost him there but he asked him to approach his banker. Rahul Gandhi had accused Jaitley of colluding with a criminal and sought his resignation.

PTI
BJP-ruled states slashes petrol, diesel rates further: New price to come into effect from today

BJP eyes 25 LS seats, victory in 2021 state polls in Bengal

India

pti-PTI

Kolkata, Sep 14: BJP has set a target of winning at least 25 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections and capture power in the state in the 2021 assembly poll, West Bengal party president Dilip Ghosh said on Friday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already emerged as the main opposition in West Bengal ahead of the Leftists and Congress, he said.

Speaking at the party's state executive meeting, Ghosh said: "People in the state are unhappy with the anti-people policies of the Mamata Banerjee government and are looking for an alternative, which we will provide."

The meeting discussed strategies to fight political opponents in the upcoming general elections, assessed the party's organisational strength at different levels starting from the grassroot and ways to strengthen it, party insiders said.

"We are taking the 2019 general election as the semi final in Bengal. We aim to win 25 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The 2021 assembly elections in the state will be our final. We must win and capture power in the state by defeating the Mamata Banerjee government," Ghosh said.

"Concerned with our emergence in state politics, ruling Trinamool Congress will perhaps try to hold hands with Congress to fight us. But that will not help them," he added.

PTI
'Mallyas Great Escape' aided by CBI, had PM's nod: Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 14: Vijay Mallya issue has just refused to die down. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a fresh attack on the BJP over Vijay Mallya. He alleged that the lookout notice for Mallya was changed on the approval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking to twitter Rahul wrote "Mallya's Great Escape was aided by the CBI quietly changing the "Detain" notice for him, to "Inform". The CBI reports directly to the PM. It is inconceivable that the CBI, in such a high profile, controversial case, would change a lookout notice without the approval of the PM."

On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi demanded for the resignation of finance minister Arun Jaitley, accusing him of "colluding with" Mallya and "allowing the criminal to flee".

Also Read | 'Vijay Mallya was given free passage by Arun Jaitley', says Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi also referred to his party colleague PL Punia, who alleged that he had seen Mallya in conversation with Jaitley on March 1, 2016, a day before the Kingfisher Airlines chief fled the country.

Describing it as an "open and shut case of collusion", the Congress chief said there was some deal between Jaitley and Mallya, and demanded the finance minister's resignation and a probe into the matter.

Later in the evening, Gandhi reiterated on Twitter his demand for Jaitley's resignation.

Also Read | Mallya backtracks after saying he met Arun Jaitley before leaving India

Mallya had on Thursday claimed that he met Jaitley before leaving India and offered to settle his dues. Jaitley immediately rebutted Mallya's claim and maintained that he had not given the businessman an appointment since 2014, but that the latter used his privilege as a Member of Parliament (MP) and accosted him in Parliament. Mallya too admitted as much subsequently.

Mallya, who fled India even as a debt court in Bangalore was set to act against him for defaulting on loans issued by several banks led by the state-owned State Bank of India, is in London where a court will pronounce its verdict in an extradition hearing against him on December 10. The court finished hearing the case on Wednesday.
Dilli Gupshup: Original Gandhi verses Chinese Gandhi

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 14: The city is always abuzz with something or the other, Congress president was given a send off by Chinese envoy in India and the RSS having a different outlook over the people coming from outside. Similarly the BJP leadership's total dependence on Centre and bureaucratic somersault is talk of the town. Read on

Original Gandhi verses Chinese Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi has not only been the punching bag for the social media where different kind of things are talked about him but these days it is being about original Gandhi and Chinese Gandhi. His recent rendezvous with Chinese leadership some public and other secret have made him Chinese Gandhi with pun intended. He is actually being compared with the non-durable and unreliable Chinese goods in the market while credibility of Original Gandhi is unsurpassed. So original verses Chinese Gandhi is a new jumla around.

Also Read | Dilli Gupshup: Rafale deal, an old acrimony at work

Some embarrassing moment for the CM

For the people with RSS and organisational background, anyone coming to the Sangh Pariwar fold always remains to be a matter of not only curiosity but doubt so what if the person holds an important post like a chief minister. In a programme organised on National Register for Citizenship (NRC) chief minister of Assam was reminded more than once that he was not with the BJP when Assam movement started leaving the CM embarrassed. He has gone to the extent of saying if he has ever been the minister of any other party embarrassing him again and on some more occasions however he later tried to mend himself but much to avail. The organisation is always superior than the government, is it so?

No feedback just homework for party leadership

Grapevine is abuzz that in the national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi, state leaderships were supposed to give their feedback and get some road map for the forthcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. But no feedback was taken from them rather they were given sermon by the central leadership and go and work. No one was allowed to speak and were just made to listen only and go back to their respective state. So some of the state leaders who are facing the brunt of certain decisions of the Centre were perplexed with the behavior of the central leadership but who will dare to speak.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi has an obsession for China: BJP

Time for bureaucratic somersault!

With the Bharatiya Janata Party bemused over the fact that from where the Congress is getting all information against the Party, the BJP leaders have started saying that with the tenure of the BJP coming to an end bureaucrats in Delhi have joined Congress war room to tell every information about the government. But what is causing them more worried is that what next? So the government is not only very cautious but concerned how to handle it. All the tough measures taken by the government are going into shambles. So the adage goes right it is impossible to break steel frame of the bureaucracy and the government is clueless.
Engineers Day 2018: Significance, Why is it celebrated?

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Engineers Day will be celebrated across India on September 15 (Saturday). Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on different dates of the year. In India, it is celebrated on September 15 which is the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, who is considered as one of the greatest engineers India has produced.

Engineer's Day is a significant occasion considering the fact that India produces close to 20 lakh engineers in a year. The year 2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Engineers Day in India.

Visvesvaraya was not only known for his contributions in the field of engineering but was also called the " precursor of economic planning in India", according to the Institution of Engineers India (IEI).

Sir Visvesvarayya was an acclaimed engineer recognized for his mastermind in harnessing water resources. He had successfully designed and constructed several river dams, bridges and revolutionized the irrigation system in India by implementing irrigation and drinking water system.

Sir Visvesvarayya was born on September 15, 1861, to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkachamma at Muddenahalli village in Kolar district of Karnataka. He completed BA with distinction from Central College of Bangalore and Civil Engineering from College of Engineering, Pune, in 1881 and 1883, respectively. He began his career as an Assistant Engineer with Public Works Department (PWD) at Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1884 and was later requested to join the Indian Irrigation Commission.

As a Public Works Department engineer, he accomplished several projects related to maintenance of public buildings, road construction and laying out city developments plans in several important towns. He worked with complete dedication and perseverance and got promoted as Chief Engineer in Mysore State in 1909. His notable accomplished by was the system of automatic water floodgates first installed in the year 1903 at Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune, designed and patented by him.

These gates were first used to control the floods of the Mootha Canal flowing through Pune. Similar gates were later used in the Krishnasagar dam in Mysore, Tigra Dam in Gwalior and other large storage dams. He is the chief engineer is responsible for constructing Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mandya district.He was also a scholar, statesman and Diwan of princely state of Mysore for seven years from 1912 to 1919.

Visvesvaraya received the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 1955.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 5:00 [IST]
Has 3rd wave started in India? Here's how many cases of AY.4.2 reported in country, so far

India reports 12,830 new COVID19 cases in last 24 hours; daily tally 10.36% less than yesterday

India requests Pakistan government to allow Srinagar-Sharjah flight to use its airspace

For 1st time in 8 years, Indian travellers to the US come down

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 14: The number of Indian travellers to the US has seen a huge dip according to the US department of commerce's National Travel and Trade Office.

Around 11.14 lakh Indians went to the US in 2017 which is down 5 per cent when compared to the previous year. In 2016, 11.72 Indians travelled to the US.

On Wednesday, the NTTO released the forecast with figures for 2017, which suggested a decline in the numbers. The NTTO had in April suspended publication of overseas arrival data due to anomalies in the records received from the US Customs and Border Protection.

Also Read | Indian travellers can now get speedy entry into US

2009 saw, 5.5 lakh Indian travellers to the US, which was a decline of 8 per cent over the previous year. This was largely owing to the global slowdown. However post this period there was an increase until 2016.

The NTTO however forecasts an increase in the Indian travellers between 2018 and 2022, which suggests that the drop in numbers last year could be a temporary blip.

"US welcomed nearly 7.7 crore international visitors into the country who collectively spent a record-setting $251.4 billion experiencing the US in 2017, a 2% increase when compared to 2016... The number of international travellers to the US rose 0.7 % in 2017 compared to the previous year.

Growing markets were led by South Korea (+17.8%), Brazil (+11%), Argentina (+10%), Ireland (+9%) and Canada (+4.8 %)," the US Department of Commerce said in a statement.
Manohar Parrikar's son among 2 shortlisted by BJP for Panaji bypoll

BJP denies ticket to Parrikars son, fields former aide for Panaji bypoll

Induction of Congress MLAs into BJP is death of Parrikar's legacy, says outgoing Goa deputy CM

Swaraj, Parrikar, Ananth Kumar: BJP has lost some of its tallest leaders recently

This Goa's Parra village suspends 'photography tax' imposed on Tourists for clicking photos

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar admitted in private clinic in Goa

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Panaji, Sep 14: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was on Thursday rushed to a private clinic in the beach village of Candolim in North Goa.

Parrikar, who has been suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer has been undergoing treatment in a New York hospital.

Deputy Speaker of Goa legislative assembly, Michael Lobo told reporters that Parrikar had been admitted to the clinic, but refused to divulge details about his health.

On Wednesday, there were reports that Parrikar may dissolve the Goa assembly later this month.

The Chief Minister earlier this month, returned from the US for the third time in six months where he was undergoing treatment for this ailment.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 9:32 [IST]
Google dedicates Doodle to Sir M Visvesvarayya on Engineers Day

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Sep 15: Today's Google Doodle is dedicated Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya as it is his 157th birth anniversary. Visvesvarayya is considered as one of the greatest engineers India has produced and his birth anniversary (Sep 15) is celebrated as Engineer's Day in India.

A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements, and people. The first Google Doodle honored the Burning Man festival in 1998, and was designed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin to notify users of their absence in case the servers crashed.

Also Read | Happy Engineer's Day 2018: Remembering Sir M Visvesvarayya

Subsequent Google Doodles were designed by an outside contractor until 2000, when Page and Brin asked public relations officer Dennis Hwang to design a logo for Bastille Day. Since then, a team of employees called Doodlers have organized and published the Doodles.

Who was Sir M Visvesvaraya?

Visvesvaraya was not only known for his contributions in the field of engineering but was also called the " precursor of economic planning in India", according to the Institution of Engineers India (IEI). Sir Visvesvarayya was an acclaimed engineer recognized for his mastermind in harnessing water resources.

He had successfully designed and constructed several river dams, bridges and revolutionized the irrigation system in India by implementing irrigation and drinking water system.

Also Read | Engineers Day 2018: Significance, Why is it celebrated?

Sir Visvesvarayya was born on September 15, 1861, to Srinivasa Sastry and Venkachamma at Muddenahalli village in Kolar district of Karnataka. He completed BA with distinction from Central College of Bangalore and Civil Engineering from College of Engineering, Pune, in 1881 and 1883, respectively.

He began his career as an Assistant Engineer with Public Works Department (PWD) at Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1884 and was later requested to join the Indian Irrigation Commission. As a Public Works Department engineer, he accomplished several projects related to maintenance of public buildings, road construction and laying out city developments plans in several important towns.

He worked with complete dedication and perseverance and got promoted as Chief Engineer in Mysore State in 1909. His notable accomplished by was the system of automatic water floodgates first installed in the year 1903 at Khadakvasla reservoir near Pune, designed and patented by him.

These gates were first used to control the floods of the Mootha Canal flowing through Pune. Similar gates were later used in the Krishnasagar dam in Mysore, Tigra Dam in Gwalior and other large storage dams. He is the chief engineer is responsible for constructing Krishna Raja Sagara dam in Mandya district.He was also a scholar, statesman and Diwan of princely state of Mysore for seven years from 1912 to 1919. Visvesvaraya received the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 1955.
Diwali 2021: How to perform Lakshmi puja at home, puja samagri, vidhi and shubh muhurat

Handbook on rights of transgenders launched

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: A handbook on the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people was launched here Thursday.

The Centre for Health, Law, Ethics and Technology (CHLET) of the Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) launched the handbook "Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People in India" in the presence of representatives of the community.

Speaking on the occasion, founding Vice-Chancellor of the O P Jindal Global University and Dean of the Jindal Global Law School, Professor C Raj Kumar said "academicians must come out of their comfort zone" and work with transgender communities.

Also Read | Pronoun badges for gender equality at Scotland university

"There are very few educational spaces that provide opportunities to move beyond the classroom and engage with social movements that have the potential for fundamental social transformation," he said.

He said the academic world does not give opportunities for such engagement but "we want such work to be taken forward for core research, community activism and advocacy".

The handbook narrates the 2014 Supreme Court decision in the case of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs Union of India that had granted legal recognition to the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people in India, a release said.

The handbook is divided into four chapters -- constitutional law, criminal law, getting government identification, and the Right to Information. It will be available online in seven regional languages, it added.

Policy analyst of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Zainab Patel, also spoke on the occasion and applauded the handbook.

Transgender activists, present at the event, welcomed the move saying "no empowerment is complete without legal empowerment".

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 9:43 [IST]
How Hizbul was trying to get attention in Assam, by blowing up a temple in UP

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bengaluru, Sep 14: The arrest of an Assam resident who had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen has raised several eyeballs. It is not the first time that an Assam link to the Hizbul Mujahideen has cropped.

Investigating officials and Intelligence Bureau sources tell OneIndia that the Hizbul Mujahideen has been attempting to to set up shop in Assam and its adjoining states. The Hizbul, which primarily operates in Jammu and Kashmir has been for sometime attempting to spread its network to other parts of the country.

This outfit which is sponsored by the ISI was in fact told specifically to target the states bordering Bangladesh as there was a better chance of traction. Issues such as NRC and also the case of the Rohingya Muslims would be used as propaganda material to set up shop in these states, the IB officer said.

Also Read | Big terror attack on major temple in UP foiled

On Thursday the Uttar Pradesh police arrested Assam resident Qamer Uzzaman, 37 from Kanpur. The police said that he was planning a major attack on a temple and they had managed to foil the attempt just in the nick of time.

The police have been the trail of Uzzaman since April. The Guwahati police had in fact joined their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir after it was found that he had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. His family told the police that he had gone missing suddenly and had not even contacted them since July 2017.

Uzzaman had in fact created quite a stir when images of him posing with a rifle had gone viral. In fact the photo was identical to the kind that are released in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists. The Hizbul Mujahideen is following a similar strategy in Assam as well to rope in the youth and build a strong outfit.

The IB says that the Hizbul Mujahideen has not been able to make any major impact as yet in Assam. However there would be all attempts made to set their foot into this region. They will use issues such as the Rohingya Muslims and the NRC to recruit more youth. Moreover they will get ample support from terror groups based in Bangladesh to further their cause.

Also Read | Suspected Hizbul terrorist arrested from Kanpur

Uzzaman after joining the Hizbul was tasked with blowing up a temple. The police have recovered footage of him surveying temples. This was meant to be a high impact attack during the festival season. It is one of those old ploys by terror groups to target religious places and then create a divide.

Moreover the reason why the Hizbul Mujahideen chose, Uzzaman for the task was because they wanted to send a message to Assam. There are several youth who get impressed by such acts and would be more than ready to join terror groups.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 15:45 [IST]
In the election year, the BJP faces challenge from within

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 14: Trouble started brewing in the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre with a complete chasm at the government level in which leaders close to the RSS and the rest are working as two different entities. A section of senior BJP leaders are not happy the way top leadership is working and senior leaders are not even heard.

Sources said that some of the senior ministers in the government are complaining for the treatment meted out to them and for over undue advantage given to some other ministers. So much so that even words of seniors leaders and ministers are ignored by even junior minister at the behest of top leadership. Some of the senior leaders are arguing that this an election year and anyone recommends something that people and workers wants from these minister, they are not ready to listen. This is sending a wrong signal.

There is already huge resentment among people over economic condition, business, unemployment, Goods and Services Tax, demonitasation, a certain section is worried about SC/ST Act and many other issue. People and workers don't get relief that they need but that is not happening.

The divide is so sharp that one of the senior BJP minister has lodged his complain with senior RSS functionaries in Nagpur by saying that in the election year if work of party cadre and people is not done how will the party get votes.

RSS leadership is also not happy with the government on certain issue and it is looking to salvage the matter and even change in leadership which does not seem possible. However, the RSS wants to be prepared for any eventuality. It is working on the situation when there is not absolute majority for the BJP and the most acceptable leader is sought. The RSS may come up with its choice that it is ready with

Sources said that If poor people and people in the rural area don't understand devaluation of Re, petrol and diesel prices then it is definitely impacting lower middle class, middle class and upper class. Impact of schemes started by the government failed to leave any long lasting impact on people of the country. So all this has dwindled the prospect the present leadership and chances of alternative within the BJP is emerging very fast.

Another RSS leader said that the assessment of the top leadership of the BJP at the moment is that the party will be able to manage 170-18 seats in the Lok Sabha across the country but with these seats, the acceptance of Modi is ruled out by the National Democratic Alliance but the party president will try to take it to 250 to make things safe for the PM but that seems unlikely. In such a situation, some compromise candidate may emerge and the name with the RSS included Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. Modi and Amit Shah might not agree to the name of Nitin Gadkari who is it the moment throwing gauntlet on them and Sushma is not keeping well so is Arun Jaitly. So the war within the war continues.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 19:46 [IST]
Lawyer without brief is like Tendulkar without his bat on cricket ground: SC

ISRO spy case: SC orders compensation of Rs 50 lakh to former scientist

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Supreme Court has directed the payment of Rs 50 lakh as compensation to former ISRO scientist, Nambi Narayan.

The court observed that he had been unnecessarily harassed and had suffered mental cruelty. The court also appointed a panel headed by a retired judge to probe the officers who caused harassment for Narayan. The panel would be headed by retired SC judge, D K Jain.

The panel would inquire into the role played by the Kerala cops in the arrest of Narayan. The former scientist was arrested by the Kerala police nearly 24 years back on the allegation that he was involved in the ISRO spy case.

The 76-year-old former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan filed an appeal against the judgement of division bench of the Kerala High Court which had said no action was required to be taken against the former DGP and two retired Superintendents of Police, K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were held allegedly responsible by the CBI for his illegal arrest

Also Read | SC says spy case cost former ISRO scientist his reputation

He has said the division bench had "failed to appreciate the real undercurrent that passed through the mind of the apex court, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the single judge of high court in their verdict and on untenable reasons, quashed the order of the single judge"

The SC had in 1998 granted compensation of Rs one lakh to Narayanan and others who were discharged in the case and directed the state government to pay the amount

Later, Narayanan had approached NHRC claiming compensation against the state government for mental agony and torture suffered by him

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998 awarded an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh on March 14, 2001

Challenging the legality of the high court's division bench order, he had said it was "bad in law" and sought an interim stay contending that "the illegality in the judgement impugned, if allowed to perpetuate, would only encourage the unlawful action and mindset on the part of the Kerala police to harass innocent persons for extraneous considerations

"And unless action as suggested by the CBI is immediately taken, (possibly under the provisions of Section 195 of the IPC if for any justifiable reason departmental action could not be taken), the innocent public would suffer at the hands of the Police."

Narayanan has said it was hence "appropriate that the impugned judgement of March 4, 2015 of the High Court of Kerala... is stayed and the State Government initiate action as deemed necessary during the pendency of this SLP.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 11:56 [IST]
Karnataka rumblings: DKs ambition, HDKs kingpin theory, but BJP will wait and watch

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bengaluru, Sep 14: As the rumblings within the Karnataka coalition continue, there is a likelihood that the much spoken about Cabinet expansion may be put off. With many within the Congress raising a banner of revolt the party may not go in for this exercise immediately as it would dishearten many aspirants.

The bone of contention this time has been the revolt raised by the Jarkiholi brothers. They have alleged that strongman, D K Shivakumar has been interfering in their stronghold of Belagavi.

However this issue has now blown out of proportion for the Congress with Shivakumar being called for a closed door meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G Parameshwar and Congress state chief, Dinesh Gundu Rao. Both are said to have advised Shivakumar to bury the hatchet and patch things up with the Jarkiholi brothers. Post the meeting Shivakumar said that Jariholi is his best friend and he would meet him soon and talk.

Also Read | Karnataka: Rumblings in coalition are more about who gets the better pie in 2019

Even as Parameshwar tried to play down the matter, Ramesh Jarkiholi has been upping the ante. He is believed to have demanded that Satish Jarkiholi be made either the KPCC chief or deputy chief minister. The high command is unlikely to give into both these demands.

While on one hand Parameshwar said that the Congress-JD(S) coalition is stable, on the other Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that there were some kingpins who were trying to bring down the government.

He said that money was being amassed to topple the government and also added that he would take the legal recourse to save his government. He said what the BJP does is not his concern. I know money is being offered to legislators.

Also Read | Karnataka: Congress-JDS coalition completes 100 days, HDK meets Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile the BJP Karnataka has been advised by the party top brass to adopt a wait and watch policy. Party president Amit Shah is against any meddling by his party in Karnataka as of now. The BJP feels that this coalition would run its course by 2019, following which it would automatically collapse. The BJP has advised its leader to wait and watch and then make the next move once the government collapses.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 16:23 [IST]
Covid-19 confusion deepens as 25 per cent of new black fungus patients have no coronavirus record

Dawoodi Bohra community has always worked for peace, says Modi

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bhopal, Sep 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community (sect within Ismaili branch of Shias), Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Indore on Friday.

Addressing a gathering at the event which was also addressed by Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, PM Modi said Imam Husain had raised his voice against injustice in the society and this is an important message for today's world.

''Dawoodi Bohra community has always worked for peace,'' Modi said.

Speaking about the universal healthcare scheme, Modi said "Ayushman Bharat Yojana has come as a saviour for about 50 crore poor people of the country. It will ensure free medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakhs in one year. The trial of this scheme is underway."

In his address at the Saifee Mosque in Indore, CM Chouhan said there are few communities like the Bohra community who love their nation, who are disciplined and who always help the others.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra said,''I convey birthday wishes to you in advance and pray for your long life. May you get success in all that you do for the country.''

The PM's meeting with Syedna Saifuddin took place at the Saifi Nagar mosque, where the Dawoodi Bohra community head is holding a nine-day religious discourse.

The prime minister's visit also assumes significance as Assembly polls are due in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh by year-end. Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in the state, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.

Drone cameras were deployed to keep an eye over the city along with 150 CCTV cameras. About 3,500 policemen were also deployed in the city, Mishra added.
PM Modi, Shah meet Advani at his residence to wish him on birthday

Modi is Indias first PM to prioritise healthcare says UK journal

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of India, which is engulfed in a "swirling epidemic of non-communicable diseases", to have prioritised universal health coverage as part of his political platform under the 'Ayushman Bharat' programme, a noted UK-based medical journal has said.

Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the 'The Lancet', said the prime minister has grasped the importance of health not only as a natural right of citizens, but also as a political instrument to meet the growing expectations of India's emerging middle class.

He, however, was critical of Rahul Gandhi, and said the Congress chief was "yet to match Modicare".

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"Rahul Gandhi seeking to resurrect the Congress and prove that India's greatest political dynasty still has something to offer, despite his promises to help lower castes, tribal communities and rural poor, is yet to match Modicare,"

Horton said in an article published in the journal.

The Lancet editor-in-chief asserted that health will be a decisive issue in next year's general election in the country.

With reference to five India-specific disease burden studies on non-communicable diseases published in The Lancet group of journals on Wednesday, Horton said, "...as the BJP and Congress set out competing and contrasting visions for India's future, health will rightly become a decisive issue in next year's general election".

Referring to Gandhi's statement of 'There is a full-blown crisis in India' at the London School of Economics last month, The Lancet editor-in-chief said the Congress president was referring to a "job crisis", but the five papers published across three Lancet specialty journals have revealed that there was also a "health crisis" in India.

"After years of neglect, the Indian Government has at last recognised the perils of public discontent about health. Under a new initiative called Ayushman Bharat launched this year, Prime Minister Modi has implemented two new flagship programmes.

"Ayushman Bharat has two pillars -- the creation of 1,50,000 health and wellness centres across the country to provide a spine of primary care facilities to deliver universal health coverage; and the National Health Protection Mission (NHPM), a health insurance aimed at providing coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family annually, thus benefiting more than 10 crore poor families," said the article.

Kharge calls Modi an "executor" of the Sangh's agenda

"Together, these twin programmes should improve access to quality health services and reduce out-of-pocket health expenditures," it said.

Horton said the five Lancet papers have also revealed a dangerously rapid epidemiological transition with Ischaemic heart disease being the leading individual cause of disease burden in India, while the contribution of cardiovascular diseases to total deaths has almost doubled since 1990.

"While India is engulfed in this swirling epidemic of non-communicable diseases, the country is also in the grip of a mental health emergency. India could claim 18 per cent of the world's population in 2016, yet it accounted for 37 per cent of global suicide deaths among women and 24 per cent among men," the article added.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 6:03 [IST]
NIA gets a dressing down from HC as key accused in terror funding case is granted bail

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Delhi High Court which granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, in connection with the terror funding case, pulled up the NIA.

The court said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

"The court is not satisfied at this stage that there is prima facie material to show the involvement of Watali in any criminal conspiracy with the other accused, justifying the accusations for the offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC or sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against India), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war), or 124-A (sedition) of the IPC," a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel said.

"The documents (seized in the case) do not enable this court to prima facie conclude, as the trial court has in its order stated, that appellant (Watali) received money from A-1 (LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed) or PHC (Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi) or others and was passing on the said funds to the Hurriyat leaders for funding terrorist activities and stone pelting," the High Court said.

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The bench set aside the trial court's June 8 order by which the businessman was denied bail and directed that Watali be released from jail after furnishing a personal bond of Rs two lakh and two sureties of the same amount.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir valley.

In its 40-page bail order, the bench directed Watali not to influence or intimidate prospective prosecution witnesses or tamper with the evidence in the case.

It has directed Watali to surrender his passport before the trial court and said he will not travel abroad without prior permission of the court.

Further, the bench asked the businessman to report to the investigating officer of the case as and when required and that he shall provide his contact number and current address to the officer.

"If there is any breach of these conditions, it will be open to the NIA to apply to the trial court for cancellation of bail," the high court said.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from accused Syed, ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.

Also Read | Bank fraud of over Rs 5 crore: ED opposes bail for accused

The money was then remitted to the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of 26 political/social/religious organisations whose agenda is to create an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of their goal in Jammu and Kashmir of secession from the Union of India and to separatists and stone-pelters, the NIA alleged. Further, the separatist leaders have been accused of taking a cut of the money.

The high court said the documents on record do not prima facie conclude that Watali had received money from Syed or Pakistan High Commission or that he was passing on the funds to the Hurriyat leaders for funding terrorist activities and stone pelting.

Opposing the bail plea, the NIA had contended that the sources from which the accused had received funds could not be satisfactorily explained by Watali.

If released on bail, he might hamper the probe and flee from justice, NIA contended.

Watali had sought bail claiming that no offence under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was made out against him in the charge sheet.

His counsel said the probe in the case was already concluded and the charge sheet was filed.

The bench said in the order neither any previous criminal involvement of Watali has been shown nor the possibility of him fleeing from justice if released on bail.

"The record shows that Watali is a septuagenarian and is suffering from various medical ailments. He has been in judicial custody for more than a year. It has been more than six months since the charge sheet has been filed. He is not shown to have tampered with the evidence or interfered with any of the prospective/protected witnesses," it said.

Syed has been accused of using Watali's services for passing on money to the separatists and some individuals, who were actively indulging in stone-pelting in the valley.

The NIA has chargesheeted Pakistan-based terrorists Syed and Salahuddin, besides 10 others, with criminal conspiracy, sedition and provisions of the UAPA.

Besides Syed, Salahuddin and Watali, the agency has named hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Shah alias Altaf Fantoosh and Bashir Ahmad Bhat in the charge sheet.

Hurriyat Conference leaders Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Mohammad Akbar Khanday and Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal have also been chargesheeted by the agency in the terror-funding case.

Barring, Syed and Salahuddin, the rest of the accused are currently in judicial custody.

Two of the accused -- freelance photojournalist Kamran Yusuf and Javed Ahmad Bhat -- both accused of stone-pelting, were earlier granted bail by the court.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 11:18 [IST]
PM to meet children at Room to Read library on his birthday in Varanasi

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting his constituency Varanasi on September 17-18, 2018. He will be visiting Room to Read a library on September 17 that happens to be his birthday. Room To Read library provides book to children up to fifth standard and it functions in government schools.

Abem, who works with Room to Read said that the PM will interact with children in Varanasi for half an hour and talk to them about their reading habit and many other things. The objective of Room to read is make children able to read, motivate them to read and apply reading and writing skill to learning.

Sanjay Singh manager communication Room To Read told OneIndia that this is an attempt by the organisation to inculcate reading habit among children. It is a global organisation started from Nepal in the year 2000. It was started in Uttar Pradesh in 2017 and now it has 500 Room to Read library in the state. Room to Read organisation provide 800 books to every library that its sets up in any government school.

It has its presence in 200 schools in Delhi where it was started in 2003. This is a programme for early grade library and girls education and is spread across in ten countries in Asia and Africa including Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Laos, Sri Lanks, South Africa, Zambia, Bangladesh and Tanzania serving 1.22 crore children with 19884 libraries, donated 2.06 crore books and published 1614 original title.

Room to Read distributed 93.5 lakh books in India, published 190 children's book titles, established 9251 libraries, trained 26342 teachers and benefited 36.6 lakh children.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 23:11 [IST]
Police brutality: Cop allegedly drags suspected thief by hair

India

oi-Vikas SV

Bhopal, Sep 14: In yet another incident of police brutality, a cop allegedly dragged a suspected thief by the hair in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar. The incident has been caught on camera.

Superintendent of Police Rameshwar Singh Yadav said that if the person dragging the suspected thief is found to be a policeman then strict action would be taken.

"We have no information on who the person dragging the suspect is. However, if he is a policeman action will be taken against him," SSP Yadav.

[Delhi cop's son thrashes woman; arrested after Rajnath intervenes]

In April this year, a video of Chennai cops thrashing a 21-year-old young man, tying him on a pole in a busy road in Chennai, while his protesting mother is held by a woman traffic police had gone viral in social media.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 20:19 [IST]
Lawyer without brief is like Tendulkar without his bat on cricket ground: SC

Public prosecutors are not post offices of the government: SC

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Supreme Court said that public prosecutors are expected to act as independent persons and should not be totally guided by the instructions of the government and their actions should not be like a post office.

A bench comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice DY Chandrachud said a public prosecutor is required to assist the court and has to act with responsibility.

Who is 'rebel' Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the next CJI?

The court was hearing an appeal against a Kerala high court order dismissing a plea against a trial court decision allowing to withdraw a criminal proceeding initiated against Eranad MLA and IUML leader PK Basheer for a controversial speech made in 2008.

Proceedings were initiated against him under sections 195A (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The case was registered by the VS Achuthanandan-led LDF government but was later withdrawn by the UDF government.

The bench said in the case that the public prosecutor acted as a "post office".

"It is clearly manifest that the public prosecutor had not applied his mind but had only placed the government notification on record. It is a case where the public prosecutor had acted like a post office and the learned chief judicial magistrate has passed an order not within the parameters of Section 321 (withdrawal from prosecution) of the CrPC," the bench said.

"We are compelled to recapitulate that there are frivolous litigations but that does not mean that there are no innocent sufferers who eagerly wait for justice to be done.

"That apart, certain criminal offences destroy the social fabric. Every citizen gets involved in a way to respond to it; and that is why the power is conferred on the public prosecutor and the real duty is cast on him/her."

The bench while remitting the case back to the trial court for reconsideration said, "He/she has to act with responsibility."

"He/she is not to be totally guided by the instructions of the government but is required to assist the court and the court is duty bound to see the precedents and pass appropriate orders," it said.

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During the pendency of the criminal case, a petition was filed by the public prosecutor to withdraw from the prosecution and the chief judicial magistrate on January 4, 2012 allowed the application and permitted the public prosecutor to withdraw from the prosecution.

"It is clear as crystal the public prosecutor or an assistant public prosecutor, as the case may be, has an important role under the statutory scheme and is expected to act as an independent person. He/she has to apply his/her own mind and consider the effect of withdrawal on the society in the event such permission is granted," the court said.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 5:49 [IST]
Cong's poll assurances not just commitment, but guarantee: Rahul Gandhi in Goa

Rahul has lunch at roadside eatery in Goa, rides pillion on two-wheeler taxi for few kms

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Rahul Gandhi met Nirav Modi at plush Delhi hotel in 2013 says activist

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: Activist Shehzad Poonawalla has claimed Congress chief Rahul Gandhi met PNB fraud accused Nirav Modi at a plush hotel here in 2013.

Poonawalla's charge was however denied by the Congress.

His allegation came hours after Gandhi asserted his party MP P L Punia saw Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sitting with embattled businessman Vijay Mallya in Parliament before he fled the country.

PNB fraud case: CBI moves for extradition of Nirav Modi's brother Neeshal

The former Kingfisher Airlines boss had claimed Wednesday in London that he met Jaitley before leaving India and offered to settle his dues, a charge the finance minister denied and dubbed "false".

Poonawalla claimed the meeting took place during the same time when loans were given to fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi and his nephew Modi and asserted the SPG will have records to prove it.

"Open challenge to Rahul Gandhi to deny he met Nirav Modi in Sep 2013 cocktail party -11th Sep if my memory serves me right! Imperial Hotel- Rahul spent a long time! Same period when loans given to Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi!! SPG may have records or let's undergo lie detector test?," he tweeted.

Poonawalla said he could swear on Quran and take a lie detector test to prove that he was speaking the truth.

"If PL Punia is proof of @arunjaitley meeting Vijay Mallya (and accosting = meeting) I can swear on Quran and undertake lie detector @RahulGandhi attended Nirav Modi cocktail party and bridal wear programme at Imperial Hotel Delhi in Sep 2013 while loans were wrongly given to mama-bhanja," he claimed.

Earlier in the day, while stepping up the attack on Jaitley, Gandhi had claimed Punia saw him sitting with Mallya in the Central Hall of Parliament on March 1, 2016 and held an elaborate meeting of 15-20 minutes with him.

In the dock: Interpol issues Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi's sister

"There is a reason why Rahul Gandhi has formed a MahaGathBandhan with Vijay Mallya and relies on such fugitives' statements - ever since the @narendramodi govt brought in the Fugitive Economic Offender's Law - Bhagodas and potential bhagodas are feeling anxious," Poonawalla alleged.

Later talking to PTI, he said Gandhi and Nirav Modi met during a "special meeting". He said the Congress president "consciously" attended the cocktail and bridal wear party and spent "quite sometime" at the hotel.

"I'm ready to quit politics if proved wrong," he added.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 6:51 [IST]
BJP wants Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, says Shah; asks other parties must make stand clear on the issue

No manifesto in last 48 hours before polling, EC tells political parties

'There is partnership between TRS and BJP', says Rahul Gandhi in Telangana

Telangana assembly elections: Amit set to sound bugle

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Hyderabad, Sep 14: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah is all set to sound the poll bugle for the ensuing assembly elections in Telangana with a public meeting at Mahabubnagar on Saturday.

During his daylong visit, Shah would pray at the temple of Goddess Mahankali in the old city of Hyderabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mahabubnagar, state BJP president K Laxman told reporters here Friday.

After the public meeting, he would meet the party's state office-bearers and district unit presidents at Kothur in the evening to discuss the strategy for the elections, before returning to Delhi.

Also Read | Telangana Mahakutami: Why has the CPI-M stayed away from TDP-Congress

Laxman slammed the proposed "unholy alliances" between Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) on one side and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and "communal" All India All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on the other.

The parties are trying to do "Karnataka-type politics" in Telangana, he alleged.

The reported comments of AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi that his party can stake claim to chief ministership, though it may not have majority strength post-elections, similar to H D Kumaraswamy becoming the chief minister in Karnataka, should not be taken lightly, Laxman claimed.

Congress, TRS, TDP and the Communists have helped AIMIM grow by joining hands with it in the past and "people need to be alert", he said.

Also Read | BJP to rely heavily on turncoats in Telengana Assembly elections

"MIM, which is thought to be a rope, is going to be a noose," he added.

The TRS government has not celebrated 'Telangana Liberation Day' on September 17 (when erstwhile Nizam state merged with the Indian Union in 1948) as part of implementing AIMIM's agenda, the BJP leader charged.

BJP is the only strong alternative to these parties and Shah would make it clear, he said.

BJP would contest all the 119 assembly segments in the state on its own, Laxman said.

Telangana would be the gateway to the south to BJP after Karnataka and Union Ministers and other leaders would visit the state for campaigning, he said.

Also Read | Telangana: Mahakutami shapes up to take on KCR, but will it be a 2009 repeat?

His party would go to the people urging them to elect a BJP government as they had given opportunity to all the parties, he said.

Candidates with winning chances would be identified after the announcement of poll schedule, he added.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 15:57 [IST]
Right to be forgotten: HC asks Centre, Google to reply to plea for removing verdict from search engine

Terror funding: HC grants bail to Kashmiri businessman

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Delhi High Court Thursday granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

The court said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

"The court is not satisfied at this stage that there is prima facie material to show the involvement of Watali in any criminal conspiracy with the other accused, justifying the accusations for the offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC or sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against India), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war), or 124-A (sedition) of the IPC," a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel said.

Also Read | FBI like powers: NIA can soon probe terror cases abroad

The bench set aside the trial court's June 8 order by which the businessman was denied bail and directed that Watali be released from jail after furnishing a personal bond of Rs two lakh and two sureties of the same amount.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir valley.

In its 40-page bail order, the bench directed Watali not to influence or intimidate prospective prosecution witnesses or tamper with the evidence in the case.

It has directed Watali to surrender his passport before the trial court and said he will not travel abroad without prior permission of the court.

Further, the bench asked the businessman to report to the investigating officer of the case as and when required and that he shall provide his contact number and current address to the officer.

Also Read | Kashmir terror funding: UAE businessman under NIA scanner

"If there is any breach of these conditions, it will be open to the NIA to apply to the trial court for cancellation of bail," the high court said.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from accused Syed, ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.

The money was then remitted to the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of 26 political/social/religious organisations whose agenda is to create an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of their goal in Jammu and Kashmir of secession from the Union of India and to separatists and stone-pelters, the NIA alleged. Further, the separatist leaders have been accused of taking a cut of the money.

The high court said the documents on record do not prima facie conclude that Watali had received money from Syed or Pakistan High Commission or that he was passing on the funds to the Hurriyat leaders for funding terrorist activities and stone pelting.

Opposing the bail plea, the NIA had contended that the sources from which the accused had received funds could not be satisfactorily explained by Watali.

If released on bail, he might hamper the probe and flee from justice, NIA contended.

Watali had sought bail claiming that no offence under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was made out against him in the charge sheet.

His counsel said the probe in the case was already concluded and the charge sheet was filed.

The bench said in the order neither any previous criminal involvement of Watali has been shown nor the possibility of him fleeing from justice if released on bail.

"The record shows that Watali is a septuagenarian and is suffering from various medical ailments. He has been in judicial custody for more than a year. It has been more than six months since the charge sheet has been filed. He is not shown to have tampered with the evidence or interfered with any of the prospective/protected witnesses," it said.

Syed has been accused of using Watali's services for passing on money to the separatists and some individuals, who were actively indulging in stone-pelting in the valley.

The NIA has chargesheeted Pakistan-based terrorists Syed and Salahuddin, besides 10 others, with criminal conspiracy, sedition and provisions of the UAPA.

Besides Syed, Salahuddin and Watali, the agency has named hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Shah alias Altaf Fantoosh and Bashir Ahmad Bhat in the charge sheet.

Hurriyat Conference leaders Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Mohammad Akbar Khanday and Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal have also been chargesheeted by the agency in the terror-funding case.

Barring, Syed and Salahuddin, the rest of the accused are currently in judicial custody.

Two of the accused -- freelance photojournalist Kamran Yusuf and Javed Ahmad Bhat -- both accused of stone-pelting, were earlier granted bail by the court.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 8:59 [IST]
Pakistan unlikely to exit 'grey' list of global terror funding watchdog until June

Terror funding: Kashmir businessman Watalis bail stayed by SC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Supreme Court has stayed the bail granted to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali in connection with the terror funding case.

The National Investigation Agency had moved the SC after the Delhi High Court had awarded bail to Watali.

The Delhi High Court Thursday had granted bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

Also Read | Terror funding: HC grants bail to Kashmiri businessman

The court said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

"The court is not satisfied at this stage that there is prima facie material to show the involvement of Watali in any criminal conspiracy with the other accused, justifying the accusations for the offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC or sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against India), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war), or 124-A (sedition) of the IPC," a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel l had said.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir valley.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 12:22 [IST]
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad says his convoy shot at in UP

Will gherao PM Modi's residence if Lakhimpur Kheri culprits not arrested in 7 days: Chandrashekhar Azad

UP government releases Bhim Army chief early

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Lucknow, Sep 14: The Uttar Pradesh government has released Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the 2017 Saharanpur violence.

Chandrashekhar also known as Ravan, 30, was arrested in June 2017 in connection with the May 5 clashes in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

On November 2, 2017, the Allahabad High Court had granted bail to Chandrashekhar. However, a day before his release, he was booked under the NSA, thus preventing his release.

Under the NSA, he was to be detained till November 1.

Also Read | Right activists getting united against the government decision of arresting five people

"After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early. He had to be in jail till November 1," a spokesperson of the Home Department said here Thursday.

The NSA was invoked against Chandrashekhar and five others in the case. While three people were released earlier, Chandrashekhar, Sonu and Shiv Kumar are still in jail.

Sonu and Shiv Kumar will also be released early, the spokesman said, adding that the district magistrate of Saharanpur has been directed "to release them".

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 8:52 [IST]
Don't do or say anything that could damage India's image: Naidu to Rajya Sabha members

Explained: Why did Twitter remove verified blue tick on personal account of Venkaiah Naidu

Venkaiah Naidu to visit, Malta, Romania, Serbia

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will embark on a three-nation tour to Serbia, Malta and Romania from September 14 to 20 to boost ties with the Central European countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Thursday.

In the first leg of his visit, Naidu will be visiting Serbia from September 14 to September 16, Anju Kumar, Joint Secretary (Central Europe) in the Ministry of External Affairs, told a media briefing.

Those involved in lynchings can't call themselves nationalists: Venkaiah Naidu

The visit is at the invitation of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, she said.

"And it is coming after a long gap. In fact, after the break-up of Yugoslavia, it is the first time that a dignitary (from India) is visiting the country," the official said.

Serbia has an unconditional and open visa policy for India, Kumar said.

During his visit, Naidu will hold talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, speaker of the national assembly and the prime minister of that country.

Naidu will also address a special session of the National Assembly, Kumar said, adding the venue of the session will be the place where the first announcement of the historic Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) was made.

Vucic had visited India to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit last year in the capacity of a prime minister.

The MEA joint secretary said the focus of the visit will be on trade.

Bilateral trade between India and Serbia stands at around USD 200 million with a focus on areas like agriculture and agricultural technologies, science and technology, education, tourism and pharmaceutical.

In the second leg of the tour, Naidu will visit Malta from September 16 to September 18.

Demonetisation done with good intention: Venkaiah Naidu

Malta, a country in the Mediterranean, lies on the crossroads of North Africa and Europe and is also a trans-shipment hub.

During the visit, Naidu will visit Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the speaker of the House of the Representatives and the acting prime minister of that country, the MEA said.

The vice president will also have an interaction with the Indian diaspora and attend a business event where 180-200 companies are likely to participate.

Last year, India had opened a permanent high commission in Malta. The country also actively cooperated in evacuation of Indians form Libya in 2011 and 2014.

In the last leg, Naidu will visit Romania from September 18 to September 20, the ministry said.

The visit coincides with 70th year of Indo-Romanian ties and the centenary year of Romania.

During the visit, Naidu will meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romanian Senate and the prime minister. He will also address a session of Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament.

Naidu will also have a business meet and interact with the Indian diaspora, Kumar said.

Several crucial pacts are expected to be signed during the visit to the three countries, the MEA official said.

The vice president will be accompanied by Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State in the finance ministry; Rajya Sabha MPs-- Prasanna Acharya (Biju Janata Dal-BJD), Vijila Sathyananth (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-AIADMK) and Saroj Pandey (Bharatiya Janata Party-BJP); and Lok Sabha MP Raghav Lakhanpal (BJP).

Earlier this month, President Ram Nath Kovind visited Cyprus, Bulgaria and Czech Republic.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 7:41 [IST]
Why CBI changed the nature of LOC against Vijay Mallya

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 14: As the BJP and Congress spar with each other following the revelations made by Vijay Mallya on meeting Arun Jaitley, the fact is that the Look out Circular was watered down by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Mallya claimed that he had met with Jaitley, before leaving the country. The Congress has now accused Jaitley of helping Jaitley flee, a charge strongly denied by the Union Finance Minister.

Call it error, mix up or watering down, the fact of the matter is that there was plenty of confusion on the Look Out Circular. While the first LOC issued in 2016 stated that Mallya be detained if he is trying to leave the country, the second only said that the agencies be informed about his travel plans abroad.

'Mallya's Great Escape' aided by CBI, had PM's nod: Rahul Gandhi

On July 29 2017, the CBI had registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against Mallya. The CBI had questioned him twice in connection with the case. CBI officials tell OneIndia that none of the banks had approached them and the FIR was lodged based on 'source information.'

When a look out circular is issued against a person he is not supposed to leave the country without the permission of the investigating agency. In this case, Mallya being a Rajya Sabha member should have sought leave of absence from the House before leaving. This procedure was followed.

Mallya backtracks after saying he met Arun Jaitley before leaving India

As per the records he was present in the Rajya Sabha a day prior to him leaving the country. The big question now is how did all this miss the eye of the CBI or even the immigration department had a copy of the circular.

Twists and turns:

At the time of the incident, officials had blamed the change in LOC on an error. However later on the CBI clarified that the nature of the LOC changed because there was not enough evidence against Mallya. Had the first LOC been in place, then they would have had to arrest Mallya, when he was trying to leave the country. The arrest could not have been justified for want of evidence, CBI officials also said.

Following the incident, the CBI came under immense pressure. It was then found that the nature of the Look out Circular was changed within one month of it being issued. As per the original LOC issued in October, he was to be detained by the airport authorities if was trying to leave the country. However with the changed nature of the LOC it meant that the authorities had to merely provide information about his travel plans.

In a lookout circular issued on 16 October 2015, CBI said if Mallya tries to leave the country, he should be detained at the exit point. In November, the agency asked for a revised circular where it asked the Bureau of Immigration to inform CBI about his departure and travel plans.

Travelled twice:

Officials had said then that Mallya travelled abroad in October and returned in November. He made two trips in the first and last weeks of December and another in January, besides the recent trip reportedly to London on 2 March.

The LOC depends on the issuing authority and, unless they ask Bureau of Immigration to detain a person or to stop him from boarding a plane, no action is taken.

After the CBI changed the lookout notice, the Bureau of Immigration did not make any attempt to stop him from travelling abroad, and every time he did, the agency was duly informed about it. When asked why CBI did not seek to impound his passport, it was said Mallya had been cooperating in the investigation by presenting himself for questioning, as and when required, and also providing documents sought by the agency. And since Mallya had been cooperating, there was no reason to stop him from travelling abroad, they said.
With an eye on UP, BSP and the Congress to join hands in MP and Chhattisgarh

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is likely to be announced soon with the BSP demanding 50 seats out of 230 in MP and 14 in Chhattisgarh out of 90 at the moment but if this alliance happens, it will pave the way for alliance between the two parties in Uttar Pradesh where they have fair chances to do well.

Sources said that the Congress and the BSP have been trying to resolve the issue of seat sharing for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections and that would be resolved very soon. But both the parties are more interested for Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections. Political analyst like Badri Narayan feels that if Dalits and Brahmins join hands in Uttar Pradesh they become almost invincible in the state.

So if the alliance of the Congress and the BSP goes into elections of Madhya Pradesh and even a small success is achieved, they will more be able to cash in on in Uttar Pradesh. Sources said that forget about mahagathbandhan in Uttar that will have the Congress, the BSP and the Samajwadi Party, even if the BSP and the Congress joins hands they will disturb the arithmetic of the BJP.

He said that the upper caste community is already disappointed with the BJP for its many decisions. If the Congress and the BSP join hands, the upper caste might tilt towards the Congress which at the moment is indecisive. Moreover, the attitude of the BJP leaders towards the upper caste community that it does not have any option except voting for BJP is infuriating the community.

A Brahmin BJP leader on condition of anonymity said that upper caste voters might sit back home not to vote anyone and this will damage the chances of the BJP as the community has been voting the party en-mass. With the BSP and the Congress joining hands, they will be looked upon as possible challengers.

Also Read | Congress-BSP may come together to fight polls in MP

The alliance of the Congress and the BSP will work as there is a huge border that the MP shared with Uttar Pradesh and its impact will be visible right from the time of Assembly elections. The Congress wants to give 20-22 seats in Madhya Pradesh and seven to nine in Chhattisgarh but both the parties are keen to have a seat-sharing agreement.

Dalits account for more than 15 per cent of MP's 7.5 crore population and 11.6 per cent of Chhattisgharh's 2.6 crore population making the Congress very interested in an alliance with the BSP. There are around 22 per cents Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress will be a junior partner if alliance happens there.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 10:22 [IST]
Higher seas to flood US cities in the next 20, 50 or 80 years

1 dead, hundreds evacuated after dozens of explosions hit gas pipeline in Boston

International

oi-Deepika S

New York, Sep 14: A series of gas explosions has caused fires in more than 20 homes across three communities north of Boston, leaving at least one person dead and many residents injured.

Massachusetts State Police said they had responded to 70 reports of fires, explosions and the smell of gas in a widespread zone encompassing the east coast towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

"Gas lines are currently being depressurized," police tweeted, adding that "it will take some time." "Numerous evacuations of neighborhoods where there are gas odors are underway," police said.

"Far too early to speculate on cause. Joint investigation will be conducted when situation is stabilized."

Authorities were to cut power to thousands of meters, police said, and residents in all three towns with utilities service from Columbia Gas had been asked to evacuate immediately.

In a release dated Thursday the company had said it would "be upgrading natural gas lines in neighborhoods across the state."

The mayor of Lawrence requested that all those living in the southern zone of his town leave their homes ahead of the planned power shutdown. Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 patients injured in the gas explosions, one in critical condition and another in serious condition.

"Cases range from smoke inhalation to traumatic blast injuries," the hospital said, adding that one patient had been taken to another hospital. Red Cross centers were open to shelter evacuees while Lawrence-area schools were to shutter Friday.

A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board was to head to the scene Friday morning, the federal agency tweeted. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement he was "actively monitoring the situation," urging residents to heed instructions from local officials.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)
Ajit Doval to meet top officials of Trump administration

International

pti-PTI

Washington, Sep 14: A week after the successful 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration. Doval, who is held in high esteem by the Trump Administration, is scheduled to meet the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department on Friday (Sep 14).

In addition to his meeting with his American counterpart John Bolton, Doval is likely to meet officials from the Department of Defence and from the think-tank community. However, the Indian Embassy in Washington and the White House did not immediately respond to questions about Doval's visit and his meetings.

"India is a very close friend of the United States," the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference. She had accompanied Pompeo to New Delhi last week for the two-plus-two Dialogue.

"We have among the strongest people-to-people ties. I think there are more than three million Indian Americans living here in the United States, so that was certainly part of the meetings and the conversations," she said in response to a question.

The signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement or COMCASA last week, she said, was something important that had been in the making for a long time. "So we were pleased to have signed that (COMCASA) with the Indian Government because that not only supports jobs but also supports better military-to-military cooperation. They also agreed to doing more work on the military-to-military front. So that was part of the conversation but also to go over there and thank the new government for our strong friendship that we have," Nauert said.

During the meetings discussions are likely to be primarily focused on bilateral and security in the Af-Pak region in particular those related to counter-terrorism. It is understood that the visit is likely to lay the ground work of the potential visit of the US President Donald Trump to India. Trump has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India. The two sides are currently looking at various dates including Trump as Chief Guest at the mega Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2019.

Responding to a question on Pompeo's trip to Pakistan, the spokesperson said the Secretary of State had some meaningful and important meetings with the new government.Looking forward to forging a relationship with that new government, recognizing that there are, of course, some tensions and some areas where the government can work harder. "And so those were the types of meetings that we had and we were pleased to have gone,"she said.

PTI
Has 3rd wave started in India? Here's how many cases of AY.4.2 reported in country, so far

Alarming level of reprisals against human rights defenders, UN names India, China

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

United Nations, Sep 14: India, China, Russia and Myanmar are among several countries named in a report by UN chief Antonio Guterres that details an "alarming" level of harsh reprisals and intimidation against those who cooperate with the United Nations on human rights issues.

The ninth annual report of the Secretary-General details the level of retaliation against human rights defenders on a country-by-country basis, including allegations of killing, torture, arbitrary arrests, and public stigmatisation campaigns, which also target victims of rights abuse.

The report documents allegations of reprisals and intimidation in 38 countries, some of which are members of the Human Rights Council.

Must act before 2020 to prevent disastrous consequences of runaway climate change: UN Chief

Prior to officially presenting the Human Rights Council with the report next week, assistant rights chief Andrew Gilmour said the cases of reprisals and intimidation detailed in the report and its two annexes "represent the tip of the iceberg," adding that "many more are reported to us".

"We are also increasingly seeing legal, political and administrative hurdles used to intimidate - and silence - civil society," he said.

The report points out that selective laws and new legislation are restricting and obstructing organisations from cooperating with the UN, including by limiting their funding capacity, especially from foreign donors.

The countries named in Annex 1 of the report, in which new cases are listed are Bahrain, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Countries named in Annex 2, where the UN has been following up, and where cases are ongoing, are Algeria, Bahrain, Burundi, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

In the context of India, the report states that in November 2017, two special procedures mandate holders expressed concern at the use of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 2010 to restrict the work of non-governmental organisations who seek to cooperate with the United Nations, for example, by refusing to renew or grant licenses.

The report said that the special procedures mandate holders drew attention to the revocation of the license of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concern (also known as People's Watch) under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. In October 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs had refused to renew the organization's license to receive foreign funding under and its bank accounts were frozen.

Care for victims of terror to challenge narrative of hatred: UN chief

The SG report points out that selective laws and new legislation are restricting and obstructing organisations from cooperating with the UN, including by limiting their funding capacity, especially from foreign donors.

The report cited the cases of Henri Tiphagne, the Executive Director of the Centre for Promotion of Social Concern (CPSC) and the Centre for Social Development and its Secretary Nobokishore Urikhimbam. The cases of Kartik Murukutla, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society and Khurram Parvez, Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances and Program Coordinator of the Central Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), were also mentioned.

According to the report, the fear of reprisals is not only visible in the field, where UN personnel often encounter people who are too-frightened to speak with them, but also at what would perhaps be regarded as safe spaces such as UN Headquarters in New York, Geneva and elsewhere.

Against the backdrop of numerous non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, activists and experts having been labelled "terrorists" by their governments, it highlights a "disturbing trend" of national security and counter-terrorism strategies used to block UN access to communities and civil society organizations.

"The real global threat of terrorism notwithstanding, this issue must be tackled without compromising respect for human rights," the report says.

The wide scope of reprisals greatly inhibits the UN's work, including in conflict settings, when delivering humanitarian assistance or in protecting civilians, it adds.

"Governments can do much more to stop reprisals, ensure that they do not recur, and hold those responsible to account for their actions," Gilmour said.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 5:45 [IST]
Are Imran Khan and Gen Bajwa at war over appointment of new ISI chief?

Imran Khan says ISI best spy agency in the world

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Islamabad, Sep 14: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has described the ISI as "our first line of defence" as he visited for the first time the headquarters of the powerful spy agency.

Khan, along with senior Cabinet ministers, was briefed on Wednesday in detail on the various strategic intelligence and national security matters by the senior officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence, an official statement said.

Army and many other such institutions responsible for Pakistan's economic mess

"The Prime Minister lauded contributions of the ISI towards national security, especially in the ongoing counterterrorism effort. The Prime Minister said that the ISI is our first line of defence and stands out as best intelligence agency of the world," the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military said.

Khan, who was sworn-in as the 22nd prime minister on August 18, has already visited the General Headquarters of Pakistan Army twice - first to get an in-depth briefing on the internal security and geo-strategic situation and then to attend the Defence and Martyrs Day ceremony on September 6.

'Will not fight any other country's war', says Imran Khan; Lauds Pak army's action against terror

Khan has been accused by his critics of being the security establishment's man.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has accused him of reaching the Prime Minister House through the support of the powerful security establishment.

Khan told ISI officials that his government and the people of Pakistan firmly stood behind the armed forces and intelligence agencies and acknowledged the "unprecedented achievements" of these institutions, the statement said.

Earlier, Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI Director General Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar received Khan on his arrival.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 5:39 [IST]
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

Members of farmers' body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah

UP: Two wanted criminals shot dead in cross-firing in Varanasi

Lucknow

pti-PTI

Varanasi, Sep 14: Two wanted criminals were shot dead in cross-firing in Varanasi, police said.

Rakesh Agrahari (32), a history-sheeter, was sitting infront of his home when wanted criminal Rayish Banarasi (36), along with his associate, attacked him, the police said.

During cross firing, Agrahari died while Banarasi sustained injuries. Some locals took him to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said.

Senior Police officials rushed to the spot along with the STF and the Crime Branch. SP (city) Dinesh Singh said an investigation was on and the motive behind the killings would be ascertained after the probe.

PTI
Diwali 2021: How to perform Lakshmi puja at home, puja samagri, vidhi and shubh muhurat

Man arrested for smuggling gold bars worth Rs 7 lakh

New Delhi

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: A man was apprehended at the airport here Thursday for allegedly trying to smuggle in small gold bars worth Rs 7 lakh, an official said.

S A Zargar, who landed from Muscat, was apprehended by CISF personnel at about 4 pm at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, he said.

Self styled godman arrested in rape case

Central Industrial Security Force personnel intercepted him on the basis of suspicion when he was about to take a flight to Srinagar.

"Two small gold bars, weighing over 233 gram, were recovered from the wallet of Zargar who holds an Indian passport. He was handed over to customs department officials for further investigation," the official said.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 7:18 [IST]
Diwali 2021: How to perform Lakshmi puja at home, puja samagri, vidhi and shubh muhurat

Self styled godman arrested in rape case

New Delhi

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 14: Self-styled godman Ashu Maharaj was arrested Thursday night for allegedly raping a woman and her minor daughter at his ashram in the national capital, police said.

His son Samar Khan was also detained by the Crime Branch for raping the woman, Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Rajiv Ranjan said.

Suspected Hizbul terrorist arrested from Kanpur

The two accused were questioned for couple of hours in connection with the case, police said.

In her complaint to police, the woman had claimed that she was raped by the self-styled godman, his friends and his son between 2008 and 2013, a police officer said.

She had alleged that he even asked her to bring her minor daughter to him and then raped her, he said.

Rinkle murder case cracked, 3 contract killers held

A case was registered in the Hauz Khas Police Station last week and the probe transferred to the Crime Branch Sunday.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 6:58 [IST]
Pappu Yadavs party to contest polls with like-minded parties

Patna

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Patna, Sep 14: Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav Thursday announced that his fledgling Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) will contest the upcoming parliamentary elections in alliance with the "like minded parties".

In a statement issued here, Yadav said his party was looking forward to contesting three seats though he did not identify these nor did he name the parties he was looking forward to having a truck with.

Bihar has a total of 40 parliamentary seats and Yadav, who floated JAP after being expelled from RJD, is the lone MP from the party at present.

The JAP president, however, ruled out the possibility of any future understanding with Lalu Prasad's RJD.

He admitted to having an "ideological affinity" with the Congress to which his wife Ranjita Ranjan, MP from Supual in Bihar, belonged.

Also Read | Private schools den of illicit money of politicians, bureaucrats : Pappu Yadav

Of late, there have also been reports in a section of the media that the BJP-led NDA in Bihar - which includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) - was exploring the possibility of an understanding with JAP which could help the coalition cut into the RJD's formidable Yadav vote bank.

Some of these reports also suggest that the NDA might back Pappu Yadav to marginalise expelled JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav in Madhepura constituency.

Training his guns at RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, Pappu Yadav said he has sent a legal notice to the son of Lalu Prasad for having called him "a BJP agent" when he extended his support to the Bharat Bandh called earlier this week in protest against soaring oil prices.

"I have respect for Lalu. But his son is simply a spoilt brat born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Actually, none of Lalu's family members wants the RJD founder to come out of jail as they are busy pursuing their own ambitions", he said.

"RJD and JD(U) are full of power brokers who are responsible for weakening leaders like Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar. They have simply exploited the backward classes and blackmailed the minorities by showing them the fear of the BJP", Yadav said.

The MP, who had raised the issue of Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal on the floor of the House in July this year, also announced that he would be undertaking a "padayatra" in the north Bihar town on Friday on the theme of "Nari bachao" (save the woman).

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 8:44 [IST]
Pune lockdown: Officials release new guidelines for restaurants, religious events and more

Unable to get job due to Covid-19, 24-year-old MPSC aspirant commits suicide in Pune

14-year-old minor girl abducted and raped in Pune; 8 including six auto drivers, two Railways employees held

Cosmos bank fraud case: Two more arrested

Pune

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Pune, Sep 14: Two more persons have been arrested in connection with the Rs 94-crore cyber fraud at the city-headquartered Cosmos Bank, police said Thursday.

With this, the number of arrested persons in the case has reached four.

"Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Jabbar (28), resident of Sillod in Aurangabad district,and Mahesh Sahebrao Rathod (22) from Bhokar tehsil of Nanded district were arrested in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of cash from ATMs," said a police officer here.

ATM fraud: 2 arrested in Delhi

Both were into catering and online marketing businesses, he said, adding that probe is on to find their links with the other accused.

Jabbar and Rathod were produced before a Pune court which remanded them in police custody for seven days, the official said.

On August 11 and 13, unidentified hackers stole information of the bank's VISA and Rupay card customers, attacked SWIFT system and syphoned off a total of Rs 94 crore.

Spy banker fraud: UK national held

Police believe that after stealing the information, money was withdrawn from ATMs in as many as 28 countries.

On Tuesday, police had arrested Faheem Shaikh from Bhiwandi and Faheem Khan from Aurangabad in the case.

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Story first published: Friday, September 14, 2018, 7:32 [IST]
LOWER MAKEFIELD - The township said thank you to its veterans on Saturday with a flag-waving, patriotic parade down Edgewood Road and a ceremony at Veterans Square that included the unveiling of a new bronze plaque and commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. All along the parade route, applause filled the air as veterans proudly marched and...
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to take over the investigations into the allegations against DIG Nalaka de Silva of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).

Meanwhile Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a full report from the IGP on the investigation, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

IGP Pujith Jayasundara yesterday instructed the Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to investigate the allegations which have been leveled against DIG Nalaka de Silva, who heads Sri Lankas Terrorism Investigation Division.

During a press conference held in Kandy on Wednesday (12), a social activist had revealed to the media certain audio recordings of alleged phone conversations between himself and the DIG.

The activist, Namal Kumara, a director of the Dhushana Virodi Balakaya (Anti-Corruption Force), promises to expose the top police officer at the start of the media briefing and played some of the recordings of their phone conversations.

During the conversations, both individuals conspire to tarnish the image of several high-ranking police officers and also other conspiracies within the government.

The organisation also claims to have uncovered an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The organization filed a complaint at the Police Commission yesterday (13) regarding the alleged conspiracy.

The Anti-Corruption Force has disclosed several telephone conversations allegedly made by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Nalaka de Silva.

Reportedly, DIG Nalaka de Silva has mentioned during the conversation that a plan should be prepared to extol the Prime Minister.

Director of Operations of Anti-Corruption Force Namal Kumara claims that he was introduced to DIG Nalaka De Silva through IGP Pujith Jayasundara.

DIG Nalaka De Silva has allegedly stated during the conversation that incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena will ally with former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in 2020 and that something should be done using an underworld leader if an unavoidable situation arises.

Accordingly, a complaint had been filed at the National Police Commission with regard to the revelation made by Anti-Corruption Force.

Director of Operations of Anti-Corruption Force Namal Kumara has subsequently filed another complaint at the Police Division for Assisting and Protecting Victims of Crimes and Witnesses, seeking to ensure his personal security following the revelation of the conspiracy.

(Source: Ada Derana)
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

iM Global Partner has taken a 45% stake in liquid alternative manager Dynamic Beta Investments. Dynamic Beta was previously the liquid alternatives group at Beachhead Capital Management. The acquisition in the latest in several similar transactions done by iM Global Partner as the Paris-based investment firm rapidly expands its platform.

In July, iM Global Partner took a stake in Sirios Capital Management, a $2.3 billion, Boston-based investment firm. The firm has also made investments in Polen Capital, an independent management firm that specializes in growth stocks, and Dolan McEniry Capital Management, which specializes in US corporate bonds.

"We plan to continue making investments over the next year," said Philippe Couvrecelle, chairman and CEO of iM Global Partner in an interview with Opalesque. "The team at Dynamic Beta has a proven track record and by coming together we can distribute their strategies globally." According to Couvrecelle, iM Global Partner plans to invest $500 million in boutique managers over the next 2-3 years. He expects to make one more investment by year-end and another 1-3 next year.

Dynamic Beta Investments is based in New York and runs equity hedge, managed futures and multi-asset liquid alternatives funds. Couvrecelle says Dynamic Beta stands out in their categories in part because of their portfolio management process. "They manage money to the reality of the market," he says. "They have a s......................

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Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia:

A latest study showed that 72% of European investors are optimistic about the future of the alternative asset management industry, with more than half (60%) planning to increase their net positions in alternative investments by the end of 2018.

European institutional allocators continue to invest in alternative investments in heavy numbers, according to the latest Context Allocator Trends Report produced by Context Capital Partners.

Among the most talked about alternative investments for European investors in 2018 are ESG and crypto strategies. The data revealed that 43% of European investors already have ESG as part of their overall investment strategy, and 59% plan to increase their allocation to ESG- or impact-related funds this year.

Meanwhile, even though cryptocurrencies garnered a lot of attention for their rapid growth and underlying technology, European investors remained skeptical that they could fit into a part of their investment portfolio, with just 5% of allocators currently invested in crypto funds and less than 3% planning to allocate to crypto funds for the remainder of 2018.

Ron Biscardi, CEO of Context Capital Partners said: "Despite continued geopolitical uncertainty in Europe over the past 12 months, European institutional investors and family offices continue to seek diversification through alternative investments."

He added that though a lot has happened over the course of the year, but European allocator......................

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Learn about the 13 reasons why you should invest in Belize

Author: Luigi Wewege, Senior Vice President of Caye International Bank

https://smartasset.com/taxes/new-jersey-property-tax-calculator

Globally, there is a significant amount of interest in investing within Belize. Belize is certainly a desirable tropical place to visit, but what draws investors to this Central American country in the Commonwealth realm?There are far too many to cover in this one article, but lets explore just 13 of the top reasons people choose to invest in Belize.1. English-Speaking NationWhile there are many investment opportunities throughout Central and South America, one common obstacle is the language barrier. Unless investors speak Spanish or Portuguese, they could struggle to communicate with bankers, government officials, and legal advisors in the area. Belize, however, is an exception.Thanks to its connection to Britain, English is the national language in Belize. Virtually all its residents speak English, making local investment much simpler.2. Low Operating and Overhead CostsMany of the operating costs in Belize are lower than those found in North America or in Western Europe. Therefore, banks have lower overhead costs as do new startups and other businesses.With labor cheaper in Belize than elsewhere, there is more potential for profit. Plus, maintenance costs for things like real estate investments or commercial rentals can also be lower. All of this combines to keep your costs much lower in Belize.3. Higher Purchasing PowerBelize is a popular destination for retirement. In addition to the wonderful weather and beautiful scenery, Belize is a retirees dream because of the low cost of living.With your purchasing power being higher in Belize, it makes each dollar you have stretch a little further. Thats ideal both for local residents and investors who want to put their profits right back into their businesses.4. Non-Citizens Can Own PropertyThere are many destinations around the world where non-residents simply cannot legally own property outright. In the Philippines, for example, property must be held in the name of a citizen. If you wanted to invest in property in a country with these types of laws, then you would have to be comfortable placing it in someone elses name.Most investors, of course, want to seek out nations where investments can be done independently. Belize is one such nation that allows foreign residents and non-citizens to own property outright.5. Politically Stable DemocracyThere are plenty of investment opportunities around the world that appear too good to be true. Look a little closer, and many of these opportunities are located in nations with plenty of volatility. Political instability, war, or economic uncertainty can drive prices down for investors, but the risk skyrockets.In Belize, there is an element of stability thanks to the democratic political system. Since 1981, after achieving independence from the United Kingdom, Belize has since demonstrated the ability to have fair elections and peaceful transfers of power.6. Linked and Locked Exchange Rates with United StatesUntil 1981, the local currency in Belize was linked to the British pound. Since then, the Belizean currency has been pegged to the United States dollar. The ratio is 2:1, and it wont change. This fixed and locked exchange rate can be helpful for investors who are concerned about fluctuating currency values elsewhere in the world.As long as the connection between the two currencies remains the same, investors will have an easy time converting US dollars to Belizean dollars and vice versa.7. Incentives and Programs for RetireesIt is entirely possible to invest in Belize from afar. In fact, plenty of investors never step foot in Belize. However, the appeal of Belize also means that some investors want to vacation or even retire in the Central American nation.Fortunately, Belize offers a range of incentives and programs for retirees. The Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) is available to any foreigner over the age of 45 who plans to spend more than 30 consecutive days in Belize within one calendar year.8. Encouragement of TradeBelize is home to what are known as EPZs, or Export Processing Zones. These are, as the name might imply, zones where free trade is specifically encouraged.Investors who choose to establish businesses within these export processing zones may be eligible for benefits like a 20-year tax holiday, dividend tax exemption in perpetuity, exemptions from import and export duties, and even a reduction in sales tax.9. Low Property TaxesThere are many investors in Belize who plan to operate on a smaller scale. It is common for people to purchase a single vacation home or condo in Belize, or to occupy properties half of the year and rent them out the rest of the year.Low property taxes in Belize allows investors to get more bang for their buck. On average, property tax in Belize is anywhere from one to one and a half percent annually. Compare that to New Jersey, where the rate is closer to 2.4 percent.110. Legal System Based on British Common LawIn 1862, Belize officially became a British Crown Colony. Although Belize achieved independence over a century later, it kept the key principles of the British legal system. Both the legal system and the rule of law (common) are influenced by Britain, just as they are for countries like Canada and the United States.For foreign investors, this means it is easy to understand the legalese of investing in Belize. If youre already familiar with the basic tenets of the legal system in the U.S.A, then Belize will be very similar.11. No Capital Gains TaxResidents who live and work in Belize, and who are citizens, are charged a 25 percent income tax. However, there is absolutely no capital gains tax. Capital gains tax is the tax levied on the profits from the sale of a business or a piece of property.For international investors, avoiding capital gains tax is akin to winning the lottery. It allows you to pocket more of your profits without seeing the erosion of taxation impacting your earnings.12. Government-Mandated Liquidity Rates for BanksThe Central Bank of Belize oversees all of the banking regulations in the country. Every bank, whether it serves domestic residents or international investors, is required to have a set rate of liquidity.Currently in Belize, that minimum rate of liquidity is 24 percent which is at least four times the reserve requirements of those in the United States for their local banks. Although there is a set rate some banks in Belize go above and beyond, far surpassing that legal minimum for financial liquidity.13. Appealing Destination and Proximity to the United StatesIt has already been mentioned previously that investors dont need to physically be in Belize in order to take advantage of its investment opportunities. However, those who do need to be there in person will appreciate how close its proximity is to North America.Belize is just a short direct plane ride from many of the main cities located in the United States and Canada. Plus, there is so much more to love about visiting Belize. From the countrys warm temperatures to beautiful beaches, it is certainly an attractive place to invest in for business, pleasure, or a combination of both.Clearly, there are many convincing reasons to invest in Belize. Contact Caye International Bank headquartered on the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, to learn more about offshore banking and diversifying your investments.References:About Caye International Bank:Caye is the only International Bank headquartered on the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, Central America. The bank offers a full range of traditional and non-traditional financial services and accounts in multiple currencies. An application for account opening is a simple process and can be facilitated online from anywhere in the world.About author - Luigi Wewege:Luigi is the Senior Vice President of Caye International Bank headquartered in Central America, Principal of Palmetto Global Ventures a financial consultancy firm focused on digital banking and FinTech solutions, and serves as an Instructor at the FinTech School which provides online training courses on the latest technological and innovation developments within the financial services industry. Outside of his main roles Luigi additionally serves as a Mentor at FinTech Go a startup accelerator for financial technology companies, as a Team Member of the FinTech Portfolio the world's 1st member-owned FinTech innovation ecosystem, and as a speaker for the Silicon Valley Innovation Center. Luigi is also the published author of: The Digital Banking Revolution which is available in audio, kindle and paperback formats throughout all major international online bookstores.Caye International BankP.O. Box 105, Coconut DriveSan Pedro Town, Ambergris CayeBelize, Central Americanotify@cayebank.bz
Bangladesh Telecoms, Mobile, and Broadband Market Demonstrates Growth with Advances in Mobile Internet Services

https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1886757

https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/bangladesh-telecoms-mobile-and-broadband-statistics-and-analyses-report.html

Mobile penetration in Bangladesh has spearheaded novel growth opportunities in the Bangladesh telecom industry. However, scarce government initiatives coupled with insufficient investments has restricted the expansion of fixed broadband connection. In its attempt to evaluate the implications of recent developments on the growth of the market, Market Research Hub (MRH) has added a new telecom business intelligence country report titled, Bangladesh - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses to its fast expanding database.Bangladesh Telecom Industry Banks upon Next Generation Network (NGN) for Enhanced Fixed Broadband ServicesThe recent approval received by Bangladesh Telecommunications Company ltd (BTCL) for modernization of its copper wire based network infrastructure is expected to spur new growth opportunities favoring advancements in Bangladeshi telecom industry. The project is expected to spearhead widespread, latency free internet coverage at affordable prices across regions, thereby complying with global telecom trends and encourage mass consumption.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Successful 5G Trials in Bangladesh to Prompt Growth in Bangladesh Telecom, Mobile, and Broadband MarketFurther, Bangladesh paves its way into 4G connectivity with key mobile operators Banglalink, Robi, and Grameenphone officially announcing the launch of 4G services in Bangladesh in the initial months of next year. Additionally, supporting government vision of Digital Bangladesh, telecom giant Robi in collaboration with China based Huawei has successfully accomplished 5G network trials in Bangladesh. This latest development is expected to trigger new growth possibilities in Bangladesh telecoms, mobile, and broadband market. In-depth research elements contained in the report offer readers with a clear understanding about various factors and segments enabling growth in Bangladesh telecoms, mobile, and broadband services market. This section of the report also entails detailed analytical derivatives about the segment associated with increased revenue generation and new revenues streams attributed to the market. Additionally, the report also ingrains in-depth analysis of marketing tactics and tools facilitated by top market players across regions, and their visible outcome on end-user response.Request to Buy Full Report@Competition Deep Dive: Bangladesh Telecoms, Mobile, and Broadband MarketOn the basis of key research outcome presented in the report this section allow readers to gain crucial insights on the impact of marketing strategies in garnering favorable end user response such as their buying behavior. In-depth analysis of these strategies by new and existing market players allows deduction of core research inferences based on which market players in Bangladesh telecoms, mobile, and broadband services market can facilitate pivotal marketing schemes that fetch increased revenues, and strengthen their foothold in Bangladesh telecoms, mobile, and broadband services market.About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports of different sector like telecommunication market research and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of industry reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.com
Aesthetic Market Outlook To 2022: Emerging Trends And Will Generate New Growth Opportunities Status | Worldwide Key players ( ALLERGAN, Cynosure, Galderma, Merz Pharma, Sientra )

Aesthetic Market

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/108685

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/108685/single

https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/108685

This report provides in depth study of Aesthetic Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Aesthetic Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market organization.Global Aesthetic Market Overview:According to Market Analyst, Global Aesthetic Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2022.Request Report Sample@With the slowdown in world economic growth, the Aesthetic industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Aesthetic market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 6.65% from 629 million $ in 2014 to 763 million $ in 2017, According to Market Analyst in the next few years, Aesthetic market size will be further expanded by 2022, The market size of the Aesthetic will reach 991 million $.The Increasing Global Awareness about aesthetics to be one of the primary growth factors for the medical aesthetics market. Also the Rising demand for aesthetic treatments among the male population, and rapid growth in number of cosmetic procedures are driving the growth of the global aesthetics market.The Growth of Rise Aesthetic Market include in demand for minimally invasive reconstruction surgeries, increase in road accidents and trauma cases, high prevalence of congenital face and tooth deformities, technological advancements.Aesthetic Market Segmented into Product Type, Industry and Region.On the Basis of Product Type, Aesthetic Market Splits into Facial, Breast implants, Liposuction, Tattoo removal. Facial segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR, mainly due to increasing aging population coupled with rising demand for anti-aging products to treat wrinkles and visible signs of agingRegionally North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global medical aesthetic market, followed by Europe. However, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR.Purchase this premium research report with 115 Pages and No. of Table of contents, List of table atThe Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major key players:1 ALLERGAN2 Cynosure3 Galderma4 Merz Pharma5 Sientra6 Valeant Pharmaceuticals7 Alma Lasers8 AQTIS Medical9 AART10 Andrew Technologies and More.The Global Aesthetic Market is segmented into:The Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major Region Segmentation1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Grab Your Report at an Impressive @Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 What will the market size be in 2022?2 What are the key factors driving the Aesthetic Market?3 What are the challenges to market growth?4 Who are the key players in Aesthetic Market?5 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?TABLE OF CONTENTS1 Aesthetic Product Definition2 Global Aesthetic Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview3 Manufacturer Aesthetic Business Introduction4 Global Aesthetic Market Segmentation (Region Level)5 Global Aesthetic Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)6 Global Aesthetic Market Segmentation (Industry Level)7 Global Aesthetic Market Segmentation (Channel Level)8 Aesthetic Market Forecast 2018-20229 Aesthetic Segmentation Product Type10 Aesthetic Segmentation Industry11 Aesthetic Cost of Production Analysis12 ConclusionAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
CloudSteer revolutionizes the coupon management segment with its new CRM paragon, SpareFit

https://www.cloudsteer.com/

Awarded for their outstanding cloud-based solutions, CloudSteer is back in the news for the success of yet another unrivaled product, SpareFit. A specially envisioned CRM solution, SpareFit seamlessly helps manage coupon loyalty programs and product life-cycle, encompassing channel and end-customers.Having already made its mark in India, SpareFit is all set to do the rounds in the South East Asian market. Based on a subscription model, the innovative idea behind this program is to provide a simple tool to obtain and retain customers with some exceptional features. For instance, the eCoupon fraud-proof loyalty management solution enables one to control the enterprise with end-to-end functioning from printing to disbursement. One could also cut duplicity with proper validations at each step in a product-lifecycle.This tool also benefits in terms of real time authenticity with flexible, convenient and foolproof points redemption. SpareFit is particularly fruitful for those who are moving towards paper-free initiatives, as it requires no physical handling of coupons, therefore reducing material or logistic costs. It aids skimming through the brands potential versus product market share with channel sales performance and 360 visibility of products comprising track and trace along with zero infrastructure addition or IT dependency.This CRM tool also covers scheme management, credit note at-a-click, inventory management and service request management. Most companies select CloudSteer for their coupon loyalty management automation after a detailed study of the industry and genuine challenges faced at the ground level. Subscribers who have already used the program vouch for it. Acceptingly, they have benefited in reducing collective expenses and providing prominence into total market share. For some, the eCoupon App has reduced coupon and product duplicity in the market by more than 80 percent. Overall, there is a noticeable upsurge in sales, channel partners, repeat buyers, end-customer satisfaction and authenticity. The pricing too is a boon, as it can be customized like the program itself.With countless companies having used and valued, CloudSteers other highly accomplished CRM programs, Spare Fit is slated to tackle coupon management hassles in an unprecedented way.Website:About CloudSteer:Headquartered in Singapore, CloudSteer has earned the reputation of being a key influencer in assisting hundreds of medium to large enterprises to implement, extend and connect cloud applications, services and platforms using the worlds #1 cloud computing platform from Salesforce.com. CloudSteer has been closely associated with many top brands such as Thailand based Raimon Land, and well-known Indian based companies like Godrej, DLF, Mahindra and Federal Mougal to name a few.180B Bencoolen Street,#12-05, The Bencoolen,Singapore  189648
Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC) 2018 Global Market Key Players  SAP SE, International Business Machines, Dell, Wolters Kluwer, Oracle, Metric Stream Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu -Analysis And Forecast To 2025

Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC) Market 2018

https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3372437-global-enterprise-governance-risk-and-compliance-egrc-market

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Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC) Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC)  Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Description:This report focuses on the global Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC development in United States, Europe and China.Enterprise, Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC) is a multifaceted and innovative approach where the concerns related to corporate governance, risk management and compliance issues are seen as integrated, aligned and closely related strategic activities with a direct impact on business objectives.Rising threats amongst organizations owing to digitalization and sharing of vast data across the globe has led to different forms of threats and attacks. Cyber security threat is one of the key drivers for EGRC software adoption.Being the dominant market for the life sciences industry, there is high competition among the top life sciences industry players across United States.In 2017, the global Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this studySAP SEInternational Business MachinesDellWolters KluwerOracleMetric StreamDeloitte Touche TohmatsuFidelity National Information ServicesThomson ReutersSAI GlobalBwiseRequest for Sample Report @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoAudit ManagementRisk ManagementBusiness ContinuityCompliance and Policy ManagementInformation Security and Data ManagementRegulatory Change ManagementMarket segment by Application, split intoAerospace and DefenseAutomotiveConsumer Goods and RetailHealthcare and Life SciencesITES and TelecomOther IndustriesMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaEnquiry before Buying @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table of Content:1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2025)1.4.2 Audit Management1.4.3 Risk Management1.4.4 Business Continuity1.4.5 Compliance and Policy Management1.4.6 Information Security and Data Management1.4.7 Regulatory Change Management1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Market Share by Application (2013-2025)1.5.2 Aerospace and Defense1.5.3 Automotive1.5.4 Consumer Goods and Retail1.5.5 Healthcare and Life Sciences1.5.6 ITES and Telecom1.5.7 Other Industries1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered..12 International Players Profiles12.1 SAP SE12.1.1 SAP SE Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.1.4 SAP SE Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.1.5 SAP SE Recent Development12.2 International Business Machines12.2.1 International Business Machines Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.2.4 International Business Machines Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.2.5 International Business Machines Recent Development12.3 Dell12.3.1 Dell Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.3.4 Dell Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.3.5 Dell Recent Development12.4 Wolters Kluwer12.4.1 Wolters Kluwer Company Details12.4.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.4.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.4.4 Wolters Kluwer Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.4.5 Wolters Kluwer Recent Development12.5 Oracle12.5.1 Oracle Company Details12.5.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.5.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.5.4 Oracle Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.5.5 Oracle Recent Development12.6 Metric Stream12.6.1 Metric Stream Company Details12.6.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.6.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.6.4 Metric Stream Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.6.5 Metric Stream Recent Development12.7 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu12.7.1 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Company Details12.7.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.7.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.7.4 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.7.5 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Recent Development12.8 Fidelity National Information Services12.8.1 Fidelity National Information Services Company Details12.8.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.8.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.8.4 Fidelity National Information Services Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.8.5 Fidelity National Information Services Recent Development12.9 Thomson Reuters12.9.1 Thomson Reuters Company Details12.9.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.9.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.9.4 Thomson Reuters Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.9.5 Thomson Reuters Recent Development12.10 SAI Global12.10.1 SAI Global Company Details12.10.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.10.3 Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Introduction12.10.4 SAI Global Revenue in Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance (EGRC Business (2013-2018)12.10.5 SAI Global Recent Development12.11 BwiseContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Beauty Supplementsnning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune  411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market 2017 - 2025 : Siemens AG, Southwire Company, RPG Cables Ltd

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Global Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market: SnapshotPower transmission and distribution involves the bulk movement of electricity from a site that generates electrical energy (for instance a power plant) to an electrical substation. Also known as power grids in North America, the combined distribution and transmission network consists of local wiring connecting high-voltage substations to customers. As most of the regions now have liberalized electricity market regulations, the inevitable separation of the power distribution business from electrical transmission business is likely to promote the growth of the global power transmission and distribution (T&D) cable market.Several market players are providing a wide range of expertise for projects via their skilled personnel including specialist project managers, engineers, environmental consultants, and designers. The planning of consent support, route and site optioneering, grid connection support, tackling environmental constraints and understanding feasibility, and offering smart grid solutions are some major services offered by these companies. For instance, WSP Global Inc., a leading U.K.-based project management firm aiding the creation of substations and related infrastructure, helps in front-end planning, obtaining permits, suggesting power facility design, and cable selection and design.A number of other players are focusing on the development of more efficient designs of cable systems. This is expected to have a positive impact on the overall expansion of the global market for power transmission and distribution (T&D) cables market. For instance, in May 2016, Prysmian Group, a key supplier of innovative solutions for power grids, announced that it successfully developed and tested a novel 7000 kV MI-PPL, along with 600 kV extruded cable systems that are specially designed for high voltage direct current applications.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market: General OutlineThe global power transmission and distribution cable market is likely to be benefited by factors such as enhanced distribution infrastructure, expanding power transmission infrastructure, growing initiatives by the governments across the globe in order to upgrade power transmission units, growing demand for power globally, and rising focus on power generation via renewable sources of energy. These factors are also anticipated to attract investments in the near future. The global market for power transmission and distribution cable is likely to grow at significant rate in the near future and is likely to be driven by the growing investment in the power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure developments. Power transmission and distribution is done through the underground cables or overhead transmission lines. Power T&D cable is an assemblage of one or more conductors, held collectively with a cable sheath.This industry research report is a brief review of the growth trail in terms of existing, past, and future scenarios of the global power transmission and distribution cable market. It deals with the evaluation of the aspects that are expected to influence the development of the market and the primary trends have also been specified in the research study. The research study also offers a broad lookout on the vendor landscape of the market through Porters five forces analysis. The research report offers references of the research and development activities, mergers and acquisitions, and specifics on licensing and collaborations. The report probes into the strategies related to publicity, shares, and product range of the key participants in the global power transmission and distribution cable market.Global Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market: Key TrendsThe global market for power transmission and distribution cable is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The primary demand for the power transmission and distribution cable is propelled by the swelling global emphasis on commercialization of power generation through renewable sources of energy. In addition, the incorporation of regional grids to form a national grid driven by the need for a seamless electricity flow across nations is anticipated to augment the demand for power transmission and distribution cables. The high cost of raw material is expected pose a threat to the growth of the global power transmission and distribution cable market. However, the growing demand for high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables and aging T&D infrastructure is anticipated to bolster the growth of the global power T&D cable market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market: Regional AnalysisIn terms of growth, North America is expected to lead the global market for power transmission and distribution cable. This growth can be attributed to the increasing focus on renewable energy as a source of power generation, especially the U.S. and constant expansion in the use of high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology and superconductors. However, Asia Pacific is expected to be a key area of growth on account of lower manufacturing costs of cables accompanied by strong economic growth.Global Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Cable Market: Vendor LandscapeSome of the key participants in the market are Siemens AG, Southwire Company, RPG Cables Ltd., Hitachi Cable Ltd., Nexans SA, Havells India Limited, Coleman Cable, Inc., and ABB.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Mobile Virtual Network Operator Latest Innovations With Better Future Plans For Consumer Cellular, Drillisch Telecom, FreedomPOP, GiffGaff, Lyca Mobile, Red Pocket Mobile

Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market, Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market Study, Mobi

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Market Study Report recently introduced new title on Global Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market Report that provides an in-depth overview of industry and competitive landscape, covering multiple market segments and elaborates market outlook and status to 2024.Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market is projected to surpass USD 120 billion by 2024.Request a Sample of this premium Research Report@Top Manufacturers in global market are given bellow:Boost Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Drillisch Telecom, FreedomPOP, GiffGaff, Lyca Mobile, Red Pocket Mobile, Talktalk, Truphone, and Straight Talk.The growing penetration of smartphones and increasing need for data are propelling the industry growth. According to the United Nations, approximately 3.5 billion people were using internet by the end of 2016 across the globe. With growing urbanization, the population using the internet is increasing rapidly, increasing the data traffic exponentially. The increasing number of subscribers is encouraging MNOs to seek aid from the virtual service providers, increasing the MVNO market growth.Mobile Virtual Network Operator Market Size By Business Model (Full MVNO, Light MVNO, Service Provider, Branded Reseller), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018 - 2024The growing penetration of smartphones and increasing need for data are propelling the industry growth. According to the United Nations, approximately 3.5 billion people were using internet by the end of 2016 across the globe. With growing urbanization, the population using the internet is increasing rapidly, increasing the data traffic exponentially. The increasing number of subscribers is encouraging MNOs to seek aid from the virtual service providers, increasing the MVNO market growth.The surging demand for low-cost data and calling services will propel the MVNO market growth during the next six years. The growing demand for low-cost data and calling services is encouraging the providers to purchase network services from the network operators at wholesale rates and sell them as refurbished bundled services at new rates. These providers launch services and bundles that are innovative and appeal to the niche customers due to their flexibility. These companies address the requirements of the customers with a range of offerings. Based on price, these providers attract customers, propelling the MVNO market growth. For instance, Mint in the U.S. operates on the network of T-Mobile and offers attractive low-cost plans.The reduction in the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) is compelling the companies to offer differentiated services. MNOs are also allowing the virtual operators to buy network capacities and offer customized solutions to the customers to cater to their requirements, propelling the MVNO market. With these services, the companies are increasing their brand loyalty in the low-ARPU scenario.The Europe MVNO market is expected to hold the majority share of around 45% by 2024 due to the presence of a large number of players in the region. The industry in the region is characterized by regulations such as Roam Like At Home that is strengthening the industry growth in the region and attracting foreign investments. Technological advancements, such as virtualization, digitization, and eSIM technology, are allowing the companies to provide innovative products and services.Request a Discount on standard prices of this premium Market Research Report@The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)o Europe (Germany, Italy, UK, France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, Switzerland)o Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia)o Latin America (Brazil, Mexico)o MEA (South Africa, Saudi Arabia)India MVNO market is expected to witness a significant growth due to the favorable regulatory landscape. In May 2016, on the recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued guidelines to grant the Unified License for the MVNOs. Under this license, the virtual operators will be treated as extensions of the network operators and allow the virtual operators to enter into agreements with multiple network operators. This will attract an increasing number of players in the industry, propelling growth.Table of ContentChapter 1. Methodology & ScopeChapter 2. Executive SummaryChapter 3. Commercial Drone Industry InsightsChapter 4. Competitive LandscapeChapter 5. Global Mobile Virtual Network Operator MarketTo View Full Report@About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Global Condom Market 2018-2023: Product Type and Major Key Players Like Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Sagami Rubber Industries, Ansell Ltd, Karex Industries Sdn. Bhd., The Female Health Company Ltd.

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Global Condom Market 2018-2023:The prime objective of Global Condom Market report is to help the user understand the market in terms of its definition, segmentation, market potential, influential trends, and the challenges that the market is facing. Deep researches and analysis were done during the preparation of the report. The readers will find Global Condom Market report very helpful in understanding the market in depth. The data and the information regarding the market are taken from reliable sources such as websites, annual reports of the companies, journals, and others and were checked and validated by the industry experts. The facts and data are represented in the report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations. Global Condom Market report enhances the visual representation and also helps in understanding the facts much better.Global Condom market size will grow from USD XX Million in 2017 to USD XX Million by 2023, at an estimated CAGR of XX%. The base year considered for the study is 2017, and the market size is projected from 2018 to 2023.Get Sample Copy of Global Condom Market @By Market Players:Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Sagami Rubber Industries, Ansell Ltd, Karex Industries Sdn. Bhd., The Female Health Company Ltd., Church & Dwight Co. Inc., HLL Life Care Ltd., Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Co. Ltd., Fuji Latex Co. Ltd., Graphic Armor LLCBy Material:Latex, Polyurethane, Polyisoprene, PU Leather, Lamb Intestine, OthersBy End Use:Male Condoms, Female Condoms,By Product Type:Flavoured Condoms, Studded Condoms, Edible Condoms, Warming Condoms, Coloured Condoms, OthersPoints Covered in The Global Condom Market Report:The points that are discussed within the report are the major market players that are involved in the market such as manufacturers, raw material suppliers, equipment suppliers, end users, traders, distributors and etc.The complete profile of the companies is mentioned. And the capacity, production, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, sales volume, sales revenue, consumption, growth rate, import, export, supply, future strategies, and the technological developments that they are making are also included within the report. The historical data from 2012 to 2017 and forecast data from 2018 to 2023.Enquire Before Buying Global Condom Market Report @The growth factors of the market is discussed in detail wherein the different end users of the market are explained in detail.Data and information by manufacturer, by region, by type, by application and etc, and custom research can be added according to specific requirements.The report contains the SWOT analysis of the market. Finally, the report contains the conclusion part where the opinions of the industrial experts are included.Key Reasons to Purchase Global Condom Market Report:To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the global market and its commercial landscape.Assess the production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk.To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the market and its impact in the global market.Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by leading respective organizations.To understand the future outlook and prospects for the market.Besides the standard structure reports, we also provide custom research according to specific requirements.Table of Content:Chapter One: Industry OverviewChapter Two: Production Market AnalysisChapter Three: Sales Market AnalysisChapter Four: Consumption Market AnalysisChapter Five: Production, Sales and Consumption Market Comparison AnalysisChapter Six: Major Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison AnalysisChapter Seven: Major Material AnalysisChapter Eight: Major End Use AnalysisChapter Nine: Industry Chain AnalysisChapter Ten: Global and Regional Market ForecastChapter Eleven: Major Manufacturers AnalysisChapter Twelve: New Project Investment Feasibility AnalysisChapter Thirteen: ConclusionsEnquire Before Buying Global Condom Market Report @Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com
IQF Apple Market Foreseen to Witness Fabulous Growth by 2022 | by Application, Types, Tests | Global Key players ( Dole, Ardo NV, HJ Heinz, Simplot Australia PTY Ltd )

IQF Apple Market

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This report provides in depth study of IQF Apple Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The IQF Apple Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market organization.Global IQF Apple Market Overview:According to Market Analyst, Global IQF Apple Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2022.Request Report Sample@Individual quick freezing (IQF) is a technology through which fresh fruits and vegetables are freeze at very low temperature. This process enables to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables for longer period of time even more than a year maintaining the same color, flavor and texture till it lasts. IQF Apple are stored at low temperature or in refrigerator. IQF technology is ideal for preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables. IQF Apple comprises same nutritional value after freezing as it possess in fresh form which is supporting its growth worldwide.Rising demand of Apple with longer shelf life coupled across the year is expected to support the growth of IQF Apple market during the forecast period. Also Increasing Demand of food manufacturers for preserving food product for longer period so that they could use it as an ingredient in their final product is also fuelling the demand of IQF Apple market during the forecast period.IQF Apple Market Segmented into Product Type, Industry and Region.On the Basis Of Type, IQF Apple Market Split into Conventional, Organic. Based on Industry IQF Apple Market Split into Supermarket, Bakery industry, Confectionery industry, Catering industry, Others. Supermarket is expected to occupy the dominant position on the pie in terms of market share followed by retail outlet.Regionally, North America is expected to account for the major market for IQF Apple. The U.S. is expected to be the major revenue contributor in the IQF Apple market followed by Canada.Purchase this premium research report with 115 Pages and No. of Table of contents, List of table atThe Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major key players:1 Dole (U.S.)2 Ardo NV (Belgium)3 HJ Heinz (US)4 Simplot Australia PTY Ltd (Australia)5 General Mills (U.S.)6 Findus Sverige AB (Sweden)7 Pinnacle Foods Corp. (US)8 Bonduelle Group (France)The Market is segmented and projected on the basis of major Region Segmentation1 North America Country (United States, Canada)2 South America3 Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)4 Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)5 Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Grab Your Report at an Impressive @Key Questions Answered in this Report:1 What will the market size be in 2022?2 What are the key factors driving the IQF Apple Market?3 What are the challenges to market growth?4 Who are the key players in IQF Apple Market?5 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?TABLE OF CONTENTS1 IQF Apple Product Definition2 Global IQF Apple Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview3 Manufacturer IQF Apple Business Introduction4 Global IQF Apple Market Segmentation (Region Level)5 Global IQF Apple Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)6 Global IQF Apple Market Segmentation (Industry Level)7 Global IQF Apple Market Segmentation (Channel Level)8 IQF Apple Market Forecast 2018-20229 IQF Apple Segmentation Product Type10 IQF Apple Segmentation Industry11 IQF Apple Cost of Production Analysis12 ConclusionAbout UsBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Nanomemory Market to Register Substantial Expansion by 2025

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This study researches the market size of Nanomemory, presents the global Nanomemory sales and revenue by companies, regions, type and application, history breakdown data from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.This report focuses on the key data information of Nanomemory in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa, presents sales, revenue, market share, growth rate of Nanomemory for each region and countries in each region.For top companies, this report investigates and analyzes the sales, revenue, market share and growth rate for the top players, key data from 2013 to 2018.This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Pastry is a dough of flour, water and shortening (solid fats, including butter) that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as bakers' confectionery. The word "pastries" suggests many kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Small tarts and other sweet baked products are called pastries.The bakery industry has expanded from simple baked goods to a multitude of products across various categories, including healthy, organic offerings.In 2018, the global Nanomemory market size was xx million US$ and is forecast to xx million US in 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% from 2018. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Nanomemory.Request Sample Copy of Report@This report includes the following manufacturers; we can also add the other companies as you want.FinsburyFlowers FoodsGrupo BimboHostess BrandsMcKee FoodsYamazaki Baking...Market Segment by Product TypeArtisanalIn-Store BakeriesMarket Segment by ApplicationOnline saleOffline saleRequest to Buy Full Report@About Us:QYResearch always pursuits high product quality with the belief that quality is the soul of business. Through years of effort and supports from huge number of customer supports, QYResearch consulting group has accumulated creative design methods on many high-quality markets investigation and research team with rich experience. Today, QYResearch has become the brand of quality assurance in consulting industry.Contact USQY Research, INC.17890 Castleton, Suite 218,City of industry, CA - 91748USA: +1 6262 952 442China: +86 1082 945 717Japan: +81 9038 009 273India: +91 9766 478 224Emails  enquiry@qyresearch.comWeb Expert News:
Aerospace 3D Printing Market Analysis by Manufactures (Stratasys, 3D Systems, Arcam Group, Renishaw, ExOne, Optomec, GE) and Forecast to 2018-2023

Aerospace 3D Printing Market, Aerospace 3D Printing Market Player, Aerospace 3D Printing Market Region

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This report studies the Aerospace 3D Printing market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Aerospace 3D Printing market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.3D Printing is a layer-by-layer process of producing 3D objects directly from a digital model. 3D Printing produces functional parts and discussed benefits that have been realized in the medical, aerospace and defense sectors, and aerospace field is mainly discussed in this report.The global Aerospace 3D Printing market will reach xxx Million USD in 2018 and CAGR xx% 2018-2023. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Aerospace 3D Printing by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Product Type Coverage (Market Size and Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Plastics Material, Ceramics Material, Metals Material, Other MaterialRequest a sample copy @Aerospace 3D Printing market continues to evolve and expand in terms of the number of companies, products, and applications that illustratesthe growth perspectives.The report also covers the list of Product range and Applications with SWOT analysis, CAGR value, further adding the essential business analytics. Aerospace 3D Printing market research analysis identifies the latest trends and primary factors responsible for market growth enabling the Organizations to flourish with much exposure to the markets.Company Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):Stratasys, 3D Systems, Arcam Group, Renishaw, ExOne, Optomec, SLM Solutions, EnvisionTEC, VoxelJet AG, Sciaky Inc, EOS e-Manufacturing Solutions, GEApplication Coverage (Market Size and Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Civil Aviation, Military Aviation, Spacecraft, OtherBrowse full table of contents and data tables@The Aerospace 3D Printing market research report completely covers the vital statistics of the capacity, production, value, cost/profit, supply/demand import/export, further divided by company and country, and by application/type for best possible updated data representation in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs. These data representations provide predictive data regarding the future estimations for convincing market growth. The detailed and comprehensive knowledge about our publishers makes us out of the box in case of market analysis.Region Coverage (Regional Production, Demand and Forecast by Countries etc.): North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.) South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Key questions answered in this report What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Order a Purchase Report Copy @About Us: - MarketResearchNest.com Market Research Nest (MRN) is an offering of GRN Research Pvt. Ltd. It is a one-stop-shop for market research products and services. At MRN, we offer reports from almost all top regional and global publishers and research firms who specialize in their domains. We ensure that you receive the most reliable and up to date research data. We update our collection daily to help our clients have an access to a most up-to-date database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends. Our database covers research studies including periodic updates on a range of industries, companies, products, SWOT profiles, recent marketing, and other trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070, +44-20-3290-4151;Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Social Business Intelligence Market Analysis by Vendors Coverage (Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, SAS Institute, Adobe Systems Software Ireland) and Forecast to 2018-2023

Social Business Intelligence Market, Social Business Intelligence Market Player, Social Business Intelligence Market Region

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This report studies the Social Business Intelligence market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Social Business Intelligence market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.The global Social Business Intelligence market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Social Business Intelligence by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the companies and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Product Type Coverage (Market Size and Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4Request a sample copy @Social Business Intelligence market continues to evolve and expand in terms of the number of companies, products, and applications that illustratesthe growth perspectives.The report also covers the list of Product range and Applications with SWOT analysis, CAGR value, further adding the essential business analytics. Social Business Intelligence market research analysis identifies the latest trends and primary factors responsible for market growth enabling the Organizations to flourish with much exposure to the markets.Vendors Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, SAS Institute, Adobe Systems Software Ireland, Beevolve, Clarabridge and Crimson HexagonApplication Coverage (Market Size and Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Applications 1, Applications 2, Applications 3, Applications 4Browse full table of contents and data tables@The Social Business Intelligence market research report completely covers the vital statistics of the capacity, production, value, cost/profit, supply/demand import/export, further divided by company and country, and by application/type for best possible updated data representation in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs. These data representations provide predictive data regarding the future estimations for convincing market growth. The detailed and comprehensive knowledge about our publishers makes us out of the box in case of market analysis.Region Coverage (Regional Output, Demand and Forecast by Countries etc.):North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and AfricaIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Key questions answered in this report What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Order a Purchase Report Copy @About Us: - MarketResearchNest.com Market Research Nest (MRN) is an offering of GRN Research Pvt. Ltd. It is a one-stop-shop for market research products and services. At MRN, we offer reports from almost all top regional and global publishers and research firms who specialize in their domains. We ensure that you receive the most reliable and up to date research data. We update our collection daily to help our clients have an access to a most up-to-date database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends. Our database covers research studies including periodic updates on a range of industries, companies, products, SWOT profiles, recent marketing, and other trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070, +44-20-3290-4151;Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Precision medicine Market Size, Status, Demand, Sales, Product Type, Analysis, Key-Players: Novartis AG, Intomics, Ferrer Incode, Nanostring Technologies, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc

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The Global Precision Market was valued at US$ 45,720.8 million in 2016 and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period (20172025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Increase in adoption of personalized medicine, in turn, is projected to support the growth of precision medicine market over the forecast period.Manufacturers are focusing on innovation to tap into emerging markets. For instance, Synapse, Inc. and Strata Oncology, Inc., together, implemented an end to end precision oncology program to improve the outcomes of the treatment with reduced costs, as the companies are selecting the most promising precision medicine clinical trials. Strata Oncology, Inc. also launched Strata NGS test in May 2017, which is designed for 90 gene targeted assay that focuses on genetic alterations in tumor tissue and includes standard care markers and clinical trial eligibility markers.Request a Sample Copy @AstraZeneca launched a next-generation asthma drug in 2016 named, Benralizumab for eosinophil biomarker, which is a part of the new way of biological treatments for people with asthma, as AstraZeneca is moving toward precision medicine to resolve the disease. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapy, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) on August 2017, which was developed by Novartis for the treatment of patients below 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This therapy represents a shift from chemotherapy to precision medicine.Furthermore, The University of Southampton in Britain is conducting a phase 2 clinical trial in 2017 for testing whether the addition of acalabrutinib to R-CHOP could improve outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and then the trial researchers will gather the data on gene expression of DLBCL patients as a part of precision medicine for aggressive lymphoma consortium that supports the growth of precision medicine in hematology in near future.Manufacturers are also collaborating to strengthen their product portfolios related to precision medicine. Precision for Medicine, Inc., in 2016, signed a deal to acquire ACT Oncology, which is expected to strengthen the companys position in personalized cancer clinical trial space. On August 2017, Variantyx, a genetic testing company announced a partnership with FDNA, which has a facial recognition software that has revolutionized the diagnosis method of the rare diseases and is expected to fulfill the demand of patients and offer them precision medicine. Alexion Pharmaceuticals announced a partnership with Sema4 on August 2017, to improve the companys diagnosis rate of the rare diseases and also speedup drug discoveries in near future. Precision for Medicine Group, Inc. acquired the Agility Clinical, a contract research organization, on September 2017, which focuses on clinical development of rare diseases and orphan therapies. This acquisition is expected to bring new precision medicine in the market.Download PDF Brochure @Nevertheless, lack of reimbursement policy is expected to act as a restraint for the growth of precision medicine market.Key Takeaways of the Market:The global precision medicine market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period (20172025), owing to the significant adoption rate of precision medicines and the robust advancements in the industryAsia Pacific is expected to exhibit a high growth rate, in terms of value, over the forecast periodAmong application type, oncology segment is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR of 10.4%The global precision medicine market is characterized by market expansion in Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe, which is expected to generate higher market revenue due to government initiatives and rising adoption of personalized medicineElse place an Inquire before Purchase  Precision medicine Market Size, Status and Forecast 2026 :About us:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.1001 4th Ave,, #3200, Seattle, WA 98154#3200
E-commerce Payment Market Outlook to 2025 - PayPal Holdings, Amazon Payments, CCBill, WePay, Alipay, Visa, MasterCard Incorporated, Stripe, American Express Company, UnionPay International Co. Ltd

Global e-commerce payment market is expected to reach US$ 64.69 Bn by 2025 at a CAGR of 13.1% between 2018 and 2025

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An exclusive E-commerce Payment market research report created through broad primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies and stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global E-commerce Payment Market By Type, By Application, By Region - North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global E-commerce Payment market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.Get Sample Copy of this Report atLeading E-commerce Payment Market Players:1. PayPal Holdings, Inc.2. Amazon Payments, Inc.3. CCBill, LLC4. WePay Inc.5. Alipay6. Visa, Inc.7. MasterCard Incorporated8. Stripe Inc.9. American Express Company10. UnionPay International Co., Ltd.Worldwide E-commerce Payment Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the E-commerce Payment industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global E-commerce Payment market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global E-commerce Payment market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the E-commerce Payment players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global E-commerce Payment market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall E-commerce Payment market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire about this Report atAlso, key E-commerce Payment market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global E-commerce Payment market- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the E-commerce Payment market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Complete Report is Available atE-commerce payment market is experiencing growth all across the globe, with the rising preference for making online payments due to the availability of several payment methods. Furthermore, the rising adoption of smartphones and availability of internet is also propelling the e-commerce payment market growth. Moreover, the increasing number of banking population and digitalization, the e-commerce payment market is anticipated to flourish during the forecast period.The report focuses on an in-depth segmentation of e-commerce payment market based on type and industry. The geographic segmentation of the report covers five major regions including; North Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SA). The regional e-commerce payment market has been further bifurcated by respective countries. By industry segment, service industry & others accounted for the largest share of the e-commerce payment market in 2017; whereas electronics & media is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.The report aims to provide an overview of global e-commerce payment market with detailed market segmentation. Also, it analyzes the current e-commerce payment market scenario and forecasts the market till 2025. The report covers market dynamics affecting the e-commerce payment market during the forecast period. Furthermore, the report analyzes the competitive scenario, geographic trends, and opportunities in the e-commerce payment market with respect to all geographic regions. The report also includes the detailed company profiles of the key players in the e-commerce payment market along with their market strategies. The report also provides value chain along with the SWOT analysis for all company profiled in the report.Purchase this report atThe Asia Pacific is one of the prominent regions in e-commerce payment market which is contributing highest revenue globally due to the presence of youth population. Also, rapidly growing economies in Asia-Pacific with significant growth in spending capacity will propel the growth for e-commerce payment market. The Asia Pacific is a diverse region, both in terms of culture as well as online payments. China, India and Australias sizable credit card base offers a robust foundation for advancement in e-commerce.Owing to this, several global online merchants are willing to invest in this region. From SMART Money and Globe GCash in Malaysia to Alipay and Unipay in China, there are various solutions that are enabling the online merchants to connect and open their businesses to shoppers in Asia Pacific.About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com
Remote Mobile Payment Market Huge Trends On Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc., Samsung Electronics Co Ltd., DH Corporation, Visa Inc., ACI Worldwide, Inc., Square, Inc.

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Worldwide Market Reports recently released Global Remote Mobile Payment Market Research Report 2018 that centers around the latest developing trends and technologies in the Remote Mobile Payment Market having Five Years of forecast period from 2017 to 2022 and considering Market status study from 2017 to 2022.During the research, noteworthy data was collected in order to shape the research document and make it a valuable resource for managers, industry executives and other key people to have ready-to-access and self-analyzed study.Get Report Sample @This report studies the global Remote Mobile Payment market, analyzes and researches the Remote Mobile Payment development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, like Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc.Samsung Electronics Co Ltd., DH Corporation, Visa Inc., ACI Worldwide, Inc., Square, Inc., Mastercard Incorporated., Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., Fiserv, Inc., PayPal Holdings, Inc.Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Remote Mobile Payment can be split intoPeer-to-peerM-commerceMarket segment by Application, Remote Mobile Payment can be split intoRetailHospitality and TourismIT and TelecommunicationBFSIMedia and EntertainmentOthersIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Enquire here get customization & check discount, please click:Table of ContentsGlobal Remote Mobile Payment Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Remote Mobile Payment1.1 Remote Mobile Payment Market Overview1.1.1 Remote Mobile Payment Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Remote Mobile Payment Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Remote Mobile Payment Market by Type1.3.1 Peer-to-peer1.3.2 M-commerce1.4 Remote Mobile Payment Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Retail1.4.2 Hospitality and Tourism1.4.3 IT and Telecommunication1.4.4 BFSI1.4.5 Media and Entertainment1.4.6 Others2 Global Remote Mobile Payment Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Remote Mobile Payment Market Size (Value) by Players (2016 and 2017)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Apple Inc.3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Remote Mobile Payment Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Alphabet Inc.3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Remote Mobile Payment Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Remote Mobile Payment Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 DH Corporation3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Remote Mobile Payment Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Visa Inc.Buy Complete Report With TOC and Company Profile :About Us:Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market ReportsTel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.comVisit our new Website:
Drivers, especially on the west side of the metro area, will encounter some spots of heavy fog Friday morning. Fog was evident in Sherwood, Tualatin, Hillsboro and along OR 217. Use caution in foggy conditions and increase stopping distance. Bicyclists and walkers are harder to see in the fog.

Continued Oregon Department of Transportation work on the Interstate 84 ramps to Interstate 5 has ODOT closing the westbound 84 ramp to I-5 northbound at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. The ramp will re-open by noon on Saturday. But then closes again from 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, to 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17. Crews will be installing fencing, bridge joints and new barriers.

During the closures, the on ramps to I-84 westbound from Sandy and Northeast 33rd will also close. Traffic will detour to I-5 southbound and use I-405 northbound to continue northbound on I-5.

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BEAVERTON 8:47 a.m.; Crash on Southwest Scholls Ferry Road at 121st Avenue.



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FAIRVIEW 8:18 a.m.; Crash on I-84 westbound has a car on the left shoulder (facing the wrong way) and the right lane blocked. Use extreme caution in the area of Fairview.



Update 8:50 a.m.; Cleared.

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OREGON CITY 7:58 a.m.; Crash on I-205 southbound blocking the left lane of the Abernethy Bridge. Traffic backing up to OR 224.



Update 8:35 a.m.; Cleared.



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MARQUAM BRIDGE 7:30 a.m.; Crash on I-5 southbound on the lower deck of the Marquam Bridge has traffic backed up to I-84.

Update 9:11 a.m.; Hours later, this crash has finally cleared.



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MALL 205 7:15 a.m.; Hit-and-run crash with several police units responding on Southeast Stark Street just north of Mall 205.

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VANCOUVER 7:02 a.m.; A disabled vehicle on SR 500 eastbound near 42nd Avenue is blocking the left turn lane.

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The north sidewalk of the Hawthorne Bridge will be closed 8 a.m.-noon Sunday, Sept. 16, for Race for the Cure. The non-racing public will need to use the south sidewalk. Click here for maps and schedules for Sunday's Race for the Cure.

Heads up for Monday:

TriMet has announced a major project to upgrade more than a mile of track on the Hillsboro MAX line. Crews will replace sections of rail and improve the track bed, as well as install new switch machines and upgrade equipment for the signal system. Surface tiles will also be replaced at four stations along the route. Work starts Monday, Sept. 17 and will continue for seven weeks with a two-week disruption to MAX service in Hillsboro with shuttles serving passengers Oct. 13-27.

Travelers in the downtown Hillsboro area and MAX riders will see the eastbound lane of Washington Street closed between Southwest Adams Street and South First Avenue from Monday, Sept. 17 through Saturday, Nov. 3. Most work will be done 7 a.m.-10 p.m., but some work could continue during overnight hours.

For a complete schedule of closed streets and work days/hours, check TriMet's MAX Improvements website.

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland
A Benton County judge has upheld an Oregon State University professor's firing for bullying and sexual harassment in the first case of its kind to be heard in a state court.

Morrie Craig taught at Oregon State University for 40 years, earning tenure in 1982. Circuit Court Judge Matthew Donohue ruled Wednesday that for at least part of that time, Craig used his position to bully and sexually harass students and fellow faculty.

Donohue's decision, issued Wednesday, makes public the allegations against Craig in the greatest specificity to date. Two women -- a student and another professor -- and a male graduate student said that Craig caused them to suffer depression, hurt their studies and caused them to alienate themselves from others.

Donohue held up Oregon State President Ed Ray's and the OSU Board of Trustees' decision, saying that a reasonable person would not only believe the allegations but also believe the harm they caused.

Craig's attorney did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

STUDENT 'MH'

Craig employed a freshman woman, referred to as MH in the order, as a clerical worker in his lab. At the time, he told her that if she proved herself, he would promote her to research assistant.

Over the course of her employment, he told her that the lab was her family and she should treat the people in it as such, the judge wrote. He rented a house to her and her boyfriend for awhile. He once came when she called him after her car battery died, case files say.

According to the rule, Craig would take her to expensive dinners alone sometimes. He asked about her boyfriend and researched a male acquaintance she mentioned. He rested his head on her shoulder and his hands in her lap or on her upper thigh when they were working together.

Craig told her that when he was her age, he went on dates with multiple women in the same night, the judge wrote.

In his lab, Craig required MH to work as many as 15 hours more than the 20 hours she was supposed to, the ruling says. He badgered her to work nights and weekends and when she didn't, he would repeatedly call and text her. Sometimes, he drove to her home or dorm to try to make her come into the lab.

If she resisted coming in, he would lightly punch her on the arm and call her "ornery" and "brat" in front of other students and coworkers, the judge wrote.

The woman said that the behavior caused her to have nightmares, panic attacks and her grades to slip.

Craig contested that the student never called the behavior "bullying" or "sexual harassment." But Donohue said that the behavior spoke for itself. The student also waited until her mom wasn't in the room during her interviews about her complaint with the university to divulge the information about his touching her, which Donohue said proves that she clearly thought it was inappropriate.

FACULTY MEMBER 'KC'

Craig interviewed a potential faculty member as part of a panel. When the woman, referred to as KC in the court document, sent hand-written thank you cards to each of the panelists, Craig sought out her phone number and called her to thank her for the card.

According to the court ruling, he then repeatedly called her, but she did not answer most of his calls because she had already accepted the position at OSU.

When she did eventually respond, Craig offered to rent her a house, which she declined, it says.

But that wasn't the end of the contact, the woman said. Craig sent her many texts and voicemails suggesting they meet up off-campus to talk about how they both went to the University of Connecticut and had recently taken trips to Africa, the ruling says.

Craig would stop by her office often to pitch collaborative research topics to her that she declined. But he kept coming by so often that the woman said she would turn off the lights in her office and lock the door when she knew he was around, the judge wrote. She would avoid him in hallways and skip faculty functions.

According to the ruling, she never directly confronted Craig to tell him to stop contacting her, but she did tell him to not reference parts of her body after he called her "zipper belly" after an emergency appendectomy. He still did so again and made a move to touch her scar.

She also said he often touched her shoulders in a way that she felt was sexually charged and would watch for her reaction, it says.

Craig said since she never called it "sexual harassment," the board of trustees shouldn't. Again, Donohue disagreed.

STUDENT 'DT'

A graduate student, referred to as DT, who needed Craig to approve his Ph.D. thesis was supposed to work 20 hours a week doing lab maintenance and project work. But according to the ruling, over several years, that workload increased to between 50 and 70 hours a week and the tasks got further from the student's project.

By the end, he was asked to organize Craig's personal and professional photos, manage Craig's social media profiles, take dictation and field and write emails, it says. Craig also expected the graduate student to work nights and weekends and serve as an unofficial teaching assistant.

When the graduate student pushed back on the amount of work he was required to perform, Craig told him to not be so emotional or the work was only temporary -- or simply to stop complaining, the judge wrote.

At least once, Craig asked the student to troubleshoot computer network issues in Craig's home and fix his audio-visual system. Craig and his wife paid the student for the work -- and occasionally gave the student unexpected gifts -- but the student said he had the impression he couldn't refuse. If he did refuse, Craig required the student to provide a full itinerary of his schedule to justify why he couldn't do it, the ruling says.

Sometimes, Craig would insist the student skip other activities to cater to his needs.

All this stalled the student's thesis writing. According to the ruling, when the student reached out to another professor for help, he was chastised by Craig and told he was ruining Craig's laboratory's reputation. Craig wanted to sit in on every meeting between the other professor and the student.

The student also said that Craig delayed signing off on his thesis when it was done to get more work time out of the student.

The ruling says the student claimed he became depressed and had trouble controlling his narcolepsy because of the stress.

Craig said the man was a complainer and that the student wasn't bullied, but Donohue wrote that Craig's gifts were meant to be coercive and his requirements on the student's time were abusive.

A LONG FIGHT

Craig was fired in December 2017 after a committee put together by Ray, the Oregon State president, determined Craig had bullied and sexually harassed students and faculty. Ray concurred with the findings and told Craig that he would have fired the professor for cause even if he was only found guilty of one or the other charge.

Craig then appealed to the Board of Trustees, who again upheld the committee's findings.

Finally, he went to Benton County Circuit Court where he was turned away at first. But then, in a possibly precedent-setting decision, Dononue chose to take up the case.

Because Oregon State University -- like all of Oregon's public universities -- has its own board, it is no longer considered a state agency and therefore isn't required to allow challenges of its decisions to be heard by the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Donohue based his decision on whether the evidence presented to the committee and board of trustees could lead a reasonable person to make the same finding.

Craig's firing was on pause while Donohue ruled, so now the termination will go into effect.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
Portland Public Schools' radical dress code, which allows almost anything, is being hailed as a model and adopted in other cities, Vox reported Thursday.

Oregon's largest school district changed its policy two years ago. As a result, students are now only required to cover the breast area, wear shoes, and cover anywhere underwear goes with the exception of the waistband.



The idea was to free teachers from policing pants lengths and strap widths and end the over-punishment of girls, hat wearers and gender-fluid kids, among others.



Read The Oregonian/OregonLive's story on the change when it happened HERE.

The Vox piece from this week was titled "Students are waging war on sexist and racist school dress codes  and they're winning"



"School districts such as Evanston's District 202 and California's San Jose Unified have either borrowed heavily from the dress code policy or adopted it outright," Vox reported.



Read the Vox story in full HERE.

-- Bethany Barnes
Two trackers and four hunting dogs trained to detect a cougar's scent came up empty Thursday as officials raced to find the animal suspected of killing a Mount Hood hiker.

Diana Bober, the avid Gresham hiker reported missing Aug. 29 in Clackamas County's Salmon -Huckleberry Wilderness, is believed to be the first person killed by a cougar in Oregon's wild country in recorded history.

Bober's body was discovered off the Hunchback hiking trail Monday. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said cougar trackers began their search from the Hunchback Mountain Trailhead near Zig Zag at 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

"It's very important that we started our search at the site where Diana was found," said Brian Wolfer, the agency's watershed manager who is leading the cougar effort. "The cougar wasn't there. Tomorrow we will expand our search into a new area."

Four U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services trackers rode 9 miles through the wilderness on mules, and they brought four hunting dogs trained to detect the predators' scent.

The crew found no recent cougar tracks, scratches on trees or scat indicating the animal was nearby. Searchers also saw "very few deer," a cougar's likely prey.

Wildlife officials don't know whether the suspected cougar involved in the rare attack was male or female. Male cougars can inhabit an average range of 123 square miles or greater, while females average home territory is 22.5 square miles.

"This is big country," Wolfer said in a statement. "The search may take some time and will be a fluid situation."

Mt. Hood National Forest announced it would close the trailhead and more than a dozen others in the forest as a precaution to protect the public while the search continues. The closures include some 21,034 acres of wilderness.

On Friday, search crews will expand their search area but stay in the general area where Bober was believed to be attacked.

Test results from the state's animal lab in Ashland are expected by the end of this week, which would confirm a cougar killed Bober. Hunters plan to kill the first cougar they see and send animal tissue to the lab.

Heres a list of trails currently closed:

Hunchback Trail #793

Green Canyon Trail #793A

Bonanza Trail #786

Salmon River Trail #742

Salmon Butte Trail #791

Cool Creek Trail #794

Veda Lake Trail #673

Dry Fir Trail #674A

Jackpot Meadows Trail #492

Linney Creek Trail #499

Eureka Peak Trail #671

Kinzel Lake Trail #665

Old Salmon River Trail #742A

Boulder Ridge Trail #783A south to the Bonanza Trail #786

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen




After Oregon child welfare workers overlooked allegations that an infant suffered traumatic injuries at his small day care center, a second baby boy died months later in the care of the same day care operator, according to a lawsuit filed this week by the boy's estate.

The dead boy's pediatrician also failed to report physical signs of abuse that she noted prior to his death, the suit says.

Allan "A.J." Swearengin's parents were never told about the initial reports of abuse at the Lane County day care, the wrongful death lawsuit contends. A.J. suffered repeated injuries at the day care before he was found unconscious there Sept. 12, 2016.

Doctors pronounced him dead 90 minutes later. He was 10 months and six days old.

The $18.75 million lawsuit contends the Department of Human Services and his pediatrician at a Eugene clinic failed to protect him and prevent him from dying. Had child welfare workers investigated the role the day care worker may have played in the first baby's traumatic brain injuries, as that baby's parents urged, they could have prevented A.J.'s death, the lawsuit says.

Another doctor who reviewed A.J.'s medical records after his death concluded he died of non-accidental injuries that were "highly similar" to the first baby's, the lawsuit says. My Little Buttercup Day Care was the "only commonality," the suit says.

Instead of investigating if the caregiver caused the first infant's injuries, case workers faulted that baby's parents, the lawsuit says. The parents insisted their son was hurt at day care, not at home.

"Whatever else in terms of obligations, if DHS had done an investigation and spoken with the babysitter and actually looked at these files, A.J. would be alive today," said Portland attorney C.J. Graves, one of four attorneys representing the boy's estate.

"It's basic -- just a warning that parents should be concerned, because how else is a parent going to know this?"

A litany of recent lawsuits have accused Oregon's child protection agency of grave failures that have led to deaths or severe abuse of children. One suit filed earlier this month claims two young sisters were sexually abused in foster care by a 13-year-old with known behavioral issues.

Christine Stone, a spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services, said the agency does not comment on pending cases and declined to comment on A.J.'s suit.

The lawsuit says A.J.'s parents had no inkling of the prior abuse complaints in the other baby's case until case workers looked into the circumstances of A.J.'s death months later as part of a wider review.

The day care worker had informed them by text of several injuries their son sustained in her care, but she said they were caused by him falling and hitting his head and face or, in one instance, by her falling while carrying their son. In multiple instances, starting when he was four months old and continuing until shortly before his death, he bled or was bruised at My Little Buttercup, the suit says.

A.J.'s estate alleges that Dr. Whitney Benz should have alerted officials to his injuries. Oregon law requires doctors to report any signs of suspected child abuse.

After A.J.'s death and without notifying A.J.'s parents, Eugene Pediatric Associates reviewed his records and determined two injuries Benz documented during the boy's short life may have indicated abuse, the lawsuit said.

Benz is no longer listed among the doctors on staff at Eugene Pediatric Associates. A message left for the clinic's owner Wednesday was not returned. A working number for Benz could not be found.

The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming the babysitter because no criminal charges have been filed, and she is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. She did not return a message left with her husband Wednesday.

The woman advertised "small, quiet private in home care" on websites such as Sitter.com, saying she cared for children ranging in age from six weeks to 12 years old. She wrote that she was certified in CPR for children and first aid for babies.

She was unlicensed because no license was required. Oregon law allows people to care for three children without a license, among other exemptions.

Deaths at licensed day care providers are relatively rare, and regulators have reported one so far this year. But the state doesn't regulate unlicensed providers, so it's impossible to know how many children have died at places such as My Little Buttercup.

The lawsuit said the babysitter operated the day care with her husband in her mother's home. The exact location is unclear. She advertised it to families in Eugene.

A.J.'s parents started taking him there five days a week in January 2016, the lawsuit said.

The next month, another infant in the woman's care, identified only as B.L., started vomiting, became lethargic and had trouble feeding. He was ultimately flown to OHSU Hospital in Portland and diagnosed with head injuries, including internal bleeding on both sides of his head.

"The injuries were noted as highly suspicious for nonaccidental trauma or significant accidental trauma," the lawsuit said.

Doctors alerted DHS to the suspected abuse, the lawsuit says. Child protection workers focused on his parents and placed B.L. in foster care, according to the suit.

When A.J.'s parents asked what had happened to B.L., whose parents they did not know, the day care worker said the baby had been injured and the boy's parents were at fault, according to the suit. Concerned, A.J.'s mother, Caroline Swearengin, asked Eugene police, who told her DHS suspected the parents, not the day care.

A.J.'s first documented injury came the next month, the lawsuit says.

The day care worker told Caroline Swearengin in March 2016 that she fell as she was holding 4-month-old A.J. That May, she twice said that 6-month-old A.J. had "faceplanted" and bruised and bloodied his face.

His parents took the boy to receive medical care several times that spring and summer. Dr. Benz noted his injuries, but not concerns related to them, the lawsuit says. After his caregiver told his parents she fell on him, Benz wrote that he "was dropped accidently by his day care provider and has a resolving bruise on his buttocks. No other injury or bruising," according to the lawsuit.

State records show Benz obtained her Oregon medical license in 2015 and has not been the subject of any disciplinary actions or malpractice lawsuits. It's not clear where, or if, she practices now.

Benz saw A.J. in July 2016 after he started "vomiting profusely" after his parents picked him up from day care, the lawsuit says. The doctor saw him again August 9, according to the timeline spelled out in the lawsuit. A.J. had slipped at home three days earlier, and his parents noticed a bump on his collarbone. X-rays showed the 9-month old had broken his clavicle 10 to 14 days earlier, and possibly again when he slipped at home.

"Dr. Benz did not report A.J.'s injuries, including his twice-fractured collarbone, to DHS or law enforcement or any other potentially responsive agencies," the lawsuit says. Other doctors who looked at the X-rays after his death said the initial break could only have been caused by a "grab and shake" or by compression of the collarbone, not by slipping and falling, the suit says.

The doctor saw A.J. for a final time August 19, after the day care operator told his mom he had fallen again and bruised his lip. Benz noted what happened in medical charts and that his earlier injuries seemed to be healing.

Less than a month later, A.J.'s parents dropped him off at day care for the last time. By early afternoon, he was dead.

A.J.'s parents were not told that doctors had believed the broken collar bone indicated abuse or informed about the extent of his injuries until several months later, the lawsuit contends. His cause of death was ruled as undetermined.

They did not learn child protection officials had questions about his death until March 2017, according to the lawsuit. The next month, case workers told them they were probing the link between A.J.'s injuries and the injuries suffered the other boy at the day care.

The state ultimately reversed its findings against that baby's parents, the lawsuit says, "noting that B.L. was in (the day care worker's) care immediately prior to his hospitalization, and further acknowledging that DHS did not assess (the worker) in the course of the investigation into B.L.'s injuries."

The state notified A.J.'s parents this April that they had "reasonable cause to believe the day care provider physically abused" A.J. The letter indicated the other baby "became symptomatic for shaken baby syndrome" while in the day care worker's care.

Although DHS found reasonable cause to believe that the day care worker caused the injuries, it's unclear whether police consider it a criminal or potentially criminal case, and the county prosecutor has not opened an investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Bob Lane said he knows about and was consulted on the cases of both infants who attended My Little Buttercup. Prosecutors did not take steps toward filing charges as a result of those consultations, he said. The office could change course later, he said.

The day care operator previously ran a different day care. State records show she was licensed to run that day care from 2002 to 2010. Regulators cited the day care for four violations in 2009, according to Office of Child Care data provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive..

She and her family now operate a horse stable, a horticulture business and a barbecue business, state records show.

-- Molly Young

myoung@oregonian.com
Anxious parents wait to see that their children are safe after a fatal 2014 shooting at Reynolds High in Troutdale. (Thomas Boyd / The Oregonian / 2014)
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley has another title  ambassador  to burnish his resume, and he has President Donald Trump to thank for it.

Trump on Thursday quietly nominated Merkley to be a U.S. representative to the United Nations General Assembly. The designation comes with the title of ambassador.

Why would Trump bestow such a high-profile assignment on an outspoken critic who's a favorite of the progressive left and potential opponent in 2020?

Turns out even hyper-partisan Washington D.C., has some room for intra-party cooperation. Merkley needed the title to attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting next week. He was invited to attend, as senior Washington pols often are  because of his seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and because of his activist stance on immigration issues.

"It's a pro-forma thing," said Merkley staffer Ray Zaccaro. "This is a credential he needs to participate."

It's a temporary designation. Merkley will not be replacing the permanent U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Trump also nominated three other temporary U.N. ambassadors  all of them closer to the President on the ideological spectrum -- U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin; Margarita Palau-Hernandez, a California lawyer and Republican fundraiser; and Elizabeth Erin Walsh, a former Trump staffer.

Merkley has made no secret of his presidential ambitions. He is headed to key primary state New Hampshire again this weekend where he will headline two Democratic fundraisers.

Oregon's junior senator has raised his profile, in part, by playing Trump's arch-nemesis. Merkley enjoyed what The New York Times called a "breakout moment" this summer when he played a lead role in exposing the administration's immigration policies that separated children from their parents and held them in detention centers.

Detaining immigrant children didn't start with the Trump era. But the number has soared to more than 12,000.

Merkley again went after Trump this week when he pointed out his administration had transferred $10 million from FEMA to Immigration and Customs Enforcement just as Hurricane Florence threatened to wreak havoc in the Carolinas. The money was earmarked to provide more beds for migrant detainees.

Jeff Manning
Legacy Health is facing a $5 million fine, the largest civil penalty ever assessed from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, after employees complained about being forced to skip meal and break periods.

Commissioner Brad Avakian has accused Legacy of denying 5,156 break and meal periods to hundreds of employees. The bureau delivered three notices to Legacy for the hospital system's Meridian Park, Mount Hood Medical Center and Good Samaritan locations.

"Legacy Health fundamentally disagrees with the results of the BOLI investigation and its allegations regarding the appropriateness of the meal periods that Legacy has provided to its employees," said Legacy spokesman Brian Terrett. "We strongly dispute BOLI's inappropriate characterization of Legacy's actions as willful as well as the excessive and disproportionate penalties.

Terrett said Legacy officials will ask for a hearing. If they didn't, the fine would be assessed on Sept. 25.

The needs of patients and their families sometimes cause meal and rest breaks to be deferred, Terrett said, and he said the hospital system's leaders are confident their position will be supported at a hearing. He also said he is dismayed the state investigators used an eight-year-old complaint as one of the examples.

"Legacy Health has always been committed to creating a safe and healthy work environment," Terrett said in a statement. "Legacy Health provides support for all of our staff in their work, including getting the meal breaks they are entitled to under the law."

The penalty comes after wage and hour investigators responded to numerous complaints from Legacy employees. This is not the first time Avakian has fined Legacy over the issue: Legacy paid $276,690 in November 2017 without contesting the bureau's findings.

The notice for Mount Hood Medical Center lists 93 employees who weren't allowed to take rest periods or meals. It had the most violations of any of the hospitals at 1,391. Good Samaritan Hospital had 1,347 violations among 70 employees who filed complaints and Meridian Park Hospital had 1,267 among 63.

The notices say Legacy leaders knew of the violations and had the opportunity to address them but did not. Gerhard Taeubel, the head of the wage and hour division at the labor bureau, wrote in the notices that hospital employees are under immense pressure and stress, so adequate rest and meal periods are extremely important.

Some of the employees worked in Good Samaritan's labor and delivery ward.

Oregon employers must provide one half-hour unpaid meal break a day to anyone working six hours or more. Employees who work eight hours get two 10-minute rest breaks in addition to lunch -- which bumps up to three for a shift at least 10 hours.

Legacy Health also faces a state and federal investigation over another location, Unity Center for Behavorial Health, that was spurred by employee complaints. That investigation has uncovered serious safety problems for staff and patients. Unity is on track to lose a crucial federal certification by the end of October if it does not fix those issues.



Employees with wage and hour complaints can call 971-673-0844 or email whdemail@boli.state.or.us.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
Researchers hoping to generate electricity from ocean waves, including those at Oregon State University, will likely have 105 million additional federal dollars in 2019, thanks in part to Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.

The Oregon Democrat managed to get the $105 million into a new federal spending package passed by the Senate and the House this week. The 2019 appropriations bill now goes to President Donald Trump.

The additional funding will go to the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office, which supports investments in hydropower, marine and hydro-kinetic energy technologies. From there, some of the money will go to the Pacific Marine Energy Center, a partnership of Oregon State, the University of Washington and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

Oregon State is currently overseeing an Energy Department-funded effort to design and construct a deep-water marine energy convertor off the coast from Newport. A marine energy convertor uses wave and tidal energy to generate electric power.

"This investment in wave energy technology innovation and testing is essential to realize the potential for marine energy to contribute to a resilient, diverse, and renewable energy future," said Dr. Roberta Marinelli, dean of the College of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State.

Bonamici has long advocated for increased study of marine power, which she contends is an under-utilized resource. In March, she led 44 of her colleagues in calling for more robust spending in a letter to the to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee.

About $70 million of the new money in the 2019 appropriations bill is aimed at marine hydropower, which OSU officials consider to be their principal area of expertise. That amounts to a 42 percent increase over 2017 spending.

New marine power technology could generate 50 gigawatts of additional energy by 2050, Bonamici wrote in a letter to the subcommittee.

"Harnessing energy from waves, currents, and tides is an exciting frontier in the renewable energy sector," she said.

Jeff Manning
Bend developer Mark Smuland was more than a little surprised last Friday when he tried to sign into the Oregon College Savings Plan to pull out money to cover tuition payments to the University of Oregon for his two children.

He was locked out. And according to the website, he wouldn't have access to his funds for another six days.

Hundreds of other Oregonians hit similar roadblocks this week as they tried to access their own college savings accounts. Until Wednesday, they couldn't get in at all and, after that, many found errors in their account information, no historical data and a seeming deletion of the bank account numbers and school information needed to process transactions.

"Just a heads up," the website informed those who tried to add back account information, "you won't be able to withdraw to this bank account for 30 days while it is being verified."

To make matters worse, Smuland said he was on hold with customer service for an hour before he hung up, unsatisfied. "I was just shocked. In the financial world, a lot can happen in a week."

According to officials at the Oregon College Savings Plan, the lockout, website bugs and customer service delays were an unfortunate but fairly predictable result of transitioning more than 100,000 accounts with more than $1.8 billion in assets to a new plan administrator, new mutual funds and a new web platform. It's a transition they've been trying to communicate to account holders for the past two months, and one they say has actually gone pretty well.

The switch involved freezing all deposits or withdrawals starting Friday, liquidating holdings in the mutual funds administered by TIAA-CREF, reinvesting the money in Vanguard funds offered by the new administrator, Sumday, and populating a new website with the account holders' data.

"With a transition like this, we anticipate having problems," said Michael Parker, executive director of the plan. "The question is how quickly can we get back on line. The money came over really well. All the accounts are there, down to the penny. As of Wednesday, people have access to their new accounts. Now it's about the functionality. It's just going to take a week to get everything up and back on line."

We asked Parker and his deputy, David Bell, to explain some of the changes taking place and how they're addressing problems that cropped up.

Q: Why change plan administrators in the first place?

A: Letters sent earlier this year to account holders explained that the change would offer a number of enhancements to the plan: access to Vanguard Index mutual funds; introduction of new portfolios tied to a student's expected enrollment dates rather than birth date; a new cash option that is FDIC-insured; a better website with full mobile access; a new gifting platform that makes it easier for friends and family to contribute.

Q: Why do this now, at the height of enrollment season at public universities across the state, with tuition bills coming due. Wouldn't July or November be better?

A: Parker said the five highest-volume recipients of withdrawals of the plan are all public institutions. Those institutions tend to see very high volume of tuition payments in mid-to late-September, and private schools at the end of August.

"There is no perfect or good time to do a conversion," said Parker. "While we agree September may not be the best time, we found that this week of Sept. 7 to 12 was a week with some of the lowest withdrawal volumes we see."

"We don't pick the date. There are about four companies that have to do this, and we have to get in a queue. The end of July, mid-summer, those time frames weren't open to us to be in the queue."

Q: Some account holders say they never heard about this transition.

A: "We spent a lot of time communicating to account holders," said Parker, including about the blackout dates. "We know that worked ... people did heed that, because we did see the money coming out. We thought we'd have a week or so after the conversion to clean up any problems and people would be ready for tuition payments for public schools."

Said Bell: "A letter went out in July and a postcard. We sent a total of five emails in August, and four of them were very specific. We were worried we were overcommunicating."

Bell and Parker speculated that some customers had old mailing addresses in the system, or users had turned off their email preferences to stop getting email from the plan.

The July letter did include this line: "In order to successfully implement these updates, there will be a few days in early September where you will not have access to your account. We will keep this downtime to an absolute minimum."

Q: So why wasn't bank account and school information imported from the old website. The new website warns users there's a 30-day verification period to add a new account?

A: "No conversion is perfect. We know we're going to have issues pop up, and we had a full team ready to fix these things," Bell said. "Some banking information did not get imported over. We are writing a script to load all those on. I know it's very confusing. We weren't expecting that to happen.

"We waived the 30-day hold so people can start getting transactions going right away," Parker said. "You can go in and add it right now and start transacting immediately (if you had a bank account in the old system that was verified)."

Q: What about historical account information? It's important for folks to have access to that to verify balances and for taxes.

A: "The historical data is currently being uploaded as we speak," Parker said. "It may take as long as two weeks until you can click on line and grab those statements. We had to prioritize what we did, and we're going to load that stuff up over the next couple weeks. We noted that to account owners" in communications before the conversion, so they could download necessary statements."

Q: So, apparently, the hold times to get through to a customer service rep have been hellish.

A: The call center processed 700 calls from Oregon account holders on Wednesday alone with an average hold time of 18 minutes but potentially stretching to more than an hour. Call abandon rates were high. And the Treasury Department fielded hundreds of calls as well.

"The call volume was ridiculously high because of some of these little snafus," Bell said. "We own it, we did not expect that level of volume. We never like to have long wait times."

Q: So what's your take on how this has gone overall?

A: "We're very pleased," Parker said. It's hard to say that when we've had all these problems. It's one of those all-risk, no-reward things, and if no one knows about it, that's great. All the records are right. All the money is right, down to the penny. That's the key to a conversion. All these other problems will get fixed as we move forward."

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger

Correction: The executive director of the Oregon College Savings Plan is Michael Parker, not Mark Parker, as he was identified in an earlier version of this story.
Three people were arrested Thursday while protesting Oregon Health & Science University's use of inmate labor, activists and police said.

Jacob A. Bureros, Sherry Motamedi and Zoe R. McLain were arrested on various charges, the Portland Police Bureau said. The agency said officers deployed pepper spray during their encounter with protesters; activists criticized officers' tactics as police brutality.

Police said protesters blocked traffic and access to two OHSU buildings Thursday night on the South Waterfront. Both buildings were put in lockout.

Protesters marched on South Waterfront roads, police said, and officers used loudspeakers to order them onto sidewalks. Officers spotted Bureros, who was believed to be a suspect in a June 3 assault investigation, and took him into custody, police said.

Police said early information Thursday night suggests a protester threw a water bottle that hit an officer, and officers used pepper spray and arrested two more protesters.

Activists said they condemn the police actions.

"Not only did police specifically target suspected organizers in a desperate attempt to intimidate, they also erratically unleashed pepper spray on a crowd including disabled folks and children," they said in a news release.

A police spokesman said the Bureau reviews all uses of force and that it will review the officers' actions at the protest.

In an open letter to OHSU's president, activists said the university uses prison workers to do most of its laundry, the Oregon Corrections Enterprises workers are exposed to biohazards they're under-equipped to handle, and they're paid very little.

"We're calling on OHSU to end its contracts with OEC until there's an end to prison slavery. We'd like a response by September 20th, and we'll go from there to determine how to best proceed with your dirty laundry," the letter says.

Oregon Corrections Enterprises provides laundry services to OHSU, which uses OCE workers to clean linens and scrubs in its hospital and clinics, an OHSU spokesman said. He said worker pay and conditions are determined by Oregon Corrections Enterprises.

The three arrested will be arraigned Friday, police said. No one was reported injured.

Police said in a news release late Thursday the investigation was ongoing. They urge anyone who has information to call 503-823-3333.

 Jim Ryan
A federal judge in Portland improperly instructed a jury that an inmate had to show a prison guard acted "maliciously and sadistically'' in slamming the prisoner's head against a steel door and concrete floor to prove excessive force, an appeals panel ruled.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case brought by Sean Hoard, then an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution near Ontario, back to U.S. District Court for a new trial.

In a sharply worded opinion, the federal appeals panel wrote that a prison officer who slams an unresisting inmate's head into a concrete floor until he bleeds is no less liable for excessive force whether he does so dispassionately or with pleasure.

The trial judge's instructions were erroneous, and the appeals court needed to intervene to prevent "a miscarriage of justice," wrote 9th Circuit Judge Richard A. Paez.

"There is no doubt that the Constitution does not require proof of sadism or pleasure from extreme cruelty for excessive force claims brought under the Eighth Amendment,'' the appeals court found.

To prove excessive force, the inmate would need to show that the officer acted in bad faith and intended harm, the court noted. But U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown added a "non-existent'' element to the burden of proof, the opinion said.

Jurors might have returned a different verdict in August 2016 had they received the proper instructions, the appeals panel found.

"This was a grave injustice,'' Paez wrote. "The gravity of the injustice here outweighs the high cost of remanding for a new trial.''

Joshua Hafenbrack, the inmate's lawyer, said he hadn't had time to contact Hoard and declined comment. The Oregon Department of Justice, which represented two guards involved in the case, didn't respond for comment.

Hoard, now 26, alleged one guard used excessive force against him and the second failed to intervene. Hoard was serving an 82-month sentence for aggravated assault and third-degree assault.

The case stemmed from an encounter on Dec. 21, 2012, after Hoard asked for a razor for his personal use. At the time, he was confined to the prison's intensive management unit, a maximum-custody area for inmates who have demonstrated behavioral problems.

A guard gave Hoard a razor, which Hoard smashed into pieces, flushing smaller fragments into the toilet and sweeping larger parts into a trash can. Several officers removed Hoard from his cell as they searched it for missing razor parts.

Accounts of what happened next differed at trial. According to Hoard, he was handcuffed and placed outside the cell during the search. Another guard, Jerial Hartman , grabbed him by the collar and started to jerk him around, threatening, "This is going to hurt,'' Hoard testified. Hoard called out to another officer, who emerged from the cell and told Hartman to loosen his grip, Hoard said.

But once that officer returned to the cell, Hartman grabbed Hoard by the back of his head and slammed his face against a steel door, causing Hoard to lose consciousness, he said. When he came to, blood was dripping from his face and nose. He also noticed his pants and underwear had been pulled down to his ankles. Hoard said he curled up in a fetal position on the floor and that's when Hartman slammed his face into the concrete floor.

The officers contend Hoard was agitated outside of the cell and began to "thrash his head back and forth.'' Hartman testified he ordered Hoard to calm down. When he wouldn't, corrections Officer Espiridion Saldivar helped Hartman restrain Hoard.

Hoard's combative behavior warranted the "reactive use of force,'' Assistant Attorney General Jessica Spooner argued on behalf of the officers.

Saldivar testified he "grabbed and swept" Hoard's legs and that the movement pulled Hoard's pants and underwear down. He and Hartman placed the inmate on the floor using minimal force, though Hoard resisted, Saldivar said.

Hartman testified he didn't see any sign of injuries to Hoard, yet a response report described blood on the floor in front of Hoard's cell.

The altercation wasn't video-recorded. A prison nurse cleaned blood from Hoard's face and bandaged a cut above his eye. He reported continued pain to his jaw, and the prison gave him pain medicine and a mouthguard.

A captain's report on the encounter didn't mention Hoard's body had been exposed from the waist down, didn't mention Hoard's jaw injury or the officers' use of leg restraints on Hoard. A preliminary prison review found that the reports lacked crucial detail and recommended a more in-depth review, but one was never done.

At trial, Brown instructed jurors that Hoard had to prove that Hartman had "acted maliciously and sadistically'' in causing harm to him. Midway through deliberations, four jurors asked for maliciously and sadistically to be defined. Brown gave a supplemental instruction for jurors, telling them that sadistically meant "deriving pleasure from extreme cruelty.'' Another four hours passed before the jury found in favor of the prison guards.

But afterward, one of the jurors told the judge that jurors were concerned that the officers' reports omitted mention of Hoard's injuries. Another told the court there were "things that need(ed) to be addressed in this kind of...incarceration situation.''

-- Maxine Bernstein

503-221-8212
Updated 2:30 p.m.

[Additional story: "Jason Washington took friend's gun away to prevent 'poor decision' before Portland State cops shot him"]

***

Portland State University on Friday released video footage of campus police fatally shooting a man outside a bar in June.

WARNING: The above video contains graphic images and audio.

The release comes a day after a Multnomah County grand jury declined to indict two Portland State University police officers in the death of Jason Washington, 45, which ignited protests and rekindled calls to end the school's policy of arming its public safety force.

Campus police killed Washington, a U.S. postal worker and Navy veteran, while witnesses say he tried to break up a fight outside the Cheerful Tortoise near campus just before closing time June 29.

The video shows Officers James Dewey and Shawn McKenzie arrive on scene amid a drunken melee and captures the chaotic seconds that unfold before and after the fatal encounter.

[Click here for a full description of the video captured on Officer Dewey's body camera]

The encounter marked the first fatal shooting by the university's police force, which began carrying guns three years ago in a decision decried by activists and some students. The Portland Police Bureau investigated Washington's death.

Portland State University President Rahmat Shoureshi has said the university plans to have separate, independent reviews of the shooting and of campus security as a whole.

What Dewey's body cam video shows:

Dewey steps out of his police cruiser as a fight among several people unfolds in front of him.

"Hey, police. Hey, back up. Back up," Dewey is heard saying.

A man near the scuffle approaches the officer.

"He pulled a gun on us," the man says, pointing in the direction of Washington, who can be seen trying to separate a pair of brawlers.

"He pulled a gun. He pulled a gun," the man speaking to Dewey says and appears to point directly at Washington.

Suddenly, another scuffle breaks out. A man in a bright blue shirt can be seen pummeling another man wearing a red shirt, who drops to his knees near the curb.

Washington again tries to break up the fight, backing up toward Dewey. An object that appears to be a holstered gun can be seen hanging at the side of Washington's waist.

"Hey, sir. Sir. I got to have you back up." Dewey says, touching Washington's arm.

Washington does not seem to notice.

Washington then can be seen pulling the man in the red shirt off the man in the bright blue shirt and falls backward and onto the ground.

"He's got a gun," a man standing above Washington suddenly says. Officer McKenzie, who has arrived on scene, can be heard yelling orders for people to step back.

Washington gets onto his feet and appears to have the gun in his hand. He then walks in a direction away from police.

One of the police officers says: "Drop the gun. Drop the gun. Drop the f-----g gun."

Washington then begins to turn. It is unclear whether his arm is still drawn or where he's looking.

Police open fire two seconds later.

This report will be updated.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive

Shane Dixon Kavanaugh, Everton Bailey Jr. and Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report
Portland residents Steven Dinh and Bret Christopherson were walking back from a 7-Eleven on Saturday when they parted to allow another pedestrian headed their way to walk past. The two suddenly turned when they heard someone running toward them from behind.

"By the time I looked over my shoulder,'' Christopherson recalled, "I got a face full of fist.''

Christopherson, 23, crumpled to the ground in the 7300 block of North Denver Avenue in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood. The stranger then punched Dinh in the cheek and he fell into a nearby driveway.

"We weren't even making eye contact with him at all and suddenly he just punched us," Dinh said. "I just didn't expect that to happen out of nowhere.''

It wasn't the only random attack that day by a stranger who cold-cocked men minding their own business, police say. A 22-year-old man now stands accused of assaulting Dinh and Christopherson, and breaking the jaw of a third man a short time later about a mile away.

Brandon Deuntrell Frison

Christian Moore, 20, had left his grandfather's upholstery shop in the 2700 block of North Lombard Street in the Kenton neighborhood to walk his dog. On his way back, he saw a man run from across the street. The man then ran up to Moore from behind, he told police.

"One hit brought him down to his knees,'' said Moore's grandfather, who rushed Moore to the hospital after he stumbled back to the store bleeding. "What's so shocking is it happened around 4 or 5 o'clock in the daytime right outside all these shops. This guy clearly wasn't even worried about getting caught.''

The single punch broke Moore's jaw. He required surgery, was hospitalized for two nights and now must drink from a straw for the next six weeks as six rubber bands help keep his jaw in place.

"When you're 20, you think you're invincible,'' said Lannie Kiehn, Moore's grandfather. "It's crazy. You'd never expect that someone could just run up behind you and knock you out.''

With the help of a witness who ran after the suspect, Portland police soon arrested Brandon Deuntrell Frison, 22, at North Lombard Street and Peninsular Avenue.

He told police that the men he attacked were looking at him as if he were an attractive female, Multnomah County deputy district attorney Todd Jackson wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

He struck them with his left fist, acknowledging to police that none of the men did anything to him other than look at him, the affidavit said. Police said they don't suspect Frison was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of the attacks.

Dinh and Christopherson dismissed Frison's account, saying they barely got a look at their assailant.

Frison is being held on allegations of two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault. He provided officers with a North Portland mailing address. Frison's only other court contact in Oregon was a TriMet fare violation in 2017, when he gave a Nevada address.

He's being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center on $502,000 bail, and is set to return to court Tuesday to face an expected indictment.

Christopherson said he may need surgery for three fractures to his left cheekbone.

"I was attacked out of the blue. It's nuts,'' he said. "This day and age, people are getting crazy.

"You never expect these things. You never think this will be you.''

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is pleading guilty Friday to two criminal charges Friday, under terms of a plea deal that includes his cooperation as a potential witness for special counsel Robert Mueller.

The decision by Manafort to provide evidence in exchange for leniency on sentencing is a stunning development in the long-running probe into whether any Trump associates may have conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election.

"I plead guilty," Manafort told U.S. District Court judge Amy Berman Jackson, who accepted his plea.

Kevin Downing, an attorney for Manafort, gave a brief statement outside the courthouse after the plea hearing. "He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life," Downing said of Manafort. "He has accepted responsibility."

When asked if the deal with Mueller's team is a full cooperation agreement, Downing replied "it is." He did not respond to questions about whether Manafort has been interviewed by Mueller's team or if Manafort's defense team remains in a joint defense agreement with Trump's attorneys.

Manafort's defenders have long insisted that he would not cooperate with Mueller, and didn't know any incriminating information against the president.

Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said at the beginning of Friday's plea hearing that Manafort has agreed to cooperate with investigators, saying the 17-page plea document included the terms of Manafort's expected cooperation.

Jackson noted Manafort has agreed to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the investigation conducted by the Office of Special Counsel, including participating in interviews and debriefings, producing any documents in his control, testifying, and agreeing to delay sentencing until a time set by government.

Manafort also waived his right to have counsel present for every debriefing or interview.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort faces a possible maximum prison sentence of about 10 years, though that doesn't include any likely sentence for his conviction last month in Virginia. His attorneys may seek a lower sentence, and prosecutors did not agree to recommend any sentence. The judge made no mention of any offer by prosecutors for a letter recommending leniency in case of substantial cooperation.

Before Manafort pleaded guilty, Weissmann gave a 40-minute description of the criminal conduct in the case.

"I believe it's fair to say that's probably the longest and most detailed summary that ever preceded this question, but is what the prosecutor said a true and accurate description of what you did in this case," Jackson asked Manafort.

"I did. It is," Manafort, said, resting both hands on the lectern before him and flanked by his attorney, Richard Westling.

The deal will short-circuit Manafort's trial scheduled for later this month.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a brief statement following the announcement. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said. "It is totally unrelated."

The president's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said "once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the president did nothing wrong."

A criminal information - a legal document filed by prosecutors to detail the criminal conduct to be admitted by the defendant - was filed in advance of the plea. The document shows Manafort intends to plead guilty to two crimes of the seven he faced at trial: conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

The document indicates he will admit to funneling millions of dollars in payments into offshore accounts to conceal his income from the Internal Revenue Service. "Manafort cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes," the document states.

The filing also offers new details about the various ways in which Manafort sought to surreptitiously lobby the U.S. government and influence American public opinion toward Ukraine.

In 2012, Manafort set out to help his client, Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, by tarnishing the reputation of Yanukovych's political rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the document.

"Manafort stated that '[m]y goal is to plant some stink on Tymo'," according to the document. At the time he made that statement, he was trying to get U.S. news outlets to print stories that Tymoshenko had paid for the murder of a Ukrainian official, according to the criminal information.

The document also says Manafort "orchestrated a scheme to have, as he wrote in a contemporaneous communication, '[O]bama jews' put pressure on the administration to disavow Tymoshenko and support Yanukovych," the document said.

Manafort set out to spread stories in the U.S. that a senior American Cabinet official "was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko," according to the document. "At one point, Manafort wrote to an associate, "I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom." The document does not identify the then-Cabinet official and it wasn't immediately clear if any such story was published.

As part of his deal, the government plans to seize four properties, including a nearly $2 million house in Arlington, Virginia, owned by one of Manafort's daughters. The deal also calls for forfeiture of four financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

The move toward a guilty plea is another reversal for Manafort, who has fought vociferously - but unsuccessfully - against Mueller's probe. The 69-year-old political consultant was convicted last month in Alexandria federal court on charges of bank and tax fraud.

In-person jury selection for his Washington trial was set to start Monday, with opening statements scheduled for Sept. 24 before Jackson.

It caps a dramatic fall for the international power broker and confidant of Republican presidents dating to Ronald Reagan. Manafort's decision could be mixed news for Trump, who tapped the consultant to serve as his campaign chairman in June 2016 as he was securing the GOP presidential nomination.

Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide investigators new evidence or leads to chase; a guilty plea, however, would prevent weeks' worth of headlines about the trial in the month before congressional elections.

The longtime lobbyist resigned from his position as campaign chairman in August 2016 amid increasing scrutiny of his work on behalf of a Russia-friendly political party in Ukraine.

Over a 40-year career, Manafort redefined and expanded Washington's influence industry domestically and internationally, parlaying successful campaigns into lobbying opportunities. But by the mid-2000s, there were signs that his consulting career had slumped, and at times his finances appeared to be shaky. It was in Ukraine that he revived both - in ways prosecutors say violated the law.

Both cases brought against Manafort by the special counsel stem from his work in Ukraine. The jury in Virginia found that Manafort hid millions of dollars he made in Ukraine to avoid paying taxes and then lied to get loans when the political party that was paying him was ousted from power and the funding dried up.

In the trial scheduled in Washington, Manafort faces charges of conspiring against the United States, money laundering, failing to register as a lobbyist, making false statements and conspiring to obstruct justice by trying to influence witnesses.

Manafort had the choice to consolidate both cases into one but declined. He had been jailed since June as a result of the witness-tampering charges.

He has yet to be sentenced in Virginia, where legal experts say he faces eight to 10 years in prison under federal guidelines on the eight of 18 counts on which he was convicted. A mistrial was declared on the remaining 10 charges after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

It is unclear how a guilty plea might alter his ultimate sentence, and some lawyers have questioned whether he is focused on winning a reprieve elsewhere. Law enforcement officials have come to suspect that Manafort hopes he will be pardoned by the president, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Trump has sought advice from his attorneys on the possibility of pardoning Manafort and other aides accused of crimes, his attorney Rudy Giuliani previously told The Washington Post, and was counseled against pardoning anyone involved in the ongoing Mueller probe. The president agreed to wait at least until the investigation concludes, Giuliani has said.

Several defendants have cooperated or pleaded guilty in connection with the special counsel probe, including Manafort's former right-hand man Rick Gates; former national security adviser Michael Flynn; Alex van der Zwaan, a lawyer who worked with Manafort; W. Samuel Patten, who admitted arranging for a Ukrainian businessman to illegally donate to Trump's inauguration; and former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was sentenced to 14 days in jail last week after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

The decision by Trump's onetime personal lawyer Michael Cohen to plead guilty last month in a federal investigation in Manhattan particularly angered the president, who denounced him as a "flipper."

Earlier this year, Manafort derided Gates, his former business partner, for striking a deal with prosecutors that provided him leniency in exchange for testimony against his former partner.

"I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence," Manafort said in February.

Downing, one of Manafort's attorneys, also said this summer that there was "no chance" his client would flip and cooperate with prosecutors.

That posture drew plaudits from Trump, who praised his former campaign chairman for his unwillingness to cooperate with the special counsel.

Prosecutors "applied tremendous pressure on him and . . . he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal,' " the president tweeted last month. "Such respect for a brave man!"
Animal rights activists on Friday asked a Washington County judge to make a ruling that would be the first of its kind in the nation: Allow a once-neglected and severely malnourished horse to sue its owner.

Never before has a non-human successfully sued in the U.S., said Matthew Liebman, a California attorney and one of four lawyers urging Pro Tem Judge John Knowles to make the groundbreaking decision.

But, argued Liebman, animals "have a right not to be treated cruelly" and they have a right to sue for damages when they are.

In this case, Liebman said a horse named Justice has real expenses after he was discovered 300 pounds underweight, covered in lice and and with damaged genitals from severe frostbite.

His former owner, Gwendolyn Vercher of Cornelius, was found guilty of first-degree animal neglect and sentenced to probation and ordered to pay about $3,700 in past expenses for the equine.

But the horse's lawyers said that doesn't cover future costs of care. They're seeking $100,000 for Justice.

The judge asked if establishing that Justice has the legal right to sue would open the "floodgates" for any animal to seek compensation for poor treatment.

"Your cat could sue because you left it out all night in the cold," Knowles said.

What about the cow, the judge continued, who was ground into a burger that he ate? Could the cow sue the judge?

"One animal could sue another animal," the judge said. "How do we handle that in a court of law?"

Liebman said only animals that had been treated with true cruelty would have grounds to have lawsuits filed on their behalf.

As for the cow, it would already be dead and would no longer have standing to sue, Liebman said. What's more, Oregon's animal cruelty law makes exceptions for certain acts, like killing an animal for sustenance, hunting or using animals in rodeos, he said.

Liebman and his colleagues on the case were hired by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Geordie Duckler, an attorney for Vercher, had asked for the hearing be held so he could request that the judge dismiss the lawsuit before it could go to trial.

In written arguments sent to the judge, Duckler said that in the history of American litigation, defendants have challenged an animal's standing to sue in six lawsuits that have listed an animal as the sole plaintiff.

In each of those cases, judges have "unhesitatingly ruled that animals are treated under the law either as non 'persons' or as the property of their owners, rather than as anything like entities with their own legal rights," Duckler said.

The end result is they haven't been allowed to sue, he said.

"I think what the plaintiff's attorneys want you to do is simply just create law," Duckler told the judge in court. "If they want a new law, they're in the wrong city. They need to go down south just about an hour to Salem in front of a legislative body."

Knowles said he needs time to mull the arguments presented by the lawyers. He expects to issue a written ruling on whether the lawsuit can go forward on Monday.

Meanwhile, Justice -- who was originally named Shadow by his former owner -- is living on a horse farm in the Estacada area. His veterinary care and other needs are being paid for through charity.

-- Aimee Green
Midland has long been known for its capable and impactful older adult population. But where do they turn as retirement becomes a strong option, their health begins to slip, or they realize that Social Security barely meets their needs?

One rewarding option can be Senior Services of Midland County.

"When it comes to an older adult, whether you're totally active or not, we want to be the first thing you think of, not the last resort. I think what happens too often, is that people don't think of us," said Charlie Schwedler, executive director of Midland County Senior Services.

With more than 61 percent of its funding derived from a Midland County millage, Senior Services offers a vast variety of services for those from ages 60 to 100, no matter their income status.

"There is so much we can help with. We can help those who are caregivers. We can keep older adults active and not isolated. We have Zumba and Tai chi, square dancing, Tuesday's With Ted for educational purposes and Lunch Time Learners. Obviously, we have Meals on Wheels," Schwedler said.

Caregivers become valuable as parents, spouses or siblings advance into their 80s or 90s.

"The people we can really help in terms of a family, are caregivers," Schwedler said. "We have so many programs for caregivers. If you are helping mom with the groceries, or paying the bills for dad, we can help you navigate that route. Depending where you fit, we can give you the support that you need."

For older adults that need transportation, Senior Services can help.

"Everything we do is to keep folks in their homes," Schwedler said. "We will pick you up, escort you to the car, escort you to an appointment and then come back and pick you up. There are charges for these services. But, we will never say, 'No.' It doesn't matter what your income is, we are going to help you out."

Team Handyman has become a program that is becoming quite popular and impactful. The program helps seniors maintain their home by making them safe and secure.

"We put in smoke alarms, grab bars in showers or other places," Schwedler said. "If it is something we can't do, we have a great partnership with Home to Stay (formerly Midland Area Homes). They can do a ramp or something else that we can't handle."

Many capable seniors in Midland County have volunteered their time and effort to aid other seniors. Unfortunately, there is still a shortage of volunteers.

"It's nationwide. All of our transportation is driven by volunteers. It is coordinated by employees," Schwedler said. "Our Meals On Wheels is coordinated by employees but driven strictly by volunteers."

Schwedler encouraged those who are 60 and older to visit the Trailside Center and see what Senior Services offers.

"You can see what a great place this is. Those days you don't volunteer, you can come in and play poker or take a Zumba class," Schwedler said.

Activities, such as poker and Zumba, are spread among five locations across Midland County:

 Trailside -- 4700 Dublin Ave.

 Coleman -- 415 E. Webster St.

 Greendale Township -- 4011 W. Isabella Road (M-20)

 Mills Township -- 2601 E. Shearer Road

 Sanford -- temporarily meeting at 4700 Dublin Ave.

Senior Services is in the process of building a new Sanford Activity and Dining Center at 3243 N. West River Road. The center is scheduled to be completed by March 2019.

Senior Services also produces a publication called "Prime Time News."

"It tells you everything that is going on," Schwedler said. "We know there are more people we can help. We need to get the message out. Consistently, when people come through the door, by far they heard of us from the Prime Time News."

To learn more about Senior Services or to volunteer, phone 989-633-3700; or visit its website: https://www.seniorservicesmidland.org/
In the New York primary on Thursday, Democrats rung in a new wave of leadership. Although establishment-aligned Andrew Cuomo and Letitia James won their races for governor and attorney general, progressives defeated many members of the Democratic old guard in state senate races.

In the race for attorney general, James defeated Zephyr Teachout, per Vox. James maintained a strong lead throughout the election thanks to endorsements from incumbent governor, Cuomo. Though James herself is apathetic towards her label as an establishment Democrat, her sights are trained on the president.

Although Cynthia Nixon, the progressive gubernatorial candidate, wasnt able to secure a spot in the general election, her allies won overwhelmingly. Six incumbent senators and former members of the Independent Democratic Conference lost their reelection campaigns to new politicians hungry for change.

The New York Times reports that members of the now-disbanded Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) have been called Trumps Democrats. Formed in 2011, the group of eight senators essentially presented as Democratic, but brokered a deal with the GOP to respectfully fall on the sword politically whenever necessary.

Now, only two members of the IDC are left in power. The groups leader, Senator Jeff Klein, was also notably defeated by Alessandra Biaggi. Biaggis victory could mean progress, not only for New York, but also for the entire Democratic party. Her policies include fair housing, prioritizing public education, healthcare for all, as well as moving toward renewable energy for the state of New York.

Socialist Julia Salazar also represents the primarys shake-ups, as she defeated Senator Martin Dilan, who sought his ninth reelection, per Vox. Salazar also hopes to bring an end to gender discrimination in all her policies.

@SalazarSenate18, @CynthiaNixon, and @JumaaneWilliams are true socialist feminists because they understand that supporting healthcare, labor and housing justice empower marginalized genders.#NYCVotes#ElectionDaypic.twitter.com/K4ArpcUVyr  New York City DSA (@nycDSA) September 13, 2018

Both these women, along with many opponents of the IDC, worked closely with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who provided canvassing support. The defeat of these apathetic incumbents could mean major changebut we wont know for sure until the general elections in November.
Before I begin, I feel the need to disclose that this story hits close to home for me, which is a big part of what will fuel my rage in the coming paragraphs. I went to college at the University of Massachusetts and lived in Boston for the next eight years after graduating. I spent a ton of time with an ex-girlfriend and her family who lived a few highway exits south of Andover, Massachusetts, where tragedy struck yesterday. Per The Boston Globe:

More than 60 fires and at least three gas explosions rocked Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover in a staccato burst of flame and fear late Thursday afternoon, damaging scores of buildings and prompting mass evacuations from homes served by Columbia Gas.

State and local emergency workers descended quickly on the three Merrimack Valley communities, knocking down the fires, tending to the injured, and working through the night to inspect and shut off 8,000 gas meters.

A Lawrence man died, and at least 25 others were injured in the fires, officials said. Leonel Rondon, 18, had been sitting inside a car when an explosion in Lawrence caused a chimney to fall on the vehicle, according to the Essex district attorneys office.

The images from the scene were beyond harrowing. Imagine your home instantly becoming engulfed in fire seemingly out of nowhere, and thats what countless Massachusetts residents experienced yesterday.

JUST IN: Officials say as many as 20 suspected gas explosions in Lawrence, Andover, & North Andover.#7Newspic.twitter.com/zuBKzkbR3W  Leo Ruiz (@ProducerLeo) September 13, 2018

A spokeswoman for the Massachusetts fire marshal's office said that investigators were looking at overpressurization on a gas main owned by Columbia Gas, a company that was upgrading equipment in the area. Because we live in the dumbest time in human history, this explanation of a likely screw-up wasn't enough for the army of internet sleuths who have far more time on their hands than sense, and a familiar trope emerged: Russia did it.

The first to widely spread this nonsense was famed anonymous hacker The Jester, who pushed this garbage out to his more than 188,000 followers.

^^^ Seems a bit much for coincidence >> pic.twitter.com/rr47y4mQGr  J?S??R ? ?C?U?L (@th3j35t3r) September 13, 2018

^^^ If I was a foreign adversary with cyber capability, I'd have evaluated by now that launching an offensive operation while Trump is in office, and the government is in absolute disarray would be the perfect time.  J?S??R ? ?C?U?L (@th3j35t3r) September 13, 2018

^^^ Oh yeah, and if you think I'm over-spitballing here, let's not forget the stories over the summer regarding Rooskie hackers targeting that's right GAS COMPANIES >> https://t.co/VnZJnURIGZ  J?S??R ? ?C?U?L (@th3j35t3r) September 13, 2018

He then found whatever shred of journalistic integrity was left in his body, and clarified that he wasn't making any allegations, despite the very obvious narrative in the tweets he just laid out.

^^^ CLARIFICATION: I'm not saying this is a SCADA/Cyber attack, I'm saying this is how it would look if it was a dry run to observe our response gone awry.  J?S??R ? ?C?U?L (@th3j35t3r) September 13, 2018

As I was putting this piece together, he deleted a tweet highlighting the fact that the defense contractor Raytheon has offices in the area, further insinuating that it was a planned attack. Robert Lee, a widely regarded expert on the topic of infrastructure security, said that theories like Jester's [don't] make any sense. This madness didn't stop there, as Melissa McEwan, editor-in-chief of shakesville.com, published this rambling nonsense to her over 68,000 Twitter followers:

We know that Russia has been planning an attack on U.S. utilities, and that hackers have already reached the control rooms of U.S. electric utilities. We know that Russia has been using Ukraine as a testing ground for cyberattacks, including on utility companies. And we know that Russian diplomats, presumed to be Russian intelligence agents, have been waging a quiet effort to map the United States' telecommunications infrastructure, perhaps preparing for an opportunity to disrupt it.

We also know, coincidentally, that Russia is currently staging its biggest military maneuvers since the fall of the Soviet Union in Siberia and in the Bering Sea, which separates Russia from Alaska. NATO is concerned enough to be closely monitoring the drills, which involve 300,000 troops, over 1,000 military aircraft, and two naval fleets, and during which Vladimir Putin delivered a speech to soldiers, vowing to strengthen the Russian army and supply it with new generation weapons and equipment.

We also know, coincidentally, that Energy Secretary Rick Perry arrived in Russia on September 11, and that Russia state media has announced he's meeting with sanctioned Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom while he's there.

So what she's insinuating is that Energy Secretary Rick Perry is involved in a conspiracy to effectively bomb a Massachusetts town in order to help Russian energy companies. I would make a joke about how phenomenally stupid that is if I weren't shaking with rage right now.

What all these I'm just asking questions types fail to include in their analyses is what Russia would get out of trying to blow up a small town in northern Massachusetts. Well, I was trained at UMass to think from perspectives other than my own while pursuing my political science degree, so let me help these buffoons here: Russia would get almost nothing out of an attack like this.

In fact, it would be completely counter-productive to Russia's stated goals. Vladimir Putin has been very clear that he wants to control as much of Eastern Europe as possible while winning the race for the oil reserves opening up in the Arctic thanks to climate change. He wants us to continue our partisan squabbles, and will do as much as he can to inflame existing tensions in America. An attack like this would unite us, and completely contradict his main goal of dividing us. Not to mention, getting dragged into a war with the United States and NATO would undoubtedly take most of Russia's resources away from Putin's two main goals of extending Russian influence into Eastern Europe and the Arctic.

Bombing the United States only makes sense if you have a child's conception of how the world works, and you think that Russia is THE bad guy, therefore the only motivation they need is to do bad things. But for us adults who know to think about countries acting in their own self-interest when it comes to international relations, that argument is so incredibly stupid that there are no words to fully encapsulate its fraudulence. The Russia red herring is no different than the QAnon fever dream on the right where everything unexplainable can be explained away by the fairy tale of bad guys operating in the shadows.

Make no mistake about it: Russia does want to harm the United States. However, doing it in such a dramatic fashion would counter all their other operations that are doing a good job of dividing us right now (besides, a dry run like this isn't very dry when it causes a 10-alarm fire that spans across three towns). Yes, they have hacked in to our energy grid, but so have the Chinese, Iranians and maybe some of our allies as well. This is the new Cold War. Instead of every global power pointing just nuclear weapons at each other in a bid of mutually assured destruction (which is still happening), it now also includes cyber weapons. Russia owns our electric grid because we own theirs. Same with Iran. Every time we get a scary story about how one of our adversaries has made digital inroads into our infrastructure, understand that whatever they're doing to us, we've done to them and then some. This is the new world we inhabit.

Russia is an adversary, but if they were to launch a massive attack on the United States, it would hurt them more than help them. They would lose hundreds of millions of dollars per year in direct trade with the United States. America's largest trading partner, the European Union, is Russia's largest trading partner too, and the EU would no-doubt impose sanctions to drastically undercut that relationship.

You think Russia is isolated on the world stage now? A 9/11-style attack on the U.S. would destroy their already fragile economywhich is still better than the disaster of the 1990s, and the stability it provides is the main source of Vladimir Putin's popularity. If Russia's economy crashes far enough, Putin's presidency will become threatened. It's that simple. The only people who think that Russia would stage an attack similar to the tragedy in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence are people who have absolutely no knowledge of how the world actually works.

Sure, it's possible that Russia did this. It's also possible that The Jester and McEwan are Russian assets planted here to disseminate disinformation like this in order to spread even more chaos among the populace. I'm not making that accusation, but I will say that scenario is far likelier than Russia dramatically escalating a soft war that they're clearly winning. A law called Hanlon's Razor that I religiously adhere to in analyzing the news likely applies to both the explosions in this area north of Boston, and to understanding the motivations of the people who pushed this garbage conspiracy theory in its wake: never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.
Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County has joined with a bipartisan group of 15 lawmakers who say they'll withhold their vote for the next U.S. House Speaker unless that candidate backs their proposals to reform the chamber.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-8th District

As Roll Call reports, the eight Democratic and seven Republican members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus rolled out a package of rules changes in late July that they dubbed "Break the Gridlock." The rules changes prioritize bipartisanship in the deeply polarized, 435-member chamber.

Among the group's ideas: "A fast-track process for legislation co-sponsored by at least two-thirds of the House; a guarantee each member gets at least one markup of a bipartisan bill in a committee they serve on; a three-fifths threshold to pass bills under a closed rule; and at least one germane amendment from each party for structured rules," Roll Call reported.

At a Thursday lunch event hosted by the reform group No Labels, Fitzpatrick, along with Reps. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz.; Stephanie Murphy, D-Fl., and Mike Coffman, R-Colo., all said they supported using the speaker vote as leverage to win their proposed changes, Roll Call reported.

"We're going to put our money where our mouth is, literally," Fitzpatrick told Roll Call. "We have to stand up. That's going to be a seminal moment for our caucus. It's going to be a seminal moment for the House."

Fitzpatrick told Roll Call that he's spoken to several emerging replacements for retiring Speaker Paul J. Ryan, R-Wisc., about the proposed changes.

The most likely replacements are House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., though it's not clear either could muster the 218 votes from their own parties.

Democratic candidates, include U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-18th, made waves this year by announcing that they would not support Pelosi for leadership if they won election.

O'Halleran and Fitzpatrick both told Roll Call that they'd be willing to cross party lines to vote for a speaker candidate from the opposition party - if that candidate backed their changes and if their party ended up in the minority in 2019.

"We either keep our word or not," O'Halleran told Roll Call. "If that person is going to reform this system, it's much more important that we get that vote taken and get that person in a position [to change the House]. That means though that they have to open it up. That means that they have to have bipartisan bills going through the body. And that means that there will be much more transparency in the process."

Fitzpatrick is running for re-election this fall against Democrat Scott Wallace in the new 1st Congressional District. His seat is listed as 'tilt Republican' in ratings by Inside Elections. Pennsylvania is among five states that will decide the majority in the House in 2019.

The rest of the day's news starts now.

Philadelphia City Council has pulled the plug on a controversial construction tax, The Inquirer reports.

A new Monmouth University poll shows Democrat Susan Wild leading Republican Marty Nothstein in the Lehigh Valley's new 7th Congressional District, The Inquirer also reports.

A pair of lawsuits before Commonwealth Court could give the judiciary a significant say in the state's dysfunctional budget process, The Morning Call reports.

The advocacy group PASpotlight has launched a billboard campaign against GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner, PennLive's Jan Murphy reports.

In case you missed it. here's our in-depth look at the high-pressure race for the state House and Senate this year.

BillyPenn goes deep on how zoning works (or doesn't) in Philadelphia.

The Incline has a pierogi bracket - yes, a pierogi bracket. And it is glorious.

Making us look forward to a weekend at Broad Street Market, here's your #Harrisbrug Instagram of the Day:

Camden, N.J., may revive its controversial needle exchange program, WHYY-FM reports.

WITF-FM profiles the new president of Shippensburg University, Laurie Carter.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is out with a new ad detailing his efforts to fight sexual assault on college campuses (via PoliticsPA).

Here's Politico on the biggest threat to the House Republican majority that 'no one is talking about.'

Even though they were warned, states in the path of Florence continued with coastal development, Stateline.org reports.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's a great one from Noel Gallagher that popped up on the way to work this morning.

Friday's Gratuitous Soccer Link.

With another weekend of Premier League action beckoning, The Guardian has its list of 10 things to watch for over the next 48 hours.

And now you're up to date.
Cops ask for a driver's license and registration all the time. But one officer in western Pennsylvania should have checked his own.

That's because Pittsburgh police officer Richard Dilimone, 29, is facing criminal charges after crashing his patrol car into the rear of another car while driving with an expired license while on-duty, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Dilimone faces charges of causing an accident while not properly licensed and driving without a license in the late August incident, which resulted in those charges earlier this week.

But at first it wasn't made clear by Pittsburgh police and the criminal compliant that Dilimone was actually on duty and in his patrol car when the crash occurred.

Those facts were cleared up Thursday in an announcement by police spokesman Chris Togneri.

Officer Dilimone's driver's license had expired 18 days before the crash, according to the complaint.

There was no word on how the charges would affect his employment with the Pittsburgh department.

The Post-Gazette notes Dilimone was hired in February 2015, according to city employment records. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

As for the other driver in the crash, Michelle Werderber, age unknown, was taken to a hospital with neck and back pain, according to the complaint, the newspaper writes.
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The big slosh has begun, and the consequences could be disastrous.

Hurricane Florence's leading edge battered the Carolina coast Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with 100 mph (155 kph) winds for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Tens of thousands were without power.

Winds and rain were arriving later in South Carolina, and a few people were still walking on the sand at Myrtle Beach while North Carolina was getting pounded. Heavy rainfall began after dark.

Forecasters said conditions will only get more lethal as the storm smashes ashore early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and crawls slowly inland. Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet (3.4 meters) of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Florence's winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 140 mph (225 kph) earlier in the week, and the hurricane was downgraded from a terrifying Category 4 to a 2.

But North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned: "Don't relax, don't get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality."

Meanwhile, central Pennsylvania will watch and wait for its turn albeit with a storm that will lose much of its ferocity over the next four days.

The latest projected track of Hurricane Florence has rain from the storm arriving in Pennsylvania early next week.

National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Colbert said Thursday morning that central Pennsylvania should begin seeing rain early Tuesday morning - if the storm moves faster, the rain could start as early as Monday.

Anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall as a result of the remnants.

READ MORE: Hurricane Florence's fearsome storm surge: watch it build

"That's still definitely subject to change," Colbert said. "It could be more, it could be less."

Any rain would fall on ground already saturated from the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon, noted National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Head.

"Because we're so wet ... Gordon may have been the table-setter for a really big event next week," Head said.

More than 80,000 people were already without power as the storm approached, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

"It truly is really about the whole size of this storm," National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. "The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact -- and we have that."

The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as sluggish and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are "supplied and ready," and he disputed the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico, claiming the figure was a Democratic plot to make him look bad.

Schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia, airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied out.

READ MORE: Pa. National Guard members sent to support Florence response

Around midday, Spanish moss blew sideways in the trees as the winds increased in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Some of the few people still left in Nags Head on the Outer Banks took photos of angry waves topped with white froth.

Wilmington resident Julie Terrell was plenty concerned after walking to breakfast past a row of shops fortified with boards, sandbags and hurricane shutters.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm probably a 7" in terms of worry, she said. "Because it's Mother Nature. You can't predict."

Forecasters' European climate model is predicting 2 trillion to 11 trillion gallons of rain will fall on North Carolina over the next week, according to meteorologist Ryan Maue of weathermodels.com. That's enough water to fill the Empire State Building nearly 40,000 times.

More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate over the past few days, and the homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Homeless after losing her job at Walmart three months ago, 25-year-old Brittany Jones went to a storm shelter at a high school near Raleigh. She said a hurricane has a way of bringing everyone to the same level.

"It doesn't matter how much money you have or how many generators you have if you can't get gas," she said. "Whether you have a house or not, when the storm comes it will bring everyone together. A storm can come and wipe your house out overnight."

Duke Energy Co. said Florence could knock out electricity to three-quarters of its 4 million customers in the Carolinas, and outages could last for weeks. Workers are being brought in from the Midwest and Florida to help in the storm's aftermath, it said.

READ MORE: "You are taking the ocean and raising it:' Explaining the meaning of storm surge

As of 8 p.m., Florence was centered about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Wilmington, its forward movement slowed to 5 mph (7 kph). Hurricane-force winds extended 80 miles (130 kilometers) from its center, and tropical-storm-force winds up to 195 miles (315 kilometers).

A buoy off the North Carolina coast recorded waves nearly 30 feet (9 meters) high as Florence churned toward shore.

Scientists said it is too soon to say what role, if any, global warming played in the storm. But previous research has shown that the strongest hurricanes are getting wetter, more intense and intensifying faster because of human-caused climate change.

Florence's weakening as it neared the coast created tension between some who left home and authorities who worried that the storm could still be deadly.

Frustrated after evacuating his beach home for a storm that was later downgraded, retired nurse Frederick Fisher grumbled in the lobby of a Wilmington hotel several miles inland.

"Against my better judgment, due to emotionalism, I evacuated," said Fisher, 74.

"I've got four cats inside the house. If I can't get back in a week, after a while they might turn on each other or trash the place."

Authorities pushed back against any suggestion the storm's threat was exaggerated.

The police chief of a barrier island in Florence's bulls'-eye said he was asking for next-of-kin contact information from the few residents who refused to leave.

"I'm not going to put our personnel in harm's way, especially for people that we've already told to evacuate," Wrightsville Beach Police Chief Dan House said.

___

Jonathan Drew of the Associated Press wrote its story. AP writers Seth Borenstein in Washington; Jeffrey Collins and Claire Galofaro in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Jennifer Kay in Miami; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Sarah Rankin and Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia; Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Skip Foreman in Charlotte, North Carolina; Jeff Martin in Hampton, Georgia; David Koeing in Dallas; Gerry Broome at Nags Head, North Carolina; and Jay Reeves in Atlanta contributed to this report.

___

For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes

___

PennLive writer Travis Kellar contributed to this story.
A Cumberland County man who was found unconscious on the floor as child pornography scrolled across the screen of his home computer can't beat a conviction for possessing those illegal images, a state Superior Court panel has ruled.

Despite Daniel L. Smyser's claims to the contrary, the evidence supports his conviction and the 1- to 2-year county prison term he received, President Judge Emeritus Correale F. Stevens found in the state court's opinion.

According to court filings, a state trooper and an ambulance crew rushed to Smyser's Carlisle-area home on Aug. 27, 2015 in response to a 911 call. The caller could only make choking sounds.

The rescuers found Smyser, the home's only occupant, unconscious on the floor in his underwear. Nearby, the screen of his computer sported child porn images and was connected to a chat room where child porn was being discussed, police said.

When he awoke at the hospital, Smyser, now 49, denied knowing anything about the child porn. Police said he claimed "unidentified enemies from his past" might have broken into his home and planted it on his computer.

During his nonjury trial in June 2017, Smyser's daughter and sister testified that he lacked the technical knowledge to download the child porn images police found on his computer.

County Judge Albert H. Masland imposed the prison term after convicting Smyser on 12 counts of child porn possession. Masland ordered Smyser to serve another 3 years on probation after finishing his jail term.

Stevens agreed with Masland that the evidence against Smyser is solid. He found that Masland was correct to discount the testimony of Smyser's daughter and sister "on the basis of their simple inability to know of (Smyser's) secret behavior."
AVIS -- A fatal shooting a year ago in the Avis area was a case of self-defense, Clinton County District Attorney David A. Strouse says.

"This is a clear example of the Pennsylvania Castle Doctrine," he said Friday in announcing Philip Almendarez Sr. will not be charged with killing Cody James Englert, 30.

"If a person breaks into someone's home, the law presumes that person intends to do the homeowner harm," the district attorney said.

"The circumstances surrounding Mr. Englert's death are obviously more complicated than that, but in the end, Mr. Almendarez was protecting himself and his family inside his own home."

Strouse gave the following synopsis of the investigation that followed the Sept. 13, 2017, shooting:

Almendarez was asleep about 1:50 a.m. inside his Fourth Street home in Pine Twp. when he was awakened by loud banging noises at this front door.

He retrieved a .45-caliber handgun as he heard what sounded like someone kicking in the front door.

The intruder, later identified as Englert, entered the bedroom and punched Almendarez in the face. Almendarez fired three shots, all of which hit Englert.

An autopsy revealed the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the face and chest.

The investigation revealed Englert and Tara Litz, who was present during the shooting, had recently ended a long-term relationship. They had shared a nearby residence.

Englert had told Almendarez to stay away from Litz after he learned the two had become involved.

Hours before the shooting Englert was in Bethlehem planning, to stay the night due to work. But when he was unable to contact Litz he arranged for a co-worker to drive him to the Avis area.

Witnesses and physical evidence confirmed Englert kicked in the front door of Almendarez's home within minutes after getting out of the vehicle.

Almendarez had Litz call 911 after the shooting, surrendered his weapon to police and cooperated with the investigation, Strouse said.

Englert's death had been classified a homicide but investigation determined it was justified, he said.
Wind and rain might not be the only things residents in the Carolinas will need to beware of thanks to Hurricane Florence.

Venomous snakes will be another danger residents will need to keep an eye out for.

Thad Bowman with Alligator Adventure told Myrtle Beach Online that flooding in snake habitats could potentially displace them.

Bowman encouraged people in the Carolinas to not venture out during the storm, and to seek hospital immediately if bitten by snake.

The storm is expected to eventually make its way to Pennsylvania next week, and it could drop 2 to 4 inches of rain.
WILLIAMSPORT - A Centre County man already sued for operating what the Securities and Exchange Commission says "bears the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme" is now charged with securities fraud.

James E. Hocker, 48, of Bellefonte, is accused by a criminal information filed Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court with obtaining $1,495,782 from clients under false pretenses.

He has agreed to plead guilty and repay the money according to a signed agreement also filed.

The allegations against Hocker are similar to those in the civil suit the SEC filed in June that accuses him of running a multimillion-dollar investment scheme.

The criminal charge states he left an insurance agency in 2007 and began selling insurance products and annuities under James E. Hocker & Associates but he did not hold any license related to the securities business.

Between 2009 and this past January Hocker, without significant investment experience, is alleged to have solicited clients, largely retirees or those near retirement.

Some were widows who relied on him to manage their money, the charge states.

Hocker is accused of:

Giving clients handwritten promissory notes guaranteeing a certain rate of return while not investing any money and knowing he could not possibly provide returns of 25 to 30 percent.

Falsely telling clients their money would be safe because he would obtain insurance on their investments.

Causing existing clients to liquidate their insurance products so they had money to invest.

Failing to reimburse clients for fees, penalties and taxes associated with withdrawals from insurance policies and IRSs.

Depositing funds from investors into several bank accounts he controlled including a checking account in his name and that of his former wife.

Using client funds for personal expenditures including legal fees and spousal support while providing them with false statements on the status of their accounts.

Making himself unavailable or employing delaying tactics when clients sought to make a withdrawal.

Returning approximately $236,000 to investors between July 2013 and October 2017 by using money others had entrusted to him.

The civil suit accuses him of converting for personal purposes most of the $1.27 million he raised from about 25 individuals between 2013 and 2017 who he promised returns of between 10 and 30 percent.

In that complaint he is accused of between December 2015 and March 2016 using more than $24,000 to pay credit card bills, wiring more than $20,000 to his ex-wife, using more than $14,000 to repay personal loans and spending more than $3,000 at casinos.

The SEC wants Judge Matthew W. Brann to enjoin Hocker from continuing his alleged illegal activity, order him to surrender the "ill-gotten gains" with interest and impose civil penalties.
Nancy Eshelman

There were no old people in the room when Danny Stoner brought his one-man oldies show to the Bridges at Bent Creek retirement community near Mechanicsburg recently.

To be sure, there was plenty of grey hair, lots of walkers, a few folks in wheelchairs and a scattering of portable oxygen tanks. But for one hour, none of that mattered.

They were young again, listening to the songs that played on their portable radios, the Sinatra tune they danced to at the prom or that Drifters' number everybody was playing down the shore one magical summer.

Maybe they could no longer jitterbug to Dion and the Belmonts' "The Wanderer," but they could clap, tap their feet and sing along, and suddenly, it seemed like 1968 again.

"The music brings them back," Stoner said. "This is a special kind of satisfaction."

Like many in his audience, Stoner grew up with the music. He's a 1971 John Harris graduate whose parents met when his dad was playing the saxophone in California.

Music and three sons filled the Stoners' Harrisburg home. Danny's love for rock 'n' roll developed by listening to his older brother's collection of 45s.

Soon he was playing music on the radio as disc jockey Dan Allen. He wrote commercials and did voice overs and joined a band called Green Street.

Their first show, he remembers, was at Indiantown Gap, playing for 1,000 refugees from Vietnam. To their audience, they represented America and freedom. They were a spectacular hit.

They became the house band at the former Creekside Inn and spent a crazy summer playing in Fort Lauderdale.

Later, Stoner joined Line Drive Band, which played locally and in Allentown and Reading.

Nightwind, which he started in the 1990s, continues to be a favorite at Nissley Vineyards and at corporate events. A decade ago he joined Soul Solution, which plays at the Hollywood Casino, Champions in Highspire, the new Club XL and other night spots.

Along the way he spent 30 years with a "real job" as a food broker, but the music has never left him. The first time someone asked him to perform at a retirement community, he was hooked.

"I just fell in love with it," he said.

These days, he is joined by his son Jeff, who, like dad and grandpa, plays the saxophone. Jeff, who also plays guitar, performs in the band My Medication. His title when he's with dad is producer. He operates the computer equipment that generates the music for Danny's songs.

The show starts with Sinatra. "Summer Wind," "Witchcraft" and "That's Life."

And it always winds down with a salute to veterans and an audience participation rendition of "God Bless America."

Then Danny brings back the Chairman of the Board for a finale of "My Way."

As the audience shuffles out, some of them stop by, like the groupies they may once have been. They thank him.

And they make him promise to return so they can enjoy one more trip down memory lane.

NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net
Will they have to wait even longer in the morning when they have to share the only exit from their Hampden Township neighborhood with hundreds of overnight hospital workers?



Will they get stuck behind tractors trailers and other delivery vehicles that will serve the 108-bed hospital Penn State Health plans to build along Wertzville Road just off the Interstate 81 interchange?



And, with only one way in and out of their neighborhood and the hospital -- Good Hope Road -- what will happen if there's a traffic accident? Will ambulances even be able to get in and out of the hospital?



"We'll have to leave our homes 15 minutes early just to get out of our development," a resident said.



Such were the questions and reactions on Thursday night as a development plan for the hospital was discussed with the township planning commission. About a dozen residents aired their concerns to township officials, with the vast majority of the concerns involving traffic.



Penn State Health officials and township staff had few definitive answers regarding traffic, other than to say they expect to have many answers within about two months.



As required by law, Penn State Health is carrying out a traffic study to determine the impact on roads and intersections.



While the hospital would sit just north of Wertzville Road and just west of I-81, the study encompasses the area from Lambs Gap Road to the intersection at Valley Road and Technology Parkway, according to James Snyder, an engineer representing Penn State Health.



The study could recommend things such as new lanes, turning arrows and changes in the timing of traffic signals. However, based on comments made by township staff, the results of the traffic study can't block or significantly alter the project.



Penn State Health's goal is to present the results of the traffic study at the planning commission's Nov. 15 meeting, meaning residents can expect to get a much better picture of traffic impacts and what can be done about them. Eventually, the planning commission will vote on the project, and its recommendation will move to the township's board of commissioners, which will have the final say.



Snyder said Penn State Health, which is the parent of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, hopes to have the project approved by early next year and begin construction in spring. The hospital, called Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, would be open by June of 2021.



Snyder noted on Thursday night that "speed to market" is a factor and contributed to things such as the decision to not have a helicopter pad at the hospital. While Hampden's zoning laws would allow the pad, it's a conditional use that would require public hearings and special permission, potentially drawing out the approval process.



Hampden officials informed the audience a hospital is allowed at the proposed site, which covers about 44 acres and is zoned for commercial office complexes, and the proposed hospital meets township requirements. They further reminded residents that about a decade ago Hampden had approved a dense office complex for the same site which, for unspecified reasons, never got built.

Residents countered that the complex was approved before the construction of two supermarkets, an elementary school and a hospital.



One part of the proposed hospital would have three stories and the other would have four. It would have parking for about 1,000 vehicles, although Snyder said that amount is probably more than needed. About 1,000 people, spread out over three shifts, would work there. It would have trees and a berm to buffer it from nearby homes, and have will shorter-than-usual light poles to prevent light from affecting nearby homes, according to Snyder.



Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center would be within about a mile from UPMC Pinnacle's West Shore Hospital, located along Technology Parkway on the other side of the I-81 interchange.



Responding to a resident who questioned the need for a second hospital in the township, township Manager Keith Metts said, under the law, the township has no say in what kind of facilities get built if they comply with zoning laws. He compared it to supermarkets or drug stores which commonly build competing facilities in close proximity.



Some residents urged Penn State Health to consider building an access road to allow people to directly enter the hospital from I-81, or to build an access road solely for the hospital near the intersection of Good Hope and Wertzville roads.



Snyder said it's virtually impossible that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation would allow an exit from I-81 into the hospital. He also said Wertzville Road is a state road with a "limited access" designation in the area of the proposed hospital, meaning PennDOT doesn't allow additional driveways and access points.
One month to the day today, a Pennsylvania grand jury report revealed how hundreds of children over several decades had been raped or sexually abused by Catholic priests, even as bishops and church officials knew about the crimes and, at times, concealed them.

Since then, two priests have been indicted; one of them convicted. Several dioceses at the center of the investigation have removed from the ministry priests who have been accused of sexual crimes against minors. At least two dioceses have turned allegations over to local law enforcement officials, and a number of plaintiffs have even filed lawsuits against priests and bishops.

That fallout has escalated outside Pennsylvania's border.

Its grand jury report has prompted a number of other states attorneys general to launch their own investigation. New York and New Jersey attribute their investigations to the work done in Pennsylvania.

The Vatican - historically absent or slow to weigh in on the clergy sex abuse crisis - not only commented to a global audience on Pennsylvania's investigation, it summoned a gathering of U.S. bishops to discuss the crisis.

Now, the career of one of the most senior Catholic Church officials hangs on the balance. Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl has signaled a potential resignation in the wake of the blistering 900-plus page report, which mentions him more than 200 times. A former bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese, Wuerl, the report claims, protected credibly accused priests -- even allowing an accused abuser to remain in ministry.

With little doubt, the grand jury report has had worldwide ramifications for the church. Its fallout plays out in a landscape much changed from what has been, up to now, the backdrop of the protracted church scandal.

"I think it's the beginning of a very long journey," said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University. "This is going to be measured in years or decades. This is the most major crisis since the Protestant Reformation. As a historian I cannot remember anything similar in terms of the mix of corruption, the cultural and theological divisions that remind me of the Reformation."

Few church officials have been convicted since 2002, the year the clergy sex abuse scandal burst into the mainstream national conversation with the reports published by The Boston Globe uncovering what has become a singular narrative: The systemic abuse of minors by Catholic priests and the concealment of crimes by church officials.

Probes in dozens of dioceses across the country - from Philadelphia, Altoona-Johnstown and Los Angeles - have yielded similar results. But the Pennsylvania investigation stands out.

"This is an entirely new situation," said Faggioli. "It's clear this is a national crisis, a global crisis that is more systemic and the intervention will have to be systemic."

The grand jury report, released a month ago by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, found that more than a thousand children had been sexually abused by more than 300 predatory priests across seven decades - unchecked and protected by church officials, for the most part.

Shapiro has said he would have liked to prosecute every accused priest, but almost all the cases laid out in the report fall outside the realm of statute of limitations - meaning too much time has passed since the alleged crime.

With a surge of victims coming forward to report their abuse, the onus falls on the church, Faggioli. And that's just the start.

With secular authorities broadly hampered by narrow statutes of limitations, the church, increasingly under public pressure, is being forced to do its own house cleaning.

READ MORE: Pope OKs probe into bishop as he meets with U.S. delegation

Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, for example, has placed three priests accused of sexually abusing minors on administrative leave. Of the three priests - Fr. John Bauer, 71, Fr. Bernard Costello, 81, and Fr. Hugh Lang, 87 - Bauer was in active ministry and was named in the grand jury report. An earlier allegation had been deemed unsubstantiated, allowing him to remain in ministry up to this point.

The dioceses of Erie and Greensburg have followed suit, removing from ministry priests accused of child sex crimes.

In the absence of more immediate legal actions, victims and their advocates should find some comfort, Faggioli said, in the fact that the crisis today is taken more seriously. It's a shift, he said, in the popular perception held in the wake of the scandal in the Archdiocese of Boston: that the clergy sex abuse was a problem the church had in some cities in the U.S.

"No one says that now," Faggioli said.

Patrick Wall, a former Benedictine monk and priest who has emerged a formidable ally for victims nationwide, calls the intervening month since Shapiro released the report a "second awakening."

"It is historic. There is tremendous progress," he said.

And that's just the beginning.

The 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury took nearly two years to complete its investigation, and given the preponderance for the judicial system to move at a slow pace, the ramifications of the report could take upwards of four years to play out in their full extent, said Wall, who parlays his knowledge of the church to research clerical sex abuse cases.

Already, several bishops face potential criminal liability, including Zubik and Wuerl, both named in at least one lawsuit.

READ MORE: Clergy abuse of children in Pa: Recap of grand jury report presentation

Moreover, the Pennsylvania report could necessitate the participation of federal authorities, Wall said.

The grand jury report, for instance, found considerable crossover between the Diocese of Erie and its immediate neighbor, the Diocese of Buffalo, itself embattled with a near-identical scandal. Investigators found that the dioceses over the years had transferred across state lines accused personnel and priests.

"Once you see this many number of states start to move, it will eventually require the federal government to act," Wall said. "I really believe it will take several years but eventually the FBI and the Department of Justice will be involved."

Wall is confident that over time several crimes will emerge as viable ones for prosecutors to level against church personnel and officials: child sex assault, the manufacturing and distribution of child pornography and sex trafficking of children.

"I was in active in the priesthood from 1992 to 1998," Wall said. "I never thought any of this would see the light of day. I thought the church would be able to hide it, so from that kind of perspective, this is mind-blowing."

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington and former bishop of Harrisburg, has signaled to the pope his intention to resign. Wuerl is embroiled in the clergy sex abuse scandal in Pennsylvania and is named at least 200 times in the Aug. 14 grand jury report. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

For now, the most glaring tempest is the one swirling around Wuerl.

Wuerl, for the second time in his career, has signaled to the Vatican plans to resign.

In another era, a senior church official --especially one who enjoys the ecclesial prominence of Wuerl - could expect a safe haven in the Vatican, even in the wake of such blistering censure as delivered by Shapiro's investigation.

Indeed, in the wake of the scandal in Boston in 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law fell precipitously from public grace. Even his own priests called for his resignation. Yet despite the fact that he was subpoenaed by a grand jury reviewing possible criminal violations by church officials, Law emerged unscathed and assigned to a comfortable and influential second career as a senior Vatican official.

Amid the changing landscape tilled most recently by the Pennsylvania grand jury report, such an ending for Wuerl is unlikely.

"Pope Francis has made it clear in words and action that he doesn't see the Vatican as a safe haven," Faggioli said.

Indeed, Francis is the first pope to have accepted the resignation of bishops embroiled in clergy sex abuse scandals.

"Bishops have fallen under his regime," Faggioli said. "This is something that has never happened under Pope John Paul or Pope Benedict. Offering Wuerl a safe haven would completely contradict Pope Francis has said and done."

Moreover, Francis to date has taken action on bishops after official tribunals have found bishops guilty, as is the case in Australia.

The Pennsylvania grand jury is an investigation.

"Francis takes action on bishops when a tribunal has said a bishop is guilty," Faggioli said. "The problem with the grand jury report is that it's not a sentence of a tribunal but a document of prosecution. That is something the Holy See is careful in accepting as final word."

READ MORE: Catholic faithful demand change after sex abuse scandals

In the closed cloisters of the Vatican, anything is possible. Francis could handle Wuerl the way he did bishops in Australia - that is wait for official conviction; or proceed in the way he did in Chile. That is remove bishops amid spiraling scandal, even before a trial.

Either way, Faggioli says Wuerl doesn't have long. "He said that himself," he said.

For now, the Pennsylvania grand jury has cemented the U.S. as the clear epicenter of the global clergy sex abuse scandal.

Faggioli is confident the church will survive.

"It has seen worse times, worse corruption," he said. "I think it will survive. We do not in what form, what kind of church. Nobody can make that prediction . . . but the U.S. is clearly the epicenter of the global crisis. The U.S. is what Germany was five centuries ago. It was the center of the Reformation. The West is now playing a similar role."
Two people suffered injuries in a shooting Thursday night, but the injuries were not life-threatening, according to Harrisburg Police.

Around 7:59 p.m., calls came in reporting multiple shots fired in the 2600 block of Jefferson Street, HPD Lt. Milo Hooper said at the scene. A couple patrol units were in the area at the same time and heard the shots, enabling them to respond quickly.

Hooper said the shooting was under investigation, but they do not believe the general public is in danger.

Police did not have a suspect or anyone in custody in connection with the incident as of 9:00 p.m Thursday.

"It seemed to be an isolated incident, so the general public always has to be aware of what's going on, but it doesn't appear to be a random situation," Hooper said.

Police said they believe the two people were outside a residence at the time of the shooting, but went inside to take shelter, Hooper said. Hooper was unable to say whether other people were in the residence at the time of the shooting.

The 2600 block of Jefferson was cordoned off by police while they searched and collected evidence. A K9 was also called to the scene to assist in the search.
| BY Ricki Green |

The One Club for Creativity, a leading global non-profit organization celebrating creative excellence in advertising and design, and Diageo North America today announced a significant partnership to recognize and promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality among young creatives around the world.

The partnership ties in with The One Clubs Young Guns program, which for more than 20 years has served as the industrys only international, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies todays vanguard of globally and culturally diverse creative professionals 30 years of age and under.

The first component of the partnership is the Diageo-Young Guns Diversity & Inclusion Award, kicking off this fall. Teams at Diageo North America and The One Club will review portfolios of all Young Guns 16 global finalists and select a winner of the new award.

That winner, to be announced at the Young Guns 16 ceremony and party on November 15, 2018 at the Highline Ballroom in New York, will have the opportunity to collaborate on a creative project for Diageo on one of the companys global brands, which include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanans whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Sophie Kelly, senior vice president, North America Whiskeys Portfolio, Diageo, explained that the partnership with The One Club is a great fit because diversity, inclusion and creativity are all core value that are nurtured and celebrated at Diageo.

Says Kelly: A wide range of viewpoints, experiences, skills and capabilities is critically important to any business today, and we depend on diverse talent to drive our business. We look forward to working with The One Club to identify and recognize the emerging talents of young creatives around the world, and help them to grow further as they realize their potential.

Says Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity: One of the four pillars of our organization is a commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in advertising and design, and we are thrilled to have Diageo play such a significant role in supporting our work in that area. This new partnership will raise awareness on the topic and help elevate those inspiring young creatives who are leading the way and making a difference.
Police are looking for the vehicle of a Lancaster County man whose body was found along a Chester County road Thursday night.

County detectives said Samuel Algarin, 31, of Quarryville, was found dead beside Limestone Road in West Fallowfield Township around 10:15 p.m. They and township police are investigating the death as a homicide.

As of Friday afternoon, police were still looking for Algarin's dark-colored GMC Terrain, an SUV with Pennsylvania license plate JPG-5878. They also were seeking anyone who had contact with Algarin Thursday night. Algarin was in the area with his children that evening, detectives said.

Anyone with information can call county detectives at 610-344-6866.
Trinity High School in Camp Hill is partnering up with Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to provide guaranteed admissions and scholarships to Trinity graduates.

Beginning with graduates from the current academic year, Trinity students who meet defined requirements are guaranteed admission to Mount St. Mary's. In addition to that, students who have a 3.00 GPA and either 1080 SAT or a 21 ACT composite qualify for this program and will receive, at minimum, a $22,000 four-year renewable award, with a total value of $88,000.

Trinity's principal John Cominsky contacted Mount St. Mary's this past spring about doing the partnership, a Trinity spokersperson said. Cominsky is an alumnus of Mount St. Mary's and was an adjunct professor of theology there until last year.

"

Trinity and the Mount both have similar commitments to service, high academic standards, and the Catholic faith," spokesperson Katie Phelan said. "These combined with the fact that Trinity typically has a few students each year attend the Mount, made this a natural partnership."

Mount St. Mary's President Timothy E. Trainor made a statement in the press release announcing the partnership.

"This partnership is an ideal fit because both the Mount and Trinity have long histories of enrolling students who are looking to live significantly," Trainor said. "The agreement recognizes our shared goal to enhance access to high-quality, values-based education at the high school and postsecondary levels."

Cominsky said the partnership will allow students to develop their gifts "and their minds, their bodies and souls," at Mount St. Mary's.

"I have no doubt that this partnership will bless many of our students and their families," Cominsky said.

A Mount St. Mary's representative will visit Trinity three times a year to give students information on their academic programs, applications, admissions and financial services.

"Trinity is a college preparatory school, with 98% of our students going on to college, so college acceptance and scholarships are on the minds of nearly all of our students," Phelan said. "A program like this helps to alleviate some of the stress associated with the college process--they can rest assured that they're able to go to a quality college with a healthy scholarship. Trinity is concerned with the holistic development of all our students, including their mental well-being and their futures beyond Trinity, both of which this program addresses."
Just a year ago, Wendy Ullman was teaching English composition at Bucks County Community College and hadn't given a thought to running for public office.

Then Donald Trump got elected president and she found herself sick of business as usual in the state Capitol in Harrisburg.

Now, the 66-year-old Democrat from Bucks County is running hard for a traditionally Republican state House seat in a suburban Philadelphia district that could help tip the balance of power in the Legislature's lower chamber come November.

"Like many people, I was grumbling, I was eye-rolling, I was still suffering the aftershocks of the 2016 election, which didn't go the way I wanted it to," said Ulliman, who'd worked around the edges of local politics in suburban Plumstead Township but had never made run in her own right.

Then, "the more I drilled down and looked at what was, and was not, happening in Harrisburg, I just saw more layers of dysfunction" and decided to come off the bench.

Ullman will face Republican Joe Flood on Election Day, as the two contend for a seat that became vacant when long-serving Republican state Rep. Marguerite Quinn announced she was running for an open, Bucks County-based Senate seat.

The race for governor, Congress and U.S. Senate might be grabbing all the headlines in this very dramatic midterm campaign year. But across Pennsylvania, candidates like Ullman are stepping up and running in what's shaping up to be a highly consequential fight for the General Assembly.

By The Numbers

Right now, Republicans hold a seemingly unassailable 121-82 advantage in the 203-member state House and a 33-16 edge, with one vacancy, in the 50-member state Senate. The entire House, and half the Senate, is up for re-election this fall.

Activists on both sides don't expect either chamber to flip.

But what Democrats are hoping for - and what Republicans are guarding against - is the possibility that a 2018 blue wave will put Democrats on course to recapturing a majority that has eluded them for more than a decade in the House and more than two decades in the Senate.

"We have to make significant gains [in 2018]," Nathan Davidson, the executive director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, said. "We're 20 seats down. We have to do it now to make a push for the majority in 2020."

Motivated by the same kind of enthusiasm that pushed Ullman to run, Democrats are fielding candidates in 24 of 25 Senate races and 180 of 203 House races. The roster of candidates reflects the state's diversity, with more women, Hispanics and LGBTQ hopefuls stepping up to run.

A campaign sign for Democratic state House candidate Sean Patrick Quinlan (Facebook)

"If you ever thought you wanted to run for office someday, 2018 is a really good 'someday,'" David Marshall, executive director of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, the re-election arm of Pennsylvania Senate Democrats, said. "There's a massive enthusiasm gap in Democrats' favor. It's the exact opposite of what we saw in 2014 and 2016."

Indeed, the latest Franklin & Marshall College poll showed that statewide, 60 percent of Democrat and 53 percent of Republican respondents described themselves as "very interested" in the midterms.

Pennsylvania Republicans are taking notice - and bracing for the worst.

"We have 25 people leaving and 22 are Republican incumbents," Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, a co-chair of the House Republicans' 2018 re-election effort, said. "I'm optimistic that we're going to keep a strong majority, but we're going to lose some seats. There's no question about it."

The Geography

As is the case in the fight for Congress, the legislative battleground in Pennsylvania is the Philadelphia suburbs, where at least a half-dozen Senate seats and at least eight House seats are in play. Seats in the Pittsburgh suburbs also are being looked at.

Among the House seats are Ullman's contest, one of three in Bucks County, where Democrats hope to contend.

Seats in the other three collar counties - Montgomery, Chester and Delaware - are also in the crosshairs. That includes the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Nick Miccarelli, who is facing accusations of abusing two women, one of them a fellow lawmaker.

House Republican investigators found claims of continued retaliation by state Rep. Nick Miccarelli, R-Delaware County, to be credible and possibly a violation of the state's revenge porn law.

Similarly situated Senate races in the suburbs are also being closely watched. One of those is Bucks County's 6th District race between GOP incumbent Sen. Robert M. "Tommy" Tomlinson and Democratic state Rep. Tina Davis.

The suburban districts are a "top-tier" priority for the statewide GOP, Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said.

And in those key races, the party is "deploying a significant amount of resources and staff toward grassroots voter contact, earned and paid media, and utilizing new technology and data-informed targeting to ensure the Republican message is specifically tailored to voters we hope to drive out to the polls."

The Money Battle

The effectiveness of that effort, as with most things in politics, will be directly impacted by the committees' ability to raise money.

After expenses, the House Republicans' re-election effort was sitting on a war chest of $693,365, according to its most recent filing with the Department of State. The House Democrats lagged at a mere $11,790 on-hand as of the end of the June 4 reporting period, after spending more than $253,000.

"Fundraising is never easy, but our caucus is more engaged than it ever has been. Candidates are raising more than in previous cycles as well," Davidson of the House Democrats' campaign arm said. "Our focus is to identify races that show potential for victory, and work as hard as we can to fund as many as we can."

On that date, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee had $37,750 on-hand after expenses of $94,736. The committee also owed $350,000 to former Sen. Scott Wagner for a loan he made. The Senate Democrats' re-election wing had $216,320 on-hand after reporting expenses of $120,144, records showed.

A new round of reports will be filed with the Department of State on Sept. 17, which will provide a fuller picture of the committees' summertime fundraising. Those fund-raising tallies are only expected to increase.

The National Picture

For those of you keeping track, Republicans currently fully control 32 of 50 legislatures nationwide and 33 governors' mansions.

So, quietly, and without much fanfare, scores of outside groups from both sides of the partisan divide have been putting their muscle and money to work in state-level races in Pennsylvania and elsewhere as the midterms close in.

There's a good reason for that.

With Congress increasingly paralyzed and the Trump administration increasingly pushing more decisions back to the states, partisan control of statehouses and governors' mansions matters more than ever.

In addition, states, including Pennsylvania, will make decisions on new legislative and congressional maps in the wake of the 2020 Census.

And an increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court means that women's and reproductive rights groups will look to friendly legislatures and governors to protect access to abortion.

One such group, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, says it plans to spend $35 million nationwide this campaign cycle, which doubles its 2016 tally.

In an email, the group said it's 17 seats away from flipping eight legislative chambers. And Pennsylvania is a key part of that calculus.

The DLCC, hopes to make "strong gains" in Pennsylvania and other states, where there are currently 19 Republican-held seats in which Hillary Clinton captured 48 percent of the vote two years ago.

"Some of these could end up being longer-cycle plays for 2020, but in a wave year, anything could happen," spokeswoman Mara Sloan said, adding that "given what we saw happen in Virginia in 2017, we think that there's a path to making strong gains in Pennsylvania overall this year."

Joining two other progressive groups,the DLCC's independent expenditure arm also plans to spend $10 million on digital ads targeting legislative races in five states, including Pennsylvania.

"On the digital front, we've seen Republicans spend more aggressively and it's a much higher percentage of their overall spend. This is catch-up without overcorrection," Rebecca Pearcey, the director of the DLCC's independent expenditure arm, told The Washington Post. "Most state legislative candidates can't afford TV, so it's another way to reach more voters where they're at."

The DLCC's GOP counterpart, the Republican State Leadership Committee, is also planning to splash out between $45 million and $50 million nationwide this cycle. A spokesman for the group, David James, declined to discuss how much money will flow to Pennsylvania.

"Because the Democrats cannot win at the ballot box, they campaigned and took over the Supreme Court in 2015, with judicial candidates stating they would steal legislative map drawing authority from the state legislature," James said. "Sadly for Pennsylvania voters that is exactly what has happened."

The "resulting rigged maps will prove to be challenging for Republicans to defend," he added, and the group will help GOP legislative leaders "where we think it will be strategically beneficial."

The Third-Party Groups

Apart from the party apparatus, other independent, and issue-oriented, organizations are getting involved as well.

Planned Parenthood Votes, the political arm of the women's health organization, says it plans to spend $2.5 million this year on the re-election of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and other down-ballot Democrats.

Wolf, a Planned Parenthood volunteer, faces Republican Scott Wagner, a former state senator, who has boasted of his "100 percent pro-life record" on the campaign trail.

"The stakes are incredibly high," Sari Stevens, the group's executive director, said. "Pennsylvania is the epicenter for a pro-choice legislature and a progressive Congress. [Wolf's] re-election literally will decide whether patients have access to health care in Pennsylvania through Planned Parenthood or through expanded Medicaid, and whether they will have the right to legal abortion.

The reproductive rights group is leaving nothing to chance. Volunteers said they knocked on more than 4,000 doors statewide over the weekend during a national canvassing event. Stevens said the group will knock on some 320,000 doors by November to deliver its message to voters.

Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer is spending $3.2 billion in Pennsylvania to register younger voters, those aged 18-34, who have been traditionally difficult to get out to the polls. Steyer's effort is focused primarily on a handful of key congressional seats.

Republicans are similarly active.

Gottesman, of the the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said the state GOP is "anecdotally" aware of activity by outside groups, but "the amount of money and level of activity can't be quantified on our end since there is no coordination with these groups and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania."

Americans for Prosperity, the pro-business group funded by the Koch Brothers, has endorsed Wagner and will run paid advertisements and make phone calls on the Republican nominee's behalf. The group currently has no plans to get involved in legislative races, its executive director, Beth Anne Mumford, said.

Meanwhile, Republicans like Cumberland County's Rothman are out knocking on doors and campaigning the old-fashioned way, one voter at a time. Rothman is facing Democrat Sean Patrick Quinlan,

"I tell [people] that I'm there [in Harrisburg] working for you, fighting for you" he said. "I feel like I'm getting some stuff done."

In about five weeks' time, Rothman and other Republicans will find out of they got enough done. Or if they'll be swimming against that blue wave.
Pennsylvania's fall gubernatorial campaign is getting nastier.

A billboard that went up on Tuesday evening in the Harrisburg area accuses GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner of being heavy handed with customers of his trash hauling company who don't pay their bill.

It states, ""Scott Wagner's Penn Waste sued 6,979 Pennsylvanians. Learn Why." It provides a web address for "Pennwastealert.com." The website accuses Wagner's business of using "strong-arm tactics" and repeatedly violating state environmental rules.

The billboard, which is visible along Route 581 westbound near the ramp for I-83 south, was paid for by a Democratic-leaning advocacy group called PA Spotlight. The group has purchased four other billboards that will go up in locations in York and Dauphin counties later this week.

"PA Spotlight believes it's important to bring all aspects of Scott Wagner's business record at Penn Waste to light," said the group's executive director Eric Rosso. "The intimidation and aggressive tactics are deeply concerning for working families and municipalities that contract with Penn Waste."

Wagner's campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo didn't deny the group's claims. Instead, he dismissed them as not out of the ordinary for a trash hauling company and part of what goes along with running a business.

"Independent fact checkers have noted that Scott's record of regulatory compliance is in accordance with industry averages," Romeo said, about the group's environmental violations claim.

As for the number of lawsuits, he said, "Penn Waste is required by their contracts with municipalities to continue to make collections regardless of whether the company receives timely payment, so lawsuits are sometimes necessary in order to make sure customers pay their bills. Scott has always said that government should never spend more money than it takes in and that's how his business runs as well."

Wagner is facing off against Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf in the Nov. 6 election, along with two others: Green Party candidate Paul Glover of Philadelphia and Libertarian candidate Kenneth Krawchuk of Montgomery County.

Wolf campaign spokeswoman Beth Melena said the Wolf campaign has no affiliation with PA Spotlight and offered no comment about the billboard or its message.

This is not the first time the issue of lawsuits filed by Penn Waste against its customers has been raised.

This is a mailer sent out in 2014 by the Senate Republican Campaign Committee against Scott Wagner during what turned out to be a successful write-in state senatorial campaign.

In Wagner's 2014 state senatorial campaign, political opponents sent out a mailer featuring an elderly Springettsbury Township woman who Penn Waste sued for nonpayment of trash bills. Wagner reacted to that attack the same way his campaign spokesman did on Thursday about the billboard - Penn Waste's contracts with municipalities permit it.

PA Spotlight officials called that case the tip of the iceberg after scouring the dockets of magisterial district courts in Cumberland, York, Dauphin and Lancaster counties from January 2012 through this past May. That exercise is how it arrived at the number of lawsuits Penn Waste filed against customers as topping 10,000 and involving the nearly 7,000 different customers referenced on the billboard.

"Wagner is a quintessential intimidator who sues those without the means or ability to fight back," Rosso said. "His actions can compound the financial problems for working families."
Music community steps up to help one of their own battling cancer
| BY Ricki Green |

AdFest has announced that Ali Brown, partner and executive producer at Prettybird in Los Angeles, will join AdFest 2019 as jury president of Film Craft Lotus and New Director Lotus.

Says Brown: Its an honor to be joining the jury at AdFest 2019. I am excited to see first-hand the agencies, brands and production companies who are producing the best work across the Asia Pacific and Middle East.

With offices in Los Angeles and London and a diverse roster of filmmakers, creatives and collaborators, Prettybird produces entertainment that is creatively led and platform agnostic. The companys work has been recognized at award shows worldwide, and Prettybird was named Creativity magazines Top Production Company of the Year in 2015.

Says Jimmy Lam, president, AdFest: I have seen Ali in action on a jury before, so I know she will bring a very fresh perspective to our festival. She is an expert in leading judges from around the world, who bring very different likes and dislikes when it comes to filmmaking. She is an open and candid leader and her experience will ensure only the very best production work from the APAC and MENA regions are awarded at AdFest 2019.

Brown began her career in the commercial and music video industry before moving over to feature films. After returning to advertising, she helped build the Prettybird roster and reputation, expanding its reach across commercials, short films, features, web series, and music videos. She has produced several films under the Prettybird banner, including the Daniels award-winning Sundance New Frontier film Possibilia; Showtimes The Drew: No Excuse Just Produce directed by Baron Davis, and feature film The Trust, written and directed by Prettybird duo Brewer.

Brown is an influential member of the global film community, serving two terms as AICP/West (Association of Independent Commercial Producers) president. She has been a mentor for Project Involve, AdCan, and Women in Film and is heavily involved with Manifest Works, an immersive workforce development and job placement program for those impacted by foster care, homelessness, and incarceration.

Most recently, Brown was president of the Young Directors Award Jury in Cannes 2018  the first female president in the shows 21-year history.

AdFest is a non-profit-making entity that believes passionately in its role to nurture and support the creative industry in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa regions.

Says Vinit Suraphongchai, chairman of AdFest: Every year, we work hard to recruit visionary creative leaders from around the globe to lead our jury panels and share their expertise with our region.
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Thousands of Ohioans were out in full force on Thursday night as former President Barack Obama continued his crusade to flip Congress and help Democrats win governorships all across the country.

At a rally in Cleveland to support Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray, Obama lambasted the Republican Party for blindly following Trump through every bit of disturbing rhetoric and policymaking.

This is not normal what were seeing. It is radical, the 44th president said. It is a vision that says that its more important for those who are in power to protect that power even when it hurts the country.

Obama added, What youre seeing is Republicans in Congress who are bending over backwards to try to shield and deflect oversight of this behavior and accountability and consequences.

The solution, Obama said, is simple: Democrats need to get out and vote.

When we dont vote, when we take our voice for granted, demagogues get out there and they promise simple fixes, the president said in a not-so-subtle jab at the man who succeeded him. Theyll try to pretend like they have answers even when they dont know the problem.

Obamas full speech:

Obama is driving Democratic enthusiasm

Since Obama hit the campaign trail last week, Democrats appear to be more energized than ever during an election year when liberal enthusiasm was already through the roof.

According to polling, the Democratic lead over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot has doubled since the middle of August. A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Democrats with a stunning 14-point edge over the GOP.

At the same time, Trumps approval rating has started to implode, falling back into the 30s as his presidency collapses under the weight of corruption and incompetence. The Midwest, where Trumps razor-thin victories in 2016 propelled him to the presidency, appears to be fueling that drastic decline.

Thats why in Ohio, which Trump carried by eight percentage points two years ago, the Democratic field of candidates  from Richard Cordray to Sherrod Brown  is on the verge of turning the state blue again.

Obamas presence in Ohio on Thursday didnt just energize voters in a state he carried twice, but it also offered a stark reminder of just how far the country has fallen in the Trump era. The most effective way to repair the damage Trump has done before its irreversible is to send Democrats to Congress and statehouses in November.

In the Buckeye State, motivated by Barack Obama, it appears voters are ready to do just that.

(Picture from CNNs DJ Judd)

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Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is close to reaching a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday, a new report indicates.

According to ABC News, Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has tentatively agreed to a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller that will head off his upcoming trial, sources familiar with the negotiations tell ABC News.

Of course, none of this means Manafort will be flipping on Trump. In fact, it could mean the opposite as the two mens legal teams have been working closely together on matters related to the Russia investigation.

More from ABC News about the possible plea deal:

The deal is expected to be announced in court Friday, but it remains unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors or is simply conceding to a guilty plea, which would allow him to avoid the stress and expense of trial, according to three sources with knowledge of the discussions. Manafort and his most senior defense attorneys spent more than four hours Thursday in discussions with a team of special prosecutors who are involved in the ongoing investigation into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. ABC News spotted the team arriving in a dark SUV Thursday morning, pulling into a secret entrance out of public view at the building where Special Counsel Robert Mueller is based.

Manafort and Trump are colluding to dodge Mueller

The news that Paul Manafort is nearing a plea deal with Robert Mueller doesnt mean he will necessarily cooperate with the special counsels ongoing Russia investigation. In fact, there are signs that cooperation isnt likely to be part of the agreement.

If the deal does not include cooperation and is simply an attempt to avoid a messy trial, then its clear what the former campaign manager is looking for: a pardon from Trump.

All of this makes sense given the fact that Trumps legal team and Manaforts legal team have been working together in matters related to the Russia investigation. The reason Trumps team doesnt appear at all worried about a possible deal is that they probably helped Manafort craft it  or they are aware of the potential terms.

As MSNBCs Matthew Miller pointed out on Thursday, if the Manafort deal doesnt include cooperation, then its likely that Trumps team offered him something better than Mueller could.

I sure would like to know what the Manafort and Trump lawyers have been discussing through their joint defense agreement. If we see him plea without cooperating, its probably because he got a better deal from Trump. https://t.co/fTx42AV2hy  Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) September 13, 2018

Not to mention the fact that the second potential Manafort trial is more closely related to Russia and the Trump campaign. Its likely the last thing the White House wants to see plastered all over cable news for the next month.

Ultimately, the presidents looking for a guilty plea that can bring him two things: 1. No second Manafort trial; and 2. No cooperation with Mueller on the part of his former campaign manager. Given how much Manafort appears to want a pardon, there is a good chance he will deliver for Trump  especially since their teams have been coordinating.

No matter what the final deal is, one thing is clear: These arent the actions taken by innocent people.

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Instead of walking back Donald Trumps disgusting comments on Thursday that called the Puerto Rico casualty count fake news, the White House doubled down.

In a baffling statement to CNN, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trumps lie from earlier in the day was a response to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.

The full statement via CNNs Kaitlan Collins:

The White House says Trump was responding to the liberal media and San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations when said, with no evidence, that 3,000 people didnt die in Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/sR882Zyjil  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 13, 2018

The claim by the White House that the media is guilty of pushing misinformation comes hours after the president himself did just that by claiming that 3,000 people didnt actually die in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and that its all just a liberal hoax.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

..This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

Trumps Puerto Rico lie could be his most disgusting yet

Trumps Puerto Rico lie was one of his most disgusting yet. Claiming that 3,000 Puerto Rico victims dont exist and its simply a fake news story pushed by Democrats goes well beyond his base level of stupidity. Its disgusting.

This disturbing lie comes at a time when the Atlantic coast is bracing for yet another powerful storm and Trump is removing money from the FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard budget to fund his family separation operations.

With their statement on Thursday, the White House staff once again demonstrated that there is no low to which they wont stoop in order to please their unstable boss.

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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned Trump that if he pardons Manafort, the president will be obstructing justice.

Rep. Schiff said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

Paul Manaforts belated decision to plead guilty, admit the allegations against him, and agree to cooperate with prosecutors is a significant victory for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller not only secures another set of convictions against Trumps campaign manager but the plea and cooperation agreement free up time for Muellers team to focus on other critical parts of the investigation.

Given that Manafort has been party to a joint defense agreement with Trump, held out for a pardon, and admits to conspiring to obstruct justice, the value of his cooperation remains to be seen. But Paul Manafort was involved in or had knowledge of key developments of the Trump campaign, including the Trump Tower meeting in which the campaign expected to receive dirt on Hillary Clinton. If he cooperates fully and truthfully on all matters within the scope of the Special Counsels investigation, Manafort may provide important information and insight into the Trump campaigns links to and possible cooperation with Russia. I would also hope that his cooperation includes testifying before congressional committees.

The evidence presented by the Special Counsels office is overwhelming and should put to rest any idea that Manafort is even remotely deserving of a pardon. If the President moves to pardon Manafort or impede his cooperation in any way, it would constitute an attempt to obstruct justice. Mueller and his team continue to make progress and must be allowed to finish their investigation without interference by President Trump or his Republican allies in Congress.

Adam Schiff Could Be Running The Russia Investigation In A Few Months

Adam Schiffs warning is not empty rhetoric. If Democrats take back the House in less than two months, Rep. Schiff will be running the House Russia investigation. Schiff was telling Trump that a pardon would equal obstruction of justice and put the president on the fast track to impeachment.

House Democrats are expected to wait on Muellers report before they decide on impeachment unless Trump does something extreme to trigger a constitutional crisis, like pardoning Paul Manafort.

If Trump goes there on the Manafort pardon, Democrats will be ready to act, and the result will be what the Trump family fears the most. Donald Trump will be impeached.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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(Reuters)  U.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election as part of a plea deal, prosecutors said on Friday.

Manafort, 69, pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington to two criminal counts, becoming the most prominent former Trump campaign official to strike a plea deal in Muellers investigation.

Trump has denied any collusion with Russian officials by his campaign and has long denounced the investigation as a political witch hunt. Moscow denies U.S. intelligence agency allegations that it interfered in the political process.

(The court documents related to Muellers investigation are at www.justice.gov/sco)

Mueller told Trumps attorneys in March he was continuing to investigate the Republican president but did not consider him a criminal target at this point, the Washington Post reported in early April.

The following is a list of people who have been indicted or convicted or are being investigated:

** On Sept. 7, George Papadopoulos, a former campaign adviser to Trump, was sentenced to 14 days in prison. He had pleaded guilty in October to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts, including a professor who told him the Russians had dirt on Trumps Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton.

According to documents released with his guilty plea,

offered to help set up a meeting with then-candidate Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

** On Aug. 31, Samuel Patten, 47, an American who is the business partner of a Russian national accused by the special counsels office of having ties to Russian intelligence, pleaded guilty to unregistered lobbying for a pro-Kremlin political party in Ukraine. He also agreed to cooperate with investigators.

** On Aug. 21, Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to campaign finance violations and other charges, saying he made payments to influence the 2016 election at the direction of a candidate for federal office. The deal included a possible prison sentence of up to five years and three months.

** Also on Aug. 21, a jury in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, found former Trump campaign chairman Manafort guilty on eight of 18 charges of filing false tax returns, failing to disclose his offshore bank accounts and bank fraud. The judge declared a mistrial on the remaining 10 counts, which were dismissed as part of Manaforts plea deal on Sept. 14 in a second case against him in Washington.

Slideshow (4 Images)

** Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to Trump who was also a close campaign aide, pleaded guilty in December to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russia and agreed to cooperate with Muellers investigation. Mueller and Flynns defense team last month asked for more time before Flynn is sentenced.

** Rick Gates, a former deputy campaign chairman for Trump, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy against the United States and lying to investigators, and agreed to cooperate with the Mueller investigation.

** Alex Van der Zwaan, a lawyer who once worked closely with Manafort and Gates, pleaded guilty in February to lying to Muellers investigators about contacts with an official in the Trump election campaign. Van der Zwaan, the Dutch son-in-law of one of Russias richest men, was sentenced on April 3 to 30 days in prison and fined $20,000.

Manafort to plead guilty in deal with Mueller

** Twelve Russian intelligence officers were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, accused of hacking Democratic Party computer networks in 2016, in the most detailed U.S. accusation yet that Moscow meddled in the presidential election to help Trump. The Russian government has repeatedly denied meddling in the election.

** Thirteen Russians and three Russian entities were indicted in Muellers investigation in February, accused of tampering in the 2016 election to support Trump.

** Richard Pinedo, who was not involved with the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty in a case related to the Mueller probe in February to aiding and abetting interstate and foreign identity fraud by creating, buying and stealing hundreds of bank account numbers that he sold to individuals to use with large digital payment companies. Pinedo made a mistake but had absolutely no knowledge about who was buying the information or their motivations, his lawyer said. Sources familiar with the indictment said Pinedo was named as helping Russian conspirators launder money as well as purchase Facebook ads and pay for rally supplies.

** Konstantin Kilimnik, a Manafort aide in Ukraine and political operative with alleged ties to Russian intelligence, was charged on June 8 with tampering with witnesses about their past lobbying for Ukraines former pro-Russian government.

Compiled by Frances Kerry, Cynthia Osterman, Mohammad Zargham and Susan Heavey; editing by Grant McCool
| BY Ricki Green |

The FireFlies Antipodes is calling for riders for its third tour taking place from 17 to 23 February 2019. The ride covers approximately 1,000km over six gruelling days from Christchurch to Queenstown in New Zealand. Riders are dedicated to raising awareness and fundraising in the media world in aid of Beating Blood Cancers and Leukaemia.

A limited number of places are available. Riding with the spirit and motto For Those Who Suffer, We Ride the tour aims to raise AUD$100,000 for The Snowdome Foundation and its own fight against Blood Cancers. Visit The FireFlies Antipodes website for more details: www.thefirefliesantipodes.com.

After completing The FireFlies Tour across the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival in 2013, Wilf Sweetland, CEO & Partner of Sweetshop brought the tour to Australia and New Zealand. Riders completed the inaugural tour from Christchurch to Queenstown in February 2015 and in 2017 they cycled the 1,000km+ over seven grueling days circumnavigating Tasmania.

Says Sweetland:Fighting for every inch of road is nothing like fighting for every moment of life. Thats why the ride needs to be tough. To date the FireFlies four tours (The FireFlies, The FireFlies West, The FireFlies Antipodes and The FireFlies Patagonia) have raised over AUD3 million globally for those who truly suffer. The support, community and friendships weve now grown around this event are extraordinary.

We are honoured to once again be raising money for The Snowdome Foundation. Its unlocking new treatments into early phase human clinical trials of next generation drugs and therapies and making hope real for the 11,500 Australians diagnosed every year with Blood Cancers.

The call for saddles is now open and welcomes both FireFlies and Virgins  those who have not ridden with The FireFlies before.

To register your interest for The FireFlies Antipodes please email Wilf Sweetland sweetland@thesweetshop.tv.

For corporate sponsorship packages please email Loren Bradley loren@thesweetshop.tv.
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We are following live reports from the Paul Manafort hearing via Twitter. More updates will be added as they occur.

There has been some very important breaking news during this hearing, such as:

Prosecutors say Paul Manaforts plea deal includes 17 page cooperation agreement.

BREAKING: Prosecutors say Paul Manafort's plea deal includes 17 page cooperation agreement.  justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

This is not the only important news coming out of the hearing, which has seen Paul Manafort plead guilty to federal criminal charges.

Early, the judge said this:

Judge Amy Berman Jackson running through the charges that Manafort will plead to. Says counts in Va. case will be dismissed that jury could not agree on.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson running through the charges that Manafort will plead to. Says counts in Va. case will be dismissed that jury could not agree on.  justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

And apparently pleading guilty is not a get out of jail free card.

They will not discuss bond today, so it appears Manafort will remain jailed.

They will not discuss bond today, so it appears Manafort will remain jailed.  justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

Plus

Manafort answers I do when judge asks him he knows what charges he is pleading guilty to in D.C.

Do you still want to plead guilty in this case? Judge asks after lengthy set of questions about charges and rights. Manafort: I do.

Manafort answers "I do" when judge asks him he knows what charges he is pleading guilty to in D.C.  justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

"Do you still want to plead guilty in this case?" Judge asks after lengthy set of questions about charges and rights. Manafort: "I do."  justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

So here is what the federal prosecutors have said:

Prosecutor: Mr. Manafort led a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign at the behest of Ukraine and did not file proper notifications. Prosecutor: Mr. Manafort dissuaded company from filing paperwork that they were working as a foreign agent. Prosecutor: Manafort retained group of 4 European heads of state to lobby in the United States on behalf of Ukraine (Hapsburg group). They appeared to be given independent assessments of Ukraine, but were being paid by Ukraine. Prosecutor: In 2013, member of Hapsburg group member lobbied on behalf of Ukraine and traveled to Oval Office to meet with President and Vice President Prosecutor: Manafort orchestrated campaign to leak law firm report on Ukraine to a major unnamed newspaper and then used the article to lobby on behalf of Ukraine. Prosecutor: Manafort paid $4.6M for report from law firm that became lobbying tool. Wired money from offshore account to pay for it. Was only reported as costing $12,000. Prosecutor: Manafort personally met with a member of Congress who had oversight of Ukraine relationship. Then prepared a report on meeting that was sent to Yanukovych. Prosecutor: Mr. Gates and Mr. Manafort caused false letters to be submitted to DOJ through their (unwitting) attorneys. Letters said DMIs meetings did not include meetings in US and DMI did not have documents to share with authorities. Prosecutor: Manafort actually had incriminating documents in possession that were later found during search of his Va. home. As prosecutor runs through evidence of crimes, Paul Manafort sits nearby with hands folded on his lap. No reaction or sign of emotion on his face. Prosecutor: Manafort surrendering numerous homes/apartments in New York and money in bank accounts as part of plea deal. Prosecutor: Manafort reached out to people through Konstantin Kilimnik to try to influence witnesses who were slated to testify against him. Prosecutor has now finished recitation of evidence. Manafort and his attorney are approaching lectern. Manafort on whether lengthy list of evidence presented against him was correct: I did. It is. Judge is now running through plea agreement again, making sure Manafort understands it. Perhaps a bit of irony on behalf of the Special Counsel: Paul Manafort will be forced to give up his Trump Tower apartment in New York. Judge says Manafort will not be sentenced today. Manafort agreed to cooperate fully and truthfully with Muellers office. Judge says Manafort will be detained at least until sentencing. Judge asks one last time whether Manafort wants to go to trial or plead guilty. Manafort: I plead guilty. Hearing over.

Concerning forfeiture of Manaforts assets, reports say that as part of his guilty plea agreement the former Trump campaign chairman will forfeit four homes: three in New York and one in Virginia. He will also forfeit to the government a life insurance policy and four accounts at different financial institutions. According to New York Magazine, the total value of assets he is forfeiting is $46 million.
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Just minutes ago NBC News reported that former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has pleaded guilty to federal charges and reached a plea deal with prosecutors. They provided a link to a video discussing this breaking development on their news website.

WATCH: NBC News Special Report: Paul Manafort has agreed with federal prosecutors to plead guilty in Mueller investigation

WATCH: NBC News Special Report: Paul Manafort has agreed with federal prosecutors to plead guilty in Mueller investigation. https://t.co/BMFRd4yMp9 pic.twitter.com/7IJawFpqYu  NBC News (@NBCNews) September 14, 2018

This is a breaking story and PoliticusUSA will provide more details as they become available for our readers.

Earlier this morning NBC News had reported that a Manafort plea deal with prosecutors was imminent.

Here is the earlier NBC News report:

Paul Manafort, formerly President Donald Trumps campaign chairman, is expected to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge that accused him of money laundering, tax fraud, and lying to investigators, according to a document filed in federal court.

A charging document was filed Friday in the District of Columbia, which accuses Manafort, 69, of participating in a conspiracy against the United States  money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lying and misrepresenting to the Department of Justice. He is also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, involving witness tampering.

The plea deal pertains to the second of Manaforts two federal trials. Jury selection for the trial, in a Washington federal court, had been scheduled to start Monday. Manafort is due to appear at a preliminary hearing for the trial Friday at 11 a.m.

Paul Manafort was Donald Trumps campaign chairman for six months during the 2016 presidential campaign. He is known to have ties to Russian oligarchs and other shady characters throughout the world. Nearly one year ago he was indicted on 20 different federal criminal charges by special counsel Robert Mueller. In August his first criminal trial was completed and he was found guilty on eight criminal charges.

10 a.m. Update: Paul Manafort and his attorneys met with federal prosecutors this morning and reached a plea agreement, which means that Manfort has pleaded guilty to at least some of the criminal charges against him.

Manafort will have a hearing with Judge Amy Berman Jackson this morning at 11 a.m. when she will review the plea agreement.

Manaforts guilty pleas, and his agreement with the prosecutors, will not be official until approved by Judge Jackson.

Once the guilty plea is official, the media will receive the details of the deal, including a possible cooperation agreement.
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Paul Manafort hand-picked Mike Pence to be Trumps VP nominee, so Manaforts flip could be very bad news for the vice president.

Laurence Tribe tweeted:

Anyone recall who hand-picked Pence as Trumps VP? Paul Manafort. And recall who led the squirrely transition? Mike Pence. Watch what unfolds as Manafort tells Mueller all he knows!  Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) September 14, 2018

Mike Pence also has a Russia problem

One of the most overlooked aspects of the Russia scandal is the central role that Vice President Pence played in the campaign and transition. MSNBCs Rachel Maddow has been hammering away that the Pence role in the Russia scandal for more than a year.

Maddow said, Vice President Mike Pence has made a number of blunt, direct false statements related to the Trump Russia investigation both during the transition and since he was vice president. When controversy started to swirl around Mike Flynn because of his foreign contacts, Mike Pence bluntly asserted that the Trump transition did not apply for a security clearance for Mike Flynns son. They had actually applied for a security clearance for Mike Flynns son. After the president fired the FBI Director, Mike Pence bluntly asserted that the decision to fire James Comey was based on a recommendation from the Deputy Attorney General. The President himself and reportedly the Deputy Attorney General himself now today have both made clear that that was not the reason James Comey was fired.

Rep. Adam Schiff has explained why Pence is going down with Trump in the Russia scandal.

There Is A Manafort/Pence Connection

People like Mike Flynn and Paul Manafort know how involved Pence was in any potential activities with Russia. The nation is concentrating on how bad Manaforts flip and cooperation is for Trump, but dont ignore that each flip is bad for Mike Pence. The vice president isnt going to escape this scandal unscathed. If Trump goes down, Mike Pence is going with him.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
Yesterday, while Florence and Donald were making headlines, another story was picking up steam that could derail the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the morning we reported that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she has referred Kavanaugh to federal authorities for investigation.

Feinstein issued a statement saying:

I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.

That the FBI was looking into Kavanaughs past sexual misconduct was disclosed just before the Senate Judiciary Committee was prepared to vote on his nomination.

During the day more information came out about the sexual misconduct charges. We know that the allegations relate to sexual misconduct between Kavanaugh and an unidentified woman when they were both in high school.

There is no actual criminal investigation, but according to the Washington Post:

The FBI passed the material to the White House as an update to Kavanaughs background check, which already has been completed, the person said. The move is similar to what the bureau did when allegations were leveled against former White House aide Rob Porter, who resigned earlier this year after the emergence of domestic abuse accusations from two former wives.

Once the White House received the material from the FBI, which it did early Thursday afternoon, it sent the information to the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to an administration official.

Upon receipt of the information on the night of Sept. 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaughs background file, as per the standard process, an FBI spokesperson said. The Justice Department declined to comment.

If two Republicans announce that they wont vote for Kavanaugh it will kill his nomination. The two Republicans are likely to be Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, both of whom claim to be pro-choice, and neither of whom has announced that they will vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

Democrats hope that Collins, who is up for reelection in two years in Maine, will realize that she needs to vote no on Kavanaugh in order to save her political career. Moderates in her state wont forget if she helps put the swing vote on the Supreme Court who overturns Roe v Wade.

Murkowski is also pro-choice and faces the additional complication of Kavanaugh not believing in indigenous rights. Alaska Natives are one of Murkowskis strongest constituencies, and they have publicly called on her to reject Kavanaugh.

But now Collins and Murkowski are facing the prospect of having to vote for a Supreme Court nominee whos just been accused of sexual assault. (We are assuming the sexual misconduct outlined in the letter is very serious and probably describes some form of sexual assault or the FBI would not have given it any credence.)

Even though there is no FBI investigation they thought it was serious enough to include in his official background file.

It means the FBI views this sexual assault allegation as a credible matter, and not as some kind of hoax.

All that Collins and Murkowski have to do is announce that they cant vote for a guy who appears to have been credibly charged with sexual assault. At that point the Brett Kavanaugh nomination would die. It is still not too late for Senators Collins and Murkowski to do the right thing and reject Brett Kavanaugh.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg surveys a drainage canal that runs under Bees Ferry Road on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Tecklenburg and his wife Sandy toured the flooded areas of West Ashley after Tropical Storm Irma hit. File/Brad Nettles/Staff
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.
4 dead in NC during Florence, including 2 who died when a tree fell on their home
Loaded with moisture from its gallop across the Atlantic, Hurricane Florence slowed to a crawl Friday and Saturday as it spun through the Carolinas, killing at least eight people, knocking out power to nearly a million customers and drenching areas from the Outer Banks to northern Charleston County.

After making landfall in Wilmington, N.C., as a Category 1 hurricane, Florence moved at a walking pace toward the border of South Carolina. Along its path, the storms long spiraling bands dumped staggering amounts of rain.

Rivers across the region swelled, and the storms arrival brought a massive ocean surge in North Carolina  10 feet in New Bern and Morehead City. The flooding prompted dozens of rescues.

And the worst may be yet to come  though not from the wind.

Florence's winds were about 100 mph when it made landfall and they decreased to tropical storm levels early Friday evening. Instead, the threat was from heavy rain  deluges that pounded parts of Myrtle Beach and Wilmington for hours.

By Saturday, rainfall totals had inched into Hurricane Harvey territory, the 2017 storm that dumped more than 50 inches on Houston. A federal gauge on Emerald Isle tallied 47 inches, though some forecasters speculated that ocean spray may have added to the totals.

Yet other rain gauges also recorded astounding totals  more than 25 inches in Jacksonville and 30 inches in Surf City and Wrightsville Beach.

As bands swept across South Carolina Saturday, rain gauges in the Palmetto State began to fill as well, especially in Conway and Myrtle Beach.

Calls for help

For days, Florence had crossed the Atlantic relatively unimpeded by sheer and other hurricane-wreckers. Then closer to land it met a less dramatic but also substantial weather system.

The collision stopped the storms forward motion early Friday. Then, as if stuck on a spinning carnival ride, winds and rain lashed areas in North Carolina over and over.

In New Bern, emergency workers rescued several hundred people from chest-high floodwaters. A woman named Bree tweeted: If anybody could help ... our cars is under water and so is our house stuck in attic. Phone about to die please send help.

As calls for help rolled in, the city vowed via Twitter: You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU.

A friend later tweeted that Bree had been saved.

North of New Bern, the staff of WCTI-TV evacuated their office mid-broadcast on Friday, leaving a spinning radar image of the hurricane on air.

Farther south in Jacksonville, N.C., rescue workers pulled 70 people from the collapsing Triangle Motor Inn. Along the coast, the United Cajun Navy, a group of volunteer boaters that formed in Houston during Hurricane Harvey, made plea after plea for extra help: Calling all Boats in South Carolina ... Need help now!!

The eye arrived in Wilmington just after 7 a.m., and a 105-mph gust blasted the citys airport  the highest wind the city had seen in six decades.

The damage grew by the hour. Winds bent and busted thick-rooted canopy trees and leveled a finger pier near a yacht club. The Cape Fear River roared. Gusts poured over the Wrightsville Beach bridge, carrying rain drops that felt like needles. Downed trees blocked entire streets. On Market Street, winds blew the top off an industrial building.

Injuries and deaths rose with the winds. As the storm made landfall, a large tree fell on a house in Wilmington, killing a woman and her 8-month-old infant.

It trapped the folks in there pretty severely, Wilmington Deputy Fire Chief Steve Mason said. It fell on the house and brought a portion of the roof down, as well.

In South Carolina, a woman died in Union County when her car struck a tree downed by the storm, the Union County Coroner's Office said. In North Carolina, a woman died of a heart attack in Pender County, and two men died in Lenoir County  a 78-year-old man attempting to plug in two electrical cords outside and a 77-year-old man who was blown over by Florences winds, CBS News reported.

Two more deaths in Harkers Island, N.C., were reported Saturday, and more injuries and fatalities were likely as rivers across the region overflowed and trees and power lines came down.

Different scene

As Florence pounded parts of Myrtle Beach and North Carolina, Charleston remained dry for most of Friday, creating a restlessness even as winds picked up.

Charleston's Battery was crowded with families bored after a week without school. Among them were Josh and Jessica Aydlette, who brought their daughters from James Island. The whole week felt sort of eerie, Jessica said  similar in some ways to Christmas Day, when most places close and lots of people get out of town.

The Aydlettes hung around The Weather Channels setup on the High Battery, where a small TV crew waited around for producers to call Charleston for a live shot. They didnt get many; the nations attention was locked farther up the coast. It was slow enough that a few locals posed for photos with the networks microphone and asked the crew: Whats the weather going to be like?

Winds steadily grew downtown, whistling past buildings and whipping a spray of dirt and sand down mostly empty roads. The mornings breeze stiffened into a robust wind, and white caps started churning in the harbor.

As the rain bands approached the tri-county area, officials warned that tropical storm-force winds were blasting Lake Moultrie. By early Saturday, more than 10 inches of rain fell in Conway and Longs and 5 inches in Kingstree. Trees toppled in Myrtle Beach.

State officials were monitoring the region's dams, a few of which failed in the 2015 deluge. Santee Cooper already had released more than 8 billion gallons of water from Lake Moultrie, enough to drop the lake's level by 3 inches. By Saturday, the lower Waccamaw River had risen 7 feet.

The storm was causing havoc with the power grid in both states. About 760,000 lost power in North Carolina, and more than 170,000 in South Carolina, with that number likely to rise overnight. Outages were growing steadily in the Pee Dee.

"Its a very odd-moving storm," said Christina Speciale, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Charleston. Most hurricanes come from the south. "But this one is the other way around with winds coming from the northeast."

Late Friday, it was moving at just 3 mph.

"It's so slow," Speciale said. "And slow-moving storms aren't your friend."

By evening, rain had begun to fall in northern Charleston and Berkeley counties, and these areas were likely to see gusts near 60 mph and 5 inches of rain. The sky turned orange downtown at sunset as the rain clouds unloaded here.

Its overall slow pace meant that in Charleston, tropical storm-force winds  greater than 39 mph  would continue to pick up late Friday night and early Saturday.

Yet Charleston would likely only experience a glancing blow, with rainfall between 2 and 4 inches northeast of Interstate 26 and less to the south. Forecasters said a possible 2- to 4-foot storm surge in the Charleston area likely wouldn't happen. Like a multi-part series, Florence's story would take more time to play out.

Joseph Cranney reported from Wilmington, N.C.; Andrew Knapp and Chloe Johnson reported from Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach; Thad Moore, Gregory Yee, Bo Petersen and Paul Bowers also contributed to this report.
Barreling toward North Carolina with 100 mph winds, Hurricane Florence slowed to a crawl Thursday night as forecasters predicted that "life-threatening" surges and "catastrophic flash flooding" could devastate areas along the storm's still-uncertain path.

Florence had the makings of one of the most intense storms to hit the Carolinas since Hurricane Hugo. But Hugo sped like a cannon ball into South Carolina. Florence was poised to sit over North Carolina and then inch southwest into the Pee Dee.

+5 Hurricane Florence weakens to Category 1 as it heads towards landfall in NC Federal meteorologists couldn't rule out that Florence might make landfall farther south. Three computer models still indicated the storm would straddle the South Carolina coastline before turning in closer to Charleston.

Loaded with moisture, Florence's swirling winds were expected to dump the kind of rain Texas saw when Hurricane Harvey stalled there in 2017.

Some areas between Wilmington, N.C., and North Myrtle Beach could see more than 20 inches, with as much as 40 inches possible in some areas, the National Weather Service said. By 6 p.m., some private weather stations near Morehead City, N.C., had recorded 10 inches of rain before going offline, Weather Underground reported.

By Thursday night, tropical storm warnings were in effect in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, meaning winds greater than 39 mph would arrive by morning. Florence's eye was 25 miles wide, waxing and waning as it wrestled with dry air on its periphery.

The extent of the deluge also was in flux, dependent on the exact twists Florence takes through the state. As the first reports of damage in North Carolina came in, the question remained: How bad would it really get?

The waiting place

Florence began as a wave of air off Africa on Aug. 30, gathering force as it spun across the Atlantic until it formed an eye large enough to be seen from space. By Wednesday, it was a monster, with winds generating waves eight-stories tall and a wind field as large as North and South Carolina combined. By Thursday, this mass of wind and waves had North Carolina in its sights.

About 1.1 million people were under orders to evacuate, and as the first bands of the storm arrived, some were still racing to find shelter or hunker down for what might come.

In North Myrtle Beach, Maurice Floyd originally planned to stay home. The surge there was expected to be 3 to 6 feet, and standing on his porch Thursday, he wondered aloud whether it would reach their first-floor apartment, just 100 yards from the dunes.

+13 'It's in God's hands,' Myrtle Beach-area residents say as Florence nears Grand Strand residents on Thursday rushed to complete last-minute preparations, pack coolers with ice or leave their homes entirely as Hurricane Florence spiraled on their doorstep.

Looking in both directions down his street, he saw his neighborhood was empty now. He doubted whether the X-shaped duct tape would keep his windows from shattering. As his girlfriend, Michelle Bannister, loaded a suitcase and beer into their SUV, he said, No one can hold back this kind of water and rain. The water is going to be terrifying, so the best thing to do is get out."

At Buoys Beach Bar and Grill on South Ocean Boulevard, Weldon Boyd began to imagine what might unfold: The expected surge would fill the bar, marking the yellow exterior somewhere between 3 and 4 feet. He said he'd closed the business Monday  great way to end the summer, he said facetiously.

He took a swig from an orange soda. "I don't know what else to do. We've done everything we can. At this point, it's in God's hands."

Farther south, the Charleston area had a vacant feel. The usual traffic jams were absent. Some businesses had boarded up their windows, but most had closed.

An exception was the Waffle House on Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant. A steady stream of hungry customers flowed in for the limited hurricane menu. A veteran Waffle House waitress with Kandi on her name tag regaled diners with stories of Hurricane Hugo in September of 1989.

"I was working at the Waffle House on Savannah Highway back then, she said. We stayed open all night, but there were only three of us that would come to work. I remembered I laid down crying on the floor."

The winds come

Late Thursday afternoon, Florence churned over the warm flow of the Gulf Stream, potentially giving the storm an extra shot of juice before it made landfall near Wilmington.

Flowing roughly parallel to the coast, the Gulf Stream is a 50-mile wide river in the sea that carries vast amounts of heat from the tropics into the northern Atlantic. By some estimates, the current carries the equivalent heat energy of a million nuclear power plants.

Florence feasted on this heat just as it began to collide with a less dramatic weather system. Stretching from the Great Plains into the Atlantic, it met Florence like a Sumo wrestler.

Florence slowed from a 15 mph clip to less than 5 mph early Thursday night. Forecasters predicted an even more dramatic slowdown by early Friday.

As it slowed, its winds decreased somewhat, though its wind field expanded.

"We have tropical storm force winds 170 miles from the center on one side," said Neil Dixon, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Charleston.

But the storms energy hadnt decreased, he added. Rather, it had dispersed. A similar pattern happened in Hurricane Irma last year and led to widespread damage far away from the storm's eye, including a 4-foot surge in Charleston.

During press conference Thursday, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg cautioned that while Florence had lessened in intensity, it remained a dangerous storm.

Its been kind of a roller coaster ride, hasnt it?

Florence's fury

Late Thursday, the storm's outer bands pounded North Carolina's Outer Banks. Waves crashed through dunes on Nags Head and covered roads with blankets of sand. By 9 p.m., Cape Lookout recorded a 106-mph gust.

Moving south, a foot of rain fell on Atlantic Beach. The water rose quickly on Topsail Beach, with a few residents who stayed capturing footage of waves rolling under their raised homes.

A six-foot surge poured into New Bern. By 4 p.m., the winds had picked up at the abandoned marinas near Wrightsville Beach. The gusts rocked tall blades of sea grass. Boat owners, apparently all gone, left their vessels tied up. A crowd gathered near the empty Dockside restaurant as the rain spitting from gray clouds turned to showers.

The bar was closed, so people brought their own packs of Modelo and Bud Light. They watched the bay water rise nearly overtop the docks of the finger piers. A few birds chirped from nearby trees but didnt leave their nests.

The surge of ocean water could top off at 13 feet above ground level in some areas.

Its quite frightening, said Steven Pfaff, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wilmington.

Expecting a direct hit, the city on Wednesday closed its lone bridge to the beach. Wilmington was under siege.

Holding pattern

In Charleston, clouds marched across the sky from west to east, marking the arrival of Florence's outer bands.

If winds hit 40 mph, emergency officials said they would dispatch ambulances only if the calls were serious. At 50 mph, they would stop altogether until the wind died down.

Charleston had been in a holding pattern for several days as forecasters and their computer models shifted course.

Some models predicted the city would get a glancing blow. In that scenario, the storm would spin into the Pee Dee and then shift north toward the Upstate. Other models predicted a more southerly shift, which would put Charleston at greater risk of rain bombs and storm surges.

Alvin Taylor, director of the state Department of Natural Resources, said the highest area of concern is the Pee Dee basin.

"It will have the greatest rainfall over the shortest period of time," he said. The Great Pee Dee "takes a lot of water from a lot of different rivers. It is the most vulnerable."

The difference between a foot of rain and a few inches is as small as the drive from Georgetown to Charleston. So even slight nudges in the storms path could move the risk of flooding with it.

Inland towns like Bennettsville, Dillon and Marion could be drenched with as much as 2 feet of rain, the National Weather Service warned.

But the risks spread from Charlotte to Charleston: A foot or more could fall around Lancaster, 8 inches is expected in Camden, and half a foot around Sumter and Manning.

The Charleston area, meantime, was straddling the line between modest rains and pounding downpours. The National Weather Service was calling Thursday for 2 to 4 inches of rain south of downtown but as much as 6 to 10 inches in places like Awendaw and McClellanville.

"At the end of the day," Taylor said, "it depends on how much rain falls in one particular area."

Seeking shelter

South Carolina opened 61 shelters statewide, and they were capable of housing more than 35,000 people. But by Thursday afternoon, only 4,300 people had arrived. Michelle Ivey was one of them.

She said she brought her six children to one at a middle school in Berkeley County. She lives in the French Quarter Creek community, where some residents had to be airlifted to safety after a sudden rise in the flood waters swamped homes there in 2015. A normal rain floods the front yard already, she said.

Alberta Gadsden of Cordesville said she came to the shelter as it opened. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew dumped so much rain it knocked a bridge out of commission.

You couldnt get out, Gadsden said. It took us three days to get out to Moncks Corner.

By late Thursday, Florence's winds were continuing to pick up, flooding streets as far north as Norfolk, Va., and generating large swells as far east as Bermuda.

Meantime, in the Charleston area, which has seen three major flood events in three years, residents waited to see what Florence would do in the coming days.

Andrew Knapp and Chloe Johnson reported from Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach; Joseph Cranney reported from Wilmington, N.C. Also contributing to this report were: Bo Petersen, Paul Bowers, Jeff Hartsell, Hannah Alani, David Slade, Seanna Adcox in Columbia, Greg Yee and Thad Moore.
Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 10:46PM

Apples HomePod speaker recently got a software update that brings some useful new features to it. One is that it now gets support for Canadian French in Canada and Spanish in the U.S., Spain, and Mexico. On top of this, you can now ask Siri to do more. You can now ask it to search songs by lyrics (in English), set multiple timers, make or receive calls, help locate your iPhone with Find My iPhone feature, and access Siri Shortcuts. An example Apple gives is, you can say Hey Siri, good morning and it can go through your morning routine and do things like order coffee from a coffee shops app, turn on the kitchen lights from the Home app, and share the first few calendar appointments for the dayall with one simple, customizable command.
At 11 p.m. Thursday, Hurricane Florence had weakened to Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds off the North Carolina coast.

The storm continued creeping at 6 mph to the northwest. Federal forecasters expected it to turn overnight to move more westward then begin to crawl down the coast toward the South Carolina-North Carolina border, where earlier forecasts suggested it would move inland on Friday.

But federal meteorologists couldn't rule out that Florence might make landfall farther south. Three computer models still indicated the storm would straddle the South Carolina coastline before turning in closer to Charleston.

"While that is not shown by the official forecast, it cannot yet be ruled out as a possibility," said National Hurricane Center specialist Robbie Berg.

Florence was 50 miles south of Morehead City and 60 miles east southeast of Wilmington. Its wind field continued to span 80 miles at hurricane force and 195 miles at tropical storm force.

The North Carolina coast was getting hammered. A wind instrument at Fort Macon, in Atlantic Beach outside Morehead City, was registering 77 mph winds and gusts near 100 mph, according to Charleston-based meteorologist Shea Gibson, of the private companyWeatherFlow.

The National Weather Service reported a storm surge of 10 feet in the Neuse River near New Bern.

A flare-up of thunderstorms before 7 p.m. Thursday, stirred by the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, had meteorologists watching to see if the already dangerous storm regained any strength, but the 8 p.m. National Hurricane Center advisory kept its winds at 100 mph, a Category 2 hurricane.

Earlier, tropical storm warnings were issued for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties Thursday afternoon.

A warning means those conditions can be expected within 36 hours. Tropical storm winds are 39 mph or stronger. The Weather Service office in Charleston called for 35 to 45 mph by Friday morning, with gusts up to 55 mph.

The main threat for most of South Carolina continues to be flooding rains as the storm moves across at least the upper portions of the state on Saturday and Sunday, as well as river flooding later in the week.

Bands of torrential rain associated with #Florence are expected to move into the Charleston tri-county area Friday, peaking Friday night into Saturday. @NWSWPC has that area outlined in a Slight to Moderate risk for excessive rainfall. #scwx #chswx pic.twitter.com/lXR2aNRCM9  NWS Charleston, SC (@NWSCharlestonSC) September 13, 2018

The area of greatest concern for river flooding will be the Pee Dee River basin, said Alvin Taylor, S.C. Department of Natural Resources director.

"It will have the greatest rainfall over the shortest period of time," he said. That plus downstream flow from North Carolina could cause problems, as the Little Pee Dee and Lumber rivers did after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, when inland Horry County towns flooded.

The Great Pee Dee "takes a lot of water from a lot of different rivers. It is the most vulnerable," Taylor said. After that, the Catawba and then the Edisto River basins are priorities. But he said that may change once the rain starts falling, as his agency will get real-time information.

"At the end of the day, it depends on how much rain falls in one particular area," Taylor said.

On Thursday afternoon, the Hurricane Center advisory estimated the Pee Dee region in the northeastern part of South Carolina could see anywhere from 20 to 40 inches of downpour. The rest of the state could see anywhere from 6 to 12 inches.

The hurricane was 100 miles east southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, and 155 miles east of Myrtle Beach. It had lost a little more strength but was still a Category 2 storm capable of extensive damage.

At 5 p.m. Florence had slowed to a crawl and maybe stalled, an expected development.

The storm was forecast to stall off North Carolina near the South Carolina border, raking the coast before making landfall. The area of uncertainty for landfall still extended over most of the South Carolina coast because the storm could drift south before coming in.

The Hurricane Center forecast track called for Florence to diminish to a tropical storm by early Saturday after landfall, said Hurricane Center specialist Stacy Stewart.

"After landfall occurs, rapid weaning of the stronger inner-core wind field is expected to due land interaction and Florence's slow forward speed," Stewart said.

"However, intense rain bands are expected to develop over the Atlantic waters and keep moving along the coast and inland, likely producing strong wind gusts through Saturday night," he said.

For the Charleston area, once winds hits 40 mph medical services will be off the road or responding only to serious calls. At 50 mph, the vehicles get off the road no matter how serious the call might be.

"If you are frail or you need medical attention, the best thing to do is to not be in the area where the storm is," said Charleston County EMS Director David Abrams. "Be in a place where you can get the services you are accustomed to, for the health and safety of you and your family."

As of Thursday afternoon, there were no plans to close the Ravenel Bridge between Mount Pleasant and Charleston. Isle of Palms doubled police and fire staff on-duty. Mount Pleasant put police on 12-hour shifts.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg cautioned that while Florence had lessened in intensity, it remains a dangerous storm.

Its been kind of a roller coaster ride, hasnt it? Tecklenburg said.

The Weather Service in Charleston on Thursday morning called for:

The possibility of tropical storm force winds and/or wind gusts up to 45 to 50 mph over parts of Charleston and Berkeley Counties as early as late Friday morning.

Conditions should gradually deteriorate in regards to showers and a few thunderstorms over the tri-county area Friday afternoon.

Rain around 2.5 inches nudges into the area from the north Friday.

Biggest effect of the storm Saturday into Sunday, rain 2.5 to 3 inches.

More than 10 million people were under hurricane warnings or watches in the Carolinas and Virginia, while Georgia declared a state of emergency as well.

In South Carolina, hurricane warnings extended as far south as the Santee River near McClellanville and hurricane watches as far south as Edisto Beach.

"Aircraft and satellite wind data show that Florence is a large hurricane. Life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall, and damaging wind will cover a large area regardless of exactly where the center of Florence moves," said Hurricane Center specialist Daniel Brown.

In Berkeley County, the Charleston area county maybe closest to the threat from the storm's winds and rain, the middle school shelter in Moncks Corner still had plenty of room at midday Thursday. But flooding rains were a concern. Most low-lying tracts of the county were underwater during the historic flood in 2015.

Michelle Ivey brought her six children to the shelter for their safety because she lives in the French Quarter Creek community, where some residents had to be airlifted to safety after a sudden rise in the flood waters swamped homes.

"Rain floods the front yard already," she said.

In the shelter too was rural Cordesville resident Alberta Gadsden, who said she came as soon as it opened and was thankful to be there. When it comes to flooding, her community scares her these days.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew dumped enough rain to significantly flood Cordesville and put a bridge out of commission that residents rely on to get to and from the community.

You couldnt get out, Gadsden said. It took us three days to get out to Moncks Corner.

Meteorologist Jeff Masters, with the private company Weather Underground, said that on Thursday night "Florence will put on the brakes and screech to a halt as the steering currents collapse."

On Friday and beyond, he said, "Slight changes in the balance between these (air pressure currents) guiding the hurricane will make a huge difference in where the hurricane makes landfall. This makes the exact landfall location difficult to predict accurately."

Rain predictions varied. The official Hurricane Center outlook called for anywhere from 5 to 20 inches of rain across South Carolina and anywhere from 20 to 40 inches across North Carolina.

The storm surge could be as high as 4 feet near Charleston, as much as 6 feet in Myrtle Beach and as much as 13 feet in North Carolina.

David, Slade, Andrew Knapp, Seanna Adcox, Paul Bowers and Greg Yee contributed to this report.
Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine.
Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune.
COLUMBIA  State officials are preparing for the possibility that major roads in the Myrtle Beach area could get washed out due to catastrophic flooding.

One of the main concerns is the Waccamaw River, which U.S. Hwy. 501 crosses south of Conway. That's a main artery into and out of the Grand Strand, needed to get electric crews, first responders and National Guard personnel to the coast battered by the storm.

The Waccamaw is expected to go past major flooding stage Monday and approach the record crest of 17.9 feet as of Wednesday, according to forecasts.

The Waccamaw also flows under S.C. Hwy. 22  a bypass north of Conway off U.S. 501 to and from North Myrtle Beach  and S.C. 9, another route to the Grand Strand's northern tip.

Roads closer to Myrtle Beach are also expected be washed out by storm surge and flooding.

The Grand Strand could see up to 25 inches of rain, which will bring heavy flash flooding to those in low-lying areas" that could be deadly, said John Quagliariello, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Horry and Georgetown counties could also get storm surges of up to 6 feet, he said.

After the storm passes, the Department of Transportation's initial focus will be to "cut our way back into the areas," putting a priority on opening interstates, major highways and access to critical facilities like hospitals and shelters. The focus will then turn to flooded roadways, DOT Secretary Christy Hall said during a briefing Friday.

Bridges and causeways along the Lumber, Little Pee Dee and Wacammaw rivers are of particular concern, she said. She declined to name any specific roads the agency is monitoring along those rivers or elsewhere.

"Were very concerned about the road network that goes into the Myrtle Beach area because it is so low lying, and its a possibility that area could get cut off," Adjutant General Bob Livingston told The Post and Courier on Friday.

Officials are "looking at ways to get back into that area, either through establishing a route in by land or by water or by air. If we have to, we'll bring supplies in by helicopters or aircraft," said Livingston, the head of the South Carolina National Guard.

Washed-out roads could affect more than Horry County. Officials are preparing for communities in Georgetown and Marion counties to be isolated too. Food, fuel and water will be taken to those areas in advance of the flooding, said Kim Stinson, director of the state Emergency Management Division.

State and local officials are still coordinating on where to take the supplies and how to re-supply once the floodwaters arrive, he said.

Livingston said aircraft can fly in minor tropical force winds up to 40 mph winds to help save stranded people.

"As soon as were able, well start running reconnaissance missions up and down the flood-prone areas looking for people in distress," Livingston said.

The adjutant general said nearly 10,000 state employees are stationed along the coast, including 3,600 National Guard soldiers positioned east of Interstate 95, with swift-water and aerial-rescue teams.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, nearly 67,000 homes were without power, about three-fourths of them in Horry County. The other outages were in Dillon, Marion and Florence counties, according to the Office of Regulatory Staff.

Crews with Santee Cooper, the utility that supplies power to Myrtle Beach, are already in the area, said utility spokeswoman Mollie Gore.

"We will be watching this situation, but if navigation around the area is significantly curtailed, that would slow down our recovery efforts," she said.

Portions of the state, particularly in the Pee Dee, will be without power for days or "maybe even weeks," said Gov. Henry McMaster.

"People cannot get in to fix those things until the rains gone and the waters gone, so this is going to be a very trying period," he said. "Were going to have to have patience."
Stoney Williamson unloads a generator for his brother-in-law (at back), whose home flooded two years ago from Hurricane Matthew, as Harry Campbell (left) looks on in Nichols on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, as Hurricane Florence approaches the east coast. David Goldman/AP
BALTIMORE  For three decades, the late journalist Rob Hiaasen devoted his nights and weekends to crafting a "float plan"  the nautical term for a written itinerary for a journey taken by water. When a boat goes missing, a float plan guides the people left behind on the steps they should take to recover the captain and crew.

Hiaasen, 59, who was gunned down June 28 along with four co-workers in the Capital Gazette newsroom, thought he was writing a novel, a fictional love letter to the city of Annapolis and to the people he cherished  in particular, to Maria, his wife of 33 years. He didnt realize he was creating a kind of float plan in reverse, a manual that could rescue not him but his family.

The resulting novel (titled not coincidentally "Float Plan") is being released Saturday by Loyola University Marylands Apprentice House Press. Proceeds will be donated to Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group that aims to build safer communities by ending gun violence.

The million and one decisions involved in shepherding "Float Plan" through production also provided Hiaasens wife and children with a clearly defined project to tackle in the rudderless weeks following his death.

The editor and columnist had dreamed all his life of becoming a published novelist. Now, his family could help him accomplish his goal.

"This book," Maria Hiaasen said, "is whats been keeping me afloat." She laughed a little, then said, "Were back to that title, Float Plan. Rob strikes again."

The novel tells the story of a sweet-natured, feckless high school algebra teacher named Will Larkin. In one disastrous year, Will loses his marriage, job, boat and basset hound while watching his father gradually succumb to Alzheimers disease. But just when Will is most adrift, he meets the human equivalent of a buoy  the vet tech Parker Cool.

"Float Plan" is a rueful smile of a book that acknowledges that human frailty is the source of comedy by exploring, for instance, what might motivate an otherwise rational man to attack his neighbors gazebo with a chainsaw.

"This book is a tremendous burst of sunshine for Robs whole family," the authors older brother Carl Hiaasen said. "His voice, his wit, his way of looking at the world, everything that made Rob such a warm and luminous presence  its all there."

Maria Hiaasen said her husband had been writing "Float Plan" on and off for a decade.

He submitted various drafts to several publishers over the years without success.

She works as a teacher, and in the novels foreword, she describes the Saturday morning routine in the familys Timonium, Md., home:

"As I awoke to coffee and a short stack of high school English papers to grade in the kitchen, Id hear Rob on his laptop in the living room, tapping out his narrative," she writes. "He seized and used creative writing opportunities when and where he found them."

Hiassen filled moleskin notebooks with notations about his characters which he left on his bedroom nightstand, in his briefcase and in his car. Occasionally hed become frustrated with his inability to publish "Float Plan" and put the novel down for months at a time, only to eventually resume tinkering.

Apprentice House, Loyolas student-run publishing company, originally took a pass on "Float Plan" because the press specializes in nonfiction. But several of Hiaasens newspaper columns were published after the shooting, and they prompted Apprentice House director Kevin Atticks to take another look at the novel. He said he concluded that "Float Plan" "is a long-form example of the writing that endeared so many readers to Robs columns."

A collection of those columns also is being planned for release later this year.

Hiaasen loved being a journalist, but fiction was his favorite literary form. As far back as 1989, he wrote in a journal he was keeping for his then-infant son, Ben:

"This preoccupation of mine to be a novelist haunts me. It preys on my insecurities as a writer."

By "insecurities," Rob Hiaasen partly meant that he feared he lacked the discipline to complete a novel  a project requiring a huge investment of time and effort, accompanied by the high likelihood of rejection. But his self-doubts also were fueled by comparisons between his career and his elder brothers stratospheric success.

"Lets be honest," Maria Hiaasen said. "Its tough to be the younger brother of a famous writer."

Carl Hiaasen, a longtime columnist for the Miami Herald, would be a difficult act for any aspiring novelist to follow.

His two-dozen adult novels (mostly humorous crime fiction) debut regularly on the New York Times bestseller list and have been translated into 34 languages. One novel, "Strip Tease" was made into a 1996 movie starring Demi Moore. Carl Hiaasens first book for children received was a Newbery Honor, and another was long listed for the National Book Award in young peoples literature. Carl Hiaasen co-wrote the lyrics of three songs with famed L.A. rocker Warren Zevon, and he appears frequently on such programs as The Today Show and CBS Sunday Morning.

No wonder Rob Hiaasen once interviewed other lesser-known brothers of famous siblings (including Cal Ripken Jr.s brother, Billy) for an article published in 1996 in The Baltimore Sun, where he spent 15 years as a features writer.

"You cant hit or write your way out of a shadow," he wrote. "Its better to be yourself "

The brothers were keenly aware of the shade cast by Carl Hiaasens success. In different ways, it penalized them both.

"Rob was a wonderful feature writer and a hell of a reporter, and the comparisons between us were unfair," Carl Hiaasen said. "I was older and I got there first, thats all. Our styles are so different. Theres nothing I could have taught Rob about writing and much I could have learned from him."

What makes Robs writing special, Carl Hiaasen said, was his younger brothers willingness to expose his flaws.

"Robs writing is introspective and personal and vulnerable in a way that my writing is not," he said. "I admire that enormously. He was fearless about opening himself up."

As often happens when people hit midlife, Rob Hiaasen eventually became comfortable with who he was  all 6 feet, 5 inches of him. Maria Hiaasen writes that her husband frequently quoted the psychologist Erich Fromms famous saying that "the purpose of life is to give birth to yourself." Rob Hiaasen spent Saturday mornings at his dining room table because writing brought him joy, and that was reason enough to do it  even if his novel never found a publisher.

Along the way, Hiaasen found mentors who appreciated what he had to offer. One was the English teacher from his Florida high school, whom he memorialized in a 2012 Capital Gazette column.

"She called him Bob, which was never his name," Hiaasen wrote in the third person. "She could have called him Hank or Gretchen or Dead Fish Face. It wouldnt have mattered. What mattered  matters  is Mrs. Chisholm made Bob believe he could be a writer. Long before editors and agents and even friends read him, Mrs. Chisholm was Bobs readership  an empire of one."

Hiaasen moved to Maryland in 1993 and fell under the spell of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Anne Tyler. Both like to write stories about offbeat, unassuming people  workers harvesting berries from trees or a strolling violinist who was a veteran of D-Day.

He wanted to get to know Tyler. He wrote her a note requesting that they meet for tea. She said no. Hiaasen kept writing, over a period of years. She declined, over a period of years. But Tyler gradually became struck by her correspondents warmth, charm and grace. She changed her mind, and the two became friends.

"The qualities I admired in his fiction were the same ones I admired in his newspaper writing," Tyler wrote in an email, "close attention to the details of ordinary life, a subtle sense of humor, and above all, a genuine fondness for each and every one of the people he wrote about."

She continued: "I hope youll include in your story a note about how we can all get hold of a copy of Float Plan. Im eager to read it."

(The novel can be pre-ordered at aerbook.com and at amazon.com for $18.99.)

Readers who havent met Hiaasen can enjoy Will Larkins attempts to work out an equation for his life. But for those who knew Hiaasen, the novel is much richer. Hiaasen was grateful for every drop of affection he ever received, and "Float Plan" is his tribute to his family and friends.

The books two main characters bear more than a passing resemblance to Rob and Maria Hiaasen. The author assigned the names of his daughters, Sam and Hannah, to two minor characters, while Maria Hiaasen said that the couple seriously considered "Will" as a name for their only son before deciding that they preferred Ben.

Mrs. Chisholm makes an appearance, and Maria Hiaasen said that Wills friend Mack is modeled on the Paul Stiff, the best man at the Hiaasens wedding. "Float Plans" final page even contains the subtlest of nods to Tyler.

When Maria Hiaasen wants to remember how much her husband loved her, all shell have to do is crack open his book.

"I had to reread the manuscript to write the introduction," she said, "and it was like Rob was right there in the room. That makes Float Plan a priceless work of art for me."
Helping Your Child Succeed

During the parent-teacher conferences last week, many parents were informed that their children were not performing well or falling behind in  Read more
Cape Coral Pet Vet to host Black Ties & Tails Masquerade Ball

Cape Coral Pet Vet will present a Black Ties & Tails Masquerade Ball, a benefit for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Saturday, Sept. 29, from 7-11 p.m., at La Venezia Ballroom, 4646 S.E. 10th Place, Cape Coral.

Tickets are available through Saturday, Sept. 15, and may be purchased at bidpal.net/blacktiesandtails. Dress is black tie preferred. The event will feature a full dinner, open bar, live band, photo station, wine toss, diamond drop, guest speakers and auction items.

Cape Coral Animal Shelter is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization creating a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter in the city.

Cape Coral Pet Vet, an animal hospital celebrating its 10th anniversary, is located at 428 Del Prado Blvd., N., suite 111, Cape Coral, FL 33990. For more information, call 239-772-2009 or visit capecoralpetvet.com

OneLee Promotion encourages residents to support local businesses

A countywide campaign aims to help local businesses impacted by the red tide and algal blooms.

The promotion  OneLee  contains dozens of deals from area businesses to motivate residents to dine, shop and play locally. Residents are encouraged to use #onelee in their social media posts to support this movement.

The past few months have been very challenging for our community and our tourist industry, said Com-missioner Cecil Pendergrass, chairman of both the Tourist Development Council and the Lee Board of County Commissioners. We need to spend money at our local shops and restaurants in support of the businesses and employees who have lost significant income due to harmful algae blooms.

Many of the online deals will be from businesses in coastal communities such as Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel & Captiva islands and Bonita Beach, which have suffered severe economic losses. The deals will launch Saturday, Sept. 15.

For businesses to post a deal: email Leevcb@lee gov.com. The deal should be active for at least 30 days. Any current deals or new deals are eligible. Include deal details and at least one image.

To find deals: Starting Saturday visit FortMyers-Sanibel.com/onelee

Waichulis appointed to Lee County Tourist Development Council

The Lee Board of County Commissioners appointed Bill Waichulis to the Lee County Tourist Development Council at its Aug. 21 meeting.

Waichulis has served as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the TDC since February 2015, representing the Visit Florida board of directors. He replaces Ren Affourtit, who retired June 14 after serving 18 years on the TDC board. Waichulis is senior vice president of operations with the Florida Resort Division of Boykin Management Co. He previously was general manager of Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina and served as director of operations at South Seas Island Resort.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners established the nine-member TDC in 1983 to increase off-season tourism to Lee County. For more information about the TDC, visit www.leevcb.com.

Dress for Success SW Florida Entrepreneurial Spirit Program Oct. 6

Nickole Hendra, executive director of Dress for Success SW Florida is offering the Entrepreneurial Spirit Program (E$P) to provide future women business owners with the tools and support they need to succeed in their career.

The event, which was originally scheduled to take place in August, has been rescheduled to be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. at 8961 Conference Drive in Fort Myers.

The E$P Dream Team includes four prominent women in the community, who will each cover specific topics that will help inspire and prepare future business owners:

Angela Cooley, partner at Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A., will discuss business accounting.

Christina Harris Schwinn, partner at Pavese Law Firm, will discuss legal documentation and incorporation.

Barbara Melvin, vice president and community lender at First Florida Integrity Bank, will discuss small business lending and SBA loans.

Connie Ramos-Williams, president and chief marketing officer of CONRIC PR & Marketing, will discuss new business branding and marketing.

All attendees will receive a certification of completion. A suggested donation of $25 to Dress for Success includes continental breakfast and lunch. Limited seating is available, and reservations are required. For more information or to RSVP, call 239-689-4992.

Dress for Success SW Florida is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 150 cities in 23 countries and has helped more than 1 million women work towards self-sufficiency, while providing career ward-robes, employment counseling and mentoring. Dress for Success SW Florida is at 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 153, Fort Myers in the Pinebrook Plaza. For information on Dress for Success SW Florida, email swflorida@dressforsuccess.org, call 239-689-4992 or visit swflorida.dressforsuccess.org.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner supports Bikers for Babies event

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured is teaming up with the March of Dimes and motorcycle riders across Southwest Florida to sponsor the 18th Annual Southwest Florida March of Dimes Bikers for Babies event. Bruce L. Scheiner and son P.J. Scheiner, a trial attorney for the firm, are co-chairs of the police-escorted motorcycle ride on Nov. 4 from North Collier Regional Park to Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee.

Bikers for Babies has raised more than $2 million in Southwest Florida since 2001 to support medical treatments and education geared to help more mothers have full-term pregnancies and stronger, healthier babies.

About 1,500 bikers are expected to take part in this years ride, which will be the only March of Dimes Bikers for Babies event in the U.S.

The goal is to raise $150,000 for the March of Dimes, which invests 76 cents of every dollar in research and support for programs that help babies begin healthy lives. Learn more about how the funds are distributed at marchforbabies.org/waystohelp.

All licensed motorcyclists are eligible to take part. To find out how to get involved, call the firm at 800-283-2900 or the March of Dimes at 239-271-2564.

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, was founded in 1971 by Bruce L. Scheiner and his wife, Cheryl Scheiner. Both continue to work alongside their son, P.J. Scheiner, who joined the firm as a trial attorney in 2007. Call 800-283-2900 or visit www.blslawyers.com.

Alliance of the Arts to host Arts On Tap fundraiser Oct. 20

The Alliance for the Arts will host its annual fundraiser, Arts On Tap, Saturday, Oct. 20, on the Alliance campus at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, from 7-10 p.m. Arts On Tap, now in its second year, is a taste of creativity in the Alliance gallery featuring the craft of local brewers benefiting the Alliance for the Arts.

Participating crafters include Big Blue Brewing, Bury Me Brewing, Coastal Dayz Brewery, Eight Foot Brewing, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Momentum Brewhouse, Palm City Brewing, Point Ybel Brewing Company and Scottys Bierwerks and culinary creations from Cristofs and University Grill. For one night only, guests can delight their senses with locally-handcrafted beers, hand-selected wines and culinary creations against a vibrant backdrop of local art, our Dia de los Muertos Exhibit.

The event also features two new brews from creative collaborations between the Alliance and award-winning brewmasters from Palm City and Point Ybel.

Participating featured artists include David Acevedo, Cesar Aguilera, Jeff and Dale Ocasio, Guy Tieman, Amy Matsumoto, Rich Bravo, Terry Lynn Spry, Leo and Krista Johnson and Barbara Yeomans.

Tickets are $75 and include unlimited tastings from participating breweries, wine, culinary creations, pub snacks, gallery admission, music, games, a silent auction and a raffle. The first 75 guests to purchase a ticket will receive an exclusive Support Local pint glass. Arts On Tap is for ages 21 and older. A state-issued form of I.D. is required.

Arts On Tap is a fundraising event for the Alliance for the Arts, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers. Since 1975, the Alliance has been transforming lives and improving community through the arts. Event proceeds support a creative hub that spurs self-expression, imagination and individuality.

For more information, call 239-939-2787 or visit ArtInLee.org/OnTap.
Members of Guam's closely knit boating community is mourning the loss of one of their own.

Longtime Marianas Yacht Club member Bob Jordan was found dead in his boat around 6:58 Tuesday morning after Typhoon Mangkhut hit the island Monday night. The boat landed on mangroves after it broke off from its mooring in Sasa Bay in Piti.

"Bob was found on board and unresponsive when two people from the club started looking for his boat shortly after daylight," according a letter from the club leadership to its members.

"Bob Jordan has been a longtime member of MYC and has been serving on the board as the first rear commodore  docks and harbors  for several years," the letter states. "Bob has been a key person in maintenance around the club and has been the main (point of contact) for visiting yachts. His contribution to Marianas Yacht Club will be sorely missed."

"Those of us who worked with him on various projects, race committees, repairs and improvements, channel marker installation, and just about everything else, understand the sizable load he carried," the letter to the membership states.

The Guam Police Department has conducted a death investigation.

Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Tapao said the police investigation was waiting on autopsy results from the medical examiner.

The medical examiner's office said Thursday the examination has been completed but it will withhold releasing information until Jordan's family has been notified.

Jordan is one of the yacht club's community of about 100 members, Commodore Austin Baird said.

The club is assisting Jordan's family.

The Guam police have released the boat from its investigation, but it's not readily accessible amid mangroves about 40 t0 50 feet from the closest road.

The Port Authority of Guam police officers were also called to conduct the death investigation.
The trickle-down effect of the blue-green algae and red tide events has moved through Southwest Florida businesses just as water releases have moved down the Caloosahatchee.

Both have left significant harm in their wake, with financial losses following the devastating environmental fallout.

On Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, the economic impact has been drastic with the two losing nearly $41 million combined in the last two months. A survey conducted by the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce shows eye-opening statistics and staggering losses.

In July and August, the island economy incurred a total estimated loss of $19.1 million in lost revenue, with a 41.2 percent decline in August alone.

Hotels, resorts and vacation rental companies were asked if the current water quality has negatively impacted their business and all 42 businesses surveyed said yes.

The same 42 unanimously said they have had cancellations due to water quality. Collectively, they reported a loss of 11,198 room nights for a total of $3,119,874.

Twenty-six hotels/lodging businesses reported early departures as a result of water quality, at a collective loss of $144,584.

All 29 hotels/lodgings responding said that they have seen a year-over-year decrease in the month of August.

Those 29 reported booking 13,198 fewer rooms, representing almost 30 percent of their revenue.

Thirty-eight restaurants reported back to the survey, with all of them saying they have been negatively impacted.

All 38 reported a decrease in business for the month of August, costing them a combined 2,698 tables-42 percent of their revenue.

The same trends continued for retail, real estate, and all other industries.

Some $15,129,680 in losses were estimated on Sanibel in the month of August, along with $4,004,122 in July.

Environmental conditions on Fort Myers Beach have immensely improved, according to President of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Jacki Liszak, but not before impacting the local economy.

She said things were rolling along better than ever in July, with many restaurants and hotels reporting record numbers-but then things took a nose dive in August.

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber conducted a survey from July 27- Sept. 14.

For businesses, a total of $24,477,607 was estimated to be lost in that time due to the beach being a ghost town after a severe red tide outbreak washed dead fish onto white sands, accompanied by a foul smell.

And thats not even with our heavy-hitters (largest properties) being accounted for in the survey, Liszak said. We were cooking with gas and then hit a brick wall.

The chamber also surveyed 4,536 employees who reported a collective estimated loss of $985,951 in lost wages per week.

She said that August was one of the worst months shes experienced, with cancelations in the tens of thousands.

Though the numbers are quite discouraging, Liszak is hopeful that as beach conditions come back to normal, so will the activity theyre used to.

People are making a point to come and help the beach out, she said. There are lots more community events and locals are helping locals.

Some hope to make the recovery effort countywide.

The past few months have been very challenging for our community and our tourist industry, said Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, chairman of both the Tourist Development Council and the Lee Board of County Commissioners, in a prepared statement. We need to spend money at our local shops and restaurants in support of the businesses and employees who have lost significant income due to harmful algae blooms.

To that end a new promotion entitled, #OneLee, has been started by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, that aims to help local businesses impacted by the red tide and algal blooms.

The campaign is designed to motivate residents to dine, shop and play locally, with dozens of deals from area businesses available.

There are a myriad of reasons that the #OneLee campaign is important but perhaps the two most significant are that it continues to build on the strength of the fabric of our community and promotes neighbors helping neighbors, said President and CEO of the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce, John Lai. Lee County is being put to the test but we are resilient. Our community is joining together to help local businesses, our citizens, and were working with local organizations to clean up our shores and do our part. There is no better nor important time to support each other, shop small, support local restaurants, and help your neighbor.

Residents can use the #OneLee hashtag on their social media accounts to support the movement.

Deals will launch Saturday, Sept. 15, and can be found online at www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/onelee.

Special offers will be from businesses in coastal communities such as Sanibel and Captiva, Bonita Beach and Fort Myers Beach.

Fort Myers Beach is getting a head start on the #OneLee movement.

The Chamber is working with five local radio stations to air commercials promoting the beach, hopeful that it will bring people back to the usually vibrant area.

Liszak advocated for the local waiters and waitresses who rely on tips for their income.

Continue to tip the bill (a growing movement to tip your server the same amount as your meal), continue to help local businesses, tell your family and friends-even those up north-that things are getting better and that the beach is beautiful, she said.

For Cape Coral, it is unclear the exact monetory hit the city and its businesses have taken, according to city officials.

The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce is currently in the process of surveying its members to get a better idea of what businesses are going through. They also continue to work hard on getting people informed on the efforts of the city to mitigate the issue.

We are continuing to receive visitors in our welcome center daily. However, we are receiving calls from people who have their vacations booked during our seasonal months and are concerned about coming down, said Donna Germain, president and CEO of the Cape Chamber. We are sharing the information we have received regarding clean up efforts from the city and county and the long-term projects such as the Hoover Dike repair and the EEA Reservoir. And most importantly, we are encouraging them to keep their travel plans and to come visit Cape Coral and the surrounding areas.

Interim Cape Coral Economic Development Manager Terri Hall said that there are no hard numbers yet on the impact these water events have had on the economy, and that it may be some time until the city sees what the long-term impact truly is.

For the short term, she said, There has definitely been negative impacts for some businesses, especially those that rely on the water. But there are no specific numbers to see exactly what the losses have been.

It has also come to her attention that some short-term loans have been applied for by small businesses that may be affected, looking for relief until season begins.

In speaking with restaurants along the water, it was a mixed bag of reviews, according to Hall.

The real estate market hasnt seen too much of a change, according to Gloria Tate of Raso Realty in Cape Coral.

The Royal Palm Coast Association of Realtors Database shows that in the last 120 days, 361 Gulf-access homes were sold, including the crown jewel of Cape Harbour, 5832 Armada Court, for $4.125 million.

The 361 Gulf-access homes sold is a 59- house increase from last year, over the same 120 days.

Tate also hasnt heard of any cancellations for winter residents, and that she continues to get new inquiries every day from people wanting to spend the winter months in Southwest Florida.

She believes it will be a strong visitor season coming up.

Those of us who live here are cautious and concerned about conditions we see in our canals, Tate said. But we are optimistic that our government is working to fix the issue.

Lee County is also working to compile numbers on the impact of red tide and blue-green algae blooms on the economy.

On Sept. 4, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau sent out a survey to 1,430 tourism industry people/businesses to gather data, asking for information on business revenue for July and August.

They asked the aforementioned to fill out the survey If you are experiencing losses due to red tide or algae blooms.

Those numbers are not yet available.

Lee County Economic Development is working to connect local businesses with state and federal resources, said Betsy Clayton, Lee County spokesperson. We continue to encourage businesses being affected by the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae and red tide to complete a business damage assessment survey that can be accessed.

You can visit www.floridadisater.biz/BusinessDamageAssesments to find said survey, and then select as applicable; Lake Okeechobee/algae blooms or red tide.

The Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University is also reaching out to those who complete the damage assessments that indicate that they want more information on bridge loans.

 Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj
Sixty-five women who knew Brett Kavanaugh in high school have signed a letter to Sens. Grassley and Feinstein. They state that throughout the time they have known Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. This is consistent with testimonials from Judge Kavanaughs female law clerks (all of them whose employment didnt preclude them from signing) and with what I have heard from people who know Kavanaugh personally.

How many of us could receive this sort of endorsement from women we knew in high school? I might be able to round up a few dozen to say I was a jerk, but never sexually harassed them.

Here is the text of the letter:

We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983. For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect. We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.

Brett attended Georgetown Prep, an all-boys high school in Rockville, Maryland. He was an outstanding student and athlete with a wide circle of friends. Almost all of us attended all-girls high schools in the area. We knew Brett well from social events, sports, church, and various other activities. Many of us have remained close friends with him and his family over the years.

Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity. In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.

The signers of this letter hold a broad range of political views. Many of us are not lawyers, but we know Brett Kavanaugh as a person. And he has always been a good person.

Its ridiculous that Kavanaughs behavior towards women as a teenager is at issue 35 years later. However, it is now clear that his behavior was exemplary.
I wrote last night about the leaked Google video that confirms, once and for all, that Google is an arm of the Democratic Party. Now, word emerges that the Department of Justice has invited 24 state attorneys general to meet for the purpose of discussing possible antitrust actions against the dominant technology platforms:

On Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that nearly half of the state attorneys general would be invited to a September 25 meeting with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to discuss whether social media companies are violating anti-trust laws. The DOJ announced the meeting last week, following the congressional testimony of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Following last weeks statement, the Justice Department received an increased level of interest from state attorneys general in attending the September 25 meeting on tech companies, competition, and free exchange of ideas, a DOJ spokesman told PJ Media on Thursday afternoon. Due to this increased interest, Sessions has invited more attorneys general. Today, the Justice Department formally sent invitations to a bipartisan group of twenty-four state attorneys general that expressed an interest in attending the meeting hosted by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the spokesman added.

This could be a major headache for Facebook, Twitter, Google et al., but they have brought it upon themselves by arrogantly using their platforms to advance their own liberal political agendas. There is a basic problem, though: while several tech companies fit the legal definition of monopoly, antitrust law does not neatly apply to the free speech concerns that are swirling around the social media giants.

Historically, antitrust law has assumed that the point of being a monopolist is to reap monopoly profits. The case law is largely about pricing. Here, the problem is not that Facebook, Twitter et al. charge monopoly prices; on the contrary, they are free to users. The issue, rather, is that they are abusing their dominant market positions to advance a political agenda. One can argue that this constitutes a misuse of market power that should be illegal, but such a theory does not fit easily within existing precedent.

That said, this is heartwarming:

Late last month, a former anti-trust lawyer for President Ronald Reagan, Larry Klayman, filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter, accusing them of working in concert to suppress conservative speech online. The suit brings up anti-trust claims, free speech claims, and discrimination claims, adding up to $1 billion in damages.

If there is evidence of collusion among the tech giants, Section 1 of the Sherman Act could be invoked (combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade). I am not aware of any such evidence, although it would explosive almost beyond imagining if it exists and comes to light. But even if there were evidence of such collusion, a conspiracy to influence politics does not easily fit into antitrust jurisprudence.

Still, such a theory could be fashioned, and it could (and perhaps should) be accepted by the federal courts. Many states also have their own antitrust statutes, and it is open to their courts to determine whether monopolists who abuse their monopoly positions for political purposes can be held liable under those laws.

All of which is to say that not only the Department of Justice, but any states attorney general could cause a world of hurt for Twitter, Facebook, Google and any other dominant tech company that is found to have suppressed conservative voices in order to advance a political agenda. Further, if such enforcement actions were to cause share prices to fall, the executives who run Facebook et al. could be exposed to liability to their companies shareholders. Many billions of dollars could be at stake in such lawsuits.

So it is heartening to see the DOJ and many state attorneys general taking an interest in protecting free speech online.
 As has already been noted here in the latest Green Weenie Award, the climatistas are all spun up to say that Hurricane Florence proves that catastrophic climate change is upon us and that we need to hand over our car keys to Al Gore right now. If you pay attention to extreme weather trends, youll know that the period between Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and last year saw no hurricanes making landfall on the continental U.S. (Sandy was a tropical storm by the time it made landfall in 2012), but that hiatus didnt mean anything. Weather only means something when it fits the narrative.

Check out this chart, from Roger Pielke Jr, of long term hurricane landfalls on the eastern seaboard (MH means major hurricanes):

The first period is before the 20th century warming began. This is what you call an inconvenient truth. But dont expect the mainstream media to report this. Theyre all going with how Hurricane Florence is Trumps fault.

 Im not going to waste my time reading the Woodward book. Read Byron Yorks column for a thorough takedown of Woodwards reportorial methodology. I know from people who have dealt with Woodward that he is a genius at getting people to talk, by making you think hes your best friend, but sometimes with the veiled threat that if you dont cooperate with him, you might be a target in his book. He has an almost hypnotic quality when he talks to you, people have told methe con mans ability to make you trust and like him, and consequently spill the beans.

Much of what Woodward reports in his books would not be accepted in a serious or scrupulous newspaper (okay, not many of those around), because most newspapers require two sources for a factual claim. Many of Woodwards quotations are hearsay at best. They are comments reported by a third party as though he was present in the room.

But the final problem with Woodwards reporting is that he is basically Forrest Gump. He reports things hes heard or seen, but there is no analysis or insight. Essentially his books are just a slightly polished version of a raw dump of his reporters notes. Ive read a few of his previous books, and there is almost nothing of interest to be learned from them. Only gossip. I suspect the National Enquirer is actually breaks more real news. (They were right about John Edwards after all.)

 With all of the Florence news dominating our attention today, theres only been a glance at the local catastrophe of gas explosions in Andover, Massachusetts. Early reports say it is the result of the gas pressure being set too high by the local utility.

Hmmm. Just speculation here, but this is exactly the kind of thing that a cyber attack would seek to cause. Which is one more reason for everyone to listen to the latest Power Line podcast on this very subject (if for no other reason than that my pseudonymous guest, Lucretia, Power Lines International Woman of Mystery, is really good on this subject, and also fun to listen to).
Not long after President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Chuck Schumer tweeted:

I will oppose Judge Kavanaughs nomination with everything I have. . . . The stakes are simply too high for anything less.

Todays stunt  the post-hearing ambush of Kavanaugh with an unspecified, unsourced claim of misconduct dating back to Kavanaughs high school days  seemed like the fulfillment of Schumers promise.

But Dianne Feinstein reportedly has known about this allegation for a few months. Why didnt she present it earlier? As the Wall Street Journal asks, if the information is worrying enough to send to the FBI, why wait so long? Why not bring it up during the summer in the run-up to the hearings? Why not mention it when she met with Judge Kavanaugh?

The Journal supplies what it calls the charitable explanation:

[Feinstein] didnt think the information was credible enough to warrant investigation, but that now under pressure from her colleagues she felt obliged to surface it. In the current #MeToo frenzy, Democrats may think the story will scare Republican Senators when nothing else has.

This is a plausible theory. To view it a little differently, if the information is a dud, then putting it out there earlier in the process would have been a waste for the Democrats. Better to use it at the tail end, when it can produce delay.

Delay has always been a goal. At a minimum, the Dems would like the vote on Kavanaugh to occur after the election so that vulnerable Senate Democrats can avoid voting on the nomination before they face the voters. Maybe todays ambush can at least accomplish this limited objective.

I doubt it, though. The FBI reportedly has looked at the information and declined to investigate. Instead, it sent the document to the White House as an update to its background check on Kavanaugh.

Rumor has it that the alleged incident involved Kavanaugh and a male friend locking a woman in a room against her will. She claims she felt threatened, but was able to get out of the room.

If this is what were talking about, no wonder the FBI wont investigate. Such a prank, having allegedly occurred decades ago when Kavanaugh was in high school, almost surely will not derail or meaningfully delay the judges confirmation.

UPDATE: The womans claim of misconduct from 35 years ago reportedly is more serious than it initially was rumored to be. Apparently, she claims that during an encounter at a party, Kavanaugh held her down, and that he attempted to force himself on her.

However, the allegation seems to be entirely uncorroborated and the women refuses to make it publicly.
Red tide, blue-green algae, fish kills in the thousands.

Whats happening in Southwest Florida waters has taken a toll on the regions tourism, economy and ecosystem.

A question many Southwest Florida residents may be asking themselves is: Is the seafood here is safe to eat?

The answer is yes, provided it comes from a source that complies with consumer protection regulations.

Catching fish in red tide areas can present health risks that should not be taken lightly, but that doesnt mean whats being served on plates at restaurants, or available at local seafood markets, is an unsafe product.

Its definitely something to be concerned about, but with the federal regulations, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) inspections and the FDA inspections that we have, were very confident that all of our products are safe for our customers. Thats for sure, said David Keen, purchasing director for Merrick Seafood, a wholesale and retail supplier based in Cape Coral.

For example, grouper is one of, if not the most popular fish to consume in the area.

Keen said that a lot of grouper that wholesalers seek out is caught in deep waters and that, although it is still a local product- caught in Gulf waters-its not throw-a-line-off-the-dock local.

Our guys, when they go out fishing, theyre going out 90 to 100 miles for that (grouper). Its the same grouper that youve bought for years and decades, he said. Being a wholesale distributor, you need to make sure that youre on the forefront of everything thats coming out. Where are you getting it from? How is it getting processed?

Merrick is taking the same precautions with its shellfish, as they are filter feeders and have a much higher probability of contamination.

The company that we were dealing with that was local (for clamming), has actually moved up north in the Panhandle, where there is none of that algae or red tide, said Keen.

Their oysters are sourced locally as well, but from Gulf waters extending off of Texas, and Louisiana.

Waters are always tested in various areas where shellfish are harvested, with officials making sure the water quality is in line with Florida Department of Agriculture regulations.

For local product, there is a strict criteria and in-depth report system that has to be completed before it can be sold.

This happens before the fish even leave the boat.

What we have to do is fill out reports saying where they caught the fish and what waters they were caught in. They have to be caught in certain waters and documented at what depth they were caught. How were they caught? Fishing reel? Bandit reel? Long line? All of that has to be traced, Keen said. They take samples out of a reasonable amount of fish and all of that gets checked before it even comes off the boat.

All of Merricks suppliers are HACCP certified, complete with letter of guarantee that they are in regulation with applicable FDA laws.

Merrick, a primary supplier to numerous area restaurants, then gives its wholesale customers the same letter of certification to ensure that their products are in compliance with the guidelines as well.

Its not worth it for me to endanger my customers and jeopardize all of this with an unsafe product, added Keen.

Merrick has ties and relationships with many local boats, as Keen said they want to help the people who work hard here in Southwest Florida.

The local fisheries have certainly taken a hit, with Keen getting requests from customers for fish not found here domestically, when in reality the products coming from these businesses are A-OK.

Yes, we all understand its hurting our local seafood industry, and its going to, said Keen. But were going to survive and well all push through. But, the biggest thing we need to do is educate people and say, Look, eat your seafood. Its still good. Were buying out of the Keys, were buying out of the Panhandle. And its still a great product.

Though these boats may be docked in tainted waters, the product they bring back comes from hundreds of miles north, around the Panhandle, and far south, to the Keys.

The FDA constantly has its thumb on the pulse of the waters, and would shut down contaminated areas if needed.

The FDA puts these regulations out for us to follow. Whether there was red tide or algae here or not, we still have to follow them. We always have followed them. They shut down areas all the time, and they would shut more down if they werent safe, Keen said. That doesnt mean we cant eat seafood.

Local fisheries are not the only source Merrick has as its disposal. They buy seafood from all over, including Hawaii, South America and Trinidad, to name a few.

But supporting the local crews that go through the ringer to provide a high-quality, fresh product, is the way to go, he added.

A lot of these products are easy to be able to go down to the Keys, easy to go up to the Panhandle, to grab the same exact product, said Keen. Its all coming out of the Gulf, its all the same exact product. Just a couple hundred miles this way, couple hundred miles that way.

Merrick supplies its products to 250 restaurants throughout Southwest Florida, meaning there are hundreds of local restaurants that are serving fresh, quality seafood, that need not worry about their customers coming to dine.

The chefs know, the owners know, the GMs know. We all have to go through training, we all have to sign contracts. Theres a law to it. The FDA is on top of it, Keen said. Obviously the waters around here currently arent safe. But around our area is perfectly fine. Red tide is not reaching all the way up to the Panhandle. The Keys, Maderia Beach, all have much larger fisheries we can source from.

Getting Southwest Florida residents, as well as potential tourists, informed on the steps and regulations Merrick and other fish markets have to go through to ensure a safe product, is what Keen thinks is most important.

The education is the big thing. Know that were following all the rules, we have a great product. Our wholesalers know, our customers know, now we just need the public to know, Keen said. You can come in and eat fish great fish especially here.

Keen, as well as owner and operator of Merrick, Patrick Krieg, encourages customers to ask questions- that theyd be more than happy to inform anyone on their acquisition processes and safety regulations.

Ask your local fishmonger, they know what theyre doing, Keen said.

For Krieg, apprehensiveness among residents across the area concerning seafood consumption has definitely hurt his businesses, including the Fish Tale Grill, located right next door to Merricks market on Southeast 47th Terrace.

Its been significant, Krieg said of the impact. Probably down over 30 percent from last year.

Many of Merricks wholesale accounts are beach destinations and places that have seen cancellations skyrocket because of the issue.

Krieg has been educating his regulars and other customers on the fact that their seafood is safe to eat.

He hopes the other residents of Southwest Florida do the same.

I would strongly recommend that people educate themselves, he said. Dont believe everything you read. Go to the source. Wherever that may be that youre buying your fish from or dining out. Ask the questions. If they cant answer to your satisfaction, then its understandable you might be a little leery. But definitely ask questions, and trust your local suppliers.

Krieg hopes that by the time season comes around, people will be properly informed.

Its no secret that Florida thrives on tourism, and the water quality issues are affecting many, many businesses.

We appreciate everyones support. Our local customers have been great. And even the tourists that are still around are asking the right questions to get the level of comfort that they need, Krieg said. We just need more people in the doors down here and all over.

On Fort Myers Beach, red tide and related fish kills have impacted beachfront businesses as beach-goers have steered clear of the usually popular destination or opted not to buy fresh seafood.

Trico Shrimp Company out of Fort Myers Beach has seen at least a 50 percent drop-off in business from last year, according to owner/operator Christine Gala.

Our sales have dropped drastically in the retail market, she said. Even when we tell customers its OK, theyre still not sure.

Gala said that their fishing boats go out 100 miles or more offshore, where there is no red tide, to catch their shrimp.

Were catching in Tortuga and Key West, she said.

Gala said that the majority of their shrimp goes to a processor in Tampa to be checked for quality by an FDA inspector.

Their location on Fort Myers Beach is also constantly visited for regulation compliance.

We get inspected about every two months, Gala said. By the city, county, state and federal agencies.

She is discouraged that no one is really coming to the beach, and that recently, conditions have been improving.

You could smell the red tide before. Its not nearly as bad now as it was in prior months, she said. Theres no more dead fish washing up.

The restaurants in the area have been hit hard, she said, adding the local places they source to are not buying as much product from them as before.

Our shrimp are fresh, caught far off shore in the Keys, where the water is clear as glass, Gala added, ensuring that Tricos product is safe for consumption.

As for local water quality for fishing, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, there is still high concentrations of red tide on shorelines stretching from Sarasota to Lee County as of Sept. 7.

Their prediction models show not much change heading into next week.

The red tide poison, brevetoxin, concentrates in shellfish, so harvesting is closed during blooms, said Rae Ann Wessel, natural resource policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.

The FWC has closed oyster harvesting in public reefs since July 1, and it remains closed until the end of the month.

Oysters are definitely a concern because they live in the bays and filter feed and can accumulate the brevetoxin for a while after the red tide has dissipated, said Dr. Eric Milbrandt, marine laboratory director for SCCF.

Those who enjoy seafood should not be doing their own harvesting, at least not here.

If people eat shellfish that has been in red tide they will get sick, Wessel said. In some cases, people have died. Cooking does not affect brevetoxin, it remains toxic.

Red tide toxin does not get into fish filets as far as has been tested and what is known by scientists. However, you should not eat any fish that appears to be dying, added Milbrandt. I would say that the scientists would want to test every fish tissue before it is sold. However, that would be prohibitively costly. Most of the populations of commercially harvested fish are not close to the coast, where red tide blooms are concentrated. Generally speaking, red tide historically has been patchy and therefore having limited effect relative to the population of a fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reasons such as this, make it vital that you know where your seafood is coming from, officials said.

-Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj
Ammo Grrrll has discovered ANGELS AMONG US. She writes:

I have always understood that I would do very poorly in a barter economy. Should all of civilization go to hell, I dont see myself surviving by saying, I will tell you three good jokes for that potato. And that was when I was a standup comic. A columnist would have even less leverage: Here, read this. You might enjoy the occasional clever turn of phrase. Do you happen to have any food?

But I am humbly pleased to report a few occasions on which audience members have come up to me after the show to share a very personal story of what that evening of laughter meant to them at that moment in their lives.

One was a woman who told me that her husband had taken his own life six months earlier  no note, no threats or previous attempts, no warning signs  and, until that evening, she had not laughed once in all that time.

Another concerned a prominent judge in The Twin Cities who had presided over the horrible trial of an evil and insane woman who had slowly abused her little adopted son to death. The judges wife told me that he had seen photographs that even the jury was not allowed to see because they would have been too prejudicial. She spoke of his insomnia and depression during the long trial. The event at which I entertained the judge was an all-class reunion for Macalester College, and he finally was able to laugh heartily and let go of some of the stress. We probably dont give enough thought to the endless parade of misery, cruelty, and human suffering that judges and prosecutors see every day.

So we all do what we can to lighten the load of our fellow humans.

But this column is about nurses. They are truly angels among us.

Since I so recently spent over three weeks with my father in Rehab, surrounded by nurses, physical therapists and caregivers too numerous to memorize all of their names, this is much on my mind. Doctors, of course, are critical to the process of healing and recovery, but doctors are pretty much already regarded as demigods and accorded that level of respect. I am not for a moment suggesting that they havent earned it or dont deserve it. I just want to put the focus on the ones responsible for the hourly hands-on ministrations and human touch.

Friends, I simply could not do it. Let us set aside the patients expulsion of various bodily fluids that would send me walking briskly in the opposite direction and right out the door, never to be seen again. The matter-of-fact way these professionals handle accidents of all kinds with the goal of preserving whatever dignity is possible just blows my mind.

People in Rehab  mostly, but not exclusively, geriatric patients  are usually confused, miserable, and in pain. Not to mention, lonely, frightened and bored. My good friend Randy was in a motorcycle accident several years ago with multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung and he told me he begged the nurses to kill him. Thankfully, they did not comply but he said that time just hung there.

He would look at the clock and it would be 6:30 am and then he would look at it again in what he thought had been at least 4 hours, and it would be 6:36. There are only so many episodes of Law and Order that a person can watch without going insane. (Bonus spoiler: if a man who is a minor character  in Law and Order or any other such program  has a timid wife who is wearing a cross, he will turn out to be the criminal. And at LEAST a wife-beater and an incestuous pedophile. Count on it. But there is NO anti-Christian bias in Hollywood. You would have to be a crazy alt-right bigot to assert that. There is slightly-less anti-Jewish prejudice in television series. That is not because of lots of Jewish writers. No, it is because, on television, Jews  at least observant ones  simply do not exist.)

Ah, but again I digress. Back to the celestial nurses. Our family boasts two nurses. My brother, who our father never fails to describe as a male nurse, and my nephews beautiful wife. They both have the requisite compassion, smarts, and sensitivity for the job, and my brother, a Navy vet, also brings to the table considerable musculature handy for lifting the modern-day 3XL patient.

I was astonished not just by the professional medical care that was delivered  which presumably could in the future mostly be done by robots  but by the human love, patience, and compassion that went with it. Robots need not apply.

We are in a sad era where the healing human touch is frowned upon, even actionable. At least in Alexandria, MN, I can attest that people know better. Elderly patients who may not have been hugged for some time are embraced, patted, even kissed on the head. Needless to say, the nurses exercise the discretion to know when it is welcome and when it may not be. Do you have any idea how happy it made Daddy to have a nurse walk into his room in the morning and say, Good Morning, Handsome!? The chances are vanishingly small that in 20 years, he will appear on television with an even more grotesque Gloria Allred, weeping about how demeaned he felt. And not just because in 20 years he would be 113.

At the Care Conference which was held to determine whether Daddy could go back to his Assisted Living place or needed more Rehab to meet his goals, he and I (geezers age 93 and 71, give or take) sat there with five lovely young ladies who could have been our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and who would decide his fate.

They did determine that he could use more Rehab to make sure he was safe to return to his previous residence. They wanted to be sure he wouldnt just fall again and have to return to Rehab. My father  remember my reporting his 30/30 on his cognitive test  then suggested that perhaps if he had KNOWN what the actual goals were, he might have had more success in reaching them. Point taken. After an awkward silence reflecting our disappointment in the verdict, one young nurse quietly asked my father, Jim, do you have anything further to add?

He looked around the room at this bevy of beauties and said, Well Im single.
Did you hear the latest from Vogue magazine about what a corrupt you-know-what UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is? Heres the headline:

If theres one very appropriate pattern among Trump administration appointees and associates, its their penchant for big spending. (Trump, lets remember, has a literally gold-plated New York residence.) Nikki Haley is the latest to join the ranks of those officials who apparently prefer things that come with high price tags (and at taxpayer expense). The New York Times is reporting that Haleys New York City apartment (near her workplace as United Nations ambassador) has $52,701 customized and mechanized curtains, which were purchased and paid for by the government despite a since-lifted State Department hiring freeze and other budget cuts.

And heres the original New York Times story this is based on:

Not until the fourth paragraph do you learn this:

A spokesman for Ms. Haley said plans to buy the curtains were made in 2016, during the Obama administration. Ms. Haley had no say in the purchase, he said.

The U.S. had to move its UN mission, previously located in the Waldorf-Astoria, after the Waldorf was sold to Chinese investors who want to redo the entire thing.

Ask yourself this question: would the Times run a story about $52,000 curtains if the current UN ambassador was the appointee of President Hillary Clinton? To the contrary, theyd run a style story on how elegant the new digs were and how our UN ambassador was milking the soft power dividend (heh) of being able to host diplomatic meetings in such a fine setting.

We dont even need to hypothesize this. Here is how the Times did puff up the old UN suite when that soft-power-milker extraordinaire Samantha Power was the occupant in 2015:

The adults were doing their level best, but for a while, the evening seemed doomed to a stately pace. A family of Syrian refugees had been invited to dinner in a penthouse atop the Waldorf Towers, the official residence of the United States ambassador to the United Nations. . . Looking out a penthouse window, Mr. Al Teibawi and his son Monzer, 17, who said his gaze had lingered over the map of America in geography class, saw the Art Deco spire of the Chrysler Building: a skymark. They felt sure they had seen it somewhere before. That is the building the monkey climbed in the movie, Monzer declared. Ms. Power invited the Al Teibawis back for a Super Bowl party and said that wherever her family lives after she finishes her service as ambassador, they would always be welcome in her home.

How nice for everyone involved. And Im sure the Times will puzzle over why so many of us hate them with a white-hot intensity of a thousand suns.

JOHN adds: The Times reportedly says that its editors are reviewing the story about the curtains:

Spox for @nytimes tells me that editors are reviewing the @nikkihaley curtain story.  Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) September 14, 2018



As pretty much everyone on Twitter has said, the editors are supposed to do that before the story is published. Or thats the way it used to be, anyway.

UPDATE: The Times has indeed issued a correction and a new headline:

Good for them. But what does it say about their editing process if such an egregious story got through in the first place? Would they have corrected it if not for the internet being able to crowd-source it and call them on it? And to repeat: would they have run such a story at all if the UN ambassador was a Democrat? And will all the other media outlets that jumped on the headline, such as Vogue, issue corrections?
PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-14 10:07:02

Maranello (Italy), [14] September 2018  Ferrari N.V. (NYSE/MTA: RACE) (Ferrari or the Company) announced today that the Company will host its Capital Markets Day and will present the Groups 2018-2022 Business Plan to financial analysts and

institutional investors in Maranello (Italy) on September 18, 2018.

The presentation delivered during the event will be made available in the Investors section of the Ferrari corporate website ( http://corporate.ferrari.com ). A live audio webcast will be available on the Companys corporate website ( http://corporate.ferrari.com ), commencing at 10:00 a.m. BST / 11:00 a.m. CEST / 5:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 18.

Details for accessing the presentation materials and the webcast will be available in the Investors section of the corporate website prior to the event. For those unable to participate in the live session, a replay will remain archived on the corporate website ( http://corporate.ferrari.com ) for two weeks after the event.

Attachment
PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-14 22:29:18

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for ViveRE Communities Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Bedford, Nova Scotia (FSCWire) - ViveRE Communities Inc. (TSX Venture:VCOM). has issued a press release with the following headline:ViveRE Communities Inc. Announces Changes to Management, Board and StrategyTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on ViveRE Communities Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/ViveRE Communities Inc.Source: ViveRE Communities Inc. (TSX Venture: VCOM, WKN: A1JU93, ISIN: CA62942J1093)Date: September 14, 2018Time: 4:26 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of ViveRE Communities Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya defied parliament by rejecting a finance bill that sought to postpone a widely unpopular tax on fuel that has triggered strikes and public anger.

Parliament will hold a special sitting on the bill on Tuesday to reconsider the finance bill together with the reservations of the president, said the gazette notice signed by Justin Muturi, the speaker of the national assembly.

It did not say why the president rejected the bill as passed by parliament in late August.

Kenyattas acting spokesperson, Kanze Dena, told Reuters the president would address the country on the matter on Friday.

His government faced a strike by some fuel dealers, anger among commuters and a lawsuit after it triggered a hike in transport and fuel prices by imposing the 16 per cent value added tax on all petroleum products on Sept. 1.

The finance bill that was returned to parliament had also retained a cap on commercial lending rates, after lawmakers amended a move by the finance minister to repeal it.

(Reuters/NAN)
The U.S. government will not lift sanctions against Zimbabwe until the new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa demonstrates it is changing its ways, a senior U.S. economic official told a congressional panel.

Manisha Singh, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told a House of Representatives hearing there were 141 entities and individuals in Zimbabwe, including Mr Mnangagwa and former president Robert Mugabe, that are currently under U.S. sanctions.

Our pressure on Zimbabwe remains in place. We are trying to use this pressure to leverage political and economic reforms, human rights observations, Ms Singh said.

We want to see fundamental changes in Zimbabwe and only then will we resume normal relations with them, she added.

Mr Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwes new president on August 26 after the Constitutional Court confirmed his July 30 election victory, dismissing a challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

He has called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against officials from the ZANU-PF ruling party, top military figures and some government-owned firms, which were imposed during Mugabes rule for it called violations of human rights and democracy.

The EU lifted most of its sanctions in 2014, but has maintained those against Mugabe and his wife Grace.

The July ballot was touted as a crucial step toward shedding the pariah reputation that Zimbabwe gained under Mugabe as well as securing international donor funding.

Rep. Karen Bass, a democrat from California, said Zimbabwe was trying to reach out to us now and I want to know where we are with that.

`We are always open to conversations. We are open to a demonstration from the government that it is changing its ways, that it is observing human rights, Ms Singh added.

(Reuters/NAN)
A picture is worth a thousand words is a hackneyed phrase. Some people hate cliches because they are boring and devoid of the excitement that uncertainties bring. But there is nothing that describes the internal power struggle within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos better than the above cliche.

On Tuesday news broke that a three-time commissioner in Lagos and the boss of the Lagos State Property Development Corporation, LSDPC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has obtained the governorship nomination form signifying he was willing to take over the job of incumbent, Akinwunmi Ambode, who had announced his intention to seek re-election 24 hours earlier.

Immediately after Mr Sanwo-Olus announcement, there was a frenzy in the media. Several analysts claimed the de facto political godfather of the state, Bola Tinubu, has decided to do away with Mr Ambode, after battling hard to enthrone him less than four years ago.

Like it is often the case, many of the reports were laced with rumours, and quotes from all-knowing anonymous sources who swore they were at the meetings where Mr Ambodes fate was sealed. Despite the general election being five months away, some of the sources proudly announced Mr Sanwo-Olu as Mr Ambodes successor, as a matter of fact.

Perhaps the anonymous commentators would not have spoken with much confidence, if they had not seen one of the pictures that accompanied the news of Mr Sanwo-Olus declaration to take over the job of his boss.

In the particular picture, Mr Sanwo-Olu is seen holding the partys governorship nomination form and was flanked by three other men. Among the men was James Odunmbaku, popularly known as Baba Eto. Mr Odunmbaku, a septuagenarian and former deputy leader of the APC in the state, is commonly known as the right-hand man of Mr Tinubu.

Mr Odunmbaku often speaks the voice of Mr Tinubu when the latter is not talking and his appearance in the photo was interpreted by many as the godfathers endorsement of Mr Sanwo-Olu candidacy.

Interestingly, four years ago, it was Mr Odunmbaku, who first declared support for Mr Ambode, before Mr Tinubu did so publicly, weeks later. Apparently, the same strategy is being repeated.

Former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state [Photo credit: Instagram  akinwunmiambode]

Mr Sanwo-Olus name may not ring loud among Lagosians outside politics but he has been a longtime protege of Mr Tinubu.

The 53-year-old took his political baby steps as an aide to Mr Tinubus deputy, Femi Pedro, during Mr Tinubus first term as governor. He was later appointed Mr Tinubus special adviser on corporate matters before being named the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. He has since held down two other cabinet positions in the state  Commissioner for Budget and Planning and Commissioner for Establishments and Training.

But before politics he has cut his teeth in the corporate world. Between 1994 and 1997, he worked at the defunct Lead Merchant Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, where he was the head, foreign money market and First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank).

He left banking and moved into the construction and property development sector where he worked with Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited.

Mr Sanwo-Olu holds degrees from the University of Lagos. The London Business School and the Lagos Business School.

Downplaying the role of Mr Tinubu in his quest for what would be a historic feat of defeating an incumbent governor at the primary stage of the election, Mr Sanwo-Olu believed he has what it takes to emerge victorious.

APC Chieftain, Bola Tinubu

On Wednesday, in Abuja, where he had gone to submit his nomination and expression of interest form at his partys national secretariat, he played up his credential as being worthy enough to upset the apple cart.

Why am I in the race? Im sure I am 53 years old but more importantly, in the last almost 30 years, I had spent 16 years out of it in the private sector and 11 in the public service. Of course, I have been three-time commissioner. I have been two-time special adviser, I have been director in the biggest corporations in the state. I have served over three governors, he told reporters.

So, I have wide range of experience and I have a dream to obviously contribute a lot more. As a Lagosian and son of the soil, I will just be able to let our people get to where they know that governance is all about people, it is about what we expect, it is about what will go back to them, improve the course of life, course of security and there are lot of other things we are going to be rolling out.

But why especially is to give my number of years experience, the pedigree from the private sector and from the public sector. I think it is appropriate for me now when people of not-too-young are with us and put that aspiration in place, he added.

But in Lagos, professional and political credentials are not often enough. At least, since 2007, Mr Tinubus blessing has proven to be the most important factor in choosing the governorship candidate of the APC who then becomes the governor.
Total Failure in Ebonyi

The sit-at-home called by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) failed in Ebonyi State, Premium Times can authoritatively report.

The group called for the measure to commemorate and protest the invasion of the country home of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, one year ago on Friday.

Since that invasion by Nigerian soldiers during their Operation Python Dance 2, Mr Kanu and his parents have not been seen.

The new Commissioner of Police in the Ebonyi State, Musa Kimo, had urged residents to go about their normal businesses. He also held a series of meetings with businesses where he assured them of adequate security.

It was business as usual in the state capital, Abakaliki, on Friday as residents went about their normal daily business activities.

Shops, motor parks, banks and other major businesses remained open in the city from 8 a.m. in disobedience of the order by the pro- Biafran group.

The Abakpa main market, the mechanic village and other markets in the city were open as traders ran their business.

However, transporters had no buses going to Onitsha or Aba in Anambra and Abia states respectively.

Joint security teams patrolled the streets of the city with some others on standby at strategic points.

A resident, who spoke to our reporter, Geoffrey Igboke, said he did not observe the exercise because he did not see the need for it.

Enugu- Business as usual

The sit at home order was also a total failure in Enugu.

Business and social activities were in top gear. All offices and banks were open for business.

Streets of Abakpa-Nike, Enugu metropolis were beehive of activities with commercial and private vehicles heading to different destinations.

Petty traders and hawkers also took their strategic positions on the the streets to sell their wares, while newspaper vending stalls were crowded with young men who made arguments over the compliance with the IPOB directive.

Mass transit parks were equally busy loading passengers to different destinations such as Nsukka and Abakaliki. In the hinterlands such as in Ugwogo community, the usual village settings remained even as police check points were also maintained along Ugwogo-Nsukka road.

Some shops were however closed in Enugu metropolis but banks were opened attending to customers. Meanwhile, soldiers were seen at alert as they mounted fresh road blocks in exercise of Operation Python Dance 3.

Police vans also patrolled the major streets in the state apparently to deter anyone from fomenting trouble

A generator repairer at the New Layout, Enugu who simply gave his name as Okwudili said why I will not obey the order is that I have my children to feed and IPOB will not place any food on my table. 

Anambra- Total compliance in Onitsha, partial in Awka, Nnewi

In Onitsha, it was total shutdown as usual in the commercial city as banks, schools, motor parks, filling stations and other businesses were shutdown.

The popular, Onitsha Main Market, River Niger bridge (both Onitsha and Asaba ends) and other markets in the city were also shutdown.

Popular roads like Awka Road and Upper Iweka Road were on total lock down as there were no means of transportation to serve the few prospective passengers.

Schools, both private and public, remained closed.

A filling station operator, Johnson Okpala, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on phone said filling stations may open in the evening to enable transporters take people home for the weekend.

But PREMIUM TIMES learnt that most people stayed at home for fear of the unknown.

However, the situation was partially different in Awka and Nnewi from what obtained in Onitsha.

In Awka, banks were shut, and customers resorted to Automated Teller Machine services; so were some schools, mainly because of the fear of the unknown.

The state secretariat also witnessed skeletal service as many workers abstained from work. Those of them who went to work did so well after 9 a.m. when they were sure of their safety.

Also, Awka main market, Eke Awka, was open but majority of shop owners stayed away.

Along the streets, however, businesses and shops were opened.

There was similar experience in Nnewi, the states industrial hob. The main Nkwo Nnewi market was open but majority of shop owners stayed away.

Also, some banks opened their branches for business with their security personnel keeping watch on the environment.

In all the areas monitored, security personnel monitored the situation. They were stationed at street corners while joint security personnel drove round the cities with blaring sirens.

There has been no incident as at the time of publishing this report.

Abia- Aba shutdown, Umuahia records partial compliance

In Abia State, it was partial complaince in Umuahia, the state capital, while the commercial city of Aba recorded total compliance.

While markets and banks were opened in Umuahia, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that schools remained shut as school children stayed at home playing.

But in Aba, there was a total shutdown of commercial activities in the city, a main stronghold of IPOB.

The popular Ariaria Main Market and other markets were on shutdown with only security officers seen around the area to ensure that hoodlums did not capitalise on the situation to loot shops.

Even tricycle operators who were in operation in other cities monitored also joined in the sit-at-home in Aba.

They were seen discussing in groups at some of their parking terminals instead of going out to look for passengers.

The city looked like a ghost of its self.

The situation made it difficult for commuters to get to their destinations. Some who came out were forced to go back to their houses after waiting for hours without getting any means of transport to their destinations.

Imo- Sit-at-home collapses at noon

In Owerri, the Imo state capital, there was partial compliance as most people stayed away from the markets and shops in the morning.

Banks opened but had few customers to attend to up until 12 p.m. when people noticed that others who opened for business were not attacked or molested by IPOB members.

This forced them to leave their houses and open their businesses.

Security was tight in the city especially around government offices and banks.

Some of the schools opened while others remained shut.

There was low turn out of students in the schools that opened as parents kept their children at home for fear of the unknown.

At the time of filing the report, commercial activities have started picking up in the city.
Yusuf Bichi has resumed duties at the State Security Service, a day after his appointment was announced amidst nationwide uproar.

Peter Ifunanya, a spokesperson for the SSS, said in a Friday night statement that Mr Bichi held talks with senior staff members upon resumption earlier on Friday.

His resumption ended the short stay of Matthew Seiyefa as the SSS chief. Mr Seiyefa was appointed on August 7 to lead the SSS following the summary dismissal of Lawal Daura.

Mr Daura was blamed for the siege laid to the Nigerian parliament by SSS operatives in the morning of August 7. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in his capacity as acting-president at the time, sacked Mr Daura for deploying such a large detachment of officers without authorisation.

Mr Seiyefas appointment was widely hailed at the time, and even officers at the SSS celebrated the end of Mr Dauras tenure, which was characterised by gross violations of the Nigerian laws and defiance of legal institutions.

Mr Buhari was not in the country at the time, having proceeded on a 10-day vacation in London days before. But presidential spokespersons released a statement that the president was in support of Mr Osinbajos action.

But events that played out upon Mr Buharis return indicated largely that the president was not comfortable with the decision of his vice and was already moving to undo it.

Initially, the president and his inner circle were plotting to reinstate Mr Daura, but the scheme became public after PREMIUM TIMES published how SSS insiders were opposed to it.

Mr Seiyefa was also asked by Abba Kyari, the presidents chief of staff, to reverse some of the routine administrative decisions he took as the acting SSS DG. These included postings of officials and approval of retirement leaves for concerned personnel.

The report raised nationwide concerns, and several groups, including a forum of southern leaders, condemned the plot to remove Mr Seiyefa and warned Mr Buhari against actualising it.

The leaders, including Ayo Adebanjo and Edwin Clark, said Mr Buhari had already packed key national security positions with people from his northern region and should leave Mr Seiyefa in place; a needed balance, they said, which would also reflect Nigerias diversity.

When Mr Buhari went ahead to announce removal of Mr Seiyefa yesterday, the leaders were amongst the first set of Nigerians angered by the development. They condemned the presidents action as insensitive, careless and ethnocentric.

They said Mr Buharis decision to ignore about six senior personnel at the SSS who should have been appointed to favour a man from Kano State who has already retired from service about a year ago was divisive and provocative.

On Friday afternoon the government defended its position, with Information Minister Lai Mohammed describing the outrage as misplaced. Mr Mohammed said Nigerians should do an analysis of all the federal appointments Mr Buhari had made since assuming office in May 2015 rather than focusing on only the security sector appointments which always leads to unbalanced conclusion.

Read the full statement by SSS on the resumption of its new director-general below:

PRESS RELEASE

This is to announce that the new Director General, Department of State Services, Mr. YM. BICHI, fwc assumed office at the National Headquarters of the Service, today, 14th September 2018.

The DGSS addressed the Management and called for members support. While calling for stronger ties among the staff, he pledged to work with them as a team.

He stated that his vision is to build a well disciplined, professional and highly motivated DSS with particular reference to staff welfare.

Also, he affirmed that the Service will support government agenda on rebuilding the economy, stamping out insecurity and fighting corruption.

He enjoined the Staff to refocus their intelligence collection efforts in this direction. Similarly, he implored the

management to ensure that the Service respects rule of law and human rights.

It would be recalled that the President on 13th September, 2018 appointed Mr Bichi as the substantive Director General of the Service.

He is an astute and versatile administrator; a highly detribalised Nigerian and an Intelligence Officer of immense repute.

His exciting career in the Service spanned a period of 35 years during which he served in different Commands and Formations.

He indeed possesses a high level experience and exposure that will no doubt reposition and make the Service one that Nigerians and personnel will be proud of.

Afunanya, Peter N.

Public Relations Officer,

Department of State Services,

National Headquarters, Abuja

14th September, 2018
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday accepted the resignation of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun. The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.

The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today.

Below is the full text of Mrs Adeosuns resignation letter.

FEMI ADESINA

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 14, 2018.

Below is the full text of Mrs Adeosuns resignation letter.

14th September, 2018

His Excellency

Muhammadu Buhari

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

State House

Aso Villa

Abuja

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administrations focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the Finance Family of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a labour-friendly one, which is determined to put smiles on the faces of Nigerian workers before 2019 elections.

Mr Ngige stated this when he alongside the Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee, Amma Pepple, addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of their closed door meeting with the president.

Mr Ngige and Ms Pepple had briefed the president on the progress so far made by the Pepple committee, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

According to the minister, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, will on September 18, preside over the meeting of the Economic Management Team, which will be solely dedicated to the contentious issue of minimum wage.

He said: Next week we have an economic management team meeting on Tuesday, specially dedicated to the issue of national minimum wage to be chaired by the Vice President.

For anybody to say that this government is stalling or playing games will be uncharitable because we have done what we are supposed to do.

We have the interest of workers at heart, we have not retrenched anybody, there is no embargo on employment, there is no embargo on promotions, we are paying backlog of promotional arrears, we are backing backlog of transfers and repatriation and the rest of them and we are giving them houses under FISH and the rest of them.

So this government is a labour-friendly government and we must put smiles on their faces before the next elections; we are labour activists we dont want to turn our backs on them.

Ms Pepple, a onetime Head of Service of the Federation, told the correspondents that the committee would submit its report on or before September 30.

She, however, maintained that the committee needed a definite figure from the government.

According to her, everything is on course but we need a definite figure from the government and of course we have to carry the states along.

So, we need those figures so that we can conclude on the figures to include in our report.

At least, I expect our report to be ready this month. We are submitting our report to Mr President this month.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had on Wednesday issued a two-week ultimatum to government to conclude all negotiations on the national minimum wage or risk industrial action.

However, Mr Ngige accused the congress of blackmailing the government.

(NAN)
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has stated that he knows his constituents would vote for him even if he contested on the platform of a zero party.

Mr Dogara, who is believed to have joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated this while receiving his constituents at his Abuja residence.

He also revealed that he was asked to beg for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Truly, I have decided that I will not contest election again. They said they would give me a ticket in the APC but that I must go and beg for it. I said I did not need the ticket. In politics, I have never gone to anybodys house to beg for a ticket.

My ticket is my people. I have assured them that even if I run under a zero party, my people will vote for me. So long as it is Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa (constituency), even if we run under zero party; we will win by Gods grace.

We have thrived well in many political battles in the past and this one too, we shall overcome it. Nobody can threaten us or tell us that we cannot contest the election in a political party we spent our resources to establish; only God can stop us.

I (have) heard your voices and the voice of the people is the voice of God. We are in politics to serve and not to be served. As I said, if it were for myself, I will quit because truly I am tired and even thought of stepping aside. But we must run an election so long as our people say so.

I have seen the forms you brought. I dont know how you got it but I must thank you for this sacrifice. Left for me; I will appeal that you give me some time to go and consult further.

The speaker added that he had not told his supporters in the APC what he intended to do and explained how he gave the APC the condition to pacify some federal lawmakers before he could reconcile with the leadership of the party.

Even when they were talking about reconciliation in the APC, we told them that even if I would be given a free ticket in the APC, so long as they did not do justice to Senator Sulieman Nazif, Senator Isa Hamma Misau, Honourable Ahmed Yerima, Honourable Aminu Tukur, Honourable Maryam Bagel and others, I would not accept it. I even said that if they would do justice to these people I would be satisfied.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the speaker had already purchased the PDP nomination form but he was reportedly presented with another by the visiting constituents.

The Bauchi politician was first elected to the parliament in 2007 as a member of the PDP, Nigerias ruling party from 1999-2015. He defected to the APC in 2014 as part of the new-PDP bloc that revolted ahead of the 2015 elections.

He has long been identified as amongst those expected to leave the APC, but he declined to make this public unlike Senate President Bukola Saraki and a host of other top APC politicians who abandoned the ruling party in recent months.

This loss appears the biggest since the ruling party lost Mr Saraki to the PDP late July.
Seven months after her abduction, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has reiterated calls for the release of Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu.

Ms Sharibu was kidnapped along with other school mates in February and left behind after the federal government negotiated the release of the abducted children a month later.

Following the negotiation, all the abducted girls were released, except Ms Sharibu and five others who died as a result of the abduction.

According to the released school girls, Ms Sharibu was left behind because she refused to denounce her Christian faith.

There has been various calls for the release of Ms Sharibu. The federal government has also stated its commitment to ensuring that Ms Sharbu returns home safe to her family.

In a communique issued at the end of its second plenary conference for the year, the CBCN called for the unconditional release of Ms Sharibu and warned against arbitrary use of power by government.

We demand that the federal government secure the unconditional release of Leah Sharibu. She is still being held captive because she refused to denounce her Christian faith. We further demand that the Federal Government ensure the safe release of the remaining Chibok girls and all other persons in captivity against their will, the statement said.

The CBCN also warned against attempts by government agencies to disregard the rule of law.

We note that the rule of law connotes equality of all under the law, seeks the protection of fundamental rights of citizens, and guards against abuse of power. Accordingly, individuals, groups and Governments shall submit to, obey and be regulated by the laws of the land, and not by any arbitrary action.

We recognise the role of governments at all levels in providing policies for national development, in the areas of economy, politics, provision of social amenities, security, etc. Nevertheless, we hold that all forms of pursuit of national interest should be guided by the rule of law and respect for human dignity and development.

Catholic Bishops, faithful protest against killings in Nigeria in Awka, Anambra on Tuesday (22/5/18)02707/22/5/2018/Patrick Anaso/ICE/NAN

The CBCN expressed dissatisfaction with governments efforts towards combatting crisis across the country and called on all Nigerians especially the youth to focus on activities that will unite, rather than divide the country.

Regarding the 2019 election, the conference urged Nigerians to avoid vote buying and other attempts by politicians to influence voters.

As we look forward to the elections of 2019, we refuse to give up on our hope for a great, prosperous and peaceful nation. We encourage all registered voters to ensure that they are equipped with their voters card, reject and denounce the illegal practices of selling and buying of votes. Despite the deception and defections, Nigerian voters must be wise enough to show some of our politicians, who may have so much to hide, that they can run, but they cannot hide.

It is the right of Nigerians to fully participate in the electoral process without intimidation and violence. The responsibility for this lies on all of us. We demand that the choice of the electorate, once made, be respected by all.

Although elections are not enough to enthrone good governance, they are an important stage in that project. And unless we get our electoral process right, elections in Nigeria will only become expensive cosmetic exercises that legitimize corruption and ineptitude.
An Ogoni monarch has conferred a new chieftaincy title on President Muhammadu Buhari, a presidential aide has said.

An Ogoni king, G.N.K. Ogininwa, announced the title of Meni-Doo-Lenu for the president when he led a delegation of the Niger Delta people to see Mr Buhari in Abuja, Femi Adesina said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

The title meansthe King of Doing Good Things in Ogoni-land.

Ogoni-land in Rivers State is one of the major oil producing areas of Nigeria. The community is well known for its various problems with oil major, Shell, which extracted oil from the community for decades.

Ken Saro-Wiwa, the playwright activist killed by the Sani Abacha military dictatorship was killed for championing the cause of the Ogoni.

His matter was among the issues the Ogoni leaders raised with Mr Buhari.

Read Mr Adesinas full statement below.

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja assured Nigerians that the countrys resources will be retained and utilised for the benefit of all citizens, with a strong focus on infrastructure.

We will not abuse the trust. What belongs to Nigeria stays in Nigeria and will be utilised by Nigerians, Mr Buhari told a delegation of Ogoni leaders from the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and elected leaders of MOSOP at the State House.

The delegation also included the academia, women, community and religious leaders.

The president said the challenge of infrastructure in Ogoni-land would have been long resolved with more focus and commitment to improving the lives of the people, instead of the award and re-awarding of contracts without implementation.

President Buhari urged the leaders to prevail on their youth and sensitise their communities more on the benefits of the clean-up process, especially with the involvement of the international community.

Certainly I am aware of the challenges in Ogoni-land. But I want to appeal to you as institutionalised leaders to speak more to the youth. With patience, we will prevail together in restoring the environment, especially with involvement of the international community, he said.

The president noted that the degradation of the environment over the years had undermined the economy of the Ogoni people, adding that commercial farming and fishing will pick up after the restoration.

Ogoni leaders after a meeting with President Buhari at the State House today Ogoni leaders during a meeting with President Buhari at the State House today Ogoni leaders after a meeting with President Buhari at the State House today

We are working hard to change the situation. I know that if we had power in the country, many Nigerians will create and face their businesses, he said.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, King G.N.K. Ogininwa commended the president for the achievements recorded in restoring security and the economy, while calling for more federal government attention on the plight of the people in Ogoni-land.

Through you, Mr President, we will achieve great things in Ogoni-land, he added.

Mr Ogininwa conferred the title of Meni-Doo-Lenu on the president, meaning the the King of Doing Good Things in Ogoni-land.

A member of the delegation, Walter Ollor, presented a list of the needs of the Ogoni people, which includes a national recognition for the Ogoni 12, which includes Ken Saro-Wiwa, improved security and establishment of a Centre for Environmental Excellence.
The anti-graft agency, EFCC, has denied raiding the head office of Standard Chartered Bank.

The bank was among those indicted by the Central Bank of Nigeria for allegedly helping telecom giant, MTN, illegally remit millions of dollars of foreign currency abroad. The bank has denied the accusation.

On Friday, the EFCC in a statement said it not raid the banks head office.

Following repeated media enquiries regarding a purported raid on the head office of the Standard Chartered Bank today September 14, by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Commission is constrained to state that there was no raid on the bank by its officers, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES.

The raid by operatives purportedly wearing the jackets of the Commission might have been the handiwork of errant officers who acted without authorisation.

The action is in flagrant violation of the standard operation procedures of the Commission as it is not the style of the EFCC to openly raid the offices of banks and other financial institutions.

Officials of such institutions who are wanted by the commission, are usually invited for questioning after discreet investigation. Over the years, banks have been cooperative in releasing their officers to the Commission for questioning.

The Commission will investigate the circumstances leading to this illegal raid by errant officers and those found culpable would be subjected to the internal disciplinary mechanism of the Commission.

EFCC again reassures Nigerians that it is an agency which adheres strictly to the rule of law and will, as much as possible, avoid draconian measures in its fight against corruption.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, said the commission is considering banning the use of mobile phones at polling units.

Mr Yakubu made this known on Friday at an Election Dialogue Series organised by a civil society organisation, YIAGAs WatchingTheVote, at Sheraton Hotels in Abuja.

He explained that mobile phones would be collected from voters when they collect their ballot papers at the polling stations, to curb vote buying in the country.

The commission would try and ban the use of some devices that aid vote buying on election day such as mobile phones, Mr Yakubu said.

The INEC boss explained that those who carry mobile phones along to polling units normally use them to take pictures of the ballot papers as evidence to the vote buyers.

It is all widespread that for those who have smart phones, they go into the voting cubicles with there smart phones, thumbprint the ballot paper, take a picture with the ballot paper, fold it and drop it into the box, and later show it to the person who asked them to vote to see evidence that they have voted for there candidate.

But I also think that the political parties may be for a shocker because there are also smart guys in Nigeria that would snap and send to others through whatsapp and one ballot paper may be claimed by hundreds of people, he added.

We are looking at that possibility to tell citizens that have smart phones not to come to polling units on election day with the smart phones.

Also at the event, Mr Yakubu spoke on the importance of increasing sensitisation and education to enlighten voters on the implication of vote selling and buying.

He spoke on the role of INEC in the Electoral Act that requires it to prosecute electoral offenders, which include vote buying.

But what about the other agencies that worked with the electoral commission like the security agencies? It is first and foremost about the enforcement. There are laws in the book against vote buying and in any country that the laws are not enforced, then that nation is doomed. It is about enforcement.

Unfortunately in the Electoral Act, INEC is required to prosecute electoral offenders which include vote buyers; but look at the situation. To successfully prosecute, you have to make arrests. We have no police to make arrests. To successfully prosecute after arrest you have to make investigations; we seem to have no capacity to investigate. How do we then successfully prosecute?

What we have been doing is to work with the security agencies to see if they can make the arrests, investigate and when the case file is ready, we can work together and prosecute.

We have done such with some success in one of the state constituency elections we conducted in 2016 in Kano. In a constituency, we successfully prosecuted over 40 electoral offenders, working with the police. It was the highest prosecution held in the history of the commission. Who did we prosecute? The hoodlums in the polling units.

Mr Yakubu however explained the commission was looking forward to prosecuting offenders who sponsor elections, adding that the commission has over a hundred cases of electoral violations in previous elections.

Similarly, he spoke about the violations that occur before the elections whereby cash electronic transactions were made to buy votes, adding that the commission was looking forward to working with institutions to address the menace.

We are looking forward to the day when we prosecute their sponsors. If we dont get them, the problem would still continue to exist. As we speak, we have over 100 case files submitted by the police for violations in previous elections and we are diligently prosecuting the offenders, including officers of the commission. So we are discussing with the security agencies to see what we can do to this respect.

But it is not just about prosecuting electoral offenders on the day of elections, what about the violations that occur before the day of these elections, using electronic cash transfers? That is why we are challenging every national institutions to work with the commission to address this menace.

Not too long ago we had a meeting with the EFCC, they have the capacity and the legal backing as well to track legal finances and o prosecute violators. And only last week we had a similar meeting with the ICPC as well; so we would continue to work with these agencies.

We hope in Osun they would also help to deploy to some of the polling units so that open violation that happened in the previous elections would not happen.

We would continue to do whatever is required of INEC to do. We have done it before in improving the electoral process. We are going to tackle the menace of vote buying and any other menace that would have a bad name to our democracy and electoral process.

In Osun in the next eight days, we are going to deploy over 16,000 staffs. We have four staff per polling unit that are conducting elections.
A former minister and ex-deputy governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen, has given reasons why she wants to vie for a Senate seat.

Mrs Tallen, a former minister of science and technology under the Obasanjo regime and deputy governor is aspiring to represent Plateau South Senatorial District under the platform of ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The district is currently represented by Jeremiah Useni, a senator, who is seeking to govern the state under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former deputy governor made this known while addressing the leaders of the Conference of Plateau Independent Publishers (CPIP) in her Jos residence.

Mrs Tallen said her decision to contest the Senate seat is not just to satisfy her personal interest or that of the people of Shendam but the interest of southern zone.

You know me well. I am not a tribalist. I dont treat people based on sentiments. I believe in fairness to all. These and many other issues have prompted me to contest to ensure the southern zone gets better representation, she said.

She also spoke on the need to fill the mandatory quota for women participation in politics as resolved in the Beijing declaration that has been adopted in many African governments.

It was unfortunate that while the involvement of women in politics and their identification in electoral process in other African countries has been enormous and encouraging, the case of Nigeria is different as they have been neglected, she said.

The world in general and Africa in particular have realised that in order to move forward, women must be involved in politics and in the art of governance.

Like Senegal, Kenya, Gambia and Ghana where women involvement in politics is between 50-60 per cent and even in Rwanda has made considerable progress and development after the genocide episode over 20 years ago because of visionary leadership in the country that deemed it fit to give about 60 per cent quota to women in the affairs of politics and governance, Mrs Tallen said.

Her aspiration is however facing a serious challenge in the zone.

The issue of who gets the APC ticket in the district is becoming a bone of contention.

Mrs Tallen and a former deputy-governor, Ignatius Longjan, are the two major aspirants jostling for the APC ticket from the zone.

Both of them are from the same senatorial district with Governor Solomon Lalong who is believed to be backing Mr Longjan.

Mrs Tallen is the board chairman of National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA).
Nasarawa State Government on Friday said it had concluded arrangement to fly some victims of the Lafia gas explosion to South Africa for further treatment.

Governor Umaru Al-Makura stated this when the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Yahaya Adamu paid him condolence visit at the Government House, Lafia.

Mr Al-Makura revealed that 11 out of the 36 victims of the gas explosion had died and eight others in critical condition.

He said most of the victims were being treated at the National Trauma Centre in Abuja, adding that the government was committed to ensuring that they got the best medical attention.

The governor has promised to provide land for the construction of the permanent site of the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi.

He said this was to enable the facility expansion and establish emergency centre to enable the hospital cope with large scale emergency cases such as the Lafia gas explosion.

The governor commended FMC for its various outreach programmes which he said had impacted greatly on the health of the people in the state.

Mr Al-Makura assured the hospital of the state government continued support to enable it strive to provide the best medical services to the people.

Earlier, Mr Adamu commiserated with the government and people of the state over the incident and prayed God to grant the families of the deceased victims the fortitude to bear the loss.

The chief medical director commended the state government collaboration with the hospital, a development he noted had assisted FMC, Keffi to render quality health services to the people.

He said that the hospital was working hard to improve on its emergency services to handle large scale cases.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Monaco gas station in Lafia was on Monday engulfed by fire at about 10:00a.m when the tanker offloading the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) had a leakage and went up in flames.

Dogara Dalhatu, chief fire officer of the Nasarawa State Fire Service, who confirmed the inferno, attributed it to a spark around the vicinity where the gas was being discharged.

He said that about 10 vehicles, five motorcycles and three tricycles were also destroyed by the fire.

(NAN)
The Police Command in Nasarawa State on Friday confirmed the killing of eight people by unidentified gunmen in Sofiyo village of Toto Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Kennedy Idrisu, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Toto.

He said scores sustained various degrees of injuries from the attack.

Mr Idrisu advised inhabitants of the area especially the youths against taking laws in to their hands.

He advised the people to ensure that they reported crisis to the appropriate authorities for necessary action rather than engage in violence.

It is true that gunmen attacked and killed eight people in Sofiyo community of the locality.

We have also mobilised our men to the scene of the attack to maintain law and order and to forestall further attacks.

The injured are currently receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital, Gwagwalada, he said.

The spokesperson said the police would not relent in its efforts to ensure peace and stability in the state and called on trouble makers in the state to shun their evil acts.

He urged the residents to provide the police vital information that would enable them to arrest the perpetrators and generally curtail criminal activities in the state.

NAN recalls that in May communal clashes erupted between the Egbira and Bassa ethnic groups during which many people were killed and property destroyed.

(NAN)
At least 21 persons lost their lives in a flood disaster that ravaged parts of Jigawa State, an official has said.

The victims included two children, the executive secretary, Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sani Yau, said on Friday.

Mr Yau said the flood was as a result of opening of Tiga Dam in Kano State.

Every year NIMET used to alert us whenever they want to unlock the dam so that we can be proactive. Unfortunately, this year, they opened the dam without notification. Thats why this years flooding came to us unprepared.

He said the disaster ravaged 210 communities in 14 local government areas.

Mr Yau said this in Miga local government area, after touring the affected communities.

A PREMIUM TIMES reporter also went round the affected communities.

Members of the communities requested for government intervention even as they mourned their losses.

The district head of Harbo Sabuwa, in Jahun local government, Sani Idris called on the government to consider the plight of rice farmers in the community who were given loans by the government but whose produce had been destroyed in the deluge.

Mr Idris told government officials that the flood had barricaded Harbo Tsohowa community leaving it inaccessible for days.

A resident at Harbo community, Adamu Mai-unguwa, told journalist he spent three hours transporting sick persons on his canoe from Hudamai to a health facility.

He said residents in the community are living in fear as the effects of the flood mount.

At Zogawa community in Miga local government, Abdulmumini Ali told PREMIUM TIMES, that flooding had become a nightmare for residents.

At Miga local government headquarters, another resident, Ahmed Idris, said flooding had swept off the graveyard of the community and is now threatening their houses. He said many had fled their homes.

Also at Maiganjara community, in Miga local government, Mustapha Abubakar, a farmer, said the community needs urgent intervention.

All our farm produce such as: pepper, tomatoes, millet were washed away by the flood, we lost all the money we invested to the flood, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES was also at Galadima Fulani settlement in Auyo local government where Yau Ibrahim, a victim, told journalists that the residents have migrated from the community because the flood had submerged our huts and farm produce. We need intervention.

At Ayama community, in Auyo local government, the Imam of Izala mosque, Sheik Idris, said the flood had destroyed the embankment recently built at Mayan Kwari,

Theres an emergency need of an embankment, otherwise the community will be submerged overnight, he said.

Meanwhile, the state deputy governor, Ibrahim Hassan, who briefed journalists shortly after a visit to the affected communities, described the disaster as one of the worst experiences in the state. He said many roads had been overtaken by the flood.

Residents crossing over at Gululu community at Jahun LGA Jigawa state Embarkment area at Harbo, Jahun LGA Jigawa state. flooded area at Harbo community in Jahun Local Government area of Jigawa. Flooded community at Yar Konama in Jahun LGA. Ibrahim Yau and other victims at evacuated area at Galadimawa community at Auyo LGA

The state government is up and doing to distribute the available emergency relief materials to ease the suffering of the affected communities.

I travelled to all the affected communities, what I saw is terrible. So far, we have constructed about 200 canoes, including (donation of) foodstuff to address emergency needs.

We have started distributing them (relief materials) to the affected communities. Were taking a protective measure to avoid the outbreak of diseases in the area, he explained.
On September 14, 2017, the Nigerian Army invaded the Afaraukwu, Umuahia country home of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

IPOB, a group agitating for Independence of Eastern Nigeria, prior to this attack had been growing in popularity in the region.

After the invasion, Mr Kanu has not been seen as his whereabouts remain unknown.

His parents have also not been seen since the invasion.

While the military continues to deny knowing their whereabouts, IPOB continues to point accusing fingers at the army.

IPOB last month called for a sit-at-home exercise in the region on September 14 (today) to commemorate the invasion.

But security agencies have been talking tough, warning IPOB, which was proscribed by governors of the region and declared a terrorist organisation by the federal government at the height of the crisis last year, not to embark on the exercise.

The police in states in the region held series of meetings with stakeholders, banks, markets and council leaders where they urged them to ignore the groups order and open for business promising them adequate security.

But despite the warnings, IPOB insists on going ahead with the sit-at-home protest across the states in the South-east and some parts of the South-south.

The group ordered residents of the zone to stay indoors in their interest and safety.

In a statement by IPOBs Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, the group insisted that the protest must hold.

The group also alleged that the Operation Python Dance 3 by the army is being used to oppress the people of the South-East.

Operation Python Dance Three has started with deadly shootings in Anambra, illegal arrests and abductions in Enugu and Aba. To stay safe and alive, people must remain indoors because the Nigerian army and police will kill anybody they see outside this Friday.

We, IPOB, wish to inform the treacherous South-East governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the so-called Biafra Coalition that hosted and entertained the Biafra hater, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, in Owerri recently that their attempt to use coordinated scare tactics through media statements to intimidate the people of Biafra into disobeying IPOB is a well-known trick that will fail woefully.

We call on all Biafrans to pass a vote of no confidence on South-East governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo and PANDEF (Pan Niger Delta Forum) by sitting at home as ordered by the IPOB High Command, Mr Powerful added.

Previous sit-at-home declarations by IPOB have been partially successful across the South-east. The question on the lips of many observers will thus be: will the exercise be successful or will the people disobey the order? PREMIUM TIMES will bring you updates on how it is going down in the region.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied a rumour that a court has nullified its primaries for the Osun governorship election. The party described the rumour as fake news.

In a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, APC said some misleading media reports suggested its direct primaries for Osun State had been nullified by an Abuja Federal High Court.

it is impossible for judgement to have been given in this case which has only just commenced, Mr Nabena said.

Following the direct primaries on July 20, which produced Gboyega Oyetola, a governorship aspirant, Kunle Adegoke, filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the primary election.

Mr Adegoke in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/804/2018, said the conduct of the partys primary election violated the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010, and relevant provisions of the APC Constitution.

In his suit, he also demanded that the court stops the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the exercise.

The case is, however, still in court and no decision taken on it as the court Thursday adjourned it till October 9, although the APC says it was adjourned to September 27.

This case is before Justice Dimgba and our confirmation from the Courts Registry show that the matter was filed on July 27, 2018. It is being handled for the Plaintiff by A.U Mustapha (SAN) and came up for the first time on September 13, 2018 when service of originating processes on all other Parties was confirmed.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 27, 2018 for hearing.

The party urged the general public to disregard the sponsored fake news.
Cape Coral Police has asked the public for help locating a missing endangered juvenile. Kencade Lee Godfrey, 15, of Cape Coral was reported missing Thursday evening. Godfrey was last seen around 6 a.m. Thursday wearing black Jordan shoes, blue jeans and unknown colored shirt. He is described as a white male, standing 5-foot-9, weighing 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Godfrey, please contact the Cape Coral Police Department at 239-574-3223.
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.




CHICAGO, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Virtual Router Market by Component (Solution (Integrated and Standalone) and Service), Type (Predefined and Custom), End-User (Service Provider (Telecom, Data Center, and Cloud) and Enterprises), and Region - Global forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market size is expected to grow from USD 116.8 million in 2018 to USD 331.5 million by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.2% during the forecast period.

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For more Insights on this report, Speak to Our Analyst:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=222860236

The major factors driving the growth of the Virtual Router Market are the decrease in CAPEX and OPEX, growth in demand for SDN and NFV, and the increasing need for mobility. Furthermore, growing demand for private cloud and virtual router applications across network segments are expected to provide significant growth opportunities in the market.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Virtual Router Market"



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https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/virtual-router-market-222860236.html

The integrated solutions segment is expected to be the larger contributor in the Virtual Router Market during the forecast period.

The integrated solution includes virtual router offerings integrated in a large SDN and NFV suite. Major network providers, such as Cisco and Juniper, offer virtual router capabilities within their NFV suite. Service providers and carriers can enable the virtual router capabilities within their network, which is offered by the players at various network segments, such as IP network, virtual mobile packet core, and cloud/NFV infrastructure. The integrated solution segment has a large market share in the global Virtual Router Market, as the major players, such as Cisco, Juniper, Ericsson, and Nokia, are offering integrated virtual router solutions.

The managed services segment is expected to have the larger market size during the forecast period.

Managed services include outsourced services, such as infrastructure management and other support and maintenance services, to monitor activities from the customers' network to data centers. Virtual router vendors assist their customers efficiently to manage routing functionality, risk, and security within their networks. IBM and HPE are the key service providers in the Virtual Router Market.

North America is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.

North America is the major revenue generating region in the global Virtual Router Market. The region has witnessed the maximum adoption of virtual router solutions, due to the increasing complexities in network infrastructure across all the service providers. In the North American region, enterprises in the US and Canada are expected to significantly adopt virtual router solutions. Therefore, the region is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.

The major vendors in the global Virtual Router Market are IBM (US), Cisco (US), Ericsson (Sweden), Huawei (China), Nokia (Finland), Juniper (US), net Elastic (US), Brocade (US), HPE (US), Arista Networks (US), ZTE Corporation (China), Carbyne (Israel), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point Software (Israel), Ross Video (Canada), Inventum (India), Drivenets (Ha-Sharon), 128 Technology (US), TRENDnet (US), Linksys (US), TIME (Malaysia), ACCESS (Japan), Allied Telesis (Japan), Connectify (US), and 6WIND (France).

Request for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=222860236

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MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

Mr. Shelly Singh

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]





Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/virtual-router-market.asp

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
WATERBURY, Conn., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Webster Bank today announced it will donate $35,000 to the American Red Cross to support disaster recovery efforts for communities affected by Hurricane Florence and recent gas line explosions in Massachusetts' Merrimack Valley.

"These are catastrophic events affecting hundreds of thousands of people throughout the middle Atlantic and Southeast, and in Massachusetts," said John Ciulla, President and CEO of Webster Bank, adding, "Our donation to the American Red Cross aligns with Webster's core values of supporting the communities we serve, especially when natural disasters strike. In addition, we will be conducting proactive outreach to our Webster Bank customers and employees in the affected areas."

The donation will assist four American Red Cross chapters in Connecticut/Rhode Island and Massachusetts as they begin to deploy teams to help those in the affected areas. In addition, Webster will make a donation to the American Red Cross-Wisconsin Area through its HSA Bank division, headquartered in Milwaukee.



To assist our Webster Bank customers, Webster will work with impacted customers as appropriate during the disruption of critical services in their communities. In addition, Webster has reached out to employees in these areas to ensure they are safe and aware of services available to them.

For more information about how you can assist people in the affected areas visit redcross.org. To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

About Webster

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association. With $27 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, financial planning, trust, and investment services through 163 banking centers and 326 ATMs. Webster also provides mobile and Internet banking. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation; the equipment finance firm Webster Capital Finance Corporation; and HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank, which provides health savings account trustee and administrative services. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org

SOURCE Webster Bank

Related Links

http://www.websterbank.com


DENVER, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Denver Health, Swedish Medical Center, Boulder Community Health, Parker Adventist Hospital and Montrose Memorial Hospital were recognized with Ending the Wait awards for their outstanding achievements in facilitating the gift of life through organ and tissue donation in Colorado. The awards, now in their tenth year, are presented annually by Donor Alliance, the federally-designated organ procurement organization serving Colorado, and the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA).

"Right now, nearly 2,500 people in Colorado are waiting on a lifesaving transplant and thousands more are waiting for tissue grafts. The leadership and organizational commitment of these hospitals had and continues to have an impact on ending their wait," said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. "We are honored to partner with and publicly recognize the exemplary work of these Colorado hospitals who continue to lead the way in helping to advance our mission of saving lives through organ and tissue donation."

Last year, 16 organ donors from Denver Health donated 49 organs that were transplanted to save lives locally and across the country. Swedish Medical Center and Boulder Community Health led the way in tissue donation in 2017. The lives of more than 8,700 recipients were saved or healed thanks to 116 tissue donors from Swedish Medical Center. At Boulder Community Health, 29 tissue donors helped more than 2,100 recipients.

Parker Adventist Hospital earned recognition for its efforts to fulfill a registered donor's wishes surrounding organ and tissue donation. Montrose Memorial Hospital was also honored for its dedication to fulfilling a family's wishes for a loved one to become an organ and tissue donor.

"The coordinated efforts of Donor Alliance and Colorado hospitals result in saved and improved lives for countless patients and their families," said Steven J. Summer, president and CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association. "CHA is proud to once again partner with Donor Alliance to recognize those hospital leaders and clinicians whose actions improve the well-being of our patients and communities."

The awards were created to recognize the commitment of Colorado hospitals, medical centers and healthcare professionals to saving lives through organ and tissue donation. The selections are awarded annually and based on hospital size, trauma center designation total number of donors and organs transplanted.

Each donor has the potential to save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal more than 75 through the gift of tissue donation. Last year, 407 lives were saved through organ transplantation thanks to 144 selfless organ donors from our area. A record 1,752 tissue donors provided healing tissue to thousands in need.

At the close of 2017, 68 percent of Colorado's licensed drivers and ID card holders had joined the organ and tissue donor registry. However, with nearly 2,500 people in Colorado currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, Donor Alliance and CHA know there is still more work to be done.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit DonorAlliance.org. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeColorado.org or call 303-329-4747 for more information.

About the Colorado Hospital Association

The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) represents more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout Colorado. CHA partners with its members to work towards health reform, clinical excellence and performance improvement, and provides advocacy and representation at the state and federal level. Colorado hospitals and health systems are committed to providing coverage and access to safe, high-quality and affordable health care. In addition, Colorado hospitals have a tremendous impact on the state's economic stability and growth, contributing to nearly every community across the state with 75,000 employees statewide. For more information, visit www.cha.com.

About Donor Alliance

Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. As the organ and tissue procurement agency for Colorado and most of Wyoming, Donor Alliance serves more than 5.8 million residents and more than 100 hospitals.

Donor Alliance adheres to the highest medical, regulatory and ethical standards, and meets every performance standard. By respectfully working with the families of organ and tissue donors, maintaining partnerships with hospitals, educating residents on the life-saving benefits of donation and inspiring them to sign up on the state's donor registry, Donor Alliance is able to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Colorado and Wyoming boast some of the highest rates of donor registration in the country, which directly translates to more lives saved and healed through organ and tissue transplantation. Donor Alliance is one of 58 federally designated organizations of its kind in the United States. For more information visit DonorAlliance.org or the Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming Facebook pages.

Media Contacts:

Courtney Brunkow

The Fletcher Group

303.717.9575

[email protected]



Andrea Smith

Donor Alliance

303.370.5683

[email protected]

SOURCE Donor Alliance

Related Links

https://www.donoralliance.org


Since the first WWCAM Conference was held in Sapporo, Japan in 1982, it has been held every two years for 36 years. Building on its past success, this conference breaks through the limitations of member cities and warmly invites winter city representatives from countries facing common challenges across five continents, injecting new vitality into the exchanges among cities in the world.

"Cities of high latitude and altitude face more severe heating, traffic and environment problems." During the conference, Lara Fritts, Director of Salt Lake City's Economic Development Department said: "Salt Lake city plans to use 100% renewable energy for community electricity support and reduces 80% of greenhouse gases by 2040, allowing every citizen to enjoy fresh air in cold winter. Inspired by our Resources Plan, Shenyang government is in deep and close cooperation with us to transform from coal-based to renewable energy source."



At the conference, 15 mayors or representatives from Sapporo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Vancouver, Canada; and Clermont-Ferrand, France, introduced their cities' experiences and achievements, and gave related suggestions to building new smart cities with higher quality and efficiency, and developing green cities with more sustainable development.



48 business associations from 18 countries and 60 related enterprises from Liaoning, including Ambo Group of the United States, Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan, Orrin Group of Finland, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Shenyang Broad Group and Shenyang Tourism Group, attended the Winter Cities Business Cooperation Meeting, with about 150 people joining. During the meeting, more than 20 foreign enterprises and over 50 Chinese enterprises conducted one-to-one project connections on tourism, IT, environmental protection and other fields.

"Making Life Better", clearly features not only the good wish and earnest pursuit of people around the world to better life, but also the inescapable historical responsibility of city management. Jiang Youwei, mayor of Shenyang, said that Shenyang is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with other cities, deepen practical cooperation and promote sustainable and healthy development of the city. Meanwhile, many city mayors and chamber of commerce representatives also expressed their willingness to strengthen communication with Shenyang, vigorously develop international cultural tourism industry projects, and share experiences and achievement of precise urban planning, delicate development and lean management.

Image Attachments Links:

http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=319339

SOURCE Shenyang Municipal Government
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MBI Group, a New York City-based construction firm specializing in commercial interior fit-outs, completed general contracting work for Columbia University as part of a competitive bid for its office build-out on the sixth floor of The Studebaker Building, located at 615 West 131st Street in Manhattan. The Studebaker Building, originally constructed in the 1920s, is a historic, six-story industrial property that is today a part of Columbia's Manhattanville campus.

"We are honored to have worked with Columbia University, a world-class institution, who sought a general contractor to revitalize the building's offices," said Alex Getelman, Executive Managing Director of MBI Group. "Historic properties always require special considerations; The Studebaker Building was a former automobile factory, with a loft-like aesthetic, which today serves as administrative offices. Our goal was to complete the project successfully under a tight deadline. For over 30 years, MBI Group has completed projects for some of New York City's most prominent educational clients."

The scope of the completed work for the 35,000 square-foot project included demolition, concrete, fire stopping, SonaSpray acoustical treatment on the exposed ceiling slab, drywall partitions, drywall and acoustical ceilings and glass and metal storefronts. The project also included millwork, installation of ceramic tile, flooring, painting, plumbing, sprinkler, life safety, mechanical and electrical systems. MBI Group worked closely with Columbia University's Commissioning Agent and Information Technology department throughout the course of the project, a key aspect of all of Columbia University projects. Occupants began moving into the new space in 2016; the project concluded in February 2018.

Special requirements when working with Columbia University included utilizing the project management software, Oracle Unifier. The University is also dedicated to its diversity program and requires strict monthly compliance reporting; MBI Group, an MBE-certified company, is aligned with this mission to not only meet but exceed diversity requirements.

The aggressive schedule for the project required careful procurement of long-lead items to achieve completion with a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) before the start of the following semester. The Switzer Group was hired by the University as the architect for the project, and worked closely with the Columbia University team and MBI Group for a successful completion.

About MBI Group:

MBI Group is a full-service construction firm providing interior fit-outs and core and shell construction for corporate, educational, healthcare, hospitality, institutional, mixed-use, and retail facilities. Founded in 1987, the firm is a certified minority-owned business (MBE) with a 30-year track record of success working for some of New York City's most prominent corporate, healthcare and educational clients. Today headed by Edward Campanella-Rodriguez, President, along with Alex Getelman, Executive Managing Director, the firm serves the tristate area and beyond from their Manhattan offices. For more information, please visit www.mbiny.com.

SOURCE MBI Group

Related Links

http://www.mbiny.com


At one location, 89 dogs were found living in filth in a 10 by 60 mobile home and investigators had to wear hazmat suits while processing the scenes. One puppy was near death and a carcass that was improperly disposed of was located. At the second location, investigators found 166 dogs in filthy conditions and various stages of health. Investigators had to wear hazmat suits at that location, as well.

American Humane, the country's first national humane organization, which has been conducting animal rescues for more than 100 years, partnered with local authorities and animal aid groups including SCRAPS and HEART to transport the dogs from the puppy mill to a temporary shelter and provide them with food, medical treatment, and intensive 24-hour care as needed. American Humane is working with a local veterinarian, local responders, and local contacts, performing intake assessments, and setting up a daily care routine. The animals will eventually be taken in by permanent shelters and rescues for adoption.

The giant American Humane Rescue vehicle traveled more than 1,200 miles from its strategic station in Los Angeles to help the animals. The lifesaving vehicle was made possible thanks to a generous donation by internationally renowned philanthropist Lois Pope. Banfield Foundation also made a generous contribution to cover the operational and deployment costs, and leading animal health company Zoetis is the medical sponsor for American Humane Rescue and provides medicines and veterinary supplies for its deployments.

"It is very disheartening to see animals living under these conditions, but we are fortunate to have the support of so many humane heroes to fight these injustices," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. "With the help of our rescue team and dedicated local volunteers, these animals will be rehabilitated and put on the path to a better life."

"The condition in which the animals were found in was deplorable," said the local sheriff's department deputy. "Years of urine and feces buildup, dangerous ammonia levels, caged litters and severely ill dogs, even a carcass. I cannot imagine the suffering and neglect these animals were subjected to. This was the worst case, with the largest number of dogs I have ever handled."

The American Humane Rescue program was created in 1916 at the request of the U.S. Secretary of War to rescue war horses on the battlefields of World War I Europe. Now celebrating more than a century of saving animals in need, the American Humane Rescue program has been aiding animals of every kind and has been involved in virtually every major disaster relief effort from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, the Joplin, Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma tornadoes, the Japanese and Haitian earthquakes, and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. In just the past year American Humane Rescue teams have saved, sheltered, and fed more than 600,000 animals.

To follow the news or support the American Humane Rescue team's emergency work, please visit www.americanhumane.org.

About American Humane

American Humane is the country's first national humane organization, founded in 1877. For more information, please visit www.americanhumane.org.

SOURCE American Humane

Related Links

http://www.americanhumane.org


AMSTERDAM, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IBC2018 -- Amlogic, a leading fabless semiconductor company and Google system-on-chip (SoC) partner, today announced it has successfully integrated Android 9 Pie into its S905X SoC powered 1G4K Android TV set-top box platform. Along with the integration of Android 9 Pie, the platform has been verified by Google to achieve as the Android 9 Pie ready 1G4K solution for the industry. With this achievement, Amlogic, collaborating with Google and developers throughout the world, can speed to market improved performance and function in smart TV set-top box applications.

Google officially released its latest Android version, Android 9 Pie (Android P) in August. Android P for Android TV features optimizations for improved system performance and reduced memory utilization, enhanced user experience  for launcher, setup, settings and other Google apps  new security and continued improvements to Treble to make developer updates easier.

"Getting Android 9 Pie ready on our Android TV set-top box platform is beneficial, not only to Amlogic but to the market in general," said James Xie, vice president of corporate business strategy for Amlogic. "At Amlogic, we're doing our part to provide high performance, yet affordable, set-top box and smart TV technologies for an improved consumer 4K TV experience."

In June, Amlogic launched the S905X system solution with support for Netflix and a 1GB DDR memory configuration designed for use on 4K UHD Android TV set-top boxes. This solution delivers high-quality 4K resolution streaming to a wider range of consumers than ever before, thanks to an innovative design that requires only 1GB of DDR memory. The S905X 1G4K solution substantially lowers the production cost to enable increased market penetration of 4K set-top boxes worldwide.

Amlogic now provides the Android TV P ready set-top box reference solution in the market. The first Android TV P solution from Amlogic is the S905X 4K set-top-box reference design with 1G of memory, available now. Set-top boxes utilizing the 1G4K S905X reference design shall be available by end of 2018.

"At Amlogic, we can't wait to see the first consumer products based on the S905X with integrated Android TV P," Xie added. "Consumers will enjoy the new features and functions the combined technologies provide."

Amlogic, along with its original design manufacturer (ODM) partners, is demonstrating a 1G4K Android TV ready set-top box running Android P at IBC2018, Hall 5, Stand A27, at RAI in Amsterdam Sept. 14-18, 2018.

About Amlogic

Amlogic is a global fabless system-on-a-chip (SoC) leader that provides open platform solutions for multimedia consumer devices including OTT/IP STBs, Smart TVs and Smart Home products. Amlogic has combined its highly optimized media processing engine and system IPs with industry-leading CPU and GPU technologies to produce solutions for leading pay-tv operators, OEM and ODM partners. Through proprietary techniques, Amlogic has achieved cost, performance and power consumption optimizations never seen before. Amlogic allows partners to rapidly develop market-leading products by providing turnkey solutions on both Android and Linux. Founded in Santa Clara, California, Amlogic has R&D centers, support and sales offices in Santa Clara, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Taipei, Seoul and France. Visit Amlogic online at http://www.amlogic.com.

Android is a trademark of Google. ARM and Cortex are trademarks of ARM Inc.

SOURCE Amlogic

Related Links

http://www.amlogic.com


Australis Expected to Commence Trading and Distribution of Units to Aurora Shareholders on September 19, 2018

TSX: ACB

EDMONTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora" or the "Company") (TSX: ACB) (OTCQB: ACBFF) (Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) and Australis Capital Inc. ("Australis") today announced the common shares and warrants (together the "Units") of Australis are expected to commence trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the trading symbol "AUSA" at the opening of trading on September 19, 2018 immediately following the completion of the distribution of Units by Aurora to its shareholders.

The U.S. Cannabis Market

To date, the medical use of cannabis is legal in 31 states, the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. Nine states plus the District of Columbia have proceeded with consumer legalization. While momentum continues to build at the state level, cannabis remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance at the under the federally governed Controlled Substances Act. Consequently, the U.S. cannabis market is fragmented in nature and includes many high-quality operations and technology innovators with limited access to capital. This has created a compelling opportunity for well capitalized Canadian companies to invest in U.S. assets, especially considering anticipated market growth, with over 50% of the U.S. population currently living in states with legal access.

Recent changes in U.S. federal positioning with respect to cannabis have positively impacted the perception of risk to invest in U.S. cannabis assets. This has further incentivized capital market participants to seek opportunities to fund U.S. based operations.

Australis Capital

Australis synthesizes decades of relevant expertise, its strong historical relationship with Aurora Cannabs and other strategic relationships, and capital investment execution to build value in the cannabis value chain in the United States. Targeting investments in cannabis and associated real estate opportunities, Australis is well positioned for early-stage access to attractively priced opportunities. Following an oversubscribed, non-brokered private placement, raising gross proceeds of $17 million, Australis is aggressively identifying high quality investment opportunities with strong growth potential. Australis has assembled a management team with significant U.S. capital markets, operating and regulatory compliance experience governed by an industry best board of directors and deeply rooted cannabis investment advisory committee.

Through aggressive and disciplined investment, access to capital markets, Australis will leverage strategic relationships with Aurora Cannabis and others to maximize deal flow and discounted investments.

Management Commentary

"With Australis we've brought together an impressive management team and Board with vast capital markets and cannabis industry backgrounds to evaluate and pursue investments in the highly fragmented and opportunity-rich U.S. cannabis market," said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. "Upon completion of the distribution, Australis' independent opportunity team will leverage their combined experience while applying the Aurora Standard to assessing and executing on accretive opportunities that will drive long term shareholder value."

"Our team has wasted no time evaluating a number of potential investment opportunities across the US cannabis industry and excited to initiate our investment strategy upon completion of the distribution" stated Scott Dowty, CEO of Australis. We're entering the market at the right time to capitalize on these transactions and generate shareholder value. I look forward to providing regular updates as we complete these investments and further define growth vectors to what will be a disciplined, reflective and aggressive mandate."

Update on Distribution of Australis Units to Aurora Shareholders

Following completion of Australis' public listing, Aurora and Australis expect the previously announced distribution of shares and warrants (the "Distribution") will be completed and the Australis shares and warrants will commence trading on the CSE on September 19, 2018 under the symbol "AUSA". In accordance with the terms of the Distribution, eligible Aurora shareholder will be paid one Unit of Australis for every 34 Aurora shares outstanding as at August 24, 2018 (the "Record Date). Each Unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant of Australis. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one share at an exercise price of $0.25 per Australis share, on or prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date that is one year after the Distribution.

In accordance with applicable securities laws, only Canadian beneficial shareholders can participate in the Distribution. Canadian beneficial shareholders or their broker representatives are required to confirm Canadian residency by no later than September 14, 2018, otherwise they will be deemed to be non-resident shareholders and will receive the net cash proceeds from the sale of their units. Canadian shareholders who hold their shares in Aurora through a brokerage or other account are therefore urged to contact their brokers to ensure that their brokers have confirmed Canadian residency in the manner to be provided by CDS or DTCC, as applicable.

About Aurora

Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with funded capacity in excess of 500,000 kg per year and sales and operations in 18 countries across five continents, Aurora is one of the world's largest and leading cannabis companies. Aurora is vertically integrated and horizontally diversified across every key segment of the value chain, from facility engineering and design to cannabis breeding and genetics research, cannabis and hemp production, derivatives, high value-add product development, home cultivation, wholesale and retail distribution.



Highly differentiated from its peers, Aurora has established a uniquely advanced, consistent and efficient production strategy, based on purpose-built facilities that integrate leading-edge technologies across all processes, defined by extensive automation and customization, resulting in the massive scale production of high quality product at ultra-low costs. Intended to be replicable and scalable globally, these production facilities are designed to produce cannabis of significant scale, with high quality, industry-leading yields, and ultra-low per gram production costs. Each of Aurora's facilities is built to meet European Union (EU) GMP standards, and both its first production facility and its wholly owned European medical cannabis distributor Pedanios have achieved this level of certification.

In addition to the Company's rapid organic growth and strong execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes 15 companies  MedReleaf, CanvasRX, Peloton Pharmaceutical, Pedanios, H2 Biopharma, Urban Cultivator, BC Northern Lights, Larssen Greenhouses, CanniMed Therapeutics, Anandia Labs, HotHouse Consulting, Agropro, Borela, and the pending acquisition of ICC Labs  Aurora is distinguished by its reputation as a partner of choice and employer of choice in the global cannabis sector, having invested in and established strategic partnerships with a range of leading innovators, including: The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD), Radient Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RTI), Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (TSXV: HEMP), Cann Group Ltd. (ASX: CAN), Micron Waste Technologies Inc. (CSE: MWM), Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO), Namaste Technologies Inc. (TSXV: N), Evio Beauty Group (private), Wagner Dimas (private), CTT Pharmaceuticals (OTCC: CTTH), and Alcanna Inc. (TSX: CLIQ).

Aurora's Common Shares trade on the TSX under the symbol "ACB", and are a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

For more information about Aurora, please visit our investor website, investor.auroramj.com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

Terry Booth, CEO

Aurora Cannabis Inc.

About Australis

Australis Capital identifies and invests in the cannabis industry predominately in the United States, a highly regulated, fragmented, fast growing and evolving industry. Investments may include and are not limited to equity, debt or other securities of both public and private companies, financings in exchange for royalties or other distribution streams, and control stake acquisitions. Australis Capital adheres to stringent investment criteria and will focus on significant near and mid-term high-quality opportunities with strong return potentials while maintaining a steadfast commitment to governance and community. Australis Capital's Board, Management and Advisory Committee members have material experience with, and knowledge of, the cannabis space in the U.S., extensive backgrounds in highly regulated industries, adherence to stringent regulatory compliance, public company and operational expertise. For more information, please visit us at www.ausacap.com

Forward looking statements

This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include, but are not limited to: statements in respect of the timing and details of the Distribution, the financial prospects of Australis, the listing of Australis Shares and Warrants on the CSE and the terms of the Restricted Back-in Right. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Investors should refer to the final prospectus filed by Australis in connection with the Distribution for more information, in particular the risk factors described therein under the heading "Risk Factors". The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Related Links

https://auroramj.com/


ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Challenging the $1.4 trillion dollar grocery industry, today Basket, the largest shopper-powered retail platform, announced the launch of a new Grocery Business Intelligence (GBI) tool called "Insights." Created for data-driven brands and retailers and powered by shoppers, Insights captures on shelf and promotional prices of grocery products and their competitors, and updates in real time  with information on 98% of grocery stores nationwide. This announcement is bolstered with the hiring of Pam Caffrey, a 27-year veteran of Nielsen with expertise in consumer packaged goods, as Basket's Vice President of Data Solutions.

As a recent CNN Money article explains, "...Most food manufacturers and retailers have to perform backflips for in-store grocery data." Insights is being launched in response to the upheaval in the grocery industry as retailers, and answers the need for brands and shoppers pricing data in real time. Following Basket's momentum since completing its $11 million Series A round of financing in 2017, and tripling its number of employees in its Arlington, Va.-based headquarters in 90 days, the business platform comes to market with a near total retail coverage across the U.S., including traditional grocery stores, ecommerce, mass-discounters and pharmacies.

Insights visualizes pricing for brand partners' products and their competitors' products, providing updates on-demand, in real-time, based on data obtained directly from shoppers. With hundreds of thousands of shoppers powering Basket's pricing, Insights also maintains a 1.2 million product database and allows access to Basket's nearly 20 billion historical prices.

Neil Kataria, Basket's co-founder and CEO, explains, "We founded Basket to give real-time grocery pricing access to everyone, and that means shoppers and brands alike. Insights is integral to that mission, and is based on the notion that our shoppers provide brands and retailers with the ultimate truth in pricing. We see what shoppers see and that's the most important view."

Eleven brands participated in the beta launch of Insights over the summer, including Chloe's, a frozen fruit pop brand that has expanded into 10,000 stores since its launch in 2014. Says Michael Sloan, the CEO and Co-Founder, "With the help of Insights, Chloe's has become one of the fastest-growing frozen novelty brands in the U.S. We've seen invaluable intelligence into promotions and pricing for Chloe's and our competitors, allowing us to achieve the best possible pricing for our consumers."

To maximize Basket's investment in their B2B retail pricing intelligence, Kataria also announced that Pam Caffrey will be joining Basket to bring the next level of research and discovery to Basket's growing number of Insights partners. Caffrey's background spans work across numerous consumer packaged goods brands across North America, offering another powerful lens to the platform. "I believe that Basket is on the cutting edge," says Caffrey, "Understanding how and why consumers make decisions to shop in one store versus another is extremely valuable to both manufacturers and retailers."

"We are thrilled to welcome Pam to Basket, not only for her tremendous knowledge and network she built while at Nielsen, but also for her passion to move data intelligence forward in the consumer goods industry. Pam will be a part of the breakthrough for brands who are looking to move at the speed of 'now,'" said Andy Ellwood, co-founder and President of Basket.

Insight features:

Coverage across 98% of grocery retailers online and offline

Database of historical pricing for national, private label and store brands

Customization of data based on the exact store and category, including stores that don't participate in other syndicated data services

Comprehensive price and trade marketing intelligence on demand

Special missions and in-store audits and through Basket Commerce Moderators nationwide

About Basket

Founded in 2014, Basket is powered by the largest community of shoppers in the world and believes everyone should have access to real-time pricing information. For shoppers, as well as brands and retailers, Basket is leading the way in grocery transparency and accessibility.

See more at Basket.com, or on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

SOURCE Basket

Related Links

http://www.basket.com


WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill Meat Solutions (Cargill), Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that they have reached a settlement to resolve EEOC charges filed on behalf of 138 Somali-American Muslim workers.

SEE: Cargill Meat Resolves EEOC Discrimination Class Finding

https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/9-14-18.cfm

In their charges, the workers alleged wrongful termination based on discrimination and the wrongful revocation of a religious accommodation policy that permitted them to take short breaks to perform their obligatory prayers in accordance with their sincerely-held beliefs.

While Cargill does not accept the basis of these EEOC complaints, it decided to settle the matter out of court to avoid a protracted legal proceeding and provide all parties with a path forward.

The agreement includes a financial settlement of $1,500,000 for the 138 terminated employees, inclusive of attorneys' fees and costs. In conjunction with this agreement, Cargill has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to allow Muslim workers to take short breaks to perform their obligatory prayers. Cargill's religious accommodation policy takes into account key business requirements, such as employee and food safety, and production line needs.

"Providing our employees with religious accommodation is an important part of engaging and supporting our employees, and our policy has remained consistent for more than 10 years," said Brian Sikes, president of Cargill Meat Solutions.

"We are gratified with the settlement reached for the 138 former Cargill employees that we represented in this proceeding and applaud the company for its ongoing efforts to consistently grant prayer requests to people of all faiths based on its longstanding policy and values," stated Qusair Mohamedbhai of Denver law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC. "We appreciate the collaborative efforts of Cargill and Cargill's commitment to continue to communicate its longstanding prayer accommodation practices."

"We commend Cargill for reaching this settlement with 138 of its former employees and for valuing the religious diversity of its workers," said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri. "We applaud this settlement, which represents a mutually agreeable resolution of this case, and we welcome Cargill's commitment to accommodating the religious needs of Muslim workers and workers of other faith backgrounds."

Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC is a preeminent civil rights firm based in Denver, Colorado. The firm is committed to promoting civil rights in a variety of arenas, including employment discrimination, public accommodations, and fair housing, as well as to ensure that individuals are protected from violations of their civil liberties at the hands of government officials.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2018/CPSC-Survival-Tips-for-After-Hurricane-Florence

Hundreds of thousands of consumers have already lost power due to Hurricane Florence, and that could climb to millions over the next few days. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning residents in hurricane-impacted areas about the deadly dangers that exist during and after the storm. "The aftermath of the storm is very dangerous and consumers need to take appropriate safety precautions to keep their families safe," says CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle.

During power outages, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fire increase. Here's how you can keep your family safe.

Use portable gas generators safely. Read the label on your generator and the owner's manual BEFORE use.

Use your generator OUTSIDE your house ONLY , at least 20 feet from your home.

your house , at least 20 feet from your home. NEVER use a generator inside a home, garage or shed. Carbon monoxide from generators is poisonous and can KILL you in minutes. CO is called the "invisible killer" because you cannot see it or smell it.

Make sure you have working CO alarms in your home. They should be placed outside separate sleeping areas and on each floor of your home.

Make sure you have working smoke alarms too. Check the batteries! They should be placed on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom.

Why is this important? Poisonous carbon monoxide from portable generators can kill you and your family in minutes. CO is an invisible killer. It's colorless and odorless. More than 400 people die each year in the United States from CO poisoning, about 70 of those are related to portable generators.

Other hazards include:

CHARCOAL DANGER:

- Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

CANDLES:

- Use caution when burning candles. Use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave the room.

WET APPLIANCES:

- Look for signs that your appliances have gotten wet. Discard electrical or gas appliances that have been wet because they pose electric shock and fire hazards.

- Before using your appliances, have a professional or your gas or electric company evaluate your home and replace all gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers, and fuses that have been under water.

GAS LEAKS: IF YOU SMELL GAS, REPORT IT

If you smell or hear gas, do not turn lights on or off, or use electrical equipment, including a phone.

Please share CPSC Acting Chairman's hurricane safety message, our new hurricane safety trifold which can be printed and distributed, and our hurricane safety video with your viewers and listeners. You have the power to prepare! Don't sacrifice safety before or after the storm.

Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle's safety message:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru5eszY6_Eg

Hurricane Safety publication

https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers

Hurricane Safety PSA Before the Storm 30 second https://youtu.be/eZN5xypUS3U

CPSC spokespeople are available for interviews before or after the storm on these and other safety tips. Contact CPSC's Office of Communications at 301-504-7908.

About U.S. CPSC:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals  contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For more lifesaving information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC or sign up to receive our e-mail alerts. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m.  5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products .

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: 301-504-7908

Spanish: 301-504-7800

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division will be showcasing its advanced air combat live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training systems at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference (ASC) in National Harbor, Maryland from September 17-19. With the theme of "Multi-Domain Operations: Leveraging the Full Spectrum," the Air Force Association's annual ASC conference is the nation's premier event for defense and aerospace professionals focusing on the latest developments in airpower, space and cyber.

"As the world's leading provider of air combat maneuvering instrumentation (ACMI), we are constantly evolving our air combat training solutions to achieve full-spectrum LVC training," said Mike Knowles, vice president and general manager of Air Ranges, Cubic Global Defense. "In fact, we are the only company to offer a complete air combat training system that is flying in the world today. Cubic's LVC capabilities were unveiled this week during the joint Secure Live, Virtual and Constructive Advanced Training Environment (SLATE) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) and we look forward to demonstrating our advancements at this year's Air Space and Cyber conference."

Cubic will showcase the following air combat and virtual training technologies at booth #609 on the exhibit show floor at the Gaylord National Convention Center:

LVC Training: Cubic is the industry system integrator for the Air Force Research Lab's Secure LVC Advanced Training Environment and Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). SLATE ATD uses fourth-generation aircraft with a multi-level encrypted ACMI waveform and airborne subsystems, in both tethered and untethered LVC training scenarios. SLATE ATD is a combination of protocols, standards, hardware and software that is joint, interoperable and supports advanced warfighting concepts.

Cubic is the industry system integrator for the Air Force Research Lab's Secure LVC Advanced Training Environment and Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). SLATE ATD uses fourth-generation aircraft with a multi-level encrypted ACMI waveform and airborne subsystems, in both tethered and untethered LVC training scenarios. SLATE ATD is a combination of protocols, standards, hardware and software that is joint, interoperable and supports advanced warfighting concepts. P5 Combat Training System (CTS/TCTS): Cubic's P5CTS provides real-time and post-mission training for air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air combat missions by displaying the live-air picture, recording mission data and relaying Time, Space and Positioning Information (TSPI) between participating aircraft during training sorties. Key components of the system include GPS-enabled, aircraft-mounted airborne instrumentation "pods" plus ground stations, which help aircrew conduct, monitor and manage air combat training and post-flight debriefing.

Cubic's P5CTS provides real-time and post-mission training for air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air combat missions by displaying the live-air picture, recording mission data and relaying Time, Space and Positioning Information (TSPI) between participating aircraft during training sorties. Key components of the system include GPS-enabled, aircraft-mounted airborne instrumentation "pods" plus ground stations, which help aircrew conduct, monitor and manage air combat training and post-flight debriefing. Secure Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI): Cubic's next-generation Air-Ground Encryptor (NGAGE) is a mature, low-cost, low-risk, form-fit encryption solution readily available to provide increased security for the P5CTS pod and ground station. The NGAGE is also designed to be interoperable with the JSF P5 Internal Subsystem, thereby enhancing fourth/fifth-generation air combat training.

Cubic's next-generation Air-Ground Encryptor (NGAGE) is a mature, low-cost, low-risk, form-fit encryption solution readily available to provide increased security for the P5CTS pod and ground station. The NGAGE is also designed to be interoperable with the JSF P5 Internal Subsystem, thereby enhancing fourth/fifth-generation air combat training. Synthetic Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SYN-ISR): SYN-ISR supports joint exercises by providing customizable virtual environments with a variety of manned and unmanned sensor feeds. SYN-ISR provides a mobile LVC application that injects live players into the rich geo-specific virtual environment. Cubic will showcase its demo and videos of SYN-ISR, by leveraging existing architecture funded via DARPA, to provide a capability currently in high demand.

SYN-ISR supports joint exercises by providing customizable virtual environments with a variety of manned and unmanned sensor feeds. SYN-ISR provides a mobile LVC application that injects live players into the rich geo-specific virtual environment. Cubic will showcase its demo and videos of SYN-ISR, by leveraging existing architecture funded via DARPA, to provide a capability currently in high demand. Social Media Replication Toolkit (SMART): SMART provides the tools to create social media content within a scalable, dynamic LVC environment for use by Information Operations and Intelligence Analysts in multilevel training exercises.

Follow Cubic Global Defense @CubicDefense and join the social conversation during the show with the hashtag #ASC18.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation designs, integrates and operates systems, products and services focused in the transportation, defense training and secure communications markets. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Global Defense Systems is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions to the U.S. and allied forces. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp.

SOURCE Cubic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cubic.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Marketing Agency, fishbat, offers tips for security seals manufacturers who are starting a blog for their business.

Blogs are become one of the most popular ways to spread brand awareness, become a thought leader in your industry, and foster relationships with potential customers. But starting a blog can be overwhelming if you don't have a good strategy in place.

Here are 4 tips that can help security seal companies start a blog that will attract and convert potential customers:

Ask yourself what value you can bring to the world. With 2 million blog posts being published every day, yours has to stand out by providing value to the reader. Don't just speak at them, speak to them. Use your experience, industry knowledge, and unique products to position yourself as a brand leader, educate the public, and address any questions needs the readers might have. Pick a blog platform that's reliable and easy to use. The focus of building your blog should be the content, not maintaining blog site itself. Find a blog hosting platform that doesn't require coding and makes it easy to get your blog up and running with templates and simple designs. That way, you can focus your time on creating great content rather than figuring out how to configure the blog. Define your target audience and write the content that they want. You should define some key elements of your audience before you write any content: what are their general ages? Interests? Pain points? Knowing these things allows you to craft content with a purpose, which is more likely to engage your audience and drive them to further action. Be consistent and don't get discouraged. Don't be disappointed if your blog posts aren't immediately getting a lot of traffic. You may have to put out content for a while and establish yourself as an industry authority before people notice and search algorithms pick up on your blogs. The key is to be consistent and keep putting out content, it will pay off down the road.

About fishbat: fishbat is a full-service digital marketing firm and social media agency dedicated to connecting all types of businesses, like American Casting and Manufacturing security seal manufacturer, with their target audiences in the most effective and efficient way. Through innovative strategies in social media management, search engine optimization (SEO), branding, web design, reputation management and public relations, fishbat promotes a consistent and professional online voice for all of its clients.

SOURCE fishbat

Related Links

http://www.fishbat.com


MEXICO CITY, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genaro Garcia Luna has had many publications discussing security. His latest publication, Seguridad con Bienestar, adds to his previously published works. In his books, he discusses his vision for security and case studies from various countries and entities as examples.

GLAC Consulting

Genaro Garcia Luna has already made presentations to private and public institutions and has demonstrated the scope of his work in the periodicals published in El Heraldo and El Financiero, as well as with the publication of the book Seguridad con Bienestar (2018). In this work, which adds to the titles "Why 1,661 police corporations are not enough?" (2006) and "New Security Model for Mexico," (2012) Garcia Luna explains better what this concept consists of and through the study of several cases he disaggregates it in its various components.

Genaro Garcia Luna is not only the director of GLAC Consulting, but he is also the creator of the AFI during the presidency of Vicente Fox (2000-2006) and former Secretary of Public Safety during the administration of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012). Due to all of his experiences in the realm of security, Genaro Garcia Luna saw the need for a tool that would allow the government to analyze the country as a whole or an entity within it with the greatest number of variables that may affect its security and, with regards to the private sector, have detailed information that would contribute to making decisions regarding potential investments. In his new book he dives into these needs even further.

These analyses incorporate a tool called the "GLAC Index," created by GLAC Consulting. It is calculated with its own algorithm as a method of assessing the level of security of a place or entity. The GLAC Index measures and analyzes the conditions of a vulnerable community and compares the variables and factors that affect the behavior of the entity subject to study. The contribution of this Index could contribute to the prevention and combat violence and cybercrime.

About GLAC Consulting: In addition to the GLAC Index, GLAC Consulting near Miami also offers complete solutions for security, technology, and risk analysis for the whole world. Under its director, Genaro Garcia Luna, GLAC Consulting is a risk analysis company that has the methods to help the world obtain better security.

GLAC Consulting

(786) 272-6361

[email protected]

Related Links

About Us

Contact Us

SOURCE GLAC Consulting
CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HighTower advisors earned 8 spots on Forbes' 2018 list of Top Wealth Advisors, a ranking of the best financial advisors in the United States.

"We congratulate all of the talented advisors on this list and thank them for their unwavering dedication to clients," said Elliot Weissbluth, CEO of HighTower. "Having so many advisors honored by Forbes underlines HighTower's commitment to growing a community of the industry's most elite financial advisors supported by our first-class platform and national brand."

Forbes' list named the following HighTower advisors:

Richard Saperstein of Treasury Partners at HighTower in New York, N.Y. (number 21)

of Treasury Partners at HighTower in (number 21) Jordan Waxman of HSW Advisors at HighTower in New York, N.Y. (number 49)

of HSW Advisors at HighTower in (number 49) Jeff Grinspoon of VWG Wealth Management at HighTower in Vienna, Va. (number 80)

of VWG Wealth Management at HighTower in (number 80) Ron Weiner of RDM Financial Group at HighTower in Westport, Conn. (number 102)

of RDM Financial Group at HighTower in (number 102) David Bahnsen of The Bahnsen Group at HighTower in Newport Beach, Calif. (number 118)

of The Bahnsen Group at HighTower in (number 118) Pamela Rosenau of The Rosenau Group at HighTower in Los Angeles, Calif. (number 160)

of The Rosenau Group at HighTower in (number 160) Jeff Leventhal of HighTower Bethesda in Bethesda, Md. (number 183)

of in (number 183) Matthew Dillig of The Dillig Bowen Group at HighTower in Chicago, Ill. (number 226)

The Forbes' 2018 Top Wealth Advisors List includes 250 advisors across the nation who collectively manage more than $733 billion in client assets. Advisors who made the list were nominated by their respective firms, and then ranked based on an algorithm developed by SHOOK Research. SHOOK's rankings are based on several qualitative and quantitative factors, including personal interviews, industry experience, compliance records, revenue produced and assets under management. To view the full list, visit: https://www.forbes.com/top-wealth-advisors/#64b823d1a148 .

Earlier in 2018, HighTower advisors also appeared on Forbes' lists of America's Top Women Advisors and America's Top Next-Generation Advisors; Barron's list of the Top 1200 Advisors by State and Top 100 Financial Advisors lists; the Financial Times' FT 300; and On Wall Street's 40 Under 40 list.

About HighTower

HighTower is reshaping the financial services industry from the inside out. As one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) dedicated to providing advice, not selling a product, we are a relentless champion of the fiduciary standard. HighTower partners with independent RIA businesses and entrepreneurial wirehouse teams to provide comprehensive financial advisory services to independent financial advisory businesses. We believe that the wealth management industry can and should do a better job of serving the needs of individual investors and their financial advisors. We built HighTower upon a commitment to put our clients' best interests first. For the 6th consecutive year, HighTower ranks on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America (2012  2017). For more information, see www.hightoweradvisors.com and www.byadvisorsforadvisors.com .

Katlynn Hildebrandt

JConnelly

646 838 5445

[email protected]

SOURCE HighTower

Related Links

http://www.hightoweradvisors.com


RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural disasters are unfortunately a reality landlords and renters alike must face. With recent events across the nation like Hurricane Florence, Mother Nature has left many landlords wondering what their role is both before and after natural disaster strikes. From hurricane preparedness to protecting a home from wildfires to what happens to a rental lease when a property is damaged, TurboTenant has compiled everything a landlord needs to know before and after a natural disaster.

Preparing For Natural Disasters

TurboTenant

While some natural disasters strike suddenly with little to no warning, such as a spring tornado, other disasters are predicted well before their arrival. In the case of hurricanes, for example, modern technology and science allow residents the chance to prepare before the storm reaches their property.

Anyone who owns rental property in an area that is in the path of a natural disaster, take note of the following disaster-specific instructions.

Preparing A Rental For Hurricanes

There is only so much that can be done by the landlord to prepare tenants for a hurricane or tropical storm. While ultimately they must take responsibility for their own safety, landlords can provide them with instructions on how to best prepare their rental home. Landlords can also provide the materials needed to protect a home during hurricanes if they own properties in a hurricane-prone area.

Direct tenants to the hurricane section of Ready.gov, which will help them prepare a family plan, evacuation plan and safety plan

Be sure any damaged trees or old branches are trimmed on the property. Hire someone to remove all damaged limbs and trees as these will quickly become dangerous debris during high winds.

Make sure gutters and siding are secure. Repair any damaged components prior to the storm.

Install hurricane shutters.

Ask tenants to secure any outdoor furniture or items that could be thrown around. This includes patio sets, grills, children's toys, etc.

Let tenants know that if they have renters insurance, it is in their best interest to take photos of everything they own before they evacuate. This will make the process of filing claims much easier.

Preparing A Rental For A Wildfire

Hurricanes are not the only natural disaster that causes destruction across the nation each year. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a total of 4,312 structures were destroyed by wildfires in 2016, including more than 3,000 homes and more than 70 commercial buildings.

If a wildfire is spreading in an area where rental properties are located, take the following course of action to help protect the property:

Provide tenants with Pre-Evacuation Tips from Ready For Wildfire. This website will help tenants create an emergency plan in the case of evacuation and will provide instructions on how to prepare the home.

Instruct tenants to move flammable items in the house away from windows, including curtains and shades.

Have the gas shut off at the meter to the home.

Ask tenants to close up all windows in the home before they leave.

For tenants with renters insurance, remind them to take photos of their belongings before they leave. A solid inventory will help during the claims process should items be destroyed.

Handling Pets During An Evacuation

If tenants live in an area that is under evacuation, check in with them and urge them to obey evacuation orders. Remind tenants with pets that they should bring along all animals during an evacuation. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) requires accommodation for pets during an evacuation. Remind tenants that due to this act, their pets will be allowed in designated shelters and on evacuation transit.

After Disaster Strikes

After a natural disaster has passed through the area the rental properties are located in, it is time to start assessing the damages and taking the next steps necessary. Post-disaster, landlords will need to make decisions about their property, insurance claims and what to do with tenants who have evacuated, are late on rent or return to uninhabitable homes.

When The Home Is Uninhabitable

If a natural disaster destroyed a rental property to the point that it is deemed uninhabitable, most states will follow similar regulations as outlined in the Uniform Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA). This act states that in the case of disasters, "If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant may (1) immediately vacate the premises and notify the landlord in writing within [14] days thereafter of his intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating; or (2) if continued occupancy is lawful, vacate any part of the dwelling unit rendered unusable by the fire or casualty, in which case the tenant's liability for rent is reduced in proportion to the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit."

This essentially means that in the states who have adopted this act or similar laws, the lease is voided when the property becomes uninhabitable. Some states use the act as a jumping off point and create slightly different versions of these laws.

For example, landlords and tenants can find the following state's regulations below, which reflect similar language and policies as the URLTA. However, it is important to note the small differences in language as well:

Florida : "If the premises are damaged or destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially impaired, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case the tenant's liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply."

Texas : "If after a casualty loss the rental premises are as a practical matter totally unusable for residential purposes and if the casualty loss is not caused by the negligence or fault of the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or a guest or invitee of the tenant, either the landlord or the tenant may terminate the lease by giving written notice to the other any time before repairs are completed. If the lease is terminated, the tenant is entitled only to a pro rata refund of rent from the date the tenant moves out and to a refund of any security deposit otherwise required by law."

Montana : "If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant may: immediately vacate the premises and notify the landlord in writing within 14 days of the tenant's intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating; or if continued occupancy is lawful, vacate any part of the dwelling unit rendered unusable by the fire or casualty, in which case the tenant's liability for rent is reduced in proportion to the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit."

Because laws and regulations can vary greatly from state to state, it is best to consult with a local attorney to determine the best course of action in the case of an uninhabitable home.

When The Home Is Habitable

If rental properties are still habitable, landlords may still face unique circumstances with their tenants. Evacuations, lost time from work and other distress may leave tenants who live paycheck-to-paycheck struggling to pay their rent. What are the responsibilities as a landlord in these situations?

If the home is still habitable, the lease is still binding. However, it is important to keep in mind that natural disasters can be extremely difficult on those with little to no savings. In fact, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, renters have median cash savings of $630, which means a natural disaster can wipe out their savings. Depending on whether or not they carry renters insurance, they may be left with very little left to their name. If a landlord has tenants who have been in good standing, try to treat them fairly and according to the circumstances they are facing. While landlords are still running a business and need to meet their costs as a landlord, it is also important to remember that natural disasters can cripple those with fewer means.

If a landlord has tenants who are struggling to keep up after a natural disaster, direct them to FEMA's website where they can apply for assistance. FEMA provides individual disaster assistance to those who were affected by a natural disaster and will help renters with costs associated with hurricanes, wildfires and other national emergencies.

File Insurance Claims

After natural disaster strikes, so begins the process of filing insurance claims. How much assistance one will receive through insurance will vary greatly depending on the landlord insurance policy carried. It is best to require tenants to carry their own renters insurance as this will not only protect their belongings and losses but in some cases can also help the landlord cover deductibles.

Unfortunately, the process for filing claims can be extremely slow in the case of major disasters. With so many claims flooding the system, patience will be key. The better the documentation everyone keeps upfront, the better chance they have of receiving fair compensation for damages.

A natural disaster can leave both landlords and tenants wondering what comes next. Remember, always consult with a local attorney when in doubt and try to work with tenants as much as possible during these trying times.

Media Contact:

Sarnen Steinbarth

Phone: 719.966.7368 ext. 6

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

Benefits of renters insurance for renters

Benefits of renters insurance for landlords

SOURCE TurboTenant
"One of the key questions that motivates us at Federal-Mogul is how we can improve fuel economy and CO 2 emissions in commercial vehicles by harvesting waste energy, including both vehicle kinetic energy that is lost during braking and exhaust gas energy. Our solution must include how to then store it efficiently and return it to do useful work," said Gian Maria Olivetti, Chief Technology Officer, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "Electrification can provide an attractive answer, but for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles the most efficient way to achieve this is very different to that for passenger cars, so attempting to adapt traction-focused technologies can lead to solutions that are far from ideal," said Nick Pascoe, Managing Director of Federal-Mogul Controlled Power Ltd.

Diesel engines are highly efficient in a steady state but are substantially less efficient during transients (changes in torque request). Instead of trying to replace or supplement the internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric traction motor, Federal-Mogul Powertrain engineers are using electrification to further enhance the efficiency of the ICE, both during steady-state operation and particularly to improve the fuel-economy and emissions impact of challenging transient conditions.

In the new approach, the engineering team around Nick Pascoe is supplementing kinetic energy recovered through an engine or driveline-mounted generator by electricity generated from a carefully-controlled exhaust-driven generator. Energy is then returned either through an electric motor supporting the engine/driveline or by electric supercharging.

Independently-conducted tests have shown that a highly-responsive Federal-Mogul motor-generator as small as 12 kW applied to the engine or driveline can enable fuel savings of up to 8 percent on a full-size bus by recuperating energy as the vehicle decelerates and boosting the engine's torque as it accelerates. The machine's compact size, fully integrated electronics and efficient thermal management, combined with increasingly standardized control protocols and a wide range of design and simulation tools, makes integration of the motor-generator fast and efficient, even on existing powertrain designs.

Federal-Mogul's engineers are seeing further opportunities for waste energy recovery by electrification of the air-loop system. While turbocharging recovers some of the 20-30 percent of the fuel's energy that leaves the engine in the exhaust gas, there is still more to be captured and returned. "Simple, cost-effective exhaust gas energy recovery requires a control system that avoids harvesting events that are harmful to the performance of the base engine or damaging to the generator itself or to the aftertreatment system," said Pascoe.

Helping existing systems deliver more

The on-board electrical energy, ideally recovered from the vehicle's kinetic energy or exhaust gas, can be used to improve the dynamic response of the airflow by electric supercharging. This can enable engine-downsizing, improve emissions and additionally yield up to five percent fuel economy improvement by reducing pumping losses combined with improved fueling and re-optimized gear shift strategies.

"The first few tenths of a second during a transient event, when the combustion system is most heavily challenged, are the worst with regards to the production of toxic emissions, including NOx and particulates," said Pascoe. "The latest fuel systems can respond far more quickly than the airstream, so our strategy allows more benefit to be derived from existing investments in these highly-capable vehicle technologies. By speeding up the supply of air to match the response of the fuel system, we can improve both fuel economy and emissions performance by maintaining better control of the air-to-fuel ratio."

Rigorous, high-speed control of air-to-fuel ratio is also vital for avoiding detrimental effects to the base engine performance and for managing the temperature and chemical composition of the exhaust gas.

The key elements in the air-loop electrification approach are TIGERS (Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System) and COBRA (Controlled Boosting for Rapid Response Application). TIGERS combines an exhaust-driven turbine and liquid-cooled Switched Reluctance (SR) generator to produce a proven, technically mature system that seamlessly converts exhaust gas energy into electrical energy. COBRA liquid-cooled electric superchargers provide the engine with an 'on-demand' air supply, able to match the most demanding drive and operating cycles thanks to their low rotor inertia and excellent thermal management. When combined with the company's CPT SpeedTorq highly-responsive electric assist motor/generator technology, the portfolio offers a modular approach that allows the optimum solution to be specified for each vehicle weight and application.

Pascoe says that the need to capture large amounts of energy quickly, then return it to the driveline quickly without the long-term storage needed for traction applications means that smaller, more affordable energy storage solutions, including light-weight ultra-capacitors, are well-suited to the Federal-Mogul Powertrain strategy. CPT SpeedTorq, TIGERS and COBRA can each be specified for 12 volts, 24 volts or 48 volts, allowing an electrical system that is substantially smaller, lighter and more affordable than high-voltage battery hybridization. He also emphasizes the modular nature of the new approach, which provides the flexibility needed to optimize the solution.

Exceeding CV durability targets

Federal-Mogul Powertrain has decades of expertise designing and manufacturing award-winning engine components for manufacturers of all types of heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks, buses and off-highway. This deep sector knowledge combined with expertise in materials and testing, will ensure that the new powertrain electrification products meet the very high standards of durability required by the demanding commercial vehicle sector.

"While uncertainty remains over the future rate of progress of electrification, many vehicle manufacturers, especially in the medium and heavy-duty sector, are seeking ways to extend the life of existing engine designs to meet next generation market and regulatory demands," said Pascoe. "Together with our customers our technologies can be readily integrated into existing powertrains by our engineering teams to give a new level of fuel efficiency and emissions reduction and, because they are modular and scalable, can be cost-effectively tailored for vehicles of different sizes and end uses."

About Federal-Mogul

Federal-Mogul LLC is a leading global supplier of products and services to the world's manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine, rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company's products and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced vehicle safety.

Federal-Mogul operates two independent business divisions, each with a chief executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors.

Federal-Mogul Powertrain designs and manufactures original equipment powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial and transport applications.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world's most recognized brands in the global vehicle aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, wipers and a range of chassis components. The company's aftermarket brands include ANCO wipers; Beck/Arnley premium OE quality parts and fluids; BERU* ignition systems; Champion lighting, spark plugs, wipers and filters; Interfil filters; AE, Fel-Pro, FP Diesel, Goetze, Glyco, National, Nural, Payen, Sealed Power and Speed-Pro engine products; MOOG chassis components; and Abex, Ferodo, Jurid and Wagner brake products and lighting.

Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The company employs nearly 55,000 in 24 countries. For more information, please visit www.federalmogul.com.

*BERU is a registered trademark of BorgWarner

CONTACTS



Ursula Hellstern

Federal-Mogul Powertrain Communications

+49 (611) 201 9190

[email protected]

SOURCE Federal-Mogul Powertrain

Related Links

http://www.federalmogul.com


WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in Georgia and Washington, D.C., will talk live with two NASA astronauts on the International Space Station next week as part of NASA's Year of Education on Station. These Earth-to-space calls will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold will answer questions posed by students in grades 4-12 in Liberty County School District in Georgia at 2:35 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 17. The event will be held at 200 Bradwell St. in Hinesville. Media interested in covering the event should contact Patti Crane at [email protected] or 912-977-5386.

The school district is located near two U.S. Army bases and the participating students have direct connections to the military, so the district hopes to use the downlink to show the impact the military has on the community. More than 12,000 students in the district will watch the call on NASA's website in their classrooms.

At 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor will talk with students at her alma mater, The George Washington University (GWU) School of Engineering and Applied Science, six Washington-area elementary and high schools, and the Hanover, Pennsylvania, First Lego League Team.

The event will take place in the Morton Auditorium at GWU, located at 805 21st St. NW in Washington. Media interested in covering the event should contact Joanne Welsh at [email protected] or 202-994-2050.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).

Follow NASA's astronauts on social media at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

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SEATTLE, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Giving Compass, the online portal for U.S. philanthropists, announced today its partnership with New Profit, a leading player in venture philanthropy for over 20 years. Together, they are launching "Unlikely Duos," a series of video vignettes capturing conversations about critical issues between leading social entrepreneurs and venture philanthropists in the form of unscripted dialogues reflecting on life experience, personal influences, and learned perspective in change-making.

Giving Compass Unlikely Duos Episode 1 Behind the Scenes Venkat Srinivasan and Marcus Bullock - venture philanthropist meets social entrepreneur

This marks the beginning of a larger partnership between New Profit and Giving Compass, as both organizations look to engage more people in conversations about high-impact philanthropy and to connect to the hearts and minds of individuals who want to make a social impact.

"Both Giving Compass and New Profit share an interest in getting the most from Americans' generosity on behalf of the issues and communities we seek to support," said Stephanie Gillis, Interim CEO of Giving Compass. "Sometimes, power dynamics can get in the way, when those doing the work and those funding the work don't partner effectively. These conversations provide an intimate glimpse into the kinds of conversations that can break down silos and build relationships to unleash the power of social innovation. We're delighted to partner to break down the barriers to opportunity that face so many Americans."

Earlier this year, New Profit brought together pairs of philanthropists and social entrepreneurs from their community at their annual conference, the Gathering of Leaders for candid conversation on the future of social problem-solving. Each pair was comprised of individuals who have experience working in different sectors and in different issue areas, and in most cases, the pairs were just getting to know one another. These "unlikely duos" were given thought-provoking questions to respond to and discuss on the spot.

The "Unlikely Duos" video series shows where a conversation can go when it's centered on getting to know another person and his or her perspectives. This is not a how-to on the technical aspects of change-making. "Unlikely Duos" show what can happen when people from different backgrounds share personal stories, discuss leadership challenges, and exchange ideas on forward-leaning solutions.

"These conversations show the power of relationships and the importance of taking risks to build them," said Sam Hiersteiner, a Managing Partner at New Profit. "The more we can do to bring philanthropists and social entrepreneurs into closer proximity with each other, to openly collaborate rather than simply transact, the greater chance we have to solve the complex challenges facing our country."

Conversations include:

Marcus Bullock , CEO, Flikshop and Venkat Srinivasan , Managing Director, Innospark Ventures. Premieres Friday, September 14, 2018

, CEO, Flikshop and , Managing Director, Innospark Ventures. Phyllis Lockett, Founder & CEO, LEAP Innovations and Steve Arnold , Co-Founder & Partners Emeritus, Polaris Partners. Premieres Friday, September 21, 2018 .

, Co-Founder & Partners Emeritus, Polaris Partners. Aaron Walker , Camelback Venture and Roch Hillenbrand , Stony Brook Investments. Premieres Friday, September 28, 2018 .

Content series and personal profiles are available at www.givingcompass.org/unlikelyduos.

Media Contact:

Megan Bell

[email protected]

303-881-5354

SOURCE Giving Compass

Related Links

http://www.givingcompass.org/unlikelyduos


MEXICO CITY, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Aug. 30, Genaro Garcia Luna joined Maria Elena Morera and Raymundo Riva Palacio to discuss security perspectives. The programmed forum took place at 9:00 a.m. on BloombergTV's El Financiero. The broadcast was viewed by many on the channel itself or on El Financiero's website.

Genaro Garcia Luna is the director of GLAC Consulting as well as the creator of the AFI during the presidency of Vicente Fox (2000-2006) and former Secretary of Public Safety during the administration of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012). Based on his experience on the subject, Genaro Garcia Luna saw that it was necessary to have a tool that would allow the government to analyze the country or an entity with the greatest number of variables that affect its security and, in the case of the private sector, have detailed information that would contribute to making decisions regarding potential investments. These analyses incorporate the "GLAC Index," created by GLAC Consulting and calculated with its own algorithm as a method of assessing the level of security of a place or entity.

Until now, GLAC Consulting is the only risk management company that has its own index, which makes its services unique in the market. Genaro Garcia Luna has already made presentations to private and public institutions to demonstrate the scope of the system in the periodicals published in El Heraldo and El Financiero, as well as with the publication of the book Seguridad con Bienestar (2018). In this work, which adds to the titles "Why 1,661 police corporations are not enough?" (2006) and "New Security Model for Mexico" (2012).

It is with this expertise and experience that he spoke on Aug. 30. The event was a huge success. To learn more about the man behind all of the impressive works, visit GLAC Consulting online.

About GLAC Consulting: In addition to the GLAC Index, GLAC Consulting near Miami also offers complete solutions for security, technology, and risk analysis for the whole world. Under its director, Genaro Garcia Luna, GLAC Consulting is a risk analysis company that has the methods to help the world obtain better security. Find out more about the event: http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/opinion/pablo-hiriart/el-gran-foro-de-el-financiero

GLAC Consulting

(786) 272-6361

[email protected]

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GLAC Index

Contact Us

SOURCE GLAC Consulting
Paradise Shores has some of the best lake frontage homesites on the cleanest lake in the greater Dallas area, the property is laid out to maximize the beauty of the lake, the homesites, the views and privacy. This 240+ acre property is covered with granddaddy oaks, shade trees, beautiful rolling terrain and lovely ponds. The community offers wide frontage on the water, gated entrances, a private boat ramp for the community's use only and covered boat slips and is an easy getaway from the city.

Call (877) 700-4732 or visit www.paradiseshorestexas.com to be the first to see this property at the Grand Opening of this magnificent lakefront community so convenient to Dallas. Lake home on 1 acre with a covered boat slip for only $197,500. This is unheard of for lake property! Or build your own custom home WHEN YOU ARE READY or a 1+ acre waterfront lot with covered boatslip for $69,900, looking for more acreage? How about 10 acres with covered boat slip $119,900! The possibilities are endless at Paradise Shores.

All lots are priced to sell One Day, 40 parcels were sold by close of day at the pre-development sale. Reserve your appointment now. Excellent financing, with the lowest rates in decades, has been arranged and this is the perfect opportunity for a Texas Veteran to exercise their benefit of buying land with only 5% down! Appointments are given on a first come first serve basis and are limited. It's important to call today to schedule the earliest appointment available. "The Texas Real Estate market is high in demand, this paired with Dallas economic growth and limited lakefront property makes Paradise Shores a great place to invest" says Marcus Smith, owner of Texas Land & Lakes and developer of Paradise Shores.

About Texas Land & Lakes

Texas Land & Lakes has made its mark and its reputation by creating premium lakefront land for sale in Texas. We spot the potential in undeveloped lakefront, showcase and enhance its natural features and design exceptional family-focused, user friendly communities. And because our communities are environmentally sustainable, they'll be around for generations to come. For a virtual tour visit www.paradiseshorestexas.com, or call us at (877) 700-4732 to schedule your private showing.

Contact: Paradise Shores

Tel: (877) 700-4732

Virtual Tour: www.paradiseshorestexas.com

SOURCE Texas Land & Lakes

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PETALUMA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In life, there's ups and downs to everything, and that will include a business. This includes not just in profit margins, but in growth, having to slow or stop projects, or in the overall health of the company. But hitting those rough patches doesn't mean the end of a business is near. Brandon Frere, successful entrepreneur and founder of several companies, says that when times are tough, it is a chance to figure out what matters most for the company.

When things start to go sideways in a business, it may mean that some changes need to be made. Cutting off projects that aren't necessary, getting rid of problematic employees and tightening up regulations may be what the company needs in hard times. It may leave business owners on a sour note, having to temporarily cut back, but it's like trimming excess branches off of a rose bush. The bush gets properly trimmed and the rest of the plant has healthier growth, and the same can be true for a company. "Cutting back after wild growth in a business is kind of a way to fine-tune what's going on," said Frere.

Sometimes, though, a rough patch may be seen as something to be weathered because it means the business is on the right path. Growing pains, like negative reviews or employees leaving suddenly, is something all companies go through at one point or another. It takes a CEO's judgment and guidance to handle the tough times, but more often they're just one of the fluxes a business goes through. "Running a business isn't always easy and it requires a lot of flexibility alongside an open mind. But the emotional reward that comes from success is the best kind of success to have," said Frere.

About Brandon Frere

Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His website, www.BrandonFrere.com, is used as a means of communicating many of the lessons, fundamentals and information that he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide.

As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the often confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

BrandonFrere.com

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SOURCE Brandon Frere

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PARIS, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Making the right therapeutic choice based on a tumour's DNA

Individualised therapies that target the specific genetic features of tumours have the potential to transform cancer diagnosis, treatment and care.

Precision medicine speaks to patients - image at: AP Images (http://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/precision-medicine-speaks-to-patients)

Several challenges still need to be overcome before these approaches can be widely used in the clinic. Two DNA testing programmes have been implemented in institutes in Spain and the UK, to match patient tumour profiles with targets of early clinical trials, and to embed whole genome sequencing (WGS) in routine oncology practice, respectively. The results of these programmes, to be presented at MAP 2018, illustrate that new sequencing techniques and process restructuring at the system level can be the drivers of a model that promises new opportunities for the greatest number of patients.

Carmen Criscitiello of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy: "The evolution of sequencing techniques has allowed us to look for a wider array of mutations. For many of these, there is no registered drug available to target them. That's why a key approach to implementing personalised medicine in the management of advanced-stage cancer is to develop clinical trials that show the effectiveness of drugs in cohorts of patients defined by the same genomic alteration."

"As these trials target more and more distinct alterations in smaller and smaller populations, the main challenge now is patient accrual: with targeted mutations detectable in less than 10% of tumours, we need to screen huge numbers of individuals to find just a handful of people eligible for a trial. Managing the expectations of the many patients for whom analyses don't lead to any meaningful treatment options is an issue that oncologists urgently need to address."

However great the difficulties of putting all the pieces of the personalised medicine puzzle together, there is promise of a greater reward. Patients are already benefiting from the first tailored therapies that target their tumours' genetic mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, for example, are important for repairing the damage to DNA that occurs routinely throughout a cell's life-cycle. Mutations of these genes within a cell can lead to DNA repair errors and ultimately to the cell's death. In ovarian and breast cancers where such alterations are present, targeted drugs are used successfully to accelerate the death of tumour cells.

One major puzzle for oncologists - the prioritisation of multiple clinically relevant mutations in the same patient to inform therapeutic choices - was recently addressed with the ESMO Scale for Clinical Actionability of molecular Targets (ESCAT). ESCAT provides a classification of known tumour DNA mutations according to the level of clinical evidence supporting the use of specific drugs - registered or in development - to target them, which should simplify decision-making for oncologists and make treatments even more cost-effective.

MAP 2018 - Molecular Analysis for Personalised Therapy, a joint initiative of Cancer Research UK, UNICANCER and ESMO, brings medical oncologists, regulators and industry representatives together with the leading academic experts working in personalised medicine for cancer patients, to drive the investigation forward. The event taking place on 14-15 September in Paris, France, is a platform to present the latest and best evidence available in the field and unlock the secrets of making individualised treatment strategies work for more and more patients.

Media contact

[email protected]

SOURCE European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
With a growing presence throughout the state of Texas  the most recent being Hill Country Honda in San Antonio -- the John Eagle Dealerships continue to expand smartly. The group now owns Honda dealerships in Dallas, Rockwall, Katy, Houston, League City and Austin. As such, they will effectively become the number one retailer of Honda's in Texas.

"Howdy Honda is an icon," said Rene' Isip, President of John Eagle Dealerships. "It's an honor to continue their long-standing traditions of community focus, customer support and sales excellence. We will uphold and extend the status required to be an industry leader while contributing to the well-being of the city, our customers, and our employees."

Curtis Salter, a 36-year automotive industry veteran, will provide day-to-day direction as the new General Manager. Salter is returning to his Howdy roots where he once worked with and for retiring General Manager, Cliff Collier. "I'm excited to carry on the legacy that Cliff and the employees of Howdy Honda have established," Salter said.

Salter's most recent experience comes to the store by way of Honda of Round Rock where he also served as General Manager. "I know the culture of Honda, the city of Austin and how those elements uniquely come together at Howdy. I'm excited to work with our employees and customers to offer the best Honda sales, service and support in Central Texas."

Howdy Honda's received the Honda President's Award 11 times for overall dealership excellence. Under the new management, the dealership will continue to focus on customers, employees and their experiences. The dealership will also extend its focus on the greater good via an environmentally friendly focus.

The dealership currently utilizes more than 700 solar panels that help to significantly reduce the stores carbon footprint and overall energy consumption. Already a leader in the category, the dealership will continue to stay on the leading edge of Honda's environmental initiatives.

John Eagle Dealerships are known for excellence in sales and service with a legacy of satisfied customers. Founded in 1962 and now representing six different vehicle brands and twelve dealerships, the John Eagle group is one of the top privately held automotive groups in the nation. The addition of Howdy Honda strengthens the company's ongoing commitment to excellence.

Customers can visit Howdy Honda at 5519 E. Ben White Blvd., Austin, TX 78741. Additional details about the dealership can be found on their website or on their social media pages.

SOURCE John Eagle Dealerships
A town hall this morning challenged more than 800 participants to be catalysts for change  change for themselves, their families, and communities. The forum featured a panel of journalists, politicos, and educators who reminded attendees that maintaining a democracy is every citizen's responsibility. Panelists included: moderator Sheinelle Jones , a NBC News co-anchor and MSNBC host; Michael Steele , Maryland Lieutenant Governor from 2003-2007 and former chair of the Republican National Committee; CNN political commentators Symone Sanders and Tara Setmayer ; Sharon Epperson , CNBC senior personal finance correspondent; Maya Rockeymoore Cummings , president and CEO, Global Policy Solutions, LLC, Cornell Belcher , progressive pollster and political strategist and founder and President, brilliant corners Research & Strategies, and Dr. Glenda Glover , President, Tennessee State University and International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

"History has its eyes on us, to borrow a phrase, and it's not just about what our elected officials do in terms of steering the course of this country. It's what we do," said Gwainevere Catchings Hess, President, The Black Women's Agenda, Inc. "Inspiring women to live their best lives requires that we remind them that they not only have a stake in this society but a moral imperative to try to leave this world better than they found it."

During the Annual Awards Luncheon, a standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,700 elected officials, journalists, corporate and community leaders and members of BWA's 21 National Collaborating Organizations honored eight women as the personification of action, activism and civic engagement. Recipients of this year's BWA awards included:

Stacey Abrams  The Democratic Party's nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. A lawyer, author, and businesswoman, she is the first Black woman to be a major party's gubernatorial candidate in the United States.

Dr. Helene D. Gayle  President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation's leading community foundations. The Trust works with donors, nonprofits, community leaders and residents to lead and inspire philanthropic efforts that improve the quality of life in the Chicago area. Dr. Gayle serves on public company and non-profit boards including Colgate-Palmolive Company, The Coca-Cola Company, the Rockefeller Foundation, Brookings Institution, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, New America and the ONE Campaign.

Tina Knowles-Lawson  Entrepreneur, designer and managing partner of the House of Dereon and Miss Tina fashion brands. Ms. Knowles-Lawson is also an author, philanthropist, and the mother of Grammy award-winning recording artists Beyonce and Solange.

Tanya L. Lombard  Head of Multicultural Engagement and Strategic Alliances, AT&T. Lombard's responsibilities focus on creating, promoting, and managing AT&T's brand-messaging to minority communities through the development and stewardship of strategic community-based relations and projects.

The Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver  Lieutenant Governor, State of New Jersey  A former member and Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly, Oliver is one of only three African-American women to hold statewide office.

Dr. Sandye Poitier Johnson  A renowned educator and retired principal widely credited with raising the academic standards and stature of the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change in Harlem and helping it earn the prestigious designation as an International Baccalaureate World School.

The Honorable Karen W. Weaver  Mayor, City of Flint, Michigan  As mayor, Dr. Weaver declared a state of emergency in connection with the discovery of unsafe levels of lead in the water residents used for cooking, drinking, and bathing. She became a prominent figure as the resulting crisis and ongoing recovery captured national attention.

Eugena King  An Indianapolis, IN resident and matriculating freshman at Gustavus Adolphus College, a liberal arts college in St. Peter, MN, King was honored as the recipient of BWA's Bright Futures Award and scholarship.

"What happens next in America is not anyone's guess, it's everyone's business," BWA President Hess told the gathering. " As Black women, Black communities, we can vote, make our voices heard and hold elected officials accountable for addressing our interests, or we can stay home, sit on the sidelines and watch the train pass us by. Voting may not change everything, but it enables us to keep the change we seek within our grasp."

Founded in 1977 in Washington, DC, The Black Women's Agenda, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(C)3 organization that generates awareness and support for issues that secure, protect and advance the rights of Black women and their families. BWA is comprised of 22 collaborating organizations -- sororities, civic, service and faith-based -- representing millions of women worldwide.

SOURCE The Black Women's Agenda, Inc.
This acknowledgement comes after eight months of stonewalling from HHS following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the nonprofit ICAN, and its founder Del Bigtree. ICAN sought copies of the reports HHS was required to submit to Congress every two years, starting in 1988, detailing improvements it made to vaccine safety. ICAN was represented by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

ICAN sued HHS in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, demanding that the reports be shared with the public. HHS eventually conceded that those reports do not exist and the Court entered an order confirming this concession.

"The 1986 National Childhood Vaccination Injury Act granted economic immunity to pharmaceutical companies for vaccine injuries and hence eviscerated their economic incentive for them to take responsibility for vaccine safety," says Bigtree. "Market forces driving vaccine safety were simply eliminated."

Congress therefore charged the Secretary of HHS with the explicit responsibility to assure vaccine safety. Biannual reports of HHS's progress in improving vaccine safety were to be submitted to Congress. Yet, as ICAN has now proven, these reports were never created.

"It is apparent that HHS doesn't have a clue as to the actual safety profile of the now 39 doses, and growing, of vaccines given by one year of age, including in utero," said Bigtree. "In 1986, a one-year old child received eleven doses.

"HHS spends billions annually promoting vaccines and generates a steady stream of reports promoting vaccines," Bigtree says. "Yet, when, despite Federal law, HHS cannot bother to complete the simple task of preparing a biennial report on vaccine safety, there is little hope HHS is tackling the much harder job of improving vaccine safety."

The 1986 Act shifted financial liability for vaccine injuries to the U.S. Government which has since 1986 paid over $3.9 billion for serious vaccine injuries.

Bigtree hosts the weekly live online news program "The HighWire," and is an Emmy-award winning producer of the CBS medical talk show "The Doctors." He is producer of the groundbreaking documentary "Vaxxed: From Coverup to Catastrophe."

For more information, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Informed Consent Action Network

Related Links

http://www.icandecide.org


NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- iCapital Network, the financial technology platform democratizing alternative investments for high-net-worth individuals and their advisers, today announced the firm has been honored in the WealthManagement.com 2018 Industry Awards as the top Alternative Investment Platform.

Dan Vene, iCapital Network's co-founder and Managing Partner, accepted the award at the ceremony

The WealthManagement.com Industry Awards recognize outstanding achievement by companies and organizations providing support for financial adviser success. The category of Technology Providers: Alternative Investment Platforms evaluates both quantitative and qualitative measures of an initiative that facilitates trading, research, processing, reporting and tracking of alternative investments. iCapital was awarded for its initiative to create customized, white label technology platforms that simplify access to alternative investments for banks, wirehouses, brokerages, independent firms and their advisory practitioners.

"It's an honor to be recognized for the work our team is doing to build the industry solution for alternative investments," said Lawrence Calcano, Chief Executive Officer of iCapital Network. "We are committed to empowering advisers and their high-net-worth clients with streamlined access to alternative investments, and believe that our sustained focus on technology, education and client success will help the industry grow and evolve."

This year, WealthManagement.com received and considered a record 600 entries from nearly 250 companies before announcing the award winners, including iCapital, at an award ceremony held Thursday, Sept. 13 in New York City. Dan Vene, iCapital's co-founder and Managing Partner, accepted the award at the ceremony.

iCapital's enterprise-grade alternative investment platform has been embraced by independent advisers seeking an end-to-end solution to improve access to, and management of, institutional-quality private investments.

iCapital now also provides its solutions as a customizable white label offering, giving banks, wirehouses, brokerages, and independent firms a simple way to update legacy processes and infrastructure with a state-of-the-art platform explicitly designed to address the long-standing challenges faced by the alternative investment industry. The technology automates the unique sourcing, subscription, administrative, and reporting processes of alternative investments and improves access for all investors, no matter how they choose to receive financial advice. More than two dozen of the largest and most respected financial institutions use iCapital's technology, including JP Morgan Asset Management, BlackRock, Alliance Bernstein, Fidelity Institutional, Dynasty Financial Partners, UBS and Morgan Stanley.

About The WealthManagement.com Awards

In their fourth year, the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards are presented annually by WealthManagement.com, a financial advisory industry publication from Informa. Companies and organizations are invited to complete a nomination application describing an initiative within several available categories that supports adviser success. WealthManagement.com also invites nominees to provide supplemental information to support their nomination in the form of third party testimonials and/or confidential growth, user or performance metrics. A panel of industry experts selects the finalists and winners based on qualitative and quantitative performance indicators. Nomination or receipt of a WealthManagement.com Industry Award is not necessarily indicative of any particular client's experience or a guarantee that the firm will perform in the future as it did during the period evaluated by the Award judges.

About iCapital Network

iCapital Network is the financial technology platform democratizing alternative investments with complete tech-based solutions for investors, advisers and asset managers. The firm's flagship platform offers high-net-worth investors and independent wealth advisers a curated menu of private equity and hedge funds at lower minimums with a full suite of due diligence and administrative support in a secure digital environment. Banks and asset managers leverage iCapital's tech-enabled services to streamline and scale their private investment operational infrastructure. iCapital was included in the 2018 Forbes FinTech 50 and as of June 30, 2018, serviced more than $6 billion in invested capital across more than 14,000 underlying accounts.

For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.icapitalnetwork.com | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icapital-network-inc | Twitter: @icapitalnetwork | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icapitalnetwork

Disclosures: This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, and may not be relied on in any manner as legal, tax or investment advice, a recommendation, or as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a recommendation of any interest in any fund or security offered by iCapital. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Alternative investments are complex, speculative investment vehicles and are not suitable for all investors. An investment in an alternative investment entails a high degree of risk and no assurance can be given that any alternative investment fund's investment objectives will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital. The information contained herein is subject to change. Securities may be offered through iCapital Securities, LLC, a registered broker dealer, member of FINRA and SIPC and subsidiary of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. iCapital is a registered trademark of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

For iCapital Network media inquiries, please contact:

Emma Murphy

Tel 718-875-4545

Cell 347-968-6800

[email protected]

SOURCE iCapital Network

Related Links

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CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Illinois Chancery Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, has remanded to the Illinois Gaming Board a case from BMM Testlabs to decide if the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) acted improperly in awarding an exclusive contract to a gaming-compliance behemoth, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI).

Illinois is the ONLY state in which GLI does not have to worry about competition because Illinois is the ONLY state which denies any GLI competitors licenses.

The case will be heard at 9:00a.m. on the 5th floor of the Michael A. Bilandic building, located at 160 North LaSalle Street, Chicago. The IGB will hear testimony regarding a decision made two years ago that granted GLI an exclusive license in the state. Three IGB staff members who were key figures in the decision have since resigned or been terminated.

SOURCE BMM Testlabs
MONTREAL, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - IOU FINANCIAL INC. ("IOU" or "the Company") (TSXV: IOU), a leading online lender to small businesses (IOUFinancial.com), announces today that Canadian Business ranked IOU for the fifth consecutive year to The Growth 500, the definitive ranking of Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies. Produced by Canada's premier business and current affairs media brands, the Growth 500 ranked IOU as the 62nd fastest growing company on the 2018 Growth 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 1,256%.

"We are honoured to be on The Growth 500 list for the fifth consecutive year. This achievement reflects the dedication and strength of our team," says CEO Philippe Marleau. "We look forward to continued profitable growth and our ongoing efforts to be the preferred and trusted lender to merchants in the US and Canada."

"The companies on the 2018 Growth 500 are truly remarkable. Demonstrating foresight, innovation and smart management, their stories serve as a primer for how to build a successful entrepreneurial business today," says Deborah Aarts, Growth 500 program manager. "As we celebrate 30 years of the Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies program, it's encouraging to see that entrepreneurship is healthier than ever in this country."

About IOU Financial Inc.

IOU Financial Inc. provides small businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada access to the capital they need to seize growth opportunities quickly. Typical customers include medical and dental practices, grocery and retail stores, salons, gas stations, auto repair shops, and restaurants. In a unique approach to lending, the IOU Financial advanced, automated application and approval system accurately assesses applicants' financial realities, with an emphasis on day-to-day cash flow trends. It makes loans of up to US$300,000 to qualified U.S. applicants ($100,000 in Canada) within a few business days, with affordable charges favorable to cash-flow management. Its speed and transparency make IOU Financial a trusted alternative to banks. To learn more visit: IOUFinancial.com.

About the Growth 500

For 30 years, the Growth 500 ranking of Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies has been Canada's most respected and influential ranking of entrepreneurial achievement. Developed by PROFIT and now published in a special Growth 500 print issue of Canadian Business (packaged with the October issue of Maclean's magazine) and online at Growth500.ca and CanadianBusiness.com, the Growth 500 ranks Canadian companies on five-year revenue growth. For more information on the ranking, visit Growth500.ca.

About Canadian Business

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving and most-trusted business publication in the country. It is the country's premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada's business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. Learn more at CanadianBusiness.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of IOU including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory and shareholder approvals, the execution of definitive documentation and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. IOU does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE IOU Financial Inc.

Related Links

https://ioufinancial.com/en-ca/


PORTLAND, Oregon, September 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Increasing incidence of abdomen disorders, launch of technologically advanced products, and growing acceptance of laparotomy surgeries are expected to drive the growth of the global laparotomy sponges industry

Allied Market Research published a report, titled, Laparotomy Sponges Market by Product (Radiopaque Laparotomy Sponges, Traditional Laparotomy Sponges, and Radio-frequency Identification Laparotomy Sponges), Sterility (Sterile Laparotomy Sponges and Non-Sterile Laparotomy Sponges), and End User (Hospitals and Surgery Centers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2025. The report provides an extensive analysis of the top winning strategies, highlights changing market dynamics, outlines key findings as well as offers insights on the competitive landscape. According to the report, the global laparotomy sponges market garnered $697 million in 2017 and is estimated to reach $1,230 million, registering a CAGR of 7.3% from 2018 to 2025.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg )



Increase in abdomen disorders, rise in geriatric population, and prevalence of laparotomy surgeries drive the growth of the market. However, rise in demand for minimally invasive surgeries and issue of side effects due to retained laparotomy sponges would restrain the growth of the industry. Conversely, launch of technologically advanced products and untapped potential in emerging geographies would create new opportunities in the near future.

Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/3696

Radiopaque sponges segment to remain dominant in terms of revenue

The radiopaque sponges segment contributed more than half of the total share in 2017, owing to their wide-scale availability and their ability to prevent retained sponges. This segment would maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The radio-frequency identification (RFID) sponges segment would grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.8% from 2018 to 2025, owing to technological advancements in the sector. The traditional sponges segment is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period.

Sterile laparotomy sponges to be lucrative through 2025

Sterile laparotomy sponges segment accounted for more than three-fourths of the total market share in 2017 and is expected to maintain its lion's share by 2025 registering the fastest CAGR of 7.6% from 2018 to 2025. This is attributed to their ability to be contamination-free, and thus, prevent infections. The non-sterile laparotomy sponges segment would grow at a steady rate through the forecast period.

Hospitals segment to dominate throughout forecast period

Availability of various laparotomy sponge products and large number of abdominal surgeries taking place in hospitals have led the hospital segment to contribute more than two-thirds share of the total market in 2017. The hospital segment is expected to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period. However, in terms of growth rate, surgery centers would supersede hospitals, registering a CAGR of 8.0% from 2018 to 2025, owing to the development of surgical centers in developing countries and reduction in hospital stays.

For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/3696

Asia-Pacific to grow at the fastest CAGR by 2025

Asia-Pacific region would grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period owing to the rapidly transforming healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies such as India and China, increase in awareness about surgeries, growth of medical tourism, and supportive government policies. On the other hand, North America contributed the highest revenue in 2017, accounting for more than one-third of total market share, owing to increase in adoption of RFID sponges, new product launches, and rise in obese population.

Torchbearers of the industry

The key market players analyzed in the report are Dynarex, Derma Sciences Inc., Cardinal Health, Stryker Corporation, Medical Action Industries Inc., AllCare, ACTIMED, DUKAL Corporation, BSN medical GmbH, and Haldor Advanced Technologies. The report also includes strategies such as new product launches, joint ventures, partnerships, collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, and others, which have been adopted by market players to gain a strong foothold in the industry.

Access KNOWLEDGE TREE (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/knowledgetree

Knowledge tree is a cloud-based intelligence platform that offers more than 2,000 selective, off-the-shelf reports on niche markets to enable our clients gain deep insights on the latest trends, dynamic technologies, and emerging application areas.

Similar Reports:

Surgical Drapes Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017 - 2023

Surgical Scissors Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017 - 2023

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Valued at a multi-million-dollar figure, the original artwork from Dark Side of the Moon  released 45 years ago  was designed by the creative team of Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson, creators of some of rock's most memorable album covers including Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy . When Dark Side of the Moon was released, there was no mention of the band's name or album title on the cover, adding to the mystery and intrigue behind what was being called one of the most incredible albums ever made. It went on to sell 50 million copies, remaining on the Billboard charts for 741 weeks while the cover art became a visual icon, symbolizing the band itself and helping turn Pink Floyd into one of the biggest bands in the world.

Dark Side of the Moon will be accompanied in the exhibition by nearly 100 epic original works utilized for the covers of iconic albums such as Wish You Were Here, Abbey Road, Rubber Soul, Meet The Beatles, The Wall, Beggars Banquet, Candy-O (Alberto Vargas), Ummagumma, Hair, The Best of the Doors (The Doors), Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, Johnny Cash's At Folsom Prison, and Yes album originals including Relayer and Yesshows, along with scores of other of the most memorable and revered popular images of the 20th century.

Bands represented by the art in this collection include Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Yes, The Doors, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Blind Faith, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Lou Reed, Queen, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jethro Tull, and many more.

The unlikelihood of mounting an exhibition of this kind and scope again may make this a once in a lifetime collection to view in person. These original works come from many private, corporate, and artists' collections from around the world, all gathered together in one place by SFAE co-founders Theron Kabrich and Jim Hartley, whose 20-years of experience with pop culture artists and photographers has allowed for this exhibit's existence.

"We have assembled a collection of many of the rarest and most important original paintings, drawings, and photographs that appeared on the covers of some of the most famous albums of all time," said Hartley. "This is a museum-quality collection which will only be open to the public for six weeks. Collectors are already making plans to fly to San Francisco to experience this historic exhibition. At the close of the exhibition the artwork and photos will return to the collections from which they came or be delivered to those who purchase them from the show. Some of these works have never been seen in public before, except at SFAE over the years, and none have ever been exhibited together anywhere."

Kabrich added, "This exhibition is like a snow flake: Beautiful, amazing, fascinating to see until it melts. It was only possible because we started this market and sold many of these works directly from the collections of the artists and photographers that they are offered to us now to exhibit. Others come directly from the artists and photographers themselves. It all comes together based on years of trust. Who else could do this? No one, at least not right now. Not even a museum. By virtue of the fact that we all but invented this market and were 'there' before anyone else, we are the only ones who could pull all these amazing art pieces together and in a relatively short period of time. With one degree of separation a straight line is pretty short."

To receive the exhibition catalog please contact SFAE by email: [email protected] or telephone 415-441-8840.

A preview of the exhibition will be scheduled for the press.

About San Francisco Art Exchange

San Francisco Art Exchange are the pioneers of the original art and photographs of pop culture. Focused on popular iconography from the worlds of film, art, music and history, they are guided by the thesis that popular iconography is the language a culture uses to speak to itself in real time and later memorializes those communications as important parts of historical record.

SFAE has sold original artwork of iconic album covers for the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, among many others. The gallery has also concluded landmark sales of rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King, Jr., Johnny Cash and Muhammad Ali, to name a few. In addition, SFAE has represented treasured music and movie-related artifacts from private and celebrity archives, such as the Playboy Collection and the Brown Derby Collection.

At its downtown San Francisco gallery, SFAE has hosted live events by everyone from music superstars Brian Wilson and Graham Nash, to civil rights legend Clarence Jones and Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm. The gallery's most recent project was the sale of a rare portfolio of photographs of President John F. Kennedy, celebrating the centennial of his birth in cooperation with the Kennedy Foundation, with a percentage of the proceeds benefitting the foundation.

This month, Inc. Magazine named SFAE as one of the 5,000 fastest growing small businesses in America. Their story is being told in a documentary currently in production.

For sales and inquiries, please contact: San Francisco Art Exchange [email protected] or call 415-441-8840.

For more information:

http://www.sfae.com/

SOURCE San Francisco Art Exchange

Related Links

http://www.sfae.com


"One in seven people in LA County struggles with hunger, including one in four children," said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "We are proud to work with Starbucks to ensure that people who struggle with hunger have access to wholesome meals. Starbucks FoodShare exemplifies what we can accomplish when we work together."

"Organizations like the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank make it possible for our surplus food to get into the hands that need it most," said Laura Olson, Starbucks director of Global Social Impact. "We take great pride in supporting the communities we serve in any way we can. Through FoodShare, our partners are able to give back to people in need and address one of the most serious issues we have today, hunger."

Starbucks FoodShare donations will be picked up in refrigerated vehicles from Starbucks stores seven days a week, year-round. At each location, drivers will check all items to ensure food safety and transport the food to local partner agencies for distribution. Food items include Bistro Boxes, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, salads, yogurts and high-quality baked goods.

Starbucks intends to scale this program by 2020 and rescue 100 percent of its food available for donation from participating company-operated U.S. stores.

For more information about the Starbucks FoodShare program at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, please visit lafoodbank.org/foodshare.

*According to the USDA, 1 meal is the equivalent of 1.2 pounds of food.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to fight hunger in Los Angeles County since 1973 and has distributed the equivalent of more than 1 billion meals across our community. The Food Bank provides food to more than 300,000 clients on a monthly basis and distributed 70 million pounds of food in 2017 to children, seniors, working families, veterans and other neighbors in need. To support the vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, nutritious food is distributed through a network of more than 650 partner agencies, directly to children through our Children's Backpack and Summer Lunch programs, to approximately 27,000 seniors each month through our Senior Nutrition program and to working families and college students through our Mobile Food Pantry. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator. For more information, visit lafoodbank.org.

ABOUT STARBUCKS

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at http://news.starbucks.com.

ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Contact: David May

Director of Marketing

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

323-234-3030 x 134

[email protected]

SOURCE Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Related Links

http://www.lafoodbank.org


WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Fellowship Activity has awarded fellowships through NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) and Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) to 12 graduate students totaling $1.9 million to conduct research and contribute directly to NASA's work and mission.

NASA Fellowship Activities align with the Office of STEM Engagement's goal to establish a well-trained science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Fostering highly skilled scientists and engineers is critical to NASA's future and to building a strong American economy. These fellowships also enable the agency to create unique opportunities for students to be a part of NASA's endeavors in exploration and discovery.

"These fellowships link students to paths where they can gain valuable hands-on work experience and the opportunity to collaborate with NASA," said Mike Kincaid, associate administrator for the Office of STEM Engagement.The agency benefits from their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas which help enable our exploration goals."

NASA is awarding training grants to seven graduate students funded by MUREP and five graduate students funded by the projects within the ARMD. These grants are awarded for a period of performance of three years.

The following universities have students who are receiving the MUREP fellowships:

University of California Merced: Molecular Scale Engineering of Electrochemical Biosensors for Detection of Cardiac Biomarkers: Health monitoring is integral for all space missions. The aim of this research is to focus on the stresses of space travel on the human body and how it can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Key biomarkers can help identify health concerns and use nanoengineered, portable electrochemical sensors to selectively detect biomarkers in blood without the need for complex processing. The goal is to improve performance of these biosensors.

San Diego State University: Investigation of Low Energy Impact on Sandwich Panels and its Effects on Compression Load Response: Space vehicles use sandwich components, structural components made of three layers for a combination of high structural rigidity and low weight, for adapters and payload fairings, but they are prone to damage due to impacts. Research on models used to predict damage on sandwich composites and their residual strength and life of a component is critical to assure mission success. The goal is to understand the options and knowledge of accuracy, and efficiency of different models that will be used to propose efficient multi-fidelity modeling approaches.

Florida International University, Miami, Florida: Frequency Independent Ultra-Wideband Millimeter-Wave Beamformer. Communication links have traditionally been focused on narrowband, single-user and single-beam interfaces. This research focuses on small ultra-wideband (UWB) apertures and will introduce new concepts to develop frequency independent and low power RF front ends scalable to millimeter wave frequencies.

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico: Exploring Mechanisms for Change in Jupiter's Atmospheric Structure During the Juno Era: NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter reveals properties of the Jovian deep atmosphere with unprecedented detail through observations made with the Juno InfraRed Auroral Mapper and the MicroWave Radiometer. The research aims to derive properties of Jupiter's uppermost cloud deck using high spectral resolution optical images obtained with a ground-based telescope during Juno's perijove passes. This will lead to obtaining the vertical profiles of Jupiter's uppermost cloud deck, analyzing temporal changes in its structure and identifying mechanisms in the deeper atmosphere responsible for observed variability. The overall objective is to add value to the Juno mission and is aligned with the giant planet system exploration goals described in NASA's 2013 Planetary Science Decadal Survey.

University of Texas, El Paso, Texas: Developing a More Accurate Size and Composition Estimation of Orbital Debris from Hyperspectral Unmixing: This research will study orbital debris and develop an accurate detection and size/composition estimation of orbital debris to reduce the risks to the International Space Station.

Florida International University, Miami, Florida: Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Matrix Composites of Boron Nitride Nanotubes and Lightweight Aerospace Grade Alloys for Use in Extreme Environments: Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) synthesis has resulted in nanotubes with increased aspect ratio, greater length, higher purity and greater scalability in production. This research will determine an effective roadmap to the incorporation of BNNTs into aerospace quality lightweight metal alloys that will outperform current technology. The goal will be to find the effect of composite strengthening on aerospace grade alloys.

University of Houston: Simulating the Effects of Hydroclimate Stress on BVOC-Chemistry-Climate Interactions in GISS Model E: Hydroclimatic extremes such as droughts cause substantial perturbations to the terrestrial biosphere. It can lead to feedback loops in the climate system; for which our understanding is highly uncertain. The research will study drought stress terms and their importance in capturing extreme hydroclimatic event effects on atmospheric composition and climate through the BVOC (Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions chemistry-climate interactions. The goal is to better understand the stress BVOCs create on atmospheric composition and the feedback effects of hydroclimate extremes in present and future climates.

The following universities have students who are receiving the ARMD project funded fellowships:

Utah State University, Logan, Utah: Continuous Flight Optimization of Morphing-Wing Aircraft: Research on aerostructural relationships wil predict the effects of wing morphing on fuel consumption, and aims to examine how it facilitates developing geometry that predicts how much drag is reduced by fixed versus morphing wing aircraft configurations during a flight. The goal is to develop a new suite of aerodynamic tools and analytical relationships that provide insight into the effects of wing morphing on aircraft efficiency.

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia: Formulation of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Aerogels for High Temperature Applications: Research on new materials and formation process for aerogels, which have low thermal conductivity and density and are used as thermal barriers. The goal is to yield aerogels that can withstand exposure to extremely high temperatures for longer periods of time.

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio: Additive Manufacturing of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Ni-Based Superalloys for Future Launch Vehicles: Research on new materials for additive manufacturing that aims to be used in very high temperature applications. Results could contribute to transforming the design and manufacturing of hot sections of vehicles that face rising demands for higher operating temperatures and, to enabling more robust thrust systems.

Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York: High-Order Accurate Shock Fitting Using a Discontinuous Galerkin Method: Research into methods that are more efficient (faster) and more accurate at high orders of magnitude for simulating hypersonic flows with shocks such as those experienced by a vehicle during reentry. The goal is to make the simulations more reliable and allow orders of magnitude improvements in accuracy while using the same level of computational resources.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Combustion Modeling Based on High-fidelity Data and Reduced-order Description for Scramjet Applications: Research into a new integrated computational model that uses different techniques and introduces machine learning to improve the speed of modeling events associated with high-speed scramjet engines. The goal is to change the scope of computational modeling by providing a tool that rapidly leverages legacy data to advance predictive accuracy while providing a framework to integrate new experimental data as it becomes available.

Some of the chosen research proposals aim to develop new technology that will support future human exploration missions, such as lightweight aerospace materials that would withstand extreme environments to improve existing technology for future launch vehicles.

For additional information on the NASA Fellowship Activity awards, visit:

https://go.nasa.gov/2OdOhM1

For more information about NASA internship, fellowship and scholarship opportunities, visit:

https://intern.nasa.gov

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/education

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Health IT industry experts will present and discuss the latest findings and practices toward making healthcare more patient-centered, effective and cost-efficient, as part of the Conference on Health IT & Analytics, (CHITA) Friday and Saturday, October 19-20, at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

The Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is hosting the event in its ninth year.

Keynote speakers including Avi Goldfarb, coauthor of "Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence," and Jose Arrieta, deputy assistant secretary for acquisition of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be among more than 100 participating experts representing academia, government and industry. They will explore the potential and challenges associated with transforming healthcare delivery in such fields as medical informatics, computer science, public health, health administration, business and economics.

"Unprecedented opportunities to improve health outcomes and control costs are being created through combining large amounts of digitized medical data with state-of-the-art analytical methods," says CHITA Chair Ritu Agarwal, CHIDS founding director, Robert H. Smith Dean's Chair of Information Systems and senior associate dean at the Smith School. "CHIDS is pioneering work at the intersection of AI, digital applications and healthcare, and is proud to convene CHITA, where experts will debate the landscape and impact of current uses and potential future breakthroughs such as deep learning."

As chief data scientist in the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, Goldfarb's research into the economics of technology has been discussed via major media outlets and in White House reports, Congressional testimony and European Commission documents.

Blockchain technology has been a focus area of Arrieta. Prior to joining HHS as a deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, he led a General Services Administration initiative with blockchain that cut contracting time.

Additional, CHITA keynote speakers will be Children's National Vice President Brian Jacobs, who directs the Children's IQ Network, a pediatric health information exchange in Greater Washington, and University of Maryland economics professor and data scientist Ginger Zhe Jin.

A former director of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Economics, Jin's research focuses on disseminating consumer information related to restaurant food safety, health insurance, prescription drugs, air quality, blood donation and more.

In addition to his role with Children's National, Jacobs is a professor and attending physician in the Pediatric Critical Care Department at George Washington University's School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The conference will run 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, with an evening reception, and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. On-site registration opens at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Register in advance at go.umd.edu/chita2018. Discounted early registration closes Sept. 21 and online registration closes Oct. 17.

Saturday will include awards presentations for best paper, best student-authored paper and best junior researcher-authored paper. Ahead of the main gathering, a doctoral student consortium, by invitation, will take place on Thursday.

CHITA is supported by the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Michigan School of Public Health, United Solutions and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

For more information write to CHIDS at [email protected].

About CHIDS

The Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS) is an academic research center based in the Department of Decision, Operations & Information Technology (DO&IT) at the Robert H. Smith School of Business that collaborates closely with industry, government, and other key health system stakeholders. CHIDS' research seeks to understand how digital technologies can be more effectively deployed to address outcomes such as patient safety, healthcare quality, efficiency in healthcare delivery, and a reduction in health disparities. CHIDS offers the benefit of renowned scholars in healthcare analytics, technology innovation, adoption, implementation, and design. The pool of talent, knowledge and expertise in DO&IT is acknowledged by several publications as a top-5 performer in research production worldwide; the Information Systems group is ranked in the top-10 worldwide by BusinessWeek and U.S. News and World Report. CHIDS pioneers in the study of digitally enabled health system transformation and is widely known for its thought leadership and research collaborations.

Media Contacts:

Kenyon Crowley, CHIDS deputy director

[email protected]

301-405-9593

Greg Muraski

[email protected]

301-892-0973

SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
"Kids love our Go! Go! Smart Wheels line because it's fun; parents love that it's smart and engaging. With this new collection there's even more to love, with exciting themes that will take kids on thrilling new adventures," said Andy Keimach, President, VTech Electronics North America. "From a police tower that allows kids to chase a getaway car, to a multi-level, interactive garage, to an airport with a plane that 'takes off,' there are engaging play experiences for every child."

Go! Go! Smart Wheels playsets inspire endless imagination while delivering important developmental benefits that help children reach social, emotional, language, cognitive, physical and motor skill milestones. As a child places a SmartPoint vehicle on SmartPoint locations found throughout the playsets, it will respond and engage children with lights, sounds and music. The exciting, interactive Go! Go! Smart Wheels Launch & Chase Police Tower will have kids racing, chasing and patrolling the city with this engaging playset. They can pretend to serve and protect as they patrol with Po the SmartPoint Police Car and chase the Getaway Car around the three level rampway, while exploring SmartPoint locations throughout. There is also a new Go! Go! Smart Wheels Tow & Go Garage, with nine interactive SmartPoint locations, sure to get little gearheads revved up. If they'd rather take to the skies, the new Go! Go! Smart Wheels Take Flight Airport will have them soaring as they launch the SmartPoint airplane to the cloud.

The new products are available now at major retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.vtechkids.com/gogosmartwheels.

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Launch & Chase Police Tower: Serve and protect with Po the Police Car and the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Launch & Chase Police Tower. Chase the Getaway Car around the three track levels, launch down the ramp to try and gain some speed or slide the switch to raise the road blocks and slow the Getaway Car down! Your little one will love the switch tracks, hidden trap doors and road barriers that promote motor skills. This cute toy Police Car encourages first words and imaginative play with the five SmartPoint locations. Press Po's light-up button to activate fun sounds, playful phrases, three sing-along songs and six melodies. The chase is on! (Ages 1-5 years; MSRP: $39.99)

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Tow & Go Garage: Truck, tow and get on the go with Trent the Tow Truck and the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Tow & Go Garage. Spend the day at the garage, go up the elevator and explore the second floor. Rest up or get a quick tune-up on the repair platform and move the wrench back and forth to promote motor skills. Then, race down the ramp and through the car wash to finish up with a nice shine! Trent the Tow Truck features a moveable hook to tow other Go! Go! Smart Wheels vehicles (sold separately) and SmartPoint technology that responds to all nine SmartPoint locations. Press Trent's light-up button to hear fun sounds, phrases, three sing-along songs and six melodies to encourage imaginative play. Let's pick up some buddies and tow and go! (Ages 1-5 years; MSRP: $34.99)

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Take Flight Airport: Pack those bags, because it's time to let imagination take flight with the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Take Flight Airport. Strengthen fine motor skills by fueling up at the gas station, making sure the winds are in your favor by spinning the weather vane, checking your bags at the luggage belt and taking off. Spin around on the cloud and prepare for landing on the ramp to get ready for the next adventure. As your little pilot jet sets, Aaron the Airplane can land on five SmartPoint locations to hear fun sounds, phrases and melodies. Let's go see the world! (Ages 1-5 years; MSRP: $24.99)

Go! Go! Smart Wheels Vehicles: Perfectly sized for little hands to help strengthen motor skills and build eye-hand coordination, these electronic vehicles entertain children with a light-up button that activates phrases and sounds. Kids can either fly or drive into playtime with a helicopter or truck, or save the day with a police car. Nine popular vehicles have also been given a new look. The vehicles respond to SmartPoint locations on Go! Go! Smart Wheels playsets (sold separately) with fun responses, sounds, lights and music. (Ages 1-5 years; MSRP: $7.99 each)

About VTech

VTech is a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development and make learning fun. With a rich 40 year history, VTech has not only established itself as a learning authority but also consistently remains at the forefront of innovation with multiple award-winning products, including prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award winners. The company also has a broad range of award-winning infant, toddler and preschool products available in 31 different languages worldwide, with more than 100 new products introduced every year. In order to further strengthen VTech's position as a learning authority, new products are developed with critical insights from a dedicated team of in-house learning experts.

VTech Electronics North America, L.L.C. is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. VTech Electronics Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally.

For more information about VTech's electronic learning products, visit www.VTechKids.com, www.facebook.com/VTechtoys on Facebook or follow @VTechToys on Twitter.

Media Contact:

Lauren Fagan

Coyne Public Relations

973-588-2000

[email protected]

SOURCE VTech

Related Links

http://www.vtech.com


ATLANTA, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. ("CatchMark") (NYSE: CTT) announced on September 6, 2018 that it is evaluating a potential offer to acquire Phaunos Timber Fund Ltd (LSX: PTF), a Channel Islands domiciled, closed-end real estate fund which owns a portfolio of premium timberland assets, in a stock-for-stock transaction. CatchMark wishes to direct the attention of its shareholders to certain disclosure requirements applicable to the potential offer. CatchMark's Class A common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The relevant disclosure requirements are set out in Rule 8 of the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), which is published and administered by the UK Takeover Panel. In particular, Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code requires that any person who is interested (directly and indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of relevant security of any party to the offer period must make (a) an Opening Position Disclosure and (b) a Dealing Disclosure if they deal in any relevant security of any party to the offer during an offer period. CatchMark's Class A common stock is a relevant security for the purposes of this offer period.

Further information about the Takeover Panel's disclosure regime is available at: http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/disclosure. If any CatchMark shareholder has any questions on these disclosure requirements, the Takeover Panel's Market Surveillance Unit will be happy to answer them and should be contacted on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be available on www.catchmark.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following this announcement. The content of such website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

About CatchMark

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (CTT) is a self-administered and self-managed, publicly-traded timberland REIT that strives to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns for all stakeholders through disciplined acquisitions, sustainable harvests, and well-timed real estate sales. Headquartered in Atlanta and focused exclusively on timberland ownership and management, CatchMark began operations in 2007 and owns interests in approximately 1.6 million acres* of timberlands located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.catchmark.com. CatchMark does not currently have a position in any securities of Phaunos Timber Fund Ltd.

* As of July 6, 2018

SOURCE CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.catchmark.com


DUBLIN, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Market - Forecasts from 2018 to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) market is projected to witness a CAGR of 20.71% during the forecast period to reach a total market size of US$3.916 billion by 2023, increasing from US$1.266 billion in 2017.

Continuous glucose monitoring devices are the latest advancement in the field of diabetes management.

The demand for continuous glucose monitoring devices is increasing for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. In addition, a rise in the diabetic population is further contributing towards the growing demand for glucose monitoring devices.

Technological innovations, the convenience of the monitoring device, the early detection of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemic diabetes are some of the major drivers boosting the growth of this market. However, high prices of these devices and calibration issues will restrict the market growth over the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered



1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Currency

1.5. Assumptions

1.6. Base and Forecast Years Timeline



2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Research Design

2.2. Secondary Sources



3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Segmentation

4.2. Market Drivers

4.3. Market Restraints

4.4. Market Opportunities

4.5. Porter's Five Force Analysis

4.6. Life Cycle Analysis - Regional Snapshot

4.7. Market Attractiveness



5. CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING (CGM) MARKET BY APPLICATION

5.1. Diabetic Patients

5.2. Critical Care Patients



6. CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING (CGM) MARKET BY END USER

6.1. Hospitals

6.2. Diagnostic Centers and Clinics

6.3. Home Care



7. CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING (CGM) MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

7.1. North America

7.2. South America

7.3. Europe

7.4. Middle East and Africa

7.5. Asia Pacific



8. COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE

8.1. Market Share Analysis

8.2. Investment Analysis

8.3. Recent Deals

8.4. Strategies of Key Players



9. COMPANY PROFILES

9.1. Dexcom, Inc.

9.2. Abbott Laboratories

9.3. Medtronic Pvt. Ltd.

9.4. GlySens Incorporated

9.5. Animas Corporation

9.6. Senseonics

9.7. GlySure

9.8. Biorasis



For more information about this reportvisit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fzzjhx/opportunity?w=5

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DUBLIN, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Orphan Drug Market - Forecasts from 2018 to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The orphan drug market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.94% to reach US$285.799 billion in 2023 from US$153.275 billion in 2017.

During the forecast period, prescription sales in the orphan drug sector are projected to grow at twice the rate of the overall prescription market. However, various government authorities encourage to develop and market orphan drugs. The cost incurred during the research and development of orphan drugs is higher when compared with non-orphan drugs.

The orphan drug market is classified into various segments by disease types, indication, and geographical regions.

The oncologic segment of the orphan drug market was the most dominant sector due to a large number of rare cancer form cases found in patients. Oncology segment is expected to maintain the trend and will be the key segment during the period of the next five years.

The global orphan drug market is expanding globally to cure rare diseases and thus expected to grow in all regions. North America is estimated to have a significant market share due to the high number of research and development going on in the region coupled with high medical cost and skilled labor force available in the region.

Key Topics Covered

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Currency

1.5. Assumptions

1.6. Base, and Forecast Years Timeline

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Research Design

2.2. Secondary Sources

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Segmentation

4.2. Market Drivers

4.3. Market Restraints

4.4. Market Opportunities

4.5. Porter's Five Force Analysis

4.6. Life Cycle Analysis - Regional Snapshot

4.7. Market Attractiveness

5. ORPHAN DRUG MARKET BY DISEASE TYPE

5.1. Oncologic Disease

5.2. Metabolic Disease

5.3. Hematologic and Immunologic Disease

5.4. Infectious Disease

5.5. Neurologic Disease

5.6. Others

6. ORPHAN DRUG MARKET BY PRODUCT TYPE

6.1. Biological Products

6.2. Non-Biological Products

7. ORPHAN DRUG MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

7.1. North America

7.2. South America

7.3. Europe

7.4. Middle East and Africa

7.5. Asia Pacific

8. COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE

8.1. Investment Analysis

8.2. Recent Investment and Deals

8.3. Strategies of Key Players

9. COMPANY PROFILES

9.1. Bayer

9.2. Amryt Pharma PLC

9.3. Brisol-Myers Squibb Company

9.4. Novartis AG

9.5. Celgene Corporation

9.6. F.Hoffman-La Roche AG

9.7. Pfizer Inc.

9.8. Alexion

9.9. Sanofi

9.10. AbbVie, Inc.

9.11. RegeneRX Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

9.12. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

9.13. Shire PLC

9.14. Merck & Co. Inc.

9.15. AstraZeneca

For more information about this report visit

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/jgrln9/orphan_drugs?w=5



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DENVER, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician's Choice is proud to announce its plans to expand its highly successful product the 60 Billion Probiotic into a full line of probiotics. The existing doctor-formulated probiotic contains 60 billion CFU of probiotic bacteria per serving, placing it in the high potency probiotic category. It supports gut and intestinal health, digestion and nutrient absorption*.

Physician's Choice announces new Probiotics Plus line Physician's Choice High Potency Probiotic Feedback - Alexander Oda

In 2018, Physician's Choice took an aggressive eCommerce approach that has paid off. The company's strategy of manufacturing professional-grade supplements  especially in the probiotics field  has proven successful. Using an eCommerce-first approach, the company has seen an impressive 60 percent month-over-month growth in 2018.

In August 2018, Best Reviews Guide ranked Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic product the number one probiotic for adults, giving it a near-perfect 9.9 score. This resulted in over 1,800 percent month-over-month growth for the product. The company's growth and the widespread success of its 60 Billion Probiotic has inspired Physician's Choice to expand its line of products.

Physician's Choice has announced it will continue its partnership with board-certified neurologist Dr. Ari Magill to develop the new line of probiotic products. Dr. Magill is a board-certified neurologist who has worked with Physician's Choice on previous product lines. The full line of probiotics will include a prenatal probiotic with L-5-MTHF, a weight management probiotic with green tea extract, a once-daily women's probiotic and a probiotic for mood support.

Jennifer Star, director of digital marketing at Physician's Choice, says: "We're seeing tremendous growth in our existing probiotic line. We saw a void in the market for affordable professional-grade probiotics. By focusing on product quality and new innovative technology, we were able to develop a great all-around probiotic at a great a price."

Physician's Choice hopes to use the success of its current professional-grade supplement line and dedicated customer base to launch additional probiotics into the eCommerce space. It will develop more condition-specific probiotics in the company's new Probiotic Plus line, using Dr. Magill's input. Physician's Choice looks forward to addressing the needs of thousands of others with more professional-grade probiotics and supplements in its future lines.

ABOUT PHYSICIAN'S CHOICE

Physician's Choice is a professional-grade supplement company and the first of its kind. It has disrupted the Professional-Grade Nutraceutical industry with aggressive eCommerce strategies, unparalleled market growth and tactics such as influencer marketing. It delivers high-quality, clinically tested supplements to customers worldwide. https://physicianschoice.com/

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkKVY-G8F1c

SOURCE Physician's Choice

Related Links

https://physicianschoice.com


ROSLYN, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers ("PRI"), the second largest admitted medical malpractice insurer in New York State, announced it is hosting an education and discussion event, "Physician Burnout: Resolving a Health Care Crisis Affecting Patients, Physicians and Their Families," to be held tonight, Friday Sept. 14, at the company's headquarters in Roslyn, New York. The featured speaker is Colin West, MD, Ph. D., the co-director of the Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine Physician Well-Being Program.

Dr. West is a renowned expert in physician wellness, whose work centers on physician burnout and how to reduce its impact on physicians and their families. His research aims to improve patient care by promoting physician well-being and reducing physician distress. Healthier physicians can provide better care and communicate more effectively.

"Physician burnout continues to climb to epidemic proportions," said Gerri Donohue, AVP of Education at PRI. "Because this is such a pressing issue, we opened this event to all physiciansand their familiesnot just our insured clients. Dr. West's insights will be invaluable to providing better outcomes for physicians, reducing risks, and improving patient safety throughout our region."

This evening's event showcases PRI's ongoing commitment to supporting the New York medical community. Past speakers have included Danielle Ofri, MD, Ph. D., Jo Shapiro, MD, and Pat Croskerry, MD, Ph. D. The next event is planned for November.

Physicians in attendance will earn 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. For those who could not attend, a recording of the event will be made available in the coming weeks on the pri.com website.

For more information, please visit https://www.pri.com/.

About Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers

Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers (PRI), is the second largest admitted medical malpractice insurer in New York State and one of the Top Ten insurers in the country providing professional liability insurance to physicians and medical facilities. Founded in 1982 by doctors to serve the healthcare industry and its professionals, PRI continues to be a leader in providing coverage and innovative products that anticipate the needs and further the financial goals of policyholders, and offers key services to help improve the liability environment for doctors, chiropractors, dentists and healthcare facilities.

SOURCE Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers

Related Links

https://www.pri.com


Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is one of the nation's fastest-growing real estate brokerage networks, with more than 47,000 agents and nearly 1,400 offices named to the brand since it was launched in September 2013. The company was recently named "Real Estate Agency Brand of Year" and "Most Trusted Real Estate Brand" in the 2018 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study.

"As a progressive real estate brokerage franchise organization designed for today's real estate market, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is demonstrating its market savvy by embracing the luxury real estate auction process as yet another tool in the vast arsenal of marketing and sales strategies it offers its franchise members," said Trayor Lesnock, Platinum's president and founder. "More luxury property owners are seeking auction services today than ever before, and brokerages that embrace the auction process like Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices's network members have done, will set themselves apart as leaders in servicing the needs of luxury homeowners."

Lesnock added that as the overwhelming majority of his firm's transactions are conducted in cooperation with a property's given real estate agent, it stands to reason that a traditional real estate brokerage realizes the value in formalizing a service agreement with Platinum.

"At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, we empower our network agents with the tools, resources and opportunities to grow their businesses and prosper," said Gino Blefari, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. "The services provided by Platinum Luxury Auctions will certainly go a long way toward accomplishing that goal, especially for network agents who work with luxury clients."

Specifically, Platinum will function as a Luxury Program Preferred Supplier of real estate auction services to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network members, focusing on the upper tier of the brokerage network's agents who specialize in multimillion-dollar properties. Platinum primarily handles properties priced from $2.5 to $20 million, and its members have closed more than $765 million in luxury real estate auction sales to date. While it largely focuses on properties located within the United States, the firm has posted a number of record sales in the Caribbean territories, and has handled properties as far abroad as Fiji.

David Ashcroft, Platinum's director of business development, praised Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices for its approach to the newly formed relationship. "What's really exciting is that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices understands the importance of service integration and ongoing agent education." Ashcroft explained that as part of its services agreement, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices incorporated a detailed series of performance requirements and engagement opportunities that will serve to maximize the relationship.

Since memorializing the agreement with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Platinum has been busy planning its integration and servicing strategy. "We haven't quite gone 'live' yet, but instead have been getting our team organized for a smooth launch," Ashcroft added. The firm looks to kick-off its agent integration when it attends Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices's 2018 Summit Conference, which runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, 2018. The event will be held in Vancouver, Canada, and will cater to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network agents who are within the top 9th percentile of sales production. Platinum is participating in the event as a sponsor.

Platinum's agreement with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices marks the second, large-brokerage service contract secured by the auction house, as it has been a contracted provider of real estate auction services to the Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates network of brokerages since 2013.

About Platinum Luxury Auctions

Platinum Luxury Auctions is responsible for developing the luxury auction model for high-priced real estate auctions and owns the trademark rights to the term "luxury auction." The firm specializes in the non-distressed sale of multimillion-dollar properties within and beyond the United States. Platinum's team has closed more than $765 million in luxury real estate auction sales to date, while consulting on more than $2.25 billion in additional luxury properties worldwide. www.PlatinumLuxuryAuctions.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, based in Irvine, CA, is a real estate brokerage network built for a new era in residential real estate. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. The brand was recently recognized as "Real Estate Agency Brand of Year" and "Most Trusted Real Estate Brand" in the 2018 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, and for "Highest Overall Satisfaction for Repeat Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms" in J.D. Power's 2017 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction Study. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.

SOURCE Platinum Luxury Auctions

Related Links

http://platinumluxuryauctions.com


The project, Enhancing the Humanities at PVAMU Through An African-American Studies Program Initiative , is designed to selectively infuse African-American Studies content throughout the university's liberal arts offerings. The initial concept for the program was conceived when Prairie View President Ruth J. Simmons called for the creation of an African-American Studies program in her first campus-wide address. Having directed Afro-American Studies at Princeton and Chaired the African-American Studies Department Visiting Committee at Harvard, President Simmons expressed surprise and disappointment that, given the University's cultural legacy, it did not have a formal program in African-American Studies.

The Enhancing the Humanities at PVAMU through an African-American Studies Program Initiative



The primary intent of the proposed program is to infuse PVAMU's STEM focused university with curricular content and programming that emphasizes the centrality and benefit of the Humanities and Social Sciences in undergraduate education. Funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, along with additional gifts and donations, will allow faculty to revise and expand existing courses in the PVAMU Core Curriculum, in addition to developing new courses within and across the disciplines, to form and propose an African-American Studies Program (AAS).

The Initiative will provide an interdisciplinary study of the experiences of people of African descent in America and abroad. Scholarly activities will provide students, faculty and the PVAMU community with a fundamental understanding of the social, economic, cultural and historical issues framing the contribution of African-American communities in America.

To ensure the success of the Initiative, highly respected scholars will work with a select cohort of PVAMU faculty to act as advisors, assist in establishing program priorities, review core course themes and hold public lectures and workshops reflecting their respective fields in African-American Studies.

"By strategically embedding African-American theme-based courses within the core curriculum, all students will have an opportunity to select courses that expand their academic interests while enhancing their engagement in the humanities," explained James Palmer, interim provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

Potential consultants include:



Melanye Price, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University, (Lead Consultant, PVAMU Alumna);

Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and American Research at Harvard University;

Paula J. Giddings, Elizabeth A. Woodson 1922 Professor Emerita at Smith College;

Nell Irvin Painter, Edward Professor of American History Emerita at Princeton University;

W.G. Selassie I, Ralph Bunche Associate Professor of U.S. History and African American Studies at Los Angeles City College; and



Cornel West, Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University.



About Prairie View A&M University:

Designated an institution of "the first class" in the Texas Constitution, Prairie View A&M University is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degree programs through seven colleges and School of Architecture. A member of The Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. For more information regarding PVAMU, visit www.pvamu.edu.

Office of Marketing and Communications

P.O. Box 519; MS 1001 Prairie View, Texas 77446

Phone (936) 261-1566 Fax (936) 261-2115

SOURCE Prairie View A&M University

Related Links

http://www.pvamu.edu


MAYS LANDING, N.J., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Recovery Centers of America (RCA), a community-based addiction treatment provider delivering evidence-based care, announced today the expansion of their Mays Landing, NJ facility by 80 residential beds, bringing the total number of patient beds from 53 to 133. In addition, the expansion has created 62 new jobs, increasing the total number of employees to 240, including both inpatient and outpatient services. To date, RCA at Lighthouse has treated over 3,000 patients and the new expansion will support an increased commitment and investment in the South Jersey community.

Built as a beautiful, five-star medical facility, Lighthouse was RCA's first center to open in March 2016 with 53 beds, 34 of which were dedicated to detoxification services. RCA at Lighthouse is in-network with most major insurance companies to minimize out of pocket expenses for patients and families. All RCA facilities are 24/7 medically supervised residential rehabilitation centers, featuring the latest evidence-based addiction treatment practices delivered by a team of medical experts including master's-level clinicians, therapists, nurses, psychiatrists and recovery support specialists.

RCA offers a comprehensive continuum of care which includes medically-monitored detoxification as well as residential inpatient and outpatient treatment services. The comprehensive approach to treating addiction includes a variety of therapies and programming, including individual and group therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options, mindfulness meditation, yoga, spiritual services, an immersive 12 step program, confidence-building workshops, comprehensive aftercare planning, as well as an extensive alumni network and more.

"I came to Lighthouse a broken man," says Bob, a patient treated at Lighthouse for Substance Use Disorder in 2016. "I was helped tremendously by the staff who treated me with respect and dignity. One of the happiest days of my life was when I was able to return to RCA Lighthouse and become a member of the team who saved my life."

Lighthouse's alumni network has partnered with Surfside Structured Sober Living, which provides young men a safe transition from treatment to recovery, and other local organizations such as the Parent-to-Parent Coalition, Stop the Heroin, City of Angels, as well as various churches, recovery houses and recovery support groups.

"We have been at or close to 100% full every day since we've opened and are in desperate need of these additional beds," says Lighthouse CEO David Dorschu. "New Jersey's overdose rate is three times higher than the national average and Atlantic County itself has one of the highest rates in the state. Being a resource to this community means bringing hope back to individuals and families who have been affected by addiction, helping them to live a meaningful and successful life in recovery."

The expansion and new hires support RCA's 24/7 admission philosophy and makes Lighthouse one of the largest addiction treatment facilities in the state to be fully accredited by The Joint Commission as well as on its way to becoming one of the fastest-growing employers in the state. This milestone was made possible by the NJDOH licensing department which vets healthcare providers and helped Lighthouse grow to better serve the community.

Additionally, the success of the expansion was supported by emergency service providers and public officials, such as the Hamilton Township K-9 Unit and ambulance corps, who help to ensure the safety of patients and staff; the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office, located in Mays Landing, which has initiated the HOPE ONE van to increase awareness of treatment resources and medical assistance in the area; mayors from Atlantic County and Hamilton Township, among others, who have toured the facility and are kept up to date on the impact the addiction crisis has on the community and how Lighthouse is helping to solve the problem.

RCA at Lighthouse offers individualized programming for populations which require their own space, such as gender-specific living arrangements, the Young Adults program for those aged 18-29 years-old, as well as trauma-specific treatment. RCA also offers free community meeting space for AA, NA, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, family support groups and any other recovery-based organizations to hold meetings seven days per week. The need for space not only reflects need in the community, but also RCA's dedication to treating everyone's unique needs.

About Recovery Centers of America

Recovery Centers of America provides a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to addiction treatment. The company is in-network with most major insurance providers, which improves access to affordable care and reduces out of pocket expenses for individuals and families seeking addiction treatment.

RCA's centers for addiction medicine are located in patients' neighborhoods providing easy access for families to participate in the treatment process and to access care 24/7. Being in patients' neighborhoods allows the company to provide patients with continuity across all levels of care, from detox and residential to outpatient and recovery support meetings  right in the neighborhoods where families live and work.

For more information, visit www.RecoveryCentersofAmerica.com or call 1-800-RECOVERY.

RCA Company Contact:

Bill Koroncai, Director of Communications

[email protected]

RCA Media Contacts:

Tony DeFazio, DeFazio Communications, LLC.

Ph: 484-534-3306

[email protected]

Kerri Del Collo

Ph: 484-534-3323

[email protected]

SOURCE Recovery Centers of America

Related Links

http://www.recoverycentersofamerica.com


BOSTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SB360 Capital Partners LLC (SB360), one of North America's leading asset realization firms, has been chosen by Heritage Home Group LLC (HHG) to assist HHG in conducting sales of the inventory from their Thomasville & Co., and Broyhill business units. Thomasville & Co. includes the Thomasville brand, Drexel, and Henredon. Broyhill is a namesake brand.

Heritage Home Group's parent company HH Global II BV, and its related U.S. affiliates, filed petitions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on July 29th. As part of the restructuring process, HHG has solicited competing bids for all its businesses.

SB360 will assist HHG in commencing a "Store Closing Sale" in the 25 HHG-owned stores on September 14th. The 25 locations are in 14 states, and include 24 Thomasville branded stores, and 1 Henredon branded store. Inventory currently being manufactured, as well as inventory located in distribution centers, will be sent to the store locations for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Aaron Miller, Executive Vice President of SB360, said "The Heritage Home brands are really second-to-none in the furniture industry. Thomasville & Co., and Broyhill have a heritage and recognition that cross generations."

"Thomasville and Broyhill are known for offering the finest quality in home furnishings," said Siegfried Schaffer, Executive Vice President of SB360. "This Sale will feature historic discounts on the entire inventory of these well-known brands."

To facilitate the disposition of the wholesale inventory, SB360 will assist HHG in operating the wholesale businesses of the company for an interim period of time.

Thomasville found its roots in 1904 in Thomasville, North Carolina, offering one product that became known as the "Thomasville Chair." The fine craftsmanship led people to request other pieces from the furniture maker. Keeping step with the trends of the day for more than a century, Thomasville has become an industry leader. The Thomasville brand is synonymous with innovative design and manufacturing quality.

James Edgar "Ed" Broyhill started his first company, The Lenoir Chair Co., in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1926. Despite the Great Depression, the company prospered. In 1937, Ed took over most of the responsibilities of operating another furniture company owned by his brother. Eventually he consolidated the two businesses, and Broyhill Furniture Industries was born. Today, Broyhill Furniture is one of the most recognized brands in the industry.

About SB360 Capital Partners, LLC

SB360 Capital Partners, a Schottenstein Affiliate, is one of North America's leading consulting, business evaluation, asset acquisition, and asset disposition firms. SB360 is the parent entity operating: Second Avenue Capital Partners, a lending platform providing financing solutions for mid-market companies; SBC Logistics' Asset Recovery Center in Columbus; and, other SB360 business units focused on real estate advisory and commercial real estate investments. In addition, SB360 Capital Partners makes equity investments in retail, wholesale, and consumer product companies. The principals of SB360 hold extensive commercial interests in national retail and wholesale operations; internationally recognized consumer brands; commercial, residential, and industrial real estate properties; and financial service operations. For more information, please visit www.sb360.com.

SOURCE SB360 Capital Partners LLC

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SAN DIEGO, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) today announced that Lisa Glatch is joining the company in the newly created position of strategic initiatives officer for Sempra Energy.

"We are very pleased that Lisa Glatch is joining our leadership team," said Joseph A. Householder, president and chief operating officer of Sempra Energy. "Lisa's extensive executive, engineering and project management experience will support our efforts in building North America's premier energy infrastructure company."

Most recently, Glatch led business growth efforts as executive vice president and chief strategic development officer for CH2M, a leading consulting and program management firm. Prior to joining CH2M in 2014, she served as senior vice president of global sales for Jacobs, a global design, engineering and technical services firm. Previously, Glatch spent 24 years with Fluor Corporation in a range of management positions, including president of Fluor's government group and senior vice president of project operations for Fluor's energy & chemicals group.

Glatch graduated with honors from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. She also received a U.S. Department of Transportation Medal of Honor in 2002 for her work in helping to establish the Transportation Security Administration in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based energy services holding company with 2017 revenues of more than $11 billion, is the utility holding company with the largest U.S. customer base. The Sempra Energy companies' approximately 20,000 employees serve more than 40 million consumers worldwide.

SOURCE Sempra Energy

Related Links

http://www.sempra.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating KMG Chemicals, Inc. ("KMG" or the "Company") (NYSE: KMG) relating to the sale of the Company to Cabot Microelectronics Corporation ("Cabot"). Under the terms of the agreement, KMG shareholders are anticipated to receive $55.65 and 0.2000 shares of Cabot for each share of KMG common stock they own.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/kmg-chemicals-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

The investigation focuses on whether KMG and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, 2) whether and by how much this proposed transaction undervalues the Company by and 3) failing to disclose all material financial information in connection with the upcoming shareholder meeting.

Monteverde & Associates PC is a national class action securities and consumer litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders and consumers from corporate wrongdoing. Monteverde & Associates lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions, whereby they protect investors by recovering money and remedying corporate misconduct. Mr. Monteverde, who leads the legal team at the firm, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013 and 2017, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017 Top Rated Lawyer.

If you own common stock in KMG and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2018 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Shegerian is the founder and head of the Los Angeles employment law firm Shegerian & Associates, which is known for having one of the most impressive records in the industry, with over $200 million in verdicts and settlements and a 98 percent success rate.

"I'm grateful for the recognition of the important work we're doing," Shegerian said. "My colleagues and staff work very hard to make sure we do right by our clients. You have to remember that employer misconduct scars people. It can rob them of income, ruin their career prospects, and ravage their mental and physical health."

He continued, "We have to be at our best, because you know the other side will squirm however they can to get out of paying a bill. Our diligence and persistence, and the high standards to which we hold ourselves at my firm, are crucial. It's crucial both for our clients' sake and for the work environment in the country that we hold employers accountable for their abuses."

In choosing Shegerian as an honoree, The Daily Journal specifically recognized Shegerian's biggest wins in 2018: a $13 million jury verdict in February, and a staggering $31.1 million verdict in Junethe largest of its kind in Los Angeles County history.

The $13 million verdict went to Lauren Pinter-Brown, a former oncologist at UCLA Medical. Despite her seniority in her department and her stellar career, when she got a new boss she became the victim of sexual harassment and age discrimination, and ultimately lost her job.

Shegerian told The Daily Journal, "She is just an amazing person, researching cancer, and how poorly this great institution treated her is mind-blowing."

The $31.1 million verdict went to Codie Rael, who had worked for 36 years at two different subsidiaries of the Danaher Corporation. Her story is similar to Pinter-Brown's: After many years of exemplary performance, a new supervisor created a hostile work environment for Rael, including harassment, discrimination, and, eventually, wrongful termination.

In her case, Rael testified for over 19 hours in total. Shegerian told the Journal how impressed he was: "In all those hours of testimony she stayed accurate, she was never impeached for a moment, she never appeared shifty. This case was won by her."

Shegerian founded his firm 17 years ago, when he recognized that, in a political landscape where labor unions have been systematically stripped of most of their power to advocate for the rights of workers. He bills clients on a contingency basis, increasing access to the legal system for people who can't afford to pay legal fees up front. For him, it's all about helping workers.

"Workplaces are inherently unequal," Shegerian told the Journal, "because workers are subject to the whims of employers regarding pay and how they are treated."

Given this inequality, Shegerian will likely have many opportunities ahead of him to continue his work.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California and with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, & New York, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Carney Shegerian, Trial Lawyer of the Year Award winner for 2013, has won 80 jury trials in his career, including 37 seven-figure verdicts. Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information about the firm, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.

Media Contact: To arrange interviews with Carney Shegerian employment law matters, please contact [email protected]

SOURCE Shegerian & Associates, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.shegerianlaw.com


HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) has announced the appointment of Simon Boden as its new director of sales and business development. A native Bermudian, Boden brings two decades of hospitality management experience to the role, which will be based in New York City.

Boden will be responsible for guiding the sales team in prospecting for new group business opportunities, identifying and leveraging emerging industry trends, and working closely with industry partners. He will also lead participation in trade shows and sales missions building relationships with meeting, incentive and event planners.

"Simon's extensive knowledge of Bermuda's hospitality industry, as well as his management experience abroad, will be particularly valuable as he joins the Bermuda Tourism Authority team," said Victoria Isley, the BTA's Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. "His destination management experience will also prove useful as we continue to set Bermuda apart from the competition with distinctive experiences to attract meetings, conferences and incentive travel to the island."

Boden has been with the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts chain of luxury hotels since 1999, starting with Bermuda's Hamilton Princess, and then honing his skills at properties in Hawaii and Pennsylvania. He also spent seven years with the Fairmont Southampton on Bermuda's South Shore, directing its destination management company and holding senior roles in sales and revenue. Most recently, he's served as the director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont Pittsburgh since 2015.

"I am delighted to join the Bermuda Tourism Authority team, and proud to get the chance to represent my country," Boden said. "I'm excited to share the island's one-of-a-kind story and offerings, which I'm confident will bring more conferences, meetings and groups to the island."

Boden replaces Laura Saeger, who left the director of sales and business development role, in June to pursue a new career opportunity.

About Bermuda:

Out here is closer than you think. Located in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina's coast, the island of Bermuda is just a two-hour nonstop flight from most eastern U.S. airports. Attracting adventure seekers, explorers, romantic and originals, Bermuda is where people, cultures and an alluring mystique swirl together, connecting visitors to a place far from everyday life. The island's legendary pink-sand beaches, frozen in time historic towns and pastel-colored buildings stand out at first. But it's Bermuda's original, ever evolving take on island life that brings travelers out here again and again. The Bermuda experience is elegant, relaxed and genuinely warm, celebrating cultures, reveling in nature and staying open to whatever is around the bend. Recently, the 35th America's Cup, held in Bermuda May and June of 2017, brought a fresh energy to the destination with new and redeveloped hotels, must-visit attractions and restaurants adding to the island spirit. Visit www.gotobermuda.com, www.facebook.com/bermudatourism, and www.twitter.com/bermuda.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bermuda Tourism Authority

Adel Grobler

[email protected] / 212.889.1700

SOURCE Bermuda Tourism Authority

Related Links

https://www.gotobermuda.com


WELLESLEY, Mass., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life Financial is prepared to assist clients affected by the hurricane in the Carolinas and surrounding areas, recognizing that many may have evacuated their homes or businesses and need extra time to make payments, help with filing claims or getting disability and other insurance checks to temporary addresses without disruption.

"We are proactively connecting with our members on disability and other clients to offer assistance," said Dan Fishbein, M.D., president of Sun Life Financial U.S. "We're also giving clients more time with premium payments and helping brokers who need assistance with administration or recovery of account information. We want our clients to know that we're here to help. Our thoughts are with all in the path of the storm and we hope everyone remains safe."

Policyholders can reach Sun Life at the following phone numbers.

Individual life insurance: 800-862-6266

Group/employer-based insurance: 800-247-6875

Dental insurance: 888-811-1240

Vision insurance: 800-877-7195

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2018, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of C$986 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

In the United States, Sun Life Financial is one of the largest group benefits providers, serving more than 60,000 employers in small, medium and large workplaces across the country. Sun Life's broad portfolio of insurance products and services in the U.S. includes disability, absence management, life, dental, vision, voluntary and stop-loss. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us.

Media contact:

Devon Fernald

Sun Life Financial

781-416-7151

[email protected]

SOURCE Sun Life Financial

Related Links

http://www.sunlife.com/us


PHOENIX, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- VEREIT, Inc. (NYSE: VER) ("VEREIT" or the "Company") is one of Arizona's Most Admired Companies of 2018, according to Az Business magazine and BestCompaniesAZ. VEREIT was recognized at an awards reception held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 and is featured in the September/October 2018 issue of Az Business magazine.

Arizona's Most Admired Companies are selected based on a company's performance in the following areas: Leadership Excellence, Workplace Culture, Social Responsibility, Customer Opinion and Innovation. "With our best-in-class team of professionals, VEREIT has made significant strides in developing and strengthening our business. Employees in all our offices are hardworking, collaborative and ethical. We are proud to be a Phoenix-based company and we are honored to receive the designation of being named one of Arizona's Most Admired Companies for another year," said Glenn Rufrano, VEREIT's Chief Executive Officer.

"With hundreds of nominations representing the most innovative, impactful and successful companies in Arizona, being one of the Most Admired Companies for 2018 shows that VEREIT truly represents the best in Arizona business," stated Michael Gossie, editor in chief for Az Business magazine. Based in Phoenix, VEREIT is a full-service real estate operating company which owns one of the largest portfolios of single-tenant commercial properties in the U.S. VEREIT is dedicated to serving its stakeholders and tenants, as well as its employees.

"At VEREIT, our company culture is based on treating others the way we would like to be treated. To cultivate this culture, we've established programs that encourage our employees to support one another as well as our communities. These programs have allowed us to raise the bar in service to our tenants, stakeholders, communities and to each other, which has ultimately set us apart as an industry leader," said Kristy Lubeck, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at VEREIT.

The Company celebrated the Most Admired Company recognition with an Employee Appreciation Week at its Phoenix headquarters and across its regional offices in New York City, Orlando, Atlanta, Austin and Chicago.

About VEREIT

VEREIT is a full-service real estate operating company which owns and manages one of the largest portfolios of single-tenant commercial properties in the U.S. The Company has a total asset book value of $14.3 billion including approximately 4,000 properties and 94.6 million square feet. VEREIT's business model provides equity capital to creditworthy corporations in return for long-term leases on their properties. VEREIT is a publicly traded Maryland corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Additional information about VEREIT can be found on its website at www.VEREIT.com and through social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Az Business Magazine

Over the past 30 years, AZ Big Media has grown to encompass not just Az Business magazine, but a host of other publications and signature events. Az Business Magazine is the state's leading business publication. Published by AZ Big Media, the magazine covers a wide-range of topics focusing on the Arizona business scene, and is aimed at high-level corporate executives and business owners.

About BestCompaniesAZ  Arizona's Employer Branding Partner

BestCompaniesAZ specializes in helping corporate clients develop, strengthen and market their unique employer brands through a variety of events, awards and communications programs. Specialized services include employee opinion surveys, benchmarking, employment branding, recruitment strategies, award consultation and promotional services. BestCompaniesAZ is proud to be chosen as the Consulting Partner for the Top Companies program, serving five consecutive years, and Founding Partner for Arizona Most Admired Companies. For more information, visit www.BestCompaniesAZ.com.

SOURCE VEREIT, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.vereit.com


In her expanded role, Schray will lead the newly combined functions of External Affairs, Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, Regulatory and Government Affairs, and Public Policy. The new role reflects the company's recognition that, in the ever-changing higher education environment and because of the company's current transformation, external affairs and corporate communication must be closely linked.

Schray brings a range of leadership experience to the role, having served as the Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy for the past seven years. Prior to joining BPI, she spent over 20 years in Washington, D.C. in a variety of leadership roles responsible for public policy, communications, regulatory affairs, and government relations, including Deputy Assistant Secretary, Higher Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.

"We are delighted that Vickie has agreed to take on the role of Chief External Affairs Officer," said Clark. "She is a seasoned executive with significant experience, and Bridgepoint Education will benefit from her strategic, collaborative leadership in aligning these critical functions."

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) harnesses the latest technology to reimagine the modern student experience. Bridgepoint owns two academic institutions  Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Together, these programs, technologies, and resources represent a unique model for advancing education in the 21st century. Bridgepoint stands for greater access, social learning, and exposure to leading minds. For more information, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or www.facebook.com/BridgepointEducation.

Contact: Nolan Sundrud

858.513.9240 x11636  [email protected]

SOURCE Bridgepoint Education

Related Links

http://www.bridgepointeducation.com


SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- UST has partnered with mission-driven health insurance broker Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services Inc. (Nonstop) to offer an educational webinar recording that is designed to showcase insights and proven solutions aimed at lowering costs, mitigating risk and improving health equity for staff.

UST and Nonstop know that the traditional models of health and unemployment insurance are cost-prohibitive for many nonprofits. That's why their co-created webinar recording addresses these challenges by providing the following key takeaways:

Exposure to different funding models for two budget line items that impact the bottom line and the HR team

How to look beyond traditional insurance funding models to find alternative solutions

What can be done to increase employee retention and recruitment while also keeping organizational costs down

For anyone responsible for the financial management of a nonprofit with 10 or more employees, watch the webinar recording here: bit.ly/2p5UhvC.

The largest nonprofit unemployment trust in the nation, UST helps 501(c)(3) organizations nationwide save time and money through a host of workforce management solutions that include unemployment claims management, cash flow protection, HR Workplace assistance, outplacement services and more. The company services nonprofits from all sectors with 10 or more full-time employees. UST encourages nonprofits that are currently tax-rated or direct reimbursing on their own to review their options as they may be over-paying.

Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services Inc. is proudly changing the way nonprofits and their employees access healthcare with a partially self-funded health insurance program called Nonstop Wellness. The Nonstop Wellness program decreases the annual costs of healthcare for nonprofits while reducing or eliminating copays, deductibles and coinsurance. Nonstop's mission is to ensure nonprofit's growth and sustainability  starting with the health and wellbeing of their employees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Achee Jody Schreffler UST Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services Inc. 888-249-4788 x 1159 503-260-5634 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE UST
Washington, Sep 14 : The US has imposed sanctions on two North Korean-controlled information technology (IT) companies based in China and Russia, accusing them of moving illicit funds to Pyongyang, the media reported.

"These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Thursday.

The department designated the China-based China Silver Star, its North Korean CEO Jong Song Hwa and its Russia-based sister company Volasys Silver Star as such fronts, the Voice of America News reported.

The sanctions come at a time when the US is maintaining pressure on the North Korean government in its negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

"The US will continue to fully enforce and implement sanctions until we have achieved the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea," Mnuchin said.

White House officials have acknowledged that there has been no progress on denuclearization, even as President Donald Trump considers a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

They met face-to-face during their historic summit in June in Singapore.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon said the US and allies are days away from launching a new effort to more publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs, defence officials tell CNN.

The US has been using sanctions to maintain pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme, even as it continues to engage in diplomacy.
Washington, Sep 14 : Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager embattled by criminal indictments, is close to a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a guilty plea ahead of his upcoming trial, according to an informed source.

Manafort may no longer fight the charges related to his Ukrainian lobbying operation, CNN quoted the source as saying on Thursday.

The incentive appears to be to reach a deal ahead of a pre-trial motion hearing scheduled for Friday and before jury selection begins on September 17 in the Washington D.C. District Court.

The plea would bring to an end to one of the most active criminal cases in the DC federal court system this year.

Manafort's lawyers have filed hundreds of pages in courts to fight prosecutors' allegations and have brought two appeals unsuccessfully.

Proceedings scheduled for September 17 would begin a second gruelling, expensive, politically explosive three-week-or-longer trial in federal court.

Manafort faces seven counts of foreign lobbying violations, money laundering conspiracy and witness tampering, CNN said.

He is accused of not disclosing to the Justice Department his work for Ukrainian politicians and laundering that income.

Prosecutors allege he set up meetings with lawmakers and fashioned public relations efforts in the US on the Ukrainians' behalf.

A jury convicted Manafort in Virginia last month on eight bank and tax fraud charges related to his lobbying wealth after a three-week trial.

Manafort has maintained that he is not guilty since Mueller's office first charged him with foreign lobbying and financial crimes last October.
Nanded (Maharashtra)/Hyderabad, Sep 14 : A Maharashtra court has issued non-bailable warrants against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and 14 others in a 2010 case pertaining to an agitation against the Babli Barrage on River Godavari, an official said here.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharmabad Court (Nanded) N.R. Gajbhiye on Thursday issued the NBWs against Naidu and his cabinet colleagues, Irrigation Minister D.U. Rao, Social Welfare Minister G.Kamalakar and 12 others.

The police have been ordered to arrest them and produce them before the court at the next hearing on September 21.

The incident took place when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had organised massive protests over what it termed the "illegal constructions" of the Babli Barrage project by the Maharashtra government allegedly to divert Godavari River waters from Telangana region of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

At that time Naidu was the Leader of Opposition in the state and along with 40 legislators, had entered the barrage vicinity flouting prohibition orders clamped there.

The police had caned some protesters and later arrested all of them.

Later, as Naidu refused to take bail, he was sent back to Hyderabad by a flight, and subsequently cases were filed against all agitators on various counts.

The court orders came after a petitioner moved the Dharmabad court seeking to know why the earlier arrest warrants were not executed.

The TDP on Thursday reacted sharply to the warrants against Naidu and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the conspiracy. TDP leader Buddha Venkanna told reporters in Vijayawada that the Bharatiya Janata Party is resorting to witch-hunting.

Naidu's son and state IT Minister N. Lokesh told the media that while legal opinion on the issue has been sought, the Chief Minister would attend the court hearing next week.
New Delhi, Sep 14 : India and the European Union (EU) should find new and innovative ways to move ahead with negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) they are engaged in, the Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry, Ruchi Ghanashyam, has said.

"The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is an example where both sides need to find new and innovative ways of moving ahead," Ghanashyam said while delivering the keynote address at a symposium on "EU and India -- Partners for stability in a new international environment" here on Thursday evening.

"Effective standards that are helpful in engaging industry and protecting consumer interests should not raise new trade walls," she said.

Negotiations for the BTIA started in 2007 but were put on hold in 2015. In all, 16 rounds of negotiations have been held.

Those in the know say that after India renounced its bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with all countries, investments from European nations are now not protected.

India has terminated all BITs following a new BIT model New Delhi released in December 2015.

The 28 EU member-states have now passed on the responsibility of investment protection negotiations to the EU.

Ghanashyam said India was an open society with a strong rule of law that provides adequate protection to foreign investors. "India's FDI regime has addressed most demands of the EU even before investment negotiations had commenced," she said.

"The government, through its reform-oriented agenda, is placing heavy emphasis on performance to bring about transformational changes in the country."

Stating that over 1,200 archaic laws that affected business, governments and day-to-day life of the common man have been repealed, Ghanashyam said India's flagship programmes in the areas of manufacturing, digitisation, skills, financial inclusion, urbanisation, start-ups, infrastructure in energy and transportation were driving economic growth.

"The unprecedented roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017 has resulted in making India a single market very much like the EU and has thrown up multiple business opportunities to European businesses," she stated.

Describing India and the EU as "natural partners", she said that in the last two years engagements between the two sides have substantially increased.

"There are over 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and the EU," Ghanashyam said. "The EU is one of India's largest trading partners."

EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said that Thursday's symposium coincided with the start of the political autumn season in Europe and that the EU planned to adopt a new strategy for relations with India.

The bloc will publish an EU strategy on connecting Europe and Asia.
Lucknow, Sep 14 : Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Praveen Togadia on Friday accused the BJP of coming to power by promising a Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh but dumping the issue thereafter.

Addressing a rally at the Janakpuri ground in Akbarpur, he said: "They always said that 'we will build a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya when we come to power with a majority'... now, four years have passed, and look, nothing has been done."

"The BJP came to power at the Centre due to votes of crores of Hindus. Now, they only remember the welfare of Muslim women... that's how they have betrayed you," the former VHP leader said.

Togadia questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership that if a law could be enacted on the triple talaq issue, why couldn't a law be made to facilitate the construction of the Ram temple.

He said he will lead a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on October 21 to "awaken" the government on the issue.

Togadia accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of forgetting the "supreme sacrifices made by hundreds of people during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement" and pointed out that Modi had not visited Ayodhya even once in the past four years.
New Delhi, Sep 14 : A court here on Friday ordered framing of sexual harassment charges against noted environmentalist R.K. Pachauri, who has been accused of outraging the modesty of his colleague.

Metropolitan Magistrate Charu Gupta fixed October 20 for formal framing of charges under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the India Penal Code.

However, the court dropped charges under Section 354B (using criminal force against a woman), Section 354D (stalking) and Section 341 (wrongful restraint) levelled against the former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The Delhi Police had booked him under the sections related to use of criminal force against a woman, stalking and others.

Pachauri was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015. He stepped down as Chairperson of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February 2015 and proceeded on leave from TERI, where he was the Director General. Later, he also stepped down from his post in TERI.

Pachauri has, however, denied the charges against him.
New Delhi, Sep 14 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government on environment, transport, education, solid waste management, infrastructure, public health among others.

The MoU was signed in South Korea's capital Seoul, where Kejriwal is on a three-day trip.

"It is a moment of happiness for the people of Delhi and Seoul that these two metropolitan cities are today formally entering into an agreement of friendship and cooperation by signing this MoU," Kejriwal said in his speech after signing the MoU.

He said the MoU should not be seen as "another piece of an official document."

"Let us try and convert it into a living document, since it is being signed for mutual cooperation in multiple fields," he said.

"Air pollution is a major issue faced by Delhi today and our government is very serious in tackling this menace. Delhi faces smog every winter, sometimes very severe. I strongly appeal for close cooperation between Delhi and Seoul to combat it," he said.

Kejriwal also said that environment and public transport are very closely linked and are extremely important for cities like Delhi and Seoul.

"I had heard a lot about the public transport of Seoul and whatever little I have seen over the last three days here is that your public transport system is very reliable and efficient," he said.

"I would like the Delhi and Seoul governments to work closely since my city needs to learn a lot about an efficient public transport system," he added.

Speaking on the infrastructure, he said that "Delhi's Urban Development Department will be more than eager to take help from you in whichever manner possible to develop Delhi".
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 14 : Hours after the Supreme Court on Friday awarded him Rs 50 lakh compensation for the sufferings and ignominy he underwent after being arrested in an espionage case, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan said the fight was finally over for him.

"I am happy that a (three-member) committee, and not a commission, has been formed to conduct an inquiry. Till now, it was a fight, but it's over now. I want to live for myself now. Enough is enough," he said.

Narayanan had moved the apex court for a probe into the false case foisted on him by Kerala Police and other agencies.

He had challenged a Kerala High Court judgment that upheld the state's decision not to take action against officials who falsely implicated him in the case, forcing him to stay behind bars for 50 days.

"It was a long-fought case, or rather a judicial war. Let the committee come out with the conspiracy behind the case. With this verdict, police officials should realise that they cannot escape their actions," Narayanan said.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud awarded him the compensation and directed for setting up of the committee led by former apex court Judge D.K. Jain to inquire into the role of officials for implicating him in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spy case.

These officials include then Inspector General of Police Siby Mathews and then Deputy Superintendents of Police K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan.

The former ISRO scientist said he hoped that the committee will finish its job in three to six months.

He said that Rs 50 lakh will be paid by the state government and it's up to the state to decide if the money needs be recovered from the erring police officials.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charge of espionage along with another top ISRO official, two Maldivian women and a businessman.

After the CBI cleared him in 1995, he fought a legal battle against Mathews and other officials who probed the case.
Jerusalem, Sep 14 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday said that the state he represents remains committed to peace and a negotiated settlement with Israel so long as these could be guaranteed by international law.

In an article to Efe news days after the US said it was closing the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, Abbas said that Palestine was prepared and entitled to live side-by-side with Israel within the 1967 borders.

"Palestine remains committed to peace and negotiations based on international law and resolutions of international legitimacy," Abbas said in the article.

The White House had closed the delegation citing Palestinian refusal to sit down to negotiate and also to allegedly rejecting an as yet unpublished peace plan being prepared by Donald Trump's government, the report said.

Abbas, who wrote the article to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Agreement, said he was prepared to "engage with Israel in good faith".

The Oslo pact was signed between Israel and Palestine on September 13, 1993, to effectively bring their conflict to its end by means of territorial concessions and facilitating the creation of the Palestinian Authority.

Abbas said that negotiations should be held within a multilateral framework and include international guarantees so that the outcome could be implemented with accountability and under the patronage of the UN.

Israel has long offered to resume peace negotiations, which stalled in 2014, but has said that it would only do so in the absence of preconditions, discarding Palestinian requirements which included a cessation of the growth of Israeli settlements in occupied territory and the release of prisoners jailed before the Oslo process.

Despite showing a willingness to engage in dialogue, Abbas also stated that Israel's violations of international law and UN resolutions had to be held to account. He said the Palestinian people were determined to move forward.

The Palestinian cause, Abbas warned, was at a dangerous crossroads with an Israeli government "that does not believe in peace" and "denies the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people" and a US government that, in his opinion, "no longer defends international values and law".

The relationship between Palestinians and the US reached its lowest point during the last 12 months.

The former have rejected Washington as a valid mediator in the conflict, considering it aligned with Israel after Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the transfer of its Embassy from Tel Aviv.

The Donald Trump administration also ceased funding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, announced cuts to hospital aid and ordered the closure of the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Vienna, Sep 14 : Several interior ministers of European Union countries, among them France, Spain and Italy, were meeting representatives from African countries on Friday with the aim of fomenting cooperation on migration.

The European Commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopulous, told the press upon his arrival to the talks in the Austrian capital Vienna that the goal of the informal meeting was to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region, Efe news reported.

"Both Northern African countries and the EU were confronted with the same challenges and we share the same duty to address migration and the security issues," said Avramopulous.

He expressed hope that Friday's talks would "pave the way and will inaugurate a new chapter in our relations".

Austria's Interior Minister Herbert Kickl said European and African countries shared "common interests" when it came to migration.

Kickl, from the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, said both sides had to have a "great interest" in the EU having an "effective" border protection policy and putting an end to the "current human trafficking business model".

He referred to the idea of creating platforms in North Africa where migrants and refugees, intercepted at sea trying to reach Europe, could be sent to. However, Avramopulous calls it "unrealistic".

Austria is one of the EU members that insists on setting up mechanisms to ensure that migrants rescued in the Mediterranean are returned to the countries in North Africa where they came from.

Due to the informal nature of the meeting, the majority of countries did not send ministers, so no concrete decisions were expected to be made.

The meeting came a week before an informal EU leaders summit in Salzburg, which would also focus on migration.

Some 74,388 people have arrived to Spain, Greece and Italy by sea routes so far in 2018, while 1,642 deaths have been recorded, according to the latest UN data.
Canberra, Sep 14 : Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologized for using an explicit rap song in a video posted to his social media accounts.

Morrison had posted on Thursday a 11-second clip of the song, 1999's "Be Faithful", by rapper Fatman Scoop, over quick edits of his parliamentary allies raising their hands in response to a question asked by him.

The video was accompanied by a comment saying "QT (Question Time, an Australian parliamentary session) was on fire today... Good work team." The comment was followed by a flame emoji.

The song has explicit language and sexual references. However, the section posted on Morrison's social media accounts was not explicit: "You got a hundred dollar bill, get your hands up! You got a 50 dollar bill, put your hands up!"

Australian Twitter rejoiced in the poorly chosen song, with trade unionist John Setka tweeting: "Hey Scott. I hear you might have mucked up on one of your tweets? Don't let it get you down, it happens to the best of us."

The tweet -- and Facebook post -- have since been deleted, and Morisson posted again, saying that when he found out the content of the song, he had asked for it to be taken down.

"The full lyrics of the song used in my earlier video from (Question Time) today were just not OK. When I found out, I asked the team to take it down. Apologies," Morrison wrote.

According to Australian national broadcaster ABC, he defended the post, saying it was a "bit of fun," and not a song that he would typically listen to himself.

Morrison became the country's 30th Prime Minister -- and the sixth in just a decade -- following his victory in a leadership vote in August.
Washington, Sep 14 : Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager embattled by criminal indictments, on Friday agreed to plead guilty in a deal to resolve charges filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, officials said.

Charges filed against him accuse him of a myriad of criminal acts related to his consulting work in Ukraine. He will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice due to attempts to tamper with witnesses, according to a court filing cited by CNN.

It was, however, not clear if he will cooperate with prosecutors against President Donald Trump.

If he does, Manafort could prove to be a significant witness for Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion by members of Trump campaign with Moscow, CNBC said.

Trump was not mentioned in Friday's filing, neither was Manafort's role in his campaign.

Prosecutors will drop the five remaining charges against Manafort, including money laundering, tax fraud, failing to disclose foreign bank accounts, violating federal foreign lobbying law and lying to the Department of Justice. But the court filing suggested Manafort admitted to the actions.

Manafort had faced seven charges in Washington and faces another 10 possible charges in Virginia which had been declared in mistrial. He has already been convicted on eight counts of bank and tax fraud crimes in the Virginia trial.

The White House has distanced itself from Manafort and downplayed his time leading the Trump campaign. But but last month, Trump expressed sympathy for him.

"I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," the President tweeted the week of Manafort's conviction in his Virginia trial.

"Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.' Such respect for a brave man!" Trump had said.

In their filing, prosecutors described Manafort's scheme to take in more than $60 million from pro-Russian Ukrainians and launder that money to avoid paying taxes.

He appeared to admit to the allegations he faced in both Virginia federal court and DC district court, describing his use of offshore bank accounts to move the money, deceive his accountants and bookkeeper and then spend the money on lavish purchases and real estate, CNN said.

He also will admit to lying to banks about his assets to gain new loans as a way to supplement his income, according to the filing.

According to the charging document, Manafort will forfeit his home in the Hamptons section of New York's Long Island, properties in New York City and property on Edgewood Street in Alexandria, Virginia, In addition, Manafort will forfeit all of the money contained in four bank accounts and a life insurance policy.
New Delhi, Sep 14 : India's merchandise exports rose by 19.21 per cent in August to $27.84 billion from $23.36 billion during the corresponding month of last year, official data showed on Friday.

According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, engineering goods, petroleum products, gems and jewellery, organic and inorganic chemicals and drugs and pharmaceuticals segments witnessed a high export growth rate during the month under review.

"Cumulative value of exports for the period April-August 2018-19 was $136.09 billion as against $117.19 billion during the period April-August 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 16.13 per cent in dollar terms," the ministry said in its review statement.

"Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in August 2018 were $20.70 billion, as compared to $17.78 billion in August 2017, exhibiting a positive growth of 16.45 per cent."

As per the data, the country's imports during the month under review rose by 25.41 per cent to $45.24 billion in August 2018 from $36.07 billion in the like period of 2017.

"Cumulative value of imports for the period April-August 2018-19 was $216.43 billion , as against US $184.45 Billion during the period April-August 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 17.34 per cent in Dollar terms," the statement said.

Segment-wise, oil imports during August 2018 jumped by 51.62 per cent to $11.83 billion from $7.80 billion imported during August 2017.

The ministry pointed out that global Brent prices ($/bbl) have increased by 42.36 per cent in August 2018 vis-A -vis August 2017.

"The non-oil imports in August 2018 were estimated at $33.41 billion which was 18.17 per cent higher in dollar terms, compared to $28.27 billion in August 2017," the statement said.

"Non-oil and non-gold imports were $29.77 billion in August 2018, recording a positive growth of 12.84 per cent, as compared to non-oil and non-gold imports in August 2017."

Additionally, gold imports in July edged-higher by 92.62 per cent to $3.63 billion.

Consequently, India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $17.39 billion during last month as against $12.72 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.

"With elevated crude oil prices and an uptick in the tonnage of gold imports, the August 2018 trade balance rose sharply on a yoy (year-on-year) basis," said Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist, ICRA.

"While the merchandise trade deficit eased somewhat in sequential months, it stood at an uncomfortably high $35 billion in July-August 2018, which suggests that the current account deficit is likely to cross 3 per cent of GDP in Q2 FY2019."
Bengaluru, Sep 14 : Global software major Infosys on Friday said its consulting arm acquired Fluido Oy, a leading Salesforce advisor and consulting firm in Finland, for $76 million to help its clients in digital transformation.

"The acquisition of Fluido by our subsidiary (Infosys Consulting Pte Ltd) will help our clients navigate into digital transformation and strengthen our position as a leading Salesforce enterprise cloud service provider," said the city-based IT major in a statement here.

Though the company did not disclose the acquisition cost in its release, it mentioned in a regulatory filing on the BSE that "100 per cent of Fluido's shares have been acquired in cash for Euro 65 million", which translates to $75.8 million (Rs 546 crore).

"Fluido is majority-owned by the management team and CapMan private equity, with Salesforce Ventures having a minority stake," added the filing.

The US-based American cloud computing firm Salesforce offers customer relationship management and sells applications of social networking.

As Salesforce consulting and training delivery partner in Europe and in the Nordics region, Fluido will give Infosys expertise and an agile delivery process to simplify and scale digital efforts across channels of its clients.

"The acquisition demonstrates our commitment to the Salesforce ecosystem to address our client's digital priorities. Fluido brings market presence, salesforce expertise, agile delivery and training to our capabilities, which will help our clients reimagine and transform their businesses," said Infosys President Ravi Kumar in the statement.

The buyout also aligns Infosys' efforts to invest in local capabilities in the regions it operates in, in Europe.

With offices in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden, the Espoo-based Fluido elevates Infosys' presence across the Nordics region with assets and client relationships, a team and local culture.

Fluido customers are represented across verticals, including manufacturing, energy, retail and telecom and to whom it delivers services spanning strategy, consulting, implementation and training.

"With Infosys, we will be able to provide global scalable services to our customers. With digital experience playing a key role in customer success, we will have an opportunity to help our clients change the way they connect with their customers," said Fluido founder and Chief Executive Kai Makela.

The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of fiscal 2019.
San Francisco, Sep 14 : Mayors from the world's greatest cities on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to delivering on the highest ambitions of the Paris Agreement.

Through a series of bold pledges ranging from transport to buildings to waste and to climate action plans, unveiled at the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, cities are committing to keep global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Twelve cities -- Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Honolulu, Medellin, Oslo, Oxford, Rotterdam, Santa Monica, Seoul, Tokyo, Warsaw and West Hollywood -- representing more than 140 million urban citizens have committed to deliver a zero emission mobility future.

By signing the C40 Green and Healthy Streets Declaration, the pioneering city leaders pledged to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 and ensure that a major area of their city is zero emission by 2030.

The policies are designed to fight air pollution, improve the quality of life for all citizens, and help tackle the global threat of climate change.

These cities join 14 others already committed to Green and Healthy Streets: Paris, London, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Quito, Vancouver, Cape Town, Seattle, Mexico City, Auckland, Milan, Rome and Heidelberg.

More than 80,000 buses run on the streets of these 26 cities, representing a major shift towards zero emission vehicles in the world's great cities.

Analysis of the air quality in these cities reveals that the policies announced could prevent 11,000 premature deaths per year.

The 'One Planet Charter' is a joint initiative driven by C40, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and ICLEI, highlighting more than 1,700 commitments made by cities around the world to build sustainable and resilient infrastructure, products and services, while also recognizing the importance of working closely with national governments and business sectors to mobilise global climate action.

Twenty-five cities and regions committed to significantly cut the amount of waste they generate, accelerating them on the path towards zero waste.

By signing C40's Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration, these cities and regions have pledged to cut the amount of waste generated by each citizen 15 per cent by 2030, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration by 50 per cent and increase the diversion rate to 70 per cent by 2030.

Together, these 25 cities and regions, representing 150 million citizens, will reduce the amount of waste disposed by at least 132 million tonnes by 2030.

Thirty-eight cities, regions and businesses have committed to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions in new and existing buildings as part of the World Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment.

Cities signing the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration have pledged to ensure all buildings in the cities, old or new, will meet net-zero carbon standards by 2050.

Reducing annual buildings emissions to zero in just the 19 C40 signatory cities is equivalent to removing 190 megatonnes of CO2e, or the emissions of 47 coal-fired power stations.

Recognising that climate change and issues of poverty and social inequality are inextricably linked mayors of 30 cities, representing close to 100 million citizens, have pledged to deliver inclusive climate action that benefits all citizens equitably.

(Vishal Gulati is in San Francisco at the invitation of the Climate Trends to cover the Global Climate Action Summit. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
New Delhi, Sep 14 : Government tenders worth Rs 15,000 crore had to be cancelled as they were highly discriminatory against Indian companies, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said on Friday.

Far from preferential market access, local companies do not even have a level playing field in the country and the government is busy addressing it, Abhishek said.

Speaking at the 5th National Forum on "Public Affairs: The New Paradigm", hosted by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), an association of public affairs professionals, Abhishek said the tenders were re-issued after making changes to ensure fair play.

"There are a whole lot of government departments and PSUs that were discriminating against Indian companies by having highly discriminatory tender conditions," he said.

Apart from the "Make in India" initiative, the government brought in public procurement order last year to promote manufacturing of goods and services locally. Till then, the country had no policy on this except those by Electronics and Telecom departments.

"We have now more and more industries complaining to us, to point out to us, how the tender conditions are completely crazy. Nobody can justify it," he said and added that the government is addressing these before moving on to the next stage of preferential market access.

"We have got tenders of more than Rs 15,000 crore by various government departments cancelled and they are to be re-tendered because the conditions were completely unacceptable. Indian industry at least needs level playing field," he said.

The official said that the Indian industry needs to integrate with global and regional value chains. "For this, we have to be competitive and improve our export competitiveness," he said.
New Delhi, Sep 14 : Dozens of Kashmiri Pandits on Friday paid homage to civilians, Army men and their community members killed since 1989 and said the plight of Pandits still continues.

For 28 years, the Kashmiri Pandit community has been observing September 14 as 'Martyrs' Day-Balidan Diwas' at B.K. Ganjoo memorial park in Central Delhi.

United Kingdom-based activist Shafalica Bhan Kotwal who has been fighting for the rights of the Kashmiri Pandits, said: "There is no major change in the lives of Kashmir Pandits, their plight still continues despite Bharatiya Janata Party being in power.

"Most of them were thrown out of their homes. They are living in pathetic conditions in shelter homes with no basic facilities."

She said the community was once accustomed to living in minus 17 degrees Celsius. "Their families are now living in the hostile Jammu weather," she added.

The son of Kasmiri Pandits' leader Tika Lal Taploo, Ashutosh Taploo, was at the meeting. He said: "My father was killed not just because he was a Pandit..because he was looked as the Hindu community leader."

Taploo said his father was the first Pandit to have fallen to terrorist bullets in the Valley.

"Till today no government has brought any major change in Pandits' lives, the atrocities we experienced and psychological trauma we suffered is fresh" he said.

In a statement calling for justice to "victims of terrorism," the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora said a memorandum signed by thousands of Kashmiri Pandits has been addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted to Union Minister Hansraj Ahir.
A Melbourne-based developer has outbid four rivals to pay $1.71 million for a Camberwell retail property.

The property at 267 Camberwell Road had been in the same family for more than 45 years and was owned by a local private investor.

The sale price reflects a $6900 a square metre land rate, According to selling agents, Teska Carsons George Takis and Barry Novy.

The property comprises a 190 square metre, single level brick retail building on a 250 square metre site with seven metres frontage to Camberwell Road.

The property is close to Camberwell Junction, the Burke Road shopping strip, the Rivoli Cinema and Camberwell Market.

Takis said the sale reflected a healthy market for development sites in key retail precincts.

The property is perfectly positioned within the heart of Camberwell Junction and on the doorstep of the Burke Road retail/commercial strip  one of Melbournes best known and most highly regarded strip precincts, he said.

Add to that prime location, the street frontages on three sides and the flexible zoning, along with vacant possession, and you have a very attractive development proposition.
A new land release was launched at the Ashbury Estate development last weekend.

The Stage 13B was released Saturday, 9 September with a variety of land sizes available.

The 1,400-lot residential project is in the new Geelong suburb of Armstrong Creek.

The project is a 10-minute drive from both the Geelong CBD and beaches at Torquay and Barwon Heads.

Currently, in the area there is 4,000 homes with an expected 13,000 to be built in the next 20 years.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the median age of buyers in Armstrong Creek is 28 years old.

Justin Bridges bought land in Stage 7 and is about to commence building his new home.

A great location at a great price, I love the strong sense of community at Ashbury, Bridges said.

I know that it is going to be the perfect place for my young son to grow up, thanks to all the planned future playgrounds, parks and sporting facilities.

Plus, I am especially excited by the new State Primary School proposed within the estate which means that he is going to be able to walk to school down the track.
A North Adelaide home that was once the private residence of Rupert Murdoch's family has been listed for sale.

Offered for the first time in 35 years, the Tynte Street property dates back to 1850 when printer David Gall bought the land, soon after his arrival in South Australia.

A year later he erected a simple two-roomed stone cottage.

In 1866 he had masons Newman and Whitford and Chapman, a carpenter, turn the home into a two storey residence. It was built of Adelaide limestone with brick dressings.

Gall was a founding member of the Chamber of Manufacturers. He was a protectionist, and opposed to free-trade between the colonies. He printed a monthly journal The Comet advocating his beliefs.

The state heritage listed homes form and detailing are evocative of the symmetry of the late Georgian period.

It has five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sitting room overlooking the swimming pool and terrace.

Bernard Booth at Bernard H Booth Real Estate is marketing the property in conjunction with Fox Real Estate Adelaide agent Candy Bennett.

Their marketing makes a point of highlighting its property pedigree.
Glori Blends will be at the CBD Expo West 2018 in Anaheim, California scheduled for September 21 st - 22 nd . The team will be available to educate attendees on their award winning products and assist customers with the best selection for their individual needs.

A Company on a Mission

The hemp oil industry has exploded in recent years and it seems like more brands pop up every day. It can be challenging to sift through all of the search results to find the best products. Glori Blends was not created with the sole purpose of creating revenue, but with a mission to help others live the best version of their lives. Hemp holds the power to help heal people mentally, emotionally and physically. The creators of Glori Blends saw what the products were capable of and wanted to share the healing with others. Lori sustained a serious neck injury that prevented her from getting a restful nights sleep for almost 8 years. After trying tons of treatments, Lori started her research on whole plant hemp oil and Glori Blends was born. Not only was she able to sleep, she got quality sleep and found the pain in her neck subsided. Lori got her life back and she wants to share the miracle with others.

Award Winning Products

Glori blends is not the average CBD oil but are whole plant hemp products. The company works with local certified organic Colorado farmers who are capable of large harvest to keep up with product demands. Using C02 extraction methods, they are able to extract multiple cannabinoids and terpenes to create a whole plant oil. There is no use of solvents, pesticides, metal or unnatural substances when creating the products. Glori Blends invests in 3 d party testing to ensure that their products are of the highest quality and standards.

The tinctures contain a blend 1500mg of cannabinoids per bottle. Each cannabinoid holds its own set of concentrated healing properties and include CBD, CBG, CBN. THCa and CBDa. Using C02 extraction allows for the terpenes, or aromatic compounds, to remain in the oil. These two compounds work together to boost and enhance the other within the endocannabinoid system. The synergistic relationship is known as the entourage effect, and ensures the user receives all of the available benefits within the tincture. There are two versions of tincture available per blend. There is the coconut oil blend, which adds the natural benefits of coconut oil to the mix. The agave blend offers a sweeter taste that many people enjoy.

The creators thought ahead and created a capsule version of each product. Some people dont enjoy the taste of the tincture or need a quicker way of utilizing the blend. The capsule holds the same therapeutic benefits as the tinctures with a slightly higher milligram of cannabinoids per dose. For localized pain, there is a rub and salves to provide concentrated relief with easy topical applications. A cold pressed unrefined hemp protein powder is another way to enhance the users approach to holistic health. A pet line was released to provide our furry friends with the same benefits that we experience. Anxiety reducing Calming Drops, soothing and replenishing coat spray and a daily supplement are available. Glori Blends will be at the CBD Expo West 2018 in Anaheim, California scheduled for September 21 st - 22 nd . The team will be available to educate attendees on their award winning products and assist customers with the best selection for their individual needs. The address of the expo is 700 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802 and the phone number is 805-530-2424.
Your Angel: a spiritual childrens story about every persons guardian angel that guides and shields from danger. Your Angel is the creation of published author, Christa Ludovici Warnock, a founder of The Humbled Mom Blog, a licensed Pilates instructor, and a realtor.

Warnock shares,

To help you through lifethe good and the bad, they share in lifes momentsthe happy and sad.

They hear your sweet prayers and whispers for peace and want you to know that their love will not cease.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Christa Ludovici Warnocks new book assures the reader that God always sends his guardian angels to aid in their day-to-day activities.

This book reinforces the belief that this God-given life is much more beautiful than anyone can ever grasp.

View a synopsis of Your Angel on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Your Angel at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Your Angel, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. President Washington is bringing a new energy to Kalamazoo Valley Community College. His compelling vision, open and transparent leadership style and strong commitment to student success is already creating expanded opportunities for students and their families.

For More Information

Linda Depta, Director of Marketing

269.488.4821 or ldepta(at)kvcc(dot)edu

Community-wide Celebration Set to Inaugurate Dr. Washington as Kalamazoo Valley Community College President

The formal installation of L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., as the third president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College will take place during a community-wide celebration scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19.

Celebrating the Past and Creating the Future is the theme of the inaugural activities, which will include a 4 p.m. investiture ceremony in the Dale B. Lake Auditorium of the colleges Texas Township Campus. The ceremony will mark the beginning of both the Washington presidency and the next chapter in the colleges partnerships with key collaborators and the broader community. Academic delegates and guests from around the country are expected to join Washingtons extended family, community, civic and business leaders as well as Kalamazoo Valley students, faculty, administrators and staff to officially mark the transition of leadership to the new president.

The ceremony will include an inaugural address by Washington, brief speeches and a video presentation. Jeffrey W. Patton, chair of the Kalamazoo Valley Board of Trustees will formally install the new president.

Following the ceremony, the celebration will move to the Texas Township Campus Student Commons area for refreshments. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

The celebration continues Saturday, Oct. 20 when the public is invited to meet President Washington and his family during a free event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, part of the colleges Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. The Saturday activity scheduled from 8:30  11 a.m., will include refreshments and free planetarium shows.

President Washington is bringing a new energy to Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Patton said. His compelling vision, open and transparent leadership style and strong commitment to student success is already creating expanded opportunities for students and their families.

Together with his wife, Tonja, President Washington has created the Washington Make a Difference Fund through the KVCC Foundation. Community members and others can help support students with financial needs by making a gift online at http://www.kvcc.edu/inauguration or by contacting the KVCC Foundation at 269.488.4442.

Washington, a distinguished educator and administrator, was selected as Kalamazoo Valleys president in April by the Board of Trustees and began his tenure on July 1. He replaced Marilyn Schlack, Ph.D., who announced her retirement in the fall of 2017.

Most recently, Washington spent five years as president of New River Community and Technical College in West Virginia. He also served as vice president and CEO of Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania and was formerly the vice president of Student Services at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek.

Collegiate presidential inaugurations in the United States originated with the nations nine colonial colleges in the 17th century and established the custom of formally acknowledging a change in leadership at a schools highest level. Today, inaugural activities are regarded as a public opportunity to celebrate the colleges history as it transitions into the future.

Inauguration activities are being funded by donations from generous community sponsors. For more information visit, http://www.kvcc.edu/inauguration.
The Crawford-Tracey curtain wall system was one of the first photovoltaic, impact-resistant, glass facades with a water rating of 100 psf.

Crawford-Tracey Corporation, the largest glazing contractor based in Florida, specializing in unitized and pre-glazed curtain wall and window wall products, is pleased to announce their latest award; Glass Magazines 2018 Award for the Most Innovative Curtain Wall Project (buildings 5 floors or fewer) for the Balenciaga Flagship Store in Miami.

The Crawford-Tracey curtain wall system was one of the first photovoltaic, impact-resistant, glass facades with a water rating of 100 psf. This unique facade design was spearheaded by Balenciagas artistic director Demna Gvasalia, who worked with New York-based architectural firm Atmosphere Design Group (AGD). AGD specified Onyx, a Spanish PV glass manufacturer and brought in Crawford-Tracey to incorporate the PV glass into their Pro-Tech 7SG, a 7 structurally glazed curtain wall system, designed to meet Floridas tough hurricane code requirements.

This prestigious glass and metal industry awards program recognizes the best products and glass applications the commercial, retail and fabrication markets have to offer. To determine the winners in the product and project categories, Glass Magazine submitted nominations to a panel of judges representing all segments of the glass and glazing industry. The judges then selected a winner in each category. The winners are featured in the September 2018 issue of Glass Magazine and on GlassMagazine.com.

To view all the award winners click here: http://bit.ly/2018_award. For more information on Crawford-Tracey visit http://www.crawfordtracey.com or call 954.698.6888.
Dale Taylor, a native of Michigan born during WWII who has worked several jobs in a much harder time, has completed his new book August Moon: The Harvest of Life is in your Memories: an in-depth portrait of a mans journey of a lifetime.

Author Taylor writes about his childhood: It was the best of the worst times that I can remember. My appendix ruptured when I was seven years old, and I almost died. My dad had come home from work to rush me to the hospital. Our family doctor was a surgeon. Only the Lord knows what would have happened if Dr. Ackerman wasnt on duty that day. He took me right into the surgical room and opened me up with an incision next to my belly button. He didnt know what was wrong with me, but he knew he had to operate soon, or I would die. My pain was in my stomach area, not radiating from my right side as is common with appendicitis.

After I was opened up, he could see that my appendix was in the wrong place. It was upside down on top of my liver in the center of my body. Hence, the pain was in the center of my body. Dr. Ackerman removed the appendix and said, If youd have waited any longer, you would have died.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Dale Taylors new book is a moving autobiography that demonstrates a timelessness from a different generation. As he learns, grows, and adapts to his environment, a portrait of a man of virtue shines through.

Readers who wish to experience this enlightening work can purchase August Moon: The Harvest of Life is in your Memories at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
13th Annual FDA Inspections Summit

13th Annual FDA Inspections Summit:

**Presented by FDAnews**

Oct. 23-25, 2018  Bethesda, MD

http://www.fdanews.com/fdainspectionssummit

Early bird pricing for the 13th Annual FDA Inspections Summit ends on Friday, Sept. 21.

So much has changed since last years Inspections Summit that it sometimes feels difficult to keep up. The FDA is focused on any number of new topics: more generics, lower prices, opioids, internal restructuring, and much more. But one thing that hasnt changed is that they are still doing inspections and the regulated community is still making mistakes.

The FDA will always do inspections, and Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and the FDA have certainly not provided any hint that they are going to stop doing them any time soon.

Manufacturers cant afford to be caught off guard. Warning letters and 483 citations can cost manufacturers time, energy and money.

Come to Washington, DC, Oct. 23-25, for the 13th Annual FDA Inspections Summit, the must-attend conference of the regulatory year from FDAnews.



Meet the FDAers whose actions spell fortune or failure; lawyers and consultants; industry hot-shots whove sussed out how to navigate a hyper-regulated milieu and still prosper

Drug, device and clinical separate tracks. Therell be panels galore aimed specifically at the particular issues that affect drug and device makers and clinical trials professionals

Pre-Conference Drug, Device and Clinical Workshops filled with tips and tricks to help manufacturers sail through their next inspection.

Early bird pricing ends on Friday, Sept. 21.

Who Will Benefit:

Drugmakers

Devicemakers

Biologics firms

Clinical trials

Clinical research organizations

Diagnostics firms

Executive suite

Manufacturing/GMP

QA/QC

Regulatory affairs

Strategic planners

Legal counsel

Consultants

Conference Details

13th Annual FDA Inspections Summit:

**Presented by FDAnews**

Oct. 23-25, 2018  Bethesda, MD

http://www.fdanews.com/fdainspectionssummit

Tuition:

Early Bird Registration (until Sept. 21, 2018): Complete Summit $1,797

Regular Registration (Sept. 22, 2018 on): Complete Summit $1,997

Additional pricing options are available online.

Easy Ways to Register:

Online: http://www.fdanews.com/fdainspectionssummit

By phone: 888-838-5578 or 703-538-7600

About FDAnews:

FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews' print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA's complex and ever-changing regulations.
"Weve seen no greater blessing than to be able to join up with the Walter Homing House to be able to help women that have had their lives turned upside down, -Glen Lerner

Glen Lerner, founder of Glen Lerner Injury Attorneys, will be the keynote speaker at Walter Hoving Home in Las Vegas fundraising Gala on October 11th at the JW Marriott from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This annual event is not only a means to help raise funds and awareness for the many supportive programs Hoving Home offers, but also serves as a venue to foster fellowship between the women at the Home and key members of the community.

After touring the grounds of the Hoving Home, Glen Lerner and his outreach team discovered first-hand the many positives of the organization. For instance, the Hoving Home is a residential spiritually-based home, non-profit organization that serves women ages 18 and over who have been involved in drug addiction, alcoholism, prostitution and other life-controlling problems.

Additionally, women that enter the Home find a safe place to live as well as the opportunity to take part in 6- or 12-month programs geared at helping them rebuild their lives in an atmosphere of warmth, trust, support and love.

By teaming up with the Hoving Home, the Las Vegas based law firm hopes to spread the word about the Gala. As a major fundraising event, money gained from the annual Gala will help offset costs associated with maintaining the many life-altering programs and supportive services offered.

As a Christ-Based organization, Glen Lerner Gives Back reaches out to the alienated, orphaned, widowed and oppressed. Weve seen no greater blessing than to be able to join up with the Walter Homing House to be able to help women that have had their lives turned upside down, said Glen Lerner. I am honored to be chosen as the keynote speaker for this annual Gala that directly contributes to the betterment of the Las Vegas community. Glen Lerners personal invite to the Gala may be viewed online at https://youtu.be/LA3puxSBGFQ.

Tickets for the gala start at $95 (early bird pricing ends 9/30) and may be purchased at https://hovinghome.org/events/las-vegas-annual-gala/. Please email whhlv@hovinghome.org or call 702-386-1965 for more details regarding the Walter Hoving Home annual Gala.

More about Walter Hoving Home

Walter Hoving Home has four homes for women located in CA, NY, NJ and Las Vegas, Nevada. Since opening in 1967 the Hoving Home has impacted the lives of 23,216 women. Interested in learning more about the different programs offered and volunteer opportunities at the Walter Hoving Home in Las Vegas? Please call 702-386-1965, or visit the non-profits website at hovinghome.org.

More about Glen Lerner Gives Back

The law firms efforts through Glen Lerner Gives Back assist at-risk children, families and four-legged critters who face daily struggles during these hard times. Glen Lerner understands what it means to have humble surroundings and he founded Glen Lerner Gives Back as a way to ensure that those struggling have a helping hand.

For more information about how Glen Lerner Gives Back helps the Las Vegas community, visit https://glenlerner.com/community/. You can also follow the law firm on Twitter and like their page on Facebook.
Ilchi Lee meets with Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren I had witnessed my sister die from the hands of gang members, and a few days later, her daughter was decapitated. Needless to say, I was under immense stress and trauma, and Brain Education gave me the tools to overcome this horrible situation.

An educator and bestselling author from South Korea, Ilchi Lee, was given the national award, Jose Simeon Canas Slave Liberator Order, at the El Salvador Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 12 at 10:30 AM local time. The award recognized the emotional resilience and culture of peace his Brain Education method brought to gang-violent schools throughout the country.

In a speech before the main award ceremony, Ilchi Lee thanked the 250 public school principals in attendance for their tremendous support for Brain Education. He credits the event to their determined and unwavering efforts to bring peace and wellness to their students.

Brain Education is a five-step mind-body method that includes brain exercises, meditation, and mindfulness that enable people to use the latent power of their brains to create internal health, happiness and peace regardless of outer circumstances. By helping individuals manage their emotions and feel greater empathy and mental clarity, Brain Education improves interpersonal relationships and fosters positive, peaceful communities.

Brain Education was brought to El Salvador by the IBREA Foundation, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC that was founded by Ilchi Lee. After attending an IBREA-led conference on Brain Education at the UN headquarters in New York City in 2011, the Ambassador of El Salvador asked IBREA to start a pilot project at a school in Distrito Italia, one of the most socio-politically violent neighborhoods situated just outside of the capital of San Salvador. The school was facing a rampant gang problem that was terrorizing the students and teachers.

The four-month project, which included a group of 39 students aged 14 to 16 and 20 teachers, initially met with much resistance from the students and staff. However, as the students and teachers gained a connection to their bodies and minds with the meditation techniques taught in Brain Education, their attitudes started to change positively. Absenteeism was cut in half, peer relationships improved, and peaceful dialogue increased over fighting. Improvements were also seen in health condition, energy level, stress management, motivation and focus.

Soon, teachers, students, community members, and the government learned of the success of Brain Education in transforming what was deemed an impossible and hopeless school. In 2012, the Ministry of Education asked IBREA to expand the program to four more schools. With the help of the Ministry of Education of South Korea and the Global Cyber University in South Korea, the IBREA Foundation brought the program to 12 groups of teachers and students in four schools.

One of these schools was a notoriously violent one: Joaquin Redezno. Gloria Muller, the schools principal, said that after taking on the role of principal, I was able to secure the safety of the students. But after that I did not know how to tell these kids how to live. At that time, Brain Education came to our school and taught the students how to live by utilizing their brain.

After seeing similarly positive results in these schools as Distrito Italia, more school administrators and community members worked to spread Brain Education to other schools in El Salvador. By the next year, through a partnership with the Salvadorian Institute of Educators Wellbeing (ISBM), IBREA Foundation was providing the Brain Education program to 230 principals and teachers annually, as well as to medical doctors, psychologists and other staff who serve educators. It also certified educators as Brain Education trainers who helped to bring the program to other schools. Now, seven years after it was first brought to El Salvador, Brain Education has been implemented in 1,340, or approximately 25%, of all public schools in the country.

The Principal of Francisco Morazan School, Edis Margoth Canas de Amaya, herself found relief through Brain Education. I had witnessed my sister die from the hands of gang members, and a few days later, her daughter was decapitated. Needless to say, I was under immense stress and trauma, and Brain Education gave me the tools to overcome this horrible situation.

Soon after the main award ceremony, Ilchi Lee met with Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren and discussed Brain Education with him and also with ambassadors to El Salvador from Honduras, Panama and Argentina.

Lee hopes that more schools in El Salvador can experience a peaceful change in their school environments through Brain Education and believes that El Salvador can become the symbol of peace in Central America.

About Ilchi Lee

Ilchi Lee is an impassioned visionary, educator, mentor, and innovator. He has dedicated his life to helping people harness their creative power and potential. He has developed many successful mind-body training methods, including Body & Brain Yoga and Brain Education. Lee is a New York Times bestselling author of over 40 books and a well-respected humanitarian who founded the Earth Citizen Movement and works with the United Nations and other organizations for global peace. Lee serves as the president of the University of Brain Education and the IBREA Foundation.

About IBREA Foundation

IBREA Foundation was established as a non-profit organization in the United States in 2008, with the vision of raising awareness of the great value of the human brain and unleashing its capacity to create the world we all wish to see. It does this through educational programs and seminars on brain-based holistic education methods that include body movement, stretching, meditation, breathing, artistic expression, group work, and community action, among others. These methods are applied through projects in different countries, such as El Salvador, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Philippines, and Costa Rica. As an NGO with Special Consultative Status in the UN ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), IBREA strives to offer its program as a tool to advance the United Nation goals of development and peace.
Members of the InRhythm team outside company headquarters in Manhattan Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a fraction have made the list more than once. A mere six percent have made the list six times.

For the sixth consecutive year, InRhythma premier technology consulting firmhas made the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America, ranking #2689 for 2018.

"Every year Inc. recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America, says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a fraction have made the list more than once. A mere six percent have made the list six times.

Were all about rapid growth and learning, both internally and in our engineering work with clients, says InRhythm CEO Gunjan Doshi. Our teams work hard, and that shows in our client relationships. Weve been fortunate to enjoy steady and significant growth as a company. This recognitionthe sixth in a rowis a reflection of that ethos and success.

Following wins from 2013 through 2017, the firm has continued a trend of year-over-year growth. InRhythms consulting practices, which span Web Engineering, Cloud Engineering, DevOps, and UX Design, are comprised of more than 100 passionate and dedicated technologists and practitioners who leave a lasting positive impact on our clients.

Founded in 2002, InRhythm has built a reputation for excellence and 10x growth, partnering world-class engineers with clients to empower Agile processes and excellence in software development. Clients trust InRhythm to deliver rapid results for their priority projects, empowering teams to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

Staying at the forefront of the industry requires a commitment to growth and thought leadership. InRhythms practice leads head groups of subject matter experts, growing key lines of business through constant improvement and knowledge sharing. InRhythmU, the companys thought leadership program, provides workshops and talks that are low-cost or free to the community.

This is an exciting time to be a part of InRhythm, said Doshi. Much of our new business is focused on major players in the fintech space. As they chart a new course for the financial industry, InRhythm is at the heart of that change.

Were committed to continued success as we preserve the culture of learning and growth that brought us to where we are today. Our amazing engineers and operations team are responsible for our achievements, and I cant wait to see what well do next.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

For more information on InRhythm, go to http://www.inrhythm.com.
To continue to grow our business and profitability, we are embarking on a strategic initiative that includes five key pillars: a FOCUS ON OUR COMPANY, FOCUS ON OUR PRODUCT, FOCUS ON OUR FLEET, FOCUS ON OUR BRAND and FOCUS ON OUR CUSTOMER.

Interjet Airlines, one of the fastest growing airlines on the continent, has announced a new, accelerated three-year plan providing for significant investment in several areas of their business to ensure future growth and profitability both domestically and internationally. The plan is called INTERJET 2021, FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.

Through August 2018, Interjet has experienced positive results fueled by a 38.7 percent growth in our international business, a robust 12.6 percent increase in passenger count while our domestic business increased 5.6 percent for the same period, said Jose Luis Garza, Interjets Chief Executive Officer. But to continue to grow our business and profitability, we need to always be looking at new and better ways to do business. To that end, we are embarking on a strategic initiative that includes five key pillars: FOCUS ON THE COMPANY, an internal review of what we do, how we do it, how were doing and what we can do better. A FOCUS ON THE PRODUCT, a review of our product offering with significant upgrades, and a FOCUS ON THE FLEET, a re-equipment of the fleet and reconditioning of existing aircraft to ensure future market needs are met. We will also make investments in several strategic areas of the business as we FOCUS ON THE BRAND and FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER, he added.

According to Garza, the last few months have been spent focusing on the company  meeting with employees and the airlines travel partners in Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Central, and South America. The airline also commissioned marketing research to better understand customers and prospects.

Two things have stood out from these conversations, said Garza. The airline industry has never been as competitive as it is today, while at the same time, there has never been a better opportunity for Interjet to succeed and prosper. We can achieve this because Interjet understands what travelers are looking for in an airline partner - not just lower fares but added features and benefits that Interjet provides, he added. This includes business class legroom with every seat, bags fly free, a guaranteed seat on the flight booked, free drinks, snacks and beverages, senior discounts on every flight and even female only lavatories, all delivered with an exceptional flying experience, Garza said.

These are true differentiators between Interjet and any other airline and are the nucleus for what Interjet calls its Value Proposition, said Julio Gamero, Interjets Chief Commercial Officer. This has resulted in Interjet becoming one of the fastest growing airlines on the continent with more than 87 million passengers having experienced our unique brand of unmatched service everywhere we fly. However, many opportunities still exist in the market, and we are excited about how our business is shaping up for the rest of 2018 and moving forward, we are forecasting significant growth in our international business and good growth domestically. Lately, the airline industry seems to be going in a different direction than in the past, by unbundling services that traditionally came with the price of a ticket such as checking bags, seat selection, free drinks, and snacks onboard, even the ability to pay by credit card," Gamero added. "At the same time, more rows of seats are being added to planes reducing seat width and legroom between seats. Airlines are saying these new basic fares give travelers the ability to pay for what they use, but the reality is passengers more and more are resenting these charges still preferring simple, all-inclusive pricing. Thats why Interjet continues to offer the business and leisure traveler the all-inclusive pricing they are demanding and deserve, taking Interjet in a different direction than most of the airline industry, commented Gamero. As such, he said Interjet would be providing enhanced levels of service that 



Truly differentiate Interjet from the competition

Simplify Interjets fare structure making it easier for people to understand what they get for what they pay

Change the narrative for how people should consider choosing an airline when flying from Mexico to the U.S., Canada, Central or South America.

According to Garza, focusing on Interjets aircraft fleet was also a critical element to successfully executing the plan. Today Interjet operates a fleet of 85 aircraft including, 47 Airbus A320s, three Airbus A320neos, six Airbus A321s, seven A321neos, and 22 Superjet 100s. While this fleet has served us well, as our international business continues to grow, we need to be sure we have enough of the right type of aircraft to sustain this growth and meet the increasing demands of international airports such as Mexico City with reduced operating windows and available slot times, he said. To fuel this growth, on top of an existing order of 35 new A320neos, Interjet will be adding 20 more A320neos to be delivered over the next five years. These new aircraft will increase overall available seat capacity by more than 3.6 million.

Garza also added Interjet will be phasing out some of its Sukhoi Superjet 100 fleet with an opportunity for delivery of next-generation Superjet 100 aircraft for future use in markets where these aircraft make operational and economic sense. The airline is also installing a Superjet 100 flight simulator in their Toluca Training Center and will have quick access to an enhanced spare parts inventory in Mexico City.

"This fleet restructuring plan will bring great opportunities that will allow Interjet to be more competitive, optimizing its operational costs and enabling highly profitable growth," said Raul Lopez, Interjet's Chief Financial Officer.

Focusing on the brand, is another major pillar in Interjets new strategic plan for future growth and profitability, said Gamero. "Interjet does not have negative perceptions to overcome. As such, the opportunity exists for Interjet to continue to create positive attitudes with the market which requires building our brand identity through raising overall awareness. To start building this awareness in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, we will be undertaking a major marketing communications program that will include advertising, public relations, social media, and travel partner programs, he added.

According to Garza, "by committing ourselves to focus on what our customers and prospects need and want, Interjet will be in a better position to develop the products and services to fulfill these needs ensuring the airlines short and long-term success. To that end, Interjet will continue to source and implement new initiatives that are customer-centric and designed to ensure the airline stay ahead of the competition."

Just this past month, Interjet announced four interline agreements with Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, EVA Air and Emirates in addition to existing agreements with Iberia, British Airways, American Airlines, LATAM, Alitalia, ANA, and Hainan Airlines. Through these agreements, Interjet can offer customers the convenience of purchasing a single ticket for flights on either airline, checking bags at origin to their final destination, and easy connections at the airports served by all of these carriers with greater connectivity to more of the world.

As a result, Interjet has also been winning its share of industry awards. Last year, Interjet was named by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, as its 2017 Travelers' Choice winner for best airline in Mexico. The travel leader's highest honor focuses on the number of quality reviews and ratings submitted by the website's 390 million unique monthly visitors. Just recently, Interjet was honored with Skytraxs World Airline Award as the Best Airline in its Segment in Mexico and Best Cabin Crew in Mexico.

About Interjet Airlines

Interjet is an international airline based in Mexico City and carries more than 12 million passengers annually within Mexico and between Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central, and South America. In all, it provides air service to 55 destinations in eight countries offering its passengers greater connections and travel options through agreements with major airlines such as Alitalia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, British Airways, EVA Air, LATAM Group, Hainan Airlines, Iberia, Lufthansa, and Japan Airlines.

Media Contact

Julieta Pena Flores

Tel. +52 (55) 9178 5500 x5833

Email: Julieta.pena(at)interjet.com.mx
Agency Growth Secrets The discipline and drive veterans gain through their service make them perfectly suited for entrepreneurship. Ive seen countless veterans take the skills theyve learned in the military, develop them into successful careers, and go on to positively impact their community.

Joshua Harris recently announced the launch of a U.S. Military Veteran Entrepreneur feature on his website, joshuaharris.co. The featured highlights a series of veterans who have become successful entrepreneurs. Harris is on a mission to expand support for veteran entrepreneurs and encourage other military veterans to establish their own businesses. In addition, Josh Harris website features a page where veterans can find organizations that will support them as they venture into the business world.

Josh Harris said, Im extremely passionate about helping entrepreneurs launch their own businesses. Im also passionate about supporting the heroes of our nation. Establishing a site where I can highlight veteran entrepreneurs success stories and inspire others, veterans and civilians alike, was the perfect converging of these passions. Being an entrepreneur is no easy feat, but its important to show veterans and others that this kind of success is possible for them.

The website features numerous veterans who have created their own paths to success. Some own small businesses while others own large Fortune 500 companies. The veteran entrepreneur feature includes quotes from each of the veteran businessmen and women, with many of them noting that the skills they learned in the military helped them to be more resilient and come out on top in the business world. Continuing, the founder of Agency Growth Secrets reviews why veterans make great entrepreneurs, The discipline and drive veterans gain through their service make them perfectly suited for entrepreneurship. Ive seen countless veterans take the skills theyve learned in the military, develop them into successful careers, and go on to positively impact their community.

The U.S. Military Veteran Entrepreneur website includes a supplemental page that provides a variety of organizations and resources that can help veterans as they develop their own businesses. Harris concluded, Im on a mission to expand support for veteran entrepreneurs. When military service members exit the military, they have real world experience that will help them transition into leadership roles in business. Sometimes all they need is additional support and resources to show them how to get started. Our resources page includes organizations like the Support Warrior Project, the Arizona Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program.

Agency Growth Secrets is an online marketing agency that uses advanced data-targeting through artificial intelligence to create highly efficient marketing campaigns. The companys technology helps its clients to target customers who are ready to make a purchase.

Joshua Harris is an entrepreneur and founder of Agency Growth Secrets. Harris grew up in Illinois and was constantly creating new businesses throughout his childhood. When Harris originally started his first online marketing company, he did not see much success. With the help of a mentor, he was able to change up his business model and create rapid growth for his company. He founded Agency Growth Secrets in 2014. Harris has been featured in both Forbes and Entrepreneur. He is also a member of the elite entrepreneur group, The Oracles.

About Agency Growth Secrets:

Agency Growth Secrets is a cutting-edge digital marketing agency. Established by Josh Harris, Agency Growth Secrets (AGS) delivers highly qualified leads to clients by utilizing advanced technologies (including AI and machine learning). These advanced techniques have allowed AGS to decrease customer acquisition costs and optimize marketing efforts for their clients. Agency Growth Secrets is headquartered in Largo, Florida.
I am honored and excited to share my experiences and knowledge in healthcare consulting at the ACHE event. This is an opportunity to educate others and do my part in helping improve healthcare for the physician as well as the patient, says Chris Whybrew.

On September 27, 2018, four Texas Chapters of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) will gather to host an education summit at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas. The event will cover four-panel topics presented by an expert group of moderators. Chris Whybrew, FACHE of Whybrew Medical Management, LLC in Tulsa, Oklahoma will moderate the panel discussion on the topic of Hospital-Physician Integration in the 21st Century.

Chris Whybrew is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and Principal of Whybrew Medical Management, L.L.C. in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Whybrew Medical Management develops and implements custom solutions to solve unique problems facing both independent and hospital-owned physician practices. Services range from on-going advisory services to project specific solutions.

I am honored and excited to share my experiences and knowledge in healthcare consulting at the ACHE event. This is an opportunity to educate others and do my part in helping improve healthcare for the physician as well as the patient, says Chris Whybrew.

As the founder and principal of Whybrew Medical Management, Chris Whybrew brings valued expertise and experience in medical consulting services and will share his insight at the September ACHE education summit. Since the mid-1990s, Whybrew has delivered customized healthcare solutions to hospitals and physician practices of all sizes. His Tulsa-based medical consulting group helps clients solve unique problems facing independent physician groups as well as medical practices owned by a hospital. Services range from project-specific solutions, interim management and financial advisory to ongoing practice growth, start-up practice development, physician recruiting and more.

More About Chris Whybrew, FACHE:

Chris Whybrew is a certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He earned his Bachelor of Science at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and his Master of Business Administration at Belmont University, Jack Massey Graduate School of Business in Nashville, TN. Whybrew is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Medical Group Management Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association. His Tulsa medical consulting firm, Whybrew Medical Management, LLC, has served hospitals, independent physician practices and hospital-owned medical groups with an extensive menu of services, including billing, ongoing advisory, physician recruitment, contract review, practice growth and much more.

For more information about Chris Whybrew of Whybrew Medical Management or the upcoming Multi-Chapter ACHE Education Event in Texas, please call (918) 859-5334 or visit http://www.whybrewmedicalmanagement.com or to register for the event please click here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/multi-chapter-education-event-tickets-49559899995.
"We are very proud of the outstanding and remarkable achievement of our 3 faculty who were awarded this prestigious and competitive grant," said Dr. Joan Toglia, dean and professor of the School of Health and Natural Sciences at Mercy College.

Mercy College was awarded a three-year, $600,000 research grant by the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living. NIDILRRs Field Initiated Projects program awards grants to improve the capacity of minority-serving institutions to conduct high-quality disability and rehabilitation research. NIDILRR planned to issue only one such research grant award nationwide.

The research project entitled Adolescents with Lupus: The Impact of Patient/Provider Discordance, Depression, Cognition and Language will address the knowledge gap in the research and care of adolescents with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that impacts all areas of patients lives, often resulting in significant disabilities and poor quality of life. The potential for disability and mortality is even greater when lupus is diagnosed in childhood, in non-white racial/ethnic groups and/or in patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Ultimately, the study aims to determine methods a provider can use to identify depression, cognitive dysfunction, language barriers, disability and poor physical/social functioning in adolescents with lupus and other chronic diseases.

"We are very proud of the outstanding and remarkable achievement of our 3 faculty who were awarded this prestigious and competitive grant from the National Institute on Disability Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), said Dr. Joan Toglia, dean and professor of the School of Health and Natural Sciences at Mercy College. In addition to fulfilling an important knowledge gap in the care of adolescents with Lupus, this grant also represents a significant advancement for faculty research at Mercy College. I look forward to supporting this research.

The research proposals authors Dr. Kathleen Kenney-Riley, Dr. Shari Berkowitz and Dr. Kim Rapoza  all associate professors at Mercy  have worked together since 2014 as fellows with Langston Universitys Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model, a mentoring program that offers an opportunity to develop disability/rehabilitation research and grant-seeking skills.

About Mercy College

Mercy College is the dynamic, diverse New York City area college whose students are on a personal mission: to get the most out of life by getting the most out of their education. Founded in 1950, Mercy is a coeducational and nonsectarian college that offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. With campuses in Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, Manhattan and Yorktown Heights, the vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region.
I will introduce the audience to one of our newer solutions that delivers on our performance promise. DigiGuard 520IJ is an OPV that effectively addresses specific, and difficult challenges faced by the digital preprint corrugated market.

Michelman, an industry leading innovator in the development of water-based barrier and functional coatings for corrugated, will highlight a recent technology innovation at Corrugated Week 2018. Michelman will exhibit in booth #639, and Dr. Molly Hladik, Technical Project Leader at Michelman will discuss its new DigiGuard overprint varnish formulated for digital preprint applications. The show will take place September 24-27, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visitors to booth #639, can discuss with Michelman representatives, the companys environmentally conscious approach to barrier and functional coating solutions for corrugated, cartonboard and food service packaging. Michelmans established and industry leading technologies deliver water vapor and moisture resistance; grease resistance and stain prevention; abrasion protection and skid resistance; higher print productivity and efficiency; and improved resolution and image quality.

The solutions we offer for corrugated are all 100% recyclable and 100% repulpable, said Dr. Hladik. As a developer of water-based solutions with over six decades of experience, Michelman has the know-how, the motivation, and an established and collaborative product development approach that allows us to deliver 100% performance. In my presentation, I will introduce the audience to one of our newer solutions that delivers on our performance promise. DigiGuard 520IJ is an OPV that effectively addresses specific, and difficult challenges faced by the digital preprint corrugated market.

DigiGuard 520IJ is a water-based overprint varnish (OPV) that protects and enhances the appearance of printed corrugated boxes. It is formulated for use with ink-jet presses and will stand up to the high temperatures inherent in the corrugation process, while also being receptive to hot melt and cold set glues. It is a low-odor, high gloss and hot mar resistant solution.

Corrugated Week is co-produced by TAPPI and AICC and features widely recognized speakers, seminars, workshops, exhibits and social networking events. Dr. Hadlik will present in the Exhibit Hall Pavilion on Tuesday, September 25 at approximately 1:00 PM.

About Michelman

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging and industrial manufacturing markets. The companys surface additives and polymeric binders are used by leading manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers and composites. Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, as well as digital printing press primers that are used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging and paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel.
When people walk down the frozen food aisle to find something that is quick, tasty and healthy, they dont find a lot of frozen food options that arent high in saturated fats, sodium, sugar or calories. The other option is to prep their own healthy meals, but only if they have the time to spare cooking a batch for a few days. For this reason, Daily Harvest was born. Rachel Drori, the founder of Daily Harvest, always enjoyed making her own meals. Daily Harvest is said to offer frozen food without compromise. MillionaireMatch got an inside look at how Drori created the product she needed that today helps so many others.

The idea for Daily Harvest came to Drori in 2014. She wanted to eat healthy, so she spent Sundays cooking meals for the week. Realizing how time consuming it was, she wondered why a business didnt exist where people can have frozen food of great quality. So, as most entrepreneurs do, she ran forward with creating a business. In no time, she had a Shopify page up and ready for people to order healthy, frozen food in just two weeks.

With a background in marketing and branding, Drori was off on a journey for success. Her early days had her making smoothies and delivering them herself. It was very scrappy. But once she reached her goal of increasing her customers by five times, she quit her job. Its really hard to scale a business, Drori said. Moving from a small team to large team of 50 people and a continual increase in customers was something she had not experienced before. Not only was she moving forward by trial and error, but she was also a solo founder pregnant with her first child.

In a startup environment theres always change, said Drori. Daily Harvest is very different today. Today, the brand offers breakfast bowls and soups to its 100k customers. With her heavy involvement in research and development, its a sure bet that things have gotten tastier. According to Crunchbase, Drori has raised $43 million dollars. The key to her fundraising was setting a goal each round for traction. It wasnt just about the money though for Drori. She also wanted to be sure she had the right investors that could help her grow her business such as celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

Word of mouth, press and influencers have all helped get Daily Harvest more visibility. They have expanded from New York City to all over the continental U.S. Today, customers have several options on pricing as well as what food items they want in their Daily Harvest box and how often they want it delivered. This brand has changed the $52 billion dollar industry of frozen foods aisle.

Though many changes have happened over the last 2 years for Drori and Daily Harvest, one thing hasnt which is family time. This CEO makes it home by 5:30 pm everyday and shuts down for 2 hours to connect with those she loves.

To know more about MillionaireMatch, please go to https://www.millionairematch.com/.

To download the app, visit https://www.millionairematch.com/app.
The feeling of being stuck, unable to take action on ones dreams is a common barrier to success. Discover how to inspire accountability for the things one wishes to accomplish with Becoming Who You Want to Be, a new self-help/personal growth/success book now available by Albert P. Cruz, PhD with David Rytell. Dr. Cruz is a Dale Carnegie-trained Adjunct Professor at San Diegos National University and Mesa College and Rytell is a Program Manager at Intuit, Inc.

Cruz tells the story of the hardship years he endured after immigrating from Hong Kong to the United States. Determined to change the course of his life, he embarked on a vigorous quest to take charge of his mental, physical, social, and financial life. Cruzs captivating, and often humorous, narrative of how he developed nine simple guidelines to achieve happiness and success, is rich with powerful lessons for a wide range of audiences.

The guidelines focus on making choices that will help achieve goals. Its important to be driven by results, not process, says Cruz. When deciding how best to act, focus on evaluating the consequences rather than analyzing the procedure.

Five of the nine guidelines offer rationales for why one should take a positive approach, especially when confronted with conflict. The remaining four propose using common sense as a course of action and recommend looking at things from diverging perspectives.

Self-acceptance and a positive mental attitude are stressed. Cruz rationalizes why individuals are better off amongst the best, even if they are near the bottom of the group, as connections and opportunities increase by associating with the right people.

Albert P. Cruz was born in Shanghai, China and raised in Hong Kong. His career roles varied from insurance agent to Tax Analyst Programmer at the financial tech giant Intuit. Cruz holds a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Science from Walden University. He and his wife, Teresa, live in Menifee, CA and in San Diego, CA.

Becoming Who You Want to Be is available for sale on Amazon.com and at http://www.hk2-usa.com. Follow the book on Facebook at @becomingwhoyouwanttobe and Twitter #ACruzBecomingMe. Self-published in June 2018 by Albert P. Cruz. Hardcover/$24.99/226 pages. ISBN: 978-0-9996083-8-8.
Culture Days is a weekend to follow your very own artistic beat

Culture Days presents a weekend jam-packed with free hands-on and rarely accessed art and culture events and activities taking place across Canada from Friday, September 28th to Sunday, September 30th. Rhythm is the central theme for this year, and many events will highlight how percussion permeates artistic expression and nearly every culture around the world. No matter your age or skill-level, Culture Days is a chance to venture out to try something new or revisit existing creative passions - plus its just plain fun.

OnBeat is the theme for the 2018 Culture Days Weekend. Presented by National Partner Sun Life Financial through their Making The Arts More Accessible program, OnBeat inspired events will showcase how rhythm exists in every culture and plays a key role in many art forms. Spontaneous dancing, clapping, and foot stomping is encouraged making OnBeat the perfect expression of what Culture Days is all about. Participants can also enter the Play OnBeat Contest ahead of the event weekend to learn more about rhythm in several art forms. By watching artist profile vignettes, and answering trivia questions, they'll have the chance to win great prizes.

Each Culture Days event entices people to explore and support their local arts scene. Offerings include samba classes to instrument petting zoos, drum-circles to open choir rehearsals, behind the curtains of theatre to slam poetry showcases. Concerts, film fests, recording sessions, sculpture classes, song-writing workshops, and photography tours are just a sampling of whats offered this year.

With thousands of events to choose from, Culture Days is a weekend to follow your very own artistic beat. The events are accessible and inclusive, so its the perfect time to try something creative and new. Said Aubrey Reeves, Executive Director, Culture Days, If youre already passionate about the arts, why not share that excitement with family and friends? It may inspire them to be more active in the creative sphere throughout the rest of the year.

Culture Days weekend puts the range of art and culture available in our communities front-and-center, keeps events free to help remove barriers to access, and brings the country together in creative celebration. Culture Days happens because hundreds of municipalities, library systems, individual artists, and community arts initiatives work together to offer a weekend of unique and accessible experiences. Last year alone, over 2 million Canadians enjoyed 7000 activities.

Arts and culture is an important part of our Canadian identity and is something all Canadians deserve to experience," said Paul Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy and Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. At Sun Life, we understand the importance of making arts and culture accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial means. For an exciting three days, Culture Days gives everyone the opportunity to take part in the vast and vibrant arts and culture scene within our communities through activities and experiences that help enrich and expand our lives.

Culture Days launches on Friday, September 28th and runs through to Sunday, September 30th across Canada. Venture out to the beat of your own drum!

Visit culturedays.ca to learn more and find activities happening near you. Plan your Culture Days weekend using the Culture Days Bright Spots Schedule, a free, online customizable itinerary tool, made possible with the generous support of National Partner Sun Life Financial.

About Culture Days

Culture Days has become the largest cultural event in Canada, attracting more than 2 million attendees to thousands of free activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and municipalities in 800 communities across Canada. From Nunavut to New Brunswick, British Columbia to Hudsons Bay  and all points in between  Culture Days highlights and amplifies the diverse arts and cultural life of our communities. As a leading national voice for an active and engaged cultural life, Culture Days provides a range of tools and skill development resources that lead to greater cultural engagement. The Culture Days annual national awareness campaign culminates in a three-day celebration of the arts starting on the last Friday of September. Visit CultureDays.ca

For more information, hi-res photos, video, and more, check out our Media Kit.

See the impact of Culture Days across Canada with our 2017 Infographic.

Follow us and watch Culture Days weekend unfold:

#CultureDays on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

RSVP to the Culture Days Weekend on the Facebook Event

For media inquiries contact:

Mercedes Findlay

416.557.3361

mercedes@mercedesfindlayconsulting.ca

Culture Days National Media Launch

Friday, September 28, 9 am (Eastern)

CBC Barbara Frum Atrium

250 Front Street West, Toronto, ON

RSVP: info@culturedays.ca

Culture Days is excited to be hosting a national event to kick off the 2018 Culture Days weekend. Get OnBeat with rhythm-inspired interactive performances to kick off 2018s national celebration of arts and culture.

Performances by:



Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company

Bam! Youth Slam Poets

Steelpan with Suzette Vidale, presented in partnership with Civic Theatres Toronto

Holla Jazz Performance Projects, presented in partnership with Civic Theatres Toronto

Debajehmujig Theatre Group, presented in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum

Media check-in 8:30 am

Opening remarks 9:00 am

Performances 9:15  10:15 am

This launch is made possible thanks to the support of Chicago Title Insurance Company, our broadcast partner CBC and program partners Aga Khan Museum and Civic Theatres Toronto.

Additional Culture Days Media Launches

MANITOBA LAUNCHES

Tuesday, September 25, 10 am (Central)

Bijou Park, beside Old Market Square in The Exchange District

492 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB

Revealing all of the highlights for Culture Days Manitoba and Nuit Blanche Winnipeg 2018, at the site that will be home to the featured works this year! There will be a drumming performance celebrating the 2018 Culture Days theme #OnBeat.

Friday, September 28, 12:45 pm (Central)

Oodena Celebration Circle, The Forks

1 Forks Market Rd, Winnipeg, MB

Hosted CBC Manitobas Marcy Markusa. Speeches will be followed by a drumming performance by the Buffalo Gals to kick-off the Storytelling Day event.

Visit mb.culturedays.ca for Manitoba event details.

BRITISH COLUMBIA LAUNCHES

Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 4pm (Pacific)

Hall Street Plaza and City Hall courtyard in NELSON, BC

Taking the form of a street parade, the launch begins at Hall Street Plaza and ends at City Hall courtyard with speeches by local and provincial dignitaries and performances by groups including but not limited to, the Rhythm Ropers, In the Sticks, the Community Band, Orkastar, John Galm, Front Street Dance, Dance Umbrella, & Dance Fusion. Presented by Nelson & District Arts Council, The Civic Theatre and Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.

Friday, September 28, 2018, 2  8pm (Pacific)

sxexn Xwtla7shn (formerly, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza)

Vancouver, BC

Hosted by Vancouver-based vocalist, performer and BC Culture Days ambassador Mandy Rushton, the launch event will showcase a diverse lineup of cultural contributions including City Opera Vancouver, Indigenous Women Artists Collective, Vinica and City of Nations Society. The event gets started at 2pm with a welcome by Squamish Nation member Dennis Joseph & Canoe Family Performers and a Proclamation by Vancouver Mayor.

Visit bc.culturedays.ca for British Columbia event details.
Patricia Heaton in Uganda with World Vision

Emmy-award winning actress Patricia Heaton will be honored tomorrow for her humanitarian work with the global non-profit World Vision. The Creative Coalition's 4th Annual Television Advocacy Awards recognizes leaders in the television industry who effectively use their voices for social change.

Heaton has taken three humanitarian trips with World Vision. In 2015, she traveled to Zambia, where she met her sponsored child, Gracious. Child sponsorship is available through World Vision to bring hope and essentials like clean water, nutrition and education to a child and community in need.

Inspired by Gracious, Heaton has designed a new accessory collection for World Visions 2018 Gift Catalog. The Grace Collection is made by fair-trade artists in India and proceeds fund World Visons work where its needed most.

Earlier this year, after her nine-season television series, The Middle, came to an end, Patricia Heaton flew 9,325 miles to Uganda to put a spotlight on the difficulties faced by refugees from South Sudan. Heaton and her co-star, Jen Ray, visited the worlds largest refugee camp with World Vision, serving meals to refugees who just crossed the border - many of them children. In 2017, Heaton traveled to Jordan to meet Syrian refugees.

Later this year, Heaton will appear at World Visions Give-back Gift Shop in New York City, a unique charitable pop-up that brings the organization's Gift Catalog to life.

Find photos of Heaton's trips to the field with World Vision here (please credit World Vision): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m8mfac93pt41cst/AABgv6Nwbbh7b4mFhrsPkRrNa?dl=0

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit http://www.worldvision.org or follow on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA
For nearly 50 years, Americans have been eligible to vote starting at age 18. Yet the nations youngest voters have hardly flocked to the polls. Citizens 18 to 29 routinely post the lowest turnout among all age groups, according to the United States Election Project.

And because poor Americans vote at a lower rate than more affluent citizens, young people from impoverished families are even less likely to vote than the wealthier members of their age cohort.

A new paper co-authored by a Johns Hopkins Carey Business School researcher points to a possible way to raise the numbers. Voting increased among young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds after their families began receiving regular disbursements of unearned income, the study says.

Annual payments of a few thousand dollars per household led to increased voter turnout of between 8 and 20 percent among the young people in the study, over a period of about 10 years.

For those in their formative years who havent completed high school, household income matters a lot in determining whether or not they become active voters, says economist Emilia Simeonova, an associate professor at the Carey Business School.

Whats more, we saw that the impact of the unearned income on youth voting was more pronounced among those who had the lowest household incomes at the time the disbursements started, she adds.

The researchers based their paper on data from the Great Smoky Mountains Survey (GSMS), a longitudinal study launched in 1993, as well as from public voting records. Initiated by Duke University and the state of North Carolina, the GSMS set out to examine the psychological traits of 1,420 poor children in western North Carolina, including several hundred children in the Native American Cherokee tribe.

As it happened, about four years into the study, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a casino in the survey zone and started designating half of the profits as extra cash income for adult members of the tribe.

Simeonova and her colleagues focused on the effects of this new yearly income  about $4,700 per household, or approximately 25 percent of the average Native American familys annual earnings.

At the start of the payments, the children in the GSMS were 13 to 17 years old. The researchers learned that once the children reached voting age, the youngest ones  those with the longest exposure to the additional income  had the highest rate of turnout at the polls.

That certainly helps underscore our view that extra income can encourage civic activity among children from poor families, says Simeonova.

The voting patterns of the adults in the GSMS, on the other hand, did not change after the income disbursements started. It appears that adult voting patterns are locked-in and unaffected by changes in income that occur later in their lives, Simeonova says.

Increased voting among the youths might be attributed to their being able to finish high school on time, and to their families being able to avoid relocation, thanks to the extra income, the researchers say. Such factors might have contributed to the young peoples social capital, meaning they felt more committed to their communities and more likely to engage in civic activity.

Regardless of the exact reasons, the additional income narrowed the turnout gap between children from disadvantaged families and their better-off peers, says Simeonova. From this, we see the potential long-term benefit that, as more people from lower-income groups vote, their views and their concerns will attract more attention from elected officials.

The study, Family Income and the Intergenerational Transmission of Voting Behavior: Evidence from an Income Intervention, has appeared as a working paper on the website of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Along with Simeonova of Johns Hopkins, the authors are Associate Professor Randall Akee of the University of California, Los Angeles; Professor William Copeland and Professor E. Jane Costello, both of Duke; and Assistant Professor John Holbein of Brigham Young University.

This same group of researchers, minus Holbein, previously wrote a paper showing that the cash disbursements significantly improved the psychological well-being of adolescent children in the GSMS.

There may be a broader effect from these disbursements than was thought before, says Simeonova. Our new study suggests that social policies aimed at reducing economic disadvantage may also help improve voter turnout in future generations."
PCI Group - 911 Memorial Remembrance This is our generations Pearl Harbor and I wanted my kids and other children to understand what happened and how the world was profoundly changed by the senseless attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Chris Kropac

The gathering took place in front of the 9/11 monument constructed just outside of the entrance to PCI in 2011. The monument features two towers (symbolic of the Twin Towers attacked on 9/11) which are constructed of 100% solid, jet black granite with a polished mirror finish. Inscribed on the front of the base of the towers are three commemorative passages: We Will Always Remember September 11, 2001, Dedicated to Those Who Lost Their Lives and the Brave Who Gave Theirs, and God Bless America. As a reminder for future generations, the expressions Celebrate Life and Salute America and Its Heroes are inscribed on the back of the base. Between the towers is a hand-crafted bronze eternal flame. Framing the monument are two benches and three flags: the American flag, a 9/11 flag, and the South Carolina flag.

For Chris Kropac, President of PCI Group, a company founded in New York in 1970 until its relocation to Fort Mill (Lancaster County), South Carolina in September 2008, the events of 9/11 hit hard. With deep roots, including a former office space in the south World Trade Center in the late 80s, and family ties to New York, the attack on the Twin Towers left indelible scars and losses for Chris and many of the companys employees just as it affected other Americans, and especially New Yorkers. When asked why he had the monument built, Kropac thought instantly of his two children, Christian, now 17, and Carissa, age 14. He wanted them to understand the significance of a day that changed our nationand our world forever.

Coming from New York, we felt the impact of this event in a way only New Yorkers understand. We just had to do something to honor those who lost their lives and the many brave first responders who sacrificed theirs to try to save others, said Kropac. This is our generations Pearl Harbor and I wanted my kids and other children to understand what happened and how the world was profoundly changed by the senseless attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. When someone asks why we have made this investment in a 9/11 monument on private grounds, I tell them, thats why. Because I want my kids to know what happened and never forget.

For More Pictures Of This Event Please Visit Our Website At:

https://www.pcigroup.com/pci-group-911-memorial-remembrance/

About PCI Group

PCI Group is a leading provider of mission critical communications for businesses where security of customer-centric data is paramount, precision and accuracy are crucial and compliance is a must.

As a family owned business since 1970, PCI Group has been providing customers fast, secure, and cost-effective printing and document delivery that is fully compliant with federal regulations including HIPAA, FISMA and SOC I & II and PCI DSS. PCIs real-time, web-based, customer control center enables customers 24/7 access to updated information and tracking reports about their communications at any point from pre-production through delivery.

For close to 50 years, PCI Group has been the company customers can rely on to handle every detailtime after time. For more information about PCI Group, please visit us online at http://www.pcigroup.com.
Philip P. Keating

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is pleased to announce that Philip P. Keating has joined the firms products liability team, focusing his practice in the area of toxic torts. He will practice in the firms Southpointe office, located near Pittsburgh, Pa.

Philip will have an immediate impact on our litigation department thanks to his representation of a diverse array of clients, said Steptoe & Johnson CEO Susan S. Brewer. His experience in toxic tort cases, specifically asbestos, will further broaden our practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia where we currently defend numerous clients in state and federal court toxic tort actions.

Before entering private practice, Keating served for six years as an assistant state attorney with the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County, Florida prosecuting a wide variety of criminal cases. He was lead counsel in more than 80 jury trials.

Keating earned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center and his bachelors degree from New York University.

About Steptoe & Johnson

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a law firm nationally recognized for its strengths in energy law with more than a century of know-how in the areas of business, employment, and litigation. Steptoe & Johnson has more than 300 attorneys practicing in 13 offices in Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Visit http://www.steptoe-johnson.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more information, contact Betsy Spellman, Chief Marketing Officer, at (304) 933-8000 or by email: press@steptoe-johnson.com.
In our third fund, we will remain committed to serving the $3 to $30 million SaaS company.

SaaS Capital, the leading provider of Committed Credit Facilities to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, today announced that it has closed its third fund with $75 million in limited partner commitments.

"We are grateful for the support from our existing and new investors who made this fundraising process very straightforward," said Todd Gardner, Founder and Managing Director of SaaS Capital. "Their support validates our leadership position as pioneers in the SaaS lending space going back to 2007. In our third fund, we will remain committed to serving the $3 to $30 million SaaS company, which is why we limited the fund to $75 million despite being substantially oversubscribed."

More than 50 SaaS companies all over the US, Canada, and the UK have used SaaS Capital to fund their growth while allowing founders and existing equity holders to retain control of their companies and avoid significant dilution to their ownership. In just the last 18 months, 10 SaaS Capital portfolio companies have realized successful exits and funding events, including:



FreeAgent's $74 million acquisition by Royal Bank of Scotland

Uberflip's $32 million Series A/Recapitalization

CoverMyMeds' $1.3 billion acquisition by McKesson Corporation

Reeher's $43 million acquisition by Blackbaud

ClearCompany's $60 million Series A/Recapitalization

"When a company has less than $10 million of annual revenue, a Series B or C round can be very dilutive," said Rob Belcher, Managing Director. "As is evidenced by the recent fundraisings above, our Committed Credit Facilities enable companies to eliminate several rounds of equity and skip straight to an exit or growth equity round. Capital-efficient companies have used SaaS Capital to create over $550 million of equity value with minimal dilution to existing shareholders and no loss of control."

SaaS Capital began providing alternative growth capital to SaaS companies in 2007 and closed its first fund in May 2012 with $22.5 million in LP commitments. Building on that success, the company closed its second fund in January 2015 with $58 million in LP commitments. To date, 51 SaaS companies across the US, Canada, and UK have used SaaS Capital to fund their business.

About SaaS Capital

SaaS Capital is the leading provider of long-term Committed Credit Facilities to SaaS companies. Focusing exclusively on the B2B SaaS business model, SaaS Capital delivers faster decisions, more capital, and longer commitments. SaaS Capital provides $2 million to $15 million committed credit facilities to companies with at least $250k in monthly recurring revenue based in the US, Canada, or UK. SaaS Capital has offices in Cincinnati and Seattle. Visit https://www.saas-capital.com to learn more.
Americas spirit of frontier ingenuity and adventure fills the streets of Silver Dollar City as the 1880s-style theme park features craftsmanship, cowboys, chuck wagon cooking and Native American artistry for The National Crafts & Cowboy Festival, September 12 to October 27.

NEW this year, the Cherokee Indian Trading Post presents Native American artisans demonstrating heritage crafts such as flute making, pottery and bow making, along with cooking demonstrations of Cherokee recipes, throughout September. Featured artists include flute crafter and award-winning performer Tommy Wildcat, pottery maker Lisa Rutherford, and bow crafter Richard Fields, all named Cherokee National Treasure artists.

More than 125 visiting craftsmen, including Best of Missouri Hands juried artists, will join Silver Dollar Citys 100 traditional craftsmen, with crafts including clock making, weaving, copper color art, fiddle making, basket weaving, gourd painting and jewelry making. Watercolor artist and Gunsmoke star Buck Taylor displays his and other artists work in Buck Taylors Cowboy Emporium, with western art including leather crafting, antler baskets, horseshoe art, moccasin crafting and turkey feather painting.

Final chances to see the Wild West Show begin September 12, as the popular western production features 9-time World Champion Native American Hoop Dancer Nakotah LaRance, trick riders, performing canines and sharpshooting champion Kala Howard, who fires at targets while riding horseback. The Wild West Show, hosted by trick roper and bullwhip artist A.J. Silver, runs through October 14.

Authentic Chuck Wagon Chef Kent Rollins returns in October with his famous Food Network-featured cowboy cuisine, giving daily demonstrations of authentic chuck wagon cooking. NEW is An Evening on the Trail with Kent & Buck, a special ticketed event for dinner, cowboy stories and humor with Buck Taylor and Kent Rollins in the Culinary & Craft School, Friday evenings in October. The event includes a full-course steak dinner and cookbook.

Featured music acts include The Western Flyers, Western Music Association 7-time Female Performer of the Year Belinda Gail, Syd Masters & The Swing Riders, The Home Rangers, Vocal Union and The Willis Clan. The Western Barn Dance returns, giving all guests a chance to dance to a live band.

Silver Dollar City is open Wednesdays through Sundays, September 12  October 27, for The National Crafts & Cowboy Festival, which has been profiled by U.S. News & World Report Travel as one of the nations top 8 Fall Harvest Festivals, and as Travel & Leisures pick for Best Fall Festival in Every State.

Information: 800-831-4FUN (4386) or http://www.silverdollarcity.com.

The National Crafts & Cowboy Festival is presented by Humana.

Press contact:

Silver Dollar City Publicity

(417) 338-8210

Digital release & images available:

http://press.sdcphotos.com

publicity(at)silverdollarcity.com
Microsofts support of the SRT Open Source Project demonstrates their recognition of SRT as the emerging de facto standard for low latency video streaming.

The SRT Alliance announces that Microsoft has joined the initiative supporting the SRT Open Source Project  a collaboration to continuously develop the SRT protocol and technology stack for low latency video streaming across any network.

SRT (Secure Reliable Transport), developed and pioneered by Haivision, optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks with low latency secure streams. SRT has been adopted by thousands of companies to get the highest quality streams to and across cloud-based video infrastructures.

Microsoft is the latest company to join the more than 140 members in the SRT Alliance, a consortium of vendors and end users founded by Haivision and Wowza. The SRT Alliance works collaboratively to increase industry-wide awareness and adoption of SRT as a common standard for low-latency video transport over the internet.

SRT, open source, royalty free, and available to everyone on GitHub, is the fastest growing video streaming movement. SRT has the support of VideoLANs VLC, Wireshark, FFMpeg, and the GStreamer open source projects in addition to the growing commercial support of the SRT Alliance member companies.

Microsoft is both a user of SRT within its substantial event production and streaming team and a developer seeking ways to optimize the video cloud services that it offers to clients globally.

Microsofts support of the SRT Open Source Project demonstrates their recognition of SRT as the emerging de facto standard for low latency video streaming, says Sylvio Jelovcich, Vice President, Global Alliances Haivision. The market is thirsty for open source, royalty free solutions to basic challenges. However, where networks and ecosystems are concerned, adoption is key. Microsoft supporting the SRT movement is the biggest step towards global adoption.

Having pioneered adaptive streaming for the industry and seen the benefits of broad industry adoption, we believe in the need for a simple, scalable and efficient ingest protocol for supporting large scale live events from the cloud, said Sudheer Sirivara, General Manager, Azure Media & AI Platform, Microsoft Corp. SRT is a proven video transport that lends itself well for cloud based live workflows. By joining the SRT Alliance, we hope to create broader support, enthusiasm and adoption.

To learn more about SRT and its latest developments, attend the SRT Panel Discussion at IBC 2018 featuring speakers from Al Jazeera, MediaKind (formerly Ericsson), Haivision, Sky News, and Viacom. To attend this free event, register here.

About the SRT Open Source Project & SRT Alliance

SRT is an open source video transport protocol and technology stack, developed and pioneered by Haivision, that optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks with secure streams and easy firewall traversal, bringing the best quality live video over the worst networks. The SRT Open Source Project, driven by the SRT Alliance, is a collaborative community of industry leaders and developers striving to achieve lower latency internet video transport by continuously improving open-source SRT. For more information about the project and how to join the SRT Alliance, visit srtalliance.org.
2018 Official Texas Capitol Ornament

The Texas State Capitol revealed today its 2018 commemorative holiday ornament which will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the completion and dedication of the Texas Capitol.

Taking more than six years to build, the Lone Star statehouse is a magnificent example of Renaissance Revival architecture. Senator Temple Houston, the youngest son of Sam Houston, accepted the Capitol on behalf of the people of Texas at the dedication in May 1888. This years ornament was designed to commemorate this special anniversary of the finest building in Texas on the rare occasion of an Austin snowfall, transforming Capitol Square into a winter wonderland. The gates open to welcome visitors to snow-covered grounds underneath a twinkling, star-filled sky. The Capitol is framed by a wreath of Texas Yaupon Holly leaves and berries wrapped in festive red ribbon and topped with a gold Texas Lone Star. The back of the ornament features Temple Houstons famous quote from his speech at the dedication: Here glitters a structure that shall stand as a sentinel of eternity.

The collectible ornament is delicately designed in-house and made in the U.S.A. Furnished in 24 karat gold and measuring approximately 2.5 inches, the annual ornament is perfect as a holiday gift or to continue a family tradition of collecting. The ornament costs $22 and proceeds benefit the Texas State Capitol preservation and educational programs for its over one million annual visitors. This marks the 23rd ornament in the exclusive series.

The ornament is now available in the Capitol Extension at 1400 N. Congress Ave., or at the Capitol Visitors Center at 112 E. 11th Street, Austin as well as online at http://www.texascapitolgiftshop.com.

About The State Preservation Board

The State Preservation Board preserves and maintains the Texas Capitol, the Capitol Extension, the 1857 General Land Office Building, other designated buildings, their contents and their grounds; preserves and maintains the Texas Governor's Mansion; and operates the Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Texas State Cemetery. We provide educational programs centered on Texas history, government and culture. These services benefit the citizens of Texas and its visitors. For more information, please visit http://www.tspb.texas.gov.
Invisible Fence of Northeast Ohio donates Pet Oxygen Masks to Twinsburg Fire Dept. In preparation for National Fire Safety Month this October, Invisible Fence Brand donates life-saving pet oxygen masks to fire departments across the U.S. and Canada.

In preparation for National Fire Safety Month this October, Invisible Fence Brand donated life-saving pet oxygen masks to Twinsburg Fire Department to help reduce the number of pet fatalities. The donation was made on September 10th by Invisible Fence of Northeast Ohio in support of the companys Project Breathe Program.

Each year, its estimated more than 40,000 pets die in fires, most succumbing to smoke inhalation. The reality in most cases is that first responders lack the equipment to resuscitate and save these animals. Thanks to programs like Project Breathe, first responders with Twinsburg Fire Department are now some of the best-equipped in the nation to save a pets life  with mask sizes for small, medium and large pets. Local Invisible Fence Pet Trainer, Angie Horton, donated the two Project Breathe Pet Oxygen Mask Kits earlier this week.

When a family suffers the tragedy of a fire, lives are turned upside down, said Ed Hoyt, Director of Invisible Fence. Pets are valued family members, so we want families to know that their pet can be cared for if tragedy strikes.

History of Project Breathe

In 1973, a traveling salesman in Pennsylvania began noticing an alarming number of dogs roaming the streets, and soon after developed and patented the first veterinarian-backed electronic pet containment system, Invisible Fence. Fast forward 45 years and today there are three million safer, happier pets and countless lives improved, including the hundreds of pet lives saved through Project Breathe. Since Project Breathes inception in 2006, 24,000 masks have been donated to first responders and now the company is giving more. To commemorate its 45th Anniversary, Invisible Fence will equip 45 additional fire departments across the U.S. and Canada with these life-saving devices and embark on a nationwide service campaign to assist pet-related charities.

45 Days of Service

For its 45th anniversary year, the company has pledged to equip an additional 45 fire departments across the U.S. and Canada with these life-saving devices and embark on a nationwide service campaign to assist pet-related charities. In addition to the Project Breathe donations, Invisible Fence employees across the U.S. and Canada are combining efforts for 45 Days of Service in celebration of the 45th Anniversary. Team members are volunteering at animal-related charity events, non-profits, rescue and shelter operations and more. In total, the team has pledged to put in 315 (thats 45 in dog years) volunteer hours in 45 days (Aug. 21 - Oct. 5, 2018). This includes supporting groups such as Geauga Humane Society.

The company has set up a Project Breathe Website, where local fire personnel can make a request for their own departments.

About Invisible Fence Brand

Invisible Fence pioneered the pet containment industry in 1973, making it their mission to keep pets happy and safe. Owned by Radio Systems Corporation in Knoxville, Tenn., Invisible Fence predominantly sells containment, avoidance and access solutions in the U.S. and Canada. For the past 45 years, Authorized Dealers have provided professional installation, Perfect Start Plus Training and integrated solutions to safely protect more than three million pets. In addition to pet containment, Invisible Fence also offers Shields indoor and outdoor protection solutions, as well as the Doorman Electronic Pet Door. Invisible Fence founded the Project Breathe Program in 2006, donating more than 24,000 pet oxygen masks to fire departments and first responders. For more information on Invisible Fence or to find a local dealer, visit InvisibleFence.com or follow the company on Facebook.
Neal Simon, an unaffiliated candidate for Marylands U.S. Senate seat, today is launching his campaigns second television advertisement. The 30-second ad  titled Outsider  begins airing today.

The ad presents Simon as a strong, independent voice who will work for all Marylanders in Washington, and criticizes the two political parties and its leaders for playing partisan games that are dividing Americans and blocking progress.

The text of the ad is as follows:

[Ad opens with clips of politicians arguing with each other on TV and in Congress] Tired of all that? Me too. Thats why Im running for the U.S. Senate to change the way Washington works. From healthcare costs to a lack of high paying jobs, nothing gets done anymore because of silly partisan games. But a true outsider could change that. Im Neal Simon and I approved this message. Because, Maryland, Ill never fight for a party boss. Ill only fight for you.

Simons first television advertisement  titled Together  began airing on July 30, 2018, and highlights the reasons why Simon thinks he should represent Marylanders in the U.S. Senate. It creates a stark contrast between Simon and the career politician he is challenging in November.

Earlier this week, Simon announced he accepted an invitation to debate incumbent Sen. Ben Cardin and Republican candidate Tony Campbell in a series of televised debates hosted by Sinclair Broadcast Group. As tentatively scheduled, the first debate will occur during the week of October 7, 2018, followed by a second debate the week of October 22, 2018.

Nationally, Simon has been endorsed by Unite America, a moderate, centrist group with members that include sitting independent governor Bill Walker of Alaska, and has received support from No Labels, a bipartisan political organization whose mission is to combat partisan dysfunction in politics and usher in a new era of focused problem solving in American politics.

For more information, visit http://www.nealsimon.com and follow on Twitter: @nealjsimon.

Paid for by Neal Simon for U.S. Senate.
Velo IT Group, a leading provider of managed IT services with locations in Texas and Louisiana, announced today the promotion of Samuel Oh to Director of Engineering. Sam will oversee Velos growing team of industry leading IT engineers. Further, Sam will be responsible for orchestrating strategic IT plans with Velos growing clientele.

Sam is an ITT Tech grad from California who joined Velo IT Group in November of 2015. He is both a VMWare Certified Professional and Microsoft Certified Professional. Oh is a proven leader whose expertise in the managed services industry empowers Velos engineering team to deliver world class service day in and day out.

I couldnt be more excited to hand off the daily empowerment of our engineering teams to Sam. In his more than capable hands, I am confident that our engineering teams will continue to achieve extremely high levels of success and even further growth and development as a result of his leadership, said Taylor Toce, Velo President/CEO.

About Velo IT Group

Velo IT Group, headquartered in Downtown Dallas, provides small and medium businesses with IT support and security. Velos goal is to reduce IT issues with their comprehensive, proactive approach to IT management. The companys website (http://www.velomethod.com) provides more information on the services they provide.
Chief Operating Officer Lucy Juarez  I am thrilled to be a new member of the West Coast Dental Services Team and work for a privately-owned company where I can continue to build sustainable and profitable growth," says Lucy Juarez.

Ms. Juarez joins West Coast Dental with over 30 years experience in the dental services industry, specifically in optimizing operational strategies and organizational development.

I am thrilled to be a new member of the West Coast Dental Services Team and work for a privately-owned company where I can continue to build sustainable and profitable growth," says Lucy Juarez.

Lucy comes to us with extensive healthcare business experience, and we look forward to working with her to streamline our processes, ultimately resulting in better patient care and outcomes, more efficient billing, and an updated internal communications program to support our valuable clinicians, said Dr Payam Sohrab, CEO at West Coast Dental Services. We have a long future ahead of us here at West Coast Dental Services, and the ideas and programs Lucy will implement will help cement our market position for years to come.

Ms. Juarez was most recently National Vice President for Smile Brands Inc., and before that she was Vice President of Operations at Western Dental. Ms. Juarez serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), Donated Orthodontic Services program (DOS), and is a member of the AAO Advisory Committee. Ms. Juarez has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Business.

About West Coast Dental

Privately held for 25 years, West Coast Dental Services has continued to serve Southern California with the finest dental and orthodontic care in the state. Started by a group of dedicated dental professionals who saw the need for quality, multi-specialty dental care, West Coast Dental now has 36 state-of-the-art dental care practices across the state of California and Washington. West Coast Dental Services uses the latest technologies to deliver the highest caliber of care, and employs a talented team of general dentists, specialist and hygienists. http://www.westcoastdental.com
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers is publishing a half dozen new Mary Poppins titles this summer and fall in anticipation of the December release of the Disney feature film Mary Poppins Returns. Three of the titles are new adaptations of classic books and three are movie tie-ins.

The new editions under the core franchise include the first-ever picture book adaptation of the classic 1934 novel, illustrated in pastel and colored pencil by Genevieve Godbout, which is due out in October. An illustrated gift edition with a silver foil accent on the cover and full-color artwork by Julia Sarda contains the entire text of the 1934 novel and will also release in October. Finally, a Mary Shepherd-illustrated board book, Mary Poppins ABC, is an adaptation of a 1962 title, Mary Poppins from A to Z. It was released back in June to introduce the youngest readers to the alphabet and to the franchise.

The thinking was that these three editions would be a great way to introduce children to Mary Poppins, especially in advance of the film, said Catherine Onder, senior v-p and publisher of HMH Books for Young Readers. The three editions have a combined first printing of 200,000 copies.

The release of new editions adheres to HMHs template for keeping the franchise fresh. We try to strike a balance and be strategic and mindful of Mary Poppins as a classic, but also be responsive to whats going on in the culture at the right key moments, Onder said. For example, a re-covered edition of the original book came out in 2006, timed to the Mary Poppins Broadway musical, while a boxed collection of the first four novels was released in 2014 to capitalize on the 80th anniversary of the original book.

On the movie tie-in side, three titles will debut in November of this year, prior to the December 19 premiere of the film. They include a deluxe novelization; an 8x8 storybook, Mary Poppins Returns: The Magic of Mary Poppins; and a level 2 reader, Mary Poppins Returns: Everything is Possible. The storytelling in the film is really very interesting, Onder said. The movie takes place 25 years after the original story and features a grown Jane and Michael Banks. There is at least one new character: Jack, the lamplighter, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Emily Blunt assumes the role of Mary Poppins in the new film. She has said in interviews that she used the original P.L. Travers books for inspiration, even more than the 1964 film, Onder noted. That makes me even more curious to see the movie.

The tie-ins and classics alike have generated strong interest and enthusiasm from HMHs accounts, some of which are offering top placement and promotional opportunities in anticipation of the film, Onder said. Illustrator Godbout is also doing events with bookstores in Montreal, where she is based, and at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

Mary Poppins ABC by P.L. Travers, illus. by Mary Shepard. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $8.99 June ISBN 978-1-328-91118-6

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers, illus. by Genevieve Godbout. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99 Oct. 23 ISBN 978-1-328-91677-8

Mary Poppins (illustrated gift edition) by P.L. Travers, illus. by Julia Sarda. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $24.99 Oct. 23 ISBN 978-1-328-49884-7

Mary Poppins Returns (deluxe novelization), adapted by Kathy McCullough. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $8.99 Nov. 13 ISBN 978-1-328-51274-1

Mary Poppins Returns: Everything Is Possible (level 2 reader). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $12.99, Nov. 13 ISBN 978-1-328-56634-8

Mary Poppins Returns: The Magic of Mary Poppins (8x8 storybook). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $5.99 Nov. 13 ISBN 978-1-328-51273-4
Imagine Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcys relationshipthe heart of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudiceblossoming in contemporary Brooklyn. That idea was one of the sparks for author Ibi Zobois new YA novel, Pride (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, Sept.). Zoboi calls her book a remix of Austens work, set in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Bushwick in Brooklyn. It features two black teens falling in love, she said. But I also examine class and what it means to call someplace home, and change, and what it means to be part of a community and sisterly bonds, familial love. I feel like I examine a lot in the book and at the center is a love story of a girl who comes to love and accept change within herself and in her community as well.

Pride arrives fast on the heels of Zobois 2017 debut, American Street, about a Haitian girl whos thrust into the rough Detroit neighborhood where her relatives live, while she tries to free her mother, who is being detained by U.S. immigration. American Street was just so hard to write, she said. I wanted to go a little bit lighter after that and write about kids not dealing with violence or trauma, just falling in love, but still making some sort of political statement. I just didnt know how to structure it.

Zoboi said she was having some difficulty finding not only the right approach to the book, but the proper mindset for it, too. Love stories are hard for me, she said. And it was especially hard to write a love story within this political climate. I actually started some projects before the election, and during, and after the election, but it was really tough for me to capture a light love story. I kept trying to be way too political.

It was Zobois editor, Alessandra Balzer, who suggested looking at the structure of classic works for inspiration. Pride and Prejudice came up because I said I wanted to deal with political issues between two kids falling in love and the conflict between them, explained Zoboi. Austens world helped her realize she wanted to address class and socioeconomic status in her book. I have teens, too, and its something Im dealing with personally living in Brooklyn, she noted. Over a series of drafts it became clear that the book would not be a plot-point-by-plot-point retelling of Austens original, so theres more freedom to examine some more contemporary teen issues, Zoboi said.

But in the end, Zoboi hopes readers will consider her book a bright spot in often-dark times: As a writer, I needed something to take my mind off the heavy politics of the day, and I wanted readers to be able to do the same. I want to give them a moment to breatheespecially teens of colorand some moments to be able to dream, shut out the world, and dive into something sweet. She says that the experience of creating a book that delivers a little bit of joy and hope and tenderness for her readers inspired those same restorative emotions in her. I even scale down the writing a little bit because I want young readers to fall into the story, she said. Its something they can discuss in the classroom and it can be a nighttime cozy read as well. Thats how I see my daughters read certain books that they return to over and over again. And those are not usually the heavy topic books.

Next up on Zobois busy docket is the January 2019 release Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America (HarperCollins), an anthology featuring 16 African-American authors, which she edited, and to which she also contributed a story. And after three YA projects, Zoboi is currently immersed in writing her first middle-grade novel, My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, due from Dutton in summer 2019. Im really excited about this book, because its all joy, said the author. Its set in 1984 Harlem, and is about a black girl who comes from Alabama. She is a Star Trek and Star Wars fanatic who desperately wants to be the first kid in space. But, unfortunately, the kids in her neighborhood dont allow her to be herself. She has to find a way to fit into her funky Harlem surroundings while still embracing her quirky sci-fi imagination.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 Sept. 18 ISBN 978-0-06256-404-7
In crucial vote this week, the European Union advanced a controversial copyright reform proposal. Whats a stake? A good report in The Verge puts it this way: Critics said the vote heralded the death of the internet, while supporters congratulated themselves for saving the livelihoods of starving artists and giving U.S. tech giants a poke in the eye.

But both sides agree on one thing: despite the vote to advance the Copyright Directive, the process is far from over. The battle now moves behind closed doors, with the next vote likely to come in early 2019which gives both sides, and more crucially, the public, a chance to advocate for or against the measure.

In a statement, International Publishers Association president Michiel Kolman, said the vote recognized the value of Europes creative industries, and reinforces the underlying principle of copyright that creators and publishers deserve fair financial reward for their work.

Meanwhile, in an editorial on the Electronic Frontier Foundation blog, author Cory Doctorow, a staunch opponent of the legislation, said the vote not only makes life harder for creators, handing a larger share of their incomes to Big Content and Big Tech, it makes life harder for all of us.

Reaction is still pouring in, which Gary Price at InfoDocket is diligently compiling.

Reserve Reading

The National Book Foundation this week announced its longlists for the 2018 National Book Awards. The five finalists in each category will be named on October 10, and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in New York City on November 14.

Lisa Peet at Library Journal reports that ICE (The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) has asked the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records to sign off on the destruction of detainee records in 11 item categoriesincluding accounts of solitary confinement, assault, sexual abuse, and investigations into deaths in ICE custody.

Good luck to you, Business Day, the latest publication to predict the world will soon no longer need libraries or librarians. They give you until 2030.

You have to love a publication called Fine Books & Collectionsand their series Bright Young Librarians. This weeks entry features Rachel Cole, Public Services Librarian at Northwestern Universitys Transportation Library in Evanston, Illinois.

Also in Illinois, residents of Elgin, get ready. The Daily Herald reports that youre getting a Bookmobile! The plan is to launch it April 10 (which is National Bookmobile Day).

And yes, National Bookmobile Day is a thing.

Spectrum News has a piece on the contentious debate in Woodstock, N.Y. over whether to renovate or build a new library.

Meanwhile, The New York Times has an article on the luxury condos that are replacing a popular library branch in Brooklyn.

Will Denver be the latest city to eliminate library fines? The Denver Post reports thats part of the proposal in the citys latest budget proposal.

From Publishers Weekly, more on how (if not why) department store Target has been removing certain terms from online book descriptions, including LGBTQ terms, and the word "Nazi."
DK is reorganizing its North American leadership structure, according to a letter from Mary Marotta, senior v-p, to staff today.

Carol Stokke has been promoted to v-p of sales, reporting directly to Marotta, in which position she will oversee overall day-to-day leadership of the U.S. sales team. Stokke will be hiring a new manager to oversee relations with Penguin Random House's field groups. (DK is a division of PRH).

Reporting to Stokke are Tim Greco, v-p of mass digital; Savannah DAmico, educational sales manager for Ingram and Baker & Taylor; Meg Miguelino, national accounts manager for Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million; Jay Franco, who has been newly appointed director of special sales; and sales manager Jennifer Stephen.

In addition to the changes in the sales team, Meghan Marton has been promoted to director of custom publishing, still reporting to Marotta. Billy Fields has been named director of publishing operations, also reporting to Marotta, in which role he will work, in part, with the publishing team in the U.K. Katy Miller has been named metadata coordinator, and will report to Fields, as will executive editor of Americanization Lori Hand; managing editor Jill Thomas; and associate managing editor Jennifer Chung.

While Marotta has yet to appoint a v-p of marketing and publicity, that appointment, she wrote, is imminent, and she intends to expand the marketing team by adding specialists in travel, education, digital, and brand, all of whom will report to Jaimie Cona, senior director of marketing. Also on the marketing side, Kristen Pozzuoli has been named senior marketing manager for education and library, and Laura Hernandez has been promoted to marketing coordinator.

As a result of these changes, Marotta wrote, interactive media director Rob Roglev will leave the publisher. All changes are effective immediately.
Sarah Smarsh. Scribner, $26 (304p) ISBN 978-1-5011-3309-1

Class is an illusion with real consequences, Smarsh writes in this candid and courageous memoir of growing up in a family of working-class farmers in Kansas during the 1980s and 90s. A writing professor and journalist whose work has appeared in the Guardian and the New Yorker, Smarsh tells her story to her inner child, whose unborn spirit allows Smarsh to break the cycle of poverty that constrained her family for generations. Smarsh was born to a teenage mother, and the women in her family were all young mothers who hardened and aged early from the work it took to survive the day-to-day. Smarsh writes with love and care about these women and the men who married them, including her father and Grandpa Arnie, but she also lays bare their hardships (for many poor women, there is a violence to merely existing: the pregnancies without health care, the babies that cant be had, the repetitive physical jobs) and the shame of being poor (to experience economic poverty... is to live with constant reminders of what you dont have). It is through education that Smarsh is able to avoid their fate; but while hers is a happy ending, she is still haunted by the fact that being poor is associated with being bad. Smarshs raw and intimate narrative exposes a country of economic inequality that has failed its children.
In early April, I had the privilege of representing Kids Can Press at the first-ever Canadian Creative Industries Trade Mission to China, led by then-minister of Canadian heritage Melanie Joly. Delegates from 56 Canadian companies from a broad range of creative industries were selected to participate in the five-day mission. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with our partners in China and to foster new business relationships, not only with leaders in that countrys cultural industry, but also, as it turned out, with my Canadian colleagues.

The Association of Canadian Publishers, along with Livres Canada Books (a federal agency that advances the work of Canadian publishers abroad), provided support and financial assistance for the mission. Kids Can Press was the sole book publisher among the delegates. As reported in Publishers Weeklys spotlight on the Chinese childrens book market earlier this year, Chinas 2020 education reforms call for increased experiential reading activities in schools, with a focus on picture books for younger children that promote emotional and social skills. In other words, childrens publishers in China are actively seeking content. It was, therefore, a very opportune time for Kids Can Press to participate in this particular trade mission.

The mission comprised two days in Shanghai, followed by another two in Beijing, and in both cities we were warmly and graciously welcomed: in Shanghai, at a reception hosted by Canadian Consul General Weldon Epp and in Beijing at a ceremonial banquet at the National Museum hosted by Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang. Our schedules included B2B networking sessions, briefings about doing business in China, various site visits, and signing ceremonies. These formal deal-signing presentationscomplete with dignitaries from both Canada and China and ample photo opportunitiesproved to be an incentive for expediting final agreements. Kids Can Press, in fact, signed two deals while in China, one of which was finalized as a result of our participation in the signing ceremony; one of the deals was with Jinglun Media for Simplified Chinesetranslation rights for Stacey Roderick and Kwanchai Moriyas Head to Tail picture book series, and the other was an e-commerce agreement with Beijing Bravetime Technologies.

According to the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canadian Creative Industries Trade Mission to China arranged 280 meetings, which resulted in the signing of 23 deals worth approximately C$125 million. It was by all measures a tremendous success.

As I mentioned, the mission provided Canadian delegates with opportunities to network with one another as well. While in China, I got to know fellow delegate Gilles Gagnier, chief operating officer of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and publisher of Canadian Geographic magazine, and made plans with him to bring our teams together upon our return to Canada to brainstorm ways to collaborate. This gave rise to an exciting new partnership.

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, I was honored to stand alongside Gagnier at the official launch of an ambitious and groundbreaking cross-platform resource, the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada, which, in addition to a large-format book, includes a slate of online resources, including a giant floor map of Indigenous lands for schools and libraries to purchase or borrow from Canadian Geographic, as well as a comprehensive app. We announced that Kids Can Press would be the global distributor of the four-volume book component, with plans to develop content for young readers. With our sales and distribution reach through Hachette, and our marketing expertise, we will be able to ensure that the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada is made available to schools, libraries, and bookstores, not just here in Canada but around the world. It goes on sale September 25.

Imagine: while on a trade mission to China, two Canadian publishers would begin a conversation that would lead them to collaborate on a project that will bring global readership to one of the most significant reference books ever published about the indigenous peoples of Canada. When I stepped off the plane in Shanghai, I could never have envisioned this outcome.

Lisa Lyons Johnston is the president of Torontos Kids Can Press.

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Air Peace which already operates Boeing 737s between major cities in Central and West Africa recently added Boeing 777s to its fleet.

Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO, Air Peace Limited, said, "We are excited to add the 737 MAX to our fleet as we expand our network to offer more destinations and serve more passengers."

"The fuel efficiency and superior operating economics of the 737 MAX will ensure that the aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come."

737 MAX 8

The 737 MAX 8 is part of a family of airplanes that offer 130 to 230 seats and the ability to fly up to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 kilometres).

With improvements such as the CFM International LEAP-1B engine and Advanced Technology winglets, the 737 MAX will help Air Peace save more than 20% on fuel costs compared to its current single-aisle airplanes.

The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,700 orders from 102 customers worldwide.

Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company, said, Africa is a growing market for commercial airplanes and we are proud that airlines like Air Peace are selecting Boeing aircraft to be part of that growth."

"This order reflects the strong demand that we are seeing for the 737 MAX as airlines choose the airplane's superior performance and reliability."

This is the third time Air Peace will be adding to its aircraft base in Africa's populous nation. In February 2018, the airline took delivery Boeing 777-200. Last month, it also delivered another 320-seater Boeing 777-300 named Ojochide and marked 5N-BUU.

Onyema had assured that the airline was ready to begin its international operations and fix the challenges of Nigerians, Africans and other travellers on the long-haul routes.

Air Peace to launch international operations

The company said the Nigerian government had designated its flight to fly to London, Houston, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

Experts say the new aircraft and international operations will boost Nigerias economy, create more jobs in the nations aviation and allied sectors and offer travellers an additional choice.
Their era is over, to be honest, because theres a new guy around. His name is Supa aka Ghana 2Pac.

The viral sensation who has been trending on social media for weeks after a huge endorsement from BET Award-winner, Sarkodie, is enjoying his new-found fame.

He was on Pulse TV Friday, September 14, where he made a few revelations about his background and his path to the limelight.

1. His real name and age

Supa is legally known as Seth Koranteng. Supa and Ghana 2Pac are his showbiz names. He is 30 years old.

2. Place of birth

He was born in Aburi in the Akuapim South Municipal District of the Eastern Region. He only moved to Nima at the age of 5.

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3. Hes a hustler

Supa told Pulse.com.gh that he belongs to the streets. He said he used to sell second-hand clothes at Kantamanto market in Accra among other jobs.

4. A professional musician

He said hes been underground for a long time. In fact, his beef with Gariba started when he approached him for a feature but never worked.

5. He has favourite musicians
The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts, monitors how the 196 States that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and/or its two Optional Protocols are complying with their obligations.

The sessions will be held on the following schedule in the ground floor conference room of Palais Wilson in Geneva:

On Friday 28 September, the Committee will hold its 2018 Day of General Discussion, a special all-day public event, on the theme of Protecting and empowering children as human rights defenders, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Room XVII at Palais des Nations.

A Child Advisory Team supported the Committee in organizing the event, and all the discussions will be moderated by a child advisor and an adult member of the Committee. Around 300 participants are expected to attend, including numerous children human rights defenders from all regions of the world.
The SEC in a letter dated September 7, 2018, asked Menzgold Ghana Limited to shut down with immediate effect in the trading of gold until further notice.

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The letter which was signed by the Deputy Director General of SEC, Paul Ababio said that the SEC hereby directs Menzgold Company Ltd to shut down immediately the business of trading in gold collectibles with guaranteed returns to clients which constitutes, in essence, dealing in securities with neither the necessary license nor disclosure authorised by the SEC.

The letter added that no new contracts should be created and all advertising of the investment business halted with immediate effect.

"As a law-abiding organisation, we have referred the matter to our lawyers and rest assured, the right action shall be taken."
Accra-based Class FM reports that the casualties include a 13-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman.

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The floods have also led to the destruction of several farmlands along the White Volta.

About 1,105 acres (442 hectares) of crop lands have so far been consumed, with many people also currently displaced.

The West Mamprusi Municipal Director of Agriculture, Matthew Adua, estimates that about 2,325 people have had their crops destroyed from 35 communities.

Among the communities affected by the floods are Kariminga, Biu, Dibsi, Kurugu, Siringa, Biu, Yinfio and Daboya in the North Gonja District.

Reports suggest that Governments Planting for Food & Jobs (PFJ) programme is also under serious threat as many farms have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed has paid a visit to affected areas and victims to lend his support.

He said whiles government is doing its best regarding the situation, philanthropists must also come on board to assist with relief measures.
Seth Nana Amowi was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of GHc 20,000 with a surety.

The Court ordered that the surety should be either his father or brother as prayed the Prosecution.

The accused has been charged with obstruction and offensive conduct after he threw himself at a Presidential convoy in an attempt to kill himself.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Amegah, the incident happened on August 7 around the Jubilee House.

DSP Amegah told the court that the accused hid himself close to the Jubilee House whiles waiting for the President.

He narrated that Amowi emerged from his hide-out and crossed the convoy when it got nearer to him.

The Police Chief said but for the car stopping abruptly, the accused would have succeeded in his plans of killing himself.

He explained that when the attempt failed, Amowi started hitting the Presidents car and had to be whisked away by the security team.

Meanwhile, the accused admitted in his caution statement that he tried committing suicide as he had failed severally to put his grievances before President Akufo-Addo.
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While Elon Musk's Boring Company digs underground tunnels for ultra-high-speed Hyperloop transport, Google cofounder Larry Page once had visions of using similar technology to propel bicyclists through the sky.

Bloomberg reports that Page, the cofounder of Google and the CEO of its parent company Alphabet, previously led a Google project, codenamed Heliox  an ambitious plan to build a plastic tube, suspended hundreds of feet in the air, that would use a mixture of helium and oxygen to propel cyclists at incredibly high speeds.

The project, which began in 2015, never came to fruition, but the team was working out of a former NASA hangar where they built a prototype, per the report. The tube was planned to be about the width of a standard subway car, and was envisioned to stretch from the Googleplex headquarters in Mountain View to San Francisco, a distance of some 35 miles. Riders would enter from the ground level at the Googleplex, and exit in San Francisco.

Although the project never became reality, it's a good example of Page's sometimes far-fetched ideas. He's taken on a number of futuristic projects  both inside and outside of Alphabet  with varying degrees of success.

At Alphabet, Page has been involved with Google X, a secretive research lab where ideas like Google Glass and Project Loon came to life, as well as Sidewalk Labs, an urban infrastructure project. Outside of Alphabet, Page has funded projects like Kitty Hawk's 'flying cars.'
The University graduated its 43 pioneer medical students and rewarded some of them with amazing prizes as the best graduating student, Esther Adaobi Azom went home with a brand new car and N500,000 cash prize.

While presenting the prizes to the students, the Founder of the University, Prof Afe Babalola, described Azom's academic achievement as unmatchable.

He said, ''this University is very proud of our student, and for this reason, we want to give prizes to some of them and the first person in the overall best graduating student. For this unmatchable achievement, which we are very proud of, we are giving you a prize donated by one of my clients, a brand new car costing N5.7m. In addition, we are also giving a prize of N500,000''.

Azom maintained an excellent record of distinction and won the founders' award scholarship of N500,000 from 100 to 500 level.

The young medical doctor was also said to have had distinctions in all her In her MBBS exams papers which include Surgery, Medicine and Community Medicine.

While delivering the valedictory speech, Azom thanked the founder of the University, for making her dream come true.

''Today is the happiest day of my life and I am pretty sure it is the happiest day of every member of my class. Because now we can officially stand outside and call ourselves medical doctors. Today, everything seems so beautiful, even the rain is beautiful in its own way.

''Most importantly we just want to thank God for today because without him today won't be possible. more than any other thing today, today is our founders day, today is the day of the founder of the fastest growing university in Nigeria.

''The founder of the pace-setting university in Nigeria. Today is the day of the man who has put in a lot into this university. We want to thank him as well as his beautiful wife who has both acted as our mother and our father in our class''.

Other outstanding students get fantastic prizes

The University also rewarded another female student who has two distinctions out of three papers with a cash prize of N1m while another male student went home with N500,000 for having a distinction in surgery.
The music star made this known on Friday, September 14, 2018, via his Instagram page. According to a statement released by his team, due to conflict of time and NYSC duties, he is canceling his remaining tour dates in the United States of America.

" I apologize to all my Fans but Duty calls! But I promise new dates would be announced for Houston Dallas LA and San Francisco  We will reschedule and add more dates. Shout out to all the fans who sold out each city so far," he captioned the statement.

For his fellow corp members, this is a big news as they will be so excited to see the most popular corp member return to camp. In case you aren't aware, Davido joined the thousands of young graduates who gather every year to take part in the mandatory one-year orientation programme.

See 1st photos of Davido as he goes to NYSC camp

Ladies and gentlemen, lovers of Davido, we would love for you to see the first photo of your favourite celebrity as he embarks on the mandatory three weeks orientation at NYSC camp. The music star took to his Instagram page on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, where he shared a photo of himself wearing the traditional NYSC kit.

"Otondo OBO ... #Nysc .. tying up every loose end !" he captioned the photo.

It would be recalled that Davido graduated from Babcock University in 2015 with a degree in Music. He graduated with a second class upper division from the private university.

Davido graduates from Music department at Babcock University

Davido, the African pop star completed his educational ambition on Sunday, June 7, 2015, from the Babcock University. The HKN act was the only graduating student from the Department of Music which was created and funded by his father Adedeji Adeleke in 2013.

THE NET spoke to the Head of the Department Olusegun Ojuola who confirmed this. "Well, its really a long journey, because its through the help of Dr. Deji Adeleke that the department was developed over three and a half years ago. But we actually started admitting (students) in 2012."
Wanuri Kahiu, Kenyan filmmaker is fighting for the ban on her film to be lifted in her home country ahead of call for submission to be considered for an Oscar.

This was made known through a post on the Twitter account [@dhahabukenya] on Wednesday, September 12th, with the caption,

''Creatives including Rafiki film producer, Wanuri Kahiu have sued InfoFfcb [the official Twitter account of the Kenya Film Classification Board] and Ezekiel Mutua [CEO of the board] for infringing on freedom of expression.

Justice Okwany today ordered all parties to the case to appear before her this Friday for directions.''

The film Rafiki, which means "friend" in Swahili, traces the love story between two young women.

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) had placed a ban on it, saying the film "seeks to legitimize lesbian romance".

KFCB warned that anyone found in possession of the film would be in breach of the law in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by 14 years.

Wanuri Kahiu in an interview with BBC shortly after the ban had said, "I really had hoped that the classification board would classify it as an 18. Because we feel the Kenyan audience is a mature, discerning enough audience."

The movie recently got screened at the TIFF Festival making its North American debut, where Kahiu told TIFF, "I don't necessarily consider myself an activist; I truly consider myself a storyteller,"

"But when somebody starts to infringe on your rights to be creative and exercise your work, that becomes a problem. That's when we decided to push back and take the Classification Board to court."
A tourist who was busy exploring the country reportedly discovered her corpse while taking pictures and documenting birds.

Captain Nqobile Gwala, a spokesperson for the police confirms that her remains was seen on Friday, September 7, 2018. This was gathered in a report by the Linda Ikeji's Blog (LIB).

LIB reveals that signs of assault were obvious on the body of the deceased. A murder case has been opened in connection with her death but no suspect has been arrested.

"The murder of a healthcare workers is always a sad day for us because these are people who are tasked to do the Lords work which is to save lives and bring healing to those who are ailing.

"These incidents are therefore extremely concerning. There is just no place for brutal incidents such as this one in our society.

It is unacceptable and we call on law enforcement authorities to do everything in their power to bring the responsible person(s) to book.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time and would also like to urge anyone who might have information regarding this murder to come forward and alert law enforcement authorities," says Sibongiseni Dhlomo reportedly a healthcare official in South Africa.
While launching the scheme in Osun state on Monday, September 3, 2018, the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said the traders mini programme was part of the federal governments social intervention aimed at funding micro business in the country.

However, while many Nigerians on Twitter thought N10,000 loan is too small and not sufficient for anyone to start a business, others believe the loan could be a good capital for many petty traders.

Here are some of the business ideas Twitter suggested for small scale traders to start with the Federal Government's Traders' Moni.

ALSO READ:5 popular clothing markets that help you save money in Lagos
Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, the Permanent Secretary in his ministry, Dambazau said the facility would add impetus to the nations fight against irregular migration and cross-border criminality.

The responsibility of securing the territorial borders of a vast country like Nigeria is quite enormous and overwhelming.

This is why establishing border patrol bases is timely as a means of supporting existing border patrol structures by intensifying surveillance along notorious routes and enforcing our immigration laws.

It is our belief that the operation of this patrol base and others that will come on stream will add impetus to the fight against trafficking in persons, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and other forms of cross-border crimes across our borders.

The minister stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was working on all fronts to ensure internal security, with effective border policing as one of the priority areas.

While lauding the NIS for the initiative, Dambazau urged officers who would man the bases and other border patrol units to continuously show awareness of their role.

He stressed the need for them to work closely with other security agencies especially in the area of information sharing and joint operations along the border where necessary.

The Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr Muhammad Babandede, said the project was a demonstration of the agencys commitment to effective patrol and monitoring of the nations lengthy borders to control irregular migration.

In addition to the Mazanya Border Patrol Base, the NIS has also established three others, we are running a pilot project: one in Ogun (Oja Odan), one in Jigawa at Maigatari, another one in Oyo at Shaki.

What we are saying is that it will no longer be possible for immigration officers to stay at the border waiting for migrants to come.

We have to patrol the borders, not where human beings are but the bushes because we are bush officers.

We are paid to be border officers; patrol the flank of the borders, not to disturb people in the cities.

Babandede said the Jibiya axis was one of the major routes of trans-Sahara migration in the country.

He stated that the siting of the base there was strategic, and designed to increase the capacity of the NIS to effectively check deter such movements, and curtail terrorism, smuggling of goods, among others.

The comptroller general explained that the base was designed to extend command and control of border patrol units and to provide support for immigration operations.

He said the base had provision for office and residential accommodation in addition to being a holding facility for the detention of irregular migrants.

He further said the base was equipped with modern communication facilities for easy and secure sharing of information.
The aspirant wrote a petition, dated September 7, to President Muhammadu Buharito urgently request extra protection for him and his family, claiming that they have been targeted with criminal intimidation and death threats.

In the petition, Atiku alleged that a certain telephone number has sent death threats to his wife and daughters to compel him to drop his presidential ambition.

He alleged that there have been threats to poison, rape and kill his family as well as blow his plane out of the sky.

"We control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa. We are in government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and if they do, we will assassinate you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane," one message read.

In the petition which was also was copied to the national chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, Atiku said the threats could constitute real danger to national security.

The petition read, "I present my highest compliments to the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your excellency kind review/investigation and urgent consideration of extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyber stalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704.

"From the foregoing, Mr President can see that if adequate and urgent steps are not taken to identify and deal with these threats, it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute real danger to national security.

"Considering that this threats border on the right of my family and I to life as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person (s) behind the threat, expose and prosecute the culprit (s) in accordance with the laws.

"I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended)."

Atiku to battle long list of aspirants for PDP's ticket

While he's one of the favourites to win the presidential ticket of the PDP, Atiku will have to defeat a lot of influential politicians who have also set their eyes on the prize.

He faces competition in Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former governors, Sule Lamido, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Makarfi, as well as Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Buhari was Nigeria's military Head of State between 1983 and 1985 but was democratically elected as president in 2015 off the back of a campaign that he's a reformed democrat.

While speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Kogi State on Thursday, September 13, 2018, Atiku said the president is not as democratic as he claims.

Despite his reservations about the president's democratic ideals, he said he expects him to peacefully hand over if he loses in the 2019 presidential election.

"Even though I know that President Buhari is not a democrat, I believe he will hand over if he loses," he said.

Atiku's belief that Buhari will peacefully hand over next year is a departure from his comments last week when he said he's worried the president is too "power-drunk" to leave without a fight.

He said, "We are dealing now with a retired general (Buhari), very uncompromising, also power-drunk who will not be ready to leave power without a fight - or at least those are some of my fears for the current elections."

The presidency dismissed Atiku's comments noting that the president is a committed democrat who is not intoxicated by power.

When Atiku dumped Buhari's All Progressives' Congress (APC) and returned to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017, after months of growing discontent, he accused the president of neglecting him and condemned the APC for "instituting a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy".

Atiku to battle long list of aspirants for PDP's ticket

While he's one of the favourites to win the presidential ticket of the PDP, Atiku will have to defeat a lot of influential politicians who have also set their eyes on the prize.

He faces competition in Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and former governors, Sule Lamido, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Makarfi, as well as Rabiu Kwankwaso.
And an exodus has already begun.

During the first 12 days of September, "available information indicates that a sharp increase in hostilities and fears of further escalation has led to the displacement of over 38,500 people," the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) said.

That marks a hike of nearly 10,000 people from the figure provided by the UN on Monday.

However, OCHA said that 4,500 of those who had fled since September 1 had "spontaneously returned" over the past three days amid a relative decrease in hostilities in western and southern rural parts of Idlib province.

It said most of those who left their homes had fled towards the north, towards the Turkish border.

Others chose to flee into agricultural lands near their original communities "with the hope that they will be able to quickly return ... should the hostilities stop," OCHA said.

The province and adjacent rural areas form the largest piece of territory still held by Syria's beleaguered rebels, worn down by a succession of government victories in recent months.

President Bashar al-Assad has now set his sights on Idlib, and his forces and their Russian allies have since the beginning of the month stepped up bombardment of the densely populated province.

Some three million people live in the zone now, about half of them already displaced by the brutal seven-year war and others heavily dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.

A major military operation in Idlib is expected to pose a humanitarian nightmare because there is no nearby opposition territory left in Syria where people could be evacuated.

"We are in no way ready for the worst-case scenario," the UN's Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Panos Moumtzis, told reporters in Geneva.

"Should we see three million of the people headed to the Turkish border, this is a scenario that by far outweighs the capacity of all the humanitarian organisations put together," he said.

"At the moment as humanitarians while we hope for the best, we are preparing for the worst."
The Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Kofi Annan who gave up the ghost on 18 August 2018 arrived in Ghana ahead of a three-day burial ceremony. The once energetic peacekeeper was whisked away by death after suffering from a short illness in Bern, Switzerland.

Among the convoy was his widow, Nane Maria Annan, children and selected executives of the UN. The body was received at the Kotoka International Airport amidst a solemn ceremony which was headed by the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo. The Ghana Armed Forces received the convoy on behalf of the people.

The main burial ceremony will be on September 13 before he is laid to rest at the new Military Cemetery.

This video of Kofi Annangs daughter crying when his body arrived in Ghana on Monday is just sad.

Watch below:
Photo: Google Street View

After serving Kamloops for 16 years as a year-round costume rental shop, Pandoras Costume Box will be celebrating its final Halloween season in a retail space.

At the end of this year, the costume shop will be closing, bringing the curtain down on almost two decades of playing dress-up. Owner/operator Marian Truscott, a professional costume designer, will be retiring from the retail sector to pursue more of the costume design work for the theatre that has long been the heart of the business.



The past year alone has seen Truscott design productions for Western Canada Theatre and Project X Theatre Productions Society in Kamloops, as well as Theatre North West in Prince George. She has also been kept busy mentoring students in the Thompson Rivers University Theatre department.

Closing the retail operation of Pandoras Costume Box will allow Truscott to focus more completely on upcoming designs with numerous theatre companies. This closure will also allow her the freedom to accept design contracts previously made impossible due to the time constraints of running a retail business.



This closure will result in a once in a lifetime opportunity. In the next few months, Pandoras Costume Box will be selling off 95% of its rental stock.

Marian has had a part in designing or sewing more than 50 per cent of the over 4,000 costumes in the inventory. She has been collecting, designing, and sewing costumes for the past 30 years and has always resisted selling the most precious parts of her inventory. Until now.

Though 5% of the inventory will be retained for use in upcoming theatre productions, 95% of the stock will be sold off. As well, all new retail accessories will be 25% off.



In order to prepare, the store will be closed starting Friday Sept 12 and reopening Thursday September 18 for our Once in a Lifetime sale.



Store hours will be Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the rest of September, with extended hours starting in October.



We would like to thank all of our customers who have supported us over the years and made Pandoras Costume Box such a success. If you have a favorite costume from years previous, it could now be for sale.


Kamphuis, 47, has not been seen since leaving his hotel in the northern Norwegian town of Bodo August 20.

His disappearance has triggered a wave of conspiracy theories on social media, ranging from CIA and Russian involvement to a mission to carry out a secret project for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

However police said they were examining three theories: a voluntary disappearance including a possible suicide, an accident or a crime.

WikiLeaks, which published secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010, has called Kamphuis's disappearance "strange".

It said he is an associate of Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London since 2012 over fears he would extradited to the United States.

In a statement on Thursday, police said they are "still holding all possibilities open in respect to what might have happened to the missing person".

On Wednesday, they said a fisherman found some of Kamphuis's personal belongings floating in the waters about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Bodo.

Police have not clarified what the objects are due to the ongoing investigation, but Norwegian broadcaster TV2 reported that they include Kamphuis' identification papers.

The kayak was found in the same area as the objects and police are continuing their search.

Kamphuis had a ticket but did not get on an August 22 flight to the Netherlands from Trondheim, a city located more than 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of Bodo.

A phone linked to Kamphuis was briefly switched on in an area near the southwestern city of Stavanger, located 1,600 kilometres from Bodo, on August 30, police said, but could not confirm who was using it.
The agreement, brokered by regional bloc the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar late Wednesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, is the culmination of a months-long revival of negotiations.

Susy William, executive director of the country's National Alliance for Women's Lawyers, captured the disappointment of many, who feted a hard-won freedom from Sudan in 2011 only to see a fresh war begin between two of the nation's independence heroes, just two years later.

"Citizens believed these leaders were not going to take us back to war because these were our leaders who fought for this country, these were the leaders who led us to independence," she said of Kiir and Machar, former comrades and bush war commanders.

"But the opposite happened: they dragged us back. They have failed to demonstrate their responsibility," she added.

"These are people who don't care about us as citizens, but people who care about their positions."

Under the new agreement, Kiir remains president while Machar wins back his old post of deputy.

'No hope'

South Sudan's latest war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup.

Several IGAD-brokered peace efforts and ceasefires have since failed, with the last agreement collapsing in July 2016 during days of fighting in the capital Juba that forced Machar to flee for his life.

A return to the status quo, with the same people in the same positions, has disappointed outside observers as well.

Long-time South Sudan watcher John Prendergast of the Enough Project pressure group said the deal has "significant flaws".

"(It) lacks meaningful checks and balances on a presidency that already wields immense powers, which are primarily used to loot the country's resources and deploy extreme violence against opponents," he said.

"This new peace deal fails to undo the theft of government revenue by entrusting the same corrupt politicians without any meaningful checks and balances."

Diplomats in Addis Ababa tentatively welcomed it as a step in the right direction, but little more.

"Scepticism prevails," said one. "It's definitely not perfect," conceded another.

But for the array of diplomats and leaders pushing for peace over nearly five years, a faulty deal is better than none.

"We remain concerned about the parties' level of commitment to this agreement," said a group of ambassadors from Britain, Norway and the US, together known as the Troika, demanding "a significant change in their approach."

While welcoming the deal the Troika said, "We remain concerned the agreement will not deliver the peace that the people of South Sudan deserve."

China's top diplomat for Africa, Xu Jinghu, had a more upbeat assessment, rehashing an old maxim to describe the peace plan as "an exemplary practice of African solutions, by African people, to African issues."

But this did not find many takers in South Sudan itself.

"The peace deal is signed and it's better than no deal, but I can only praise the parties if they implement it," said Mary Nyoka, a teacher in Juba whose experience of the war and the country's leaders has taught her caution.
It reads 'Those who worked between the 1990 and 2018, are eligible for withdrawal of KES161,500.00 from NSSF Kenya. Check if your name is on the list of those persons who are eligible to withdraw these funds"

The link leads to a shadowy site that is a bad attempt to replicate the NSSF official colours. After a sequence of questions that a user is asked to answer, one is asked to share the link with as many Whatsapp contacts as possible.

Whatsapp

NSSF has warned Kenyans not to click the link and delete it immediately it's forwarded to them.
The details are contained in the lengthy statement Obado made to detectives during his eight-hour grilling session on Tuesday.

The Governor painted the story of an ambitious young lady who lured him into a pregnancy, and blackmailed him with outrageous financial demands.

Obado also told the police that Sharon had shared details of their love affair with his wife Hellen, and one of his sons.

According to the County boss, the love affair started in November after Sharon pursued her for a long period.

Obado said he had several dates with Sharon but was unaware of the varsity students marital status and the fact that she was a mother to two kids.

In April, Sharon informed her of her pregnancy, and demanded to be moved to Nairobi.

In May, Obado introduced Sharon to an estate agent and committed to buy her a Sh10 million apartment  an offer she declined.

According to the Governors statement, she insisted on a Sh35 million house in Westlands which Obado refused to purchase. She later requested a Sh25 million house which was also rejected.

It was then that Sharon started sending messages to Obados wife and kids.

In one message, she is said to have sent a photo of her baby bump to one of Obados sons, with the caption; I am carrying your brother, send it to your mother.

After the messages reached his wife, Obado said he confessed everything to his immediate family and cut off communications with his student lover.

Far from the Sh10 million offer he had initially offered, the Governor downscaled his offer to a maximum of two acres in Rongo  something Sharon was unwilling to accept.
Published on:

13 September 2018



Dr Daniela Nadj calls for a radical rethinking of notions of femininity in armed conflict Dr Daniela Nadj calls for a radical rethinking of notions of femininity in armed conflict

International Criminal Law and Sexual Violence against Women, by Dr Daniela Nadj from Queen Marys School of Law, explores the prosecution of wartime sexual violence in international criminal law and asks what the juridicisation of gender-based violence signifies for women.

The book is underpinned by two major legal developments: the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 1992 and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1994.

It reveals that both tribunals contributed to framing women through either a victimhood or motherhood lens, which Dr Nadj argues does not allow for the possibility of women exercising resistance.

By bringing to the surface the complexity and multi-faceted gendered identities in wartime, the book calls for a radical rethinking of notions of femininity in armed conflict.

Rethinking 'femininity'

At the book launch on 10 September, Dr Nadj explained how she seeks to create a more imaginative portrayal of women by creating a space for the women who have been side-lined from mainstream feminist strategies and seeing past injury as constructive of female subjectivity.

Using witness testimonies of nurses, journalists, bar owners and administrators, the book illustrates how, even in wartime, women had a voice and purpose that was unrelated to their sexuality. There is always resistance in these scenarios and we need to give voice to these women too, argued Dr Nadj at the launch.

The voices of these witnesses, coupled with their sense of agency, firmly contradicts the predominant wartime gendered identities constructed in international law. We need to give these voices greater emphasis and reflect the voices of women who exercised agency, she added.

Dr Nadj argues that although both tribunals provided a legacy for how gender justice is incorporated into international law, both depicted women with little sense of agency.

She criticises the self-contained nature of criminal law, which she argues is too narrow to capture the multi-dimensional nature of female identity in wartime. The language of international criminal law can only begin to fully reflect womens multiple wartime identities if it recaptures female agency, rather than if it assumes women in wartime to inevitably be victims, she said at the launch.

To support this, Dr Nadj notes how the Yugoslav war was intrinsically linked to rape, and that the raped woman has become the metaphor for female identity during the conflict.

Reawakening debates around female suffering

Dr Nadj also explores the role of feminism as a result of the tribunals, explaining that by catapulting wartime sexual violence onto the front pages, the tribunals reawakened debates around female suffering in wartime. She argues that as a result of the tribunals, rape became a constant concern of feminist legal study.

However, despite the tremendously important work that has resulted from this feminist advocacy, Dr Nadj notes how the feminists who have helped to achieve these legal successes have also been complicit in the reproduction of reified gendered identities in international law. She argues that this is because these feminists have framed the harms against women as ethnicised, rather than gendered, crimes.

The book also argues that these feminists have, to an extent, abandoned the critical origins of feminism as a framework for questioning sovereignty, authority, mastery and control.

More information
Brendan Burke, maritime historian, joins The Long Lunch to discuss the ghost ship phenomenon, and his own experience with the remains of a boat that washed up on the coast of Florida this year, which he believes could have dated back to the 1700's.

He says a ghost ship is a romantic notion but usually they occur through completely

rational situations.
New Zealand is lagging behind dozens of countries who have gotten aboard the sugar tax train, says a public health expert.

Many health experts and dentists have long called for a tax on the calorific sweetener, despite the coalition Governments aversion to introduce another tax.

Australia and New Zealand are very high consumers of sugary beverages so a tax is needed to help reduce that, said Barry M Popkin, a distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children should have a maximum of three teaspoons a day and adults six teaspoons a day.

New Zealanders, however, typically consume six times that amount, according to 2017 research.



We are in a climate where people just dont want taxes.

The worlds sugar tax club now boasts 38 countries, according to Dr Popkin, including Mexico, Chile, and the United Kingdom.

A tax on sugary drinks in the UK came into force in April with 18p per litre for drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, and 24p per litre if they contain more than 8g per 100ml. Coca-Cola, for example, would fall into the latter category.

As a result of the tax, Dr Popkin told RadioLIVE that British companies reduced the amount of sugar in their products to avoid a higher tax bracket.

A world-leading sugar tax in Mexico has shown a reduction in sugary beverage purchases over the past four years, with more water bought as an alternative. It's unclear yet whether it's had an effect on obesity rates.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission expressed preliminary concerns regarding the proposed merger of Siemens Mobility and Alstom on September 6. 'The ACCCs preliminary view is that the proposed merger may substantially lessen competition in the supply of heavy rail signalling systems for passenger rail networks in Australia, in particular ...
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Photo: Contributed Duffy Baker

Duffy Baker, the owner of an award-winning construction company in Penticton, is putting his name forward to run for city council next month.

The 31-year-old owns and operates Duffy Baker Construction, which has been in business since 2016 and employs 16 people. Earlier this year, the company was named the Thompson Okanagan's Trades Business of the Year, and was a finalist for the Premier's People Choice Award in the Small Business B.C. Awards.

Baker has called Penticton home for 12 years and lives with his fiance, Koa Hughes, and two step children. He and Hughes are the subjects of a CBC Documentary airing this fall which focuses on the daily life of entrepreneurs.

His platform for council is centred around "affordability and poverty reduction, community revitalization, and enhancing economic prosperity."

Baker is a status Ojibwe First Nation who grew up in a single-parent home on a reserve in Ontario, and he said he experienced daily struggles of poverty and trauma.

B.C. is the only province without a poverty reduction plan, and too many families struggle just to make ends meet. I think everyone in the Okanagan knows there is a housing crisis," he said.

Baker is also on the committee for the non-profit Mamas for Mamas which supports low-income mothers and their children, and he said more action needs to be taken to accommodate vulnerable residents.

As a builder, he added he'd like to see more initiatives to entice developers to build affordable housing. He said he was recently spent a week in the Netherlands with a group from the Okanagan learning alternate styles of housing and transportation.

He added he wants to see more support for small businesses to start up and grow. "Small businesses provide employment opportunities, contribute to community growth, and promote economic growth."

Baker called himself a "young guy" in the coming election, and urged the importance for residents to get out and vote.

"The only way to get the city you want is by making sure the people who are getting voted in also want the same type of city."

As of posting, Baker was one of 19 candidates for city council listed on the city's website.
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat claims the Trump administration has orchestrated an offensive campaign against the Palestinians.
This was going to be a story about how President Trump finally figured out a Twitter strategy that even his adversaries could appreciate: encouraging Americans in the path of Hurricane Florence to heed the advice of authorities and evacuate.

Then the president got to thinking about Puerto Rico, and the musings of another human typhoon, former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, came to mind. I was haunted by tweets every single day, she whispered in February to a fellow reality show contestant. What is he going to tweet next?

Since the time of Franklin Roosevelt, U.S. presidents have sought to circumvent the White House press corps, and have invariably employed the latest technologies to try and accomplish that goal. In other words, Trumps argument that he needs a way to speak directly to the public because the media are against him is not new  even if, in his case, its never been more accurate.

And with more than 50 million followers, Trump can reach more Americans than all the network nightly newscasts put together. Ahead of Hurricane Florence making landfall, he was making productive use of that megaphone: The president tweeted more than 15 times about the storm and government preparedness for the disaster.

But then disaster of another sort struck. Early Thursday, Trump addressed a new study from George Washington University that estimates last years hurricane death toll in Puerto Rico to be nearly 3,000. He disputed that in a tweet saying that the increased number was a political tactic from Democrats: 3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico, Trump wrote. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...

This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico, the president added. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!

As always, reaction on the internet was fast and furious. Many savaged these claims  stupid and tone deaf were some of the milder insults  while others said that though it was an unfortunate assertion, it did bring Puerto Rico back into the spotlight.

Twisted nature of our current political ecosystem is that it took those confounding, conspiratorial Trump tweets to focus our attention on a Puerto Rico crisis that should've been top of mind all along, tweeted Astead W. Herndon, a New York Times reporter. [L]ike we'd be in day 7 of oped/Woodward gate otherwise.

Experts in the field say that despite the dustup Trumps tweets engender, they remain an effective means of communication, particularly in times of crisis or disaster. They reach a broad audience in real time and can provide urgent updates as events unfold.

I think were at a point in time where social media has become the medium for getting out a message quickly and appropriately, said Matt Anthes, CEO of SociallyMined, a data company that helps companies use social media platforms. He noted that Trump added more Twitter followers in one year than the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with its 713,000 followers, has in total.

You can scale down and look at who are the followers of Trump that live in the Southeast quadrant that are going to be affected [by the hurricane] and use tools to micro-target them, Anthes said. Thats more effective than the FEMA alert system.

Another expert said that the weight of the office gives Trump more authority than faceless agencies. People make huge sacrifices to evacuate and can grow distrustful of scientists and forecasters when, the last time they were told to leave due to biblical flooding, the area ended up getting only a few droplets, said Kalev Leetaru, founder of the GDELT Project, a data company that monitors media globally. So, when the White House confirms the statements of all those others and says, Its time to go, that may help to shift some people's opinion that perhaps it really is time to leave.

(Leetaru is also a media fellow for the RealClearFoundation who contributes to the RealClearPolitics FactCheck Review.)

But sometimes, even tweets on natural disasters have a purely political purpose. This is when it gets dicey for the president. Former Trump campaign adviser Sam Nunberg said that Trump merely wants to counter allegations thrown at him  such as the increased death toll in Puerto Rico, along with the implication that its his fault. Theyre trying to set this up that he is a Katrina-like Bush president, said Nunberg. He has to preempt and blunt it out and get out the facts.
"It's the Lord of the Flies on LaSalle Street," wrote columnist John Kass in the Chicago Tribune. In case the references are unclear, whether because high schools haven't been assigning the William Golding novel in the last few decades or because out-of-towners unaccountably don't realize that Chicago's City Hall front is on LaSalle Street, the curmudgeonly Kass was writing about Mayor Rahm Emanuel's announcement that he won't run for a third term as mayor next February.

Should readers from outside Chicagoland care? Yes, because Emanuel's surprise exit is a sign of the unworkability of policies that will go national if Resistance Democrats oust Donald Trump, and indeed of some policies embraced by Trump as well.

Emanuel will be leaving office as a frustrated and unsuccessful mayor, even though he is one of the great political talents of his generation. Former Clinton fundraiser and White House staffer, Chicago congressman and chairman of House Democrats' campaign committee when they overturned a Republican majority in 2006:

He's done it all.

He gave up a House leadership post to be Barack Obama's first White House chief of staff; he gave that up to run for mayor -- the job that every traditional Chicago politician considers far more important than anything "out of town" (said with a derisive curl of lip).

Emanuel's decision -- and his robust victory margin -- suggested that he intended to stay at 121 North LaSalle Street about as long as the 20-plus years of the ally he replaced, Richard M. Daley, and Daley's father before him. Instead he'll serve just eight.

Emanuel inherited a city whose electorate was divided roughly equally between blacks on the South and West Sides, Hispanics on the West and Northwest Sides, and gentry liberals running ever farther inland from the lakefront. It had a great economic heritage and enjoyed robust growth in the 1990s.

It has been downhill since. Chicago and Illinois have been hobbled by metastasizing pension obligations, frozen in place by state courts and state House speaker (for all but two years since 1982!) Michael Madigan. Taxes have been rising: Shoppers on North Michigan Avenue pay the nation's highest taxes.

Chicagoans have been voting with their feet. Metro Chicago has by far the highest percentage of domestic out-migration of any major metropolitan area, and net outflow this decade is 5 percent of its 2010 population. In particular, blacks have been leaving metro Chicago for Atlanta and other points south.

Emanuel's electoral base has been lakefront liberals plus a plurality of whichever minority group hasn't produced his main opponent. That was blacks in 2015, but his standing with black voters has been hurt by his concealment during electoral season of the videotape of a police shooting of a young black man.

At the same time, Emanuel acquiesced in Obama administration oversight of the city's police department. And police officers' retreat from proactive policing has led to enormous increases in shootings and homicides.

I happened to be in Chicago in the early weeks of December 2008 and saw the celebratory air of a city festooned with posters hailing the new president -- the first president Chicago ever produced. But after leaving office in January 2017, Obama has not moved back to Chicago and recently only visited briefly. Hope and change is not in the air.

Chicago is one of the great creations of mankind: a frontier post in 1833 that was one of the world's great cities just 60 years later, showing off in the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 its new lakefront parks, its new electric light systems, its sanitary canal channeling wastewater away from Lake Michigan, its pioneering skyscrapers and enormous stockyards and factories.

Now the economic foundations of the metropolis are being drained and undermined to provide the generous pensions of long-retired public employees, many of them now in income-tax-free Florida, while public schools are closed, services reduced, police patrols pulled back.

That looks like a future of decline for Chicago, and maybe for America, too. Democrats have shown zero interest in reducing the entitlements of retirees, not since President Bill Clinton broke off negotiations with House Speaker Newt Gingrich amid the impeachment crisis of 1998. Ditto Donald Trump, and no Republican seems to be raising the issue, as President George W. Bush did in 2005.

It's not a good sign -- like a cold wind coming off Lake Michigan -- that even as shrewd and well-connected a politician as Rahm Emanuel doesn't see a viable way forward.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM
For generations, parents taught children "You can't believe everything you read."

Now they ought to teach their offspring they can't trust everything they search on the internet because Google -- run by anti-conservative, anti-Trump elites -- is manipulating search results to advance a political agenda.

In a damning new video obtained and released by Breitbart this week, Google's top executives, including its founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, are heard lamenting the victory of Donald Trump following the 2016 presidential election. Brin kicks off their weekly company meeting by saying the meeting is "probably not the most joyous TGIF we've had" and that "most people here are pretty upset and pretty sad."

Clearly he doesn't speak for the roughly 63 million Americans who voted for Trump.

Notwithstanding, in the video, co-founder Brin describes Trump's supporters as fascists and extremists and vows to thwart the rise of populism. He adds that he is "deeply offended" by the Trump's victory and that the election conflicts with many of Google's values. Google's CFO, also saddened by Trump's win, promises that America's most highly trafficked search engine will "use the great strength and resources and reach we have to continue to advance really important values."

Perhaps this could explain why a Google News search on Trump churns out mostly negative stories about the president and his administration. In fact, a media research study conducted PJ Media found that 96 percent of the top 100 search returns on President Trump are from left-wing media outlets. Conservative outlets that would provide voters with a more balanced and positive analysis of the Trump administration are -- surprise! -- virtually invisible.

How is that possible when every major media outlet on all sides of the political spectrum is covering the Trump administration round the clock?

You don't need an Ivy League degree to see foul play.

But that's not all. A newly released email by another Google executive following the 2016 election reveals a get-out-the-vote effort directed toward Latino voters to benefit Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Add to it that during the election, Google was accused of burying information from search queries damaging to its candidate of choice, Hillary Clinton.

And then there's the boycott of the recent congressional hearing on foreign election interference and digital media bias against conservatives last week. Facebook and Twitter participated. Google did not.

Perhaps America's top search engine is scrambling to contain the public relations mess it has created -- or it's busy mounting a legal defense.

With the Department of Justice investigating all of the above, that's probably not a bad idea.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM
Good morning. Its Friday, September 14, 2018. On this date in 1959, at a few minutes after midnight Moscow time, a rocket named Luna 2 crash-landed on the moon. Why do we care what time it was in Russia? Heres why: Luna 2 was created in the Soviet Union and launched from the massive Baikonur Cosmodrome space facility on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

Thats right. Russian, not American, scientists were the first to send a man-made craft to the moon.

Ill have more on this event, and how it played inside the White House, in a moment. First, Id direct you, as I do each weekday, to our front page, which aggregates an array of columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. We also offer original material from our own reporters and contributors this morning, including the following:

* * *

Hurricane Donald: Trump Creates a New Twitter Storm. Sally Persons reports on the latest controversy fueled by the presidents tweets about the Puerto Rico death toll from last years hurricanes.

Trumps Palestinian Agenda. Alex Titus argues that the administrations decision to close the PLO office in Washington was intended to deliver a strong dose of reality to key Palestinian institutions, which just might lead to peace.

Global Economy Hasnt Recovered Since Lehman. In RealClearMarkets, Jeffrey Snider assesses change, or lack thereof, since the financial meltdown a decade ago.

Anti-Liberal Zealotry, Part 1: Our Immoderation. In the first of a five-part RealClearPolicy series, Peter Berkowitz considers the challenges faced by American democracy as reflected in Patrick Deneens recent book, Why Liberalism Failed.

Comprehensive Program Needed to Solve the Opioid Crisis. Also in RCPolicy, former HHS secretary and congressman Tom Price makes a case for a presidentially directed emergency program to address the national epidemic.

* * *

Remembered today mainly by space geeks, the events of September 12-14, 1959 gave the Soviets a leg up in the race to the heavens. Luna 2 sent important scientific information back to Baikonur, including confirmation that Earth's moon was not protected by radiation belts or a magnetic field.

Luna 2 gave the Russians bragging rights as well. The first man-made object had reached the moon -- and they had sent it there. Soviet engineers were proud of their technological feat, which had been achieved within 83 seconds of the predicted landing time, and the Kremlin was quick to realize the propaganda possibilities. Days later, on a previously scheduled visit to the United States, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev presented President Dwight Eisenhower with a copy of the pendant deposited on the moon by Luna 2.

The body language between the two men -- and Vice President Richard Nixon as well -- was intriguing. In a photo, all three are smiling, but its not exactly the same expression. Khrushchev is beaming, as one might expect, seemingly delighted both by his nations achievement and by the passive-aggressive little gesture hes just put over on Ike. For his part, Eisenhower seems to genuinely appreciate the elaborate doohickey. He examines it as if contemplating the scientific possibilities hes cradling in his hand. Nixon is smiling, too, but tightly. He looks, at least to me, like he wants to whack Khrushchev in the head with it.

The vice president's initial reaction inside the White House was to ask if the Soviets had faked their lunar landing. His public response was to warn the Russians that the presence of the Soviet flag on the moon did not give the Russians territorial rights there, and to insist, against all evidence, that the United States was still "way ahead" in the space race.

But history is more than a series of snapshots. It's a flowing stream, and in the fullness of time -- actually the very next week -- Khrushchev would reveal his own limitations, and that of the system that produced him, by throwing a public snit over being denied a visit to Disneyland. John F. Kennedy would defeat Richard Nixon in 1960 and soon commit his country to landing human beings on the moon, and bringing them back safely.

Kennedys goal was realized, and on his timetable, too. In this millennium, however, Russians and Americans hang out in space together and a Hollywood movie about the moon landing celebrates the event as a human achievement of international significance -- and not a national milestone for the United States of America. Richard Nixon isnt the only American who would disagree.

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
WASHINGTON -- The public conversation this past week was dominated by a book about a man who is obsessed with winning, President Trump. Too little attention was given to a book about someone who illustrates the benefits of losing, former Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry's memoir, "Every Day Is Extra," was published in early September. It's interesting less for new revelations about diplomacy or politics (there aren't many) than for its study of a politician's character, and how it was shaped by personal and political difficulty. Whatever you may think about Kerry, he emerges in these pages as a man who's strong enough not to worry that in telling the truth about himself, he might look weak.

"I had been knocked on my ass," Kerry writes of his defeat in the 2004 presidential campaign. "I felt a galloping sense of frustration, disappointment, anger and sadness, often all at once." After this intense letdown, the careful, ambitious-to-a-fault Kerry began to take more risks. The worst thing that could happen to him had happened. He began to breathe.

The Kerry who lost to George W. Bush in 2004 was an incomplete man. The clearest sign was his inability to fight back successfully when right-wing opponents trashed his combat record in Vietnam, where he was thrice wounded and decorated for valor under fire. Kerry let himself be "Swift-boated," as it came to be known, by enemies who lied about his record and, when he protested, kept on lying.

The Swift-boating episode was an early warning of America's slide toward "post-truth" politics and civic dysfunction. But for Kerry, it was a moment when he stopped listening to other people and found his inner voice. He began taking on unpopular causes like Palestinian rights, or negotiating with adversaries like Iran. Much of this work was in secret, as a deniable private semi-emissary for President Obama, a man he had every reason to resent for having rocketed from one-term junior senator to the White House.

Kerry started doing things that a calculating politician wouldn't do. He traveled to Gaza in 2009, one of the poorest, saddest places in the Middle East -- because he wanted to show that a high-level American cared about the people's plight. When Kerry and his wife arrived in Gaza City, one of his aides joked to Teresa: "In the best-case scenario, we could be talking to members of a foreign terrorist organization on live TV; in the worst case, we are all about to die."

Perhaps the biggest scoop in the book is Kerry's description of how, in 2011, he opened what became America's back channel to Iran through the Omani government. His two trips to Muscat led to secret visits by State Department officials in 2012, and eventually to the Iran nuclear agreement, which Kerry pursued tirelessly when he became secretary of state in 2013. The point here isn't whether the deal was wise (as I believe) but that Kerry was persistent in doing what he thought was in America's interest.

Kerry's pursuit of virtue has always annoyed some people. It's part of the patrician side of his character that goes against the American grain of anti-elitism. Kerry has been the good boy, the dutiful son, the decorated vet who switched to the anti-war movement, the ingratiating but slightly aloof politician. Certainly, he was shaped by the institutions that defined the establishment: St. Paul's School, Yale, Skull and Bones, the Navy, the Senate. For some Americans, it was hard not to dislike a man who had been so successful.

But in every story, there are mysteries, and the strength of Kerry's memoir is that it draws back the curtain on a life you thought you knew, but turns out to be a bit different. The book opens with his father's death, and the family secret of his grandfather's suicide. Some of the most poignant passages are about the failure of his first marriage to Julia, his bout with prostate cancer, his sometimes-uncertain path toward religious faith. For a man who gained a reputation as dry and sometimes brittle, it's a surprisingly personal book.

Inevitably, people have been asking Kerry this month whether he's interested in running for president again. He has given the standard non-denials ("I'm really not thinking about it"). Who knows what the next two years will bring, for Kerry or the country?

But if you're living in "Crazytown" (as Bob Woodward's book described Trump's Washington), Kerry's book is a reminder of the benefits of sanity, self-knowledge and the willingness to tell your own story honestly.

(c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group
The Trump administration recently announced that it would close the Palestinian Liberation Organizations office in Washington, D.C., citing a lack of progress in peace talks with Israel. This comes after the administrations move to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Critics like Ishaan Tharoor at the Washington Post were quick to lambast the administration for having an anti-Palestinian agenda. Dont let Tharoor and his allies mislead you. The administration isnt playing sides -- its recognizing hard truths.

Lasting peace cant be built on fictions. Trump is delivering a strong dose of reality to key Palestinian institutions, which just might lead to a plausible solution.

It shouldnt come as a surprise that Tharoor and others are up in arms over the administrations recent actions. These are the same folks who lauded the previous administrations attempts at brokering a deal -- which achieved exactly nil.

One common theme among these detractors is lavish praise for UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority, two organizations with a mixed track record at best and a harmful one at worst.

UNRWAs stated purpose is to provide aid to needy Palestinians, a noble and necessary cause. But its commitment to that mission is questionable. For starters, the agency labels not just those Palestinians displaced from Israel in 1948, but their descendants as well. No other refugees in the world are classified in this fashion. Not those from Iraq, South Sudan, Somalia or anywhere else.

The official Palestinian refugee population stands around 5.3 million instead of 850,000, the actual number of displaced persons. Since these millions of individuals are classified as refugees, many advocates claim they should have an absolute right of return in any Israel/Palestine compromise. Right of return, as it is currently being pushed, would entail all Palestinian refugees having access to their literal homes in modern day Israel.

Lets face it: This will never be agreed upon in a future peace deal, no matter the American or Israeli administration. Even Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said that such an act would drown Israel with refugees, and isnt a viable solution.

In addition to hindering the peace process, UNRWA has had quite a few of its own shameful controversies. Hamas has used UNRWA schools to store weapons and fire missiles at Israel. Textbooks handed out by UNRWA have been notorious for their anti-Semitic content. A few choice excerpts include discussions of the ambitions of greedy Jews and the claim that Jews have no holy sites in Jerusalem. Maps of Israel also dont include major cities such as Tel Aviv and some maps dont even include the name Israel on them.

Does it surprise anyone that Palestinian children grow up with hostility towards Israel?

Like UNRWA, the PA isnt without its share of embarrassments. Riddled with corruption, the organization has been used to enrich the few at the expense of the many: Abbas has an estimated net worth of $100 million and lets benefits seep down to his cronies. In lieu of development and infrastructure projects, the PA has instead spent a significant portion of its budget on bankrolling the families of terrorists through the Palestine Martyrs Fund. The fund doled out a whopping $347 million in 2017 and is expected to spend $403 million by the end of 2018.

How, again, does this contribute to a future state for the Palestinian people? Ding ding -- it doesnt. The PA has dramatically failed the Palestinian people. And Trump is right to question the long-held assumption that these entities are positively contributing to the peace process and well-being of the Palestinian people.

Continuing to embrace UNRWAs charade of subsidizing a rapidly increasing number of Palestinian refugees, who are simply being used as pawns on a chess board, is disingenuous and will make peace less likely as time goes on. Political compromises need to be recognized, and UNRWA constantly feeding false hope to members of the Palestinian community is cruel and inhumane.

Furthermore, transparency and accountability at the PA is an absolute must. The premier Palestinian political entity should not be a piggy bank that its leaders can plunder at their choosing while doling goodies to key constituencies.

Maybe Tharoor can provide some insight on how not funding these failing, anti-Semitic, corrupt institutions is anti-Palestinian. Shock therapy for these key players is long overdue.

Sure, the Trump administrations approach is unconventional. Thats a good thing. Its ending the harmful status quo that too many in the U.N. would prefer to maintain. Tough love may just lead to a grand bargain.
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Photo: The Canadian Press Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, N.C., on Thursday.

The big slosh has begun, and the consequences could be disastrous.

Hurricane Florence's leading edge battered the Carolina coast Thursday, bending trees and shooting frothy sea water over streets on the Outer Banks, as the hulking storm closed in with 100 mph (155 km/h) winds for a drenching siege that could last all weekend. Tens of thousands were without power.

Winds and rain were arriving later in South Carolina, and a few people were still walking on the sand at Myrtle Beach while North Carolina was getting pounded.

Forecasters said conditions will only get more lethal as the storm pushes ashore early Friday near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and makes its way slowly inland. Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet (3.4 metres) of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3 feet (0.9 metres) of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Florence's winds weakened as it drew closer to land, dropping from a peak of 140 mph (225 km/h) earlier in the week, and the hurricane was downgraded from a terrifying Category 4 to a 2.

But North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned: "Don't relax, don't get complacent. Stay on guard. This is a powerful storm that can kill. Today the threat becomes a reality."

Almost 30,000 people were already without power as the storm approached, he said, and more than 12,000 were in shelters. Another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts were less dire.

Forecasters said that given the storm's size and sluggish track, it could cause epic damage akin to what the Houston area saw during Hurricane Harvey just over a year ago, with floodwaters swamping homes and businesses and washing over industrial waste sites and hog-manure ponds.

"It truly is really about the whole size of this storm," National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said. "The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact  and we have that."

The hurricane was seen as a major test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was heavily criticized as sluggish and unprepared for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year.

As Florence drew near, President Donald Trump tweeted that FEMA and first responders are "supplied and ready," and he disputed the official conclusion that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico, claiming the figure was a Democratic plot to make him look bad.

Schools and businesses closed as far south as Georgia, airlines cancelled more than 1,500 flights, and coastal towns in the Carolinas were largely emptied out.

Around midday, Spanish moss blew sideways in the trees as the winds increased in Wilmington, and floating docks bounced atop swells at Morehead City. Some of the few people still left in Nags Head on the Outer Banks took photos of angry waves topped with white froth.

Wilmington resident Julie Terrell was plenty concerned after walking to breakfast past a row of shops fortified with boards, sandbags and hurricane shutters.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm probably a 7" in terms of worry, she said. "Because it's Mother Nature. You can't predict."

Forecasters' European climate model is predicting 2 trillion to 11 trillion gallons of rain will fall on North Carolina over the next week, according to meteorologist Ryan Maue of weathermodels.com. That's enough water to fill the Empire State Building nearly 40,000 times.

More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate over the past few days, and the homes of about 10 million were under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/14/2018



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star Danielle Bergman admits her husband Bobby Dodd wants nothing to do with social media because he doesn't have a very thick skin.During a joint appearance on : Unfiltered, hosted by first-season MAFS cast member Jamie Otis , Danielle and her co-star Amber Martorana opened up about what it's been like to read hate and criticism on social media as their season airs on Lifetime.When Jamie asked the women whether they read comments on Instagram and Twitter about their marriages and portrayal on , Danielle revealed Bobby took himself off social media entirely."Thank God," Danielle said with a laugh. "He's real sensitive.""He is," Danielle elaborated. "He had a Twitter and we did away with that."Jamie then asked, "He took it personally?""Yeah, he thinks about things a lot," Danielle replied, "and so if he reads something nasty, it's harder for him to brush it off."Danielle continued, "A lot of people have a lot of opinions about whether or not any of us are going to work or not, but I think it is cool to see some of the people that defend you, that you don't even know."Amber -- who is married to Dave Flaherty on Season 7, which is based in Dallas, TX -- agreed with Danielle, saying, "Those people are great. When you get that one comment, you're like, 'Oh, thank you!'""And you wish you could be like, 'Come on, keep going!' Because they're so nice," Danielle explained.As for Amber, she admitted to Jamie that she does read all of the comments on her different social media platforms."I can't help it," Amber confessed. "I told myself before, 'I'm not going to read them,' but knowing that they're out there, it's so hard not to! And people are brutal."Amber revealed people like to talk "a lot about [her] looks," but she's able to laugh at some of the comments when she thinks to herself, "Hey, you're actually right!""I'm just kind of finding it funny, because I think that's the only thing you can do," Amber noted.The three couples, which also include Mia Bally and Tristan Thompson , are more than halfway through the eight-week experiment in which they tied the knot after meeting for the first time at the altar. The series currently airs on Tuesday nights on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
Spending a day with insects may not be everyones cup of tea, but this event is so much more
After only one SEC game, the Georgia soccer team already has more conference wins than last season. Georgia beat Arkansas 3-1 on Thursday for its first SEC victory since Oct. 27, 2016 against Kentucky.
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A lot goes on around Athens and UGA campus and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. From the Frutta Bowls franchise opening an Athens location
Here's an eclectic wine selection for you: One unites sea and land on your palate; another has comforted religious pilgrims for centuries as they near the end of their quest. From France, a Riesling expresses the work of one family over five centuries, coaxing the expression from their soils; a fourht - a red blend from the south - brings a Mediterranean vacation to your glass. And why not top it all off with a delightful Italian bubbly?

Rating: Exceptional

The wine region of Bierzo in northwestern Spain is on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and legend - at least the legend mentioned on this wine's label - is that pilgrims would enjoy the local wine as a reward for nearing the end of their journey. I would walk a long way for this reward: The wine is savory and deep, with dark berry flavors and a hint of mountain air. (The challenge may be finding a local retailer who shares my enthusiasm.) Alcohol by volume: 14 percent.

Rating: Exceptional

Albarino from Rias Baixas - its homeland in Galicia, in Spain's northwest - can be racy, minerally and saline when grown near the coast, as if seasoned by the salty sea breeze off the Atlantic. Further inland, the wine tends toward the fruity side, with orchard flavors of peach and apricot. The Fefinanes is sourced from vineyards closer to the sea, imparting that minerally quality, but with older vines (averaging 40 years) to add fruity intensity. Pair this beauty with shellfish such as lobster, clams or mussels. ABV: 13 percent.

Rating: Excellent/Great Value

This wine lives up to its name. When I tried it right after opening, it seemed, well, particular. A bit oxidized, perhaps, from a technical standpoint. Surly and incommunicative, from a personal one. But it warmed up, both in temperature and personality, and before long regaled me with bright orchard-fruit flavors teetering on the edge of overripeness, tethered by a cord of acidity that could come only from the vineyard soil itself. I suggest decanting this white wine for about half an hour before dinner. The winery has been in the same family since the 1500s. There is also a nice Gewurztraminer and a Cremant d'Alsace sparkling wine. ABV: 12.8 percent.

Rating: Excellent/Great Value

The vintage date on this top-notch prosecco is hard to find - it's in tiny print on the back label - but never mind. Just look for the unusually squat bottle and the "d'O" on the front label. This bubbly has more character than a lot of proseccos that cost even more. I wanted to savor it, but I couldn't stop drinking it. ABV: 11.5 percent.

Rating: Excellent/Great Value

This blend of Grenache and syrah is yet another example of how winemakers in the South of France combine excellent quality with value. Scents of lavender and wild thyme, plus a whiff of sea air, combine with dense, juicy plums and blackberries to conjure the sensory virtual reality of a Mediterranean vacation. The domaine also produces a delicious white, called Les Larmes de Jeanne, from roussanne and Grenache blanc, and a rose called Petit Bonheur made from syrah, Grenache and cinsault. The grapes are farmed organically, according to the importer, though that is not yet noted on the label. ABV: 14 percent.

Imported by Firstvine.com and available only online.

- - -

Note: Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
Contributed

MORRIS  Author and historian Marty Podskoch, of East Hampton, will give a presentation on his new book, Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: History, Memories and Legacy on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the Morris Public Library, 4 North St.

This year is the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to provide testimony to special counsel Robert Mueller III as part of a plea deal that could answer some of the most critical questions about whether any Americans conspired with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election.

The decision to cooperate with Mueller in hopes of a lesser prison sentence is a stunning development, signaling Manafort's surrender to criminal charges that he cheated the Internal Revenue Service, violated foreign lobbying laws and tried to obstruct justice while opening a new potential legal vulnerability for Trump.

"I plead guilty," Manafort told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson at a hearing Friday morning in federal court in the District of Columbia. As part of his plea, Manafort admitted to years of financial crimes to hide his money from the IRS and promised to tell the government about "his participation in and knowledge of all criminal activities."

Flipping Manafort gives Mueller a cooperating witness who was at key events relevant to the Russia investigation - a Trump Tower meeting attended by a Russian lawyer, the Republican National Convention and a host of other behind-the-scenes discussions in the spring and summer of 2016.

"This is a big win for Mueller's team. Gaining Manafort's cooperation has always been viewed as the Holy Grail of this investigation," said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. "It now remains to be seen what Manafort can provide, but it is unlikely that prosecutors would have been willing to strike this deal unless they were already convinced that he has valuable information."

Court papers indicate Manafort was talking in detail to prosecutors at least as early as Monday - making multiple statements and a written proffer to investigators as the two sides worked toward a deal.

In return for his cooperation, Manafort hopes to have years shaved off a potential 10-year prison sentence and see his family hold on to some property.

Kevin Downing, an attorney for Manafort, gave a brief statement outside the courthouse after the hearing. "He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life," Downing said of Manafort. "He has accepted responsibility."

When asked whether the deal with Mueller's team is a full cooperation agreement, Downing replied, "It is." He did not respond to questions about whether Manafort has been interviewed by Mueller's team or whether Manafort's defense team remains in a joint defense agreement with Trump's attorneys.

Manafort's defenders have long insisted that he would not cooperate with Mueller and that he does not have information that would incriminate the president.

Manafort's cooperation was first revealed by prosecutor Andrew Weissmann at the outset of the hearing.

Jackson noted that Manafort had agreed to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the investigation conducted by the office of special counsel, including participating in interviews and debriefings, producing any documents in his control, testifying, and agreeing to delay sentencing until a time set by the government.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort faces a possible maximum prison sentence of about 10 years, though that does not include any likely sentence for his conviction last month in Virginia. His attorneys may seek a lower sentence, and prosecutors did not agree to recommend any sentence.

Before Manafort pleaded guilty, Weissmann spent about 40 minutes describing in detail Manafort's criminal conduct - from a 10-year scheme to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, to hiding millions of dollars he earned from that work, and then, when investigators were on his trail, trying to tamper with witnesses in the case.

After a year of denying the charges and fighting them at every stage of the investigation, Manafort admitted Friday that he did what prosecutors had long said - cheat the IRS out of $15 million and lie repeatedly to try to cover his tracks. While he pleaded guilty to just two of the seven charges he faced at trial, prosecutors forced him to admit to the broad scope of his financial and secret lobbying schemes.

"I believe it's fair to say that's probably the longest and most detailed summary that ever preceded this question, but is what the prosecutor said a true and accurate description of what you did in this case?" Jackson asked Manafort.

"I did. It is," Manafort said, resting both hands on the lectern before him.

The deal will preempt Manafort's trial scheduled for this month. Manafort pleaded guilty to two charges - conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a brief statement after the announcement. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said. "It is totally unrelated."

Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said: "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: The president did nothing wrong."

A criminal information - a legal document filed by prosecutors to detail the criminal conduct to be admitted by the defendant - was filed in advance of the plea.

The document is a laundry list of Manafort's admitted criminal conduct, including funneling millions of dollars in payments into offshore accounts to conceal his income from the IRS. "Manafort cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes," the document states.

The filing also offers new details about the various ways in which Manafort sought to surreptitiously lobby the U.S. government and influence American public opinion toward Ukraine.

In 2012, Manafort set out to help his client - Ukraine's then-president, Viktor Yanukovych - by tarnishing the reputation of Yanukovych's political rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the document. "Manafort stated that '[m]y goal is to plant some stink on Tymo,' " according to the document. At the time he made that statement, he was trying to get U.S. news outlets to print articles saying Tymoshenko had paid for the murder of a Ukrainian official, according to the criminal information.

The document also says Manafort "orchestrated a scheme to have, as he wrote in a contemporaneous communication, '[O]bama jews' put pressure on the administration to disavow Tymoshenko and support Yanukovych." Manafort set out to spread stories in the United States that a senior U.S. Cabinet official "was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko," according to the document.

At one point, Manafort wrote to an associate: "I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom." The document does not identify the then-Cabinet official, and it was not immediately clear whether such an article was published.

As part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize five properties worth millions of dollars, including Manafort's apartment in Trump Tower. The deal also calls for forfeiture of a handful of financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

The guilty plea is another reversal for Manafort, who has fought vociferously - but unsuccessfully - against Mueller's investigation. The 69-year-old political consultant was convicted last month in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court on charges of bank and tax fraud.

Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide investigators new evidence or leads to chase; the guilty plea, however, will prevent weeks' worth of headlines about the trial in the month before congressional elections.

The longtime lobbyist resigned from his position as Trump campaign chairman in August 2016 amid increasing scrutiny of his work in Ukraine.

Over a 40-year career, Manafort redefined and expanded Washington's influence industry domestically and internationally, parlaying successful campaigns into lobbying opportunities. But by the mid-2000s, there were signs that his consulting career had slumped, and at times his finances appeared to be shaky. It was in Ukraine that he revived both - in ways prosecutors say violated the law.

Both cases brought against Manafort by the special counsel stemmed from his work in Ukraine. The jury in Virginia found that Manafort hid millions of dollars he made there to avoid paying taxes and then lied to get loans when the political party that was paying him was ousted from power and the funding dried up.

In the trial scheduled in Washington, Manafort faced charges of conspiring against the United States, money laundering, failing to register as a lobbyist, making false statements and conspiring to obstruct justice by trying to influence witnesses.

Manafort had the choice to consolidate both cases into one but declined. He had been jailed since June as a result of the witness-tampering charges.

He has yet to be sentenced in Virginia, where legal experts say he faces eight to 10 years in prison under federal guidelines on the eight of 18 counts on which he was convicted. A mistrial was declared on the remaining 10 charges after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

In the months leading up to the plea deal, law enforcement officials had come to suspect that Manafort's legal strategy rested in part on hoping to win a pardon from the president, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Trump has sought advice from attorneys on the possibility of pardoning Manafort and other aides accused of crimes, Giuliani previously told The Washington Post, and was counseled against pardoning anyone involved in the Mueller probe. Trump agreed to wait at least until the investigation ends, Giuliani has said.

Manafort's decision to cooperate and provide evidence to Mueller may make a pardon less likely.

Several defendants have cooperated or pleaded guilty in connection with the special counsel's probe, including Manafort's former right-hand man Rick Gates; former national security adviser Michael Flynn; and former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was sentenced to 14 days in jail last week after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

The decision by Trump's onetime personal attorney Michael Cohen to plead guilty last month in a federal investigation in Manhattan particularly angered the president, who denounced him as a "flipper" and praised Manafort for being a "brave man" who would not break under pressure from prosecutors.

- - -

The Washington Post's Rosalind S. Helderman, Tom Jackman, Philip Rucker and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.

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Video Embed Code

Video: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to two charges on Sept. 14, and will cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

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Photo: The Canadian Press Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has pleaded guilty to two federal charges as part of a co-operation deal with prosecutors.

The deal requires him to co-operate "fully and truthfully" with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The charges against Manafort are related to his Ukrainian consulting work  not Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which is the central issue in the special counsel's investigation.

Friday's move gives Mueller another successful conviction while allowing Manafort to avoid facing another costly public trial.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia.
Photo: Contributed

The eighth annual Test of Humanity goes Sunday in Summerland, in support of education for vulnerable children in Ethiopia.

The mountain biking race attracts about 300 participants from across Western Canada, supported by 80 volunteers. Since its founding, the fundraiser has raised $330,000 for Canadian Humanitarian programs, which aim to break the cycle of poverty in developing countries by providing education.

We started travelling with Canadian Humanitarian to Ethiopia in 2009 and we watched the young children we met on each trip grow into confident and productive members of their communities. It is a very special moment to see a young vulnerable child who you initially met 9 years ago become a Doctor in her village or the owner of his own business. It demonstrates such a direct impact as to how the money raised at the event can build healthier communities globally, said race founder Sheilagh Seaton.

The race route follows the Western Ridge of Garnet Valley. Besides the biking, the family-friendly event will include a kids tent, an LTG for young bikers to learn tricks from Bike Barn experts and food and coffee from True Grain Bakery and Back Yard Beans.

More information on the event can be found here.
Photo: VPD

Police have recovered some of the wigs destined for sick kids at BC Children's Hospital that were stolen last week.

About 150 wigs were swiped last Friday when someone broke into Eva and Company Wigs on West Broadway. Many of them were destined for young cancer patients.

But, Vancouver Police received a tip Thursday night that a bag full of wigs had been found in a hotel hallway in the Downtown Eastside.

Police seized the evidence as they continue their investigation.

No arrests have been made.

Although weve recovered a portion of the wigs, the investigation remains a priority. We would like to get the remainder of the property back and make an arrest in this case," said Const. Jason Doucette.
Cambodian villagers stage a protest demanding that charges be dropped against four locals accused of violently occupying disputed property in southwestern Cambodias Sihanoukville province, Sept. 14, 2018.

More than 400 villagers from 13 communities from southwestern Cambodias Sihanoukville province staged a protest on Friday, demanding that a local court drop charges against four locals detained by authorities for violently occupying disputed property.

The four say they are the rightful owners of property in Okhsach village, Stung Hav district, which was seized by a few wealthy people 11 years ago. They tried to reclaim the land earlier this year because property prices are increasing in and around the coastal resort city of Sihanoukville, where Chinese investors are buying up plots to build casinos.

Authorities have detained the four for the past four months pending trial.

Sun Sophat, a representative for the protesting villagers, submitted petitions they signed to a provincial court official who said he would examine the four villagers cases.

We provided the court with relevant documents, Sun Sophat told RFAs Khmer Service. We want the court to release them on bail because the charges against them are very unjust.

You Veasna from the Alliance of Cambodian Farmers Community in Sihanoukville said he believes the protest will force the court to issue a just ruling when it hears the case on Sept 27.

I hope the court will issue a ruling on the case base on the law and not in favor of the wealthy, he said.

Okhsach villagers claim that they had occupied the contested land in Stung Hav district beginning in 1992 at a time when communist Khmer Rouge forces were continuing their activities against the government despite the signing of a peace accord in 1991 that formally ended the Cambodian-Vietnamese War.

Problems arose in 2007 when a group of wealthy land speculators accused the four villagers of illegally occupying the land, claiming that they had titles to the property.

Cheap Sotheary, the Sihanoukville coordinator for rights group Adhoc who is monitoring the case, said the four villagers have legal documents to prove they are the legitimate owners of the land.

Villagers said they would gather again on Sept. 27 to monitor the trial.

Illegal land grabs by developers or individuals are not uncommon in Cambodia, where officials and bureaucrats can be bribed to provide bogus land titles. Disputes over land are one of the major causes of social disturbances throughout Southeast Asia.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A state-backed Chinese newspaper has hit out at Apple over its listing of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China as separate entities, claiming that the democratic island of Taiwan is "an inalienable part" of its territory.



Hong Kong and Taiwan were listed "on par" with China on a slide showing markets for the new iPhone XS, the Global Times newspaper, sister paper to ruling Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily, said.



The paper appeared to warn that such a lack of "political consciousness" could harm Apple's interests, citing Li Haidong, international relations expert at the state-backed China Foreign Affairs University.



"Apple is not the first multinational company to adopt such a double standard," the Global Times reported in a signed opinion article on Thursday.



"Ikea, referring to Taiwan the same way as China and other countries, caused similar disputes in August."



It said a number of airlines had also "received letters" earlier this year protesting their listing of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau as separate destinations in a list on their websites.



A drop-down menu of store locations on Apple's website on Friday offered China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau as possible options, with the prompt "choose a country or region."



E-mailed requests for comment from Apple's China division had received no reply by the time of publication.



Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen last month called on the international community to resist China's efforts to isolate the island by forcing its diplomatic ties to break links with Taipei under the "one China policy."



Tsai said the 23 million residents of Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, was "entitled to [a] place in the world."



A nationalistic mood



Beijing-based rights activist Li Wei said the Chinese government is currently taking every opportunity to whip up nationalist sentiment as a way of countering the impact of what it sees as hostile foreign ideology, but that foreign companies can choose how they will respond.



"The Chinese government has always tried to create a nationalistic mood, as an ideological antidote to anything from the West," Li told RFA. "As for how foreign companies respond, it depends on where their bottom line is; I hope they won't do any more evil."



"I hope that they won't carry out data collection for the Chinese government, or hand over intelligence reports," he said.



Guangdong-based rights activist Jia Pin said the Global Times article showed that Beijing is constantly seeking to project its power beyond its borders.



"This is really a way of exercising hegemony, including the way it exerted pressure on the airlines to drop Taiwan as a destination," Jia told RFA. "It also shows that it is continuing to concentrate more and more power in its hands, to the extent of interfering in international affairs."



According to Taiwan's president Tsai, Beijing has also sent military aircraft to encircle Taiwan, forced international airlines to change the way they refer to it as a destination, and deprived Taichung city of its right to host the East Asian Youth Games.



Chinese money was also behind El Salvador's switch of recognition to Beijing, which came after Taiwan denied repeated requests for massive injections of funding for its Port La Union project, according to Taiwan's ministry of foreign affairs.



The island's Republic of China government, a remnant of the Kuomintang nationalist regime that abandoned the Chinese mainland after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists in 1949, has said it will continue to pursue "greater democracy, freedom, and sovereignty."



Support for self-rule



Recent opinion polls indicate that there is broad political support for self-rule in Taiwan, where the majority of voters identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese.



But Beijing regards the island as part of China, and has threatened to invade if Taiwan seeks formal independence. Beijing has succeeded in isolating Taiwan diplomatically by insisting that its diplomatic partners break off ties with Taipei under the "One China" policy.



China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is gradually preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan, according to a military analysis published by the Pentagon in Washington last week.



Armed forces under the ruling Chinese Communist Party "continued to develop and deploy increasingly advanced military capabilities intended to coerce Taiwan, signal Chinese resolve, and gradually improve capabilities for an invasion," the U.S. Department of Defense said in an annual report on China's military capabilities.



Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony in the 50 years prior to the end of World War II, but was handed back to the Republic of China under the nationalist KMT government as part of Tokyo's post-war reparation deal.



When the KMT regime fled to Taiwan in 1947 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communist troops, the Republic of China ceased to control most of China, but continues to be the official name of the Taiwan government.



Taiwan began a transition to democracy following the death of Chiang's son, President Chiang Ching-kuo, in January 1988, starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996.



Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service and by Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Chinese dissident Wang Xili (R) sits in a holding cell for refugees in Thailand in an undated photo.

Two Chinese political refugees held in an immigration detention center in Thailand have lodged a further bail application in a bid to stall attempts to repatriate them, where they will likely face political reprisals at the hands of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Wu Yuhua, who is also known by her nickname Ai Wu, was detained by police in Bangkok alongside her husband Yang Chong on Aug. 29 and locked up in an immigration detention center.

The couple had been registered as genuine political refugees by the United Nations and were awaiting resettlement in a third country. But Thailand, which isn't a signatory to international conventions on refugees, doesn't legally recognize that status.

Fellow refugee Yu Yanhua, who is helping the couple with their case, said their bail application has been referred by the Pathum Wan Court to a higher court, with a hearing scheduled for Monday.

"I went back to the United Nations today to try to find the lawyer ... to ask them to focus on this case, and to help us out," Yu told RFA. "They came out to meet me and said that we had to get in touch with the Thai government."

"They said they were contacting them to try to get [Ai Wu and Yang] out of there as soon as possible," she said.

Fellow political refugee Li Xiaolong, who is also an active campaigner for Chinese refugees in Thailand, said the move to a higher court wouldnt necessarily bode well for Ai Wu and Yang, however.

"If you refuse to plead guilty on two occasions, they refer it to a higher court, and if you refuse to plead guilty on two occasions before the higher court, they will hold you in contempt of court," Li said. "Contempt of court charges don't require a plea; they can just throw you in jail regardless."

He said the couple is currently applying for their release on bail, but need to fulfill very specific conditions.

"To be granted bail by a Thai court, you have to meet very specific conditions," Li said. "They may not make bail if they don't meet those conditions."

Fellow refugee Wang Xili said Ai Wu has been on hunger strike since Tuesday in protest at her detention.

"I am extremely worried about her, because she's been in there for more than 10 days now ... about her health problems as well as the impact on her mental health," Wang said. "I am afraid she will suffer a mental breakdown."

"She is under a huge amount of pressure ... You can see the despair and frustration in her eyes," he said.



Pressure from China

Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia researcher Maya Wang said Beijing could be putting pressure on the Thai authorities behind the scenes to repatriate the couple.

"We are concerned that the Chinese government is probably putting pressure on the Thai government to repatriate them to China," Wang told RFA. "They have succeeded in having U.N.-recognized refugees repatriated in the past."

"It's not yet entirely clear whether Thailand will give in to pressure from China, or whether it will stick to due legal process," she said.

In July, authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing jailed two rights activists sent home from Thailand as they were awaiting resettlement as political refugees, prompting an international outcry.

Dong Guangping and Jiang Yefei fled with their families to Thailand in 2015, and were granted refugee status by the UNHCR office in Bangkok.

But as they awaited resettlement in a third country, they were handed over to China by the Thai police, in a move that drew strong criticism from the U.N.

Dong and Jiang were both found guilty of "incitement to subvert state power" and "illegally crossing a national border" by a court in Chongqing.

Jiang received a six-and-a-half-year jail term, while Dong was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, their relatives said, citing phone calls with police and online reports.

Yang and Ai Wu were initially targeted by Chinese police after taking part in the press freedom protests in the southern city of Guangzhou in January 2013.

They fled the country in February 2015 and made their way to Thailand after Ai Wu started a support group for disappeared rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. In Thailand, they eked out an existence without papers in the country's Pattaya region.

They were approved as political refugees by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok in 2017, but had yet to be accepted for resettlement in a third country amid a global tightening of national immigration policies.

Ai Wu and Yang were detained along with He Weiyi outside the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok, where they had hoped to persuade New Zealand officials to consider them for resettlement.

Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Beijing and the Vatican are on the verge of an agreement on the status of China's Catholic Church and the controversial appointment of bishops by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, reports indicate.



A report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday cited two people close to negotiations as saying that a deal was very close.



In Taipei, Taiwan foreign affairs spokesman Li Hsien-chang said the democratic island's officials had a similar understanding of the situation.



"I think lately it is looking as if the two sides will sign an agreement on religious matters," Li told a news conference.



Asked if a deal would mean that the Vatican would break off diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, Li said not necessarily.



"We have been assured by the Holy See that this agreement is purely on religious matters," Li said. "Naturally, we don't take this lightly, because this agreement on religious matters is a very important agreement between China and the Vatican."



"We are paying very close attention to developments," he said, adding that his ministry's information was very reliable, and that there was a "smooth flow" of information from the Holy See at all times.



The Vatican is one of a handful of states to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, still officially governed by the last remnant of the Republic of China formed by Sun Yat-sen's 1911 revolution that toppled imperial rule.



A switch in recognition?



There had been concerns in Taiwan that any rapprochement between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing could lead to the Vatican switching its recognition to the People's Republic of China, which refuses to accept dual recognition under its "One China" policy.



However, an employee who answered the phone at the embassy of the Catholic church in Taipei declined to comment when contacted by RFA on Friday.



"Sorry, we won't be commenting on this matter," the employee said.



Archbishop Hung Shan-chuan of Taipei also declined to comment, saying he hadn't been informed.



"I don't know ... [the Vatican] never asked for my opinion, and what could I say anyway?" Hung said. "I just told [my superior] that they could set up diplomatic ties but that they shouldn't harm Taiwan. He said they wouldn't harm Taiwan."



"Of course I believe him. He's my superior; why wouldn't I believe him?"



According to the Wall Street Journal, the Vatican and China look set to sign a landmark agreement later this month intended to reunite Chinas state-backed Catholic church with the "underground" church that is still loyal to Rome, and which operates without official state approval.



While the deal could still fall through or be delayed by "unforeseen events," it could mean that Beijing recognizes the pope as the head of the Catholic Church in China, the paper said.



Such a concession would be matched by the recognition and rehabilitation of seven Chinese bishops who were excommunicated by the pope after being appointed by Beijing without the approval of the Vatican, it said.



A deal seems likely



Kung Ling-hsin, chairman of the journalism department at Taiwan Ming Chuan University, said the reports come amid indications from a number of reliable media outlets in recent months that a deal is likely.



He said he believed that the Holy See would never break diplomatic relations with any country, but that any religious deal could be seen as a semi-diplomatic relationship.



But Yang Sen-hong, president of the Taiwan Association for China Human Rights, said there was no compatibility between the world views of Beijing and the Vatican.



"There is a war of values between atheism and God, and it can't possibly come to anything worthwhile," Yang told RFA. "China has been putting out fake news with the aim of confusing the world, as they always do."



Sources told RFA in May that China's newly amended Religious Affairs Regulations had sparked a fresh round of persecution of religious believers, throwing the future of any deal into doubt.



The Vatican had been hoping to eliminate the division between bishops and churches recognized by the government-backed Catholic Patriotic Association and those appointed by Rome, which would result in an expansion of the Catholic Church in China.



But a group of leading Catholics in Hong Kong and the U.S. said in an open letter that they were "deeply shocked and disappointed" by the moves, citing church articles as saying that the right to nominate and appoint bishops belongs only to the Church, and not to any secular body such as the atheist Chinese Communist Party.



The letter said that religious persecution continues unabated under the administration of President Xi Jinping amid heavy-handed controls by religious affairs officials, and that any deal could affect the Church's "holiness and moral integrity."



Making religion 'more Chinese'



Catholic church members in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi and in northern Hebei province told RFA last month that Catholic churches are being swept up in a nationwide campaign to make religions more "Chinese," and more loyal to the ruling party's ideology.



In August, churches in Jiangxi's Fenyi county and Hebei's Luzhou diocese were ordered to display the Chinese national flag and a portrait of President Xi Jinping in their main meeting area, as well as handing out government propaganda on "socialist values" to their members, prompting an outcry among believers.



Priests of the Luzhou Diocese signed an open letter to the Communist Party's United Front Work Department and the State Bureau of Religious Affairs in Beijing, calling for an explanation.



A Catholic churchgoer in Luzhou said that he supported the priests, but declined to comment further.



"Of course this is happening," the churchgoer said in an interview conducted on Aug. 23. "We don't agree with it, because there are a lot of issues involved, but I don't want to answer you on the phone."



Repeated calls to the State Bureau of Religious Affairs rang unanswered during office hours at the time of the interview.



Beijing asserts that all religions are subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party within China's borders, and that religious believers must "be subordinate to and serve the overall interests of the nation and the Chinese people ... and support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party."



Officially an atheist country, China has an army of officials whose job is to watch over faith-based activities, which have spread rapidly in recent decades.



Party officials are put in charge of Catholics, Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims, and Protestants. Judaism isn't recognized, and worship in non-recognized temples, churches, or mosques is against the law.



Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
UPDATED 5:50 p.m. EST on 09/26/18

The Dalai Lama met on Sept. 14 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands with four Western Buddhists who say their religious teachers subjected them to sexual or psychological abuse, sources said.



The four, representing a group of 12 who had petitioned the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader earlier in the week for the meeting, presented the Dalai Lama with accounts of the abuse members of the group said they had suffered and asked him to take action to address their concerns.



Tibetan lamas named in the complaint presented on Friday included Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche of the Swiss-based Rigdzin Community.; Tulku Lobsang of the Nangten Menlang Center in Vienna, Austria; Sogyal Rinpoche of the Rigpa organization, an international community with over 100 centers worldwide; and Robert Spatz, a Belgian citizen also called Lama Ogyen Kunzang Dorje, sources told RFAs Tibetan Service on Friday.



But when contacted by RFA, Lobsang said he was not aware of any sexual abuse cases against him or his group.



"There is no sexual abuse case against either me or my organization. Therefore, I've nothing further to explain," he said.



A representative for Namkha also rejected the allegations.



"We refute these allegations . . . We have already informed His Holiness of our point of [view] and we wish not to get into further debate on the press about that," Sangye Andres Larrain said.



An independent investigation into the allegations made against Sogyal released its report recently, upholding many of the accusations made against him.



In a Sept. 5, 2018 response, Rigpa said in a statement that it acknowledged the "gravity" of the report, which the organization itself had commissioned the year before to address the growing public scandal, adding, "We feel deeply sorry for the hurt experienced by past and present members of the Rigpa community."



Sogyal has retired as spiritual director of Rigpa, and now has no organizational role in the organization, Richard Grimes, a board member of Rigpa, told RFA.



There was no immediate response from Spatz.



Petitioners who submitted the original request for the meeting included students from Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United States.



The Dalai Lama took no questions from reporters following the 20-minute meeting, but told participants in the meeting that he would raise the issue of abuse in Tibetan Buddhist communities when he meets with Tibetan religious leaders in India in November, sources said.



What we want from him is that he is very clear about the fact that religious leaders in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition are not above the law, meeting participant Oane Bijlsma said following the meeting, quoted by the Associated Press.



That even if they claim that their tradition endorses behavior that is supposedly beyond good and evil, it can never be the case."



The meeting with the 83-year Dalai Lama comes as the Roman Catholic Church faces a major crisis of its own in dealing with victims of clergy abuse in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere.



Reported and translated by RFA's Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.



UPDATE: Includes responses from lamas named in the petition.
Amina Allahberdi, a 32-year-old Uyghur woman from Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture, in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) married Saudi Arabian national Sait Ibn Abood Shahrani in 2010 and relocated to Saudi Arabias Khamis Mushait city soon after. The mother of a nine-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son frequently visited her family in Aksu, and in 2016 completed a months-long beautician course in the XUAR capital Urumqi with the intention of setting up a beauty salon in Saudi Arabia. Allahberdi travelled to Urumqi on May 15 last year, after Saudi authorities asked that she return to the XUAR to renew her documents before establishing her business. Soon after arriving, Allahberdi notified her husband that she would not be allowed to renew her passport unless he came to China with additional documentation, so the couple met in the Guangdong provincial capital Guangzhou, where she took her marriage certificate and other papers, and left for Urumqi without himinsisting that he not accompany her.



When Shahrani did not hear from his wife, he spent one month in Guangzhou trying to track down her whereabouts, but was forced to return home to Saudi Arabia to care for the couples two children. He recently told RFAs Uyghur Service that he learned Allahberdi is being held in one of a network of political re-education camps, where authorities in the XUAR are believed to have detained some 1.1 million Uyghurs accused of harboring strong religious or politically incorrect views since April 2017. Allahberdis mother, Ayshem Mijit, 60, who also lives in Saudi Arabia, told RFA that her daughter is just the latest of her family members to disappear in the XUAR. Also missing, she said, are her 34-year-old son, Abdurahman Allahberdi; 31-year-old son, Abdurehim Allahberdi; 62-year-old husband, Allahberdi Ibrahim; and 84-year-old father, Mijit Yusup.



Shahrani: My wife Amina is innocentshe would never have committed any crime. Arbitrarily detaining a mother, disappearing her, and separating her from her young children, on the other hand, is a serious crime. For the sake of my two young children, who were born on Saudi soil, the Saudi government should push for my wifes release. I have no other options left but to call on the free world to help my innocent wife, as well as millions of innocent Uyghur people who are suffering under the persecution of the Chinese government.



I am extremely worried about my wife, and I cant bear to see my children suffer because they miss their mother and are so desperate to see her. Every time the phone rings, my four-year-old boy Abdul Aziz and my nine-year-old daughter Aisha ask if the call is from their mother. Seeing the sadness in their eyes after they realize that the call wasnt from her, I dont know what to do. This happens several times, every day, and it hurts my heart to see my children cry for their mother.



Sait Ibn Abood Shahrani and his children at home in Saudi Arabia, in an undated photo. Credit: Sait Ibn Abood Shahrani Mijit: The last time I was able to contact my eldest son, Abdurahman, was two years ago. I dont know if he is in a re-education camp, a prison, or somewhere else entirely. My daughter Amina went to the [XUAR] in May 2017, and I have learned that she was detained in a concentration camp in October. I also found out that my son Abdurahim was taken to a re-education camp in June last year. The authorities said that they would release him if his parents returned to Aksu. Because of the pressure put on us by the Chinese authorities, my husband returned to Aksu on Sept. 29, last year, but I havent heard from him since he left Saudi Arabia. I dont know if he is in a re-education camp, in prison, or dead.



It breaks my heart to see my grandchildren plead for their mother. I am finding it difficult to cope with it any longer. My nine-year-old granddaughter asked me, Is my mother living in paradise? And If I die, will I see her? My four-year-old grandson, at such a young age, said, Grandma, dont cry. I will become a policeman when I grow up and I will go to Aksu to rescue my mother.



Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service.
Democracy advocate Nguyen Van Tuc is shown at his sentencing in court on April 10, 2018.

An appeals court in northern Vietnams Thai Binh province upheld the sentence of jailed democracy activist Nguyen Van Tuc on Friday, returning him to prison to serve his full term of 13 years, Vietnamese source said.

Tuc, a member of the banned Brotherhood for Democracy online advocacy group, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on April 10 on charges of subversion under Article 79 of Vietnams penal code.

He had previously spent four years in prison after being convicted in 2008 of conducting anti-state propaganda under Article 88 of the penal code, and was freed in 2012 after serving his full term.

Speaking to RFAs Vietnamese Service following Fridays hearing, Tucs wife Bui Thi Re had shown great bravery in court.

He said that he had joined the Brotherhood to demand [political] pluralism and equality for the people and the country, and that he had never worked to overthrow the government.

He was very firm, Re said.

At the moment his blood pressure is stable, Re said, referring to earlier reports that Tuc had been in failing health in custody.

And he said today that though he had filed an appeal, he did not expect that his sentence would be reduced. Instead, he wanted to be sure that he could say what he needed to say in court and reject the accusations made against him.

Escalating crackdown

Writing in a Sept. 12 statement, New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Vietnams government to immediately quash the politically motivated conviction of the rights activist Nguyen Van Tuc and immediately release him without conditions.

Nguyen Van Tuc is a victim of the Vietnamese governments escalating crackdown on human rights bloggers and social activists, HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said.

The long sentences faced by Nguyen Van Tuc and his fellow Brotherhood for Democracy activists are all about intimidating other activists not to follow in their footsteps.

Communist Vietnam, where all media are state-controlled, does not tolerate dissent, and rights groups identify Article 79 as among a set of vague provisions that authorities have used to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Richard Finney.
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities have detained several individuals over the sale of newborn babies, including one case in which hospital staff falsely told parents that their child had died at birth.

A criminal investigation was opened on September 11 against several employees of a maternity hospital in the capital -- the fifth case so far this year involving the attempted sale of children in Kyrgyzstan.

Reports say doctors at the unnamed facility told the parents shortly after the baby's birth that it had died, before attempting to sell it.

Raisa Asylbasheva, head of the Kyrgyz Health Ministry's OB/GYN department, told RFE/RL that the ministry has established a working group to investigate the incident and look into operations at all of the country's maternity hospitals.

"There are 1,060 gynecologists and midwives in Kyrgyzstan, and we can't follow what everyone does," Asylbasheva said, before urging the public to come forward if they have witnessed or heard about illegal activities.

"We have to fight against these societal ills together," she added.

Some people point to pay levels for state health-care workers in a country where the average salary is about 14,000 soms (about $220) per month.

"Perhaps [doctors and other medical workers] do this out of need," said Ainura Altybaeva, a parliament deputy. "Whatever it is, that by no means justifies their criminal actions."

Human rights activist Avazkhan Ormonova cited several factors behind the trafficking of small children in Kyrgyzstan, including complicated adoption procedures.

"Women who are not officially married or who become pregnant after being raped often try to sell their babies, as do those who...give birth after already having several children," she said.

In 2015, a 26-year-old man in the northwestern Naryn region was detained for trying to exchange his 5-month-old daughter for a goat.

Last year, three women were detained in Bishkek for allegedly arranging the sale of a 3-month-old baby for 10,000 soms (about $150).

Earlier this year, a woman in the Chui region, outside the capital, was detained by police after reportedly trying to sell her three children for 80,000 soms ($1,150).

The cases of illegal trafficking in babies comes amid a boom in "fertility tourism" in Kyrgyzstan, which boasts six fertility clinics serving Kyrgyz and hundreds of foreign patients each year for in vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, and other procedures.

Critics point out that many of those detained and arrested for trying to sell children go unprosecuted.

"If we want to prevent the [sale of children] from happening, it is necessary to improve the laws and tighten the punishment for such crimes," said activist Ormonova.

Written by Pete Baumgartner based on reporting by RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service correspondent Ernist Nurmatov.
The independent Bellingcat research organization says it has reviewed Russian documents that indicate that the two men suspected in the poisoning of British spy Sergei Skripal have no records in the Russian resident database prior to 2009, a sign they may be working as operatives for the government.



Bellingcat said on September 14 that a joint investigation with The Insider Russia "directly contradicts" claims by the Kremlin that Ruslan Boshirov and Aleksandr Petrov are civilians who traveled to Salisbury, England, where the poisoning took place, for a tourist getaway.



The investigation, Bellingcat said, showed that, while the two men were registered in the central Russian resident database and were issued internal passports under their names in 2009, no records exist for the two prior to 2009.



"This suggests the two names were likely cover identities for operatives of one of the Russian security services," Bellingcat said.



"Crucially, at least one mans passport files contain various 'top-secret' markings which, according to at least two sources consulted by Bellingcat, are typically reserved for members of secret services or top state operatives," it added.



Britain has charged the two men with attempting to murder Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

British authorities accuse them of spraying a military-grade nerve agent, Novichok, on Skripals front door in Salisbury in March.

Earlier on September 14, the Kremlin said it would study any British request to question the two but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no such a request had been received so far.



He also reiterated Kremlin denials of any Russian state involvement in the poisoning.

Peskovs comments come a day after the two men appeared in an interview on the Kremlin-funded RT television station to proclaim their innocence.

The two denied they were agents of the military intelligence service widely known as the GRU and said they were merely tourists in the city southwest of London.

"Our friends had been suggesting for quite a long time that we visit this wonderful city," Petrov said in the interview.

"They have a famous cathedral there," Boshirov said, adding: "It is famous for its 123-meter spire."

James Slack, spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May, derided their claims as "lies and blatant fabrications."

"More importantly, they are deeply offensive to the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack," he said.

British officials have accused the suspects of smuggling Novichok into Britain in a fake perfume bottle and smearing some of it on the front door of Skripal's home in Salisbury, where the former intelligence officer settled after being sent to the West in a Cold War-style spy swap in 2010.



The attack left Skripal, 67, and his daughter Yulia, 34, in critical condition, but both have recovered after weeks in the hospital.



The men interviewed by RT denied carrying the fake women's perfume bottle with them.



"Isn't it silly for decent lads to have women's perfume?" one of the two men was quoted as saying by RT.



"The customs are checking everything. They would have questions as to why men have women's perfume in their luggage. We didn't have it."



They also said they stayed less than one hour in Salisbury due to poor weather.



"We went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldn't do it because there was muddy slush everywhere," one of the two men said, referring to local landmarks near Salisbury.

In a statement, the British government said the interview reflected more "obfuscation and lies" by Moscow.



"The government is clear these men are officers of the Russian military intelligence service -- the GRU -- who used a devastatingly toxic, illegal chemical weapon on the streets of our country," it said.



"We have repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March," the statement also said. "Today -- just as we have seen throughout -- they have responded with obfuscation and lies."



The RT interview was aired a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had identified the men Britain suspects of poisoning Skripal and his daughter, but claimed they were civilians.



"They are civilians, of course," Putin said on September 12.

With reporting by Interfax, TASS, and Reuters
Photo: IHIT

Police in B.C. say a man wanted for first-degree murder has associates in Edmonton and Calgary, and residents in those cities are urged to be on the lookout for him.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says 27-year-old Brandon Teixeira remains at large, but is believed to be somewhere in the Lower Mainland.

He is wanted for the Oct. 23, 2017, shooting death of Surrey resident Nicholas Khabra.

Teixeira is described as five feet 10 inches tall, 161 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, a snake tattoo on his left chest and a sleeve tattoo on his left arm.

When the arrest warrant was issued last week, homicide team spokesman Cpl. Frank Jang said Teixeira is "believed to be extremely violent and poses a significant risk to public safety."

Anyone spotting the man is warned not to approach him and to immediately call 911.
KYIV  The United States is considering sending more lethal weaponry to Kyiv to build up its naval and air defenses, Washingtons special envoy for Ukraine said, as concerns mount that Russia may be stepping up operations in coastal waters.

In an interview with RFE/RL on September 13, Kurt Volker blamed Russia for fueling the conflict. He also said that Washington and Moscow still have serious differences over a possible United Nations peacekeeping force that could be deployed to help bring an end to the fighting in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Volker said he thought that Russian President Vladimir Putin was unwilling to negotiate much of anything related to the conflict at least until after Ukraines presidential elections next March, or with [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko still in power.

Volker said he has made several overtures to his Russian counterpart, Vladislav Surkov, since their last meeting in Dubai in January, but he has received no response.

In January, Surkov showed interest in the idea of a phased deployment of peacekeepers, Volker said. Since then, however, the Russians have backed away and have some objections.

Another meeting is possible, he said, but right now, there is nothing scheduled.

Since fighting broke out between government forces and Russia-backed fighters in April 2014, more than 10,000 people have died and more than 1 million have fled their homes.

Russia has repeatedly denied financing and equipping the separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, insisting that the fighting was a civil, internal conflict.

Sea Defense

In recent months, Russia has stepped up naval operations in the shared Sea of Azov, where, Volker said, Ukrainians have virtually no naval capability or limited capability, so [the Russians] feel they can assert dominance there.

Ukraines lack of robust naval and air-defense capabilities is a weakness Volker said Washington looks set on addressing.

I think thats going to be the focus as we develop the next steps in our defense cooperation, he added.

International negotiators have twice reached a framework for a cease-fire and a road map for peace, known as the Minsk peace accords. Both have failed to hold.

That is due in large part to the fact that Russia continues to flood the territory with fighters and arms, Volker said.

In August, monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe documented -- using drone footage -- convoys of military trucks crossing to and from Ukraine and Russia on a dirt road under the cover of darkness. Earlier this month, the monitors said another convoy had been spotted in the area.

Russia has not responded to accusations that it was behind the convoys.

Volker also criticized Kyiv, which he said was not doing enough to reach out to Ukrainians living in separatist-held territories. He said Poroshenkos government has also failed to develop a reintegration plan for when the conflict does end.

Preliminary ideas, he said, [do not] enjoy strong political backing and there is little emphasis that this should be a priority for the Ukrainian government to figure out how it can reach its own citizens and be as proactive as possible in trying to make their lives better.

Its a shame because those people [living in separatist-held areas] have gone through a lot. It causes them to be very sour on the government in Kyiv, he added.

He highlighted the cases of elderly people, people with the least mobility, and said Kyiv should work with the Red Cross to help get government pensions to those people.

Changing U.S. Policy?

Volkers appointment, in July 2017, came amid concern that U.S. President Donald Trump was looking to soften Washingtons position on the Ukraine conflict, and Russias role in it.

However, the Trump administration has all but continued U.S. backing for Ukraine, a policy set in place by his predecessor, Barack Obama, after Russias annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

Washington has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment and training to the Ukrainian armed forces, and sanctions imposed for the annexation and for fueling the conflict remain in place.

More notably, the Trump administration earlier this year sent Ukraine 210 advanced antitank missiles known as Javelins, a move Obama had resisted for fear of antagonizing Moscow.

Its true that we havent achieved anything on the ground and we havent gotten Russia to really resolve the conflict, Volker said. So we have to keep that under advisement.

On the other hand, what weve done over the last year has been very important, he said.

Weve created a policy framework for the United States; weve coordinated that with our allies, specifically France and Germany; weve given clear support for Ukraine and restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity; weve clarified Russias responsibility here, he said.

In August, Trump suggested in an interview that he would consider lifting Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia if they do something that would be good for us.

Asked about Trumps commitment to Ukraine, Volker said that everything the United States has done for Kyiv has been done with the presidents approval, so theres no policy gap.

The way I read what the president is doing, [he] is trying to keep a door open for Putin to be able to climb down, negotiate some kind of agreement, see if we can reduce the risk of conflict, see if we can actually create peace in Ukraine, he said.

At the same time, the policy has been to continue to layer on additional steps of pushback on Russia and support for Ukraine as a way to induce Russia to negotiate, he said.
"Living together is merrier and easier, it's normal," explained Ruslan Boshirov as he appeared to defend himself against the suggestion that he and fellow Novichok-poisoning suspect Aleksandr Petrov had slept in the same bed during their March trip to England.

RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, who conducted the bizarre September 12 interview, broke into a suggestive smile.

"What, so to speak, unites you then?" she asked the two, who had been thrust into the spotlight in the wake of London's accusations that they were agents of Russia's military intelligence, the GRU, who carried out the poisonings of a former Russian spy and his daughter on British territory.

After the men declined to answer, asking that details of their private lives be left out, she added: "No need to justify yourselves. Whether you had a single or double bed is the least of the world's concerns right now."

The fuse was lit, however, and in the hours that followed, Russian state-controlled media wasted no time peddling rumors about the men's sexuality -- an apparent effort to counter the idea they could be GRU officers.

Some attempted to portray them as an innocent couple keen to explore Europe's foremost gay-friendly destinations.

"The LGBT community has come out in defense of Petrov and Boshirov," was the headline on Life News, subsequently reposted by a range of pro-Kremlin outlets.

"Instead of dangerous killers -- timid gays," wrote a columnist in Zavtra, a nationalist online newspaper. Moskovsky Komsomolets proclaimed the interview "The GRU's coming out".

In the evening, flagship news channel Rossia 24 broadcast a sarcastic report about Salisbury's spirit of "modern European tolerance," portraying it as a place overrun with gay clubs and parades.

"This is how they 'unwind' in Salisbury," the presenter said, using the exact phrase Petrov used to describe the aim of the men's trip.

Journalists in and outside Russia took notice ...

...as did Kremlin critics.

Commenting on reports that a separate pair of Russian spies had been apprehended in the Netherlands, lawyer Nikolai Polozov wrote, apparently in jest: "Yet another gay pair from the GRU in search of a worthy cafe."

Blogger Rustem Adagamov, meanwhile, tweeted a suggestion about Russian state media's true intentions.

"To punish Petrov and Vasechkin for their failure to execute, they've clearly decided to legendize [provide a cover story for] them as a couple of gays," he wrote, playing on the theme of a popular Soviet children's comedy, "The Adventures of Petrov and Vasechkin."

Amid the fallout, Simonyan took to Twitter with comments that served to add grist to the rumor mill.

Noting that the two men "didn't hit on me" during the interview, she wrote: "I don't know if they're gay or not gay. They're stylish, as far as I can tell -- with little beards and cute haircuts, taut trousers and jumpers that tighten around impressive biceps."
The Pentagon has issued a protest after U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace west of the U.S. state of Alaska.

The F-22 Raptor fighters intercepted the long-range Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers overnight on September 12-13, a joint U.S.-Canadian command statement said on September 13.

The U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) said the four-engine Cold War-era turboprop bombers, escorted by two Russian Su-35 fighters, stayed in international airspace and never entered U.S. or Canadian zones.

The Tu-95 bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the Pentagon said.

The jets followed the Russian craft until they left the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.

The military monitors air traffic in the zone, which extends 320 kilometers off the Alaskan coast.

The intercept occurred at the same time as Russias largest-ever military maneuvers, featuring some 300,000 troops, were taking place in eastern Siberia.

NORAD commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy said the Russian flights did not appear to be "directly part of [the maneuvers], although it is very much related to it."

It's at least the second incident to occur this month.



Two U.S. Air Force jet fighters were scrambled on September 1 to escort a pair of Russia Tu-95 bombers that were conducting a flight over the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk.

A NORAD spokesman told journalists the Russian bombers were flying "in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, south of the Aleutian Islands."

The Russian Defense Ministry on September 7 confirmed the incident, saying the bombers were performing "scheduled flights over neutral waters" when they were escorted by the U.S. F-22 warplanes.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says his country needs help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and external borrowing due to its large debt burden.

"We could manage without external borrowing if we did not have to repay old debts," Poroshenko said in a speech at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv on September 14.

His comments came as the presidents parliamentary representative Iryna Lutsenko said Ukraine had started talks with the IMF on a new standby agreement that would replace the current $17.5 billion assistance program.

"This means that the IMF appreciated the reforms, the pace, the results of the reforms that we made within the framework of that program and are ready to provide us with another program," she said on the sidelines of the YES meeting in Kyiv.

In his address to the conference, Poroshenko reiterated that Ukraine seeks membership in both NATO and the EU.

"Ukraine's entry into the EU and NATO will put an end to its 'colonial status'," he said.

Poroshenko also said the EU is incomplete without Ukraine.

"Why is that? Because our northeastern border, instead of the Urals, is the frontier of modern European civilization," Poroshenko said at the conference, in comments quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Pakistani authorities say a roadside bomb has exploded near a security convoy in the country's southwest, killing three security personnel and wounding two others.

The attack on September 14 took place near the town of Pashi, about 50 kilometers north of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province, Ali Mohammad, a local security official, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal.

Pakistani media reported that the bomb was placed on a motorcycle and had targeted the car of the areas assistant commissioner, Amir Zaman Kakar, but he was not in the vehicle at the time.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Pakistani militants and small nationalist groups have been blamed for previous such attacks in Balochistan.

Provincial Home Minister Saleem Khosa condemned the attack and said that "terrorists will be dealt with with an iron fist."

Separatist groups also often target security forces in a bid to get a larger share of provincial resources and wealth or autonomy from Islamabad.

Pakistan's government claims it has quelled the insurgency, but violence has continued.

With reporting by AP
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow would keep bombing militant targets in Syria's Idlib Province if need be, but would also open humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee.



Lavrov was speaking in Berlin on September 14 ahead of a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.



Quoted by the Interfax news agency, Lavrov said that the Russian Air force would strike what he called terrorist weapons-making facilities but would also encourage local reconciliation deals.



Ahead of their talks, Maas said he would warn Lavrov that a major military offensive on the last Syrian rebel stronghold of Idlib Province risks triggering a humanitarian catastrophe.



"We all know what's at stake," said Maas in an interview with the German news agency dpa.

"This is about preventing the worst, namely a new humanitarian catastrophe."

Syria's government has announced plans for a major offensive to drive the remaining rebels out of Idlib.



Russia and Iran have given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crucial support throughout the countrys seven-year civil war, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011.



The United Nations expects up to 900,000 people to flee if Assad launches a large-scale offensive on Syrias last rebel-held region, home to some 3 million people.



"Russia plays a key role and we have expectations of them," Maas said. "We're going to discuss this very openly with one another."



The visit comes as tensions remain high between the West and Russia, with Moscows support for Assad, its seizure and annexation of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula, its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, and other issues proving divisive.



But Lavrov said that he sees a potential for improved ties with Germany.



I would prefer not to characterize the relations between Russia and Germany as tense, he said in an interview with dpa ahead of his departure to Berlin.



There are political divergences that bring some complicating moments into the structure of bilateral relations.

But the common historical, cultural, and social convergences, the economy and, if you like, human wisdom, have established a foundation that enables the people of our countries to believe in a nice, predictable future -- one that can be made together.



He said that Western governments have, over the past quarter-century, been attempting to confine Russia.

Lavrov also said Moscow remains ready to improve relations with the United States but he blamed what he called Russophobia in Washington for putting the brakes on any progress.



"We are taking seriously statements by [U.S. President Donald] Trump on [his] willingness to set up normal dialogue between our countries," Lavrov added.



Trump has pushed for improved ties with Russia and President Vladimir Putin despite criticism from Democrats and some Republicans that he has not pressed Moscow enough on alleged meddling in U.S. elections and other issues.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa




MOSCOW -- On August 29, disturbing data from a Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station (ISS) reached the mission control centers in Houston and Moscow. The shuttle was losing oxygen, flight operators noted, and pressure inside the cabins was dropping. None of the crew members on board -- three Americans, two Russians and a German -- could provide an explanation. After a thorough search of the spacecraft, the astronauts traced the oxygen leak to a tiny hole, around 2 millimeters in diameter, located in the Russian section of the ship, the orbital compartment that is cast off before atmospheric reentry. Working with flight controllers on the ground, they covered the hole using heat-resistant tape as a temporary fix. To stabilize oxygen levels, they connected the shuttle to another spacecraft docked at the station, the Progress 70, according to a NASA statement. In the hours that followed, Russian crew members followed instructions from Moscow and stopped up the hole with a cloth saturated in epoxy. In the process, they noted existing traces of glue inside the hole, according to Russian media reports. Crew members agreed with mission control to wait for the seal to harden and take a day to devise a longer-term solution. NASA was quick to issue a statement and call for calm. The leak on board the spacecraft was "tiny" and placed no lives at risk, the agency said on August 30. The Russian space agency Roskosmos, for its part, convened a commission to investigate the incident and ascertain responsibility.

News of the incident spread fast, with media reports speculating on the cause of the oxygen leak. Explanations cited by space-industry sources and Russian journalists ranged from collision with space debris, mostly likely a micrometeorite, to deliberate sabotage by a crew member. A photo of the small hole, published by Russia's space agency, Roskosmos, appeared to show impact marks caused by attempts to insert a drill bit into the hull.

On September 3, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti cited reports that the hole was drilled by a worker at Energiya, the corporation that manufactures Soyuz rockets. Upon noticing the error, the employee allegedly plugged the hole with glue, which explained why it was discovered neither during preflight testing nor during the first two months of the space mission. The MS-09 space shuttle had been docked at the ISS since June. Within hours of the report's publication, Roskosmos head Dmitry Rogozin appeared before journalists. He said that investigators had discarded the chance of collision with space debris and were looking into the possibility of sabotage. "There's clear evidence of tampering with the spacecraft's hull," Rogozin told journalists. "We're checking whether this was done on Earth. But there's another version, which we're not discounting: deliberate interference in space." The search for the culprit is a "matter of honor" for Energiya, Rogozin added.

In an interview with the U.S. television network ABC from on board the ISS, station commander Drew Feustel pointedly dismissed claims of sabotage. "I can unequivocally say that the crew had nothing to do with this on orbit," he said. "We certainly don't want to ever see that happen again," he added. "And I hope the teams on the ground do proper due diligence in trying to solve this problem because the implications are enormous to the whole space program, not only to us in the U.S. but also in Russia and internationally for all the partners." NASA has been reserved in its response. In comments to RFE/RL, agency spokeswoman Stephanie Schierholz said NASA was awaiting the results of the Roskosmos probe. "We work closely with our Russian partners to identify the source and the solution," she said, adding that the incident should not be seen as evidence that Russia-U.S. space cooperation was under threat. "We've been able to maintain a successful relationship through all sorts of things," she added, citing almost two decades of bilateral cooperation on the ISS. Roskosmos declined requests for comment until the agency's commission concludes its investigation.

With relations between Russia and the United States at their lowest since the Cold War, the space industry has remained one of few areas in which cooperation continues. American astronauts still rely on Russian spacecraft to get to the ISS, a dependence that's set to end in coming years. Efforts by Space X and Boeing, the two companies NASA commissioned to develop U.S. space transportation, have met obstacles, and neither will be certified for regular flights until at least late 2019, according to a U.S. government report released in January. Nevertheless, Russia's prominent role in space exploration is under threat from aspiring players China, India, and Japan. Compounding the woes of Russia's space industry is the drop in financing and the aging of equipment since the fall of the Soviet Union. Following a cut in funding announced by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in March 2016, NASA's annual expenditure almost equals the Roskosmos budget for the next 10-year cycle. Planned reforms to Roskosmos, which was restructured in 2015 amid efforts to revive the industry, have been slow to yield progress. In May 2015, following another in a series of rocket failures later tied to issues at Energomash, the state company that produces Proton rocket engines, Rogozin cited a "systemic crisis" in the space industry and pledged to make the necessary changes. There's been little evidence of that, according to Ivan Moyseyev of the Institute of Space Policy, a Moscow-based think tank. In a telephone interview, Moyseyev ridiculed the notion that a crew member aboard the Soyuz MS-09 would endanger the lives of colleagues and placed the August 29 discovery in the broader context of declining production standards at Roskosmos. "Measures are not being taken to improve discipline at production plants, and this has gone on for a long time," he said. "It's a general problem."
One of Vladimir Putins closest allies broke the Kremlin taboo on speaking Aleksei Navalnys name  and vowed to make mincemeat out of him in a duel.

Two alleged GRU officers went on TV to explain why they were in Salisbury the day Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned, telling a story that critics said had more holes than the International Space Station.

And Putin stunned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a proposal to sign a World War II peace treaty before the year is out.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week, and some of the takeaways going forward.

'Mincemeat'

The name that shall not be spoken has been spoken  and then some.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been careful to avoid uttering the name of his most prominent critic for the last five years, referring unmistakably to Aleksei Navalny on numerous occasions without actually naming him  and much of the Kremlin administration appears to be in on the omerta, not least its main mouthpiece, Dmitry Peskov.

The taboo was suddenly shattered this week by one of Putins oldest and closest allies: Viktor Zolotov, his former bodyguard and now chief of the National Guard  an internal security force dubbed Putins personal praetorian guard by commentators  lashed out at Navalny in a remarkable rant posted on both his agencys YouTube channel and its official website.

Challenging Navalny to a duel in the fighting form of his choice and vowing to quickly pound him into mincemeat  or a nice juicy steak, as some translations had it  Zolotov also called the opposition leader and a handful of other Putin critics rotten, rusty, and decaying people with no morals and no country, no Fatherland.

Zolotov wore a high, heavily adorned officers cap and the dress of his generals rank. But the tirade was a gloves-off attack on Putins opponents  not just Navalny but also former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and, by extension, all those who have countered Putin or promoted an alternative to the Kremlins narrative during his nearly two-decade rule over Russia.

And while Zolotovs 19th-century talk of a duel and military honor may have been meant to put him on the moral high ground, looking down at Navalny through the sight of an ivory-handled pistol, it came across as a menacing mix of real, raw emotion and the halting diction of a nonactor reading from badly organized cue cards.

The tirade was particularly startling because Putin, a longtime former KGB officer, has always sought to portray the fellow siloviki he has brought into top positions as a class above critics like Navalny, using their need to resort to street protests and other methods outside the Kremlin-dominated political system as evidence that they belong on the margins and should stay there, sidelined from discourse between state and society.

Parsing Putins Protector

Zolotov did the opposite, commentators said, stooping to take a swipe at Navalny  and in doing so abandoning the mantle of military honor that he was professing to defend. And he did so while the target of his tirade was in jail  held for 30 days over a January protest in a case supporters contend was used to keep him off the streets while Russia held local and regional elections on September 9.

Linguist Maksim Krongaus, who analyzed the six-minute video, said Zolotov shifted swiftly from the noble language of the past to an absolutely  I wont say gangster context, but a kind of street lingo.

In an instant, this high speech falls to the ground, he told Current Time TV, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

Zolotov apparently laid himself open to mockery, and critics on social media quickly moved in for the kill. The video spawned a slew of memes and acerbic responses, many of them challenging him to a one-on-one showdown in everything from breastfeeding and baking to swimming and tic-tac-toe.

Meanwhile, others looked for a motive. Some speculated that Zolotov was on his way out and seeking a way to save face, and some saw evidence of infighting in the ranks of the siloviki.

Putin in the past has publicly criticized security officials who take their closed-door disputes public, and rifts that break out from under the carpet have been seen as signs of his system of rule threatening to unravel.

While that seems far from imminent, Zolotovs rant undercut Putin's talk of letting the courts, which he claims are independent, settle disputes.

The National Guard chiefs tough, ominous tone seems to suggest that, at least in the understanding of Putins former bodyguard and the man responsible for reining in protests, if a showdown between the Kremlin and its opponents does come, it will not be contested in courts or at the ballot box -- it will be fought on the street with firearms, knives, or bare fists.

There has been no public comment from Putin, and his spokesmans remarks suggested a balancing act.

Sometimes any possible methods should be employed in opposing shameless libel," Peskov said, but he added that Zolotovs remarks were not cleared by Putins administration in advance.

Peskov also said he did not see Zolotovs words as constituting a physical threat.

Um, OK. Figurative mincemeat, then.

Russia-watchers also saw evidence of a spat between rival security agencies in the developments surrounding the two men Britain suspects traveled to the English city of Salisbury and smeared a deadly nerve agent on Sergei Skripals front door in March, poisoning the former spy and his daughter and deepening the already severe strains in ties between Moscow and the West.

By some accounts, their public exposure in an interview on Russian television was punishment  of both the suspects themselves and the GRU, Russias military intelligence service -- for bungling a presumed plot to kill Skripal and for being found out.

Your Wish Is My Command

While Putin kept his silence on Zolotov, he spoke out about the Novichok case while hosting an economic forum in Vladivostok, saying that Russian authorities had found the two suspects and that there was nothing criminal about them. He said that Aleksandr Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov are civilians  not officers of the GRU, as Britain alleges -- and urged them to come forward and tell their side of the story.

That would be better for everyone, Putin said.

Sure enough, two men with the same names and seemingly the same faces as those caught on a Gatwick airport security camera sat down just hours later  if the announced timing is accurate -- for a half-hour interview with state-funded TV station RT.

Before British Prime Minister Theresa May could say that the interview was full of lies and blatant fabrications, cybersleuths had spotted innumerable flaws in their explanation of why they were in Salisbury the day Skripal and his daughter were poisoned.

If the suspects story left many questions unanswered, heres another: Does Putin care?

Over the past few years, Russian officials have spun numerous outlandish narratives about issues such as the war in Ukraine, chemical-weapons attacks in Syria, alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and the Novichok affair -- and have not blinked when faced by widespread doubt, dispute, and mockery.

Meanwhile, Putins comments about the case were not the only remarks he made in Vladivostok that were seen by some as trolling.

On stage alongside Shinzo Abe, Putin heard the Japanese prime minister suggest that the pace of movement toward a treaty formally ending World War II hostilities between Japan and Russia  which both claim a group of islands occupied by Soviet forces at the end of the war -- was too slow.

Apparently seeing an opening, Putin moved quickly to call Abes bluff.

'This Is Called Trolling'

"Shinzo said, 'Let's change our approaches.' Let's! Let's conclude a peace agreementby the end of the year, without any preconditions," Putin said. 

Putins offer  to end a seemingly intractable 73-year-old dispute in the relative blink of an eye -- was met with applause. But not from Abe.

He may have realized that what sounded like a win-win proposition might actually be a win for only one side, cementing Russias control over the islands and leaving Japan with little to show for it.

There was no immediate response from Abe, but he made clear two days later that Tokyo, as before, wants a deal setting out possession of the islands before it will sign a peace pact.

Of course, Japans stance is to resolve the territorial dispute and then conclude a peace treaty, he said.

Commenting on Ekho Moskvy radio, former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Kunadze said he did not think Putins proposal was made in good faith.

"This is called trolling, Kunadze said.
The United States has accused Russia of altering an independent United Nations report to cover up Moscows alleged violation of UN sanctions on North Korea.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on September 13 said Russia pressured the independent sanctions monitors to amend a report that was eventually submitted to the Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee last month.

The report said Pyongyang had not stopped its nuclear and missile programs and that it was violating UN sanctions on exports.

Haley and other diplomats claim that Russia pressured the independent monitors to amend the report.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one diplomat said the amended report removed some references to Russians accused of breaching North Korea sanctions.

Another diplomat told AFP that several paragraphs referring to Russian oil trade were removed at Moscow's urging.

At the end of August, Russia blocked publication of the report because it disagreed with findings that Pyongyang had exceeded a 2018 import limit for oil set by the sanctions imposed in 2017, the diplomat said.

"Russia can't be allowed to edit and obstruct independent UN reports on North Korea sanctions just because they don't like what they say. Period," Haley said in a statement.

"The full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions remains mandatory for all member states  including Russia.

"This is a dangerous precedent and a stain on the important work of the panel," Haley said.

Haley has called for the original report to be released by the 15-member Security Council, which must agree by consensus on whether to publish the findings.

Russias UN mission and the head of the sanctions monitor panel did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russia and China have pushed for the Security Council to ease sanctions on Pyongyang after the summit in June between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim at the summit pledged to work toward denuclearization, although U.S. and other officials have said the North has made little progress to the stated goal.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet on September 17 to discuss implementation of sanctions on North Korea at Washingtons the request.

Earlier on September 13, the United States imposed sanctions on two information technology companies based in China and Russia for supporting Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programs.

"Treasury is once again warning the IT industry, businesses, and individuals across the globe to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects by doing business with companies like the ones designated today," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement.

"The United States will continue to fully enforce and implement sanctions until we have achieved the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, he added.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AFP, and AP
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says any deal with neighboring Kosovo to settle their long-standing disputes would need to include a guarantee of membership from the European Union.

"If we ever reach an agreement [with Kosovo], Serbia would need to get clear guarantees that it would become an EU member state in 2025," Vucic told Reuters in an interview published on September 13.

The EU has said that normalizing bilateral ties between Serbia and its former province is a key condition to move both countries toward EU membership.

Serbia lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed to stop the killing and expulsion of Albanians by Serb forces during a two-year counterinsurgency war.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and has been recognized by more than 100 countries, but not by Serbia.

The two sides in 2013 committed to EU-mediated talks to resolve their differences, but little progress has been made.

Vucic on September 8 said during a trip to northern Kosovo that he would be willing to continue talks with Kosovar officials but warned it will be difficult to reach a deal that could normalize relations.

"I will do my best [to reach the agreement], but it is a long road full of thorns and problems ahead," Vucic said.

The Serbian leader's two-day visit to Kosovo came one day after a meeting between Vucic and Kosovar President Hashim Thaci was canceled after Vucic refused to meet.

Vucic told Reuters it could take up to 10 years for the two sides to reach an agreement because of all their differences.

"Sometimes I smile when I hear how people simplify things and say that the deal comes down to a line -- I will give you three villages and I will get six villages [in return]," he said.

He was referring to suggestions by some leaders of a possible land swap, whereby Serbia gave up areas with a majority ethnic Albanian population in return for Kosovar territory with a majority Serb population.

"If we were ever to reach a deal, it would have to be an overall deal that would include not only relations between us and the Albanians in Kosovo, but it would also have to include a resolution of our EU path and further economic progress," he said.

"Right now, we don't know where our borders are," Vucic said.

"No one in the region should be afraid of any agreement between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. The region will be more stable, stronger and economically more attractive," he said.

Although some EU and U.S. officials have said they support the exchange of territories, Germany and many analysts have said it is a bad idea that could renew old ethnic hostilities throughout the Balkans.

With reporting by Reuters
Reading Jon Manchesters article on proportional representation was an excellent reminder that our current political system was designed to produce a two-party system of government that would allow the colonial Mothers to control their colonies  not to produce democratic governments that are controlled by the people.

A political party representing about 1/3 of the electorate is a very shaky foundation for any government, and awarding it the majority of the seats in the legislature and giving the leaders the powers of a dictator is incomprehensible, and defies our basic human right to have free and democratic governments.

It has also promoted a very adversarial relationship between the opposition parties, who are more concerned with destroying all the good work they may have done, for the exclusive purpose of paving the way to win the next election.

The political instability and uncertainty associate professor Lydia Miljan is alluding to, is nothing compared to the radical departure from the democratic process and simple common sense we have experienced in Canada during the last decade.

Nothing can be more fracturing than government leaders who arbitrarily pursue major projects, like $40-billion LNG plants, hydroelectric dams, oil by rail instead of pipelines, and 999-year leases on Crown lands, without any meaningful consultation with the people, let alone the other parties who were elected to participate in the delivery of law, order and good government.

Born and raised in a country that has had a proportional electoral system for decades was an opportunity to see the stability of governments that are committed to consensus-based decision-making and how that provides the foundation for that political and socio-economic stability our current first-past-the-post system is denying us.

Yes, single issue parties will appear on the political landscape from time to time, but the fact of the matter is that they disappear just as quickly for the simple reason, a single issue is never enough to sustain any party for any length of time.

And the parties that reach out to them to solicit their support for those sensitive issues are usually punished severely at the polls during subsequent elections, which also serves as a reminder to the other parties not to stray too far away from the political centerline to get that illusive vote.

There will in all likelihood be only about four political parties in BC, and they will develop over a number of years in response to the whim of the electorate.

With minority and coalition governments a single party will no longer be able to ram any radical decision or action through the legislature without consultation and support of members from the other parties.

The radical and un-democratic performance by our past and present government leaders are well presented and articulated via our media daily, and cannot be disputed by anybody, no matter what their political and academic credentials may be.

Andy Thomsen, Peachland
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Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad who had found guilty in the Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur clash and prisoned since June has been released from Saharanpur jail on Friday early morning at around 2:24 am.

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the early release of the Azad. Earlier, he has to be released in the month of November but after the order of government, he has been released now.

Bhim army chief was arrested on 8th June 2018 from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh and was booked under the National Security Act after caste clashes in western Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur. In the clash, one dead and several lefts injured. While on 2nd November 2017, his period of detention under NSA has been extended for six months.

The supporter of Bhim Army chief has gathered outside the jail to welcome their leader and also raised the slogans Bhim Army Zindabad and Chandrashekhar Zindabad as he walked out. Azads supporters have garlanded him and also distributed sweets to show their happiness as their leader out of the jail after 15 months.

However, two of his aides, whose jail term till 14th October, will be released with Azad.
The US' decision to suspend USD 300 million in military aid to Pakistan was not taken lightly, said National Security Adviser John Bolton, while adding that, the Trump administration had apprehensions regarding Islamabad which is a Nuclear weapons state, falling into the hands of terrorists.

"It was before my time, but the Trump administration did not take the decision to cancel a substantial part of the military aid package to Pakistan lightly, Dawn quoted Bolton as he delivered a speech earlier this week in Washington.

"It was done knowing full well that Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state, and the risk that the government could fall into the hands of terrorists that would get control of those nuclear weapons was particularly serious."

However, the country's Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on his visit to Pakistan last week, said that there is a still a possibility of improving the ties between the two countries if Pakistan cooperates fully in the war against terrorism, which they promised to do, Dawn reported.

Pompeo also urged the Imran Khan government to rein in the terrorist groups, which is a "matter of extraordinary importance for the United States."

On September 1, the Trump government announced it planned to suspend the military aid to Islamabad citing reasons that it failed to take actions against terrorists.

In January, US President Donald Trump, in a scathing attack to the then Pakistan government said that it had given the United States nothing but "lies and deceit" and his country has "foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years".

-ANI
Det Supt Una Jennings with some of the weapons handed in during previous weapons surrenders

REDUCING knife crime will be a priority for South Yorkshire Police next week as an operation, which removed more than 300 weapons from the streets earlier this year, returns

Operation Sceptre, a nationwide effort to tackle knife-related criminality, will return to South Yorkshire on Tuesday and high visibility policing operations will be taking place across Rotherham.

Det Supt Una Jennings said the first operation, earlier this year, removed more than 300 weapons from the streets and engaged with more than 500,000 people in a week.

Were offering our wholehearted support once more to this initiative, which coincides with our recent launch of our force-wide knife crime strategy and our ongoing Drop the Knife campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives, she said.

We recognise and accept that there has been a rise in violent crime across the UK and South Yorkshire is no exception.

Det Supt Jennings added: We are working relentlessly alongside our partners in health, local authorities and other agencies to better understand the root causes of knife-enabled crime and as part of our activity next week well have officers delivering hard-hitting presentations at schools to our young people, to warn them about the significant and often life-changing consequences of carrying knives, she said.

It is encouraging to learn that since we introduced our public health approach towards knife-enabled crime in July last year, we have seen the first decreases in this type of criminality in over four years.

There remains much to do, however, and we cant do this alone. Id urge our communities to really get behind next weeks initiative and support police and other agencies in our efforts to reduce knife crime and keep people safe.
MP Justine Greening

IT WILL be a blast from the past for former education secretary Justine Greening tomorrow as she visits the supermarket where she once worked as a Saturday girl.

Ms Greening will visit the Bramley branch of Morrisons  where she secured her first job  to promote a cross-party initiative encouraging businesses to offer more opportunities to children and young people.

The Conservative politician, who left her post as education minister in a Cabinet reshuffle in January, was one of the first members of staff at the Bramley branch, working in the cafe.

It was the first step on the social mobility ladder for the working class girl from Rotherham on her journey to becoming a Government minister.

Ms Greening said: I spent lots of time there over lots of Saturdays.

It taught me about work, keeping to a schedule, being in a workplace and getting up on time and it gave me a sense of what business is about.

Ms Greening said she had worked her way up the ladder with a lot of hard work  becoming the first person in her family to attend university.

It was very hard for me and I want to make that easier for people growing up, she said.

Asked how increasing university tuition fees and an increasingly stretched education budget would boost social mobility, Ms Greening said more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were attending university than ever before and children from disadvantaged families were making more progress at school.

Whats crucial is businesses step up to the plate, she said.

Ms Greening launched the Social Mobility Pledge in March and has visited businesses across the country to encourage them to sign up.

The pledge encourages businesses to do three things  work with local schools and colleges, offer work experience and apprenticeships and adopt open recruitment policies such as taking anonymous applications.

Ms Greening said: I want businesses to open their doors because I certainly would have liked more access to local businesses growing up.

She said encouraging more businesses to accept anonymised job applications would boost prospects for candidates from black and mixed race backgrounds.

We know research shows that bosses will subconsciously filter out kids that are called Kevin, for example, and thats wrong because it means they are missing out on talent, she said.

Companies such as John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Vodafone, BT and PricewaterhouseCoopers are among those to have signed up to the pledge.

Ms Greening said: I want to be someone who takes responsibility for change happening.

Im so committed to it, I chose to leave Government so I could work on this.

When challenged over the image of Conservative politicians being born into wealth Ms Greening said there were a lot of working class MPs from different backgrounds in the party.

This party is about equality and opportunity for people, she said.

A survey conducted by the Social Mobility Pledge found that 59 per cent of people in Yorkshire think it is difficult or very difficult for a disadvantaged person in the UK to do well in life.
Inspirational Craig Wathall

A NURSE who swapped the clinic for the classroom will take on a dream doctorate in law after returning to university to follow his dreams.

Craig Wathall (56), of Cherry Tree Crescent, Wickersley, has been a community mental health nurse for 25 years and runs a care company with his wife Veronica (50).

But his academic roots are in law, which he studied 30 years ago at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.

An interest in mental health led the young graduate into nursing, but his love of law never waned.

Craig took a year out of nursing to gain a masters degree in law from Leeds Beckett University.

Last year, I decided my business was going well enough for me to take some time out and do something for myself, he said.

I completed the masters and got the highest marks in my class  I was shocked to do so well.

But I was revising very hard, doing 12-hour nights at the library. Sometimes I wouldnt finish studying until 8am.

He added: It goes to show that youre never too old to learn. I hope I encourage some other people to go and do the same.

Graduating at the top of his class, Craig was immediately offered several jobs as a solicitor.

He could have begun a lucrative career as a barrister  but then he was offered a doctoral post at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Craig chose to continue his education, focusing on human rights law, which he hopes to teach, one day.

Most of my colleagues and staff said I was too old to do a masters degree, said Craig, so I decided to do it.

Now Im retiring from my business and leaving my wife to run it, while I go to study in Galway for a while.

The couple has a holiday home in Ireland, so Veronica will be able to visit frequently and manage their company remotely.

She said: Im very proud of him. We were at his graduation when the tutor approached him and offered him a PhD at Leeds Beckett.

By then he had already had an offer from Galway. Its all very, very exciting.

Veronica added: I do wish he was studying closer to home, but I want him to go where he wants and to be happy.

We will have plenty of holidays in Ireland so there will be very little separation.

Unsure of where a PhD will take him, the ambitious nurse is confident of one thing  education is for all ages.

The message is follow your heart, follow your dreams, said Craig.

If I had listened to everyone who doubted me, I wouldnt have done it.
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is believed to be one of the most contagious pathogens of animals in its acute form; however, there is still controversy over whether it is transmissible from asymptomatic, long-term carriers. Despite the lack of evidence for transmission by direct contact with FMDV carrier cattle, there is demonstrable contagion associated with these animals, according to a new study published in the journal mSphere. The findings impact the way countries manage foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a viral disease of livestock with substantial impact on agricultural production and subsistence farming on a global scale.

"An outstanding question in the FMD research world is 'do carrier animals ever transmit the virus?' There is this conventional wisdom that they do not matter. We performed this study to see if, under slightly contrived conditions, we can show that carriers will transmit foot-and-mouth disease to naive-unexposed animals, and the answer was 'yes'," said Jonathan Arzt, Veterinary Medical Officer at the Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Orient Pt, New York. "Before this study, we questioned the legitimacy of the concept that there is a threat from these animals, but now we have a better vision that it is true."

Control and eradication of FMD have been complicated by the existence of a persistent, subclinical, phase of infection in ruminants. To prevent the spread of FMD and minimize trade impacts, countries that are FMD-free, such as North America, Europe, and Australia, euthanize these so-called carrier animals, even though the benefit of killing them is unclear.

In the new study, the investigators from USDA/ARS and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU-Vet) exposed susceptible cattle and pigs to oropharyngeal fluid or tissues harvested from persistently infected cattle. These inoculated cattle developed clinical FMD of similar severity as animals that had been infected with a high-titer inoculum. In contrast, pigs exposed via intra-oropharyngeal inoculation of the same fluid, or by ingestion of the infected tissues harvested from the same cohort of persistently infected cattle, did not develop FMD.

The new research demonstrates that countries that are FMD-free need to continue to cull carrier animals until better products are developed to justify "vaccinate-to-live" strategies. "There is this perception by countries that carrier animals have residual contagion, and if we don't go around and euthanize all these animals, the disease is going to spread," said Carolina Stenfeldt, DVM, PhD, a visiting scientist at the USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, who conceived the new study. "Unfortunately, this study confirms that is at least, in part, true. I would rather be giving the world evidence that we don't have to euthanize those animals, but the reality is right now if we don't, then we are missing FMDV."

The study suggests that FMDV carriers may be relevant to the epidemiology of this disease in FMD-endemic regions, which includes Asia and Africa, despite the prevalent conventional wisdom that carriers do not matter in the field. "This is the first study that unambiguously demonstrates FMDV contagion in carrier cattle," said Dr. Arzt. "Clearly, we need better vaccines and products that are going to prevent the carrier state."

The 2001 FMD outbreak in the United Kingdom and continental Europe affected approximately 10 million animals and cost an estimated $14 billion.
How did Steve Jobs do it? What about Whole Foods Market and Starbucks? These kinds of "breakout" success stories show what is possible when business leaders imagine into the future rather than re-enacting the past -- a strategy that a new study says is crucial for business success in a rapidly changing world.

Luis Martins, director of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business, and co-author Violina Rindova of the University of Southern California argue in a paper published in Advances in Strategic Management that the key to revolutionary business strategy lies in the strategist's ability to use a future-focused kind of imagination. They say that this kind of thinking can be taught, and they call on other business academics to test and validate their theory and methods.

"If Whole Foods were a replication of the past, it would be one more small health food store," Martins says. "It required a different imagination of the future to combine an organic farmers market with a big grocery store, and a strong focus on conscious capitalism. That's the kind of thing that changes the mold within any given industry and comes up with a whole new space.

"You couldn't get a Cirque du Soleil by just trying to make another circus," Martins says.

Martins, who is also chairman of the McCombs School's Department of Management, says that the current standard curriculum in even the top-tier business schools places too little emphasis on strategic imagination. The accepted methodology teaches students how to analyze the past and adapt to the present, which Martins says are crucial components of strategy, but without future-focused imagination, he says, they won't lead to breakthrough business achievements. The few courses that do offer students forward-thinking strategic business frameworks are usually electives, not requirements.

Anticipatory thinking, analogical reasoning and design thinking are all techniques that can catalyze strategic imagination, Martins says. In his classes, students follow technological, economic and social trends that may come together in the future to brainstorm new goods that could, in some cases, open entirely new markets.

He also encourages thinking about how established business models can be used in new market spaces the way the company Rent the Runway did when it began offering a way for shoppers to borrow clothing instead of buying. They effectively created "the Netflix for high-end dresses," Martins says.

Martins says design thinking -- the process of using design to create new offerings and improve the user experience -- also has the capacity to revolutionize a business, noting Apple's attention to the appearances of its products as an example of how design can transform an entire industry.

"I think we are running out of runway for mass market thinking and just low-price thinking," Martins says. "So, increasingly, as markets fragment and as people desire something more than just low cost, I think strategic imagination will become an ever-more-important aspect of the strategist's job."
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is widely known to cause nearly all cases of cervical cancer. However, you might not know that HPV also causes 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancer, a subset of head and neck cancers that affect the mouth, tongue, and tonsils. Although vaccines that protect against HPV infection are now available, they are not yet widespread, especially in men, nor do they address the large number of currently infected cancer patients.

Patients with head and neck cancer caused by HPV respond very differently to treatments than those whose cancer is associated with the consumption of tobacco products. The first group generally has better outcomes, with almost 80 percent of patients surviving longer than 5 years after diagnosis, compared to only 45-50 percent for patients with tobacco-related cancers.

To better understand what might cause these differences, a team of scientists led by Nevan J. Krogan, PhD, senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, is taking a unique approach by focusing on the cancer-causing virus. They recently mapped the interactions between all HPV proteins and human proteins for the first time. Their findings are published today in the journal Cancer Discovery.

"With our study, we identified several new protein interactions that were previously not known to cause cancer, expanding our knowledge of the oncogenic roles of the HPV virus" said Krogan, who is also a professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology at UC San Francisco (UCSF) and the director of the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at UCSF. "The human proteins we found interacting with HPV are involved in both virus- and tobacco-related cancers, which means they could be potential targets for the development of new drugs or therapies."

A Complete Picture of Virus-Cancer Connections

Krogan and Manon Eckhardt, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in his laboratory at Gladstone, developed an integrated strategy to identify all the interactions between HPV proteins and human proteins. First, using a method called mass spectrometry, they discovered a total of 137 interactions between HPV and human proteins.

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Then, in collaboration with computational biologist Wei Zhang, PhD, in the laboratory of Trey Ideker, PhD, at UC San Diego School of Medicine, they looked at entire networks of each protein -- rather than only individual proteins -- to detect the most important players. They also compared their list of proteins with data from HPV-associated cancer samples published by The Cancer Genome Atlas project. This large consortium catalogued genetic mutations in tumors of various cancers.

"We integrated together these two sets of data to get a comprehensive look at potential cancer-causing interactions between HPV and head and neck cancers," said Krogan, who is co-director of the Cancer Cell Map Initiative. "This combined proteomic and genetic approach provided us with a systematic way to study the cellular mechanisms hijacked by virally induced cancers."

Common Pathways in HPV-Induced and Smoking-Related Cancers

By overlaying the protein interaction and genomics data, the scientists discovered that the HPV virus targets the same human proteins that are frequently mutated in smoking-related cancers. Interestingly, those proteins are not mutated in HPV-positive cancers.

For example, their findings reconfirmed a well-established interaction between the human protein p53 and an HPV protein called E6. In HPV-negative cancers (those related to smoking), p53 is mutated in nearly all cases. However, the same protein is rarely ever mutated in HPV-positive cancer patients.

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"In both cases, when p53 is inactivated, it leads to cancer," explained Eckhardt, one of the first authors of the paper. "The difference is that the HPV virus finds a different way of attacking the same protein."

In smoking-related cancers, p53 is mutated, which causes the cancer. Instead, in HPV-positive cancers, the viral protein E6 interacts with p53 and inactivates it, resulting in the same cancer, but without the mutation. This suggests the establishment of the viral infection and the development of tumors share common pathways.

"We thought there must be more proteins that can cause cancer either by being mutated or hijacked by HPV, so we developed a new method to detect them," added Eckhardt. "Our study highlighted two interesting instances where the interaction of HPV and human proteins play a role in the development or invasiveness of the cancer."

Eckhardt showed that the HPV protein E1 interacts with the human protein KEAP1, which is often mutated in smoking-related cancers. In HPV-positive cancers, KEAP1 is not mutated. But, through its interaction with the protein E1, KEAP1 is inactivated, which helps cancer cells survive.

The researchers also found that the HPV protein L2, which is part of the virus's packaging, interacts with two human proteins called RNF20 and RNF40. They demonstrated that in HPV-positive cancers, this protein interaction increases the tumor's ability to spread and invade new parts of the body.

These results confirm that the HPV virus causes head and neck cancer by targeting the same proteins that go awry in response to smoking-induced mutations.

Connecting Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Krogan and his collaborators have shown that integrating HPV-human interaction with tumor genome data, and focusing on genes that are mutated in HPV-negative but not HPV-positive tumors, constitutes a powerful approach to identify proteins that serve as both viral targets and genetic drivers of cancer.

The scientists' work should lay the groundwork to find better therapeutic options for both HPV-negative and HPV-positive head and neck cancers. In addition, Krogan's long-term goal is to define a pipeline that will enable the study of many other virally induced cancers, including those linked to Hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenoviruses.

"Science can be siloed, and through these unbiased, holistic approaches we can start to find common pathways between different systems," said Krogan, who also leads the Host Pathogen Map Initiative, which aims to compare protein and genetic interactions across many pathogens and identify similarities. "Our work is helping connect the dots between cancer and infectious diseases in ways that have never been considered."
Marketers everywhere are looking for what will entice consumers to make a purchase -- not just once but repeatedly -- and new research points to a rather surprising result.

While conventional wisdom says that people don't like uncertain gains or rewards, a study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business finds that uncertainty can play an important role in motivating repeat behaviors.

"People repeat a task more for an uncertain incentive than for a certain incentive, even when the uncertain incentive is financially worse," say Chicago Booth Professor Christopher Hsee and the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Luxi Shen, a recent Booth graduate, in the study, "The Fun and Function of Uncertainty: Uncertain Incentives Reinforce Repetition Decisions."

One reason uncertain incentives motivate behavior is the psychological boost consumers get in moving from the unpleasantness of uncertainty to the satisfaction of certainty resolution.

The popularity of WeChat Pay, one of the largest mobile payment apps in the world, is one example. After tapping to pay with WeChatPay, a mobile payment user is sometimes awarded a bonus of an uncertain size. This strategy motivates the user to pay with this specific app again.

The same is true of many consumer goods companies. Meal-kit delivery services such as Blue Apron send their subscribers a box of unknown groceries every week. Apple music pushes a list of new music to their subscribers. Birchbox mails out boxes of skincare and makeup samples, and BarkBox gives pet owners a box full of surprise dog treats and toys based on that month's theme.

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"These services all share one important feature," says Hsee. "They keep the box mysterious and let their customers have fun opening the packages and discovering the products. The uncertainty keeps the customers coming back."

In the study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the researchers performed four experiments in Hong Kong and Chicago and found uncertain rewards consistently motivated consumers more than certain rewards in both lab and field settings, and in both small and large magnitudes.

In one experiment, students at a running club in Hong Kong were told they could earn points by running, jogging, or speed walking on a 400-meter outdoor track during a 15-day event.

Half of the members were randomly assigned to a group certain of its reward -- after each lap, each member would receive five points. The other half were randomly assigned to a group uncertain of its reward -- after each lap, each member would randomly receive either three or five points. At the end, participants could exchange their points for a gift card at a local cafe for the equivalent in Hong Kong dollars.

As the researchers predicted, the running club members who didn't know in advance which reward they would get logged more laps than those in the group guaranteed the five points per lap, even though the uncertain-point condition promised a worse financial outcome.

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"In other words, people literally ran 'the extra mile' (precisely, 1.61 more miles) for the uncertain incentive," the study says.

This uncertain reward is particularly beneficial for marketers who want their existing customers to return. "However, for the marketers whose solo goal is to recruit one-time customers, they should be cautious and not just mindlessly add uncertainty into their product design or pricing strategy," Shen adds.

In the study, the researchers show that uncertain rewards are effective only if the uncertainty is resolved immediately, and only after, not before, one has engaged in repetitions.

Marketers have had success already in getting consumers to repeat behaviors. Grocery stores encourage shoppers to bring cloth bags and coffee shops encourage drinkers to bring their own mugs, both for the reward of a small percentage off their purchase. But the study suggests that such efforts may be even more successful if consumers don't know the amount of the reward in advance.

"Our research reveals that human reactions to uncertainty are more complex and nuanced than commonly thought," they say.
The world needs to keep global temperatures in check by meeting the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, or more people could die because of extreme temperatures, say authors of a new study in the letters section of Springer's journal Climatic Change.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), binds nations to hold warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (C) in global mean temperature, relative to pre-industrial levels. It also urges countries to make additional efforts to limit warming to 1.5C.

Led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), this is the first study that evaluates global temperature-related health impacts under scenarios consistent with the Agreement. The researchers assessed the mortality impacts projected for a range of temperature increases, either compatible with the thresholds set in Paris (1.5C and 2C) or higher (3C and 4C). These projections took into account how an increase in heat-related deaths might be offset against a decrease in deaths due to cold, as global temperatures rise.

The scope of the study allowed global comparisons across various areas of the world. The team at LSHTM first analyzed historical data on temperature-related deaths from 451 locations in 23 countries with different socio-economic and climatic conditions. They then projected changes in mortality under climate scenarios consistent with the various increases in global temperature, while keeping demographic distributions and temperature-health risks constant.

The results indicated dramatic increases of heat-related deaths under extreme warming (3C and 4C) compared to the mildest threshold (1.5C), with additional excess mortality ranging from +0.73 per cent to +8.86 per cent across all regions. The net difference remained positive and high in most of the areas, even when potential decreases in cold-related deaths were considered.

The picture was more complex when comparing 2C versus 1.5C warming. A net increase in deaths was still projected for warmer regions such as South America, South Europe, and South-East Asia (with changes ranging from +0.19 per cent to +0.72 per cent), while in cooler regions the excess mortality was predicted to stay stable or drop slightly.

The results support the assessment of an upcoming Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scheduled for approval in October, that evaluates the health risks associated with 1.5C and 2C of warming.

"Our projections suggest that large increases in temperature-related deaths could be limited in most regions if warming was kept below 2C," explains Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, the first author of the study. "Under extreme changes in climate, large parts of the world could experience a dramatic increase in excess mortality due to heat. This would not be balanced by decreases in cold-related deaths. Efforts to limit the increase in global temperature to below 1.5C could provide additional benefits in tropical or arid regions, including the most populous and often poorest countries."

Antonio Gasparrini, co-author of the study, says: "We hope that the results will help convince nations to take decisive actions by implementing ambitious climate policies consistent with the Paris Agreement in an effort to save lives. Currently, we are on a trajectory to reach over 3C of warming, and if this trend continues there would be serious consequences for health in many parts of the world."
The development, manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical drugs in the United States is a complex landscape involving intellectual property and strict federal regulations.

But according to Colorado State University scientists, the status quo of the U.S. pharmaceutical market may soon be turned on its head. That's due in part to a growing community of do-it-yourself "biohackers" who are disrupting business-as-usual for pharmaceutical discovery, development and distribution.

A Sept. 13 perspective piece in Trends in Biotechnology frames these emerging issues, and predicts how the pharmaceutical industry, and the U.S. regulatory environment, will need to change in response. The paper's authors are Jean Peccoud, the Abell Chair in Synthetic Biology in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Jenna Gallegos, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; and collaborators from Bio-Link Australia, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Boston University School of Public Health. Peccoud is also a faculty member in the School of Biomedical Engineering at CSU.

As the prices of many medicines continue to rise, new models of funding, research and drug development have emerged as part of what the authors call a "novel innovation ecosystem." Most notably, this ecosystem involves drug manufacturing at smaller, more personalized scales.

"Key drugs are still too expensive," Peccoud said. "People don't have access to them, so what if they can make it themselves? What do we do about that?"

The authors use the California-based Open Insulin Project as a case study of how the DIY bio movement might shape the future of medicine. Founded in 2015, the project's creators are trying to increase competition in the insulin market by developing and releasing an open-source protocol for manufacturing off-patent insulin.

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Why does the Open Insulin Project exist in the first place? Insulin is 100 years old, but it remains prohibitively expensive for many patients, with some uninsured patients paying up to $400 a month for this life-saving medicine. People are angry, and in some cases, people are dying, from lack of access to affordable insulin.

The U.S. regulatory system today favors existing manufacturers of biologic drugs like insulin. Biologics are drugs made from a living organism, as opposed to small-molecule drugs, such as aspirin, which are synthesized chemically. When making off-patent small-molecule drugs, a competing company need only demonstrate that they've made pure aspirin. But biologic drugs are more difficult to control for quality; thus competing companies have to do expensive human clinical trials -- not worth the $250 million price tag, if they can't even file for a patent to recoup their investments.

While the structure of human insulin is no longer patent protected, the handful of large companies that produce insulin continue to market "insulin analogues" that are supposedly improved varieties of plain insulin. The authors note that the medical benefits of these new versions of insulin are debatable.

That's where the biohackers come in. If the Open Insulin Project succeeds in developing a protocol for "home-brewed" insulin, they'll need to avoid violating patent-protected methods of manufacturing insulin. But biohackers making insulin for their own, personal use wouldn't need to worry about patent infringement -- although safety considerations are certainly at play.

"It would be prudent for regulators to engage patients and innovators in community bio-labs to design adaptive oversight that fosters an ethos of responsibility," the authors say.

The real challenge for Open Insulin Project biohackers, should they want to enable competing pharmaceutical companies to sell off-patent insulin, will be regulation, the authors say. The success of the project will be severely limited by the cost of regulatory approvals, which include proving biological consistency, safety and possibly efficacy.

If such new models of insulin production are to succeed, they will depend on alternative approval processes, the authors say. If biosimilarity of biohacked insulin could be confirmed without clinical trials, the cost of development would dramatically decrease. This could be achieved through smaller-scale, decentralized manufacturing. And the technology already exists; microbioreactors that are capable of producing smaller doses of biologics have been developed in university labs.

"In short, the status quo has got to change," Gallegos said. "We can't address the issues if we don't acknowledge them."
University of Otago researchers have helped characterise a genetic variant that enables new understanding of why some people are at risk of gout, a painful and debilitating arthritic disease.

Gout is caused by persistently elevated levels of urate in the blood, which causes severe joint pain and swelling, especially in peoples' toes, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers. It can be treated using drugs that lower urate levels. But if left untreated, it can cause serious damage to joints, kidneys and quality of life.

PhD student Sarada Ketharnathan together with Associate Professor Julia Horsfield from the Department of Pathology and Professor Tony Merriman from the Department of Biochemistry have recently characterised the genetic variant that lies not inside, but just next to a gene called PDZK1.

This PDZK1 protein product helps excrete urate through the kidney and gut. In this way, PDZK1 controls the amount of serum urate which, when high, form crystals that cause gout.

"We found that the genetic variant doesn't affect the PDZK1 protein, but causes change in the amount of the PDZK1 gene produced," Associate Professor Horsfield explains.

"Unexpectedly, the effect of the genetic variant in humans is in the gut as well as the kidney. We confirmed this by studying where the variant switches on gene expression in zebrafish embryos, which are ideal because their embryos are transparent," she says.

"Our results have identified a new molecular pathway for gout, enabling new understanding of why there is gout risk in patients with this particular genetic variant."

The research, which also involved researchers from the University of Auckland, was recently published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. It was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Associate Professor Horsfield explains there are dozens of regions in the human genome with signals that increase serum urate levels and risk of gout, and kidney function. The new scientific challenge is converting these signals into functional insights. This information is critical to allow new medical intervention in gout and kidney disease.

"Since many of the regions lie outside of genes, it is not known how they could control urate levels and risk of gout or kidney disease. These associated regions probably represent regulatory elements that control gene expression," she says.

Understanding how genetic variation contributes to someone's risk of gout or kidney disease can, going forward, inform choice of treatment for that person.

"This kind of scientific understanding of disease risk is bringing us into a new age of 'precision medicine'."
Nearly 2.3 million times last year, Americans learned they had a sexually transmitted disease.

But despite these record-high infection rates for chlamydia and gonorrhea, most patients only receive treatment for their own infection -- when they probably could get antibiotics or a prescription for their partner at the same time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended this approach -- called "expedited partner therapy" -- since 2006, as a way to slow the growing STD epidemic. Most states have laws allowing doctors who diagnose a patient with an STD to write a prescription or provide medications for their partner, sight unseen. The laws also allow clinics and pharmacies to distribute STD treatment for partners.

In a new paper in the American Journal of Public Health, three University of Michigan physicians describe the barriers that stand in the way of getting expedited partner therapy to more people.

Overcoming those barriers, they say, could prevent many STD infections, including reinfections of people who have already gotten tested and treated.

Cornelius Jamison, M.D., M.S.P.H., M.Sc., led the team behind the paper, and also leads current research that is diving deeper into the barriers that may prevent the clinical implementation and use of EPT. He notes that this is one public health issue where public policy is ahead of clinical practice. Many major medical societies have endorsed EPT based on evidence that it's cost-effective and safe, but it's still under-used across the country.

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"We need to make sure everyone in the medical and public health community has a basic understanding of what expedited partner therapy is, how it can work, and what it will take for it to reach widespread use," says Jamison, a family physician and member of the U-M Department of Family Medicine and Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. The new paper includes a conceptual framework that diagrams all the potential barriers to EPT use, to help guide future work to overcome them.

Special considerations for STDs

Some of the barriers to widespread use of EPT relate to the very nature of the diseases it's designed to treat, and the stigma attached to an STD infection. This can drive teens and young adults to avoid seeking STD testing and care in ways that would tip their parents off to their infection status through insurance records, bills or notifications of a positive test result.

Instead, Jamison says, they may seek a diagnosis or treatment at a walk-in clinic, on a free or cash basis. This means that such sites are especially important to increasing the use of EPT.

Similarly, these patients' partners may not have insurance, or may not want to use their insurance to pay for an STD test or treatment even if they do.

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A packet of EPT antibiotics given them by a partner who got tested and treated could overcome these barriers, says Jamison. So could a pre-written prescription.

More about EPT use and barriers

The drugs used to treat chlamydia and gonorrhea are often prescribed together even if the patient only tested positive for one infection. A single 1-gram dose of azithromycin (sold as Zithromax), and a single 400-milligram dose of cefixime (sold as Suprax), taken together can clear both infections. The cost of the EPT medications can vary, but even low costs can be a barrier for low-income people or teens paying out of their own pockets, Jamison notes.

Several guidelines recommend that all sexually active teens and young women be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. Some recommend testing for all women depending on sexual activity. However, not all providers screen consistently, which means infections can linger. Left untreated, they can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility and increased risk of HIV in women.

The recent increase in screening, and treatment, means more opportunities for providers to talk with patients who have STDs about the importance of getting antibiotics to their sexual partners, as well as practices such as condom use that can prevent STDs from spreading.

Jamison and his colleagues also say that besides the clinical barriers to EPT, some policy hurdles remain. Seven states and Puerto Rico lack precise laws that give clear legal status to EPT. South Carolina and Kentucky do not allow EPT under current law.

Physician and pharmacist concern about liability if an EPT recipient experiences side effects may drive a lot of the reluctance to provide EPT to their patients, even in states where the law protects them, says Jamison.

Jamison's current research focuses on studying EPT use in federally qualified health clinics, which provide care to any patient at low or no cost, regardless of insurance status. A full list of such clinics nationwide is available at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ .

More data is still needed on the actual prescribing and use of EPT in all settings nationwide, and on the specific steps clinics could take to ensure EPT is provided or prescribed to appropriate patients. Protocols in electronic health records, for instance, that automatically suggest EPT to physicians when they tell a patient they have an STD, could assist.

"Our review and conceptual model show the barrier that we as providers, researchers and policy makers face," says Jamison. "But it also shows the importance of coming together to figure out how to do the right thing for patients."

In addition to Jamison, the paper's authors are Tammy Chang, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., of U-M Family Medicine, and Okeoma Mmeje, M.D., M.P.H., of the U-M Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Chang and Mmeje are also members of IHPI.
The age of big data is here. Thanks to innovations in genetic sequencing technology, scientists can now generate massive datasets describing the genomes of Earth's diverse set of species. This ever-growing genomic encyclopedia has the capacity to reveal the forces shaping complex patterns of genetic variation between individuals, populations and species -- if scientists can only unlock its secrets.

Developing cutting-edge statistical tools that can handle these massive new datasets is a piece of the research puzzle, and new research from Michigan State University has just added a new tool for the modern genomic toolbox.

The method, called "conStruct" and featured in the current issue of Genetics, allows researchers to analyze complex patterns of genetic variation in large datasets with broad geographic sampling. It overcomes major shortcomings of previous methods and is free and publicly available worldwide.

"One of the first steps in the analysis of these genomic datasets is to describe and categorize variation into discrete populations, like you might find in range maps in a field guide," said Gideon Bradburd, MSU population geneticist and lead author. "What often determines relatedness is geography. If you sample two organisms separated by a large distance, you often have to go farther back into the history of their pedigrees to find a shared ancestor."

This leads to isolation by distance, a pattern that creates statistical challenges for anyone interested in cleanly describing variation within and between groups in their own study system, he added.

In the paper, Bradburd and his colleagues illustrate the utility of their new approach by applying it to genomic data collected on North American bears and poplar trees. For a better understanding, let's look at the poplars, which are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Different species of poplar can be found near each other, and, where they overlap, they frequently hybridize.

Using conStruct, the research team was able to review the degree to which hybridization between the two poplar species has happened. They were also able to determine whether the only significant population boundary fell along the species boundary, and if there was substructuring within the species.

"Understanding the genetic relatedness of individuals is central to many important research fields, including conservation biology, human medicine, evolution and ecology, and agriculture," Bradburd said. "With conStruct, scientists can home in on commonalities and discrepancies among populations with more accuracy. This can prove invaluable, especially in conservation efforts."

And, of course, these genomic patterns will offer additional insights into human evolution.

For the next phase of this research, Bradburd's team will attempt to take conStruct into the fourth dimension. They hope to add the ability to model historical or ancient DNA samples to learn how and why populations change -- or are replaced by their neighbors -- through time.

This research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Scientists from the University of California-Davis and University of Oregon contributed to this research.
From a humble plastic bag to ultra-light airplane wings -- polymers are everywhere. These molecules are long chains of atoms that are chemically joined to play many roles that we all love (organic photovoltaics) and hate (indestructible plastic pollution). Polymers are useful in liquid form as well: the difference between tomato puree and ketchup is merely 0.5% of xanthan gum, which is a polymer made from sugar. Ketchup is thick but not sticky, all thanks to the xanthan chains that are so long that they interpenetrate and form an entangled web that resists flow. The same principle also underpins high tech applications like ink jet printing.

There is a possibility to decrease the amount of thickening additives, without compromising their effect on flow, which would save costs and minimize the environmental impact. If we connect the ends of three linear chains to a single point, the result is called a star polymer. Due to this branched architecture, webs of star polymers are dramatically more entangled, than their linear cousins of the same mass. To explain how this entanglement works, let us start with the concept of a random walk. Imagine you are on a hike and you play a game: toss a coin four times and take a step left for every heads, and a step right for every tails. You will most often end up two steps away from the starting point. In fact, if we multiply the final distance by itself, 2x2=4, it is equal to the number of random steps. This is the law of diffusion, and it governs the motion of small molecules like water.

For polymers, we have to take the random walk to higher dimensions. Imagine you are on a hike again, but this time you bring a hundred friends and for safety, you all link up with a rope. Every member starts playing the random walk game, but the rope has some slack, so it takes a while for you to feel the pull of the entire team. This kind of motion is a random walk, embedded in another, slower random walk. Here you need to take 4x4=16 random steps to move a distance of two steps. Next, imagine hundreds of rope teams all mingled up so densely that you only have room to move up or down the line of your own team. The effect of the crowd brings us to 16x16=256 steps. Can you guess how many steps would you need if we add an extra branch to the middle of each rope team? Hint: it is not 256x256=65536. It takes a staggering 65536x65536=4.3 billion random attempts to get merely two steps away.

This result has been shown in a recent study "5D Entanglement in Star Polymer Dynamics," by Airidas Korolkovas published in Advanced Theory and Simulations, a new journal focusing on breakthroughs in the science of modelling. A unique computer algorithm was invented to capture the billions of steps needed for entangled polymers. It runs on a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) and takes advantage of texture mapping, an often-overlooked functionality. Originally, this feature was designed for video games, but here it has been repurposed to calculate the molecular forces inside a little polymer droplet. Using a streamlined physics model, this simulation runs hundreds of times faster than traditional code. It opens new horizons on the time scales that can be addressed in scientific computing. This can further push the frontiers for the latest generation of supercomputers, like the recently opened Summit in Oak Ridge National Lab, USA, which has almost 30,000 GPUs.

The effect of higher dimensional entanglement can be observed in real life, using an instrument called neutron spin-echo. This machine shoots tiny subatomic particles, called neutrons, and listens to the echo of their nuclear spin as they scatter, or bounce off the polymer sample. A prime example is the IN15 beamline at the Institut Laue-Langevin, France, where the entanglement of linear polymers was first discovered. Thanks to constant upgrades and to upcoming new facilities like the European Spallation Source, Sweden, an experimental proof of the simulation prediction for star polymers may soon be within reach. A combination of high performance computing and neutron scattering is a powerful tool of discovery for new materials that improve our quality of life and respect the environment.
The SEC filed insider trading charges on September 10, 2018 against a corporate deal advisor for trading in securities of two China-based companies based on confidential information about their impending acquisitions. As alleged in the SEC's complaint, Rong Chen obtained this inside information in the course of his work advising the acquiring companies on these transactions and used an account bearing his wife's name in order to conceal the illicit trades. The SEC also charged Chen's wife, Yuehong Wang, as a relief defendant.

According to the SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Chen was Vice President of Investments for Tsinghua Unigroup Limited during its 2014 acquisition of RDA Microelectronics Inc. and learned of the deal before it was announced. The SEC's complaint alleges that shortly before the November 11, 2013 announcement, Chen opened a brokerage account in his wife's name and used that account to make a series of well-timed purchases of RDA securities ahead of the announcement to generate more than $79,500 in trading profits. The SEC further alleges that when Chen later became Managing Director at a Hong Kong-based investment banking firm advising 58.com Inc. on its April 2015 acquisition of rival ganji.com, he again used his wife's brokerage account to commit insider trading, buying high risk 58.com call options, which he sold after news of the acquisition for profits of more than $94,400.

The SEC's complaint charges Chen with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, jointly and severally from Chen and Wang plus prejudgment interest, and a penalty from Chen.

The SEC's investigation has been conducted by Marcus Fruchter and Amy Flaherty Hartman of the SEC's Cyber Unit in the Chicago Regional Office and David Makol and John Rymas of the Market Abuse Unit's Analysis and Detection Center. The case has been supervised by Joseph Sansone, Chief of the Market Abuse Unit, and Kathryn Pyszka, an Associate Regional Director in the Chicago Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Benjamin Hanauer and Marcus Fruchter. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Association.
An independent monitor overseeing Oakland Police Department reforms called into question the agencys celebrated decline in use-of-force incidents, saying in a report Thursday that officers on several occasions had failed to properly disclose that they had pointed their guns at subjects or gotten physical with them.

The court-appointed monitor, Robert Warshaw, said he discovered the undocumented uses of force by reviewing police files and watching body-camera footage in a sampling of arrests. He called the omissions troubling and opened a wider investigation, declaring he would look into a larger batch of arrests.

The probe could add yet another complication to the citys 15-year-old reform program that stemmed from the Riders scandal, in which a group of officers in West Oakland was accused of beating residents and planting evidence. A civil settlement in the case laid out dozens of tasks that had to be completed before the force could emerge from federal court oversight.

It is important to note that supervisors approved these reports  even though there were no accompanying force reports, wrote Warshaw, a former police chief of Rochester, N.Y., and deputy drug czar under President Bill Clinton. While to date, we have found no instance where the force used was unwarranted or inconsistent with policy, the actions described above are troubling and appear to depict reportable force that was, in fact, not reported. This would indicate a significant supervisory failure.

Officer Johnna Watson, a Police Department spokeswoman, said she was unable to comment on Warshaws report because it involved personnel-related subjects. She said the department is in communication with the monitoring team.

Justin Berton, a spokesman for Mayor Libby Schaaf, said she welcomed the intensive and ongoing review to ensure the highest level of police practices and accountability.

Public trust in the accuracy of data  particularly around use of force  is vital to the community-police relationship, Berton said in an email.

The drop in use-of-force incidents in Oakland has been dramatic, gaining acclaim inside and outside the city. Excessive use of force had long been a problem for the department, leading to community distrust and costing taxpayers millions of dollars to pay for civil rights lawsuits as well as monitors and consultants.

Use-of-force reports fell 75 percent from 2012 to 2017, records show, and are on pace to decrease 34 percent this year. Officer-involved shootings have dropped in recent years, too, with none occurring in 2016, one in 2017 and one this year.

City officials have credited better training, new policies and the use of body cameras during confrontations. Schaaf said on Twitter in July, Oaklands steep drops in violent crime and use of force are no coincidence ... Building police-community trust is at (the) core of our success.

But Warshaw said the numbers need another look. In his latest report, he said he had wanted to provide validation of the dramatic decline, so he analyzed arrest data over a three-month period this year and reviewed police files for cases including assault on an officer, disorderly conduct, and obstructing or resisting arrest in which uses of force were not documented.

In our experience, Warshaw wrote, these offenses have a high probability of involving a use of force.

In looking at 29 cases, Warshaw said, he found six cases that raised concern. He said body-camera videos showed three instances of officers pointing their guns directly at suspects and four instances of officers deploying physical force to take people into custody. All are considered uses of force that should be reported.

In light of this preliminary finding, Warshaw said, we are currently reviewing the second-quarter 2018 reports for designated offenses that have no accompanying force report to determine the need to view related video data to consider whether force was used but not reported.

The Police Departments inspector general, whose office provides audits and analysis of the agency, has also opened an internal review to see whether the reporting of force is adequate, Warshaw said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The report also noted that, last month, three high-ranking commanders concluded that a group of officers acted within department rules when they broke the arm of a man accused of jaywalking and then resisting arrest. Warshaw said the conclusion was wrong.

In the encounter, officers stopped a man who jaywalked early one morning, according to Warshaws report, which did not say when or where the incident happened. After the man declined to show officers identification and tried to walk away, the officers attempted to take him into custody.

As officers attempted to arrest the individual, he resisted, which resulted in the officers application of force, including an arm bar hammerlock, a bent wrist hold, and a leg sweep. The force resulted in injuries to the individual, including a broken arm, Warshaw said.

A force review board, composed of three command-level police officialswho examined the case, said the use of force was consistent with policy. Warshaw said that while force review boards have previously been detailed and thorough, this one did not meet high investigative standards.

The review boards findings were not well grounded in a constitutional analysis of what is objectively reasonable force or the professional opinions of subject-matter experts, Warshaw said.

The department has not emerged from federal court oversight because Warshaw deems it to be out of compliance with a few remaining reforms, such as properly analyzing traffic stop data for racial disparities and putting into place a risk-assessment system designed to flag problem officers.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
A plan to build a new Safeway grocery store and 253 apartments on Outer Mission Street in the Excelsior neighborhood is dead after the supermarket chain and the property owner were unable to reach a deal.

The development was part of a two-parcel project and would have transformed a stretch of Mission Street that suffers from the highest retail vacancy rate in the city and has seen very little development during the economic boom.

Under the failed deal, Bridge Housing would have constructed 175 units of affordable housing, a health center and the new Safeway on the site of the Valente Marini Perata & Co. funeral-home site at 4840 Mission St. Next door, on the site of an existing Safeway at 4950 Mission St., the developer Emerald Fund would have constructed 253 units of market-rate housing over a strip of retail on land owned by the National Electrical Benefit Fund union pension fund.

Emerald Fund Chairman Oz Erickson said, It proved difficult to negotiate an agreement that worked for both Safeway and for the project.

We are very disappointed, he said.

Bridge Housing said it will go forward with an affordable project at the funeral home site, as well as space for the Mission Neighborhood Health Center, which had agreed to lease 10,000 square feet on the ground floor of the building. But the affordable project might need to be downsized. Bridge Housing noted that funding for 72 of its 175 affordable units was being provided by Emerald Fund. That money will no longer be available.

A Bridge spokeswoman said the developer is working with city officials to redesign the project and figure out how it will be financed.

With Safeway and Emerald Fund no longer involved, were looking at creative ways to maximize affordable housing on the site, said Bridge spokeswoman Lyn Hikida. We understand the dire need for affordable housing in the Excelsior, and we value the community input weve received to date.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who represents the neighborhood, blamed Safeway for the failed negotiations, saying the supermarket company repeatedly sought to renegotiate the terms.

We negotiated a deal with 41 percent affordable (housing) and a beautiful grocery store and health center, Safai said. Unfortunately, Safeway has reneged on their portion of the deal.

Even though many Excelsior residents embraced the idea of a new Safeway, health center and affordable housing, some neighbors opposed the market-rate portion of the complex, contending that it would bring the kind of luxury housing and expensive retail that have gentrified areas like the Mission District.

In April, the economic and environmental justice advocacy group PODER held a protest at the existing Safeway, holding posters that read The Safeway Sellouts and Fight for Our Home. At that protest, PODER organizer Inkza Angeles said, Safeway is the proposed site of market-rate housing, which we are not going to be able to afford.

Safai said that the protests were not a factor in Safeways decision to back out.

Community opposition had nothing to do with it, said Safai. This was purely Safeway continuously moving the ball in negotiations. This was all about Safeways bottom line and them going back on their word.

Safeway was asking for five years of free rent, according to sources familiar with negotiations.

In a statement, the supermarket chain said, Safeway has been proudly serving San Francisco since 1926 and we look forward to continue serving the Excelsior neighborhood. Safeway is a tenant with a long-term lease in this location and the future of the property is determined by the property owner.

The failed Safeway deal underscores a particular frustration of San Francisco planners as they try to build enough housing to put a dent in the housing crisis. Safeway is a tenant at several prime development sites in the city, including Market and Church streets and the Potrero Center at 16th and Bryant streets.

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The supermarket, which generally has long-term leases with provisions giving it power to block developments on those sites, generally has not been interested in being part of mixed-use developments that include housing.

Safai said that while he is disappointed that the Safeway development isnt going forward, he will focus on the Bridge Housing project, as well as other projects nearby like 915 Cayuga Ave., 65 Ocean Ave. and the Upper Yard next to the Balboa Park BART Station. Those three projects total about 350 units.

Sergio Pina, owner of El Corazon Gallery, a furniture store across the street from the Safeway, said he had mixed feelings about the new store and market-rate apartments not going forward.

That Safeway is one of the worst Safeways I have seen  there is a lot of crime and drunks, Pina said. And for my furniture business it would be good because it would bring a lot of new customers. On the other hand, a lot of the apartments they want to build, nobody around here qualifies for them.

He said he hopes that at the very least, Safeway will renovate its store.

The Safeway has to do something  I can show you videos with people running away with meat under their pants and the guards coming after them and fighting them for the meat, he said. Its not a good situation.

Former Supervisor John Avalos, who worked with Bridge Housing on a previous version of the plan that didnt include the Safeway parcel, said, They should go back to the original plan.

It was a great plan that the community worked about eight years on, Avalos said. Lets bring it back.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
A highly radioactive object has been discovered at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard next to a housing area that has been declared safe and free of radioactive contamination for more than a decade, The Chronicle has learned.

The finding is the latest problem at San Franciscos most ambitious redevelopment project in a century  an effort to transform a 500-acre Superfund waste site into a bustling waterfront neighborhood of 12,000 homes.

The object  a radium deck marker about the size of a silver dollar, 1 inches across  was unearthed Tuesday on a grassy slope beneath a stretch of newly built condos, less than a foot below ground. The state health department revealed the information Thursday in a Progress Update letter sent to the shipyard homeowners association and obtained by The Chronicle.

The housing area is known as Parcel A. The California Department of Public Health is scanning it for radioactivity after revelations that employees of the Navys main cleanup contractor, Tetra Tech, faked radiation measurements in other parts of the shipyard. Parcel A residents and city officials demanded a test after whistle-blowers and media reports raised the possibility that some of those problems may have extended to Parcel A, where 300 housing units have been completed and an additional 150 are under construction.

But the discovery of a radium device is startling because the city and multiple government agencies have said for years that any contamination on Parcel A was cleaned up long ago. The Navy transferred the 75-acre parcel to the city in 2004. The land is now owned by home builder and developer Lennar Corp. Public officials have repeatedly assured residents that no harmful radioactivity exists near their homes and they have nothing to worry about.

Even after the state agreed to perform the new scan, public officials insisted that the parcel is clean and the scan was a mere formality.

The contamination has been cleaned up, Amy Brownell, environmental engineer for the San Francisco health department, said in May during a tour of Parcel A. We can say definitively there are no public safety concerns or health concerns out here.

Last week, however, workers flagged an area at the corner of Donahue Street and Galvez Avenue as having readings significantly above natural background levels, according to sources with knowledge of the find. A Navy contractor was called in to investigate.

The discovery of the radium device sparked an intense debate over its significance. Several government agencies argued that the object doesnt pose any danger because it was found behind a fence, under 10 inches of soil, and quickly removed. Residents and activists disagreed, saying the device is meaningful because there is a long history of public officials saying it shouldnt even exist.

Dan Hirsch, retired director of nuclear policy at UC Santa Cruz, described the find as an extraordinary development.

Weve been told all along that there were no radioactive materials at Parcel A, he wrote in an email. Now all that crumbles.

In a series of statements Thursday, various government agencies downplayed the discovery, saying its evidence that the re-scanning process is working. They argued that the parcel poses no danger because nothing else has turned up.

The Navy posted a brief statement on its website, calling the deck marker an anomalous reading. The federal Environmental Protection Agency said that due to its location and level of radiation, the object was not causing harm to residents or workers.

The state Department of Public Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the letter to homeowners, Mark Starr, the deputy director of environmental health, said that no further contamination was found in the surrounding soil. San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon said in a statement that the city Department of Public Health has hired an independent expert to analyze the object.

We are confident that the Parcel A site is safe and that the object that was found poses no risks to the residents or workers there, he said.

Some Parcel A residents, however, do not share that confidence. Theo Ellington, a shipyard resident who is is running for the Board of Supervisors and has sued the developer and Tetra Tech, said he was stunned by the news. Ellington walks past the location where the deck marker was found every day.

Its literally mind-boggling  it is less than 50 yards away from where I live, Ellington said. It further proves that we need a complete analysis of the soil on Parcel A, and the regulatory agencies have proved that their assumptions were wrong and whatever science they were using to make those assumptions needs to be thrown out of the window.

Radium deck markers contain glow-in-the-dark paint made of radium 226, a poisonous radioactive substance that causes bone cancer. The Navy once used large quantities of radium paint to illuminate the base at night and to light up the dials of instruments. Because radium 226 is so long-lived, with a half-life of 1,600 years, radium devices from the 1940s will still be radioactive thousands of years from now.

The idea of dangerous radiation seems incompatible with the neighborhood that has sprung up on the shipyards edge, a grid of freshly painted townhomes, dog runs and stunning views of the downtown skyline. Lennar is advertising luxury units with prices near $1.5 million.

Parcel A has long been considered clean because it was mostly used for housing and administrative offices, on a hill overlooking sketchier areas  places where the Navy sandblasted ships covered in fallout from nuclear bombs and studied the effects of radiation in labs full of irradiated, dying dogs. In 2002, before the city took over Parcel A, an EPA technician drove through some parts of it in a van that contained a radiation scanner. The EPA said it didnt find any trouble spots.

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But that scan could have easily missed contamination, according to Bert Bowers, a former radiation safety officer at the shipyard who became a whistle-blower. There was reason to believe contaminants could be there, he said. Radioactive substances, carried in trucks full of soil and rivulets of rain, can move from place to place if theyre not carefully controlled. Bowers and another whistle-blower have also said they later found elevated levels of radioactivity on Parcel A that were never addressed, or were dismissed by Tetra Tech.

Tetra Tech has denied these claims and has stood by its work at the shipyard, attributing any problems to a cabal of rogue employees.

The survey of Parcel A is reported to be 90 percent complete, and according to emails obtained through a public records request, the process hasnt been entirely smooth. Its a large, technical project with a tight deadline that was put together quickly, and the state health department has struggled to get employees to help with the fieldwork.

Experts and environmental groups have also criticized the scan as being far too cursory, akin to walking around with a blindfold, UC Santa Cruzs Hirsch has said.

The handheld radiation scanners used for the test can detect only a certain type of radiation  gamma radiation  while ignoring non-gamma sources such as strontium 90 and plutonium 239, two of the most harmful isotopes found at the shipyard. Only certain areas of the parcel are being tested, and no soil samples are being taken and analyzed, unlike in more thorough radiation surveys.

The discovery of a buried radioactive object doesnt mean the process is working, critics say. The scan was designed to be minimal and unintrusive, on the assumption that it probably wouldnt find anything anyway. But the radium device proves that contamination exists on the parcel and was overlooked for years. For this reason, they say, a comprehensive search for radioactivity on the parcel needs to begin immediately.

We dont believe anyone should be living there anymore, said Bradley Angel, the executive director of Greenaction, a local environmental watchdog group. Its a nightmare scenario, and the ultimate We told you so.

Jason Fagone and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfagone, @cdizikes
City officials are considering building a Navigation Center on a parking lot off the Embarcadero, a part of the city that has yet to host one of homeless shelters that also offers services, said District Three Supervisor Aaron Peskin.

The site under discussion, at Kearny and Bay streets, is a few blocks from Pier 39 in one direction and a few blocks from the citys cruise ship terminal in the other.

Peskin, whose district includes Telegraph Hill, North Beach, Chinatown and Fishermans Wharf, said he is working with the mayors office on the project and that preliminary research is being done by government agencies to assess the feasibility of opening the Navigation Center.

Peskin said the parking lot could be an ideal site for the facility because there are few residences or businesses nearby. He said he would do the appropriate public outreach before any plans are finalized.

Mayor London Breeds spokesman, Jeff Cretan, said the city is considering a number of sites for new Navigation Centers  including the Embarcadero parking lot  but there has been no formal selection of any sites yet.

We are committed to working with Supervisor Peskin on trying to find a Navigation Center site, Cretan said. But that being said, we have not made a selection of a specific site.

The Department of Public Works is always scouting for possible sites for Navigation Centers, said Rachel Gordon, a department spokeswoman. While there are no official plans in place for the parking lot near the Embarcadero, she said, it is being looked at.

Navigation Centers are shelters that allow homeless people to bring in their partners and pets, and offer substance-abuse treatment and job training.

There are currently four Navigation Centers operated by the Department of Homeless and Supportive Housing  two in the Mission District, one in Mid-Market and another in Dogpatch. A fifth center, called Hummingbird Place, is operated by the Department of Public Health in the Mission.

This isnt the first time Peskin has attempted to open a Navigation Center in his district. His proposal to turn a North Beach parking lot or an Embarcadero pier into a Navigation Center last year worried some residents and people who work in the area. Some said they were frustrated that they hadnt been consulted about the proposal before Peskin floated it at a November 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Sunny Angulo, Peskins legislative aide, said the supervisor held a community meeting to discuss the site at Kearny and Bay streets almost a year ago, where almost 200 people came.

Obviously, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, but were excited about it, she said.

 Trisha Thadani

A place to tell: Sexual assault survivors now have a designated city office to report complaints and allegations of sexual harassment, after Mayor London Breed signed legislation Thursday to create it.

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The Office of Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention will field complaints from the public about how other city departments have handled their cases. It is meant to be an additional resource for survivors if they dont feel they are getting adequate help from other city agencies, such as the Police Department.

Under existing law, there is no central office for survivors to file complaints. As a result, some survivors said, they had to recount their experiences several times to authorities at city departments, police stations or hospitals, the mayors office said.

Survivors who come forward to report sexual assault or harassment deserve to be treated with respect while their cases are investigated. Instead, they often have to recount their deeply personal and painful experiences to multiple different authorities, Breed said in a statement.

The legislation was created by Supervisor Hillary Ronen and passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors last week.

By passing my legislation that creates a dedicated team to oversee accountability within our city departments when sexual violence cases are disregarded by any city department or employee, we are disrupting the current culture of injustice, and sending a message as a city that every survivor deserves respect, Ronen said in a statement.

 Trisha Thadani

Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider @TrishaThadani
In an effort to distance itself from Father Junipero Serra, the 18th century leader of the California Mission system that helped to destroy native culture throughout the state, Stanford University has announced it will erase the name Serra from two dormitories and its own mailing address on Serra Mall.

From 1769 to 1823, Spanish colonists built 21 missions in which native people were kept as slave labor and punished if they tried to escape. Serra founded the first nine.

The system contributed to the destruction of the cultural, economic, and religious practices of indigenous communities and left many tribal communities decimated, wrote a Stanford committee charged with recommending whether to scrub Serras name from university buildings and roads.

Stanford is the latest among many academic institutions that in recent years have taken a new look at campus structures honoring historys villains: slaveholders, leaders of the Confederacy and propounders of hate.

On Tuesday, the UC Berkeley School of Law announced it will purge numerous campus references to Boalt, a name associated with the famed law school for more than a century, because the actions of its namesake, John Boalt, had led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The school will retain an endowed chair named for Boalt.

Similarly, Stanford wont scrub all references to Serra. One ordinary street on campus will remain named for the former priest and friar of the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church whom Pope Francis canonized in 2015. The committee that recommended the changes said the street lacked the salience of the other features that will no longer celebrate Serra.

Regarding Serras canonization, the committee wrote: Though we have no doubt about Serras piety and good intentions, it is also a fact that the mission system pervasively mistreated and abused Californias Native Americans.

The committee recommended against renaming other features on campus named after Spanish missionaries without the discovery of major new evidence about a particular individuals misconduct. Doing so could minimize the role of the mission movement in Stanfords founding history, the group said.

The Stanford trustees agreed to seek approval from Santa Clara County and the U.S. Postal Service to rename Serra Mall  the universitys main entrance and its mailing address at No. 450 Serra Mall  for its co-founder, Jane Stanford.

Renamed campus sites Many campuses have renamed buildings or groups honoring people associated with racism. Here are five: University of Pittsburgh scrubbed the name Thomas Parran Jr. from its graduate school of public health in June. Parran oversaw the infamous Tuskegee study that withheld treatment from black men with syphilis. It is now the Graduate School of Public Health. Wesleyan College, a women's school in Georgia, said in July it had removed the class names Green Knights, Purple Knights, Golden Hearts and Red Pirates because of their association with the Ku Klux Klan. University of San Francisco in 2017 renamed Phelan Hall, which honored James Duval Phelan, a city mayor who campaigned on an anti-Asian platform in the early 1900s. The new name, Burl A. Toler Hall, honors the city's first black high school principal. University of North Carolina renamed a building honoring Klansman William Laurence Saunders to Carolina Hall in 2015. Nathan B. Forrest High,a Florida school named for a Ku Klux Klan official, changed its name in 2014 to Westside High. See More Collapse

Curiously, we currently have no major campus feature that appropriately honors her, Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said in a statement.

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Stanford founded the university in 1885 with her husband, Leland Stanford, and helped steer it through the many struggles of its early years, particularly after her husbands death in 1893, just two years after the university opened its doors, Tessier-Lavigne said.

The university trustees also approved renaming the Serra dormitory in Stern Hall, and Serra House, where the Clayman Institute for Gender Research is located. New names have not yet been chosen.

We hope that renaming the two Serra houses and Serra Mall will remove a significant hurt to Native Americans, other members of the Stanford community, and the larger diverse world that Stanford seeks to embrace, the committee concluded.

The committee acknowledged the sense of loss that alumni and others feel at changing the name that for 127 years has announced Stanfords main street. And yet, the committee said, its prominence does not depend on its bearing a name that causes genuine pain.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
Tech expansion: Up and out of SF Politics, economics and real estate could make jobs boom elsewhere

Tech expansion: Up and out of SF Politics, economics and real estate could make jobs boom elsewhere

If Salesforce seems to be everywhere, youre not imagining things. The software company is now San Franciscos largest private employer.

But its ebullient chief, Marc Benioff, sees a ceiling to the growth that led his company to overtake Wells Fargo, San Franciscos last big bank. It now has 8,400 employees in the city. With three skyscrapers clustered in the southern Financial District, he anticipates Salesforce adding thousands more  though he worries about where hell put them.

Theyre not creating more San Francisco, he said.

So the company is growing elsewhere, too. In Indianapolis, it has 1,700 employees in the states tallest building. That edifice, too, is called Salesforce Tower. Glass and steel cant feel, but if it did, youd think the original would feel jealous. London has a Salesforce Tower, and a New York one opened last year. More are on the way: Salesforce wont say where, but Chicago and Atlanta are logical spots, based on where its adding employees.

The unemployment and office vacancy rates in San Francisco are near historic lows, while tech stocks, including Salesforce, have set new highs. Housing prices continue to soar, with few homes coming on the market. For San Franciscos fastest-growing businesses, there are two places to put employees: up or out. The answer is often both, with software engineers more typically getting the pricey space in new towers at headquarters and support and sales going to cheaper, roomier cities.

Zendesk CEO Mikkel Svane tried Boston before settling his support-software company int San Francisco in 2009. In 2011, Zendesk moved to an office at Sixth and Market streets. It is now overflowing; having just acquired Base, a sales-software startup, and picked up an additional 125 employees, its rearranging its 900 San Francisco workers among five Mid-Market buildings and just signed a lease for 52,000 square feet in the area, a 30 percent increase in space, a company spokeswoman said.

Svanes affection for San Francisco aside, though  he wrote a book, Startupland, praising the city as a mecca for entrepreneurs  Zendesk is hedging its bets. In 2014, it opened a small office in Madison, Wis., after Svane visited and found the town reminded him of his hometown of Copenhagen.

Were definitely hiring faster in other cities than in San Francisco, Svane said.

The company has just signed a new lease for a 60,000-square-foot office in Madison  four times the size of its first outpost, with room for more than 300 employees. United added a nonstop flight to the city in January, making it even more attractive.

Lyft has found similar success in Nashville, a hub for the ride-hailing companys customer service operations. It now has more than 750 people in the city fielding rider and driver complaints  double what it originally envisioned, General Manager Sam Nadler told the Nashville Business Journal in August. A WeWork building downtown accommodates an overspill of employees.

Slack, the communications software company whose new offices look up at Salesforce Tower from across Salesforce Park, has signed a lease on a building in Denver, a spokesman said. The state of Colorado is offering it $10.6 million in tax credits for a development that could generate 550 jobs.

Square, the payments processor, is adding 300 employees in St. Louis, the hometown of CEO Jack Dorsey, doubling its workforce; it might soon grow to 800. It has had a small Atlanta office since 2012, but in April, Square signed a lease for a 13,000-square-foot office there with room for 100 employees.

Twitter, which Dorsey also runs, expanded its Boulder, Colo., office in 2016, with room for 200 employees; they include data engineers who help speed feeds of tweets around the world.

Yelp has had lobbyists in Washington for years, but the business reviews site is adding salespeople to the mix. It opened a 52,000-square-foot office near the citys Verizon Center in March and plans to have 500 employees. The company is more distributed than most San Francisco firms: It has about 2,000 people in San Francisco, communications chief Vince Sollitto said, with 1,000-person offices in Chicago, New York and Phoenix  mostly salespeople who pitch local businesses.

Its long been an irony of the tech industry that despite making tools for global communication, its leaders prefer to house workers in physical proximity. That insistence on keeping everyone under one roof is weakening under various pressures.

Dorsey faces more than just economic concerns in planning his recruiting. Twitter is under fire from members of Congress and conservative critics accusing it of liberal bias. In testimony before a House committee in September, Dorsey made a surprising statement about his commitment to the city Twitter has called home since it was founded in 2006.

We recognize that we need to decentralize our workforce out of San Francisco, Dorsey told Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., in response to a question about whether Twitters workforce had diverse life experiences. Not everyone wants to be in San Francisco. Not everyone wants to work in San Francisco. Not everyone can afford to even come close to living in San Francisco, and its not fair.

Dorsey said Twitter was considering ways of how we hire more broadly across every geography across this country and that he was personally excited to not consider San Francisco to be a headquarters.

Salesforce is less equivocal about its devotion to San Francisco. Benioff likes to point out that hes a fourth-generation San Franciscan.

San Francisco has always been and will always be our world headquarters, said Elizabeth Pinkham, who joined the company in 2000 and is now executive vice president of global real estate. Were San Francisco born and bred. But she praises Indianapolis as a fantastic hub for talent. It is hiring designers and engineers there, not just support functions.

Pinkham notes that Salesforce is still moving into Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and taking more space in Salesforce West, its building across the street. Could Salesforce go past 10,000 employees, a figure Benioff has previously stated was its local maximum? Weve definitely got a plan, but were always trying to be flexible, she said. Besides its hiring, the recent acquisition of Mulesoft, a San Francisco software company with more than 1,000 employees worldwide, helped bump up Salesforces numbers. Mulesofts employees moved into Salesforce Tower in August.

Pinkham would not comment on The Chronicles report that Salesforce is eyeing 45 Fremont, a 34-story tower adjacent to its Salesforce East building that would fit right into the urban campus its assembling.

Salesforces revenue crossed $10 billion last year, and it expects that to rise about 25 percent this year, a breakneck pace of growth that means more hiring. Those workers have to go somewhere, either into San Franciscos changing skyline or into new Salesforce Towers sprinkled across the country and around the world.

With all this competition for space in San Francisco  only two office towers under construction are not yet leased, and local rules limit new office space  some companies are tapping out, as are prospective hires.

Expansion in San Francisco is not a priority, Yelps Sollitto said. When given the opportunity to go elsewhere, employees certainly consider it. Its getting very tough to compete for talent in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Salesforce employee Emily Stankiewicz works at a communal table on the 8th floor of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. Salesforce employee Emily Stankiewicz works at a communal table on the 8th floor of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 19 Caption Close For San Franciscos fast-growing tech companies, its up or out 1 / 19 Back to Gallery

Poaching by other tech companies  a common practice in the Bay Area, thanks to Californias ban on noncompete clauses  is an expensive problem, he said. Facebook, Google, Cisco and other companies headquartered in Silicon Valley are expanding in San Francisco, adding to the demand for office space and workers.

Sollitto also notes that San Francisco is not the easiest place to do business. Proposition C on the November ballot, also known as the Our City Our Home initiative, would raise the gross receipts tax on corporate revenue above $50 million to fund homeless services. Sollitto calls the measure ballot box budgeting.

But the city retains a magnetism for entrepreneurs like Salesforces Benioff and Zendesks Svane, a ferment of ideas about the future in a beautiful setting. Benioff sees the past decades growth and change as San Francisco achieving its destiny as a top five world city.

John Del Santo, senior managing director for the consulting firm Accentures western region, has seen the city through boom and bust and boom.

I definitely think there will be pressure on the economy, the streets, the civil services, because there doesnt seem to be a slowdown of talent wanting to be here, he said. Frankly, its the interesting work to be done.

Theres San Franciscos conundrum: So many ideas for changing the world in just 49 square miles; tech companies making billions while homelessness, addiction and poverty fester on its streets; a persistent resistance to the kind of growth new arrivals seem to demand.

With not enough space, with pressure from City Hall and the Capitol in Washington to share the wealth, the leaders of the citys tech sector may have no choice but to broaden their sights.

We have what we have, Benioff said. Thats the thing about San Francisco.

Chronicle staff writer Roland Li contributed to this report.

Owen Thomas is The San Francisco Chronicles business editor. Email: othomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @owenthomas
Oaklands early 20th century Tribune Tower is for sale for the second time in less than two years.

The 95,000-square-foot, 22-story tower could be sold for up to $50 million, or over $500 per square foot, according to Kathryn Collins of Harvest Properties of Emeryville, the buildings owner. Oaklands property values have jumped in the past few years, but still lag behind San Francisco, where the most lucrative office sales have surpassed $1,200 per square foot.

The building has a storied past. In 1923, the year the tower portion was completed, magician Harry Houdini managed to free himself from a straitjacket while suspended from the ninth floor. The building housed the Oakland Tribune until 2007.

The building at 409 13th St. has been renovated by Harvest, which bought it two years ago, mostly empty, for $20.4 million, according to property records. Its website advertises creative office space. Occupancy has increased, according to Harvest, and current tenants include visual intelligence company Zorroa, mental health company Two Chairs and digital marketing agency Ayima.

Most tenants now prefer not to be in your typical, class-A high rise. They want to be in a cool, creative, historical building that has character, said Dane Hooks of Cushman & Wakefield, the buildings leasing broker. Theres been a huge demand for that type of creative space in the last couple of years; thats leading the market now in terms of demand and rental rates.

Harvest invested about $13 million for improvements to the building. The biggest capital expense was $5 million in seismic retrofitting, according to Collins. She said that Harvest Properties bought the building planning to significantly renovate the tower, lease the space to businesses and eventually sell  though not necessarily this soon.

We thought it was an appropriate time to market the building now that weve taken care of deferred maintenance and base building deficiencies, Collins said.

The sale follows a trend of high-rise properties being flipped and resold for a profit in Oakland, as more investors have flocked to the city. Last year, Harvest Properties and KKR, the private equity giant, bought 180 Grand Ave. near Lake Merritt. The building was previously sold in 2014. One of the citys most high-profile buildings, Uptown Station, was sold to Uber in 2015; the ride-hailing company sold it to CIM Group last year after abandoning plans for an office in Oakland.

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Despite Ubers decision, more businesses are opting for Oakland over San Francisco, which Robert Ogilvie of SPUR, an urban planning think tank, attributes to the East Bay citys relative affordability.

Unless youre tech, San Francisco is hard to afford  there are a lot of businesses that cannot compete in terms of the rent they can pay, so downtown Oakland is a great alternative, Ogilvie said. He notes BART access as a major selling point for workers commuting from both the East Bay and San Francisco.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Roland Li contributed to this report.

Rebecca Aydin is a San Francisco Chronicle

staff writer. Email: rebecca.aydin@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RebeccaAydin
Benioff on the big issues Salesforces chief on the future of jobs, education, homelessness and the environment  and everything else we could get him to talk about

Benioff on the big issues Salesforces chief on the future of jobs, education, homelessness and the environment  and everything else we could get him to talk about

Marc Benioff is worried  about the environment, about San Franciscos homeless families, about its dirty streets, about the technology industrys crisis of trust, about whether his software will be used for good or for bad. Everywhere he looks, theres a problem to be solved.

But the Salesforce chief is optimistic  that technology can be harnessed to solve these problems, that networking everyone will be a net gain for the planet, that there will be jobs for everyone and housing.

Benioffs focus on things that some executives might view as do-gooder distractions is drawing plaudits from fellow corporate chiefs. Hes one of the great leaders, Unilever CEO Paul Polman said. (Benioff credits Polman with shaping his ideas about sustainable business.) I havent found a CEO who has a broader vision of these issues.

Last month, Benioff, 53, passed on much of the responsibility for running Salesforce, the San Francisco software company he co-founded almost 20 years ago, to co-CEO Keith Block, the companys vice chairman and president. Block has taken charge of execution and operations, leaving Benioff to oversee the companys technology, marketing and culture.

The management shift comes as Salesforce has become San Franciscos largest private employer, with 8,400 employees, and the company prepares for this months Dreamforce, its annual weeklong festival of cloud computing that is now the worlds largest software conference. The Chronicle sat down with Benioff at the World Economic Forums Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the Presidio  hes also chairman of that  to talk about the future of jobs, the planet and the city.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Q: Youve talked a lot about the Fourth Industrial Revolution. What is that? The first one was steam power, then electricity.

A: I like to think of the third one as client-server computing. The fourth one is connecting everyone and everything together. Thats the Fourth Industrial Revolution. All boundaries between us are being erased, and were being connected like we never have before. Thats whats happening, and its very powerful.

Q: Last year, you spoke of digital refugees being displaced by these waves of change. Are you pessimistic or optimistic about this revolution?

A: You can see this in our industry: We are in a full-on crisis of trust. Can we trust social media, whats happening on these social networks? Are we going to be manipulated by bots? Are we going to be united or divided by the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Can the Fourth Industrial Revolution help us heal the climate? Our oceans? Our world is at many levels at risk. Weve been given these incredible technologies. Will we use these technologies to make the world better?

Is the business of business business? When I was in business school at USC, thats what we were taught, you know, that its about shareholder value, earnings, profits. Today, we have no choice but to be focused on improving the state of the world. You can see that with little issues with how technology negatively impacts our democracy, or how it can be too addictive.

Q: A historian of industrial revolutions pointed out to me that industrial revolutions have been fueled by warfare. Should that be a concern in how we think about this?

A: Thats already happening. You can see how nation-states are attacking each other using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. You can also go back and see in the last several years that these technologies are accelerating because theyre being used for nefarious purposes.

Look, technology is never good or bad. Its what you do with the technology that matters.

Q: Youve created an Office for the Ethical and Humane Use of Technology within Salesforce. Your employees have brought up a pretty specific concern about doing business with the Border Patrol. Was the creation of the office in response to concerns like that?

A: Absolutely. On the big level, these technologies are the most powerful weve ever had. Look at how many technology leaders are scrambling around artificial intelligence and asking big questions like, Will artificial intelligence destroy humanity?

Our employees have that same anxiety: Are we using our technology for good or for evil? And I hope were pivoting to good. That our employees have to ask that question really surfaces the issue that we are in a different time.

We have to be crystal clear with our employees, our customers, our stakeholders, that we are trying to be a model, we are trying to be a role model for other companies, and we have been in many cases, but this is a huge part of who we are.

Q: Will this office have the power to say no to a customer or contract?

A: Yes, they have the ability to fully advise the management team and the board of directors. Ultimately we have to make the decisions.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stands for a portrait in the Presidio in San Francisco, California, on Thursday Sept. 13, 2018. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff stands for a portrait in the Presidio in San Francisco, California, on Thursday Sept. 13, 2018. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Salesforce chief Marc Benioff on the future of jobs 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

You probably remember, it was only a few years ago when an employee asked us about Indiana.

Q: That was the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prompted you to cancel meetings in Indiana over concerns about antigay discrimination.

A: When that happened and I received letters (from employees), I called every single person back. I had videoconferences with our employees and our customers. I couldnt delegate this if we were to create a culture going forward that really aligned with my values.

Q: Youre now the largest private employer in San Francisco. How does that change your responsibilities?

A: San Francisco is my first priority in everything I do philanthropically. Ive given away, oh, I think about half a billion so far and Im rapidly accelerating to a billion dollars in philanthropy personally. On a corporate level, were rapidly accelerating. The vast majority of that is going into San Francisco. And we need it.

Were a city in crisis. Were a city in a homelessness crisis. Were a city in a cleanliness crisis. Were a city in a crisis with our public schools. And a crisis of affordability in housing. So how are we going to overcome all of these issues? This is going to take everybody working together.

We have a great new mayor, Mayor Breed. We need all our Board of Supervisors to engage on these issues, our business leaders, our philanthropists, every citizen of San Francisco, to get involved. These are nontrivial issues.

On some areas, we can see weve made progress. Probably the best one is homeless families. We have 1,200 homeless families in San Francisco. We did a documentary and found families with young children living in the forest. San Francisco, the wealthiest city in the country and children living in the forest. When are we going to say thats not OK?

We know we can get a family off the street, in a home, for $35,000 to $50,000. A third are off the streets. Within two years, every single family will be in a home.

Q: Were very rich in jobs in the Bay Area, and were very short on homes. How do we thread that needle?

A: We need more housing.

Q: Full stop.

A: And affordable housing. Its a critical part of it.

Q: Lets loop back to this idea of digital refugees. The homeless individuals are the most visibly displaced. There are people who have moved out of the area, there are retail shop owners who say, I cant hire anyone because they cant afford to live here.

A: I think you have to pivot to schools if youre going to talk about who cant afford to live here. Public school teachers make an average salary of $35,000. How are our teachers going to afford to live in our city, the most expensive city in the country?

We need to invest in those places. We want kids to stay in school, to become core to our infrastructure in our city, like our police, our firefighters, our teachers. We want them to be the core of our future. Thats why weve invested in our public schools  its on its way to $100 million. Were also doing it in Oakland.

Q: If these students are in middle school now, after they go to high school, college, will there be jobs waiting for them, or will artificial intelligence automate away all the things they might do?

A: In theory, artificial intelligence will consume many of the manual jobs we have today. But in practice that hasnt happened yet. Its something we have to be mindful of. As artificial intelligence disintermediates new jobs, its our responsibility to create new ones.

We know there are jobs waiting for them now. We know that our unemployment rate is at the lowest its ever been. We need trained people today.

I know that were hiring at Salesforce.

Owen Thomas is the San Francisco Chronicles business editor. Email: othomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @owenthomas
San Francisco Marriott workers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to authorize a strike.

The yes vote doesnt initiate a strike but allows members of the Unite Here Local 2 union to begin a walkout at any time. The vote Thursday evening was 98.6 percent in favor of striking.

The escalating dispute comes amid contract negotiations between around 2,300 hotel workers and Marriott, the citys biggest hotel employer with seven San Francisco hotels.

Union workers have said wages arent high enough to survive in the high-cost Bay Area, and that Marriott isnt doing enough to protect workers from harassment from guests.

A potential strike could cripple the citys tourism industry during the active fall convention season. Salesforces Dreamforce conference, which attracted nearly 200,000 attendees last year, is set to begin on Sept. 25.

Hotel workers around the country are embroiled in similar disputes. Chicago hotel workers have been striking for a week, and Hawaii and Boston Marriott workers voted earlier this week to authorize a strike.

Too many hotel workers in San Francisco have to work two or even three full-time jobs to make ends meet, while others endure chronic pain due to unsafe working conditions, or live in fear of getting laid off. Marriott workers demand one job that is safe, secure, and enough to make ends meet  enough to afford the cost of living, raise a family, and retire with dignity, Unite Here Local 2 said in a statement this week.

Last week on Labor Day, nearly 1,000 hotel workers marched and blocked city cable cars, leading to 75 arrests.

Marriott said last week that it respects our associates right to voice their opinions. Marriott International has long-standing and productive relationships with Unite Here and is negotiating in good faith and in a timely fashion to obtain the best outcomes for our associates and guests.

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Last week, Marriott said it was giving housekeepers and other workers an alert device that summons help if the workers feel harassed or need help.

In 2000, workers at two Marriott hotels in San Francisco held a strike for two days.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
A Utah firefighter was killed last month in the Ranch Fire after being struck by a huge tree when the force of fire retardant dropped from an air tanker smacked it and caused it to fall over, according to a new report released Thursday by the state.

Matthew Burchett, a battalion chief from the Draper City Fire Department, was killed Aug. 13, less than two weeks after arriving to help battle the largest wildfire in state history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

A preliminary report was released Aug. 20 by Cal Fire that determined the 42-year-old had been killed by falling tree debris and that dropped retardant may have been involved. A more detailed report by Cal Fire released Thursday concluded that the retardant, released by a Boeing 747 air tanker, knocked over an 87-foot-tall Douglas fir, killing Burchett.

Three other firefighters at the scene were also hurt by debris from a separate tree knocked around by the same retardant drop, according to the report. A captain and an engineer suffered a range of injuries from broken ribs to ligament damage, and another captain sustained scratches and abrasions.

Earlier on that day, Burchett had attended a safety briefing at 7 a.m. where a safety officer detailed issues that might come up with air tanker retardant drops as crews worked the front lines at the Ranch Fire, which was part of the huge Mendocino Complex of fires that bedeviled the north state in July and August. Burchetts team was assigned to work the flames northeast of Ukiah (Mendocino County), along the northernmost section of the Middle Mountain Range.

Their location had moderate to steep slopes, but the site where the accident occurred was in a flat area, according to the report.

With the temperature 82 degrees, the fire was fierce as it scorched Douglas firs and patches of manzanita and other brush. Burchetts team was assigned to reinforce bulldozer lines, or containment lines, and lay out hoses, the report said. When a thick inversion layer in the air  which typically traps smoke and doesnt allow for aircraft to fly safely  dissipated at about 1 p.m., retardant-toting aircraft got the clearance to launch.

The Boeing 747 used over the blaze is designated as a Very Large Air Tanker, capable of holding 19,200 gallons of retardant. Fire retardant is generally made up of water, fertilizer and a red coloring agent, and plays a major role in helping stop the spread of a wildfire before hand crews move in to put it out.

That day, crew commanders asked that retardant be dropped adjacent to the bulldozer lines to help further prevent flames from crossing it.

At 3:40 p.m., only one strike team leader acknowledged hearing division leaders broadcast that air tankers would be working in the area and to clear the area out, according to the report.

At 4:02 p.m., the large tanker made its first drop.

Twenty-one minutes later, the tanker made its second drop of retardant. And at 4:44 p.m., a third drop was made nearly 300 feet to the west of where the injuries and fatality occurred.

Because the third drop landed farther away from the dozer lines, division leaders requested that the fourth drop be snuggled up closer to the dozer line, the report said.

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At 5:25 p.m., the final, fatal drop was made.

The aircrafts pilot attempted to release the retardant over a specific drop path, but vision from the air was obscured by heavy vegetation and a rise in elevation, which resulted in the retardant drop being only 100 feet above treetops, the report said.

The force from the drop uprooted the 87-foot tall Douglas fir, which had a 15-inch diameter at breast height, heaving it onto Burchett, crushing him and causing his fatal injuries.

The Mendocino Complex  composed of the Ranch and River fires  burned 459,123 acres and 157 homes, and is 98 percent contained. Burchett has been the only firefighter killed fighting the complex.

The cause of the inferno is under investigation.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)  Officers said they recovered more than 10,000 stolen Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and bank routing information as part of an identity theft investigation that resulted in a 36-year-old man's arrest.

More than 1,000 pieces of stolen identification from people across the United States were found in an initial search of Jerry Callis' home in the 9000 block of Montoya Street, according to a Thursday news release from county officials.
Family members of a 34-year-old man who died after getting tased by a police officer inside his home have filed a civil suit against the Daly City Police Department, months after officers were cleared of wrongdoing, according to court records.

Warren Ragudo of Daly City died in January from cardiopulmonary arrest about an hour after Officer Bruce Perdomo discharged his Taser on Ragudos lower back as two officers pressed him down with their weight, making it difficult for the already-handcuffed Ragudo to breathe, his family said in the suit.

Ragudos family had called police in hope of getting him hospitalized, according to the suit, which said Ragudo had drug addiction and mental health problems.

The civil suit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleges the officers intentionally used excessive force and violated Ragudos right to due process because he was tased while handcuffed despite not having a weapon or posing a threat to family or officers.

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The familys legal counsel, Stanley Goff and Fulvio Cajina, told The Chronicle the suit was prompted largely after the district attorney declined to pursue charges against the officers.

The San Mateo County district attorneys office cleared all officers of wrongdoing in April and determined their use of force was reasonable in response to Ragudos violent conduct the night they were called to his home.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said in April that the officers could not have foreseen that deploying the stun gun would result in Ragudos death.

The Daly City Police Department declined to comment. Ragudos family was unavailable for comment.

The family has felt hopeless for the last several months, Cajina said. Not only was their loved one killed in front of them in their living room, but no one from the city or county has been held accountable.

Daly City Police Chief Patrick Hensley is accused in the suit of failing to adequately train the departments officers on recognizing symptoms of mental illness and addiction when responding to mental health calls.

Cajina said the family hopes the civil suit will force Daly City police to change their policies on deploying Tasers on handcuffed individuals.

There was no reason to Taser someone in that position. That was just punitive, Cajina said. The family called because they wanted help. Officers failed to abide by their training to act reasonably.

Ragudo had been experiencing a psychological breakdown brought on by mental illness and methamphetamine use when his sister called Daly City police to their home on Jan. 16, according to the suit.

Ragudos father and uncle were trying to keep him from leaving the family home because he was under the influence and acting erratically when Daly City Officers Perdomo, Nicholas McCarthy and Corey Shoopman responded to the residence in the 900 block of Brunswick Street.

Family members told the officers Ragudo had a history of drug addiction and mental illness, the suit said.

Ragudo, who was unarmed, was on his back atop his father, who held him in a bear hug, when officers placed him into a prone position, with his chest flat on the ground  freeing the father, the suit says.

Family members allege Shoopman and McCarthy forced Ragudos chest hard against the living room floor with their body weight on top of Ragudos back, with one of the officers placing his knee between Ragudos shoulder blades.

The suit says Ragudos father, uncle and sister hovered just behind the officers while they struggled to place handcuffs around Ragudos wrists. Family members said Ragudo did struggle, but did not kick his legs or swing his arms at officers during the struggle on the carpet, the suit says.

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Officers locked handcuffs around his wrists, but Ragudos family said they kept him pressed against the carpet and he appeared to be in distress, having trouble breathing before falling silent.

The suit alleges Perdomo unholstered his

Taser without warning, pressed it against Ragudos lower back and discharged the Taser. It was discharged for two five-second shocks until Ragudo stopped breathing and went into cardiopulmonary arrest, the suit says.

Paramedics administered CPR on Ragudo in the living room before taking him to Seton Medical Center in Daly City, where he died after midnight, about an hour after police were called to the familys home.

An autopsy stated Ragudo died of cardiopulmonary arrest due to a combination of agitated delirium, physical exertion, prone restraint and stun gun applications while under the influence of methamphetamine toxicity.

Goff, one of the Ragudo familys attorneys, said the loved ones hope to have their day in court and tell officials how Ragudos death has affected them.

The suit asks for punitive damages against the involved officers, the Daly City Police Department, Police Chief Hensley and the city of Daly City.

No amount of money can bring justice to this family, Goff said. Their main objective is to simply hold these officers accountable so that they cant just go about harming people.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor
Terrance Boyd Dixon hitched a ride to California from Oregon. He was going to stay with a friend in Concord for just a few weeks before heading back home to his wife, police say.

Thats when things reportedly went horribly wrong.

Dixon stole the friends credit card, and when the two got into a confrontation over that, he grabbed a fireplace poker and stabbed the victim to death with it, authorities said.

The 55-year-old suspect turned himself in several weeks later on Aug. 14 after escaping in the victims stolen car back to his home in Bandon, Ore., to say goodbye to his wife, said Lt. Mike Kindorf, a spokesman for the Concord Police Department.

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Dixon now faces charges for murder with enhancements of using a deadly weapon  the fireplace poker. Special allegations were also added to Dixons charges for having prior felony convictions on his record for robbery and attempted murder in Washoe County (Nevada), according to the Contra Costa County criminal complaint.

His extradition hearing will be held in mid-October.

The slaying occurred on July 27 on the 1200 block of Pine Creek Way, according to the Concord Police Department.

Michael Downie, 64, was found dead in his home by friends, police said.

Dixon had hitchhiked to California for the visit with Downie after the victim invited him to be a houseguest, Kindorf said. Twelve hours before Dixon picked up the fireplace poker, he allegedly stole Downies credit card and made purchases with it.

Its our belief the victim confronted Mr. Dixon about the use of his credit card and something escalated that led to the murder, Kindorf said.

Dixon then allegedly stole Downies blue 2013 Hyundai Veloster before fleeing back to Bandon  because he wanted to be reunited at least one last time with his wife before he got caught, Kindorf said.

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Whats unclear, Kindorf said, is whether Dixon stole the car purely to get away or if it was premeditated for financial gain.

Dixons alleged crimes were disturbingly similar to an attack nearly a decade ago in Washoe County (Nevada) that netted him a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder.

In that case, Kindorf said, Dixon befriended someone, beat the victims head with a club and stole the victims car.

It is fairly identical to whats happened here, Kindorf said. We established a definite pattern with the previous crime and this crime.

Dixons wife, who was not identified, did not appear to know anything about Dixons crimes until he turned himself into the Bandon Police Department, Kindorf said.

The Bandon Police Department did not immediately return calls for comment. A woman who answered the phone said there was only one patrol officer on duty Friday at the seven-person department.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Paul Manafort, the criminally convicted former chairman of President Trumps 2016 campaign, reached a tentative plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday, all but ensuring he wont have to face a second trial this month, according to a report.

The deal is expected to be announced in court Friday, three people familiar with the matter told ABC News. Manafort and his attorneys agreed to the deal after spending more than four hours in discussions with the special counsels team, the sources said.

It was not immediately clear whether the deal includes a cooperation component or if Manafort is simply agreeing to plead guilty to avoid his upcoming trial in Washington, D.C., on counts of money laundering and illegal foreign lobbying. That trial is supposed to start Sept. 24.

A spokesman for Manafort did not return a request for comment. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment.

The 69-year-old longtime GOP operative was convicted on bank and tax fraud charges in Virginia last month. He has yet to be sentenced in that case, but guidelines stipulate he spend seven years behind bars based on that conviction alone.

Manaforts indictments stem from shadowy lobbying work he did for pro-Kremlin political forces in Ukraine.

He has been in jail since a judge revoked his bail in June after Mueller alleged he had attempted to secure false testimony from witnesses in the Russia investigation.

Michael Caputo, a longtime friend of Manaforts who also worked on the Trump campaign, said he doubts Manafort will cooperate with Muellers investigators.

Paul has said all along he will never provide false and fabricated evidence of non-existent Russian collusion the special counsel wants, Caputo said.

Manaforts refusal to budge to the special counsels requests for cooperation has resulted in speculation hes expecting a pardon from the president.

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps top lawyer in the Russia probe, has repeatedly raised the possibility that Trump will pardon Manafort and other political allies targeted by Mueller.

The president continues to paint Muellers investigation as a baseless and partisan witch hunt  even though it has already secured nearly 40 indictments.

Chris Sommerfeldt is a New York Daily News writer.
All presidents know they are due for an electoral beating in midterm elections, when voters impose an interim verdict on the party of the man whose name is not on any ballot.

Even when your name is political poison  like George W. Bush in 2006  most presidents do fundraising and some campaigning, if only symbolically to support the party.

As you may have noticed, Donald Trump is not most presidents. Hes decided to go all-in on campaigning for both Republican Senate and House candidates. This sets the increasingly familiar Trumpian stage for a high-stakes big win or big loss. Which makes you want to tune in next week, right?

History teaches that the presidents vision of a red wave taking his advice is a ridiculous dream, as improbable as a Trump victory in 2016. Of the past 20 midterm elections, the presidents party has lost ground in 18 of them  33 House seats on average.

The exceptions were the result of unusual circumstances inspiring presidential support  GOP impeachment overreach in 1998 and 9/11 exactly 17 years ago this week.

Trump maintains the support of about 90 percent of his party. But opinion polls indicate Democratic and independent antipathy toward Trump, spotlighted by an embattled media eager to score points on the man who calls them the peoples enemy. Barring some unexpected event such as a major terrorist attack, the wave in November is most likely to be blue in color.

So much so that would-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her geriatric posse are already making legislative plans for January. Like Hillary Clinton picking her Cabinet members on Nov. 7, 2016.

To counter the liberal tide, or at least to minimize it, President Trump is turning to the man whose skills, instincts and wisdom he trusts the most  himself.

Trump has already been successful backing election winners this year. Those, however, were largely primaries involving GOP voters more inclined to listen.

But thats not stopping this president. Between August and Nov. 6, Trump has scheduled a minimum of 40 campaign days, some with more than one event. Thats more than Barack Obama ahead of his first midterm. And Trump will likely add more stops as candidates prospects shake out.

Hes already been to South Carolina, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, both Dakotas and to Montana twice, which is usually lucky to get a vice presidential fundraiser even in presidential years.

Coming up are Nevada, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, Mississippi and, this week, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Also on tap is Texas  yes, Texas  where Trump will work to re-elect the senator who refused to endorse him at the nominating convention, Ted Cruz. Ah, politics.

The goals are to hold as many House seats as possible, perhaps preventing the loss of the 23 that would reimpose a Speaker Pelosi. She would block Trumps legislative agenda and likely launch impeachment proceedings. But, shhh, dont say anything about that now because it could motivate Trump voters.

On the Senate side, Republicans are more hopeful they can add to their current 51 seats. Democrats are defending 26 of the 33 Senate chairs up with several incumbents vulnerable in states that went big for Trump two years ago. This helps explain the presidents trips to Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia and even the Sunshine State.

The schedules for such forays are fairly standard for presidential campaign stops: a Make America Great Again rally, with thousands of cheering props for the national media coverage. Hes done 520 of these since 2015.

Then comes a closed roundtable with backers of Trump and local candidates and perhaps a reception, where supporters pay even more for photos with him. Also, not widely noted are the local TV interviews with Trump speaking on issues of state interest.

At each stop, the man who once claimed not to be a politician touts his administrations accomplishments starting with regulatory and tax reforms that ignited a booming economy, 4 million new jobs, wage growth, low unemployment, especially among blacks and Hispanics. Also military strengthening.

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Its a powerful bipartisan argument that Republican congressional leaders seem strangely unwilling to consistently make, with the eloquent exception of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He calmly runs down a long list of achievements by a GOP Congress and White House working together, including a record number of confirmed judges.

Hovering over the next eight weeks of Trumps political schedule is the specter of Obamas 2010 experience. The Democrats job approval was actually two points higher than Trumps now.

Obama also loved the adoration of rally crowds. He spent dozens of days campaigning. In fact, hes back at it this cycle, too.

Obamas reward for all that campaigning back then: a historic thrashing that included 63 lost Democratic House seats, six lost Senate seats, 11 lost governorships and 20 state legislative chambers flipped to GOP control. All the start of a Republican avalanche that has put the GOP in control of 33 of 50 governors offices and both chambers in 26 of those states.

Still, Trump sounds confident, tweeting: We are winning on just about every front and for that reason there will not be a Blue Wave, but there might be a Red Wave!

Well have to stay tuned to see if he can deliver.

Special to McClatchy

Andrew Malcolm is an author and veteran national and foreign correspondent covering politics since the 1960s. Follow him on Twitter at @AHMalcolm.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to provide testimony to special counsel Robert Mueller III as part of a plea deal that could answer some of the most critical questions about whether any Americans conspired with Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election.

The decision to cooperate with Mueller in hopes of a lesser prison sentence is a stunning development, signaling Manafort's surrender to criminal charges that he cheated the Internal Revenue Service, violated foreign lobbying laws and tried to obstruct justice while opening a new potential legal vulnerability for Trump.

"I plead guilty," Manafort told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson at a hearing Friday morning in federal court in the District of Columbia. As part of his plea, Manafort admitted to years of financial crimes to hide his money from the IRS and promised to tell the government about "his participation in and knowledge of all criminal activities."

Flipping Manafort gives Mueller a cooperating witness who was at key events relevant to the Russia investigation - a Trump Tower meeting attended by a Russian lawyer, the Republican National Convention and a host of other behind-the-scenes discussions in the spring and summer of 2016.

"This is a big win for Mueller's team. Gaining Manafort's cooperation has always been viewed as the Holy Grail of this investigation," said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice. "It now remains to be seen what Manafort can provide, but it is unlikely that prosecutors would have been willing to strike this deal unless they were already convinced that he has valuable information."

Court papers indicate Manafort was talking in detail to prosecutors at least as early as Monday - making multiple statements and a written proffer to investigators as the two sides worked toward a deal.

In return for his cooperation, Manafort hopes to have years shaved off a potential 10-year prison sentence and see his family hold on to some property.

Kevin Downing, an attorney for Manafort, gave a brief statement outside the courthouse after the hearing. "He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life," Downing said of Manafort. "He has accepted responsibility."

When asked whether the deal with Mueller's team is a full cooperation agreement, Downing replied, "It is." He did not respond to questions about whether Manafort has been interviewed by Mueller's team or whether Manafort's defense team remains in a joint defense agreement with Trump's attorneys.

Manafort's defenders have long insisted that he would not cooperate with Mueller and that he does not have information that would incriminate the president.

Manafort's cooperation was first revealed by prosecutor Andrew Weissmann at the outset of the hearing.

Jackson noted that Manafort had agreed to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the investigation conducted by the office of special counsel, including participating in interviews and debriefings, producing any documents in his control, testifying, and agreeing to delay sentencing until a time set by the government.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort faces a possible maximum prison sentence of about 10 years, though that does not include any likely sentence for his conviction last month in Virginia. His attorneys may seek a lower sentence, and prosecutors did not agree to recommend any sentence.

Before Manafort pleaded guilty, Weissmann spent about 40 minutes describing in detail Manafort's criminal conduct - from a 10-year scheme to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, to hiding millions of dollars he earned from that work, and then, when investigators were on his trail, trying to tamper with witnesses in the case.

After a year of denying the charges and fighting them at every stage of the investigation, Manafort admitted Friday that he did what prosecutors had long said - cheat the IRS out of $15 million and lie repeatedly to try to cover his tracks. While he pleaded guilty to just two of the seven charges he faced at trial, prosecutors forced him to admit to the broad scope of his financial and secret lobbying schemes.

"I believe it's fair to say that's probably the longest and most detailed summary that ever preceded this question, but is what the prosecutor said a true and accurate description of what you did in this case?" Jackson asked Manafort.

"I did. It is," Manafort said, resting both hands on the lectern before him.

The deal will preempt Manafort's trial scheduled for this month. Manafort pleaded guilty to two charges - conspiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to obstruct justice.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a brief statement after the announcement. "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign," she said. "It is totally unrelated."

Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani said: "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: The president did nothing wrong."

A criminal information - a legal document filed by prosecutors to detail the criminal conduct to be admitted by the defendant - was filed in advance of the plea.

The document is a laundry list of Manafort's admitted criminal conduct, including funneling millions of dollars in payments into offshore accounts to conceal his income from the IRS. "Manafort cheated the United States out of over $15 million in taxes," the document states.

The filing also offers new details about the various ways in which Manafort sought to surreptitiously lobby the U.S. government and influence American public opinion toward Ukraine.

In 2012, Manafort set out to help his client - Ukraine's then-president, Viktor Yanukovych - by tarnishing the reputation of Yanukovych's political rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the document. "Manafort stated that '[m]y goal is to plant some stink on Tymo,' " according to the document. At the time he made that statement, he was trying to get U.S. news outlets to print articles saying Tymoshenko had paid for the murder of a Ukrainian official, according to the criminal information.

The document also says Manafort "orchestrated a scheme to have, as he wrote in a contemporaneous communication, '[O]bama jews' put pressure on the administration to disavow Tymoshenko and support Yanukovych." Manafort set out to spread stories in the United States that a senior U.S. Cabinet official "was supporting anti-Semitism because the official supported Tymoshenko," according to the document.

At one point, Manafort wrote to an associate: "I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom." The document does not identify the then-Cabinet official, and it was not immediately clear whether such an article was published.

As part of the plea deal, the government plans to seize five properties worth millions of dollars, including Manafort's apartment in Trump Tower. The deal also calls for forfeiture of a handful of financial accounts and a life insurance policy.

The guilty plea is another reversal for Manafort, who has fought vociferously - but unsuccessfully - against Mueller's investigation. The 69-year-old political consultant was convicted last month in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court on charges of bank and tax fraud.

Manafort's cooperation with Mueller could provide investigators new evidence or leads to chase; the guilty plea, however, will prevent weeks' worth of headlines about the trial in the month before congressional elections.

The longtime lobbyist resigned from his position as Trump campaign chairman in August 2016 amid increasing scrutiny of his work in Ukraine.

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.

Over a 40-year career, Manafort redefined and expanded Washington's influence industry domestically and internationally, parlaying successful campaigns into lobbying opportunities. But by the mid-2000s, there were signs that his consulting career had slumped, and at times his finances appeared to be shaky. It was in Ukraine that he revived both - in ways prosecutors say violated the law.

Both cases brought against Manafort by the special counsel stemmed from his work in Ukraine. The jury in Virginia found that Manafort hid millions of dollars he made there to avoid paying taxes and then lied to get loans when the political party that was paying him was ousted from power and the funding dried up.

In the trial scheduled in Washington, Manafort faced charges of conspiring against the United States, money laundering, failing to register as a lobbyist, making false statements and conspiring to obstruct justice by trying to influence witnesses.

Manafort had the choice to consolidate both cases into one but declined. He had been jailed since June as a result of the witness-tampering charges.

He has yet to be sentenced in Virginia, where legal experts say he faces eight to 10 years in prison under federal guidelines on the eight of 18 counts on which he was convicted. A mistrial was declared on the remaining 10 charges after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.

In the months leading up to the plea deal, law enforcement officials had come to suspect that Manafort's legal strategy rested in part on hoping to win a pardon from the president, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Trump has sought advice from attorneys on the possibility of pardoning Manafort and other aides accused of crimes, Giuliani previously told The Washington Post, and was counseled against pardoning anyone involved in the Mueller probe. Trump agreed to wait at least until the investigation ends, Giuliani has said.

Manafort's decision to cooperate and provide evidence to Mueller may make a pardon less likely.

Several defendants have cooperated or pleaded guilty in connection with the special counsel's probe, including Manafort's former right-hand man Rick Gates; former national security adviser Michael Flynn; and former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was sentenced to 14 days in jail last week after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.

The decision by Trump's onetime personal attorney Michael Cohen to plead guilty last month in a federal investigation in Manhattan particularly angered the president, who denounced him as a "flipper" and praised Manafort for being a "brave man" who would not break under pressure from prosecutors.

- - -

The Washington Post's Rosalind S. Helderman, Tom Jackman, Philip Rucker and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.

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Video: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to two charges on Sept. 14, and will cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

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For oceanic countries, its rising sea levels and dying coral reefs. In the tropics, its rain forest destruction and crop failure. In California, weather swings and wildfires are the front-window reminders of climate change.

There are jarring and vivid perils that cant be avoided. But in this region, there should be another worry. Where we live is just as dangerous as how we live. Long commutes obliged by high housing costs generate the atmosphere-clogging emissions that add to a global problem. Also, those homes in the distant suburbs tend to consume more energy because of their size and dependence on air conditioning.

It may sound hard to connect a 10-story apartment building near a BART station to climate change, but the link is there. Until there is more housing near transit arteries and job centers, there will be no way to gain ground. Transportation accounts for 40 percent of Californias greenhouse gas emissions, pouring carbon dioxide and other gases directly into the sky, where the emissions coat the air and bring on baking temperatures.

This state is putting out a string of worthwhile options to curb the problem: cleaner-burning fuels, more electric vehicles and higher gas mileage, which means less pollution. A new law pledges the state to produce all its electricity without emissions by 2045. But now its coming up against another test just as important.

Land use needs to be planned more forcefully and directly. In this past session, the Legislature took on a challenging issue brought by state Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat. His idea: Localities need to accept higher housing density near major transit lines. The proposal was intended to bring people closer to work and make use of billions in transit infrastructure.

But the plan fell short, a victim of NIMBY fears of giant skyscrapers in old neighborhoods. Local lawmakers didnt appreciate the Sacramento directive to get moving. A prime way to get at a root cause of climate change was stalled.

Wiener acknowledges the politics are hard but chalks up his loss to the hesitancy that goes with a new idea. During this weeks endless round of panel discussions at the Global Climate Action Summit, he pushed his plans for denser housing repeatedly and it got a lot of applause. Hell need votes next time.

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.
The race for San Franciscos District 2 supervisor features two highly capable officeholders and an impressive newcomer to the political scene. However, our editorial board meeting with the four candidates made apparent which should be elected to represent the district that includes the Marina, Pacific Heights and a part of Russian Hill.

Our choice is Nick Josefowitz, a BART board member who founded and ran a solar-energy company. On the BART board and now as a candidate, Josefowitz has demonstrated a commitment to taking on the housing crisis in an innovative and assertive way. He is the candidate who has pushed hardest for state legislation to promote higher density in transit corridors, and he helped craft a bill (now awaiting Gov. Jerry Browns signature) to advance development around BART stations.
America First is looking like America Alone. For the United States and the countries around the world that look to it for leadership, the consequences are profound.

We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of the multilateral world order that has given the United States and its partners an extraordinary level of security and prosperity since World War II.

Alliances in Asia and Europe have been questioned, the United States has withdrawn from the Paris climate accord, and the Iran nuclear agreement has been scrapped. These departures have occurred despite the urging of virtually all our global partners to remain.

On the trade front, agreements have been abandoned and tariffs imposed on trading partners. In a short period of time, the United States has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, threatened to withdraw from NAFTA and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, offended its closest allies at the G-7 meeting in Ottawa, and described the European Union as a foe. Steel and aluminum tariffs have been imposed on allies in the name of national security, and tariffs on automobile imports are being threatened under the same thin cover. And at a time when the United States should be rallying its friends to push back against Chinese mercantilism, it isnt and instead has challenged China to a trade war. For anyone who has doubts about the wisdom of all this, the president tells us that its easy to win trade wars and that tariffs are beautiful.

Perhaps a tougher U.S. negotiating stance is needed. A harder line with China on technology issues is overdue, increased European commitments to NATO has been a topic for years, and few would argue with the idea of updating the North American Free Trade Agreement. What is happening, however, goes beyond negotiating tactics.

Messaging is important. While the president portrays the United States as a victim of unfair agreements and predatory activity by its partners, the agreements he describes were designed and written by the United States  for our benefit (and of course, for our partners benefit). We are not the victims  we are the authors.

There are two upshots:

One is that a leadership void has been created that Russia and China are happy to fill  China through its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a Chinese-led alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (of which it was not a member).

The other is that partners are going their own way. European leaders are publicly questioning the reliability of the United States as a security partner. Led by Japan and Canada, the 11 other signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership are moving forward without the United States. Japan and Canada have both concluded free trade agreements with the European Union. And the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is taking hold in Asia: Southeast Asia is poised to join, and while Japan might consider a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States, it wont do so before the ink is dry on its own membership in the China-led partnership. In all these scenarios, U.S. companies lose.

The United States, with its businesses and workers, has been a net beneficiary of international trade and the agreements we created. It is easier to tear something down than to build something up  as we and our allies have painstakingly done with trade for more than 70 years. A transactional approach that equates trade agreements to buying and selling commercial buildings trivializes trades significance and the relationships that underlie it. Bludgeoning trade partners into submission may play to the gallery in the short term, but undermines our strategic relationships in the long term. Truly great Republican leaders such as Ronald Reagan understood this and prevailed against the Soviet Union by playing hardball, but also by strengthening alliances and projecting American values.

These are existential issues for the United States. Republicans should assert and fight for the principles for which their party has long stood  a strong defense, open markets and fiscal prudence. Democrats should work with them. And voters must consider whether the world that is being created today, where values are an afterthought and allies are advised to go their own way even as global challenges grow, is one where they and their children will be safer.

The late U.S. Sen. John McCain understood this clearly, as do the Americans who mourn his loss. This is a time to reflect on what he represented and how far our current leadership has strayed.

America Alone will not be more secure or richer. Without moral authority and willing partners, it will be weaker and, despite its current economic strength, in the long run it will be more vulnerable.

Sean Randolph, senior director at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, has worked for Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, in international trade and economic policy positions under Ronald Reagan, for Republican Gov. Pete Wilson as director of trade for the state of California, and on the transition team of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, seeking to become Floridas first African American governor, told a crowd at a San Francisco fundraiser Friday that the Nov. 6 election isnt just about him.

Florida matters, he said. Not only for this election, but for 2020, when President Trump will be up for re-election. Democrats are in position to flip the state of Florida and put it back in the hands of working people.

Gillum, 39, was in San Francisco to attend Gov. Jerry Browns Global Climate Action Summit. But last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Willie Brown, a former mayor and current Chronicle columnist, hastily decided to put on a local fundraiser.

Its important to elect Democrats like Gillum, Breed told the crowd of about 75 at Johns Grill on Ellis Street.

We need to do everything possible to get the best people in office, she said.

Gillum, son of a construction worker and a school bus driver, was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission at 23, the youngest person ever to serve on the panel. He was elected mayor of Floridas state capital in 2014.

Then came the Democratic primary for governor in August.

I surprised a lot of people on election day, Gillum said, noting that the final pre-election poll found him running seven percentage points behind the front-runner.

Gillum, who was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, ran on a platform of repealing the states Stand Your Ground gun law, Medicare for all and raising the minimum wage, as well as allowing convicted felons who have served their time to regain their voting rights.

This isnt just for me, he said. My name is just a veneer. Whats really on the ballot are the issues we care about.

Florida is a swing state thats vital to the Democrats hopes of ousting Trump in 2020. Barack Obama narrowly won Florida in 2008 and 2012 before Trump edged Hillary Clinton, 49 percent to 48 percent, in 2016.

Gillums Republican opponent, Ron DeSantis, surrendered his House seat this month to campaign full time for governor. He was one of Trumps strongest allies in Congress, even releasing a tongue-in-cheek political ad in July that showed him helping his toddler daughter build a wall with outsized cardboard blocks and reading to his infant son from Trumps The Art of the Deal.

DeSantis quickly ran into trouble after the August primary when he told Fox News that Gillum was pushing a socialist agenda and the last thing we need to do is monkey this up. Critics saw it as a racist reference, which the candidate denied.

My opponent couldnt help himself from saying that people should not monkey up the state by electing me, Gillum said. Well, were going to monkey it up, to use his words.

Early polls show Gillum with a slight lead in the governors race. He expects that hell need to raise at least $60 million to win. That means hell be doing plenty of Democratic fundraisers outside Floridas borders, pushing both national themes and anti-Trump attacks.

Breed urged the crowd to dig deep into their pockets to help Gillum, noting that there are no campaign contribution limits in Florida.

We dont want to wake up the day after the election and wonder what the hell happened in Florida, she said.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
More than 50 onlookers gathered on a dark, chilly Friday morning between San Franciscos Asian Art Museum and Main Library to witness the long-awaited removal of the deeply controversial Early Days sculpture.

The battle to get the bronze sculpture moved has been roiling for decades, particularly among those of American Indian heritage who were aggrieved by what they saw as an offensive celebration of the subjugation of their people.

The 2,000-pound statue offered little resistance as a crane hoisted it from its pedestal and gingerly placed it on a flatbed truck around 5:30 a.m. Those who gathered to watch, mostly American Indians, softly sang traditional songs and burned bundles of sage.

The sculpture depicts a fallen, nearly naked American Indian lying at the feet of a vaquero and a missionary. Its one of five bronze sculptures that make up the Pioneer Monument, an 800-ton shrine erected in 1894 to honor the settling of California.

The statue, in plain sight of City Hall, will be put in fine-art storage, and the citys Arts Commission will decide where it goes from there.

Eventually, it could leave San Francisco altogether. Allison Cummings, senior registrar of the citys Civic Art Collection, said the commission had received interest about the statue from outside the city toward the end of last year.

We havent heard recent interest, but should a scenario present itself, and if the commission decides its appropriate, it could be on the table, she told the Board of Appeals on Wednesday.

Now Playing: The controversial "Early Days" statue in the San Francisco Civic Center was removed this morning. The sculpture depicts a fallen, nearly naked American Indian lying at the feet of a vaquero and a missionary. Video: Dominic Fracassa, The Chronicle

I think were witnessing a moment in history where, commendably, San Francisco officials are doing the right thing to help rectify the mistreatment of indigenous people, said Janeen Antoine, a longtime Bay Area resident who is of Lakota heritage.

To me, its always symbolized the oppression and conquest of indigenous people. Were very happy this is finally happening after decades of work and struggle from the native community.

Among those gathered was District Five Supervisor Vallie Brown, who is of American Indian heritage.

It was very emotional for me. There are a lot of sins moving away with that statue, she said. Brown was among the dozens of people who urged the citys Board of Appeals to approve the statues removal when it met Wednesday evening. The boards vote that day formally authorized Fridays predawn relocation.

Back in April, the appeals board sided with Petaluma attorney Frear Stephen Schmid, who objected to decisions by the citys Arts Commission and Historic Preservation Commission to take the statue down.

More Information Online extra To see a video of the statue being removed, got to: https://bit.ly/2NMQqRW See More Collapse

The Arts Commission voted unanimously in October to remove Early Days, largely in response to a renewed public outcry following the volatile demonstration in Charlottesville, Va., at the site of a Confederate statue. That rally, which resulted in the death of a counterprotester, sparked a national discussion around removing historical monuments that, to many, glorify racial or cultural oppression.

The Historic Preservation Commission blessed the proposal to take down the sculpture in February, provided that a plaque be put in its place explaining why it had been removed.

Schmid appealed that decision, claiming that it was inconsistent with the citys standards for removing or altering historic artifacts. He also said that removing the statue  and the historic lesson it can convey about the terrible events of the past  was equivalent to destroying it, drawing comparisons to the destruction of art by Nazis and the Taliban.

But at Wednesdays hearing, representatives of both commissions clarified that they acted well within their rights under the City Charter. Their arguments persuaded the Board of Appeals to unanimously reverse their previous decision.

Its beyond childish, Schmid said after learning of the statues removal early Friday morning. The only reason theyre doing it like this is to sneak it under the wire.

Convinced that the law is on his side, Schmid says he will file a federal lawsuit to force the city to return the statue to its pedestal.

The city broke the law, so theyre going to pay to have it reinstalled, he said.

We feel pretty confident about our legal standing, said Tom DeCaigny, director of cultural affairs with the Arts Commission. Weve worked very closely with the city attorney every step of the way to make sure we have all the legal authorities to remove, and we feel pretty good about it.

After the truck carrying the statue rolled away, the onlookers gathered in a large circle, where Dee Dee Ybarra, an Ohlone tribal leader who advocated for the statues removal, led the crowd in a traditional chant and a prayer for empathy and understanding.

The mood was celebratory, yet solemn. Many of the onlookers embraced one another, wiping tears from the corners of their eyes.

This is what happens when people stand strong and they dont back down, Ybarra said. Anything is possible. Our day is here. Our time has come.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
As Hurricane Florence slammed the East Coast and Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Philippines, a thunderous Al Gore told a San Francisco audience climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events.

"Every night on the television news is like a nature hike through the Book of Revelation and we've got to connect the dots between the cause and the effect," Gore said.

The former vice president was in town for the Global Climate Action Summit hosted by Gov. Jerry Brown from Sept. 12 to 15. Gore led a talk titled "The Importance of Renewed Ambition."

ALSO: At SF event, Harrison Ford begs voters to 'stop electing leaders who don't believe in science'

Gore criticized climate change deniers and he compared their disbelief to President Trump's denial of the death count in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria.

"Some people evidently can still deny the reality," Gore said. "It's a little bit harder to deny the 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria. C'mon. How far down that rabbit hole are people going to follow? This is utter insanity."

He also talked about people's mistreatment of the planet saying, "We are treating the skies as an open sewer for carbon pollution."

Business leaders, mayors, governors and activists from around the world have descended upon San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit this week. Participants are expected to introduce new ideas to address climate change and pledge trillions of dollars for spending on cleaner energy.
An impassioned Harrison Ford told a crowd in San Francisco Thursday to "stop giving power to people who don't believe in science, or worse than that, pretend they don't believe in science for their own self-interest."

With a graying beard, the Hollywood actor who starred in the Star Wars series as Han Solo, delivered a speech at Moscone Center for the Global Climate Action Summit sponsored by California Gov. Jerry Brown.
WASHINGTON  Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate with the special counsels Russia investigation as he pleaded guilty to federal charges and avoided a second trial that could have exposed him to even greater punishment.

The deal gives special counsel Robert Mueller a key cooperator who led the Trump election effort for a crucial stretch during the 2016 presidential campaign. The result also ensures the investigation will extend far beyond the November congressional elections despite entreaties from the presidents lawyers that Mueller bring his probe to a close.

It is unclear what information Manafort is prepared to provide to investigators about President Trump or that could aid Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. But the plea nonetheless makes Manafort the latest associate of Trump, a president known to place a premium on loyalty among subordinates, to admit guilt and cooperate with investigators in hopes of leniency.

In the past year, Mueller has secured pleas from a former national security adviser who lied to the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian ambassador; a campaign aide who broached the idea of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and another aide who was indicted alongside Manafort but ultimately turned on him. The presidents former personal lawyer has separately pleaded guilty in New York.

Fridays deal, to charges tied to Ukrainian political consulting work but unrelated to the campaign, was struck just days before Manafort was to have stood trial for a second time.

He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case. The two conspiracy counts he pleaded guilty to on Friday carry up to five years in prison, though Manaforts sentence will ultimately depend on his cooperation.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, said his attorney, Kevin Downing.

The cooperation deal requires Manafort to provide whatever information the government asks of him, though it does not specify what if anything prosecutors hope to receive about Trump.

Given his direct involvement in the Trump campaign, including episodes being scrutinized by Mueller, Manafort could be positioned to provide key insight for investigators working to establish whether the campaign coordinated with Russia.

Manafort was among the participants, for instance, in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians and the presidents oldest son and son-in-law that was arranged so the campaign could receive derogatory information about Democrat Hillary Clinton. A grand jury used by Mueller has heard testimony about the meeting.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted that the Manafort case was unrelated to Trump.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.

Added Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.

Eric Tucker, Chad Day and Michael Balsamo are Associated Press writers.
It's still technically summer, yet pumpkin-flavored everything is already all around us.

It seems like not long ago, we would walk the aisles of Trader Joe's and delight in the fall seasonal offerings, snagging a pumpkin item or two while we had the chance.

Now, many of us on the SFGATE team feel like the pumpkin spice trend has gone too far. Not just at Trader Joe's, but everywhere.

It's not just the famous Starbucks pumpkin-spice latte anymore. Grocery store aisles are lined with pumpkin spice yogurt, potato chips and hummus. There's even pumpkin spice pizza now. We wish we were kidding.

We decided to put a selection of Trader Joe's pumpkin-flavored offerings to the test. The taste test, that is.

Click through the slideshow at the top of this story for the results of the SFGATE taste test.

It was actually pretty tough to recruit SFGATE team members who were willing to participate in the tasting.

"This is like a 10-course meal from hell," said one staffer.

In the end, three pumpkin lovers agreed to painstakingly review 11 different Trader Joe's pumpkin products on camera. You can watch their reactions in the video above.

PUMPKIN OVERLOAD: Reporter uses every pumpkin spice product she could find for a week

The rest of our staff picked over the leftovers and worked together to rank everything we tried, from tasty to terrible. Read our unfiltered opinions in the slideshow above.

What's your favorite pumpkin spice product? What's the worst one you've tried? Let us know in the comments.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

Dave Curran, Susana Guerrero, Alyssa Pereira, Chris Preovolos and many other SFGATE staffers contributed to this story.
New Mexico health officials are urging clients of an Albuquerque spa to get tested for HIV and hepatitis infections.

Inspectors with the New Mexico Department of Health and other agencies identified practices at VIP Spa last week that could potentially spread blood-borne infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, the health department said in a statement. The spa was issued a cease and desist letter and closed immediately.

People who received injection-related services, including a so-called "vampire facial," in May or June should get tested for possible infections, the department stressed. Free and confidential testing is available at the Midtown Public Health Office in Albuquerque.

According to release, the inspection was undertaken after a client of VIP Spa developed an infection possibly resultant of a procedure performed by spa staff.

Further information was not immediately available. The social media presence of VIP Spa, including its Yelp and Facebook pages, have been deleted.

A note on the door of the spa Monday claimed there was a family emergency and all appointments through the week were canceled, according to the local news station KRQE.

A "vampire facial" is a treatment in which the client's blood is drawn, run through a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, and then slathered across the face, which has earlier been treated with micro needles or microdermabrasion.

Celebrities, including Kim Kardashian and Bar Rafaeli, have touted the benefits of the facial which is said to promote the growth of collagen. The treatment is supposedly effective for people with "premature wrinkles, high levels of solar damage, or anyone who wants an even tone and fresher appearance," Beverly Hills-based dermatologist Ava Shamban told Allure in October. Treatments cost about $1,000, according to the magazine.

The technologies used by dermatologists for the facials are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for "adding plasma to bone before orthopedic surgery ... but not for wrinkle-busting," Popular Science notes. And there's no scientific evidence that shows vampire facials actually work.

Most doctors agree that plasma injections derived from one's own bodily fluids cause little to no harm. However, that's only the case if the injections are performed by a licensed individual and cross-contamination is carefully avoided.

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.
Detectives on Friday were investigating a possible domestic violence motive after a gunman shot and killed his ex-wife and four others before killing himself during a nearly 40-minute rampage in Southern California, authorities said.

Javier Casarez shot himself as a deputy closed in on him after the killings in Bakersfield, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Thursday.

Casarez, 54, shot his ex-wife and a man at a trucking company before chasing after another man, killing him, and then driving to a home where he shot dead a father and daughter on Wednesday.

Court records show a divorce between Casarez and Petra Maribel Bolanos de Casarez was finalized earlier this year. In his petition for divorce, Cesarez accused Bolanos of cheating. Bolanos recently filed for a change involving child support and custody over the couples two teenage children, and the pair had a hearing set for Oct. 11, court records show.

Youngblood said it appears that Casarez targeted every victim, starting with a worker at T&T Trucking, and that domestic violence appears to have played a large part.

Casarez likely took his ex-wife to the trucking company against her will and then fatally shot Manuel Contreras, 50, with a handgun, authorities said. He shot his ex-wife and then turned the gun on a second man, Antonio Valadez, 50, the sheriffs department said.

Investigators are looking into whether Casarezs ex-wife may have had relationships with Contreras or Valadez.

Casarez then drove to the house of Eliseo Garcia Cazares, 57, who Youngblood identified as a friend. Casarez fatally shot Garcia and his daughter, Laura Garcia, 31.

John Antczak and Amanda Lee Myers are Associated Press writers.
OMAHA, Neb.  A former doctor convicted in the revenge killings of four people connected to a Nebraska medical school was sentenced Friday to death.

A three-judge panel handed down the sentence against Anthony Garcia, 45, of Terre Haute, Ind. The judges, who heard arguments earlier this year during the sentencing phase of Garcias trial, also had the option of sentencing him to life in prison.
LAWRENCE, Mass.  A series of gas explosions an official described as Armageddon killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was taken to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

It looked like Armageddon, it really did, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover.

Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

This is still very much an active scene, he said. There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why.

Hours after the explosions, the utilitys parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by todays incident, Indianas NiSource said in a statement. The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community.

Philip Marcelo is an Associated Press writer.
WASHINGTON  A secretive letter shared with authorities by the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee charges that teenage Brett Kavanaugh and a male friend trapped a teenage girl in a bedroom during a party and tried to assault her, according to three people familiar with the contents of the letter.

According to the letter, Kavanaugh, then a student at Georgetown Preparatory School in suburban Washington and now President Trumps Supreme Court nominee, had been drinking at a social gathering when he and the male friend took the teenage girl into a bedroom. The door was locked, and she was thrown on the bed, the letter says. Kavanaugh then got on top of the teenager and put a hand over her mouth, and music was turned up, according to the account. But the young woman was able to extricate herself and leave the room before anything else occurred, the letter says.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Pentagon says the retired Navy admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden resigned from a Defense Department advisory board, after his criticism of President Donald Trump's decision to revoke a former CIA director's security clearance.

ALSO READ: Manafort pleads guilty, will cooperate with special counsel

Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokeswoman, says William McRaven, former head of U.S. Special Operations Command, left the Defense Innovation Board on Aug. 20.

That was four days after he wrote in The Washington Post that Trump's actions revoking former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance "embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation."

Trump revoked Brennan's clearance last month, saying he felt he had to do something about the "rigged" Russian election interference probe.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A 65-year-old man died over the weekend after he was hospitalized a week ago following an attack by a female suspect with a metal cane in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood.



The city's medical examiner's office has identified the victim as 65-year-old Harvey Grosser of San Francisco.



The assault took place around 12:50 a.m. on Sept. 6 in the first block of Sixth Street, according to police.



Video surveillance allegedly shows a woman attacking the man with the metal cane.



During Wednesday's Police Commission meeting, Police Chief William Scott said the attack occurred after the suspect got mad at the victim "over a slice of pizza."



Grosser was rushed to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, before succumbing to his injuries on Sunday, Scott said.



The female suspect has not been located.



"The case is ongoing and we do have some evidence. As with any homicide, we ask for the public's help. If you saw anything or known anything, please reach out to the San Francisco Police Department's homicide unit," he said.



Anyone with information about the homicide can call the police's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message.





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OAKLAND (BCN)



BART's Board of Directors approved a new ordinance governing oversight of surveillance technology as well as a new transit-oriented residential and commercial real estate development near the Lake Merritt Station during a busy meeting this morning in Oakland.



The new surveillance rules, which were proposed as a policy, but passed through a unanimous vote as an ordinance, will require annual reports on the use of each specific surveillance technology the district uses.



Any time a new technology is acquired, or when BART is applying for funding to acquire such technology, that will have to be disclosed at a properly noticed public meeting.



When new surveillance technologies are introduced, the ordinance dictates that they will be implemented at a single station for a trial period of 60 days. The original wording called for a 90-day trial period, but that was changed through an amendment to the motion before the board.



Data collected during those trial periods will be immediately disposed of unless it is relevant to evaluating the performance of the technology in question, although there are exceptions to this rule.



The ordinance also includes provisions for the use of technologies, which have not gone through the approval process outlined above, under exigent circumstances, with several limitations.



If BART police are using an unapproved surveillance technology due to exigent circumstances they can only use it to respond to those exigent circumstances and they must stop using it within 7 days or when the exigent circumstances end, whichever is sooner.



Data collected through unapproved surveillance technologies due to exigent circumstances can only be kept if it is related to those circumstances, and that data cannot be turned over to third parties unless it's required by law enforcement - a situation that could arise in the wake of a terrorist attack or other act of violent extremism.



The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California issued a statement following today's vote, saying the new surveillance ordinance will promote public safety while protecting the privacy of BART riders.



That sentiment was echoed by Brian Hofer, with Oakland Privacy.



"We applaud the BART Board and staff for recognizing the concerns caused by mass surveillance," Hofer said. "By implementing rules to govern the use of invasive equipment, BART can ensure adequate protection of our civil liberties, while still ensuring public safety."



The plans for a new development at the Lake Merritt BART station include four new buildings with 519 housing units, more than 200 of which will be affordable housing, and 517,000 square feet of commercial space for offices, shops and nonprofits.



To bring this project to fruition, BART has entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) and Strada Investment Group.



It's too soon to say when the project will be completed or how much it will cost, but BART staff said the agency will spend the next two years refining the project and seeking community engagement.



The motion to authorize the ENA passed unanimously, with the exception of Director Lateefah Simon, who was not in the room at the time of the vote.



Prior to voting, however, some of the directors expressed dissatisfaction with one aspect of the plan that calls for the demolition of roughly 200 parking spaces that will not be replaced.



"I'm disappointed that we're eliminating 200 parking spaces," Director Debora Allen said.



"People who have been parking there for eons will no longer have a place to park," added Director Thomas Blalock, who suggested that a public information campaign might be in order to advise affected drivers to find alternative parking arrangements.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A bicyclist suffered life-threatening injuries this afternoon in a collision in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, according to police.



Around 12:35 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic collision involving a bike and a vehicle in the 1600 block of Howard Street, Officer Grace Gatpandan said.



The bicyclist was taken to the hospital.



Officers are continuing to investigate what may have caused the collision.



Anyone who may have witnessed it or with information about it is asked to contact the police's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A bicyclist killed in a collision Thursday in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood has been identified by the city's medical examiner as 56-year-old Russell Franklin.



The collision occurred around noon in the 1600 block of Howard Street, police said.



Franklin, a San Francisco resident, was riding his bike when a vehicle struck him.



According to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the car's driver and another bicyclist tried to help Russell following the collision. Franklin was rushed to the hospital where he died later that night.



"Russell did not deserve to die simply trying to get where he needed to go," bicycle coalition officials said in a statement.



"Our deepest sympathies go to his family and friends. While we await more information about the circumstances of this fatal crash, one thing is clear: San Francisco's streets remain designed for drivers in fast-moving cars, not people walking or biking," the statement read.



The coalition said it would work with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority's Vision Zero Rapid Response Team to address safety concerns at the intersection where the collision occurred, Howard Street and South Van Ness Avenue.



The car's driver was not arrested and the collision remains under investigation.



Anyone who may have witnessed it or with information is encouraged to contact the police's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message.





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SAN JOSE (BCN)



San Jose State University officials will be giving an award to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties for its support of the university's students.



The officials made the announcement Wednesday.



During the past two years, the food bank has supplied $430,000 in groceries to San Jose State University students to eliminate food insecurity.



The food bank will receive the 2018 Community Partner Award at the university's annual Inspiration to Innovation gala on Oct. 18 at The Event Center at San Jose State.



The food bank and the university are preparing to open the school's first permanent food pantry where food will be free for eligible students.





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A male juvenile died after he was shot in West Oakland early Thursday morning, police said today.



Officers who responded to the 800 block of West Grand Avenue at 12:18 a.m. on Thursday after receiving a report of gunshots found the juvenile victim suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police.



Paramedics transported the juvenile to a local hospital but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead sometime later, police said.



The boy's identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.



Oakland police said their investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing and anyone who has information about it should call their homicide unit at (510) 238-3821.







The 152-acre Irving Fire burning at Samuel P. Taylor State Park northwest of Lagunitas in Marin County is 95 percent contained this morning, the Marin County Fire Department said.



Crews are removing hoses and working on fire line suppression repair, the fire department said.



The cause of the fire is believed to be a power line that fell on the Ridge Trail on the south side of Barnabe Mountain.



PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said the utility company is working with Cal Fire and the Marin County Fire Department to learn more about the preliminary finding.



The first smoke from the fire was reported between 7 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Marin County Fire Department spokeswoman Laine Hendricks said.







A man whose body was found along railroads tracks in Niles Canyon in unincorporated Alameda County on Sunday afternoon was identified by the sheriff's office today as 26-year-old Max Lopez Balmes of Fremont.



Lopez Balmes' body was discovered near the Union Pacific tracks in the canyon south of state Highway 84 and Alameda Creek at about 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly said.



A hiker or jogger saw his body west of the intersection of Highway 84 and Palomares Road a few miles east of Fremont city limits and called police, according to Kelly.



Although authorities haven't yet disclosed the cause of Lopez Balmes' death, Kelly said the sheriff's office is investigating his death as a homicide because he died "at the hands of another" and not from being hit by a train or from falling.



Investigators haven't disclosed a motive for the killing or any suspect information.



According to an obituary that's posted online, Lopez Balmes was born in Mexico and is survived by his parents Elias Lopez Zulayka and Maileht Balmes Sanchez and his brothers Kevin, Elias, Daniel and Abraham.



A service for Lopez Balmes will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Fremont Chapel of the Roses at 1940 Peralta Blvd. in Fremont and he will be buried at the Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park at 32992 Mission Blvd. in Hayward.







A 27-year-old transient delayed entering a plea today on the murder charge he faces for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in July because his attorney is waiting for prosecutors to turn over more evidence in his case.



John Lee Cowell is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26 to enter a plea at that time on the charges he faces for the stabbing death of Wilson and the stabbing of Letifah Wilson, her 26-year-old sister, at about 9:36 p.m. on July 22.



Cowell is charged with murder for Nia Wilson's death, attempted murder for the stabbing of her sister and a special circumstance allegation that he killed Wilson while lying in wait.



A large number of Wilson's family members and friends have attended all of Cowell's court hearings and they came to his brief hearing today as well.



Cowell has suffered from mental illness most of his life and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, his family said in a statement after he was arrested on July 23.



Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods said after Cowell's hearing today that Cowell is having a "difficult" time in custody.



Woods said one item of evidence the defense hasn't yet been given is video surveillance footage of the fatal stabbing.







Police in Palo Alto this morning are reporting a woman who went missing on Thursday has returned home.



Police said 84-year-old Shanti Chattopadhyay returned home safe around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday.



She was reported missing Thursday around 3:30 p.m. after she went for a walk and did not return home.







The Santa Rosa Junior College Police Department said today that an 18-year-old man who was "aggressively flirting" on campus this week was arrested for violating conditions of his release from jail before a pending trial for obstructing an officer last month.



A faculty member told campus police a young male was "aggressively flirting" with female students and making them uncomfortable Tuesday afternoon, police said. Police searched for the man around the classrooms and quad areas of Shuhaw Hall but did not find the male.



Campus police responded again Wednesday around 5:10 p.m. to a report of a young male harassing a female student in the Frank Doyle Library. The male walked behind the student and said unwanted and inappropriate things to her but left before police responded.



Police identified the suspect as Marcus Len Walton, 18, of Santa Rosa on Thursday based on a social media alias and his facial tattoos. Walton is not a student of SRJC, and police found him between the library and the Bertolini Student Center Thursday afternoon.



Based on his harassing behavior and disruption of the operation of the SRJC campus, Walton was arrested for violating his pre-trial release on the misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officer at the Santa Rosa Transit Mall on Aug. 26, police said.



Walton is not authorized to be on the SRJC campus for seven days, police said. He is being held under $15,000 bail in the Sonoma County Jail and is scheduled to appear Monday morning in Sonoma County Superior Court on the violation of pre-trial release allegation.



A settlement conference in court on the obstructing an officer charge is scheduled for Oct. 1.







A Redwood City man has been arrested in connection with several crimes related committing lewd acts with minors.



Angel Leopoldo Gutierrez Monney, 31, was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts with a child under 14 years old, sending harmful material to a minor and contacting a minor with intent to commit a felony, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.



On Sept. 4, a concerned citizen called the sheriff's office to report a possible child predator who reportedly had inappropriate behavior with juveniles.



Deputies said the suspect, identified as Monney, was employed as a ride-share driver and a part-time babysitter through a childcare website.



Investigators were able to identify several young boys under the age of 14 as victims of various sex crimes, and Monney was subsequently arrested.







Police in Gilroy are investigating an indecent exposure incident that occurred Thursday.



A man approached two young juvenile females who were walking home from school around 3 p.m., exposed his genitalia to the girls, offered them money for sex and ordered them into his car, according to the Gilroy Police Department.



The incident occurred in the area of Hanna and Ninth streets.



An adult neighbor confronted the man, and he sped away west on Fairview Drive from Hanna Street.



The suspect is described as a white man, roughly 30 years old, clean shaven, short dark hair and black rimmed prescription glasses. He was driving an older gray or silver four-door sedan.



Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Gilroy Police Department at (408) 846-0350.













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Hundreds of protesters took over an intersection of downtown San Francisco to denounce what they say is Gov. Jerry Brown's inaction on climate change as he attends the Global Climate Action Summit in the city this week.



The protest took place Thursday morning.



As part of the action, dozens of protesters linked arms, effectively blocking the entrance to the summit at the Moscone Center at Third and Howard streets.



The protesters are made up of a coalition of several environmental groups from all over the planet, as well as Bay Area-based organizations. They're calling on global leaders to speed up the transition from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.



According to Kassie Siegel, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, a way to reduce emissions globally is for Brown to phase out oil and gas drilling in California, which she says would result in other states and countries following suit.



"He's in there patting himself on the back, claiming climate action leadership, but climate leaders don't drill. California is still one of the country's top oil-producing states," Siegel said.







The Alameda County Board of Supervisors' Public Protection Committee recommended that the full board approve the elimination of administrative court fees for people who are convicted of crimes.



The committee took the action Thursday at the end of a lengthy hearing at which several activist groups said the fees should be eliminated because they often are a long-term financial burden on low-income people who already served time for their crimes and then have problems turning their lives around.



They said that's because the debts cause such people to have problems getting credit, housing and jobs.



If the full board votes next month to approve eliminating the court fees, Alameda County would become only the second county in the U.S. to do so, following San Francisco, which took that step earlier this year.







BART's Board of Directors approved a new ordinance governing oversight of surveillance technology as well as a new transit-oriented residential and commercial real estate development near the Lake Merritt Station during a busy meeting in Oakland.



The meeting was Thursday.



The new surveillance rules, which were proposed as a policy, but passed through a unanimous vote as an ordinance, will require annual reports on the use of each specific surveillance technology the district uses.



Any time a new technology is acquired, or when BART is applying for funding to acquire such technology, that will have to be disclosed at a properly noticed public meeting.



When new surveillance technologies are introduced, the ordinance dictates that they will be implemented at a single station for a trial period of 60 days. The original wording called for a 90-day trial period, but that was changed through an amendment to the motion before the board.



Data collected during those trial periods will be immediately disposed of unless it is relevant to evaluating the performance of the technology in question, although there are exceptions to this rule.







A 65-year-old man died over the weekend after he was hospitalized a week ago following an attack by a female suspect with a metal cane in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood.



The city's medical examiner's office has identified the victim as 65-year-old Harvey Grosser of San Francisco.



The assault took place around 12:50 a.m. on Sept. 6 in the first block of Sixth Street, according to police.



Video surveillance allegedly shows a woman attacking the man with the metal cane.



During Wednesday's Police Commission meeting, Police Chief William Scott said the attack occurred after the suspect got mad at the victim "over a slice of pizza."







A suspect accused of killing a 64-year-old man at his home in Concord in July was arrested last month in the small town of Bandon, Oregon, where police say he remains in the custody of Coos County Jail.



Michael Downie was discovered by friends who were checking on him at his home in the 1200 block of Pine Creek Way around 9:30 p.m. on July 27.



Investigators identified Terrance Boyd Dixon, 55, as a suspect in the killing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.



Dixon turned himself in to the Bandon Police Department on Aug. 14. He has not yet been extradited to California, according to Coos County jail records.







A 22-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly exposing himself to underage girls near a high school in San Jose between July and earlier this month, police said.



Police announced the arrest Thursday.



In three separate cases between July 19 and Sept. 7, Jordan Cambray-Madrigal allegedly exposed himself to victims including a 14-year-old, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old near Yerba Buena High School at 1855 Lucretia Ave., according to police.



Two of the alleged incidents happened while Cambray-Madrigal was in a vehicle, and police have released a photo of his car.



Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for him and on Sept. 7, he was arrested at a residence in Milpitas, San Jose police spokeswoman Officer Gina Tepoorten said.



He was booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of multiple counts of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting a child under 18, police said.





























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CONCORD (BCN)



A man arrested last month in Oregon was formally charged with murder and using a fireplace poker in the July killing a 64-year-old man in Concord, Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Derek Butts announced Thursday.



The body of Michael Downie was found July 27 when friends checked on him at his home in the 1200 block of Pine Creek Way.

Investigators quickly named Terrence Boyd Dixon, 55, as a suspect and issued an arrest warrant. Dixon was later located in the small town of Bandon, Oregon, and turned himself in to the Bandon Police Department Aug. 14.



Dixon has prior convictions in Nevada for attempted murder and robbery, according to the district attorney's office. Murder charges in Downie's killing were filed Thursday in Contra Costa County Superior Court.




As many as 2,300 hotel workers at seven downtown San Francisco Marriott hotels could walk off the job after a vast majority voted today to strike, union officials said.



A strike has not been called but can be called at any time, officials with UNITE HERE Local 2, the union representing the workers, said.



Of the workers who voted, nearly 99 percent voted to strike to demand higher wages, job security and workplace safety.



The workers want to be paid enough by Marriott so they can live on their earnings from just one job.



Nearly 1,850 other San Francisco hotel workers turned out to support the Marriott workers, who have been negotiating a contract with the company since June.



Officials with Marriott did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.





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OAKLAND (BCN)



A male juvenile died after he was shot in West Oakland early Thursday morning, police said today.



Officers who responded to the 800 block of West Grand Avenue at 12:18 a.m. on Thursday after receiving a report of gunshots found the juvenile victim suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police.



Paramedics transported the juvenile to a local hospital but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead sometime later, police said.



The boy's identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.



Oakland police said their investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing and anyone who has information about it should call their homicide unit at (510) 238-3821.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



Police in San Francisco have arrested a man in connection with several internet crimes against children.



Bryan Rosenthal, a 45-year-old resident of Vallejo, was arrested on suspicion of arranging a meeting with a minor for sexual contact, going to an arranged meeting with a minor for sexual contact, sending harmful material to a minor, communication with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior, possession of child pornography and producing child pornography, according to the San Francisco Police Department.



Rosenthal operates a Vallejo-based children's charity, according to police.



Earlier this month, the SFPD Internet Crimes Against Children Unit learned of an individual who was attempting to meet and have sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl through online social media.



Investigators determined the suspect had attempted to send graphic images to the child. They identified Rosenthal as the suspect, and he was taken into custody on Tuesday.



Police said they seized Rosenthal's cellphone and discovered he was having sexually explicit chats and conversations with underage minors and was trying to meet several of them for sexual contact.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



Officers have arrested a man in connection with a June homicide in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, police said today.



On June 4, officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1500 block of Oakdale Avenue around 11:10 a.m. There, they found 26-year-old Jevon Cael suffering from gunshot wounds.



He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.



After an investigation, officers were able to identify San Francisco resident Cleavon Foster, 37, as a suspect. On Sunday, officers with the Sacramento Police Department located Foster and arrested him on an outstanding homicide warrant, according to police.



Foster was booked on suspicion of murder, police said.



According to jail records, Foster was also arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm with prior conviction and possession of firearm on school grounds.





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More than 75 years after becoming a national park, Kings Canyon still can't climb out from under Yosemite's shadow.

"Beautiful place, but it's no Yosemite" seems to be the general consensus.

Like Yosemite, Kings Canyon has exquisite glacier-carved cliffs, dramatic peaks and a stunning valley. John Muir thought the latter rivaled its Sierra counterpart in beauty.

But its waterfalls are kind of meh compared to the likes of Vernal, Nevada, Bridalveil and the eponymous Yosemite falls.

RELATED: Rock climber dies in fall on John Muir Trail

And Kings Canyon has no Instagram-ready crag like Half Dome or El Capitan to capture the public's imagination. Yes, its Tehipite Dome is an impressive piece of rock  the largest dome in the entire Sierra  but how many people make the long trek to see it?

In number of tourists, Yosemite outdrew Kings Canyon in 2017 by roughly a 6-to-1 margin  4.36 million to 692,932.

Have you ever heard of Theodore Roosevelt National Park? No one has. But the North Dakota park welcomed more visitors than Kings Canyon last year. So did Joshua Tree and Crater Lake national parks.

One reason is accessibility. Kings Canyon's tourist facilities are concentrated only at Grant Grove and Cedar Grove/Kanawyers, off Highway 180. The vast majority of the park is wilderness reachable by only backpacking or horseback.

To those who cherish Kings Canyon's solitude and unspoiled wilds, that is a blessing.

See the above gallery for a selection of photos of Kings Canyon National Park and its sister, Sequoia National Park. They just might make you want to strap on a pack, grab some trekking poles and set out on an adventure in some of California's most gorgeous terrain.

---

Read Mike Moffitt's latest stories and send him news tips at mmoffitt@sfchronicle.com.

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Longtime Latin pop star Luis Fonsi, who catapulted into the limelight with last years megahit Despacito, has bought a mansion near Miami to fit his newfound stardom.

Earlier this year, Fonsi spent a little under $5 million to buy an 8,300-square-foot, seven-bedroom, eight-bath mansion on the water in Coral Gables, FL. Built in 1992, the mansion is quintessentially South Florida, with palm trees shading a wide motor court, marble floors, double-height ceilings, and a 110-foot-long dock perfect for a luxury yacht.

The house is located in the luxurious Cocoplum neighborhood south of downtown Miami, a 10-minute drive from the University of Miami. Most of the homes in the neighborhood have water access, and multimillion-dollar yachts are commonplace.

At Fonsis new home, double doors open to a grand foyer with tall ceilings and custom marble inlays in the floor. In the foyer, a staircase with custom metalwork leads to an open hallway, allowing guests to look down into the living room and out to the backyard.

Exterior realtor.com

The living room has 24-foot-tall ceilings, three sets of French doors, and a fireplace. The homes previous owner decorated the living room in a French Provincial style, with a large tapestry hanging above the sitting area, and candelabra-style light fixtures.

Living room realtor.com

The kitchen has a large chefs island with a tiled countertop, industrial-style refrigerator, and gas range. French doors here also lead to the backyard.

Kitchen realtor.com

Outside, steps lead down to the pool, spa, and decorative jetted water feature. Theres an outdoor kitchen, and a dock on the canal, which connects to Biscayne Bay, and eventually, the Atlantic Ocean.

Pool realtor.com

Backyard realtor.com

Elsewhere, theres a recreation room, wine room, two offices, and a two-bedroom, one-bath staff quarters. The house was initially listed in mid-2016 for $6.3 million, but saw a series of price cuts over the next two years. In February, it was listed for $5.2 million.

Fonsi, 40, began recording in the late 1990s, putting out nine studio albums before Despacito. The chart-topping song remains YouTubes most-watched video of all time, with nearly 5.5 billion views.

The post 'Despacito' Superstar Luis Fonsi Picks Up $5M Mansion in Coral Gables appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Oakland International Airport is expanding its offerings of nonstop flights to a record number for the East Bay airport, officials announced Friday.

Southwest Airlines is adding four new flights to Oakland, and the airport will boast a total of 33 cities with nonstop flights in 2018.

NEW SECURITY: Are the new "automated" security checkpoints really better?

Starting July 8, 2018, fliers can take a nonstop flight to San Antonio International Airport; On July 15, Orlando International Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport will also be added to the roster of flights.

It's not currently clear the number of flights offered daily on each new route.

"Southwest allows millions of residents and visitors to 'Fly the East Bay Way,' and these new high-demand destinations make it easier than ever to do so," said Bryant Francis, the Director of Aviation with the Port of Oakland, in a released statement. "With over 60 destinations globally offered from OAK, the reasons to make a transbay journey to catch a nonstop flight are steadily diminishing."

FAREWELL, VIRGIN: Countdown starts for the end of Virgin America flights

Southwest Airlines has been greatly expanding the number of routes it flies, adding 22 new domestic and international routes this past June and announcing new flights to Hawaii starting in 2018.

The Oakland airport currently offers over 50 international and domestic destinations for travelers and sees about 11 million passengers annually. The airport recently reopened its main runway, replacing 8,300 feet of asphalt and completing the $67 million project within two weeks.
BEIRUT  In cities and towns across Syrias last opposition-held province, Idlib, residents poured into the streets on Friday to demonstrate against President Bashar Assads government in defiance of an expected offensive to retake the territory.

In the provincial capital, Idlib city, and in towns including Kafranbel, Dana, Azaz, Maaret al-Numan and al-Bab, demonstrators filled the streets after noon prayers and chanted against Assad, raising the tri-color green, white and black flag that has become the banner of Syrias 2011 uprising, activists said.

The rebels are our hope; Turks are our brothers; the terrorists are Bashar, Hezbollah and Russia, read a banner carried by residents in the village of Kneiset Bani Omar, referring to Turkey which backs the opposition, and Lebanons Hezbollah and Russia that have joined the war along with Assads forces.

There will be no solution in Syria without Assads fall, read another banner carried in the northern village of Mhambel.

The demonstrations were reported on the activist-run sites Aleppo Media Center, Orient News, and other social media pages.

Fridays have become the customary day for protests throughout the Arab world since the 2011 uprisings that swept through the region.

Assads government and its backers, Russia and Iran, say Idlib is ruled by terrorists, and have threatened to seize it by force.

Wissam Zarqa, a university teacher in Idlib, said demonstrators were flying the tri-color flag to rebut the government line that Idlib is dominated by the al Qaeda linked Levant Liberation Committee group.

The province, population 3 million, is now the final shelter for close to 1.5 million displaced Syrians who fled fighting in other parts of Syria. Many say they will not return to government-ruled areas.

Government and Russian forces bombed towns and villages in the province earlier this week, killing more than a dozen civilians and damaging two hospitals. But the strikes eased on Wednesday amid talks between the oppositions main regional sponsor Turkey, and Russia and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are slated to meet Monday, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

We will continue our efforts with Iran and with Russia. ... (and) on international platforms as well, said Cavusoglu in comments carried live on Turkish television.

Turkish media said the two leaders would meet in the Russian city of Sochi.

Turkey has warned strongly against military action, saying it would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe. Its military and defense chiefs visited border areas on Friday to inspect troop reinforcements sent to its Hatay and Gaziantep provinces.
SEOUL  North and South Korea on Friday opened their first joint liaison office, a facility that will be staffed by personnel from both countries, marking another advance in the rival states rapidly improving relationship.

The liaison office, in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, establishes the first channel for full-time, person-to-person contact between the Koreas. The countries have technically been at war for decades because an armistice, not a peace treaty, halted the Korean War in 1953.
Page Content

From food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants, California is renowned for its culinary variety and innovation. The Golden State has another gastronomic claim to fame: It is home to some of the country's most-complex and challenging regulations governing meal breaks. Lately, even where workers can eat has come under fire. Here are some recent food-related developments affecting California employees.

Dining on the Company Dime

Free or discounted meals are a typical and popular perk at Silicon Valley and San Francisco startups and tech companies. Employees who put in long hours have come to expect their employers to provide or subsidize lavish, onsite salad bars, pressed-juice stations and gourmet meals.

But detractors say in-house dining options are a threat to neighborhood cafes, luncheonettes and sandwich shops. Despite the influx of tech workers in the Bay Area, nearby eateries may struggle or fold because they can't compete on price or convenience.

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors is considering an ordinance to ban employee cafeterias in new buildings. The proposed law is modeled on a similar restriction in the Silicon Valley town of Mountain View, where 2,000 Facebook workers will populate a new campus this fall. In 2014, Mountain View barred incoming tenants on the campus site from offering meals that were free or subsidized by 50 percent or more.

Bay Area HR professionals say there's a happy medium: Tap neighborhood restaurants for take-out and catering. That's the strategy used by Homebase, a San Francisco-based tech company that creates scheduling and time-tracking software.

A delivery service brings lunch from local eateries to about 75 Homebase employees three times a week, said Kelli Schultz, the company's people operations manager. Having engineers, programmers and product team members sit down together for a meal "is a really great piece of our culture," she said. Homebase staffers eat out or brown-bag it on the other two days.

The company tries to order from restaurants that use its software, she said, estimating that she patronizes about two dozen local eateries.

Standing Order

Some businesses that provide onsite meals do so out of necessity; when a business is isolated in an office park, employees waste break time driving, hunting for parking and queueing up for food. They also clog local roads. The 32 workers at GoodHire, a company that does employment background screenings, eat lunches from nearby restaurants delivered daily by Forkable.

GoodHire pays for up to $15 per meal, said Marielle Smith, vice president of people. She and her colleagues work in Redwood Shores, where there are few restaurants within walking distance. "The biggest value we get from [catered meals] is socializing," she said. "People will sit down together in our cafeteria and talk about nonwork things, and I think that's really good for our employees."

Smith said she understands why San Francisco is considering restricting company cafeterias but considers the idea misguided because city eateries are frequently packed. "I struggle with this [proposed] ordinance," she said. "If I walk into any of the good places [in San Francisco], I can't get a table."



Discounted Meals, with a Caveat

In a case brought by a Taco Bell worker, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held in August that restaurants don't have to pay employees for meal breaks if those workers aren't on the job but must eat their discounted meals onsite.

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Complying with California Wage Payment and Hours of Work Laws]

The Suisun City Taco Bell worker claimed that she should have been paid for her meal breaks because her employer retained control over her time by requiring her to consume her discounted meal in the Taco Bell restaurant. The appellate panel disagreed, noting Rodriguez was relieved of her work duties during her meal breaks. She was free to leave the restaurant, and she was not obligated to purchase or eat Taco Bell's food.

June D. Bell, a regular contributor to SHRM, covers legal issues for a variety of publications. Contact her at june@junebell.com.
By: David Pizzuto | Special to the Advance

New York, NY | After falling behind two games to none, the College of Staten Island women's volleyball team used an amazing comeback to take a 3-2 win over John Jay College as part of CUNYAC play and what was the CUNYAC Game of the Week. Individual scores were 25-27, 19-25, 25-20, 25-15, 17-15. The Dolphins improved to 5-3 overall and moved to 3-0 in conference play, while the Bloodhounds fell to 1-3, 0-3, respectively.



In what was the home opener for the Bloodhounds, the home team did their job in the first two sets in what was a nail-biter from start to finish. In the opening set, there were eight lead changes, and neither team could establish good momentum. A kill by Mballou Berete gave JJC an early 5-4 advantage, but two unforced errors gave CSI back an 8-7 edge. Margaret O'Malley-Rebovich scored a kill to give CSI a 16-14 edge, but two-straight Brianna Geraldo kills again put the Bloodhounds up, this time 17-16.



Francesca Castellano and Jacqueline Roloph helped stake CSI to a 23-21 edge with kills later in the set, but then JJC came to life. Two Niovis Monsanto aces helped give JJC the lead, but CSI would tie twice. A kill by Geraldo and then another ace, this time by Berete, gave JJC a 27-25 win in the opening set, stealing it from the Dolphins.



In the second set, CSI overturned an early deficit to take a 7-6 lead, but a 7-1 response by the Bloodhounds was pivotal, and capped by a Kimberly Rodriguez ace, they were able to take a 13-8 lead. JJC never trailed from there, and a kill by Mirialis Almanzar stopped a CSI run when they closed to 22-19, and JJC was able to hold, 25-19.



CSI needed an immediate response in the third set. After falling behind, CSI did score a 5-1 run, aided by a Castellano service ace and a Caitlin Esposito kill. CSI continued the run, and opened up a 14-8 lead after four-straight JJC errors. The Bloodhounds closed to within two, 17-15, on a Geraldo kill, but CSI was able to answer the call with an 8-5 closing, powered by a kill and ace by Celina Mendez and another ace by Esposito.



Down but not out, CSI continued their run into set four. Three-straight points by the Dolphins got the road team up, 4-3 early, and CSI extended to an 11-6 lead on two kills by O'Malley-Rebovich and another by Castellano. A 6-3 run, capped by an Esposito kill gave CSI a bigger, 17-9, edge, and from there the two teams stayed relatively even but CSI was able to score a 25-15 win, setting up a winner-take-all fifth and final set.



As hard as CSI worked to draw even, things looked bleak when JJC took a 3-0 lead in the final set, thanks to three-straight Almanzar kills, but a resilient CSI fought back. A Castellano ace and three JJC errors gave CSI a 4-3 lead, and later, CSI used a 5-1 run to take a 10-7 lead, helped again by four JJC errors.



Up 13-11, JJC would not allow CSI to coast to the win. Geraldo scored a kill, but then an error on serve gave CSI match-point scenario at 14-12 with serve. Nyla Lloyd-Clarke answered the call for the Bloodhounds to make it 14-13 and then Geraldo powered up another kill to tie it up at 14-14. Esposito returned the favor for CSI to take a 15-14 lead, but Lloyd-Clarke struck yet again to tie it up at 15-15. CSI would get the final run, however, as O'Malley-Rebovich dialed up two kills to help CSI win the set, 17-15, completing the tremendous comeback.



CSI was led by Esposito's 10 kills, while O'Malley-Rebovich and Castellano each tagged nine. Castellano was the leader in digs with 20, while Jay-La Guy led all with six blocks and Arianna Spears served up 20 assists. JJC was led by Geraldo's 17 kills, followed by Lloyd-Clarke's 13. Rodriguez boasted 52 assists while Stephanie Marcano registered 18 digs. The two teams combined for 101 kills on 318 total attacks.



For CSI, the win ends a five-game road swing and CSI remains undefeated in conference play. They will report back home for a tri-match on Saturday, September 15, when they host Brooklyn College (11:00am) and Old Westbury (3:00pm).
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man out on bail for an illegal cigarettes bust was again caught with untaxed smokes at a West Brighton business Tuesday, authorities allege.

Mousa Elayat, 64, and two co-defendants were allegedly found with more than 14,000 untaxed cigarettes when cops raided the A&S Forest Food on Forest Avenue, said the criminal complaint.

Abdullah Mohammed, 32, of the 400 block of Broadway in West Brighton, and Hussam Alsmadi, 37, of Harbor Road in Mariners Harbor, were also caught with the smokes, police said.

Police said the search warrant was executed at a store where the defendants work at around 2:10 p.m. Tuesday.

The smokes had a Virginia tax stamp on them, police said.

The suspects were each charged with felony cigarette and tobacco products tax, said the complaint.

Elayat, of Hamlin Place in Port Richmond, is out on $165,000 bond after he was arrested last year on illegal drugs and cigarettes charges.

His case is still pending in state Supreme Court, St. George.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Charles Fall is the victor in the Democratic primary, beating out two competitors in an open race for the North Shore Assembly seat on Thursday.

An open race for the 61st Assembly seat was triggered after Assemblyman Matt Titone (D-North Shore) announced that he would run for the Surrogate's Court judgeship and wouldn't seek reelection this year.

With 100 percent of scanners reporting, Fall has 43.6 percent of the vote, while Oilsa has 27.7 percent of the vote, and Pat Kane has 28.5 percent of the vote. No Republican is running, effectively ensuring Fall will be sent to Albany in November.

Fall, a 29-year-old chief of staff to the city Park Department's Staten Island commissioner, told a crowded room at Romance Bar and Restaurant in Mariners Harbor that his campaign was focused on the North Shore community.

"This

campaign has been about our home. It's been about our community. It's been about the North Shore. New leadership and new ideas are long overdue in Albany, and thanks to the passion of the people in this room and across our great community, the time for those changes has come," said Fall. "We started a conversation on the North Shore about the direction in which we want to go.

Fall continued, "We're saying no more to corrupt politics. No more to back room deals. We need results not rhetoric. I am committed to delivering for the community that has given me so much."

Fall will be the first Muslim and African-American from Staten Island to hold the state seat.

RIVAL COMMENTS

Olisa's campaign was hobbled by controversies, including improper action as a landlord, ignoring building violations, bankruptcies and other issues.

"My campaign and I have no regrets. We fought hard and got as far as we did because of so many believed in our vision for state Assembly," Olisa told the Advance. "Their voices -- from supporters, neighbors, our family and friends --moved us to talk about the issues we all care so deeply about. This campaign was just the beginning, and we will continue to fight for truly affordable housing, better schools and higher paying jobs.

Olisa also said he would stay active in civic life.

"There are so many things that we are proud of," said Olisa. "This is not the end. I will always be a champion for our community and work to better it every day of my life. I look forward to continuing to be a part of moving our district forward."

The Mariners Harbor native, also beat out Kane, a Port Richmond open heart surgery nurse and union leader who had the support of many influential labor unions.

Kane's campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from the Advance.

Fall, an ex-City Hall aide, campaigned heavily on improving transportation options, increasing funding for city schools and ending cash bail.

Fall's transportation plan includes support for a "broad" congestion pricing proposal, an overhaul of the local bus network, creating Bus Rapid Transit on the North Shore and supporting two-way tolling on the Verrazano Bridge.

On health care, Fall said that he would support a single-payer health care system, a statewide individual mandate, state-based public option, and the banning of short-term association health plans.

Fall had the support of the Staten Island Democratic Party, the New York State Reform Party and the New York state Supreme Court Officers Association; the Civil Service Employees Association Local 1000 -- which represents 300,000 state and local government employees -- and the Muslim Democratic Club of New York.

Michael Reilly was the winner in the South Shore Assembly's Republican primary race.

The general election is Nov. 6.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police are still searching for the hit-run driver who struck a 55-year-old woman in Huguenot last week.

Video footage near where the incident occurred on the 800 block of Huguenot Avenue shows a dark-colored, four-door sedan slam into the victim, who was crossing the street from east to west around 10:48 p.m., according to police.

The driver proceeded to put the car in reverse, and fled northbound on Huguenot Avenue, according to a written statement released by the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police said EMS transported the female victim to Staten Island University Hospital in Prince's Bay with pain and bruising to her back and left leg.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Authorities allege that a retired cop with Staten Island ties led a prostitution and gambling ring that generated millions of dollars.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill announced Thursday that a grand jury indicted retired vice-squad Detective Ludwig Paz, along with seven active-duty officers, who allegedly assisted the illicit operation.

"These NYPD officers, who swore an oath to uphold ideals greater than themselves, have ruined their own careers and reputations," O'Neill said.

"More importantly, they have diminished the great work of tens of thousands of other honest and ethical cops."

A media release from the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said an NYPD officer's tip to Internal Affairs kicked of the investigation in April 2015.

Paz, 51, with the assistance of his wife, Arelis Peralta, 43, allegedly ran or assisted the operations of seven brothels in Queens, Brooklyn, and Hempstead, Long Island.

From August 2016 to September 2017, the prostitution ring allegedly took in more than $2 million.

Paz's father, Luis, 74, who lives in Grasmere, said he was first made aware of his son's alleged business Thursday morning by a reporter.

"I got surprised," the elder Paz said. "I didn't know what he was doing. I feel disappointed. I gave him a good education. I did the best I could."

He said he and his son rarely see each other, and talk only around Christmas.

Current Vice Detective Rene Samaniego, 43, allegedly assisted Paz in the prostitution and gambling operations, while Sgt. Carlos Cruz, 41, and Detective Giovanny Rojas Acosta, 40, allegedly provided Paz with information about law enforcement activities related to prostitution.

Sgt. Cliff Nieves, 37, and his brother, Sgt. Steven Nieves, 32, allegedly promoted prostitution, and operated a brothel "for the soul purpose of having a bachelor party," according to the media release. The brothers pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday.

Police Officer Giancarlo Raspanti provided Paz with information in exchange for discounted sex at one of the brothels.

The ringleader allegedly used his knowledge of NYPD procedures to benefit the prostitution business. Undercover officers are prohibited from exposing themselves, so prostitutes in Paz's operation would have new clients undress and allow themselves to be fondled as part of a "security screening," according to the release.

Paz and his wife also profited from several illegal lottery operations.

"The vast majority of NYPD police officers are honest and dedicated to enforcing and upholding the law," Brown said. "However, today's indictments of one former detective and seven current police officers of the NYPD dishonor the badge."
MIAMI (AP) -- Hurricane Florence's winds may have weakened, but this is still no "minor" storm. Water is a hurricane's deadliest threat, and forecasters say Florence packs a catastrophic amount of it. Officials have been begging hold-outs in evacuation zones to seek shelter, including a police chief on a barrier island in Florence's bull's-eye who asked for next-of-kin contact information from the few residents who refused warnings to leave.

BY THE NUMBERS

--Big storm: about 400 miles (645 kilometers) wide, with hurricane-force winds stretching across a 160-mile (255-kilometer) span.

--Heavy rains: parts of the Carolinas could see 20 inches to 30 inches (50 to 76 centimeters), with isolated areas getting 40 inches (100 centimeters), over seven days along the coast

--Storm surge: up to 13 feet (nearly 4 meters), and seawaters could push inland 2 miles (more than 3 kilometers), depending on how long Florence lingers

--Fatal hazards: historically, 49 percent of U.S. hurricane deaths come from storm surge, 27 percent from rain, 8 percent from wind, 6 percent from surf, 6 percent were offshore and 3 percent from tornadoes.

--Intensity: maximum sustained winds at 100 mph (160 kph), below the 111 mph (178 kph) threshold for a "major" hurricane but still extremely dangerous

--Going dark: 12,000 outages in North Carolina as of Thursday afternoon, and Duke Energy anticipates 1 million to 3 million homes and businesses losing power

--Populated coastline: 11 million Americans live in areas under storm watches and warnings

--Grounded: nearly 1,200 flights canceled

--Potential losses: private meteorologists estimate $10 billion to $60 billion in economic damages

FACES OF FLORENCE

Images captured by Associated Press journalists show last-minute preparations to secure homes and businesses and families settling into storm shelters as rain and storm surge began to soak the Carolinas.

SHIFTING SANDS

If Florence doesn't wipe out oceanfront homes perched on stilts along the Carolinas coast, rising sea levels will. Florence is hitting low-lying barrier islands that experience some of the fastest rates of sea level rise observed anywhere in the world, nearly an inch (2.5 centimeters) a year. Nevertheless, North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature listened to coastal developers and passed a law in 2012 requiring state scientists and regulators to consider climate-change skeptics in sea level rise projections for development and infrastructure planning. Billions are being invested in homes and condos on low-lying land likely to be inundated, while bridges and roads are being built too low.

WHAT TRUMP SAID

George Washington University researchers are standing by their study that found the death toll following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was 2,975, considerably higher than first thought. They say their assessment is the most "accurate and unbiased" assessment of mortality following the storm. President Donald Trump rejected that conclusion Thursday, arguing without evidence that the number was wrong and falsely called it a plot by Democrats to make him "look as bad as possible." Top Republicans in Florida, where thousands of Puerto Ricans relocated after Maria, quickly said Trump was wrong about the death toll. Gov. Rick Scott said he disagreed with the president and that he saw the "devastation firsthand," while Ron DeSantis, who won the GOP primary for Florida governor with Trump's endorsement, also said the president was not correct.

TO THE RESCUE

Fast response crews from California, Florida and New England have converged on the Carolinas to be ready to move into damaged areas once it's safe to do so. Inflatable Zodiac boats, all-terrain vehicles and mini-bikes are among the equipment some teams such as the Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron brought in. The Virginia National Guard has 1,200 personnel ready to respond for missions including high water transportation, debris reduction, commodity distribution, shelter management assistance and search and rescue.

HURRICANE WEDDING

The mayor of Hurricane, West Virginia, stepped in to rescue a wedding on North Carolina's Outer Banks from an uninvited guest: Florence. As the storm threatened to wash away months of planning, Mayor Scott Edwards offered a unique opportunity to use his city hall for the ceremony. Marsha Bradbury and Jon Gillenwater plan to be wed "in Hurricane during the hurricane" on Sunday.

PAYCHECK PROBLEMS

Mercedes O'Neill is worried about riding out the hurricane in her North Myrtle Beach home. But she's even more worried about what would happen if she couldn't quickly get back to work at a Family Dollar store after the storm passes. O'Neill's family lives paycheck to paycheck, and evacuating isn't cheap. She thinks her store will try to reopen as soon as possible, and she wouldn't want to miss work. Her boyfriend boarded up her windows, spraying "Thank God for Trump" on one and "God bless the USA" on the other.

AT THE ZOO

About 1,600 animals at the North Carolina Zoo are hunkered down. Zoo workers moved elephants, giraffes, chimpanzees and hundreds of other species indoors for safety. But spokeswoman Diane Villa says some animals, including bison and elk, will stay in fenced-in yards instead of barns because they don't like being in fully enclosed spaces. A crew of zookeepers, veterinarians and park rangers will ride out the storm with the animals.

THE POWER OF WATER

Scientists can't say -- yet -- that climate change helped make Florence worse. But previous research has shown that the strongest hurricanes are getting wetter, more intense and intensifying faster due to human-caused warming. Studies also have shown that storms are moving more northward and slower both issues in Florence. Sea level rise also adds to storm surge damage: When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, a study found sea-level rise over the 20th century caused more than $2 billion in additional damage in New York City due to the "extra" storm surge it generated.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Longtime education advocate and retired NYPD lieutenant Michael Reilly won the South Shore Assembly Republican primary Thursday night by a large margin.

Reilly walked away with more than 64 percent of the vote, beating opponents Glenn Yost, a retired NYPD detective and assistant counsel in state Sen. Andrew Lanza's office, and Ashley Zanatta, a community engagement manager at the Jewish Community Center's Tobacco Free Staten Island.

"This isn't about me, this is about us, this is about me being your voice, and that's all I've ever wanted to do ... I'm all about service and leadership," Reilly said alongside Republican Party Chairman Brendan Lantry and Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore).

Since no Democrats are running on the South Shore in November's general election, Thursday night's primary puts Reilly in the driver's seat in the heavily Republican 62nd Assembly district.

Yost did win the Reform Party line Thursday night, but said he is not yet sure if he plans to move forward with his campaign on other party lines.

"This has been a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow Republicans who want to better our community. I am grateful to Sen. Lanza, Assemblywoman Malliotakis, former Congressman Vito Fossella, former Borough Presidents James Molinaro and Ralph Lamberti, Judge Giacobbe, Deputy Inspector Richard Bruno, the men and women of CWA 1102 and all those people who supported and voted for me. I look forward to continuing to work for our community," Yost said.

Reilly is expected to replace Assemblyman Ron Castorina, who announced he would seek the judgeship position on the Staten Island Surrogate Court and not run for re-election to the Assembly.

COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY

Reilly thanked his opponents and said he appreciated running against them.

"I appreciate them participating in the process, they are committed to our community as well, and you know what, that's what it's about, you had a choice, they gave you a choice of who to vote for, and that's what democracy's about," Reilly said.

Zanatta congratulated Reilly on his victory and said she plans to continue to work with him on issues related to health and welfare.

"I want to congratulate Mike Reilly on his win this evening. It was a tough, well-fought campaign and I am honored to have had the chance to engage the community as a candidate, to meet and learn from its residents. I look forward to working with Mike on a variety of issues, particularly in the areas of community health and welfare," Zanatta said.

Reilly has vowed to lower Island residents' property taxes, get more resources from Albany to aide in the Island's opioid epidemic, and fix the South Shore's transportation woes.

Reilly, 45, who spent more than 12 years on the police force, joined the Community Education Council 31 in 2009 and was elected president of the body in 2014.

Reilly has been a staunch advocate for school safety, proposing entry buzzers, panic buttons and retired NYPD security officers for all schools.

He has eyed political offices in the past. In 2016, he was reported to be considering a long-shot run for mayor and created a "Mike Reilly Supporters" Facebook page. Reilly also ran a write-in campaign for mayor in 2013 and got a little over 100 votes.

Reilly was endorsed by the Staten Island GOP, Staten Island Conservative Party, Staten Island Independence Party, Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) and Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island).

On the North Shore Charles Fall, an ex-City Hall aide and chief of staff to Staten Island's Parks commissioner, came out the winner of the Assembly race.

The general election is Nov. 6.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Express bus riders can expect some major changes to the newly redesigned system coming in the first half of October.

During a Thursday meeting with the Staten Island Advance Editorial Board, the MTA, joined by Borough President James Oddo and representatives from ATU Local 726, discussed the ongoing process of optimizing the new network.

"A lot of this is anchored around moving to a truly customer-led organization, not 'the MTA knows best and will just impose something on you,' but designing the network from the customer's perspective," said MTA NYCT president Andy Byford.

All involved parties acknowledged the issues that have come with overhauling a decades-old system, but remain optimistic that the end result will be a net positive for Staten Island commuters.

The MTA, joined by Borough President James Oddo and representatives from ATU Local 726, discuss the new bus network during a meeting with the Staten Island Advance Editorial Board. (Staten Island Advance/Steve Zaffarano)

"Clearly there is a level of dissatisfaction. We wanted to have this because we wanted to be upfront and own the fact that right now, in week four, there is a level of dissatisfaction," said Oddo.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that we will get where we need to be for a number of reasons," Oddo continued. "One is I have never seen this level of attentiveness and responsiveness from the MTA... The level of cooperation between management and labor has also been unprecedented."

In response to customer feedback, collected data and observed fieldwork, the MTA has announced major additional changes to a network that received over 40 alterations prior to even launching.

"We think the vast majority of the issues that we're hearing will be fixed during that scheduling change," said Darryl Irick, senior vice president NYCT buses. "We know that they'll be some remaining issues and we'll have the chance to make those changes on the first of the year."

While the exact date the changes will be implemented has not yet been announced, the MTA is currently aiming for the first half of October.

SIM9

The MTA will implement a new route -- the SIM9 -- that will begin at Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue, traveling down Hylan Boulevard and then turning right onto Midland Avenue. It will then travel along Father Capodanno Boulevard, stopping at the South Beach Park-and-Ride, before heading to the West Side of Manhattan.

This route will complement the existing SIM7 route, which runs exclusively along Hylan Boulevard before traveling to the West Side.

"Early in the process we had it (the SIM7) on Father Capodanno," said planner Jonathan Hawkins. "After public outreach we modified it to move it back to Hylan, and now I think that what's become clear is that we got that a little wrong and it really needs both Hylan and Father Capodanno service."

LATE-NIGHT SOUTH SHORE SERVICE

After previously announcing a late-night shuttle from the Eltingville Transit Center for South Shore commuters, the MTA has announced it will extend the SIM4c route farther south and later into the night.

Once the changes are implemented, the SIM4c route will be extended to Huguenot Avenue and Woodrow Road, running until 1:26 a.m.

SERVICE INCREASES

In addition, numerous routes will be receiving net increases in service, resulting in more total trips on their daily schedules.

The SIM1, SIM2, SIM22, SIM31, SIM32 and SIM34 will receive increased service on Manhattan-bound trips.

The SIM1, SIM2, SIM3, SIM4, SIM22, SIM31, SIM33 and SIM34 will receive increased service on Staten Island-bound trips.

REALIGNMENTS

Routes that won't be receiving increased service will have their schedules realigned to optimize their existing resources.

For example, the SIM10 has experienced overcrowding during the early morning rush between 4 and 5 a.m. However, some SIM10 trips later in the day have been underutilized. As a result, the schedule will be reconfigured to address existing conditions.

Contrary to popular belief that the redesigned network represented a service cut for Staten Island commuters, significantly more trips are available now than under the previous configuration, with 68 additional weekday trips, 62 additional Saturday trips and 60 additional Sunday trips.

"For some people the perception is that there is less service because for their particular route, on the particular time when they want to travel, a bus may not be there that previously was. We're not deaf to that, but I reiterate, you cannot please everyone," said Byford.

With 60,000 seats available on a daily basis for approximately 33,000 Staten Island express bus riders, changes like the ones outlined above will allow the MTA to better allocate its resources to alleviate the overcrowding still occurring on a regular basis.

"We've got to get these buses in the right places at the right time, so that will mean some shifting of resources," said Irick.
By Murray Brand

Meiers Corners

UN investigators said Wednesday they had documented three further uses of banned chlorine weapons by Syrian government forces that constituted war crimes.

Chlorine was dropped by government helicopters in Saraqeb in Idlib province on Feb. 4, injuring at least 11 men, while women and children were injured in the Jan. 22 and Feb. 1 attacks on Douma near Damascus.

I have yet to read about the Left's condemnation of these illegal atrocities. Where is BDS and its cohorts condemning and denouncing these heinous crimes against humanity? Why do you vilify and decry human rights abuses only with regard to Israel ?
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An EMT was kicked in the head and injured outside of Staten Island University Hospital in Prince's Bay on Thursday, according to police.

Jerry Bryant, 40, of Central Avenue, St. George, was arrested for the incident, according to the criminal complaint and police.

A Project Hospitality facility is located at the address for Bryant supplied by police.

The male emergency medical service technician at the hospital was on duty at about 12:03 p.m. on Thursday when the assault occurred in front of 375 Seguine Ave., authorities say.

Bryant was being transported on a medical stretcher that was held by the EMT.

The suspect allegedly intentionally kicked the EMT's head, causing redness, swelling and substantial pain, according to police and the complaint.

Bryant, who stands 5'9" tall and weighs about 250 pounds, was arrested a short time later in the attack.

The suspect was an intoxicated patient who was being treated by the EMT, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Bryant has been charged with assault and harassment.
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But Apple is resisting. And it isn't hard to understand why: Free trade in general, and with China specifically, are a big part of the company's incredible rise in the post-Lehman era. Trade war dangers Saturday September 15 marks exactly a decade since the Lehman collapse, the epicentre of the global financial crisis. And you can draw a straight line from that moment to this week's events. It is hard to imagine a President Trump - and by extension his proposed tariffs - without the worst economic slump since the Great Depression.

The former property developer and reality TV star rode a populist wave of discontent stemming from the crisis all the way to the White House. Meanwhile, following the downturn, amid the smouldering ashes of the financial sector, arose the tech giants, led by Apple. Tech now dominates global markets like no industry has before. The new Apple Watch Series 4. Credit:Mags King Trump's proposed tariffs dominated coverage in the financial media this week - overshadowing most things, including the Apple event. The concern, for investors, is escalating tariffs and retaliation from China could trigger a full-blown trade war, which in turn, could precipitate another market rout. "We fear a trade war is becoming a high-probability scenario," Oxford Economics said this week.

A full-blown trade war could slice 1 per cent off the US economy by 2020, Oxford calculates, with growth in China dented by 1 per cent and global growth hit by 0.8 per cent. Tech giants would unlikely be spared from a broader economic decline, and Apple is no exception. The company's products are largely assembled in China, many component parts for them also come from the country. Analysts said Trump's tariffs could increase the cost of Apple products by up to 20 per cent. 'Just noise' While talk of tariffs permeated the financial media this week, markets themselves didn't flinch.

Shares in Apple hit fresh highs as Wall Street digested the new product announcements. The Apple Watch has been repositioned as a medical device that could appeal to a new and potentially lucrative customer segment - the elderly. Loading The company also unveiled a string of new iPhones, featuring the largest display, and highest price, to date. In part due to a falling currency, the most expensive new model will cost Australians a cool $2,396. Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter described the iPhone prices as "higher-than-expected" but "incrementally more positive" for Apple shareholders. The stock rose by as much as 2.4 per cent on Thursday, US time, pushing Apple's market value up to $US1.09 trillion.

Apple has become a popular stock for value investors in recent years. Warren Buffett, for example, recently said he wished he could afford to buy "100 per cent" of the company. For some Australian investors, this week's events didn't really move the dial - but not in a bad way. "Product launches for Apple, unless they really fluff it... it's really just noise," said Ben McGarry, a portfolio manager at Sydney-based Totus Capital, which also holds Apple shares. "It's the world's most profitable company, it has $US120 billion in buybacks and dividends in progress. We own it for the long term. We are not getting spooked out by short-term noise around quarterlies or product launches or presidential tweets". Apple has loyal shareholders, but even more loyal users. They tend to make repeat purchases of iPhones every couple of years - they also buy apps that run on them (and from which Apple takes a revenue cut from).

Apple is betting that many of its customers will be happy to stump up more cash for the new (and improved) products. "Obviously, we think the iPhones sales are recurring, we don't think they are one-off sales," says McGarry. "And the percentage of sales coming from services, whether it's music or cloud storage space, is increasing." Apple's new IPhone Credit:Mags King Approaching a turning point? At times it is hard to see what could dent Apple's dominance. But a trade war - the kind of left-field, black swan event that can lead to unpredictable outcomes - could be a plausible candidate. Talk of a tech bubble has a boy-cries-wolf-feel to it - alarmists have claimed valuations in the sector are unsustainable ever since the last one burst in 2000.

Yet for those looking for parallels to a decade ago, just before the Lehman collapse, financial stocks accounted for a record 18 per cent of the US S&P 500. Tech stocks now account for a record 29 per cent of the benchmark index. Apple's main argument against Trump's tariffs - that they would inflate prices of its products in the US - seems at odds with this week's new and more expensive iPhone range. Yet while a large chunk of Apple's user base might be able to swallow higher iPhone prices in a time of economic expansion, that might not hold true in a tougher climate On top of that, a significant part of the company's growth in recent years has been driven by access to the Chinese market. Sales in the country have gone from nothing in 2010 to $US44.7 billion last year - generating about 20 per cent of the tech giant's total revenue. Inside the Steve Jobs Theatre this week, none of this was front of mind as the hordes of event attendees and celebrities gazed longingly at the powerful new iPhones and Apple Watches.
This weekend is the high point of the year for the Sydney  and Australian  contemporary art scene. There may be some disagreement from folk in Melbourne, or from those who believe the Sydney Biennale remains the premier contemporary art event in this country. It's clear though, the Sydney Contemporary art fair at Carriageworks has the numbers on its side. As I'm writing this in advance of the opening, my comments will necessarily be general rather than specific.

The Sydney Biennale runs for three months, is spread all over town, and has been a disappointment during its last three iterations. Melbourne has just reinstated its own art fair after the original version, which began in 1988, died in 2016. The cause of death? Sales were so poor many dealers didn't think it was worthwhile participating. The reason it was revived? As a point of pride Melbourne had to have its own contemporary art fair.

Sydney Contemporary 2018. Credit:Jacquie Manning

The old Melbourne Art Fair was held in the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens. The born-again fair was held at Southbank, from August 2-5, in a tent. Organisers declared the event a success, with attendances of 15,000.

Last year, in its fourth outing, the Sydney Contemporary art fair attracted roughly 30,000 visitors, and expects to beat that record this time around. Melbourne showed 40 galleries, Sydney will more than double that number.
Insiders on the UK's hit new BBC show Wanderlust have a message for star Toni Collette: "You're terrible, Muriel."

According to The Sun, the Sydney actress "outraged cast and crew" on the set of the BBC drama with "diva-like antics".

The tabloid quoted "insiders" on the show who said Collette had "heated disagreements" with directors on set and shouted at her personal assistant for bringing her the "wrong brand of organic vinegar".

"She was rude to staff, belittled people, and acted like she ruled the roost," The Sun's source claimed.
Hurricane Florence was swirling closer to the US East Coast on Friday evening Australian time, battering the Carolinas with water and wind and threatening to unleash widespread destruction.

The North Carolina coast was subject to life-threatening storm surge and heavy rain at around 4 am local time Friday (Friday, 6pm AEST).

Hurricane Florence, as seen from the International Space Station. Credit:ESA/NASAA. Gerst

The Category 1 hurricane's eyewall was beginning to reach the Carolina coast and the storm was moving with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles an hour (144 km/h). It was just 30 miles (48 kms) east of Wilmington. Weeks after forming off the African coast, Florence is forecast to finally make landfall later Friday morning.

Hurricane-force winds lashed waterfront towns including Wilmington and New Bern ahead of what's expected to be a deadly 11-foot (3.4-metre) surge. Florence is also forecast to drench parts of the Carolinas with as much as 40 inches (101 centimetres) of rain, producing catastrophic flash flooding, according to a separate advisory from the National Hurricane Centre.
Ongoing FEMA has closed some of its Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC), established last month to assist residents and businesses whose property was damaged by Tropical Storm Ida. However, face-to-face assistance is still available. Residents can find their nearest DRC online at fema.gov/drc,...
Hailed as the "world's supreme small car'', the humble Morris Minor is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month.

Morris Minors from the Canberra Region Morris Minor Club on a recent outing to Lake George.

The Canberra Region Morris Minor Club spokesman David Moncrieff said the first modern Morris Minor rolled off a UK production line on September 20, 1948 in time to make its debut at the Earls Court Motor Show later that year.

To celebrate, round 100 Morris Minors will be in the Canberra region between September 21 and 23 for a national rally.

The cars will come from all states for the 19th Morris Minor Clubs of Australia National Rally hosted by the Canberra Region Morris Minor Club.
At the age of 21, not long out of his cadetship, John Webb applied for a job as leader writer on an A1 grade, the highest award salary in Australian journalism.

Incredible! Crazy?

Understandably, the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald was astonished. How, he asked, could Webb believe he had the qualifications for such a responsible, highly paid position?

Webb had no doubts. Because Im worth it, he declared, and walked out, bristling with indignation he still felt 67 years later. He didnt believe me. Unforgivable!

Probably, no young journalist had shown such impertinent audacity before, and most likely none will again.
Later that year, Searby became chairman of News Corp. He was quietly at Murdochs side through all the episodes that reinforced the tycoons formidable reputation in that era  including the 1986 Wapping dispute, in which the Times titles were shifted to new print technology in the face of violent union opposition.

In particular he was credited with bringing an end to disruption by print operatives on the Sunday Times, by citing a precedent from a 1926 Welsh coal-mine strike in which, with no revenue coming in and closure threatened, the proprietor was judged entitled to refuse the wages of the entire workforce and not to be liable for redundancy.

Searby became a director of News Corp, the holding company for Murdochs global newspaper and broadcasting interests, in 1977, and played a key behind-the-scenes role in negotiations for the controversial 1981 takeover of Times Newspapers in London, and its aftermath of industrial disputes.

Richard Searby, who has died aged 87, was a prominent Australian lawyer who chaired Rupert Murdochs News Corporation and was the media tycoons closest confidant through a decade of corporate dramas.

Prior to that, in 1983, he had accompanied Murdoch to the offices of Stern magazine in Germany to view the so-called Hitler Diaries  initially authenticated by the historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, though he later reversed his opinion  and to negotiate their publication in the Sunday Times. The diaries were swiftly revealed as an elaborate and hugely embarrassing fake, and it was fortunate that Searby had inserted a clause obliging Stern to reimburse the $3 million-plus paid by Murdoch for the rights.

The former Sunday Times and Times editor Harry Evans (in whose forced resignation Searby had a hand) offered a vivid cameo in his memoir Good Times, Bad Times: Murdochs problem solver, he wrote, is thought in Melbourne to be rather grand and slightly mysterious  he is tall and polished with alligator eyes and sharply defined, sensuous lips. His Australian accent is sharper than Murdochs, but his voice is softer.

That comparison was a fair reflection of their contrasting styles. Searbys cool counsel provided an effective counterfoil to Murdochs hyper-aggressive competitive spirit and heightened appetite for risk. Searby was reported to have told friends that he found the newspaper business grubby (though he later denied saying so) and that the key to understanding Murdochs modus operandi was that hes a fidget, he gets bored with things very quickly.

At News Corps 1990 annual general meeting, the tycoon thanked his chairman for keeping me out of trouble from time to time. But by 1992, having survived a financial crisis that almost brought his empire down, Murdoch evidently felt he no longer needed Searbys advice: the biographer William Shawcross records that he disposed of his long-serving colleague and friend of 50 years by way of a curt note asking for his resignation, delivered by a third party.

Richard Henry Searby was born on July 23 1931 into the upper crust of Melbourne society. His father Henry was a distinguished surgeon and leader of Australias medical establishment; his mother Mary received an OBE for her charitable works.
When Major Glenn Todhunter lost his legs in a north Queensland plane crash, he was told he would never fly in the military again.

He now holds the title of the first and only double-amputee aviator in the history of the Australian Defence Force.

Almost a year after the crash, double amputee pilot Glenn Todhunter was able to walk independently again. Credit:Scott Gelston

On September 22, 1995, Major Todhunter was completing one of the last flights required as part of his flying instructor training when the aircraft stalled and crashed on a private airstrip, about 50 kilometres west of Townsville.
"For all other brands, our advice remains that you can continue to eat strawberries, but you should cut them up before eating. "We are working closely with our local and interstate counterparts as the investigation continues and are committed to keeping the public informed as this progresses." Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence said identical needles had been found in the Donnybrook punnets and added "another whim" to the investigation. "Luckily, in each of those cases, the needles were found within the strawberry by the person who had purchased them when cutting the strawberries, as we had asked them to do," he said. It came as a NSW mother said she found more sabotaged strawberries, in the first instance for that state following the recent scares in Queensland.

Chantal Faugeras posted to Facebook images of strawberries she said were bought from a Coles supermarket on the NSW mid-north coast on Tuesday. In the post, Ms Faugeras said her 10-year-old discovered a pin embedded in a strawberry while eating a punnet they had bought from the Coles at Wingham. She said the punnets were both Delightful Strawberries branded products. Neither Queensland police or Queensland Health confirmed Ms Faugeras' claims in their press conference on Thursday afternoon.

On Friday evening, New South Wales Police Force said it believed the contamination may affect six brands of strawberries  Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Love Berry, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries, and Oasis. "These brands are believed to be sold in stores in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory," the statement said. "Police are continuing to liaise with retailers to ensure that all stock from the affected date has been removed from sale. "The contamination relates to what appears to be sewing needles and pins inserted in strawberries. "So far, NSW Police Force has received reports of contaminated strawberries purchased at supermarkets at Tweed Heads, Taree, and Wingham.

"As the products have yet to be forensically examined, it is unknown if the contamination is related to the original Queensland incident or a copycat." Four punnets of Berry Licious and Berry Obsession strawberries, two in Queensland and two in Victoria, have been found to contain needles. The Berry Licious and Berry Obsession brands have been removed from shelves across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Three punnets of Donnybrook strawberries have also been sabotaged. Police are also investigating a copycat saboteur after a Coles employee at a Gatton store, about 90 kilometres west of Brisbane, found a "small silver rod" on top of strawberries in a punnet.

The incident was reported to authorities on Thursday, but the strawberry punnet targeted was a different brand to other confirmed discoveries. A thin metal object, possibly another needle, was found in a punnet in Gatton. It was treated as a copycat incident. Credit:Queensland Police Service Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Lawrence said officers were looking into unconfirmed reports of contamination involving other strawberry brands. "People are contacting us out of concern and saying: 'This is what I've got, what do you think?'," he said. "So some of those reports coming in are not something that we would pursue ... because we are so early in the stage of each of these reports coming through and how large it is for us to follow each one of them down."

Queensland Strawberry Growers Association industry development officer Jennifer Rowling claimed on Wednesday night that a "disgruntled ex-employee" could be responsible for the contamination. However, Chief Superintendent Lawrence said the police investigation was ongoing and detectives were examining every part of the supply chain to find the contamination source. "The idea of an ex-employee was put forward by the Strawberry Growers Association. We're not agreeing with that at all at this particular point in time; our investigation is still open," he said. "We're not going to go into speculation. We're keeping a very open mind as to where this may have occurred." Chief Superintendent Lawrence said those responsible for contaminating the fruit could be charged with maliciously causing grievous bodily harm, an offence which carries up to 10 years' imprisonment if convicted.
Trevor Menzies admits he's stood on his farm during the worst drought he's ever seen with tears in his eyes, thinking 'What am I doing here?'

Yet still, the lifelong Taralga farmer initially had no intention of driving to Goulburn on Friday to pick up his share in 200 tonnes of hay that was donated to the region's farmers.

Taralga farmer Trevor Menzies, who was thrilled to receive donated hay despite being initially reluctant because he believed others needed it more. Credit:Karleen Minney

"I wasn't going to come, only a mate talked me into it," Mr Menzies said as he waited at Goulburn Showground to collect his hay from the Rapid Relief Team, a charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

"It means a lot, but we feel very guilty coming here to pick up even a few bales because there are a lot more people out there on a lot more property who probably need it more than us.
The heart was one of the few parts of little Chayse Dearing that his mothers boyfriend Dwayne Lindsey didn't damage during an ice-fuelled rage that killed the six-month-old baby.

Chayse suffered catastrophic head injuries and other injuries to his face, neck, groin and genitals consistent with blunt force trauma, as well as possibly being shaken on the night he was left in Lindseys care.

Chayse Dearing with mum Michelle. Credit:Facebook

The attack was so brutal and "so contrary to the fundamental values of our society" it defied explanation, a Supreme Court judge said.

"What you did to Chayse was an act of total and unmitigated evil," Justice Stephen Kaye said.
The Court of Appeal's decision to cut the jail term for a woman who killed three of her children and tried to murder another is being appealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Akon Guode was last year jailed for 26 years, with a minimum 20 years, for murdering her four-year-old twins, killing her 16-month-old son and trying to murder a fourth child by driving them into a lake in 2015.

Akon Guode is led into court before her sentencing last year Credit:Jason South

Four-year-old twins Hangar and Madit and 16-month-old Bol all drowned, but their older sister, now eight, was rescued by residents and emergency service workers.

Guode appealed against her sentence and the Court of Appeal last month cut the jail term to 18 years. She must serve 14 years before she is eligible for parole.
There's nothing authentic about Morrison as hip or modern. What's been the biggest noise surrounding the rebadged administration for the past three weeks? That it has a problem with women. One after another, Liberal women have stepped forward to complain of bullying, intimidation and under-representation in their party. Julia Banks says she's leaving Parliament because of it. How many women are in the government's parliamentary leadership group? None. The only female member of the Turnbull leadership group, Julie Bishop, now sits on the backbench. How many women are in Labor's leadership team? Two out of four, Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong. > Credit:Jim Pavlidis And Labor far outshines the Liberals in overall numbers of women in the Parliament. Labor's gender makeup looks pretty much like Australia itself. Roughly equal numbers of men and women. Or 46.7 per cent female, to be exact.

In the case of the Liberals, women make up fewer than a quarter, only 23.5 per cent. This doesn't look like Australia. It looks like a bias. A relic of the 1950s. The Coalition's coal fetish is another part of the problem. It might be different if the government were able to talk rationally about a technology-agnostic approach to energy. Power line: Penny Wong, Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek . Credit:Andrew Meares But the Coalition's attachment to coal is not rational. It's become a sacred ideological talisman. And Morrison, by holding aloft a lump in the House of Representatives as if brandishing a crucifix in the face of evil, made himself its priest. Why would the then treasurer of Australia pull such a juvenile stunt? To get attention, to court favour with his party's right-wing reactionaries and to impress the so-called conservative "base".

With such ideological feverishness, the base will be all that the Coalition will have left. Not a catch-all party with wide appeal capable of winning government, but a sectional party of no interest to mainstream Australia and relegated to permanent opposition. "The coal thing and the female thing, it just causes people to roll their eyes," says one of the country's leading qualitative pollsters and former Labor party favourite, Tony Mitchelmore, of the research firm Visibility. "The government has to get people to listen to them and take them seriously. But the coal thing is like same-sex marriage. It's so far away from where the public is. The public is past it. It's the same with the women thing. They are past all that." Treasurer Scott Morrison brings a lump of coal into Parliament in 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen One of the defining aspects of Australia in 2018 is the growing conviction that the younger generation will be worse off than their parents for the first time in the country's history. This is keenly felt among voters in their teens and 20s but it's also becoming a preoccupation for their parents and even their grandparents. That is, it's a national anxiety.

Key elements of this anxiety are the outlandishly high cost of housing in the biggest cities and the wilful vandalism to the natural environment. Labor can point to more effective policies in both areas. The government's approach to trimming house prices by tightening regulatory scrutiny of bank lending has been effective in taking the heat out of house prices. But Labor's policy of phasing out negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions will be a more forceful long-term way of containing house prices. If anything, Labor will have to be careful that it's not too forceful. With the market already in retreat, a Shorten government would need to be sensitive in timing and treatment. The last thing it wants is to be blamed for collapsing the housing market and pitching the country into recession. Similarly, Labor has a more plausible policy for addressing climate change. The Coalition has been so busy destroying Malcolm Turnbull by dismembering his final, failed attempt at an energy policy that it has bequeathed the Morrison government no policy at all.

The Morrison cabinet this week formally dispensed the funeral rites to the National Energy Guarantee. This has left nothing but talking points in its place. Business of every type, including the electricity sector, is in despair. There is nothing to guide investment in the energy sector. The government has shown that it is incapable of creating a policy, capable only of destroying one. In the meantime, Labor is committed to retaining the NEG as the core of its energy policy. This opens another opportunity for Labor. It allows Shorten effortlessly to position Labor as the party of rational policy. Labor also agreed this week to support Australia's accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 11-nation market-opening pact. This was achieved against resistance by some of the unions and some in the Labor Left. This showed that Shorten is capable of managing Labor's factions in pursuit of a sensible centrist outcome. It stands in stark contrast to the government, whose factional hatreds have just torn it apart. Shorten is a touch older than Morrison, by one year. But being a leader for the future has little to do with age. Frank Lowy, co-founder of Westfield and one of the giants of Australian entrepreneurialism, is 87. Yet this week he gave a speech showing Australia a positive pathway to the future.

"I have watched with admiration how Australia has changed over the past 70 years," since he arrived as a penniless Jewish refugee from the Nazis. "Australia was open to people like me. It was open to new ideas. And there was a tangible sense of ambition about the place. I want Australia to be even more successful in the next 70 years." He advocated emphasis on what he calls the "three 'I's" - immigration, innovation and infrastructure. He called for Australia to recapture its sense of openness and ambition. "It will require self-confidence, and faith in Australia. In my experience, that faith has always been repaid." Loading It was a speech encouraging the country to grow into its full potential, not shrink into its most fearful prejudices. And perhaps the biggest applause point of his speech in the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday was when he said: "I've always admired Australias parliamentary system. But having five prime ministers in five years is not acceptable. Democracy needs to be nurtured and treated with care. We need to give the prime minister of the day a chance. If he or she cannot win an election, so be it. But no prime minister can push through the reforms we need if they cannot even finish a term in office." And this, says Mitchelmore, is the overarching issue for the electorate: "The bigger issue is that the Liberals are doing the whole Rudd-Gillard-Rudd thing." When the Liberal leadership spill was happening, "people were, 'yeah, whatever'. There's a real sense of futility in tuning in because people are all so disappointed."
The woman Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed to replace Malcolm Turnbull in the blue ribbon seat of Wentworth was once a member of the Labor Party, raising fresh doubts over the Coalition's candidate vetting regime ahead of the federal election.

Fairfax Media can reveal Katherine O'Regan, the former Liberal Party staffer Mr Morrison threw his support behind ahead of a preselection battle on Thursday night, is listed in records as a member of the ALP in the late 1990s.

Despite entering the Wentworth contest as the frontrunner, Ms O'Regan was knocked out in an early round with just 21 votes out of 201. Last-minute interventions by Mr Turnbull and former prime minister John Howard helped cruel her chances.

Katherine O'Regan lost the preselection battle in the seat of Wentworth, despite the backing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:AAP

Australia's former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma won endorsement and will now will face off against Labor's Tim Murray and likely independent candidate Kerryn Phelps at the October 20 byelection triggered by Mr Turnbull's resignation from Parliament.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has warned federal regulators to lift their game on policing the financial services industry, warning the authorities have a case to answer over scandals exposed by the banking royal commission.

Mr Frydenberg said the investigation into the banks would set up an "opportunity for significant reform" across the sector, as he signalled he would extend the deadline for the final report if commissioner Kenneth Hayne needed more time.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, pictured in his Parliament House office, has sent a warning to Australia's financial services regulators. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The remarks show the Treasurer, who took the job less than three weeks ago amid the Liberal Party leadership crisis, expects early action from the regulators on the government's changes to laws on banking remuneration and supervision, in the event the royal commission's final report is not handed down until after the next election.

The banking royal commission now offers a real opportunity for significant reform across the industry, Mr Frydenberg told Fairfax Media.


New planning laws will also be gazetted, giving homeowners increased protection from neighbouring developments that threaten to overshadow their solar panels. Meanwhile, more than 900 megawatts of new wind and solar energy was committed to this week when the results of Victorias first reverse auction for renewables was announced. The reverse auction worked like this: months ago the government said it intended to deliver 650 megawatts of renewables into the energy grid, and asked industry to pitch its best proposals. In the end it opted for 928 megawatts worth - backing the creation of three solar farms and three wind farms across the state.

The voters The Cooks are neither a political nor an "eco-family". But, about a year after installing rooftop solar on their home in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, the family of three now want a solar battery at home too. Marc, Gemma and 18-month-old Mia live in Lyndhurst in the state seat of Cranbourne District. It is one of the most marginal seats in Victoria  and it is leading the state's uptake in rooftop solar. Marc works in auto-repairs, Gemma works in real estate. They bought their first home about four years ago.

These are the people the Andrews government is betting on to deliver its re-election this November, with a string of high-profile announcements aimed at making the state Australia's leader in domestic-scale renewable energy. Gemma Cook, with daughter Mia, says the Andrews government's solar pitch is enticing. Credit:Jason South It's a strategy that, for the Cooks at least, might just pay-off. "We're actually looking at batteries right now but, with everything that's gone on this week, we thought: 'let's wait'," Mr Cook said. The Cooks are waiting to see if a re-elected Labor government delivers on a promise made this week to pay homeowners with rooftop solar half the cost  up to $4838  of installing batteries to store the solar energy they generate.

The Lyndhurst family began their switch to renewable energy shortly after having a baby. Needing more power to heat and cool a larger house and to meet the newborn's needs, the family watched their bills go "up, up and up". Mrs Cook said the "turning point" was when their quarterly power bill hit about $1000. "That was the trigger, I said, we have to do something about this," she said. With an eye on the long-term, they paid a premium  about $8000  for a local company to install a high-quality system. "Its not like we want to go off the grid completely, were not eco-people, but anything to bring the bills down, at end of the day, that's what its all about," Mr Cook said.

He said the family was maximising savings by changing their behaviour. Now they used the washing machine and dishwasher when the sun was shining. During parts of spring, autumn and summer their quarterly bill was now about $150, Mrs Cook said. But saving on power bills hadn't proved so easy in winter, when the sun goes down early. Which meant the lure of a half-price battery, and a chance to power through the darker months, might snag Mr Cook's vote. "I'm not Labor or conservative, I'm for whoever is offering the best for my area or for the country," he said.

Great politics, but what about the policy? Labor insiders were pretty pleased with themselves after the launch of their big solar policy. The household subsidies scheme cleverly pushed two hot policy buttons: energy prices and the cost of living, while bolstering Labors environmental credentials. Premier Daniel Andrews' slick policy announcement in Melbourne came as the Liberal Party in Canberra was tearing itself apart in a civil war that flared up over an attempt to finally bed down an energy and emissions policy. The National Energy Guarantee was dumped and so was prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, after he failed to get the policy past a rump of climate sceptics in his party room, just as the Andrews government had warned.

So Labor's solar splash looked like clever politics, as it unveiled the rest of its plans for rooftop solar in the subsequent week: $60 million for solar hot water systems and $40 million for half-price battery storage. But reviews for the policy itself were mixed, with one respected energy commentator, Grattan Institute director of energy Tony Wood, saying the solar battery rebates appeared to be a policy designed to buy votes, rather than fix an energy policy issue. Why should people who dont have a roof, who live in an apartment or something, why should they, through their taxes, subsidise people who do have a roof, Mr Wood said. If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there are much cheaper ways to do that, he said. Youve got to plan this more carefully, you could end up with a real problem here, for example in the middle of the day there would be some suburbs where the electricity from the rooftops is more than it is needed and you end up with a very unstable power supply.

I can see why politically this sounds good, but from a policy sense, it doesnt make a lot of sense to me at all. One prominent consumer group has also sounded an early warning that the enormous solar scheme has the potential to turn into another pink batts fiasco, in which shonky operators seek to exploit the initiative. The Consumer Action Law Centre has advised community legal centres and financial counsellors to be alert to the potential for unscrupulous traders to take advantage, noting that unsolicited sales of solar panels are particularly problematic ... in Victoria. Solar retailers may take advantage of confusion to induce people to purchase solar panels using commercial interest-free finance products, which are not provided by licensed credit providers and therefore not subject to consumer projections, the centre said in a statement last month.

This is particularly the case before July 1, 2019 when the government loans become available. Consumer Action warned that prior to the scheme it had seen multiple cases in which solar panels were sold with no affordability assessment having been made and people were signed up to unaffordable payment plans. Sun is setting on old king coal When the Hazelwood coal-fired power plant closed in March last year it took 1200 megawatts of energy capacity with it. Household power bills jumped 16 per cent in Victoria and rose interstate as Hazelwoods low-cost brown coal generation was replaced by higher cost black coal, gas, and hydro generation.

But predictions of widespread blackouts over summer without the ageing plant to lean on over the hottest days failed to come true. The plants shutdown also cut Victorias greenhouse gas emissions by about 12 million tonnes in the next 12 months, putting the state well on its way to hitting the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 to 20 per cent (below 2005 levels) by the year 2020. The six new wind and solar plants the state government committed to last week, when built, will cover three quarters of Hazelwood's capacity. Some energy analysts now predict this new energy capacity will hasten the demise of Yallourn, which has replaced Hazelwood as Victorias oldest coal-fired power plant. Yallourn, which has an energy generating capacity of almost 1500 megawatts, is scheduled for closure in 2032.

But energy economist Bruce Mountain, head of the Victorian Energy Policy Centre, doubts the plant will still be running then, predicting it will increasingly struggle to compete on price. Its going to be driven out of the market by rapidly expanding wind and solar, he said. Wind and solar power will become cheaper and more competitive than coal-fired power as it becomes more plentiful, while Yallourns owners will face more maintenance costs with the ageing plant, he said, as capacity gradually wanes. Dr Mountain said the national energy market still relied on Yallourn as a reliable source of power but that energy storage would advance significantly between now and 2032. Renewable energy target at stake

Those projects will go most of the way to ensuring Victoria meets its renewable energy target of 40 per cent by 2025. But only if Victoria still has a renewable energy target. The Coalition has promised to scrap it if it wins the election on November 24. Shadow energy minister David Southwick said that the target was a market distortion that ran the risk of pushing up power prices for consumers. Were hearing that the cheapest source of energy right now is solar and wind and if thats true then these projects should get up without a target, Mr Southwick said.

Ultimately the cheapest projects should win. We should be focused on price and not trying to create an energy policy through the lens of an environmental policy, he said. It's a stance that has drawn the ire of advocacy group Environment Victoria, which is aggressive about Victorias energy trajectory, arguing the closure of all three of Victorias remaining coal-fired power plants by 2030 is the best outcome. In an analysis of the Victorian renewable energy target, the group says as many as 12,200 jobs are at risk if the Victorian renewable energy target is ripped up. The group says the renewables industry requires more certainty about a pipeline of projects to encourage investment, not less. It is calling on the state government to commit to delivering 1000 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity every year for the next five years, calculating that this would create hundreds of new jobs.
Jakarta: More than 4 million Filipinos are at risk from super typhoon Mangkhut, which is due to make landfall and smash into the north-eastern Philippines on Saturday.

Close to a million Filipinos have been, or may have to be evacuated from their homes as the country braces for the storm.

Mangkhut's damage is not expected to be limited to the Philippines, with preparations underway in other parts of south-east Asia ahead of the typhoon making landfall in mainland China, Vietnam and Hong Kong.
Britain says it has strong evidence that the two burly men who look like Bond-villains are Russian intelligence agents who flew to England, were captured on CCTV visiting Salisbury twice on the days when the gas was planted, then flew back two days later.

The latest exhibit is the interview released on the Russian state-funded television network Russia Today of two Russians who are alleged to have carried out the fatal nerve gas attack in the English

Yet Russian president Vladimir Putin paraded them on television where they claimed the purpose of their visit was to see the "famous cathedral and its 123-metre spire" and they visited Salisbury twice because heavy snow prevented them visiting nearby Stonehenge on the first day.

Russia, more than any other country, seems to delight in trolling western audiences with its own implausible denials of its crimes and concocted alternative realities. Australia is still waiting for Mr Putin to admit to his role in the downing of MH17 over Ukraine.

There is, perhaps, nothing new about this sort of fake news. Yet democracies seem to be losing their own faith in their hold on objective truth and their right to speak openly about it.

It is a complicated issue. Democracies can tell untruths just like dictatorships, as we did about the evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Times are particularly hard now because usually Australia would look to the US to call out dictators on their lies. But the President of the United States is blurring the lines between fake news and truth and popularising the idea that his own national media is the enemy. Donald Trump has given the benefit of the doubt to Mr Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un while attacking CNN.
As The New York Times reported earlier this week, in previous battles against IS, larger strongholds fell within days when jihadists made strategic retreats, abandoning their positions to regroup. Now there is nowhere left to retreat to. We expect a long and hard fight, Colonel Sean Ryan, a spokesman for the US-led military coalition in Baghdad, told the Times. These are the diehard fighters with nowhere else to go. In Damascus, Syrias capital, some survivors of the war that has shattered the nation over the past seven years are now beginning to think about life after the fighting. Muhammad Khalifa, five, at his school in the town of Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib province. Credit:AP "I feel happiness mixed with pain," an actor called Hassan told a CNN crew a few days ago. "I'm happy that it's over, but I'm sad for all the people that didn't survive to see us finish this phase.

"I feel victorious on a personal level. I didn't lose. I stayed in the country and believe in it ... it turns out that my choice wasn't wrong. Did you know that we got to a point where we thought God was against us?" Many outside observers are not as hopeful as Hassan about Syrias future. The battle for Idlib is expected to be long and particularly brutal. Living alongside local civilians are thousands of fighters and internally displaced civilians who were bussed into the province by the regime after other strongholds fell.

Moscow has declared that it expects militants to undertake their own chlorine gas attack against civilians as a so-called false flag effort against the regime, while the US has said it believes that Assad is determined to use chemical weapons himself. In response, the US with the support of France and Britain have voiced their determination to punish the regime with strikes of their own if it uses chemical weapons. If so, this would be the third round of punitive air strikes and the second supported by the United States' key European allies. The UN believes that there have already been 39 chemical weapons attacks during the war since 2013, 33 of which it attributes to the Assad regime. And even if major fighting in Syria does end after the expected battles between Assad and his forces and rebels in Idlib and Americans and Kurds against IS in Hajin, the outlook for peace is not good. In an interview with Fairfax Media this week Mara Karlin, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development now with the Brookings Institution, said that even after these battles Assad will lead a fractured nation riven not only by the proxy wars that have sprawled across the nation, but with the survivors of the militias his regime has fought.

Further, outside actors will continue to play a role in Syria. It is not yet clear what roles Russia and Iran will seek to play, or how the US or Israel might respond to their presence, or that of Lebanon's Hezbollah, a key Iranian ally whose military arm has played a major role in the fighting. Earlier this year, Israel conducted a wave of air strikes against Hezbollah in Syria. And whether or not violence ends or metastasises in Syria, the nation remains in ruins. The UN fears an attack on Idlib could uproot a further 800,000 people in a country in which, out of a pre-war population of 22 million, more than 6 million are already internally displaced and around 5 million have become refugees.

Assad has made it clear that those refugees considered unsympathetic to his regime will not be welcomed home, even if Syria should have the infrastructure to receive them. The huge refugee populations in Turkey are already contributing to political instability there, just as waves of refugees into Europe have spurred the resurgence of the far right. In Jordan, which has received over a million refugees, the government is already signalling it can no longer accommodate them. A defaced picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Idlib central prison. Credit:New York Times Physically Syria remains shattered, with estimates for the cost of rebuilding infrastructure approaching $US400 billion ($556.2 billion) according to the UN. Neither of Syrias major allies, Russia or Iran, have so far agreed to help pay for the cost of rebuilding, nor even facilitated discussions on how that might be achieved.
Washington: The State Department spent $US52,701 ($73,286) last year buying customised and mechanised curtains for the picture windows in the official residence of ambassador to the United Nations, just as the department was undergoing deep budget cuts and had frozen hiring.

The residence, in a new building on First Avenue in New York, has spectacular views, and the current ambassador, Nikki Haley, is the first ambassador to live in it. For decades, her predecessors lived in the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

United Nations flag

But after the hotel was purchased by a Chinese insurance company with a murky ownership structure, the State Department decided in 2016 to find a new home for its top New York diplomat because of security concerns.

The government leased the apartment, just blocks from the delegation's offices, with an option to buy, according to Patrick Kennedy, the top management official at the State Department during the Obama administration. The full-floor penthouse, with handsome hardwood floors covering large open spaces stretching nearly 6000 square feet (1828 metres), was listed at $US58,000 a month.
Chinese signs on Port Moresby bus stops are one indication of Beijing's growing influence and investment in the country and should be a wake-up call for Australia, warns the head of a major oil and gas company.

Oil Search chief executive Peter Botten said China had been investing in Australias nearest neighbour as part of its global $US1 trillion ($1.4 trillion) Belt and Road infrastructure (BRI) building program. The BRI involves hundreds of infrastructure projects co-funded and mostly built by China in 70 or more countries.

He warned that Chinas increasingly heavy investment there risks Australia missing out on PNG's rapid development.

PNG leader Peter O'Neill meets Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 21. China is increasing its influence in PNG. Credit:AP

China has stepped up their support and this has been welcomed by the Papua New Guinean government. Theyve built new roads and schools, theyve spent substantially. Its a new dynamic in the country, Mr Botten said.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a plenary public meeting on Friday, September 14, 2018.

The plenary public meeting is scheduled for 9.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1. Incoming documents

2. Advice regarding the installation and composition of the Permanent and Ad hoc Committees of Parliament

3. Advice regarding the installation and composition of the Committees of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, SXMGOV Radio 107.9 FM, video live stream via the internet www.pearlfmradio.sx, www.sxmparliament.org and also Parliament FB page: Parliament of Sint Maarten.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday morning, Minister of Justice, Cornelius De Weever signed a Covenant Study with the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine Executive Dean Dr. Heidi Chumley. The Covenant Study enables the educational institution to make requests on behalf of its students to grant or amend a permit for temporary residence for pursuing studies.

Minister De Weever stated that we need to understand the economic and financial contribution that the school, faculty and students make to St. Maarten and it is of utmost importance that we as a government facilitate the American University of the Caribbean.

To come into consideration for the residency permit the educational institution needs to follow the application requirements, such as filling in the Student Covenant application form in its entirety and submit to the Admittance and Residency Office of the Immigration and Border Protection Services.

This signed Covenant Study between the Minister of Justice and the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine is valid through June 30, 2020. Prior to or within 90 days following June 30, 2020, the covenant shall be re-evaluated and in the event of a positive evaluation, shall be automatically renewed for an additional term of 2 years unless terminated by either party.

I believe this covenant can serve as a template as we work across ministries and include education, labor and justice to facilitate all schools with the teachers and their requests for work and/or residence permits, said Minister of Justice, Cornelius De Weever.
PHILIPSBURG:---COn Thursday, the Chairlady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin gave an update with respect to Tropical Storm Isaac and what the country can expect for Friday based on decisions that were taken in an EOC meeting on Wednesday.

Based on an assessment of the weather situation on Thursday with the passing of Tropical Storm Isaac through the Southern Leeward Islands; the Tropical Storm Watch for Sint Maarten is expected to be lifted within the next 24 hours or less.

Schools will reopen on Friday, September 14;

Friday will also be a normal business day;

Government services will continue as normal on Friday.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten security and safety operational plan has been executed, and the public would have observed a number of checkpoints along the public road network. This measure was taken to ensure safety and security of the Sint Maarten community with the passing of Tropical Storm Isaac.

The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten along with the EOC will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Isaac as it clears the Southern Leeward Islands into the Caribbean Sea today.

The Prime Minister would like to thank the public for their diligence in monitoring the storm during the pass days.

Remember, to continue to monitor official local weather and Government related information by visiting (www.meteosxm.com); the Government of Sint Maarten website (www.sintmaartengov.org) or the Government of Sint Maarten social media Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/SXMGOV), or tune into Government Radio 107.9 FM.

The Prime Minister will give an overview on Friday after the Friday morning EOC meeting with respect to the countrys response in preparing for the passing of Tropical Storm Isaac.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Alpha Team operating at the Princess Juliana International Airport consisting of members of the Royal Marechausse and members of the Police Force of Sint Maarten on Thursday, September 13th at approximately 09.55 a.m. arrested a male suspect in the departure hall of the PJIA. The arrest took place during a control by members of the Alpha Team.

During this control, the suspect identified with initials R.J. (37) intended to board a flight to Haiti using a passport which false. The identification card and drivers license which he had in his possession were also false. The suspect was taken to the Philipsburg Head Quarters and detained for questioning and further investigation.

KPSM Press Release
WILLEMSTAD:--- This morning around 2:00 am the Steunpunt Curacao received a report from the RCC that they saw on the radar an unlit vessel south of Klein Curacao that was operating at low speed (4 knots).

The Cutter Jaguar went straight to the indicated area. By 03: 45 the interception of the vessel took place. There were 23 undocumented people on board, 17 of whom were men and 6 were of Venezuelan nationality. The Jaguar received assistance from the Metal Shark I-03 to take the vessel to the Coastguard on MBPAR.

After the formalities of the coastguard were completed, the undocumented migrants were handed over to the police.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset will be hosting a Slumber Reading Fun Pajama evening for children between the ages of 6-12, on September 28th, 2018 from 7:00pm-10:00pm. The Reading Slumber fun will be held at the John Lamornie Center.

As part of Rotary International, every month is themed, and September is themed Basic Education and Literacy month. In order to promote literacy in- and outside of the classroom, the club came up with the idea to host a Reading Slumber Fun evening. The children will be entertained with story time, arts and crafts, face painting and a movie night. The price of the Slumber Reading Night is $5 per child. Pre-registration will be held Saturday, September 15th at the John Larmonie Center and outside of Cost U Less from 10:00 am  12:00 pm. Parents and guardians are encouraged to utilize the pre-registration, as only 60 children will be admitted to the event. Children are urged to wear their pajamas and bring along a blanket and pillow.
TerraX expands Giant/Con gold system in the Gull and Rater Lake areas, samples up to 171 g/t Au

Posted by Publisher Internet

TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: TXR; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC Pink: TRXXF  http://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298245) is pleased to announce further assay results from the Company?s summer field program on the Yellowknife City Gold project.

High grade gold assays from grab sampling have extended the strike of the Gull and Rater Lake zones. As previously reported these new targets are in the same mafic volcanic geology that also hosted the Giant and Con mines, and are within TerraX?s Core Gold exploration area. The highlight assays are 171.0 g/t Au, 5.60 g/t Au, 5.29 g/t Au, and 4.49 g/t Au on the Rater Lake zones, and 72.0 g/t Au, 52.5 g/t Au, 29.0 g/t Au, and 12.95 g/t Au on the Gull Lake Zone.

David Suda, President and CEO stated: ?The results of our summer field work continue to feed our pipeline of drill targets.? David Suda further stated: ?It is highly encouraging to see surface results which extend potential strike to the Giant mine structure.?

These gold zones are interpreted as being the continuation of the Giant Mine gold system. The Rater Lake structure has been followed for 300 meters north, and then appears to be offset to the west on the Akaitcho Fault, possibly continuing as the Gull Lake structure for another 1200 meters north. A second sub-parallel zone appears on the south side of Rater Lake with high grade values up to 171 g/t Au. ?(see map available here). The multiple gold bearing structures in this area enhance the expanding resource potential of the Northbelt Core Gold Area.

Assay values from grab sampling at Gull and Rater Lakes range from nil to a high of 171.0 g/t Au.? Sampling included insertion of certified standards and blanks into the stream of samples for chemical analysis. Samples were prepared at ALS Chemex\-\-s laboratory in Yellowknife and shipped to their Vancouver facility for gold analysis by fire assay and other elements by ICP analysis. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service.? It should be noted that, due to their selective nature, assay results from grab samples may not be indicative of the overall grade and extent of mineralization on the subject area.

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell, Executive Chairman of TerraX, who is a Qualified Person as defined in \National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Yellowknife City Gold Project

The Yellowknife City Gold (\YCG\) project encompasses 772 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project\-\-s potential as a world-class gold district.?

For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

\DAVID SUDA\

David Suda

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Samuel Vella

Manager of Corporate Communications

Phone: 604-689-1749

Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684

svella@terraxminerals.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG ? Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch ?- www.resource-capital.ch

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors  including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities  that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-\-s expectations are disclosed in the Company\-\-s documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.
L: An artist rendering of graphene gilding on Tutankhamun's middle coffin (original photograph copyright: Griffith Institute, University of Oxford). R: Microscope image of a graphene crystal is shown on the palladium leaf. Although graphene is only a single atom thick, it can be observed in the scanning electron microscope. Here, a small crystal of graphene is shown to observe its edges. The team produces leaves where the graphene fully cover the metal surface.

Gilding is the process of coating intricate artifacts with precious metals. Ancient Egyptians and Chinese coated their sculptures with thin metal films using gilding--and these golden sculptures have resisted corrosion, wear, and environmental degradation for thousands of years. The middle and outer coffins of Tutankhamun, for instance, are gold leaf gilded, as are many other ancient treasures.

In a new study, Sameh Tawfick, an assistant professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, inspired by this ancient process, has added a single layer of carbon atoms, known as graphene, on top of metal leaves--doubling the protective quality of gilding against wear and tear.

The study, "Gilding with Graphene: Rapid Chemical Vapor Deposition Synthesis of Graphene on Thin Metal Leaves," is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The researchers coated thin metal leaves of palladium with a single layer of graphene.

Metal leaves, or foils, offer many advantages as a scalable coating material, including their commercial availability in large rolls and their comparatively low price. By bonding a single layer of graphene to the leaves, Tawfick and his team demonstrated unexpected benefits, including enhanced mechanical resistance. Their work presents exciting opportunities for protective coating applications on large structures like buildings or ship hulls, metal surfaces of consumer electronics, and small precious artifacts or jewelry.

"Adding one more layer of graphene atoms onto the palladium made it twice as resistant to indents than the bare leaves alone," said Tawfick. "It's also very attractive from a cost perspective. The amount of graphene needed to cover the gilded structures of the Carbide & Carbon Building in Chicago, for example, would be the size of the head of a pin."

Additionally, the team developed a new technology to grow high-quality graphene directly on the surface of 150 nanometer-thin palladium leaves--in just 30 seconds. Using a process called chemical vapor deposition, in which the metal leaf is processed in a 1,100C furnace, the bare palladium leaf acts as a catalyst, allowing the gases to react quickly.

"Chemical vapor deposition of graphene requires a very high temperature, which could melt the leaves or cause them to bead up by a process called solid state dewetting," said Kaihao Zhang, PhD candidate in MechSE and lead author of the study. "The process we developed deposits the graphene quickly enough to avoid high-temperature degradation, it's scalable, and it produces graphene of very high quality."
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Sunny. High 73F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
The Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7), as seen in July 2018 during preparations for its launch.

Update for 4:30 p.m.: The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency has delayed today's launch for an undisclosed reason. A new launch date will be announced when it becomes available.

After nearly a week-long delay from a typhoon, a Japanese cargo ship will launch toward the International Space Station today (Sept. 14) to deliver tons of fresh supplies for the orbiting lab's six-person crew, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The robotic HTV spacecraft will carry more than 5 tons of supplies when it launches into space atop an H-IIB rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. Liftoff is set for today at 4:59 p.m. EDT (2059 GMT, 5:59 a.m. local time on Sept. 15). The launch was originally scheduled for Sept. 10 (Sept. 11 local time), but was delayed by a typhoon near the a JAXA monitoring station in Guam.

You can watch the launch live on Space.com here beginning at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT). If all goes well, the spacecraft will arrive at the space station on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7:25 a.m. EDT (1125 GMT). NASA and JAXA will webcast that arrival as well. [Japan's Space Cargo Ship Fleet in Photos]

The capsule, an H-II Transfer Vehicle called HTV-7 and nicknamed "Kounotori," or "White Stork," will carry a wide range of supplies for the International Space Station itself, as well as materials for the scientific experiments being conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory, according to a statement released by NASA.

A particularly important item on White Stork's packing list is a set of six new batteries. Astronauts are scheduled to replace batteries currently placed on the space station's exterior with these new batteries during spacewalks in late September. The capsule is also carrying an experimental re-entry capsule that Japanese scientists hope will make it easier to return science experiments from the space station, as well as cubesats designed to test space elevator technology.

And, of course, the cargo will include plenty of new experiment materials for the astronauts to begin using. Those items include infrastructure for dealing with potentially hazardous materials during experiments, an experiment that will study bone marrow growth in microgravity, and a device that aids glass and metal manufacturing in space.

After the capsule's delivery run is completed, the spacecraft will leave the space station and burn up in Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

Before the weather-induced delay, the spacecraft was scheduled to launch on the ninth anniversary of the H-II Transfer Vehicle program's first launch. If the agency is forced to postpone the launch again, it has a range of launch opportunities until Oct. 31 to fall back on.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
SpaceX's giant Mars vehicle has a crewed moon mission on its docket.

A "private passenger" has signed up for a trip around the moon aboard SpaceX's BFR rocket-spaceship combo, company representatives announced via Twitter this evening (Sept. 13). SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk will fill in the details Monday (Sept. 17), during a webcast that begins at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on Sept. 18). You can watch the SpaceX moon shot webcast live here, courtesy of SpaceX.

Musk may already have given us a clue about the private space explorer's identity. Somebody on Twitter asked Musk if he was the passenger, and the billionaire entrepreneur responded by tweeting an emoji of the Japanese flag. [The BFR: SpaceX's Giant Spaceship for Mars in Images]

See more

Even without the mystery of whom, exactly, SpaceX has signed for the "BFR Lunar Mission" (as SpaceX dubbed it), it sounds like it will be an epic trip.

"Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history," SpaceX wrote in a subsequent Twitter post. "No one has visited since the last Apollo mission in 1972." NASA's last Apollo lunar mission was Apollo 17, which sent astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and Ron Evans to the moon in December 1972. Cernan and Schmitt landed on the moon while Evans remained in orbit.

SpaceX announced in February 2017 that two people had signed up for a weeklong trek around the moon, which the company aimed to launch before the end of 2018. That mission was to use SpaceX's Dragon crew capsule and Falcon Heavy rocket. Had SpaceX followed through with that plan, it could have returned humans to the moon near the 50th anniversary of NASA's historic Apollo 8 mission around the moon in December 1968.

But this June, The Wall Street Journal reported that the flight had slipped into 2019 at the earliest. SpaceX representatives told the WSJ that such a mission remained in the company's plans, but they didn't lay out a timeline or other details. Presumably, we will get a timeline on Monday and perhaps learn if the passenger flying on the BFR trip is one of the folks who signed up for the original Dragon-Falcon Heavy flight.

The BFR  which is short for "Big Falcon Rocket" (or the "Big F------ Rocket")  is still under development. It will consist of the most powerful rocket ever built and a spaceship capable of carrying 100 or so passengers at a time to and from Mars, Musk has said. Both of these elements will be reusable.

The BFR's main job will be to help enable Red Planet settlement  that's the chief reason that Musk founded SpaceX back in 2002, after all  but it will also perform a variety of other tasks.

Indeed, Musk has said that SpaceX plans to phase out all of its rockets and spacecraft, letting the BFR take over everything eventually. The company envisions the BFR performing satellite launches, cleaning up space junk, carrying folks on superfast "point-to-point" trips here on Earth  and, of course, helping our species spread out into the solar system, to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook orGoogle+. Originally published on Space.com.
The Cassini mission's last image of Saturn's moon Titan was taken just four days before the spacecraft plummeted into the gas giant in September 2017.

Just four days before the Cassini spacecraft's dramatic dive into Saturn's atmosphere last year, cameras aboard the spacecraft captured the mission's last image of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

That image shows off what makes that moon so weird: It's covered in lakes brimming with methane and ethane. "Titan is a fascinating place that really teases us with some of its mysteries," Elizabeth Turtle, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, said in a NASA statement released with the image. [See Cassini's Amazing Titan Photos from Saturn]

Titan has successfully clung to its mysteries even in the wake of the Cassini mission. That's particularly impressive, since the Cassini spacecraft carried a European Space Agency probe called Huygens, which landed on the odd moon.

One of those mysteries is on display in this image, which shows only a couple small clouds (the pale areas near the center of the image), despite having been snapped during a time when scientists had expected to see substantial cloudiness on the moon.

This annotated view of Cassini's last photo of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, points out the lakes of liquid methane and larger seas like Kraken Mare, Punga Mare and Ligeia Mare. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

"In fact, atmospheric models predicted summer clouds over the northern latitudes several years ago," Turtle said in the NASA statement. "So, the fact that they still hadn't appeared before the end of the mission is telling us something interesting about Titan's methane cycle and weather." [Landing on Titan: Photos from Europe's Huygens Probe]

But puzzle aside, the lack of clouds makes it easier to admire the lakes that dot Titan's surface, which appear here as dark areas. The large network of dark splotches to the left of this image is a lake known as Kraken Mare, with Punga Mare above and Ligeia Mare below the center of the image.

When Cassini captured this image, it was about 87,000 miles (140,000 kilometers) above the moon's surface. Although Cassini's days around the moon are over, scientists hope to be able to someday revisit Titan with a dedicated mission  NASA is considering one such mission called Dragonfly, which would be able to hop around the moon's surface.

Cassini's mission ended on Sept. 15, 2017, when the spacecraft plunged into Saturn in an intentional death dive. NASA won an Emmy award this month for the space agency's coverage of the end of Cassini's mission at Saturn.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
SpaceX's giant Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) has a sleek new look for an audacious private passenger flight around the moon. If an early rendering is anything to go by, the BFR is going to have some wild fins.

Late last night (Sept. 13), SpaceX announced that it has signed a deal to launch a private passenger flight around the moon with its new BFR megarocket sometime in the future. Details are scant  SpaceX will unveil more on Monday (Sept. 17) during a live webcast  but the private spaceflight company did unveil a new artist's concept of a BFR passenger rocket around the moon. [The BFR in Images: SpaceX's Giant Spaceship for Mars & Beyond]

Does that new BFR art look sci-fi? Yes. But is it actually a new version of SpaceX's BFR? Also, apparently, yes.

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested as much Thursday night. When asked if the SpaceX artist's rendering was a new version of the BFR, he replied with a straightforward "Yes."

Taken at face value, the new BFR art suggests SpaceX has made some slight changes to the huge, crewed spaceship.

First, there's the obvious. Take a look at those awesome fins!

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The new rendering shows the BFR spaceship with three large fins, giving it a vaguely shuttle-like profile. There is also a hint of a darker-colored heat shield along its belly, but again, it's unclear. Both elements would be a departure from earlier designs shown by Musk at International Astronautical Congress meetings in 2016 and 2017. (It was at the 2017 meeting that Musk dubbed the spacecraft the "BFR." It was called the Interplanetary Transport System before that.) In both of those cases, the BFR had only the slightest hint of two fins, swept far back.

Then, there are the engines.

The new rendering shows the BFR crewed spacecraft with seven engines (presumably, SpaceX's new Raptors) firing as it rounds the moon. Musk's presentation in 2017 showed a BFR with a total of six Raptor engines, two of which were sea-level engines and the other four reserved for use in the vacuum of space. So, the rendering suggests a new BFR version with seven engines capable of firing in a vacuum.

But what about the booster? The earlier BFR designs shown by Musk in 2016 and 2017 used a massive reusable booster to launch the crewed spaceship into orbit and then return to Earth for later reuse like SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stages in use today.

In 2016, that BFR booster was gigantic  40 feet wide (12 meters)  and powered by 42 Raptor engines. By 2017, SpaceX had scaled the booster down a bit. In that new design, the booster was 30 feet (9 m) wide and powered by 31 Raptor engines.

For comparison, the first stage of SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rocket is 12 feet wide (3.7 m) and powered by nine of the company's Merlin engines. SpaceX's heavy-lift Falcon Heavy rocket includes two Falcon 9 first stages around a core booster, each of which uses nine Merlin engines, for a total of 27 engines.

But has the new BFR spaceship's booster changed since last year? It's not clear, and we'll have to wait until Monday to find out.

Just as a refresher, SpaceX's BFR system (the name can also mean the "Big F------ Rocket") as laid out by Musk in 2017 was defined as the following:

It would be a fully reusable, two-stage system that would feature a crewed spacecraft and booster.

Together, the booster and spacecraft would stand 348 feet (106 m) tall.

The BFR's crewed spaceship would stand 157.5 feet (48 m) tall.

The crewed spaceship would feature 40 cabins and likely carry up to 100 passengers on trips to Mars.

The crewed spaceship would be capable of supersonic retropropulsion landings much like Falcon 9 rockets today.

The BFR will be able to launch 150 tons to low Earth orbit, which would make it more powerful than NASA's Saturn V moon rocket.

The BFR is designed to foster Mars colonization but could fly point to point around Earth, to the moon and to other parts of the solar system.

The first uncrewed spaceship tests could begin in 2019, with a potential uncrewed flight to Mars in 2022 and a crewed flight in 2024.

We'll have to wait until SpaceX's big reveal on Monday to find out how much of the BFR design has really changed.

And then there's the mystery question: Exactly who is SpaceX's private passenger for the BFR flight around the moon? In February 2017, Musk announced that SpaceX would fly two passengers on a private trip around the moon using its Falcon Heavy rocket and Dragon spacecraft. But earlier this year, Musk said the Falcon Heavy would not fly crewed Dragon flights, with SpaceX shifting instead to its BFR development for deep-space voyages.

Musk has released one tantalizing morsel as a possible clue: Late Thursday, he posted an emoji of a Japanese flag on Twitter in response to a question about who was flying the mission. (The actual tongue-in-cheek question asked if Musk was the passenger. The billionaire did not address it directly.)

So, what do you think about SpaceX's BFR lunar flight plan? We'll find out more Monday, when Musk unveils new details in a webcast at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on Sept. 18). You can watch the SpaceX moon shot webcast live here, courtesy of SpaceX.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The second stage of ICESat-2's rocket is lifted onto the booster on the right in June 2018.

One of the most storied rockets in history is making its last journey tomorrow morning (Sept. 15), in a launch you won't want to miss.

That rocket, United Launch Alliance's last Delta II booster, has been in use for almost three decades, with 154 successful flights to its name. On its last launch, it will carry NASA's new, incredibly precise space laser on the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 mission (ICESat-2 for short).

The mission will take off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during a launch window opening at 8:46 a.m. EDT (1246 GMT; 5:46 a.m. local California time). The window will remain open for about 2.5 hours. You can watch the launch live here, courtesy of NASA TV. The webcast will begin at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT).

As of a NASA news conference held yesterday (Sept. 13), meteorologists were predicting a 100 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch both tomorrow morning and during the backup launch window on Sunday morning. However, given the area's propensity for fog, it's unlikely nearby residents will be able to see the launch.

The ICESat-2 mission, which cost a little over $1 billion, is scheduled to last for three years, although the spacecraft carries enough fuel to last at least seven years, and potentially as many as 10, should NASA decide to extend its mission.

The only instrument on board is a laser that produces six beams of bright green light, then catches the beams as they bounce back to the spacecraft. The instrument times that round-trip journey to the nearest billionth of a second, allowing scientists to produce an incredibly accurate measurement of the surface of Earth near the poles. Every 91 days, it retraces its path, so scientists can track seasonal changes to the ice.

Tomorrow's launch isn't just about a cutting-edge tool that will take incredibly detailed measurements of the thickness of ice around the globe. It's also a milestone in space history, given the long career of the Delta II rocket.

"We also just want people to understand that this is just an exciting adventure in its own right," Tom Wagner, program scientist for the mission at NASA, said during the news conference yesterday. "Hundreds of people came together to develop one of the most amazing machines we've ever launched into space."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Aerial view of the Sunspot Solar Observatory site on Sacramento Peak in New Mexico. Sunspot is part of the National Solar Observatory, which is funded by the US National Science Foundation.

It's been more than a week, and a National Solar Observatory (NSO) facility in New Mexico is still closed for an undisclosed "security issue."

The NSO's Sunspot Solar Observatory, on Sacramento Peak in the southern part of the state, was evacuated last Thursday (Sept. 6), as was a nearby post office, according to the Albuquerque Journal. FBI agents have reportedly been investigating the site, and they're apparently keeping local law-enforcement personnel in the dark.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which manages the Sunspot observatory with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, hasn't said much, either. The organization released a statement saying that AURA "is addressing a security issue" at Sunspot "and has decided to temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure until further notice." AURA "is working with the proper authorities on this issue," the statement adds, without specifying who those authorities are.

And we may not get answers anytime soon. At 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) today (Sept. 14), AURA Corporate Communications Coordinator Shari Lifson sent out an email update, which stated that AURA "has decided that the observatory will remain closed until further notice due to an ongoing security concern."

Unsurprisingly, the dearth of information has led to a lot of speculation about what's going on. The rumors range from the downright silly (the feds shut Sunspot down to keep news about a deadly solar superflare from getting into our panicky heads) to the intriguingly believable (this may be an espionage investigation).

Observatory team members have shot down one of the more farfetched theories, however. The "telescope did not see aliens," Sunspot Solar Observatory director James McAteer, who's also an associate professor of astronomy, solar physics and space weather at New Mexico State University, told Albuquerque news station KOB4.

"All data will be made public in its unaltered form," McAteer added. "Nothing is hidden or kept secret."

The FBI hadn't returned a phone call as of press time. The agency has consistently declined to comment on the Sunspot situation over the past week, according to other news organizations.

This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. EDT to include the latest update from Shari Lifson and James McAteer's comments.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
The iconic Oktoberfest in Germany kicks off its more than two-week celebration this year on September 22.

The yearly celebration began in 1810, with the wedding of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12. The event was marked with a city-wide celebration and horse races, which continued the next year and brought rise to annual celebrations. Now, Oktoberfest is known as the largest festival in the world. The event is attended millions of people each year.
WASHINGTON - In the latest twist in the ongoing tussle over the Affordable Care Act, Maryland is now asking a federal court to vouch that the ACA is constitutional, trying to buffer the sprawling health-care law against both Trump administration maneuvers undermining it and a Texas lawsuit alleging it is no longer legal.

Depending on how the cases play out, the pair of lawsuits potentially set up rival rulings to work their way through the appellate courts.

The action by Maryland's Democratic attorney is, in essence, a mirror to a legal challenge to the law by the Republican attorney general of Texas and GOP counterparts. The Texas case aiming to kill the ACA is brought by Republicans and is before a conservative judge. The Maryland case to save the law is brought by a Democratic attorney general before a more liberal court where most of the active judges are appointees of President Barack Obama.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh filed the lawsuit in District Court Thursday, contending that if the ACA ceased to exist it would hurt state residents who have gained insurance under the law, the state's health-care system and public finances.

"Maryland has fundamentally altered its healthcare delivery, healthcare payment, and insurance regulatory schemes in reliance on the provisions of the Affordable Care Act," he wrote.

The complaint names as defendants the U.S. government and three senior members of the administration: Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.

The suit is unusual in that it is asking a lower court judge to uphold a law the Supreme Court has ruled constitutional twice in the past half-dozen years.

The new suit also reinforces that state governments increasingly have become warriors in a tug of war over the ACA's fate. While 17 Republican attorneys generals and two GOP governors are siding with Texas in its litigation, 17 Democratic attorneys general have won standing in that case to argue the law should be preserved.

Maryland has not taken sides in the Texas case. The state has a Republican governor, Larry Hogan. Frosh was a longtime Democratic state legislator before he was elected attorney general.

Frosh said in an interview Thursday that Maryland "would welcome" other states joining in its litigation, but said, "we are prepared to do it on our own," noting that it is unclear whether a judge would allow states to take part in two ACA lawsuits at the same time.

The dueling litigation is the latest manifestation of how polarizing - and unsettled -- the ACA remains more than eight years after it was pushed through Congress by Democratic majorities in 2010, becoming one of the signature domestic achievements of Obama's presidency.

Congressional Republicans, who have long made the law's repeal a central rallying cry, tried repeatedly last year to dismantle its central features but were thwarted by divisions within the party. Since then, President Donald Trump and senior aides have been acting piece by piece to carry out his campaign promise to demolish the ACA, doing what they can through executive powers.

The Texas lawsuit revolves around lawmakers' main anti-ACA achievement: weaving into a massive tax bill last December a provision eliminating the enforcement of the law's requirement that most Americans carry health insurance. Under this change, the law's tax penalty will end in January.

In its suit, Texas notes the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling upholding the law hinged on an interpretation that the ACA penalty was allowed within Congress's authority to set taxes. Texas contends that, with the penalty soon gone, there is no longer a tax and that the entire law is then unconstitutional.

Maryland's new suit argues the opposite. Lowering the penalty to zero, it contends, does not actually remove the tax. And even if a court disagreed, the suit says, that part of the law could be legally separated from the rest, including its most popular aspect that forbids insurers to charge more to people with pre-existing medical conditions - or refuse to insure them in the first place.

The suit singles out Sessions for criticism over the Justice Department's unusual legal position in the Texas case. In June, Justice told the Texas judge that it would not defend the ACA, even though the department typically fights for existing laws when they are challenged. The position reflects the administration's "open hostility to enforcement of the Affordable Care Act," the Maryland suit alleges.

It points out that the administration has eliminated a subsidy for insurers to help offset discounts the law requires on out-of-pocket costs for lower-income customers. And when the administration this year made it easier for Americans to buy inexpensive insurance that excludes ACA insurance benefits and insurance protections, the suit said, the president "proclaimed that it 'a truly historic step in our efforts to rescue Americans from Obamacare and the Obamacare nightmare.'"

In the interview, Frosh said he was filing the suit now "because Jeff Sessions and Donald Trump are trying to kill the Affordable Care Act. They've been trying since Trump was sworn-in, and the Justice Department flipping its role, instead of defending the constitutionality of the law attacking it, is, I think a breach of their duty. And it will do great harm."

The suit notes that about 150,000 Marylanders signed up for coverage this year in ACA health plans, and more than 300,000 have gained insurance through the state's expansion of Medicaid under the law. With fewer people uninsured, it says, the law has, in turn, lowered the burden on Maryland hospitals for patients who have no way to pay their bills.

A Justice spokeswoman declined to comment on Maryland's suit, saying that the department does not discuss pending litigation.
Zech said the U.S. cosmetics industry is largely bicoastal, with old-school manufacturers on the East Coast, and indie upstarts on the West Coast. Locating in Los Angeles was not on the table, however, because the time difference meant no overlap of the business day with the companys German headquarters, Zech said.
A nglo-South African bank Investec is to spin-off its fund management division and list it on the London stock market in a bid to play in the super-league of money managers.

Investec Asset Management, which looks after 109 billion for investors, will debut on the FTSE 250 within the next 12 months, it said on Friday.

City analysts estimate the division, which has been run at arms length from the bank for some time, is worth about 1.8 billion.

If you want to play in the super league in asset management, independence wins, said asset management chief executive Hendrik Du Toit.

The separation of the funds arm comes after a shake-up at the top of the firm, with founders Stephen Koseff and Bernard Kantor giving up the reins to co-chief executives Fani Titi and Du Toit.

The move is designed to simplify the complex group, which has a bank, wealth management and funds arm and a dual listing in South Africa and the UK.

Investec will remain dual-listed in London and Johannesburg and be led by Titi. Investec Asset Management will have a primary listing in London and be led by Du Toit.

Investec is set to keep a small stake in the asset manager.

Several banks like Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale have spun off their fund manager operations in recent years. Insurers like Prudential, which is de-merging M&G, and Old Mutual have also hived off fund operations.

Fund manager businesses are generally valued more highly by investors as standalone entities.

Du Toit said going alone would benefit the company. We have no ambitions to be like BlackRock but if you look at them, they were essentially twice held by large banking groups and twice moved themselves away. Their independent trajectory is what really catapulted them.

The real big winners in our industry are independent focused firms with very significant employee participation. That simplicity provides an opportunity to focus on the real job at hand, which is to run peoples money.
L ondon Fashion Week will provide a brief relief for retailers grappling with carnage on the High Street, a West End businesses lobby group said on Friday.

New West End Company boss Jace Tyrrell said the extravaganza of catwalk shows and parties running until Tuesday will drive tens of thousands of shoppers to designer and High Street stores.

He added: This influx of fashion fans will help September sales in the West End reach over 700 million in what is the most important month outside of Christmas.

While luxury brands are performing well, the more affordable High Street retailers have struggled with weaker consumer confidence, increased competition and higher business rates.

Tyrrell, whose firm represents traders on Oxford, Bond and Regent Streets, welcomed the footfall LFW will bring. However, he warned: This is a brief relief in what are challenging times.

The NWEC wants the chancellor to support a 1% tax on online retailers to even the playing field with bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Other companies to benefit from LFW include luxury fashion online retailers such as Yoox Net-a-Porter and Matchesfashion.com

YNAP has teamed with designer JW Anderson on a see-now-buy-now collection of bags available through Net-A-Porter.
T he Commissioners in charge of the Church of Englands finances were once flummoxed when asked whether they insured against acts of God. If they said yes it would show a lack of faith; if they said no it would show a lack of acumen. Now Archbishop Justin Welby has managed to walk into a similar trap, entirely of his own devising.

In his speech to the TUC earlier this week, he laid into the internet giant Amazon for leeching off the taxpayer. Now it emerges that his Church has made a very successful multi-million-pound investment in Amazon and, as a part-owner, therefore benefits from the firms efforts to minimise its tax bill and maximise its profits. It looks like a good old-fashioned case of not practising what you preach. The question is: should the Church sell its holdings of Amazon? And if it does, what about the other companies it might invest in? Food companies whose products have made some people obese? Car companies whose emissions pollute the air? Oil companies such as the one Archbishop Welby used to work for? If the Church restricts what it invests in too severely, then it will be the victim of its self-flagellation.

Remember, the returns from these investments are used to support the good works of the Church, to pay the pensions of ageing vicars and maintain the upkeep of thousands of historic buildings. What will be achieved if we have more crumbling churches and more impoverished priests? Nothing. The fault lies not with the Churchs investments but with the comments of its leader. Justin Welby has been an impressive Archbishop of Canterbury. He has rooted his congregation in the concerns of the modern world. He has confronted misogyny and supported the appointment of female bishops  including the Bishop of London. He is edging his church, albeit far too slowly, towards a compassionate understanding of homosexuality  and we hope he drops his official opposition to gay marriage which, in private, he is much more sympathetic to.

Archbishop Welbys modernity makes his attitude towards the internet and technology look antediluvian. It is, as Rohan Silva says here, nonsense to describe the gig economy as the reincarnation of an ancient evil. Yes, there are genuine issues of employment insecurity and low incomes that the Church should speak out on. But to write off as the devils work the incredible transformation that has created tens of thousands of jobs and delivered services to millions that were once the preserve of the rich is just intellectually lazy. Suggesting that the international tax laws should be rewritten so that US firms pay more tax in Britain (and presumably vice-versa) is an interesting contribution to a contemporary debate. But using phrases such as leeching to whip up a trade-union audience feels a bit like a priest playing to his congregation. Our Archbishop should resist the temptations of cheap populism. He is a thoughtful, moral man who should lead, not follow.

Fashion isnt frivolous

Undeniably, London Fashion Week  of which this paper is the media partner  is an awful lot of fun for a lot of people. But it would be a silly mistake to be so taken by the front-row celebrities, the lovely models and the after-parties that we forget the iron reality, which is that fashion is an exceptionally important contributor to the UK economy. The industry is worth more than 32 billion in GDP and employs more than 890,000 people.
L Brands, which acquired the brand in 1985, said that the 23 Bendel stores will turn out the lights in January. The Columbus, Ohio, company said it wants focus on larger brands with more growth potential.
P rocrastination is an art. Spot a deadline arriving, a promise that is due to turn to hard fact, and then execute somersaults to find a way around your impending fate. Some have achieved greatness through not doing their duties. Had Alexander Fleming done the washing-up in his London lab before heading off to Scotland for a holiday, he would not have returned to see the staphylococcus bacteria being eaten by a new mould, penicillin.

Some have done battle with it: Victor Hugo used to instruct his valet to hide all his clothes so that he could not go out on the town but sit down and write Les Miserables. Some have been feted for it: Leonardo da Vinci could barely complete a picture, but nevertheless the enigmatic (unfinished) Salvator Mundi still made $450 million at auction.

I was pondering this while looking at the photograph of Boris Johnson, head in hands on a doorstep and wondering what pain it was that afflicted him. Ambition, desire, the massed forces of the world against him? Or is just a deadline that he cant quite make. BoJo-watchers will recall that he has a book due on Shakespeare. The contract was signed in 2015. Being made Foreign Secretary in 2016 will have soothed his publisher temporarily.

But now he is free, what next ruse to avoid it?

Were he to open his Hamlet he would find a fellow tortured soul in the protagonist, mooching about how the native hue of resolution/ Is sicklied oer with the pale cast of thought; /And enterprises of great pith and moment, /With this regard, their currents turn awry.

Pursued by this book deadline, he turns up at European Research Group meetings unannounced, writes about letterboxes and suicide vests, the fallout of which eats up more days. And when that runs out, why not pitch to be Prime Minister? Faced with 150,000 pages and heavy research, running the country seems an easier proposition, and a rather good excuse to your publisher. Snarl at Johnson if you wish, but many an author might feel some sympathy.

Im a new convert to Shankss pony

Late. In traffic. Sorry. This was a text message I would have sent at least twice a week until recently. And then I worked out how to buck the system. Eschew the bus and the Uber. Even ditch the Underground. The answer is walking.

My usual route to work takes 33 minutes, or nearly an hour if theres a snarl-up at Knightsbridge. On foot it is 47 minutes. To go for a coffee in Marylebone takes 20 minutes powered by shoe leather  the same as a bus. Punctuality has gone through the roof, as has my appreciation of the small by-ways of London. And what Ive saved on bus fares will now buy a new pair of shoes.

Real talent means some pop stars live on

Natasha Hamilton and Brian McFadden / Alan Davidson/AJDImagesLtd

What is the afterlife of a pop star? I was at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, the jazz and cigar bar, on Wednesday night for its annual music awards, presented by Jools Holland, and was curious to find Brian McFadden, ex of Westlife, and Atomic Kittens Natasha Hamilton on the bill. Alongside them were legendary songwriter Bill Martin, Fleur East and Alexander ONeal. Surely a mistake?

But when McFadden went on stage to collect his award, it made a little more sense. He grabbed the microphone and sang Otis Reddings Direct Me, with a well-honed voice and stage persona. Liberated from the pages of the tabloids, and the demands of chart-climbing, hed found his soul. Natasha Hamilton also belted it out to applause from aficionados.

There are those pop stars for whom the flashbulb is their alarm clock, and without it they grow graceless. And then there are those who love the microphone, and it loves them back. It is their dance partner for life.

Property envy is not good for anyone

House prices to tumble by 35 per cent if we crash out of the EU with no deal, Bank of England governor Mark Carney warns . London homeowners may gasp but some of us renters, taunted by unaffordable properties in estate agent windows, might be feeling a little smug.
A mbience 4/5

Food 4/5

Forget everything else youve heard or half-absorbed about The River Cafe  its humble 1987 start as the staff canteen for Richard Rogers architectural practice, its three decades serving elevated Italian classics to artists, celebrities and New Labour grandees, its Michelin star, its status as the fertile seedbed for the culinary talents of Jamie Oliver, April Bloomfield and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Instead let me tell you that, if youd care to witness Londons most furtive delivery of a commemorative birthday dessert, then this is absolutely the place to come. On two occasions during a late Thursday lunch, I saw the attractive, pastel-shirted staff deposit a plate of summer pudding (bearing a long, thin taper of a candle) on a table in a manner that was so apologetic and understated it was almost mesmerising. At River Cafe, they give you what you want. But they do it on their own classy, reassuringly expensive terms.

As a recent appointee to the coveted role of ES restaurant critic, I thought a visit to a London classic would serve as a bedrock for my future forays into Londons freshest culinary ventures. I invited my friend Joe and we arrived without a booking, but squeaked on to a table with a good view of the dazzling blue carpet and odd but iconic brightly coloured design touches. Why does it look like a community library? asked Joe half-seriously as we put away roughly hacked chunks of olive oil-doused focaccia and sipped glasses of a crisp Tuscan rose. The clattering, light-flooded room was thick with high-collared art dealer types, smiling Iris Apfel lookalikes and, generally, people for whom a lavish, Britpop-era lunch was still a viable reality.

The way Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray first brought Technicolor seasonality and obsessional provenance to the table prevails, and theres still more than a hint of Nineties boom to the insane prices, with mains mostly clocking in above 40. But as we went halves on mozzarella di bufala, a salty-sweet mouth party of scattered cheese, little chopped commas of Ligurian olives, marinated peppers, wood-roasted datterini tomatoes and more luscious oil, a fair bit of scepticism dissolved. Fritto misto, bound for another table, prompted a slightly regretful glance.

Classic offering: the cafe does simple dishes with beautiful ingredients

Next, at the suggestion of our waiter, came half portions of pasta. Taglierini ai funghi, a twizzled, woody fist of noodles and finely chopped Scottish girolles, was okay. Penne rigatello  delicately diced summer courgettes and al dente tubes in a claggy, starchy sauce, bright with lemon and herb-flecked cheese  was far better. The mains upped the ante, with Joes chargrilled leg of lamb (just pink, served with candy-coloured summer beets and a zingy, subtle horseradish) taking the form of an urbane Sunday roast. My branzino al forno, a doorstopper fillet of wood-fired Cornish sea bass with intense salted anchovy, smoky pale aubergine and the enlivening sweetness of Sorrento tomato, arrived aboard a pungent, mottled gold puddle that I spent a long, long time slurping off my fork. Wine-clouded and surprisingly full, we passed up a run at the famed chocolate nemesis cake and instead had pleasingly rustic scoops of stracciatella and roasted almond ice cream.

Not every adored originator of a form is in need of a scalding hot take. Some bucket-list places truly live up to the hype. Yes, the bill will leave most of us unable to look at the ruin of our bank balances for a while. But, 31 years down the line, here is a place that can still teach you things about simplicity, care and beautiful ingredients singing in perfect, full-throated harmony.

The River Cafe

1 Carafe of Rosato Romitorio 27

1 Mozzarella di bufala 22

1 Half taglierini 11.50

1 Half penne 10

1 Lamb 38

1 Sea bass 42

2 Scoops of ice cream 10

2 Espressos 6

Total 166.50
N ew York is the capital of diversity. More than 800 different languages and dialects are spoken across the Five Boroughs and, with such a broad spectrum of backgrounds, the fusion of cultures is inevitable. For foodies that means joints and festivals  such as Brooklyns Smorgasburg  that bring together cuisine from unlikely destinations. Hit one of these five restaurants for a New York take on fusion food.

Shalom Japan

South Williamsburg is home to one of the largest Jewish populations outside Israel  around 70,000 people. While traditional delis and restaurants are easy to come across, one spot has combined the unlikely bedfellows of Jewish and Japanese flavours to become the neighbourhoods buzziest restaurant.

(Alamy) / Alamy Stock Photo

Owned and run by Sawako Okochi and native New Yorker Aaron Israel, Shalom Japan bills itself as authentically inauthentic. Its dishes are creative without ever feeling so out there that youll want to leave room for something less eclectic. Try the matzoh ball ramen or the lox bowl with Japanese pickles.

310 South 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Matzoh Ball Ramen, Shalom Japan (John Keon)

Wangs

This Park Slope joint brings together three staples of the New York food scene: Chinese, East Asian and Southern soul food.

While all three can be found in abundance across the Big Apple, the former two in the vast Chinatowns of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and the latter in classic outposts such as Sylvias in Harlem, Wangs is the only place that fuses them into something original.

Wangs Fried Chicken Sandwich (Darlene Phan)

The fried chicken sandwich, served like a Vietnamese banh mi with pate, cucumber and pickles, is a gut-busting delight, the meat breaded and tender. And, if youre dropping by for lunch, chances are youll have half left for dinner  thats how big it is.

671 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Flip Sigi

Found at two locations in Manhattan, one on the Upper East Side and the other down in the West Village, Flip Sigi is the brainchild of Toronto-born celebrity chef Jordan Andino. Billed as the worlds first Filipino taqueria, it pulls together Filipino and TexMex ingredients, resulting in dishes that will leave you needing a lie down in the park afterwards.

The sinigang torta, with tamarind short rib, avocado and salsa, is the pick of the pleasingly small menu, although the longanisa poutine is a sharing dish not to be missed. It features Canadian poutine with Filipino sausage.

1752 Second Ave, Manhattan, NY 10128

525 Hudson St, Manhattan, NY 10014

Flip Sigi

Lolos Seafood Shack

Harlems Lolos calls itself the original Caribbean BBQ and Cape Cod seafood mashup and it has the laid-back vibe to match. Caribbean classics such as jerk ribs rub shoulders on the menu with soft-shell crab sandwiches and rum punch. The ace steampot combos are where its at for hungry diners and large groups, with spicy crawfish, corn, sweet potatoes and shrimp.

303 W 116th St, Manhattan, NY 1002

Thursday Kitchen

Thursday Kitchen

It could be easy to dismiss the East Villages wildly popular Thursday Kitchen as a gimmick. Its cocktails are served in plastic bags, like boozy Capri Sun, and its dishes blend Korean staples with Spanish and French flavours, which on paper sounds brave, even foolhardy. But the simple fact is that the food here is incredible and well worth waiting in line for. Chef Kyungmin Kay Hyun was trained in Europe and her staff serve up small plates that wont hurt your wallet but will leave you wishing you had space for more. Be sure to try the eel taco with chipotle ssamjang salsa and the kimchi paella.
I ts the middle of summer but the temperature registers just 10 degrees. Its a sunny, blue-sky day but theres only one other person outside on deck. Braced against the railing with both camera and jacket hood up, Karl stares straight ahead and says to me, or perhaps to the sea: Its so incredible to see this.

Where is this, exactly? We are onboard the M/S Panorama, a Greek-registered, three-masted sailing ship of 24 cabins thats midway through a weeks voyage with Intrepid Travel. Were cruising from Reykjavik to Akureyri with stops in the Snfellsnes Peninsula and Westfjords, and here marks whats literally the high point of the itinerary: rounding the Hornbjarg Cliffs, a range along the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve coastline that draws the edges of the most remote reaches of Icelands north. A couple of miles more and wed cross the Arctic Circle.

Karl is one of our Intrepid Travel trip leaders and his name is not, in fact, Karl. Knowing that the English, Australians, Europeans and Americans on board are incapable of the diphthongs and aspirated consonants in his given Icelandic name, Karl takes pity on us with this nickname. Our other leader, Jura, hails from Lithuania and moved to Iceland to study the language. She delights in

triggering brain somersaults from us with place name pronunciations Djupalonssandur! Isafjarardjup! Skutustaahreppur!  and she issues us little challenges, like learning another way to say hello other than simply hallo. (Er eldgos?/Is there an eruption? is a good phrase to have in your back pocket.)

This isnt my first visit to Iceland but its my first to see it from the sea. The ultra-budget flight deals have been too good to pass up in years past, and a few friends and I had driven hire cars (which cost more than the plane tickets) around the South Coast and the Golden Circle. On those trips we jostled for the best photo spots and sneakily angled or cropped our photos to edit out the scores of others attempting the same, and too frequently dined on 3.50 petrol station hot dogs topped with remoulade and crispy onions.

This approach may sound familiar to other tourists to Iceland but where Im at now, sailing far from the Iceland that has been popularised by Instagram, yields scenery thats far more worthy of a million likes.

Karl and I are soon joined at the rail by more of the ships 40 passengers: its cocktail hour and theyve been inside at the bar, toasting our voyage and this extraordinary opportunity to visit, in comfort and under sail for only a week, the far-flung and least visited (though arguably most beautiful) destinations in Iceland.

(Cynthia Drescher ) / Cynthia Drescher

You see, the land routes around the Westfjords are challenging at best and inexistent at worst  the 40-year-old car ferry Baldur, which crosses from the Snfellsnes Peninsula to the Westfjords and thus shortens the drive by half, broke down for weeks last year. However, on Panorama, we have it almost too easy. Days are open for adventure  such as spotting hundreds of puffins and seals at the Latrabjarg cliffs, running barefoot in the surf on the pristine, golden-red sands of Rauisandur beach, and knocking back Brennivin schnapps with creatives who uprooted their urban lives to open a co-working art cafe (husid-workshop.com) and revitalised an industrial fishing community. At night sleep comes quickly with the surprisingly gentle rocking of the North Atlantic.

From Reykjavik we sailed overnight to Grundarfjorur on the Snfellsnes Peninsula, home to Kirkjufell, the countrys most-photographed mountain, and the Arnarstapi hiking trail across volcanic rifts and basalt cliffs. Over the weeks voyage we also call at Patreksfjorur, Isafjorur and ingeyri in the Westfjords before ending at Siglufjorur and Akureyri on the northern coast.

High-volume cruise ports these are not; other than the busy harbours of Reykjavik and Akureyri, which both see cruise ship traffic in the summer, our quay neighbours in the Westfjords are limited to local kayaks and small fleets of brightly painted fishing ships named after Vikings. Despite it being the busiest week of Icelands peak season, the Westfjords car parks at tourist sites are small and mostly empty  if there is a car park at all.

(Cynthia Drescher ) / Cynthia Drescher

The end of the voyage brings us down the Eyjafjorur, Icelands longest fjord, to Akureyri, and were back out on deck casually watching whales spout and breach when Karl and Jura teach us another Icelandic term: Islandsvinir. The word literally translates to friend of Iceland, and its used to describe travellers who visit the country more than once. With just this voyage we qualify as Islandsvinir (the plural), however. Both by sailing Iceland and by visiting the Westfjords, weve accomplished what others may take several visits to do, or never do at all. And through it all, Karls statement of awe becomes a refrain in my thoughts: Its so incredible to see this.

Details: Iceland
A homeless charity have warned that lessons must be learned after a homeless man was found dead in a graveyard, days after being sprayed with paint.

Flowers and cards have been left by a wall in Normanby, Middlesbrough, where red paint could still be seen at the spot where the man who was in his 30s used to sit.

Police said the man had been sprayed with paint three days earlier before his death.

According to reports, someone uploaded a video onto social media of the homeless man being sprayed, with a voice saying: "This is how we deal with beggars on the street."

It has since been deleted.

Flowers left at the scene / PA

Cleveland Police said it received a report about the assault on Sunday and a body was found a few minutes walk away in Eston Cemetery on Wednesday.

There were no suspicious circumstances, the force said.

A force spokeswoman said: "A post-mortem examination has been held and although the death is not being treated as suspicious police believe this man was the victim of a previous incident of assault which resulted in the man being sprayed with red paint."

Detective Inspector Matt Hollingsworth said: "Police are aware of the speculation on social media regarding the cause of the man's death but we are not linking the assault with his death."

A spokeswoman for homeless charity, Crisis, said in a statement: "We were shocked and saddened to learn that a homeless man in Middlesborough passed away on Wednesday.

"In his last days he was assaulted with spray paint and abused by members of the public. Its absolutely appalling to see anyone be treated this way.

"People sleeping rough are often some of the most vulnerable in our society and if we're to help prevent further tragic deaths the Government must extend the Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) system to include all cases where a person has died whilst homeless or living on the streets.

Our research shows that rough sleepers are 17 times more likely to be victims of violence compared to the general public. What people in this situation need is dedicated support to help them escape the streets for good. This tragedy could and should have been prevented and the lessons must be learned.

A retired couple stopped at the scene where the man was covered in paint to look at the flowers.

The woman said: "I hope they catch whoever did it.

"You used to see him in the summer, he used to sit out here with his shirt off getting a sun tan."

Her husband added: "He was harmless, he was a really nice guy.

"We never heard anything ill said about him."

Anyone with information about the incident with the paint behind the Tesco store in Normanby is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A 22-year-old man was knocked unconscious and left needing metal plates in his jaw after a row over a woman outside a south-east London pub.

Scotland Yard today released CCTV images of two men wanted for questioning over the nasty attack at the Sovereign of the Seas pub in Petts Wood, Bromley.

The man had been drinking with friends in the Wetherspoon pub in Queensway when the group left around 12.30am to get food from a nearby takeaway.

Two men approached one of the victims female friends and began talking to her prompting him to step in and tell them to leave her alone, police said.

Police are looking to speak to this man over an assault at a Wetherspoon pub in Petts Wood, Bromley / Met Police

One of the suspects then punched the man in the face knocking him unconscious.

He was taken to hospital where he was forced to have metal plates inserted in his jaw following the unnecessary assault on July 7.

Police are also looking to speak to this man / Met Police

Detective Constable Dean Roberts said: "This was a nasty and unnecessary assault on a man who was simply trying to take care of a friend.

"Anyone who recognises these men is asked to contact us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 310/07JUL18.
A wealthy financier was stabbed by machete-wielding moped thugs who snatched his 75,000 Swiss watch.

Dr Rachid Mekhalfia, 46, was set upon by three men as he stood beside his Range Rover while it was being inspected by a mechanic in Kilburn.

The father-of-four grappled with his attackers as one shouted stab him, stab him before he was knifed in the knee with a machete.

Fearing for his life, he handed over the silver Patek Philippe timepiece and the robbers sped from the scene on a moped.

Today Dr Mekhalfia, who runs his own wealth management firm, offered a 5,000 reward for information about the attackers after becoming frustrated with the progress of the police investigation.

He told the Standard: I am traumatised by all of this. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I could have been killed. I wont open my car window now when Im stopped, and I always panic whenever I see a moped.

I knew I had to give the watch up. Ive got a wife and four children, it was not worth losing my life over. Everything was happening so fast, I just knew I had to survive.

The stolen silver Patek watch

Dr Mekhalfia, who lives in Knightsbridge, had taken his Range Rover for repairs a day before a family holiday when he was attacked in Palmerston Road at 7.15pm on August 22.

In the struggle the mechanic, who believed the gang were trying to steal the car, threw Dr Mekhalfias keys in the bushes, leaving him unable to escape.

Dr Mekhalfia claims that when police arrived, residents who had witnessed the incident refused to give evidence. His attackers are described as black and aged 18 to 25. The watch is silver with a blue dial and has a new strap link and a scratch on the glass.

In January moped thugs armed with hammers and a gun attacked his 200,000 Bentley in a bid to steal the same watch as he waited in traffic, but he managed to drive off.
W estminster terror attacker Khalid Masood shouted, You dont want to mess with me before stabbing Pc Keith Palmer to death in the grounds of Parliament, an inquest heard today.

The Islamist extremist was challenged by members of the public after he had mown down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge then crashed his grey Hyundai into the fence around Parliament.

Witness Carl Knight was on a bus when he saw Masood  referred to as the African male  emerging from the wreckage of his car armed with two knives. A pedestrian male walked across to him from behind my bus and said to the African male, What are you doing? he said in a witness statement read to the Old Bailey.

The African male told him, F*** off, you dont want to mess with me.

Stabbed to death: PC Keith Palmer was helping to guard Parliament when he was attacked by extremist Khalid Masood / pckeithpalmer1409

Mr Knight said aggressive and dominant Masood walked to the gates of Parliament as pedestrians fled screaming: I noticed a woman and a young boy. The woman embraced her child and said, Please dont kill me. The African male ignored the woman and began to break out into a run.

Bus passenger John Campbell told the inquest Masood ran straight up to Pc Palmer and stabbed him at least three times in the front of his body. He described Masood as animated and frenzied as he appeared to be looking for another victim before he was shot dead by armed police.

Antonia Kerridge, who was working in Portcullis House, saw the terrorist continue his attack on Pc Palmer: He just leaned down towards him and raised the knife quite high, and he just stabbed him, two or three times.

Footage of the attack on Pc Palmer and of people giving him first aid was shown. Earlier, lawyers acting for relatives of the officer demanded an emergency halt to the inquest. Susannah Stevens, representing his family but not his widow, said a key issue had been raised about the positioning of armed officers at Parliament.

She said CCTV footage played at the inquest shows a 15-minute period when no firearms officers were at Carriage Gates. This had been kept from Pc Palmers family, she claimed, and they needed time to find legal representation to investigate it.
"China's markets have dropped by close to 25 percent," Trump said at the White House last week. "Their markets have gone down. I don't like to see that. But I can tell you that the United States has picked up about $10 trillion in worth. And China would like to be in our position. They would like to be in our position."
L ove Actually creator Richard Curtis today backed the Evening Standards call for schools to twin pupils with child refugees around the world.

Our Learn to Live campaign has already linked up four London schools with children affected by war in Jordan, Iraq and the Central African Republic.

It is now encouraging schools across the UK to sign up to a revamped scheme offering similar opportunities, which today received a 38 million Government funding boost.

The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning project  run by the British Council, with the Department for International Development  aims to reach more than three million pupils in the UK and in conflict-hit countries worldwide over the next three years.

Film-maker Curtis, who directed Notting Hill and Four Weddings And A Funeral, said: I have always believed hugely that children can and will change the world. So I am a huge supporter of the Learn to Live campaign which puts people in touch across borders, across countries and allows us to understand, love, care for and work out how to change the world with refugee children.

Richard Curtis and Penny Mordaunt join school pupils / Alex Lentati

He added: It is so important that one of the things that kids talk about and think about together is how much they have in common and how they can make the world better... rather than it only being about Kanyes new track.

It is hoped that Connecting Classrooms, which will train 60,000 teachers worldwide, will be a two-way exchange for pupils in the UK and abroad. Learn to Live aims to increase understanding between pupils of all backgrounds and let children with lives devastated by war know they are not forgotten.

Over the next 10 weeks, students will spend three hours a week sharing lessons, Skyping and creating an art project  and we will document friendships as they grow.

Through the new government scheme, schools can apply for funding for reciprocal visits, pupils will complete shared projects with themes based on the UNs 17 Global Goals  including how to solve world hunger  and lead community projects.

Join our campaign How your school can help Teachers who want to join our project can go to warchild.org.uk/learntolive For more about twinning your school: britishcouncil.org/connectingclassrooms

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt thanked the Standard for supporting the project and said it will help children become active citizens. Mr Curtis, who co-founded Comic Relief and worked with the UN on Global Goals, led an assembly at St Josephs RC primary school in Wandsworth to launch the updated scheme with Ms Mordaunt.
T wo private landlords have been convicted of managing houses in dangerous and sub-standard conditions after a north London council found 35 people living in one "appalling" house.

Islington Council officers found the tenants living in four sub-standard two-bedroom flats in the semi-detached Victorian property in Grosvenor Avenue, Highbury.

Up to six people were sleeping in each bedroom, while the property, in a leafy suburb, had numerous fire safety hazards.

Neighbours, meanwhile, said disturbances became so frequent and extreme we were fearful for the safety of our family.

A district judge blasted the 'appalling' conditions in the Highbury property / Islington Council

The two landlords  Arun Bajaj and Antonio Ferraivolo  were also renting out two flats in Finsbury Park. The council officers found they were overcrowded as well.

A district judge blasted the overcrowding and appalling state of the properties as the pair were convicted at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Bajaj, of Birmingham, was found guilty of 15 management offences relating to the Finsbury Park flats.

Ferraivolo, from Finsbury Park, was found guilty of 35 management offences relating to the Highbury house and Finsbury Park flats.

They will be sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.
A damning High Court ruling today said the watchdog in charge of the 2016 EU referendum mistakenly allowed unlawful donations by Vote Leave.

It found the Electoral Commission had misunderstood the laws that it was supposed to uphold forbidding campaign spending above legal limits.

The ruling is a major blow to the watchdog and will fuel claims that the narrow victory for Brexit was skewed by unfair spending and big donors.

The case was brought by the Good Law Project, led by barrister Jolyon Maugham QC, an anti-Brexit campaigner, who said heads should roll at the Commission.

Todays ruling found that hundreds of thousands of pounds funnelled by Vote Leave to another anti-EU campaign, BeLeave, should have been counted as Vote Leaves own campaign spending.

That would have taken Vote Leaves campaign spree over the 7 million limit set by law.

Some 600,000 was donated to BeLeave, a smaller group run by student Darren Grimes. In reality it was paid directly by Vote Leave to a Canadian data company.

Mr Grimes and Vote Leave deny wrongdoing, and say they were acting on advice from the Commission.

In his judgement, Lord Justice Leggatt said the Electoral Commission had misinterpreted the definition of referendum expenses as defined by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act. He said its interpretation of the law was a recipe for abuse of the spending restrictions.

The Commissions initial assessment in March this year found nothing wrong with Vote Leaves expenses. It changed its mind after an investigation this summer.

An Electoral Commission spokesman said: The Commission welcomes the courts consideration of this aspect of electoral law.

The court arrived at the same conclusion as the Commission did in its investigation  that Vote Leave should have accounted for the expenditure on the digital services firm, Aggregate IQ although it found an additional reason for reaching that conclusion. The Commission imposed sanctions on Vote Leave for this offence and others found during the investigation.

Vote Leave welcomed the ruling, saying it backed up their case that they acted on advice. Mr Maugham said the situation meant the Leave campaign had outspent the official campaign to Remain, which stuck to the official spending limits.

Matthew Elliott, former chief executive of Vote Leave, which was fined 61,000 for the overspend after the Commission investigation this summer, said the High Court ruling had thrown electoral law for future elections and referendums into total chaos.

Claire Bassett, Chief Executive at the Electoral Commission said: There has been significant misleading comment about the ruling of the High Court, published today. Its important to look at the detail of what has actually been said by the Court. The High Court reached the same conclusion as the Commission did in its investigation  that Vote Leave should have accounted for the expenditure on the digital services firm, Aggregate IQ. We have already given Vote Leave the maximum fine available to us for the offences concerned. The High Courts findings do not change the conclusions reached in our investigation: it too found that spending was incorrectly reported, that Vote Leave exceeded its spending limit and that it failed to declare this additional spending.

It is important to remember that the court rejected three of the four grounds of the judicial review claim. The court found there were no arguable grounds at all that the Commission had misinterpreted the law on joint spending by referendum campaigners, or had not properly supervised referendum spending, including in respect of advice given to Vote Leave, or had not properly investigated Vote Leave. The claim only proceeded on one ground, related to a detailed point of law on referendum spending. The regulatory regime governing referendums generally is unaffected. Indeed, the judgment noted the Commissions findings and stated that, in the light of those findings, the issue raised in the proceedings is now of less practical importance than it was. It is important to note that the Commissions findings are entirely unaffected by this judgment.
T heresa May should step aside after next year's Brexit day and pave the way for a "new generation", her former policy adviser has said.

George Freeman, who was chairman of the Prime Minister's policy board until last November, said he believed Mrs May should "seal the deal" before handing over decisions about the long-term relationship with the European Union to a successor.

Speaking at an event in London hosted by The Times, he said: "I think we need a new energy, new direction, a new generation leader to take this forward, backed up by the talent that we've got.

"If I was still advising Theresa May, my advice would be to frame it in those terms - seal the deal for a new generation and hand the torch of responsibility on to them and I think the country would cheer."

Around 50 MPs are understood to have discussed ways and means of getting rid of the Prime Minister at a gathering of the European Research Group (ERG) earlier this week.

Tory MP George Freeman was the PM's policy chief for over a year / PA Wire/PA Images

Mr Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, appeared to suggest high-profile figures such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove should not be in the frame to take over.

He added: "I think it's quite difficult for some of the glittering talent that we have at the top of our Cabinet to be the force of renewal and I think it needs to be led by somebody with a new mandate.

"I think anyone who was involved in that referendum campaign - I think it was a bad campaign on both sides - they're bound by all sorts of promises that shouldn't have been made, they carry the baggage of a terrible process."

Last month, Mrs May insisted she was "in this for the long term" as she faced questions over the prospect of Mr Johnson launching a bid for power.

She said: "I've been asked before whether it's my intention to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election, I answered that question before - I'm in this for the long term.

"What I'm focusing on doing is delivering what the British people want - the British people voted for us to leave the European Union and I and the Government will be delivering that.
T heresa Mays Chequers proposals would deliver an immediate boost to the economic outlook, Mark Carney has indicated to Cabinet.

He disclosed that current forecasts are based on assumptions that involve less access to EU markets than her blueprint would provide.

It strengthens Mrs Mays plan to present Parliament with a stark choice between economic improvement under her plan or chaos if they reject it  provided she can secure a deal from the EU similar to Chequers, which seeks smooth trade for goods and food.

A source told the Standard: He was asked what the current forecasts are based on and the answer was less access than Chequers would give.

Theresa May has offered new proposals / EPA

Asked at the meeting if a Chequers-style deal would boost the economy from its current trajectory, the governor replied: Yes.

The Bank governor was quizzed by around eight ministers during yesterdays three-hour meeting on the his assessments of possible Brexit scenarios. Ministers did not take positions of their own during the discussion

Mark Carney, Governor of Bank of England, leaves Downing Street / REUTERS

Treasury sources have signalled that they will publish fresh economic forecasts based on whatever deal Mrs May obtains before it is put to a vote in the Commons.
C oncerns over a no-deal scenario between Britain and the EU are heightening as the countdown to Brexit continues.

With less than 200 days until Britain leaves the EU, Theresa May and Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab have insisted that Britain will get a deal and the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in August that the issue must be tackled with urgency.

As talks continue with little movement, there is a chance that Britain could be left without a deal next year.

The government have released its latest batch of papers on the impact of leaving the European Union without a deal.

200 days until Brexit: The key dates

Companies such as Airbus and Siemens have supply chains and trade routes that cross borders into European Union countries and argue that a no-deal Brexit would have implications for thousands of jobs.

But what would happen if Britain left the EU without a deal?

No transition period

A 21-month transition period has been proposed should Britain and the EU strike a deal. This allows Britain to make new trade deals with the EU.

However in a no-deal situation, there would be no adjustment time to allow for changes in laws or negotiations for trading deals.

The Irish border

Northern Ireland would be outside of the EU with no arrangements.

However, people from Ireland will continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK.

Ireland could be under pressure from the EU to impose customs and other checks such as immigration to protect the blocs border.

A no-deal situation could also put pressure on the Good Friday agreement.

Impact on people living abroad

Britain would be able to set a control on immigration and in return Europe could retaliate.

It is unclear what would happen to over a million British people currently living in Europe.

Should a no deal happen, both British people in Europe and EU citizens living in the UK would technically have no legal status.

House prices

Bank of England governor Mark Carney warned that house prices could plummet by a third over three years in the worst case scenario.

Mr Carney, who met with ministers this week to discuss the risks of a no-deal Brexit, also warned that homeowners could be left with negative equity and spiralling mortgage rates.

Trade

Britain would not have a trade negotiation with the EU in place meaning that the rules of the World Trade Organisation would come into effect.

Tariffs would be imposed on goods that the UK sends to the EU and the same for goods that the EU sends to the UK. Tariffs on agricultural products could be as high as 60 percent.

Britain would also exit the single market for goods and agriculture which could result in red tape for businesses.

A HM Treasury forecast ahead of the referendum predicted that a no-deal scenario would "push the UK into recession and lead to a sharp rise in unemployment."

Issues at ports and airports

Queues could be longer than normal at Dover due to extensive customs checks on goods.

Freight lorries could be held for long periods of time while they are checked over however there is currently no space for them to park up while the checks are in place.

Earlier this year, the government announced plans to close part of a nearby motorway for use as a lorry park.

It would also affect freight coming into Britain, resulting in the same queue on the EU side of the border in locations such as Rotterdam.

Some people have warned that it could result in a shortage of food however Dominic Raab said that if grocery chains made stockpiling plans, there would be adequate food.
T wo hero firefighters saved the lives of a pair of tiny kittens caught up in a house blaze by giving them CPR.

London Fire Brigade crews rushed to Thorton Heath, in Croydon, to reports of flames ripping through a house on Thursday morning.

Four people escaped the blaze before fire crews arrived - and one person managed to rescue the mother cat and four of her babies - but two five-week-old kittens remained trapped inside.

Two brave crew members, including Dave Sandys, battled through smoke and flames to rescue the tiny pair.

Smokey the kitten was rescued from the fire / LFB

Station manager Robert Scrivener said crews did not think the kittens stood much of a chance but after being given oxygen and CPR the little cats miraculously regained consciousness.

Lucky was rescued by brave firefighters / LFB

He said: We knew they were in the first floor bedroom, but given the severity of the fire and the amount of smoke, we didnt think they would stand much of a chance.

But miraculously, both firefighters returned quickly with the two missing kittens, who had been hiding amongst clothing. The tiny kittens were unconscious but breathing and firefighters gave them oxygen and CPR.

Thankfully, both kittens regained consciousness and they didnt want to let go of the firefighters who came to their rescue. But after lots of care and cuddles, the RSPCA took them to the vet to be checked over.
T he government has launched a desperate legal bid to halt a strike by thousands of prison workers.

Prison staff across the country began strike action on Friday morning after a union blasted the governments failure to provide safe prisons.

But the Ministry of Justice said it would be seeking an injunction to stop the strike.

Prisons minister Rory Stewart called the Prison Officers Association's actions irresponsible as the government deployed contingency plans at the nations prisons in order to cover the strike.

Prison officers protest over violence and safety concerns outside Leicester Prison on Friday morning / Darren Staples/Reuters

The POA said about 5,000 staff were taking part in the demonstrations. The union called on members to take protest action until instructed otherwise.

The strike follows the damning report on Bedford Prison, which was issued an urgent notification notice after an inspector warned of a dangerous lack of control at the jail.

Steve Gillan, the POAs general secretary, said: Earlier this year, the POA commenced legal proceedings due to the governments failure to provide safe prisons.

A prison officer holds a POA flag outside Leicester Prison during the strike on Friday morning / Darren Staples/Reuters

Bedford with other prisons was placed into special measures and commitments [were] made to this union from [the] government and Her Majestys Prison and Probation Service. These commitments were not met.

We will now be demanding that the government provide safe prisons, meet our demands to improve personal protective equipment and reduce levels of violence and overcrowding as set out by Lord Justice Woolf in his report into the riots of 1990.

Prison officers stage a protest outside Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London on Friday morning / Hannah McKay/Reuters

Mr Stewart urged prison officers to return to their posts, adding: It's irresponsible for the POA to encourage their members to take this unlawful action.

We are deploying our contingency plans but, by not turning up for work, these prison officers are putting their fellow staff and inmates at risk.

Mr Stewart said prison sentences for anyone who assaults prison staff were doubled on Thursday. He also claimed pay has been increased, with body-worn cameras also issued for safety of staff.

"We are taking the action that needs to be taken, he said.
T rain operator Arriva has faced a backlash for taking a 10 per cent cut of the cash found in customers wallets and purses before returning them.

The firm has released its controversial list of lost property fees, including 25 for a laptop, which must be paid on top of any postal fees.

It comes after one passenger was furious at being charged 2 and 10 per cent of the money in his wallet after leaving it on a train in Wales.

Adam Howells took to Twitter to complain of theft by train, sparking outrage among other rail users.

But Arriva Trains Wales stood by the policy and claimed the fees were used towards the running costs of the lost property office.

Lost property charges 10% of cash recovered (Minimum 2; maximum 20) Laptops 25 Camcorders 25 Mobile phones 10 Small bags 2 Rucksacks 3 Suitcases 3 Walking sticks 2 Watches 3 Bracelets 3 Pushchairs 3 Bikes 3 Cycle helmets 3 Skateboards 3

It tweeted the list of charges, which showed a 25 fee for laptops, 10 for mobile phones, 2 for walking sticks and 3 for cycle helmets.

Other penalties include 3 for rucksacks, 2 for small bags and 3 for pushchairs, watches and bracelets.

The lost property charges have triggered fury online, with passengers accusing the operator of opportunistic theft and naked profiteering.

Jason Philpot wrote: That's despicable! On what planet is it appropriate to ransom people's property? I'm glad I don't use trains anymore!

Arriva Trains Wales stood by its policy in the face of an angry backlash / PA Archive/PA Images

Steven Piggin said it was scandalous, while Ian Pearce added: You run the service, you take money for people riding on that service, as a company you take that hit as part of your service to the customer.

Richard Cardall asked: Why does it cost more to recover a phone than a bike, for example, given that bikes are larger and take up more storage space? Is the charge based solely on how much the owner is likely to want it back?

But the Arriva Twitter account, which has replied to dozens of angry comments, said the charge was based on the cost required to safely store, record and process the item.

In a separate tweet, the firm said: We act in accordance with the National Rail Conditions of Travel, which state that we may make a charge (not exceeding 2 per day per item) for storing property and (not exceeding 30 per item) for retrieval of property by the owner.

The list of charges also sparked a number of humorous tweets, with one person asking what the price was to return a lost child.
T he Skripal attack suspects' account of their visit to Salisbury "to visit the wonderful city's famous cathedral" has prompted as many questions as it answers.

Ruslan Bohsirov and Alexander Petrov have been accused of attempted murder by British prosecutors after Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia fell critically ill after coming into contact with nerve agent Novichok.

They said they were in Wiltshire to catch a glimpse of Salisbury cathedrals famous spire and visit the wonderful city on their way to Stonehenge.

They claim a planned visit to Stonehenge was thwarted by heavy snow but CCTV footage and weather reports from the weekend of the March 4 poisoning throw up a number of questions about their story.

The men appeared on Russian TV / RT

Why did they stay in east London?

Despite claiming they were in the UK mainly to visit Salisbury Cathedral the pair stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow, east London.

When quizzed by RTs editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan on the decision to stay 127 miles from their planned destination they claimed they had initially planned to have some fun in the capital before friends urged them to visit Salisbury.

They added that one day in Salisbury is enough. It is a regular city. A tourist city, they said.

The City Stay Hotel in Bow, where the suspects are believed to have stayed before the attack

Why were traces of Novichok found in the east London hotel room?

Despite denying having anything to do with poisoning the men did not address Met Police claims that traces of the nerve agent had been found in the hotel room. They were not questioned over the discovery.

Novichok nerve agent suspects - In pictures 1 /11 Novichok nerve agent suspects - In pictures Both suspects at Salisbury train station shortly after 4pm on March 3 Metropolitan Police Suspects: Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov Sky News The suspects walk together through the streets of Salisbury shortly after 1pm on March 4 Metropolitan Police The suspects walk together through the streets of Salisbury shortly after 1pm on March 4 Metropolitan Police Both suspects at Heathrow airport security at about 7.30pm on March 4 Metropolitan Police The counterfeit perfume box found by Charlie Rowley on June 27 Metropolitan Police The perfume bottle and applicator recovered by police from Charlie Rowleys home Metropolitan Police Both suspects in Salisbury just before midday on March 4 Metropolitan Police The suspects seen on CCTV at Salisbury train station at 1.50pm on March 4 Metropolitan Police Ruslan Boshirov at Gatwick airport at 3pm on March 2 Metropolitan Police Alexander Petrov at Gatwick airport at 3pm on March 2 Metropolitan Police

What about the heavy snow?

Despite claims the sights of Salisbury could be seen in a day, the men said they visited twice after their initial trip on March 3 was blighted by snow up to their knees.

We only spent 30 minutes there, we were all wet, Petrov claimed.

But, weather forecasts from the weekend show that despite a cold snap gripping the UK around the time of the poisoning, temperatures had risen by March 3.

By the time of their second visit on March 4, the mercury had hit 9C.

To make matters worse, CCTV footage of the pair shows them walking around a rainy Salisbury without a snowflake in sight.

Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, the two men who carried out the Novichok attack, captured by CCTV on Fisherton Road, Salisbury at 1.05pm on March 4, 2018. / PA/Met Police

Transport meltdown

The men also claimed they were forced to call off a visit to Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain due to bad weather but tour company Salisbury Reds told the Daily Mail that services ran as normal on March 4.

What about the tourist photographs?

Despite apparently making two sightseeing trips to Salisbury, the pair seemed reluctant to release their holiday snaps.

They told RT that the citys cathedral is visited by lots of Russian tourists but when asked if they could prove their visit with pictures Boshirov merely replied: Sure.

There is also a lack of CCTV footage showing the pair at the cathedral or at a nearby park where they claimed to have stopped to drink coffee on March 3.

The men claimed to be visiting Salisbury Cathedral / REUTERS

Bishop of Salisbury Nicholas Holtam said he was not aware of any evidence linking the men to the cathedral, and suggested that they might have benefited from a visit to the building and a viewing of its copy of Magna Carta.

Responding to the men's claims, the bishop told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It doesn't really add up, does it?"

Asked whether there was CCTV footage of them at the cathedral, he said: "There's nothing to link (them with) the cathedral that we have got, or I think anybody has got. There's no way of proving that."

The bishop said that his response to the men's TV interview was to think "What a pity that they didn't spend longer in that city, where they could have explored the cathedral and seen a building that is committed to the love of God, where there is regular worship to lift our hearts, the tallest spire and a copy of Magna Carta about the rule of law and of justice. They didn't seem to see any of that, did they?"

Wrong direction

The only CCTV footage captured of the men in Salisbury shows them leave the railway station heading in the opposite direction of the cathedral.

They were instead pictured walking in the direction of the Skripal family home but claimed they may may have ended up there by coincidence as they didnt know where it was located.

Boshirov said: Maybe we passed it, or maybe we didn't. I'd never heard about them before this nightmare started. I'd never heard this name before. I didn't know anything about them.

Ruslan Boshirov at Gatwick airport / EPA

Fake airport pictures

Boshirov claimed pictures of him arriving at Gatwick Airport were faked as another image emerged of two men appearing to enter at the exact same moment but police debunked this claim by revealing the airport features two parallel entrance channels.

More fake pictures

The two men then appeared to debunk Russias claims CCTV images of the pair in Salisbury had been faked by British intelligence by admitting they had visited the town.

Bad timing

The men also appeared to be unable to answer questions over why they had been in Salisbury  for an apparent second time  on the day the Skiripals were poisoned.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia both survived the nerve agent poisoning

Lack of baggage

The pair also failed to explain why they were pictured at Heathrow Airport on the evening on March 4 with no luggage. They also made no reference to the fact they had booked two return flights on March 4 and 5.

British politicians branded the pairs claims laughable with John Glen, who is MP for Salisbury, writing on Twitter that he was "delighted" the two men saw the sights of Salisbury, but added: "But very strange to come all this way for just two days while carrying Novichok in their luggage".

Salisbury welcomes tourists from around the world and is very much open for business. But the Petrov/Boshirov statements are not credible and don't match the widely accepted intelligence we have on these individuals."

Theresa May described the story as blatant lies and fabrication while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt added: The last time Russian military claimed to be on holiday was when they invaded Ukraine in 2014.

The Crown Prosecution Service said last week that Mr Petrov and Mr Boshirov had been charged with carrying out the poisonings.

Police said they believe the pair flew into Gatwick two days before the attack, when they checked into the City Stay Hotel in Bow, east London.

They then travelled to Salisbury to carry out a reconnaissance mission, and the attack itself the following day.

They used a specially adapted counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume bottle to smear the nerve agent on the door of Mr Skripals home, officers said, before flying back to Moscow from Heathrow that night.

Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said both men had travelled on genuine Russian passports and had visited the UK before.

The pair are also linked to the separate Novichok poisoning on June 20, when Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fell ill in Amesbury, about eight miles away. Ms Sturgess died in hospital on July 8.

The Kremlin said on Friday that it would review any request by the UK to interview the two suspects, but added that it had not received any such request.
Bauer won the Jean Banchet award for best chef de cuisine in 2017 for his work at Schwa. He also worked at Elizabeth and Longman & Eagle. In January, it was announced Bauer was to become head chef at Bar Biscay, but he was replaced before the restaurant opened by Johnny Anderes. In March, Bauer launched his own underground supper club, Chicago, Washington.
U S President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian consulting work as part of a "cooperation deal" with prosecutors in the Robert Mueller investigation.

Manafort, 69, pleaded guilty to two criminal counts, becoming the most prominent former Trump campaign official to plead guilty in Mueller's probe.

The deal allows Manafort to avoid a second trial that had been scheduled to start next week in Washington.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia. He faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the US District Court in Washington / REUTERS

Prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court on Friday that Manafort had struck a "cooperation agreement" and would plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian political consulting work.

Kevin Downing, Manafort's attorney said: "He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life.

"He's accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that."

Manafort told the judge he wants to plead guilty two one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice brought by Mueller's team.

Trump calls Manafort conviction a 'disgrace'

Manafort's second trial would have been related to his Ukrainian political consulting work, including failing to register as a foreign agent.

Donald Trump branded claims against Manafort a 'witch hunt' / AP

The charges were set to include money laundering, conspiring to defraud the US, witness tampering and failing to register as a foreign agent. Jury selection was due to start on Monday.

According to the court documents cited by US media, Manafort was set to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against the US and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Following his initial conviction, Donald Trump spoke out in praise of Manafort and branded the charges brought against him a "witch hunt".

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the Manafort case has nothing to do with Mr Trump.

She said: "This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated."

The president did nothing wrong," said Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump's attorney, in a statement.
H urricane Florence has made landfall in the US leaving streets submerged in up to six feet of ocean water and hundreds of thousands of without power.

The centre of the hurricane made landfall near Wrightsville, North Carolina, on Friday bringing with it life-threatening storm surges and winds of more than 100mph.

The National Hurricane Centre warned there would be "catastrophic" fresh water flooding over a wide area of the Carolinas.

Shocking video footage showed severe flooding in Belhaven, North Carolina, after the river burst its banks, dramatic power cuts as lines were struck by the strong winds and sheets of biblical rain falling with full force.

Another clip showed the canopy of a BP gas station in Topsail Beach, North Carolina, being completely blown away.

The storm officially made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7.15am US time (12.15pm UK time).

One resident of New Bern, Peggy Perry, was trapped in her home with three relatives. She told CNN: "In a matter of seconds, my house was flooded up to the waist, and now it is to the chest. We are stuck in the attic."

More than 60 people have been helped to safety from a motel at risk of collapse in Jacksonville. Parts of buildings ripped apart by the storm flew through the air.

Authorities in the North Carolina city of New Bern said there are around 150 people waiting to be rescued from rising flood waters. Almost 200 have already been rescued.

Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home / Getty Images

Screaming winds bent trees and led to near-horizontal rain as Florence's leading edge whipped the Carolina coast overnight from Thursday to begin an onslaught that could last for days, leaving a wide area underwater from both heavy downpours and rising seas.

Russ Lewis covers his eyes from a gust of wind and a blast of sand as Hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach, South Carolina / AP

Governor Roy Cooper has warned of an impending disaster.

He said: "The worst of the storm is not yet here but these are early warnings of the days to come.

"Surviving this storm will be a test of endurance, teamwork, common sense and patience."

Storm clouds rise above the city of Wilmington as Hurricane Florence comes ashore / Rex Features

Mr Cooper requested additional federal disaster assistance in anticipation of what his office called "historic major damage" across the state.

More than 12,000 were in shelters in North Carolina and another 400 people were in shelters in Virginia, where forecasts are less dire.

Prisoners were affected, too. North Carolina corrections officials said more than 3,000 people were relocated from adult prisons and juvenile centres in the path of Florence, and more than 300 county prisoners were transferred to state facilities.

Officials said some 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to evacuate, but it is unclear how many did.

The homes of about 10 million are under watches or warnings for the hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

Forecasters said conditions will deteriorate as the storm pushes ashore near the North Carolina-South Carolina line and makes its way slowly inland.

Its surge could cover all but a sliver of the Carolina coast under as much as 11ft of ocean water, and days of downpours could unload more than 3ft of rain, touching off severe flooding.

Although it was once a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140mph, the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday night.
F riends of a Boston teenager killed after a chimney from an exploding house plummeted onto his car say they are "heartbroken" at his death.

Leonel Rondon, 18, died on Thursday after a series of gas explosions rocked Boston's suburbs, destroying over 60 homes.

His friends said he "always had a big smile on his face."

Shantel Polanco Baez said: Heaven gained a beautiful angel. Just called me last night to check up on mebreaks my heart Im in tears.

Firefighters battle a large structure fire in Lawrence, Mass, a suburb of Boston / AP

One of his friends Randy Flow said that Mr Rondon had recently passed his driving test.

Amanda Diaz wrote: RIP! Remember our little talks and that smirk. My condolences to your family.

Residents flee their homes wearing protective gas masks / AP

Twelve people have been injured including one firefighter. They are mainly being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

Police were seen driving up and down streets telling residents to evacuate their homes immediately.

Investigators believe the fires have been caused by "over-pressurisation of a gas main" belonging to Columbia Gas Lines.

Boston Gas Explosion - In pictures 1 /19 Boston Gas Explosion - In pictures AP Boston: multiple suspected gas blasts and fires have caused mass evacuations in the US city AP WBZ-TV Firefighters battle a large structure fire in Lawrence, Mass, a suburb of Boston AP EPA Flames burn through a home in Lawrence AP REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS EPA EPA AP AP AP AP AP Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images

Andover Fire Rescue Chief Michael Mansfield described the chaos as "overwhelming" and said it resembled "Armageddon."

"I have been in the fire service for almost 39 years and I have never seen anything like this in my entire career," he said.

"There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Firefighters battle a raging house fire in Lawrence / AP

Witnesses said the explosions began at about 4.30pm in the US (8.30pm UK time).

The company that owns Columbia Gas says its crews are performing safety checks.

A statement from Indiana-based NiSource says its "thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident" and that it appreciates the response from local emergency crews.
A mother and infant have been confirmed as the two first storm-related deaths in America as Storm Florence batters the US East Coast.

The centre of the hurricane made landfall near Wrightsville, North Carolina, on Friday bringing with it life-threatening storm surges and winds of more than 100mph.

Police in Wilmington, North Carolina, have confirmed the first two fatalities of the storm, saying that a mother and infant were killed after a tree fell on their home.

In a tweet, the force said: WPD can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane #Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house.

The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries.

In Pender County, North Carolina, another woman also died after she suffered a heart attack and paramedics were unable to reach her due to blocked roads, authorities said.

A fourth person was also killed in Lenoir County while trying to plug in a generator, according to a statement from the governor's office.

The Governor for North Carolina Roy Cooper said: "Our hearts go out to the families of those who died in the storm.

"Hurricane Florence is going to continue its violent grint across our state for days. Be extremely careful and stay alert."

The National Weather Service says 14 to 15 inches of rain has already fallen north of Swansboro, North Carolina and the storm is only set to get worse.

Weather Prediction Center senior forecaster David Roth said catastrophic flash flooding is expected to continue to worsen on Friday.

He said that the heavy rainfall for southeast North Carolina is only one-third to one-quarter the way over.

Myrtle Beach / AP

Mr Cooper also warned about the potential destruction the storm could bring.

He said whole communities could be wiped away.

Shocking video footage showed severe flooding in Belhaven, North Carolina, after the river burst its banks, dramatic power cuts as lines were struck by the strong winds and sheets of biblical rain falling with full force.

Another clip showed the canopy of a BP petrol station in Topsail Beach, North Carolina, being completely blown away.

The storm officially made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina at 7.15am Eastern Standard Time (12.15pm UK time).

One resident of New Bern, Peggy Perry, was trapped in her home with three relatives. She told CNN: "In a matter of seconds, my house was flooded up to the waist, and now it is to the chest. We are stuck in the attic."

President Donald Trump is expected to travel to areas affected by the hurricane next week.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says Trump will travel to the region "early to middle of next week."
M illions of people in Hong Kong and the Philipines have been told to "prepare for the worst" as a super typhoon hurtles towards them bringing winds of up to 160mph.

Typhoon Mangkhut was about 250 miles away from the Philippines on Friday morning (UK time) and has the force of a category 5 hurricane.

It is expected to continue towards Hong Kong where the government is evacuating thousands of people in low lying areas.

The storm is expected to be the strongest to hit Hong Kong since records began 50 years ago and has much more power than Hurricane Florence which is currently lashing the US East Coast.

A Filipino fisherman at work near the shoreline in the town of Aparri / EPA

In the Philippines, thousands of people are being evacuated from the storm's path before its predicted arrival on Saturday.

There is concern for thousands of people currently living in houses made from light materials with nearly 48,000 homes said to be at risk from the typhoons winds.

Forecasters have warned of storm surges as high as six metres in coastal villages.

Residents reinforce the roof of their house by putting heavy tires at a slum area in Manila / AFP/Getty Images

The storm has a massive rain cloud band 560 miles wide and could bring intense rains sparking flash flooding and landslides.

Schools have closed and bulldozers have been readied for possible landslides. Troops are on full alert.

Typhoon Mangkhut is arriving at the start of corn harvesting season with many farmers rushing to save their crops before it hits.

A member of the Philippine Air Force stands in front of a satellite image of Typhoon Mangkhut / AP

The countrys agriculture ministry said that damage to crops in a worst case scenario could reach about 157,000 tonnes of paddy rice and about 257,000 tonnes of corn worth 13.5 billion pesos (525.7 million).

Authorities are taking extra precautions after Typhoon Haiyan devastated areas of the Philippines killing 6,300 people in 2013.

After it hits the Philippines, the typhoon is expected to pass within 100km of Hong Kong.

Filipino fishermen secure a boat ahead of the impending arrival of the super typhoon / EPA

The regions observatory has warned of rough seas and has urged residents to take suitable precautions and pay close attention to the latest information.

Lam Chiu-ying, a former director of the Observatory, told the South China Morning Post the storm had potential to pose a great danger to Hong Kong.

The new Hong Kong - Zhuhai bridge is set to undergo its first test.

Structural and geotechnical engineer Ngai Hok-yan told the South China Morning Post that the 34-mile-long bridge could be at risk from a storm surge. It is built to withstand waves of four metres however forecasters predict the surge could bring waves of six metres.

The typhoon is set to hit the financial hub of Hong Kong / EPA

Vegetable prices have sky rocketed as families try to stock up on necessities.

The typhoon is set to be the most powerful storm to hit Hong Kong since it began collecting records in 1946.
U nited States Congress has passed a bill to ban Americans eating cats and dogs.

The US House of Representatives adopted the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which will see people fined up to $5,000 (3,800) for slaughtering cats and dogs for human consumption.

In a rare show of unity in the House, it was put forward by Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Alcee Hastings.

The practice had still been legal in 44 states. The Animal Welfare Institute said a restaurant was closed several years ago after a worker was caught slaughtering cats chained in the basement to be served as meals.

'The United States should be a leader against this inhumane and unsafe industry,' Vern Buchanan said / AP

Mr Buchanan said: Dogs and cats provide love and companionship to millions of people and should not be slaughtered and sold as food.

The congressman added his hope that China and South Korea would follow the USs example by outlawing, and enforcing existing laws, against the cat and dog meat trade.

The United States should be a leader against this inhumane and unsafe industry, he said.

A South Korean court ruled the killing of dogs for meat as illegal in June.
C elebrity Big Brother star Ben Jardine has begged fans to leave Roxanne Pallett alone, saying she has been punished enough.

Pallett, 35, sparked mass outrage after she accused fellow housemate Ryan Thomas of deliberately punching her repeatedly in the ribs, despite footage showing he barely touched her during a light hearted play fight.

The former Emmerdale actress was trolled online with her Wikipedia page edited to describe her as a pathetic human being while others called for her to be banned from TV indefinitely.

Jardine, who struck up a friendship with Pallett in the house, said people need to move on from the incident.

Connection: Ben Jardine and Roxanne Pallett in the Celebrity Big Brother house / Channel 5

Speaking to Lizzie Cundy on FUBAR Radio he said: I think everyone now should just get on with it. She's been punished, bless her, leave her be.

Jardine, who found fame on Married at First Sight, admitted he had a connection with Pallett despite her being engaged.

I was taken in with her, he said. We clicked, I'll admit that, and there was a connection.

Roxanne Pallett says she is the 'most hated girl in Britain'

When I looked into the little ones eyes you can see a little bit of a lost soul there.

Pallett walked from the house after hearing fans chanting for her to leave. She apologised for accusing Thomas of deliberately hurting her and said she accepts that she is the most hated woman in Britain.

Thomas broke down in tears on seeing footage of himself professing his innocence in the Diary Room after learning of Palletts accusations which saw him issued with a formal warning from show bosses.

Ryan Thomas says Roxanne Pallett 'has been through a lot'

Speaking to Jeremy Vine on Wednesday he said: Ive not seen any of that back. Its strange. You have no idea whats going on when youre in there. You just want your friends and your loved ones with you when something like that happens.

It caught us all by surprise. That house when something like that happens can become very isolated. It did for me personally.

Thomas said he appreciates Palletts apology, but has no plans to see her in the future.

I think Roxanne has been through a lot he said. Big Brother makes headlines, sometimes for the wrong reasons. I appreciate Roxannes apology and its time to move forward and not dwell on the past.

Shes suffered enough and I dont want to be a part of that. Shes got a lot to deal with and seeing her again is not my first priority.
E mma Stone joined fellow stars of her new Netflix series Maniac on the red carpet for a night of glitz and glamour at the shows world premiere in London.

The Oscar-winning actress, 29, stepped out alongside her co-star and friend Justin Theroux, 47, as they posed for photographs at the event on Thursday night.

In Maniac Theroux plays Dr James K Mantleray, an inventor of a sequence of pills he claims can permanently repair mental illness or heartbreak, with no side-effects.

Speaking on the red carpet, the film and TV star said he would like to feature in one of his cousin Louis Therouxs documentaries.

Cary Fukunaga, Emma Stone, Patrick Somerville and Justin Theroux attend the World premiere of the new Netflix series Maniac / Getty Images

He is the nephew of Louis father, travel writer Paul Theroux, who also attended the bash at the Southbank centre.

The actor said of the family reunion: "Hopefully we're going to hang out later tonight. After the premiere, we'll go to the party together.

"I would give anything to be the subject of one of his documentaries.

Emma Stone and director Cary Fukunaga pose on the red carpet upon arrival / AFP/Getty Images

"I've been trying to convince him. Maybe he could come and live with me for a month?"

Starring alongside him in the dark comedy are Academy Award winner Stone and Oscar nominee Jonah Hill.

The pair play two strangers who are drawn into the late stages of Mantleray's radical pharmaceutical trial.
J eremy Clarkson will host a full series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? after a popular comeback earlier this year.

The former Top Gear host steered the ship back in May for seven episodes celebrating the iconic game shows 20th anniversary.

And now Clarkson will front 10 more episodes in early 2019, hoping to turn contestants into millionaires by giving them the questions to climb up the ladder.

In a statement, Clarkson said: I absolutely loved hosting the anniversary shows.

Game show: Jeremy Clarkson was hailed for his presenting earlier this year / ITV

[I] cannot wait to spend a few precious hours away from James May and Richard Hammond making the new ones.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant isn't sure where Blackpool is

The anniversary edition gave contestants an extra lifeline with the ability to pose one of their questions to Clarkson, alongside the regular Ask The Audience, 50:50 and Phone A Friend.

Matthew Worthy, joint managing director of Stellify Media, joked: A quick tip for future contestants: dont use it on questions about fine art, haute cuisine or the scouting association.

Original: Chris Tarrant hosted the show from its 1998 debut until 2016 / Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive/PA Images

Quiz hopefuls can apply to be part of the show now via the ITV website ahead of the brand new series, which will be hoping to emulate the success of the anniversary week which launched with 6.1 million viewers.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? made its ITV debut in September 1998 and went on to become one of the most successful show formats in the world, exported to many different countries including America, India, Japan and Australia.

The iconic game show, hosted by Chris Tarrant until 2014, presented contestants with a series of questions which, answered correctly, would see them climb up the money-making ladder and hopefully bag themselves the top prize.
You never saw a "Good Eats" show about cooking rabbit in the 12-year, 249-episode run of Alton Brown's popular Food Network series.

"They don't want people thinking about eating Thumper," says Brown of network execs. No shows about kidneys or frogs or snails neither. His job was to deliver mainstream food and unearth the science behind it, in his own quirky fashion  with crazy, custom-built models, hand puppets and crew members pressed into acting roles.

"Good Eats," which aired its final regular episode this summer (three one-hour specials will air later), set out to show us how to make a better pancake, green bean casserole, apple pie (see recipe) and much more. As a fitting coda, "Good Eats 3: The Later Years" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $37.50), the final book in Brown's three-volume series capturing every episode, has just been released in what amounts to a victory lap.

We talked to Brown about the show and his plans post-"Good Eats."

Inspiration: "Most of the kind of wacko stuff came from home. It's me wandering around the house in the middle of the night  wondering how to do something better."

One example: "We made a derrick out of a ladder to safely fry a turkey. The crew thought I was nuts. But then when they saw how it worked, they say, 'Oh my god, that's beautiful.'"

The show's influence on home cooks: "My responsibility was to entertain. At the same time, laughing brains are more absorbent. Have I made people better cooks? I have no idea. I have asked, Can people do this and will the dish be better? Will the scrambled eggs be better, the pie be better?"

What's next? Brown has several projects in development for the Food Network, but he declined to talk about them. For now he'll continue his roles on "Iron Chef America" and "The Next Iron Chef."

Brown was willing, however, to talk about one project: video-enhanced e-cookbooks. "I intend to be one of the pioneers on that new frontier," he says. "I hope we do for that medium what we did for cooking shows, that is, something that hasn't done before."

Catch Alton

Alton Brown will talk about and sign copies of "Good Eats 3: The Later Years" 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-446-8880.

5 principles

Here's what Alton Brown says fans should take away from "Good Eats":

"You must learn to love heat, or you will never be a cook."

"Taste your food often while you're making it. Americans hate this. We want to make it by a formula and taste after it's done. If you don't taste food as you're making it, you're doomed."

"Weigh things. Our fixation with volumetric measurements has kept us in the Stone Age as cooks."

"The best knives are the sharp knives. Dull knives are just loaded guns waiting to go off."

"Water makes very few foods taste better. Water tends to dilute things. So if you are not extracting a flavor, if you're not using water as a medium, e.g., soup, then ask yourself why it's there."

Super apple pie

Prep: 45 minutes

Chill: 2 hours

Cook: 50 minutes

Servings: One 9 1/2- to 10-inch pie, 10

Note: In Episode 186, Alton Brown sets out to make a better apple pie. Grains of paradise (aromatic, peppery seeds) are available in spice shops or online, such as at thespicehouse.com. (Or use caraway seeds, Brown says). If you cannot find a pie bird (used to vent the pie) in kitchen stores, make a hollow tube from aluminum foil. Refrigerate butter, shortening and applejack 1 hour before beginning.

Crust:

6 ounces unsalted butter, cut in 1/2-inch pieces

2 ounces vegetable shortening, cut in 1/2-inch pieces

5 to 7 tablespoons applejack

12 ounces flour (2 cups and 6 Tbsps)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Filling:

3 1/2 pounds apples, about 6 large, a mix of Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn and Golden Delicious

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons tapioca flour

2 tablespoons apple cider

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

1. For the crust, pulse the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor to mix. Add butter; pulse 5 or 6 times, until the texture looks mealy. Add the shortening; pulse 3 or 4 times until incorporated.

2. Sprinkle in 5 tablespoons applejack. Pulse 5 times. Add more applejack as needed; pulse until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

3. For the filling, peal and core apples; slice into 1/2-inch-thick wedges. Toss with 1/4 cup sugar. Place in a colander set over a bowl; drain 1 1/2 hours.

4. Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan; cook over medium heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool. Toss the apples with remaining sugar, the tapioca flour, jelly, cider, lime juice, salt and grains of paradise.

5. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove one dough disk from the refrigerator. Place dough on a lightly floured piece of waxed paper. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour; roll out into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 9 1/2- to 10-inch tart pan that is 2 inches deep. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan, crimping and trimming the edges as necessary. Set a pie bird in the center of the bottom of the pan.

6. Arrange the apples in the shell in concentric circles, starting around the edges, working toward the center and forming a slight mound in the center. Pour any liquid that remains in the bowl over the apples.

7. Roll out the second disk. Place over the apples, pressing the pie bird through the top crust. Press the edges together. Brush top with the reduced juice everywhere except around the rim. Trim off excess dough. Place the pie on a parchment-lined baking sheet with sides; bake on the bottom shelf of the oven until the apples are cooked through but not mushy, 30 minutes. Remove to a rack; cool until almost room temperature, about 4 hours.

Nutrition information:

Per serving: 415 calories, 20 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 37 mg cholesterol, 57 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein, 284 mg sodium, 3 g fiber.

jxgray@tribune.com
The malort war is officially on.

Last month, we discussed the growing ardor for Chicago's most bitter spirit, and the battle brewing over just who can use the word "malort."

This week, Sazerac Co. took on Chicago-based Carl Jeppson Co.'s bid to trademark the term by formally opposing Jeppson's application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

In the appeal, Sazerac argues that "malort" is the Swedish word for "wormwood"  the bitter plant that is the principle ingredient in the green-yellow spirit  and therefore simply a description of the product.

Sazerac says allowing the trademark would interfere with a beverage maker's ability to "identify a quality of their goods, namely an ingredient in or flavor of liquor" and also prevent Sazerac and others from using the term to describe its own spirits. The suit does not say whether Sazerac plans to make a malort.

Long a gag shot or badge of honor due to its intense bitterness, malort has gained a steady following in recent years that was perhaps best evidenced with two local craft distillers  Letherbee and FEW  releasing their own versions. Carl Jeppson Co., which traces its malort roots back nearly 100 years, applied for the trademark in January 2013, shortly after Letherbee released its version.

Jeppson hit both Letherbee and FEW with cease-and-desist letters. While Letherbee considered fighting the trademark, it opted not to. Sazerac, a Louisiana-based spirits behemoth that owns dozens of brands, presumably has far deeper pockets for such fights.

The suit could linger into 2015, according to documents filed.

jbnoel@tribune.com

Twitter @traveljosh
Burrow, Tousle is what happens when you turn idle time into a dance. Luxurious pregnant pauses temper the sound score, which starts with simple hummed long tones by vocalist Chrissy Martin. Martin mixes her voice from an iPad, disassociating vocal harmonies into a drone of electronica. At intervals, one of the women might decide to simply lie on her back, rearrange the pillows, or turn on or off one or two of the many lamps on stage. Theres an easiness to the two women, in the way they come in and out of contact with each other, and in how they sense each others movements. Their faces are detached, ambivalent, unemotional. Watching them brought me back to the magical contact jams once hosted at the old Links Hall on Sheffield  an unintentional nod, perhaps, to the legacy of Chicagos once-thriving improvisational dance scene.
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"But most of the help that people can get ends closer to the time of diagnosis or treatment," she warned, "so while these programs help prevent people from having greater burden early on in their care, they may not be as helpful for women facing long-term costs.
The Slovakian people cannot ever forget the sacrifice of the Romanian troops for the liberation of one third of the territory of Slovakia, Ambassador Karol Mistrik said on Thursday in Oradea, emphasizing that the good cohabitation between the local Slovak ethnics and the Romanian majority can provide an example for any state.

Addressing the reception organized in the Oradea Citadel on the occasion of the Slovak National Council Day, the diplomat said that our nations are connected by longtime, very good traditions. We have a long common history and we are very close. Slovakia cannot ever forget that almost a third of its territory was liberated by the Romanian troops. 240,000 Romanian troops fought on the territory of Slovakia and 10,000 died on Slovak soil, said the diplomat, who also mentioned the WW2 Heroes Cemetery in Zvolen, and expressed gratitude for Romania's wartime efforts. In 1968, when the Warsaw pact troops entered Czechoslovakia, Romania said a firm 'No!' and did not join the action, Karol Mistrik went on to say, adding that in 1992, even before the new Constitution of Slovakia was finalized, Romania was the first to recognize the Slovak state.

The Slovak minority in Romania represents another link with the Slovak state, the ambassador underscored.Our minority can make full use of the benefits of this status, develop culturally and preserve its identity. The cohabitation between the Slovak minority and the Romanian majority may be an example for any state, Ambassador Karol Mistrik said, pointing out that the visit of Slovakian Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini to Romania had been a great success and set new ground for future development.The diplomat brought to mind that during the meeting with Prefect Ioan Mihaiu and President of the Bihor County Council, Pasztor Sandor, new ways of cooperation were found for which one term would be too short to carry out.I believe in normality. We have been inventorying for two years now, with the help of the Slovak representatives, the issues I am perfectly knowledgeable of, as being key for a minority: culture, school, infrastructure - to the possible extent - and local administration. We have built a system to provide financing for those essential needs of the Slovak community, depending also on the budget, but which reaches beyond the political jumble so to say, that is capable to carry on and preserve its identity. I believe that multiculturalism and our tolerant approach brings added benefits of this county and this country. We must be a model for others too, said in his turn the President of the Bihor County Council.
The new Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Bucharest, Karol Mistrik, declared for AGERPRES, on Thursday, that Romania's forests in the Carpathians are still healthy and they need to be protected as national wealth.

"I would like to say a personal opinion. The Carpathians and Tatra are part of the same mountain range and they unite us. I come from the most beautiful mountainous part of the Carpathians in Tatra, the Slovakian area and I had the opportunity to pass the Carpathians in Romania. You still have what we are starting to lack. You still have healthy forests, that you must protect, because they are more than personal wealth," the Slovak ambassador declared.

Asked about how he perceives the change in our country, post-1989, Mistrik remembered a very long road and full of surprises through Romania, when he was a student. Today, he says, after traveling more than 4,000 kilometers in the four months since he has been Slovakia's ambassador to Romania, considers that "everyone must renew their photographs"."During the communist era, everyone from Czechoslovakia came to the Black Sea in Romania or Bulgaria. We did not know exactly how Romania presented itself, but they used to talk about how it was poorer rather than richer. Anyone who visits Romania today must renew their photographs of old times, because it surprises you in a pleasant way. Romania has taken great strides, one cannot only see in Bucharest that it is a European metropolis, but in all corners of the country," Karol Mistrik declared.The diplomat took part on Thursday in a reception organized by the Oradiei Citadel, marking the occasion of Slovakia's National Day. During the visit in Bihor County, he will have meetings on Friday with representatives of the Slovak community of Sinteu, Popesti and Suplacu de Barcau municipalities. In Popesti he will visit the Jozef Kozacek Theoretical High School, of Budoi, the only Slovak high school in Bihor county, and in Suplacu de Barcau he is awaited to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, alongside the chairman of U.D.S.C.R (Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs of Romania, e.n.) Adrian Miroslav Merka.
The high quality of the Romanian higher education could be also judged by the brain-drain's scale, by the huge number of specialists who go work in other countries, said Romania's ambassador to Switzerland Vlad Vasiliu.

Attending the events organized by the National Council of Rectors in Geneva, at the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference where a pavilion was opened under the name of "Study in Romania" that promotes 30 universities countrywide, the diplomat said that the higher education in Romania has certain traits that could boost it internationally.

"I believe that one of the traits is the fact that the Romanian higher education has adapted to the requirements, and another one is the high academic level of the professors and, not least, the students' desire. In a nutshell, the best evaluation of the high level of professionalism of the Romanian university education is, after all, an indicator that is not socially encouraging, namely the <> of highly qualified professionals we have and of whom other economies, other societies take advantage of. Of course, corroborated with other factors, per global, but if we weren't molding and not only peaks, because it is obvious one cannot only mold peaks, but it is a solid, high median, our specialists wouldn't be that looked for on the international market," Ambassador Vlad Vasiliu told AGERPRES.The diplomat believes that the participation of a delegation representative for the Romanian higher education in such events is paramount, given that the information level that could be accessed in three days of the conference is very high."Absolutely, Romania's presence with a national pavilion in Geneva at this exhibition is an added value for the Romanian higher education. Both to see where it stands from the international competition's point of view, because big universities come here and the trends and orientations are seeable. This not about copying, but getting inspiration, knowing one's territory, reassessing one's competencies and orientations. They are from all over the countries, we stand between the Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, Poland - so these are the immediate neighbours of our pavilion, after all our competitors in the global fight, not only from the university viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of our universities' capacity to mold specialists who are eventually contributing to the growth of Romania's economic competitiveness. Education, there is no point in repeating a well-known fact, is essential for a society's development," the Romanian diplomat added.Vasiliu also brought to mind Switzerland's performance in education and deemed that it could serve as a not-so-large country model, non-EU country, but which makes it to promote its vision of higher education."Here, in Switzerland, it is normal to be present, Switzerland is a country which, a few are aware of this in Romania, for seven years in a row, has been ranking first in development and research. Having two extremely strong poles - the Zurich and Lausanne polytechnic universities. Zurich, ranking 7th at world's level, is first on the European continent after the four from the United States of America and the two of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the classic leaders. And I believe that one can also learn learn from the Swiss experience when it comes to promoting, from a small, non-EU country, the priorities of higher education," Vlad Vasiliu asserted.Not least, the diplomat stresses that given the current global competition's conditions, not to attend such events could be similar to not existing for the ones around you."CNR has shaped this consistent participation, it is admirable and there is another thing of which we should be more and more aware of - if one is not seen and is not participating in such events, one doesn't exist for the rest of the world. One has to participate properly, efficiently, by displaying their offer, capacities and perspectives," Vlad Vasiliu added.From 11 to 14 September, over 100 representatives of Romania's academic milieu are present in Geneva, at the 30th edition of the EAIE. As many 30 Romanian universities are thus represented, and also the CNR (the National Council of Rectors, ed.n.), the National Education Ministry, the Erasmus National Agency, the UEFISCDI, alongside the Permanent Mission if Romania to the UN and the Romanian Embassy in Switzerland.
European Commissioner for Regional Development Corina Cretu declared on Friday, in Cluj-Napoca, that she hopes for the construction works of the three regional emergency hospitals to kick off by the end of next year.

"There were delays and I will never shy away from warning member states when there are delays, as regards the infrastructure for important investments, but, now, the European Investment Bank (BEI) has carried out the feasibility studies for the hospitals in Cluj and Iasi, followed by Craiova. The projects will arrive at the European Commission by this year's end, we hope to approve them as quickly as possible. After that the tenders will begin, and my hope is that by the end of 2019, the actual construction will begin. The money can be spent until 2023. It's sad that they were signed in July 2015 and it was provided for that the feasibility studies be conducted by 2016; it's 2018 and they are not ready. We hope that the building phase will move faster than the drafting of the documentation," Corina Cretu said.

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu participated on Friday in a dialogue with the citizens, titled "A modern budget for a stronger Union", organized by the Faculty of European Studies at the Babes-Bolyai University. Attending the talks were, among others, the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, and MEP Daniel Buda.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the African swine fever epidemics were among the topics tackled by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan with the representatives of the joint parliamentary Committees for European and Agriculture Affairs of the Romanian legislature.

The chairwoman of the Senate's Committee for European Affairs Gabriela Cretu on Thursday headed the meeting of the joint parliamentary committees for European and Agriculture Affairs with the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, with Phil Hogan, the main topics being the CAP reform and the files to be managed by the future Presidency of Romania to the Council of the European Union, the situation of the African swine fever's epidemics, the unfair trade practices as well as the Group of Action for Rural Africa, a release by the Senate reads.

Commissioner Phil Hogan assured Romania of the European Commission's support in its fight against the African swine fever, by implementing certain surveillance and detection measures of the virus, veterinary services and research.We'll continue to back the Agriculture Ministry and Romania's farmers concerning the surveillance measures, the veterinary services, research. We'll try to provide a vaccine workable in the future. As many as 10 million euro will be allocated in 2019 for the research of this objective, the European official said, according to the source.As for other financial measures, related to the ceiling and help through redistribution of the payments for the small and medium-sized farms, Hogan stressed that any proposals from the member states, Romania included, will be discussed, so as to know how the farms could be helped to stay in business. The EC has in view a new loan backing package, with the support of the European Investments Bank and the EU funds, in general, the source adds.In her speech, Gabriela Cretu appreciated Phil Hogan's optimism with regard to the negotiation of the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and his will to reach a final agreement in March 2019, during Romania's Presidency of the EU Council, and said that the first European regulations kit referring to the MFF has already been examined within the European Affairs Committee, and those referring to the CAP are due to be examined next week.In addition, senator Cretu wanted to underline that "beyond the economic, social and environment protection role, the farmers also play an important political role."The CAP affects and implicates many citizens, in Central and Eastern Europe, in particular. The way the new CAP is built and the fairness of the funds' distribution can counteract the increasing Euro-skepticism wave. Domestically, we do our best to help the farmers be independent, so that they don't depend on the big banks. Even yesterday we have examined a new draft law referring to the mutual insurance companies that can support the farmers," Gabriela Cretu said, as quoted by the Senate's release.At the end, Cretu appealed to the EC representative to join Romania's efforts on both the short term in stopping the African swine fever's epidemics, and on the medium term, in defending the CAP project.
President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will attend for the first time the Three Seas Initiative Summit on Monday and Tuesday in Bucharest, the Representation of the European Commission to Romania informs on Friday.

President Juncker will deliver a speech at the plenary sitting of the summit, called "An Initiative which delivers - key projects in energy, transport, digital interconnections. The Three Seas Initiative as catalyst for the cohesion and convergence of the EU and for the strengthening of the transatlantic link," on Tuesday, September 18. The European Commissioner Corina Cretu will accompany the President and will participate in the Business Forum to be organized in the margins of the Summit.

The Summit aims to achieve concrete progresses in increasing interconnection in the region, in three main fields - energy, transportation and digital. In this respect, representatives of the participating EU member states, located between the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic Sea, as well as their guests will discuss concrete ways for boosting connectivity in the region, increasing convergence, cohesion and EU unity, as well as strengthening transatlantic ties.

The Three Seas Initiative (3SI) is a flexible political platform launched in 2015, which included the 12 EU member states located between the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Romania's Embassy in Sofia is focusing on the case of the Romanian citizen detained Thursday night through Friday on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and urgently undertook demarches with the local authorities seeking additional information, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs.

Moreover, a mobile consular team with the Embassy went to the locality where the Romanian citizen is to provide assistance. Following the demarches undertook by the mobile consular team, the Bulgarian authorities informed that the Romanian citizen was held in custody for checks, as he was in an area under this country's authorities' supervision. After the checks were carried out, the Romanian citizen was released, MAE specifies.

The representatives of the diplomatic mission gave him consular assistance in relation with the local authorities, by ensuring translation, included, MAE further shows.According to the cited source, Romania's Embassy in Sofia is further monitoring the situation, keeping in touch with the Bulgarian authorities.Rise Project Romania released, Thursday through Friday night, on its Facebook official page, the information according to which journalist Attila Biro and a Bulgarian colleague were held by the police. The two were near Pernik locality, "where the targets of an investigation were trying to burn documents related to a fraud with European funds," Rise Project Romania further specifies.
National leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Liviu Dragnea on Friday went to the Attorney General's Office to testify as witness in a case related to the intervention of the riot police in an August 10 street protest in Bucharest's Piata Victoriei.

Approximately 770 criminal complaints have been filed with the Military Prosecution Section on behalf of people who suffered as a result of gendarmes' intervention in the August 10 protest.

Military prosecutors opened a criminal case in which criminal prosecution was commenced for abusive behaviour, abuse of office and negligence in relation with the gendarmes' intervention in the Piata Victoriei protest.
Riches for me and mine, from boodle and asphalt and trucking contracts. And taxes for the rest of you to pay for it all. I will give sanctuary to all voters, even the suburban dead. And if you dont like it, get your mouth shut.
A doctor charged last month with murdering four people had a paper trail of professional troubles  including being kicked out of a Chicago residency program for "substandard" behavior  yet maintained a license to practice medicine in Illinois for a decade.

Documents the Tribune obtained from the University of Illinois at Chicago show that Dr. Anthony Garcia's supervisors in the pathology program were so concerned about his lengthy absences and failure to contact them that in 2004 they ended his contract.

It was the third residency program that Garcia did not complete, and he was later fired from a fourth after authorities in another state discovered he had lied about his residency record, according to records. Those failings raised enough red flags that authorities in at least three states moved to block his ability to practice medicine.

Yet Illinois  apparently unaware of his problems  continued to renew his permanent medical license, exposing what some experts have said are broad weaknesses in how doctors are tracked across the country.

"It is just a big loophole in general that nobody is adequately tracking these residency and resume issues," said Robert Oshel, a retired associate director for research and disputes with the National Practitioner Data Bank. "Everybody was sort of doing the minimum they needed to, and nobody was really looking for the long-run public interest."

Garcia had been living in Terre Haute, Ind., when he was arrested July 15 in southern Illinois and charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

Authorities have said the killings were revenge against the doctors who fired Garcia from his residency program in Nebraska before he moved to Illinois. One of the victims was the 11-year-old son of one of the doctors who fired him in 2001 from the pathology residency at Creighton University in Nebraska. The boy, Thomas Hunter, and his family's housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, 57, were stabbed to death in 2008 by someone who broke into the Hunters' home.

Then in May, authorities allege, Garcia killed the other doctor he blamed for his undoing at Creighton, Roger Brumback, and his wife, Mary, both 65. Roger Brumback was fatally shot; his wife was stabbed to death, authorities have said.

One of Garcia's attorneys, Robert Motta, said Garcia plans to plead not guilty. "We totally and completely believe in our client's innocence," Motta said.

After learning of Garcia's arrest, Illinois regulators reviewed his 2003 medical license application  which was granted while he was still a UIC resident  and his 2005, 2008 and 2011 renewal forms. They found discrepancies and suspended his license.

Among other omissions, Garcia had not disclosed that he was suspended from a residency program in New York because of "unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" and subsequently resigned, according to the Illinois petition for his suspension. Garcia had also been fired from his residency at Creighton, failed to complete his program at UIC and then was not allowed to continue a fourth residency in Louisiana after lying on his medical license application, according to records.

"The department discovered significant discrepancies between what has been reported in the media about Dr. Garcia and the information he provided on his applications," said Sue Hofer, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which licenses doctors in Illinois.

States have varying requirements for granting a medical license. In Illinois, a doctor must pass a medical licensing exam and complete at least two years of postgraduate residency training, but not necessarily at one institution.

Before issuing a license, Illinois checks the National Practitioner Data Bank and the Federation of State Medical Boards for actions taken against a doctor's hospital privileges and medical license.

Those databases, however, may not catch resident warnings, terminations, nonrenewals and withdrawals, officials said. Residents are often considered trainees in education programs and are generally not subject to reportable clinical privileges actions, according to Martin Kramer, spokesman for the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, which maintains the National Practitioner Data Bank.

Garcia was not reported for the incidents in New York, Nebraska or Louisiana.

"This case of Dr. Garcia highlights all the reasons why the National Practitioner Data Bank should have enhanced legal authority to require all these residency programs to report," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, Founder of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, a consumer and health advocacy organization. "Slipping through the cracks are people like Dr. Garcia."

Garcia's attorney acknowledges that his client had "some problems maintaining employment with different residences."

Records show that after graduating from medical school at the University of Utah in 1999, Garcia struggled to launch his career.

He began a family medicine residency in New York in 1999, but state investigators soon found his behavior "left serious doubt" about his ability to successfully practice medicine, according to documents. Those documents, however, did not go into details about his behavior. He was suspended from the residency, but then Garcia resigned from the program, according to records.

He transferred to a Creighton residency in 2000 but was subsequently fired when the school determined that he had "willfully" called a fellow resident's home while the resident was taking a high-stakes exam, according to records.

In 2001, Garcia transferred from Creighton to UIC's resident pathology program.

Although he officially parted ways with UIC in 2004, his last day of on-site work was in July 2003, several months after receiving his permanent license to practice medicine in Illinois. For many months, Garcia disappeared from the program, some of the time on sick leave, and UIC officials were unable to reach him, documents from UIC show.

His absences and behavior eventually led his supervisor to write him a letter in May 2004, explaining why his contract would not be renewed for the 2004-05 residency year.
There needs to be a system in place to make sure theres screening of harm of our children, said Michelle Mbekeani, a Shriver Center staff attorney who helped author the organizations report on school police. A culture of not arresting students but diverting them to other resources such as counselors.
CENTO  the Central Treaty Organization launched by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in 1958 is totally forgotten now. Even most regional experts on the Middle East and South Asia remember nothing about it. But it had a surprisingly long afterlife of 60 years, and its final, complete dissolution happening now before our eyes marks an epochal transformation of the Eurasian-Southwest Asia World Island.

CENTO  originally known as the Baghdad Pact or the Middle East Treaty Organization (METO)  was formed in 1955 by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom with the blessing of the United States. The British saw it  farcically as it turned out  as an attempt to retain the phantom, craved after influence of their vanishing empire, which had left Pakistan in 1947.

METO did not last long. Within three years, the British imposed and directed monarchy of the Hashemite dynasty in Baghdad had been literally wiped out in a bloody massacre. Iraq immediately pulled out of METO as fast as it could. METO was renamed CENTO with Eisenhowers approval in 1958. One of the four pillars of the Anglo-American world order in South and Southwest Asia was down: Three to go.

Next to go was Iran in 1979. Its last Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was a megalomaniac egged on by American liberal social engineers who farcically imagined they could recreate President Franklin Roosevelts New Deal in Tehran. Millions of people were upended from their homes in enormous industrial and relocation programs while SAVAK, the Shahs notorious secret police inflicted a reign of torture and terror.

The end result was the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that swept away the Shah and took Iran forever out of the Anglo-American orbit. After that, CENTO was finally officially dissolved. Eisenhowers dream was dead and gone. But its ghost would endure for another 39 years.

Two down and two to go: For the next 40 years Pakistan and Turkey both remained strong, consistent and important US allies. After 2001, tensions between Washington and Islamabad inexorably grew as the US invasion of Afghanistan and its following endlessly bungled policies to build a so-called modern, democratic and centralized nation backfired in endless war.

This year, Pakistan joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), simultaneously with its next door neighbor India. Both nations turned their back on US claims of global hegemony and opted instead for a future of cooperation and security with Russia and China in the SCO.

That left only Turkey of the original METO or Baghdad Pact four still in the US orbit. Turkey remains a NATO member as it has been since 1955: The same year it also joined METO. However, since the failed Turkish military coup of June 2016, US Turkish relations have plunged to their worst state ever. The US Congress seems intent on pouring ever more gasoline of the funeral pyre of the relationship.

Yet Turkey is vastly more important to US, European, NATO and Middle East security than all the tiny and ludicrous nation-building schemes Washington has pursued in the region over the past 25 years put together.

US policymakers  Republican and Democrat alike  remain obsessed with creating new showcase, supposedly modern and democratic states in Kurdistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Montenegro. They see the tiny three Baltic States, Georgia and even Ukraine with its neo-Nazi militias as shining examples that are supposed to inspire the rest of the world to follow the same Washington-directed paths.

None of these American visionary geniuses ever stops to remember why Iraq and then Iran opted out of METO/CENTO as fast as they possibly could. None of them stops to consider what the consequences of losing the friendship and trust of nuclear-armed Pakistan with its population of 200 million will be. None of them has ever raised publicly the issue of how totally untenable the reckless US forward naval and strategic deployment in the Black Sea will be if Turkey finally turns its back on the US and NATO.

CENTO is gone. The Baghdad Pact is dead. Now even CENTO's ghost is dying: The four great buffer powers that the US and the UK looked upon to dominate the northern tier of Southwest and South Asia have abandoned Washington or are about to do so. The consequences of this development  born of a generation of stupid, heedless and selfish US policy bungles  will reshape the world.
George Washingtons Farewell Address  one of the most important documents of Americas Founders  warned against any and all permanent alliances; he said, on 19 September 1796:

The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.

(I urge the reader to see likewise that entire passage, because it is eloquent, and profoundly applicable to the present, and not only to the past.)

On 10 September 2018, at the Federalist Society (which pretends to be based upon Americas Founders, such as George Washington), the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, John Bolton, stated that Israel is effectively part of US territory  though, if it is that, its the only part which is allowed to attack the United States and to be privileged to possess complete immunity from any prosecution by the United States Government for doing that.

Bolton, ironically, titled his speech Protecting American Constitutionalism and Sovereignty from International Threats. Either that title was a bald lie, or hes ill-read in Americas founding documents, because he flatly contradicted those documents. He said (as excerpted in a Reuters news-report on Sunday, September 9th, quoting from Boltons advance-text):

The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel.

We will not cooperate with the ICC [International Criminal Court]. We will provide no assistance to the ICC. We will not join the ICC. We will let the ICC die on its own. After all, for all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us.

The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court.

We will consider taking steps in the U.N. Security Council to constrain the courts sweeping powers, including to ensure that the ICC does not exercise jurisdiction over Americans and the nationals of our allies [such as Israel] that have not ratified the Rome Statute.

The Reuters summary also noted that if the ICC nonetheless proceeds with its investigation of Israel, the Trump administration will consider banning [that Courts] judges and prosecutors from entering the United States, put sanctions on any funds they have in the US financial system and prosecute them in American courts.

So, the National Security Advisor to todays US President disagrees strongly with George Washington, and  regarding Israel  he is determined that the US shall be (in Washingtons words) a slave  a slave to its animosity or to its affection for that country (Israel), and against what that country determines to be its enemies (such as Palestinians, Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah).

Washingtons Farewell Address had also said:

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence.

Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations, has been the victim.

So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country.

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.

Washingtons successor, the Second President, John Adams, in his Inaugural Address, on 4 March 1797, condemned the pestilence of foreign influence, which is the angel of destruction to elective governments.

The Third President, Thomas Jefferson, said at his First Inaugural on 4 March 1891: It is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.; 

The CIA-edited Wikipedia devotes an article to denigrating what Americas Founders said regarding foreign relations, and it equates the Founders view with such movements in US history as isolationism, and especially with the America First organization that opposed Americas going to war against Hitler; in other words: it distorts US history beyond recognition as history at all. Another, similar, Wikipedia article tries to deceive readers to think that what the Founders said about this matter was intended to apply only to their own time and not to the country they were founding and throughout its future. Such Wikipedia editing is often involving Wikipedia employees, more like writing than editing, and even includes outright banning of certain unpleasant facts. But, fortunately, Americas founding documents themselves havent yet been rewritten. And they are painfully clear, that this country isnt at all what they had founded, but more like its opposite.

This, therefore, was a bipartisan matter by Americas Founders, and they made their intentions and hopes as clear as possible. The nation that Americas Founders established was conquered by internal subversion after World War II, an American counter-revolution by subterfuge that now controls both of this nations political Parties. Todays America is profoundly inimical to the Founders hopes and dreams  the country not only of our Constitution, with the flaws it necessarily included in order to be accepted by all of the colonies (and which flaws, such as slavery, have produced numerous Amendments in order to repair), but more importantly, the country they were aiming for it to become, and which was embodied, for all eternity, in these and similar passages, in which the Founders stated with remarkable clarity and unanimity, their nations basic principles, which todays US Government desecrates, instead of consecrates.
In a time of hypocrisy, duplicity and hysterics, lets keep focused on the right thing to do. Which is for the Syrian government and its Russian ally to end the war, by finally defeating the terrorist gangs holding out in their last stronghold of Idlib province.

The Syrian government of President Assad has the sovereign legal and moral right to vanquish the terror groups that have marauded and brutalized Syria for the past eight years. These militants are not some kind of pro-democracy uprising that the Western governments and their news media have been absurdly lionizing. The last rebel-held area, is a lie that Western media continue to spin, albeit with ever-increasing transparency as a lie.

Such spinning is a travesty of the truth. The militants in Idlib are the assorted terrorist gangs that the Western powers, primarily the United States, have been arming as their criminal proxies to overthrow the Syrian government. There are no moderate rebels; the militants are vile terrorist mercenaries, who nearly succeeded in turning Syria into another failed state for the sordid satisfaction of Western powers and their imperialist machinations in the Middle East.

The principled military intervention by Russia three years ago to aid the Syrian state averted the catastrophic fate that befell other countries where the US and its allies have despoiled for regime change. The Syrian army is now in a position to finally eradicate from its country the Western-backed jihadists.

Syria and its Russian ally must now proceed to finish the task of ridding the country of the terrorist disease that Washington and its criminal partners infiltrated. All the sound and fury from the US, Britain and France, amplified by the Western media, should be ignored with contempt. Their protests against the looming offensive to retake Idlib is rank hypocrisy.

Washington and its allies are decrying a humanitarian crisis ahead of the Syrian offensive. This grotesque hypocrisy is uttered by Western powers which have fomented a covert war by weaponizing terror groups. Their weasel words also come as US-backed Saudi warplanes relentlessly carry out a slaughter of civilians in Yemen.

The double-think and moral duplicity is astounding. And should be repudiated. The criminal Western governments have no authority whatsoever to pontificate to Syria and Russia about humanitarian casualties.

In any case, the Syrian and Russian forces have operated to relieve humanitarian suffering in Syria by breaking siege after siege imposed by heinous terror groups holding civilians under a reign of terror.

The clearest example of this so far was in the liberation of East Aleppo in December 2016. Tens of thousands of civilians were relieved from the head-chopping moderate rebels when the Syrian and Russian forces retook Aleppo. Today, the people of Aleppo have begun to repair their lives in peace.

Prior to the liberation of Aleppo, Western governments and media were hysterically condemning the Syrian army and the Russian air force for war crimes and creating a bloodbath. That hysteria was shown to be lie. Aleppo, like many other cities and towns, was liberated and restored to peace. The Western governments and media say nothing now about Aleppo because the reality totally disproves their deceitful posturing.

The same lies are being spun today about Idlib. Although there is a sense that the Western powers know their mendacious narrative of bloodbath is wearing thin. Syria and Russia would do well to shun the hypocritical protests, and proceed to do the right thing, which is to destroy the last remaining terrorist bases in that country, and thus permit a comprehensive peace to be established.

It is incumbent to mention the odious role of the United Nations here. UN chiefs have indulged the Western powers by talking up the charade of humanitarian concern. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, and his special envoy Staffan de Mistura have been deploring the planned Syrian offensive. They are calling for talks. This is while Turkey is this week reportedly increasing the supply of weapons to the militants in Idlib, and while the US, Britain and France are threatening military attacks on Syria.

Guterres and the other UN bureaucrats would be better off making unequivocal condemnations of the US-backed genocide in Yemen. But on that charnel house they seem to have little to say in the way of specific condemnation.

All the pious, double-dealing concern about Idlib is in reality a reprehensible attempt to buy time for the terrorist gangs holed up in the province.

Why arent the mealymouthed UN chiefs calling the US, British and French threats to attack Syria what they are, which is a crime of aggression against a sovereign nation?

There are US media reports that the Trump administration is considering launching air strikes on Syrian army and Russian military positions in Syria if there is an escalation. What for? To protect civilians? To protect rebels? No, the NATO powers are willing to go to war in Syria to protect remnants of the terror army they deployed covertly over the past eight years for criminal regime change.

Washington and its allies, the Western media and the UN leadership are a disgrace. They have no moral authority. Not a scintilla.

The US seems willing to start World War III if it attacks Syria and its Russian ally in order to defend terrorists in Idlib province. Former presidential candidate Ron Paul has openly condemned the Trump administration for siding with Al Qaeda. This is in the same week that the US commemorated 17 years after the 911 terror incidents in New York City.

How despicable is that? World War III to support head-chopping terrorists?

Syria and Russia must not be deflected, intimidated or blackmailed by Western governments, their media and UN flunkies  who are no better than the terrorists whom they are, in effect, aiding and abetting.

The task to defeat the arrayed nefarious forces assaulting Syria is a righteous one, and must be courageously completed.
US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback has visited Ukraine. On Sept. 11 he was received by President Poroshenko. The ambassador seized the opportunity to offer assurances that Washington would continue to support the idea of an independent Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), despite the fact that that institution is currently under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow. The UAOC has asked for a separation and to be granted autocephalous status, thus recognizing its ecclesiastical independence. Last April Ukrainian lawmakers reaffirmed Kiev's traditional links to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

On September 2, the Council of Bishops of the Church of Constantinople confirmed that the Constantinople Patriarchate, the first among equals in Orthodox Christianity, may grant autocephaly without obtaining prior approval. That council began the procedure to enable the Church of Ukraine to be recognized as autocephalous without delay. Shortly after the confirmation, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appointed two representatives as exarchs, or envoys, to prepare for the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. His position is clear and he did not hesitate to take this action that brings a declaration of ecclesiastical independence for the Church in Ukraine one step closer. Bishop Illarion and Bishop Daniel who were chosen for the mission are known for their anti-Russian views.

This is a flagrant violation of the canonical domain of the Moscow Patriarchy. The Greek Patriarchate did not even inform Moscow of the decision. A third of the Russian Orthodox Churchs 35,000 parishes are in Ukraine. Obviously this move will create an enormous schism in Orthodox Christianity, comparable to the rupture between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in 1054 (the East-West schism). Some Orthodox Churches will recognize the independence of Ukraines Church, while others will reject it.

Actually, there will now be three Orthodox Churches in Ukraine: the Kiev Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, and the Moscow Patriarchate, in addition to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which has many followers in the western part of the country. All of Ukraine will be divided along religious lines just to make it easier for the US to accomplish its goal of subjugating that nation through a divide and rule policy.

The schism will not be limited just to Russia and Ukraine. If the decision to separate the Churches is implemented, the Russian Church may have no choice but to sever relations with Constantinople. The entire Greek Orthodox world would be divided.

The intentions of the Holy Synod of Constantinople are understandable. The Russian Orthodox Church is the biggest in the world. The Holy Synod has seized this opportunity to weaken its rival and to assert itself as the leader of the Orthodox world. Ambassador Brownbacks visit confirms the fact that the US wants this schism to take place. This is one way to weaken the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church among the Slavic nations and to create an alternative to it in Kiev, thus sidelining the Russian Church in the Orthodox world. Washington wants to see a rollback of Moscow on all fronts.

This is happening at a time when US policy is shifting in favor of expanding military assistance to Ukraine. US Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker confirmed this US commitment before his visit to Ukraine on Sept. 13. He arrived right after Mr. Brownback. Kiev is playing host to one US envoy after another. The very frequency of these visits is curious. Evidently somethings cooking.

All this is added to the US support of Ukraine at a time of heightened tensions, as the situation in the Azov Sea, a real tinderbox, keeps on deteriorating. Ukraine has just boosted its military presence there. Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Colonel General Serhiy Popko brought this up on Sept. 11. Ukraine has a foreign military presence on its soil, as well as an official NATO status. The US is using Ukraine for its own economic and political ends. Ukrainian President Poroshenko has just tabled a bill to amend the constitution paving the way for NATO and EU membership. He wants it sealed and the parliament is to consider the amendments next week.

Washington is looking for ways to slow Russias growing strength, independence, and influence. A large country that is openly hostile to Moscow while sharing a long border with Russia fits that bill nicely. This policy will hardly help Ukraine become more prosperous or secure. Seizing each and every opportunity to emphasize its independence, Kiev is happily playing the role of a marionette being controlled by Washington.
Wakefield, who was shot shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of East 119th Street, was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the office said. His death was ruled a homicide.
Biosecurity officials are promising to take tough action against cargo vessels believed to be infested with brown marmorated stink bug during the upcoming risk season.

Each arriving vessel will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. However, if our officers ultimately determine a ship is infested with stink bug, it will be prevented from discharging its cargo and directed to leave New Zealand, says Steve Gilbert, Director Border Clearance Services, Biosecurity New Zealand

We have also introduced a very low threshold for determining contamination. If we find a single bug, we will thoroughly investigate whether the entire vessel is contaminated.

As with previous stink bug seasons, there will also be increased surveillance and inspection of arriving vessels and cargo from countries with established stink bug populations.

This is about ensuring the dangerous pest does not get a chance to establish in New Zealand.

Steve says biosecurity rules have changed for this season, making it compulsory for certain types of cargo to be treated before arrival to remove the risk of hitchhiking stink bugs.

As a result, Biosecurity New Zealand requires cargo such as uncontainerised vehicles and machinery to be assessed as compliant before we allow discharge from the vessel. We will also no longer direct contaminated vessels to undergo fogging with insecticide in New Zealand.

Biosecurity New Zealand introduced fogging as an emergency treatment option in February following a spike in stink bug detections in vehicle carriers from Japan.

The risk season runs from September to April, when stink bugs from the northern hemisphere are most likely to crawl into cargo heading to New Zealand.

Last season, biosecurity officers intercepted more than 2500 individual stink bugs at the border, mainly on vessels and cargo.

Biosecurity New Zealand is part of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Under the Stars and Maketu Volunteer Coastguard has taken out top honours at the Western Bays biggest annual celebration of volunteers, the Trustpower Community Awards.

Voluntary groups from Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty gathered with representatives from Trustpower, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the community at Classic Flyers to hear how 16 groups and four young people are making an impact in their community.

Trustpower Community and Communications Advisor Abbie Siely says Maketu Volunteer Coastguard stood out to the judges for its realisation of a fundraising project critical to community safety, in addition to its already impressive regular activities.

Maketu Volunteer Coastguard has devoted a considerable amount of time and energy to fundraising for a new emergency rescue boat.

The achievement is particularly noteworthy because it was accomplished in addition to the groups regular work educating the community about water safety and providing support services.

Activities include working with other emergency services to guide young people through the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) programme. Its a course that can help set young people on a path of community involvement into adulthood.

Coastguard runs local education events to empower people to take charge of their own safety at sea. For example, teaching boaties how to safely cross the bar. This annual event is in its fourth year, is completely free of charge, and has undoubtedly prevented accidents.

Abbie says Maketu Volunteer Coastguards impact was felt far beyond its town.

The group engages with the community and supports local events. Coastguard provided safety support to over 150 waka paddling from Maketu to Mount Maunganui in difficult conditions.

Recognised as a proactive unit, Maketu Volunteer Coastguard supports the community well beyond its shores  offering safety support to events of the lakes in Rotorua, says Abbie.

For winning the Supreme Award, Maketu Volunteer Coastguard received a framed certificate, a trophy and $2,000 prize money.

Abbie Siely says Under the Stars stood out to the judges for its combination of genuine acceptance and compassion, coupled with practical assistance for Taurangas homeless.

Under the Stars tackles the challenging, emotional and often undiscussed issue of homelessness head on, offering practical assistance paired with kindness and compassion to people who have found themselves in a situation many of us couldnt imagine.

Every Saturday night volunteers collect donated foods and put together a hot meal. Guests are offered showers  sometimes their only one for the week. They receive fresh drinking water to take away, socks, toiletries and sleeping bags.

Abbie says that in addition to practical support, the group offered something that was truly priceless  unconditional acceptance.

Under the Stars offers our homeless community a break from the elements and from the isolation that often accompanies life outside societys norms.

The group works to help our homeless get back on their feet, working through drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes, sourcing identification documents, and reconnecting people with family.

For winning the Supreme Award, Under the Stars received a framed certificate, a trophy, and $2,000 prize money.

The groups will go on to represent Western Bay of Plenty at the 2018 Trustpower National Community Awards, when volunteers from 26 regions from around New Zealand gather in Tauranga next March.

Its the first time Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty have celebrated together at a single awards function since 2006.

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless with Sarah Elliot and Jane McKay of Te Puke Gymsport (2017 winner WBOP), Trustpower General Manager Customer Operations Fiona Smith, Julie Cross, WBOP Mayor Garry Webber.

Other winners at the Trustpower Community Awards for Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty District, held on Wednesday September 12 were:

Youth Community Spirit:

Finalist  Flynn Harris

Finalist  Jessica Treanor

Winner Tauranga  Teri Dawson Winner

Western Bay of Plenty  Ashleigh Ngow

Trustpower Community Awards Finalists

Kai Aroha

Canine Friends Pet Therapy Bay of Plenty

Youth Search and Rescue Trust Tauranga

Te Puke Toy Library Inc.

Paengaroa Kindergarten

Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society Inc.

Trustpower Community Awards Recipients

Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club

Boomerang Bags Tauranga

Bellyful Tauranga

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard

Katikati Maori Wardens Charitable Trust

Rotary Maketu

Tauranga Village Radio Museum

Aongatete Outdoor Education Centre

Supreme Winner  Tauranga

Under the Stars

Supreme Winner  Western Bay of Plenty

Maketu Volunteer Coastguard
The principal got on the intercom and urged students to be careful and go straight home. A security guard had the same message as Michael passed him on the way out. "Theres a lot of shootings going on, we want yall to be safe," Michael remembers him saying. "We want yall to go straight home. Make it back tomorrow safe and sound.
Bay of Plenty

You will be driving the Roller and also required to help out the team hands on. You will be working around Tauranga, for...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz
The ex-director of the CNY SPCA, who was convicted of stealing nearly $600,000, was released from prison on Thursday, according to New York State prison records.

Paul Morgan, 47, who started serving his sentence in March of 2017, had been sentenced to between 4 and 12 years in prison.

Morgan wrote 132 checks to himself as executive director, from 2010 to 2016, prosecutor Michael Kasmarek said during Morgan's trial.

Morgan also admitted writing improper checks to two co-workers, Taylor Gilkey and Nicole Cafarchio. He pleaded guilty to two extra counts of grand larceny for that.

Gilkey cashed checks worth $249,635.37 and Cafarchio cashed checks worth $62,270. Both women pleaded guilty to their part in the scheme. Gilkey received 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison and Cafarchio will be given probation.

A fourth person -- Theresa Para -- was also convicted of stealing money. Para recently paid back $20,000 of the more than $145,000 she stole.

The SPCA lost more than $1 million in the scheme. Morgan stole the money to feed a gambling addiction.

According to NYS prison records, Morgan had an approved open release date.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Four passengers of a stolen vehicle were taken to the hospital after a police chase ended in a fiery crash on Thursday night in Oswego County, according to the Oswego Sheriff's Office.

Around 10:08 p.m., a sheriff's deputy in Fulton spotted a 2001 maroon Buick that had been associated with a theft from a local convenience store. The same vehicle had also been reported stolen from Oswego earlier that evening, according to the sheriff's office.

The deputy tried to stop the Buick, but the driver of the vehicle containing at least three other passengers refused to stop on eastbound State Route 3 in the town of Volney, deputies said.

As the chase proceeded, the driver of the Buick lost control and rear-ended a 2016 gray Ford Focus, which came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the road, deputies said.

The Buick also went off the road after striking the Focus, colliding with a single family home at 2692 State Route 3, deputies said.

As a result of the crash, the Buick and the home caught fire, deputies said.

The residents of the home were not injured; the Red Cross assisted the residents.

The four occupants of the stolen Buick were taken to Upstate University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said.
JAMESVIlLLE, N.Y. -- A robber passed a note to a Jamesville bank teller in March 2015 claiming he had a bomb, according Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway.

The masked suspect then ran away from the M&T Bank at 6499 East Seneca Turnpike with an undisclosed amount of money, the sheriff said,

And until last month -- over three years later -- the robbery remained unsolved, Conway said at a news conference Friday.

Timothy Melnik, 37, of Oswego Road, Rome, was arrested on Aug. 30 and charged with robbing the M&T Bank on March 19, 2015. He was arrested after his DNA was found at the scene of the Jamesville robbery, Conway said.

Two years ago, Melnik was linked to a string of robberies in Syracuse.

The Syracuse Police Department arrested Melnik in May 2016 and charged him with robbing a bank, a drugstore and a bookstore. DNA Melnik submitted after his arrest for the Syracuse bank robbery linked him to the Jamesville bank robbery, Conway said.

"It is his DNA that led to us being able to build a case against him and charge him," the sheriff said.

Melnik was sentenced in September 2016 to time served and five years of probation for the robberies in 2016, according to court records.

No bomb was recovered after the robbery at the Jamesville M&T Bank. The sheriff's office declined to specify how much money was stolen.

For the Jamesville robbery, Melnik was charged with first-degree robbery. His bail was set $2,500 cash or a $5,000 bond.

Melnik is not listed in custody.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man has been accused of stabbing a man to death during a Fourth of July gathering at Oneida Shores Park, according to Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway.

Joe L. Washington, 24, of 1310 Midland Ave., Syracuse, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Conway said.

Maurice B. Crawford, 26, of Syracuse, was stabbed the evening of July 4 during an argument at the Bartell Road park in Cicero. He was rushed in a private vehicle to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse where he died a short time later.
CICERO, N.Y. -- Deputies rushed to Oneida Shores Park on the Fourth of July after 911 callers reported a fight.

An argument had turned violent inside the McKinley Ridge West Pavilion -- disturbing an evening gathering attended by over 100 people, deputies said. But when deputies arrived at the Cicero park, people had started to flee from the holiday party.

Maurice B. Crawford and Joe Washington -- the men involved in the fight -- were also gone.

Maurice Crawford, 26, died after he was stabbed on the Fourth of July in Cicero.

Washington stabbed Crawford in the neck during the brawl, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said in a felony complaint filed in Cicero Town Court. Crawford was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse in a private car.

When the car pulled up outside the hospital's emergency room, Crawford was unconscious. The 26-year-old Syracuse man died shortly after.

And soon after the deadly stabbing, Washington left the state -- fleeing over 400 miles away to Michigan, Sheriff Eugene Conway.

Washington, 24, of Syracuse, was arrested just over two months later and charged with murdering Crawford. Conway announced the arrest Friday during a news conference.

Detectives spent months interviewing dozens of people about the murder. Witnesses have been reluctant to admit they were among the over 100 people at the Fourth of July gathering, said Onondaga County Sheriff Capt. Dan Brogan.

"It's been very difficult getting people to cooperate and identify themselves as being there," he said.

The evidence led investigators to Washington, Conway said. With the help of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Onondaga County Crime Analysis Center, investigators tracked the suspect to Belleville, Michigan.

Washington was arrested on an unrelated charge in Michigan. He was then transported back to Onondaga County.

Crawford and Washington were acquaintances, Conway said. Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the attack.

The murder weapon has not been found, Brogan said.

Crawford is survived by his son, parents and other loved ones.

Washington has been charged with second-degree murder and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail.

Conway asked anyone who attended the Fourth of July gathering or has information about the deadly stabbing to reach out to the sheriff's office.

"We're always looking for more information and asking people to contact us," the sheriff said.

The sheriff's office tip line is 315-435-3051. People can also send tip using the Tip 411 app.
The men had been shot nearby by someone in a black car that pulled up to them on Cornell Avenue, police said. One of them was shot in the groin and leg, and the other was shot in the chest and leg. They were transferred to Stroger Hospital, where their conditions were stabilized.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- A New York State trooper from Oneida County is accused of harassing a Long Island victim online, according to state police.

Jennifer Daignault, 31, was charged Thursday with first-degree coercion, a felony, and second-degree coercion, a misdemeanor, state police said.

Daignault used a false identity online to harass the victim, state police said. The charges relate to conduct that occurred while Daignault was off-duty and is not related to her employment as a trooper, state police said.



She was arraigned in Nassau County Court and released on her own recognizance pending a future court date.



This investigation is ongoing, state police said.
The CNYSPCA invites the Central New York Community to join them at their Rockin' for the Pets II Fundraiser from 2PM to 6PM on Sunday, September 16, Rockin' for the Pets II is a benefit concert supporting the CNYSPCA being held at VFW Post 9596 at 6996 E Taft Road, East Syracuse, New York. 2018.

Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at the CNYSPCA located at 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale, New York. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the event. More information can be found online at http://www.cnyspca.org/event/rockin-for-the-pets-ii/

The event will feature live music by local musicians Cliff Diver, Tree, and (acoustic duo) No Label along with food provided by local restaurant(s) and door prizes and raffle items. Tickets are $15 per person, and young children are free. All proceeds going directly to the CNYSPCA.

The Central New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is committed to making our community a kinder and safer place for the animals who share it with us.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Catholic churches across Central New York will hold a special mass this weekend to pray for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

The Catholic Diocese of Syracuse is encouraging parishes in seven counties to hold a "Mass of Forgiveness" on either Saturday or Sunday. Bishop Robert Cunningham will host mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Vestal near Binghamton at 11 a.m.

Churches nationwide have held a special Mass of Forgiveness in recent weeks after a bombshell grand jury report out of Pennsylvania alleged more than 1,000 children were sexually abused by more than 300 priests over 70 years.

Syracuse diocese officials have said that 76 victims were abused by clergy members locally. The church has started to offer victims settlements through a compensation program.

Cunningham said in a statement that he would be praying and fasting for his own sins this weekend.

"As suggested by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we Catholic pray and fast 'to open our eyes and hearts to other people's sufferings and to overcome the thirst from power and possessions that are so often the roots of evil,'" he said. "'May fasting and prayer open our ears to the hushed pain felt by children, young people and disabled."

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Onondaga County residents will pay 7 percent more to maintain sewers - $30 a year extra for a single-family home -- if legislators adopt the 2019 budget proposed today by County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

Property taxes would remain flat at $5.04 per $1,000 of assessed value, the lowest rate in history, Mahoney said. That's one cent below this year's rate, a savings of $1 a year for the owner of a $100,000 property.

The county faces mounting problems with leaky old sewers. Sewer charges have not kept pace with the cost of repairs, Mahoney said this morning as she unveiled the proposal.

County legislators, who will vote on the budget Oct. 9, have scaled back Mahoney's proposals to raise sewer fees in past years. Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon said legislators will debate Mahoney's proposed increase, but he agreed that the county faces significant challenges to maintain the infrastructure.

"I think the sewer infrastructure is our biggest issue facing county government in the next 10 years,'' he said.

The current sewer rate is $417 per unit. Mahoney has proposed an increase to $447, which would raise an extra $5.9 million.

Other highlights of Mahoney's $1.3 billion budget proposal include:

-- The county would increase funding to Visit Syracuse, the nonprofit tourism organization, by $120,000 to cover the cost of hiring the county's film commissioner and other expenses related to promoting the film industry.

Eric Vinal, informally known as the "film commissioner,'' is a project development specialist in the county economic development department. He has worked for the county since 2014 and earns $67,500 a year. Mahoney said Visit Syracuse, directed by former County Legislator Danny Liedka, plans to hire Vinal and take over coordination of the local film commission.

"Now that Hollywood really has come to Onondaga, and the industry is taking off, an organization like Visit Syracuse offers more support'' for the commission's activities, Mahoney said.

The increase would bring county funding for Visit Syracuse to $2.13 million.

-- The Sheriff's Office would add 15 new positions. Those include six jobs that will be reimbursed by New York state in connection with "Raise the Age,'' which includes a new requirement to house 16- and 17-year-old inmates separately from adults.

Mahoney also included funding for 12 new vehicles for the sheriff's office, about half the number requested, she said.

-- Mahoney proposes a one-time payment of $100,000 to the Museum of Science and Technology, which is facing financial problems, she said.

Lauren Kochian, the new president of the MOST, has expressed concerns about the Armory Square museum's financial condition. Mahoney proposes a one-time county payment to give the museum time to sort out the problems.

"The MOST is a tremendously valuable institution,'' Mahoney said. "We want to make sure that the new leadership has a chance to right the ship.''

The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology opened in 1992 in the former Syracuse Armory building, and was an early linchpin in the neighborhood's redevelopment. Kochian is the daughter of Ed Kochian, the former long-time deputy county executive.

-- County officials expect to receive $1.5 million from New York state in 2019 to match the county's savings from a shared health plan with Syracuse and the city school district.

By jointly procuring insurance for retirees, the three entities will save a total of $4.4 million, Mahoney said. It will be the first project reimbursed by the state under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's shared services initiative of last year, which required municipalities to negotiate plans to share services.

Mahoney said she did not expect the budget to stir much controversy.

During her speech to county legislators, Mahoney tossed out a couple of thinly-veiled zingers against her political rivals.

In referring to personnel cuts in her own office, Mahoney said: "I'm not sure it's a revenge budget when you do it to your own office." That was a reference to County Comptroller Robert Antonacci, who accused Mahoney in 2016 of proposing a "revenge budget'' to cut positions from his office.

As she spoke about raising sewer fees, Mahoney took a dig at former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, who is running for governor against Cuomo, a staunch Mahoney ally.

Mahoney, who quarreled bitterly with Miner at times, mocked the former mayor's use of the social media hashtag "fix our pipes,'' which Miner used to appeal for more state and federal infrastructure funding.

"Hashtag fix our pipes is not a responsible infrastructure strategy,'' Mahoney said. "Investing in fixing our own pipes is what Onondaga County has always done.''

Contact reporter Tim Knauss | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023
To the Editor:



Isn't it a sad state of affairs, when our youngest generation can not enjoy "trick or treating" at school ("No more Halloween parades? CNY schools tighten security as year begins," Sept. 4, 2018).



When my granddaughters were younger , they attended Longbranch Elementary School, on Longbranch Road, in Liverpool.



After the Halloween parade -- enjoyed by the parents and grandparents in attendance -- they, along with classes and teachers, would "march" over to the nearby assisted living home. The residents enjoyed it so much. They would have the great pleasure of seeing the little ones (and the not so little ones) all in their costumes.



I hope that Liverpool does not stop this practice, as I understand the residents really look forward to it.



Dorothy Korszeniewski

Baldwinsville
NEW YORK (AP) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a no-show at his own election night victory party and instead celebrated his win over activist and actress Cynthia Nixon at the governor's mansion in Albany.

The Democrat was expected to attend his party's election night event in Manhattan on Thursday. But a spokeswoman said he chose to be with family.

It's a highly unusual move for a winning candidate, though Cuomo has kept up a busy schedule in the final days of the campaign with rallies across the state.

Cuomo easily beat Nixon in Thursday's contest to win his party's nomination for a third term.

Nixon, a longtime activist and former star of "Sex and the City," held her own election night event in Brooklyn.
New York primary voters who tossed out a group of Democratic state senators in Thursday's election sent a clear message to their party: There's no room to work with Republicans in Albany in the age of Donald Trump.

Six of the eight Democratic senators who had formed an alliance with Republicans to help the GOP maintain control of the Senate since 2011 were thrown out of office by a restless base of progressive activists.

The grassroots Democrats mobilized voters in numbers that haven't been seen in a gubernatorial primary in years, as turnout reached about 27 percent statewide. Four years ago, 11 percent of Democrats voted in the primary election and about 34 percent of all voters in the general election.

Political analysts say the rejection of the six members of the Independent Democratic Conference -- including 14-year incumbent Sen. David Valesky in the Syracuse area -- underscores a shift among Democratic voters in New York.

"I think that's definitely a message to the Democratic Party," said Luke Perry, director of the Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research.

"We're in a hyper-partisan era," Perry said. "We have a president who is controversial and polarizing. And that is going to have a reverberation throughout the state with Democrats in local elections."

Perry said President Trump has come to define the Republican Party, and grassroots Democrats see no reason their local elected officials should work with the GOP.

"Anybody who is connected to the Republican Party, such as the IDC, albeit in a limited capacity, are not acceptable to the grassroots," Perry said.

Even though the IDC agreed in April to reunite with mainstream Democrats in the state Senate, party activists say the move came too late and they no longer trust incumbents like Valesky to look out for progressive interests.

That was the message political novice Rachel May of Syracuse delivered to voters in the 53rd Senate District as she challenged Valesky in the primary.

"I think his brand of trying to please everybody on every issue is not what people want these days in their elected officials," May told Syracuse.com in August. "People, even if they disagree with me, say they appreciate that I took a stand on an issue."

May appears to have pulled off the upset by about 600 votes, but she hasn't declared victory and Valesky hasn't conceded as they await the counting of absentee ballots.

While May ran against the status quo for Democrats in Albany, establishment Democrats at the top of the ticket in New York survived primary challenges Thursday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ran his campaign almost entirely as a rejection of Trump's agenda on the federal level. Cuomo won 66 percent of the vote, easily defeating actress and progressive activist Cynthia Nixon.

Steve Greenberg, a Siena College pollster in Albany, said a lot of the IDC challengers had big-name endorsements from Bernie Sanders and other progressive activists, who may have influenced voters as much or more than Trump.

"There's no question that Democrats were more engaged, more participatory than they were four years ago," Greenberg said. "Does that continue into November? That remains to be seen. But there is no question Democrats are in much more of a voting mood than they were four years ago."

Judith Enck, a former Obama administration official and New York progressive activist who raised money for May and other IDC challengers, said Trump's impact in the local Senate races may be overstated.

May and the other five Democrats who upset the former IDC members simply ran good local campaigns, Enck said.

"The establishment really won on the statewide races, but incumbents rarely lose," Enck said. "I think the lesson here is that politics is local. If you have a compelling story to tell, you don't need a massive amount of money to win a state Senate race."

In May's case, she personalized the election by telling the story of her late husband who died while worrying that he may reach the limits on his health insurance and leave May in debt.

Valesky talked about broad policy issues, while May ran an aggressive social media campaign and personally knocked on more than 4,000 doors.

"Rachel just out-worked Valesky and she ran an old-fashioned grassroots campaign," Enck said. "I think her message really resonated."

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
NEWARK, N.J. -- Paul Manafort's lawyers have talked to U.S. prosecutors about a possible guilty plea to avert a second criminal trial set to begin in Washington this month, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, was convicted of bank and tax fraud last month in a Virginia federal court. He's accused in Washington of financial crimes including conspiring to launder money, as well as acting as an unregistered foreign agent of Ukraine and obstructing justice.

The negotiations over a potential plea deal have centered on which charges Manafort might admit and the length of the sentence to be recommended by prosecutors working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the person familiar with the matter said. Manafort, 69, already faces as long as 10 years in prison under advisory sentencing guidelines in the Virginia case.

By pleading guilty, Manafort could avoid the risk of a longer prison term if he's convicted at a second trial, as well as the threat of forfeiting several properties and financial accounts. He could also save the cost of paying lawyers to defend him at trial. Such white-collar criminal cases can cost defendants millions of dollars.

The talks may break down without a deal, but if they succeed, they could prompt Mueller to request a reduced sentence in the Washington and Virginia cases. It's not clear whether Manafort might cooperate in Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to the person. Trump, who said he was "very sad" after Manafort's conviction, could still pardon him.

Spokesmen for Manafort and Mueller declined to comment.

If Manafort doesn't plead guilty, prosecutors are likely to use some of the same evidence and witnesses they presented in Virginia. Manafort was convicted there on Aug. 21 after four days of jury deliberations. During those deliberations, prosecutors and defense lawyers discussed a plea deal without success, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed people.

Manafort was found guilty of eight counts, and jurors failed to reach a verdict on 10 others. Only one of the 12 jurors opposed a conviction on those charges, according to their verdict sheet. Manafort's conviction in the first trial gives leverage to Mueller in any plea talks, lawyers not involved in the case said.

"I think there's a 70 percent chance that you're going to see a guilty plea," said Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor who observed the first Manafort trial. "What's the point of a second trial? There's no doubt in my mind that he'll be convicted on some charges. He may be acquitted of obstruction, but the money laundering charge is a slam dunk."

Manafort has been in custody since June 15, when U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson revoked his bail after prosecutors said he attempted to tamper with witnesses in the Washington case.

"The power of detention is enormous," Rossi said. "Being detained is an incredible disadvantage to a defendant. You can't prepare for a trial as well as you could."

Manafort may conclude that he can't afford the emotional and financial cost of a second trial, he said. "He may say, 'I'm going plead and cooperate. I don't have the money. I'm exhausted and don't have the emotional energy to go through this. My family and close friends have been through a big storm, and I don't want to put them through that again.' Defendants get worn down," Rossi said.

Another former federal prosecutor who watched the first trial, Barbara McQuade, said the chances of Manafort's conviction at the second trial were "very strong." Prosecutors, she said, would be in a "position of strength" in any plea negotiations.

"I don't think they'd be willing to offer a plea deal with a substantially reduced sentence," McQuade said. "Manafort might be more interested in a guilty plea because he saw how it went last time. It may be that Mueller is insisting on cooperation before offering any reduction in sentence."

The first Manafort trial focused on claims that he earned millions of dollars as a consultant to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his pro-Russia Party of Regions, that wealthy Ukrainian businessmen paid him through Cyprus accounts, and that he used that untaxed money to support a lavish lifestyle in the U.S. Prosecutors also charged that he lied to banks to obtain millions of dollars in loans after his Ukrainian work dried up.

While the second trial would highlight many of the same financial transactions as the first, prosecutors will also seek to prove that Manafort violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act when he conducted a multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign in the U.S. at the direction of Yanukovych. Manafort hired prominent U.S. firms like the Podesta Group and Mercury Public Affairs LLC to help him, as well as several prominent former European politicians.

At a pretrial hearing on Sept. 5, Manafort attorney Kevin Downing foreshadowed a trial defense on the lobbying charge, saying the Justice Department's oversight of the FARA regulations was vague and rarely enforced. Prosecutors, he said, can't prove that Manafort had any intent to violate the law, which is a requirement for conviction for that charge.

Former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter said defendants often have a hard time grasping that they're running out of legal options.

"Guys who've gotten away with a lot of stuff before they get to prison" often show a lot of bravado, he said. "On the day of conviction they still believe there will be one more inning. It takes awhile before they realize there are no more innings."

-- By David Voreacos and Neil Weinberg, Bloomberg News
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to two federal crimes after cutting a deal with prosecutors and agreeing to cooperate with the special counsel's Russia probe.

The move allows him to avoid a second criminal trial and ends Manafort's more than yearlong fight against investigators in the Russia investigation.

Manafort was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces 7 to 10 years in prison in that case.

On Friday, prosecutor Andrew Weissman said in court that Manafort had struck a "cooperation agreement" and would plead guilty to charges related to his Ukrainian political consulting work.

"He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that," Manafort's attorney, Kevin Downing, said.

The charges do not relate to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which is the central issue in the special counsel's investigation into possible contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia.

Still, Friday's move gives Mueller another successful conviction while allowing Manafort to avoid facing another costly public trial that this time focused on allegations that he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Ukrainian interests.

Mueller also gained a key cooperator in Manafort, who participated in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer that Donald Trump Jr. took despite it being described as part of a Russian government effort to aid his father's campaign. A grand jury used by Mueller has heard testimony about the meeting.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the Manafort case has nothing to do with Trump.

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated."

"The president did nothing wrong," said Rudy Giuliani, Trump's attorney, in a statement. "Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign."

Under the terms of Friday's plea deal, prosecutors dropped the bulk of the charges against Manafort, filing new paperwork that includes just two counts that resemble in many ways the original allegations made in an indictment last year.

The charges include conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

It's unclear how the possible deal might affect Manafort's pursuit of a pardon from President Donald Trump. The president has signaled that he's sympathetic to

Manafort's cause, and in comments to Politico, Giuliani said a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

Manafort has aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.

At the time of Gates' plea, Manafort issued a statement saying he "had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence." And during his Virginia trial in August, Manafort's lawyers spent considerable time painting Gates as a liar, embezzler, philanderer and turncoat who would say anything to get a lighter prison sentence.

Pleading guilty allows Manafort to avoid a trial that was expected to last at least three weeks and posed the potential of adding years onto the seven to 10 years he is already facing under federal sentencing guidelines from his conviction in Virginia.

A jury found Manafort guilty of eight counts of tax evasion, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

In the Washington case, prosecutors were set to lay out in great detail Manafort's political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the U.S. for Ukrainian interests without registering with the Justice Department as required by the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. Manafort was accused of concealing from the IRS tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from his Ukrainian patrons and conspiring to launder that money through offshore accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.

Manafort had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. Even after his indictment last October, though, prosecutors say he continued to commit crimes by tampering with witnesses. The discovery of his witness contacts led to a superseding indictment in June and Manafort's jailing ahead of his trial.

In addition to the witness tampering counts, Manafort had been formally charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, conspiring to launder money and lying to the FBI and Justice Department about the nature of his work. Court papers indicated that he could have faced between 15 and 19 1/2 years in prison under federal guidelines.

Online: Read the charges against Manafort
WASHINGTON - The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Thursday that she received a letter from a person about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and referred it to federal investigators.

"That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities," Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said in a statement.

The letter describes an alleged episode of sexual misconduct involving Kavanaugh when he was in high school, according to a person familiar with the matter. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee first learned about the letter at a meeting on Wednesday night. The letter had been relayed to Feinstein by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., the person said.

The White House defended Kavanaugh in a statement, calling the latest controversy an "11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation."

"Throughout his confirmation process, Judge Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators - including with Senator Feinstein - sat through over 30 hours of testimony, addressed over 2,000 questions in a public setting and additional questions in a confidential session. Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," said spokeswoman Kerri Kupec.

A person familiar with the matter confirmed that the letter was referred to the FBI. The Justice Department declined to comment, and Kavanaugh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Feinstein did not disclose the contents of the letter when pressed on Thursday and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he had not seen it. The controversy arose in the final stages of Kavanaugh's confirmation process, as Democrats sought to delay the process.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, dismissed the issue on Twitter.

"Let me get this straight: this is [a] statement about [a] secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right," he tweeted sarcastically.

"I will add: the FBI already performed and has reported on a background investigation on the nominee and this has been made available to all Senators on the Judiciary Committee," Cornyn wrote.

Democratic senators leaving the Wednesday night meeting of the Judiciary Committee declined to comment, but people familiar with the matter said Feinstein is the only senator who has seen the letter.

Separately, the Judiciary Committee on Thursday delayed its vote on Kavanaugh until Sept. 20, with votes by the full Senate expected during the final week of September.

After Feinstein released her statement, Grassley spokesman George Hartmann said there is "no plan to change the committee's consideration of Judge Kavanaugh's nomination."
The suspect was hit by gunfire after he shot a weapon at police. It wasnt clear if it was police or the private citizen who shot the suspect at the end of the incident, which began when Cicero police tried to stop a car the suspect was driving. Police said the concealed gun holder was stuck in traffic when he witnessed the police activity, decided to intervene, and got out his car and fired at the man.
By Chris Baker and Julie McMahon

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The vote has been called in her favor but Democrat Rachel May isn't declaring victory in the state's 53rd Senate District race just yet.

Her team is waiting on a tally of absentee ballots.

"The reason we're not calling it is we're lifting up our democracy," May told supporters at Syracuse's Mello Velo bicycle and coffee shop Thursday night. "We need to honor every vote."

Sen. David Valesky, too, isn't ready to concede to May. He said his team will wait to see results of absentee ballots and affidavit ballots.

With 100 percent of the Election Day vote in, May had 8,013 votes and Valesky had 7,407.

The Onondaga County Board of Elections had received 669 absentee ballots as of Thursday. Absentee totals in Madison County and Oneida County were not available Thursday night. Onondaga County comprises the bulk of the district.

Counting absentee ballots could take several weeks. The Onondaga County BOE will open absentee ballots Thursday, Sept. 20.

May was Valesky's first primary challenger in his 14 years in the state Senate.

His first election in 2004 was also a close race. He narrowly defeated Republican Nancy Larraine Hoffman that year.

"One of the things going through my mind was all the way back to 14 years ago. It was a close election when I first ran for the state Senate," Valesky said Thursday. "In fact it took about three weeks or so to count all the absentee ballots, so we've been through close races before."

In 2011, Valesky helped form the Independent Democratic Caucus, a group of eight Democrats who allied with Republicans in Albany. That alliance let Republicans control the Senate, despite a Democratic majority.

The IDC disbanded earlier this year, but was a focal point for May in her campaign.

Six of those eight IDC Democrats lost primaries Thursday night, including IDC leader Jeff Klein.

Valesky said he did not regret his role in the IDC. When he joined in 2011, he said, the makeup in Albany was very different.

May cited the IDC as one of her reasons for joining the race earlier this year. This was her first run for office.

"My whole race is about honoring our democracy and fighting the kind of cynicism that keeps people from voting," she said. "We haven't had a lot of options for a long time...It's showing people they can run for office for the very first time."

Valesky raised nearly 10 times as much money as May in the race. According to August filings, Valesky had about $636,000 in his campaign account; May had $66,934.

Each candidate thanked the other for running a good race. Valesky said May ran a "spirited campaign" and raised important issues like single-payer healthcare. May said Valesky was respectful and kind.

"Politics can be very ugly but this was not that kind of race," May said.

May spent the evening at Mello Vello Cafe on Erie Boulevard. She was joined by her husband, Tom, her daughter, Sophie, and a sister from California. Others in the crowd included Democratic Congressional candidate Dana Balter, who gave May a big hug shortly after hearing the results.

Valesky's supporters gathered at XO Taco, just down the street on Fayette Street. As results trickled in, most people left. Valesky arrived around 11:30 p.m. to talk to reporters and greet a handful of supporters who stuck around late.

Dave Valesky speaks to reporters outside XO Taco on Fayette Street in Syracuse on primary night, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2018.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Janet Burman in November. Burman is the former city chair of the Onondaga County Republican Committee.

Both May and Valesky have secured third-party ballot lines on November's ballot. Valesky has received the Independence Party nomination and the Women's Equality Party nomination. May has received the Working Families Party nomination.

Valesky said he has not decided whether he would continue campaigning if May wins the Democratic line.

The 53rd Senate District includes most of Syracuse, all of Madison County and two towns in Oneida County.
It's beginning to look like hyperloops will become a real method of transportation in the future. Countries and regions around the world have been granting digging and construction permits to companies like Hyperloop TT, Hyperloop One, and even Elon Musk's Boring Company.

That trend is continuing now, as California's Hawthorne City Council has just given the Boring Company full approval to connect an above-ground garage to an underground tunnel. The prototype images we've seen so far depict what appears to be a standard suburban garage.

To build this proof-of-concept transportation system, the Boring Company has purchased a residence above a tunnel they built beneath 120th Street and between Hawthorne Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, according to The Mercury News.

The outlet says the one-mile tunnel effectively connects the house to SpaceX headquarters, which will probably be pretty convenient for Musk's builders. Naturally, given the fact that the home the Boring Company has purchased is in an actual residential area, Hawthorne City Council's approval of the project came with a few stipulations.

To name one, Boring Company workers will not be able to drive into the garage from the street. Instead, they'll have to take advantage of the previously-mentioned tunnel. Hawthorne City Councillors are likely hoping this restriction will reduce noise and street traffic for nearby residents.

It's not clear when the Boring Company will begin construction of this project, but we'll likely learn more about it in the coming months.

Image courtesy The Mercury News
Something to look forward to: Back in 2014, Dyson announced its first robotic vacuum, the 360 Eye. Now, the successor has arrived, bringing with it a slew of upgrades including the ability to work in dark roomssomething the original model struggled with.

As noted by Engadget, the 360 Heurist was unveiled in Beijing earlier this week. One of the biggest upgrades over the 360 Eye is the new quad-core 1.4GHz processor thats able to process information 20 times faster than the previous model. Dyson says this lets it pick up 60 percent more detail about the surroundings and reduces the chances of it hitting something by half.

Other features include more stiff nylon bristles, now up from 5468 to 6947, and 20 percent more suction power than the 360 Eyedespite both vacuums using the same 78,000 rpm Dyson V2 digital motor. There are three suction power settings that can double the runtime up to 80 minutes, and it comes with eight LEDs that automatically light up in dark environments, letting it clean rooms at night without constantly bumping into furniture.

As with the 360 Eye, the Heurist can be controlled using the vacuums companion app; functionality that has also been upgraded with the inclusion of voice commands. In China, the vacuum can be ordered around using Alibabas Tmall Genie smart speaker. Amazons Alexa is expected to be the digital assistant of choice in other locations.

There's no word on price or launch locations for the 360 Heurist outside of China, where it will be available this November for 5,490 yuan (about $800). Dyson no longer lists the 360 Eye on its website, which could indicate an eventual global release for the successor.
Stephen Colbert has once again called out U.S. President Donald J. Trump for wanting to use NASA's future space missions for advertising.

Stephen Colbert Pokes Fun At NASA, Trump

In his opening monologue, the late-night television host, who is a staunch critic of Trump, discussed the plan of the government to sell naming rights to private corporations and allow astronauts to appear in commercials.

"As a businessman, Trump is known for selling things: steaks, apartments, his soul," he joked. "Well, now he's extended that philosophy to space."

He is, of course, referring to the recent news that Jim Bridenstine, the space agency's chief, wanted to raise money for future projects by allowing astronauts to endorse products such as cereals. After all, going to space is not cheap, as sending astronauts to the International Space Station alone costs millions of dollars. With plans to launch a moon outpost and then send humans to the surface of Mars, NASA would need a lot of money.

However, if the proposal becomes a reality, it would a rather significant shift for the space agency that has, until then, been solely about science. Unlike its Russian counterparts, NASA has made efforts not to promote any brand or engage in commercial activities.

The commercialization of NASA and future project have already received criticism from the public that Colbert discussed on television on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

During the monologue, the television host and comedian pointed out how different it would have been if the moon landing in the 60s if it was, for example, sponsored by Dr. Scholl's insoles. He was also a little surprised to find out that the Trix rabbit was not an astronaut after all.

The 54-year-old also joked that in the future, renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will also be appearing on boxes of Anytizers' Popcorn Chicken. Watch the clip below.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Talks Space Force

During the episode, Colbert also discussed Trump's Space Force with Tyson. The astrophysicist, author, and television host defended the proposal, saying that it was not exactly a bad idea.

"Just because it came out of Trump's mouth, doesn't require that it then be a crazy thing," Tyson said.

However, he discussed that a Space Force already exists and it is called the United States Space Command, which is under the jurisdiction of the military. He argued that the Air Force already has space-bound missions such as launching satellites into orbit

In August, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence revealed plans to create a new branch of the military that would protect the country and the world from "rising security threats" today and in the future. If approved, the U.S. Space Force might start operation by 2020.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Early human settlers are believed to be the reason why the Madagascar elephant bird went extinct. Now, researchers found evidence that humans might have been on the island 6,000 years earlier than previously believed, suggesting that they possibly coexisted with the giants for thousands of years before they went extinct.

What does this mean for the rapid extinction hypothesis for Madagascar?

Elephant Bird Bone Markings

A team of scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) discovered what appears to be chop marks on the bones of the already extinct elephant bird. The chop mark is said to likely have been made by a sharp tool, while the straightness of the cut and its lack of continuing cracks suggest that it was made on fresh bone.

The markings clearly suggest that the giant bird was hunted and butchered by prehistoric humans, but whats even more remarkable about the discovery is that radiocarbon dating revealed the bone to be about 10,500 years old, making it the oldest known evidence of human presence in Madagascar. This means that compared to the previous belief that humans settled on the island roughly 2,400 to 4,000 years ago, human presence on the island possibly occurred 6,000 years earlier.

Extinction Hypothesis

What does the discovery mean for the hypothesis surrounding the extinction of the elephant bird? Many archaeologists accept the idea proposed four decades ago that the extinction of megafauna in northern continents was likely a result of a so-called blitzkrieg by early human hunters encroaching on their territory and not because of factors such as climate change. In fact, Madagascar is considered key in testing this theory.

However, the current discovery suggests that the humans possibly coexisted with the elephant birds and other massive creatures for thousands of years with limited negative impact on biodiversity. In fact, the studys lead author Dr. James Hansford of ZSLs Institute of Zoology states that the extinction of Madagascars megafauna, including elephant birds, occurred less than a thousand years ago.

Little-Known Ancient Humans

Naturally, its not easy to say whether the early humans did or did not cause or contribute to Madagascars megafauna extinction, but it does open up new doors to understanding the early humans who settled on the island. So far, little is known about them, and study co-author Professor Patricia Wright of Stony Brook University even says that their origin is unknown and that there is no evidence of their genes in modern populations.

The question remains  who these people were? And when and why did they disappear? said Professor Wright, further stating that more archaeological evidence is needed to further understand and get to know them.

The study is published in the journal Science Advances.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Firefighters had to deal with a Four-story high pile of shredded rubber used for fuel in other parts of the country. Stored here  and shipped, according to the Fire Department.
As Hurricane Florence began to inundate parts of North and South Carolina, members from multiple Cajun Navy organizations were at the front lines.

Several videos shared from organizations showed the storm surge flooding coastal areas as the volunteers went searched for people in need.

The group called "Louisiana Cajun Navy" shared a video from early Friday morning as they checked on 911 calls.

The United Cajun Navy departed from Baton Rouge on Wednesday as they went to where Florence was expected to hit hardest.

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+5 Cajun Navy heads to Carolinas as Hurricane Florence threatens: 'We go where the weather goes' As Hurricane Florence barreled toward the East Coast with the potential to cause catastrophic damage, the Baton Rouge branch of the Cajun Navy

"We go where the weather goes, wherever the most help is needed," volunteer Brien McGlynn.

Check back for updates.
More than seven years after a Brusly High School teacher disappeared, her husband has been arrested in her death and her daughter, now 12 years old, has returned safely to Louisiana.

Oscar A. Lozada, 43, was arrested Thursday in Texas after Mexican authorities helped bring him to the border on a second-degree murder warrant, East Baton Rouge Sheriff Gautreaux said. Mexican authorities also took custody of couple's daughter, Angelina, this past week, and returned her to U.S. officials. She is now in the care of a foster family in Baton Rouge.

"This is a very historic accomplishment," Gautreaux said. "It is a result of our investigators' commitment to this case for more than seven years."

Oscar Lozada had not been in the country since his wife, Sylviane Finck Lozada, was reported missing in July 2011. Oscar Lozada left with Angelina for his home country of Venezuela in the days after his wife was last seen, authorities said. In the last few weeks, Angelina moved from Venezuela to join her father in Mexico  a major development in the years-old case.

"We knew we had one opportunity to get this, if Oscar had any idea that we were trying to put this plan together and this got out, thats a wrap," said Sheriff's investigator Maj. Todd Morris. "You have to understand the sensitivity of these issues and investigations when dealing with foreign countries. ... This was a total team effort."

Can't see video below? Click here.

Oscar Lozada was arrested by Mexican authorities on Sept. 7, Gautreaux said at a press conference Friday. He is being held by authorities in Eagle Pass, Texas, and the extradition process is under way.

"This has been a very long seven years, for Sylviane's family, her friends and our community," Gautreaux said. "(But) this case is a prime example that there are no cold cases."

The press conference came a day after investigators with the Sheriff's Office filed an arrest warrant claiming Oscar Lozada was responsible for his wife's death. The warrant was on a count of second-degree murder.

+3 Husband of Brusly teacher missing since 2011 wanted for her death, investigators say More than seven years after the disappearance of Brusly High School teacher Sylviane Finck Lozada, authorities now allege her husband is respo

Investigators believe Oscar Lozada killed his wife before leaving the country in 2011 with their young daughter.

Morris said that he kept in contact with Oscar Lozada through phone calls and emails for years after his wife's disappearance, but in mid-2016, that communication was terminated. Venezuelan officials do not work with the U.S. on extradition cases. But, Morris said, in mid-2017 he learned that Oscar Lozada had relocated to Mexico.

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Would I like to get Oscar? Yes, absolutely," Morris recalled thinking. "But I'm more concerned about Angelina. The goal is Angelina's safety first, and then we'll take care of Oscar. ... You have to remember, Oscar was not allowing Ms. Fincks family in Belgium to have any contact with Angelina. I hadnt had any contact, hadnt seen Angelina.

Then, he said, about two months ago officials found out that Angelina joined her father in Mexico, a country that will cooperate with U.S. officials. Morris said local officials worked with federal officials based in Mexico, Mexican officials, border patrol agents, and even Belgian officials  as Sylviane was a native and citizen of Belgium. He said this week, he received a call to pick up Angelina the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Im going to relinquish control of Angelina to you,'" Morris, with tears in his eyes, recalled Mexican officials telling him this week. "I said, 'Ill be there.'"

"She's doing well," he said. Authorities plan to next reunite Angelina with her family in Belgium.

Morris said it is not immediately clear why Oscar Lozada moved to Mexico when he did. He also said it is not clear what Angelina knows about the case, but said she has been through a traumatic experience.

The warrant filed Thursday in East Baton Rouge notes that authorities have still not found the body of Sylviane Lozada, who lived in Baton Rouge with her husband and child; however, deputies note that no one has heard from her or seen her since July 5, 2011. Sylviane Lozada was a French and Spanish teacher at Brusly High School for more than a decade, in the U.S. on a work visa.

The warrant says investigators found blood in the garage of the couple's home in at least nine spots, including three walls and the ceiling. All the samples were identified as Sylviane Lozada's blood, the warrant says.

The day after her mother in Belgium last heard from her, July 5, 2011, authorities said her husband bought two round-trip tickets to Caracas, Venezuela.

Officials later found out that Oscar Lozada had purchased buckets, cement mix and large plastic bags in the days before he left the country. Those materials were never recovered and there is no explanation, like a construction job, for them, the warrant says.

Oscar Lozada had a history of violence against his wife. On three different incidents in the years before her disappearance, deputies were called to the hospital or the Lozada's residence for domestic abuse complaints, though Oscar Lozada was never arrested.

Morris said twice in the last seven years the Sheriff's Office bought plane tickets to bring him and his daughter back for questioning, but they never boarded the flights.

"He was monitoring our investigative efforts here," Morris said. He said authorities purposely did not file a warrant for second-degree murder in the last seven years because they were worried that would deadlock the investigation. In 2011, authorities did, however, issue a warrant for his arrest for felony domestic abuse battery, but to no avail, Morris said.
LSU President F. King Alexander on Friday disputed charges that that the school's new admission policy is watering down standards.

"We are not lowering standards," Alexander said. "We are just taking a better look at these kids, which they deserve because they worked on this for four years."

Under the new rules, students who previously would not have been accepted are getting a more detailed look from the admissions office, which has sparked controversy.

More than just good scores: Here's how LSU's new 'holistic admission' policy works As the person most involved in carrying out LSUs new admissions policy that discounts the importance of college board tests, like the ACT, Jo

"We think these kids deserve a closer look now that we have the tools to do so," Alexander said during a nearly 90-minute, spirited meeting with the editorial board of The Advocate.

Under LSU's previous policy, students had to score at least 22 on the ACT, which is supposed to measure college readiness, to be considered for admission.

Scores can range from 15 to 36 on the ACT.

Under the change, which was applied to the 2018 freshmen class, admission officials do a deeper dive for students who scored less than 22 on the exam, including high school grade point averages, classes taken and teacher recommendations.

Alexander said the LSU Faculty Senate signed off on similar reviews in 2006. "The problem we had for the past 12 years is that we did not have the tools to do what other schools do," Alexander said.

Richard Lipsey, who lives in Baton Rouge and is a member of the state Board of Regents, has blasted LSU's new policy as has a group called Put Louisiana First.

Group blasts new LSU admissions policy, calls 'holistic' process 'lowering standards' A group headed by a member of the Board of Regents blasted LSU President F. King Alexander on Tuesday for the universitys recent decision to 

Lipsey said the change amounts to lowering hard-fought admission benchmarks after decades when Louisiana residents could enter LSU with just a high school diploma. He said the new rules will allow politically-connected officials to get students into LSU who otherwise would fail to qualify.

"He is opening the door for chaos," Lipsey said of Alexander earlier this month.

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Others have questioned whether easing ACT rules penalizes students who met the standard, and if LSU has the manpower to adequately scrutinize thousands of applications that previously would have been rejected.

Jose Aviles, LSU's vice president for enrollment, said what school officials call a "holistic" approach to reviewing applications is nothing new, and used by top schools in other states.

"It has been around for more than 40 years, probably more than 50 years," Aviles said.

He said officials "fundamentally know so much more about what matters in student success" than when admission policies were put in place in the mid-1980's, including stricter ACT requirements.

Aviles said the applications of students who score less than 22 on the ACT undergo rigorous reviews, including high school transcripts and whether they pursued challenging courses, especially in fields where they plan to study.

For instance, those who plan to study engineering, he said, should have exhausted the highest levels of math and science classes available at their high schools.

Aviles said that, even when accounting for differences in high school quality, a student's high school GPA is the key indicator of college success.

Alexander said the number of freshmen this year who scored 30 or higher on the ACT is up 42 percent in a class of 5,803.

But he also said it is a mistake to overemphasize ACT results in whether students are admitted.

Alexander said 60 percent of in-state applicants live in rural areas and often only took the ACT one time.

The president said the LSU Board of Supervisors has been "very supportive" of the admission changes.

A statement from the panel on the revamped policy is expected soon.
The grisly case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi underscores the importance of Americas energy independence, a national priority in which 
Warren Lipka and his tribe of misfits were not successful in their poorly planned quest to relieve the rare book collection at Transylvania University of its Havells, but that doesn't mean others have not tried and succeeded at similar crimes.

In 1993, former Louisiana State Museum volunteer Michael Moskaluk was sentenced to 15 years in prison for being in possession of 60 or so Havells that disappeared from the museum in 1989.

A nationwide search for the works led investigators to Chicago, where two art dealers claimed to have unwittingly purchased the purloined prints.

The dealers fingered Moskaluk as the perpetrator who had sold them the goods. The accused was arrested in Vermont soon thereafter and fought extradition to New Orleans for more than two years.

Negotiations for the return of the prints took months, with one dealer offering to restore some of them and another claiming to have destroyed seven because he thought they were too damaged to repair.

Meanwhile, Moskuluk asserted that he had not stolen the works but that the state museum director had given them to him to sell  which he freely admitted doing both in the U.S. and abroad.

Moskaluk was accused of tearing the state seal from the Audubon prints, from a set of 435 that the state Legislature bought from Audubons widow in the early 1800s.

After his conviction, Moskaluk was held at St. Gabriel, where he died at the age of 47 in 1995 after complications from AIDS.
Three former Sewerage & Water Board deputy directors ousted by Mayor LaToya Cantrell claim they were dismissed without due process, and they want the pensions they haven't received.

In late August, Cantrell demanded that deputies Ronald Doucette, Sharon Judkins and Valerie Rivers resign after the three were given pay raises as the agency struggled to pay its bills.

But the deputies' attorney, Sharonda Williams, said in a letter to the S&WB dated Aug. 27 that the S&WBs governing board never publicly ratified that move, a step required under state law.

There is no clear authority by which the mayor of the City of New Orleans may direct the termination or resignation of an employee of the S&WB, Williams wrote.

The letter Williams sent amounts to a formal request that a wrong be satisfied, not an explicit threat of a lawsuit. While the deputies are not asking to be rehired, they do want to be paid their pensions and to be compensated for unused leave. It's not clear how much they believe they are owed.

The S&WB did not respond to questions.

Cantrell announced the resignations at a press conference last month, days after nola.com first reported that the three deputy directors had received raises even as agency officials said the utility was perilously low on money. Also booted was the agency's former interim executive director, Jade Brown Russell, who ordered the raises for the three employees.

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Each pay boost was made retroactive to the beginning of the year. Judkins, head of human resources, received a $45,000 hike, bringing her salary to $175,000. Doucette, the head of security, and Rivers, who oversaw logistics, each received an increase of $20,000, bringing their pay to roughly $150,000.

While Cantrell never explicitly explained the terminations, she said the agency needed to line up things internally so that new leader Ghassan Korban could "hit the ground running" when he began work in September.

But the board may not have satisfied the requirements of holding a public meeting to make that decision binding. Emails obtained by The Lens show that a majority of the board's members instead joined a conference call with Cantrell on Aug. 17, and another conference call with the mayor was set for the morning the moves were announced.

The state's open meetings law requires that the boards of public agencies do business in public, and teleconferences are barred. Williams said in her letter that the S&WB failed to meet that law's requirements, which also stipulate that public boards notify employees in advance when they intend to discuss their competence or character.

Williams also said that Cantrell  though she serves as the board's president  does not have the unilateral power to oust employees, under a law that gives only the board, or potentially the executive director, the power to terminate people for cause.

If that cause in this case was their salaries, that was also improper, Williams said, as most other employees at the agency had already been given salary adjustments under a class-and-compensation analysis the board commissioned.

When the deputies were terminated, Cantrell said they would not receive severance packages.

Rivers, at least, said in her resignation letter that she should be allowed to draw down from about $22,000 in pension contributions she made when she turns 70.
An 18- to 24-month effort by St. Tammany Parish and Slidell to clear out major drainage canals has begun, something Mayor Greg Cromer says hasn't been done in several years.

Cromer said when he served on the Slidell City Council beginning in 2002, the W-14 and W-15 drainage canals were cleaned out, north to south, every 18 months. But when he took office as mayor in July, he learned from constituents that the work had not been done for several years.

Cromer called that unacceptable and sought Parish President Pat Brister's help in cleaning the canals, which cross city and parish boundaries.

The two officials looked at sharing resources, including equipment that the parish has and the city doesn't, as well as combining workforces. The public works directors for both governments came up with a plan to get the work done for $48,000, Cromer said.

Five miles of arteries and canals will be cleaned out: the W-15 Bypass, also known as the Reine Canal; the Maris Stella Canal; the Lakewood Canal; the W-14 Canal from Daney Street to Interstate 10 and from the city detention pond to North Boulevard; and the Audubon Ditch.

This isn't the first time the parish and city have tackled the drainage infrastructure together. A little over a year ago, Brister and Cromer's predecessor, Freddy Drennan, announced a project to reshape the W-14 and W-15.

But that project dealt with only 7,000 feet and was accomplished in two months, said Gina Campo, parish chief administrative officer.

Once this larger project is completed, Cromer said, the canals will be put on an 18-month maintenance schedule.

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Cromer and Brister both stressed their intention to work cooperatively wherever possible, citing the extension of the Tammany Trace into Slidell's Heritage Park as an example. Under that agreement, also forged under Drennan, the parish is paying $1.2 million for the work from BP oil spill settlement funds while the city is contributing $800,000.

More recently, the parish and city joined forces to do maintenance overlay work on Airport Road, which just began. The cost for that project, which came in under budget, is about $935,000, with the parish paying about $604,000 and the city paying just over $331,000.

City and parish officials are also discussing plans to work together on sandbag depots.

The parish has equipment to fill the bags, "and here I am with a pile of sand and six shovels and my workforce wearing itself out," he said. The two governments are talking about stockpiling sandbags on slow days in preparation for storm events.

Cromer said he considers himself to be mayor of the 95,000 people in the greater Slidell area, even though the actual population inside city limits is 28,000. What Slidell does has an impact on the surround area, "where they worship, shop and where their kids go to school," he said.

"If we're not working together, we're almost working against each other," he said.

Brister agreed. "Problems don't begin and end at parish lines," she said.
A Hong Kong conglomerate which owns the Jeanswest brand in Australia has ramped up its local property holdings, gaining control of two suburban offices worth $28 million.

The property investment arm of Hong Kong listed Glorious Sun, which also sells the Jeanswest brand in China, is understood to have paid $18.4 million for a trophy corner office at 255 Whitehorse Road, just down the road from the Palace Balwyn cinema.

255 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn sold before auction this week. Credit:Gorman Commercial

At the same time in a separate deal, the busy conglomerate has negotiated to buy another prominent corner office building in the Tally Ho Business Park in Burwood East, which it settled on for $9.6 million.

The deals follow prominent businessman and media identity Harold Mitchell this week cashing in on his purpose-built office, Emerald House in South Melbourne, which he offloaded to a private investor for $49 million.
 Justice for Laquan is a nonviolent movement. Its a peaceful movement, he said. Anybody that comes out to demonstrate, we ask you to come out and be aggressive. Come out and be passionate. Come out and exercise your First Amendment (rights), but please come out and be peaceful.
"The Canadians aren't here to watch the footy," quipped one of the myriad parties to the long-running-battle for control of the $3.6 billion listed Investa Office Fund.

Having arrived in Sydney last Saturday, the Oxford Properties directors, led by the head of Europe and Asia, Paul Brundage, and hunkered down at an office in Barangaroo, the Sydney Swans' devastating loss to cross-town rivals, GWS Giants, was the last thing on their minds.

Oxford is the real estate arm of the Canadian OMERS pension fund which has about $C100 billion of assets under management. It is part of the consortium that bought a 50-year lease on the Port of Melbourne.

Impression of the new-look retail and office podium at 388 George Street, Sydney. Credit:FJMT Architects

Oxford's first foray is part of a proposed $2 billion development of Barangaroo Central with the Melbourne developer, Grocon.
Parramatta's office market is going at full steam with new leasing and development activity that will see its vacancy rate sit at record lows for years to come.

Targeting the growth is the retail giant Scentre, which recently lodged a development application for an office tower atop its Westfield Parramatta shopping centre.

According to the latest Property Council of Australia office market report, the vacancy rate in the prime office sector is zero and only marginally higher in the A-grade ranking.

GPT has bought the Eclipse tower at 60 Station Street, Parramatta

GPT is another active participant after signing Deloitte as the anchor tenant for its $277 million Eclipse tower at 60 Station Street. It also recently leased space to QBE at its $300 million 32 Smith Street development.
Larry Page has faded from public life.

While other founders of major tech companies, such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Jack Dorsey of Twitter, have recently been compelled to step into the spotlight, Page is withdrawing more and more from public life to spend time on his private Caribbean island, Bloomberg reports.

Larry Page has not spoken in public since a TED talk in 2014. Credit:AP

Page founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998. Both are senior executives at Googles parent company, Alphabet, where Page still holds company all-hands meetings, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg notes that in the 1990s Page was found to have vocal-cord paralysis. He opened up about the condition in 2013. He said it made his voice softer and made long monologues more difficult. The 45-year-old Google co-founder has not spoken in public since a TED talk in 2014, despite Googles recently coming under attack from President Donald Trump, who has accused it of left-wing bias and antitrust violations.
The remaining platforms Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Menulog are under increasing scrutiny from regulators and face competition from delivery white label options like Order Up! which enable restaurants to manage their online ordering, payments and delivery logistics all under their own brand. At the same time restaurants are increasingly pushing back against what they say are high fees and a lack of control over interaction with customers who have flocked to the convenience of the ordering apps. 'Breaking point' Lucas is not convinced of the benefit of the food delivery platforms for restaurants or consumers. "We are cognisant that our food has been designed to be eaten in a restaurant environment and I still think it is a big issue," he says.

Both parties are saying they are losing money... you dont have to be an economist to work out there will be a breaking point somewhere. Chris Lucas "I think that increasingly these services are going to become more and more expensive for the customer as clearly there has been a lot of discounting going on in the market and I dont think that is sustainable for the restaurants or the delivery platforms. Both parties are saying they are losing money. At the end of the day you dont have to be an economist to work out there will be a breaking point somewhere." Losing money Certainly it's true many of the food delivery platforms appear to be losing money. Deliveroo's most recent accounts filed with the corporate regulator show it made a $4.1 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 even though it received a cash injection of $20.7 million from its parent company Roofood.

Chefs at work inside Deliveroo's dark kitchen in Windsor. Credit:Justin McManus In the previous financial year Deliveroo was $21.3 million in the red. However, it is also expanding quickly with turnover rocketing almost four-fold from $11.4 million to $41.2 million. Uber Eats won't disclose its financial position although Uber Australia -including its flagship ridesharing business - made a gross profit of $127.3 million last financial year. Hunger games: Not all restaurateurs are finding the growth in online delivery apps to their taste. Credit:Joe Benke Menulog's UK parent company Just Eat's reported last month an 8 per cent fall in revenue in Australia and New Zealand to 21.6 million ($39.42 million) and the local business booked an an impairment charge of 180.4 million ($329.2 million) "driven by lower projected cash flows in the business' plans, resulting in management's reassessment of expected future business performance in light of the current trading environment".

Foodora's administrators won't say how the business was performing prior to its collapse or how much it owes, however its collapse provides an opportunity for other providers as the market consolidates. Research by Morgan Stanley published prior to Foodora's collapse, shows Australia's online takeaway market grew by 30 per cent last year and predicts 15 per cent growth for this financial year. Levi Aron inside Deliveroo's dark kitchen. Credit:Justin McManus Morgan Stanley predicts Australia's online takeaway market could grow to $3.1 billion by 2022 with 18 per cent online penetration. Heavy investment

Levi Aron, Deliveroo's Australian manager, tells Fairfax Media, the business is performing strongly even though it is loss-making. "We grew over 350 per cent over the last year and we are looking to grow in a very big way over the next year," he says. "That is something that I think more than anything else we are literally scratching the surface of what we can achieve in Australia." Aron says while Foodora may have exited the market Deliveroo is "investing very heavily" in Australia with the aim of consumers using the business multiple times a day. "We are going to look at both expansion and also look at the areas we already are in Australia to offer much more ... not just breakfast lunch and dinner but also look at late night services, look at early morning brunch, pick me up food as well," he says.

Dark kitchens One of the strategies being employed by the food delivery platforms to bolster their businesses is the use of 'dark kitchens' that operate separately to restaurants. Dark Kitchens contain purpose-built kitchens fit for delivery with each kitchen allocated to a different restaurant brand. Deliveroo has its own dark kitchens with one already operating in Melbourne and two more "supersized sites" to come this year in Melbourne and Sydney indicating further investment by the business in the Australian market. Deliveroo takes a larger cut of restaurant takings when they use dark kitchens, although it won't reveal how much.

The existing dark kitchen is located down an alleyway in Windsor with several different restaurants operating out of the same small kitchen. The kitchen is not usually accessible by the public, there is nowhere for diners to sit, just a breezy antechamber known as the "rider comfort area" with seats, power points for charging phones and a water cooler. A delivery rider takes an order from Deliveroo's dark kitchen in Windsor. Credit:Justin McManus However it's a step up from Deliveroo's initial dark kitchens which operated out of converted shipping containers in London. Aron says the dark kitchens, which he prefers to call "tech enabled delivery only kitchens", allow restaurants more flexibility in their offerings.

"That might be bringing a brand from Sydney to Melbourne or from Footscray to Melbourne, by doing that we want to bring something new to the table," he says. "It might be a cuisine, it might be a price point it might be something different." Joseph Abboud is the owner of the Moor's Head. Credit:Ken Irwin Restaurants like Melbourne's Moor's Head will use dark kitchens to provide a different offering entirely, with chef Joseph Abboud planning to offer a vegan pizza brand from Deliveroo's upcoming supersized site. "For us it gives us a great opportunity for a relatively small investment to extend our business," Abboud says. "It's a relatively low risk or smaller investment that you then dont need it to turn over millions of dollars." Aron says delivery times are shorter out of the dark kitchens and in the future Deliveroo will be able to use them to increase its power in the sector.

"We will not just be known as delivery between restaurants and customers but these sites enable us to get into the supply chain of food," he says. "With these sites we are able to work with beverage companies we are able to talk to grass fed beef producers or sliced chip producers and really understand how we can work with them to service 25 brands operating out of one site." Susan Anderson, Uber general manager and right Jodie Auster, Uber Eats general manager. Credit:Ryan Stuart Virtual restaurants Uber Eats is not developing its own dark kitchens but instead encourages the restaurants it works with to create 'virtual restaurants'.

Jodie Auster, head of Uber Eats in Australia, tells Fairfax Media virtual restaurants are online delivery only kitchens as opposed to a dark kitchen which is setting up a brand new space and putting a kitchen in. Auster says there are over 300 virtual restaurants live in Australia now such as Adelaide outlet Chickens Plus which found souvlakis were its bestseller and so launched Souvlaki Plus. "The level of interest from restaurants has been fantastic because chefs and business owners understand it is a really easy way to experiment and move outside their comfort zone in ways that would be easy to do and experiment," she says. "We dont have Uber-supported dark kitchens. We do have some partners who have prep kitchens or have gone and set up unused kitchens. We dont formally keep count of the dark kitchen segment." Auster says there is no way for customers to tell whether a restaurant actually exists beyond a website or an app.

"There's no evidence that the consumer is confused," she says. "At the moment they are portrayed in the same way on the platform, we are looking at whether we need to distinguish them." Lucas is one restaurateur who is not convinced. He tried out Deliveroo's dark kitchen creating two new brands Di Di Dumplings and Yubi but the ventures were a flop. "We just found the cost of operating them was even more significant and we just found it too costly to operate and the demand wasnt really there," he says. "At the end of the day you are still giving away a third of your overall sales." "These kitchens were supposed to give you access to demographics without establishing a physical restaurant. We found if there wasnt really a physical restaurant people didnt really identify with it."

'This is not a safe job' For the thousands of riders and drivers who deliver orders for the food delivery platforms whether the food comes from a physical or online only restaurant is largely irrelevant. A delivery driver leaves Deliveroo's dark kitchen. Credit:Justin McManus Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Menulog continue to face scrutiny over the employment status of their workforce and argue that they are contractors rather than employees. A delivery rider who works for all three services told Fairfax Media he was attracted by the flexibility of food delivery but is concerned about his lack of rights.

The rider, who does not wish to be named as he fears he will lose his jobs, says the payment varies between providers with UberEats paying the least followed by Deliveroo then Menulog. "UberEats pay depends on the distance and if the customer is close to the restaurant you might get only $7 for the delivery," he says. "You only get paid for the distance between the restaurant and the delivery." He said Deliveroo used to pay $10 per hour but two months ago switched to a similar payment system to Uber Eats determined by distance. Safety is his main concern. "This is not a safe job you take a big risk to do it. We dont have holidays, we dont have superannuation." "It is not easier to work as a deliverer as we work on bikes and motorbikes so it is quite dangerous. We work at night and on rainy days and on rainy days it is very dangerous. I have already had three accidents and all of them were delivering on rainy days."

Regulation considered Conditions for workers are an an issue regulators are trying to grapple with. Food is prepared for delivery in a dark kitchen. Credit:Justin McManus The food service providers insist their workers are contractors because they can work across multiple providers. "We encourage our riders to ride for multiple platforms," says Aron. "We are very confident in our model and 90 per cent of our riders tell us they are very happy and they come to Deliveroo to ride because of the flexibility and what we are able to offer them."

However Tess Hardy, senior lecturer at Melbourne Law School, told Fairfax Media there is a grey zone between casual employees and independent contractors. "Non exclusive service is one factor in a multi factorial test which may suggest that a worker is an independent contractor. But it is not necessarily definitive," she said. "Casual employees can work for multiple employers as well." Protestors hold placards during a delivery drivers rally ahead of a Foodora creditors meeting in Sydney. Credit:AAP. The Fair Work Ombudsman had to drop its case earlier this month alleging Foodora engaged in sham contracting classifying workers as contractors instead of employees following the company's collapse. Hardy says she was surprised the ombudsman had failed to name directors or senior managers at Foodora in the action.

"The benefit of doing that is that if the company goes bust you have someone to pursue," she says. She says pursuing directors or senior managers as accessories for the "involvement" in the contravention is often more challenging in relation to larger companies like Foodora. However Foodora is still facing an alleged unfair dismissal case which has added significance as Australian tax authorities classified the company's food delivery riders as employees instead of independent contractors. Revenue NSW has notified Foodora's administrator the company owes $558,075 in payroll tax. Undoubtedly the other food aggregators will be watching the case closely. The true cost
St Paul's College is recruiting rural and state school students to dilute the dominance of boys from the wealthy private schools of Sydney as it seeks to end the boozy, sexist culture highlighted in a new report.

An investigation into the culture of the Sydney University-based residential college by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick found there were problems with sexism, binge drinking and ritual humiliation.

It said almost 60 per cent of the students at St Paul's  one of only four all-male university colleges left in Australia  were now "drawn from a small number of single-sex GPS [Great Public Schools] located in Sydney". Many had also been boarders.

A damning investigation has revealed the full extent of the culture issues at St Paul's College. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

In the past, there were a greater proportion of public school and country students.
He may be a bear of small brain but he is a cow of large cash for the Mouse House, which should probably be called the Pooh House  although that doesn't sound so good on radio.

Most of us think of Mickey Mouse as the company's most famous character, but Pooh is the bigger earner. His merchandise earnings topped Mickey some years ago when they passed $US1 billion (that's per annum). It might even be as high as $6 billion now, although Disney doesn't talk about figures, given the number of lawsuits it has fought to retain, defend or extend those rights in the past 50 years.

Winnie-the-Pooh doesn't have hyphens any more. Disney took them out when they bought most of the rights to A. A. Milne's stories and characters in 1961, five years after the English author's death.

Inevitably, as he crossed the Atlantic, Pooh was Americanised. The voices in Disney's never-ending series of cartoons, specials and movies took on a jumble of vowels: Christopher Robin usually sounds very English, as does Owl, but Pooh has sometimes sounded a little Brooklyn, depending on whose voice we heard (Sterling Holloway to begin, then Hal Smith, now Jim Cummings). Eeyore, voiced in this new live-action movie by Brad Garrett, sounds like the depressed offspring of Abe Vigoda in The Godfather.

Didn't we just have a Christopher Robin movie? Well yes, but Goodbye Christopher Robin from last year was a Fox Searchlight production about the complicated Milne family in the 1920s. Domhnall Gleeson and Margot Robbie played the distant parents of a sad little boy. The animal characters appeared mainly as sketches in the illustrator's notebook  perhaps a way of avoiding a Disney lawsuit.

In fact, the two movies complement each other, although this new one is aimed at a younger audience. Ewan McGregor plays a fictional grown-up Christopher Robin, a harried executive at the Winslow Luggage Company in London. His wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) complains that life is passing him by; his daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) gives it to him straight  "I never see you". It's the modern father's dilemma, which sends Christopher into despair. "What to do, what to do?" he asks himself, his head in his hands, on a park bench.

As many will know from the trailer, this is when Pooh comes back into Christopher's life. This return scene is spectacularly well done  a sign that the team here is a step up from previous efforts. Indeed, director Marc Forster is known for more serious fare such as Monster's Ball (2011) and The Kite Runner (2007)  but he also did a Bond movie (Quantum of Solace, 2008) and Finding Neverland (2004), which is relevant to the emotional landscape here.

Tom McCarthy, writer and director of the marvellous Spotlight, worked on this script with Alex Ross Perry and Allison Schroeder. It shows in the dialogue, which is persistently clever without becoming too knowing. Preserving innocence is the prime directive in any movie about Pooh: most of the power in the stories comes from his silly but smart way of looking at the world.
The first time I went to Paris, I had stars in my eyes. Michelin stars. Visions of truffles, caviar, champagne and lobster danced in my head.

On my most recent visit to Paris, however, it was the bistro I sought; old and dusty, tired and streetwise. I wanted stooped, black-vested waiters, glass pichets of wine, thick linen napkins, boards of charcuterie presented with a jar of cornichons and a slab of rich French butter, and cloud-like oeufs a la neige floating in pools of vanilla-speckled creme anglaise. For days, I ate oysters swimming in salty juices, plump pink sausages with silky pomme puree, and enough pate en croute to feed Napoleon's army. And it was good.

Illustration: Simon Letch.

Because the precious old bistros of Paris are not fading into the sunset. They're being saved. Those wily old great chefs of France have realised that the hustly bustly, woodlined, close-tabled bistro can be as relevant today as it was when it first brought the great regional dishes of France to the city. Alongside their starry-eyed, special-occasion fine-dining restaurants, they are investing in the everyday pleasures of the bistro business.

The nation's all-conquering Alain Ducasse took over the 104-year-old Aux Lyonnais bistro in 2002, the 106-year-old Benoit in 2005 and the 86-year-old Allard in 2013; in part, he says, to keep them and their traditional dishes alive.
Maurice Lockie was born in Geelong in 1925. From a very early age, he was fascinated by radio and spent many hours listening to his crystal wireless set and even set up a pretend studio in his bedroom where he would broadcast to an imaginary audience.

A few months before his 16th birthday, while holidaying in Bendigo with his aunt, Maurice rang the local radio station and asked if they needed a broadcaster. During the war years, labour was very scarce, so the station manager asked if he had any experience  to which Maurice replied "yes", omitting the minor detail that his experience was limited to his make-believe studio in East Geelong.

Maurice Lockie, as photographed by the ABC in 1976 when he was a director and producer for a number of TV programs including '4 Corners' and 'This Day Tonight'.

By the end of the day, Maurice had the job. After some persuading, his parents agreed and so began a career in radio that would last 75 years. Maurice worked as a broadcaster six days a week for more than two years at 3BO until his 18th birthday, when he enlisted in the Air Force.

Being deemed unfit to fly due to mild colour blindness, Maurice joined the signals division and was posted to Madang on the north coast of New Guinea. His main job was in the cypher section, coding and decoding messages to and from the troops. In the evenings, Maurice and a couple of other radio enthusiasts set up a radio station with equipment and a record library supplied by 2UE in Sydney.
Canberra public school principals have called for an end to the NAPLAN testing regime in favour of a "less intense" PISA-style assessment from a sample of students.

Appearing before an ACT inquiry into standardised testing in schools this week, representatives from the ACT Principals' Association said NAPLAN had largely become a disruption for teachers and, in some cases, very upsetting for students as results came under public scrutiny.

Year 9 students at St Mary McKillop College sat their 2018 NAPLAN test online. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Stories of parents shopping around for high-performing schools suggested the test was now a "driver" in Australia's education sector, but principals reported the results arrived too late to offer any meaningful help in the classroom for individual students.

Gordon Primary School principal Murray Bruce said the data could still be collected by taking a valid sampling approach, such as the kind already used by the OECD's international assessment PISA as well as the TIMSS and Australian Civics and Citizenships assessments.
He concluded by saying that under allodial title the federal government does not have jurisdiction to make this appointment. It is regarded as an insult to Aboriginal people. Mike Morriss, Curtin 'In Loco' a low point It's a regrettable fact that Australian governments seem now prepared to go to almost any length to stay in office.

But even if that premise is accepted, the tactic currently being pursued by the Coalition sets a new low in Australian politics and presents a serious threat to parliamentary democracy in this country. No doubt the architects of Coalition policy regard their tactic of governing in loco Laboris (in the place of the ALP) as a brilliant stroke. It may even suit some in the ALP who welcome the unprecedented opportunity to govern the country vicariously, without any of the pain or responsibility that usually attend that process. Nevertheless, it's unacceptable that an incumbent government should attempt to retain office by simulating its opposition, thereby confusing the electorate, disorienting and even seducing their opponents, and pre-empting the accession of an alternative government. The ALP has as much right as any other party to govern this country.

The Coalition's attempt to deny the ALP that right in such an ignominious manner deserves the condemnation of all Australians. G. Joseph, Hackett Morrison isolated Prime Minister Scott Morrison is isolated and up against powerful forces that favour government intervention. He is assisting them in some areas (health, education and population policy) which weakens his efforts in other areas (energy, industrial relations and federal debt).

Morrison has not rallied his party or the general public in favour of pro-market policies. Our form of government does not restrain the capture of economic, energy and social policy by special interests. No matter how the next election turns out Australians can expect a bigger and more expensive and intrusive government. Liberal and Labor are on a unity ticket: unsettle bourgeois property owners. The Coalition's promiscuous love affair with big government has been to the detriment of consumers, wage earners, taxpayers and savers. Had the Howard/Abbott/Turnbull governments cut taxes, government spending and regulations we would be in much better shape with higher real wages, less debt, more privacy and a more predictable legal order.

Victor Diskordia, McKellar No access to ministers Most people agree that federal ministers have a right, perhaps a duty, to override departmental decisions in some circumstances. A majority may believe that Peter Dutton was fair in his treatment of the two (or three?) au pairs for whom he has intervened. But nobody believes that we all have equal access to this excellent service. Will someone please send me the phone number to which I may apply in emergency?

If it is not available to us all then Minister Dutton still has questions to answer. Regardless of how friendly the people involved are or were with the minister, the fact remains that these people had access that most of us don't. The government has responded to all criticism on this matter with versions of the obvious but irrelevant points in my first para. They are not the issue. Access to the minister is the issue. In the absence of equal ministerial access (and other similar inequalities), the 1 per cent will continue to run the country with enviable ease. Julian Robinson, Narrabundah

Dutton's poor witness I cannot but think that Roman Quaedvlieg's opinion piece ("Dutton put to fair-go test", Forum, September 8, p.10) would have had a deal more impact and credibility were it not for three rather key matters. First, someone dismissed for getting his girlfriend a job in the organisation he headed is hardly in a place to talk about what's fair. Second, he brings the story of refugee children to the debate, ignoring the fact that he was apparently very happy to take a massive salary to implement the very policy he now raises. Finally, the whole issue of Dutton's alleged favourable treatment of a friend rests on Quaedvlieg's own testimony of phone calls which has been demonstrated to have been false and based on his "hazy" memory of dates.

Dutton's actions might be questioned, but I don't think Quaedvlieg is a particularly helpful witness for the prosecution, and perhaps he would be better off avoiding further comment on the issue. Kym MacMillan, O'Malley Watchdogs won't bite To restore diminishing faith in our democratic system the pirates currently operating in our country must be bought to account and jailed . The findings of the banking and insurance royal commission are staggering.

Fines are paid for by shareholders, not individual offenders. The current watchdogs are mostly compromised with no teeth or budgets to enforce thelaw. They need more teeth. Until we have a government that is not in the pocket of the big players things won't change nor will faith in government. Colin Handley, Lyneham

Lateral thinking needed on fires How well prepared is the ACT to protect residents and key assets if there are wildfires this bushfire season? Perhaps the 10 fire fighters who recently returned from the US could have the opportunity to freely express their views? Of particular concern to ACT residents are practices and issues relating to evacuation procedures and communications and cleared space around key facilities and, where relevant, suburbs. What studies have been done in the ACT on potential difficulties of evacuation from high-risk suburbs such as Bruce? The labyrinth of internal roads and the limited number of exits could make evacuation problematic.

What is the wisdom of having bushland next to key facilities such as the Calvary Hospital complex? The ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan 2014-2019 acknowledges the growing number of extreme bushfires in Australia may require "a significant reappraisal of the assumptions underlying current bushfire management" (page 22). Overseas experience of wildfires in both America and Europe this past summer, and the prospects we face in Australia, point to the urgent need for some radical lateral thinking through of the issues affecting Canberra as the bush capital. G. Mannall, O'Connor We stand at a crossroads

The hard-hitting speech in New York on Monday by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, demands consideration by us all. Guterres said "Climate change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. If we do not change course by 2020, we risk missing the point where we can avoid runaway climate change, with disastrous consequences for people and all the natural systems that sustain us ... Climate change is moving faster than we are and its speed has provoked a sonic boom SOS across the world... We stand at an existential crossroad and need to master the full force of human ingenuity to avoid catastrophe." In Australia, we are a witnessing a disastrous failure of political leadership on this issue, which threatens the very future of human civilisation and could change life expectancy for our children. We should, and could be at the leading edge of ambitious mitigation action of the kind referred to by the secretary-general. We know what needs to be done (see www.humansforsurvival,org ) and there is unequivocal evidence that Australians want it done.

Perhaps this emergency requires a government of national unity to remove vital decision making from the diabolical, political one upmanship that is dogging us at present. Bob Douglas, Bruce Population growth flaw Prime Minister Scott Morrison is quite right to want immigration to be focused on regional cities and towns rather than cities such as Sydney and Melbourne ("PM flags overhaul of migration rules", September 9, p1 and p3). However, this continent is the driest, in terms of rainfall, on Earth. The water factor alone severely limits Australia's population carrying capacity.

Australia also has a comparatively small total area of arable food-producing land. Significant parts of this are being swallowed up, at increasing rates, by urban expansion, especially in the Sydney and Melbourne areas. The food issue further limits the country's carrying capacity unless we are prepared  and can afford  to import large amounts of food. To do so would cancel out much of the financial gains from immigration. It is foolish for Australia to have a policy of what is effectively infinite population growth, especially in a country like ours. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

The perils of tipping My issue with tipping (Letters, September 7) is that it's taken for granted in certain workplaces  particularly taxis, restaurants and hair salons. I've been in taxis where the driver has been surly and disinterested; yet they've become openly indignant about not getting a tip, or at least "rounding up" the fare to the nearest $10. It's similar with restaurants  why should poor, careless attention be rewarded? Tips are supposed to be a personal thank you for exceptional service, not a mandatory extra payment for just doing your job. I'm even confused about why other service employees like retail workers, pharmacy assistants, travel consultants and real estate agents shouldn't automatically expect a tip? Usually their assistance is far more valuable than waiters or hair stylists.

Why is tipping "expected" in certain workplaces, but not others? I've had friends who work in restaurants tell me personally that their boss won't pay them more because "the tips are so good". Bill Johnson, Wanniassa Voting a privilege R. Webb (Letters, September 14) whilst you are clear about the compulsory voting age, I don't share that clarity. I don't doubt that the young people on Q&A were articulate and well informed.

But 16 and 17-year-olds are not yet able to drink, probably only on learner driver's permits and not able to get married. All for good reason. They are still growing up. This does not mean they can't hold strong opinions, but but the responsibility for voting is for adults, not children. Their turn will come. One thing that is clear is that compulsory voting in Australia is a privilege, a responsibility and every adult citizen's contribution to the running of our democracy.

To suggest those 70 or over "step back" and no longer need contribute to the electoral process is patronising in the extreme. Are we no longer affected by government decisions? No longer able to think clearly? No longer able to hold a view and feel deeply about it and how our society should function? I wonder how old you are R. Webb?

I will never take that responsibility and privilege lightly, nor will I relinquish it. Judy Aulich, Giralang Who gets to decide? Johanna Owens (Letters, September 12) and Paul Bolitho (Letters, September 14) are in general agreement that politicians should vote in accordance with their electorate's wishes. Statesman, politician, author and political theorist Edmund Burke disagreed with the concept of MPs being mere delegates to Parliament, judging by an excerpt from a speech made following his election to the seat of Bristol in 1774: "Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinions."

Bill Deane, Chapman TO THE POINT GILLARD HAS SHOWN GRACE There is one former PM in the past few years who has not sniped at her successors. Thank you Julia Gillard you have shown grace and style.

Karen Leyden, Canberra TRY TO KEEP UP PLEASE I hear that in order to test patient's memory following brain surgery neurosurgeons are no longer asking, "who is the Australian Prime Minister?" John Sandilands, St Marys, Tas LUCKY DARKLE

"Canberra's zoo is mourning the loss of one of it oldest residents, Darkle the brown bear. Darkle's health had been deteriorating for the past few weeks and a decision was made to put the elderly bear to sleep". ("Zoo grieves Darkle", September 14, p6). We live in a strange society when we have more compassion for Darkle the brown bear than we do for our own citizens, many of whom would also welcome being put to sleep when their health deteriorates beyond the point of no return. Murray Upton, Belconnen BEASTLY PLAN The AFL's 6-6-6 plan is the work of the devil. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Vic

THANKS IN ORDER I am writing to thank Transport Canberra for their efficiency in returning lost property to me this week. M. Kaya, Phillip ATTACK OUTRAGEOUS The neo-Nazi attack on Mike Kelly's office is a bloody disgrace.
Though hes only a few weeks into the new year, the 10-year-old is already involved in cross country and will be part of the schools math club. Hes also learned what to do in the event that an armed intruder shows up at the North Center parochial school, which recently spent nearly $90,000 on a security system designed to quickly notify police if an active shooter is on church or school premises.
The ACT has fallen behind other jurisdictions on laws targeting bikies and "the community will pay the price", the peak body representing police says.

Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith said Canberrans did not want the gangs congregating in the capital.

Australian Federal Police Association president Angela Smith wants a briefing on the changes. Credit:Rohan Thomson

The ACT has hosted a number of outlaw motorcycle club national runs since interstate anti-consorting laws prevented bikies from meeting in those jurisdictions.

However, the ACT Government ruled out the laws and said gangs continued to be a problem in jurisdictions where anti-consorting regimes are in force.
The government will develop a nurse-to-patient ratio framework with the nurses' union, but has stopped short of committing to implementing ratios.

Nurses have been lobbying the government for years to consider nurse-to-patient ratios, including in the lead up to the 2016 Territory election.

ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris will consider nurse to patient ratios Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris has denied the announcement is directly related with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's support of her independent review of ACT Health.

While doctors' groups, including the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation, have called for a more transparent and public inquiry, the nurses' federation has supported the minister's alternative review.
Nathan Baxter was touching a stranger's leg when he had a life-changing moment. "Is this really my thing?" he asked himself. Extracting cancerous tissue from a recently amputated limb can do that to you. And so the pathologist at Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital went for a long stroll to contemplate his future  and found himself in a small shoe shop, enjoying a chinwag with an Italian cobbler. "I'm good with my hands," he told the craftsman. "You got a job for me?"

That was 20 years ago. Since then, Baxter has trained in London at the prestigious shoemaking school Carreducker, studied traditional shoe repairs in Budapest, and been a national training manager for an Australian shoe repair company.

For Nathan Baxter, a long walk led to a remarkable career change. Credit: Brent Leideritz

Now in his late 40s, the artisan cobbler went freelance three years ago. He found the demand for repairs to quality shoes (Saint Crispin's, John Lobb, Vass, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton) so great from here and abroad that he had another life-changing moment. He opened his own shopfront in inner-Sydney's Newtown.

Step into Baxter & Black (which he operates with his business partner and wife Rachel Black) and you're transported back to the early 1920s. In the 19th-century bay window sits a regal 100-year-old trunk from St Louis; against a far wall is a large, similar vintage set of shoe trolleys from New Zealand; out the back is an old sole-stitching machine from the Netherlands. The whole place is infused with the intoxicating aroma of top-quality leather materials, which he imports from tanneries in Germany and the UK. "I've spent years assembling all this equipment," says Baxter. "It's about respect for a craft that's enjoying a resurgence."
A group of strangers walk into a Brisbane museum and spend the next few hours writing anonymous, fictional letters to each other.

It sounds like the premise for a theatre play, but is actually a social and creative initiative brought to Brisbane for the first time.

The Dead Letter Club is the brainchild of Melbourne creative Melanie Knight.

Described as a mash-up of pen-pals, mystery parlour games and creative writing, Dead Letter Club is the brainchild of Melbourne creative Melanie Knight, and has become an international phenomenon.

Strangers arriving at a Dead Letter Club evening sit down at a table and, through loose parameters and plenty of optional writing prompts, write fictional letters to another participant.
A year later we had our son, Teiger, our only child. It was then I had post-natal depression, which could have been a delayed reaction to the business folding. But over time, we slowly got back on our feet; I worked in PR for a while and later with Jono in eyewear design.

In 2002, we started TigerVision, which was sold three years later. Then in 2006, Jono Hennessy began. Twelve months after this we got an incredible boost, not just for our business, but also for our morale. We were in France showing our fabric-laminated frames at the SILMO Paris fair, considered the place to showcase eyewear. I'm always pushing colour, while Jono argues for black and tortoise-shell. We rocked up with our 12 designs and secured distribution in the US as well as in Holland. By the end of that year, we were exporting nearly half our glasses. We love what we do and it's rewarding when others do, too.

JONATHAN: It's a talent to make people laugh and it's something I first noticed when I met Louise. We met through her mother, who enjoys putting people together. Her mother is half-Jewish and reminds me of the matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof.

After we met, we stayed in touch. Louise sent me a fax from Bali saying, "I can sing, I can dance and I can also do cash flow," which made me laugh. She has this ability to make people feel joyous when they're with her.

Louise is much more focused than me. She has this incredible brain. I never for one minute thought about our age difference. It might come into other people's minds, but I simply feel happy being around her. My only concern with our age difference is that I will end up in a retirement home before her, which means I will see less of her!
A former Bachelor contestant has faced court charged with trafficking cocaine after she was allegedly found with thousands of dollars in her car and at her home.

Georgia Tripos and her friend Kristiana Karakostas appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday for a committal hearing to determine if they will stand trial.

The court was told $3500 was found in a safe at Tripos' parents' home, where she lives, as well as $2000 and $1136, in purses found in her car.

Bachelorette Georgia Tripos Credit:Channel Ten

It is alleged Tripos had no answer when asked where the money came from.
Magistrate Richard Pithouse was so outraged by two Melbourne developers cavalier disregard for the law this week that he lamented the statutory sanctions available to him did not include incarceration, rather than being restricted to fines dwarfed by the multimillion-dollar profit they stand to reap from their blatant transgressions.

The judges damning findings are a milestone in a controversial, two-year saga of money, historic property, community safety and legal manoeuvring.

The asbestos-riddled rubble of Corkman Irish Hotel the day after it was illegally demolished. Credit:The Age

His unorthodox yet understandable legislative critique at the climax of the convoluted case reflects valid community concerns that environmental and planning regulations are too lax. It is reasonable to question whether those concerns will be sufficiently met by very recent amendments to the Environment Protection Act, changes spurred by the very circumstances that led to the case Mr Pithouse had heard.

Fines have been increased, with parliamentary discretion to impose bigger sums in specific situations, and there is greater access to a complaints process. But the measures do not come into force until 2020 and then might prove still too flimsy for an industry involving huge sums. They follow, though, recent well-received increases in the powers of the Environment Protection Authority.
Perth's top wine show honours

It seems apt that chardonnay is all the rage at a time when West Coast are flying through the AFL finals series.

The grape went out of style last decade but more refined offerings in the past few years have revitalised the variety across Australia and here in WA, if the judging of the Perth Royal Wine Show is any guide.

Evans & Tate led the rebirth in Perth, its 2016 Broadway Chardonnay awarded the coveted Best Wine of Show at the hotly-contested 2018 wine show last week.

More than 14,000 bottles of wine were exhibited for judging, with 60 new wineries entering.
One does not have to have an opinion about the truth of what Roman Quaedvlieg has alleged of favours for old friends or influential people done by Dutton. What sticks in the public mind  beyond any capacity of Dutton to redeem himself or the government  is the image of favours being dispensed with alacrity to mates, to mates of mates, and to friends of the party or the faction. Its not even that the decisions made are particularly objectionable. Its the access, the privileged insiderness, by a mere phone call or email, of getting of an almost immediate hearing while ordinary members of the public would have had to wait, often for months, even to have a representation acknowledged. Scott Morrison can scarce afford to lose Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Dutton is a political warrior with a tough skin and is almost impervious to insult. No doubt his ego has taken a double blow both from his failure to command the support of a majority of his party room when he decided to put a knife in the back of his prime minister, and, later, when it was shown how amateur and complacent the organisation of the attempted coup had been. But one can take it that he has no intention of voluntarily stepping down, least of all when he has closely examined his conscience over his visa-granting actions and found himself entirely innocent. Nor to stand aside while the High Court considers if he is disqualified from holding office for being in a commercial arrangement with government by virtue of the millions received by a family-owned child-care operation. It will be hard enough to hold his seat at a general election; virtually impossible at a byelection.

In certain respects, Morrison can scarce afford to lose him, given that the coalition now (after the resignation of Malcolm Turnbull) lacks a majority in the House of Representatives. But Dutton is a major political drag. His troubles are taking Morrisons oxygen - and affecting the reputation of government in general. Morrison simply doesnt have the political time to be losing weeks in debilitating arguments that, one way or another, help remind the public of internal dissension in the party, and the messiness and oddness of Morrisons own ascension. Dutton has been for too long the callous bastard in modern Liberal politics to deserve or ask for much quarter, even though many will remember that his reputation as a hard man came largely by carrying on with policies and cruelties pioneered by Scott Morrison himself. He gets little sympathy from me. Yet even I can concede that when it comes to being a minister for mates, cronies and the big end of town, Dutton would not be in the top 24 in the ministry. Like the Turnbull government before it, and the Abbott government before that, the Coalition to which voters turned, after profound weariness and disillusion with Labor was almost from the start concerned with looking after its friends, particularly those at the big end of town, and punishing anyone seen as being a running dog of Labor. Morrison (and Cormann) were as involved in the politically disastrous strategy of putting corporate tax cuts ahead of income tax cuts.

How can one forget the Herculean efforts, from day one of the Abbott government, of Mathias Cormann to water down legislation intended to avoid conflict of interest in the provision of financial advice? It was this  done consciously to advantage big banks and insurance companies - which helped lay the ground for the regular reports from the Hayne Royal Commission about fraud, corruption and theft by some of the major institutions of the land. Which government defanged the regulators? Which governments resisted, at least until it faced a revolt from within own ranks, the idea of any inquiry into the actions of banks and their super funds and insurance arms. The big three ministerial regulators of the economy, and the small fry, such as Kelly ODwyer insisted that there were no problems, and that, if there were, the tough cops on the block would catch them. Ministers have now mostly apologised for their resistance to the idea of a royal commission; but not for being the ones who made possible what happened. Turnbull, with his merchant banking background and aristocratic mien, may have typified the image of government acting for the benefit of the big end of town. But Morrison (and Cormann) were as involved in the politically disastrous strategy of putting corporate tax cuts ahead of income tax cuts, and of extending it to big business. It hardly needs to be added that there are lobbies and beneficiaries of policies promoting coal and the dragging feet on action against climate change, who have benefited big-time from these ministers. That Morrisons new chief of staff was a senior man in the Minerals Council, the country's main coal lobby group, for 6.5 years, speaks volumes of the governments closeness to the interests of big business, and of its unconcern for appearances. As with when the new Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg (perhaps at the instance of Turnbull  this is not clear yet) was pushing hundreds of millions of dollars into a foundation more or less operated as a club to get business brownie points for seeming to be concerned about the Great Barrier Reef. Ministers may make decisions believing them to be in the broad public interest, even if they incidentally benefit their friends, their backers and the urgers and cronies constantly at their doors. A decision is not wrong merely because it suits the interests of a supporter. But if the process were as pure and transparent as many would have you believe, it would not be as necessary for there to be such an enormous, and such an opaque, lobbying industry, almost entirely unaccountable to public scrutiny. And one might not see such a constant and easy interchange by which major lobbies get people embedded in ministerial offices, and ministers and politicians, after their time at the helm, get cushy jobs working for just the sort of people  indeed often just the people  with whom they have been dealing. Influence-mongering is increasingly behind the scenes. But they have never seemed more powerful and insouciant.

Even when no actual corruption is involved, there has often been corruption of due process, transparency and what some might have called a fair go. It is no surprise that government has no enthusiasm for open and transparent anti-corruption bodies, and that a police force, generously rewarded annually for its inertia and passivity when it comes to misconduct in government, allows itself to be a part of the resistance to such accountability. This week I was at the ANU, in conversation with Professor Quentin Beresford, with his new book Adani and the War on Coal. The book suggests that the power of the coal lobbies, and its sinister and malign influence over the Commonwealth and Queensland governments of either stripe, ended up being frustrated by a virtual popular uprising, in which more than 1 million Australians made clear their opposition to this risk to the reef, and polluter whose profit projections, at best, depend entirely on public subsidy. During this week, however, Adani slightly changed its plans, and is again aggressively lining up our public officials for concessions, subsidies, discretions, and a blind eye to risk. The book explains the rise of Gautam Adani as a baron of fossil fuel in India, operating particularly under the patronage of Narendra Modi, to their mutual benefit, originally when Modi was chief minister of Gujarat state, now Prime Minister of India. In India the interface between business and politics is so strong that hardly anything raises eyebrows. The system of crony capitalism, special deals, fixed markets, and political parties (even of the left) virtually owned by big business is corrupted, but sort of works. India is not well regarded by Transparency International. As the book progresses, however, it becomes obvious that the governance and accountability arrangements in Queensland (or at federal government level in Canberra) are not much better, if at all, than India. That might get a nod from anyone remembering Bjelke-Petersen, and the corruption exposed by the Fitzgerald Royal Commission. But the system continues, and regardless of the parties in power. And crony capitalism, and government by mates, for the mates, and damn the public is as prevalent in Labor or Liberal NSW, and in the Labor ACT.
Even though Whitley had no previous criminal history, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker argued that Whitley should receive an enhanced sentence of up to 25 years, in part, because he abused his power as a public servant. Whitley openly displayed his status as a police officer when he picked up one of the girls in his police car, made multiple references to his partner and kept a gun under his pillow while he paid the girls for sex, Streicker said.
Parliament will delay a controversial change to strata laws to examine the extent to which they violate the rights of property owners.

The "boot-a-granny" laws, which have been developed over a decade by both sides of politics, would create a legal mechanism for property developers to force owners who oppose a redevelopment out of their strata homes.

Owners of strata-titled properties are staring down the barrel of a massive change in the law. Credit:WAtoday

Under the current version of the bill, if 80 per cent of strata owners of more than five lots vote for a redevelopment, the dissenting lot holders would have to front the State Appeals Tribunals to stop the compulsory acquisition of their property.

The laws passed the state's lower house in August after the government agreed to changes proposed by the Liberal party.
Beijing: The prospect of Hong Kong companies being barred from investing in Australian infrastructure because of a fear of "Chinese influence" has stunned the Australian business community in the former British colony.

A consortium of publicly-listed companies controlled by Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing, have made a $13 billion bid for the gas pipeline company APA Group.

APA Group's gas pipelines.

But the Australian Financial Review reported the gas deal, which must be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, may be blocked on national interest grounds. The deal would give the company control of almost 60 per cent of Australia's pipelines.

However, Hong Kong government sources say publicly-listed companies there are "nothing like" mainland Chinese state enterprises, and point to Hong Kong's separate legal system and significant economic autonomy from Beijing.
It's hard not to feel a little sorry for our former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who thought he was having a perfectly normal week before Tony Abbott, the Ghost of Politics Past, came a-haunting again. But things could have been easier for the man who has everything. As usual, the Japanese have come up with a solution to the problem we didn't even know we had, with a service Malcolm would have found handy around the time of the spill that ended his prime ministership.

Illustration: Simon Letch. Credit:Fairfax Media

For about $620, a Tokyo-based service called Exit will quit your job for you. Its logo, which anyone who has worked in a soul-crushing job may identify with, is a lone stick figure in an emergency-red hue running out a door. Founded last year by two childhood friends, Yuichiro Okazaki and Toshiyuki Niino, Exit will handle all the awkward conversations around leaving, and will block bosses' attempts to get disgruntled employees to stay. (Okay, that last part doesn't really apply to Malcolm, but I do like the idea of him outsourcing his final press conference to a startup. Innovation Nation indeed!)

As Okazaki told The Japan Times, "There's definitely demand out there. Personally, I'm perplexed as to why people find it hard to quit, but I do sense that this atmosphere is prevalent in Japan." In a country where the unemployment rate typically sits at or below 2.5 per cent, staying at one company for life is still very much the norm.

There are signs that's changing  The Wall Street Journal reported in March that the number of people in Japan who've changed jobs in a calendar year has risen for seven straight years, to 3.11 million in 2017  but employees, for the most part, are still expected to stick it out. An American friend of mine who worked for an internationally known Japanese consumer brand was referred to the company psychologist when she announced her intention to quit. It was only after four sessions, spaced over the course of one very long month, that she was finally able to persuade her employer that she was both of sound mind and done working there.
Omayya attended a course run by volunteers about Sentry and how best to survive air strikes. She now knows to open her window so blast pressure doesn't shatter the glass and that her bathroom, in the middle of the house, is the best place to hide. The volunteers taught Omayya's six grandchildren, three of whose fathers have died, what to do if they are told an air strike may hit their school. Naela, one of the volunteers, said they trained children to duck under desks and curl up in the fetal position if they hear the alarm. If the warning is early enough, teachers can take the children down to basements. Loading Women have emerged as one of the main targets of the campaign, Naela said: "Women always carry their mobiles with them, so they get the message wherever they are, whether they are at home, in the kitchen, with their neighbour." The warning system was founded by two Americans, John Jaeger and his business partner Dave Levin, after Jaeger had held a job working with Syrian civilians for the U.S. State Department.

"I recognised that the biggest threat to peace inside of Syria was the indiscriminate bombing of civilians," Jaeger explained. "We simply thought that there was more that the international community could and should do to warn civilians in advance of this indiscriminate violence." Their company, Hala Systems, says it has received funding from countries including Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States as well as private donors. The White Helmet rescue workers operating in opposition-held Syria work with Sentry to operate and maintain air raid sirens. Loading "Before, whenever there was bombardment, we wouldn't have knowledge of a strike until the wounded reach us," said Yousef, a 23-year-old nurse in a field hospital outside Aleppo.

"But now with Sentry, we immediately find out through our mobile that a strike happened. So we know that it's in this area, where there are civilians. So we know there are wounded for sure." The hospital can notify doctors, make sure materials are prepped, and wait for the wounded. "We hugely depend on [the system] because it's become the foundation of our work," he said. Around three million people live in the last major rebel stronghold in north-west Syria. Half are already displaced, having fled government advances in other parts of the country. In preparation for an expected army offensive, civilians have been readying food and digging shelters. Some even improvised gas masks in case of chemical attacks. Last week, the Syrian government and allied forces resumed air and ground bombardments, although recent days have been relatively quiet, said Abdel Razzaq, who watches for aircraft and enters the information into the app.

He clicks on the image of a plane to identify what type of aircraft he saw. He chooses the location and what the plane is doing or where it's headed. This dispatches messages on channels like Telegram, sometimes with time-stamped warnings for specific towns and villages. "9:37 pm: Shahshabo Mountain - transport aircraft now heading north-east. Can reach the following areas: Maaret al-Numan: two minutes from now/ Kafranbel: one minute from now." A former English teacher, Abdel Razzaq has been diligently watching planes since 2011, later joining Sentry as an observer. "We're a bunch of guys who are everywhere. Each of us holds a specific district," he said. "We see the plane, the type of plane, with the naked eye and then send the warning." As well as providing warning of attacks that come out of the blue, the system has also helped indicate brief pauses during more sustained attacks, said Hala Systems co-founder Levin. During the offensive on Ghouta, near Damascus, earlier this year, civilians relied on the system to time their brief forays from basements and shelters to get food and water.
The Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media beyond Broadway, has announced the newest additions to the OCC executive/nominating committee. New members include Cynthia Allen (professor at New York University), Richard Ridge (lead correspondent for BroadwayWorld), David Roberts (chief critic at Theatre Reviews Limited), and Janice Simpson (director of the Arts & Culture Reporting program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY).

"The Outer Critics Circle found itself in a period of transition during the springtime, as we bid a sad farewell to our historian Glenn Loney, who passed away at the age of 89, as well as accepted the decisions of longtime board members Stanley Cohen, Mario Fratti, and Aubrey Reuben to step away from the day-to-day running of the organization," said OCC President David Gordon. "We thank them for their decades of commitment to OCC and are very grateful that they will be remaining on our membership roster. This fall, we are extremely excited to welcome Cynthia Allen, Richard Ridge, David Roberts, and Janice Simpson to our executive and nominating committee. Their extraordinary talents will be put to great use as we shepherd the Outer Critics Circle into the future."

Joining Gordon on the executive board are Simon Saltzman (vice president), Patrick Hoffman (corresponding secretary), Joseph Cervelli (recording secretary), and Harry Haun (member-at-large), who will continue in their current capacities for the OCC.
Helping You Enjoy The Drive: AUTO LAB RADIO LIVE Saturday September 15, 2018 7-9 AM







Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On TheAutoChannel.Com

This Weeks Show: Broadcast Date: September 15, 2018

Car Question or Concern? Automotive Career Opportunity, Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 To Speak With An Expert











Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York City radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Featuring an in-studio panel of experienced hands-on automotive experts sharing accurate, honest, practical and street-smart car repair, automotive career opportunities and vehicle and repair buying advice.

Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can find the past 20 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on The Auto Channel.

Auto Lab Page includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures

This Weeks Show: September 15, 2018

IN STUDIO PANEL: Real World Auto Experts, Educators, Technicians, Shop Owners, Insurance Experts, Lawyers Will Answer Your Automotive Questions: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Insurance, Ombudsmen Suggestions

Harold Bendell - Major Auto

Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department-CUNY

Tim Cacace - Master Mechanix

Libby Demarco - Broadway Sunoco

David Goldsmith - Urban Classics

Joseph Guarino- Joe Guarino's Auto Repairs

Jerry Pastore - D & J Diagnostics

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Auto Lab Interviews: Featuring Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That Will Effect You!

Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England

MERCEDES NEW EQC EV BRAND WARRANTY CONCERNS

Andrew Pontius - Vice President , NAO Light-Vehicle Product Line at Faurecia Clean Mobility

AWARD WINNING AUTOMOTIVE CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, CURRENT & FUTURE

Russ Rader,Senior Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

TWO NISSAN SMALL CARS EARN 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK AWARD

John Russell Senior Correspondents

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV

Robert Sinclair AAA Northeast

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HANOVER, Germany--Summer tyres for summer, winter tyres for winter Are all-season tyres an attractive alternative to seasonal tyre changes twice a year? Some claim that all-season tyres are a godsend for drivers that allows them to save both time and money. Others on the other hand, question their durability and performance. Which is true? In which situations are all-season tyres a valid solution? ReifenDirekt.de has prepared a selection of the best-known facts and myths concerning all-season tyres with the aim of spreading awareness and supporting motorists in making the right tyre choice.

Fact 1  Summer and winter blend

Exactly right. All-season tyres combine properties of both summer and winter tyres to provide drivers with the all-round solution. All-season tyres are made from a rubber compound that guarantees good grip on warm and dry roads but at the same time does not harden in cold weather. Moreover, all-season tyres have a unique tread pattern to prevent aquaplaning and high-density sipes that provide grip on slippery roads.

Fact 2  Better winter performance than summer tyres

True. The unique rubber compound and tread pattern of all-season tyres provide significantly better grip in cold wintery conditions. Many all-season tyres are designated as winter-suitable and have the characteristic mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall. This means the tyre has been approved for use in winter and can be used in European countries where it is a legal requirement to fit winter tyres during the colder part of the year.

Fact 3  Best for short distances in the city

It is true that drivers who cover lower distances, about 4,000  5,000 kilometers per year, and who drive mostly in the city, will be most satisfied with all-season tyres. First of all, city driving conditions are seldom extreme; therefore they suit all-season tyres properties much better. And secondly, lower mileage prevents the tyres from wearing out too quickly and ensure their longevity.

Myth 1  Good even for harsh winters

Unfortunately not. All-season tyres are designed to perform fine both in summer and winter. However, they are the best choice for a mild climate and moderate weather changes. Therefore, in regions that experience harsher winters and heavy snow, winter tyres will provide better grip and handling. The rubber that winter tyres are made of lets them perform well in freezing temperatures without becoming brittle. Plus, their deep tread makes driving in the snow and slush easier and more comfortable.

Myth 2  Less durable than winter and summer tyres

This issue should be approached from a different perspective. All-season tyres are dedicated mostly to drivers whose mileage is lower and who usually do not cover long distances. If used in accordance with their designers purpose, all-season tyres will last as long as summer or winter ones. Moreover, the rubber compound that all-season tyres, especially the quality ones, are made of nowadays does not only guarantee good performance in various weather conditions but also minimizes the difference in durability between all-year and seasonal tyres.

Myth 3  More expensive to buy

That is not true. It is a myth that all-season tyres have to cost more to compensate dealers the cost of selling one instead of two sets of tyres. The prices of all-season, summer and winter tyres are comparable. One of the ideas behind designing all-season tyres was to create a cost-effective solution for drivers, therefore pushing up their prices would defeat the purpose and be counterproductive.

Those who think that all-season tyres are just what they need will find a vast selection of budget, medium and premium brands at ReifenDirekt.de. Those who hesitate may contact the shops customer service team that will provide expert advice. Finally, those who prefer using two sets of seasonal tyres will find in the rich offer of ReifenDirekt.de a great selection of brands, models and sizes of both winter and summer tyres.

About ReifenDirekt.de

There are over 100 tyre brands and more than 25,000 models of tyres to be found at ReifenDirekt.de - also including the latest best-rated tyres from official comparison tests. The product portfolio not only includes tyres for cars, motorbikes, lorries, commercial vehicles and buses, but also wheel-tyre sets, rims and car replacement parts and accessories. Particularly practical: new tyres can be delivered quickly and free of charge* to any address provided. When purchasing tyres, buyers can also choose from more than 9,000 professional car workshop partners across Germany and have the tyres sent to them directly for professional fitting. Many of our partner workshops offer also addition-al services, such as tyre storage.

*2 tyres and more

All about tyres from A to Z: www.Reifentest.com
Steinbach mayoral candidates were put on the hot seat at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre last night, as the organization hosted candidates John Fehr, Earl Funk and Paul Neustaedter.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach mayoral candidates were put on the hot seat at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre last night, as the organization hosted candidates John Fehr, Earl Funk and Paul Neustaedter.

The trio responded to a wide range of topics including questions about traffic, health care, Sunday shopping, transgender and gender diverse supports in Hanover School Division, as well as the long-standing sore point for the centre itself-lack of funding for community organizations.

As concerns about traffic were raised, Earl Funk noted the return of an RCMP traffic services division to the Steinbach RCMP detachment. Two officers were added in July, another two in August, and a final officer will join the re-established unit by the end of the year.

"We're already seeing improvement as the amount of tickets is going up exponentially," Funk told the crowd.

Funk, who chairs the citys RCMP advisory committee, also spoke of the need for driver education and noted the stop sign rewards program offered earlier this week.

"Handing out coupons for a day, that's great, but day two, three, four, let's hand tickets outlets get tougher here," said Neustaedter, adding to Funks comments.

Fehr acknowledged the city might yet consider the idea of a municipal police, as was suggested in a question by resident Dave Giesbrecht.

"That might be the next step in better coverage," Fehr agreed, while still praising the current relationship the city has with RCMP.

Candidates advocated more communication with the province when it came to matters like hospital improvements and more personal care home beds. Neustaedter, who has committed to developing a plan for a community multiplex within eight months of the election, was challenged to commit dollars instead to Rest Havens PCH expansion.

"A multiplex is not something that we will be building an entire project in a single term," said Neustaedter, suggesting city resources wouldnt be stretched by a single project.

Fehr noted the citys $1.5 million donation to the Bethesda Foundation was already meant to support Rest Havens plans.

"I think the city has done most of what it can do," agreed Funk, who shared about challenges in moving that project forward, which were shared with him by HavenGroup CEO David Driedger.

"The province's funding model is not working at this moment. There's a shortfall from the province," Funk said, noting Driedger was wary of taking on a bigger financial stake.

"He doesn't want to go and get more money or have a mortgage on it because if we can't do it with the Bethesda Foundation and the community we have...what are other communities in Manitoba going to do," said Funk.

"If that happens and we go ahead and do it, then they change the funding model. So, that's money we'll never ever get back from the province."

Need for tax relief reiterated

The evening circled back on a couple of occasions to the fact that for the last eight years city council has not, despite requests, provided funding to the Pat Porter Active Living Centre.

Former mayor Les Magnussen, an active member at the centre, grilled candidates and expressed his frustration with lack of support for the centre in recent years.

"They can spend thousands of dollars on other stuff but they can't give this, serving seniors, $12 or $13,000 a year to cover our taxes," he said.

Fehr said a current $50,000 discretionary fund, used in the past for things like pocket parks and light stand ornaments, could be made accessible to community organizations.

"I think we can do much better than we have," he said.

Funk maintained the citys grant process was focussed on seed funding for capital projects, but acknowledged a better relationship with groups like the Pat Porter Active Living Centre needed to be established.

"There was disconnect," he said, reflecting on the last few years. "That has been a disservice to you."

The topic allowed Neustaedter to take a different approach, not being tied to the decision to drop funding to the organization, like Fehr and Funk.

"I know that anything you'd get would actually be better than zero for the past eight years," he said.

Neustaedter said he would advocate for the centre to receive funding to offset its tax bill and promised an announcement on Oct. 17 related to the request.

Sunday shopping gets cold shoulder

Both Funk and Fehr said they would not support Sunday shopping, suggesting lack of local business support.

Local lawyer, David Banman, has begun a campaign to champion the issue, after failing to convince council to add a referendum question on the subject to the Oct. 24 vote. The matter is set to return to city council on Tuesday night.

"Right now the service providers are not saying very much, so I'd have to say theyre most likely not in agreement with it," Funk said.

"For that reason, I go back to what my heart tells me and I like it the way it is."

Fehr said he didnt support a plebiscite when the issue was brought to council in August, because he believed the results would be similar to Banmans survey results, which showed over 60 percent support for Sunday shopping.

Neustaedter talked about Sundays as "a cherished day for our family," but also said he wanted to listen to what citizens have to say on the issue.

That prompted an interjection by Fehr, who questioned what relevance a non-binding referendum question would have.

"I just felt that was not a good place to put council in that position, if they felt that the business community was not going to embrace the answers to the survey," he said.

Diversity question explored

Carmen Koepke sought candidates thoughts on a new Hanover School Division policy document that aims to support transgender and gender diverse students and how they felt about all citizens of Steinbach feeling the community was a good, safe place to live.

"For me, it's very important to love and respect all individuals," said Neustaedter.

"I think the nicest thing that I can do is look at my track record and see that I've hired people from all different communities, whether the LGBT community or people just immigrating here from India," he added, going on to describe an interaction he had with Indian newcomers at the Mennonite Heritage Villages Fall of the Farm event.

Funk concurred.

"Love, respect, honour whoever comes from the door...we feed them all," Funk said, who has promised the return of a regular mayors prayer breakfast as part of his platform.

"I can't say more about this. We need to be open, hospitable to all people. If we are that way then we can tell our story with them and they will listen to our story as we listen to theirs.

"Therefore it's no longer I that do, but sin that lives in me," commented Fehr, referencing a Biblical passage in Romans 7.

"I don't necessarily feel that I need to love exactly what they do, because I might not see it as healthy," Fehr said.

"I've had people working for me that are HIV-positive and I have treated them exactly the way that I would treat anybody," Fehr offered as an example.

Fehr told The Carillon he wasnt aware of this particular employees sexual orientation and did not use the example because it is something he associates with the LGBTQ community.

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"No. It had nothing to do with that," he said.

Fehr was hesitant to talk further about the subject.

"I don't have to talk about that because it's not something that council talks about," he said, despite the fact that he brought forward a city council motion in 2013 that criticized education legislation to allow gay straight alliances in schools.

"I love you as a person. I don't like the fact that you're a bank robber but I love you as a person. Does that makes sense?" Fehr told The Carillon.

Asked if he was drawing a comparison between transgender students in Hanover School Division and bank robbers, Fehr disagreed.

"That's not what I said. Now, you're putting words in my mouth."
Cynthia Nixon. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Halfway through Cynthia Nixons primary night party, when every room was so tightly packed that people could barely move, I saw someone I immediately recognized but couldnt place. Was she a friend of a friend? Someone I vaguely knew in college? An old co-worker? Then it hit me: I was looking at Ash Sarkar, the woman who went viral for yelling Im a communist, you idiot! at Piers Morgan on live TV.

Im not sure if you lot realize how much were looking at these primary races, Sarkar, an activist and journalist who lives in London but is visiting New York, told me. Back home, everyone is talking about Ocasio-Cortez and Cynthia Nixon. A young man wearing an Abolish ICE shirt and large silver earrings approached as we finished our conversation. I dont mean to be weird as fuck  he told Sarkar, before gushing about what a huge fan he was.

Sadly, the intercontinental hype wasnt enough to beat incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo, who swiftly defeated Nixon by over 30 percentage points. The festivities were also meant for Zephyr Teachout and Jumaane Williams, who ran for attorney general and lieutenant governor, respectively. Both of those races ended in losses too.

But the mood at Cafe Omar and the connecting 1744 Hookah Lounge in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn stayed generally buoyant. Supporters downed beers, beef patties, and plantains as they watched the results roll in throughout the evening. Actress Mary-Louise Parker and Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour were among those in attendance.

Im just feeling honored and privileged, humbled, excited, Sarsour told me. And Im ready for 2020.

For the briefest of moments, Williams looked as if he had taken the lead over incumbent Kathy Hochul, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. Even when he fell behind, the noise continued for the young progressives  like Julia Salazar, Jessica Ramos, Alessandra Biaggi, and Zellnor Myrie  who took down long-term state senators, one by one.

Cynthia Nixon, Juumane Williams, and Zephyr Teachout. Photo: Jason DeCrow/AP/REX/Shutterstock

This hopeful attitude would ultimately come to define the night. (Thats not to say there wasnt a fair share of hugging and crying.) Yes, the progressive wing had lost the top of the ticket  but that was more or less expected. Rather than dwell on that, there was a repeated emphasis on the victories: a new crop of state senate hopefuls had crushed the old guard, and wiped out the remnants of the Independent Democratic Caucus.

Around 10:30 p.m., Nixon took the stage to give a fiery concession speech to a sweltering crowd ready to chant her name and effusively boo every time Cuomo was mentioned. (Subject to equally disdainful and dramatic heckling was a photographer near the front who stood on a chair and blocked some peoples views.) The soulful Resistance Revival Chorus, dressed entirely in white, provided a musical interlude until it was Teachouts turn to speak, at which point the audience had significantly thinned out  but still broke out in chants of Zephyr, Zephyr, Zephyr. After unsuccessful bids for governor in 2014 and a congressional seat in 2016, she admitted that shes not planning to run for office anytime soon. But she, Nixon, and Williams all agreed that there was still much work to be done.

This race for the Democratic nomination may be over, Nixon said. But the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party is just beginning.
Photo: Salazar for State Senate

Julia Salazar, a 27-year-old Latina Democratic Socialist, has won her New York State Senate primary, ousting 16-year incumbent Martin Dilan.

Tonights victory is not about me, Salazars campaign account tweeted shortly after her victory was announced. Tonights victory is about New Yorkers coming together and choosing to fight against rising rents and homelessness in our communities. Together, we will build a better New York.

As a Latina and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Salazar has clear similarities to congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; once Ocasio-Cortez won her primary in a shocking upset, Salazars became a national story. Salazar ran on a hard-left platform, which centered on tenants rights: improving housing conditions for all New Yorkers, taking on NYCHA, ensuring affordable housing for all, and addressing the rising number of homeless people in the city. (Dilan, conversely, has received more money from real-estate developers than nearly any Democrat in the State Senate.) Salazar also supports abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, decriminalizing sex work, and taxing the rich in order to fix the crumbling subway system.

But as her star rose, Salazar attracted national media attention and, in turn, a host of controversies. She has been accused of lying about her immigration status and about coming from a working-class background  in both cases, she says there was miscommunication and misunderstanding  and a week before the primary, tabloids dug up a bizarre lawsuit involving her and former Mets player Keith Hernandez. Most recently, the conservative website The Daily Caller apparently tried to out Salazar as a victim of sexual assault, but she preempted their report by releasing a statement. (Numerous women have since come forward with similar claims against Salazars alleged assailant, David Keyes.)

Despite the heavy media scrutiny of her campaign, Salazar won by a notable margin  about 57 percent of the vote as of this writing. Should she win in the general election, which is highly likely, she will be New Yorks first socialist state senator in nearly a century.

Many progressive groups are celebrating her win as a triumph over the establishment, and a clear indication that an unapologetically progressive message can win. Julia Salazars victory is a testament to how much her policy platform resonated with the people of North Brooklyn, some of the fastest-gentrifying communities in New York City, Susan Kang, a leader of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, told the Huffington Post. Her bold platform of fighting for tenants rights, immigrants, and transit riders matters more than this expensive smear campaign against her, and that shows how important the issues really are.
I am cautiously optimistic that the dynamic in the General Assembly is different. I do not believe that the speaker is as powerful and dominant and domineering as he was four years ago and as he has been for much of the last 35 years. I think theres more willingness within his caucus to stand up and challenge him on issues, said Rauner, who has spent millions of dollars over the past four years attacking Madigan, who also is state Democratic Party chairman.
Hurricane Florence. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Hurricane Florence, a Category 1 storm that is currently flooding the Carolinas, has caused widespread power outages and evacuations as it continues to barrel up the Atlantic coast. South Carolina resident Christine Meinhold, who lives with seven rescue dogs just outside Myrtle Beach, saw no way out.

I really dont have the resources to evacuate with seven dogs, she told CNN in a report from Wednesday. When I rescued these dogs, I took on a responsibility of loving and caring for them the rest of their lives. She said her car has around 205,000 miles on it, and she couldnt stand to risk it breaking down. Though Meinholds family lives in Tennessee, she planned to stay put.

Her story resonated with strangers, who lent words of support on social media and began a crowdfunding campaign to help her evacuate. Thanks to their fundraising, Meinhold has now set out in a rented U-Haul van to safely escape with her dogs to Tennessee.

We have raised funds and an army of people. Christine is now in a Uhaul on her way to TN! @GianlucaMezzo @CNN @CBCNews @TheEllenShow @Oprah It's happening! These pups will be safe from Florence #florencehurricane #rescue pic.twitter.com/Ay1yGm66ZH  Kate Zenna (@katezenna) September 13, 2018

The organizer of the campaign, Palms Springsbased radio host Kate Zenna, had rescued dogs from Hurricane Katrina, and said she wasnt able to let all those dogs perish. I went to rescue dogs alone after Katrina and what I saw will never be forgotten. And now I am living with a lot of dogs and always have a plan.

With two rescue dogs from 2016s Hurricane Matthew, Meinhold was all too familiar with the situation. After they had been pulled from the water, she saw that one was so skinny, you can imagine my surprise when I got her home and she had six puppies. Didnt know she was pregnant, she was so skinny. I found rescue for all six puppies.

Zenna said the campaign was the result of 16 donors from across the country, who all coordinated via Facebook Messenger. When they pooled their funds, they were able to rent a U-Haul van with air-conditioning and plenty of space for the dogs. One woman shared pictures from Meinholds truck on Facebook, writing, What a group of humankind that found their way to each other..One dark and stormy night15 amazing, kind, compassionate humans came together to make This Happen

Crying tears of joy for this woman
Daleys run for mayor will test whether his surname still carries the clout with the electorate that it used to as the party continues to move further left from his centrist business background. Daley also is likely to get tagged by progressives for his brothers financial mismanagement of the city toward the end of his tenure  including the deeply unpopular leasing of the citys parking meters  and his fathers role in Chicago becoming a starkly segregated city.
Imagine literally getting paid to sleep - we don't think there's any job we'd be better at tbh! And now it's actually a real option.

NASA is conducting a 'bed rest' study to see how the human body adapts to weightlessness, and it's reportedly offering up $24,000 NZD to the participants.

They say developing countermeasures for the effects of space flight often requires investigators to rely on human subjects for data collection. They basically need volunteers to live, eat, and even shower in the same position to study how the body would adapt if it were in space.

Results will benefit both astronauts as well as bed-ridden people here on Earth, with more understanding on how their bodies are functioning.

So what they're basically saying is they will pay you to sleep for 70 days straight, and you'll be helping the future of our planet in the process.

Where do we sign up?! You can check out more info here.
8. The Flat White

Kiwis and Aussies have been fighting over the origins of the Flat White since the 80s. We believe a Wellington cafe accidentally created a flat Cappuccino and called it a Flat White, while a Sydney cafe claim they were the first to add it to their menu in 1985. In 2015 Starbucks added the Flat White to their US Menu and credited it as an Australian drink however both Aussies & Kiwis can both agree Starbucks dont make REAL FWs soooo....

9. Crowded House

In 2016 Crowded House received one of Australia's highest musical honours, with the group inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.

Frontman Neil Finn also told the Melbourne Age newspaper that Australia was the "birthplace" of Crowded House so Australia has taken it upon themselves to claim the band. They're still ours, mate!

10. The Flag

From Primo to pavlova the flag is another thing our mates across the ditch have tried to steal from us! Winnie called them out earlier this year about it, telling TVNZ that Australia should get a new flag to "honour the fact that we got there first with this design".

This article was created by The Edge in association with Primo and Primo Flavour Lab. Jackson Hook recieved $10,000 for his winning #primoflavourlab video.
500+ Airbnb Hosts Offer Free Shelter From Hurricane Florence

Airbnb is encouraging hosts to share their housing units for free to displaced neighbors and emergency relief workers affected by Hurricane Florence.

Airbnb has activated our host community to open their homes for $0 for those who have been evacuated from their homes as a result of Hurricane Florence. https://t.co/FOkjsG7Ffa  Airbnb Help (@AirbnbHelp) September 12, 2018

As of Sept. 13, more than 500 hosts opened their homes to evacuees for free in metropolitan areas in North Carolina (Charlotte and Greensboro), South Carolina (Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg), Georgia (Atlanta and Augusta) and Virginia (Charlottesville).

The housing will be available until Oct. 1, and all local taxes and fees will also be waived.

Those in need of a place to stay must create an Airbnb account if they dont have one yet, before applying for the housing.

The shelter is provided through Airbnbs Open Homes Program, which started in Oct. 2012 when Hurricane Sandy damaged the U.S. East Coast. Since then, over 11,000 people who suffered from natural disasters, conflict or illness received temporary housing through this program.

Airbnb also partners with non-profit organizations to provide shelter for other people in need, and it provides guest screening and background checks, plus $1 million property damage protection for its generous hosts.

The hosts will be able to communicate directly with the non-profit representatives and the individual who will be staying at their properties. Basic amenities are expected, but the hosts can decide to help more, such as sharing a meal.

Airbnb is not the only company that has offered a helping hand. Lyft provided free rides, up to $15, for people heading to their shelter before 8 p.m. on Sept. 12.

U-Haul offered a free month of storage at 94 facilities to people who will be impacted by the heavy rains and extreme winds associated with Hurricane Florence. Families in need should contact their nearest participating U-Haul store.

People are preparing to leave their homes, creating an immediate need for secure locations where evacuees can bring the possessions they wish to protect, announced U-Haul president Doug Weston on the company website.
Alleged Gang Member Charged With June Murder in North Richmond

William Melvin Edwards Jr., an alleged gang member, has been charged with conspiracy and murder in the shooting death of Taison Calderon-Lopez, June 1, in North Richmond, according to the Contra Costa County district attorney.

Sheriffs deputies responded to an address in the 500 block of Grove Avenue at 6:28 a.m. to reports of a shooting and found Calderon-Lopez suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Prosecutors said that Edwards drove a rented Jeep to Calderon-Lopezs home, and waited near the victims work truck for roughly 52 minutes. Once the victim came out, Edwards allegedly shot him four times in the chest then ran back to the Jeep and drove away.

It was a case of mistaken identity, however, according to the district attorney.

Calderon-Lopez had been mistaken for a witness in an attempted murder case that investigators were building against suspects Darjon Hicks and Jermaine Hicks Sr., two uncharged co-conspirators that are allegedly members of the same gang as Edwards.

Sometime between Aug. 23 and Aug. 26, Edwards learned that he was suspected of the homicide and allegedly attempted to obtain false identification for the purpose of leaving the state to avoid arrest, prosecutors said.

Edwards has been charged with murder and enhancements for lying in wait, committing a murder to further the activities of a street gang, intentional discharge of a firearm, and street terrorismwhich carries a potential life sentence. Hes also charged with conspiracy to commit a murder.

Hes scheduled for arraignment Sept. 18 in Richmond, according to Scott Alonso, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Edwards is reportedly a past employee of the Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender, but that agency did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.

By D.B.
a woman helps a boy with his school homework inside their room in a migrant village on the outskirts of Beijing. Surrounded by the sleek hi-tech campuses and luxury condominiums of 'Beijing's Silicon Valley In this picture taken on Sept. 7, 2017, (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)

As Chinese School Year Starts, Some Beijing Students Blocked From Admission

BEIJINGAs Chinas school year kicks off, some longtime Beijing residents are being forced by restrictive residency rules to send their children to distant schools, with some unlucky few packing their bags for places as far south as Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province, more than 1,000 miles away.

In the past year, Beijing has evicted a legion of status-less migrant workers and relocated hundreds of factories to cut down on what it calls an urban disease of over-population. Its number of registered residents saw a rare, albeit small, decline last year to 21.7 million.

But now, some long-term, tax-paying middle-class families are moving out because new rules have made it difficult for children to gain admission in city schools.

A 35-year-old man called He, who did not wish to be further identified, said he had moved out of Beijing to the neighboring province of Hebei after new residency rules barred his six-year-old son from applying for admission to the citys schools.

He and his son went to Hebei two weeks ago ahead of the start of the school year last week, while his wife had to move in with relatives to be closer to her job in the capital.

He, who wanted to remain anonymous out of fear his son could lose his place in school, now only sees his wife when she visits them on weekends. He quit his job in Beijing in March.

Weve taken a big economic hit, He said. But its most important that my son has a place to go to school.

Among the new rules, a familys registered address must be unchanged for at least one year and match the area where their social benefits are paid.

Speaking at his nearly-bare two-bedroom apartment in Hebei, He said his family had prepared over a year to ensure they met requirements.

But the local government in the Beijing district of Tongzhou, where He had stayed, published the new rules right before the deadline for school registration for the coming school year, making it impossible for them to qualify.

Hundreds of Tongzhou parents in a similar situation protested for weeks at the Tongzhou education and the Beijing central education bureau offices in May and June.

One mother, Li, said that of a group of 200 families she knew about that petitioned the authorities, one-third eventually were accepted at Tongzhou schools, one-third chose private schools or moved to different cities, and one-third, like her, were keeping their kids at home for now.

We paid tuition for a private school, but it was terrible. So we pulled him out, said Li, who also did not want her full name published.

A 10-year resident of Beijing who works in public relations moved his family 1,200 miles south to Shenzhen after his child was refused admission in a local school.

I loved Beijing, but I dont understand what the government is doing. Im really unhappy with the way they handle things, said the parent.

Underinvestment

The fight for strained education resources is not limited to the capital.

In the city of Leiyang in southern Hunan Province, police arrested 46 people in September August after hundreds of parents protested over a government plan to place 9,000 fifth- and sixth-grade children in expensive, remote, and poorly constructed private boarding schools. School authorities did not address the parents concerns.

Local authorities were following orders from the Chinese Communist Party to control classroom sizeto have 66 students per teacher. The average class size has grown from 50 to 100 students due to rapid urbanization. But due to the lack of funds to create more public schooling for the growing number of students, the Leiyang municipal government may have colluded with private investors to build such shoddy schools.

An International Monetary Fund report in July said China still underspends other emerging markets on education as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The issue is also in focus as some Chinese regional governments have been under pressure from deteriorating finances and heavy debt burdens.

Meanwhile, even those who meet residency requirements in Beijing deal with school headaches.

Fang, an IT manager at a central state-owned insurance company, said he had to move to a smaller apartment in a new district in Beijing for his son to qualify for Beijing school enrollment.

Fang said he also had to pay the landlord an additional 40,000 yuan (nearly $6,000) just for the landlord to sign-off on Fangs son using the apartments allotted spot in a school.

Other parents, including He and Li, said some landlords were charging 100,000 yuan for a spot.

With such an opaque system, there is ample room for corruption and loopholes, parents say, as those with the right relationships or with money for bribes are able to get their kids in school.

He said he had to take the Hebei school principal out for dinner several times before he would agree to accept his son.

Even though the school is pretty lousy, at least hes in school.

By Elias Glenn. Epoch Times staff member Emily ONeill contributed to this report.
Brexit Could Re-Ignite Sectarian Conflict in Northern Ireland, Report Says

LONDONBrexit could re-ignite the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, two decades after the end of The Troubles that left more than 3,000 people dead, according to a new report.

The report by legal experts, published Sept. 14, echoes concerns voiced by former UK Prime Minister John Major, who oversaw the creation of a power-sharing agreement that ended 30 years of sectarian violence.

Key to those concerns is what will happen to the border between the Northern Ireland (a province of the UK) and Ireland after Brexit.

The UK is in the final stages of negotiations with the EU that will determine customs and immigration arrangements with the EU. That potentially means new, much harder, border controls.

But the UKs only land border with the EU will lie between Northern Ireland and Irelanda border that was once a flash-point in sectarian violence, targeted by Republicans as a hated embodiment of what they saw as British occupation.

After a peace deal was struck in 1998, border controls have all but disappeared, with customs and immigration handled seamlessly under common EU rules.

The report from BrexitLawNI, a partnership of academics and human rights experts from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), warned of the dangers of the recreation of a hard border.

Researchers interviewed dissidents over 18 months on both sides of the conflict.

Brexit was manna from heaven from our perspective, the leader of a dissident Republican group told researchers. According to the report, there was a widespread consensus among Republican dissidents that a hard border would become a mobilizing agent for violence and protest.

A New Bone of Contention 

The question of how to handle the border is a key sticking point in Brexit negotiations. The UK government has promised to avoid a hard border, but it isnt clear yet what the mechanism would be.

There is a real danger Brexit could re-ignite conflict here, said Brian Gormally, director of the CAJ.

As the leaving process lurches ever nearer to a hard or no-deal Brexit there is a risk of nationalists becoming more and more disillusioned at the disregarding of the will of the majority here, while unionists coalesce in defense of Brexit and the border, he said in a statement.

The report notes that 56 percent of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. Almost 90 percent of nationalists voted to remain, while 66 percent of unionists voted to leave.

The last thing we need is a new bone of contention between our people, said Gormally.

Hardline Brexit supporters have tended to dismiss similar concerns as project fear, deliberately undermining Brexit.

The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 set up a power-sharing agreement between political wings of both sides, to govern the province which has a certain level of autonomy.

However, the power-sharing government collapsed in Nov. 2016, with the executive now being run by civil servants, with a budget set by central government in London.

Threat Level Remains at Severe

The period of violence known as The Troubles started toward the end of the 1960s.

IRA attacks on mainland Britain, such as the Brighton bomb in 1984 that nearly killed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, often caught international headlines.

But the majority of the 3,000 deaths occurred in Northern Ireland itself, with sectarian attacks from both sides.

The terrorist threat from dissidents has plummeted over the last two decades, but is still one of the main terror threats facing the UK, after Islamic extremism.

The terrorist threat in Northern Ireland has been at the second highest levelsevere since MI5 introduced the system in 2010. Six people were killed by dissident Republicans between 2009 and 2017.

Professor Rory OConnell, director of the Transitional Justice Institute at Ulster University, said, The 1998 Agreement found nuanced solutions to difficult issues of sovereignty, identity, and the border, embedding these in a rights-respecting framework. Brexit risks unpicking these carefully, painfully worked-out solutions.
Dr. Benjamin Jin, a biologist working on immunotherapy for HPV+ cancers, works in the lab of Dr. Christian Hinrichs, an investigator at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, February 7, 2018. (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese Academic Espionage Highlighted in Debate Over NIH Letter

When the director of the National Institutes of Health sent out a letter to research institutes around the country, warning of the potential for foreign influence to undermine U.S. research and intellectual property, he didnt identify any specific adversaries.

The letter sent on Aug. 20 by Dr. Francis Collins only noted that some foreign entities have mounted systematic programs to influence NIH researchers and peer reviewers, such as through obtaining intellectual property (IP) and confidential information in grant applications, or by offering financial support to researchers.

But a Chinese academic may have inadvertently steered attention to China when he took offense to Collinss letter and published a public response, in English and Chinese, insisting that the letter unfairly points to China and Chinese researchers.

The letter is obviously targeting scientists of Chinese origin, making Chinese as [sic] the new scapegoat of anti-intellectual irrationality in the US, wrote Rao Yi, a neurobiologist at Peking University in Beijing, in his comments published on Zhishifenzi.com, a science-focused website that he created.

Talk of science and tech-related IP theft certainly brings to mind China, given that U.S. lawmakers and intelligence officials have recently emphasized the severity of threats from the country and the need to counter espionage conducted in service of Beijings economic goals, including within U.S. academia.

The Chinese government and Communist Party use both overt and covert means to target the political and economic elite, the media and public opinion, civil society and academia, and members of the Chinese diaspora, according to draft legislation introduced in June that would require U.S. intelligence agencies to provide a detailed report on Beijings influence operations in America.

In his response, Rao makes arguments in defense of Chinas research efforts.

China has not tried to influence NIH researchers or peer reviewers. The Thousand Talent Program is to recruit more scientists, not to influence any other country, he wrote, mentioning a Beijing-funded recruitment program aimed at enticing Chinese science and tech professionals working in the West to return to China by providing them with a financial package and guaranteed employment.

In a report by BioCentury, a biotech news website, Collins explained that his letter wasnt targeting China.

Ive tried in every way I can to try to emphasize that this in no way is intended to be a targeting of individuals who are not born in the U.S., Collins told BioCentury. We have so much to gain by working together across international boundaries; we just have to be sure everybodys playing fair.

At the time of writing, Collins didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

An Aug. 23 statement published on the NIH website also acknowledged the honest contributions of both U.S. and foreign researchers.

Our [the U.S. biomedical field] leadership position is made possible because the overwhelming majority of researchers participating on NIH grants, whether U.S. or foreign-born, are honest, hard-working contributors to the advancement of knowledge that benefits us all, the statement read.

Citing Collins, Science magazine reported that NIH is investigating several U.S. institutions for not disclosing foreign ties in some projects.

Documented Cases of Beijings Influence

But there have indeed been cases of Chinese nationals conducting espionage beneficial to Beijing, raising real concerns about the potential threat to U.S. research.

The most prominent example is Liu Ruopeng, who came to the United States to study for a doctoral degree at Duke University. He stole key technology and data from his professors invisibility cloak lab, then established his own company in China using the information. Chinese governmental entities invested millions in his startup.

Other cases involved theft of trade secrets from important U.S. firms, such as a Chinese scientist who stole rice seeds from his employer Ventria Bioscience Inc., to bring to a Chinese crop institute. He was sentenced to federal prison in April.

In addition, many Chinese and some non-Chinese researchers working in fields that Beijing has targeted for aggressive developmentsuch as high-tech sectors outlined in the Made in China 2025 industrial planhave been hired away through the Thousand Talent program to work for Chinese state-run and private firms. These include scientists at the state-run China National Nuclear Corporation; a solar engineer who founded Suzhou Juzhen Photoelectric; and a senior executive at one of Chinas largest OLED (a type of screen display technology) manufacturers, among others.

Raos response to the NIH was the focus of several reports carried on Chinese state-run media, perhaps confirming that Beijing has a stake in public representations of Chinese espionage.

In addition, the Made in China 2025 plan includes pharmaceuticals and advanced medical devices among a list of 10 sectors for targeted development. To combat such IP theft, the White House is shortening the lengths of some visas issued to Chinese citizens studying in certain science and tech fields.

And most recently, FBI officials convened a group of over 100 academic officials in Texasincluding from the Texas Medical Centerto explain how to prevent IP theft, according to an Aug. 8 report in the Houston Chronicle.
Duke Energy Shuts Down Nuclear Plant Ahead of Florence

Duke Energy has shut down its Brunswick Nuclear Plant as it was directly in the predicted path of Hurricane Florence.

Duke Energy, which supplies electricity to communities in there different states, a 1,870-megawatt facility located about 30 miles south of Wilmington on North Carolinas southern coast, Weather.com reported.

Since Florence is expected to hit with Category 1 winds, the plant has to be shut down two hours before the storm hits, according to federal law.

The site is rated to withstand 300 mph winds, and Duke Energy prepared by installing extra generators to run cooling pumps, but is still being shut down as a safety precaution.

Brunswick is closest to the eye, but every reactor exposed to hurricane-force winds will be shut down, said U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Joey Ledford told Weather.com. Weve got inspectors at every plant.

The Brunswick plant was hit by Category 1 Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and emerged unscathed.

All the nuclear power plants affected by Hurricane Matthew weathered the storm well and were well-prepared for the high winds and heavy rains, Joe Pollock, the U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute vice president of nuclear operations, told World Nuclear News in October 2016 after Matthews impact.

These facilities have proven their ability to withstand hurricanes and provide electricity to homes and businesses as soon as off-site power is restored and the electricity grid can accommodate the power, he added.

Ready for Storm Surge

A 2004 report from the National Regulatory Commission states that the Brunswick plant is able to survive a storm surge of 22 feet above sea level, the News-Observer reported.

The National Advanced Hydrologic Advanced Prediction Service predicted flood levels on Cape Fear near the nuclear plant will reach 24.5 feet on Sept. 17, a foot above the previous record of 23.5 feet, according to Weather.com.

Brunswick plant onsite NRC Inspector Galen Smith, had no worries that the Brunswick plant would survive the storm easily.

They have everything they need to operate the plant safely, he told the News-Observer. Its just a matter of executing at this point. Even if the storm is bad, they should do fine.

Smith stated that the reactor buildings at Brunswick are virtually impenetrable, with concrete and rebar walls several feet thick.

Upgraded After Fukushima

The Brunswick Nuclear Plant has two reactorsof the same design as those used at Japans Fukushima power plant, which exploded after being hit by earthquakes and floods.

According to the News-Observer, the Fukushima plants backup generators flooded, which stopped the flow of cooling water to the reactor vessel. Heat from the reactors caused hydrogen explosions that ruptured the reactor vessels, releasing radioactivity.

After the still unresolved disaster at Fukushima, U.S. regulators demanded that power plant operators upgrade their plants to be better able to withstand earthquakes and flooding.

The good news is, because of Fukushima, the plant is better prepared, Dave Lochbaum, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists told the News-Observer. If it hadnt been for Fukushima, that vulnerability would not have been identified.

From NTD.tv
Ive had a great relationship with the Melman family since I got here. As a matter of fact, one of my great friends from New York was a business partner with Rich Melman and basically introduced me to the Melmans when I first got here, McCarthy said in a brief interview, without naming the mutual friend. So, weve had that relationship for seven and a half, eight years now. At the end of the day, it was a good opportunity for them to shift gears and come over into the light.
Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Sept. 12, 2018. (Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)

EU Passes Resolution Defending Taiwan Against China Threats

Taiwans diplomatic relations with the European Union got a boost on Sept. 12 when the European Parliament passed a resolution that, in part, seeks to discourage Beijing from endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The resolution, drafted by Bas Belder, a Dutch politician and member of the European Parliament, received 530 votes in favor and 53 against, with 55 abstentions. Belder is a member of the Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The resolution calls on EU and its member states to urge Beijing to refrain from further military provocations towards Taiwan and endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, it calls for peaceful means on the basis of international law to settle any cross-strait disputes. Since April, Beijing has sent bombers, fighter jets, or surveillance aircraft to encircle Taiwan, acts of intimidation that serve as threats to the Taiwanese public to embrace the idea of unification with the mainland.

Meanwhile, the resolution supports Taiwans participation in international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). For years, Beijing has rallied WHO and other international groups to exclude Taiwan.

Taiwans continuous exclusion is not in line with the EUs interests, the resolution stated.

During Chinas civil war, members of the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan following a defeat by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949. While China is under authoritarian, one-party rule, the island of Taiwan has transitioned into a full-fledged democracy with its own constitution, currency, and military. Relations between the two are fraught, as Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland one day, with military force if necessary.

Taiwans sovereignty has thus become a political battle. In the EUs latest resolution, it decided that it will still adhere to the one China policy, an agreement between China and Taiwan that both sides belong to the same China, but each side can interpret differently what China means. However, Beijing has interpreted the policy as meaning that mainland China is the only China. It has since pressured other countries to embrace its interpretation.

In the past two years, Beijing has increasingly deployed dollar diplomacy tactics, providing aid and investments to Taiwans diplomatic allies in order to pressure them into breaking ties with Taiwan. In the two past years, Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, and El Salvador have all cut diplomatic ties and recognized diplomatic relations with China.

While the resolution isnt a formal piece of legislation, it still serves as an important reference point for how the EU might carry forth its relationship with China.

The resolution also mandates that the European External Action Service (EEAS)the foreign and defense ministry of the EUwill answer all questions European parliamentarians have about the EUs dealings with China and Taiwan.

Finally, the resolution called on EEAS and the European Commission to ensure that EUChina cooperation is grounded in the rule of law [and] universality of human rights.

In January, Cato Institute, a think tank headquartered in Washington, ranked China 138th out of a total of 150 countries on its human freedom index. The index placed Taiwan at 18th place, just one spot behind the United States.

In a statement released by Taiwans presidential office, spokesperson Huang Chung-ye thanked the European Parliament for supporting Taiwan. Additionally, Huang stated that Taiwan will vigorously defend against any infringement of the freedom, democracy, and well beings of [Taiwanese] citizens, in the face of challenges from China.

The U.S. government has shown similar support to Taiwan. On Sept. 3, senators Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI), a bill that would require a U.S. strategy to engage with governments around the world to support Taiwans diplomatic recognition or strengthen unofficial ties with Taiwan.

On Sept. 9, U.S. ambassadors to El Salvador, Panama, and the Dominican Republic were called back to the United States, in response to the three Latin American countries cutting ties with Taiwan to recognize China.
When smokers switched from traditional cigarettes to heat-not-burn devices, researchers didnt find any evidence of improvements in lung function. (rolandmey/Pixabay)

FDA Cracks Down on E-Cigarette Makers to Discourage Use by Teens

Agency proposes curbing the use of e-liquid flavors that could appeal to kids

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring companies that produce e-cigarettes to come up with a plan within the next two months on how to prevent e-cigarettes from getting into the hands of minors.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a speech on Sept. 12 that while hes excited about the possibility of e-cigarettes being used to transition adults off of the more toxic traditional cigarettes, hes alarmed by the uptick in their use by kids, mainly teenagers.

E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitousand dangeroustrend among teens. The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use were seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end, he said.

Between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette use among high schoolers grew 900 percent, according to the U.S. surgeon general. Last year, an annual survey by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found e-cigarette use among teens declined, but showed that vaping, which includes e-cigarettes, increased slightly from a year earlier in most age groups.

The plans that e-cigarette manufacturers must submit have to demonstrate how companies will convincingly address the widespread use of their products by minors, Gottlieb said, or the FDA will revisit what enforcement actions it can take for products already on the market.

Ive been warning the e-cigarette industry for more than a year that they needed to do much more to stem the youth trends. In my view, they treated these issues like a public relations challenge rather than seriously considering their legal obligations, the public health mandate, and the existential threat to these products, he said.

On Sept. 12, the FDA sent out warning letters to the makers of five e-cigarette brands that collectively make up more than 97 percent of the market: JUUL, Vuse, MarkTen, blu e-cigs, and Logic.

Let me be clear, Gottlieb said, this may require these brands to revise their sales and marketing practices, including online sales; to stop distributing their products to retailers who sell to kids.

The FDA, in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, has already gone after companies marketing flavored e-cigarette liquids in packaging that resembles kid-friendly products such as juice boxes, candy, and cookies. And its looking into significantly curbing all flavored liquids. Gottlieb says the agency is now considering how it might implement such a policy.

JUUL, which has received special attention from the FDA in its enforcement blitz, sent out a statement shortly after Gottliebs speech saying that it wanted to be part of the solution and that it planned to comply with the FDAs new request. It also seems to want to be part of the decision-making process, if the FDA does limit the types of flavors that it can put on the market.

Appropriate flavors play an important role in helping adult smokers switch. By working together, we believe we can help adult smokers while preventing access to minors, and we will continue to engage with the FDA to fulfill our mission, Kevin Burns, JUUL Labs CEO, said in a statement.

Altria, which is the maker of MarkTen, posted on Twitter a link on Sept. 12 that directs to a page on its website that talks about the ways the company is working to prevent addiction in minors.

Manufacturers and retailers cannot address this issue alone, the page indicates. With federal regulation in place, the FDA has the opportunity to do more to address social source access and we encourage them to do so.

The FDA is also ramping up enforcement of sales to minors by sellers.

Since June, the FDA has sent 1,100 warning letters to stores for the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to minors after a nationwide, undercover blitz of brick-and-mortar stores. In the same timeframe, it also fined 131 stores that continued to sell to minors after being warned.

Gottlieb also put manufacturers on notice that they need to get serious about selling online to straw buyers who resell to kids.

If young adults go online and buy 100 units of a product to sell to teens, that activity ought to be easy for a product manufacturer to identify, he said. If the companies dont know, or if they dont want to know, that straw purchases are occurring, well now be helping to identify it for them.

If the FDA finds that sites are selling to straw buyers, Gottlieb said FDA has both civil and criminal penalties at its disposal.
President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order calling for the review of the Waters of the United States Rule, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 28, 2017. (Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images)

Federal Court Blocks Water of the United States Rule in 3 States

On Sept. 13 a U.S. District judge in Texas temporarily blocked enforcement of the Obama-era Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS) in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, handing a victory to land owners in those states.

Todays district court ruling is a win for property owners in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, sparing them from the unlawful and impractical WOTUS rule that would allow EPA regulation of ponds, streams and puddles on private land, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. By restoring principles of federalism to this area of law, the ruling is an even bigger win for the Constitution and the fundamental liberties it protects.

The 2015 rule aimed to further clarify the term, waters of the United States. The definition is an important one, as it tells regulators which bodies of water fall under the Clean Water Act, and consequently which bodies of water the federal government can regulate.

The changes didnt add new bodies of water to the regulations, but further defined those already in place. By broadening the definition of bodies of water such as streams, wetlands, and adjacent water, the new rule greatly expanded the reach of the Clean Water Act.

The rule was vehemently opposed by landowners and organizations across the United States as government overreach, and numerous lawsuits were filed to stop implementation. Three months after it was announced, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled it had jurisdiction over all of the WOTUS cases and issued a stay, putting the rule on ice.

The stay did not, however, stick. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that challenges to WOTUS would be heard by federal district courts. With the Appeals court no longer having jurisdiction, it lifted the stay.

To fulfill a campaign promise, President Donald Trump took action independent of the battle in the courts. In one of his first acts in office, Trump signed an executive order directing the EPA to review the WOTUS rule and the definitions made under the Obama-era rule.

The EPAs so-called Waters of the United States Rule is one of the worst examples of federal regulation, Trump said during the signing ceremony on Feb. 28, 2017. It has truly run amok and is one of the rules most strongly opposed by farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers all across our land.

In July 2017 the EPA and the Department of the Army formally proposed to repeal the expanded definitions of waters of the United States, and opened public comment on the issue. The public comment period closed last month.

Next, the agencies plan to propose a new definition to replace the Obama-era rule, as well as pre-2015 rules. A deadline for the new proposal has not been given.

The legal action is still unfolding in the courts, but currently the Obama-era rule is in effect in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories. Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi will, for now, continue to use pre-2015 rules.






Honolulu Warns Residents After Storm Swells Dam Water Levels

HONOLULUHonolulu officials said a dam holding 21 million gallons (80 million liters) of water was not in danger of collapsing Sept. 13, but still warned nearly 10,000 residents downstream that they might need to evacuate after a tropical storm caused water levels to rise in the reservoir.

Water levels in the dam rose 4-to-5 feet (nearly 1.5 meters) overnight as heavy rains from Tropical Storm Olivia dumped 7.3 inches (18 centimeters) of rain in the area. Meteorologists downgraded the storm to a tropical depression as it moved away from the islands, but warned lingering moisture could bring more rain.

The Board of Water Supply, the agency that manages the dam, said plans call for a mandatory evacuation if the water reaches 1 foot (30 centimeters) under the top of the dam.

The water was 5 feet below the top of the dam at midday Sept. 13. Its also 18 inches (45 centimeters) below a spillway. Areas downstream would flood if water goes over the spillway, Lau said.

We want people to know, if you live near a dam and were the dam to fail, these would be areas we would want to evacuate before the failure of the dam, said Ernie Lau, chief engineer for the Board of Water Supply. But were nowhere close to that.

Water is seen rushing through a spillway in a neighborhood below the Nuuanu Dam in Honolulu on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Honolulu officials say they may need to evacuate 10,000 people from a residential neighborhood if the water in the reservoir continues to rise after heavy rains from a tropical storm. (By Caleb Jones/AP Photo)The dam is called Nuuanu Dam #1, an earthen reservoir built in 1905 in a residential neighborhood near downtown Honolulu called Nuuanu.

Lau said workers began siphoning water away from the dam before Olivia reached the islands. But these efforts were unable to keep pace with the rain that fell during the storm. On Sept. 13 morning, Lau decided to begin pumping water out of the dam with the help of Honolulu firefighters.

Officials pump water from a reservoir where a dam came close to overflowing in Honolulu on Sept. 13, 2018. (By Caleb Jones/AP Photo)Lau said workers made some headway and water levels came down by 2 to 3 inches. He said theyll make more progress if the rains decrease. Pumping will continue over the next week, he said.

The agency, which is the water utility for nearly 1 million people in Honolulu and surrounding towns on Oahu, said it would coordinate with the city on any evacuation notice.

Andrew Pereira, a spokesman for the city, urged residents to be aware of the situation.

While it appears the rain is subsiding, we are taking a cautious approach and asking residents to remain on alert, he said in an email.

Sherwod Chock, an artist who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 50 years, said officials have never warned about high water levels in the dam before.

It looks it like it can hold it, but you never know, he said. As for whether he had plans if the dam breached, he said: I think Gods going to take care of us.

The dam is one of multiple dams in Nuuanu that are used for flood control. Water levels at a bigger dam, Nuuanu Dam #4, are much lower. This dam also has an additional method for releasing water in a controlled fashion that Nuuanu Dam #1 lacks.

Meteorologists say moisture will linger through Sept. 14, with additional rainfall of 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) and isolated amounts of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) on higher terrain.

That could cause life-threatening flash floods because the ground is already saturated, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in a statement.

The storm, which was a hurricane earlier in the week, slowly weakened as it neared the state.

President Donald Trump has signed a disaster declaration, which will help FEMA respond, Gov. David Ige said.

By Caleb Jones And Audrey Mcavoy
Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall as North Carolina Police Chief Predicts Biblical Proportion Flood

Hurricane Florence has made landfall in North Carolina, forcing a life-threatening storm surge of floodwater inland and shredding structures in its path.

More than 60 people had to be pulled from a collapsing motel at the height of the storm, and many more who defied evacuation orders were hoping to be rescued.

Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 7:15 a.m. at Wrightsville Beach, a few miles east of Wilmington, as the center of its eye moved onshore, the National Hurricane Center said.

I see a biblical proportion flood event thats going to occur, Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous told ABC News. I see the beach communities being inundated with water and destruction that will be pretty, pretty epic in nature.

The storms maximum sustained winds held at about 90 mph, and it appeared that the north side of the eye was the most dangerous place to be as Florence moved ashore.

A gust of 105 mph was recorded at Wilmington airport, surpassing the power of Hurricane Fran two decades ago.

More Than 415,000 Power Outages

Coastal streets flowed with frothy ocean water, and more than 415,000 homes and businesses were without power, mostly in North Carolina, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks the nations electrical grid.

Authorities in the coastal city of New Bern, North Carolina, were working with responders to rescue at least 150 residents who reported being stranded in the hurricanes surge, according to The Weather Channel.

Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. #FlorenceNC  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 14, 2018

Nearly 200 people have already been rescued, according to Colleen Roberts, a city public information officer, Fox News reported.

Craven County spokeswoman Amber Parker told ABC News that some people were trapped on their roofs. I would say certain areas of New Bern are very desperate, ABC reported.

New Bern was one of the first cities affected by storm surge floodwaters after the Neuse River overflowed, flooding parts of the town. A gauge on the river had already recorded 10 feet of inundation, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Reports have been received of major structural damage to homes and businesses in Onslow Country, according to The Weather Channel.

Over 20 inches of rain had fallen on Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach, both in Carteret County, by Friday morning.

Hurricane Florence is set to inundate almost all of North Carolina in several feet of water, State Governor Roy Cooper told a news conference, while National Weather Service forecaster Brandon Locklear predicted up to eight months worth of rain in two or three days.

Utility companies said millions were expected to lose power and its restoration could take weeks.

Key Warnings from NHC

A life-threatening storm surge is already occurring along portions of the North Carolina coast and will continue through today and tonight, the NHC said in an alert posted at 5 a.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 14.

This surge is also likely along portions of the South Carolina coast, the warning continues.

The greatest storm surge inundation is expected between Cape Fear and Cape Hatteras, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers and western Pamlico Sound.

The NHC also warns of life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding through early next week.

Damaging hurricane-force winds are occurring along portions of the North Carolina coast and are expected to spread to portions of the South Carolina coast later on Friday.

The alert also cautions against the presence of large swells affecting Bermuda, portions of the U.S. east coast, and the northwestern and central Bahamas, resulting in life-threatening surf and rip currents.

About 10 million people could be affected by the storm and more than a million were ordered to evacuate the coasts of the Carolinas and Virginia.

At least 12,000 people have taken refuge in 126 emergency shelters, Cooper said, with more facilities being opened.

The NHC said the threat of tornadoes was increasing as Florence neared shore and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said the heavy rain could trigger landslides in the west of his state.

Emergency declarations were in force in Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hurricane Florence-Related Death Reported in Hampstead, North Carolina: Report

The first Hurricane Florence-related death was reported on Sept. 14, according to an official in North Carolina.

Tom Collins, the head of Pender County Emergency Management in North Carolina, said that a woman in Hampstead had a heart attack on Sept. 14, but crews could not get to her due to downed trees. Collins said they had to use a front loader to clear the roads, but a tree smashed through its windshield, according to The Associated Press.

Crews have suspended their operations in the area.

Some 150 people were awaiting rescue early Sept. 14 in New Bern, the city said at 2 a.m.

Currently ~150 awaiting rescue in New Bern. We have 2 out-of-state FEMA teams here for swift water rescue. More are on the way to help us. WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU. You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU, the City of New Bern tweeted.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said that the situation will only continue to deteriorate, Reuters reported.

The sun rose this morning on an extremely dangerous situation and its going to get worse, he said in Raleigh. To those in the storms path, if you can hear me, please stay sheltered in place.

Cooper added Hurricane Florence would continue its violent grind across the state for days.

Reuters reported that some 634,000 homes and businesses lost power across North and South Carolina. Utility companies said the power might not be restored for weeks.

Latest NHC Update

Hurricane Florence is moving slowly to the west and has 75 mph winds, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14. The agency is primarily warning residents about heavy storm surge and heavy rainfall.

A slow westward to west-southwestward motion is expected today through Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move farther inland across extreme southeastern North Carolina today, and across extreme eastern South Carolina tonight and Saturday. Florence will then move generally northward across the western Carolinas and the central Appalachian Mountains early next week, according to the NHC.

When it moves west into the Carolinas, rainfall will be the biggest issue.

It says southeastern coastal North Carolina into far northeastern South Carolina will get 20 to 25 inches of rain, and some isolated areas will be 30 to 40 inches. Parts of South Carolina and North Carolina will get 5 to 10 inches with some spots getting 15 inches.

Rainfall totals exceeding 16 inches thus far have been reported at several locations across southeastern North Carolina, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, in southeastern North Carolina storm surges of around 10 feet have been reported.

Its insane, he said to Reuters. Everybody laughs at the fact that this storm got downgraded  but Ive never seen tree devastation this bad. Afterwards, Im going to drink a bottle of whiskey and take a two-day nap, but right now Im walking the neighborhood and making sure my neighbors are fine, because nobody can get in here.
The High Court building in Hong Kong on Aug. 17, 2017. A major victory was won for Hong Kong's freedom of expression and protest in a case involving members of the Falun Gong spiritual group, which is banned in mainland China. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)

Landmark Court Victory Upholds Hong Kongs Freedom of Expression Amid Beijings Increased Pressure

After a five-year legal battle in Hong Kong court, a major victory was won for freedom of speech, assembly, and protest on Aug. 31.

Adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual groupwhich is banned and heavily persecuted in mainland Chinafiled a lawsuit in 2013 against Hong Kongs Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), which typically oversees food safety among street food vendors, had begun citing a public health regulation to forcibly remove Falun Gong booths from the streets.

Article 104a of the FEHD public health code stipulated that those who do not obtain written approval from the authorities are not allowed to display bills or posters on government territory.

Two Falun Gong plaintiffs argued in their lawsuit filed at Hong Kongs Court of First Instance that banners and posters pertaining to public protest and appeal should not be regulated under this rule.

After losing the lawsuit in October 2014, the plaintiffs appealed. On Aug. 31 of this year, judge Godfrey Lam Wan-Ho issued a landmark ruling deeming the FEHDs restrictions on Falun Gong practitioners freedom of speech, assembly, and protest as unconstitutional.

For a long time, in many areas, banners are a critical part of demonstration activities. Banners are an important way for protesters to visually relay their messages to the public. In my view, restricting the display of banners seriously infringes upon guaranteed freedoms, Lam said in the judgment.

These basic rights are very precious to Hong Kong society and Hong Kongs way of life. All levels of Hong Kongs courts should use the broadest interpretation and completely safeguard the individual, he added.

The judgment also explained that the FEHD should not have unrestricted authority on peoples speech, assembly, or protest rights.

For years, adherents of the spiritual group Falun Gong had set up booths on the streets of Hong Kongusually equipped with pamphlets and postersto inform people about the ongoing persecution in mainland China. Since 1999, the Chinese regime had banned the practice, with hundreds of thousands systematically arrested and imprisoned for their spiritual beliefs. The groups popularityup to 70 million adherents in mainland China, by Beijings official estimatesmade then-Chinese-Communist-Party-leader Jiang Zemin anxious about his grip on power.

Under Hong Kongs separate governance, local Falun Gong practitioners were free to practice their faith.

But with increasing mainland interference since the city was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, Falun Gong practitioners saw their activities increasingly restricted by the Hong Kong government.

Spokesperson for the Hong Kong Falun Dafa Association, Kan Hung-Cheung, applauded the legal victory as a win for all Hong Kongers. This verdict is a basic defense of Hong Kong peoples freedom of assembly and of protest. This also upholds Falun Gong practitioners right to hold a peaceful and rational protest, Kan said.

The two plaintiffs in the lawsuit also expressed that they looked forward to being able to finally go to their street booths without the fear of being disrupted.

Albert Ho Chun-Yan, pro-democracy activist, former legislator, and the plaintiffs lawyer, believed that the victory demonstrated that it is up to every Hongkonger to uphold the citys freedoms. Within the system there is space for officials to use discretion in how they exercise their power, he said. If they have a political slant, even though institutions have standards, they can use discretionary powers within the system to make unfair decisions.

Current legislator and chair of the Democratic Party Wu Chi-wai said he admired the tenacity of Falun Gong practitioners. We have depended on Falun Gong adherents to persevere with determination, righteously fighting for the freedom of expression, he said.

This is a verdict that safeguards the principle of one country, two systems, said Teresa Chu, human rights lawyer and spokeswoman for the Falun Gong Human Rights Lawyer Group in Taiwan. One country, two systems refers to a system of autonomous governance separate from Beijing that was guaranteed in the Sino-British Declaration signed by China and the United Kingdom when Hong Kongs sovereignty was handed back to China in 1997.

Hongkongers should be protected under The Basic Law and Bill of Rights Ordinance, she said, referring to the citys constitution and bill of rights.

Separately, an international group of Falun Gong practitioners recently sent a letter to the UK parliament detailing their concerns about nearly 100 Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong being arrested, prosecuted or fined unlawfully, they claim.

Earlier in July, UK parliament members submitted a letter to the UK foreign secretary urging him to address to the United Nations the erosion of Hong Kongs civil liberties and rule of law in the wake of punishments handed out to pro-democracy lawmakers and activists.

The Falun Gong letter appeals to UK MPs to also discuss what they perceive as a form of [mainland Chinas] persecution spilling over into Hong Kong.
Lawsuit Accuses Uber of Saving $500 Million Annually by Misclassifying Drivers

A Los Angeles limousine company has sued Uber Technologies Inc. in federal court in San Francisco for unfair competition, alleging that the ride-hailing company saves up to $500 million per year and hurts its rivals by failing to classify its drivers as employees.

Diva Limousine Ltd. argues in the suit filed on Sept. 10 that the ride-hailing company is violating California labor and insurance laws by classifying its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.

The alleged misclassification enables Uber to save the costs of paying drivers minimum wage, overtime, expenses, and other benefits, amounting to a savings of up to $500 million per year for rides in California, the lawsuit said.

The suit asks for an injunction under Californias Unfair Competition Law and triple financial damages under the states Unfair Practices Act, which prohibits businesses from providing services below cost for the purpose of harming competitors.

Uber prices its rides below cost for the purpose of injuring competitors, the lawsuit claims.

The companys investors understand that Ubers purpose is to create a behemoth that counts customers in the millions and drives enough competitors out of the market that they will later be able to charge higher prices in the long run, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit seeks to be certified as a class action on behalf of all transportation companies such as limousine firms that arrange rides in advance for California passengers and treat their drivers as employees.

A spokesman for San Francisco-based Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The company has contended since its founding nine years ago that its drivers are independent contractors who value the flexibility of that status.

Two attorneys for Diva, Ashley Keller and Warren Postman, said they believe the case will contribute to resolving the long-running dispute about whether Uber drivers are employees or independent contractors.

We think we filed a very important lawsuit. This case may be a very good vehicle for the court to apply the test of who is an employee under California law, Keller said.

The lawsuit cites an April 30 decision in which the California Supreme Court narrowed the definition of an independent contractor.

The state high court said California workers must meet all of three standards in order to be classified as independent contractors.

The three criteria are that workers are free from the control and direction of the hiring company; perform work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entitys business; and are customarily engaged in an independently established occupation or business.

Although the lawsuits claims are based on California law, it was filed in federal court because some companies in the proposed class are out-of-state and make ride arrangements for their clients with associated companies within California, the attorneys said.

Uber has stated it had 148,000 active drivers in California at the end of 2017, the lawsuit said.

By Julia Cheever
Man Shouting Allahu Akbar Drives Car Into a Crowd in France

A man has driven his car into a crowd of people outside a bar in southern France while shouting Allahu Akbar, according to witnesses.

The suspect is believed to be a local man, aged 32, who drove his white Peugeot car towards a crowd of about 50 people around 1 am Thursday in the town of Nimes, eyewitnesses told AFP.

More than one witness said that the man shouted Allahu Akbar as he drove. However, the car ran into crowd-control barriers crowds set up for a popular annual festival in the town.

Only two people were hurt in the incident.

Eric Maurel, the regions public prosecutor, said the suspect was beaten up by the crowd after he tried to flee.

Maurel added that the man has been hospitalized because he was in a state of mental confusion during his arrest. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The investigation is not being carried out by anti-terror police, a police spokesman confirmed to AFP.

Previous Attacks in France

Earlier this year, a Chechnya-born Frenchman killed a man in a knife attack in Paris, also shouting Allahu Akbar as he began his rampage.

He fatally knifed a 29-year-old man and wounded four others in the bustling Opera district before police shot him dead on May 12.

240 people have died in a succession of attacks in France that started back in early 2015 .

Some have attributed these to Frances participation in pushing back against Islamist extremists in Iraq, Syria, and the West African state Mali.

ISIS has often claimed responsibility for the attacks in France, but not always with verifiable proof.

In Oct. 2017 a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before being shot dead by soldiers.

But the deadliest of the attacks in France over the last three years was in Paris in Nov. 2015, when 130 people were killed

Reuters contributed to this report.
Manafort Faces Up to 31 Years in Prison After Plea Deal With Mueller

Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to two criminal charges on Sept. 14 as part of a deal with federal prosecutors that concluded the second trial for the veteran political operative.

Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to court documents (pdf) filed in the District of Columbia. The prosecutors recommended a sentence of 17 to 21 years as part of the plea agreement (pdf).

Manafort already faces an eight to 10 year sentence after the jury in a separate Virginia trial convicted him on Aug. 21 of eight counts of financial wrongdoing. Depending on the sentencing decisions of the judges in the two cases, Manafort, 69, could spend up to 31 years in prison.

Manafort served briefly as then-candidate Donald Trumps campaign manager in 2016. Special counsel Robert Mueller charged Manafort as part of a probe into alleged coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Mueller was authorized to look into matters that arose from the Russia investigation, leading to the charges against Manafort, which are not related to the Trump campaign or to Russia.

As part of the plea deal with Mueller, Manafort agreed to forfeit three of his homes and two apartments in New York as well as several bank accounts. He also agreed to cooperate fully with the government in criminal investigations and prosecutions, which includes providing documents, testimony, and performing undercover activities.

Manafort has been in jail since mid-June. The judge in the District of Columbia case ordered his detention on June 15 after reviewing evidence (pdf) that Manafort attempted to tamper with witnesses and determining that the defendant could not be trusted to comply with the judicial process. Manafort pleaded guilty to witness tampering as part of the obstruction charge.

In his guilty plea (pdf), Manafort admitted to knowingly violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act by failing to register as an agent of a foreign power while conducting lobbying work for Ukraine in the United States. Manafort admitted to leading a lobbying campaign for Ukraine for nearly a decade and intentionally doing so without registering as a foreign agent.

Manafort admitted to hiring several companies to conduct the influence campaign, paying the firms over $11 million for the Ukraine work. In addition to failing to register as a foreign agent himself, Manafort admitted to taking steps to prevent the firms and lobbyists he hired from registering as foreign agents.

As part of the lobbying campaign, Manafort admitted to hiring four former European heads of state and senior officials, including a former Austrian chancellor, an Italian prime minister, and a Polish president. Manafort paid the group 2 million euros to covertly lobby for Ukraine in meetings with U.S. lawmakers and journalists.

Manafort admitted to knowingly failing to report $15 million in income for his overseas work from 2010-2014. He concealed the income through a network of foreign banks and shell companies. Manafort also admitted to defrauding several banks by making false statements on loan applications.

President Donald Trump expressed sympathy toward Manafort after the former campaign chairs conviction in August.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. Justice took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break  make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man! Trump wrote on Twitter.
Durkins unusual move to pull support from a sitting lawmaker comes amid a series of harassment and abuse allegations in state politics. Last month, Republican state Rep. Nick Sauer resigned following a report of accusations he sent nude photos of an ex-girlfriend to other men online. On the Democratic side, House Speaker Michael Madigan ousted his chief of staff Tim Mapes after a House employee said she endured years of harassment by Mapes, who also served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Mass Explosions and Fires Reported Near Boston, Massachusetts

Explosions and fires were reported in Massachusetts cities near Boston on Sept. 13, according to officials.

Officials believe the explosions and fires were due to gas.

Residents in the affected towns of Lawrence/North Andover/Andover who have gas service from Columbia Gas should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not already done so. Gas lines are currently being depressurized by the company it will take some time, wrote Massachusetts State Police on Twitter at around 6:10 p.m. ET.

Numerous evacuations of neighborhoods where there are gas odors are underway. Far too early to speculate on cause. Joint investigation will be conducted when situation is stabilized.  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Several structures have been set on fire and evacuations were forced in Lawrence and North Andover, CNN reported.

State police told the network that 17 addresses were on fire or had exploded.

Confirmed fires/explosions plotted on map by MSP Watch Center. As seen, incidents are across a wide swath of dozens of blocks across Lawrence and North Andover. pic.twitter.com/0GoLK0Q94q  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Numerous evacuations are going on in places were gas was, State Police tweeted at around 5:50 p.m. ET. Troopers are on scene assisting with scene security and traffic control, State Police added.

State Police noted that it is far too early to speculate about the cause, and joint investigation will be conducted when situation is stabilized.

Residents in the affected towns of Lawrence/North Andover/Andover who have gas service from Columbia Gas should evacuate their homes immediately if they have not already done so. Gas lines are currently being depressurized by the company it will take some time.  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Other details about the incident are not clear.
Mother, Baby Die in Hurricane Florence After Tree Falls on Home in Wilmington

A mother and infant in North Carolina died when a tree fell on their home in Wilmington amid heavy winds from Hurricane Florence.

The Wilmington Police Department confirmed the deaths on Facebook at around 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 14.

The department can confirm the first two fatalities of Hurricane Florence in Wilmington. A mother and infant were killed when a tree fell on their house. The father was transported to NHRMC with injuries.

The police department said earlier, Rescue officials are on scene trying to remove the tree from off the home. No official update on the condition of the victims.

Other details about the incident are not clear.

Hurricane Florence is moving slowly to the west and has 75 mph winds, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 2 p.m. on Sept. 14. The agency is primarily warning residents about heavy storm surge and heavy rainfall.

Before weakening, the storm was a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph with higher gusts.

Another death was reported in North Carolina during the storm.

Tom Collins, the head of Pender County Emergency Management in North Carolina, said that a woman in Hampstead had a heart attack on Sept. 14 but crews could not get to her due to downed trees. Collins said they had to use a front loader to clear the roads, but a tree smashed through its windshield, according to The Associated Press.

Crews have suspended their operations in the area.

Meanwhile, the hurricanes storm surge had overwhelmed New Bern, a town of about 30,000 people at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said.

The sun rose this morning on an extremely dangerous situation and its going to get worse, he said at a news conference in Raleigh. To those in the storms path, if you can hear me, please stay sheltered in place.

NHC Update

In a 3 p.m. statement, the NHC said Florence is still moving slowly across southern North Carolina, and torrential rains will continue.

NOAA Doppler weather radar data and surface observations indicate that the center of Hurricane Florence has continued to move slowly westward toward the North Carolina-South Carolina border, the weather agency said.

The storm is a Category 1 with 75 mph winds and higher gusts.

Heavy rain is persisting over eastern North Carolina. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Morehead City measured 15.56 inches of rainfall so far, the NHC said.

Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are likely over portions of the Carolinas and the southern and central Appalachians through early next week, as Florence is expected to slow down while it moves inland, the NHC discussion for Florence reads.

Severe storm surge along the Carolina coastline will continue today and tonight.

This surge is also likely along portions of the South Carolina coast. The greatest storm surge inundation is expected between Cape Fear and Cape Hatteras, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers and western Pamlico Sound, the agency said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Not Just Hurricane Florence: New Updates on Helene, Joyce, Isaac

There are several other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic other than Hurricane Florence, including Tropical Storm Joyce and Tropical Storm Helene.

Helene Update

Helene, once a hurricane, is maintaining tropical storm strength and is slated to bring heavy winds and rains to the Azores islands over the weekend.

A tropical storm warning was issued for all of the Azores Islands, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, and it is moving 23 mph to the north.

A turn toward the north-northeast is forecast Saturday followed by a turn toward the northeast by Sunday night. On the forecast track, Helene will pass near or over the Azores late Saturday or Sunday. Satellite data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours. Afterward, gradual weakening is expected over the weekend as Helene makes the transition to a post-tropical extratropical cyclone, the NHC said in an 11 a.m. update on Sept. 14.

Joyce Update

Tropical Storm Joyce, also in the North Atlantic, is moving to the south and is slated to turn eastward by the night of Sept. 14.

Joyce is forecast to slow its forward motion and turn eastward by tonight, and then accelerate northeastward over the weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast through Saturday. Joyce is then forecast to weaken to a depression Saturday night or Sunday, according to the NHC.

Isaac Update

Isaac, once a tropical storm, weakened to a tropical depression. It is moving west about 300 miles southeast of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.

There are no warnings in effect for the storm.

A turn to the west-northwest is possible early next week if Isaac survives. On the forecast track, Isaac will move over the eastern and central Caribbean Sea during the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Isaac is forecast to gradually weaken over the next few days, and could degenerate into a tropical wave at any time. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is currently en route to investigate the depression, said the agency.

Hurricane Florence

Florence, meanwhile, is moving slowly to the west over the Carolinas and is a Category 1 storm, the NHC said in its latest update. The storm is 20 miles southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, and 55 east-northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Said the NHC: The Tropical Storm Warning has been discontinued north of Duck, North Carolina, including the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort. The Hurricane Warning has been changed to a Tropical Storm Warning from Duck, North Carolina, south to Bogue Inlet, including the Albemarle Sound.

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Police Locate, Arrest Suspect Connected to June Homicide

Officers have arrested a man in connection with a June homicide in San Franciscos Bayview neighborhood, police said on Sept. 13.

On June 4, officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1500 block of Oakdale Avenue around 11:10 a.m. There, they found 26-year-old Jevon Cael suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

After an investigation, officers were able to identify San Francisco resident Cleavon Foster, 37, as a suspect. On Sept. 9, officers with the Sacramento Police Department located Foster and arrested him on an outstanding homicide warrant, according to police.

Foster was booked on suspicion of murder, police said.

According to jail records, Foster was also arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm with prior conviction and possession of the firearm on school grounds.

By Daniel Montes
Police Seek Help in Solving 2010 Fatal Shooting of Chilean Man

Berkeley police said they are still trying to find the suspects who fatally shot a 35-year-old Chilean native in Berkeley eight years ago on Sept. 12.

Adolfo Ignacio Celedon Bravo, nicknamed Fito, was shot and killed at the corner of Adeline and Emerson streets at 3:41 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2010, which was his 35th birthday.

Celedons fiancee Amber Nelson said in an interview two years after his death that they had met in Chile, where he was from, in February 2008 when she was vacationing there and they were planning to get married.

Nelson said Celedon moved to Berkeley a short time after they met because she was completing her dual masters degrees in architecture and landscape architecture.

Nelson said that on the day of the shooting, they had planned to get up early to visit places in the Bay Area that he had never seen because they didnt own a car. She explained that they normally got around by bicycle but she had rented a hybrid car for their sightseeing venture.

But police said that early that morning, Celedon and Nelson were walking home from a party when two male robbers attacked them at the corner of Adeline and Emerson streets, a block away from the Ashby BART station and several blocks from their home.

Police said that during the robbery, one of the suspects shot Celedon and one of them punched Nelson. Paramedics transported Celedon to a trauma center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the two suspects fled in what was described as a dark older model SUV.

There is a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for Celedons murder.

According to Celedons sister, he had worked as an engineer in Chile but then got involved in the theater when he moved to Berkeley.

In a news release on Sept. 12, Berkeley police said, Detectives remain hopeful that a member of the community will come forward with information. Even the smallest detail could prove critical in solving this case.

Police ask anyone with information about Celedons death to call their homicide unit at (510) 981-5741 or their non-emergency line at (510) 981-5900.

By Jeff Shuttleworth
Pope Francis meets U.S. Catholic Church leaders Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop of Los Angeles JosZ Horacio Gmez, Cardinal Sean Patrick OOMalley, Archbishop of Boston, and Monsignor Brian Bransfield, General Secretary of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, during a private audience at the Vatican, Sept. 13, 2018. (Vatican Media/Reuters)

Pope Orders Inquiry Into Bishop as US Church Leaders Discuss Abuse Crisis

VATICAN CITYPope Francis has ordered an investigation of an American bishop accused of sexual misconduct with adults and accepted his resignation, deepening a worldwide clerical abuse scandal.

The Vatican and U.S. Church officials announced the investigation on Sept. 13 as the pope was meeting U.S. Catholic Church leaders to discuss a scandal that has shaken his papacy.

The Vatican said the pope had appointed Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore to run the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, West Virginia until Bishop Michael J. Bransfield is replaced.

There were no details on the specific allegations against Bransfield and neither he nor his legal representatives could immediately be reached for comment.

The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, deeply damaging confidence in the Church in the United States, Chile, Australia, and Ireland where the scandal has hit hardest, and elsewhere

In the United States alone, the Church spent about $4 billion in compensation and other costs related to the priest sex abuse crisis between 1950 and 2015, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

The advocacy group BishopAccountability.org says Church data shows that 6,721 clerics have been not implausibly or credibly accused of sexually abusing minors in the United States between 1950 and 2016 and that there were about 18,500 victims.

In Germany, a Church study published in a magazine on Sept. 12 showed 1,670 clerics and priests had sexually abused 3,677 minors, mostly males, in the country between 1946 and 2014.

Papal Order

On Sept. 13, the archdiocese of Baltimores website said the pope had ordered the archbishop to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of adults by Bransfield.

My primary concern is for the care and support of the priests, and people of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston at this difficult time, Lori said in a statement.

I further pledge to conduct a thorough investigation in search of the truth into the troubling allegations against Bishop Bransfield and to work closely with the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop, he said.

The announcement of Bransfields resignation came while the pope was meeting Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Sean OMalley of Boston, and Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of Los Angeles.

In a statement afterwards, DiNardo said they told the pope of our situation in the United Stateshow the Body of Christ is lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse. He called the meeting a lengthy, fruitful, and good exchange.

DiNardo had asked for the meeting after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano last month accused the pope of knowing for years about sexual misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and of doing nothing about it.

In July, McCarrick became the first cardinal to resign in nearly 100 years after American Church officials said allegations that he had sexually abused a 16-year-old boy almost 50 years ago were credible and substantiated.

Demanding Answers

McCarrick has said that he had absolutely no recollection of the alleged abuse of the teenager but has not commented on the other allegations against him.

DiNardo has called for the Vatican to launch an investigation, known as an apostolic visitation, into how McCarrick could have risen steadily through the ranks of the U.S. Church although many people knew that he had engaged for years in sexual misconduct with adult male seminarians.

In the 11-page statement published on Aug. 26, Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador to Washington, launched an unprecedented broadside by a Church insider against the pope and a long list of Vatican and U.S. Church officials.

DiNardo has said Viganos accusations deserve answers that are conclusive and based on evidence.

By Philip Pullella
Iraqi protesters run during a protest near the building of the government office in Basra, Iraq, on Sept. 5, 2018. (Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters)

Protests Dash Iraqi PMs Chances of New Term, Hit U.S. Hopes of Shaping Government

SULAIMANIYA/ERBIL, IRAQViolent protests in the Iraqi city of Basra have all but ended U.S.-backed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis chances of winning a second term and shattered Washingtons hopes of shaping the next government.

Fifteen people have been killed protesting against power cuts, polluted water, poor services, and perceived corruption in Iraqs second city, many of them in clashes with security forces.

Political allies and leaders of the religious establishment blame Abadi for the turmoil, putting an alliance he has formed with populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr under threat.

The alliance with Sadr, whose Saeroon bloc finished first in an election in May but has been unable to form a government, offered Abadi his best chance of remaining prime minister.

But Sadr has condemned Abadis management of the Basra crisis and is in advanced talks with the Fatih coalition, led by popular Iranian-backed Shiite militia commander Hadi al-Amiri, to form a new alliance, sources close to the talks told Reuters.

A deal between Fatih and Saeroon could give Iran, a U.S. enemy, a chance of gaining more leverage in Iraq, its most important Arab neighbor.

Talks between Fatih and Saeroon are serious and could lead to a breakthrough in the political crisis soon, said lawmaker Razzaq al-Haidari, a member of Amiris Badr Organisation.

The two sides are still negotiating details, the sources said. But one senior source in Fatih said a compromise had been agreed under which both would withdraw their leading candidates for the premiership.

Thats what we (Saeroun and Fatih) agreed on, so Amiri has withdrawn his candidacy. And we agreed that Abadi isnt eligible for a second term, the source said.

Sadr and Amiri agreed on Sept. 12, to accelerate the formation of a government. Full details of their talks were not available but a coalition looks imminent.

Abadis failure in managing the Basra crisis totally convinced Sadr that supporting Abadi will put his status and popularity among millions of followers on the line, said Baghdad-based analyst Ahmed Younis.

The United States backed Abadi because it saw him as a moderate who could stabilize a country beset by sectarian, turbulent politics. But Washington may have miscalculated, cultivating no alternatives.

The collapse of Abadis candidacy would reduce the U.S. sway over politics in Iraq, where it competes with Iran. Tehran has steadily increased its influence in the country since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Abadi Told To Leave Basra

The protests in Iraqs south, the countrys main oil hub, mark a rejection of the political establishment that has held on to power with the support of the United States and Iran despite failing to improve peoples lives.

During a visit on Monday to Basra, which is in the heartland of Iraqs Shiite Muslim majority, Abadi was met by protesters who demanded he leave the city. Abadis office was not available for comment.

Political gains from Abadis victory over the militant Islamic State group in Iraq last year, with U.S. support, proved short-lived and the problems in Basra have put years of government failures in sharp focus.

The message from Basra is loud and clear for all political elites, said Ali al-Mawlawi, the head of Research at Baghdad-based Al Bayan Center. Theyve realized, if you like, that theres a ticking time bomb.

Sadr portrays himself as a fierce nationalist opposed to both U.S. and Iranian interference in Iraq, but would have to give regional power Iran some room for maneuver in any partnership with Amiris bloc.

Iran is trying to preserve its interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Tehran and decided to re-impose stringent sanctions on its foe.

There are no guarantees that Tehran can mould Iraqs the political landscape without a struggle. Many voters who supported Sadr in the election are disillusioned with the Iranian-backed political elite they accuse of corruption.

Sadr and Abadis union was fragile from the start and had already been showing signs of strain before Saeroons leadership, and then Fatihs, called on Saturday for Abadi to resign after an emergency parliamentary session on Basra.

That was our declaration that this was the end for Abadi and his second term, said the senior source in Fatih.

Old Guard Under Fire

In a clear reference to Abadi and others, Iraqs top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose interventions can bring down politicians, condemned the neglect of Basra and called for an end to the old guard.

Brett McGurk, a senior U.S. envoy, was in Iraq last week trying to rally support for Abadi among various factions.

But Iran has also been trying to shape the next government in Iraq. Senior Iranian delegations have been in the capital Baghdad for several months, trying to convince divided Shiite factions to unite behind one candidate for prime minister.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Irans Supreme Leader, Ali Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also visited Baghdad for talks with Amiri and Maliki, three political sources said.

Success is not certain for Iran. Protesters in Basra set fire to the Iranian consulate and chanted Iran out, out, a warning of the risks of being too close to outside influences.

Iran and the United States will also both face the delicate task of trying to promote a candidate for prime minister who does not look dependent on them and is outside the political establishment which many Iraqis blame for the problems in Basra.

The way the Americans and the Iranians have viewed Iraq until now is if they back their horse, they can control the country, said Renad Mansour, an Iraq expert at the Chatham House think-tank in London.

What this new potential coalition is sayingor at least what the Sadrists are sayingis we dont have a problem with international affairs. But you can no longer treat us as your proxies. Were not your proxies, were your allies.

By Ahmed Rasheed and Raya Jalabi
In 2007 in the United States, the company pleaded guilty and agreed to pay more than $600 million in fines for misleading the public about the risks of OxyContin. In Canada, Purdue faces just one class-action lawsuit for $20 million.(REUTERS/George Frey)

Purdue Pharmas Sales Pitch Downplayed Risks Of Opioid Addiction

Misleading OxyContin promotions blamed for contributing to opioid crisis

Two decades ago, Purdue Pharma produced thousands of brochures and videos that urged patients with chronic pain to ask their physicians for opioids such as OxyContin, arguing that concerns over addiction and other dangers from the drugs were overblown, company records reveal.

Kaiser Health News earlier this year posted a cache of Purdue marketing documents that show how the pharmaceutical company sought to boost sales of the prescription painkiller, starting in the mid-1990s.

Purdue turned the records over to the Florida attorney generals office in 2002 during its investigation of the company. Additional Purdue documents from the Florida investigation detail how the company targeted patients and allayed addiction worries.

Fear should not stand in the way of relief of your pain, a pivotal marketing brochure said.

Purdue said it handed out thousands of copies of the brochure, which emphasized consumer power in treating pain, as well as a videotape. The single most important thing for you to remember is that you are the authority on your pain. Nobody else feels it for you so nobody else can describe how much it hurts, or when it feels better, the pamphlet states.

More than 1,500 pending civil lawsuits, filed mostly by state and local governments, allege that deceptive marketing claims helped fuel a national epidemic of opioid addiction and thousands of overdose deaths.

Last week, the New York attorney generals office filed another suit that accuses Purdue of operating a public nuisance in its sales tactics and marketing of opioids. Like many others, the suit demands compensation for addiction treatment costs and other problems. Purdue and other drugmakers have denied all allegations.

President Donald Trump said Aug. 16 he wants the federal government to sue drugmakers in response to the addiction epidemic.

The Purdue brochure from the late 1990s spurred recent criticism from drug safety experts. Dr. G. Caleb Alexander, a physician at the Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said the sales pitch was simply not true and called it a smoking gun.

We have learned the hard way that many patients develop opioid [addiction] when using these medicines as prescribed, he said.

Alexander said other drugmakers also appealed to patients hoping to influence their doctorsa tactic that was relatively new in the late 1990s. But Alexander said he was shocked to hear that Purdue did so with OxyContin, given the risks posed by long-term use of the morphine-like narcotic.

These drugs [opioids] are in a class of their own when it comes to the harms that they have caused, Alexander said.

The internal Purdue documents, dating from 1996 to 2002, show that the company began marketing OxyContin to doctors in late 1995 for treating moderate to severe cancer pain. With modest sales of $49.4 million in 1996, Purdue posted a loss of $452,000 on the drug. In 1997, sales reached $146.5 million for a pretax profit of $16.5 million, the company records show.

In 1998, as Purdue hawked OxyContin for conditions such as arthritis and back pain, it decided to increase communications with patients, company records show.

The goal: convince patients and their families to actively pursue effective pain treatment. The importance of the patient assessing their own pain and communicating the status to the health caregiver will be stressed.

Purdues six-page pamphlet for patients, provided to the Florida attorney general, was titled OxyContin: A Guide to Your New Pain Medicine. Your health care team is there to help, but they need your help, too, the pamphlet says. It says OxyContin is for treating pain like yours that is moderate to severe and lasting for more than a few days.

To patients or family members worried about addiction, Purdues pamphlet said: Drug addiction means using a drug to get high rather than to relieve pain. You are taking opioid pain medication for medical purposes. The medical purposes are clear and the effects are beneficial, not harmful.

Asked to comment this week, Purdue spokesman Robert Josephson said the company discontinued the use of this piece many years ago.

Dr. Michael Barnett, a physician and assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said that some of Purdues early marketing claims may have seemed reasonable to many doctors 20 years ago.

But he faulted the medical profession for not demanding scientific evidence that opioids were, in fact, safe and prudent for widespread use.

I think a lot of physicians are coming to the realization that a lot of what we were taught about pain management was pure conjecture, he said. I feel foolish for believing it.

In hindsight, he said, Purdues sales tactics seem almost a satire of an unscrupulous corporation that really has no interest in understanding the implications and complications of people using their drugs.

Dr. Art Van Zee, a physician in southwestern Virginia who was among the first to recognize the ravages of OxyContin misuse, said that some people who became addicted were drug abusers.

But he added: There clearly are people that Ive taken care of who took it as directed orally and became opioid-addicted.

Purdue also paid a New York City production company to shoot a videotape called From One Pain Patient to Another, featuring testimonials by seven patients from the Raleigh, N.C., area under the care of pain doctor Alan Spanos. Filming took place at the patients homes, places of work and other area locations on July 17, 1997, according to the documents.

Purdue did not pay the patients, though Spanos received $3,400 as a physician spokesman on that video and another, the company records state. Contacted recently by phone, Spanos would not comment. In the documents, Purdue said that the patients participated willingly, wishing to speak out regarding the importance to them of being able to receive effective therapy for their chronic pain.

Between January 1998 and June 2001, Purdue distributed 16,000 copies of the video to doctors, who showed them to selected patients.

The video did not mention OxyContin directly, but the Food and Drug Administration did balk at a claim in the video that fewer than 1 percent of people taking opioids became addicted. The FDA said that claim was not substantiated, according to a December 2003 General Accountability Office audit.

Purdue destroyed remaining copies of the video in July 2001, including 4,434 Spanish-language versions, according to the company records.

By then, annual OxyContin sales had topped $1 billion as Purdue pushed to attach an emotional aspect to non-cancer pain so physicians treat it more seriously and aggressively, according to the companys marketing reports.

Asked about the video, Purdue spokesman Josephson said the drugmaker has not made that claimregarding 1 percent addictionin more than 15 years.

Purdue submitted the marketing records to the Florida attorney generals office during its investigation of the company. The state settled the case in 2002 when Purdue agreed to pay $2 million to help set up an electronic prescription-tracking program.

Florida officials released the records to two Florida newspapers in 2003 after Purdue lost a court battle to keep them confidential. KHN posted some of those documents earlier this year for readers to review on its website.

KHNs coverage of prescription drug development, costs and pricing is supported in part by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

Fred Schulte, John A. Hartford Senior Correspondent on the enterprise team and a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. This article was originally published on Kaiser Health News.
Actor Ryan Gosling waves as he arrives for the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film "First Man", presented in competition at the 75th Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido, on Aug. 29, 2018. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images)

Ryan Gosling Finally Visits Cafe After Its Cardboard Cutout Campaign During TIFF

Ryan Gosling has finally paid a cafe a visit during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, after the cafe officially made him the major part of their #Ryanneedsgrinder campaignas a cardboard cutouton Twitter.

And this happened #ryanneedsgrinder worked. The man himself showed up. What a good sport, a well brought up Canadian boy. We truly appreciate Ryan taking the time the time to visit us during #tiff. Take that @idriselba your loss. pic.twitter.com/8rMMWOs32J  GrinderCoffeeGerrard (@GrinderCoffeeTO) September 11, 2018

On Sept. 1, the cafe Grinder Coffee, posted a photo of their Ryan Gosling cutout board on its Twitter account, writing Good news we are back on twitter cause Monday begins our # ryanneedsgrinder. Come have coffee with us @ RyanGosling while you are in town for # TIFF2018.

Good news we are back on twitter cause Monday begins our #ryanneedsgrinder. Come have coffee with us @RyanGosling while you are in town for #TIFF2018 pic.twitter.com/M9ObVsbdhb  GrinderCoffeeGerrard (@GrinderCoffeeTO) September 1, 2018

In order to lure the Golden Globe-winning actor to visit the cafe, the owner Joelle Murray and patrons have been tweeting photos on and off of them and the cardboard during the 10 days before Gosling was actually convinced by his mother to call on the cafe, according to CTV News.

She has free coffee for life at Grinder whenever she wants, Murray told CTV News.

Day 4 of #ryanneedsgrinder .Real @RyanGosling meet Grinder Ryan. Think of the fun you could have taking selfies with a selfie. If you do you get to be entered into our contest. @idriselba didn't get that treatment #YYZ #TIFF #welovethis pic.twitter.com/8tvUK1c0yq  GrinderCoffeeGerrard (@GrinderCoffeeTO) September 6, 2018

Day 8 of our #ryanneedsgrinder campaign. We took Grinder Ryan out for drinks to celebrate #TIFF2018 . Listen #ryangosling this is getting weird. We need the Real Ryan to show up so we can show him our Grinder hospitality. #TIFF #leslieville #coffeehouse #cafeyyz pic.twitter.com/r7igABrQgc  GrinderCoffeeGerrard (@GrinderCoffeeTO) September 10, 2018

They even won over the support from Torontos mayor John Tory, who swung by on the day the cardboard was unveiled.

Mayor Tory tweeted Got my morning coffee at @ GrinderCoffeeTO today and checked out their campaign to get @ RyanGosling to visit during @ TIFF_NET, attached with a photo of him and the Gosling cardboard.

Got my morning coffee at @GrinderCoffeeTO today and checked out their campaign to get @RyanGosling to visit during @TIFF_NET. pic.twitter.com/Ckyu1hSQTF  John Tory (@TorontosMayor) September 1, 2018

On the day when Ryan Gosling arrived in Toronto for the screening of his latest movie First Man, the cafe reminded him with a screenshot of Google Map, showing him the way and joking about paying for him to uber there.

Day 9 of our #ryanneedsgrinder campaign. Perhaps you are lost? Do you need us to call you an #Uber ? You can pay us back when you get here. It only takes 18min to get here so no excuses now. #ryangosling #Toronto #tiff #coffee #gerrardstreeteast #tdot pic.twitter.com/hysK2ZrbF1  GrinderCoffeeGerrard (@GrinderCoffeeTO) September 11, 2018

According to CTV News, Murray said the star only stopped by to greet her and the staffs at Grinder Coffee for a few minutes.
South Korean mothers practice massaging their babies during a training program at a public health center in Seoul in this file photo. (Kim Jae-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images)

South Koreas Birth Rate at Record Low

SEOULWith a low salary and high expenses, 34-year-old Sung-Jin Kim once thought he would never get married.

I had given up on marriage and was going to live life on my own. If things werent like that, I wouldnt have given up on marriage, said Kim Sung-Jin, a resident of Suwon, just south of Seoul.

It was thanks to his fathers financial support, he said, that he was finally able to make plans to get married.

Housing is not affordable.  As basic needs are not met, people just stay single.

Still, having a child is a distant thought for Kim and his 25-year-old fiance, Song Min-jung, who are planning to tie the knot in December.

The atmosphere is that people are choosing not to produce slaves, said Kim.

South Koreas birth rates hit record lows this year, with only seven newborns per 1,000 people.

For a country of 51 million, there were only 357,800 babies born in 2017, a reduction of 12 percent compared to the previous year. The country has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.

From any perspective, the birth-related indices have gotten worse, Dr. Kim Doo-Sub, president of the Asian Population Association, told The Epoch Times.

The cause? Life is hard, Dr. Kim said.

There is severe competition for the younger generation to enter the labor market. It is not easy.

The unemployment rate for South Koreans in their 20s stands at 9.9 percent, according to government statistics. But even that figure may be understated, as there could be massaging of the statistics, Dr. Kim added.

There are other factors as well that contribute to the low birth rate. According to Dr. Kim, another factor is that more women are getting advanced degrees and entering the workforce.

Now, a womans education level is higher than mens. With both the husband and the wife working, it becomes very difficult to have a baby, Dr. Kim said.

Thats what Song, a nurse who works night shifts, finds to be an obstacle to having children.

I cannot think of a life where I leave work after a night shift, return home in the morning, and then take care of children and do the housework, she said.

Financial Crisis a Turning Point

South Koreas birth rate began declining dramatically in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

The country recorded 678,000 births in 1997. That figure dropped to 438,000 in 2005.

Following the crisis, the Korean market became fully open to foreign countries, and corporations were reorganized, Dr. Kim said.

The lifelong jobs and retirement at the age limit were gone. Many households were led to poverty and devastation.

Youth unemployment also rose, and jobs became more insecure.

The flexible labor policy introduced by the government to help companies reduce costs and make improvements drove the number of temporary employees significantly higher.

According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Union, temporary employment accounts for almost half of the countrys entire employment. Salaries of temporary employees are typically less than 60 percent of the salaries of regular employees.

This has a significant impact on marriage statistics. Hui-Jung Chu, a researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, says temporary employees have less than a quarter chance of getting married, compared to regular employees.

There were 435,000 marriages in 1996. That number fell by 10 percent the next year, and by 2017, the number of couples getting married declined to 260,000.

The decrease in the number of marriages has caused South Korea to have an extremely low birth rate since the 2000s, Chu said.

According to Dr. Kim, South Korea has fallen into the low birth trap, in which a bad economy, unstable marriages, concern about childrens education, and other factors have combined to drive birth rates lower.

It is difficult to get out of that now because none of the conditions are easy to resolve, he said.
The case went cold in the following years. But that changed with the 2013 Mother's Day deaths of Brumback and his wife, Mary, in their Omaha home. Police recognized similarities in the 2008 and 2013 killings, and Garcia was quickly eyed as a suspect. The doctor, who once practiced in Chicago, was arrested two months later during a traffic stop in southern Illinois.
Elon Musk, founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX, speaks at a news conference after the Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Feb. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

SpaceX Changes Plans to Send Tourists Around the Moon

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA SpaceX said it has signed the first private moon traveler, with some changes to its original game plan.

The big reveal on who it isand when the flight to the moon will bewill be announced at the companys headquarters in Hawthorne, California on Sept. 17.

Its not the same mission SpaceX founder Elon Musk outlined last year. The original plan called for two paying passengers to fly around the moon this year, using a Falcon Heavy rocket and a Dragon crew capsule.

At the time, Musk said the pair approached SpaceX about sending them on a weeklong flight and paid a significant deposit for the trip.

The new strategy is to still fly around the moon, but using an even bigger SpaceX rocket still in development that has its own dedicated passenger ship. And now, it appears there will be only one person aboard.

Given that this new BFR rocket, as its dubbed, has yet to be built, the flight presumably is at least a few years off.

SpaceX put out the teaser via Twitter late on Sept. 13, and Musk also tweeted out the news. Company representatives declined to offer additional details on Sept. 14.

Musks ultimate goal is to colonize Mars. This lunar missiona flyby, not a landingrepresents an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space, SpaceX said in a tweet.

On its website, SpaceX is touting the first passenger on lunar BFR mission, implying there will be more.

This could be humanitys first lunar visit since 1972, depending on how NASAs latest moon plans shape up. Twenty-four NASA astronauts flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972, and only 12 of them strolled its dusty surface. Next July will mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing by Apollo 11s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

NASA is shooting for its own flyby of the moon, with a crew, around 2023. The space agency aims to build a gateway in the vicinity of the moon, complete with staff, during the 2020s. Its envisioned as a base for exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond.

By Marcia Dunn
Super Typhoon Mangkhut Makes Landfall in Philippines

Storm has in excess of 170 mph

Super Typhoon Mangkhut, an extremely dangerous Category 5 cyclone in the Pacific known as Super Typhoon Ompong in the Philippines, made landfall in the Philippines on Sept. 15.

Philippine weather agency PAGASA reported that the storm hit Baggao, Cagayan. Thousands of people had evacuated the area before the storms landfall.

CNN reported the storm has 180 mph wind speeds (285 kph). A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is 157 mph or greater.

The New York Times also reported that the storm is 550 miles in diameter.

PAGASA said the storm surge could be as high as 20 feet (6 meters) in Cagayan and 7 feet (2 meters) in Isabela.

We are bracing for the worst here, said Lanelyn Carrillo, a spokeswoman for World Vision, a humanitarian organization, CNN reported. There is a sense of fear that we might be facing a storm as bad as Haiyan or Haima. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, killed 6,000 people.

The Philippine News Agency reported that strong winds and rains hit Laoag City, the capital of the Philippines province of Ilocos Norte, on the evening of Sept. 14, and more than 2,000 people living in low-lying areas in Ilocos Norte had evacuated.

Some of those who refused to evacuate in Pasuquin town are now being dealt with by the police, Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa Imee Marcos told the news agency.

Government forecaster Rene Paciente warned that the storm can lift cars. You cant stand, you cant even crawl against that wind, reported Al Jazeera.

According to forecasters, the storm is slated to pass through the Philippines before hitting southern China as well as Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Observatory said the typhoon posed considerable threat to its residents, Al Jazeera reported.

Before it hit the Philippines, Mangkhut slammed the American island territory of Guam on Sept. 13, knocking out 80 percent of the electricity, the Times reported.
Sweep of Homeless Encampment Next to San Jose Airport Delayed

Following an outpouring of response from advocates, politicians and the media, organizers of a privately funded homeless encampment in San Jose say law enforcement officials have backed off on enforcing a 72-hour notice to vacate the camp.

Hope Village sits in an empty parking lot boxed off by Mineta San Jose International Airport, the Guadalupe River Creek and the state Employment Development Department on Ruff Drive and West Hedding Street. The collection of tents is surrounded by a fence and has a bathroom, solar power, and a central gathering area.

Peter Miron-Conk, who co-founded Casa de Clara Catholic Worker, is among a small group of people who planned and constructed the camp, which opened on Sept. 8.

The organized dwelling had only been open for two days when it received a 72-hour notice from the California Highway Patrol, according to Miron-Conk.

Officer Ross Lee, the spokesman for the CHP San Jose office, said the encampment was reported to the CHP on Sept. 10 because the site is on state property as a parking lot for the Employment Development Department.

Miron-Conk and other organizers began calling local politicians, media and finding contacts who could buy them time. He said the camp is currently negotiating with the city, county and the CHP to find them a safe place to relocate, but theres no rapid action to get us out of here.

He added that CHP Capt. Ceto Ortiz has spoken to him and seems committed to a peaceful resolution.

Lee confirmed on Sept. 13, that despite the agency giving a verbal 72-hour notice to vacate earlier this week, currently we do not have a planned sweep to go in and remove them.

Lee said the CHP is in the process of seeing if we can come to another resolution by working with city, county and state officials to see if theres a more appropriate location for the encampment.

The camp has the capacity for about 25 tents and there are currently seven tenants. If negotiations are successful, Miron-Conk said the camp will think about accommodating more residents.

A majority of the people at Hope Village used to live in an encampment on Corie Court and Oakland Road. Miron-Conk met them while operating a mobile shower program, and discussed the project with them over the course of two months at a McDonalds on Oakland and Brokaw roads.

After searching for the right location, organizers settling on the state-owned land across from a defunct Santa Clara County traffic court building.

Residents who live at Hope Village cannot have substance abuse issues, serious mental health problems or a history of violent behavior.

Miron-Conk said he wishes the camp could be inclusive of a larger population of homeless individuals but said the camp wouldnt succeed against political and social pressure otherwise.

James, a 59-year-old resident at the camp, grew up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and moved to California to begin working. Hes college-educated and said he has a small, but the loving circle of friends.

You must realize how very humble this is, James said, gesturing at his 8-by-8-feet tent, propped up on a wooden platform. It is the minimum of the barest of common decency. Its not quite what I thought it would be, but look at the other side.

Since he first began living on the streets in 2013, he said he has seen tractors scoop up peoples belongings in encampment sweeps and disabled, elderly individuals lose all of their possessions.

James said he became homeless on his own terms, but his story is atypical, and many others struggle with major health problems and injuries.

Its very expensive to be poor, he said, describing having to buy every meal, being chained to libraries and restaurants to charge his phone and replace items that are either stolen or taken in sweeps.

James said Hope Village is a welcome respite from the creek-side paths and dirt patches he and others have lived on before.

Though San Jose is making progress in its affordable housing goals, Miron-Conk said a truly changed housing landscape is years away.

Its not tolerable, we got tired of waiting, he said.

Ragan Henninger, deputy director of housing for the city, said the CHP has contacted Councilman Tam Nguyens office to discuss the next step for Hope Village.

From the departments perspective, we understand that the need is great and we know that there are people suffering on the street, Henninger said. Traditionally stationed encampments are not a national best practice  but that being said, we recognize that we need to find a solution that houses a greater quantity of people.

By Supriya Yelimeli
Two employees of Christie's auction house maneuver the corporate logo of the collapsed investment bank Lehman Brothers in London, England, on Sept. 24, 2010. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Taking Stock After 10 Years: The Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy

Sept. 15 marks the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which had unprecedented ramifications worldwide.

Painful lessons have been learned, but the debate continues among economists about whether the crisis could have been handled better.

Lehman was the fourth-largest U.S. investment bank before it filed for bankruptcy. With $639 billion in assets, it was the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

It was also the largest victim of the subprime mortgage crisis that swept through global financial markets. And its collapse intensified the market shock, which wiped out nearly $10 trillion from global equity markets in October 2008, the largest monthly decline on record.

The policymakers who handled Lehmans bankruptcy in 2008 argue they did all they could.

However, economist Steve Keen, author of Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis?, believes policymakers had a great deal of responsibility for causing the crisis. Keen is a harsh critic of mainstream economists who ignored mounting private debt in their forecasts and policy recommendations.

They could have prevented the bubble burst in the first place, he said.

He thinks the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, was one of those who failed to recognize the risk created by the private debt explosion.

All these regulators were collecting data on global private debt and not worrying about it because economic theory said it did not matter, he said.

If I have to blame anybody, I will blame Bernanke, he said, adding that Bernanke was the main academic economist saying Dont worry about the level of private debt.

According to an article by Bloomberg dated Sept. 13, Bernanke admitted that the Fed made an error in combating the financial crisis. Nobody saw how widespread and devastating the crisis itself would be, he said in a short video.

Bernanke also said the damage could have been reduced if investors hadnt pulled money from the banks and other financial institutions.

There was a run, a panic analogous to the 1930s, but in an electronic form, rather than people lining up in the street, he said in the video. The availability of credit plummeted.

Economic Pearl Harbor

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett described the 2008 financial crisis as an economic Pearl Harbor.

It was actually worse than 1929, in a sense, in terms of the immediate panic that was induced, he told CNBC in an interview.

The Great Depression of 1929 didnt hit that many people, while the subprime mortgage crisis touched everybody, he said.

Buffett expects another crisis in the future but doesnt see any signs of that happening now.

There is not going to be another crisis in America, Keen argues, adding that he doesnt expect a crisis in the UK, Spain or Portugal, either.

The countries that had a crisis back in 2007 have a reasonable level of private debt now and lower credit demand than before, he explained.

Keen was recognized in 2010 as the economist who first and most clearly anticipated and gave public warning of the global financial collapse by the Real World Economics Review in its presentation to him of the Revere Award.

He now identifies five countries that could have a credit crunch between today and 2020. According to him, China tops the list, as its private debt has doubled in the last eight years.

Then Canada, Korea, Australia, and possibly Francecountries that managed to avoid a crisis by not having negative credit back in 2008are the ones that are likely to have a crisis now, he said.

Bankers Are More Clever Than Regulators

The collapse of Lehman Brothers didnt really change anything, according to Dan Oliver, president of the Committee for Monetary Research & Education, a nonprofit that promotes public understanding of the nature of monetary processes.

If you look at the history of financial markets bubbles from last century, what you find is that the bankers are always more clever, they are one step ahead of regulators, he said.

So, if youre a banker and you get paid a part of the upside of these bubbles, its your interest to blow the biggest bubble you possibly can because you get a bonus. And when the bank blows up, the taxpayer gets hit with the losses, he said, calling the whole system pernicious.

In the book Too Big to Fail, author Andrew Ross Sorkin wrote that people who worked in the finance industry earned $53 billion in total compensation in 2007.

The Dodd-Frank Act, a massive compilation of banking regulations enacted in 2010, was meant to prevent another financial crisis like 2008 by promoting a safer and fairer banking system.

Although banks are better capitalized today, the financial industrys view of Dodd-Frank is quite different. Industry experts argue that the over-regulation has increased costs and affected the economy in negative ways.

Some critics also say Dodd-Frank has failed to eliminate banks risky transactions.

A lot of the nefarious activities the banks had in 2007 didnt disappear with increased regulations, Oliver said.

They no longer do directly. They do as they lend money to these nonbank lenders. So their balance sheet looks fine. But actually, the activities are worse than ever, he warned.

The large banks still have an interdependent relationship with their hedge-fund and private-equity clients. And these funds use large banks balance sheets to increase leverage and boost returnsand they pay large fees to bigger banks in return.

These funds are still using the products Dodd-Frank was supposed to eliminate, and now create more complex structures to mask their activities, according to experts.

So all the activities are still happening. But they are just happening off-balance sheet, funded by the banks, Oliver said.

Governments Response to Crisis

Dodd-Frank, which aimed to end the too big to fail mentality, has instead hurt small banks and consumers, according to critics.

Community banks play a critical role in the U.S. economy by offering a large amount of consumer, residential mortgage, and small business loans. And these banks lost their competitive advantage against the larger U.S. banks as the cost of regulation absorbed a big portion of their budgets.

Increased regulatory demands and capital requirements increased the compliance costs for many small players, including investment management firms.

The regulationswhen they get rolled outthey capture everybody, said Stephen Taddie, managing partner at Stellar Capital Management, an Arizona-based investment management firm.

In our business as an investment adviser, we have to have the same compliance procedures that JPMorgan has to have. It costs us about the same. Weve got to hire a chief compliance officer. Weve got to go through all these procedures, he said.

The expense of compliance is much higher as a percent of our top line than it is for a larger bank, he said.

In May, Congress passed a bill that rolled back parts of Dodd-Frank to provide regulatory relief for smaller financial institutions.
Bags of heroin, some laced with fentanyl, are displayed before a press conference at the office of the New York Attorney General, in New York, on Sept. 23, 2016. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Texas Men Plead Guilty to Trafficking Enough Fentanyl to Kill 5 Million People

WASHINGTONTwo Texas men pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds) of fentanyl through Louisiana, the Department of Justice announced on Sept. 13.

The men had enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people, said Stephen Azzam, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Louisiana field division.

Fentanyl is the greatest and the most significant synthetic opioid threat to the United States, including here in Louisiana, where as little as two milligrams is a lethal dose, Azzam said.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than herointwo milligrams of fentanyl is a lethal dose for a non-opioid user. It is often mixed with heroin or pressed into fake painkiller pills made to look like real prescription drugs, making them more deadly.

More than 71,500 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2017, according to provisional data released Aug. 15 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 40 percent of those deaths can be attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which was originally developed as a painkiller and anesthetic.

Most illicit fentanyl is manufactured in China and is brought through the southwest border or the U.S. postal system.

The two Texans, Felipe Rodriguez, 22, and Brandon Montoya, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

A Louisiana state trooper found a plastic bag containing an unknown substance during a traffic stop on May 10.

A more thorough search detected 10 plastic one kilogram (2.2 pounds) bags containing fentanyl.

The defendants  said they had been approached in Houston to travel to California to obtain the drugs, said a Department of Justice statement. They were then instructed to drive to Atlanta, Georgia, where they would be paid for the delivery.

Fentanyl kills, and drug dealers are selling this highly addictive drug at a growing rate, U.S. Attorney David Joseph said. This case alone involved enough fentanyl to kill everybody in the state of Louisiana.

The defendants face up to 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 31, 2019.
A man uses his mobile phone outside a Huawei store in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2018. (Wang ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)

The Risks of Chinas Huawei to Canada

Huaweis rise coincided with Canadian telecom giant Nortels demise

NEWS ANALYSIS

Chinese telecom giant Huaweis footprint in the development of the next generation of mobile technology in Canada has been a sore point for the countrys relations with its intelligence and security partners.

There are also allegations that have lingered since 2012, when news broke that Huawei may have benefited from the persistent Chinese hacking and IP theft that experts say played a part in the eventual demise of Nortel Networks Corp., the crown jewel of Canadas high-tech industry for decades.

Senior U.S. officials have been warning that Canada should shut out the Chinese firm from Canadas 5G network, the next evolution in wireless technology. And while a Globe and Mail report claims Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly alarmed by Huaweis potential threat to national security, Huawei hasnt been shown the door yet like it has in Australia and the United States.

The majority of Canadians dont want Huawei involved in the 5G broadband network, that much is clear from a Nanos poll commissioned by the Globe released last month. According to the poll, the ratio of those wanting Huawei shut out to those wanting it involved is three to one.

There may be plenty of reasons for Canadians to want Huaweis hands off of the countrys networks.

Warnings against Huawei and the other Chinese telecom giant ZTE have been raised by prominent figures in the Canadian and American intelligence communities.

[Huawei] is essentially under the control of the Chinese government, was the caution by the former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Ward Elcock in a CBC interview.

Former CIA head Michael Hayden said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review that there is hard evidence that Huawei spies for Beijing.

A scathing report published in July by an agency of the intelligence apparatus in the U.K.where Huawei has been allowed to be part of the phone and internet networkconcluded that the countrys network is at risk because of shortcomings in Huaweis processes.

But there are other events in recent memory that should have Canadians concerned about a firm linked to Beijing being active in Canadas telecom sector.

A Tale of Two Telecom Giants

Nortel was the big success story of Canadas technology industry. At its height, it employed close to 100,000 people worldwide and reached a market cap of $283 billion.

The failure of the firm has been the subject of academic studies and attributed to multiple factors. But Brian Shields, a former senior security adviser at Nortel, thinks IP theft by Chinese hackers that presumably aided Nortels competitors was one of them.

It really hurt a lot of people here, because we had jobs and we lost them, Shields said in a 2014 interview with NTD Television. These were the people who we worked with for many years, and it just hurts.

Shields first learned about the hacking in 2004, and saw it continue through to 2009, when he left the company. At first, the hackers were using accounts of executives, including the CEO, to access files, Shields told NTD Television. Once discovered, the hackers changed tactics, and instead used accounts of employees based in China, as Nortel had operations there.

From the level of sophistication of the hacking operation, it was clear to Shields that it was the state that was behind the hackings.

It was very organized what they were doing over there, it was very advanced, he said. A 16- year-old hacker isnt going to take an electronic document on some diode and its transmissions  what is he going to do with that?

He alleges that the main benefactor of the data would have been Huawei.

While Shields provides no proof that Huawei was receiving the data, he raises the question, Where was the manufacturer that was reaping the benefits of this? Was it the companies in Russia or France that were suddenly doing real good? No.

It was economic espionage, and we lost an industry here in Canada. Thats what happened.

Nortel filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and its stock price dropped below $1, leaving thousands of employees without jobs and pensioners in a state of limbo.

On the other side of the world, Huawei was celebrating its expansion outside of China throughout the 2000s. By 2010, the company was listed among the Global Fortune 500 corporations.

Mark Anderson, a well-known US technology guru and CEO of Strategic News Service that offers research and information on technology and economics, said it was no coincidence that Huawei was rising at the same time that Nortel was going down.

Huawei took the international telecoms equipment market by storm by charging about an average of 40 percent less than the market rates. They were able to do that because they were a [Chinese Communist] Party-related company, Anderson said in an interview.

Thanks to government subsidies and gift contracts from the Chinese military, the company was under no pressure to achieve a profit, he noted.

There were other factors in Huaweis success, too, he said.

It was using stolen IP at the same time, so it didnt have any sunken costs in research and development, and the result was you could charge anything you wanted to.

In Andersons assessment, Nortel was Canadas best company, but IP theft by China absolutely destroyed the company.

Huawei has been sued by Motorola over allegations that its former employees stole trade secrets and provided them to Huawei. It has also been sued by Cisco for allegedly copying its source code. Both cases were settled out of court.

A more recent lawsuit in California launched by a former Huawei employee alleges that he was fired after refusing to use a fake identity and pose as an employee of a fake company to gain entry to a tech summit hosted by Facebook, which had previously refused entry to Huawei. The lawsuit alleges that other Huawei employees who did attend the event compiled a report that included integration plans from competitors at the summit, and transferred the plans to the companys product teams in China.

The Epoch Times contacted Huawei Canada for comment, but the company did not respond by press time.

In a previous interview with The Epoch Times, Scott Bradley, Huawei Canadas vice president of corporate affairs, said Huawei is a private company and is not a state-owned enterprise.

At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in February, FBI Director Chris Wray referred to Huawei and ZTE as companies beholden to foreign governments, urging against allowing them to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks.

Huge Disservice

Under the leadership of then-premier Kathleen Wynne, Ontario launched a partnership with Huawei in 2016 to help develop the provinces 5G connectivity, investing $16 million in the plan.

According to Huawei, the company has been active in 5G in Canada for a number of years, and has a presence in Markham, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. Huawei and Bell have also partnered to test 5G technology in rural communities.

The government agency in charge of protecting Canadas critical networks, Communications Security Establishment (CSE), has recently confirmed that it ensures Huaweis telecom equipment is tested for any potential security threats.

Since 2013, the Security Review Program has been in place to test and evaluate designated equipment and services considered for use on Canadian 3G and 4G/LTE networks, including Huawei equipment, CSE spokesperson Evan Koronewski said in an email.

The testing is done by third-party labs accredited by the CSE. Few additional details are provided by the tight-lipped organization whose existence was a secret for over three decades before the public learned about it in a CBC program in the 1970s.

Gary S. Miliefsky, CEO of Cyber Defense Media Group and a breach prevention cybersecurity expert, said no government tests will be enough to prevent security breaches.

When any government agency tells me theyre going to help with security, they usually get breached, he said.

Think about Huawei and connections to government agencies, and how serious it would be to hide their ability to eavesdrop.

But even if government testing could ensure the equipment doesnt have security breach risks, the fact remains that Chinese companies are required by law to collaborate with the regime on intelligence work.

What happened in the U.K., where Huaweis broadband and mobile infrastructure equipment allowed into the nations network was found in a recent report to pose a risk, should be a cautionary tale, Anderson said.

I think it was unfortunate that Britain sold itself out, he said, adding that Canada can learn a lesson from it.

I would hope that Trudeau would have learned from [then-British prime minister David] Camerons really public mistake, and not do the same thing, he said.

I dont think any of this is confusing. A very straightforward, black-and-white question for every nation and for the leaders of each nation: If you decide to trade off money for national security, youre doing a huge disservice to the people of your country and to your own legacy.
The logo of Google is pictured during the Viva Tech start-up and technology summit in Paris, France, May 25, 2018. (Charles Platiau/Reuters)

U.S. Lawmakers Ask Google If It Will Rejoin Chinese Market

WASHINGTONA bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Sept. 13 asked Alphabet Inc.s Google if it will re-enter the Chinese search engine market and if it would comply with Chinas internet censorship policies upon its return.

Sixteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, said in a letter they had serious concerns about the potential step and asked Google if it would agree to restrict certain words, terms or events in China. The company did not immediately comment on Sept. 13.

Reuters reported last month Google planned to launch a version of its search engine in China that will block some websites and search terms, two sources said.

Representative David Cicilline, a Democrat and signer of the letter, wrote on Twitter that Google should not be helping China crackdown on free speech and political dissent.

Other signers include Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee.

The letter asked if Google would take steps to ensure that individual Chinese citizens or foreigners living in China, including Americans, will not be surveilled or targeted through Google applications.

The reported plans, which has been criticized by human rights advocates, come as China has stepped up scrutiny of business dealings involving U.S. tech firms including Facebook Inc. and Apple Inc., amid intensifying trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Google, which quit Chinas search engine market in 2010, has been actively seeking ways to re-enter China where many of its products are blocked by regulators.

Googles main search platform has been blocked in China since 2010, but it has been attempting to make new inroads into China.

In January, the search engine joined an investment in Chinese live-stream mobile game platform Chushou, and earlier this month, launched an artificial intelligence (AI) game on Tencent Holdings Ltd.s social media app WeChat.

Facebooks website is also banned in China but the company has also signaled its interest to enter the market.

By David Shepardson
Update on Frying Pan Tower Flag Webcam Hit by Hurricane Florence

Its not clear what happened to the American flag that made headlines around the world for resisting the heavy winds of Hurricane Florence for many hours. But the owner of the Frying Pan Tower said that power was lost.

Hurricane Florence at that time had Category 2 winds in excess of 100 mph.

The flag is located on the Frying Pan Tower, a former Coast Guard light station turned off on the North Carolina coast. Earlier footage from the tower shows an American flag in shreds as it flies in the high winds. Its not clear if the flag was taken down by Florence.

Richard Neal, the towers owner, wrote on Facebook that power at the tower went out.

If you have been following the chatter it seems someone decided to name our flag Kevin. Well, if so then Old Glory is Kevin. It is Paul, It is Nancy. It is Larry. It is Emily Old Glory represents all of us as Americans. Together, WE are America and we decide to pick up, start again, and sew our tattered lives back together after the storms of life pass through! Let your actions show us all proud & together! Richard Neal (Note, power failed last night so this picture is from yesterday afternoon), he wrote on Facebook.

Neal told the Charlotte Observer that some complained that the webcam showed the flag in tatters, so he remotely repositioned the camera to show another angle.

Hey folks, the last time we were out we put up a new flag. With respect, we will retire and replace it next trip. We see the tears and know that good men and women fought for America and are honored to fly old glory! Please understand, this is a hurricane. We are not on the tower and cant go outside and replace it yet. Be safe and smart, Richard, he wrote on Facebook.

A group of kids watching took to calling the flag Kevin, Neal told the Charlotte Observer. They wanted to know how Kevin is doing, if Kevin is going to make it.

It was then that I realized that you cant make everyone happy, so I moved the feedback to showing the flag again. Because even if it was against flag protocol, that flag represents who we are as America. We get beat up, battered during hard times, but we stay up, stay at it through the storm.

At 1 p.m. on Sept. 14, Florence weakened to 75 mph winds, but it is still moving slowly and dumping several amounts of rain on the Carolinas, the National Hurricane Center said.

Heavy rain has been occurring in and around Oriental, North Carolina, where 20.37 inches of rainfall has been measured thus far, the agency stated.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said the hurricane was wreaking havoc on the coast and could wipe out entire communities as it makes its violent grind across our state for days. He called the rain an event that comes along only once every 1,000 years. Hurricane Florence is powerful, slow and relentless, he said. Its an uninvited brute who doesnt want to leave, according to The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow holds a news briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

US Invites China to Trade Talks as Tariffs Loom

WASHINGTON/SHANGHAIThe Trump administration has invited Chinese officials to restart trade talks, the White Houses top economic adviser said on Sept. 12, as Washington prepares to further escalate the U.S.-China trade war with tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Larry Kudlow, who heads the White House Economic Council, told Fox Business Network that U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had sent an invitation to senior Chinese officials, but he declined to provide further details.

Theres some discussions and information that we received that the Chinese governmentthe top of the Chinese government wished to pursue talks, Kudlow said. And so, Secretary Mnuchin, who is the team leader with China, has apparently issued an invitation.

Two people familiar with the effort said Mnuchins invitation was sent to his Chinese counterparts, including Vice Premier Liu He, the top economic adviser to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, for talks in the coming weeks.

Asian market shares advanced on Sept. 13 on hopes that a deal could be struck in the bitter tariff dispute between the worlds two largest economies.

The Trump administration is preparing to activate tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, hitting a broad array of internet technology products and consumer goods from handbags to bicycles to furniture. It was unclear whether any U.S.-China talks would delay the duties.

Kudlow earlier told reporters outside the White House that communications with Beijing had picked up a notch and added he saw that as a positive thing.

I think most of us think its better to talk than not to talk, and I think the Chinese government is willing to talk, Kudlow said.

Asked if the Trump administration would like to have additional trade talks with China, Kudlow said: If they come to the table in a serious way to generate some positive results, yes, of course. Thats what weve been asking for months and months.

But he cautioned: I guarantee nothing.

The timing and location of the proposed meeting were unclear, the sources familiar with the matter said. Mid-level U.S. and Chinese officials met on Aug. 22 and 23 with no agreements.

A U.S. Treasury spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

The invitation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. A meeting among Cabinet-level officials could ease market worries over the escalating tariff war that threatens to engulf all trade between the worlds two largest economies and raise costs for companies and consumers.

CONCERNS OF ESCALATION

So far, the United States and China have hit $50 billion worth of each others goods with tariffs, in a dispute over U.S. demands that China make sweeping economic policy changes, including ending joint venture and technology transfer policies, rolling back industrial subsidy programs and better protecting American intellectual property.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that in addition to preparing tariffs on the further $200 billion worth of goods, he had tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of goods ready on short notice if I want.

Amid the tariff battle, China has threatened retaliation, which could include action against U.S. companies operating there. The Associated Press reported that Beijing has recently delayed license applications from American companies in financial services and other industries. And experts warn that Beijing could go after service industries such as engineering or logistics, in which the United States runs a trade surplus with China.

By Steve Holland. Epoch Times staff member Emily ONeill contributed to this report.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore, on June 12, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

US Sanctions Chinese and Russian Tech Firms Over Funds for North Korea

WASHINGTON/SEOULThe United States on Sept. 13 imposed sanctions on a China-based tech firm, its North Korean CEO, and a Russian subsidiary, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co., its North Korean chief executive Jong Song Hwa, and a Russian-based sister company, Volasys Silver Star, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

These actions are intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to North Korea from overseas information technology workers disguising their true identities and hiding behind front companies, aliases, and third-party nationals, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Mnuchin warned companies across the globe to take precautions to ensure that they are not unwittingly employing North Korean workers for technology projects.

South Koreas foreign ministry said the move was in line with the United States resolve to keep up sanctions to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula while carrying out dialogue.

In February 2013, Washington imposed sanctions on a number of Chinese businesses that aided North Korea with its nuclear weapons program. Among those were BST Technology and Trade Company, China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation, Dalian Sunny Industries, and Poly Technologies Incorporated.

The Trump administration has maintained sanctions pressure on Pyongyang in an effort to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, which are a threat to the United States.

Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June at a summit in Singapore where Kim agreed in broad terms to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. But North Korea has given no indication it is willing to give up its weapons unilaterally, as the Trump administration has demanded.

Washington has also accused Russia of violating U.N. sanctions on North Korea by granting work permits to North Korean laborers despite Russias denial of any such actions.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused Moscow on Thursday of seeking to cover up breaches of U.N. sanctions on North Korea by Russians.

Earlier this month, Washington charged and sanctioned Park Jin Hyok and a Chinese-based front company he worked for, Chosun Expo, over the 2017 global WannaCry ransomware cyberattack and the 2014 cyber assault on Sony Corp.

Park worked as part of a team of hackers, known as the Lazarus Group, to try to breach multiple U.S. businesses, including defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., U.S. officials said, though there was no evidence the company was breached.

North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency denied the charges and said Park was non-existent.

By Tim Ahmann & Hyonhee Shin. Epoch Times staff member Emily ONeill contributed to this report.
"We could sit here and hurl insults at each other for the segment. Already done that," Carlson told Avenatti. "I've certainly insulted you. You've insulted me. But you seem smart, so let me take you seriously as somebody who wants to be involved in the public conversation."
A Border Patrol agent takes down information of a man and his son who crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States in Hidalgo County, Texas, on May 26, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

US Sees 38 Percent Jump in Families Apprehended at Southwest Border

Immigration loopholes spur rush for the border, immigration officials suggest

WASHINGTONCross the border into the United States with a child, claim asylum, and youre home-free.

Thats the message smugglers and migrants are hearing, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Smugglers and traffickers understand our broken immigration laws better than most and know that if a family unit illegally enters the U.S., they are likely to be released into the interior, DHS spokesman Daniel Hetledge said in a Sept. 12 statement. Specifically, DHS is required to release families entering the country illegally within 20 days of apprehension.

The number of family units crossing the southwest border illegally and claiming asylum jumped 38 percent in August over the previous month, according to the latest numbers published by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

More than 12,700 individuals who were part of a family unit (at least one adult and one child) were apprehended by Border Patrol after crossing the border in August. Thats 3,500 more than in July.

Its really telling that the numbers have increased so much in a one-month period, during the time when this was in the news so much, said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. The court-imposed catch-and-release policy is a major enticement for people to come here.

CBP said the increase in family units is a clear indicator that the migration flows are responding to gaps in our nations legal framework.

We know that the vast majority of family units who have been releaseddespite having no right to remain in any legal statusfail to ever depart or be removed, Hetledge said.

He said that through the third quarter of fiscal 2018, only 1.4 percent of family units have been repatriated to their home country from non-contiguous countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Individuals from those three countries make up almost 98 percent of family units apprehended.

Catch-and-Release

At issue is a court judgment dating back to 1997called the Flores Settlement Agreementthat mandates immigration authorities to release family units from custody after 20 days. On top of that is a 2015 Obama-era amendment that says children cant be detained in adult facilitiesforcing either separation or release.

That means the administration cant prosecute illegal border crossers without separating the adults and childrenwhich is what started happening in April when a zero tolerance policy was reinvigorated.

An outcry ensued when around 2,500 children were temporarily separated from adults who were in custody pending their cases.

Trump issued an executive order on June 20 to stop the separations, and a court injunction gave the government less than a month to reunite the families.

The 2,500 children represented about one-quarter of the number of family units that entered each month in the last several months. Most have since been reunited; however 14 of the adults were discovered to not have a familial relationship with the child or were convicted criminals, for crimes including rape, child abuse, and kidnapping.

Without the ability to separate adults for prosecution, authorities have no choice but to release them without consequence.

This is exactly what even the Obama administration lawyers predicted when the judge ruled back in 2015 that they could not detain kids with their parents, said Vaughan.

She said the continuation of catch-and-release is a major motivation for illegal entry.

The family-separation uproar was not really representative of all cases, and it certainly didnt seem to have deterred many people from coming, Vaughan said.

Amendment Denied

Trumps executive order also resulted in Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting amendments to the Flores agreement. One would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain families together in ICE family residential facilities, and the second would allow ICE to detain families longer than 20 days.

The amendments would enable an immigration case to be adjudicated while the aliens are in custody, which takes a median of 40 days, rather than years if theyre released into the country.

It also means that those who dont qualify for asylum (usually around 80 percent), or some other immigration benefit, can be readily repatriated.

On July 9, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, which issued the Flores order, declined to amend the 20-day provision.

Meanwhile, on June 28, the Defense Department said it had been asked by DHS to help house and care for an alien family population of up to 12,000 people, a Defense spokesman said.

The total number of family units apprehended by Border Patrol so far in fiscal 2018 is almost 90,000.
Hot spots flare up near a rock formation a wildfire burns in northern Juab County, Utah, on Sept. 12, 2018 (Isaac Hale/The Daily Herald via AP)

Western Wildfires Force Evacuations of Hundreds of Homes

SPANISH FORK, UTAHA swift Utah wildfire fanned by high winds has more than doubled its size as it burns through dry terrain and forces evacuations of hundreds of homes, the U.S. Forest Service said on Sept. 14.The blaze south of Spanish Fork grew from 31 square miles to 84 square miles on the night of Sept. 13, when authorities ordered evacuations in three communities. Spanish Fork is about 50 minutes south of Salt Lake City.

No homes have been reported damaged.

Aircraft were set to drop retardant and water on the fire, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Suzie Tenhagen.

Their main focus today is protecting those folks homes, she said.

Lorene Miller told KUTV that shes lived in the small community of Woodland Hills for 12 years and it was the first time she had to leave her home. She loaded up her kids baby pictures and videos and fled when authorities raised the alarm.

Theres nothing we can do about it but pray, I guess, said Miller, one of hundreds who took refuge at a high-school evacuation center.

The hot, windy weather that has created tinderbox conditions in the area is expected to continue into the weekend.

The fire is also threatening to converge with a second, smaller fire.

Sparked by lightning in a forested, rough terrain on Sept. 6, the fire raged out of control amid high winds and was only 2 percent contained on Sept. 14.

The fire has also forced road closures, including U.S. Highway 89.

About 250 people are fighting the blaze, including helicopters and heavy air tankers, but the winds made it hard for the aircraft to take off.

Forest managers said they decided to contain the fire and let it burn in a remote area to protect firefighters and boost habitat in the area where wildfires are part of the ecosystem.

Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, criticized that decision made during drought conditions  calling it inept decision making in a tweet.

In Montana, Gallatin County officials said Thursday that a smaller fire about 40 miles northwest of Bozeman burned three houses earlier this week, as well as two secondary residences and seven outbuildings. The structures were all damaged Monday near the community of Clarkston, which is along the Missouri River.

The 2-square-mile fire chewing through grass and juniper was 33 percent contained on the morning of Sept. 14. The cause of it has not been determined.
WASHINGTON  New Britain-native Paul Manaforts decision to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller and plead guilty in a federal courtroom here Friday may be bad news for President Donald Trump and a boost for Mueller.

At least 15 Norwalkers relocated after their apartments were condemned

Just how much of a boost remains unclear after a somber Manafort, 69, admitted guilt to two conspiracy counts related to his lobbying on behalf of the former pro-Russia ruler of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and his Party of Regions.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life, said Manaforts lawyer, Kevin Downing, after Manafort admitted guilt before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, with his wife Kathleen nearby. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years, and everybody should remember that.

After a jury trial in Alexandria, Va., Manafort was convicted last month of tax evasion and bank fraud. The charges could have netted him up to 12 years in prison.

The charges he faced in the Washington case, scheduled for trial next week, could have added up to 17 years.

Manafort remains in prison at least until his November sentencing in the case in Alexandria, where he maintains a condo. The amount of time he ultimately serves behind bars is likely to depend on his level of cooperation with the Mueller probe.

Mueller investigation

Before Friday, Manafort had maintained his innocence and refused to cooperate with Mueller. A spokesman had stated Manafort would be exonerated in court.

But the 76-page superseding indictment filed by Muellers team Friday pledges Manafort to assist Mueller in the probe, which is focused on allegations of links between Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia.

Manafort, a veteran Republican operative and son of New Britains Republican leader and mayor from 1965 to 1971, Paul Manafort Sr., served as Trumps campaign chairman from March to August in 2016.

He was in the room at Trump Tower in New York during a critical June 2016 meeting between the Trump team  also including Donald Trump Jr. and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner  and a lawyer said to be a Russian-government emissary, Natalia Veselnitskaya.

An intermediary had told Trump Jr. the Russian lawyer would share negative information about then Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. If that were to be the case, I love it, Trump Jr. said in an email.

But he later said he believed the temptation of dirt on Clinton was nothing more than a pretext for the lawyer to get inside the Trump camp and lobby for loosening of sanctions ordered under the Magnitsky Act of 2012.

Trump denials

Manafort may offer Mueller a different account of the circumstances surrounding the meeting and what President Trump knew about it.

Trump shrugged off allegations that Russians had hacked the Democratic National Committee and Clintons campaign.

Trump said at a news conference in July 2016, Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing (from Clintons private server, which itself had been the subject of an unfruitful FBI investigation).

Paul Manaforts cooperation with the special counsel is very, very bad news for his former boss, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a statement. This guilty plea is another victory for (Mueller) and may provide an additional wave of information.

In an interview, Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said that at a minimum, Manaforts plea deal was vindication for Mueller in the face of Trumps Twitter dismissals of the probe as a hoax, and the presidents insistence there was no collusion.

The Manafort plea agreement is indicative of quality of Muellers work, said Himes, a member of the House intelligence committee, which conducted a probe that its Republican leaders aborted with a conclusion that there had been no cooperation between Russia and the Trump campaign.

By winning guilty plea after guilty plea, Mueller is proving that hes everything the president says hes not, Himes said.

Mueller has gotten guilty pleas from three former aides, including Manaforts close deputy, Rick Gates. In addition, former Trump lawyer-fixer Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty in a case brought by the Manhattan-based U.S. Attorneys Office.

At Trumps direction prior to the 2016 election, Cohen said, he paid off women who had claimed to have had sexual relationships with Trump.

At the White House, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that the Manafort deal had absolutely nothing to with the president or his victorious 2016 campaign. It is totally unrelated.

And Trumps lawyer in the probe, former N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: The president did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth.

dan@hearstdc.com
Nicholas Palastro was 11 or 12 when his first panic attack hit. He was sitting in church when it happened.

He couldnt understand or articulate what had occurred and although the episode was brief, it was scary, said Palastro, now 21. He lives in Greenwich and is a student at Norwalk Community College. For a few more years, he lived free of the attacks.

Fast forward to about four years later and Palastro was unable to leave his room. He had developed agoraphobia, a term experts use to describe the extreme fear of crowded or enclosed public spaces, where theres no easy escape route if a panic attack occurs.

I was just scared of always being nauseous and throwing up in public spaces, Palastro said. My bed had become my ultimate safe zone.

For two months, his mother would bring daily meals to his room. His world became smaller and he stopped caring about personal hygiene and other forms of self-care.

It wasnt my choice, he said. When youre in the middle of a panic attack, you dont think youre dying, you know for a fact you are.

Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million people, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Each year, severe mental illness costs the U.S. about $193 billion in lost earnings, according to the Journal of Psychiatry, and although anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only 36.9 percent of anxious people receive treatment.

Its not just down to strength of character, its a biologically based disorder thats influenced by bullying, isolation, social learning or what you see from other people, said Daniel Villiers, co-founder of the Anxiety Institute in Greenwich.

If you compare an OCD brain with a non-OCD brain, youll see biological differences, he said of obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety related disorder.

Villiers and other staff at the Anxiety Institute treat people with anxiety and related disorders. All staff members have experienced some form of mental illness in their lifetimes, he said.

Symptoms are serious and can include increased heart rate and temperature, agitation, high blood pressure and sweaty palms, basically the symptoms related to the fight or flight response, Villiers said.

His organization sees a massive spike in calls from students between Labor Day and midterms, with the biggest surge between the first two weeks of school.

Anxiety rates have increased by more than 700 percent in the last 40 years, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and Villiers says the disease has also evolved within the student population.

Students are increasingly fearing and avoiding classroom settings. Fear of overwhelming workloads, academic failure, standardized testing, college applications, and social rejection are among the triggers, he says. Cell phones also dont help, as teens are increasingly competing for a perfect image online.

According to Mental Health America, Connecticut residents have one of the lowest rates of mental illness in the U.S. But in Connecticut alone, more than 250,000 people aged 13 to 25 are impacted by anxiety, according to the Anxiety Institute. More than 65,000 live in Fairfield County. Villiers and his staff say Bridgeport and Stamford have the highest rates of teen anxiety, respectively, and in Norwalk, more than 6,000 young people have experienced it.

The Anxiety Institute is hosting free screenings for a documentary that sparks conversation about mental health. The film Angst comprises stories about teens who are living with anxiety disorder, OCD, and trauma. Experts including Villiers will offer tips on coping and the different treatment options that are available to students after the film. The next Norwalk screening is at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Bowtie Cinemas on Westport Avenue. It is free of charge.

Sitting in a classroom was uncomfortable for Palastro and his fear of school caused him to miss about 80 to 90 days of school each year of middle school.

Teachers didnt understand his illness and would taunt him in front of classmates when he would show up to class. Students accused him of pretending to have an illness, saying he never looked sick when he returned.

He dropped out of six courses and multiple academic programs. For the first time in three years, hes back at school, this time at Norwalk Community College, one of the programs he had previously dropped out of.

He started receiving services at the Anxiety Institute in Feb. and although he still feels anxious in class daily, hes found ways to manage it.

He spent four and a half months in Villiers intensive day program, which focuses on exposure therapy, or putting students in anxiety provoking situations. Some students are forced to engage with strangers in public places and others must grocery shop on their own.

I have like 20 new friends now that are back in school or back on track, Palastro said.

At first, he was skeptical of the programs 95 percent success rate because he imaged 10 or 20 other people with an illness as severe as his.

Mindfulness meditation and therapy animals have helped him heal. He saw about 20 different doctors before he found the Anxiety Institute and believes if he could heal, others can too.

A 16-year-old girl who spoke on condition of anonymity said the most important part of healing is simply talking about mental illness, not only to break the stigma but to allow others the ability to help.

If you feel that your childs world is getting smaller and smaller or theyre not living up to their potential because the anxiety is limiting them, thats when you need to seek treatment, said Linda Geiger, co-founder of the Anxiety Institute.

Theres hope and theres help, but to know theres hope and help, you need to first raise awareness about anxiety and its prevalence in the U.S.
Hundreds of German-Americans will line Fifth Avenue on Saturday to celebrate their heritage and keep homeland traditions alive.

The German-American Steuben Parade, founded in 1957 by German-Americans and German immigrants, attracts people from all over the globe, and each year, its committee crowns Miss German-America and her court.

This year, the parades leaders have selected four women and girls with Connecticut ties to represent German-American culture and lead the parade.

Pavlina Schriel, a 23-year-old music teacher at Brookside Elementary, Amelia-Elsa Schweizer, a sixth-grader at Nathan Hale Middle School in Norwalk, Sean Tomlinson, a student at Fairfield University, and Kirsten Rischert-Garcia, a graduate student at Yale, were all crowned at a ceremony in May. William Castle of New York City was named junior general.

On Saturday, the five will ride the Queen Float and wave to the crowd.

Its a very proud event, said Schriel, who is crowned Miss German America this year. The people like to showcase their German history and their culture and what theyve been preserving for so many years.

The court comprises the queen, Schriel, two adult princesses, two junior princesses, and one junior general. Schriel wins a $5,000 scholarship with her title and the other members of her court receive $2,500.

None of the four Connecticut winners knew each other before they had applied.

Its crazy that all of them are from here because most people are from Long Island where theres a huge German contingency, she said. Its a small world.

Germans represent one of the largest ancestral groups in America. According to Census Bureau data, In 2016, Germans represented the 10th largest ethnic group in America.

The first German American Steuben parade was held in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan, which was then known as Germantown. It marches up Fifth Avenue and turns 86th Street.

The three-hour celebration includes colorful floats, marching bands, dancers and school groups from the U.S. and abroad, Schriel said.

Schriel and the members of her court are given the chance to attend a similar parade in Cologne, Germany in March to represent New York Citys German-Americans.

It means a lot to me to be one of the representatives and to be part of the bridge between American and German culture, said Schweizer, who was crowned junior princess.

The parade is all about celebrating the contributions Germans have made in American history, Schriel said. The parade was named for Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a German general who served alongside Gen. George Washington in the Revolutionary War.

Schriel has attended the German American parade since she was a child. Shes spent summers traveling the region to attend various events, including Oktoberfests. Her goal is to learn about what German heritage means to other German-Americans.

Its been a very rewarding experience, Schriel said.
NORWALK  The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is likely to get $5 million from the state for upgrades that will allow it to stay open year-round.

The State Bond Commission will vote next week on the grant, and it is expected to pass. The money will be used to install a fire protection system, bring electricity to the second and third floor, and put in a new heating system that will allow the mansion to stay open during the winter.

State Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, the Senate majority leader, announced the grant Friday and said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy came to Norwalk last month to visit the museum.

Ive been working on this for months, Duff said. I appreciate his support.

The mansion was built for LeGrand Lockwood, a New York City financier, the construction lasting from 1864 to 1868. Lockwood was one of just 10 millionaires in the United States at the start of the Civil War. The structure is an early example of second empire-style architecture in this country, and the first chateau in the U.S., preceding the famed Newport mansions by more than two decades.

It also was the largest private residence in the country at the time.

Lockwood was director of the New York Central Railroad and treasurer of the New York Stock Exchange. When he died in 1879, he was principal owner of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Its rail line is now the Danbury branch of Metro-North. The tracks pass just to the east of the mansion.

The grant will be used to continue work planned by the museums Master Mechanical Plan, which began in 2008. It has been funded by previous state grants.

Norwalks Lockwood-Mathews Mansion is a cultural treasure and an important part of Connecticuts history, said Duff, who like many people in the area first toured it as a child.

I first went to Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum as a Marvin Elementary School fifth-grader and fell in love with it, Duff said. Since then, I have worked over the years to bring funding to restore the mansion to its rightful glory. The mansion is a community gem that has an important story to tell to our kids and our grandkids.

Patsy R. Brescia, chairman of the museum board, thanked Duff for his efforts.

This means an enhanced visitors experience, expansion of community use, and increased educational programs, she said. We are grateful to Gov. Malloy and to all the legislators that have supported this funding opportunity.

We were thrilled this funding was approved to help improve this wonderful facility that those in Norwalk and around the region enjoy, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said in a statement. This is wonderful news.

The mansion has been a National Historic Landmark since 1971.
Turkey is sending additional troops, tanks and howitzers into Syria to boost its forces on the ground before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, who's backing an operation that could send hundreds of thousands of refugees into Turkey.

The reinforcements came as Turkey's top general, Yasar Guler, inspected troop positions at the border provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep on Friday, according to AHaber television. Turkey has been massing troops in Syria's Idlib since Putin rejected Erdogan's call for a cease-fire during a summit meeting in Tehran last week.

The Turkish and Russian leaders have deepened their friendship over the past two years, but remain at odds over the war in Syria, where Russia has backed President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey supports some Sunni rebel groups that have sought to overthrow him. Putin and Erdogan are expected to meet in Sochi again on Monday.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this week, Erdogan suggested that Turkey, along with the fighters it has backed in Syria, could play a crucial role in eliminating the threat from al-Qaida-affiliated militants in Idlib, one of the last territories still held by Islamists rebelling against Assad. Backed by Moscow and Tehran, Assad is preparing a battle to seize control of Idlib, cementing victory after a seven-year civil war in which more than half a million people have been killed.

Turkey fears that if Assad recaptures the territory, a new wave of refugees will stream over its border, adding to the 3.5 million Syrians already there. In pushing back against Russia and Tehran, Turkey has also been trying to ensure that so-called moderate rebel groups remain viable and able to play a role at any future peace negotiations. "Turkey is beefing up its forces in Idlib, who might be threatened deep inside Syria in case of a flareup of violence," Nihat Ali Ozcan, an analyst at the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, said by phone on Friday. "That also amounts to a message to Syria and its allies that it does not want to step aside."

The United Nations estimates there are 10,000 fighters in Idlib with links to al-Qaeda. Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have insisted that the war must go on until they are crushed.

The U.S. has backed Kurdish fighters from the YPG, who now control most of Syria's northeast. That's put the U.S. into conflict with Turkey because the Syrian Kurds are linked to a separatist group called the PKK, which both Turkey and the U.S. consider a terrorist organization. Assad has not launched an assault to recapture territory held by the Kurds.
Wendy Sherman may not have the highest name recognition outside of Washington - but that's what you might expect from a former top State Department official whose job included delicate negotiations with old adversaries and rogue states. Now she has just come out with a new memoir that fills a valuable gap in recent history by providing a detailed look at the talks that led to the Iran nuclear deal. Sherman was the lead negotiator for the U.S. side during much of that process.

Particularly compelling are her descriptions of secret negotiations facilitated by the sultan of Oman between the United States and Iran starting in 2012. She joined those talks when they were already underway.

"We never would have concluded a comprehensive deal with the other P5+1 nations or without the review by Congress. Rather, our need for secrecy was principally based on our lack of trust in Iran," Sherman writes in "Not for the Faint of Heart." "Confidentiality allowed the two teams to explore new ideas without exposing them to criticism from partisans in our respective countries who would be looking to sabotage any deal, no matter the merits."

Those discussions laid the foundation of the 2015 deal between Iran, the United States and a group of leading powers that aimed to curtail Iran's nuclear program. That agreement was abandoned earlier this year by President Donald Trump.

In Sherman's recounting of all the efforts that followed those initial contacts in 2012 - building a negotiating team, learning through encounters with Iranian officials, bridging differences with the ministers of the other powers involved, and cultivating a political strategy that would allow it to survive challenges in the United States - she offers a vivid reminder that diplomacy is about hard work, persistence and the accumulation of experience. In other words, contrary to the current administration's approach, negotiating isn't about showing up somewhere, taking some pictures and pronouncing it a success.

She draws frank character portraits of her Iranian negotiating counterparts, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and his deputies, Abbas Aragchi and Majid Takht Ravanchi. Even though she knows they represent a regime that is fundamentally at odds with the idea of America, she also understands that the deal will be as tough a sell in Tehran as in Washington.

Her sense of sympathy for her Iranian counterparts will make for awkward reading in Tehran. And that's a good thing. The fact that this particular author happens to be Jewish and a woman will raise even more eyebrows among Iran's ideological attack dogs.

Our strength as a nation has much to do with the fact that someone such as Sherman could ascend to being our top negotiator - in stark contrast to the rigidity of the Iranian system. Sadly, the Trump administration's decision to depart from the agreement with Iran means we're neglecting an opportunity to exploit our natural advantages. After years of accumulating valuable information about the ins and outs of the Iranians' political behavior, we decided to abandon the process from one day to the next.

"Whether we bought the Iranians' political culture or not, we needed to understand the dynamics of it, and we needed a glue to bind them to a process and keep them coming back to the table," Sherman writes. "We had to understand where they were coming from."

This is a theme that permeates the book, and it serves as an important reminder that the process she led for years amounted to the most sustained high-level contact we've had with Tehran since Jimmy Carter was president.

Sherman's narrative works because it's honest. She lays bare what got her from one point to the next, in her personal life and in this massive negotiation. You can disagree with her all you want, but it would be difficult to simply discount the historical document she has provided. It's a devastating reminder of just how much the United States invested to build a consensus with allies and adversaries alike, only to have it dismantled by people with a fraction of Wendy Sherman's experience in international matters.

People will and should continue to debate the wisdom of President Barack Obama's outreach to Tehran for decades to come. But sooner or later - unless the Iranian regime falls apart first - the United States will have to talk to the Iranians again. (Indeed, the Trump administration continues to stress that it's eager to start talks with the Iranians - though why they should indulge the current White House after its abrupt withdrawal from the deal is less clear.)

At one point, when the negotiations seemed destined to fail, Sherman writes that then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry made an observation that seems especially apt today: "Sometimes you have to meet and not get anywhere in order to one day get somewhere."

When that time comes, the American leadership will have the choice of starting from scratch - or consulting the people involved in the long and sustained process that resulted in the original nuclear deal. Either way, those future decision-makers can give themselves a huge head start simply by reading this book. For the time being, though, Sherman's memoir will remain the definitive account of the nuclear negotiation with Iran.

- Rezaian is a writer for Global Opinions. He served as The Post's correspondent in Tehran from 2012 to 2016. He spent 544 days unjustly imprisoned by Iranian authorities until his release in January 2016.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- House Speaker Paul Ryan, the highest-ranking Republican to comment on President Donald Trumps tweets questioning the Hurricane Maria death toll in Puerto Rico, created a social media controversy himself Thursday when he suggested the storm and its aftermath was "no one's fault."



In a news conference Thursday, Ryan said he had no reason to dispute a study from George Washington University, commissioned by the Puerto Rican government, that concluded 2,975 people perished as a result of the hurricane, more than 4,500 percent higher than the original estimate of 64 people.



Casualties dont make a person look bad, Ryan said. I have no reason to dispute these numbers. I was in Puerto Rico after the hurricane. It was devastated. This was a horrible storm. I toured the entire island. Its an isolated island that lost its infrastructure and its power for a long time.



He added, This was a devastating storm that hit an isolated island, and that's really no one's fault. That is just what happened.



Although it appeared that he was talking about the unstoppable nature of the weather event itself, the latter comment elicited a strong response on Twitter, where multiple users accused Ryan of failing to stand up to Trumps false and incendiary rhetoric.



Other Republican members of Congress also reaffirmed, as Ryan did, their belief in the government-sanctioned study that showed a much higher number than originally reported.



The official count, as I understand it, is 3,000 people died as a result of that hurricane. So thats the number we should accept but we also should not play politics on either side of this, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said.



Some Senate Republicans, though, appeared to back the president up somewhat, by raising questions about how the official estimate was determined.



I really dont know the number of deaths but it is certainly more than 16 whatever the initial reports were. Itd be interesting to find out exactly what happened. Were the deaths the result of the hurricane itself or inability to get food or water afterward? I dont know. Its something Id be interested in finding out, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.



I dont buy the idea that the President is indifferent to our friends in PR. I dont buy that but I do believe we can learn from the mistakes that were made in Puerto Rico, he added.



There is a big difference between what was originally reported and what ended up being the final figure, and I think that I'd like to know why that is. I think the president is in a position to find out why that is and I hope he can report the reason, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.



But Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rossello, a Republican, reaffirmed in a statement Thursday that the revised study was sanctioned by his administration and should be considered the official number.



The victims in Puerto Rico and the people of Puerto Rico, do not deserve that their pain is questioned. Today Ive seen that the number and process to find excess deaths has been questioned and it is something that we have to leave behind, he said, in Spanish.



Estimates of direct deaths in a hurricane typically include those caused by drowning in a storm surge or another event that occurs while the storm is taking place. Indirect deaths comprise those from events that arise as a consequence of a disaster, like heart attacks, house fires and car accidents.



Instances of people unable to obtain critical food, water and medicine were widely reported as well.



The Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, also reaffirmed its conclusions Thursday. We are confident that the number  2,975  is the most accurate and unbiased estimate of excess mortality to date, a Milken statement said.



At least one other Republican said he agreed with Trump that Democrats were taking advantage of natural disasters for political gain.



There's no doubt that there are a number of Democrats that are trying to play politics on hurricanes and in particular using Puerto Rico as an excuse to attack the president, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said.



Retiring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., was one of the lone Republicans to lash out at President Trump's tweet Thursday, calling it "dehumanizing" and suggesting that Trump doesn't consider Puerto Ricans American citizens but "brown stepchildren."



If this were North Carolina I don't think he would be tweeting these heartless words, she said.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ALTON  Amanda Luebke, a senior at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has joined the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau as a fall intern.

The Tourism Bureau works with student interns from universities throughout the region each semester to provide them with experience in marketing, advertising, and public relations. Luebke is graduating in December with a bachelors degree in mass communications and a minor in creative writing.

I am very excited to start my time at the Tourism Bureau as an intern and broaden my knowledge in marketing and advertising. I could not be more grateful for this experience and I am positive that what I learn will carry on with me after graduation in a full-time position, Luebke said.

During her time here, Luebke will be assisting the staff in creating press releases, feature stories, brochures, and small advertising campaigns. With the utmost motivation, Luebke is prepared to work hard and find more joy in the career path she chose.

Luebke is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and has always been interested in social media and marketing. As she gained more information about the world of communications through her education, she has found a passion for advertising and public relations. During time off, Luebke enjoys writing stories, going to the movies, trying new restaurants, shopping, and spending time with her incredible friends and family.

College students interested in interning with the bureau, should contact Stephanie Tate, Marketing Communications Director, at 618-465-6676 or by email at: state@riversandroutes.
ALTON  A new store opening on East Broadway looks to offer patrons easier access to all things American Hauntings year-round.

The grand opening of the American Hauntings Vault will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at Mineral Springs Mall, 301 E. Broadway and will feature a book signing with Troy Taylor, founder/owner of American Hauntings and author of the book Haunted Alton: History and Hauntings of Illinois Riverbend Region. Books will be available for purchase at the event, and the signing is to end at 3 p.m. A haunted history walking tour around the city will also take place that evening at 7 p.m.

The store, a vault that use to hold cash in the original hotel and more recently was used as storage, will house retail items such as T-shirts, books, stickers and other merchandise for purchase related to American Hauntings.

The vault is located on the main level of the five-story building. Bookshelves line the interior walls, displaying the retail items, and a table and a couple of chairs are stored inside the space, and are brought out and adorned with additional items for purchase as the cash wrap.

The store will also offer an additional hub for customers to purchase tickets to the Alton Hauntings various haunted tours, including walking tours held seasonally and a year-round Ghost River Road tour. The tours are based on Taylors books and explore claimed haunted locations in the city. Prices vary between each type of tour.

We didnt want to open anything too big, so we decided to move into the vault, said Taylor. It seems small but it is bigger than you would think, big enough for what we want  to house merchandise.

According to Taylor, the company has a good relationship with the buildings managers, Dave and Donna Nunnally, helping make the idea of opening and operating the retail space possible.

Troy is a good friend of ours, said Dave Nunnally. We will still sell tickets here in our stores for the tours.

As of Wednesday, most of the merchandise had moved into the space.

Currently tickets are sold in the Mineral Springs building and on the Alton Hauntings website. The store will be open on weekends, Friday through Sunday during building hours 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The building originally opened in 1914, and over the earlier year housed a restaurant, a bar and elaborate decorative features.

Before the vault, Taylor had previously opened a bookstore and began running ghost tours in 1993. The bookstore, History and Hauntings Book Co., was on Third Street in Alton and operated from 1998 to the mid 2000s.

People come up to me all the time and say Boy I sure miss that Alton bookstore, Taylor said. He has written more than 100 books on ghosts, crime and other topics.

American Hauntings  Taylors company offering books, events, haunted history and tours  celebrates 25 years of business this year, taking groups on guided ghost hunts in Alton, Carlinville, Chicago, Decatur and Jacksonville, all in Illinois.

For more information, call 217-791-7859 or visit the Grand Opening of the American Hauntings Vault event page on Facebook.
On August 27, 2018, the Edwardsville CUSD 7 Board of Education approved the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) for their upcoming Superintendent search to replace retiring Supt. Dr. Andre on July 1, 2019. On September 10, 2018, the Board of Education discussed and approved Executive Search Services in Open Session.

An Online Survey will be made available to the staff, parents, and community to solicit their input on priorities regarding the person to be sought as superintendent. In-District Focus Groups will also be utilized as the IASB consultant acts as an unbiased interviewer/facilitator to gather perceptions of the administration, staff, and members of the school community, regarding the characteristics and skills to be sought in a new superintendent. There will be pre-interviews to interact and evaluate the suitability of applicants as to the ideal candidate criteria, as well as the culture of the community. IASB will also facilitate In-District Stakeholder Group interviews with semi-finalists identified by the Board. The stakeholder group (identified by the board) will meet each semi-finalist candidate and provide input on each candidates potential for success.
The supermarket was shuttered until it was brought up to code standards, which required the store to clean and sanitize affected areas and contact pest control services, according to the report. Jewel-Osco also had to remove any contaminated food and packaging, clean up food spills and make repairs to prevent rodents from entering the store.
HeartLands Conservancy and Madison County will hold an Open House event to inform the public about the Canteen-Cahokia Creek Watershed Plan on Tuesday, September 25 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Maryville Community Center.

The Canteen-Cahokia Creek Watershed Plan strategically addresses stormwater-related issues in the area that drains to Canteen Creek and Cahokia Creek in Madison and St. Clair counties, and provides voluntary recommendations for water quality protection and flood mitigation efforts.

During the event, the draft plan will be available for review and display boards will highlight the plans key elements. Representatives from HeartLands Conservancy and Madison County will be on hand to answer questions and gather input from attendees on related issues such as flooding, erosion, and water quality.

The Open House event is open to the public and is intended to attract people from within the Canteen-Cahokia Creek watershed, which includes all or parts of the following municipalities: Caseyville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Glen Carbon, Hartford, Maryville, Pontoon Beach, South Roxana, and Troy.

HeartLands Conservancy has already seen its watershed planning efforts pay off. In 2016, the Illinois EPA awarded HeartLands Conservancy a $500,000 grant to implement projects that address water quality and stormwater issues identified in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan in Madison County. HeartLands is also leading the creation of the Indian-Cahokia Creek and American Bottom watershed plans in Madison County, and recently completed the Lower Silver Creek Watershed Plan in St. Clair County.

HeartLands Conservancys Janet Buchanan notes that participation from local landowners, farmers, residents, and municipalities is crucial to the success of the plan.

We find that conversations with people dealing with flooding and water quality issues are so important to the planning process  the planning team uses this feedback to focus attention on issues and projects needed most throughout the watershed.

An Open House for the Indian-Cahokia Creek Watershed Plan, the watershed adjacent to the north, will be held in October. Details about this event will be announced shortly.

For more information about the Canteen-Cahokia Creek Watershed Plan, please contact Janet Buchanan at HeartLands Conservancy at 618-566-4451 ext 25 or email janet.buchanan@heartlandsconservancy.org .

For updates on this project and information about other HeartLands Conservancy activities, visit http://www.facebook.com/HeartLandsConservancy.

ABOUT HEARTLANDS CONSERVANCY

HeartLands Conservancy, a nonprofit serving Southwestern Illinois since 1989, is devoted to the conservation of land, the preservation of green spaces in our communities, sustainable and environmentally friendly community planning, and engaging our neighbors with nature. We are investing in the nature of Southwestern Illinois. Visit: www.HeartLandsConservancy.org for more information.
The first 200 years of Illinois statehood included traumatized Civil War soldiers, heroic Tuskegee airmen and dedicated abolitionists. It saw immigrants building new lives, minorities fighting for equality and artists producing unforgettable works.

All those stories and many others will be told Oct. 4 and 5 at the Conference on Illinois History, presented by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

1818 Map of Illinois tinyNow in its 20th year, the conference also includes a presentation by Frank Cicero Jr., author of Creating the Land of Lincoln, and a roundtable discussion of the different ways museums are celebrating the state bicentennial. There will be a special tour of the newly renovated Illinois Governors Mansion and a reception co-sponsored with the University of Illinois Press,

Its the 20th history conference and the 200th birthday of Illinois, so weve worked hard to make this event special, said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The experts were bringing together will bring new attention to unfamiliar parts of state history and offer new insights into the stories people think they know already.

The price is $90 to attend both days or $50 for a single day. (The student prices are $45 and $25.) Theres also an option for people who want to attend but dont have a full day to spare. They can attend the luncheon sessions are $15 each.

To register, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov and click on special event reservations. See the conference program at bit.ly/2018historyconference.

The Thursday lunch features a roundtable discussion on how museums and educational institutions are presenting the Illinois Bicentennial in their exhibits and programming. Among the participants are Lowe, from the ALPLM; Russell Lewis, chief historian at the Chicago History Museum; Karen Everingham, president of the Illinois Association of Museums, and Robert Sill, interim director of the Illinois State Museum.

The speaker at Fridays lunch session will be Frank Cicero Jr., author of Creating the Land of Lincoln: The History and Constitutions of Illinois, 1778-1870. He will zero in on a single, key date: April 18, 1818, when President James Monroe signed legislation that would let Illinois become a state later that year.

This conference is not just for experts, said Dr. Samuel Wheeler, the Illinois state historian. Anyone with an interest in history can attend and hear whats being discovered about the men and women who contributed to the story of Illinois.
SPRINGFIELD  A former Granite City steelworker received recognition Thursday during the annual Illinois Workforce Partnership awards luncheon for his commitment toward rebuilding his career after being laid off.

The statewide group celebrated Jacob Smith, 34, of Highland, as the success story for Madison Countys Employment and Training Department. Local area workforces from across the state recognized Smith and others for their committal to programs offered by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA.)

I am extremely honored by this, Smith said.

Smith said he is grateful to the county for providing him support that he didnt know existed until he lost his job.

The county helped me achieve my goal of becoming an RN, Smith said.

In 2015, after working eight years as an operating technician at U.S. Steel Corp. in Granite City, Smith found himself out of a job. Smith, who used to troubleshoot and repair various machines used in the production and manufacturing of steel, had limited job experience and needed to find a way to support his son.

Smith, who knew he wanted to change career paths, started taking nursing classes after an earlier lay off, but returned to the mill when he got called back in order to pay the bills. He also chose to continue with school  not an easy task  and worked full-time on rotating shifts and often traded with co-workers to make it to classes.

After the second lay off, Smith realized everything he was working toward was in jeopardy. Smith attended a rapid response meeting following his layoff and discovered the types of assistance he could receive.

I had no idea there were these types of opportunities out there, Smith said.

Employment and Training Director Tony Fuhrmann said most people do not know whats available other than unemployment when they are all of a sudden out of work. He commended the IWP for recognizing Smith and others for their commitment and hard work.

The award winners exemplify the power and possibility of the local workforce system in Illinois, Fuhrmann said.

Fuhrmann said the job training programs the county offers to displaced workers supported Smiths achievements and his ability to change careers.

Smith said he was determined to make it through the TAA program. He said even if U.S. Steel called him back to work he didnt plan to go, but rather finish school because he wanted a steady career.

The TAA program helps workers who lose their jobs because of international trade get back to work. The TAA program provides laid off workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources and support necessary to rebuild skills for future jobs.

Due to support through Employment and Training, Smith was able to pursue his nursing degree. He also received Trade Readjustment Allowance that assisted with living expenses and help from family with his 11-year-old son.

Smith graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree from Maryville University and in June received his nursing license. He now works full time at Saint Louis University Hospital and as needed for Veterans Affairs at St. Louis Medical Center.

Smith said he anticipates continuing with his education in the future.

The route Ive taken Ill have always a career and the possibility for advancement, he said.

He said without Madison County he wouldnt be where he is now.

Job training programs like this were created specifically for this purpose, Fuhrmann said. It ensures workers like Jacob get the skills needed for a new career when they are displaced.
A partnership between Passavant Area Hospital, SIU School of Medicine and MacMurray College will work to increase access to healthcare using a holistic approach for vulnerable or at-risk residents of Jacksonville.

Healthy Jacksonville, modeled after a successful community health worker program in the Enos Park neighborhood in Springfield, will initiate engagement with clients on Jacksonvilles northeast side later this year. The Enos Park Access to Care Collaborative reached more than 450 people and helped to create self-sufficiency, improve access to care and establish neighborhood connections with community providers.

Preliminary results of the 2018 Morgan County Community Health Needs Assessment identified access to care as a significant area of concern, followed by mental health, smoking/substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases. Access to care also was a top concern in the 2015 Community Health Needs Assessment.

Healthy Jacksonville aims to address more than access to care  studies have shown many factors that influence a persons health are linked to social issues, unrelated to healthcare. According to 2017 data, Morgan County is ranked 77th out of 102 counties in Illinois for overall health as influenced by environment and other factors. That means Morgan County falls about halfway between the most healthy and the least healthy counties in the state based on factors such as violent crime and unemployment rates, as well as the number of single-parent households.

To locate the neighborhood in Jacksonville most in need of assistance, a steering committee led by Christina Rollins, affiliate vice president of operations, quality and safety, examined Passavant Emergency Department visits, looking specifically at lower acuity visits and patients who returned to the emergency department within three days for followup care. Results pointed to a need in northeast Jacksonville, which is where organizers initially will focus their efforts.

The Passavant Foundation has provided a grant of $169,000 to fund the first year of Healthy Jacksonville. A portion of the grant will support the integration of two community health workers who will have offices in the target area and be tasked with building relationships with the residents.

Sarah Karraker, supervisor of social services and case coordination at Passavant, has been selected to supervise the community health workers.

Students from the Social Work department at MacMurray College will assist in gathering data as the project launches.

This presents a huge opportunity for us to improve the health of those in our community, Karraker said.
EDWARDSVILLE  A judge Thursday gave broad powers to a special prosecutor to look into public corruption in Madison County, including any corruption that might have taken place recently and any attempts to impede the investigation.

Circuit Judge Jerry Crisel gave the Illinois Attorney Generals Office the authority to investigate a case that became public when a task force carried multiple computers and records from the Madison County Administration Building last January. The raid was carried out by an independent Madison County Public Corruption Task Force, set up in late 2017.

Crisel is a judge in the Second Judicial Circuit, based in Mount Vernon. The case was removed there shortly after Madison County Chief Judge David Hylla ordered it.

The case fell into the hands of the Illinois Attorney Generals Office after Crisel ruled that Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons could not both prosecute the case and represent county officials as one of his statutory duties as states attorney. Gibbons would not have to defend any criminal charges brought against any officials. The officials would have to hire their own attorneys for criminal defense.

The Attorney Generals Office pursued a motion to appoint one of its attorneys as special prosecutor to commence and prosecute all actions, suits, indictments and criminal prosecutions related to the scope of the appointment.

The special prosecutor may impanel and convene a grand jury, seek subpoenas and indictments, appoint investigators and present evidence, the judges order states.

The prosecutor may seek additional search warrants, seek the authority to use eavesdropping devices, seek orders granting immunity and seek an order authorizing the use of electronic criminal surveillance. The attorney could also conduct an investigation into criminal offenses being committed by Madison County officials, officers or employees in, or related to, their official capacities from Dec. 1, 2016, until the appointment of the special prosecuted is terminated by order of the court.

The prosecutor may investigate any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation, including, but not limited to, any criminal offenses being committed by persons who are not an official, officer or employee of Madison County.

The prosecutor may also investigate and prosecute state crimes committed in the course of, and with the intent to, interfere with, the special prosecutors investigation and/or prosecution, including, but not limited to, perjury, obstructing justice, communicating with, intimidation of, or harassment of jurors and/or witnesses, and the destruction of evidence, and to conduct appeals arising out of this mater being investigated and/or prosecuted, Judge Crisel ordered.

The prosecution would also have jurisdiction and/or powers beyond what is specified in the judges order to fully investigate the case or any new matters that come to light in the investigation.

The county is responsible for any and all expenses associated with the investigation.

When Crisel initially ruled that Gibbons could not both prosecute and defend the case, States Attorney Gibbons said he would accept the decision and remain independent of the task force.

Judge Crisels order arises from law suits filed shortly after the raids. Attorney Ed Moorman filed suit on behalf of County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler, County Administrator Doug Hulme and Information Technology Director Rob Dorman. The suit asked the court to clarify whether Gibbons should represent the three officials. Attorney Amy Sholar also filed a suit on behalf of former Administrative Director Steve Adler. The order issued today applies to both cases.
10 hours ago

Biden faces fresh challenges after infrastructure victory

WASHINGTON (AP)  He has been here before. President Joe Biden doesn't need to look any further back than his time as vice president to grasp the challenges that lie ahead in promoting his new $1 trillion infrastructure deal to the American people and getting the money out the door fast enough that they can feel a real impact.

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The only thing wrong with that program is it wasnt big enough. But even with limited funding, it was one of the most successful educational programs ever launched in this country. And it would have even greater impact if it hadnt been opposed by so many of Mr. Bushs political allies.
The agency says its biggest challenge has been getting its fair share of money from state government for capital projects. According to the Tribunes Mary Wisniewski, Metra says it needs $1 billion in capital funds to get its trains and infrastructure in good working order, yet has just $211 million in its capital budget for 2019. It also has to contend with an edict from the federal government to equip trains with positive train control safety systems, which will cost $400 million.
His shot at Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz is her reward for criticizing Team Trumps responses to her citys pleas for help. President Trump continues to demonstrate his inability to understand what his job in this crisis was all about, she tweeted. This was never about him, this was never about politics. This was about saving lives. Or, at least, it was supposed to be. For other politicians, his deep denialism might be viewed as a gaffe. To Trump, its a political tactic: Treat failure as success, unless you can blame it on someone else. Show disdain for inconvenient facts. Make a partisan appeal by accusing your opponents of being partisan.
But whether you and yours would pay more depends on what the various rates are and what the various income thresholds are. It would also depend on the deductions and exemptions built into any new tax scheme. In other states, these tend to be designed to cushion low- and middle-income earners, and shift the burden to higher earners.
Editorial: The people behind baseless claims of voter fraud may cast themselves as reformers determined to fix the system, but the doubt theyre fomenting about how we elect and govern is the kind that led to the infamy of Jan. 6.
Phuket marine safety sessions fully booked

PHUKET: More than 60 participants from Phukets tour boat and marine tourism industry are taking part in basic marine safety training organised by the Phuket Marine Office.

tourismmarineSafety

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Friday 14 September 2018, 02:47PM

Marine passenger traffic in Phuket has doubled in the past few years, explained Sompob Panyawai, Chief of Marine Office Region 5. Photo: PR Dept

Large tour boats and ferries remain in port at Rassada Pier while their captains and crew undergo marine transport safety training yesterday (Sept 13). Photo: PR Dept

The training sessions are being held at Phukets bustling Rassada Pier yesterday and today (Sept 13-14).

Rassada Pier is a major departure point for thousands of tourists who board boats bound for nearby islands and other areas across Phang Nga Bay.

The training is open to anyone working in Phukets marine industry, but is tailored to cater to boat owners, mechanics and crew, a marine official involved in the training sessions explained to The Phuket News.

We want them to learn safety standards in marine transportation, and this training will help participants in obtaining qualifications for licenses and certificates for marine transportation. the officer added.

However, taking part in the training is voluntary only. The training is not compulsory.

Providing the training are industry experts, company representatives and Navy personnel.

The training is designed to teach boat owners, supervisors, mechanics, crew and boat staff the marine safety rules and rules and regulations, explained Sompob Panyawai, Chief of Marine Office Region 5.

They will also learn the laws regarding navigation and standard life-saving equipment, he said.

In addition, they will be taught specific skills such as propeller trim, periodic maintenance and trouble-shooting pump problems by experts such as staff from Thai Yamaha Co Ltd, he added.

According to statistics, the number of passengers transported by marine traffic in Phuket has doubled in past three years. This is a large segment of the countrys tourism industry, Mr Sompob said told attendees at the first training session yesterday (Sept 13).

This training will enhance the knowledge of boat operators and raise awareness of the safety of passengers. It also ensures that tourists will be safe while travelling in Phuket, he added.

Mr Sompob explained to the attendees that Phukets marine tourism industry is now under much closer scrutiny.

I will focus on main three aspects for the development of human resources at piers in Phuket, he said.

First, every captain must have a current valid license for driving the boat. Second, the weight carried on board (including the number of passengers) must not be more than legally permitted

Third, every pier must have the appropriate safety equipment, and fourth, every boat operator must have full passenger manifests, he said.

Phuket marine officials will be strict on the rules. Officials will ban boats that do not follow the rules, and we will check to ferries for enforcement, Mr Sompob warned.

Meanwhile, the number of participants taking part in the training sessions already exceeds the number the Phuket Marine Office has catered for, one of the organising officials explained.

We will have more training sessions in the future, she added.
Resources available for those who want to kick smoking
SAN FRANCISCOOne recent afternoon, the citys newest grocery market was trying to figure out whether I would buy, steal or leave behind a bag of white cheddar popcorn  and so was I.

On its side: 27 cameras along the ceiling and a wealth of behavioural data.

On my side: crippling indecision.

Last week, San Francisco got its first completely automated cashierless store, Standard Market. Shoppers who have downloaded the stores app can go into the 1,900-square-foot space, grab items and simply leave. There is no check-in gate, and there is no checkout swipe. Ceiling cameras identify the shopper and the items, and determine when said items leave with said shopper. Or, at least, thats the idea.

The startup behind this operation is Standard Cognition, which has raised $11.2 million in venture capital and formed partnerships with four retails chains around the world. This first market is a prototype to showcase the technology and work on the bugs. The ambitious goal is to add the tech in 100 stores a day (each day!) by 2020.

Five of the seven founders came from the Securities and Exchange Commission, where they built artificial intelligence software to detect fraud and trade violations, before starting Standard Cognition in 2017. Now these fraud experts are working to discern something equally complicated: whether I am stealing a snack.

Standard Market is the latest entry in the emerging fray of retail automation, where companies are throwing cameras, sensors and machine learning into grocery stores to replace the checkout line. In January, Amazon opened its first cashierless Go market in Seattle to the public; it has since opened more of the stores. In China, experiments in cashierless stores abound, using radio frequency identification tags and a self-checkout process that involves scanning a Quick Response code or your face.

Standard Cognitions approach is different. It relies exclusively on the ceiling cameras and artificial intelligence software to figure out what you are buying. The cameras document shoppers movements, speed, stride length and gaze. The store knows when I glance at a poster and for how long. It knows if I slowed down, grabbed a chocolate bar and put it back. It knows if my body is facing the dried mangoes but my face is set on the popcorn.

And it knows (or is trying to know) when I am planning to steal.

The goal is to predict, and prevent, shoplifting, because unlike Amazons Go stores, which have a subway turnstile-like gate for entry and exit, Standard Market has an open door, and the path is clear.

We learn behaviours of what it looks like to leave, said Michael Suswal, Standard Cognitions co-founder and chief operating officer. Trajectory, gaze and speed are especially useful for detecting theft, he said, adding, If theyre going to steal, their gait is larger, and theyre looking at the door.

Once the system decides it has detected potential theft behaviour, a store attendant will get a text and walk over for a polite conversation, Suswal said.

Predicting theft requires a lot of data about shoppers, much of which does not exist yet  or at least no one is willing to give it to us, he said.

So a few days before Standard Market opened, Standard Cognition hired 100 actors to shop there for four hours. In Japan, the team has worked with a convenience store chain, whose name it has not disclosed, in a very useful data collection effort.

Standard Cognition said that unlike facial recognition, it did not collect biometric information, a possibility that has troubled privacy experts watching the technology evolve.

The growth of cashierless technology could hurt the American labour force; there are nearly 5 million retail sales workers in America. But as Suswal has pitched Standard Cognitions technology, he said, he has found that most shop owners are not looking to replace workers. Instead, they want their workers wandering the stores more, in hopes of luring shoppers back into brick-and-mortar retail.

They all talk about new services, making shopping more fun, making it worthwhile to shop offline, Suswal said.

And they talk about data. While a store owner can look at receipts to see who bought a generic ketchup, cashierless technology can help tell if the shopper first picked up a Heinz bottle and how long he or she looked at it. Basically, now an owner can see what a customer did not buy.

On a recent Friday, a line stretched down the street from Standard Market as a bouncer at the door took in one shopper at a time for the automated experience. The store is in San Franciscos gentrifying Mid-Market neighbourhood, between Chanvi Eatery, a Pakistani restaurant, and Huckleberry Bicycles, a high-end bike shop. People outside were downloading the app and typing in their credit card numbers.

Walking out was Yoshimasa Takahashi, 32, who works nearby in finance. A receipt popped up on his phone. It said he had bought noodles and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese  except, he had not bought the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

I was playing with it but didnt take it out, Takahashi said, smiling at his win over the tech.

The bouncer gave him a refund.

Inside, Rebecca Schiffman, 28, was working the floor. She had been an employee at Whole Foods when the Standard Cognition team recruited her. She liked the idea of getting out from behind a cash register and said she was unfazed about having to intervene with potential shoplifters.

I used to do that all the time anyway, she said.

Store hours are short for the next few weeks  the store will be open only half-days on Wednesdays and Fridays while the tech is tweaked. For now, the selection of food is extremely limited. The store has only 25 square feet devoted to food because, the founders said, they have not yet gotten the permits required for more. So there is an odd assortment of items  Fritos, Apple Jacks and Starbucks Frappuccinos  that leans heavily toward dorm-room-style snacks.

To shop, I opened my phone, which flashed blue, letting the store know I had entered. I wandered, throwing items into my tote. Then I left.

Outside I found Suswal. A minute went by, and a notification popped up on my phone with my receipt: one white cheddar popcorn and one roll of toilet paper for a total of $1.19.

In fact, I had left with two bags of popcorn. I had toyed with the second bag, debated buying it, considered my dinner plans, put it back and finally took it with a quick impulsive grab. The system missed it.

That shouldnt happen, Suswal said. And yet it did. He shrugged and said I had won it.

So I left with the extra 99-cent bag of popcorn, and I did not feel bad, really. Soon, Standard Cognition and others will probably get better, will perfectly detect where that snack went, and my movement will be subsumed and predicted by artificial intelligences endless data maw.

But for now its not quite good enough. And Im covered in crumbs.

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My heart lodged in my throat and my eyes stayed glassy over the brief duration of Be With: Letters to a Caregiver. Its a lovely, loving and unflinching work reflecting on an awful, inexorable illness. Physician offices would do well by stocking copies.

Torontos Mike Barnes composes the book as four letters addressed to someone (Dear ) whose loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimers  an affliction whose progression the author describes, variously, as a passage of exquisite vulnerability, a time of prolonged demolition, sheer devastation, a withering assault, and hell.

Barnes knows because Mary, his mother, was diagnosed with the disease when she was 83; by his fourth letter, shes 91. (Of that terminal stage, he writes, Having bored down through memory, language, thinking and feeling, dementia is now at work in the basement, taking apart the machinery that permits motor movement, correct perception and reflexes like swallowing and awareness of pain.)

Tracing the diseases four-step progression  moderate, moderate to severe, severe to very severe and late stage  Barnes, managing his own long-term bipolar disorder, recounts efforts at helping his mother in her dark while documenting the octogenarians deceleration years.

To his addressee Barnes states, simply, Im sending you the news I needed to hear myself. Needed and still need often, ransacking confusions to find a clear way forward. Philosophically minded, he provides lines of guidance founded on experience. These include soft (fellowship, solace, understanding) and hard (facts, clarity, directions) items.

Throughout, Barnes relates the torment of his own emotional states and the myriad ordeals Mary experienced. He shares knowledge (The truth is, theres no graceful way to take control of someones life away from them; Caregiving places gruelling demands on health, jobs, relationships, all other interests) and he asks questions (How much room in your own heart?) any caregiver must consider. He also asserts his primary insight: But being with in person trumps all else. Its the one way of caring most likely to be right, and the least likely to be regretted.

As harrowing as the experiences were, Barnes notes changes to his mothers personality that, in many ways, brought them closer together. Writing, I would have done anything I could have done to spare her this. But since it had to be, its been my privilege to have gone through it by her side. I wouldnt have missed it for the world, he inspires admiration for the room in his own heart.
Model Hailey Baldwin is denying reports, led by People magazine, that she married Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber, just two months after getting engaged.

I understand where the speculation is coming from, but Im not married yet! Baldwin wrote on Twitter Friday afternoon, hours after word shed gotten hitched started spreading far and wide.

The 21-year-old daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and the pride of Stratford, Ont., married Thursday in New York City, People reported Friday, quoting an unnamed source as saying, They went ahead and did it without listening to anyone.

Bieber and Baldwin were seen walking into a courthouse on Thursday where marriage licenses are issued, according to a photo obtained by the gossip site TMZ. The outlet also reported Bieber saying I cant wait to marry you, baby to Baldwin and Thanks for keeping it on the DL to a court official.

TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the days top news from the Stars award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter.

Garnet Fraser is a deputy entertainment editor and a contributor to the Stars Entertainment section. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @garnetfraser

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OTTAWAThe Conservative party is downplaying the threat Maxime Berniers new splinter party poses.

Conservative house leader Candice Bergen says her party is paying attention but is not overly concerned about Berniers Peoples Party of Canada.

Bernier, a Quebec MP who left the Conservative party last month, launched his party during a Friday press conference.

Conservatives are frustrated that hes done this, because it would appear to be pretty self-serving, and not for the good of the country (or) beating Justin Trudeau, Bergen said in an interview.

Any smart political party, or smart political organization would pay attention when something like this happens. So were watching.

(But) its one thing to tweet a few things out  and its another to start a massive movement. I just dont see a massive groundswell, but we have to pay attention, so we are.

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Chantal Hebert | Opinion: Keeping Conservatives united is now Scheers top challenge

Maxime Bernier heaps criticism on Conservatives as he quits party and says he'll start his own

Job numbers prove Maxime Bernier wrong about immigration, Vancouver MP says

Bernier finished a close second to Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer in the partys 2017 leadership campaign. But after a year of uneasy peace between the Beauce MP and the Conservative caucus, Bernier announced hed start a new political movement, calling his former party too morally and intellectually corrupt to reform.

The Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) will have largely the same platform as Berniers leadership bid  a mixture of populist and libertarian ideas that would substantially reduce the federal governments role in health care and economic development, sharply reduce immigration, and scrap the Liberal governments carbon pricing plans.

Bernier did not shy away from the populist characterization, but said the PPC would stand for smart populism.

Most of Fridays press conference focused on Berniers recent criticisms of ever more diversity and extreme multiculturalism in Canada, and his insistence that new immigrants must share loosely-defined Canadian values.

Berniers new language around immigration mirrors that of former leadership rival Kellie Leitch, who Bernier dismissed as a karaoke version of Donald Trump for proposing a values test for newcomers.

When asked directly if he had any evidence newcomers were not adopting Canadian values, Bernier said he wasnt suggesting that was currently the case. When asked if he would accept the support of Canadians who oppose immigration on xenophobic grounds, Bernier said no.

They dont have a place in our party, Bernier said, specifically referring to anti-Semites and people who want to close Canada completely to new immigrants.

I dont share these values. Its clear.

To deliver on his promise to run a candidate in every federal riding in next falls election, Bernier will need more than a party name and a platform. He will have to find 337 more candidates, develop a national network of volunteers and riding associations, and raise a lot of money.

But Bernier doesnt have to accomplish all of that to play spoiler for the Conservative party and his former leadership rival Scheer. Nominating enough credible candidates in key battlegrounds  like the GTA and Quebec  could leach away enough support to hurt Berniers former colleagues.

But pollster Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, said he doesnt see a natural constituency for Berniers mix of populism and libertarian ideals  unlike previous splinter parties like the Reform party or the Bloc Quebecois.

In the province of Alberta, where it seems like most of this is coming from right now, (the Conservatives) have got votes to waste, Bricker said in an interview with the Star.

Theres so many things that you need in order for something like this to really bite in terms of really having a political impact that he doesnt have together. You never want to say never because we got a long way to go here, and  maybe theres something there. But you try to put it together in a logical sense, and its hard to see.

Bernier said Friday the party has received $140,000 in donations from around 2,000 members, and that despite not yet having his party registered, they are complying with Elections Canada fundraising laws. Martin Masse, Berniers longtime staffer, and Maxime Hupe, his press secretary, are the only two employees on the new partys payroll, Bernier said.

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Its not glamorous work, but Khin Kyi describes her Vancouver janitorial post as a godsend after having spent most of her life struggling just to keep her family safe.

The mother of four fled her home in Myanmars northwestern Chin state in 2006 where she said she was forced to be a labourer by the military Tatmadaw. She then spent about five years in New Delhi as a refugee before getting a Canadian government sponsorship that allowed her and her youngest son, now 16, to settle in Vancouver.

So when she learned the company she works for had lost the contract to clean real estate giant Cadillac Fairviews downtown Vancouver buildings  a change that put her job at risk  Kyi was ready to take a stand to defend what she had worked for.

The tenants of that building, we get along really well and they dont want to see me go, she told the Star through a translator. I dont have my own family here but the way they treat me is like family.

In the face of losing their jobs, Kyi and her colleagues reached out to an unlikely ally: Ontario teachers, whose pension fund owned the properties being cleaned by a largely newcomer workforce on the other side of the country.

It worked.

Following a labour complaint from the Service Employees International Union Local 2 and a small grassroots movement from teachers living thousands of kilometres away, the workers are getting their jobs  and their union  back.

I feel God is with me too because whatever I say is having a positive effect. I feel Ive helped, said Kyi, whose story was posted on a website as part of the workers campaign to win the teachers support. I know its hard work but if you apply good skills and techniques, its good, and I like that kind of work. Im really grateful for that.

For me, it was such a basic issue of solidarity and in some ways a moral duty, said James Campbell, a Toronto-based secondary school teacher. We should be acting not just in the best interest of ourselves but of other workers as well.

The dispute flared up this summer when Cadillac Fairview, one of the continents largest real estate companies and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP), changed its cleaning service provider at its downtown Vancouver buildings. It awarded the contract to Cushman & Wakefield, another property management heavyweight that is partially owned by the OTPP.

As a result, 150 cleaners at the properties confronted the prospect of losing their jobs and reapplying for them when the new contractor took over in October.

Its a practice known as contract-flipping and it refers to when companies subcontract out services and then change providers every few years. With each new contract, workers are often forced to reapply for their old jobs, losing their seniority, pay grade, benefit entitlement and sometimes their union.

Before the contract flip, the Vancouver cleaners had just won a wage increase and improved benefits through collective bargaining. The bump meant increases of 20 cents to $1.20 on top of starting hourly wages, which range from $12.85 to $13.85, depending whether cleaners did light or heavy duty. Minimum wage in British Columbia is $12.65 an hour.

According to an unfair labour practice complaint filed last week by SEIU, Cushman & Wakefield indicated to SEIU that their intention is to keep the work union-free. The company already employs unionized cleaners with SEIU in Toronto and in the United States.

The complaint said workers employed at the buildings were prevented from meeting with the union and were also advised that involvement with SEIU will preclude offers of employment.

The settlement agreed to this week means the labour complaint has been dropped, and that Cushman & Wakefields cleaning service  C&W Services  will recognize SEIU as the workers union and offer cleaners their jobs back before hiring new employees. Cleaners will keep their pay, benefits and seniority.

Now widowed, Kyis number one goal is to reunite with her children in Canada, which would require saving up enough money to bring two of her adult sons over from New Delhi. Making $13.15 an hour, shes a ways off from that goal, but she still takes pride in providing small joys to her teenage son, like the bluetooth earphones she recently bought him.

C&W Services is pleased that we have reached an overall agreement with the Service Employees International Union in Vancouver, said Earl Bannister, the companys Vice President of Operations, Canada Region. We look forward to working with the SEIU in providing excellent services in support of our client.

In B.C., there are no laws against contract flipping and SEIU warns the practice is about to claim 50 more cleaning jobs at another Vancouver location, according to the unions lead organizer in the city, Christine Bro.

Last year, Ontario introduced measures through Bill 148 to insulate workers in the building services sector from contract flipping. In September, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce called on the new provincial government to repeal the bill.

Consultations for a review of the B.C. labour code took place from February to April this year, and contract flipping was one of the key issues raised by the B.C. Federation of Labour. In the case of SEIUs unfair labour practice complaint, the federations president Irene Lanzinger said she welcomed the involvement of Ontarios teachers.

Im a teacher, I have money in the pension plan here in B.C. and I want my money invested in companies that are ethical, she said. These are workers who are already working for poverty wages, so theyre likely working two jobs to make ends meet and they will have to do more of that if wages are driven down.

The appeal to Ontario teachers resulted in a petition to pension plan executives signed by 173 teachers and forms part of the broader Justice for Janitors campaign, which is organized by SEIU across North America to advocate for better working conditions.

I got more energy when I learned that they were supporting me, Kyi said of the campaign, Workwise, now I have no fear. Im going to continue to work very hard.

The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is worth $189.5 billion and has a fiduciary duty to invest responsibly on behalf of its 323,000 members. According to its website, the plan considers a broad range of factors when we invest, such as the risks associated with environmental, social and governance issues.

The plan interprets (fiduciary duty) in a bottom line, dollars and pennies kind of sense, Campbell said. Teaching is care work. Were in teaching because we care about our students and the world that were making together. And for us, fiduciary duty is something larger than just a bottom line.

The pension plan did not respond to the Stars questions about its investment guidelines, stating that Cushman & Wakefield was best placed to speak about negotiations with Vancouver cleaners. Cadillac Fairview also did not reply to questions from the Star.

Campbell said hed like to think Ontario teachers grassroots support made a difference, but says the real credit is due elsewhere.

I have a feeling this victory is primarily due to those courageous workers themselves.

Read more about:
WASHINGTONCanadians will be barred from entering the United States for smoking marijuana legally, for working in Canadas legal marijuana industry and for investing in legal Canadian marijuana companies, a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official says.

Todd Owen, who spoke to the U.S. website Politico, said the U.S. does not plan to change its border policies to account for Canadas marijuana legalization, which takes effect on Oct. 17.

We dont recognize that as a legal business, said Owen, executive assistant commissioner for the office of field operations.

Owens comments corroborated anecdotal reports that have accumulated over the course of the year. Canadians with links to the nascent legal industry, including venture capitalist Sam Znaimer and the chief executive of a B.C. agricultural machinery company, have already been given lifetime entry bans.

Owen said border officers will not begin asking every Canadian about their marijuana use.

He said, however, that officers might ask if other questions lead there, or if there is a smell coming from the car, or if a dog detects marijuana residue.

Owen did not specify how much equity a Canadian has to hold in a cannabis company to be denied entry. Scott Bernstein, senior policy analyst at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, said he is troubled by the lack of clarity.

Read more:

From pot to privacy: What we know and dont know about crossing the Canada-U.S. border

Americans are expected to flock to Canada when cannabis becomes legal  but heres how the U.S. border stands in the way

Canadian cannabis workers targeted by U.S. border guards for lifetime bans

Thousands of Canadians have shares in cannabis companies, which are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Theyre investing in a completely legal industry in Canada, but it happens to be the cannabis industry . That person who owns a mutual fund and maybe doesnt even know where their money is going, are they going to be covered as well? Bernstein said.

Bernstein, who also expressed concern about U.S. profiling of people stereotyped as likely marijuana users, said the Canadian government should negotiate with the U.S. at least to secure entry for workers and investors.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that he does not think he has the right to press the U.S. on its admission policy.

Every country has the right to judge who gets to come into their borders or not. I wouldnt presume to have any other country tell me how or who we can let into Canada. And I certainly wont work to assume or impress upon the U.S. who they have to let in or not, Trudeau told a CBC radio station in Manitoba.

But there is no question that we are working with U.S. officials; they have legalized marijuana in a number of their states, and were trying to make sure that travel between our two countries (is) not disrupted.

While nine states and Washington, D.C. now allow the recreational use of marijuana, the U.S. federal government continues to consider it illegal.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has sought to crack down on the drug.

An admission of any past drug use is grounds for a lifetime ban from the U.S., although some banned people can successfully apply for waivers.

Travellers can refuse to answer a U.S. officers questions; their silence may be used to deny them entry that day, but they can avoid a lifetime ban.

TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the days top news from the Stars award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter.

Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer in the state of Washington who represents people dealing with cannabis-related issues, said he did not think that an average investor in cannabis stock would be barred from the U.S. Only people more actively involved in managing their assets, such as Znaimer, or employees of cannabis-linked venture capital firms, are likely to face such a proscription.

But nobody knows for sure.

Im doing a booming business on consultations with Canadians, businesspeople, involved in the cannabis industry, whether its in Canada or the U.S. Theyre scared, he said.

Shares of several cannabis companies declined after the Politico report was published.
Whether you view cannabis legalization in Canada as the arrival of Cheech & Chong Heaven, Reefer Madness Hell or something in between, the police want to make a few things clear.

One: if you think legalization means it is perfectly fine to stroll down Yonge St., brazenly blazing a joint as you bask in newfound freedom on Oct. 17, think again.

Such audacious public consumption is likely to end the way it would for anyone trying the same stunt today with a bottle of scotch. No criminal record but a hefty fine, up to $1,000 for recreational cannabis use in public, under the incoming federal law. Try it a second time and that penalty could leap to $5,000.

Two: if you are a teetotaller who is likely to be totally teed off by a perfectly legal cloud of cannabis smoke, should it drift into your yard or onto your balcony from a private residence a month from now and your first impulse is to call police, also think again. Police across Canada are braced for a spike in such nuisance calls and forewarn that such concerns are a matter for bylaw enforcement, not law enforcement.

Three: whoever you are, dont even think about smoking and driving. Police forces throughout Ontario and beyond are undergoing enhanced training and will soon deploy a range of new tools, including the first federally approved yet still controversial saliva-testing device for THC, to target stoned drivers. Roadside testing, you may soon find out, is about to get much more complicated.

If it all seems somewhat hazy, thats because it is: after nearly a century of being trained to see marijuana as the enemy, law enforcement is navigating the same cultural curve as the rest of Canada  and until all the bylaws are written and ensuing court challenges play out, they are struggling to define what the new normal will ultimately be.

Read more:

Border officials say Canadians who smoke marijuana legally, or work or invest in the industry, will be barred from the U.S.

Once cannabis is legal, dont expect Canada's grey market to vanish

As cannabis legalization looms, we answer your burning questions about weed

But police leaders across Canada face the added challenge of policing themselves on legal cannabis. What, for example, is the appropriate lag time between an off-duty officer eating a cannabis brownie and then strapping on a weapon and reporting for work? Both the Toronto Police Service and the OPP are in the midst of drafting new internal guidelines.

The Toronto force acknowledged those challenges in a formal statement Friday, emphasizing that even as the rules evolve, there is no wiggle room on the question of public consumption  recreational cannabis cannot be consumed on the streets or in the parks.

Until regulations are established that determine specific offences and associated penalties, officers will use discretion in some circumstances, the TPS statement said.

In others, the law is quite clear: cannabis is prohibited for anyone under the age of 19 and recreational cannabis use is prohibited in public places and workplaces.

What do you think?

Less formally, in a series of background interviews with the Star, Toronto and Ontario provincial police officials suggest that frontline officers cut the public some slack in the early days after Oct. 17. Cannabis violators are likely  but not guaranteed  to get away with warnings, rather than have the book thrown at them. At least for a while.

Are we going to see uniformed officers hiding behind billboards, ready to pounce on cannabis users smoking a joint in the wrong place? I dont think so, not right off the bat, said Jeff McGuire, executive director of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

Theres a learning curve for everyone involved. People not yet familiar with the law are asking themselves, Can I sit in the park? Can I smoke in a bar? Can I walk down the street with it?  said McGuire. And while the answer to all those questions is no, people will need time to learn.

Its no secret that theres been a dramatic drop-off in cannabis possession charges in recent years and I think the spirit of that approach will continue after Oct. 17. Sometimes a person can earn their way into a ticket by being difficult  but if you are caught smoking illegally and you are willing to listen and learn, I think in the vast majority of cases you will be able to walk away, at least in the beginning.

Rachel Huggins, the OPPs Executive Lead on Cannabis Legalization, agrees. Were not flicking a switch on Oct. 17. If you look at cannabis possession charges and how theyve dropped steadily year over year, its clear that police understand the social shift and have been using discretion when it comes to enforcement.

So I think on that level not all that much is going to be different after Oct. 17. Law enforcement uses discretion now and will continue to use discretion.

There is some concern about people not understanding the new law right off the bat. Municipalities have to start thinking about bylaws, and who enforces them and 911 operators need to be ready to direct calls to bylaw service and not straight into the detachment.

(Clearly some police are following the letter of the law. Toronto-based cannabis lawyer Jack Lloyd said he has 10 new clients recently charged with possession, including one arrested in Kensington Market area just two weeks ago, despite the near-zero chance of conviction under the existing soon to be mothballed law.)

The specifics of the federal law fall under provincial regulation. In Ontario that will mean that just because you smell cannabis smoke in public doesnt mean theres an illegal fire. The source of the smell may well be a medical marijuana licence-holder and thus exempt from the ban on public places.

Yet when it comes to smoking and driving, a range of new training suggests police will soon introduce an entirely new level of vigilance. The RCMP has led the rollout of updated online and in-person training of police forces across Canada with an emphasis on detection of cannabis impairment. And late in August, the federal government approved the first saliva-testing kit, aimed at detecting and measuring cannabis and cocaine impairment  a controversial piece of technology that critics argue is prone to false positives and is certain to spark court challenges.

By some estimates, a roadside police stop for suspected impairment in Ontario could expand to a 30-minute procedure, including an expanded Standard Field Sobriety Test and/or the summoning of a trained Drug Recognition Evaluator to the scene. In cases where drug impairment is determined to be likely, the OPP says, a suspect would then be detained and taken to the nearest location for blood testing.

Neither the OPP nor the Toronto force has made a final decision on whether and to what extent they will acquire and deploy the saliva-testing kits, known as the Draeger DrugTest 5000. The uncertainty over investing in the technology appears to reflect a lack of confidence that saliva-test results will withstand court challenges.

No decision has been made with regard to (saliva) testing devices, but whats important to know is that impaired driving by any means is against the law and the Toronto Police Service has Drug Recognition Evaluators and officers who are trained to deliver the Standard Field Sobriety Test, said TPS spokesperson Meaghan Gray. These officers are capable of identifying an individual who may be under the influence of drugs and alcohol when operating a motor vehicle.

One added complication, said the OAPCs McGuire, is that even if the technology emerges to measure cannabis impairment as easily and accurately as a Breathalyzer measures alcohol impairment, theres nothing in existence that can measure the combination of the two.

What about the guy who has two beers and a joint and then gets behind the wheel? Now you have that combo of two different intoxicants doing two different things and theres no way to measure the combined affect when it comes to impairment, apart from the officers opinion, said McGuire.

That is tricky from a policing perspective, in my opinion, because you are relying on subjective information where a trained officer observes a person walking a straight line or holding a pen to their nose, he said. And theres a whole lot of grey in that, compared to relying on a machine that indicates in black and white precisely what the blood-alcohol level is at any given moment.

The headiest combination of all, arguably, will involve Canadian cannabis users who take a drive to the border and attempt to cross into the United States. Like everything else that happens after Oct. 17, this, too, will be a matter of officer discretion  but crossing into America will be at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents.

U.S. officials have sent a sobering variety of signals suggesting a hardline approach to Canadian border crossers after Oct. 17. But a scan of recent history shows the border has long been a wild card for anyone attempting to cross with a personal history with drugs.

Take the case of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who twice in 2013 made international headlines, admitting first to having smoked a lot of cannabis and later, Yes I have smoked crack cocaine  probably in one of my drunken stupors.

The power of frontline U.S. customs officials was laid bare in what happened next. The following March, Ford, despite his now global notoriety, had no difficulty flying from Toronto to Los Angeles to make a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Yet barely two months later, when Ford flew by private jet to Chicago for a stint in rehab, he was unable to pass customs and instead voluntarily returned to Canada.

Joe Couto, director of government relations and communication with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said all these variables add up to a lot of bumps in the road ahead as we grapple with a pretty fundamental shift for all of us.

I teach a justice class and one of my students recently asked me, Whats right and wrong now? in light of how marijuana used to be the enemy, and now you have a completely legal industry emerging.

Thats a great philosophical question. The reality is that our society is changing and cops have to change with it. And the reality is it wont all happen on Oct. 17. This is going to take some time to see how it all shakes out.
WASHINGTON  The Canadian government does not think legal marijuana users, workers and investors will face widespread problems crossing into the United States despite a U.S. warning that they will continue to risk being barred, a Canadian spokesperson suggested on Friday.

Senior U.S. border official Todd Owen told the website Politico that the U.S. will not do anything to accommodate Canadas imminent marijuana legalization. Owen said Canadians who earn money from the industry or consume its products will still face the possibility of being deemed inadmissible.

We dont recognize that as a legal business, said Owen, executive assistant commissioner for the office of field operations.

But border officers do not ask most travellers about their drug use or their occupation. A spokesperson for Bill Blair, the Canadian minister of border security, suggested that the government does not expect large-scale U.S. hassling after legalization takes effect on Oct. 17.

Despite one-in-eight Canadians using cannabis today, 400,000 people move between our two countries every day almost entirely without incident, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

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The government did not offer any criticism of the U.S. policy. Blairs office, like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself earlier in the week, suggested that the government would not lobby the U.S. for changes  though Blairs office did not say this directly.

The United States has the sovereign jurisdiction to deal with people crossing the border into their country, just as we have the same powers for those entering into Canada, the spokesperson said.

The Star contacted 15 Canadian companies in the cannabis industry on Thursday and Friday. In an indication of industry concern about the policy, only one person was willing to speak on the record.

Terry Lake, the former B.C. Liberal health minister who is now a vice-president at cannabis company HEXO Corp., said the issue has been largely overblown. He said he has crossed the border without incident since he joined the industry.

I havent heard of this being widespread, Lake said. So I dont think theres any sort of systematic approach by the U.S. border services to target people. I think it very much is an individual situation, that the individual officer makes a judgment call.

There are a smattering of known cases in which Canadians with ties to the U.S. legal marijuana industry have been given lifetime bans. They include venture capitalist Sam Znaimer and executives of a B.C. agricultural equipment company.

Any admission of past drug use makes someone inadmissible to the United States, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a Friday email, and working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal marijuana industry may affect a foreign nationals admissibility to the United States.

But border officers do not ask most travellers about their drug use or their occupation.

Its definitely on peoples radars, but you have to realize there are scores of Canadians coming in and out of the U.S. in this industry on a weekly basis, and the number of incidents weve heard about is very minimal, said Chris Walsh, founding editor and vice-president of Denver-based Marijuana Business Daily.

Others connected to the industry remain uneasy, partly because the U.S. government has refused to provide clarity about what kind of investment or employment in a cannabis company might get someone barred. Such companies are publicly traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

A Canadian lawyer who advises these companies would only speak on condition of anonymity to avoid producing more Google results connecting the lawyer to the industry. Before a recent family vacation in the U.S., the lawyer scrubbed their phone and tablet of information about their work.

Im worried that I will be subject to a ban, the lawyer said. I cant give them any other ways to find me than they already can.

Despite their view that there have not been major problems to date, both Walsh and Lake said it would be ideal if the Canadian government could convince the U.S. government to provide legal assurances to people in the industry.

That would be very helpful for all of us, and take away some uncertainty. But again, until we see it become a widespread issue, theres probably little incentive on their part to do that, Lake said.

Pressed on whether they would seek any U.S. changes, the Blair spokesperson said: Officials have discussed the changes to our cannabis laws in virtually every conversation that they have with their American counterparts, including the previous and current Secretary of Homeland Security. We want to make sure that the United States fully understands how we are changing the law and the reasoning behind it.

In a CBC interview on Tuesday, Trudeau said he certainly wont try to impress upon the U.S. who they have to let in or not.

Owen told Politico that officers would not begin to ask every Canadian about marijuana use. They might ask, Owen said, if other questions lead there, or if there is a smell coming from the car, or if a dog detects marijuana residue.

Canadian marijuana users who are asked about their drug use can choose to remain silent rather than offering an admission. Their silence may get them turned away that day but may help them avoid a permanent ban.

Asked what advice the government would give legal users, the Blair spokesperson said: Although the possession of cannabis is legal in some U.S. states, cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law. Canadians who wish to enter the United States or any other country have to adhere to its laws. Previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by U.S. federal laws, could mean that you are denied entry to the U.S. Involvement in the legal cannabis industry in Canada could also result in your being denied entry.
Police have arrested and charged a man with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of a 30-year-old man who was attending a memorial near the Canadian National Exhibition.

On Sept. 2, police were called to Coronation Park, south of Lake Shore Blvd. W. and across from the Princes Gates, for reports of multiple gunshots in the area. They found Michael Lewis, 30, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lewis, of Markham, was attending a memorial for a man who had been a homicide victim nine years ago, Toronto Police Det. Amanda Thornton told the Star at the time.

A memorial barbecue for Kamal Hercules, a 21-year-old man who had been shot dead outside a grocery store in 2009, was set to be held in the park that day.

Thornton at the time said four men approached Lewis where he stood in the picnic area of the park. They had a short conversation before one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Lewis several times at point-blank range, she said.

There were around 30-40 people attending the memorial, Thornton said They fled in all directions.

Read more:

Rosie DiManno: Please, let us never go numb to murder

Andrew Douglas, 25, of Toronto, was arrested on Thursday with the assistance of the Gun and Gang Task Force. He is charged with first-degree murder.

Douglas was scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Friday at 10 a.m.

With files from Alexandra Jones
Toronto Police have released security images of a man wanted in connection with a downtown sex assault.

Officers responded to a call for a sexual assault in the area of Cumberland and Bay Sts. at approximately 1:23 p.m. last Saturday.

A 23-year-old woman was walking in Torontos Yorkville neighbourhood when a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her, police said in a news release.

The woman was then able to break free and run to get help, police said.

The man is described as five-foot-six to five-foot-nine with a skinny build and thin beard. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, light-grey hoodie with hood over his hat and baggy pants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com.
What will happen to the provinces anti-racism directorate?

For many who work in anti-racism, this has been the question since June, when Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives won the provincial election with a majority government.

Community members who worked closely with the anti-racism directorate say theyve received no answers from the government, which controversially moved the directorate to a new ministry and recently disbanded its subcommittees.

Longtime anti-racism advocates who lived through the Mike Harris years are now having flashbacks to 1995, when his Conservative government was elected to Queens Park  and promptly moved to eliminate what was then called the anti-racism secretariat, established just a few years earlier.

Two decades would pass before the anti-racism body was revived by the Liberal government in 2016, amid controversy over carding and debate over the acceptance of Syrian refugees. But less than two years into its mandate, the body, this time labelled a directorate, has fallen back into the hands of a Conservative government and community activists worry the provinces anti-racism efforts are once again doomed to fail.

It just feels like 1995 all over again, where we take two steps forward only to go three or four steps backwards, said Nigel Barriffe, president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. What we see is a very hard, right-wing government that I dont believe has any intention of honouring the commitment that the previous government has made towards the anti-racism directorates strategy.

There are already early signs that changes are coming to the directorate, which had a number of subcommittees, including four community groups that consulted on issues of anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous discrimination, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

In early August, some members of the subcommittees told the Star they were contacted by staff and informed that their services would no longer be needed. It was basically Yep, your year is up, thank you very much, said longtime Jewish rights advocate Bernie Farber, who co-chaired the anti-Semitism committee.

Farber said he and other members received no information about the future of the directorate, whose aim is to advance racial equity and address systemic racism in government policy legislation programs and services.

Nothing can be gleaned from Premier Fords mandate letters to ministers, either, which might clarify some of his intentions for the anti-racism directorate  the government is keeping these letters secret, even though they were publicly released under the previous administration.

The anti-racism directorate also ignored a list of questions sent by the Star on Aug. 20. These questions included: What is the directorates budget? Whats happening with the government-wide plans to collect race-based data? And what are the provinces priorities for the anti-racism directorate going forward?

We dont know anything, said MPP Michael Coteau, who was previously the Liberal minister in charge of the directorate. One of the most troubling pieces with the new government is that theres been no transparency with regard to their mandate.

People are quite worried, said MPP Laura Mae Lindo, the NDP critic for anti-racism. You cant approach anti-racism that way; you have to be transparent in what it is that youre doing. You have to be willing to listen to the community organizations.

To Barriffe, what the Ford government has been transparent on is its views toward issues that matter to racialized communities. He points to comments Ford made during his campaign where he expressed support for TAVIS, a now-defunct police unit that was heavily criticized for its negative impact on racialized communities. When the NDP recently introduced a motion to ban police carding  also known as street checks, which disproportionately affect people with black and brown skin  and destroy data collected through the practice, Conservative MPPs largely voted against it.

I think that we have to believe what we see and what we see is them reversing all of the forward movement that we made in addressing anti-Black racism in society, he said.

But Barriffe doesnt necessarily think the Ford government will kill the anti-racism directorate outright. Rather, he suspects it will die from a thousand cuts  neglected and defanged from its original purpose and intent.

Already, the directorate has been relocated to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, which is headed by MPP Michael Tibollo  the minister who was heavily criticized by opposition parties for making blatantly racist comments in July, when he described wearing a bulletproof vest during a visit to the Jane and Finch neighbourhood.

The move diminishes the directorates influence within the government, said Avvy Go, director of the Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, who served on the directorates consultative body.

Previously, the directorate was based at the Cabinet Office. The idea behind that was that anti-racism is important across the board, not just for any one ministry, and that all the ministries must pay attention to the issue of racism and finding ways of eliminating it, she said. Once youve slated it under one particular ministry, then we lose that cross-departmental knowledge-sharing and accountability measure.

But the decision to move the directorate to this ministry  the same one in charge of police and prisons  also sends a troubling message, says longtime community activist Nene Kwasi Kafele, who also served on the consultation group with Go.

The implication (is) that racism is simply an issue of policing and safety, he said. In my view, theres some dog-whistle stuff around Black people and racialized communities being a danger, and therefore targeted approaches to them generally need to be subsumed under an area that addresses security and safety. Its a terrible message.

Lindo notes that the directorate, under the previous government, did have its flaws, however. For one, she believes it could have done a better job of folding in the work of community groups, many of which have already been on the front lines of anti-racism for decades.

Farber also has his criticisms of the directorate. He felt issues relating to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia were not prioritized as much as they should have been during the early stages of the directorate  though he started seeing signs of progress in the months leading up to the election.

We started to make some headway; there were resources there that we were looking at to provide education on anti-Semitism, Farber said. And thats what we were working towards, during the time leading up to the last provincial election. And then, quite frankly, things sort of grinded to a halt.

Kafele points out, however, that while the directorate was just getting started, it did achieve some major accomplishments. The provincial government now has a legislative mandate towards combating racism in the province, he said, as well as a commitment to collecting disaggregated race data; commitments were also made towards underserved and marginalized populations, like Black youth in Ontario.

None of this existed back in the early 90s, when both Kafele and Farber were involved with the anti-racism secretariat the first time around. And despite some of its early hiccups, Farber agrees the need for an anti-racism directorate is as urgent as ever, especially with the rise of right-wing extremist groups and an increasingly polarized political climate.

The government gives (importance) to concepts like a buck-a-beer but not when it comes to racism, which has huge impacts on society, Farber said. The world is getting not just more complex but more dangerous, and we need to have policies and understandings in place as these issues go forward.

Read more about:
Theres no projected return date for the 1,500 residents of a highrise at 650 Parliament who were forced from their homes by fire last month, but thats not for lack of effort, a lawyer representing the buildings property managers says.

This is a monumental task, lawyer Bruce A. Thomas said on Thursday in the property managers first public statement since the electrical fire in the St. James Town building on Aug. 21.

The buildings being checked over by numerous safety inspectors and no clearance have been given to begin repairs, Thomas said.

Theyre still trying to figure out what caused the fire, Thomas said.

We havent had a signoff yet from the regulatory authorities, Thomas said.

Everyones concerned with public safety, Thomas said. The safety issue is paramount.

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Meanwhile, it has been a herculean task to find accomodations for the displaced residents, especially with the Toronto International Film Festival taking up local hotel space.

Its not the money, Thomas said. You cant get a place.

Theres no empty apartments in the city of Toronto at the moment, Thomas said. That has been a real burden.

Thomas praised the efforts of the Red Cross and Mayor John Tory in finding temporary shelter for the buildings residents.

People should realize that the City of Toronto has really stepped up to the plate, Thomas said.

The mayor has been terrific.

Thomas added that the crisis have also been hard on building managers, who are no longer collecting rents.

Theyve got obligations, Thomas said. The owners have to make payments.

Meanwhile, some displaced residents are breaking their leases and moving on.

Building manager Doug Sartell said as many as 10 tenants have already cancelled their rental agreement.

We didnt want to stand in the way of them getting acceptable affordable long-term accommodation, to be an impediment to them making a decision to help their family, he said.

People are dealing with the reality of the situation. Its not really surprising.

Residents have been encouraged to look for short-term accommodation through their families and friends. Close to 200 residents are staying in emergency shelter at Regent Park Community Centre, according to the city.

Sartell said prices for any vacant units after renovation will reflect the market rent, but returning residents will be charged the same amount they were paying before. He said there were long-term tenants who were paying under $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, but that cant be expected for new renters.

We want them back. We want them home, he said of the displaced tenants. They didnt ask for this. We didnt ask for this. We all have to deal with it.
Lawyers representing a local developer suing the City of Brampton for $28.5 million alleging former mayor Susan Fennell and former senior city staff were biased in handing out a major downtown expansion project, wrapped up closing arguments in Orangeville court this week.

Legal teams for Inzola Group Inc. and the City of Brampton gave their final summations to Ontario Superior Court Justice John Sproat Wednesday and Thursday.

The case, involving eight weeks of trial testimony, pretrial depositions, several motions and more than 20,000 documents, is now in the judges hands.

In its closing submissions, Inzolas legal team argued it had successfully proven bias against Inzola and its owner, John Cutruzzola, on the part of former mayor Susan Fennell and former senior city staff in charge of the 2010 southwest quadrant expansion project request for proposal (RFP) process.

Inzola claims Fennell and members of senior staff, who made up the steering committee in the controversial competitive dialogue bidding process, actively sought to steer the RFPs outcome in favour of eventual bid winner Dominus Construction and against Inzola, which was eventually disqualified.

As part of their argument, Inzolas lawyers pointed to alleged violations of the RFP rules by Dominus after the contract was awarded, which they claim evidence shows the firm was never sanctioned for.

Dominus breached the process in a fundamental way, Inzola lawyers told court, referring to questions surrounding finances and apparent misrepresentation of rights to a property required for the City Hall West Tower expansion at 20 George St.

The plaintiffs also claimed Mississauga-based Morguard Corp., the third bidder on the project, was given special extensions to prepare its bid. In its closing statements, the City of Brampton argued Inzola was also given similar leeway.

Adding an additional layer of legal intrigue to the proceedings, this project was the first time the competitive dialogue procurement process had ever been used in Canada.

(The process, which appears to have originated in Europe, allows organizations to discuss the procurement with suppliers before specifying the project requirements and before inviting the suppliers to submit their proposals.)

Another central component of the plaintiffs case is a confidentiality agreement RFP respondents were asked to sign as part of the competitive dialogue process, which Inzolas lawyers called an unreasonable secrecy agreement.

Inzolas objections and refusal to sign said agreement is the central reason it was disqualified.

The agreement, according to Inzola, was vague and prevented transparency and accountability in the process.

The citys legal team countered that expert testimony proved the confidentiality agreement was central to the integrity of the competitive dialogue process, itself.

Inzolas attorneys added they believe the city had a contractual obligation to all RFP respondents to conduct the process fairly and equally, but, instead, applied the rules differently to the three companies bidding on the project.

Not only did it have to be fair, it had to reasonably appear to be fair, Inzola attorney Stuart Svonkin told the court, adding Inzola believes the city failed on both counts.

The argument for bias was rooted in email exchanges and committee meeting minutes between senior staff discussing and sometimes disparaging Cutruzzola during the process. Inzolas lawyers also highlighted evidence from two Brampton councillors  Grant Gibson and Elaine Moore  who testified they felt the process was biased against Inzola.

When it came to damages, lawyers for the plaintiff argued Inzola wasnt guilty of the citys stated RFP violations it was disqualified over, and was due any potential profits lost based partly on a legal concept called loss of chance.

Not surprisingly, the City took the opposite position and argued Inzola was due no damages at all. The citys lawyers claimed Inzola was not only warned beforehand, but disqualified based on clearly stated violations of the RFP rules.

What we have here are blatant breaches of the RFP, City of Brampton lawyer Adam Stephens said.

Inzola did what it did with its eyes wide-open, Stephens added. It adopted a high-stakes approach despite repeated warnings from the city.

A large part of both the citys defence and Inzolas allegations were grounded in contractual law, in particular, a legal principle called the privilege clause was a focus for both sides. It allows owners  in this case the City  to refuse all bids in a procurement process.

The citys lawyers were steadfast that Inzola was in clear violation of the RFP rules, and while conceding senior staff made disparaging and questionable remarks, insisted such interactions were not evidence of bias.

There was enough fairness and equality in the process, that the integrity of the process (was not compromised), argued the defence.

City attorneys dismissed much of Inzolas case as conspiracy, while also arguing previous case law did not support the remedy the plaintiff is seeking.

This theory and these allegations are simply not supported by the trial evidence, they argued.

Sproat indicated his decision would likely come in November or January.

Graeme Frisque is a reporter with The Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. Email: gfrisque@metroland.com

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Here was Caroline Mulroney, Ontarios Attorney General, on why her government is rushing through revised legislation about the Toronto election, overriding a court ruling: Because time is of the essence, the National Post quoted her. There is an election in the city of Toronto in a few short weeks .

We cant delay, you see, theres not time for debate; we need to get this law in place because the election is upon us! A provincial government press release noted it was rushing to clear up the uncertainty for voters in time for the election.

Now heres the thing about the uncertainty  you could say chaos  that hangs over Torontos election today, fewer than six weeks before the vote: it is caused entirely by the actions of Doug Fords provincial government.

The city election was characterized by near absolute certainty until the premier decided to launch legislation changing the rules in the middle of the campaign.

Doug Ford is the cause of all the uncertainty.

Read more:

Premier Doug Ford is holding a weekend House session to try to save the Toronto council cut legislation

Ford's use of notwithstanding clause is legally risky for the province, expert warns

Martin Regg Cohn: Never mind the charter, Doug Ford has diminished our democratic norms

Its almost banal to note the obvious, but it is a recurring fact of Doug Fords politics: he causes a crisis, then holds himself up as the solution to it.

With that in mind, lets look for a moment at the talking point often used by Ford and his caucus and defenders: that Toronto city council (somehow because of its size) has been unable to build any transit in the city.

Leave aside a moment that the proposed remedy makes no sense.

The premise, itself, is wrong.

Toronto built lots of transit until the Conservative government of Mike Harris in the 1990s cancelled subway lines that were already under construction (even filling in a tunnel on Eglinton) and simultaneously withdrew all provincial funding for Toronto transit.

Fast forward to the mayoralty of David Miller, when the city council approved, got funding for, and began building the subway extension to York University and Vaughan (which is now open) and the Eglinton Crosstown subway/LRT line (which is still under construction and should open in a few years). He also had approval and funding to build the Sheppard LRT and the Finch LRT and a replacement for the Scarborough RT, all of which would already be open right now .

Except for one thing.

The premiers late brother Rob Ford was elected mayor and declared those projects dead.

They proposed a ridiculous transit plan, instead.

The city council they were supposed to lead overruled them. A new plan  a Bloor-Danforth subway extension in Scarborough and some LRT lines  was approved.

Since the Ford brothers left, a bunch of transit projects have been approved in principle or affirmed (including a subway extension and a new subway line), some of them at least partly funded, and work has progressed on them.

No delays.

No back-and-forths.

No gridlock at all.

The process of building it is long, and perhaps could be sped up. But political dysfunction has played little part in the story outside of a Conservative provincial decision two decades ago and then the intervention of the Ford brothers, themselves.

This transit folklore, of course, is meant as an illustration of the general paralyzing political dysfunction and gridlock that Ford and his party say characterize Toronto city council.

But the only time that characterization has been remotely true during the post-amalgamation era has been when Rob Ford was mayor.

Mel Lastmans city hall functioned. It was eventually characterized by the confusion of amalgamation and the corruption scandal detailed in the MFP inquiry, but there was no paralysis.

David Miller, as mayor, never lost a single significant vote (although his new revenue tools were delayed a few months at one point).

Under John Tory, there has been lots of vigorous debate, but no gridlock.

Im trying and failing to think of a single major proposal Tory has put forward that he has failed to implement.

Now, in the middle there, we have the Ford years, during which council began overruling the mayor on major items such as the budget or his transit plan.

This is sometimes councils role.

This became more pronounced when the mayors personal scandals overwhelmed city hall business.

Perhaps you could call that dysfunction and gridlock.

But that was not a function of city hall or its setup  and certainly not of the size of council.

It was a result of the mayor, and the reaction to his agenda, his governing style and his personal behaviour.

Whatever obvious dysfunction and gridlock Doug Ford witnessed in his years on Toronto council, he and his brother were the cause of it.

Yet today, his government points to that infamous dysfunction and lack of progress as a problem to which  Ta Da!  Doug Ford is the solution.

The emergency solution.

Which, of course, causes chaos where there was none.

And which has to be implemented immediately.

To resolve the chaos, you understand.

It becomes, quite quickly, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The government is broken, he says.

Then he smashes it.

Then, having evidence it is broken, he raises his hammer again as a proposed repair.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

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Refugee Duygu Baris is faced with an excruciating choice.

The Toronto mother, who is awaiting permanent residence status in Canada, must either turn her two young daughters over to authorities in Germany where the girls have been living temporarily, or send them back to Turkey, where their father is in jail over ties to a 2016 coup attempt.

Baris, 42, has just days to decide what to do when Zeynep, 16, and Hatice, 9, who have been staying with family friends in Cologne since they were spirited out of Turkey in June. As Turkish citizens, the girls are only permitted to stay in Germany for up to three months as visitors, but that comes to an end on Sept. 25.

In early 2017, with the help of smugglers, Baris, an ophthalmologist, fled to Canada alone via Greece and was granted asylum last September. She immediately applied for permanent residence, but until she gets her status, her husband and daughters cant join her here.

So far, the immigration department has refused to expedite Baris permanent residence application or respond to the familys request for a temporary permit to allow the girls to come to Canada while their permanent residence application is being processed. The familys lawyer, Clifford McCarten, said it is just a matter of time before the girls are granted permanent residence status.

There is no question they will become permanent residents, he said. Unless Canada acts, the family is facing permanent separation spread over three countries.

Baris initially planned to seek asylum in Germany but border officials there refused to let her board her flight from Greece and she was redirected to Canada via London by smugglers. An accepted refugee in Canada, Baris, who suffers from a muscular degenerative condition that restricts her mobility, cannot seek asylum in Germany or spend too much time outside of Canada or shell jeopardize her residency here.

Meanwhile, her daughters have no other means to prolong their stay in Germany after Sept. 25 unless they seek asylum protection there to buy time while their Canadian permanent residence application is in process. However, to do that, they will be placed in state care as unaccompanied minors, which will further complicate their future status in Canada.

If I could apply for asylum in Germany with my daughters (now), I would. The most important thing for me as a mother is to be together with my children, said Baris, who flew to Berlin in June on a special refugee travel document to see the girls for the first time since she left them in January 2017.

Immigration department spokesperson Shannon Ker said the familys permanent residence is still being processed and the average time of processing is about 33 months.

Temporary Resident Permits (TRPs) can be issued to foreign nationals who are inadmissible or do not meet the requirements, Ker explained. The TRP is always issued at the discretion of the delegated authority. There are no published processing times for TRPs.

According to Baris asylum claim in Canada, both she and her husband, an internal medicine doctor, are longtime followers of the teachings of the outlawed Fethullah Gulen or Hizmet Movement, which Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan has blamed for the failed 2016 coup. The couple worked at a Hizmet-affilated hospital and their children attended Hizmet schools.

Baris claimed that after the attempted coup, her husband was arrested and charged with participating in a terrorist group, and all the familys assets and bank accounts were seized by the government. Her husband was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail.

Baris, who also had a warrant against her, sold her car for cash to pay smugglers to get her and her daughters out of the country but the money covered only the escape of one. She didnt want to put the girls lives at risk and decided to go alone, first leaving them in the care of her mother-in-law in Izmir, a city on Turkeys Aegean coast.

She said the smugglers bribed a Turkish border guard to let her through into Greece by car and from there she was put on a flight to London and Toronto.

Although she could have waited to reunite with her daughters after the family obtained permanent residence under her refugee claim, she was so worried for the girls safety that she arranged for their escape in June, just months after the UN released a report that found Turkish authorities were detaining women  some with children  because they were associates of suspects connected to outlawed organizations.

Canada has already recognized that (Baris) is a survivor of this purge, and for that she has been granted Canadas protection. All that she asks now is for our help to protect her children by offering temporary residence, said McCarten.

Otherwise they will be stranded in a third country, orphaned and separated while one parent is facing years in prison and the other safe but alone in Canada. We have built humanitarianism into our immigration laws, and this is precisely a circumstance that warrants flexibility.

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BOSTON  Kianni Arroyo clasps 8-year-old Sophias hands tightly as they spin around, giggling like mad. Its late afternoon, and there are hot dogs on the grill, bubble wands on the lawn, balls flying through the air.

The midsummer reunion in a suburb west of the city looks like any other, but these family ties cant be described with standard labels. Instead, Arroyo, a 21-year-old waitress from Orlando, is here to meet DNA-in-laws, various sister-moms and especially people like Sophia, a cherished donor-sibling.

Sophia and Arroyo were both conceived with sperm from Donor #2757, a bestseller. Over the years, Donor #2757 sired at least 29 girls and 16 boys, now ages 1 to 21, living in eight states and four countries. Arroyo is on a quest to meet them all, chronicling her journey on Instagram. She has to use an Excel spreadsheet to keep them all straight.

We have a connection. Its hard to explain, but its there, said Arroyo, an only child who is both comforted and weirded-out by her ever-expanding family tree.

Thanks to mail-away DNA tests and a proliferation of online registries, people conceived with donated sperm and eggs are increasingly connecting with their genetic relatives, forming a growing community with complex relationships and unique concerns about the U.S. fertility industry. Like Arroyo, many have discovered dozens of donor siblings, with one group approaching 200 members  enormous genetic families without precedent in modern society.

Because most donations are anonymous, the resulting children often find it almost impossible to obtain crucial information. Medical journals have documented cases in which clusters of offspring have found each other while seeking treatment for the same rare genetic disease. The news is full of nightmarish headlines about sperm donors who falsified their educational backgrounds, hid illnesses or turned out to be someone other than expected  such as a fertility clinic doctor.

And while Britain, Norway, China and other countries have passed laws limiting the number of children conceived per donor, the United States relies solely on voluntary guidelines. That has raised fears that the offspring of prolific donors could meet and fall in love without knowing they were closely related, putting their children at risk of genetic disorders.

Now the donor-conceived community is starting to demand more government regulation  so far with mixed results. Earlier this year, Washington and Vermont became the first states to require clinics to collect donors medical history and to disclose that information to any resulting child. Similar bills have been introduced in California and Rhode Island.

But last month, the Food and Drug Administration rejected a petition from a donor offspring group that sought to limit the number of births per donor, mandate reporting of donor-conceived births and require donors to provide post-conception medical updates. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wrote that such oversight exceeds the FDAs mission, which is limited to screening donors for communicable diseases. An FDA spokeswoman declined to comment further.

Sean Tipton, a spokesman for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which represents most of the nations fertility clinics, said such proposals would have infringed on the right to privacy and to procreate, giving government control over who has children with whom.

We think these decisions are best made by the families, not by activists and certainly not by the government, Tipton said.

The lack of federal action has infuriated members of donor families such as Wendy Kramer, a Colorado woman who penned the FDA petition.

There is no government agency that wants to step in to regulate or oversee the business of creating human beings, said Kramer, whose son, Ryan, 28, has so far discovered 16 half siblings conceived with sperm from the same donor. As wonderful as the connections are, there is an underbelly ... It has really revealed how this lack of regulation has had ramifications for real families.

Eighteen years ago, Kramer and Ryan founded what has since become the largest online site for the donor-conceived, the Donor Sibling Registry, or DSR. In simplest terms, the DSR is a matching site. People type in their donor number  an anonymous code assigned by the fertility clinic  and connect with others born from sperm or eggs from the same donor. Its all voluntary, and contact is achieved through mutual consent.

Today, the DSR has more than 60,000 members and has helped connect about 16,000 offspring with their half-siblings or donors. As the site grows, so does the potential for new connections. Ryan has discovered five new sisters in just the past four months.

Jennifer Moore, a 55-year-old graphic designer from Loveland, Colo., has two boys conceived with donor sperm. Through the DSR, they have connected with triplet half-siblings in another part of the country.

The boys call one another bro and are all very athletic. They are also all into crazy socks and hats and crazy fashion sense, Moore said, adding: As a parent, it has been a bizarre experience having that many clones of your children appear before your eyes.

Their parents try to get all the half-siblings together at least once a year, Moore said. Though her boys have a father, her ex-husband, she wants them to know more about their background and not wonder why they might look or act different from their parents.

Foundationally, everyone has a right to know where they came from, she said.

While a growing number of the donor-conceived are seeking to connect with half-siblings, it can be harder to find the donors, who may not want to be found. But internet sleuthing and the widespread availability of genetic testing is eroding the guarantee of anonymity they once enjoyed. So far, Moores donor has proved elusive, but she has been in contact with several of her sons genetic cousins, discovered on an ancestry site.

One of the most important revelations of the DSR has been to confirm the existence of prolific sperm donors  real-life versions of the Vince Vaughn character in the movie The Delivery Man who learns that he fathered 533 children through his donations.

Many countries set strict limits on the number of offspring a donor can sire. In Britain, its up to 10 families; in Netherlands, 25; in Taiwan, just one. But no such laws exist in the United States, where the American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends limiting live births per donor to 25 per 800,000 population  about the size of San Francisco or Charlotte. In a nation of 326 million people, that works out to a staggering 10,175 possible children per donor.

Concerns about prolific donors are not theoretical. Kramer and other parents tell their kids to memorize their sperm or egg bank name and donor number, and to share that information with potential dates. She knows of a camp counsellor who stumbled onto a half-brother while talking with a camper. In another case, two women searching for roommates at Tulane University discovered they were half-sisters.

Kianni Arroyo had to work harder to meet her genetic family. The first person she found was her biological father.

Donor #2757 stands five-foot-ten and weighs 185 pounds. He has hazel-green eyes, wavy brown hair and is descended from German, Irish and Native American stock. In his profile, hes described as a photographer with a bachelors degree who likes biking, surfing and writing. He donated his sperm to pay off college student loans.

The women who chose Donor #2757 did so for various reasons. Arroyos mom liked his looks and his artistic background. Another woman, who would later give birth to Zac LaRocca-Stravalle, now 19, liked that he could trace his lineage to a brave military officer whose exploits were documented by historians. Rebecca, the mother of Sophia and twin Ava, thought he seemed like someone Id date. (Rebecca asked that she and the twins be identified only by their first names to protect their privacy.)

Arroyo went searching for her donors identity in her teens and met a person active in the donor-offspring community who had somehow gotten that confidential information. She friended her donor on Facebook and contacted him shortly before her 18th birthday. They met when he was in Orlando on a business trip. She drove to his hotel and looked for a man who looked like her.

When I found him, I didnt know whether to hug him or shake his hand or not touch him at all. It was really awkward, Arroyo recalled. But then he kind of opened his arms into a hug and accepted me. It was kind of relieving.

Donor #2757 told her he was still working as a photographer, that he was single and that he had no children of his own. Through Arroyo, he declined to be interviewed or identified, citing privacy concerns.

About a year later, the donor connected Arroyo with her first half-sibling: JoAnna Alaia, 20, of Tampa, who works in business administration. Shes a twin, but her twin was not interested in meeting with Arroyo. So the two women rendezvoused near the highway, drove all night, got pulled over for speeding, and met with Donor #2757 the next day in his hometown.

Since then, their sibling group has mushroomed. Arroyo has discovered seven half-siblings in Florida and seven more in New York, five in Massachusetts and four in Georgia. Because American sperm is sold widely overseas, she has also found half siblings in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

So far, Arroyo is the oldest, but not by much. There are 10 other 20-somethings. Then there seems to be a decade-long gap before another batch of half siblings arrived, children now in elementary school.

This summer, Arroyos vacation plans revolved around meeting her donor siblings. She, Sophia and Ava spent a few days on Cape Cod with a 9-year-old half sister from New York who has her donor number tattooed on her wrist. Then they hosted a cookout in the Boston area for the Massachusetts-based families.

Five of Arroyos half-siblings were at the reunion: Sophia and Ava, LaRocca-Stravalle and another set of twins, Addeline and Vivianna Juliani, age 8. Everyone noted the family resemblance: The laid-back, sporty kids all had wide smiles and prominent dimples on their right cheeks.

Kristen Juliani, one of the twins two mothers, recounted how a sperm bank sales person had recommended Donor #2757 as a model donor. She was not thrilled to learn that her donor was so popular.

I dont feel great about it, she said. There should be a cap on sales.

Arroyo has mixed feelings, too. While every visit with her half-siblings has been a blast, she finds it worrying that sperm banks permit so many children to be born from a single donor.

Every time I find a new sibling, she said, I get anxiety and think to myself: When is it going to end?

A few days before she left the reunion, Arroyo got a message from yet another half-sister. Rylie Hager, 19, is a sophomore studying sociology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Arroyo invited her to join a group of half-siblings who planned to meet Donor #2757 in mid-August. The first night, they went bowling, and Hager noted that three of the girls were wearing the same outfit: grey tank tops and shorts.

Its all really crazy, she said. These people are strangers, but because Im related to them, they have all kind of accepted me.

Hager said when she first found out about the size of her group of half-siblings, she sent an alarmed text to her mom. Is that exciting to you, or terrifying? her mom asked.

Hager replied: Both.
At a county board committee meeting Thursday, Lauzen called for an accounting of the time and resources McMahon and other county attorneys have spent during the last two years since McMahon was assigned independent prosecutor on the case against Van Dyke, who is charged with murder in the 2014 shooting death of an African-American teenager, Laquan McDonald.
Twenty years ago, in a child-abuse case that made headlines for the shocking nature of the crime, a crack-addicted Toronto mother was convicted of repeatedly feeding her young son cocaine, based on drug-testing evidence from two Motherisk experts.

In his reasons for judgment, the judge cited test results of the 4-year-olds hair, which purported to show sustained use over a three-month period.

This was not a case of accidental exposure, Justice John Hamilton concluded in the 1998 decision. The amount found in the hair indicates numerous usages.

Joyce, whose last name is being withheld to protect her sons identity, has always maintained her innocence. She may have had drug problems. She may have made poor choices. But she insists she never fed her child cocaine.

Beginning in the early 90s, Motherisk conducted at least 35,000 hair tests on 25,000 individuals, primarily for child welfare providers, who relied on the results as proof of parental substance abuse. These were often families on the margins, without the means or know-how to effectively challenge the results of Motherisks hair tests, which influenced decisions to take away their children.

In many respects, Joyce fit this profile: she was a single mother and an admitted crack addict, who relied on public assistance. But this was not a child-protection case. She was on trial for a serious crime.

Joyce served nine months in jail before she was released on probation. After decades of being maligned and disbelieved, she assumed she would have to carry the weight of her conviction for the rest of her life.

That changed last month, after her case was unearthed by the Star as part of an ongoing investigation into the drug-testing scandal at the Hospital for Sick Childrens former Motherisk lab. Despite efforts by Ontarios attorney general to identify and review criminal cases involving Motherisks hair tests, which were discredited in 2015, Joyces conviction was missed.

The oversight raises questions about the comprehensiveness of the governments internal review, and whether other convictions based on Motherisk testimony have gone unnoticed.

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Separated by a Hair: Fallout from Motherisks flawed tests a national tragedy

Motherisk hair test was thrown out by a Colorado judge  22 years before the scandal blew up in Ontario

Nearly four years after serious concerns about the reliability of the once-trusted hair tests emerged, her story shows how difficult it is to trace or measure the lasting damage caused by Motherisks flawed forensics.

Joyce is now fighting to clear her name with the help of veteran wrongful-conviction lawyer James Lockyer, whose defence of another Toronto mother convicted of similar charges first raised doubts about Motherisks hair tests in late 2014.

I will do all I can to quash her conviction for a crime that now I have every reason to believe she didnt commit, Lockyer said.

A spokesperson for the attorney general has confirmed that a review of Joyces case is underway.

In an interview, Joyce said, When I was going to court, I knew I didnt do it, but nobody believed me. Nobody listened to me. Its about time somebody heard.

Court records depict Joyce as a troubled young mother, struggling to manage the hyperactive, aggressive behaviour of her son when she was charged in the summer of 1996.

The 28-year-old had battled crack addiction since her late teens, following a traumatic childhood in Toronto, marked by physical abuse and neglect, and the complete rejection of Joyce by her mother, a pre-sentencing report states.

But Joyce was a loving and caring mother, according to the boys father, David, who maintained an on-and-off relationship with Joyce, provided financial support and visited her downtown apartment regularly.

During Joyces preliminary inquiry, David testified that she was always attentive to her son, even when she was using.

She was good with him, David told the court. Lots of times shed be reading him books, calming him down.

Child welfare workers had visited Joyces apartment on two occasions, after receiving complaints, but both times they determined the concerns were unfounded.

They came to my house and found that I was a good mother, she said in an interview. I had food in my fridge. My house was clean.

By the time her son was 3, Joyce was having trouble controlling him. She also worried about his speech and communication skills, which appeared to be lagging.

She sought treatment at various hospitals with little success. After seeing a TV program about Ritalin, used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, she took matters into her own hands. She bought Ritalin from a friend, and started giving it to her son. She believed the pills were helping.

In April 1996, while in the care of a babysitter, the boy somehow got into the Ritalin bottle and took two or three pills. Worried that he had overdosed, the babysitter took the child to Toronto Western Hospital. The doctor determined he was not displaying overdose symptoms, but after speaking with Joyce, who expressed concerned about the boys behaviour and development, referred him to a clinic at Sick Kids.

There, Joyce admitted to buying Ritalin from a friend. Pediatrician Dr. Patricia Parkin expressed concern that the high dose Joyce had been giving the boy could be dangerous in young children, who were not typically prescribed the drug until age 6.

Parkin prescribed a much lower dose with an eye toward weaning him off the medication, and attempted to set up a community support plan to help with parenting skills. Joyce agreed to bring in her son for regular checkups, including urine screening, and to stick to the new prescription. (Parkin declined to comment for this story, citing doctor-patient confidentiality.)

At a follow-up appointment, on June 5, 1996, the boys urine tested positive for cocaine. The positive urine screen was a red flag, an indication that the child was exposed to cocaine in the past few days.

The hospital notified childrens aid. The boy was apprehended, and a sample of his hair was collected for another type of drug testing at Sick Kids that held the promise of tracing the boys long-term history of cocaine exposure, including the amount in his system and how it got there.

There is some uncertainty about how the hair-testing was performed in Joyces case. The available court records contain few details about the procedures the lab used, and the Motherisk experts who testified  former lab manager Julia Klein and former lab director Dr. Gideon Koren  declined to provide this information to the Star.

In a recent email, Klein said, I do not remember testifying 20 years ago in the  case and I cannot answer your questions about the case.

Koren, who founded Motherisk in 1985, did not respond to a request for comment.

Sick Kids also declined to respond to questions, citing ongoing litigation, except to say that hospital CEO Dr. Michael Apkon and Dr. Denis Daneman, who retired last year as pediatrician in chief, were not aware of (Joyces) case.

There is good reason to doubt the reliability of any hair-testing evidence the lab produced before it was closed in 2015.

As a Star/CBC investigation revealed last year, a Colorado court threw out Motherisks evidence in a pretrial hearing in a murder case in 1993. In that case, in which Klein testified, the lab was criticized by the prosecutor, judge and two scientists for: failing to verify preliminary results with a confirmation test; not following standard procedures; operating as a forensic lab without proper accreditation; and not meeting the high bar for evidence presented in court.

These same concerns were identified 22 years later in a government-commissioned review of Motherisks hair tests from 2005 to 2015. Retired Ontario judge Susan Lang concluded the testing was inadequate and unreliable for use in criminal and child protection cases. She said it had serious implications for the fairness of those proceedings, and recommended a review of those cases.

Last summer, an Ontario government committee completed a review of six criminal convictions involving Motherisks hair tests, including the case of Tamara Broomfield, who was convicted in 2009 of feeding her son cocaine. Broomfields successful appeal of the drug-related charges blew the lid off the Motherisk scandal. (Koren provided the hair-testing evidence at her trial.)

Aside from the Broomfield case, the attorney general has said there were serious concerns about only one other conviction, but has refused to identify the cases reviewed, although criminal charges are on the public record. Earlier this year, the ministry declined the Stars request through freedom-of-information legislation for a copy of a report on the committees review. The Star is appealing.

A spokesperson for the attorney general confirmed that Joyces case was not referred to the (committee) during its initial review, and that it will now be examined.

In general, he said the ministrys search for affected criminal cases included canvassing Crown law offices and obtaining information from the Motherisk lab. He declined further comment.

But there is at least one source of historical information the government apparently failed to consider: newspapers.

The Star stumbled across Joyces case by chance, while combing through the papers archives for stories about Motherisks experts.

Boys hair samples loaded with cocaine, read the headline from Joyces June 1998 trial.

It was one of several stories published in the Star on the case, which was also covered by the Toronto Sun, Canadian Press and Globe and Mail. The articles dont contain the word Motherisk, but the Sick Kids experts who testified about hair testing they performed in the case are identified as Julia Klein and Gideon Koren.

The court records make clear that the hair-testing evidence played a pivotal role in Joyces conviction.

According to the transcript, Klein testified that after washing the hair sample repeatedly to eliminate external contamination, she detected levels that would typically be found in adult chronic users of cocaine, which she defined as someone who uses three times a week for at least three months.

There were also high levels of cocaine metabolite, which is produced when the drug is broken down by the body, suggesting the cocaine had been consumed, she said.

Koren testified that out of hundreds of samples the lab had tested in recent years, the levels of cocaine found in Joyces sons hair were in the highest range ... we have encountered.

(It) is much more likely that cocaine was incorporated in the hair through the bloodstream that nourished the hair and much less likely from the environment, Koren said. (The hair testing did not measure the Ritalin in the boys system.)

Joyce told the court that she smoked crack only after her son was in bed, opening the apartment windows and tucking a towel under his door. She testified that the boy may have been exposed through second-hand smoke or accidentally eating a crumb off the floor, the Star reported at the time.

I just said, I never did that. I never gave it to him,  she recalls. They kept saying I force-fed my son cocaine. They kept saying it and kept saying it, and I just told them I wasnt going to talk to them anymore.

Nobody believed her because I was a drug addict, she said. Drug addicts are liars and thieves, thats what everybody thinks.

Joyce was acquitted of the charges related to Ritalin. Justice Hamilton found Joyce had always been up-front with doctors about giving the medication to her son and at all times was seeking help. He also found no evidence that the boy had suffered bodily harm.

But because the cocaine was detected in the boys urine as well as in his hair at levels that could not have come from second-hand smoke, Hamilton concluded that he must have obtained this drug from within the apartment.

As (Joyce) is the only source, I find that she must have administered the drug to him, he wrote. As Dr. Koren said, cocaine is not meant to be given to children and is a dangerous and noxious drug and the amount found in the son was a dangerous amount and thereby, by giving it to him or allowing him to get it, she endangered his life, and I find her guilty.

Joyces lawyer argued for house arrest, but Hamilton was not swayed.

Such conduct of giving a young child cocaine cannot be rewarded with a conditional sentence. The public would be outraged, he said. This is a serious violation to the victim and (Joyces) conduct does not justify clemency.

She was sentenced to the maximum jail term of two years less a day.

Prison was tough on Joyce. She said she was targeted by other inmates, who did not look kindly on those convicted of hurting kids.

They know all about you before you even get in the front door, she said. I got hurt many, many times. I was scared every day that I was going to get killed.

In an interview, David said he was mad as hell when Joyce was convicted, and tracked down the best lawyer to handle her appeal.

That lawyer was James Lockyer.

In a 1998 letter filed in court, Lockyer told David that the trial judge may have wrongly excluded the possibility that the cocaine in (the boys) hair was a consequence of second-hand cocaine smoke. But to render a solid opinion on the merits of a conviction appeal, he said he would need to consult an independent expert on the hair evidence and obtain a full trial transcript  which he estimated would cost roughly $3,000.

However, Lockyer said he had enough information to strongly recommend a sentence appeal, in part because Joyce had no previous criminal record. David took him up on the offer. In April 1999, the Court of Appeal reduced Joyces sentence to time served and three years probation.

The commission of this offence is difficult to comprehend, Justice Marc Rosenberg wrote on behalf of the three-judge panel in a unanimous decision. It does not appear that (Joyce) bore any ill will towards her child or that she was unconcerned for her childs welfare.

Joyces problems persisted. She continued to struggle with crack, and the nature of her conviction made it tough to find work. Before her conviction, she and David consented to their son becoming a Crown ward. She had supervised visits with her son for several years, but the visits stopped when he started questioning her about why he was taken away.

Childrens aid ... said its not appropriate for him to know. I feel that if he asks me a question about himself that I should answer. He has the right to know, she said.

They started telling me he wasnt available, she said of her son. After that I just stopped calling them. I got the hint.

Fifteen years after Joyces sentence appeal, Lockyer would play a key role in exposing the problems at Motherisk, by producing fresh expert evidence in Broomfields appeal that criticized the reliability of the hair tests.

Lockyer did not initially make the connection between Joyces case and the flawed hair tests, but as soon as he read his old file last month, he could see that this was another case in which Motherisk ... had caused a miscarriage of justice, he said.

Within 24 hours, Joyce was in his office, hashing out a plan to overturn her conviction.

Joyce had no idea about the problems at Motherisk.

I was shocked. I was overwhelmed. I was angry, she said. I keep wondering, why didnt (the government) tell me or say anything? Ive had to live with this for 20 years.

Lockyer said he has asked the Crown to join him in an application to the Court of Appeal to quash Joyces conviction. His preliminary conversations with the other side suggest the Crown is concerned about this case and that it hasnt been resolved, he said.

Toronto Star reporter Rachel Mendleson describes the process of finding Joyce, a Toronto mother who was convicted of feeding her young son cocaine, based in part on hair-testing evidence from Motherisk.

Michael Lacy, the president of the Ontario Criminal Lawyers Association, said the fact that Joyces case was overlooked by the attorney general raises doubts about the legitimacy of the internal review.

Lacy is urging the province to appoint a reviewer who is independent of the ministry to cast the net wider, and examine affected convictions in a transparent, impartial way.

However, the search for additional cases will be a formidable challenge for any reviewer, because there is no tracking system for various types of forensic evidence admitted in individual cases, and some of the key players at Motherisk have not been forthcoming.

During Justice Langs review of Motherisk, in which participation was voluntary, both Koren and Klein declined requests to be interviewed, choosing to respond to Langs questions in writing. When asked whether he had testified in any cases besides that of Broomfield, Koren replied: I do not recall testifying in other cases regarding hair testing. Klein, for her part, told Lang that she was called to testify in court beginning in 2002, although both the 1993 Colorado case and Joyces 1998 trial pre-date that period.

Joyce, 50, now lives in a rooming house in North York, where she is recovering from the crack addiction that has dogged her for more than half her life. She is taking a computer course and relies on public assistance.

But for the first time in decades, she has hope  that she will be able to reconnect with her son, now 26, and start anew.

It would be nice to have a clean record. Then I can get a real job, she said. I want to put on an application, No criminal record. Thats what Id like.

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At the age of 15, Laurissa Rose Degraw attempted to take her own life for the first time.

Over the next five years, she tried four more times.

She made it very clear that this is how her life would end, says her mother, Aimee Huitema. She said it to me. She said it to her social worker. She said it to her doctors that she would take her life one day.

More than 5,800 Canadian children and youth have died by suicide during the past 13 years across Canada  some as young as 8 years old, according to data compiled by a Toronto Star/Ryerson School of Journalism investigation from coroners offices in all provinces and territories except Nunavut.

Suicide is second only to accidents as the leading cause of death for young people in Canada.

In 2005, 146 people between the ages of 8 and 24 died by suicide in Ontario, according to coroner data. In 2016, the figure was 181.

Degraw was 20 when ended her life on a summer evening in July of 2016, hours after she returned home from a week at the familys Lake Huron cottage.

We had an amazing few days at the beach with my parents and my younger daughter Lily. Everything was perfect, says Huitema.

But upon their return home, Degraw told her mother she wanted to go for a walk after dinner. She would never return.

In what was at least her fifth attempt at suicide, she hanged herself. Police found her body a two-minute walk from her house in Ingersoll, Ont.

Despite dedicated government mental health campaigns aimed at young people over the past two decades, youth suicide rates have remained steady. Some provinces have seen increases in recent years.

In Saskatchewan, 36 young people killed themselves in 2005; that number jumped to 54 last year. In British Columbia, the number rose to 114 from 78 a decade earlier. In Nova Scotia, the figures more than doubled in that same time frame.

Deaths are only recorded as suicide if the intent is clear. Experts estimate that for every completed suicide, between 10 and 100 suicides are attempted.

A 2016 survey of 1,319 Canadian teens aged 13 to 18 conducted by Kids Help Phone found one in five seriously considered suicide.

The coroners data does not break out ethnicity or race. But Health Canada data shows suicide is the leading cause of death for Canadian Aboriginal youth, where the rate of suicide is five to 11 times higher than for non-Indigenous populations.

Kids are suffering, says McMaster University assistant clinical professor Dr. Catharine Munn. One student told me it felt (like) she was screaming at the top of her lungs, but no one was listening.

National data on youth hospitalization for mental health issues also show a steady upward trend. Since 2007, emergency department mental health visits for patients aged 5 to 24 have jumped 66 per cent, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. One in 12 was given mood/anxiety or antipsychotic medication.

Hospitalizations related to intentional self-harm increased by 102 per cent for girls aged 10 to 17 between 2009 and 2014 (four times higher than boys), CIHI data shows.

Its like cancer. But we ignored it for decades, and now were surprised? says Munn.

While governments have acknowledged the crisis  and responded with millions of dollars in funding and programs  there have been few signs the problem is abating.

Kimberly Moran, CEO of Childrens Mental Health Ontario, says there needs to be counselling and therapy for moderate mental health issues as well as specialized mental health services for those who may be suicidal and require 24/7 intensive treatment.

Treating a child who is sad or depressed is much less money than it is for a child that is critically ill and in a hospital, and thats certainly what happened to us. Once my daughter became suicidal then she had to be put in an in-patient unit in the hospital, says Moran.

Dirk Huyer, chief coroner of Ontario, says coroners dont have the expertise to understand all underlying factors. Clearly, all of us in this society recognize that this is an important issue and an issue that continues to occur and that many in society are trying to figure the underlying factors, he says.

One factor is bullying which has escalated and intensified on social media and brought into the national spotlight after the suicides of 15-year-olds Amanda Todd, Jamie Hubley and Todd Loik, as well as Rehtaeh Parsons, 17.

Suicide happens in the darkest moments of your life where you feel like nothing else can help solve your problems, says Carol Todd, Amandas mother. They think that if they disappear off the earth, all their pain will go away. They don't think beyond how much it can hurt the people around them or if theres a tomorrow that will be brighter.

I was afraid that if you said the word (suicide) then you would implant the idea, but the idea is already implanted in their head, she says.

Amanda died in October 2012 at her home in Port Coquitlam, B.C. About a month before, she had posted a video to YouTube entitled My Story and used flash cards to tell about being bullied. She also left a video message to her parents on her cellphone. Carol still hasnt been able to watch.

With teenagers, its like someone can say, I hate you, I dont want to be your friend and Im going to tell everyone all the bad things about you, and that will be enough to spiral everyone down, especially if theyre vulnerable to start with, she says.

Marshall Korenblum, psychiatrist-in-chief at the Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health, says that while bullying among youth has been around for hundreds of years, social media has compounded its impact.

You can basically spread a rumour now to hundreds of people with one click of the button so bullying is old as the hills but social media makes it faster, more widespread and easier to be anonymous, Korenblum says.

Then theres the growing exposure young people have to suicide  even the celebration of self harm  on television and social media which can trigger the minds of young children.

If youre at all thinking about suicide and you wanted to learn how to cut yourself, or if youre anorexic and you want to learn how to starve yourself, theres a lot of websites out there that tell you how to do that, he said.

The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why has generated controversy across school boards in Canada for its portrayal of suicide. Some elementary schools sent out emails to parents to let them know students were prohibited from even mentioning the show on school grounds.

Depression  among the most common forms of mental disorders amongst youth  is also a factor.

Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubleys son, Jamie, was battling depression after being verbally and physically bullied throughout elementary and high school.

The bullying began escalating on the school bus when Jamie, a figure skater, was in Grade 7 and continued into high school as he was constantly teased for being openly gay.

You feel helpless, says Allan. You cant get them help when youre trying to get them help. It just wasn't available.

Jamie died by suicide in 2011.

Gay youth are four times more likely to die by suicide than heterosexual youth, due in large part to bullying and negative family attitudes, U.S. studies have shown.

Jamies father is still struggling to understand how it happened.

Why are (kids) coming to that conclusion? asks Allan. Whats going on today that kids are deciding that the best way to deal with this is to end their lives?

With files from David Lao/Ryerson School of Journalism

Where to get help

Distress and Crisis Ontario: http://www.dcontario.org/centres.html

Your Life Counts: https://yourlifecounts.org/find-help/ (enter Canada/Ontario)

Youthline (support for LGBT youth): http://www.youthline.ca/

ConnexOntario (all ages): 1-866-531-2600

Good2Talk (post-secondary student helpline): 1-866-925-5454

Kids Help Phone (general counselling line): 1-800-668-6868

Online chat/text/email:

Youthspace: http://youthspace.ca/

Ontario crisis text (2 p.m. -2 a.m. ET): 741-741

Ontario Crisis Chat ( 2 p.m. - 2 a.m. ET): www.dcontario.org/ontx.html

YouthSpace: 778-783-0177 (6 p.m.  12 a.m. PST) or youthtalk2@pcfsa.org

Other/national:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) in French or English: toll-free 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness 24/7 Help Line: 1-855-242-3310

Canadian Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419

Trans LifeLine (all ages): 1-877-330-6366
Willowdale Councillor David Shiner will not be re-entering the Toronto election despite musing earlier in the summer that representing a larger ward in a 25-ward system would be interesting.

I will not be running in the next election, said Shiner in an interview Sept. 13 with Metroland Media Toronto. I made a decision that I'm not going to run again to represent the great community that I had in the past. I've been inundated with calls and people who've commented and their comments that they wish I was running, especially in these tumultuous times, but I am not changing the decision I made in the summertime.

Shiner informed his Ward 24 (Willowdale) constituents in July that he would not be seeking re-election via a newsletter. But in an interview with Metroland Media Toronto on the day when Premier Doug Ford first announced he was introducing legislation to cut council to 25 wards, Shiner indicated he might reconsider:

The 25-member ward is interesting  I was around in the former city of North York and had to deal with Mel Lastman and when amalgamation came around, it was quite exciting to get involved in work with the regional and local level, and now there's another option on the table, he said at the time. I think we can be more efficient with 25 members. That is still something I would like to consider but at this point in time I have decided not to run.

That left the possibility open that he would choose to run again in either the new Willowdale ward or the new Don Valley North ward.

But Shiner clearly stated Thursday that he was sticking with his original decision.

I truly think that people should not reconsider whether they wish to be the representative of the community based on the ward boundaries, he said. That's a ridiculous way to say, Im going to run. 

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WASHINGTONPaul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman and one of Washingtons most prominent lobbyists, is close to a plea deal with federal prosecutors to avoid a trial scheduled for next week on charges stemming from work he did for pro-Russia political forces in Ukraine, people familiar with the case said Thursday.

Manafort has already been convicted on related bank and tax fraud charges arising from an investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller. The negotiations over a plea deal relate to a separate set of seven charges encompassing conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, false statements and violations of a lobbying disclosure law.

It was not clear which charges Manafort might plead guilty to or whether he would co-operate with Muellers team in its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, possible collusion with the Trump campaign and obstruction of justice by Trump.

His trial on the second set of charges is scheduled to begin in U.S. District Court in Washington on Monday. A pretrial hearing, postponed this week, is scheduled for Friday.

A jury in Northern Virginia convicted Manafort last month of eight counts of financial fraud based on much of the same evidence that prosecutors planned to present in the second trial.

He would also likely face a tougher jury pool in politically liberal Washington than he did in the first trial, held in federal court in Alexandria, Va.

Read more:

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Any plea by Manafort would be another unsettling development for a president who seems increasingly isolated and distrustful of members of his own circle.

For months, Trump has praised Manafort for confronting Mueller instead of trying to negotiate a plea deal.

Four former Trump aides have pleaded guilty to charges related to the special counsel investigation: Michael Cohen, the presidents longtime personal lawyer; Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser; Rick Gates, the former deputy campaign chairman; and George Papadopoulos, a former campaign adviser.

Only Papadopoulos has been sentenced; a judge last Friday ordered him to spend 14 days in prison for lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian government intermediaries.

Manafort has been reassessing his legal risks after last months trial. He was found guilty of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to report a foreign bank account, crimes that legal experts predicted would likely result in a prison term of six to 12 years.

Prosecutors have approached the second trial much like the first: with a wealth of documentary evidence and a range of witnesses who worked with Manafort. In pretrial filings, they listed 2,127 potential exhibits.

The defense has planned to show that the special counsel had targeted Manafort because he had headed Trumps presidential campaign. But Judge Amy Berman Jackson of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had already signaled that argument was out-of-bounds.

Trump has repeatedly come to Manaforts defense. Paul Manafort is a good man, he said after the Virginia jury returned its verdict. It doesnt involve me but its a very sad thing. In private discussions with his lawyers, Trump has raised the option of pardoning Manafort.

It was unclear whether that possibility has figured in Manaforts thinking. If he pleads guilty, his lawyers could argue that he deserves a lighter sentence for accepting responsibility for his crimes.

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WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to co-operate with the special counsels Trump-Russia investigation as he pleaded guilty to federal crimes and avoided a second trial that could have exposed him to more time in prison.

The deal gives special counsel Robert Mueller a key co-operator who steered the Trump election effort for a pivotal stretch of the 2016 presidential campaign. The result also ensures the investigation will extend far beyond the November congressional elections despite entreaties from the presidents lawyers that Mueller bring it to a close.

It is unclear what information Manafort is prepared to offer investigators about the president or that could aid Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But his involvement in key episodes under scrutiny, and his leadership of the campaign at a time when prosecutors say Russian intelligence was working to sway the election, may make him an especially valuable witness.

The agreement makes Manafort the latest associate of Trump, a president known to place a premium on loyalty among subordinates, to admit guilt and work with investigators in hopes of leniency.

Manafort had long resisted the idea of co-operating even as prosecutors stacked additional charges against him in Washington and Virginia. Trump had saluted that stance, publicly praising him and suggesting Manafort had been treated worse than gangster Al Capone. Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, had suggested a pardon might be a possibility after the investigation was concluded.

Then came Fridays extraordinary development when Manafort agreed to provide any information asked of him, testify whenever asked and even work undercover if necessary.

Read more:

Paul Manafort reportedly close to plea deal with U.S. prosecutors on conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges

Another trial with new charges is looming over Paul Manafort

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Mueller has already secured co-operation from a former national security adviser who lied to the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian ambassador, a campaign aide who broached the idea of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and another aide who was indicted alongside Manafort but ultimately turned on him. Trumps former personal lawyer has separately pleaded guilty in New York.

Fridays deal, to charges in Washington tied to Ukrainian political consulting work but unrelated to the campaign, was struck just days before Manafort was to stand trial for a second time.

He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces an estimated seven to 10 years in prison in that case. The two conspiracy counts he admitted to on Friday each carry up to five years, though Manaforts sentence will ultimately depend on his co-operation.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. Hes accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, Manafort attorney Kevin Downing said outside court.

The agreement doesnt specify what if anything prosecutors hope to receive about Trump, but Manafort could be well-positioned to provide key insight for investigators working to establish whether the campaign co-ordinated with Russia.

He was among the participants, for instance, in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians and Trumps oldest son and son-in-law that was arranged for the campaign to receive derogatory information about Democrat Hillary Clinton.

He was also a close business associate of a man who U.S. intelligence believes has ties to Russian intelligence. And while he was working on the campaign, emails show Manafort discussed providing private briefings for a wealthy Russian businessman close to Putin.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders insisted the Manafort case was unrelated to Trump, and Giuliani said, Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.

Its unclear how the deal might affect any Manafort pursuit of a pardon from Trump, though Giuliani told Politico before the deal that a plea without a co-operation agreement wouldnt foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort was allowed to plead guilty to just two counts, though the crimes he admitted largely overlap with the conduct alleged in an indictment last year. He abandoned his right to appeal his sentences in Washington and Virginia and agreed to forfeit homes in New York, including a condo in Trump Tower.

But the guilty plea also spares Manafort the cost of a weeks-long trial that could have added years to the prison time hes already facing following the Virginia guilty verdicts. A jury there found him guilty of filing false tax returns, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

Prosecutors on Friday presented new information about allegations they were prepared to reveal at trial, which was to have focused on Manaforts political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

That case alleged that Manafort directed a large-scale U.S. lobbying operation for Ukrainian interests but never registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent despite being required to do so under the law, and that he concealed millions of dollars in income for the consulting work from the IRS.

He also failed to disclose his involvement in lobbying efforts made through a group of former European politicians, known as the Hapsburg Group, who pushed policies beneficial to Ukraine, prosecutors said Friday.

In 2013, one of the politicians and his countrys prime minister met with then-President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Manafort was later sent an email that the politicians had delivered the message of not letting Russians Steal Ukraine from the West.

Another allegation revealed Friday concerns Manaforts efforts to peddle stories to discredit Yanukovychs opponent, Yulia Tymoshenko, and undermine U.S. government support for her.

Prosecutors said he spread stories and secretly co-ordinated with an Israeli government official to publicize the idea that a U.S. Cabinet official was an anti-Semite for supporting Tymoshenko, who in turn had formed a political alliance with a Ukraine party that espoused anti-Semitic views, court documents said.

I have someone pushing it on the NY Post. Bada bing bada boom, Manafort wrote to a colleague, prosecutors say.

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Authorities in the Netherlands detained two Russian nationals earlier this year. The men were suspected of planning to break into a Swiss lab that is investigating the poison attack on Sergei Skripal in the English town of Salisbury, according to Dutch and Swiss reports.

The Russians were detained in the Hague, NRC Handelsblad said Friday, citing the results of joint reporting with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. The suspects were planning to travel to the Spiez Laboratory, a government-run facility in central Switzerland that investigates nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. They had break-in equipment in their possession, according to the newspapers.

Spokespeople for the Hagues Prosecutors office, the Dutch military intelligence MIVD unit and the Dutch prosecutors office responsible for international investigations all declined to comment on the reports.

We had several indications that there were some hacking attempts during the last few months, including attempts to plant malware that would spread to other labs, Andreas Bucher, a spokesman for the Spiez Laboratory, said by telephone. But we were not compromised.

Tages-Anzeiger reported last week that the two Russians who carried out the Salisbury attack made repeated trips through Geneva. Both suspects are said to have been working for Russias GRU intelligence service, but were not the same people accused by British authorities for the Salisbury poisoning of Skripal, a former Russian agent, and his daughter Yulia, according to the papers.

A spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry, of which the GRU is a unit, was not immediately available to comment.

The two suspects for the planned lab attack were returned to Russia without prosecution in the Netherlands or extradition to Switzerland, according to Tages-Anzeiger.

Swiss NDB intelligence services have been working with their Dutch and British counterparts on the case, according to the papers. The Swiss Attorney Generals office has been investigating the two suspects for espionage since March 2017 and identified the pair arrested in the Hague, the papers said.

The Swiss AGs office said in a statement that it opened criminal proceedings at that time into two individuals on suspicion of political espionage in a different context. Beyond confirming the Swiss Federal Intelligence Services collaboration, the AGs office did not elaborate further. Swiss Intelligence did not immediately return a request for comment.

The NRC reported that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had asked the Swiss facility to confirm a U.K. labs findings that the Skripals had been targeted with a military grade nerve agent developed by Russia, known as Novichok, which it did.

The OPCW declined to comment, citing confidentiality.
The family of Botham Jean, the unarmed Black man authorities say was fatally shot by a Dallas police officer inside his own apartment, spent Thursday celebrating his life. Hundreds of people filed into the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson, Texas, to pay their respects at Jeans funeral service, remembering the 26-year-old businessman as, what his friend Pastor Michael Griffin described him, the light in a dark room.

But then around 5 p.m., the familys lawyers were alerted to some apparent breaking news in the investigation into Jeans death.

DEVELOPING, read a tweet from the local Dallas Fox affiliate. Search warrant: Marijuana found in Botham Jeans apartment after deadly shooting.

The news and the tweet, which received criticism online, had nothing to do with why Jean was killed the night of Sept. 6. But the situation was also familiar, another example of how unarmed Black men who are victims in police shootings are defamed and made to look like criminals even in death as police investigations unfold, said attorney Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney who represents Jeans family.

(Jean) was not only never convicted of a crime, he was never even accused of a crime, never arrested, Merritt told The Washington Post. It took a white Dallas police officer to break into his home and shoot him to death for him to become painted as a criminal.

Dallas police officer Amber Guyger has been charged with manslaughter in Jeans death after authorities say she entered Jeans apartment  allegedly mistakenly believing it was her own  and fired on him. Guyger was in uniform and had just returned from a shift about 10 p.m.

Jeans apartment was dark, she claimed, according to an arrest affidavit. She claimed she saw a large silhouette from across the room, believed it was a burglar and fired her gun twice, striking him in the torso and killing him, the arrest affidavit states.

On Thursday, multiple news outlets reported the results of a search warrant executed on Jeans apartment. A judge authorized police to search for guns, fired cartridge casings, trace evidence such as blood, video surveillance and also any contraband, such as narcotics, according to the affidavit for a search warrant, which the Fort Worth Star-Telegram posted online.

Merritt said the fact that police went looking for drugs appeared to indicate that they were bent on diminishing Jeans credibility, which, he said, is a familiar pattern in police shootings. Police found two shell casings and less than one ounce of marijuana in Jeans apartment, the Dallas Morning News reported. The warrant does not say who it belongs to, but Merritt said it has so little relevance that it doesnt matter.

Its not surprising but its telling. Its telling that in a homicide investigation they went looking for drug paraphernalia, Merritt said. There could only be one purpose for that. The only purpose is to look for information to smear the dead. That is exactly their specific intent.

It is not clear what, if any, search warrants have been executed on Guygers property. The Dallas Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the search warrants. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which is also involved in the investigation, took questions from The Washington Post late Thursday night but public information officers were unavailable to immediately provide responses.

The history of what Merritt described as character assassinations in the deaths of unarmed Black men at the hands of police has been long documented.

In an article published in the January 2016 edition of Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, researchers Calvin John Smiley, a sociology professor at Hunter College-City University, and David Fakunle, now at the Baltimore City Health Department, described several high-profile cases in which information such as a victims criminal history, neighbourhood or even physique was used to posthumously criminalize him.

In the case of Eric Garner, who was fatally strangled by police in New York in 2014, police and subsequently the news media frequently emphasized that Garner was accused of illegally selling individual cigarettes prior to the fatal encounter and that he had a history of arrests, the researchers noted.

In the case of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, shot to death by Cleveland police while holding a toy gun in 2014, the backgrounds of his parents became part of the story of Rices death, as though parenting skills could be to blame for the shooting, the researchers wrote. In one report on Cleveland.com, the media outlet dug up Rices fathers past convictions for abusing women and his mothers two arrests dating back to 2001.

And in the case of 18-year-old Michael Brown, shot to death by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, police zeroed in on Browns alleged attempt to steal cigars from a convenience store prior to the shooting, while critics fired back that it had nothing to do with it. The researchers called the convenience store focus a micro-invalidation in Browns death, arguing this report of him robbing a convenience store took precedent to the overall narrative of an unarmed young Black male being shot several times by a police officer.

Its a systemic issue, Merritt said. Weve been conditioned to associate Black people with crime, even when they are victims, he said.
And it came to pass in the days of Justin the Prince, chief ruler of the True North, there arose in the land of Hogtown, a new Pharaoh, born at odds with his city.

Conceived nigh in the hills of Etobicoke, a stingy and tight-fisted outpost on the western suburb of the great city by the lake, Doug Ford shared his fathers name and would borrow the familys bent toward politics. He also adopted an animus toward the intelligentsia, the elites, the civic architects who created the ethos and culture that made central Toronto the heartbeat of an envious global metropolis.

But to see Doug is to overlook the pudgy pugilist as a political force; for he seems unable to spell finesse and is incapable of pronouncing subtlety.

Whether by nature or nurture, Doug Jr. embraced the ethic that it is better to punch ones way out of a corner than backpedal to fight another day.

Thus, long before, the new Pharaoh became king, er, Premier of Ontario, in the dominion that housed Hogtown, the smiling assassin had earned several names, among them, Doug the Thug.

It was he who rode into Hogtowns city hall for one term with his crack-smoking brother as mayor, and plunged the peoples place into unprecedented chaos and world infamy. The polished half of a diabolical twinning, Doug badmouthed a home for people with autism, called councillors monkeys and journalists pricks, and proposed to cut city council in half and give the mayor more powers and cut the number of libraries and tear up transit plans and build Coney Island on the waterfront and privatize anything that wasnt nailed down.

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And wherever the Fords went, chaos and disruption and strife besieged the people. Oh, they were comical, indeed, and fed the American late night TV comedy machine. Embarrassed, city councillors stripped the mayor of his powers because he could not be counted on to show up for work sober and not under the influence of illicit substances, and because of a litany of other indiscretions. Doug railed and seethed.

When his brother Rob took ill, Doug replaced him and sought the peoples vote as mayor.

But the populace of Hogtown would not be punked again.

So the voters chose another Con(servative), a progressive one, more in line with their sensibilities: John Tory.

When the smiling assassin became Pharaoh and casually mentioned to Timid Tory that he might cut city council nearly in half, the mayor should have taken it seriously. The fact that Trusting Tory sounded no alarm and offered citizens no tool to fight the intrusion, except weak words and a proposed non-binding referendum, left opponents with little option but to ask what he knew about the scam.

In the seventh month of the year that a black woman married into the British monarchy, and the world signaled approval as naturally as it scorned the Trump of a U.S. president, the new Pharaoh ascended the throne in such a twisted and bizarre tangle of circumstances only fate could explain.

A Ford government would return Ontario to a failed past, one scribe had warned the people, pointing to the first Pharaoh, one Mike Harris, whose very name rekindled emotions best left buried. Temperamentally unsuited, another cautioned. A third predicted that Pharaoh Ford would not resist the temptation to inflict harsh measures and Ford-ian restrictions on Hogtown.

The warnings served as an invitation to many across the dominion, especially the Toronto-haters, the jealous citizens always wary of the anything-goes, topsy-turvy, sushi-sucking, maddening mix of grime and grunge and chichi sophisticates in leftist downtown Sodom.

Citizens tired of Liberal party scandals and choking on grouses built up over 15 years or rulers named McGuinty and Wynne grabbed the lifeline. Government-haters and those averse to increasing taxes to pay for things found company and consorts, if not a clan. Perennial trolls of politicians linked up with everyday trolls whose Twitter feeds are populated with posts about elites and leftists and downtown bike-riding pinko environmentalists who wage war on the car.

Now, the new Pharaoh inherited a government that faces serious challenges: 50,000 jobs gone, a rising deficit, the challenge of crafting a budget, a strained health care suystem, unaffordable housing, aging infrastructure and a trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico on the edge of collapse.

Instead of focusing on addressing them, the boss reached all the way down to Hogtown to meddle in its local business.

Call it unfinished business.

He targeted the petty issue of how many councillors the people could elect. Worse, he moved without any consultation or prior warning, cutting the number almost in half. Worse, he changed the rules in the middle of an election. Worse still, when a judge ruled that he was wrong in doing so, the Pharaoh doubled down and used a rarely used consitutional power to override the judge for a purpose it was never intended. Worse even than that, he promised to do it again whenever his political designs are thwarted by the courts  challenging the very system of laws established to govern the people.

The action seemed so extreme for so small a goal.

Who is preoccupied with cutting the number of Toronto councillors to 25 from 47?

And why?

About 20 years ago, when the first Pharaoh amalgamated six cities into one Toronto, 107 councillors were cut to 56. Last election we had 44.

Why the urgency to reduce it further? And only in Hogtown, when almost all of Ontario towns and cities have more councillors per population than Toronto?

Dissembler Doug borrowed from the Trump playbook and staunchly claimed what was demonstrably false: that no transit is being built, infrastructure is stalled and Toronto council is the most dysfunctional in Canada.

The Spadina subway extension opened in December. The Eglinton Crosstown is clearly under construction. And the Scarborough Subway plans are pushing along.

Indeed, the biggest slowdown of transit plans occurred when the Fords arrived at city hall and tore up the comprehensive Transit City plan.

But there is a method to the madness; the Ford plan that got defeated at city council is now being resurrected from the province and there is no council with the power to stop it. With more disruption to come.

In ruling Fords move illegal, Justice Edward Belobaba tried, declaring the obvious: that Fords actions reflected one of pique over principle.

Pharaoh Pique ploughs ahead, notwithstanding. Mission accomplished.

And, once again, the bully tactics prove effective as the ones holding the checks and balances are cowered into silence or bludgeoned into obeisance.

So complete is the coup, so utterly defeated the home side, that Thursdays final emergency gathering of Toronto council was more akin to a wake than an awakening.

When Mayor John Tory finally rose to his feet, the final speaker, and delivered dross and pap that could elevate not a single decibel much less the level of debate, the abject capitulation was complete.

Pity poor Hogtown!

Under Doug Ford rule, ravaged and undefended.

Selah!

Chapter 2: Wheres the fight?

Royson James is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @roysonjames

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The presence of a firearm in the household greatly increases the risk of death in cases of domestic violence. This is a well-researched fact that every Canadian should know. Indeed, this fact is the reason why YWCA Toronto has been part of the growing movement for gun control in Canada for some 20 years now. We know that gun control saves womens lives.

For this reason, the federal governments recent announcement of a federal review on gun control is welcome news. Bill Blair, the minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, will work with Ralph Goodale, minister of Public Safety, on an examination of a full ban on handguns and assault weapons in Canada. This review is an encouraging and progressive start toward eliminating gun violence.

This federal move takes on a special significance in Toronto after a summer of tragic gun violence. In response, Toronto City Council proposed a ban on hand guns and ammunition sales. While this is certainly an important step forward, what has consistently been missing from local discussions on gun violence is recognition of the impact of guns on the lives of women and children.

How can it be that violence against women, which has claimed the lives of 106 women in Canada, thus far in 2018, is not met with the same public outcry and attention? The need for action is urgent.

As a womens organization that shelters and serves victims of violence, YWCA Toronto sees first-hand the harmful effects of guns in the lives of women and children.

Gun violence not only claims lives, it uproots women and children  every year more than 100,000 women and children in Canada leave their homes to escape abuse. Gun violence will not be resolved by having one city proclaim a ban on hand-held firearms. Rather, now is the time for the federal government to use its rightful authority to ban all hand guns and assault weapons in Canada.

Our members of parliament and senators should know the facts. Women face disproportionate risks from guns that are too often used to threaten, control and kill. Indigenous women, racialized women, trans women, older women, newcomer women and women living with disabilities are at increased risk of experiencing violence because of systemic barriers.

Access to firearms by an intimate partner increases the likelihood of femicide by 500 per cent. It is also important to recognize that women in small towns or rural areas are at greater risk of violence and homicide involving firearms than their urban counterparts.

Our politicians must ensure that this upcoming gun control review leads to action  not just further study and talk. They must heed the long standing calls of the Coalition for Gun Control to enact progressive legislation in the face of well-organized and well-financed members of the gun lobby  a lobby that argues gun ownership should extend to assault rifles and unregulated handguns.

The public will be on the governments side as polls demonstrate that Canadians overwhelmingly support strong gun control legislation.

Under the previous federal government, we saw many regressive policy actions on the gun control file. For instance, it is not widely understood that Canada no longer tracks the sales of unrestricted rifles and shotguns  a minimum measure that is recognized even in the United States.

What should be clear is that this poses a risk for public safety and especially for womens safety; the two are inextricably linked. The same federal legislation that has failed to protect people on the streets has failed to protect women in their homes.

Ultimately, we cannot leave women out of the discussion on gun violence. The fight for womens safety is an integral part of the fight for our citys and countrys safety.

Stronger gun control laws in Canada will help to protect women, children and communities from the devastating impact of gun violence. It is on us, as concerned citizens, to speak out loudly and urge the federal government to act with courage and determination for gun control.

Correction  Sept. 19, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said gender-based violence claimed the lives of 57 women in Ontario thus far in 2018. In fact, that number represented the number of women in all of Canada who died by violent means in the first four months of 2018, according to a May report by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability. As of September 2018, that number jumped to 106 Canadian women.
Last month, when Ontarios Progressive Conservative government was being lambasted over its return to an outdated sex education curriculum, Premier Doug Ford tried to pivot to another issue in education: declining math scores.

When asked in the legislature about human rights lawyers launching legal action against the government over sex education, Ford responded: More important are the math tests.

When half our students are failing math, he continued, we have an issue.

Hes actually not wrong, about that last bit anyway. Ontario schools do have a problem with math.

The percentage of students in Grades 3 and 6 who meet the provincial math standard has declined over the past five years. Now, only 49 per cent of Grade 6 students are meeting the standard, down from 54 per cent. Grade 3 results werent as bad, with 61 per cent of students meeting the standard. But even that is down from 67 per cent.

Fluency in math is a prerequisite for careers in the sciences, technology, engineering and many other fields. Indeed, math has been identified as important to more than half of Ontarios future job openings.

And we know that when students struggle with math at a young age they dont catch up later on. In fact, they fall farther behind. That means declining math scores are bad news, not just for the future of Ontario students but for the future of the province in a competitive global economy. This needs to be turned around.

But Fords simplistic solution  essentially going back to teaching basic math by memorization  isnt a magic fix for all that ails elementary school math classes.

A report released this week by the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity points to a problem that starts even before teachers arrive in an elementary school.

Only about 20 per cent of the teachers standing at the head of those Grade 3 and 6 classes have taken a math course themselves since high school, according to the report. And, it notes, Ontario has far fewer teachers with a math major than other comparable North American jurisdictions.

It cant be good to have so many teachers, especially in the younger grades where they often teach the entire curriculum, to have so little grounding (and therefore so little comfort) in math.

Identifying math phobia among teachers as one of the factors in students poor math scores, the previous Liberal government provided funding for teachers to voluntarily upgrade their math skills. But that had limited effect, for the simple reason that those who arent comfortable with math generally handle that by avoiding it. Ontario needs to do more to ensure this cycle doesnt continue.

Thats why the institutes call for a basic math course to be a mandatory requirement for all elementary student teachers during their university training is a sensible one.

The amount of university training time spent on math for elementary school teachers varies widely, but the bulk of it is focused on learning how to teach the subject  not necessarily ensuring they have a solid grasp of math itself. And evidence from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto is that many do not. Thats why OISE has decided to include a mandatory course this fall focusing on math basics for first-year teacher candidates.

Regardless of what changes the Ford government makes to the math curriculum, students are destined to struggle if their teachers arent confident with the subject.

Its unfortunate that the Ford PCs have already set this up as a simplistic battle  like sex education  between new and old. In that view, the new math curriculum introduced by the Liberals is bad and the old-fashioned way of doing things was good.

The idea that simply returning to an early era of teaching math though rote learning  memorizing and repeated practising  will suddenly turn Ontario students into math leaders is hogwash. If math education used to be so great, why do so many parents feel they dont understand math well enough to help their elementary-school kids with their homework?

Ontarios current curriculum tries to strike a balance by emphasizing both practice and memorization along with inquiry-based math, which involves problem-solving and investigation. The education ministry has said that if students arent asked to apply the math theyve learned by rote through problem-solving, the facts fade from memory. And then they have a hard time when math gets more complicated.

Weve long known through standardized testing that math is a perennial problem in Ontario elementary schools and the Wynne government made several changes to address the problem. Those moves have not resulted in the necessary improvements. So it seems more change is needed, possibly to the curriculum itself and certainly to the way teachers are trained and prepared to deliver math classes.

But given that the PCs have already made such a mess of sex education and started a war with teachers by setting up a so-called snitch line, it seems too much to hope the Ford government can approach this important issue in a way that puts kids, not politics, first.

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The ruling came after a week of testimony from medical experts this summer and closing arguments last week. Medical experts called by Liebichs team disputed the contention of prosecutors  that Liebich had beaten Steven severely on Feb. 8, 2002, as he babysat the child while Stevens mother was at her job, and that the child had died from blunt force trauma to the head.
MONTREALWith all the friendly fire coming his way, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer may need a political flak jacket to campaign in next years federal election.

The next 12 months are about to test his capacity to keep the conservative movement from splintering into fratricide factions.

While the daily duels between the official opposition and Justin Trudeaus Liberal government will resume with a vengeance when the House of Commons reopens on Monday, some of Scheers more defining battles could well take place outside Parliament and involve not Liberals but fellow conservative travellers.

The internal tensions only start with Maxime Berniers breakaway party.

Read more:

Is Maxime Bernier getting ready to launch The Peoples Party of Canada?

Ontario Premier Doug Ford trying to save the legislation that will downsize Toronto council

Opinion | Chantal Hebert: Will Quebec be the next province to use the notwithstanding clause?

On Friday, Scheers former leadership rival put some meat on the bone on his plans. He wants the soon-to-be-created Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) to run candidates in every riding next fall.

As he did when he resigned from the Conservative caucus last month, Bernier seized the opportunity to describe his former party as unprincipled and unworthy of the continued support of the many members who supported his leadership bid a year and a half ago.

For all the Beauce MPs talk about looking beyond Conservative voters for support, they are his natural audience and it is Scheer, not Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh, who will be under pressure to keep the Peoples Party at bay next fall.

Ditto in the case of the ongoing constitutional turmoil set in motion by Ontario premier Doug Fords decision to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms so as to shrink Torontos council.

The Conservatives under Stephen Harper spent more than a decade fending off calls from the religious right to use the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution to turn back the clock on abortion rights, same-sex marriage and/or medically assisted suicide.

For all of its efforts, the party could never completely dispel suspicions that it had a hidden social conservative agenda. Fords move will provide Scheers opponents with fresh ammunition.

On the one hand, the CPC leader can hardly vouch that he would never, as prime minister, use the notwithstanding clause without breaking ranks with the Ontario premier. On the other, Trudeau would relish the opportunity to set his main opposition rival as the anti-Charter candidate in next falls campaign.

Fords embrace of the notwithstanding clause has exposed a fault line within the conservative movement that is virtually non-existent over on the Liberal and New Democrat side of the spectrum.

Toronto Mayor John Tory is a lifelong party insider who once led the Ontario PCs. Conservative party elders such as former Ontario premier Bill Davis and former prime minister Brian Mulroney have spoken out forcefully against Fords end run around the Charter.

Many federal Conservatives have been cheering for the Coalition Avenir Quebec in the ongoing Quebec election campaign. But if CAQ Leader Francois Legault does become premier after the Oct. 1 vote, he too could be a cumbersome ally.

With the Bloc Quebecois in disarray, the CPC has been courting nationalist voters more assiduously than at any time since Mulroney was Tory leader. Scheer has already promised to transfer the responsibility for collecting all federal income taxes in Quebec to the province.

But how will the Conservative leader respond if and when a Legault-led government comes knocking at his door demanding federal backing for the CAQs controversial immigration policy?

Legault wants Ottawa to relocate outside Quebec or deport back to his or her country of origin any immigrant to the province who after three years fails to meet the requirement of a government-sponsored French exam.

He would also demand that the federal government reduce the number of refugee claimants and candidates for family reunification allowed in Quebec by 20 per cent.

By the time the next federal election comes around, the Tories could be back in power in Alberta. Since Scheer has become leader, no light has been allowed to shine between the federal party and Jason Kenneys provincial Conservatives.

The two former federal caucus mates stand shoulder-to-shoulder against the federal carbon-pricing initiative. Scheer is committed to removing the additional environmental controls on pipeline projects introduced by the Liberals and to using all legislative means at federal disposal to complete the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Doubling down on a pro-pipeline agenda will be popular in the Prairies but possibly not so much in British Columbia where the CPC needs to make gains if they are to return to government. It is not an accident that the pre-eminence of the pipeline debate in that province in the last federal election coincided with the worst conservative showing in decades.

Keeping the coalition Harper rebuilt together could be Scheers biggest pre-election challenge.

Chantal Hebert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

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Hey, it could happen to anyone. Two hunky Russian spies travelled to Salisbury out of the blue and were mysteriously in the vicinity when the Skripal poisonings took place. And who among us has not been similarly coincidented?

In 2011, I crossed Westminster Bridge in London and five people were later slaughtered on that bridge in a van attack. Sure, it was six years later. But I still wait for the knock on the door and the hawk-like men with badges. Why that bridge? Why that day? (Today I am writing in a Russian accent.)

It was happenstance, I will say. My friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful bridge. It is a seven-arch, cast-iron bridge with Gothic detailing and the oldest road bridge across the Thames in central London.

As Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov told Russian Television  President Vladimir Putin insisted they appear  no one was more shocked than they to be accused of murder. They did not set out to swab the front door of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia with a nerve agent that causes brain convulsions, blocks breathing, brings on vomiting, profuse sweating and death.

Madcap trippers, they simply travelled from Moscow to London to Salisbury on a spire-spotting mission. Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town, said Alex in Russian. Theres the famous Salisbury Cathedral, famous not only in Europe but in the whole world for its 123-metre spire and for its clock, the first one ever in the world.

That is still working, he hastened to add. (Insert Spire, spire, pants on fire joke here.)

Petrov uses the same travel guide I do: Wikipedia. How anxiously Alex and Ruslan  yes, our real names, they chorused  must have recited that at the GRU, the military intelligence service, the night before. You look very nervous, the interviewer said.

The men spoke in monotones. Wed like it if one day the real perpetrators are found and were given an apology.

What a time they had. Arriving at Gatwick on March 2, they took a train to Tower Hamlets and the grottiest hotel in London, next to a police station, weirdly enough.

I looked up the City Stay Hotel on TripAdvisor and it wasnt good. Distressed reviewers  I was like OMG  described frighteningly rude front desk staff, a smell of damp and mould throughout, unspeakable toilets, a dirty bathtub in the driveway, and claustrophobia to the point of illness. One found an actual white grape blocking the sink plughole. My daughter sat on the bed crying, said one reviewer. Under Room Tip, she wrote Dont go here.

Strangely, the poisoners did, and yes, left traces of novichok in the room when they checked out on March 4 to fly home. The next day, someone named Alex left an Expedia review giving the hotel a lousy 2 stars out of 5. The staff was rude and the room damp, Alex wrote, the shower head was blocked, it was noisy all night and the decor was tired.

Still, you know how tight with money Petra in GRU accounting can be. At $99 a night, assassins cant be choosers, and I dont know what it says about Britons that the hotel is tonight fully booked.

I do know what it says about Putins Russia that RT interviewer Margarita Simonyan was deeply into whether the two were gay. The novichok was kept in a special fake Nina Ricci perfume sample? They shared a room?

Dont you think that its kind of stupid for two straight men to carry perfume for ladies? Ruslan asked, presumably rhetorically, and denied it. Simonyan persisted. All footage features you two together, she asked. What do you have in common that you spend so much time together?

I dont know if theyre gay or not gay, Simonyan later tweeted. They are quite fashionable, with little beards, haircuts, tight pants, sweaters tight over big biceps. They didnt come on to me, she added, which in her eyes settled the matter.

Alex and Ruslan didnt have much luck in Salisbury on Saturday. It was snowing! The snow was so heavy that they turned back. I heard the same thing happened to Hitler once. You think theyd know that.

The next day they returned, were clocked near the Skripals home, and dumped the leftover poison to exterminate, oh whoever.

Alex and Ruslans tragedy is not that the Skripals survived but that they missed all the tourist sights they mentioned: the spire, ye olde clocke. The train to Stonehenge was cancelled, they said. (It wasnt.) Although they did dump the perfume sample nearby and it killed a woman. Most people just take a selfie but to each their own.

And the boys are back in Moscow, beardy as ever and possibly still radiant with novichok. Now that Putin thinks theyre gay, next up is Stratford-upon-Avon. Our friends have been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town.
ELSAH  See and hear how historians at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum assisted Hollywood in making the 2012 blockbuster film, Lincoln, on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m., at Farleys Music Hall in Elsah.

Ian Patrick Hunt, Chief of Acquisitions, ALPLM, will present clips from the acclaimed movie together with explanations of how he and others at the Springfield Museum helped Academy Award-winning actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, Pulitzer Prize author, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Lincoln producer of Kathleen Kennedy achieve historic accuracy and authenticity in the Steven Spielberg film about the 16th President of the United States.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County officials want to mark the Mother Road as a National Historic Trail.

The Transportation Committee voted Monday to support the permanent federal designation of Route 66, which runs through nearly a dozen communities in Madison County.

County Board member Phil Chapman of Highland and member of the Transportation Committee said he supports of the measure, which went before congress last year as the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act.

Chapman said he met with Hamel Mayor Larry Bloemker in August to collaborate on creating the resolution.

Route 66 served as the road to opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Americans, Chapman said.

He said the highway provided thousands of jobs for road crews and other workers unemployed during the Great Depression in Madison County.

Route 66 is an iconic symbol of Americas search for freedom, he said.

County Board member Tom McRae and chair of the Transportation Committee said he feels this is an important designation.

People from throughout the world come to travel Route 66, McRae said. This designation will bring in tourism dollars to our area and from people who are anxious to see historic spots along the trail.

The bill designates the 2,400-mile length of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, as the Route 66 National Historic Trail. The U.S. Senate must pass the legislation, and then be signed by the president before the end of 2018.

The Route 66 trail would become the 20th National Historic Trail. The designation would also bring economic development to the routes historic sites.

The designation ensures that the National Park Service will have the authority to assist and support states and local communities in preserving, promoting and economically developing Route 66 for generations to come

In July, the National Trust named Route 66 as one of the 11 most endangered historic places.

The United States commissioned Route 66 in 1926 as part of the first federal highway system, thus the nickname the Mother Road, and it holds historical value to the eight states through which it passes. In 1985, the highway was decertified.

The County Board will vote on the resolution Wednesday.
Women in Springfield took a public stand 11 months ago to try to stop pervasive sexual harassment and unwanted advances in the capitol.

Since then, several lawmakers and political operatives have resigned or been fired after allegations of harassment surfaced. The states Legislative Inspector General, tasked with investigating lawmakers and their staffs but overseen by lawmakers themselves, has largely been on the sidelines. In several high-profile cases, women said they had no faith in the ability of lawmakers to discipline themselves or trust in the person they picked to do the job for them. This highlights the need for structural reform to the entire process of investigating alleged wrongdoing by elected officials.

More than 130 lawmakers, lobbyists and others signed on to an open #MeToo letter in October 2017 that aimed to change the culture under the dome.

Every industry has its own version of the casting couch. Illinois politics is no exception, the letter said. Ask any woman who has lobbied the halls of the Capitol, staffed Council Chambers, or slogged through brutal hours on the campaign trail. Misogyny is alive and well in this industry.

Lawmakers on the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission appointed Julie Porter to be the acting Legislative Inspector General within weeks of that letter. Porter said she could make things better.

A former federal prosecutor, Porter would be well-suited for the post if the job had the power and independence of an elected attorney general. But thats not what the legislature has set up in Illinois as a check on their power and misuse of it. Its important to remember that before Porter was appointed, the position had been vacant for more than two years. The legislature didnt want to be inspected. And it still doesnt.

Also remember that the last person to have that job before Porter called it a toothless tiger.

Thanks to the continued efforts of women brave enough to come forward and those working together behind the scenes, lawmakers could be forced to change things.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a measure into law this spring to address one weakness of the Legislative Inspector General, but more is needed. The new law allows the Legislative Inspector General to investigate sexual harassment complaints without getting approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission, the oversight panel that is made up exclusively of lawmakers. Other complaints would still need to be approved by the commission before an investigation could start.

Letting lawmakers determine which complaints about lawmakers should be investigated and which should not is a charade.

The women who have publicly accused powerful men in Springfield of harassment know this. Sherri Garrett, an employee in House Speaker Michael Madigans office, detailed five years of harassment by Madigans Chief of Staff Tim Mapes. Garrett said at the time that she didnt file a complaint with the Legislative Inspector General because she didnt trust the process. Mapes was quickly fired after Garrett came forward publicly.

Last week, another powerful ally of the House Speaker was cleared by the Legislative Inspector General. Porter determined there wasnt enough evidence to prove Maryann Loncars allegations of harassment against state Rep. Lou Lang. Porter noted that Loncar would not be interviewed for the investigation. Loncar said she never filed a complaint with Porter because she didnt trust that the process could be objective.

And thats exactly the problem. Lawmakers cant be trusted to police themselves. Just like banks cant be trusted to regulate themselves.

Lawmakers must give its Legislative Inspector General real power and independence. But dont expect them to change anything without continued pressure from women and voters.

Brett Rowland is news editor of Illinois News Network and the digital hub ILNews.org. He welcomes your comments. Contact Brett at browland@ilnews.org.
The Manager Human Resource is a strategicleader who designs, implements and administers a full suite of human resource.He/She is responsible for talent acquisition, development programs and policiesthat support and enrich a positive staff experience at the airline. He /She isalso responsible for developing a high-performance culture at the airline,ensuring an attractive place of work, emphasizing communication and engagementat all levels. He/She will be responsible for the welfare and motivation of allstaff.
The Admin Assistant (ICT4D Conference) will beassisting the Conference Manager and Logistics Consultant leading up to andduring the ICT4D Conference (April 30  May 3, 2019) with general admin tasks,local supplier management, venue and supplier visits. The ICT4D Conference wasfounded in 2010 by Catholic Relief Services, and has grown each year to becomean invaluable opportunity for NGOs, private sector organizations, governmentalagencies, foundations and academia to exchange their experiences in using ICTfor development and humanitarian programs and learn from each other. Highlyinteractive and hands-on, the conference attracts a diverse audience oftechnical advisors, executives, and others who offer a range of practicalinsights on applying technology to development, humanitarian, and conservationchallenges.
When the investigator asked him if hed done something like that before  left in the middle of a shift and come back later to change the schedule  Applequist said he had, according to the transcript. When pressed on it, he said he couldnt remember, the transcript shows. At that point, the interrogator dropped the issue and did not revisit it.
Adya Singh would have been a little over eight years today. Like school kids her age, she would have been preparing for her mid-year exams. The indulgent parents might even have promised Adya and her twin sister some post-exam treats.

The little joys of life, however, are not for everyone. And certainly not for Adya's father, Jayant Singh, who recently addressed a press conference on healthcare corruption, issues that came to light after his daughter's death last year, on September 14.

Adya died of dengue at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, exactly one year ago. The case made headlines after a social media post about the child's death, revealing that the parents were charged Rs 16 lakh for treatment that lasted 14 days.

In December, a report by the Haryana government found the hospital guilty of overcharging, and the licenses for its blood bank and pharmacy were suspended.

Despite that, a year later, Jayant says he has not made much headway in the case. The police have not filed any chargesheet in the case yet [he filed an FIR in December]. I have submitted multiple letters to the commissioner, DCP, ACP and IO regarding the chargesheet. Each time, I get the same response: We will do it in a day or two. The Medical Council of India does not agree with the state government's report on the unethical practices followed by the hospital. And, in the writ petition I filed in the Supreme Court in March on the issue of overcharging and medical malpractice by private hospitals, two of the seven [defendants] have not even appointed a lawyer. You are journalists, you tell me. Where should I go to get justice, said Jayant, his voice choked with emotion.

Frustrated with the corrupt system, Jayant told reporters that he was sending a letter to all members of the parliament, demanding reforms in the healthcare sector, particularly with respect to setting up a separate body to deal with issues of medical negligence, and laws to regulate corporate hospitals.

In February this year, a study by National Pharmaceutical Price Authority (NPPA) revealedafter an analysis of patient bills from four prominent private hospitalsthat hospitals make profits to the tune of 1737 per cent on drugs, consumables, medical devices and diagnostics.

The Central government ought to enforce the Clinical Establishments Act (Registration and Regulation Act, 2010) to regulate private hospitals. However, the Act does not cover the important issue of price regulation. The kind of profiteering mechanisms that corporate hospital chains indulge in is dangerous, and need to be regulated, said Indranil Mukhopadhyay, associate professor at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy. Mukhopadhyay, also an activist with Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, said that in the last decade, the private sector had organised itself into hospital chains, and large MNCs and Indian chains had taken over smaller nursing homes. Investments are flowing from the financial sector, angel investments and other forms of hot money flow. Thus, there is always higher pressure for profit, and the danger of oligopolisation is also looming, he said. Mukhopadhyay also pointed to the fact that the Centre's Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme would lead to private hospitals cross-subsidising healthcare for the poor by overcharging the middle class who have the capacity to pay.

Rajiv Nath, President, AISNMA (All India Syringes & Needle Manufacturers Association), said that manufacturers were the guilty party as they printed higher MRP for medical devices. Many times, we try to induce hospitals to use our brands with higher trade margins. This pratice has become widespread, where hospitals ask manufacturers to hike MRP, and manufacturers agree to sell their products, he said. Nath said that the NPPA should put a price cap on the trade margins to curb this menace.
In the coming week, India would look to counter charges of leveraging its domestic steel sector, at the G-20's Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) talks to be held in Paris. India is also likely to register its protest about punitive tariffs imposed by the Donlad Trump administration, on its steel export to the US.

"India is co-chair at the meeting along with Argentina... We would be discussing the issue of US's steel import tariff hike at this meeting and together seek a solution," Birender Singh, Union steel minister told THE WEEK on Friday, at the sidelines of a steel industry event organised by industry chamber ASSOCHAM. The steel minister confirmed that he would attend the meeting in Paris later this month.

The GFSEC was set up with 33 steel producing nations, with the aim to streamline government policies and reduce anti-competitiveness in steel trade. The G-20 body was formed with the aim to reduce pollution, distress to labours and to promote free trade in steel.

In its last ministerial meeting of the GFSEC, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa said that they have state-owned steel manufacturing capacities, but offer a level playing field in steel policies to both public and private steel producers.

Singh said that India had already justified its steel capacity additions and told the forum that emerging economies need to add capacity in order to reach their development goals. All four nations claimed to not support measures that subsidise production or trade of steel, which in turn is cited to distort the global steel market.

India, in particular, cited that its steel sector remains decontrolled for many years now and that the government envisages capacity addition according to the five-fold increase in steel demand, as envisaged in its National Steel Policy of 2017, Singh said.

The US had expressed little satisfaction with the proceedings of the GFSEC. The USTR's (US trade representative) office noted that the GFSEC has not made any meaningful progress yet on the root causes of steel excess capacity and that 'worn out promises will not cure the fundamental causes of the problem'.

"The United States remains fully engaged in working with Forum members for strong actions to address the root causes of the global steel excess capacity crisis. At the same time, the United States will not hesitate to use the tools available under legal authorities to firmly respond to the causes and consequences of steel excess capacity," the USTR stated after the last GFSEC meeting in Berlin, November 2017.

The Trump administration had earlier this year hiked import duty on Indian steel and aluminum. India's steel producers had a major market as suppliers to the US defence and automobile industry for last one decade.

The regime of lower duty on steel imports from India and other steel producing nations adopted by former US president Barak Obama was reversed by Donald Trump earlier in July this year.

Though some countries like South Korea were later provided with an exemption from tariffs hikes on steel exports, countries like China and India had to approach the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other multilateral agencies in order to protect the interest of their steel producers.
Uday Chopra, son of veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra, said he would like to see marijuana legalised in India. He wrote in a Twitter post, I feel India should legalise marijuana. Firstly, Its part of our culture. Secondly, I think if legalised and taxed it can be a huge revenue source. Not to mention it will remove the criminal element associated with it. Plus, and most importantly, it has a lot of medical benefits!

In a later tweet, he wrote that he doesnt use marijuana.

This is not the first time that legislators have pushed the issue of weed legislation. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been pushing for legal marijuana, extolling its medical benefits as well as the help in cutting down illegal drug trade. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had also suggested legalising marijuana in India for medical purposes on the lines of the practice adopted by some developed countries like the US to curb drug abuse.

The suggestion was made by Gandhi at a meeting of a group of ministers (GOM), which examined the draft cabinet note National Drug Demand Reduction Policy, according to the minutes of the second meeting, a copy of which is with PTI.

The GoM approved the draft national policy with minor modifications suggested in the meeting.

Gandhi informed that in "some of the developed countries like the US, marijuana has been legalised which ultimately results in less drug abuse".

She said that "the possibility of the same maybe explored in India", as per the document.

When asked to elaborate, Gandhi told PTI that "marijuana should be legalised for medical purposes, especially as it serves a purpose in cancer".

During the meeting of the GoM, which was chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gandhi also stressed on the need for regulating the sale and availability of pharmaceutical drugs such as codeine cough syrups and inhalants among others which are being abused.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the GoM to examine the draft policy for drug demand reduction which seeks to address the problem of drug and substance abuse in the country.

Referring to the national survey on drug abuse, conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice in collaboration with AIIMS, which covers students, transgenders and sex workers among others, Gandhi said children especially those living in and around major railway stations should also be covered.

She also suggested exploring the possibility of setting up de-addiction centres near these railway stations.
In the wake of the Majerhat Bridge collapse in Kolkata on September 4, the West Bengal Public Works Department (PWD) has identified seven bridges in the city as being "most vulnerable" requiring urgent repairs, a senior official of the department said.

The seven are out of the 20 bridges in Kolkata that the PWD has classified as being "distressed" structures.

The seven bridges labelled as "most vulnerable" are Bijon Setu, Gouribari Aurobindo Setu, Belgachhia Bridge, Tollygunge Circular Road Bridge, Dhakuria Bridge, Tallah Bridge and Santragachhi Bridge, the PWD official told PTI.

"Load-bearing capacities of these bridges were carried out and depending on that report, we have suggested to the police to impose restriction on goods-carrying vehicles to prevent further deterioration of the condition of the distressed structures," he said.

The Kolkata Police has already banned movement of all goods vehicles on the first four bridges and is exploring the possibility of whether a similar decision can be taken for the remaining ones, a senior officer of Kolkata Traffic Police said.

But overloaded vehicles are still plying on the bridges, especially at night, leading to traffic snarls, following which the trucks are stranded on the structures. This might lead to another mishap, the PWD official said.

The PWD is preparing a detailed budget and a plan for immediately taking up the repair work of the seven bridges, the official said.

The department is also carrying out inspections of the remaining 13 bridges, including Dhakuria Bridge, Sukanta Setu and Santragachhi Bridge, following which they will either be labelled as "vulnerable or relatively safe".

"Inspection is being carried to test the load-bearing capacity of Dhakuria Bridge and Tallah Bridge, so that a decision can be taken on the type of vehicles whose movement may be restricted," the PWD official said.

A team of officials from the state PWD department has carried out separate surveys at Sukanta Setu connecting Jadavpur with Santoshpur and at the Karunamoyee Bridge linking Tollygunge to Haridevpur.

"Sukanta Setu has developed cracks in some places and requires repair work. But there is a need of a survey of the structure to ascertain the extent of damage," he said.

Talking about the Santragachhi Bridge, the PWD official said that "poor condition" of the bridge was a cause of worry.

"Santragachhi Bridge is a vital bridge, but a recent survey suggests that it requires immediate repair on urgent basis. We think we must have a separate plan for Santragachhi Bridge because it is used by several hundreds of trucks, bringing in supplies to the city and the suburbs," he said.

Talking about the Sealdah Bridge, the PWD official said that the government was working on options for shifting the shopkeepers to some other locations before starting "immediate" restoration work there.

"Sealdah Bridge is a crucial one in the city, which also immediately requires urgent repairs. But markets and shops need to be shifted first before we start carrying out the renovation and restoration works," the official pointed out.

Talking about the budget for carrying out the repair works at these bridges, the official hinted that it could run into several crores because the restoration work would differ from bridge to bridge.

After estimating the cost, the state government would float a tender and it would be done in "a very short time," the official added.

On whether the bridges were maintained properly or there were lapses on part of the government, the official said, "People have forgotten that bridges have a shelf life and require regular monitoring apart from auditing and maintenance. But these critical parts were ignored and hence bridges have reached such a structurally distressed state."

Three persons were killed while 24 others were injured in the September 4 collapse of a portion of Majerhat Bridge, which connects the city centre with the heavily populated Behala, vast areas of the south-west suburbs and neighbouring South 24 Parganas district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at Indore's Saifee mosque and addressed their nine-day religious discourse. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wwas present on the occasion which is touted to be the first to be attended by any prime minister.

Dawoodi Bohras community is a sect within Shia Islam. BJP has been wooing this community for last few years in a bid to reach out to minorities. The nine-days religious congregation is being attended by thousands of followers from across the country and Madhya Pradesh.

At the Saifee mosque at Indore Prime Minister while addressing the Ashara Mubaraka or Commemoration of Martyrdom of Imam Hussain, he said, Imam Hussain was martyred for peace and justice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his relationship with the Bohra community is very old. He said I am fortunate to have received affection of the Bohra community. The community assisted me during my tenure as Gujarats chief minister. It is a sheer affection of Bohras that has brought me here today. There is hardly any village in Gujarat where a Bohra trader cannot be found.



The prime minister attending any event of a religious nature, organised by the Muslim community has attracted a lot of attention as this was the second major event of the muslim community which was attended by Narendra Modi after he became prime minister in 2014. Earlier in 2016, he attended the World Islamic Sufi Conference in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Modi had come to Indore on a short visit just to attend the function. He landed in Indore around 11 am and returned to New Delhi by 12.30.pm
The ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Thursday bagged three posts, including that of the president, in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections.

The Congress-backed NSUI won only one seat, while the AAP's student wing CYSS which fought the elections in alliance with Left-backed AISA failed to open its account.

ABVP's Ankiv Basoya won the presidential post with a margin of 1,744 votes, while party's candidate Shakti Singh was declared the vice president after he won with a margin of 7,673 votes. NSUI's Akash Choudhary won the secretary's post, while ABVP's Jyoti emerged victorious on the joint secretary post.

Basoya got 20,467 votes, while his rival NSUI's Sunny Chhillar got 18,723 votes. Singh received 23,046 votes against NSUI rival Leena's 15,373 votes.

The All India Students Association (AISA) and the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) presidential candidate Abhigyan got 8,019 votes. Their vice-presidential candidate Anshika Singh, a student of Dyal Singh College, got 7,335 votes.

The alliance's candidate for the post of secretary, Chandramani Dev, a student of Law Centre-II, got 452 votes, while 6,810 students selected NOTA in the election for the post.

Sunny Tanwar, a student of PGDAV College, who contested for the post of joint secretary secured 9,199 votes.

Choudhary, the lone winning candidate of the NSUI, alleged that fair elections were not conducted and data of seven EVMs were missing.

The Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi Thursday clarified that the EVMs used in DUSU elections have not been issued by the Election Commission and it seems to have been procured privately.

The counting had to be suspended for few hours following glitch in the EVMs but was resumed in the evening amid heavy police deployment.

The NSUI demanded fresh polling, while the ABVP demanded resumption of counting.

"There are only 8 candidates. So how is it possible that votes were cast to a 10th candidate? All machines were fine yesterday. Police and administration are involved in this," Fairoz Khan, NSUI president, alleged.

Later, all candidates came to an agreement on resumption of counting.

Celebrations broke out with bursting of crackers and loud cheering at the Kingsway camp counting venue as the results were announced. The supporters lifted the victorious candidates on their shoulders and posed for photos flashing the 'victory' sign.

While the battle for DUSU has mainly been the contest between the NSUI and the ABVP for years, the Left-affiliated AISA and Aam Aadmi Party's CYSS entered into an alliance and also vied for the central panel posts this time.

Amid heavy police presence and some last-minute wooing of voters, DUSU polls were held on Thursday with a voter turnout of 44.46 per cent.

Polling took place at 52 centres in the colleges. There were as many as 23 candidates in the fray.

DUSU is the representative body of the students from most colleges and faculties. Apart from DUSU, which is an umbrella council, each college also has its own students union for which they hold separate elections.

Though Delhi University officially does not recognise any political outfit, students who contest the polls are backed by different parties.

The polls have been keenly contested over decades and are seen as a stepping stone to mainstream politics.

Union minister Arun Jaitley, Congress leader Ajay Maken, former Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, Union minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel are some of the prominent politicians whose journey into mainstream politics began from DUSU.
In a major setback for the Kerala Police, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered that it pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan for framing him in a spy scandal involving the space research organisation.

The Supreme Court also appointed a committee to be headed by Justice D.K. Jain to probe the role of former Kerala ADGP Siby Mathews, and retired SPs K.K Joshua and S.Vijayan for conspiring against Narayanan.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra pronounced the judgement on Narayanan's plea in the Supreme Court. The former ISRO scientist, who was acquitted in the spy case, had approached the Supreme Court after a division bench of the Kerala High Court refused his plea.

The espionage case dates back to 1994 when Narayanan, along with another scientist D. Sasikumaran, was accused of selling classified information on India's cryogenic engine programme to Russia and Pakistan's ISI through two Maldivian womenMariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hassanfor which which he allegedly got sexual favours, too.

However, two years later, the CBI, which took over the case from a Special Investigation Team constituted to probe the case, dismissed all charges against him and slammed the IB and the Kerala Police for the fabricated case. Mathews, Joshua and Vijayan were even accused of implicating Narayanan in the false case. A few IB officers were also found responsible of conspiring against Narayanan.

The Kerala Government ordered the police to re-probe the matter, but the Supreme Court quashed it in 1998. Later, in 2011, the Oomen Chandy government in Kerala decided against taking any action against the three police officers.

Narayanan appealed against the state government's decision not to prosecute the officers. In 2014, the Kerala High Court quashed the government order and asked it to reconsider the decision.

But the officers appealed to a division bench of the High Court, which set aside the earlier order. It was against this order of the division bench that Narayanan appealed in the Supreme Court in 2015.
The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...
Even as bickering in the Congress in Karnataka casts a cloud on its coalition government with the JD(S), the BJP says its party chief, Amit Shah, has asked the state unit "not to create any confusion" and instead stick to playing the role of the opposition sincerely.

Rejecting charges by Congress leaders that the BJP was trying to topple the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, the party's Karnataka unit chief B.S. Yeddyurappa on Thursday said, "There is no need to doubt our motives."

BJP MLAs have been instructed not to give statements on the current political developments pertaining to turmoil in the Congress, Yeddyurappa said.

"BJP national president Amit Shah, with whom I spoke today, has instructed us not to create any confusion. We should not give any statements about the political developments taking place in the state.

Instead, we should stick to playing the role of opposition sincerely," Yeddyurappa added.

Shah's purported advice to the party unit comes amid allegations that the BJP was trying to take advantage of the internal tussle in the Congress and poach its MLAs to unseat the government.

Some senior Congress leaders have blamed the BJP for the recent discontent in their party.

The Jarkiholi brothersMunicipal Administration Minister Ramesh and his MLA brother Satishare locked in a turf war with another minister, D.K. Shivakumar, casting a shadow over the coalition government.

The Jarkiholi siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.

The tussle has spilled into the open with the Jarkiholi brothers' assertion about the support of eight MLAs and that they were in touch with the BJP, fuelling speculation about the stability of the H.D. Kumaraswamy government.

The Jarkiholi brothers, whose dissident activities have caused trouble to the three-month-old Congress-JD(S) coalition, have camped in Bengaluru and have been meeting senior party leaders.

Asked about the flurry of activities at his residence since Thursday morning with BJP MLAs making a beeline, Yeddyurappa clarified that the legislators came only to greet him on the occasion of Lord Ganesha festival.

Some senior Congress leaders have accused the BJP of trying to poach their MLAs to come to power.

The Congress leaders have warned the BJP that they would not keep quiet if BJP tried to destabilise the Kumaraswamy government.

When asked about a Congress leader claiming that at least 10 BJP MLAs were in touch with them, Yeddyurappa said, "Why just 10 MLAs? Let them be in touch with all the 104 MLAs."
We are staying positive about it because we sincerely know Huntley Road needed to be widened and in the long run it will great, she said. Our loyal clients will fight traffic for us. My team jokes that we may even get better exposure from people having to slow down and look over at our building.
Accusing the BJP of attempting to topple his government,Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy Friday warned of legal action against "certain kingpins' who, he claimed, were trying to bribe Congress and JD(S) MLAs to pull down his ministry.

Amid media reports that certain resorts were ready to host some Congress and JD(S) MLAs in the alleged toppling game following internal dissent in the Congress, Kumaraswamy asserted he was ready to face any challenge to his government.

"Whether they keep the resorts or shanties ready, I am ready for everything," he told reporters.

"Presently payments are being made in advance. I won't say more now. You will get to know about it later," he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that certain "kingpins" had been roped in to topple his government.

"Am I not aware of it? Will I keep quiet? Don't I know where the money is being collected and who the kingpins are behind collecting money? I have already initiated measures necessary for legal action.

I will take every decision to give a strong and stable government," he said.

Without mentioning names, Kumaraswamy said that "these kingpins" were into gambling, had abetted a coffee planter in killing his wife and son and were those who had set a Bengaluru municipal office on fire nine years ago.

These people were collecting money to topple his government, he alleged.

Asked why no action has been taken against those trying to 'topple' the government, Kumaraswamy said he was not at all disturbed by what was going on and felt quite comfortable watching this 'futile exercise'.

He also took a jibe at the state BJP for issuing one deadline after the other,predicting the end of the government.

"The next deadline is Monday. Most probably the deadline will extend to October 2 and then to Dasara. I think it will go on extending," Kumaraswamy quipped.

The BJP trashed the charges, saying that it had never indulged in any such activities.

Former Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok challenged the chief minister to spell out the names of those trying to destabilise the government, instead of using words like 'kingpin'.

"We don't have such intentions and do not want to get into such activities. We will think of forming the government only if it collapses on its own due to internal strife," he said.

Meanwhile JDS' coalition partner Congress lodged a complaint with the Income Tax department,stating that some BJP leaders in Karnataka tried to bribe three party MLAs to topple the coalition government.

In a complaint to the Income Tax Commissioner of Karnataka and Goa regions,Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee stated BJP was adopting "illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional methods" to bring down the government.

They accused certain BJP leaders, including an MLA, of offering cash and "other allurements" to Kundgol MLA C S Shivalli, Raichur rural MLA Basanagouda and Hirekerur MLA B C Patil.

The KPCC said these developments were widely reported in the local media and requested the I-T department to take action against those who offered bribes, investigate their sources of income and set the law into motion to prosecute them "in the interest of democracy and the Constitution."

The Congress action came after deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said there were media reports that Rs 100 crore has been exchanged and that speculations were doing the rounds that "a certain number of people (MLAs) are leaving (the party).

He also dismissed any threat to the coalition government.

BJP reacted sharply, with state party president B.S. Yeddyurappa tweeting that "the complaint exposes the bankruptcy of logic among Congress leaders.

Insanity seems to have completey gripped the Congress leaders," he said.

Parameshwara, on being asked about Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi's statement that his brother and minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has his own faction within the party, accused the media of blowing his statement out of proportion.

"There is no such thing. Yesterday also I made this very clear to H.D. Devegowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy when I met them at their homes.

I told them that there is no major problem as projected. I reiterate that the government is stable" Parameshwara said.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister D K Shivakumar.

The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's grand Central Asian reach out is bearing fruit. Come October, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will make his first visit to India. On the cards will be business, people to people contact and, of course, closer strategic links.

In August, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Tashkent in her three Central Asian countries trip. And she is not the only one. India and Uzbekistan have never seen such a hectic spate of official visits. The Uzbek foreign minister was in India earlier while the deputy prime minister has made two visits in the past three months. The last time he was in India, he came with a large business delegation hoping to attract investment. Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu also visited Uzbekistan to expand India's economic reach in the country.

This engagementin the past year, the president and the prime minister, too, have met at the sidelines of SCOis in stark contrast to deep freeze the relationship had done into. When President Islam Karimovwho ruled Uzbekistan for decadesdied in September 2016, India had failed to send a representative.

Since the new president took over in December 2016, there have been several domestic changes that have been helpful and supportive [for a closer relationship],'' said former diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar. The possibility and the potential is greater.''

While India and Uzbekistan have had long civilisation links, diplomatic relations were established only in 1991. For India, Central Asia, for years, has been dominated largely by Iran. There have been other reach outs to Tajikistan, but for the most part, Central Asia had been ignored. However, in the past two years, Modi has tried to fill this gap. He visited Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2015. And there has been a spate of visits by leaders from Central Asia since then. Swaraj's three-nation tour of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has certainly helped.

Soon Mumbai will be just four hours away from Tashkent. Uzbekistan Airways will link the two cities by the end of October. This linking of the two cities is just one aspect of India coming closer to Uzbekistan. And hopefully, this is just the beginning.
Why did the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh finally decide to release 'Ravan'?

The head of the Bhim Army, Chandrashekar Azad, popularly known as Ravan, had been in jail since last year after being booked under provisions of the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly fanning riots in the Shabbirpur area of Saharanpur district. The term to hold him in jail without trial would have elapsed on November 1, but Azad was released on Friday morning.

According to the principal secretary of the Uttar Pradesh home department, Arvind Kumar, the Adityanath government took this decision after receiving an application from Azad's mother.

Azad and the Bhim Army had attracted nationwide attraction after the Saharanpur caste clashes, which were an outcome of dalit anger. Given the political sensitivities, there is more to Azad's release than meets the eye.

Behind the decision of the BJP-led government to release Azad is a subtle political motive, which is wooing scheduled caste voters, who are in considerable numbers in western Uttar Pradesh. There are many districts in western Uttar Pradesh, where dalits constitute more than 50 per cent of the total population.

Azad's release will pave the way for the release of other dalit activists arrested for allegedly instigating violence during the Bharat Bandh on April 2.

Another motive being attributed to the release of Azad is an attempt by the BJP to counter the influence of Mayawati's BSP, which remains popular in western Uttar Pradesh. Given the Bhim Army's association with dalit politics, the BJP appears to be sending a 'goodwill' message to dalits and also is eyeing using Azad as a counter to the BSP.

After the BJPs defeat in the Kairana and Noorpur Lok Sabha bypolls, the party strategists discovered that despite their best efforts the dalit votes were drifting away from it. In the backdrop of this, the BJP feels that it should take all possible measures to woo the dalit vote bank.

As part of this, the BJP had sent Kanta Kadam, a leader of Meerut, to the Rajya Sabha to impress dalits.

BJP leaders are convinced that the decision to release Azad will help them in consolidating the dalit vote bank in the region.

After Azad's arrest, many dalit leaders had met him in jail and organised protests to oppose his arrest and detention, including at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

There is no denying the fact Azad's arrest had given him countrywide recognition and led to him being portrayed as an emerging leader of dalits.

The BJP feels that Azad's 'early' release will assuage the hurt among dalit leaders, which could benefit the saffron party in the coming parliamentary polls.
In an exciting development, North and South Korea opened a joint liaison office in the Northern city of Kaesong on Friday. This sets up a permanent channel of communication as part of a flurry of efforts to end their decades old rivalry.

"A new chapter in history is open here today," South Korean unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon told a ceremony, calling the office "another symbol of peace jointly created by the South and the North". The nuclear-armed North's chief delegate Ri Son Gwon responded in kind, calling it a "substantial fruit nourished by the people of the north and south". South Korea President Moon Jae-in is set to visit Pyongyang next week.

Steps by North and South Korea to improve their relations are running parallel to a bid by the United States and its allies to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

The two sides are now able to take a large step toward peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula by quickly and frankly discussing issues arising from inter-Korean relations, said Ri Son Gwon, the head of North Koreas delegation at the opening ceremony.

The two Koreas previously communicated by fax and special telephone lines, which were often severed when their relations took a turn for the worse.

The two Koreas have sought to pursue joint projects in multiple fields since the April summit between Moon and the North's leader Kim Jong Un in the Demilitarised zone that divides the peninsula, even as US efforts to secure concrete progress towards Pyongyang's denuclearisation have stalled.

Last month, Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang, after the North condemned "gangster-like" demands for what it called its unilateral disarmament.

But Kim has since sent Trump a letter seeking a second summit and held a military parade for his country's 70th birthday without showing off any intercontinental ballistic missiles, prompting warm tweets from the US president and raising hopes of progress.

The liaison office stands in a city that was initially part of the South after Moscow and Washington divided Korea between them in the closing days of World War II, but found itself in the North after the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

The four-storey building includes separate Northern and Southern offices and a joint conference room, and Seoul's unification ministry said it would become a "round-the-clock consultation and communication channel" for advancing inter-Korean relations, improving ties between the US and the North, and easing military tensions.

The office will be staffed by up to 20 people each from the two sides with the South Koreans on the second floor and the North Koreans on the fourth floor of the four-story building.
The Maldives government has fined a private television channel Raajje TV 2 million rufiyaa for airing content that was allegedly defamatory of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) accused Rajje TV of airing content that was allegedly defamatory of the president and "a threat to national security". It is to be noted that Rajje TV is aligned to the interest of the opposition party in the Maldives.

As Maldives inches closer to polls, content that criticises the incumbent government is being met with steep fines, South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly observed.

Hussain Fiyaz, operations chief of Rajje TV, said, "The fines are certainly a political decision made by a commission that is fully under the control of the government."

This is the fourth time that the private channel has been fined under similar charges. This has cost the station nearly four million rufiyaa, over $250,000. On August 8, MBC levied a fine of two million rufiyaa ($130,000) on Raajje TV, for comments made by an opposition lawmaker during live coverage of a demonstration in March.

The company launched a public appeal to help pay the initial penalties and even went door-to-door requesting for donations. Also, the Maldives joint opposition opened a fund box at their campaign site in order to assist the boardcaster pay off the hefty fine.

The fines are imposed under Maldives' Anti-Defamation Act of 2016, according to which the media outlets are coerced to pay their fines within 30 days, regardless of whether there has been time to hear any appeal.

Fiyaz feels that though the fines have been paid off, more may be imposed on them in further attempts to obstruct the station's coverage before election day. "With the elections just around the corner, people don't want to let the government deter us from doing our work," Fiyaz said.

(With inputs from ANI)
Colombo, Sep 14 (PTI) Sri Lanka will seek "concessions" from the UN, including a special request to the drop war crime charges against its troops during the civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said Friday.

Sirisena, who will lead a delegation to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, will address the general debate on September 25.

According to the government figures, around 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the civil war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Relatives of the missing Tamil people allege that the Lankan state - particularly its army, navy and police - were behind most of the disappearances.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Addressing the media persons here Friday, Sirisena said he would use his address at the UN general assembly later this month to make a case for removal of war crimes charges.

"I will make a special request at the UN," he said, adding that "I will also make a written request to the (UN) human rights council to settle this issue of war crimes."

"I want to tell them to remove these charges and give us some concessions to resolve this issue."

Since 2013, Sri Lanka faced three UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions for the alleged human rights abuses during the last phase of the conflict.

The UNHRC resolutions demanded Colombo to set up a credible international investigation. It also condemned the government troops and the LTTE for alleged war crimes.

The resolutions were adopted during the regime of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Following the defeat of Rajapaksha in 2015 general elections, Sri Lanka was given an extension to implement the mechanisms prescribed by the UNHRC.

The government had set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMPs) and also introduced a bill of reparations for the victims of the three-decade-old armed conflict.

President Sirisena also said that some pro-LTTE and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were making various allegations regarding human rights violations.

He said that his government was able to avoid Sri Lanka's isolation in the UNHRC, which had prevailed before it came to power and succeeded in fostering friendship. PTI CORR SMJ AKJ SMJ

SMJ
To be considered for the 2019 Wall of Fame class, nominations must be submitted by Nov. 2. To nominate a Triton College alumnus, visit www.triton.edu/alumni/ and click on Alumni Wall of Fame to read more about the nomination process and criteria, and to complete a nomination form. The selected honorees will be inducted during a special ceremony in early 2019.
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1800 hours:



FGN1 US-DOVAL

Ajit Doval in US; to meet Secretary of State and other top officials

Washington: A week after the successful India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Washington to hold meetings with top officials of the Trump Administration. By Lalit K Jha



FGN12 SWARAJ-RUSSIA

Swaraj, Russia's Deputy PM review progress in bilateral cooperation

Moscow: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov Friday reviewed the progress made in the bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interests.



FGN10 US-H1B-LD PENALTY

USD 300,000 penalty imposed on US firm for paying low wages to H-1B employees

Washington: A US-based IT staffing company has been asked to pay over USD 300,000 to its 12 H-1B employees for paying them far below their salary and imposed a penalty of over USD 45,000 for violating the labour provisions, amidst the Trump administration's crackdown against the abuse of the visa category popular among Indian professionals. By Lalit K Jha



FGN8 US-INDIA-RICE

Rice, wheat producing countries should be concerned about India's domestic support policy: US

Washington: The US has alleged that India is providing massive subsidies to its farmers producing rice and wheat and said that other countries need to be concerned about New Delhi's "trade distorting policy". By Lalit K Jha



FGN7 US-IRAN-OIL

Prepared to take strongest action for not complying with Iranian sanctions US

Washington: The United States is prepared to take "strongest action" against countries and entities who are found not complying with the Iranian sanctions, including reducing to zero the purchase of crude oil from Iran, a top Trump Administration official told lawmakers. By Lalit K Jha



FGN6 PAK-KULSOOM

Plane carrying Begum Kulsoom's body arrives in Lahore

Lahore: A plane carrying the body of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, from London arrived in Lahore, where she will be buried later Friday.



FGN17 LANKA-UN-WAR-CRIME

SL will urge UN to remove war crime charges against its troops: Sirisena

Colombo: Sri Lanka will seek "concessions" from the UN, including a special request to the drop war crime charges against its troops during the civil war with the LTTE, President Maithripala Sirisena said Friday.



FGN13 KOREAS-2NDLD LIAISON

Two Koreas open joint liaison office in North

Kaesong (North Korea): North and South Korea opened a joint liaison office in the Northern city of Kaesong on Friday as they knit closer ties ahead of President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang next week. (AFP)

PTI CPS
Maha collegian arrested for sending lewd messages on Instagram

Mumbai, Sep 14 (PTI) A 19-year-old collegian was

Friday arrested by Crime Branch here for allegedly stalking

and harassing a medical professional by sending lewd messages

from multiple Instagram accounts, police said.

The accused, who was nabbed from his native Akola

district in Maharashtra, is a relative of the victim, a Crime

Branch official added.

The 21-year-old victim had approached Nirmal Nagar

police station complaining that an unidentified person was

sending lewd messages on her Instagram account since October

last year.

The official said that the accused had created 20 fake

Instagram accounts to cyber stalk the victim and would create

new ones every time she blocked an account.

Following the victim's complaint, Unit XI of the Crime

Branch began investigations and, along with the Cyber Crime

Cell, managed to track down the accused's IP address and phone

details, the official said.

The teenager has been handed over to Nirmal Nagal

police station for further probe under sections 354 (d), 506

and 509 of the IPC, he said. PTI DC

BNM BNM
Shillong, Sep 14 (PTI) In a major blow to the Congress in Meghalaya, five-time Chief Minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang resigned from the party, accusing the leadership of adopting a policy of "phasing out" senior leaders.

In his resignation letter to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Thursday night, Lapang said he was resigning "reluctantly and with a heavy heart".

The former Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief accused the AICC of embarking upon a policy of phasing out senior and elderly people.

"In my opinion it means that service and contribution of senior and elderly people is no longer useful to the party," he said in the letter, copies of which were made available to the media.

Lapang said, "This restriction made me frustrated and compelled me to be no longer comfortable in the party."

Lapang first became chief minister in 1992. He was again sworn in as CM in 2003, 2007 and 2009.

AICC General Secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Luizinho Faleirio, said he had not met Lapang in the last three years.

Faleirio said he did not meet Lapang during his recent visit to Shillong for revamping activities of the party.

Lapang, after demitting the office of party chief last year, continued to hold the position of an adviser to the party.

MPCC president Celestine Lyngdoh expressed surprise over Lapang's decision to quit the party.

"We'll try and find out and, if possible, sort out things at the earliest," he said. PTI JOP PR DV

DV
Self-styled area commander of PLFI killed in encounter

Gumla (Jharkhand), Sep 14 (PTI) A self-styled area

commander of People's Liberation Front of India carrying a

reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head was killed in an encounter

with police in Gumla district Friday, a senior police officer

said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team rushed to apprehend

Krishna Gope, who was resting in a paddy field, Superintendent

of Police, Anushuman Kumar said.

As soon as Gope saw the approaching police force, he

started firing at the police forcing them to retaliate, the SP

said adding Gope was killed in the firing.

Police arrested a Gope aide after the encounter, he

said adding two fire-arms and live cartridges were recovered.

PTI BS

RG RG
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) The Tourism Ministry will include the words "The land of Gandhi" in the logo of its flagship programme 'Incredible India' as part of its plans to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, Secretary Rashmi Verma said Friday.

The government, which has already announced its plans to celebrate the occasion in India and abroad from October 2, 2018 to March 30, 2019, has asked all the ministries to keep their plans ready to celebrate the occasion.

"We have planned a number of activities on Gandhiji's life, both in India and in our overseas offices. We will soon change the logo of 'Incredible India' to include the words "The land of Gandhi", and it will be displayed prominently," Verma told reporters.

In fact, all the new advertisements of 'Incredible India' issued from this month onward will feature the reference to Gandhi, officials in the ministry said.

Verma also said that the ministry's overseas offices will distribute literature on Gandhiji. Quiz competitions will be organised to promote the teachings of the Mahatma and create awareness about his life.

The ministry's website will also have an exclusive page on Gandhiji to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had, during his budget speech, allocated Rs 150 crore for the celebrations. PTI ASG GVS
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The CBI Friday arrested an under secretary in the Ayush Ministry for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, officials said.

R K Khatri, holding the additional charge of the post of managing director of Indian Medicine and Pharmaceutical Corporation under the ministry, was nabbed while allegedly accepting the bribe from a clearing and forwarding agent, they said.

The agent had approached the CBI with a complaint, alleging that Khatri had demanded the bribe for clearing his pending bills and allowing him to continue with his work, they said.

The agency is carrying out searches at the office and residential premises of the officer, they said. PTI ABS GVS
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to launch his party's election campaign in poll-bound Chhattisgarh in early October and the process of screening candidates for the assembly polls would be over by this month-end, state Congress leaders said.

This decision was taken at a meeting of top party leaders from the state with Gandhi at his residence. The Congress chief also asked them to hold parleys with states of the Bahujan Samaj Party for possible tie-up in the state.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said the state Congress has given a proposal to the party chief to start the party's poll campaign formally sometime in the first and second week of October.

"The state Congress has given its proposal but the exact dates will be decided by the party high command and the Congress president. The campaign will be in three phases," he told PTI.

He also said the screening committee of the party, for the first time, is visiting each district to select candidates and hold discussions with leaders at the grassroots level.

Congress party's in-charge for Chhattisgarh affairs P L Punia said the process of screening of candidates will be over by end of this month.

"We will complete the process of screening candidates by September-end and will send the recommendations to the central election committee," he said.

Gandhi also told the Chhattisgarh Congress leaders to highlight the "failures" of the Narendra Modi and the state BJP governments and to take the policies of the Congress to the people at the grassroots level.

On a possible tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party, Gandhi told the state leadership to hold discussions with the state leaders of the BSP for unitedly fighting and defeating the BJP in the state.

The BJP led by Raman Singh has been in power for the last three terms. PTI SKC AAR
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Polling for the keenly contested Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) election is underway with students queuing up to cast their votes for the four crucial posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary.

The first phase of polling began at 9.30 am and will continue till 1.30 pm. In the second phase, the voting will resume at 2.30 pm and go on till 5.30 pm.

All arrangements have been made by the election authorities for the JNUSU polls, which are being closely watched in the aftermath of various controversies that rocked the universities across the country in the recent past.

The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and All India Students' Federation (AISF) have come together to form the United-Left alliance.

Besides routine campaigning, the candidates in the JNUSU polls also participated in the presidential debate on Wednesday night and answered the questions that followed.

The sought-after event, on the lines of the US presidential debate, is expected to be a deciding factor in the polls. PTI SLB GJS RC
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Sep 14 (PTI) A 31-year-old man died of swine flu, the first H1N1 fatality reported in Uttar Pradesh this year, an official said Friday.

Mohd Atif Beg of Nai Basti locality here succumbed to H1N1 virus which he had contracted in Dubai, where he worked in a company.

He was sent back to India on September 4 and three days later he was rushed to Lucknow, where he tested positive for swine flu.

Beg was kept under treatment but his condition deteriorated, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kheri, Dr Manoj Agrawal said, adding that he died at KGMU hospital in Lucknow on Thursday.

The CMO said that after Beg had tested positive for the H1N1 virus in Lucknow at a private clinic, he should have been quarantined, but he came to his residence in Lakhimpur Kheri.

"Here too, the family members continued his treatment at private clinics without intimating the district hospital," he said, adding that Beg was sent to Lucknow for treatment only on September 7.

Agrawal said all the 21 people who came into contact with Beg have been administered anti-swine flu medicines.

"Moreover, a health department team visited the locality thrice to take all preventive measures," he said.

Agrawal asked people not to panic and advised them to consult district hospital in case of high fever and cold.

The situation was being closely monitored, he said, adding that no swine flu case was reported in Lakhimpur Kheri in the last two years. PTI COR SMI SNE

SNE
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Hours after being released from jail, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday said he will ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till November 1.

"After going through the representation of Chandrashekhar's mother, it has been decided to release him early. He had to be in jail till November 1," a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government's Home Department had said in Lucknow on Thursday.

Azad walked out of the jail at around 2:40 am as hundreds of his supporters wearing blue 'Bhim Army' caps had gathered outside the prison to celebrate his release, the Dalit group's national spokesperson Manjeet Singh Nautiyal said.

Many had thronged his residence and distributed sweets in the neighbourhood while a section of his admirers made a beeline to click a selfie with the Dalit leader.

"The Bhim Army will not buckle under pressure from the government and will fight in a constitutional manner to throw the BJP out of power in the general elections," Azad said.

The Dalit leader claimed that he met several inconsolable youngsters inside the jail who were falsely implicated by the police due to their caste.

He said his stay inside the prison had strengthened his resolve to fight against the alleged atrocities being committed against Dalits.

"It's a very long constitutional fight for our rights. It's time for the real battle. The Bhim Army was faltering in the absence of a leader, but I have returned now," the 31-year-old Dalit leader said, adding that he will not contest elections.

Talking about the treatment meted out to him inside the prison, Azad said he was given "dry rotis" and his family was not allowed to meet him.

All that I went through, I will make sure to return it to the BJP with interest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that he will not contest the upcoming elections.

He further said the government was playing politics on the SC/ST Act issue and the Dalit community will give a befitting answer to the BJP in the 2019 elections.

"The March 20 Supreme Court judgment diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was based on the government's views against the law," he said.

"Now, they have passed an amendment bill to restore the original version of the Act. We know what they are trying to do," he added.

Azad, however, denied revealing the Dalit group's plans for the future.

BJP sources in the state said the Bhim Army had played a big part in the win of joint BSP-SP-RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan in the recent Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll.

Azad had written a letter from inside the jail, asking Bhim Army cadres to campaign in support of Hasan and trounce the BJP. PTI GVS CORR RHL
Kanpur (UP), Sep 14 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has launched a massive

manhunt to nab two suspected accomplices of Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) operative Qamar-uz-Zaman, who was arrested from here, official sources said Friday.

"Preliminary investigation confirmed that two persons were frequent visitors to Zaman's rented place and stayed with him," Senior Superintendent of Police (ATS) Jogendra Kumar said.

One of them had allegedly played a key role in striking a deal with the landlord, Ujiyari Lal Yadav, a former corporator from Shiv Nagar ward from where Zaman was arrested Thursday, Kumar added.

Zaman, a BA drop-out hailing from Jamunamukh in Hojai district of Assam, had come in contact with a person named Osama in the initial months of 2017 and joined Kashmir-based militant organisation HM, Kumar said.

He went on to get training in the forests and hills near Kishtwar, Kumar said, adding Zaman then adopted the name Dr Huraira.

After being imparted training, Zaman was sent to Uttar Pradesh to carry out blast during a festival, Kumar said.

Kumar said that the arrested HM operative had first surfaced in April this year after a photo of him flaunting an AK-47 rifle with his code name was posted on social media and widely shared.

During questioning, the SSP claimed, Zaman confessed to have taken help of a local youth in hiring rented accommodation very close to GSVM airport formerly known as Chakeri airport which functions as part of the IAF base in Chakeri

The agency is trying to find out the duration of Zaman's stay in UP, details of his aides, source of funding and specific targets in the city, Kumar asserted.

Ujiyari Lal Yadav said that about two months back a couple of men carrying bags on their shoulders had visited his house and asked about the rented accommodation, while he was standing outside his house.

"They had said that they were from Lucknow and worked for a mobile company as tower engineers and their responsibility included maintenance of cell towers," Yadav said.

Yadav said he had given them a hall on the first floor on rent for Rs 3,400 per month.

They paid one month advance and promised to give the identity related documents later. However, they never provided the documents even though he asked them thrice, Yadav said.

"They promised every time to bring the documents whenever they visited Lucknow, but they didn't," he said.

During the probe, the ATS found that the three men had moved in together and they used to come there especially during night hours. PTI CORR ABN RT

RT
Rohtak, Sep 14 (PTI) The BJP in Haryana on Friday firmed up its strategy for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls next year and decided to actively publicise the welfare policies of the state and central governments.

The state unit of the BJP has decided to hold a mega rally at Karnal on November 1 to mark the completion of four years of the Manohar Lal Khattar government.

In the state executive meeting here, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, his ministerial colleagues, Union minister Krishan Pal Gujjar, senior leaders, including Anil Jain and Suresh Bhatt, were present.

Speaking to reporters after the first session of the meeting, which was held over the day in two-sessions, Khattar said party workers and leaders were asked to work actively towards publicising the welfare policies of the state and central governments so as to make people aware about their benefits.

"We will prepare a roadmap for the Lok Sabha and next Vidhan Sabha polls," said state BJP chief Subhash Barala.

To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in the state from October 2, 2018 onwards, Barala said 'padyatras' will be taken out throughout the state.

Meanwhile, the strategy to win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats and over 65 of the 90 Assembly seats was prepared at the party meet, sources said.

At present, the BJP has 47 legislators in the 90-member Assembly. PTI SUN VSD SNE

SNE
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) A pavement dweller, who was sleeping on the divider of a road in east Delhi's Okhla, was killed after being run over by a truck laden with iron bars, police said Friday.

The truck first hit a car, then the "unidentified" man, and an auto-rickshaw -- all in one go at 12:21 am at the Okhla red light crossing, they said.

"Police rushed to the spot and found that a truck, laden with iron bars, hit a car in the rear end at the Okhla red light crossing and then hit the divider, leading to the death of an unknown person who was sleeping there," said Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast)

However, the car occupants and the auto-rickshaw driver escaped unhurt in the accident, he said.

A case has been registered on the statement of the auto-rickshaw driver, the DCP said, adding that the accused truck driver fled the spot.

Efforts are underway to trace the owner of the Haryana-registered truck and nab the accused driver, he said.

The body of the pavement dweller was shifted to AIIMS mortuary and efforts are being made to identify him, he added. PTI AMP CK
Bareilly (UP), Sep 14 (PTI) The death toll due to an unknown fever in various districts under Bareilly division has risen to 42 with six more people dying in Badaun and Shahjahanpur in last three days, officials said on Friday.

Citing fresh reports, the officials said that the fever had claimed three lives each in Badaun and Shahjahanpur.

Earlier, 20 persons had died in a fortnight in Bareilly district, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Bareilly, Vineet Kumar said.

CMO, Badaun, Manjeet Singh said that besides the three fresh cases of death, the fever has claimed 16 lives in the district in the last 15 days.

According to CMO Pilibhit, Seema Agarwal there has been no casualty in the district, which too falls under Bareilly division.

The officials said reports of higher toll being published in a section of media were unfounded.

Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who had visited Bareilly earlier this week, had said that the government will undertake a "death audit" to find out the number of those who died due to the fever.

The state government has constituted three teams of doctors to look into the cases in Bareilly and Badaun, UP DG (Health) Padmakar Singh had told reporters in Bareilly.

In Lucknow, Director, Medical and Health (communicable diseases) Mithilesh Chaturvedi said, "A five-member team of the central government has also reached Bareilly. Preventive and remedial actions have been initiated in both the districts of the northern state".

He said camps have been set up in the districts and medical tests were being carried out using rapid diagnostic techniques.

Necessary medicines were also being distributed and fogging and spraying of larvacides has been undertaken, officials added. PTI COR SAB SMI SMI RHL
New Delhi, Sept 14 (PTI) Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday directed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to take necessary action on a video where a man is purportedly seen severely beating up a woman.

The home minister's order came after the video went viral since on social media.

"I have taken note of a video where a youth has been seen severely beating a woman. I have spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner over the phone and directed him to take necessary action in this regard," Singh tweeted.

According to media reports, police in West Delhi have registered an FIR against Rohit Singh Tomar after a woman filed a complaint on watching the video.

Police said the video was shot on September 2 in Uttam Nagar.

They are on the lookout for the accused who is believed to be the son of a Delhi Police sub-inspector. PTI ACB GVS
Police seizes liquor worth lakh of rupees in Nagaland

Kohima, Sep 14 (PTI) The police Friday seized around

60 cases of liquor worth lakhs of rupees and also sealed

several shops selling liquor here, a senior police officer

said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Kohima, Vekhosa

Chakhesang and Kohima Municipal Council officials conducted

raids and sealed the shops illicit liquor in Jail colony and

Old Ministers Hill area here.

There is complete ban on liquor in the state as per

the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition Act, 1989. PTI NBS

RG RG
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday held that former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in a 1994 espionage case and ordered a probe into the role of Kerala police officers.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case.

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe Narayanan being framed in the spy case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against the former DGP and two retired superintendents of police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

In 1998, the apex court granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.

He later approached the NHRC claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture suffered by him.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998, awarded him interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001. PTI SJK MNL RRT RRT MIN

MIN
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday stayed the Delhi High Court order granting bail to Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for his alleged role in a terror-funding case involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submissions of National Investigation Agency (NIA) that the release of Watali would cause grave harm to the ongoing probe in the terror-funding case.

The NIA was represented by Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh.

The bench has now fixed the plea of NIA filed against the Delhi High Court verdict for hearing on September 26 and asked the accused businessman to file his response in the meantime.

The high court had Thursday said there was no prima facie material to show that 70-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali was involved in the conspiracy.

Watali was arrested on August 17 last year by the NIA.

Watali, Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai. PTI SJK RRT

RRT DV

DV
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear a petition filed by Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla Mehta and others against radiations from mobile towers, along with other pending petitions on the issue.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph tagged the matter of Mehta and others along with the other petitions.

Juhi had moved the apex court seeking transfer of her petition filed in the Bombay High Court.

She said in her plea that the high court had said since the top court was seized of the matter, it would hear her petition after the verdict is passed.

Mehta in her plea has sought regulations and norms to reduce radiation in order to minimise health hazards. PTI MNL SJK RKS





ARC
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 14 (PTI) Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan Friday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict in the 1994 espionage case but stressed there should be a time-frame for the completion of the probe by the court-appointed panel.

The top court held that Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in the case and ordered a probe into the role of Kerala Police officers in it.

Reacting to the apex court verdict, the 76-year old Narayanan said he felt "better now than earlier".

However, he added that there should be a time-frame for the completion of the probe by the panel appointed by the court.

On the compensation of Rs 50 lakh awarded to him, he said officials responsible for his arrest should be made to pay compensation amount and also the fine.

Former DGP Sibi Mathew, who headed the Special Investigation Team that probed the case and arrested Narayanan, refused to comment on the SC verdict.

Narayanan, who was arrested in the case, had to spend close to two months in jail and later it was found by the CBI that the espionage case was a false one.

The espionage case, which hit the headlines in 1994, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The case was first investigated by the state police and later handed over to the CBI, which found no espionage as was alleged to have taken place.

The scam also had its political fallout with a section in the Congress targeting then then Chief Minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.

Reacting to the top court's order, K Padmaja, daughter of Karunakaran, said she was ready to depose before the panel, if summoned and reveal the names of people who were behind the case. PTI JRK SS

DV

DV
(Eds: Updating with final voting percentage)

New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The voter turnout in the keenly contested Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) election on Friday was 67.8 per cent, believed to be the highest in six years.

Over 5,000 students cast their votes. The counting has begun and the results are expected to be announced on Sunday.

"From 2012, the elections are being conducted as per the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. In the last six years, I have not seen this high voting percentage," an official said.

Last year and in 2016, the voting percentage was 59 per cent. In 2015, the voting percentage was 55 per cent. In 2013 and 2014, the percentage hovered around 55 per cent while in 2012, the voter turnout had reached 60 per cent.

Slogans and dhapli beats filled the air on the JNU campus as candidates and their supporters made last-ditch efforts to to sway voters in their favour outside the polling centres.

The voters wanted the candidates to raise issues concerning the campus instead of national issues.

"The candidates in the presidential debate talked about national issues like lynching and other things but had little to talk about the issues facing the varsity," said a student, not willing to be named.

Another student, Manisha, said, "The JNU culture is ending. Our dhabas are closed by 11 pm. Earlier, they used to stay open till 3 am. Those were the places for debates and discussion. We want the representatives to raise this issue."

Another student said the elected representatives should work towards ensuring that the university administration is more approachable and should take up the issues of seat cuts and library fund being reduced.

A student also mentioned that there is dissatisfaction with the Left and the voters might consider other options.

Polling had started at 9.30 am with students queuing up to cast their votes for the four crucial posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary.

All arrangements were made by the election authorities for the JNUSU polls, which are being closely watched in the aftermath of various controversies that rocked the universities across the country in the recent past.

The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and All India Students' Federation (AISF) have come together to form the United-Left alliance.

Besides routine campaigning, the candidates in the JNUSU polls also participated in the presidential debate on Wednesday night and answered the questions that followed.

The sought-after event, on the lines of the US presidential debate, is expected to be a deciding factor in the polls. PTI SLB NSD
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Delhi BJP asked the AAP and the Congress Friday to introspect the loss of their student wing candidates in the Delhi University Students' Union elections rather than blaming the EVMs for it.

After the ABPV won three key posts, including that of the president, in the polls Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress held electronic voting machines (EVMs) responsible for their defeat.

Delhi Chief Minister and national convenor of AAP Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether the EVMs can be procured privately.

The Election Commission said Friday the EVMs used during the Delhi University elections were not provided by it. It also said the electronic voting machines used by it for Lok Sabha and assembly polls were different from the ones used in the university students' elections.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi had on Thursday clarified that the voting machines used in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections were not issued by the Election Commission and it seems to have been procured privately.

"From where can u procure EVMs privately? Doesn't ECI claim that no one can manufacture or buy or sell EVMs privately? Isn't anyone found in possession of EVMs without EC's permission guilty of criminal offence? (sic)" Kejriwal tweeted Friday.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken in a press conference demanded repolling for the DUSU alleging "tampering" of EVMs in the elections. Maken said the party was also considering legal options to get the polls countermanded after the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) bagged just one of the four posts in the polls.

Taking a dig at both the parties, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said, "Blaming EVMs is not a new phenomenon. It has become a practice to blame defeat in elections on the machines".

"The Congress and the AAP should introspect and find the cause of defeat rather than blaming the EVMs".

He said Maken has demanded repolling, questioning the entire system for a "small technical snag" out of "frustration" over defeat of the NSUI.

"Kejriwal has questioned the procurement of these machines by the Delhi University. He has overlooked the fact that these machines are manufactured and serviced by the Hyderabad-based government undertaking ECIL and provided by the Delhi Election Office as per usual practice," he claimed.

An alliance of the AAP's CYSS and left-backed AISA failed to open account in the DUSU polls. PTI VIT

DPB
Chennai, Sep 14 (PTI) Former communication minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran told the Madras High Court Friday that charges framed against them in a case of alleged setting up of illegal telephone exchanges were "lame and shame" and wanted them to be quashed.

Charges have been framed by a CBI court based on the investigating officer's opinion and not on materials available on record, contended senior counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul who appeared on behalf of Dayanidhi Maran before Justice A D Jagadish Chandira.

The CBI court here on August 30 framed charges and ordered trial of Dayanidhi Maran and six others in the case of "illegal" telephone exchanges, allegedly set up to benefit the Sun TV Network of his brother Kalanithi Maran during 2004-06.

The petitions seeking quashing of charges came up when the trial was slated to commence Friday at the CBI court.

Kaul argued that the restriction to have only three connections would apply only to MPs as per the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament Act and not to a Cabinet minister.

"There is no statutory bar for a minister to have more than three telephone service connections," he argued.

The former minister did not have 764 telephone connections as alleged by the CBI, and even if he had, there was no statutory bar against it, he said.

"In the entire charge-sheet, there is no single word saying that the connections were used by the minister. The CBI has only said that it could be used, or can be used," Kaul said.

All the accused who are facing trial, except officials of the BSNL, have moved the Madras High Court, seeking to quash the charges framed by CBI in the illegal telephone exchange case.

Kaul also contended that there was no evidence to prove that such connections were used, adding, "telephones cannot be used for broadcast. There is absolutely no evidence to prove that the lines were used for programmes of Sun TV."

On the charge of forgery,the counsel said the prosecution failed to explain it and which documents were forged.

Arguing on behalf of Kalanidhi Maran, senior counsel Amit Desai said Kalanidhi has been arraigned as an accused as he is the chairman of the Sun Network.

"The CBI has alleged vicarious liability by designation. But such liability cannot be automatically included when the statute does not provide for it. Both in the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, there is no scope for vicarious liability," Desai said.

Apart from the two, then additional private secretary to Dayanidhi was represented by senior counsel P Wilson and the chief technical officer of Sun TV S Kannan, by senior counsel A R L Sundresan.

The judge directed the CBI to file its counter petition and posted the matter to October 3.

The charges date back to the time when Dayanidhi Maran, a grandnephew of late DMK chief M Karunanidhi, was the Union minister for telecommunications and information technology in the UPA-1 government.

The CBI has alleged he misused his official position and got private telephone exchanges installed at his various residences here which were used for business transactions of the Sun Network.

The high court had on July 25 held there were 'heaps' of material evidence against the accused and had directed the special court to frame charges and conclude the trial within a year.

The bench had given its order on a CBI plea, challenging the discharge of the accused by Special Judge S Natarajan on March 14 this year. PTI COR VGN APR AAR
Ghaziabad, Sep 15 (PTI) The Ghaziabad police late Friday night arrested two alleged miscreants after an exchange of fire with them that resulted in a constable and two 'outlaws' sustaining gunshot wounds.

The late night encounter took place on Sikandar Pur Road in Sahibabad area after which the constable and the two assailants were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna Friday.

The SSP said the incident occurred when a police team on Sikandar Pur Road flagged down the three men riding a bike, but they opened fire instead and tried to speed away.

The police team retaliated promptly and opened fire at them, injuring two of them, said the SSP, adding one of the three bike-borne miscreants managed to flee away.

The arrested accused have been identified Nasir and Muzammil, he said, adding the duo and their third accomplice were also found involved in a series of robbery committed earlier on September 4 during which they had snatched a total of Rs 1.5 lakh from local pipe market traders Hitesh, Ravinder and Nupur Jain on gun point.

The SSP said the bike which they were riding, was used in the September robbery and has been impounded.

The police also recovered from the duo two .32 bore pistols along with 10 live cartridges, besides a bag with some of the looted cash, he said.

Earlier on September 4, scores of pipe market traders had held protest and blocked the GT Road alleging the police laxity in the robbery case in which three masked robbers had snatched Rs 1.5 lakh from the traders.

The "miscreants' had also fired in the air while fleeing the spot after committing the crime on September 4. PTI CORR RAX

RAX
Ghaziabad, Sep 14 (PTI) Twelve people have been arrested for firing in the air, arson and scuffle at Khushall park colony in Tronica city area here, police said Friday.

Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna said, Amit (22), a native of Khajoori Khas Delhi, along with his friend Dharmavir reached the house of a woman, Geeta (48), on Wednesday and following a heated argument, thrashed her.

When Geeta's son and daughter pulled her inside the house and locked the door, Amit and Dharmavir started throwing stones at the house, the police officer said.

In the meantime, Geeta went upstairs and threw a cement block which hit Amit causing grievous injury. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead, the SSP said.

Enraged over the death of Amit, around 24 bike-borne men reached Geeta's house on Thursday and started firing in the air. They broke open the door of her house and set it ablaze, Krishna said.

On receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot and arrested 12 accused with two country-made pistols and live cartridges. Seven motorcycles were also seized, the police officer said, adding some of the accused managed to flee.

On the complaint of the deceased's father a case under section 304 A (causing death by negligence) has been registered against Geeta and her son and daughter.

Investigation revealed that Geeta had shifted to Tornica city from Khajoori Khas a few days ago and had started selling psychotropic substances. Geeta has also been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, SSP Krishna said. PTI CORR NSD
Lorraine Morton was a good, personal friend and a friend to Northwestern University. She was a fine mayor and a fine person and an esteemed alumna of Northwestern. It was a pleasure to work with her and to know her during my tenure as president. I mourn her passing as all who knew her do, Bienen said in a statement the university issued upon Mortons death.
Japan has been hitting the headlines this week over hopes of improved relations with its larger neighbour China, prompted it seems by a shared interest in countering Donald Trump's trade policies.

Its ability to keep trading relatively freely with America is obviously very important, but domestic matters may be more significant from an investment perspective.

I don't personally invest in Japanese equities at the moment, principally for the long standing and well known reasons: the economy has been stuck in slow motion for decades and its companies tend to be run in a highly conservative, unaccountable manner with too little regard for shareholders' interests.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe right shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Russia this week.

While in the West, it is overspending facilitated by easy credit that signals economic danger, in Japan the reverse is the case.

Both in terms of consumers' personal spending and corporate spending, the Japanese lean too heavily on the side of caution and elect to hoard their cash.

I might pick up some Japanese equities investments soon though, for one reason in particular.

The strong inclination to tuck money away rather than spend is not shifting hugely at the individual level by most reckonings, but there is change emerging within the nation's corporations which should significantly improve returns for shareholders over the long run.

The long called-for 'corporate governance reforms' are creaking into life and this is bearing fruit.

Corporate governance refers to how the senior management run a company. What they prioritise, how they manage various competing interests, and most importantly what they do with the money the company makes.

Corporate governance encompasses a vast range of things but as a shareholder one the most important of these is how much of the profit it dishes out to shareholders through dividends or stock buy-backs. There's good news on this front.

The numbers in this chart produced by Kepler Partners speak for themselves.

This chart produced by Kepler Partners illustrates the strong rise in cash being returned to holders of Japanese stocks.

One thing you can be pretty sure of as a shareholder in Japanese companies is that the staff are working hard. The Japanese work ethic is famously strong, perhaps to a fault.

So much so, that the Japanese have invented a word for somebody working themselves to death - Karoshi.

This attitude was also highlighted in the recent reports of a Japanese man who had his pay docked for taking three minute lunch breaks. Now, nobody likes a skiver but that's a bit harsh.

In all seriousness, this approach cannot actually be good for investors ultimately, given the multitude of studies which show people perform better in their jobs if they are healthy, happy and have some work/life balance.

There are other downside risks of course, principally around the aforementioned danger that Trump could turn his ire, so far aimed principally at China, on Japan.

The arguments made about an artificially weakened currency and undercutting America's homegrown companies could also be applied to Japan if deemed politically expedient.

The long called for 'corporate governance reforms' are creaking into life here in Tokyo and across the rest of Japan.

Should you wish to tap into Japan's stock market it is not wise to try and pick a handful of winners at the single stock level however.

Picking winning stocks even in your home market where you have a lot of familiarity with the companies is very tricky, so doing so in Japan would not be far off buying a lottery ticket.

Fortunately there is no shortage of options in terms of Japanese equities funds. You could go with the low fee option of a passive Japanese stock market tracker available through the usual platforms, and that will give you straightforward exposure to the entire asset class.

If you'd like professionals to pick and choose which stocks to invest in on your behalf there good options on both the open end fund and investment trust side.
Reviled: Lehman Brothers ex-boss Dick Fuld is the banker Americans love to hate

Traditionally in pantomime, the villain enters stage left to a volley of boos and hisses.

He snarls and sneers and despite frequent protestations is unable to elicit sympathy. Without fail, the rotter eventually gets his comeuppance.

For the past decade, Dick Fuld has performed this richly comic role with aplomb.

As chief executive of defunct Lehman Brothers, he's the banker Americans love to hate, their symbol of all that's wrong with capitalism.

When Lehman collapsed under the weight of bad investments, Fuld did not go to jail nor were any criminal prosecutions filed.

His pride took a hit for sure, but he maintains sprawling homes in Connecticut and Florida. In the eight years prior to the crash he was paid, on average, 47m a year.

He is Wall Street's Captain Hook, its Wicked Witch, its King Rat all rolled into one. Whether he got the comeuppance he deserved, however, is another matter.

Physically, Fuld was born to play the baddie. A fierce, unsmiling creature with hulking shoulders and a cruel mouth, he has a glare which could turn a pint of gold top sour.

On Wall Street he was known as 'the Gorilla', a reference to both his sizeable frame and unsettling habit of speaking in grunts.

He addressed traders like he were a Mafia capo. 'Rip their throats out,' was one popular refrain.

Fuld joined the air force out of university as a trainee in the hope of becoming a test pilot. A brawl with a commanding officer whom he claimed was taunting a puny cadet soon put paid to that career plan.

After Lehman recruited him in 1969 as a fixed income trader, he caught the eye of chief executive Lewis Glucksman, a complex soul with a predilection for three-martini lunches and hurling telephones.

Fuld grew to become more machine than man, spending endless hours staring at his green screen. His elevation to the top job in 1994 became inevitable. And he remained a banker of the old school. An immaculate dresser, his navy suits were cut at Richards in Connecticut, his silken ties procured from Hermes and his black lace-ups always shined to high buff.

'Sloppy dress, sloppy thinking,' he would say. When Lehman workers voted to adopt a dress-down Friday the chief executive declared solemnly: 'This is a dark day for the firm.'

In the eight years prior to the crash Fuld was paid, on average, 47m a year. He maintains sprawling homes in Connecticut and Florida

Fuld expected his charges to apply similarly exacting standards to their private lives. Marriage was encouraged, divorce frowned upon and affairs not tolerated.

One of Fuld's redeeming features is his devotion to his wife Kathy, a towering blonde with whom he has three children.

Colleagues say he would interrupt meetings to take her calls, affectionately addressing her as 'Fuld'. His finest hour came during 9/11.

When the financial district was evacuated, Fuld and his team decamped to the Sheraton Hotel. Staff crammed into rooms to carry on trading. In the subsequent 2001 recession, Lehman outperformed the rest of the industry.

When the walls came tumbling down seven years later, Congress had a field day. The sight of Fuld under heavy questioning on Capitol Hill, his stony face betraying not a hint of contrition, remains one of the most enduring images of the credit crunch.

Last year he attempted a comeback of sorts, launching corporate finance firm Matrix Wealth Partners. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen.

Fuld's only public utterances since appearing in front of Congress was in 2015. It was a rubber-chicken lunch for investors in New York's Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Addressing Lehman's demise, he blamed the US government, the global economy, the Federal Reserve. Pretty much everyone bar Richard S Fuld Jr. Those present said it was a painful to watch. The applause which greeted his performance was lukewarm at best.

As the claps died out, Wall Street's panto villain swiftly exited stage right, pursued by lawyers.
One of Britain's biggest and most ambitious civil engineering projects found an unlikely saviour in the form of Australia's richest woman yesterday.

Not only is Sirius Minerals digging a mile below ground to unlock the potash bounty at the Woodsmith Mine, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, it is then tunnelling 23 miles to the River Tees where it is building an export terminal for the fertiliser.

Projects of this magnitude don't come cheap. All in, the development costs are in excess of 3billion  and seemingly rising by the day.

Step forward Gina Rinehart, who is pumping in a much-needed 190million, plugging a funding gap caused by soaring overheads.

Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart is pumping in a much-needed 190million into Sirius Minerals

Through her Hancock Prospecting company, the Australian mining billionaire agreed to release the money as part of a deal originally struck back in 2016.

In return, Hancock will get a 5 per cent revenue cut on the first 13m tonnes of fertiliser that is shipped and sold.

The extra cash should tide Sirius over while it raises more than 2billion in debt funding which it hopes to have secured by the second quarter of next year.

The Sirius stock rose 1.7 per cent, or 0.46p, to 27.54p.

Shire was among the top blue-chip risers after Chinese regulators became the latest to approve the drugmaker's 48billion takeover by Japanese peer Takeda.

Having already been cleared by US and Brazilian officials, the acquisition just needs the thumbs-up from the European Union and Japan.

Takeda has faced criticism for the deal which will load it with billions of dollars' worth of debt, but it has pushed ahead regardless and expects it to complete in the first half of 2019.

Shire shares rose 2.2 per cent, or 96.5p, to 4486.5p.

Stock Watch - Tarsus Group Tarsus Group saw its shares shed nearly 4 per cent yesterday. It followed the business conferencing company's 24million fundraising as it bought the remaining 50 per cent stake in its Mexican joint venture EJK Tarsus Mexico and took a controlling interest of 75 per cent in South-East Asian exhibitions firm AMB Tarsus Exhibitions. Tarsus is funding the combined bill via the placing of 8.9m ordinary shares at a price of 270p each. Shares fell 3.36 per cent, or 10p, to 288p.

That was broadly reflective of the FTSE 100, with the blue-chip index adding 0.3 per cent, or 22.47 points, to end the week at 7304.04.

Burberry shares were also in demand, up 3.4 per cent, or 70p, to 2153p, ahead of the launch of the debut collection from its chief creative officer at London Fashion Week on Monday.

Riccardo Tisci, who designed Kim Kardashian's wedding dress, joined the British luxury fashion brand earlier this year, replacing Christopher Bailey who had held the position for 17 years.

Holding the Footsie back were two pharma giants as investors reacted to their latest news.

Astrazeneca edged up 0.3 per cent, or 15p, to sit at 5645p, after its MedImmune biotechnology arm was given the regulatory green light in the US for a treatment for hairy cell leukaemia.

Lumoxiti was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, making it the first treatment option for the disease for two decades.

Shares in Glaxosmithkline fell by 0.8 per cent, or 11.4p, to 1484.2p as it filed paperwork asking European regulators to approve its single tablet HIV tablet for sale in the EU.

Recent studies have shown the one-tablet, two-drug course of treatment is just as effective as the standard three-drug regimen.

As for the FTSE 250, that also closed the week in the black, rising 0.7 per cent, or 132.26 points, to 20,375.87 points.

Petroleum explorer and producer Enquest was slammed as 'overly complicated' by Barclays analysts, which questioned why debt wasn't being paid down as it quickly as it should be. Shares fell 3.2 per cent, or 1.2p, to 36.75p.

By contrast, Morgan Stanley initiated its coverage of Hurricane Energy with an 'overweight' rating, claiming the explorer has the potential to reward investors with a 'very big payoff'.

That's if the firm's starter production well at its Lancaster field near the Shetland Islands is delivered as planned when it comes on-stream in the first half of next year. The stock rose 4.5 per cent, or 2.35p, to 54.5p.
Co-op Group has logged a 10 per cent rise in sales to 5bn in the six months to July 7

PROFITS HIKE Its takeover of wholesaler Nisa helped the Co-op Group log a 10 per cent rise in sales to 5billion in the six months to July 7.

Pre-tax profits surged to 26million from 14million a year earlier.

SPIN OFF Shares in Investec surged 8.4 per cent, or 40.5p up, to close at 525.2p as the South African banking groups board announced plans to spin off its asset management division.

TECH CASH Building society Nationwide is not planning redundancies and will maintain its branch network as it invests another 1.3billion in tech to help simplify operations.

SALES SLUMP Clothing chain White Stuff plunged to a 5.2million loss last year from a 7million profit a year earlier. Revenues at the retailer also fell to 140million in the year to April 28 from 151million 12 months earlier.

SWEDE DEAL Finance firm Close Brothers Group has sold its retail finance arm to Swedish payment company Klarna Bank.

BAD NAME Scandal-hit lender Danske Bank had such a toxic reputation that fellow lender Deutsche Bank would only work with one in ten of its customers, it is claimed.

Danish lender Danske is at the heart of a money-laundering row which has seen its compliance chief quit.

BANK SUED Australian lender ANZ Bank is being sued by the countrys watchdog for allegedly failing to follow the rules during a 1.9billion fundraising round in 2015.

BALTIC BUY Private equity group Blackstone has bought a 60 per cent stake in Baltic lender Luminor for 900million.

BIO STAKE Photo booth operator Photo-Me has sold its 50 per cent stake in Paris biotechnology firm Stilla Technologies for 4.5million, having paid 1.3million for it in April 2015 and October 2016.

OIL TRANSFER The first ship-to-ship transfer of crude oil in three years in Shetland has been carried out as around 500,000 barrels of oil from Enquests Kraken field was transferred from the Heather Knutsen to the Speedway on September 13.
Retirement could be consigned to history as workers stay in their jobs for their entire lives, the Bank of England governor claimed today.

Mark Carney warned that as the economy changes in a new industrial revolution there would be a need for more education and training in later life.

He said the elderly could become effectively unemployed instead of retired as new technology comes on stream.

The Bank of England chief's remarks to the Bank of Ireland today came as he was under a storm of criticism from Brexiteers for outlining an apocalyptic no deal scenario to the Cabinet yesterday.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the influential leader of Brexiteer Tory MPs, accused the Governor of acting like a 'screaming banshee'.

Mr Carney outlined a stress test for banks imagining a 30 per cent plunge in house prices, spiralling unemployment, higher interest rate and booming inflation.

Bank of England Governor Makr Carney (pictured today in Ireland) has warned that a no-deal Brexit could be as disastrous as the 2008 financial crash

In a lecture at the Republic of Ireland's central bank in Dublin, Mr Carney predicted the 21st Century revolution in the economy would be different to the past.

He said: 'Unlike in the previous industrial revolutions, the more rapid pace of adjustment and longer working lives means workers may not have the option of retiring.

'This raises risks of substantial skills mismatch, leading to increased structural unemployment and adverse macroeconomic outcomes.'

Mr Carney focused on the challenge to traditional employment posed by technology and the use of artificial intelligence.

He said those without the skills to exploit the move towards roles geared to originality or emotional intelligence could be left unemployed.

Employers and societies will also have to deal with the decrease in the labour supply produced by an ageing population.

The governor raised the role of innovation in education to try to prevent a skills mismatch.

He said: 'The biggest issue may be how to institutionalise retraining in mid-career and to integrate it with the social welfare system.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured in Westminster on Wednesday) said the Governor was acting like a 'screaming banshee'

In his lecture, Mr Carney also defended his doom-laden Cabinet briefing on no deal Brexit. The Bank of England chief was lashed as a 'cracked record' today after details of his rare invitation to brief Theresa May's ministers emerged.

But he said: 'Our job, after all, is not to hope for the best but to plan for the worst.'

He warned 'uncertainty around Brexit has had an additional dampening effect' on the economy.

But Brexiteers reacted with fury today after Mr Carney's speech to Cabinet emerged.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Tory in charge of the powerful European Research Group, told MailOnline: 'The Governor of the Bank of England is meant to be able to influence events through the modest movement of his eyebrows, not by imitating a screaming banshee.'

Brexiteer Nigel Evans told MailOnline it was the same gloomy story from Mr Carney.

He said: 'The Governor's pronouncements should be known as Carneyage - that's when you predict doom, gloom and mayhem and get it wrong every time.

Mr Carney (pictured yesterday leaving Downing Street) told yesterday's no deal Cabinet that crashing out could produce a recession worse than the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis

'He consistently predicted Armageddon before the referendum if we voted leave and he got it wrong and he is playing the same dreary cracked record again.

'Unemployment has fallen every month, we have record employment and a huge surge in exports- in my patch they are building houses at record numbers and this would not be happening if the house builders couldn't turn a profit.'

Tory MP Simon Clarke added: 'This is the latest in a series of scare stories designed to catastrophise about Brexit. At the Treasury Select Committee this week, we heard a new member of the Prudential Regulation Committee and veteran finance expert, Jill May, brand the Bank's scenarios extreme.

'It is high time we stopped dealing with Project Fear and focused on Project Fact.'

Mr Carney's Cabinet briefing emerged after it was claimed British business will be hit by a 'sledgehammer' of red tape and higher costs if the UK crashes out of Europe without a deal.

The CBI said a slew of new Government papers on how Britain would tackle a collapse in talks proved the dangers of failure in Brussels.

The prime minister was warned that house prices could fall over a three-year period in today's briefing

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured arriving for the Cabinet meeting today ) has said he is still focused on getting a deal with the EU

The Prime Minister's (pictured yesterday in Downing Street) Brexit blueprint imagines Britain following EU rules on goods to maintain existing trade, while striking out in other areas such as services

The warnings came after Theresa May secured the agreement of her Cabinet to step up preparations for no deal.

A tranche of papers on the impact of crashing out of the EU says motorists would need new 5.50 international permits to use their cars on the continent.

They also warn that if negotiations with Brussels fail ex-pats might be forced to retake driving tests after March next year, as their UK ones will no longer be valid.

Britons with less than six months to run on their passports would also have to renew before travelling to the EU - while traditional-style British blue passports will not start being issued again until late in 2019.

The government played down fears that holidaymakers would be hit with swingeing roaming charges for using mobile phones in the EU - saying the biggest telecoms companies have agreed not to impose extra fees.

But in one of the most striking warnings, the documents predicted that the EU will refuse to share information with the UK about asteroids that could wipe out humanity.

The latest slew of 'technical' notices were published after Mrs May put ministers on notice at a special Cabinet meeting that large-scale 'no deal' Brexit plans will have to be activated if agreement has not been reached by mid-November.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid (left) and Trade Secretary Liam Fox (right) were at Downing Street for the Cabinet meeting today

Bank of England governor Mark Carney (pictured arriving for the Cabinet meeting) briefed ministers on preparations in the financial sector

The key revelations in the notices - designed to dispel EU doubts that the UK is really prepared to leave without a deal - included:

International Driving Permits, costing 5.50 each, would be required for the EU after March. The government will not start providing the permits until February next year - raising fears of chaos with huge numbers of people applying weeks before the deadline.

Ex-pats will need to get driving licences for the countries where they reside and could be required to take tests again.

UK passports will not refer to the EU from March - but the traditional blue versions will not start being issued until the end of next year.

Britain will be reliant on the United States for surveillance and tracking data on asteroids, dead satellites or other debris falling to earth after a no deal Brexit.

The Common Travel Area will be honoured whether there is a Brexit deal or not - meaning Irish citizens will be able to travel to and remain in the UK.

Reaction to yesterday's no deal notices was dominated by business warnings of the additional red tape likely to be imposed on firms.

CBI director general Carolyn Fairburn said no deal would be devastating for firms.

She warned: 'These notices make clear firms would be hit with a sledgehammer in the event of 'no deal'.

'They also illustrate the extent of the disruption consumers can expect if ideology wins over evidence.'

EU could refuse to share information on space debris after Brexit Britain could be left reliant on the United States for data on space debris crashing to earth after a no deal Brexit, Government papers suggested today (artist's impression) Britain could be left reliant on the United States for data on space debris crashing to earth after a no dealBrexit, Government papers suggested today. Theresa May has repeatedly insisted that a no deal Brexit would 'not be the end of the world'. But the EU is currently building a system designed to protect satellites from crashing into other equipment or debris. It also tracks material crashing back to earth on a 'scheduled or unscheduled basis'. Without a deal, the UK will no longer take part in the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking programme, the notice reveals. It says: 'If the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no agreement in place, the UK will not be eligible to participate in the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking programme. 'UK organisations will not therefore be able to contribute to providing services to the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking, to participate in the scientific and technical groups to develop the programme further or be able to receive grant funding to pay for UK involvement. 'The UK will continue to receive space, surveillance and tracking data from the United States of America.' Advertisement

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: 'Firms still need greater precision from the government in order to be able to plan ahead with confidence.

'Many companies tell us they are deeply concerned by the impression that key information they need in order to prepare for change is being held back due to political sensitivities as the party conference season commences.

'Speed, precision and clarity are of the essence so that businesses can prepare for change.'

Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: 'With each release of the Government's technical notes, we get a clearer picture of how dangerous and damaging a sudden no-deal Brexit will be for our small businesses.'

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We are less than 200 days until we leave the European Union and the Government still has no credible plan for Brexit. The Cabinet should be planning to negotiate a good deal for Britain, not planning for failure or blaming businesses for the Government's chaos.

'The only reason the Government is talking about no deal is because the Tory civil war on Europe prevents the Prime Minister from negotiating a good deal.

'With the clock ticking, Ministers should drop the irresponsible rhetoric and start putting jobs and the economy first.'

One of the papers confirms that 'International Driving Permits' would be needed across much of the EU if there is no deal.

'You may be turned away at the border or face other enforcement action, for example fines, if you don't have the correct IDP,' the document states.

The document says the government will only start providing IDPs at most Post Offices after February 1 next year - which could fuel concerns about an administrative log-jam for people wishing to travel to the continent.

Currently they can only be obtained from around 90 Post Offices nationwide or by mail order from two private companies.

There are two types of IDP required by EU countries, depending on whether they have ratified the 1949 or 1968 conventions on road traffic - meaning some travellers will need both permits.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer warned 'we are less than 200 days until we leave the European Union and the Government still has no credible plan for Brexit'

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said a no deal Brexit would ensnare business in red tape

Motorists could be away at borders or face enforcement action if they have not obtained the correct documents.

Driving licences may no longer be valid in the EU after no deal UK driving licences may no longer be valid on their own to drive in the European Union if there is a no-deal Brexit, the Government has warned. Drivers could need International Driving Permits (IDP) if the EU does not agree to recognise UK licences, according to new guidance. They may be turned away at borders or face enforcement action if they have not obtained the correct documents. There are two types of IDP required by EU countries, depending on whether they have ratified the 1949 or 1968 conventions on road traffic. This means some itineraries will require both permits, such as when people drive into France and then Spain. The documents cost 5.50. The 1949 type is available over the counter at around 90 Post Office branches or by mail order from two private companies. The mail order service will cease on January 31, and the Government will begin providing IDPs the following day. Motorists will be able to apply for both types at 2,500 Post Office branches across the UK. Advertisement

The Department for Transport believes up to seven million permits could be requested in the first 12 months after Brexit.

The notice urges ex-pats to trade in their existing licences for one valid in the country where they live.

'If, after exit day, you become resident in an EU country you would not have the automatic right under EU law to exchange your UK licence for a driving licence from the EU country you're living in,' the paper says.

'Depending on the laws of the EU country you move to, you may need to take a new driving test in that country.'

Edmund King, president of motoring association AA, said: 'This will be an extra burden for UK drivers wanting to take a holiday abroad.

'We are also disappointed that from the end of January next year the AA will no longer be permitted to issue IDPs as we have done for decades. We had campaigned to maintain the right to issue these permits, but the Transport Secretary has decided that IDPs will only be issued at post offices.'

The assessment on passports says that if the UK has 'third party' status, EU countries could demand at least six months is left before their expiry date.

'To avoid any possibility of your adult British passport not complying with the Schengen Border Code we suggest that you check the issue date and make sure your passport is no older than nine years and six months on the day of travel,' it says.

Business minister Claire Perry (pictured) was also at the no-deal planning meeting in Downing Street today

Irish citizens will keep the right to enter and remain in the UK regardless of the Brexit outcome, the document says.

Blue passports will be issued from late 2019 Blue passports will be issued for the first time decades from late 2019, the no deal papers revealed. But the change may come as little comfort to travellers in a no deal scenario. The technical notices warn some UK citizens could be blocked from entering EU countries despite having a valid passport. Currently, there is no requirement for Britons travelling to the bloc to have a minimum or maximum amount of time left on their passports before they expire. But this could change if the UK departs on March 29 next year without a deal, according to a Government paper. Most EU countries are signed up to the Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel. Although the UK is not a member, British citizens are currently able to enter the Schengen area if they have a valid passport, and there is no requirement to have a certain amount of time left before expiry, the Home Office guidance says. Advertisement

The paper also reveals that from next March the UK will start producing passports without a reference to the EU - and blue passports will be issued from the end of 2019.

Britain will be reliant on the United States for surveillance and tracking data on asteroids, dead satellites or other debris falling to earth after a no deal Brexit.

The EU is currently building a system designed to protect satellites from crashing into other equipment or debris.

It also tracks material crashing back to earth on a 'scheduled or unscheduled basis'.

Without a deal, the UK will no longer take part in the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking programme, the notice reveals.

Labour MP Jo Stevens said: 'It is deeply worrying that the UK will be shut out of some of the most cutting edge research in the world. This research provides thousands of high-tech jobs and provides the economy billions every year.

'Theresa May used to say wouldn't be the end of the world - but actually it could be!'

Britain's car manufacturers face new barriers to selling their vehicles into Europe if the UK crashes out without a deal.

They will have to get new EU safety certificates before they will be allowed to sell their cars into the lucrative market, as their car models would no longer be automatically recognised.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (left) and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (right) were all smiles as the arrived for the no-deal discussions today

The Government paper says the firms will need to get the relevant documents from each EU country  potentially creating a major bureaucratic nightmare for the sector.

French minister warns Eurostar would stop running after 'no deal' British planes and Eurostar trains could be turned away at the French border after a no deal Brexit, France's Europe Minster warned today. Nathalie Loiseau told a Chatham House event that the claims were 'correct' amid fears of travel chaos if no agreement is in place on Brexit day next year. Her warning comes days after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling irritated Brussels by asking all 27 EU countries to strike a backup side deal with Britain if there is no main Brexit deal. Pro-EU campaigners said it was 'shocking' that Britain faced travel 'gridlock' because of Brexit. Asked about the claims of chaos today, Ms Loisea said: 'If we reach no agreement this is what will happen, among other things.' Advertisement

The paper states: 'In a no deal scenario, type-approvals issued in the UK would no longer be valid for sales or registrations on the EU market.

'EC type-approvals issued outside of the UK, would no longer be automatically accepted on the UK market.

'This means that affected manufacturers would need to ensure that they have the correct type-approval for each market ...

'Manufacturers currently holding a VCA-issued [Vehicle Certification Agency-issued] EC type-approval, who intend to continue placing their products on the EU market, must obtain a new EC type-approval from a type-approval authority in an EU country.'

Manufacturers who produce goods that are not currently governed by EU-wide rules would face major new hurdles to export into Europe after a no deal.

Currently, anything that meets UK regulations but which is not subjected to harmonised EU rules can be sold anywhere in the single market. This is known as 'mutual recognition'.

The products involved include significant sectors for UK industry, including the historic textile trade and products such as bicycles  an area which includes high profile British brands such as Brompton.

After a no deal Brexit, mutual recognition would no longer apply  meaning goods would have to meet regulations in the country in which they are sold.

Mrs May has been under pressure over her Brexit plan with Boris Johnson (pictured running near his Oxfordshire home today) thought to be plotting a leadership challenge

Dominic Raab, UK exiting the European Union secretary, left and Michel Barnier, chief negotiator for the European Union, shake hands following a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, on 31 August

Because the products concerned are not subject to EU-wide rules, this could mean manufacturers having to meet 27 sets of regulation.

Exporters of bicycles and textiles could face hurdles after Brexit Manufacturers who produce goods that are not currently governed by EU-wide rules would face major new hurdles to export into Europe after a no deal. Currently, anything that meets UK regulations but which is not subjected to harmonised EU rules can be sold anywhere in the single market. This is known as 'mutual recognition'. The products involved include significant sectors for UK industry, including the historic textile trade and products such as bicycles  an area which includes high profile British brands such as Brompton. After a no deal Brexit, mutual recognition would no longer apply  meaning goods would have to meet regulations in the country in which they are sold. Because the products concerned are not subject to EU-wide rules, this could mean manufacturers having to meet 27 sets of regulation. Importers would also have to ensure non-harmonised good brought into Britain meet UK rules. Advertisement

Importers would also have to ensure non-harmonised good brought into Britain meet UK rules.

The notice on satellites and space programmes confirms the UK and British firms will be blocked taking on future work on Galilo, the EU's equivalent to GPS.

Devices that use the satellite network will continue to work as normal meaning consumers should see no impact.

But the UK will be excluded from encrypted parts of the system due to come online by the mid 2020s, despite British investment in the network.

Business, academics and researchers could also lose out and those with existing contracts are at risk of penalties.

The report confirms 92million has been set aside to explore the possibilities of a UK Global Navigation Satellite System  but not to actually develop one.

The Home Office has published assurances that a no-deal Brexit will not alter the terms of the Common Travel Area which allows British and Irish citizens to live, work and receive welfare benefits in one another's countries.

In one of a set of no-deal preparation papers issued by the Government, the Home Office confirmed that the CTA, which dates back to the 1920s, would remain in place in the case of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

'If you are an Irish citizen you would continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK, as now,' said the paper.

'You are not required to do anything to protect your status.'

The reference to 'European Union' will be removed from UK passports (pictured right) from March - but traditional-style blue versions (pictured left) will not start being issued until the end of 2019

Where required, domestic legislation would be updated in the event of no deal, to guarantee reciprocal rights including the right to work, study and vote, access to social welfare benefits and health services.

Irish citizens will keep rights to live in UK even if Brexit talks fail Ministers said they are absolutely committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland (pictured, the Irish border) Irish citizens will still be allowed to live and work in Britain under the same rules as exist today if there is a no deal Brexit, the Government has promised. Ministers said they are absolutely committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. And they sought to reassure anxious citizens that nothing would change even if the UK crashes out of the Brussels bloc. The pledge comes in a Government paper - one of 28 released today - detailing what is being done to prepare for a no deal Brexit. The paper states: 'If you are an Irish citizen you would continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK, as now. You are not required to do anything to protect your status.' Advertisement

There would be 'no practical changes to the UK's approach to immigration on journeys within the CTA' and 'no routine immigration controls on journeys from within the CTA to the UK'.

Britons getting a divorce from an EU national or in a child custody battle face being stuck in limbo if Britain crashes out without a deal, the technical papers also war,

Currently, EU legislation covers civil courts  meaning that judgements passed down by British courts are automatically recognised across the other 27 member states.

But a no deal Brexit would pull the plug on these agreements meaning 'there would be no agreed EU framework for ongoing civil judicial cooperation between the UK and EU countries'.

Ministers said they would scramble to put in place other laws, but warned Britons affected that they should seek legal advice.

It adds: 'We will seek to provide legal certainty for businesses, families and individuals who are involved in ongoing cases on exit day.

'Broadly speaking, cases ongoing on exit day will continue to proceed under the current rules.

'However, we cannot guarantee that EU courts will follow the same principle, nor that EU courts will accept or recognise any judgments stemming from these cases. Individuals with cases in progress on 29 March are encouraged to seek legal advice on how this may affect them.'

Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has opened another flank in the Brexit battle by threatening to slash the 39billion 'divorce bill' if Brussels refuses to compromise.

French minister for Europe Nathalie Loiseau (pictured) ramped up the rhetoric on a visit to London today, claiming that planes would be grounded and Eurostar trains would not run

The EU Commission President (pictured making his State of the Union address) said the EU would work 'day and night' for a close relationship after the UK quits the bloc

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Raab said one of the consequences of a no-deal Brexit 'is that obviously we wouldn't pay out the money that has been agreed as part of the withdrawal agreement'.

Cross-border divorces could be stuck in limbo by no deal Britons getting a divorce from an EU national or in a child custody battle face being stuck in limbo if Britain crashes out without a deal. Currently, EU legislation covers civil courts  meaning that judgements passed down by British courts are automatically recognised across the other 27 member states. But a no deal Brexit would pull the plug on these agreements meaning 'there would be no agreed EU framework for ongoing civil judicial cooperation between the UK and EU countries'. Ministers said they would scramble to put in place other laws, but warned Britons affected that they should seek legal advice. It adds: 'We will seek to provide legal certainty for businesses, families and individuals who are involved in ongoing cases on exit day. 'Broadly speaking, cases ongoing on exit day will continue to proceed under the current rules. 'However, we cannot guarantee that EU courts will follow the same principle, nor that EU courts will accept or recognise any judgments stemming from these cases. Individuals with cases in progress on 29 March are encouraged to seek legal advice on how this may affect them.' Advertisement

The said the UK would 'recognise our strict legal obligations' but that the amount paid would be 'significantly, substantially lower' than the 39billion.

There are claims the figure could be more than halved if the EU blocks an agreement and the UK could slow down the timetable for paying the balance.

Mr Raab issued a stark warning to Tory Brexiteers - and some Remainers - who have criticised Mrs May's Chequers plan, saying they will merely increase the chances of a no-deal outcome.

'I do appreciate the concerns on all sides,' he said.

'But when push comes to shove, there will be the choice between the deal that I'm confident we can strike with the EU and the no deal scenario.

'We are making sure we are ready for the latter. But I think it would be by far the optimum outcome to have a negotiated deal, and I think that will focus everyone's minds.'

Mr Raab's comments echo Mrs May's statement yesterday that Britain's 39billion divorce offer to Brussels will be slashed if the EU fails to grant a comprehensive trade deal.

The Prime Minister insisted it was a 'specific offer' made on the expectation of an acceptable agreement.

She warned the bloc that without a deal 'the position changes'. Mrs May stressed that the UK was 'a country that honours our obligations'. But sources suggested the divorce payment could be slashed by more than half if there is no deal.

Mrs May said: 'The specific offer was made in the spirit of our desire to reach a deal with the European Union and on the basis, as the EU itself has said, that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Without a deal, the position changes.'

Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, which account for 85 per cent of the market, have agreed the deal following months of talks with ministers.

The 45-a-month cap on mobile data in the EU will also remain, even if talks collapse.

What no deal Brexit papers have been published today? Here is a full list of the no deal Brexit preparation papers being released by the Government today: Connecting Europe Facility energy funding if theres no Brexit deal European Regional Development Funding if theres no Brexit deal European Social Fund (ESF) grants if theres no Brexit deal Funding for UK LIFE projects if theres no Brexit deal Driving in the EU if theres no Brexit deal Handling civil legal cases that involve EU countries if theres no Brexit deal Appointing nominated persons to your business if theres no Brexit deal Travelling with a European Firearms Pass if theres no Brexit deal Trading under the mutual recognition principle if theres no Brexit dea Trading goods regulated under the New Approach if theres no Brexit deal Vehicle type approval if theres no Brexit deal Accessing public sector contracts if theres no Brexit deal Broadcasting and video on demand if theres no Brexit deal Merger review and anti-competitive activity if theres no Brexit deal What telecoms businesses should do if theres no Brexit deal Data protection if theres no Brexit deal Industrial emissions standards (best available techniques) if theres no Brexit deal Reporting CO2 emissions for new cars and vans if theres no Brexit deal Upholding environmental standards if theres no Brexit deal Using and trading in fluorinated gases and ozone depleting substances if theres no Brexit deal Running an oil or gas business if theres no Brexit deal Trading in drug precursors if theres no Brexit deal Satellites and space programmes if theres no Brexit deal Getting an exemption from maritime security notifications if theres no Brexit deal Recognition of seafarer certificates of competency if theres no Brexit deal Mobile roaming if theres no Brexit deal Travelling in the Common Travel Area if theres no Brexit deal Travelling to the EU with a UK passport if theres no Brexit deal Advertisement

On driving licences, motorists will need a new international licence to use their cars in the EU in the event of no deal. The EU is likely to refuse to recognise UK driving licences if Brexit talks collapse, a Department for Transport document will state.

An international driving licence will be needed for anyone driving in the EU after March 29, for hiring or obtaining insurance, unless Brussels or individual member states waive the rules. To complicate matters, there are two types of permit and different versions could be needed for different countries.

Ministers say the UK will continue to recognise EU licences.

The Cabinet 'no deal' meeting today  the first of its kind  was told contingency plans will have to be activated in November in order to have them up and running in time for the UK's departure from the EU in March next year.

The timescale will intensify the pressure on both sides to strike a deal at a special EU Brexit summit now being pencilled in for the middle of November.

Ministers met for three and a half hours to discuss preparations for a no deal Brexit.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'Cabinet agreed that securing a deal with the EU based upon the Chequers white paper is the Government's firm aim and we are confident of success.

'However, as a responsible Government we need to plan for every eventuality.

'Cabinet agreed that no deal remains an unlikely but possible scenario for six months time.

'Departments have significantly increased no deal preparations in recent months. Cabinet agreed to further ramp up no deal preparations in the weeks and months to come to ensure the country is ready for all possible scenarios.'

Brussels is sceptical about Mrs May's willingness to leave without a deal. The new technical notices are designed to demonstrate to both Brussels and the public that the Government will be ready to leave at the end of March.

Bank of England government Mark Carney attended Cabinet today to give a briefing on preparations in the financial sector.

Mr Raab said: 'We are stepping up our no-deal preparations so that Britain can continue to flourish, regardless of the outcome of negotiations.'

Questioned in the House by Tory Chris Philp on whether the 39billion divorce bill would be withheld if there was no deal with the EU, Mrs May said Britain was a 'country that honours our obligations'.

But she insisted it was 'very clear that we need to have a link between the future relationship and the withdrawal agreement'.

'The specific offer was made in our desire to reach a deal with the European Union,' she said.

'And on the basis, as the EU themselves have said, that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, without a deal the position changes.'

Roam free! Britons will NOT pay EU roaming charges even in the event of 'no deal', Brexit secretary says Free data roaming across the EU will continue even if Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal, the government announced today. Ministers have struck a deal with Europe's four largest mobile operators - including Vodaphone and EE - to ensure there is no return to the rip-off fees of the past. The news came in a series of technical notices published on Thursday by Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, following on from a first series published in August. Britons will be free to use their mobile phones anywhere in the EU without incurring extra charges even after Brexit, the government has said Other areas covered by the documents include the impact of a no-deal scenario on standards relating to the environment and vehicles. The papers were published after a special meeting of the Cabinet focused on how a no-deal outcome could be handled. Advertisement
Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. operates as an independent specialty pharmacy in the United States. The company operates through Specialty and PBM (pharmacy benefit management) segment. It provides specialty infusion pharmacy, patient care coordination, clinical, compliance and persistency program, patient financial assistance, specialty pharmacy training, benefits investigation, prior authorization, risk evaluation and medication strategy, retail specialty, and hub services, as well as clinical and administrative support services to hospitals and health systems. The company primarily focuses on medication management programs for individuals with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, specialized infusion therapy, and various other serious or long-term conditions. It also offers PBM services, including electronic point-of-sale pharmacy claims management, retail pharmacy network management, mail pharmacy claims management, specialty pharmacy claims management, Medicare Part D services, benefit design consultation, drug review and analysis, consulting services, data access, and reporting, information analysis, and preferred drug management programs to managed care organizations, self-insured employer groups, unions, and third-party healthcare plan administrators and worker's compensation payers. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Flint, Michigan.

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Harris Corporation provides technology-based solutions that solve government and commercial customers' mission-critical challenges in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Communication Systems, Electronic Systems, and Space and Intelligence Systems. It designs, develops, and manufactures radio communications products and systems, including single channel ground and airborne radio systems, multiband manpack and handheld radios, multi-channel manpack and airborne radios, and single-channel airborne radios, as well as wideband rifleman team, ground, and high frequency manpack radios. The company also offers vision-enhancing products; wireless communications systems; and Internet protocol based voice and data communications systems, as well as single-band land mobile radio terminals and multiband radios comprising a handheld radio and a full-spectrum mobile radio for vehicles. In addition, it provides electronic warfare, avionics, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance solutions for defense and classified customers; and mission-critical communication systems for civil and military aviation and other customers. Further, the company offers intelligence, space protection, geospatial, earth observation, exploration, positioning, navigation and timing, and environmental solutions using advanced sensors, antennas, and payloads, as well as ground processing and information analytics for national security, defense, civil and commercial customers. Harris Corporation was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA engages in the traditional banking businesses of retail banking, asset management, private banking, and wholesale banking. It operates through the following segments: Spain, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and Rest of Eurasia. The Spain segment includes mainly the banking and insurance business that the group carries out in Spain. The United States segment consists of the financial business activity of BBVA USA in the country and the activity of the branch of BBVA SA in New York. The Mexico segment refers to banking and insurance businesses in this country as well as the activity of its branch in Houston. The Turkey segment reports the activity of Garanti BBVA group that is mainly carried out in this country and, to a lesser extent, in Romania and the Netherlands. The South America segment comprises of operations in n Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The Rest of Eurasia segment includes the banking business activity carried out by the group in Europe and Asia, excluding Spain. The company was founded in 1857 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

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The Southern pays an annual dividend of $2.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.18%. 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 74.58% next year. This indicates that The Southern will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.

View The Southern's dividend history.
The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. 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Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA  Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO  Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS  Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI  Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care  Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho  Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho  Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star  Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco  Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology (UK) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (US), Optum Health & Technology (US) LLC, Optum Health & Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US), Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US) Inc., Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health Services (Canada) Ltd., Optum Health Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions (UK) Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio, Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs, Optum Labs Dimensions, Optum Labs Dimensions Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs International (UK) Ltd., Optum Life Sciences (Canada) Inc., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management, Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rocky Mountain HealthCare Options Inc., SC Affiliates LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA California Surgical Holdings LLC, SCA Capital LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA EHSC Holdings LLC, SCA EWASC Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Nashville ASC LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA SSC Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Center of Cullman LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Partners LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Mokena Properties LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-ND VBP Inc., SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Shelby Development Corp., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Wilmington LLC, SCA-Wilson LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SPINETRACK 20/20 Inc., SRPS LLC, SXC Comet, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Savvysherpa Administrative Services LLC, Savvysherpa Asia Inc., Savvysherpa LLC, Scanner Centromed S.A., ScripNet, ScriptSwitch Limited, Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Senior Care Partners, Serquinox Holdings LLC, Serquinox LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Limitada, Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Limitada, Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., SharedClarity LLC, Shelby Surgery Properties Inc., Sierra Health Services, Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company, Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options, Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products, Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators, Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sirona Infusion, Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam  Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad Editorial para la Ciencia Limitada., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria S.A., Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Southwest Medical Associates, Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center of Bakersfield L.P., Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits, Specialty Benefits LLC, Spectera, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA, Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Spotlite, Spotlite Inc., St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, StoneRiver P2P Link, StoneRiver Pharmacy Solutions, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Streamlines Health LLC, Summit Home Infusion, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Clarksville L.P., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of Spokane LLC, Surgery Center of Summerlin LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Center of Vero Beach Inc., Surgery Center of Wilmington LLC, Surgery Center of Wilmington Properties LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Belleville LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings, Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, Symphonix Health Insurance, Symphonix Health Insurance Inc., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologias de Informacion en Salud S.A., The Advisory Board (Chile) SpA, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Lewin Group, The Lewin Group Inc., The Magan Medical Group, The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Thousand Oaks Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys, Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, TriMed LLC, Trinity Infusion, Trio Motion LLC, Tucson Arizona Surgical Center LLC, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UHC Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UHC Global Health Services BC Ltd., UHC International Services, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings (Ireland) Limited, UHCG Services (Ireland) Limited, UHCG  FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHIC Holdings, UHIC Holdings Inc., UICI Funding Corp. 2, UMR, UMR Inc., USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors L.L.C., USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD Administrative Services, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD CT (Mo), USMD Cancer Treatment Centers, USMD Cancer Treatment Centers GP, USMD Diagnostic Services, USMD Holdings, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Inc., USMD PPM, USMD PPM LLC, USMD of Arlington GP, Ultima Rx, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Administrative Services, Unison Health Plan of Delaware, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A., United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Canada Limited, UnitedHealthcare Global Medical (UK) Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare India Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia, UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International I S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International V S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VI S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas, UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky, UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England, UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas, UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah, UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UpFront Insurance Agency LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings, Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO, Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network, Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vida Tres Internacional S.A., Vidaintegra S.A., Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., WebInsure Benefits LLC, WellMed Medical Management, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida, WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., WellMed Networks  DFW, West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, WillowB Labs LLC, Wilmington ASC LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, Your Health Options Insurance Services, Your Health Options Insurance Services Inc., Your Partner in Health Services, divvyDOSE, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative, inPharmative Inc., and ppoONE.
The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..
I connected with her and what she did was, she opened up her house, well, part of her house, because one part was completely gone, Rivera said. So she opened up her backyard and they had kids come with their parents. And we had snacks and the tables set up with backpacks.
LOWER PROVIDENCE  The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office has declined to prosecute either person involved in a shooting in the 100 block of Hollywood Avenue after an investigation revealed that the victim entered the shooters house unannounced and uninvited through an unlocked rear door.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene at 10:50 p.m. on Sept. 2 for a report of a shooting inside the home, according to a press release update from the Lower Providence Police Department.

Upon arrival, police encountered several people outside and inside of the residence and detained five individuals before locating the suspect, 30-year-old Andrew Thompson of Bridgeport.

Officers rendered first aid at the scene prior to Thompson being airlifted by medical helicopter to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, where he underwent emergency surgery for a single gunshot wound.

An investigation determined that the incident stemmed from a verbal and physical altercation earlier in the day between Thompson and the shooter, 31-year-old Ryan Hoy, at a residence in Upper Merion, the release states.

The dispute reportedly continued via text and culminated with Thompson showing up at Hoys home where he was confronted by residents and the fight resumed, at which point Hoy shot Thompson with a shotgun.

Residents at the home immediately called 911 and administered first aid to Thompson until police arrived, the release said.

This is an extremely unfortunate situation that has been difficult for everyone involved because they know each other, said Lower Providence Police Chief Stan Turtle.

Their lives have been forever changed and both must live with their choices and actions from that day, the chief said. We hope those involved are able to move forward from this terrible incident.

Thompson was listed in stable condition after surgery according to the initial press release regarding the incident. The release announcing the investigations findings did not provide an update on his condition.
They say the wheels of justice turn slowly.

Just ask Mark Rozzi.

Hes a state rep from Berks County. And the Democrat happens to be the Legislatures fiercest proponent of delivering justice to victims of child sexual abuse.

Rozzi knows of what he speaks. He was the victim of a predator priest as a youth.

His push to give victims of clergy sexual abuse has made him some powerful enemies. The Catholic church for one. The insurance industry for another.

None of that has stopped Rozzi. He started this push back in 2005, after a grand jury in Philadelphia identified the depth of the problem involving sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, and just as troubling, the clear policies of the hierarchy of the Philadelphia archdiocese that not only covered up for the priests, but moved problem clerics from one parish to another, leaving unsuspecting families  and kids  in harms way.

The problem was rekindled a few years later when another grand jury identified much the same kind of pervasive problems in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese.

And it exploded into headlines  and outrage  again a month ago when Attorney General Josh Shapiro released the findings of still another grand jury that investigated the problem in the remaining six dioceses in Pennsylvania.

Different pews, same problems. The grand jury identified more than 300 priests who abused more than 1,000 children over a period of six decades. And the grand jury strongly hinted that there were likely at least as many more victims who could not be identified.

Through it all, Rozzi has been working in Harrisburg to change the laws when it comes to delivering some semblance of justice to victims of child sexual abuse  and not just those assaulted by priests.

The problem is that current state law requires victims seeking to file a civil action against their abusers by the time they are 30. The problem with that is most experts agree it often takes long into adulthood for victims to come forward, long after both the civil and criminal statute of limitations has expired.

Rozzi is hoping to change that. He has pushed not only to eliminate the criminal statute of limitations altogether, but also expand the time period for a victim to file suit.

There has been support in the Legislature for such measures  but only going forward.

Rozzi would like to open a window to allow past victims to file suit retroactively. And thats where hes met resistance.

A bill to do just that actually did pass the state House before stalling in the state Senate. It met fierce opposition from the church and insurance industry, with some fearing the church could be bankrupted or forced to close more schools and parishes. Some in the state Legislature even wonder if the retroactive window would pass constitutional muster.

The current legislation in the House is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson. It was passed last year by the Senate. It ends the criminal statute and expands the time a victim can sue to the age of 50. But only going forward. Rozzi wants to add the two-year window for past victims to file suit, something by the way that was recommended by the grand jury panel.

Scarnati opposes that effort, instead offering a church-endowed compensation fund to be run by a third party. Rozzi is not buying, and hes ready to take his case directly to his fellow legislators and the public in a series of TV ads and a social media push.

This week there is word that the wheels of justice just might be turning in Rozzis favor. House Speaker Mike Turzai said the House might be ready to take up the two-year window pushed by Rozzi as a compromise to a move to eliminate all lawsuits for victims of all ages.

Everybody empathizes with the victims of child sexual abuse, the Allegheny County Republican said. These victims have to live with these consequences the rest of their lives.

State representatives will have to live with their votes on this measure as well. That is, if it ever actually gets to a vote.

Things have a way of stalling in Harrisburg.

Weve been here before in this battle.

Then there are a couple of other mitigating factors. The House has precious few working sessions scheduled this fall. And every state representative and half the Senate is busy running for re-election. Putting these bills up for a vote just weeks before they are judged by their constituents will no doubt test the mettle of those we send to Harrisburg.

The bill could pass the House. Theyve passed similar legislation in the past. But if Rozzis amendment for a two-year retroactive window is added, it will face staunch opposition in the Senate, which passed the original bill to eliminate future statutes of limitation for criminal charges and expands the window to sue to age 50 by a 48-0.

There is not much time to get this done.

We support the grand jurys recommendation that past victims be offered a window to seek redress.

Mark Rozzi and the other victims of childhood sexual abuse have been waiting long enough.
Allen went to Northwestern University on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1949 with a degree in political science. He went on to the University of Michigan Law School and had a 60-year career in civil litigation. He said he also served two terms on the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills District 181 Board from 1965 to 1971.
In order to make an informed decision about the most beneficial way to fund much-needed municipal building improvements and rebuild its dwindling capital fund, the Plymouth Township Council is taking steps to determine if selling its sewer collection system should fit into the equation.

The governing body, at its September regular meeting, voted unanimously to seek a Request for Qualifications of potential sewer system bidders. Council Chairman Martin Higgins told the handful of residents who inquired that this next step would help the Council determine if there are willing buyers and how much they might want to bid.

From there, the system could be put out to bid. The Council stressed that a decision would not be made hastily.

The request for qualifications and subsequent bidding could take several months to complete.

This is a process weve been at least exploring for a few years now. Were seeing it as one piece of a much larger picture, Councilman Christopher Manero said. We have a capital fund that is projected to dwindle in the next three to four years. We have a sewer system thats an asset but also a liability  We have a township building that is over 40 years old and does need repairs, upgrades, renovations. Were not looking to build the Taj Mahal.

Higgins said the Council determined that building a brand-new building was too cost-prohibitive. Instead, upgrades are planned, including fixing the leaking roof and replacing the buildings aging HVAC system, among other improvements.

The request for qualifications follows several community meetings the township held in the spring to discuss the possibility of selling the system. The other option to fund building repairs and help replenish the capital fund would be to raise taxes  something that Plymouth Township has not done in 25 years.

We do want to do something to ensure the stability of our finances and infrastructure, Manero said, adding that selling the sewer is a last resort.

The townships sewer rates have increased 7 percent each of the last two years, officials said. Several residents voiced concerns about potential skyrocketing rates if the system is sold, particularly to a public company. Should the township opt to sell its sewer system, the Council said officials would negotiate to ensure any future rate increases are reasonable.

Councilwoman Karen Bramblett said Council wants to hear from residents.

We want whats best for the residents of this township, Bramblett said. Were going to be very cautious.

Councilman David Gannon stressed that this step is purely informational to see if theres any interest.

Township attorney Michael Clarke said PFM has begun valuing the system, which will help officials find a comparable price range once bids are submitted.

If the Council chooses to raise taxes to cover the municipal building renovations, Higgins said several options are available. Possibilities include raising the Earned Income Tax from 1 percent to 1.3 percent or increasing the millage rate from 1.6 to 2.11. Under the latter, the owner of the average assessment of $180,000 would pay about $92 more per year in municipal real estate taxes. Another option is to raise the Earned Income Tax to 1.15 percent and increase the millage rate to 1.85. Real estate taxes for the average property would cost an additional $46 per year.

Both of those scenarios would only cover the $860,000 annual debt service on a $15 million loan. In addition, neither option would replenish the capital fund.

At least a certain percentage of it has to be earmarked to replenish capital funds, Higgins said. Were trying to solve three problems here. None of them are easy.
On a sunny day in a Clifton Park cul-de-sac, 87-year-old Allen B. Ballard sails across the asphalt on his specialty "comfort" tricycle. The afternoon ride is part of a routine for Ballard, a former University at Albany professor, who has seen his mobility decline with age.

"Most folks begin having these aches and pains, arthritis, they have hip operations. Everything begins to give...Some folks just want to sit down and forget about it," Ballard said. "Everything is about really, never giving up at mobility because, sooner or later, it ends up with you in a wheelchair."

Ballard authored a recently published book "Keep on Moving," which is partly a memoir of his life and gradual loss of mobility, and partly a consumer guide on alternative mobility devices, like rollators, mobility scooters, recumbent tricycles and others.

Ballard will talk at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Ave., Guilderland on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In the book, Ballard tells the story of having to give up driving at 85 years old and then finding alternative methods to stay mobile.

"That was kind of a devastating moment, when you know you no longer have control over that automobile," Ballard said. "And yet, you've got to keep moving."

According to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data for 2017, nearly 27 percent of all men in the U.S. aged 75 or older suffer from ambulatory difficulty, which the census defines as "having serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs."

Over 35 percent of women 75 and older reported the same problems.

Statewide, over 16 percent of women in New York aged 65 to 74 said they have difficulty walking, and that number jumps to over 35.5 percent for women 75 or older.

Schenectady County, at 43.5 percent, reported even higher rates of ambulatory difficulty among women 75 and older. In Albany County, over 10 percent of men aged 65 to 74 had trouble with mobility, and that number jumped to nearly 28 percent when men were aged 75 or older.

In Amsterdam, Bernie Elwood, a former electrician, was hobbled by severe lower back and leg pain and became unable to work. After undergoing ten months in physical therapy, Elwood got a stationary recumbent tricycle to pedal in his living room and regain mobility.

Recumbent trikes are designed so riders are reclining on a padded chair, their legs extending straight out to the pedals while users grip handles along the side of the tricycle.

The design is meant to be ergonomic and take stress away from knees, shoulders and other body parts susceptible to injury on a normal bicycle.

"I call bicycles two-wheel torture devices," Elwood said. "When you ride these, nothing should hurt...There's no major pressure points on your body."

After realizing there were no recumbent trike dealers in the region, Elwood had to order one from Michigan. This eventually led to Elwood opening "Spike's Trikes" in Amsterdam in 2013.

Since then, Elwood says, he has had customers coming from places as far away as Vermont, Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondacks, and Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes.

Prices vary based on customization and added features, but a standard-quality recumbent tricycle typically runs around $1200, Elwood said.

The trikes can feature things like full suspension, a speedometer and odometer, wider tires for off-road use and even a small electric motor to help get up hills.

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Elwood says his wife used a stationary recumbent tricycle to recover from a knee replacement. He champions the benefits he says users feel after becoming regular riders.

"I get a lot of enjoyment when I know that the trike has helped someone, especially with losing weight," Elwood said. "Because when I was first injured, I put on a lot of weight because I wasn't able to be active anymore. And it took a long time to get that weight off, and one of the things that helped me was my exercise that I got on my trike."

Ballard also discusses the other devices for use within a home or in other settings. In particular, he highlighted the rollator, which is essentially a walker with wheels and a brake and a basket or seat between its handles.

"It's an amazing device," Ballard said, as he switches from hobbling with a cane to sailing across the room with the rollator.

"And it's so underutilized because folks don't understand that it really magnifies the ability of your body to move," he said.

American communities are continuing to gray, according to the Census Bureau, which says that by 2035, there will be more people in the U.S. 65 and older than there will be people 18 or younger.

By 2030, Americans 65 or older will make up 21 percent of the population, up from 15 percent as of 2018, the Census Bureau stated.

Because of this, Ballard hopes his book will educate users on the different devices they may not know about or understand how to use. He also hopes to rid the stigma of being elderly and needing the assistance the devices give.

"(People) hesitate to get on a tricycle, or they hesitate to use a rollator because it marks them," Ballard said. "My message is 'Hey, don't be afraid. Explore these alternative.'"
Rensselaer

A polluted Rensselaer eyesore has been cleaned up and replaced with Partition Wine & Liquors, which held its ribbon cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.

The shop, by Tim Bayly Development, is in a former Roxy Dry Cleaners building. Bayly, who grew up in Rensselaer and is now senior philanthropic director in New York City for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has purchased 10 properties in Rensselaer with plans to reinvest.

The liquor store project has been in the works for nearly five years. Bill Dowd, a retired Times Union editor, initially wrote about it in 2014 for his blog, Dowd on Drinks.

On Friday, the ribbon cutting drew a crowd of about 100 people and several public officials, including Assemblyman John T. McDonald III of Cohoes, State Sen. Neil Breslin, and Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin.

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"It is an incredible sight to see government and business owners coming together to bring about projects that help rebuild our neighborhoods. Tim Bayly and his partners have created not just Partition Wine & Spirits, but a beacon for the Rensselaer community," McDonald said.

The new store will feature local products from Upstate Distilling and Albany Distilling.
Target has come under fire from publishers and authors for redacting some words - including "Nazis," "transgender," "queer" and "bondage" - from the descriptions of a variety of books on its website.

Among the titles whose blurbs were scrubbed by the company's automated process are "Trans: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability," by Jack Halberstam, "Double Cross: The True Story of D-Day Spies" by Ben Macintyre and "No Property in Man: Slavery and Antislavery at the Nation's Founding," by Sean Wilentz.

The word "stripper" was removed from the description of Roxane Gay's book "Difficult Women."

The matter was first reported in a Thursday article in Publisher's Weekly.

On Thursday, Target spokeswoman Jenna Reck said the company recently learned that the words "were being inadvertently removed from book descriptions" on the company's site.

"Like most online retailers," Reck said in a statement, "Target doesn't want profanity and other select words to appear on our website in an effort to ensure a positive shopping experience."

She added that removing the words "was an oversight on our part and they should be included. We're working to update our site with the descriptions that were provided to Target by the book publishers."

Publisher's Weekly reported that Target had reinstated some of the words on Wednesday, two days after author Cael Keegan had brought the issue to the company's attention. Keegan's book, "Lana and Lilly Wachowski: Sensing Transgender," published by the University of Illinois Press, explores work by the Wachowski sisters, the transgender filmmakers behind such movies as "The Matrix" series.

Although the matter has been resolved in Keegan's case, other descriptions remain peppered with asterisks, including "Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism," by Safiya Umoja Noble. The word "porn" was bleeped out of a passage about how computer algorithms play into biases about women of color.

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Halberstam was surprised to learn that the description of his book "Trans," along with books about Nazis, had been redacted: "Bleeping out titles reveals a really strange logic around 'harm' and 'offense.' It presumes that the retailer, in all of its collective wisdom, knows what its consumers will be offended by and moves to protect them from it. This is patronizing, phobic and myopic all at once."

The redactions appear inconsistent. In the blurb about Dan Jones' book about gay life, "50 Queers Who Changed the World" the word "queer" appears not just in the title but also in the description; the description of "This Book Is Gay," by Juno Dawson omits both "Queer" and "Transgender."

For Ben Macintyre's World War II books, the word "Nazis" appears to have slipped through the filter in his 2017 book "Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS, Britain's Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War" but not for his 2012 title "Double Cross."

Wilentz, whose book description was denuded of the word "bondage" in a passage about slavery, said the glitch is "at one level hilarious and another level sad. Hilarious because it's clear that nobody at Target is actually reading the copy they're bowdlerizing. What do they call W. Somerset Maugham's great novel: Of Human *****? Sad because no one would consider the word 'bondage,' in whatever setting, as profane in the sense that Target means it."

"It used to be a small number of supposedly dirty words that were verboten," added Wilentz, a professor of history at Princeton. "That was stupid. Looks like we're getting even stupider."
Escrow. Contingency. Dual agency. For first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can be a complicated maze made even more perplexing by real estate jargon. If you're thinking about purchasing a home or already in the process, here are some of the most commonly misunderstood or confusing terms, decoded by a handful of the region's top realty pros.

***

When you're looking...

Pre-approval vs. pre-qualification.

Long story short, they aren't the same. Multiple realty agents debunked the myth that buyer's pre-approval and pre-qualification letters from a lending bank are interchangeable.

Victoria Romeo, head of Romeo Team Realty and president of the Women's Council of Realtors Capital Region, said a pre-qualification letter is usually issued after a mere 15 minute conversation between the potential lender and buyer about their situation. A pre-approval letter is a much more in-depth process where lenders check credit and discuss details of a possible loan.

Romeo said getting both as early as possible when house-hunting is critical: most agents and sellers will require at least a pre-qualification up front.

"If you're pre-approved, that puts you in a stronger position to negotiate," Romeo said.

Dual agency.

In a dual agency situation, the agent is representing both the seller and the buyer. Laws are in place to ensure that buyers are offered a fair and honest business dealing, but the practice is controversial.

Anthony Gucciardo, head of the Gucciardo Real Estate Group, said some of the smoothest transactions he's ever seen were in dual agency situations. But others were wary of the setup because buyers assume agents are only on their side - and sometimes give out information that they wouldn't want the seller to know.

"Basically in dual agency, you're giving up the right to undivided loyalty," said Susan Sommers, president of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors. "As a buyer, what to be aware of is to make sure you've got the agent that's got your back and is the best fit for you. You have to feel comfortable that they're representing your interests."

HOA.

Homeowners association: a simple enough term, but agents warned that HOA fees and rules trip up first-time buyers more often than not. They urge potential buyers to get their hands on HOA manuals as soon as possible to see what the fees are, what they include and to decide whether it's worth the money.

Sommers added to watch out for special assessments. For example, she said, if you're in a development that doesn't have public water, you may have to pay a special fee for a certain time to get hooked up to the public water system. She said to be careful though, that special assessments, which are usually temporary, are not made permanent - driving up your HOA fees.

When it comes time to close...

Contingencies.

Agents said first-time buyers aren't always aware that when it comes time to draw up a contract there are multiple contingencies that must be met before the deal closes.

The house has to be inspected a week or two before closing. Romeo said problems that require fixing can't be simply cosmetic but have to relate to structural damage - like pests or wood-destroying organisms.

Romeo also dispelled the myth that if a major defect shows up on the inspection report, buyers will get credit for the problem. Instead, the parties have to reopen the contract for negotiation and if the buyer doesn't like what they're offered, they can take their deposit and walk away.

Another contingency in New York is attorneys: contracts must be ratified by a lawyer that all parties meet with at closing.

Seller concessions or contributions.

When some first-time homebuyers hear "seller concessions" or "seller contributions" they excitedly think sellers will foot closing costs or send buyers home with extra cash in hand. Just as it sounds, that's too good to be true.

Gucciardo said it means that a buyer will roll their closing costs into their mortgage. The price the buyer pays doesn't change, but the amount the seller gets does.

For example, if a property is listed at $200,000 with a $5,000 seller contribution, the seller will get only $195,000 at closing. The rest goes toward the buyer's payments.

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Escrow.

If you're not a lawyer or financier, you might think this odd word is in a different language - but it's one commonly used in real estate. When homebuyers choose to escrow, they set aside one and a half years' worth of advance taxes with their lending bank. The bank then promises to pay the homeowners' taxes on time.

Romeo recommends escrowing for first-time buyers so that homeowners can be sure they have enough money saved. But even though the bank promises to pay, she said it's always the responsibility of homeowners to take care of their own taxes.

"If the bank screwed up, they're still coming after you," Romeo said. "You should always be checking to make sure that bill is being paid and issued a paid receipt."

Real estate attorney Susan DeVoe said to always make sure the lender is charging the right amount, but to be aware that payments could always change.

"Taxes are never a guarantee in life," DeVoe said. "When it's lumped in, your payment can fluctuate."

Closing costs.

Realtors said there shouldn't be any surprises at closing, but uninformed buyers can be taken aback by all the different payments when signing the dotted line. DeVoe said buyers should get the final number at least three days ahead of time except for city water bills, which are called in the day of the closing and usually runs less than $100.

Final costs include title payment, attorney fees, mortgage expenses and appraisal charges. Agents warned that, if escrowing taxes, upfront tax payments can be the largest and sometimes shocking amount. In addition to costs at closing, agents said first-time buyers often have misconceptions about when they can move into the house - or sellers when they need to leave. Sellers in New York are required to hand over keys on the day of closing, but not before.

The buyer, agent and attorney typically do a walkthrough as soon as possible before the closing to check the house, and DeVoe said she has to remind buyers that they can't get mad if the closing is, for example, on a Monday and the sellers are still in the house on Saturday.

Gucciardo said he also encounters another major misconception at closing - the seller shutting the power off beforehand. He stressed that sellers need to prove the power is working when they sell the house and buyers need to call the electric company and switch the power over to their name.

***

Despite all this real estate jargon, agents reassured first-time homeowners that it wasn't their job to wade through it alone.

"The best buyer or seller is the informed one and it's never their job to understand all this," Sommers said. "It's our job to explain it to people. You don't do it for a living, we do."

mallory.moench@timesunion.-com - 518-454-5420
My employees have come to me feeling betrayed that they were made a promise that the deductible was going to be given to them in exchange for the county being able to use a health insurance plan that would be less expensive to the county overall, Weinstein said at Tuesdays County Board meeting.
I wouldn't consider myself a daredevil. However, I do say yes to a lot of things, and I'd like to think I'm generally open to new experiences. After all, I do enjoy discovering new opportunities that come my way. So when I was presented with the question, "Do you want to go hang gliding?" I was immediately interested.

On a recent sunny morning, I found myself driving south on I-4, headed for Wallaby Ranch in Davenport, Fla. It's about 45 minutes southwest of downtown, a few exits past Disney.

It's not too far from the rest of Orlando and its theme park attractions, but upon arriving, Wallaby Ranch feels like its own world.

The only other open-air flying experience I've had was riding in a hot air balloon. Even when that happened, I felt the butterflies in my stomach as we took off.

Those feelings never set in leading up to my hang gliding takeoff. Rather than anxiety and fear, I felt excited, at peace and secure.

It certainly helped to have an experienced pilot. Malcolm Jones, who founded Wallaby Ranch in 1991, estimates that he has been on roughly 38,000 hang-gliding flights.

The ranch was the first of its kind, utilizing aerotowing for easier hang-gliding instruction. With aerotowing, a plane tows the glider up to about 2,000 feet before the glider is released into the sky.

Being so high up didn't feel scary or overwhelming. It just felt peaceful and incredibly freeing. Having so much flying experience under his belt, Jones was able to articulate how hang gliding feels for him.

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"It's ethereal, it's a real feeling of freedom. And you get that sort of innate feeling that you're somewhere you're not supposed to be," Jones said. "It's just odd that you can be flying around like that."

Humans aren't supposed to be able to fly, but hang gliding really does make you feel like you belong in the sky.

Once we were released from the tow plane, Malcolm gave me some instructions and had me take over control of the glider. I found it to be fairly intuitive  just pushing arms in and out to control turns and speed.

In the air, the glider never hits more than 25 or 30 miles per hour. It's very serene, just gliding through the air. You can even have a conversation while 1,500 or 2,000 feet up.

Before I knew it, we were back on the ground.

"Oh, that was awesome," was all I could manage to say, and that grin never left my face.
ALBANY  A record 1.5 million New Yorkers cast ballots in Thursday's primary elections, more than double the voter turnout from the last gubernatorial primary in 2014.

Four years ago, just under 600,000 New Yorkers voted in the Democratic primary, which featured a three-way contest between Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Zephyr Teachout, then a little known Fordham Law professor, and radio host Randy Credico.

Cuomo, a second-term Democrat who defeated Cynthia Nixon with 65 percent of the vote Thursday, credited his victory and high voter turnout on what he said is a results-focused agenda and willingness to challenge President Donald Trump.

"Democrats are not theoretical pontificators. They are middle-class New Yorkers who need help right now," Cuomo said Friday. "They don't need moral support. They don't need promises that go unfulfilled. They need progress.... And that's why they came out to vote."

Cuomo noted that he received more primary votes than any candidate for governor in the history of New York, energy he said he believes Democrats will carry into November's general election.

Voters are driven, he said, by "the fear of Trump, the anger at Trump and what Trump's policies will do in their lives."

The governor's campaign spent more than $20 million to thwart Nixon's challenge in a year that has seen a number of unexpected insurgent victories across the nation, and enlisted the support of nearly every major union in the state.

Democratic political consultant Bruce Gyory said that Cuomo's campaign "astutely invested in high voter turnout which brings out urban minorities and suburban white Catholics"  demographic groups that are likely to be aligned with the governor.

In New York City, the turnout numbers were especially stark, with 855,087 New York City residents voting in the gubernatorial primary. By contrast, 480,569 residents voted in New York City's 2017 mayoral primary.

Many city voters were mobilized by insurgent campaigns launched against six former members of the Independent Democratic Conference, which held a seven-year power-sharing alliance with the Senate Republicans. Five of those former New York City senators, including former IDC leader Jeff Klein of the Bronx, were unseated in Thursday's election. Cuomo's campaign officials noted that he still won handily in those contested Senate districts by double-digit margins.

Gyory said that having New York City Public Advocate Tish James sharing a ticket with Cuomo and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul may have also brought out more downstate voters. Backed by the Democratic establishment, James beat out four Democrats in the primary for attorney general.

Since much of that electoral energy was concentrated in New York City and the downstate suburbs, Gyory notes that this year, upstate's share of the Democratic primary electorate shrunk from a reliable 30 percent to 25 percent.

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In a particularly high-turnout election, upstate voters may finally feel the disparity in polling hours, Gyory said. In the Capital Region and throughout most of upstate, polls are open noon-9 p.m., while in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie counties, they open at 6 a.m.

"I think we finally need to address this and have uniform polling hours for upstate. It's something that's been a tradition, but the tradition needs changing," Gyory said.

Turnout across African-American precincts in New York City was very high  reaching 95 percent of turnout of the 2016 presidential primary. Turnout in Hispanic precincts also increased: 2.5 times that of the turnout at the same precincts in the 2014 gubernatorial primary.

Those figures are especially remarkable for New York, which is known for its antiquated electoral system and dismal voter turnout. Electoral reform advocates have long been calling for the Legislature to pass "automatic voter registration" and "early voting" as a means to expand ballot access.

Pat Swann, senior program officer for civic affairs at the New York Community Trust, said the record voter engagement on Thursday was "encouraging," but noted that there was still more work to do.

"Let's keep this in perspective. People are excited about the turnout -- it was 27 percent -- but just imagine what that would have been if we had more opportunity for absentee ballots," she said. "Just imagine if elections were held on a weekend so people wouldn't have to take time off from their busy work day."

That sentiment was echoed by Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY.

"New York state has managed to pull its state primary turnout rate from horrible to merely bad -- in some districts the turnout percentage was as high or higher than the 2016 presidential primary," she said, adding that New York still has "a long way to go" to reform its the electoral process.
ALBANY  In a move thats becoming ever-more popular among municipalities to tap into energy savings, Albany is looking to buy its street lights to the tune of $9.4 million.

National Grid currently owns the lights illuminating the streets of Albany, but a draft purchase agreement presented to city Common Council members offers $9,450,674 to the utility company for the 10,313 lights throughout the city.

In turn, Albany would save money by upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting, and the purchase would open the door to citywide wireless internet. The costs of street lighting in Albany is roughly $4.3 million annually and switching from traditional light bulbs would decrease energy consumption.

LEDs  or light-emitting diodes  have a 25-year-life and are rated for 100,000 hours, so there's little maintenance once converted, said Jesse Scott, manager of customer business development at the New York Power Authority.

The power authority is overseeing the Smart Street Lighting program, which was born following the state Public Service Commission's approval of legislation in 2016 that provides a timeline and guidance for municipalities looking to purchase their streetlights from electric companies.

Scott said NYPA is working with Albany through the street lighting program, which provides guidance and low-rate financing to municipalities upgrading to LED lights.

Albany would be purchasing the street lights and arms, as well as metal light poles. However the city would not purchase any wooden light poles because they are leased by many different utilities. Its expected the city will reveal how it would fund the purchase in the 2019 proposed budget, which is due in October.

The draft agreement also would require $270,049 for transition and transaction costs, and $3.3 million into an escrow account to ensure that Albany installs fuses that guarantee separate ownership for the municipality. The escrow is refundable as long as the city installs the equipment within two years.

Switching the citys street lights to LEDs has been talked about for at least three years. It was brought up by the state Financial Restructuring Board in 2015 as a way for the capital city to cut costs and yield savings, and more recently a state-funded PFM Group report touted the effort as an opportunity for the city to save as much as $2.75 million annually.

We examined a number of options and this makes the most sense for the goals we have and the interests of our residents, said Brian Shea, Mayor Kathy Sheehans chief of staff.

Syracuse officials last month approved borrowing $38 million to purchase 17,507 streetlights from National Grid to convert them to LEDs, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.

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In Schenectady, the city has partnered with National Grid in a pilot program to turn the electric city into a smart city. The three-year, $6.7 million project will be paid for through the utility and will convert more than 4,000 street lights across the city to LEDs, while also installing a variety of wireless data network nodes and sensors that will allow Schenectady to collect and use data from city streets.

State regulators have been pushing utilities like National Grid to expand their portfolio of services for the public beyond just electricity and natural gas service using its available infrastructure. The Schenectady project is a pilot program for what the state is calling Reforming the Energy Vision. The utility expects that it will be able to earn revenue from these services in the future.

NYPA's Scott said Schenectady's project is a demonstration that isn't open to other municipalities. The pilot program allows the authority identify use cases for different technologies in partnership with utilities and the utility continues to own the infrastructure, he said. When municipalities own the lights outright, the community determines the uses and technologies going forward, Scott said.

The state aims to convert 500,000 lights to LEDs by 2025, which include endeavors by utilities, NYPA and consumers, Scott said.

Whether municipalities partner with utilities, or pursue purchasing the lights outright depends on a variety of factors such as the the size of the community and the age of the infrastructure, among others, Scott said.

"There are a lot of factors that determine which is the better, more appropriate model for municipalities," he said.
New York

It was a sweeping and complex criminal enterprise: brothels in Brooklyn, where 15-minute sexual encounters added up to more than $2 million in profits in a 13-month period, and nail salons in Queens, where managers, runners and agents placed bets in an old-school numbers racket.

And the mastermind was a retired New York City police detective who recruited at least seven police officers acting as foot soldiers, according to court documents charging the group Thursday.

The accusations amount to one of the largest scandals to hit the New York Police Department in recent years, a throwback to corruption dating to the 1950s, when a Brooklyn bookmaker enlisted officers as muscle for his $20-million-a-year operation.

In the new indictment, two brothers who are officers in the police department were even charged with holding a bachelor party in a brothel. "They got the place for nothing and they used the prostitutes," said Deputy Chief Joseph Resznick, commander of the Internal Affairs Bureau.

"As we sit here today, the reality is that a number of our uniformed members of various ranks tarnished the NYPD shields that they've worn," the police commissioner, James O'Neill, said at a news conference Thursday. "They've ruined their own careers and reputations. More importantly, they have diminished the great work of tens of thousands of honest, honorable and ethical cops. And that should make every cop who has ever done this job angry."

In all, three sergeants, two detectives and two officers have been charged in the prostitution enterprise. Twenty-six civilians were also arrested, and at least 13 more are being sought. Officials said there are no expectations that other police officers will be arrested unless new information surfaces.

The man accused of being the group's ringleader, Ludwig Paz, 51, a former vice detective, used his knowledge of the workings of the police department to his advantage, prosecutors charged.

He knew that undercover officers investigating prostitution are not allowed to expose their genitals during their interactions with suspects, and so he made a rule to check new customers of the brothels: He insisted that the men "undress and allow themselves to be fondled to pass the brothel's security screening," the Queens district attorney's office, which is prosecuting the officers and dozens of civilians, said.

"The evidence in this case is overwhelming," Bradley Chain, the senior assistant district attorney on the case, said at the officers' arraignment Thursday in state Supreme Court in Queens. "There are thousands of hours of surveillance."

All seven police officers pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. The courtroom was full of the officers' family members. Some wept.

"It's bad," said a senior commander, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing. Another said "a clear mix of anger and embarrassment" was swirling through the uniformed ranks. "That fellow cops would stoop so low, for so little, and that they would betray the oath and the badge for nonsense," the commander said.

Officers were accused of tipping off Paz to ongoing police investigations that could involve his brothels, prosecutors said. Others were accused of providing Paz information in exchange for discounted sex at a brothel. One detective, Carlos Cruz, 41, was allowed to pay $20 for an encounter with a prostitute that would normally cost $40, prosecutors said.

The investigation began after a tip from a police officer.

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During the court proceeding, the prosecutors described how Paz used tips and inside information from the police officers to thwart investigations into his brothels, and hired the officers as doormen and muscle.

One defendant, Detective Rene Samaniego, was described by Chain as the worst offender. He gave Paz and brothel workers physical descriptions of undercover officers who were expected to visit the prostitutes, Chain said. Sometimes Samaniego relayed the descriptions from his station house, and other times, from outside the brothel, when he himself was part of an investigation.

"His conduct was egregious," Chain said. "It is far beyond any of the other officers who are charged here today."

Once, a prostitute was arrested and became the subject of a human trafficking investigation by the Queens district attorney's office. Samaniego told her employers at the brothel about the investigation, and her pimps told her what to say to prosecutors to deter them from pursuing the case, Chain said.

For his services, Samaniego was paid regular weekly installments of $500, Chain said. While the corruption investigation was under way, the officers involved were making prostitution arrests in the course of their work; Samaniego arrested a woman in 2017 after she offered sex for $100, he wrote in a criminal complaint.

The two officers who are brothers, Cliff Nieves, 37, and Steven Nieves, 32, were described as doormen for brothels. Steven Nieves worked the door at a pop-up brothel and was videotaped accepting "large sums of cash," said Christine Oliveri, an assistant district attorney. His brother set prices for sex with prostitutes at the same location, she said.
ALBANY  The attorney for Alexander West asked a midlevel appeals court Friday to reverse her client's manslaughter conviction for killing 8-year-old Charlotte McCue in a July 2016 boat crash on Lake George, saying Warren County prosecutors wrongly allowed a grand jury to learn about West's incriminating blood test.

Albany attorney Cheryl Coleman, who represented 26-year-old West at his 2017 trial, also questioned the trial judge's removal of a jury foreman because of his arrest on a rape charge.

A Warren County jury convicted West of recklessly causing the death of the girl and maiming her mother, Courtney McCue, both of Carlsbad, Calif., on July 25, 2016. Jurors found West guilty of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, alcohol-impaired boating, reckless operation of a vehicle and leaving the scene of the crash.

On Friday, justices Christine Clark, Michael Lynch, John Egan, Eugene "Gus" Devine and Phillip Rumsey heard Coleman present West's appeal at the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, Third Department. Coleman traded arguments with Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone. West's parents, Martin and Cassandra West, were in attendance as were Charlotte McCue's grandfather, Robert Knarr, and his wife, Christine Knarr.

West is serving a 5- to 15-year sentence at the Collins Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison south of Buffalo.

The blood test at issue showed West had cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana in his system. Prosecutors presented the evidence to the grand jury that indicted West but never used it at trial because Warren County sheriff's investigators obtained it without first securing a written warrant from Judge John Hall.

Coleman argued Friday that the prosecution knew the blood test would not be used yet submitted it anyway to secure West's indictment. She noted the same police officers who applied for the warrant to draw West's blood later testified before the grand jury, and said the blood test only served to enhance the credibility of the officers.

"It is inconceivable prosecutors did not know the problem with the warrant," Coleman said. "I think they were hoping that we didn't find it."

Devine reminded Coleman that the trial jury convicted West without hearing about the blood test.

"How is this not harmless at the grand jury level, when the standard is much lower?" Devine asked Coleman.

She said the trial jury acquitted West of every charge that included an element of alleged intoxication, such as vehicular manslaughter and boating while intoxicated. (Alcohol-impaired boating does not rise to the same legal level.)

Egan asked Carusone if justices should look at the evidence presented to the grand jury, minus the blood test. The prosecutor said there would still be sufficient evidence to support West's indictment.

But Carusone said case law shows the appellate court could consider the blood test. He noted a robbery case where the identification of a defendant was presented to a grand jury and suppressed at trial.

Carusone said Coleman's accusation "makes no sense" and came "out of thin air," unsupported by anything in the record.

Several witnesses told the grand jury West was using drugs and alcohol. "This case didn't rise and fall on the blood test," Carusone said.

In addition, Coleman contends the trial judge failed to conduct an inquiry of the would-be jury foreman and that he wrongly ruled the man could not render an impartial verdict. Hall allowed the man to be dismissed "for cause." Coleman said while the law allows either party in a case to challenge a prospective juror for cause, the dismissed foreman was unaware at the time of jury selection that he was about to face his own charge.

Coleman alleged that Hall determined the man "might be biased against the police or the district attorney, and that the sworn juror would have difficulty focusing on the trial in light of the charges."

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Warren County prosecutors challenged the juror for cause and he was dismissed.

"(Hall) conducted no inquiry and simply accepted, at face value, a sworn statement submitted by the (prosecution) indicating a rape allegation was filed against the sworn juror," Coleman stated in court papers.

She argued the defense "was not afforded the opportunity to make any inquiry of the sworn juror's state of mind."

Carusone said case law shows such an inquiry of the jury foreman was not required. He said the judge had discretion. He said if the judge questioned the juror it could have impacted the investigation and outcome of the rape case.

The boat crash at the heart of the case occurred on July 25, 2016. West and friends had been partying at Log Bay Day, an annual boozefest on the east side of Lake George. Police no longer allow Log Bay Day activities.

Blood tests showed West drank beer and mixed drinks and snorted cocaine at the event, which left him drunk and high when piloting a 21-foot Larson motorboat owned by his father. The day after the crash, West told police he had drunk no more than two beers. The claim was proven untrue by the blood test.

Around 9:22 p.m., the McCue family's vintage 28-foot Gar Wood boat was approaching the dock by Cramer Point. Robert Knarr, the girl's grandfather, was at the helm. They were nearly home as West's boat sped toward toward them.

When the crash took place, Charlotte was sleeping on her mother's lap. Also in the boat were Charlotte's sister, Madison; her step-grandmother, Christine Knarr; her father, Eric McCue; and brother, Cooper, who was tucked under his father's arm.

The impact killed Charlotte and severely injured her mother.

West and his boat mates fled. He was later arrested.
ALBANY  A Cooperstown man was arraigned in federal court Friday on charges of money laundering and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said.

Thomas K. Lagan, 60, who once lived in Slingerlands, faces charges related to the $11.8 million theft from estates for which he and his alleged co-conspirator, Richard J. Sherwood, served as money managers, Jaquith said.

Between November 2011 and February 2018, Sherwood admitted to laundering money from the estate of Warren and Pauline Bruggeman and Pauline's sister, Anne Urban, all of Niskayuna. In 2006, Sherwood, an attorney, helped the Bruggemans and Urban with their wills. All assets were directed to go to charities, churches and civic organizations with some funds going to Julia Rentz, Pauline Bruggeman's other sister, Jacquith said.

Warren Bruggeman died in April 2009, and Pauline died in August 2011. At the time of her death, Pauline had personal and trust assets valued at approximately $20 million.

Sherwood pleaded guilty in June to stealing and laundering millions of dollars from the Bruggeman estate with Lagan. He also pleaded guilty to diverting several millions of dollars from Urban's estate. She died in 2013. Her estate should have gone to Rentz who was suffering from dementia.

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In addition to the fraud, Lagan is also accused of failing to report more than $5.3 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service in 2013 and 2015. In a separate indictment being prosecuted by the New York Attorney General's Office, Lagan was charged in Albany County Court with grand larceny in the first degree, criminal possession of stolen property and a scheme to defraud.

If convicted on the federal charges, Lagan would face up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of post-imprisonment supervised release.
ALBANY  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was on his way to a sound win of the Democratic nomination in Thursday's primary, turning back a spirited challenge by actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, whose grassroots campaign had at times dogged the two-term incumbent.

Returns showed Cuomo with about 65 percent of the vote to Nixon's 34 percent.

Cuomo, seeking his third term, avoided the public spotlight in the final two days of the campaign and opted to hold a private watch party at the Governor's Mansion in Albany with family and friends on Thursday evening, according to his campaign.

The governor's only public appearance earlier Thursday came when he cast his ballot at a church near his home in New Castle, Westchester County, with his longtime partner, Food Network star Sandra Lee.

At a press conference Friday Morning, Cuomo credited his results-focused agenda and his willingness to challenge President Donald Trump for the record high voter turnout  nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers cast ballots on Thursday  for his resounding victory.

"Democrats are not theoretical pontificators. They are middle class New Yorkers who need help right now. They don't need moral support. They don't need promises that go unfulfilled. They need progress.... And that's why they came out to vote," Cuomo said.

Nixon delivered an energetic concession speech just after 10:30 p.m. in New York City, telling her supporters: "We made our voices heard."

"In our campaign we took on one of the most powerful governors in America and it wasnt easy," she said, highlighting the fact her campaign had pushed Cuomo to the left on many issues, including legalization of marijuana. "We had to fight just to get on the a ballot  and the establishment came at us with everything they had. ... The other side spent $25 million trying to drown us out."

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul narrowly won a victory over Jumaane Williams, a New York City councilman from Brooklyn. The Associated Press had called the race with 86 percent of votes reported, and Hochul holding a lead of more than five percent.

With 54 percent of precincts reporting, Hochul was leading by less than 2 percent. Most of the vote has already been counted in Brooklyn, where Williams ran up a substantial margin, while a number of upstate counties expected to favor Hochul had yet to report, auguring well for her odds to win the race.

Cuomo had focused his campaign on his progressive accomplishments and what he said is the continuing threat of the Trump administration.

The outcome marked a victorious end to what had been a tumultuous week for Cuomo, with the final days of the governor's campaign overshadowed by revelations that a scurrilous mailer distributed to thousands of Jewish voters had wrongly linked Nixon to antisemitism. Cuomo quickly disavowed the mailer, which had been sent by the state Democratic Party and approved by his top campaign aides.

Days earlier, Cuomo weathered criticism over the bungled reopening of the newest span of the former Tappan Zee Bridge, which has been named for his father, the late governor Mario M. Cuomo. The opening, which Cuomo announced in person with great fanfare and with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his side, was delayed after engineers said they were concerned the remains of an old span could topple onto the new one.

In 2010, Cuomo, a former attorney general, ran for governor on a promise to "clean up" Albany. Eight years later, Cuomo's administration has been rocked by its own corruption scandals related to the governor's signature economic development programs. His former top aide Joe Percoco, who he has described as "a brother," and SUNY Polytechnic Institute president Alain Kaloyeros were both tried and convicted this spring for their roles in a massive bid rigging scheme.

While typically the editorial boards have not been easy on Cuomo, many newspapers chose to endorse the two-term governor in the primary, citing his progressive accomplishments and political experience.

At his polling site Thursday, the New Castle Presbyterian Church, Cuomo was asked if he would run on a third-party line -- either the Independence Party or the Women's Equality Party -- if he ceded the primary to Cynthia Nixon.

"I'm going to become a journalist and then just second-guess everybody else, because that's a lot easier," Cuomo told reporters dryly.

It was a hard-won victory. The governor, who started his re-election bid with $30 million in the bank, greatly outspent his opponent, pouring almost $8 million into television ads during the final stretch of the campaign.

In the days leading up to the election, that spending seemed to pay off, and major polls had Nixon trailing Cuomo 30 to 41 points.

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Nixon ran on a progressive platform that challenged the corrosive impact of big money in politics.

Nixon's candidacy, legitimized by the endorsement of the influential Working Families Party in April, caused something of a rift in New York's Democratic landscape. Powerful labor unions withdrew from the progressive third party at Cuomo's behest, while progressive groups like Citizens Action of New York and the Alliance for Quality Education gained prominence in the party as they backed the "Sex and the City" star.

After 28-year-old Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's stunning victory over 10-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley during July's congressional primary, Nixon's campaign had hoped to harness some of that progressive electoral energy for the state-level primaries.

The WFP's leader, Bill Lipton, declared a victory of sorts for that party before the polls closed, noting that Nixon's candidacy had pushed Cuomo to the left on issues like voting reform, criminal justice reform and marijuana legalization.

Lipton also credited Nixon's candidacy for pressuring the governor to disband the IDC, a breakaway group of Democratic Senators in the state Legislature who shared a ruling alliance with the Republican conference, which critics argue has blocked the passage of critical progressive bills.

In the lieutenant governor race, Williams was winning in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but Hochul handily was beating Williams in other counties across the state, including the other boroughs of New York City, upstate and on Long Island. Hochul, who is from Buffalo, swamped Williams in her home county, Erie.

The usually sleepy lieutenant governor race  which is often uncompetitive  gained some attention this year because the support Williams generated in his insurgent campaign to unseat Hochul.

First elected to the New York City Council in 2009, Williams had not only activist credentials but a substantial legislative record. The Working Families Party backed Williams in tandem with Nixon for governor.

Hochul, a former congresswoman from Western New York, was elected as Cuomo's running mate in 2014.

While the governor and the lieutenant governor run together in the November general election, they run separately in the Democratic primary.

Although the position is relatively powerless in its own right  except for its being next in line to the governorship  this year's race has created intriguing political possibilities. As lieutenant governor, Williams has promised to be more critical of the governor, and has portrayed Hochul's role as primarily a ceremonial one, attending ribbon cuttings.

But Hochul, backed by Cuomo's political muscle, was able to spend heavily in the race's final days, with the Democratic ticket blanketing the airwaves with television commercials.
MALTA - Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen soundly won her Republican primary on Thursday, ensuring her return to the office in November.

The incumbent candidate won in what early returns indicated was a two-to-one margin against Saratoga Springs attorney Gerard Amedio. With no Democrats seeking the job as the county's top prosecutor, Heggen's position is secure through the 2022 election cycle.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Heggen said while celebrating with other Republicans at Carson's Woodside Tavern in Malta. "I'm also humbled and proud and very happy that so many turned out on a Thursday to vote."

It was a tough road for Amedio, who won and then lost the backing of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee after every other municipality and the Saratoga County Republican Committee backed Heggen.

The defense attorney, who was a former Rensselaer city policeman, also faced some bad press for his role in a high-profile lawsuit, his bankruptcies after a divorce, his attempt to win permanent disability for himself and his faltering campaign funds.

Still, Amedio insisted he was the right choice for the job because of his experience as a police officer and knowledge of how and why criminals commit crimes. He also claimed that Heggen's office isn't staying on top of its workload of criminal cases or proactively working with victims of crime.

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Amedio was watching the returns privately with family and friends late Thursday and was unavailable for comment.

Heggen enjoys deep roots in the county. A Malta native, she is the county's first female district attorney, taking over in September 2014 after James Murphy III stepped down to become a judge. As Murphy's first assistant in the office, the top post went to her by law.

Heggen said the job is a culmination of her 25-year career.

"Saratoga County Republicans clearly agreed that Karen Heggen is the most qualified, experienced and professional choice to continue as district attorney," said the county's GOP Chair Carl Zeillman. "Karen and her incredibly talented team have proven they are unquestionably committed to keeping Saratoga County safe. We are fortunate to have her talents and leadership in the district attorney's office for another four years."

Among those celebrating in Heggen's hometown is Republican Lt. Governor Candidate Julie Killian as well as many of the county's top Republicans.
ALBANY - Democratic voters in the 107th Assembly District chose New Lebanon Town Clerk Tistrya Houghtling on Thursday to take on incumbent Republican Jake Ashby in November.

Houghtling collected 4,077 votes while Cambridge attorney Don Boyajian had 3,005, according to results on the county boards of elections' websites.

The district, which includes parts of Washington, Rensselaer and Columbia counties, was represented by Republican Steve McLaughlin until he vacated the seat following his election as Rensselaer county executive in 2017. Ashby wont the seat by 170 votes in an April special election over Rensselaer County Legislator Cindy Doran, a Democrat.

Doran initially considered a rematch against Ashby, but opted not to join the primary fight.

Most of the primary vote came from Rensselaer County, where 75 percent of the Democrats in the district live. Houghtling, who was endorsed by the county's Democratic committee, won about 55 percent of the county.

Boyajian racked up about 82 percent of Washington County vote, which only has two towns in the district, and Houghtling collected nearly three-quarters of the vote in Columbia County.

"I am so grateful for the support of my hometown and my local communities," said Houghtling on Thursday night. "I am feeling really good."

She attributed her victory to a grassroots campaign, which featured an army of volunteers knocking on doors, making phone calls and spreading her message.

The differences between the two candidates largely revolved around their resumes and backgrounds. Boyajian is a municipal and environmental attorney, with experience at multiple levels of government, and Houghtling, before being elected town clerk, worked for the town court.

"I have both life experiences and local government experience that help me understand the issues facing families and communities in the district," Houghtling previously told the Times Union.

She will appear on Working Families and Women's Equality lines in November and expected to win a primary for the Green Party nomination. Houghtling said the Working Families line could be the difference in the race, as Doran didn't have the line for her special election bid.

Boyajian joined the race in May after abandoning a North Country congressional run. He moved about $150,000 from his initial bid into the Assembly race, spending most of it on consultants.

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Each candidate had the support of their home county's Democratic committee.

The partisan breakdown of the district makes it an uphill climb for either Democrat in November. While Democratic and Republican enrollment is evenly split, nearly 30 percent of voters in the district aren't aligned with a party and have traditionally leaned to the right.

While Houghtling didn't raise or spend much money in the primary, she anticipated her general election campaign would have the resources it needed to mount a serious effort.

"We've already been in touch with [Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee] about how we can work together moving forward," she said.

The well funded party apparatus has the ability to insert hundreds of thousands of dollars into a local race.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87
Washington

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday she has notified federal investigators about information she received  and won't disclose publicly  concerning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The California Democrat said in a statement that she "received information from an individual concerning the nomination." She said the person "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision."

The Judiciary Committee, which has finished confirmation hearings for Kavanagh, is scheduled to vote next Thursday on whether to recommend that Kavanaugh's nomination be confirmed by the full Senate.

The New York Times is reporting that two anonymous officials familiar with the matter say the incident involved possible sexual misconduct between Kavanaugh and a woman when they were both in high school.

Feinstein's statement that she has "referred the matter to federal investigative authorities" jolted Capitol Hill and threatens to disrupt what has been a steady path toward confirmation for Kavanaugh.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment.

Feinstein declined to answer questions outside the hearing room. Democratic senators on the panel met privately Wednesday evening and discussed the information, according to two Senate aides who were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly but spoke on condition of anonymity.

The White House questioned the timing of Feinstein's move, calling it an "11th-hour attempt to delay his confirmation."

"Throughout his confirmation process, Judge Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators  including with Senator Feinstein, sat through over 30 hours of testimony, addressed over 2,000 questions in a public setting and additional questions in a confidential session. Not until the eve of his confirmation has Sen. Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," said Kerri Kupec, a White House spokesperson.

Kupec added the FBI has vetted Kavanaugh "thoroughly and repeatedly" during his career.

Democrats don't have the votes to block Kavanaugh's nomination, if Republicans hold unified, but are fighting it and decrying the process that Republicans used to compile his government records for review.

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At the committee Thursday, Republicans brushed aside Democratic attempts to delay the consideration of Kavanaugh or subpoena more documents, sticking with a schedule that could see him confirmed by Oct. 1.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut protested that the nomination will be "tainted" and "stained" by the unusual process for vetting the nominee.

"We lack the time. We lack the documents." He called it a "badly broken process."

Feinstein had sought a subpoena for documents from Kavanaugh's time as Bush's staff secretary. She said senators "should be able to see this record" and wondered, "What in Judge Kavanaugh's records are Republicans hiding?"

Republicans have declined to pursue Kavanaugh's staff secretary documents, saying it would be too cumbersome. They rejected Feinstein's motion.
Novichok is an extremely rare chemical not readily available to the public, or even the criminal underworld. The military nerve agent remains a product of Russia. Four months after the attack, residue of the poison left behind by the attackers struck down two more British citizens, in no way tied to government intelligence or security agencies, one of whom died.
ALBANY - Progressive activists successfully wrested the Democratic nominations away from six former members of the Senate Independent Democratic Conference in primaries on Thursday, including the conference's former leader, Jeff Klein.

Klein was trailing challenger Alessandra Biaggi by more than 6 percentage points, but with less than 10 percent of precincts left as Biaggi was declared the unofficial victor.

The outcome marked a stunning epilogue to the rogue group formed by Klein in 2011, after Democrats lost the chamber, and the initial four members worked, with the tepid support of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, in conjunction with the Senate Republicans. In 2013, when Democrats made up a numerical majority, the renegade Democrats enabled Republicans to maintain control of the Senate.

All eight of the former IDC members faced ardent primary challenges from their left flank, despite rejoining the mainline Democratic Conference in April as part of an effort to placate their critics and avoid challenges.

But their allegiance with Senate Republicans had fueled controversy about Albany's dysfunction and back-room dealing for years, and arguably set the stage for their startling defeats in Thursday's primary.

In a rematch of a multi-field race from 2016, former New York City Councilman Robert Jackson easily defeated freshman Sen. Marisol Alcantara in Manhattan.

In Brooklyn, two-term incumbent Jesse Hamilton fell to political newcomer Zellnor Myrie.

In Queens, Sen. Jose Peralta lost to Jessica Ramos.

In central New York, incumbent David Valesky trailed Rachel May by 3 percentage points, with less than 7 percent of precincts reporting.

Queens Sen. Tony Avella lost to John Liu, who, if elected in November, will be the only Asian-American member of the chamber.

Senators Diane Savino and David Carlucci cruised to renomination.

Sen. Marty Dilan, an ally of the former IDC members, lost overwhelmingly to first-time candidate Julia Salazar.

Aside from the seat in central New York, the other seats held by the former IDC members are expected to easily remain in Democratic hands in 2019.

Sen. Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat who caucuses with the Senate Republicans, was also poised to win the Democratic primary.

Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who backed Klein, said in a statement on Thursday night that the results made it clear that "politics as usual are no longer acceptable."

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The hopes of the challengers, like Biaggi, were buoyed by the upset primary win in June by Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who unseated U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley. But most political observers didn't expect three-quarters of the former IDC members to lose their nomination fights.

In April, the now-eight members of the IDC rejoined the Democratic Conference in a deal brokered by Cuomo, which included a promise that the party establishment would refrain from supporting primaries against the incumbents.

The agreement did little to quell criticisms of the eight senators from the liberal wing of the party and progressive activists. The Working Families Party, which tried to negotiate a deal in 2014 with Cuomo to bring the IDC back into the fold, continued to back challenges after the deal was reached.

The incumbents were backed by independent campaigns from the charter school and hospital industries, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertisements. They also benefited from a special campaign fundraising agreement with the Independence Party, which transferred more than $1 million into their coffers this year.

Klein was expected to spend about $2 million on his primary this year.

In January, a former legislative staff member accused Klein of forcibly kissing her three years ago outside an Albany bar. He vehemently denied the allegations and requested an independent investigation into the matter, but no findings have been issued.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A contingent from the New York Air and Army National Guard will be heading to Africa this weekend to participate in the continent's largest air show.

The state Division of Military and Naval Affairs says 38 soldiers and airmen will depart Saturday for the African Aerospace and Defence Air Show being held next week in Pretoria, South Africa.
ALBANY - New York City Public Advocate Letitia "Tish" James is the prohibitive favorite to be New York's next attorney general after winning the Democratic Party's nomination in Thursday's primary.

The party's nomination for the post wasn't expected to be up for grabs this year, but an open field emerged after two-term incumbent Eric Schneiderman resigned the post in May amid a scandal. The Republican nominee is New York City attorney Keith Wofford.

James collected 41 percent of the vote with more than half of precincts reporting, with constitutional lawyer Zephyr Teachout at 31 percent, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney at 25 percent and lobbyist Leecia Eve at 3 percent, according to results with the state Board of Elections.

Upon entering the race in May, James was able to quickly coalesce the Democratic Party support around her candidacy, but ended up having to distance herself from party leaders and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo later in the campaign. She spent the rest of the summer collecting a vast majority of the key labor endorsements in the race.

Opposition to President Donald J. Trump was a recurring theme of the campaign, with each candidate trying to paint themselves as the most committed to leading a resistance from the attorney general's office.

The field also took great pains to establish their independence, especially from Cuomo, and pledged to make corruption a central focus of the office.

James, who won the support of the Democratic Party establishment at their statewide convention in May, is backed by Cuomo. Teachout was an early supporter of Nixon, and received her endorsement. The Working Families Party, a liberal third party, endorsed both of those candidates this summer and is expected to hand its nomination over to James, even though she didn't actively seek their support.

In response to her victory, Wofford said in a statement that was the independent political outsider who could get results.

"I'm the only candidate in the race for New York State Attorney General that has the qualifications and independence to give voters exactly what they want and deserve," he said in a statement.

The Green Party candidate is Goshen lawyer Michael Sussman.

Schneiderman walked away from the job following an explosive report in The New Yorker that included allegations he physically abused multiple women. He has denied elements of the article but resigned immediately after it was published.

Interim-Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced she wouldn't seek a full term in office, prior to the state Legislature appointing her to fill out the remainder of Schneiderman's term.

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Eve, a lobbyist for Verizon, is best known as the daughter of former Buffalo-area Assemblyman Arthur Eve. She raised only a fraction of the campaign funds that her opponents garnered. Her bid never gained traction across the state, with support only in the single digits in polls this summer.

Maloney, a Hudson Valley congressman, was able to flood the television airways with campaign advertisements due to his fundraising advantage, which was made possible by $1.4 million in funds from his congressional account.

Eve and Maloney both considered interviewing with the state Legislature for the interim attorney general post, which went to Underwood, but quickly abandoned the idea.

Teachout, who challenged Cuomo for the Democratic nomination in 2014, grabbed national headlines in the wake of Trump's elections for her role in a lawsuit that claimed the president's business interests violated the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit was dismissed due to standing.

The last time the Democratic nomination was up for grabs was in 2010, when Schneiderman won a five-way race.

The job of attorney general is considered a launching pad for higher office, with the last two elected governors serving in the post.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87
ALBANY  In New York, incumbent state politicians rarely lose elections  especially in primaries. So on Thursday evening, when primary challengers defeated seven incumbent Democrats from the state Senate, it sent shockwaves through Albany's political circles.

In the upcoming November general election, Democrats are favored to beat Republicans, riding a wave of liberal enthusiasm generated by opposition to the presidency of Donald Trump  and to retake full control of the state Senate for the first time since 2010. It would also position Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester as the first female leader of the chamber.

If that occurs, all the new progressive blood elected to the state Senate on Thursday will likely push the Democratic conference further to the political left, experts said, with the farthest-reaching implication being the passage of legislation creating a single-payer health care system in New York.

Lisa DellAquila, one of the leaders of the grassroots coalition group TrueBlueNY, which supported many of the Democratic primary challengers, said the election results show that if Democrats go to Albany and don't act on their liberal campaign promises, they will be held to account.

Yet that dynamic could also pose challenges to Senate Democrats, some of whom represent more moderate districts on Long Island and across upstate New York.

Already, Senate Republicans are citing the election results on Thursday to argue for their continued majority in the chamber. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan sent out an email on Friday stating anyone "who cares about the future of New York state should be scared to death about what happened last night." He highlighted Democrats' alleged weakness on law enforcement issues, their push for state-run health care and the granting of drivers' licenses to undocumented immigrants.

"The last thing New Yorkers want is the Democratic socialists controlling our entire state government," Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif said. "It's a scary proposition, and our majority is the only thing that can stop it."

A more liberal Senate would also push Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has carved out a centrist reputation during his eight years working with a moderate Senate GOP majority and a liberal Democratic Assembly majority. In a recent editorial board interview with the Times Union, which was conducted ahead of the primary elections, Cuomo predicted passage of a slew of long-desired progressive bills would be more difficult than many thought with a Democratic Senate.

"We'll have to wait and see if they can establish a good chemistry," said Democratic political consultant Bruce Gyory. "Whatever you want to say about the Senate Republicans, they've been able to work incredibly well together."

In recent years, the Senate Democrats have been undermined less by their progressivism than by members' flirtations with Senate Republicans, a situation that was emphatically remedied on Thursday.

When Democrats last took control of the state Senate in 2008, a four-member faction of the conference known as the "Amigos" flirted with joining with Senate Republicans, and upending the first Democratic majority in decades. Ultimately, two Democrats, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada, did briefly vote to re-empower the Senate GOP in the infamous 2009 Senate "coup," before Democrats retook control following a month of chaos.

During the tumultuous two years when Senate Democrats last controlled the Senate, during the midst of the budget-strapped Great Recession, they pushed through major tax hikes, including the so-called "millionaire's tax" and the MTA payroll tax, which hurt their marginal members' re-election odds both upstate and on Long Island.

Senate Republicans narrowly regained control of the chamber in the 2010 elections  and then retained it, again, even after Democrats regained seats in 2012, through a power-sharing agreement the GOP cut with a new rogue faction of Democrats, the Independent Democratic Conference.

On Thursday evening, retribution finally arrived: Unoffficially six of the eight members of the former IDC, including its leader, Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein, were defeated by Democratic primary challengers. While the IDC members had in fact rejoined the main Democratic conference under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo this year, it may have come too late and liberal fervor directed at their former Republican alliance led to their toppling on Thursday.

In addition, Brooklyn state Sen. Martin Dilan, who had a moderate reputation, lost to avowed Democratic socialist, Julia Salazar, despite a number of controversies dogging her candidacy.

With the seven new members firmly ensconced in the leftward part of the Democratic Senate conference, one real possibility is the push for a bill implementing single-payer health care in New York, a proposition whose cost has been difficult to manage in other states that have tried it. Senate Republicans are set to argue this election season that such a measure would bankrupt the state.

Another likely item on the Senate Democrats' agenda would be a long-sought codification of abortion rights in state law, especially with those rights potentially in jeopardy on the federal level if the U.S. Senate confirms conservative Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In Albany, every Senate Democrat, including the newly elected nominees, are now united in support of the legislation codifying Roe v. Wade, according to conference spokesman Mike Murphy.

Previously, Democrats had lacked the votes to pass that legislation due to the presence in the conference of state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a social conservative, who has left the body to serve in the New York City Council.

Passage of criminal justice reforms, climate change legislation, and the DREAM Act, which would make college scholarship benefits available do undocumented immigrants, are also high on the list of Senate Democratic priorities.

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Other progressive priorities include increased funding for public education, passing laws curbing New York City landlords' abilities to spike rents, publicly financing campaigns, and closing the so-called "LLC loophole," which has allowed huge campaign giving by New York City real estate interests.

Those measures stand much better chance of passage with the defeat on Thursday of the former IDC senators, who had provided a hedge in the Senate for charter school supporters and the real estate industry that fear the policies of mainline Senate Democrats. The real estate industry, in particular, heavily financed the former IDC leader, Klein, in his final days, to no avail.

By contrast, many of the IDC challengers refused to take corporate or real estate campaign dollars.

"When you're talking about classes clashing in New York, above all that really means rent laws, which are the most import component to the real estate industry, which is the most important part of the corporate class," said Bill Lipton, state director of the Working Families Party. "They are responsible for keeping the rent laws weak, for keeping the Republicans in charge, and providing the IDC huge amount of money through various mechanisms."

Now, the real estate and charter school sectors are likely to only double down on supporting their longtime Senate Republican allies this November.

"It's going to be the ultimate show-down," Lipton said.

In a statement, John Banks, president of the powerful Real Estate Board of New York, which represents New York City landlords and has spent millions supporting Senate Republicans, said that "REBNY will continue to work with a diverse group of elected officials regardless of their political party. If there's one common denominator among both incumbents and new elected officials it is that everyone understands the critical need for more housing in New York City."

To have a majority, Democrats will almost certainly need to win at least 33 seats in the 63-seat chamber. That's because one Democrat, Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, conferences with the Senate Republicans.

A conservative on certain issues, Felder is unlikely to see eye-to-eye on many matters with the conference's new progressive blood; Felder himself was the target of a Democratic primary challenger, which he easily held off.

Still, Felder has left open the possibility of joining the Senate Democratic conference if it would be most beneficial to his heavily Orthodox Jewish district, a situation that would most likely exist if Democrats hold a majority without him.

Felder did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.

It's still possible that Senate Republicans, whose demise has been rumored for years, could hold on to their majority, despite the expected anti-Trump wave in New York. The GOP holds a slim one-seat majority with the support of Felder, but has a solid pickup opportunity in the district of freshman state Sen. John Brooks, a Democrat who narrowly won his seat in 2016.

On the other hand, Murphy, the Democratic spokesman, said that while Democrats only had to defend Brooks, there were some 10 Senate Democratic pickup opportunities in Republican seats across the state.
Everyone is preparing for Hurricane Florence, which continues to barrel toward the Carolinas. Residents are evacuating the area, FEMA is getting supplies, Weather Channel reporters are breaking out their strongest windbreakers - and the Waffle House Storm Center has been activated.

That's right: One of the South's most popular breakfast chains plays an important role in hurricane forecasting. Waffle Houses are known for staying open through anything. So when the company decides to close one of its locations because of bad weather, it means the storm is an unusually bad threat. It's called the Waffle House Index, and FEMA monitors it. Seriously.

"The WaffleHouse Storm Center is activated and monitoring #Florence," @WaffleHouseNews tweeted on Tuesday.

Former FEMA administrator W. Craig Fugate came up with the Waffle House Index as a way to determine how an overall community was faring during a disaster.

"The Waffle House test doesn't just tell us how quickly a business might rebound - it also tells us how the larger community is faring," Dan Stoneking wrote on the FEMA Blog in 2011. "The sooner restaurants, grocery and corner stores, or banks can reopen, the sooner local economies will start generating revenue again - signaling a stronger recovery for that community."

The Waffle House Index - which is, again, a real thing that our government uses - is color-coded. If Waffle Houses are open and offering a full menu, the index is green. If they're offering a limited menu, it's yellow. If locations in the affected area are forced to close, the index is red - and because Waffle Houses are very prepared, this is the rarest scenario. In Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, an employee of a still-operating Waffle House told a reporter that during 2016's Hurricane Matthew, the location closed only after the ceiling tiles began to fall.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

On Tuesday, Waffle House tweeted a photo of personnel hunkered down in a situation room, in front of screens with maps and the hurricane's projected path. "Plan ahead and be safe," the company encouraged its customers. Some residents in Southern cities base their decision to evacuate on whether the Waffle House is still open. (This is not recommended.)

Here's hoping all the residents of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, have evacuated the city: Their Waffle House just hit Code Red. WMBF News in Myrtle Beach reported that a Waffle House there closed two days before the storm's anticipated hit: "Y'all Waffle House in Myrtle Beach is closed ahead of the storm," tweeted the station's Nia Watson. "It just got real!!!"

Meanwhile, Waffle House's main Twitter account had a message for the approaching storm: "Hey Flo. . . Kiss my grits! #HurricaneFlorence"
Lake Behavioral Hospital, which opened as St. Therese Hospital in 1929 before being acquired by Vista Health in the early 2000s, has been operated by New York-based US HealthVest since earlier this year, after the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board gave the green light to the purchase and expansion plans.
Deputy Seamus Healy has welcomed the decision of Tipperary County Council to grant planning permission for the new two storey extension at South Tipperary General Hospital.

This will give the green light to the construction of the new 40 bed in-patient unit at the hospital.

On September 5th, An Bord Pleanala gave the go ahead for a new two-story extension to the rear of the existing South Tipperary General Hospital.

The development can be accessed off the first floor of the existing Hospital through a single storey link corridor, which is part of a separate planning application.

The plant room will be accessed at ground floor off the existing South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel. The proposed development is within the curtilage of a protected structure of South Tipperary General Hospital.

Fourteen conditions were attached to the decision to grant planning permission.

Progress on the facility was made earlier in the year when the contract at the Clonmel hospital was awarded to Healthare Accommodation and Staffing solutions.
Tusla-Child and Family Agency has launched its first ever national promotional drive to highlight the diverse range of services it provides as part of its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support(PPFS) programme.

Tusla National Child and Family Support Week will feature special public events across North Tipperary (Sept 17th- 23rd) and will be backed up by a national and regional advertising campaign across media platforms.

There are now almost 863,000 families with children in Ireland and some 1.68 million children in families in Ireland, according to Census 2016. Tusla provides extensive support services to assist all parents, children, and young people as part of its PPFS programme. This programme aims to stop problems experienced by families from getting worse, or from developing into a crisis.

Tusla National Child and Family Support Week aims to create widespread public awareness of Tuslas high-quality PPFS programme, leading to increased engagement with its services by families, parents and children.

Recent studies by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway found that, with regard to help-seeking for a parenting or family problem, personal support networks  family and friends - were the main source of support for the public. Members of the public turned to their local GP primarily if they could not manage a parent or family problem, while increasing numbers of people are asking a teacher for assistance in this area. The findings also suggested that both the public and the media do not clearly differentiate the concept of family support from child protection, and children in care. However, there has been a significant increase in knowledge of Tusla services overall, among the public, in recent years.

On the week of the 17th  23rd September Tusla will be collaborating with local community and voluntary agencies to showcase and promote the support services in North Tipperary that are available for families. A number of events are planned in each county and these include:

Dr. Una Lynch on Building Blocks for Life: Parenting from Pregnancy to Four years, 19th September, Nenagh Arts Centre; Celebrating Parenting Coffee mornings in a number of locations throughout the county in partnership with local groups and Family Resource Centre; and showcase events with local agencies to promote the positive work that is happening in the Mid-West to support children and families. Full details on events in your local are available on tusla.ie

Speaking ahead of Tusla National Child and Family Support Week clinical psychologist David Coleman stated: Ive been working in clinical practice with children, teenagers and their families for over 20 years and have consistently seen that preventative help for parents and children is always better than having to respond in a crisis. Ive been jointly involved with Tusla services with some of my clients over the years, and Ive seen, first hand, the high level of support that Tusla and the Family Resource Centre network can offer. If it takes a village to raise a child, then Tusla can help families to connect in with their village, accessing those vital community and parenting supports.
The theft of bags of fodder supplements from outside of a co-op store near Nenagh last week has been condemned by local farm leaders.

The theft from outside the Arrabawn Co-op store in Ballywilliam happened during the worst fodder crisis to have hit the farming sector in a long time.

The theft of fodder supplements was particularly striking and showed that the thieves might understand the pressures on farmers and the prices these supplements were fetching as the country works through a chronic fodder shortage resulting from the summer drought, said Tipperary ICMSA chairperson Sean Butler from Dolla.

North Tipperary IFA chairwoman Imelda Walsh said that they were hugely concerned by the theft.

The incident happened after bags of meal were left outside the co-op to be collected.

Mr Butler said that what would strike most people was the brazen nature of the thefts, where the perpetrators seemed unbothered by any prospect of being detected and detained or prosecuted.

Mr Butler said that this was no reflection on the Gardai but was rather an indictment of an overall system that seemed to tolerate a level of rural misdemeanours and criminal activity that while not being spectacular did have a disproportionately harmful effect on communities.

He said that despite the high-profile success of Operation Thor there was still much evidence that criminal gangs roamed out from urban centres to target more lightly policed rural districts and then sell on goods they had robbed on websites or at unsupervised street markets.

Ms Walsh urged farmers to deal only with their regular suppliers and to ensure the bona fides of any seller.

If you can't get an invoice, don't deal with these people and report them, she said.

Ms Walsh said that the theft was a precedent due to the huge fodder scarcity.

She said IFA encouraged farmers to make sure their feed and other property was well secured as rural Ireland was under threat of theft.

IFA urged farmers to have good lighting, especially in outlying areas, and CCTV, if possible.

We need to keep an eye out for our neighbours, she said. We need to report suspicious vehicles.
Billionaire Gets Behind Effort to Lift UAE Ban on Calling Apps

By Paula Bernier , Executive Editor, TMC

The Khaleej Times this week reported that billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor is pushing telecom leaders in the United Arab Emirates to allow the nations residents to make free calls using over-the-top apps Skype and WhatsApp. This individual  who is chairman of 60-year-old diversified trading, manufacturing, and service sector business Al Hatboor Group  apparently indicated that embracing these technologies would align with the UAEs efforts to be a leader in the world.

Since April, Apple (which has the FaceTime over-the-top app) and Microsoft (which owns Skype) have been talking with UAE regulators in an effort to get the ban lifted. And last month The National reported that Microsoft is hopeful that the UAEs Telecommunications Regulatory Authority will allow people in the country to use Skype going forward.

And in May CNBC reported that the UAE ban is in place because of the country's telecoms laws, which essentially allow a monopoly of the sector by its largest telecommunications companies, Etisalat and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications (also know as Du).

Residents have to pay to use their calling services instead of being able to use the free internet ones, and often complain about high prices. Despite the bans, people are still sometimes able to use Skype and FaceTime, but frequently deal with glitches, said CNBC, adding that several Middle Eastern countries like Oman and Qatar have FaceTime and Skype calling bans.

Saudi Arabia used to as well, but recently lifted its ban. However, the country is monitoring and censoring the calls, as this Reuters article reports.

This Skype support page says It has been brought to our attention that our website and services have been blocked by the ISPs in the United Arab Emirates. That means you won't be able to use Skype in the United Arab Emirates.

It goes on to say: We are working towards getting Skype re-enabled. Were passionate about the benefit that Skype offers to our users around the world by facilitating communication and enabling collaboration.

Please enable JavaScript to view the

Edited by Maurice Nagle
[September 13, 2018] UnitedHealthcare and Optum Support People in Georgia Preparing for Hurricane Florence

UnitedHealthcare and Optum, the health benefits and services companies of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), are taking action to help people in Georgia who may be affected by Hurricane Florence. Support includes assisting health plan participants who may need to make alternate arrangements to access care and early prescription refills, as well as offering a free emotional-support line to help people who might be affected. Help Finding a Network Care Provider, Early Refills: Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call customer care at the number located on the back of their medical ID cards.

Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call customer care at the number located on the back of their medical ID cards. For plan participants who may have misplaced their medical ID cards, call 866-633-2446, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (in the local time zone), Monday through Friday. People enrolled in Medicaid, employer-sponsored and individual health plans (except Medicare) who have a smartphone can download the free Health4Me app , which provides instant access to their ID card, network care providers, their personal health benefits and more. The Health4Me app is available as a free download at the Apple (News - Alert) iTunes App Store and the Android (News - Alert) Market on Google Play.

call 866-633-2446, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (in the local time zone), Monday through Friday. People enrolled in Medicaid, employer-sponsored and individual health plans (except Medicare) who have a smartphone can download the free , which provides instant access to their ID card, network care providers, their personal health benefits and more. The Health4Me app is available as a free download at the Apple (News - Alert) iTunes App Store and the Android (News - Alert) Market on Google Play. Free Help Line: Optum, a leading health and behavioral health services company, is offering a free emotional-support help line.



Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources and information are available online at www.liveandworkwell.com.

This follows similar measures being offered earlier this week to people in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia who may be affected by Hurricane Florence. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter (News - Alert) . Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913006122/en/

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[September 13, 2018] Jared Morrison Promoted to Chief Operating Officer of VXI Global Solutions

VXI Global Solutions, which manages customer experience and interrelated business outcomes, today announced that Executive Vice President Jared Morrison has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. Morrison joined VXI in early 2014 as Senior Vice President of Philippine Operations, where he led the company through a period of unprecedented growth and delivered sustained double-digit profits while increasing the regional head count from 6,500 to 15,000 at present. "Jared is an exceptional growth architect and a trusted leader who is highly respected among our employees and customers. With his demonstrated ability to passionately lead people and deliver results, he's uniquely qualified to lead our global operations during this period of rapid growth," said David Zhou, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, VXI Global Solutions. Morrison will be responsible for alignment, strategic prioritization and operational excellence across all locations in the United States, Caribbean, Latin America, and the Philippines, and continue to report to the co-founders and joint CEOs of the company. "Jared has a disciplined approach to operations management through process standardization, imbibing a playbook culture, and driving accountability across levels. I have tremendous confidence in Jared's ability to deliver service excellence for our clients," said Eva ang, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of VXI Global Solutions. "By naming Jared as our Chief Operating Officer, we are investing in the future of VXI."



Morrison joined VXI in 2014 from a global customer interaction and information management products company, where as the Philippines Country Leader he managed the customer management practice with 16,000 associates across the country. Prior to that, he had a 10-year career at AOL (News - Alert) , where he held the position of Director of Operations. Jared studied English Literature at the University of New Mexico. "I joined VXI with a mission to build a culture of passion and purpose as those are the foundational elements of a high performing organization," said Morrison. "The new role allows me to listen to our employees and customers globally, drive transparency and accountability, and improve internal and external alignment between all stakeholders. I'm excited and energized to lead VXI to its next phase."

Under Morrison's leadership, VXI Philippines won the most coveted "Best Employer of the Year" ICT Award in April 2018, as well as "Best Contact Center & BPO Company of the Year" recognition twice consecutively. About VXI Global Solutions VXI is a customer experience company, passionate about designing solutions that augment its clients' business processes to deliver higher revenue, greater profitability and happier customers. Founded in 1998, the company has 30,000 employees across 42 locations in North and Latin America, Caribbean, Europe and Asia Pacific. VXI offers omni-channel customer care and growth services using enabling technology and tools including a unified communication platform, and purpose built productivity-enhancing applications that precisely drive higher Sales conversion, NPS, and related key metrics for its clients. Known for its transformation mindset, the company's IT arm, Symbio (News - Alert) , offers digital and business transformation solutions that are seeded in its innovation philosophy of co-creation and seamless augmentation. For more information: www.vxi.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913006135/en/

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[September 13, 2018] 7-Eleven Launches Program to Offset Tailpipe Emissions in the Metro Vancouver Regional District

Program to calculate and offset tailpipe emissions, powered by GreenPrint, expands to Canada VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 13, 2018 /CNW/ -- With a goal of planting 20,000 trees across Canada by October 2019 with Tree Canada, 7-Eleven, Inc. launches the expansion of RENEW, 7-Eleven's emissions offset program. RENEW will be available at more than 60 7-Eleven fueling locations across the Metro Vancouver Regional District. The RENEW program is 7-Eleven's collaboration with GreenPrint, a company promoting sustainability through the retail petroleum, fleet and consumer product industries. Customers at participating 7-Eleven fueling stations across the Metro Vancouver Regional District can offset their tailpipe emissions by purchasing the same high-quality fuel. GreenPrint will calculate tailpipe emissions from gasoline sales to determine the amount to invest in certified carbon reduction projects to help offset those emissions. For every litre of fuel purchased as a part of the 7-Eleven RENEW program, an investment will be made in reforestation, green-scape projects, wildlife protection and/or renewable energy projects designed to help offset tailpipe emissions. The local, regional and global certified carbon reduction projects are designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Depending on the grade of fuel purchased and the amount and nature of the investments made, tailpipe emissions from the fuel purchased as a part of the 7-Eleven RENEW program may be offset by up to 30 percent. In addition to that and to go the extra mile, the RENEW program is working with Tree Canada to participate in volunteer projects and to plant trees. To date, as a result of the existing RENEW program in the U.S., more than 70,000 trees have been planted and over 24,000 tons of carbon has been offset. "It's important to us, as leaders in the industry, to find ways to support our communities, to give back, and to make a difference," said, Nick Angelo, Sr. Director of Operations for 7-Eleven Canada. "This program's proven success in several U.S. states makes it an important strategy to help us meet our corporate socia responsibility targets. RENEW furthers our efforts to reduce or offset our environmental footprint and offers customers an opportunity to make an impact and help their local communities."



"7-Eleven is an innovator in the gasoline industry," said Pete Davis, founder and chief executive officer of GreenPrint. "They have proven their commitment to customers and the environment by expanding the RENEW program to Canada, continuing to seek out ways to better the earth and help the local communities where their stores reside." 7-Eleven announced in 2016 that it was working with Conservation International (CI) to set measurable corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals to reduce its environmental footprint. 7-Eleven's CSR mission has three focus areas  planet, products and people. The retailer also joined CI's Business and Sustainability Council, a forum for corporate leaders taking positive environmental actions in their businesses, to explore mutually beneficial ways to further reduce its environmental impact. Learn more about RENEW at http://7-elevenrenew.ca/.

To locate a 7-Eleven store offering the RENEW program near you, visit: http://7-elevenrenew.ca/ About 7-Eleven

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 66,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, and crispy classic chicken. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Find out more about 7-Eleven Canada at www.7-Eleven.ca, via the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media @7ElevenCanada via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About GreenPrint

Founded by a team of loyalty and rewards experts, GreenPrint created the first reduced emissions programs for fuel which is licensed to convenience store chains, energy companies, and corporate fleets  enabling them to sell, or fill up with, more environmentally friendly fuel. Today the company reduces or offsets emissions on almost 500 million gallons annually across hundreds of retail locations and 40,000 corporate and municipal fleets in 12 countries. About Tree Canada

We're a registered charity proudly dedicated to planting and nurturing trees. For 25 years, we've engaged communities, governments, corporations and individuals in the pursuit of a greener and healthier living environment for Canadians. Since 1992, we've planted more than 80 million trees, greened more than 600 schoolyards, helped restore places hit by natural disasters and brought together urban forestry experts greening cities all across Canada. Cautionary Statement

The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events, including the amount and timing of investments as a part of the 7-Eleven RENEW program or the impact of the 7-Eleven RENEW program on emissions, may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. 7-Eleven assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein. SOURCE GreenPrint

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[September 13, 2018] Hurricane Florence Wind and Storm Surge Could Cause Between $3 Billion and $5 Billion in Estimated Insured Property Loss, CoreLogic Analysis Shows

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released data analysis showing insured property losses for both residential and now commercial properties from Hurricane Florence. This new analysis estimates between $3 billion and $5 billion in losses which has been expanded to include wind and storm surge. This does not include insured losses related to rainfall, riverine or other flooding since the full rainfall footprint is an element in factoring total losses. Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall along the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts. In particular, 250,000 homes in North Carolina are projected to be affected by the hurricane. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913006142/en/ CoreLogic Combined Residential and Commercial Loss from Hurricane Florence (Graphic: Business Wire) The following numbers have been refined based on the September 13, 8am PDT National Hurricane Center (NHC) track of the storm and the cone of uncertainty. The table above shows the estimates for commercial and residential insured property losses by state in North Carolina and South Carolina. It does not include National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) inland flood losses (only storm surge related NFIP flood losses) as it is too soon to tell what the potential rainfall, riverine, and other flooding will amount to in order to tabulate losses for that peril. The number of residential properties indicated in the table above does not consider inland flooding. As Florence moves over land, it is expected to weaken, so some counties won't experience the full impact of a Category 2 hurricane. This is represented in the table as zero values. Certain counties will experience both Category 1 and Category 2 impacts because the properties closer to the coast are likely to experience stronger winds relative to the more inland properties. In particular, it is expected that South Carolina will not exceed tropical storm force winds based on the projected track and is therefore not included in the table. The table above shows the insured property lss estimates for past storms in the Carolinas if the events were to occur today with the current property exposure. These storms are not the same as Hurricane Florence; they have different track trajectories and landfalls. However, like Hurricane Florence, these storms were also Category 2 storms at landfall. These events are comparable to Florence in terms of their wind impacts. However, the storm surge losses from Florence are expected to be significantly greater. The table does not include a measure of inland flooding losses.



For major Gulf and Atlantic Coast hurricanes that impact the U.S. this year, CoreLogic is planning on providing pre-landfall data for the number and associated reconstruction cost value (RCV) of at-risk homes as well as a secondary set of pre-landfall data for estimated insured property losses for wind and storm surge. For post-landfall data, CoreLogic plans to issue insured and uninsured property losses for wind, storm surge and additionally flood. Visit the CoreLogic natural hazard risk information center, Hazard HQ, at www.hazardhq.com to get access to the most up-to-date Hurricane Florence storm data and see reports from previous storms. Methodology

The CoreLogic North American Hurricane Model includes advanced location risk and estimation through its robust stochastic event set, high-resolution hazard modeling, component-level vulnerability, and usage of PxPoint, the parcel-level geocoding engine. The model provides the ability to calculate damage and loss contributions from storm surge, providing a transparent way of looking at loss as well as to obtain a better understanding of capital adequacy for the separate or combined perils of hurricane winds and coastal storm surge flooding. The model offers a complete view of the risk for all perils and sub-perils. The North Atlantic Hurricane Model is updated biennially and has been certified by the Florida Commission Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology (FCHLPM) since the inception of the process in 1997. Source (News - Alert) : CoreLogic The data provided are for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient's publication or broadcast. This data may not be resold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient's parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Alyson Austin at newsmedia@corelogic.com or Caitlin New at corelogic@ink-co.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources. About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com. CORELOGIC, the CoreLogic logo and Hazard HQ are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913006142/en/

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[September 13, 2018] GLAC Consulting's Genaro Garcia Luna Joins Forum on Bloomberg TV to Discuss Security Perspectives

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Aug. 30, Genaro Garcia Luna joined Maria Elena Morera and Raymundo Riva Palacio to discuss security perspectives. The programmed forum took place at 9:00 a.m. on BloombergTV's El Financiero. The broadcast was viewed by many on the channel itself or on El Financiero's website. Genaro Garcia Luna is the director of GLAC Consulting as well as the creator of the AFI during the presidency of Vicente Fox (2000-2006) and former Secretary of Public Safety during the administration of Felipe Calderon (2006-2012). Based on his experience on the subject, Genaro Garcia Luna saw that it was necessary to have a tool that would allow the government to analyze the country or an entity with the greatest number of variables that affect its security and, in the case of the private sector, have detailed information that would contribute to making decisions regarding potential investments. These analyses incorporate the "GLAC Index," created by GLAC Consulting and calculated with its own algorithm as a method of assessing the level of security of a place or entity. Until now, GLAC Consulting is the only risk management company that has its own index, whic makes its services unique in the market. Genaro Garcia Luna has already made presentations to private and public institutions to demonstrate the scope of the system in the periodicals published in El Heraldo and El Financiero, as well as with the publication of the book Seguridad con Bienestar (2018). In this work, which adds to the titles "Why 1,661 police corporations are not enough?" (2006) and "New Security Model for Mexico" (2012).



It is with this expertise and experience that he spoke on Aug. 30. The event was a huge success. To learn more about the man behind all of the impressive works, visit GLAC Consulting online. About GLAC Consulting: In addition to the GLAC Index, GLAC Consulting near Miami also offers complete solutions for security, technology, and risk analysis for the whole world. Under its director, Genaro Garcia Luna, GLAC Consulting is a risk analysis company that has the methods to help the world obtain better security. Find out more about the event: http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/opinion/pablo-hiriart/el-gran-foro-de-el-financiero

GLAC Consulting

(786) 272-6361

info@glacconsulting.com Related Images image1.jpeg Related Links GLAC Index Contact Us View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glac-consultings-genaro-garcia-luna-joins-forum-on-bloomberg-tv-to-discuss-security-perspectives-300712625.html SOURCE GLAC Consulting

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[September 13, 2018]

GENIVI Alliance to Host Automotive Technical Summit in Bangalore

Event Will Inform and Equip the Automotive Software Community with New Approaches

SAN RAMON, California, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The GENIVI Alliance, a collaborative community of automakers and their suppliers developing open software for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and the connected car, will hold a two-day Automotive Technical Summit on October 10-11 in Bengaluru (Bangalore), India.

GENIVI technical experts will present the GENIVI vehicle domain interaction strategy launched last October, and the progress made on strategic projects including graphics sharing and distributed HMI, communication protocols and the use of hypervisors in a cockpit context where safety, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and connected mobile device domains must interact.

"GENVI is pleased to engage the broad, automotive software ecosystem in India and looks forward to empowering participants with awareness of new technologies for automotive software," said Steve Crumb, executive director, GENIVI Alliance. "As GENIVI moved from IVI into the fully-integrated digital cockpit, we have uncovered beneficial approaches that anyone building automotive software must understand."







The two-day event will be held at the Sheraton Grande Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway and will appeal to architects, developers, HMI designers, product managers and technical managers who work on IVI and integrated cockpit products.

GENIVI will present results from its domain interaction projects and hold project working sessions so that participants can learn from global experts. A full-day track will also introduce the Ramses software, recently contributed to GENIVI, as one framework for defining, storing and distributing 3D scenes for display on multiple in-vehicle screens.

The event is open to anyone interested in emerging technologies in automotive software. Details on the program, venue and registration can be found at http://genivievents.com.

About GENIVI Alliance

The GENIVI Alliance is a non-profit alliance focused on delivering open source, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and connected vehicle software. The alliance provides its members with a global development community of more than 140 companies, joining automotive software stakeholders with world-class developers in a collaborative environment, resulting in free, open source automotive middleware. GENIVI is headquartered in San Ramon, Calif.

Media Contact - GENIVI Alliance:

Craig Miner

GENIVI Alliance

+1.248.840.8368

cminer@quell.com

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[September 14, 2018] Innate Pharma reports first half 2018 financial results and business update

InNate Pharma REports first Half 2018 Financial Results and Business Update Preliminary anti-tumor activity for lead asset, monalizumab, in combination with cetuximab in advanced head and neck cancer and durvalumab in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer presented at medical conferences

Recruiting additional patients into the cohort expansion for monalizumab in combination with cetuximab in advanced head and neck cancer

Initiation of Phase I clinical trial for first-in-class anti-C5aR antibody, IPH5401, in combination with Imfinzi  (durvalumab) in solid tumors

New clinical and translational data for monalizumab and IPH4102 to be presented at upcoming medical conferences

Cash position 141.6m[1] (million euros) as of June 30, 2018 Marseille, France, September 14, 2018, 7:00 AM CEST Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 - IPH), today reports its consolidated financial results for the first six months of 2018. The financial statements are attached to this press release. "In the first half of 2018 we have continued to advance our innovative portfolio, both with our partnered and proprietary immuno-oncology programs. We are encouraged by the emerging clinical data from our lead antibody, monalizumab, and look forward to presenting the updated data set from the Phase I/II study of monalizumab in combination with cetuximab in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer at the upcoming ESMO 2018 congress," commented Mondher Mahjoubi, Chief Executive Officer of Innate Pharma. "Our commitment to continue the clinical development momentum remains a priority. Together with our partner AstraZeneca/MedImmune, we recently decided to recruit additional patients into the monalizumab plus cetuximab study to gain more experience in patients with advanced SCCHN[2] previously treated with anti-PD-1/L1. The Phase I trial evaluating IPH5401 in combination with durvalumab has been initiated and we look forward to share new data on IPH4102." A conference call will be held today at 2:00pm (CEST) Dial in numbers: France and International: +33 (0)1 72 72 74 03 US only: +1 646 722 4916 PIN code: 53841185# The presentation will be made available on the Company's website 30 minutes before the conference begins. A replay will be available on Innate Pharma's website after the conference call. Financial highlights of the first half of 2018[3]: The key elements of Innate Pharma's financial results for the first half of 2018 are as follows: Cash, cash equivalents and financial assets (current and non-current) amounting to 141.6m (million euros) as of June 30, 2018 (176.6m as of December 31, 2017). Financial liabilities amounting to 5.2m, including 3.9m of non-current liabilities (5.9m as of December 31, 2017, including 4.5m of non-current liabilities).

Revenue and other income amounting to 23.7m (21.2m for the first half of 2017). This amount mainly results from revenue from licensing and collaboration agreements (16.9m) and from research tax credit (6.2m). Revenue related to the licensing and collaboration agreements mainly results from phasing of initial payment received by Innate Pharma in the context of the agreement signed in April 2015 relating to monalizumab with AstraZeneca/MedImmune (16.7m).

Operating expenses amounting to 39.4m (37.1m for the first half of 2017), of which 86% are related to research and development. R&D expenses were up 4.6m during the periods under review, in line with the broadening and progress of Innate's pipeline. Share-based payments were down 4.0m, including 1.9m in R&D and 2.1m in G&A, making up the most of G&A expenses decrease.

A net loss for the first half of 2018 amounting to 16.2m (16.6m for the first half of 2017).

The table below summarizes the IFRS consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, including 2017 comparative information. In thousands of euros, except for data per share June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017

restated[4] June 30,2017 Revenue and other income 23,666 21,230 21,274 Research and development (33,828) (29,219) (31,583) General and administrative (5,576) (7,922) (7,922) Net Operating expenses (39,404) (37,141) (39,505) Operating income/(loss) (15,738) (15,911) (18,231) Financial income 3,961 5,699 1,216 Financial expenses (4,748) (6,344) (6,344) Corporate tax 333 - - Net loss (16,191) (16,556) (23,359) Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)* 57,600 53,955 53,955 Net loss per share (0.28) (0.31) (0.43)







June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 restated[5] December 31, 2017 Cash, cash equivalents and financial assets[6] 141,615 176,578 176,578 Total assets 225,916 259,173 255,023 Shareholders' equity 87,171 103,280 85,956 Total financial debt 5,234 5,864 5,864 * The increase in the weighted average number of shares mainly results from the issuance of 3.3 millions of shares to the benefit of Novo Nordisk A/S in the context of the acquisition of the anti-C5aR antibody (shares issued in July 2017). Pipeline update: Monalizumab (anti-NKG2A antibody), partnered with AstraZeneca/MedImmune, is a checkpoint inhibitor. This first-in-class monoclonal antibody targets the NKG2A inhibitory receptor expressed on tumor infiltrating cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells. This monoclonal antibody is currently being investigated in an exploratory program of Phase I or I/II clinical trials in various cancer indications. monalizumab and cetuximab: In April 2018, preliminary data from an expansion cohort of an ongoing Phase I/II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the combination of monalizumab with cetuximab (anti-EGFR) in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2018. The safety profile of the combination was consistent with monotherapy profiles. Among 26 patients evaluable for efficacy, 31% showed confirmed partial responses, achieving the predefined number of responses needed to declare the trial positive. 54% of patients had stable disease. Updated data on 40 patients will be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in October 2018 (October 20, 2018, 15:00, presentation number 1049PD, Hall B3 - Room 23, ICM Munchen, Germany - read the full press release on upcoming scientific meetings). Also, additional patients are being recruited to gain more experience in patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN previously treated with both platinum based chemotherapy and anti-PD-1/L1. monalizumab and durvalumab: In June 2018, preliminary clinical data from an expansion cohort of an ongoing Phase I trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the combination of monalizumab and durvalumab in patients with microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2018. The safety profile of the combination was consistent with the monotherapy profiles. Among the 39 patients evaluable for efficacy, the overall response rate (ORR) was 8% with confirmed partial response in 3 patients and stable disease (SD) in 11 patients (28%), including 3 SD patients with tumor reduction who continued therapy for >200 days. The median duration of response was 16.1 weeks at the cut-off date. Data demonstrated a disease control rate (DCR) of 31% at 16 weeks. Translational data from the Phase I study will be presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in October (October 20, 2018, 12:30, presentation number 1194P, Hall A3, ICM Munchen, Germany - read the full press release on upcoming scientific meetings). IPH4102 (anti-KIR3DL2 antibody) is a first-in-class, cytotoxicity-inducing antibody currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), an orphan disease, in particular its most aggressive form, Sezary Syndrome (SS). In a previously reported Phase I trial with IPH4102 in 20 SS patients, data showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 50%. Accrual of 15 SS patients for an additional cohort expansion has been completed. Full data will be presented at the EORTC CLTF 2018 Meeting in September (September 29, 2018, 8:30 - 9:45, presentation number 078, Olma Messen Hall 9.2, St-Gallen, Switzerland - read the full press release on upcoming scientific meetings). IPH5401 (anti-C5aR antibody) is a first-in-class antibody that specifically blocks C5a receptors (C5aR) expressed on subsets of immuno-suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). In January, the Company entered into a non-exclusive clinical trial collaboration with AstraZeneca/MedImmune that will accelerate development activities for IPH5401 in combination with PD-1/L1 blockers. In September, a Phase I trial evaluating IPH5401 and durvalumab in solid tumors (STELLAR-001) was initiated. The multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor activity of IPH5401 in combination with durvalumab in solid tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with secondary resistance to prior immuno-oncology (IO) treatment and IO-naive hepatocarcinoma (HCC). IPH5201 (anti-CD39 antibody) and IPH5301 (anti-CD73[7] antibody): CD39 and CD73 are membrane-bound extracellular enzyme which play a major role in promoting immunosuppression through the pathway degrading adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into adenosine. The blockade of CD39 and CD73 has the potential to promote anti-tumor immune responses across a wide range of tumors. During the period, Innate Pharma has selected the lead candidate for each program, now called IPH5201 and IPH5301.

About Innate Pharma: Innate Pharma S.A. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to improving cancer treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through first-in-class therapeutic antibodies that harness the body's own immune system. Innate Pharma specializes in immuno-oncology, a new therapeutic field that is changing cancer treatment by mobilizing the power of the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. The Company's broad pipeline includes several first-in-class clinical stage antibodies as well as preclinical candidates and technologies that have the potential to address a broad range of cancer indications with high unmet medical needs. Innate Pharma has pioneered the discovery and development of checkpoint inhibitors, with a unique expertise and understanding of Natural Killer cell biology. This innovative approach has resulted in major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S and Sanofi. Innate Pharma is building the foundations to become a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company. Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma has more than 190 employees and is listed on Euronext Paris. Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com Information about Innate Pharma shares: ISIN code

Ticker code

LEI FR0010331421

IPH

9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29 Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharma's website. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country. For additional information, please contact: Investors







Innate Pharma



Dr. Markus Metzger/ Danielle Spangler

Jerome Marino



Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 30



investors@innate-pharma.com



International Media







Consilium Strategic Communications



Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson



Tel.: +44 (0)20 3709 5700



InnatePharma@consilium-comms.com French Media







ATCG Press



Marie Puvieux



Mob: +33 (0)6 10 54 36 72



presse@atcg-partners.com







Summary of Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes

as of June 30, 2018

Statement of financial position

(in thousand euros) June 30, 2018(1) December 31, 2017 Assets Cash and cash equivalents 79,502 99,367 Short-term investments 17,739 16,743 Current receivables 25,761 21,412 Total current assets 122,642 137,521 Intangible assets 44,903 46,192 Tangible assets 10,674 10,729 Non-current financial assets 44,734 60,469 Deferred tax asset 2,879 - Other non-current assets 85 111 Total non-current assets 103,274 117,501 Total assets 225,916 255,023 Liabilities Trade payables 26,235 24,657 Collaboration liabilities - Current portion 18,309 - Financial liabilities - Current portion 1,355 1,343 Deferred revenue - Current portion 21,317 47,909 Total current liabilities 67,216 73,909 Collaboration liabilities - Non current portion 22,321 - Financial liabilities - Non-current portion 3,879 4,521 Deferred revenue - Non-current portion 38,450 87,005 Defined benefit obligations 3,811 2,621 Deferred tax liability 2,879 - Provisions 189 1,012 Total non-current liabilities 71,529 95,158 Share capital 2,880 2,880 Share premium 235,939 234,874 Consolidated reserves (134,003) (103,595) Net income (loss) (16,191) (48,385) Other reserves (1,455) 180 Total shareholders' equity attributable to equity holders of the Company 87,171 85,956 Total liabilities and equity 225,916 255,023



1) Innate Pharma used the simplified retrospective method following the application of IFRS 15 and the retrospective method following the application of IFRS 9. Reconciliation between the interim consolidated financial statements is available in Note 2.1 'Basis of Preparation' of the Half-year interim consolidated financial statements. Statement of income

(in thousand euros)

June 30, 2018(1) June 30, 2017 Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements 16,879 15,554 Government financing for research expenditures 6,787 5,720 Revenue and other income 23,666 21,274 Research and development (33,828) (31,583) General and administrative (5,576) (7,922) Net operating expenses (39,404) (39,505) Operating income (loss) (17,738) (18,231) Financial income 3,961 1,216 Financial expenses (4,748) (6,344) Net income (loss) before tax (16,525) (23,359) Income tax expense 333 - Net income (loss) (16,191) (23,359) Net income (loss) per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company: (in  per share) - basic (0.28) (0.43) - diluted (0.28) (0.43) 1) Innate Pharma used the simplified retrospective method following the application of IFRS 15 and the retrospective method following the application of IFRS 9. Reconciliation between the interim consolidated financial statements is available in Note 2.1 'Basis of Preparation' of the Half-year interim consolidated financial statements. Statement of cash flows

(in thousand euros) June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Net income (loss) (16,191) (23,359) Depreciation and amortization 2,439 2,127 Provisions for defined benefit obligations 225 190 Provisions for charges (823) 366 Share-based payments 1,065 5,177 Variance of depreciation on financial assets 1,432 (218) Foreign exchanges (gains) / losses on financial instruments (1,022) 2,682 Variance on accrued interests on financial instruments (186) (84) Gains on assets and other financial assets (906) (421) Net interests paid 55 58 Operating cash flow before change in working capital (13,912) (13,482) Change in working capital (37,339) (9,591) Impact of the application of IFRS 15 17,324 Net cash generated from / (used in) operating activities: (33,927) (23,072) Purchase of intangible assets (300) (181) Purchase of tangible assets (709) (1,371) Variance on payables relating to the tangible assets (43) 57 Disposal of tangible assets 10 39 Disposal of other non-current assets 26 - Purchase of non-current financial assets 14,874 (500) Disposal of non-current financial assets - 4 Purchase of other non-current assets - (71) Gains on other financial assets 906 421 Net cash generated from / (used in) investing activities: 14,764 (1,601) Issue of own shares - 450 Repayment of financial liabilities (630) (667) Net interests paid (55) (58) Net cash generated from financing activities: (685) (274) Effect of the exchange rate changes (17) 44 Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents: (19,865) (24,903) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period: 99,367 175,906 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period: 79,502 151,003 Note on change of accounting standards during the period During the period, two new standards IFRS 15 "Revenue from contracts with customers" and IFRS 9 "Financial instruments" became mandatory from January 1, 2018. IFRS 15 supersedes IAS 18 "Revenue", changes the accounting treatment of the revenue relating to the licensing and collaboration agreement signed with AstraZeneca in 2015. Under IFRS 15, the portion of the co-funding of R&D works performed by AstraZeneca is no longer recognized in R&D expenses but deducted from the recognition of the payment received by Innate Pharma at signing. This portion of co-funding is now recognized as a liability and no longer as a deferred revenue in the balance sheet.

Regarding financial instruments, IFRS 9 requires for non-derivative financial assets a change of name of the sub-categories of financial assets without, however, modifying the valuation principles of these assets, which remain either at fair value or amortized cost. The valuation models used by Innate Pharma remain unchanged. Revenue and other income The following table summarizes operating revenue for the periods under review: In thousands of euros June 30, 2018



June 30, 2017

restated June 30, 2017



Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements 16,879 15,510 15,554 Government funding for research expenditures 6,787 5,720 5,720 Revenue and other income 23,666 21,230 21,274 Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements for the first half of 2018 mainly stems from the agreement signed with AstraZeneca in relation to monalizumab. The related revenue increased by 1.4m in comparison with the first half of 2017, resulting from the progress of the monalizumab program. Government funding for research expenditures are mainly composed of research tax credit amounting to 6.2m and 0.5m related to grants funded by the European Union and PACA region for the first half of 2018 compared to 5.7m for the first half of 2017 including only the research tax credit. This increase of the research tax credit results mainly from the rise in staff costs resulted from the increase of the R&D staff. The collection of the research tax credit relating to the fiscal year 2017, amounting to 11.0m, is expected during the third quarter of 2018. Operating expenses, by business function The following table breaks down the operating expenses by function for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, compared to 2017's first half: In thousands of euros June 30, 2018



June 30, 2017

restated June 30, 2017



Research and development expenses (33,828) (29,219) (31,583) General and administrative expenses (5,576) (7,922) (7,922) Operating expenses (39,404) (37,141) (39,505) Research and development ("R&D") expenses include the cost of employees assigned to research and development operations (including employees assigned to work under the collaboration and licensing agreements), subcontracting costs (research, preclinical development and clinical development) as well as costs of materials (reagents and other consumables) and pharmaceutical products. The variance in R&D expenses between the two periods under review (33.8m as of June 30, 2018 compared to 29.2m as of June 30, 2017) mainly resulted from contrary variations in subcontracting costs (+6.5m), staff costs (+1.0m) and share-based compensation expenses (-1.9m, non-cash item). Higher subcontracting costs were mainly driven by IPH5401. R&D expenses accounted for 86% of operating expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 (2017: 80%). General and administrative ("G&A") expenses mostly comprise costs of the "support" staff as well as external expenses for the management and development of our business. The decrease in costs mainly resulted from the decrease in share-based compensation (-2.2m, non-cash item). G&A expenses accounted for 14% of operating expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 (2017: 20%). As a reminder, during the second half of 2016, the Company granted some equity instruments to its employees, including to Mr. Mahjoubi following his appointment as Chairman of the Executive Board. Given these instruments include an acquisition period (one or three years), their fair value is spread over the relevant period according to IFRS 2, which ended during the second half of 2017. This explains the fall in shared-based payment for both R&D and G&A expenses. Operating expenses, by business nature The following table breaks down the operating expenses by function for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, compared to 2017's first half: In thousands of euros June 30, 2018



June 30, 2017

restated June 30, 2017



Costs of supplies and consumable materials (1,847) (1,900) (1,900) Intellectual property expenses (607) (899) (899) Other purchases and external expenses (24,323) (19,263) (21,627) Employee benefits other than share-based compensation (8,875) (7,540) (7,540) Share-based payments (1,065) (5,177) (5,177) Depreciation and amortization (2,439) (2,128) (2,128) Other income and (expenses), nets (247) (234) (234) Operating expenses (39,404) (37,141) (39,505) The changes in the most significant line items can be analyzed as follows: Other purchases and external expenses: the variance of the line item between the two periods mainly results from the increase in subcontracting costs (+6.5m, see previous page). This increase is partly offset by the decrease in non-scientific advisory expenses (-1.0m);

Employee benefits other than share-based compensation: the increase of the line item mainly results from the rise in the employees (194 as of June 30, 2018 vs. 171 as of June 30, 2017);

Share-based payments: see comment above. Financial results Financial income is mainly composed of F/X gains (2.9m) following the variance of the /USD exchange rate and interest related to cash, cash equivalents and financial assets (0.9m). Financial expenses are mainly composed of F/X losses (2.9m of which 1.3 resulting from the application of IFRS 15) and depreciation relating to our financial instruments (1.5m). Corporate tax During the fiscal year 2018, the Company opted for the carry back mechanism (also called deferral of deficits). This accounting and tax mechanism consists in deferring the tax loss of a company over the profits of the three following years (maximum) and generates a receivable from the tax administration (0.3m tax credit). Balance sheet items Cash, cash equivalents and financial assets (current and non-current) amounted to 141.6m as of June 30, 2018, as compared to 176.6m as of December 31, 2017. Net cash as of June 30, 2018 (cash, cash equivalents and current financial assets less current financial liabilities) amounted to 95.5m (114.8m as of December 31, 2017). Cash and cash equivalents do not include the reimbursement of the 2017 research tax credit which should be collected during the third quarter of 2018 yet (11.0m). Since its incorporation in 1999, the Company has been primarily financed by revenue from its out-licensing activities (mostly in relation to the agreements with Novo Nordisk A/S, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca) and by issuing new shares. The Company also generated cash from government financing for research expenditure (zero interest loan for innovation) and non-interest-bearing repayable advances (BPI France). As of June 30, 2018, these repayable advances amount to 1.0m, of which 0.4m classified as current financial liabilities and 0.6m as non-current financial liabilities. The other key balance sheet items as of June 30, 2018 are as follows: Deferred revenue of 59.8m (including 38.5m booked as 'Deferred revenue - non-current portion') and collaboration liabilities of 40.6m (including 22.3m booked as 'Collaboration liability - non current portion') relating to the remainder of the initial payment from AstraZeneca not yet recognized as revenue or used to co-fund AstraZeneca's part of the work on monalizumab;

Receivables from the French government in relation to the research tax credit for 2017 and the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 (17.2m);

Intangible assets for a net book value of 44.9m, mainly corresponding to the rights and licenses relating to the acquisition of the monalizumab, anti-CD39 (now IPH5201) and anti-C5aR (now IPH5401) programs;

Shareholders' equity of 87.2m including the net loss for the period (16.2m). Cash-flow items The net cash flow consumed over the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 amounted to 19.9m, compared to a net consumption of 24.9m for the same year-ago period. The cash flow consumed during the period under review mainly results from the following: Net cash used in operating activities of 33.9m, mainly resulting from research and development activities and personnel expenses;

Net cash generated from investing activities for an amount of 14.8m, mainly resulting from the disposal of current financial instruments;

Net cash used in financing activities for an amount of 0.7m, mainly resulting from the reimbursement of finance-leases (principal and interest). Key elements since January 1, 2018 On January 30, 2018, Innate Pharma announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. The Phase I/II study (STELLAR-001) will evaluate the safety and efficacy of durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, in combination with Innate's investigational anti-C5aR monoclonal antibody, IPH5401, as a treatment for patients with selected solid tumors. Post period event None. Nota The interim consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018 have been subject to a limited review by our Statutory Auditors and were approved by the Executive Board of the Company on September 13, 2018. They were reviewed by the Supervisory Board of the Company on September 14, 2018. They will not be submitted for approval to the general meeting of shareholders. Risk factors Risk factors identified by the Company are presented in paragraph 1.9 of the registration document ("Document de Reference") submitted to the French stock-market regulator, the "Autorite des Marches Financiers", on April 25, 2018 (AMF number D.18-0393). The main risks and uncertainties the Company may face in the six remaining months of the year are the same as the ones presented in the registration document available on the internet website of the Company. Not only may these risks and uncertainties occur during the six months remaining in the financial year but also in the years to come. Related party transactions Transactions with related parties during the periods under review are disclosed in Note 18 to the interim consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IAS 34 revised. No material transaction was concluded with a member of the executive committee or the Supervisory Board following the date of the 2017 registration document.





[1] Including short term investments (17.4m) and non current financial instruments (44.7m) [2] Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck [3] Change in the accounting method during the period: see note to the Financial statements [4] Restated according to IFRS 9 and 15 (see Note 2.1 Basis of Preparation of the Half-year financial report). [5] This column is not included in the condensed half-year consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2018, which impacts of the first application of IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 are presented in Note 2.1, as the company opted for a simplified retrospective transition. Nevertheless, since the company has the necessary information for this purpose, the company presented the restated items of IFRS 15 in order to allow comparison with comparable standards. [6] Current and non-current [7] This program is developed within the TumAdoR project (www.tumador.eu), coordinated by Dr C. Caux (Centre Leon Berard and Centre de Recherche en Cancerologie, Lyon, France), and funded under the European Community's seventh framework Program (European Community's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n602200).

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[September 14, 2018] Andersen Global Announces New Board of Directors for Europe

Andersen Global named the members of the European Regional Board of Directors. This regional board will advise the global organization on issues critical to the continent to ensure that the group is working in a seamless way across the different countries of the region, practice areas, industries and also on the management of common protocols. The European Regional Board of Directors, led by Co-Managing Partners for the European Region, Andrea De Vecchi and Paolo Mondia, will develop the strategy for the region and also participate in its implementation. The board is comprised of 14 top tax and legal Partners from Andersen Global member firms and five from collaborating firms, who will collaborate closely with Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen Tax LLC CEO, Mark Vorsatz, to consider and provide guidance on direction and operations in Europe. The announcement of the EU Regional Board today at its first meeting in Portugal signals Andersen Global's major expansion through Europe over the past four years, having added presence in several major economic hubs, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Switzerland, through its member firms and collaborating firms. "We are proud of Andersen Global's growth in Europe and have experienced an increase in clients demanding cross border services. Now is the time to implement a common governing group that will bring all the members in our region together in a coordinated way," said Andrea De Vecchi. "In March of 2017, Andersen Global had 57 locations worldwide and today we have over 110. In the past year we added a new presence in Europe in significant markets such as the United Kingdom. But the most important thing about this growth is that we all share the same vision and core values regardless of location." Paolo Mondia added,"We truly believe that creating a supportive and rewarding environment that also helps every member of the firm to work closely with other offices, as well as participate in common training programs, will help in the knowledge-exchange between the different countries. The European Board of Directors will support this determination."



The members of the new European Regional Board of Directors have significant reputations as leaders in their respective markets and industries. The members are: Andrea De Vecchi , Regional Managing Director for Europe (Milan) - Co-Chair

, Regional Managing Director for Europe (Milan) - Paolo Mondia , Regional Managing Director for Europe (Lugano) - Co-Chair

, Regional Managing Director for Europe (Lugano) - Jean-Philippe Bindschedler , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Switzerland (Lausanne)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Switzerland (Lausanne) Pierre Bouley , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in France (Paris)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in France (Paris) Mark Gorman , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Ireland (Dublin)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Ireland (Dublin) Luis Nobre Guedes , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Portugal (Lisbon)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Portugal (Lisbon) Stefan Kraus , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Germany (Cologne)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Germany (Cologne) George McCracken , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax LLP (London)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax LLP (London) Ersin Nazali , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Turkey (Istanbul)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Turkey (Istanbul) Toni Prat , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Spain (Barcelona)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Spain (Barcelona) Michael Probst , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Luxembourg (Luxembourg City)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax in Luxembourg (Luxembourg City) Alessio Rossi , Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Germany (Dusseldorf)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Germany (Dusseldorf) Paolo Trevisanato , Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Italy (Venice)

, Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in Italy (Venice) Ruben Van Aarle, Office Managing Director/Partner at Andersen Tax & Legal in the Netherlands ('s-Hertogenbosch) In addition, the following collaborating firm Partners will contribute to the board as adjunct participants:

Marcin Matyka , Managing Director/Partner at A2Z Tax & Legal (Warsaw)

, Managing Director/Partner at A2Z Tax & Legal (Warsaw) Nakis Kyprianou , Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Nicosia)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Nicosia) Nikos Siakantaris , Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Athens)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at UnityFour (Athens) Karoly Radnai , Office Managing Director/Partner at OrienTax (Budapest)

, Office Managing Director/Partner at OrienTax (Budapest) Gabriel Lansky, Office Managing Director/Partner at Lansky (Vienna) "Transparent and leading participatory management that represents the best interest of our Partners is extremely important to us," said Mark Vorsatz. "We value the breadth of the experience of each of these board members as we seek to not only create a premier global firm with the absolute best-in-class service, but also grow and shape a global firm that will set these standards for generations." Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 3,500 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 112 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005065/en/

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[September 14, 2018] Malaysian travelers find their dream destination with KLM Dream Deals

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- There are so many destinations waiting to be discovered! New destinations such as Vaxjo in Sweden or good old favourites like Amsterdam, London or Madrid. Do you need to help to decide where to travel to? KLM, a front runner in digital innovation, can help you discover places you hadn't heard of - with the help of 'BB' -- that's short for Blue Bot - a dedicated member of the KLM service family. You can meet 'BB' on Messenger (for booking a flight) and with Google Assistant, on Google Home or your smartphone (for finding a flight and packing your bag) Estee Ng, Country Manager Malaysia said, "In this fast moving world it is exciting to see how we do not stop transforming and offer new innovative ways for customers to get in touch with us always striving to create a memorable experiences." KLM Royal Dutch Airlines just launched their KLM Dream Deals with deals to over 45 destinations in Europe and the Americas. Return economy class fares, including taxes and surcharges from Kuala Lumpur to European destinations start at MYR 2,517 (all-in) and to the Americas at MYR 4,031 (all-in) They are on sale between now and 18 September, 2018 for travel until 15 May, 2019.



To view all destinations and book a flight visit www.klm.my or to learn more about contacting BB visit KLM's official YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpMLaRgrmr4 About KLM Malaysia:

KLM offers daily direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. KUALA LUMPUR -- AMSTERDAM KLM Kuala Lumpur -- Amsterdam (SUMMER schedule -- until 28 October, 2018) KL810 departs Kuala Lumpur at 23:20 and arrives in Amsterdam at 06:00 the next day

at 23:20 and arrives in at 06:00 the next day KL809 departs Amsterdam at 20:50 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 15:50 the next day. KLM Kuala Lumpur -- Amsterdam (WINTER schedule -- 29 October 2018 - 24 March, 2019) KL810 departs Kuala Lumpur at 23:50 and arrives in Amsterdam at 05:55 the next day

at 23:50 and arrives in at 05:55 the next day KL809 departs Amsterdam at 20:50 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 15:50 the next day. KUALA LUMPUR -- JAKARTA KLM Kuala Lumpur -- Jakarta (SUMMER schedule -- Until 28 October, 2018) KL809 departs Kuala Lumpur at 16:20 and arrives in Jakarta at 17:25 (same day)

at 16:20 and arrives in at 17:25 (same day) KL810 departs Jakarta at 18:45 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 21:55 (same day) KLM Kuala Lumpur -- Jakarta (Winter schedule -- 28 October, 2018 - 24 March, 2019) KL809 departs Kuala Lumpur at 17:05 and arrives in Jakarta at 18:10 (same day)

at 17:05 and arrives in at 18:10 (same day) KL810 departs Jakarta at 19:25 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 22:30 (same day) The daily flights are operated by Boeing B777-300ER and B777-200 aircraft with respectively 34 seats in Business Class and 374 or 286 seats in Economy Class. For more information and bookings visit: www.klm.my

KLM Service centre at + 60 3 77124 555

Social media: www.facebook.com/KLMMalaysia Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180906/2228727-1 SOURCE KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

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[September 14, 2018] Media Links Integrates TICO Lightweight Compression into its MDP Series

IBC 2018 - intoPIX, an innovative technology provider of video compression solutions, welcomes Media Links, manufacturer and pioneer in Media over IP transport technology, among the rapidly increasing list of TICO-enabled equipment manufacturers and solution providers. Media Links has added TICO lightweight compression to its new MDP3040 IP Media Gateway (News - Alert) , which is launching at IBC 2018, stand 1.C31. This multi-channel device is a versatile two channel 4K TICO compression encoder/decoder, supporting several configurations. Two 12G-SDI inputs can be TICO encoded and transmitted over dual 10GbE network trunk interfaces or two TICO encoded network streams can be simultaneously received and decoded as two 12G-SDI outputs. For delivering 4K/UHD signals over existing 3G-SDI infrastructures, the MDP3040 can function as a standalone two channel 12G-SDI input to two channel TICO compressed BNC output encoder, or as a two channel TICO compressed BNC input to two channel 12G-SDI output decoder. Media Links' SMPTE ST2022 compliant IP technology supports video, audio and data distribution over IP networks, replacing traditional dedicated switches and encoding devices. "One of the big challenges for broadcasters is the bandwidth required to transport UHD/4K video signals. Including TICO in our MDP Series enables media companies to transport pristine quality video using the same bandwidth as currently used for uncompressed HD video with no noticeable effect on latency," states Mark Podesla, Senior Product Manager at Media Links. Standardized by SMPTE as RDD35 and at ISO as JPEG XS (upcoming), TICO is an advanced, visually lossless compression technology designed to be the standard for efficiently handling UHD content in live production workflows. Widely used in the broadcast industry, TICO is a disruptive technology enabling compatibility andinteroperability between manufacturers and broadcasters.



"Media Links' decision to add TICO compression capability marks yet another important step in facilitating the adoption of new UHD/4K workflows by the broadcast industry. With the MDP3040's multitude of configurations it perfectly fills the gap in the industry's transition from SDI- to IP-based workflows." says Gael Rouvroy, intoPIX CEO and founder. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Image: https://www.intopix.com/Blog%20Pictures/MediaLinks_TICO_IBC2018.jpg About Media Links

Founded in 1993 with its headquarters in Kawasaki, Japan, Media Links Co., Ltd. is a leading developer and manufacturer of broadcast network infrastructure and media transport solutions. Media Links is the umbrella brand name supported by Media Links in Japan, Media Links Inc. in Connecticut, USA, Media Links EMEA in the UK and ML AU Pty Ltd. in Australia. The Company's mission is to offer broadcasters and network providers throughout the world leading edge technology, enabling them to economically transport the complete suite of content signals - 4K, HD/SD video, audio or data - onto their multi-service IP/Ethernet networks. Media Link's common stock is listed and traded on the JASDAQ Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the Security Code Number 6659. For more information, please visit: http://www.medialinks.com About IntoPIX

intoPIX is an innovative technology provider of compression, image processing, and security solutions to audiovisual equipment manufacturers. We are passionate about offering people a higher quality image experience and have developed FPGA/ASIC IP-cores and software tools that enable leading edge TICO and JPEG2000 compression, security, video over IP, and hardware enforcement. For more information, please visit: www.intopix.com.

Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @intopix Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright  2018 intoPIX SA. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005149/en/

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[September 14, 2018] Opthea Presents Phase 1/2a Data of OPT-302 in wet AMD at the Retina Society 2018 Annual Meeting

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opthea Limited (ASX:OPT), a late stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class novel biologic therapies to treat back-of-the-eye diseases, announced today that new clinical data analysis from its completed Phase 1/2a trial of intravitreally injected OPT-302 with and without Lucentis (ranibizumab) for the treatment of wet AMD was presented at the Retina Society 2018 Annual meeting in San Francisco, CA.

The additional study data presented for the first time by John A. Wells MD, a study investigator and retinal specialist at the Palmetto Retina Center in Columbia, South Carolina, included the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of OPT-302, proportion of wet AMD subjects gaining vision, and the need for anti-VEGF-A rescue therapy. Dr Wells commented, While the current standard of care most commonly used to treat patients with wet AMD is use of intravitreal anti-VEGF-A agents, there is still a significant unmet need in this large patient population. These initial Phase 1/2a trial results suggest that dual targeting of VEGF-C/D with OPT-302 and VEGF-A with standard of care agents is a promising strategy to treat wet AMD and other retinal vascular diseases. I am looking forward to the outcomes from the Phase 2 studies with OPT-302 that are currently ongoing in wet AMD and diabetic macular edema in larger populations of patients. The OPT-302 PK analysis presented indicated that OPT-302 has a short serum half-life of 8  2 days, with low circulating levels and no evidence for accumulation or influence from Lucentis on the PK profile. Although the relationship between PK and safety data was not formally evaluated, no dose-related trends were observed, suggesting that increased systemic exposure to OPT-302 was not correlated with an increase in the incidence or intensity of any ocular or systemic adverse events. In patients receiving combination OPT-302 + Lucentis, the proportion gaining =5, =10 or =15 letters of vision from baseline to week 12 was 67%, 44% and 33% respectively in treatment-naive subjects (baseline mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 56.4 letters) while it was 53%, 16% and 0% for patients previously treated with multiple intravitreal anti-VEGF-A agents (baseline mean BCVA 64.5 letters). Similar gains in vision were also seen at week 8 and were observed as early as 4 weeks following combination treatment with OPT-302 and Lucentis. Of the 13 participants who received OPT-302 monotherapy treatment, 54% did not require anti-VEGF-A rescue therapy over the entire 12 weeks, with an additional 38% receiving only one anti-VEGF-A rescue injection, while 1 subject received 2 rescue injections. The mean time to first intravitreal injection of rescue therapy was 57.7 days. Opthea previously announced positive results of improvements in BCVA and retinal swelling (central subfield thickness and sub-retinal fluid) in the Phase 1/2a study patients that included treatment naive and prior-treated prior-treated patients, suggesting additional clinical benefit with more complete suppression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C/D. We believe that eye disorders associated with choroidal neovascularization and diabetes are caused by multiple pathways, including VEGF-C/D, commented Dr Megan Baldwin, CEO and Managing Director of Opthea. As such, we are actively recruiting patients for our two international, multicentre Phase 2 trials currently underway to further assess the potential clinical application of OPT-302 in patients with newly diagnosed wet AMD and those with persistent diabetic macular edema despite prior anti-VEGF-A therapy. The Retina Society Annual Meeting is one of the key gatherings of specialist retinal ophthalmologists in the U.S. A copy of the Retina Society presentation is available on Optheas website at www.opthea.com Additional information on Optheas technology and clinical trials in wet AMD and diabetic macular edema (DME) can found at www.opthea.com and ClinicalTrials.gov (ID#: NCT03345082 and ID#: NCT03397264, respectively). About OPT-302 OPT-302 is a soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) or Trap molecule that blocks the activity of two proteins (VEGF-C and VEGF-D) that cause blood vessels to grow and leak, processes which contribute to the pathophysiology of retinal diseases. Opthea is developing OPT-302 for use in combination with inhibitors of VEGF-A (eg. Lucentis/Eylea ). Combination therapy of OPT-302 and a VEGF-A inhibitor achieves more complete blockade of members of the VEGF family, blocks mechanisms contributing to sub-optimal response to selective VEGF-A inhibitors and has the potential to improve vision outcomes by more completely inhibiting the pathways involved in disease progression.



Opthea has completed a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in the US investigating OPT-302 wet AMD patients as a monotherapy and in combination with Lucentis. The trial was conducted under an FDA approved IND at 14 US clinical sites. The purpose of the trial was to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics of OPT-302 administered as monthly intravitreal injections for 3 months with and without Lucentis in patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD). Of the 51 patients enrolled, 25 were treatment naive and 26 had received prior intravitreal anti-VEGF-A therapy. Further details on the Phase 1/2a trial can be found at: www.clinicaltrials.gov , Clinical trial identifier: NCT02543229. Details on the outcomes of the study can be found on the Opthea website: www.opthea.com

About Wet AMD and DME Wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD, is a disease characterised by the loss of vision of the middle of the visual field caused by degeneration of the central portion of the retina (the macula). Abnormal growth of blood vessels below the retina, and the leakage of fluid and protein from the vessels, causes retinal degeneration and leads to severe and rapid loss of vision. Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world in individuals aged 50 years or older. The prevalence of AMD is increasing annually as the population ages. Without treatment, wet AMD patients often experience a chronic, rapid decline in visual acuity and increase in retinal fluid. DME is the leading cause of blindness in diabetics and is estimated to affect approximately 2 million people globally1,2,3. Chronically elevated blood glucose levels in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can lead to inflammation, vascular dysfunction and hypoxia, causing upregulation of members of the VEGF family of growth factors. VEGFs, including VEGF-A and VEGF-C, stimulate vascular permeability or vascular leakage, leading to fluid accumulation in the macula at the back of the eye and retinal thickening which affects vision. Existing standard of care treatments for DME are limited and include inhibitors of VEGF-A (Lucentis, Eylea), steroids and laser therapy. Despite these treatments, many patients remain refractory and have a sub-optimal response to therapy with persistent fluid and impaired vision. OPT-302 blocks VEGF-C and VEGF-D, which cause vessels to grow and leak. Used in combination with a VEGF-A inhibitor, OPT-302 has the potential to improve clinical outcomes in DME patients. Existing standard of care treatments for DME and wet AMD include agents that inhibit VEGF-A, but not VEGF-C or VEGF-D. Sales of the drug Lucentis (Roche/Novartis), which targets VEGF-A, were over $US3.4BN in 2017. Sales of Eylea (Regeneron/Bayer), which also targets VEGF-A but not VEGF-C/-D were over $US5.9BN in 2017. Many patients receiving Lucentis/Eylea are classified as non-responders or poor responders and do not experience a significant gain in vision and/or have persistent retinal vascular leakage. There is great opportunity to improve patient responses by targeting more than one factor involved in disease progression. Existing therapies, such as Lucentis and Eylea, target VEGF-A that promotes blood vessel growth and leakage through its receptor VEGFR-2. VEGF-C can also induce angiogenesis and vessel leakage through the same receptor as well as through an independent pathway. Combined inhibition of VEGF-A and VEGF-C/-D, has the potential to improve patient response by more effective inhibition of the pathways involved in disease progression. About Opthea Limited Opthea (ASX:OPT) is a biologics drug developer focusing on ophthalmic disease therapies. It controls exclusive worldwide rights to a significant intellectual property portfolio around Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3. Optheas intellectual property is held within its wholly-owned subsidiary Vegenics Pty Ltd. The applications for the VEGF technology, which functions in regulating blood and lymphatic vessel growth, are substantial and broad. Optheas product development programs are focused on developing OPT-302 (formerly VGX-300, soluble VEGFR-3) for back of the eye disease such as wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Inherent risks of Investment in Biotechnology Companies There are a number of inherent risks associated with the development of pharmaceutical products to a marketable stage. The lengthy clinical trial process is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a drug prior to commercialisation and a significant proportion of drugs fail one or both of these criteria. Other risks include uncertainty of patent protection and proprietary rights, whether patent applications and issued patents will offer adequate protection to enable product development, the obtaining of necessary drug regulatory authority approvals and difficulties caused by the rapid advancements in technology. Companies such as Opthea are dependent on the success of their research and development projects and on the ability to attract funding to support these activities. Investment in research and development projects cannot be assessed on the same fundamentals as trading and manufacturing enterprises. Thus investment in companies specialising in drug development must be regarded as highly speculative. Opthea strongly recommends that professional investment advice be sought prior to such investments. Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this ASX announcement may contain forward-looking statements regarding Company business and the therapeutic and commercial potential of its technologies and products in development. Any statement describing Company goals, expectations, intentions or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those risks or uncertainties inherent in the process of developing technology and in the process of discovering, developing and commercialising drugs that can be proven to be safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavour of building a business around such products and services. Opthea undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this ASX announcement. Company & Media Enquiries: Join our email database to receive program updates: Megan Baldwin, PhD Tel: +61 (0) 3 9826 0399 CEO & Managing Director info@opthea.com Opthea Limited www.opthea.com Tel: +61 (0) 447 788 674 megan.baldwin@opthea.com Australia: U.S.A. & International: Rudi Michelson Jason Wong Monsoon Communications Blueprint Life Science Group Tel: +61 (0) 3 9620 3333 Tel: +1 415 375 3340, Ext 4 Jwong@bplifescience.com

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[September 14, 2018] Cradlepoint's 'Pathway to 5G for Business' Launches at Mobile World Congress Americas

Cradlepoint, the global leader in cloud-delivered 4G and 5G wireless network edge solutions, today announced it is working with Verizon (News - Alert) to develop a 'Pathway to 5G for Business' program. The program launches this week at Mobile World Congress Americas with plans to leverage Verizon's LTE (News - Alert) Advanced technologies and new 5G broadband internet service with Cradlepoint's wireless network solutions at the customer edge. "There is a lot of excitement and anticipation within the business community regarding the transformative role 5G will play in next-generation wide-area networks," said Justin Blair, executive director of business products at Verizon. "We're excited to collaborate with Cradlepoint on their 'Pathway to 5G for Business' program and to leverage their enterprise experience with the capabilities of our LTE Advanced and 5G network technologies." Cradlepoint has worked closely with Verizon on early 5G lab deployments with its AER2200 serving as the on-premise wireless router in numerous 5G customer trials. Through the experience gained in these deployments, Cradlepoint has enhanced its NetCloud service and AER2200 wireless edge router, as well as all future products, to be 5G Pathway Ready. "From one of the world's first 4G LTE enterprise network deployments to early 5G customer trials and today's announcement on developing a 'Pathway to 5G for Business' program, Cradlepoint and Verizon have worked together to deliver innovative wireless solutions to business customers," said George Mulhern, Cradlepoint chairman an CEO. "Together, we are committed to providing an evolutionary path to 5G that delivers the pervasive connectivity and network agility that enterprises need to embrace digital transformation fully and connect people, places and things."



Under the program, Cradlepoint and Verizon will provide business customers with a 5G trial program based on Verizon's 5G broadband internet service and Cradlepoint's NetCloud service and AER2200 wireless edge router. The trial includes installation of all of the customer premise equipment required to provide a complete 5G broadband internet solution. The AER2200 provides Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi (News - Alert) for site connectivity, unified edge security for direct internet access, and automatic 4G LTE Advanced fallback to ensure an optimal customer experience. Cradlepoint NetCloud Manager allows technicians to monitor, manage and troubleshoot the deployment remotely. Verizon is demonstrating a business-class 5G deployment with Cradlepoint in their booth at Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) Americas, Hall South Stand S.1302. "With the roll-out of 5G services commencing, we are entering a new and disruptive era for cellular wireless services which promises to provide users with fast, 'always on' communications that rival wired connections," said Mike Sapien, VP and chief analyst at OVUM. "Given their expertise and dominance in the enterprise space for advanced 4G LTE network solutions, Cradlepoint is the best choice to build a 'Pathway to 5G for Business' program. In the short-term, the B2B market represents one of the most significant opportunities for 5G and this partnership can only speed its development and delivery."

Business customers interested in learning about the role 4G LTE Advanced and 5G solutions can play in their WAN transformation strategy can register here for a free 'Pathway to 5G' Workshop delivered by Cradlepoint in cooperation with Verizon. About Cradlepoint Cradlepoint is the global leader in cloud-delivered wireless edge solutions for branch, mobile, and IoT networks. The Cradlepoint Elastic Edge vision-powered by NetCloud services-provides a blueprint for agile, pervasive and software-driven wireless WANs that leverage 4G and 5G services to connect people, places and things everywhere with resiliency, security, and control. More than 20,000 enterprise and government organizations around the world, including 75 percent of the world's top retailers, 50 percent of the Fortune 100, and first responders in 10 of the largest U.S. cities, rely on Cradlepoint to keep critical branches, points of commerce, field forces, vehicles, and IoT devices always connected and protected. Major service providers use Cradlepoint wireless solutions as the foundation for innovative managed network services. Founded in 2006, Cradlepoint is a privately held company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a development center in Silicon Valley and international offices in the UK and Australia. Learn more at cradlepoint.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @cradlepoint. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005056/en/

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[September 14, 2018] UiPath Breaks Into the Forbes 2018 Cloud 100 at Number 14

UiPath, the leading enterprise Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software company, has been named to the Forbes 2018 Cloud 100, snagging the fourteenth spot on the list. In collaboration with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures, the third annual Forbes Cloud 100 is the definitive list of the top 100 privately-held global companies leading the cloud technology revolution. The companies profiled are advancing software, cloud security, platform development and more, redefining the future of all industries and sectors. Forbes ranks the list based on industry-beating metrics, like revenue growth, market share, valuation and people and culture. UiPath led the pack of 27 new companies on this year's Cloud 100. "UiPath absolutely came out of left field. This young startup from Romania was not even on our radar for last year's Cloud 100, and its undeniable growth has landed it on our fourteenth spot," said Alex Konrad, list editor at Forbes. With 1,350 employees and $183M in Series A & B funding, UiPath is helping its more than 1,750global customers at enterprises and government agencies automate repetitive processes to boost business productivity and drive a path for AI in the enterprise. UiPath is on a mission to deliver a software robot for every employee, transforming the way we work.



"Making the Cloud 100 for the first time, and to be ranked in the top 15, demonstrates the incredible trajectory of UiPath, not just as the leader in RPA but as an enterprise technology company," said Bobby Patrick, CMO of UiPath. "We're incredibly proud of our record growth and ability to accelerate the pace of digital transformation with automation for all types and area of business." For more about UiPath, please visit www.uipath.com. For the complete Cloud 100 list, please visit www.forbes.com/cloud100.

About UiPath

Built for both business and IT, UiPath is the leading platform for enterprise Robotic Process Automation (RPA). More than 1,500 business customers and government agencies use UiPath's Enterprise RPA platform to rapidly deploy software robots that perfectly emulate and execute repetitive processes, boosting business productivity, ensuring compliance and enhancing customer experience across back-office and front-office operations. With a thriving RPA developer community of more than 200,000 worldwide, UiPath is on a mission to democratize RPA and support a digital business revolution. Based in New York City, UiPath's presence extends to 14 countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The company is backed by $183M in series A & B funding from Accel, CapitalG, KPCB, Credo Ventures, Earlybird's Digital East Fund and Seedcamp. For more information, visit https://www.uipath.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005274/en/

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The North American Electric Shavers Market to 2024 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "North American Electric Shavers Market Analysis (2018-2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The North American Electric Shavers Market is expected to witness market growth of 6% CAGR during the forecast period (2018-2024).

Technological advancements, higher disposable income as compared to the developing regions and increasing focus on personal grooming are some of the key factors that are driving the market growth. Furthermore, U.S. is the major contributor in the North America electric shave market that is contributing to the market growth.

Based on the Prduct Type, the Electric Shavers Market is segmented into Trimmers / Clippers, Rotary Shavers, and Foil Shavers.







Based on the Distribution Channel, the market is segmented into Health & Beauty Stores, General Merchandising/Mass Stores, Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, and Other.

The End User segment covers Male and Female.

Based on Countries, the market is segmented into U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Rest of North America.

Companies Profiled

Conair Corporation

Koninklijke Philips (News - Alert) N.V.

Procter & Gamble Co.

Panasonic Corporation

BaByliss SARL

Braun GmbH

Spectrum (News - Alert) Brands Holdings, Inc

Sakar International, Inc.

Helen of Troy Limited

Wahl GmbH

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qwtzps/the_north?w=4.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005375/en/
[September 14, 2018] American Lending Center Executive to Moderate Real Estate Finance Conference's EB-5 Panel

American Lending Center (ALC), one of the nation's leading EB-5 regional centers, joined key industry executives for the influential Fall 2018 Crittenden Real Estate Finance Conference, held in Miami from September 12th-14th. ALC's Chief Investment Counsel Justin Blackhall moderated an hour-long panel entitled The Future of EB-5 in the U.S. Construction Industry. The discussion explored recent legislative updates to the EB-5 program and the current state of government reform, as well as key financial considerations for those in the real estate industry. Blackhall spoke to the process of raising EB-5 capital, how such funds can be utilized for a project and EB-5 investment's impact on other financing players. ALC's executive team has received multiple industry awards for its investment strategies and innovative placement of EB-5 funds in the capital stack. "EB-5 can be utilized by the real estate industry to effectively streamline ocal job creation by ensuring that stakeholders have the wherewithal to align EB-5 beneficiaries with the most comprehensive package possible," stated Blackhall. "The investments our company facilitates help American businesses and construction projects to catalyze local economies and provide significant short- and long-term benefits to their communities."



This marks the first Crittenden conference ALC has participated in, an event that brings together real estate professionals ranging from developers to investors to service providers. ALC is currently the largest non-bank SBA 504 lending institution, having successfully provided over 350 million dollars to American ventures and funded over 60 SBA 504 projects with parent company RCH. The company received a record-breaking nine EB-5 project approvals in nine different cities for 30 newly approved investors in March of 2018 alone. About American Lending Center

Sustainable success through integrity, transparency, and accountability.

American Lending Center (ALC) is a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services designated regional center held by Regional Centers Holding Group. ALC offers investment opportunities to immigrant investors interested in obtaining permanent resident status in the United States through the employment-based fifth preference visa (EB-5) program. ALC has completed funding projects in 19 states and is committed to fulfilling the program's promise of investment in deserving businesses in rural and underserved communities.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005045/en/

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[September 14, 2018] MainConcept Enables Canon XF-HEVC Workflows

AACHEN, Germany, Sept. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MainConcept, a leading provider of video codec technology, today announced that it has added support for ingesting HEVC 4:2:2 files generated by the brand-new Canon XF 705 camera to its HEVC/H.265 Decoder SDK.

With the XF 705 camera, introduced at today's IBC in Amsterdam, Canon is the first to leverage the higher compression efficiency of HEVC/H.265 to store data and allow simultaneous recording of HDR and SDR without doubling storage space requirements. Canons decision to package 4:2:2 10-bit HEVC/H.265 into an MXF container allows existing workflows to support the same metadata as with current, AVC/H.264-based broadcast formats. MainConcept has worked closely with Canon to ensure interoperability and reliable ingest of files recorded by Canon XF-HEVC capable cameras. Editing and Media Asset Management applications can easily ingest or playback the new format natively by integrating MainConcept HEVC/H.265 Decoder SDK version 10 which is being released at IBC 2018. This SDK includes components for video and audio decoding as well as MXF demultiplexing. MainConcept has a long history of successful collaboration with professional camera manufacturers, said Thomas Kramer, VP Product Manageent for MainConcept. Being the select partner for Canons release of their XF camera line is yet another important milestone in enabling native ingest workflows in our customers applications. Canons appreciation for HEVC/H.265 as a recording and production format underlines the importance of this most efficient codec in the professional production space.



We are proud to work with MainConcept as our software partner, said Edakubo Hiroo, Deputy Chief Executive at Canons Image Solutions Business Operations. They provide the most reliable codecs and great interoperability that companies require when ingesting recorded content. Many of the broadcast software vendors in the market rely on MainConcept SDKs and can now enable their workflow applications with ingest and playback support when we launch our new camera at IBC. The MainConcept HEVC/H.265 SDK and other codec packages are available for immediate testing now. Please fill out our online ENDA to request a free evaluation trial .

About MainConcept

MainConcept is a leading provider of video codec technology, ranging in offerings from software development kits, transcoding applications and plugins serving professional video production, multimedia, broadcast, digital signage, medical, and security industries. Our engineering and development teams focus solely on creating encoding and decoding components for video and audio content, enabling us to provide best of breed solutions to our customers. In addition to outstanding products, our attention to detail and devotion to customer support and satisfaction is geared to not only meet, but exceed the expectations of even the most demanding customers. MainConcept is headquartered in Aachen, Germany and is a subsidiary of NeuLion, LLC. For more information about MainConcept, visit www.mainconcept.com . Press Contact: Thomas Kramer | thomas.kramer@neulion.com | +49 241 401080

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[September 14, 2018] Malaga Financial Corporation Announces 57th Consecutive Quarterly Cash Dividend

Malaga Financial Corporation (OTCPink:MLGF) announced today the declaration of a cash dividend in the amount of 25 cents per share to shareholders of record on September 24, 2018. The dividend will be paid out on or about October 1, 2018. Randy C. Bowers, President and CEO, remarked, "Our continued strong operating results enable us to declare another quarterly dividend which represents a 3.34% annualized yield based on our most recent closing price of $29.90. We are pleased to once again reward our shareholders for their support." Malaga Bank, a subsidiary of Malaga Financial Corporation, is a full-service community bank headquartered on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with six offices located in th South Bay area of Los Angeles. For over ten years Malaga Bank has been consistently recommended by one of the nation's leading independent bank rating and research firms, Bauer Financial Inc. Malaga Bank was awarded their premier Top 5-Star rating for the 43rd consecutive quarter as of June 2018. Since 1985 Malaga has been delivering competitive banking services to residents and businesses of the South Bay, including real estate loan products custom-tailored to consumers and investors. As the largest community bank in the South Bay, Malaga is proud of its continuing tradition of relationship-based banking and legendary customer service. The Bank's web site is located at www.malagabank.com.





View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005489/en/

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[September 14, 2018] Louise M. Herrle is Elected to FHLBank Pittsburgh Board as Independent Director

Louise M. Herrle, Managing Director, Capital Markets at Incapital LLC, has been elected by the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh) to a nonmember independent director position in accordance with the rules of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Ms. Herrle will fill the unexpired term of Pamela H. Godwin, which ends December 31, 2019. In her role as Managing Director at Incapital, Ms. Herrle is a member of the Capital Markets Group providing leadership in the expansion of client acquisition and partnerships, and senior relationship management, working with corporate, minority firm, Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) and Supranational clients. She was the architect of the Legacy platform, providing fixed income solutions primarily for social impact issuers including Supranationals, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other nonprofit organizations. Prior to her tenure at Incapital, Ms. Herrle served in a variety of financial executive leadership roles, including Chief Investment Officer at Chrysler Financial LLC, Treasurer and Corporate Finance Goup Head at GMAC Residential Capital Corporation and Treasurer and Head of Global Debt Funding at Freddie Mac.



Ms. Herrle also previously held a leadership position at FHLBank Pittsburgh, having served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer. As a result, Ms. Herrle brings a particularly strong understanding of FHLBank Pittsburgh's members' needs and the organization's affordable housing mission. Ms. Herrle studied economics at Robert Morris University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. She has been the recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades over the course of her distinguished career, including being named one of the top 100 market personalities in EuroWeek's Celebration of Excellence. She was twice recognized with the International Financing Review Deal of the Year award for global debt transactions. Ms. Herrle has also been a featured speaker at numerous industry conferences in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

In addition to her many professional accomplishments, Ms. Herrle is actively engaged in her community. She has served in leadership positions on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council and Strong Women, Strong Girls. About FHLBank Pittsburgh As an intermediary between global capital markets and local lenders, FHLBank Pittsburgh provides readily available liquidity, as well as affordable housing and community development opportunities, to member financial institutions of all sizes in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Bank is one of the banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which was established by Congress in 1932 and serves as a reliable source of funds for housing, jobs and economic growth in all economic cycles. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005487/en/

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[September 14, 2018] Ralph Lauren Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.625 per share on Ralph Lauren Corporation Common Stock. The dividend is payable on October 12, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 28, 2018. ABOUT RALPH LAUREN Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, and Club Monaco, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to http://investor.ralphlauren.com. This press release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include the statements regarding, among other things, our current expectations about the Company's future results and financial condition, revenues, store openings and closings, employee reductions, margins, expenses and earnings and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "we believe," "can" and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. The factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include, among others: the loss of key personnel, including Mr. Ralph Lauren, or other changes in our executive and senior management team or to our operating structure, and our ability to effectively transfer knowledge during periods of transition; our ability to successfully implement our long-term growth strategy and achieve anticipated operating enhancements and cost reductions from our restructuring plans; the impact to our business resulting from investments and other costs incurred in connection with the execution of our long-term growth strategy, including restructuring-related charges, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term; our ability to continue to expand or grow our business internationally and the impact of related changes in our customer, channel, and geographic sales mix as a result; our ability to open new retail stores, concession shops, and digital commerce sites in an effort to expand our direct-to-consumer presence; the impact to our business resulting from changes in consumers' ability, willingness, or preferences to purchase premium lifestyle products that we offer for sale and our ability to forecast consumer demand, which could result in either a build-up or shortage of inventory; our ability to continue to maintain our brand image and reputation and protect our trademarks; our ability to effectively manage inventory levels and the increasing pressure on our margins in a highly promotional retail environment; the impact to our business resulting from potential costs and obligations related to the early closure of our stores or termination of our long-term, non-cancellable leases; the impact of economic, political, and other conditions on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders; our ability to secure our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers from, among other things, cybersecurity breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, or similar Internet or email events; our efforts to successfully enhance, upgrade, and/or transition our global information technology systems and digital commerce platform; a variety of legal, regulatory, tax, political, and economic risks, including risks related to the importation and exportation of products, tariffs, and other trade barriers which our operations are currently subject to, or may become subject to as a result of potential changes in legislation, and other risks associated with our international operations, such as compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or violations of other anti-bribery and corruption laws prohibiting improper payments, and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including tax laws, trade and labor restrictions, and related laws that may reduce the flexibility of our business; the potential impact to our business resulting from the imposition of additional duties, tariffs, taxes, and other charges or other barriers to trade resulting from the current trade developments with China; changes in our tax obligations and effective tax rate due to a variety of other factors, including potential additional changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, accounting rules, or the mix and level of earnings by jurisdiction in future periods that are not currently known or anticipated; the impact to our business resulting from the recently enacted U.S. tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including related changes to our tax obligations and effective tax rate in future periods, as well as the enactment-related charges that were recorded during Fiscal 2018 on a provisional basis based on a reasonable estimate and are subject to change, all of which could differ materially from our current expectations and/or investors' expectations; the impact to our business resulting from the United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union and the uncertainty surrounding the terms and conditions of such a withdrawal, as well as the related impact to global stock markets and currency exchange rates; the impact to our business resulting from increases in the costs of raw materials, transportation, and labor; our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations from both a transactional and translational perspective; the potential impact to our business resulting from the financial difficulties of certain of our large wholesale customers, which may result in consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, and other ownership changes in the retail industry, as well as other changes in the competitive marketplace, including the introduction of new products or pricing changes by our competitors; the potential impact on our operations and on our suppliers and customers resulting from natural or man-made disasters; the impact to our business of events of unrest and instability that are currently taking place in certain parts of the world, as well as from any terrorist action, retaliation, and the threat of further action or retaliation; our ability to maintain our credit profile and ratings within the financial community; our ability to access sources of liquidity to provide for our cash needs, including our debt obligations, tax obligations, payment of dividends, capital expenditures, and potential repurchases of our Class A common stock, as well as the ability of our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; the potential impact to the trading prices of our securities if our Class A common stock share repurchase activity and/or cash dividend payments differ from investors' expectations; our intention to introduce new products or enter into or renew alliances; changes in the business of, and our relationships with, major department store customers and licensing partners; our ability to make certain strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our existing operations; and other risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.





View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005473/en/

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[September 14, 2018] Marshall Gerstein Wins Three 2018 LMG Life Sciences Awards

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is pleased to announce that it took top honors in three categories at the sixth annual LMG Life Sciences Awards, which recognize the best life science practitioners and firms over the past 12 months from the United States, Canada, and Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005577/en/ Marshall Gerstein partner Pamela L. Cox (News - Alert) (center) accepting her award for "Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year" from Chris Adams (left) editor, LMG Life Sciences and Brittany Sharoff, research analyst, LMG Life Sciences. (Photo: Business Wire) Marshall Gerstein received the following honors at the 2018 LMG Life Sciences Awards in New York: Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year - Midwest - Pamela L. Cox

- Pamela L. Cox General Patent Litigator of the Year - Illinois - John R. Labbe

- John R. Labbe Patent Impact Case of the Year - Amgen v. Hospira Pamela Cox is the chair of Marshall Gerstein's IP Trasactions practice. She is recognized as one of the country's leading licensing authorities, particularly in the life sciences. Committed to advancing the profession, Cox is chair and president of the Board of Governors for the Certified Licensing Professionals, a board member of the Licensing Executive Society International, and an adjunct law professor at Northwestern University Law School.



John Labbe is an accomplished trial lawyer and patent attorney with a focus on representing clients in intellectual property cases involving biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and biologics. He served as first-chair trial counsel in Amgen v. Hospira, securing a $70 million verdict for client Amgen in the first patent-infringement jury trial about a biosimilar under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act. The LMG Life Sciences awards are based on case evidence and feedback from clients and peers and selected by the editors of Euromoney's LMG Life Sciences guide, which is aimed at providing attorneys and law firms with information on the legal market and the U.S. life sciences industry. Research for the guide was based on nearly 1,000 interviews and surveys completed by law firm partners active in the market.

About Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is exclusively focused on intellectual property law. The firm provides sophisticated intellectual property advice and legal services to many of the world's largest, most innovative businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs. Chambers & Partners has ranked Marshall Gerstein as "first-rate for litigation," and "one of the best biotechnology practices in the entire country." Corporate Counsel magazine lists the Firm as a "Go-To Law Firm of the Top 500 Companies" for intellectual property and litigation. The firm is also ranked as a top intellectual property law firm by Managing IP, Fortune, Intellectual Property Today, and Intellectual Asset Management magazines. Learn more at https://www.marshallip.com/ and https://www.ptabwatch.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005577/en/

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[September 14, 2018] VCA Animal Hospitals Offers Free Boarding for Pets Displaced by Hurricane Florence

VCA Animal Hospitals announced that select VCA hospitals in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. are offering free boarding assistance for dogs and cats, and other species at some hospitals to the families who are being evacuated in the potential path of Florence, and have to find shelter for themselves and their pets. "With Hurricane Florence expected to batter the Carolinas with gale-force winds and relentless rain for days, evacuated families need to find a safe place to take their pets," said Art Antin, Chief Operating Officer of VCA Animal Hospitals. "Our hospitals in the surrounding states are extending free boarding for pets so families can concentrate on protecting themselves, knowing their pets being cared for. We encourage families to make arrangements as soon as possible." Boarding assistance at participating Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. hospitals is based on space availability. Pets should be current on vaccinations, but in case they are not, VCA veterinarians will update vaccinations free of charge. VCA Hospitals will also offer free health assessment exam for pets that have been evacuated or displaced because of the Hurricane Florence.



Affected pet owners who need help boarding their pets are encouraged to check here to identify a hospital near them and call for boarding availability. About VCA Animal Hospitals

VCA Animal Hospitals operates more than 850 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. The hospitals are staffed by more than 4,700 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give pets the very best in medical care, of which over 525 are board-certified specialists who are experts in areas such as Oncology, Cardiology, Emergency & Critical Care, and Surgery for animals. VCA Animal Hospitals provides a full range of general practice services to keep pets well and specialized treatments when pets are ill. For more information, visit VCAhospitals.com or follow on Twitter (News - Alert) @vcapethealth and facebook.com/VCAAnimalHospitals/. About VCA VCA is a leading provider of pet health care services in the country delivered through more than 850 small animal veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, a preeminent nationwide clinical laboratory system that services all 50 states and Canada (Antech Diagnostics), the leading animal diagnostic imaging company in the market (Sound), and Camp Bow Wow (CBW), the nation's Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camp franchise, an Inc. 5000 company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180914005583/en/

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CUPERTINO  A trio of flagship iPhones took center stage at Apples annual September event this week, as tradition has dictated for 11 years. But the redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 and its cutting-edge health alert features stole the spotlight.

The Series 4 is the only FDA-cleared smartwatch on the market.

The Series 4, which starts at $399 and goes on sale Sept. 21, has a a new electrical heart rate sensor that measures your hearts rhythm in addition to the PPG (photoplethysmography) sensor that measures heart rate. Apple obtained clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the device and its heart health apps, making it the only smartwatch on the market cleared to offer over-the-counter ECGs.

The technology could be game-changing for people who have heart conditions or risk factors for atrial fibrillation. But some cardiologists say the new ECG feature might send people running to the hospital for no reason. Should you be concerned? Heres what you need to know.

How It Works

A 30-second ECG reading will tell you if your heart rhythm is abnormal.

The Series 4 has a sapphire crystal back and a new Digital Crown with electrodes inside to diagnose atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm). Older Apple Watches running watchOS 4 can detect high heart rate and send alerts when BPM skyrockets outside of a workout. But that could be a sign of anything  AFib, perhaps, but also anxiety or even a pulmonary embolism. The Series 4s ECG feature can actually diagnose atrial fibrillation.

MORE: Apple Watch Series 4 Hands-On: A Seriously Stunning Screen

To take a reading, you open the watchs ECG app and press your fingertip to the Digital Crown for 30 seconds. Apples algorithm can detect whether your heart is in atrial fibrillation or sinus rhythm, which is normal heart rate activity. The results are stored in the iOS Health app, which you can share with your doctor.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to life-threatening medical issues, including strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, atrial fibrillation contributes to 130,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. People who have an irregular heart rhythm often dont know they have it; there can be symptoms, but often you dont feel any symptoms of AFib. Thats where the Apple Watch Series 4s electrical heart rate sensor comes in. When paired with the ECG watch app, it could alert you about a heart condition you would have never known you had.

Why Its So Major

The Series 4s FDA clearance is meaningful, because its a Class II de novo clearance that signifies a first-of-its-kind device. In a statement issued on Twitter, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency worked closely with Apple as they developed and tested these apps, which may help many users identify health concerns more quickly.

Health care products on smartwatches may help users seek treatment earlier and will empower patients with more information about their health, he added.

The watch's health data is stored in your iPhone's Health app to share with your doctor.

The American Heart Association also supports the Series 4s new heart rate features. The organizations president, Ivor Benjamin, appeared on-stage at the Apple event to talk up the Series 4s life-saving potential.

Getting FDA approval is by no means an insignificant step, said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas. The standards are extremely high and the margin for error is likewise slim, so congratulations are in order for Apple to get approval for the Series 4. Of course, if you look at the history of Apples partnerships and acquisitions, it was really only a matter of time for this to come together.

Cause for Concern?

Ringing endorsements from reputable organizations aside, there are some downsides to a consumer device capable of diagnosing atrial fibrillation. False negatives are unlikely, but its possible the watch will diagnose AFib in people whose irregular heart rhythms could be attributable to a different, much less serious cause.

Dr. Gregory Marcus, director of clinical research for the University of California, San Franciscos Division of Cardiology, said hes seen patients who are unnecessarily alarmed by their heart rate data, costing doctors time and patients money that could have been used on something  or someone  else. That could get even worse with an easily accessible EKG.

MORE: The Doctor On Your Wrist: How Smartwatches Are Saving Lives

The jury remains out as to whether there might be unanticipated harms from health care utilization, testing and subsequent intervention that occur due to false positives, Marcus said. Not to mention the potential unnecessary anxiety about whats going on with the heart. Just with the PPG sensors in smartwatches and Fitbits, people are really concerned and come in to talk about that  their heart rate is too fast, too slow or changing. The only problem is theyre worried because of the device theyre wearing.

Marcus leads UCSFs Health eHeart Study, an ongoing clinical study that collects and examines heart rate data from a variety of wearable devices. (The study is always accepting new participants.) In November 2017, Apple launched its own Apple Heart Study in partnership with Stanford Universitys School of Medicine to determine if the Apple Watch can accurately diagnose atrial fibrillation.



Apple submitted findings from two studies to the FDA as part of its submission to obtain clearance for the ECG app. According to STAT News, which obtained a summary of the findings from the FDA, the watch algorithm accurately identified 98.3 percent of people with atrial fibrillation, and correctly identified 99.6 percent of people who did not have atrial fibrillation. The study's sample size was 588 people.



Marcus isn't the only cardiologist who is concerned about the potential of false positives. In the day following Apple's announcement, other physicians in the industry reiterated his sentiments to CNBC, MarketWatch and Quartz. Marcus said he hopes Apple will follow up on its study and track the accuracy of the ECG app.



Who Really Needs An ECG Sensor?

Not everyone needs constant access to an at-home electrocardiogram. Marcus said people over 65 are at higher risk for atrial fibrillation and related heart conditions

The elderly, people with hypertension, people with diabetes, heart failure and history of stroke would likely have the most to benefit by regularly checking this device for atrial fibrillation, he said.

MORE: 3 Ways the Apple Watch Series 4 Can Save Your Life

That could be part of Apples strategy to make the Apple Watch more appealing to a wider variety of people. IDC analyst Llamas said the over-65 demographic is the least likely to buy a wearable device, but a child might buy one for an elderly parent to take advantage of the health features, including the EKG sensor and the Series 4s new fall detection alert system.

[Apple] understands how the watch works and how it keeps kids in contact with their aged parents, especially in case of emergency  see fall detection, Llamas said. Ultimately, these will end up on the wrists of older users, but while were at it, wouldnt it be nice if the son or daughter gets a watch too?

If the Series 4 sends people to the doctor more often, that might not be the worst thing in the world. But the watch isnt a replacement for a doctor  even with an atrial fibrillation confirmation on the device, you should still seek out a professional opinion for diagnosis and treatment.



Photo credit: Apple


A new reports says that Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10 will have an entirely revamped camera system designed to beat the Huwaei P20s excellent three-sensor setup and the Apple iPhone XS dual-camera arrangement.

(Image credit: The Galaxy S9 has dual rear cameras, but the S10 Plus could get three. Credit: Tom's Guide)

According to Korean publication ET News, the three-sensor camera will only be included in the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, the alleged ultra-premium model of a three-model lineup. The ET Times  as well as other sources  claim that the S10 will come in three flavors: ultra-premium, premium, and standard, presumably to go head to head against Apples own three-model line-up.

According to tech blog TechnoBuffalo, a source claimed to be accurate in the past says that the top-of-the-line Galaxy S10 will include a 12-megapixel sensor wide-angle lens and a 78-degree field of view, a 16-MP super wide-angle lens (123-degree FOV), and a 13-MP camaera with telephoto lens (45-degree FOV).

This still falls short of the 40-megapixel camera in the Huawei P20, which also has a dedicated monochrome sensor to pick up detail and boost night shot performance. The ET Times says that Samsung is having a hard time securing enough sensor components for the new phone line, so they are looking to diversify providers to be able to meet demand.

MORE: Galaxy Note 9 vs. iPhone X vs. Pixel 2 XL: Which Camera Wins?

Both the ET Times and TechnoBuffalo also claim that the standard and premium models will have two cameras on the back  the same wide-angle and super wide-angle cameras as the Plus. The standard model will only have one camera on the front while the premium and ultra-premium models will feature two cameras, presumably to support a similar face identification and 3D depth capture as the iPhone X series.

The rumors also claim that there will be no fingerprint sensor under the display, contradicting previous claims that said Samsung was going to include an ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor.

As always, we will have to wait until the phone is in our hands to see if there is really a three-sensor camera and how well it performs compared to the P20, the XS, and, hopefully Nokias' 5-sensor camera spider eye N8, too.

On that note, while the Galaxy S10 may be announced at the end of February 2019, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the ET times claims it will be available on March 13.

You can check all the rumors about the Galaxy S10 here.
Huawei Mate X Has the Same Crease and Interface Problems as Galaxy Fold

The first generation is going to have this problem, but it may not be as bad as some want to portray it.
They are two of the biggest phones ever -- with prices to match. The 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max ($1,099) is ready to battle the 6.4-inch Galaxy Note 9 ($999). Both phones boast serious power, highly advanced cameras and gorgeous and ginormous OLED screens. But these flagships are quite different in several ways, especially their storage options, processors and special features.

Editor's Note 11/11/2018: The holiday season is here. Make sure to check out our guide to the best iPhone XS and XS Max deals of the season.

iPhone XS Max (left) and Galaxy Note 9 (right)

We put both the iPhone XS Max and Note 9 through several rounds of competition to declare a winner.

Update Oct. 5: We have updated this comparison with iinfo about a charging issue affecting some iPhone XS and XS Max units.



iPhone Xs Max vs Galaxy Note 9: Specs Compared

iPhone XS Max Galaxy Note 9 Starting Price $1099(64GB), $1,249(256GB), $1,449(512GB) $999(128GB), $1,249(512GB) Processor A12 Bionic Snapdragon 845 Screen 6.5-inch OLED (2688 x 1242 pixels) 6.4 inches Super AMOLED (2960 x 1440 pixels) Storage 64GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 512GB microSD None Up to 512GB Biometric security

Face ID Face scan, Iris scan, fingerprint Rear Camera Dual 12-MP (f/1.8) and telephoto (f/2.4) Dual 12-MP (f/1.5) and (f/2.4) Front Camera 7 MP (f/2.2) 8 MP (f/1.7) Battery Size 3,179 mAh (rumored)

4,000 mAh Battery Life (Hrs:Mins)

10:38

11:26

Water resistance IP68 IP68 Colors Gold, Silver, Space Gray Lavender Purple, Ocean Blue Size 6.2 x 3.05 x 0.3 inches 6.3 x 3 x 0.34 inches Weight 7.3 ounces 7.1 ounces

On the surface, the iPhone XS Max is really just a bigger version of the iPhone X. It weighs in at a hefy 7.3 ounces, compared to 7.1 ounces for the Galaxy Note 9. Still, the iPhone XS Max is slightly thinner at 0.3 inches versus 0.34 inches for the Note.

iPhone XS Max (left) and Galaxy Note 9 (right)

Both phones are IP68 rated, which means they can withstand being in 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. Note that only the Note 9 has a headphone jack.

Whats new on the iPhone XS Max is a reformulated glass front and back that Apple says is the most durable ever on a smartphone. (We haven't tested that yet, but videos of the iPhone XS being drop-tested suggest Apple's new phones are pretty durable.) Theres also a new gold color option, which looks pretty elegant with its color-matched stainless steel edge.

Galaxy Note 9

If youre not a fan of notches, the Galaxy Note 9 will satisfy with its Infinity Display. The overall look is similar to the Note 8, but the back is less curved than before and it has diamond-cut aluminum around the sides. Still, having a fingerprint sensor on the back on the Note 9 is a bit of an eyesore compared to the iPhone XS Maxs cleaner aesthetic.

iPhone XS Max

The Note 9 does have more eye-catching color options, with your choice of Lavender Purple and Ocean Blue, but it somehow looks and feels less premium than Apples flagship.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Display

Its not much of a difference, but the iPhone XS Max does sport a slightly bigger OLED display at 6.5 inches, compared to 6.4 inches for the Note 9. But the panel on Samsungs phone has a higher resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels, compared to 2688 x 1242 pixels for the iPhone XS Max.

iPhone XS Max (top) and Galaxy Note 9 (bottom)

The Note 9 delivered an impressive 224 percent of the sRGB color gamut in our lab tests. And the color accuracy was just as impressive, as it achieved a Delta-E score of 0.34. (0 is perfect.) The iPhone XS Max wasn't as colorful, covering 123 percent of the sRGB color gamut, though a Delta-E score of 0.22 means the XS Max renders those colors more accurately.

iPhone XS Max

The screens are equally as bright  the Note 9 hit 606 nits on a light meter while the iPhone XS Max reached 604 nits. Just keep in mind that you can hit that peak brightness manually on the iPhone XS Max using Control Center; with the Note 9 youll have to be outdoors in direct sunlight for that max level to kick in.

We put the iPhone XS Max and Note 9 side by side and had a few colleagues pick which display they liked best. In one cityscape photo, the orange light beneath the Tokyo Tower looked more vibrant on the Note 9, and the Note 9s panel delivered better contrast in other images. However, the iPhone XS Maxs display presents a brighter image at its max setting indoors.

MORE: iPhone XS vs. iPhone X: What's Changed?

The Note 9 does give you more control over the display, supplying four modes (Adaptive Display, AMOLED Cinema, AMOLED Photo, Basic) so you can customize the picture to your liking.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Performance

This one is pretty easy to call, especially now that we've run the iPhone XS Max through our battery of benchmarks and real-life speed tests. The A11 Bionic processor in the iPhone X was already the fastest chip in a phone, and the 7-nanometer A12 Bionic has widened Apples lead over Snapdragon 845.

On the Geekbench 4 general performance test, the iPhone XS Max scored 11,515  a much better result than the Note 9's 8,876 score. Apple's phone continues to outpace the Note 9 in our real-world test where we transcode a 2-minute 4K video to 1080p.

The XS Max also topped the Note 9 when it came to opening apps quickly  anywhere from around 3 seconds faster on Pokemon Go to nearly 15 seconds faster on Fortnite.

About the only test where the Note 9 turned in a better score than the iPhone XS Max was on the 3DMark Slingshot Extreme graphics benchmark. Here, the Note 9 scored 4,639 to the iPhone XS Max's 4,339.

MORE: Best Smartphones on the Market Now

But the iPhone XS surged past the Note 9 on another graphics test called GFXBench, which closely resembles real-world gameplay. The iPhone XS notched 1,604.7 frames on the Aztec Ruins portion of the test, and 1,744.44 frames in the Car Chase test. The Note 9 fared worse at 851.7 and 1,103 frames, respectively.

The bottom line? With the A12 processor, the XS Max is the fastest phone currently available.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Cameras

Apple had some ground to make up here with Samsung, but based on our most recent camera face-off between the iPhone XS and Note 9, Apple has delivered a better camera phone.

iPhone XS Max

The iPhone XS Maxs camera benefits from a new sensor with larger pixels that offers a greater depth of color, which should result in up to 50 percent more light gathering capability. The auto focus promises to be twice as fast, and theres Smart HDR for delivering better highlights in the shadows.

Galaxy Note 9

In this side-by-side shot between the iPhone XS and Note 9 taken at Bryant Park, the iPhone delivered more detail in the shadows and an overall warmer photo. The Note 9s image looks blown out by comparison in certain areas.

The iPhone XS also delivered a better-looking Portrait shot than the Note 9. Our colleague Caitlins skin looks unnaturally pale on the Note 9, and one person is in the background isnt blurred out on the Samsung photo that should be.

The Note 9s camera is still very formidable. Not only do you get a wider aperture at f/1.5 (versus f/1.8 for the iPhone XS Max), but the Note 9 offers a dual aperture feature that automatically switches to f/2.4 to deliver better results in brighter conditions.

In this photo of a church, the iPhone XS shot has a little more detail, but the Note 9 wins because it does a better job illuminating the scene.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Special Features

The Note 9 has several compelling features, starting with its improved S Pen. You can use the stylus to take notes and draw, but you can also use it as a remote control for the phone, because it now has built-in Bluetooth connectivity. For example, you can snap a selfie with the push of a button on the pen, or you could change music tracks.

Galaxy Note 9

While the iPhone XS Max offers a dual-pane view within certain apps, like Mail and Calendar, only the Note 9 lets you run two separate apps side by side.

iPhone XS Max

Another key Note 9 highlight is Samsung DeX, which allows you to use the Note 9 as a mini PC when you plug it into a larger monitor. All you need is a USB-C to HDMI adapter and a cable to get started; you no longer need a pricey dock. Plus, only the Note 9 has expandable storage via a microSD cards slot

In addition to Face ID, Apples True Depth camera makes Animoji happen and Memoji, mapping your expressions to several animated avatars or a personal one you create, respectively. The similar AR Emoji feature on the Note 9 doesnt look very natural.

Handy for travelers or anyone who wants to use two separate phone numbers, the iPhone XS Max now offers dual-SIM capability.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Security

The iPhone XS Max offers a front True Depth camera that enables Face ID, so you can unlock your phone with ease. This is faster on the XS Max than on the original iPhone X. The Note 9 does face unlock, too, but its not as secure as Face ID  you cant use Samsungs feature to verify mobile payments, for example  and Samsungs iris scanning can be hit or miss. You can always use the fingerprint scanner on the Note 9s back, though.

Winner: iPhone XS Max

Battery Life and Charging

The Note 9 packs a whopping 4,000 mAh battery, which is one of the biggest youll find in a phone. The handset lasted an impressive 11 hours and 16 minutes on the Toms Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over LTE at 150 nits of screen brightness. (For context, the average smartphone dies after 9 hours, 48 minutes.)

After tearing down the new Apple phone, iFixit says the XS Max runs on a 3,179 mAh battery. The XS Max finished behind the Note 9 with a runtime of 10:38. Thats above the smartphone average but not good enough to beat Samsung.

The Note 9 comes with a fast USB-C charger in the box. If you want that perk on the iPhone Xs Max, youll have to fork over even more dough for a 30-watt charger and USB-C to Lightning cable, which seems obscene for a $1,099 phone.

Some users are complaining that the iPhone XS and XS Max are not charging when the displays are turned off, an issue Apple will reportedly fix with the upcoming iOS 12.1 update.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Price and Value

Lets talk numbers. The Note 9 looks like a better value than the iPhone Xs Max for two reasons: 1) The starting price for Samsungs phone is $100 less at $999 (versus $1,099 for Apples); 2) You also get double the storage in the Note 9 at that starting price (128GB vs 64GB).

Image Samsung Galaxy Note 9 View Deal

That price delta grows between the Note 9 and iPhone Xs Max to $200 as you go up to 512GB. Plus, only the Note 9 gives you expandable storage.

Winner: Galaxy Note 9

Overall Winner: iPhone XS Max

The iPhone XS Max is now the best big-screen phone you can buy, but it didnt beat the Galaxy Note 9 by much in this face-off. They are both Editors' Choice winning handsets for a reason.

iPhone XS Max Galaxy Note 9 Design (10) 9 8 Display (15) 15 14 Performance (20) 20 17 Cameras (20) 18 16 Special Features (5) 3 5 Security (5) 5 4 Battery Life (15) 12 14 Price/Value (10) 6 8 Overall 88 86

Apples flagship won the design and performance rounds, and its camera fared better in side-by-side photos comparisons. And while the Note 9 gives you more biometric security options, Face ID is simple and works best. The iPhone XS display edges out the Note 9s panel slightly for higher brightness you can get on command.

The Galaxy Note 9 pulls ahead in some important categories, though. It offers longer battery life based on our testing and faster charging out of the box, and it gives you double the storage and microSD expansion for less money. And if you really care about productivity, the S Pen can really come in handy.

Overall, both the iPhone XS Max and Note 9 are superior phablets, but Apples handset barely squeaks out the victory.

Credit: Tom's Guide
LG CX OLED specs Price: $2,500

Model number: OLED65CXPUA

Screen size: 65 inches

Resolution: 3840 x 2160

HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and HLG

Refresh rate: 120 Hz

Ports: 4 HDMI 2.1; 2 USB; 1 composite; Ethernet; RF; digital audio

Audio: 40 watts (20-watt woofer)

Smart TV software: webOS 5

Size: 57.0 x 32.7 x 1.8 inches [w/o stand]

Weight: 52.9 pounds [w/o stand]; 71.9 pounds [w. stand]

It's hard not to love OLED. And the LG CX OLED is no exception. With its intense highlights and inky blacks, this $2,500 65-inch OLED (the LG OLED65CXPUA) boasts a crispness that still has LCD and quantum dot sets struggling to catch up.

For the uninitiated, unlike typical LCDs, OLED or organic light-emitting diode displays do not require a separate back light to illuminate the picture. The organic pixels emit their own light when activated. This gives them a distinct advantage because each pixel can be completely turned on or off separately; there's no blurring of images caused by the leaky backlights in LCD and quantum dot sets. It translates into a striking picture that continues to be a head turner.

Editor's Note : Since our initial review in June of 2020, the prices on the LG CX OLED have dropped, and the line has been expanded with a smaller 48-inch model. We have updated the pricing and availability section of this review to reflect those changes. The rating and overall recommendations of our review remain unchanged.

LG has improved on this OLED, beefing up its video processing with a new Alpha 9 Gen 3 processor and its touted AI ThinQ software. One of its primary functions is to differentiate between different types of on-screen objects, such as faces and graphics, for example, to deliver more detailed processing. You can also set the software to detect what kind of content (sports vs. movies) is being watched and automatically adjust the picture.

The CX also supports the most popular 4K high dynamic range formats, including HDR10 and HLG (hybrid log gamma), which is intended for streaming services like YouTube and 4K broadcasts from the likes of DirecTV. And the CX supports the increasingly popular Dolby Vision HDR format, now boosted with an IQ designation that means the TV can adjust the picture according to the perceived light conditions in the room.

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LG CX OLED review: Price and availability

Technically, the LG CX sits in the middle of the company's line of OLED TVs. The entry-level BX models lack some of the CX video processing, such as the new processor, but cost about $200 less than the CX versions. By way of comparison, LGs super slim 65-inch version of GX model is the premium model line, designed for minimalistic professional installations and sells for $3,000 or more.

(Image credit: LG)

These prices still represent a premium compared to entry-level 4K LCD sets that use quantum dot films. The Vizio M-Series Quantum 65-incher is less than $800, for example, as is the Hisense H9F.

Our review focuses on the 65-inch OLED65CXPUA, but the LG CX OLED is available in several other sizes. With 55-inch and 77-inch models available, you can find a version of the CX OLED TV that fits your home, starting at under $2,000. And as we approach the launch of LG's new 2021 lineup, prices are dropping, with sales frequently offering the TV for well-below the standard retail price.

Across these four models, the LG CX OLED line is virtually identical, offering the same number of ports, the same 4K resolution and HDR support, and the same pixel-perfect self-illuminating OLED display. Unlike LCD sets, which may offer fewer backlighting zones on different size screens, LG's OLED technology offers the same sharpness and halo-free contrast on every size of screen. As a result, we recommend the 55- and 77-inch versions of the LG CX OLED just as strongly as the 65-inch model we used for this review.

The 48-inch OLED might be a little small for most shoppers, but it's a tempting choice for gamers. Check out our story I used an LG OLED TV with the PS5 and Xbox Series X  is it worth it?

LG CX OLED review: Design

Another advantage of OLED technology is that because there's no separate back light you can go thin, super thin. So the CX is essentially a big piece of glass that is about a quarter of an inch thick.

(Image credit: LG)

The official specs measure it at 1.8 inches to account for the part of the panel that accommodates the necessary ports and audio components. Around the edge, the screen has a thin, black metal frame less than a quarter of inch thick, but there's a visible black border on the glass itself of about half an inch.

(Image credit: LG)

The LG CX can be wall mounted using a standard VESA 300 x 200 bracket. However, the included wedge-shaped table-top stand makes for a very sturdy support. It attaches with a handful of screws, but it takes two people to set it upright on a credenza.

(Image credit: LG)

LG CX OLED review: Ports

As one might expect, the LG CX OLED is well appointed when it comes to making the necessary connections. On the back are a total of four HDMI 2.1 ports plus three USB 2.0 ports.

(Image credit: LG)

For older video equipment, there's a single plug that comes with a composite video adapter dongle. Professional installers will probably make use of the set's Ethernet port while cordcutters will be happy to see there's an RF coaxial plug for an antenna. For sound, there's an optical digital audio output and a mini jack for wired headphones.

(Image credit: LG)

On the wireless side, the LG CX has the standard Wi-Fi support (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac); Wi-Fi 6 is still too new to appear in most TVs today. Also included is Bluetooth to pair up with headphones for private listening or wireless satellite speakers. The LG set also supports the aptX format for improved wireless fidelity. And, yes, the set supports Apple Airplay2 as well as Apple Homekit.

LG CX OLED review: Performance

In setting up the LG CX 65 you'll find a welter of image options to satisfy virtually any taste. Like other sets of its ilk there are several preset picture settings, including modes for sports, movies, gaming, vivid pictures, and HDR effects. It also includes the new Filmmaker Mode, which produces images as close to the original picture as possible by disabling video processing effects like motion smoothing and reinstating the original movie's aspect ratio, colors and frame rates. Like Cinema mode, it can look dimmer than other settings but it produces the most accurate picture.

(Image credit: LG)

Contrast this with the LG CX's AI Picture Pro setting, which tends to process and smooth out selective parts of the image differently. While the AI Picture Pro setting worked well on cable HD broadcasts and material like news shows, for our testing of 4K material we toggled between Cinema and Filmmaker modes.

Overall, color fidelity of the LG CX was excellent with noticeably improved reds. Viewing angles were exceptional. There is no loss of brightness or color saturation no matter how poor your viewing position may be sitting on the end of the couch. There's also an almost complete lack of halo artifacts, with stars showing as precise pinpoints against dark skies rather than diffuse white blobs.

With the 4K Blu-ray copy of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, details like the fiery red reflection of his lightsaber in Kylo Ren's eyes delivered a captivating intensity. We could even make out details in the red flickering light saber itself that were a mere red blur in the standard Blu-ray version. And the falling snow flakes scene? It looked almost three dimensional.

The 4K version of Apocalypse Now Final Cut provides some rather challenging test material as well. But the LG CX OLED delivered the movie effortlessly in all of its widescreen glory. In Filmmaker Mode it produced much deeper greens of the verdant jungle and more realistic skin tones (warts and all) than any other version we've seen on LCD sets.

One of the most obvious differences between sets like the CX OLED and less expensive 4K models like the Hisense H9F, is when they face scenes with smooth color transitions like sunsets. Lesser models will reveal considerable banding rather than seamless color changes. In the skies over the festival scenes in Skywalker, there wasn't a hint of banding with the LG set and even in upscaled situations, the CX OLED managed to handle most of the transitions without odd lines or distortions.

With many viewers fixated on binging multiple shows, we also tested the set using various services delivering streaming 4K content. On Netflix, titles like Lost in Space in Dolby Vision looked impressively sharp and clear. On Disney+, the reflections in the Mandalorian's armor had a new found realism and laser blasts looked stunning.

Most material is not available in 4K, so it's important that TVs do a good job upscaling regular HD content. The LG CX didn't let us down. It handled the regular Blu-ray disc of The Rise of Skywalker with aplomb, creating no artifacts or dropped images even in the fast-paced canyon chase scene. Explosions lacked the pyrotechnical intensity of the 4K HDR version but still looked impressive. The LG CX even upscaled an old DVD of Luc Bresson's The Fifth Element without generating excessive picture noise or image distortions.

One area where OLEDs have traditionally fallen short is in their ability to reveal shadowy details in darker scenes. We found the latest LG CX OLED has largely overcome these issues--matching many of the abilities of the competing Sony OLED Bravia A1. In the veiled dark scenes when Kylo Ren meets the evil Emperor in Skywalker, the CX OLED not only did an outstanding job switching from bright to dark as lightning illuminated the scene, but it also did a good job keeping dark details of the Emperor's face visible. And in a comparison of the notoriously dark Kurtz divan scene from a 4K version of Apocalypse Now, the LG OLED did as well as an LCD Samsung K9000 4K (an older model that we use as a baseline) in turning out Marlon Brando's bald pate.

LG has also added several performance features for gaming. There's a reduced latency game mode (auto low latency mode), of course, which worked well with our Xbox One 4K games. LG also supports Nvidia's G-Sync and the open FreeSync for those inclined to connect one of the best gaming laptops and looking to get the smoothest images possible. And LG supports HGiG for HDR gaming.

One additional note: Those concerned about burn-in and image retention should note that LG includes a pixel refresher operation designed to clear out any image retention (like the station bugs on news programs), as well as a screen shift program that moves static images over a few imperceptible pixels to deter burn in.

LG CX OLED review: Test results

By and large, our benchmark performance numbers confirmed what we saw in hours of critical viewing. Submitted to our usual examination with a X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer and SpectraCal CalMAN Ultimate calibration software, the 65-inch LG CX delivered an accurate and wide spectrum of colors. It even impressed us with low latency times for gamers.

Color accuracy of the LG CX was one of its highlights. It turned in a Delta-E score of 1.95. We consider any number of 2.0 or lower to be a respectable result, with the lower scores being better. In fact, we've had other results that were better, such as those from the Sony Bravia A8H OLED (1.54) and last year's Samsung Q90 QLED (1.51), but most viewers would be hard pressed to tell the difference. On the LG CX, the jungle greens in Apocalypse Now and lightsaber reds of The Rise of Skywalker were flawless.

Boosting that impression, the 65-inch LG CX delivered one of the widest color gamuts we've seen. It produced 134.57 percent of the Rec 709 color space, which is to say it surpasses the old standard to yield more intense colors and a more sparkling picture. By way of comparison, a set that we like quite a bit, the Sony Bravia A8H OLED, only produced 108.94 percent of the Rec 709 space and the Samsung Q90 QLED only 99.83 percent.

All that prowess adds up, making the LG CX OLED one of the best OLED TVs on the market, not to mention one of the best 4K TVs you can buy.

Lastly, the LG CX proved its mettle in playing games. When it needs to be quick, the LG CX can drop virtually all of its video processing overhead in its appropriately named auto low latency mode for gamers. In our tests, it worked well with a measured lag time of just 13.1 milliseconds. That's a significant improvement over results we have seen from other top-of-the-line sets, such as Samsung's Q90 (24 milliseconds) and Sony's A8H OLED (18 milliseconds). The bottom line: The LG CX is one of the best gaming TVs you can buy.

LG CX OLED vs. Samsung Q90T QLED: Which should you buy?

LG CX OLED review: Audio

A traditional weakness of big flat panels has been their sound skills. Their svelte design lacks the space for conventional speakers. But LG has largely overcome the problem by throwing a number of technologies into the CX OLED models.

To begin with, the set includes an AI Acoustic Tuning setting that uses the remote control's microphone to calibrate the sound and tailor the audio to your particular room. It takes just a few seconds to perform the calibration, after which you can compare the before and after audio. In our test environment, the AI result (in standard mode) actually sounded better, delivering an improved soundstage that put the music and audio more front and center. (We found the optional bass mode was too boomy and the treble setting was predictably too tinny.)

The LG CX OLED also supports Dolby Atmos, which was surprisingly effective in the jungle scenes in Apocalypse Now given the set only has only 2.2 channels to work with. Insects seemed to buzz around outside the image before the tiger lept from the center of the screen. There are multiple preset sound modes, as well, with the Cinema mode delivering some of the most pleasing effects. The Skywalker Blu-ray nicely reproduced the rippling bass notes of the Millennium Falcon as it knocked over Storm Troopers with its exhaust. Should none of the presets make you happy, there's a five-band equalizer, hitting frequencies from 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz, so if you want to tweak the sound you can do so in Standard Mode.

Owners should compare the audio modes depending on the material they happen to be watching. Aha's Take On Me 4K video in AI Sound Pro mode over-emphasized the high end, producing too much sibilance. The Music mode setting balanced out the song and added more bass but the sound was more muted. Personal preferences here will doubtless vary.

LG CX OLED review: Smart TV features

LG has spent years refining its webOS smart TV software and now may have the best proprietary program on the market. Coupled with its remote that uses a floating on-screen cursor, the webOS's flexible system of tabs and easy-to-follow graphics make it one of the more accessible smart TVs on the market. LG also supports popular apps like those from Hulu, Disney+, and Showtime, but it doesn't offer the extensive array of apps that Android TV-based sets like those from Sony or Roku models from TCL cover; apps on those models number in the hundreds. Nevertheless, we found only one significant app missing from LG CX, the Criterion Channel, which given the attraction of this set for movie lovers will be sorely missed.

(Image credit: LG)

All the apps we tested, from Netflix to Vudu, worked as well as or were even more responsive than their Roku counterparts. There were a couple of minor imperfections, such as the Pandora music app failing to properly display lower search results on the screen, but a subsequent software update fixed the issue. LG is diligent about keeping apps current and the extremely capable webOS benefits from those constant improvements.

(Image credit: LG)

All of this is aided and abetted by LG Channels, an aggregated list of free streaming services and movies powered by Xumo. When we connected an antenna to the LG CX OLED we received not only 33 local over-the-air channels but also the collected LG channels, which appear in the same electronic guide, similar to Samsung's offering.

LG CX OLED review: Remote control

LG calls its controller a Magic Remote, which may be a bit of an overstatement. It has a scrolling/clickable wheel in the center for moving a cursor around the screen like a wireless mouse, as well as the usual numerical and volume and channel buttons.

It's a well-balanced, curved remote that can also be used as a universal controller. It took us just seconds to get the remote to recognize a PlayStation 4 and a Roku box, for example, and assume command of those devices.

(Image credit: LG)

Pressing and holding a microphone button on the remote triggers Google Assistant, which works remarkably well in this context. Ask for a Woody Shaw's Every Time I See You while in the YouTube app, for example, and you'll get the appropriate video. You can also tell the set to "switch to live TV channel 7" and get the right response.

Unlike the more premium members of the LG OLED family, the CX OLED does not have far-field microphones built-in, so you're limited to the microphone input on the remote. That's a strike against convenience, but it also makes the CX OLED a little more privacy-friendly, and enables the unique audio calibration feature, which significantly improves the sound.

LG's ThinQ smart TVs also offer built-in support for Amazon Alexa, and are the only sets to offer both Google and Amazon voice assistants without requiring a separate smart speaker or similar device. The addition of Amazon Alexa support makes the whole process of finding something to watch much easier.

LG CX OLED review: Verdict

With 65-inch 4K sets, such as the Vizio M-Series Quantum and Hisense H9F floating in the $700 to $800 range, many shoppers may be hard pressed to justify spending $2,500 on this OLED set. On the other hand, the LG CX OLED will reward movie fans who make the investment with an unparalleled picture. We found it also compared well to much more expensive models, such as Sony's $3,300 65-inch A9G Master Series OLED.

If you are looking for the best 4K picture available, the LG CX OLED will not disappoint. The addition of improved sound and some of the best smart TV features including voice control just make this package all the more appealing, and one of the best LG TVs the company has ever made.
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Lenovo announced a partnership with NetApp to produce a new line of ThinkSystem all-flash and hybrid all-flash arrays. Lenovo will produce the new arrays and provide the heft of its manufacturing, global supply chain, and support ecosystem while NetApp will provide the software and design. The combined might of the two companies should better position them to compete with other industry behemoths in the all-flash array market, such as Pure Storage, Dell/EMC, HPE, and IBM.

Lenovo and NetApp also announced a joint venture in China to develop customized solutions for that market. That strategic move provides NetApp with access to the booming China market because regulations require companies to either produce their products in the country or partner with an indigenous company. The companies submitted the deal to Chinese authorities for approval, which should be a straightforward affair given that Lenovo hails from China. Lenovo and NetApp expect the joint venture to be operational by early 2019.

The new ThinkSystem storage systems come in DM and DE flavors. The flagship ThinkSystem All-Flash Array models come brimming with the latest in high-performance storage technology, like NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMeoF), which runs the ubiquitous NVMe storage protocol over a networking fabric to reduce latency below 100 microseconds. Networking consists of 40GbE or 32Gb Fibre Channel options. Peak storage performance tops out at four million IOPS (per cluster). The ONTAP Flash Essentials software offers the requisite selection of enterprise-grade features, such as inline deduplication and compression, various encryption options, and support for SED drives.

Image 1 of 4 Image 2 of 4 Image 3 of 4 Image 4 of 4

The maximum all-flash capacity tops out at 96.7PB with 12 High-Availability pairs, but data reduction technologies inflate the usable storage up to 281PB. Each node also supports up to 16GB of NVRAM, which is standard RAM backed by power capacitors. This speedy layer of persistent memory is used to boost the performance and endurance of the flash media.

The DM Hybrid Flash Arrays meld the speed of flash with the economics and capacity of hard drives. A 12-array cluster scales up to 57PB of raw HDD capacity and 576TB of flash, but this price-conscious option doesn't include data reduction technologies. Each node also supports up to 16GB of NVRAM and 10GbE networking.

Finally, the DE series steps in as the low-cost alternatives and come with lower capacity and performance targets (listed in the tables above).

Both the DE and DM systems are available now. Head to Lenovo's Empower Transformation website for more details.
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KU Health System welcomes $66M gift KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of Kansas Health System announced Thursday a recent gift from the Sunderland Foundation that marks the largest gift in the system's history. The foundation's $66 million gift will go toward an inpatient care unit in three floors of Cambridge Tower A.

Salvy Homer #25

Royals rally in the sixth inning to knock off Twins KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Salvador Perez and Jorge Bonifacio hit back-to-back homers during a four-run sixth inning, Heath Fillmyer pitched into the eighth and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Thursday night.

Kansas City Second Chance

New petition encourages prosecutor to review case of man serving life in prison (KANSAS CITY, KS) -- You probably don't recognize the name John Calvin. He has been convicted of robbery and murder. He is a self-admitted drug addict who is serving a life sentence even though another man said he's responsible and pulled the trigger.

The Sound Of Local Hipsters

Q&A: Dominic Palermo of Nothing, ahead of the band's Friday show at RecordBar Ryan Lowry As blissful as many Nothing recordings can be, Domenic Palermo and his band are no strangers to chaos. During a violent period in Philadelphia's early-aughts hardcore scene, Palermo was involved in a fight that resulted in a two-year stint in prison for aggravated assault and attempted murder.

Saucy KC Weekend Guide

Sauced & Lost & Other Weekend Possibilities Think Corn Mazes aren't hard enough? The Liberty Corn Maze (17607 NE 52nd St., Liberty, Missouri) is hosting Sauced & Lost, a craft beer and wine tasting inside of a corn maze from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. There will be six stops, each with a different craft beer or wine sample, that you can find by exploring the maze.

Po-Po Horse Around For Good Cause

This has been a weird and wild week as far as our local news scene is concerned . . . The midterms have mired Kansas City newsies in a vast array of slap-fighting and petty political talking points whilst the ongoing segmentation of news outlets divides our attention into niche topics and/or political factions. Meanwhile, the world still seems to revolve around 1k mobile phones that Americans clutch like security blankets.Accordingly . . .Right now we want to share some of the stories that deserve a peek but maybe didn't qualify for the front page or further debate.Here's are the headlines and further reading on topics our blog community might have missed . . .Developing . . .
Yet, a new S2000 isnt likely. At least, not in the day and age where fairly cheap roadsters arent exactly popular if they are not wearing a premium brand name.

The new 2020 Honda S2000. Just kidding. The rendering before you is actually a work of Jon Sibal - one of the most proficient rendering artists in car world stardom. His latest work revolves around reinventing the Honda S2000 with contemporary Honda (and Acura for that matter) styling philosophy. It seems that Sibal knocked it out of the park with the new S2000 rendering. I find this study looking right in so many ways it is hard not to imagine it under the spotlights of any car show.

Jon Sibal Honda S2000

Sibal published the rendering of the updated S2000 on his Instagram account with a comment:

My slight update on the S2K integrating some current design cues while retaining the original form.

Obviously, even an untrained eye can see NSX influence over Jon Sibals work. Yet, I think Sibal did it better with the S2000 reimagining than Acura did with the NSX itself.

The shape is simple, soothing, sophisticated, and clearly evoking some spirits of the past.

That is why I think it would never work in real life. The last Honda S2000 was produced nine years ago. And that car was already old considering that its architecture was imagined all the way back in the Nineties. Do you really believe that Honda could create something similar in todays world? With safety and efficiency standards as they are? No freaking way. The new S2000 would be considerably different compared to the last model. Larger too.

Unfortunately, despite all the Honda fanboys getting aroused by looking at this Jon Sibal rendering, the new Honda S2000 is far from happening.

Last year, Takahiro Hachigo, Hondas man in charge, commented about the S2000 with Autocar journalists. He said, as of today, I cannot say clearly that S2000 will be reinvented as further studies are necessary. Ive already heard many voices expressing theyd like a next-generation S2000. Honda development engineers are quick to develop sporty cars if the requests are there.

This was not as disappointing as one would imagine. Almost a year after, however, Hayato Mori, Honda Senior Manager for Product Planning apparently dismissed all hope for a new Honda S2000.

He implied that there simply isnt enough interest for the car on the market that is oversaturated with beloved SUVs.

As we all know, if a car company cant make money on a certain car, that car isnt going to happen. In this case, it is not going to happen in the foreseeable future at all. It is a sad prospect, but an expected one as well.

Body Kit Like This?

While we are still far from a world that would accept the new S2000, a body kit based on Jon Sibals rendering would be acceptable. I know that Liberty Walk isnt exactly into building such elegant pieces that Jon Sibals S2000 truly is, but I can see the company making a kit like this right away. Why not? I am sure more than a handful Honda S2000 owners would be interested in it.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2009 Honda S2000.

Read more Honda news.
Applying much the same magic as to the stunning i30 N, Hyundai translated the Veloster N into a car capable of competing with the likes of the Civic Type R, the Golf GTI, and the Focus ST, among others. We have been expecting the Veloster N for some time. Actually, ever since we saw that stunning mid-engine Veloster with a 2.0-liter, 296-horsepower turbocharged engine back in 2014.

Apart from the new specially prepared racing Veloster N, Hyundai unveiled an awesome Ioniq with the drivetrain from the Kona Electric. That one will try to defend the title it won at the 2017 National Championship in the GTE class. Nevertheless, we are focused now on the Veloster N as it did receive some serious upgrades over the streetcar that will come soon to our market, but it remain a street-legal machine.

"The OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car competition is the perfect venue to allow Hyundai to showcase its expanding performance envelope and introduce the N-brand vehicles to performance enthusiasts," said Joshua Vedder, Senior Group Manager, Customer Connect, Hyundai Motor America. "The vehicles are modified in a way that mirrors a typical enthusiast  gripper tires and suspension, increased power, etc.; and then tested in this severe environment. This is one way we ensure our vehicle will exceed our customers expectations."

Prepared to compete at the Optima Batteries 2018 Search for the Ultimate Street Car, Hyundai unveiled an all-new special Veloster N. It will enter the Optima Batteries GTC class and compete at the last two events of the year. The reasoning behind this new special edition Veloster N is straightforward. Hyundai is about to reveal the performance-focused Veloster N in the U.S. Generating hype by competing in events like this can only further the cause of linking the Veloster N name with performance and excitement.

Whats Up With The Veloster N For The Ultimate Street Car Competition?

First of all, the Veloster N for the Ultimate Street Car Competition isnt that different compared with the streetcar we will eventually get here in the U.S. One of the main Optima Battery Ultimate Street Car segments is a competition where judges give marks for design and engineering and actually assess the Daily Drive capabilities of the car. So, the Veloster N competing here is more or less the same as the one that will soon be under the showroom spotlights.

Yet, Hyundai made numerous improvements to differentiate it from that very car.

Interestingly enough, I am quite sure that with enough persuasion, you could spec your Veloster N to be really similar to what we have here for the Optima Challenge.

The changes Hyundai undertook to make it better suited for the challenge include optimization of the suspension, the wheels, the engine, the tires, and its aerodynamics.

The 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine that develops 275 horsepower remained the same as before. Yet, with the new cold-air intake, better air cooler, and cat-back exhaust, it can breathe more freely. I would not be surprised if, with these modifications, the engine turns out to be more eager to claw the front tires to the ground and to surge a bit quicker to speed. After all, this could easily provide more power and torque at lower revs.

These hardware changes have been fine-tuned with a so-called Remus Powerizer.

It is basically an ECU remap that takes into account new hardware and provides the basis for the integration.

Yet another addition - the Remus Responder - improves throttle response and gives a brisk response when the throttle is applied. Read, this Veloster N will probably rev much faster than the stock version.

Despite power (275 horsepower) and torque (260 pound-feet of torque) remaining the same, these additions clearly show that enthusiasts and tuners will have a lot of options for aftermarket improvements on their hot-hatch.

Impressive Suspension Upgrades

Apart from the subtle engine upgrades, Hyundai reimagined some features of the suspension as well. In an effort to stiffen it all up, reduce body roll, and provide even more control over the suspension, Hyundai integrated prototype sway bars that are both thicker and adjustable. Engineers fiddled with the coilovers as well.

The Veloster N for the Optima Battery challenge now moves around with H&R Lowering springs (1.1 inches lower than before).

Finally, the changes are complemented with 19-inch wheels and Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires that measure 245/35.

Safety First With A Bit Of Fun

This is basically a one-off race car and it needed some proper safety gear to be compliant with the requirements of the Optima Battery Ultimate Street Car competition.

The most important addition is the Pierce Motorsports 4pt removable cage.

Secondly, this Veloster N has Recaro Profi SPG XL with a Sparco Enduro 6-Point harness. All racing gear obviously.

Ironically, the cabin hasnt been lightened or freed of creature comforts. As I was saying, the Veloster N has to prove it is a comfortable street car. For that task, Hyundai garnished it with special blue details on the dash and even installed a 390-Watt, eight-speaker system with Clari-Fi. Not exactly something one could expect in a race car. Come to think of it; I really like this Optima Battery Ultimate Street Car competition. Imagine all the hot hatches in almost stock form competing against one another. Wouldnt that be awesome?

Conclusion

Despite actually trying to compete in the Ultimate Street Car challenge that will start just after the 2018 SEMA show, I feel that Hyundai created this special edition Veloster N in order to promote possible aftermarket options. It is like Hyundai wants to say - even if you buy the Veloster N, you will still have a chance to live your tuning life to the fullest and compete even with the heavyweights of the hot-hatch country.

After all, the Veloster N is a fast car. We already know it will reach 62 mph in 6.1 seconds. It will be fun too. The N, among other things, stands for Nurburgring, as the car was developed there. Apart from appearing at the racing event, the car will wow the crowds at the 2017 SEMA show along with the Ioniq that is prepped for the same competition.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Hyundai Veloster N.

Top Selling Model: Hyundai Elantra

Read more Hyundai news.

Read more SEMA Show news.
Regulation of Somalias mobile money market can spur innovation in financial sector development

Somalias economy is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3-4 percent, according to the third Somalia Economic Update (SEU), Rapid Growth in Mobile Money: Stability or Vulnerability?, published by the World Bank. The report assesses Somalias vibrant mobile money market, and provides concrete recommendations on introducing mobile money regulation that can boost a secure system for widespread financial inclusion.

The SEU aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of economic data, trends and outlook, and sets out a series of recommendations to stimulate reform, growth and improved fiscal performance. The report highlights several improvements in 2017, including the implementation of fiscal policy by the federal government.

As recommended in the previous SEU, domestic revenue mobilization increased, budgets became more realistic, and execution of the budget improved.

These developments should allow Somalia to build the fiscal buffers that allow the government to start providing meaningful service delivery to citizens, said John Randa, World Bank Senior Economist for the Macroeconomic, Trade and Investment Global Practice, and lead author of the SEU.

This report comes after the country faced its worst drought in decades. Somalias economy grew by an estimated 2.3 percent in 2017, down from 4.4 percent in 2016, reflecting the impact of enormous losses seen in livestock and crop production and exports. The volume of live animal exports  Somalias largest export, accounting for more than 70 percent of export earnings  declined by 75 percent, from 5.3 million animals in 2015 to 1.3 million in 2017.

Somalias economy has grown modestly in recent years, and it remains vulnerable to recurrent shocks. Between 2013 and 2017, real annual GDP growth averaged 2.5 percent. Nonetheless, growth has not been sufficient to translate into poverty reduction.

To achieve higher growth, Somalia requires an acceleration of structural reforms, said Randa. Somalia needs to continue to build the fiscal buffers to allow greater public investment in basic services. Recent efforts to broaden the tax base, enhance compliance, and reduce wasteful expenditures are starting to pay off.

The GDP estimate was revised upward in 2017, based on new information and data harmonization with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The new estimate puts GDP at $6.8 billion in 2016 and $7 billion in 2017. GDP is dominated by private household consumption expenditure, which represents 132 percent of national income, followed by imports (62 percent), exports (15 percent), and gross capital formation (9 percent).

Special Focus: Mobile Money

The special focus of the report is on mobile money. Despite its fragility and underdeveloped financial institutions, Somalia has one of the most active mobile money markets in the world, outpacing most other countries in Africa. Approximately 155 million transactions, worth $2.7 billion, are recorded per month. Mobile money has superseded the use of cash in Somalia, with over 70 percent of adult Somalis using mobile money services regularly. This presents exciting opportunities for the country.

Private sector actors have given Somalia a unique opportunity to leapfrog towards widespread financial inclusion. We will continue to support the partnership between the Central Bank of Somalia, the National Communications Authority and the key private sector actors as they deliberate on an appropriate regulatory framework for the sector. said Tim Kelly, Lead ICT policy specialist at the World Bank.

Nevertheless, the mobile money sector lacks robust consumer protection, and know-your-customer requirements. The mass adoption of services  while impressive  presents opportunities for promoting financial broadening and deepening that will lead to more competition and contestability in the financial services market.

The challenge for policymakers and regulators is to how to mitigate system vulnerabilities and avoid macroeconomic effects in the event of service disruptions. The challenge for policymakers and regulators is to introduce regulations on a mobile money market that has operated without regulatory oversight, Randa said. Recommendations include:

Create safeguards for consumers funds and ensure the safety and reliability of services.

Adopt the regulatory sandbox approach to encourage innovation, improve compliance and risk management, and reduce opportunities for agent fraud and other harmful conduct and hold providers liable for agents.

Protect data and consumer information and ensure that consumers have access to effective redress and complaint-handling mechanisms.

Strengthen regulatory reporting and public disclosures, minimizing disruption of mobile money services at each stage of implementation.

Reducing costs and promoting greater stability is a top priority for the overall development agenda for the financial sector, ensuring that regulation does not stifle innovation by leveling the playing field is a very close second, said Thilasoni Benjamin Musuku, Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the World Bank Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice and co-Lead Author of the SEU.

There is a need to improve the balance between cooperation and competition between banks, MNOs and other non-bank financial institutions and ensure better integration of mobile money within the broader financial system. This is key to deepening and broadening the financial services market in Somalia for inclusive growth.

The SEU was prepared in close partnership with Somali stakeholders and aims to contribute to government policy-making and the regulatory environment in Somalia. This is the third in the SEU series for Somalia. The SEU series is financed by the World Banks Multi-Partner Fund (MPF).
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Because, for a child, the journey matters a lot.

On the first day of school this year, my children informed me that they wanted to walk to and from school alone. They didn't need me, they said, because they knew the route and how to watch out for cars. But I could tell from the eagerness in their voices that there was more to their request than just knowing they could do it; they wanted the independence.

So I let them, and they've continued to walk on their own each day. My role as chaperone may have disappeared, which was sad initially, but now I enjoy having a few extra minutes to myself before they come crashing through the door, breathless and excited, at the end of the day.

I've long been an advocate of walking to school. There are the health benefits that come from exercise and fresh air, as well as the studies showing how it improves academic performance, reduces depression and anxiety, and boosts mood. But after seeing my kids' joy at being allowed the freedom to walk unaccompanied by an adult, it's made me realize that there is yet another reason that deserves serious consideration by parents: Kids, particularly young ones, just love it, especially when there are no parents around.

Sometimes it's hard for us adults to remember how it feels to be given freedom, to be unchaperoned for a few glorious minutes, but for a child, these are thrilling emotions. To have total control over the speed of one's own feet, over the route one chooses and the people one talks to, to spare a few minutes to admire a muddy puddle, a caterpillar, or some colored leaves on the sidewalk, to drag a stick along a railing, to rough-house with a sibling and fall into a snowbank -- this is a big deal. These are mini luxuries for a child who's accustomed to being hustled along by a frazzled parent in a rush, not to mention distant memories for a parent who would now consider that same walk to be an enormous inconvenience.

Ron Buliung is a researcher at the University of Toronto who examines the relationship between urban design and kids, particularly how kids get around cities. He believes it's high time adults started thinking about how kids feel about getting from point A to point B. Whereas a parent may think of a trip to school as something to get over with as quickly as possible, when you talk to a child, they consider the journey a place in and of itself.

Its a place where children, particularly children who are walking, experience the environment in important ways. They play games on the fly and socialize. [Kids] told us about puddles that freeze over in winter and allow them to slide across. These are moments that adults dont think about as being important, but its all physical activity and learning that can have positive feedback on a childs health.



Please note: This is not meant to make parenting any more child-centric than it already is. Letting one's kids walk to school alone should, in fact, free up parents' time and shorten the daily to-do list.

And what about the 'stranger danger' that strikes fear into so many parents' hearts, despite being unsupported by data? Buliung offers a lovely inversion of that when he says,

Another way to conceptualize strangers is as community. We dont know everyone around us and so those whom we dont know, strictly speaking, could be considered strangers as well. Yet most strangers are not interested in harming our children.



My philosophy is that the best way to empower a child and keep them safe is to give them the tools to navigate their world with knowledge and confidence. Letting them walk to school, traversing the distance between one adult-controlled world to another, is a logical way to do this.

We need to listen to our kids, hear what they have to say and what they want for themselves. Their voices can shape future policy decisions about urban design and planning. If more kids are allowed to walk to school, and if those kids express delight in having this freedom, then over time that will create demand for more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure -- sidewalks, stop signs, slower speed limits, crossing guards, and bike lanes.

Sometimes you don't need a hundred good reasons to make something happen. Sometimes just loving it is enough, and that's how it should be for kids who want to walk to school. Let them go and let them grow.
Tickets are $23.76, including a service fee, and include a copy of the book and admission to the signing line for one person or a family of up to four people. Tickets are numbered and guarantee a place in line. The authors will also take photos with ticket-holders.
HAMILTON  Theres a new Republican organization in town that GOP Mayor Kelly Yaedes administration rejects as a fringe group of haters.

David Henderson, one of Yaedes biggest critics, is a key member of the newly founded Republicans for a Better Hamilton, which held its inaugural meeting last week at the Stone Terrace banquet hall.

We had 42 people attend the meeting, and we have 31 paid members as of right now, Henderson said Thursday in an interview. I dont speak for the organization as a whole. I am one of the prime movers behind the club, and I would consider myself one of the leaders, and we are happy to provide an organization for fellow Republicans in Hamilton Township to have their voice and ideas heard.

The chairman of this local GOP alternative group is Fred Brodzinski, a former two-term president of the Hamilton Township Republican Club.

We are very pleased with the turnout of our initial meeting of the new club, Brodzinski said in a press statement. We hope to offer an alternative organization for conservatives while advancing the ideals of the Republican Party here on a local level.

Republicans for a Better Hamilton promotes itself as an all-inclusive club and a hub for educational awareness on local governance and politics, but Marty Flynn, a top official in the Yaede administration, disowned the organization in no uncertain terms.

Leading members of this small group have a publicly documented record of racially insensitive views and social media posts, combined with disturbing personal attacks against Mayor Yaede that are motivated by their own political ambitions, Flynn said in a statement. The Hamilton Township Republican Party and Mayor Yaede vehemently reject and disavow their racially insensitive and misogynistic comments as well as their publicly displayed bigotry.

Flynn, director of Hamiltons Department of Technology and Economic Development, was alluding to a 1990s-era image on Facebook that appears to show Henderson touching former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman on the buttocks and affiliated commentary of Henderson making jokes about that old photo, and a comment Henderson directed toward an African-American colleague using a variation of the N-word, among other controversial social media postings over the years.

Flynn disavowed Henderson and all leading members of Republicans for a Better Hamilton similar to how President Donald Trump denounced David Duke and the KKK during his 2016 presidential campaign. Asked for a response on the hard-hitting bigotry charges, I am not going to comment on any of the statements by the administration, Henderson said Thursday.

The emergence of an alternative Hamilton GOP club makes official what was already known: Republican leaders and activists in this 40-square-mile township are embroiled in a civil war.

GOP Councilman Ralph Mastrangelo, who verbally tangled with Henderson at the Aug. 21 Hamilton Council meeting, suggested the new township Republican club is anti-Yaede to the core.

This is a small group of outsiders who want to undo the good government that the mayor, the administration and the Council has provided over the last several years, he said in a statement about Republicans for a Better Hamilton. This has nothing to do with better government; this is about disagreeing or disliking the mayor.

The five-member Hamilton Township Council is currently led by Democrats, but Mastrangelo is one of two Republicans on the governing body. The other GOP member is Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer, who attended the Republicans for a Better Hamilton inaugural meeting last Thursday at the Stone Terrace.

It is time for a club where Republicans from all backgrounds can gather, share ideas and work together for the good of our community, county and state, she said in a press statement. Im excited to see residents of our community that for years have wanted to be involved but never felt welcome to do so. We have so many talented and energetic residents that can truly help make a difference.

Schirmer and Yaede used to be political allies, but the councilwoman in recent years has become very critical of the mayor over the management of Hamiltons municipal government.

Former Hamilton councilman Dennis Pone, a Republican, described the alternative Hamilton GOP club as a rogue group of a handful of people with petty grievances against the mayor.

Although the advertising was purposely vague, Pone added, we all know who is behind it.

Henderson is the real leader in charge of Republicans for a Better Hamilton, Pone said. Because of the people involved, he added, I dont believe their intentions are pure.

I think at this point we all know what kind of guy this is from his Facebook posts, Pone said of Henderson. Even a couple of people who went to the meeting that I spoke with did not know he was behind it, and they were not happy when they found out.

Henderson is a Republican strategist, charter school advocate and retired New Jersey state worker who worked as a volunteer for many notable Republican heavyweights such as former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. He is currently hoping to shake up the nonpartisan Hamilton Township Board of Education with his preferred slate of candidates in the Nov. 6 election.

Henderson also has a loyal following and support base on Facebook, but Pone says those players are relatively insignificant in the grand scope of things.

The vast majority of Hamilton Republicans, Pone said, from committee members to regular Republicans support the mayor and her administration.

Brodzinski, chairman of Republicans for a Better Hamilton, says the new alternative GOP group is not insignificant and not comprised of fringe members.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 14

The city is gearing up to host the first ever World Heritage Cuisine Summit that will begin from October 12 at the historic Gobindgarh Fort. The recently instituted World Cultural Culinary Heritage Committee, under the aegis of the World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs), will present the first edition of the food festival which is being hosted in collaboration with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA).

With celebrated chef Manjit Gill at the helm of affairs, the summit and festival will celebrate traditional cuisine with live demonstrations, food tastings, presentations, panel discussions, master classes and sessions by chefs from around the world. Chef Thomas Gugler, chairman, World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs), will be the guest of honour.

Manjit Gill, chairman, World Cultural Culinary Heritage Committee, said, It is envisaged as an unprecedented opportunity for food enthusiasts to witness live demonstrations by renowned chefs from all over the world, and also to savour these delicacies through the many tasting counters. In turn, these culinary ambassadors are expected to carry back indelible experiences and memories of the diversity of Indian cuisine and Punjabi hospitality to share and disseminate in their home countries.

Event director Herbbie Sidhu, managing director Myriad Nuances, shared that the multiple venues on the premises will include a world kitchen where chefs from two countries will simultaneously showcase live cooking of traditional recipes every hour.

Representatives from Armenia, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Wales among others will take part.
editorial@tribune.com

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 14

Thousands of residents of 33 villages of four panchayats in the Nagrota Assembly constituency are suffering due to a technical glitch in a government order on transfers of officials, including patwaris.

According to officials, the patwaris of Jandrah and Kanyala panchayats were transferred about six months ago but no new patwari had been appointed there till date.

The charge of Jandrah panchayat, having eight villages, was given to the patwari posted at Dhan panchayat while the patwari of Dansal was directed to look after the functioning of Kanyala panchayat with nine villages. At present, the patwari at Dhan panchayat is dealing with 18 villages while the patwari of Dansal panchayat has charge of 19 villages, a source said, adding, In the process, the people of all four panchayats are facing difficulties.

The source said, The district administration has been avoiding the postings of new patwaris in these areas taking the plea that the state administration has restricted the transfers. It is only the administrative department which is authorised to order transfers. The deputy commissioner concerned does not want to be part of any controversy.

It is almost impossible for a single patwari to cater to such a large number of villages. The people have been facing difficulties in getting their work done through this adhocism. How will a patwari justify his work if his office remains overcrowded? The girdawari process is starting next month and if the present situation continues to prevail, no proper girdawari will be conducted, said Raman Kumar, a resident of Jandrah panchayat.

A senior official at the deputy commissioner office, Jammu, said, There are at least eight patwaris attached with the office and they have not been detached even after the Governors directions. The state administration should seriously look into the issue and utilise the services of these patwaris in such areas.

Nisar Ahmed Shad, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Jammu, admitted the problems being faced by the people but cited the government ban on transfers, saying, Only the administrative department is authorised to order transfers and postings of staff.

He, however, said he would take up the matter with the deputy commissioner to find a solution to the problem. He also disclosed that there were about 220 sanctioned posts of patwari in Jammu but there were only 165 patwaris at present.

Nagrota MLA Devender Singh Rana said he would take up the matter with authorities concerned to ensure the availability of patwaris in both the panchayats at the earliest.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, September 14

Congress workers are on the streets in Allahabad to protest against the removal of the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru from Balson crossing, barely 200 metres from his ancestral house of Anand Bhawan.

The decision to remove the statue and install it in a nearby park was taken by the Allahabad Development Authority and it was shifted on Thursday evening.

A hydra crane was used to shift the statue from its existing pedestal to a park near the crossing some 30 metres away.

However, the authorities are tightlipped about why the statue of Deen Dayal Upadhyay on the very next crossing is not being removed as part of the widening of the same road.

According to the ADA spokesperson, the decision was taken for redesigning the Balson crossing and widening the road in view of the approaching Kumbh 2019.

Defending its decision, the spokesperson said the re-designing was being done by an independent organisation called UMTC.

The Divisional Commissioner and District Magistrate remained unavailable for comment.

In a tweet, UPCC president Raj Babbar described the move as unjust which should be condemned.

Satta ke nashe mein choor hai BJP. Mahapurshon ke apman aur itihaas badalne ki saazish ka hum datkar muqabla karenge (BJP is drunk with power. We will strongly oppose the conspiracy to re-write history and insult great leaders), said Babbar.
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, September 14

A local magistrate in Nanded district has ordered the arrest of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, sparking off protests in that case.



According to sources in Nanded, N R Gajbhiye, judicial magistrate first class from Dharmabad town, issued a non-bailable warrant against Naidu and his associates, including several cabinet colleagues. According to the warrant, they are to be produced before the court by September 21.



The arrest warrant pertains to a case filed against them in 2010 when Naidu and his associates were holding protests against the Babli project on the Godavari river. The leaders from the then undivided state of Andhra Pradesh had alleged that the construction of the barrage on the river upstream at Babli in Maharashtra would result in a drop in water supply to areas lying downstream in the neighbouring state.



Naidu and others had been arrested and were taken briefly to the Pune jail.



Copies of the court order being shared on social media show it was dated July 5 and was to be executed by August 16. Hand-written corrections to the order indicate that the arrest warrants against Naidu and his associates would have to be executed by September 21.

Apart from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, state water resources minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, social welfare minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar who is now with the Telangana Rashtra

Samiti have been named in the warrant.

According to sources from Nanded, a local resident had filed a petition seeking the arrest of Naidu and other Telugu Desam leaders.

The Babli barrage was constructed after the Supreme Court ordered Maharashtra Government to ensure that water supply was not disrupted to villages in Andhra Pradesh.



The magistrate's order has sparked off protests in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana.




uttara@tribuneindia.com

New Delhi, September 14

The Supreme Court's order for a high-level probe in the 1994 ISRO spy case is likely to cover the role of the then Kerala cops and officials of the Intelligence Bureau who were involved in the investigation leading to the arrest of scientist S Nambi Narayanan and others by falsely implicating them.

Narayanan had accused the state police and the IB officials of torturing and extracting statements from him.

Former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired superintendents of police KK Joshua and S Vijayan were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

Narayanan has also been on record alleging that RB Sreekumar, a former DGP of Gujarat, was earlier part of the IB leadership that had "cooked up" the ISRO spy case.

Virtually vindicating Narayanan's stand on Friday, an apex court Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud appointed a three-member committee headed by its former judge, Justice DK Jain, saying: "Appropriate steps need to be taken against the erring officials". The Bench also directed Kerala Government to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to Naryanan within eight weeks.

"We think that the obtaining factual scenario calls for constitution of a Committee to find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring officials," it said. The CBI report, quoted in the verdict, also said there were reasons to believe that the interrogators had forced the accused to make statements on suggested lines.

Besides Narayanan, director of cryogenic project at ISRO, others implicated in the case were ISRO's deputy director of D Sasikumaran and Indian representative of a Russian space agency K Chandrasekhar, SK Sharma, a labour contractor, and Maldivian national Mariam Rasheeda and her country-mate Fauzia Hassan.

The case was first investigated by the state police and later handed over to the CBI, which found that no espionage, as was alleged, had taken place.

The apex court Bench relied heavily on the CBI report submitted before a Kerala court in 1996 criticising the arrest of the scientists.

The CBI's closure report had accused three police officials of ThiruvananthapuramSiby Mathews, then DIG Crime of Kerala Police, S Vijayan, then Inspector of the Special Branch and KK Joshwa, then Deputy Superintendent of Police, Crime Brance CIDof falsely implicating the ISRO scientist.

According to the judgment, the CBI report had stated that the evidence collected indicated that the allegations of espionage against the scientists at ISRO, including the appellant (Narayanan), were not proved and were found to be false.

Regarding the role of Mathews, the report had said that Siby Mathew who was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had left the entire investigation to IB, surrendering his duties.

"Investigation conducted by the CBI has revealed that he did not take adequate steps either in regard to the thorough interrogations of the accused persons by Kerala Police or the verification of the so called disclosure made by the accused persons.

"In fact, he left the entire investigation to IB, surrendering his duties. He ordered indiscriminate arrest of the ISRO scientist and others without adequate evidence being on record," the Bench quoted from the CBI report in its judgement.

The CBI report had said: "On being confronted with the statements made by them before Kerala Police as well as IB officials, the accused took the plea that the statements were made on the suggested lines under duress". It had said that investigation had established that the accused persons were "harassed and physically abused".

"It is curious that while the IB had all the six accused persons in their custody, they recorded the statements of only Sasikumaran, Chandrashekar, Fauziya and Rasheeda and, not of Nambi Narayanan.

"There is reason to believe that the interrogators forced the accused persons to make statements on suggested lines," the report had said. PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 14

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Kerala Government to pay within eight weeks a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan whose life got ruined after he was falsely implicated in the 1994 ISRO spy scandal.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra set up a three-member panel to find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring (Kerala Police) officials. The panel will have one officer each from the Centre and Kerala.

The Bench said the rocket scientist was free to file a civil suit against the state government to claim more compensation.

The entire prosecution initiated by the state police was malicious and it has caused tremendous harassment and immeasurable anguish to the appellant, said the Bench which had reserved its verdict on July 10 on his petition seeking action against former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews and other police officers who allegedly falsely implicated him in the case.

The liberty and dignity of the appellant which are basic to his human rights were jeopardized as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, he was compelled to face cynical abhorrence, the Bench said granting him compensation for the suffering, anxiety and the treatment meted out to him that withered away his fundamental right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Narayanan (76) had challenged a Kerala High Court verdict that said no action was needed against former DGP Mathews and two retired Superintendents of Police, K K Joshua and S Vijayan for his illegal arrest.

The Kerala Police had arrested Mariam Rasheeda  a Maldivian woman  on October 20, 1994, for overstaying in India after the expiry of her visa. It turned into a sex-spy scandal allegedly involving two senior ISRO scientists, some businessmen and others. They were accused of passing on ISROs cryogenic programme secrets to the women who in turn supplied the same to Russia and Pakistans ISI.

In 1996, the CBI probe cleared all the accused. It concluded that the entire scandal was fabricated by Kerala Police officers who had investigated the case. All the accused were discharged in May 1996. Along with the closure report, the CBI had also sent a confidential report indicting the state police officials.

But following a change of guard in Kerala, the state government withdrew the consent given to the CBI to probe the case and asked the state police to reinvestigate it.

However, the Supreme Court in April 1998 quashed the state governments decision and all the accused were freed. Rasheeda too was released in 2001. The Kerala High Court had in September 2012 ordered the state government to pay Rs 10 lakh as interim relief to Narayanan.

Acting on his petition, the Kerala High Court had in October 2014 ordered action against the state police officials based on the CBIs confidential report. But a Division Bench of the High Court reversed the order in March 2015.

Its this Division Bench verdict that Narayanan has been fighting against in the top court.

It said, ...there can be no scintilla of doubt that the appellant, a successful scientist having national reputation, has been compelled to undergo immense humiliation. The lackadaisical attitude of the state police to arrest anyone and put him in police custody has made the appellant to suffer the ignominy.

The dignity of a person gets shocked when psycho-pathological treatment is meted out to him. A human being cries for justice when he feels that the insensible act has crucified his self-respect. That warrants grant of compensation under the public law remedy, the top court said.

The system I designed is being used in Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and PSLV that launched 104 satellites in one go. But I am still fighting to get justice, Narayanan had earlier told The Tribune during the hearing.
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 14

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held discussions with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov in Moscow on Friday.

The two leaders, who co-chaired the 23rd Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific Technical and Cultural Cooperation, also took stock of agenda for the upcoming visit of Russian President Putin to hold the annual strategic dialogue with PM Modi in New Delhi on October 4.

India and Russia enjoy a special and privileged strategic partnership. This partnership has strengthened over time and covers a vast agenda involving almost all sphere of human activity. India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Russia, said Swaraj in her press statement after talks that follow the inaugural Indo-US 2+2 dialogue held at level of foreign and defence ministers in Delhi.

Earlier Swaraj met with her counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The discussions assume significance as India has decided to go ahead with the S400 missiles purchase from Russia despite heat of secondary sanctions from US under CAATSA law currently in Congress.

Bilateral trade between the two countries, which stood at $10.17 billion in 2017, dominated the agenda. We discussed ways and means to increase this momentum, ensure balanced trade, and remove barriers to trade. Two-way investments have already crossed the $30 billion target, which we had set for 2025. We have therefore proposed that we enhance this figure to $50 billion by 2025, Swaraj said.

Incidentally New Delhi is discussing tripartite capacity building programs in Afghanistan with Kabul and China and South Korea separately, while Russia, India and Bangladesh are working on a landmark tripartite pact for civil nuclear cooperation.

Energy was also a topic of discussion, with India importing oil and gas from US and LNG from Russia for the first time recently as it seeks to diversify its energy basket. Russia, China and European nations are in support of the historic Iran nuclear deal that Trump walked out of and issued diktats to countries to reduce oil imports from Iran to zero. US sanctions will kick in on November 4.

Energy is the traditional area of cooperation. Earlier this year the first shipment of LNG from Russia arrived in India, in a new breakthrough of our energy partnership, Swaraj said.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

New Delhi, September 14

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has ruled out any engagement with the Opposition on issues relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, saying they do not deserve to be involved after throwing muck on a very sensitive issue concerning Indias defence preparedness.

Sitharaman said the government decided to go for procuring only two squadrons of Rafale jets as an emergency measure in the wake of China and Pakistan significantly ramping up their air power by inducting stealth fighters.

Is there any point of calling them and explaining? They are misleading the country with something which was not even agreed to during the UPA government. You are throwing an allegation saying there is a fraud. You did not care for operational preparedness of the air force, she told PTI in an interview.

The Defence Minister was asked whether the government will engage with Opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the US.

It (Rafale deal) is an inter-governmental agreement. You (Opposition) have asked us questions and I have given answers to them in Parliament. Then what am I calling them for? What am I going to tell them when I call them? she said.

The Defence Minister also asserted that the Rafale deal cannot be equated with the Bofors issue at all as was being attempted by the Opposition, as she has rid the Defence Ministry of middlemen entirely.

Led by the Congress, the Opposition has been attacking the Modi government alleging it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost.

The Congress has said the UPA finalised a price of Rs 526 crore per fighter while negotiating a deal to buy 126 Rafale jets, but the current government is buying each aircraft at Rs 1,670 crore when the weapons and avionics onboard the jets will be of same configuration.

Sitharaman said the weapon systems, avionics and other key add-ons to the Rafale aircraft will be much superior in comparison to what was negotiated by the UPA.

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets at an estimated cost of Rs 58,000 crore.

Asked whether the controversy surrounding Rafale will hit flow of foreign funds into the defence sector, she said it will not have any impact as it is very clear that allegations are baseless.

Sitharaman also rejected the Opposition charge that the government was trying to benefit Reliance Defence Ltd from the deal under the offset requirement, saying the government has no role in selecting an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale.

Under Indias offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

Sitharaman said, officially, she does not know which company Dassault Aviation is partnering with to execute the offset obligations.

I have not got to know who is Dassaults offset partner... it is a commercial decision. There are laid-down procedures to check the process of fulfilment of offset obligations. Neither I can accept, nor I can suggest, nor I can reject anybody from going with anybody,she said.

On October 27, last year, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence laid the foundation for manufacturing facility near Nagpur to manufacture aerospace components and fulfil offset obligation connected to the Rafale deal.

The Opposition has been asking how RDL, with no experience in aerospace sector, can be chosen as an offset partner while the government has been maintaining that it was officially ignorant of the fact that Dassault has joined hands with RDL to execute offset obligations.

Rejecting charges of corruption in the Rafale deal, the Defence Minister said the people of the country have put a closure on this non-issue as they have trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 14

Two unidentified miscreants threw acid on a girl while she was returning from college at Thoba village on Friday. The victim was taken to a hospital from where she was referred to Amritsar after first aid.

The girl, a BEd student of Sri Guru Ram Dass College at Pandher village, sustained over 10 per cent burns below the neck. Her father said she used to call him after reaching Thoba, from where he used to pick her up. Today, he got late and she was walking towards the village around 3 pm when two youths (faces covered) on a motorcycle threw acid and fled.

SP Shailander Shelly and DSP Ajnala Harpreet Singh said efforts were on to apprehend the culprits.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 14

Sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF), Mohali, have nabbed a notorious drug peddler, who has been declared as a proclaimed offender in five cases of drug peddling, with 260 grams of heroin here. The accused has been identified as Pritpal Singh, alias Bitta, a native of Amritsar, who was currently residing in Ropar.

The police have also recovered an Activa scooter from his possession, which he was using to supply heroin to his regular customers at the old bus stand in Mohali.

Giving information, STF Superintendent of Police Rajinder Singh Sohal said during his preliminary interrogation, the accused confessed that a close kin had brought him into drug peddling in 2004 after he suffered losses in the jewellery business. He also confessed that he had supplied drugs for his brother-in-laws brother from Amritsar to some Nigerian in Delhi a number of times for which he used to get Rs 6,000 per assignment, said SP Sohal. First case against him was registered by the DRI, Amritsar, which had nabbed him with 10-kg heroin in 2005.

He was awarded 15-year sentence in that case. He had jumped the parole after being lodged in the Amritsar Jail for around seven months then. Then Bitta had started supplying drugs with another miscreant, Harpreet Singh, alias Chittu. He met Chittu in a jail, said the SP, adding that Chittu had links with Pakistan-based drug suppliers. Chittu and Bitta used to procure drugs in a large quantity from Pakistan and had supplied it in villages located in the border belt, said SP Sohal.

Bitta was also nabbed by the Counter Intelligence Team, Amritsar, with 3-kg heroin and drug money of Rs 22 lakh in 2015.

Then he was again lodged in the Central Jail in Amritsar from where he was shifted to the Kapurthala Jail. Bitta had escaped from the police clutches when he was shifted to a hospital for an operation of his eye and hid in a village near the Nepal border with the help of his woman accomplice, identified as Nisha, said the SP.

After changing his identity to Manjit Singh by forged documents, Bitta returned to Punjab and started living in a rented accommodation at Ropar. SP Sohal said Bitta, who has been declared as a proclaimed offender in five cases of drug peddling, was still in contact with Chittu and other drug suppliers, including Boota of Khemkaran.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Achieving self-sufficiency by tapping the 27,000 MW hydropower energy flowing in its five rivers seems to be getting tougher for the state with cheap solar energy making the hydropower sector most unviable and unattractive. Not only have several power producers backed out and relinquished the allotted projects, but there are few takers for the potential projects despite successive regimes rolling out several incentives to woo investors. Even some of the big names in the industry like Reliance, Tata, Moser Baer and ABG Shipyard chose to surrender the allotted projects.

With high cost of production, hard to obtain environmental clearances, lack of infrastructure and rising hostility among the locals, the already grim power market seems to be rendering hydropower most unviable. As opposed to almost Rs 10 crore per MW production cost in the case of hydro power, the expenditure is almost half in the case of solar energy.

Although, the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur have potential for tapping solar energy, but the remote location and absence of a transmission line to evacuate power remains a big impediment. It is for this reason that the 1,000 MW proposed Sola Park for Spiti, approved by the Centre, has failed to become a reality.

Reliance was the first to surrender the 300-MW Purthi project in Pangi in the Chenab basin in Chamba district. Moser Baer, which was allotted the 400 MW Seli power project near Udaipur town of Lahaul-Spiti district, also gave it up on the same ground. Similarly, ABG Energy also surrendered the 126 Bardang project in the Chenab basin of Lahaul-Spiti.

The rant among the locals against such projects be it in ecologically fragile Kinnaur, Kullu, Chamba or Sirmaur, is only gaining momentum. The hostile atmosphere, amidst protests by villagers and concerns expressed by environment groups, has further made the hydropower situation very grim.

While the previous Congress regime offered several incentives to woo producers for taking up projects in the challenging Chenab basin, the Jai Ram government has amended the Hydro Power Policy 2016 in a desperate bid to give fillip to the hydelpower sector. Opposition Congress was quick to lash out at the BJP regime, accusing it of forsaking the states interest by deferring 12 per cent free power for the next 12 years.

The Congress cannot allow such an offer where the states interests are being compromised, when there are other means to woo investors, asserts Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri. Echoing similar concerns, Congress MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan says the loss that the state will suffer due to deferment of 12 per cent free power would be close to Rs 10,000 crore in an equal number of years. Power Minister Anil Sharma countered Congress criticism on the ground that the amendments were made to bring parity with other states like Uttarakhand and to ensure that commissioning of more projects.

On its part, the BJP regime has stepped up efforts for the setting up of a transmission line near Wangtoo to evacuate power from the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti. In fact, a high-level team from the Central Electricity Regulatory Authority and Power Grid visited the area to assess the feasibility. With the nod from the Centre for the transmission line, we are now hopeful that some of our other pending projects in the Satluj basin will also become feasible, said Tarun Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary, Power and Forest.

The Cabinet at its last meeting had given its nod for a scheme to tap 20 MW solar energy, which would help create self-employment avenues for Himachali youth. Preference will be given to Himachali youth with a buy-back arrangement with the HP State Electricity Board.

Now it remains to be seen to what extent the incentives offered can woo as in the case of Chenab basin, it did not bring about the desired results. With hardly any major revenue-generating sectors, a cash- strapped Himachal has little choice but to make hydropower lucrative enough for investors.
Were different because: More than 100 beers are available, including craft selections from Burn Em Brewing in Michigan City, the Devils Trumpet Brewing Co. in Merrillville, Four Fathers Brewing in Valparaiso and 3 Floyds Brewing Co. in Munster. Weekly offerings include trivia on Wednesdays, karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays and live bands on Fridays. There is also a dart room and an arcade. Were trying to make sure people have a good time when they come out and try to give them as many options as possible beyond the food and beer, Ewing said.
Sponsored: Ministry of Planning

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Totally agree with most posts that 2 or possibly 3 destinations are enough.

Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa. Yes Sapa is a must if you have the time.

But if you wish to visit Hoi an, suggest you fly into Da nang and out of Hanoi or vice versa.

If you choose to do Halong Bay make sure it's 2 nights not 1, otherwise total waste of time and expense.

Also for such a short time I would suggest to pre book things like Sapa or Halong Bay. I prefer to spend my time enjoying myself, not worrying about booking tours once there.

In my experience I contacted about 3 possible tour options for each destination through Vietnamese operators to get quotes, when I hadn't replied or said I haven't decided as yet, they kept emailing me reducing the cost.

I usually do wait until destination to book tours, but for such a short itinerary I think it best to be organised and not waste precious time.

Enjoy your trip.
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DAY 2

So before talking about The Sanctuary, let's talk about Times Square. Hardly a 'square' but definitely the most over populated traffic junction / tourist trap anywhere in the western world. Throw in pavement closures due to reconstruction and so add 100% to the congestion. Add the pedestrian who continues to stop every ten yards for a selfie or a snap, oblivious to the crowds around them, and multiply these by 100 and you maybe get a sense of the noisy, maddening chaos. At the same time, it can be magnetic, colourful, captivating, entertaining, people and hustler watching central...but not somewhere where you want to stay for any length of time...not because you feel unsafe (it is heavily & well policed) but because of the gaudy, neon, noisy chaos.

The Sanctuary is only a couple of hundred yards away from this chaos but it's like an oasis of calm. A boutique hotel with it's own rooftop bar. It has construction work opposite but the hotel is quiet and we didn't hear the bar, the construction work, or Times Square. This is a major plus (one that a well known Nottingham hotel recently failed to achieve). The Sanctuary have friendly staff who understand customer service: from check-in; to replenishing lobby iced water; to arranging airport taxi; to housekeeping. The best example was our experience of the uniquely confusing light switches in our room that following a night time visit to the bathroom meant the whole room was lit up like the Fourth of July (not popular)! The following morning we spoke with the male housekeeper on our way out and as he was moving between floors. Asking him how the switches worked, he dropped what he was doing to take time to demonstrate the switches in action. Impressive.

The rooms are small but comfortable and decorated well, making good use of the limited space with the wet room.

That doesn't mean the hotel hasn't got room for improvement. It has. The bedding and pillows are worn, and breakfast is a limited 'continental' - pastries, toast, eggs but no meat. Improvements such as these are within the gifts of the management and shouldn't affect the price point to make this an outstanding hotel.

So after a decent night sleep, Day 2 started with breakfast in the hotel and finding it limited we left early (and never repeated breakfast there). We used our Google offline maps to the subway on 49th Street (closed Sundays) and headed down to 42nd St and bought our Subway tickets for the duration. We had read so much in advance about the Subway system, expecting it to be highly complicated but (maybe thanks to the reading) it's much the same as any other City subway.

We had also read in advance of many different itineraries but while having some definite visits, we planned to keep it fluid as much as possible.

A 'definite' was our first of the day: . A colleague in the UK had told us of being unable to visit as he couldn't book it. I assume from that he meant the walk-up queues were too large. Either way, we booked online and easily, the night before flying from the UK for our chosen slot of 11am. Good choice, it meant that we were able to walk straight in. Before that the memorial. Tastefully and beautifully done, and the celebrating of birthdays with a single flower was very special. I have to say I found it jarring the number of people who leaned / tried to sit up on the memorial and I sympathised with security trying to enforce the requisite respect.

We are of the generation that have lived with and through 9/11 even if from afar. On the very day we were in Barcelona and returned to our room to see a non speaking loop of the plane strikes on Spanish TV and without meaningful explanation, we just knew that the world had changed. Over the years we have seen many documentaries but the museum is on a whole different level of scale and sensory experience. Graphic artefacts, detailed history, and harrowing accounts make for a sombre and sometimes difficult few hours but completes the loop in terms of context and meaning for our understanding of New Yorkers and perhaps what we have all lived through in subsequent years.

A stroll to the nearby Starbucks was then followed by a walk to the Stratten Island ferry terminal . We wanted to see the Statue of Liberty and were content that the cheapest (free) and effective way of doing this was by the ferry. We weren't disappointed and the bonus was the views of the city skyline.

The remainder of the afternoon was taken up with strolling through the Brazilian festival (great sounds, sights and smells) and buying presents from the NHL shop on 6th Ave .

Dinner that night was to be at and knowing that it was not on the 'square' itself hopefully meant that a favourite burger should be manageable. How wrong could we be! Chaos! An impossibly small shop for the volume of custom and the scrum of people meant no seating. So dinner that night was a Shake Shack take out, taken back to Times Square and despite the incredibly hot temperatures (mid-30C) and dense crowds, we used a counter terrorist bollard as our table and enjoyed our burger fries, and drink like we had never before, with a sideshow of naked ladies, Spiderman and Mickey Mouse. This wasn't Kansas Toto, this was New York!

Our evening ended at the where we enjoyed the air conditioning and some fine Kilkenny.
- The Kibwezi West MP alongside his wife are facing fraud charges

- Musimba is accused of defrauding Chase Bank upto KSh 1.1 billion in 2016

- Former Chase Bank Chairman Mohamed Zafrulla Khan also faced several charges which he denied

Three prominent individuals including Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Partrick Musimba, have been charged with stealing up to KSh 1.15 billion from Chase Bank.

A fresh case was tabled at the Milimani Law courts by the Banking Fraud Investigations Department (BFID) implicating Musimba alongside his wife and former Chase Bank Chairman Mohamed Zafrulla Khan.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

Kibwezi West MP and wife arrested for stealing KSh 1.1 billion from Chase Bank

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: The new names of all Kenya Police Training Colleges following Uhurus order

Khan appeared in court to answer to the damning charges, with Musimba and the other implicated suspects set for a date with the court on Monday, September 17.

Other suspects implicated in the scandal include former Chase Bank director and Chief Executive Officer Duncan Kabui, former General Manager of Corporate Credit James Mwaura Mwenja and former General Manager Makarios Omondi Agumbi.

READ ALSO: Kenya's debt to China could soon cross KSh 1 trillion

They were all accused of conspiring to defraud, steal and launder money from Chase Bank by dispatching KSh 1.15 billion to two companies- Porting Access Limited and Itecs Limited.

The alleged money laundering attempt allegedly took place between January 23, 2015 and March 31, 2016.

Khan denied all four charges, although it is believed he unscrupulously dispatched the money without following bank policy.

For Musimba, he faces another charge of allegedly having a hand in the transfer of KSh 409,682,900 from Chase Bank to KCB alongside his wife Mwende.

The case will be mentioned again on Monday, with the rest of the accused set to enter their pleas.

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.

Teresiah Wambui Story: The Struggles of a Kenyan Woman With Beards - Kenya Untold Stories | Tuko TV:

Source: Tuko.co.ke
Before he enters the house he slips on some ice and is carried into the house and has been in the house for a period of time recuperating from an injured hip. Once hes better they bring him out from where hes been recuperating in the library and everyone is excited to see him.
- Nyong'o slipped and fell on a pavement while attending a health conference in Nyeri

- An X-ray result revealed he sustained a fracture on the humerus bone

- His communication team confirmed he was responding well to medication

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o is recovering well after a freak accident which left him with a fractured left arm.

The governor had traveled to Nyeri county on the evening of Tuesday, September 11, to attend the Second National Universal Health Conference when he slipped and fell on a pavement while walking.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happen

READ ALSO: Governor Anyang' Nyong'o in Cuba with Uhuru days after Raila signed deal with the president

Nyongo_wearing a sling) and his Makueni counterpart Kibwana following the proceedings. Photo: Kisumu Governor's Press Unit/ Facebook.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Nyong'o dims Kisumu residents hopes to host Uhuru months after handshake with Raila

He consulted a doctor in Nyeri and an X-ray was performed, revealing the fracture of the humerus bone.

The county boss underwent successful surgery on the night of Wednesday, September 12, at the Agha Khan Hospital where his communication team confirmed he was responding well to medication.

Nyong'o, who was one of the speakers, addressed the conference the following morning wearing a sling on his left arm.

The conference sought to bring stakeholders together to share and learn on innovative and transformative solutions to halt and reverse the rising and worrying trends in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

In attendance were Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Planning Principal Secretary Julius Muia alongside host Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu among other health stake holders.

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 Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
- Parliament had passed the Bill delaying the levy for two years amid fears of high cost of living

- The 16% levy on fuel came into effect on September 1, pushing the price of fuel to historically high levels

- It was hoped Uhuru would sign the Bill into law and save Kenyans from effects of high fuel prices but he declined

- Uhuru thus send the bill back to Parliament for further engagement by legislators and the public

- The High Court in Bungoma recently issued an order suspending implementation of the levy

- MP Moses Kuria recently said on TV Kenyans should be ready to pay more for fuel, hinting at Uhuru not signing the Bill

Kenyans will have to brace for hard economic times after President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected Parliament's Finance Bill of 2018 to suspend 16% Value Added Tax on fuel and petroleum products.

All eyes were fixed on the president to give a relief to Kenyans already burdened with high cost of living by signing the Bill unanimously endorsed by the National Assembly, thus suspend the taxation until 2020 but it was not so.

READ ALSO: Uhuru receives Bill on 16% fuel levy as Kenyans eagerly await his next action

President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected to sign Financial Bill 2018 that would postpone effecting of 16% fuel levy for two years into law. He sent the Bill back to Parliament. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Twitter.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhuru avoids talk on 16% fuel levy in first public appearance since return from China

In a gazette notice of Thursday, September 13, Uhuru returned the Bill to the National Assembly for further engagement which meant the hiked fuel prices would remain unaltered despite an order by the High Court in Bungoma to suspend the levy.

"Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 29(3) of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, it is notified for the information of the Members of the National Assembly and the general public that special sittings of the Assembly shall be held in the National Assembly Chamber in the Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi on Tuesday, September 18 commencing at 2.30pm and Thursday, September 20 at 9.30am," read part of the notice to Parliament.

The notice indicated the president would on the above stated dates give his reservations to the Finance Bill 2018.

The 16% Value Added Tax on fuel which came to effect on Saturday, September 1 resulted to high cost of super petrol with a litre retailing at historical high of KSh 127 per litre. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Meet 17-year-old personal shopper who rakes in millions kitting out Premier League stars

Uhuru who traveled to China on Friday, August 31, just a day before the fuel levy was effected, had shied away from the discussion on Thursday, September 13, when he first addressed the public during the commissioning of police reforms.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had in 2013 advised Kenya to consider implementing 16% levy on petroleum products to help raise more revenue and reduce dependency on foreign borrowing.

Parliament through Financial Bill of 2013 adopted IMF's recommendations but suspended the implementation of the tax for three years to 2016 and two more years to Saturday, September 1, 2018 to cushion the public which was choking from high cost of living.

Kenyans expressed anger over President Uhuru Kenyatta's move. Photo: TUKO.co.ke.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Chebukati insists Chiloba still unwanted at IEBC after PA is arrested sneaking out documents

In a move to resonate with voices of the citizens, Parliament hurriedly and unanimously drafted an amended Financial Bill 2018 which directed the levy implementation to be postponed to 2020 but Uhuru thwarted the effort by rejecting the Bill and sending it back.

The president's decision was a fulfillment of Gatundu MP Moses Kuria's prediction that he would reject the Bill because Jubilee government needed to generate funds to facilitate its Big Four Agenda.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior who was among Kenyans appalled by Uhuru's move said only Parliament's rare majority would save the public when the Bill would be reviewed.

Uhuru is set to address the nation on Friday, September 13, over his reservations on the matter.

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
- The soldiers were arrested in Nanyuki town by police officers following a tip-off

- They were illegally transporting ammunition from Nairobi to Isiolo

- Military officers will search the officers' houses to determine if they are linked to terrorism

- Their arrest came weeks after two other people were arrested in separate incidents for allegedly being linked to terrorism

Two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers of the rank of senior private were on Thursday, September 13, arrested while illegally transporting ammunition from Nairobi to Isiolo.

The pair was arrested with while ferrying the bullets in a Toyota Probox vehicle in Nanyuki town by police officers following a tip-off.

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READ ALSO: Are Chinese armoured vehicles death traps for Kenyan soldiers? What TUKO.co.ke knows

Two KDF soldies of the rank of senior private, were arrested while illegally transporting ammunition from Nairobi to Isiolo.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Morning fire razes dormitory at Senior Chief Koinange Girls, 150 students affected

Their arrest was confirmed by Laikipia East OCPD Kizito Mutoro who said the they were found with 750 special rounds of ammunition used in AK-47 rifles, the Standard reported.

We got information the soldiers were boarding a Probox car to Isiolo and upon searching, we found a heavy container with the weapons. We first suspected the container had explosives, said Mutoro.

He also said the officers had been taken to Nanyuki Police Station and later on handed over to military police

READ ALSO: 5 KDF soldiers killed in IED attack in Lamu

We convened a meeting involving the military police and concluded that the KDF should take over the matter, said the police boss.

It was agreed during the meeting that military police accompanied by the OCPD, search the suspects' houses.

The two would be handed over to the anti-terror unit if found to have links with al-Shabaab or al-Qaeda terror groups.

READ ALSO: Six charged with plotting to bomb Milimani court, Jogoo House

The incident came barely two weeks after two men were arrested in separate incidents and handed over to Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) for allegedly having links with al-Shabaab.

One man was arrested in Nanyuki town after he allegedly conducted a religious crusade with the intention of radicalising residents and the other in Majengo slums within the same town for allegedly being recruited into al-Shabaab.

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Kenyan Breaking News
- NSSF said the link leads to a parody site which replicates the NSSF official colours

- Users are asked to click on the link to enable them access KSh 161,500 from NSSF

- The fund asked users to delete the message immediately they received it on any social media platform to avoid exposing others to the scam

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has issued a warning regarding an online scam that could potentially lead to fraudsters stealing users' identity

According to the fund, a message has been doing rounds online asking users to click on a link to access KSh 161,500 from NSSF.

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READ ALSO: Kenya Airways finally gets the green light to fly direct US flights

NSSF warns Kenyans about online scam aimed at stealing users' identity

Source: Depositphotos

READ ALSO: Family of murdered university student rejects condolences from Migori governor

"Our attention is drawn to some information circulating online titled Nssf Kenya: Funds Available. We would like to clarify that this post is a scam that should to be ignored, cautioned the social fund.

The NSSF has since asked users to delete the messages immediately they receive it on any social media platform to avoid exposing others to the online identity theft.

READ ALSO: Two KDF soldiers arrested over alleged links to terrorism

In this regard, we request that once you receive it, please delete it without either forwarding or attempting to follow the said link, this may expose you and your group member to online identity theft. In the meantime, our technical team is working on pulling down the link," it added.

The link leads to a parody site which replicates the NSSF official colours and after a sequence of questions, one is asked to share the link with as many Whatsapp contacts as possible

READ ALSO: Uhuru rejects Finance Bill 2018. 16% fuel levy here to stay

Those who worked between the 1990 and 2018, are eligible for withdrawal of KES161,500 from NSSF Kenya. Check if your name is on the list of those persons who are eligible to withdraw these funds," read the message.

The warning came amid reports by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti that the fight against cyber crime was facing a number of challenges.

READ ALSO: Murdered University student forwarded intimate chats with Governor Obado to his wife

Prior reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated Kinoti attributed the challenges to criminals having come up with sophisticated avenues to defraud innocent Kenyans.

A number of suspects including Safaricom employees and foreigners have since been arrested in connection with various online scams and SIM swap fraud.

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
- Uhuru rejected the Bill postponing effecting of 16% fuel levy to 2020

- Kuria lauded Uhuru saying the move was a gain for those who stayed away from politicking over the new levy

- The MP said the president's decision would help government make progress on raising funds for its affordable housing priority among the Big Four Agenda

- Kuria who is Uhuru's MP had predicted the president would not suspend the fuel levy

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has lauded a move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject amended Financial Bill of 2018 which was expected to postpone introduction of 16% fuel levy to 2020, saying it was a victory for "sober" politicians.

Uhuru on Thursday, September 13, rejected the Bill and sent it back to the National Assembly for further deliberations by legislators and the public on Tuesday, September 18, and Thursday, September 20.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru rejects Finance Bill 2018, 16% fuel levy here to stay

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta's move to reject amended Financial Bill 2018 which would suspend effecting 16% fuel levy. Photo

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhuru avoids talk on 16% fuel levy in first public appearance since return from China

In Kuria's tweet seen by TUKO.co.ke, the legislator who represents Uhuru's constituency in the National Assembly said it was wise for the president to send the Bill back for further assessment saying it was a gain for those who did not politicise the taxation move.

"Let me take this opportunity to thank the President for returning the Finance Bill. Under the din of political noise, it is a win for those of us who remained sober throughout," said the vocal MP.

According to Kuria, Uhuru's move which went against many politicians' and public expectations was good for national development as it would offer a platform to discuss and agree how to raise funds for Jubilee's Big Four Agenda.

Moses Kuria told off MPs that had protested against the implementation of the Bill in 2018 after two postponements in five years, terming them irrational and unpatriotic. Photo: Moses Kuria/Twitter.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Family of murdered university student rejects condolences from Migori governor

"Now we will relook at both fuel Value Added Tax and employer-employee 1.5% Housing Fund contribution for the Big Four Agenda," added Kuria.

The MP had on Tuesday, September 11, told off MPs and Kenyans protesting against the new levy on petroleum products saying they were unpatriotic and irrational, saying the government needed to raise funds to fulfill development projects.

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
- Parliament had passed the Bill delaying the levy for two years amid fears of high cost of living

- The 16% levy on fuel came into effect on September 1, pushing the price of fuel to historically high levels

- It was hoped President Uhuru would sign the Bill into law and save Kenyans from effects of high fuel prices but he declined

- But the president send the bill back to Parliament for further engagement by legislators and the public

- He has since suggested MPs amend the Bill to half the 16% VAT levy with aim of saving Kenyans from high taxes

- The High Court in Bungoma recently issued an order suspending implementation of the levy

President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked MPs to amend the Finance Bill 2018 by reducing the proposed 16% VAT levy on fuel by half so us to ease its devastating effects on the economy.

Addressing the nation on Friday, September 14, a day after rejecting to sign the bill which was meant to delay implementation of the fuel levy until 2020, Uhuru appeared to justify the need for higher taxation in the country.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru rejects Finance Bill 2018, 16% fuel levy here to stay

President Uhuru Kenyatta has proposed for a 50% slash on the 16% Value Added Tax to bring it down to 8%. He rejected Bill to postpone implementation of the fuel levy. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Twitter.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: MP Simba Arati say MPs will compel Uhuru to sign bill delaying 16% fuel levy

This followed public outcry over high fuel prices after implementation of the 16% levy on all petroleum products.

"I have proposed the VAT levy on fuel and petroleum products from 16% to 8%. This will ensure that the price of petrol drops from KSh 127 in Nairobi to KSh 118," said Uhuru.

The president also proposed wide-ranging cuts on government spending in hospitality, foreign and domestic travel among other things in what was viewed as a way to eliminate wastage and optimise available revenue.

The implementation of 16% fuel levy on Saturday, September 1, led to increased prices of fuel and bus fare. Photo: Edwwin Ochieng/TUKO.co.ke.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Two KDF soldiers arrested over alleged links to terrorism

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had in 2013 advised Kenya to consider implementing 16% levy on petroleum products to help raise more revenue and reduce dependency on foreign borrowing.

Parliament through Finance Bill of 2013 adopted IMF's recommendations but suspended the implementation of the tax for three years to 2016 and two more years to Saturday, September 1, 2018 to cushion the public which was choking from high cost of living.

It's implementation from September 1, resulted in public outcry as the ripple effect of high fuel prices reverberated across all sectors of the economy.

Transport costs went up while manufacturers threatened to increases prices of goods owing to higher production costs in a move that would be felt by each and every Kenyan.

The National Assembly had amended Financial Bill 2018 to postpone effecting of 16% fuel levy to 2020. They had twice pushed forward the tax implementation in 2013 and 2016. Photo: Parliament/Kenya.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Family of murdered university student rejects condolences from Migori governor

In a move to resonate with voices of the citizens again, Parliament hurriedly and unanimously drafted an amended Financial Bill 2018 which directed the levy implementation to be postponed to 2020 but Uhuru wants the levy halved before he signs it into law.

In his speech on September 14, however, the Head of State emphasised on the need for Kenyans to bear with a higher taxation regime due to a huge wage bill coupled with need to finance various development projects.

"I assure Kenyans that their taxes will be used well. I have increased funding to Judiciary, DPP and other investigative agencies tasked with dealing with corruption," he said.

It remains to be seen whether or not MPs will heed to Uhuru's proposal and thus effect the tough balancing act of sufficient revenue collection and ensuring affordable living cost for all Kenyans.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: TUKO News

Source: Tuko
A Kenyan man has taken to social media to declare his love for TV star Victoria Rubadiri asking to win her heart.

Collins Muruka, who appears to be in his early twenties, intelligently matched his photo together with the Citizen TV's news anchor, describing how much he was in love with her.

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READ ALSO: Victoria Rubadiri Husband

Collins intelligently matched his photo together with the Citizen TV's news anchor describing how much he is in love with her. Photo: Facebook / Collins Muruka

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: NTVs Victoria Rubadiri Issues stern warning

In his Facebook post in Group Kenya seen by TUKO.co.ke, Muruka called on Rubadiri to listen to his request for her love.

"Angel, you are my perfect match, the way you dress, how you present news and your jokes are amazing, I was a big fun of NTV but sooner you left than I followed you to Citizen, the way your lips move, the smile you give to the cameras are incredible swee," said Muruka.

"Vic, one thing am sure of is you can't be single, but I don't care who is after,(you), how rich and wealthy they are, I want to give you true love, the only thing I have is my KSCE certificate, I will never cheat on you, I will never let you cry," he added.

Kenyan man opens up about his love for Tv star Victoria Rubadiri. Photo: Facebook / Collins Muruka

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Victoria Rubadiri daughter name, age, photos & profile

The TV star joined Citizen recently in a massive exit from his former station at NTV which lost several of its top reporters and news anchors.

Rubadiri is the most eligible single lady in town but she has managed to keep her love life under wraps, and no one knows if shes dating or not.

The 31-year-old once suffered a heartbreak after she discovered she was pregnant and the man in her life did not want to hear of it.

Victoria Rubadiri is currently working at Citizen TV as a news anchor. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Victoria Rubadiri: Biography of a Single Mother, Who Managed to Become a Star

Although he later came around, she decided just to do away with the relationship as she had more things to focus on especially raising her daughter and completing her studies.

Pastor Rubadiri's daughter, however, does maintain a good relationship with her baby daddy for the sake of their daughter and she remains aloof about them getting back together.

Since then, Vicky has been careful not to expose any of her relationships to the world.

Bet she is seeing someone but in silence.

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Chef Rachel's Good Breakfast Recipe on Tuko Bites - How to Cook Nourishing Breakfast Tuko Lifestyle

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- A primary school pupil witnessed the Mugumo tree fall while he was going to school

- The same pupil also witnessed it rising up and making strange noises

- Kikuyu and Kalenjin elders were set to meet and decipher the message being relayed

- The bizarre incident elicited mixed reactions from locals with politics being dragged in

Residents of Yamumbi and Lemok villages in Uasin Gishu County have attributed the fall and rise of a Mugumo tree to the 2022 succession politics.

The residents claimed the tree which is next to a small stream and located on the Kalenjin side of the rivulet fell on the Kikuyu side before it 'rose up' again.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru wants MPs to lower 16% fuel levy by half amid cries from Kenyans

Fabian Kiptanui, a Standard Five pupil at Mwiruti Primary School who witnessed the occurrence narrates to the media. Photo: Thaddeus Asesa.

Source: Original

Yamumbi is dominantly occupied by members of the Kikuyu community while Lemok is occupied by Kalenjins.

The tree fell some three weeks ago before residents started cutting it into pieces.

TUKO.co.ke understands the residents were however shocked after the tree 'rose up' again and continued to sprout.

"I personally relate this to the 2022 succession politics because there is no way the Mugumo tree can fall to one side then rise up again. We need an interpretation from our elders," said Paul Martim, a resident.

Fabian Kiptanui, a Standard Five pupil at Mwiruti Primary School, who witnessed the occurrence while on his way to school in the morning said he had never witnessed such an occurrence in his entire life.

READ ALSO: CJ Maraga mourns sudden death of top judge through tragic road accident in Nyeri

Locals round the mugumo tree that has left them shocked. Photo: Thaddeus Asesa.

Source: Original

"I was the one who witnessed this tree fall down and rise up again. I am still shocked because I have never witnessed such a thing in my life," said Fabian who added that he was afraid to report the incident as he could have been late for school.

TUKO.co.ke learnt that what was more shocking was that the tree even changed the course of River Lemok.

"As you can see, the tree has even changed the course of the river meaning that there is a lot of things likely to change in the country's political landscape ahead of the 2022 General Election. Our leaders should start reading these signs," said Peter Gacheru, another resident.

Elders from the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities were set to hold an urgent meeting to deliberate over the matter.

READ ALSO: Kenya will suffer an economic meltdown if VAT is not charged on fuel - Farah Maalim

Elders from the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities are set to hold an urgent meeting to deliberate over the matter. Photo: Thaddeus Asesa.

Source: Original

"We have already reached out to our brothers from the Kalenjin community and we want to sit down with a view of determining the cause of this incident and what it means to this country," said Mzee Kamunu Kabari, spokesperson of the Kikuyu community.

The new development came at a time Kalenjin elders have been on record demanding that President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kikuyu) supports his Deputy William Ruto (Kalenjin) in 2022.

As previously reported by TUKO.co.ke, some politicians from Mt Kenya region openly ruled out chances of automatically supporting Ruto in 2022.

The smooth relationship between Raila Odinga and Uhuru has further irked Ruto's camp.

Story by Thaddeus Asesa, Correspondent.

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Raila Odinga: Kenya's Fuel Crisis Will Not Occur | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- The soldiers patrolled the island with combat gear and ammunition bringing businesses to a standstill

- They warned Kenyans never to raise their flag in the island after they pulled it down

- The rocky island has been a source of dispute between Kenya and Uganda for over a decade

- Kenyan fishermen have repeatedly been harassed and arrested by the Ugandan authorities

- Matiang'i warned Kenya would take radical action after diplomatic talks failed

Fear has engulfed Kenyans at the fish-rich Migingo Island in Lake Victoria after Ugandan soldiers dressed in combat gear shot in the air forcing the fishermen and traders to take cover in their houses.

As if preparing for a major war, on Thursday, September 13, Uganda Special Forces emptied their armoury and heavily armed themselves with guns and ammunition across their chests and patrolled the island bringing businesses to standstill.

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READ ALSO: Uganda pulls down Kenya's flag on Migingo Island after Matiang'i's stern warning

The hotly contested fish-rich Migingo Island in Lake Victoria has been a thorny issue between Uganda and Kenya governments. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Diplomacy has failed, no more negotiation with Uganda over Migingo - Matiang'i

In a report by the Daily Nation, the officers reacted after they heard Kenyan soldiers were planning to hoist their flag from the disputed island.

"There are gunshots everywhere. The Ugandans heard that Kenya was sending in their security today, which turned out to be false as we haven't seen them here," said John Obunge, leader of the Migingo Beach Management Unit.

The soldiers aimlessly shot in the air wasting their ammunition and bullets a day after they pulled down a Kenyan flag from the island issuing a stern warning to the residents never to try raise it again.

READ ALSO: Kenyan police manning disputed Migingo island chased like stray dogs by Ugandan counterparts

The Kenyan police did not react after the Ugandan soldiers removed the flag and therefore avoided a major confrontation between the two sides.

The local fishermen who were present at the island accused the Ugandan security officers of being disrespectful to Kenya.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i warned Uganda against harassing Kenyan citizens and police deployed to man the island. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Uhuru sends strong message to Yoweri Museveni over the disputed Migingo Island

The latest incident came barely a month after Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, warned Uganda against harassing Kenyan citizens and police deployed to man the island.

Matiang'i announced the government had worked on a comprehensive plan to stop external aggression along Lake Victoria.

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Breaking News Kenya: Raila Odinga: Kenya's Fuel Crisis Will Not Occur | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Breaking News
- Duale said Uhuru was wise to reject Bill suspending fuel levy, refer it back to Parliament but proposed the tax be reduced to 8%

- The vocal MP said increasing tax rates and introducing new levies was painful but necessary

- MP Simba Arati had opposed Uhuru's proposal saying they would return rejected Bill as it was

National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale has rekindled a flame of hope in Kenyans' hearts by hinting MPs could settle for 8% fuel levy implementation proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Uhuru had on Thursday, September 3, rejected a Bill to postpone implementation of 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products referring it back to Parliament, later proposing the taxation rate be toned down to 8% on Friday, September 14.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru rejects Finance Bill 2018, 16% fuel levy here to stay

National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale said Parliament would reciprocate the president's gesture of referring Bill to Parliament by approving his 50% reduction. Photo: Aden Duale/Facebook.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhurus rejection of Financial Bill is win for those of us who remained sober - Moses Kuria

Speaking to journalists on Friday, September 14, shortly after Uhuru's 50% slash on current 16% VAT, Duale said all legislators initially involved in the passing of the Bill would reciprocate Uhuru's good gesture by adopting his proposals.

"All individuals involved in this business will reciprocate the president's kind and wise gesture when we sit on Tuesday, September 18, and Thursday, September 20. Hopefully he will thereafter sign to law new amended VAT on petroleum products," Duale said.

His statement breathes realistic hope since his Jubilee party controls both legislative houses; Senate and National Assembly, putting them in an undisputed position to determine the outcome of the vote.

Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati of ODM had said the Opposition would mobilise support to have Bill postponing 16% levy implementation returned to president as it was. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: CJ Maraga mourns sudden death of top judge through tragic road accident in Nyeri

"By then, the president will have returned the memoranda about the Bill to Parliament giving specific reasons and justifications for referring it back. It is a painful decision that we must pay taxes which we should ensure is utilised on development only," he explained.

Orange Democratic MP Simba Arati of Dagoretti North had said he would marshal support in the House to ensure the Bill was returned to Uhuru as it was so that the levy would remain suspended until 2020.

Duale also said it was not clear which departments and projects would have their allocation cut down to stabilise the country's economic situation, explaining Treasury CS Henry Rotich would present the proposals through Supplementary Appropriations Estimates Bill to guide procedure.

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Breaking News
My son is a childhood cancer survivor and I wanted to be able to help others like us, to provide them hope and let them know they arent alone, she said. I am able to help parents going through a similar situation. When we tell a new family, we know how youre feeling and have been there, we truly mean it.
Nairobi could no longer be the city in the sun but a city under the gun if a trending CCTV footage showing broad daylight robbery of a motorist is anything to go by.

From the footage of Friday, September 7, at 1pm captured in a street yet to be identified , it would be correct for one to deduce that motorbike boda boda riders are notorious abetters of crime.

READ ALSO: Chilling daylight robbery narration that every Nairobian must read

READ ALSO: Fearless Murang'a gangsters snatch KSh 400,000 from businessman in broad daylight

A shocking aspect of the incident was not how the two robbers; one armed with a gun, another with a hammer violently pounced on the unsuspecting man seated in parked car waiting for the gate to be opened, but how everyone else turned a blind eye to his plight.

It was a moment of everyone for himself and God for us all as the two thugs stealthily narrowed down on their target from both sides of the car and win less than a minute opened terror.

The thug walking on the left side of the car removed a gun from his groin and tapped on the car window and the other immediately began smashing windows on the driver's side forcing the occupant out.

The robbery incident took place on Friday, September 7 at 1pm. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 4 suspects in Family Bank robbery arrested

The car occupant oblivious of the man on the right confronted the hammer wielding bandit but was bludgeoned on the head and fell down as the thug ran back towards the car.

With a courage only matching Palestinian teenagers confronting Israelites armed with guns, the victim rushed back and constrained the thug from jumping into his car or take his belongings.

All the while the gun wielding robber was trying to gain access to the vehicle but their target seemed too witty to handle.

READ ALSO: Jubilee MP asks Uhuru to fire Treasury CS Henry Rotich to save his legacy

They then hurriedly left and jumped onto waiting motorbikes and left to an unknown place.

Despite the victim's effort to save his life and property, it was sad every other person around never gave a helping hand even after the cruel robbers had left.

For the victim, Martin Luther King's famous quote, 'In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends', became alive.

Nairobians went about their business as if nothing had happened or maybe were too burdened by heavy taxation which had made life unbearable and everyone had Kupambana na Hali yake (carry their own cross".

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Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
The crimes and sins of priest perpetrators and the bishops who covered up their wrongdoing continue to cast horrible shadows of pain, suffering and distrust both in the lives which have been shattered by the abuse as well as all members in the church, said Bishop Donald Hying, in an August statement. We pray that this painful process of shedding light on these horrible crimes will produce greater accountability, transparency and vigilance in all levels of the church.
The United States opposes the implementation of Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project as it threatens the energy security of Europe.

"We oppose the implementation of Nord Stream 2, which will concentrate the two-thirds of Russian gas supplies in one pipeline and hence create a vulnerability area [in Europe's energy security] if something goes wrong," U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said at the meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow, RIA Novosti reports.

He added that Washington understood "the desire of European market participants to reduce the dependence on a single supplier."

Nord Stream 2 is a gas pipeline project which aims to carry more Russian natural gas under the Baltic Sea direct to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland. Russian gas monopoly Gazprom owns 51% of the projects shares. Russia wants to build two strings of the gas pipeline.

Starting from late 2019, Nord Stream 2 gas transport corridor is expected to transport about 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

The project opponents, including Poland, the Baltic countries, Ukraine, Moldova, the United States and Denmark, argue that Nord Stream 2 will increase the EU's dependence on Gazprom.

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In the first half of 2018, the capital investments in Ukraine grew by 26.5%.

"Large foreign investors believe in the prospects of our country. They create jobs despite the fact that the war with Russia is still ongoing. In the first half of this year, the capital investments grew by exorbitant 26.5%," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said at the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The Head of State reminded about the launch of several major investment projects in September, namely, the Norways investments in the renewable energy in southern Ukraine to the tune of almost half a billion dollars and the investments of Saudi Arabia in the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex.

"I have no right to reveal the sum, but I can say this is the largest investment contract in the agricultural sector in the history of independent Ukraine," the President stressed.

In addition, a German company invested two hundred million dollars in its factory that had been opened recently in Zhytomyr region, Poroshenko noted.

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The driver of the Camaro did not stop and fled south on County Road 475 W, east on U.S. 30 and north on County Road 250 W where officers deployed spike strips and deflated two of the tires on the Camaro, Biggs said.
"We feel support. The implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement objectives is extremely important. We continue to introduce structural changes that also allow us approaching the EU standards," Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said at the meeting with European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, the Government portal reports.

As the Head of Government stressed, Ukraine views the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as a key reference point for changes in the country and continues carrying out the reforms that will make it possible to approach the EU standards in all spheres of life.

"I am glad to be in Kyiv and discuss our joint work, our steps to deepen cooperation. Today, we sign the agreement [on macro-financial assistance] and I would like to emphasize that Ukraine shows great progress on the path of reforms," Valdis Dombrovskis said.

The parties stressed that the macro-financial assistance program is a component of the cooperation policy. "We are happy with the growth of trade with the EU. We are open to investment and notice the interest in Ukraine. We aim to secure proper investment climate and business environment to make each investment safe and successful," Groysman added.
The priority areas of Ukraine-Portugal cooperation are production sector, information technology, tourism and green energy.

"Last December, the Ukraine-Portugal Economic Cooperation Agreement was signed. It was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on September 6. It is a strategic document that will deepen the opportunities for cooperation between our countries in many directions. To take the first practical steps, the action plan for the implementation of the agreement until 2020 was elaborated. We see the production sector, especially the aerospace direction, IT, tourism and green energy as the priority areas of cooperation," First Vice Prime Minister and Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv said at the meeting with Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Cabral, the press service of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine reports.

First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine also noted the obvious mutual interest of Ukrainian and Portuguese entrepreneurs. During the business forum, they immediately discussed the possibility of introduction of joint projects, in particular in the field of agrarian and food industry, wine production and viticulture, infrastructure, transport and construction, energy efficiency, tourism, IT and innovation in healthcare.

Kubiv stressed the important role of the Ukrainian community in Portugal in strengthening bilateral relations between the countries.

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IT sector ranks third in Ukraine's export structure following agro-industrial complex and metallurgical industry.

"The IT sector accounts for 3% of GDP. It ranks third in the structure of our exports following the agro-industrial complex and the metallurgical industry," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said at the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As the President noted, a new industry is emerging at the intersection of agro-industrial complex and IT - agritech.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has praised the growing professionalism and skills of rescuers and noted a significant reduction in the number of emergencies in recent years despite the intensification of the terrorist activity of the Russian aggressor.

The head of state said this during an event to mark the Ukrainian Rescuer Day at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv on Thursday, the press service of the head of state reported.

"I want to emphasize that this [reduction in the number of emergencies] occurs during the war, during the intensification of the terrorist activity of the aggressor state. This is more evidence that the country is changing and the emergency service is changing," Poroshenko said.

The head of state expressed his sincere gratitude to the staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for the saved lives of Ukrainians and contribution to ensuring national security.

Earlier reports said that 21 Ukrainian rescuers had been killed and 38 others injured since the beginning of Russian aggression in the Donbas in 2014.

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A co-chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, German MEP Rebecca Harms will make on a working visit to Ukraine from September 15 to September 20, the office of the German deputy has told an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Rebecca Harms will be in Ukraine with an official delegation of the European Parliament to participate in the 8th Parliamentary Association summit, which will be held in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv," the deputy's office said.

The program of work of the delegation will focus on the promotion and results of reforms in the area of decentralization, the fight against corruption and the economic situation in the region. MEPs and Ukrainian deputies will meet with local and regional authorities in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as local entrepreneurs, minority representatives, and civil society activists.

Harms also intends to meet with environmentalists in the Carpathian region to discuss the Lviv environmental project.

In Kyiv, Harms plans to meet with President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

On Thursday, September 20, Harms will take part in the 2nd public conference on the reform of the anti-corruption struggle in Ukraine, which will take place in the Verkhovna Rada.

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The NATO member countries support Ukraine's aspirations for membership in the Alliance.

NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Alejandro Alvargonzalez, made the relevant statement at the meeting of the Commission for the Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration, which was held with the participation of Ukraines Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the Government portal reports.

Alvargonzalez noted that the allies recognized Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership as its national position, and "NATO cannot be indifferent to this."

He added the importance of reforms and annual national programmes as a tool for managing the process of Euro-Atlantic integration.

As Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted, Ukraine seeks to join the Alliance and carries out the necessary reforms, although the Ukraine-NATO Commission meeting is blocked at the political level. Hungary's unyielding position prevents the Commission from playing a pivotal role in deepening political dialogue and expanding practical cooperation between Ukraine and the Alliance. Therefore, the Ukraine-NATO Commission meetings at the ministerial level should be resumed, the Ukraines Vice Prime Minister underscored.

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The European Union, as a historical project, can be completed only with Ukraine, since the country's northeastern border is the border of modern European civilization.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said this at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) in Kyiv on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Ukraine is an EU optimistic country with a unique belief in Europe. As for the European Union, I want to emphasize that this grandiose project can be accomplished and completed only with Ukraine since it is not the Urals, but our northeastern border that is the border of modern European civilization. The Ukrainian border, not the Urals," the head of state said.

In this context, he recalled events in Russia last Sunday, when the police "beat children all over the country" and the leader of a parliamentary faction beat the protesters.

"Profound political and cultural differences are also the reason why we have to finally separate with the empire, to finally come out of the sphere of Russian influence," Poroshenko said.

He stated that in this historical process Ukraine lags behind its neighbors and has not yet fully and completely eliminated its post-colonial status.

"The final victory in this struggle will be our accession to the European Union and NATO. I am not a romantic and clearly understand that this goal is not yet close, and it would be a big mistake to call the date for its achievement. The war and resistance of the old regime forces made time adjustments in our strategy, but I want to emphasize that they did not affect its content," he said.

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Ukraine is a unitary state, and no foreign country will decide on its state system, President Petro Poroshenko has said.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the head of state said this at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES) in Kyiv on Friday.

"Ukraine is a unitary state and will never accept external pressure aimed at changing the structure of our country. Neither Russia, nor Moscow, nor Brussels, nor Washington will decide what Ukraine should be like. This is a sovereign right of Ukrainian citizens," Poroshenko said.

He also said that in Minsk, when the agreements were signed in 2015, there was no talk of either political autonomy or federalization of Ukraine.

At the same time, the head of state said that Ukraine was ready to hold local elections in the Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions only if security conditions are implemented.

"We have been waiting for four years when they will be implemented by Russia, but no step, even the smallest one, has been taken [by Russia] to implement the Minsk agreements. Even more so, now new talks are being held on fake elections in the occupied territories," he said.

In his opinion, the only thing that can stop such an attitude from Russia is the decision of the UN Security Council on the deployment of peacekeepers.

According to the president, the next day after UN peacekeepers arrive in Donbas, Russia withdraws its army, and illegal gangs are disarmed, Ukraine will be ready to launch the political process.

On September 11, militants in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions scheduled "elections" for November 11.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stressed that the intentions of the Russian occupation administration to hold so-called extraordinary elections in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donbas grossly violate Russia's obligations as a party to the Minsk agreements.

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NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Alejandro Alvargonzalez, believes that Ukraine will gain full membership in the Alliance, although acknowledges that the countrys path wont be easy.

"As for Ukraine, a compromise was reached at the 2008 Bucharest summit, which was confirmed this year in Brussels, and Ukraine was recognized as an aspirant country. It will be difficult [for Ukraine] to gain full membership in the Alliance, but we all hope this will become a reality," Alvargonzalez said at the 15th Annual Meeting of Yalta European Strategy (YES), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

NATO should help Ukraine achieve this goal, and the Alliance provides assistance in the implementation of important reforms that make Ukraine stronger in the face of present-day challenges, the NATO's Assistant Secretary General noted.

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They also discussed energy security, in particular, in the context of Nord Stream 2.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker have met in Kyiv to discuss the situation in Donbas and the importance of extending sanctions against Russia.

Read alsoVolker calls announced "elections" in Donbas illegitimate

"The parties discussed the situation in Donbas. During the meeting, they emphasized the importance of extending sanctions policy against Russia until the end of occupation of Ukrainian territory," the president's press service said.

Poroshenko thanked for strengthening the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and emphasized the importance of continuing close cooperation in the field of security and defense.

The parties also discussed energy security, in particular, in the context of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

"Discussed with Poroshenko our joint efforts to bring #peace4Ukraine & keep pressure on Russia to implement Minsk agreements/respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Tough circumstances, but we are working together closely," Volker wrote on Twitter on September 14, 2018.
I am a combat disabled veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from my service in Vietnam, and Beau is learning how to help me with emotional support, said Galambos, of Griffith, who served in the U.S. Marines from 1965 to 1967. For instance, when I get upset, he senses it and jumps on my lap. On the Fourth of July, with all the fireworks going off, he gave me peace of mind. It meant the world to me.
The State Border Guard Service is now building up the force.

Head of the Ukrainian Border Guard Service Petro Tsyhykal has said about 270 members of the special forces will be sent to serve in the units deployed at the Azov and Black Seas.

Read alsoUkraine to equip coastal defense units in Sea of Azov with latest weapons

"We are intensifying our efforts on naval special forces, and this is about 270 troops who will serve in the units at the Azov and Black Seas," he said, as reported by the agency's press service.

According to him, the State Border Guard Service is now developing in two areas: the first one is law enforcement, and the second one is an increase in its capabilities and reserves.

"We must understand the aggressor does not sleep, it is increasing its efforts, and we must give a worthy rebuff in case of any force majeure circumstances," Tsyhykal said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Serhiy Popko said Ukraine had bolstered its military presence along the coast of the Sea of Azov due to aggressive actions of the Russian Federation.
The Ukrainian Embassy urged all citizens and representatives of all branches of power and political parties of the Republic of Bulgaria to refrain from visiting occupied Crimea, as well as contacts with the illegal occupation authorities of the peninsula.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Bulgaria condemned the illegal visit of several Bulgarian politicians and journalists to occupied Crimea to attend a Week of Bulgarian Culture held on September 7-11.

This was stated in a statement by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria, published on its Facebook page, Novinite news agency reported.

Read alsoNew Ukrainian ambassador begins diplomatic mission in Bulgaria  media

"The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria categorically condemns the illegal visit to the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the representatives of the Ataka Party and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), as well as some journalists and public figures. The Russian occupation authorities cynically use ethnic Bulgarians in Crimea and their historical ties with their homeland to carry out a hybrid campaign aimed at legitimizing the occupation of the peninsula. The proof of this is the holding of the Bulgarian Culture Week in occupied Crimea on September 7-11, which the delegation from the Republic of Bulgaria visited," the report reads.

The embassy reminded that according to the Ukrainian legislation, entry and exit of foreigners to the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea are allowed only by special permission of the competent authorities of Ukraine through checkpoints of entry and exit, and administrative and criminal liability is provided for violation of the established procedure.

The Ukrainian Embassy urged all citizens and representatives of all branches of power and political parties of the Republic of Bulgaria to refrain from visiting occupied Crimea, as well as contacts with the illegal occupation authorities of the peninsula.
The head of state stressed that the Ukrainian people will independently choose the state system of their country.

The pressure on the part of Russia will not force Ukraine to agree to change the country's political system to establish federalization or political autonomy, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told a Kyiv conference Friday.

Poroshenko said he "remembers well" the night of February 12, 2015, when 19-hour negotiations were held to agree on the new Minsk deal, which resulted in the signing by the Tripartite Contact Group of the Set of Measures to Implement the Minsk Agreements, an UNIAN correspondent reports.

The president said that the second Minsk agreements clearly indicated obligations of each party to resolve the armed conflict in Donbas.

Read alsoPoroshenko, Volker discuss situation in Donbas, sanctions policy against Russia

"Russia must withdraw all its troops from the occupied Ukraine. Russia must withdraw all tanks and artillery systems, all heavy weapons, and disarm all illegal armed formations. Russia must create security preconditions in order to start a political process," Poroshenko stressed.

"Incidentally, we never talked about political autonomy. We never talked about federalization, as some are trying to imagine. No, Ukraine is a unitary state, and it will never agree to foreign pressure to change the structure of our country," the president said.

In this regard, he stressed: "It is not in Russia, not in Moscow, and also not in Brussels or Washington, where a decision will be taken on what Ukraine will be like. This is the sovereign right of the Ukrainian people."
Russian Patriarch Kirill will no longer pray for the health of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople amid the Ukraine row.

Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) Kirill will no longer recall Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, during the service, Russian media report, referring to the head of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

"The synod decided to suspend the commemoration of the Patriarch of Constantinople during services at the Russian Orthodox Church," said the Metropolitan.

In addition, the ROC ceases participation in all structures presided by representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

"Eucharistic communication between the churches is not being severed. This decision so far does not deprive the clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the ROC of the possibility to perform joint services," explained the spokesman of Patriarch Cyril, priest Alexander Volkov.

Read alsoRussian scholar: Ukrainian Church has right to independence

As reported earlier, Kirill on Friday convened an extraordinary meeting of the synod of the Russian Orthodox Church due to the arrival in Ukraine of the Exarchs of the Patriarch of Constantinople.

On August 31, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew informed the head of the ROC Kirill during the latter's visit to Istanbul that Constantinople intended to provide autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Filaret (Denysenko), is convinced that a united local church will be established in Ukraine before the end of this year.

The Russian Orthodox Church earlier threatened to break off relations with Orthodox Christianity's leading body - the Patriarchate of Constantinople - if it endorses the new self-governing, or autocephalous, Ukrainian Church.

The ROC believes that Constantinople's moves are "sneaky and treacherous" with regard to Moscow's position on the Ukraine issue
Seven cases were recorded when victims were ill-treated and sometimes tortured as punishment or way to extort "confessions."

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented 81 cases involving credible allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Russian-occupied Crimea.

"During the reporting period, OHCHR documented 81 cases involving credible allegations of human rights violations and abuses, which affected 167 victims, including 34 women and 72 members of national minorities. Of the 81 documented cases, 62 occurred during the reporting period," OHCHR said in a report on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, from September 13, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

Read alsoRussia brings criminal charges against Crimean Tatar human rights activist over Facebook repost  KHPG

"According to information collected by OHCHR, due process and fair trial rights of 94 individuals were violated by state agents of the Russian Federation in Crimea, including judges, prosecutors, investigators, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation ('FSB') and police. Several convictions sanctioned political dissent and appeared to be designed to serve as warnings to others."

"Among documented cases, 19 arbitrary arrests and detentions and four enforced disappearances occurred during the reporting period. In addition, in 11 cases of enforced disappearances, which occurred prior to the reporting period, the victims are still missing as of June 30, 2018," reads the report.

Seven cases were recorded when victims were ill-treated and sometimes tortured as punishment or way to extort "confessions."

"During the reporting period, OHCHR verified 13 cases where Ukrainian citizens detained in Crimea were transferred to the Russian Federation to stand trial or serve a sentence. The actual number is believed to be much higher, since Russian Federation authorities do not publicly report on the number of such transfers. 84 OHCHR continued," the report says.
Less than 20% of Ukrainians are eager to take to the streets to defend civil rights and freedoms.

The increase in utility tariffs could become the main driver for possible protests in Ukraine, according to the head of Razumkov Center sociological center Andriy Bychenko, who presented the results of the latest survey in Kyiv Friday.

"Of those Ukrainians who are ready to take part in rallies or protest actions, 65% will protest against the increase of utility tariffs, while another 31.2% are ready to protest against unsatisfactory living conditions in their locality - a shortage of kindergartens, schools, medical institutions, poor road construction and repair, etc. Some 28.6% are ready to defend their labor rights and their right to pensions. Another 26.1% will participate in anti-corruption rallies. Less than 20% of Ukrainians are eager to take to the streets to defend civil rights and freedoms and objective investigations, to stand against election fraud, illegal construction, layoffs as a result of the closure of enterprises, etc.," Bychenko said, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

The expert added that Ukrainians living in the south of the country (80%) and the east (73%) mentioned more often the increase in utility tariffs, while those living in the west (55%) were less inclined to note it.

"At the same time, in western Ukraine, people talked more often about protests against corruption in government bodies (38%), while in the center this figure was at 23%, in the south  at 27%, and in the east  at 16%," the sociologist said.

Read alsoOnly 28% of IDPs ready to return to Donbas after war ends - poll

According to Bychenko, for respondents who are ready to participate in protest actions, the most acceptable forms would be taking part in campaigns (44%) and collecting/putting signatures under public appeals (40%). Participating in authorized meetings and demonstrations was the chosen form of protest for 35% or the polled, while only less than 10% of those ready to rally expressed readiness for violent forms of protest," added Bychenko.

The sociologist notes that all forms of protests are possible, but they are unlikely to develop into a protracted and large-scale action. "If the authorities do not resort to violence, all these protests will not grow to the scale of the third Maidan," he concluded.

The poll was conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation jointly with the Razumkov Center's sociological service in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, on August 16-22.

A total of 2,019 respondents were interviewed, aged over 17 years. The theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%.
The deal is expected to be announced in court Friday.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has tentatively agreed to a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller that will head off his upcoming trial.

The deal is expected to be announced in court Friday, but it remains unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors or is simply conceding to a guilty plea, which would allow him to avoid the stress and expense of trial, according to three sources with knowledge of the discussions, ABC News said.

Read alsoManafort associate charged over illegal lobbying for Ukraine's pro-Russian politicians

Manafort and his most senior defense attorneys spent more than four hours Thursday in discussions with a team of special prosecutors who are involved in the ongoing investigation into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

ABC News spotted the team arriving in a dark SUV Thursday morning, pulling into a secret entrance out of public view at the building where Special Counsel Robert Mueller is based.

Word of the agreement comes as Manafort's second trial was slated to begin later this month in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Just under a year ago, the 69-year-old veteran GOP operative was charged in Washington, D.C., with several counts of fraud and failing to register as a foreign agent by the special counsel. A second case was opened in Virginia earlier this year on related charges that ended with a jury finding Manafort guilty on eight counts out of an 18-count indictment, facing a maximum of 80 years behind the bars, though under sentencing guidelines the term is likely to be closer to seven years. He has not been sentenced in that case.

Manafort has been held in jail for the last several months after prosecutors accused him of witness tampering.

He joined the president's campaign in March 2016 and became campaign chairman in May, and left the campaign in August days after the New York Times and the Associated Press ran reports that he had been tied to alleged undisclosed foreign lobbying practices in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Manafort and a representative for the special counsel's office both declined to comment.
Vostok is a no doubt a major undertaking for Russia's armed forces  and a major geopolitical development, given the inclusion of Chinese forces for the first time  but there are a number of reasons to believe Moscow is overstating the forces it has mustered.

This week, Russia kicked off its Vostok-18 military exercises, drills that defense officials claim involve some 300,000 troops, 36,000 tanks, 1,000 aircraft, and scores of warships and have touted as "unprecedented in scale."

That's roughly a third of the entire Russia military, much of which would have to be moved to the far east to participate in these large-scale maneuvers, Business Insider wrote.

This year's version of the Vostok, or East, exercise is billed as the largest ever, topping the 1981 Zapad, or West, military exercise, which took place in the Baltic Sea area and Eastern Europe amid heightened tension with the U.S. after President Ronald Reagan took office.

Vostok is a no doubt a major undertaking for Russia's armed forces  and a major geopolitical development, given the inclusion of Chinese forces for the first time  but there are a number of reasons to believe Moscow is overstating the forces it has mustered.

Read alsoUkraine's intel: Russia uses Vostok war games to pull Uragans closer to Ukrainian border

The logistical challenges of moving that many personnel and their equipment cast doubt on the stated numbers.

The 300,000 troops Russian officials have said would participate would be roughly one-third of the country's military. Gathering such a force would be a considerable financial challenge in light of Russia's decreasing defense spending and its standing military commitments elsewhere, according to The Diplomat. By comparison, that force would represent roughly two-thirds of the much better funded and equipped active-duty U.S. Army.

A conservative estimate of the vehicles in the Central and Eastern military districts is around 7,000 to 10,000. Bringing in roughly 25,000 more vehicles would clog railways and highways, and shuttling in that many troops would likely overwhelm Russia's military logistics structure.

The size of the force involved is likely around 50,000 to 100,000, according to The Diplomat. Other estimates put it around 150,000  about the size of the Vostok-81 exercise  which is still very massive force.

Inflating the number of military personnel involved in such exercises is nothing new for Russia. And there appear to be a number of types of legerdemain through which Russian officials carry it out.

The stated total  297,000, to be precise  likely includes all units stationed in the Central and Eastern military districts, as well as those in the Northern and Eastern Fleets and in the airborne units that are taking part.

"For every battalion fielded they will likely count the entire brigade, and for a few regiments an entire division, etc.," writes Michael Kofman, a Russian military expert at CNA and the Wilson Center.

Many of those are involved may not ever venture into the field, instead remaining at command posts. (The U.S. has also counted geographically dispersed units as taking part in certain exercises, but typically at much smaller scales.)

Read alsoFive weapons to watch for as Russia, China launch war games

Participation may go beyond uniformed troops and include civilian reserves, Jeffrey Edmonds, a former Russia director for the National Security Council, told Voice of America.

Edmonds noted that other units, like those operating in western Russia, may be included in some tallies.

Moscow has also likely counted under-strength units at full strength and included units that have been alerted or are indirectly involved  like those that are taking over assignments from units that are redeploying to actually take part, according to The Diplomat.

The figures presented by Moscow for these kinds of exercises could be called "true lies," Kofman told Voice of America, "in that they're statistical lies whereby the Russian army's General Staff tallies every single unit-formation that either sends somebody to the exercise or has some tangential command component in it."

"So these numbers are not entirely fictional, but you have to divide them by a substantial amount to get any sense of how big the exercise actually is," Kofman added.

Such sleight of hand is not new  similar tactics were used during the Cold War  and using them now may also be meant to avoid adding to anger over reduced social spending and proposed hikes to pension-eligibility ages.

Russia faces economic and demographic challenges, and, as noted by Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert and fellow at the European University Institute, the government spends an outsize portion of its federal budget on security.

Overstating the number of forces involved also likely serves broader geopolitical purposes.

Over the past decade and a half, President Vladimir Putin has turned a weakened military into a capable force, but the Russian leader is aware that his country lags in objective measures of strength, Galeotti notes at The Atlantic.

"Instead, [Putin] relies on bluff and bluster, theater and shadow play," Galeotti writes. "He wants to project an image of a dangerous yet confident country, one that should be placated, not challenged."

China's inclusion may also indicate a shift in Moscow's thinking.

Previous iterations of the Vostok exercise were meant to send a message to Beijing, which Moscow long viewed as a rival. The relatively small Chinese contingent taking part this year has been interpreted as a message to the West that Russia is not isolated and could further embrace China.

Many doubt a formal military alliance between China and Russia is in the offing, instead seeing their cooperation on Vostok  they have carried out joint military exercises elsewhere  as an effort by both sides to balance against U.S. and by Russia to allay Chinese concerns about the target of the exercises.

"Maybe the announcements of how big it's going to be is a reaction to hostilities with the West, but the actual exercise itself is a pretty standard Russian military activity," Edmonds, now a research scientist at CNA, told Voice of America.
Most MEPs supported the introduction of sanctions against Hungary for gross violations of the principles of the European Union, paving the way to temporarily deprive Hungary of its voting rights in the EU Council. This is perhaps the most painful decision that could be taken, but this scenario is unlikely to be implemented.

The thing is that supporting the decision to apply sanctions against Budapest does not mean immediately imposing penalties. The decision is yet to be endorsed by the leaders of the 28 member states. But, there is a possibility that Poland is likely to stand up for its regional neighbor.

However, this definitely sends a certain signal. First, the decision by MEPs set a precedent. Secondly, there is an EU accession procedure, but there is no such procedure for exclusion. Accordingly, it is possible to take a wide range of actions with respect to Budapest, and it is up for the MEPs to decide, how tough these moves will be.

Unfortunately, for our part, we do not make use of the present crisis. In any case, if not in the EU, then in NATO, opportunities remain for Hungary to hinder our rapprochement. At the same time, there are no problems with the Poles and Romanians, whom before the war some perceived as a threat to Ukraine. We realize that we are in the same boat, we need to cooperate, while smaller-scale issues should be solved at a technical level, through diplomatic efforts instead of demarches. But the case with Hungary is totally different. They pursue their narrow-focused national interests.

The European Union is not only about economy, it's also about certain values and standards of democracy

Perhaps it makes sense to put Hungary in its place - to remind Budapest that the EU is not only about economy, it's also about certain values and standards of democracy. If they are not respected, there must be some reaction. For example, in the European Union there is a policy of equalization (to a greater extent, it refers to the infrastructure and the economy), and, from the point of view of democratic governance, there is also a certain range within which members are allowed to operate. If a certain country goes beyond that range, this must entail certain actions. However, it's too early to say how effective they will be and whether they're able to practically, rather than symbolically, affect the spheres Hungary deems important.

Perhaps, in the end, voters in Hungary will be able to read the signal sent from Brussels, and in the next elections they'll vote differently. For example, they could show that they disagree with Orban. After all, Hungary is a democratic country, albeit with certain elements that Brussels doesn't like. Well, not only Brussels Although, this is unlikely to happen because Orban somehow won the vote last time in the first place. He did offer his own agenda. As a populist, he exploited momentary public moods, often not based on reality.

Hungary is a democratic country, albeit with certain elements that Brussels doesn't like

If we look at the countries that actually take in most refugees  like Germany or Sweden  it would seem that the opposition to EU policies should be most ardent there. However, what did we see at the latest elections in Germany? Indeed, Chancellor Merkel paid her price for the decision to raise quotas. But, in any case, she retained her post, led her party to parliament, and created a coalition. This is an indication that German society is healthier in this sense, and it reacted correctly, despite the fact that the problem of refugees is more urgent for Germans than it is for Hungary. At the same time, there is more populism in Hungary, where politicians exploit people's fears. This is about those local populists making use of people's subjective perception to gain a foothold in power. Orban is just a classic example.

Oleksandr Khara is an expert at the Maidan of Foreign Affairs Foundation
So far, only the first part of the evidence has been published.

REUTERS

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, whom the United Kingdom accused of poisoning former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter, are employees of Russian special services, as concluded by the authors of the investigation conducted by Bellingcat and The Insider.

So far, only the first part of the materials collected by the journalists has been published on the Web. In particular, the data from the Federal Migration Service database, or rather the lack of information regarding the receipt of Russian and foreign travel passports by Petrov in 2009, is noteworthy, according to CrimeRussia.

The database only shows that Petrov received the current passport in exchange for the damaged one, while the dossier lists the number of that damaged passport, which actually never existed.

Further, the case file with this information is also stamped Don't release information and signed s.s. The journalists deciphered the latter abbreviation as "sovershenno sekretno" ["top secret"].

Read alsoTwo Russians suspected of Salisbury poisoning explain their visit to UK in interview to Russia's state media

Earlier, media reports have already mentioned oddities in the numbers of Boshirov's and Petrov's passports  they differ only by one figure. In addition, it is worth noting that both of them bought tickets to London on the eve of their departure, although they said that the trip was pre-planned.

One can assume why they were in such a rush: a little earlier, on the same day, Yulia Skripal bought tickets to London, reads the investigation.

The authors of the investigation also draw attention to the fact that Petrov and Boshirov's passports were issued by the Federal Migration Service office 770001. It is believed that this unit issues IDs to the privileged ones for bribes as well as to personnel of law enforcement and security agencies.

In a tweet published following the initial release of the first part of the investigation, Bellingcat praised Novaya Gazeta's attention to detail: "Keen-eyed journalists at @novaya_gazeta noticed something we didn't in our Skripal report: the number indicated on Petrov's passport file next to "Don't release information" is the Russian Ministry of Defense. Specifically, where the GRU is headquartered."

On September 5, UK investigtators said that Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov are accused of poisoning the Skripals.

On September 12, a Kremlin-sponsored TV channel aired an interview with the pair, the day following Vladimir Putin denied their involvement with intelligence agencies and suggested that they come forward with own explanations.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
After the Presidents horrific message about the people of Puerto Rico, his Deputy Press Secretary said President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations. This is not what he said or meant. Why do they have to constantly clarify his mistakes? They treat him as though English is not his first language. Its time for Trump to put on his big boy pants and be accountable.
An appeal court in London has backed only one out of four arguments of the Ukrainian side in the $3 billion Eurobond dispute with Russia, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) An appeal court in London has backed only one out of four arguments of the Ukrainian side in the $3 billion Eurobond dispute with Russia, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Friday.

"The decision of the appeal court is as follows: three out of four arguments of the Ukrainian side were not backed. The Court of Appeal of England has ordered a more detailed study of the issue on one of them. It is about granting a loan to Ukraine allegedly under the influence of the Russian side," Siluanov told reporters.

The minister noted that Russia would appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

"We will appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and we are sure that the UK justice will be able to objectively investigate and deliver an appropriate ruling. The current decision delays the final judgment on the settlement of the dispute between the Russian Federation and Ukraine for some time. We hope that the next instance, the higher court, will finally deliver an unbiased ruling," Siluanov said.

One of the sides' lawyer told Sputnik that the appeal court allowed Kiev on Friday to appeal to the UK Supreme Court regarding the case.

"According to the British legal system, the right to appeal to the Supreme Court is granted by the court. Here, the case will first be examined from the very beginning in the High Court of London, then, if necessary, Ukraine will be able to apply to the Supreme Court," the lawyer said.

A Sputnik correspondent reported from the court room that the appeal court satisfied the complaint of Ukraine to regarding the decision of the High Court of London.

Moscow filed a lawsuit against Kiev in February 2016 after Ukraine defaulted on paying off a $3-billion loan by the December 31, 2015 deadline. The loan was granted to Ukraine in late 2013 under then-president Viktor Yanukovych.

In March 2017, the UK court ordered Ukraine to pay Russia the nominal value of the bonds in the amount of $3 billion Dollars, the amount of the unfulfilled coupon payment of $75 million, as well as the penalty interest accrued on these amounts. Each day of delay costs Kiev at $673,000. Ukraine appealed this decision.

The Russian Finance Ministry commenting on the UK court decision on Friday said that the UK appeal court did not confirm Ukraine's argument about alleged pressure put on Kiev to take a $3 billion loan from Russia, but merely stated that a comprehensive trial is needed.

According to the ministry, after Russia's appeal will be considered the UK Supreme Court will rule to organize a new trial or will finally oblige Ukraine to pay the debt.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed confidence later in the day that Kiev will be able to persuade the UK Supreme Court to recognize and remain in force the conclusions of the appeal court.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that he informed US Energy Secretary Rick Perry about the progress of trilateral gas talks between the European Commission, Russia and Ukraine.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th September, 2018) Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that he informed US Energy Secretary Rick Perry about the progress of trilateral gas talks between the European Commission, Russia and Ukraine.

"I also informed my counterpart about the talks currently underway with the European Union, Ukraine... regarding the possibility of continuing the use of Ukraine's gas transportation infrastructure, with account for the need to complete all court processes and the possibility of extending contracts in the future," Novak said.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Croatian Counterpart, Former Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric discussed Croatia's plan to build a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FRSU) for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports, the US Department of State said in a press release.

"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met yesterday at the State Department with Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic Buric," the release said. "The two discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues, including Croatia's plans to build a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports that will improve energy security and diversity energy supplies throughout Central and Southeast Europe.

"

The LNG facility project on the island of Krk, developed by LNG Croatia LLC, is expected to be completed in 2019.

The two diplomats also discussed their countries' partnership and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to increasing defense spending for NATO.
Parkview gets FEMA help to battle surge in COVID-19 patients

A medical team has been sent to Pueblo by FEMA to assist Parkview Health System as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in the county.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) American sanctions against Russia will have a negatively impact on US businesses, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Thursday.

"I would like to stress that introducing more and more sanctions against Russia a blind alley," Antonov said.

"Our country will withstand any pressure. But US companies will fall victim. At the behest of their Administration, they will lose significant income and their market share in our country."
The West Nile virus has killed 22 people in Greece so far this year, with 202 reported cases, according to the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) on Thursday.

ATHENS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :The West Nile virus has killed 22 people in Greece so far this year, with 202 reported cases, according to the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) on Thursday.

Another 22 are currently receiving treatment in hospital, including 12 in intensive care units, The KEELPNO data revealed.

The West Nile virus is transmitted by the mosquitoes' bites. The Medical Association of Athens (ISA) in a statement urged authorities to step up preventive measures, noting that sporadic sprays do not solve the problem.

The West Nile virus was first detected in Greece in 2010 with a record of 262 confirmed cases and 35 deaths. No cases were recorded in 2015 and 2016, but in 2017 the country reported five fatalities.
(@rukhshanmir)

The police arrested five accused including a woman and recovered narcotics and weapons from them.

SARGODHA,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :The police arrested five accused including a woman and recovered narcotics and weapons from them.

Police spokesman said on Friday that during continued drive against drug pushers and criminals their teams conducted raids and arrested 5 accused. They recovered two kilogram opium, 2040 grams hashish, 6 bottles of liquor and illegal weapons from them.

Police registered separate cases.
(@mahnoorsheikh03)

The British government said that there is no extradition treaty between Islamabad and London for the exchange of wanted criminals

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News  14th September, 2018) The British government has rejected the petition to deport former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

According to details, Pakistan had petitioned the British government to deport Ishaq Dar, who has been declared proclaimed absconder by the Accountability Court over his failure to appear in a case pertaining to his assets beyond income.

According to media reports, the British government said that there is no extradition treaty between Islamabad and London for the exchange of wanted criminals, therefore, the request of Pakistan to deport its former finance minister stands rejected.

Nevertheless, there is a margin in British law to grant such request, but for that the government of Pakistan will have to officially approach the British government, according to the sources.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the authorities concerned to continue to take measures for the repatriation of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Earlier, the Pakistani government cancelled the diplomatic passports of Ishaq Dar and his wife Tabassum Ishaq, to pave the way for his return.
(@FahadShabbir)

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing here on Friday called on Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to Prime Minister on Textile, Commerce, Industry and Production and Investment.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing here on Friday called on Abdul Razak Dawood, Advisor to Prime Minister on Textile, Commerce, Industry and Production and Investment.

The advisor stated that in parallel to strong political affinity, Pakistan and China enjoyed excellent trade and commercial relations cemented further by signing of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) in 2006, said a press release.

Signing of the China -Pakistan Economic Corridor added another dimension to the ever growing trade and economic relations between the two brotherly countries.

Abdul Razak Dawood underlined the need for enhancement of export to China and to the global market.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing informed that a buying mission was coming to Pakistan. Such buying missions would be of great importance for Pakistani exporters and export growth of the country.

Abdul Razak Dawood felicitated the Chinese ambassador for holding a mega event like China International Import Expo in November 2018, in Shanghai and express gratitude for declaring Pakistan "Guest of Honour" during the event.

Both sides agreed to work more closely to build a brighter and prosperous future for the region.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The interior ministry on Friday notified that September 20 and 21 will be public holidays on the occasion of Ashura, Moharram-ul-Haram.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :The interior ministry on Friday notified that September 20 and 21 will be public holidays on the occasion of Ashura, Moharram-ul-Haram.

The ministry in a press release said: "It is notified for general information that 20th and 21st September, 2018 (Thursday & Friday) will be public holidays on the occasion of Ashura, Moharram-ul-Haram."
Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, in his message on International Day of Democracy, Friday said that this day reaffirms our commitment to democratic principles and to protect and promote this system of governance as the best system in the world.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, in his message on International Day of Democracy, Friday said that this day reaffirms our commitment to democratic principles and to protect and promote this system of governance as the best system in the world.

He said that recognizing and celebrating this day is part of our efforts to strengthen democracy and our belief in this system which is government of the people, for the people and by the people.

According to a press release issued here, he said September 15 was adopted as International Day of Democracy as a consequence of a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 and is being celebrated in democracies around the globe since 2008.

This year Inter-Parliamentary Union has developed the theme of this day around Importance of Parliamentary Oversight and has termed it a core function of Parliaments by maintaining a system of checks and balances on the government in a healthy democracy.

The Chairman Senate said that Parliament of Pakistan has had elections to both Houses this year and has seen successful democratic transition for the third consecutive term.

He said that the oversight role of the Parliament was effectively played by the Senate House and Committees during the transition period by keeping a strong check on the outgoing government, work of interim setup as well as the election process before, during and after the general elections.

He has said that the young democracy in the country has many milestones to achieve and the path is getting smoother day by day.

The Chairman felicitated all stakeholders at the national and international stage who have struggled for the principles of democracy.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan, Erik Beishembiev on Friday called on President International Islamic University, Islamabad Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh at his office.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan, Erik Beishembiev on Friday called on President International Islamic University, Islamabad Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh at his office. Both agreed on enhancement of mutual cooperation in field of education.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Qibla Ayaz Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology and Dr. Zia ul Haq, Director General, Islamic Research Institute, said a press release.

The Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan lauded the efforts of IIUI for disseminating Islamic teachings of peace across the world. He expressed his appreciation of IIUI for its role in the teaching of various subjects, particularly, Islamic Sciences.

He suggested that there should be more collaboration between IIUI and universities of Kyrgyzstan, so that his country's institutions would be able to send Kyrgyzstan students to IIU. He lauded the services of Dr. Al-Draiweesh for Muslim Ummah.

The President IIU briefed the Ambassador about the recent conference organized by the University and Piagham e Pakistan narrative. He also informed the Ambassador about the activities of IIUI for dissemination of islam's message of peace. He added that almost all Muslim countries being represented at IIUI by the students of various Muslim countries.
(@FahadShabbir)

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday asked the overseas Pakistanis to register themselves as voters by September 15, for having right of casting vote in upcoming bye-elections in 37 constituencies on October 14.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday asked the overseas Pakistanis to register themselves as voters by September 15, for having right of casting vote in upcoming bye-elections in 37 Constituencies on October 14.

According to an official of ECP, the voters registration process will continue for further two days and advised the overseas Pakistanis to immediately register them within due date.

He said that all registered overseas Pakistanis voters would have the right of casting vote in bye-election through I-Voting system.

He said that a letter had been written to the Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct the Pakistani missions abroad to educate overseas Pakistanis regarding registration process and right of their vote in bye-elections in their respective constituencies He said that the ECP will deliver stipulated time voting passport to overseas Pakistanis to avail the opportunity of I-Voting for casting their vote in bye-election being held in 37 constituencies on October 14.

The official added the commission will generate voting passport system for registered overseas Pakistanis on October 14 and all eligible voters can cast their vote during Pakistan Standard Time from 8:00am to 6:00pm on polling day.

He said that all registered overseas Pakistanis voters will have right of casting vote in bye-election through I-Voting system.

He said that for eligibility of registration and casting their votes, overseas Pakistanis need to have machine readable passport (MRP), National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and their valid email address.

He said through ECP's special software, the overseas Pakistanis will be able to cast their vote by using their email.

He added a specific website has been developed jointly by ECP and NADRA for awareness and other aspects to encourage overseas Pakistanis to register for I-Voting with instruction in English and urdu.

He said that the commission through its official website has been trying to create awareness in overseas Pakistanis about I-Voting system and process of registration and casting vote on bye-election polling day.

He said that I-Voting is a pilot project and after use of this system, the commission will compile and submit a report with the Parliament for further legislation.

He appealed the overseas Pakistanis to play role for success of this pilot project as future legislation on the matter is based on the success of this process.

He said around one million overseas Pakistanis have touched this system and expressed the hope that a large number of overseas Pakistan will avail this opportunity.

He said that in this regard, the commission has started educating the Pakistanis living abroad.

He made it clear that there is no requirement of any percentage for this system but actually the foolproof voting system is important for the commission.

He added efforts are being made to make this system more foolproof.

He said that general elections were held under Election Act 2017 and this pilot project is being exercised under the same Act.
Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said International Day of Democracy reaffirms parliamentarians' commitment to protect democratic principles and promote this system of governance as the best in the world.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said International Day of Democracy reaffirms parliamentarians' commitment to protect democratic principles and promote this system of governance as the best in the world.

"The commemoration of this day was a component of the parliamentarians' efforts to strengthen democracy and their belief in this system as it was government of the people, for the people and by the people", he remarked.

Senate chairman in his message released here on Friday said the Parliament of Pakistan has observed elections in both of the Houses this year and witnessed successful democratic transition for the third consecutive term.

He said that the oversight role of the parliament was effectively played by the Upper House of the Parliament and committees during the transition period by keeping a strong check on the outgoing government, work of interim setup as well as the election process before, during and after the general elections.

He believed that democracy in the country has many milestones to achieve and the path is getting smoother day by day. Senate chairman felicitated all stakeholders at the national and international stage who have struggled for the principles of democracy.

"The United Nations General Assembly in 2007 had passed a resolution in which 15 September was adopted as International Day of Democracy, which was being celebrated in democracies around the globe since 2008", he said.

"This year Inter-Parliamentary Union has developed the theme of the day, "Importance of Parliamentary Oversight" and termed it a core function of parliaments by maintaining a system of checks and balances on the government in a healthy democracy", he said.
Systems Limited proudly announced it has won the 2018 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for Pakistan

LAHORE (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) Systems Limited proudly announced it has won the 2018 microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for Pakistan. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

We are extremely honored to receive this accolade from Microsoft, said Asif Peer, CEO, Systems Limited. Our unwavering dedication to excellence in delivery and customer service is the reason we have won this coveted award. Our technology implementation teams have worked closely with both Khaadi and our partners at Microsoft to produce a specialized solution that aligns perfectly with Khaadis business requirements. To have delivered such a powerful solution in such a short period of time is a landmark achievement, and I commend our technology professionals for their commitment and hard work, he added. Awards were presented in several categories, with winners chosen from a set of more than 2,600 entrants from 115 countries worldwide.

Systems Limited was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as representing excellent subsidiary engagement in Pakistan. The Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Awards honor partners at the country level that have demonstrated business excellence in delivering Microsoft solutions to multiple customers over the past year. This award recognizes Systems Limited as succeeding in effective engagement with its local Microsoft office while showcasing innovation and business impact, driving customer satisfaction, and winning new customers. We are honored to recognize Systems Limited of Pakistan as a Microsoft Country Partner of the Year, said Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft Corp. Systems Limited has distinguished itself as a top partner, exemplifying the remarkable expertise and innovation we see in our Microsoft partner community to deliver transformative solutions. The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency can enhance collaboration with Russia in spheres of education and technology, Naser Al Rashedi, the Director of Space Policy and Regulations at the UAE Space Agency, told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency can enhance collaboration with Russia in spheres of education and technology, Naser Al Rashedi, the Director of Space Policy and Regulations at the UAE Space Agency, told Sputnik.

The UAE Space Agency, as part of the UAE Astronaut Programme, will send its first astronaut to the International Space Station on a Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft in April 2019.

"We see elements [for collaboration] now that are in the pipeline and that are under discussion, from technology, from space services technology as well as science and education. Discussion on some of these areas are mature and some site visits are being scheduled," Al Rashedi said.

Al Rashedi stated that the UAE Space Agency was already exploring the possibility of gaining access to various services, including remote sensing technology.

"There is a number of services that the Russian industry is providing, for example launch services, or remote sensing data, or a number of space services actually provided, we are already exploring having access to these services," Al Rashedi said.

Al Rashedi added that the UAE was also interested in sending its students to Russian institutions, such as Skoltech, to learn the Russian language and about astrophysics and space engineering.

"Now we are trying to get to know more about their education programs and how we could probably look at Russia, at one of the international institutes, where we could send our students to learn Russian and about space," Al Rashedi said.

Al Rashedi stated that the interest of the UAE space agency in Russia's space industry and state space agency Roscosmos, is due to the knowledge it could offer to the UAE and the potential to develop the UAE's capabilities.

The UAE Space Agency previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Roscosmos in 2015 to extend cooperation in space policy, human capital development and training between the two entities.
The United Arab Emirates supports China's initiative to create a multilateral treaty on space arms control, Naser Al Rashedi, the Director of Space Policy and Regulations at the UAE Space Agency told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The United Arab Emirates supports China's initiative to create a multilateral treaty on space arms control, Naser Al Rashedi, the Director of Space Policy and Regulations at the UAE Space Agency told Sputnik.

On August 28, China's Foreign Ministry called for the prompt adoption of a multilateral agreement on the control over arms in space to ensure peace and security based on a draft proposed by China and Russia several years ago.

"Of course, things that will prevent weaponization of space and the celestial bodies, definitely the UAE is in support of," Al Rashedi said, in answer to whether the UAE supports Beijing's proposal.

Al Rashedi stated that UAE's legal experts were studying China's proposal.

"Now it is a matter of language and legalities that experts will discuss. In our case, we are looking at this proposal and we are studying it," Al Rashedi said.

China and Russia submitted a draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects to the Geneva Conference on Disarmament in 2008 and provided an updated draft in 2014.
Afghan Air Force, in chasing militants, have conducted series of sorties in the southern and northern provinces, killing more than 60 armed insurgents and injuring scores of others over the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

KABUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :Afghan Air Force, in chasing militants, have conducted series of sorties in the southern and northern provinces, killing more than 60 armed insurgents and injuring scores of others over the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

In the latest waves of airstrikes, the Afghan fighting aircrafts pounded a Taliban hideout in the outskirts of Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province in the wee hours of Thursday, killing 17 insurgents and injuring countless others, an army spokesman in the southern region Mohammad Sadeq Eisa said.

A weapon cache of the militants was also destroyed in the raids, the official added.

Similarly, the Afghan Air Force targeted Taliban hideouts in Shalghami and Qala-e-Shamir areas of Maiwand district in Uruzgan's neighboring Kandahar province on Wednesday night, killing 18 militants and injuring 11 others, army spokesman in the southern region Sadeq Eisa told Xinhua.

In an identical air attacks, the Afghan forces, backed by fighting aircrafts, conducted series of sorties against militants in the northern Baghlan, Balkh and Faryab provinces, killing more than 30 militants and injuring over a dozen others, army spokesman in the northern region Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said.

According to Karimi, the government forces would continue to use fighting aircrafts as a lethal weapons in the war on militants.

Taliban militants who have speeded up activities against government forces over the pastmonths have not commented on the report.
(@rukhshanmir)

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th September, 2018) The Belgian General Information and Security Service has established a position for monitoring the so-called Russian and Chinese cyberthreat, the country's Parliamentary Committee on Defense said in a report.

The session of the Defense Committee took place in June, but the report on the results of the session was released on Friday.

"As for the Russian cyberthreat, the General Information and Security Service under the Defense Ministry has hired a staff member in charge of a non-permanent working group ... The activities of China are also being monitored," the representative of the service told the committee, as quoted in the report.

Moreover, Brussels has developed a plan to recruit both civilian and military specialists in order to strengthen country's cybersecurity and it will be submitted to the Defense Minister for consideration soon, according to the report.

Russia has been repeatedly accused of malign cyberactivity, but refuted the allegations as groundless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the West did not even have weak arguments for their claims, adding that these ill-founded accusations have been completely devalued.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with Chile's Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero here Friday and the two sides expressed willingness to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with Chile's Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero here Friday and the two sides expressed willingness to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

China supports people of Latin American countries to follow the development paths suited to their history, culture and national conditions, Wang said, stressing that China views Chile as an important partner in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang said China is ready to have closer exchanges at various levels with Chile, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen synergy of strategies, jointly construct the Belt and Road, so as to achieve win-win cooperation.

He called on both countries to have more people-to-people exchanges and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The two countries established their comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.

Ampuero said Chile admires China's development achievements, expressing the hope to enhance Chile's cooperation with China, and make continuous achievements in the Belt and Road construction and people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with Ampuero on Friday. Ampuero is paying an official visit to China from September 13 to 15.
(@FahadShabbir)

China and Uruguay agreed to strengthen cooperation in Beijing on Friday.

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :China and Uruguay agreed to strengthen cooperation in Beijing on Friday.

The pledge was made between Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and Uruguay's Vice President Lucia Topolansky, who is also president of the General Assembly and president of the Senate.

In 2016, the two countries established their strategic partnership during Uruguayan President Vazquez's visit to China.

This repositioning of bilateral ties has injected new impetus into the two countries' ever-widening cooperation, Wang said.

China sticks to socialism with Chinese characteristics with full confidence in this path, Wang said, adding that China also supports people of Uruguay and other Latin American countries to follow development paths suited to their national conditions.

Saying China champions building a community with a shared future for the humanity, Wang called on both sides to enhance cooperation at all levels, deepen mutual understanding and trust, so as to achieve win-win results and benefit the two peoples.

Topolansky said Uruguay is impressed by China's remarkable development and attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties.

She expressed her willingness to enhance Uruguay's cooperation with China, including the Belt and Road construction, ocean exploration, trade, agriculture, education, and culture.
(@rukhshanmir)

Jakarta expects to receive the first Russian Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jet in October 2019, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Mohamad Wahid Supriyadi told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Jakarta expects to receive the first Russian Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jet in October 2019, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Mohamad Wahid Supriyadi told Sputnik on Friday.

"Not this year. Our goal is October next year... The technical part is not completed yet.

Of course, our government wants this as soon as possible, but it is not so easy," Supriyadi said.

In August, the ambassador told Sputnik that Jakarta expected the first fighter jet by October. In June, he said that Indonesia had signed an agreement with Russia to purchase 11 new Sukhoi aircraft, calling the deal "very large."

The Su-35 is a multirole fourth-generation highly-maneuverable fighter jet with 12 to 14 weapons hardpoints.
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Morocco expects to attract Russian investors into its fish processing sector during the ongoing Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo in Russia's St. Petersburg, Moroccan Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhannouch told Sputnik on Friday.

ST. PETERSBURG (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Morocco expects to attract Russian investors into its fish processing sector during the ongoing Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo in Russia's St. Petersburg, Moroccan Agriculture Minister Aziz Akhannouch told Sputnik on Friday.

"We have deep cooperation in this industry with Russia. We export our products to Russia and we hope to find prospective Russian partners, investors and clients at the forum," Akhannouch said on the sidelines of the event.

The minister added that Morocco wanted to attract new investment into its aquaculture sector as it helped to create new jobs and boost the country's economy.

Speaking about cooperation with other countries, Akhannouch stressed the importance of investing into agricultural and food sector in Africa because its growing population was putting serious pressure on the domestic food market.

The second Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo in St. Petersburg exhibiting new products and brands in the industry opened on Thursday and will last through Saturday.
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The Namaz-i-Janaza of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was offered here at Regent's Park Mosque on Thursday afternoon.

LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :The Namaz-i-Janaza of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was offered here at Regent's Park Mosque on Thursday afternoon.

The funeral prayer was offered by her sons Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, a large number of people belonging to different walks of life, diplomats, British Pakistani councillors, parliamentarians and former ministers, journalists, officials of Pakistan High Commission London, PML-N workers and overseas Pakistanis.

A larger number of women also came to the mosque to attend the funeral prayers.

The dead body of the former first lady, who passed away on Tuesday morning here at Harley Street Clinic after losing the battle with cancer was brought to the mosque at about 12.15 p.m.for offering the funeral prayer.

The party sources said that Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's body would be flown to Lahore's Jati Umrah, where she would be laid to rest at the ancestral graveyard on Friday.

Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Ishaq Dar were not accompany the body of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz to Lahore , the party sources said.

Shehbaz Sharif had reached London on Wedeneday night for bringing back Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's body to Pakistan.

People belonging to various walks of life including women on the occasion paid tribute to late Begum Kulsoom Nawaz for her struggle for restoration of democracy in the country.

They said she was a brave lady who stood against the dictatorship and led the party in the hour of political crisis.

They said that she was a modest, God fearing, and an honest woman, who was a role model for the female segment of society in Pakistan.

They prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the family to bear this loss with equanimity.
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Vivien Zhang's first solo exhibition in China, Codescape, is intended to inspire discussion among the generation born in the 1990s, who've grown up amid rapid technological development.

The 27-year-old Beijing native, who was listed on Forbes' 30 Under 30-Asia-the Arts 2017, left China after the fifth grade. She spent the rest of her childhood in Nairobi and Bangkok, before attending university in London, where she earned her master's degree.

Codescape is on show at Beijing's Long March Space through Oct 28.

Forbes describes Zhang's oil paintings as "intricate". They employ colorful patterns to convey her ideas about geographical fluidity, science, math and philosophy.

"I started to develop a love for painting in childhood," she says.

"I didn't have formal training as a kid. But I've never stopped painting since. If it stops bringing me joy, then I'll focus on something else."

She recalls struggling in her early days in London.

Initially, her studio there was a tiny, unheated room with a single, glazed window.
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Warsaw, Sept 14 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :The Polish government attacked Germany Thursday over its decision to grant a visa to a Ukraine rights activist Warsaw had banned.

"Granting a short-stay visa to Lyudmyla Kozlovska was unjustified," a foreign ministry statement said.

The position had been made clear by a deputy foreign minister to the German ambassador in Warsaw, the statement added.

Polish press reports said Kozlovska took part in a parliamentary debate in Berlin on civil rights in Poland and Hungary, both of which have fallen foul of the European Commission for steps said to compromise democratic values and the rule of law.

Polish President Andrzej Duda denounced the holding of such a debate in a conversation with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier while both men were in Latvia on Thursday, the PAP news agency reported.
The support from Macedonia's public and opposition forces is crucial for securing country's accession to the European Union and NATO amid protests over the republic's name change, required for the membership, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th September, 2018) The support from Macedonia's public and opposition forces is crucial for securing country's accession to the European Union and NATO amid protests over the republic's name change, required for the membership, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Thursday.

In June, Macedonia and Greece signed an accord on renaming the former Yugoslav republic to the Republic of North Macedonia. The deal resolved the decades-long dispute between Athens and Skopje over the use of "Macedonia," which is also the name of a region in Greece. The Macedonian parliament ratified the deal on name change in July, paving the way for the September 30 referendum on the country's NATO and EU membership.

The possibility of accession was earlier impossible due to the naming dispute.

"As Prime Minister, I promise that we are doing everything we can to reach the EU's standards. We know the recommendations and they are our priorities. We also know that we still have a long way to go, but your warm welcome gives us strong motivation to continue our reform agenda," Zaev said in his address to the European Parliament, as quoted in the parliament's statement.

The name change agreement triggered a number of protests in Greece and Macedonia. On Sunday, a rally with 6,000 people in attendance in the Greek city of Thessaloniki has left 15 police officers injured.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to sign a peace treaty with Tokyo until the end of the year without any preconditions is unlikely to be implemented amid principled differences on the territorial issue between the two countries, yet there is every reason to believe that the next couple of years in Japanese foreign policy will be devoted to drastic improvement in bilateral ties, which is seen by both sides as a major step toward settling years-long dispute, experts told Sputnik.

At the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on Wednesday, Putin proposed signing a peace treaty between Russia and Japan until the end of the year without any preconditions.

The statement came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the EEF session that he and Putin would make every effort to conclude a peace treaty between the two countries.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry later refrained from commenting on Putin's statements, noting that Tokyo's position on the peace agreement with Russia had not changed, and that the talks on the treaty should follow the settlement of the territorial dispute around the South Kurils, not the other way round.

The fact that Japan and Russia have never signed a permanent peace treaty after the end of World War II has long been a stumbling block in bilateral relations. The main issue standing in the way of a treaty is an agreement concerning a group of four islands that both countries claim  Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai, collectively referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia and the Northern Territories by Japan.

On February 11, 1945, the leaders of the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom signed an agreement, according to which in exchange for the participation of Soviet troops in the war against Japan, the Kuril Islands and South Sakhalin, lost in the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905, were to be transferred to the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union delivered on its promise and entered the war against Tokyo three months after the defeat of Nazi Germany. On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the act of unconditional surrender.

The Soviet Union, however, did not sign a peace treaty with Japan at the San Francisco Conference in 1951, saying that there was no clear indication that Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands had become its sovereign territories under the document.

Nevertheless, on October 19, 1956, the Joint Declaration of the Soviet Union and Japan was signed in Moscow on ending the state of war and the restoration of diplomatic and consular relations. The Soviet leadership decided to note in the document that in meeting the wishes of Japan and taking into account the interests of the Japanese state, Moscow agrees to transfer the islands of Habomai and Shikotan to Japan, however, the transfer itself was meant to be made after the conclusion of a peace treaty between the parties.

After the conclusion of the Japanese-US security treaty in 1960, which still remains in force and stipulates Washington's right to place its military bases on Japanese soil, the Soviet Union annulled the commitments made in the 1956 declaration.

Putin's statement is not the first time when Russian leader proposes a deadline for a peace treaty to be signed.

Back in 1997, then Russian President Boris Yeltsin and then Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto agreed to take maximum efforts to sign the treaty until 2000 on the basis of the Tokyo declaration.

In March 2012, Putin proposed seeking a "hikiwake," a judo term for draw, to settle bilateral disagreements, which would mean a mutually acceptable outcome for both sides, which would have left neither country on a winning or losing side.

According to Kazuhiko Togo, a retired Japanese diplomat and the director of the Institute for World Affairs at Kyoto Sangyo University, Putin's offer should be analyzed within the "overall context" of the two leaders' years-long efforts to improve bilateral relations, without avoiding the thorny issue of the peace treaty.

"Six years have passed since both President Putin and Prime Minister Abe took their offices in 2012, and during this period, despite the fact that there has been the suspension of negotiations for two years over Ukraine-Crimea crisis, and despite the difficult situation caused by the fact that the Russian problem has taken on a special meaning in the US domestic politics, the intention of both leaders [that could be phrased as] 'we would like to drastically improve the relationship between Japan and Russia ... and we will not avoid the problem of peace treaty, which has been considered difficult, [and should] ... be solved in a form that will convince both sides,' just seems to be indomitable," he told Sputnik.

Togo expressed belief that Abe would be re-elected later in September for another three-year term and would set further "drastic improvement" of ties with Russia as one of foreign policy priorities.

"I am convinced that the most important of the remaining three years' diplomatic tasks will become a drastic improvement in relations with Russia. The remarks of the prime minister in Vladivostok have just summarized it," Togo said.

The expert noted that Putin's offer, in turn, was, first of all, "reaffirmation of his firm belief that the conclusion of a peace treaty is the utmost important task.

"

"Secondly, such bold remarks were more likely something to, as Buddhist say, 'put life' in Prime Minister Abe who is facing reelection, by stating 'let's sign a peace treaty while enhancing trust relationship between the two countries and showing flexible thinking,' and I believe it would be appropriate for the Japanese side to respond to such 'fighting spirit' by saying 'thank you, we will do our best,'" the expert added.

Thirdly, the expert suggested that "sufficient opinions have been exchanged in the various discussions of the two leaders over the past six years," which probably have not been articulated publicly but could become a potential basis for a peace treaty.

Fourthly, the former diplomat opined that the 1956 Soviet-Japanese joint declaration could become a future basis for the territorial dispute's settlement.

"It goes without saying that we should talk about with each other about concrete environment, framework and conditions for its implementation, and carefully consider how to convince people concerned in both Russia and Japan," he suggested.

ABE'S NEW TERM AS FRESH OPPORTUNITY

With regard to Kunashir and Iturup, the expert doubted that it was possible to "reach agreement on 'four island at once' with handing over the sovereignty over these two islands to Japan simultaneously [with Habomai and Shikotan]."

"There may have been a time in the Russian-Japanese relations during the past 70 years when such an agreement could be reached, but I think that there is no such possibility anymore," he pointed out.

The expert stressed the need to continue the countries' joint projects and "to make the islands symbolize the friendship and cooperation of Japan and Russia" and suggested that Tokyo and Moscow could produce a peace treaty in the forthcoming three years.

"It is definitely feasible to bring it to the conclusion of a peace treaty in accordance with the road map agreed this time. I cannot answer exactly how long it will be, but I am confident that it could be implemented within Prime Minister Abe's term for the remaining three years," Togo concluded.

CONSENT TO PUTIN'S OFFER WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO POLITICAL SUICIDE

Irina Romanova, a professor at the Moscow State University's Institute of Asian and African Studies, in contrast, questioned the possibility of a peace treaty being struck between the two nations in the near future. The expert suggested that Abe's consent to sign a treaty without a reached compromise on the territorial issue would amount to political suicide.

"I think this is a maneuver. I think that Abe will not go for it, because if he goes for it - which means not mentioning the territorial issue [in the peace treaty], - it would be, in my opinion, political suicide. Neither the Japanese elite nor the cabinet ... will forgive him [such a move] ... I think that it was a sort of maneuver on Putin's part, a kind of demarche. This follows logically from all meetings, statements, messages and in general the history of the issue. I think that in the near future, at least in 2018, the treaty cannot be concluded without discussing the territorial issue," Romanova told Sputnik.

WWII RESULTS NOT SUBJECT TO REVIEW

Valery Kistanov, the head of the Center for Japanese Studies at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian academy of Sciences, noted that Putin's initiative had only exposed a gap between the two countries' stances on the issue.

"The Japanese position: islands first, the treaty then. We say 'No': the treaty first, then the talks on the islands ... These differences in principled positions will not allow, as Putin suggests, for a peace treaty to be struck before the end of the year. I think it is unlikely to be concluded in the foreseeable future, because it is unlikely that Russia will go for it, that Putin will go for the idea of transferring some part of Russia's southern Kurils to Japan, because our principled position is that Russia owns these Islands legally, following World War II, its possession of the Islands is based on the whole set of international legal documents, sovereignty over the islands is beyond doubt. The Japanese do not agree," Kistanov told Sputnik.

The expert suggested that setting any time frame for the conclusion of a peace treaty was futile since it was a very complicated issue whose resolution may take decades. As an example, he drew Yeltsin's 1997 initiative to sign the treaty by 2000, which predictably had not been implemented.

"I think that [the signing of the Treaty] in the foreseeable future is unrealistic. Any Japanese politician who stops putting this [territorial] problem above the conclusion of a peace treaty will thereby sign their death sentence in political terms," he argued.

Kistanov also doubted the possibility of drawing parallels between the settlement of Russia's territorial disputes with China and those with Japan. He stressed the situations are very different, as the territorial disputes with Japan are connected with the results of World War II, which are not subject to any review.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The so-called Small Group on Syria, comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States, will meet in Geneva on Friday at the invitation of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

The member states of the are expected to be represented by senior diplomats.

During the meeting, the parties are expected to focus on the discussion of the future of the political process in Syria, in particular, the UN efforts to facilitate the establishment of a constitutional committee in the country, tasked with amending the country's constitution. The situation in Syria's Idlib is also likely to be touched upon during the meeting.

The meeting will take place just days after the talks of the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states  Iran, Russia and Turkey  with de Mistura in Geneva, during which the parties had given consideration to such issues as the situation in Syria's Idlib and the establishment of constitutional commission.

Ahead of the Small Group's meeting in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's readiness to cooperate with the negotiating partners aiming to achieve mutual understanding. He stressed, at the same time, that the group solution should be found based on respect for Syria's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The last meeting of the representatives of the so-called Small Group with de Mistura was held on June 25. The meeting's participants have discussed the military escalation in southwestern Syria as well as the progress with the establishment of the Syrian constitutional commission.

Syria has been devastated by years of violent civil war that has prompted millions to flee hostilities to other locations in Syria or abroad.

The international community has taken efforts to settle the conflict by conducting political settlement talks in Geneva and reconciliation negotiations through the Astana format.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Russia proposes to renew with the United States a comprehensive dialogue on strategic stability and weapons nonproliferation, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov told reporters.

"We believe it is necessary to renew comprehensive dialogue on strategic stability and weapons nonproliferation at the level of deputy heads of foreign ministries," Antonov said on Thursday.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Russian diplomats plan to visit the US state of Utah in October to promote regional and economic cooperation, Russian Ambassador to the UN Anatoly Antonov told reporters.

"In the 20's of October we plan to visit Utah," Antonov said on Thursday. "We'd like to see what can be done for regional and economic cooperation between sister-cities Salt Lake City and Izhevsk, as well as West Jordan and Votkinsk."

The Russian diplomats will meet with Utah Governor Gary Herbert, businessmen and the heads of economic departments from the state administration, Antonov said.

The Russian ambassador also said that another important platform in the development of interregional relations is the Fort Ross Dialogue. The name goes back to the historical settlement of Russian pioneers of the 19th century on the territory of present-day California. The event will take place in San Francisco in mid-October. Authorities from Novgorodskaya and Vologodskaya regions plan to take part in the meeting, as well as representatives of Russian Geographic Society.
The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) took part in the operation against the alleged Russian spies, who tried to spy on the Swiss Spiez laboratory, FIS chief spokesperson Isabelle Graber told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) took part in the operation against the alleged Russian spies, who tried to spy on the Swiss Spiez laboratory, FIS chief spokesperson Isabelle Graber told Sputnik Friday.

On Thursday, Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported that earlier this year two Russian nationals have been arrested in the Netherlands on spying charges and then deported. The media alleged that the suspects had tried to spy on the Spiez laboratory near Bern, engaged in nuclear, biological and chemical research, but their plot was foiled by the joint work of Swiss, Dutch and the UK intelligence.

"The Swiss authorities are aware of the case of Russian spies discovered in The Hague and expelled from the same place.

The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) participated actively in this operation together with its Dutch and British partners. The FIS has thus contributed to the prevention of illegal actions against a critical Swiss infrastructure," Graber said.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has declined to comment on the reports.

The newspaper noted that the laboratory has been analyzing the poisonous substance used in Syria and the nerve agent used to poison the Skripals in March.

The laboratory in question has also declined to comment on the publication.
Turkish military neutralized at least four armed terrorists in northern Iraq's Zap area in an airstrike, Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday.

ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :Turkish military neutralized at least four armed terrorists in northern Iraq's Zap area in an airstrike, Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The statement said Turkish jets also destroyed shelters and weapon emplacements at the airstrike.

Zap area in northern Iraq is a PKK stronghold which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU.

In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan's capital of Baku on Saturday, according to the presidential press office.

ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan's capital of Baku on Saturday, according to the presidential press office.

The office said on Friday that Erdogan is due to attend ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic Army on September 15.

During his visit, he is expected to discuss with Azeri officials steps to further improve the strategic relations and the cooperation between the two countries.
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Turkey's vice president on Friday met with China's special representative at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara.

ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :Turkey's vice president on Friday met with China's special representative at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara.

During his meetings with Le Yucheng, Fuat Oktay said Turkey's trade volume with China is about $23 billion and it should reach the $50 billion goal in short term.

Oktay stated that it is necessary to develop mutual cooperation mechanisms with the Chinese government.

For his part, Le Yucheng said that China supports Turkey's firm stance and stable policies despite economic attacks against country, and lauded Turkey's resistance against them.
Bill Einreinhofer, three-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director and writer, is in Beijing to film the international version of second season of documentary series Century Masters. Photo taken on Sept 7, 2018. [Photo by Wang Qiao/chinadaily.com.cn]

As the presenter and script consultant of the documentary series Century Masters international version, America's Bill Einreinhofer, a three-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director and writer, has returned to Beijing on Sept 3 to film the second season.

Century Masters, a documentary series honoring China's cultural figures of the 20th century, has received wide attention from the Chinese audience since its first release in 2016. The international version is aimed at the overseas audience.

Five top Chinese artists from the 20th century such as Li Kuchan, Wu Guanzhong, Huang Zhou, and Shang Xiaoyun will be introduced in the new season through in-depth storytelling, sleek production, and will be broadcast in eight languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and French.

Li Kuchan was a Chinese painter known for combining Western techniques with traditional Chinese styles. Wu Guanzhong is considered to be one of the greatest contemporary Chinese painters, and Shang Xiaoyun one of the four great twentieth century opera performers.
UK Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott will present later on Thursday the Labour Party's vision of post-Brexit immigration system, which prescribes simplified visa regime for skilled workers from abroad.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th September, 2018) UK Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott will present later on Thursday the Labour Party's vision of post-Brexit immigration system, which prescribes simplified visa regime for skilled workers from abroad.

"We have economic needs that dictate we need migrants, to help tackle skills and labour shortages ... I am announcing that Labour in government will establish a completely reformed work visa policy. This policy will sit alongside the existing visas for business trips, students, visitors and tourists ... We will avoid the idiocy of preventing doctors and nurses from coming here to take up job offers. Under our new work visa system, anyone with specified bona fide skills can come here to work," Abbott will say in her speech obtained by The Guardian.

According to Abbott, the new system would allow foreign representatives of a number of professions to get rights of work in the United Kingdom and receive citizenship.

The issue of control over immigration was at the center of the campaign before the 2016 Brexit referendum. The ruling Conservative Party has stressed since the country made the decision to quit the bloc that it would allow the United Kingdom to regain control of its borders.

In 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to keep net migration at "sustainable levels."

In August, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in its report that net migration, or the difference between people coming into a country and those leaving, from the European Union to the United Kingdom has fallen in the year ending March 2018 to its lowest figure since 2012 amid the country's planned exit from the bloc next year.
The UN Security Council on Thursday extended its political mission in Libya for a year but did not endorse a December 10 date for elections that was agreed during a Paris meeting four months ago.

United Nations, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2018 ) :The UN Security Council on Thursday extended its political mission in Libya for a year but did not endorse a December 10 date for elections that was agreed during a Paris meeting four months ago.

Four key leaders from Libya agreed in May to hold the landmark polls on December 10 as part of a French-led plan to stabilize the war-torn north African country despite ongoing violence and deep divisions.

The council unanimously adopted a British-drafted resolution that called for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held "as soon as possible, provided the necessary security, technical, legislative and political conditions are in place.

" France had called for the December 10 election timetable to be maintained, but faced opposition from the United States along with other European Union countries, notably Italy.

US Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Cohen warned during a council meeting last week that "imposing false deadlines will backfire" and lead to worse divisions inside Libya.

Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 overthrow and killing of Moamer Kadhafi, with two rival governments scrambling for control of the oil-producing country.

A UN-brokered ceasefire announced on September 4 has failed to quell fighting which this week targeted Tripoli's airport.
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The UN's Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths has discussed a possible new round of peace talks with the country's Huthi rebels, who last week refused to attend negotiations in Geneva.

Sanaa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Sep, 2018 ) :The UN's Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths has discussed a possible new round of peace talks with the country's Huthi rebels, who last week refused to attend negotiations in Geneva.

Griffiths met with the head of the Huthi delegation, Mohammed Abdulsalam, on Thursday in the Omani capital Muscat, the rebel-run Saba news agency said.

Another Huthi official, Abdelmalak al-Ajri, also attended the meeting where the rebels discussed the reasons for their absence from Geneva with the United Nations envoy.

The first negotiations between Yemen's warring sides in two years were scheduled to open last Thursday, but a Yemeni government delegation left after the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva.
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US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales and his Indonesian counterpart have signed a memorandum to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation between both countries, the Department of State said in a press release on Friday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales and his Indonesian counterpart have signed a memorandum to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation between both countries, the Department of State said in a press release on Friday.

"Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the US Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, Chief of the Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Strengthening Counterterrorism Cooperation," the release said.

Both countries will enhance cooperation by improving the exchange of information and best practices, the release said.

They also pledge to build up their capacity to counter these threats though collaborative training and education, the release added.

Earlier on Friday, Sales and Alius signed the Memorandum of Understanding in Jakarta. The signing concludes Sales' trip through Southeast Asia to visit officials in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to discuss global terrorism and developing cooperation to meet the threat.

Sales also raised the issue of aviation security during his bilateral talks with officials in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in a release on Thursday condemned the Trump administration's protection of al-Qaeda in Syria's Idlib region only days after the US leaders condemned the terrorist group for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

"Two days ago, President [Donald] Trump and Vice President [Mike] Pence delivered solemn speeches about the attacks on 9/11, talking about how much they care about the victims of al-Qaeda's attack on our country," Gabbard said. "But, they are now standing up to protect the 20,000 to 40,000 al-Qaeda and other jihadist forces in Syria, and threatening Russia, Syria, and Iran, with military force if they dare attack these terrorists.

"

Gabbard, a Democrat from the US state of Hawaii, called this stance a double-standard and a betrayal of the American people.

Gabbard along with other US congressmen are calling for the end of Us-sponsored wars and activities to cause regime-change in various countries.

Last week, Trump warned that if the battle in Syria's Idlib region ends in "slaughter," the United States and the rest of the world would get "very angry."
US law enforcement agencies are currently conducting an inquiry into claims alleging that black money from Russia and former Soviet countries was laundered through Denmark's largest Danske Bank's, US media reported on Friday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) US law enforcement agencies are currently conducting an inquiry into claims alleging that black money from Russia and former Soviet countries was laundered through Denmark's largest Danske Bank's, US media reported on Friday.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) newspaper, a whistleblower filed a complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission over two years ago that claimed the money in question had been laundered through Danske's Estonian branch for several years through 2015.

The complaint also alleged the involvement of Deutsche Bank and the Moscow Office of the US Citigroup Inc.

in the scheme, the news outlet added, citing a person familiar with the investigations.

"As a general rule, we do not comment," the Danske spokesman said as quoted by the newspaper, at the same time adding that the bank was often approached by law enforcement bodies.

The representatives of the Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, in turn, also refused to comment on the matter, the WSJ added.

US law provides for restrictions in supplying US Dollars to foreign banks accused of money laundering, a move that could threaten financial institutions with financial devastation.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Relations between Russia and the United States are at unprecedentedly low level, which contradicts national and world interests, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov told reporters.

"The relations are at the unprecedentedly low level. We believe it is an anomaly, which is against not just the national interests of the two countries, but contradicts world's interests," Antonov said on Thursday.

Antonov noted that Russia has no shortage of plans to enhance bilateral relations, adding that gradual development of smaller projects between the two countries may clear the path to realize more ambitious goals.

The Russian ambassador said that an important platform in the development of interregional relations is the Fort Ross Dialogue. The name goes back to the historical settlement of Russian pioneers of the 19th century on the territory of present-day California. The event will take place in San Francisco in mid-October. Authorities from Novgorodskaya and Vologodskaya regions plan to take part in the meeting, as well as representatives of Russian Geographic Society.
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The US Congress needs to hold a hearing on recent gas explosions and fires at dozens of homes in the state of Massachusetts, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey said in a letter on Friday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The US Congress needs to hold a hearing on recent gas explosions and fires at dozens of homes in the state of Massachusetts, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey said in a letter on Friday.

"We urge the Committee to call a hearing immediately with representatives from [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, National Transportation Safety Board], and the natural gas distribution industry, including Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and NiSource, in order to examine whether regulators have adequate authority and resources to detect and remedy violations, respond to natural gas accidents in a timely manner, and ensure better operating procedures for companies linked to repeated misconduct," the letter said.

The gas explosions caused between 60 and 80 fires at home in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, killing one person and injuring at least 25 others, according to the letter.

Media reports indicate the explosions may have been caused by over-pressurization of the pipeline system, the letter added.

The senators also noted that the same gas company, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, was responsible for a 2012 explosion in Springfield that injured 18 people.
The Torch Innovation Precinct at Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW), which is based on a Chinese model, has taken out a top international education award for best Public/Private Partnership at a ceremony in London last week.

The PIEoneer Awards honour innovation and achievements in international education and has recognised the collaboration between UNSW and China's Ministry of Science and Technology, as being highly beneficial to all involved.

UNSW's Torch Innovation Precinct, which launched in 2016 and is the first of its kind outside of China, provides a means by which researchers can connect more quickly and efficiently with organizations interested in their work.

Director of the Knowledge Exchange in the Division of Enterprise at UNSW, Warrick Dawson, told Xinhua "In Australia we've had a long history of being excellent at creating new knowledge but not so good at translating it."

"China's government was encouraging their companies to globalize and to look for new technologies anywhere they could around the world and so this perfect storm meant that we could very quickly find partners for some of our world leading technologies."

Currently the initiative exists only as a "virtual precinct," utilising pre-existing lab space and facilities. However, as of 2019 construction will begin on a purpose built physical precinct.

The physical precincts brings together all of the key elements of the ecosystem, the researchers with the ideas, the companies with the problems to solve, and the ability to translate the technology to the market.

With over 160 Torch Innovation Parks across China, Dawson said the method is "universally recognised as one of the most successful models of translating new technology into the market," and is now benefiting students and researchers in Australia as well.
Over 800 young people from Salesian parishes and schools in Malawi, Zimbabwe and the host Zambia have attended a week-long youth rally in Mansa Diocese convened to sensitise them on the forth-coming Synod for young people to be held in the Vatican, next month.

Mwenya Mukuka  Lusaka, Zambia.

Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) National Youth Coordinator who is also the Provincial Youth Coordinator for the Salesian Sisters, Sr. Chanda Nsofwa, FMA, and Youth Delegate for Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia Province Fr. Christopher Kunda, SDB, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the event and the level of awareness created.

The Youth Rally which was organised by the Salesian family attracted more than 800 youths from Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe with the objective of sensitising the young people on the upcoming youth synod which will take place in October this year, they said.

Young people had opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on the Synod

During the event, young people were given time to express themselves and to ask questions on the topic, Young people in today's world, Vocational Discernment and life choices.

There was time for prayer and reflection

Central to this gathering were moments of prayer, which were well spaced out in the course of each day. There was also the Youth Pilgrimage to the Mansa Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and an outing to Lake Bangweulu in Samfya District where the closing Mass was celebrated.
Jordan's Ambassador to Italy, attending a journalism festival in Italy, speaks of welcoming refugees and the impact it has had on his country.

The refugee situation in Jordan was highlighted this week at the Festival of Mediterranean Journalists taking place in the Italian city of Otranto.

Participating at the festivals 10th edition was the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan, to Italy, Fayiz Khouri, who explained that today the country, home to 21% of Syrian refugees, is experiencing a complicated situation.

He explained that his country has also welcomed thousands of refugees from Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Yemen.

He told Vatican News,  We learn that small countries, as well as big countries can live with the phenomenon of immigration, especially when it is justified. We live with it. It is difficult but possible. He also said that with regards to Jordan, "We" are not witnessing any "social destruction" or "economic devastation".

The Ambassador added, that the Continent of Europe with its tradition, its heart and the importance of its presence on an international level, can live with refugees.

Listen to the interview






Pope Francis meets with Catholic Charitable Organizations who are holding the sixth meeting for coordinating the Churchs response to the crisis in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring countries. He appeals to the international community for peace and for victims.

By Lydia O'Kane

The Popes address to the Catholic Charitable Organizations on Friday offered encouragement and appreciation for the work that they do in Syria, Iraq and neighbouring countries, but it was also a speech in which the Pontiff made a forceful appeal to the international community asking them not to neglect the many needs of the victims of this crisis, and above all to set aside special interests in order to be at the service of peace, and to bring an end to war.

Appeal for the region

We cannot close our eyes, he said, to the reasons that have forced millions of people to leave, painfully, their home countries. At the same time, I encourage all parties involved, and the international community, to renew their commitment to ensuring the safe return of displaced persons to their homes.



The Pope added, ensuring their protection and their future is a demand imposed by civilized behaviour. It will be through drying the tears of children who have seen nothing but ruins, death and destruction that the world will recover its dignity.

Speaking to the representatives gathered in the Vaticans Consistory Hall, Pope Francis told them that the work they were doing with regard to studying the humanitarian aid provided by ecclesial groups, was important to contributing to a better understanding of the needs of these populations and to coordinate aid to them.

The Pope said that for too many years the conflicts of bloodshed in that region, and the situation of peoples in Syria, Iraq and neighbouring countries, have continued to cause great concern.

The Christian Community

During the audience Pope Francis reiterated the fact that there was a real risk that the Christian presence may disappear in the very land from which the light of the Gospel first emanated. He went on to say that, in cooperation with the Sister Churches, the Holy See is working to diligently ensure a future for these Christian communitie



He also said, the whole Church stood with these brothers and sisters in faith giving them the courage not to give in to the darkness of violence and to keep alive the light of hope.

Noting the many initiatives the Catholic Charitable Organizations promote, the Pope praised in particular the great project of supporting the return of Christian communities to the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, in a special way through the Open Hospitals project.

Pope Francis especially encouraged those present to continue to provide for the education of children, employment for young people, closeness to the elderly and those who are psychologically wounded; without forgetting the wounds of the heart, which the Church is called to heal.


Opendoor, the nations fastest-growing online real estate marketplace  which radically simplifies the way people buy and sell homes  announced it has acquired Open Listings, a platform for homebuyers that makes it easier and lower-cost to find, tour, and buy any home on the market.

The acquisition will enable Opendoor to create the first end-to-end marketplace for buying, selling, and trading-in homes  equipping people with the ability to move in just a few clicks.

Opendoor is excited to bring Open Listings to Las Vegas to continue creating more options and a seamless buying and selling experience for Vegas homeowners.

Seventy-one percent of home sellers are also looking to buy a home, according to a 2017 industry report on consumer housing trends. Opendoor gives them the certainty of an offer on their existing home, removing the sale contingency and added stress of listing a home while looking for a new one. With the acquisition, Opendoor customers will be able to line up their home sale with the purchase of any home on the market in a simple, trade-in transaction. Buyers who use Open Listings will also receive a discount on the home purchased through a commission rebate of up to 50 percent.

Opendoor modernized how people sell their homes by making it simple and instant and we are excited to now bring that same simplicity to buying a home, said Eric Wu, founder and CEO of Opendoor. By integrating Open Listings online buying experience with Opendoor, were putting customers in control of the entire process so they can buy, sell or trade-in their home seamlessly be it for retirement, up-sizing for a growing family or moving for a dream job.

Using a mobile phone or computer, customers will be able to tour and submit an offer on any home on the market, secure an offer on their existing home, and align the timing of both. By integrating Open Listings with Opendoors mortgage, title and home services, the company will make it as easy to buy, sell or trade-in a home as it is to hail a ride, book a flight, or shop online.

Opendoor has already begun integrating Open Listings services, which are live in Dallas-Fort Worth today and will soon be rolled out across Opendoors markets.

We share Opendoors vision that buying and selling a home should be radically simplified and on-demand, said Judd Schoenholtz, CEO of Open Listings. Joining forces with Opendoor will make it possible for customers to buy and sell a home with a simple, online process while giving customers a true competitive advantage over other buyers by having an Opendoor offer in their back pocket. Together, were eliminating double moves, added expenses, and months of headaches  which have all made moving a chore rather than the exciting life moment it should be.

Los Angeles-based Open Listings launched in 2015 out of Y Combinator with the mission of making buying a home simple and more affordable. The company developed a proprietary self-service platform that puts the buyer in control of the entire process from search to offer-creation to close. Customers use Open Listings to manage the process and are connected with on-demand agents as needed and receive cost savings of up to 50 percent of the agent commission. Open Listings has 45 full-time employees and currently operates throughout California, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Backed by notable investors such as Matrix Partners, Initialized Capital, Alexis Ohanian and Joe Montana, to date Open Listings has refunded over $8M to customers who have purchased over $1B in homes on the platform.


Smiths Food & Drug, under its parent company The Kroger Co., will be hosting a Make-A-Difference Day event at noon on Tuesday, September 18 at the new Smiths Marketplace store located at 9710 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive in Las Vegas.

This year, Make-A-Difference Day will be held in all its grocery stores in Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico on Tuesday, September 18. On this day, the generous associates will have the opportunity to volunteer their valuable time while Smiths donates the food necessary to create over 225,000 meals for hungry families in the communities they serve. Each Smiths store will package 250 individual preplanned meal kits which Three Square Food Bank will then pickup and deliver to local families.

September is national hunger action month and September 19 also marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan. Smiths and its parent company Kroger wanted to do something bold to celebrate this anniversary while giving back to the communities in a meaningful way by taking part in Make-A-Difference Day.
Chinese digital TV firm StarTimes pledges continued efforts to contribute to China-Africa cooperation alongside the continent's transformation in diverse areas like health and education, the company said on Wednesday.

"StarTimes has been in the frontline of China-Africa cooperation playing active roles in African digital migration progress, the project of Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African villages and African HIV/AIDS prevention campaign," the Chinese TV firm said in a statement issued n Nairobi.

StarTimes noted the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) had reaffirmed the flourishing and mutually beneficial ties between China and African countries.

"The success of the FOCAC Beijing Summit has once again fully demonstrated that the traditional friendship between China and Africa enjoys a solid foundation and that China-Africa practical cooperation is full of vitality," said StarTimes.

"It has set new grand goals for upgrading the relations between China and Africa, and China and Africa have always been close partners sharing weal and woe and the same destiny," the company added.

StarTimes said that 18 African leaders who visited its headquarters in Beijing during the FOCAC summit, lauded its support for skills upgrade and career advancement in the continent.

The African leaders specifically hailed StarTimes' "Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages" that aims to ensure rural households have access to digital signal with high-quality images and rich TV programs, said the statement.

According to StarTimes, about 10,112 villages in more than 20 African countries will benefit from this project to expand access to digital broadcasting signals.

"Public institutions will be installed with StarTimes projector TVs or one 32 inch Digital TV while 20 households in each village will receive satellite TV decoders and dish," said StarTimes, adding that it has been involved in successful digital transformation in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia.

Currently, StarTimes has established its presence in more than 30 African countries where it has partnered with governments to fast-track a transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, it added.
The European Parliament on Thursday voted in favor of a resolution calling for political freedoms in Cambodia and sanctions against the government.

The resolution called for dropping all charges against the countrys former opposition leader, Kem Sokha, who was placed under house arrest earlier this week after more than a year in detention.

Sokha was arrested in September on treason charges and his Cambodia National Rescue Party dissolved by the Supreme Court over allegations its members plotted to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Critics of the governments widespread crackdown on the opposition, independent media and civil society in the run-up to the general election in July, which Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party won by a landslide, say the charges are politically motivated.

The EU resolution calls for asset freezes on senior Cambodian officials and action to be taken over Cambodias membership of preferential trading schemes.

Federica Mogherini, the EUs foreign and security representative, said Cambodias fragile democracy had taken steps backward in recent years.

Recent release on bail of opposition leader Kem Sokha is a positive first step even though he was released under very restrictive conditions, Mogherini told the EU parliament. We now expect the dropping of all charges and removal of all restrictions placed upon him and we invite the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition to start a dialogue on the way forward.

At the 1991 Peace Accord, the Cambodian government had agreed to a legally binding obligation to maintain a pluralistic and democratic system so we expect now the Cambodian authority to restore free political debates and competition and to respect the space for free and independent civil society, Mogherini said. We continue to see this negative trend without any changes as I said we are ready, in the council, to take appropriate measures.

The EU is currently reviewing Cambodias membership of a trading scheme known as Everything But Arms, which allows Cambodian goods, predominantly textiles, tariff-free access to EU markets.

Sam Rainsy, Sokhas predecessor in the presidency of the CNRP, said the vote marked a historic day.

We thank the European Parliament and its 28 member states and their almost 700 parliamentarians for voting in favor of the resolution on Cambodia. It was a unanimous vote without any objection. They understand that its time to help Cambodian people to realize full freedom, justice, and real democracy.

But government spokesman Phay Siphan said, Cambodia wont kneel under any pressure from foreign powers, claiming the Cambodian courts decisions were independent of political interference.
Cambodia continues to rank near the bottom in almost all global development indicators but left the group of least developed countries in 2015, upgrading its status to a low-middle income country.

However, according to the World Bank, about a fifth of Cambodians still live below the national poverty line.

Unhealthy Growth

Cambodia has maintained strong economic growth over the last decade. According to the World Bank, the country had a gross domestic product (GDP) of about $20 billion in 2016, and per capita, it increased to about $1,200 in 2016 from $250 in 1995.

Economic development has been very successful. Over the 15-year period, you see the economy has more than tripled in size. Poverty fell by more than a half. Thats quite a remarkable achievement, Nick Beresford, UNDP Country Director, told VOA Khmer.

But Cambodia's debt has also increased, reaching almost $6 billion in 2017. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that Cambodias debt is still manageable, but it is vulnerable to external shocks.

Debt sustainability is becoming increasingly vulnerable to adverse macroeconomic shocks including a fall in exports and a disorderly adjustment in the exchange rate, fiscal revenue shocks, and the materialization of contingent liabilities, a 2017 IMF report said.

Many Cambodian who live slightly above the poverty line are vulnerable to those shocks, Beresford said.

You have the people below the poverty line. At the moment, we estimate that it is probably at 10 percent of the population underneath the national poverty line, he said. But there is a large section of the population who are only just above the poverty line. They might not be counted as the poor, but they're quite near poor. We would categorize them as being vulnerable.

Chinese Loans

China is the largest donor to Cambodia. It pledged about $20 million for the national elections. China has also provided $100 million in military aid to Cambodia.

China has faced strong criticism as a creditor for allegedly manipulating the debt conditions to grab the sovereign assets of the debtors. Critics provide numerous examples of the so-called Chinese debt trap in Asia and Africa.

Some scholars have pointed out that Cambodia needs to pay attention to rising Chinese debt as it could be unsustainable and unhealthy for Cambodias economy in the long run.

"I think the possibility of it [Cambodia] going into the trap gets heightened. It gets heightened when more debt is taken on, and there are no alternative sources of revenue or even alternative sources of bidders for projects that are brought in, said Charles Edel, a senior research fellow and a visiting scholar at the United States Studies Center.

Some scholars view Chinese investment as a tool to suppress democratic development and human rights in the country.

Brian Eyler, a director of the Southeast Asia program at the Stimson Center, said that Chinese aid hurts democracy and human rights, and leaves Cambodia with unsustainable development.

"When Chinese investment and resources come in, they come in with a certain way of looking at development. That is very much imported by China's own development pathway. What we see happening is kind of China's way of development happening in Cambodia," he said. "That can be harmful to the economy, for the environment, and the individual overall.

While it is often said that Chinese aid comes without the strings related to the democratic development and human rights attached to western aid, Eyler says Chinese political interests, particularly with regards its relations with Asean states, do play a part.

I dont agree that there are no strings attached to China investment. I think that there is internal trading for political benefits for both China and Cambodia, said Eyler.

Diversifying sources of investment and aid is beneficial for Cambodia to make the country more competitive, said Edel.

"There is an interest and need for, of course, foreign investment and investment that comes from multiple sources, thats always how you make it more competitive for a country. And yet, there seems to be a restriction on that," he said.

Weak Institutions

The ruling Cambodian Peoples Party own every seat in the general election in July, in the absence of the countrys main opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party.

Eyler said that having only CPP politicians in parliament could be a risk for the countrys development. "We can imagine that the CPP, all party members think the same way," said Eyler.

Beresford expressed concerns over the repression of political and civil rights in the country. He said that the UNDP and the UN country team stand behind the secretary general calling for upholding democratic rights in Cambodia.

On the issue of governance, just a couple days before the elections, the secretary-general issued a statement. He called for an inclusive and pluralistic political process. He called for the government to uphold international human rights standards, guarantee for civil society actors and political parties to exercise democratic rights, he added.

Weak Decentralization

Cambodia has a long history of centralizing state power, having moved to strengthen decentralization since the early 2000s. But it has not delivered the desired results, experts say, despite holding local elections.

The decentralization reform started since 2002. Cambodia set up the Commune/Sangkat Development Fund since 2002, which was largely funded by the development partners, Theara Khoun, a researcher on Cambodias decentralization, told VOA Khmer. In recent years, it shared about 3 percent of the national budget.

Khoun raised concerns over the unclear role of local government departments, which lead to inefficiencies.

For functional decentralization at the subnational level, the subnational functions are unclear, Theara said. The government should consider setting more specific functions so that the local government can implement the policy efficiently.

Eyler said that an absence of a healthy opposition in Cambodia would leave the country with a lack of debate.

There are many reasons to be concerned about the future of good governance in Cambodia. Without that healthy opposition party [the CNRP], who will drive that important conversation forward?
The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday set a vote for next week on President Donald Trump's U.S. Supreme Court pick while a Democratic senator sent unspecified new information about nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the FBI.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the committee's top Democrat, said she received the information about Kavanaugh from a person she declined to identify. In a statement, Feinstein did not specify the nature of the information.

The New York Times, citing two people familiar with the matter, reported that the information related to "possible sexual misconduct" involving Kavanaugh and a woman when they both were in high school.

Feinstein said the person who provided the information "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities."

White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Kavanaugh has repeatedly been vetted by the FBI. "Not until the eve of his confirmation has Senator Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," Kupec added.

An FBI spokesman confirmed the agency has received the information. "Upon receipt of the information on the night of Sept.12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh's background file, as per the standard process," the spokesman said.

In a statement, the FBI confirmed receipt of the information. A person familiar with the vetting process, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no new FBI criminal investigation had been opened.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Kavanaugh on the allegation.

"This has all the indicators of an 11th hour character assassination and a desperate attempt to delay and defeat the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh," said Carrie Severino, chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative activist group that supports Trump's judicial picks.

Democrats have fought Kavanaugh's nomination and sought to delay his confirmation. In party-line votes, the Republican-led committee on Thursday rejected motions by Democratic senators seeking access to more documents relating to Kavanaugh's service in the White House under Republican President George W. Bush more than a decade ago.

The committee agreed to vote on the nomination on Sept. 20, with a final Senate confirmation vote likely by the end of the month.

"I don't understand the rush to judgment. I really do not," Feinstein said.

Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge nominated by Trump to the lifetime position on the high court, made no major missteps in two days of questioning by senators during his confirmation hearing last week.

Democrats have said they want to learn more about whether Kavanaugh played a significant role in controversial policy debates in the Bush White House, including those relating to the treatment of detainees held after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Kavanaugh worked in the White House from 2001 to 2006. Trump's fellow Republicans control the Senate by a narrow margin. With no sign yet of any Republicans planning to vote against Kavanaugh, he seems poised to win confirmation despite Democratic opposition.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, targeted by Democrats as a possible swing vote, came under new pressure from a group in her home state of Alaska to oppose Kavanaugh. The Alaska Federation of Natives, the state's largest indigenous organization, issued a statement condemning Kavanaugh's positions on indigenous rights.
The trade unions of Bangladeshi garment workers have rejected a government-proposed wage hike.

Workers took to the streets of Dhaka, the capital, Friday to protest the minimum monthly wage increase from $63 per month to $95 which is set to go into effect in December.

"We can't accept this salary. It is an injustice and inhuman," union leader Jolly Talukder, told the French news agency AFP. "It is cheating the workers."

Union leaders want a minimum wage of at least $180 a month for their members.

Bangladesh is one of the world's largest manufacturers of ready-made clothing, due in large part to the low wages paid to garment workers.

The working conditions of garment workers came under scrutiny in 2013, with the collapse of the eight-story Rana Plaza building in Khaka that killed more than 1,100 garment factory workers and turned a spotlight on the hazardous conditions in the industry.

The unions have mounted demonstrations for years for higher salaries.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Friday denied a sexual misconduct allegation from when he was in high school.

In a statement released by the White House, Kavanaugh said: "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time."

Kavanaugh's statement comes after Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said she has notified federal investigators about information she received about the nominee but won't disclose publicly.

The New Yorker reported the alleged incident took place at a party when Kavanaugh, now 53, was attending Georgetown Preparatory School. The woman making the allegation attended a nearby school.

The magazine says the woman sent a letter about the allegation to Democrats. A Democratic aide and another person familiar with the letter confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that the allegation is sexual in nature. Two other people familiar with the matter confirmed to the AP that the alleged incident happened in high school. They were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The AP has not confirmed the details of the alleged incident in The New Yorker's account.

Other women back Kavanaugh

Rallying to Kavanaugh's defense, 65 women who knew him in high school issued a letter, released by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying he has "always treated women with decency and respect."

"We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he attended high school between 1979 and 1983," wrote the women, who said most of them had attended all-girl high schools in the area. "For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect."

The Judiciary Committee, which has finished confirmation hearings for Kavanagh, is scheduled to vote next Thursday on whether to recommend that he be confirmed by the full Senate.

The White House called Feinstein's move an "11th hour attempt to delay his confirmation."

The California Democrat said in a statement Thursday that she "received information from an individual concerning the nomination." She said the person "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision."

The FBI confirmed that it received the information Wednesday evening and included it in Kavanaugh's background file, which is maintained as part of his nomination. The agency said that is its standard process.

Feinstein's statement that she has "referred the matter to federal investigative authorities" jolted Capitol Hill and threatened to disrupt what has been a steady path toward confirmation for Kavanaugh by Republicans eager to see the conservative judge on the court.

Lawmakers react

Feinstein has held the letter close. Democratic senators on the panel met privately Wednesday evening and discussed the information, according to Senate aides who were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some senators, including the No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, learned about the information for the first time at the meeting, according to one of the aides.

A spokeswoman for Representative Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat, declined to confirm reports that the congresswoman had forwarded a letter containing the allegations to Feinstein. She said her office has a confidentiality policy regarding casework for constituents.

A White House spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, said the FBI has vetted Kavanaugh "thoroughly and repeatedly" during his career in government and the judiciary.

She said Kavanaugh has had 65 meetings with senators  including with Feinstein  sat through over 30 hours of testimony and publicly addressed more than 2,000 questions. "Not until the eve of his confirmation has Senator Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," she said.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Republican and a member of the committee, was also skeptical.

"Let me get this straight: this is (sic) statement about secret letter regarding a secret matter and an unidentified person. Right," he tweeted.

Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, was unaware of the information until it was made public, according to a GOP committee aide. Kavanaugh has undergone six federal background checks over time in government, including one most recently for the nomination, the aide said.

The new information on Kavanaugh was included Thursday in his confidential background file at the committee and is now available for senators to review, the aide said.

Democrats don't have the votes to block Kavanaugh's nomination if Republicans are unified in favor of it.
The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) says it is increasing Ebola prevention efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The agency says community resistance to efforts to contain Ebola is growing and must be fought to stop the spread of the fatal disease.

Since the disease outbreak was declared on August 1 in Congo's North Kivu and Ituri provinces, UNICEF has been working with communities to inform them about how the virus spreads and what measures to take to protect themselves from being infected.



The U.N. agency is working with community and religious leaders in the city of Beni, where health workers are facing hostility and resistance. UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac said the spread of false rumors and fear about Ebola are endangering efforts to contain the virus.



"We are working with anthropologists, particularly in this Beni neighborhood, who ensure that the response is sensitive to cultural beliefs and practices, particularly around caring for sick and diseased individuals, and addressing population concerns about secure and dignified burials," he said.



Boulierac said UNICEF is expanding its community outreach program to support thousands of people at risk in the city of Butembo. Two new Ebola cases recently were confirmed in this important commercial center with nearly one million inhabitants.



He said UNICEF is deploying a team of 11 specialists in community communication, education and psycho-social assistance. The agency also will provide water, sanitation and hygiene to help contain the disease and avoid further spread of the epidemic.



In its latest assessment, the World Health Organization counted 197 confirmed and probable cases, including 92 deaths.



The outbreak in the DRC is the 10th since Ebola was first identified in 1976.
Elizabeth Smart said Thursday the news that one of her kidnappers will be released from prison next week was "a big shock," and she hopes there is a way the woman can be committed to a treatment facility since there is no legal recourse to keep her behind bars.

Wanda Barzee is expected to be freed next week after 15 years in custody, following a surprise announcement that Utah authorities had miscalculated the amount of time the 72-year-old woman should serve.

Standing on the steps of the Utah state capitol, Smart, now 30, recalled some of the horrors she experienced when she was snatched from her home in 2002.

"She is a woman who had six children yet could co-conspire to kidnap a 14-year-old girl, and not only sit next to her while being raped but encourage her husband to continue to rape me," Smart said. "So do I believe she's dangerous? Yes."

She said Barzee "saw me as her slave. She called me her handmaiden. She never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known."

Barzee is expected to be freed next Wednesday.

Attorney Scott Williams has said Barzee has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, but he's not concerned about her being a danger to the community. Williams did not immediately return a message seeking comment Thursday.

The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole set a January 2024 release date in June, but her attorney questioned whether that included time she'd served in a federal prison. On Tuesday, the board decided that she had served her sentence.

"I only found out shortly before everybody else," said Smart, who is now a married mother and activist for victims' rights. "And yes, it was a big shock. Only months ago, I was on my way to a parole hearing and was told she would never be let out before 2024."

Her father, Ed Smart, also questioned why authorities didn't give her more warning about the impending release.

Smart said she is taking unspecified steps to protect her family, but that she refuses to live in a "state of fear."

If Barzee had shown more clear signs of rehabilitation, she would likely feel differently about her release, Smart said.

"I do believe in forgiveness. I am Christian," she said. She also urged authorities to reconsider the process for release decisions to put greater weight on potential threat as well as time served.

Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint by street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who came in through an open kitchen window. The kidnapping triggered waves of fear around the country.

Smart was found while walking with Barzee and Mitchell on a street in the suburb of Sandy, Utah, by people who recognized the couple from media reports.

Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and raping Smart. He and Barzee were married at one point.

Barzee was convicted of both state and federal crimes, and transferred to the Utah state prison in April 2016 after finishing a federal sentence in Texas. She will be under federal supervision for five years after her release from prison.

If she violates the conditions of her release, which will include mental health treatment and an order not to contact Smart's family, she could go back to prison, said Smart's attorney Brett Tolman.

Tolman was previously the U.S. Attorney for Utah who prosecuted Mitchell, and is now in private practice.

Barzee's family could also request a possible civil commitment to a mental-health facility, if that's warranted, he said.
The Third Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo will be held in Dunhuang City, Gansu province, September 27-28, according to a news briefing held in Beijing on Thursday.



With the theme of "Showcasing the glamor of the Silk Road, promoting people-to-people exchanges and making the world more harmonious and beautiful," the expo will present various activities, including a summit conference, forums, art performances and cultural exhibitions, according to Chen Qing, director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee.

The expo will enhance technological applications and realize digital management of information and services, Chen said. Various new media platforms will be used to disseminate information on the progress of the event, she added.

To promote Dunhuang culture to a greater extent, a total of 245 ancient string, percussion and wind instruments that appeared on the famous Dunhuang grotto frescos have been recreated and restored, and will be exhibited and played, Chen said. Master artists from the Repin Academy of Fine Arts in Russia were invited to create oil paintings on the Dunhuang cultural theme, and the works will be showcased during the expo, she added.

Some 1,000 guests from over 100 countries and regions are expected to attend the expo, with Ukraine being the special "guest country."

Jointly sponsored by the Gansu Provincial People's Government, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Radio and Television Administration and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the previous two sessions of the event took place in Dunhuang in 2016 and 2017.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday in the Russian resort city of Sochi, senior Turkish officials said.



The meeting comes as the international community has raised concerns over a potential Syrian government offensive in Idlib province, bordering Turkey, the last stronghold of the armed opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.



Speaking at a televised news conference Friday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country is ready to cooperate with anyone in fighting terrorist organizations in Idlib, but added that the killing of civilians, women and children under the pretext of fighting terrorism is not human.



Turkey fears that a large-scale offensive against Idlib will cause a new influx of refugees into its territory, where more than 3 million Syrians have already taken refuge.



Erdogan and Putin met last week at a summit on Syria organized by their Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.



Erdogan pushed unsuccessfully for declaring a cease-fire in Idlib province, where Damascus regime forces were stationed for several days, ready to launch an offensive.



Russia and Iran are key allies of al-Assad's regime. Turkey, however, backs opposition fighters seeking the ouster of the Syrian leader.
The European Union on Friday urged member countries to work together to avoid turning Europe into a confusing patchwork of different time zones, after announcing plans to abolish seasonal clock changes.

The European Commission wants to end the longstanding practice of putting clocks forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the autumn, arguing that it causes unjustified disruption.

Each EU country is being asked to decide whether it wants to stay permanently on what is now their summer or their winter time.

This will end the twice-yearly ritual of time changes, but raises the possibility that neighboring countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands could end up an hour apart.

To avoid a mishmash of time zones in neighboring countries, the bloc's Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, who is leading the initiative, urged governments to cooperate as they make their choice.

"Member states now have to decide  either they want to stick with summer or winter time," Bulc told reporters.

"In order to maintain a harmonized approach, we are encouraging consultations at national levels to ensure a coordinated approach of all member states."

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the plan unexpectedly last month after an online consultation which generated some 4.6 million responses from EU citizens  mostly from Germany, where the clock change is a major issue.

Brexit issue

The proposal also raises a fresh Brexit conundrum: If it goes ahead, EU member Ireland will stop changing the clocks, but British-ruled Northern Ireland will continue the practice.

The British government said it has "no plans to change daylight saving time," meaning that for six months of every year, Ireland and Northern Ireland would be an hour apart.

Bulc did not give a clear response when asked about this issue but pointed to the fact the EU manages to "coexist" with three time zones at present.

Ireland's Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said he had taken note of the commission proposal.

"There are certain aspects and consequences for us in Ireland that will require careful and detailed consideration and, therefore, I will be listening carefully to the concerns of agencies and stakeholders," Flanagan added.

The plan still needs approval by the European Parliament and the 28 member countries but the commission, the bloc's executive arm, hopes to bring in the change as early as next year.

Wartime energy

Many European countries began changing the clock seasonally in World War I to save energy, with the practice reinforced during World War II and during the energy crisis in the 1970s.

The practice has since been harmonized across Europe, with all Europeans advancing their clock by an hour on the last Sunday of March and putting it back an hour on the last Sunday of October.

Bulc said the energy-saving justification no longer applied, while commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic insisted: "Brussels isn't micromanaging people's lives for the sake of it."
Sitting on a ledge in front of Ayelew Desale's grocery store behind Tel Aviv's central bus station, Selemon Tesfy inhaled the last bits of his cigarette and recalled his flight from Eritrea to avoid a lifetime of servitude. He was kidnapped in Sudan, sold to Sinai Bedouins, and freed only after his family gathered its savings, borrowed money, went begging and paid $30,000 to secure his release.

Tesfy reached Israel in 2011 and repaid his debt, but last year Israel's parliament, the Knesset, passed a law that slashed his take-home pay. Now employers who hire illegal migrants like Tesfy must deposit 20 percent of their pay in a fund where it will stay until they leave the country, providing they leave when ordered to go. Tesfy, who cleans knives in the meat section of a supermarket, said he can no longer send remittances home.

Several human rights and aid organizations have appealed the law to Israel's High Court of Justice. "Deteriorating poor people to even more bitter poverty is extremely brutal," they argued in their complaint.

One aid organization, Kav La'Oved, said that since that law passed, about 300 people reported moving to jobs where they were paid in cash, cut expenses on food and medicine, or were working longer hours. Assaf, another aid organization, said that more than 1,300 people have requested food or live in fear of losing their jobs. Many experience health and mental problems.

Bisrat Gebryesus, director of the Eritrean Women's Center in Israel, says prostitution is on the rise. Most mothers are single parents who need money for food and kindergarten expenses. Gebryesus said a woman in this situation sometimes has "no choice but to sell her body."

None of the people interviewed for this report said they cut down on the amount of food they buy. Desale, the grocer, noticed no change in his clients' purchasing habits.

But what is obvious is that people are moving to more crowded homes. Beni Shasha, a real estate agent, said he has noted suffocating, dirty apartments with four, five or six people sleeping in a room.

Solomon Gebreyohanes left a small apartment to share another with three other men.

Gebreyohanes cleans offices and translates at Assaf, the aid organization. He used to film community events and edit them, but not anymore. In his current apartment, there is no room for his computer. "I can't make any noise," he said.

Targeting 'infiltrators'

The law passed last year aims to push illegal migrants to leave.

Israeli officialdom calls them "infiltrators." Most are from Eritrea and Sudan, so sending them home would violate international norms that prohibit repatriation to countries where they might be exposed to torture or cruel, degrading punishment. Except for rare exceptions, there is no other country willing to host them.

In recent years, Israel locked thousands of migrants in the desert, outlawed hiring them, then paid them to go to Rwanda and Uganda. The courts outlawed the detentions and the options for sending migrants to Rwanda and Uganda fizzled out.

Israel then signed an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, whereby the U.N. would relocate half the migrants and Israel would issue visas to the other half. The migrants are prominent in some low-income Tel Aviv neighborhoods and their Israeli neighbors, who claim to be living in fear, protested vehemently. Right-wing politicians joined the critics and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled the agreement.

The 35,000 so-called infiltrators hardly scratch the overall demography of Israel and its population of almost 9 million. But the government is concerned that infiltrators would flood Israel if it hints at readiness to accept them, said Dr. Amnon Kartin of Tel Aviv University who specializes in geography and state policies. Israel would then cease having a Jewish character, he added.

Enforcing new law

The government has, nevertheless, been lax in enforcing the new take-home pay law. The manager of a branch of the Israeli Aroma Cafe chain in the central Israeli city of Modiin was surprised to hear such a law existed. A pay slip he had for an African employee showed the only deductions were for income tax and payments to the Israeli national insurance system.

In Tel Aviv, Mula Avraham, an Eritrean who handles stock in a grocery store, said uneducated migrants succumbed to the law but others who can read and follow developments persuaded employers not to cut their pay. "The [deducted] money would be lost. Really lost," he said, adding that many workers switch jobs and "where will you find that money? What lawyer will search for it?"

Gebreyohanes fears asking his employers for proof that they have properly deposited his money. "They can fire me," he explained.

At the court hearing, the state attorney's representative, Shosh Shmueli, confirmed that "no deposits were made for most of the infiltrators."

The President of the Supreme Court, Justice Esther Hayut, ordered the government to report by October 7 what it is doing to enforce compliance. One of the justices, Isaac Amit, put it bluntly. The government's action, Amit said, "is [designed] to make the workers' lives miserable."



An earlier version of this story misspelled Solomon Gebreyohanes' name. VOA regrets the error.
Russia is holding its largest military exercises since the Cold War, known as Vostok-18, and for the first time it has invited contingents from China and Mongolia. The war games come as relations between Moscow and the West continue to worsen and the trade war between Beijing and Washington continues to deepen. So is a new alliance emerging to challenge the West? Henry Ridgwell reports.
As Florence makes landfall in the Carolinas, the White House said that President Donald Trump plans to travel to areas affected by the hurricane.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Friday that Trump would head to storm-damaged regions "early to middle next week" once conditions improve and it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts.

On Friday, Trump tweeted his support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), first responders and law enforcement, stating that they are doing an "incredible job."

Trump has been using Twitter to pass on emergency information and assure people his administration is "totally prepared to face Florence. On Wednesday he posted a video on his account stating that "we are ready although bad things can happen when you're talking about a storm this size.

Trumps tweets reiterated remarks he made during a Congressional Medal of Honor event at the White House late Wednesday, when he stressed the safety of the American people is his absolute highest priority," and that his administration is sparing no expense.



Trump was briefed by officials on Florence emergency preparedness at the White House Situation Room later on Friday.

White House officials say "the President is expected to travel to areas affected by the storm early to middle of next week, once it is determined his travel will not disrupt any rescue or recovery efforts."

The administration has put preparations in place to assist states and local governments, including deploying personnel from FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also been deployed to set up temporary emergency power teams.

Criticism on Puerto Rico response

On Thursday, Trump faced criticism for disputing the official death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricanes Maria and Irma that hit last year. On Twitter he said 3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico."

An independent study concluded the death toll from Hurricane Maria was nearly 3,000.



Trump also alleged on Twitter, without evidence, that opposition Democratic Party members inflated the death toll.

At a news conference to discuss hurricane response and recovery early Friday, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi responded to Trumps tweet.

Think about that," she said, "pray over that. Think of the people who are affected by that.



She added that the attitude from the administration is unacceptable and that we have a moral obligation to do better, not only to finish the job of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but to prevent the same type of inadequate response from ever happening again.



Hurricane Florence arrived on North Carolina's Atlantic coast early Friday, making landfall near the town of Wrightsville Beach, with maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 150 kilometers per hour.



Florence had been downgraded to a Category One hurricane before landfall, and is forecast to significantly weaken as it moves across central South Carolina Saturday.



More than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and state of Virginia had been urged to evacuate. Residents inland are warned of life-threatening floods and loss of electricity.
Interfaith and human rights groups gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia, this past week to show their support for Meiliana, an Indonesian Buddhist who was sentenced to 18 months prison in August for complaining about the volume of the call to prayer in the town of Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra.

The case has again brought the Muslim-majority country's controversial blasphemy laws to the fore, with religious minority groups concerned it signals further erosion of their rights amid rising Islamic conservatism.

In a declaration, the groups called for the release of Meiliana, saying she was "recently imprisoned for expressing her personal opinion peacefully." The statement was signed by Amnesty International, leading bodies representing Christian, Hindu and Confucian Indonesians, and the Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia.

In 2016, the now-44-year-old of Chinese ethnicity privately voiced to the son of an imam near her house that the call to prayer from the local mosque had become louder.

"Even if you look at the fundamental principles of the law, this is not blasphemy," said Rumadi Ahmad, a religious scholar and a senior member of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, who was used as an expert witness in the case. "But many judges do not have a comprehensive understanding of the meaning of blasphemy."

Suhadi Sendjaja, the chairman of Buddhist organization Niciren Syosyu Indonesia, said, "This is a ruling not from Islamic authorities, but from a law issued by the president  it is not only for Chinese people, or for Christians, or Buddhists, but also for adherents of Islam."

In contrast to Meiliana's sentence, however, several hardline Muslims who attacked Chinese businesses and 12 Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai in anger over her alleged blasphemy were sentenced to a maximum of two months behind bars.

Politicization of religion

Blasphemy has technically been illegal in Indonesia since 1965, when it was made a crime to criticize, be hostile to or adhere to "deviant" interpretations of one of the nation's six official religions: Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Its use, however, has risen exponentially during Indonesia's democratic era  particularly since the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was elected in 2004. He served for 10 years.

Amnesty says at least 106 people were sentenced under blasphemy charges between 2005 and 2014. Prosecutions have disproportionately targeted minorities  particularly the Shia and Ahmadiyya communities that are considered "deviant" by the Sunni Muslim majority.

In May 2017, the country saw its most high-profile conviction yet  former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. The widely popular ethnic Chinese Christian was sentenced to two years in prison after he was found to have insulted the Quran, following months of mass demonstrations by Muslim groups.

For Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun, a law lecturer at the University of Indonesia, the increased use of blasphemy laws in Indonesia is representative of the politicization of religion as a tool for the nation's "predatory politics."

"The Meiliana case reflects the rise of religious sentiments in the lead up to [North Sumatra's] gubernatorial election," she told VOA via email.

Protection of minorities

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's annual report for 2018 names Indonesia as one of 12 countries where violations of religious freedom are "systematic, ongoing and egregious," alongside Afghanistan, Iraq and Egypt.

"Indonesia's central government at times responded in a manner that supports religious freedom and related human rights, but provincial and local governments, as well as law enforcement, regularly exacerbated divisions and failed to prevent religious-based discrimination and violence," it said of the situation during 2017.

Irsyad Rafsadie, a researcher at the PUSAD Paramadina Center for the Study of Religion and Democracy, said local law enforcement across Indonesia is often reluctant to prosecute actors from the majority group for fear of further incensing communal tensions.

"Their rulings on perpetrators from the majority group are often not serious," said Irsyad, referring to the light sentencing of Islamic hardliners who attacked Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai. "They proceed with prosecutions as a mere formality."

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he "cannot intervene" in the case of Meiliana, but has suggested that she could appeal to Indonesia's Supreme Court.

A warning for Indonesia

Asked about the likelihood of Indonesia's blasphemy law being overturned, Rafiqa from the University of Indonesia said, "It would be very difficult because two judicial reviews have already been submitted and both of them failed." The conservative Constitutional Court denied a petition to repeal the law in July.

"This is a warning not just for Tanjung Balai or North Sumatra, but for all of Indonesia," said Rumadi of Nahlatul Ulama regarding the Meiliana case, suggesting that issuing a moratorium on the law could be a short-term solution. "There are signs there is narrowing space for tolerance," he added.

"I believe that tolerance is not enough. Tolerance still suggests distance," said Suhadi, the Buddhist leader. "We need acceptance."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says he has no intention of backing down in the face of a "resurgent" Russia, insisting the Western alliance will hold a firm but fair line with Moscow while continuing to accept former Soviet states.



Stoltenberg made the comments Friday, following meetings at the White House with National Security Adviser John Bolton and at the State Department with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.



"For us there is no contradiction between being firm, strong in our approach to Russia, as we are, and at the same time seeking dialogue," he told an audience at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank in Washington.



Tensions between Russia and the West have been rising steadily since Russian forces rolled into Georgia over a decade ago, and reached new heights with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014.



While emphasizing that NATO is not seeking confrontation, Stoltenberg put much of the blame on a Moscow "willing to use military force against neighbors."



"What we have seen is a more resurgent Russia, a Russia which has invested in many different types of capabilities, also in intelligence," he said. "That is the reason why NATO allies have started to invest more [in defense] for the first time since the end of the Cold War."



Stoltenberg's approach contrasts with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly sought to emphasize his ability to get along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his desire to have a better relationship going forward.

Most notably, during his July 16 Summit with Putin in Helsinki, Trump said he believed Putin's claims that Russia did not try to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a claim that contradicted the findings of U.S. intelligence officials and which he subsequently tried to walk back.

Others in the White House have taken a harder line against Moscow. National Security Adviser Bolton warned Russia last month the U.S. is "prepared to take necessary steps" to prevent the Kremlin from interfering in the upcoming midterm elections in November.



But the NATO secretary general said Friday he sees few signs Russia is scaling back its activities.



"We have seen they are using media and social media, disinformation to try to influence political processes in different European, NATO-allied countries," Stoltenberg said, echoing concerns by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who is traveling to the Macedonian capital Skopje on Sunday, that some of those efforts are targeting the upcoming referendum there.



A vote on September 30 to officially change the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia would help pave the way for NATO membership, which Moscow strongly opposes.



Stoltenberg also said NATO would continue to support efforts by both Georgia and Ukraine to become NATO members, moves that Russia has long opposed.

"Georgia will become a member of NATO," he said.



He further warned the alliance has responded to an increased Russian presence in the Arctic by strengthening its overall maritime posture and with member states like Britain and Norway increasing surveillance in the region.



"I still believe it is important to try to keep tensions down in the high north," he said, adding it was NATO's goal to find ways to work with Russia on environmental issues.



Stoltenberg has been in the U.S. meeting with key U.S. officials like Bolton, Pompeo and Mattis in an effort to solidify support for the alliance.



President Trump has consistently criticized NATO members for not spending enough on defense and for making the United States pay an unfair share of the costs.



Stoltenberg on Friday pushed for continued U.S. support for NATO, calling the transatlantic alliance "a bond that guarantees our prosperity, our security, and our freedom."

He also said he is in favor of separate, European Union-led efforts to bolster Europe's defense industry.

"We need more European capabilities. We need more European cooperation on defense," he said, referring to the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, initiative.

"This is not about creating an alternative to NATO. This is about strengthening the European pillar within NATO," he said.

The Trump administration, in April, rolled out an initiative aimed at expanding U.S. arms sales worldwide, with the president himself encouraging allies to buy more U.S.-made weapons systems.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Thursday that the current global approach in the fight against Islamist terrorism adopted since the 9/11 attacks has failed. A more complex strategy is needed, he said.

"The essence of my message today is to say that when you look at the scale and the scope of this problem, without combating the ideology and the ideas, you will never defeat the extremism," Blair said during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, where he introduced the findings of a report by his Institute for Global Change.

"Security measures obviously have in many ways been effective and must remain in place. But the reality is security alone will only slow the violence," Blair said.

The report, Global Extremism Monitor: Violent Extremism in 2017, found that despite counterterrorism efforts to defeat Islamist extremists militarily, the challenge has proliferated over the years. And, there was an increase in the number of terror groups in 2017.

Ideology

The report claimed that ideology is the most influential tool for the global jihadi movement. The ultimate solution, according to the report, requires fighting the ideas that underpin extremist violence.

"The reason why it's so important to focus on the ideas and the roots of this violence is that presently, the world collectively spends hundreds of billions of dollars every year on additional security, airport protection, counterterrorism. It spends a small fraction of that on soft power measures that tackle the underlining ideology," Blair said.

The former prime minister has faced harsh criticism for his role in leading Britain into the 2003 Iraq war. He has admitted in the past that the invasion can partly be blamed for the rise of Islamic State group in the country.

Blair said the international community needed to address the radical ideology  first, by promoting education in Islamic countries to prevent "pollution of mind"; second, by engaging more effectively with young Muslims; third, by supporting Muslim community leaders who reject violence; and finally, by helping fragile states address their governance and economic issues.

9/11 attacks

The warning from Blair comes on the heels of the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States in which nearly 3,000 people were killed. The attack was the deadliest foreign attack on U.S. soil.

A congressionally mandated, bipartisan report on the anniversary of the attack, Beyond the Homeland: Protecting America from Extremism in Fragile States, said terrorists staged five times as many attacks in 2017  10,900 attacks worldwide  as in 2001, and that Islamic extremism has been on the rise.

The report, issued by the U.S. Institute of Peace, said the U.S. should apply a new strategy of prioritizing the stabilization of fragile countries of the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, where groups like IS and al-Qaida can establish a foothold.
Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, the largely autonomous Serb-controlled mini-state within Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Davor Dragicevic he should stop mourning his 21-year-old son. After all he has another one, the Bosnian Serb leader advised last month during a local media interview.

But the 55-year-old restaurant waiter has shrugged off the presidential advice and is refusing to remain quiet. Hes demanding to know how his son died, who killed him, and why.

In the process hes complicating the re-election plans of Dodik, whos been in power since 2010 and advocates tauntingly that Republika Srpska should break away from Bosnia and declare itself an independent state, a move that would shatter the fragile multiethnic peace of the Balkans.

On October 7 Serbs in Republika Srpska and Croats and Bosnian Muslims elsewhere in Bosnia will head to the polls to elect lawmakers to the state-level parliament as well as the presidents and legislatures of the two entities that make up the federation.

Late night protests

Since March 24, when his son David, an IT student, was discovered covered in mud and sand in a sewer at the confluence of two rivers six days after disappearing, Dragicevic has been mounting late night protests in downtown Banja Luka, Republika Srpskas de facto capital.

The protest vigils have attracted hundreds of supporters and a Justice for David Facebook group now has 325,000 members.

A shrine to David has been left unmolested by the police, but overnight midweek the authorities installed CCTV cameras to observe the activity around it, and presumably to identify who attends the Justice for David rallies.

The fact that Dodik could say what he did, says more about him than me, Dragicevic told VOA Wednesday. As he spoke in the strong afternoon sun, well-wishers, young and old, came up to shake his hand and urge him to stay strong.

The authorities have not answered any of my questions about my sons murder, Dragicevic said. He says he has proof corrupt police officers raped and murdered his son. I am not afraid of them, even if they kill me, the truth needs to get out. Even if I had 1,000 children, each one of them would be important, he added.

A cause celebre

Davids death has become a cause celebre in Republika Srpska and has done more than any other agitation, or official reports from international bodies, to cast light on unexplained murders in the Serb-controlled enclave, on endemic corruption, and on the thuggish behavior of the police.

In 2011, the Council of Europe, the leading human rights organization on the continent with 47 member states, criticized police misbehavior in Republika Srpska, saying detainees were being regularly abused.

In 2013, the councils committee on the prevention of torture said it was routine for police to beat up people they arrested and said some detainees had been subjected to electric shocks and even mock executions, invoking awful echoes of the Balkans wars of the 1990s, where torture and murder of civilians were commonplace in a conflict that threw into wide public usage the term ethnic cleansing.

David Dragicevic regularly joined protests about police brutality and unexplained deaths. The initial coroners report said hed committed suicide, despite the autopsy noting there were wounds suggesting he had been in a fight and his death was violent. The verdict was later changed to murder. Police officials claim he was on drugs, although no evidence has been presented.

Panel investigates

Dodiks re-election remains highly probable, and he appears to be coasting to victory, but the Dragicevic affair has admitted some public light on the semi-autocracy the two-term president has shaped, according to Branislav Borenovic, president of the opposition Party of Democratic Progress.

Borenovic chaired a legislative panel investigating how the police and government handled the Dragicevic case, which was staffed mainly by opposition lawmakers.

Dodik saw he had to do something as public interest in the case increased dramatically and he got scared and handed the hot political potato to us, hoping we would fumble it, Borenovic told VOA.

We were given just a month for the investigation; too little time, but it is the first time government officials have had to answer questions in a probe publicly. The police and prosecutors kept contradicting themselves when giving testimony, and we concluded he had been murdered, he added.

Opposition lawmakers are focusing much of their campaigning in the run-up to the October 7 elections on the issue of corruption.

Everything in the end is connected to corruption. How can people live in the country and stay in this country if they see there are people who can do whatever they want without any sanctions and without any penalties and are elected again and again, he said.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department sanctioned the second most important leader in Republika Srpska, Nikola Spiric, for corruption, accusing him of graft and accepting improper benefits in exchange for the performance of public functions.

In an interview with VOA, Spiric denied the accusations, saying he saw them as Washingtons effort to interfere with the October elections.

Whether Dodik is re-elected or not, Davor Dragicevic means to campaign and to get answers.

I am accused by the state of being a traitor, he said. But I will still fight for the truth.
Nila Belfiore-Dulay and her husband, Henryk, took seven days to drive cross-country to their new life in Charleston, South Carolina, last week, because they didn't want to risk flying their dogs, Josie and Annie.

Soon after they arrived, they were told to turn back.

Charleston, in the line of Hurricane Florence, was in a mandatory evacuation zone.

"We were there about five days before they told us we would have to evacuate," Belfiore-Dulay said, sounding politely upbeat but a bit uncertain from a La Quinta motel in Jacksonville, Florida.

Who goes to Florida to escape a hurricane? (Florida is the most "hurricane-prone" state in the U.S., according to several weather-forecasting sites and the U.S. government.) Some pet owners from South Carolina and Georgia wound up there because they couldn't find rooms any closer as they evacuated the area Hurricane Florence was expected to pummel.

"The hotel is packed with dog owners. The dogs are having a blast," Belfiore-Dulay said. "They were unsettled at the beginning. But now that they are settled, they are having a blast."

Proprietor's call

While rumors have been spread on the internet that hotels and motels have to accept guests with pets during emergencies, it is up to the proprietor to accept or deny animal guests unless they are certified service animals, like dogs that assist the blind. Belfiore-Dulay said that after a number of frustrating tries for a room in Georgia, she turned to www.bringfido.com to find a place that would accept humans, plus Josie, her Airedale terrier, and Annie, her Yorkshire terrier.

That's where she found the welcoming La Quinta and other storm evacuees. Of the estimated 90 million pet dogs in the U.S., 50 of them had found refuge at the motel.

Not all people are able or willing to leave their homes and pets in a catastrophe. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, one-third of those polled in a survey chose to stay behind. The main reasons for staying? Eighty-two percent said they did not want to abandon their homes. Forty-four percent said they did not want to leave their pets.

Only 18 percent said they did not want to leave family.

The data came from a poll conducted by the Fritz Institute, a nonprofit organization working "to innovate solutions  for rapid and effective disaster response and recovery."

Animal shelters

Those who cannot flee with their pets often turn to animal shelters to take the pets until the owners can return. Some shelters are so overwhelmed that they close their doors when filled to capacity or are fleeing the storm themselves.

Among those animals that survive a catastrophe after being abandoned, many have no identification collars or tags. Even if rescued, they may never be reunited with their humans. Overwhelmed shelters, as reported by The Washington Post, may eventually euthanize animals.

"Last year alone, the ASPCA responded to six disasters including hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and the wildfires in California, assisting more than 37,000 animals through pre-evacuation, field rescue and post-disaster relief efforts," the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported on its website.

Belfiore-Dulay said the motel managers have been understanding of pet owners who couldn't or wouldn't leave animals behind.

"It's a little bit noisier because of the dogs," Belfiore-Dulay said. "As you walk down the hallway, you hear their noses sniffing at the door. Then they bark, then you hear their owners telling them to calm down."

Residents fled from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in a storm described by meteorologists as having an intensity never seen before. The refugees in Jacksonville are bonding over doggy play dates and shared concerns about what is happening back home.

"We've met people who were in the same boat, and had to leave.  We understand one another," Belfiore-Dulay said.

Staying close to TVs

When not playing with their dogs on the grassy property or its pond  "There are cranes and ducks to torment. ... They are terriers, of course," Belfiore-Dulay said  most people dine out and then return to the motel to gather around the televisions in their rooms.

"We watch a lot of the Weather Channel," Belfiore-Dulay said. The dogs seem to, as well.

The couple hope to finally take possession of their new home next week. Meanwhile, their worldly possessions remain in a storage container near the North Carolina-South Carolina border in the path of Hurricane Florence.

"It's near where they are saying the surges are higher, and that's unsettling," Belfiore-Dulay said.

News photos of drenched people being rescued from flooded areas show some with pets in tow or tucked under their arms. CNN interviewed a woman who had neither the resources nor ability to flee the storm with her seven dogs. Strangers crowdfunded enough money to rent her a van in which she fled to Tennessee.

These evacuees are not alone. Of the more than 66 million households that have pets in the U.S., 66.3 percent say they consider their pets to be family members, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

"Additional study and planning should be considered concerning the care and treatment of family pets and animals in the aftermath of natural disasters," advised Fritz in its report. "Animal assistance agencies should be taken into account in the preparedness planning for major disasters in the United States."
The United States' unilateral measure of imposing additional tariffs won't solve its trade deficit issue, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The widening or narrowing of the trade surplus or deficit is decided by the market, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng said at a press conference in response to a question on China's widened trade surplus with the United States.

China's customs data showed that the country's trade surplus with the United States widened by 7.7 percent to 1.24 trillion yuan (about 181 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months, with China's exports to the United States rising 6.5 percent.

Gao said the fast expansion of exports was mainly due to factors such as increased demand in the U.S. domestic market. It could also be partly due to front-loading by Chinese exporters who are worried about the U.S. tariff policy, Gao said.

Gao said that the U.S. trade deficit is related to its low savings rate, the status of the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency and the country's control on exports to China.

The U.S. side should recognize that the unilateral measure of imposing tariffs cannot solve the problem, Gao said, adding that China and the United States should take pragmatic measures and work together to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral trade.
Aid money urgently needs to be redirected to the poorest countries in order to reach the United Nations' goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, according to a report.

The London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) says middle-income countries receive more aid than the 30 poorest nations. It also warns that at least 400 million people will still be living on less than $1.90 a day, despite government pledges to eliminate all extreme poverty.

In northern Ethiopia, teams of workers dig irrigation channels through orchards and grain fields. Such projects have turned arid plains into fertile farmland, which has quadrupled agricultural production.

The report from the ODI credits Ethiopia's "Productive Safety Net Program," launched in 2005, with lifting 1.4 million people out of extreme poverty. It also enabled Ethiopia to avoid another famine during severe droughts in 2010 and 2015.

In contrast, neighboring Uganda has seen extreme poverty levels rise recently, after a rapid reduction in previous years.

"One of the reasons is because climate change is starting to have an impact in that country," said Marcus Manuel, author of the ODI report. "Now in Ethiopia, they've managed, with a lot of support partly from the U.S., to have programs that support farmers when a sudden climate or weather event happens. In Uganda, they didn't. So when they had a drought, that led to a real increase in poverty. So it's a matter of having the right systems in place."

Ethiopia's program, the largest of any low-income country, pays beneficiaries to work on public works projects such as irrigation, roads, schools and health clinics, which helps to create long-term poverty relief.

Such programs are vital in ending extreme poverty, according to the ODI report. The report says there is an annual funding shortfall of $125 billion in the three core sectors of education, health and what it terms social protection transfers, or welfare.

"You need to do economic growth to do part of things, and you also need investment in the social sectors," Manuel said. "You need to have both sides of the coin to make this work. Donors are investing both in growth and in social sectors, but they're not investing it in the right countries to nearly the extent that's needed. And, in particular, in this report we've identified 29 countries which can't afford the investment needed in the social sectors and donors are not giving enough money to that group of countries."

The statistics show middle-income countries receive more aid than poorer countries, whose share of global aid has fallen over the past six years from 30 percent to 24 percent.

In addition to better aid allocation, the report says more donor nations need to reach the U.N. goal of allocating at least 0.7 percent of gross domestic product to aid budgets. Without urgent action, the authors warn the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 will remain out of reach.
An air defense zone declared by Beijing, or any effort to stop civilian ship traffic, would raise the risk of conflict in the disputed South China Sea after years of calm, because either move would inconvenience day-to-day operations, scholars who follow the region say.

Five other militarily weaker maritime claimants have watched without major protest as China tests bombers, holds naval drills and considers nuclear power stations in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. Last week Chinese news media reported tests of the countrys first domestically made seaplane, for possible use in the disputed waterway.

But other governments  Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam  would step up their protests if Beijing declared an air defense identification zone or began forcibly directing traffic of the numerous privately owned ships that transit the sea, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

It would be a direct confrontation to the principle of freedom of navigation, he said. So far, Chinas position is that Im taking control in several spots in the South China Sea, but China has never disrupted the freedom of navigation, military and civilian, so far.

Countries with competing claims now let one another use the open sea as long as vessels from one avoid islets held by the others. Commercial planes overfly the sea around the clock, and at least one-third of the worlds marine shipping passes through it, along with 1.6 million fishing boats.

Air defense identification zone

Beijing has not declared an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, but the other countries worry because in 2013 it established a zone in the disputed East China Sea. China said that declaration empowered it to direct air traffic over the waterway claimed in part by Japan and Taiwan, but analysts say the zone has been unenforced.

I think the move that people believe will be a game changer is an ADIZ for the South China Sea, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. When ADIZ was first announced for the East China Sea, people have been chasing the Chinese to ask that question.

China may be holding off any South China Sea air defense zone until able to implement it, Sun said. Tension with the United States, which occasionally passes navy ships through the South China Sea to assert its freedom of navigation, might also motivate China to mothball any ADIZ plans, she added. The two powers are locked in a trade dispute.

The East China Sea zone is more of a political and symbolic practice, Huang said.

Beijing calls about 90 percent of the South China Sea its own, citing historical records to back its claim. The sea that stretches from Taiwan to Singapore is prized for fisheries, shipping lanes, oil and gas.

China has reclaimed land in the seas Paracel and Spratly island chains and sent military units to some of those newly built artificial islands. Other claimants have said little in recent years as China has stepped up investment and economic aid to its neighbors. China and the Southeast Asian claimants are working this year on a code of conduct to head off maritime mishaps.

Ship traffic control

China has the radars and fleet to control movements of private vessels in the disputed sea, but any such restrictions would anger other countries by squelching income from fishing, shipping and undersea gas exploration, analysts believe. China has made no announcement of this type.

A spike in Chinese military vessels may upset people in the Philippines, for example, as the fishing-intensive countrys president, Rodrigo Duterte, tries to work with China but faces public skepticism about Beijings maritime expansion.

They are trying to assure the public the government is doing something, and one of the areas of course is how the government approaches China, said Maria Ela Atienza, political science political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman. People will react more when they see military ships in the disputed areas.

China will probably avoid making new military moves, such as sending an aircraft carrier fleet, to avoid driving ASEAN into the arms of the United States, said Alan Chong, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines belong to ASEAN, which stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

But non-Chinese fishing fleets could face trouble from their Chinese counterparts or from search-and-rescue boats with government backing, Chong said. Some scholars call these fleets, some backed by coast guard vessels, a militia.

Fishing fleets, humanitarian assistance vessels, these are the ones that are pushing Chinas claims, Chong said. There is where the militarization is happening, except that it cannot be called militarization.
Russia is holding its largest military exercises since the Cold War in the far eastern part of the country, and for the first time it has invited contingents from China and Mongolia.

About 36,000 tanks and 300,000 Russian troops, a third of the countrys military personnel, are on maneuvers in the vast expanses of eastern Siberia. China has sent more than 3,000 troops.

The skies are patrolled by 1,000, aircraft, including strategic long-range bombers. In the Arctic and Pacific oceans, 80 Russian warships are conducting mock battles and landing drills.

Russian President Vladimir Putin took a front-row seat to observe the exercises Thursday and praised the relationship with the countrys eastern neighbors.

I would like to say a special thank you to the armed forces of the Peoples Republic of China and Mongolia. Our fraternity in arms has long and firm traditions, Putin said.

WATCH: Russian War Games Seek to Cement Ties With China, Send Message to West

Global resonance

The war games, known as Vostok 18, come as relations between Moscow and the West continue to worsen following the poisoning of a former double agent on British soil. Meanwhile the trade war between Beijing and Washington continues to deepen.

The exercises may be taking place in a remote corner of the world, but they have global resonance, said analyst Emily Ferris of Londons Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

As well as demonstrating to the West that it has this alliance with China, its also an opportunity for Russia to show what its learned from its military interventions, for example in Syria, for example in eastern Ukraine, Ferris told VOA in an interview.

Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted the United States and its allies to impose sanctions on Moscow.

The Western sanctions have damaged Russias ability to get, for example, military components that it used to get from its Western partners. And so, Russias military in the meantime is undergoing a 10-year-long renovation and upgrade. And so, to pay for those parts, Russia is going to need to find alternative partners, Ferris said.

The exercises coincide with the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, attended by several heads of state. With China engaged in a spiraling trade war with the United States, analysts say Moscow sees an opportunity to deepen relations with Beijing.

They are politically becoming very close. Economically, the Russian-Chinese trade is booming, when other kinds of trade, especially in Russia, is not booming at all. And also, of course, now militarily, they are acting together as brothers-in-arms in military games that are basically aimed at the United States and its allies, said Pavel Felgenhauer, a military analyst based in Moscow.

Sources of tension

Ferris said there are also sources of tension in the relationship.

Particularly the belt-and-road initiative of Chinas that sort of bypasses Russia, especially because China is quite interested in countries like Ukraine and Belarus, and using its infrastructure as a gateway to Europe. I think Russia is quite suspicious of what China is planning, she said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters Tuesday that he sees little in the long term that aligns Russia and China. The military exercises come amid threats from Washington of more sanctions against Russia if it conducts an assault on Idlib, the last rebel-held area in Syria. The United Nations has warned of a potential massacre of civilians.
A group of scientists unveiled the first results Thursday of an ambitious effort to map the genes of tens of thousands of animal species, a project they said could help save animals from extinction down the line.

The scientists are working with the Genome 10,000 consortium on the Vertebrate Genomes Project, which is seeking to map the genomes of all 66,000 species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and fish on Earth. Genome 10,000 has members at more than 50 institutions around the globe, and the Vertebrate Genomes Project last year.

The consortium Thursday released the first 15 such maps, ranging from the Canada lynx to the kakapo, a flightless parrot native to New Zealand.

Future conservation

The genome is the entire set of genetic material that is present in an organism. The release of the first sets is a statement to the world that what we want to accomplish is indeed feasible, said Harris Lewin, a professor of evolution at University of California, Davis, who is working on the project.

The time has come, but of course its only the beginning, Lewin said.

The work will help inform future conservation of jeopardized species, scientists working on the project said. The first 14 species to be mapped also include the duck-billed platypus, two bat species and the zebra finch. The zebra finch was the one species for which both sexes were mapped, bringing the total to 15.

Sequencing the genome of tens of thousands of animals could easily take 10 years, said Sadye Paez, program director for the project. But giving scientists access to this kind of information could help save rare species because it would give conservationists and biologists a new set of tools, she said.

Paez described the project as an effort to essentially communicate a library of life.

Three sequencing hubs

Tanya Lama, a doctoral candidate in environmental conservation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, coordinated the effort to sequence the lynx genome. The wild cat is the subject of debate about its conservation status in the United States, and better understanding of genetics can better protect its future, Lama said.

Its going to help us plan for the future, help us generate tools for monitoring population health, and help us inform conservation strategy, she said.

The project has three genome sequencing hubs, including Rockefeller University in New York, the Sanger Institute outside Cambridge, England, and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany, organizers said.

The work is intriguing because it could inform future conservation efforts of jeopardized species, said Mollie Matteson, a senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity who is not involved in the project. More information about animals genetics could lead to better understanding of how animals resist disease or cope with changes in the environment, she said.

I think whats interesting to me from a conservation aspect is just what we might be able to discern about the genetic diversity within a species, Matteson said.

The project has similarities with the Earth BioGenome Project, which seeks to catalog the genomes for 1.5 million species. Lewin chairs that projects working group. The Vertebrate Genomes Project will contribute to that effort.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed Department of Justice lawyers in a memo Thursday to resist the nationwide injunctions issued by federal judges that have hindered or halted some of the Trump administration's signature policies, including the border separation of families and various travel bans.

Sessions stated in an official press release accompanying the memo that the guidance would help standardize the reasoning litigators use when arguing against injunctions.

"The Constitution does not grant to a single district judge the power to veto executive branch actions with respect to parties not before the court," Sessions said in the release. "Nor does it provide the judiciary with authority to conduct oversight of or review policy of the executive branch."

Sessions argued that his motivation was not partisan, but aimed at maintaining the traditional balance of power in the U.S. government.

"Increasingly, we are seeing individual federal district judges go beyond the parties before the court to give injunctions or orders that block the entire federal government from enforcing a law or policy throughout the country. This kind of judicial activism did not happen a single time in our first 175 years as a nation, but it has become common in recent years."

Sessions specifically instructed government lawyers to argue that nationwide junctions violate constitutional limits on judicial power, stop other courts from debating the law, have no basis in judicial history, and interfere with judgments from the legislative and executive branches.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed Friday to cooperate with the special counsel's Russia investigation as he pleaded guilty to federal charges and avoided a second trial that could have exposed him to even greater punishment.

The deal gives special counsel Robert Mueller a key cooperator who led the Trump election effort for a crucial stretch during the 2016 presidential campaign. The result also ensures the investigation will extend far beyond the November congressional elections despite entreaties from the president's lawyers that Mueller bring his probe to a close.

WATCH: Manafort Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Cooperate with Mueller Probe

It is unclear what information Manafort is prepared to provide to investigators about President Donald Trump or that could aid Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. But the plea nonetheless makes Manafort the latest associate of Trump, a president known to place a premium on loyalty among subordinates, to admit guilt and cooperate with investigators in hopes of leniency.

In the past year, Mueller has secured pleas from a former national security adviser who lied to the FBI about discussing sanctions with a Russian ambassador, a campaign aide who broached the idea of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and another aide who was indicted alongside Manafort but ultimately turned on him. The president's former personal lawyer has separately pleaded guilty in New York.

Friday's deal, to charges tied to Ukrainian political consulting work but unrelated to the campaign, was struck just days before Manafort was to have stood trial for a second time.

He was convicted last month of eight financial crimes in a separate trial in Virginia and faces seven to 10 years in prison in that case. The two conspiracy counts he pleaded guilty to on Friday carry up to five years in prison, though Manafort's sentence will ultimately depend on his cooperation.

He smiled broadly as he entered the courtroom Friday but gave terse and barely audible answers during questioning from the judge.

He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life. He's accepted responsibility. This is for conduct that dates back many years and everybody should remember that, said attorney Kevin Downing.

The cooperation deal requires Manafort to provide whatever information the government asks of him, though it does not specify what if anything prosecutors hope to receive about Trump.

Given his direct involvement in the Trump campaign, including episodes being scrutinized by Mueller, Manafort could be positioned to provide key insight for investigators working to establish whether the campaign coordinated with Russia.

Manafort was among the participants, for instance, in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians and the president's oldest son and son-in-law that was arranged so the campaign could receive derogatory information about Democrat Hillary Clinton. A grand jury used by Mueller has heard testimony about the meeting.

He was also a close business associate of a man who U.S. intelligence believes has ties to Russian intelligence. And while he was working on the Trump campaign, emails show Manafort discussed providing private briefings for a wealthy Russian businessman close to Vladimir Putin.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders insisted that the Manafort case was unrelated to Trump.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the president or his victorious 2016 presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.

Added Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani: Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign.

Under the terms of the deal, Manafort was allowed to plead guilty to just two conspiracy counts, though the crimes he admitted cover the same conduct alleged in an indictment last year. Manafort's homes in New York City, in the Hamptons and in Virginia, as well as money from his bank accounts and life insurance policies may be seized by the government as part of the deal.

It's unclear how the deal might affect any Manafort pursuit of a pardon from Trump. The president has signaled that he's sympathetic to Manafort's cause. In comments to Politico before the plea deal, Giuliani said a plea without a cooperation agreement wouldn't foreclose the possibility of a pardon.

Manafort had aggressively fought the charges against him and taken shots at his co-defendant, Rick Gates, who cut a deal with prosecutors earlier this year that included a cooperation agreement.

At the time of Gates' plea, Manafort issued a statement saying he had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. And during his Virginia trial in August, Manafort's lawyers spent considerable time painting Gates as a liar, embezzler, philanderer and turncoat who would say anything to get a lighter prison sentence.

Pleading guilty allows Manafort to avoid a trial that was expected to last at least three weeks and posed the potential of adding years to the time he is already facing under federal sentencing guidelines from his conviction in Virginia.

A jury in that earlier trial found Manafort guilty of eight counts of tax evasion, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud. Jurors deadlocked on 10 other counts.

In the current Washington case, prosecutors had been expected to lay out in detail Manafort's political consulting and lobbying work on behalf of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-Russian Party of Regions.

Prosecutors say that Manafort directed a large scale lobbying operation in the U.S. for Ukrainian interests without registering with the Justice Department as required by the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act. Manafort was accused of concealing from the IRS tens of millions of dollars in proceeds from his Ukrainian patrons and conspiring to launder that money through offshore accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.

Manafort had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. After his indictment last October, prosecutors say he continued to commit crimes by tampering with witnesses.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in as the pair meet for their third inter-Korean summit September 18-20 in Pyongyang. The forthcoming summit was preceded by two other events on the peninsula this week: working level military talks and the opening of a joint liaison office - the fruits of the initial inter-Korean summit.

Thursday, South Korea's special adviser to the president for unification, foreign affairs and national security, Moon Chung-in, told reporters he personally believes the correct context in which to view the meeting is as an extension of the April 27 summit, which resulted in the Panmunjom Declaration.

Moon, who said he was speaking as an expert and not on behalf of the Seoul government, said he expects the South Korean president to place his focus on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and play the role of facilitator or mediator between Pyongyang and Washington and promote dialogue between the two countries.

President Moon believes that improved inter-Korean relations have some role in facilitating US-DPRK (North Korea) talks and solving the North Korean nuclear problem, he said.

Commitment to denuclearize?

Visiting research fellow Cheon Seong Whun, with the Asian Institute for Political Studies, told VOA there is fundamentally one issue the international community needs to focus on at the summit.

He said that is if Kim Jong Un is really willing to give up nuclear weapons in totality and return to the non-nuclear proliferation treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapons state.

Cheon said after two inter-Korean summits and the Singapore summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Its not crystal clear that Kim Jong Un and [the] North Korean regime is willing to give up all those nuclear weapons and programs.

However, the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyung Nam Universitys Professor Kim Dong-yub said denuclearization is not the focus of the upcoming summit.

President Moon Jae-in said the goal of this inter-Korea summit is terminating military conflict between North and South and war threats during the cabinet meeting, said Kim.

In his opinion, the bulk of discussions will focus on military issues.

New line of communication

Fridays opening of a joint inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong was one of the measures outlined in the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration.

The benefit of establishing the joint liaison office, said Moon Chung-in, is that it allows for direct communication between North and South Korea.

A presidential office spokesman said after the facility opened, there is a stout bridge connecting two Koreas.

The staff in the liaison office will be there as a family, whether they are from North or South, the spokesperson said, adding, I look forward to seeing this harmony will be expanded from Kaesong to overall Korea Peninsula.

However, the true benefit of the office won't be realized for some time, said Lee Kyu-chang, Senior Research Fellow, Unification Policy Research Division, at Korea Institute for National Unification.

As we establish the trust step by step, it will get a fruitful outcome, said Lee.

He noted that while its expected the liaison office will take on a number of roles, its exact role will be finalized after a full agreement with North Korea has been reached, but it will primarily facilitate consultation between the two countries.

A call for bold actions

Tuesday, Moon Jae-in said U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would need to take "bold decisions" to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea should abolish its nuclear programs, and the United States should foster such conditions with corresponding action, said Moon.

His remarks came after the White House announced that Trump received a letter from Kim asking for a second meeting, although White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration will not release the full letter unless the North Korean leader agrees that we should.

Washington and Pyongyang have been discussing North Korea's nuclear programs since a landmark meeting between Trump and Kim in Singapore in June.

Sanders said a second summit with Kim is something that we want to take place and are currently working to make happen.

In the Thursday briefing to reporters, Moon Chung-in said if he could advise Kim Jong Un during the summit, he would suggest the North Korean leader take the initiative with his own bold move.

That would entail North Korea surrendering 15-20 nuclear warheads and missiles in return for Washington lifting economic sanctions, or at least the establishment of a liaison office with Pyongyang, and an end of war declaration.



Lee Ju-hyun contributed to this report.






Officials in Massachusetts say some 8,000 people have evacuated their homes after a series of gas explosions killed a teenager and ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes.



The towns of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover were set on edge late Thursday as the rapid-fire explosions took place.

Eighteen-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed after a chimney from an exploding house fell on his car. Some 25 other people were injured in the chaos after the blasts.

Some 400 people spent the night in shelters after Massachusetts State Police urged them to evacuate their homes. Governor Charlie Baker has said it may be days or weeks before those displaced could return to their homes.

He said state and local authorities are investigating the causes of the explosions and checking each house serviced by Columbia Gas company  8,600 in all  to shut off the gas line and make sure the home is safe.

Columbia Gas released a statement calling Thursday's events "a tragic accident." It said it is grateful for the community's patience.



Some 18,000 customers of National Grid electric company are also without power, after the lines were shut off to prevent any sparks that could ignite stray gas.



By midday Friday, authorities said all fires had been extinguished.

"It looked like Armageddon," said Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfeld."There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me.I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."



Emergency officials said they suspect the cause of the accident was overpressurized gas lines. The local gas company said it is decreasing the pressure in the lines.
The U.S. ambassador to South Sudan says Washington will not continue to fund peace agreements that are violated over and over by the parties in the South Sudanese civil war.

Thomas Hushek told VOA that the government and rebels, who signed the revitalized peace deal on Wednesday, must show a real commitment to ending violence, allowing unfettered access to humanitarian workers and releasing all political prisoners.

The United States, United Kingdom and Norway, known as "the Troika," released a joint statement this week expressing concerns about the latest South Sudan peace deal.

In an exclusive interview with South Sudan in Focus, Hushek said the Troika expects to see a significant change from the past when peace deals were signed and violated within hours.

"It is time to start the work of building peace, but when we see a few things like a little bit of fighting going on; in Wau there was some hostilities after the signing of the recommitment to the cease-fire, there are still places where humanitarian access gets blocked by both parties by the way, those are the things that concern us," Hushek said.

The ambassador said the administration of South Sudan President Salva Kiir should immediately release all political prisoners and allow freedom of speech. As it now stands he said, South Sudanese civil society leaders operate in a repressed environment.

"We are concerned that when there are arrests of civil society activists because of their political opinions or pressure put on them or other repressive means used against them. This actually leads to unhealthy civil society, a civil society that is too afraid to speak their mind and to participate in the process. If that happens then people will not have confidence in their government's commitment to the peace process," said Hushek.

Government says funding is key

South Sudan Minister of Information Michael Makuei said the government is committed to implementing the revitalized peace deal but is skeptical about the international community's efforts to monitor the actions of all parties who signed the deal.

"There is no mechanism whereby you can measure commitment of any person. But you only see it through deeds and actions. So for Troika to say we will not believe it until we see it, let them wait and they will see. Whatever we say for them, they will not believe us," Makuei told VOA.

Makuei also argued the international community should provide financial support to implement the peace agreement.

"If they want the agreement implemented, they are supposed to join us in the implementation so that we all work together, they back up the agreement because implementation means money, it means funding," Makuei said.

The U.S. government provided funds to support the work of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement and Monitoring Mechanism, or CTSAMM, and the work of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, or JMEC.

But Hushek said this time around his country will be more careful about doling out financial assistance to South Sudan.

"Those mechanisms didn't work so well. It wasn't a great investment by our taxpayers. And the reason it didn't work well is because the parties to the agreement broke the agreement almost at the beginning," Hushek said. "We can't just keep investing in broken agreements. If this agreement proves to be workable and everything, I think you will be able to see the world stepping up but first and foremost, the parties to the conflict have to make the commitment and the investment."

The parties to the conflict in South Sudan signed the final peace deal in Addis Ababa this week after lengthy negotiations in Addis Ababa and Khartoum.

Under the deal, the pre-transitional period of eight months started immediately after its signing. The parties are supposed to form a revitalized, transitional government of national unity which includes rebel leader Riek Machar, who is to be reinstated as First Vice President for the duration of the transitional period.

This story originated with English to Africa's South Sudan in Focus
When a hurricane comes ashore, few images are more iconic than a million-dollar beach house collapsing into the sea.

Undermined by the ferocity of water, shifting sands and sometimes bad construction, waterfront development takes a beating each time a powerful storm barrels into the Eastern Seaboard.

So why do people keep building on the beach?

"Development of beachfront areas is controversial," writes Florence Duarte of Georgia State University in the report Responsible Beachfront Development. "On one side, a growing human population demands the use of such areas for recreation and work. On the other, environmentalists and biologists hope to preserve these habitats."

A balance

The balance between the human desire to work and play on the water  and developing the waterfront responsibly  often is tested during hurricane and storm season. Despite increased intensity and frequency of storms, rising sea levels and other weather catastrophes, the beach remains the most desirable of destinations: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that more than half the U.S. population lives along a coast, and 180 million people visit each year.

Housing and rental prices along East Coast beaches in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York's Long Island and Cape Cod in Massachusetts exceed the national average because of the views, fresh air and access to water activities. The point of sitting for hours in traffic on a hot, summer Friday is to get away from developed, urban, asphalt centers for the weekend.

Development tapped out

But many resort destinations are reaching maximum development.

In Ocean City, Maryland, a 14-kilometer-long barrier island that is home to about 7,000 permanent residents in the off-season, swells to more than 300,000 vacationers in the summer and on holidays.

"The development has pretty much tapped out," said J.D. Wells, a Realtor and lifelong Ocean City resident. "The oceanfront is completely developed. Any new construction being done is replacing a tear-down that was already there."

Properties that sit along the waterfront or have a view of the ocean can fetch more than double equivalent properties inland, Wells said.

Views and taxes

Towns and cities collect substantial tax revenue from those waterfront and water-view properties, sometimes charging homeowners tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes for the luxury of owning beachfront property. In many areas that have seasonal ebbs and flows, tax revenue from those properties can fill municipal coffers that benefit permanent residents, many of whom cannot afford the waterfront prices of seasonal residents.

"Over the past few decades, society's wealth, attitude and desires have shifted and floodplains are now being developed in more upscale ways," said Andy Coburn, associate director for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

"We can't overlook the demand for coastal land, no matter how vulnerable or risky," he added.

To protect beachfront properties, some towns have pushed back on nature by replacing sand stolen by storms. And while beach replenishment is expensive  Virginia Beach, Virginia, set aside $10 million for six years of sand replenishment  it is not permanent. The ocean is supposed to pound away at the beach, dragging it back out to sea.

In New Jersey, the state earmarked $1.2 billion for projects that reduce hurricane and storm damage, manage coastal storm risk and replenish the beaches that generate nearly half of the state's $45.4 billion in annual tourism dollars.

Building codes for new construction require windows and doors that can withstand high winds and hold back flooding. Wells explained that seawalls and sand dunes are erected as barriers. But nature is mighty.

Powerful even on a normal day, the Atlantic Ocean, when combined with the energy of an extreme storm, can cut through solid land. Residents of Ocean City, Maryland, wandered out after a storm in 1933 to find that a 15-meter wide, 2.5-meter-deep inlet had been sliced into the south end of their barrier island, opening a convenient channel for fishing and pleasure craft between the ocean and the bay.

Likewise, the ocean created an inlet in Chatham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, while snatching vintage, brown-shingled cottages into the sea in 2009, according to the Boston Globe newspaper.

"A compromise needs to be found that is responsible to both demands. Rational, sustainable usage of these areas is possible if people are willing to spend time and money in planning," Duarte wrote.

"Bounded by water, coastal and waterfront communities are challenged to make the best use of limited land while protecting critical natural resources from the potentially damaging effects of growth," says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its SmartGrowth report. "These communities must consider a common set of overarching issues when managing growth and development."
China has received an invitation from the United States to hold trade negotiations, said a spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Thursday.





The confirmation was made by MOC spokesperson Gao Feng at a press conference held in Beijing, saying that China welcomes the attitude and the two countries are in discussion about the details.





"Recently, the negotiation teams of the two sides have maintained contact in various forms and had exchanges on each other's concerns," Gao said, stressing that China believes an escalation of the trade conflict goes against everyone's interests.





Responding to possible U.S. additional levies on all Chinese imports, Gao said the U.S. unilateral tariff hikes will ultimately harm the interests of the people of China, the United States, and the whole world.





The United States has ignored opposition from the vast number of industry representatives and consumers and continued to release news that may lead to an escalation of trade frictions, Gao said.





"This practice of blackmail and pressure does not work on China and will not help solve the problem," Gao said.





China hopes the United States will follow the people's will and adopt pragmatic measures to bring China-U.S. economic and trade relations back to normal through equal and honest dialogue and consultation, Gao said.





When answering a question about the U.S. threat to punish Chinese companies using the excuse of intellectual property theft, Gao said China hopes the United States can treat the business activities of Chinese companies objectively and fairly.





"We hope the United States won't chase the wind and clutch at shadows, and does not seek excuses for its trade protectionism, so as to avoid making global companies, including Chinese ones, lose confidence in the business environment of the United States," Gao said.
A Republican-led panel in the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to make the individual tax cuts from President Donald Trump's 2017 tax overhaul permanent, a move seen by some as a bid to help GOP candidates in the Nov. 6 congressional elections.

Members of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee voted 21-15 along party lines to send the measure to the House floor for a full chamber vote expected by Oct 1. But the tax cuts are likely to be dead on arrival in the Senate, where they would need Democratic support to pass.

The tax overhaul that Trump signed into law last December, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, gave permanent tax relief to corporations but set individual cuts that will expire after 2025.

The measure to make the individual cuts permanent are part of a three-pronged legislative package dubbed "Tax Reform 2.0," which Republicans introduced three days ago. The panel was due to address two other prongs, involving retirement savings and tax incentives for startup businesses, later on Thursday.

House control

Republicans are in danger of losing control of the House to Democrats in November. Voters favor Democratic candidates over Republicans 52 percent to 38 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University National Poll released this week. Democrats need a net gain of at least 23 seats to win a majority in the House.

Republicans insist that Trump's tax overhaul has helped boost the economy. But their message has been undercut by worries about Trump's policy on trade tariffs and a lack of evidence that tax cuts have delivered promised pay increases to workers.

House Republicans said the legislation on the tax cuts would add to economic momentum and create 1.5 million new jobs in the long run, citing numbers from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

But the legislation also carries risks for Republican fiscal conservatives. Making individual tax cuts permanent would add another $630 billion to the deficit by 2019, according to the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. That would bring the total cost of tax cuts under Trump to well over $2 trillion in lost government revenue.

Democrats decried the legislation, saying it would mainly benefit the wealthy, expand the deficit and lead to cuts in the Social Security and Medicare programs for the elderly.

Committee Republicans rejected several Democratic amendments that would have directed Congress to obtain Trump's tax returns; provided tax relief to disaster victims and the sick; protected benefits for the elderly; raised taxes on the highest incomes; and eliminated a cap on the federal deduction for state and local tax payments.
The U.S. sanctioned a China-based firm Thursday and its Russian subsidiary connected to North Korea, the latest in the Trump administration's attempts to end Pyongyang's nuclear program. Lawmakers applauded the move as they received an update from administration officials on U.S. sanctions countering Russian aggression and Chinese human rights violations. VOA's congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more from Capitol Hill.
The World Food Program (WFP) said humanitarian workers, warehouses and food stocks in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah have come under attack in recent days, jeopardizing vital assistance programs.



The WFP warns the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Hodeidah is threatening its life-saving operations for hundreds of thousands of people.

Last month, the WFP provided emergency food rations to around 700,000 out of 900,000 people at extreme risk.



The WFP reports several serious security incidents have occurred since Wednesday. It said the Red Sea Mill Silos, which mill a quarter of the WFP's monthly wheat requirements, came under attack.

A mortar shell launched by an unidentified armed group also hit a WFP warehouse holding enough food for 19,200 people. The agency said a guard was injured.



WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel told VOA none of the food was stolen, but, for security reasons, he said WFP has not been able to use its trucks to transport and deliver the food to the hungry.



"It is very important that  every party respect the work of the humanitarian  that WFP or other agencies are not used politically or militarily for any reason," he said. "We are there as a neutral party to help the population in need in the country. And, hunger is, of course, one of the most important problems for the moment. We need to find a way to deliver the food to the people in need."



Verhoosel said 46,000 tons of wheat are expected to arrive in Hodeidah within the next week-and-a-half. But he fears ongoing clashes could jeopardize the shipment.



WFP reports more than 8 million people in Yemen are facing starvation and warns any disruption to the food supply could push many over the brink.



U.S.-backed Yemeni government forces have been fighting al-Qaida-linked militants in the country for years. The port of Hodeida is held by Houthi rebels. Crucial humanitarian aid goes through the port, although the Yemeni government accuses the Houthis of using the port to smuggle weapons.
The joint American International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), operating as the Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission (ZIEOM), has reiterated that Zimbabwes recent poll, while a significant improvement from past elections, fell short of reaching an acceptable level.

In a recent statement released after a follow up post-election visit to Zimbabwe, the ZIEOM said 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.

The statement further states that consequently, Zimbabwes democratic trajectory is not certain, and the international community should remain vigilant and engaged in supporting the peoples call for a genuine transition.

The joint mission noted improvements such as a public commitment to credible elections, advances in the political climate, welcoming of international observers, and a fresh voters roll. However, it concluded that these were not sufficient to bring confidence in elections.

The latest statement comes after a six-person delegation was dispatched to Harare from September 4-8, 2018. This post-election delegation was co-led by Ambassador Johnnie Carson and Constance Newman both former U.S. Assistant Secretaries of State for African Affairs. The delegation also comprised John Tomaszewski, IRI Regional Director for Africa, Richard L. Klein, NDI Senior Advisor for Electoral Processes, Jessica Keegan, ZIEOM Co-Director, and Amanda Domingues, ZIEOM Inclusion Analyst.

Blessing Zulu of VOAs Zimbabwe Service reached out to Ambassador Carson to elaborate on some of the ZIEOMs last findings, and what the country needs to do to raise its credibility in terms of elections.

Blessing Zulu (BZ): Ambassador Carson, what were some of the findings in the latest report that you have released on Zimbabwe, post elections?

Ambassador Johnnie Carson (Amb. Carson): Thank you Blessing for this opportunity to talk a little bit about the report. First of all, let me say that our final report has not yet come out and wont come out until sometime around October.

This last visit was a follow up visit to look at one of the last aspects of the election. We always look at the election in four parts: one, the pre-election environment; the events on Election Day; the announcement of the elections, and also, the final phase, the acceptance of the process by winner and loser. We were looking at the last phases of this election.

Some of the things weve observed, and we continue to observe is that clearly there were some aspects of the election that were significant improvements over previous elections in Zimbabwe, but there were also some aspects of the election which did not come up to what we would regard as acceptable level.

Things that we continue to worry about and we note in our reports  I think its important for the Zimbabwe Election Commission to improve of its standards and to ensure that its elections are seen by the public as being credible. I think its also important that a number of actions be taken to ensure that the chiefs and traditional leaders are not engaging in partisan politics.

We think that its also important for the government and the ruling party not to use food aid and agricultural inputs to sway voters to support their candidates. And its important to continue to ensure that government resources are not deployed on behalf of individual candidates.

Its also very important that people know that they have a right to peacefully assemble and protest, and its important for security forces not to use excessive force in putting down public or maintaining public order. All these things are important.

It is also important to ensure that women are more included in the political process. Weve noticed that the number of women elected to the parliament and participating in party activities has declined. Its important that the 51% of Zimbabweans who are women, be more included in the political process.

As I said before, we do look at elections as a four part process. There were clearly some improvements in this election that did not exist in the two previous elections, but this election is taking place after some 18-years of political repression, in which the opposition and opposition politicians were not operating on a level playing field.

And while there was clearly an opening in the political space and on election day, a very, very large turnout of over 80%, participating in a peaceful electoral process, all of these things are good, but there remain a number of concerns which continue to be out there, about the overall process.

BZ: So in this last trip did you manage to meet all the key stakeholders?

Amb. Carson: We met with members of the opposition, we met with dozens of civil society leaders, from probably 10 or 11 different civil society groups. We met individuals who held senior positions in Zanu-PF. We did not unfortunately meet with anyone from the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), we had hoped to meet with individuals from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but we were unable to do so. We met with individuals from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, had very good meeting with them. But we had meetings with a wide variety of key individuals across the political spectrum, from government officials, individuals who were part of the past government, who in part of the new government, as well as opposition leaders, civil society and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

BZ: But is it not problematic Ambassador that the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has not conceded defeat?

Amb. Carson: Let me say that the president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has been confirmed by the ZEC as the president of the country, and the (Constitutional) court case that was lodged to protest that victory was rejected by the judges. The president is the president of the country.

BZ: And you also say in this statement that the international community should remain vigilant and engaged in supporting the peoples call for a genuine transition. How can the international community assist?

Amb. Carson: The international community should continue to encourage the Zimbabwean Election Commission to improve its management of elections, to increase its respect and credibility among the community, it should continue to encourage that all the rules and regulations around elections be properly carried out, and that there should be greater civic and voter education, there should be continued effort to ensure that women are allowed to participate more significantly in the electoral process, that traditional leaders not be allowed to engage in politics, that the media should be open and fair and not biased toward one side, and that the international community can continue to encourage Zimbabwe to make further progress in its democratization and political openness.

BZ: From what you have observed so far, although the final report will be coming, do you think ZIDERA (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018) should be scrapped as what the Harare government is calling for. That ties with Washington must be normalized.

Amb. Carson: That is a decision that is going to be made by the (U.S.) Department of State, that is not a decision, not an issue which we are directly concerned.

BZ: And you also wrote in the statement that those who seek to establish a democratic Zimbabwe will have to unite that country and find a way to work effectively with the political opposition and civil society. How best can this be done?

Amb. Carson: It should be done through dialogue and that dialogue is done by both sides, both by the ruling party and the government and by the opposition as well. It is incumbent on both sides to enter into the kind of dialogue that will promote the countrys democratic principles and values.

BZ: And lastly, have you communicated this latest position with the Harare authorities?

Amb. Carson: Yes, this document is a public document. It is in the hands of officials in Zimbabwe, I am sure that it has been seen by many individuals in the country, both inside and outside of the government. It is a widely publicized document.
Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government will not lift sanctions against Zimbabwe until the new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa demonstrates it is changing its ways, a senior U.S. economic official told a congressional panel on Thursday.

Manisha Singh, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told a House of Representatives hearing there were 141 entities and individuals in Zimbabwe, including Mnangagwa and former president Robert Mugabe, that are currently under U.S. sanctions.

Our pressure on Zimbabwe remains in place. We are trying to use this pressure to leverage political and economic reforms, human rights observations, Singh said.

We want to see fundamental changes in Zimbabwe and only then will we resume normal relations with them, she added.

Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwes new president on Aug. 26 after the Constitutional Court confirmed his July 30 election victory, dismissing a challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mnangagwa has called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against officials from the ZANU-PF ruling party, top military figures and some government-owned firms, which were imposed during Mugabes rule for it called violations of human rights and democracy.

The EU lifted most of its sanctions in 2014, but has maintained those against Mugabe and his wife Grace.

The July ballot was touted as a crucial step toward shedding the pariah reputation that Zimbabwe gained under Mugabe as well as securing international donor funding.

Rep. Karen Bass, a Democrat from California, said Zimbabwe was trying to reach out to us now and I want to know where we are with that.

We are always open to conversations. We are open to a demonstration from the government that it is changing its ways, that it is observing human rights, Singh added.
China on Thursday published guidelines to strengthen asset and liability constraints on the country's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with clear goals laid out.





The average debt-to-asset ratio of SOEs should be reduced by 2 percentage points by the end of 2020, as compared with that at the end of 2017, according to the guidelines released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.





After 2020, the debt-to-asset ratio of SOEs should be kept at the average level of companies in the same industry with the same scale, according to the guidelines.





Warning and monitoring systems for companies' assets and liabilities should be established while a time limit should be set for companies with high leverage to reduce their debt-to-asset ratio, the guidelines said.





A clear boundary should be set to separate government debt from corporate debt, with local governments strictly banned from borrowing in the form of corporate debt, according to the guidelines.





China has been stepping up SOE deleveraging as part of its efforts to defuse financial risks.





The average debt-to-asset ratio for the country's centrally-administered SOEs stood at 66 percent by the end of June, down by 0.3 percentage points from the beginning of the year.
Top Chinese dairy company Yili Group announced on Thursday that its innovation center based in Wageningen University will connect more European partners to boost innovation for better food.





With its Europe R&D Center on Wageningen campus rebranded as Europe Innovation Center, Yili wants to work with a wider range of research institutes and industrial partners, said Zhang Jianqiu, executive president of the Chinese largest dairy group.





"We started out with linking only to the university. Nowadays we work with all kinds of institutes, dairy companies, suppliers, etc.," explained Gerrit Smit, managing director of Yili Innovation Center Europe. "Because we want to create a win-win situation. If a new product is successful, everybody wins."





Set up in February 2014, the center fully owned by Yili Group has been collaborating with European partners on fundamental and applied research and knowledge transfer in the areas of processing technology, new product development, food safety and farm management.





Louise Fresco, president of the Wageningen University & Research Executive Board, hailed Yili's decision to boost its European research facility in the Dutch Food Valley area.





"We feel it is very important to look towards doing things together," she said. "The Belt and Road Initiative and interest in Africa very much match with the way that we can also bring things of goodness to Africa to Asia. We can do part of that work together."





Representatives from some 60 European research institutes, companies of food and dairy sector attended the ceremony.
You are here: China

Chinese scientists have found the fossil of a new dinosaur species in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The findings were recently published by the journal Scientific Reports.

Researchers have named the new species Yizhousaurus sunae, known in Chinese as Sunshi Yizhou dinosaur, after Chinese scientist Sun Ailing for her great contribution to vertebrate paleontology.

Measuring seven meters in length, the fossil was discovered and unearthed in Lufeng County in 2002 and could date back to around 180 million years ago, said Zhang Qiannan, the paper's first author and doctoral candidate with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Phylogenetic analysis indicated the dinosaur was a Sauropodiformes, meaning a lizard-footed dinosaur.

Zhang said that the discovery enriches the diversity of Sauropodiforms and is significant to the studies on origin and evolution of dinosaurs.

The dinosaur fossil is displayed at the museum in Lufeng Dinosaur Valley.

Lufeng is known for its abundant fossils of prehistoric creatures. Eighty years ago, a dinosaur fossil dating back to around 190 million years ago was found there.
Dr Maria Galli Stampino is new vice president and dean of academic affairs at The American University of Rome.

The American University of Rome (AUR) has welcomed Dr Maria Galli Stampino as its new vice president and dean of academic affairs.

Born in Gallarate near Milan, Stampino comes to AUR after serving 22 years as a professor and administrator with the University of Miami in Florida.

She will oversee all aspects of the academic undergraduate experience at The American University of Rome which has about 500 students and is the oldest American-degree granting institution in Rome.

Stampino is an expert on early modern literature, with an emphasis on theatre and epic poetry, and on texts written by women.
China is building the world's largest container ships, each of which will be able to carry more than 23,000 standard containers, which together can hold, for example, more than 1 billion units of the Apple iPhone X.

The construction of the first two megaships started in late July. They're being built by Jiangnan Shipyard Group and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, both of Shanghai, according to China State Shipbuilding Corp, a State-owned giant that owns the two companies.

The ships are expected to be delivered to the customer, CMA CGM, a French container transportation and shipping company, in 2020.

The Marine Design and Research Institute of China, a CSSC research arm that designed the ships, said they will be the latest and biggest in its Heracles classnamed after the hero of Greek mythology.

Each of the vessels will be 400 meters long and 61.3 m wide, and will be capable of moving 220,000 metric tons of cargo.

They will be propelled by liquefied natural gas, making these the first large container ships to be driven by the eco-friendly fuel, as opposed to diesel, the traditional propellant for large vessels, the institute said. Polluting emissions will be exponentially reduced, it added.

CSSC beat five world-class competitorsincluding Japan's Imabari Shipbuilding Co and South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co and Hyundai Heavy Industriesbefore signing a contract for nine 23,000 container-capable vessels with the French carrier.

Yu Lai, chief designer of the new ships at the Shanghai institute, said on Thursday that the design and construction of the gigantic vessels makes China a leader in the field of container shipping.

"In the past, we followed others; now we are running ahead of them," he said. "Compared with its predecessors, this new class of container ship is larger, has a high level of automation and features better safety and environmental performance. Its construction requires state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques."

Yu said the ships will require only about 30 crew members to operate. The maximum design speed will be 22 knots, or about 41 kilometers per hour.

Currently, the largest container ships are the six vessels built by South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries for the Hong Kong-based container shipping and logistics service company Orient Overseas Container Line. They can hold 21,413 containers.

The second-largest is the COSCO Shipping Universe, which was designed and built by China State Shipbuilding Corp and which can hold 21,237 containers.
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As the unemployment rate has dropped in the years since the financial crisis, Daly has written about why wages have not bounced back as many had expected and of the necessity of making sure all Americans who want to work can work and the need to increase the labor force participation rates to boost growth in the long run.
Chinas markets have dropped by close to 25 percent, Trump said at the White House last week. Their markets have gone down. I dont like to see that. But I can tell you that the United States has picked up about $10 trillion in worth. And China would like to be in our position. They would like to be in our position.
Tourists will be able to reach Dunhuang, Gansu province, directly by high-speed train soon and see its famous Mogao Grottoes among other sites, after a high-speed train reached the city during a test run on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, a test bullet train from Jiayuguan, Gansu, arrived at Dunhuang rail station, marking the city's first connectivity to the high-speed rail network, Dunhuang authorities said on the city's official social media account.

"Dunhuang only has a 160-kilometer regular railway connecting with other cities in Gansu so people can only get there now by ordinary train," said an official at the Lanzhou Railway Bureau's publicity office, who declined to be named.

"The 3-kilometer railway construction was finished. It will connect the regular railway to the Lanzhou-Xinjiang high-speed line, the only one in northwest Gansu, so that bullet trains can arrive in Dunhuang."

The official said the test train will be fully checked to ensure it can run along the whole journey safely. "Although the high-speed train's running speed hasn't been decided upon, it's certain that the commuting time of tourists heading to Dunhuang will be reduced," he said.

Now, there are only three direct regular trains from Lanzhou to Dunhuang per day, and the journey takes over 12 hours.

"What's more important, Dunhuang will be incorporated into the national high-speed railway network, so that visitors from major cities in other parts of China - including Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan - can reach Dunhuang much faster than ever before," he said.

Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road and is best known for the nearby Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing some of the finest examples of Buddhist art.

According to the Dunhuang tourism administration, over 9 million people visited Dunhuang in 2017, up 12.3 percent year-on-year.

Wang Weiang, 23, visited Gansu last year. She took the bullet train from Beijing to Lanzhou and then traveled to the Mogao Grottoes, by bus.

"It's quite painful to sit on a bus for over seven hours a day," she said. "I really want to visit the Mogao Grottoes one more time. It would great to get there by bullet train."

Chen Jinye, director of the administration, also believes less commuting time will attract more visitors from major cities and benefit local tourism development.
Berkeley Springs resident Rob Campbell thought he could help out his library by donating a copy of Fear. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper, the Morgan Messenger, saying, Recently I called to offer Fear, the new Woodward book, but the library declined my offer saying they wouldnt be putting books like that on the shelves anymore. He notes in his letter that he lives about a block from the library and is happy to share his copy with anyone else who wants to read Fear. I decided to be a library of one book, he wrote.
The lawsuit, aside from copyright issues, reflects the wine industrys unease about the legalization of marijuana. The industry, with Wine Spectator among the media vanguard, has spent decades promoting wine as part of the healthy, luxurious good life, fighting the stigma of alcohol as a drug. It succeeded for a while, but recent health studies have increasingly questioned the idea that even moderate alcohol consumption (including wine) might be good for you beyond its spiritual qualities. Now come the potheads, assessing the various virtues of different strains of marijuana  With point scores, even! And medicinal benefits!  much the way wine geeks suss out the nuances among appellations of Burgundy. Its a very inconvenient parallel.
Imported and distributed by Kysela: Available in the District at Batch 13, Cordial Craft Wine, Beer & Spirits (Union Market), Grand Cata, Hop, Cask & Barrel, MacArthur Beverages, Magruders, Wardman Wines, Whole Foods Market (Foggy Bottom, P Street); on the list at Barcelona (14th Street, Cathedral Heights). Available in Maryland at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits and Mills Fine Wine and Spirits in Annapolis, Beards Hill Liquors in Aberdeen, Columbia Fine Wine & Spirits, Decanter Fine Wines and Dorseys Search Wine & Spirits in Columbia, Dawsons Liquors in Severna Park, Jasons Wine & Spirits, Pine Orchard Liquors and the Wine Bin in Ellicott City, Fairgrounds Discount Beverages in Timonium, Hunt Valley Wine, Liquor & Beer in Cockeysville, Maple Lawn Wine & Spirits in Fulton, Mays Chapel Wine & Spirit Shop in Timonium, Wine Merchant in Lutherville, the Old Vine, Roland Park Wines & Liquors and Wine Source in Baltimore, Plus Mart in Frederick, State Line Liquors in Elkton, the Tasting Room Wine Bar & Shop at National Harbor, the Winery in Chester, Wishing Well Liquors in Easton. Available in Virginia at Arrowine and Cheese and Oby Lee Winery in Arlington, Barrel Thief Wine Shop & Cafe and J. Emerson Fine Wines & Cheese in Richmond, Chain Bridge Cellars and the Vineyard in McLean, the Cheese Shop in Williamsburg, Ivy Provisions and Rio Hill Wine & Gourmet in Charlottesville, Leesburg Vintner and Willowcroft Winery in Leesburg, Locke Store in Millwood, Unwined (Alexandria), Vienna Vintner in Vienna; on the list at Barcelona (Reston), Field & Main in Marshall, Village Square Restaurant in Winchester, Woodstock Cafe in Woodstock.
Delores M.: Vinegar is my go-to cleaning and all-purpose product. There are so many things you can do with vinegar. If youd like to see the many ways we use vinegar at the Heloise household, get my pamphlet Heloises Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More. Send $5, along with a stamped (71 cents), self-addressed, long envelope, to: Heloise/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Or you can order it online at Heloise.com. Vinegar can make so many chores much easier and less expensive.
It also appended an editors note, which read, An earlier version of this article and headline created an unfair impression about who was responsible for the purchase in question. While Nikki R. Haley is the current ambassador to the United Nations, the decision on leasing the ambassadors residence and purchasing the curtains was made during the Obama administration, according to current and former officials. The article should not have focused on Ms. Haley, nor should a picture of her been used. The article and headline have now been edited to reflect those concerns, and the picture has been removed.
I dont think I could have appointed a better person to build this post from the ground up and deliver for our residents, Bowser said in her statement. Courtney has been a trailblazer, forging pathways to the middle class for residents who needed someone to believe in them and give them a fair shot.
The number of states involved in PARCC  once more than 20  has been on the decline for years. Experts cite multiple factors, including frustrations with the length of the exams, which became a lightning rod in the nations anti-testing fervor. Many states are moving toward doing their own test. The District continues to give the traditional PARCC test.
In 2017, Beijing hosted 81 international meetings, the most in China and sixth in the Asia Pacific region, according to a report at the opening ceremony of the Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings Expo China (IBTM China).

Yin Peiyan, deputy secretary general of the Beijing Municipal People's Government, said Beijing has held itself as the center for international exchanges in recent years. Taking the development of the meeting and exhibition industry as a key strategy, the Chinese capital has hosted an increasing number of large-scale and high-level international meetings and fairs over the years, Yin said.

In 2017, Beijing has hosted 215,000 meetings and 17.24 million attendees. The two numbers have respectively increased by 4.7 percent and 8.4 percent when compared with 2016. The revenue from hosting these conferences reached 11.87 billion yuan (US$1.73 billion), an increase of 5.4 percent over 2016.

Moreover, the city held 790 exhibitions and fairs in 2017 with a total area of 6.1 million square meters, received 10.29 million people and reached a revenue of 12.38 billion yuan.

Cao Pengcheng, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Development Committee, said the Chinese capital has attracted a batch of international fairs with its established venues. The fairs included industry exhibitions for food and beverage, machinery, medical care, architecture and building materials, green development and environmental protection, tourism and consumption, etc.

The usage rate of Beijing's exhibition venues is now ahead of other cities. For instance, the National Convention Center has the highest usage rate of over 80 percent. The construction of new convention venues in Gubei Water Town and Yanqi Lake will add more competitiveness to Beijing in hosting international fairs.

Beijing will develop more tourism products in culture, exhibition, sports, recreation, and research in the future, Cao said. The city will also promote the sustainable development of business travel and meetings through the improvement of fair facilities as well as the cultivation of industrial clusters.




Mayor Bowser has consistently called upon a diverse set of voices to advise her throughout the Chancellor search process, Ahnna Smith, the interim deputy mayor for education, said in a statement. She appreciates the enthusiasm from the community to provide their point of view and is confident that she has the most robust process in place to pick the best Chancellor for our students and to lead the DCPS community.
One of the incidents happened around 8:35 p.m. in the 1500 block of 18th Street SE near the Anacostia Freeway. D.C. police said a woman was driving a Subaru Forester north on 18th Street when her car went up on a curb and then hit a tree. She was taken to a hospital, where she died. Police identified the woman as Keisha Whitaker, 37, of Southeast.
During World War II, when Washington was booming and many musicians were in the military, young Ira Sabin launched what became a lifetime gig in jazz. He had his first professional jobs as a drummer when he was 15, led groups in clubs and concert halls for nearly 20 years, became a promoter and record-store owner and in 1970 founded the publication that became JazzTimes magazine, one of the most successful and influential journals of its kind.
On the third day of the trial in D.C. Superior Court, prosecutors used the testimony of Alfaro and several other witnesses to establish a timeline of how various individuals had contact with the victims during the two days, while, authorities assert, they were held captive before being killed.
We have been saying for months that the 2018 midterms are the most consequential election of our lifetimes, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price said in a written statement. And we need all the help we can get, which is why we are so excited to launch the All Hands on Deck series with a battle-tested leader like Governor McAuliffe. Governor McAuliffe understands better than most the difference a Governor with strong, people-first values can make for working families.
One of the top hospitals in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, suspended the head of its elderly rehabilitation department on Wednesday for his role in the sale of overpriced and ineffective corrective insoles used inside patients' shoes.

Jiangsu Province Hospital said it will continue to probe illegitimate medical practices in response to recent media reports that cast doubt on the hospital's credibility.

"We will take a zero-tolerance attitude toward the issues reflected in the news report. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation and punish those involved in the case in accordance with regulations," the announcement said.

A pair of corrective insoles - priced at 2,650 yuan ($387) by the hospital's department of traditional elderly rehabilitation - came with a promise of significant improvements for a wide range of orthopedic problems, and were endorsed by the department head, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The expensive insoles were made by a medical device manufacturer in Nanjing, which had formed a partnership with Hu Zhihong, head of the department, by enrolling him as a technology adviser, Xinhua said.

Hu has been recommending the insoles to his patients and allegedly received about 200 yuan for each purchase. In December 2017 alone, about 40 pairs of corrective soles were sold through Hu, accounting for half of the hospital's monthly product sales.

Eight other staff members at the hospital also received sales commissions. Total profits from a pair of such insoles exceeded 2,000 yuan.

The basic insoles were bought from another company in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, for about 260 yuan and had a few simple changes made to puff them up, an insole manufacturer told Xinhua.

Medical device manufacturers who pay commissions to doctors are breaking the law, according to an official with the market regulation authority in Nanjing who was quoted by Xinhua. The official wasn't named.

Jiangsu Province Hospital, which was established in 1936, ranks first in the province and 10th in China as measured by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences evaluations of scientific and technological prowess.
The Outer Banks vulnerability is especially apparent during hurricanes, when the barrier islands are the first land masses to be bombarded by water and wind coming off the Atlantic. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 cut a new inlet between the ocean and Pamlico Sound, effectively severing the southern part of Hatteras Island from the rest of the community. Skakle and his wife had to rely on a ferry service to cross the new body of water every time they wanted to go to the store or get their mail.
It makes me feel worried. One moment, its going to be real bad; next moment, its slowing down. Weve been here for two days, said 68-year-old Pat White, who evacuated her home in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., to the nearby high school. I want it to really start and get it over with so we know if people are going to be safe.
3 Palestinians reported killed at Gaza border: Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians, one of them an 11-year-old boy, and wounded at least 248 others taking part Friday in weekly protests at the Gaza border, Palestinian medical officials said. The Israeli military said it used force necessary to repel 13,000 Palestinians who massed at several points along the fence. Some hurled rocks, firebombs and grenades at troops, and nine Palestinians briefly crossed into Israel, the military said.
Religious faith, for better or worse, is a proxy in our politics, offered as proof that those who lead us start from a foundation of values. Americans seem to expect piety from their presidents. Polls over the years suggest at least 4 out of 10 would not support an otherwise-qualified candidate who does not believe in God.
Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong province, released a municipal regulation concerning the 12345 government service hotline on Sept. 1 mandating an official response time.

The regulation, which is the first of its kind in China, stipulates the legitimate rights of callers and the corresponding duties of the departments involved in the hotline service.

According to the regulation, local authorities must either address the concerns of the caller or notify them of progress and specific measures within five working days.

Originally called the "mayor's hotline" when it opened in 1988, Jinan's 12345 hotline service was officially launched on Sept. 26, 2008 to meet the new needs of citizens regarding participation in municipal administration and social governance.

Over the past decade, Jinan's 12345 hotline has developed into an integrated platform where ordinary citizens can express their concerns and provide information to local authorities through six channels, including phone call, e-mail and WeChat, as well as in different languages, such as English, French and Russian.
ONE OF the hardest tasks facing state and local governments across the country is to find sufficient resources to pay for both the services their people need today  police, schools, parks  and the pension benefits they owe their employees in the future. All too often, politicians have promised generous benefits to politically influential public-sector unions, safe in the knowledge that figuring out how to fund them will be up to some other elected official years later. Once those promises are made, they are often legally binding, making it very difficult to enact structural reforms even in jurisdictions that are at or near financial crisis. Employees and their unions fight tooth and nail to defend every dollar of what they consider, not unjustifiably, deferred compensation. Detroit, for example, did not overhaul its pensions until it actually entered municipal bankruptcy.
Nor should Kavanaughs accuser get a public hearing, especially under such clearly political circumstances. In todays #MeToo environment, a mere suggestion can be treated as an indictment  and little imagination is required to make the leap to guilty. A letter of this sort by itself is of no value to the public other than to confirm that the Senate now traffics in gossip. And at a time when journalists are concerned with alternative facts and Trumps war on truth, how much faith can we put in the facts and truth of an anonymous letter or op-ed?
Just as troubling is that there is still much we do not know. With the rush to confirm Kavanaugh, the Senate has vetted only 7 percent of his White House record. And Republicans are intent on keeping the rest hidden. On Thursday, Republicans repeatedly blocked subpoenas that would have answered these questions. And the White House is withholding an outrageous 102,000 pages of records, the most significant portion of which relates to judicial nominations. The chance that these records do not contain evidence relevant to Kavanaughs truthfulness under oath? Approximately zero.
Eight years after her release, and three years after her party won power in an election, Aung San Suu Kyi has given the Nobel judges and her other supporters reason to conclude that their belief in her was misplaced. On Thursday, after again minimizing the genocidal campaign carried out by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya minority, she added insult to injury by defending the jailing of two journalists who covered one atrocity. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who work for the Reuters news agency, are dedicated to the same truth-telling mission as the writers who once sneaked into Myanmar at personal risk to interview Aung San Suu Kyi or describe her unjust confinement. Yet now the two young reporters are sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the Nobel laureates blessing.
SWIFT banned Iranian banks in 2012 under pressure from Congress and some European governments, but many in Europe were upset by what they saw as U.S. strong-arm tactics. This time, some European governments want to preserve the nuclear deal and protect Iran from new U.S. sanctions. If the United States successfully pressures SWIFT to break ties with Iran again, that will be a huge blow to European efforts.
The two men offered a reason for their visit: They have a famous cathedral there, Salisbury Cathedral. Its famous throughout Europe and, in fact, throughout the world, I think. Its famous for its 123-meter spire. Inspired, as it were, by the 123-meter spire (a statistic available in the second paragraph of the Salisbury Cathedral Wikipedia page), they went to Salisbury twice. On the first attempt  the British say this was a reconnaissance mission  the two men stayed only an hour and didnt manage to walk the few hundred yards from the train station to the cathedral because of the terrible snow and slush. (Pictures from the day show the streets were clear.) On the second attempt  the day Novichok, a powerful nerve agent, was sprayed on Skripals front door  they say they made it to the cathedral, even though they were photographed walking in the opposite direction. Their memories of this Gothic masterpiece were not very detailed. There are lots of tourists, said Boshirov, lots of Russian tourists.
Or we dont think we do. As lawmakers turn their attention toward Google, everyday Americans may realize Google knows us very well. It knows where we live and how far we travel every day to get to work. It knows where we like to eat lunch. It knows, from the videos we view on YouTube and the words we type into that little white bar every day, whether were single or listen to classical music or feel sad or anxious some days. It knew, when a woman was arrested for her husbands murder in January, that she had searched how to kill someone and not get caught (not like that!). And Google does make difficult decisions on the content its search users see every time it tweaks that inscrutable algorithm to define what makes a website credible, or what keywords push it to the top of the page.
One implication, Geithner argues, is that we ought to give more standing authority to technocrats to act in a crisis, so that fewer emergency decisions have to go through the political wringer. For analogies, he points to both the Fed (we insulate monetary policy from politics; why not this, too?) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (which bails out banks, in exchange for fees and strict regulation; why not have a similar system for nonbanks?). But, alas, Dodd-Frank, while toughening up some rules, actually did the opposite: It took critical firefighting tools away from the Fed, the FDIC and Treasury.
Police in Shenzhen said on Thursday that they have seized 1,331 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than 1 billion yuan ($153.85 million) after busting a major cross-border drug trafficking gang in a special operation in cooperation with counterparts from Guangzhou and Zhuhai earlier this year.

According to a statement from the Shenzhen Futian district bureau of public security, it constitutes the largest amount of drugs confiscated in crackdowns in the Chinese mainland thus far.

A total of 19 suspects, including several Hong Kong suspects who have secret society backgrounds, have been detained, and three vehicles used to transport the drugs were also seized during the police operation, said the statement.

The crackdown has struck a heavy blow to the drug and related crimes that used to be active in the southern Chinese region, the statement said.

It took more than 20 police officers three whole days to unpack the huge quantity of cocaine, and investigations found the drug was to be smuggled into Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong and Macao, from South America via water channels, said the statement.
I think the answer to each of these questions is a clear no. Few would consider it an illegal bribe, for example, if an advocacy group threatened to turn out 100,000 opposition voters unless the officeholder went the right way on a crucial issue. But could an ambitious U.S. attorney get an indictment or a plea bargain on the theory that this is a corrupt offer of anything of value? Im guessing probably yes. Whether a jury would convict is another question.
Midterm elections have generally come to be seen as the electorates reaction to a presidency. But this one is on a whole different level. In no previous election, Gary Jacobson, a University of California political scientist who crunched the numbers, tells me, has the linkage between opinions of the president and how people are likely to vote been as strong as this time. Jacobsons research goes back to the 1930s, before which there was no polling and therefore no ability to compare.
Maryland Family Law 9-101 states that if a judge has reasonable grounds to believe that a child has been abused or neglected by a parent, he or she must then determine whether abuse or neglect is likely to occur again if custody or visitation were granted to the abusive parent. Unless the judge finds that there isnt any likelihood of further child abuse or neglect, which is a burden of proof that is much lower than what would be required in a criminal proceeding, that judge must deny custody and unsupervised visitation rights to the abuser. Though the law clearly spells out how judges should be protecting children, judges who continuously disregard the law arent being removed or sanctioned.
The president's powers  even seemingly unfettered ones, such as the power of the pardon  must be exercised within the parameters of other legal requirements derived from the Constitution or enacted by statute. To see this most clearly, consider a diverse group of people: the class of people who violated the Selective Service laws during the Vietnam War by burning their draft cards, fleeing to Canada, or through other, nonviolent acts of protest. President Jimmy Carter used the pardon power to grant clemency to everyone who had broken these laws in protesting the war  a merciful gesture by Carter, whatever your view on the merits of the conflict.
But the personal impact felt by Manafort was overshadowed by the implications of his agreement to cooperate. The big mystery with Manafort has always been the reasons behind his refusal to cut a deal. When he held fast and stood trial in Alexandria, it began to look as though he would never turn against the president. Many speculated that Manafort might be holding out for a presidential pardon. Trump praised Manafort as a brave man while condemning those who cooperate with prosecutors as rats. On the eve of his second trial, though, Manafort finally seems to have accepted the reality of his situation: As a 69-year-old man convicted of multiple felonies, fulsome cooperation with prosecutors could mean the difference between spending the rest of his life in prison and someday walking free.
On Aug. 30 during the special session, legislators brilliantly displayed how inept they are at handling court-ordered redistricting. The Republican-controlled General Assembly shot down a Democratic effort to make some seats more competitive. Northam, who has backed a special independent commission on redistricting, has thrown in the towel. He asked Kirk Cox (Colonial Heights), the Republican speaker of the house, to let the courts decide the issue. On Sept. 12, Republicans informed the federal court that they were working on an advanced redrawing and would have something by Sept. 27.
Pressure for a third wave of reform has thus built. You see it in rising college enrollment rates among lower-income students, even as all Americans express frustration at rising costs and student debt levels. You see it in pleas by business and philanthropic interests for changes in the system to help a broader range of Americans receive post-secondary skills and credentials. You see it in under-the-radar policy changes that the Obama administration pushed through, such as cutting banks out of the federally subsidized student loan business and directing the savings to expanded Pell grants. You see it in proposals that havent been enacted because of our polarized politics  for instance, in the calls for free college that emerged unexpectedly in the 2016 Democratic primary race and that just one, Democratic-controlled state, New York, has since addressed, with a program offering free tuition to middle-class students. You see it in reform ideas that are gaining traction in Washington on both sides of the aisle, such as allowing federal funding for short-term vocational certificates and prison-based college programs. And you see it in a few proposals that have actually become law  specifically, a tax on large university endowments that was part of last years tax bill and that the higher-ed lobby hates.
At the beginning of this month, third-graders at Minzu Shiyan Primary School had their first English class. But their teacher, Lai Lusi, was not standing in the classroom.

Teaching the class from another school 5 kilometers away, she was seen by her students on a screen thanks to an internet-based long-distance education system launched by the government of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The primary school, in Guangxi's Sanjiang Dong autonomous county, lacked an English teacher and so was unable to offer English classes.

"There is a distinct gap between urban and rural areas in terms of education. Qualified English teachers are especially hard to find in rural areas, where ethnic groups tends to settle," Lai said.

Benefiting from the Double Thousand Project initiated by the provincial government in 2014, long-distance education is now widely used in rural areas where the shortage of teachers remains the biggest challenge.

With an emphasis on providing compulsory education in areas where ethnic groups gather, the project plans to spend 100 billion yuan on building 1,000 new schools and expanding existing ones by 2018.

In the past four years, construction of 1,109 elementary and secondary schools has started, and more than 8,000 schools were revamped thanks to an investment of 105.6 billion yuan ($15.4 billion), according to the regional government.

Because the dropout rate has remained high, the regional government also organized teams to find students who dropped out and persuade them to come back to school to ensure that all students in rural areas complete their basic education.

Wei Juan was finally found working in an electronics processing workshop in Foshan, Guangdong province, by such a team from her hometown in Dahua Yao autonomous county.

The 15-year-old girl took odd jobs in Guangdong after leaving school at 13 years old.

"This is the ninth time we have tried to bring her back to school, and our target is to leave no one behind," said Lan An, a member of the team.

After persistent persuasion, Wei went back to her hometown and enrolled in a vocational school.

Tang Xiangjin, head of the region's education department, said: "Promoting education is an effective way to avoid the intergenerational transmission of poverty and is very critical for a family to improve its living standard, so we will put all our efforts into allowing every child to make a difference through education."

In the next three years, the regional government will invest 73 billion yuan to accelerate educational equality, he added.
I fully expect that the U.S. Chamber is going to come in, and I fully expect that the NRA is going to come in. I think both of them will be coming in probably right here in August sometime, Rosendale says in response to a question from an unidentified person on whether outside groups will be spending on his behalf in the race.
What happened to all this concern about deficits? You werent concerned when you gave me a tax cut I didnt need and didnt ask for, Obama said in Ohio, aiming his remarks at Republicans. None of this is conservative. This is not normal, what were seeing. It is radical.
As night fell in New Bern, power was still out in much of downtown. Water levels had stabilized and had even begun to fall again. But authorities said they were still worried as the storm was headed upstream, which meant that all that water had to come back this way to the ocean.
White House aides reacted at the time with a mix of grimaces and chuckles over what they saw as classic Trump  acting insensitively but, in his own way, playfully to offer amusement to locals who were happy to see him. A pool reporter that day called the scene surreal and described Trump doing his best Stephen Curry impersonation as he aimed the towels to the far reaches of the crowd, a performance they enjoyed.
I do not intend to allow Judge Kavanaughs confirmation to be stalled because of an 11th-hour accusation that Democrats did not see fit to raise for over a month, said Hatch, a former chairman of the committee. The senator in the best position to determine the credibility of these accusations made the conscious decision not to take action on them, and the authorities to whom the accusations have been referred have decided not to take action, either.
Trumps tweet continued: As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000. . . . This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!
A former secretary of state engaged with the worlds largest state sponsor of terror, and according to him, he was talking to them, he was telling them to wait out this administration, Pompeo said at a news conference at the State Department. You cant find precedent for this in U.S. history.
Despite the popularity of their rhetoric, agents of the extreme right struggle to win elections and to maintain what political influence they do achieve. Marechals aunt, Marine Le Pen, lost the 2017 French presidential vote in a landslide to Emmanuel Macron, and Marechal gave up her parliamentary seat after her aunts defeat. Bannon no longer has a platform either in the Trump administration or at Breitbart News. But all of them are trying to soldier on in other ways  mainly in the softer realms of culture.
On Friday, the entrance to the National Solar Observatory was blocked by yellow crime scene tape and two security guards, who said even they had been kept in the dark. The guards, from Red Rock Security & Patrol in Las Cruces, N.M., did not give their names but said it was the first day the company was guarding the entrance and that only the director and an assistant were allowed in. There was no obvious sign of law enforcement activity.
After a year of denying the charges and fighting them at every stage of the investigation, Manafort admitted Friday that he did what prosecutors had long said  cheat the IRS out of $15 million and lie repeatedly to try to cover his tracks. While he pleaded guilty to just two of the seven charges he faced at trial, prosecutors forced him to admit to the broad scope of his financial and secret lobbying schemes.
As a type of immune cell, it has always been considered one of the good guys. But in a stunning breakthrough in schizophrenia research, scientists say the "macrophage" immune cell can go rogue, causing havoc in the brain.

"Macrophage" means "big eaters" in Greek and is a fitting name for the cell because - when behaving - it digests cellular debris and foreign substances.

Australian researchers have, for the first time, identified the presence of macrophage cells in the brain tissue of a subgroup of people with schizophrenia.

"It's like a murder mystery, one thats remained unsolved for a hundred years," Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) said.
Once you know what you have, follow the helpful links to the MoneySmart website, with great resources to assess which super fund is the best fit for your needs. The comparison tools allow you to easily assess the long-term impact of fees and investment choices within each of your super accounts. It also gives an insight into other features and benefits, such as insurance and member advice services. Importantly, just because your employer currently contributes to a fund does not necessarily mean that you need to stick with it. Most Australians have the right to choose the super fund to which their employer contributions are paid, so if your employers default fund does not measure up, it might be time to make a change.

3. Consolidate

The real beauty of the MyGov site is the ability to consolidate your funds within the website itself with the click of a button. There are helpful warnings to ensure that you dont inadvertently cancel valuable insurance by consolidating and generally the process can be completed entirely on the MyGov site itself, although some follow-up paperwork may be required by some funds. It is a huge improvement to the previous time consuming, paper heavy method.

Being able to see all your super in one place and ability to confidently consolidate into one high-performing fund, might just seem like administrative efficiency. However, even more powerful is the sense of control and ownership which comes from feeling connected to your retirement savings. Saving on fees and eliminating unneeded complexity might even be the first step towards making additional voluntary super contributions to harness the power of compounding which can be the real game changer in creating financial security in retirement.

Catherine Robson is an award-winning financial planner and host of weekly business podcast Success Stories.
Describing himself as a boat person Sir Frank Lowy has used the 15th annual address of the think tank he founded in his familys name, the Lowy Institute, to call for the nation to reject the insularity that is sweeping western politics and embrace immigration, innovation and infrastructure.

When I established the institute, I made it very clear that it would not be a platform for my own opinions, he said last night in a speech introduced by the former foreign minister, Julie Bishop.

Australian democracy needs to be nurtured with care, says the shopping centre magnate. Credit:Nic Walker

I have kept that commitment. Until now.

In the speech Sir Frank described his memories of being a child refugee at the end of World War II.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is exposed to a damaging defeat in Parliament as some of his own MPs admit that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton could have to face the High Court over whether he was invalidly elected.

Labor is preparing another move to test the governments majority in the wake of an extraordinary call from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to refer Mr Dutton to the court over his personal financial interests.

The government narrowly defeated a Labor motion to refer Mr Dutton to the court on August 23, winning the vote by 69 to 68 in the House of Representatives, but faces the growing prospect of a second attempt as soon as next week.

Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton, Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop are locked in a tussle over the Home Affairs Minister's future. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The government is seeking to quell disquiet among Liberal MPs by making arrangements to shore up its numbers, with Victorian backbencher MP Julia Banks offered a lengthy visit to New York to keep her out of Parliament until February. Ms Banks refused the offer.




As the new Pakistan government begins its tenure, there has been some talk and also some irresponsible reports in Western media of a change in attitude towards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and possible re-negotiation of the terms and conditions.



However, it now transpires that both countries remain on the same page in regard to the Belt and Road Initiative mega-project and the CPEC. In the last few days, top-level consultations have resulted in even better synergy between the two countries, dispelling any doubts about continuity in government policies.

Remaining as top priority no matter which political party comes to power, the CPEC is a bilateral contract respected by all successive governments.

In Islamabad on a three-day visit last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Imran Khan, who expressed his absolute commitment to promoting China-Pakistan ties just as he did in his very first post-election victory speech.

Stating that the CPEC is an icon of bilateral economic cooperation, he added that Pakistan "stands ready to work with China" on developing it. Meanwhile, reaffirming China's all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with Pakistan, Wang Yi addressed the latest issue troubling Western media by saying: "The CPEC has not inflicted a debt burden on Pakistan; rather, when these projects get completed and enter into operation, they will unleash huge economic benefitsand these will create considerable returns to the Pakistani economy."

Highlighting the fact that Pakistan's 47 percent debt level had been incurred due to previous loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Wang Yi reiterated that, not only is the CPEC helping to create around 70,000 jobs in Pakistan, it's also promoting overall national growth.

Instead of imposing an additional burden, CPEC projects have boosted Pakistan's economic growth by one or two percentage points every year and developed the energy and infrastructure sectors from the very first phase. Out of the 22 projects carried out under the CPEC so far, only four involve concessional loans, while the rest are either aid or direct Chinese investment.

Consequently, the CPEC cannot be blamed, as, focusing on sustainability, in the long run, these projects can only bring excellent economic benefits.

Prioritizing the project, Prime Minister Imran Khan has already constituted a special cabinet committee to look after CPEC-related affairs. Comprising of nine members, it includes the cabinet secretary, top-level ministers and an adviser to the Prime Minister on commerce, textiles, industry and investment.

Having three main responsibilities, this body will carry out periodic reviews of all CPEC working groups, resolve inter-ministerial issues and ensure the timely completion of projects, as well as develop strategies for the implementation of the long-term plan.

Last held in 2017, the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee meeting is also due to be held soon. All these modalities and mechanisms practically prove the resolve of the new government to move forward and complete the remaining phases of projects on time.

Agreeing to "broaden the CPEC base," it has been decided to involve more third-party investors. Additionally, two important decisions have been taken by the development commissions of both countries.

Firstly, the port of Gwadar will be re-prioritized as a center of industries for export markets due to its excellent location and trans-shipment and free-zone potential. Providing Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East with convenient trading routes, Gwadar is making the CPEC the "flagship corridor" of the Belt and Road Initiative.

According it the level of a stand-alone project, the new government wants to expedite the ground-breaking work of the planned Gwadar International Airport as well as a technical institute and a hospital by the end of this year.

Secondly, the nine planned special economic zones will be open to investment by other friendly regional countries. Promoting inclusiveness, seeking to promote growth in Pakistan's manufacturing industry to increase employment opportunities, and extending the trade horizons, are going to form the next phase.

After a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is going to be finalized by the end of this year, the bilateral trade deficit will be further reduced by China by encouraging and facilitating Pakistani exports and providing more easy access to the Chinese domestic market for Pakistani agricultural products.

Planning to visit China in November, Imran Khan has particularly mentioned he wants to learn from China's experience in poverty alleviation and anti-corruption work. Overhauling Pakistan's economic strategy and carrying out social development reforms remain a priority for the new government and Pakistan can learn a lot from China's reforms under the late Deng Xiaoping that were most practical and achievable as they focused more on sustainability than high rates of economic growth, resulting in unprecedented achievements over time.

Sabena Siddiqui is a foreign affairs journalist and lawyer based in Pakistan.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Manila: The Philippines has placed its largest island, Luzon, under storm alert and said as many as 824,000 Filipinos may have to be evacuated before super typhoon Mangkhut makes landfall and slams into Cagayan province on Saturday.

Hong Kong, which is bracing for the storm on Sunday, will open 48 temporary shelters for people in need when typhoon signal No. 3 - out of 5 - is issued. Residents on some outlying islands have been asked to take precautions and move to safer locations. Mangkhut is also expected to sweep through southern Taiwan on Saturday.

A member of the Philippine Air Force stands in front of a satellite image of Typhoon Mangkhut, locally named Typhoon Ompong, at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council operations center in Manila. Credit:AP

The storm is forecast by the US military's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre to pack maximum winds of 278 kilometres per hour with gusts as strong as 333 kph. Mangkhut is headed to the northern Philippines with its strongest winds, moving west north-west on Friday morning at 20 kilometres per hour.
You are here: Top 10

Brand Finance, a branded business valuation consultancy, recently released its report ranking the top 50 retail brands in the world in 2018.

The values of the brands in Brand Finance's league tables were calculated using the Royalty Relief approach  a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668.

With a huge growth in Internet shopping headed by Amazon, e-commerce brands are booming, creating growing pressure for offline brands.

Some big offline brands such as Costco, Macy's, CVS Health and Walgreens face challenging times. Some have made efforts to adapt to the changing marketplace. Home Depot, for example, has recovered by focusing on customer experiences, improving supply chain efficiency, and investing heavily in its e-commerce platform.

The value of American retail brands now totals US$410.3 billion making up 66 percent of the 50 that were chosen for evaluation; China has a 12.7 percent share, Germany 4.9 percent.

The following are the top 10 most valuable retail brands in the world:

10. Target

Country: USA

Rank 2018: 10; 2017: 7

BV 2018: US$13,679m

BV 2017: US$17,016m

Brand Rating: AA+

Brand Value Change 2017-2018 (%): -20%
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded trip to this Russian Far East city was of far-reaching significance as it cemented mutual trust and friendship and promoted win-win regional cooperation, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

During his tightly scheduled 30-hour stay in Vladivostok, the Chinese president attended the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and met with leaders of other countries in the region, among other activities.

The visit has infused new dynamism into China-Russia ties, opened new prospects for regional cooperation, and brought new vitality to international relations, Wang said.

STRENGTHEN TOP-LEVEL CONTACT

The strategic guidance by and close contact between the heads of state of China and Russia serve as powerful engines for the development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

Noting that this was Xi's seventh visit to Russia as president and first attendance at the EEF, Wang said the trip carried on the tradition that China and Russia support each other in holding major events.

Xi and Putin had their third meeting in four months, charting the future course of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and exchanging views on major international and regional issues, Wang said.

That has highlighted the height and uniqueness of the China-Russia relationship, he added.

The two sides agreed to tighten strategic coordination, firmly support each other, and safeguard their own interests as well as the common interests of the international community, he said.

The close relationship between China and Russia, Wang said, is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining strategic stability in the world and has set a good example for major-countries relations and neighborhood interaction.

CEMENT CHINA-RUSSIA FRIENDSHIP

Xi and Putin, in a show of the great importance they attach to the traditional friendship between the two peoples, made time to attend bilateral people-to-people exchange activities, Wang said.

The two leaders met representatives of the Chinese and Russian youngsters who forged a deep friendship 10 years ago when more than 900 Chinese children from the affected areas in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in southwestern China went to All-Russian Children's Center "Ocean" in Vladivostok to recuperate.

Xi thanked the Russian staff at the center for helping Chinese children recuperate and encouraged the young people of the two countries to serve as the pillars of their countries and envoys of bilateral friendship and carry forward China-Russia friendship from generation to generation.

Xi invited the teachers and students of the "Ocean" center to visit China to write a new chapter in bilateral friendship, Wang said.

Xi also called for joint efforts to push forward local-level exchanges between the two countries and deepen the understanding of each other's culture and traditions.

TAP SUB-NATIONAL COOPERATION POTENTIAL

As each other's largest neighbor, China and Russia have strong internal impetus for cooperation in various fields, Wang said.

During Xi's visit, Xi and Putin charted the course for bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the next phase -- strengthening the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, expanding cooperation in such fields as energy, agriculture, scientific and technological innovation and finance, promoting the steady implementation of major projects, and boosting joint research and development of cutting-edge science and technology.

The two leaders also made concrete efforts to promote bilateral sub-national cooperation. They attended a roundtable meeting on regional cooperation and visited "The Far East Street" exhibition showcasing the rich local cultural exchanges between the two countries and investment opportunities in Russia's Far East regions.

Both countries should take advantage of the Year of China-Russia Local Cooperation and Exchange program to strengthen planning and coordination, innovate thoughts on cooperation, and tap into their complimentary advantages, so as to usher in a new era of bilateral sub-national cooperation, Xi stressed.

Xi's visit, Wang said, has vigorously expanded the landscape of China-Russia sub-national cooperation and further deepened the integration of the two countries' interests.

LEAD REGIONAL COOPERATION

The EEF offers an important platform for international cooperation in the Russian Far East and a significant opportunity for Northeast Asian nations to pool wisdom and pursue cooperation, Wang said.

Xi proposed that countries in Northeast Asia should build up mutual trust to safeguard regional peace and tranquility, deepen cooperation to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, learn from each other to consolidate their traditional friendship, and take a long-term perspective to realize integrated and coordinated development.

As a key member in Northeast Asia, China has presented a responsible and constructive image of a major country to the rest of the world by consistently participating in regional cooperation, promoting communication and dialogue among nations in the region, and creating a harmonious and friendly environment, Wang said.

Xi's Vladivostok trip is pragmatic and efficient, and conducive to promoting benign interactions between major countries, he said, adding that it was also an important move in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
WSU Police Hosts Barbeque to Connect With Diverse Student Body

September 14, 2018

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State Police and the Office of Access & Diversity will host the third annual Eddies Barbeque, an event that provides a safe space for participants to talk about policing and race relations, Sept. 22 from 2-4 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Ballroom.

Eddie Baxter with chief Dane LeBlanc

The barbeque, which is free and open to the public, will provide a casual setting for community members and police to discuss topics of concern. Participants also will hear from police and diversity program speakers.

This events main goal is to build trusting relationships between the Weber State Police Department and our campus community as a whole, said Capt. Seth Cawley. We hope the officers and participants develop and strengthen the common bonds that exist between police and marginalized communities.

Those in attendance will hear about the steps campus and community police departments are taking to ensure fairness and reduce bias. The barbeque also provides students an opportunity to explore law enforcement as a viable career option by learning about the job from current professionals.

Eddies Barbeque was first held in 2016. Eddie Baxter, then the vice president of WSUs Social Work Club and a member of Black Scholars United, recommended the event at a town-hall discussion about race in July of that year. Baxter suggested having a local event where police and members of the community could gather and get to know one another.

One of my recommendations was to start a small campus event to find common ground between students of color and public safety officers, Baxter said. It is important for us to see the human qualities in each other and end the us versus them mentality. By recognizing similarities in each other, we can form relationships and break down barriers.

Baxter graduated in social work from Weber State in 2017, but he is still involved in Eddies Barbeque.

The Office of Access & Diversity has worked hard to make sure the event keeps the name and the original intention of discussing race relations between police and people of color, Baxter said. We are making sure we are being creative in the dialogue between the community and officers.

For photos, visit the following links:

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2018-photos/September-2018/i-28Kfdrk/0/462f1763/X2/D80_4233-X2.jpg

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2018-photos/September-2018/i-vn8ws59/0/38ada1ae/X2/D80_4224-X2.jpg

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Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Want to go to Nepal? Here, we discover Kathmandus great escape

On the outskirts of Nepals Kathmandu, forested ridges rise in sweeping arcs, wrapping protective arms around Nepals enduring historical centre. Carved with verdant rice terraces and studded with ancient gilded stupas and thriving monasteries, they elevate mountain dreamers to grand Himalayan viewpoints and promise respite far from the riot and chaos of the city.

After too long submerged in Kathmandus intoxicating mayhem, I head for the hills, escaping for a weekend of bliss at Shivapuri Heights Cottage just 12km out of the city. Soothed by home-cooked food and rejuvenated by good conversation and long walks, I teeter at dusk on the valleys rim, shadowed by monsoon clouds that cling to the peaks of Shivapuri National Park at my back, gazing spellbound at the citys luminous nightscape where street and starlight fuse in one dazzling, shimmering vista.

Transfixed, I make a plan. Its a pilgrimage of sorts, kindled by an oversized glass of Indian Chenin Blanc and the heady scent of Ayurvedic massage oil that lingers on my skin. Sticking to foot trails and forested tracks as much as I can, I join the dots, linking the Kathmandu Valleys most beguiling sacred sites and old walled cities, its high-altitude villages and little-visited temples.

A thief has already tried to pickpocket our mobile phone (and failed) and now, standing by a shop with bottles of chilled drinking water, a monkey drops onto my head.

While the city sleeps, I dream, and at first light the adventure begins. Its a family affair when we set out early for Swayambhunath Stupa, our little trio plus my sister, strolling hand-in-hand, immersed in Kathmandus waking rituals. Ahead of us, fluttering on a distant hilltop, prayer flags stream from a golden spire and Buddhas all-seeing eyes beckon us onwards up tremendous staircases to the top of the citys favourite temple.

We are sweating and panting in the stifling monsoonal heat by the time we join the daily procession of locals completing their koras, spinning prayer wheels and circling the stupa in slow anticlockwise loops. A thief has already tried to pickpocket our mobile phone (and failed) and now, standing by a shop with bottles of chilled drinking water, a monkey drops onto my head, creating panic (I didnt fork out for rabies shots) and hilarity (my sister has fallen off her chair with laughter) in equal measure.

I should have anticipated this moment: its not nicknamed the Monkey Temple for nothing! Eventually we leave the rhesus macaques to terrorise some other tourists and plunge back into a sea of hawkers, our eyes set on another, more remote adventure. Shouldering our backpacks, we negotiate a ride to the very outskirts of Kathmandu, bouncing and bumping along dusty, potholed tracks until we reach Sankhu where we continue on foot.

Himalayan highs

Swinging our five-year-old between us over wet-season puddles, we chat and sing our way uphill towards Nagarkot, a lofty hill station with a reputation for the best Himalayan views in the Kathmandu Valley. The mountains are reputedly so close that you can see them from your bed  and thats all the motivation we need.

Four hours and four packets of sugary Nepali biscuits later, we reach Nagarkot and set out in search of a room big enough (and clean enough) to house three adults and a now far less bouncy child.

But our timing is out: in the midst of the monsoon season when just about every hotel closes its doors through lack of interest, the available rooms are musty and uncared for and we wander from door to door in search of hot water and a cook with enough food on hand to sate our vegetarian tastebuds.

When we finally get lucky, we downsize our expectations and do our best to overlook the dubious smell wafting from our saggy beds and that we have to shower by candlelight (in the room next door), but mostly that the hotel boy keeps sniggering at my sister and me because, in Nepali culture, we are the two white wives. We take our woes to the terrace to find that our uncrushable photographer Dave has tracked down some chilly Gorkha beers and turn our faces towards the sun to watch it slip slowly through the clouds at our feet.

Our gruelling, mould-scented night ends in spectacular style at dawn when we climb to Mahakali Temple to watch the clouds lift on a snowy Himalayan vista stretching from the Annapurnas to Everest: past Machapuchare and Manaslu (8156m), revealing oh-so-close Ganesh Himal (7406m) and Langtang Lirung (7246m), and turning our heads east to the tip of Mount Everests 8848-metre-high, snow-capped summit.

With some local help, we name every peak in what is quite simply the most perfect mountain panorama Ive ever laid eyes upon. By the time our rumbling tummies send us rambling back down the hill for breakfast, we are positively beaming and our embarrassingly huge spread of pancakes and chapattis and just-brewed coffee kickstarts one of our best days in Nepal.

Trails & trials

The mountain high endures as we bound downhill through Nagarkots skinny, ridgetop settlement and its melange of rise-and-shine rituals. To get a head start on the day, we jump aboard a surprisingly empty bus to nearby Telkot but, by the time the horn blows, bodies and luggage are piled together in a difficult-to-bear, sweaty crush. Halfway down the mountain we escape, pushing against a surge of bodies intent on claiming our now vacant seats.

Above this tiny five-shop settlement, we climb the foot trail through Telkot Forest and traverse a skinny ridge all the way to Changu Narayan. The views through the pine forest are breathtaking and this quiet, sunny walk is effortless.

My too-polite sister simply cant make any headway so we grab her backpack and, as the bus threatens to pull away, yank her out the door. Not for the first time on this trip, she is laughing hysterically. Above this tiny five-shop settlement, we climb the foot trail through Telkot Forest and traverse a skinny ridge all the way to Changu Narayan. The views through the pine forest are breathtaking and this quiet, sunny walk is effortless.

Only Changu Narayan impresses us more: the oldest living Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley and surely its most picturesque UNESCO site. Climbing long stone staircases through the town, we are thrilled to discover that monuments toppled by 2015s catastrophic earthquake have been painstakingly restored and artefacts rescued; a band of thankful tourists has returned. A local noodle shop owner conjures up big bowls of vegetable noodle soup to order and, restored, we jump on a bus to Bhaktapur to end the day in more medieval surrounds.

One night in Bhaktapur

In Kathmandu on the morning of April 25, 2015, a violent earthquake shattered the city. It killed more than 8500 people and levelled homes and historic sites, triggering landslides and avalanches as far away as Everest Base Camp and rendering thousands upon thousands of Nepali people homeless. The aftermath was dire as the aftershocks hindered recovery efforts and terrorised survivors for weeks.

The town of Gorkha, to Kathmandus northwest, bore the brunt of the shocks that rippled across the valley, toppling a random collection of sites while leaving others miraculously unharmed. In Bhaktapur, a revered UNESCO site and the most atmospheric of the Kathmandu Valleys three ancient kingdoms, the earthquake killed hundreds, brought entire streets of irreplaceable traditional homes to the ground and shook some of the citys ancient temples to breaking point.

The earthquake grounded Nepals tourism sector, too, and incomes and jobs evaporated overnight. By the time we visit Nepal 16 months on, an influx of aid dollars has fast-tracked repairs and Bhaktapur is bustling once again, packed with tour groups and travellers and freelance guides intent on leading us through Bhaktapurs baffling maze of 15th-century temples, stupas and palaces. We consult our guidebooks and phone apps instead, sipping mugs of Himalayan-grown coffee as we search for the best route around the city. Orienting ourselves proves more difficult than we thought, so we ditch the maps and wing it.

Climbing long stone staircases through the town, we are thrilled to discover that monuments toppled by 2015s catastrophic earthquake have been painstakingly restored, artefacts rescued and that a band of thankful tourists have returned.

It turns out to be the best decision of the day. We let our eyes guide us instead, peering into tiny, hidden courtyards where women fill big clay jugs from a communal well and following locals up Nepals tallest temple for a grand viewpoint of the citys sunniest square. Cooling our tastebuds on frozen sticks of delicious, creamy curd and crispy donuts, we wander past handcrafted clay pots drying en masse in the sun and feed hungry carp in a 17th-century water pond.

Much to our surprise, we find our way to the famous 600-year-old Peacock Window that adorns an old Hindu priest house and rates as the Kathmandu Valleys finest. We take in Bhaktapur with eyes wide open and, though there is much that we miss, our guidebook-free discoveries are our own and by days end we are finally ready to return to Kathmandu.

Cultural immersion

With one day to spare before our paths diverge, we hit the markets around Kathmandus Asan Temple, where just about everything from fresh spices and saris to jewellery and knock-off designer jeans are sold at bargained-down prices. We snap up backpacks and trekking gear, Tibetan prayer flags and incense, and join the locals standing shoulder to shoulder with cups of drinking yoghurt and spicy masala tea.

Bodhnath  Asias largest stupa and one of the most welcoming, culturally accessible sites in all of Nepal  awaits as the day winds down. The heart and soul of Nepals Tibetan community and the place where so many pilgrimages end, this is hands down my favourite place in Kathmandu, a place not to observe life but to join in, completing koras and spinning prayer wheels and lighting butter lamps and incense for safe travels and sheer thanks.

We take in Bhaktapur with eyes wide open and, though there is much that we miss, our guidebook-free discoveries are our own.

On our visit, post-earthquake scaffolding shrouds the upper reaches of Bodhnaths immense white-washed dome, but its construction guise fails to hamper the sites powerful spiritual force. As my young daughter and I sit in quiet prayer in Guru Lhakhang Gompa, a group of beaming monks beckons us to join in their sideline fun. Amid much laughter, one monk is road-testing the monasterys collection of hundred-year-old Tibetan horns for an upcoming festival. The awkward, windy belching has everyone in stitches and there is plenty of teasing as a succession of monks try their luck.

Eventually one conjures a smooth, booming sound that mesmerises us and sends the monks into rapturous cheers. They tell us about the festival and ask my daughter about her adventures before returning to their work, carving butter candles that will be ceremoniously lit and left to melt. The message is that nothing lasts, but this memory lingers with me still.

Within months of our visit, when its recovery is completed, a fresh set of Buddha eyes stares out over the Kathmandu Valley, watching and waiting for its pilgrims to return. Like so many who end their journeys here, we linger, too, soothed by a collective energy that feels good at every level, and captivated by the sense of calm that exists in this bustling, chaotic and welcoming place.

Escape routes

Getting there

Air Asia flies from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast to Kathmandu (via Kuala Lumpur).

When to go

The mild, dry months from February to May and September to November are the best times to visit and trek in Nepal.

Where to stay

A perfect fusion of luxury hotel and authentic homestay, Shivapuri Heights Cottage provides fully inclusive stays in decadent suites and private cottages from AUD$150450 per night with Ayurvedic spa treatments, yoga, cooking classes and guided walks on offer as well.

Dont miss
 Flash

China and Russia vowed to further deepen military ties and improve their troops' combat abilities to respond to various security threats, as they formally concluded the "Vostok-2018" strategic drills with a military parade on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe inspected the troops at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal region, where the exercise was held.

Wei said the drills reflect China and Russia's confidence and determination to jointly safeguard regional peace and security, and the exercise enhances the two militaries' ability to respond to multiple security threats.

The two sides should further strengthen their strategic cooperation and continuously promote the development of their military relations, Wei added.

Putin said in his opening speech before the parade that Russia will continue to enhance international military cooperation with other countries and strengthen its armed forces to counter different security threats.

He praised Russian and Chinese troops who participated in high-level drills in which they demonstrated their capability to counter potential military threats.

In the parade, the Russian army rolled out many of its latest and mightiest pieces of military hardware, including Iskander missiles, T-80 and T-90 tanks, and Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets.

The People's Liberation Army displayed its Type-99 main battle tank, ZBD-08 infantry fighting vehicle, WZ-9 and WZ-19 attack helicopters, Mi-171 helicopters and the JH-7A fighter-bomber.

The drills, which began on Tuesday, were the largest of their kind in modern Russia's history and involved nearly 300,000 Russian troops.

China dispatched 3,200 soldiers, along with over 1,000 pieces of weaponry and 30 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to participate.

Shao Yuanming, vice-chief of staff at the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission and Chinese chief commander at the drills, said the two militaries deepened their friendship, improved mutual trust and fostered cooperation. The exercises also enhanced the ability of both armies to respond to various regional security threats, he said.

The two nations will continue their military cooperation and explore new possible ways to boost their combat abilities, he said.

During three days of strategic drills, the troops simulated a classic anti-invasion campaign at the training range in eastern Siberia.

Beijing said the drills were not aimed at any third party.

Chinese troops' participation was reported to be their first large-scale overseas military activity since PLA military reforms started in 2016. It also marked the largest military event since Moscow's "New Look" army reform started in 2008.

The two militaries formed a joint operational command system during the drills. Li Weiya, a commander at the Chinese operational command headquarters, said the event has historical significance because it fully demonstrated the new cooperative form and level of the two armies.

He said China's participation shows Moscow and Beijing are now cooperating in all areas.
A Russian hacker accused of stealing information from thousands of personal computers has pleaded guilty to several federal charges stemming from 20 years of criminal activity.

Peter Yuryevich Levashov also know as Peter Severa, and Sergey Astakhov, 38, of St. Petersburg, Russia, admitted he operated the Kelihos botnet to grab log-in credentials, distribute bulk spam email, and install ransomware and other malicious software.

Investigators described a botnet as a network of computers infected with malicious software that allows a third party to control the entire computer network without the knowledge or consent of the computer owners.

During proceedings Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford, Levashov pleaded guilty to charges of causing intentional damage to a protected computer, conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum total of 37 years in prison.

However both sides are allowed to argue for lesser terms. The defense contends Levashov should receive no more than eight years in prison while the prosecution says anywhere from 10 to 14 years is appropriate.

Levashov, who is being detained without bond, will next appear before Chatigny for sentencing on Sept. 6, 2019, at the request of his lawyer, Vadim A. Glozman of Chicago, Ill..

For over two decades, Peter Levashov operated botnets which enabled him to harvest personal information from infected computers, disseminate spam, and distribute malware used to facilitate multiple scams, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, of the U.S. Justice Departments Criminal Division in Washington, D.C.. We are grateful to Spanish authorities for his previous arrest and extradition. This guilty plea demonstrates that the Department will collaborate with our international law enforcement partners to bring cybercriminals to justice, wherever they may be.

Levashov used the Peter Severa alias while trolling online, according to Brian Turner, the FBIs special agent in charge of their Connecticut headquarters.

Mr. Levashov used the Kelihos botnet to distribute thousands of spam e-mails, harvest log-in credentials, and install malicious software on computers around the world, added U.S. Attorney John Bull Durham. He also participated in online forums on which stolen identities, credit card information and cybercrime tools were traded and sold.

While Levashovs criminal activity was disrupting the lives of thousands of computer users, Durham said the defendant lived quite comfortably.

Since the late 1990s until his arrest in April, 2017, Levashov controlled and operated multiple botnets, including the Storm, Waledac and Kelihos botnets, investigators charged. Levashov disseminated spam and distributed other malware, such as banking Trojans and ransomware, and advertised the Kelihos botnet spam and malware services for sale.

The Kelihos botnet is believed to have infected 50,000 computers before it was dismantled on April 10, 2017.

Spanish authorities arrested Levashov in Barcelona on April 7, 2017, based on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by Durhams office. Levashov was indicted 20 days later by a federal grand jury here and extradited in February.
WESTPORT  Hollywood is finally catching up to GiGi New.

New, a Westport resident and film and television writer has several movies and a television show currently in production all of which center characters  young minority women and a widow, who dont fit the industry's traditional mold for leading ladies.

In fact, News transition from actress to film and television writer was precipitated by her frustration with the industrys lack of diversity. I got a little disillusioned with acting. I loved it, but I just thought, if this is what its going to be, basically who fits the suit, this isnt the best use of my creative endeavors, New, whos of Panamanian and Italian descent, said.

A self-proclaimed military brat, New, 53, grew up all over the country but said she calls Virginia, where she graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a theater degree, home.

As a young kid New fell in love with acting through community theater and after college moved to Chicago to join the citys robust theater scene. I was torn as to New York or Los Angeles, so I decided to split it right up the middle and go to Chicago, New said.

In Chicago, New did some theater but largely pressed the pause button on her acting career. Unexpectedly, learned the most in Chicago from her work as a comedy club cocktail waitress, which she needed to pay rent.

I was really enchanted with the comedians who worked at it, who didnt just try for a simple or a cheap laugh, New said, noting she came into contact with many comedians on the rise through her waitress work.

After six years in Chicago and equipped with an astute ear for comedy, New moved to Los Angeles, where she found some work in plays and auditioned for television shows and the occasional movie, but didnt land any roles necessary to justify an acting career, in part because of the lack of diverse roles in Hollywood.

A few years into her time in Los Angeles, New had put the breaks on her acting career and was trying to figure out what to do next when she met her now husband, actor Nicholas Sadler, at a bar in the city. New recognized Sadler from movies such as Scent of a Woman, Twister, and Disclosure, and the two began talking.

New told Sadler one of her favorite personal stories about the time her mother met the musician Alex Van Halen but didnt know it. Nick said thats a great story, you should write it down, and I said well, Im not a writer. He said, no, thats a great story.

More Information To learn more about GiGi New visit http://www.newwaywriter.com/ See More Collapse

Encouraged by Nick, New wrote the story, and went even further, writing a Cinderella-story type movie that she passed on to a friend, who passed the script onto an agent. The agent loved it and all the sudden Im getting meetings all over town, New said.

Although News script was never produced, the connections she made helped her get work as a writers assistant on Everybody Loves Raymond and later as a writer on the Nickelodeon show The Brothers Garcia and Foxs program The Ortegas.

I found creativity is not compartmentalized. You dont just have talent in one area. Generally, it filers into something else and I found that through all my years acting, I had a nice ability to tell a story and especially a nice ear for dialogue, New said.

After New and Sadlers son Cooper, now 12, was born, they reconsidered Los Angeles. When he was born, Nick and I knew we wanted to head back to the East Coast, for nothing more than to give him a more steady lifestyle and an education where we didnt have to put him in private school, New said.

The family moved to New Canaan for five years before relocating two years ago to Westport, drawn to the towns artist community, strong theater education for Cooper, and beach access. These days, New primarily works on her own creative projects out of the repurposed train caboose a previous owner of her home installed on the property. She also helps other film and television writers as a writing instructor at the Westport Writers Workshop and as a writing consultant.

Right now New is most excited about her television show script of a young widow inspired by her dynamite and witty friend whose husband died of early onset Alzheimer's at 50. I just couldnt get out of my head that there was a character here: a character wed never seen before that was trying to redefine her life after her husband died, New said, adding, widows havent been written the way they truly are.

The television show script, which is set in Westport, poured out of her, New said, noting the rise of television streaming and Netflix and increased appetite for previously underrepresented characters may bode well for the shows production.

My golden chalice person would be Anne Hathaway, New said of her choice person, a fellow Westport resident, to play the widow role. If she reads this, maybe shell call me, New added.

svaughan@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2638; @SophieCVaughan1
WESTPORT  Passage of groundbreaking legislation requires the gathering of the right people, timing and fate. The story of how Westport, 10 years ago this month, became the first town east of the Mississippi River to enact a plastic bag ban is no exception.

The idea to ban single-use plastic bags in town began in 2007, when resident Mel Sorcher read about San Franciscos passage of a ban on nonbiodegradable plastic bags and thought Westport should pass similar legislation.

I went to see our first selectman about it. He and his staff were not initially supportive, so I asked a friend, Don Wergeles, if we would work on a plan with me, Sorcher wrote in a 2015 letter to the state Legislature, in reference to then-Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff.

Next, Sorcher contacted the San Francisco mayors office to inquire about its ban. The person in charge of of the citys ban happened to be a Staples High School graduate, who helped Sorcher develop a plan for Westport to ban plastic bags.

We initiated several meetings with town administrators, but we werent getting anywhere. It was clear we needed to get insiders in town government to get involved with this, so we contacted Liz Milwe, my elected representative in Westport town government. She agreed to help and eventually asked three other elected town representatives to join our effort, Sorcher wrote.

As it happens, a few weeks before Sorcher contacted Milwe, then a member of Westports Representative Town Meeting from District 4, Milwe had met with her fellow elected RTM members following the November 2007 elections. The group included Jeff Wieser, Jonathan Cunitz, Gene Seidman and Milwe. According to Wieser, Milwe told members she was tired of just approving things on the RTM and never accomplishing any new legislation within the body itself.

When Sorcher proposed the plastic bag ban to Milwe, she brought it to the other District 4 members.

Fish mistake plastic bags for food and eat the bags, whose chemicals poison the animals and often cause them to die, Milwe said.

We just decided what the heck, this would be a project where we could actually get something done, Wieser said.

In many ways, the District 4 members were a perfect team for the challenge of passing what later became the Retail Checkout Bags ordinance because of the diverse backgrounds of each member, Wieser said.

A trained choreographer and native of Westports environmental organizing community, Milwe rallied grass-roots support for the ordinance and gathered research from San Francisco and communities around the world who banned plastic bags.

Seidman, who has a background in graphic art and marketing, worked alongside Milwe in talking to residents about the ban and designing a public relations campaign in favor of the ordinance. Both Wieser, a 30-year veteran of the international banking sector, and Siedman convinced other RTM members to vote for the ordinance.

Wieser, a numbers guy according to Milwe, also quantified the effect of Westports plastic bag usage and helped adapt San Franciscos ordinance for Westport, though the ordinances writing was largely done by Cunitz, a consultant.

On the night of the vote at the Sept. 2, 2008, RTM meeting, representatives of the American Chemical Council spoke against the ban, but residents didnt like an outside group meddling in town affairs, Milwe said.

It was actually relatively simple. The audience was pretty full. A lot of people spoke in favor of it. There was not a lot of opposition, Wieser said.

Just minutes before midnight, the vote was called.

The vote approving the ban was overwhelming in favor. The entire auditorium erupted in applause and cheers. It was the kind of thing that happens in a feel-good-movie, Sorcher wrote. The final vote was 26 in favor, 5 opposed, and one abstention.

In March 2009, the ban was implemented and the town held a reusable bag design contest, Milwe said.

Organizations and political candidates caught on to peoples need for reusable bags and passed them out as goodie bags at events that first year after the ban, current First Selectman Jim Marpe said.

If the average Westport household uses six less plastic bags a week as a result of the ordinance, the town has prevented 30 million plastic bags from entering the waste stream over the last 10 years, Wieser estimates. Thats something to be proud of.

Despite the success of Westports ordinance, few other nearby towns have followed in its lead.

We thought it would spread like wildfire, but in every town we talked to, its been hard for people to accept the concept, Wieser said. Its gone such a short distance in the last 10 years. Its sort of surprising.

Many locally owned grocery stores lobby against bans for fear they will increase expenses and make it harder to compete with big chains, Wieser said, noting the political power of Stew Leonards in preventing implementation of a plastic bag ban in Norwalk.

However, the tides may be turning in favor of more plastic bag bans, Milwe said, pointing to the plastic bag ban passed by Greenwich in March and the over 14 Connecticut towns now working to pass similar bans.

It took a long time for other towns to do it because everyone was waiting for the state to do something, and theyre just not doing it, Milwe said.

Milwe and Wieser frequently speak to groups in other towns hoping to pass a plastic bag ban. In 2008, Milwe and her husband, Peter Wormser, created an organization called In the Bag and a congruent traveling art show composed of reusable bags made by women from around the world. The exhibit has been shown at the United Nations in both Nairobi and Geneva, was featured at the Boston Childrens Museum, and is now displayed at the Newtown Municipal Center through Sept. 28.

Back in Westport, Milwe said she is proud RTM member Andrew Colabella is now spearheading the passage of an ordinance to limit plastic straw use in town, which she views as a natural progression from the plastic bag ban a decade before.

Were all looking and understanding that we have to change our habits to have a healthy environment, Milwe said.
In 2018, there are two Americas.

Theres the America of Donald Trump. The presidents supporters are sure hell Make America Great Again. He will bring back lost jobs, build a wall, halt the influx of foreigners, save the country from its horrible lurch toward liberalism.

His opponents are equally sure he will Tear America Apart. He will destroy our standing in the world, demolish our values and heritage and constitutional principles, widen the gap between the very few haves, and the very many have-nots.

Westport is nowhere near as divided as the nation. But if you look closely  if you poke a bit beyond the storefronts of Main Street, the beaches and Longshore, the houses and stone walls and security gates  youll see a tale of two Westports.

I was reminded of that last week. In the course of two hours, I had two very different conversations. The subject was the same: our community. But the perspectives I heard were vastly different.

The first conversation was with a guy who recently moved here from New York City. Like so many newcomers, he and his family were attracted by the schools, Compo, restaurants, shopping, the library, our arts scene, volunteer organizations, beauty, tempo, and a vibe of activity, acceptance and neighborliness they did not sense in other Fairfield County suburbs.

The second conversation was with a longtime Westporter. She recently moved away, to the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. Shed had it with this place. The traffic, rudeness, hollowing out of downtown, materialism, pressures on kids, tear-downs, lack of interest in cultural and artistic institutions all became too much. Regretfully, she and her empty-nest husband are outta here.

I like and respect both people. I understand both viewpoints, and see merit in each. Westport is not the paradise new arrivals think theyve found, and its not the dystopian hellhole ex-residents imagine. Its someplace, somehow, in between.

The two Westports stand in stark contrast to each other in Saugatuck. The William F. Cribari Bridge  a 130-year-old swing span named for a beloved traffic cop who epitomized an earlier two-Westport era, moving commuters to and from the train station through a neighborhood filled with men and women who worked here  faces questions about its future. Residents fiercely debate its fate: renovation or replacement?

Renovation would mean keeping the bridge  and, by extension (literally and figuratively) the roads leading to and from it  the same. It would be narrow, slow, slightly scary to navigate. It still might be closed from time to time, allowing boats to pass underneath.

More Information Dan Woog COMMENTARY See More Collapse

Replacement would mean opening it to larger vehicles  including 18-wheelers. Boats could easily pass by. So could overflow traffic from I-95.

What do Westporters want: tradition and a slow, clunky way to and from Saugatuck? Something new and modern, with the potential for even more traffic than today? What are the upsides and downsides, the tradeoffs we make and the compromises we accept? Most importantly, who decides and pays: Westport, or the state? Those are decisions we must make soon.

Another question looms: Are we still an arts community? Weve got a town arts curator  how many burbs can say that? We have a decades-old Westport Arts Center, and a much newer Westport Arts Collective. The Drew Friedman Community Arts Foundation draws on a $1 million bequest to provide education and opportunities to budding young artists. New galleries pop up all over town, from CronArt in Bedford Square to Paddlecourt on Saugatuck Avenue.

Yet theres no denying: We are no longer a town whose artists, illustrators and painters put Westport on the artistic map. Men and women still work in home studios, but nowhere close to the numbers when members of our artists colony created magazine covers, postage stamps, books, cereal boxes and works hanging in museums around the world.

Does that mean that the hedge fund mentality has taken over? Were now home to Bridgewater  the largest in the world  which served as the inspiration for the dead-on Showtime series, Billions. Other hedge funds are headquartered here, and who knows how many directors and managers of funds based elsewhere live here?

How much have their values seeped into  and shaped  our town? Have they supplanted, or merely added to, the values of an arts community?

Weve seen the two Westports exposed in controversies over changes at Compo Beach too, from the vistas we may or may not lose, to the new bathrooms that may or may not be needed. And weve seen them in debates over affordable housing and changes downtown too.

Controversy over Westports direction is not new. Generations before ours grappled with what Westport is, and who it belonged to.

The only thing constant is change. Heraclitus said that  in 500 B.C. Hed feel right at home in Westport today.

Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com.
 Flash

Visiting Benelux foreign ministers expressed their support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) integration into the European Union (EU) at the meeting with Members of BiH Presidency on Thursday.





During the meeting, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders, Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn and Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok highlighted their support for the reforms BiH needs to undertake in order to enter the EU.





The visiting foreign ministers expressed their contentment because they are visiting BiH in a dual capacity: as representatives of Benelux and EU member states.





"The importance of continuation of the reform process, strengthening of the rule of law, and combating crime and corruption were noted as of tremendous importance when it comes to BiH path towards the EU," BiH Presidency press statement said.





The visiting ministers highlighted the importance of adoption of the EU Strategy "A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans", as well as the Declaration of the Summit of the EU-Western Balkans held in Sofia, which confirm the European perspective of the countries of the region.





For their part, Chairman of BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Member of BiH Presidency Mladen Ivanic expressed their commitment to carry out the necessary activities and reforms to improve the lives of citizens and bring the country closer to the EU.





They highlighted the process of preparing responses on the European Commission's questionnaire and its impact on improving the coordination of institutions in BiH.





On Feb. 15, 2016, BiH formally submitted its application to join the EU, which was accepted on Sept. 20, 2016. On Feb. 28, 2018, BiH has officially handed the answered EU accession questionnaire to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
 Flash

The outgoing UN envoy for Somalia, Michael Keating, on Thursday warned that terrorism and political differences will derail progress in Somalia.





Al-Shabaab remains resilient in the Horn of Africa country despite the efforts of the UN peacekeeping mission and Somali security forces to contain it, Keating told the Security Council.





The terrorist group is regularly using targeted assassinations, improvised explosive devices and extortion both of communities and businesses, he said.





Managing and mitigating this risk requires systematic degradation of al-Shabaab as well as increasing the legitimacy and capacity of government. One without the other will not work, he said.





Keating, who is also head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM, warned that political differences in the country will bring progress, passage of key legislation, and implementation of the government's reform and security agenda to a grinding halt.





The deficit of trust between central government and federal member states, and the recent decision by the latter to suspend cooperation, are very worrisome, he said.





Fundamental issues, including how power should be shared, allocated and separated, the nature of the federal state, the respective powers of the federal and state governments, should be addressed through the constitutional review, he said.





Strong and differing views about federalism are legitimate but if the political culture is to change, they need to be resolved through dialogue and not through unilateral action, he said.





More immediately, the greatest challenge is to reach political agreements that allow forward momentum without prejudicing the outcome of the constitutional review, he said. These include the electoral law, integration of security forces, and resource and revenue sharing agreements.





Trust requires respect for due process and commitment to non-violence, a willingness to engage, to make compromises for the broader good, he said.





"This was my parting message to Somali leaders," said Keating, who will be replaced by Nicholas Haysom of South Africa on Oct. 1.





The Somali population will once again face the prospect of humanitarian catastrophe, he warned.





The risk of this happening is high, and millions are already living on the edge of dignified existence, he said.





Future crises will result from the combination of climate-related shocks, armed conflict provoked by al-Shabaab and unresolved grievances, competition over natural resources and systemic marginalization of certain groups, he said.





The objective should be to reduce human vulnerability by creating jobs, investing in urbanization, water management, access to clean power and adding value to the country's enormous economic potential whether in livestock, fisheries, agriculture or information technology, said Keating.





The future of Somalia is in the hands of the Somalis, he said. "Success depends upon political, business, traditional and other leaders working together for the common good, leveraging the country's potential wealth to transform prospects for people, especially the young."





The more that political leaders show unity, the greater the opportunity, and the responsibility, of international partners to invest in all parts of the country and its leadership, he noted.
By the time you read this, Tuesdays election will be history. We will know whether or not Texans came out...
 Flash

U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is close to reaching a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller but an agreement has not been concluded, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.





"It's close but not there yet," the source said.





Earlier, ABC News, citing three unnamed sources with knowledge of the discussions, said Manafort had tentatively agreed to a plea deal and it was expected to be announced at a court hearing on Friday in Washington.





ABC News said it remained unclear whether Manafort had also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.





Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday in Manafort's second trial in federal court in Washington on charges including conspiring to launder money, conspiring to defraud the United States, failing to register as a foreign agent and witness tampering.





Manafort was convicted last month at trial in Alexandria, Virginia, on eight counts of bank and tax fraud and failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. The prosecutions arose from Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to help him win. Trump has denied colluding with the Russians and the Russians have denied interfering.





The jury at the August trial was unable to reach a verdict on 10 other counts, after one lone juror said she had reasonable doubt on whether Manafort was guilty, according to another juror.





None of the charges against Manafort related to alleged collusion with Russia.
Dont blame Hurricane Florence for the spike in gas prices  a jump at the pump of 15 cents per litre that Winnipeggers woke up to Thursday morning.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/9/2018 (1152 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dont blame Hurricane Florence for the spike in gas prices  a jump at the pump of 15 cents per litre that Winnipeggers woke up to Thursday morning.

And dont blame your friendly neighbourhood gas station either. Your gas station has been eating costs the past three weeks.

"It was a gas war," said Dan McTeague, senior petroleum analyst at gasbuddy.com.

Most Winnipeg gas bars were selling at a loss of about 10 cents a litre for the past three weeks. Why? Because they were trying to compete with a few big box stores who were selling gas as a loss leader, McTeague said.

In fact, Winnipeg gas prices were the lowest in the country "by a long shot" before Thursday, McTeague said.

But as of Thursday, Costco on McGillivray Boulevard was still charging $1.09.1 versus $1.25.9 at most other outlets.

"Its got nothing to do with the hurricane. You had below-cost selling by some major players and it was a head-fake. People thought that was the normal price," McTeague said.

Gas stations had been purchasing their gasoline at $1.16 per litre and selling it for about $1.05.9. Paying with a credit card cost the gas vendor another two cents, "so now youre 12 cents down and Im not even covering the cost of electricity, much less taxes, municipal taxes, overhead, and wages," McTeague said.

"I say to the big box store, what are you ripping me off in the store to pay for the differential (between wholesale and retail gas prices)," he said. "Theres no free lunch."

Last year at this time, Winnipegs gas price averaged about $1.02 per litre. Now its 22 cents higher.

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The increase is due to two factors: the rise in crude oil prices and refineries taking a bigger margin. The refining margin has gone from 17 to 18 cents per litre a year ago to 27 to 28 cents today.

"There is no competition at the refinery level in Canada," McTeague said.

"Youre looking at some pretty considerable profits for turning crude into gasoline for all of Western Canada."

Oil last year at this time was selling for US$50 a barrel. It sells for US$70 today.

The Canadian dollar is also five cents weaker against American currency compared to a year ago and oil is priced in American dollars. McTeague blamed the weaker dollar on the delayed pipeline construction preventing Canada from transporting oil to markets more efficiently.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
Its been more than two years since an articulate eight-year-old girl came forward to report her neighbour, a Lorette school teacher, had repeatedly sexually abused her.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/9/2018 (1152 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its been more than two years since an articulate eight-year-old girl came forward to report her neighbour, a Lorette school teacher, had repeatedly sexually abused her.

Today, a Court of Queens Bench judge is set to decide the outcome of the sexual-assault case against 34-year-old Remi Dallaire, who has denied the allegations against him.

After hearing all of the evidence in the three-day trial, including a full day of testimony from the now-10-year-old girl, Justice Ken Champagne said he expects to deliver his decision this afternoon  mindful of the fact the girl and the accused have been waiting long enough for the court process to end.

Crown prosecutor Danielle Simard urged the judge to convict Dallaire, who pleaded not guilty to four charges of sexual offences involving the underage girl. Defence lawyer Matt Gould said Dallaire should be acquitted because there is a lack of physical evidence to support the allegations.

Both lawyers made their closing arguments Thursday in front of Champagne.

Dallaire was a teacher at Ecole Lagimodiere in Lorette (30 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg) when he became friends with the girls mother, who had moved into the apartment across the hall from him in June 2016.

He would walk the girl to and from school, and watch her until her mom got home from work in the evenings. He admitted to RCMP he shared a bed with the girl when she slept over while he was supposed to be looking after her. He admitted the girl was naked on one occasion, but claimed he undressed her and cleaned her up because she had urinated in bed. He admitted giving the girl beer, but denied ever touching her or showing her porn.

"The interpretation of Mr. Dallaires behaviour with (the eight-year-old girl) can be considered inappropriate, and I think is likely to be considered inappropriate, but thats not why were here," Gould said. He pointed to Dallaires repeated denials in his police statement, and said Dallaire told police he had nothing to hide and encouraged them to collect more evidence.

"Once we pass that evaluation of a sympathetic 10-year-old, who was making clear allegations, there are opportunities for more (evidence) and its not there. We have nothing, nothing, nothing," Gould said, noting the girls testimony had "elements of it that are too articulate."

Simard disagreed.

"The evidence paints a picture of an accused who befriended a vulnerable mother and her daughter for his own nefarious purposes, and he betrayed and violated them both in the most vile way possible. I would urge the court to convict on all counts," the Crown lawyer said.

The case centres on testimonies from the girl and her mother, who called police in July 2016.

The then-eight-year-old told her mother Dallaire had touched her "inappropriately"  a word that came from her mother. The girl went on to tell police (in a statement recorded on video the next day) Dallaire had given her a can of beer to drink, showed her a pornographic video, asked her to perform oral sex, showered with her, molested her, anally penetrated her and bought her gifts so she would keep it all a secret.

She didnt back down from those allegations when she was cross-examined for nearly three hours Tuesday.

Simard said its uncommon to see a 10-year-old "so unshaken" in court.

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When the girls mother testified, she fielded defence suggestions she had used her children to get closer to Dallaire, or she had encouraged her daughter to report false allegations because she was angry at Dallaire. Hed told her he wasnt interested in a romantic relationship with her.

On the witness stand, the girls mother was questioned about her sexual relationship with Dallaire. She testified they once engaged in sexual activity, during which Dallaire said, "We should have (your daughter) here."

The now-40-year-old woman said she questioned him about the comment, but he denied having sexual thoughts about the young girl, and they never spoke about it again.

After her daughter told her about the alleged abuse, the mother said she confronted Dallaire. He sent her a text message in which he threatened to call Child and Family Services and have her children taken away from her if she didnt talk to him about the allegations.

The defence didnt challenge the mothers testimony about Dallaires comment, his threatening text or another text he sent to the mother one day at 1:40 a.m., asking her to send her daughter over to his apartment because he felt like killing himself. The mother refused.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Independent investigations are getting underway into allegations of sexual abuse dating to the 1960s in northern Manitoba, allegedly perpetrated and condoned by Manitoba Hydro workers and RCMP officers.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Independent investigations are getting underway into allegations of sexual abuse dating to the 1960s in northern Manitoba, allegedly perpetrated and condoned by Manitoba Hydro workers and RCMP officers.

Manitoba RCMP announced Friday it is referring those investigations to outside agencies -- the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba and the Ontario Provincial Police. The IIU will be tasked with investigating allegations that involve RCMP, while the OPP is set to handle criminal complaints against Manitoba Hydro employees and contract workers who were stationed at construction camps in the Gillam and Fox Lake Cree Nation areas.

"This was required, as there were criminal allegations where both Manitoba Hydro employees and RCMP members may have been present," Manitoba RCMP stated in a news release Friday.

A spokesman for Manitoba RCMP could not say when the police force asked the outside agencies to investigate the allegations, which were released in a provincial report from the Clean Environment Commission. The OPP and the IIU have a transcript from a community meeting held in Fox Lake Cree Nation in January, and that will be the starting point for their investigations, both agencies confirmed to the Free Press.

"Some spoke of instances of institutions intended to protect people, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, brutalizing men, permitting the exploitation of women, and failing to take local complaints seriously, although there were instances of these complaints being addressed. Indigenous children felt themselves to be the target of racial violence and discrimination," the report states.

Carolle Dionne, spokeswoman for the OPP, said the agency was notified of the allegations near the end of August.

"When there is the potential for conflict of interest -- there are specific allegations within the transcripts where RCMP and Manitoba Hydro employees are stated to have been together, so in this case, they have reached out to us and requested an independent policing organization to look into the matter to remain transparent and accountable," she said.

In Manitoba, the IIU investigates all serious injuries or deaths at the hands of on- or off-duty police officers. In this case, the independent agency had discretion to see whether investigating would be in the public interest.

Executive director Zane Tessler said he determined it was, adding he didn't face public pressure to get the IIU involved.

Tessler said it's too early to tell how broad the scope of the investigation might become or how long it will take. He said he's confident the IIU, which has eight investigators, will be up to the task.

'This was required, as there were criminal allegations where both Manitoba Hydro employees and RCMP members may have been present'  Manitoba RCMP on the Independent investigations into allegations of sexual abuse dating to the 1960s in northern Manitoba

"Theres a natural, inherent difficulty whenever any investigation into an historical matter is undertaken. I mean, were going back, potentially, some 50 years in some circumstances," he said. "Among the challenges were going to have, of course, is determining are witnesses still available? Are they still alive?... How much influence has the passage of time had?

"These are all the challenges of any investigation."

Arlen Dumas, grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the RCMP decision to refer the investigation into historical criminal allegations against Manitoba Hydro employees and contractors to two external agencies was something the AMC had been advocating for.

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"In order to ensure full transparency and accountability, you need to have objective assessment done," Dumas said. "Im glad the RCMP decided that was the proper way to go. It will properly identify where there were missteps and it will give us an opportunity to do analysis on these procedural things."

For decades, members of Fox Lake Cree Nation had been speaking out about alleged abuses in the wake of 4,000 construction workers arriving in the small, northern community to work on Manitoba Hydro's hydroelectric megaprojects in the 1960s and '70s.

The influx of a largely male workforce, combined with alcohol abuse and a police force reluctant to take complaints seriously, Fox Lake elders reported, meant sexual assaults on Indigenous women were widespread, as was physical violence and racism.

Despite having been well-known for years in those communities, and reported to advocacy groups and government agencies -- as well as Manitoba Hydro itself as far back as 2012 -- the allegations only became widely publicized in late August, after the provincial government released a May 28 report from the CEC detailing testimony from 12 people from Fox Lake.

 with files from Martin Cash

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
As Winnipeg heads to a fall civic election, much has already been written about reopening Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic. Although the debate over whether this nationally famous intersection should be reopened is not new, the pending referendum has amped up its intensity. Winnipeggers on both sides of the issue are as passionately engaged as they were during the True North arena debate. Is this a good thing?

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

As Winnipeg heads to a fall civic election, much has already been written about reopening Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic. Although the debate over whether this nationally famous intersection should be reopened is not new, the pending referendum has amped up its intensity. Winnipeggers on both sides of the issue are as passionately engaged as they were during the True North arena debate. Is this a good thing?

To the extent that the issue has engaged citizens, it is indeed a good thing. But to the extent that this single issue might overshadow other important civic concerns, it has become a distraction and Winnipeggers are at risk of missing the opportunity to discuss other issues that will have a greater impact on the citys future.

A serious drug epidemic, effective crime-reduction strategies, social and economic equity, urban planning and city design, creating intelligent communities, densifying the urban core  these are all make-or-break issues that determine whether a city becomes a place where people want to live, work, play and invest.

Lets take urban density and consider its importance to Winnipegs future. While we are talking about Portage and Main, few are paying attention to the fact Winnipeg remains one of Canadas least densely populated cities, and that has very serious long-term implications.

Optimal population density dictates whether a city is affordable and can sustain itself in the long term.

While Metro Toronto and Winnipeg occupy a similar footprint, Winnipeg is home to an average of 147 residents per square kilometre, compared to Torontos 849. Why does this matter? Cities require an inordinate inventory of infrastructure and services to make them livable. A city is made up of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional structures, which are the homes, workplaces and gathering spaces for its citizens.

These structures need to be organized in a logical and coherent fashion. They need to be connected with basic infrastructure, such as roads and transit, to allow for the movement of people, goods and services. This also requires a supply of energy, water utilities and communication. In addition, various levels of government need to provide a second layer of services, including police, fire and paramedic services, libraries, hospitals, schools and universities, parks and playgrounds.

These services are publicly funded. Essential infrastructure is not only built with tax revenue; it is maintained and eventually replaced using taxpayer funds. Given this funding model, taxpayer density matters. In Toronto, some of the core first-tier infrastructure, such as roadways, pipes, sidewalks and utilities, is shared by many more residents than in a far less densely populated city such as Winnipeg.

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Residents of our city bear a much higher per-capita cost than Torontonians. Our infrastructure deficit already stands at more than $1 billion and, as we continue to add to our inventory of infrastructure assets, the deficit continues to grow. In simple terms, we cannot afford to maintain or replace the assets we already own, yet we continue to add to the inventory of depreciating assets that will consume future resources. Being dense matters  and Winnipeg needs more density.

Portage and Main captures our imagination, but it has virtually no bearing on the financial viability and sustainability of our city. It is simply about the aesthetics and practicality of one particular intersection. How we plan and design our city has everything to do with its long-term viability, yet there is very little discussion of the issue.

Lately, infill development has appeared on our radar, but more often for negative reasons than for its positive long-term implications.

This is our collective failure. Winnipeg deals with infill proposals on an ad hoc and one-off basis. Residents of various neighbourhoods have not been given a concrete plan that shows the evolution of compact, livable and vibrant neighbourhoods. Understandably, residents of St. Boniface and Fort Rouge oppose individual projects when we fail to present a comprehensive and coherent long-term development plan that paints a vivid, compelling picture.

Elections present the best opportunity for citizens to discuss, debate and establish the priorities they want future elected leaders to pursue. If the 2018 election is highjacked by a single issue of relatively marginal consequence, we will have lost an opportunity to tackle larger issues that will shape our city and our quality of life for decades to come. As people who live, work, play and invest here, we owe ourselves more.

Sudhir Sandhu is chief executive officer of Manitoba Building Trades.
Its not always easy to love Winnipeg. Its a love that comes with a list of stipulations. Its a love that, among other things, asks us to nurture a defiant pride in lowered expectations: in spite, not because.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/9/2018 (1152 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its not always easy to love Winnipeg. Its a love that comes with a list of stipulations. Its a love that, among other things, asks us to nurture a defiant pride in lowered expectations: in spite, not because.

Thats what this city is, after all. Its what it has to be. Its a place where residents make peace with the knowledge that were stuck here together, marinating in a centurys worth of dented civic aspirations.

Its a place where we still blame the Panama Canal, albeit tongue-in-cheek. A place where a business once put up a sign celebrating a decade of construction at Portage and Maryland, and it made the news.

And its a place where we revel in the absurdity of our situation. A city where, when a visitor asks the inevitable question  "does Winnipeg have any hills?"  your heart skips a beat. This is your moment.

"Actually, we do have one," you say, and then you tell the story.

The punchline, of course, is a perfect summation of Winnipegs scrappy mundanity: we do have a hill, it was a landfill, its called  get this  Garbage Hill, except, technically, not really. Visitors laugh every time.

So when Garbage Hill loomed in the headlines this week, courtesy of its short-lived and mysterious Hollywood-sign-like treatment, it was the perfect Winnipeg story. It sat at an intersection of local peculiarity.

The signmaker remains anonymous. The sign was both ironic and loving, a fitting tribute to a spot with the most humble beginnings. It celebrated how people know it, not the city; who ever talks about Westview Park?

Then, there was the speed at which it was removed by city workers. This is not a city where we are accustomed to gazing upon public works and remarking, "That was fast." Suddenly, we got to do that.

The city said it wouldnt have survived the winter. Fine. That explanation is perfectly Winnipeg, too.

Above all, there was the enthusiasm with which we received it. After the sign was so swiftly removed, news that it ever existed spurred support so unanimous, even the mayor spoke up to back a do-over.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files The Hollywood-esque sign marking Garbage Hill  which drew unanimous support, including from the mayor  showed Winnipeggers they can agree on some things.

In a city where friendships and, probably, at least a few marriages are currently strained over the matter of crossing Portage and Main, it was a relief. Turns out we can agree on some things.

Now, as we begin the long wait to see whether the Garbage Hill sign will rise again, let us take a moment to reflect on the joy that it gave us.

Let me change tack for a moment. This summer, a 21-year-old Texan named Jevh Maravilla noticed McDonalds ads lacked Asian representation. Maravilla, who is Filipino, concocted an ingenious prank.

He and a friend created a poster-sized image of themselves, strolling along with McDonalds food in hand. They designed it to look like a real ad, complete with the golden arches logo.

Then, clad in a McDonalds uniform he found at a thrift shop, Maravilla went to McDonalds and installed the poster on the restaurants wall. Remarkably, it stayed there for the next 51 days.

Overnight, the story became a global sensation. Since Sept. 2, Maravillas tweet of the tale  complete with photos  has been retweeted over 259,000 times. News outlets across the world ran with the story.

It was a brilliant prank, finding the right balance of insightful, harmless and clever. Its success was also revealing: if Maravilla had simply shared a design of the poster, it wouldnt have been such a sensation.

The joy of the prank, and the reason it captured so many peoples imagination, was in how it subverted expectations of space. Maravillas creativity wedged a human spirit into the corporate sameness of it all.

The same thing happens in public spaces. The most memorable delights of city living arrive through myriad small and unprompted acts of creation. Discovering them in unexpected places is what thrills.

A chalk drawing on the sidewalk. A scrap of handwritten poetry, slipped into the crack of a transit bus seat. The moment youre walking down a too-familiar street, only to realize that something is a little bit different.

In Winnipeg, a group posting on Instagram as @wpg_rocks paints stones with whimsical images, then hides them in neighbourhoods across the city. A treasure hunt, where the valuable prize is a smile.

These are the little things that put city life into colour. Things that snap us out of the drab predictability of the day-to-day. Things that shake up our expectations of familiar space. Things that let creativity reign.

Lets take it as a reminder of the humble and resilient humour that defines what it means to be a Winnipegger.

In the annals of such localized efforts, let the Garbage Hill sign be remembered as a masterpiece. A legend. We dont know who made it and maybe never will, but thats what made its short-lived magic.

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Will we see it again? Maybe. Mayor Brian Bowman  no doubt eager to support a civic initiative that doesnt involve a brawl of public opinion  urged the signmaker to try again, with the proper permits.

Its a fun idea, for sure: Winnipeggers have gotten so much mileage out of the Garbage Hill name, perhaps the site deserves a more lasting celebration. Its the least we can do for our only real hill.

Yet if the signmaker jumped through the hoops of city process, it wouldnt be the same. It captured our attention precisely because it wasnt officially sanctioned. Creativity shines brightest when it begs no permission.

So let the memory of the Garbage Hill sign live on long after its wood-and-Styrofoam body was yanked from its perch. Lets take it as a reminder of the humble and resilient humour that defines what it means to be a Winnipegger.

And to whoever made the sign, thank you. In a time when Winnipegs civic dialogue is consumed by what divides us, thank you for the reminder that our city can  and should  also be something that delights us.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Universities tend to have a grey area when it comes to relationships between professors and students. No major Canadian university currently forbids professors from dating students, and most leave workplace safety, sexual-assault policies and codes of conduct to deal with the issue. While there are myriad reasons for professors and students not to date, universities most often prefer a we dont forbid consenting adult behaviour disclaimer.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/9/2018 (1152 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Universities tend to have a grey area when it comes to relationships between professors and students. No major Canadian university currently forbids professors from dating students, and most leave workplace safety, sexual-assault policies and codes of conduct to deal with the issue. While there are myriad reasons for professors and students not to date, universities most often prefer a "we dont forbid consenting adult behaviour" disclaimer.

But into the grey area comes a serious issue: the law.

Over the past year, allegations of sexual misconduct have come to light regarding two University of Manitoba faculty members: former jazz professor Steve Kirby and former associate dean of medicine Gary Harding.

Allegations of inappropriate advances and sexual harassment had been made against Mr. Kirby for several years; one student's allegations date back to 2014. The university investigated, put Mr. Kirby on leave, and had him "retire" in 2017. Mr. Kirby used his employment record at the U of M to land a position at Berklee College of Music in Boston, eventually losing it once past allegations came to light. After Winnipeg police became involved, he was charged last May with sexual assault.

Beginning in 2013, Mr. Harding reportedly made inappropriate advances on two students, leading to his resignation in 2015. A report by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba described Mr. Hardings behaviour as "flagrantly unprofessional"; he was eventually stripped of his medical licence for six months.

University of Manitoba president and vice-chancellor David Barnard wrote, Although I cant speak to specifics, I also want to tell you that there are other investigations ongoing now. (John Woods / Free Press files)

Meanwhile, opening day at the U of M included a campus-wide email from president David Barnard on "sexual violence," in which he disclosed that "incidents of inappropriate behaviour at this University have been reported and investigated over the last few years" and apologized "to students who have experienced such inappropriate behaviour."

The letter admitted the university erred in providing Mr. Kirby a letter of employment that "included an outline of activities and achievements that, though factual, could be construed as supportive." Mr. Barnard announced an internal investigation to ensure this "mistake" would not be repeated.

Tucked in at the end of the message was an even bigger bombshell.

The president wrote, "Although I cant speak to specifics, I also want to tell you that there are other investigations ongoing now."

Questioned by media, U of M officials explained that there are five current investigations  two for sexual assault, one involving a sexual harassment complaint, and two focused on "human rights" issues. U of M officials maintain they are bound by confidentiality laws and cannot comment further.

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In what seemed an attempt to provide transparency, Mr. Barnards message created more mystery.

Students and their families might wonder what the point of any "grey area" is surrounding intimate relationships between professors and students, and the potential for such interactions to impact ones safety and learning.

The president stated all faculty will receive mandatory education on sexual violence, consent and power relationships.

The president stated all faculty will receive mandatory education on sexual violence, consent and power relationships. With the issue so deeply entrenched, however, something more institutional, systemic and definitive may be required.

American universities such as Harvard, Stanford and Yale have eliminated the grey area by adopting strict policies banning romantic relationships between professors and students. Declaring such interactions off-limits would also help to pre-empt the early "consensual" behaviours that can lead to harassment or abuse.

Some provincial governments have introduced similar legislation, including Quebecs Bill 151, which requires universities to create stand-alone policies on sexual violence by 2019. In 2017, the Manitoba government announced the Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Act, aimed at protecting post-secondary students.

The policy regarding faculty/student relationships remains a grey area at the U of M. Perhaps it's time for a less ambiguous approach.
If people know something is bad for them, they wont do it, right? At least thats how we think it should go. But it often doesnt. One needs to look no further than how many of our young people get hooked on cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. As I stay connected with my Radisson constituents, this issue and the effects of these substances have become a recurring topic. More than 20 years ago, Iceland faced similar problems with alcohol, tobacco and drugs. But today, its much different there. The percentage of 15- and 16-year-olds in that small country who had been drunk in any given month was reduced from 42 per cent in 1998 to five per cent in 2016. And the percentage that used cannabis went way down from 17 per cent to seven per cent. Meanwhile, those smoking cigarettes daily decreased from 23 per cent to three per cent. Iceland accomplished this by gathering data and observing that some schools had much higher rates of harmful behaviours than others. They also noticed significant differences between the lives of kids who took up smoking, drinking and other drugs, and those of youth who did not. In response, parents were encouraged to spend more time with their children, and schools worked with parents to ensure kids felt cared for and had good mental health. More opportunities were developed for youth to participate in sports, while laws were passed to prohibit youth from buying cigarettes and alcohol. In these ways, parents, schools and government in Iceland made a major and positive impact. Our Manitoba government is also following the advice of experts and the analysis of evidence, and our primary concern for the upcoming federal legalization of cannabis is health and safety. When the recreational use of cannabis becomes legal in October, we will protect our youth and keep the price of legal cannabis low to keep organized crime out of the market. We have set the minimum age of 19 for possession and use to help shut cannabis out of schools. As well, a social responsibility fee paid by retailers will ensure they share the costs of public education, safety, health and addictions treatment that our Manitoba government will provide. For addictions treatment, we recently opened the first Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic in our province. I was at this months official opening of the RAAM clinic, one of five across the province that will offer front-line help for Manitobans suffering from substance-use addictions. These clinics will allow those in need to get treatment sooner and with ongoing support, and will give them help that can save their lives.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/9/2018 (1151 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If people know something is bad for them, they wont do it, right? At least thats how we think it should go. But it often doesnt.

One needs to look no further than how many of our young people get hooked on cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. As I stay connected with my Radisson constituents, this issue and the effects of these substances have become a recurring topic.

More than 20 years ago, Iceland faced similar problems with alcohol, tobacco and drugs. But today, its much different there. The percentage of 15- and 16-year-olds in that small country who had been drunk in any given month was reduced from 42 per cent in 1998 to five per cent in 2016. And the percentage that used cannabis went way down from 17 per cent to seven per cent. Meanwhile, those smoking cigarettes daily decreased from 23 per cent to three per cent.

Iceland accomplished this by gathering data and observing that some schools had much higher rates of harmful behaviours than others. They also noticed significant differences between the lives of kids who took up smoking, drinking and other drugs, and those of youth who did not.

In response, parents were encouraged to spend more time with their children, and schools worked with parents to ensure kids felt cared for and had good mental health.

More opportunities were developed for youth to participate in sports, while laws were passed to prohibit youth from buying cigarettes and alcohol. In these ways, parents, schools and government in Iceland made a major and positive impact.

Our Manitoba government is also following the advice of experts and the analysis of evidence, and our primary concern for the upcoming federal legalization of cannabis is health and safety.

When the recreational use of cannabis becomes legal in October, we will protect our youth and keep the price of legal cannabis low to keep organized crime out of the market. We have set the minimum age of 19 for possession and use to help shut cannabis out of schools. As well, a social responsibility fee paid by retailers will ensure they share the costs of public education, safety, health and addictions treatment that our Manitoba government will provide.

For addictions treatment, we recently opened the first Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic in our province. I was at this months official opening of the RAAM clinic, one of five across the province that will offer front-line help for Manitobans suffering from substance-use addictions. These clinics will allow those in need to get treatment sooner and with ongoing support, and will give them help that can save their lives.

If people know something is bad for them, they wont do it, right? At least thats how we think it should go. But it often doesnt.

One needs to look no further than how many of our young people get hooked on cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. As I stay connected with my Radisson constituents, this issue and the effects of these substances have become a recurring topic.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

More than 20 years ago, Iceland faced similar problems with alcohol, tobacco and drugs. But today, its much different there. The percentage of 15- and 16-year-olds in that small country who had been drunk in any given month was reduced from 42 per cent in 1998 to five per cent in 2016. And the percentage that used cannabis went way down from 17 per cent to seven per cent. Meanwhile, those smoking cigarettes daily decreased from 23 per cent to three per cent.

Iceland accomplished this by gathering data and observing that some schools had much higher rates of harmful behaviours than others. They also noticed significant differences between the lives of kids who took up smoking, drinking and other drugs, and those of youth who did not.

In response, parents were encouraged to spend more time with their children, and schools worked with parents to ensure kids felt cared for and had good mental health. More opportunities were developed for youth to participate in sports, while laws were passed to prohibit youth from buying cigarettes and alcohol. In these ways, parents, schools and government in Iceland made a major and positive impact.

Our Manitoba government is also following the advice of experts and the analysis of evidence, and our primary concern for the upcoming federal legalization of cannabis is health and safety.

When the recreational use of cannabis becomes legal in October, we will protect our youth and keep the price of legal cannabis low to keep organized crime out of the market. We have set the minimum age of 19 for possession and use to help shut cannabis out of schools. As well, a social responsibility fee paid by retailers will ensure they share the costs of public education, safety, health and addictions treatment that our Manitoba government will provide.

For addictions treatment, we recently opened the first Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic in our province. I was at this months official opening of the RAAM clinic, one of five across the province that will offer front-line help for Manitobans suffering from substance-use addictions. These clinics will allow those in need to get treatment sooner and with ongoing support, and will give them help that can save their lives.
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iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF's stock was trading at $108.64 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWD stock has increased by 53.8% and is now trading at $167.14.

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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.
There is not enough analysis data for Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund.

4.1 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund has received 110 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund has received 69 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund has received 61.45% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe FAX will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe FAX will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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There is not enough analysis data for OCI Partners.

3.7 Community Rank

Outperform Votes OCI Partners has received 126 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes OCI Partners has received 99 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment OCI Partners has received 56.00% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about OCI Partners and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe OCIP will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe OCIP will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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ATCO Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides housing, logistics and transportation, agriculture, water, real estate, and energy and energy infrastructure solutions in Canada, Australia, and internationally. The company offers workforce and residential housing; modular facilities; construction and site support; workforce lodging; facility operations and maintenance; defense operations; and disaster and emergency management services. It also provides commercial real estate services, including sale of commercial and industrial properties; and bulk cargo and port operation services, as well as operates container port facilities. The company's portfolio includes 15 commercial real estate properties, including 417,000 square feet of office property, 90,000 square feet of industrial property, and 315 acres of land. In addition, it engages in electricity generation, distribution, transmission, and related infrastructure services; natural gas distribution; owns and operates natural gas transmission pipelines in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and northern regions of Canada, as well as in Western Australia; and builds, owns, and operates non-regulated industrial water, natural gas storage, natural gas liquids storage, and natural gas related infrastructure to serve the midstream and petrochemical sectors. Further, it sells electricity and natural gas to residential and commercial customers; and provides natural gas appliance demonstrations and small cooking schools for homemakers. ATCO Ltd. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A., a multinational bank, primarily engages in the financing of foreign trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company operates through two segments, Commercial and Treasury. It offers short and medium-term bilateral, structured and syndicated credits, and loan commitments; financial guarantee contracts, such as issued and confirmed letters of credit, and stand-by letters of credit; and guarantees covering commercial risk and other assets, as well as co-financing arrangements, underwriting of syndicated credit facilities, structured trade financing in the form of factoring and vendor financing, and financial leasing. The company also provides treasury solutions, which include term deposits and private placements. It primarily serves financial institutions, corporations, and sovereigns and state-owned entities. The company was formerly known as Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. and changed its name to Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. in June 2009. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Panama City, the Republic of Panama.

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Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Energy ETF's stock was trading at $22.89 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, RYE stock has increased by 125.5% and is now trading at $51.62.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
DeNA Co., Ltd. engages in the development and operation of mobile and online services including games, e-commerce and entertainment content distribution. It operates through the following segments: Games, Electronic Commerce (EC), Sports, Automotive, Healthcare, and New Businesses and Others. The Games segment offers mobile games such as DeNA games, mobage, and AndApp. The EC segment provides e-commerce services such as Mobaoku. The Sports segment handles Yokohama DeNA Baystars, Yokohma DeNA Running Club, and Kawasaki Brave Thunders. The Automotive segment manages transportation applications such as MOV, Anyca, SOMPO DE NORU, Easy Ride, and Robot Shuttle. The Healthcare segment deals with digital healthcare services such as DeNa Healthcare, MYCODE, kencom, and Aruite Otoku. The New Businesses and Others segment includes products such as Strategic Investment Office and Delight Ventures. The company was founded by Tomoko Namba and Masayuki Watanabe on March 4, 1999 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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DTE Energy Co. operates as a diversified energy company, which engages in the provision of electricity and natural gas sales, distribution and storage services. It operates through the following segments: Electric, Gas, Non-Utility Operations, and Corporate & Other. The Electric segment engages in the generation, purchase, distribution and sale of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers in south-eastern Michigan. The Gas segment engages in the purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Michigan and the sale of storage and transportation capacity. The Non-Utility Operations segment engages in gas storage and pipelines, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. The Corporate & Other includes various holding company activities, holds certain non-utility debt, and holds energy-related investments. The company was founded in January 1995 and is headquartered in Detroit, MI.

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First Data Corporation provides commerce enabled technology and solutions for merchants, financial institutions, and card issuers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Global Business Solutions, Global Financial Solutions, and Network & Security Solutions. The Global Business Solutions segment provides solutions to merchants, such as retail point of sale merchant acquiring, e-commerce, and mobile payment services, as well as cloud based point of sale operating system that include a marketplace for proprietary and third party applications. The Global Finance Solutions segment provides technology solutions for bank and non-bank issuers, such as credit, retail private label, commercial card, and loan processing, as well as licensed financial software systems; suite of account services that include card personalization and embossing, customer communications, and professional services; and call center solutions and back office processing. The Network & Security Solutions segment offers EFT network, stored value network, and security and fraud solutions, as well as other value added solutions to its clients in GBS and GFS segments, smaller financial institutions, and other enterprise clients. First Data Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Global Payments: ACTIVE Network - Communities and Sports, Active Network (HK) Limited, Active Network IPICO (CA) Inc., Active Network IPICO (US) Inc., Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Innovation Inc., Active Networks LLC, AdvancedMD, Athlaction Intermediate LLC, Athlaction Topco LLC, AuctionPay, Comercia Global Payments Entidad de Pago S.L., DEBITEK INC, Digital Dining LLC, Dinerware LLC, DolEx Europe S.L., Educational Computer Systems Inc., Ematters Australia Pty Ltd., Equifax Credit Services LLC, Ezi Holdings Pty. Ltd., Ezi Management Pty Ltd., Ezidebit, Ezidebit (NZ) Limited, Ezidebit HK Ltd., Ezidebit Pty Ltd., GP Finance LLC, GPC Financial Corporation, GPS Holding Limited Partnership, GPUK LLP, Global Payment Holding Company, Global Payment Systems Asia-Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd., Global Payment Systems LLC, Global Payment Systems of Canada Ltd., Global Payments - Caixa Acquisition Corporation S.a.r.l., Global Payments - Realex Payments Holding Limited, Global Payments - Servicos de Pagamentos S.A., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 1 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 2 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corp. 3 B.V., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 2 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 2 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 3 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 3 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 4 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 6 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 7 LLC, Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 7 S.a.r.l., Global Payments Acquisition Corporation HK Holding Limited, Global Payments Acquisition PS 1 C.V., Global Payments Acquisition PS 2 C.V., Global Payments Acquisition PS 3 C. V., Global Payments Acquisition PS1-Global Payments Direct S.e.n.c., Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong Holding) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (India) Private Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Shanghai) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific (Singapore Holding) Ltd., Global Payments Asia-Pacific Lanka (Private) Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Macau Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Maldives Private Limited, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Philippines Incorporated, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Processing Company Limited, Global Payments Australia Pty 1 Ltd., Global Payments Australia Pty 2 Ltd., Global Payments Canada GP, Global Payments Canada Inc., Global Payments Card Processing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Global Payments Check Recovery Services Inc., Global Payments Check Services Inc., Global Payments Direct Inc., Global Payments Europe d.o.o. Sarajevo, Global Payments Europe s.r.o., Global Payments Gaming Canada Inc., Global Payments Gaming International Inc., Global Payments Gaming Services Inc., Global Payments Integrated, Global Payments Limited, Global Payments Process Centre Inc., Global Payments South America Brasil-Servicos de Pagamentos S.A., Global Payments UK 2 Ltd., Global Payments UK Ltd., Global Payments s.r.o., Greater Giving Inc., Heartland Acquisition LLC, Heartland Payment Solutions Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, Heartland Payment Systems LLC, Heartland Payroll Solutions Inc., IPICO South Africa (Pty) Ltd., JumpForward LLC, Maximum Solutions LLC, Merchant Services U.S.A. Inc., Modular Data Inc., NDC Holdings (UK) Ltd., NDPS Holdings Inc., PCAmerica LLC, Pay and Shop Limited, PayPros LLC, Payment Processing, Payroll 1 Inc., Realex Payments, SICOM Systems, Sabrir Invest S.L., Sentral Education, Spolecnost pro informacni database a.s., Storman Holdings Pty Ltd., Storman Software Inc., Storman Software Limited, Storman Software Ltd., Storman Software Pty Ltd., TeamPages Inc., The Active Network (Asia) Pte. Ltd, The Active Network (Aus-NZ) Pty. Ltd., The Active Network (EU) Ltd., The Active Network Ltd., The Active Network Ltd. (Chengdu), The Active Network Ltd. (Xian), Total System Services, TouchNet Information Systems Inc., UCS Terminal Joint Stock Company, United Card Service Joint Stock Company, VEPF III AIV VI-C Corp., VEPF IV AIV VII-C Corp., VFF I AIV IV-C Corp., Web Active Corporation Pty Ltd., Xenial, Xpient LLC, eWAY, eWay Europe Limited, eWay Payments Asia Pte Ltd., eWay Payments Inc., eWay Payments New Zealand Limited, eWay Payments North America Inc., and eWay Payments Pty Ltd..
Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health Truist Financial Corp. operates as a financial holding company. It engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, businesses and municipalities. The company operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth; Corporate and Commercial Banking; and Insurance Holdings. The firm offers a variety of loans and lease financing to individuals and entities, including insurance premium financing, permanent commercial real estate financing arrangements, loan servicing for third-party investors, direct consumer finance loans to individuals, credit card lending, automobile financing and equipment financing. It also markets a range of other services, including deposits, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. insurance and commercial general liability insurance on an agency basis and through a wholesale insurance brokerage operation, merchant services, trust and retirement services, comprehensive wealth advisory services, asset management and capital markets services. The company was founded on December 6, 2019 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

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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.
iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF's stock split on the morning of Wednesday, May 2nd 2018. The 2-1 split was announced on Thursday, March 29th 2018. The newly created shares were payable to shareholders after the market closes on Tuesday, May 1st 2018. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF stock prior to the split would have 200 shares after the split.
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iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF's stock was trading at $21.67 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWH stock has increased by 13.5% and is now trading at $24.59.

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Kodal Minerals Plc engages in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources in the United Kingdom and West Africa. The company explores for lithium and gold deposits. Its flagship project is the Bougouni Lithium project located in southern Mali. The company holds 100% interest in the Bougouni West lithium project, which covers an area of 200 square kilometers located in southern Mali; and holds 100% interest in the Nangalasso project located in southern Mali, the SLAM Project located in Mali, the Dabakala project located in central Cote d'Ivoire, and the Korhogo project located in north central CAte d'Ivoire. Kodal Minerals Plc was incorporated in 2010 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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Libbey, Inc. manufactures and markets glass tableware products. The firm operates through following geographical segments: U.S. & Canada, Latin America, EMEA and Other. The U.S. & Canada segment includes sales of manufactured glassware products and sourced tableware having an end-market destination in the U.S & Canada. The Latin America segment includes primarily sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end-market destination in Latin America, as well as glass products for OEMs regardless of end-market destination. The EMEA segment includes primarily sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end-market destination in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Other segment includes primarily sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end-market destination in Asia Pacific. The company was founded in 1818 and is headquartered in Toledo, OH.

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Lonmin Plc explores, mines, refines, and markets platinum group metals in South Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The company explores for platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and gold, as well as chrome, nickel, copper, and cobalt deposits. Its flagship property is the Marikana mine located on the Western Limb of the Bushveld igneous complex in South Africa. In addition, the company holds 100% interest in Pandora mine. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Melrose North, South Africa.

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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.

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Manx Telecom plc provides a range of telecommunications services to consumers, businesses, and the public sector in the Isle of Man and internationally. It operates through five segments: Fixed Line, Broadband and Data; Mobile; Global Solutions; Data Centre; and Other. The Fixed Line, Broadband and Data segment offers fixed line, broadband, and connectivity services to approximately 37,000 homes and 4,000 businesses. It provides ADSL and VDSL, fixed line, and private circuit rental and connection services. The Mobile segment offers pre-paid and post-paid tariffs to various market segments; supports inbound roaming traffic; and sells mobile handsets, laptops, and accessories. It provides mobile calls, SMS, data, and mobile rental services. The Global Solutions segment offers wholesale SMS and voice, international traveler market, machine to machine, and signal mobile services, as well as mobile termination products, such as Chameleon. The Data Centre segment offers co-location, managed hosting, cloud, storage, disaster recovery, and business continuity services to corporate clients through three data centers. The Other segment provides phone book and business directory services; and operates MTTV, an online news channel, as well as manx.net portal. It also sells hardware equipment; and offers managed and interconnection services. The company was formerly known as Trafford Equityco Limited and changed its name to Manx Telecom plc in February 2014. Manx Telecom plc is headquartered in Braddan, the Isle of Man.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan.
American Electric Power Co., Inc. engages in the business of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Vertically Integrated Utilities, Transmission & Distribution Utilities, AEP Transmission Holdco and Generation & Marketing. The Vertically Integrated Utilities segment engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers through assets owned and operated by its subsidiaries. The Transmission & Distribution Utilities segment engages in the business of transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers through assets owned and operated by its subsidiaries. The AEP Transmission Holdco segment engages in the development, construction and operation of transmission facilities through investments in its wholly-owned transmission subsidiaries and joint ventures. The Generation & Marketing segment engages in non-regulated generation and marketing, risk management and retail activities. The company was founded on December 20, 1906 and is headquartered in Columbus, OH.

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NEX Group plc delivers pricing, analytics, index, and regulatory reporting solutions to various clients worldwide. The company operates through NEX Markets, NEX Optimisation, and NEX Group and other segments. Its pricing and analytics services provide various products in foreign exchange (FX), such as EBS Ticker and EBS Rates real-time feeds, EBS non-deliverable forwards, and Premium FX Feed, a proprietary direct feed of live and streaming prices derived from a selected range of sources, as well as FX Currency Options TFS-ICAP; BrokerTec European Repo and RepoPX data services in money markets; fixed income data services through various electronic platforms; and CFETS-NEX, which offers real-time, end-of-day, and historical market data from onshore China interdealer brokers. The company also offers technology development services, as well as risk mitigation solutions for OTC derivatives; and operates market infrastructure for pre- and post-trade processing, risk management, and regulatory compliance across multiple asset classes. Its indices focus on FX, fixed income, and money markets. NEX Group plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF's stock was trading at $49.93 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, CWB shares have increased by 79.3% and is now trading at $89.51.

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SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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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

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Dunelm Group plc engages in the retail of homewares in the United Kingdom. The company offers furniture for bedroom, living room, dining room, and office; sofas and chairs; bean bags; bed frames, mattresses, divan beds and bases, and headboards, as well as kids beds; and bedding products, such as bed linens, duvets, pillows, protectors, and baby and kids beddings. It also provides curtains, and poles and tracks; blinds; rugs, runners, and door mats; mirrors; cushion pads, covers; throws; seat pads; pictures and frames, wallpapers, and accessories; lighting products, including ceiling and wall lights, lamp shades, floor and table lamps, and outdoor lights; kitchen products, such as cooking, dining, utility, and electrical products; and storage products for home, clothes, and kitchen, as well as travel and luggage products. In addition, the company offers towels and bathmats, bathroom accessories, and bathroom furniture; kids accessories and toys, and nursery furniture and products, as well as travel, safety, and wellbeing products; garden furniture and storage, and garden dAcor products; and Christmas trees and lights, wreaths and garlands, baubles and tree decoration, and novelty products. It operates 173 superstores and 2 distribution centers, as well as sells its products through an online store at dunelm.com. Dunelm Group plc was founded in 1979 and is based in Syston, the United Kingdom.

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Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Aramark: 1ST & Fresh LLC, AIL Servicos Alimenticios e Participacoes Ltda., AIM Services Co. Ltd., AMP Limited Partnership, ARA Catering and Vending Services Limited, ARA Coffee Club Limited, ARA Coffee System Limited, ARA Food Services Limited, ARA Marketing Services Limited, ARA Offshore Services Limited, ARAMONT Company Ltd., Active Industrial Unif, Alcatraz Hospitality, AmeriPride Services, American Snack & Beverage LLC, Aramark (BVI) Limited, Aramark Airport Services Limited, Aramark American Food Services LLC, Aramark Asia Management LLC, Aramark Aviation Services Limited Partnership, Aramark B.V., Aramark Beverages Limited, Aramark Business & Industry LLC, Aramark Business Center LLC, Aramark Business Dining Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Business Facilities LLC, Aramark CCT Trustees Limited, Aramark Campus LLC, Aramark Canada Ltd., Aramark Canadian Investments Inc., Aramark Capital Asset Services LLC, Aramark Catering Limited, Aramark China Dining Services (Shanghai) Limited, Aramark China Holdings Limited, Aramark Chugach Alaska Services LLC, Aramark Cleaning S.A., Aramark Cleanroom Services (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aramark Cleanroom Services LLC, Aramark Co. Ltd., Aramark Colombia SAS, Aramark Concessions Services Joint Venture, Aramark Confection LLC, Aramark Construction Services Inc., Aramark Construction and Energy Services LLC, Aramark Consumer Discount Company, Aramark Correctional Services LLC, Aramark Defence Services Limited, Aramark Denmark ApS, Aramark Distribution Services Inc., Aramark Educational Group LLC, Aramark Educational Services LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Vermont Inc., Aramark Entertainment LLC, Aramark Entertainment Services (Canada) Inc., Aramark Executive Management Services USA Inc., Aramark FHC Business Services LLC, Aramark FHC Campus Services LLC, Aramark FHC Correctional Services LLC, Aramark FHC Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Kansas Inc., Aramark FHC LLC, Aramark FHC Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark FHC School Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Services LLC, Aramark FHC Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark FSM LLC, Aramark Facility Services LLC, Aramark Food Service LLC, Aramark Food Service of Texas LLC, Aramark Food and Support Services Group Inc., Aramark Global Group S.a.r.l., Aramark Global Inc., Aramark GmbH, Aramark Gulf Limited, Aramark Gulf Limited Catering Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services of the Virgin Islands Inc., Aramark Healthcare Technologies LLC, Aramark Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aramark Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Aramark Holdings Ltd., Aramark Industrial Services LLC, Aramark Intermediate HoldCo Corporation, Aramark International Finance S.a.r.l., Aramark International Holdings S.a.r.l., Aramark Inversiones Latinoamericanas Limitada, Aramark Investments Limited, Aramark Ireland Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan LLC, Aramark KSA LLC, Aramark Kazakhstan Ltd., Aramark Lakewood Associates, Aramark Limited, Aramark Management GmbH, Aramark Management LLC, Aramark Management Services Limited Partnership, Aramark Manning Services UK Limited, Aramark Mexico Group, Aramark Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Support S.A.de C.V., Aramark Norway SA, Aramark Organizational Services LLC, Aramark Partnership Limited, Aramark Personnel Services, Aramark Peru S.A.C., Aramark Peru Servicios de Intermediacion SRL, Aramark Processing LLC, Aramark Property Services Limited, Aramark Qualified Opportunity Fund, Aramark Quebec Inc., Aramark RBI Inc., Aramark Rail Services LLC, Aramark Receivables LLC, Aramark Refreshment Group, Aramark Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark Refreshment Services of Tampa LLC, Aramark Regional Treasury Europe DAC, Aramark Remote Workplace Services Ltd., Aramark Restaurations GmbH, Aramark S&E/QCF Joint Venture, Aramark S.A., Aramark S.A. de C.V., Aramark S.R.O., Aramark SARL, Aramark SCM Inc., Aramark SM Management Services Inc., Aramark SMMS LLC, Aramark SMMS Real Estate LLC, Aramark School Catering Facility Ltd., Aramark Schools Facilities LLC, Aramark Schools LLC, Aramark Senior Living Services LLC, Aramark Senior Notes Company LLC, Aramark Service Industries (China) Co. Ltd., Aramark Services Inc., Aramark Services SA, Aramark Services of Kansas Inc., Aramark Services of Puerto Rico Inc., Aramark Servicios Industriales S. de R.L. de C.V., Aramark Servicios Integrales S.A., Aramark Servicios Mineros y Remotos Limitada, Aramark Servicios SRL, Aramark Servicios de Catering S.L., Aramark Servicos Alimenticos e Participacoes Ltda., Aramark Sports Facilities LLC, Aramark Sports LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Group LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Sub Investments Limited, Aramark Technical Services North Carolina Inc., Aramark Togwotee LLC, Aramark Trademark Services, Aramark Trustees Limited, Aramark U.S. Offshore Services LLC, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Group Inc., Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel LLC, Aramark Uniform Holding de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Uniform Manufacturing Company, Aramark Uniform Services (Canada) Ltd., Aramark Uniform Services (Matchpoint) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Rochester) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Supply Chain), Aramark Uniform Services (Syracuse) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Texas) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (West Adams) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation, Aramark Venue Services Inc., Aramark WTC LLC, Aramark Workplace Solutions (UK) Ltd., Aramark Workplace Solutions Yonetim Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aramark Worldwide Investments Limited, Aramark-Clarksville Club, Aramark-FINCO of Texas LLC, Aramark-Gourmet DPS LLC, Aramark-KWAME of St. Louis LLC, Aramark-SFS Healthcare J.V. L.L.C., Aramark/Dasko Restaurant and Catering Services S.A., Aramark/GM Concessions Joint Venture, Aramark/Giacometti Joint Venture, Aramark/Globetrotters LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-1 LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-2 LLC, Aramark/HF Company, Aramark/HMS LLC, Aramark/Hart Lyman Entertainment LLC, Aramark/Martin's Stadium Concession Services OPACY Joint Venture, Aramark/QHC LLC, Aramark/SFS Joint Venture, Avendra, Avendra Canada Inc., Avendra Gaming, Avendra Replenishment, Avoca, Avoca Handweavers Designs Limited, Avoca Handweavers Limited, Avoca Handweavers NI Limited, Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited, Avoca Handweavers UK Limited, Beijing Golden Collar Dining Ltd., Boompjes Hotel BV, Brand Coffee Service Inc., BuyEfficient, CDR Mantenimiento Integral S.A., Campbell Catering (Belfast) Ltd., Campbell Catering (N.I.) Ltd., Campbell Catering Holdings Limited, Campbell Catering Limited, Campbell Catering Ltd., Campbell Catering Services, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co., Canyonlands Rafting Hospitality LLC, Catering Alliance Limited, Caterwise Food Services Limited, Central Multiservicios S.R.L., Central de Abastecimiento Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Multiservicios Limitada, Central de Restaurantes S.R.L., Centrapal S.R.L., Centro de Innovacion y Servicio S.A., Cliff House Hospitality, Comertel Educa SLU, Comertel Residencia SLU, Comertel SA, Complete Purchasing Services Inc., Corporate Coffee Systems LLC, Crater Lake Hospitality, D.G. Maren II Inc., Delicious on West Street LLC, Delsac VIII Inc., Distributor JV Limited, Dongguan Best Property Management Co., Doyon/Aramark Denali National Park Concessions Joint Venture, Effective Partnerships Limited, Filterfresh Coffee Service, Filterfresh Coffee Service LLC, Filterfresh Franchise Group LLC, Fine Host Holdings LLC, Food JV Limited, Freedom Ferry Services, GTB Gastro Team Bremen GmbH, Gestion de Alimentacion y Limpieza Colectivadades SLU, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Concessions LLC, Glen Canyon Rafting Hospitality, Glenrye Properties Services Limited, Golden Collar, Good Uncle Services, Gourmet Aramark Services LLC, Guaranty Energy Group 1981, HPSI Purchasing Services LLC, Harrison Conference Associates LLC, Harrison Conference Services of North Carolina LLC, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of New Jersey, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of Penn., Harry M. Stevens LLC, Hunters Catering Partnership Limited, Institutional Processing Services, Instituto ICS S.A., Inversiones Aramark Chile Limitada, Inversiones Centralcorp Limitada, Inversiones Palm Limitada, Inversiones en Aseo y Mantenimiento S.A, Irish Estates (Facilities Management) Limited, L&N Uniform Supply LLC, Lake Tahoe Cruises LLC, Landy Textile Rental Services LLC, Lifeworks Restaurant Group LLC, Lotus Facilities Management, MESA, Masterplan, Medical Equipment Solutions & Applications Sagl (MESA), Mill Mount Weavers Limited, Muir Woods Hospitality, MyAssistant Inc., New Aramark LLC, Nissho Linen, North Rim Hospitality, Old Time Coffee Co., Olympic Peninsula Hospitality LLC, Orange Support Services Limited, Overall Laundry Services Inc., Paradise Hornblower LLC, Pelican Procurement Services Limited, Philadelphia Ballpark Concessions Joint Venture, Prem Hospitality Limited, Premgroup Franchise Services Limited, Premier Management Company (Dublin) Limited, Premier Partnership (Catering) Limited, Quebec Linge Co., ReMedPar, Restaura Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospitality LLC, Rushmore Hospitality LLC, SeamlessWeb, Seguricorp Servicios S.A., South Rim Hospitality LLC, Spokesoft Technologies Limited, Stuart Cabeldu Catering Limited, Sun Office Service Inc., Tarrant County Concessions LLC, The Aramark Foundation, The Original Food Company Limited, Travel Systems LLC, Trinity Hospitality Services GmbH, Trinity Hospitality Services SARL, Trinity Purchasing N.V., Vector Environmental Services Limited, Vector Workplace and Facility Management Limited, Veris Plc, Veris Property Management Limited, Veris UK Limited, WearGuard, Wilderness River Adventures, and Yosemite Hospitality LLC.
Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee is congratulated by supporters as election results came in at La Arepa restaurant in Pawtucket on Wednesday night. McKee, a Cumberland resident, is seeking a second term as lieutenant governor.
Togo, a small French-speaking nation in West Africa, is a rewarding destination for those fond of exploring the unknown. The nation is wedged between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east. North-to-south, it extends between Burkina Faso and the Gulf of Guinea. Despite its small size of just 57,000 square kilometers, Togo has a great diversity of landscapes and cultures. The country is home to about 40 different ethnic groups. The people of Togo take great pride in their culture and have managed to protect and preserve the same over the centuries.

Today, the modern-day Togolese are making diligent efforts to promote their culture worldwide. Cultural groups like the Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band are making sure that the global community gets the opportunity of knowing and experiencing the rich culture of the country. In this article, we explore the rich dance and music scene of Togo with the help of the members of the Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band.

Conserving Togolese Culture Through The Ages

Compared to most other nations on the continent, the history of Togo is short. It can be regarded as a land of migrants. Between the 11th and the 16th centuries, many tribes started entering the region from all directions. These tribes brought their distinct cultures with them. Later, Togo came under European colonial rule and became a hub of the slave trade that supplied enslaved Africans to European plantations. However, despite the European influence on Togos culture, the people here never gave up their traditional beliefs and practices. This fact is evident today as much of Togo still remain steeped in such beliefs including an adherence to voodoo practices. The youth of the country has also not forgotten their traditional dance and music forms and are more than eager to showcase their rich cultural heritage on the global stage.

To learn more about the aspirations of Togos culture conscious youth, World Atlas caught up with Houngbo Apelete (Gaethan), the President and lead choreographer of the Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band (Akinatim means face of love) based in Togo.

This music and folk dance group was established in 2010 by some young men and women from Lome (Togos capital city) under the impetus of Houngbo Apelete (Gaethan). The group was recognized by the Ministry in charge of the Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Local Authorities of Togo in 2013, and also introduced in the official journal of the Togolese Republic.

Preserving Identity Through Music And Dance

Our primary vision in establishing the Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band was to work for the promotion of artists, art and culture of Togo in the context of globalization, Houngbo Apelete informed World Atlas.

Speaking of the relation between dance and music and an individuals cultural identity, Mr. Apelete said,

Like the rest of Africa, our country is also rich in its thousand and one cultures which significantly influence the beliefs and social realities in the land of our ancestors (Denyigban). The many cultural practices, customs and traditions of Togo highlight the identity of our people and helps each man and woman of Togo to trace his or her communitys history. Dance is just one of these practices. Through dance, our people can express both joy and anger, sadness and gratitude, or pay a special tribute.

It was his keen wish to promote Togolese culture that led him to explore the different types of indigenous dance forms of the country. He provided us with a generous list of some of these dance forms.

Dances from southern Togo: Adifo, Aguiche, Djeke, Gbekon, Sakpata, Agbadja, Atchanhoun, Akpesse and Kinkan, Tchebe, Tchonhouin, Tchobo, Almon, akpoka or Atrikpui, Dan, Guelele, and Blekete.

Dances from northern Togo: Samah, Adossah, Tibol, Habye, Talkout, Krougnima, Akinatim, Idjombi, Blah, Balkonciec, Takai

Traditional dance objects and musical instruments of Togo: Tahoungan, Blekethoun, Gakpavi, Assogoe, Tchembe, Doundoum, Kpessi, Pepi, Balafon, Aboutou, Gohoun, Kadam, Televi

Mr. Apelete also revealed an interesting fact related to the use of traditional drums in Togo. He said,

Something quite mesmerizing is that almost all our traditional drums are intended to translate messages. That is the reason why we call them talking Tams-Tams. The drums are beaten to announce the death of the king or an old man, a marriage, a drama, the exit of the genies, a convocation ceremony, the crowning of the chief of the village, and many other events

Further, he also believes that it is not just the music and dance performances that portray the culture of a community. The dresses used in the dance performances are also equally important as they are usually unique to a particular culture.

Promoting The Culture Of Togo Through Music And Dance

Unlike the young urban youth in many other parts of the world, the youth of Togo are not ready to part with their rich culture and heritage. On the contrary, they are now stepping out of their country to showcase their culture to the world. The Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band have already participated in several international dance festivals like the 2014 Dubai Shopping Festival, the 2015 IGF Folklore Festival in France, and the 2017 Katara Diversity Cultural Festival. Here, the group has proudly showcased their countrys culture and earned accolades from the international community for their excellent performances.

Today, the work of the members of the Akinatim Folk Dance and Music Band serve as an inspiration to the youth of many other cultures across Africa who have left their culture and heritage behind to lead a "modern urban lifestyle" heavily influenced by the Western culture. It is important for them to realize that it is possible to lead a "modern" lifestyle while at the same time, protect and preserve their identity, and the rich culture of their community, as that is what makes them truly unique.
In early August, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) mayor of the city of Duisburg, Soren Link, was allowed to broadcast his racist demagogy on primetime German television. On one of Germanys leading channels he claimed citizens from other EU countries were flocking to Germany to cash in on social benefits such as child support.

Link concentrated his agitation on impoverished immigrants from Eastern Europe, especially from Bulgaria and Romania. In particular, he accused Sinti and Roma of littering the streets and exacerbating the rat problem. Such racist remarks recall the Nazi propaganda directed against Sinti and Roma and more recently the racist outbursts of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The chairman of the central council of Sinti and Roma in Germany, Romani Rose, answered sharply and demanded an apology. He accused the SPD mayor of using racist stereotypes to deliberately produce scapegoatseven at the risk of violent attacks.

Crimes against Sinti and Roma in recent centuries are well known. During the Nazi dictatorship they first lost their German citizenship, then many of them were interned in camps from the mid-1930s and compelled to do forced labor.

Children were excluded from schools. Many adult Sinti and Roma were affected by prohibitions and many other forms of harassment.

Special registers, which already existed in the Weimar Republic, were expanded by the Nazis and used from the end of the 1930s to deport not only Jews but also many Sinti and Roma to concentration camps. Together with other peoples from Nazi-occupied countries in Europe, about half a million Sinti and Roma were murdered in extermination camps.

Even after the end of the Nazi dictatorship, Sinti and Roma in the Federal Republic were not recognised as victims of National Socialism. Survivors were long refused their German citizenship, which had been withdrawn by the Nazis, leaving them stateless and unable to claim compensation for their persecution during the Nazi era. It was not until 1982 that the murder of the Sinti and Roma was officially recognised as racist genocide.

Despite this brutal and bitter history, the SPD mayor is quite prepared to intensify his incitement against Sinti and Roma. In a short article in the weekly magazine of the FAZ newspaper last month, Link rejected the criticisms made by Romani Rose. Link denied that his comments on Sinti and Roma were racist, rejected Roses request for an apology and instead attacked him, claiming: This sort of reproach is aimed at curtailing any real discussion of the matter.

Links demand for a restriction of child support payments for EU citizens from Eastern Europe is supported by a number of other SPD politicians. In particular, the chairperson of the SPD, Andrea Nahles, has declared her support for action at a national level against this abuse. She has invited mayors and local politicians to a meeting at the end of this month to address the issue, with the title: Partial problems in the entire complex of labour migration.

Link has also received support from the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has announced its intention to set up a Southeastern Europe Task Force with the aim of detecting fraud by foreign recipients of child support and the appropriation of other social benefits.

Recently, Link also called for the establishment of a nationwide system of refugee camps along the lines of the anchor centres introduced by right-wing German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (Christian Social Union, CSU). Links aim is to incarcerate asylum seekers whose status is still unclear in closed camps and deport them as soon as possible. On this issue, Link is once again in line with the reactionary and anti-refugee policies of the SPD policy at federal level.

Just a few days ago Link also demanded a change in the law relating to low-wage, part-time mini-jobs. In an interview with the WAZ newspaper last Saturday, he said, The situation has to stop where one parent living in Duisburg enables all children living in Bulgaria or Romania to get child support from the German state."

He claimed that the immigration from these countries was often carried out by a criminal network of smugglers, which brings people from deepest poverty to Duisburg, provides them with self-employment mini-jobs and thus fraudulent top-up funds.

Link, formerly long-time head of the SPD youth organisation (Jusos) in Duisburg, shows the true face of the SPD, which governs the country in a coalition with Seehofers CSU, whose policies are determined by the extreme right-wing agenda of the AfD.

While the SPD mayor agitates against the poorest of the poor, accusing migrants from Eastern Europe of involvement in criminal activities, his demand for the abolition of top-up funds (Hartz IV) for mini-jobs, and in general for low-wage work, is directed against the entire working class. In the cities of the de-industrialised Ruhr region, many workers are forced to top up their incomes with Hartz IV social payments because their wages are not enough to survive.

The main responsibility for this low-wage sector lies with the SPD and Greens, who initiated the introduction of the Hartz laws in 2003 under the government of Gerhard Schroder and Joschka Fischer. Likewise, the main responsibility for the social problems in cities like Duisburg rests with the SPD, which has traditionally headed the government and filled the post of mayor in the Ruhr area with only a few exceptions.

Problems such as the decline of entire districts, dilapidated schools, a lack of youth centres, swimming pools or other social facilities are the result of decades of austerity at the expense of workers and the poor, regardless of their national origin. While there is no money when it comes to social needs, millions are squandered on prestige projects.

For example, costs for the construction of the state archive in Duisburg soared from an original 50 million to 190 million, an increase of 368 percent.

Link heads a city administration where corruption and nepotism dominate and the super-rich set the agenda. A good example is Roselynn Rogg. She was the boss of the citys handicapped workshop and doubled her annual salary to 370,000 within a short time. The disabled people who work in the workshop earned the ridiculously low average wage of 1,522 per year in 2016.

The state prosecutor is currently investigating the case of the now dismissed Rogg and the former chairman of the board of urban enterprises and long-time social affairs department in Duisburg, Reinhold Spaniel (SPD). Spaniel was allegedly the only person to know of and approve the salary increase for Rogg.
Hurricane Florence, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, came ashore early Friday morning north of Wilmington, North Carolina. The hurricane generated winds of more than 100 miles per hour and drove a ten-foot storm surge over beaches and boardwalks along a wide swathe of coastline.

The worst impact of the storm surge was expected at just before noon on Friday, when the water driven by the hurricane piles up on top of the high tide along the Carolina coast.

Lower winds and lesser storm surges extended along the entire Atlantic coastline of North Carolina and much of the South Carolina coast as well. More than ten million people live in the area covered by hurricane watches and warnings.

While the storms strength was lowered from Category 4 to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the storm was actually strengthening. It was expanding in size even as the winds near its core, the basis of the Saffir-Simpson scale, slowed somewhat, from about 135 miles per hour to 105 miles per hour.

The storm had enormous breadth as it made landfall, with a cloud field four times as large as the state of Ohio, while its winds generated open-ocean waves of up to 50 feet high. Hurricane-force winds, 74 miles per hour or higher, extended 80 miles from the eye, while tropical storm-force winds, 39 miles per hour or higher, extended nearly 200 miles from the eye, in every direction.

The greatest damage from the storm was expected from the storm surge along the coastline, and from torrential rains over much of inland South Carolina and North Carolina, which could top 30 inches in some locations. Because the storms speed was slowing, as it was blocked from moving either north or west by high-pressure systems over the US Northeast and Midwest, it was forecast that it would essentially stay in place for 24 to 48 hours, dumping water on the coastal and Appalachian foothill regions of the two states.

The National Hurricane Center warned that life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and prolonged significant river flooding are likely over portions of the Carolinas and the southern and central Appalachians late this week into early next week. High winds would also batter the same region for a much longer time than normal for a hurricane, adding to the likely damage and death toll. A tornado alert for eastern and central North Carolina was issued for Friday.

Florences trajectory is quite unusual for an Atlantic hurricane. The last Category 4 storm to come out of the Atlantic and strike the North Carolina coast head-on was Hazel in 1954, the most destructive previous event in that region.

Storm-driven waters overtopped roadways along the Outer Banks, the barrier islands that separate North Carolinas Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and local officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for both residents and tourists in Dare and Hyde counties, which include all the barrier islands and their access roadways.

As in every significant natural disaster, Hurricane Florence is providing a test of the capacity and resilience, not just of wood, stone and steel structures, but of the structure of the society. On that score, American capitalism has already shown its inability to address basic social needs.

Federal, state and local emergency services are underfunded and overstrained, particularly after the devastating impact of three massive hurricanes in 2017Harvey, Irma and Maria which laid waste to parts of Texas and Florida, and the entire island of Puerto Rico. Tens of thousands in Texas have entered a new hurricane season while still displaced from their homes. In Puerto Rico, electrical power was finally restored last month to the last locations on the island nearly a year after the devastation caused by Irma and Maria.

The number of people in the Carolinas covered by federal flood insurance has actually declined over the last five years, despite a wave of panic buying after last years storms. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the main reason for the decline was the skyrocketing cost of the insurance, which is provided through the federal government.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been unable to leave their homes after emergency evacuation orders were issued for much of the South Carolina and North Carolina coast. Most of those choosing to ride out the storm were actually unwilling economic conscripts in the battle with naturethey could not leave because of poverty, health problems, lack of transportation, or some combination of all three.

The official evacuation orders amount to a washing of hands by government officials of any responsibility for the fate of those left behind, since public emergency services will not be available in the zones where evacuation is declared mandatory.

The most abject declaration of irresponsibility came from President Trump, who chose to treat the impending disaster in the Carolinas as an opportunity to deliver nasty tweets rather than federal assistance. He spent the hours leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Florence denouncing the report, issued late last month by George Washington University at the request of the government of Puerto Rico, which placed the death toll from Hurricane Maria at 2,975, rather than the ludicrous initial figure of 64.

The implied message from Trumps tweets is that the White House will ignore or dismiss any reports of mass casualties from Hurricane Florence, or seek to blame any disaster on state or local officials rather than the commander-in-chief.

The hurricane also exposed the unpreparedness and incompetence of the huge corporations that monopolize electricity distribution. Duke Energy estimated that as many as three million customers could lose power in the Carolinas as a result of Florence. Even before the storm hit, David Fountain, president of Duke Energy North Carolina, the state subsidiary of the power giant, was making excuses. This is no ordinary storm, and people could be without power for a very long time, he declared. Not days but weeks. We wont even be able to get to some areas for several days.
After weeks of limited work bans, and a half-day stoppage last month, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has called a one-day strike at the University of Newcastle (UON) this Monday in a bid to secure a new enterprise agreement with management.

A NTEU meeting on September 5 voted unanimously for the stoppagea measure of the determination of university workers everywhere to fight the deepening destruction of job security, ongoing corporate restructuring, stagnating wages and casualisation.

There are hopes among some academics and other staff members that the strike means that the union is finally taking up a struggle against the destruction of jobs and conditions, after a series of restructures in 2016 and 2017 that eliminated the positions of hundreds of staff members.

An academic who wished to remain anonymous told the WSWS: I support the strike because I feel that there has to be a fight taken up against management who would like to impose conditions where they can sack anybody for misbehaviour All our jobs are at risk, it is the broadest term that can be used to target anybody that they have an issue with.

In reality, as at every other public university around the country, the NTEU is anxiously seeking to seal another three-year deal with management, not fight against it. On September 10, NTEU Newcastle branch president Tom Griffiths said there had been intensive bargaining over the past two weeks and that the NTEU is continuing good faith efforts to reach an agreement.

The essential purpose of an agreement would be to help the university impose its share of the punishing funding cuts, totalling more than $5 billion, inflicted on the tertiary sector by successive Labor and Liberal-National governments since 2012.

After more than a year of intensive closed-door talks with management, in early August, the union threatened industrial action if three items were not resolved by the end of August:

1. Maintaining existing consultative processes for managing organisation change;

2. Maintaining committee structures for disciplinary processes;

3. Providing real pathways for staff locked into casual and contract employment to apply for conversion into more secure work.

Thus, the NTEUs demands centre on maintaining the consultative and committee structures through which it has collaborated with management in implementing restructuring and job cuts. This typifies the unions partnership with individual universities nationally, via the enterprise agreement process, in facilitating the transformation of universities into increasingly casualised corporate entities.

The reference to seeking pathways for security for casual and contract staff is a fraud. The NTEUs demands are extremely minimal, and will do nothing to halt the underlying casualisation process.

The union is seeking 15 new education-focussed jobs phased in at five ongoing positions per year and a broadening of the right to apply for conversion for fixed term/contract staff, such that three years of satisfactory service is deemed equivalent to an initial merit-based selection process, opening the possibility to apply for conversion to continuing employment. This guarantees nothing for casual and contract workers.

Previous NTEU agreements at UON have facilitated casualisation to such a degree that, by the unions own admission, two in three jobs at UON are casual or contract.

The picture is similar nationally. A report released last month by Paul Kniest, the NTEUs policy and research coordinator, noted that in 201617, Australian universities employed a total of 213,378 employees, only 35.6 percent of whom had full-time employment.

Like other unions, the NTEU has utilised enterprise agreements to contain and isolate the struggles of workers, preventing a broad mobilisation of the working class against the corporate assault on jobs, wages and basic conditions.

At an August 29 meeting, one staff member pointed out that what is taking place at Newcastle is happening in every other university. Lance Dale, the unions state New South industrial officer, quickly clamped down on any perspective of a unified struggle, declaring that the most effective campaign will be one that is done locally.

An NTEU meeting on June 19 at Sydneys Macquarie University, which Dale attended, voted for resolutions tabled by supporters of the Committee For Public Education (CFPE) and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) that opposed the splitting up of university employees, via individual enterprise agreements. It called for a unified national struggle by university workers to overturn the budget cuts inflicted by successive governments.

The resolutions called for vastly increased education funding, at all levels, to guarantee the social right of all young people to a free, first-class education and the social right of all staff to decent, well-paid and permanent positions.

The NTEU has displayed its hostility to these vital resolutions by not circulating them at Macquarie or other universities. Another staff member told the WSWS: I have heard barely anything about this. If the union was serious about organising opposition to these attacks, then they would be trying to get as many people as possible onto this campaign.

At Newcastle, staff have not had a wage increase since April 2017 when the former agreement expired. The university has offered four increases of 1.9 percent per annum, which is a real pay cut. The NTEU has no real difference with that. The union said on September 10 it was continuing to push for annual increases of 2.1 percent, which will likely barely hold pace with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

This year, struggles by education workers have broken out internationally, with strikes by teachers and university workers in the United States, New Zealand, Britain, Canada, Sri Lanka and elsewhere, almost always in defiance of union betrayals.

In Australia, the NTEU and other unions are trying to divert the mounting discontent of workers behind the return of another pro-business Labor government via the bogus change the rules campaign. At the same time, they are trying to keep workers straitjacketed within the existing anti-strike rulesintroduced by the last Labor governmentthrough enterprise agreements.

The Rudd-Gillard Labor government, supported by the Greens and the NTEU, also initiated the education revolution a decade ago. While lifting caps on student enrolments, this regime has forced universities to compete against each other for survival by recruiting fee-paying students, both domestic and international, and attracting corporate sponsorship.

As a result, the universities have been transformed into corporate entities, spending millions on advertising and executive salaries. This has been at the expense of staff and students alike, who face larger class sizes and worse staff-student ratios.

To overturn this process and fight for the basic rights of staff and students, university workers have to break with the pro-capitalist NTEU and Labor Party, and form completely independent rank-and-file committees, and turn out to workers throughout the country and internationally who are facing similar struggles against the agenda of big business and its parliamentary servants.

To develop and sustain such a struggle requires an alternative, socialist perspective, based on the complete reorganisation of society in the interests of all, instead of the wealthy elite. All those who want to take forward this fight should contact the Committee For Public Education, established by the SEP.

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Australian university union elections point to seething discontent

[11 September 2018]
On Wednesday night, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration has been covertly conducting a campaign to round up and detain thousands of immigrant youth traveling to the US without their parents or guardians.

According to the report, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have increased the number of detained unaccompanied minors nearly six-fold, from an average of 2,400 each night in May 2017 to 12,800 each night this month. The network of some 100 child internment camps and relocation centers located throughout the US is now reaching capacity, with immigrant youth packed together in cells and bunk houses, subject to physical, emotional and sexual assault by guards.

The Trump administration is preparing to drastically expand the size of the internment camp cities.

Last Thursday, the administration announced it was abandoning a 1997 court settlement barring the government from detaining children for over 20 days, meaning the government will now detain children indefinitely.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced it was tripling the size of the Tornillo tent city internment camp located outside El Paso. The camp, which was constructed in June to temporarily house children separated from their families under the Department of Justices zero tolerance policy, will now hold 3,800 children.

In June, the administration initiated a new policy requiring potential sponsors to submit fingerprints to immigration authoritiesa blatant attempt to scare undocumented relatives and isolate the young people in jail. As a result, although over 40,000 unaccompanied children have been arrested by CBP in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2018, the number of youth that have been released from detention and placed with sponsors has fallen 30 percent.

The massive increase in the size of the interned child population comes six weeks after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reunite all children separated from their parents through the implementation of the zero tolerance policy in May.

The administration has blatantly disregarded the court order, forcing non-profits to send representatives through remote villages in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to knock on doors in search of the deported parents of separated children.

There are over 400 children who remain separated from their family as a result of the zero tolerance policy. As AZ Central recently noted, It now appears increasingly likely that hundreds of those families will never be reunited because parents were deported from the United States intentionally or mistakenly waived their rights to reunification.

Aside from the initial Times report, the revelation of a six-fold increase in child detention was blacked out by the corporate press. At press time, none of the following publications had covered the issue: CNN, Politico, Fox News, MSNBC, The Hill, and ABC News.

Though the Democratic Party feigned opposition to Trumps family separation policy in response to popular outrage, the Democrats are responsible for laying the basis for Trumps attack on immigrants. Obama also detained thousands of children, in particular during the migration surge of 2014. Now, Democrats have all but dropped immigrants as an issue in this Novembers midterm elections.

As PBS noted, no Democrats running in competitive Senate races in November have advocated abolishing ICE. In fact, five of the six most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for reelection voted with Trump over 40 percent of the time this last term: Bill Nelson (43 percent), Claire McCaskill (45 percent), Joe Donnelly (55 percent), Heidi Heitkamp (55 percent) and Joe Manchin (61 percent).

Over 30 percent of House Democrats recently voted to pass an anti-immigrant bill that will lead to the deportation of hundreds of thousands with minor criminal records. Among those supporting the bill was House Latino Caucus Chairperson Michelle Lujan-Grisham, who wept crocodile tears over the mistreatment of immigrants in the spring. Many self-proclaimed progressive Democrats voted in favor or abstained, including DNC Vice Chair Keith Ellison and nearly the entire Northern California Democratic congressional delegation.

Many Democrats running against incumbent Republicans for House seats are running on explicitly anti-immigrant programs.

Arizona Democratic congresswoman and candidate for Senate Krysten Sinema echoed Trump when she said last month that ICE does provide some important functions, ICE is responsible for removing dangerous criminal aliens, aliens who hurt other people by engaging in rape or murder.

Amy McGrath, who is running for congress in Kentucky, denounced anti-ICE protestors as wrong and praised ICE for being very professional and for perform[ing] an essential function in keeping our borders secure. Gina Ortiz Jones, candidate in Texas, combined meaningless statements about diversity and the American dream with the threat that our nations border security cannot be compromised and we need smart, responsible immigration policy reform that protects the security of Americans.

Organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America claim the anti-immigrant, pro-capitalist, pro-imperialist Democratic Party can be pressured to the left despite the fact that it is responsible for passing all of the major laws laying the basis for mass deportation. In a June 29 article titled How to Abolish ICE, the DSA-backed Jacobin magazine demanded its readers pressure the Democrats:

Democrats should support abolishing ICE simply for its raw politics: it materially improves the lives of immigrants, who are by and large a Democratic constituency.  Even if attempts to shrink the agency dont succeed in the short term, it is worth drawing a line and demanding that congressional Democrats say which side they are on. As more Democrats come to our side, abolishing ICE will inch toward becoming a reality.

The Democratic Partys constituency is not the masses of workers and young people who are repulsed by Trumps fascistic attacks on immigrants, it is the Wall Street banks, the military-intelligence apparatus, and the ICE and CBP agents their candidates are praising in the lead-up to the election.

A Democratic-controlled Congress will pledge its willingness to collaborate with Trumps immigration policies, echoing Senator Bernie Sanders January 2018 statement: I dont think theres anybody who disagrees that we need strong border security. If the president wants to work with us to make sure we have strong border security, lets do that.

Seventeen years since September 11, 2001, both parties repeat the tired lie that national security and border security justify the evisceration of basic democratic rights. A powerful, mass movement of the working class is required to sweep the ruling class from power, end their wars, expropriate their wealth, abolish the borders and guarantee the right of all workers to travel the planet unharmed.
Three of the most prominent figures in the Republican Party national-security establishment have endorsed the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District of Michigan, Elissa Slotkin. The reason is simple: Slotkin was a valued accomplice of all three in the crimes perpetrated by the US government in Iraq and around the world.

Slotkin has used her three tours of duty in Baghdad as a CIA agent as her main credential for election to the House of Representatives. She is challenging two-term incumbent Republican Representative Mike Bishop, in a race now considered a toss-up. Her first television commercial highlighted her role in the CIA and her connection to the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Three top civilian Republican national security officials and a former general all endorsed Slotkin this week. The four include John Negroponte, former ambassador to Iraq and the first Director of National Intelligence; Stephen Hadley, national security advisor to President George W. Bush; former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who was secretary of defense in the Obama administration; and retired General Douglas Lute, deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan under Bush and for Afghanistan and Pakistan under Obama.

Slotkin, born and raised in Michigan, spent 15 years with the CIA and in subsequent national security positions at the White House and Pentagon, before moving back to run for Congress last year. She has both the backing of a wealthy familyher grandfather founded Hygrade Foodsand the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which was seeking a candidate with her right-wing credentials for the 8th District. She now has the stamp of approval of the military-intelligence apparatus.

The plaudits for Slotkin from men steeped to their elbows in innocent blood should be read as a criminal indictment of this Democratic candidate, one of nearly three dozen Democrats with extensive military-intelligence backgrounds running in competitive congressional districts in the November 6 election.

Stephen Hadley was one of the principal architects of the Iraq war, serving as the principal deputy to Condoleezza Rice when she was Bushs national security advisor, then succeeding her in 2005 when Rice became secretary of state. He said that Slotkin joined his staff after her first two tours with the CIA in Iraq and regularly briefed Bush, Vice President Cheney and other top officials. He called Slotkin one of the finest public servants with whom I have had the privilege to serve.

Elissa has real knowledge and expertise to offer the country, but equally as important, she is willing to work across party politics to get things done for America, Hadleys statement reads.

So even though I am a Republican, and even though Elissa is running as a Democrat, I support herbecause she can work in a bipartisan way for the good of the country, and thats exactly what the country needs.

General Douglas Lute, who held top positions on the National Security Council from 2007 to 2013, said he first met Slotkin when she was delivering a briefing to Bush on the security situation in Iraq during the period of the surge in 2007, after Bush had dispatched another 30,000 US troops to suppress mounting uprisings among both Sunni and Shiite populations.

She had tough points to deliverand she did so well, directly to the commander-in chief, on some very difficult topics. She clearly understands how to speak truth to power, clear and candid but with civility and respect, Lute said in a statement. I offered her a job on the spot and, over the next two years, under both President Bush and then President Obama, I saw her intense level of dedication to our mission in Iraq and to our country.

After working at the NSC for several years, Slotkin was appointed a deputy assistant secretary of defense, where according to her campaign website, her responsibilities included drone warfare, homeland defense and cyber warfare. Chuck Hagel was defense secretary from 2013 to 2014, during the period that Obama threatened a massive bombing of Syria and then backed down, and during the US-backed coup by fascist elements in Ukraine. He also oversaw the continuing US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hagel wrote of Slotkin, Her entire career has been about protecting America. Making sure that our security is strong and deep. Thats who she is. Thats what she believes. Thats what shes done as shes served in the Middle East in some of the worst zones we have seen and some of the most difficult assignments over the last 30 years We need that experience. We need that leadership for the security of this country. And Elissa Slotkin will bring it.

The final testimonial for Slotkin is the most damning, both because it comes from John Negroponte, one of the most vicious and bloodstained figures in the US national security establishment, and because of how close his ties to Slotkin were.

Negroponte was a leading figure in American war crimes over more than 40 years, going back to the Vietnam War, when he served at the US embassy in Saigon and then on the National Security Council in the Nixon White House. He was US ambassador to Honduras during the years of the Contra terrorist war against neighboring Nicaragua, when the US embassy in Tegucigalpa hosted the largest CIA station in the world.

He went on to a post on Reagans National Security Council, then was appointed US ambassador to the United Nations by George W. Bush. One year after the US conquest of Iraq, Negroponte became the US ambassador in Baghdad, effectively the ruler of the country, where he met Slotkin, who briefed him every morning on the security situation in the country. Subsequently, Bush named Negroponte the first Director of National Intelligence, after that position was created based on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. He chose Slotkin as his senior assistant.

If US war criminals were tried at a Nuremberg-style tribunal, Negroponte would occupy one of the front rows. His recommendation to the voters of the 8th Congressional District of Michigan was unequivocal. I have seen Elissa lead under extreme pressure, working on some of the toughest security challenges our nation faces, he said in a statement. I am supporting Elissa in her run for Congress, because I believe at this time, we need more elected leaders like hermission focused, results oriented, who put the security of our country before politics.

These endorsements raise the question: Is the candidacy of Elissa Slotkin itself part of a CIA or national-security operation? Is it, as NBC News suggested last week in the first significant report on the CIA Democrats in the corporate media, their new mission for an entire group of former intelligence officials now running as Democratic candidates?

In the remaining eight weeks of the election campaign, this is a question that should be raised whenever and wherever Elissa Slotkin makes an appearance in the Eighth Congressional District of Michigan. Voters of Lansing, Brighton, Lake Orion and surrounding areas should be warned!

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[1 September 2018]

The CIA Democrats

[7 March 2018]
Teachers in the small town of Tumwater, Washington voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to continue striking in defiance of a back-to-work order issued earlier in the day by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese. According to teachers, the walkout, which began September 1, will continue despite threats to impose sanctions on them.

Tumwater union officials reported that after intense debate during a two-and-a-half hour mass meeting members voted emphatically to defy the order.

This courageous action by the 400 teachers, just south of the state capital of Olympia, came after the judge hypocritically sided with the school districts claims that the continuation of the strike would do substantial harm to students. In fact, teachers in Tumwater and across the state are fighting not just for themselves but for their students who are suffering from the effects of decades of budget cuts and chronic underfunding. Conditions have gotten so bad that the state supreme court ruled that the state politicians in Olympia violated their constitutional duty to provide quality education to the states 1.1 million students.

Sometimes what we need to do is stand up for something we dont believe is right and, in this case, we don't believe thats right, teacher Doug Peltier told KOMO News. So thats why were out here.

I am a paraeducator, not a teacher, a Tumwater paraeducator who requested anonymity told the World Socialist Web Site Teacher Newsletter. But, I am out in support of teachers because that is my job, supporting teachers and students.

Tumwater district officials threatened to seek massive fines against the teachers if they did not surrender. If the teachers do not report to work, the district will be forced to take the necessary steps the judge outlined in court to seek relief, the district said in a news release.

Judge Lanese previously declared the strike illegal under a Washington state law prohibiting public employees from striking. A similar ruling has also been made by another court against 2,400 teachers striking in Tacoma, near Seattle. Tacoma and Battle Ground school boards have also requested that the state impose a mediator under the rarely used Public Employment Relations Commission.

In Battle Ground, in southern Washington, just 25 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, teachers have been on strike since August 29, after voting 98.4 percent to approve a walkout. On Wednesday night, the school board voted 4-0 to mandate the district to initiate legal action against the teachers. The district attempted to intimidate teachers by threatening to sue them individually if they refuse to return to work. Earlier this week, the school board voted, also unanimously, to withhold teachers pay if they dont return to work by Monday.

Battle Ground teachers responded with a rally outside the courthouse, chanting their defiance of the ruling, calling out its not over.

Hundreds of Tacoma teachers rallied Wednesday at school district headquarters to show their opposition to the latest offer of a 12.45 percent raise, up from the original 3.1 percent proposal. Teachers condemned the offer, chanting, Tacoma Public Schools hear our call, your best offer is way too small. On Thursday, Tacoma school district announced it is considering court action to obtain an injunction declaring the strike illegal.

District officials also hoped to bribe some educators to cross the picket lines, sending out a voice mail to teachers stating, All 10-month staff members who choose to report to work Thursday and future work days before school officially starts will receive extra pay for extra work.

Since late August the state has been swept by a series of strikes, involving 14 districts, with teachers in nearly 20 districts approving strike authorization by large margins, including in Seattle, the largest school district in the state. Far from mobilizing teachers and other sections of the working class to support these struggles, the Washington Education Association (WEA) and its parent union, the National Education Association (NEA), have spent the last two weeks trying to shut down one strike after another to prevent the resistance of teachers from coalescing into a statewide walkout like the ones that spread across West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona and other states earlier this year.

This was most sharply demonstrated in Seattle, the states largest school district, where the Seattle Education Association blocked 5,000 teachers in the city from joining other striking educators by agreeing to a last-minute deal and then instructing teachers and support staff to report for the first day of classes on September 5 even before they had a chance to thoroughly study the tentative agreement and vote on it.

The deal, which was pushed through last Saturday, raises wages by a meagre 10.5 percent over one year after teachers have gone through years of stagnant wages in one of the most expensive housing markets within the US. The sellout deal also continues to deprive substitute teachers of health care coverage, while paraeducators and office staff will still be paid poverty level wages.

Many Seattle teachers, having taken the measure of the union, responded by abstaining from the vote, forcing the SEA to text paraeducators to drum up enough attendance to meet the required quorum. The low turnout was in sharp contrast to the thousands who had shown up just 12 days earlier to overwhelmingly vote for strike action.

A particularly destructive role was played in Seattle by the Social Equity Educators faction in the SEA, which is led by members of the International Socialist Organization and other fake left groups. While issuing mild criticisms of the deal, the SEE praised it as a major accomplishment and insisted that teachers had to bow to the authority of the union even as it was sabotaging the struggle of Washington teachers.

The sellout of the Seattle teachers paved the way for school authorities, the courts and the state government to ratchet up its threats against teachers in Tacoma, Battle Ground and Tumwater who remain on strike. The authorities feel emboldened by the treachery of the unions, which has left these embattled teachers vulnerable to state attack.

Poll after poll has shown that there is popular support for the teachers and their demands for improved wages and school funding. This support must be mobilized to defend striking teachers from the possibility of fines, mass arrests and attempts to strip them of their teaching licenses. Such a struggle will not be carried out by the unions but must be taken up by teachers themselves through the election of rank-and-file committees in every school, workplace and community. These committees should link up teachers across Washington, the United States and internationally, while reaching out to broader sections of the working classUPS, Amazon, steel and auto workersto prepare a general strike to oppose state repression and to defend the right to secure and good-paying jobs, high quality public education, health care, housing and other social rights.

The struggle in the state of Washington shows that teachers are not only in a battle against Trump, Betsy DeVos and the national and state Republicans but the Democratic Party as well. The entire state government, from Governor Jay Inslee to the majority in both houses of the state legislature, is controlled by the Democrats. While insisting there is no money to significantly improve teacher salaries and school funding, Inslee and the state legislators have approved billions in tax cuts for Boeing, Amazon and other corporate giants.

Teachers across the country are being thrust into struggle again, with educators in Los Angeles voting by 98 percent for strike action, and hundreds of teachers in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania striking for improved wages, benefits and school conditions. This growing struggle must be combined with a new political strategy based on opposition to both corporate-controlled parties and the fight for a socialist program to allocate the necessary resources to vastly improve public education and the living standards of those who provide it.
My first job back in high school was working in a restaurant, mostly washing dishes and doing a little cooking. Next up, I spent a summer digging holes and installing fences. All sorts of fences, from residential fences right on up to prison fences (Id like to take this opportunity to note that I was merely a grunt and cannot be held responsible for any prison breaks in central Maine). My last summer job before landing a writing gig was in a warehouse. Working in a warehouse made digging holes feel like a vacation; at least with the latter you were outside.

But none of these summer jobs were probably as fun as the summer Danial Condo just had as an intern at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum.

The Nevada Northern has had an intern program since 2005 and every summer it welcomes two or three students to Ely to work on the railroad and learn about preservation, according to Mark Bassett, executive director of the museum. At least one of those students usually comes from the Davis & Elkins College Center of Railroad Tourism program, where Condo is currently starting his junior year.

I recently caught up with Condo to learn more about his summer in Ely and his future goals. Condos answers have been edited for clarity and space.

What are some of the classes you have taken and how are they preparing you for a future career in preservation?

The two major courses here are Railway Heritage and Railway Preservation. In Railway Heritage we studied the history of American railroading, from the very beginning all the way up to the major consolidations in the later part of the 20th century. We just started Heritage Preservation and so far we have learned about what a heritage/tourist museum or railroad should be and what they can do for the communities they serve. Were also starting a semester long study about how tourist railroads and museums can bolster local economies. In addition to those classes, I am also taking a number of business and management related courses.

What made you want to seek an internship at the Nevada Northern and what was that experience like?

Jim Porterfield, the head of the Railway Heritage Tourism program, has a great working relationship with Mark Bassett at the Nevada Northern and has sent many interns there before. I was interested in interning at a successful steam excursion railroad and found it to be a fun, tough, and eye-opening experience. The people and experiences were fantastic, and the entire complex in Ely is incredibly unique.

What was daily life like in Ely? What were your duties and what projects did you work on?

It was usually very hot and dry, but that was expected. I spent lots of early mornings getting passenger cars ready for the daily excursions and I also got to work in the gift shop a lot, working with customers directly. Even if I wasnt technically on duty, I was still on duty. If you saw something that needed to be done you either brought it to someones attention or took care of it yourself.

Whats something that surprised you about the Nevada Northern and your summer there?

What surprised me the most was how few employees there were. Numerous volunteers came and went throughout the summer but the core crew consists of less than 20 people. However, those people are very committed individuals who accomplish so much. It really is like a family there.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest challenges facing railway preservation?

In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing rail preservation are an ever-decreasing pool of experienced people; a lack of interest and/or experience in the field from younger audiences; the jaded attitudes of the older generations in reference to up-and-comers; and a lack of money and resources.

What are some ways you think railway preservation can attract younger people?

Museums should try to be more welcoming of young people who dont know anything about trains or railroads. Many railroad fans react to teens with their noses turned up and their eyes already rolling. Ive been guilty of that myself, especially if someone is asking a question that railfans think should be common knowledge  a question like Is that a steam engine? But these are people who genuinely want to know and understand more about the industry. We should be more patience with these people because every question they get an answer to will give them more to think and ask questions about, creating curiosity. That curiosity can lead that young person down the path to becoming a dedicated railfan.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?

I hope to begin working for a railroad operation or museum in or around my home state of Ohio. There are quite a few such sites in Ohio but you never know where the job market will take you.
Paul Manafort, President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, pled guilty on Friday to two criminal charges as part of a deal that requires him to cooperate with special counsel Robert Muellers ongoing Russia investigation.

Manafort, 69, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy against the U.S. and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice due to attempts to tamper with witnesses, CNN reported Friday, citing court documents. The charges are related to Manaforts Ukrainian political consulting work.

This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign It is totally unrelated, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said following the deal.

Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign, said the presidents lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. The reason: the president did nothing wrong.

Paul Manafort

RELATED: What Paul Manafort and Michael Cohens Convictions Could Mean for President Trump

Manaforts deal means he wont stand trial for a second time after being convicted in August on eight felony counts of bank and tax fraud.

As part of what prosecutor Andrew Weissmann described to U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson as a cooperation agreement, Manafort could provide evidence in exchange for a less stringent sentence, which may lead to more definitive answers about whether anyone associated with Trump conspired with Russia to affect the outcome of the 2016 election. According to CNN, the exact scope of the cooperation agreement wasnt immediately clear, and hes already offered information to the Justice Department.

RELATED: Paul Manafort and Another Former Trump Aide Have Been Charged in Muellers Russia Probe

Those in Manaforts camp previously said that he does not have any incriminating information about the president, according to the Washington Post.

Legal experts told The Atlantic the deal is a win for Mueller and a loss for the president. Judge Jackson said Manafort will have to turn in interviews, documents and briefings to the investigation, and hes waived his right to have an attorney present when speaking to special counsel. He also may testify as a witness in other proceedings relating to the investigation.

Tough day for Mr. Manafort, Kevin Downing, Manaforts attorney, said outside the D.C. courthouse on Friday. But hes accepted responsibility He wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life.
Photo credit: Portland Press Herald - Getty Images

From Esquire

Pity poor Susan Collins, Republican senator from Maine and career summer soldier on anything that really matters. All she wants is to be a Moderate Republican and thoughtfully, carefully, maybe change the nature of the Supreme Court for the next 20 years, but still guarantee her right to protest futilely when said Court throws the privacy rights of 51 percent of the population out the window. Really? Is that too much to ask?

Instead, here are these people trying to show her that legislative votes might have political consequences. From The Portland Press-Herald:

The Be A Hero campaign  coordinated by national health activist Ady Barkan, and liberal groups Mainers for Accountable Leadership and the Maine Peoples Alliance  asks people to donate at least $20.20 to a future Collins opponent if she votes yes on Kavanaugh. If she votes no the money would be refunded to donors. Collins has said she remains undecided. The moderate Republican, 65, would be up for re-election in 2020, although she hasnt announced yet whether she would seek another term.

Collins went to wingnut wind-farm Newsmax to call this fundraising effort a "bribe." Elsewhere, Erick Erickson lit his shoes on fire and did a buck-and-wing. From themaven.net:

The if is important because they are threatening action based on a voting condition. That may very well run afoul of federal law. If someone wants to run against Collins because of her vote, that is perfectly legal. But to tell Collins a punitive act against her will happen if she votes a particular way is illegal. Telling her someone will be given money to defeat her if she votes a certain way falls into that ethically. Another legal expert told Collins it sounds more like extortion, which I agree with. Senator Orrin Hatch is calling on Senate Democrats to publicly reject this extortion.

Bear in mind that, under ordinary circumstances, people like Erickson and organizations like Newsmax wouldn't care if Susan Collins wandered into Boothbay Harbor and washed up in Iceland. But Kavanaugh, as we have learned, makes all the difference. He's the culmination of a 30-year campaign to re-establish a Supreme Court that is Lochner-friendly on corporations and Plessy-friendly on race. They're inches from the finish line, and that's why this is driving them so crazy.

Story continues

Photo credit: Congressional Quarterly - Getty Images

And, all due respect to Mr. Noti, this is not remotely close either to bribery or extortion. This is a demonstration of how post-Citizens United campaign-finance works, CU having essentially legalized influence peddling. Have any of these people noticed the way that the NRA or the Club For Growth or a hundred other organizations "rate" members of Congress based on their votes? They even warn members of Congress in advance as to the votes on which the members of Congress will be rated.

All these people in Maine are doing is telling Susan Collins in advance that, for them, and for the people sending them money, a vote for Brett Kavanaugh is a deal-breaker as far as they're concerned. If she votes against Kavanaugh, and these people don't send the contributions back, as they've promised to do, then I'll be the first to call out the grift. However, right now, all they're doing is exercising their inalienable rights according to Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here.

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A Texas man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend  and he allegedly remains the primary suspect in the killing of the teens mother and her younger sister, according to police.

PEOPLE confirms that Jesse Dobbs, 21, pleaded guilty Monday to murdering Kirsten Fritch in November 2016. Before Fritchs body was located, police found the bodies of her mother, Cynthia Morris, and her 13-year-old sister, Breanna Pavilicek, fatally shot in the familys Baystown home.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Dobbs ex-wife tipped police off to him after he allegedly called her asking to see his children one final time. Instead, she called police, who located Dobbs at a bar in Texas City, more than 40 miles from Baystown.

At the the time, police had issued an AMBER alert for Fritch, and during police questioning, Dobbs allegedly confessed to killing her, KRPC reports, telling police, Kirsten is dead. I killed her. Not the real Kirsten, but the fake Kirsten.

Two days later, police discovered Fritchs body 200 feet from the bar in which Dobbs was located. She had been stabbed nearly 60 times.

No one has been charged in the deaths of Morris and Pavilicek.

RELATED: Missing Teens Body Found After Boyfriend Is Linked to Killings of Her Mom and Sister

While Dobbs has pleaded guilty, his attorney will try to argue during the punishment phase of his trial that he was overtaken by a sudden passion, which could reduce his sentence, Galveston County Assistant District Attorney Bill Reed tells PEOPLE.

Jesse Dobbs

Speaking with the Chronicle, Dobbs attorney, Jyll Rekoff, said, The case were going to present to the jury is that Mr. Dobbs had nothing to do with the Baytown murders [of Morris and Pavilicek], that Kirsten got into an argument with her mom, something happened, both those murders occurred.

However, when he left with her, they put it out on the news like he was the culprit and she was going to lie and say he did it. And thats enough to push somebody over the edge and it just got wrong from there, she continued.

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 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

However, police still suspect Dobbs in the pairs slayings.

RELATED: Missing Teens Boyfriend Is a Person of Interest in Double Killing of Her Mom and Sister

Hes our primary suspect, Lt. Steve Dorris of the Baytown police said after Dobbs hearing on Tuesday, the Chronicle reports. We do believe that hes the one who committed those murders.

After his guilty plea in Fritchs death, Dobbs potentially faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison, but if the jury agrees with his sudden passion defense, his sentence could be capped at 20 years, Reed tells PEOPLE.

The hearing to decide his punishment is scheduled for Sept. 24, online records show. Rekoff could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
1 killed, 12 injured in fires, explosions after suspected gas leak in Massachusetts originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

One person died and about a dozen others were injured in Massachusetts on Thursday as a series of gas-related fires and explosions tore through several communities, authorities said.

Eighteen-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed and at least 12 others were injured in Northern Massachusetts as fires and explosions tore the area, damaging at least two dozen homes and businesses, according to local authorities.

Rondon, a resident of Lawrence, was killed after one of the explosions sent a chimney crashing onto his car, Massachusetts State Police said.

Firefighters battle a house fire, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, on Herrick Road in North Andover, Mass., one of multiple emergency crews responding to a series of gas explosions and fires triggered by a problem with a gas line that feeds homes in several (The Associated Press)

There had been at least three explosions and as many as 80 fires reported as of late Thursday night, authorities said, citing a suspected gas line leak as the cause.

Many residents, including those located in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, were forced to evacuate.

At least 30 homes and businesses caught fire in Andover, and active fires were reported in Lawrence as of early Friday morning, several hours after initial reports surfaced, fire officials said.

(MORE: Authorities make arrest in connection with mysterious booms)

Our city has had a rough day today, the city of Lawrence said in a statement early Friday morning. We grieve for the loss ... and continue to support first responders."

MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

The Massachusetts State Police Watch Center said it responded to explosions, fires and other gas-related reports at least 70 different addresses. The states governor said about 8,000 homes were affected.

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Three victims in Andover included included a firefighter and two civilians, authorities said.

Evacuations were taking place in multiple neighborhoods where residents smelled gas, according to state police. Those who live south of the Merrimack River were told to evacuate, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said at a press conference Thursday night.

In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, firefighters battle a raging house fire in Lawrence, Mass, a suburb of Boston, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Emergency crews are responding to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that (The Associated Press)

In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, flames consume the roof of a home in Lawrence, Mass, a suburb of Boston, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Emergency crews are responding to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have d (The Associated Press)

Authorities also warned residents in the area who are served by Columbia Gas to "evacuate their homes immediately" as gas lines are being depressurized by the company.

(MORE: 2 brothers arrested in NYC on terror charges after bomb-making materials found)

Aerial footage taken by ABC Boston affiliate WCVB showed firefighters battling flames in a residential neighborhood that sent thick plumes of smoke into the air.

In this image take from video provided by WCVB in Boston, flames consume a home in Lawrence, Mass, a suburb of Boston, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Emergency crews are responding to what they believe is a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes (The Associated Press)

PHOTO: Flames rise from a house in Lawrence, Mass., Sept. 13, 2018. (WCVB/AP)

Residents in Andover were evacuated to a local senior center, while residents in North Andover were directed to a nearby middle school.
For moms-to-be in Hurricane Florence's path, keeping calm in the storm carries new meaning originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com

As Hurricane Florence slams the Carolinas, some expectant mothers are preparing to give birth in uncertain circumstances.

One pregnant woman in South Carolina has a due date Saturday.

"There's so many variables at play that I can't even control," Kate, who declined to give her last name, told "Good Morning America" today. "As uncertain as a pregnancy is, when you pair it with a hurricane, it's exponentially uncertain. There's too many things to stress about, but there's nothing you can really do."

PHOTO: Kate of Charleston, South Carolina, is due to give birth to her third child on Sept. 15 as Hurricane Florence makes landfall on the East Coast (Kate/Instagram naptimekitchen)

The mother of two plans to give birth at Mount Pleasant Hospital in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where there are strong wind gusts but little rain, she said. She and her family have boarded up their Charleston home and are staying with family two miles from the hospital.

"[The storm] is supposed to be the worst on my due date," Kate added. "We're hoping for the best and trusting in God that it will all work out."

She said her doctor told her Monday that she is two centimeters dilated, which means her body is preparing to give birth but is "nothing catastrophic."

"I did have some contractions last night which was a little unsettling," she said, adding that the baby's sex will be a surprise. "My family is all here and so supportive. My two brothers are here with massive pickup trucks and they have ensured me that they will get me to the hospital."

Like Kate, new parents Conner Faulk and Amber Simmons of Supply, North Carolina, also remained calm even when Salmon went into into early labor just as the storm hit their area Thursday night.

Faulk and Simmons proudly welcomed a son, Carson River, at 8:17 p.m. Thursday at a hospital in Bolivia, North Carolina.

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"We were pretty nervous," Faulk told "GMA" on Friday morning. "Everybody kept telling us it was going to happen during the storm and we didnt want it to, but it did. Were glad we are in a safe place and everything's OK. They are looking out for us really well here."

PHOTO: Carson River Faulk was born at 8:17 p.m. on Sept. 13 as Hurricane Florence touched down in North Carolina. (Novant Health )

Simmons is one of two women to give birth at the Bolivia hospital, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, since the storm hit, said Shelbourn Stevens, president and chief operating officer of the medical center.

"We sent out messages via social media [informing] women who are 37 weeks or higher that it's best to seek shelter inland to be safe," Stevens told "GMA." "We are also going to be here" in case they need us.

PHOTO: Proud Amber Simmons and Conner Fault of Supply, N.C., are seen with their newborn son Carson on Sept. 13 with Dr. Li Xu (left), Novant Health OB/GYN and Jill Ward, Chief Nursing Officer of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia, N.C. (Novant Health )

Marine Cpl. Nicholas Digregorio and his wife, Danielle, welcomed their newborn twin daughters, Sadie and Scarlett, 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. The couple had just arrived to Florida after evacuating because of Florence.

The Digregorios, originally from St. Augustine, Florida, are stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

"We were pretty nervous to leave North Carolina while expecting twins, but our doctor and our family felt like it was the right thing to do. We were confident we could make the drive, which is normally seven hours, but turned out to be a long 12 hours," the couple said in a statement. "We left Camp Lejeune at 1 p.m. Tuesday (at 37 weeks pregnant); got home to family in St. Augustine, Florida; and went into labor early Thursday morning. ... The nurses and doctors at Naval Hospital Jacksonville have been awesome, and everything worked out perfectly with the care here. Our little hurricane babies are safe."

PHOTO: Marine Cpl. Nicholas Digregorio and wife Danielle hold their newborn twin girls (Sadie and Scarlett) at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Sept. 14, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. (U.S. Navy photo by Jacob Sippel, Naval Hospital Jacksonville/Released)

Pregnant women and newborns are "disproportionately affected" by natural disasters like Florence, said Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News' chief health and medical correspondent.

"Obviously there are pregnant women in the area who may have been scheduled to have an elective C-section or elective induction, they are going into labor spontaneously. Those things don't stop when we have these kind of natural disasters," Ashton said. "Ideally, they've been in communication with their midwife or obstetrician days in advance."

PHOTO: Union Point Park is flooded with rising water from the Neuse and Trent Rivers in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 13, 2018. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

Ashton noted that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers a disaster preparedness plan for women on its website.

"They have gone so far as to recommend emergency home-birth kits for pregnant women, which is a scary thing," Ashton said. "If that baby's coming, that baby's coming."
'It's like a bomb has gone off here': Stranded residents hunker down as Florence hammers NC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

As Hurricane Florence hammers North Carolina's coastline with relentless rain and wind, first responders are scrambling to rescue residents who didn't heed evacuation orders and are now stranded in their homes, cars and even on rooftops amid rising floodwaters.

About 300 residents in the coastal town of New Bern had been rescued by early Saturday morning and were taken to shelters after the dangerous Category 1 hurricane moved ashore early Friday, according to New Bern's government. Another 100 were still awaiting rescue overnight Friday into Saturday with "three rescue teams who are working around the clock to get into communities to retrieve people."

"It's very unsafe. I immediately spoke with the police chief and we decided we need a 24-hour curfew," Mayor Dana Outlaw said in an interview Friday on "Good Morning America."

"It's just a very, very dangerous situation right now for New Bern," he added.

(MORE: Hurricane Florence makes landfall, police chief predicts 'biblical proportion flood')

PHOTO: Michael Nelson floats in a boat made from a metal tub and fishing floats after the Neuse River went over its banks and flooded his street during Hurricane Florence Sept. 13, 2018 in New Bern, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

New Bern resident George Zaytoun chose to weather the storm after it was downgraded from a Category 4. Zaytoun, who builds custom homes, said he wanted to stay behind so he could help his neighbors after Florence.

"I think we kind of let our guards down," Zaytoun told "GMA" in a telephone interview Friday morning. "In hindsight, yes, I would have probably gotten out of here."

Zaytoun's home is located on higher ground and he installed a generator and stocked up on supplies in preparation. But he's currently surrounded by floodwater.

"It's like a bomb has gone off here," he said. "Everything around us is underwater."

The floodwater outside rose to nearly 15 feet overnight and has since receded to about 6 to 8 feet, he said. But the torrential rain is far from over and the tides are still coming in.

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"I think we're not out of the woods by a long shot," Zaytoun said.

PHOTO: Residents at Trent Court Apartments wait out the weather as rising water gets closer to their doors in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 13, 2018. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

Another New Bern resident, Jay Schreiber, also decided to ride out the storm with his wife in their condo. They can see the nearby Trent River overflowing from the downpour, he said.

"Even if the storm were to stop right now, it would still take almost a week for all that water to drain out," Schreiber told "GMA" in a telephone interview Friday morning.

Schreiber, who works at the town post office, said their condo unit is on the second floor of a four-story building, so they can move up if the water continues to rise. They ultimately decided not to evacuate because they worried about not being able to get back, he said.

"We knew it would be bad," he said of the storm. "So it's a choice of ... do you leave and not be able to get back or if you try to come back, you get halfway and you're stuck again?"

(MORE: Mom, 5 kids hunker down in North Carolina as 'crazy and frightening' Hurricane Florence hits home)

PHOTO: Union Point Park is flooded with rising water from the Neuse and Trent Rivers in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 13, 2018. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency due to Florence, which made landfall with 90 mph winds in Wrightsville Beach shortly after 7 a.m. local time Friday. The storm is moving slowly -- just 5 mph -- in a southwest direction and is expected to reach South Carolina by early Saturday morning, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

The center of the storm was about 15 miles west-northwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as of 11 p.m.

Rainfall in the area is expected to reach 20 to 40 inches over the next several days. Although the storm will continue to weaken as it moves further inland, there is a high risk of flash flooding in the Carolinas through Saturday, and the flooding will likely strike Virginia by Sunday.

"Florence is an uninvited brute who doesn't want to leave," Cooper told "GMA" in an interview Friday morning. "This is a slow-moving storm."

Four deaths in North Carolina have been blamed on the storm. A mother and her baby were killed when a tree fell on their house in the port city of Wilmington. The father was transported to a local hospital with injuries, police said.

Pender County Emergency Management public information officer Tammy Proctor told ABC News that one storm-related death was reported in Pender County. No other details were provided.

Gov. Cooper said one person died in Lenoir County while plugging in a generator.

PHOTO: Union Point Park is flooded with rising water from the Neuse and Trent Rivers in New Bern, N.C. Sept. 13, 2018. (Gray Whitley/Sun Journal via AP)

Gov. Cooper warned that first responders may not be able to reach everyone immediately due to the treacherous conditions.

"As soon as it is safe, first responders will make sure they go and rescue people who need to be saved from this storm," Cooper said on "GMA."

He urged trapped residents to "hunker down," "stay in your homes," "get to higher floors" and wait for first responders.

"Help will come to you if you can let us know where you are," he said, adding that "we would have rather everybody leave so that we wouldnt be faced with these situations."

(MORE: Armed with boats and air mattresses, Cajun Navy rescues 160 trapped by Florence)

PHOTO: Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home, Sept. 14, 2018, in James City, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Craven County spokeswoman Amber Parker said the situation was truly dire in New Bern, which is southeast of Greenville. Some residents there are trapped on their roofs.

"I would say certain areas of New Bern are very desperate," Parker told ABC News in an interview Friday. "There are people that can be trapped in water, in vehicles, on roofs. That's just the situation for anyone."

Parker said private citizens have rescued some people but advised trapped residents to wait until weather conditions allowed first responders to reach them.

The United Cajun Navy has sent hundreds of volunteers from at least nine different states to assist with rescue efforts. The volunteer group has made at least 57 rescue missions in New Bern, saving at least two to three people per mission.

In some cases, the volunteers had to use air mattresses to float people to safety because the storm's gusty winds were toppling rescue boats.

"A lot of people did not get out, tried to drive out and a lot got stuck in conditions on the roads, so a lot of people we were rescuing from the tops of their vehicles," Todd Terrell, founder of the Baton Rouge-based United Cajun Navy, said on "GMA."

Footage taken from the ground in New Bern on Friday afternoon showed flooded streets, downed trees, scattered debris and storefronts blown out. But the full extent of damage to the town was unknown at the time.

Col. Glenn McNeill, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, told reporters at a press conference Friday morning that roadway conditions are deteriorating as flooding gets worse. Overnight, the patrol responded to 108 calls for help and 30 collisions across the state, he said.

Meanwhile, North Carolina National Guard Major General Gregory Lusk said some 2,800 of his troops have been activated.

PHOTO: Rescue workers from Township No. 7 Fire Department and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue a woman and her dog from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence, Sept. 14, 2018, in James City, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

More than 615,000 customers were without power across the state on Friday afternoon, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Gov. Cooper told reporters at a press conference Friday morning that utility crews "from all over the country" are standing by to restore power as soon as it's safe to do so.

There are also some 20,000 people in 157 shelters in North Carolina, plus many residents who are staying with family, friends and in hotels, according to the governor.

Cooper said many residents at risk of flooding were moved to higher ground prior to the storm's arrival, and officials will continue to share critical flood mapping information to pinpoint where the next evacuations may be needed.

"We are a hardy bunch, we are resilient, we can get through this," he told "GMA." "Were going to work hard to make sure people have the resources they need to get through the storm."

ABC News' Matt Foster, Joshua Hoyos, Dominick Proto and Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.
Robotic pants could help people stay mobile longer originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A group of scientists have developed a pair of robotic pants that could help stroke survivors and people struggling with mobility issues improve their quality of life.

The pants, which debuted this week at the British Science Festival, combine electroactive polymers technology, graphene composites and nanoparticles to simulate muscle movement. By doing so, the pants help wearers move more easily from a sitting to standing position, and helps them walk for longer periods of time.

If you keep people mobile longer, it keeps them cognitively able longer, Jonathan Rossiter, a professor of robotics at the University of Bristol in Bristol, England, and the lead researcher of the project, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Researchers at the University of Bristol, in Bristol, England, debuted 'The Right Trousers,' a pair of robotic pants to aid people with mobility issues and stroke survivors regain mobility, at the British Science Festival, Sept. 11, 2018. (Bristol Robotics Laboratory)

Keeping people happy longer, thats the real goal, Rossiter said.

(MORE: FDA calls e-cigarettes 'an epidemic' among minors, cracks down on retailers)

PHOTO: Researchers at the University of Bristol, in Bristol, England, debuted 'The Right Trousers,' a pair of robotic pants to help people with mobility issues and stroke survivors regain mobility, at the British Science Festival on Sept. 11, 2018. (Bristol Robotics Laboratory)

More than 21 million Americans were estimated in a 2016 U.S. Census Bureau to have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

PHOTO: An infographic provided by researchers at the University of Bristol, in Bristol, England, explains how 'The Right Trousers' can aid people with mobility issues and stroke survivors regain mobility. (Bristol Robotics Laboratory)

Rossiter said the pants, which have not yet been tested on humans, could be just the beginning of a new wave of robotic clothing that could assist in everyday life tasks to improve people's quality of life.

(MORE: There's really not much proof probiotics work: Study)

Our clothing hasnt changed in over 1,000 years, Rossiter said.

Were due for a change.
Scientists will release genetically-engineered mosquitoes in Africa to fight malaria originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

In the winter of 2016, a plane carrying an unusual shipment made its way from Italy to Africa.

Inside were the eggs of 5,000 genetically modified mosquitoes.

That shipment was the first stage in what is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and cutting-edge scientific ventures in the global fight against malaria.

Scientists are determined to eradicate the deadly disease that kills nearly three million people worldwide every year. Africa bears the brunt of the burden; nearly 90 percent of infection cases were in its sub-Saharan region.

PHOTO: A young man holds a net in a village in Burkino Faso where genetically modified mosquitoes are being deployed in an effort to fight malaria. (Courtesy Target Malaria/Imperial College London)

The eggs brought from Italy reached a research laboratory in the sub-Saharan African nation of Burkina Faso, where, locked securely behind double metal doors, they hatched, one by one, into tiny wriggling larvae. Within days they were adults.

The researchers caring for the mosquitoes fed them sugary water and fish food in Petri dishes. The females were also fed blood through a machine that simulated the sensation of biting through skin and were crossed with male mosquitoes found locally.

Of that first group, all 5,000 mosquito eggs carried a genetic modification that made the males among them sterile -- and the next generation's males sterile and the next generation's males sterile and so on. Now, after two years and several dozen generations of interbreeding between the females of European descent and local African males, scientists finally have a group of 10,000 sterile male mosquitoes that carry the genetic modification and are also fully adapted to the local conditions.

It's time to set them free.

PHOTO: Mosquito larvae are fed in the insectary, March 27, 2018 in Burkino Faso. (Courtesy Target Malaria/Imperial College London)

The scientists are part of a project by a nonprofit consortium called Target Malaria, made up of biologists and social scientists from around the world. In the next few months, they will release these 10,000 carefully bred, genetically modified mosquitoes into a small village in Burkina Faso. Being male and sterile, the lab-grown insects will neither be able to grow in number nor spread malaria (only female mosquitoes bite and transmit the disease).

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If this first stage goes off without a hitch, the project will have inched closer to rejuvenating the worlds losing battle against the disease.

Some time ago, we found that efforts against malaria in Africa had hit a plateau, said Delphine Thizy, the stakeholder engagement manager of Target Malaria. Even though the number of mosquito nets and insecticides and sprays being used was increasing, the number of cases of infection had stopped decreasing.

She continued, The problem was that the local mosquitoes had adapted  they had grown resistant to the chemicals and also learned to bite in times and places when people were not under the net.

PHOTO: Genetically modified mosquitoes are cared for in aresearch laboratory in the sub-Saharan African nation of Burkina Faso, where, locked securely behind double metal doors, they hatched and grow to adulthood. (Courtesy Target Malaria/Imperial College London)

So researchers at the Imperial College in London, part of Target Malaria, decided to try a new approach -- disrupting the sex ratio and breeding frequency of the three most dangerous species -- Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis.

In one experiment, a gene was introduced that would make all the babies male. In another, a different gene was introduced that would stop the females from being able to reproduce.

These mutations would be passed from generation to generation until a majority of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes in the region were extinct. This isn't an entirely original idea either. Genetically modified mosquitoes were used in Brazil as well as in California at the height of the Zika crisis last year to fight the disease.

PHOTO: Genetically modified mosquitoes are being tested in Burkina Faso to help fight malaria. (Courtesy Target Malaria/Imperial College London)

(MORE: FDA Approves GMO Mosquito Test to Fight Zika)

This may seem frighteningly reminiscent of science-fiction horror movies.

Scientists were aware of fears that the fallout could spin out in unanticipated and terrible ways, said Jeff Chertack of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has poured $70 million into Target Malaria's research as part of its larger involvement in the fight against malaria.

To make sure the release doesn't have adverse effects on the ecosystem or on humans, scientists brought in an independent group to carry out an ecological risk assessment.

PHOTO: Villagers in Burkina Faso receive information regarding the release of genetically modified mosquitoes being tested to help fight malaria. (Courtesy Target Malaria/Imperial College London)

Still, there's a long way to go, said Target Malaria's Delphine Thizy.

The release of the 10,000 sterile males is only a first step toward the ultimate goal - perfecting the genetic modification techniques on the female mosquitoes and making them ready to roll out, which may take another 10 years. But if successful, it could save millions of lives  and there may not be a way without it.

Even if we had three times the funds we have, we could not eradicate malaria with only the methods we have at our disposal, Thizy said.

In the meantime, Target Malarias partners in Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana and Uganda are getting busy on another part of the project -- outreach.

Its one of the essential pillars of our work  making sure the villagers understand and are happy with what we are doing, said Thizy. This is why our partners in Africa have been working with the government and the local people, talking to them, building trust with them and having discussions about the risks involved.

The villagers, Thizy said, are mostly optimistic and understand the benefits involved. So do the governments. Burkina Faso's state regulator recently approved the release of the 10,000 mosquitoes.

These are encouraging signs, said Thizy.

"The information we get from monitoring these mosquitoes will be able to inform the next steps we take," said Thizy. "It's a good first step for building and growing our project."

(MORE: Will genetically modified mosquitoes stop malaria's spread?)
Despite the nonstop flash of cameras and the never-ending circuit of public appearances, recently-minted royal Meghan Markle has decided to take one particular factor into her own handsand that is her makeup.

The Duchess of Sussex has stepped out for dozens of events since her Windsor wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, and while it would be easy to leave her hair and makeup to a professional, the former Suits star has opted to primp on her own.

Shes gotten more comfortable doing her own makeup. She loves makeup and shes good at it! her wedding day makeup artist and friend Daniel Martin told People this week. Shes been doing her makeup herself. Shes not fussyshes just trying to get it on and get out the door.

According to the pro, Markle has evolved with her own beauty tactics. She likes a stronger eye, her brow is a lot more defined now, he told the mag. But its still her. If anything, shes going to experiment with different tones, and now that shes more tan shell use warmer colors. But she doesnt stray too far from her technique, shes very formulaic with her routine.

Dont expect Markle to be spotted with a bold red swipe of lipstick, however. The one time she did a red lip, she just didnt feel comfortable in it, he said. She likes to talk and shes not a fussy person, so she doesnt want to have to worry about anything.

meghan markle harry prince

LONDON, ENGLAND  JULY 17: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex visit the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre on July 17, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Her low-key approach to beauty channels her personality. Martin told the outlet this week that the former actress is very much still herself despite her newly-minted status as a duchess.

Theres a small group of us that check in with her and see how shes doing, but shes still the same person, he added. Thats why its so bizarre for me sometimes to even think about her in that way, because thats not who I know.

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Up next: Markle and Harry will enjoy a little over two weeks in Australia, Fiji and Tonga for their first official tour as a married couple. They will also likely attend Princess Eugenies upcoming October 12 nuptials to Jack Brooksbank held at St. Georges Chapel, the same exact wedding venue where they exchanged vows this spring.

Secure your ideal wedding vision by starting with The Knots Style Quiz, here.

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Kabul (AFP) - The Afghan conflict could overtake Syria as the deadliest conflict in the world this year, analysts say, as violence surges 17 years after the US-led invasion.

The grim assessment contrasts sharply with the consistently upbeat public view of the conflict from NATO's Resolute Support mission in Kabul, and underscores the growing sense of hopelessness in the war-torn country.

It suggests that US President Donald Trump's much-vaunted strategy for Afghanistan is, like those of his predecessors, failing to move the needle on the battlefield, observers said, as a generation of Americans born after 9/11 become old enough to enlist.

"The soaring casualties in Afghanistan and the potential endgame in sight in Syria... could leave Afghanistan as the world's deadliest conflict," said Johnny Walsh, an Afghanistan expert at the United States Institute of Peace.

"Most years have become the new 'most violent year'. This is continually getting worse."

The Syrian conflict -- which began a decade after Afghanistan's -- has claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people so far this year, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Graeme Smith, a consultant for the International Crisis Group, told AFP some indications "suggest the Afghan war is on track to inflict more than 20,000 battle deaths in 2018" -- including civilians and combatants.

"That could exceed the toll of any other conflict, possibly even the war in Syria," he added.

It would be a record high for Afghanistan, according to the respected Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) in Sweden, which put the total number of deaths on all sides of the conflict at 19,694 in 2017.

Afghan civilian deaths have already hit a record 1,692 in the first six months of 2018, a recent UN report showed.

Interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi estimated 300-400 "enemy fighters" were killed every week, but would not provide figures for civilians or government forces.

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Data for casualties suffered by Afghan security forces are not available to the public after Washington last year agreed to Kabul's request to classify the numbers.

Before the blackout, according to figures published by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), there were more than 5,000 each year.

Most analysts believe that number understates the reality on the ground. This year's death toll for government forces could be "horrific", Smith said.

- More troops, more fighting -

The total death toll has been rising steeply since 2014, UCDP figures show, the year NATO combat troops pulled out, leaving Afghan forces with the responsibility for holding back the resurgent Taliban.

This year, the violence has been fanned by long-delayed parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20 and renewed efforts to engage the Taliban, Afghanistan's largest militant group, in peace talks.

The Taliban have made significant battlefield gains, and the smaller but potent Islamic State group, which first emerged in the region in 2014, has also ramped up attacks.

The conflict has been further fuelled by other countries in the region, particularly neighbouring Pakistan, said retired Afghan general Atiqullah Amarkhil, who warned the US had failed to rein in its wayward ally, which is widely accused of providing safe haven to Taliban leaders.

Despite the bloodshed, General John Nicholson, who until recently was the top US and NATO commander in the country, insisted last month that Trump's strategy, which includes the deployment of thousands of additional US forces and increased air strikes, was working.

US Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Pete Lupo told AFP: "US Forces Afghanistan is committed to being open and telling the truth about this war."

More troops means more fighting and therefore more casualties, Walsh told AFP -- but otherwise the military situation "remains generally a stalemate".

SIGAR data also suggests Trump's plan has made little progress on the battlefield.

The Taliban and other insurgents control or influence 14 percent of Afghanistan's 407 districts, the watchdog said in July -- unchanged from last year, when Trump unveiled his strategy.

The government, meanwhile, controls or influences 56 percent -- down from 57 percent in August 2017.

The rest of the country is considered "contested".

- 'A background of violence' -

Despite the growing violence, an unprecedented ceasefire between the government and Taliban in June ignited fresh hopes of peace.

Efforts to convince the militants to negotiate an end to the war would continue, analysts said.

"The Afghan and US governments realise that a peace process is the only way to bring an end to all the violence and the broader war," said Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center.

US officials met with Taliban representatives in Qatar in July, and another meeting could be held this month.

"That's how most talks happen -- against a background of violence and fighting," a Western official told AFP.

Cold comfort for Afghans worn down by decades of war.
By Munsif Vengattil and Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) - Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Inc's <AMZN.O> founder and the world's richest person, on Thursday said he will commit $2 billion to helping homeless families and starting pre-schools for low-income communities.

The announcement marks a deeper foray into philanthropy for Bezos, whose fortune has soared to more than $160 billion thanks to his stake in Amazon, according to Forbes. Dominance in e-commerce and the nascent field of cloud computing has made Amazon the world's second-most valuable public company.

Bezos solicited ideas on Twitter last year for ways to donate some of his wealth. While he has financially supported cancer research and scholarships for immigrants, among other causes, Bezos has primarily devoted his fortune to his Blue Origin rocket company, which he described Thursday as an "investment in the future of our planet through the development of foundational space infrastructure."

His private ownership of The Washington Post, which has published articles critical of the White House, has also put him at odds with President Donald Trump.

The new philanthropic effort is called the Bezos Day One Fund, a nod to the executive's management philosophy that organizations must view every day with the fervour of a new start, or face stagnation and decline.

Within this, the "Day 1 Families Fund" will support existing non-profits that offer shelter and food to young homeless families.

The "Day 1 Academies Fund" will start an organisation to operate a new network of full-scholarship pre-schools for low-income communities. Citing the Amazon mantra of customer obsession, Bezos said in a tweet, "The child will be the customer."

Bezos has yet to join "The Giving Pledge" created by fellow billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, whose more than 180 signatories have promised to give more than half of their fortunes to philanthropy.

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The Amazon chief's wealth has become problematic for some.

Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, proposed a bill in Congress called the "Stop BEZOS" Act, which would make large corporations pay workers more or pay for public assistance programmes like Medicaid. Amazon has said the senator's statements about the company are "inaccurate and misleading."

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru and Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Florence's life-threatening storm surge left nearly 400 residents stranded in New Bern, North Carolina, as the storm pummeled the coastal city as a Category 1 hurricane on Friday.

Emergency responders have reported an influx of calls from residents pleading to be rescued from the rapidly rising floodwaters.



Cajun Navy rescues residents in New Bern, North Carolina - 9/14/2018

The Cajun Navy rescues stranded residents in New Bern, North Carolina, as storm surge waters inundate the coastal city. (Twitter photo/ David Rankin @Rankinstudio)

Video: Cajun Navy rescuing residents from rapidly rising tidal surge in New Bern, NC from #HurricaneFlorence @breakingweather @accuweather pic.twitter.com/DBprKV8O9b  Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) September 14, 2018

The City of New Bern's Twitter account stated Friday morning that two teams with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were en route to North Carolina to assist with water rescues.

Stranded residents are being urged to seek higher ground immediately as they await rescue.



Priority right now is remaining 100 rescues. Then remaining power restorations. Winds are down to 19mph...great opportunity for our crews to get out and continue this important work.  City of New Bern (@CityofNewBern) September 15, 2018

New Bern's Public Information Officer, Colleen Roberts, told the Associated Press that over 360 rescues had already been made by midday Friday.

The Cajun Navy has assisted local authorities in New Bern with water rescues, having reportedly received 500 calls for help with rescues in the New Bern area.


(WASHINGTON)  The nations top elected leader and its most powerful banker are fighting over who is smarter.

Really.

President Donald Trump early Thursday scoffed at JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimons claim that he could beat Trump and is just as tough and smarter than the president.

The problem with banker Jamie Dimon running for President is that he doesnt have the aptitude or smarts & is a poor public speaker & nervous mess  otherwise he is wonderful, Trump tweeted. Ive made a lot of bankers, and others, look much smarter than they are with my great economic policy.

He appeared to be responding to Dimons remarks first reported by CNBC on Wednesday, in which he told reporters at JPMorgan headquarters in New York that I think I could beat Trump.

Because Im as tough as he is, Im smarter than he is. I would be fine, Dimon said. He could punch me all he wants, it wouldnt work with me. Id fight right back.

Dimon also suggested that his wealth was earned, and not given to him by his father  another jab at Trump, whose father, Fred, gave him $1 million in financing, millions drawn against his future inheritance and a share of his real estate holdings.

Dimon quickly clarified that he is not running for president and should not have made the remarks.

The pair has a mixed relationship. The banking executive fully supported Trumps corporate tax cuts that passed late last year, but has expressed frustration with the White Houses positions on immigration and trade.

Dimon, 62, is chairman of the Business Roundtable, a powerful lobbying group that represents the CEOs of the nations largest corporations, and is often seen as a voice for American business.

Trump often brags about his academic pedigree. He went to Fordham University and has an undergraduate degree from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school.

Im like a really smart person, hes said, and tweeted in 2013: Sorry losers and haters, my I.Q. is one of the highest  and you all know it! Please dont feel so stupid or insecure, its not your fault.

Dimon has an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Vladimir Putin observes the Vostok 2018 military exercises in Transbaikal territory - TASS

Russia is peace-loving but prepared to defend its national interests, Vladimir Putin has said during the country's largest military exercises since the Cold War.

Speaking to 30,000 Russian and Chinese troops lined up at the Tsugol training zone east of Lake Baikal, the president said Russia sought cooperation with other countries.

At the same time, he stressed that the manoeuvres, which were said to include a third of Russia's active military personnel, were the first time the army and navy had undergone such a complex and large-scale test.

Russia is a peace-loving nation. We do not have and cannot have any plans of aggression, Mr Putin said.

Our duty toward Russia, our motherland, is to be ready to stand up for its sovereignty, security and national interests, and support our allies if required, he added.

With up to 300,000 troops, the Vostok war games are said to have surpassed the largest Soviet exercises Credit: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty

For this reason, we are committed to further strengthening our armed forces and supplying them with the most up to date weapons and equipment, as well as promoting international cooperation.

Although troops were attacking an imaginary opponent, analysts have said the exercises are clearly designed to rehearse a potential conflict with the United States.

In a sign of its growing ties with Russia, China sent 3,000 soldiers, 900 vehicles and 30 aircraft to the exercises.

Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe sat in the viewing booth with Mr Putin and the commander of Mongolia's military, which also sent troops.

Mr Putin thanked the personnel from China and Mongolia, noting that they had been allies with the Soviet Union during the Second World War.

We share a long-standing and solid tradition of brotherhood in arms, he said.

Vostok 2018 will last seven days across nine training zones in eastern Russia.

Chinese and Russian aircraft take part in Thursday's manoeuvres near the Mongolian border Credit: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty

According to defence ministry claims, 300,000 troops, 36,000 vehicles, 1,000 aircraft and 80 warships will take part, surpassing even the Zapad war games of 1981.

Mr Putin watched through a pair of binoculars as paratroopers rappelled from helicopters, aircraft fired missiles and tanks thundered across the fields.

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Artillery fired more than 2,500 shells on Thursday in a technique called the wall of fire.

Vladimir Putin speaks with soldiers at the Tsugol training zone in eastern Russia Credit: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS via Getty

A nuclear, bacteriological and chemical weapons regiment also took part in the exercises, according to the Kremlin.

Shortly after the drills, the suspects in the Skripal case spoke on a state broadcast, denying that they deployed a Russian-made nerve agent in Salisbury.

Following the drills, Mr Putin awarded medals to several soldiers from the participating countries.
Two of the Southeast's most beloved restaurant chains are playing a larger role in the Hurricane Florence conversation than many may realize. As Florence begins to batter the East Coast, restaurant chains like Bojangles are bracing for the worst of impacts in the direct path of the storm. On the opposite hand, Waffle House is being used as a reference for government institutions on storm severity.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits has grown to over 750 locations. Over 500 of those locations are in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, which accounts for nearly 70 percent of the franchises being in the path of Florence. The storm has already dealt a blow to the restaurant's stock value, as shares had dropped as much as 5 percent through Wednesday.

As of Thursday morning, nearly every franchise location on the North Carolina coast was either already closed or set to close in the coming hours. All 10 locations in and around Myrtle Beach are also closed. Brady Walker shared these maps on Twitter, depicting how many of the region's most beloved chains might be directly impacted by the storm.



Bad news if you like fast food. Locations of Bojangles', Cook Out, Waffle House, and Zaxby's in the path of Florence. pic.twitter.com/3iE9PU3Fy3  brady (@geo_brady) September 12, 2018

Hurricanes have caused restaurants to see significant drops in stock value in recent years. Over 700 Starbucks locations were forced to close in Florida and Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Irma last year. The Fiesta Restaurant Group, which operates Taco Cabana, was also significantly impacted by Harvey and Irma, as it saw stocks fall over 5 percent.

One restaurant that almost never closes or is hurt by storms, however, is Waffle House. The famously resilient chain is consistently known to be the last of businesses to remain open when others shutter up. The company has a reputation for never closing and even has a group of restaurant managers known as jump teams' that travel to storm-stricken areas to help franchises continue operating.

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Waffle House's well-known sturdiness also serves as a monitor of sorts for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Known as the "Waffle House Index," FEMA has used the color-coded maps to update the public on how storm conditions are impacting areas since 2004. If a Waffle House restaurant is open and serving its entire menu, the map shows a green location. If the franchise is open but serving a limited menu, the index shows a yellow location. If the restaurant is entirely closed, the rarest of scenarios, the index is red.

In Myrtle Beach, the Waffle House location on Frontage Road posted a sign on the front door that the location would be closed. For patrons brushing the evacuation warnings aside, a locked door from the one location that almost never closes might have been a sign that the storm was getting serious.



According to FEMA.gov, the Waffle House test doesn't just inform the public about which restaurants are open but it also helps paint a picture about how the community as a whole is faring. Most Waffle House closures are due to widespread road closures or mass power outages.

Hurricane Matthew's devastation in 2016 was one of the few times in restaurant history that Waffle House issued a widespread shutdown of locations. From Titusville to Fort Pierce, Florida, every Waffle House was closed as operations became too difficult to continue.

One of the few other times when a string of Waffle Houses were forced to close was during Hurricane Katrina. During and after the storm, 107 locations were forced to close throughout Mississippi. Some locations still managed to continue operating thanks to refrigerated trucks and oil trucks brought in by the franchise. The storm destroyed seven Waffle Houses, and the closures led management to revamp the company's disaster preparedness efforts.



Waffle House after Hurricane Katrina

A sign is all that's left of this Waffle House on the beach in Gulfport, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005. Hurricane Katrina passed through the area causing extensive damage to the Gulf Coast last Monday morning. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

For those in directly affected areas, be it first responders or residents who didn't evacuate, the turned on lights and running kitchen stoves of Waffle House often represent a sense of calmness and relief during the most stressful of times. Even if the kitchen is down to its limited menu, which sometimes consists of just bacon and eggs, the franchise aims to be an ally to those in need.

"If we are open quickly after the storm, that means the community is coming back and folks are out, we are getting back to that sense of normalcy," Waffle House spokesman Pat Warner said to CNN. "After a storm, they're really looking to us to be there to help them out because they're used to us being there the rest of the year."
By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday vowed to fight back against federal courts that issue injunctions barring the federal government from implementing regulations nationwide, and accused federal judges of engaging in "judicial activism." In a speech in Missouri, Sessions revealed he was issuing new litigation guidance that he said would "assist our Department attorneys in fighting unconstitutional orders" all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Nationwide injunctions have become a favored tool by states and other groups who have staunchly opposed many of the Trump administration's more controversial policy initiatives. They allow a single judge in one federal district to block the implementation of new rules across the entire United States. The new guidelines call on Justice Department litigators to fight back against cases that involve nationwide injunctions. During the Obama administration, Republican-led state attorneys general and business groups often sought nationwide injunctions, a strategy that has since been more often deployed by Democratic state attorneys general and civil rights groups who seek to block many of President Donald Trump's policies. By Sessions' count, courts have issued nationwide injunctions 25 times since Trump took office. Among some of the most well-known examples include an injunction from a federal judge in Hawaii to block Trump's order banning people from certain Muslim countries from traveling to the United States. Sessions later verbally attacked the judge, Derrick Watson, saying on conservative talk radio "The Mark Levin Show": "I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power." Another well-known example involved three different federal district court judges who each separately blocked the Trump administration from rescinding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that protects from deportation some young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. Increasingly, we are seeing individual federal district judges go beyond the parties before the court to give injunctions or orders that block the entire federal government from enforcing a law or policy throughout the country," Sessions said in a statement that accompanied the new guidelines. "This trend must stop. We have a government to run. The Constitution does not grant to a single district judge the power to veto executive branch actions." (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Susan Thomas)
Former President Barack Obama urged voters to head to the polls this November in an impassioned speech in Cleveland on Thursday night, chastising his successor and Republican leadership as out of touch and indifferent to the plights of Americans.

On November 6 we have a chance to restore some sanity to our politics, Obama, speaking at a rally for Ohio gubernatorial candidate Richard Corday and other Democrats, said. We can tip the balance of power back to the American people. Because you are the only check on bad policy. Youre the only real check on abuses of power, its you and your vote. And that is why Im here.

I need you to come through. But more importantly, the country needs you to come through.

After a period of relative silence and political restraint following the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, Obama has re-engaged on the campaign trail as a prominent messenger for the Democratic Party. He recently endorsed more than 80 Democrats spanning the country. He ventured to both Illinois and California last week to stump for several candidates and lambaste Trump as a demagogue who was capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years.

Former President Barack Obama has re-emerged as a force of the campaign trail for Democrats after a period of restraint. He leveled pointed criticisms at President Donald Trump and the GOP at a rally in Cleveland on Thursday. (Photo: David Dermer / Associated Press)

He echoed those critiques on Thursday, leveling pointed criticisms at Trump on matters including the presidents regular attacks on his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and his efforts to undermine the media.

Obama also decried Republican efforts to roll back access to health care and severely restrict migration at the southern border, which resulted in a zero tolerance immigration policy that saw thousands of children separated from their parents, with hundreds yet to be reunited.

I dont know what happened to our culture.  I dont know when we began to celebrate bullies instead of looking out for people who care for other people, Obama said. When did that happen?

He said people of both parties and those without a party affiliation should be concerned with our current course, should be concerned about the basic institutions of our democracy, should want to see a restoration of honesty and decency and lawfulness to our government.

Story continues

As he stayed on the political sidelines through the first year-and-a-half of Trumps presidency, Obama faced growing pressure from Democratic leaders to leverage his continuing popularity to rally the partys base and independents. Finally heeding the call, hes now embarked on a course rare for ex-presidents as he works to help Democrats gain momentum and potentially flip the balance of power in one or both chambers of Congress.

He is expected to campaign regularly through the Nov. 6 elections.

Trump quickly discounted one of Obamas speeches last week, saying: Im sorry, I watched it, but I fell asleep. I found hes very good, very good for sleeping.

Obama told his audience Thursday he was encouraged by the levels of intensity and involvement he sees among people energized to oppose Trump.

Im hopeful because out of this political darkness I am seeing a great awakening, he said. The antidote to government by just a powerful few is government by the organized, by the many, by communities that get fired up and are ready to go.  One election wont fix everything that needs to be fixed, but it will be a good start, weve got to start now.

The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference. Lets get out there, lets get to work, lets make things better, he continued.

Take off your bedroom slippers, put on your marching shoes.

Related...

Obama On New York Times Op-Ed: 'This Is Not Normal'

Trump Says He 'Fell Asleep' During Obama's Critical Speech

Tweeters Stir Over Donald Trump's Claim He 'Fell Asleep' To Barack Obama's Speech

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The sheer scale of a series of gas explosions which ripped through three Boston neighbourhoods and killed a teenager became apparent on Friday as it emerged 8,000 people had been evacuated.

Some 70 separate fires, blasts and gas odours were reported during the incident, in which 18-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed by a falling chimney.

Firefighters spoke of having to race from one blaze to another as explosions levelled buildings in the neighbourhoods of Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

At least 13 people were treated in hospital for injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to blast trauma.

Fire chief Michael Mansfield said investigators suspected over-pressurisation of a gas main caused the incident on Thursday.

He earlier described the scene as like Armageddon.

Brigham McCown, a former government official who once headed up the USs Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, called the incident unprecedented, at least in recent memory.

This has been obviously an incredibly difficult day, the governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker said in a news conference in the early hours of Friday.

At this time, the focus remains on ensuring the public safety. Once thats complete, we will work with federal government and others to investigate how this occurred and hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions.

The over-pressurised mains, it was later confirmed, belonged to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a unit of the utility NiSource Inc based in Indiana.

Ken Stammen, a spokesman with NiSource, said Columbia Gas was investigating.

The National Transportation Safety Board  which leads on issues related to pipelines  said it had a team of investigators heading to the area. The FBI was also looking at the incident, The Boston Globe reported.

The mayor of South Lawrence, Daniel Rivera, urged residents to stay away from their homes until otherwise noted.

There could still be a gas leak in your home, he said. You cant see it and in some cases you wont be able to smell it and God forbid, you go to sleep and dont wake up.
President Trumps approval ratings across eight major polls just dropped to their lowest point in six months, rocked by the fraught legal cases of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Trump attorney Michael Cohen, an anonymous New York Times op-ed by a senior White House staffer and a new book by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, and the presidents own remarks about Puerto Rico. The polls  from ABC News/Washington Post, CNN, Gallup, and several other outlets  all have his approval rating below 40 percent. Not many people outside of his base agree with Twitter user America First that President Donald Trump is rock solid to win the 2020 election. Yahoo commenters seem similarly split on the unconventional president, whose lawsuits, controversial policy decisions, and Twitter wars have some readers boiling. He should have done some homework on how to act presidential before running for president, wrote one reader on an original Yahoo Lifestyle article about the presidents trip to an elementary school. It must be nice living in a universe where you get to make up your own facts, another commenter said of Trumps Puerto Rico comments. I mistakenly voted for this guy, one former supporter said on the same article. Never again. Congress wont provide checks and balances, so Ill vote Democratic from now on. Several readers shared this sentiment: This current unregistered conservative would cheer his resignation, one commenter said on a page about the presidents latest fake-news claims. Hes an obnoxious, egotistical buffoon. Another reader said he missed the days when the president wasnt a national embarrassment. But many commenters stepped in to defend the president, recalling why theyd voted for him in the first place: We dont want an elite ruling class here, one reader said on a blog about Trumps continued attacks on former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. We want term limits and politicians who can tell the occasional truth. Others lauded the presidents achievements thus far: The economy is very strong and he has accomplished more than Obama did in eight years, one reader said. Trump has flaws, but he is still the best president of my lifetime, another wrote. He fights for regular working class people. Plenty of commenters claimed that mainstream media weren't giving the president a fair shot: Ive never seen people reach harder to make a president look bad, one commenter said. For heavens sake, another wrote, why dont you people just give him a break. But more frequently, comments across Yahoo Lifestyle sounded more like this: Vote like our country depends on it come November, because it does. What do you think? Is President Trump doing a good job? Let us know in the comments.
A CBS News reporter has spoken out about the threatening text message she received from former 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager, who was fired on Wednesday in the wake of recent accusations of sexual misconduct and fostering an abusive workplace.

I am that reporter, CBS journalist Jericka Duncan announced on CBS Evening News Wednesday night, recounting her exchange with Fager.

Duncan said she reached out to Fager on Sunday, after a New Yorker story detailed an allegation against him in which a woman said he groped her at a party. Other former CBS employees have said Fager touched employees in ways that made them uncomfortable at parties.

.@jeffglor to @Jerickaduncan: "...You have been on this since the beginning. You have done great work. It's difficult enough without dealing with this. That message was unacceptable. I think it's important for you to know...that the entire team at Evening News supports you 100%." pic.twitter.com/E43JYHad9t  CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) September 12, 2018

Fager, who denied the claims, told Duncan to be careful in a text message.

If you repeat these false accusations without any of your own reporting to back them up you will be held responsible for harming me, Fager told Duncan in the text. Be careful. There are people who lost their jobs trying to harm me and if you pass on these damaging claims without your own reporting to back them up that will become a serious problem.

CBS News president David Rhodes said Fagers firing was not directly related to the allegations of sexual misconduct but because he violated company policy.

Fager said in a statement that he was fired because of the text message.

They terminated my contract early because I sent a text message to one of our own CBS reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story, he said. My language was harsh and, despite the fact that journalist receive harsh demands for fairness all the time, CBS did not like it. One such note should not result in termination after 36 years but it did.

Fagers ouster comes just three days after CBS Chief Leslie Moonves resigned after being accused by several women of sexual misconduct in a New Yorker article published Sunday.
BEIJING (Reuters) - A province in southern China is scrambling to find supplies of pork as the spread of African swine fever shuts down the transport of live hogs from major producers and threatens shortages of the country's favorite meat. The efforts of officials in the southern province of Zhejiang highlight the stress felt in China's major pork consuming provinces as measures to control the disease outbreak have stranded pigs at farms, leaving slaughterhouses short of stock. Pork prices in the country's populous south have risen as China's vast pig market is locked down in the fight against the highly contagious African swine fever. Officials at Zhejiang's provincial animal husbandry bureau have asked their counterparts in neighboring Shandong province for help in securing pork supplies, according to a document dated Sept. 11 and reviewed by Reuters. The Zhejiang bureau asked for a list of 10 slaughterhouses and 20 farming groups in Shandong that could supply pork to companies in the southern province, the document said. A Zhejiang bureau official said it needed to take measures because hog prices have jumped significantly in the past month. "We are doing this in advance to prepare for potential shortages of pork products in the future as controls on hog transportation have further tightened," said the official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Hog prices in Zhejiang were trading at 18.14 yuan ($2.65) per kilogram on Wednesday, up 25 percent since early August, when China reported its first outbreaks of the swine fever, according to data from China-America Commodity Data Analytics. Zhejiang province reported its first African swine fever outbreak in the city of Yueqing in late August. Zhejiang is a big buyer of hogs from provinces like Shandong and Henan, which are now both part of the transport ban. China on Tuesday expanded its ban on the transport of live hogs from six provinces that have reported African swine fever outbreaks, to include 10 provinces neighboring the infected regions. (Reporting by Hallie Gu, Dominique Patton and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Darren Schuettler)
New York (AFP) - US securities regulators announced Friday that Citigroup would pay $12 million for misrepresenting practices on a private exchange to clients.

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Citigroup with falsely leading users to believe high-frequency traders were not permitted on Citi Match, a premium-priced "dark pool," a private marketplace separate from the New York Stock Exchange and other public markets.

In fact, two of Citi Match's most active users were high-frequency traders and executed more than $9 billion in orders on the exchange, the SEC said.

Large investors like dark pools as a way of commissioning transactions without swaying prices and boosting the cost of their orders. But the venues have been criticized for lack of transparency.

The SEC also said Citigroup failed to disclose that trades were routed to other platforms, including other dark pools.

Citigroup sent orders saying the orders had been executed on Citi Match when they had been put through on other venues, the agency said.

"Market participants deserve to make informed decisions about where they execute their orders," said Joseph Sansone, head of the SEC's enforcement group's market abuse unit.

"All trading venues, regardless of their trade volume, must ensure that their users have accurate information, particularly about key issues like order routing."

Citigroup did not admit or deny the charges but agreed to be censured as part of the settlement, the SEC said.
The Conservatives have been accused of giving bigotry a free pass by a leading UK Muslim group after backing Hungarys authoritarian leader Viktor Orban in a crunch vote in the European parliament.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it appeared the Tory party considered the rights of minorities expendable as it sought support for its Brexit plans from leaders such as Mr Orban, who has attacked press freedom and an independent judiciary.

Thew MCBs statement comes alongside a similar one from the Board of Deputies of British Jews which accused Tory MEPs of defending Mr Orbans appalling track record of antisemitism and Islamophobia

The MCB's secretary general Harun Khan said: At a time when there are growing concerns about the rise of the far-right across Europe, it is deeply disappointing that Conservative Party MEPs were whipped to align themselves with far-right parties in supporting Mr Orban.

One can only hope that the rights of Muslims and other minorities are not considered expendable as support is sought for the governments Brexit position, as appears to have been the case with this vote.

Mr Khan said the incident raised concerns about bigotry in the party after the Conservatives had refused up to this point to hold an inquiry into Islamophobia in its ranks.

He also paid tribute to Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, the only Conservative MEP who rebelled against the whip and backed the motion to censure Mr Orban.

Politicians from across the EU voted by a two-thirds majority 448-197 in favour of starting the Article 7 process on Wednesday  which could ultimately see Hungary stripped of its voting rights at the European council.

One can only hope that the rights of Muslims and other minorities are not considered expendable as support is sought for the governments Brexit position, as appears to have been the case with this vote

Muslim Council of Britain secretary general Harun Khan

An analysis of votes by The Independent has found the Tories were the only governing conservative party in western Europe to vote against the move.

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The Board of Deputies of British Jews said earlier on Thursday it was very concerning that the Conservatives had chosen to defend Hungarys appalling track record which they pointed out included both vivid antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Its president, Marie van der Zyl, said: As we have stated previously, we are very alarmed by the messages at the heart of Orbans election campaign, including his comments about Muslim invaders, calling migrants poison, and the vivid antisemitism in the relentless campaign against Jewish philanthropist George Soros.

Of the Tory MEPs, only Baroness Mobarik rebelled to vote for the motion, while two others, Charles Tannock and Sajjad Karim, abstained. Separately, Richard Ashworth and Julie Girling, who were elected as Conservatives but left their political group over Brexit and do not take the whip, also backed action.

Last night Mr Karim told The Independent that he had refused to support Mr Orban in the vote because of his antisemitism and Islamophobia, adding: I cannot vote in any way that Victor Orban may choose to mislead Hungarians.

Conservatives Must Not Give Bigotry a Free Pass in Europe  Read the @MuslimCouncils statement on the Conservative Party MEPs vote in defence of Hungarys far-right leader Viktor Orban: https://t.co/SUXBhsTsca#ViktorOrban #Bigotry #FarRight pic.twitter.com/efLz8Gwa8S  MCB (@MuslimCouncil) September 13, 2018

Ahead of the vote, Tories in the European parliament claimed the EUs process had been politicised and was counterproductive, while Conservative sources in Strasbourg denied the vote had anything to do with Brexit.

Their counterparts in London highlighted that the European group is autonomous and decides its own whipping arrangements independently, pointing out that Theresa May had not played a role in the decision to back Orban.

However, one Tory politician told The Independent: No one will say it publicly, but its clear that we are going to gain brownie points with people who might be able to help us in the Brexit negotiations.

Mr Orban himself arrived at the meeting of the European parliament saying: We would like to have a fair Brexit because we love the British and because we cooperated always well  and you deserve a good deal, a fair deal.

Theresa Mays spokesman said on Wednesday: The outcome was the result of a democratic vote in the European parliament and is now a matter for the European council.

We await the process going forward which is to be set out by the Austrian presidency.

We place great values on the importance of the rule of law. We hope a resolution can be found that respects a nations right to set its own constitutional arrangements within the framework of international norms.
By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrats in New York were voting on Thursday whether Governor Andrew Cuomo deserves a third term or should be replaced by actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, a first-time candidate mounting a challenge from the left.

The nominating contest was the latest test for candidates from the party's energized left wing as Democrats seek to regain control of the U.S. Congress and bolster their ranks in state governments across the country in Nov. 6 elections.

Earlier this campaign season, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley both upset long-serving Democratic incumbent congressmen in nominating races in New York and Massachusetts, promising more vigorous liberal policies and highlighting their opposition to Republican President Donald Trump.

Nixon is hoping to repeat that success in what she describes as her insurgent campaign. However, several outsider candidates challenging incumbent governors have fallen short during the nominating season.

While the contours of the Democratic race in New York look similar to those upsets, Nixon, best known for her Emmy-winning role on HBO's "Sex and the City," has trailed Cuomo by 30 points or more in opinion polls.

"Those were huge exceptions to the rule and to beat an incumbent in his own primary, you really have to draw an inside straight," Patrick Egan, a politics professor at New York University, said in an interview, referring to a lucky hand in poker.

The race has turned increasingly bitter and expensive, as Cuomo has spent $18 million to Nixon's $1.6 million, according to state figures. Nixon, who has never held office, has said Cuomo's experience has not translated to good governance. Cuomo has said she is inexperienced and naive.

In a contentious debate last month, Cuomo told Nixon to stop interrupting him, to which she responded: "Can you stop lying?"

Nixon would likely need a surge in voting activity in a state generally known for low turnout, especially in primaries, to win. In a 2014 nominating contest, Cuomo defeated his opponent with fewer than 600,000 people voting out of nearly 5.9 million registered Democrats in the state.

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Should Cuomo win, he would be heavily favored against Republican Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, in the November general election.

Cuomo, 60, was born into politics as the son of Mario Cuomo, a longtime public figure who also served as New York governor. The younger Cuomo controls the party's state machinery and secured endorsements from members of the party establishment, but has drawn ire from progressives in the state who believe he has been too willing to negotiate with state Senate Republicans, blocking liberal priorities like voting rights reform.

Before casting his ballot in the town of Mount Kisco, Cuomo said New Yorkers must stand up to changes being made in Washington that he said ran counter to the state's values, according to local channel News 12 Westchester.

"There is a divisiveness that is coming out of Washington that I think is cancerous to our nation," Cuomo said.

Nixon, 52, has touted herself as a democratic socialist and a champion of causes such as abortion access, better funding for schools and equal rights for gay and lesbian people.

She greeted voters in Manhattan's Union Square on Thursday and cast her ballot at an East Village community center. Describing herself as a "queer" woman, Nixon has said that she better reflects the party's diverse ranks than her straight, white, male opponent.

Cuomo has countered he has a record of passing same-sex marriage and paid family leave in New York state and has declared that "nobody has stood up to Donald Trump like I have."

In an interview with Reuters last week, Nixon said: "I feel people are going to be very surprised on Thursday," and cited victories she felt her campaign had already scored.

"There are certainly ways we've been able to move the governor to the left, on criminal justice issues, on environmental issues, on political issues."

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen; editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Shumaker)
Amber Guyger, 30, accused of shooting Botham Jean dead, claiming she thought she was entering her own apartment

Allison Jean, the mother of Botham Jean, stands with Bothams brother Grant and sister, Alissa Charles-Findley, along with attorneys Monday in Dallas. Photograph: Ryan Tarinelli/AP

Activists in Dallas are demanding more oversight of police after a man was shot dead last week by an officer who claims she entered the wrong apartment.

Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral service on Thursday for Botham Jean, a 26-year-old risk assurance associate with PwC. Speakers gave tributes describing him as a highly personable, committed and warm-hearted Christian who helped underprivileged people and pursued excellence in everything he did. Another service is planned in his native St Lucia.

Jeans death sparked protests that spread to Dallas City Hall, where mayor Mike Rawlings briefly adjourned a council meeting on Wednesday after several dozen protestors sitting in the chambers chanted no justice, no peace.

Later, in a public comment session, furious residents lined up to lambast the council, angry at the latest killing of a black civilian by police in north Texas, demanding structural reform and warning that elected officials will be voted out unless they act.

How many times as a little girl I was told that a police officer was supposed to be my friend? Today Im in fear of them, said Dee Crane, whose 23-year-old son was killed by police in Arlington, near Dallas, last year.

Ignoring the problems in this city is like ignoring cancer, if you keep on ignoring it eventually it will take you out, said Reggie Ruffin, a community advocate. You cant control your police officers.

Dominique Alexander, a Dallas activist, also told the council: Were tired of having to march in the streets. I know its hard for us to get justice in the street but can we get justice in our own living room?

Dallas police handed the investigation to the Texas Rangers but an arrest warrant was not issued for three days. Amber Guyger, a white 30-year-old officer, was charged with manslaughter, arrested on Sunday and released on a $300,000 bond.

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She is accused of going into Jeans home and killing him just before 10pm on 6 September. According to an affidavit she lives directly below Jean in the complex, which is a short walk from Dallas police headquarters.

After finishing her shift and still in uniform, the affidavit states, she parked on the wrong floor and entered Jeans apartment by mistake, believing it was hers. Guyger thought Jean was a burglar and fatally shot him. Last year she shot and injured a suspect while on duty but was cleared of any wrongdoing.

People stand near Botham Jeans apartment in Dallas on Monday. Photograph: Ryan Tarinelli/AP

Lee Merritt, an attorney for Jeans family, did not return a request for comment. But in a press conference on Monday he said that elements of the narrative in the affidavit are dubious and contradicted by witness statements.

Family representatives have also said that the affidavit reads as if it is trying to offer excuses for Guygers actions rather than support an accusation. It stresses the similarities in layout and appearance between floors, refers to the door being slightly ajar, the unit as nearly completely dark and Guyger seeing a large silhouette. In language that appears jarring in this context but is commonly used by police to justify shootings, it says she gave verbal commands that were ignored.

Yafeuh Balogun, a Dallas activist, said that Guyger is receiving special treatment. If that had been me in that particular situation there would be no question that I would be charged with murder but being that its a police officer, obviously you see how unfair that situation can be, he told the Guardian.

The Dallas county district attorneys office will present the case to a grand jury that will decide the severity of the charges, if any, to bring to trial.

In a very rare example of a conviction for killing a civilian while on duty, a Dallas county jury last month sentenced Roy Oliver to 15 years in prison for the murder of Jordan Edwards. Responding to reports of underaged drinking at a party, the former officer opened fire on a passing car, killing Edwards, an unarmed 15-year-old African American boy who was a passenger.

Balogun is not convinced that Olivers conviction is a turning point for police-community relations. I think that was an effort to put a Band-Aid over a bleeding wound for the simple fact that Roy Oliver will come up for parole in seven-and-a-half years, thats a slap in the face I think for the family and the community at large, he said.

Last week an officer in Arlington fatally shot a black man in an SUV who was trying to leave a traffic stop.

Protestors have long argued that the Dallas police department lacks accountability and transparency and in the wake of Jeans death are calling for the city to create a new civilian police review board with subpoena power. We dont have a lot of faith in the process, Balogun said.
By Lawrence Hurley and Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday set a vote for next week on President Donald Trump's U.S. Supreme Court pick while a Democratic senator sent unspecified new information about nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the FBI. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the committee's top Democrat, said she received the information about Kavanaugh from a person she declined to identify. In a statement, Feinstein did not specify the nature of the information. The New York Times, citing two people familiar with the matter, reported that the information related to "possible sexual misconduct" involving Kavanaugh and a woman when they both were in high school. Feinstein said the person who provided the information "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities." White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Kavanaugh has repeatedly been vetted by the FBI. "Not until the eve of his confirmation has Senator Feinstein or anyone raised the specter of new 'information' about him," Kupec added. An FBI spokesman confirmed the agency has received the information. "Upon receipt of the information on the night of September 12, we included it as part of Judge Kavanaugh's background file, as per the standard process," the spokesman said. In a statement, the FBI confirmed receipt of the information. A person familiar with the vetting process, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no new FBI criminal investigation had been opened. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Kavanaugh on the allegation. "This has all the indicators of an 11th hour character assassination and a desperate attempt to delay and defeat the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh," said Carrie Severino, chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative activist group that supports Trump's judicial picks. Democrats have fought Kavanaugh's nomination and sought to delay his confirmation. In party-line votes, the Republican-led committee on Thursday rejected motions by Democratic senators seeking access to more documents relating to Kavanaugh's service in the White House under Republican President George W. Bush more than a decade ago. The committee agreed to vote on the nomination on Sept. 20, with a final Senate confirmation vote likely by the end of the month. "I don't understand the rush to judgment. I really do not," Feinstein said. Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge nominated by Trump to the lifetime position on the high court, made no major missteps in two days of questioning by senators during his confirmation hearing last week. Democrats have said they want to learn more about whether Kavanaugh played a significant role in controversial policy debates in the Bush White House, including those relating to the treatment of detainees held after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Kavanaugh worked in the White House from 2001 to 2006. Trump's fellow Republicans control the Senate by a narrow margin. With no sign yet of any Republicans planning to vote against Kavanaugh, he seems poised to win confirmation despite Democratic opposition. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, targeted by Democrats as a possible swing vote, came under new pressure from a group in her home state of Alaska to oppose Kavanaugh. The Alaska Federation of Natives, the state's largest indigenous organization, issued a statement condemning Kavanaugh's positions on indigenous rights. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Amanda Becker; Additional reporting by Yereth Rosen in Anchorage, Alaska; Editing by Will Dunham)
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria - AP

Donald Trump has rejected an official conclusion that around 3,000 people died due to the devastating hurricane that hit Puerto Rico a year ago.

Mr Trump said the death toll had only been 18 when he visited the US territory shortly after the storm, and claimed the higher figure had been inflated by Democrats to "make him look bad".

The US president made his comments on Twitter as a large swath of America's east coast was expected to be battered by Hurricane Florence.

Brock Long, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned that Florence could "kill a lot of people".

Florence was to be the first major test of FEMA since its response to the Puerto Rico disaster, which was widely criticised.

In the year since Hurricane Maria devastated the island, the Puerto Rican government's official death toll has risen several times.

Last month, it was placed at 2,975 after the government commissioned an independent study by public health experts at George Washington University.

The study concluded the number of people who died in the months that followed the storm, because of its effects, had been severely underestimated.

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018

But Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: "3,000 people did not die in the hurricane that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths.

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"As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000..."

He added: "This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico."

Mr Trump said people who died for any reason - "like old age" - had been added to the total. The president, who is Puerto Rico's head of state, added that he "loves Puerto Rico!"

The island is still suffering power failures and around 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs.

Ricardo Rossello, Puerto Rico's governor who aligns with Republicans, said: "It is time to remember all those who lost their lives."

Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Democrat mayor of San Juan in Puerto Rico, called Mr Trump "delusional, paranoid, and unhinged from any sense of reality".

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz Credit: AFP

In Washington senior Republicans also distanced themselves from the president's remarks.

Paul Ryan, the Republican House Speaker, said he had "no reason to dispute" the death toll of 3,000. He added: "Casualties don't make a person look bad. It was a horrible storm."

Ahead of Florence striking the US east coast Mr Trump spoke with political leaders in the Carolinas and offered "whatever is needed," Sarah Sanders, the White House spokeswoman said.

Winds from Florence began lashing coastal areas in the two states.

The eye of the storm was expected to come ashore near Wilmington, North Carolina, where businesses were boarded up and streets deserted.

Tens of thousands of buildings were expected to be flooded, with up to 40 inches of rain in places, causing billions of dollars in damage.

Around 1.7 million people had been ordered to evacuate, airlines cancelled more than 1,000 flights to the area, and up to three million homes and businesses were expected to lose power.

Waves slam the Oceana Pier & Pier House Restaurant in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Credit: Travis Long

The US Navy, Air Force and Army moved people, ships and aircraft out of the storm's path, and farmers transported livestock to safe areas.

Fears were growing of a potential environmental disaster if waste from North Carolina's many hog manure pits, and coal ash dumps, washes into drinking water supplies.

Further north, in Washington, the Republican leadership in Congress announced that votes would be cancelled on Friday.
Dawn French in The Vicar of Dibley (Credit: BBC)

What Dustin Hoffman could have done with The Vicar of Dibley, sadly, we will never know.

But at one time, the Hollywood actor was interested in getting behind the camera to direct the classic sitcom  but was blocked by the BBCs former head of comedy.

In a new memoir, Jon Plowman, who during his tenure at the Beeb brought shows like Absolutely Fabulous, Little Britain and The Office to screens, explains the unlikely turn of events.

Hoffman was reportedly visiting London when he took an interest in directing the show, which starred Dawn French as the embattled clergywoman, during its first series.

Dustin Hoffman (Credit: Getty)

But Plowman kiboshed the plans before they got out of hand.

Think how long it might have taken just to explain the gags to him, Plowman, writes in How To Produce Comedy Bronze (via The Daily Mail).

Theres a time when a producer has to look a gift horse in the mouth. And then punch it.

He goes on to speak most affectionately about the sitcom, describing it as being under a kind of happy spell.

Hoffman did later have one more vague brush with the sitcom, starring in the adaptation of Roald Dahls Esio Trot with Judi Dench in 2015, which was adapted for the screen by Dibley writer Paul Mayhew-Archer.

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Why Arnie turned down The Predator

Cameras roll on Downton Abbey movie




Oklahoma isnt anybodys idea of a swing stateby any measure, its one of the most Republican places in the country. But a poll in July put the Democratic nominee for governor, Drew Edmondson, up by a point over his Republican opponent, 40-39. Edmondson thinks he knows why: The policies of the last eight years have driven us into a billion-dollar deficit and created a terrible situation in our schools, he tells TIME. Thats what drove me into this race in the first place.

All across America, public anger over education funding has scrambled the political map for November. The activism that started with this springs sudden wave of teacher strikes and walkouts didnt ebb when the picket lines did. It got channeled into political action. The outcry has created competitive racesand spurred primary upsetsin some unexpected places. And with scores of teachers now running for office themselves, its changed the face of the midterm elections.

Edmondson, a former Oklahoma attorney general who worked for a year before law school as a high school teacher in Muskogee, spent the summer on an education-themed tour of the state. The dismal conditions highlighted by the teacher walkout helped make the outgoing governor, Republican Mary Fallin, the most unpopular in the country, with an approval rating recently measured at just 19%. In the GOP primary to succeed her, voters chose a political newcomer, Kevin Stitt, who criticized his establishment rivals over their records on education. And in Oklahomas state legislative primaries earlier this year, voters ejected eight of the 12 Republican incumbents on the ballot who had voted against education funding.

A similar dynamic is playing out in Kansas and Arizona, two red states where cuts to education spending have made Republicans unpopular. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who is seeking re-election, saw his popularity plummet when teachers went on strike in April and May for better pay. In Kansas, Republican gubernatorial nominee Kris Kobach is known nationally for his controversial views on immigration and voting rights, but his Democratic opponent spends most of her time focusing on Kobachs support for his predecessors education cuts. Kansas is in the toss-up column, and education is a big reason why, says Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes gubernatorial races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Because education is largely states purview, it is frequently a top issue in gubernatorial races, but Duffy says the intensity and the geography are different this year.

Its not just governors races. The wave of wildcat teacher strikes (as those undertaken without union consent are known) began in West Virginia, where a chief instigator was Richard Ojeda, a first-term state senator and populist Democrat. Now running for Congress, hes considered a contender in a district Donald Trump won by 50 points. Republicans are getting mileage out of the issue too: in a GOP primary in Kentucky, a high school math teacher came out of nowhere in May to defeat the state house majority leader, who had proposed a bill to cut teacher pensions. According to Education Week, 159 teachers have filed to run for state legislatures, 29 of them Republicans. Some 300 members of the American Federation of Teachers are running for office at some levelalmost triple the number of the past two cycles, the union says.

To be sure, states like Oklahoma are still long shots for Democrats. But its the GOP that has the most to fear from voters motivated by education. The most politically energized demographic in the Trump era is college-educated suburban womenprecisely the voters who tend to care the most about public education. In Oklahoma, Edmondson says he hears about the issue from parents at every campaign event. They see this every day, he says. It is resonating with them, and they are ready for change.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)  Pieces of hurricane evacuee Melody Rawson's South Carolina life are now spread out on a grassy field, a slab of concrete and a picnic table at a campground outside Atlanta Motor Speedway.

They include two dogs, a cockatoo in its cage, a couple of coolers with sandwich meat and the mangled remains of a tire that blew out at midnight as Rawson and her companions ferried it all to the relative safety of Georgia.

The speedway has opened its campgrounds to Southerners escaping Hurricane Florence . It's one of many impromptu shelters that have sprung up across the region as a refuge for the evacuees.

Rawson was among the first few who arrived early Wednesday at the speedway south of Atlanta. Among her family members is her partner Lisa and her 17-year-old son who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

"We're thankful for this generosity of free services, and we hope to have something left when we get home," Rawson told The Associated Press. "We live in a first-floor apartment in Myrtle Beach, so you can't take the chance, you know?"

More than 10 million people across the region were under hurricane watches or warnings , and hundreds of thousands have been ordered to evacuate.

As of Tuesday, more than 1.7 million people in the Carolinas and Virginia were warned to flee. More than 300,000 people had already left the South Carolina coast, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Wednesday.

Gas shortages and jammed freeways loomed for evacuees seeking safety in far-away shelters, campgrounds and hotels. In North Carolina, one in 10 gas stations in Wilmington and Raleigh-Durham had no gas by midday Wednesday.

Colin Richards, a U.S. Navy diver based on Virginia's coast, said he and his family planned to head for Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Richards is from. He was among the military personnel leaving coastal Virginia and North Carolina ahead of the hurricane. The 28-year-old was mostly concerned for his daughter who is one month and two days old.

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"It's very simple," he said Wednesday in Norfolk. "We don't want to live without power with a newborn."

In Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Phoebe Tesh paused while loading her car to sip a glass of wine on the steps of the house where she and her husband rent an apartment.

Tesh said Wednesday that the couple had been making trips back and forth to carry valuables to her parents' house on the mainland in Wilmington, where they planned to ride out the storm.

About a half-dozen campers had arrived early Wednesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, but racetrack officials expected many more once word got out that evacuees could camp there. Equipped with restrooms and showers, along with power, water, and sewers, the racetrack's campgrounds can accommodate about 5,000 people.

Opening up the racetrack's campgrounds is "just simply the thing to do," Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark said Wednesday.

"It takes a little bit of that worry away when you leave home and don't know where you're headed to," Clark added. "You can imagine the storm is coming, you call three campgrounds and they're all full. Where do you go?"

The Georgia speedway has hosted storm evacuees before, along with pets and, in one case, three cages of chickens, Clark said. Last year, as Hurricane Irma threatened Florida, the speedway hosted at least 100 evacuees.

Bristol Motor Speedway, near the Tennessee-Virginia line; Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina; and Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama also are opening their campgrounds to people fleeing Hurricane Florence.

Georgia state parks are also welcoming evacuees from Florence, and is offering some camping at no charge for them.

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Associated Press writers Jonathan Drew in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina; Skip Foreman in Charlotte, North Carolina; and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this story.

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For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes .
Budapest (AFP) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday a European Parliament vote to launch a sanctions procedure over rule-of-law concerns presented "no danger" to Hungary.

Dominant at home and a figurehead for populist and nationalist figures across Europe, Orban suffered a rare defeat Wednesday when the assembly in Strasbourg voted to take legal action against Hungary under Article Seven of the European Union's treaty.

That procedure could end with Budapest being stripped of its EU voting rights, but Orban brushed off the threat during an interview on Hungarian public radio.

Poland has said it would veto any possible sanctions on Hungary.

"It is a type of procedure at the end of which there is no sanction, there is no danger," he said, pointing to the example of a 2013 report adopted by the European Parliament which condemned controversial changes to Hungary's constitution.

In that instance "nothing happened, that'll be the case again this time," he said.

In addition other EU governments could veto any further action on sanctions, and Poland has warned it would do so.

Orban characterised Wednesday's vote as a bid to weaken Hungary's position as a "symbol of resistance against migration".

Accusing German Chancellor Angela Merkel of wanting to replace Hungarian border-guards with "mercenaries sent from Brussels," Orban said "the next battle" will concern member states' right to defend their own borders.

That battle will begin in Salzburg, Austria, he said, where the topics of migration and border security were expected to dominate an informal meeting of EU heads of state next week.

The Strasbourg motion was based on a report that voiced concerns about judicial independence and corruption in Hungary, as well as freedom of expression, academic freedom, religious freedom, and the rights of minorities.

The motion was passed with 448 votes for and 197 against, with 48 abstentions.

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Budapest argues that abstentions should have been counted in calculating whether a necessary two-thirds majority threshold was passed, and that consequently the vote was not valid.

Orban accused the European Parliament of committing an "obvious violation of its own rules" and thereby "eating up its last crumbs of respect from a moral point of view".

"A different parliament and a different future is needed," he said, and predicted that next May's European Parliament election will see the end of what he called the "pro-immigration majority" in the assembly.

A decision by Budapest on how to mount a legal challenge on the Strasbourg vote's validity will be taken on Monday, he added.
Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - Europe's top rights court ruled Thursday that Britain's programme of mass surveillance, revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden as part of his sensational leaks on US spying, violated its citizens' basic rights.

Ruling on a case brought by a group of journalists and NGOs, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, said the surveillance was a violation of the right to privacy and freedom of information enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

The court noted that national governments enjoy "wide discretion" in deciding what type of surveillance is necessary to protect national security and that the mere existence of a programme "did not in and of itself violate the convention"

But it said the "interference" needed to be limited to what is "necessary in a democratic society".

It ruled that the mass sweep for information by Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency violated Article 8 of the convention relating to privacy because there was "insufficient oversight" of the programme.

The court said the way in which the GCHQ selected internet providers for intercepting data, then filtered the messages and selected which data to examine lacked oversight.

It also ruled that the regime covering how the spy agency obtained data from internet and phone companies was "not in accordance with the law".

And in a further victory for the 16 complainants the court ruled that the programme provided "insufficient safeguards in respect of confidential journalistic material", violating Article 10 on the convention dealing with freedom of expression and information.

But it dismissed claims that Britain further violated the privacy of those on whom it snooped by sharing intelligence with foreign governments.

- 'Major victory' -

"The regime for sharing intelligence with foreign governments did not violate either Article 8 or Article 10," it said.

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Liberty, a human rights group which was part of the case, hailed the ruling as a "major victory for the rights and freedom of people in the UK."

"It shows that there is -a and should be a- a limit to the extent that states can spy on their citizens," Liberty's lawyer Megan Goulding said in a statement.

A British government spokesperson said the government would "give careful consideration to the court's findings" while noting that a new "double lock" oversight mechanism on spying had been enacted in 2016 -- three years after the spying revelations first emerged.

Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency of the United States, leaked thousands of classified documents to the press in 2013 which revealed the vast scope of surveillance of private data that was put in place after the 9/11 attacks.

The documents showed, among other things, that Britain spied on foreign politicians at G20 summit meetings in London in 2009 and collected huge quantities of global email messages, Facebook posts, internet histories and calls, which it shared with the NSA.

The judgement is not final, as it can be appealed to the grand chamber of the Strasbourg court.

Snowden, who fled to Russia, is wanted in the US for espionage.
By Robin Emmott ON BOARD A BELGIAN AIR FORCE PLANE (Reuters) - British, French and German fighter jets simulated flight interceptions over Western Europe on Wednesday as part of NATO drills to deter Russian planes from entering allied airspace and to showcase European efforts to integrate their air defenses. Fighter pilots carrying air-to-air missiles from 10 NATO nations took turns to simulate the interception of a Belgian air force transport plane en route to Spain, performing visual inspections of the aircraft's status by hovering off the wings at speeds of 900 km/hour (560 mph). Some 60 NATO jets, mainly from European allies, are on alert to defend alliance airspace, as NATO deals with a dramatic increase in Russian air activity on its borders since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014, with a record 870 interceptions in the Baltics alone in 2016. This month, Moscow is holding its largest war games since the fall of the Soviet Union, with some 1,000 aircraft. "NATO is relevant. This is not theoretical," said Spanish Air Force Lieutenant General Ruben Garcia Servert on board the Belgian military transport plane, as Italian Eurofighters flew close to the cockpit to simulate interceptions. They later included British Typhoons and French Mirages. "We have not always been successful in showing the taxpayer that we have the means and the capabilities to protect the population," he told Reuters during a rare mid-air public display of flight interceptions. European allies hope such displays highlight how their air forces are defending Europe in the face of sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who at a summit in July railed against Europeans for not spending enough on defense and ports. Able to divert, force to land or potentially even shoot down combat aircraft, NATO says its so-called air policing is not directed at Russia. But showdowns between rival warplanes in the Baltic and Black Sea are intensifying. Two U.S. jets escorted two Russian bombers over the Arctic Ocean on Sept. 7 in the latest incident, while Russia has scrambled fighter jets to intercept nuclear-capable U.S. bombers in interceptions that have echoes of the Cold War. Analysts warn that any collisions in the air over the Mediterranean, Baltic or Black Sea could risk the start of a wider conflict with Russia. "SINGLE SKY" DEFENSES Both sides accuse the other of dangerous pilot behavior, but NATO says Russian warplanes regularly fly without respecting international safety norms, such as responding to air traffic control and requests to identify themselves. Russia says all its flights are conducted in accordance with international law. "We have seen aircraft coming to our borders without flight plans, without any kind of controls ... safety regulations, entering into our area," Garcia Severt said. "We have seen frequent activities in the Black Sea, but not only, sometimes we have seen aircraft flying around Europe," he said, referring to Russian bombers off Portugal's coast. NATO will hold its biggest exercise since 2002 in October and November in Norway, called Trident Juncture, and involving non-NATO Finland and Sweden, with more than 40,000 troops. While tensions with Russia have already prompted NATO to deploy multinational land battalions in Poland and the Baltics, NATO is also pushing to integrate its air forces, despite political resistance over issues of sovereignty. Under an agreement being negotiated, individual NATO countries' air forces would defend each other's airspaces, regardless of the country they are in, under a "single sky" concept that could see Portuguese planes defending Spanish airspace, for example. Today, each nation defends its own airspace, unless, as in the case of the Baltics, it does not have fighter planes. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to criminal charges related to his political consulting work in Ukraine as part of a plea deal with the special counsels office, the latest in a series of high-profile wins for Robert Mueller.

Appearing in federal court in D.C. Friday morning, Manafort pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The plea avoids a second criminal trial for Manafort, which was set to begin in Washington later this month, related to his lobbying and consulting work on behalf of pro-Russian political parties in Ukraine.

Mr. Manafort has accepted responsibility, and he wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life, Kevin Downing, one of Manaforts attorneys, told reporters outside the courthouse. Hes accepted responsibility, and this is for conduct that dates back many years, and everybody should remember that.

As part of the plea deal, Manafort has agreed to cooperate with Muellers investigation, a striking change of heart for someone who earlier this year criticized his former associate Rick Gates for his guilty plea, saying, I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. Its unclear what the terms of Manaforts cooperation agreement are.

The superseding criminal information filed by Muellers office Friday morning says Manafort acted as an unregistered foreign agent and engaged in money laundering, tax fraud, lying to the Justice Department and witness tampering.

Between at least 2006 and 2015, MANAFORT conspired with Richard W. Gates (Gates), Konstantin Kilimnik (Kilimnik), and others to act, and acted, as unregistered agents of a foreign government and political party, the criminal information reads. MANAFORT generated more than 60 million dollars in income as a result of his Ukraine work. In order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities, from approximately 2006 through at least 2016, MANAFORT, with the assistance of Gates and Kilimnik, laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships, and bank accounts.

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Manafort is the fifth Trump aide to plead guilty in connection to the special counsels probe. His business partner Gates, who testified against him in the last trial, pleaded guilty to two criminal charges, including lying to investigators. Mueller has also gotten guilty pleas from former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos. Trumps longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in an investigation referred to the Southern District of New York by Muellers office.

After news broke of Manaforts plea Friday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.

Fridays deal comes on the heels of a Virginia jury convicting Manafort of eight counts of tax and bank fraud in a separate trial in August. The jury deadlocked on 10 other charges in that case, which Muellers office agreed to drop as part of the new plea bargain.

Now the question is whether Trump might intervene. Trump has expressed sympathy for Manafort and according to Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani, the president has considered pardoning his former campaign chairman. When asked about the possibility last month after Manafort was convicted by the first jury, Trump said, I would say what he did, some of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does.

But Trump also argued that Manafort would never cut a deal with prosecutors, who he alleged were treating him unfairly. Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break  make up stories in order to get a deal,' Trump tweeted. Such respect for a brave man!

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. Justice took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break - make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

Fridays news may change the presidents perspective.
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court said proof of sadism is not needed to hold prison officers liable for excessive force under the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment, as it revived an Oregon state prisoner's civil damages lawsuit over his treatment.

By a 3-0 vote, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said on Thursday a trial judge erred in requiring Sean Hoard, an inmate at the Snake River Correctional Institution, to show jurors it was more likely than not that officers were "having or deriving pleasure from extreme cruelty" while beating him.

"Excessive force under the Eighth Amendment does not require proof that an officer enjoyed or otherwise derived pleasure from his or her use of force," Circuit Judge Richard Paez wrote for a three-judge panel, which ordered a new trial for Hoard. "Sadism is not - and has never been - an element of excessive force."

Hoard had sued over a Dec. 21, 2012 incident in which he claimed an officer slammed his face into a concrete floor, resulting in bleeding, and that he did not resist because he feared additional force. The defendants said the force used was "minimal" and that Hoard had been combative.

A spokeswoman for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, whose office defended the prison officers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Joshua Hafenbrack, a lawyer who argued Hoard's appeal, declined to comment.

Hoard said he was beaten after he had smashed a razor intended for personal use, ostensibly after discovering that it did not work. Prison officials disputed that claim.

The appeals court returned the case to U.S. District Judge Anna Brown in Portland, Oregon.

The Snake River prison is in Ontario, Oregon, about 390 miles (628 km) east-southeast of Portland and on the Idaho border.

The case is Hoard v Hartman et al, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 18-35738.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (Getty)

The European Commission has refused to publish its analysis of Theresa Mays Chequers plan, claiming to do so would risk jeopardising a Brexit deal.

The EUs deputy chief Brexit negotiator, Sabine Weyand, made the prediction in response to a freedom of information request for the secret document made by Yahoo Finance UK.

Her answer suggests the full extent of EU opposition to parts of Chequers may not yet be known and sheds light on the reason for the diplomatic struggle over whether the analysis should be published.

The document delivers a damning verdict on the prime ministers proposal to effectively keep the UK in the single market for goods, EU sources told the Telegraph in August.

The analysis is said to warn that the central economic policy of Chequers would allow the UK to undercut the EU on services and potentially lead to the break-up of the single market.

The document was due to be published in the days following its presentation to EU officials in July, but it has been kept private after high-level lobbying by the UK government.

The fact the UK government were even aware of the internal EU document so soon after it was presented sparked claims that British secret services were spying on EU negotiators.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with his deputy, Sabine Weyand (Getty)

The sensitivities over the documents contents were made clear by Weyand in her response to our freedom of information request, which was rejected.

She writes: Public disclosure, at this stage, would risk upsetting the negotiations on the very sensitive issue of the Withdrawal Agreement and the framework for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and Europe Union, thus negatively affecting the negotiating stance of the EU and jeopardising the successful outcome of the negotiations.

Later, she added: The disclosure of the requested slides could result in misunderstandings of the views of the EU.

READ MORE: Juncker rejects Mays plan for frictionless trade after Brexit

Her comments come amid speculation about whether the Chequers plan remains credible.

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European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker used his annual state of the union speech on Wednesday to reject the idea of the UK remaining in the single market for goods.

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said that proposal, along with one for a customs arrangement which would see the UK collect tariffs for the EU, are unworkable.

But the EU has been careful not flat out reject the entirety of the Chequers plan, with Barnier stressing there are points of agreement, particularly over security cooperation.

Prime minister Theresa May tries to convince her ministers of the merits of her Brexit plan at Chequers (Getty)

The UK government insist Chequers does not present a threat to the single market and are continuing to push the merits of what they call a free trade area for goods in negotiations.

The policy would maintain the free flow of goods and help ensure there is no hard border in Ireland.

READ MORE: Key parts of Mays Chequers plan for Brexit are unworkable, says Barnier

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab held a half an hour phone call with Barnier on Friday to review progress made in technical talks between civil servants over future customs arrangements and outstanding withdrawal agreement issues, such as a backstop solution for the Irish border.

Speaking afterwards, Raab said: While there remain some substantive differences we need to resolve, it is clear our teams are closing in on workable solutions to the outstanding issues in the Withdrawal Agreement, and are having productive discussions in the right spirit on the future relationship.

Barnier said it was a useful dialogue but warned substantive differences remain over Ireland and other points of the Withdrawal Agreement, which is currently 80% complete.

Useful dialogue w/ @DominicRaab this morning on the progress our teams have made this week on the #Brexit WA. But substantive differences remain on the Protocol for IE/NI, governance and GIs. We are also continuing our discussions to find common ground on the future relationship.  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 14, 2018

That could mean the deadline for a Brexit deal needs to be pushed back from the European Council on October 18.

EU leaders will discuss whether a special Brexit summit needs to be scheduled for November when they meet in Salzburg next week.

READ MORE: What is a no-deal Brexit?




LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) -- A series of gas explosions an official described as "Armageddon" killed a teenager, injured at least 10 other people and ignited fires in at least 39 homes in three communities north of Boston on Thursday, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but pronounced dead there in the evening.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield told reporters. "There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Gov. Charlie Baker said state and local authorities are investigating but that it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers.

"This is still very much an active scene," he said. "There will be plenty of time later tonight, tomorrow morning and into the next day to do some of the work around determining exactly what happened and why."

Hours after the explosions, the utility's parent company issued a brief statement saying its crews were still performing safety checks in the area.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today's incident," Indiana-based NiSource said in a statement. "The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community."

Baker previously said authorities hadn't heard directly from Columbia Gas, but later called the company's response "adequate."

By late Thursday, all of the fires had been doused but many areas remained silent and dark after residents fled and after power companies cut electricity to prevent further fires. Schools in all three communities were canceled for Friday, and some schools were being used as shelters for residents.

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Lawrence resident Bruce Razin was among the evacuees standing outside the Colonial Heights neighborhood near the city's high school trying to decide what to do next late Thursday.

Officials had cut power in the area and the streets were pitch black, save for emergency vehicle lights. Razin said he arrived just as residents were being evacuated, and immediately saw the house two doors down was leveled from an explosion.

"I couldn't imagine if that was my house," said Razin, who purchased his home nearly two years ago. "It's total destruction. I'd be completely devastated."

With a backpack filled with personal items he had hastily grabbed, he said he'd head to his mother's home a few towns over for the night.

In Lawrence, a man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire says he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing. Resident Ra Nam says he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.

When he ran downstairs and saw the boiler on fire, he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out. Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom from his neighbor's house and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids had made it out of the house but the basement was on fire.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Columbia had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls.

Reached by phone, some local officials described scenes of panic as residents rushed to evacuate, many wondering if their homes would be next to erupt in flames. In North Andover, town selectman Phil Decologero said his entire neighborhood had gathered in the street, afraid to enter their homes. Just a few streets down, he said, homes were burning.

"It's definitely a scary situation at the moment," he said. "It's pretty severe."

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by blasts. At one, the upper portion of a brick chimney crushed an SUV parked in the driveway.

Soon after the first fires, Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante was warning residents in the Colonial Heights neighborhood to evacuate but said traffic had become a problem.

"People need to get out of this area safely," he said at the time. "It's really difficult because the traffic right now is horrendous."

Joseph Solomon, the police chief in nearby Methuen, said 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence when he responded to help. He said there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky."

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest of them, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

"Lawrence is a very resilient community. We're going to get through this together," Mayor Dan Rivera told reporters as emergency lights illuminated smoke in the night sky nearby.

Gas explosions have claimed lives and destroyed property around the U.S. in recent years:

 A buildup of natural gas triggered an explosion and fire that killed seven people in apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2016.

 In 2014, a gas explosion in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood killed eight people and injured about 50. Consolidated Edison later agreed to pay $153 million to settle charges after the state's Public Service Commission found Con Ed violated state safety regulations. A gas leak had been reported before that blast.

 A 2011 natural gas explosion killed five people in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and that state's largest gas utility was fined by regulators who called the company's safety record "downright alarming."

 In September 2010, a Pacific Gas and Electric gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno, California, killing eight people and destroying 38 homes.

___

Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Collin Binkley contributed from Boston.
Cuban-born model and actor William Levy set our hearts afire when he salsaed his way into our homes back in 2012 on Dancing With the Stars. Levy may have started as an unknown, but he reached heartthrob status faster than a quickstep, and after a five-year break from TV, hes heading back in our living rooms as a series regular on Star. Levy will play media mogul Mateo Ferrera in the Lee Daniels drama, returning for Season 3 on Sept. 26.

William Levy and Cheryl Burke on Dancing With the Stars in 2012. (Photo: Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty Images)

Levy, labeled the Latino Brad Pitt, was born in Cuba and moved to Miami when he was 14. At 25, the hunky aspiring actor began his career as a model before finally hitting the jackpot with roles in Spanish soap operas, and soon this leading man reached superstar status with fans all over the world. Being compared to Pitt, one of the biggest stars on the planet, was a plus: I appreciate it when people compare you to someone that has a big career the way he has, Levy said.

William Levy poses at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, Miami, May 25, 2007. (Photo: Kike San Martin/Getty Images)

He expanded his already huge fanbase thanks to a career-changing opportunity: Dancing With the Stars. While he didnt take home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, he came in third place behind classical singer Katherine Jenkins and the NFLs Donald Driver. To come to this country and receive this kind of love from people you dont even know, its amazing, he said while competing on the show.

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DWTS opened a big door for Levy. Since stepping out of the ballroom, hes successfully jumped between Spanish and English projects, making more than 10 films in both languages. In 2014, he starred in Tyler Perrys movie The Single Moms Club. It was nice working with [Perry], great guy, great production, great movie, Levy said.

A father of two, Levy shares sweet family moments on Instagram with his more than 6 million followers. I try to give my kids everything I never had, he said.

Levy has been open about the hardships he faced growing up in Cuba, spending much of his childhood hungry. He said the experience of leaving Cuba and coming to the U.S. taught him to appreciate everything: Every time I eat, I think about it.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)

Im sorry for your loss.

Thats all he should have said to the family and friends of the 2,975 people who lost their lives in Puerto Rico during and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Its the normal thing to say, the decent thing, the human thing. The bare minimum.

But thats never what President Donald Trump has said. Its not what he said in the days after, or any of the days since. Instead, Trump has repeatedly insulted the survivors and the dead alike by ignoring their loss. On Thursday, he denied that thousands of people died at all, claiming Democrats had made up this staggering death toll.

But people did die in Puerto Rico. People like my father, who died alone, without power and without his medication. According to our president, though, it wasnt the inaccessibility of lifesaving medicine that killed him. Democrats are to blame.

To be clear, I dont blame anyone for my fathers death. Unfortunately, natural disasters have always been part of our lives, and with climate change warming the Earth to dangerous levels, they will only get more devastating and more common.

My anger is not at the possibility that he could have been saved, or that the islands crippled infrastructure should have been fixed years ago (though it should have). I stand here enraged because the person we put in charge of our country is intentionally devaluing life, creating rifts and sowing disbelief in peoples suffering.

Our elected leader cannot even do the bare minimum. Nothing he does is normal, decent or human. In a time of crisis, when our country looks to our leadership, he is only concerned about how it might make him look. Ive heard people call him sadistic, but that assumes he understands others pain. He doesnt. Its clear the only thing he cares about is his feeling of superiority, and he is willing to put us all through hell to retain that.

I want to ask the president: Have you ever lost a loved one?

Imagine if that loss were called into question, denied by the very people who were meant to help you. Imagine you werent able to give your loved one a traditional funeral, and were forced to cremate the body, because the power still hasnt come back on and your loved one is decomposing.

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Imagine not ever knowing your loved ones real cause of death because their body was left alone for days while the funeral home employees fended for their own lives. Imagine driving from government office to government office to obtain a death certificate while the leader of the free world sits behind a folding table and throws paper towels at your fellow citizens, picks a fight with the mayor of a ravaged city and accuses an entire group of people of being lazy and wanting everything done for them.

Imagine being told its your fault your loved one is dead. Why was he living there? Didnt he know the infrastructure was in shambles? Imagine knowing the crumbling infrastructure is not your fault, but trying to do something to fix it anyway. Imagine tarping roofs that were blown off months before, shimmying up water-warped wood, standing on rusted tin roofs, hammering in temporary relief that is coming way too late.

Trump cant. Trump cant imagine anything. Which is why he says such dumb shit.

We are losing the ability to empathize, to see our fellow Americans pain and help them through their grief. The onslaught of tragedy has put nearly all of us in a position of pain in recent years, but because our president has no compassion, we are devolving. We need to forge our own path and hold on tightly to humanity, because we wont be getting it from our president.

We need leaders who will remind us what empathy looks like. Instead we have a president who cares more about himself than about facts. Our lives and our humanity are slowly slipping away.

Im sorry for our collective loss.

Keith Hernandez is the founder and principal of Launch Angle, a digital consultancy.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Jessica Resnick-Ault and Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has thousands of modular homes on hand along with other temporary housing options tested by last year's spate of storms, as Hurricane Florence bears down on the U.S. Southeast, the agency said on Thursday. Over 1 million residents of coastal states including North Carolina and South Carolina were ordered to evacuate as of Thursday afternoon, ahead of the expected landfall of Hurricane Florence on Friday. If their homes are damaged, FEMA has options beyond standard temporary trailers for housing, agency officials said. People displaced in hurricanes may receive short-term rental assistance, access to federal programs that fix houses while residents remain in them, and programs that repair homes to a habitable level without completely restoring them. The storms in 2017 tested the agency's resources, with 472,000 housing units destroyed or severely damaged in Puerto Rico alone by Hurricane Maria. Among other storms last year, Hurricane Irma caused destruction in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while Hurricane Harvey resulted in severe flooding in parts of Texas. Last year "was a banner year for the agency where we really had to think about all the different options," said Alex Amparo, deputy assistant administrator of FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate. There was a variety of menu options of housing that kept people in their housing, in their communities, in their schools, in their houses of worship, that we had not had before. Amparo did not specify how many modular units were on hand to respond to Hurricane Florence, but said it was "more than 2,000." After Hurricane Harvey, the agency provided so-called temporary sheltering assistance (TSA) to more than 54,500 people in Texas, with some of them staying in the TSA program - one of several options in the state - for nearly a year. Puerto Rico's recovery director told Reuters on Thursday that work still needed to be completed under at least one other FEMA program for short-term housing. The Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power program, known as STEP, which was created in 2015 and tested in four jurisdictions last year, has over 100,000 orders for home repairs, more than half of which are not yet done, said Omar Marrero. Puerto Rico's government has asked for additional federal support to conclude the repairs, according to an appeal the U.S. island territory submitted to FEMA on Aug. 30. (Reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault and Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Rwenshama (Uganda) (AFP) - Ugandan navy speedboats sliced through murky Lake Edward towards a fleet of wooden canoes carrying illegal fishermen from the Democratic Republic of Congo, hightailing it back to their own waters.

"Stop the boat, hands up, surrender any weapons," yelled Lieutenant Deogratius Kato as the soldiers surrounded a motorised canoe after a 20-minute chase, pointing guns at two terrified fishermen.

The rest of the boats escaped to the safety of Congolese waters, leaving a trail of fishing nets in the water, some tight mesh drift nets that trap everything, including juvenile fish and feeding birds.

Kampala has stepped up patrols in recent months to crack down on illegal fishing on Lakes Edward and Albert, straddling Uganda and Congo.

The missions have led to the arrest of hundreds of Congolese fishermen and sent tensions soaring between the two countries whose armed forces engaged in deadly clashes on Lake Edward -- the smallest of the Great Lakes of eastern Africa -- in July.

- Fishy business -

Both lakes lie mostly in Congolese territory where uncontrolled fishing has depleted stocks driving fishermen into Ugandan waters where officials are now clamping down on overfishing.

"Since we started our campaign against illegal fishing, we have seen fish stocks increase on our side, hence the influx of fishermen from the Congo," said Brigadier Michael Nyarwa, head of Uganda's navy.

The lakes are home to catfish, tilapia and Nile perch, which are consumed locally and exported.

Landlocked Uganda's fishing industry accounts for three percent of GDP and employs more than 700,000 people, according to official figures.

Worldwide, overfishing in lakes and oceans is upending delicate ecosystems, but also impacting the livelihoods of millions.

It has led to bloodshed in Uganda and Congo. In July, their armed forces clashed on Lake Edward, where Uganda's small navy deployed in April, leaving two Ugandan soldiers and three civilians dead.

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Kato claimed Congolese troops, "ambushed us in a civilian boat".

"We think they did it to intimidate and threaten our operation", which he said is preventing hungry, ill-disciplined soldiers from stealing fish and engaging in piracy on the lake.

Likewise, a Congolese fishing association has accused Ugandan troops of arbitrarily arresting fishermen and shaking them down for money.

In the latest incident, Ugandan authorities this week denied killing four Congolese fishermen whose bound and bullet-riddled bodies were found floating in Lake Edward.

According to Lieutenant Colonel James Nuwagaba, a commander of the Lake Edward operation, the first 200 fishermen who were arrested pleaded guilty and were released, "but some of those that we pardoned and sent back, returned to our waters".

Uganda has taken a tougher stance since, with nearly 100 Congolese arrested, charged and imprisoned for up to four years.

The two men taken into custody last month during the operation witnessed by AFP were in their mid-50s.

Father of seven, Luka Kasereka, said he was just looking for fish. "Our side there is no fish. It's over," he said.

He and Paluku Kavutsu pleaded guilty at a magistrate's court and were sentenced to four years in prison for illegal entry into Uganda, illegal fishing and use of illegal nets.

Kato said the biggest challenges are Kinshasa's "failure to cooperate" and the threat of armed Congolese rebels who regularly seize fishermen and their equipment for ransom.

- Resource war scales up -

The war over the ever-scarcer resources of the region's lakes is spreading.

To the south, Rwandan and Congolese fishermen are plying the waters of Lake Kivu to feed fast-growing populations on both shores.

But competition need not be deadly, nor damaging, said Egide Nkuranga, a Rwandan environmentalist.

"Countries that share water resources have to come up with common agreements that protect the resources and also help replenish overexploited stocks," he said.

"The region risks depletion of some fish species, and local fishermen need to be trained and sensitised on the protection of endangered fish species."

Back on Lake Edward, tentative talks are under way, a Ugandan military source said, aimed at resolving issues of illegal fishing, migration and piracy in a bid to end the bloodshed.
Paris (AFP) - France admitted Thursday that it instigated a "system" that led to torture during Algeria's independence war, a conflict that remains hugely sensitive six decades on.

President Emmanuel Macron is set to acknowledge that mathematician Maurice Audin, a Communist pro-independence activist who disappeared in 1957, "died under torture stemming from the system instigated while Algeria was part of France", his office said.

Macron, who was due to visit Audin's widow later Thursday, will also announce "the opening of archives on the subject of disappeared civilians and soldiers, both French and Algerian".

During the 1954-62 war, which claimed some 1.5 million Algerian lives, French forces brutally cracked down on independence fighters in the colony ruled by Paris for 130 years.

Hundreds of thousands of young French men were conscripted to fight in a conflict that left deep scars in France's national psyche as it wound down from being a colonial power after World War II.

The French state has never previously admitted that its military forces routinely used torture during the war.

Macron, the first president born after the conflict, sparked controversy on the campaign trail last year by declaring that France's colonisation of Algeria was a "crime against humanity".

He later walked back the comments, calling for "neither denial nor repentance" over France's colonial history and adding: "We cannot remain trapped in the past".

On Thursday he will visit the widow of Audin, whose disappearance has long been a source of fascination in France.

An assistant professor at the University of Algiers, Audin was 25 when he was arrested at his home by French paratroopers, accused of harbouring armed members of the Algerian Communist Party.

He was tortured repeatedly in a villa in the Algiers neighbourhood of El Biar.

His widow Josette was told 10 days later that the mathematician had escaped while being transferred between jails.

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This remained the official version of events until 2014, when Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande acknowledged that Audin died in detention.

Historian Sylvie Thenault said the French state's acknowledgement that Audin's death resulted from a "system" pointed to a broader recognition of wrongdoing.

"Through recognition of the state's responsibilities in the disappearance of Maurice Audin, have the state's responsibilities in all disappearances in Algiers in 1957 not been recognised?" she wrote on The Conversation, a news website.
By Richard Lough PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday unveiled an 8 billion-euro ($9.3 billion) anti-poverty plan focused on getting people into work and helping the young. With his popularity slumping, the former investment banker wants to convince voters that his reform agenda does not only benefit the wealthy. Opponents have dubbed him a "president of the rich", a tag that has hurt his image. The president announced compulsory school or vocational training until the age of 18, extra creche places to help mothers return to work, more emergency accommodation with a priority for women and children, and breakfast at school for primary school students in the poorest areas. "I don't want a plan that leaves the poor living in poverty, only more comfortably," Macron said in a speech at the Museum of Mankind in Paris. Nearly 9 million people in France - a third of them children - live in poverty, defined as 60 percent of the median income. That is equivalent to 14 percent of the population. Macron also promised reform of the social benefits system, after causing a stir in June when he said that although France continued to "plow a wad of cash" into benefits, people remained poor. He said he would simplify a system that is so complex that one in three people without an income and eligible for core benefits do not apply. "Our welfare model, even if it corrects a little, even if it allows some to live better, does not do enough to prevent people falling into poverty, does not do enough to eradicate poverty," Macron said. WHY ARE WE LIVING LIKE THIS? Macron's opponents and left-wing voters paint the 40-year-old as a Thatcherite-in-disguise who talks down the poor. His poll ratings have tumbled since his election victory in May 2017 and he is less popular than his three predecessors at the same stage of his presidential term. Some critics were swift to point out the gap between the 8 billion euros promised for the anti-poverty plan over four years and the 20 billion the rich will gain in the same period from the scrapping of the wealth tax. Sambou Coucoure hopes to be one beneficiary of Macron's anti-poverty drive. The former technician quit his job 10 years ago because of back pain. Depression caused his wife to stop working as a care worker, leaving them dependent on benefits worth 1,300 euros a month. Since March, the couple and their three children have lived in emergency accommodation, two six-metre-square hotel rooms with a sink and microwave. "We have to buy takeout food because we can't cook," 50-year-old Sambou said. "We never thought it would come to this for our family. As a French citizen, I can't see why we live in conditions like these." (Reporting by Richard Lough and Noemie Olive in Paris; editing by John Irish and Andrew Roche)
Fraudster  Gary Gardner has been jailed for two-and-a-half years at Leicester Crown Court for frauds committed while collecting charity cash for the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby (Picture: PA)

A despicable fraudster who pocketed cash collected for the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been handed a two-and-a-half year jail sentence.

Lorry driver Gary Gardner, 56, was told he will serve half of his sentence behind bars after being jailed for two counts of fraud.

Gardner  who has previous convictions for theft and fraud  was convicted after an eight-day trial heard he had used charity funds raised for Mr Rigby to prop up his overdrawn bank account.

Although the 56-year-old paid around 4,000 to other charities after a series of high-profile fund-raising events, he failed to pay over a penny of a further 20,250 donated by the public to help Fusilier Rigbys young son, Jack Rigby.

Jail  Gary Gardner has been jailed for two-and-a-half years at Leicester Crown Court for frauds committed while collecting charity cash for the son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby (Picture: PA)

As Gardner, of Old Holt Road, Medbourne, Leicestershire, was handed his sentence, the court heard he had caused further trauma to Lee Rigbys widow Rebecca.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she was disgusted at Gardners actions and the court proceedings had forced her to relive her attendance at the trial of her husbands killers, putting her in a daunting emotional place.

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She said: I feel that this matter with Mr Gardner will draw the eyes of the world upon us again.

I feel disgusted about Mr Gardner not making good his promises with regard to my son and abusing my family name.

Despicable  Gardner was branded despicable by the judge at Leicester Crown Court (Picture: PA)

Jailing Gardner at Leicester Crown Court, Recorder Helen Malcolm QC told him: There has been an impact on every one of those who volunteered to assist you. Not one penny of the sums that you collected have been paid to Jack Rigby.

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Not only was the principal victim particularly vulnerable, there has been trauma to the family, particularly trauma to Rebecca Rigby, putting her through a second trial when she might quite reasonably have been left in peace.

She said while Gardner may not have set out to fraud, what he did was undoubtedly dishonest, adding: I would say it was indeed despicable.

The trial heard that Gardner staged truck-pull events in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the Leicestershire villages of Medbourne and Market Harborough, and Stroud in Gloucestershire.

The events were attended by thousands of people, including Fusilier Rigbys widow and son.

Jurors, who cleared Gardner of a third charge of fraud, heard claims he had wasted much of the money collected producing a charity single which proved to be a flop.

Gardner said he was collecting funds for the son of Lee Rigby (Picture: AP/MOD)

Defence counsel Helen Johnson said Gardner had arranged for his solicitors to pay a cheque for 3,050 to Jacks trust.

In mitigation, she told the court: We say Mr Gardner has expressed remorse for the impact his behaviour has had on Rebecca Rigby.

He worked extremely hard, to the point of exhaustion. His abilities were perhaps not matched to his energy and his wish to do good work.

Gardner, who the judge said had not used the charity funds to live a lavish lifestyle, will face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in December.

In a statement issued after the sentencing, Mrs Rigby said: On behalf of myself and Jack I would like to thank the residents of Medbourne, the police and members of the court for all their help and support.

I would also like to thank the members of the jury for coming to the right and justified conclusion.
Paris (AFP) - Two former skinheads were handed seven- and 11-year jail terms by a Paris court Friday for killing an 18-year-old antifascist in a 2013 brawl.

The heaviest sentence went to Esteban Morillo, who admitted having dealt the fatal blows that left student Clement Meric brain-dead. He died later.

Co-accused, Samuel Dufour, who was by Morillo's side but did not hit Meric, received a seven-year term.

The men will appeal the sentences, their lawyers said.

Meric's parents welcomed the ruling.

"The court's decision establishes who is responsible, and makes an end to the lies about Clement's behaviour," his father Paul-Henri Meric said, adding "there were aggressors and there were victims."

The prosecution had requested a 12-year sentence for Morillo for what it called an act of "savagery", and seven years for Dufour.

A third accused was acquitted.

Meric, a student at the prestigious Sciences-Po university, died after a clash in a busy Paris shopping area in June 2013 between skinheads and left-wing activists.

His death sent shockwaves through France amid concern over the rise of extreme-right groups, several of which were banned after the attack.

"Incarceration is never victory," Meric's mother, Agnes, said after the verdict. "What is needed is to continue to fight against the breeding grounds of the extreme right."

Several hundred antifascists gathered in Paris for the verdict, chanting: "Clement! Clement! We do not forget, we do not forgive."
Martin Schulz, the former leader of the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD), hit out at the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after weeks of tensions over far-Right protests - Getty Images Europe

The nationalist Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is using the tactics of fascism and belongs on the dunghill of history, rival MPs charged on Wednesday as they rounded on the party in parliament after weeks of simmering tensions over far-Right protests.

Alexander Gauland, the AfD leader, tried to use a budget debate to criticise Angela Merkels handling of riots which followed the suspected killing of a man by migrants in the east German city of Chemnitz.

But instead he and his party came under the most sustained attack from their rivals since becoming the first nationalists to sit in the German parliament since the sixties.

At one point the AfDs 94 MPs staged a mass walk-out after coming under a steady barrage of criticism.

In an impassioned and uncharacteristic outburst, Martin Schulz, the former leader of the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD), rounded on remarks by Mr Gauland a few months ago in which the AfD leader described the crimes of the Nazis were a speck of birds*** in 1,000 glorious years of German history.

Well, Mr Gauland, the quantity of birds*** amounts to a dunghill, and you belong on the dunghill of German history, Mr Schulz said.

Comparing the AfDs rhetoric against migrants directly with that of the Nazis, Mr Schulz accused the party of seeking to make migrants into scapegoats for all of Germanys problems.

The reduction of complex issues to a single group of people is the classic tactic of fascism. This has happened before in this house. Its time for democrats to stand up and fight back, the former SPD leader said to a standing ovation from fellow MPs.

German MPs gave Mr Schulz a standing ovation after his impassioned and uncharacteristic outburst Credit: Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters

Earlier, Mr Gauland had accused Mrs Merkel of causing far-Right protests in Chemnitz with her migrant policy.

The internal peace of our country is endangered and a rift goes through our society, he said.

The AfD leader distanced himself from neo-Nazis who were filmed giving the Hitler salute but claimed they were a minority and that most of the protestors were ordinary citizens.

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He accused Mrs Merkel of spreading fake news when she spoke of foreigners being attacked during the protests, despite video footage which appears to confirm the claim.

Mrs Merkel told the house she understood peoples anger, but refused to back down.

There is no excuse and no justification for hate speech, Nazi slogans or assaults on people who look different, she said.
Lane Pittman captured the spirit of a nation two years ago when he stood defiantly in the streets of Jacksonville, Florida, to stare down Hurricane Matthew, all while brandishing an American flag and headbanging to Slayer.

Was it safe? Oh, God, no. But was it kind of cool? Yeah, it was.

Pittman has returned to stare down Hurricane Florence, which descended on the lower East Coast Thursday.

Pittman posted a new video Friday showing himself in the streets of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, standing against the strong storm winds.

YOU ARE WEAK AND SMALL FLORENCE!!!!! FLORIDA MAN IS HERE!!!!! Pittmans video caption reads, as the familiar Raining Blood by Slayer blasts in the background.

As is evident by the 27 million views his 2016 video received on Facebook alone, people are huge fans. Even the Foo Fighters gave him a shoutout back then for his headbanging heroics.

LANE PITTMAN  Foo Fighters (@foofighters) October 10, 2016

But it isnt always awesome metal-shredding action though, as Pittman learned earlier this year during Hurricane Alberto.

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Its a little entertaining respite from some otherwise very serious hurricanes. Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane but still carries sustained winds of 80 mph, with some gusts recording 105 mph Friday. Residents in the riverfront city of New Bern, North Carolina, relied on social media to coordinate rescue efforts for those stranded by a storm surge.

Stay safe out there, Lane.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
(MOSCOW)  The Russian space agencys chief has talked to his NASA counterpart about a mysterious leak at the International Space Station, Roscosmos said Thursday.

The agency said that its director Dmitry Rogozin informed NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine about the Russian probe into the leak that was spotted last month in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked at the station. The crew of three Americans, two Russians and a German quickly located and sealed the tiny hole that created a slight loss of pressure.

Roscosmos added that Rogozin and Bridenstine agreed Wednesday to refrain from any preliminary statements on the matter until the end of the official investigation.

Rogozin has previously said that the hole could have been drilled during manufacturing or while in orbit, a statement that has raised some consternation.

Without specifically mentioning Rogozin, Russias Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov on Wednesday sternly warned against speculations that the crew could be responsible for making the hole. Its absolutely unacceptable to cast a shadow on Russian cosmonauts or American astronauts, Borisov said.

Rogozin himself then changed course, saying in a Facebook post that spreading rumors and speculation about what happened on the International Space Station doesnt help Roscosmos experts work and undermines the friendly atmosphere in the crew.
By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea opened a liaison office on the North's side of their heavily militarized border on Friday, setting up a permanent channel of communication as part of a flurry of efforts to end their decades old rivalry. Steps by North and South Korea to improve their relations are running parallel to a bid by the United States and its allies to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The opening of the joint liaison office at Kaesong, just inside the North Korean side of the border, comes days before North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are due to hold their third meeting this year. "The two sides are now able to take a large step toward peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula by quickly and frankly discussing issues arising from inter-Korean relations," said Ri Son Gwon, the head of North Korea's delegation at the opening ceremony. The two Koreas previously communicated by fax and special telephone lines, which were often severed when their relations took a turn for the worse. Now they will now be able to "directly discuss issues 24 hours, 365 days", South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said at the ceremony. The office will be staffed by up to 20 people each from the two sides with the South Koreans on the second floor and the North Koreans on the fourth floor of the four-story building. Vice minister-level officials will head their teams at the office and will attend weekly meetings, the South Korean Unification Ministry said. The office is at the site of the Kaesong industrial complex, where for about a decade, South Korean companies ran production lines staffed by North Korean workers at the industrial park. The park, once the most striking symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, has been closed since February 2016 when tension on the peninsula spiked after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test. South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said this week it was hoped the liaison office could also help the United States and North Korea in their negotiations. "We hope that this will also help the progress of denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States," Baik said. Moon and Kim, who agreed on a series of steps to improve ties at an April summit, will meet in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang next week, when it is hoped they can help end an impasse between the United States and North Korea. South Korea had hoped to open the office by August but it was delayed when denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea stalled after an historic summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June. However, Kim sent a message to South Korean envoys last week saying he wanted to achieve denuclearization during Trump's first term. That followed what Trump described as a "very warm" letter from Kim requesting another meeting, which rekindled hopes for progress. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel)
Brussels (AFP) - The European Parliament's vote to censure Hungary presents the assembly's dominant centre-right bloc with a dilemma over whether to retain its populist Hungarian allies or expel them months before elections.

Some European lawmakers, or MEPs, say the vote means it is now inevitable the European People's Party (EPP), which gathers political movements from several countries, will oust the Fidesz group of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

But others voice fears the EPP would be shooting itself in the foot by expelling a party that could boost support for populists in the May parliament elections.

Still others accuse major players like French President Emmanuel Macron of trying to exploit the rift within the EPP to benefit pro-European centrists and liberals.

The parliament on Wednesday mustered the two-thirds majority needed to push for unprecedented sanctions against Orban's government because most EPP members lined up behind it.

EPP members are focusing on the immediate consequences for them, as the Article Seven process the parliament invoked is a long one.

The move is seen as unlikely to ever lead to unprecedented sanctions that would strip Hungary of its European Union voting rights, which any member state could veto.

The EPP, which holds 218 of the 750 seats in parliament, voted 115 for the move to punish Orban's government to 57 against, with 28 abstentions.

EPP leader Manfred Weber, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, threw his weight behind the vote even if he did not instruct colleagues to follow suit.

Dutch Greens MEP Judith Sargentini praised Weber's "very responsible" example for swaying the vote in favour of the motion she sponsored.

She said he did the right thing to trumpet European values as he runs for the head of the executive European Commission, a position which will be vacant after next year's parliamentary elections.

Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister who heads the liberal ALDE group, had been blunt in calling for the EPP to no longer compromise with Orban.

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"Please, stop this nightmare," Verhofstadt said.

French Greens MEP Philippe Lamberts warned the EPP that it should "realise what is at stake, which is even its identity."

But the group could opt to continue working with Orban because, as Lamberts put it: "He may be a son of a bitch but at least he's our son of a bitch."

- 'Political Manipulation' -

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who once jokingly greeted Orban with: "Hello dictator!" at an EU summit, suggested he might back tougher action against Hungary.

Juncker told a group of journalists Wednesday he had "long had a problem with Viktor Orban's membership" of the EPP, which he also belongs to.

Weber wants to succeed Juncker, but a source within the party told AFP the 46-year-old Bavarian is "not pleading to ban Mr. Orban."

"It's not for fear of losing seats in the parliament but his big fear is to see Fidesz deputies join a bloc of Eurosceptic deputies from the east," the source said.

Franck Proust said he was one of dozens of EPP members to vote against the Hungary motion, not because he disagreed with it but because he was protesting "political manipulation" from leftist foes.

"We don't often hear the left denounce problems in Malta and elsewhere in Europe," said the leader of the French caucus in the EPP.

"So is it not strange this obsession with Hungary and the EPP?" Proust asked.

Some in the centre right accuse Macron, who had urged the EPP to "clarify" its position toward Orban, of exploiting the rift to bolster centrist support.

Macron tells the EPP "to clean house, but we do not often hear him speaking about Hungary during European summits," a source within the EPP told AFP.

Macron's office welcomed Wednesday's vote as proof of lawmakers grouping "around values" that extend beyond parties.

The Hungary issue could be discussed at a EPP meeting in the Austrian city of Salzburg next Wednesday, and then at a party convention in Helsinki in November that will nominate a candidate for the commission presidency.
Wilmington, N.C. Rescue workers, police and fire department members wait to remove the bodies of a mother and child who were killed by a falling tree as Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington, N.C. Friday Sept. 14, 2018. The father was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. (Photo: Chuck Liddy/The News & Observer via AP)

U.S. Southeast power companies said over 722,000 homes and businesses located mostly in North Carolina and South Carolina were without power on Friday after Hurricane Florence hit the coast.

Florence crashed into the Carolinas on Friday with 90 mph (144 kph) winds, torrential rains and a powerful storm surge before slowing to a pace that meant it would plague the area with days of flooding.

Duke Energy Corp, the biggest utility in the area, with over 4 million customers, estimated the storm could cause between 1 million and 3 million outages. Restoring power to all customers could take weeks, it said.

Duke said it had more than 20,000 personnel ready to start fixing outages as soon as conditions allowed, including over 8,000 from Dukes Carolinas utilities, 1,700 from the Midwest, 1,200 from Florida and 9,400 from other utilities.

(Reuters)

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Hunter Banister and Nashley Mattocks moved their wedding from Pittsboro, N.C., to Knoxville, Tenn., due to the hurricane. (Photo: Courtesy Nashley Mattocks)

As the people of North and South Carolina are just beginning to feel the effects of Hurricane Florence, the storm has already changed the course of some peoples lives  including that of couples who had planned to get married there this weekend, many of whom will be postponing their big day.

Murrells Inlet, S.C., was the location that Tori Wiltrout had chosen for her small beachfront wedding  in tribute to her father, who died in January 2017, and who had loved the place for their family vacations.

When it came to the wedding, we wanted to go down there so we would have a piece of him with us, Wiltrout tells Yahoo Lifestyle. She and fiance Andy Butler, who lives in Avon Lake, Ohio, planned the wedding for 35 people in a house theyd rented on the beach. Weve always gone in September, she says, and weve never experienced a hurricane there before. But now her dream wedding locale is under evacuation orders.

Same for lifestyle blogger RaNesha Wilson of Columbus, Ohio, who was set to get married at Ocean Creek Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Shed been planning the event for nearly a year. Im not going to say it was perfect, because nothings going to be perfect, but it was the ideal I had, Wilson tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Were lovers of nature and water and so for us to have something on the beach was important. The venue even had options for an indoor ceremony, in case of rain, which was all anyone expected until late last week.

RaNesha Wilson and Jeffery Springer were set to get married in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this weekend. (Photo: Courtesy RaNesha Wilson)

Even places not being evacuated  such as the town of Pittsboro, N.C., where Nashley Mattocks was scheduled to get married  suddenly posed problems. Mattocks loved the rustic barn and arbor of trees on the private estate called Het Landuis, and she was looking forward to staying in a pool house on the grounds with her bridesmaids the night before the wedding. But by Tuesday, with the forecast calling for heavy rain in the area outside of Raleigh, N.C., Mattocks and fiance Hunter Banister could tell that flights were going to be canceled for all the guests coming in from Chicago, Knoxville, Tenn., and Houston, where the couple currently lives.

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Postponements and relocations

Wiltrout and Butler left South Carolina on Tuesday night, and will regroup and plan something new once theyre back home. [My father] always said, It is what it is. It happened for a reason, Wiltrout says. She and Butler had insurance for their beach rental, so theyll get their money back for the two days they wont be staying there. But they wont be getting back the $600 their caterer had already spent on food.

That wasnt a complete loss for everyone, however.

Since he already had the food going, [the chef] cooked it all, and he was going to go ahead and feed local families getting ready for the hurricane, Wiltrout explains. I figured thats one less thing the locals have to worry about is a meal for the night when they have to get ready for this major hurricane coming at them.

Tori Wiltrout and Andy Butler drove home this week instead of getting married in South Carolina, but they donated their food to those in need. (Photo: Courtesy of Tori Wiltrout)

Banisters parents and sister back in Knoxville, meanwhile, helped Mattocks quickly find a chapel at the Presbyterian church, as well as a local venue for the reception. She tried to get some of her vendors to come with her to Tennessee, but in the end, only the DJ was able to do so, while the rest are staying behind to weather the storm. The couple was able to hire a new baker and caterer who could meet Banisters gluten-free needs, and some of their guests have volunteered to help get their flowers together.

Its been kind of a whirlwind, Mattocks says. Everythings kind of drastically changed. But it will be the day that its going to be, and all the people that can be there will be there and well just pray and hope for safety for the people that cant be there.

Unfortunately, Mattocks still doesnt know how much of her deposits shell get back. Were hoping that we didnt lose everything on most of our bookings, she says. Obviously, all the decorations that we bought and everything like that were going to lose because we cant return that stuff.

Wilson and her fiance, Jeffery Springer, had also been hit with multiple family losses in the past year, so this latest bump in the road was tough on them, but also something they felt they could tackle together.

It just confirms that we were meant to be together because weve been through things that not even people that are married have been through. So I dont ask God to treat me differently in my life, Wilson says. I didnt do this by myself  I couldnt have done it without him.

While she has received notice that all but one of her vendors want to give their deposits back, she isnt sure the banks will receive those funds right away. What it pushed us to do is basically deplete our account to cover everything that we need to still bring 85 people here, she says, explaining how shes relocated her wedding to Columbus.

The porch of the house Wiltrout and Butler had rented for their wedding. (Photo: Courtesy of Tori Wiltrout)

Even upon hearing of her circumstances, Wilson said some vendors didnt want to accommodate her last-minute request. But others were happy to help. The Boathouse at Confluence Park, which has sweeping waterfront views, had an opening this weekend. A Marriott nearby has given out-of-town family members good rates, and the airlines made it easy for everyone to fly back to Ohio.

There was some support from the Costco corporate team in Seattle where they donated a monetary fund towards the cost of our cake on after hearing about our story, so we received some support from folks in different avenues and in various different ways, she says. While she feels like the plan is coming together in the end, she tells Yahoo, I wouldnt recommend it to anybody.

A lesson in caution

The possibility of a storm like this was not on any of these couples minds when they planned their weddings, but with increasingly bad hurricane seasons attributed to climate change, it might be a good thing for all couples to consider in the future.

Last year, when we had Harvey and a few other hurricanes, 23 percent of our claims for wedding insurance last year had something to do with the weather, Ed Charlebois, vice president of personal insurance at Travelers Insurance, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Thats the highest percentage of weather-related claims the company has received in the 10 years its been offering plans for weddings.

With a wedding insurance policy  which can cost as little as $160 for a $7,500 wedding, or as much as $355 for $50,000 worth of coverage from Travelers  couples can recoup the money from lost deposits in situations such as this. Plus, they can get coverage for something called additional expense.

To go out and get somebody else to do [your wedding], chances are you might have to pay more on short notice, [and] additional expense can help you pay for that, Charlebois explains.

Mattocks and Banister were set to be married in this wooded estate in North Carolina. (Photo: Courtesy of Nashley Mattocks)

This doesnt do much to help couples in the Carolinas this week, since you have to have the policy at least two weeks before any weather event. But it might serve as a good warning for others planning their idyllic beachside nuptials.

In the meantime, Mattocks is looking on the bright side of things. Though shes understandably disappointed that some friends and family wont be able to make it to her Knoxville wedding, shes got a new perspective on the event.

The pressure to put on like a perfect party and host the best reception and have the prettiest ceremony [is gone], she says. Well enjoy the celebration of getting married  I can say that with confidence  so were still very excited.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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Scenes of flooded streets, homes and businesses, power outages and pelting rains are emerging from the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence makes landfall in North Carolina.

Storm surges of up to six feet were forecast for Belhaven, North Carolina, where this video was recorded on the night of Sept. 13. It shows the depth of water in a Belhaven familys garage.

Its toast, Amy Powell Johnson said of the garage.

More than 1.7 million people in Virginia, North and South Carolina were told to evacuate ahead of Florences arrival. On the morning of Sept. 14, the National Hurricane Centre warned that catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surges were expected to spread inland.

According to poweroutage.us, more than 500,000 customers in North Carolina and 50,000 in South Carolina were without power on Friday morning, though the Weather Channel estimates up to 3 million customers could lose power in the Carolinas due to Florence.

9/14 11 AM EDT: Here are the Key Messages for #Hurricane#Florence. The life-threatening inland flood hazard will continue for days, even after it is no longer a tropical storm. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFbpic.twitter.com/gUTmrlB7jZ  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 14, 2018

North Carolina Emergency Management warned residents on Friday to stay indoors, avoid stagnant or moving flood waters and have their emergency kits ready. By that time, emergency crews had already been deployed to parts of the state where people were trapped by floodwaters.

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About150 people were awaiting rescue in New Bern, N.C. early Friday morning, and multiple news outlets report some 60 people had to be evacuated from a motel in Jacksonville, N.C. overnight after it sustained structural damage as the Category 1 hurricane made landfall.

U.S. President Donald Trump took a moment on Friday to thank those responding to emergencies across the Carolinas.

Incredible job being done by FEMA, First Responders, Law Enforcement and all, he said on Twitter. Thank you!
Sebastian Seifert at inventors camp this summer on Koh Lon, off the coast of Thailand. (Photo: Mark Iifana)

In the spring of 1917, a young scientist named Karl von Frisch stepped onto a German hillside armed with a paint set and a beehive. He was about to embark on an experiment that would take 20 years of his life and challenge some of humanitys deepest held assumptions about the animal world.

The experiments crowning achievement was to decode the waggle dance, an erratic performance by honey bees that had confounded scientists since Aristotle first noted the phenomenon more than 2,000 years earlier.

Von Frischs painstaking observations proved that the dance was, in fact, a complex communication method, allowing bees to relay the precise location of food sources many miles from their colony. This begged the question: If insects could demonstrate such intelligence, were our assumptions about animal intellect fundamentally flawed?

The discovery earned von Frisch and two fellow naturalists the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.

Karl von Frisch testing the ability of bees to perceive color in his home garden in Austria, 1964. (Photo: Nina Leen via Getty Images)

Despite this achievement, science began to turn its back on von Frischs observational methods, replacing them almost exclusively with controlled experimentation in the laboratory, says Andy Quitmeyer, professor of new media at the National University of Singapore. In response, Quitmeyer, an American polymath who works with biologists and also practices installation art, engineering and filmmaking, has spent the past decade setting up field-based labs all over the world to tempt scientists back into the wild.

There are tons of valuable things to be learned in the lab, says Quitmeyer. But my feeling is that it shouldnt be the end goal. Shipping specimens thousands of miles from the field back to the lab, for example, is problematic both for the specimens, whose behavior can be affected by the change in environment, and for the scientist, says Quitmeyer.

Inspired by von Frisch, Quitmeyer teamed up with biologist Tasneem Khan to organize a six-week inventors camp on Koh Lon, a large, mostly empty, rainforest-covered island off the coast of Phuket in Thailand. Artists, scientists and technologists were invited to propose any kind of experimentation involving the local natural environment, the only requirement being that they documented their experiment and shared the tools and results online for others to see and recreate.

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Andy Quitmeyer, professor of Biology at the National University of Singapore, on Koh Lon island, Thailand. (Photo: Tristan Copley-Smith)

The gathering, which ran from May to July, was an eccentric mix of creativity and investigation, with the resulting inventions at once ingenious, beautiful and extremely weird. Michael Candy, an Australian roboticist artist, built a tree-climbing robot from a wire brush, a repurposed drone propeller and various 3D printed parts. The robot was able to quietly scale the islands 70-foot palm trees without disturbing animals above the difficult-to-reach canopy, feeding back live video using an onboard camera.

Danielle Hoogendijk, a Dutch survival expert and field researcher, built a 360-degree camera trap using waste plastic bottles, an LED flash and open-source electronics. Camping deep in the jungle in a mosquito-proof hammock, Hoogendijk was able to review 360-degree images of the animal life visiting her site, including jungle rats, iguanas and even the occasional monkey. Many such systems would cost over $700, but Hoogendijk was able to produce hers for less than $100.

Danielle Hoogendijk's camera trap. (Photo: Danielle Hoogendijk)

Professor and exhibiting artist David Bowen managed to determine the movements of a drone using a lily plant, capturing the moves on the beach in the evening with long exposure photographs. When reviewing the photos, Bowen, whose project demonstrates an artistic side of the islands experimentations, experienced a moment of serendipity  the drone had drawn what looked like a tree in the sky. I wasnt even making that connection, like they were going to look like a plant, he says. I mean, thats impossible, thats absurd!

It is the kind of absurdity generated on this island that can lie at the root of scientific discovery. Khan believes that modern science, in its obsessive search for distillation and specificity, leaves little space for this sort of discovery.

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David Bowen's drone drew what looked like a tree in the sky. (Photo: Umeed Mistry)

If you look at all the first questions that emerged that then led to what we call science, what we call philosophy, what we call the arts, they came from the keen observation of natural processes, that then led to experiments, led to documentation, and led to further questions, Khan says. In the essence of it, many of us in our practice, we have forgotten the root of that way of thinking.

Khan believes that silos of knowledge are becoming hardened. A 2014 study published in BioScience found that, despite calls for increased data sharing, the majority of environmental scientists do not make their individual data sets publicly available online. Reasons for not sharing included the lack of incentives  particularly for early-career scientists. There is also a concern that research parasites will emerge  people who use another groups data for their own ends without contributing to the greater good.

Some scientists remain skeptical about the benefits of sharing research from an accuracy point of view, worried that inaccurate interpretations can arise from taking data too far out of context of the experiment.

Michael Candy's robot scales a tree. (Photo: Tristan Copley-Smith)

Khan and Quitmeyer, however, hope that the growth of digital naturalism and the greater culture of open science that surrounds it can help direct scientific culture in a more open and participatory direction. Their visions mix of the creative, experimental and bizarre may help encourage this shift from within.

Information is cheap now. Information is everywhere, says Khan. What is valuable is how we share this information.  If we waste our time and knowledge in building walls around that information rather than collaborating with people who utilize that information  that is where the ego becomes bigger than the intent or outcome of the science.

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Vienna (AFP) - An abrasive intervention from Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini at an EU meeting on Friday resulted in an undiplomatic outburst from Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

In a video shared on his Facebook account, Salvini takes issue with an idea he said was expressed by Asselborn, namely that Europe needed immigration because of its ageing population.

"I have a totally different view. I am in government, paid by my fellow citizens, in order to encourage our own young people to have children... and not to uproot the best of Africa's young people," Salvini is seen telling the meeting of EU interior ministers in Vienna, which was closed to the press.

"In Italy we feel it's necessary to help our children make more children. And not to have new slaves to replace the children we're no longer having," he went on.

In the foreground of the video, Asselborn, seated two places down from Salvini, exclaims: "That's going too far!"

Unfazed, the Italian interior minister continued: "If you in Luxembourg need more immigration, I prefer to keep Italy for Italians and that we start having children again."

Asselborn, visibly agitated, interrupted Salvini at this point.

"In Luxembourg, sir, we have dozens of thousands of Italians! They came as migrants, they worked in Luxembourg so you in Italy would have money for your children," he said, adding "merde alors (goddammit)!".

"Someone with good manners would have let me finish talking," said Salvini, who continued his contribution by attacking people smugglers.

He later shared the episode in a gleeful Facebook post, noting that Asselborn "hadn't taken it well".
The International Whaling Commission on Wednesday cast a rare strong vote in favor of whale hunting -- but strictly for small subsistence hunts undertaken by some communities, mostly in the Arctic.

The vote confirmed a long-standing commitment to so-called aboriginal subsistence whaling (ASW) for nutritional and cultural reasons -- an exception to the decades-old ban on commercial whaling.

But some NGOs feared the vote could help ease the way for a return to full-scale commercial whaling, eagerly being pushed by Japan and other pro-whaling nations at a tense IWC meeting in Brazil.

"What the consequences are for the return of commercial whaling is extremely concerning," said Aimee Leslie of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Ryan Wulff, the US commissioner to the IWC, said the deal "gives our native communities the much-needed flexibility to operate more safely in dangerous environmental conditions that vary from one year to the next."

The issue is highly sensitive because Japan -- with the backing of Iceland, Norway and some other nations -- is using many of the same cultural arguments to call for a return to commercial whaling.

Both pro and anti-whaling nations came together in a 68-7 vote to set a catch quota of hundreds of minke, fin, humpback and bowhead whales for the next six years for communities in Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Bequia in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Crawford Patkotak, of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, said he wanted to "thank God first of all," for the vote result.

"This means a lot to our people -- we live in harsh conditions. This is a great day for us, the people of the north," Patkotak said.

- NGO objections -

Anti-whaling NGOs and states had raised fears that higher quotas would increase the chances of more widespread whale hunting.

They objected to an original plan for automatic renewal of the quotas after six years, and a carry-over of unused quotas from year to year.

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The WWF said a compromise -- under which the IWC scientific committee would oversee the renewal of quotas -- did not provide a sufficient safeguard.

"They basically gave a green light to auto-renewal without establishing how any concerns or questions will be addressed," said Leslie.

"The lines just keep getting more blurred between the different types of whaling and that is extremely concerning for the future of whales and how whaling will be managed."

- What about commercial whaling? -

Later this week, the IWC will take up Japan's proposals to return to commercial whaling.

"There is massive support for aboriginal subsistence whaling but that is not to say there would be anything like that support for commercial whaling. Far from it," said one state representative close to the talks.

Iceland, which continues to hunt whales in defiance of a 32-year moratorium, welcomed the green-light for aboriginal whale hunts, saying it was a shift in the IWC's position.

Nicolas Entrup of Swiss-based NGO OceanCare accused Iceland of trying to "instrumentalize indigenous people's rights to go whaling" to gain momentum for wider acceptance of commercial whaling.

Patkotak was one of several whaling captains from Alaska and Russia's Chukotka peninsula to make presentations to the IWC meeting, bringing the cold chill of their real-life problems to the room.

The skipper, who represents 150 whaling captains from 11 villages spread over a large swathe of the North Alaska coast, said the quotas were not to be taken lightly, particularly when the IWC had denied them in the past.

"This is something we have struggled with for many years -- to see this day where we are able to go about our lives in peace without the anxiety to provide for our people," Patkotak said.

The Hawaii-based Whaleman Foundation said both Alaska's Makah community and Bequia "do not have a true subsistence need" and should not be given quotas to kill whales.

The Caribbean island of Bequia has been given a quota to take four whales a year.
Florianopolis (Brazil) (AFP) - Japan's determined bid to return to commercial whale hunting was rejected by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Friday in a tense vote that left the 72-year old organization at a crossroads.

Japan's vice-minister for fisheries Masaaki Taniai said he "regretted" the vote's outcome, and threatened Tokyo's withdrawal from the 89-member body if progress could not be made towards a return to commercial whaling.

"If scientific evidence and diversity is not respected, if commercial whaling is completely denied... Japan will be pressed to undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC," he said.

Japan's IWC commissioner Joji Morishita declined to comment when asked if this would be Japan's last appearance at the IWC, an organization which he has chaired for the past two years. His term ended Friday.

Minutes after the meeting he told AFP that differences with anti-whaling nations were "very clear" and Japan would now plan it's "next steps".

Anti-whaling nations led by Australia, the European Union and the United States, defeated Japan's "Way Forward" proposal in a 41 to 27 vote.

Japan had sought consensus for its plan but had been forced to push the proposal to a vote "to demonstrate the resounding voices of support" for a return to sustainable whaling for profit, said Taniai.

Pacific and Caribbean island nations as well as Nicaragua and several African countries, including Morocco, Kenya and Tanzania, voted with Japan, as did Asian nations Laos and Cambodia. Korea abstained.

- 'Sharp split' -

The Russian Federation, which like several states allows IWC-monitored aboriginal subsistence whaling, said it abstained because it did not want to exacerbate an already "deep split within the commission".

The body's identity crisis was clear in a week of often robust exchanges between pro- and anti-whaling nations.

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Morishita told AFP a decision lay ahead over whether whaling could be managed in the future by "a different organization or a combination of different organizations?"

The large Japanese delegation here would "assess the result of this meeting very carefully back in Japan," said Morishita.

The IWC was set up in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population. It introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 after some species had been fished to near extinction.

Japan insists whale stocks have sufficiently recovered to allow commercial hunting to resume.

Tokyo currently observes the moratorium but exploits a loophole to kill hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes" as well as to sell the meat.

Norway and Iceland ignore the moratorium and are key supporters of Japan's bid to resume commercial whaling.

A Japanese withdrawal would have far-reaching consequences for the organization, given support from a growing number of developing states in the IWC.

They say the IWC's mandate is both to conserve and manage -- meaning to sustainably hunt -- recovering whale stocks, but that the emphasis within the organization has leant too far towards conservation, leaving pro-whaling nations without a voice.

To add insult to injury from Japan's point of view, the IWC adopted Brazil's "Florianopolis Declaration" which envisages whale protection in perpetuity.

However much that agreement is non-binding, anti-whaling states championed it as an important indicator of the IWC's future direction.

Taniai said the result of the vote on the Japanese proposal was a "denial of the possibility for governments with different views to coexist with mutual understanding and respect within the IWC."

Australia's commissioner Nick Gales rejected "the narrative of underlying dysfunction and intolerance" suggested by Japan.

He urged Tokyo to remain in the organization "to continue to argue for its view and work constructively with all members."

- Way Forward or Way Out -

Japan's "Way Forward" included the establishment of a "Sustainable Whaling Committee" within the IWC, and a conference to amend the body's voting rules, changing them from requiring a two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

Anti-whaling NGOs cheered the result, but it seems clear from the week-long meeting in the surfing resort of Florianopolis that Japan's impatience with its fellow members is growing.

Kitty Block, head of the animal charity Humane Society International, said "the IWC's moral compass" had led it to reject Japan's proposal.

"It's clear from exchanges this week that those countries here fighting for the protection of whales are not prepared to have the IWC's progressive conservation agenda held hostage to Japan's unreasonable whaling demands."

Glenn Inwood, of Opes Oceani, a company that analyzes developments in the use of ocean resources, says there is no longer much of an economic or political case for Japan remaining in the body.

"Japan invests tens of millions of dollars each year into its whaling activities but gains very little from the IWC despite being its biggest benefactor," said Inwood, a former spokesman for the Japanese delegation.
Florianopolis (Brazil) (AFP) - The International Whaling Commission's rejection Friday of Japan's proposal to resume commercial whaling "is not the end of the story," Tokyo's whaling commissioner said at the end of a divisive meeting in Brazil.

"Japan was expecting something positive happens at this meeting," said Joji Morishita, who chaired the meeting of the deeply divided 89-member body and now reverts to being Japan's commissioner.

"But that's not the end of the story. That's the beginning of the story of the next steps," Morishita told AFP.

Anti-whaling nations led by Australia, the European Union and the United States, defeated Japan's "Way Forward" proposal -- to return to whaling for profit -- in a 41 to 27 vote.

The vote was followed by threats of a withdrawal by Japan and left the 72-year old organization at a crossroads.

Morishita said that despite a "very strong sense of dialogue," the differences between pro- and anti-whaling nations were "very clear"

"I don't like to look at this as being failure or success, or the end. This is always the beginning of something new, and that's very important for the parties involved."

Morishita had told the close of the meeting that member countries should ask themselves what kind of an organization they wanted it to be.

It "needs to address conservation issues, climate change, pollution and all that stuff....and there are needs for management too," he told AFP.

"So how do you address this? Through the IWC or through a different organization or a combination of different organizations?"

"I think that's what we would now like to look at," he said, "not just concentrating whether IWC can survive or continue, or fail doing a job. To look at the larger world."

Pro-whaling states say the IWC's mandate is both to conserve and manage -- meaning to sustainably hunt -- recovering whale stocks, but that the emphasis within the organization has leant too far towards conservation, leaving them without a voice.

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The large Japanese delegation here would "assess the result of this meeting very carefully back in Japan," said Morishita.

While Japan would maintain its commitment to international cooperation "as a whole" he said, "but how they like to do this from here is something they will discuss back home."

Asked if that would involve Japan inviting like-minded states to join them in a new pro-whaling organization, Morishita said: "I simply don't know. I have no basis to answer this question."

And asked if the world had seen the last of Japan at the biennial IWC meetings, he said: "I have no comment to make on that."
By Yuka Obayashi and Ritsuko Shimizu

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd (SMM) plans to focus on two key customers for its battery materials, Toyota Motor Corp and Panasonic Corp, supplier of car power packs to Tesla Inc, SMM's new president said.

While Toyota and Panasonic are already SMM's biggest customers, rising sales of electric cars - led by Tesla's mass-market Model 3 - mean the Japanese miner and smelter is in a sweet spot it needs to protect.

SMM has spent 37 billion yen ($332 million) over the past four years to boost capacity of the nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) cathode materials used in Panasonic's lithium-ion battery that powers Tesla's Model 3 and Model X.

"Our cathode material plants are running at full capacity," Akira Nozaki, president of Sumitomo Metal Mining, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.

The company's monthly capacity of NCA cathode materials is due to reach 4,550 tonnes later this year, more than five times the monthly output of 850 tonnes in 2014, Nozaki said.

Tesla formally launched the Model 3 electric sedans in July 2017, and has attracted deposits from more than 500,000 potential customers.

After repeatedly pushing back internal targets, Tesla nearly hit its target of building 5,000 Model 3 per week for the first time in late June and "multiple times" during July. It was targeting to produce 6,000 per week by late August.

"We see Tesla's production and sales have gotten into gear," Nozaki said.

Asked about any further expansion of its capacity, Nozaki said any decision will depend on consultations with Panasonic.

SMM, in which Toyota owns 3.8 percent stake, also supplies different types of cathode materials to batteries used in Toyota's hybrid cars such as the Prius.

Nozaki said his company will likely remain focused on its existing customers for now.

"Battery materials are a custom-made product, not a commodity," he said. "We need to join hands with our customers to be able to respond changing needs for battery materials."

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SMM, Japan's biggest nickel smelter, aims to boost its annual nickel output through smelting to 150,000 tonnes by March 2022 from 90,000 tonnes in March 2018.

It also plans to increase copper output from its equity holdings in mines to 300,000 tonnes from 260,000 tonnes, and gold output to 30 tonnes from 14 tonnes.

SMM, together with nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia, are conducting a feasibility study on a nickel smelting project in Pomalaa, Southeast Sulawesi, using high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) technology in which SMM has expertise.

If the smelter is given the go ahead, the Japanese company wants a majority stake in the project, Nozaki said.

The strength of SMM, founded as a copper smelter in 1590, lies in its integrated production from raw nickel up to electronic components including battery materials, unlike global resource majors, who tend to focus on mining or smelting, Nozaki said.

"Nickel smelters worldwide want to supply battery materials but they don't know what quality of nickel products they should offer, but we clearly understand those needs thanks to our supply chain," he said.

($1 = 111.4600 yen)

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Ritsuko Shimizu; Editing by Tom Hogue)




Sir Michael Caine has defended his latest film King of Thieves, a new dramatic retelling of the 2015 Hatton Garden heist, after it was criticised by the victims of the robbery for glorifying their loss.

I read the article by the victims of the crime, and I figured out that neither the writer or the other victims have seen the movie, rebukes Caine who plays ringleader Brian Reader, So when theyve seen the movie Id like to hear what they say.

King of Thieves is actually the fourth time the Hatton Garden job has been retold dramatically with three feature films and one postponed ITV drama all committed to film.

King Of Thieves cast (PA)

Directed by James Marsh (The Theory of Everything) from a script by Joe Penhall (The Road), there are two things that distinguish it from other attempts: First is the prestige cast, led by Sir Michael Caine and also featuring Sir Tom Courtenay, Sir Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, and Ray Winstone.

Secondly, more than any adaptation thus far, this take embraces the comedy aspect in seeing a bunch of old timers  who police initially mistook for professionals  band together to pull off one last heist.

Its the latter factor that some have taken issue with, David Joffe  treasurer of the London Diamond Bourse  accusing the film of making comedy out of tragedy.

Less dismissive, but equally as resolute, was director James Marsh; We tried to tell our story as we encountered it, through the point of view of those who did the crime. So along the way, if we embrace the details of the true story, you get into things that are absurd and quite comic. Thats not to detract from anyone who lost valuable things and money in the vault, but thats not our point of view. Theres another film you could make about that.

King of Thieves is in cinemas now (Studiocanal)

Indeed, the filmmakers commitment to authentic storytelling extended to even the less unsavoury aspects of some characters, including casual homophobia and racism.

I think if you sanitise them then thats equally damaging, writer Joe Penhall noted. It was important for us to be unsentimental and not necessarily adopt any kind of orthodoxy.

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The film ends just as the real life story does, with the thieves being arrested and then put in jail. When asked whether the sentence for Reader and co were fair, Marsh gave a typically measured response; Because they were so old, you realise youre condemning them to spend the rest of their lives in jail. So is that right or wrong? But the law is the law and they got caught.





The legal answer to that is within the bounds of the law it was fair, Penhall adds. They were armed, it was a commercial premises, they were very calculating about the limitations of their crime, so nobody was hurt. I dont have any kind of moral purview on whether I think their punishment was right or wrong.

As for whether the cast themselves have been on the receiving end of thefts, Courtenay revealed that: Somebody stole the Volpi cup that I won in 1964 at the Venice Film Festival for King and Country. Its completely worthless, but they left the base.

Although the majority of the cast is stacked with British legends, King of Thieves does boast one (relatively) young face in Charlie Cox who plays Basil. Thankfully, working alongside actors whos work he grew up watching was actually perfect for the role: There were certain scenes where it was important that Basil felt a little intimidated or out of his depth and out of his league and that was very easy for me to play.

While Cox wasnt subjected to much hazing from his senior colleagues: We were just a bunch of guys whod known each other for years having a bunch of fun.

King of Thieves is out now. Watch a trailer below.





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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

The FBI has confirmed that it received unspecified information about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh this week.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (FYN'-styn), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday that she had notified federal investigators about information she received concerning Kavanaugh.

A Senate Democratic aide and another person familiar with the matter said it referred to an incident that occurred while Kavanaugh was high-school age.

The details of the incident and the identity of the person who provided the information were unclear.

An FBI statement said the information was received Wednesday evening and then included in Kavanaugh's background file, which is maintained as part of his nomination. The agency says that's standard process.

The statement gave no indication that the information in the letter was being investigated.

 Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Mike Balsamo contributed.

___

1:20 p.m.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (FYN'-styn) says she's notified federal investigators about information she received concerning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The California Democrat says in a statement that she "received information from an individual concerning the nomination."

Feinstein isn't saying who that person is or describing the information in any way. She says the person "strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision."

Feinstein  who's on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which just finished confirmation hearings for Kavanagh  says she has "referred the matter to federal investigative authorities."

Another committee Democrat, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, says the matter has been referred to the FBI.

Republicans are pushing to confirm Kavanaugh to the court by Oct. 1, when the 2018-19 term begins.

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___

11:05 a.m.

Republicans have rejected an effort to subpoena documents on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's job as staff secretary in the George W. Bush White House. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee say the documents are needed to vet the judge's record.

The panel's top Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (FYN'-styn) of California, said Thursday senators "should be able to see this record." Feinstein says it makes her wonder "what in Judge Kavanaugh's records are Republicans hiding?"

Republicans on the panel rejected the motion on a party line vote.

The Republicans declined to pursue Kavanaugh's staff secretary documents as too cumbersome, focusing instead on his White House counsel's work.

President Donald Trump's nominee for the court is the first with a lengthy email trail. Democrats say the records they've seen are insufficient.

___

10:50 a.m.

Democrats have tried to adjourn the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing to consider Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, but Republicans have rejected the motion.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut protested as soon as the hearing gaveled opened Thursday. He says the nomination will be "tainted" and "stained" by the unusual process for vetting President Donald Trump's nominee.

Democrats say Republicans, who have the majority, are rushing the proceedings.

Blumenthal says, "We lack the time. We lack the documents." He calls it a "badly broken process."

Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa says he already agreed to hold over the vote on Kavanaugh for one week.

The panel will vote next week on whether to recommend Kavanaugh for confirmation. Republicans hope to confirm him to the court by Oct. 1.

___

12:40 a.m.

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh says he would have shaken the hand of a man whose daughter was killed in a Florida high school shooting if he had known who the man was.

A photo of Kavanaugh appearing to refuse to shake Fred Guttenberg's outstretched hand last week went viral.

Kavanaugh told the Senate Judiciary Committee he assumed the man who approached him was a protester. He says if he had known who Guttenberg was, "I would have shaken his hand, talked to him, and expressed my sympathy. And I would have listened to him."

Kavanagh's explanation was part of a 263-page response late Wednesday to some 1,287 written questions from senators.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to meet Thursday to consider Kavanaugh's confirmation.
LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP)  Investigators worked Friday to pinpoint the cause of a series of fiery natural gas explosions that killed a teen driver in his car just hours after he got his license, injured at least 25 others and left dozens of homes in smoldering ruins.

Authorities said an estimated 8,000 people were displaced at the height of Thursday's post-explosion chaos in three towns north of Boston rocked by the disaster. Most were still waiting, shaken and exhausted, to be allowed to return to their homes.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday that hundreds of gas technicians were being deployed throughout the night and into Saturday to make sure each home is safe to enter.

Even after residents return and their electricity is restored, gas service won't be turned on until technicians can inspect every connection in each home  a process that could take weeks.

"This remains a tremendous inconvenience for many people," Baker said. "It's essential for the crews to get this right."

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to help investigate the blasts in a state where some of the aging gas pipeline system dates to the 1860s.

The rapid-fire series of gas explosions that one official described as "Armageddon" ignited fires in 60 to 80 homes in the working-class towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, forcing entire neighborhoods to evacuate as crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity.

Gas and electricity remained shut down Friday in most of the area, and entire neighborhoods were eerily deserted.

Authorities said Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car. He was rushed to a Boston hospital and pronounced dead Thursday evening.

Rondon, a musician who went by the name DJ Blaze, had just gotten his driver's license hours earlier, grieving friends and relatives told The Boston Globe. "It's crazy how this happened," said a friend, Cassandra Carrion.

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The state Registry of Motor Vehicles said Rondon had been issued his driver's license only hours earlier Thursday.

The NTSB said Friday that its team should on the scene for a week. The agency said the team will be gathering perishable evidence from the accident site and pulling together information from federal, state, and local agencies, and from Columbia Gas.

The agency said among the issues to be examined are the design of the pipeline system, any upgrades and the operator's management of the pipeline. A review of the emergency response of the operator and local first responders will also be conducted.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in the three communities to evacuate, snarling traffic and causing widespread confusion as residents and local officials struggled to understand what was happening. Some 400 people spent the night in shelters, and school was canceled Friday as families waited to return to their homes.

The governor said state and local authorities were investigating but it could take days or weeks before they turn up answers. He declared a state of emergency for the affected area so the state could take over recovery efforts.

Baker authorized the utility Eversource to take management control over the effort to restore services.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurized but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Capturing the mounting sense of frustration, Democratic U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton tweeted that he had called the utility's president several times with no response. "Everyone wants answers. And we deserve them," Moulton said.

Columbia Gas President Steve Bryant wouldn't comment on the suspected cause of the blasts, deflecting questions about his company's response but saying it had "substantive, lengthy conversations" with the authorities.

The Massachusetts gas pipeline system is among the oldest in the country, as much as 157 years old in some places, according to the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy group.

Columbia Gas had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. It was not clear whether work was happening there Thursday, and a spokeswoman did not return calls seeking comment.

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey said they are calling on the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to hold a hearing to determine what went wrong and how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

At least one story of heroism emerged from the ashes: that of Lawrence police officer Ivan Soto. His house burned nearly to the ground, but after rushing home to check on his family and warn his neighbors to evacuate, he went back on patrol.

"He actually stayed on duty even though his house was burning down" neighbor Christel Nazario told The Associated Press. "I don't know how he did it."

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border. Lawrence, the largest, is a majority Latino city with a population of about 80,000.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera reassured immigrants who might not be living in his city legally that they had nothing to fear.

"Do not be afraid. Stay in the light. We will support you and your family," Rivera said at a news conference Friday, speaking in English and Spanish. "Lawrence is one community."

Authorities said all of the fires had been extinguished overnight and the situation was stabilizing. But Rivera criticized the gas utility for poor communications and accused the company of "hiding from the problem."

On Thursday, Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield described the unfolding scene as "Armageddon."

"There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover," he told reporters.

Aerial footage of the area showed some homes that appeared to be torn apart by the blasts.

Brenda Charest stood anxiously on her front porch while a crew checked her undamaged home before giving her the all-clear to return Friday. On Thursday, she had come home to a hissing sound in her basement and a strong odor of natural gas.

"We took off. I said, 'Pack up, we're out of here,'" said Charest, who went with her 93-year old father and cat to a relative's home. "It was scary. We didn't know anything."

Columbia Gas was fined $100,000 by the state for a variety of safety violations since 2010, including $35,000 in 2016 for failing to follow company and pipeline safety regulations when responding to an outage and repairing a leak in Taunton.

The company was sued in 2014 after a strip club was destroyed in a natural gas explosion in Springfield, Massachusetts, after a Columbia employee accidentally punctured a gas line while probing for a leak. The November 2012 blast leveled the Scores Gentleman's Club, injuring about 20 people and damaging dozens of other buildings. The club owner and the gas company eventually settled the case.

Gas explosions have claimed lives and destroyed property around the U.S. in recent years.

In 2016, a buildup of natural gas triggered an explosion and fire that killed seven people in apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In 2014, a gas explosion in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood killed eight people and injured about 50. Consolidated Edison later agreed to pay $153 million to settle charges after the state's Public Service Commission found it had violated state safety regulations. A gas leak had been reported before that blast.

A 2011 natural gas explosion killed five people in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and that state's largest gas utility was fined by regulators, who called the company's safety record "downright alarming."

___

Associated Press writers Philip Marcelo in Lawrence, Alanna Durkin Richer, Collin Binkley and Steve LeBlanc in Boston, Mary Schwalm in North Andover and Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report.
Since Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel 16 months ago, his investigation has endured an unrelenting onslaught of attacks from the president and his allies. But Friday morning provided the latest, strongest evidence that the probe has not been hindered.

President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort announced a deal with the special counsels team Friday morning, pleading guilty to two criminal charges and agreeing to cooperate with the investigation.

The plea was all the more stunning for the fact that Manafort is the fifth Trump aide to plead guilty in connection to the special counsels probe. His business partner Rick Gates, who testified against him in his trial in Virginia last month, pleaded guilty to two criminal charges, including lying to investigators. Mueller has also gotten guilty pleas from former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, while Trumps longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in a case referred to the Southern District of New York by Muellers office.

In total, Mueller has indicted or extracted guilty pleas from more than 30 people and three companies. The investigation has exposed the inner workings of the Russian influence campaign against American elections, a detailed and elaborate scheme by Manafort and Gates to hide money made through foreign lobbying work from the U.S. government and multiple instances of people later lying to investigators about their behavior.

All the while, the investigation has been under a barrage of attacks by Trump, who has openly mulled shutting it down, called it a rigged witch hunt and an illegal scam and accused Mueller of political bias and leading a team of angry Democrats. Because of the Justice Departments official view that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted, Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani have decided to fight the investigation as a political battle as well as a legal one. This case is not going to be tried before a jury, Giuliani told TIME in June. Its not a criminal case. Its an investigation thats going to result in a report, and the issue will be what happens to that report, and public opinion is going to have a lot to do with that.

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Read More: Trumps Campaign to Discredit the Russia Investigation Is Damaging American Democracy

But that doesnt help the others caught in Muellers line of fire. Earlier this year, Manafort criticized his former business associate Rick Gates for cooperating with investigators, saying, I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. And last month Trump praised Manafort for being brave and refusing to break to take a plea deal.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. Justice took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break - make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

But Manaforts shocking reversal Friday morning indicates how Muellers team is working behind the scenes, systematically going after lower-level associates and crimes related to finances and false statements, methodically flipping one witness after another. It shows that Manafort has something of value to offer Mueller, tweeted former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti. Mueller would not have given him a deal unless Manafort was able to help Mueller make a case against someone else or significantly strengthen an existing case.

4/ This also means that Manafort has something of value to offer Mueller. Mueller would not have given him a deal unless Manafort was able to help Mueller make a case against someone else or significantly strengthen an existing case.  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 14, 2018

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday that Manaforts guilty plea had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign.

Its true that nothing public in Muellers investigation so far has touched Trump on the central questions of collusion with Russia or obstruction of justice. But Manaforts guilty plea  and, one could argue, other developments like it  underscores the seriousness of this investigation, said Senate Intelligence Committee vice chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia. The Special Counsel must be permitted to follow the facts wherever and however high they might lead, because in the United States of America no one is above the law.

Robert Anderson, assistant director of counterintelligence for Robert Mueller at the FBI from 2011 to 2013, explained in TIME last year that going after financial crimes to get witnesses to flip is a classic strategy for Mueller.

When you talk about people who are used to spending nearly $1 million in three years on business suits out of a place in Cyprus, those guys are not going to do 25 years in jail, Anderson wrote. Thats why Bob Muellers going about this in the way that he is. He knows these guys are not seasoned criminals. And he knows theyre going to roll over on each other. Mark my words, it will start becoming a race to the special counsels office.
(NEW YORK)  Emboldened by the #MeToo movement, McDonalds workers have voted to stage a one-day strike next week at restaurants in 10 cities in hopes of pressuring management to take stronger steps against on-the-job sexual harassment.

Organizers say it will be the first multistate strike in the U.S. specifically targeting sexual harassment.

Plans for the walkout  to start at lunchtime on Sept. 18  have been approved in recent days by womens committees formed by employees at dozens of McDonalds restaurants across the U.S. Lead organizers include several women who filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May alleging pervasive harassment at some of McDonalds franchise restaurants.

The strike comes as union-backed organizations have been putting pressure on McDonalds on several fronts for better working conditions, including $15 an hour wages  at a burger chain that employs tens of thousands of people around the country, many of them at low pay.

Organizers said the strike would target multiple restaurants  but not every local McDonalds  in each of the 10 cities: Chicago; Durham, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; Miami; Milwaukee; New Orleans; Orlando, Florida; San Francisco and St. Louis.

They said they could not predict with precision how many workers would join the strike, but noted that hundreds of workers had participated in the committee meetings at which the strike was planned.

McDonalds, in an e-mail to The Associated Press, defended its anti-harassment efforts.

We have policies, procedures and training in place that are specifically designed to prevent sexual harassment at our company and company-owned restaurants, and we firmly believe that our franchisees share this commitment, the company said.

The company also disclosed a new initiative that will engage outside experts to work with the company to help evolve those policies and procedures. Some of the experts would come from an employment law training firm and an anti-sexual violence organization.

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Labor lawyer Mary Joyce Carlson, who has been collaborating with women who filed the EEOC complaints, says the company needs to back up such gestures with tougher enforcement.

We see no evidence theres been any change at all, she said. Whatever policy they have is not effective.

Organizers of the planned walkout say strikers will be demanding that the company improve procedures for receiving and responding to harassment complaints, and require anti-harassment training for managers and employees. Another demand will be formation of a national committee to address sexual harassment, comprised of workers, representatives from corporate and franchise stores, and leaders of national womens groups.

Carlson is an attorney for Fight for $15, a national movement seeking to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. She said McDonalds has successfully resisted efforts to unionize its employees, and suggested that workers anger related to sexual harassment might fuel broader efforts to gain better working conditions.

Among the strike organizers is Tanya Harrell, 22, of New Orleans, who filed a complaint with the EEOC in May alleging that her two managers at a local McDonalds teased her, but otherwise took no action after she told them of sustained verbal and physical harassment by a co-worker. Harrell, who makes $8.15 an hour, said she and many of her colleagues were skeptical of the companys commitment to combating harassment.

They want people to think they care, but they dont care, she said. They could do a way more better job.

Another organizer is Kim Lawson, 25, of Kansas City, who also filed an EEOC complaint alleging that managers responded ineffectively when she reported sexual harassment by a co-worker.

Lawson, who has a 4-year-old daughter, says she makes $9 an hour. She is heartened by strong support from other workers for the planned walkout.

Everybodys been brave about it, she said. Its time to stand up for what we believe in.

Thus far, the nearly year-old #MeToo movement has not triggered a strike targeting a specific U.S. company. Last March, on International Womens Day, there were broad-based calls for women to stay away from work in several countries, notably in Western Europe.

Annelise Orleck, a history professor at Dartmouth College who has written about low-wage workers, said she knows of only one precedent in the United States to the planned McDonalds walkout.

In 1912, she said, several hundred garment workers at a corset factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, walked off the job in a strike prompted by pervasive sexual harassment, as well as other poor working conditions. The strikers did not win all of their demands, but succeeded in winning public support and drawing attention to workplace abuses.
Chicago (AFP) - Hundreds packed a Texas church Thursday to mourn a young immigrant man shot dead in his own home by a Dallas cop who claimed she mistakenly entered the wrong apartment.

The memorial service for Botham Jean, who was black, took place one week after a white officer, Amber Guyger, walked into his apartment, apparently thinking it was her own.

She said she fired two shots after seeing the silhouette of a figure who didn't respond to verbal commands, striking Jean once and killing him.

The 26-year-old man, originally from the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, was remembered in the three-hour memorial service as a pious and positive person, ambitious in his endeavors and a beloved member of the Dallas community he had adopted as his own.

"To know Botham was to love Botham. He was the light in a dark room. Botham loved God. He loved to sing about God," said minister Michael Griffin, who once lead a church were Jean worshipped.

"Bo made us all better. Bo didn't see color. Bo saw love," he said, referring to Jean by his nickname.

Jean emigrated from Saint Lucia when he was 19 and graduated in 2016 from Harding University, a private Christian college in the state of Arkansas.

He had earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and information systems, and had been working at the accounting firm PwC, also known as PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"While I was his mentor, he touched me and he changed me," said Harding campus minister Todd Gentry.

"May we never forget the smile and the joy, and the way he brought people together," he said.

Officer Guyger is charged with manslaughter and could face more counts, including murder, once the investigation is complete.

Jean's family, through an attorney, has questioned the officer's account.

"We know that the evidence that exists contradicts this version of events, that seems to offer as little culpability for this officer as possible," attorney Lee Merritt said at a news conference earlier in the week.

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He said eyewitnesses heard banging on the door and a woman's voice saying "Let me in."

Authorities have not said whether race was a factor in the killing.

Protestors have tied it to the string of fatal encounters in recent years between US police and black citizens that inspired the Black Lives Matter movement.
Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico has arrested an alleged drug cartel hitman on charges of trafficking the critically endangered totoaba fish, a species whose swim bladder can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market in China.

The suspect, identified as Oscar N, alias "El Parra," was arrested Thursday on charges of leading a top totoaba trafficking gang, said the government of the northern state of Baja California.

The gang is believed to have ties to the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, the state authorities said in a statement.

El Parra is a "dangerous hitman and drug trafficker" who was also wanted on a homicide charge, it said.

The state sits on the Gulf of California, the native habitat for the totoaba.

Known as the "cocaine of the sea" for its lucrative price, the species has been in steep decline since the 1940s, largely because of its reputed healing powers in Chinese medicine.

In China, the totoaba's swim bladder is believed to have beautifying properties and cure a host of ailments, from arthritis pain to discomfort during pregnancy.

In fact, they are so prized that some Chinese simply display them in fancy cases in their homes.

The illegal fishing trade has turned increasingly violent in recent years, and has also claimed a collateral victim: the nearly extinct vaquita marina, the world's smallest porpoise, which can end up caught in the nets used to fish for totoaba.

Researchers estimate there are less than 30 vaquitas left today.

To save the species, Mexico has banned fishing in a giant 1,800-square kilometer (700-square mile) area.

The move was backed by the likes of Hollywood heartthrob and conservationist Leonardo DiCaprio and Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecoms billionaire who is one of the world's richest people.

The government also tried to catch vaquitas with the aid of US Navy-trained dolphins and breed them in a protected reserve. But the program was aborted last year after a vaquita died in captivity.
Washington (AFP) - The Trump administration called for tougher immigration laws Wednesday after fresh data indicated more migrant families than ever are attempting to cross the Mexican border into the United States illegally.

Border Patrol data showed that arrests of families illegally entering the United States across the southern border jumped 38 percent in August from July, despite President Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on the flow.

A total of 12,774 people who crossed the border as families were taken into custody last month, the highest ever for a month of August.

The number jumped after US courts ordered the administration to stop separating immigrant children from their parents for lengthy periods, a practice that had left hundreds of young children detained in US government camps without family for months on end.

Rights groups and UN officials have repeatedly condemned the separations as abuse of children's rights.

But as of last week more than 400 children remained in detention facilities away for their parents and relatives, far beyond the 20-day legal limit on how long children can be separated from their families.

Last week the Trump administration acted to remove the 20-day limit, aiming to establish a stronger deterrent to illegal immigration.

"August Southwest Border Migration numbers show a clear indicator that the migration flows are responding to gaps in our nation's legal framework," said Tyler Houlton, spokesman of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the US Customs and Border Protection agency.

"Smugglers and traffickers understand our broken immigration laws better than most and know that if a family unit illegally enters the US they are likely to be released into the interior," he said in a statement.

The administration argues that families understand that if they enter the United States and are arrested, they can declare they are seeking asylum and gain release into the United States while they await adjudication.

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"We know that the vast majority of family units who have been released, despite having no right to remain in any legal status, fail to ever depart or be removed," said Holton.

Most of those entering the country illegally now come from Central America -- mainly El Salvador, Honduras Guatemala -- making it harder the send them back than those from Mexico.

- Hard to repatriate families -

In the October-June period, Holton said, only 1.4 percent of the families that arrived from those three countries were repatriated.

The pickup in border arrests, which officials say indicates the overall level of attempted entries, extended to individuals attempting to come to the United States, and unaccompanied children as well.

The total number of people arrested, including individuals and unaccompanied children, rose 20 percent in August from July by 20 percent to 37,544 individuals.

The figure was sharply higher than one year ago despite hotter than usual temperatures in the southwest US desert.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  A senior Myanmar official has confirmed that the country's leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, will not attend the U.N. General Assembly session this month in New York.

Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin, who is accompanying Suu Kyi at a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Vietnam, said "She has no plan to go there."

He was responding to a report in the Myanmar newspaper 7 Days citing a Myanmar foreign ministry official as saying that Suu Kyi would not attend the U.N. meetings. No reason was given.

Suu Kyi, who took office in 2016, also did not attend last year's General Assembly meeting.

Myanmar is facing international pressure over human rights abuses allegedly committed by its military against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

About 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine last year after the army launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in response to August 2017 attacks by Rohingya militants on security forces.

The army is accused of committing mass rape, murder and setting fire to thousands of homes. A report issued two weeks ago by a specially appointed U.N. human rights team recommended prosecuting senior Myanmar commanders for genocide and other crimes.

The latest speakers' list for the General Assembly meeting shows Myanmar represented by a minister and speaking on Sept. 28. The annual meeting of world leaders, called the General Debate, starts Sept. 25 and ends Monday Oct. 1. Normally, a country's foreign minister would speak in the absence of its top leader, but because Suu Kyi also holds the foreign ministry portfolio, Myanmar's speaker is likely to one of the two Cabinet ministers who 7 Days said would attend the meeting, Kyaw Tin and Kyaw Tint Swe.

Last year, Suu Kyi's office said her reason for not attending the 2017 General Assembly session was because she had to handle domestic security issues after the attacks that triggered the army crackdown.

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Although the violence in Rakhine state has eased, Myanmar has to deal with its aftermath, especially the repatriation of the Muslim Rohingya who fled and the underlying causes of tension that makes them targets of discrimination and repression in overwhelmingly Buddhist Myanmar.

The 7 Days newspaper article said the Myanmar delegation to the General Assembly meeting would "explain about current developments on repatriation and cooperation with international organizations." U.N. agencies have an agreement with Myanmar's government to help resettle the Rohingya when they are repatriated.

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Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria has appointed a new head of the country's intelligence agency, after his predecessor was sacked when security operatives blockaded parliament.

The presidency said on Thursday evening that Yusuf Magaji Bichi has taken over from Lawal Musa Daura as director-general of the Department of State Services.

Daura -- a key ally of President Muhammadu Buhari -- was dismissed after ordering what the government called the "unauthorised takeover" of the National Assembly in early August.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said at the time the actions, which prevented lawmakers from entering parliament, were "a gross violation of constitutional order" and the rule of law.

The DSS under Daura was often accused of high-handedness and abuses against perceived political opponents of the Buhari administration.

The blockade came after the leader of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, defected to the main opposition from the ruling party.

Saraki, who has been at loggerheads with the executive since he took up the post in 2015, has since declared his intention to stand for president next year.

Buhari's office said the new spy chief was a "core secret service operative" who began his career with the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the forerunner of the DSS.

Nigeria is facing multiple security threats, including from Boko Haram, where there is mounting concern about its IS-backed faction after a string of recent attacks on the military.

Security services are also stretched by a flare-up of violence in the long-running resources conflict between farmers and herders in central states.

There remain lingering threats to oil and gas infrastructure from militants in the southern Niger Delta region.
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's finance minister Kemi Adeosun resigned in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari Friday over the alleged forgery of a document exempting her from compulsory national service.

Adeosun, 51, said she was quitting to protect the integrity of the government.

"I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine," the embattled minister said in her letter.

"This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration's focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign," said Adeosun, appointed by Buhari in 2015.

Adeosun is credited with helping Nigeria out of recession, plugging leakages in finances, and shoring up foreign reserves.

But she has come under pressure in recent weeks since an independent online newspaper, Premium Times, accused her of obtaining a fake exemption certificate from the NYSC.

Under the scheme introduced in the early 1970s to promote unity among Nigeria's multi-ethnic groups following a 30-month brutal civil war, graduates younger than 30 are expected to serve the nation for one year.

Adeosun who was schooled and graduated abroad at 22, did not return to Nigeria until she was 34 and did not serve the mandatory one year.

She instead allegedly procured a fake certificate of exemption from the NYSC to cover her tracks. The organisation denied exempting her.

Buhari accepted Adeosun's resignation.

"The President thanked the minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits," his office said, adding that deputy budget minister, Zainab Ahmed, would oversee her portfolio.

Buhari, who came to power in 2015 on his integrity and anti-graft platform, is seeking re-election and is facing a formidable challenge from an array of opposition candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party he ousted from power.

Around a dozen of PDP candidates, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Senate president Bukola Saraki, are jostling for the country's top job.
Norm Macdonald Has a Show. (Photo: Netflix)

Stephen Colbert is in an intelligent but ceaseless battle with President Trump, Jimmy Fallon is spineless, Jimmy Kimmel has become Mr. Likable, and Conan OBrien is having a late-midcareer crisis (on the verge of downsizing his show to a scant half-hour). In this context of talk shows in 2018, Norm Macdonald immediately vaults to the top of the talk-show heap with the debut of Norm Macdonald Has a Show on Netflix, starting Friday.

Midway through the first episode, guest David Spade pauses to wonder whether hes appearing on a test show  a run-through for the real thing: Thats how casual Macdonald makes the proceedings go. Much of the time, its as though youre overhearing casual chitchat between Norm and whoever his guest is, and the list for this 10-episode series includes Drew Barrymore, Jane Fonda, Chevy Chase, and his Netflix colleague and producer-boss, David Letterman. Macdonald has successfully transferred the relaxed yet often concentrated, even intense, atmosphere that made his podcast Norm Macdonald Live so irresistible and brought it to the Netflix version of television.

Ive watched four episodes, and every one of them is hugely entertaining and frequently surprising. Barrymore speaks of working with Nancy Reagan on the latters Just Say No anti-drug campaign even as Drew continued doing drugs, and she and Norm bond upon the discovery that they both extravagantly admire the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The interview with Jane Fonda is especially striking  shes funny, flirty, and frank, whether shes talking about the guns she owns or her happy embrace, at age 80, of oncoming death.

The artistic success of Norm Macdonald Has a Show is now threatened by the controversy that erupted earlier this week, when Macdonald gave an interview to the Hollywood Reporter to promote the show and ended up offending people for expressing excessive sympathy for Louis C.K.s and Roseannes career-canceling sins. He then did himself no favor by going on Howard Sterns show to clarify his comments and offending some listeners for casually using the term Down syndrome as a synonym for stupid. Two other things occurred in the wake of this. Jimmy Fallon asked Macdonald not to make a scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show, which is both remarkable and all too predictable: Fallon supposedly runs a talk show  youd think hed seize the opportunity to talk to Macdonald. Instead, Fallon turned coward, unable to navigate a flashpoint conversation. Macdonald did appear on The View on Thursday  again, it was a previously scheduled booking  and did his best to convey repentance and contrition. But doing so strangled his comedic impulses  he was almost frozen with hesitancy, lest he not appear sufficiently chastened.

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It will be regrettable if these mini-transgressions cause lasting damage to Macdonald and this new show. Its a showcase that might enable a new audience to become attuned to Macdonalds rhythms as a comedian. Anyone who enjoyed his 2017 Netflix stand-up special Hitlers Dog, Gossip and Trickery knows that some of the pleasure is listening to the way Macdonald sets up his punchlines, the satisfaction he takes in crafting deceptively rambling setups that suddenly crystalize as a gleaming joke. And anyone whos seen him as a guest on other peoples talk shows knows that he is perpetually capable of surprise and a sneaky eloquence. (Just watch him deliver a consummate shaggy-dog story on Conan here.) Im looking forward to watching the other six episodes of Norm Macdonald Has a Show and hopeful that, once the brouhaha subsides a bit, Netflix viewers will enjoy the opportunity to binge Macdonald in his natural habitat, as an apolitical comedian of the first rank.

Norm Macdonald Has a Show is streaming now on Netflix.

Watch: Norm Macdonald apologizes (again) for latest controversial comments:



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So far, at least 12 protesters have been killed and more than 200 injured by security forces, deployed against the demonstrators for the first time this year in a sign of mounting panic from the government.

As home to most of the oil production facilities for OPEC's second-largest producer, Basra in crisis could have a material impact on oil output and prices, analysts say.

It may also see Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pushed from power, creating even more uncertainty for the war-scarred nation and its 15-year old democracy.

Iraq oil-rich Basra province is being rocked by renewed violence as summer protests regain momentum, threatening oil facilities and the country's leadership.

Thousands of Iraqis have been taking to the streets daily over the last week, torching government buildings and political party offices in a show of anger against abject living conditions, government corruption and foreign influence.

The past week saw rockets fired at the U.S. consulate and Basra airport. The Iranian consulate and offices of powerful Iranian-backed Shia paramilitary groups were also set alight.

So far, at least 12 protesters have been killed and more than 200 injured by security forces, deployed against the demonstrators for the first time this year in a sign of mounting panic from the government.

As home to most of the oil production facilities for OPEC's second-largest producer, Basra in crisis could have a material impact on oil output and prices, analysts say.

It may also see Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pushed from power, creating even more uncertainty for the war-scarred nation and its 15-year old democracy.

"We've seen protests around facilities and threats being made against oil companies. Some companies have taken their foreign workers out," Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told CNBC.

"Production hasn't been hit yet, but if you were to have one facility go down, you could lose upwards of 700,000 to 800,000 barrels of production, so it's a big story to watch."

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Sitting on oil wealth, but steeped in poverty

The protests, which began in July, kicked off again last week following a raft of hospitalizations due to contaminated drinking water. In August alone, 17,000 Basra residents were sent to the hospital with colic, diarrhea and symptoms of cholera, according to Basra's director-general of public health.

Southern Iraq, despite sitting on 80 percent of the country's oil wealth and being home to its only deepwater port, Um Qasr, has long been a site of severe poverty and discontent. Instead of reaping the benefits of its natural resources, which include 70 percent of Iraq's proven natural gas reserves, Basra suffers high unemployment, frequent electricity shortages, unsafe water and waste facilities and crumbling infrastructure.

Demonstrations during southern Iraq's sweltering summer months have therefore become something of a ritual in recent years, as residents lament decrepit public services and rampant corruption amid daytime temperatures of more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

But this year's unrest comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the country, just a few months after its May 12 election failed to produce a clear winner and less than a year after the end of its long and bloody battle against the Islamic State. A record low 44 percent voter turnout in the election and the subsequent unrest have revealed the extent to which ordinary Iraqis are fed up with government elites and have lost faith in the political process.

Political leadership at risk

After contested results and a controversial vote recount, parties and politicians are still far from forming a government, let alone one that could address Iraqis' demands for better services.

Incumbent Prime Minister Al-Abadi, a favorite of Washington, was expected to retain his post while forming an alliance with the leading Sairoon alliance, led by populist Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Sadr, a fierce anti-corruption campaigner, was the only leader whose party's office was not targeted by the protests.

In July, Abadi pledged billions in funding for Basra's failed infrastructure. Months later, however, nothing has changed, prompting calls for the prime minister to step down.

The government inaction, aggressive security response and increased violence has led Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader, the highly influential Ali al-Sistani, to publicly oppose all mainstream politicians who have held power in recent years from involvement in Iraq's government formation.

This effectively vetoes Abadi and other mainstream candidates from remaining at the helm of power, and solidifies the likelihood that Abadi will be ousted, according to political risk firm Eurasia Group.

A 'material impact' on oil prices

Meanwhile, oil facilities and exports will continue to be at risk as protests show no sign of abating, according to an Eurasia Group analyst.

"Over the next few days, the risk of protesters targeting oil facilities in the Basra province is sharply increasing," wrote Ayham Kamel, practice head for Eurasia Group's Middle East and North Africa practice, in a client note this week.

On September 5, protesters threatened to shut down access to production facilities at Basra's West Qurna 1 oil field, which produce about 450,000 barrels per day (bpd), and shut down access to Um Qasr port. They also attempted to shut down facilities at the West Qurna 2 field that account for roughly 71,000 bpd of the field's 375,000 bpd of production, Eurasia reported.

Iraq, the world's 12th largest oil producer, has an output of 4.4 million bpd and hit a near-record high in production in August, according to the International Energy Agency.

But against the backdrop of a tightening oil market where major producers Venezuela and Iran are being constricted due to economic crisis and sanctions, any further disturbance to production could be meaningful for markets.

"The problem with the market right now is we don't have a lot of shock absorbers," Croft said. "So we really do have a problem where if we have one more country experience a supply outage, this market will be very tight and prices will go materially higher."





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SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon wildlife officials with guns and dogs will hunt for a cougar believed to have killed a woman while she was hiking in rugged terrain near the state's highest peak, a wildlife official said Wednesday.

Diana Bober, who at 55 was an avid and experienced hiker, apparently fought the cougar with repellant, a sharp object and a stick, her sister said.

Bober's body was found Monday, almost two weeks after she was last heard from. She was the first person known to have been killed by a cougar in the wild in Oregon, and the second in the Pacific Northwest this year.

If a cougar is tracked down, wildlife officials will kill it and then check for a DNA match with DNA left on Bober, Brian Wolfer of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife told a news conference Wednesday.

Wolfer acknowledged that other cougars might be killed in the search for the one that attacked Bober, but said capturing a mountain lion in the steep terrain for DNA testing isn't an option.

"It's a knife ridge, very steep country with sheer drops and a cliff," Wolfer said. "It's a large effort just to get stuff in there."

It's a two-hour hike from the trailhead near Mount Hood, Oregon's highest peak at 11,250 feet (3,429 meters), to the site where Bober's body was found along the Hunchback Trail, Wolfer said. The trail is described by OregonHikers .org as "wild and rugged" with frequent signs of cougars and coyotes.

"We're not looking to indiscriminately kill a large number of cougars," Wolfer said. The number of cougars in Oregon has grown since the 1960s from 200 to around 6,600, he said.

Bober's sister Alison, who is from Arlington, Virginia, and is visiting Portland, said Diana loved the outdoors, and that's how she should be remembered.

"It allowed her to see the beauty in life," Alison Bober said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

The fact that other cougars might be killed "would grieve my sister," Bober said. But Bober, who is a year older than Diana, said she is very impressed with the expertise of law enforcement, search and rescue members and wildlife officials, and that she has agrees with whatever approach is decided by wildlife officials.

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Diana stood at only 5 feet, 4 inches (1.52-meters), Bober said.

"She was petite, but she was strong," Bober said.

Evidence including defensive wounds showed that the hiker, who lived in the Portland suburb of Gresham, tried to fight off the attack with a sharp object, a stick and repellant spray, her sister said.

In May, a mountain biker in Washington state was killed by a cougar on a trail east of Seattle, the first fatal attack in that state in 94 years.

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Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com
Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The Palestinian leadership is weighing retaliatory measures against US penalties, including halting security cooperation, a senior Palestinian official said Wednesday.

"It's among possible steps we are thinking about," Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, told journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"We are thinking of many things that can be done," she added.

Ashrawi was responding to a question about the possibility of a complete break with Washington, including security ties.

The United States has given the Palestinian Authority security forces some $61 million in aid this year, according to the US embassy for Israel.

US-based news site Axios reported that a Palestinian security and intelligence delegation was in Washington earlier this month for talks with the CIA.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas cut off diplomatic talks with the US administration after President Donald Trump recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December.

In recent weeks Trump has slashed more than $500 million in aid for Palestinians to push them to the negotiating table in pursuit of a Middle East peace plan that he calls the "ultimate deal".

On Monday the US State Department confirmed it was shutting the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, saying the Palestinians were not supporting peace talks with Israel.

Palestinian leaders say Trump's White House is blatantly biased in favour of Israel and is seeking to blackmail them into accepting its terms.

"This American administration has adopted wholesale all the positions of the most extreme, rightwing, hardline, racist Israeli government in the history of Israel," Ashrawi said.

She said that the Palestinian leadership would discuss possible responses after Abbas attends the UN General Assembly meeting in New York later this month.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday welcomed the US decision to shut the Palestinian mission in Washington.

"The US made the correct decision when it decided to close the PLO offices in Washington," he told members of his cabinet.

"The (Palestinians') refusal to enter into negotiations with Israel and the unbridled attacks against Israel will not only not advance peace but will certainly not make things better for the Palestinians," he said.
A teenager was killed and at least 10 others left injured after a series of violent gas explosions caused chaos in three towns north of Boston, Massachusetts.

The unexplained blasts left dozens of building smoldering and spread fire, creating a scene that was likened to Armageddon by one official.

Some 8,000 people were estimated to have been forced from their homes on Thursday night as the emergency services scrambled to contain the fallout.

The National Transportation Safety Board has now sent a team to investigate the natural gas pipelines in the area to pinpointed the cause of the blasts.

There was no immediate explanation, but witnesses reported smelling gas. One resident told The New York Times that her gas stove would not light, suggesting there may have been issues with the usual flow of gas.

At least 39 homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were impacted by the blasts, forcing entire neighbourhoods to evacuate.

Flames consume a home in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston Credit: WCVB

Firefighters battle another house on fire, on Herrick Road in North Andover Credit: Mary Schwalm

The three communities house more than 146,000 residents about 26 miles (40 kilometers) north of Boston, near the New Hampshire border.

Massachusetts State Police urged all residents with homes serviced by Columbia Gas in the three communities to evacuate.

Fire crews scrambled to fight the flames and shut off the gas and electricity, leading to confused scenes as residents attempted to work out what was happening.

Michael Mansfield, the Andover Fire Chief, said: It looked like Armageddon, it really did. There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me. I could see pillars of smoke in front of me from the town of Andover."

Emergency crews respond to a series of gas explosions that have damaged homes across three communities north of Boston Credit: WCVB

Leonel Rondon, 18, of Lawrence, died after a chimney toppled by an exploding house crashed into his car, according to the authorities. He was rushed to a Boston hospital but was pronounced dead there in the evening.

Lawrence General Hospital said it was treating 10 victims, including at least one in critical condition.

MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south #Lawrence and northern part of #NorthAndover with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) September 13, 2018

Hundreds spent the night in shelters, and school was canceled on Friday as families waited to return to their homes.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency blamed the fires on gas lines that had become over-pressurised but said investigators were still examining what happened.

Charlie Baker, the governor of Massachusetts , said it could take days or weeks before investigators find answers to what happened.
WASHINGTON  Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has reached a tentative plea deal with the special counsel team led by Robert Mueller, reported ABC News and NPR on Thursday.



The tentative plea deal reportedly came after Manafort was found guilty last month by a federal jury sitting in northern Virginia on eight counts of tax and bank fraud charges, but ahead of Manaforts upcoming trial on additional federal charges in the nations capital.

CNN, however, described the two sides as coming close to a deal on Thursday.

ABC News spotted Manafort and his attorneys entering a secret entrance to the building where Muellers office is located on Thursday morning, and the two parties spent more than four hours in there.

Three sources with knowledge of the discussions told ABC News that the deal is expected to be announced Friday, but its unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with Muellers team or will merely concede to a guilty plea.

Manafort came under scrutiny as part of Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, though most of the charges against him predated his work on the Trump campaign.

Former Manafort associate and Trump campaign deputy Rick Gates testified against his former boss at Manaforts first trial, where prosecutors laid out how Manafort skirted taxes on the money he received from Ukrainian oligarchs through his use of overseas bank accounts. A Trump-supporting juror on the first trial said that a single holdout on the jury prevented Manafort from being convicted on all counts.

The second trial in D.C. would have centered on charges that Manafort was involved in a conspiracy to defraud the United States, that he failed to register as a foreign agent, that he laundered money, that he made false statements and that he tampered with witnesses.

Trump had in the past hinted about pardoning Manafort, and its something he discussed with his attorneys. Agreeing to cooperate against the president, of course, will likely squash any hope that Manafort had of receiving a pardon from Trump.

Story continues

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Ryan Reilly is HuffPosts senior justice reporter covering the Justice Department, federal law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs. Have a tip? Reach him at ryan.reilly@huffpost.com or on Signal at 202-527-9261.

Lydia OConnor contributed reporting.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.